USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
The forces were now divided, so as to make a simultaneous attack on two different points on the island. Colonel Ogden, with his own and Colonel Dayton's regiment, joined by one hundred militia under Colonel Frelinghuysen, marched from Elizabethtown in the evening to a point opposite the Fresh kill, where they were conveyed by boats across the sound and up the creek, their object being to attack Lawrence's regiment in the rear. The remainder of the troops crossed from Halstead's point or Elizabethtown point, approaching the island on the north shore. General Smallwood's brigade was to attack Bus- kirk's, and General De Borre's brigade was to attack Barton's regiment, each leaving one regiment on the main road to cover their rear, and to pick up such as might escape Colonel Ogden or the attacking parties. Ogden was instructed to move for- ward, should he complete the reduction of Lawrence's regiment, and attack Dongan and Allan, otherwise to hold his ground till Sullivan came up from the north side to join him.
In crossing the water some difficulty was experienced on account of a scarcity of boats, but the whole force were safely landed on the island before daylight, without being discovered by the British.
About day-break Ogden fell upon Lawrence and after an en- gagement of two or three minutes ronted him, taking the colonel himself and about eighty privates and small officers prisoners. He then moved forward toward the positions of Don- gan and Allan and drove them back. They fell back to the neighborhood of Prince's bay, where they found intrenchments which made their position too strong for the fatigued assailants to press against. Ogden now fell back toward Old Blazing Star and took position to wait for Sullivan. In the meantime the alarm had reached the commander at the fortifications on the northeast part of the island, and he, General John Campbell, at once marched with the Fifty-second British and Third battalion of Waldeckers toward Richmond, under the supposition that that point would be approached by the invaders.
Soon after the moment of the attack made by Ogden, General Sullivan moved with De Borre's brigade to attack Colonel Bar-
18
194
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ton's regiment that lay at the New Blazing Star (or Decker's ferry). Here he found the latter drawn up to receive him, but upon the main body moving up to charge they broke ranks and fled. Sullivan had stationed Colonel Price off to the right to prevent the escape of the enemy, but many of them seized the boats that lay at the ferry and crossed to the Jersey shore, while others being acquainted with the intricacies of the swamps and woods were able to evade their pursuers. A considerable num- ber of arms, blankets, liats, etc., were taken, and about forty privates, with Colonel Barton himself, were made prisoners. A barn and about thirty-five tons of hay were also burned.
At the same time General Smallwood, with his brigade, moved in another column to the neighborhood of the Dutch church, where they attacked what they supposed was Colonel Buskirk's regiment. General Smallwood's guide, instead of bringing him in the rear of the regiment, led him to a position in their full front. The latter liad formed on the east side of the bridge and Smallwood's men, in a solid column, were moving over to attack them. The British, however, upon the first fire, broke and fled back to the fortifications on the northeast part of the island, where they were later in the day rallied by General Skinner, to whose corps they belonged, and were led by him to pursue the retiring Americans with the other regiments under Campbell. In their precipitate retreat before Smallwood's brigade, however, they left their stand of colors, which was taken by the Americans, and their tents which the latter de- stroyed, as they also did a quantity of hay and stores. Small- wood's men also burned several of their vessels which lay in the kill or creek near by.
The forces of Sullivan and Smallwood now effected a junction and moved inland toward Richmond to join the detachment of Ogden. About noon they reached Old Blazing Star and found that Ogden, after waiting till longer delay seemed unnecessarily hazardous, had sent his division across the river. Sullivan had sent a messenger to bring the boats from Elizabethtown point (Halstead's point)down the sound to help transfer his men across, but the messenger was detained on the way and the boats failed to come. In this emergency Sullivan began at once to trans- port his men by means of the three boats which Ogden had used, but before this could be accomplished the accumulated forces of Campbell, Skinner, Dongan and Allan were upon his
195
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
rear and his chances of escape were growing uncomfortably small. The rear was now covered by about eighty of Small- wood's Marylander's, commanded by Majors Stewart and Til- lard, who ably maintained the honorable reputation of that brigade by their unflinching tenacity against overpowering odds. The bravery of this little party was highly commended by Sullivan and others at the time. By their determination the enemy was held back until all the troops except this company were safely conveyed across the river. So hotly did they con- test the approach of the enemy that the latter were several times driven back with great confusion. They were, however, forced to retire and take new positions nearer the water, until they stood within twenty rods of the shore. The British at last brought up their heavy artillery which, with "grape and canister," so commanded the sound that the boatmen refused to face the fire and come after the rear-guard. Seeing this, and their ammunition also failing them this little band of heroes at last surrendered, though several of them escaped, seven of them even swimming across the channel, and others, perhaps, being drowned in the attempt. About forty of them were taken prisoners.
Various estimates were given as to the losses in this day's engagement on the island. The total loss to the British was one hundred and thirty privates and eleven officers taken prisoners, and probably twenty-five to one hundred killed and wounded; while that of the Americans was ten killed, fifteen wounded and one hundred and twenty-seven privates and nine officers taken prisoners. Besides this the British lost arms, baggage and a number of cattle carried away and stores and vessels destroyed, while the Americans lost a few whale boats which Campbell's command succeeded in capturing.
General Sullivan, in a letter to congress, in which he urged an investigation into his conduct relating to the affair, in order to clear himself from some charges which he regards as unjust, gives a summary of it in the following language:
"In this expedition we landed on an island possessed by the enemy; put to rout six regiments; killed, wounded and made prisoners at least four or five hundred of the enemy; vanquished every party that collected against us ; destroyed them great quantities of stores ; took one vessel, and destroyed six ; took a considerable number of arms, blankets, many cattle, horses,
196
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
etc .; marched victorious through the island, and in the whole course of the day, lost not more than one hundred and fifty men, most of which were lost by the imprudence of themselves, and officers. Some few, indeed, were lost by cross accidents, which no human foresight could have prevented."
After this raid the British rested less easily. They were more watchful, and suspicious of another attack. Rivington's Gazette, of October 25, contained the following paragraph, which furnishes some suggestions in reference to the subject before us :
" By a Gentleman who has lately escaped from confine- ment in New Jersey, we have been favoured with the following particulars : *
* It is imagined that another expedition is determined upon against Staten-Island under the command of Mr. Philemon Dickenson, who has assembled near 400 men about Elizabeth Town ; boats and scows are also prepared, with a floating raft, to cross Bridge creek, and thereby secure a re- treat to the point. Gen. Sullivan was, on his late unsuccessful attempt on this island, highly reprehended for not using this expedient, and, as he has been again blamed for his conduct at Brandywine, in Pennsylvania, he some time ago resigned his commission in disgust, and withdrew himself from the rebel army."
Tories who were so strong in their sentiments as to make a residence among the friends of independence undesirable, were frequently coming over to the island to join the British army or to take advantage of its protection. Some Quakers, whose peculiar principles forbade their taking any active part in war- like transactions, fled to the island as an asylum from the ap- peals of their active whig neighbors. Sullivan, in his raid on the island, claimed to have taken twenty-eight tories in addi- tion to liis other trophies, but the accounts from the other side represent that they were not tories but peaceable Quakers.
The fears of the British, above referred to, were not ground- less. During November a number of raids were made by the Americans from Elizabethtown. On the night of Tuesday, the 18th, just before the rising of the moon, a party landed in the meadow, where they concealed themselves until they had the advantage of moonlight, when they surprised the picket, but after a brisk skirmish were obliged to abandon the scheme and return to Elizabethtown. Another attack was made the follow-
197
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ing day, but so far as we can learn with no better success. Again, early on Thursday morning, the 20th, a body of "rebels," commanded by Philemon Dickenson, before spoken of, landed on the island and advanced upon the encampments of Campbell. No sooner had they opened fire on them, how- ever, than they discovered reinforcements approaching and sev- eral ships of war steering for the island. Seeing that they would be overwhelmed by numbers they retired, and with the loss of a few prisoners made good their escape to the Jersey shore. On Friday another attempt was made to approach the island, but with no better results. In these raids more or less stores and provisions were carried off. At the final evacuation on Friday, the removal of what stores they had collected was ex- ecnted under cover of an armed vessel, which approached the shore near the present site of Mariner's Harbor and fired occa- sional guns at the honses on the island.
Some difficulty seems at this time to have been experienced in enforcing the restrictions against the exportation of salt from New York to Staten Island, by which channel that article of necessity was smuggled into New Jersey. By a proclamation on the 15th of November, Clinton directed that the inhabitants of Staten Island should be allowed to carry salt for their family nse, not exceeding three bushels for a family, on obtaining a certificate from a justice of the peace attesting that they were proper persons to be trusted with it. This regulation soon fell into abuse, and on the 18th it was amended by a further proc- lamation that all persons from the island applying for a permit to carry salt thither must have a certificate from either General Campbell or General Skinner, and general authority was given to any one who should intercept any person carrying salt with- out the requisite permit, to seize and appropriate the salt to his own use and purposes.
On the 20th of December General Clinton issued a remarka- ble proclamation regulating the prices of farm products, the arguments, objects and substance of which are shown in the following extracts :
" WHEREAS it is consonant not only to the common princi- ples of humanity, but to the wisdom and policy of all well regulated states, in certain exigencies to guard against the ex- tortion of individuals, who raise the necessaries of life, withont which other parts of the community cannot subsist ; and where-
198
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
as the farmers on Long-Island and Staten Island are possessed of great quantities of Wheat, Rye, and Indian Corn, for sale, beyond what they want for their own consumption, and it is highly unreasonable that those who may stand in need of those articles, should be left at the mercy of the farmer, and whereas it is equally just and reasonable that every encouragement
* should be given to the industry of the husbandman ; * * * * * and whereas the present rates at which Wheat, Flour Rye-Meal, and Indian Meal are sold, do vastly exceed in pro- portion the advanced price of those articles which the farmer stands in need of purchasing, * * *
* * do hereby or- der and direct that the prices to be hereafter demanded for the said articles shall not exceed the following rates,
"A Bushel of Wheat weighing Fifty Eight Pounds, Twelve Shillings, with an Allowance, or deduction in proportion for a greater or lesser weight.
"A Bushel of Rye, or Indian Corn, Seven Shillings.
" Merchantable Wheat Flour, Thirty-five Shillings per Cwt.
"Rye Flour, Twenty Shillings per Cwt."
"Indian Meal, Seventeen Shillings per Cwt."
The proclamation further stipulated that the farmers of these two islands should at once make returns to the commanding of- ficers of militia in their respective localities, showing the quan- tity of each kind of grain they had, and what quantity they would need for the use of their families during the year. He also ordered the farmers to thresh one third of their grain at once ; another third by the first of February and the remaining third by the first of May next. A refusal to comply with any of the requirements set forth in the proclamation should be punishable by confiscation of the entire crop of grain belong- ing to such offender, and imprisonment of his person.
In January, 1778, the prisoners taken in the raid of Dicken- son during November preceding had not been exchanged, but on the contrary, some had been summarily dealt with, when the following correspondence passed between General Robertson and Governor Livingston of New Jersey, which, as it throws light on the condition of affairs and the results of the Novem- ber raids on the island, we insert in full.
"New York, January 4, 1778.
" SIR,
"I am interrupted in my daily attempts to soften the calami-
199
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ties of prisoners, and reconcile their case with our security, by a general cry of resentment, arising from an information
" That officers in the King's service taken on the 27th of No- vember, and Mr. John Brown, a deputy-commissary, are to be tried in Jersey for high treason ; and that Mr. Iliff and another prisoner have been hanged.
"Thongh I am neither authorized to threaten or to sooth, my wish to prevent an increase of horrors, will justify my using the liberty of an old acquaintance, to desire your interposition to put an end to, or prevent measures which, if pursued on one side would tend to prevent every act of humanity on the other, and render every person who exercises this to the King's ene- mies, odions to his friends,
"I need not point out to you all the cruel consequences of such a proceedure. I am hopeful you'll prevent them, and ex- cuse this trouble from, Sir,
"Your most obedient humble servant, "JAMES ROBERTSON.
"N. B. At the moment that the cry of murder reached my ears, I was signing orders, that Fell's request to have the liberty of the city, and Colonel Reynold to be set free on his parole, should be complied with. I have not recalled the order, be- canse tho' the evidence be strong, I can't believe it possible, a measure so cruel and impolitic, could be adopted where you bear sway.
" To William Livingston, Esq., &c., &c."
To this Governor Livingston replied :
"January 7, 1778.
" SIR,
"Having received a letter under your signature, dated the 4th instant, which I have some reason to think you intended for me, I sit down to answer your inquiries concerning certain officers in the service of your king taken on Staten Island, and one Browne who calls himself a deputy commissary ; and also respecting one Iliff and another prisoner (I suppose you must mean John Mee, he having shared the fate you mention) who have been hanged.
"Buskirk, Earl and Hammel, who are, I presume, the officers intended, with the said Browne, were sent to me by General Dickenson as prisoners taken on Staten Island. Finding thiem all to be subjects of this state, and to have committed. treason
200
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
against it, the council of safety committed them to Trenton goal. At the same time I acquainted General Washington, that if he chose to treat the three first who were British officers, as prisoners of war, I doubted not the council of safety would be satisfied. General Washington has since informed me that he intends to consider them as such; and they are therefore at his service, whenever the commissary of prisoners shall direct concerning them. Browne I am told committed several rob- beries in this state before he took sanctuary on Staten-Island, and I should scarcely imagine that he has expiated the guilt of his former crimes by committing the greater one of joining the enemies of his country. However, if Gen. Washington chooses to consider him also as a prisoner of war, I shall not interpose in the matter.
"Iliff was executed after a trial by jury for enlisting our subjects, himself being one, as recruits in the British army, and he was apprehended on his way with them to Staten-Island. Had he never been subject to this state, he would have forfeited his life as a spy. Mee was one of his company, and had also procured our subjects to enlist in the service of the enemy.
"If these transactions, Sir, should induce you to counte- nance greater severities toward our people, whom the fortune of war has thrown into your power, than they have already suffered, you will pardon me for thinking that you go farther out of your way to find palliatives for inhumanity, than ne- cessity seems to require; and if this be the cry of murder to which you allude as having reached your ears, I sincerely pity your ears for being so frequently assaulted with cries of mur- der much more audible, because much less distant, I mean the cries of your prisoners who are constantly perishing in the goals of New York (the coolest and most deliberate kind of murder) from the rigorous manner of their treatment.
"I am with due respect,
" Your most humble servant, "WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. " James Robertson, Esq., &c. &c.
"P. S. You have distinguished me by a title which I have neither authority nor ambition to assume, I know of no man, sir, who bears sway in this state. It is our peculiar felicity, and our superiority over the tyrannical system we have dis-
201
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
carded, that we are not swayed by men-In New Jersey, Sir, the laws alone bear sway."
The winter of 1777-78 developed a considerable amount of smuggling, which taxed the genius of General Clinton to the utmost to prevent. He appointed Alexander Gardiner wharf officer at Staten Island, and required all vessels carrying goods to the island to land them at Cole's ferry and nowhere else, and there all cargoes should be inspected by the said officer, who would allow goods to be taken thence to their places of destination on the island. This officer was also authorized to seize and confiscate all goods not corresponding to the superintendent's permit accompanying them, and also to seize and confiscate any vessel found employed in such illicit traffic.
The effort to prevent commerce between the island and New Jersey was not confined to the British authorities. It was prohibited also by the colonists. An illustration of the the efforts made to prevent commercial intercourse with the enemy is furnished by the following anecdote. In January, 1778, one William Pace, of Schooley's mountain, and Thomas V. Camp, of Somerset county, were bothi on their way to Staten Island, the latter with a quantity of flour and the former with four quarters of beef, intended for the British general. They were both arrested and taken before the council of safety on the 28th. It would have been regarded as high treason had evidence been sufficient to prove clearly that their cargoes were designed to supply the wants of the enemy, but this proof was wanting. Still there was evidence sufficient to warrant the council in confiscating the flour and beef and further imposing a fine upon each for asking a price for their goods higher than the law established. On the following day, however, evidence was produced that one Jacob Fitz Randolph, who lived at the Jersey side of the Blazing Star, had met them at "Sparck-Town," a locality infested by tories on Rahway river, several miles southwest of Elizabethtown, and engaged to take their cargoes across the sound when the ice broke up if they would bring them to his house. They were accordingly apprehended and confined in jail for procuring provisions for the enemy.
Early in the morning of the 10th of June three boats were loaded with men at Elizabethtown and proceeded down the
202
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
sound to the mouth of the Freshi kill, and landing between the Blazing Star and Burnt island in the mouth of the kill, they surprised the picket, but being nnable to drive them back they retired and waited on the Jersey shore until near daybreak, when they returned with an increase of numbers and attempted to land at the same place, under cover of their batteries. They met with such vigorous resistance from Skinner's brigade, who were gnarding that point, that they were obliged to abandon the undertaking, and retired, with small loss on either side. In the meantime the British were thoroughly alarmed, and the corps of royal artillery which had been posted at the redoubts between Ryers' and Cole's ferries were put in motion with two six-pounders, and the troops at the different posts on the island were also under arms and marching toward the expected scene of action. The timely retirement of the Americans, however, made their presence unnecessary and probably saved them. selves from the serious consequences of an encounter with superior numbers and the raking fire of artillery.
But little transpired on the island during the summer to be worthy of special notice. The operations between hostile forces were mainly confined to the petty depredations, smuggling and raiding of foraging parties on a small scale, which were of too frequent and continual occurrence to be worthy of special remark. In September (10th) the commissary of forage required the farmers to thresh out their grain at once "as the Straw is wanted for use of his Majesty's troops," for which they were to be paid legal rates on delivery at the magazine at Cole's ferry.
On the evening of the 30th of September an expedition hav- ing been fitted out with troops, embarked from Staten Island, set sail for Little Egg harbor, off which point they arrived on the 5th of October, having been delayed by adverse winds.
As the hard winter of 1778-9 came on proclamations were issued fixing the prices of various common necessities as fol- lows : Walnut cordwood, or any other kind of wood, four pounds per cord ; upland hay, eight shillings per cwt. ; salt hay, four shillings per cwt. ; straw, three shillings per cwt. ; . Indian corn, ten shillings per bushel ; oats, seven shillings per bushiel. Other proclamations of similar character were after- ward issued. The following item, though not regulated by the military authorities of the island is of interest. It is from a paper of December 26.
203
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
" The intense cold weather has, within these two days, oc- casioned the quick-silver in the weather-glass to fall four de- grees lower than has been observed for the last seven years ; several ships, &c., and many lives have been lost by the mon- strous bodies of ice floating in our Bay."
In March, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton, by proclamation gave per- mission to any loyal subjects of the king to enclose and culti- vate for their own benefit portions of the cleared woodlands and other uncultivated lands of persons who had left their homes on Staten Island and Long Island, and were not under the pro- tection of the government, and such loyal subjects were also permitted to erect temporary habitations upon such lands.
The " New York Gazette" of March 22, 1779, says : "Last Thursday morning a party of Rebels from Jersey, commanded by one Richmond, came to Prince's Bay in order to carry off a Boat that lay there loaded with wood ; but before they could accomplish their Design a few of the Inhabitants assembled on the Beach and kept up such a brisk Fire upon them that they were obliged to relinquish their Prize, which happened to be aground, and make the best of their way home. Mr. Sleight, an Inhabitant of Staten Island, received a Wound in his Breast on this Occasion, but it is hoped he will do well.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.