The Memorial History of the City of New York: From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892, Volume II, Part 60

Author: Wilson, James Grant, 1832-1914
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: [New York] New York History Co.
Number of Pages: 705

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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

the Royal Artillery was the star tragedian; Captain Oliver De Lancey was scene painter; Major Moncrieff of the Engineers made a capital Othello ; Captains Loftus of the Guards, Braddon and Seix of the Foot, took lighter parts; some of the younger subalterns essayed female characters; while the versatile André wrote plays, painted scenes, or impersonated Romeo with equal ease and amiability. "The military Thespians began their transatlantic histrionic career in Boston as well as their less bril- liant career of arms. As no theatre had been built in the town of Boston, some place admitting of the change must have been RUINS OF TRINITY, AND THE PROVINCE ARMS. fitted up as such. The ac- complished Burgoyne, who began as a dramatic author in 1775, by the 'Maid of the Oaks,' now produced his second drama in that stronghold of Puritanism and unconquerable liberty, and the 'Heir- ess' was preceded by a farce called the 'Blockade of Boston.' It is remembered that while the officers were performing Burgoyne's farce, an alarm was given that the rebels had assaulted the lines; and when a sergeant entered and announced the fact, the audience sup- posing his words 'The rebels have attacked the lines on the Neck,' belonged to the farce, applauded the very natural acting of the man,"1 and were not undeceived until the commanding general, who was in the audience, rose and ordered all officers to their posts.

The theater in John street was of rude architecture, some sixty feet back from the sidewalk. There were two rows of boxes, which with the pit and gallery, when filled, yielded about eight hundred dollars a night.2 The orchestra was unusually good, being made up of volun- teers from the regimental bands. There were fourteen musicians at a dollar a night. The scenery was often poor, but the costumes were always handsome. The rules of the club were enforced with military precision. Not only were the seats required to be purchased before the evening of the performance, but patrons were compelled to send

1 Dunlap, Hist. Am. Theatre.

? " In the first American play produced in New- York, and the first comedy by an American that was American in theme -'The Contrast,' by Judge Tyler of Vermont-the original Jonathan is made to describe the theater in New York at the time it was reopened after the Revolution. 'As I was looking here and there for it,' Jonathan says, 'I saw a great crowd of folks going into a long entry that had lanterns over the door, so I asked the

man if that was the place they played hocus pocus! He was a very civil kind of a man, though he did speak like the Hessians; he lifted up his eyes and says : ' They play hocus pocus tricks enough there. Got knows, mine friend.' So I went right in and they showed me away clean up to the garret, just like a meeting-house gallery. And so I saw a power of topping folks, all sitting around in little cabins just like father's corncrib.'" "History American Theatre," Seilhamer, I, 212, Phila., 1888.

535

NEW-YORK DURING THE REVOLUTION

their servants at half-past four in the afternoon to keep their seats until the curtain rose at seven. Dunlap says: "It must have been a ludicrous sight during these two hours and a half - that dusky audi- ence with nothing to hear, those crowded spectators with nothing to see." The proceeds, after deducting unavoidable expenses, were devoted to the relief of the soldiers' families. It is said the gross receipts of the club, in one year, amounted LE 4 to nine thousand five hun- 13. dred pounds.1 The last per- formance was given June 11, 1781. The prologue for the play performed January CLINTON'S BULLET DESPATCH.2 6, 1778, written, probably, by Captain Stanley, a member of the club, has the flavor of the period:

"Now that hoar winter o'er the frozen plain Has spread the terrors of his dreary reign, Has bade awhile the din of battle cease, And mock these regions with the mask of peace, Once more the Scenic Muse exerts her power, And claims her portion of the leisure hour To prompt the laugh, the brow of care to smooth (And this sad land has cares enough to soothe), To wake to pity, and, with soft control, Melt into tender sympathy the soul; Vice to discourage, or, with bolder aim, Rouse to high deed and point the way to fame: These are the ends which from the earliest age Have been the boast and object of the stage. We have a nobler purpose still in view, A tribute to our fallen comrades due : From us their helpless infants shall be fed, And fainting misery receive its bread. O Britons! (and your generous thirst of fame Has fully prov'd you worthy of the name), Tho' scowling faction's interested band At home asperse us, and with envious hand

? On the way up the Hudson River to effect that well-planned junction with General Burgoyne in 1777, which never took place, Sir Henry Clin- ton wrote a despatch on tissue paper, and inclosed it in a hollow silver bullet. The messenger, taken prisoner, swallowed the bullet, but was given an emetic. Thus the despatch came into the posses- sion of Governor George Clinton. Its contents

1 Hist. Royal Regt. Artillery, Duncan. were as follows: " Nous y voici [Here I am] and nothing between me and Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your oper- ations. In answer to your letter of September 28th by C. C., I shall only say I cannot presume to order, or even to advise, for reasons obvious. I wish you success .- H. CLINTON." The success re- ferred to was the taking of Fort Constitution.

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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

Our well earn'd laurels tear, the public weal Bids us not murmur whatsoe'er we feel;

To those whose bounty thus our toil repays, O friends! withold not the full meed of praise!

There must have been a literary thread run- ning through the social fabric of this Anglo- German-American garrison town, as the Elliot Manuscript states that "At Mr. Deane's in New York last evening (1779) Captain André read an extempore on Love and Fashion, and a characteristic 'Dream,' about the rebels, for which he gained much applause from 'the fair and the bold.' His allusions to 'Jacky' Jay, 'Paddy' Mckean, and other rebellious sub- jects were excellent." An extract from the "Dream" sounds prophetic : - "The whole Continental Army now passed in review be- fore me. They were forced to put on the form of the timid hare whose disposition they already possessed. With ears erect, they MAJOR ANDRÉ. seemed watching the first appearance of danger and ready to fly even at the appearance of it. But what was very singular, a brass collar was affixed to the neck of one of their leaders, on which I saw distinctly the following lines :

"They win the fight, that win the race,

alluding to the maxim he had always pursued, of making a good and timely retreat." Other entertainments of a less intellectual character were bull-fights.1

Dan@Mathues

The government of the city was vested in the military commandant, although there was a mayor, David Mathews,? and other inferior civil functionaries. The citi- zens were required to serve as a night-watch,

1 The following advertisement appeared in " Riv- ington's Gazette": "This day being Wednesday, the 20th of June (1781) will be exhibited at Brook- lyn ferry, A BULL BAITING, after the true English manner. Taurus will be brought to the ring at half-past three o'clock; some good dogs are already provided, but every assistance of that sort will be esteemed a favor. A dinner exactly British will be upon Loosley's table at eleven o'clock, after which there is not the least doubt but that the Song called 'O! the Roast Beef of Old England !' will be sung with harmony and glee."

? David Mathews was Mayor of New-York during the whole of the period that the British occupied the city. When Mayor Hicks resigned, Mathews represented the East ward as alderman, and he was at once invested with the chief magis- tracy by the military authorities. In the fac- simile of the extra sheet of Gaine's "Gazette," on p. 553, will be found an order regarding the price of bread, and one regulating ferry rates signed by Mr. Mathews, as mayor, together with two other important officials.

537

NEW-YORK DURING THE REVOLUTION

Porloque on opening the Teatro of Newyork Jarig. 175

Spoken by aplace

Hou formabody mest Yournest shew his face Jan modesty's the virtual in this placet, But for this how you are's havey lle, Samtwhom we players have to make our the Jos well accounted for the din ate watch. Unevring Marksman at an actor youth

Incline as Shallow to brandich Satires darty Unarm'disse all appear in way back - ana least of all protector at the heart Mot we have Ground, and grow to beanantara; Upon the Blanks & were pretty well sustain), and let me tell you , twist yourselves and me Hatcher Propter is as bad Appris. Why chand we from the You in the Rasinget We've upper ground and Blin des besturen And, Nivan Dea, none umi behind the Scenes For transmidi thus, the Pails shall weprove Of Hij de Poppins from the rights chowe "Should all this fail, he adipts in this hade Con foil you by. Maneuver retrograde Q Esto, much Forces has been thus displayed,

General Auxs.

* Orchestra

Get on the Gatiall sounds the dread alarm Gami nought arrest the Critics Vengeful Arm ? a plan will serge which bretons mustramit.) One that shale silence all the Shafts of Art. Gan Gensune Main a dant against our Scene .? When Charty extends hes han between? Thus whenvon gating Show the Sabine hors (was man the fashion Via god for Spouses last , . Lech

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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

Fut Blow The Show onlus, each genthe woman With Condes cension took her found forman her by compliant, to theas the Each Sabine, instruction, gave up hus toje. Charity our Compromise prochains, Send interpreses like the Sabine dames . We face you here, to claim bevat your hands Bach Virtuous feeling Seinds ou deman; Gritie and autor, in the mutlifield Shall meet and parsley - shall ralent & girls Give but the fact, the heaty shall prevail We will like Pormany use therady well

Poloque Spoken by Capt- Andre,

and were subject to twenty-four hours' imprisonment in the main guard-house or a fine of one dollar for each absence without per- mission. Chimneys were swept once a month. Every stranger was required to report his arrival at headquarters. Public houses were licensed on recommendation of principal officers of the army or navy, or of respectable citizens. Landlords were forbidden to harbor sol- diers or sailors after 8 P. M., and fires and lights must be put out by 9 P. M. Prices were fixed for provisions; while the necessaries of life became scarce and dear, claret was cheap and plentiful, and Major Duncan says that "there are in the Royal Artillery Record Office, permit books of Gen. Pattison [then commandant] from which the filial affection of the subalterns in the garrison can be gauged by the amount of claret they received permission to send from New York to their anxious parents." At this time tea was eighteen shillings per

1 Copied from the original in the possession of Thomas F. McKee, Esq., of this city, by whose permission it is here reproduced in fac-simile for the first time. It was read by Captain (soon after promoted Major) Andre on the reopening of the John Street Theater, Jan. 9, 1779. The plays were "Chrononhotonthologos," and "Taste." The Queen, Maids of Honor, and Lady Pentweazle were

performed "by young ladies and grown gentle- women who never appeared on any stage before." The night's receipts were £179 58. 4d., disbursed as follows: "Paid 44 widows each 20s, together with 1 pr. shoes and 1 pr. stockings to 40 of the above. Paid 72 children 20s each and 16 orphans at 45s 4d each."

"Hist. Royal Regt. of Artillery."

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NEW-YORK DURING THE REVOLUTION

pound.' General Pattison was probably the most popular comman- dant of all who performed that duty during the British occupation. He was a colonel in the royal artillery, and had served with distinction in Portugal, Flanders, and Venice. He is described by Duncan as "a wiry, muscular man of about fifty-four years of age; his staff were mere boys, and yet he outlived them both. The characteristic which struck everyone most was his courtly urban- ity: every hat which was raised by passers-by was courteously acknow- ledged; and for everyone whom he knew there was a pleasant, kindly word." Notwithstanding the extraor- dinary inducements held out at that time, throughout Great Britain, to en- ter the army,2 the supply threatened to run short of the demand. The Irish artillery was then a separate corps from the royal artillery, and naturally secured the best of the men recruited in Ireland; the remainder were as- signed to the royal branch. In a Major Andre letter from the commandant at New- York he said: "The drafts have arrived, four having deserted and one having died on the passage. I should not have been much af- flicted if many of those who landed had saved me, either by death or desertion, the pain of looking at them, for such warriors of 5 feet 52 inches I never saw raised before for the service of Artillery. I presume the reason why so few stand of arms accompanied them, was the consideration of these whippers-in, and postillions of fel- lows, being unable to bear them: but I must see how far the strength of these diminutive warriors is equal to carry muskets cut down, for

1 "Notwithstanding the war, New York is plen- tifully supplied from Long Island with provisions of all kinds. It must however be confessed, that almost every article bears an exorbitant price, when compared with that of former happy times. Both the north and east rivers abound with a great variety of excellent fish. Lobsters, of a prodigious size, were, till late caught in vast numbers, but it is a fact, surprising as it may appear, that, since the late incessant cannonading, they have entirely forsaken the coast, not one having been taken, or seen, since the commencement of hostilities." "Letters from America," W. Eddis : New-York, Aug. 16, 1777 ; London, 1792.

2 CORK, August 17, 1776 .- "Yesterday, Major Boyle, representative in Parliament for Tralee (who is raising a body of men for his Majesty's Service), began recruiting here and met with great

success, which is not surprising if we consider his connections and the uncommon support he has received from the noblemen and gentlemen of this province. His method of enlisting was as uncommon as it was pleasing to those who viewed the procession which was as follows: (1) Major Boyle bearing a large purse of gold. (2) Cap- tain Cowley. (3) A great number of likely recruits. (4) An elegant band of music, consist- ing of French horns, hautboys, clarionets, and bassoons, playing 'God save the King.' (5) A large brewer's dray with five barrels of beer, the horse richly caparisoned and ornamented with ribbands. (6) Two draymen with cockades to serve the beer. (7) The Recruiting Sergeant. (8) Drums and Fifes. (9) Another division of re- cruits. (10) The Recruiting Soldiers. (11) Pro- digious concourse of spectators." "N. Y. Gazetteer."

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HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

they shall never appear, while I command them, otherwise than as soldiers."

The particular "horror" of long-continued war is that of the mili- tary prison. At the close of 1776 nearly five thousand Americans' were confined in the "Jersey" Prison-ship, and the Brick, Middle Dutch, North Dutch, and French churches, Kings College, "the New Gaol," the Sugar-houses, and the City Hall. The New Gaol or the Provost (Hall of Records) was destined, says Pintard, "for the more notorious rebels civil, naval and military. One of the rooms was appropriated to officers and characters of superior rank, and was called Congress Hall. So closely were they packed that when they lay down at night to rest (when their bones ached) on the hard oak planks, and they wished to turn, it was, altogether, by word of command-'right'- 'left'; being so wedged as to form almost a solid mass of human bodies. The Provost Marshal was Captain Cunningham, notorious for his cruelty to the prisoners-of-war under his charge. He was executed for forgery in London, August 10, 1791." 2

Another fire occurred August 3, 1778, on Cruger's Wharf, and abont fifty houses were destroyed. It was said the loss was increased by the ill-advised attempt of the British officers to direct the firemen. The citizens complained to the commandant, who thereupon issued

1 RETURN OF THE PRISONERS TAKEN IN NEW-YORK, DURING 1776.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, STAFF OFFICERS AND PRIVATES.

WHEN TAKEN.

WHERE.

Generals.

Colonels.

Lt .- Colonels.

Majors.

Captains.

Lieutenants.

Ensigns.

Chaplains.

Quartermas-

Adjutants,

Surgeons.

Cominissa-

ries.

Engineers.

Wagon Mas-

Volunteers.

Privaten.

Wounded.

Ang. 27

Long Island .

1000 9 officers,

Sept. 15 & 16 ...

York Island

354

Oct. 12

White Plains

Nov. 16

Fort Wash -? ington ... . Fort Lee.

107

Total

160

4 3 11 2 1 1

4132

Copy.

CHATHAM, Jan. 30, 1777 .- A true copy taken from the Commissary-General's and brought from York by Major Wells. P. S .- The original taken in New Jersey, sent to Governor Brooks. [Original, among Lieut .- Colonel Henshaw's papers.]

1 In his "last dying confession " he made the following statement: "I was appointed Provost Marshal to the Royal Army which placed me in a situation to wreak my vengeance on the Ameri- cans. I shudder to think of the murders I have been accessory to, both with and without orders from Government, especially while in New York, during which time there were more than two thou- sand prisoners starved in the churches, by stop- ping their rations which I sold. There were also two hundred and seventy-five American prisoners

2637 6 officers, ! 53 prt&3

Nov. 18

and obnoxious persons executed, which were thus conducted : a guard was despatched from the Pro- vost about half-past twelve at night to the Barrack street and the neighborhood of the upper Barracks. to order the people to shut their window-shutters and put out their lights, forbidding them at the same time to look out of their windows and doors on pain of death ; after which the unfortunate prisoners were conducted, gagged, just behind the upper barracks, and hung without ceremony and then buried by the black pioneer of the Provost"

ters.

542

HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

ice eighteen feet thick. The largest army, with the heaviest artillery and baggage, might have passed over the ice with ease, while the ships of war were frozen up in the bay and rendered useless for the time. The commanding general, Knyphausen, naturally feared that Washington would take ad- vantage of the opportunity to attack the city, and the most extraordinary precautions were taken. Seconded by General Pattison, a levy en masse was made upon the inhabitants, who were armed, partially at their own expense and partially by the government.1 In a few hours forty-three hundred citizens were mustered into service for the emergency; the seamen from the men-of-war were landed and added to the regular garrison: but the American army was not then in condition for any im- Estain portant aggressive movement. The severity of the weather con- tinuing, the city began to suffer from scarcity of supplies, par- ticularly of fuel; several old transports were broken up, and houses torn down to keep the troops and people from freezing.

The Baroness de Riedesel, who had accompanied her husband, the Hessian general, in his American campaign, was living at New- York during this severe winter. Although reared in luxury she was a soldier's wife, and endured privations with such fortitude as to win the admiration of all who saw her. The Beekman mansion,? which had been used by Sir Henry Clinton as a country house, was

1 VOLUNTEER FORCE (British Army) at New- York, February 19, 1780. Old Companies : New- York Rangers, 1 company, 107; N. Y. Highlanders, 1 co., 107; N. Y. Volunteers, 7 cos., 455. New Asso- ciated Companies: N. Y. Marine Artillery, 1 co., 98; Commissariat Loyal Volunteers, 2 cos., 107; Ordnance Volunteers, artificers, 1 co., 71; Ord- nance Volunteers, seamen, 3 cos., 166; Engineer Volunteers, 1 co., 134; Quarter-Master General's Vols., 1 co., 56; Barrack Master General's Vols., 1 co., 91; King's Dock Yard Volunteers, 3 cos., 161 ; City Militia, 40 cos., 2662 ; Royal Navy, acting on shore, 355; Seamen from the transports, navy victuallers, small craft, New York pilots, and private ships, 1129-total 5796. N. B. A troop of 60 Light Cavalry, formed from the artillery horse

department, to act as occasion may require, armed with sabres and pistols, and clothed at their own expence, commanded by Captain Scott. N. Y. Marine Artillery formed from the Marine Society established by Royal Charter. (Signed) JA. PAT- TISON, M. G. Beatson's "Naval and Military Memoirs," London, 1804.

2 This stood, until 1874, near the foot of Fifty- second street, East River, and was erected, 1764. by Dr. James Beekman. Occupied, 1776, by Gen- eral Howe; 1777, by Commissary Loring ; 1778- 1780, by Sir Henry Clinton ; 1781, by Madame de Riedesel; 1782, by General Robertson, 1783, by General Carleton. In the greenhouse Nathan Hale was tried, September 21, 1776.

543

NEW-YORK DURING THE REVOLUTION

placed at her disposal. Her experiences at housekeeping give one a vivid picture of what is called an "an old-fashioned winter." In her "Journals" she says: "General Clinton's country seat, where we went with the children, was one mile from the town. It was beautifully situated, and the house also would have been quite to my taste had it not been for the season. This was a summer residence, and as we went there in December we suffered much from the cold. The inocu- lation of my chil- dren, however, suc- ceeded, and when the danger of in- Sewburg Fredericksburg fection in the city was over we pre- pared ourselves to return, and sent be- fore us the cook and the servants, Mahopac with directions to make everything ready for our ar- rival on the follow- ing day; but during the night we had a dreadful storm, which endangered our house and, in- deed, threw down MarchCasder part of the balus- trade, which fell

with a terrible crash. On awaken- ing the next morn-

ing, we found our-

Spack

OPERATIONS OF THE HUDSON RIVER

· selves shut up by the snow; and in Tappan Wine Plauen some places, where the wind had thrown it together in large drifts, it was eight feet deep. We could not think of leaving the place except in sledges. We had a difficult task to provide for our dinner. An old white fowl, which had fortunately escaped the cook's notice, furnished us with a broth, which, with a few potatoes the gardener gave us, served for the dinner of more than fourteen persons. In the afternoon, while I was standing in a melancholy mood near the window, pondering upon the difficulty of extricating ourselves from our present perplexities, I saw my cook

544

HISTORY OF NEW-YORK

arrive on horseback. I immediately turned round toward the com- pany, and joyfully told them that we should soon be relieved. But when I looked out again the cook had disappeared. The gentlemen who were with me, in great alarm, ran to see what had become of him, and found him and his horse sunk deep in the snow." 1

Madame de Riedesel was treated with great consideration by the Brit- ish officers during her stay in the city from 1780 to 1781. They made her the representative of the queen on the occasion of the birthday ball, and "one day, when the British officers had dined with us, my husband told them that he would accompany them to their camp, upon which they begged me to do them the same honor. I got into my carriage, and reached the camp before them. But I can hardly believe that they had not given the other officers notice of my visit, for scarcely had I reached the place when one of them came to my carriage, handed me out, and Oèe De Mersfue begged me to walk with him along the line. To my utter confusion, I was greeted with all the military honors; and when I observed to the officer that German ladies were not accustomed to such distinctions, he gallantly replied that this was merely the due of the wife of an excellent general, and that nobody in his corps had forgotten how kind I had been to their brethren at Saratoga." We owe to this lady also an account of her generous reception by Gen. Schuyler at Albany.

Benedict Arnold, the fugitive traitor, was received by the British commander-in-chief at New-York, and was promptly paid the price of his treachery - a commission of brigadier-general. Quarters were assigned him in the Watts house, 3 Broadway, from which he issued proclamations offering military preferment to all continental officers and men who might desert their colors and join the provisional corps which he was authorized to raise for the king's service. Immediately after Arnold's flight from West Point, General Washington became anxious to learn how far the poison of disaffection had entered the American military system. To this end he consulted Lieutenant- Colonel Henry Lee, commanding "Lee's Legion," and a plan was 1 "Letters and Journals," by Madame de Riedesel, New-York, 1827.

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The Memorial History of the City of New York: From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892, Volume II, Part 60

Author: Wilson, James Grant, 1832-1914 Publication date: 1892 Publisher: [New York] New York History Co. Number of Pages: 705

Author: Wilson, James Grant, 1832-1914
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: [New York] New York History Co.
Number of Pages: 705