USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 13
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do.
do.
Jesse Irish,
do.
do.
David Irish,
do.
do.
William Irish,
do.
do.
Josiah Bull,
do.
do.
Josiah Bull Junr.,
do
do.
Allen Moore,
do
do.
Andrew Moore,
do.
do.
William Gifford,
do.
do.
Nathaniel Yeomans,
do.
do.
Eliab Yeomans,
do
do.
William Parks,
do.
do.
The following is a list of the slaves in Duchess county above the age of fourteen, and their owners,
taken pursuant to act of the Assembly in 1755 :-
NAMES OF MASTERS AND MISTRESSES. NEGROES.
NAMES OF MALE NAMES OF FE-
Collo ; Martin Hoffman,
Jack Fortune, Frank Francis, Sarah Dean Susan Bet
Toby Jo :
Capt. Zacharias Hoffman,
Bristoll Will,
Jenny Peggy
Vullard Widbeck,
Tack,
Diana
Harmon Knickerbacker,
Tom,
John Van Benthouse,
Pompey, Cuffy,
Hannah Jenny
Barrent Van Benthouse,
Bastian, Andrew, Cuffy, Peter,
Simon, prince Adam Mathew,
Anthony Hoffman,
Jo;
Jo Tom,
Phillis
Capt. Evert Kuickerbacker,
Maria
Adaın Pitzer,
Kate
Peter Pitzer,
Fortune,
Rier Schemerhorn,
Peter Heermanse,
Quash,
Gerrett Heermanse,
Ñed,
The above List was taken by me this 12th Day of May 1755.
ZACHARIAS HOFFMAN, Captain.
RYNEBECK PRECINCT, March 22 Day.
Mr. Jacob Siemon,
Antony,
Margerit Bennin,
'T'am,
Symon Kool,
Pamp,
Bette
Nicholas Stickel,
Frank,
Johannes Feller,
Piet.
Petrus Ten Brock,
Tam, Cornelis, Jack,
Sara Bette
Ms Catherine Palling,
Robben,
Deen
Andries Heremanse,
Go,
Mary
Taken up by me EVERT.
KNEKERBACKER, Capt.
* Sketches of Local History, by Benson J. Lossing, LL. D., in The Dutchess Farmer, Dec. 12, 1876 .- Doc. Hist. III., 1027, 1025.
* In 1870, Duchess county, though then ranking as only the fourteenth county in the State in respect to population, ranked as tenth in aggregate equalized valuation ; being surpassed only by Albany, Erie, Kings, Mon- roe, New York, Onondaga, Orange, Rensselaer and Westchester; and some of these, though largely exceeding it in population, surpass it in wealth by only trifling amounts.
t Col. Hist. V., 872, 909 ; VI., 28, 87.
John Hoeg, son of John,
do.
Samuel Russell,
do.
Weaver.
Richard Smith,
do.
do.
Laborer.
Diana
John Vosburgh,
MALE NEGROES.
64
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
RHYNEBECK PRECINCT, March ye 22 Day.
NAMES OF MASTERS NAMES OF MALE NAMES OF FE-
AND MISTRESSES.
NEGROES. MALE NEGROES.
Mrs. Aleda Rutsen, Thom, Robin, Coffie,
Filis, Riet, Dean
Mrs. Rachel Van Steenbergen, Lou, Pieter,
Lawrence Tiel,
Tam,
Henry Tiel,
Jack,
Philip Veller,
Lou,
Betty
Johannes Lambert, Jack Keip,
Tom, Pieter,
Jan, fillis
Roelof Keip,
Tom,
Keet
Abraham Keip,
Betty, Mary, Bess
Gerrit Van Benthuysen,
Herry,
floor Dill
George Toevelt,
febe
George Adam Toevelt,
Dien
Susan Angenes Sheeferen,
Kinno
Corneles Ostervanter,
Wench fillis
Mrs. Cathlynje V. fretenborg,
Yud
Taken up by me, FRANS NEHER Capt .*
The following document, which forms a part of the collection of the Historical Committee of the Poughkeepsie Literary Club, preserves evidence that the inhabitants of Duchess of a century ago were not free from those petty bickerings which disgrace the present generation. We quote verba- tim the formidable prelude to this document :-
"Dutchess Co. ss : An extract of all issues, fines, americaments and recognizances forfeited and set to our Lord the King at the General Session of the Peace of our Lord the King on the first Tues- day of January in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third now [1773] King of Great Britain, &c., and by adjournment to Saturday the eighth of January of the same month, before Beverly Robinson, Nicholas De- Lavergne, Henry Van Der Burgh, Bartholomew Noxon, Ephraim Paine, Lawrence Lawrence and Thomas Barker Esqrs., Justices of our said Lord the King assigned to keep the peace in the county of Dutchess also to hear and determine diverse felonies, trespasses and other [a word unintelligible] committed in the same county-Henry Livingston Esq., Clerk of the Peace of the county aforesaid there attending for the space of foar days."
By this tribunal fines of ten shillings each were imposed on John Ostrom and Hendrick I. Ostrom, yeoman, of Rombout Precinct, "for an assault on the body of Francis Smith ;" Edy Van Evere, yeoman, of Rombout Precinct, "for an assault on the body of Nicholas Pearson, Jr. ; " Nicholas Pearson, Jr., yeo- man, of same precinct, "for an assault on the body of Edy Van Evere;" of five shillings each on John I. Van Kleek, of "Poghkeepsie Precinct," shop- keeper, "for an assault on the body of Alexander Chaucer ;" Alexander Chaucer, of the same pre- cinct, gentleman, "for an assault on the body of John I. Van Kleek ;" Peter Mullen, of the same precinct, blacksmith, " for an assault on the body of Simon P. La Roy ;" and of five pounds on Silas Fosket, of Amenia Precinct, yeoman, "for a vio- lent assault on the body of Elizabeth Harris," and he was "committed to his Majesty's gaol in Dutchess county, there to remain until he shall pay the said fine."
Other quaint documents in the same collection hand down to us those relics of ancient barbarism -the oaths of abjuration and fealty, which, on the accession of George III. to the throne of England in 1760, were prescribed for the officers in his dominion. The following are the oaths and the names of those in Duchess county who took them :----
"I, A. B., Do Solemnly and Sincerely, in the Presence of God, Profess, Testify and Declare, That I do Believe, that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper there is not any Transubstantiation, of the Elements of Bread and Wine, into the Body and Blood of Christ, at or After the Consecration Thereof, by any person whatsoever, And that the Invocation, or Adoration of the Virgin Mary, or Any Other Saint, And the Sacrifice of Mass, as they are Now Used in the Church of Rome, Are Super- stitious and Idolatrous, and I do Solemnly in the presence of God, Profess, Testify and Declare, that I do make this Declaration, and Every Part There- of, in the Plain and Ordinary Sence, of the Words read to me, as they are Commonly Understood, by English Protestants, Without Any Evasion, Equiv- ocation, or Mental Reservation Whatsoever, and Without any Dispensation, Already Granted me for this purpose, by the Pope, or any Other Author- ity Whatsoever, or Without Thinking, that I am or Can be Acquitted, before God or Man, or absolved of this Declaration, or any Part Thereof, Although the Pope, or any Person or Persons, or Power Whatsoever, Should Dispence with, or Annul the same, and Declare that it was Null and Void, from the Beginning."
The other oath reads as follows :--
"I, A. B., do Sincerely Promise & Swear, that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, and I do Swear, that I do from my heart, Abhor, Detest and Abjure, as Impious and Heritical, that Damnable Doctrine and Position, that Princes Excommunicated and Deprived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, may be Deposed by their Subjects or any other Whatsoever, and I do Declare that no For- eign Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate, hath or ought to have, any Jurisdiction, Power,. Superiority, Pre-eminence, or Authority Eclesias- tical or Spiritual Within this Realm, and I do Truly and Sincerely accknowledge and profess, Testify and Declare, in my Conscience, before God and the World, That our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, is Lawfull and Rightfull King of this Realm, and all other Dominions and Coun- trys Thereunto Belonging, and I do Solemnly and Sincerely Declare, that I do believe in my Con- science that the person pretended to be Prince of Wales, During the Life of the Late King James the Second, and Since his Decease, Pretending to be, and Takeing upon himself, the Stile and Title of King of England, by the name of James the Third, or of Scotland by the name of James the Eighth, or the Stile and Title of King of Great
* Doc. Hist. III, 851, 852.
Bett
65
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO OATHS OF ABJURATION AND FEALTY, 1760-73.
Britain, hath not any right or Title Whatsoever, to the Crown of this Realm, or any other the Domin- ions Thereunto Belonging, and I do Renounce, Refuse and Abjure, any Aligeance or Obediance to him and I do Swear, That I will bear Faith, and true Alegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, and him will Defend, to the Utmost of iny Power, against all Traiterous Conspiracies and Attempts Whatsoever, which shall be made, Against his Person, Crown or Dignity, and I will do my Utmost Endeavors, to Disclose and Make Known, to his Majesty and his Successors, all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies, which I shall know to be against him, or any of them, and I do faithfully promise to the Utmost of my Power to Support Maintain and Defend, the Successors of the Crown, against him the said James and all other Persons Whatsoever, Which Succession, by an Act Entitled an Act for the further Limitation of the Crown and better Securing the Rights and Libertys of the Subjects is and Stands Limitted to the Late Prin- cess Sophia, Electress and "Dutchess Dowager of Hanover, and the Heirs of her Body, being Protes- tants, and all these things I do Plainly and Sincerely Acknowledge and Swear according to the Express words by me Spoken, and According to the Plain and Common Sence and Understanding of the Same Words, Without any Equivocation, Mental Evasion, or Senister Reservation Whatsoever, and I do make this Recognition, Acknowledgement, Abjuration, Renunciation and Promise, heartily, Willingly and Truly, upon the True Faith of a Christian-So help me God."
Those whose name are followed by a star (*) in the following list took only the first oath at the date set opposite their respective names. Those remain- ing took both :-
x760.
April 1. Roswell Hopkins,* 2d Lieut.
do. 2. Abraham Lozel,* Captain.
do. 2. Henry Bell,* ist Lieut.
do. 2. Michael Vinsnt,* 2d Lieut.
do. 2. Peter Covis,* Ensign.
do. 3. Stephanus Congen,* Ist Lieut.
do. 3. Wm. Radcliff,* 2d Lieut.
do. 3. Bathuin Brown,* Ensign.
do. 3. Simon Flagler,* 2d Lieut.
do. 4. Samuel King,* Ensign.
do. 5. William Gray,* 2d Lieut.
do. 8. Simeon Wright,* do.
do. 9. William Doughty, Jr.,* Ensign.
do. 16. John Stoutenburgh,* do.
do. 21. William Hill,* 2d Lieut.
do. 21. Isaac Rhodes,* Captain.
do. 21. Andrew Sill,* Ensign. his
do. 24. Thomas X Smith,* Ist Lieut. mark.
May 22. John Cannon,* Lieut.
do. 22. Saml. Gerry, Jr.,* do.
do. 23. Joseph Powell,* do.
do. 23. Isaac Conckin,* · do.
June 28. Cornelius Vanwyck,* 2d Lieut.
do. 28. John Bailey, Jr.,* Ensign.
1760.
June 30. Jacob X Brill's mark,* Ensign.
Aug. 21. Samuel Rowland,* Captain.
do. 21. Abraham filkin,* Ensign.
do. 21. Zephaniah Platt, Jr.,* Captain.
do. 21. Silas Deuel,* Ist Lieut.
Sept. 27. Jacob Sharpenstone,* 2d Lieut. do. 29. Christian Tobias,* Jr., Ensign.
Nov. 8. Clear Everitt,* Sheriff.
do. 27. Teunis Tappen,* Under Sheriff.
do. 27. Barnardin Fillkin,* do.
1761.
Oct. 20. Daniel Castle, Justice. his do. 22. Christian OD Dedrick, mark.
Naturalized.
do. 22. Henry Shop, do.
do. 22. Johannes Pallankin Cassford, do.
do. 22. Lodwick Elsever, do.
1762.
May 18. Johann Georg Goodmanhein, do. his
do. 18. Anthony X Poucher, do.
mark. his do. 18. Hannis HK Kraf, do.
mark.
do. 18. William Peter Wallace, do.
do. 18. Jacob Cain, do.
do. 18. Johannis Blin or Bloss (?) do.
do. 18. Hurst Cramer, do.
do. 18. Peter Crofut, do.
do. 18. Henry Dencker, do.
do. 18. Christian Frankal, do.
do. 18. Yuvi Loun, do.
do. 18. George Schuyder, do.
do. 18. John Joshua Weder, do.
1763.
Feb. 22. Isaac Burton, Sub Sheriff.
Mar. 12. Henry Ludinton, do.
do. 24. Malen Mead, Captain.
do. 24. David Sotherland, Ist Lieut.
do. 24. Lewis Barton, 2d Lieut.
do. 24. Samuel Pugsly, Ensign. 1761.
Sept. 25. Matthew Du Boys, Judge and Justice. do. 26. Nicholas De La Vergne, Justice and Asst.
do. 26. William Doughty, do. do.
do. 29. Roswell Hopkins, Justice.
do. 30. L. Van Kleeck, Judge and Justice.
Oct. 7. Abraham Bockee, Justice.
do. 7. Thomas Philips, do.
do. 7. Samuel Peters, do.
do. 12. Henry Lott, do.
do. 13. Henry D. Burgh, do.
do. 14. William Humfrey, do.
do. 20. John Akin, do.
do. 20. Caleb Smith, do.
do. 21. Jacobus Ter Bos, Justice and Judge.
do. 21. Timothy Soule, Justice.
do. 21. James Dickinson, do.
do. 21. Elijah Tompkins, do.
do. 21. John Rider, do.
do. 21. Anthony Yelverton, Justice and Asst.
do. 21. Samuel R. Utly, Justice.
do. 21. Mordecai Lester, do.
66
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
1761.
Oct. 21. John Palmer, Justice. do. 23. James G. Livingston, Sheriff. do. 29. Bernard Filkin, Under Sheriff. Nov. 13. James Smith, Justice. do. 21. James Duncan, do. do. 27. Johannis Deevit, do.
do. 27. Cornelis Luyster, do. 1762.
Jan. 20. Augustinus Turck, do. Feb. 5. Elisha Colver, do.
May 18. Gilbert Livingston, D. Clerk.
do. 20. Johann Georg Kreep, Naturalized.
do. 20. Henry Allendorf, do. do. 20. Azariah Newcomb, Under Sheriff. 1763.
Jan. 12. Michael Hopkins, Captain.
do. 12. Simeon Cook, 2d Lieut.
do. 12. Ichabod Paine, Ensign.
do. 28. Harmon Hoffman, do.
do. 28. Samuel King, Ist Lieut.
Feb. 2. Moses Harris, Captain.
do. 2. Jonathan Reynolds, Ist Lieut.
do. 2. Stephen Herrick, 2d Lieut.
do. 2. Henry De Deo, Captain.
do. 2. Symon Westfael, ist Lieut.
do. 2. Johannes Henner, 2d Lieut.
do. 2. John Weever, Jr., Ensign. his
do. 2. Philip X Staats, mark.
do.
do. 2. Stephen Caswell, Captain.
do. 2. Eben'r Jessup, 2d Lieut.
do. 2. Lewis Enos Bryan, Ensign.
do. 2. Simeon Wright, Captain. do. 2. John Ring, Ist Lieut.
do. 2. Daniel J. Cline, Ensign.
do. II. Ichabod Rogers, 2d Lieut.
do. II. Henry Heermanns, Ist Lieut. his
do. 11. Johannis Rysdorf, 2d Lieut. mark.
April 6. Joseph Fowler, Ensign.
June 2. Joseph Ketchum, Ist Lieut.
Nov. 7. James Livingston, Sheriff. 1764. Feb. 4. Isaac Van Benschoten, Under Sheriff. Isaac Burton, Under Sheriff.
May 15. Christian Tobias, Naturalized.
do. 15. Frederick Gilliger, do.
do. 17. John Bogardus, Justice.
Oct. 2. Nathan Taylor, Captain.
do. 2. Edward Gody, Jr.,* Ist Lieut.
do. 2. Silas Paddock, Ensign. do. 29. John Field, 2d Lieut.
Nov. 7. Isaiah Bennet,* do.
do. 7. Amos Fuller, Ensign. 1765. Nov. 8. Richard Warner, Under Sheriff. 1766.
May 20. Peter Klaing, Naturalized.
do 20. Josan Georg Marquaof, do.
Oct. 7. Daniel Geigen Grim, do.
do. 7. Michael Colts, do. do. 8. Isaac Rysdyk, do.
Nov. 12. James Brook, Under Sheriff.
1767.
Mar. 15. Rufus Herrick, Under Sheriff. Oct. 4. Henry Beekman, Justice and Asst. 1769.
Jan. 9. Tho. Newcomb, Under Sheriff.
May 16. Henry V. D. Burgh, Judge and Justice. do. 16. Peter Harris, Asst. and Justice.
do. 16. James Duncan, Justice. do. 16. Lawrence Lawrence, Justice. do. 16. Matthew Brett, do.
do. 17. Uriah Lawrence, do.
do. 17. Andrew Moorhous, do. do. 17. Thomas Menzies, do.
do. 17. Malcom Morison, do.
June 6. Bartholomew Noxon, do.
do. 7. Henry Rosekranz, Jr., do.
do. 7. Cornelius Humphrey, do.
do. 14. Thomas Baldwin, do. do. 15. Andrew Bostwick, do.
Aug. 31. Conrad Wineger, do.
Oct. 4. Daniel Sleght, Naturalized.
do. 4. John Michel Richer, do. 4. Thomas Barker, Justice. do. 14. Lewis Duboys, Under Sheriff.
Dec. 6. Ephraim Paine, Justice. 1770. Jan. 30. Henry Hegaman, Justice. Feb. 3. Jacobus Swartwout, Coroner.
Mar. 6. Cornelis Knickerbocker, Captain. do. 6. Jacob Millins, Ist Lieut.
do. 6. Johannes George Rorick, 2d Lieut.
do. 6. Benjamin Van Leman, Ensign.
do. 20. Thomas Taber, Justice. Apr. 17. Johannes Rauch, Captain. do. 17. John Wise Erus, ist Lieut.
do. 17. James Wilson, Ensign.
do. 17. Lewis Bryan, Ist Lieut.
do. 17. James Winchell, 2d Lieut. do. 17. William Knickerbocker, Ensign.
May 7. John Lovell, 2d Lieut. do. 15. John Child, Attorney. do. 16. James Meed, Ist Lieut.
do. 22. Benjamin DeLamatter, Ensign.
June 16. Henry Ellis, Justice.
July 10. James Atwater, do. Sept. 27. Silas Marsh,* Attorney. 1771. Feb. 9. John Lloyd, Under Sheriff.
May 16. Reuben Hopkins, Attorney. June 14. Bev. Robinson, Judge and Justice. Oct. 31. Enos Northrup, Under Sheriff. 1772.
Feb. 17. James Vanderburgh, Justice. Oct. 9. Duncan Campbell, do. do. 9. Alex'r Grant, do. do. 16. Philip I. Livingston, High Sheriff. do. 16. Peter Dubois, Under Sheriff. 1773. Jan. 6. John Terrill, Justice. Feb. 15. Ananias Cooper, do.
Thrice during the revolutionary period (1780- 1782,) did the Marquis de Chastellux, a French general officer under Rochambeau, extend his
67
DE CHASTELLUX'S TRAVELS THROUGH DUCHESS COUNTY.
travels to this county. His observations, published in a rare work entitled Travels in North America, are, with the exception of Anburey's, which will be noticed in another connection, the earliest having a local interest to Duchess county of which we have knowledge. A view of the county at that early period through the eyes of so distinguished a character can not fail to interest the present in- habitants of Duchess.
De Chastellux made his first visit in November, 1780, while en route from Rhode Island to " Prak- ness," where Washington's army then lay. He crossed the Housatonic, "or river of Stratford," "near Bull's iron works," (now Bull's Bridge,) where, he says, it " is easily forded," and "lost in admiration at the view of the charming landscape, formed by the combination of forges, of the fall of water which seems to work them, and of the varie- gated prospect of trees and rocks with which this picturesque scene is embellished," followed its course south to the mouth of Ten Mile River. After ascending the latter two or three miles he came " in sight of several handsome houses, forming a part of the district called The Oblong." Two miles further on he arrived at the inn kept by Colonel Moorhouse ; " for nothing is more com- mon in America," he says, "than to see an inn- keeper a Colonel : they are in general militia col- onels, chosen by the militia themselves, who seldom fail to entreat the command to the most esteemed, and most creditable citizens." With a motive which did little credit to his heart, he urged for- ward his horses " to get the start of a traveler on horseback" who had joined him on the road, and would have the same right with himself to lodgings had they arrived together. He " had the satisfaction, however, to see him pursue his jour- ney ; but soon learnt with concern, that the little inn where [he] proposed to pass that night, was occupied by thirteen farmers, and two hundred and fifty oxen coming from New Hampshire." The oxen were " a part of the contingent of provisions " furnished by that State to the army. They, he adds, "were the least inconvenient part of the company, as they were left to graze in a meadow hard by, without even a dog to guard them ; but the farmers, their horses, and dogs, were in possession of the inn." They occupied " all the rooms, and all the beds," and he " was in the greatest distress ;" when, with remarkable magninimity, "a tall, fat man, the principal person amongst them," being informed who he was, assured him, " that neither he, nor his companions, would ever suffer a French general
officer to want a bed, and that they would rather sleep on the floor; adding, that they were accus- tomed to it, and that it would be attended with no inconvenience." He assured them that, being a military man, he was as much accustomed as then- selves to making the earth his bed, and they "had long debates on this point of politesse;" but the result was that he and his aides "had a two-bedded room."
He "parted good friends" with his New Hamp- shire acquaintances, whose "size and stature struck" him; and on the morning of the "20th of December" [should be November] resumed his journey. "Three miles from Moorhouse's," he says, "is a very high hill; we then descend, but not quite so much as we ascended; but the road here is over elevated ground, leaving large moun- tains on the left. The country is well cultivated ; affording the prospect of several pretty farms, with some mills ; and notwithstanding the war, Hopel [Hopewell] township is building, inhabited chiefly by Dutch people." It was his intention "to sleep five miles this side of Fishkill, at Colonel Griffin's tavern ;" but being assured by that gentleman, whom he found " cutting and preparing wood for fences," that "his house was full, which was easy to be believed, for it was very small," he continued his journey and reached Fishkill about four o'clock. " This town," he says, referring to Fishkill, "in which there are not more than fifty houses in the space of two miles, has been long the principal depot of the American army. It is there they have placed their magazines, their hospitals, their work- shops, &c., but all these form a town of themselves, composed of some handsome large barracks, built in the wood at the foot of the mountains." As evidence of the "great importance" of the post at Fishkill, which, he says, being "situated on the high road from Connecticut," "near the North River," and " protected by a chain of inaccessible mountains," "has all the qualities necessary for a place of depot," he cites the campaign of 1777, which made it " clear that the plan of the English was to render themselves masters of the whole course of the North River, and thus to separate the Eastern and Western States," and " necessary therefore to secure a post on that river; West Point was made choice of as the most important to fortify, and Fishkill, as the place best adapted to the establishment of the principal depot of pro- visions, ammunition, &c."
How, " with difficulty," he found lodgings, which were made "very scarce" by the movement of
68
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
troops to winter quarters ; but he "got at last into a middling inn, next [kept] by an old Mrs. Egre- mont. The house was not so clean as they usually are in America ; but the most disagreeable circum- stance was the want of several panes of glass. In fact, of all repairs, that of windows is the most diffi- cult, in a country where, from the scattered situ- ation and distance of the houses from each other, it is sometimes necessary to send twenty miles for a glazier." But, having " made use of every thing that came to hand to patch up the windows," with the aid of " an excellent fire," and under the genial influences of the polite attentions of "the Doctor of the hospital" and "the Quarter-master of Fish- kill," he managed to pass the night. In the morn- ing he was conducted by the latter "to see the barracks, the magazines, and work-houses of the different workmen employed in the service of the army." "These barracks," he says, " are wooden houses, well built and well covered, having garrets, and even cellars." Here, he adds, "such ample provision is made for every thing that the service and discipline of the army may require, that a prévôté and a prison are built there, surrounded by palisades. One gate only affords access to the inclosure of the prévôté ; and before it is placed a guard-house." "After passing some time in visiting these different settlements," he proceeded toward West Point. Four or five miles from Fishkill, he passed a camp in the woods occupied by "some hun- dred invalid soldiers," who, he says, "were all in very good health, but had been sent here because their cloaths were truly invalids." "These honest fel- lows," he adds, " for I will not say creatures, (they know to well how to suffer, and are suffering in too noble a cause,) were not covered, even with rags ; but their steady countenances, and their arms in good order, seemed to supply the defect of cloaths, and to display nothing but their courage and their patience." He continued his journey "in the woods, in a road hemmed in on both sides by very steep hills, which seemed admirably adapted for the dwelling of bears, and where in fact they often make their appearance in winter." He availed himself "at length of a less difficult part of these mountains to turn to the westward." Descending slowly towards the river, "at the turning of the road," he says, "my eyes were struck with the most magnificent picture I had ever beheld. It was a view of the North River, running in a deep channel formed by the mountains, through which, in former ages it had forced its passage. The fort of West Point and the formidable batteries which |
defend it fix the attention on the western bank, but on lifting your eyes you behold on every side lofty summits, thick set with redoubts and bat- teries."
The following month, (December, ) DeChastellux, having visited Washington at "Prakness," and extended his travels south to Philadelphia and the battle-field of Brandywine, turned his steps north to visit the battlefields of Stillwater and Saratoga. From New Windsor, which was then the head- quarters of Gen. Washington, he crossed the Hud- son to " Fishkill Landing Place," accompanied by that officer, in whose barge he made the passage. The object of crossing the river at this point was, he says, "to gain the eastern road, preferred by travellers to the western." Here he took leave of Washington, who insisted that Col. Smith should accompany him to " Poughkensie" (Poughkeepsie.) " The road to this town," he says, " passes pretty near Fishkill, which we leave on the right, from thence we travel on the heights, where there is a beautiful and extensive prospect, and traversing a township, called Middlebrook, arrive at the creek, and at Wapping Fall. There I halted a few minutes to consider, under different points of view, the charming landscape formed by this river, as well from its cascade, which is roaring and pictur- esque, as from the groups of trees and rocks, which, combined with a number of saw-mills and furnaces, compose the most capricious and romantic pros- pect."
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