History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 97

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 97

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"The last Sessions," during which the Earl of Coventry, by authority, presented overtures for reconciliation to which the Continental Congress would have agreed, was the Fifth Session of the Fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain, (November 26, 1778, to July 3, 1779,) long after the alliance of the United States with France had been perfected, aud utilized in America. As the Earl, on another occasion, boldly acknowl- edged his personal friendship and correspondence with more than one of those who, then, were regarded as prime leaders in the Rebellion, there need be very little trouble in searching for the names of those who were, undoubtedly, the mouthpieces of the Continental Congress, in the work of reconciliation, on the occasion referred to by the Earl of Coventry, in 1779.

383

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

of August, less than four weeks from the date of its appointment.1 The Committee who was appointed for those purposes consisted of John Jay, Colonel John Broome, and General John Morin Scott, all of the City of New York; John Sloss Hobart and William Smith, ofSuffolk; Abraham Yates, Junior, and Robert Yates, of Albany-county ; Henry Wisner, Senior, and Colonel Charles De Witt, of Ulster-couuty ; William Duer, of Charlotte-county ; Gouverneur Morris, of Westchester-couuty ; Samuel Townshend, of Queens- county; and Robert R. Livingston, of Duchess-county.2

The subject continued to be played with, both by the Committee and the Convention, by both of whom nothing was done, until the Royal Army occupied the City of New York and prepared to extend its operations into Westchester-couuty, when other subjects occupied the attention of both; aud thus were the best interests and the safety of the inhabitants of the State endangered-thus were their properties and their families and everything which was dear to them, subjected to the hazard of a revo- lutionary uprising, of anarchy, and of entire de- struction-only because James Duane and John Jay and the Livingstons aud the Morrisses and their friends preferred a reconciliation and a reconstruction of the former system of Government, with themselves in the offices ; and, for the promotion of those selfish purposes, withheld every form of Government from the young State, and exposed every one and everything, within the State, to lawless anarchy and entire ruin.

There was scarcely a matter, in either the Judicial or the Legislative or the Executive departments of Government, with which that Congress did not in- terfere ; 3 and it ventured to ask the Continental Con- gress, only because it lacked courage enough to do so, to revise the Book of Common Prayer and to exercise an official censorship over the prayers of those who did not use Rituals.4

1 Journal of the Con. ention, " Die Jovis, 8 ho., A. M., August 1, 1776." 2 Ihid.

3 Withont entering into details, the Convention provided for the refu- gee Poor, from the City of New York; protected the Cattle of the farmers, from the enemy's foraging-parties, as far as it could do so ; guarded the Military-stores of the State; built Vessels-of-War; obstructed the navi- gation of the lIndson river ; arbitrarily set aside the Elections of Officers who were distasteful to it ; borrowed Money, whenever they could find lenders; treated with the Indians ; issued Paper-currency ; gave employ- ment to grumbling Mechanics ; watched the "disaffected," in New Jer- sey; lent Money to imupecunions County Committees; guarded the official Records ; ordered Fasts; gave l'asses to those making journeys ; seized the Royal Quitrents; removed those who were exposed to the enemy; provided postal facilities; gave Licenses to Innkeepers ; gave relief to insolvent Debtors ; provided for the care of Orphans; relieved distressed Soldiers; etc , etc.

The Journals of the Convention and those of Its Committee of Safety may be referred to, by those who shall desire further information concerning the action of the Convention or the Committee, thereon.

4 " We take the liberty of suggesting to your consideration, also, the "propriety of taking some measures for expunging from the Book of " Common Prayer, such parts, and discontinuing in the Congregations "of all other denominations, all such prayers, as interfere with the in- "terest of the American cause. It is a subject we are afraid to meddle "with, the enemies of America having taken great pains to insinuate "into the minds of the Episcopalians that the Church was in danger.

While the Convention was thus busily employed- and justice requires that its industry and determina- tion, in preparing for a successful opposition to the Royal Armnies, on the northern frontiers as well as in the vicinity of New York, should be fully and prop- erly recognized-other events of the utmost impor- tance to New York and to her sister States, were of everyday occurrence.

As we have already stated, the Royal troops which had been withdrawn from Boston and carried to Halifax, during the preceding March, "having suffi- "ciently recovered from the fatigues and sickness "occasioned by their confined situation in that town" [Boston,5] left the later place, [Halifax] on the eleventh of June,6 under convoy of Admiral Shuld -. ham ;7 reached Sandy-hook on the twenty-ninth of the samc month; 8 landed on the northeastern shore of Staten-Island, between the second aud fourth of July ; 9 and were welcomed by the persccuted inhabit- ants of that beautiful island, as their deliverers from the terrible oppression of the revolutionary powers, both that of New York and that of New Jersey.10

Ou the afternoon of the twelfth of July, for the purpose of distressiug the American Army, "by " obstructing supplies coming down the river and other "good consequences dependent on that measure"- probably, also, for the purpose of offering encourage- ment to the conservative farmers of Westchester- county to follow the example of those on Staten Island, in declaring for the King-the Phoenix, com- manded by Captain Hyde Parker, of forty guns, the Rose, commauded by Captaiu Wallace, of twenty

" We would wish the Congress would pass some Resolve, to quiet their " fears ; and we are confident it would do essential service to the cause of " America, at least in this State." (Journal of the Provincial Convention, " Thursday morning, July 11, 1776.") 5 History of the Civil War in America. By an Officer of the Army [Cap- tain Hall] i., 173; Stedman's History of the American War, Ed. London, 1794, i., 190.

The Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, 166,* 167,* and, fol- lowing that authority, The History of the War in America between Great Britain and her Colonies, Ed. Dublin, 1779, i., 179, 180, and Murray's Im- partial History of the War in America, Edit. Newcastle, ii., 153, say the troops were not comfortable at Halifax ; and that General Howe was obliged to sail from there, because of a scarcity of provisions; but we prefer the statement of Captain Hall, who was present, and who wrote with unusual precision and accuracy, especially with Stedman support- ing him.

6 History of the Civil War in America, [Capt. llall's] i., 173; Stedman's History of the American l'ar, i., 190.

7 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, " 1776 ;" Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, 167 .*

8 General Howe to Lord George Germame, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1776;" [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 174 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 100 ; Marshall's Life of George Washing- ton, Ed. Phila., 1804, ii., 415.

9 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1776 ;" [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i , 175 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, Ed. London, 1788, il., 278 ; etc.

10 General Howre to Lord George Germaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 7 July, "1776 ;" General Howe's Observations upon a pamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman, Ed. London, 1780, 50; London Gazette, " AnMIIRALTY OFFICE, "Angust 10, 1776 ; " Gorernor Tryon to Lord George Germaine " DICHEss "OF GORDON, OFF STATEN ISLAND, July 8, 1776 ;" John Adams to Mrs. Adams, " PHILADELPHIA, 11 July, 1776."

384

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY

guns, and three tenders, "taking advantage of the "tide and a fresh breeze," left Staten Island, and passed the City, receiving the fire of the American batteries on the Red Hook, Governor's Island, Powle's Hook, and along the line of the Hudson-river, within the City, without sustaining any material damage, and returning a fire which was equally harmless.1 They anchored off Tarrytown, during the early evening; 2 but, if their errand was to encourage the farmers on the Philipse Mauor to declare themselves favorably inclined to the King, their officers must have been sadly disappointed, since Lieutenant Daniel Martling, with whom the reader is already acquainted, on the first appearance of the approaching vessels, promptly,ordered his command to turn out, to oppose any attempt which might be made to effect a landing ; and, during the night, under the personal direction of Lieutenant-colonel Hanmond, who lived in the vicinity, cartridges were distributed, and the inhabitants of the village and neighboring farms were collected, iu order that an effective resistance should be made.3 Fresh supplies of ammunition were sent, by the Convention, then in session at the White Plains ; and measures were taken for reinforc- ing the inhabitants ; 4 but, although it is said the ships were visited by one or two periaugas,5 they appeared, while they remained off Tarrytown, to have been sent for no other purpose than to take soundings,6 although there is little doubt that they also cut off the supplies, as well as the communication between the main Army and that on the northern frontier,7 and availed them- selves of the darkness of night to open communica- tions with those of the neighboring inhabitants of Westchester and Orange-counties, who were supposed to have been friendly to the Royal cause.

The successful passage of these ships, up the river, very reasonably, created much anxiety and alarm, in the Army and throughout the State. General Wash- ington, wisely suspecting that the purpose of the movement was to encourage the tenantry on the Manors of Philipsborough and Cortlandt to declare for the King, immediately ordered General George

Clinton, then commanding the Militia who had been called out for the protection of the passes over the Highlands, to desire General Ten Broeck, conmand- ing the Militia above the Highlands, to march down with as great a force as he could collect, in order the more effectually to secure those passes, particularly the road which passed over Anthony's Nose; and, at the same time, he authorized General Clinton, if there should seem to be any danger from those who were "disaffected," to send an express to Connecticut, desiring the western portion of that State "to col- "lect all their forces at the same point." 8 As we have already stated, the Convention of the State, then seated at the White Plains, besides sending ad- vices of the threatened inroad to the officer conmand- ing the fort in the Highlands, also sent a supply of powder and ball to the inhabitants of Tarrytown, and provided for reinforcements, "along that shore," and solicited protection for King's Bridge, "the destruction "of which it apprehended to have been an object " with the enemy." 9

On the fourteenth of July, General Washington wrote to the Convention a letter which is so signifi- cant of the great anxiety which he felt and so highly illustrative of his character, as a great commander, that we make room for it, in this place.

"NEW-YORK HEAD-QUARTERS. " July 14th, 1776.

" GENTLEMEN :-

" The passage of the enemy up the North-river is "an event big with many consequences to the public "interest. One particularly occurs to me well deserv- "ing your attention, and to prevent which I shall "gladly give every assistance in my power, consistent " with the safety of the Army.

"I am informed there are several passes, on each "side of the river, upon which the communication "with Albany depends, of so commanding a nature " that an inconsiderable body of men may defend " them against the largest numbers. It may be that, " on board these ships, there may be troops for that " purpose, who, expecting to be joined by the disaffect- "ed, in that quarter, or confiding in their own " strength, may endcavour to seize those defiles, in " which case the intercourse between the two Armies, "both by land and water, will be wholly cut off, than " which a greater misfortune could hardly befall the " Province and Army. I must entrcat you to take " the measure into consideration, and, if possible, " provide against an evil so much to be apprehended. " I should hope the Militia of those Counties might be " used on such an emergency, until further provision " was made.

"I have also thought it very probable these ships

1 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, 8 July, "1776; " the same to the same, "STATEN ISLAND, 6 August, 1776; " General Washington to General Clinton, " HEAD -QUARTERS, NEW "YORK, 12 July, 1776 ; " the same to the President of Congress, " NEW "YORK, 14 July, 1776;" the same to General Schuyler, " NEW YORK, 15 "July, 1776 ;" Memoirs of Mujor-general Heath, Ed. Boston, 1798, 49 ; [ Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 185, 186 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii, 304.

2 The Convention of New York to General Washington, "Saturday morn- "ing, July 13, 1776 ;" [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America,

i., 185 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii .. 304.

3 Report and Evidence in the Case of Lientenant-colonel Hammond. - Historical Manuscripts : Miscellaneous Papers, xxxiv., 549.

4 The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday Morning, July 13, " 1776."

5 The Convention to General Washington " IN CONVENTION, July 15, 1776." 6 The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday morning, July 13, " 1776."

" General Washington to John Augustine Washington, "NEW YORK, 22 " July, 1776."

8 General Washington to General George Clinton, " HEAD-QUARTERS, " NEW YORK, 12 July, 1776."

? The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday morning, July 13, " 1776."

385

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

" may have carried up arms and ammunition to be " dealt out to those who may favour their eausc, and " cooperate with them, at a fixed time. I would, to " guard against this, submit to your consideration the " propriety of writing to the leading men, on our " side, in those Counties, to be very vigilant in ob- "serving any movement of that kind, in order that " so dangerous a scheme may be nipped in the bud; " for that purpose, to keep the utmost attention to " the conduct of the principal Tories in those parts, "any attempts of intercourse with the ships, and all "other eireumstances which may lead to a discovery "of their schemes and the destruction of their meas- " ures.

" I am, Gentlemen, very respectfully, " Your mo. obt. and very hble. servant, " GEO. WASHINGTON. " TO TIIE HONBLE. THE PREST. OF THE

" PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW-YORK."

As we have said, the inhabitants of the vicinity of Tarrytown turned out for the purpose of obstructing any attempt which might be made, to effeet a landing from the ships; 1 but they were farmers, in the midst of their harvest ; and when they had been there three days, without having seen mueh pressing necessity for their further stay or any prospect of a relief or of a supply of provisions, although the Convention was sitting within six miles from them, they expressed their desire to be relieved, and some of them went home, without leave, "in order to attend to their har- "vests." 2

Very ungraciously and, certainly, not in such words as were calculated to inspire respect for those who had employed them, among those against whom they were thus tossed, by the aristocratie master- spirits of the Convention,3 Orders were issued to Captain Micah Townsend, who had probably been sent from the Plains to Tarrytown, on the day after the arrival of the ships, to remain at the latter place, with his Company; Colonel Thomas was ordered to send detachments from his Regiment, to relieve those who had not returned to their homes; and the pay and rations allowed to the Continental troops, were promised to those who were, as well as to those who should be, called into the service.4 But, on the fol- lowing day, [July 16, 1776,] all those in the neighbor- hood of Tarrytown were relieved from immediate danger, by the ships and their tenders weighing their anchors and sailing up the river, occasionally firing a shot, as they passed a house on the western side the river; and by their anchoring a short distance below Verplanck's-point, and "opposite the stores at Hav-

"erstraw." During the afternoon of the same day, one of the tenders beat up the river, against an unfa- vorable wind, sounding the river very carefully as she proceeded, until she had come within gun-shot of Fort Montgomery, when her progress was arrested by a thirty-two pound shot, which struck her, and compelled her to put about, and to run down the river, not, however, without having plundercd a little house which stood near the river.5

During the morning of that day, [July 16, 1776,] before the information of the departure of the ships from Tarrytown had reached the Convention, that body had provided for the removal of "all Provisions and " other Stores, as well private as publie property, which " were stored in places within the district of Peekskill " and so situated as to be in danger of being taken by " the enemy," " to such places of safety as the Sub- " committee of Peekskill shall think proper ;" and when the information of the departure of the ships was received from Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, the Convention very promptly despatched Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and Zephaniah Platt, the former a Deputy from Westchester-county and the latter one from Duchess-county, " to the Highlands, in order to " call ont such Militia as they may think necessary for "the defence and security of this State; to direct "their stations; to reinforce the garrisons of Forts " Montgomery and Constitution, if expedient; and to " supply such forees as may be called out or to ap- " point proper persons for that purpose;" at the same time, promising Continental pay and rations to the Militia who should be thus employed ; and advancing five hundred dollars, to be disposed of in procuring Provisions for the forces who should thus be ealled into active service.6 The Convention further signified, at the same Session, its determination to protect the State, as far as it could do so, by ordering into imme- diate service, one-fourth of the entire body of Militia of the Counties of Westchester, Duehess, Orange- which then included what is now known as Rockland -- and Ulster-counties, " for the defence of the liber- "ties, property, wives, and children of the good peo- "ple of this State ; and as, at this busy season of the "year, the service may be inconvenient to many of " them, each man be allowed twenty dollars, as a " Bounty, with Continental pay and subsistence, and " be continued in the service until the last day of " December next, unless sooner discharged." At the same time, the men to be raised in Westchester and Duchess-counties were ordered to repair, immediately, to Peekskill; General Washington was requested to appoint an officer to take command of all the levies to be raised, on both sides the river; to designate what stations they should oceupy ; and to nominate two Deputy Commissaries for the troops, on each side

1 Vidle page 381, ante.

2 Journal of the Courration, "Die Luna, P. M., July 15, 1776."

3 The Convention to Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, " IN CONVENTION FOR " THE STATE OF NEW- YORK, WHITE PLAINS, July 15, 1776." A Journal of the Convention. "Die Luni, P. M., July 15, 1776 ;" the Courention to Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, "IN CONVENTION FOR THIE " STATE OF NEW-YORK, WHITE PLAINS, July 15, 1776."

5 Lieutenant colonel Hammond to the Convention, "TARRYTOWN, July "16, 1776 ;" General Clinton to General Washington, "FORT MONTGOM- "FRY, July 23, 1776."

6 Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, July 16, 1776."

386

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

of the river; and those who were already in the service, from Orange and Ulster-counties, were order- ed to be posted in the Highlands, to guard the defiles, therein, which were westward from the Hudson-river, as General Clinton should direct. The provisions of these enaetments were eompleted by the appointment of Colonel Thomas Thomas as the Colonel-command- ing and Ebenezer Purdy as the Major, of the troops which were to be drawn from Westchester-county 1- an appointment of Colonel which was made in the hurry of the moment and under a misapprehension, the Convention having erroneously supposed Colonel Thomas was the senior Colonel of the Westehester- county Militia, whereas the seniority rested on Colonel Drake; and which Election, subsequently, produeed a serious rupture in the military eircles of the County, and between the two rivals and their respee- tive friends,2 sinee Colonel Thomas resolutely retained the authority which he had thus received by mistake.3 A guard of fifty men was also provided for the pro- tection of the public stores of Provisions, at or near Peekskill ; + and the Commissioners for building the Continental Ships, at Poughkeepsie, were requested to exert their utmost abilities and attention to defend those Ships from the hostile attempts of the enemy, and, if nothing else, to preserve the Oak-plank, Rig- ging, and other Stores from falling into his hands.5

In the afternoon of the same day, [July 16, 1776,] the Convention appointed a secret Committee " to de- " vise and carry into execution such measures as to " them shall appear most effectual for obstructing " the channel of Hudson's-river, or annoying the en- " emy's ships in their navigation up the said river ; " and that this Convention pledge themselves for de- " fraying the charges ineident thereto." That Com- inittee was composed of John Jay, of the City of New York, Robert Yates, of Albany-county, Major Chris- topher Tappen, of Ulster-eounty, William Paulding, of Westchester-county, and Robert R. Livingston and Gilbert Livingston, both of Duehess-county. At the same time, a messenger was ordered to be sent to Gov- ernor Trumbull for the purpose of requesting him to order the forces of western Connecticut to be called out, for the further support of those who were occu- pying the passes in the Highlands ; 6 a Resolution,

1 Journal of the Convention, "Friday morning, July 16, 1776."

2 Journal of the Convention, " Die Luna, 9 ho., A. M., July 22, 1776 ;" the same, " Die Lnna, 4 ho., P.M., July 22, 1776 ; " Colonel Joseph Drake to the Convention, " WHITE PLAINS, 23 July, 1776; " the same to General Morris, " NEW ROCHEL, July 24, 1776 ; " the same to the Conren- tion, " NEW ROCHELLE, 6 Angust, 1776."

3 Preamble and Resolution of the Convention, "Die Luna., 4 ho., P.M., "July 22, 1776."

4 The Convention to Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, " IN CONVENTION OF " THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, WHITE PLAINS, " July 16, 1776."

5 The Convention to Jacobus Van Zandt, in his absence, to the Captains Lawrence and Tuder, or either of them, at Poukeepsie, "IN CONVENTION "OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, WHITE PLAINS, " July 16, 1776."

6 It appears that it was subsequently considered advisable to send a

requesting " all Magistrates and other offieers of jus- " tiee in this State, who were well affeeted to the liber- "ties of America, until further orders, to exereise their " respective offices," was adopted; and the Convention also adopted Resolutions declaring that "all persons "abiding within the State of New York and deriving " protection from the Laws of the same, owe Allegianee " to the said Laws, and are members of the State ; that " all persons passing through, visiting, or making a " temporary stay in the said State, being entitled to " the protection of the Laws, during the time of such " passage, visitation, or temporary stay, owe, during " the same time, Allegiance thereto; and that all " persons, members of or owing Allegianee to this " State, as before described, who shall levy War " against the said State, within the same, or be adher- " ent to the King of Great Britain or others the ene- " mies of the said State, within the same, giving to " him or them, aid and comfort, are guilty of Treason " against the State, and being thereof convieted, shall " suffer the pains and penalties of Death !"7. The Convention also " earnestly recommended to the Gen- " eral Committees of the Counties and the Sub-Com- " mittees in the Distriets of the several Counties in " this State, immediately to apprehend and secure all

Committee of the Convention, instead of a letter by the hands of a Messenger ; and Colonel John Broome, of New York City, and William Duer, of Charlotte-county, were selected for that purpose. (General Washington to the President of the Continental Congress, " NEW YORK, 19 "July, 1776." )

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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 97

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