USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York, Vol. II > Part 7
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"at a time on board. There was but one small fire- "place to cook the food of such a number, and the "allowance was moreover frequently delayed. In the " short days of November and December, the steward " did not begin to serve out the rations till 11 A.M., so O generous Britons ! generous, as you say, To my parch'd tongue one cooling drop convey , Earth knows no torment like a thirsty throat, Nor hell a monster like your David Sproat !"
Freneau was afterwards transferred to the hospital-ship Hunter, where he thus describes his treatment :
" From Brooklyn groves a Hessian doctor eame, Not great his skill, nor greater much his fame ; Fair Science never call'd the wretch her own,. And Art disdained the stupid man to own; Yet still he doom'd his genius to the rack, And, as you may suppose, was owned a quack. Hle, on his charge, the healing work begun With antimonial mixtures by the ton. Ten minutes was the time he deigned to stay- The time of grace allotted once a day- He dreneh'd us well with bitter draughts, 'tis true, Nostrums from hell and cortex from Peru- Some with his pills he sent to Pluto's reign, And some he blistered with the flies of Spain ; Ilis cream of Tartar walked in deadly round, 'Till the lean patient at the poison frown'd, And swore that hemlock, death, or what you will, Were nonsense to the drugs that stuffed his bill. On those refusing, he bestowed a kick, Or menaced vengeance with his walking-stick ; Here, uncontroll'd he exercised his trade, And grew experienced by the deaths he made ; By frequent blows we from his eane endur'd He killed at least as many as he eur'd, On our lost comrades built his future faine, And scattered fate where'er his footsteps came."
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" that the whole could not be served till 3. At sunset " the fire was ordered to be quenched, so that some " had not their food dressed at all ; many were obliged " to eat it half raw. No flour, oatmeal, and things of " like nature, suited to the condition of infirm people, " were allowed to the many sick-nothing but ship- "bread, beef and pork." "I am now a prisoner," says another, " on board the ship Falmouth in N. Y., a place " the most dreadful ; we are so confined that we have "not room even to lie down all at once to sleep."
But we need not multiply corroborative statements to prove the horrors of the loathsome prison-ships. Negotiations were opened for the exchange of prison- ers, and a long correspondence between Sproat and Abraham Skinner, the American commissary, ensued, which amounted to little more than mutual recrimina- tion. The captives being mostly privateersmen, inde- pendent of the Continental service, Congress was unwilling to release healthy British prisoners in ex- change, and thus give to the enemy a great and per- manent strength, without receiving an equivalent. By the agreement between the armies, officers were to be exchanged for officers, soldiers for soldiers, and seamen for seamen. The Americans, however, had few naval prisoners ; those captured by the privateers had been, for the most part, enlisted into the service, or suffered to go at large for the want of a suitable place wherein to secure them. Washington, who had no control over the marine department, remonstrated earnestly with Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Digby against this inhuman treatment, and threatened to retaliate on the British
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soldiers, but his protests were of little avail. The rebels were urged by threats and promises to enter into the British service. A few complied, trusting to the chances for a speedy desertion, while many more perished in the midst of darkness and privation, preferring death to a seeming infidelity to their country. It is estimated, we doubt if on sufficient authority, that eleven thousand were buried from the Jersey alone. Despite the vigilance of the guard, escapes were frequent, and a whole mess would sometimes suddenly be found miss- ing without having given the slightest indication of their departure. After the arrival of Sir Guy Carlton, in the closing days of the war, a few of the pri- soners were released on parole, but the condition of the majority remained substantially the same until the final cessation of hostilities. In marked contrast with this, the British prisoners were invariably treated with kind- ness and humanity, and though retaliation was some- times threatened, the threat was never in a single instance carried into execution. But the treatment of American prisoners at New York, connived at if not sanctioned by the British commandants, must forever remain a stain upon the boasted civilization of England.
On the 21st of September, 1776, while Howe's troops were still stretched in a cordon across the island, in readiness to fall upon the army of Washington, encamped upon the heights on the opposite side of Harlem Plains, a fire occurred, which reduced the greater portion of the city to ashes. The conflagration broke out in a small wooden grog-shop near Whitehall Slip, whence it swept rapidly up Broad and Beaver streets to Broad-
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way, and thence consumed all the western part of the town. The progress of the flames was at length stayed by the college grounds at Barclay street; but ere this was done, five hundred houses fell in ruins to the ground. Trinity Church and the neighboring Lutheran chapel, on the site of the future Grace Church, were destroyed, while St. Paul's Church was only saved by the unremitting exertions of the citizens, who mounted on the roof and extinguished the flakes of fire as they fell. No engines were at that time to be had in the city, and the people could only stand idly by and witness the work of destruc- tion. Intense excitement prevailed among the British, who accused the Sons of Liberty of being the incendi- aries, and even seized a number of the patriots and thrust them into the flames by way of revenge for the supposed outrage. Several of the citizens were also arrested and imprisoned on the charge of being accessories to the deed, but the accusations were not sustained, and they were afterward acquitted of the charge. No evidence exists, indeed, to prove that the origin of this fire was anything else than purely accidental, or that the sus- picions of the British officers had any foundation.
Much of the burned district had been covered with small wooden houses, tenanted by the lowest classes of society. Driven from their wretched homes by the fear- ful conflagration, and not knowing where else to find shelter, the miserable inmates tacked sheets of canvas to the remnants of charred walls and standing chimneys, thus forming a city of tents, in which they bivouacked, despite the inclemency of the weather, and the spot henceforth became known as Canvastown -- a sort of
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progenitor of the present Five Points, the haunt of crime and misery.
A few days after the fire, Cadwallader Colden, who had for so many years played a prominent part in the affairs of the city, died at the advanced age of eighty- nine. He was a man of preeminent talent and of fine scientific attainments ; the literature of the province had been greatly enriched by his valuable contributions, and, previously to the rôle which he was insnared to play in the drama of the Revolution, he had been loved and honored by the people. This false step was the only stain on his career ; he succumbed to the temptation of private interests, and sacrificed the welfare of his coun- trymen to the arbitrary maintenance of the royal pre- rogative. Nor was he alone in this apostasy; many other scions of ancient and distinguished families espoused the cause of the king in the struggle, and openly ranged themselves among the Tories. Foremost among these was Oliver De Lancey, brother of the former lieutenant- governor of the province, and one of the most zealous adherents of the royalist party. Inferior in talent to his brother, haughty and imperious in manners, yet pos- sessing an almost diabolical knowledge of human nature, with an adroitness in using it which was rarely ex- ceeded, he became a formidable enemy to the patriotic cause, and an object of detestation to the Liberty Boys ; a party of whom, headed by the daring and impetuous Martling, came down from the American lines on the night of the 25th of November, 1777, and burned his house at Bloomingdale, by way of revenge for his infi- delity to his country. At the close of the Revolution,
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his estates, as well as those of his nephew, James De Lancey, were confiscated by the government ; after which, he went to England, where he died, leaving numerous descendants.
Many of the Tories who had been expelled from the surrounding country by the vigorous measures of the Committee of Safety, now removed to New York and took up their residence there. Rivington, returned to the city and recommenced the publication of his paper, now the Royal Gazette; while Holt was driven with his journal from place to place along the North River. Hugh Gaine still continued to publish his Gazette, more than ever devoted to the interests of the royalist party.
During the winter, General Howe made New York his headquarters, from which he dispatched detach- ments by land and sea to harass the American forces. It was not long before General Lee was seized as he lay carelessly guarded at a considerable distance from the army, and brought a prisoner to the city, where he was lodged in one of the dungeons of the City Hall in Wall street. Lee was a born Englishman, and, on this ground was claimed by Howe as a deserter from the British army. Washington made the most urgent efforts to obtain his release, and, as he held no prisoner of equal rank in his hands, offered in exchange for him six Hes- sian field-officers ; but these terms were refused by Howe, who threatened to send him to England for trial. "As you treat Lee, so shall the Hessians be treated," was the reply; and fearing the consequences, the British general dared not carry his threat into immediate execu- tion, but kept him closely guarded, awaiting the moment
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when the destruction of the American army, which seemed to him inevitable, should enable him to punish the culprit with impunity. He waited in vain ; the surrender of Burgoyne, in the following autumn, proved the fallacy of these hopes, and he finally con- sented to the offered terms. A negotiation was also opened for the exchange of the rest of the American prisoners, but this failed of any result. Worn and debilitated by unwholesome food and inhuman treatment, the captives were wholly unfit for service, and Washington was unwilling to nullify his recent brilliant victories in the Jerseys by restoring to the British ranks a large corps of able and efficient Hessians in equal exchange for soldiers rendered useless beyond all hope of cure by the brutalities which they had endured in the British prisons. Humanity would have dictated the measure ; policy for- bade it. Washington vainly endeavored to effect their release on more equitable terms, and held a long corre- spondence with Howe upon the subject ; but the latter remained immovable, and the prisoners were condemned to linger many more weary months amid the horrors of captivity.
In April, 1777, the Convention assembled at Kingston framed the first written constitution of the State of New York. By this constitution, the office of governor was made elective by the people, and the legislative power was vested in two distinct bodies, deriving their author- ity from the same source. George Clinton, already dis- tinguished for his patriotism in the annals of the province, was chosen the first governor -- an office which he con- tinned to hold for eighteen years. John Jay was
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Portrait of John Jay, from the Original by Stuart, in the Possession of the Family.
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appointed Chief-Justice, and Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of the new State, over which, until the meet- ing of the first legislature, the Committee of Safety still continued to exercise their authority. Philip Liv- ingston, James Duane, Francis Lewis, William Duer, and Gouverneur Morris were at the same time appointed delegates to the Continental Congress.
Other States soon followed the example, and the new power that was springing up to a prominent position among the nations of the earth, grew stronger and more consolidated, day by day. A national flag was adopted, and the thirteen stars and stripes, typical of the thirteen original pioneers of the future constellation, waved for the first time over the American fortresses, carrying with it the assumption of a claim to general recognition. Commissioners were also dispatched to the various European courts, to ask their sympathy and aid ; an appeal which was warmly responded to in France. Actuated partly, it may be, by enmity to an ancient foe, and partly by real sympathy for the strug- gling patriots, called forth by the eloquence of Franklin, Deane and Arthur Lee, the American Commissioners, the French government granted them money to fit out armed vessels for the relief of their countrymen, while many young noblemen, inspired with enthusiasm for the cause of liberty, proffered their services as volunteers in the projected expedition. Among these were Lafay- ette, Steuben, Pulaski, Kosciusko, De Kalb, and many more, whose names still live in the hearts of a grateful nation. These, by their knowledge of military science. afforded invaluable service to the undisciplined army,
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gathered from the workshop and the plough, totally igno- rant of the art of war, and only knowing how to die without shrinking in the defence of their liberty.
Despite this welcome aid, and despite the cheering influence of the brilliant capture of Burgoyne at Sara- toga, the season that followed was a terrible era of suffering. The hardships of the winter passed at Valley Forge, the half-starved army, encamped on the frozen ground, tentless, fireless, destitute of money and cloth- ing, and marking their path on the snow by their bleeding feet, are too well known to require description at our hands. Darkness closed around the unhappy army, and nowhere were the clouds so dense as about the head of its heroic leader. This was the dark day of the life of Washington. The credit of Congress was exhausted and its treasury empty ; the Continental bills, once so easy a resource, had so far depreciated in value as to be almost worthless, while the British at New York added largely to this depreciation by putting in circulation immense quantities of spurious money of the same sort ; yet this debased currency was all that remained to the commander-in-chief wherewith to pay his troops and purchase food to support their existence. Nor was this all, his ambitious and intriguing subordinates were secretly leagued against him, plotting to throw him down, that they might rise in his stead. A fortuitous circumstance alone hindered their success ; the plot was skillfully laid, and the weight of a feather at this moment would have turned the balance, and precipi- tated Washington, now enshrined as an idol in the hearts of his adoring countrymen, into obscurity and oblivion.
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How different might not have been the destiny of the future republic, had the intrigues of his enemies attained this culmination ! They barely missed the achievement of their designs, and at this critical juncture it was New York that turned the scale, and preserved the credit and the future of George Washington.
Flushed by the recent victory at Saratoga, Gates aspired to the chief command ; and in this he was seconded by Mifflin, Conway, and many of the mal- contents. In Congress, Richard Henry Lee and Samuel Adams led the factious party. Washington was loudly accused of incompetency ; the losses of New York, New- port and Philadelphia, together with his recent defeats at Brandywine and Germantown, were urged against him, and his opponents left no means untried to enlist the leading men of the country in a coalition which should deprive him of his position as commander of the army. Lafayette was appealed to, but he indignantly repelled the overtures. Patrick Henry and Laurens were also addressed in anonymous letters ; they for- warded the missives to Washington himself by way of reply. Yet many did not remain thus firm ; the con- fidence in the commander-in-chief became gradually weakened; the mine was prepared and on the point of explosion. In respect to the denoument of the dark intrigue, we quote the words of Dunlap, the contempo- rary historian of the times : " The Congress at this " time sat at Little York, the enemy being in Phila- " delphia. The confederacy of sovereign States had, " before 17.77, in many instances been found wanting. " In July, 1778, the confederacy was signed ; but on
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" October 14th, 1777, Congress resolved that no State " should be represented by more than seven members or "less than two. New York had but two members pre- "sent (Francis Lewis and William Duer), barely suf- " ficient to give her a vote ; one of those was lying sick ; " this was a situation which rendered her a nullity, and " a day was appointed by the cabal to nominate a com- " mittee to arrest Washington at the Valley Forge, " they having a majority, owing to the absence of New " York.
" Francis Lewis, the only member from New York " capable of taking his place, sent for the absentee. " Col. William Duer sent for his physician, Dr. Jones, " and demanded whether he could be removed to the " courthouse (or place of meeting). 'Yes, but at the " risk of your life.' 'Do you mean that I should expire " before reaching the place ?' 'No; but I would not " answer for your life twenty-four hours after.' 'Very " well, sir ; you have done your duty ; prepare a litter " for me ; if you refuse, some one else shall, but I pre- "fer your care in the case.' The litter was prepared, "and the siek man ready to sacrifice his life for his " country, when the faction, baffled by the arrival of " Gouverneur Morris, and by the certainty of New York " being against them, gave up the attempt, and the " hazardous experiment on the part of Col. Duer was " rendered unnecessary."
Washington subsequently received information through Lord Stirling of a correspondence between Gates and Conway, which left him no longer in doubt as to the authors of the plot, though Gates, when taxed with it,
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at first denied it, and afterwards apologized in humble terms. The intrigue was finally foiled, yet it would have been carried by a coup de main, had it not been thwarted by the influence of the New York delegation.
In the meantime, the English ministry, under Lord North, had made a last attempt to regain their authority over the colonies by renouncing the right of parlia- mentary taxation, and appointing commissioners to negotiate for the return of the colonies to their allegiance. These overtures were hailed with delight by the Tories and moderate men, who urged their acceptance ; but the Whigs refused to treat for anything short of an independence, and their determination was strengthened by the action of the French government, which, hitherto abstaining from a distinct alliance, now entered into a treaty of friendship and commerce, with pledges of a mutual defensive alliance in case that war should be declared against France by Great Britain. This treaty was followed by the anticipated result, and the British ambassador was recalled from Paris. Seeing the fatal consequences that must ensue, the opposition party in the Parliament, headed by Lord Rockingham, urged the ministry to abandon the struggle, and to acknowledge the independence of America; but this proposal was indignantly scouted as a treason, and Pitt, the former idol of America, in whose honor the colonists had kindled bonfires, and erected statues, rose in his seat and spoke against it with so much vehemence that, exhausted by the effort, he sank fainting to the floor, and was carried out of Parliament for the last time, expending his dying breath in a vain effort to retain the
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supremacy of Great Britain over the colonies of America. His words prevailed, the measure was defeated, and the war was carried on with renewed vigor. Sir William Howe was recalled by his own request, and his place was filled by Sir Henry Clinton.
Soon after this change, the battle of Monmouth was fought, resulting in the defeat of the British army, Clinton evacuated Philadelphia, and marched with his forces to New York, where all the army had been ordered to concentrate in order to thwart the plans of the French fleet under Count d'Estaing, which was approaching to blockade the British ships in the Dela- ware. A few days after he reached the city, D'Estaing arrived, and anchored his vessels off the harbor of New York, with the design of attacking the city, while Wash- ington proceeded to White Plains with his army, intend- ing to make a simultaneous attack by land upon the town. But the French ships were heavy, the pilots refused to take them over the bar, and the projected assault was finally abandoned. D'Estaing set sail for Newport, then held by a moderate force under General Pigot, while Admiral Howe, on his part, hastened to the relief of his officer. On the 15th of August, before the attack could take place, a violent storm shattered the vessels and drove them off the coast. D'Estaing abandoned the blockade and set sail for Boston for repairs, while the British fleet returned again to New York, together with Clinton, who had also marched with a land force to the relief of Newport.
On the 9th of August, 1778, the second great fire broke out in the city of New York. The conflagration
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commenced in Dock, now Pearl, in the vicinity of Broad street, and raged with violence for several hours, con- suming three hundred houses on the eastern side of the city. The fire companies had been disbanded during the revolutionary struggle, and the military charged themselves with extinguishing the fire ; but, inexperi- enced in the work, they accomplished but little. Warned by this example, orders were subsequently issued by the commander-in-chief that the soldiers should help, but not order in future conflagrations.
Scarcely had the flames been quenched when a new calamity occurred. The Morning Star powder-ship, which was anchored in the East River, was struck by lightning during a violent thunder-storm ; and so terrific was the explosion that the houses along the shore were unroofed by the shock, the windows shattered, and the furniture demolished. The crew had fortunately gone on shore, leaving the vessel in the care of a boy, who perished with his charge.
At this time, General Robertson was the commandant of the city and the so-called royal governor of the pro- vince. This office was afterward filled by Colonel Birch, who resided in the Verplanck Mansion in Wall street, on the site of the future United States Bank. Baron Knyphausen still remained in the city, and acted as deputy commander-in-chief in the absence of Sir Henry Clinton. Andrew Eliot was lieutenant-governor and superintendent of the police, and David Mathews retained the office of mayor, to which he had been appointed on the resignation of Whitehead Hicks in the early part of the year 1776.
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The summer and autumn of 1778 were marked by the barbarous massacres of Wyoming and Cherry Valley- acts of cruelty which stirred up the indignation of the patriots and urged them on to an almost superhuman struggle for vengeance. Retaliatory expeditions were dispatched against the settlements of the Iroquois, who had leagued themselves with the British, and many of their villages were destroyed. But the seat of the war was now about to be transferred to the South. During the summer, Clinton had been busily employed in forti- fying New York, then supposed to be destined for the next point of attack by the combined forces of the French and the Americans. Early in November, this design was abandoned, and Count d'Estaing set sail for the West Indies with a view to attacking the British colonies in that quarter. On the same day, the English Admiral Hotham set sail from Sandy Hook in pursuit, and in the ensuing month, he was followed by Admiral Byron, who had superseded Howe in the command of the British fleet. A few days after, Clinton dispatched General Campbell with a force of three thousand five hundred men, against Savannah, then defended by the American general, Robert Howe. The expedition proved successful, and the British troops were soon in possession of the greater part of Georgia. At the North, the cam- paign was carried on with vigor. Ex-Governor Tryon marched with a strong force into Connecticut, plunder- ing and burning the settlements, and leaving ruin every- where in his path ; while Clinton himself headed foraging expeditions from the city, laying waste the surrounding country, and capturing Stony Point and its
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