USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > The history of Kingston, New York : from its early settlement to the year 1820 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
289
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
were to move northward, so as to keep pace with the enemy, cover- ing those parts of the country which would be their greatest object. Governor Clinton wrote to the Council of Safety at Kingston that as soon as the ships were likely to pass the chevaux-de-frise he would make a forced march to Kingston and endeavor to save that town ; that he was persuaded if the militia would join him, he could save the country with the exception of scattered buildings. But he soon afterward wrote again that the militia would not respond to his call. They were well disposed, but anxious about the im- mediate safety of their respective families, who for many miles back were removing farther from the river ; that they would come in the morning and return home in the evening, and he never knew when he had them or what his strength was. He further stated that the moment the enemy moved up the river he would take the route on the west side of the Wallkill to Kingston ; that he desired some small works to be thrown up toward Esopus Land- ing to cover it and secure the defiles leading to the town, and that every man who could fire a gun should be immediately impressed and employed on those works.
The Legislature remained in session at Kingston until Tuesday, the 7th day of October. On that day news was received by express of the reduction of the forts in the Highlands, that at once spread consternation throughout the country. The Senate adjourned until the next morning, but so many members of the Assembly at once absented themselves, some on military service, others for the necessary care of their families under the then existing circum- stances, that there was not a quorum of the House left for the transaction of business.
But the state of affairs required action upon many important measures looking to the defence of the country and the safety of the inhabitants, and therefore the members of the Senate and Assembly in attendance at Kingston formed "a joint convention for the State to provide for the public safety."
From Ulster County Mr. Pawling, of the Senate, and Messrs. Hardenbergh, Snyder, Schoonmaker, and Rea, of the Assembly, were in attendance at the convention.
Pierre Van Cortlandt, the President of the Senate, was unani- mously appointed president of the convention.
By the first resolution passed, the several county and district committees within the State, which were in being on the last pre- .vious 13th of September, and the commissioners for detecting and defeating all conspiracies in the State, were continued in being, and respectively vested with all powers and authorities they had pre- viously had and exercised, and the members thereof respectively continued in office.
19
290
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
They also directed the committees to load the vessels at once with all kinds of provisions found in the immediate vicinity of the river and ship them to Albany, giving proper receipts therefor, and also move into the interior all cattle and live stock except such as in their judgment might be necessary for the immediate use of the inhabitants ; and directed keepers to be appointed to have charge of the live stock, and with authority to impress pasture therefor.
The convention then appointed William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Abraham Yates, Johannis Snyder, Egbert Benson, Robert Har- per, Peter Pra Van Zandt, Levi Pawling, Daniel Dunscomb, Evert Bancker, Alexander Webster, William B. Whiting, and Jonathan Langdon, or any seven of them, a Council of Safety, vested in the recess of the House, with the like powers and authorities which were given to the like Council of Safety appointed by the last con- vention of the State ; that every member of the Senate and Assem- bly of the State, and of the delegates to Congress from this State, be entitled from time to time to sit and vote in said council ; that they, or any seven of them, continue a Council of Safety as long as the necessities of the State require it.
The Council of Safety met at Kingston on the Sth of October. Mr. Floyd was chosen president.
The council ordered that the prisoners confined in jail, and the fleet prison at Kingston, be forthwith sent to Hartford, Conn., to be confined in such manner and at such places as the Governor of that State should direct.
A letter to be sent to Governor Trumbull with the prisoners was adopted by the House, as follows :
" KINGSTON October 8, 1777
" SIR You will, before this time, have heard the fate of Forts Montgomery, Clinton and Constitution. While assiduously em- ployed in strengthening Gen Gates and the Northern Army, from an opinion that. the fate of America would greatly depend upon our exertions in that quarter, the passes of the Highlands have been of necessity neglected. Add to this, that General Washington had called away almost all the Continental troops, which were in those posts, and you will readily perceive that we are entirely ex- posed. In this situation, it would be imprudent to keep a number of Prisoners in this State. We have therefore, by the bearer, sent to your care the several persons mentioned in the enclosed list
" Yours etc
"PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT Pres' dt
" To Govr .Trumbull-"
291
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
On the same day the convention enclosed to General Gates the despatch which had been received from Governor Clinton in a letter, as follows :
" October 8, 1777
"SIR By the enclosed copy of the Governor's letter, you will perceive the situation we are reduced to ; and most probably will agree with us, that no time should be lost in reinforcing the South- ern army ; for which purpose it is our earnest request to you, that at least the militia from the counties of Ulster and Duchess, should be sent forward immediately if consistent with the safety of your department
" Yours etc
" PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT Pres' dt " Major Gen Gates"
At a meeting of the Council of Safety held in Kingston on the 10th of October, 1777, Colonels Pawling and Snyder were requested to issue the necessary orders to have all the male inhabitants of the districts in their respective regiments, of sixteen years and upward, capable of bearing arms, immediately equipped and pro- vided with arms and ammunition, and to appoint proper alarm posts and places of rendezvous in case of the approach of the enemy.
It was ordered that Gerard Bancker, Vice-Treasurer of the State, do immediately cause all the moneys and property belonging to the Treasury of the State to be conveyed to Rochester, and that he consult with Hendrickus Hoornbeek, Johannis G. Hardenbergh, and Comfort Sands relative to the proper places for securing the same. After having cared for the moneys, he was required to attend the council from day to day, constantly provided with £1000 to answer such drafts as the council might from time to time order.
That John Henry, commissary of the clothing store, do imme- diately cause all the clothing of the State to be packed up in pack- ages and taken to Rochester.
That John McKisson and Robert Benson, secretaries of the council, forthwith cause all the public papers under their care to be put into chests and packages and conveyed to Rochester.
It was also ordered that Abraham Hasbrouck, Joseph Gasherie, Dirck Wynkoop, Jr., Christopher Tappen, and Samuel Bayard, Jr., or any two of them, do forthwith cause the public records, which were transported to this place from the city of New York, to be put in proper packages or chests and conveyed to Rochester.
That Dirck Wynkoop and Oke Sudam cause the records of the county of Albany, of the county of Ulster, of the General Com- mittee of the county of Albany, and the records belonging to the
ה
292
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
office of the receiver-general of the colony of New York, to be put into boxes or chests and conveyed to Rochester. All the aforesaid records, papers, clothing, etc., were to be deposited in such places as the said Messrs. Hoornbeek, Hardenbergh, and Sands should recommend.
On the 11th of October the Council of Safety advised the. gov- ernor that they had ordered the militia in the vicinity of Shawan- gunk to repair to that place, and the residne to rendezvous at Kingston.
It was at the same meeting ordered that Captain Benson cause all the armament and the accompanying apparatus on board of the armed vessel under his command to be landed, and that he should then take on board such provisions as the assistant commissary- general might think proper, and take the same to Albany.
On the 10th of October a picket guard of Colonel Webb's regi- ment, under the command of Lieutenant Brown, in the neighbor- hood of Little Britain, Orange County, captured Daniel Taylor, a first lieutenant in Captain Stewart's company of the Ninth Regi- ment of the royal army, who was on his way at the time as a messenger from Sir Henry Clinton to General Burgoyne. A por- tion of the picket guard were clothed in British uniform-red coats, which had been recently captured in a British transport. Taylor, deceived by the uniform, considered himself among friends and discovered himself. When arrested he asked the name of the commanding general. He was answered, "Clinton." Deceived further by the identity of the name, he requested to be conducted into the presence of the general. Upon reaching headquarters, instead of meeting Sir Henry Clinton, the commandant of the royal troops, he found himself in the presence of the American general, Governor George Clinton. He was observed to immediately put something in his mouth and swallow it. Dr. Moses Higby, a neighboring physician, was called upon, and administered a power- ful emetic, which had the desired effect, and brought it forth ; but, although very closely watched, he had the skill to conceal it a second time. Governor Clinton supposing it to be, as it was, a silver ball containing a letter, demanded its immediate production, or in case that was not done he would instantly hang him up and cut him open to search for it. The ball was then produced. It proved to be a small silver ball of an oval form, about the size of a fusee bullet, and which closed by a screw in the middle. Within was found a letter, of which the following is a copy :
"FORT MONTGOMERY October 8th 1777
" Nous-y-voici, and nothing now between us but Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your opera-
293
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
tions. In answer to your letter of the 28th Sept. by C.C. I shall only say, I cannot presume to order, or even advise, for reasons obvious. I heartily wish you success.
"Faithfully yours
" H CLINTON " To Gen Burgoyne"
Taylor was detained, and tried by a general court-martial on the 14th of October, 1777, charged with "lurking about the camp as a spy from the enemy by order of Gen Clinton." Colonel Lewis Du Bois was president. The prisoner was found guilty, and ad- judged to suffer death, to be hanged at such time and place as the general should direct.
On the 12th of October the Council of Safety received a letter from Governor Clinton enclosing a copy of the letter thus taken from Taylor the spy. In that communication to the Council of Safety the governor, after referring to the favorable news from the north, wrote thus in regard to the intercepted letter : "By a copy of a letter from Gen Sir Henry Clinton to Burgoyne, now enclosed to you, you will observe that Clinton (Sir Henry) is no way confi- dent of their being able to form a junction of their armies, though there are nothing but bars between them. I wish nothing more than that Clinton may attempt it. I am persuaded that though the chance of war may at times occasion our prospect to appear gloomy when the enemy push hard, yet it is in that way their ruin must and will be effected ; and I greatly hope that Clinton, not wise enough to improve by example, will, like Burgoyne (flushed with his late success) give stretch to his forces, or at least send parties out to try the affections of the inhabitants ; in either case I have no doubt he will meet with the same fate. Should this not be the case, I hope in a few days to have strength enough to be the assailant."
After the enemy had obtained the control of the American forts in the Highlands, they, of course, found no difficulty in removing the obstructions at West Point ; but it was still hoped that the chevaux-de-frise which had been sunk from Nicoll's Point to Pollopel Island would form a serious obstruction. Great was the disappointment of the Americans, however, when they saw a part of the British fleet come gliding along in single file, and, after the first vessel had made a momentary stop to reconnoitre, all pass through under easy sail in rotation. The mystery was soon explained ; in building the obstruction a secret passage had been left for the river craft, and one of the artificers acquainted with its location had deserted to the British the night before and piloted the vessel through. Such wily secret enemies, coveting British
294
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
gold, appear to have wound themselves into misplaced confidence everywhere that an opportunity offered for betrayal.
The British commander, Clinton, after securing a passage through the obstructions for the fleet, despatched Captain Sir James Wallace with a galley, a schooner, and three small vessels up the river on a reconnoitring expedition. They proceeded above the Highlands on the 11th ; they went to within about three miles of Poughkeepsie and then returned, having burned Van Keuren's Mills and a number of buildings on the east side of the river, and all the sailing craft that came within their reach.
Upon the return of this reconnoitring expedition the marauding expedition of General Vaughan was organized. It consisted of the following naval vessels under the command of Captain Sir James Wallace, who sailed in the Friendship, 22 guns ; the Molloy, Cap- tain A. J. Pye ; the Diligent, Lieutenant Farnham ; the Depend- ence, Lieutenant Clarke ; the Spitfire, Lieutenant Scott; the Crane, Master Hitchcock ; the Raven, Captain Stanhope, and twenty galleys and flat-boats.
On these vessels were embarked, as near as can be estimated, about sixteen hundred men, under the command of Major-General John Vaughan. This force embraced the Seventh, the Twenty- sixth, and Twenty-third regiments. The expedition sailed from Peekskill on the 14th of October with a fair wind, and on the night of the 15th anchored off Esopus Island.
On the morning of the 15th they were discovered by the Light Horsemen on guard at New Windsor, in their progress below Butter Hill under cover of a heavy fog. Governor Clinton was at once notified, and immediately, at 9 A.M., despatched a letter by express to the Council of Safety at Kingston, informing them of the movement of the vessels, and in which he stated, " Had it not been for this movement of the enemy, I intended this day or to-morrow to have drawn my few troops from this place toward the rear of Fort Montgomery, but I must now desist, and watch their motions ; and should they land and march against me, with any considerable force, I shall be constrained with my present numbers to retreat before them, annoying them only if favorable opportunity shall offer. I was in hopes 'ere now, to have received the reinforcements from the northward, which you mentioned ; not a man of which has yet arrived. I wish Col Pawling with his regiment was with me. Since writing the above the enemy's fleet, consisting of thirty sail, have passed Newburgh and with crowded sail and fair wind, are moving quick up the river, the front of them are already at the Dunskamer. There are eight large square · rigged vessels among them, and all appear to have troops on board.
" My troops are parading to march to Kingston. Our route
295
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
will be through Shawangunk to prevent delay crossing the Paltz river.
"I leave Col Woodhull's, McClaughry's, and part of Hasbrouck's regiments as a guard along the river. Hawthorn's has gone to the southward, to guard a quantity of arms towards headquarters.
. Let the Militia be drawn out ready to oppose the enemy : I will be with you if nothing extra happens before day ; though my troops cannot
"I am Yours etc " GEO CLINTON"
In the mean time the Council of Safety continued holding two sessions daily, morning and evening, at Kingston, endeavoring to transact the necessary current business and provide for the safety of the public property and records. The last session at Kingston was held on the afternoon of the 15th of October, at the tavern of Conrad Elmendorf, situated at the southeast corner of Maiden Lane and Fair Street. The members in attendance at that session were : Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt, President, and Messrs. Yates, Dunscomb, Floyd, Van Zandt, Parks, Scott, Webster, Rowan, Harper, Pawling, and Morris.
At that meeting a letter was received by express from John Barclay, chairman of the Albany committee, giving information of the capitulation of the army of General Burgoyne. The bearer of said letter was Bernardus Hallenbeek, to whom the council at once voted a reward of £50.
CONRAD ELMENDORF'S TAVERN.
296
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
The council immediately at about five o'clock in the after- noon forwarded that despatch by express, together with a letter, to Governor Clinton, informing him that "we have just received information from the Landing, that about thirty sail of the enemy's vessels appeared opposite the Esopus Island, and are standing up the river. Some works have been thrown up below, according to your Excellency's requisition. Alarm guns have just been fired. We have not any particulars, on this occasion, more than already mentioned. We shall forward any further information to you, as it may from time to time occur, without the loss of a moment. In the meantime Sir, give us leave to assure you, that we will contrib- ute all in our power to enable the militia officers, who command here to make the best possible defence, at this post during your Excellency's absence
" I have the Honor to be Your Excellency's Most Ob't Serv't " PIERRE VAN COURTLANDT Pres' dt " His Ex Gov Clinton"
The express messenger to whom this letter and above-mentioned despatch were intrusted for transmission to the governor was Cornelius Cole, the same Light Horseman who had been summoned on the 9th of October before the Council of Safety upon complaint of neglect or refusal on his part to do his duty when called upon. He did not appear to have improved any under the warning of the Council of Safety, as instead of pressing forward with his de- spatches, to hasten if possible the arrival of the troops, he studied his ease and comfort, and stopped for the night at a farm-house by the wayside, where he was found the next morning by another and subsequent express leisurely preparing to depart on his journey. His residence, unfortunately, did not happen to be in the threat- ened village of Kingston.
In Kingston there was, of course, the greatest excitement and commotion, the inhabitants striving to get away themselves, and moving as much of their worldly possessions and valuables as possible out of reach of the vandal hordes. All who were able billeted themselves upon their friends, principally through Hurley, Marbletown, Rochester, and Warwasing.
Governor Clinton arrived with his staff about nine o'clock on the evening of the 15th, having left his army to press forward as rapidly as possible. After learning the situation of affairs, and transmitting several despatches, he left on the morning of the 16th for Marbletown. Finding that it was impossible for the main body of his army to reach Kingston in time to be of any service, he sent orders for them to halt and proceed no farther.
The British fleet, on the night of the 15th of October, came to
297
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
anchor near Esopus Island, and next morning, the 16th, they weighed anchor at an early hour, and arrived at the mouth of Rondout Creek, opposite Columbus Point, about nine o'clock. The Lady Washington galley was at that time lying in the mouth of the creek opposite Ponckhockie. The British from their fleet soon opened a heavy fire upon the said galley and upon two batteries or earthworks which had been hastily thrown up on the high ground back of Ponckhockie, since known as Breastwork Hill, and where five light pieces of cannon were in position.
The firing was continued for some time on both sides with but little damage. Soon after noon the British made preparations to land in two divisions, one, comprising about four hundred men, in Rondout Creek, where the old Cantine Dock, afterward known as the Tremper Dock, was formerly situated, and the other in the cove above Columbus Point.
The Lady Washington galley was then run up the creek and scuttled near Eddyville. A party of British seamen who were in chase of that vessel landed on the south side of the creek, where South Rondout is now situated, and burned the house of Wilhel- mus Houghteling, Jr. Other British seamen, with boats from their respective vessels, boarded and set fire to the fleet prison and other vessels lying in the creek.
The division of the English invading, or, rather, marauding force, which landed at the Ponckhockie Dock, at once attacked and carried the breastworks at the point of the bayonet. The de- fenders, only one hundred and fifty in number, under Colonels Levi Pawling and Johannis Snyder, remained until the last min- ute, then spiking the guns, retreated up the creek. The English at once burned the only houses that were then standing along the creek at the landing, three in number, and when that brave feat was accomplished, they proceeded to form a junction with the other division and attack the village of Kingston.
The main body of the force, commanded by General Vaughan in person, landed on the beach in the cove just above Columbus Point. They seized a negro and compelled him to act as guide, and then took the direction to Kingston, mounted the hill, and united with the other division, which had marched up the landing road, at or near the present junction of Union and Delaware avenues. On their way they fired the house of Moses Yeomans, but the fire was extinguished by his slaves before much damage was done.
General Vaughan was met by Jacobus Lefferts, a Tory from the city of New York, who was residing with his family in Kingston. He informed him that a despatch had been received in Kingston the evening before alleging the capitulation of General Burgoyne.
The invading force marched to the village without resistance. Some accounts state that there was a scattering fire kept up by
1
வீ ரம்
298
HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
a few men stationed in the woods near where the City Hall now stands, but the writer has been told by a number of Kingsto- nians living at that time, some of whom were members of the militia, that there was a small detachment of militia stationed in the woods in that locality, about one hundred strong, and the men were anxious and begged to be permitted to fire and pick off the officers : but the officer in command would not allow, but for- bade it. Such, in the early days of the writer, was the traditional and generally received opinion in this vicinity, confirmed by the statements of contemporaries. If the commandant of that detach- ment had not been the nobler man of the two, and thus careful of the lives of British officers, General Vaughan might not have lived to set forth in his official report the wilful and base falsehood, as a justification for his act of vandalism, that " on our (the British troops) entering the town, they (the citizens) fired from their houses, which induced me to reduce the place to ashes, which I accordingly did, not leaving a house." The truth is that the people had fled from their homes, and no resistance at all was offered after the troops reached the village. The manufacture and promulgation of the falsehood, however, shows that he appreciated the villainy of his conduct, and was not altogether devoid of shame.
As soon as the troops reached the village they were divided into small parties and led through the different streets, firing the houses and outbuildings as they proceeded. They did not tarry long, but made haste to complete their work of destruction, as they were informed by the Tory Lefferts, and knew from other sources, that Governor Clinton was en route with his army to meet them, and could not be very far distant. They therefore hastened in their work, gathered what plunder they could, and returned to their ships within three hours of the time of their embarkation.
Thus was the village of Kingston, then the third place in size and importance in the State of New York, wantonly destroyed and the inhabitants punished for their patriotism by the destruction of nearly all their worldly stores, and in some cases reduced to actual poverty and want.
The advance division of Governor Clinton's forces reached the high grounds at Kuyckuyt, on the Greenkill road, overlooking the village, in time to see the whole village in flames and the invading forces retiring in haste to their ships.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.