History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 100

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 100

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The Convention of the State, during that period of suspense, removed baek from the White Plains to Harlem, oeeupying the old Chureh-building of the Reformned Duteh Church ;9 and, nearer to the seene of the expected troubles, it provided for the protee- tion of the Hudson-river and Long Island Sonnd, where the enemy was expected to make a landing, in foree, by ordering the entire Militia of Westehester- eonnty to appear, with five days' provisions, to take possession of sneh points, on the river and Sound, as General Morris should regard as most exposed to the enemy ; to remain in serviee during ten days; to re- eeive Continental pay and snbsistenee ; and that each man who should not have arms should bring with him a shovel, spade, or pickaxe, or a seythe straight- ened and fixed on a pole10-the latter, not easily to

4 General Hove to Lord George Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, 15 Au- " gust, 1776;" Annual Register for 1776: History of Europe,* 169 ; Mem- oirs of General Heath, 53; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 304, 305.

5 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, 15 August, "1776; " Governor Tryon to the same, "SHIP DUCHESS OF GORDON, OFF "STATEN ISLAND, August 14, 1776," postscript, dated " August 15,

'' 1776 ; " Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 306 ; etc. 6 Jones's History of New York during the Revolutionary War, i., 103. ¡ General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, 15th "August, 1776."

8 Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, 169 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 306.

9 That old Church-edifice occupied the Church lot, ou the South side ot the Great Way, or Church-lane, not far from the Harlem-river. As to Streets and Avenues now run, it was inside of the block bounded by the First and Second-avenues and One bundred aud twenty-fourth and One hundred and twenty-fifthi-streets, near the preseut intersection of the First-avenue and One hundred and twenty-fourth-street, as it has beeu described to us by our friend, James Riker, Esq., of Waverly, New York, tbe distinguished historian of Ilarlem, etc.

The features of the old building may be seen iu the l'iew of Harlem from Morrisania, copied from the original drawing, in the British Mu- seum ; and reproduced in the Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York for 1863, opposite page 610; and, again, on page 218 of this work, for the illustration of this article.

10 Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 4 P.M., Angt. 10, 1776."

394

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

be done, as any Westchester-county farmer could have told those Deputies by whom this order was made. As we have elsewhere stated,1 Kings-county " determined not to oppose the enemy," although the latter had not made any attempt to occupy it; and the Convention, it will be remembered, made some rash movements toward crowding all who lived within that County into still greater acts of hostility against the Americans, instead of inspiriting them and secur- ing their continued fealty to the State of which they were members. It provided for the removal of all which remained, of those Cannon which had been brought from the City and laid on the roadsides of the `County of Westchester-those which had beeu spiked and unspiked, guarded and left unguarded, at such heavy cost, some mouths previously 2-and General Clinton was requested to have carriages made for such of those guns as he should consider necessary for the defence of the works to the northward of King's Bridge.3 At the suggestion of General Washington,4 measures

because of "suspicions " which somebody had en- tertained concerning them, to the several County Committees, but in a tone of mildness which was re- markably unusual ; 8 and, in other ways, endeavoring to serve the cause of the country -- one of the most re- markable of the multitude of subjects which, at that timc, crowded themselves before the Convention, for its consideration, was a letter from John Sleght, Chairman of the Committee of Kingston, "stating " that the women surround the Committee-chamber, " and say, if they cannot have Tea, their husbands " and sons shall fight no more." 9

At length, every preparation for service in the field having been made, on Thursday, the twenty-second of August, the Campaign was opened. Had Lord Howe been despatched, with the heavy reinforcements which he brought, directly to New York instead of to Halifax-and, since it was known, in England, that New York would be the base of all the opera- tions of the Campaign, there was no other reason

"VIEW OF HARLAEM FROM MORISANIA IN THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK, SEPTEMR, 1765." [Copied from the original in the British Museum for George H. Moore by Richard Sims. ]

were taken for the removal of the women, children, and infirm persons, in the City of New York, to places of greater safety ; 5 for obstructing the naviga- tion, in both the Hudson and the East-rivers, as well as in Buttermilk-channel, the latter separating Gov- ernor's-island from Long Island ; 6 providing for the temporary support of those who should be driven from their homes, by the enemy; " transferring the disposition of those whom it had cast into prison,

than the bad judgment of those, in England, who controlled the movements of the troops, that he was not thus sent-the Campaign could have been opened several weeks earlier, when General Washington was much less prepared to receive an enemy, and, therefore, when a complete success in the suppression of the Re- bellion was very much more promising; but that Al- mighty power which controlled all things, had other purposes ; aud the cause of America was promoted by that remarkable blunder among those who opposed it.

On the morning of Thursday, the twenty-second of August, as we have said, the active operations of the

1 Vide page 379, ante.

2 VIde pages 322-324, ante.

3 Journal of the Convention, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A. M., August 16, 1776." 4 General Washington to the Convention, "HEAD-QUARTERS, NEW-YORK, "Aug. 17, 1776."

5 Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 17, " 1776 ; " the same, "Die Veneris, 3 ho., P.M., Augt. 23, 1776;" the same, "Monday morning, Augt. 26, 1776 ; " etc.

6 Journal of the Convention, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A. M., August 16, 1776;" the same, "Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 17, 1776 ;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Die Lunæ, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 19, 1776;" Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 24, 1776;" etc.

7 Journal of the Convention, "Die Solis, 8 ho., A. M., Augt. 25, 1776."

8 Journal of the Convention, " Monday morning, Augt. 26, 1776." " Journal of the Convention, "Monday morning, Augt. 26, 1776."

It may be proper for us to say that the Chairman's letter was re- ferred to the Deputation from Ulster county; and that, a few weeks subsequently, tired of waiting for the Tea, " mobs, from different parts " of the country," went to Kingston; broke open the buildings which contained it ; and, undoubtedly, helped themselves and their mothers and sisters and wives and daughters to what was then officially called " that detestable article called TEA."

395

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

Royal Army were commenced by the movement of the British Grenadiers and Light Infantry and the Hessians, or rather the German, Grenadiers, Light Infantry, and Chasseurs-the last-named commanded by the Count Donop-the whole numbering " not less "than four thousand men," 1 of the élite of the Army, the whole commanded by General Sir Henry Clin- ton, to Gravesend Bay, near Coney-island, where, under the fire of three frigates and two bombketches,2 the naval portion of the movement having been com- manded by Commodore Hotham, the entire detach- ment, with forty pieces of artillery, were landed, in two hours and a half, without meeting the slightest opposition from the Americans. This Division of the Royal Army having met with no resistance, the re- mnainder of the Army and of the artmery-except two Brigades of Germans, under General de Heister, and another Brigade of Germans, a detachment of the Fourteenth Infantry, from Virginia, some convales- cents and some recruits, all of them commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Dalrymple, which were left for the protection of Staten Island-were also landed on Long Island, during the morning.3

The purposes of this work do not require us to fol- low the immediately subsequent operations of the two Armies ; and the general knowledge which prevails concerning the disastrous " Battle of Long Island," made more disastrous by reason of "the obstinate, "self-conceited, inefficiency," if not by the criminal disobedience and negleet, of General Israel Putnam ; concerning the remarkable retreat of the American Army, from Long Island, made more remarkable and successful through the nautical skill of Colonel John Glover and his Regiment of Marblehead fishermen ; concerning the successful occupation of the City of New York, by the Royal Army, made more suc- cessful by reason of the arrant cowardice of those who had been posted at Kip's-bay, for the pur- pose of obstructing any attempt which the enemy should make to effect a landing at that place, as well as by reason of the greater cowardice of the Brigade of Massachusetts troops, commanded by General Fellows, and that of the Brigade of Con- nectient troops, commanded by General Parsons, both of them, eight Regiments, in all, sent for the support of the small shore-guard; concerning the successful evacuation of the City of New York, by the American Army, made more successful by the tact and hospitality of Mary Lindley Murray and by the

soklierly ability and the knowledge of the ground, of Aaron Burr; concerning the brilliant skirmish on Harlem Heights, made more brilliant by the daring bravery of Major Leitch, of Virginia, and that of Col- onel Thomas Knolton, of Connecticut ; and concerning the apparent inactivity, in both the Armies, which prevailed, during several succeeding weeks,-the gen- eral knowledge which prevails, concerning all these subjects, renders anything else thau a mere reference to them, unnecessary. But, nevertheless, there were some minor operations, of both parties, during that period, which may well receive passing notices.

Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh of August, two ships and a brig anchored a little above Throgg's-neck ; and before the troops whom General Heath had sent for the purposes of protecting the neighboring property, could reach the shore, several barges had gone ashore, on City-island ; killed several cattle ; " and carried away the dead animals and oue of the inhabitants. The troops managed to secure the remainder of the cattle which were on the island.5

As there was an evident intention, on the part of the enemy, to occupy one or more positions, on New York-island or within Westchester-county or both, General Heath, who commanded all the Continental troops at Kingsbridge and in the last-mentioned County, with that faithful attention to his duties which so generally characterized him, ordered a chain of vedettes and other sentries to be maintained at Morrisania, Hunt's-point, Throgg's-neck, and other points, ou the Sound, in order that the movements of the enemy, had he inclined to move to those neigh- borhoods, or to either of them, might be promptly made known to him.6 The usefulness of that wise precaution will be seen, hereafter.

For the purpose of eutting the line of communica- tion of the City of New York, through the Sound, with the sea-the way to the ocean, by way of the Narrows, having been already occupied by him-the enemy very judiciously occupied Barren-island, be- longing to Westchester-county, Montresor's-now Randall's-island, and what is now known as Ward's-island-the latter two belonging to the County of New York, all of which, to some ex- tent, at least, commanded the passage to and through the Sound; 7 and, on the tenth and cleventhi of September, a considerable body of troops was landed on Montresor's-island,8 which entirely com-

1 [Hall's] History of the d'iril War in America, i., 188.

See, ulan, Stedman's History of the American War, i., 193.

2 [ llall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 188 ; Stedman's His- tory of the American l'ar, i., 193.

3 General Have to Lord George Germaine, " NEWTOWN, LONG ISLAND, "3 Sept., 1776 ;" General Washington to General Heath, " HEAD-QUARTERS, "NEW-YORK, 23 August, 1776 ; " the sume to the President of the Congress, "NEW-YORK, August 23, 1776;" [ llull's] History of the Ciril War in America, i., 188: Memoirs of General Heath, 55 ; Stedinan's History of the American War, i., 193 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 306 ; etc.

4 Colonel Joseph Drake, in his letter to the Convention, dated " NEW- "RUCHELL, Angt. 28, 1776," said "they have not been able to plunder "much ; they got from Mineford's-island " [now City-island, ] " 4 horned " cattle and some poultry, which is all we have been able to learn they "have plundered." In his Memoirs, (page 56,) General Heath said " the "enemy carried off one man and 14 cattle."

5 Memoirs of General Heath, 55, 56 ; Colonel Joseph Drake to General Morris, " NEW ROCHEL, Augt. 27, 1776"-Historical Manuscripts, etc .: Miscellaneous Papers, xxxvi., 339.

6 Memoirs of General Heath, 59.

" Stedman's History of the American War, i., 199.

8 Memoirs of General Heuth, 59.

396

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

manded the Manor-house -- all there was, at that time, of Morrisania, except the small farmhouses of the manorial tenantry, which were scattered over the surrounding country. The channel which separated Morrisania, in Westchester-county, from Montresor's- island, in the City of New York, being quite narrow, and a heavy picket of four hundred and fifty mounted men having been constantly maintained at Morrisania, the sentries of the respective forces, posted within half- gunshot distance, sometimes fired at each other, in violation of the inconsistent usages of War; and General Heath has recorded some interesting instances of both the friendly and the unfriendly correspond- ence of these very important minor outposts.1 But a couple deserters from a man-of-war which was an- ehored off the island, conveyed such information to General Heath as led him to suppose that the entire force which occupied that island could be easily cap- tured; and, having submitted the subject to the con - sideration of the General Officers of his Division and to General Washington, and, having received the ap- proval of all, lie proceeded to make the attempt. Two hundred and forty men were detached for that purpose ; and the command of the expedition was given to Lieutenant-colonel Michael Jackson and Major Logan and Major Hatfield, the latter of West- chester-county. They were to embark, at the new Bridge over the Harlem-river, on board of three large floats; to be covered by a fourth float, similar to the others and carrying a detachment of Artillery, with a light three-pounder gun; to fall down the Harlem-river, with the ebb, during the night, to Morrisania ; and the calculation was so made that, at daybreak, the young flood should be so much made, at the island, as to eover the flats, at the proposed place of landing, sufficiently for the floats to leave Morrisania, and be run ashore. The various sentries, on the line of the Harlem-river, were said to have been informed of the character of the movement, and instructed to permit the expedition to pass down the river, without challenging it ; and every promise of a successful result was heard from all who were to be concerned in it or who knew of the proposed plan of operations. Notwithstanding one of the sentries had not been told of the expedition or had misunderstood the Order which had been given to him, and had resolutely disregarded the entreaties for silence which had been made, and had discharged his musket, giving an alarm, the enemy does not appear to have been disturbed ; and the three floats ran up to the place appointed for the landing, without serious op- position, and at the appointed time. But, there, a new and entirely unlooked-for obstruction was eneoun- tered. The orders were that the float which contained the three commanding Officers should run ashore, between the other two; that the two Majors should jump ashore, one to the right and the other to the left,

and take command of the men who were on those two outside floats, respectively, while Lieutenant-colonel Jackson should retain the command of those who were on the central float; and that the three parties should act in concert. The Officers and those who were on the central float sprang ashore, as they were expected ; received and repulsed a charge which the enemy's guard made on them; but failed to receive the slightest support from those who were on the other two floats, who, instead of landing, sullenly " lay upon their oars." The enemy seeing that dis- affection, rallied, and returned to the charge, with great spirit; and the Americans, those from the cen- tral float, finding themselves deserted, returned to their own float, with heavy loss; and the entire ex- pedition withdrew from the island-whether the fourth float, on which were the Artillery and which was intended as a covering party, performed any ser- vice, is not now known, as nothing whatever has been said of it, in the narrative of the encounter and retreat. It is said that Lieutenant-colonel Jackson received a musket-ball in his leg; that Major Thomas Henley, one of the Aides-de-camp of General Heath, who had insisted on going out with the expedition, as a Volunteer, was shot through his heart, as he was getting into the float; that Major Hatfield was missing; and that the Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, fourteen men.2

There was a wide-spread sorrow expressed for the death of Major Henley, who appears to have been a general favorite; and the cowardice of those who held baek their support was as widely reprobated ; but, in the prevailing temper of that period, although the delinquents were arrested and tried by Court- martial, nothing appears to have been done with them, beyond the cashiering of one of the Captains.3

2 The most complete account of this disastrous expedition is that of General Heath, in his Memoirs, 63-66; but the Orders which were given to Lieutenant-colonel Jackson by General Heath, "KING'S BRIDGE, "September 22, 1776;" David How's Diary, Edit. Morrisania, 1865, September 22, 1776; General Orders, "HEAD-QUARTERS, HARLEM- " HEIGHTS, September 24, 1776;" Lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman to William Duer, " HEAN-QUARTERS, HARLEM-HEIGHTS, September 25, 1776 ;' Extract of a letter from an Officer, at HARLEM, dated September 25, 1776, in Force's American Archives, Fifth Series, ii., 524 ; Extraet from a letter from Mount Washington, dated September 26, 1776 ; John Adams to Mrs. Adams, "PHILADELPHIA, October 8, 1776 ;" Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 336-who says there were five boats, one of which was sunk by the fire of the Brune, frigate-etc., may be nsefully consulted concerning it.

3 General Orders, HEAN-QUARTERS, HARLEM-HEIGHTS, September 29, 1776 ; Proceedings of a General Court-martial of the Line, held on the Heights of Harlem, by order of His Excellency George Washington, Esq., General and Commander-in chief of the Forces of the United States of America, for the trial of the Captains Wisner and Scott, in the service of said States, September 30, 1776 ; Adjutant-general Reed to General Beall, "HEAD-QUARTERS, Oct. 5, 1776;" the members of the General Court- martial to Adjutant-general Reed, “ CAMP NEAR HEAN-QUARTERS, October "6, 1776;" Memoirs of General Heath, 66.

The atrocities of both Officers and Privates of the American Army and the inadequacy of the punishments, therefor, to which the delinquents were then subjected, may be seen in multitudes of instances, throughout the contemporary publications; but the letter of General Washington, written to the President of the Continental Congress, "IlEIGHTS OF

1 Memoirs of General Heath, 62, 63.

397

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

The apparent inactivity of the two opposing Ar- mies, during several weeks after the occupation of the City of New York, was not understood, even by the Congress, and created some uneasiness;1 but both were actively employed, the Royal Army in throwing up a line of defenees, on the high grounds overlook- ing the Harlem-plains, from the South, in order to proteet the City from an attack from the laudside, when the main Army should be put in motion, for other operations;2 and the American Army in not only throwing up defenees on the high grounds over- looking the Harlem-plains, from the North, in order to protect itself from auy attaek which might be made on it, in that remarkably strong position,3 but in throwing up defensive works, in its rear and at distant poiuts, in order to guard against any surprise, by the enemy, of either of those points.+

During that long interval of apparent inactivity in the two Armies, the Convention of New York and its Committee of Safety were not idle nor inattentive to the interests of the country. It provided for the re- moval of the women, children, and infirm, and that of the poor, from the City of New York, in some in- stanecs into Westehester-county ; 5 and the care of the publie records also received its careful attention.6 When the enemy's shipping threatened the shores of Suffolk, it appealed for help from Connecticut, in view of its own inability to afford protection ; 7 when the Army retreated from Long Island, wisely foresee- ing that the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, and Sheep, within the County of New York and the lower portions of Westchester-county, would become exposed to the depredations of the enemy, the Committee of Safety ordered them to be, forthwith, driveu into the interior parts of the State, and requested General Washing- ton to make that order publie, and to give all possible assistance in carrying it into execution ; 8 and, subse-

"HAERLEM, 24 September, 1776," may be referred to, as a specimen of all of them.

1 The correspondence of John Adams with his wife, which has been published, will show the anxious uncertainty which prevailed in the Congress.

2 [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 201 ; Stedman's His- tory of the American War, i., 210.

3 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " NEW-YORK ISLAND, 25 Sept., " 1776 ;" Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, $176 ; [llall's] His- tory of the Civil War in America, i., 201 ; Stedman's History of the Ameri- can War, i., 209, 210 ; etc.

4 Memoirs of General Heath, 67, 68.

5 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Augt. 27, "1776 ;" the same, " FISHKILL, in DUTCHESS COUNTY, September the 2nd, " 1776;" Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Septr. "7th, 1776 ;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Monday afternoon, " Sept. 23, 1776 ;" etc.

G Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, 8 ho., P.M., Angt. 22, 1776;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Augt. 27, 1776 ;" the same, " Die Jovis, 9 ho., A. M., Sept. 12, 1776 ;" Journal of the Couven- tion, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., Octor. 4, 1776 ; " etc.

7 The Convention to the Committees of Stonington, Now-London, Groton, Lyme, Saybrook, Guilford, New Haven, Stratford, Fairfield, Milford, Nor- walk, Stamford, and Horseueck, (in each instance) " Wednesday morning, " Augt. 28, 1776 ;" the same to Governor Trumbull, " Wednesday morning, "HARLEM, 28th Augt., 1776 ; " etc.

8 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "AT THE HOUSE OF MR. ODELL,

quently, when the purpose of the enemy to oeenpy Westchester-county had become more evident, Steph- en Ward was appointed a Commissary "to purchase "all the Cattle fit for the use of the Army, within " that County, and to drive them down to the Army, " at King's Bridge, as fast as they may be wanted ; "PROVIDED, that so much shall be left as is abso- " lutely necessary for the support of the families from " whom the same shall be taken."9 At the same time, orders were given by the Committee of Safety, "that if any person shall refuse to part with his "Cattle, at a reasonable price, the Commissary be " directed to drive them down to the Army, and re- " turn to the owner the money for which they were " sold, after dedueting the contingent charge ; ""that " all the Hides of the Cattle so driven and killed, be " carefully preserved and sent to some safe place, on " the North side of the Highlands, where, being ap- " praised by persons hereafter to be named for that " purpose, they shall be paid for, by the State ;" " that Gil. Budd Horton, Alexander Hunt, James "Varian, and Joseph Youngs be appointed Commis- " sioners to drive all the Horses, Hogs, Sheep, aud "Cattle, from those parts of the County of Westehes- " ter which lay upon the Sound or the Hudson's-river, " and which are any way exposed to the enemy, and " to billet them out upon the farms that lay in the "interior part of the County, till the same can be " otherwise disposed of ; and that a reasonable com- peusation be allowed them, for their trouble ; " " that the farmers in the County of Westchester im- " mediately thresh out all their Grain, as the Straw " will be absolutely necessary for the use of the Army, "and as those who do not comply with this Resolu- "tion will be in danger of having their Straw taken " for the use of the Army, even though the same " should not be threshed ; " "that His Excellency " General Washington be empowered to order any "Straw in the County of Westchester to be taken for " the use of the Army, paying to the owners a reason- " able compensation therefor ; " " that the Chairman " or Deputy Chairman of the County of Westchester, " for the time being, on application from the Commis- " sary-general, be empowered to take so much of the " Grain, in the County of Westchester, as shall be " necessary for the use of the Army, allowing to the " owners thereof the now enrrent price, and paying " them upon the delivery, PROVIDED, always, that "so much shall be left in the hands of the owners as " will be sufficient to support their families for nine "months, and to perfect the fattening of such Hogs " as may, now, be actually put up, for that purpose ; " " that His Exeelleney General Washington, in ease " that the Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Horses, or Hay, in the "County of Westchester, should be in danger of fall-

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 100

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354