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

Governor Tryon was enlisting as many as he could entice into the service of the King, both in New York and in other States j 1 and 1 Tlie Convention to the Continental Congress, " In Convention of the "Representatives, etc., White-Plains, Westchester-county, July "11, 1776 j 1 ' the Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, Augt. "9, 1776;" Report of Committee on a more …

those who were " disaffected," in "Westchester-county and elsewhere, were beginning to organize and to arm, for their own defence and, now and then, in support of the Royal cause. 2 The Troop of Horse, in Westchester-county, of whom mention has been made, when a quota of its members was ordered for the reinforcement of the Continental Army, at New York, early in July, 1776 …

Convention, "Die Sabbati, 4 bo., P.M., Sept. 21, 1776;" and many others. The instance of William Lounsberry, who refused to surrender and was killed, while four of his recruits -- Bloomer Nelson, Jacob Scbureman, Samuel Haines, and Joseph Turner -- were captured, is noteworthy. Both Lounsberry and his fourteen recruits were Westchester-county Loyalists ; and he and they were …

A Corps of Westchester county Refugees was subsequently raised, the Lientenant-colonency of which was taken by the veteran, James Holmes, of Bedford, already mentioned, (A Short Account of tfie Descent and Life of James Holmes, Esq., edit. 1815, reprinted, in exteneo, in de Lancey's Notes to Jones's History of New York during the Revolutionary War, ii., 621.) Two Battalions of …

was good reason for supposing, it was said, that a correspondence was kept up between the Royal Army, on Long Island, and prominent inhabitants of that County, as far in the interior as the White Plains, as early as the close of August, in 1776. 1 The inhabitants of Kings-county were said, early in August, to "have determined not to oppose the enemy;" and a Committee was …

Duchess-county, also, asked for further protection from the aggressions of the " disaffected," as Westchester-county had done ; 3 and, notwithstanding two Companies had been already raised for that purpose and were then in service, 4 a third Company was ordered to be added to the local force. 5 Like the Militia of Westchester-county, that of Duchess-county was exceedingly " …

"tember the 3rd, 1776;" the Committee of Safety to the Chairman of the Committee of Westchester-county, " Fishkill, September 3, 1776." 'Journal of the Convention, '-Die Sabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 10, 1776." 8 John Field and Jonathan Paddock to the President of the Convention, " Dutchess, Southeast Precinct, 7th Oct., 1776 ; " Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Martis …

the Convention was completed by the submission of all Long Island, not excluding the peculiarly zealous revolutionary County of Suffolk, to the authority of the King. 9 Jn view of these stern facts, there need be no wonder. that the Convention was anxious, concerning the " disaffected ;" and because of the purely speculative disposition of the Eastern Troops, and of the …

Philipse's name on their list of the assumed "disaffected," 14 who were maliciously said to have been, also, dangerous. 15 As the General expressly die Committee of Safety, "District of Manor Livinoston, October 9, "1776;" (lie same to the same., "District of Manor Livingston, Octo- *'ber 10, 1776;" Petrus Van Gaasbeek, Chairman, to the same, "Manor "of Livingston, 10th Oct …

11 General Washington to General William Livingston, "Head-quarters, " New-York, 6 July, 5 o'clock, P.M., 1776 ; " lite same to General George Clinton, " Head-quarters, New York, 12 July, 1776 ;" tlie same to the "Secret Committee of the Convention of tlie State of New York" "Head- " quarters, 13 July, 1776;" the same to the President of tlie Provincial Congress of New York, " …

15 Frederic Philipse was taken into custody by an order from General Washington, on the ninth of August, and taken from his own house, at Yonkers, to New Kochelle, "where he was closely confined, undor " guard, for eleven days," when he was removed to Connecticut, and gave his Parole that he would not go beyond the limits of the Town of Middletown, which no one pretends he …

It authorized and superintended the enlistment of men, in the service of the State, for local purposes ; * it attended to that of men for the reinforcement of the Continental Army ; 5 and it provided for the payment of Bounties, in addition to the stipulated pay, to those who thus enlisted. 6 It resorted to Drafts, in order to fill the requisitions for men, when enlistments …

He was almost totally blind ; and that and his unusual corpulency unfitted him for the slightest personal opposition to or support of any political or military movements; while his fondness for gardening, in all its branches, to which the grounds of his MaDor-houseb, at Yonkera and Sleepy Hollow, bore ample testimony, and his domestic ties, and his unusual love of home, led …

^Journal of the Convention, "Die Lunte, 8 ho., A.M., July 22, 1776 ;" the same, "Die Martis, 8 ho., A.M., July 23, 1776;" Hie Convention to tlus Deputation in the Continental Congress, "HAni.EM, 7 Augt., 1776 ;" etc. ^Journal of the Convention, "Friday afternoon, July 19, 1776;" the same, "DieSabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 24, 1776 ;" tlte same, "Saturday "morning, September 28 …

the Militiaandthe troops in the field ; 9 it passed on the qualifications of the Surgical Staff; 10 and it gave employment to Chaplains for the Army. 11 Bargains were made with favored Officers, when they entered the service, conditioned that they should serve nowhere else than in the City of New York; 12 and the settlement of disputes among Officers, concerning Bank, occupied …

M., Augt. 17, 1776 ;" etc. 10 Journal of the Convention, "Tuesday, P.M., "White Plains, July 9, " 1776 ; " the same, " Die Sabbati, 3 ho., P.M., July 27, 1776 ; " the same, "Tuesday afternoon, Augt. 20, 1776 ; " etc. 11 Journal of the Convention, ■' Monday morning, Augt. 26, 1776." 12 Journal of the Convention, " Die Mercurii, 4 ho., P.M., July 31, 1776." ^Journal of the …

The Militia of Westchester-county contained, of course, all who were friends of the Convention and who lived within the County ; but the number of efficient men in the entire Brigade did not exceed the strength of a single Regiment and these were so generally "disaffected," either with the service or with the General commanding them, or with both, that the latter regarded his …

I have " thought that the existence of such a Brigade, in which were so many "disaffected persons, was dangerous to the cause as well as to my own *' life ; but being desirous to participate in the virtuous opposition to the " British tyrant, I had determined, as Boon as possible, to join General "Washington, and contribute my assistance to him." (General Lewis Morris to the …

relied On, no matter what its temper might be -- it was drawn into the service, while the other States were delinquent,' until no more could be taken, for any, except for the most temporary, purposes. 2 It was called out to guard the banks of the Hudson-river' and those of Long Island Sound. 4 Reinforcements of the Continental Army were taken from it, whenever reinforcements …

1 " We caa with pleasure assure you, that by far the greater part of " the levies ordered by the Congress to be raised from our Militia, are " completed, and at their several stations ; that almost the whole of those "drafted in consequence of the enclosed Resoluticn, will, by the time " this reaches you, be at posts which is thought necessary to occupy, " least the enemy …

3 The entire body of Westchester-county Militia was ordered to the month of the Croton-river, to oppose any movements, in that County, from the enemy's shipping, (Journal of the Convention, "Thursday morn- " ing, July 25, 1776 ; ") to which the local Company, commanded by Captain Micah Townsend, was added, on the following day, (the same, '■ Die " Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., July …

6 0ne-fourth of the entire body of the Militia of Westchester, Duchess, Ulster, and Orange-counties, to serve until the last day of the following December, was ordered out for general service, in July, (Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, July 16, 1776 ; " Ute same, " Die " Jovis, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 8, 1776 ;") one-fifth of the entire body of the Militia of …

6 The entries on this subject are so very numerous that we can pretend to cite no more than two or three of them, (Journal of the Convention, ' 'Friday morning, July 16, 1776 ;" the same, "Die Jovis, 4 ho., P.M., "Augt. 8, 1776;" etc.) 7 The Convention to the Delegation from the State, in the Continental Congress, "Harlem, 7th August,1776, A.M.;" Journal of Committee of …

It continued, therefore, to provide, as best it could, for the wants of the Army, by manufacturing and by purchasing and distributing among the Powder-mills, all the Saltpeter which it could secure ; 13 by making or buying or borrowing Gunpowder, and by distributing it or giving it away ; " by searching for Lead, and opening Mines, and stripping Window-sashes, in Tryon and …

"a certain other small road which leads from the Post-road aforesaid, to "the dock, at Dobbs's ferry," were ordered to be repaired ; and requisitions on the Militia of Duchess and Westchester-counties, were made for that particular purpose, (Journal of the Provincial Convention, " 9 ho., "A.M., Octor. 5, 1776.") 11 Journal of the Convention, " Saturday morning, September 28 …

" Journal of the Convention, "Friday morning, July 19, 1776;" Order from General Washington to John Livingston, in favor of the Convention, " New York, July 19, 1776 ; " Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, "4 ho., P.M., Augt. 10, 1776;" the ame, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., "July 24, 1776;" etc. 16 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Die Luna;, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 19 …

when it could do so, 1 and, sometimes, it hired Arms, when it could not in other way procure them. 2 In short, there seemed to be nothing left, in all which related to the raising, the equipment of, and the furnishing of supplies for, the troops, which was permitted to be done by any other agency; and it affords subjects for thought and inquiry, as one reads of its uninvited …

ties of Albany, Ulster, Orange, Duchess, and Westchester,, eight hundred to each ; and, in the last-named County, Stephen Ward, William Millar, and Thaddeus Crane were appointed "to procure the proportion " of Lances affixed to their respective names." (Journal of Committee of Safety, "Die Mercurii, 4 ho., P.M., Sept. 4, 1776.") Models were made from Spears procured in New …

Leake were appointed to purchase coarse woollen Cloth, Linsey-woolsey, Blankets, woollen Hose, Mittens, coarse Linen, felt Hats, and Shoes, for the soldiers, and to have the Linen made up into Shirts, all in Westchester county ; and throe hundred pounds-- seven hundred and fiity dollars-- were appropriated for that purpose. (Journal of the Committee of Safety, ''Die Mercurii …

Need there be any Surprise that, with such an array of strong men in its favor, that he more distant and less exposed Manor of Livingston should be chosen, especially since the purchasing agent of the Quartermaster-general of the Continental Army was at Fishkill, with funds to meet the drafts of Dirck Jansen, who was selected by the Convention, to gather the grain from the …

The subject was introduced into the Convention, very properly, on the day after that body had approved and accepted the Declaration of Independence; but the consideration of it was postponed, from time to time, until the first of August, when a Committee was appointed for the purpose of* taking into consideration and reporting apian for instituting and framing a Form of …

It continued to issue such Bills, in the name of the Colony, long after it had professed to accept the Declaration uf Independence, by which it had ceased to be a Colony, (Journal of the Convention, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., Augt. 7, 1776") and, subsequently, when a new issue of such Bills of Credit was ordered to be printed, (Journal of the Convention, " Die Martis, 5 ho …

In the same connection, it may be well to inquire and to consider what the Earl of Coventry meant, when, in his place in the House ot Lords, on the twenty-fifth of November, 1779, he said, " He lamented that a " War so fatal to Great Britain should ever have been begun, much more " that it should be continued with so much obstinacy; and declared that, "had the House paid …

" The last Sessions,' ' during which the Earl of Coventry, by authority, presented overtures for reconciliation to which the Continental Congress would have agreed, was the Fifth Session of the Fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain, (November 26, 1778, to July 3, 1779,) long after the alliance of the United States with France had been perfected, and utilized in America. As …

The subject continued to be played with, both by the Committee and the Convention, by both of whom nothing was done, until the Royal Army occupied the City of New York and prepared to extend its operations into Westchester-county, when other subjects occupied the attention of both ; and thus were the best interests and the safety of the inhabitants of the State endangered …

'Without entering into details, the Convention provided for the refugee Poor, from the City of New York; protected the Cattle of the farmers, from the enemy's foraging parties, as far as it could do so ; guarded the Military-stores of the State ; built Vessels-of-War ; obstructed the navigation of the Hudson- river ; arbitrarily set aside the Elections of Officers who were …

*"We take the liberty of suggesting to your consideration, also, the "propriety ef taking some measures for expunging from the Book of " Common Prayer, such parts, aud discontinuing in the Congregations "of all other denominations, all such prayers, as interfere with the in- " tereBt of the American cause. It is a subject we are afraid to meddle " with the enemies of America …

As we have already stated, the Royal troops which had been withdrawn from Boston and carried to Halifax, during the preceding March, " having suffi- " ciently recovered from the fatigues and sickness " occasioned by their confined situation in that town' ' [Boston, b ~\ left the later place, [Halifax] on the eleventh of June, 6 under convoy of Admiral Shuldham ; 7 reached …

On the afternoon of the twelfth of July, for the purpose of distressing the American Army, " by " obstructing supplies coming down the river and other "good consequences dependent on that measure" -- probably, also, for the purpose of offering encouragement to the conservative farmers of Westchestercounty to follow the example of those on Staten Island, in declaring for the …

The Annual Register for 1776 : History of Europe, 166,* 167,* and, following that authority, The History of the War in America between Great Britain and her Colonies, Ed. Dublin, 1779, i., 179, 180, and Murray's Impartial History of the. War in America, Edit. Newcastle, ii., 153, say the troops were not comfortable at Halifax ; and that General Howe was obliged to sail from …

• General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "Staten Island, 7 July, (i 1776 . n [H a ll' B ] History of the Civil War in America, i , 175 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, Ed. London, 1788, ii., 278 ; etc. 10 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "Staten Island, 7 July, " 1776 ; " General Howe's Observations upon apamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman, Ed. London …

guns, and three tenders, "taking advantage of the " tide and a fresh breeze," left Staten Island, and passed the City, receiving the fire of the American batteries on the Bed Hook, Governor's Island, Powle's Hook, and along the line of the Hudson-river, within the City, without sustaining any material damage, and returning a fire which was equally harmless. 1 They anchored off …

The successful passage of these ships, up the river, very reasonably, created much anxiety and alarm, in the Army and throughout the State. General Washington, wisely suspecting that the purpose of the movement was to encourage the tenantry on the Manors of Philipsborough and Cortlandt to declare for the King, immediately ordered General George 1 General Howe to Lord George …

Clinton, then commanding the Militia who had been called out for the protection of the passes over the Highlands, to desire General Ten Broeck, commanding the Militia above the Highlands, to march down with as great a force as he could collect, in order the more effectually to secure those passes, particularly the road which passed over Anthony's Nose ; and, at the same time …

On the fourteenth of July, General Washington wrote to the Convention a letter which is so significant of the great anxiety which he felt and so highly illustrative of his character, as a great commander, that we make room for it, in this place. " New- York Head-quarters. " July 14th, 1776. " Gentlemen : -- " The passage of the enemy up the North-river is " an event big with …

It may be that, " on board these ships, there may be troops for that " purpose, who, expecting to be joined by the disaffect- "ed, in that quarter, or confiding in their own " strength, may endeavour to seize those defiles, in " which case the intercourse between the two Armies, "both by land and water, will be wholly cut off, than " which a greater misfortune could hardly …

I would, to " guard against this, submit to your consideration the "propriety of writing to the leading men, on our " side, in those Counties, to be very vigilant in ob- " serving any movement of that kind, in order that "so dangerous a scheme may be nipped in the bud; "for that purpose, to keep the utmost attention to " the conduct of the principal Tories in those parts, " …

Very ungraciously and, certainly, not in such words as were calculated to inspire respect for those who had employed them, among those against whom they were thus tossed, by the aristocratic masterspirits of the Convention, 3 Orders were issued to Captain Micah Townsend, who had probably been sent from the Plains to Tarrytown, on the day after the arrival of the ships, to …

1 Vide page 208, ante. 'Journal of the Convention, "Die Luna;, P.M., July 15, 1776." 8 The Convention to Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, " In Convention for " the State op New-York, White Plains, July 15, 1776." * Journal of the Convention, "Die Luna-, P.M., July 15, 1776;" the Convention to Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, "In Convention for the " State of New- York, White Plains …

During the morning of that day, [July 16, 1776,] before the information of the departure of the ships from Tarrytown had reached the Convention , that body had provided for the removal of " all Provisions and " other Stores, as well private as public property, which " were stored in places within the district of Peekskill " and so situated as to be in danger of being taken by …

B Lieutenant-colonel Hammond to the Convention, "Tarrytown, July "16,1776;" General Clinton to General Washington, "Fort Montgom- "ery, July 23, 1776." • Journal of the Convention, " Friday morning, July 16, 1776." WESTCHESTER COUNTY. of the river; and those who were already in the service, from Orange and Ulster-counties, were ordered to be posted in the Highlands, to guard …

The provisions of these enactments were completed by the appointment of Colonel Thomas Thomas as the Colonel-commanding and Ebenezer Purdy as the Major, of the troops which were to be drawn from Westchester-county 1 -- an appointment of Colonel which was made in the hurry of the moment and under a misapprehension, the Convention having erroneously supposed Colonel Thomas was …

In the afternoon of the same day, [July 16, 1776,] the Convention appointed a secret Committee " to de- " vise and carry into execution such measures as to " them shall appear most effectual for obstructing " the channel of Hudson's-river, or annoying the en- " emy's ships in their navigation up the said river ; " and that this Convention pledge themselves for de- " fraying …

2 Journal nf the Convention, "Die Lunfe, 9 ho., A.M., July 22, 177G ;" the same, " Die Luna?, 4 ho., P.M., July 22, 1776 ; " Colonel Joseph Drake to the Convention, " White Plains, 23 July, 1776 ; " the same to tieneral Morris, " New Rociiel, July 24, 1776 ; " the same to the Convention, "New Rocheli.e, 6 August, 1776." 3 Preamble and Resolution of the Convention, "Die Lunai …

requesting " all Magistrates and other officers of jus- "tice in this State, who were well affected to the liber- " ties of America, until further orders, to exercise their " respective offices," was adopted ; and the Convention also adopted Resolutions declaring that "all persons " abiding within the State of New York and deriving " protection from the Laws of the same, owe …

Committee of the Convention, instead of a letter by the hands of a Messenger ; and Colonel John Broome, of New York City, and William Duer, of Charlotte-county, wore selected for that purpose. {General Washington to tlte President of Qie Continental Congress, " New York, 19 "July, 1776." ) 7 Theso Resolutions are almost identical with other Resolutions, of the same tenor …

Treason has always consisted, and still consists, of something else than a mere misdemeanor or a simple felony ; and the subject of another Sovereign, although a violator of the lex loci, to which he properly owed obedienoo, could not, then nor since, have been legally tried and convicted of Treason, for any such violation of the local Law, in the Stwte of New York or …

' such persons, whose going at large, at thi8 critical " time, they shall deem dangerous to the Liberties of " this State;" l and the measure of its zeal was filled by asking a loan from General Washington, for the payment of what it had undertaken to do, promising to " take the earliest care to replace what nothing " but urgent necessity would have induced it to bor- " row ;" …

While the Convention was thus bravely and, generally, with excellent judgment, employed in making preparations for a vigorous and effective resistance, whatever the purposes of the enemy may have been, General Clinton, then at Fort Montgomery, as we have already seen, not only welcomed one of the enemy's tenders, which was beating up the river, taking soundings as she went …

2 The Convention to General Washington, " White Plains, July 16, 1776." Of the last-named excellent suggestion, General Washington subsequently wrote, * * * "but I did not think myself at liberty tu '* urge or request his" [Governor TnwibulVs] "interest in forming the " Camp of six thousand men, as the levies, directed by Congress, on the " third of June, to be furnished for …

three miles of Fort Montgomery ; plundered the house of a poor man-- taking, among other things, " a " handkerchief full of Salad and a Pig so very poor " that a crow would scarcely deign to eat it "--setting the house on fire, when it was left ; and then, returning to the place where the tender had run aground, in the morning, cast her anchor, where, on the following day, the …

General Howe, in his first despatch on the matter, informed the Home Government that he had " submitted to Admiral Shuldham's consideration the "propriety of sending a naval force up the North- " river, above the Town of New York, with a view to " distress the rebels on that Island, by obstructing " supplies coming down the river, and other good " consequences dependent upon …

It was said by General Howe, as we have seen, that the purpose was to cut off the supplies, for the City, which were brought down the river ; but he also said, it will be remembered, there were " other good " consequences dependent upon that measure," of the character of which " consequences " he prudently said nothing. If, among those "other good consequences," it was …

6 The direct authority for this statement has been mislaid ; hut a confirmation of it may be seen in General Howe's statement, in his despatch to Lord George Germaine, (" Staten Island, 8 July, 1776,") that no more than the Phoenix and Hose could have been spared, at that tim$ from the protection of the transports, even for the important service in which those two ships were …

There must, therefore, have been " other good consequences dependent on " that measure ;" and we are not inclined to admit that any Arms were aboard the ships, for the equipment of Westchester-county Loyalists, nor that any design against the Highland passes was on the programme of their proposed operations -- we incline, rather, to the belief that only ostensibly were those …

The vigilance with which the Westchester-shore of the river was generally watched and the extreme backwardness of even those who had been outraged by the County and Town Committees, to abandon their families and their homes, even in retaliation or because of their honorable loyalty to their Sovereign, were so painfully evident, however, that General Howe became convinced that …

a In his published Despatches to the Home Government, while he held the chief command of the Army in America, and in his Narrative in a Committee of the House of Commons, relative to his Conduct, etc., especially in his Observations upon a pamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman, General Howe told the story of hia great expection of active cooperation, in the field, from those …

Whatever may have been the real purposes of the expedition, the eastern shore of the river was so well guarded that no attempt was made to land, in force, for any purpose, on the Westchester-county side of it, nor was there any open communication between the ships and the inhabitants of that County, although it is known that frequent communications were effected, secretly and …

As the inhabitants of Staten Island, and those of Queens, Westchester, and Duchess-counties were supposed to have been especially conservative and, consequently, had been most terribly outraged by the dominant faction, it was reasonably supposed, by those who were familiar with the facts, that retaliation if not loyalty would induce these, especially, to declare against those …

General Howe very well said, after experience had taught him the facts, "Much might be said upon the state of loyalty and the principles "of loyalty, in America. Some are loyal from principle ; mam/ from in- "terest ; many from resentment; many wish for peace, but are indiffor- " out which side prevails ; and there are others who wish success to Great "Britain, from a …

There is t not known to have been any communication between the Westchester-county bank of the river and the ships, while the latter remained on their lower anchorage-ground, except thoBe referred to on page 208, ante ; but, subsequently, while the ships were off the Cortlandt Manor, their boats as we shall see, were very active, during every night ; and it is known the ships …

The Militia who were ordered out for the protection of the storehouses and the passes in the Highlands, responded with great promptitude, 4 so much so, indeed, that General Washington was warranted in calling to the main Army some Massachusetts troops who had been sent to that vicinity ; 5 and the vessels dropped down and anchored " a little below Ver- "planck's Point," and …

* Journal of Die Convention, "Thursday morning.July 18, 1776 ;" General Washington to John Augustine Washington, "New York, 22 July, "1776." < Pierre Van Cortlandt and ZepJianiah Piatt, Jnnr. to the Convention, " Pkeksk [i.i,, July 18, 1776." » General Washington to the Convention, " Head-quarters, New York, "July 19, 1776." 6 Pierre Van Cortlandt and Zephaniah Piatt, Jnnr. to …

* On Sunday night, the twenty-eighth of July, because the New England troops had gone away, on the preceding day, leaving the river-line unguarded, the boats from the ships went ashore, "at one Bailey's," near the mouth of Croton-river ; " went back, half a mile ; and drove off " a pair of oxen, two cows, one calf, one heifer, and eleven sheep : no "doubt had the assistance of …

Immediately after their successful passage up the river, the General wrote to the Governors of Connecticut and Rhode Island, for the use of some of the galleys which those States had built ; and, on the twenty-fourth of July, he wrote to the Convention of New York, telling it what he had done ; that he was in expectation, "every ''hour," that three or four of those galleys …

of it: " Tarrytown, (Sunday morning,) August 4. "Sir: " I have just opportunity to inform you that, " yesterday, at one o'clock, P.M., the galleys attacked " the Plicenix and the Hose, off Tarrytown. " The Lady Washington fired the first gun on our "side, in answer to one received from the Pluenix: " this first shot from us entered the Phmnix. The " Washington, galley, on …

' take her station in the line, according to orders). ' The Spitfire advanced, in a line with the Washing- ' ton ; and, with her, behaved well. " We had as hot a fire as, perhaps, was ever known, ' for an hour and a half. The Washington, which I ' was on board, during the whole engagement, had ' the ledgings of her bow-guns knocked away, which ' prevented our working them, and …

The rest ' of the galleys received considerable damage in their ' rigging, sails, and oars. 1 Under these circumstances, ' our Commodore, Colonel Tupper, thought it pru- ' dent to give the signal for our little fleet to with- ' draw, after manfully fighting a much superior force, ' for two hours. 1 It will be seen that very little was said, in this Report, of the opera tions …

" By Captain Tinker am informed of the misfortune and situation of "the row-galleys sent into the Continental service from this State ; and " as circumstances are altered, respecting them, since my last to you, on ' ' the subject of dismissi ng their crews and arms, must again request your "attention to that matter, that the crew of the Crane, Captain Tinker, "who escaped, may …

"The very critical stato of our Army and frequent movements of the en- " emy render it almost impossible for the General to write, himsolf, with- " out neglecting more important duties. He, therefore, directs me toan- " swer your letter of the 14th, and to say that the Captains of the galleys " from your State have misbehaved, invariably, from the first moment they " came, to …

"Never did men behave with more firm, deter- " mined spirits, than our little crews; one of our tars, "being mortally wounded, cried to his mess-mate, 'I " 'am a dying man : revenge my blood, my boys, and " 'carry me alongside my gun, that I may die there.' " We were so preserved by a gracious Providence, " that in all our galleys, which consisted of six, we " we had but two …

It appears that one, Anderson, had proposed a scheme to the Continental Congress for destroying the British fleet, then lying in the harbor of New York, with fire-ships ; and he had been officially recommended to General Washington, by the President of the Congress, with a request that the experiment should be made. 3 The General had, accordingly, employed Anderson in …

II., No. 666, New-London, Friday, August 16, 1776 ; [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 186, who said " most of the galleys were ran on shore, and taken ; " Memoirs of General Heath, 51 ; Ramsay's History of the American Revolution, Edit. London, 1791, i., 298, a mero montion ; Allen's History of live American Revolution, Edit. Baltimore, 1822, i., 429 ; Wilson's …

We learn from the records of the " Governor and Council, or Conimit- " teo of War," of Connecticut, tha; the Whiting and the Crane were owned by the State of Connecticut, and were, probably, those which were loaned to General Washington ; that the Whiting was a new vessel, commanded by Captain John McCleave, was manned with fifty men, including her officers, and armed with …

We are told these vessels were sloops, ' probably such as ordinarily sailed on the North-river ; and that the night of the fourteenth of August was appointed for the attempt to burn the ships ; but, from some unexplained cause, without having aroused any suspicion, however, the attempt was not, then, made. 2 Two nights later, thatof the sixteenth of August, it was " pretty …

With her fires fiercely burning, the sloop continued alongside the Phoenix, nearly a quarter of an hour, during which time the latter was also set on fire, in four places ; and she was finally saved from total destruction, " almost miraculously," by a sailor who leaped, naked, on board the sloop, and, with an axe, " disengaged the "chain of the grappling which had " linked the …

" said that one of the tenders was deserted by her " crew, for a time ;" that the tender which was grappled by Captain Thomas was burned to the water's edge and was towed to the shore, by the Americans, 7 by whom one iron six-pound gun, two three-pounders, one two-pounder, ten swivels, a caboose and apron, some gun-barrels, cutlasses, grapplings, chains, etc., were taken from …

THE AMERICAN FIRESHIPS. 1 Memoirs of General Heath, 51. 2 Ibid. 3 [Hall's] History of the Citiil War in America, i., 186. 4 We have taken this minute description of the assault on the enemy's ships from Captain Hall's History of the Civil War in America, i., 180, 187 because it is so clearly stated, and because it is the work of an officer of the Royal Army, and, therefore, is …

General Heath reported to General Washington, on the morning after the attack, that the galleys Lady Washington and Independence had behaved well, in their co-operation with the firevessels, while the other galleys were inactive ; and the Commander-in-chief answered, on the same day, expressing his pleasure in hearing of the good behavior of those who had participated in the …

During the period occupied in this early naval debehavior of the crews of all of them, " in the first attack made on the "shipB in the North River," for which they had been tried and condemned by a Continental Court-martial, that officer, writing "by his Excellency's commands," (vide page 214, ante) said of the subsequent operation of those galleys, " In the late affair …

The enemy " took possession of her, in half an hour ; and she, with the other, left " under the like circumstances, will probably prove the most formidable " force they can have, to oppose us, on the river. There was a place of " safety provided for the other galleys, which they might have got into, " as well as McCleave ; but they passed it, in their hurry." {General …

For other accounts of this daring feat, in attempting to destroy these ships, and of the subsequent escape of the latter, see General Heath to General Washington, " King's Bridge, 17 August, 1776 ; " General Washington to the President of Congress, "New-York, August 17, 1776 ; " the same to Governor Trumbull, " New York, August 18, 1776;" General Heath to General Washington, " …

"What purports to have been copied from a contemporary drawing of the brilliant scene, made by Sir James Wallace, who had command of the Rose, on the occasion now under notice, may be seen in The Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York for 1864, opposite page 672. It is understood to have been copied from the original drawing, in the British Museum ; and it has been …

The year previous," ho continued, "General Heath had been requested by the person in command of the ''fireships, to be a spectator of the burning of these vessels," quoting, monstration, so interesting to those of Westchestercounty who lived near the line of the Hudson-river, neither of the great opposing powers, in the City of New York and on Long Island, on the one side, and …

As it is more than probable that the ships, when they were attacked, were off Tarry town, instead of below Yonkers; as Yonkers, in 1777, was within the British lines, and so could not have afforded a rendezvous, in the Saw-Mill-river, for American gun-boats and fireships, during that year ; as the Phmi-ix and the Rose had dropped down to the anchorage of the Royal Fleet, off …

" It gives us great pain to inform you that the aid received from our "sister StateB is very inadequate to our expectations, none of them hav- ** ing yet completed the levies directed by Congress, which leaves us "reason to fear that, instead of using every means that human wisdom "dictates, for ensuring success, we shall, (with inferior numbers,) on "the doubtful issue of a …

Noth withstanding "all these difficulties, We are determined to combat every obstacle and "to Btrain every nerve in defense of the rights and liberties of America, '* which we conceive to be most materially interested in the safety of this "State. By our Resolutions for ordering the several drafts made in the "Comities of Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Westchester, Duchess, Ulster …

General Howe, on the contrary, had been strengthened, on the twelfth of July, by the arrival of his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, with the long expected reinforcements for theEoyal Array j 1 and he brought, also, a Commission from the King, appointing his brother, General Howe, and himself 2 to be Commissioners for granting pardons to those of the Americans who should ask for …

" I am extremely concerned that the quotas of men to he furnished by "the neighboring States have proved so deficient. The busy season "and harvest, to which it has been ascribed, being now over, in a great "degree, I flatter myself, from the zeal they have heretofore manifested, " they will afford every possible assistance, They are well apprised of " the importance of tins …

do Lancey, in his Notes on Jones's History of New-York during the Revolutionary War, (i., 722,) has partly " let the cat out of the bag," by saying they " were sons of Emanuel Scrope Howe, second Viscount "Howe, by Mary Sophia, an illegitimate daughter of George I., by his " mistress, the Hanoverian Baroness Kilmansegge, and, consequently, "in point of fact, first cousins once …

a The extent of the authority of the brothers, Admiral and General Howe, as Commissioners for the restoration of Peace, in America, has been bo variously stated, that the careful reader will do well to refer to their Commission, which may be found in a most singular connection with a mass uf papers concerning the Expedition commanded by General Burgoyne, which appear to have …

the harbor together, bringing another heavy reinforcement to the Royal Army, as well as the much needed Camp-equipage ; * two days later, [August 14, 1776,] Sir Peter Parker reached Staten Island, with the remains of the expedition which had been sent to Virginia and the Carolinas ; ° and, at the same time, Lord Dunmore, " with the refugees and blackamoors " from Virginia," 6 …

The Convention of the State, during that period of suspense, removed back from the White Plains to Harlem, occupying the old Church-building of the Reformed Dutch Church ; a and, nearer to the scene of the expected troubles, it provided for the protection of the Hudson-river and Long Island Sound, where the enemy was expected to make a landing, in force, by ordering the entire …

* General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " Staten Island, 15 Au- "gust, 1776 ;" Annual Register for 1776: History of Europe* 169 j Memoirs of General Heath, 53 ; Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii., 304, 305. 5 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " Staten Island, 15 August, ''1776;" Governor Tryon to tlie same, "Ship Duchess of Gordon, off "Staten Island, August …

Ab the Streets and Avenues now run, it was inside of the block bounded by the First and Second-avenues and One hundred and twenty-fourth <and One hundred and twenty-fifth-streets, near the present intersection of the First-avenue and One hundred and twenty-fourth-street, as it has been described to us by our friend, James Biker, Esq., of Waverly, New York, the distinguished …

It provided for the removal of all which remained, of those Cannon which had been brought from the City and laid on the roadsides of the County of Westchester -- those which had been spiked and unspiked, guarded and left unguarded, at such heavy cost, some months previously 2 -- and General Clinton was requested to have carriages made for such of those guns as he should …

because of "suspicions" which somebody had entertained concerning them, to the several County Committees, but in a tone of mildness which was remarkably unusual ; 8 and, in other ways, endeavoring to serve the cause of the country -- one of the most remarkable of the multitude of subjects which, at that time, crowded themselves before the Convention, for its consideration, was …

were taken for the removal of the women, children, and infirm persons, in the City of New York, to places of greater safety ; 5 for obstructing the navigation, in both the Hudson and the East-rivers, as well as in Buttermilk-channel, the latter separating Governor's-island from Long Island ; 6 providing for the temporary support of those who should be driven from their homes …

than the bad judgment of those, in England, who controlled the movements of the troops, that he was not thus sent -- the Campaign could have been opened '. several weeks earlier, when General Washington was i much less prepared to receive an enernv, and, therefore, • when a complete success in the suppression of the Eebellion was very much more promising ; but that Almighty …

Eoyal Army were commenced by the movement of the British Grenadiers and Light Infantry and the Hessians, or rather the German, Grenadiers, Light Infantry, and Chasseurs -- the last-named commanded by the Count Donop -- the whole numbering '' not less "than four thousand men," 1 of the elite of the Army, the whole commanded by General Sir Henry Clinton, to Gravesend Bay, near …

The purposes of this work do not require us to follow the immediately subsequent operations of the two Armies ; and the general knowledge which prevails concerning the disastrous "Battle of Long Island," made more disastrous by reason of " the obstinate, ''self-conceited, inefficiency," if not by the criminal disobedience and neglect, of General Israel Putnam ; concerning the …

1 [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, L, 188. See, also, Stedman's History of the American War, i., 193. 2 [HaU's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 188 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i„ 193. 3 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "Newtown, Long Island, "3 Sept.. 1776 ;" General Washingtonto General Heath, " Head-Quarters, " New- York 23 August …

Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh of August, two ships and a brig anchored a little above Throgg's-neck ; and before the troops whom General Heath had sent for the purposes of protecting the neighboring property, could reach the shore, several barges had gone ashore, on City-island ; killed several cattle ; * and carried away the dead animals and one of the …

For the purpose of cutting the line of communication of the City of New York, through the Sound, with the sea -- the way to the ocean, by way of the Narrows, having been already occupied by him -- the enemy very judiciously occupied Barren-island, belonging to Westchester-county, Montresor's -- now Randall's -- island, and what is now known as Ward's-island -- the latter two …

The channel which separated Morrisania, in Westchester-county, from Montresor'sisland, in the City of New York, being quite narrow, and a heayy picket of four hundred and fifty mounted men having been constantly maintained at Morrisania, the sentries of the respective forces, posted within halfgunshot distance, sometimes fired at each other, in violation of the inconsistent …

They were to embark, at the new Bridge over the Harlem-river, on board of three large floats ; to be covered by a fourth float, similar to the others and carrying a detachment of Artillery, with a light three-pounder gun; to fall down the Harlem-river, with the ebb, during the night, to Morrisania ; and the calculation was so made that, at daybreak, the young flood should be …

Notwithstanding one of the sentries had not been told of the expedition or had misunderstood the Order which had been given to him, and had resolutely disregarded the entreaties for silence which had been made, and had discharged his musket, giving an alarm, the enemy does not appear to have been disturbed ; and the three floats ran up to the place appointed for the landing …

The Officers and those who were on the central float sprang ashore, as they were expected ; received and repulsed a charge which the enemy's guard made on them ; but failed to receive the slightest support from those who were on the other two floats, who, instead of landing, sullenly " lay upon their oars." The enemy seeing that disaffection, rallied, and returned to the …

It is said that Lieutenant-colonel Jackson received a musket-ball in his leg; that Major Thomas Henley, one of the Aides-de-camp of General Heath, who had insisted on going out with the expedition, as a Volunteer, was shot through his heart, as he was getting into the float; that Major Hatfield was missing; and that the Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, fourteen …

Morrisania, 1865, September 22, 1776 ; General Orders, " Head-quarters, Harlem - "heights, September 24,1776;" Lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman to William Duer, "Head-quarters, Harlem-heights, September 25, 1776 ; ' Extract of a letter from an Officer, at Harlem, dated September 25, 1776, in Force's American Archives, Fifth Series, ii., 524 ; Extract from a letter from Mount …

8 General Orders, Head-quarters, Harlem-heights, September 29, 1776 ; Proceedings of a General Cowrl-martuA of the Line, held on Qie Heights of Harlem, by order of His Excellency George Washington, Esq., General and Commander-in-chief of the Forces of the United States of America, for the trial of the Captains Wiener and Scott, in Hie service of said States, September 30, 1776 …

• The apparent inactivity of the two opposing Armies, during several weeks after the occupation of the City of New York, was not understood, even by the Congress, and created some uneasiness; 1 but both were actively employed, the Royal Army in throwing up a line of defences, on the high grounds overlooking the Harlem-plains, from the South, in order to protect the City from …

It provided for the removal of the women, children, and infirm, and that of the poor, from the City of New York, in some instances into Westchester-county ; " and the care of the public records also received its careful attention. 6 When the enemy's shipping threatened the shores of Suffolk, it appealed for help from Connecticut, in view of its own inability to afford …

1 The correspondence of John Adams with his wife, which has been published, will show the anxious uncertainty which prevailed in the Congress. 2 [Hall's] History of the Civil War in America, i., 201 ; Stedman's History of the American War, i., 210. 8 General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " New-York. Island, 25 Sept., " 1776 ; ' ' Annual Register for 177 6 : History of Europe …

6 Journal of the Convention, " Die Jovis, 8 ho., P.M., Augt. 22, 1776; " Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tuesday afternoon, Augt. 27, 1776 ;" the same, " Die Jovis, 9 ho., A.M., Sept. 12, 1776 ; " Journal of the Convention, "Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., Octor. 4, 1776 ; " etc. t The Convention to Hie Committees of Stonington, New-London, Groton, Lyme, Saybrook, Guilford …

quently, when the purpose of the enemy to occupy Westchester-county had become more evident, Stephen 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 left as is abso- " lutely necessary for …

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 …

" Philipse's Manor, Augt. 31, 1776 ; " the Committee of Safety to General Washington, "Augt. 31, 1776." » Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Monday morning, Octor. 14th, "1776." WESTCHESTER COUNTY. " ing into the hands of the enemy, be empowered " either to remove it or them, therefrom, or, if that " should not be practicable, to destroy the same ; " " that the Commissary or …

Stephen Ward " 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 carrying the same into execution." 1 In the absence of …

1 Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Monday morning, Octor. 14th, "1776." These Resolutions were proposed by Robert R. Livington. 2 On 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 be, at this critical juncture, which is "occasioned by the absence of General …

Livingston, which the Committee of Safety sent to the General, with a peremptory Order to take the command of his Brigade, dated "October the 8th, 1776," did not effect its purpose, it certainly conveyed to the bashful Brigadier an evidence of what others thought of his remarkable conduct, as a soldier. 8 Two ships and a brig came to anchor, a little above Throgg's-neck, on …

Odell on Philipse's Manor, 8 at the house of John Blagge, at Crotonriver ; 9 and, possibly, elsewhere. 10 It constructed fireships, for the protection of the Hudson-river from the enemy's vessels ;" and it continued the support of the State's cruisers, on the ocean. 12 It attended to the removal of the military stores which were endangered by the movements of the enemy ; 13 it …

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-calcu- » Journal of the Committee of Safety, " King's Bridge, Augt. 30,1776." 8 Journal of Che Committee of Safety, " …

12 Journal of the Committee of Safety, "Tuesday afternoon, Septr. 24, " 1776 ; " the same, " Wednesday morning, Septr. 25, 1776 ; " Journal of the Convention, "Saturday morning. September 28, 1776 ; " etc. is Journal of the Committee of Safety, " P.M., September 3, 1776 ;" Journal of the Convention, " Die Sabbati, 9 ho., A.M., Sept. 7, 1776 ; " etc. 1* Journal of the …

" 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 instructions to purchase all the Flour which could be obtained in Duchess, Orange, and Ulster-counties, and to send it to the …

On the twenty-first of September, the American Army, at Kingsbridge and its dependencies, which included General Heath's command, in Westchestercounty, consisted, nominally, of four thousand, five hundred, and twenty-eight Commissioned Officers, Staff, and Non-commissioned Officers, and twentyseven thousand, three hundred, and seventy-seven rank and file, exclusive of Colonel …

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 different. » Journal of the Provincial Congress, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., Septr. "18, 1776 ;" the same, ''Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., Octor. 4, 1776." * Journal of the Provincial …

three thousand, eight hundred, and thirty were absent, " on command ;" and ninety -six were on furlough ; leaving only about sixteen thousand men, including the Artillery and excluding the Officers, who were actually present and fit for duty. 6 Of these, thirteen Regiments were Militia, temporarily serving in the service of the Continent ; ' and, since the disastrous results …

This circumstance, "of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed "enemy, superior in number to our whole collected force, would be " sufficiently disagreeable ; but, when their example has infected another "part of the Army, when their want of discipline and refusal of almost "every kind of restraint or government have produced a like conduct "but too …

Not a day passes without "complaints and the most importunate and urgent demands, on this "head. As it may injure the service greatly, and the want of a reg- " ular supply of Cash produces consequences of the most fatal 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." …

However, I trust that there "are many who will act like men, and show themselves worthy of the "blessings of freedom." (Letter to tke Congress, "Head-quarters, at " Comnel Morris's house, 16 September, 1776.") On the day after the date of the Returns of the Army which are referred to in the text, the General wrote to his brother, " the dependence which the Congress have …

present and fit for duty, including Colonel Knox's Regiment of Artillery, was reduced to fifteen thousand, one hundred, and four; 1 and on the fifth of October, the same rank and file, present and fit for duty, including the Artillery, numbered only fourteen thousand, four hundred, and eighty-six, exclusive of seven skeleton Regiments of Connecticut and Rhode Island, forming …

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, occasioned by the prevailing prostration of every kind of business, or because they had been enforced to do so, by drafts, or …

General Lincoln's command can scarcely be regarded, with any propriety, as a portion of the main Army nor 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 account of the disaf" fected, in that State -- those whom the Congresses and the Committees had forced into disaffection …

Sir William Howe, on a pamphlet, entitled Letters to a Nobleman, Second Edition, 37.) Three days after the date of that Return, [August 12,] the two fleets, convoyed, respectively, by Commodore Hotham and the Repulse, came into the harbor of New York, with the Guards and the First Division of the Hessians, (Compare Lord George Germaine?s despatch to General Howe, dated, " …

The one were attended by the ablest Surgeons 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 wheresoever they were "led; the other were new-raised and undisciplined, " a panic-struck and defeated …

York during the Revolutionary War, i., 110 :) ihe latter, " with the refugees and blackamores from Virginia," (the same, i., 103,) "about a "thousand more " (the same, i., 110.) The Second Division of the Hessians, the Sixteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons, the horses for remounting the Seventeenth Regiment of Dragoons, the draught-horses for Hie Artillery and baggage, four …

In the Battle of Long Island, it was said to have lost only three hundred and sixty-seven of all classes, (General Howe to Lord George Germaine, "Newtown, Long Island, 3 Sept., 1776;") only "about" ninety-two were Baid to have been killed or wounded at Harlem. (General Howe to Lord George Germaine, " Head-qua rters, " York Island, 21 September, 1776 ; ") the occupation of …

As we have said, the two Armies were occupied, during several weeks after the Royal Army had taken the City of New York, in throwing up defensive works-- the American Army, on the Heights of Harlem, to the northward and eastward of the present village of Manhattanville, back, to Kingsbridge, and in the more exposed portions of Westchester-county : the Royal Army, on the …

*Vide page 221, ante. See, also, General Howe to Lord George Germavne, "New Yobk "Island, 25 September, 1776;" the same to the same, "New-York, 30 " November, 1776 ; " Speech of Sir William Howe before a Committee of the Home of Commons, April 29, 1779, -- Almon's Parliamentary Register, xii. 323 ; Testimony of the Earl of Cornwallis before a Committee of the House of Commons …