History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 63

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336

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" SAMUEL SANDS, " MOSES ILIGBY,

" AtousT 22, 1775. " Tiro of Committee." " HONORABLE GENTLEMEN,-Agreeable to your directions of the 9th inst , the Militia Company of the North District of Newburgh Precinct

258

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

regiment of minnte men was constituted, of which Thomas Palmer, of Newburgh, was colonel; Thomas Johnson, lieutenant-colonel ; Arthur Parks, of Ilan- over, and Samuel Logan, of New Windsor, majors; Severyn T. Bruyn, adjutant, and Isaac Belknap, quar- termaster. On the 23d of July, 1776, the Convention directed the general committee of the county to or- ganize three companies (in all 20I men) of rangers to be employed " as scouting parties to range the woods" and prevent attacks by the Indians, and in such other service as might be required. Of one of these com- panie> Isaac Belknap was appointed captain ;* - Schoonmaker, first lieutenant ; Petrus Roosa, second lieutenant, and David Clark, corporal. In addition to these regiments and companies, the committee was constantly engaged in promoting enlistments in the State and Continental regiments, and in the discharge of their duties found little leisure time.

The history of the services of the militia of the preeinet cannot now be fully written ; but the records preserved, and which have been already quoted, show that they were repeatedly called outt during the war, and rendered important service. Even the aged were not exempt from duty. The Provincial Convention, in 1778, invited those "who, in ordinary circum- stances, would be exempts," to form companies to call was responded to by Martin Wiegand, Humphrey Merritt, Saml. Stratton, William Bloomer, Joseph Albertson, William Carseaden, Isaac Fowler, Reuben Holmes, William Ward, Jr., James Denton, Jas. Waugh, and others, and a company-of which San- uel Edmonds was captain; Nathaniel Wyatt, first lieutenant ; John Stratton, second lieutenant, and Michael Lewis, ensign-organized and held in readi- ness for service .?

assembled on the 26th inst. at the house of Lemnel Conklin. and choose, by a majority of voices of the soldiers belonging to said District, the fol- lowing persons for their Militia Officers, viz .: Arthur Smith, Captain; Isaac Fowler, Jr., 1st Lieutenant ; John Foster, 2d Lieutenant; Daniel Clark, Ensign. We are, &c.,

* The second company was placed under the command of Capt. Jacob R. De Witt, the third under Capt. Elias Hasbrouck. They were discharged March, 1777.

+ How frequently the militia of Newburgh was called out is shown by the following return made of the services of Col. Hasbrouck's regiment : Dec. 12, 1776-Alarm and service at Ramapo. 300 men 27 days.

Jan. 7, 1777

100

200

Mch. 7,

Fort Montgomery ... 150 12

.130

July,

Fort Montgomery ... 460

.,500

October, .4

New Windsor ..... .. 120

April, 1778

West Point .. .420

8 -''linton Papers.

* Imring the entire war the exempts were assessed to supply men in their places in the ranks of the militia.

¿ The persons named in the return had previously served in some one of the companies composing Col. Hasbrouck's regiment .- Clinton Papers.

that the people of Newburgh contributed to the war. A depot for stores, under the charge of Andrew Tay- lor, deputy quartermaster-general, was established here in 1777, and was maintained until the peace. Of course it devolved upon the inhabitants of the dis- trict, in the absence of regular troops, to collect the various stores needed by the army, and to convey them to distant points. When the tidings of the terrible sufferings at Valley Forge were received, they came forward with every mode of conveyance in their possession, eager to transport provisions, and the extent of their services may be inferred from a letter of Col. Taylor to Governor Clinton, in which he states that "every sleigh and horse in the neighborhood is completely used np in this duty."

Nor was this all. The inhabitants of Newburgh were subjected to great inconvenience and privations from the fact that the militia of other sections were located here, the place being made a point of rendez- vous by general orders, | and the billeting of soldiers on the people was of frequent occurrence. To supply them with food involved a heavy tax on the inhab- itants, and their own families were often redneed to want by complying with the demands thus made upon their stores.

On the reduction of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, repel invasions and suppress insurrections .; This | in 1777, the people living near the river removed their families and goods into the interior, in accord- ance with the suggestions of the Committee of Safety, expecting that the expedition under Vaughan and Wallace would lay waste the village ; but in this they were fortunately disappointed. The expedition passed by, bestowing no other attention on the settlement than the discharge of a few cannon. What was then the village was shielded from the passing shot by its position on the hill beyond the range of ship-guns, as But it was not merely by their services as militia , well as by a dense growth of trees in many places along the river-bank, and hence escaped injury from that source. When the fleet returned, a continual cannonade was kept up from its transports, by which one man was killed on the ferry-boat ;" but the pres- " MOSES HIGHY, " JOSEPH COLEMAN, "AtHI ST 26, 1775." " Tiro of Committee. ence of the militia deterred the predatory boat expe- ditions by which its presence was marked at Kings- ton. After passing the cheraur-de-frise, one of the frigates was anchored and remained for some time in taking soundings. The militia meanwhile was posted at Newburgh, New Windsor, and other points in the vicinity, and kept wakeful watch of the enemy's = movements .**

| " NEWBURGH, Dec. 18, 1775 .- Pursuant to the orders of Congress to the regiment under my command, to be in readiness upon auy proper alarm, I have appointed the place of general rendezvous to be at the house of Martin Weigand, in Newburgh Precinct.

" J. HASBROUCK, Col." -. Irchires, 307, 4th Series.

" On the 18th of October, 1777, Gen. James Clinton, writing from his headquarters at the house of Abel Belknap, says, "Five of the British ships returned this day down the river and fired many shots, but only killed one man on the ferry-boat."

** In a letter dated " Abel Belknap's, October 23d," Gen. Clinton writes, " The enemy's frigate still lies below the cheraux-de-frise, and it was my

Angust,

.. Fort Constitution .... 200

Burning of Esopns ... 460 30

Navr.

Peekskill. 250

259

NEWBURGH.

But the precinet had not passed the ordeal un- courged, although it escaped direet devastation by he enemy. In the defense of the Highland forts nany of its men had been killed, and others taken prisoners. They had been summoned from their omes but a single day previous to that of the fatal attle; had left their families, as they had many times before, expecting an early return, but to their homes eturned not. How great the anxiety, as the progress of the conflict was watched from the hill-tops,-how great the mourning, as the flames which had been ighted on the vessels-of-war proclaimed the result,- ve may not know; we only read the expressive record hat the poor taxes of the precinct rose from £50 to 800, and that special donations were collected for ' such poor whose husbands or parents were killed or aken prisoners at Fort Montgomery."*

From this brief survey of local Revolutionary ser- ices and suffering, let us return to the events of more eneral interest that cluster around the precincts of Newburgh and New Windsor. When, in the spring f 1779, Washington was thrown on the defensive, he concentrated the Continental army in the Highlands nd in Smith's Clove, and established his headquarters n the William Ellison house on the hill immediately outh of the village of New Windsor.+ Here he con- erted measures to counteract the campaign of the nemy, who by moving on New London and the Con- ectient coast hoped to draw the Continental forces n that direction and render the Highland forts an asy prey. Instead of meeting these anticipations, Washington sent Wayne to attack Stony Point, and he decisive action there compelled the enemy to bandon the Connecticut expedition and with it the eduction of West Point. Although found to be un- enable and hence abandoned, the capture of Stony Point was one of the boldest and most snecessful stra- egie movements of the war. Finding that Washing- on could not be induced to leave West Point defense- ess, Sir Henry Clinton organized a campaign against he Southern States. Retaining his headquarters at he Ellison house, Washington remained in compar- tive idleness. It was the darkest period of the var; without assistance from European powers, the au-e of independence was acknowledged to be hope- essly lost. Ultimately that assistance was secured ; France furnished an army and a fleet ; Holland sent money ; confidence revived; the Continental forces vere recruited, and under the drill of Stenben rivaled

in discipline the armies of Europe. Threatening an attack on New York, and thereby obliging Sir Henry Clinton to retain his reinforcements at that place, Washington changed his plans, and before Sir Henry was aware of it, had moved his forces from New Windsor and was far on the march towards Yorktown.

Soon after the successful termination of the siege of Yorktown (Oct. 7, 1781), the main portion of the American army returned to the Hudson River ; and Washington (April, 1782) made his headquarters at the Hasbrouck house, in Newburgh. For a short time in the autumn of 1782 the army was encamped at Verplanek's Point, where a junction was effected with the French army, which until that time had re- mained in Virginia. Immediately after this junction the latter marched to Boston, and the American army crossed the Hudson and went into winter-quarters above the Highlands,-portions being stationed at New Windsor,# at Fishkill, and in the vicinity of Walden. Gens. Knox and Greene were quartered at the house of Mr. John Ellison (late Capt. Charles Morton's) ; Gens. Gates and St. Clair were quartered at the Edmonston house, near Ellison's; Wayne, at the old hotel of Martin Weigand, in Newburgh ; and the Baron Steuben, at the house of Mr. Samuel Ver- planck, in Fishkill .¿ During the summer of 1783 a portion of the army was in tents on the plain now occupied by the upper streets of the city, and passed through the usual exercises of camp-life under the careful drill of Baron Steuben. A portion of the army remained in camp here until the 3d of Novem- ber, when it was formally disbanded.

For a long time prior to the breaking up of the army, discontent had prevailed among the soldiers and officers respecting the arrearages in their pay. On the 30th October, 1780, Congress had passed reso- lutions granting half-pay for life to the officers, but these resolutions stood on the faith of a government with no funds to enable it to perform its engagements ; and after their passage, the Articles of Confederation had been adopted, which made the consent of nine States necessary to give validity to any act appropri- ating public money ; and nine States had never been

*" Oct. 30, 1782 .- At reveille, on the 26th inst., the left wing of the army, under the command of Gen. Heath, decamped from Verplanck's l'oint and marched to the Ihighlands ; took up our lodgings in the woods, without covering, and were exposed to a heavy rain during the night and day. Thence we crossed the Hadson to West l'oint, and marched over the mountain called Butter Ilill ; passed the night in the open field, and the next day reached the ground where we are to erect log hints for our winter-quarters near New Windsor."-Thacher's Journal, 323.

The Rev. Mr. Gano writes in his journal : " On my return to the army we encamped at Newburgh (New Windsor), and erected some huts and a place for pablic worship on the Lord's day. We had three services a day and preached in rotation."

The camp-ground at New Windsor can still be distinctly traced by the ruins of the huts occupied by the soldiers. l'art of the ground had prob- ably been previously occupied by the New York militia.

¿ With the exception of the house occupied by Gen. Wayne, these buildings are now standing. It may be of interest to add that the Life- guard of Washington occupied tents where the oldl malt-house, on Lib- erty Street, now stands. The store-house of the commissary-general was where the Union Presbyterian church stands.

pinion she was stationed there to prevent our sinking any more; but Jen. Webb informed me yesterday he thought she wanted to get higher p, as she had boats constantly sounding the channel. Gen. Webb's rigade consists of about 500 or 600 men, and is still increasing. They re stationed at New Windsor. Capt. Nicolls and his company at the rerk. Col. Tusten's and Col. Woodhull's regiments from the county ine to Butter Hill, and thence along the Clove road to Francis Smith's. i. Clanghry's regiment at Hasbrouck's Mill, keeping their main quard at Newburgh. Maj. Du Bois with his company from Newburgh long the river north."

* Precinct records.

t See History of New Windsor.

260

IHISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

in favor of the half-pay resolutions. Under these circumstances, and considering the very scanty sup- plies that were furnished to the army, it was quite natural that discontent should prevail.

Complaints were frequently made to Washington, who was fully sensible of the sufferings of his com- panions in arms, and the most earnest appeals were made by him to Congress to satisfy their elaim ; but Congress depended entirely on the States, and thus was powerless to accomplish the end desired. The army now resolved to take the matter into their own hands, and Col. Nicola, an experienced officer and a gentleman of high character, was selected to commu- nieate to Washington their wishes and fears. In May, 1782, Nicola addressed a letter to Washington, at Newburgh, in which, after some general remarks on the deplorable condition of the army, and the little hope that their services would be rewarded by Con- gress, he discussed the different forms of government with a view to show that republics were, of all others, the least stable, and the least adapted to secure the rights, freedom, and power of individuals, and then made a formal tender to Washington, on behalf of those for whom he acted, of the title of king. "In this case," says the writer, " it will, I believe, be un- controverted that the same abilities that have led us through difficulties apparently insurmountable by human power to victory and glory,-those qualities that have merited and obtained the universal esteem and veneration of the army,-would be most likely to conduct and direct us in the smoother paths of peace. Some people have so associated the idea of tyranny and monarchy as to find it difficult to separate them. It may, therefore, be requisite to give the head of such a constitution as I propose some title apparently more moderate; but, if all other things were once adjusted, I believe strong arguments might be pro- duced for admitting the title of King, which I con- ceive would be attended with some advantage."

We are aware that it has been denied that this was an offer of the title of king, yet the whole tenor of the Jetter leads to the opposite conclusion. That it was so regarded by Washington is evident from his reply, in which he says, " With a mixture of surprise and as- tonishment I have read with attention the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, sir, no occurrence in the course of this war has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and which I must view with abhor- rence and reprehend with severity. For the present the consideration of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary. I am much at a loss to con- ceive what part of my conduct could have given en- couragement to an address which seems to me big with the greatest mischiefs that ean befall my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes

are more disagreeable. At the same time, in justice. to my own feelings, I must add, that no man posses-e- a more serious wish to see ample justice done to the army than I do; and, as far as my power and influ- ence, in a constitutional way, extend, they shall be employed, to the utmost of my abilities, to effect it. should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you, then, if you have any regard for your country, con- cern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sen- timent of the like nature.""

This rebuke effectually checked monarchical tenden- cies, but it did not remove the evils under which the army suffered; on the contrary, the grounds of dis- content continued rather to increase. Congress pro- posed to reduce the army, and to discharge many of the officers. Washington, fearing the result of the measure, urged the compensation of the officers and men. "When I see," he adds, "such a number of men, goaded by a thousand stings of reflection on the past, and of anticipation on the future, about to be turned into the world, soured by penury, and what they call the ingratitude of the public; involved in debts, without one farthing of money to carry them home, after having spent the flower of their days, and, many of them, their patrimonies, in establishing the freedom and independence of their country: and having suffered everything which human nature is capable of enduring on this side death ; I repeat it, when I reflect on these irritable circumstances, un- attended by one thing to soothe their feelings or brighten their prospects, I cannot avoid apprehend- ing that a train of evils will follow of a serious and distressing nature. . . . You may rely upon it, the patience and long-suffering of this army are almost exhausted, and there never was so great a spirit of discontent as at this instant." This letter explains fully the situation and motives of the army, and the power of the restraining influence of Washington.

The negotiations for peace were now in the hands of commissioners; and, in view of the speedy dissolu- tion of the army, the officers determined upon one more effort to secure that which they claimed as their right. Previous to going into winter-quarters (De- cember, 1782), they presented a petition to Congress, proposing to accept, instead of the money actually due to them, a commutation of the half-pay stipu- lated by the resolutions of October, 1780, which, they flattered themselves, would be less objectionable than- the half-pay establishment. Some security that the engagements of the government would be complied with was also requested. But in consequence of the divisions in Congress upon other subjects, the impor- tant point in this petition-the commutation of the half-pay of the officers-remained undecided in March, when intelligence was received of the signature of the

* Sparks' Washington, viii. 300, 302.

NEW BURGHI.

preliminary and final articles of peace between the , never healed may at length become incurable; and United States and Great Britain. Soured by their past sufferings, their present wants, and their gloomy prospects ; and exasperated by the neglect with which they believed themselves to be treated, and by the in- ustice that they supposed was meditated against them, the ill temper of the army was almost universal, and seemed to require only a slight breath to cause it to burst forth into a flame.

Early in March a letter was received from the com- mittee in attendance upon the session of Congress, stating that they had failed to accomplish the object of their mission. On the 10th of the same month an anonymons paper was circulated, requesting a meet- ing of the general and field officers at the public build- ing* on the succeeding day ; and stating that an officer from each company, and also a delegate from the medical staff, would be expected. The object of the convention was avowed to be "to consider the late letter from their representatives in Philadelphia, and what measures (if any) should be adopted to obtain that redress of grievances which they seemed to have solicited in vain."

On the same day an address to the army was cir- culated, admirably adapted to work on the passions and to excite the most desperate resolutions. In this paper the writer reviewed the services of the army,- the toils and privations that had been encountered in securing the independence of the States; adverted to the injustice with which the army had been treated, and urged the necessity of some decisive action. "I would advise you. therefore," he concluded, "to come to some final opinion upon what you can bear, and what you will suffer. If your determination be in any proportion to your wrongs, carry your appeal from the justice to the fears of government. Change the milk- and-water style of your last memorial,-assume a bolder tone,-decent, but lively, spirited, and deter- mined, and suspect the man who would advise to more moderation and longer forbearance. Let two or three men who can feel as well as write be appointed to draw up your last remonstrance ; for I would no longer give it the sneing, soft, unsuccessful epitbet of memo- rial. Let it be represented, in language that will neither dishonor you by its rudeness, nor betray you by its fears, what has been promised by Congress and what has been performed,-how long and patiently you have suffered, how little you have asked, and how much of that little has been denied. Tell them that, though yon were the first, you would wish to be the last to encounter danger, and though despair itself can never drive you into dishonor, it may drive you from the field; that the wound often irritated and

that the slightest mark of indignity from Congress now must operate like the grave and part you forever ; that in any political event the army has its alterna- tive. If peace, that nothing shall separate you from your arms but death; if war, that, courting the an- spices and inviting the directions of your illustrious leader, you will retire to some unsettled country, smile in your turn, and ' mock when their fear cometh on.' But let it represent, also, that should they comply with the request of your late memorial, it would make you more happy and them more respectable; that while war should continue, you would follow their standard into the field, and when it came to an end, yon would withdraw into the shade of private life, and give the world another subject of wonder and applause ; an army victorious over its enemies, -vic- torious over itself."

Persuaded as the officers generally were of the in- disposition of the government to remunerate their services, this passionate address made a profound im- pression ; and nothing seemed wanting but the assem- blage fixed for the succeeding day to produce the most disastrous results. "Fortunately," says Marshall, "the commander-in-chief was in camp ; and his char- acteristic firmness did not forsake him in this crisis. The occasion required that his measures should be firm, but prudent and conciliatory ; evincive of his fixed determination to oppose any rash proceedings, but calculated to assuage the irritation which was excited and to restore a confidence in government." This course he at once adopted; and in the general orders of the next day he noticed the anonymous paper, and expressed the conviction he felt that the good sense of the officers wonld guard them against paying any "attention to such an irregular invita- tion ;" but his own duty, he conceived, " as well as the reputation and true interests of the army, required his disapprobation of such disorderly proceedings. At the same time, he requested the general and field officers, with one officer from each company, and a proper representation from the staff of the army, to assemble at twelve o'clock, on Saturday, the 15th March, at the New Building, to hear the report of the committee deputed by the army to Congress. Atter mature deliberation, they will devise what further measures ought to be adopted as most rational and best calculated to attain the just and important object in view."

These orders changed the whole aspect of affairs and the meeting called by the anonymous writer was not hell. By a master-policy Washington had placed himself, as it were, at the head of the movement for redress, and had appointed in regular form a time and place of meeting. On the day succeeding the pub- lication of these orders a second anonymous address made its appearance, from the same pen which had written the former, in which the writer affected to consider the orders in a light favorable to his views.

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 63

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1336

Author: Ruttenber, Edward Manning, 1825-1907, comp; Clark, L. H. (Lewis H.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1336