USA > New York > Kings County > Revolutionary incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties; with an account of the Battle of Long Island and the British prisons and prison-ships at New York > Part 4
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Revolutionary incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties; with an account of the Battle of Long Island and the British prisons and prison-ships at New York > Part 4
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Maltby Gelston, Ch'n of the Committee of S. and E. Hampton, met at Bridge Hampton, Aug. 31, '76, writes to the same effect.
Buell writes from Sag Harbor, Aug. 31, that Gen Woodhull is fallen into the hands of the King's troops. Two days ago they drove 1500 head of cattle from Hempstead Plains to their army. They are about to enter Suffolk with 300 horse and a company of foot. 3 Companies of 90 men each are stationed here with one-third of our militia, who are ordered to march immediately up the Island. They are fortify- ing 15 miles hence, where the Island is but 15 rods wide, where 200 men can oppose 2,000. Half our militia is away.
H. B. Livingston, at Camp, River Head, Sep. 1, '76, writes that Hobart has brought a letter from Huntington.
H. B. Livingston, Saybrook Harbor, Sep. 4, '76, writes that on Sat. last he marched to River Head, within about 50 miles of the British Light Horse, with his detachment of 200 men, and the Suffolk militia, but when the militia heard the Island was given up, they proposed to sub- mit and fled to their homes. He retreated to Cont., having disarmed 70 of the inhabitants and brought off 4 cannon with baggage and some provisions.
To the Inhabitants of Suffolk County.
601. His Excellency Gen. Howe having appointed me Com- manding officer for the eastern part of this Island, I do hereby strictly enjoin and order all persons whatsoever in your County of Suffolk, upon your peril, to use your utmost efforts to preserve the peace of said county ; that all Committee-men and others acting under the authority of the Rebels, immediately do cease and remain at their re-
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
spective homes, that every man in arms lay them down forthwith and surrender themselves on pain of being treated as rebels : and I here- by exhort all persons to be aiding and assisting His Majesty's Forces by furnishing them with whatever lays in their power. In particu- lar that they bring in their cattle (except milch cows and calves) for their supply, and their wagons and horses for transporting their bag- gage, &c.,-for all which they shall be fully paid, His Majesty having sent his army, not for the oppression, but for the protection of the inhabitants : But I must also signify that unless they show a dutiful submission in all respects, and an immediate compliance with these orders respecting the cattle and wagons, I shall be under the neces- sity of marching the forces under my command without delay into the county, and lay waste the property of the disobedient, as persons unworthy His Majesty's clemency.
WILL. ERSKINE, Brig'r Gen'l.
Head-Quarters in Queens County, Aug. 29, 1776.
602.
Jamaica, Sep. 1, '76.
SIR :- I am ordered by His Ex. the Hon. Wm. Howe, Gen'l. and commander-in-chief of all his Majesty's forces in N. A., from Nova Scotia to the Floridas, on the application of the County of Suffolk, by Nath'l Woodhull and Sam'l Philips, who have signified to him that the inhabitants of said Co. are desirous to lay down their arms and again become loyal and obedient subjects ; that for the peace and ease and security of the inhabitants, he is willing to accept of their submission and promise them protection, on the King's Colonels, or other inferiors of Militia, respectively, causing the men through the county to lay down their arms, take the oath of allegiance, and sign the said roll of submis- sion, disclaiming and rejecting the orders of Congress and Committees, and totally refusing obedience to them, and to obey the legal authority of Gov't., and in all places of worship in future to pray for the King and royal family, as was used before the present unprovoked rebellion. OLIVER DELANCEY,
Major Gen'l of the Militia in the Southern District of the Colony of N. Y.
To Col. CONKLIN.
603.
Huntington, Sep. 2, '76.
SIR : You are hereby directed to give orders to all the King's Capts., or next commanding officers of Militia, in the 3d Bat. of Suf- folk Co., to call their several companies together, at the usual places, 3*
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immediately, and to order those that have taken up arms against the King, to lay them down and take the oath of allegiance to the King, and sign a roll of submission, disclaiming and rejecting the orders of Congress or Committees, and to obey the legal authority of Gov- ernment. This is by order of Gen. Howe.
O. DELANCEY.
I have inclosed a true copy of the writing sent me by Gen. Howe.
To Col. PHINEAS FANNING.
Sep. 2, '76. Israel Wood, President of the Trustees of Huntington writes to Col. Livingston to disperse his army or the Regulars will be on him ; the people are in a doleful situation, have received the Procla- mation and sent in their resignations yesterday. Smithtown did the same.
Col. Abm. Gardiner administered the oath of allegianoe to the peo- ple of East and South Hampton. He surrounded the house of Col. Hedges at Sagg and of Col. Mulford at East Hampton, and forced them to the oath. Southold met by order of Col. Phineas Fanning to take the oath. The cattle on Montauk were driven in to Erskine. Tories were enlisting at Coram, before Sep. ? , '76.
Harrison says, Sep. 7, '76, the Ministerial Troops have been to O. Bay and Hempstead, the disaffected have joined to assist the enemy, and proceeded as far as Setauket. Howe has set guards to prevent stock or persons going off the Island. Isaac Ketcham has got a com- mission and some recruits. Wm. Smith, of -, administers oaths of allegiance, and Thos. Smith, of Hog I., receives submissions. Col. Livingston is moving westward ; men were going from Con't to bring off gunpowder and flour which one Ireland had sold to the British ; Col. Jos. Smith was in Con't. Jour. 612.
Wm. Warne, who left Nassau Island, Sep. 5, says Suffolk Co. had given up, and Gen. Howe sent word if they would testify their loyalty, they must send him 200 wagons, and they sent 300 to remove baggage from N. Utrecht to Hellgate. Jour. 619.
Before Oct. 7,'76, 200 infantry and 100 cavalry were at Huntington to force the people to join the British Troops. Jour. 671.
Oba. Jones to Uriah Rogers.
Sep. 13, '76. Zeb. Howell, an Express, brings Delancey's Proclama- tion, dated Sep. 11, from Jamaica to South Hampton, and says, " British Head-Quarters are at Jamaica, and 2 men must be sent to Jamaica to
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
Gen. Howe to give a true account of Suffolk Co."-Nathan Woodhull, of Setauket, was appointed for the west part of Suffolk, and E. and S. Hampton will meet, Sep. 14, at Sagg Meeting-House, to appoint another.
604. Jamaica, Queens Co., Sep. 5, '76.
His Ex. the Hon. Wm. Howe, Gen. and commander-in-chief of all His Majesty's forces within the Colonies lying on the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to West Florida, inclusive, &c., having authorized me to raise a Brigade of Provincials solely for the defence of this Island, to re-establish order and gov't. within the same : to apprehend, or drive all concealed rebels from among His Majesty's well-affected subjects, and other essential purposes ; I do hereby, for the encouragement of en- listing men in the county of Suffolk, give notice, that upon any persons of good recommended characters, raising a company of 70 men, they shall have commissions for one Capt., one Lt., and one Ensign, and shall be paid and subsisted as the officers and soldiers are in the British pay : and it is hoped the inhabitants of the county will cheerfully raise the men wanted for the service, as it will prevent the disagreeable busi- ness of detaching them, which I shall be under the necessity of doing, if the companies cannot be raised without.
Given under my hand, the date above.
OLIVER DELANCEY, Brig. Gen'l.
605.
Jamaica, Sep. 11,'76.
I am ordered by His Ex. Gen. Howe to write to you, and order all the fat cattle and sheep in Suffolk Co. to be immediately driven down to Jamaica, where proper persons will be appointed to ascertain the weight of them ; give certificates of the value of them, that the owners may be paid ; keeping a distinct account of those cattle, &c., that be- long to the people who are in actual rebellion, whose cattle must be forced down for the refreshment of the King's Troops. This order must be speedily obeyed, or the county will otherwise feel the resent- ment of the King's Troops. Reserving only as many cattle as is neces- sary for their own subsistence.
Given under my hand, the above date. OLIVER DELANCEY, Brig. Gen.
606. 64 men, women, and children came to Milford, and nos. are daily coming off to the Continent. Sep. 4.
Sam'l Buell, Sep. 7, '76, supports the request of the Trustees of E. Hampton, that Gov. Trumbull would not carry off their stock and ef-
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fects. " We are subjects of His Majesty, King George ; and if acces- sory, we will be exposed to his displeasure."
Sep. 15. Wharves at Sag Harbor crowded with emigrants.
Buell writes from E. Hampton, Sept. 22, '76, that the people are as a torch on fire at both ends, which will be speedily consumed, for the Con't Whigs carry off their stock and produce, and the British punish them for allowing it to go-hopes the Whigs will not oppress the op- pressed, but let the stock alone.
Dan'l Collins' Bill for going from Sag Harbor to E. Hampton, and taking from Col. Gardiner's house 130 firearms and 3 silver-hilted swords, and from Col. Mulford's, 3 casks powder and 2 boxes lead, and at another time, 3 casks powder from M. Gelston, Esq., of S. Hampton, was £14. 16.
Dec. 24, '76. Convention paid £44. 5. to John Field and £630. 4. to others, for freight of vessels to Con't.
Jas. Webb rec'd $3 per day for hire of his sloop, Sep. 6 to 30, in transporting stock and inhabitants from L. I. to Con't.
Jour. 779.
Dr. Jona. Havens, Steph. Howell, and others, brought off goods from L. I.
Convention paid £64. 10. for freight and passage to Con't, of fami- lies and effects of Dan'l Haines, Dan'l Hedges, Mat. Osborn, Jas. Jen- nings, Elisha Mulford, Linus Dibble, Isa. Franks, and Jona. Tuttle. Dec. 31, '76. Jour. 881.
Before Sep. 27, Capt. Rodgers carried off from Huntington Sam'l Skidmore and Isaac Ketcham, who were both put in Fairfield jail. The former had possessed himself of the farm of Dr. Z. Platt's brother ; the latter was sent manacled to the N. Y. Convention. Oct. 13.
Jour. 649, 636.
Thos. Dering, John Foster, and Thos. Wickham, appointed by N. Y. a Committee to report on the claims for transporting families, stock, and effects from L. I. to Con't. Dec. 31, '76.
607. [ Capt. Hale, an American spy was detected near Huntington and executed in N. Y., but as the accounts are conflicting, we insert all the original notices of his melancholy fate we have met with, and leave the reader to draw his own inferences .- Ed. ]
Extract of a Letter to the Missouri Republican from Stephen Hempstead, Sen., aged 69, copied into the L. I. Star, of April 2, 1827.
I was attached to Capt. Hale's Company in Col. Webb's Reg. of Con- tinental Troops, and in his confidence. After the retreat of our army
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
from L. I., he informed me he was sent for to Head Quarters, and was solicited to go over to L. I. to discover the disposition of the Enemy's camp, &c., expecting them to attack N. Y., but that he was too unwell to go, not having recovered from a recent illness ; that upon a second application he had consented to go, and said I must go with him as far as I could with safety and wait for his return. Accordingly we left our camp on Harlem Heights, with the intention of crossing over the first opportunity : but none offered until we arrived at Norwalk, 50 miles from N. Y. In that harbor there was an armed sloop and one or two row galleys : Capt. Hale had a general order to all armed vessels to take him to any place he should designate. He was set across the Sound in the sloop at Huntington, L. I., by Capt. Pond, who commanded the ves- sel. Capt. Hale had changed his uniform for a plain suit of citizen's brown clothes, with a round broad-brimmed hat ; assuming the character of a Dutch Schoolmaster, leaving all his other clothes, commission, public and private papers with me, and also his silver shoe buckles, say- ing they would not comport with his character of Schoolmaster, and retaining nothing but his college diploma, as an introduction to his as- sumed calling. Thus equipped we parted for the last time in life. He went on his mission and I returned back again to Norwalk, with orders to stop there until he should return, or I hear from him, as he expected to return back again to cross the Sound if he succeeded in his object. The British army had, in the mean time got possession of N. Y., whither he also passed, and had nearly executed his mission, and was passing the British piquet guard between the Lines of the two armies, within a mile and a half of his own quarters, when he was stopped at a tavern at a place called the " Cedars." Here there was no suspicion of his character being other than he pretended, until most unfortunately he was met in the crowd by a fellow countryman and an own relation, (but a tory and renegade, ) who had received the hospitality of his board and the attention of a brother from Capt. Hale, at his quarters at Winter Hill in Cambridge the winter before. He recognized him and most inhumanly and infamously betrayed him,divulging his true char- acter, situation in the army &c. ; and having him searched, his diploma corroborated his relative's statement, when without any formality of trial or delay, they hung him instantaneously, and sent a flag over to our ar- my, stating that " they had caught such a man within their lines this morning, and hung him as a spy." Thus suddenly and unfeelingly did they rush this young and worthy man into eternity, not allowing him an hour's preparation nor the privilege of writing to his friends,
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nor even to receive the last consolations of his religion, refusing to let the chaplain pray with him, as was his request. After parting with Capt. Hale, of all these circumstances I was authentically imformed at the time and do most religiously believe them. " He died on the inglo- rious tree."
[ The above account by Mr. Hempstead is valuable so far as he speaks from his own knowledge ; and yet I cannot help thinking he is in error when he says Hale carried his diploma with him. Do sol- diers carry their diplomas about with them in war ? Besides, it would betray his real name. Why assume to be a Dutch rather than a Yankee schoolmaster ? He could not speak or understand Dutch, and yet was going among the Dutch with a paper in his pock- et showing him to be a Yankee by his very name, Nathan. May not the report of his attempting to cross from one camp to the oth- er at " the Cedars, " ( if there ever was such a place, ) be a mere supposition, and have grown out of the idea that it was most natural for Hale to take a short cut, rather than a circuitous one by way of Long Island ? One account makes his betrayer ( if there ever was one ) visit Hale in Coventry ; the other, at Winter Hill. Was it not the plans and sketches rather than the diploma that betrayed Hale ?- Ed. ]
Newburyport, Feb. 13, '77. The following is a genuine specimen of Tory benevolence, and may be depended upon as a real matter of fact.
Sam'l Hale, late of Portsmouth, N. H., after his elopement thence, visited an uncle in Conn., where he was hospitably entertained ; but as his uncle was a Whig, and had a son, a young gentleman of a libe- ral education, and most amiable disposition, who strongly felt for his bleeding country, and being very active in the military way, was urged and prevailed on to take a commission in the Continental Army ; consequently Samuel was obliged to conduct with caution, and counterfeit as well as he could a Whiggish phiz, while he tar- ried, which was but a short time however, before he made his escape to Gen. Howe in N. Y .- Some time after this, Capt. Hale, at the re- quest of the General, went into N. Y. in disguise, and having nearly accomplished his designs, whom should he meet but his aforesaid cousin Samuel, whom he attempted to shun, but Sam knew him too well. Capt. Hale soon found he was advertised, and so particularly described, that he could not get through L. I., he therefore attempted
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SUFFOLK COUNTY.
to escape by way of Kingsbridge, and so far succeeded as to get to the outer guard, where he was suspected, apprehended, carried back and tried, and yet would have been acquitted, had not his affectionate and grateful cousin Samuel appeared and made oath, that he was a Cap- tain in the Continental Army, and that he was in there as a Spy : in consequence of which he was immediately hung up; however, at the gallows he made a sensible and spirited speech, among other things, told them they were shedding the blood of the innocent, and that if he had ten thousand lives, he would lay them all down, if called to do it, in defence of his injured, bleeding country.
The Printers throughout the Continent are desired to exhibit this tragic scene to the public, that they may see what mercy they are to expect if they fall into the hands of Tories.
N. H. Gaz., Feb. 18, "77.
[I think the above contains some gross misstatements .- Ed.]
" In Hale's attempt to return he was apprehended, carried be- fore Sir Wm. Howe, and the proof of his object was so clear, that he frankly acknowledged who he was and what were his views: Sir Wm. Howe at once gave an order to the Provost Marshal to execute him the next morning. The order was accordingly executed in the most un- feeling manner, and by as great a savage as ever disgraced humanity. A clergyman, whose attendance he desired, was refused him ; a Bible for a moment's devotion was not procured, though he requested it. Let- ters which, on the morning of his execution, he wrote to his mother and other friends, were destroyed ; and this very extraordinary reason given by the Provost Marshal, ' that the rebels should not know that they had a man in their army who could die with so much firmness.'"
Hannah Adams, as quoted by Dr. Thatcher.
The following is from the Life of Gen. Wm. Hull.
Washington spoke to Knowlton, and he to Hale. Hale advised with Hull, who opposed the measure as dangerous and disgraceful. Soon after this, Hale was absent. In a few days a British officer under a flag informed Hamilton that Hale had been executed that morning as a spy. The officer told Hull he was present at the execution and seemed touched at the circumstances. " Hale had passed through the armies on Long and York Islands, made sketches of fortifications and memoranda. When apprehended he was taken before Howe, and the
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concealed papers found. He at once declared his name, rank and ob- ject. Howe, without the form of a trial, ordered his execution next morning, and put him in custody of the Provost Marshal. Hale asked for a Clergyman. He was refused. He next asked for a Bible. That too was refused. On the morning of the Execution my station was near the fatal spot, and I requested the Provost Marshal to let Hale sit in my marquee while the neccessary preparations were making. Hale en- tered calm and dignified. He asked for pen and ink, and wrote letters to his Mother and a Brother officer, which were subsequently destroyed by Cunningham. Shortly after he was summoned to the gallows ; few were around. His last words were, " I only regret I have but one life to give for my country."
A British officer thus writes home from Camp on N. Y. Island, Sep. 23, '76, "yesterday we hanged an officer of the Provincials who came as a spy." Mid. ( London ) Jour.
Jas. Drewett, on board British frigate Mercury at N. Y. writes, Sep. 25,'76, " On the 22d we hung a man who was sent as spy by Gen. Wash- ington. "
Mid. ( London ) Jour.
An American officer thus writes from Camp at Harlem, Sep. 26, '76, " One Hale, in N. Y., on suspicion of being a spy, was taken up and dragged without ceremony to the Execution Post and hung up."
[ Hale, 'tis said, had his examination in the Green House ( still stand- ing ) of the Beekman Mansion, Howe's Head Quarters, near Turtle Bay, and three miles from the City Hall. The precise spot of his Exe- cution cannot be pointed out ..- Ed.]
Local Traditions in Queens County.
Sol. Wooden said he remembered the capture of Hale as if it were yesterday. Wooden was a ship builder at Oyster Bay 2 or 3 miles from the scene of Hale's capture ; and as he built boats for the British, and was in constant intercourse with them, he heard the story from the very crew that captured Hale. Hale was set over from Conn. to L. I. near Oyster Bay, by an American boat that was to return for him on a set day. He gave out that he was disgusted with the rebel cause, and had deserted, but did not wish to enlist, and would like a school. He journeyed on to N. Y. city, where having obtained all possible infor- mation, he returned by L. I., making his way through the woods till he arrived at the shore about Huntington or Oyster Bay. Early in the morning he went out to reconnoitre, when he saw a boat rowing to the shore. He did not see the frigate Halifax, Capt. Quarme, to which the boat belonged, and which had come ashore for water. Perhaps the
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frigate was hid by the fog or an intervening point of land. Hale mis- taking this for a friendly boat walked deliberately down to the water side. As the boat struck the shore he discovered his mistake and retraced his steps. He was ordered to stop ! On looking over his shoulder he saw the whole crew standing up with their guns levelled at him. Escape was impossible ; he was ordered on board and his papers showed what he was. He was taken to N. Y. in the boat of the Halifax, and execu- ted on an apple tree in Col. Rutgers' orchard .- Thompson.
[ See also Queens Co., Sec. 368, for an account of his execu- tion .- Ed. ]
Robert Townsend of Oyster Bay, who died some years ago aged 85, used to say he had heard Capt. Quarme, of a British armed vessel which was lying in the Sound near Huntington at the time of Hale's capture, say that a boat's crew belonging to his vessel being ashore on L. I., a lit- tle east of Huntington Harbor, was mistaken by Hale for people from the other side of the Sound, and thus he committed himself before he was aware of his mistake into the hands of his enemies; and that when he found what a fine fellow he was, he was sorry he had fallen into his power.
Wm. Ludlam, now living, aged 87, says "he heard that one of Capt. Quarme's boats took a man by the name of Hale somewhere near Hunt- ington Harbor, and then the man was taken to N. Y., and that was all he ever heard of him."
The death of Hale has been the subject of a Novel, by J. R. Simms. His life may be found in Thompson.
608.
Saybrook, Sep. 12, "76.
DEAR BROTHER :- I have just time to tell you, I have been ob- liged to retreat from L. I. to this place for several reasons, that I have not now time to mention. I have given Gen. Washington a particular account by the same conveyance this is sent by. I shall to-morrow, at the head of 400 men, set out for Huntington ; if I succeed in the attempt I am going to make, I shall yet save Suffolk Co., though most of the inhabitants have been prevailed upon to take an oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain, through a persua- sion that the Island was given up as indefensible. Gov. Trumbull has assisted me with 260 men.
HENRY B. LIVINGSTON.
ROBT. R. LIVINGSTON, JR.
609. The towns of South and East Hampton send a letter to Howe (to avoid the imputation of being concerned with the Conn.
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whale-boats) that some arms taken from the people of East Hamp- ton, by order of Col. Gardiner in the King's name, had been retaken by the subjects of the States. Howel, the bearer, was caught by Col. Livingston. Before Sep. 17, '76. Cor. 401.
610. Saybrook, Sep. 24, "76. Last Friday a party from Lt. Col. Livingston's detachment was put under command of Capt. Dan'l Roe, to go from Saybrook to B. Haven, for the purpose of bringing off Roe's family, and a no. of others. On Friday night 12 o'clock, the Capt. left the sloop at Brook H., taking 14 men with him to as- sist in bringing down the family, leaving 14 under Lt. Geo. Smith on board, to guard the vessel. He pressed teams as he went to bring down the goods, not being able to procure them by other means. At 9 A. M., just as he was ready to return, he was inform- ed by one of the guards that Richard Miller of B. Haven, a young gentleman of family and fortune, but a notorious enemy to his country (who had arms concealed at his house), was passing his house ; upon which R. ordered his men to hail him, and if he refused to stop, to fire on him. He was hailed 3 times, upon which he stopped, and 5 men with their pieces presented told him they would instantly kill him if he attempted to stir. He stood and viewed them half a minute, then discharged a pistol at them, and rode off with the utmost expe- dition, on which he was several times ordered to stop, but he refu- sing, five guns were separately fired at him, from the last of which a ball was shot through his body, upon which he dismounted and was carried into Capt. Roe's house, and left in care of a no. of the inhabitants. Capt. R. being informed that one Jacob.Smith, who was in conjunction with Miller, and not far distant when he was taken, had collected a party of several, and were endeavoring to surround and take him, thought it prudent to retreat on board his vessel, where he had but just time to arrive with his wife and family, being obliged to leave all his effects behind.
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