Buckley, Joseph
John M. McDonald interview — 1846
Captain Joseph Buckley begins his interview with a description of how American General Gold Selleck Silliman was captured at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut by a group of men who crossed the Long Island Sound by boat. He also recounts how American forces repulsed a Loyalist attack on the mills along the Mill River in Stamford. After the war, Captain Willett, the commander of the Loyalist forces, encountered the son of an American named Wakeman who was killed during this raid.
Manuscript page facsimiles
High-resolution images served from the Westchester County Historical Society's IIIF endpoint. Click any page to view full size.
Transcription
- Hufeland Index Page 464 -
Capt. Joseph Buckley, of Greenfield Hill (P.O). “Glover was taken by General Silliman and harshly used, imprisoned, and refused his parole. He told Silliman who came some times to see him: “When I am exchanged, General, you shall hear from me.” Accordingly, on his return to Long Island, he planned a surprise in which Silliman was captured. A refugee, Captain Willett, in May 1781, made an attack on some mills situate on Mill river but failed, being beaten off by the militia. One man, named Wakeman, was killed in the skirmish. After the war, Willett was introduced at Newburg to the son of Wakeman. The person introducing said: “This gentleman is the son of Wakeman killed at Fairfield by your party.” Willett answered “Well, I am sorry for it, but it is the fortune of war.” Silliman was not an enterprising officer, and his courage was doubted.
I will write my recollections and either send them to you at Flushing or entrust them to my grandson, Samuel B. Ruggles.