Dawson, Henry B. Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution. Morrisania, NY: (privately printed by the author), 1886.

That disappointment was expressed to the Hume Government, in the General's despatch of the twenty-fifth of September, 1776, in these words : " We muBt also have recruits from Europe, not finding the Americans disposed to serve with arms, notwithstanding the hopes held out "to me, upon my arrival at this post." In his Speech before a Committee of the House of Commons, on the …

"We are not unmindful, in what we have thus said, of the great use of that loyal element which Joseph Galloway made in his very lawyer-like publications; but we have also borne in mind, that those publications were made for personal and partisan purposes ; and that, like his earlier associates in duplicity and treachery, he was capable of resorting to unsavory means for the …

In his examination before a Committee of the House of Commons, on the sixth of May, 1779, the Earl of Cornwallis testified that " the knowledge of the country of America, for military purposes, was extremely "difficult to be obtained from the inhabitants ;*' that "the country, in " general, is so covered with wood and so favorable to ambuscades that, "certainly, it was very …

Little or no knowledge could be obtaiDed " by reconnoitering; " and " America is, of all countries, the best calculated for the defensive: everyone hundred yards might be disputed, " at least that part of it that I have seen." During a visit which he made to us, at our home, near the White Plains, previously to the late Civil War, General John E. Wool, a veteran in the service …

To this "end, I would propose eight or ten line-of-battle Ships, to be with us in " February, with a number of supernumerary Seamen, for manning boats, " having fully experienced the want of them, in every movement we have "made. "We must, also, have recruits from Europe, not finding the "Americans disposed to serve with arms, notwithstanding the hopes " held out to me, upon …

not learned the more modern military theory of "at- " trition," no matter at what cost, nor was he of the same school of politics as that in which Bute and Germaine and Dundas and Wedderburne and Jay and Duane and the Livingstons and the Morrises were preceptors, of high or low degree: on the other hand, he did not expose his command where the object to be attained was …

As the defensive works, on the high grounds to the southward of the Harlem plains, with the moderate detachment which he could leave, for the purpose of occupying them and the other portions of the City of New York, and with the further protection which was afforded by the Fleet and the increased safety which had been afforded by the capture of the American works at …

I must, here, " add that I found the Americans not so well-disposed to join us, and to "serve, as I had been taught to expect ; that I thought our farther " progress, for the present, precarious ; and that I saw no prospect of " finishing the War, that Campaign. These sentiments I communicated "to the Secretary of State, in the letters last mentioned." -- (General Howe's …

2 "Although some persons condemn me for having endeavoured to con- "ciliate his Majesty's rebellious subjects, by taking every means to pre- " vent the destruction of the country instead of irritating them by a con- " trary mode of proceeding ; yet am I, from many reasons, satisfied, in " my own mind, that I acted, in that particular, for the benefit of the "King's service." …

The Americans, with great labor and outlay of means, had constructed a chevauxde-frise, for the protection of the navigation, above Fort Washington ;* and it was hoped it would have intercepted the further passage of the ships while the batteries, at Fort Washington and Fort Lee, and the galleys, which had been stationed behind the chevauxdt-Jrise, played on them ; but, " to …

4 Doctor Sparks, in his Writings of George Washington, (iv., 30, note,) said " the mode of constructing the chevaux-de-frise was a contrivance of "General Putman's;" and, in support of that statement, he quoted from a letter written by the General to General Gates, dated July 26th, in which were these words : " We are prepariug chevaux-de-frUe, at which " we make great …

5 In this instance, General Washington was mistaken, since the " ships "suffered much, in their masts and rigging ; " and Captain Parker subsequently reported that the Phomix lost a Midshipman, two Seamen, and one Servant, killed, and a Boatswain, a Carpenter, eight Seamen, a Servant, a negro Mari, and a private Marine, wounded ; that the Roebuck lost a Lieutenant, a …

It would not have been very apparent how these vessels could have passed such seemingly formidable obstructions, "without the least difficulty," nor for what especial reason General Washington was •' sur- " prised and mortified," when such a passage had been successfully acomplished, had not General George Clinton, who commanded the Militia of the State who had been called out …

Bushnell, for blowing up the British Fleet. 3 Two new shipSj purchased for the further obstruction of the channel of the river, were driven ashore, near Yonkers -- one of them was afterwards recovered, however, by a party of men whom General Clinton sent from Kingsbridge, for that purpose ;* and two galleys, which had been stationed near the obstructions, were also driven …

Bushnell, of New York, well known among numismatists and antiquaries, was of the same family as the Mr. Bushnell referred to, iu the text ; and he gathered, with great labor and much cost, everything which was known to exist, concerning that early inventor. The only description of the machine for destroying vessels at anchor, invented by him and destroyed by the enemy whom it …

The movement of the ships, up the river, and the consequent control of the latter, notwithstanding the obstructions on which so much dependence had been rested, very promptly called forth the entire energies of General George Clinton' and General Heath, 8 both of them in Westchester-county, to prevent the enemy from effecting a landing and for the protection of the property …

"River, October 9, 1776;" General George Clinton to the Convention, "Kino's Bridge, 10 October, 1776 ;" The PMladelphia Evening Post,- Volume 2, Number 270, Philadelphia, Saturday, October 12, 1776; The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1767, Philadelphia, October 16, 1776 ; Memoirs of General Heath, 68, 69. 8 Memoirs of General Heath, 69. Among the incidents of 1776, Bolton related …

s General Heath ordered Colonel Sargent, with five hundrt-d Infantry and forty Cavalry ; Captain Horton, of the Artillery, with two twelvepounders ; and Captain Crafts, with a howitzer, to march, immediately and with all possible expedition, to Dobbs's-ferry ; and the entire Division was formed, in order of battle, and "moved down, over the different " grounds which it was …

Kelby of the New York Historical Society, informs us that such a file is not known to him, anywhere. WESTCHESTER COUNTY. which it should have received, at an earlier day, and of which it was in great need. 1 The enemy's Squadron got under way, again, during the evening, and sailed up the river, as far as Tarrytown ; where it anchored, and remained during the entire period …

When the information of that movement of the enemy's ships reached the Committee of Safety, at Fishkill, it was, evidently, very much alarmed ; but, with that promptitude which the emergency demanded, it immediately ordered three hundred of the Militia of Ulster-county to be sent down, without any delay, to Peekskill, " well armed and accoutred, "and with three days' …

We much fear that " those, co-operating with the enemy, will seize such " passes as will cut off all communication between the " Army and us, and prevent your supplies. We " dare not trust any more of the Militia out of this " County, \JD.uchess.~\ We have called for some aid " from the two adjoining ones ; but beg leave to sug- " gest to your Excellency the propriety of …

* It is Tory evident that this letter was written at half-past two o'clock in the morning of the tenth of October, since it was received, at King's Bridge, and answered, by General Heath, on that day ; and the Colonel and his command, pursuant to Orders thus conveyed, countermarched to King's Bridge, where they arrived " At Night," of the same day.-- (General Heath's Orders to …

In the same connection, and in order that the reader may understand the temper of the great body of the people, beyond the limits of Duchess and Westchester-counties, we find room for the reply of the Colonel commanding the Militia of Orangecounty, below the mountains, to the requisition which was made, by the Committee of Safety, for men enough to protect that portion of the …

I have exerted myself to muster the "Militia, but have not been able to raise a guard of "more than thirty-eight men of my Regiment, at one "time, at Nyack. 5 The wood-cutters employed by "order of General Heath have been with me, but "have received orders to proceed in cutting wood for "the Army; and I have not, at present, but eleven " men to guard the shore between …

6 As the ships were anchored off N3'ack as well as off Tarrytown, those villages being exactly opposite, the former on the western and the latter on the eastern bank of the river, and as two boats' crews had made an attempt to go ashore, at Nyack, on the preceding Sunday, it will be seen why the Colonel mentioned Nyack, especially, in his despatch to the Committee of Safety. • …

"Others declare that if they leave their business, " their families must starve, as they have all their " Corn and Buckwheat to secure, and have been so "called off, during the Summer, by the public "troubles, as not to have been able to put in the "ground, any Winter Grain, and would, therefore, as " leave die by the sword as by famine. A third set, " and the most numerous …

It will be seen, from this official statement, that there were other Militia than that of Westchestercounty on whom "no reliance at all could be placed," in that hour of extreme danger; and, when taken into consideration, in connection with the facts that the Counties of Richmond, Kings, Queens, and Suffolk had returned to their allegiance to the King; that Duchess-county was …

Philadelphia : 1S04, ii., 495,496,) very accurately, stated the object of the movement was to secure to General Howe the possession of the North-river above Kingsbridge, without, however, stating more than that. Sparks, (Life of George Wathiiigtm, Ed Boston : 1842, 194,) said they " secured a free passage to " the Highlands, fhi-reby preventing any supplies, from coming to the …

Had their purpose been to cut off the supplies of the American Army, as some have supposed and stated -- a project which would have been unnecessary, if the American Army was to be obliged to abandon its strong position, near Kingsbridge, in order to prevent the enemy from falling on its rear -- the ships would not have anchored at so great a distance from the American lines …

referred to nothing else than to the Phoenix and the Boebucle and the tenders ; and, very cautiously, for reasons which are not unknown to us, he said nothing whatever concerning the purposes of the expedition. Irving, (Life of Wathington, Ed. New York : 1856, ii., 367-373,) in the most carefully prepared description of all, with a grave error in his description of the passage …

That opinion may be thus stated : when preparations were being made by General Howe, for the military occupation of the City of New York, before any movement for that purpose was actually made, these ships were moved up the Hudson-river, on the opposite side of the island, for the purpose, as General Howe subsequently informed the Home Government, of drawing the attention of …

At the time now under notice, General Howe was again preparing to move his great command, at that time, by way of the Sound, into Westchester-county ; and he did no more, concerning that Squadron, in that connection, than he had done, in the former instance, when he had moved that command from Long Island to the City of New York-- he caused it to be moved further up the river …

Having detached two Brigades of British and one Brigade of Hessian troops, the whole under the command of Lieutenant-general Earl Percy, to occupy the exterior lines, on the high grounds to the southward of the Harlem-plain, for the protection of the City of New York, 1 and another Brigade of British troops to garrison the City itself, 2 "all previous arrange- " ments, having …

i General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " New York, November 30, "1776." 2 General Howe made no mention of a third Brigade of British troops having been left, to garrison the City ; but common sense tells us there must have been such a Garrison, within the thickly settled portions of the City; and Captain Hall, (History of tlie CM War in America, i.,203,) and Stedman, (History …

Howe to Lord George Germaine, " New-York, November 30, 1776;" General Washington to General Heath, " Headotaetebs, October 12,1776 ;" the same to the Congress, "Heights of Haf.rlem, 12 October, 1776," postscript dated, "0c- "tober 13th ;" Diary of David Howe, October 12, 1776 ; General Washington to Governor Ooolce, "Headquabters, Harlem Heights, October 12, "1776;" postscript …

by Madame Jumel, 1 commanded a fine view of the East-river and Sound ; and because the intelligence of the movement which he first received, was conveyed to him, by express, from General Heath, after the landing had been made, 2 it may be reasonably supposed that the movement of the Royal Army, into Westchester-county, was unknown to him, until after it had been accomplished …

The naval portion of that very important movement was performed under the personal supervision of Admiral Lord Howe, assisted by Commodore Hotham ; and the assistance of most of the Captains of the Fleet and that of the naval officers, in general, which were freely given, secured, for that difficult movement, the most complete success, the only loss sustained having been that …

1 The fine old mansion still occupies its place, with few, if any, alterations, on the high grounds forming the southern bank of the Harlemriver, near One hundred and eixty-ninth-street, a little below the Highbridge of the Croton-acqueduct. Madame Jumel, who was also the widow of Aaron Burr, has been dead, many years ; and the right to the ownership of the property has been …

make a dash, in that direction, instead of moving the American Army into Westchester-county ; ° in which latter case the three Brigades commanded by General Lord Percy would have been seriously imperiled ; and, second, because he had landed on Throgg's-neck, which was really an island, instead of on the mainland, where none of the difficulties to which he was exposed, on the …

It was separated from the mainland by a narrow creek and a marsh, and was surrounded by water, every high-tide. At the time of which we write, a bridge across the creek, connecting with a causeway across, the marsh, afforded means for communication between the mainland and the Neck ; besides which, however, the upper end of the creek was fordable, at low-water. 9 As early as …

7 It is said that the place for the landing of the troops was entirely entrusted to the naval officers, by whom Throgg's-neck was selected, because of the unfitness of Pell's-neck, for that purpose ; and a glance at the official Chart of the Coast Survey, will satisfy any one of the wisdom displayed in the choice-- the shallowness of the water, elsewhere, would have prevented …

On the margin of his own copy of Stedman's History of the American War, (i. 211,) he wrote these words: " It " had been proposed to Sir William Howe that the troops should have "been marched to Harlem Point " [Hoern's Hook, at the mouth of the Harlem River, opposite Hell-gate,} " there met by the boats, passed to City "Orchard" [Cay-islandf] thence to Mill's Creek," [New …

Considering it possible that the enemy might make a lodgment on Throgg's-neck, the General immediately ordered Colonel Hand to detail one of his best Subalterns and twenty-five picked men, to that pass, " as " their alarm-post, at all times," with orders, if the enemy should effect a landing on the Neck, immediately to take up the planks of the bridge ; to oppose the movement …

When the enemy had effected a landing, on the Neck, in the morning, his advance pushed forward, towards the causeway, for the purpose of occupying that line of communication with the mainland; but the detachment whom Colonel Hand had sent for the protection of it, had taken up the flooring of the bridge, agreeably to the General's orders ; and it also opened a fire on the …

The outside had boen renewed, from time to time; but the frame " was the original one, of massive hewn timber ; and at the time of its " destruction, it was the oldest Mill, in Westchester-county, and, probably, " in the State. " By the original Grant to Colonel Heathcote, the inhabitants reserved " the right to have their own grain ground, free. This was afterwards "commuted …

Besides the despatch of an express to Head-quarters, with intelligence of the enemy's movements, to which reference has been made,* General Heath reinforced the guard, at the bridge, by ordering Colonel Prescott, the hero of Bunker's-hill, with his Regiment, and Captain-lieutenant Bryant, of the Artillery, with a three-pounder, to march to that place ; and Colonel Graham, of …

It is true that he ordered every Regiment who was under his immediate command, to be under arms, there, that it might be ready to act as occasion might require ; that he authorized General Heath to make such disposition of the troops, in Westchester-county, including two Regiments of Militia who w ere posted near Kings-bridge, as he should think proper; and that he begged and …

In the same connection, it is a noticeable fact that the General Orders of the day and there were no After Orders, on that eventful twelfth of October, made no mention whatever of the movement of the enemy or of the disposition of the American troops ; that they were written, entirely, in only three short lines -- (General Orders, " Head quarters, Harlem '■ Heights, October …

was so very limited ; to transfer to that officer the entire responsibility of the opposition which was to be made against the powerful enemy who was actually moving against the very existence of the young States, not yet confederated and very poorly connected even by the ties of a common danger; and to give to him his parting if not his farewell blessing ; and nothing else …

When General Greene, who was at Fort Constitution, as Fort Lee was then called, heard of the movement of the enemy, he wrote to General Washington, stating that three Brigades, at that time in New Jersey, were in readiness to be sent over the river, for the reinforcement of the main Army ; and he hoped, if the force which was then on the eastern side of the river was …

But the interregnum continued only during a few hours ; and, gradually, the reason of the Commanderin-chief resumed its sway, his mental and physical strength was restored, and he was, again, the responsible head of the American Army. During the evening, as we have already seen, the Brigade commanded by General McDougal was ordered to move for the reinforcement of General …

New York : 1867, i., 235 ;) but he gave no authority for the statement, and we have found none ; and we prefer to believe that the proffered help was not accepted, at thattime, although some portions of General Greene's command were moved into Westchester-county, within a day or two, and after the Commander-in chief had recovered from his temporary despondency and had resumed …

On the following morning, [Sunday, October 13, 1776,] General Washington became almost satisfied that the enemy's movement was not a feint ; that his main body was on Throgg's-neck ; and that he " had " in view the prosecution of his original plan, that of " getting in the rear of the Americans and of cutting " off their communication with the country." 5 That change in the …

He also ordered Colonel Tash, with his Regiment of New Hampshire Militia, then at the White Plains, to march to Fishkill, " with all possible despatch," for the assistance of the Committee of Safety, in holding the disaffected in check; 8 he called a meeting of the General Officers, at noon, " at or near King's "Bridge," -- as " we are strangers to a suitable place," it was …

He also recommends strongly to " your attention, the keepinga good look-out at Fell's-poinc, at the mouth "of Eastchesiercreek, and at Hunt's and Willett's-points, for the sake of " gaining intelligence, these posts to be regarded as look-outs only." {Colonel William Grayson, A.D.O. to General Eealh, "Headquarters, " October 13, 1776.") 1 Memoirs of General Heath, 71, 8 …

•of its duty, to the country and to the world : " As the " enemy seem, now, to be endeavouring to strike some " stroke, before the close of the Campaign," were his words, " the General most earnestly conjures both Offi- " cers and men, if they have any love for their country " and concern for its liberties and regard to the safety "of their parents, wives, children, and …

On the morning of the fourteenth of October, General Heath, with all the Generals under his command, reconnoitred the enemy, on Throgg's-neck; 2 and, soon afterwards, General Washington, accompanied by the Generals of the Army who were at Head-quarters, also visited all the posts, beyond Kingsbridge, and the several passes and roadways which led from Throgg's-neck and from the …

During the same day, [October 14,] General Lee reached Head-quarters, on his return from the South ; and the command of all the troops in Westchestercounty, then the greater portion of the Army, was given to him, with the request, however, that he would not assume the command until he should have made himself acquainted with the different portions of the post, their …

the General Orders of the day, the Commander-Mi chief ordered Colonel Bailey's Regiment to join 'General Clinton's Brigade, and Colonel Lippet's Regiment to join General McDougal's Brigade -- each of them "to take their tents and cooking utensils, " and to lose no time ;" -- the two Connecticut Regiments, commanded, respectively, by Colonel Storrs and Major Graves, were …

As General Heath was continued in the command of all the troops within Westchester-county, until further orders, notwithstanding the assignment of General Lee to the same command, the former instructed General Nixon, who had been ordered from New Jersey, with his Brigade, to "have the troops " which have marched, this day, to the eastward of "the Bridge, by Williams's,"' …

The country has had other men of straw whom it has also grasped, in its hours of great anxiety and great danger, almost counterparts of that on whom the Army and the country leaned, so confidently and so lovingly from early in 1775 until the Summer of 1778 ; and just as the broken reed of that early period pierced the hand which leaned on it; so have these latter pretenders …

"towards Frog's Point," to "endeavour to support "the Regiments that are posted at the passes, there;" " should the attack be made at or near East Chester "landing," to ''make the best disposition of his "troops and repel the enemy;" and if any new movement of thes enemy should be discovered, "to "send notice thereof, immediately, by one of the " Light-horsemen," General Heath …

While the military authorities were thus engaged in preparing to meet the enemy, in arms, whenever the latter should endeavor to move from the Neck on which he was then quietly encamped, the Convention of New York, by }ts Committee of Safety, as we have already stated in our review of the proceedings of that Convention,? as soon as information could have possibly reached it …

In connection with this notice of the removal of the Livg-stock and Crops, we may properly mention that, very largely, Ihe inhabitants of those portions of the County which were likely to be exposed to the depredations of either of the two Armies -- and one of these Armies was quite as bad as the other, in the work of plunder and devastation and outrage -- removed from their …

All these had been removed from their proper places and lodged, for greater safety, in private houses, in different parts of the County, where, it was feared, they would become exposed to the enemy: and William Miller, of Harrison's Precinct, Theodoras Bartow, of New Rochelle, and John Cozine were appointed Commissioners for collecting them and removing them to Kingston, in …

ger, (Lewis Morris to the Convention, "Philadelphia, Septr. 24, 1776.") John Jay obtained a leave of absence, on the fifteenth of October, to assist in the removal of his aged parents, with their effects, from their home, at Rye, to a place of safety, one of the most honorable acts of his life, (Journal of the Convention, "Tuesday afternoon, 15 October, 1776.") The pathetic …

" We, the Sub-Committee of Poundridge, in West-Chester County, " beg leave to inform your Honours that we are apprehensive that " there is danger of our prisoners leaving us and going to the Min- "isterial Army, as wo are not more than nine or ten miles from the " water, where the Sound is full of the Ministerial ships and tenders. 11 One of our number is already gone to …

with recitals of dangers from the "disaffected" who, singular as it appeared to those local despots, were not inclined to submit, passively, to whatever of insult or of injury those in revolution should be inclined to impose on them -- only in very exceptional instances, however, did that "disaffection" extend beyond a disinclination to approve, in formal words, all which the …

Had the conservative farmers of Westchester-county -- and these were not unlike the great bodies of the farmers, in all the Colonies -- been permitted to dissent, quietly, from the policies of both the Home Government and the Continental Congress, and to have approved, quietly, of the spirited opposition to the Colonial policy of the Home Government and of the almost audacious …

But that controlling faction had other ends than those of the country's welfare in view ; and a narrow, bigoted, haughty, and relentless proscription and persecution of those whose political opinions differed from their own, very reasonably caused " disaffection " among the victims, without, however, leading them, to any considerable extent, 1 to strike, in retaliation -- they …

The several Brigades of the Army were formed into Divisions, 2 those commanded,' respectively, by Brigadier-generals Heard, Beall, and Weedon were to form the Division to be commanded by Major-general Putnam ; those commanded, respectively, by Brigadier-generals Lord Stirling, Wadsworth, and Fellows were to form the Division to be commanded by Major-general Spencer; those …

s It is a noticeable fact, and one which has seriously perplexed those who have attempted to study the history of that period and, very often, has led them astray, that, until the time now under notice, the Regiments of the Army were not, generally, arranged into Brigades and Divisions ; and that neither Brigadier -generals nor Major-generalB had any specified Regiments under …

manded by Major-general Heath ; those commanded, respectively, by Brigadier-generals Saltonstall, Sargent, and Hand were to form the Division to be commanded by Major-general Sullivan; and the Massachusetts Militia, then serving with the Army, was to be formed into a Division to be commanded by Major-general Lincoln. 1 At the same time, the General, in the most pressing terms …

With all the information, concerning " the enemy's " intention to surround " the American Army, which the General had been able to secure ; with all the knowledge which his personal and careful reconnaissance of the country had imparted to him ; and with all the intelligence concerning " the turbulence of " the disaffected in the upper parts of this State," which the …

4 The first reconnaissance which the General made, after the enemy's occupation of Throgg'B-neck, included "the Necks adjacent," so that he was not ignorant of the character of the ground on and near Pell'sneck ; but, on the morning of the sixteenth -- probably because of information received, on the preceding day, from some deserters from the fleet, who had been taken to …

mander-in-chief, Major-generals Lee, Putnam, Heath, Spencer, and Sullivan ; Brigadier-generals Lord Stirling, Mifflin, McDougal, Parsons, Nixon, Wadsworth, Scott, Fellows, Clinton, and Lincoln ; and Colonel Knox, commanding the Artillery, were present -- although General Greene was at the Head-quarters of the Army, on Harlem-heights, he was evidently out of humor and was not …

6 General Greene to Governor Cooke, " Head-quarterb, New-York Is- "land, October 16, 1776." Singular as it would appear to be, were not the propensity for securing all the honor which belongs to them and as much more as is possible, so generally prevalent among those who have occupied public places, Gordon, who was so largely the exponent of General Greene's opinions and …

In his evidently new-born zeal, adverse to the military and personal character of General Charles Lee, Bancroft has exposed his entire inability to understand and correctly describe a military movoment, whatever his capability of understanding and correctly describing a political movement may be, in what he has written concerning '■ the origin of " the retirement of the …

The several positions occupied by the different portions of the Army, from day to day, have not been noticed, with any degree of particularity, in any of the official documents or publications of that period, as far as we have knowledge ; but it is evident that the command of Major-general Spencer was moved from the exterior lines, on the Heights of Harlem, to which it had …

Surely the historian could not have been sincere when he described the hurried movement of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Smallwood, on the twelfth of October, to oppose the progress of the enemy from Throgg's-neck, as a "retirement of the American Army from New " York ; " and because the weight of his authorities, in support of his fancy, was confined to a single letter …

It would have been more creditable to the authorial reputation of that venerable writer of history, had he read what General Washington instructed his Secretary to write to the President of the Congress, on the seventeenth of October, the day after the Council had advised him of the inexpediency of holding the Heights of Harlem, with the main body of the Army, on the subject …

2 Memoirs of General Heath, 71. * General Orders, '■ Head-quarters, Harlem Heights, October 17, "1776." 4 Memoirs of General Heath, 74. 5 The action which occurred on the eighteenth of October, the day after that of which we write, was maintained by the Regiments commanded, respectively, by Colonels Shepard, Read, Baldwin, and Glover, all of them belonging to the Brigade …

setts Militia, from the command of Major-general Lincoln, were " sent up the river," [the Hudson-river,] " to watch the motions of the ships," [the Phoenix, the Eoebuck, and the Tartar, then lying off Tarrytown,] " and to oppose any landing of men, that they may attempt ;" 6 while the Head-quarters of that small Division and, probably, the two remaining Regiments, were posted …

6 General Washington to Governor Trumbull , "Heights of Harlem, "15 October, 1776." 1 Memoirs of General Rtath, 13. I 8 Vide pages 239 ; 250, 251 ; 254 ; etc., post. 8 The two Regiments of Connecticut encamped on the Harlem-river, belonging to General Parson's Brigade, (General Orders, " Head-quab- " tebs, Harlem Heights, October 15, 1776,") were ordered *o pass over the new …

Of the Brigade commanded by General Scott, the Regiments commanded, respectively, by Colonels Lasher and Malcolm were ordered to form a Reserve ;* Colonel Drake, with his Regiment, was ordered to occupy the Redoubt, in Bates's cornfield ; Colonel Hardenberg, with his Regiment, was ordered to occupy the Redoubt, on Cannon-hill ; and Lieutenant Fleming and Fenno, each with a …

B , in New-Torkand East New- Jersey; A Plan of the Country from Frog's Point to Ooton Hirer shewing the positions, etc. ; Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, *177 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 339 ; Marshall's L\fe of George Washington, ii., 500 ; etc. Reference may properly be made, in this place, to the two Maps, named among the authorities …

There had not been much haste displayed in the American Army, in changing its position on the Heights of Harlem, made really strong by the outlay of immense labor, notwithstanding the enemy had completely turned its left flank, occupied a position on its rear, and with the veriest mite of an effort was capable of throwing a strong force across its entire rear, of seizing every …

As both of these Maps were originally official, one British and the other American ; as both were published from the respective manuscripts, as nearly aBpoBsible in /ac-simile; and as both are historical authorities of the highest character, they will be frequently referred to, in our narrative of the Military Operations in Westchester-county ; and, in order that our readers …

Where " Phil- "ipsbnrgh," [Philipsborough,'] or Yonkers, should have been designated the word "Wepperham"-- intended for "Neperhan," the nameof the stream, popularly known as the " Sawmill-river," at the mouth of which Philipsborough, or Yonkers, stood-has been erroneously inserted ; and, instead of designating Tarrytown, not "Terrytown," as situated miles adorns the …

Probably misled by the errors referred to, in the official Map, the beautiful Map of the same Military Operations, which illustrates Stedman's History of the American War. has repeated the mistakes, in all their ugliness ; and the first edition of Lossing's Field-book of the Revolution perpetuated the unwelcome errors. caution was necessary. 1 Besides that caution, in the …

On the morning of the eighteenth of October, while the enemy was seen in motion to the eastward of Throgg's neck, when that fact was communicated to General Washington, by General Heath, 'the latter was ordered to return to hiscommand, whichhad been posted with its right at Valentine's and its left at Fort Independence, and to have it " formed, " ready for action, immediately …

Gordon, when describing the movement from Harlem Heights, said, " The movement was attended with much difficulty, for want of Wag- " gone and Artillery horses. When a part was forwarded, the other was "fetched on. This was the general way of removing the Camp-equip- " page and other appendages of the Army. The few Teams which were "at hand, were in no wise equal to the service …

The farmers of Westchester-county were robbed, indiscriminately, not only by the camp followers and the privateB of the Army, but by the Officers, including Field-officers;* and, in that work of plunder, the records are singularly ample in their evidence that the plunderers were almost exclusively men and Officers of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Lines.f At a later period …

■(■The Regiment of Massachusetts Artificers, commanded by Colonel Brewer, and the Regiment of Connecticut troops, commanded by Colonel Charles Webb, were especially notorious, as thieves. See, General Order for securing Sergeant Tripp and others, "Peekskill, " 11 December, 1776 ; " Minutes of Court Martial for trial of Major Austin, " Philipsburg, November 12, 1776;" …

With the exception of a scattering fire across the marsh which separated the Neck from the mainland, which seems to have done no material damage, 1 there does not appear to have been any offensive movement whatever;" and there is very little reason for supposing that the entire period of the stay of the Army, at that place, was not duly occupied in the transportation of Stores …

2 Judge Jones, in his remarkably accurate History of New York during the Revolutionary War, (i., 122,) said of General Howe's occupation of Throgg's neck, "here a whole fortnight was spent in doing nothing " (plundering the inhabitants and stealing their horses excepted)." We incline to the belief, however, that General Howe had no communication with the mainland sufficient to …

It is a singular fact that the Major-general referred to in the Note, also inspired the destruction of the White Plains, in which Major Austin also first plundered those whose houses he destroyed. ( Testimony of Sergeant Churchill and Tilley How, on the trial of Major Anil in, as to the robbery, and Major Austin's Defence before tlie same Court, as to the original author of …

General Howe has been condemned, also, because of his long stay on Throgg'sneck, without having attempted to move from that position, in any direction whatever, 5 but surely no one would have desired him to move into an enemy's country, in the face of an active military force of that enemy, without a Commissariat, without the necessary military Stores which would become …

4 Vide page 231, ante. 5 [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i , 203 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 210, 211 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 337 ; Adolphus's History of England, Ed. London : 1805, ii., 379 ; Sparks's Life of George Washington, 194 ; Irving's Life of George Washington, ii., 385 ; etc. General Howe to Lord George …

8 In his despatch to Lord Georgo Germaine, "New- York, 30 Novem- "ber, 1776," General Howe stated that "three Battalions of Hessians " were drawn from Staten Island ; " but in his Speech before a Committee of the House of Commons, April 29, 1779, when his conduct, as Commander-in-chief of the King's forces in North America, was under consideration, he stated, without …

Having at length, completely effected his occupation of Throgg's-neck and completely provided for his probable needs, General Howe determined to open his operations in Westchester-county, without further delay ; and, at one o'clock in the morning of Friday, the eighteenth of October, the van of the Royal Army, consisting of the Light Infantry and Grenadiers of the British …

, It does not appear that the movement of the van of the Royal Army was seen by the Americans, through the darkness of the very early morning, notwithstanding one of the best of the Brigades in the American service, that of General James Clinton, then commanded by Colonel Glover of Marblehead, had been posted, as a guard, in front of Pell'sneck, the place of its debarkation …

Although the full strength of the Regiments commanded, respectively, by Colonels Shepard, Read, Baldwin, and Glover-- the latter, at that time, commanded by Captain Curtis -- was less than eight hundred effective men, 5 the brave fisherman who temporarily commanded the Brigade pushed forward toward the place where the enemy's Light Infantry and Grenadiers and Chasseurs had …

Stephens, Secretary of the Admiralty, " Eagle, " OFF New-Yoek, November 23, 1776 ; " General Howe to Lord George Germdine, "New-Yoek, November 30, 1776;" David How's Diary, October 18, 1776 : [Hall's] History of the OivU War in America, 1., 205 ; Memoirs of General Heath, 72 ; Gordon's History of the American Bevobiiion ii., 338 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 211 …

c o f ft a a> u P. +3 c i s a £ -a ■a g c a o Colonel Shepard's* . . . Colonel 'Read's Colonel Baldwin's ... Colonel Glovers . . November S, 1776- Regiments. i u e o a o o s "i o <? If ■2 p. o a a> -n •§ i <« •a cj -d a s fi . 1 li'B V B a Colonel Shepard's*. . . . Colonel Read's 'I 12b Colonel Baldwin's. ". " . - Colonel Glover's ..... l * This Regiment was formerly commanded …

tance, however, before his further progress was arrested by the unexpected appearance, on his front, of the advance-guard of the enemy's van, the main body of whom, as we have already stated, had been pushed forward, at an early hour, to occupy the landing-place and, if necessary, to cover the descent of the main body; and who, in the absence of any opposing force of the …

The plan which was thus admirably devised, on the spur of the moment, by Colonel Glover, was quite as admirably and quite as successfully executed by the soldiers of his command -- Colonel Eead and his Regiment were concealed behind a stone wall, on the left side of the road; Colonel Shepard's Regiment was concealed behind "a fine double stone wall." on the opposite side of …

When the disposition of the Brigade had been thus successfully and satisfactorily effected, Colonel Glover rode forward to the Company whom he had employed as a mask, and personally assumed the command of it -- the name of the Captain who had so boldly confronted the enemy and held him in check, before the Colonel had completed the disposition of the main body of the Brigade …

wounded, when the enemy, who had, meanwhile, been largely reinforced, pressed forward, in a charge on the gallant little party. As it would have been useless, under the existing circumstances, to have made any further resistance, Colonel Glover ordered the Captain commanding to fall back, which was done with order and coolness -- " I ordered a retreat, " which was masterly …

The advancing column seems to have learned nothing from the lesson which the Americans had taught the advance, earlier in the morning ; and, with an appearance of bravado, it moved forward, in the midst of the smoke of its own uselessly expended gunpowder, as if there were not an enemy within a day's march of it, until it had approached within fifty yards of the first line of …

The enemy evidently misunderstood the character of the retreat of Colonel Read and his brave command -- like the Officer commanding the detachment, in the morning, he appears to have supposed that he had repulsed the Americans; and that nothing remained to be done, except to gather the fruits of his success -- and he cheered and pushed forward, along the narrow roadway, until …

The column was again brought to a sudden and unexpected halt ; and a longcontinued and well-sustained fire was kept up, by each of the belligerent parties -- it is saidthat seventeen volleys were fired by the Americans ; and that the enemy's line was broken, " several times, once, in " particular, so far that a soldier of Colonel Shep- " ard's" [Regiment] " leaped over a wall …

It had not proceeded far before Colonel Baldwin and his command arose from their concealment, behind the third line of the ambuscade ; and, suddenly and unexpectedly, they delivered a destructive fire, into the head of the column. It is said, however, that, in this instance, the ground was much in favor of the enemy, enabling him to bring his artillery to bear on the Americans …

The Americans having been in front of the enemy, from an early hour, in the morning, all the day, without food or drink, " at dark," they fell back, three miles, and bivouaced -- "after fighting all day, with- "out victuals or drink, lay as a pioquet, all night, the " heavens over us, and the earth under us, which was " all we had, having left all our baggage at the old " …

The strength of the Brigade commanded by Colonel Glover has been already stated, in detail, from official sources ; 2 and, because Colonel Glover would not have left the encampment and all the baggage and stores of the Brigade without a sufficient guard, there is an evident truthfulness in his statement tk>it he carried from his encampment only " about seven " hundred and …

It is known that the detachment of the Royal Army which was first moved to Pell's-neck was composed of the Light 1 We have depended, in this statement of the spirited action at Pel - ham on Colonel Glover's homely description of it, contained in a letter, dated at " Mile-square, October 22, 1776," which was evidently written for the eye of a friend, although it very soon found …

These, naturally enough, fell back on the main body, not on that of the Army itself, but on that of the detachment which had been moved from Throgg's-neck, in advance of the main body of the Army; and, since that detachment had been thus sent forward, in advance, for the express purpose of holding back any force of the Americans who should incline to obstruct the landing of …

1 LuBhington's Life of Lord Harris, 81. See, also, Extract from a letter from Fort Lee, dated October 20, 1776, in The Pennsylvania 'journal. No. 1768, Philadelphia, Wednesday, October 23, 1776 ; Sauthier's Plan of the Operations; etc. 3 Extract from a letter from Movnt Washington, dated October 23, 1776, in The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1769, Philadelphia Wednesday, October …

The Return of Colonel Shepard's Regiment shows that, of that Regiment, Sergeants James Scott and Charles Adams and Private Thaddeus Kemp, all of them of Captain Bolster's Company, were killed. (A Return of the Killed, Taken, and Missing of th£ Third Regiment, commanded by Colonel Shepard, etc., "North-Castle, November 19, 1776.") The Return of Colonel Baldwin's Regiment shows …

It is said, on the other hand, that, early in the morning of that day, the Officer commanding the Regiment which guarded the pass to Throgg's-neck, by way of the causeway and bridge, from the Village of Westchester, suspected the enemy was preparing to move from the Neck, and sent an express to General Heath, with the information ; that the latter ordered one of his Aide's to …

I It was not the practise, when this skirmish occurred, to notice, in detail, the operations of the German mercenary troops, in the despatches of the Royal Commander-in-chief to the Home Government ; and the losses sustained by those troops, in whatever actions they were engaged, were seldom, if ever, included in the detailed Reports of Casualties which were sent to and …

The reports of deserters and other unofficial reports mnde the total loss, including both British and German, from eight hundred to a thousand men ; and it is difficult to make one believe that four hundred Americans, familiar from their childhood with the use of firearms, sheltered by ample defences from which 'they could fire deliberately and with their pieces rested on the …

Brigade was immediately hatted, the men were ordered to prime and load their pieces, and the rear Kegiment was ordered " to file off by the left and to " march, briskly, to reinforce the Americans, at the " pass, at the head of the creek ;" that, while the Brigade was thus halted, General Washington rode up, inquired and was informed of "the state of things;" ordered General …

On Colonel Glover and on his Brigade, therefore, during that eventful Friday, rested the great responsibility-- a greater responsibility than either the Colonel or his command had any knowledge of-- of being the only armed force which was in front of the Knyal Army, opposing the progress of the latter into the interior of Westchester-county ; and of being the only force, of …

vance of the Royal Army venture to cross the little valley over which it had been cannonaded, by the Americans, during a large portion of the day ; 8 and after its progress toward the mainland was thus resumed, it made no attempt to pursue the retreating Americans, contenting itself, on the contrary, with quietly moving eastward, toward New Rochelle, Where it also bivouaced …

6 '"On the 18th, our army re- embarking, proceeded along the coast ** about six miles further, in their boats, and then re landed at Pell's " Point, and lay on our arms that night.! 1 ([Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 206.) fl We are not insensible of the tact that General Howe* in hiB despatch to Lord George Germaine, dated "New-York, 30 November, 1776," said …

Colonel Harrison's letter to William Duer, "Cam,p on Valentin e's-H ills, October 21, 1776 "-- " Since his " Excellency's letter of yesterday, nothing of importance has ti>nBpired, "unless the marching of the enemy, to-day, from Eastchester towards " New Rochelle, in considered in that .light "--General George Clinton's Information relating to the Enemy, dated "October. 21 …

Bolton, in his History of Westchester-CGunty (original edition, i., 444 ; the same, secofld edition, i., 695,) informed hiB readers, that, "on the " eighteenth of October, 177G, Lord Howe, the British commander, took 'f post in the village" of New Rochelle; but it is very likely that "Lord " Howe," who was Admiral of the Meet, remained on board one of the vessels- of-war-- he …

" Head-quarters, Harlem Heights, October 21, 1776. "(Parole, Hkath.) (Countersign, Sullivan.) "The hurried situation of the General, for the two last days, having " prevented him from paying that attention to Colonel Glover and the " Officers and soldiers who were with him, in the skirmish, on Friday "last, that their merit and good behaviour deserved, he flatters himself …

Our people fought Them Killed a "great many Both sides we have not The Particulars as yet." Lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman to William Duer, "Head-quarters, Kino's " Bridge, October 20, 1776," made a passing and complimentary allusion to the affair ; General Washington, through his Secretary, to ike Continental Congress, "King's Bridge, October 20, 1776, half-after one …

I., No. 24., Portsmouth, Tuesday, November 5, 1776, and by General Force, in the American Archives, V., ii., 1174, contained a statement of the skirmish, giving the command to General Lee and making other serious errore ; some Information relatinff to the enemy, communicated to the New- York Convention, evidently by General George Clinton, on the twenty-first of October, 1776 …

I., No. 27, Portsmouth, Tuesday, November 26, 1776, and by General Force, in the American Archives, V., ii., 1188, 1189, the reader is already acquainted ; an Extract of a letter from Mount Washington, dated October 23, 1776, written by an eye-witness of the engagement, and published iu The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1769, Philadelphia, "Wednesday, October 30, 1776, confirmed …

I., No. 25, Portsmouth, Tuesday, November 12, 1776, whence it was re-printed by Frank Moore, in his Diary of the American Revolution, i., 326, 327 ; General Howe* 8 despatch to Lord George Germame, dated "New-York, 30 November, 1776, "contained the official report of the skirmish ; Captain Hall, in his History of the Civil War in America, (i., 205,) made mention of it …

London : 1791, i , 308, 3U9,) gave the personal command to General Lee, 'without alluding to Colonel Glover ; Mrs. Warren, in her Rise and Progress of the American Revolution, (i., 327,) grouped all the operations of the Annies, while en route to the White Plains, without making special mention of either ; Adolphus, in his History of England, (Second edition, ii., 380,) made …

Hartford : 1824, 262,) mentioned it, incidentally, giving the personal command to General Lee ; Kamsay, in his Life of George Washington, (Sixth edition, 46,) did no more than to casually allude to the entire series of affaiis, without particularly mentioning either of them ; Dunlap, in his History of New York, (ii., 80,) did the same, honorably mentioning all, without …

In other parts of his work, (original edition, i., £46-548 ; second edition, ii., 73, 74,) he presented copieB of what General Heath and two of the letter-writers had written on the subject, without a Bingle additional word, where something of description of localities, if nothing else, would have been more than ordinarily useful. The Annual Register for 1776 : History of …

It is said, also, that Colonel Putnam then disguised himself, and set out for the White Plains, a place which he had never visited ; nor did he know the road which led to it. Immediately afterwards, he came to a road which turned off, to the right, and which he followed, a short distance and until he came to a house, where a woman informed him that the road he was then on led …

London : 1786, ii., 243-245) ; Soules, in his Huttoire' dea Troublea de I' Amerique Angluiae, (Edit. Paris : 1787, i., 342-345) ; Chas and Lebrun, in their Hiatoire politique et philosopkique de la Revolution de V Amirique Septentrionale, (Edit. Paris : An ix., 183) ; Colonel Humphreys, in his Essay on the Life of Major-general Israel Putnam, (Edit. Boston : 1818, 126, 127) …

Disregarding those who made no mention of Colonel Glover and his brave command, the reader will find in the character and nnmber of those who did recognize and describe the achievements of those brave men, on that eighteenth of October, sufficient evidence of the great importance which those achievements possessed and the great influence which they secured, both in America and …

He ascertained, also, that a detachment of the enemy was posted near Mamaroneck, only seven miles distant from the White Plains ; while, on the other side, was the Hudson-river, on which were half a dozen armed vessels of the King's Fleet, within seven miles from the same place; and he understood, at once, that the principal Magazine of Provisions for the American Army, which …

Colonel Putnam waited no longer, at the Tavern, and proceeded no further, on the road towards the White Plains ; but, turning his horse towards the Bronx-river, westward from Ward's Tavern, 3 where he then was, over Ward's Bridge, he hastened back to Head-quarters, " with his " all-important discoveries.'' It appears that Colonel Putnam and the Adjutant-general had passed over …

After Colonel Putnam had refreshed himself and his horse at the Head-quarters of the Brigade -- as Lord Stirling was a bon vivant and an extravagant liver, the weary Colonel was, undoubtedly, well-refreshed -- he set out for Head-quarters, by way of Yonkers, a road on which he had not previously traveled ; and as it was dark, and because the country over which he was to pass …

to. show the relative positions of the several bodies of the King's forces and the Magazine, at the White Plains ; that the General was surprised that the Army was so greatly imperiled, "complaining, very feelingly, " of the gentlemen: of New York, from whom he had " never been able to obtain a plan of the country, "and saying that it was by their advice he had or- " derad the …

Livingston, on the subject ; and, in the mean time, the.formeriofthetwo, who was never absent when any opportunity for, making money was presented, was ordered by the Quartermaster-general to purchase, without the slightest limitation of prices or any check whatever, as to qualities or quantities or places or times of delivery, thirty thousand bushels of Grain, onehalf of it …

Instructions were also given, also without limitation, for the purchase of Horses and Oxen ; and if they could not be purchased, the lucky agent was authorized to hire them, " at the most reasonable rates." 1 It was for the purpose of making 1 Qinrtemiaster-general Mijlin to Willtim Duer t "Mount Washington, 'October 20, 17T 0." such opportunities as these, that the dominant …

The General was necessarily led, therefore, to concentrate whatever of supplies he had, at the White Plains ; to request and entreat that every possible exertion should be made to have large quantities of Provisions carried to the interior parts of the country, out of the reach of the enemy, and with the utmost expedition ; and to inform the Commissary-general of the Army that …

With such testimony as this, and there is an abundance of other testimony which is even stronger in its terms, the honest historian of these events finds great difficulty in reconciling the facts with the persistent assertion that the War of the Revolution was originated by the great body of the Colonists arising, en masse, for the protection of their several properties aud …

contributions, forced contributions, demanded and expected, there could not have been much sympathy between the Army and the body of the people; and, surely, in that condition of the popular feeling, the Army can scarcely be said, in truth, to have been fighting for the cause of the country, at large, but, on the contrary, as Armies have always fought, at 'the expense of the …

It will be seen, from General Washington's anxiety concerning his supplies and concerning the lines of communication between the Army and the country, and from other evidence, that he was becoming convinced that the enemy intended to take New Eochelle for the base of his proposed operations, and, from that place, by way of the White Plains, to form his command, in a line, to …

We are not insensible that Bancroft, (History of the United States, original edition, ix. 177 ; centenary edition, 1876, v., 441,) said it was as early as his fifth day on Throgg's-neck, that General Howe "gave up the hope of "getting directly in Washington's rear;" and that, in consequence of that disappointment and at that time, " he resolved to strike at White *• Plains." …