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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
70
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND.
indeed, drawn provisions, whose quality was not to be complained of. Our pickled pork, at least was good ; but how were we to cook it? As this could not be done, it was either to be eaten as it was, or not eaten at all; and we found, upon trial, that boiling it, although desirable, was not absolutely necessary ; and that the ar- ticle was esculent without culinary preparation. I remember, how- ever, on one of the days we were in this joyless place, getting a slice of a barbacued pig, which some of the soldiers had dressed at a deserted house which bounded our lines.
" There was an incessant skirmishing kept up in the day time between our riflemen and the enemy's irregulars; and the firing was sometimes so brisk as to indicate an approaching general en- gagement. This was judiciously encouraged by General Wash- ington ; as it tended to restore confidence to our men, and was, besides, showing a good countenance to the foe.
" Ou the morning after our first night's watch, Colonel Shee took me aside and asked me what I thought of our situation. I could not but say, I thought it a very discouraging oue. He viewed it in the same light, he said, and added, that if we were not soon withdrawn from it, we should inevitably be cut to pieces. So im- pressed was he with this conviction, that he desired me to go to the quarters of General Reed, and request him to ride down to the lines, that he might urge him to propose a retreat without loss of time. I went, but could not find him at his quarters, or at any of the other places where it was likely he might be. It was not long, however, before he came to our station, and gave the colonel an opportunity of conferring with him. This day passed off like the last, in unabating skirmishing and rain. After dark, orders were received and communicated to us regimentally, to hold ourselves in readiness for an attack upon the enemy-to take place in the course of the night. This excited much speculation among the officers, by whom it was considered a truly daring undertaking, rendered doubly so from the bad condition of our arins, so long exposed to the rain ; and although we had bayonets, this was not the case with the whole of our force, upon whom we must depend for support. It was not for us, however, to object to the measure : we were soldiers, and bound to obey. Several nuncupative wills were made upon the occasion, uncertain as it was whether the per- sous to whom they were communicated would survive, either to prove or to execute them. I was for a while under the impression that we were to fight ; and, in the language of the poet, was 'stiff- ening my sinews and summoning up my blood,' for what, with the rest, I deemed a desperate encounter. But when I came to cou- sider the extreme rashness of such an attempt, it suddenly flashed upon my mind, that a retreat was the object ; and that the order
δΈ€
71
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND.
1
for assailing the enemy, was but a cover to the real design. The more I reflected nyon it, the more I was convinced that I was right ; and what had passed' in the morning with Colonel Shee, served to confirm me in my opinion. I communicated my conjec- ture to some of the officers, but they dared not suffer themselves to believe it well founded, though they gradually came over to my opinion ; and by midnight they were, for the most part, converts to it. There was a deep murmur in the camp which indicated some movement ; and the direction of the decaying sounds was . evidently towards the river. About two o'clock, a cannon went off, apparently from one of our redoubts, 'piercing the night's dull ear,' with a tremendous roar. If the explosion was within our lines, the gun was probably discharged in the act of spiking it; and it could have been no less a matter of speculation to the enemy, than to ourselves. I never heard the cause of it; but whatever it was, the effect was at once alarming and sublime ; and what with the greatness of the stake, the darkness of the night, the uncertainty of the design, and extreme hazard of the issue whatever might be the object, it would be difficult to conceive a more deeply solemn and interesting scene. It never recurs to my mind, but in the strong imagery of the chorus of Shakspeare's Henry the Fifth, in which is arrayed in appropriate gloom, a similar interval of dread suspense and awful expectation.
" As our regiment was one of those appointed to cover the re- treat, we were, of course, among the last to be drawn off, and it was near daybreak, before we received orders to retire. We were formed without delay, and had marched nearly half way to the river, when it was announced that the British lighthorse were at our heels. Improbable as was the circumstance, it was yet so strenuously insisted upon, that we were halted and formed, the front rank kneeling with presented pikes, which we had with us, to receive the charge of the supposed assailants. None, however, appeared ; and the alarm must have proceeded from the fear of those who gave it, magnifying the noise of a few of our own horse- men into that of squadrons of the enemy. We again took up the line of march, and had proceeded but a short distance, when the head of the battalion was halted a second time. The orders we had received were erroneous : we were informed that we had come off too soon, and were commanded with all expedition to return to our post. This was a trying business to young soldiers ; it was, nevertheless, strictly complied with, and we remained not less than an hour in the lines before we received the second order to aban- don them. It may be supposed we did not linger ; but though we moved with celerity, we guarded against confusion, and under the friendly cover of a thick fog, reached the place of embarcation without annoyance from the enemy, who, had the morning been
72
BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND.
clear, would have seen what was going on, and been enabled to ' cut off the greater part of the rear. One of my soldiers being too feeble to carry his musket, which was too precious to be thrown away, I took it from him, and found myself able to carry it, together with my own fusee. On attaining the water, I found a boat pre- pared for my company, which immediately embarked, and taking the helm myself, I so luckily directed the prow, no object being discernible in the fog, that we touched near the centre of the city. It was between six and seven o'clock, perhaps later, when we land- ed at New York ; and in less than an hour after, the fog having dis- persed, the enemy was visible on the shore we had left."
73
CONFERENCE WITH LORD HOWE.
CHAPTER VI.
Lord Howe meets a Committee of Congress, on Staten Island. -General Howe pushes his army to Hell-gate-Heath, and death of Henty-Hale is caccuted-Affair of Kipp's Bay-Dif- ficulties of cracuating the city -- Death of Leich and of Knowlton --- Fire of 1776-Gen. Howe crosses to Frog's Point-White Plains -Fort Washington-Rawlins-Prisoners.
1776 GENERAL HOWE's object was to preserve the houses for his army, and to get between Washington and the main land. He pushed forward his forces to Hell-gate, occupying an extent of nine miles, and evidently intended to cross the East River or Sound, so as to enclose the Americans on the Island of Manhattan. To guard against these indications, the continental army was di- vided into three parts. Five thousand men remained in the town. A body supposed to be nine thousand were near Kingsbridge, and the remainder lined the shores opposite to the enemy. While these military movements were going on, Lord Howe, to take advantage of the recent victory, parolled General Sullivan, and attempted to negotiate with congress without acknowledging them as a political body. He, through Sullivan, expressed his desire to have a con- ference with some of the members, and offered to meet them where they should appoint. He said, that he and General Howe had powers to settle the dispute on terms advantageous to both the con- tending parties. That he wished the compromise to take place before either America or Great Britain could be said to be com- pelled to it. The answer returned was, " that congress being the representatives of the free and independent States of America, can- not, with propriety, send any of its members to confer with his lordship in their private characters ; but that they being desirous of establishing a peace on reasonable terms, would send a commit- tee to learn whether he had authority or not." Accordingly, Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge, passed over to Staten Island, from Perth Amboy ; and, on their return, reported that Howe had received them politely, on the 11th of September; he observed that he could not treat with them as a committee of congress ; but was glad of the opportunity of a conference with them as private gentlemen. They answered, that he might con- sider them in what light he pleased, and make any propositions ; but they could consider themselves in no other character than that in which they were announced. Howe's propositions amount- ed to the return of the colonies to their allegiance ; and the com- VOL. II. 10
,
>
74
-
RETREAT FROM NEW YORK.
mittee let him know that was not now to be expected, and so the fruitless conference ended.
Too much reliance had been placed upon a chevaux-de-frise, which General Putnam, in a letter to Gates, prides himself upon having invented ; but which proved inefficient. General Greene pressed the evacuation of New York, and pointed out the ease with which the enemy could land on either side the island, and throw strong lines across, supported at each end by their ships : this would divide the American army, and force those in the town to capitulate, or fight to great disadvantage with a very superiour ad- versary. Greene strenuously advised the destruction of the city. The spade had been liberally used. Fort George-the battery be- low and to the south of it; the wharves and streets had redoubts and breastworks ; Bayard's mount was crowned by a fort, and called Bunker's Hill ; Corlear's Hook was surrounded by batte- ries, and lines crossed the island at various distances. But Wash- ington saw that the enemy could surround the town-their troops had possession of the islands-and their ships passed his batteries unharmed, on either side of the city. He had no confidence in his army, and little command over the best of his troops : reluctantly he agreed with his council of war, to abandon a place that had cost so much labour to strengthen for defence, and which he knew the congress and people expected him to hold. Still he hoped to make a stand on Manhattan Island, at Ilaerlem Heights, Fort Washing- ton, and Kingsbridge. At the council, many thought the post should be retained ; but Greene saw the danger of the attempt, or even of the measures resolved upon, of withdrawing a part of the army to the forts and lines at Kingsbridge ; he urged an immediate retreat from the island, and burning the city and suburbs. How- ever, against the destruction of the place congress had deter- mined; and as it could not be defended by troops without disci- pline, and inferiour both in spirit and numbers, all Washington could do was to withdraw his forces and stores, with as much safety as circumstances permitted. About the middle of Septem- ber, events occurred which convinced the general and all his offi- cers that a speedy retreat from New York was necessary. The Connecticut militia he directed to be withdrawn, and stationed on the Sound, and opposite the enemy's force on Long Island. To remove the stores was an object of great consequence and diffi- culty, while an attack was momentarily expected. To secure an overflowing hospital, and give every convenience to a great num- ber of sick, was another service that tasked this great man's care and humanity ; and every moment the enemy were taking stations with the ships of war, or divisions of soldiers, that increased the difficulty of evacuating the city. On the 13th of September, four frigates had passed between Governour's Island (of which the
-
C
75
RETREAT FROM NEW YORK.
English had taken full possession) and Long Island, through But- termilk Channel, and anchored opposite Stuyvesant's house, above the town. Other ships passed the city, up the North River, and were stationed at Bloomingdale. These last prevented the remo- val of stores, or the sick, by water. General Washington now shifted his head-quarters to Colonel Morris's house, at Hacrlem Heights ; and, on the 16th, the enemy attacked his redoubts at several points. The general finding that they were attempting to land at Kipp's Bay, where two brigades were posted, rode thither, and found his soldiers flying in every direction, even before a boat of the enemy had approached the shore. The English ships were covering the landing by cannonading. The appearance alone of an advance guard, caused the brigades of Fellows and Parsons (notwithstanding the efforts of the officers to keep them in their re- doubts) to fly in the most scandalous confusion. About fifty men of the enemy were landed, and Washington was left by his coun- trymen, alone, exposed to their fire, and for a moment wishing for death rather than the power to witness such dastardly conduct. It is said, that he threatened the cowards with death by his pistols ; but they feared the English more than their commander, who was in a manner forced from the spot by those around him. He soon recovered his equanimity-issued orders for covering the retreat, and securing the height of Haerlem ; and the enemy gained a foot- ing on the island without farther advantage than the capture of part ' of the baggage of the American army.
In the retreat from New York, it is said, that by some errour, Silliman's brigade remained too long in the city, and by the coward- ly behaviour of the men at Kipp's Bay, was nearly cut off. Co- lonel Knox led them to the fort on Bunker's Hill, or Bayard's Mount, where they must have surrendered : but Burr, then an aid to Putnam, saw their situation, and marchied them by cross roads, towards the west side of the island, and in safety they joined the main army. This Bunker's Hill fort was on a small cone-shaped mount, to the west of the junction of Mott and Grand streets, and could not have contained half a brigade. Major Burr, being fami- liar with the island, knew that by crossing the new road, now Broadway, about the site of the present Grand street, he could lead these lost men along the edge of a swamp, and to the woods which surrounded the house, formerly Washington's head-quarters; and that, by then taking the Greenwich road, he must avoid the enemy. The service was important, and reflected honour on Burr's military talents.
Colonel Knox and the men with him were strangers on this island ; and finding that the enemy had possession of the Boston road, and, for any thing he could know, all that part of the island between them and the army, Knox seemed to have selected this
76
NATHAN HALE.
cone-shaped hill, with its redoubts, as a place for at least temporary defence. Bayard's Mount, or Bunker's Hill, looked down on the city, from which it was separated by the Kolch or fresh water pond.
At the time of which we speak, a few straggling houses marked the Bowery, or Boston road. The new road had been cut through the hills, and partially levelled. This extended to Sandy Hill, and is now a part of Broadway. A crooked cross road led from the new road to the Bowery, commencing from what is now the corner of Grand street. Between this crooked path and the Kolch, were the house and garden of Nicholas Bayard, with the hill called Bay- ard's Mount. To the north and east were orchards and woods. To the west, Mr. Knox could have seen only swamps and woods.
Before General Howe had crossed to Frog's Point, General Heath had command of the posts above and below Haerlem River. There is a small island near Hell-gate, which was, in 1776, called Montresor's Island. 'The British had possession of this place, and in an attempt to surprise their garrison, another gallant officer lost his life : this was Major Thomas Henly. But he fell a volunteer in an expedition for his country's service, and instantly expired after receiving a shot, surrounded and lamented by his friends. Robert Smith, who was a captain in Malcom's regiment, commanded the third boat, and on their touching the island, they were received by vollies from about seventy Highlanders, drawn up on the bank, who had been aware of their approach through the firing of Heath's un- disciplined sentinels. .
Nathan Hale, a fine young man, voluntarily risked the chance of an inglorious .death among his country's enemies, exposed to brutal taunts, and that, without the hope or promise of other reward than an approving conscience. This intelligent young man, late a student at Yale college, and now a captain in Knowlton's Rangers, being informed of the great lack of information respecting the enemy, after the retreat from Long Island, offered to go among them in disguise, and bring accurate statements to General Wash- ington. All the world has heard of Major Andre. He has been sung by poets, and monuments have been raised to him. He fell into the snare he had contrived with a traitor for the destruction of thousands ; but Captain Hale, who died, only lamenting that he had " but one life to sacrifice for his country," has, until recently, been unnoticed by history ; and no stone tells where his bones were interred.
He passed in disguise through the English posts on Long Island, and had made such observations as an intelligent gentleman alone could make; but in attempting to return he was apprehended, and carried before General Howe. He acknowledged his object and rank, and was delivered over to the provost-marshal, Cunningham, for execution. This savage added all in his power to the bitterness
BATTLE OF HAARLEM HEIGHTS. . 77
. of death. The presence of a clergyman was denied him. Hewas permitted to write to his mother and other friends, but the letters were destroyed. Thus, unknown to all around him, and mocked by ruffian executioners, died as fine a young man as America could boast, breathing his last in prayers for his country. It is said, Cun- ningham gave as a reason for destroying the young man's letters, that the rebels should not see how firmly one of their army could meet death.
The American army now occupied the heights of Haerlem, and the British army held the town and the plain between, far outnum- bering, in real soldiers, our disheartened and downcast country- men. But a skirmish took place which revived the courage of the Americans, and called from the mortified commander-in-chief the cheering words, "our troops behaved well!"
The general, in his letter of the 1Sth of September, 1776, to congress, says, that, seeing several large bodies of the enemy in motion on the plain below the heights, he rode down to the outposts to prepare for their reception if they should attack. When he ar- rived, he says, he heard a firing, which, he was informed, was be- tween a party of our rangers, under the command of Lieutenant- colonel Knowlton, and an advanced party of the enemy. Gene- ral Washington being informed that the body of the enemy, who kept themselves concealed in the wood, was greater than Knowl- ton's force, ordered three companies of Virginians, under Major Leitch, to his assistance, with orders to try to get in the enemy's rear, while a disposition was making as if to attack them in front, thereby to draw their whole attention that way. This succeeded ; and the British, on the appearance of the party advancing in front, ran down the hill, and took possession of some fences and bushes, and commenced a distant and ineffective firing. The parties under Leitch and Knowlton commenced their attack too soon, and rather on their flank than in the rear. In a little time, Major Leitch was brought off wounded, having received three balls through his side. In a very short time after, Colonel Knowlton fell, mortally wound- ed. Still their men fought on undaunted; and the general sent detachments from the eastern regiments, and from the Maryland troops, to their support. These reinforcements charged gallantly, drove the enemy out of the wood into the plain, and were pushing them from thence, having, as the general says, "silenced their fire, in a great measure," when the British commander, preparing to send on a large reinforcement, Washington ordered a retreat. The foreign troops that had been engaged consisted of the second bat- talion of light infantry, a battalion of Highlanders, and three com- panies of Hessian sharp-shooters -- the whole under the command of Brigadier-general Leslie. This affair, trifling in itself, and at- tended by the loss of two gallant officers, one of them before dis-
.
.
1
78
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.
tinguished for courage and conduct,, was of great consequence in giving confidence to the American troops. It was a contrast to the shameful rout of the day before, and proved that their foes were not invincible.
At this period, (September 21st,) and after the retreat of the Americans, a great fire occurred in the city, of which Mr. David Grim, a very respectable inhabitant of New York, who remained in the city when the British took possession, has left us this :
" The fire of 1776 commenced in a small wooden house, on the wharf, near the Whitehall slip. It was then occupied by a num- ber of men and women, of a bad character. The fire began late at night. There being but a few inhabitants in the city, in a short time it raged tremendously. It burned all the, houses on the east side of Whitehall slip, and the west side of Broad street to Beaver street. A providential and happy circumstance occurred at this time : the wind was then southwesterly. About two o'clock that morning the wind veered to the south-east ; this carried the flames of the fire to the north-westward, and burned both sides of Beaver street to the east side of Broadway, then crossed Broadway to Bea- ver lane, and burning all the houses on both sides of Broadway, with some few houses in New street, to Rector street, and to John - Harrison's, Esq., three story brick house, which house stopped the fire on the east side of Broadway ; from thence it continued burn- ing all the houses in Lumber street, and those in the rear of the houses on the west side of Broadway to St. Paul's church, then continued burning the houses on both sides of Partition street, and all the houses in the rear (again) of the west side of Broadway to the North River. The fire did not stop until it got into Mortkile street, now Barclay street. The college yard and the vacant ground in the rear of the same, put an end to this awful and tre- mendous fire.
" Trinity church being burned, was occasioned by the flakes of fire that fell on the south side of the roof. The southerly wind fanned those flakes of fire in a short time to an amazing blaze, and it soon became out of human power to extinguish the same-the roof of this noble edifice being so steep that no person could go on it.
" St. Paul's church was in the like perilous situation. The roof being flat, with a balustrade on the eaves, a number of citizens went on the same, and extinguished the flakes of fire as they fell on the roof. Thus, happily, was this beautiful church saved from the destruction of this dreadful fire, which threatened the ruin there- of, and that of the whole city.
" The Lutheran church being contiguous to houses adjoining the same fire, it was impossible to save it from destruction. This fire was so furious and violently hot, that no person could go near it, and there was no fire engines to be had at that time in the city.
79
GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.
" The number of houses that were burned and destroyed in this city at that awful conflagration, were thus, viz: from Morktile street to Courtlandt street, one hundred and sixty-seven ; from Court- landt street to Beaver street, one hundred and seventy-five ; from Beaver street to the East River, one hundred and fifty-one : total, four hundred and ninety-three.
" There being very few inhabitants in the city at the time, and many of them were afraid to venture at night in the streets, for fear. of being taken up as suspicious persons.
" An instance to my knowledge occurred. A Mr. White, a de- cent citizen, and house-carpenter, rather too violent a royalist, and latterly had addicted himself to liquor, was, on the night of the fire, hanged on a tavern sign-post, at the corner of Cherry and Roose- velt streets. Several of the citizens were sent to the provost-guard for examination, and some of them remained there two and three days, until they could give satisfactory evidence of their loyalty.
" Mr. Hugh Gaine, in his Universal Register for the year 1787, page 119, says, New York is about a mile and a half in length, and half a mile broad, containing, before the fires on the 21st of Septem- ber, 1776, and the 3d of August, 1778, about four thousand two hundred houses, and thirty thousand inhabitants."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.