USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The history of the town of Flatbush in Kings County, Long Island > Part 10
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Not knowing at what point the British might make their first attack, Washington sought to fortify the city and obstruct the passage into the harbor of New-York. He also threw up certain fortifications in Brooklyn and Flatbush, to guard the approach to the city, by Long- Island. His army at this time, amounted to 17,225, of whom only 10,514, were fit for duty. These too, he says, in one of his letters, were little other than raw troops, and much scattered, some being fifteen miles apart. It soon became evident that the British meditated a landing on Long-Island. Troops were accordingly thrown over from
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the city of New-York, and extended in different posts from the highlands near the Narrows, to Wallaboght Bay. The command of all these posts had been entrusted to General Greene, who had studiously made himself ac- quainted with the location of all the surrounding country, so as to be able to defend the American army not only, but take all advantages which the various defiles would afford to attack the British. But unfortunately only a few days before the battle, General Greene was taken very sick, and the command devolved on General Putnam, who although one of the bravest of the brave, was not suffi- ciently acquainted with the face of the country. Put- nam had two brigadiers under him, General Sullivan, who had command of the troops not immediately within the lines, and General Lord Stirling, who was stationed in and about Gowanus Bay and the Narrows. To prevent property falling into the hands of the British, an order was issued commanding the farmers on the west end of Long-Island, to drive away their cattle and take their grain which had just been harvested, from their barns and stack it in the fields, that it might be the more readily destroyed. Accordingly, all the cattle in Flatbush and the towns adjacent, were driven first as far east as the woods, in and about New-Lots, and subsequently into Queens County. Some of these were recovered, but great numbers of them were lost; the American Government, however, made honorable reparation for all such losses. The grain also, in conformity with the order, was taken out of the barns and put on stacks. Some of these were subsequently set on fire by the American army on their retreat, to prevent their falling into the hands of the British; but a few of these stacks of grain were saved, particularly those in the southern section of the village.
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An entrenchment was thrown up in Flatbush across the road leading through the village, a little south of the present residence of Judge Martense. It was in the form of something like a half moon, lying diagonally across the road, and extending on the land of Lefferts Martense on the west, and of Isaac Cortelyou on the east-having a ditch of sufficient depth on the north. A small redoubt on which a few pieces of artillery were mounted, was also put up at the Valley-Grove, to guard the passage through the port road, and by the direct route to Brooklyn. Here stood a large white oak tree, mentioned in the patent of Governor Dongan, as one of the bound- ary lines of the town of Flatbush. This was cut down and thrown across the road; and in consequence of the then dense woods on the south, and the swamp on the north, it formed a very considerable abattis. The late Mr. Simon Voris assisted in cutting down this tree.
During this time, preparations were making by the British, to effect a landing on Long-Island. They were frequently visited by persons from the shore and surround- ing towns, who no doubt gave them every information con- cerning the positions of the American army, and furnished materials for a draft of the whole adjacent country; for they were well acquainted with the position of the hills, and the three roads or defiles by which they could be passed. On the 22d day of August, a landing was effected by the British troops at Bath, under cover of the guns of their fleet, without opposition. Gen. Howe established his headquarters at New-Utrecht. The American troops who were stationed along the coast, consisting of a regiment of Pennsylvanians under Col. Hand, retired to Flatbush, with the view of guarding the principal pass to Brooklyn. Lord Cornwallis pushed on immediately with the reserve
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and some other forces to the same place, but finding the Americans strongly entrenched, and the pass through by the port or Valley Grove defended, in compliance with his orders he did not risk any attack. In the meantime the inhabitants of the town had generally forsaken it. We who have been so long accustomed to the sweets of peace know but little of the consternation occasioned by an ap- proaching invading army. The inhabitants had reason to apprehend that should they remain at home they would be cruelly treated, and perhaps massacred. They were regarded as rebels, to whom but little quarter would be shown. Hence as expeditiously as possible after the land- ing of the British troops, the inhabitants of the village either sent or carried off the females and children, pro- viding them with what little furniture and conveniences they could. Some were sent to New-Jersey, but the greater proportion took refuge in Queens County. It was a scene of great confusion, and of no ordinary distress. Compelled to leave their homes and the greater part of their property, and not knowing what might befal their persons or their families, they committed themselves to the good providence of their God. Some had not gone far before they saw the smoke ascending from the neigh- borhood of their farms, and knew not but their dwellings were already in flames. With one family, indeed, this was the case. The American riflemen, on the approach of the British towards the evening of the 22d, set fire to many of the stacks of grain, particularly in the northern part of the town, and also fired the house of Peter Lefferts. Other houses in that section of the village were also burnt, but not at that time, of which we shall presently speak.
The main body of the American troops stationed in about Flatbush, then retired to the woods on the north of the
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town. The British army then under command of Lord Cornwallis, took post at Flatbush. They encamped in a diagonal direction across the village. Their tents extended from the little lane over the farms of Hendrick Vander- veer, of J. C. Bergen, of Jacobus Vandeventer, and so on, in a northeasterly line towards the road leading to New- Lots. The main body however, were on the south of the church and west of the main street. They soon possessed themselves of the intrenchment which had been thrown up by the Americans, in the north of the village. To de- fend themselves against an expected attack from the American troops, who, from the woods, kept up a scattered firing, they knocked out large port holes in the house of Adrian Hegeman, which stood on the spot where Mrs. Cynthia Lefferts is now living. This house was built of stone, and the object of making the holes in the wall, was to enable them to fire their cannon at the Americans un- der cover. The house of Mr. Lefferts Martense, on the opposite side of the road, was also taken possession of, and prepared as a sort of fortification. It was built of wood, fronting south, and having a roof on the north side, which extended to within a few feet of the ground. In this roof they cut many holes, through which they could discharge their muskets. Still farther to defend themselves, or rather to render their firing upon the Americans more ef- fective, they set fire to the houses which stood between them and the woods, and from behind which, often the American riflemen would discharge their guns, to the no small annoyance and injury of the British. These houses were those of Jeremiah Vanderbilt and Leffert Lefferts, on the west, and Evert Hegeman, on the east side of the road. On what day these were burnt we know not, but they were destroyed by the British, probably on the second or third day after their encampment in this place.
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On the first or second evening of their arrival in Flat- bush, a drunken revel took place among the British. In rifling the houses, they were directed by John Rubel, to a quantity of wine, which had been left in the house of Mr. David Clarkson, who lived in the dwelling now occupied by Mr. J. C. Bergen. Mr. Clarkson was a strong whig, and after they had vented their spite at him, and his principles, by destroying his furniture, and abus- ing his premises in a shameful manner, their attention was called, under the direction of their guide, to his wines. These, the greater part of which were specially imported and were very choice, Mr. Clarkson had bottled and stored away in an upper apartment, in the wing of his house, and had built up a partition to conceal them. Rubel had seen this, and was well acquainted with the store thus concealed, and being friendly to the British cause, he gave them information of the fact, and actually guided and assisted them on the occasion. The wine and other liquor was of course procured, and the officers and men indulged freely in the use of it. The back piazza and yard of Mr. Clarkson's house, exhibited a complete drunken frolic. Had the Americans indeed been aware of the situation of the British at this time, a very serious check might have been put to their advance, if not their whole plan subverted.
The Hessian troops under General de Heister, having landed on the 25th, were sent forward on the same day to Flatbush, to compose the centre of the army. The plan of attack was now fixed. The right wing of the English army was committed to Major General Grant, and was de- signed to operate against the left wing of the Americans, under Lord Stirling. The centre was committed to Gen- eral de Heister, and was to attempt the pass defended by
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General Sullivan, at the Port, while the left wing of the British under General Clinton and Lords Percy and Corn- wallis, were, by a circuitous route to reach the right wing of the American army, which was under command of Colo- nel Miles, and stationed a little to the eastward of Bed- ford, on the Jamaica road. The principal hope of success was upon this wing. The plan was well laid, and proved successful. It was, that while General Grant and the Hes- sians of General De Heister should disquiet and divert the Americans on the right and in the centre, the left wing should surprise them by a circuitous route, and thus fall upon them in the flank and rear. The English hoped that as this post was the most distant from the centre of the army, the advanced guards would there be found more feeble, and perhaps more negligent, and that at all events, they would not be able to defend themselves against a force so superior, as this right wing of the English, was very numerous and entirely composed of select troops. Nor did they judge incorrectly. In order to put this plan thus wisely formed, into execution, on the evening of the 26th, of August, about 9 o'clock, General Clinton commanding the van guard, which consisted of light infantry: Lord Percy the centre, where were found the grenadiers, the ar- tillery and cavalry, and Lord Cornwallis the rear guard, followed by the baggage, some regiments of infantry and of heavy artillery, moved from Flatbush, with ad- mirable silence and order towards Flatlands. They were seen by Captain Cornelius Vanderveer, who stated, that although he was near the fence fronting his house, on the road, he could scarcely hear them. With such silence and order did this large body of men move, being covered by the darkness of the night. They were on this occasion aided by certain guides, who conducted them till they reached
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the point of attack. These were N ******* W ********* , J **** W ****** , and J ******* R *****. It has been said in defence of the conduct of these persons, that they were forced to act in this capacity, and that their lives were at stake. This may all be, but their agency on this occa- sion was most disastrous to the American cause. The British had as we have intimated, drafts of the country. They marched to Flatlands village, then took the road leading to Flatlands neck, and came out at Shoemakers Bridge. Here N. W. their chief guide at this place, was expressly cautioned, that if he led them wrong he would be shot. He appears to have conducted them from this spot across the fields to what is now called Howard's. They arrived two hours before day, on the morning of the 27th, within half a mile of the Jamaica road. Colonel Miles, of Pennsylvania, who had charge of the right wing of the American army this night, performed his service with but little exactness, and did not perceive the ap- proach of the enemy. They had marched several miles, and were now in fact two miles in the rear of his guard, without his being knowing to the fact. Nor had General Sullivan, who had charge of all the troops in advance of the camp at Brooklyn, any advice of what was pass- ing in this quarter. One of his patrols, on horseback, had been fallen in with by General Clinton during the night, and made prisoners. But though disappointed in not hearing from this patrol, General Sullivan neglected to send out fresh scouts, probably expecting that the Eng- lish would direct their principal efforts against the right wing, under Lord Sterling, as that was nearest to their head quarters. Thus he suffered the American army to be surprised, and almost before the battle commenced, the fate of the day determined. General Clinton having
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halted for a few hours, and refreshed his troops, and learning from the prisoners whom he took, that the road to Jamaica was not guarded, hastened to avail himself of the circumstance, and occupied it by a rapid movement. Without loss of time, he immediately bore to his left, towards Bedford, and seized an important defile, which the Americans had left unguarded. From this moment the success of the day was decided in favor of the Eng- lish. Lord Percy came up with his corps, and the entire column descended by the village of Bedford, into the more level ground, which lay between the hills and the camp of the Americans.
In the mean time, General Grant, in order to divert the Americans from the events which took place upon the route through Flatlands, and the attack to be made on their left wing, endeavored to disquiet them on his right. Accordingly, about midnight, as if he meant to force his way through, he put himself in motion and attacked the militia of New-York and Pennsylvania, who were sta- tioned along the Gowanus road. They at first gave way, but General Parsons, who had command of them, having arrived, and having occupied an eminence, renewed the combat, and maintained his position until Brigadier Gen- eral Lord Stirling came to his assistance with fifteen hun- dred men. The action was extremely animated, and vic- tory favored neither the one side nor the other. But it was all in vain, as in fact, the choice of the British army were already in the rear of the American troops on the left. As soon as firing was heard from the right wing of the English, under General Clinton, who, as we have stated, had now gained possession of Bedford, which was not long after the break of day, on the 27th, General De Heister with his Hessian troops, moved forward with the
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centre of the army from Flatbush, and commenced an at- tack upon the line in command of General Sullivan. The attack was valiantly sustained by General Sullivan, in person, but they soon found that their situation was very critical, for General Clinton fell upon their left flank, and they now discovered to their great surprise, that they were in fact surrounded by the enemy. As soon as they were apprised of their danger, they sounded a retreat, and re- tired in good order towards their camp, bringing off their artillery. But the royal troops, under General Clinton, who occupied the ground on their rear, charged them furiously. They were compelled to throw themselves back into the neighboring woods, lying between Flatbush and Brooklyn. Here they met again with the Hessians, who repulsed them upon the English, and thus they were driven several times by the one against the other, with great loss. They continued for some time in this desper- ate situation, till at length, several regiments animated by an heroic valor, opened their way through the midst of the enemy, and gained the camp of General Putnam, at Brooklyn: some few escaped through the woods, but the remainder, together with their commander, General Sullivan, were made prisoners.
The left wing and centre of the Americans being dis- comfited, the English, to secure a complete victory, made a rapid movement against the rear of the right wing, which in ignorance of what had befallen the other corps, was engaged with General Grant. As soon as they re- ceived the intelligence of this disaster, they retired. But now they encountered the English, who had cut off their retreat. They had been engaged from 8 o'clock in the morning, until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in maintaining their post and charging the enemy. On ascertaining their
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perilous situation, they were greatly disconcerted. Some of these brave men betook themselves to the woods. But a large number of them endeavored to make their way to the camp at Brooklyn, through the marshes and mill- ponds of Gowanus Cove. Unfortunately many of them were here drowned or perished in the mud: a very small number only escaped the hot pursuit of the victors, and reached the camp in safety. Lord Stirling himself, who had charge of this wing, was taken prisoner. Almost the entire regiment of Maryland, under Colonel Smallwood, consisting of young men of the best families in that prov- ince, was cut to pieces. No less than two hundred and fifty nine men of this regiment were destroyed.
The fate of the battle was now decided. The total loss of the Americans in killed, wounded and prisoners, ac- cording to Dr. Gordon, was about fifteen hundred, but some have estimated the loss as high as three thousand. Among the prisoners, besides the two Generals whom we have mentioned, were many officers of high rank. The unfortunate issue of this battle, was doubtless to be ascribed in part to the illness of General Greene. He had superintended the erection of the works, and was thoroughly acquainted with the ground. In hope of his recovery, General Washington had deferred sending over a successor, till the urgency of affairs rendered it abso- lutely necessary, and then General Putnam took the com- mand, without any previous knowledge of the posts be- yond the lines which had been fortified, or of the passes by which the enemy could make their approach. Nor had he the time to acquire this knowledge before the action. Had General Greene been on the ground, all the roads or passes would have been so secured and defended as that the royal army in attempting or gaining them,
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would have been so crippled as to have been arrested with regard to all future successful operations. General Sulli- van was also too inattentive and confident. He exercised no watchfulness over the tories and royalists, who were around him, but suffered them to go back and forth as they pleased. One of the American Chaplains, fearing that the British would make a circuitous march and take to the Jamaica road, asked him whether he had suffi- ciently guarded that pass, when Sullivan replied, in his vain confidence, " Yes : so that an angel cannot force it; " and yet to his neglect in this particular, the whole disas- ters of the day are to be attributed.
The British after this victory encamped in front of the American lines, and on the 28th, and 29th, frequent skir- mishes occurred between the two armies. At length, on the 29th, Washington, at the suggestion of General Mif- flin, who had been on Long-Island, and knew the situa- tion of the troops, called a council of war, and a retreat was agreed upon, General Mifflin offering to command the rear. This was a wise council, inasmuch, as in front of the army was a numerous and victorious enemy, with a formidable train of artillery. The British fleet indicated an intention to pass up the East River, and cut off all hope of a retreat. The troops at Brooklyn were lying without shelter from heavy rains, and were moreover, fatigued and dispirited. This difficult movement was effected with great skill and judgment, and with complete success. We should be glad had we time, to narrate all the circum- stances connected with it. But we can only give a very general account of it. After dark, on the evening of the 29th, orders were received and communicated to the several regiments, to hold themselves in readiness for an attack upon the enemy, to take place in the course of the night.
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This excited much speculation among the officers, who knew not the immediate design, and no little concern among the soldiers, whose arms were much injured from exposure to the rain. The embarkation of the troops was committed to General Mc Dougal. It was to commence at 8 o'clock, in the evening, but a strong north east wind and a rapid tide, caused a delay of several hours. At 11 o'clock, the wind sprung up from the south west, which greatly favoured the enterprize, as it enabled them to use the sail boats, which they had, as well as the barges. Providence further interposed in favor of the retreating army, by sending a thick fog about 2 o'clock in the morn- ing, (August 30th,) which hung over Long-Island, while on New-York side, it was clear. The fog and wind con- tinued to favor the retreat till the whole army, nine thou- sand in number, with all the field artillery, such heavy ordnance as was of most value, ammunition, provisions, horses, cattle, &c, were safely over. The water was so re- markably smooth as to admit of the row boats being loaded within a few inches of the gunnel. General Wash- ington, though often entreated, would not leave the Island till General Mifflin with his covering party, left the lines at about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 30th. The se- crecy and skill, with which the whole movement was ef- fected, may be conceived, from the fact that the enemy were so nigh, that the sound of their pickaxes and shovels were distinctly heard by the Americans. Only about half an hour after the lines were finally abandoned, the fog cleared off, and the British were seen taking possession of the American works. Four boats were on the river, three half way over, full of troops: the fourth, within reach of the enemies fire from the shore, was compelled to return. But she had only three men in her, who had tar-
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ried behind to plunder. The whole army was safely landed on the north side of the river, and never was there a retreat better conducted, or a more signal interposition of a kind providence. Had not the wind changed, not more than half of the army could possibly have crossed, and the remainder must have fallen, with all the artillery and stores, into the hands of the English. And had it not been for the fog, their movements would all have been discovered in time, greatly to have discomfited them.
But we must now return to Flatbush. Here, after the battle, were many American prisoners. Lord Cornwallis appears to have established himself for a little while at least, in the place. Among the prisoners taken previous to, and during the battle, was Cornelius Vanderveer, the father of the present John C. Vanderveer, Esq. He was the cap- tain of the militia of the town of Flatbush. Having sent off his family to New-Jersey, he attempted to secure his furniture, while he remained in and about his premises. He had hid his arms and accoutrements in a thicket, near the house, and having observed on a certain evening how the guards and pickets of the British were placed, he went in the dead of the night, accompanied by a faithful ser- vant, called Adam, to regain them. They approached the place where they were concealed, by a circuitous route, and having possessed himself of his arms, he put them on, the more easily to carry them. He then proposed to his colored man, to take a nearer and more direct route back. But in doing so, he came unexpectedly upon a guard, which had been placed after dark, in a position of which he was not aware. The consequence was, that he was made a prisoner, and being taken with his accoutre- ments on, and his arms in his hands, he had not much mercy to expect. He was carried to the captain of the
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guard. Here he was told by several, that there was no hope for him, he must be hung, and they actually put the rope around his neck. In the morning he was taken to the church, before Lord Cornwallis, who sent him with some others, under guard to New-Utrecht, where he was confined in a barn, with a number of other prisoners. Here he was in various ways basely treated and insulted. But while there, a Captain Miller, with whom he had been on terms of intimacy, happened to pass by, and inquired of him how he came there, and after being informed of his case, he said he would try and effect his release. A few minutes after, a file of soldiers came and took him before one of General Howe's Aids, by the name of Cuyler, who was from Albany, who inquired and questioned him about his situation. He asked him if he would take a protection and go home on his farm. Captain Vanderveer answered that he would, provided they would not compel him to fight against his country. Cuyler replied, with an oath, that they had fighting men enough, but as he had prom- ised him a protection, he would give him one. He pre- sented it to him accordingly, and said he might go to the rebels again, for what he cared. Captain Vanderveer took the protection and remained on his farm, but was abused and robbed by the Hessians, who paid no respect to his protection, and took the last shirt he had from his back, so that he was compelled to walk about with an old great coat, which he found, to cover his nakedness, until he could get other clothes. His faithful colored man Adam, continued with him all the while.
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