History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 88

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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1 " Annals of Newtown," by James Riker, Jr.

3 Heath's " Memoirs," page $5, and Irving's " Life of Washington," vol. ii.

"Continental village was just over the line in what was then Dutchexs (not Putnam) County.

6 Heath's " Memoirs," page $5.

" Peekskill Landing, according to tradition, was the Boland farm, near C'ortlaweltville. There was no landing near the present village dur- ing the Revolution. It must be borne in mind that there were two vil lages during the Revolutionary War, -one at Cortlandtville, and the other, consisting of twenty houses, at the site of the present village.

2 Charles A. Campbell, in "Magazine of American History " for May, | See map by an English officer in Bolton's History (new edition).

" Irving's " Life of Washington," vol. ii.

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major. Heath, ruffling with the pride of military law, turned to the major, with an air of authority. " Issue such orders at your peril," exclaimed he. Then, addressing Lee, "Sir," said he, " if you come to this post and mean to issue orders here which will break the positive ones I have received, I pray you to do it completely yourself and through your own deputy adjutant-general, who is present, and not draw me or any of my family in as partuers in the guilt." "It is right," said Lee. "Col. Seammel, do you issue the order." It was done accordingly, but Heath's punctilious scruples were not yet satisfied. " I have one more request to make, sir," said he to Lee, "and that is that you will be pleased to give me a certificate that you exercise command at this post and order from it these regiments." Lee hesitated to comply ; but George Clinton, who was present, told him he could not refuse a request so reasonable. He accordingly wrote, " For the satisfaction of Gen'l Heath, and at his request, I do certify that I am com- manding officer at this present writing in this post, and that I have in that capacity ordered Prescott's and Wyllis' regiments to march."1 The regiments marched from their cantonments towards Peekskill, but before they arrived the erratic Lee concluded to countermand the order. On the 2d and 3d of De- cember Lee's troops were crossing the ferry, and by the 4th both Heath and Westchester County were well rid of him. December 9th Heath was ordered to proceed to New Jersey with Parson's brigade, and, iu conjunction with the troops in his command on the west side of the river, advanced as far as Hacken- sack. On the 18th, at the earnest request of the Pro- vincial Convention, he was ordered back, and reaelied Peekskill on the 23d. In January, 1777, we find him away to the southern part of the county with General Lincoln, harassing the British outposts. Heath proved himself to be a very vigilant commander, always on the alert against either the red-coat or the Tory. He always evinced both sound judgment and tact in the duties assigned him. March 14th, while absent at his home in Roxbury, Mass., he received orders to take command of the Eastern Department, with headquarters at Boston.

After Heath's transfer, Brigadier-General McDou- gall assumed command at Peekskill, which was a depot for the military stores of the American army. Howe, in March, 1777, determined on their destruction. He accordingly sent a force against what he denomi- nates " the port of that rough and mountainous tract called the Manor of Courtlandt." McDougall having learned of the proposed expedition, and having with him only two hundred and fifty men, removed as much of the stores as possible to the forts in the Highlands. On the 23d, five hundred British troops, with four light field-pieces landed at Len's Cove, about one

miile south of the present village. Unable with his meagre force to protect the placc, McDougall set fire to the barracks and store-houses, and retreated two miles to a point2 commanding both the entrance to the Highlands and the road to Continental Village, and sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Marinus Willet, at Fort Coustitution,3 for assistance. Not able to carry away the stores, the enemy destroyed what was left. On the following day a skirmish took place not far from the Van Cortlandt mansion, near Cortlaudtville. The enemy having possessed the village of Peekskill, a party of them, numbering about two hundred, the next day took position on a height a little south of the house, where the advance guard of the Americans was posted. General McDougall having received a reinforcement from Colonel Gansevoort's regiment, of about eighty men, under command of Lieuten- ant-Colonel Willet, permitted them to attempt to dispossess the enemy from the eminence. Colonel Willet having accordingly made the necessary dis- position, advanced with his small party with the greatest firmness aud resolution and made the attack ; the euemy instantly fled with the greatest precipita- tion, leaving three men dead on the field; and the whole body, panic-stricken, betook themselves to their shipping, embarking under cover of the night.+ General McDougall then took possession of his former quarters. The enemy were not able to carry off any of the stores left behind in Peekskill, and were only supplied with about forty sheep and eight or ten head of cattle by the Tories. They burnt some houses and plundered the inhabitants of what could be conveniently carried away. Irving says that " 9 of the marauders were killed " and " four more slain on the banks of Canopus Creck a: they were setting fire to the boats."

On Hillside Avenue, a little to the north of its junction with Highland Avenue, in the village of Peekskill, and almost hidden from view beneath a wall, is the spring kuown as the "Soldier's Spring." According to an article which appeared in the Westchester and Putnam Republican, of Peekskill, in August, 1838, the name was derived from the follow- ing incident: A body of British made a descent upon Peekskill (probably the one which oceurred in March, 1777), aud after driving out the American troops, occupied Drum Hill, and commenced to can- nonade them on their retreat with two small field- pieces. A soldier who stopped for a moment to drink from the spring was struck by a ball and his thigh shattered. He lay bleeding until picked up by a pass- ing wagon, and was taken to Fishkili, where he died. Another version of the story is to the effect that hc

1 Irving's "Life of Washington," vol. ii., and Heath's " Memoirs," pages 94-96.

ii .- 34

2 Probably Gallows Hill. The location of the barracks and store-houses is not definitely known. In 1781 they were located at the old village ; the latter had been but recently constructed. (See description from "Blanchard's Journal," given elsewhere.)

3 Irving's " Life of Washington," vol. ii. Heath's " Memoirs," p. 116. 4 Connecticut Journal of April 2, 1777, quoted iu Bolton's "History of Westchester County," vol. i. p. 156 (new ed.).

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was killed at the spot and buried in the immediate vicinity. Shortly before the beginning of the Civil War a human skeleton was discovered in a sand-bank which was being removed from the premises of Har- rison Smith, with a cannon-ball lying beside it, which was declared by the old residents to be the body of this luckless soldier. Tradition, says his name was Nathan Brown.

The destruction of these stores, called " the unhappy affair at Peekskill," opened the eyes of the military authorities to the possibilities of the case. Knox and Greene, with McDougall, George Clinton and Au- thony Wayne, made an inspection of the defenses of the Highlands. They recommended the obstruction of the navigation of the river with a boom or heavy iron chain stretched from Fort Montgomery to An- thony's Nose, with batteries to cover it. These were Fort Montgomery and Clinton, on the west banks of the river, and Fort Independence,1 on the east side. The latter stood on a gravel bank, immediately in front of which the hotel was afterwards built. The gravel banks have been removed in recent years. May, 1777,2 Major-General Putnam, whose courage was superior to his judgment, was placed in command, and his first duty was to complete these defenses. The chain especially gave him congenial occupation. During the entire period that he was in command he had in mind an attack on New York. Washington himself suggested it. So tenacious was Putnam of his plan that Hamilton called it Putnam's "hobby- horse." In October, 1777, Sir Heury Clinton gave the old patriot plenty to do. Prior to Burgoyne's surrender he attempted to break through the Ameri- can lines and effect a junction with that hard-pressed general. October 5th he landed at Verplanck's Point with three thousand British soldiers, no doubt as a feint ; and on the 6th, during a fog, crossed two thou- sand of these troops to Stony Point, leaving one thousand behind. Putnam was out-manœuvered, sup- posing that the intended points of attack were Peek- skill and Fort Independence. Forts Montgomery and Clinton were captured, and Fort Independence evacu- ated.3 A detachment under Major-General Tryon was sent todestroy Continental Village ; they " burned the barrack for 1500 men, several store-houses and loaded wagons." 4

In about a week Putnam with six thousand men was again in possession of Peekskill. About Novem- ber 1st he is again riding his "hobby-horse" and moves as far south as New Rochelle. This calls forth the indignation of Hamilton, alluded to

above, who issues positive orders in General Wash- ington's name for the sending of a much-needed re- inforcement to the commander-in-chief and also a reprimand from headquarters. December, 1777, the troops went into winter-quarters iu the Highlands. February 13, 1778, in a letter to Washington, he tells of the sufferings of his troops : " Dubois' regiment is unfit to be ordered on duty, there being not one blanket in the regiment. Very few have either a shoe or a shirt, and most of them have neither stockings, breeches or overalls." 5

During ten months that he was in command he hung two spies.

At a little distance from the site of the old head- quarters, in the grounds of the Peekskill Academy on " Oak Hill," stands the huge oak tree from which the hill is named, and on which Daniel Strang, the spy, was hung. Strang, it appears from a short notice of him in Thacher, was found lurking about the army at Peekskill, and arrested on suspicion of being a spy. On being searched, a paper was found on him, written by Colonel Robert Rogers, who then com- manded the Queen's Rangers, dated at Valentine's Hill, 30th December, 1776, authorizing him or any other person to bring in recruits for His Majesty's ser- vice, and stating the terms and rewards that were to be offered. Strang, who made no defense, was tricd by court-martial, and condemned to death as a spy. Washington approving the sentence, he was executed accordingly.6 When the eastern wing of the acad- emy was being coustructed some years ago, human bones were disinterred not far from the tree, which were thought to be the remains of Strang. Tliey were coffined by Mr. Wells, the principal, and re- buried.

The following extract is taken from a letter dated Peekskill, January 19, 1777 :

"General Howe has discharged all the privates who were prisoners in New York ; one-half he sent to the world of spirits for want of food. The other be hath sent to warn their countrymen of the danger of falling into his hands, and so convince them, by ocu- lar demonstration, that it is infinitely better to be slain in battle than to be taken prisoners by British brutes, whose tender mercies are crnelty. But it is not the prisoners alone who felt the effects of British humanity. Every part of the country thro' which they leave march'd has been plundered and ravaged. No discrimination has been made with respect to whig or tory, but all alike have been involy'd in one common fate. Their march thro' New Jersey has been marked with savage barbarity. But Westches- ter witnesseth more terrible things. The repositorics of the dead have ever been held sacred by the most barbarous and savage nations. But here, not being able to accomplish their accursed purposes upon the

1 Southwest of Cortlandtville, about one mlle distant, on n high hill, was located Fort Lookout. Its location is now marked by a cluster of trees, which are much higher than uny surrounding them. There is still a circular earth-work here one hundred feet In diameter. On the southern slope of the hill, north of Peekskill, were located two rodoubts. ? l'enbody's " Life of Israel Putnam. " Sparks' " American Ilog. raphy."

" l'enluxly's " Life of Israel Putnam."

' Helton's " History of Westchester County," vol. i. p. 91 (old ed.).

5 PenIndly's " Life of Putnam."

6 Charles A. Campbell, In " Magazine of American llistory " for May 1882.

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living, they wreaked their vengeance on the dead. In many places, the graves in the church-yards were opened, and the bodies of the dead exposed upon the ground for several days. At Morrissania the family vault was opened, the coffins broken and the bones scattered abroad. At Delancey's farm, the body of a beautiful young lady, which had been buried for two years, was taken out of the ground and exposed for five days in a most indecent manner; many more in- stances conld be mentioned, but my heart sickens at the recollection of such inhumanity. Some persous try to believe that it is only the Hessians who perpe- trate these things, but I have good authority to say that the British vie with, and even exceed the auxili- ary troops in licentiousness. After such treatment, can it be possible for any persons seriously to wish for a reconciliation with Great Britain ? " 1

March 16, 1778, Putnam was relieved from com- mand by General Washington, and succeeded by General McDougall, "on account of the prejudices of the people," who complained of his ill success in preventing the incursions of the enemy and of his lenity to the Tories. Doubtless the latter were very active and troublesome in this section during 1777 and 1778. 2

After the fall of Forts Clinton and Montgomery it was determined to re-fortify the Highlands, the prin- cipal defenses being constructed at West Point and Constitution Island, with chain between to obstruct navigation. In addition to these, two forts were built, Fort Lafayette, at Verplanck's, and the other at Stony Point opposite, as outposts to the works in the Highlands and as a defense to the ferry. May 30, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton made his second visit in per- son to this section. He was accompanied by five thonsand troops and a fleet under Sir George Collier. Next morning General Vauglian landed seven or eight miles north of Verplanck's, on the east side of the river. Clinton himself at Haverstraw, on the opposite side, three miles below Stony Point. The fort at the latter place was abaudoned on the approach of the enemy by its garrison of twenty nien. On the follow - ing morning Fort Lafayette was cannonaded and sur- rendered by its feeble garrison of only seventy men. Washington left the main army at Smith's Cove, in the rear of Haverstraw and established his head- quarters at New Windsor in order to push forward the works of defense in the Highlands. MeDougall was placed in cominand of West Point and Heath summoned from Massachusetts. June 23d the latter took command of all the troops on the east side of the Hudson, a post which he held until the end of the war, with the exception of the few months in 1780 that he was in Rhode Island with Rochambeau. Clinton gave np the attempt on the Highlands and sent General Tryon to Connecticut to scourge its

inhabitants into submission. Heath was ordered thither with two Connecticut brigades to prevent the carrying out of his plan. On the night of July 15th, Wayne took Stony Point at the point of the bayonet ; this was to have been followed by an attempt on Fort Lafayette. This task was committed to Major-Gen - eral Howe with two brigades and some twelve-pound- ers. This movement recalled the British forces, which were then on the march down the Hudson. To pre- vent Clinton cutting off Howe, Heath was summoned from Connecticut to his assistance. He returned by forced marches. On the 18th, when at Drake's, at or near where Alfred Todd lives, on the Crompond road, _ he received word from Howe that Clinton was above the Croton River, pushing north, and ordered General Huntington's brigade with two field-pieces to hasten to the heights south of Peekskill 3 and take position there so as to command the road to Verplanck's and New Bridge. A regiment was sent to secure the pass over the hills between Drake's and Peekskill. Heath was ordered by Washington to move into the High- lands ; the night was passed on Bald Hill. 4 On the 19th Parson's brigade was at Robinson's, Huntington's and Patterson's at Nelson's ; and Nixon's at the gorge. The British moved back to Dobbs Ferry on the 20th. The presence of the enemy at Verplanck's made lively tintes for the Manor of Cortlandt. The Tories doubtless were jubilant and active; frequent incursions were made. In June the parsonage of the Presbyterian Church at Crompond was burned, and ten days later Tarleton and Simcoe burned the church and took thirty prisoners to the Sugar-house at New York. 5 Heath was kept busy looking after the enemy. Major-General Howe, with his division of the American army, was six weeks in th vicinity of Clinton, finding that Washington could not be en- ticed from the Highlands, and unwilling to attack him there, evacuated Verplanck's and Stony Points October 21st, and on the 24th, Heath, by Washington's orders, encamped at Peekskill. 6

Enoch Crosby, the original of the hero of Cooper's best novel, " The Spy," the scene of which is laid in Westchester County, performed a characteristic trick in the vicinity of Teller's Point. Seeing a British vessel anchored off' the Point, he caused one of a party of six men who were with him to display him- self in Lafayette's uniform, so conspicuously as to draw the attention of the crew, while he and the other five secreted themselves in ambush. The ruse succeeded. A boat put ont from the vessel manned by eleven men, under command of a lieutenant, to capture the lone Yankee. On their approach he fled into the woods, and was hotly pursued by the crew.

1 From Henry B. Dawson's " Historical Magazine" for December, 1870, p. 370, 371.

2 Peabody's " Life of Putnam."

3 See chapter on Yorktown. 4 See Erskine's nap.

5 Either Campfield, where the reservoir is situated, or Gallows Hill. See Revolutionary History of Yorktown.

6 Irving's " Life of Washington," vol. iii", and Heath's Memoirs. Campfield or Drum Hill?

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When they had reached the point of ambush Cros- by and his men sprang up with wild yells, making a great rustling in the bushes, and creating all the noise possible. Believing themselves encompassed by a superior force, the British surrendered without re- sistance. They were next day marched to Fishkill and there confined.

October 14, 1799, according to General Heath's Memoirs, Captain Hallet's company of New York militia, in the neighborhood of Teller's Point, took prisoners fourteen seamen in the British service.

The winter of 1779-80 was an exceedingly cold one. The snow in this section of country was four feet deep. The Bay of New York was frozen so solid that an army with the heaviest artillery could have crossed on ice. The ships-of-war were fast at the anchorage. The American army here suffered for want of proper clothing.

In July, 1780, the French army arrived at New- port. Clinton had planned a descent on the French quarters at Rhode Island with six thousand men. To prevent this and, if possible, strike a blow at New York, Washington had erossed at King's Ferry to Peekskill, July 13th. While on horseback, watching the crossing of the last division, he was approached by Arnold with a request for a command. He was offered that of the left wing, but expressed a desire for garrison duty on account of his wounded leg, and mentioned West Point as a post at which he could be useful. Washington, though somewhat surprised at his request, granted it, and he received command of the Highland defenses.1

Shortly after Washington returned to the west side of the Hudson. Heath was at this time with Rochambeau, at Newport. It will not be necessary to go into the details of Arnold's treason, except so much of them as transpired in this town, or on the Hudson River adjacent toit. September 18th, Wash- ington crossed at King's Ferry, in Arnold's barge, on his way to Hartford to meet Rochambeau. He probably took the shortest route via Crompond aud Salem. His absence was Arnold's opportunity. Just after midnight of September 20, 1780, Andre left the " Vulture " in a boat sent for him by Arnold to ar- range for the surrender of West Point. Shortly after dawn they were at the house of Joshua Hett Smith, nt Haverstraw, haggling over the price to be paid for the treason. A boat put out from the "Vulture," filled with armed men, which headed towards Teller's Point. It was seen by George Sherwood and John or "Jack " Peterson, the latter a colored man, who armed themselves and hurried to the shore, resolved that n landing should not be effected without opposi- tion. From behind the stones Peterson fired at the approaching crew, and an oar fell from the hands of one of the men, and general confusion was observed amongst them. A second shot from Sherwood con-

vineed them that the shores of the Point were too in- hospitable for them, and they returned to the vessel under protection of a heavy fire directed from it to- wards the point where the two men lay concealed. The sound of this eannonading had the effect of drawing tlie attention of the inhabitants to the vessel. Colonel Livingston, the commander of Fort Lafay- ette, at Verplanek's Point, having received intelli- genee of its presence, despatched a party of men with a four-pound eanuon (having been refused a larger one by Arnold), who opened from the point so well- directed a fire that the " Vulture" was compelled to drop farther down the river. Andre at Haverstraw observed the whole scene with deep anxiety, but when the firing ceased resumed his usual composure. The timid Smith, however, refused to row him back to the vessel and he was thus compelled to make the trip overland, which resulted in his capture and the defeat of the conspiracy. On the evening of Sep- tember 22, 1780, Major Andre, accompanied by Joshua Hett Smith and a negro boy, landed at Green's Cove. William Van Wart was the ferryman, and on the trial of Major Andre testified that "Smith seemed to hurry them a good deal." Andre then probably rode up the King's Ferry road to the New York and Albany turnpike, maybe noting with a laugh the quaint sign at the corner, " Dishe his de Roode toe de Kehings Farry," and then proceeded on his way via Cortlandtville and Crompond. Next day he was captured at Tarrytown.

Washington's unexpected return and Andre's eap- ture prevented the consummation of Arnold's treach- ery. On learning of his flight, Washington de- spatehed Hamilton with all speed to intercept him at Verplanek's Point, and ordered that Andre be conducted "by some upper road rather than by the route by Crompond." 2

After Andre's capture in Tarrytown, he was taken as a prisoner by Captain Hoogland and a troop of horse to Peekskill. The party halted for a few moments at a house which was standing a short time since above Peekskill, at the junetion of the Albany post-road, and a highway branching eastward. North of the lrouse rises Gallows Hill, where Palmer, the spy, was hung. From this point the party proceeded on their way to West Point, from whence Andre was eon- veyed by water to King's Ferry, and then to Tappan, the headquarters of General Washington.

The " Vulture " lay in her last position until the morning of the 24th of September, when a boat was observed coming swiftly down the river, the oarsmen bending themselves to unusual exertions. On this boat was Benedict Arnold, whom a letter, received as he was taking breakfast nt West Point, had informed of the failure of the plot and the discovery of his villany, and who had departed with all possible haste. " His guilty soul peopling every turn of the river with

1 Irving's " Life of Washington," Vol. iii., p. 85.

2 Washington's order to Colonel Jameson.

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avenging pursuit, he sailed through the Highlands, waving his handkerchief as a flag to his forts, redoubts and patrols, astonishing the vigilant Livingston at Ver- planek's with the spectacle of his commander making straight for a British sloop-of-war, and draws his first free breath of relief as he steps on board of the ' Vulture.' " 1

Onee on board of the ship Arnold offered his men rewards if they would join the British. They re- fused, and he commanded them to be made prisoners. When the sloop arrived in New York, General Sir Henry Clinton, despising the meanness of this action, set them all at liberty.

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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. II, Part 88

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286