USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. I > Part 19
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286
RELEASE REFUSED.
torpedo to destroy this ship, and that he was in her at Napeng Beach when this ship and the Orpheus were in Port Pond Bay, last week. He has also a certificate given him on the 18th of this month, by some of the respectable inhabitants of East Hamp- ton, recommending him to Com. Decatur as a fit person to be employed on a particular service by him, and that he has for some time been entered on the books of one of the frigates at $40 per month ; add to which, this notorious character has been re- cognized by some of the officers and men of this ship as having been on board here two or three times with clams and fruit-of course as a spy to collect information of our movements.
"Having been so well acquainted with the con- duct of this man for the last six weeks, and the pur- pose for which he has been so actually employed in hostilities against his Britannic Majesty, I cannot avoid expressing my surprise that the inhabitants of East Hampton should have attempted to enforce on you a statement so contrary to fact. I therefore cannot think of permitting such an avowed enemy to be out of my power, when I know so much of him as I do. He will, therefore, be detained as a prisoner of war until the pleasure of the command- er-in-chief is known.
"Robert Gray, an inoffensive old man who was taken with Penny, I have landed, as it does not appear that he is one of his accomplices in the tran- sactions alluded to.
"I think proper to enclose a copy of my letter to Justice Terry, to warn the inhabitants of the coast against permitting the torpedo to remain anywhere near them.
287
INHABITANTS THREATENED.
"I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, THOMAS M. HARDY,
"Captain of H. M.'s Ship Ramillies.
"To Major BENJ. CASE,
Commanding the troops in the United States service at Sag Harbor."
The following was sent to Esquire Terry :
" HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP Ramillies, OFF NEW LONDON, " Aug. 23, 1813.
"Sir :- I have received positive information that a whale boat, the property of Thomas Welling and others, prepared with a torpedo for the avowed pur- pose of destroying this ship, a mode of warfare practised by individuals from mercenary motives, and more novel than honorable, is kept in your neighborhood, and from the very good information I obtained from various sources, there is no doubt that these persons will soon be in my power. I beg you to warn the inhabitants of the towns along the coast of Long Island, that wherever I hear this boat or any other of her description has been allowed to remain after this day, I will order every house near the shore to be destroyed.
"I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient ser- vant,
"THOMAS M. HARDY, Capt. "To - TERRY, Esq.,
"Justice of the Peace, Southold, L. I."
When the enemy first appeared on our coast the eastern ports of Long Island Sound and the several islands about there became useful points in posses- sion of the British vessels, where they could land in
288
THE ENEMY'S QUARTERS.
safety and retire without fear of surprise or moles- tation.
They then made Gardiner's Bay a kind of rendez- vous and home port for their war vessels. It lies at the eastern extremity of Long Island and forms an irregular circle of about eight miles in diameter. Gardiner's Island forms the eastern boundary of this bay, and is four miles long and two wide. The island was then highly cultivated and owned by Mr. John Lyon Gardiner as one farm. The usual farm stock was 1,500 sheep, 350 cattle and 50 horses. Capt. Kidd, the pirate, visited this island and buried some of his treasures there, some of which were afterwards recovered.
A great variety of wild fowl and fish were in abundance about the islands, bays and waters of that section.
Shelter Island, separated from Gardiner's Island by Gardiner's Bay, contained about 8,000 acres under a high state of cultivation, and then had fifty dwellings. It is six miles long and four broad. There was a good ship channel all round the island. Great Hog Neck Island is south of this and is about three and a half miles in length.
Oyster Pond Village (now Orient) was near the east extremity of the east branch of Long Island on a peninsula about five miles long connected with the wider part by a narrow beach one mile in length. There were seventy families residing there in 1813.
Plumb Island, three miles long and one wide, was east of Oyster Pond Point, separated by Plumb Island Gut of one mile wide. The land was very stony. Ten families then resided there.
289
ON LONG ISLAND.
The Gull Islands, three miles east of Plumb Island, the largest contains fourteen acres and the smallest one acre, both owned by the United States. On the smallest was a lighthouse fifty-six feet high and seventy-four feet above tide. Fisher's Island is about six miles northeast of the Gull Islands, is about twelve miles long, average width of one mile. Its surface is hilly and broken and was then owned in one farm by Wm. Winthrop. It had a very large and extensive dairy and cattle droves. Pota- toes, corn and wheat were the principal crops. It was highly cultivated. It is nine miles from New London and four from Stonington.
Ram's Island at the mouth of Mystic river, Con- necticut, contained about twelve acres of land.
Robin's Island in Great Peconic Bay, between Southold and Southampton, opposite Cutchogue, contained 400 acres .:
On the eastern extremity of Long Island at Mon- tauk Point, on North Hill, was a lighthouse (which is still standing), eighty-five feet high and one hun- dred and sixty feet above tide-water and the light can be seen thirty miles at sea. A community of 120 farmers owned and occupied Montauk and then had about 9,000 acres of excellent land, and kept 1,500 cattle and 1,400 sheep and 200 horses. The Indians occupied 1,000 acres and were then only about one hundred in number.
The coasting trade with New York city along the shores of Long Island Sound was at that time much more extensive and brisk than it ever has been since the introduction of steamboat and railroad transportation. The tonnage of coasters was not registered as foreign tonnage was, so that it is only
290
THE ENEMY
by estimates that it can now be shown. As a sample of that time we may refer to Smithtown harbor in Suffolk county. There were fourteen vessels of from 30 to 100 tons burthen principally in the trade with New York city. The population of the entire town was then less than 2,000.
The packet communication between New Haven and New York City was not interrupted by the blockading squadron. New Haven was not included in the British blockade orders of May, 1813.
In July, 1813, Com. Hardy sent his compliments to Mr. Holt, the keeper of the lighthouse on Little Gull Island, requesting that it might be extinguish- ed. Mr. Holt returned his compliments saying that nothing but an order from the United States gov- ernment or force could make him extinguish it. A month later Com. Hardy sent a boat ashore and de- stroyed the lamps of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse on Little Gull Island was built in 1806 by the United States. The tower was 56 feet high and the light 74 feet above the water. The light was visible 13 miles distant. It was seven miles beyond Orient Point.
When Sir Thomas M. Hardy took command of the blockading squadron off New York harbor in June, he made his headquarters in Gardiner's Bay and by his honorable treatment of the inhabitants all along the coast of Long Island he won their good opinion and thus was enabled to obtain all the necessary supplies of food, etc., that he desired, always read- ily paying for what he took.
Extract from a letter from Oyster Pond Point, Long Island, dated July 3 :
"This afternoon the enemy landed on Oyster
291
ON LONG ISLAND.
Pond Point. They bought a Mr. Jerome from Plumb Island with them and sent him up as their agent among the inhabitants of the village, with a demand for a number of cattle. They say they will have them peaceably if they can, forcibly if they must, and that if opposed they can land 700 men. There will no doubt be arrange- ments made among the inhabitants to furnish the supply demanded, and the enemy will land some day next week to take their provisions off."
Suffolk county formed the thirty-third brigade of New York militia, composed of four regiments of infantry. There was an artillery company of not more than fifty men. There was a small brick ar- senal at Sag Harbor in which there were four 18- pounders on carriages and some small arms kept. when the war commenced. They were removed to a place of greater safety from the enemy.
Sag Harbor was then the metropolis of Suffolk county. It was a port of entry, had a post office, and a place of considerable trade. There were then about 80 houses. In 1810 the tonnage was 5,000 tons. The coasting trade was also quite extensive. The county at that time had about 25,000 popula- tion.
The entire county was subject to marauding par. ties from the British war vessels, but the com- mands of the officers were to respect private prop- erty and to pay for whatever provisions were taken from residents.
The lighthouses on and about the islands and points were not disturbed excepting on Gull's Is- land.
Sag Harbor was not occupied by the British forces
292
ATTACK ON
and only once attacked. A force of New York State militia was stationed there during the entire war.
While the British fleet under command of Capt. Hardy occupied Gardiner's Bay, in July, 1813, an attempt was made by the enemy to destroy the ship- ping in Sag Harbor and perhaps to plunder the village. To accomplish this a launch and two barges of the enemy, with one hundred men, ap- proached the village by night and landed on the wharf. An alarm was immediately given by the sentry and the guns of the small fort occupied by the militia were turned upon them. This fire be- came at once too hot to be faced with impunity, and the assailants retired with all possible expedition after having set fire to a single sloop. In their dis- orderly retreat they left a number of guns, swords and other arms behind them. The fire they had started was quickly put out, before much damage was done.
The following letter was published in a New York paper :
"SAG HARBOR, July 10th, 1814.
"This day twelve months was the last time and first that the enemy visited us. They are permitted to come ashore and get whatever they choose with- in ten or twelve miles of us. The officers and crews of their war vessels are daily feasting on the rich produce of the American soil and at a liberal price."
Another skirmish took place in August, 1813, on the north shore.
An American cutter, closely pursued by a British man-of-war, was run ashore near Northville, north
293
SAG HARBOR.
of Riverhead, and a determined fight took place be- tween the quickly gathered militia and the pursu- ing barges from the enemy's ship. The militia kept up so hot a fire of light artillery and musketry from behind the bank that the enemy were several times repulsed, and although aided by a heavy can- nonade from the ship were forced to retire. The enemy sailed down to the British fleet off Orient, and was ordered back the next day, reinforced, to renew the fight, and then succeed in capturing the dismantled and sinking prize.
No person was killed on Long Island during the war and only one prisoner taken, he was Joshua Penny, taken from his house in July, 1813, by Com. Hardy for being one of a number of persons con- cerned in fitting out a torpedo vessel to destroy the English vessels as before narrated.
In consequence of the frequent and easy commu- nication of intelligence with the enemy the secre- tary of war, by general orders (July 20th, 1813), di- rected that all vessels or craft that attempted or were suspected of proceeding to or communicating with any station, vessel, squadron or fleet of the enemy be detained. .
. The following is a copy of the order :
" UNITED STATES NAVY. GENERAL ORDERS. "NAVY DEPARTMENT, July 20, 1813.
"The palpable and criminal intercourse held with the enemy's forces, blockading and invading the waters and shores of the United States, is, in a military point of view, an offence of so deep a dye as to call for the vigilant interposition of all the naval officers of the United States.
"This intercourse is not only carried on by for-
294
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
eigners under the specious garb of friendly flags, who convey provisions, water and succor of all kinds (ostensibly destined for friendly ports in the face, too, of a declared and rigorous blockade), di- rect to the fieets and stations of the enemy, with constant intelligence of our naval and military force and preparation, and the means of continuing and conducting the invasion to the greatest possible annoyance of the country ; but the same traffic, in- tercourse, and intelligence is carried on with great subtilty and treachery by profligate citizens, who in vessels ostensibly navigating our own waters from port to port under cover of night, or other circum- stances favorable to their turpitude, find means to convey succor or intelligence to the enemy, and elude the penalty of the laws. This lawless traffic and intercourse is carried on to a great extent, in craft whose capacity exempts them from the regulations of the revenue laws, and from the vigilance which vessels of greater capacity attract.
"I am, therefore, commanded by the President of the United States to enjoin and direct all naval commanding officers to exercise the strictest vigi- lance, and to stop and detain all vessels or craft whatsoever proceeding or apparently intended to pro- ceed towards the enemy's vessels within the waters or hovering about the harbors of the United States ; or towards any station occupied by the enemy with- in the jurisdiction of the United States, from which vessels or craft the enemy might derive succor or intellegence. "W. JONES,
" Secretary United States Navy.
"To the naval commanding officers of stations or vessels of the Navy of the United States."
295
THE ENEMY PROHIBITED.
The following order was also issued :
" ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 5th, 1813.
" All officers of the army of the United States com- municating districts, forts or fortresses, are com- manded to turn back, and in case of any attempt to evade this order, to detain all vessels or river or bay craft, which may be suspected of proceeding to, or of communicating with, any station, vessel, squadron or fleet of the enemy within the waters of the United States.
"By order of the Secretary of War.
"C. K. GARDNER, Asst. Adjt .- Gen."
It is worthy of note that the packet sloop Juno, Capt. John Howard, continued to ply back and forth between New London and New York during the whole war. Her only serious disaster was when she was driven into Saybrook and her mast shot away. The commander had four pieces of cannon on deck and kept well supplied with ammunition and confined himself strictly to a defensive course. It was always observed that the British blockading squadron obtained all the newspapers regularly as soon as published. Probably Capt. Howard knew how they obtained them.
On the evening of the 28th of July, two boats from the Macedonian and two from the United States (the blockaded vessels in New London har- bor), under Lieut. Gallager, made an excursion into the Sound. In the night a small boat under the di- rection of Midshipman Ten Eyke, being separated by a strong wind and tide from the others, landed on Gardiner's Island. In the morning, finding themselves under the arms of the Ramillies, the
296
COM. HARDY REMOVES.
boat was hauled ashore. Soon after a boat contain- ing several officers came ashore from the Ramillies and the officers went to a dwelling house. Mid- shipman Ten Eyke seized the favorable moment, made prisoners of those who were left with the English boat, being a midshipman, master's mate and five seamen, and then with two men pro- ceeded to the house, where he took two lieutenants prisoners, making in all nine men. Finding they were discovered by the Ramillies, the captives were paroled and Mr. Ten Eyke and crew made their escape to Long Island. The succeeding night the other boat took them off.
Com. Hardy left the New London blockading squadron in August, and sailed for Halifax, and Capt. Oliver, of the Valiant, took command.
There were then four 74's, one frigate and two smaller vessels in the squadron. In September it consisted of the Valiant, 74; Acasta, 48 ; Orpheu's, 38 ; and Atalanta, 18.
A despatch from New London on September 1st, stated that the torpedo from New York was chased on Tuesday of the week previous, nine miles by several British boats, but by frequently diving es- caped. The prisoners that were landed on Sunday at New London stated that guard boats were kept continually rowing round the ships during the night.
The many discouraging events to the American arms since the opening of the spring campaign of 1813 produced a melancholy feeling in the nation. In August the president designated that the 9th of September should be observed as a day of "humilia- tion, fasting, and prayer," and for an invocation for Divine help.
297
INSPECTION AT SANDY HOOK.
The clerk of the common council was directed to publish in the several newspapers a request to the citizens to refrain from labor and business on that day.
The common council took no other official no- tice of this day but left it in the hands of those who had assumed the responsibility. The day previous (the 8th) the mayor, recorder and common coun- cil embarked on a boat provided for the purpose, for Spermaceti Cove, below Sandy Hook, to review the flotilla of gunboats stationed there under Com- modore Lewis and to inspect the fortifications and de- fences in that neighborhood. A previous notice had been given of the contemplated visit and the sailors and soldiers were ready to receive the honorable body. The following account of the reception and visit was written at the time :
"The gunboats drawn up in a crescent in Sper- maceti Cove, were handsomely decorated with various colors and made a brilliant appearance. The members of the corporation passed in front of the flotilla, and on landing in the Cove reviewed a fine corps composed of 600 seamen. On approach- ing the right, they were complimented with a dis- charge from the field pieces, the officers saluting as they passed along the line in front. The troops went through their firings by platoons, divisions, etc., after which they performed a variety of manœuvers with a precision which would do credit to any regiment.
"The spectators were exceedingly gratified with the military appearance of these bold tars, whose discipline reflects the highest honor on Com. Lewis
298
THE ENEMY'S VESSELS
and his officers, and the greatest praise is due to the men.
" The visitors next went to Fort Gates at the north side of the Hook, where they were received with the usual military compliments by the battalion on duty at that station, under the command of Capt. Wadsworth.
" While the review were performing, intelligence was received by the commodore of the enemy's ap- proach to this city by way of the Sound. Upon a signal being given the corps instantly embarked with their field pieces, etc., and the flotilla, consisting of twenty-six sail, got under way in an hour and stood up the bay. They passed through Hell Gate in the night and arrived to the eastward of Throgg's Point between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning. At half-past 12 P.M., the headmost British frigate ap- proached within three miles of the flotilla and fired thirty or forty shots. A few shots were returned by the gunboats but at too great a distance to do execution."
The following account appeared in the New York Mercantile Advertiser on Thursday morning, Sept. 9, 1813 :
"Yesterday morning a British frigate and a sloop-of war were at anchor off Rye Neck, about ten miles above New Rochelle, in the middle of the Sound, where they remained at four o'clock in the afternoon becalmed, with six sloops and schooners (their prizes) at anchor astern of them, and several tenders cruising about the Sound, two of which, apparently smacks, were several miles this side of New Rochelle. In the morning, at eleven o'clock, the enemy had nine sloops and schooners at anchor
299
NEAR THE CITY.
astern of them, all of which were supposed to be prizes.
"A gentleman from Mamaroneck informed us that the enemy made thirty prizes on Tuesday after- noon, twenty of which they sent off to the east- ward, and that the same evening they sent their barges ashore in the neighborhood of Mamaroneck and stole from sixty to eighty sheep. A sloop was also chased into Mamaroneck by one of the tenders and escaped without any other damage than a shot through the mainsail. A sloop that had made a harbor in Stamford was cut out by one of the ten- ders, who fired a volley of musketry at several gentlemen who were walking on the beach, but for- tunately did not hit them.
"We are informed that a gun brig and a frigate are cruising about ten miles to the eastward of Rye Neck.
"The inhabitants from Harlem to Stamford are considerably alarmed and the militia have turned out with the greatest alacrity ; they are, however, in want of small arms, artillery and ammunition, which is not to be had in their neighborhood, in consequence of which we understand they have made application to the commanding officer in this city for the necessary supplies, which we presume will be readily granted.
"A company of mounted artillery with two pieces of cannon left this city yesterday afternoon for New Rochelle and arrived at Harlem about sun- down.
" We likewise understand that the gunboat flo- tilla are bound up the Sound, and are confident if they should meet the enemy in a similar situation
300
GREAT ALARM.
to that of yesterday, they could be able to give a very satisfactory account of him."
A battalion of militia from Westchester county was called out.
Another account says :
" The New London blockading squadron on 8th of September came by Long Island Sound to a place within twelve miles of New York city. They cap- tured twenty coasters and took a large quantity of sheep from the land. Commodore Lewis on receiv- ing information of the enemy's movements pro- ceeded up the Sound with twenty-five gunboats to meet them. By 9 o'clock on the 9th he was at Sands' Point within ten miles of the enemy. Two of the British war vessels the Acasta and Atalanta got under way and stood towards them. At one o'clock P.M. the commodore brought his flotilla of gunboats to anchor in Hempstead Bay ready to re- ceive the enemy. The British exchanged ten or fifteen shots at too great a distance to produce any effect and then stood to the eastward and were soon out of sight. The flotilla of gunboats returned to their former station at Sandy Hook."
This caused great commotion and anxiety in the city for several days.
It seems that the enemy had taken that oppor- tunity and the day for the purpose of disturbing the inhabitants in their devotions, as they well knew for what purpose the 9th had been set apart.
Some of the Federalist newspapers called atten- tion to the selections in the Episcopal book of ser- vice for the 9th day of the month as being particu- larly applicable to the condition of affairs at that time.
301
ENEMY AT SANDY HOOK.
In September a small vessel was sent out from Fort Gates, at the Highlands near Sandy Hook, in disguise as a coaster, and succeeded in " surround- ing" one of the British barges after killing several of the crew ; the rest were brought to the city.
In the summer Commodore Lewis sent out the following circular :
" To all owners and masters of vessels :
"I deem it important that they should be in- formed that there is a blockhouse erected at Sper- maceti Cove on which are mounted three pieces of heavy ordnance for the protection of vessels when pursued by the enemy. Also in the event of being so closely pursued by the enemy as to be obliged to beach the vessel, the nearer the vessel can get to that port the sooner she will receive assistance and protection from the flotilla, where a body of men are held in readiness to march at signal warning.
"J. LEWIS,
" Com. United States Flotilla."
This was on the coast below Sandy Hook.
Some of the enemy's war vessels were about Sandy Hook all the time, on the lookout for coast- ers as well as to maintain the blockade. Com. Lewis and his flotilla were constantly on the alert. There were several occasions when the blockhouse at Spermaceti Cove was brought into actual service against the enemy's small craft, when in pursuit of some coasting or fishing smacks.
The following account of an action of that kind was published in the Evening Post on Sept. 13th :
" About 7 o'clock last evening some alarm was experienced in the city at the report of several
302
SKIRMISH AT SANDY HOOK.
heavy guns proceeding from Fort Richmond, at the Narrows. The particulars were not accurately as- certained until this morning when the pilot boat Unicorn, in the employment of the government, came up from the Hook. By her we learn that a British frigate was discovered yesterday afternoon, about 5 o'clock, standing in from the eastward, with the wind south, in chase of a fishing smack, which she pursued until within reach of the guns of the block- house in Spermaceti Cove. As soon as she was judged within reach, a fire was opened upon her from a battery of several 32-pounders in the block- house and from three gunboats. About twenty shots were thrown at her, two of which struck her, and from the confusion discovered on her deck by some gentlemen who were on the top of the lighthouse with glasses viewing the attack, it is supposed much damage was done her. She soon put about and stood out to sea, without having been able to make a prize of the smack. The frigate fired several shots at the blockhouse and gunboats, all of which fell short."
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