History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 5

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 5
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 5

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The fall of Oswego did not awaken the energies of Lord Loudoun-if it can be said that he possessed any-but on the contrary he abandoned all offensive operations that had been contemplated, and contented himself with doing nothing. Having wasted the season in shameful idleness, he, on his arrival in the city of New York, billeted a part of his force for free winter quarters on the citizens, regardless of the remonstrance of the authorities against this invasion of their rights. Overawed by his profane threats, the colonists found themselves obliged to support the British soldiers, who had done nothing in their behalf. In June of the following year he made an ineffectual effort to capture Louisburg. Before leaving New York, he rendered himself still more detestable to the colonists, by laying an embargo upon the seaports from Massachusetts to Virginia, and impressing four hundred men from the city of New York alone. He went to Halifax, where he was largely reinforced, but instead of making any advance on Louisburg, contented himself by drilling his troops in mock battles, till the complaints of his inactivity became so numerous, that he finally gave orders to embark for that place. Almost as soon as the orders were given, receiving intelligence that Louisburg had been reinforced, and that the French feet contamed one more vessel than his, he countermanded his orders and came back to New York, having accomplished nothing. While he was thus trifling, Montcalm, watchful of his movements, proceeded with a large force of French and Indians against Fort William Henry, then in command ot Colonel Monroe, with about twenty-two hundred men. General Webb, the English commander in that quarter, was at Fort Ed- ward with tour thousand men. Montcalm landed with his men and

EXPEDITIONS AGAINST LOUISBURG, TICONDEROGA, DUQUENSE AND QUEBEC.

artillery at a point about two miles from Fort William Henry, where he was entirely sheltered from its guns ; beleagured its garrison, and sent a sum- mons to Monroe to surrender, which he defiantly disregarded, confident of being relieved by Webb. The French then opened fire on the fort, which was spiritedly returned by the garrison. Expre ses were sent to Webb imploring aid ; but that coward remained inactive, terrified at the distant roar of artillery. Finally, after repeated solicitations, be allowed Generals Johnson and Putnam with his rangers, to march to the aid of Monroe; but they had proceeded only a few miles when he recalled them, and sent a letter to Monroe, advising him to surrender. This letter was intercepted by Montcalm, who forwarded it to Monroe, requesting him to follow Webb's advice, and save further loss of life. Still the intrepid colonel held out until his ammunition was nearly exhausted, part of his guns dis- abled, and all hopes of assistance abandoned, and under these discourag- ing circumstances, he was forced to capitulate on the 9th of August, and the sixth day of the siege. By the terms of surrender, the garrison were allowed to leave the fort with all the honors of war, and furnished with an escort to Fort Edward. On the next morning, when they began their march, the Indians, who had spent the night in debauch, began an indis- criminate massacre and robbery of the English troops. Despite the efforts of Montcalm, many of the disarmed and defenceless soldiers were slain, and only a thousand reached Fort Edward. Fort William Henry was demolished. General Webb, paralyzed with terror, prepared to retreat, although reinforced until his army was more than double that of the enemy.

CHAPTER VII.

THE EXTINCTION OF THE FRENCH POWER IN AMERICA-THE NEW YORK JUDICIARY-INTERNATIONAL CONTENTIONS. 1

By these repeated failures the spirit of the English ministry in meeting the exigencies of the occasion was aroused, and William Pitt, a very able statesman, was entrusted with the management of affairs. His accession gave a new impulse to the national energies, and the campaign for 1758 opened under more favorable auspices. Three formidable expeditions were projected for this year against Louisburg, Ticonderoga, and Fort Duquesne respectively. Admiral Boscawen, with twenty ships of the line and fifteen frigates, together with twelve thousand men under General Amherst, arrived before Louisburg on the zd day of June, and entered vigorously upon the siege of that fortress, and on the 26th of July the French commander, finding farther opposition useless, surrendered at dis- cretion. The army destined for the reduction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point under General Abercrombie, consisting of nine thousand provincials and seven thousand regulars with a fine train of artillery, assembled at the head of Lake George, from whence they embarked on the 5th of July for the fortress at Ticonderoga, which was held by Montcalm with about four thousand men. They landed the next day and began their march, neces- sarily leaving their artillery behind until the bridges which had been destroyed by the enemy could be rebuilt. It was the purpose of Aber- crombie to hasten forward and carry Ticonderoga by storm before re-in- forcements which were expected could arrive. The advance party fell in with a body of the enemy and Lord Howe, the second in command and the soul of the expedition, was killed. The loss of Howe was severely felt and the incompetent Abercrombie, uncertain what course to pursue, fell back to the landing place. Colonel Bradstreet advanced, rebuilt the bridges and took possession of some saw mills destroyed by the enemy , about two miles from Ticonderoga, to which place Abercrombie advanced with his army, and sent forward an engineer with a party of rangers to re- connoitre. They reported that the works could be easily taken. Stark, who led the rangers, thought differently, and so advised Abercrombie, but he rejected his advice and ordered an attack without artillery which, after a desperate struggle, was repulsed with the loss of nearly two thousand men. With the great force still at his command Abercrombie, instead of bring- ing up his artillery to bombard the French works, sounded a retreat, and unpursued by the enemy, returned to the head of lake George and sent his artillery and stores to Albany. Colonel Bradstreet, anxious to do something to retrieve the disgrace of this shameful retreat, asked to lead an expedition against Fort Frontenac which had been, with the entire fleet on Lake Ontario, surrendered on the 26th of August. The command of the expedition against Fort Duquesne was given to General Forbes. Con-

trary to the advice of Washington, Forbes insisted on having a new road cut to the fort. With this and other delays, on the 5th of November the English forces were still forty miles from their destination, when it was re- solved to go into winter quarters. Washington, satisfied of the inability of the garrison to resist an attack, asked and obtained permission to push forward with his Virginians, and, on his approach, the French set fire to the fort and fled. On the 25th, Washington took possession of the ruins, and changed the name from Duquesne to Pittsburg.

Although Louisburg and Fort Duquesne had been retaken, still there could be no security for the frontier so long as Fort Niagara and the posts on Lake Champlain were held by the French, nor even while Canada re- mained unsubjugated. Accordingly, adequate preparations were made for the campaign of 1759. Abercrombie was superseded in the command of the expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point by General Amherst. General Wolfe was directed to ascend the St. Lawrence to Quebec, and General Prideaux was to take Fort Niagara and proceed to Montreal. He was joined by General Johnson at Oswego, from which point he sailed for Fort Niagara, leaving Haldimand with a force at Oswego. The latter was soon afterwards attacked by a body of French and Indians, but succeeded in repulsing them. On the 17th of July, Prideaux appeared before Ni- agara, but soon after the siege began he was killed by the bursting of a shell, carelessly discharged by one of his gunners. Johnson succeeded to the command and the siege continued without cessation. In the mean- time, D'Aubrey, aware of the danger of this important post, collected a force of nearly three thousand French and Indian troops and made an effort to raise the siege. Apprised of their approach, Johnson, leaving a force to prevent the garrison from co-operating with D'Aubrey, marched against the advancing enemy. A sharp conflict ensued in which D'Au- brey's forces were defeated and himself taken prisoner, and the next day the garrison surrendered. General Amherst, with a force of nearly twelve thousand men arrived at Ticonderoga on the 22d of July, and in four days thereafter the garrison abandoned the post and withdrew to Crown Point, which also was abandoned on the approach of Amherst.

The strength of Quebec was well known, and General Wolfe left Louis- burg under convoy of a large fleet and eight thousand regulars to capture it. It was intended that Amherst should sweep Lake Champlain, capture Montreal, and form a junction with Wolfe before Quebec, but he failed to accomplish his part, and Wolfe alone had the glory of taking that strong fortress. On the 27th of June he landed on the Isle of Orleans, a few miles below the city. Montcalm occupied the place with thirteen thousand men, and a strongly entrenched camp extended below the city from the river St. Charles to the Montmorenci. General Monckton took a position at Point Levi, opposite Quebec, with but little opposition, and erected bat- teries from which the lower town was considerably damaged, but no im- pression could be made on the walls of the city. General Wolfe crossed the St. Lawrence and encamped on the left bank of the Montmorenci within cannon shot of the enemy on the opposite side, and resolved to storm their strong camp. Monckton crossed the St. Lawrence a little above the Montmorenci, and at the same time the forces on the opposite side forded that stream and joined his division. The grenadiers, impatient of restraint, rushed up the bank before the troops that were to support them could be made available, and were consequently repulsed with fear- ful loss, when they took shelter behind a redoubt which had been aban- doned by the enemy in the commencement of the action. At this time a tempestuous thunder-storm broke over the belligerents, and before it abated, night came on, and the English were obliged to recross the river. Weeks passed, and the capture of Quebec seemed as far off as ever. The arrival of Amherst was looked for in vain, and Wolfe and his officers, weary and impatient of delay, concerted a plan for scaling the Height of Abraham, back of Quebec, and thas forcing the French into an eng ige- ment. The camp at Montmorenci was broken up and the troops conveyed to Point Levi. Admiral Holmes ascended the river with a part of the troops and artillery. At night the reminder proceeded up the river, and Montcalm, thinking they were about to raise the siege, remained in his camp, while Boargainville marched up the river to prevent their landing. Before daylight, the British returning silently down the river, unperceived by the French, landed and ascended the precipice. The French guard was dispersed, and by daylight five thousand regulars were drawn up in battle array on the Plains of Abraham. When this intelligence reached Montcalm he saw at once the danger of his garrison, and marched his army across the St. Charles to attack the English, A fierce battle followed

OUTLINE HISTORY OF STATE OF NEW YORK

in which both Wolfe and Montcalm were slain and the French army de- feated, and on the 18th of September, five days after, Quebec was sur- rendered to the English.

To the following Spring. De Levi, the successor of Montcalm, attempted the recapture of Quebec, which had been left in charge of General Murray with seven thousand men. De Levi advanced upon the city with an army of tea thousand, and Murray, marching out to attack him, was defeated and forced to tetreat to the city. De Lewi followed up his success, but on the arrival of the English feet in the St. Lawrence he retired in great alarm to Montreal. General Amherst appeared before that city on the 6th of September, 1760. Murray approached from Quebec on the same day, and on the day following Colonel Haviland arrived with his division from Crown Point. De Vaudreuil, the governor-general, despairing of a suc- cessful defence, capitulated on the 8th. As the result of this campaign, Canada, with all her dependencies, fell into the hands of the English, and hostilities between the colonies of the two nationalities ceased, Peace. however, was not concluded between England and France until February roth, 1763, when France ceded to England all her possessions in Canada.

Oa the 30th of July, 1760, Governor De Lancey suddenly died, and Cadwallader Colden took charge of the government, being president of the council. In August, 1761, he received his commission as lieutenant-gov- ernor. The death of De Lancey left the seat of chief-justice vacant, and the remaining judges, having doubted their ability to issue processes since the death of King George II., under whom they had held their old com- missions, urged Colden to appoint a successor. Colden requested the Colonial Secretary of State to nominate a chief-justice, and he not only nominated but appointed Benjamin Pratt, a lawyer from Boston, to hold the position at the pleasure of the king instead of during good behavior, as formerly. The people regarding this as an encroachment on their rights and liberties, vigorously protested, and the remaining judges even refused to act longer unless they could hold their commissions during good be- havior. When the assembly met, Colden requested that the salary of the chief-justice should be increased, but that body not only refused to increase it, but refused to provide for it unless the judges' commissions se- cured them their seats during good behavior. The chief-justice having served some time without a salary, the income of the royal quit-rents of the province was appropriated to his compensation.

General Robert Monckton was appointed Governor of New York, and assumed the reins of government in October, 1761, but left on the 13th of the following month to command an expedition against Martinique, leaving the administration of affairs again in the hands of Colden. In 1763 the boundary line between New York and New Hampshire became a subject of much controversy. The disputed territory was the tract of land between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain, comprising what is now known as the State of Vermont. The patent granted to the Duke of York in 1664 included all the land west of the Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay. Controversies had arisen growing out of the indefinite character of their respective charters between the provinces of New York and those of Connecticut and Massachusetts relative to their boundaries. which had been adjusted by negotiation and compromise. The line agreed upon was to extend north and south twenty miles east of the Hudson River. New Hampshire, regardless of justice or title, insisted upon hav - ing the same western boundary. Against this claim New York vigorously protested, but the protests were unheeded, and the Governor of New Hampshire continued to issue grants until, in 1763, one hundred and thirty- eight townships had been granted. Alarmed at this em roachment, and in order to stop these proceedings. Governor Colden, in December, 1763. issued a proclamation claiming jurisdiction to the Connecticut River under the patent granted to the Duke of York, and commanded the sheriff of Albany county to return the names of all persons who, by virtue of the New Hampshire grants, had taken possession of lands west of the Con- necticut River. This was followed by a counter proclamation from the Governor of New Hampshire, declaring that the grant to the Duke of York was obsolete, and that his grantees should be protected in the pos- session of their land .. Through the Board of Trade the disputed question was referred to the crown, and in 1764 a decision was obtamed pronoune- ing the Connecticut River the boundary between the provinces of New York and New Hampshire. Upon this decision the government of New York declared the grants from the Governor of New Hampshire illegal, and insisted that the grantees should surrender or re-purchase the lands upon which they had settled. To this unjust demand the greater part refused

to accede, and the Governor of New York thereupon granted their lands to others, who brought ejectment suits against the former occupants, and oh- tained judgment at the courts of Albany. All attempts, however, of the executive officers to enforce these judgments met with a spirited resistance. and led to continual hostilities between the settlers and the government of New York.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE APPROACH OF THE REVOLUTION-PATRIOTIC ATTITUDE OF NEW VORK-THE FIRST BATTLE FOUGHT IN 1770.

The representative assemblies of the provinces had occasionally remon- strated against the various acts of Parliament which tended to abridge their liberties, and the regulation of the Board of Trade by which their manufactures and commerce were injuriously affected ; yet their attach- ment to the mother country, and regard for her institution-, had not to any considerable extent been weakened. But now the borders of the Revolu- tionary struggle were reached, and the time had arrived when unquestioned submission to the exactions of arbitrary power had ceased to be considered a virtue, and knowing the value of their liberties, the colonies firmly asserted their rights. They were heavily burdened by the expenses of the late war, for which they had liberally contributed, materially aiding in pro- curing for the English government a vast and valuable accession of terri- tory ; yet their generous support of the power and dignity of the realmn, the British ministry regarded as only the exercise of a duty, and before the smoke had fairly drifted away from the battle grounds, began to devise plans for taxing them to raise a revenue without their consent. The first measure which aroused the colonists to a lively sense of their danger, was the issuing of writs of assistance, which the English ministry had deter- mined to force upon them. These were, in effect, search warrants, whereby custom house officers were enabled the better to collect revenues by breaking open houses or stores that were suspected of containing concealed contraband goods. This exercise of arbitrary power created indignation and alarm, and the colonists resolved to resist it. Public meetings were held, and remonstrances sent to Parliament, but without effect. The min- istry were determined to derive a revenue from the colonies, either by im- port duties or direc taves, vigorously levied and collected, and the writs were granted : but the feelings of the people were such that the custom house officers never attempted to carry their new powers into execution.

In 1764 George Grenville, then at the head of the English ministry, sub- mitted to the House of Commons a proposition for raising a revente by the sale of stamps to the colonists, at the same time assuring the colonial agents that he would not press its immediate adoption, but leave the plan open for consideration. When intelligence reached the colonists that such an act was meditated by the ministry, discontent was everywhere visible The provincial assemblies strenuously refused to recognize the right of Parliament to tax them without their consent, and asserted the sole right to tax themselves. They passed resolutions of remonstrance; and clearly demonstrated that taxation without representation in Parliament was unjust and tyrannical ; but, in contempttions disregard of all respectful remon- strances and petitions, the Stamp Act was passed in March. 1765. By its provisions no legal or commercial documents were valid unless written or printed on stamped paper, upon which a price was set, according to the nature of the instrument, payable to officers appointed by the Crown. The passage of this act created feelings of resentment throughout the colonies, accompanied In a determination to resist or evde its enforcement. The people of New York were among the most lutter in their opposition to the measure. An association, styling itselt the sons of Liberty, hell meetings to discuss plans for resistance. The olenwovious act was reprinted and paraded almut the streets of New York city, bearing the inscription. " The folly of England, and rum of America." A comittee was appointed by the New York Assembly, in October, 170g. to correspond with the several colonial assemblies, with a view to resisting the oppressive measures of Parliament. They suggested to the several colonies the holding of a con- vention, to remonstrate against the violation of their liberties. This sug- gestion wa. heartily responded to, and delegates were appointed, who convened in the city of New York on the 7th of October, 1705. This body continued in session two weeks, and adopted a declaration of rights, it petition to the King, and a memonal to Parhament, in which the principles by which the culomes were governed through the Revolution were clearly foreshadowed.

EXCITEMENT OVER THE STAMP ACT-ITS REPEAL, AND OTHER TAXES LEVIED.

The Stamp Act was to take effect on the first day of November. As the appointed time drew near. the excitement increased, and when the day had finally arrived, flags floated at half mast, bells were tolled as on funeral occasions, and many other manifestations of public sorrow and discontent were made. The stamped paper, which had previously arrived, had been deposited in the Fort for safe keeping. under the direction of Governor Colden, who had taken the oath to execute the Stamp Act, but McEvers, who had been appointed by the Crown to manage its distribution and sale, seeing the manifestations of popular indignation, resigned. In the evening the Sons of Liberty appeared before the Fort, and demanded the stamped paper. On being refused, they repaired to the Commons, where they hung Governor Colden in effigy, and returned to the Fort with his image. Not being admitted at the gate, they broke into Colden's stable, and brought out his carriage, placed the effigy in it, paraded the streets, and returned to the Fort, where it was again hung. They then made a bonfire, and burned the carnage and its accompaniments. A party proceeded to the house of Major James, an artillery officer who had rendered himself particularly obnoxious, destroyed the furniture, and carried off the colors of the Royal Artillery regiment. The next day Coldlen announced that he should not issue any of the stamped paper while he remained in office, but leave it to his successor, who was already on his way from England. But the Sons of Liberty, not satisfied with this assurance, insisted that the stamped paper should be delivered into their hands, and threatened to take it by force if it was not. The Common Council, alarmed at their ungovernable fury, requested that the paper might be deposited in the City Hall, which was done, and a guaranty given for its safe keeping. In the meantime, at a meeting called by the citizens, a committee was appointed to correspond with the merchants of the several colonies, inviting them to enter into an agreement not to import certain goods from England, which suggestion was promptly acted upon, and the trade with England almost ceased.

When the new governor, Sir Henry Moore, arrived, he was disposed to carry the Stamp Act into execution, but the unanimous advice of his council, together with the unmistakable character of public sentiment, soon convinced him of the folly of such an attempt. The Sons of Liberty seized ten boxes of stamped paper, on the arrival of a vessel containing it, con- veyed it to the ship-yards, and it was consumed in a bonfire. The Stamp Act was so odious to the colonies, and their opposition to it was so effec- tive, that it was repealed on the 18th of March, 1766, but immediately on its repeal a bill was passed declaring the absolute right of Parliament "to tax the colonies in all cases whatsoever." The repeal, however, was not owing to any appeals from the colonists, for Parliament would not receive the petitions of the Colonial Congress, because that body had not been summoned to meet by it ; but it was because of the influence of London merchants, whose trade was seriously affected by the non-importation agreement. Notwithstanding the declaratory act that accompanied the re- peal, the news was hailed with a delirium of delight, and the city was in a blaze of illumination in honor of the event. On the King's birthday, which occurred soon afterwards, the New Yorkers assembled, and with enthusiastic manifestations of loyalty erected a liberty-pole, inscribed to the King, Pitt, and Liberty. The Assembly met in June, and the Gover- nor requested its compliance with the demands of the ministry in relation to furnishing supplies for the troops stationed in New York city. Some controversy ensued upon the subject, and only a partial compliance could be obtained from the Assembly.

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 5

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664