USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. II > Part 13
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St. Leger, who had unwisely boasted, at first, of his own strength, and his future exploits against the Americans, and spoken contemptuously of their weakness and cowardice ; who had pre- dicted in magnificent terms the certainty of their flight; and the ease, and safety, with which the Indians would reach Albany ; had disgusted these people thoroughly by failing altogether of the ful- filment of his promises. In vain, therefore, did he exert all his ad- dress, when he saw them preparing to quit the ground, to dissuade thein from their purpose. He exhorted, argued, and promised in vain. They reproached him with having violated all his former promises; and pronounced him undeserving of any further confi- dence. He attempted to get them drunk ; but they refused to drink. When he found all his efforts fruitless, and saw that they were determined to go, he urged them to move in the rear of his army ; butthey charged him with a design to sacrifice them for his
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own safety. In a mixture of rage and despair, he broke up his encampment with such haste, that he left his tents, cannon, and stores to the besieged.
Thus was Burgoyne's right arm withered ; and the loft, which he had stretched as far as Bennington, was arrested by our old friend, Starke, of Bunker Hill memory, who had been roused by the calls of General Schuyler.
"On the 13th instant, says Starke, whose letter I copy, I was informed that there was a party of Indians at Cambridge on their march to this place, (Bennington.) I sent Lieutenant-colonel Grey of my brigade to stop them, with two hundred men. In the night I was informed, by express, that there was a large body of the enemy on their march in the rear of the Indians. I rallied all my brigade, and what militia was at this place, in order to stop their proceedings. I likewise sent to Manchester to Colonel War- ner's regiment, that was stationed there: likewise sent expresses for the militia to come in with all speed to our assistance, which was punctually obeyed. I then marched in company with Colo- nels Warner, Williams, Herrick, and Brush, with all the men that were present. About five miles from this place I met Colonel Grey on his retreat, and the enemy in close pursuit after him. I drew up my little army in order of battle ; but when the enemy hove in sight they halted on a very advantageous hill or piece of ground. I sent out small parties in their front to skirmish with them, which scheme had a good effect ; they killed and wounded thirty of them without any loss on our side. But the ground that I was upon did not suit for a general action. I marched back about one mile, and encamped ; called a council, and it was agreed we should send two detachments in their rear, while the other at- tacked them in front; but the 15th rained all day ; therefore had to lay by, could do nothing but skirmish with them. On the 16th, in the morning, was joined by Colonel Simmons, with some militia from Berkshire county. I pursued my plan, and detached Colo- nel Nichols with two hundred men to attack in the rear. I also sent Colonel Herrick, with three hundred men, in the rear of their right, both to join to attack their rear. I likewise sent the Colo- nels Hubbard and Stickney with two hundred men in their right, and sent one hundred men in their front to draw away their atten- tion that way ; and about three o'clock we got already for the at -. tack. Colonel Nichols began the same, which was followed by all the rest of those that were detached. The remainder of my little army I pushed up in the front, and in a few minutes the action be- came general. It lasted two hours, the hottest I ever saw in my life-it represented one continued clap of thunder ; however, the enemy was obliged to give way, and leave their field-pieces and all
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their baggage behind them. They were all environed within two breastworks with their artillery.
" I then gave orders to rally again, to secure the victory : but in a few moments was informed there was a large reinforcement on their march, within two miles of us.
" Luckily for us, that moment Colonel Warner's regiment came up fresh, who marched on and began the attack anew. I pushed forward as many men as I could to their assistance. The battle continued obstinate on both sides till sunset; the enemy was obliged to retreat ; we pursued them till dark : but had daylight lasted one hour longer, we should have taken the whole body of them. We recovered four pieces of brass cannon, some hundred stands of arms, and brass barrelled drums, several Hessian swords, about seven hundred prisoners, two hundred and seven dead on the spot ; the number of wounded is yet unknown. That part of the enemy that made their escape, marched all night. We re- turned to our camp."
General Gates arrived in time for both these victories to be at- tributed to him, as commander of the northern department.
General Burgoyne made a long pause at Fort Edward. Schuy- ler having impeded Wood Creek, the British could only bring their cannon, batteaux, provisions and other material by the carry- ing place from Lake George to the Hudson.
Inspirited by the fall of St. Leger, and by the victory of Starke, the militia poured in from all quarters. But Gates arrived on the 19th, in time to receive Starke's report of the battle, and the con- gratulations of all his partisans : nay, the country generally, attri- buted every success to him ; and all the previous retrograde move- ments were ascribed to want of skill or courage in the man who, by his foresight, exertion, perseverance, and firmness, had already stopped the progress of the enemy, and prepared the victory for his rival.
Gates had ordered General Lewis to make his camp at the plain in the vicinity of Behmus's Heights when Kosciusko arrived. In Governour Lewis's words : " having delivered his letters, Kosci- usko came to the spot where Colonel Lewis and others were en- gaged in preparations for the position of the army, according to the commanders directions. Kosciusko entered into conversation with the Colonel, and remarked, that the place chosen by General Gates was commanded by hills on every side, and as the enemy was approaching their commander would undoubtedly take advan- tage of the heights. " From yonder hill" said he, " on the left," pointing to the ground, afterwards the field of battle, and named from a farmer there residing, " your encampment may be cannon- aded by the cannon of the enemy, or from that on our right they may take aim at your shoe-buckles." Colonel Lewis agreed with
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him, and asked him to communicate his opinion to General Gates. This appeared a matter of difficulty. It certainly would be ques- tioning the general's military science or judgment of positions. Who then was to break the subject to the chieftain ? Wilkinson was mentioned as the man most in his confidence : and Colonel Lewis introduced Kosciusko to him. Conducted to Gates, the engineer made his objections to the intended encampment, in such a manner as to cause an order to Colonel Lewis and others of the staff, immediately to accompany Kosciusko to the neighbouring eminences, and to lay out the encampment as he should direct. Arrived on Behmus's Heights, the Polander rode rapidly round a part of the hill and exclaimed, " this is the spot !" It was Colonel Lewis's duty to design the plan of encampment ; but he, acknow- ledging his inexperience, applied to the engineer, who immediately demanding and receiving a statement and enumeration of the va- rious corps of which the army was composed, and their several characters, pointed out with promptitude and decision the position - for each ; and before night every division, brigade and regiment, was placed in the quarter allotted, and the whole was found most admirably fitted for defence as well as adapted to the number of men in each corps."
Burgoyne did not cross the Hudson until the 13th and 14th of September, and on the 7th of October made his attack, for which I again recur to Governour Lewis : " Burgoyne having advanced. taken his position, and reconnoitered that of his adversary, saw the necessity of turning the left of the American position, and on the 19th of September, ordered the 62d under General Frazer to perform this service. This movement of the British appears first to have attracted the attention of General Arnold, who sent an order to Colonel Morgan to counteract the enemy's intention.
The prominent part which Morgan bore in the events of this stirring period, render proper a short notice of his previous history.
Daniel Morgan was born in New Jersey, in the year 1736. He was a man of gigantick proportions, and athletick beyond most men. Of humble parentage, he had little school education, and carly in life went to Virginia to " seek his fortune." He was at Monongahela with Braddock, Washington, and Gates, but probably unknown to either. In the humble station of a wagoner attendant upon the army, young Morgan was, on a charge of contumacy to a British officer, tied up, and tortured, mind and body, by five hun- dred lashes on the naked back. The youth bore this disgraceful infliction in a manner that marked an intellect as powerful as his body was strong. He knew it was unjust, and, in a few days, the officer acknowledged that he had wronged the young provincial, and made an apology. Morgan might forgive, but such humiliat- ing treatment could not be forgotten ; and when in after life he led
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DANIEL MORGAN.
his riflemen into action, he might perhaps remember the red-coated officer that ordered, and the red-coated drummer that inflicted, five hundred gashes on his quivering flesh. He afterward served under Colonel George Washington in the war on the Virginia frontier, and experienced the horrours of Indian warfare in the provincial service. . Before the commencement of the dispute with England, Morgan became a man of property, and owned a plantation in Frederick county. Immediately on the news of hostilities he was appointed a captain, and his character for courage and unrivalled prowess gained him a full complement of choice spirits. This company was the nucleus of the celebrated corps that carried con- fidence to friends, and terrour to the enemy, throughout the revo- lutionary war. He was with Arnold in the unparalleled march through the wilderness to Quebec-led the van in the assault on that fortress-he was a victor, and in the town, when the death of Montgomery consigned him and his companions to captivity. Af- ter being exchanged, he was appointed a colonel, and his rifle corps was the efficient right-hand of the American army. Although the commander-in-chief could ill spare such an officer, and a regiment dreaded by the foe, he, in August, 1777, sent Morgan and his rifle- men to the support of Gates and the northern army. It is a matter of general history, that in every battle that preceeded the surrender of the English army, Morgan and his corps were conspicuous, and the enemy acknowledged that their defeat was in a great measure owing to the deadly rifles and their undaunted leader.
The manner in which Morgan received Arnold's order before al- luded to, was witnessed by Govenour Lewis, and is so admirably described, that I must endeavour to use his words : "Dr. Potts, the surgeon general, was in the habit of indulging himself with a highly seasoned lunch, a broiled kidney, if at hand, or something equivalent, well peppered and called a devil. This tit bit was prepared fre- quently in the marquee of Colonel Lewis, about noon, to accommo- date the Doctor ; which with a can of grog, he found it convenient to take in the quarters of the chief of the staff. This day Daniel Morgan had joined with some others in the soldier-like indulgence. I was looking on the repast said the General, and Morgan had the can uplifted, when an orderly entered the tent. "Are you General Arnold's orderly ?' ' Yes, sir, and I have a note for Colonel Mor- gan.' It was given as directed ; Morgan emptied the can, read the: note, and throwing it upon the table, struck his gigantick fist on the festive board, exclaiming, 'It shall be done or my name is not. Dan!' He immediately rose and left us, continued Colonel Lewis. The quere was, what is this that is to be done ? What is the tenor of the note ? There it lies, open-shall we read it ?- It is left for us to read ? said Colonel Lewis ; I'll know what it is, and accord- ingly he read aloud :
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DEATH OF GENERAL FRAZER.
" The enemy in force is advancing to turn the left of our posi- tion. Colonel Morgan will meet him with his command and im- mediately engage him." We now knew the meaning of 'it shall be done or my name is not Dan!' and we were all eager to see the sport: Our horses were ordered, and as soon as we could mount we pushed toward the left of the encampment. The sound of musketry directed us to the promontary on which Kosciusko said, "This is the position for us.' And looking down we saw the British advancing, and Morgan's riflemen, with Dearborn's in- fantry, (a picked corps attached to this celebrated regiment,) in the act of forming in three columns. Morris, a Jerseyman as well as .Morgan, was his major, and commanded one : Butler another : and Dearborn the third, being his command of 350 light infantry, who advanced with fixed bayonets .* Dearborn led ; and the rifle- men followed-the British broke-and as soon as Morgan's sharp- shooters had gained a field of wheat stubble, a clearing on which the girdled trees stood lifting their dead tops to the sky, and afford- 'ing by their trunks an inviting shelter for the marksman, than every man selected a tree, and of the 62d regiment which marched up in full strengthi, only a beggarly few were left to answer at the next muster."
It was here that General Frazer fell ; and it has been said, that Morgan regretted to his last hour, that he pointed him out to his riflemen, and ordered them to take aim at the general officer on the white horse, as he was General. Frazer and the soul of the field.
This story in all its parts General Lewis controverts. In the first place, Morgan did not know Frazer ; who had not been pre- viously in any action, or any place where the colonel of the rifle corps could have met him : having joined the army of Burgoyne directly from England. Secondly, he fell at a distance so great from Morgan, at the time, that (independant of smoke) he could not have seen or distinguished him. Thirdly, by the testimony of Captain Bibby, who was one of Frazer's aids, that general was not on horseback when he received his wound. He and his suite had been mounted and reconnoitering previously, but concluding from appearances that no action would take place, had dismissed the horses of the company ; and although, when the Americans were advancing he had again ordered the steeds to be brought, he was killed before their arrival, standing in the rear of the 62d regiment. This statement was confirmed to General Lewis by Captain Val- ancey, an officer who was near Frazer when he fell ; and Valancey was subsequently a prisoner with the Americans. So uncertain is history ! So difficult is it to arrive at truth !
* Morgan directed the whole.
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CLINTON'S EXPEDITION UP THE HUDSON.
After the battle of the 19th of September, Gen. Burgoyne took a position almost within cannon shot of the American camp, fortified his right wing, and rested with his left upon the Hudson. Thus the two armies remained until the 7th of October: Burgoyne in the hope of aid from below, where he knew by advice from Clinton that he was advancing ; and Gates receiving additional troops every day. From congress, the general received complimentary resolves ; and from one of the members, James Lovell, before mentioned, a letter containing expressions which show the progress of the cabal against the com- mander-in-chief. He says, if Gates would allow Burgoyne leisure, he might write a farce " at the expense of congress at least, if not at the expense of congress and General Washington." He inti- mates that people say Howe would not have advanced seventy miles from his ships if Gates had been in his neighbourhood ; and concludes with this curious paragraph : " By the winter, the middle army will be divided into Greenites and Mifflinites, if things do not take a great turn from their present situation."
While these important events were going forward in the north, an expedition from New York was undertaken by Sir Henry Clin- ton. His obvious intention was to relieve General Burgoyne; but it was undertaken at too late a period to render him any assistance -a fact admitted by Sir Henry himself-who excused the delay by stating that he could not attempt it sooner without leaving the . defences of New York too feebly guarded. This expedition con- sisted of about three thousand men, convoyed by a fleet under Commodore Hotham, who proceeded up the Hudson River early in October, and was destined, in the first instance, against Forts Montgomery and Clinton, near the southern boundary of the High- lands. . These fortresses had been constructed chiefly for the pur- pose of preventing the ships of the enemy from ascending the river, and were not defensible in the rear. They were commanded by Governour Clinton, with the assistance of General James Clinton, his brother.
The troops of the enemy were landed at Stoney Point, twelve - miles below the forts. A small advanced party of the Americans was met and attacked at about 10 o'clock in the morning of the 6th of October, when within two and a half miles of the fort. This party was of course driven in, having returned the enemy's fire. When arrived within a mile of the forts, Sir Henry divided his troops into two columns ; the one, consisting of nine hundred men under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, was destined for the attack on Fort Montgomery ; the other, under the immediate command of Sir Henry Clinton, was to storm the stronger post of Fort Clinton. Ascertaining that the enemy were advancing to the west side of the mountain, to attack his rear, Governour Clinton ordered a detachment of upwards of one hundred men, under Col. Lamb, VOL. II. 16
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CLINTON'S EXPEDITION UP THE HUDSON.
together with a brass field-piece and fifty men more, to take a strong position in advance. They were soon sharply engaged, and ano- ther detachment of an equal number was sent to their assistance. They kept their field-piece sharply playing upon the enemy's ad- vancing column, and were only compelled to give way by the point of the bayonet-spiking their field-piece before they relinquished it. In this preliminary encounter the loss of Sir Henry was se- verc.
Pressing rapidly onward, both forts were in a few minutes at- tacked with vigonr upon all sides. The fire was incessant during the afternoon until about five o'clock, when a flag approaching, Lieutenant Colonel Livingston was ordered to receive it. The officer was the bearer of a peremptory summons to surrender, as he alleged, to prevent the effusion of blood. Nor would he treat, unless upon the basis of a surrender of the garrison as prisoners of war, in which case he was authorized to assure them of good usage. The proposition being rejected with scorn, in about ten minutes the attack was renewed, and kept up- until after dark, when the enemy forced the American lines and redoubts at both forts, and the garrisons, determined not to surrender, undertook to fight their way out. The last attack of the enemy was desperate ; but the Americans, militia as well as regulars, resisted with great spirit, and favoured by the darkness, many of them escaped. Governour Clinton himself escaped by leaping a precipice in the dark, and jumping into a boat, in which he was conveyed away. His brother was wounded and taken prisoner. Of the British forces, Lieuten- ant-colonel Campbell and Count Grabouski, a Polish nobleman, engaged as a volunteer, were slain. The loss of the Americans, killed, wounded, and missing, was stated at two hundred and fifty. The British loss was stated at two hundred, but was believed to have been much more than that of the Americans.
On the 7th, a summons to surrender, signed jointly by Sir Henry Clinton and Commodore Hotham, was sent to Fort Constitution ; but the flag was fired upon and returned. To avenge the insult, an attack was immediately determined upon ; but on arriving at the fort on the following day, there was no enemy to assault-an evacuation liaving taken place, so precipitate as to leave considera- ble booty to the conqueror ; Sir Henry Clinton proceeded no far- ther ; but a strong detachment of his army, under General Vaughan, pursued the enterprise, with Commodore Hotham, as far north as Esopus, destroying several vessels by the way. At Esopus Creek . there were two small batteries and an armed galley, mounting, however, in all, but six or seven guns. These were easily silenced. General Vaughan then effected a landing, marched to the town, and laid it in ashes. Large quantities of stores had been accumu- lated at this place, which were of course destroyed. Disappointed,
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however, by the disastrous campaign of Burgoyne, Sir Henry Clinton made an expeditious return to the city .*
To return to the north. On the 4th of October, Burgoyne sent - for Generals Phillips, Riedesel, and Frazer, to consult with them on the best measures to be taken. His project was-to attack and attempt to turn the left wing of the Americans at once ; but the other generals judged that it would be dangerous to leave their stores under so feebie a protection as eight hundred men, accord- ing to the proposition of their commander. A second consultation was held on the 5th, at which General Riedesel positively declared that the situation of the army had become so critical, that they must either attack and force the entrenchments of Gates, and thus bring about a favourable change of affairs, or recross the Hudson, and retreat upon Fort George. Frazer approved of the latter sugges- tion, and Phillips declined giving an opinion. General Burgoyne, to whom the idea of retreating was most unwelcome, declared that he would make, on the 7th, a reconnoisance as near as possible to the left wing of the Americans, with a view of ascertaining whether it could be attacked with any prospect of success. He would afterward either attack the army of Gates, or retreat by the route in the rear of Battenkill. This was his final determination, and dis- positions were made accordingly.
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Early in the afternoon of the 7th, General Burgoyne drew out fifteen hundred men, for the purpose of making his proposed recon- noisance-which he headed himself, attended by Generals Phillips, Riedesel, and Frazer. They advanced in three columns toward the left wing of the American positions, entered a wheat field, dis- · played into line, and then began cutting up the wheat for forage. The movement having been seasonably discovered, the centre ad- vanced guard of the Americans beat to arms ; the alarm was re- peated throughout the line, and the troops repaired to the alarm posts. Colonel Wilkinson being at head-quarters at the moment, was despatched to ascertain the cause of the alarm. He proceeded to within sixty or seventy rods of the enemy, ascertained their posi- tion, and returned-informing General Gates that they were forag- ing-attempting also to reconnoitre the American left, and likewise, in his opinion, offering battle. After a brief consultation, Gates said he would indulge them ; and Colonel Morgan, whose rifle corps was formed in front of the centre, was directed " to begin the game." At his own suggestion, however, Morgan was allowed to gain the enemy's right by a circuitous course, while Poor's bri- gade should attack his left. The movement was admirably execu- ted; the New York and New Hampshire troops attacked the enemy's
· Stone's Life of Brant, Vol. I. pp. 231-283.
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front and left' wing with great impetuosity ; while, true to his , purpose, Morgan, just at the critical moment, poured down like a torrent from the hill, and attacked the enemy's right in front and flank. The attack was soon extended along the whole front of the enemy with great determination. . Major Ackland, at the head of the grenadiers, sustained the attack of Poor with great firmness. But on his right. the light infantry, in attempting to change front, being pressed with ardour by Colonel Dearborn, were forced to retire under a close fire, and in great disorder. They were re- formed by the Earl of Balcarras behind a fence in the rear of their first position ; but being again attacked with great audacity in front and flanks by superiour numbers, resistance became vain, and the whole line, commanded by Burgoyne in person, gave way, and made a precipitate and disorderly retreat to his camp. The right of Burgoyne had given way first, the retreat of which was covered by the light infantry and a part of the 24th regiment. The left .wing in its retreat would have inevitably have been cut to pieces, but for the intervention of the same troops, performing in its behalf the same service that, a few moments before, they had done for the : right. This retreat took place in exactly fifty-two minutes after the , first shot was fired-the enemy leaving two twelve and six six- pounders on the field, with the loss of more than four hundred offi- cers and men, killed, wounded, and captured ; and among them the flower of his officers, viz : General Frazer, Major Ackland, Sir Francis Cook, and many others.
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