USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 20
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" The first battle was accidental-neither of the generals meditated an attack at the time; Burgoyne's movement being merely to take ground on the heights in front of the great ra- vine, to give his several corps their proper places in line, to embrace our front and cover his transports, stores, provisions, and baggage in the rear of his left ; and on our side, the de- fences of our camp being not half completed, and reinforce- ments daily arriving, it was not General Gates' policy to court an action. The misconception of the adverse chiefs confined them to the ground they casually occupied at the beginning of the action, and prevented a single manœuvre during one of the longest, warmest, and most obstinate battles fought in America. General Gates believed that his antagonist intended to attack him, and circumstances seemed to justify the like conclusion on the part of' General Burgoyne ; and as the thickness and depth of the intervening woods concealed the position and movements of cither army from its adversary, sound caution
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. obliged the respective commanders to guard every assailable point ; thus the flower of the British army, the grenadiers and light infantry, one thousand five hundred strong, were posted on an eminence to cover its right, and stood by their arms, in- active spectators of the conflict, until near sunset ; while Gene- ral Gates was obliged to keep his right wing on post, to pre- vent the enemy from forcing that flank by the plain bordering on the Hudson. Had either of the generals been properly ap- prised of the dispositions of his antagonist, a serious blow might have been struck on our left, or on the enemy's right ; but, al- though nothing is more common, it is as illiberal as it is unjust, to determine the merits of military operations by events ex- clusively. It was not without experience, that the. Roman erected temples to Fortune. Later times might afford motive for edifices, in which genius or wisdom would have no votarie
"The theatre of action was such, that although the combatar changed ground a dozen times in the course of the day, the cc test terminated on the spot where it began. This may be expla ed in a few words. The British line was formed on an emine? in a thin pine wood, having before it Freeman's farm, an - long field, stretching from the centre towards its right, le ground in front sloping gently down to the verge of this fd, which was bordering on the opposite side by a close wood he sanguinary scene lay in the cleared ground, between the ni- nence occupied by the enemy and the wood just describec the fire of our marksmen was too deadly to be withstood 'the enemy in line, and when they gave way and broke, our me ush- ing from their covert, pursued them to the eminence, here, having their flanks protected, they rallied, and charag in turn, drove us back into the wood, from whence a dreaul fire would again force them to fall back; and in this majer did the battle fluctuate, like the waves of a stormy sea, wi alter- nate advantage, for four hours, without one momen inter- mission. The British artillery fell into our possessiont every charge, but we could neither turn the pieces upon t' enemy, nor bring them off; the wood prevented the last, anche want of a match the first, as the lint-stock was invariably arried off,
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and the rapidity of the transitions did not allow us time to pro. vide one. It was truly a gallant conflict, in which death, by familiarity, lost his terrors, and certainly a drawn battle, as uight alone terminated it."
In the mean time, while the Americans were engaged with the army of Burgoyne, Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of all the British forces in America, was not idle. On the fourth of October, he embarked, at New-York, with upwards of three thousand men, and sailing up the Hudson, landed at Ver- planck's Point, on the east side of that river, on the next day. General Putnam, who commanded at this place, retired with- out delay to the heights in rear of that place. On the evening of the same day,' a part of the troops re-embarked, and the fleet moved up the river to Peekskill Neck, in order to mask King's Ferry, which was then below them. This is a commo- dious landing-place, not far above which the mountains, deno- minated the Highlands, commence with steep and almost in- accessible declivities, to the water's edge. The next morning, t dawn of day, the troops destined for the enterprise, debarked n the west side of Stoney Point, and immediately began their arch through the mountains, into the rear of Forts Clinton d Montgomery. The debarkation was not made without ing observed by the Americans ; but the morning was so By foggy, that the numbers could not be ascertained ; and a lge fire, which was afterwards perceived at the landing-place, Jeto the opinion, that a party had only gone on shore to burn 60; store-houses which had been erected there. Meanwhile tliganœuvres of the vessels, and the appearance of the small dethment left at Verplanck's Point, induced General Putnam to lieve that the meditated attack was on Fort Independence. To is object his attention was directed, and it was not until the hvy firing from the other side of the river, announced to him e assault on Forts Clinton and Montgomery, that the real wws of the enemy were disclosed. He immediately de- tacheGive hundred men to reinforce the garrisons of those forts, It before these could cross the river, the works had been stormer and were in possession of the British.
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The enemy, having left a battalion at the pass of 'Dunder- burg, to keep up a communication with the fleet, and cover his retreat, in case of misfortune, continued his march to the .- neighbourhood of Fort Clinton. There they separated, and Colonel Campbell, with nine hundred men, made a circuit round the forest of Deane, to fall on the back of Fort Mont- gomery, while General Vaughan, with twelve hundred men, accompanied by Sir Henry Clinton, and followed by the rear- guard, under General Tryon, advanced against Fort Clinton.
Governor Clinton, who commanded in the forts, made dispo- sitions to oppose the enemy, by sending out parties to harass him in his march, but these soon gave way and returned. The garrisons when summoned, having refused to surrender. the at- tack commenced at about five on both forts. The works were defended with resolution, and were maintained until dark, when the enemy entered them in different places ; and the defence being no longer possible, part of the garrison were made pri- soners, while the rest escaped. General James Clinton, although wounded, made his escape. Lieutenant-colonels Livingston aud Bray, and Majors Logan and Hamilton were among the prisoners. The loss sustained by the garrisons was about two hundred and fifty men. That of the enemy was supposed to be greater, but Sir Henry Clinton, in his official letter, states it at less than two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. Among the former were Lieutenant-colonel Campbell, and two other field officers.
By the capture of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, it became apparent that the object of the enemy was to destroy the stores at Peekskill, seize the posts in the mountains, and destroy :he line of communication between the eastern and middle states. Peekskill had always been an object of the first importance to the Americans. Great pains had been taken to render this position, which is naturally very strong, still stronger.' The de- fences most relied on were Forts Montgomery and Clinton, on the west bank of the Hudson, on high ground, very difficult of access, and separated from each other by a small stream. These forts were too much elevated to be battered from the VOL. 11h
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water with effect, and the hills on which they were erected, too steep to be ascended by troops landing at the foot of them ; and the mountains, which commence five or six miles below them, are so very lofty and rugged, and the defiles so narrow; that the approaches to them are easily defended.
To prevent the enemy from passing these forts with his ship- ping, chevaux-de frise had been sunk in the river, and a boom extended from bank to bank. This boom was covered with large chains, stretched at some distance in its front, for the purpose of breaking the force of any vessel sailing against it. These works were not only defended by the guns of the fort, but by a frigate and several galleys stationed above them. . Fort Independence is four or five miles below Forts Montgo- mery and Clinton, on the east side of the Hudson, on a high point of land, and Fort Constitution is about six miles above them, on an island near the eastern shore.
The officer commanding at the station, which comprehended the whole extent of the Hudson, from Kingsbridge, northwardly to Albany, usually had his head-quarters at Peekskill, just be- low Fort Independence, and on the same side of the river. General Putnam at this time commanded the station of the Hudson, with two thousand men, exclusive of some militia. . These forces, although not competent for all the posts on the . Hudson station, would, had a proper disposition been made of them, been abundantly competent to the defence of the forts, against any number which the enemy could bring from New- York. But this was not done by General Putnam, who seems to have been at a loss how to act.
.The boom and chains across the Hudson were taken, with the Forts Montgomery and Clinton, and the frigates and gal- leys were burnt, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.
As soon as Governor Clinton joined General Putnam, it was resolved not to attempt the defence of Peekskill, but to remove as many of the stores as possible, and retire further up the river.
Forts Independence and Constitution were evacuated the
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next day, and Putnam and Clinton retreated to Fishkill. The same measures had been taken at Fort Constitution as at Forts Montgomery and Clinton, by sinking impediments in the river, 'and by stretching chains across it to prevent the vessels of the enemy from ascending ; but they were all abandoned, without an attempt to defend them. After burning Continental Vil- lage, where stores to a large amount had been collected, Gene- ral Vaughan, with a detachment, proceeded up the river as far as Kingston, in the county of Ulster, which he also destroyed.
General Putnam, whose army was soon augmented by the militia of New-York, Connecticut, and New-Jersey, to six thousand men, detached General Parsons, with two thousand, to regain possession of Peekskill and the passes in the High- lands.
General Gates, on receiving intelligence of the capture of Fort Montgomery, and other posts on the Hudson, and of the retreat of General Putnam and Governor Clinton, sent five thousand men to their assistance. But, before their arrival, General Vaughan had decamped from Kingston, and descended . the Hudson to New-York, destroying in his way all the forts.
The military stores which fell into the enemy's hands were very considerable. The Highlands having been deemed a position, which more than any other, united the advantages of convenience and security, magazines to a large amount had been collected there. But these were nearly all destroyed by the enemy in a few days, and without meeting with much op- position.
Though the losses of the United States were great, very little benefi: accrued to the enemy. The enterprise was under- taken at too late a period to save Burgoyne and his army ; and although the enemy acquired the passes of the Highlands, they were unable to hold them. They had reduced to ashes, every village, and almost every dwelling-house along the river ; but this wanton destruction served rather to inflame than to subdue.
The fate of Burgoyne was in a measure decided, by the bat- tle on the nineteenth of September. The issue of that battle, demonstrated to both armies, that the continental troops, un- ,
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der General Gates, were more than equal to him in the field ; . and it was not difficult to foresee, that New England, more populous, more united, more zealous, and better armed than the middle and southern states, would pour forth such aux- iliary forces, as would be irresistible. That Burgoyne did not relinquish the enterprise as desperate, and fall back on Ti- . conderoga and Crown Point, is perhaps the only error com- mitted by him. In the affair of Bennington, there was more of fortune than of bad judgment. The presence of General Stark at the latter place, with the New Hampshire militia, was adventitious. This circumstance, which prevented the success of the expedition against the magazines, and destroyed the party, was prepared by no previous arrangement. Without the New Hampshire militia, Colonel Warner, with three hundred conti- nentals, would have been unable to have prevented the destruc- tion of the stores.
The army of Burgoyne, when it set out from Ticonderoga, amounted to ten thousand men. The whole number which surrendered at Saratoga, was five thousand seven hundred and fifty-two. By the surrender, the Americans acquired a fine train of artillery, seven thousand stand of arms, and clothing for seven thousand men, besides other military stores. The defeat and capture of this army may be ranked among the most splendid achievements of the revolution. The universal joy which it produced in America was extreme. Many imagined the contest nearly at an end. The French court, soon after hearing of the event, acknowledged the Independence of the United States, and entered into a formal treaty.
The thanks of Congress were voted to General Gates and his army. Colonel Wilkinson, the Adjutant-general in the northern department, was appointed a Brigadier-general.
The Congress directed, that General Putnam should join Washington, with two thousand five hundred men; and that 'General Gates should take the command of the army on the Hudson station, with unlimited powers to call for aids of mili- tia, from the New England states, and from the states of New- York and New-Jersey.
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The loss of the army under Burgoyne, disabled the enemy from detaining Ticonderoga, Mount Independence and Crown . Point. After destroying these fortresses, and the heavy stores collected at them, the garrisons retired to Isle Aux Noix, and St. Johns.
The effects produced by these events on the British cabinet, avere. great. It began to doubt whether the colonies would be subdued. Parliament met on the 20th of November, and, as usual, an address was proposed, in answer to the speech of his Majesty, approving the conduct of the administration. The Earl of Chatham moved to amend the address, by introducing a clause recommending to his Majesty a cessation of hostilities, and the commencement of a treaty of ¡conciliation, "to restore peace and liberty to America, strength and happiness to Eng- land, security and prosperity to both countries." In the course of his observations in support of his motion, he said, " but my lords, who is the man, that in addition to the disgraces and mis- chiefs of war, has dared to authorize and associate to our arms, the tommahawk and scalping knife of the savage ? to call into civilized alliance, the wild and inhuman inhabitants of the woods? to delegate to the merciless Indian, the defence of dis- puted rights, and to wage the horrors of his barbarous warfare against our brethren? my lords, these enormities cry aloud for redress and punishment. Unless thoroughly done away, it will be a stain on the national character. It is not the least of our national misfortunes, that the strength and character of our army are impaired. Familiarised to the horrid scenes of savage cruelty, it can no longer boast of the noble and generous prin- ciples which dignify a soldier. No longer can you sympathize with the dignity of the royal banner, nor feel the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war, that makes ambition virtue. What makes ambition virtue ? the sense of honour. But is this sense of honour consistent with the spirit of plunder, or the practice of murder ? can it flow from mercenary motives, or can it prompt to cruel deeds ?"
The conduct of the administration, however, received the ap- probation of large majorities, in both houses. The disaster of
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Burgoyne was soon known, and the mortification which it occa- sioned, was excessively great. A reluctant confession of the calamity was made known in Parliament, and a desire to restore peace, on any terins short of the dismemberment of the empire, . found its way into the cabinet of St. James.
But to return to the campaign in the middle states. Soon after Sir William Howe had landed his troops in Maryland, he issued a declaration to the inhabitants. In this he informed them, that he should keep the strictest order among his troops, and that the most exemplary punish ... ent should be infheted upon those who should dare to plunder the property, or molest the persons of any of his Majesty's well disposed subjects.
The royal army, amounting to sixteen thousand men, set out from the eastern heads of the Chesapeake, on the third of Sep- tember, with a spirit which promised to compensate for the va- rious delays which had hitherto wasted the campaign in this quarter. They advanced with boldness, till they were within two miles of the American army, which was posted at Newtown. Washington soon changed his position, and took post on the high ground near Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine Creek, with an intention of disputing the passage. It was the wishi, but by no means the interest, of the Americans to try their strength in an engagement. Their regular troops were not only greatly inferior in discipline, but in numbers, to the royal army. The opinion of the inhabitants, though founded on no circumstances more substantial than their wishes, imposed a species of necessity on Washington to keep his army in front of the enemy, and to risk an action for the security of Philadel- phia. Instead of this, had he taken the ridge ot mountains on his right, the British must have respected his numbers, and probably would have followed him up the country. In this manner the campaign might have been wasted away, in a mea- sure fatal to the invaders ; but the bulk of the American people were so impatient of delays, and had such a conceit of the num- bers and prowess of their army, that they could not compre- hend the wisdom and policy of manœuvres to shun a general engagement.
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On this occasion necessity dictated, that a sacrifice should be made on the altar of public opinion. A general action was therefore hazarded on the eleventh of September. This took place at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine, a small stream that empties itself into Christina Creek, near its conflux with the . Delaware.
The British army advanced, at day-break, in two columns, commanded by General Knyphausen and Lord Cornwallis. The first took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made a show of passing it, in front of the main body of the Ainericans ; at the same time the other column moved upon the west side of the Brandywine to its forks, and crossed both its branches, about two o'clock in the afternoon, and marched down on the east side, with the view of turning the right wing of the Ameri- cans. This they effected, and compelled them to retreat with great loss. General Knyphausen amused the Americans with the appearance of crossing the ford, but did not attempt it, until Lord Cornwallis, having crossed above and moved down on the opposite side, had commenced the attack. Knyphausen then crossed the ford, and attacked the troops posted for its de- fence. These, after a severe conflict, were compelled to give way. The retreat of the Americans soon became general, and was continued to Chester. The final issue of battles often de- pends on small circumstances, which no human prudence can control. One of these occurred here, and prevented Washing- ton from executing a bold design, to effect which his troops were actually in motion. This was, to have crossed the Bran- dywine, and attacked Knyphausen, while General Sullivan and Lord Stirling should keep Cornwallis in check. In the most critical moment, Washington received intelligence that the column of Lord Cornwallis had been only making a feint, and was returning to join Knyphausen. This prevented.the exe- cution of a plan, which, if it had been carried into effect, would probably have given a different turn to the events of the day. The killed and wounded in the royal army were near six hundred; the loss of the Americans was twice that number.
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Howe, after the battle of Brandywine, persevered in his. scheme of gaining the right flank of the Americans, which Washington as steadily endeavoured to avoid. A few days . . afterwards, Washington came forward as far as the Warren Tavern, on the Lancaster road, with a resolution of risking , another battle. Near that place, both armies were on the point of engaging with their whole force, but were prevented by a violent storm of rain, which continued a whole day and night. When the rain ceased, the Americans, in consequence of their ammunition being wet, withdrew. The British marched from their position down towards the Swedes Ford. The Americans again took post in their front, but the British, instead of en- gaging them, began to march towards Reading. To save the stores that had been deposited in that place, Washington took a new position, and left the British in possession of the roads which led- to Philadelphia. About this time, the Americans sustained a considerable loss, by a night attack, conducted by General Grey, on a detachment of their troops which was en- camped near the Paoli Tavern. The outposts and pickets were forced without noise. The men had scarcely time to turn out, and when they had turned out, they unfortunately paraded in the light of their fires; this directed the British how and where to proceed ; they rushed in upon them, and put about three hundred of them to death in a silent manner, by a free and exclusive use of the bayonet. The enterprise was con- ducted with so much address, that the loss of the assailants did not exceed eight.
The bulk of the British army being left in Germantown, Sir William Howe, on the twenty-sixth of September, with a small part, made his entry into Philadelphia. The possession of the largest city in the United States, was reckoned by the enemy as a measure preparatory to ending the war.
One of the first objects of the British, after they had got pos- session of Philadelphia, was to erect batteries, to command the river, and to protect the city from any insult by water. The 'British shipping were prevented from ascending the Delaware, by obstructions which were fixed near Mud Island.
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Washington having been reinforced by two thousand five hundred men, from Peekskill and Virginia, and having been informed that Howe had detached a considerable part of his force for reducing the forts on the Delaware, conceived the de- sign of attacking the British post at Germantown. Their line of encampment crossed the town at right angles, near the cen- tre; the left wing extended to the Schuylkill, and was covered in front by the mounted and dismounted chasseurs. The Queen's American rangers, and a battalion of infantry, were in front of the right. The fortieth regiment, with another battali- on of infantry, were posted on the Chestnut Hill road, three- · quarters of a mile in advance. Lord Cornwallis lay at Phila- delphia, with four battalions of grenadiers. A few of the ge- neral officers of the American army, whose advice was request- ed, recommended an attack ; and it was agreed that it should be made at different places, to produce the greater confusion, and to prevent the several parts of the British forces from af- fording support to each other. From an apprehension that the Americans, from a want of discipline, would not persevere in a long attack, it was resolved, that it should be sudden and vigorous, and if unsuccessful, to make an expeditious retreat. The divisions of Sullivan and Wayue, flanked by Conway's bri- gade, were to enter the town by the way of Chestnut Hill, while General Arınstrong, with the Pennsylvania militia, should fall down the Manatawny road, and gain the left and rear of the British. The divisions of Greene and Stephens, flanked by M.Dougal's brigade, were to enter by the Lime Kiln road .- The militia of Maryland and New-Jersey, under Generals Smallwood and Furman, were to march by the Old York road, and fall on the rear of the right. Lord Sterling, with Nashe's and Maxwell's brigades, were to form the reserve.
The Americans began their attack about sun-rise, on the fortieth regiment, and a battalion of infantry. These corps being obliged to retreat, were pursued into the village. On their retreat, Colonel Musgrove, with six companies, took post in Mr. Chew's strong stone house, which lay in front of the Americans. From an adherence to the military maxim, of VOL. III :.
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