USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York, 1609-1909 > Part 29
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packed so close that they could only turn by word of command, "left" or "right." They were given no fuel, little food, and that, generally, of quality unfit for human consumption. The infamous Captain Cunningham ended his career on the gallows, being executed, in London, for forgery, August 10, 1791, and he confessed not only to the cruelties mentioned, and to starving prisoners by stopping their rations and sell- ing them, but also to secret exe- cutions of 275 American pris- oners and "obnoxious persons." The treatment of prisoners on the Jersey and other prison ships was also brutal.
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Washington, after leaving New York, marched his army through New Jersey, toward Philadelphia, followed hard by the British under Cornwallis, THE BRIDEWELL AND A PORTION OF BROADWAY, 1805 who successively took Newark, New Brunswick and Trenton, then laid quiet, waiting for the freezing of the Delaware River, so as to cross the ice to capture Philadelphia. Washington, crossing the Delaware with boats, amid floating ice, surprised and captured a Hessian force at Trenton, and on January 3, 1777, fought the successful battle of Princeton, which revived the hopes of the patriots and gave them confidence in the ultimate success of their cause. The British retired to New York, where they made things lively, and where were gathered many regiments- English, Irish, Scotch and Hessian, not to forget the American "Loyalist" troops chiefly recruited in New York City and vicinity. Among these were Simcoe's First American Regiment, or "Queen's Rangers"; Rawdon's Second American Regiment, or "Volunteers of Ireland;" Turnbull's Third American Regiment, or "New York Volunteers;" Brown's "Prince of Wales" American Regiment; Robinson's "Loyal American Regiment," and "DeLancey's Brigade" (three regiments), commanded by Colonel Oliver DeLancey, the brother of the late lieutenant governor. He was the most zealous of the Royalist party in New York, and James DeLancey, son of the late lieutenant governor, was also of the same party. Colonel DeLancey had made himself so obnoxious to the Liberty Boys that a party of them, under the leadership of Martling, one of their more reck- less spirits, came down from the American lines, on November 25, 1777, and burned his house at Bloomingdale as a mark of their detestation.
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At the close of the War of Independence his estates, and those of James DeLancey, were confiscated, and he went to London, where he died.
In the early part of 1777, Rivington, whose press had been broken by Isaac Sears and the Connecticut Cavaliers, returned to New York and resumed the publication of his paper, now called the Royal Gazette. Hugh Gaine pub- lished The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury. Holt's Journal, which had left New York, was somewhat nomadic about this period, moving from place to place along the Hudson, and the patriot government had located at Kingston. There, in April, 1777, the Constitutional Convention assembled and framed the first written Constitution of the State of New York. The office of governor was made elective and George Clinton was elected the first governor, in which office he continued for eighteen years. John Jay was appointed chief justice, and Robert R. Livingston chancellor of the new State; and Philip Livingston, James Duane, Francis Lewis, William Duer, and Gouverneur Morris were appointed delegates to the Continental Congress.
While the American prisoners were starving and neglected in the prison houses and prison ships of New York, and dying by the dozens daily, the British and Hessian officers and their wives, and Loyalist citizens, with their wives and daughters, were living a life of gayety. Prices, for food especially, were very high for the area from which supplies could be drawn for the Brit- ish camp; for New York then was only extended over a small adjacent area from which the producers had in a large measure fled. Such things as could be imported-fabrics and trinkets from London and other Old World mar- kets-were displayed in the fashionable shops, which were then chiefly located in Hanover Square. Society was gay, and its votaries met nightly at dinners and routs, or attended the performances at the Theatre Royal in John Street, where performances were given by gifted amateurs selected from the officers of the army, under the title of the "Garrison Dramatic Club." There was, if the contemporary critics may be credited, much talent in the company, which included comedians and tragedians, the younger subalterns taking the female characters. The chief scene painter was Oliver Delancey; but the most versatile of the company was the young officer André, who was not only chief among the romantic heroes in the company, playing Romeo and other similar rôles, but was the author of plays and prologues, and also aided in painting.
David Matthews continued as mayor of New York during the entire Brit- ish occupancy of the city, and there were other civil officers, but the govern- ment was vested in the military commandant, of whom General James Pattison was the first and most popular. He was distinguished for
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urbanity of manner and unfailing courtesy. He regulated the city with autocratic power, and managed, upon the whole, to give satisfaction to the inhabitants.
Meanwhile the war progressed with varied fortunes. Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin had been doing effective work in Paris and Versailles in the endeavor to secure from France recognition of the new republic. Formal recognition was delayed, but private assistance in money and supplies was forthcoming. Liberty-loving Europeans offered their services to the patriots and the Marquis de La Fayette, Baron Steuben, Baron De Kalb, Kosciuszko and Pulaski were among the men of heroic mould who came to the American army.
In the summer of 1777, large reinforcements went out of New York to join the forces which hoped to crush Washington and the rebellion at one coup. On September IIth, they had opposed their eighteen thousand men to eleven thousand Americans at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine Creek, and had won a victory which had enabled Lord Howe to occupy Philadelphia, and had com- pelled the Continental Congress to adjourn first to Lancaster and afterward to York, in Pennsylvania. Washington made an unsuccessful attack on the British at Germantown, on October 4th, and early in September went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, where his troops suffered greatly from cold and hunger.
In the North, the British general, Carleton, had made elaborate plans for the capture of the entire State of New York, and thus separate New England from the other rebellious colonies. The endeavor to carry this program into execution was entrusted to General Burgoyne, who, with a force of seven thousand British and Hessian soldiers, and perhaps as many Canadians and Indians, started on what he expected to be a triumphal march from Canada to the lower Hudson. The plan included the cooperation of another force of Loyalists and Indians, under Lieutenant Colonel St. Leger, who was to go up the St. Lawrence to Oswego, and with the assistance of Sir John Johnson and his Indians, capture Fort Stanwix, march down the Mohawk Valley and join General Burgoyne. St. Leger effected the junction with Sir John Johnson and his Indians under Joseph Brant, but failed to capture Fort Stanwix, and after the battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777, in which a force of Americans under General Herkimer administered a signal defeat to his allies, St. Leger, hearing of the near approach of another American relieving force under Gen- eral Benedict Arnold, hastily retreated into Canada and gave up his part of the campaign planned by Carleton.
Burgoyne had no better fortune. At first he was greatly delayed by felled trees and ruined roads. He sent out a large force of over thirteen hun- dred British, Hessians and Indians, who were to capture the American depot
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NEW YORK IN THE REVOLUTION
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of supplies at Bennington, but who were crushed and nearly annihilated, on August 16th, by a force of about two thousand militia under General Stark, the British loss being 207 killed and 700 captured (including the wounded), and the American forty killed and forty-two wounded. Following this defeat, many of the Canadian and Indian allies deserted. Burgoyne went on, but after two defeats at Saratoga, on September 19th and Octo- ber 7th, he was compelled to capitulate to General Gates, October 17th, the Americans taking between five and six thousand prisoners and much artillery.
This capture of an entire army has been regarded as the turning point of the war. It gave heart to the Americans, and was especially valuable for its effect on the international relations of the United States and hurried the execution of a treaty of alliance with France, which was ratified. In the city of New York the news was very depressing to the Loyalists, some of whom became less effusive in their loyal zeal. At first there was a feeling among the New York Tories that Great Britain was invincible, and that short work would be made of the rebellion as soon as the Royal forces could get into good working order. But after Saratoga they had their doubts, and they greatly moder- ated their loyalist ardor.
The military headquarters were at No. I Broadway, in a house which was built by Sir Peter Warren and was after- ward acquired by John Watts, whose daughter, Mary, mar- ried Captain Kennedy (after- No. 1 BROADWAY IN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES ward Earl of Cassilis). It had thus become known as the Kennedy House, while the adjoining house, No. 3, known as the Watts House, became headquarters of the traitorous Bene- dict Arnold, in his efforts to recruit Americans for the king's army and to persuade Continental officers to desert their colors and join the corps he was endeavoring to raise. The naval headquarters were in the Beekman House. on Hanover Square, at Beaver Street, on the site where the Journal of Com- merce building was afterward located before the removal of that newspaper to Broadway. This house had been the naval headquarters and rendezvous of the navy before the Revolution, and continued to be during the entire war. When
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BRITISH CELEBRITIES IN THE CITY
the Duke of Clarence (afterward William IV) came to New York as a mid- shipman with Admiral Digby in the St. George, in September, 1781, he made this house his place of resort when on shore. His Royal Highness was a cen- tre of much attraction, but during the winter seemed to most enjoy skating on the Collect Pond (site of the present Tombs Prison), where one of his com- panions was Gulian Verplanck (afterward president of the Bank of New York ), whose timely aid at one time affected the future history of Great Britain by rescuing the young prince, who had fallen through the ice, from a watery grave. Horatio Nelson, then a young captain, was also to be seen about the Beekman House, in 1782.
A fire which broke out on Cruger's Wharf, August 3, 1778, spread until it destroyed about fifty houses. Many other incidents occurred which were news then, but do not belong to permanent history. The King's and Queen's Birthday, Coronation Day, and other British occasions, were celebrated in military style, and when British victories were reported, demonstrations of rejoicing were made by the military and the wealthy citizens. But the high prices and poor opportunities had a depressing effect on the poor. There have been preserved valuable documents giv- ing an insight into social conditions in New York. One of these is "Let- ters and Journals of Madame de Riedesel," wife of General Riedesel, who, after being captured with Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, was a. prisoner for nearly three years, and after his exchange lived in New York. His wife was a great social favorite in New York, and her journals give a familiar picture of polite society during the British occupation. She tells of the many functions, some of which were too fast for her: describes her life during her stay at the Beekman mansion, a beautiful country place (near the foot of Fifty-second Street and East River), which was occupied successively by distinguished British officers during the occupation. Many of her comments deal with domestic affairs, and the dearness of provisions and fuel seem to have been chief of her woes. The other chronicle, the diary of Pastor Schaukirk, of the Moravian congregation, whose Toryism was of the most pronounced type, gives us an inkling of the contemporary view. He records a rumor that "the rebels made an attack on Powles (Paulus) Hook," as Jersey City was then called, referring to the brilliant dash on the British post there by "Light Horse Harry" Lee, August 19, 1779, and reflects upon the fact that the rebels had taken some prisoners on that attack as being "another instance of the great carelessness on our side, when on the other hand, the military gentlemen amuse themselves with trifles and diversions." On a previous occasion, a celebration of the Queen's Birthday, with "a ball that cost two thousand guineas and over three hundred dishes for supper," was considered by the reverend
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critic as carrying matters "too far in expense in such times of distress and calamity."
Great rejoicing was made over the news of the surrender of Charles- ton (May 12, 1780), and the defeat, on August 16, 1780, of General Gates, at Camden, South Carolina, by Cornwallis.
The treachery of Benedict Arnold, and the capture and execution of Major André, in September, 1780, was one of the incidents in which New York was most interested, as André was one of the most popular of the officers in New York society. Arnold, who was commissioned brigadier general in the British army, had little success in recruiting for the Royal Army in New York.
The control which Cornwallis had gained in the South was broken by a reverse at King's Mountain, October 7, 1780, and after General Greene had been placed in command of the American forces in that region the contest became sharp and decisive, Morgan overwhelmed Tarleton, the British cavalry leader, at the Cowpens, January 17, 1781, and while Corn- wallis won victory at Guilford Court House, it was dearly bought. French aid had much to do with the final success of the patriot arms, and the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, October 19, 1781, made the triumph of the American cause a certainty.
Sir Henry Clinton, then in command of the forces in America, was recalled after the disaster at Yorktown, and was superseded by Sir Guy Carleton, who soon arrived in New York. Meanwhile, Washington, after sending General Arthur St. Clair with a strong detachment to the Southern army to reinforce General Greene, dispatched the remainder of his army to Morristown, New Jersey, except some of the New York troops, which were dispatched to the camp in the Highlands of the Hudson. In April, Washington, who had been in consultation with the Congress at Philadelphia, went to Morristown, and thence, after a few days, to New- burg.
The news of Yorktown brought consternation to the ministry of Lord North, in England, and the Peace Party in Parliament manifested such power that on March 28, 1782, the premier resigned, and Lord Rock- ingham, leader of the opposition, formed a ministry and instructed Sir Guy Carleton to negotiate for an early treaty of peace. After correspondence and negotiations through the summer, preliminary articles of peace were signed at Paris, November 30, 1782, followed, on September 3, 1783, by a definite treaty on the part of Great Britain, recognizing the independence of the United States, and fixing the Great Lakes, on the north, and the Mississippi, on the west, as the boundaries of the new nation.
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LOYALISTS GO AND PATRIOTS ENTER
On the eighth anniversary of the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1783, a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed in the American camp, and on November 3d, the Continental Army was disbanded by order of Congress. On November 25th General Washington entered the city by the Bowery, while the British troops were embarking at the Battery, until they filled the ships in the harbor, and sailed down the bay. General Washington stopped at the Bull's Head Tavern, in the Bowery.
When the preparations for evacuation began, the Loyalists were left with unpleasant alternatives. Those who were wealthy and had been aggressive in the royal cause, had to look forward to the confiscation of their property. If they stayed, it would be with the brand of Tory, which remained an epithet of opprobrium for many decades, and with many annoyances from the patriots, some of whom were even then returning. They could go to England, or to Nova Scotia, and many did. Prisoners of war were let out of prisons and prison ships and paroled. It had been arranged that the British troops should be permitted to remain on Staten Island, New Utrecht and Dennis', until such time as might be necessary for the troops for whom transportation was not at once available. Besides the troops, it was necessary to transport the refugee Loyalists, of whom 29,244 left New York for Nova Scotia that year.
The entry of the patriots into New York was on this wise: 800 men (New York and Massachusetts troops and militia), under Brevet Brigadier General Henry Jackson, had for several days camped at McGowan's Pass (near the northeastern entrance of Central Park), and when notified that the rear guard of the British were embarking at the Battery, they marched in triumph to the city, down the Bowery to Chatham, to Queen (now Pearl) and Wall Streets and Broadway, to Fort George, where Gen- eral Knox took charge. The flagstaff had been soaped by the enemy, and the cleats and halyards removed, but a visit to Goelet's hardware store soon enabled a nimble sailor to nail on cleats, reeve new halyards, and fling the Stars and Stripes to the breeze, saluted by thirteen guns. Then Gov- ernor Clinton, who had come into the city with Generals Washington and Knox, appeared opposite the right of the line on Broadway, and received the salute appropriate to his rank, while the troops stood at attention. Following this, a great procession, mounted and afoot, went back to the Bull's Head Tavern to a great reception, which had been arranged to honor General Washington and Governor Clinton. It was a happy out- pouring of people that greeted the great commander and the popular gov- ernor. Exiles had been returning for days, but now that the enemy was gone they poured in by the thousands, and everyone wished to add his enthusiastic greetings to the great general. When the greetings had sub-
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sided the general made his way to Fraunces' Tavern, where he stayed until he left the city.
On December 4, 1783, Washington, who was about to resign his com- mission and return to private life, took leave of his comrades in an impres- sive and historical meeting at Fraunces' Tavern, where the officers grasped the hand of their commander in chief, and with every mark of affection, they then followed him to the wharf, at Whitehall, where he entered the barge waiting to convey him to Paulus Hook, and from it he was soon wav- ing a silent adieu.
Alex Hamiltoncing
CHAPTER TWENTY - EIGHT
NEW BIRTH OF NEW YORK UNDER REPUBLIC INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON AS PRESIDENT NEW YORK AS NATIONAL CAPITAL
On December 5, 1783, Admiral Digby, with the last of the British fleet, departed from Staten Island with the last vestige of British authority on New York soil. It had been New Amsterdam and Dutch, New York and English, Fort Orange and Dutch again, once more New York and English, and it was still New York, but now and always American, although no city in the world is more cosmopolitan.
The city was greatly changed in population. The Royalists, in the first place, had departed. In Nova Scotia Thomas Barclay and William Axtell, merchants, Colonel Edmund Fanning, Dr. Charles Inglis, rector of Trinity, William Smith, who had been chief justice of the colony and its first historian, and many more had taken up their permanent residence. Several others had gone to Montreal and Quebec, and other places in Canada ; some to the West Indies, the Bermudas and Bahamas, and many of the more wealthy, including Oliver and James DeLancey, William Bayard, Hon. Andrew Eliot, the lieutenant governor, Judge Thomas Jones, Colonel Roger Morris, and George Ludlow, had lost their estates by confiscation and spent the rest of their days in England. Many of the Whigs who had moved away from New York because of their patriotism, had so established themselves in the places to which they had gone, that they decided to become permanent residents of those localities. Many who had taken part in the Revolution had died on the field, or through diseases in camp, or in prison; and some of them in their term of service had seen some place that appealed to them more strongly as a place of residence. On the other hand, there came to the city many who were new to those who had been old residents. These newcomers were nearly all of the patriot party, as were most of the old residents who returned. Among the inhabitants there were some Loyalists ; even some who had been such emphatic supporters of the British that their estates were confiscated, and these were bitter against the new government which had thus pun- ished them for treason. Some who had held their homes during the British occupation had been good enough Loyalists until the success of the patriot cause was made certain, and had then developed toleration and even friend- liness for the returning Continentals and refugees.
The city resumed its wonted powers and activities under the Dongan and Montgomerie charters, the State of New York taking the place of
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sovereignty formerly held by Great Britain, and the governor of the State having the power of appointment of mayor, which had previously been exercised by the royal governor. The laws in regard to the election of aldermen and assistant aldermen remained unchanged.
There was no city government to take charge of New York imme- diately after its evacuation by the British, but the legislature had elected a body to temporarily look after the city and neighboring counties, after the withdrawal of the enemy. It was called the Council for the Southern District of New York, and was composed of the governor, George Clinton ; the lieutenant governor, Pierre van Cortlandt; the chancellor, Robert R. Livingston; judges Robert Yates and John Sloss Hobart, of the State Supreme Court; John Morin Scott, secretary of state; Egbert Benson, attorney-general; the State senators of the southern counties, Stephen Ward, Isaac Stoutenburgh, James Duane and William Smith, and the assemblymen of those districts. The governor and seven others were to constitute a quorum. This body, meeting in the old council chamber on Wall Street, with James M. Hughes as secretary, went to work to create conditions of order and protection, making the Light Infantry Battalion of the Continental Army, which remained for some time at the fort under General Knox and Major Sumner, a police force to maintain order and enforce necessary regulations. The first ordinance prescribed that each loaf should weigh two pounds and eight ounces avoirdupois, should be marked with the initials of the baker, and should sell for eight coppers. Newcomers should be registered. Watchmen were appointed and thieves and robbers were jailed, and there were official weighers and measurers appointed, and a fire department organized; provision also being made for the other needs of the city. This council called for a regular election on December 15th, and a regular list of aldermen and assistant aldermen was chosen. They organized as a Common Council by electing as president John Broome, and this council and a large body of citizens petitioned Governor Clinton to appoint Senator James Duane to the office of mayor. He complied, and on February 9th Duane was formally installed in his office. The first Ameri- can city government as organized was, therefore, as follows: Mayor, James Duane; recorder, Richard Varick; chamberlain (city treasurer), Daniel Phoenix; sheriff, Marinus Willett; coroner, Jeremiah Wool; clerk of the Common Council, Robert Benson. Aldermen: Benjamin Blagge, Thomas Randall, John Broome, William W. Gilbert, William Neilson, Thomas Iuers, Abraham P. Lott. Assistant aldermen: Daniel Phoenix, Abraham van Gelden, Thomas Ten Eyck, Henry Shute, Samuel Johnson, Jeremiah Wool. James Duane, who was born here in 1733, was a lawyer by profession. His father, who had been an officer in the British Navy,
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