USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 16
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"HIGHLANDS, ON HUDSON RIVER, February 18th, 1778.
DEAR GENERAL: I had the honor of receiving yours of the 10th of January about eight days since, at this place, where I have returned to take charge of' my brigade. In the present state of the army, I shall continue in my command, lest a different conduct may prove injurious to the cause of my country, at this critical conjuncture of affairs. However my inclination may induce me to retire to the enjoyment of domestic happiness, I cannot think myself warranted to in- dulge my wishes at a time when so many officers under my command are desirous of leaving the toils of war for the pleasures of private life."
About this time Gen. Putnam went to Connecticut and left West Point, and all the troops stationed at the High- lands, under the command of Gen. Parsons, with the addi- tional duty of constructing military works at West Point, which had been delayed in consequence of misapprehension in regard to the several resolves of Congress upon the subject. It seems that on the 5th of November, 1777, Congress ap- pointed Gen. Gates to command in the Highlands, connect- ing that post with the northern department, and empowered him to make obstructions in and fortifications on the banks of the Hudson river, but as he was made President of the Board of War, he never entered upon these duties. Again, on the 18th of February, Gov. Clinton was requested to take the superintendence of the works, but the multiplicity of his civil employments made it necessary for him to decline
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the undertaking. Meantime, Gen. Putnam went to Con- necticut, and left the post in charge of Gen. Parsons, who entered promptly upon the discharge of his arduous and perplexing duty.
In a letter of 18th of February, to Gen. Washington, he remarks, " Almost every obstacle within the circle of pos- sibility has happened, to retard the progress of the obstruc- tions in and fortifications on the banks of Hudson river. ยท Preparations for completing them are now in a state which will afford a good prospect of completing them in April, and unless some difficulties yet unforeseen should prevent, I think we cannot fail, by the forepart of that month, to have them in a good degree of forwardness. Nothing on my part shall be wanting to put them in a state of forwardness to answer the reasonable expectations of the country, as early as possible."
Again, in a letter to Gen. Washington, dated 7th of March, 1778, explaining the perplexities arising under the resolves of Congress of the 5th of November, and 18th of February, in regard to Gen. Gates and Gov. Clinton, whose powers were deemed strictly personal, he remarks, "I shall exert myself to have the works in a state of defense as early as possible, by the due exercise of such directions as your excellency shall please to give me. Col. Radiere, find- ing it impossible to complete the fort and other defenses intended at this post, in such manner as to effectually with- stand the attempts of the enemy to pass up the river early in the spring, and not choosing to hazard his reputation on works erected on a different scale, calculated for a short du- ration only, has desired leave to wait on your excellency and Congress, which I have granted him. In justice to Col .. Radiere, I ought to say he appears to be a gentleman of science and knowledge in his profession, and disposed to
*
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render us every service he is able to do. I shall expedite the building of such works as are most necessary for immediate defense."
Again, in another letter, dated
"CAMP WEST POINT, March 16th, 1778.
On the 14th inst. I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 7th of March, and also one of the 8th, containing a copy of the 5th of March. I shall pay particular attention to forwarding the work of the boats designed for transport- ing over, as well as to those which are to be employed for defense on Hudson river. I have ordered all the boats and other crafts on the river to be collected in different places, and put in the best possible state immediately. When I was last at Poughkeepsie the gun-boats were in such a state as to give hopes of their being fit for use within a few weeks; and as Gov. Clinton has been kind enough to take upon himself the direction of them, I think we may hope to see them completed soon. I will send to Albany, and know the state of the boats there, and as the river will be soon clear of ice, I will order down such boats and other crafts as can be had there, fit for transportation over the river. If the chain is complete, we shall be ready to stretch it over the river next week. A sufficient number of chevaux de frise to fill those parts left open last year, are ready to sink as soon as the weather and the state of the river will admit it to be done. I hope to have two sides and one bastion of the fort in some state of defense in about a fortnight. The other sides need very little to secure them. There is a prospect of having five or six cannon mounted in one of our batteries this week. I think the works are going on as fast as could be expected from our small number of men, total want of mate- rials provided, and of money to purchase them. We have borrowed, and begged, and hired money to this time. I have several times advanced my last shilling toward purchasing
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materials, &c .; and I believe this has been the case with almost every officer here. As we still live, I hope we shall accomplish the works in the river in season, if the en- emy move with their accustomed caution and tardiness; when I hope Congress will repay what has been advanced, and cannot think us blamable if we have been compelled to save the public credit, and forward the business intrusted to our care."
From the above correspondence it appears that the forti- fications at West Point, and upon the Highlands, were built under the superintendence of Gen. Parsons, where he was stationed the principal part of the years 1778 and 1779, but was frequently detached upon expeditions to protect the sea-coast of his native state, near Horseneck, Greenwich, New Haven and New London. Time and space, however, will not permit a full statement of his services. It appears also from his numerous opinions, recorded and preserved among the manuscripts of Gen. Washington, that he was frequently consulted in questions of great moment, and in critical times of public danger.
On the 23d of June, 1779, Gen. Washington removed his head-quarters in consequence of the enemy having taken possession of Verplank's Point and Stony Point, from Smith's Clove to New Windsor, where he might be contigu- ous to the forts, and better situated to attend to different parts of the army on both sides of the Hudson river. The main body of the army was left at Smith's Clove, under the command of Gen. Putnam. The object now in view was to guard against an attack upon West Point. Gen. Mc- Dougall was transferred to the command of West Point. Three brigades were stationed on the east side of the river; Nixon's at Constitution island, Parsons' opposite West Point, with instructions to assist in constructing the works, [NOTE K,] and Huntington on the principal road leading to Fishkill.
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These three brigades were put under the command of Gen. Heath, who had been recently ordered to repair from Boston to head-quarters.
In July, 1779, Gen. Washington, understanding that Gen. Tryon had invaded Connecticut with twenty-six hundred British troops, immediately directed Gen. Parsons, (then stationed near the Highlands,) to hasten to the scene of action, with a view of giving confidence to his countrymen, and guiding their efforts. [NOTE L.] Placing himself at the head of one hundred and fifty continental troops who were supported by the militia under Gen. Erastus Wolcott, he at- tacked the British in the morning of the 12th, so soon as they had landed at Norwalk; and, although too weak to prevent the destruction of that fort, he harassed and annoyed the enemy throughout the day in such a manner that they re- embarked and returned to Huntington bay for fresh supplies of artillery and reinforcements of men; and soon after abandoned the undertaking of penetrating the Connecticut territory, returned to New York. [NOTE M.] Before in- vading Connecticut, Gen. Tryon addressed to Gens. Putnam and Parsons the following letter :
"NEW YORK, June 18th, 1779.
SIR : By one of his majesty's ships of war, which arrived here last night from Georgia, we have intelligence that the British forces were in possession of Fort Johnstone, near Charlestown, the first of June. Surely it is time for rational Americans to wish for a reunion with the parent state, and to adopt such measures as will most speedily effect it.
I am your very humble, obedient servant,
WM. TRYON, major-general.
To Gen. Putnam, or, in his absence, to Gen. Parsons." The following is Gen. Parson's reply :
" CAMP, HIGHLANDS, September 7th, 1779.
SIR : I should have paid an earlier attention to your
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polite letter of the 18th of June, had I not entertained some hope of a personal interview with you, in your descents upon the defenseless towns of Connecticut, to execute your master's vengeance upon rebellious women and formidable hosts of boys and girls, who were induced, by insidious pro- clamations, to remain in those hapless places, and who, if they had been suffered to continue in the enjoyment of that peace their age and sex entitled them to expect from civil- ized nations, you undoubtedly supposed would prove the scourge of Britain's veteran troops, and pluck from you those laurels with which that fiery expedition so plentifully crowned you. But your sudden departure from Norwalk, and the particular attention you paid to your personal safety, when at that place, and the prudent resolution you took, to suffer the town of Stamford to escape the conflagration to which you had devoted Fairfield and Norwalk, prevented my wishes on that head. This will, I hope, sufficiently apol- ogize for my delay in answering your last letter. By letters from France, we have intelligence that his Catholic majesty declared war against Great Britain in June last; that the combined fleets of France and Spain, amounting to more than sixty sail of the line, having formed a junction with twenty-five thousand land forces, are now meditating a blow on the British dominions in Europe; and that the grand fleet of old England find it very inconvenient to ven- ture far from their harbors. In the West Indies, Admiral Byron, having greatly suffered in a naval engagement, es- caped, with his ships in a very shattered condition, to St. Christopher's, and covered his fleet under the batteries on the shores, and has suffered himself to be insulted in the road of that island by the French admiral; and Count de Estaing, after reducing the islands of St. Vincent and Gren- ada to the obedience of France, defeating and disabling the British fleet, has sailed for Hispaniola, where it is expected
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he will be joined by the Spanish fleet in those seas, and at- tack Jamaica.
The storming your strong works at Stony Point, and cap- turing the garrison, by our brave troops; the brilliant suc- cesses of Gen. Sullivan against your faithful friends and allies, the savages ; the surprise of Paulus Hook, by Maj. Lee; the flight of Gen. Provost from Carolina; and your shamefully shutting yourselves up in New York and the neighboring islands, are so fully within your knowledge, as scarcely to need repetition.
Surely it is time for Britons to rouse from their delusive dreams of conquest, and pursue such systems of future con- duct as will save their tottering empire from total destruction.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL H. PARSONS.
To Maj. Gen. Tryon."
On the 29th of October, 1780, he was appointed, by Gen. Washington, one of the board of general officers at West Point, for the trial of Maj. Gen. Andre, of the British army, as a spy.
In the same month he received from Congress, a com- mission as major-general, and succeeded Gen. Putnam in the command of the Connecticut line of the continental army.
The defenseless inhabitants between Greenwich and New York, having been much annoyed, and suffered great losses by the frequent incursions of Col. Delancey's corps at Mor- risiana, Gen. Parsons determined to destroy the enemy's barracks, which could not be rebuilt during the winter; and thus afford some protection to the inhabitants in that vicinity. For this purpose, he advanced, with rapid marches, to West Chester and Morrisiana, with a few continentals, attacked the British troops, and effectually accomplished his object.
Gen. Washington, in a letter addressed to the President
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of Congress, January 31st, 1781, thus alludes to this expe- dition : "Inclosed are two reports of Maj. Gen. Parsons and Lieut. Col. Hull, respecting our enterprise againt Delancey's corps at West Chester; in which, with a small loss on our side, the barracks of the corps, and a large quantity of for- age were destroyed, fifty-two prisoners and a considerable number of horses and cattle brought off, and a bridge across Harlem river, under one of the enemy's redoubts, burnt. Gen. Parsons' arrangements were judicious; and the con- duct of the officers and men employed on the occasion, is . entitled to the highest praise. The position of the corps, two or three miles within some of the enemy's redoubts, required address and courage in the execution of the enterprise."
Congress passed a resolution directing Gen. Washington to present to Gen. Parsons and the officers under his com- mand, the thanks of Congress for his judicious arrangements, and for the courage displayed by the officers and men.
In the year 1781, he was appointed by the governor and council of Connecticut to command the state troops and coast guards, raised for the protection of the state, and to dispose them in such manner as he should judge expedient to protect the inhabitants from the incursions of the enemy on the sea-coast.
At the close of the war he resumed the practice of law in Middletown, whither his family had been removed during the Revolution, and frequently represented that town in the Legislature.
In the prosecution of measures for the formation of Mid- dlesex county, he was more engaged and more influential than any other man. He was an active and influential member of the state convention which assembled at Hart- ford, January, 1781, and adopted the constitution of the United States. He was a member and for some time presi- dent of the society of Cincinnati, in Connecticut.
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In the latter part of the year 1785, he was appointed by Congress, a commissioner, in connection with Gens. Richard Butler, of Pittsburg, and George Rogers Clarke, of Ken- tucky, to treat with the Shawanoe Indians, near the falls of Ohio, for extinguishing the aboriginal title to certain lands within the Northwestern Territory. This treaty was held on the northwestern bank of the Ohio, near the mouth of the Great Miami, January 31st, 1786, and the Indians then ceded to the United States a large and valuable tract upon which the flourishing city of Cincinnati now stands.
Under the ordinance of Congress of 1787, he was ap- pointed judge in and over the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio. The commission is dated Oc- tober 23d, 1787, and signed by Arthur St. Clair, president, and Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress. In 1789 he was nominated by Gen. Washington, by and with the consent of the senate, chief judge in and over the same territory, then embracing the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, which office he held until his death. His associates were Gen. James Varnum, of Rhode Island, and the Hon. John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey. In 1789 he was appointed by the state of Connecticut a commis- sioner with Gov. Oliver Wolcott, of Litchfield, and Hon. James Davenport, of Stamford, to hold a treaty with the Wyandots and other tribes of Indians, for extinguishing their claim, (the aboriginal title to the lands called the Con- necticut Western Reserve,) and in the fall of 1789 he visited that country with a view to preliminary arrangements for holding a treaty with them. While returning to his resi- dence at Marietta, he was drowned in descending the rapids of the Big Beaver river, the 17th of November, 1789, aged fifty-two years.
Among the manuscripts of Gen. Parsons in the possession of his grandson, Samuel H. Parsons, of Hartford, are a
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journal of observations and occurrences when he first vis- ited the western country ; a communication to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in October, 1786, describing the western mounds, manners and customs of the aborigines ; original address to the Shawanoes tribes ; besides a volumin- ous correspondence before, during, and after the Revolu- tionary war, with the distinguished men of that period.
GEN. BENJAMIN TUPPER .*
GEN. BENJAMIN TUPPER was born at Staughton, Mass., in that part now called Sharon, in 1738, but the precise time is unknown to his descendants in this state. He was the youngest of eight children of his parents, seven sons and one daughter. His brothers' names were Mayhew, Levi, Seth, Simeon, Reuben and Judah. His sister, Joanna, was married to Benjamin Estie, of Staughton. His brothers emigrated to different parts of the country. Mayhew went to New York, Simeon lived in Vermont, and with two of his sons, served in the Revolutionary army. Reuben died at Sharon, Judah came to Marietta with Gen. Tupper, where he died in 1793. Gen. Tupper's father died when he was quite young, and he was apprenticed to a tanner in Dor- chester by the name of Witherton, with whom he lived until he was sixteen years of age. After leaving Dorchester, he worked on the farm of Joshua Howard, of Easton, with whom he continued to reside the most of his time until he was married.
At the commencement of the French war, he engaged as a private soldier in the army, and was connected with it the most of the time for two or three years, though absent from it during the winter, except in the winter of 1756-7, when he acted as clerk of a company in the eastern army. Whether he was in any engagement during that war, is not known. He kept a district school in Easton two or three winters during the war or soon after.
* The sketch of the life of Gen. Benjamin Tupper was written by his grandson, Anselm Tupper Nye, of Marietta.
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He was married at Easton, November 18th, 1762, to Hul- dah White, who resided in the same town, and with whom he had long been acquainted. She was a woman of no ordinary talents, and was eminently fitted for the trials and difficulties through which they were called to pass in the latter period of their lives. She died at Springfield, now Putnam, Ohio, on the 21st of February, 1812. She was well known to many of the now oldest inhabitants of Ma- rietta, having survived her husband more than twenty years.
They resided at Easton for a short time after their mar- riage, when they removed to Chesterfield, in Hampshire county, Mass., which continued to be the residence of his family until they removed to Marietta.
At the commencement of our Revolutionary war, Gen. Tupper was a lieutenant of the militia, in Chesterfield. His first military duty during that war was in stopping the Su- preme Court acting under the authority of the crown, at Springfield. Under the command of Maj. Halley, of North- ampton, a body of men prevented the sitting of the court, thus manifesting the determination of the people of that state to resist the authority of the British government.
In 1775 he held the rank of major of a regiment of six months men, serving near Boston. While there he collected a number of boats and men for an expedition to Castle island, in Boston harbor. They passed with muffled oars close to the British fleet, then in the harbor, to the castle, burnt the light-house, brought off considerable property in light articles, and returned safe to the main land without any loss of men, or perhaps with the loss of one man. The enemy repaired the light-house, and Maj. Tupper in another expedition with boats, burnt it the second time. After his return from one of these expeditions, he wrote the following letter to Gen. Ward :
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"CHELSEA, Wednesday, 10 o'clock, P. M.
SIR : By Lieut. Shepherd you will receive two horses and eleven head of cattle taken from the Governor's island. I obeyed my orders in burning the boat. If it should seem that I went too much beyond in burning the house, hope your honor will suspend hard thoughts until I am so happy as to see you. I was not so lucky as to find any of liberty ; was so unhappy as to leave a number of horses on the island, which I humbly conceive I can give a sufficient rea- son for. My party is all well, in good spirits : the wind very high : shall return to camp as soon as possible : must humbly beg the favor of the sorrel horse, if you judge in your known candor that I deserve him. As the cattle too were not taken in the enemy's camp, I conceive they will belong to the party.
I am, with the highest esteem, your honor's most obedient, humble servant, BENJ. TUPPER.
To the Hon. Gen. Ward."
In Washington's Letters, vol. ii, page 20, the following account of one of these expeditions will be found :
"August 4th, 1775.
The other happened at the light-house. A number of workmen having been sent down to repair it, with a guard of twenty-two marines and a subaltern, Maj. Tupper, last Monday morning, about two o'clock, landed there with about three hundred men, attacked them, killed the officer and four privates; but being detained by the tide on his return, he was attacked by several boats ; but he happily got through, with the loss of one man killed, and another wounded. The remainder of the ministerial troops (three of whom are badly wounded) he brought off prisoners, with ten Tories, all of whom are on their way to Springfield jail. The rifle- men, in these skirmishes, lost one man, who (we hear) is a prisoner in Boston jail."
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In the following winter, an incident occurred, which serves to illustrate the character of Gen. Tupper, for cool, delib- erate courage, which he possessed in an eminent degree. Three men in a boat had been out fishing; while out, the wind shifted, and blew the ice toward the shore, where they must land. The men attempted to return, but found their way completely blocked up with floating ice. Their situa- tion was one of great danger. All their efforts to get their boat through the ice were unavailing; nor were they able to turn back. The wind blew severely cold, and they were in a situation in which they must soon have perished, in view of thousands of spectators, full of consternation, but making no effort to relieve these perishing men. Maj. Tup- per learning their condition, instantly contrived a plan for their relief. Procuring three pair of rackets, or snow shoes, he repaired immediately to the shore, putting one pair on his own feet, and with a pair under each arm, made his way for the boat, over the floating ice. Fixing a pair of rackets to the feet of two of the men, and encouraging the other that he should be relieved in his turn, he succeeded in bring- ing them all to shore.
In 1776, Gen., then Col., Tupper, commanded a regiment of six months men. With the other troops, they repaired to New York before the battle on Long Island. Tupper's and Nixon's regiments from Massachusetts, and Sage's from Connecticut, were placed on Governor's island in the har- bor. The next morning after the battle, the Roebuck man- of-war was ordered up to summon the garrison on Governor's island, to surrender. An officer, with a flag of truce from the ship, landed from a boat, and held up his flag. An of- ficer from the fort, Maj. Coburn, was dispatched to answer, that "the fort would not be surrendered at any rate." When these officers met, they found themselves to be old acquaintances, having served together during the French
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war. After shaking hands heartily, and some little conver- sation, the British officer made known his errand; Coburn told him the fort would not be surrendered, and they parted. The ship soon opened her fire upon the American fort, which was returned by the fort, but to little purpose; their work was not capable of being defended against the fire of the ship ; hence all were in alarm. During the previous night, the American troops on Long Island had been taken off with boats, with all their baggage, light artillery, and entrench- ing tools. Under the superintendence of Col. Rufus Put- nam, acting then as chief engineer of the army, or of Gen. Israel Putnam, boats were sent to Governor's island, and Tupper's and Nixon's regiments were brought to the city of New York, but Sage's regiment was left behind. While the troops were thus landing in the city, the officer in command hoisted his flag to surrender; upon which the firing ceased. The boats were hurried from the city back to the island, and brought off Sage's regiment, with the loss of one killed, and one wounded.
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