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. II > Part 14
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This meeting is called for the purpose of e: abling us to renew our pledge, to support the constitution ; to invigorate the laws ; to aid with our best efforts the administration of our beloved country ; to see that it be not approached by spies and emissaries ; to defend the great interests of the union with our treasure and our blood.
It is our glory and our boast that we are freemen. Our constitution and government are acts of our free and unbiassed choice. They are ours and we will never abandon them.
The citizens are the safeguards of a free State .- Their right to keep and bear arms has never been infringed. We will use these weapons resolutely in support of our privileges ; with these we will man- fully oppose the enemy who shall presume to invade them.
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RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
With these convictions let us make a combined effort. Let some contribute their labor towards the completion of the public works. Let others prac- tice the art of the artillerist or the fusileer. Let others again minister comfort to the wives and chil- dren of those who heroically meet danger in the field. All will thus be animated and united ; and the joyous sentiment pervade every patriotic bosom, that, guarded by the love and valor of the people, the republic is safe !
Resolved, That the citizens here assembled, will to the last extremity, defend their city.
Resolved, That we will unite ourselves in arms with our brethren of the country, and on the first approach of the enemy, make it a COMMON CAUSE.
Resolved, That humbly confiding in the favor of the Almighty, we hope to prove ourselves not un- worthy of that freedom won by the heroes of the revolution-and trust that the enemy they van- quished will receive from us a similar defeat.
Resolved, That we highly approve of the mea- sures for public defence which have been devised by the government of the United States-by his excel- lency, the governor of the State, and by the corpora- tion of this city-and that we will co-operate in car- rying the same into effectual execution.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the citizens generally, to meet as soon as may be practicable, with convenience in their respective wards, for the purpose of electing discreet and efficient committees to promote the execution of the following objects :
1. To complete the voluntary enrollments of per- sons exempted by law from military service.
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NAMES OF COMMITTEE.
2. To encourage the enrollment of seafaring citi- zens for service in the harbor, or as artillerists. And
3. The enrollment of citizens for voluntary labor on the public works.
Resolved, That it be the special duty of the ward committees to provide, under the direction of the corporation of this city, for the relief and protection of the families of such persons as may be absent on public duty, and also, to provide in the best manner practicable, for the protection of such helpless per- sons and their property, as in case of alarm may be desirous of removing into the country.
Resolved, That all associations for military service and for performing labor on the public works, be reported to, and receive their instructions from such officer or officers as have, or may be designated for that purpose.
Resolved, That we will endeavor to promote con- cord and will discountenance all attempts to weaken the patriotic efforts of good citizens.
Resolved, That we will endeavor to discover and subject to the animadversion of the laws, all persons who shall be concerned in any illicit commerce or improper intercourse with the enemy.
Resolved, That Henry Rutgers, Oliver Wolcott, Marinus Willett, Cadwallader D. Colden, John Swartwout, Thomas Morris, John Mills, William Edgar, JR., Richard Riker, Anthony Bleecker, Abraham Bloodgood, Stephen Price, Abraham Stagg, James Lovett, Abraham Dally, William Sampson, John Vanderbilt, Jr., Samuel Tooker, John Hone, David Bryson, Jacob Sherred, Benjamin
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UNITY OF FEELING.
Ferris, William Codman, Rensselaer Havens, and Peter Wilson, SR. be a committee to confer with such committee as may be appointed by the corpo- ration and by the respective wards, and in conjunc- tion with them, to adopt all measures essential to the public safety.
Resolved, That this committee correspond with our fellow-citizens in this and the neighboring States, for the purpose of inviting them to form voluntary associations, similar to those proposed in this city.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and pub- lished in all the public papers of this city.
HENRY RUTGERS, hairman. OOLCOTT WOLCOTT, Secretary.
"During the reading of the above address and res- olutions, the countenance of the citizens indicated the most deep and concentrated feeling ; and at the close, the air was rent with loud and prolonged ac- clamations of approbation and assent. And no sooner was the question of adjournment put and carried, than each citizen retired to his lawful oc- cupation, and the scene of unexampled enthusiasm instantly remained silent and unoccupied," said the Columbian.
This request was readily responded to by the citi- zens of each ward, on the evening of August 11th, by a meeting at a place within each ward respec- tively, previously designated by the Common Coun- cil Committee of Defence, in pursuance of the invi- tation of the two committees of defence, for the pur- pose of enrolling for personal labor, or contributing pecuniary substitute, and to carry into effect their
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HARMONY FOR DEFENCE.
recommendations. At nearly every meeting that evening a committee of prominent citizens in each ward was appointed for that purpose.
All party feuds were in a great measure sus- pended, newspaper editors excluded all acrimonious political discussions. The ward committees ap- pointed to carry into effect the resolutions of the gen- eral meeting were selected from the most respectable of the citizens, without the least regard to the polit- ical party to which the persons selected belonged.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Workers on Fortifications in Brooklyn and at Harlem-Depre- dations by the Enemy-Bombardment of Stonington-Brit- ish Fleet in Gardiner's Bay-Report of the Progress of the Defences Around New York City-Attempt to Capture the City by Water Temporarily Abandoned-The Enemy's War Vessels Move to the South-Baltimore and Washington in Danger-Enthusiastic Volunteer Workers on Defence Still Continue in New York and Brooklyn.
HIS call for voluntary labor on the fortifications, which were little more than earthworks, was enthusiasti- cally responded to by almost all per- sons in every condition of life. Those that did not labor contributed largely to defray necessary expenses. Each successive day parties of volunteers, to the number of from five hun- dred to one thousand, labored on the works in Brook- lyn and Harlem, on the earthworks. Volunteers came from neighboring counties and from New Jer- sey, and were in clubs, schools, churches, societies, fire, military companies, factory hands and repre- sented townships and counties.
The Committee of Defence announced on the 10th of August, that a contribution of $1.25 would be regarded as equal to one day's work on the fortifica-
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WORKERS ON DEFENCES.
tions around New York, and would be applied in that way.
There were many money contributions direct to the Committee of Defence, and some were to the ward committees designated for that purpose. On the 12th of August it was announced that the banks and banking institutions in the city had contributed $250 each to aid in building defences.
The committee soon found that the superin- tendence of the works, the arranging of fatigue par- ties, and the various other concerns incident to the defence of the city, demanded nearly the whole of their time and attention, and they met daily at the City Hall from eleven to twelve o'clock from Aug- ust 11th, while the completion of the works was progressing.
Minutes of their proceedings, showing the number of voluntary workers on the defences, and where they were from, and what particular body or class they represented, and also the amounts voluntarily contributed, and the names of the donors, and also a general statement of the expenditures for the de- fences. These minutes were filed with the clerk of the Common Council, as part of their records.
The next day after the meeting the laborers on Fort Greene were the tanners and curriers, the Veteran Corps of Artillery, a society of Plumbers, A large force of military exempts from the Second Ward, Major Dunscomb's Battalion of Governor's Guards, Captain Swain's company of artillery of the Third Artillery Regiment, and others.
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WORKERS ON DEFENCES.
August 12th. The committee received tenders of service from the regiment of horse artillery, the city watch, gentlemen of the bar and law students, the inhabitants of Greenwich Village, the citizens of the vicinity of Spring street, New York, the Indepen- dent Blues, Mr. E. Ludlow, and 100'masons and la- borers in his employ, a company of 32 cartmen, 200 journeymen house carpenters, 400 citizens of the Eighth Ward, carpenters employed at St. Peter's Church, Mr. Uppington, gold beater, and 14 men em- ployed by him.
August 13th. The following further offers were received : Two parties of the city watch, 60 cart- men, Fire Engine Company No. 26, 200 journeymen printers, 1,000 "Patriotic Sons of Erin," 30 pilots, Col. Beekman M. Van Beuren's regiment, com- pany of artillery, 182 workmen employed by Ward & Tallman, 150 free colored people, 70 members of the Asbury African Church (colored).
It was announced that nearly five thousand persons were on the list to work the following week.
The following notice was published :
" The Committee of Defence earnestly recom- mend to the working parties that they would make preparations to rendezvous at Beekman's or Catherine Slip ferry each day at half-past five o'clock in the morning, the hour heretofore ap- pointed (being seven o'clock) having been found inconvenient, as the working parties are unable, owing to delays at the ferries and other causes, to reach the scene of action until the cooler part
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DEPREDATIONS BY THE ENEMY.
of the day is past and the weather becomes very warm.
" JACOB MORTON, Secretary."
While the means of defences were being strength- ened and men were being drilled and marshalled, ready to take a stand wherever most needed, the enemy were gathering at many points, evidently for an attack.
The proximity of the enemy, and his depredations at various points along the coast, had a tendency to keep the people awake as to the possibility of an immediate attack.
Intelligence of the bombardment of Stonington had not reached New York when the meeting at the City Hall Park took place. It was not known in New York City until the 12th. It caused little comment.
On that day it was reported that on the morning of the 9th of August Commodore Hardy appeared off Stonington with a squadron consisting of the Ramillies, seventy-four ; Pactolus, forty-four ; bombship Terror, the brig Dispatch, twenty-two guns, and numerous barges and launches, each carrying a carronade, and the latter prepared to throw rockets to burn the town.
The attack commenced on the evening of the 9th, and was continued for the greater part of three days and nights. The enemy attempted to land in their launches, but were driven back. A great number of rockets, balls and shells were thrown into the town.
Several other small towns and places along the
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THIE ENEMY'S FLEET
eastern coast north of the Potomac were attacked by the British about this time.
The British squadrons that sailed from Bordeaux under command of General Ross, and the one under Rear Admiral Malcolm that sailed from the Medi- terranean near the end of May before mentioned, arrived at Bermuda, the place of general rendezvous, the last part of July. They there found Vice-Ad- miral Cochrane waiting their arrival to direct their future naval operations.
On the 3d of August the whole of the Bordeaux and about half the Mediterranean armament, with an additional squadron then at Bermuda, compris- ing a fleet of sixty vessels under Vice-Admiral Cochrane, with a land force of six thousand men commanded by Major-General Ross, sailed from Bermuda for Chesapeake Bay, and entered it on the 10th of August. This was known in New York a few days later. The other division of the Mediter- ranean armament proceeded to join Sir George Pre- vost in Canada. Before that time Rear Admiral Cockburn, with a portion of his fleet, appeared off Sandy Hook and at the mouth of Long Island Sound in Gardiner's Bay.
On Sunday, August 7th, the enemy's vessels in sight in Gardiner's Bay were two ninety-gun ships, four seventy-fours, four frigates and one brig, be- sides many others off New London.
There was also reported active movements of the enemy along the frontier of New York. There was an ominous quiet in the demeanor and movements of the main forces of the enemy that led to the firm
-
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THREATEN NEW YORK.
belief that they were waiting for something-for the perfection of some plan.
Whether a concerted attack was to be made at different points or only upon the seaboard at New York or Baltimore, and then on to Philadelphia and Washington, was conjecture, with strong circum- stantial evidence to sustain it.
The President issued a proclamation, dated August 8th, calling an extra session of Congress to meet at Washington, on September 19th. This proclamation was not known in New York until the 16th of August. It was no surprise.
In an oration on the life, character and services of Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, delivered by Rev. Peter J. Van Pelt, on the 23d of June, 1843, in the church at Tompkinsville, Staten Island, the speaker stated that in August, 1814, he was chaplain of the State troops at New York, and that it was commu- nicated to him confidentially by an honorable officer 'in our army, that Admiral Cockburn had sent word to a lady friend and relative, to whom both were related, residing in Broadway, that on a certain day he hoped to have the honor to dine with her at her house, as he expected to be in command of the city of New York ; and said the officer, "He will attempt and do it if possible, for I know his daring, determined disposition and character." Mr. Van Pelt hastened with this intelligence to Governor Tompkins and Major-General Lewis, and such or- ders were issued and such vigilance and preparation made. by those in authority, that the popular be- lief was that a crisis was approaching. The call for
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REPORT ON DEFENCES.
help on the fortifications was more earnest. Com- modore Decatur, with a naval force of one thousand men, was placed in command of the harbor, to co- operate with the land forces.
The Committee of Defence, on Monday, the 15th of August, made the following report of the progress of the works for defence :
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE MADE AND AGREED TO IN COMMON COUNCIL, AUGUST 15, 1814.
The Committee of Defence respectfully report to the Common Council, that in pursuance of instruc- tions from the Board, they immediately requested Brigadier-General Swift of the corps of Engineers, to furnish them as soon as possible, with the plan of such additional works of defence as might be deemed necessary by him to place this city in a state of complete defence. To this request that valuable officer gave the most prompt attention. On being furnished by him with a plan, the Committee made an appeal to the patriotism of their fellow-citizens to furnish voluntary aid in the erection of the works. The appeal was answered by them with one heart and one mind. Prepared for this appeal by the ad- dress of the Common Council, every one was anxious to offer his services on the interesting oc- casion. Volunteer associations pressed forward with their overtures, all anxious to be engaged in the honorable employment of self-defence on the earliest day that could be appointed. In these overtures, the Committee remarked with heartfelt pleasure, that there appeared to be no distinction of
215
REPORT ON DEFENCES.
party or situation in life. Citizens of every politi- cal party seemed to vie with each other only in efforts to protect our city from invasion by the enemy. They all appeared to meet on the ground of self-defence as a common ground.
That the city must be gallantly defended was the universal opinion, and every individual felt it necessary to spare no pains, no means within his power, to deter from, or to repel any hostile at- tempt. The rich and the poor have alike proffered their services, and have wrought together on the same works, intermingling their labor with the most patriotic emulation. Those who were unable to give their personal labor to the common cause, have voluntarily come forward and contributed liberally in money for the employment of substi- tutes. And many of these fellow-citizens have given both money and personal labor with alacrity.
The committee think proper to mention these facts as honorable to their fellow-citizens in the highest degree, and to show to the corporation that they have not calculated in vain on the patriotic spirit of their constituents, and their disposition in every respect to obey and carry into effect the sug- gestions and recommendations of the constituted authorities. The committee think that from the confidence the citizens appear to have in the zeal of the Corporation, and the ardor they evince in sec- onding their efforts, the proposed works will be nearly, if not quite completed, by the voluntary labor and contribution of the citizens. The com-
216
REPORT ON DEFENCES.
mittee regret, that, in a time like this, when the daily labor of their poorer fellow-citizens is so im- portant to themselves and their families, our situa- tion should be such as to place them under a neces- sity of devoting that labor to the public service. They hope that this consideration will induce those who are more able in their circumstances to con- tribute more liberally, to enable the Committee to employ hired laborers, when the claims of their families may compel those patriotic citizens to dis- continue their gratuitous labors.
The works in the rear of Brooklyn were com- menced on Tuesday last, by the officers of Briga- dier-General Mapes' brigade, and the artillery com- pany of Captain Andrew Bremner, who had the honor of breaking the ground. On each successive day, parties of volunteer citizens to the amount of from five hundred to upward of one thousand a day have labored on the works. The spirit of volunteering personal labor seems still to be ardent, many thousands are now on the lists of the committee waiting their turn
for doing duty. Voluntary contributions to the amount of about $3,500, have been received by the Committee from public institutions, and indi- viduals residents in the city and abroad, as a com- mutation for personal service, and to furnish the committee with the means of defraying necessary expenses.
The inhabitants of Kings County have, in a very laudable manner, volunteered their services, and the Committee understand, that the yeomanry
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REPORT ON DEFENCES,
of our sister state. New Jersey, are unsolicitedly, making preparations to tender their services.
The Committee have met daily to superintend the business committed to their charge.
The Committee have learned with great satisfac- tion, that the Secretary of the Navy has assigned the command of the naval forces in our harbor to Commodore Decatur, who is instructed co-operate with the land forces in its defence. The high repu- tation of this gallant officer has inspired great con- fidence in our fellow-citizens, and the numerous corps of seamen and marines under his command, will form no inconsiderable acquisition to our means of defence. (The following, originally in the re- port is erased. "This officer is in possession of a plan of securing this harbor from naval attack, which at a small expense, will, in his opinion, se- cure it from any naval force whatever. The general features of the plan have already been communi- cated by him and the Committee." * The report as finally made then goes on) "From the confidence which the Committee have in his skill and judg- ment, and which they are persuaded is also cher- ished by the public, they do not hesitate to recom- mend, that they be authorized to furnish him with the means of executing such additional plans of
* The part of this report that was erased undoubtedly referred to torpedoes. At that time there was a line of Fulton's torpe- does at the Narrows, and at Throgg's Neck and at other places in Long Island Sound.
*
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WORKERS ON DEFENCES.
defence as he may conceive essential to the public security."
NICHOLAS FISH, PETER MESIER, GIDEON TUCKER, GEORGE BUCKMASTER, JOHN NITCHIE.
In their minutes on that day is the following entry :
"Aug. 15, 1814. Resolved, That the members of the Common Council, together with the officers of the Board, will assemble on Wednesday next at six o'clock A. M. at Beekman Slip Wharf and proceed to Brooklyn to labor at the works there erecting for the defence of the city."
The Brooklyn ferry company charged only half fare for the volunteer workers on defences in Brooklyn. New York City paid that.
The horse boat Williamsburg was gratuitously offered for the purpose of conveying from Corlaer's Hook to the Navy Yard such persons from that part of the city as may tender their services from day to day for work on the fortifications on Brooklyn Heights, starting in the morning and returning in the evening.
In 1814 the ferriage to Brooklyn was raised from two cents to four cents for each passenger. To Williamsburg, six cents, to Jersey City it was twelve and one-half cents, and to Hoboken it was six cents.
On August 16th all the daily newspapers in the city suspended operations and their employees and
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WORKERS ON DEFENCES.
those connected with the business worked on the fortifications in Brooklyn. The force was seven hundred strong .*
Among the laborers on the fortifications on Brooklyn Heights on August 17th were seventy six of the inhabitants of Paterson, N. J., in military dress, under the direction of Col. Abraham Godwin, an old Revolutionary officer. They arrived at Jer- sey ferry at an early hour in the morning, having walked all the way, and between six and seven o'clock passed across the city to Beekman Slip, with martial music and colors flying. They excited the liveliest feelings of patriotism and enthusiasm in the spectators.
Colonel Godwin, in behalf of his company, after- wards acknowledged with gratitude the favorable reception they met with from the corporation, and also the high respect paid them by the gentlemen of the New York Bar and others who worked with them on that day, and the refreshments furnished them by Messrs. Rider & Clark, of New York City.
A company of ladies from New York City went to Brooklyn, and forming a procession at the ferry, led by the music of Tammany Society, increased in numbers as they went to Fort Green, to between two hundred and three hundred, where they per- formed an hour's work on the fortifications amid the plaudits of the citizens on the ground. Several patriots of the Revolution were among them, and a
* At that time the New York Typographical Society had the follow ing officers : Peter Force, president; Andrew Mather, vice- president; Henry McKee, treasurer; Joseph Broderick, secretary.
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ARRIVAL OF MILITIA.
lady seventy-two years of age wheeled a barrow of earth with great activity.
The works were progressing at Harlem. On the morning of the 18th the members of the Common Council, with two hundred men employed by the corporation at Bellevue, who volunteered their ser- vices, commenced a fort at McGowan's Pass and called it Fort Clinton. The ground was broken under a Federal salute from Capt. Messerve's troops of flying artillery.
The steam ferryboat York started from Cortlandt street slip for Manhattanville with a load of passen- gers who had volunteered their services for work on the fortifications at Harlem Heights. On their way they met five sloops loaded with militia on their way to the city from up the river. There were about two thousand of them, and they were that day stationed in the neighborhood of Harlem Heights. The first night they were without tents and without straw.
On the 18th the telegraph signal on West Battery (Castle Clinton) announced that five of the enemy's war vessels were off Sandy Hook. This excited no alarm. One of the newspapers remarked the next day that it would take five times five vessels at Sandy Hook to cause alarm in the city.
On the 19th the blockading squadron of the enemy off Sandy Hook ordered all the smacks and boats off the fishing banks, with the assurance that any that should be found there after twenty-four hours would be destroyed.
A few days after this it was reported that five
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HARBOR DEFENCES.
barges of the enemy attempted to land at Hemp- stead, but found the tide too low and gave up the design. There was probably no truth in the rumor.
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