USA > New York > New York County > Governor's Island; its military history under three flags, 1637-1913 > Part 3
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Governor Hardy as early as 1756 saw the strategical im- portance of Governor's Island and wrote as follows :
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Governor Hardy to the Lords of Trade.
Fort George, New York 27 October. 1756.
* *
It will be highly proper to put this Province into a State of Defence from any attack by Sea. * * *
Some heavy cannon should be mounted upon Nutten Island on the Ground that if the enemy should attack the City with a fleet they will make themselves masters of it from whence they can easily bombard the City.
References to a Colonial Regiment styled the Royal Ameri- cans are found in the following orders. It will be noticed that the date is twenty years preceding the Declaration of Inde- pendence :
Common Councill, City Hall, Oct. 19, Anno Domini, 1756.
No.
1345
Warrant issued.
Order'd the Like of Mr. Christopher Bancker or his order the Sum of Nine pounds two shillings in full for the Like sum by him advanced and paid for his fire wood for the use of the Royall Americans on Nutten Island as per his said Account Audited by this board and allowed of.
Meeting of Common Councill, City Hall, Nov. 8, 1756.
No. I346
Warrant issued.
Ordered that Mr. Recorder issue his warrant to the Treasurer of the City to pay to Jacob Bremington or his order the sum of five pounds four shillings in full of his account for Straw by him provided for the Royal Ameri- cans.
Ten years later we read in Captain John Montressor's Jour- nal of further plans for the fortification of Governor's Island. Captain Montressor was styled the "Chief Engineer of America," and he reports as follows under date of Sept. 9, 1766:
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Delivered to the Commander in Chief my Report. Made my design on a Scale of 200 feet to the inch for fortifying Governor's or Nutten Island."
And again :
May 12, 1767.
On return from inspection at Albany, May 12th, a fair wind & the 13th at York. The whole Regiment was found encamped on the Island, the 22nd and two Bat- talions of Royal Americans. Encamped outside of ye Stockade also the 44th."
This Report indicates the presence of two Regiments in ad- dition to the Royal Americans and makes incidental reference to a stockade which probably enclosed the main Garrison.
In Jared Sparks' Life of Washington we learn something of the formation of this Regiment, the first one of which there is record by name on Governor's Island.
"Lord Loudoun as Commander of the forces in America," he says, "was empowered to raise a Regiment in the Colonies consisting of four battalions to be commanded by officers bear- ing the King's Commission and called the Royal American Regiment. Recruiting officers were employed in Virginia en- listing men for the Royal Regiment. The Assembly voted £8000 to be paid for enlisting men and transporting them to New York.
The Maryland Assembly appropriated £5000 to aid enlist- ments in that Colony for the Royal Americans and resolved to raise 300 men. A bounty was given not exceeding £5 for each man enlisted.
Horatio Gates, later (June, 1775) Adjutant-General in the American Army with the rank of brigader-general, was an officer in this Regiment. Gates was aide-de-camp to General Monckton in his expedition against Martinique in 1762. He was a bearer of despatches to London announcing the success- ful result of this victory and was rewarded by being made Major in the Royal Americans.
It is fair to assume he was stationed on Governor's Island in 1767, for Captain John Montressor in his Report of May
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
12th in that year, says he "found the whole Regiment encamped on the Island, the 22d, and two Battalions of Royal Americans, also the 44th Regt." (p. 36).
In the Military Department of the New York Public Library is a valuable set of Army lists of the British Forces, published by order of the Honorable Secretary at War, of separate vol- umes in superb bindings, 1754 to 1842. The volumes bear the crest and bookplate of Colonel FitzClarence, Earl of Munster, who died in London, 1842. The changes in the personnel of the various years are carefully written in. From these reports we learn that the 62nd Regiment of Foot was styled "Royal Ameri- cans" in 1756. In 1757 the number was changed to 60th Regt of Foot and so remained, the Regiment being stationed here continuously till 1773 when it was ordered to the West Indies.
The uniform of the Royal Americans originally was Red faced with Blue, but as we learn from these Reports, the uni- form was changed in 1770 to "Red faced with Blue, White Lace, with 2 blue Stripes."
The uniform of the 44th Regiment of Foot, stationed in 1767 on Governor's Island, was Red faced with Yellow.
The uniform of the 22d Regiment of Foot, which we learn from Montressor's Report was here with the Royal Americans, was Red faced with pale Blue.
John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, was appointed Com- mander in Chief of the British forces in America, March 20, 1756. Lord Loudoun commanded the Royal Americans for a number of years with the title "Colonel in Chief," having under his command in 1756 four "Colonels Commandant," viz .: John Stanwix, Joseph Dusseaux, Charles Jefferyes, James Prevost and Majors J. Young, J. Robertson, J. Rutherford, Augustine Prevost and Chaplains Thomas Gawton and Wm. Nicholas Jackson.
Eighteen years later, when the Regiment had been for a year at Jamaica and Antigua, 1774, many names of the officers, advanced in grade, and of Chaplain Jackson, are still found which were on the roster of 1756 at Governor's Island.
The Royal American, 60th Regiment of Foot, is (1913) the
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IIISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
King's Royal Rifle Corps. Uniform, Green with Scarlet fac- ings. Two battalions are stationed in England and two in India.
Motto: Celer et Audax
The 44th Regiment of Foot is now the Essex Regiment. One battalion is stationed at Quetta and one at Bordon.
The 22d Regiment of Foot is now the Cheshire Regiment. Uniform, Scarlet with Buff facings. One battalion is at Bel- fast and one at Jubbulpore.
Hart's Annual for 1913 gives the King's Rifle Corps, as "formerly the 60th." The Colonel in Chief is His Majesty the King and the Senior of the four Colonels Commandant is the Rt. Hon. Francis Wallace, Lord Grenfell, K.C.B., G.C.M.G. The other Colonels Commandant are Sir Wykeham Leigh Pemberton, K.C.B., Sir Cromer Ashburnham, K.C.B., and Sir Edward Thomas H. Hutton, K.C.M.G., K.C.B.
During the Revolutionary War concerts were given by the Royal American Band at Burns' New Assembly Rooms. This popular assembly, where the fashionables gathered much as they do at Delmonico's and Sherry's today, was at the upper end of Bowling Green, near the Van Courtlandt House. Bene- dict Arnold lodged here for a time after his desertion from the Army.
Another reference is found to this early Governor's Island Regiment during the Stamp Act troubles when General Gage ordered Fort George at Bowling Green to be dismantled in order to appear to the people "Less menacing and unfriendly." The work was performed by the detachments of Royal Ar- tillery, assisted by the Royal American Regiment who went over from Governor's Island for that purpose.
It was not long before the mutterings of war were heard. 'An intimation of this which shows that Governor's Island was of value not only for "refreshment after the cares of business,"
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ENGLISII COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
but for more important reasons, is disclosed in a letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth.
NEW YORK, 16th Oct. 1775
MY LORD :-
The City has been in continual agitation and ferment encreased by a recommenda'tn and resolve of the Con- tinental Congress that this provincial Congress should take into consideration the expediency of siezing or securing the Crown Officers * * * I kept out of Town all Thursday at the Governor's Island and in the evening the Asia boat landed me at Long Island and (I) lay at Mr. Astell's at Flatbush.
In a letter to Lord Dartmouth under date of June 7th, 1775, the Governor speaks of "the critical and dangerous situation of the British soldiers quartered in New York, the men desert- ing in considerable numbers and being the object of attack.
General Gage proposed putting the soldiers and their families on board H. B. M. S. "Asia." After some delay, the situation becoming more acute, the following order was issued :
To MAJOR HAMILTON, 18th Regiment, Spring Hill.
5th June, 1775 The difficulty about the Women and children which occasioned an alteration of our first Determination to put the troops under Command on board of the Asia being obviated by removing the Women to Governor's Island * You have my leave to encamp the Women on the Governor's Island and if there is any room in the House which the Family who live there do not make use of, I am willing the women should have it. You will please to give orders that they by no means burn or de- stroy the Fences or do any kind of Injury to any thing on the Island.
I am, etc., CADWALLADER COLDEN, Lieut. Gov'r Province of New York.
A citadel and outworks were begun in 1775. General orders
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
of April 16th, 1775, read: "Colonel Prescott's Regiment is to encamp on Governor's Island * * * They are to give every assistance in their power to the works erecting thereon." This Regiment, the famous Bunker Hill Regiment, was joined later by the 4th Continental Infantry, Colonel Nixon Command- ing.
Some highly interesting facts in regard to the fortification of the Island at this period are learned from a letter written by Benjamin Franklin to General Lee in which he encloses a long communication from Trevor Newland Stafford. The fact of its quotation implies Franklin's approval of the senti- ments expressed by Stafford. Extracts from the letter follow :
To the Honourable CHARLES LEE, Esq., Lieut .- General of the Continental Army, New York.
5th February, 1776.
* *
* *
I'm amazed at a ship or two laying at New York in open violation of ye United Provinces. The Asia lay along in the North River and refused to go into ye Sound. * * There is Nutten (Governor's Island) well situated to place Guns and I imagine 300 or 400 men would be sufficient to compleat all the works in one night : the greatest difficulty would be to get cannon to Nutten Island. It would be impossible to point out Either the facilitys or difficultys in the course of a letter. The great- est difficulty will be to keep it secret from the people of New York. * * * * * If there was a lodgement with some Guns upon Nutten Island * * * as soon as the Batterys upon Nutten Island began to play there should be some of the Connecticut men ready to run down upon the Wharfs with some few guns ahead and astern with grape to clear the decks and fire into the ports. Six Guns would be sufficient upon Nutten Island and 12 pdrs would be heavy enough. * * I imagine Lord Stirling would be a very proper person to command the detach- ment .* B. FRANKLIN.
* From the Lee Papers-New York Historical Society.
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
That the fortifications were finally completed we learn from a letter written three months later by General Washington to Lieutenant-General Charles Lee, as follows :
NEW YORK, May 9, 1776.
MY DEAR LEE :
We have done a great deal of work at this place. In a fortnight more I think the City will be in a very respect- able posture of defense. * * * Governor's Island has a large and strong work erected and a Regiment encamped there. All the ships of war have left this place and gone down to the Hook except the Asia * * With compli- ments to the gentlemen of my acquaintance with you and with the most fervent wishes for your health and success, I remain your most affectionate G. WASHINGTON.
That the guns mounted on Governor's Island gave an ac- count of themselves we learn from the journal of Lieut .- Colonel Stephen Kemble* of H. M. 60th Foot. He notes under date of July 6, 1776, two months following Washington's statement, that Governor's Island has a large and strong work-"Observe the Rebels have fortified Governor's Island very strongly"- and on July 12, 1776, that "About half after three in the After- noon His Majesty's Ship Phoenix, commanded by Captain Parker, and the Rose, by Captain Wallace, with the Tryal Schooner and two Tenders got under sail to pass the Town of New York.
*
* * *
They received the whole of the Rebel fire from Red Hook, Governor's Island, the Battery and from some Guns in the Town. * * At half past four the ships were past all the Batteries. Number of Shots fired by the Rebels, 196.
* Stephen Kemble was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1740 he was commissioned an Ensign in H. M. 44th Regt. of Foot, and in 1765 a captain in the Royal Americans, H. M. 60th Foot.
Colonel Kemble served under General Gage and Sir William Howe later in Boston, and in 1779 joined the 60th Foot in Jamaica.
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
In August Lord Stirling wrote :* "The General bids me say that in our present situation Governor's Island is more strong and better guarded than any other post in the Army."
The obstructions between Governor's Island and the Bat- tery mentioned in orders consisted of hulks sunk in the Channel.
Cooperating with the defences at Governor's Island, which in those days of short range might be almost considered as outworks, were others in the City itself and it may surprise the reader of today to know of their number in close proximity to Governor's Island. General Washington had, very shortly after July 4, 1776, a force of 20,000 men, poorly equipped, armed and disciplined. They manned, among other works, the following: Grand Battery (still called The Battery), 23 guns : Fort George, Bowling Green, 2 guns; McDougall's Battery, just west of Trinity Church, 4 guns ; Grenadier's (or Circular) Battery, north of this point, 5 guns; Jersey Battery, near this, 5 guns ; Coenties' Battery on the East River, 5 guns ; Waterbury's Battery, 7 guns ; and at other points near by, all within a small radius, Thompson's Battery, 9 guns; the Inde- pendent Battery, on Centre Street and breastworks at Peck, Beekman, Burling, Coenties and Old Slips, the Coffee House, Exchange, Broad Street and others, besides Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, and a line of works from Fort Green at the Walla- bout (now New York Navy Yard) to Gowanus Creek. There was also a "barrier" or fortified line across the Island which crossed the Bowery in the line of the present Grand Street. This was begun in 1775 and strengthened by the British during their occupation of the City, 1776-1783.
With this description may be compared a letter from Peter
* Fort Stirling was situated on Brooklyn Heights, near the present Montagu Street. Lord Stirling, born in New York, was heir to a Scotch title. He married the daughter of Philip Livingston. He was Colonel of the Ist New Jersey Regiment of Militia and after the Battle of Long Island received the commission of Major General from the Continental Congress.
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Elting to Capt. Richard Varick under date of 30th July, 1776, in which he says:
"You would be surprised to see what Number of Empty houses there are in this place Verry few of the inhabitants Remain in town that are not ingaged in the Service. * * Great preparations are making here With Shiver de freeses and Vessels to stop up the Channel & sundry fire ships preparing two Brigs are Ready, something great will Be attempted soon five or seven Rogallies are already Come down from the Eastward * " the fleet Remains Verry Quiet But the men of the two menwar up the River have a small brush Once in a While with our Guards long the River."
The reader who needs a translation of some of the terms used in this letter for the information of Captain Varick will find it in the Memoirs of Major General William Heath, who notes therein, on the next day after, August Ist, that thirty British sail have arrived at the Hook and that three or more row-gallies have gone up the Hudson, and further, that in bringing the hulks, cheveux de frise, &c., round from the East River to the Hudson one sloop was sunk between Gover- nor's Island and the Grand Battery.
General Putnam arrived in New York on April 4th, 1776, and wrote to the President of Congress :
"After getting the works in such forwardness as will be prudent to leave I propose immediately to take possession of Governor's Island which I think a very important Post." The works in June mounted four 32 and four 18 pdrs.
On April 9th Colonel Silliman of Connecticut wrote to his wife: "Last evening draughts were made from a number of Regiments here, mine among the rest, to the number of 1000 men. With these and a proper number of officers Gen'1. Put- nam at candle lighting embarked on Board of a number of vessels with a large Number of intrenching tools and went directly on * * Nutten Island where they have been in- trenching all night * and have got a good Breast work there raised which will cover them from the fire of the Ships."
The "New York Gazette" announces that on "Monday night
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
1000 Continental troops stationed here went over and took possession of Governor's Island and began to fortify it."
General Putnam lived at this time in No. I, Broadway, Bowling Green, in a house called the Kennedy House. Since 1643 only three houses have occupied this site. The present one is called the Washington Building on account of the fact that General Washington frequently visited the original Ken- nedy House on the same site.
Col. Wm. Douglas in a letter to his wife, Northford, Conn., dated N. York Aug'st 31, 1776, says :
"We have evacuated Governor's Island where we have lost some cannon. They fired smartly from Fort Stirling yester- day at our boats passing from Governor's Island."
In thinking of an historical period far removed from our own time one is apt to have in mind a general impression or composite picture of the whole in which unknown details are summoned up by the imagination to form a confused image of the shadowy Past. This is unsatisfactory at best and in order to make more clear to the reader the actual state of affairs at this time in the history of our City and Island, when Putnam and his men came over in all haste at candle lighting to fortify against the British attack, an extract follows from Lamb's History of New York. With its aid one seems to live in the scenes of war preparation it so admirably illuminates. "New York was one of the busiest spots on the Western Conti- nent just now. Men were working night and day on the forts, troops were coming in from all quarters of the compass in the most picturesque and greatest variety of costume. The old red coats used in the French War had been brought from the garrets and turned to account in Connecticut. In juxtaposi- tion with the tow colored frocks worn by her volunteers appeared every now and then a dingy regimental of scarlet with a tarnished three-cornered laced hat. Some of the Mary- landers wore green hunting shirts with leggings to match. Troops came from Delaware in dark blue coats with red fac- ings. Some of the New Jersey riflemen were in short red coats and striped trousers; others in short blue coats, old
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
leather breeches, light blue stockings, shoes with brass buckles and wool hats bound with yellow. The Pennsylvania Regi- ments were in all the colours of the rainbow-brown coats faced with buff, blue coats faced with red, brown coats faced with white and studded with great pewter buttons, buck- skin breeches and black cocked hats with white tape bindings, also blue coats faced with white. The Virginians wore white smock-frocks furbelowed with ruffles at the neck, elbows and wrist, black stocks, hair in queues and round-topped broad- brimmed black hats. A little later the Light Dragoons were uniformed in blue coats faced with red or in brown coats faced with green.
The Washington Guards wore blue coats faced with buff, red waist coats, buckskin breeches, black felt hats bound with white tape and bayonets with belts of white. Hunting shirts, the 'moral aversion of the Red-coat,' with breeches of the same cloth as the shirts gaiter fashion about the legs were seen on every side, and being convenient garments for campaigning were soon adopted by the British themselves. This was the origin of the modern trouser or pantaloon."
Of such composition was the force under General Putnam busy in throwing up the breastworks on Governor's Island. We can imagine the feverish haste of the day and night fortifi- cation work, the clumsiness of the hunters, the lack of disci- pline among the farmer boys, the fatigue of the volunteers from the counting-house. We can well believe many brown coats with their great pewter buttons were cast aside when the pick and shovel were taken up and that three-cornered hats and ruffles at the neck, elbows and wrist fared badly in the trenches. These men had coats of many colours, but their hearts were one for union and defence. Our admiration and gratitude must be theirs as their heritage is ours.
We read further in Lamb's interesting account : "The scene was like one vast bee hive. Soldiers and civilians ran hither and thither in the performance of some exacting duty. Aside from the numerous fortifications and batteries in and around New York, on Governor's Island and Long Island, barricades
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
were thrown up in every street leading to the water, chiefly of mahogany logs taken from West India cargoes. City Hall Park was almost entirely enclosed. Broadway was obstructed in front of St. Paul's Chapel, a barrier rose at the head of Vesey Street, another at the head of Barclay, one at the head of Murray Street, and many others-at Centre St., Frankfort and Chatham Streets and an angular defence where the Tribune Building now stands."
Trinity Church was the old Royalist Parish of 1696. The citizens, accustomed as they were and had been for three- quarters of a century to prayers in the Parish Church for the King and Royal Family, demanded however that they should now cease.
The Reverend Charles Inglis, the Rector, was insulted wherever he went in the streets and finally his life was threat- ened if he did not desist from using the liturgy according to the text. To officiate publicly and abstain from the mention of England's monarch in his supplications would be to violate his oath and the dictates of his conscience. His embarrassment was very great. One Sunday morning a company of 150 soldiers marched into the church with drums beating and pipes playing and bayonets glistening on their loaded guns. The congregation was panic stricken and women fainted.
It was supposed that if the Rector should read the collects for the King and Royal Family he would be shot in the sacred desk. But he went on boldly to the end, omitting no portion of the service, and although there were restless and hostile demonstrations he escaped injury.
In a private letter to Peter Van Schaack, 23d February, 1776, two months before General Putnam began the works on Governor's Island, Frederick Rhinelander indicates the feel- ing of alarm in the City due to the arrival of American troops in force, when he says: "To see the vast number of houses shut up one would think the City almost evacuated. Women and children are scarcely seen in the streets."
In a note of the same period we read: "Friday, Sept. 13,
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ENGLISH COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
1776. In the afternoon some Men of War went up the East River; the few cannons left fired on the ships which caused that they fired back from Long Island and Governor's Island, and very smartly."
This was shortly after the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, the "day that though so full of sorrow for the Ameri- cans, shed so little glory on British arms." Washington had 20,000 troops; Prescott's and Nixon's Regiments were sta- tioned on Governor's Island. Lord Howe sailed up the Bay and anchored near the Island, whereupon our troops withdrew to the mainland, sustaining only one injury, a soldier wounded as he was embarking, by a ball from the British man-of-war.
Thomas Jones, a staunch Tory, Justice of the Peace for the Province, writes as follows: "Sept., 1776. The rebels in their hurry upon leaving Long Island left the Garrison upon Nutten Island (which they had strongly fortified) consisting of 2,000 men, 40 pieces of heavy cannon, military stores and provisions in abundance without the least means of quitting the Island. The Royal Army consisted of near 30,000 men * yet no steps were taken to make prisoners of the garrison and get possession of the forts, stores, artillery and provisions.
In the evening of the same day (unaccountable as it is) a detachment of the rebel Army went from New York to Nutten Island with a number of boats and carried off the troops, the stores, artillery and provisions. * * * * "
Had Lord Howe taken his fleet up the East River on the day of the action upon Long Island and the River been lined with the Ships from Governor's Island to Hellgate, "not a rebel would have escaped from Long Island. But this was not done, and why it was not done, let the brothers Howe tell."
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