USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 23
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Gen. Patnam's letter to Governor Clinton announces that he is again preparing to be of some service, which preparations do not seem to have resulted in any damage to the enemy so far as it related to his operations on the cast bank. Governor Clinton was a more dangerous foc.
" LEnors STAisroep, ISth Oct., 1777. " 5 o'clock Saturday morning.
" DRAt: Sin, --- Yours of the 17th I received last night, and am sorry to hear of the enemy's destroying the several houses, &c. Last night I arrived here, and all the troops excepting Gen. Sullivan's Brigade, which I expect will join me this morning. Col. Samuel Willis with his regiment are about six miles ahead. 1 am just setting off', and this morning expect to reach the shipping. Last night I received a letter from Col. W.llis, by whom I am informed that from every appearance the enemy mean to burn the Powder Mills, &e. He further adds. from the best intelligence he is able to procure from the inhabitants, they mean, if possible, to penetrate to Sailsbury. If that scheam should take place, [ flatter myself we shall be able to give a good account of 'cru. I apprehend we shall find it very difficult to convey the neces- gary Intelligence to each other, but at every opportunity shall be glad to know your situation, in order that we may net in junction. Am in baste.]
" Dr Sir, your very Humble Servant, " ISBAEL PITNAM."
We cannot have a better view of the situation of matters in the vicinity of Kingston than will be found in Governor Clinton's letter to Gen. Gates :
# Gates papers. ¿ Clinton papers. " khid.
" In Get. Gates' letter to Cougress, Oct. 20, 1777, published by order of Congress.
f The above paragraph is changed from Mr. Pratt's language, as the letter is elsewhere given in this volume.
93
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
"HURLEY, 2 Miles and a half fiom Kingston, "Oct. 21, 1777.9
" DEAR SIR, -I have repeatedly doue myself the honor to inform you of my situation, and think it my duty again to do so, that if any of those consequences should happen which may now easily be foreseen the blame, if any, may not lie at my Door. When I undertook, at the request of Gen. Putnam, to put myself at the head of a body of men to protect the Western sbores of Hudson's River, and to throw my- self between the enemy and your artny, should they proceed up tho River, I represented to him in strong terms the situation of this part of the country, thinly inhabited, and the interior part unsettled and separated frout all assistance by a chain of mountains. In eonse- quence of which representation he agree't to let me have 3000 men if the Eastern wilitint should come in us he expected they would, of which number, however, he bath not sent 400. I then elcarly saw that it would not be possible for ine to protect the country unless I could be reinforced from the Northern army, which from your letter I had reason to expect. I wrote also to fien. Dickinson, of New Jersey, on the same subject, and I am informed that he, notwithstanding the exposed situation of his own State, has ordered 600 mien to my brother's assistance at New Windsor.
" Kingston hath been destroyed merely because I have been so de- ceived in my expectations of assistance that it was impossible to take measures for its Security. I am now, sir, at the head of little more than one thousand men to cover the most valuable part of the county of l'Ister. The enemy have lain still yesterday and the day before, with a strong southerly wind, from whence it is evident that a knowl- elge of Burgoyne's fato hath Changed their intentions against Al- bany.
" If they land in force I must either retrent or sacrifice my few men and love seven very valuable pieces of field artillery. If I retreat this whole country will be ravaged and destroyel, and that [at] a season of the year when the inhabitants (who are warmly attached to the American canse) will want time to provide cover for their families against the it elemeneies of the ensuing winter. While we act merely on tho defensive, two thousand meu on the river will find full em- ployment for twelve or fifteen [thousand). But if four thousamt are lef: to cover Albany, two thousand bere, and two thousand on the other side of the river. it will by no means be impracticable to recover tho Passes in the Highlands, in which case the greater part of the army now along the Banks of the river may be brought to act offen. sively against the enemy, and perhaps render the present campaign decisive in our favor. Col. Malcolm, who is the bearer of this letter, will do binsself the honor of stating and explaining to you my ideas upon the subject ; and you will do me a particular favor if in answer to this you will inform me what I am to expect, and what is expected
"I am, Dr General, with particular esteem, " Your Most Of't Servant, " GEORGE CLINTON. " To mne: HON'ALE MAI .- GEN. GATES, ALBANY."
The British squadron remained at anchor the night of the 16th, and on Friday morning a strong party landed and burnt same houses at the village of Rhinebeck, and [.hundered the inhabitants in the vicinity.
A vessel dispatched down the river to convey the re- ports of Gen. Vaughan and Sir James Wallace grounded wear Poughkeepsie and fell into the hands of the Americans, as narrated in a letter from Gen. Putnam to Gen. Gates :
" HEADQUARTERS RED HOOK, 20th October, 1777.t
"Du GENERAL, -- Your favor of the 19th I have just received, and I leg leave to congratulate you on the great success you have met with in your department. Yesterday a pilot-hoat was detaebed from the enemy's feet (which lays opposite this) with dispatebes to New York, but the boat bappening to get on ground near to Poughkeepsie " We our troops ( which are there stationed) an opportunity of Board- m; her. The inclosed you have copies of the letters which was on board. You'll observe from Vaughan's letter to den. Clinton that they, with their small craft, inteud procce ling up the river.
"On the 18th inst. I arrived bere, and yesterday I arranged and I'mbad my troops in each a manner as I think will effectually prevent
Gates papers. t Ibid.
them from lan ling: before I arrived they burnt Esopus and a number of buildings along the shore. If your situation would admit, I should he exceeding glad you would immediately send me some heavy can non (upon traveling carriages) with ammunition &e. compleat. In their present situation they might be annoyed greatly, and not only so, but we could distress them very much should they attempt passing up the river. If you have no particular object in view, should be glut if you would send down all the Continental troops you can con- veniently spare, as the militia I have now with me are very trouble- some and anxious to get home. I need not mention to you the Reasons they assign, as you well kuow the disposition of that people. From the inclosed letters it appears they wicant to reinforce Burgoyne, but, thank God, you have prevented that. When they learn the news about Burgoyue, their scheam of tuaking a junetion is no more; but you may depend that they will endeavor to proceed up the river and destroy all the buildings &e. they Possible ean, but I hope your timely assistance will prevent 'em. From the best intelligence I have been able to get of late, they Enemy's as not more than three thousand on Board.
" Am in harte, Dr General, " Your very Humble servant, "ISRAEL PUTNAM. "To MAJ .- GEN. GATES, ALBANY."
Copies of the intercepted dispatches are among the Gates papers, and the autograph of Sir James Wallace in " Los- sing's Field Book" bears a striking resemblance to the signa- turc at the bottom of this letter. Can it be a mistake ?
" LIVINGSTON'S MILES, N. RIVER, " Oct. 18th, 1777.
"Sin,-Inclosed is the best intelligence we can get of Mr. Burgoyne. We are not certain what is become of the armed rebel galley, as Esopus Creek is 3 mile navigable and night coming ou before we could explore the whole of it: therefore, would it not be proper for sotue frigate or armed vessel to be thereabouts to secure ye. navigation of ye river? We caunot properly spare any from the army.
" Ammunition is wantof among ye armed vessels.
" I have ye honor to be " Your most humble servant,
" JAS. WALLACE.
" P. S .- Every opportunity will be taken to send to Mr. Burgoyne. " COMMODORE HOTHAM."
(A trug copy.)
The intelligence alluded to in the foregoing part of this letter being inserted in that from Gen. Vaughan to Gen. Clinton, it was thought uunecessary to transcribe it again.
ludorsed in Gen. Gates' handwriting, " Intercepted let- ter from Capt. Wallace to Commo" Hothain, dated 18th October, 1777."
Information of Gilead Bettuss, 1Sth October, 1777, who says that he was taken prisoner by the rebels on Monday the 6th inst. : that the following day there was a battle between the king's troops and the rebels, with the loss ou our side seven or eight pieces of cannon, about one hun- dred and fifty men (among whom Gen. Frazer) killed, and one hundred and fifty, mostly Hessians, taken prisoners ; that Gen. Burgoyne retreated the same night, leaving be- hind three hundred sick and three hundred barrels of pro- visions ; and that a brigade of rebels marched next day to intercept the retreat of Gen. Burgoyne.
That on Saturday last there was another engagement, in which the king's troops killed near one hundred of the rebels without any loss; that Gen. Burgoyne was, to the best of his knowledge, at Saratoga last Monday, which was thirty-six miles from Albany ; and says that he heard can- non last Tuesday, but knew no particulars; and further says, that when he was taken prisoner, but five Hessians bad deserted from the king's troops, but that the rebels deserted to them in great numbers.
94
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW- YORK.
" DEAR SIR,-I shall send of this night to Gen. Burgoyne ; at the same time I desire to inform you that all the nrmed ships are in want of ammunition, that it will be absolutely necessary for a Frigato to lay off Esopus for the reasons mentioned by Sir J. Wallace to the Commodore, that the Heavy Ships cannot get nearer than 46 miles to Albany, but that the smaller ones will proceed bigher up.
" It is reported that the Rebels Ariny near Albany amounts to 18,000 men.
" I am, Dear Sir, " Your Most Obed't Humble Servant, " JOHN VANGHAN.
"From on Board the ' Friendship,' off Livingston's Mills that were Saturday, Oct. IS, 1777, morning 10 o'clock.
(True copy.)
" C. TH. LINGHAST."
Indorsed in Gen. Gates' handwriting : " Intercepted letter from M. G. Vaughn to Lt .- G. Sir Henry Clinton, dated Livingston's Mills, 18th October, 1777."
Of course Gen. Vaughan could not hope, after the intel- ligence of Burgoyne's disaster at Saratoga, to make much further effort to the northward, and, moving up the river, lay off Saugerties until the 23d, landing detachments from time to time, and destroying the powder-mills at Living- ston's Manor, and the houses of Chancellor Livingston, Mrs. Montgomery, and doing other damage, as related by a writer in a newspaper before eited.
On their return they came to opposite Kingston on the evening of the 23d; on the following morning sailed down the river, and in the afternoon of that day they passed the chevaux-de-frise at New Windsor aud rejoined the forces in the Highlands.
The result of this expedition did not satisfy the loyalists in America or England ; they complained bitterly of the dilatory policy of Sir Henry Clinton and Gen. Vaughan, and seemed to think that they could easily have accom- plished the sixty miles' sail and made themselves masters of Albany. It is quite likely this could have been done, for there were no troops of any account in that city; but Gen. Vaughan heard of the fate of the Northern army, and felt assured that his return to New York might, in the event of bis going higher, prove a difficult matter, and therefore did not choose to hazard his own reputation as a military commander by a desperate effort to save his fellow-soldier at Saratoga. Gen. Vaughan has also asserted that a contrary wind prevented his further advance, -- an assertion not borne out by the opposite statement of Gover- mor Clinton, that a " strong southerly wind" was blowing.
I have the log-book of the " Preston," which, it will be remembered, remained near the forts of the Highlands, and southerly winds are noted in the register as having prevailed on the days meutioned in the Governor's letter.
There certainly was a head-wind on the 17th and 18th of October, when the squadron was getting up to Sauger- ties, but not afterwards, so it was the news from Burgoyne which prevented Gen. Vaughan from advancing,-not the wind.
On the morning of the 18th the .troops witnessed the execution of Taylor, the spy, at Hurley. As soon as possi- ble fien. Gates dispatched two brigades southward, and, after the enemy had dropped down the river, the whole
force moved to New Windsor and to join Gen. Washington in the Jerseys.
The first session of the Court of Common Pleas of Ulster County, after the fire, commenced at the house of Johannes Tack, inuholder, in Marbletown, May 5, 1778: Levi Paw- ling, Direk Wynkoop, Jr., judges ; Johannes Sleght, Nathan Smith, aud Patrick Barber, assistant justices.
The Council of Safety, dispersed at the burning of Kings. ton, did not meet again until the 19th of October, at the house of Andrew Oliver, in Marbletown, when the follow- ing preamble and resolution were passed :
"Whereas, tho late destruction of the town of Kingston, and a vast nmuber of dwelling-houses, improvements, grain, and fodler on each side of Hudson's River by a cruel, inhuman, and merciless enemuy lias deprived many persons and families, the goot subjects of this State, of shelter and subsistence for themselves and their cattle, - calamities which, by the blessing of God on the fruits of this land, those who have not shared in so uncounton a misfortune are enabled in a grent measure to relieve;
" Resulted, therefore, That it be, and it is hereby most earnestly recomtuen led to the several and respective general and district com- mittees of the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, and Westchester, to make, or cause to be male, a proper and proportionate distribu- tion of the aforesaid distressed persons and families, and their cattle, to the cud that they may all be provided for as the circumstances of the country will permit; and it is hereby most strenuously urged on all those who winy not have shared with them in their afflictions to re- ceive the aforesaid persons, families, and cattle, and furnish them with shelter and subsistence at a moderate rate."
The sessions of the Council continued at Marbletown until November 18th, when they adjourned to Hurley, meeting at the house of Capt. Jan Van Deusen until the 17th of December. After this date they ceased to meet in Ulster County, but resumed business at Poughkeepsie, Dec. 22, 1777.
The Supreme Court, which opened for the first time on the 9th of September with an able charge from Chief-Jus- tice Jay, which was printed in Holt's paper, and is found in his life by William Jay, had adjourned before the attack.
And here terminates the sketch of the expedition of Gen. Vaughau, but I may be permitted to reeall the pleas- ant change in publie sentiment which the lapse of three- quarters of a century has brought about. This very morn- ing, not two hours since, the grandson of that King George the Third whom our fathers so much detested was hon- ored with a salute from the cannon of the organized militia of the county, successors of the men of 1777, and fired, too, from the very spot where, eighty-three years ago, at the same hour, the guns of Pawling's redoubts were speed- ing messergers of death into the royal squadron.
May this visit of the Prince of Wales serve to increase that harmony which should ever exist among the great members of the Anglo-Saxon race, " Creation's priests and kings."
We append the following documents, as they serve to illustrate more fully this interesting period in the history of Ulster County :
ULSTER COUNTY MILITIA OFFICERS IN THE REVO- 1.UTION.+ " A list of fieldl-officers for the county of Ulster, viz. : Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, Lieut .- Col. Abraham Hasbrouck, Maj. Johannes Sny-
f Journal of the Provincial Conv., ii. p. 131.
Underscored in the papers quoted, showing the animus of these valiaut taran lers.
95
ORGANIZATION.
der, Maj. Jonathan Elmendorf, Adjt. Petrus I. Elmendorf, Quarter- master Abraham A. Hasbrouck.
" Cul. James Clinton, Lieut .- Col. JJames Claughry, Maj. Jacob New- kerk, Maj. Moses Puiflips, Adjt. George Denniston, Quartermaster Mexander Trimble; commissions dated 25th of October, 1775
"Col. Levi Pawling, Lieut .- Col. Jucob Hornbeck, Maj. Johannes Cantine, Maj. Joseph Hasbrouck, Adjt. David Levier, Quartermaster Jacobus Bruyn, Jr. ; commissions dated 25th of October, 1775.
"Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck, Lient .- Col. Johannes Hardenbergh, Jr., Maj. Johannes Jansen, Jr., Maj. Lewis Du Bois, Adjt. Abraham Schoonmaker, Quartermaster Isaae Belknap ; commissions dated 25th of October, 1775."
SERVICES OF COL. HASBROUCK'S REGIMENT, 1776-78.
" A return of the Extraordinary Services Lately perforiued by Coll. Hasbrouck's Regiment of Militia since the Isth day of December, 1774. from Time to Time, the Number of Men in Service, on what particular Service, & what Term of Time.
" What part cular Service has been performed. Men.
No. of What Term of Time.
"Ist. At the Alarm December 12, 1776, at Rata- paugh 27 days.
"PAI. At Ramunpaugh from 7th January, 2 & 1:77 100 14 .
"3d. I'mder Col. Pawling from 2 xe of Jan 1777 till last of April 1777, at Ramapaugh 200
40 4
"4th. Under Col. Sayder at Fort Montgomery 4 months 150 120
" 5th. Under Col. Ellison at Fort Montgomery 3 months 130
" 6th. At the Alarm in March 1777, when the Stores was destroyed nt l'eck - kill. 250
"7th. At the Alarmn at Fort Montgomery In July 1777 400 00
=
"Sth. At the Alarm at Fort Montgomery In Aug 1777 500 " Oth. At the Alarm at Fort Montgomery in Sep 1777 400
S ¥
" 10th. At. Fort Constitution the 1st October 1777, under the Command of Maj. Invois. 200
10
"11th. The Aların at the burning of Esopus in Oct 1577 460 "12th. The Six weeks Service at Nicholas's Point in Nov 1777, under the Command of Col. Ilca- thorn.
120
45 44
" 13th. At the West Point in March & Ap. 1778, under Mr. Wisner ... 420
00
" Giveu under my hand this IStu day of June, IFTS "Errors Excepted "Jon's ILARDENBERGH,
" To his Excellency
1.t .- Col.
GEORGE CLINTON, Esq." .
LETTER OF JAMES CLINTON TO GOVERNOR CLINTON.
" LITTLE BRITAIN, Octobr IS, IFTT.
" De Brother, -Your: of yesterday's date I have just Received. I am sorry for the loss of Kingston, de.
" Five of the Euemy's Shipping Returnel Down the River Last night without doing any damage, except tiring some canuon and small arms at our men, and wontting ony of ours ou Board of a Ferry Boat.
" Inclosed I send you two let ers,-one from Gen. Dickeson, and the other from Gen. Winds; the Latter I have answered by ordering Him here as by your former Letter.
" I have wrote to Gen. Putnain for a Reinforcement this Day, and Expeet Gen. Winds will be ordered to remain here.
" I have ordered Capt. BellEnap to move your slay and what For- age he can from the River.
"I am, yours affectionately, "JAMES CLINTON, B. Geul.
" P. S .- Gen. Parsons remains at Peekskill with about 2000. Cut- stolz Humprey- & Brinkerhoof Regiments of Militia Left at Fish- kill. Colonel Platt with about 150 at Poughkeepsie.
" To His EXCELLENCY Gove. CLINTON."
Address of the committee of Kingston to Governor Clinton respecting their desire of rebuilding the village, lated Feb. 9, 1778 :
"To HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR CLINTON, ENE., Governar and Commander-in- Chief of the State of New York.
" The Humble Address of the Committee of Safety & Observation of the Town of Kingston
" Humbly make Known,
" That whereas a Dispute is raised Between America and the King of Great Britain touching & Concerning Taxation, America held such Taxation unjust and illegal and unwarrantable by the Constitution of Britain. America soon entered upon & into uiensures to prevent such illegal tax. Kingston unitedly did join and seconded the measures to prevent the Expected oppression by their early embarking in the cause of Liberty and their persevering & continued Exertions in sup- port thereof; have nmdoubtedly incurred the bitterest resentment of the Enemy to Vent such resentment, & Expedition up the North river was determined upon, and the destruction of Kingston thereby effected and completeI, to the great loss & Damage of the Inhabitants. Sir, many of the Sufferers wou'l fain build ; are Discouraged by means of the enormous prizes of things & Labonr. The unhappy Sufferers have always supported the cause with proper spirit ; have always sub- mitted to the present Government; cheerfully turned out their Num- ber of men on all Detachments and those ordered to be raised to Reinforce the Army, and always aeted with spirit and Resolution, however the situation, circumstances, & Dificulties the Committee thinks it their indispensable Duty to address your Excellency in be- half of the sufferers of Kingston; that your Excellency therefore will be pleased to make use of your Interest in Devising means whereby the poor Sufferers may obtain Relief; their Spirit to Re- build the town is good, Int their abilities Weak. Assistance for that purpose would be Exceedingly agreeable, und mightily revive the present Dejection of many of the poor Sufferers. The Committee, may it please your Excellency, concludes hy praying that your Excellency will use all your Influence & Interest to obtain Relief for the poor Sufferers of Kingston. By order of the Committee, " ANDRIES DEWITT, JUST., Ch."
The following is Governor Clinton's reply : " POUGHKEEPSIE, 17th Fely, 177S. "Sin,-I have received the Ad Iress of the Committee of Kingston, dated the 9th inst .. respecting the Distresses of the Inhabitants of Kingston, aul the aid required to enable them to rebuild the Town. You may re. t assured, Gentlemen, that whatever may be in my power to render them shall not be withheld, but most cheerfully afforded. I have already suggested to sundry members of the Legislature the Propriety of rebuibling the Court-House and Gaol at pubdie Expense, and bave Reason to hope it will be done. I have likewise mentioned the propriety of Exempting such Number of Artificers as shall be necessary from Military Drafts and Duty, providing they agree to work at rebuilding the town for Reasonable wages, which likewise I hope I shall be enabled to do.
"As to Freer, I think no Publiek Injury can arise from his con- tinning at home at Present; in the Mean Time I will lay his case before the commissioners for detecting conspiracies, to be appointed in pursuatree of a late art of the Legislature, who, I have no doubt, will deal with him according to Justice in such Manner as will con- duce mast the Publiek Safety and Peace.
" I am, with due Respect, " Your most obedt servt, "GEORGE CLINTON."
CHAPTER XIX.
ORGANIZATION-COUNTY BUILDINGS- EARLY COURTS-CIVIL, LIST.
I .- ORGANIZATION.
THE county of Ulster was among the twelve original counties of the province of New York, which were formed by order of the Duke of York, then the sole proprietor of the province, on the 1st day of November, 1683, and called in honor of the duke's Irish title.
S
30 4
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
IL .- COUNTY BUILDINGS.
The first county buildings-court-house and jail-were erected soon after the incorporation of the county, and an ap- propriation was made for their repair in 1715. These build- ings were inadequate, and an aet of the Legislature (passed Oet. 14, 1732) allowed them to be sold, along with the lot on which they stood, and new buildings to be ereeted. Repairs were authorized in 1745, 1750, 1765, and 1773, and in 1775 a further sum was granted to complete them. They were burned by the British during the Revolution (Oct. 16, 1777), and a lottery was granted six months after their destruction to raise two thousand ponuds to rebuild them.
The present county elerk's office is a substantial building situate on the southeast corner of Fair and Main Streets, Kingston.
The present court-house was built in ISIS, and is a fine stone editice, situated on Wall Street.
The jail is a stone building in the rear of the court- house. The jail was formerly in the main building. but about 1868 it was changed into a wing in the rear of the court-house.
By a resolution of the Provincial Convention, passed Dec. 21, 1775, the Ulster County jail became the jail of Congress.
The poor-house is located in New Paltz, and embraces a fanu of one hundred and forty aeres and several buildings for the accommodation of the county poor, insane, etc. The main building is twenty-five by one hundred and twenty fect, with clean, neat, and well-ventilated apart- ments. " Much of the labor about the house is performed by the inmates, the male, finding agreeable work upon the farm." The number of panpers here supported has varied in different years from one to two hundred. The insane are provided for in another building, where they are allowed " all the liberty consistent with a proper regard to their health and comfort. A school is also taught during the time required by law."
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