USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution > Part 59
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"HATRI EM, 24 September, 1776," may be referred to. as a specimen of all of them.
I The correspondence of John Adams with his wife, which has been published, will show the auxions nucertainty which prevailed in the Congres3.
2 [ Hall's] History of the Cirit War in _Imerica, i., 201 ; Stedmmman's His- tory of the American Wer. i., 210.
3 General Hours to Lord Garage Germaine, " NEW-YORK ISLAND EN Sept. " 1776; " Awmod Register for 1776; History of Europe. Mit; [ Hall's] Ii. tory of the Cied War in Americe, 1 , 201; Stetsan's History of the Ameri- can D'ar, i., 209, 210 ; etc.
+ Memoire of Generi Heath, CT. 68.
5 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Angt. 27, "17366 ;" the same, " FISHKILL, in DUrenESS Cousry, September the 2nd, "1776; " Journal of to Ccarration, " Die Sabbati, I ho., P.M., Septr. "7th, 1776;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Monday afternoon, " Sept. 23, 1776 ;" etc.
" Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, & ho., P.M., Augt. 22, 1776; " Journed of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Sugr. 27. 1176:" the sumnr, "Die Jovis, 9 ho., A. M., Sept. 12, 1776 ;" Journal of the Couren. tion, " Die Veneris, 2 bo., A. M., Octur, 4, 1756 ;" etc.
i The Convention to the Committers of Stonington, Nor-London, Groton, Lyn, Singbrook, Guilford, Var Huren, Stratford, Fairfield, Mioak, Nor- walk, Stamford, and Horseneck, tin each instance) " Wednesday morning, " Angt. 25, 1776 ;" the same to Governor Trumbull, ". Wednesday morning. " HARLEM, 28th Angt., 1776 ; " etc.
Journal of the Committee of Safety, "AT THE HOUSE OF MR. ODELL,
mently, when the purpose of the enemy to occupy Watchester county had become more evilent, St. ; h- en Ward was appointed a Commissary " to purchase "all the Cattle fit for the use of the Army, within " that County, and to drive them down to the Army, "at King's Bridge, as fast as they may be wanted; " PROVIDED, that so much shall be lett as is abso- " lutely necessary for the support of the families from " whom the same shall be taken."" At the same time, orders were given by the Connmittee of Safety, "that if any person shall refuse to part with his "Cattle, at a reasonable price, the Commissary be " directed to drive them down to the Army, and re- " turn to the owner the money for which they were " sold, after deducting the contingent charge ; " "that " all the Hides of the Cattle so driven and killed, be " carefully preserved and sent to some safe place, on " the North side of the Highlands, where, being ap- " praised by persons hereafter to be named for that " purpose, they shall be paid for, by the State ; " " that Gil. Budd Horton, Alexander Hunt, James "Varian, and Joseph Youngs be appointed Commis- " sioners to drive all the Horses, Hogs, Sheep, and " Cattle, from those parts of the County of Westches- " ter which lay upon the Sound or the Hudson's-river, " and which are any way exposed to the enemy, and " to billet them out upon the farms that lay in the "interior part of the County, till the same can be "otherwise disposed of; and that a reasonable com- "pensation be allowed them, for their trouble; " " that the farmers in the County of Westchester im- " mediately thresh out all their Grain, as the Straw " will be absolutely necessary for the use of the Army, "and as those who do not comply with this Resolu- "tion will be in danger of having their Straw taken " for the use of the Army, even though the same " should not be threshed ; " "that His Excellency " General Washington be empowered to order any "Straw in the County of Westchester to be taken for "the use of the Army, paying to the owners a reason- "able compensation therefor ; " "that the Chairman "or Deputy Chairman of the County of Westchester. " for the time being, on application from the Commis- "sary-general, be empowered to take so much of the " Grain, in the County of Westchester, as shall be " necessary for the use of the Army, allowing to the "owners thereof the now current price, and paying "them upon the delivery, PROVIDED, always, that " so much shall be left in the hands of the owners as " will be sufficient to support their families for nine "months, and to perfect the fattening of such Hogs "as may, now, be actually put up, for that purpose ; " " that His Excellency General Washington, in case " that the Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Horses, or Hay, in the "County of Westchester, should be in danger of fall-
"PHILINE'S MANOR, Angt. 31, 1756;" the Committee of Safety to General Wahington, " Angt. 31, 1776."
9 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Monday morning, Octor. 11th,
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
"ing into the hands of the enemy. be empowered " either to remove if or them, Ber ar m, or, if that "should not be practicalde, to destroy the same;" " that the Commissary or Commissaries hereby ap- " pointed be empowered to appoint Agents under "them, and to call upon any officer commanding any "part of the Militia, for such detachments of the men "under his command as will be necessary to carry " the same into execution ; " " that Mr. Stephen Ward ' by the movements of the enemy ; " it ordered all the " apply to the Commissary-general for such sums of "money as will, from time to time, be necessary to "carry the above Resolves into execution ;" and "that a copy of the above Resolutions be sent to His "Excellency General Washington and to the Com- " missary-general, requesting their assistance in car- "rying the same into execution."1 In the absence of General Lewis Morris, whose hankerings were evi- dently for something else than for active service in the field, at the head of his Brigade," Colonel Joseph Drake, of New Rochelle, the senior Colonel, was placed in command of the Westchester-county Militia, with instructions to " call out as many of the Militia, "with five days provisions, as he shall think suth- "cient to watch the motions of the enemy's ships,3 " now in the Sound, and to prevent all communica- "tion with the disaffected inhabitants in said County ; " and that he send notice, from time to time, to the " Convention, of every remarkable occurrence ; and, " for that purpose, that he is hereby empowered to " press horses, when he shall think it necessary." + In faithful compliance with the Order thus sent to him, enough of the Militia were ordered out to guard from Rye-neck to Rodman's-neck, Colonel Graham's Regi- ment being at Throgg's-neck ; and Colonel Budd was to send a hundred men and to guard from the Snuff- mills to Rye-neck.5 Two days after the disastrous engagement on Long Island, the Convention ad- journed from Harlem to Fistill ; 6 and its Committee
1 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Monday morning, Octor. 11th, "1776."
These Resolutions were proposed by Robert R. Livington.
2On the sixteenth of September, "the Convention was informed "that the Militia of Westchester county are not so properly arranged "and managed as they ought to les, at this critical juncture, which is "versioned by the absence of General Morris ;" and it "Therefore. "KerstVED, That General Morris, to wat the General Congress, do it- " mediately return and resulde the command of his Brigade ; " aml ordered the Resolution to be transmitted to General Morris, " with the " utmost despatch." (Journed, " Die Lane, i to, U.M., Sept. 16, 1776.") The General's reply to that order of the Convention, dated " Putit suki,- "rits, Saptr. 24, 1776," is one of the most remarkable displays of evi- deut cowardice and military indreility of record, (cide page got, tente;) and if the withering rejoinder, written by Robert B. Livingston, which the Committee of Safety seut to the funeral, with it peremptory Onder to take the command of his Brigade, Asted " october the sth, 175G," did not effect its purpose, it certainly conveyed to the lashful Brigadier un evidence of what others thought of his remarkable comluet, as a suddier.
3 Two ships and a brig came to anchor, a little above Throgg's-neck, on the twenty-seventh of August; and made a raid ou City-i-land, (ride pige 219, ante.)
Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Tuesday morning, August 27, " 1776."
6 Colonel Joseph Frake to the Convention, "New-RwHILL, Augt 28, 1776." " Journal of the Convention, "Thursday morning, Angt. 29, 1956."
followed, holding sessions, while on it way, at King's Bridge," at the bonse of Mr. Odell on Philipse- Manor," at the house of John Blagge, at Croton- river;" and, possibly, elsewhere." It constructed fire- ships, for the protection of the Hudson-river from the enemy's vessels ;" and it continned the support of the State's cruisers, on the ocean." It attended to the removal of the military stores which were endangered bells to be taken from the Churches" and all the brass knockers from the doors of houses, "3 " in order that the " fortune of War may not throw the same into the "hands of our enemy and deprive this State, at this "critical period, of that necessary, though unfortu- " nate, resource for supplying our want of cannon ; " it provided Lances for those of the Militia whom it was unable to provide with other arms ; 14 and when General Washington's supply of Gunpowder had be- come unsafely small, it replenished it from its own resources.17 It appointed, on the motion of John Jay, a special " Committee of Safety and Correspondence "for that part of this State which lies below the "Highlands," Colonel Henry Remsen, Major Garret Abeel, and Major Peter Pra Van Zandt, all of them of the City of New York, having been appointed as that Committee ;19 but, notwithstanding James Duane and John Jay and William Duer were also appointed " to draw up Instructions " for that Committee, and notwithstanding the stirring events of which that portion of the State, "below the Highlands," very soon became the scene, nothing more was heard of either the Instructions or the Committee of Safety which was thus erected. It strengthened the works which had been thrown up for the defense of the Highlands; and it added to those defences some "works on the East side of the river, about three "miles below Fort Montgomery, at a place called " Red Hook, near Peekskill, which are well-calen-
i Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Kiva's Brutale, Angt. 30, 1776." 8 Journal of the Committee of Sudy, "AT THE HOUSE OF ME. ODELL, " PHILIISE'S MANOR, Augt. 31, 1776," 9 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Cromos-RIVER, AT THE HOUSE OF "Jva. Buseck, Augt. 41, 1776." " There is no record of the things of the Committee, our sunday, the first of September, although it evidently continnel its journey, from tl; Croton-river to Fishkill, on that day.
11 Journal of the Courentin, " Thursday morning, Augt. En, 1776;" de same, " Hie Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Sept. 21, 1776;" General Washington to the Convention, " HEAl-QUARTERS, HABITS OF HARLEM, & pt. 2, "1376 ;" etc.
It Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Seper. 21. "ITTO;" the anze, " Wednesday morning, Septr. 25, 1776;" Journal of the Contratmen, "Saturlasy morning. September 2's, 1776 ;" etc.
13 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " P.M., September 3, 176;" For- wat of the Contentint, " Die Sabbati, Who, A. M., Sept. 7, 1756;" etc.
It harnad of the Charration, " Die Jovis, 4 ho., P.M., Sept. 5, 1:56:" Gewond Washington to the Contentuns, " HEADQUARTERS, NEW-YORK, "Septr. &, 1776."
15 Journal of the Conrent, .n, " Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Sept. 7, 15 36." Is Vide pages 203, 20h, Bute.
" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Friday morning, Sept. 27, 1996;" Journal of the Courention, " Saturday morning, September 2%, 1776."
1. Journed of the Convention, " Die Sabbats, Who, A. M., Sept. 1. 1776 .
WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
" lated to prevent the enemy's landing on that side "and becoming masters of the Highlands, opposite to " Fort Montgomery." " When the evacuation of the City of New York was made at the expense of large quantities of Flour, it appointed Agents, with instrtie- tions to purchase all the Flour which coubl be ob- tained in Duchess, Orange, and Ulster-counties, and to send it to the Commissary-general of the Army. itt Spyt den Duivel-creek :" when the Army needed Pork, Beef, and other Stores, the Convention opened its Storehouses, in Westchestercounty, into which it had gathered large quantities of the products of thett County, the crops of the preceding year :3 it purchased material for and provided for the mainufir- ture of Clothing, for the Army:' it busted itself about salting Pork, in the County of Westchester, during the approaching season :3 and whatever it supposed would promote the common cause and whatever it was requested to do, for that purpose, by either the Continental Congress or the Commandler- in-chief or the General connanding the northern Army, was done, to the full extent of its ability and resources, with cheerfulness, promptitude, and thor- oughness, never failing to receive, in return, the un- qualified and entire approval of him whose entire approval was never idly bestowed.
On the twenty-first of September, the American Army, at Kingsbridge and its dependencies, which ineluded General Heath's command, in Westchester- county, consisted, nominally, of four thousand, tive hundred, and twenty-eight Commissioned Officers, Staff, and Son-commissioned Officers, and twenty- seven thousand, three hundred, and seventy-seven rank and file, exclusive of Colonel Knox's Regiment of Artillery, which contained, nominally, five hundred and forty-three men, including all the Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers and Staff, and exclus. ive, also, of Colonel Durkee's Regiment and a Compa- ny of Artillery, both of them at Powle's-hook, now Jersey City, from whom no Returns had been received, during that week. But of those nearly twenty -eight thousand men, in the ranks, four thousand, four hun- dred, and fifty-three were present, sick ; three thou- sand, four hundred, and thirty-three were absent. sick ;
"Journal of the Conversation, " Die Sabbati, & ho., P.D., Super. ", 1"." Commissary-general Trumbull to the Convention, " KING's BRIE, 16 "Sept., 1776;" Journal of the Convention, " Dies Martis, 4 l.o., P.M., "Septr. 17, 1776."
We have followed Washington Irving, in his historical writings in our orthography of the name of that celebrated stream, notwithstanding the usnal manner of spelling the words is considerably ditterent.
3 Journal of the Pourincial Congress, "Die Merenrii, 9 ho., A. M., Sopir. "IS, 1776 ;" the same, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A. M., Octor, 4, 1776." + Journal of the Provincial Congress, " Die Jovis. 9 ho., A.M., OFlor. 3, "1776;" Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Mercurii, 9 ho, A.M., "Octr. 9, 1776 ;" the same, " Thursday morning, Octor. 17, 1" ?. "
Stephen Warl, Gilbert Strang, and Phil. Leak were appointed to buy coste woollen Cloth, Linsey. woolsey, Blankets, wollen Howe, Meine, coarse Linen, felt Hats, and Shoes, to the value of three hundred pounds-seven hundred and fifty dollars-in Westchestercounty ; and they were ordered to have the Linou male up into shirts.
& Jourand of the Committee of Safety, "Thursday, Octor. 10, 1776."
three thousand, eight humtred, and thirty were ab- "im, "on command:" and ninety-six were on for- lough ; leaving only abont sixteen thousand men, in- chuling the Artillery and excluding the Officers, who were aetnithy present and fit for duty." Of these, thir- tern Regiments were Militia, temporarily serving in the service of the Continent ; ; and, since the disastrous results on Long Island and in the City of New York, the entire Army was greatly dispirited and inspired no confidence in its Commander-in-chief." On the thirtieth uf September, the number of rank and file,
& General Re tura of the Array in the service of the Failed Nutsof Amerive at King & Bridge and its dependencies, Sept. 21, 1776. " Ibid.
8 " The check our detachment sustained on the 2ith alime has dis. " pirited to great a proportion of our troops, and filled their and- with. "apprehension and despair. The Militia, instead of calling forth their "nitinost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order to repair our "losses, are dismayed. intractable, ampl impatient to return. Great num. " Der of them have gone off ; in some instances, almost by whole Regi- "ments, by half ones, and by l'umpanies, at a time. This circumstance, "of it.If, independent of others, when frontel by a well-appointed "en. my, superior in number to our whole collected fore, would be " sufficiently di-agreeable ; but, when their example has infectolanother "part of the Army, when their want of discipline and orfural of almost "every kind of restraint or government have produced a like conduct "but too common to the whole and an entire disregard of that orler "and subordination necessary to the well-being of an Arney, and which "had bern inculcated before, as well as the nature of our military es- " tablishment would admit of, our comlition becomes still more alarui- "ing; and, with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want "of confidence in the generality of the troops." (General Washingtons to the In sident of the Congress, " New YORK, September 2, 1776.")
"Before I conclude, I must take the liberty of mentioning to Congress "the great distress we are in for want uf money. "Two months' Lay (and " more to somue Battalions) is bow due to the troops, here, without any- "thing. in the Military chest to satisfy it. This occasions tauch diseitis- "faction and almost a general uneasiness. Not a day passes without "complaints and the most importunate and urgent demands, on this "hea.l. A+ it may injure the service greatly, and the want of a reg. "ular supply of Cash produces consequences of the most tatal tendency, " I entreat the attention of Congress to this subject, and that we may "be provided, as soon as can be, with a sum equal to every present " claim." (Grend Washington to the President of the Congress, " NEW. " Yonk, 6 September, LEG.")
In his letter to the Congress, on the eighth of September, the Gen- etal said, "On every sile, there is a choice of difficulties ; and every "measure, on our part, however paiefal the reflection is, from experi- "ence, i- to be formned with some apprehension that all our troops " will not do their duty." After the experience of the General had beeu nudle muore complete, by the cowardice of the trovte at Kip's- Ing, he thus wrote, also to the Congress. " We are new emrampel, with "the main by ty of the Anigy, on the Heights of Haerbon, where I should "lete the mummy would meet with a defeat, in case of an " fack, if the "generality of om troops would be have with loiemble bravery. But "experiener, to my extreme affliction, has convinced me that this is "rather to he wished for than expected. However, I trust that there "ate many who will act like then, and show themselves worthy of the "blessings of freedom." (Letter to the Congress, "HEva, PARTERS, AT "COLONEL MORRIS'S HOUSE, 16 September, 1736.") On the day after the date of the fenris of the lowy which are retorted to in the text, the Teueral wrote to his brother, " the dependence which the Congress have "placed upon the Militia Pas aftrady greatly ingred atul, I fear, will "totally rnin our canse. Being sulyset to to control, Iheurelves, they "introduce disorder among the troops when we have attempted to dig "cipline ; while the change in their living brings on siekurs ; and this "canses an impatience to get home, wlach spreads, universally, and in- "traduces abominable desertions. In short, it is not in the power of " words to describe the task I have to perform. Fifty thousand pomaly "would not inflace me apain to undergo what I have fun." View rug Washington to John Augustine Washington, " HEIGHTS OF HAERLEY, 2 "September, 1776.")
-
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
While the American Army was thus made weaker, day by day, by the disaffection or the despair of the sickly, despondent, home-sick, and ill-provided-for men who composed it-men who, in multitudes of instances, had enlisted either from necessity, oecas- inned by the prevailing prostration of every kind of business, or because they had been enforced to do so, by drafts, or because it had afforded oppor- tunities for speculation and plunder, without, in either elass, the slightest pretence to a care for "the "eause of America " or to even a love of country --- the Royal Army, well-appointed and well-officered, numbered upwards of thirty thousand effective men, exclusive of those who were left for the protection of Staten Island and of those who were sick.3 Indeed,
I Return of Brigades under the immediate command of His Excellency George Washington, " HARLEM HEIGHTS, HEAD-QUARTERS, September 30, "17.6."
Weakly Return of the Regiments of Horse and Foot, under the immediate command of His Excellency George Washington, " HARLEM HEIGHTS, OG- " tober 5, 1776.""
General Lincoln's command can scarcely be regar led, with any pro- priety, as a portion of the main Army nur as a part of the fighting force of any Army, since it was sent for, to perform police duty, to quiet the apprehensions of the Convention of New York on aerount of the disaf- fected, in that State-those whom the Congress's and the Committees had forced into disaltection, by the ontrages which had been inflicted on them, in the vain attempt to secure an entire conformity of political opinions with the official opinions of the dominant faction.
& General Howe's Returns show that, when les o eupied staten Island, after the arrival of the reraforerments brought by Lord Howe, may on the niuth of Angnet, his command umubered, inchvhng his Officers, twenty- mme lhon and, three hundred, and eight, of wine twenty four thousand, two hundred, and twenty seven were rank and file, fit for duty. (Reply to the Observations of Lieut. Gen. Sir William Howe, on a pamphlet, en- titled Lettersto a Nobleman, Second Edition, 37.) Three days after the date of that Return, [.August 12. ] the two thet-, convoyed, respectively, by Commodore Hothaur and the Reporter, came into the harbor of New York, with the Gnards and the First Division of the Hessians. (Compatte Lord George Germaine's despatch to General Hours, date ! " WHITEHALL, 21 "June, 17Th," with General Honce's despatch to Lord George Giornatine, dodded " STATEN ISLAND, 1 August, 1776;") and, two days subsequently, [.August 14. ] Sir Peter Parker and Lord Dunmore also arrived. (Gener il Have to Lord fivorge (jermaine, "STATEN ISLAND, 15 August, 1776,") the former, with what remained of the forces which had been sent to Vir- ginia and the Carolinas, " as well as with monte Regiments from Florida "and the West Indies," (Ansund Register for 1776: History of Europe, #169,) numbering, " at least, five thousand men," (Jones's Ievery of Vive
present and fit for duty, including Colonel Knux's ! in the graphic language of one of the most able writ. Regiment of Artillery, was reduced to fifteen thou- pers of that period, at the time now under con-pleri. sanil, one hundred, and four; ' and on the fitth of | tion an intimate friend of the master-spirits of the October, the same rank and file, present and fit for Convention of New York, "The British Army was "commanded by able and experienced Officer -; the duty, including the Artillery, numbered only fourtren thousand, four hundred, and eighty->ix, exclusive of { " rebel by men destitute of military skill or experience seven skeleton Regiments of Connecticut and Rhode Island, forming two nominal Brigades, each with its full complements of Officers and Seuf, in which there were nominally twelve hundred and seventy-five men, present and fit for duty. There was, also, a body of Massachusetts Militia, " computed at four thousand, "so scattered and ignorant of the forms of Returns "that none can be got; " and a Regiment of New Hampshire Militia was posted at the White Plains and another at the Fishkills, "under the like eiren- "stanees." 2
"and, for the most part, taken from mechanic aris ur " the plough. The first were possessed of the best " appointtuents, and of more than they could use ; "and the other of the worst, and of less than they " wanted. The one were attended by the abhst sur- "geons and Physicians, healthy, and high-spirited; " the other were neglected in their health, clothing. "and pay, were sickly, and constantly murmuring "and dissatisfied. And the one were veteran troops, " carrying victory and conquest wheresvever they were "led ; the other were new-raised and undisciplined, "a panie-struck and defeated enemy, whenever at- "tacked-such is the true comparative difference "between the force sent to suppress, and that which "supported, the Rebellion. "4
York during the Herentionary Har, 1., 110:) the latter, " with the refi- "gres and blackamores from Virginia." the som, i., 103.) " about a "thousand more " (the same; in 110.) The Second Division of the HIP- sians, the Sixteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons, the hor-'s for remots !. ing the Seventeenth Regiment of Dragoons, the draught-hores for the Artillery and baggage, four hundred and two German and not far from five hundred British recruits, and the Prince of Wableck's Regiment of German troops, all of whom joined General Howe, while he wis in Westchester county, as we shall see, hereafter-were on their way to America, at the time of which we write. (Lord George Germaine for neu- erul Havre, " WirrenAIL, 21 June, 1776.") There were, also, some I've- vincial " Corps, already raised." of whom we have seen no Return -. (General Home to Load Gooey Germaine, " STATEN ISLAND, 10 August, " 1776,") probably not strong in minbers, but, nevertheless, entitled to notice, iu this connection.
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