Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution, Part 58

Author: Dawson, Henry B. (Henry Barton), 1821-1889. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Morrisania, New York City : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 592

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de Lancey, in his Notes on Jones's History of New-York during the Revolutionary War, (i., 722,) has partly "let the cat out of the bag," by saying they "were sons of Emanuel Scrope Howe, second Viscount " lowe, by Mary Sophia, an illegitimate daughter of George 1., by his "mistress, the Hanoverian Baroness Kilmansegge, and, consequently, "in jwint of fact,,first cousins once removed of George III." But our friend appears to have gone a little astray, since George HI1. was the great-grand-on of George I .; and the children of a daughter of the latter coubl hardly have been " first cousins ouce removed" of the former. Besides, if our memory serves ns correctly, the mother of the flowers, whosoever she may have been, was a paramour of Frederic Lewis, son of George 11., and father of George HI., even after ber convenient mar- riage with Viscount Howe ; and the very distinctive features and the peculiar physical ailments of the two brothers, which they shared with the King, very clearly implicated whose off-pring they were, although they were born in wedlock and were, therefore, nominally, Howes. They were, in fact, half brothers of the King.

3 The extent of the authority of the brothers, Admiral and General Howe, as Commissioners for the restoration of Peace, in America, has been so vuriously stated, that the careful reader will do well to refer to their Commission, which may be found In a most singular connection with a mass of papers concerning the Expedition commanded by General Burgoyne, which appear to have been laid before the Home of Com. mons, early in 1778. (Almon's Parliamentary Register, London : 1778, vili., 308-312.)

When Lord North, closely pinned in debate, declared that " taxation " was not to be given up : it was to be enforced : Lat whether at present "or hereafter was a point of policy which the Commissionter- would " learn, on the spot, by sounding the people not the spot," there was point as well as wit in what Charles James Fox said, in reply : " Accord. "ing to the noble Lord's explanation, Lord Howe and his brother are "to be sent ont as spies, not as Commissioners, and if they cannot get on "shore, they are to sound upon the courts." (Debates in the House of Commons, May 22, 1776; Almon's Parliamentary Register, iv., 126.)

the harbor together, bringing another heavy rein- forcement to the Royal Army, as well as the much needed Camp-equipage; ' two days later, [.August 14, 1776,] Sir Peter Parker reached Staten Island, with the remains of the expedition which had been sent to Virginia and the Carolinas; 3 and, at the same time, Lord Dunmore, "with the refugees and blackamoors " from Virginia,"6 and Lord William Campbell, re- cently Governor of South Carolina, also joined General Howe.7 Although General Howe made no mention of them, in his despatches to Lord George Germaine, it is said the Royal Army was strength- ened, also, about the sante time, by the accession of "several Regiments from Florida and the West In- "dies; "' and, although about one half the German troops had not arrived-they were on the ocean, but were not immediately expected-the strength and discipline and appointments and spirits of the Army were greatly superior to those of the American Army, and reasonably promised greater sueeess, in the field.

The Convention of the State. during that period of suspense, removed back from the White Plains to Harlem, occupying the old Church-building of the Reformed Dutch Church ;' and, nearer to the scene of the expected troubles, it provided for the protec- tion of the Hudson-river and Long Island Sound, where the enemy was expected to make a landing, in force, by ordering the entire Militia of Westchester- county to appear, with five days' provisions, to take possession of such points, on the river and Sound, as General Morris should regard as most exposed to the enemy ; to remain in service during ten days; to re- cvive Continental pay and subsistence ; and that each man who should not have arms should bring with him a shovel, spade, or pickaxe, or a scythe straight- ened and fixed on a pole10-the latter, not easily to

A General Houce to Lord George Germaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 13 Au- " gust, 1756;" .tanual Register for 1,76: History of Europe, " 169 ; Mem- oirs of General Heath, 53; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 304, 305.

3 General Home to Lord George Germain, "STATEN ISLAND, 15 August, "1776; " Governar Tryon to the same, "Ship DUCHESS OF GORDON, OFF "STATEN ISLAND. August 14, 1776," postscript, dated " August 15, " 1756;" Gordon's History of the Imerion Revolution, it., 306 ; etc. GJoued's History of Nove Tek during the IS coladioury Har, i., 103. iGeneral Heter to Land Gorge Converting, " STATEN ISLAND, 15th "August, 1776."

S Annual Register for With: History of Europe, 169 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 306.

2 That uld Church-edifice occupied the Church lot, on the South side of the Great Way, or Church-lane, not far from the Harlem-river. Aa tho Streets and Avenue, now run, it was inside of the block bounded by the First and Second avenue and One hundred and twenty - fourth and One hundred and twenty-fifth-streets, near the present intersection of the First-avenue and One hundred and twenty-fourth-street, as it has beeu described to us by our friend, James Piker, Esp., of Waverly, New York, the distinguished historian of Harlem, etc.

The features of the old building may be seen in the Five of Harlem from Morrismia, copied from the original drawing. in the British Min- sonm; and reproduced in the Manual of the Corporation of the City of Neve Turk jor 1503, oppwrite page 610; aml, again, on page 21% of this work, for the illustration of this article.

10 Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 4 P.M., Augt. 10, 1776."

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be done, as any Westchester county farmer could Because of "suspicions" which somebody bad en. have told those Deputies by when this mele war made. As we have elsewhere stated, King-county " determined not to oppose the enemy." although the latter had not made any attempt to occupy it ; and the Convention, it will be remembered. made some rash movements toward crowding all who lived within that County into still greater acts of hostility against the Americans, instead of inspiriting them and secur- ing their continuedl fealty to the State of which they were members. It provided for the removal of all which remained, of those Cannon which had been brought from the City and laid on the roadsides of the County of Westchester -- those which had been spiked and unspiked, guarded and left unguarded, at such heavy cost, some months previously 2-and tieneral Clinton was requested to have carriages made for such of those guns as he should consider necessary for the defence of the works to the northward of King's Bridge.3 At the suggestion of General Washington,' measures

1 installed a greening them, to the several tomat Committee, but in a tone of milduess which was re- markably nuusnal ; " and, in other ways, endeavoring to serve the cause of the country -one of the most re- markable of the multitude of subjects which, at that time, crowded themselves before the Convention, for its consideration, was a letter from John Sleght, Chairman of the Committee of Kingston, "stating " that the women surround the Committee-chamber, " and say, if they cannot have Tea, their husband, " and sons shall fight no more.""

At length, every preparation for service in the field having been made, on Thursday, the twenty-second of August, the Campaign was opened. Had Lord Howe been despatched, with the heavy reinforcements which he brought, directly to New York instead of to Halifax-and, since it was known, in England, that New York would be the base of all the opera- tions of the Campaign, there was no other reason

"VIEW OF HARLAEM FROM MORISANIA IN THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK, SEPTEM", 1765." [Copied from the original in the British Museum for George H. Moore by Richard Sitns. ]

were taken for the removal of the women, children, than the bad judgment of those, in England, who and infirm persons, in the City of New York, to controlled the movements of the troops, that he was places of greater safety ; 3 for obstructing the naviga- . not thus sent-the Campaign could have been opened tion, in both the Hudson and the East-rivers, as well as in Buttermilk-channel, the latter separating Gov- ernor's island from Long Island ; " providing for the temporary support of those who should be driven from their homes, by the enemy ; ? transferring the disposition of those whom it had cast into prison,

several weeks earlier, when General Washington was much less prepared to receive an enemy, and, therefore, when a complete success in the suppression of the Re- bellion was very much more promising; but that Al- mighty power which controlled all things, hal other purposes ; and the cause of America was promoted by that remarkable blunder among those who opposed it. On the morning of Thursday, the twenty-second of August, as we have said, the active operations of the

! Vide page 203, ante.

2 Vide pages 146-148, aute.

3 Journal of the Convention, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., August 16, 1776." General Washington to the Convention, "HEADQUARTERS, NEW-YORK, "Ang. 17, 1776."

5 .Journal of the Convention, "Die Sabbati, 9 bo., A M., Augt 15, " 1776;" the name, "Die Veneris, 3 ho., P.M., Angt. 25, 1776;" the · Mme, "Monday morning. Angt. 26, 1776 ; " etc.

6 Journalof the Convention, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., August 16, 173; ; " the same, "Die Salbati, 9 ho., A.M., Aug. 17, 1776;" Journal of the Committee of Safety "Die Luna, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 19, 176;" Jooned of the Convention, " Die Salbati, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 24, 176; " etc.

" Journal of the Convention, " Die solis, & ho., A. M., Aust. 25, 1726."

A Journal of the Omeention, "Monday morning. Anet. 26, 1776." " Journal of the Courantom, "Motring morning, Aagt. 2, 17 ;. "

It may be prayer for us to say that the Chairman's fetter was re- ferred I. the Depantstion from U'lster county ; and that, a few weeks salvamently, tired of waiting for the Tea, " moles, from different parts "of the country," went In Kinystout; broke open the buildings while contained it ; and, undoubtedly, helped themselves and their mothers and sisters and wives and daughters to what was then officially called " that detestable arte'le called The."

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Royal Army were commenced by the movement of the British Grenadiers and Light Infantry and the Hessians, or rather the German, Grenadiers, Light Infantry, and Chasseurs-the last-named commanded by the Count Donop-the whole numbering " not les." soldierly ability and the knowledge of the ground, of Aaron Burr; concerning the brilliant skirmish on Harlem Heights, made more brilliant by the daring bravery of Major Leitch, of Virginia, and that of Col- onel Thomas Knolton, of Connectient ; and concerning "than four thousand men," " of the elite of the Army, ' the apparent inactivity, in both the Armies, which the whole commanded by General Sir Henry Clin- prevailed, during several -neceeding weeks,-the gen- eral knowledge which prevails, concerning all these subjects, renders anything else than a mere reference to them, unnecessary. But, nevertheless, there were some minor operations, of both parties, during that period, which may well receive passing notices. ton, to Gravesend Bay, near Coney-island, where, under the fire of three frigates and two bombketches,? the naval portion of the movement having been com- manded by Commodore Hotham, the entire detach- ment, with forty pieces of artillery, were landed, in two hours and a half, without meeting the slightest Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh of August, two ships and a brig anchored a little above Throgg's-neck ; and before the troops whoin General Heath had sent for the purposes of protecting the opposition from the Americans. This Division of the Royal Army having met with no resistance, the re- ; mainder of the Army and of the artmery-except two Brigades of Germans, under General de Heister, and : neighboring property, could reach the shore, several another Brigade of Germans, a detachment of the Fourteenth Infantry, from Virginia, some convales- cents and some recruits, all of them commanded by Lientenant-colonel Dalrymple, which were left for ; the remainder of the cattle which were on the island.3 the protection of Staten Island-were also landed on Long Island, during the morning.3

barges had gone ashore, on City-island ; killed several cattle ; " and carried away the dead animals and one of the inhabitants. The troops managed to secure As there was an evident intention, on the part of the enemy, to occupy one or more positions, on New General Heath, who commanded all the Continental troops at Kingsbridge and in the last-mentioned County, with that faithful attention to his duties which so generally characterized him, ordered a chain of vedettes and other sentries to be maintained at Morrisania, Hunt's-point, Throgg's-neck, and other points, on the Sound, in order that the movements of the enemy, had he inclined to move to those neigh- borboods, or to either of them, might be promptly made known to him." The usefulness of that wise precantion will be seen, hereafter.

The purposes of this work do not require us to fol- : York-island or within Westchester-county or both, low the immediately subsequent operations of the two Armies ; and the general knowledge which prevails concerning the disastrous " Battle of Long Island," made more disastrous by reason of "the obstinate, " self-conceited, inethiciency," if not by the criminal disobedience and neglece, of General Israel Putnam ; concerning the remarkable retreat of the American Army, from Long Island, made more remarkable and successful through the nautical skill of Colonel John Glover and his Regiment of Marblehead fishermen ; concerning the successful occupation of the City of New York, by the Royal Army, made more suc- cessful by reason of the arrant cowardice of those who had been posted at Kip's-bay, for the pur- pose of obstructing any attempt which the enemy should make to effect a landing at that place, as well as by reason of the greater cowardice of the Brigade of Massachusetts troops, conunanded by General Fellows, and that of the Brigade of Con- nectieut troops, commanded by General Parsons,

For the purpose of cutting the line of communica- tion of the City of New York, through the Sound, with the sca-the way to the ocean, by way of the Narrows, having been already occupied by him-the ienemy very judiciously occupied Barren-island, be- longing to Westchester-county, Montresor's-now Randall's-island, and what is now known as Ward's-island - the latter two belonging to the County of New York, all of which, to some ex- both of them, eight Regiments, in all, sent for the ; tout, at least, conquanded the passage to and support of the small shore-guard ; concerning the through the Sound; " and, on the tenth and eleventh successful evacuation of the City of New York, by ! of September, a considerable body of troops was landed on Montresor's-island, which entirely com-

the American Army, made more successful by the taet and hospitality of Mary Lindley Murray and by the

[Hall's] History of the Civil Har in Averion, i., Iss. Sve, als, Stedman's History of the American Bar. i., 193.

2[ Hall of History of the Civil War in Imerion, i., Iss ; Stethat's His. tory of tin American War, i., 193.

3 General Hover to Load George formaine, "NEWTON LONG ISLAND. "3 Sept. HER;" General Washington to Gearred Hath, " HEspent ARIER. "NEW-YORK, 3 August, 176;" the same to the President of the Congress. "New-York, August 2, 1776;" [ Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., IS8: Memoirs of General Heath, 30; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 19% ; Gordon's History of the Im richa Revolution, ii., 306 ; elc.

" Colonel Joseph Jake, in his letter to the Convention, dated " Nrw- "Hornum, Angt. 95, 1776," said " they have not been able to gounder " och; they got From Minoford's island" [our City-island ] " + hernel " cattle and some poultry, which is all we have been able to learn they "have (Aniidered." In his W. noirs, (page 56, ) General Heath and "the "enemy carried off offo man and Il rattle."

3 Members of theerat Honth, 5, 50; toload Joseph Trate to Content Morris, " New Bornen, Augt. 27, 1750"-Historical Manuscripts, etc .:

Memory of General Houth, 29.

: Stedenan's History of the American Way, i., 199. & M. mare of tientral Hadh, 59.

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manded the Manor-house-all there was, at that time, of Morrisanin, except the small farmhouses of the manorial tenantry, which were scattered over the surrounding country. The channel which separated Morrisania, in Westchester-county, from Montresor's- island, in the City of New York, being quite narrow, and a heavy picket of four hundred and fifty mounted men having been constantly maintained at Morrisania, the sentries of the respective forces, posted within half- gunshot distance, sometimes fired at each other, in violation of the inconsistent usages of War; and General Heath has recorded some interesting instances of both the friendly and the unfriendly correspond- ence of these very important minor outposts.1 But a couple deserters from a man-of-war which was au- chored off the island, conveyed such information to General Heath as led him to suppose that the entire force which occupied that island could be easily cap- tured ; and, having submitted the subject to the con- sideration of the General Officers of his Division and to General Washington, and, having received the ap- proval of all, he proceeded to make the attempt. Two hundred and forty men were detached for that purpose ; and the command of the expedition was given to Lieutenant-colonel Michael Jackson and Major Logan and Major-Hatfield, the latter of West- chester-county. They were to embark, at the new Bridge over the Harlem-river, on board of three large floats; to be covered by a fourth float, similar to the others and carrying a detachment of Artillery, with a light three-pounder gun; to fall down the Harlem-river, with the ebb, during the night, to Morrisania ; and the calculation was so made that, at daybreak, the young flood should be so much made, at the island, as to cover the flats, at the proposed place of landing, sufficiently for the floats to leave Morrisania, and be run ashore. The various sentries, on the line of the Harlem-river, were said to have been informed of the character of the movement, and instructed to permit the expedition to pass down the river, without challenging it ; and every promise of a successful result was heard from all who were to be concerned in it or who knew of the proposed plan of operations. Notwithstanding one of the sentries had not been told of the expedition or had misunderstood the Order which had been given to Him, and had resolutely disregarded the entreaties for silence which had been made, and had discharged his musket, giving an alarm, the enemy does not appear to have been disturbed; and the three floats ran up to the place appointed for the landing, without serious op- position, and at the appointed time. But, there, a new and entirely milooked-for obstruction was encoun- tered. The orders were that the float which contained the three commanding Officers should run ashore, between the other two; that the two Majors should jump ashore, one to the right and the other to the left,

and take command of the men who were on those two outside floats, respectively, while Lientenant-colonel Jackson should retain the command of those who) were on the central float; and that the three parties should net in concert. The Officers and those who were on the central float sprang ashore, as they were expected; received and repulsed a charge which the enemy's guard made on them; but failed to receive the slightest support from those who were on the other two floats, who, instead of landing, sullenly " lay upon their oars." The enemy seeing that dis- affection, rallied, and returned to the charge, with great spirit; and the Americans, those from the cen- tral float, finding themselves deserted, returned to their own float, with heavy loss; and the entire ex- pedition withdrew from the island-whether the fourth float, on which were the Artillery and which was intended as a covering party. performed any ser- vice, is not now known, as nothing whatever has been said of it, in the narrative of the encounter and retreat. It is said that Lieutenant-colonel Jackson received a musket-ball in his leg; that Major Thomas Henley, one of the Aides-de-camp of General Heath, who had insisted on going out with the expedition, as a Volunteer, was shot through his heart, as he was getting into the float; that Major Hatfield was missing; and that the Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, fourteen men .?

There was a wide-spread sorrow expressed for the death of Major Henley, who appears to have been a general favorite; and the cowardice of those who held back their support was as widely reprobated ; but, in the prevailing temper of that period, although the delinquents were arrested and tried by Court- martial, nothing appears to have been done with them, beyond the cashiering of one of the Captains.3

2 The most complete account of this disastrous expedition is that of General Heath, in his Memoirs, 65-66 ; but the Ordens which were given to Lieutenant-colonel Jackson by General Heath, "KINA's BRINGE, "September 22, 1776;" Davil How's Diary, Falt. Morrisania, leif, September 22, 1776; General Orders, "HEADQUARTERS, HARLEM. "HEIGHTS, September 21, 1776;" Lieutenant-colour Teach Tilghman to William Inver, " HEADQUARTERS, HARLEM.HEIGHTS, September 20, 1776 ; ' Extract of a letter from an Officer, at HARLEM, dated September 25, 1976, in Force's American I-chine, Fifth Series, il., 321 . Extract from a ller from Morat Washington, date September 26. 176 ; John Adams to American Revolution, il., 336-who says there were fire boats, one of which was sunk by the fire of the Brune, frigate-etc., may be usefully consulted concerning it.

3 General Orders, HEADQUARTERS, HARIFR.HEREHITS, Sepleniher 29. 1776; Proceedings of a General Court martial of the Live, held on the Heights of Harlem, by order of His Excellency George Washington, F.z., General and Commander in chief of the Forces of the United States !! America, for the trial of the thplains Wiener and Salt, in the service of said States, September 30, ITT : Adjutant general Best to General Toall, "IFADESI ARTERS, Oct. 5, 1776; " the minuters of the General Chart martial to Adjutant-general Reed, " CAMP NEAR HEADQUARTERS, October "6, 1776:" Memoire of General Health, tilj.

The atrocities of both Officers utol Privates of the American Army and the inadequary of the punishments, therefor, to which the delinqu pis were then subjected, may be seen in multitude of ine ances, throughout the contemporary publications; but the letter of General Washington, written to the President of the Continental Congress, "HFlunit- 1

1 Memoirs of General Heath, 62, 63.

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The apparent inactivity of the two opposing Ar- mies, during several weeks after the veengation of the City of New York, was not muderstood, even by the Congress, and created some uneasiness;1 but both were actively employed, the Royal Army in throwing up a line of defences, on the high grounds overlook- ing the Harlem-plains, from the South, in order to protect the City from an attack from the landside, when the main Army should be put in motion, for other operations ;" and the American Army in not only throwing up defences on the high grounds over- looking the Harlem-plains, from the North, in order to protect itself from any attack which might be made on it, in that remarkably strong position," but in throwing up defensive works, in its rear and at distant points, in order to guard against any surprise, by the enemy, of either of those points .:

. During that long interval of apparent inactivity in the two Armies, the Convention of New York and its Committee of Safety were uot idle nor inattentive to the interests of the country. It provided for the re- moval of the women, children, and infirm, and that of the poor, from the City of New York, in some in- stances into Westchester-county ;3 and the care of the public records also received its careful attention." When the enemy's shipping threatened the shores of Suffolk, it appealed for help from Connecticut, in view of its own inability to afford protection ; 7 when the Army retreated from Long Island, wisely foresee- ing that the Horses, Cattle, Hogs, and Sheep, within the County of New York and the lower portions of Westchester-county, would become exposed to the depredations of the enemy, the Committee of Safety ordered them to be, forthwith, driven into the interior parts of the State, and requested General Washing- « ton to make that order public, and to give all possible assistance in carrying it into execution ; 6 and, subse-

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Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution, Part 58

Author: Dawson, Henry B. (Henry Barton), 1821-1889. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Morrisania, New York City : [s.n.] Number of Pages: 592

Author: Dawson, Henry B. (Henry Barton), 1821-1889. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Morrisania, New York City : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 592