USA > New York > Orange County > New Windsor > History of the town of New Windsor, Orange County, N.Y. > Part 8
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DOMINIE ANNAN.
The incidents already quoted give an inside view of life in New Wind- sor village. If it is not very flattering, it is at least refreshing to meet with them, as they serve to break up the current of Revolutionary litera- ture which usually flows in the channel of patriotic devotion and heroic deeds. We turn from them, however, to our favorite district. Little Britain, where we find the following in reference to the Rev. Robert Annan of the Little Britain Church: "In the fall of 1779, the people of Rhode Island, by reason of the great scarcity of supplies and pro- visions, applied to our State for aid. The legislature, however, refused
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
to send public stores, as they were needed at home. Meetings were held in several towns, for the purpose of raising supplies by subscription and among them, one in Hanover precinct. It was attended by many prudent people, who seemed to agree with the legislature, that the surplus supplies should not be sent out of the State. There was a discussion conducted with fairness and ability on both sides, but it seemed likely to be interm- inable. At this juncture Annan sprang up and cut the matter short by exclaiming : "As many as are in favor of assisting the people of Rhode Island and the cause of liberty, follow me!" Leaving the house he was surprised to find almost the entire assemblage at his heels."
BOY SOLDIERS.
The number of mere boys who found their way into the army was by no means inconsiderable. Lieutenant Robert Burnet and Lieut. Alexander Clinton were but fifteen years old when they were commissioned. Aside from this general fact, it is related that there was a regularly organized company of boys from twelve to fifteen years of age in Little Britain who were "soldier boys" in earnest, having been several times on duty as home guards. The Hessian prisoners from Sar- atoga en route for Easton, Pa., passed through Little Britain anl camp- ed at Major Telford's tavern, then opposite the Burnet homestead. The prisoners were in charge of a company of Morgan's riflemen, who, in quest of rest themselves, turned the prisoners over to the custody of the boys, who guarded them during the night. During the night one of the Hessian women died and was buried in the morning west of Major Tel- ford's house. It was a long-remembered funeral by the boys. The woman's companion could only bury her and move on. It was a phase of war that to them was new, and for years the lone grave by the apple tree received perhaps as much regard as though its inmate had been to them kindred.
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CHAPTER VII.
REVOLUTIONARY LOCALITIES.
Washington's Headquarters at New Windsor .- The headquarters of Washington at New Windsor were at the Ellison homestead, then Col. Thomas Ellison, and subsequently of his son, William Ellison. The house was torn down some years ago. It stood on the brow of the hill on the east side of the highway immediately south of the line of the village of New Windsor. Washington came here in June, 1779, and again in the fall of 1780, where he remained until the summer of 1781. The leading events in the army, during this period, were the capture of Stony Point, by Wayne, in July, 1779 and the management of the details of the campaign of 1781, which closed with the victory at Yorktown in October of the latter year.
It was while Washington was here that Cooper, in "The Spy," rep- resents him under the name of Harper, as having crossed the Hudson at night to visit Harney Birch in his cabin in the mountains south of Fishkill Village. It was also while here that the traditional attempt at his abduction occurred. This story which was given no little credence lo- cally, was that he was invited to dine with one Col. Ettrick, who lived in "The Vale" on the north side of Quassaick Creek. Ettrick had not taken any part in the war, but his feelings were with the mother country. His daughter, on the other hand, was strongly enlisted in favor of the colo- nies. She had overheard a conversation of some tories with her father, in which it was proposed to carry off Washington as a prisoner. Soon after this her father invited him to dine, and she, suspecting that the plan was then to be consummated, went to Washington and revealed her ap- prehensions. Washington accepted the invitation, but before he left for the entertainment he ordered a detachment of his Life Guard, dressed in English uniform, to watch the house and make their appearance early in the evening. As they approached, Ettrick, taking them for tory troops, said to his guest, "General, I believe you are my prisoner." Washington cast his eye over the Guard, and replied, "I believe not, sir ; but you are mine." Ettrick, after having been kept a prisoner for a short time, was, at the intercession of his daughter, permitted to leave the country. He settled in Nova Scotia.
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COL. THOMAS ELLISON'S HOUSE
Gen. Washington's Headquarters, New Windsor, June 23, 1779, to July 25, 1779, and from December 8, 1780, to June 25, 1781. The Capture of Stony Point and Battle of Yorktown were both Planned here.
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The circumstances which led to the estrangement of Washington and Hamilton, resulting in the withdrawal of Hamilton from his position as aid-de-camp, occurred here in 1781. It is referred to simply to correct the impression which prevails that Hamilton was the chosen counselor of Washington ; that he and not Washington was the author of the reply of the latter to the Newburgh Letters, and that he and not Washington was the author of many of the public papers of Washington, including his Farewell Address. The facts are that after the episode at the Elli- son house, Washington had no intercourse with Hamilton, whatever, except such as became necessary in their official relations as members of the Constitutional Convention of 1786, and subsequently while Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury, during the first and part of the second terms of Washington's administration. The story, as related by Hamilton in a letter to Gen. Schuyler, under date of "Headquarters, New Windsor, February 18, 1781," is as follows : "Since I had the pleasure of writing you last, an unexpected change has taken place in my situation. I am no longer a member of the General's family. This information will sur- prise you, and the manner of the change will surprise you more. Two days ago, the General and I passed each other on the stairs. He told me he wanted to speak to me. I answered that I would wait upon him im- mediately. I went below and delivered Mr. Tilghman a letter to be sent to the Commissary, containing an order of a pressing and interesting nature. Returning to the General, I was stopped on the way by the Marquis de LaFayette, and we conversed together about a minute on a matter of business. He can testify how impatient I was to get back, and that I left him in a manner which, but for our intimacy would have been more than abrupt. Instead of finding the General, as is usual, in his room I met him at the head of the stairs, where, accosting me in an angry tone, "Colonel Hamilton," said he, "you have kept me waiting at the head of the stairs these ten minutes. I must tell you, sir, you treat me with disrespect." I replied without petulency, but with decision, "I am not conscious of it, sir ; but since you have thought it necessary to tell me so, we pant." Very well, sir," said he, "if it be your choice," or something to that effect, and we separated. In less than an hour after- wards, Tilghman* came to me in the General's name, assuring me of his desire, in a candid conversation, to heal a difference which could not have happened except in a moment of passion." This interview Hamilton declined, and excused the step which he had taken from his dislike for the office of an aid-de-camp "as having a kind of personal dependence."*
Tilgham was Washington's favorite aide-de-camp, and the only officer of whom he ever spoke in eulogy.
*Words of Alexander Hamilton by J. C. Hamilton, Vol. I, 211.
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In regard to the occupation of the house by Washington in 1779, the following note has been preserved among the papers of Col. Thomas Ellison :
Headquarters, Smith's Clove, 2Ist June, 1779-1/2 past 5 P. M.
"His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, thinks proper to accept your house jas headquarters, from the description I gave him, on my return from thence last night. He, with his guards, set off immediately and his baggage will follow.
Your most obt. Humble Servt.,
C. GIBBS."
Gibb was then the captain commandant of Washington's Guard Lossing fixes the date "June 23d," but the notes of Capt. Gibb, dated on the 21st, seems to determine the date as the afternoon of that day. Dur- ing the winter of 1781, Mrs. Washington was with her husband.
Plum Point .- Plum Point, the site of the first European settlement in the present county of Orange,* lies a short distance below the Ellison house and forms the North bank of Murderer's Creek, at its con- fluence with the Hudson. It is a singular formation, having the appearance of artificial construction. The theory in regard to it is that in the convulsions attending the dissolution of the glacial period, it was pushed out from its original bed by the pressure of water and ice. It has an area of about eighty acres, approached over a natural causeway. On the southeast side was located, in the early part of the war, a battery of fourteen guns, designed to assist in maintaining the ob- structions to the navigation of the river which, at this point, consisted of a chevaux-de-frise stretching across to Pollopel's Island, which is seen through the opening in the trees. The battery was maintained during the war, for the purpose originally designed and for the protection of the works in the vicinity. It was known in official orders as "Captain Machin's Battery at New Windsor." Outlines of its embrasures may yet be seen, and can be approached by permission from the Verplanck resi- dence or by the old army road which runs around the face of the hill from the Nicol homestead.
LaFayette's Headquarters -- The Brewster or Williams house at Mood- na, which is credited with occupancy by LaFayette, is just beyond the paper mills on the south side of the Forge Hill road. Of its occupancy by LaFayette there is only traditionary evidence, at best it was so occupied during the winter of 1780-'81, while Washington had his headquarters at the Ellison house. It will be remembered that LaFayette was absent in France while Washington was at Newburgh. The house has been in
*Ante N .- (See Patents and Front Settlements as put in page when printed).
MACHIN'S BATTERY-PLUM POINT
Battery of fourteen guns, erected in 1778, for defense and to cover chevaux-de-frise in channel of Hudson River, from Murderer's Creek to Pollopel's Island. Plum Point was the site of the first European settlement in Orange County.
BREWSTER HOUSE-LAFAYETTE'S HEADQUARTERS
Erected by Samuel Brewster, 1755. Opposite this house was Brewster's Forge, where the chain to obstruct the Hudson River was made. The cellar of this house was the depository of the money from the Dutch Loan, to pay the Continental Army.
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the occupation of tenants for several years and is decaying. The vault in the cellar is said to have been the temporary place of deposit of the money known as the "Dutch loan," but on what authority does not ap- pear. Mr. Brewster is referred to on another page. A house on the Forge Hill road, erected by Samuel Brewster in 1763, was probably built for Mr. Brewster's son, Timothy Brewster, who removed after the war to Woodbridge, N. J.
Edmonston House .- The Edmonston house at Vail's Gate is said to have been occupied by Generals Gates and St. Clair, of which there is no evidence, and also, in part at least, by the medical staff. That it was connected with the army in some way is more than probable; the head- quarters of the medical staff, however, were in the James Clinton house in the village of New Windsor, as appears by letters of Mrs. Clinton. The hospital of the army was in the vicinity. Dr. Thacher writes, under date of April 30, 1781 : "I accompanied Dr. John Hart to New Windsor to pay our respects to Dr. John Cochrane, who is lately promotea to the office of Director-General of the hospitals of the United States, as suc- cessor to Dr. Shippen, resigned." On the 15th Dec., 1782, after the army returned here, he writes: "Dined with my friends, Drs. Townsend, Eastis and Adams, at the hospital, in company with Generals Gates and Howe and their aides, Dr. Cochrane, our Surgeon-General, and several other officers. Our entertainment was ample and elegant." The loca- tion of the hospital is shown on the map of the camp-ground, given else- where. The Edmonston house is of stone and is said to have been erect- ed in 1755. It stands a short distance west of the point where the "Short-Cut" intersects the Newburgh Branch of the Erie railroad.
Fall's House or "Woods"- The Fall's house, Little Britain Square, or "Woods" as marked on the DeWitt map, was occupied by Gov. Geo. Clinton, as commander-in-chief of the military forces of the State, for a short time in October, 1777. Clinton and his brother, Gen. James Clin- ton were in command at the forts in the Highlands at the time of their reduction, October 7, 1777. The former was then a resident of the house subsequently of Capt. Charles Ludlow a short distance north of New Windsor village. On the fall of the forts his family made hasty re- treat to the interior, and found temporary refuge at the residence of Mrs. Falls .* The troops who escaped from the forts as well as the militia of the district that had not been engaged, were rendezvoused in the vicinity and re-organized prior to their march for the defence of Kingston. While waiting for his men to come in, on the 10th of Oc-
*Ante p .- (See Falls family).
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tober, at noon, a horseman came near the camp, where, being challenged' by a sentinel, he replied, "I am a friend and wish to see General Clin- ton." On being conducted to the Governor's headquarters he discovered that he had made a mistake. He had been sent by Sir Henry Clinton, of the British forces with a message to General Burgoyne, and after passing the Highlands had encountered troops in British uniform. Presuming that Sir Henry's forces had moved forward, he drew near the camp only to learn that he was within the lines of the Colonists, some of whom were clothed in British uniform which had been captured from a transport some time previously and had not been redyed. When he discovered his mistake he was observed to swallow something. To recover whatever it might be, Dr. Moses Higby, who was at the camp, administered a powerful emetic. This brought from him a small silver ball of an oval form shut with a screw in the middle. "Though closely watched," writes Clinton, "he had the art to conceal it a second time. I made him believe I had taken one Capt. Campbell,* another messenger who was out on the same business, that I learned from him all I wanted to know, and demanded the ball on pain of being hung up instantly and cut open to search for it. This brought it forth." The ball was found to contain the- following :
Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8, 1777
" Nous y voice, (we come), and nothing between us but Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your operations. In answer to your letter of the 25th Sept., by C. C., I shall only say, I cannot presume to order, or even advise, for reasons obvious. I heartily wish you success. "Gen. Burgoyne. Faithfully yours, H. Clinton."
Taylor was placed in custody, and on the 14th a general court martial' met for his trial, the proceedings of which are recorded as follows :
"At a general court martial, held at the heights of New Windsor, the 14th October, 1777, by order of Brigadier-General George Clinton, whereof Colonel' Lewis DuBois was present.
Captain Gillespie, Captain Ellis, Captain Wyllis, Captain Watson, Captain Savage,
Captain Conklin, Captain Wood, Captain Hamstrack,
Major Huntington,
Captain Lee, Captain Huested, Major Bradford,
Daniel Taylor, charged with lurking about the camp as a spy from the enemy, confined by order of General Clinton, was brought before said court, and to the above crime the prisoner plead not guilty. But confessed his being an Express from General (Sir Henry) Clinton to Burgoyne when taken and that he had been employed as an Express also from General Burgoyne to General Clinton, and was taken in the camp of the army of the United States, near New Windsor, by Lieut. Howe. Taylor likewise confessed his being a first Lieutenant in Captain Stewart's Company in the Ninth Regiment of the British troops, and but one man
*Capt. Campbell succeeded in passing the American lines, and reached Bur- goyne with a similar message on the 16th October.
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FALL'S HOUSE
General George Clinton's Headquarters after the fall of Fort Montgomery, October 1777. Daniel Taylor, a British spy, was captured nearby and confined in this house, and condemn- ed to death by court martial-Col. Louis DuBois, President of court martial. Quarters of Maj. Armstrong, author of "Newburgh Letters."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR.
in company when taken. The prisoner pleaded that he was not employed as a spy, but on the contrary was charged both by General Clinton and Burgoyne not to come near our camp; but meeting accidentally with some of our troops in British uniform, he was thereby deceived and discovered himself to them.
The court, after considering the case, were of opinion that the prisoner is guilty of the charge brought against him, and adjudged to suffer death, to be hanged at such time and place as the General shall direct.
A true copy of the proceedings; Test.
LEWIS DuBOIS, President.
Gov. Clinton's little army had in the meantime been re-inforced by a detachment from Gen. Putnam and taken up its march toward Kingston. It was not until Marbletown was reached that Clinton had time to re- view the decision of the court martial. On the 16th he approved the sen- tence and ordered it to be carried into execution "when the troops are paraded and before they march to-morrow morning." The execution, however, did not take place until the 18th. Taylor's ultimate fate as well as an account of Clinton's march to Kingston are set forth in the fol- lowing diary :
This diary is said to have been written by Nathaniel Webb, an officer in the Second New York Regiment, and that the original is or was in possession of Dr. Ezekiel Webb of Elmira.
"Oct. 6, 1777 -- Monday-The shipping came opposite Dunderbarrack. About 2 o'clock p. m. ye enemy began ye attack on Fort Montgomery and Clinton, and between daylight and dark ya carried ye garrison by storm.
"Colonel Meigs, with reinforcements arrived at ye ferry, two miles above ye fort, just as ye enemy prevailed. Immediately upon ye misfortune, our people burnt ye ships Montgomery and Congress, and ye Shark, a row galley-and blew up Fort Constitution. Govr and B. Genl. James Clinton, Col Lamb, Col. DuBois, Mr. Gano, Dr. Cook, and a principal part of officers and men made yar escape un- der cover of ye night. There were not more than 600 men to defend ye two forts against near 3,000.
7. Tuesday-Army marched towards Fishkill.
8. Wednesday-Arrived at Fishkill about noon and the Detachment with Col. Webb's Regt. marched to ye River, and crost at New Windsor.
II. Saturday-Proceeded to Little Britain Headquarters. Troops encamped Major Bradford arrived in camp, to ye no small joy of ye Detachment.
15. Wednesday-The shipping past by ye chievaux-de-frise early ys morning -the troops ordered to march. Col. DuBois, ye train of artillery and militia ad- vanced. Col. Webb and Major Bradford brought up ye rear, and marcht to Shongom and put up.
16. Thursday __ Troops marcht early ys morning. The Gov'r sent us word yt ye enemy were within 7 miles of Kingston last night, 12 o'c., and ordered us on with all speed. We forced our march to Rosendol's creek, within 8 miles of ye town of Kingston, alias Esopus when we discovered ye smoke of ye buildings on fire by ye enemy. Finding we were too late to save ye town, we soon wheeled off to ye left, and reacht Marble Town. We have marcht about thirty miles this day, having packs carried in wagons most of ye way. The people had got most of their goods removed but several families suffered exceedingly by the fire. There was little or no resistance made to ye enemy's landing. Ya immediately, upon firing ye town, run back to ye water in great fright. They fired many pla- toons, but had not ye luck to kill anybody, except a Tory prisoner, who happened in their way as we are informed.
A notable instance this of ye English Honour, Courage and Magnanimity-to at- tack a defenseless town and a few women and children, with a body of 700 men with all solemn pomp of war. Surely such troops might be a terror to ye world, for if
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no power should oppose them, they may yet burn half ye towns and cities of ye earth. Yes, most gallant Gen'l Vaun, your name will be handed down to poster- ity, and published to ye world, with many singular marks of honour.
17. Friday-Army marcht to Hurley, a precinct in Kingston, and encamped. The enemy advanced up ye River, burning wherever they dare land yar troops. Ys evening we have certain intelligence yt Gen. Burgoyne and his army of 5,000 men have just submitted prisoners upon articles of capitulation-an event most happy, and demands the highest thanks of all Americans to ye God of armies.
18. Saturday-Mr. Taylor, a spy, lately taken in Little Britain, was hung here. The Rev. Mr. Romain and myself attended him yesterday, and I have spent the morning in discoursing to him, and attended him at ye gallows. He did not ap- pear to be either a political or a gospel penitent."*
Lossing, in his Field-Book, states-not without authority it is pre- sumed-that Major Armstrong, the author of the "Newburgh Letters," had his quarters at the Falls house, and that there those in the secret held their private conferences. At that time the house was occupied as a tavern by one Woods, (qr.' Cornelius Wood), and was used to its capacity by army officers. A fact established of record is that Col. Barber, Deputy Inspector-General under Baron Steuben, had his quar- ters here at the time of the accident by which he lost his life in visiting the cantonment of the army. The property was the homestead of Samuel B. Moores in later years. It has suffered little modification or change. One room is pointed out as having been occupied by Washington on several occasions and a curious closet therein as having been finished in its present form by a mechanical officer of the army.
The Clinton Homestead .- The homestead erected by Col. Charles Clinton the birthplace of Gen. James Clinton and of Gen. and Gov. Geo. Clinton, and possibly of Gov. DeWitt Clinton, was in occupancy by Gen. James Clinton, his mother and family during the war and at all times the seat of movements connected with the army and with the politics and history of the State. The buildings-there were five of them in connec- tion-were removed, with the exception of one of them, some years ago. Substantially nothing but the historic associations of the place remain. The story of its occupants is told elsewhere in these pages. The original of the five buildings was erected in 1730, of stone and rough boards, consisted only of one large room fifteen or twenty feet square, with two small windows and a door in front and a door and a small window in the rear. A large fire-place occupied the north end of the room, and an open chamber covered the whole to the roof. To this was added later a building on the right with one door and three windows, and to this was again added, on the extreme right, a kitchen with a door and one win- dow. Then followed, in 1763, an addition to the original building on the
*From letters found in Taylor's possession it was inferred that he was a res- ident of Kinderhook and had enlisted in the services of the King. His execution as a spy was handily justified by the facts connected with his arrest.
CLINTON HOUSE Birth Place of Governor (Gen.) George Clinton and Gen. James Clinton
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left, of two stories, and lastly an addition on the extreme left which was far more pretentious than any of its predecessors. It was erected in 1791, but by whom is uncertain. It had a piazza on three sides, and was of good finish. The older parts would scarcely be regarded as habitable at the present time, their ceilings were low and their appointments ex- ceedingly limited. Gen. James Clinton, the last Clinton, owner and oc- cupant, erected a more modern structure on the Little Britain road, and occupied it at the time of his death. The Clinton burial ground was on an elevation nearly opposite the house. In it were also interred the re- mains of many relatives and friends. The plot was enclosed in later years by Hon. James G. Clinton, with a substantial stone wall with cop- ing and iron gates, but was subsequently suffered by neglect. This condi- tion led Mr. John A. Gray, of New York, grandson of the second wife of Gen. Clinton, to remove the remains of the Clintons and their principal connections to Woodlawn Cemetery, where their resting place is now marked by a substantial monument.
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