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 19
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With all the money that had been asked for at their disposal, the committee of defence wished to remind citizens that it was still necessary not to allow their zeal to abate. The following notice was published on August 30th :
293
VOLUNTEER WORKERS.
"NEW YORK, August 29, 1814.
" As the state of our affairs has become more alarming, the Committee of Defence are solicitous to urge on the completion of the works of defence. They will, therefore, enlarge their working parties, particularly at Harlem, and gladly receive the offers of services from companies of their patriotic fellow-citizens for that place and Brooklyn.
" NICHOLAS FISH, " Chairman."
The Common Council committee of defence sent Messrs. E. W. King and J. W. Brackett, of the Com- mon Council, to Washington to confer with the national authorities as to how the money should be expended upon the fortifications. As it was ultimately to be refunded by the general govern- inent, this was necessary, so as to avoid any ques- tion about it in the future. In the meantime the works were being constructed. The moonlight workers before mentioned met at moonrise on the evening of the 30th August, and proceeded under Major Hunter, in a body six hundred strong, to Brooklyn Heights, and worked until sunrise on the 31st. They were followed a few hours later by Tammany Society. The following account is from the National Advocate of September 1st :
" At five in the morning yesterday the members of Tammany Society began to gather in front of their hall, to work on the defences at Brooklyn. At six o'clock the society being formed to the number of 1,500, and the Columbian Society to the number of two hundred, marched four abreast, preceded by
294
VOLUNTEER WORKERS
a band, to Beekman slip to take the steam ferry to Brooklyn. As not all of them could be carried at one time, the remainder marched off to Catharine slip and took the horse boat to Brooklyn, where they worked with diligence and activity until half-past five o'clock, when work was discontinued, the line of march was formed, and they returned to New York in the same order that they had in the morning de- parted. They marched to Tammany .Hall and were disbanded. After three cheers each man re- tired to his home.
" We must not omit to state that the whole of the provisions and liquor for this great body of men was provided by the liberality of Mr. Matthew L. Davis, president of Tammany Society."
Some of the other newspapers stated that Tam- many had only turned out one thousand men and the Columbian Society one hundred and fifty men on that occasion. The labor was performed at Fort Green.
The names of the committee of the Columbian Society were James S. Martin, Abraham Rich, R. Cunningham and Thomas Jeremiah.
The Masons of New York city gave a day's ser- wice at Brooklyn on 1st September. They were then very popular and numerous in the city of New York. De Witt Clinton was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State. The lodges assembled at sunrise in front of city hall and with Mayor Clinton at their head, about one thousand in number, pro- ceeded in Masonic form of procession to the scene of Jabor. Their work was done principally at what
295
ON THE FORTIFICATIONS.
was afterwards called Fort Masonic, in honor of those who labored in its construction. Each lodge provided its own refreshments. Other Masonic lodges co-operated.
On this occasion an elderly gentleman, one of the order (I could not ascertain his name), who had two sons (his only children) in the service of his country, one of them highly distinguished during the war for his wounds and his bravery, sung the following stanzas while the lodges were at refreshment :
" Hail children of light whom the charities send, Where the bloodhounds of Britain are shortly expected.
Who, your country, your wives, your firesides to defend,
On the summit of Brooklyn have ramparts erected.
Firm and true to the trade, Continue your aid
Till the topstone with shouting triumphant is laid. The Free and Accepted will never despair, Led on by their worthy Grand Master and Mayor.
" For me whose dismissal must shortly arrive, To heaven I prefer this my fervent petition,
May I never America's freedom survive,
Nor behold her disgraced by a shameful sub- mission.
And though righteously steeled, If at last she must yield,
May my sons do their duty, and die in the field, But the Free and Accepted will never despair,
Led on by their worthy Grand Master ard Mayor."
296
VOLUNTEER WORKERS.
On the same day the Hamilton Society, on its fifth anniversary, worked at Harlem Heights. Dinner was provided on the grounds free of expense.
A notice was published on 3d September stating that on and after September 5th, dinner for the workers at Harlem Heights would be on the table at twelve o'clock. The expense was met by contribu- tions by the citizens.
The students of Columbia College, one hundred strong, worked at Harlem on the 8th September. The Iron Greys worked on the 10th September. .
The volunteer workers at Harlem became so few, and the steamboat took so long, that the boat ceased to run there on the 10th September ; this, of course, greatly lessened the attendance. Brooklyn was so near that nearly all the volunteer laborers went there.
The fortifications were rapidly approaching com- pletion. On 31st August it was reported that McGowan's Pass was nearly completed. On Sep- tember 3d Fort Green was so far completed that Com- modore Decatur took command there. Fort Swift was finished and Fort Lawrence was nearly done.
By the middle of September Fort Green had 800 feet of barracks, two-thirds with double rooms, nearly ready for troops, and it would soon be con- nected with a chain of redoubts and intrenchments to Fort Swift and to Washington Bastion, on the Jamaica road (Fulton street), near Court street.
On September 14th the following questions relat- ing to the situation at New York were published in the National Advocate :
297
CONSIDERATION OF DEFENCES.
" What would have been the advantage of a line of telegraph from the Patuxent to Washington, when the enemy landed and took up his line of march for that city ?
"What would be the consequence if the enemy should proceed up the Sound and arrive at Throgg's Neck before any alarm should be given ? Is it prac- ticable ? If so, why not have a line of telegraph as far as New London ? Why not have tar barrels for alarm on all the neighboring heights to call all the country en masse when necessary ? Will or. will not videttes cost more than telegraphs ? Is it not of great . importance to get information as rapidly as possi- ble ?
" Would it not be of the utmost consequence that the commanding generals of New York and Phila- delphia should have an arrangement for the pur- pose of succoring each city in case of an attack ? Could not wagons and horses in each city be classed and numbered for the purpose of transporting an army of five thousand men in haste from city to city?"
" Would it not be well to have all the horses and wagons on the two great roads between Philadel- phia and New York numbered to serve as relays ? And telegraphs erected so as to notify the cities in ten minutes of the approach of the enemy ?
"Would it not be well to turn the light-house at Sandy Hook into a tower immediately and finish the block houses at said place ? Is it not absolutely necessary to have more boats at the Hook to throw troops across to or from the Highlands, and without delay ?
298
CONSIDERATION OF DEFENCES.
"Cannot the enemy land at Flushing Bay and march to the Williamsburgh Heights without pass- ing the strong works at Brooklyn ? Is the distance eight miles, and can they not fire the city from Williamsburgh Heights with rockets ? Will not the enemy avoid the works above mentioned and land either on Staten Island or at Gravesend Bay or both ? What would be the consequence ? Can our forts at Staten Island defend themselves in the rear ? And would it not be well to make the barracks in the redoubts in rear of the works on Staten Island of logs, that they may be rendered impervious to musket balls ?
" Is it intended to sink ships to prevent the pass of the enemy ? If so, how many will it take, and where are they to besunk ? Are they to be sunk between the middle and west banks at the Narrows ? Will it not require one hundred vessels to cover the pass ? Is it not out of reach of any battery ? Can the enemy not take them up, or rather displace one at their leisure under cover of their ships' fire, and although one hundred are necessary to obstruct their pass, will not the displacing of one open a sufficient pass for the enemy ?
" Will not a line of battle ships, before wind and tide, crack any one of the vessels when sunk and make a pass, and thereby dispense with trouble and delay ?
" If it is determined to obstruct the pass by sinking ships, would it not be better to sink them opposite the Hook battery ? Is the only objection to that, that the enemy will take the Hook and command
299
CONSIDERATION OF DEFENCES.
the pass ? If that be all, would it not be better than to sink the ships and make the Hook impregnable by numbers and blockhouses and oblige the enemy to land on the outer beach should he make an at- tack ?
" Is it not difficult to land on the outer beach ? Does it not happen that for the space of eight or ten days successively it is impracticable to land with troops ?
" Would not seven thousand men from Jersey, to- gether with the flotilla force, prevent any force from landing at the Hook ? If so, would not the enemy be reduced to almost one point of attack on this city, and our force on Staten Island and Long. Island Heights become a disposable one, to be thrown to any given point, and would not all Jersey be protected ? Otherwise, the towns of New Bruns- wick, Elizabeth, Newark, Rahway, etc., etc., would be exposed.
" What would be the effect if the enemy should · get possession of Sandy Hook, and bring his whole force into the bay to Winter ? Could he be dispos- sessed of it by any force which would be brought against him ?
" Would the Government not be under the neces- sity of maintaining a garrison of twenty thousand men in and about New York and Jersey during the Winter as well as Summer ?
" Would not the enemy keep us on the alert every flood tide and favorable wind during the cold as. well as the warm season, by being in a situation to. do so ?
300
MR. ASTOR LOANS CANNON.
"If this be true, would it not be better to render the Hook impregnable and the channel impassable immediately by sinking ships and increasing the number of torpedoes ?"
In August John Jacob Astor, Joshua Barker and Jenkins & Havens offered to loan the committee of defence several cannon for the defence of the harbor. This was gladly accepted. Those offered by Messrs. Jenkins & Havens were part of the armament of the privateer brig General Armstrong, before men- tioned (ante Vol I., p. 124). She had been in the port of New York for some time, and was now about to start on another cruise. She was still . owned by Jenkins & Havens and Thomas Farmar On the former cruise she had carried nineteen guns and one hundred and fifty men. But now, by loan- ing the city many of her cannon, she could still do effective work as a privateer, and with less valuable risks. Therefore twelve long nines of her guns were taken off. She was equipped with six long nines and a " long tom," a forty-two pounder, and with a crew of ninety men under Captain Reid was ready to sail.
Her officers were: Captain, Samuel C. Reid ; first lieutenant, Fred. A. Worth ; second lieutenant, Alex O. Williams ; third lieutenant, Robert John- son ; sailing master, Benj. Starks ; quartermaster, Bazilla Hammond ; captain of marines, Robert E. Allen ; prize masters, Thomas Parsons, James Davis, Eliphalet Sheffield, Peter Tyson.
The letter of instructions from Messrs. Jenkins & Havens, agents, to Captain Reid was as follows :
301
A PRIVATEER SAILS.
"NEW YORK, 3d Sept., 1814.
"CAPT. SAMUEL C. REID :
"The private armed brig-of-war, General Arm- strong, under your command, being now ready for a cruise, it becomes necessary for us to furnish instructions thereto. In doing this, we do not mean to debar you the privilege of exercising your discre- tion in the choice of a station, but we recommend, as in our opinion being the most likely of affording objects for enterprise and profit, that you stretch off to Madeira, where you will be most likely to intercept the Brazil convoys, and should you be successful in falling in with vessels, finish your cruise there.
"If, on the contrary, you cannot succeed in capturing vessels enough, and of sufficient value to man, we would recommend you to go through the Cape de Verde Islands and fill up your water, and from thence on the coast of Brazil. The prizes you may order for the United States, we think will be best to be ordered direct for New York or Wilming- ton, and in the event of their safe arrival at any port in the United States, you will direct them to write to us immediately on arrival, that we may send on a confidential person to take charge of the property, in preference to appointing agents at different places.
"On your return to the United States, should you have any prisoners on board, take care to secure them until they are delivered to the proper officer in order to obtain the bounty. Hoping that your cruise terminate successfully and honorably to
.
302
CAPT. SAMUEL C. REID.
yourself, officers and crew, and your country, we are
Your assured friends,
" JENKINS & HAVENS, Agents.
"P. S .- Be very particular in strictly prohibiting- any plunder or depredations on neutrals or other vessels."
On the 9th September Captain Reid ran the blockade, and on the same night after leaving port he was chased by a British frigate and a ship of the line. At noon the next day they gave up the chase. On the 12th, Captain Reid exchanged a few shots with a British man-of-war brig, and proceeded on his course. On the 26th he came to anchor in the port of Fayal, which was then under the dominion of Portugal. The details of her subsequent battle and her destruction by Captain Reid to prevent. capture by the enemy need not be detailed here. The payment for her loss was for many years before Congress and the subject of much diplomatic corre- spondence. But her owners never recovered any- thing for it.
After the destruction of the General Armstrong Captain Reid returned to New York. After peace was declared the owners of the General Armstrong and other citizens of New York desired to give Cap- tain Reid a testimonial of their regard for his gal- lant defence of the vessel. An elegant service of silver was made for the occasion. It consisted of a large silver pitcher, with an emblematic engraving of the action and a suitable inscription thereon, also- a silver teapot, sugar bowl, milk ewer, slop bowl, and two silver tumblers, all made in the best man-
303
CAPT SAMUEL C. REID.
ner. The presentation took place in Tammany Hall, in the presence of a great number of citizens, and an address was delivered by Mayor John Fer- guson appropriate to the event. Captain Reid died in New York city, January 28, 1861, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
.
CHAPTER XL.
Military Organizations in the City-Militia Uniforms-Station of Troops-New Jersey Militia-Dissatisfaction Among New York Troops-Riotous Conduct-Military Punishments.
HE organization of independent com- panies and battalions in the city, which had been somewhat dormant after the first year of the war, was now in the flush of military ardor, more as a matter of necessity than of free will, for it was now apparent that all would be or might be required at a moment's warning to help defend their homes. Some of the most famous of these organizations have been frequently mentioned before.
The "'Iron Greys," called so because of their uni- form, was a company of infantry under Capt. Samuel Swartwout. The New York " Hussars" was a troop of cavalry under Capt. William Craig. Abraham Lott was first lieutenant and John A. King second lieutenant. The Neptune Corps of Sea Fencibles was under Capt. Alexander Coffin. Another corps of Sea Fencibles was under Capt. James T. Leonard, of the United States Navy, and
*
305
THE "IRON GREYS"
was composed of ship masters, mates, pilots, sea- men and others.
About that time Fitz-Green Halleck composed a poem on the " Iron Greys," to be sung to the tune of " Adams and Liberty." It was published in the New York Gazette. The last one of the six stanzas of which it consists is as follows :
" All hail to the band who like Spartans have joined
Heart and hand to repel the assaults of aggression,
Inspired by one soul, and informed by one mind,
They will check by their deeds the inroads of oppression .
May glory emblaze, in the liveliest rays,
The patriotic skill of the true "Iron Greys,"
And gratitude honor the worth of the brave
With a wreath for his brow and a tear for his grave."
The Old Butcher Troop was cavalry, all composed of butchers, excepting a cartman named Brom oush, and was under the command of Capt. John Perrin. Some of them were drafted men and the bal ince composed of volunteers. It was ordered into service at the Wallabout, where it performed three months' duty. They were attached to the command of Gen. Jacob Odell, of Westchester County. Their dress was a blue short-tail coat, trimmed with silver lace, which cost $60 ; buckskin breeches, cost $15 ; long boots, cost $15 or $20 ; a leather cone cap, with falling or hanging red horse hair, cost $20.
The following appear among the independent or-
·
306
CITY MILITARY COMPANIES.
ganizations : Veteran Corps of Artillery, Capt. Geo. W. Chapman ; Major Smith's Battalion of Artillery (Ninth Regiment) ; Major Dunscomb's Battalion of Governor's Guards ; Lieut .- Col. G. A. Bogart's Horse or Flying Artillery ; Independent Greys, Geo. Richards, captain ; Lieut .- Col. James Warner, one Regiment of Horse Artillery; New York Exempt Artillery No. 1, Capt. Wm. Leycraft ; First Ward Exempt Company of Artillery, Capt. John E. Seaman ; Sixth Ward Exempt Company of Artillery, Capt. R. Hodge ; City Guards, Capt. George As- bridge ; Republican Greens, Lieut .- Col. Charles Eagleson ; Company of Riflemen, organized Sep- tember, 1814, for three months, Capt. James G. King, First Lieutenant John C. Hamilton, Second Lieutenant Phillip Rhinelander.
J. W. Jarvis attempted to raise a regiment of riflemen.
The Governor authorized Armand Lavaud to raise a corps of Horse Rangers, to be attached to the mih- tary guard in the city.
The dress of some of the militia was almost fan- tastic. In one day a company of cavalry in red, from New Jersey, crossed the city to work on the fortifications in Brooklyn, and a company in green and one in blue did similar service.
The uniform for the musicians in the Governor's Guards was : A Polish cap covered with scarlet cloth and edged with black velvet, white feather ; scarlet coatee, single breasted, with small skirts, black stripes in front, with black stripes on the skirt and three rows of artillery buttons in front ;
307
THE "SEA FENCIBLES."
pantaloons of white drilling, worn over boots, with six bell buttons on the legs; black neck stock, black morocco belts and bright sabres.
The regular "Sea Fencibles," organized the first year of the war, whose name became so familiar to New Yorkers during the war, was a body of volun- teers composed of sailors and boatmen raised in the city for the term of one year, and were continued during the war. They were placed under the com- mand of Commander Jacob M. Lewis (commonly called Commodore).
The United States gunboats, about forty of them stationed at New York, were detached from the navy and put under Commander Lewis. The officers of the boats retained their places as if in the navy, and received additional pay from the State during the time they were in actual service. They were all under the direction of the commander of the third military district. They were sometimes called " marine militia."
Many of those above mentioned were mustered into the service in September as independent organi- zations or were amalgamated in other bodies. There were a large number of unauthorized nominal organizations that practiced drilling, etc., but they had no arms or accoutrements, and never held any commissions. Such were the College Greens, being students of Columbia College, and many other smaller bodies. In case of an attack they would probably have been assigned to duty.
A spirited address to Irishmen appeared in some of the New York papers, signed by Messrs. Wm. James
308
APPEAL TO IRISHIMEN.
MacNeven and Wm. Sampson, calling on their countrymen to organize a corps for three months' service. The following is an extract :
" Our appeal is to the constant, our call is on the brave ! Such only are invited whose hearts can an- swer to the call ; broken like the rest in fortune, we have neither bribe nor patronage to offer, nor anything to show but the dangers of the field. Nor shall we solicit or cajole. Zeal and affection must be the common stock ; with these qualities. the poor is rich enough, without them the rich are too poor. We have no interest but the safety of our (adopted) country ; no ambition but to march with its defenders. Thrice happy if in doing so we avenge the wrongs of our dear native land."
The regiment called the "Republican Greens " was composed of Irishmen.
The cost of a uniform was of considerable conse- quence at that time. Captain Asbridge proposed that his company or regiment should differ from other military bodies in the economy of dress. The following was regarded as a "cheap, neat and becoming uniform " for said organization :
A blue broadcloth roundabout, narrow rolling collar ; single breasted, buttoned in front with bell buttons, a row each side extending to the top of the shoulder, with one on each side the collar ; the cost about $15 ; beaver cap, straight crown, about nine inches high, helmet point, diminishing gradually towards the back, leaving there only half an inch brim ; a waving red plume, the staff of which sup- ported by a stripe of broad gold lace running from
309
COST OF MILITARY DRESS.
the base or rim of the hat and forming a cockade near the top, with a narrow band of lace ; cost about $10 : cartouche box covered with red morocco, and a red belt around the waist ; cost about $5 : yellow nankeen pantaloons, black neck handker- chief, boots.
The cost of a uniform for privates in the United States Army in May, 1814, was as follows: In- fantry. $36.29 ; Artillery, $36.51 ; Dragoons. 854 .- 33 ; Light Artillery, $36.94 ; Riflemen, $41.21.
The uniform in use in the regular army has been before described. That did not include the rifle regiments. On 17th March, 1814, the uniform of the non-commissioned officers, privates and mu- sicians of rifle regiments was prescribed as fol- lows :
Short coat of gray cloth, single breasted. flat yel- low buttons, which exhibit a bugle surrounded by stars with the number of the regiment within the curve of the bugle, one row of ten buttons in front, three on each sleeve, and three on each skirt length- wise, with blind buttonholes of black twist braid in herring-bone form.
Waistcoat of gray cloth, with sleeves of the same, rising two inches above the ankle joint. and not higher.
Cap of leather, with a plate and design similar to that of the butting, and a short green pompon in front.
For field or active service the officers' uniforms were like those of the privates excepting as to quality. On other occasions they were permitted
310
ARTILLERY IN CITY FORTS.
to wear the uniform of the artillery except as to the buttons, the position of them, etc., which were the same as the field coat.
Epaulets of gold.
Sabres yellow mounted for officers and non-com- missioned officers.
We have before seen that the men in General Morton's brigade were permitted to be quartered at their homes. As they were nearly all residents of New York city, this was a matter of great con- venience to them, as well as saving of expense and labor in providing camp accommodations for them if necessary.
They were assigned to duty as follows :
" FIRST DIVISION NEW YORK DETACHED MILITIA. " DIVISION ORDERS.
"NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 1814.
" The second regiment of General Mor- ton's brigade and Major Dunscomb's battalion of the same brigade will take charge of the West Bat- tery (Castle Clinton).
" The battalions commanded by Majors Forbes and Smith of the same brigade will take charge of the North Battery (Red Fort).
" The Third Regiment of the same will take charge of Fort Gansevoort.
" A captain's guard at least will always be kept in each fortress.
"The regiments commanded by Colonel Harsen and Col. J. O. Bogert will have charge of the park of artillery when formed. The men employed by Mr. Brown under the direction of
311
ARTILLERY IN CITY FORTS.
Brigadier-General Swift in the public works of de- fence will not be taken from his employ for any other service.
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