History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 64

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

USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 64

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* The "public building" here referred to was sometimes called the " new building" and "the Temple." The title of " new building" is ' understood to have been used to distinguish it from a building which had been erected in the early part of the war in connection with the bar- racks of the militia of the district. It was situated on what is now the farm of Mr. William McGill, iu New Windsor, and was used for public assemblies. (See Ilistory of New Windsor.)

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" Until now," said he, " the commander-in-chief has regarded the steps you have taken for redress with good wishes alone; his ostensible silence has author- ized your meetings, and his private opinion has sanc- tioned your claims. Hlad he disliked the object in view, would not the same sense of duty which forbade yon from meeting on the third day of the week have forbidden you from meeting on the seventh ?"*

On the 15th, the convention of officers assembled at the New Building, and Gen. Gates took the chair. There was a full attendance of officers; and deep solemnity pervaded the assembly as the commander- in-chief stepped upon the platform to read an ad- dress that he had prepared for the occasion. Amid the most profound attention Washington commenced reading : "GENTLEMEN : By an anonymous sum- mons an attempt has been made to convene you together. How inconsistent with the rules of pro- priety, how unmilitary, and how subversive of all order and discipline, let the good sense of the army decide." Pausing for a moment, he drew out his spectacles, carefully wiped and adjusted them, and while doing so remarked, "These eyes, my friends, have grown dim, and these locks white in the service; yet I have never doubted the justice of my country."t The effect was electrical. The whole scene, when we consider the time, the place, the man, the object of the convention, was hardly surpassed in interest by any other event of those eventful days.

Resuming his address, Washington exhibited the anonymous letters as " designed to answer the most insidious purposes," while their ostensible object was simply to secure the redress of grievances. He then noticed more particularly the remedies proposed in the letters for the assumed injustice of Congress. The alternative presented, said he, of " either desert- ing our country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our arms against it, which is the apparent object, unless Congress ean be compelled into instant compliance, has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts at the idea. My God! what can this writer have in view by recommending sueh measures? can he be a friend of the army ? can he be a friend to his country ? rather is he not the insidious foe plotting the ruin of both, by sowing the seeds of discord and separation between the civil and military powers of the continent."

* The writer of these letters was Major John Armstrong, at that time a young man of twenty-six, and aide-de-camp to Maj .- Gen. Gates. Some years after the letters were written, Armstrong acknowledged their au- thorship; but insisted that they were written "at the solicitation of friends, as the chosen organ to express the sentiments of the officers of the army, and were only an honest and manly thongh perhaps an indiscreet endenvor to support public credit, and do justice to a patient, long-suffer- ing, and gallant army." Although entertaining a different opinion at the time the letters appeared, Washington, in 1797, writes : "1 live since had sufficient reason for believing that the object of the author was just, honorable, and friendly to our country, though the meaus suggested by him were certainly liable to much misunderstanding and abuse."-Sparks' Life of Washington.

f Am. Bio. Dict., 827. Irving's Washington, iv.

He then explained what appeared to him to be the cause of delay in the action of Congress, pledged himself to exert whatever abilities he possessed in order to. obtain the demands of the army; and as- sured them that, previous to their dissolution as an army, Congress would cause all their accounts to be fairly liquidated, and that they would "adopt the most effectnal measures in their power" to render ample justice to the army " for its faithful and meri- torious services."

Concluding with a direct appeal to those present, he exclaimed, " Let me conjure you in the name of our common country, as you respect the rights of ' humanity, and as you regard the military and na- tional character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our country ; and who wickedly attempts to open the flood-gates of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in blood. By thus determining and acting, you will pursue the plain and direct road to the attain- ment of your wishes; you will defeat the insidious designs of our enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret artifice; you will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings ; and you will, by the dignity of your conduct, afford occasion for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind,-had this day been want- ing, the world had never seen the last stage of perfection that human nature is capable of attaining !"

These sentiments, says Marshall, from a person whom they had been accustomed to love, to rever- ence, and to obey; the solidity of whose judgment, and the sincerity of whose zeal for their interests were alike unquestioned, could not fail to be irresist- ible. No sooner had the commander-in-chief with- drawn from the room than Gen. Knox moved, and Gen. Putnam seconded, a resolution tendering the thanks of the convention to "His Excellency, and assuring him that the officers reciprocated his affec- tionate expressions with the greatest sincerity of which the human heart is capable." This resolution was unanimously voted; and, on motion of Gen. Putnam, a committee, consisting of Gen. Knox, Col. Brooks, and Capt. Howard, was appointed to prepare resolutions on the business before the convention, and report in half an hour.

The committee, after consultation, reported a series of resolutions, which were passed unanimously. These resolutions expressed unshaken confidence in the jus- tice of Congress; and that the representatives of America would "not disband or disperse the army until their accounts" were "liquidated, the balances accurately ascertained, and adequate funds estab- lished for payment ;" and that in this arrangement the officers expected "that the half-pay, or commu- tation for it, should be efficacionsly comprehended."

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It was further resolved, "that the officers of the American army view with abhorrence and reject with disdain the infamous propositions contained in a late anonymous address to the officers of the army, and re- sent with indignation the secret attempts of some un- known person to collect the officers together, in a man- ner totally subversive of all discipline and good order."

The triumph of right was complete. The storm which had threatened to overwhelm the infant re- publie was hushed. Washington immediately in- closed to the president of Congress the proceedings, accompanied by a letter in which he again urged prompt attention to the subject. Not only did he assume the entire justice of the claims of the army ; but, for the first time in his history, he asked a per- sonal favor of Congress. " Having," he wrote, " from motives of justice, duty, and gratitude, spontaneously offered myself as an advocate for their rights, it now only remains for me to perform the task I have as- sumed, and to intercede in their behalf, as I now do, that the sovereign power will be pleased to verify the predictions I have pronounced of, and the confidence the army have reposed in, the justice of their country."

Immediately on the reception of Washington's dis- patches, Congress passed, with the concurrence of nine States, the resolution commuting the half-pay of the officers into a sum in gross equal to five years' full pay; and the result was received by the army with great satisfaction.

Meanwhile the peace commissioners had concluded their labors, so far as arranging the articles between Great Britain and the United States was concerned ; but the exchange of ratifications was contingent upon a similar exchange between the contending European powers. It was feared for some time that the obstacles to a general pacification would not be overcome. These fears, however, were entirely dispelled by a letter from Lafayette, in March, announcing a general peace. In April, official notification was received of the ex- change of preliminary articles and the cessation of hostilities, and the commander-in-chief announced the joyful intelligence to the army in his orders of April 18th. "The commander-in-chief," reads this interesting paper, "orders the cessation of hostil- ities between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain to be publicly proclaimed at the New Building to-morrow at twelve o'clock, and that the proclamation which will be communi- cated herewith be read to-morrow evening at the head of every regiment and corps of the army ; after which the chaplains, with the several brigades, will render thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies, particularly for his overruling the wrath of man to his own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease among the nations."

Although the proclamation referred to extended only to the cessation of hostilities, yet it was regarded as the sure precursor of an event to the accomplish- ment of which had been devoted the toils and suffer-

ings of a long and doubtful contest ; and as the morn- ing -un of the 19th tinged the mountain-tops it was hailed with reverberating peals of rejoicing. In this feeling Washington joined. "The commander-in- chief," continues the orders, " far from endeavoring to stifle the feelings of joy in his own bosom, offers his most cordial congratulations on the occasion to all the officers of every denomination, to all the troops of the United States in general, and in particular to those gallant and deserving men who have resolved to defend the rights of their invaded country so long as the war should continue, for these are the men who ought to be considered as the pride and boast of the American army, and who, crowned with well-earned laurels, may soon withdraw from the field of glory to the more tranquil walks of civil life. While the general recollects the almost infinite variety of scenes through which we have passed with a mixture of pleasure, astonishment, and gratitude,-while he con- templates the prospect before him with rapture,-he cannot help wishing that all the brave men, of what- ever condition they may be, who have shared in the toils and dangers of effecting this glorious revolution, of rescuing millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the foundation of a great empire, might be impressed with a proper idea of the dignified part they have been called to act, under the smiles of Providence, on the stage of human affairs ; for happy, thrice happy, shall they be pronounced hereafter who have contributed anything, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabric of Freedom and Empire on the broad basis of independ- ency ; who have assisted in protecting the rights of human nature, and establishing an asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions." . . . " The adjutant-general will have such working parties detailed to assist in the preparations for a general re- joicing as the chief engineer, with the army, shall call for, and the quartermaster-general will also furnish such materials as he may want."

The details of the "general rejoicing" at New- burgh, New Windsor, and other points of encamp- ment, on the 19th of April, 1783, have not been preserved. The order of Washington, and the notes by Thacher and Heath,* indicate, however, that it was conducted with the most imposing military and civil ceremonies; that, as had been done on a former occasion, t the army lined the banks on both sides of

*"April 19, 1783 .- At noon the proclamation of Congress for the cessa- tion of hostilities was proclaimed at the door of the new building, fol- lowed by three huzzas; after which a prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. Gano, and an anthem (' Independence,' from Billings) was performed by vocal and instrumental music."-Heath's Memoirs, 37).

" April 19, 1783 .- On the completion of eight years from the memor- alle battle of Lexington, the proclamation of Congress for a cessation of hostilities was published at the door of the public Imilding, followed by three huzzas; after which a prayer was offered to the Almighty Ruler of the world by the Rev. Mr. Gano, and an anthem was performed by voices and instruments."-Thacher's Journal, 344.

f The celebration of the birth of the dauphin. Tradition affirms that the army exercises were the same on both occasions.

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the river, with burnished arms and proudly floating banners, and at a given signal paused and presented arms. The pealing of thirteen guns from West Point now awoke the echoes of the hills, and was followed by a feu-de-joie which rolled along the lines from West Point to the utmost limits of the camp. The "thrill- ing fife-note and drum's heart-kindling beat" then called the hosts of freedom to the assembly, where patriot knees bent low in prayer with Chaplain Gano, and at its conclusion voices and instruments joined in Billings' anthem, " Independence."

These services concluded, the army returned to quarters and united in festivities suited to the occa- sion. As the day closed, the signal-guns from West Point again called the soldiers to arms, and the feu-de- joie again rang along the line. This was three times repeated, accompanied by the discharge of cannon, " and the mountain sides resounded and echoed like tremendous peals of thunder, and the flashing from thousands of fire-arms in the darkness of evening was like unto vivid flashings of lightning from the clonds." Then the beacons on the hill-tops, no longer the har- bingers of danger, lighted up the gloom and rolled the tidings of peace on through New England, and shed their radiance on the blood-stained field of Lexington.

Released in a great measure from the cares and anxieties which had so long pressed heavily upon the commander-in-chief and the army, the discipline of the camp was relaxed ; officers and men desiring them were granted furloughs, while the facilities for social intercourse were improved to the fullest extent by those who remained in camp. Entertainments were given by all the principal officers; at headquarters Mrs. Washington was surrounded by all the court of the camp. In the reception and dining-hall a dinner and supper were daily served as plentiful as the coun- try could supply and as good as could be made by Continental cooks. The repast ended, French wines for our French allies and those who affected their tastes, and more substantial Madeira for Americans of the old school, circulated freely, and were served with little silver mugs, or goblets, made in France for Washington's camp equipage. In the summer time, the guests soon withdrew from the table to the open grounds ; but in the autumn, the long evenings were frequently passed around the table, beside the blazing fire. On such occasions apples and hickory-nuts mingled with the wine, and the amazing consumption of the former by Washington and his staff was a theme of boundless wonder to the French guests .*

* Verplanck relates the following anecdote, in connection with this subject, as occurring in Paris: "The American minister (we forget whether it was Mr. Crawford, Mr. Brown, or one of their successors) and several of his countrymen, together with Lafayette, were invited to an entertainment at the house of a distinguished and patriotic Frenchman, who had served his country in his youth in the United States, during the war of our independence. At the supper hour the company were showa into a room fitted up for the occasion, which contrasted quite oddly with the Parisian elegance of the other apartments, where they had spent the

In July, accompanied by Governor Clinton, Wash- ington made the tour of northern New York, and discussed the question of improvements in internal navigation. On his return he was requested, by the president of Congress, to attend the session of that body at Princeton. In consequence of the illness of Mrs. Washington, however, he could not comply with the request until the 18th of August, on the morning of which day he took his final departure from New- burgh.

The definite treaty of peace was signed on the 23d of September. After its ratification by Congress, that body issued a proclamation (October 18th),t by which " that part of the army which had stood engaged to serve during the war, and by several acts of Congress had been furloughed, should be absolutely discharged after the 3d of November from said service; and the further service in the field of the officers on furlough dispensed with, and permission given to them to retire from service, no more to be called to command."± On the passage of this proclamation, Washington, then at Rocky Hill, N. J., prepared his " Farewell Orders to the Army of the United States," which were dated in advance of their delivery (November 3d), that they might be read at the same hour at all the points of encampment. In these orders he briefly reviewed the events of the past, and suggested the general line of policy which, in his opinion, should be pursued by the army in the future; promising his recommendations to Congress in its behalf, and in- voking "the choicest of Heaven's favors" upon all its members, whose efforts had secured " innumerable blessings for others !"-with this benediction drawing the curtain of separation and closing the military scene to him forever.

On the morning of Nov. 3, 1783, the patriot army assembled for the last time. At the head of each regiment and corps the proclamation of Congress and the farewell orders of Washington were read, and the formal and last word of command passed along the

evening. A low, hoarded, painted ceiling, with large beams; a single, small, uncurtained window, with numerous small doors, as well as the general style of the whole, gave at first the idea of the kitchen or largest room of a Dintch or Belgian farm-house. On a long rough table was a re- past just as little in keeping with the refined kitchen of l'aris as the room was with its architecture. It consisted of large dishes of meat, un- couth-looking pastry, and wine in decanters and bottles, accompanied by glasses and silver mugs, such as indicated other habits and tastes than those of modern Paris. 'Do you know where we are?' said the host to Gen. Lafayette and his companions. They pansed for a few moments io suspense. They had seen something like this before, but when and where? ' Ah, the seven doors and one window,' said Lafayette, and the silver camp-goblets, such as our marshals of France used in my youth ! We are at Washington's headquarters on the Hudson, fifty years ago.'"

+ By a proclamation of Congress, adopted October 18th, all officers and soldiers absent on furlough were discharged from further service ; and all others who had engaged to serve during the war were to be discharged from and after the 3d of November. A small force only, composed of those who had enlisted for a definite period, were to Le retained in ser- vice until the peace establishment should be organized .- Irving, iv. 434.

# When the army was disbanded, Washington was at West Point, mov- ing from thence to New York on the evacuation of that city by the Brit- ish, Nov. 25, 1783.

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lines. "Painful," says Thacher, "was the parting scene; no description can be adequate to the tragic exhibition. Both officers and soldiers, long nnaccus- tomed to the affairs of private life, turned loose on the world to starve and become a prey to vulture speculators. Never can that melancholy day be for- gotten when friends, companions for seven long years in joy and sorrow, were torn asunder, without the hope of ever meeting again, and with prospeets of a miserable subsistence in future."*

Maj. North, who was also a participant in this part- ing scene, thus writes : " At the disbandment of the Revolutionary army, when inmates of the same tent or hut for seven long years were separating, and probably forever, grasping each other's hand in silent agony, I saw the Baron Steuben's strong endeavors to throw some ray of sunshine on the gloom, -- to mix some drop of cordial with the painful draught. To go, they knew not whither ; all recollection of the art to thrive by civil ocenpation lost, or to the youthful never known. This hard-earned military knowledge, worse than useless ; and with their badget of brother- hood a mark at which to point the finger of suspicion -ignoble, vile suspicion !- to be cast ont on a world long since by them forgotten. Severed from friends, and all the joys and griefs which soldiers feel ! Griefs, while hope remained-when shared by numbers, al- most joys ! To go in silence and alone, and poor and hopeless ; it was too hard! On that sad day how many hearts were wrung ! I saw it all, nor will the scene be ever blurred or blotted from my view. To a stern old officer, Lieut .- Col. Cochran,¿ from the Green Mountains, who had met danger and difficulty almost at every step from his youth, and from whose furrowed visage a tear till that moment had never fallen, the good baron said what could be said to lessen deep distress. 'For myself,' said Cochran, ' I care not ; I

* Thacher's Jouroal, 346. There were but few troops at Newburgh or New Windsor at this time, those who had aot been furloughed having been removed to West Point. The description by Thacher is of the scenes at the latter place, and of which Washington was also a witness. + " HEADQUARTERS, NEWBURGH, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1782 .- Honorary badges of distinction are to be conferred on the veteran non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army who have served more than three years with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct : for this purpose a narrow piece of white cloth of an angular form is to be fixed to the left arm og the uniformed coats ; oon-commissioned officers and soldiers who have served with equal reputation more than six years are to be distinguished by two pieces of cloths set in parallel to each other in a similar form. Should any who are oot entitled to these honors have the insolence to assume the badges of theni, they shall be severely punished. On the other hand, it is expected those gallant meo who are thus designated will on all occasions he treated with particular confidence and consideration. The general, ever desirous to cherish a virtnous ambition in his soldiers, a- well as to foster and encourage every species of military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is perforated, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast the fig- ure of a heart io purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or bioding. Not only iostaoces of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidel- ity aod essential service in any way shall meet with due reward. .. . Thia order ia also to have retrospect to the earliest stages of the war, und to be considered as a permanent one."

# Robert Cochran, of Cumberland County (now io Vermont), was coal- missioned major of Third New York Battalion, Nov. 21, 1776; lieutenant- colonel of Second New York, July 1, 1780.

can stand it; but my wife and daughters are in the garret of that wretched tavern. I know not where to remove, nor have I means for their removal !' 'Come, my friend,' said the baron, 'let us go; I will pay my respects to Mrs. Cochran and your daughters, if you please.' I followed to the loft, and when the baron left the poor, unhappy castaways, he left hope with them, and all he had to give! A black man, with wounds unhealed, wept on the wharf; there was a vessel in the stream bound to the place where he once had friends. He had not a dollar to pay his passage, and without it the vessel would not take him. Unused to tears, I saw them trickle down the good baron's cheeks as he put into the hands of the black man the last dollar he possessed. The negro hailed the sloop, and as he passed from the small boat on board, 'God Almighty bless you, master baron!' floated from his grateful lips across the parting waters."

SUBSEQUENT GENERAL HISTORY.

Amid these tragie seenes, the scanty record of which is so touching, the army of the Revolution passed away, and the new era of national independence was ushered in. The poverty of the departing soldiers scarcely exceeded that of the people of Newburgh. Money they had in abundance, but it was almost worthless ; lands they had, but not the means for their successful cultivation ; business they had none,-they were very poor ; so poor indeed that in 1785 they pe- titioned the Legislature for relief, reciting in their memorial : "That by reason of the necessary supplies which we have afforded for the support of the late war, as likewise from the depreciation of paper cur- rency, and the unavoidable losses incident to the said war, added to the large quantity of personal service, which rendered it impossible for us to cultivate our farms as usual, we are become so impoverished that we are unable to pay our just debts, and, through the searcity of specie, we are unable upon the credit of our lands to hire money for the purpose aforesaid ; the frequent and many lawsuits in justices' and other eourts, the enormous costs that accrues on small debts, issuing executions, taking effects and selling the same for not near the value, oppresses and reduces many poor families to the want of the necessaries of life, that nothing remains to us in prospect but unavoid- able ruin, unless we are relieved by the wisdom of the Legislature."¿ But though poor, it had a vigorous population, which had been increased in number by refugees from New York, who had been compelled to remove from that city on its occupation by the British forces in 1776, and whose property there had been

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History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 64

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