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PUBLIC PAPERS OF

GEORGE CLINTON FIRST GOVERNOR OF

NEW

YORK,

1777-1795—1801-1804.

MILITARY — Vol.

I.

WITH AN INTEODrCTION BY

HUGH

HASTINGS,

State Historian.

PUBLISHED BY THE STATE OP AS APPENDIX " N "

NEW itORK.

THIKD ANNTJAL EEPOET OF THE STATE HISTOKIaN.

WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD STATE PRINTERS,

NEW YORK AND 1899.

ALBANY.

CO.,

—

TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION.

The

—How and When the State Secured Posses— Originally Calendared by George W. Clinton Archives of the State—^Conveyed to Boston in 1688

Clinton Papers sion of

The

them

Disappearance of a Number of Valuable Records Relating to the Administration thief in evidence

of

Stuyvesant

Peter

—TIhe

One Hundred and Fifty Years Ago

derings of the Records During the Revolutionary

Work

Autograph

of Compiling, Printing

and Indexing them

—Wan-

War— The

—De

Witt

Clinton Arouses Public Interest in their Preservation.

3-14

—Memorable Voyage of the — George Clinton's Early Life—Begins his Career as a Sailor — Distinguished Military Careers of George and James — Administration of the Affairs of the Colony—The Lords of Trade — The Council and the General

The Clintons a Family " George

and Anne

of Soldiers

"

Assembly

15-20

— Corruption in Political and Degra—George Third's Great Opportunity Baneful Influence of the Princess Dowager and Bute—William the Great Commoner— Characteristics—^His Vanity —His Coalition with the Duke of Newcastle—His Downfall

:Soeiety in

England 1760-1775

dation in Private Life

Pitt,

Grenville and the

Stamp Act

'

—Its Inception—The Albany Convention of 1754 The Storm Burst Ten Years Later— English Statesmen Blind to the Situation —The Good Nature of the Americans Imposed Upon—Franklin Protests against the Stamp Act— Samuel Adams's Resolutions— Col. Barre's Friendship for America Patrick Henry— Virginia Favors Submission— Henry's Reso-

"The Stamp Act

.^,

y

^

/ /

21-28

—

Table of Contknts.

iv

'

PAGBSi.

lutions

—Riotous

Demonstrations in Boston

—Major

James's

New Yoric— Gov. Colden's TJnconciliatory Policy—Tumult in New York—Repeal of the Stamp Act—The Billeting Act—New York's Critical Situation— Colonies Drifting to War—The Sons of Liberty and their Liberty Pole Foolish Threat in

Soldiers

and Citizens Clash— The Battle of Golden Hill—The

iSeveral Battles over the Liberty Pole

John Peter Zenger and his

ing Star of American Independence " North Briton " rest

—Its

Paine

Newspapers

—His

—James

Editors during the

Journal

—John

—The

—The

—Ar-

Populace Support him

—Early

Remarkable Career

Rivington

Ris-

Wilkes and the

" Forty-five "

Number

Historical

and Persecution of Wilkes

—Thomas

29-54

New York Weekly

—Tribulations

of

American American

War

55-64

Independence not Considered up to the Outbreak of the Revolu-

—New York's Strong Sentiment for England—Her Characteristics—A Colony of Aristocrats—John Adams's Description of New York in August, 1774— Development of the Episcopal Church— Early Churches in New York —The Women Favorite Literature —Theatrical Entertainment—The Cost of Living—New York Becomes an English Garrison Town tion

Sufferings of Captors saries of Life

The

—An

and Prisoners for the

Common

Neces-

Old Tavern Ordinance

Prohibition against Importing

Gunpowder

65-88

—Lord

Dunmore's

—Patrick Henry's Ai^med Demon—Dunmore Surrenders—The Differences between the Delegates to the First Continental Congress—Influence of Harvard College upon Early American Thought—The Sturdy Puritan and the Hardy Anglo-Saxon—John Adams's Opinion of New Yorkers and Philadelphians— George Clinton as the Representative of the People —John Jay's Historical Address — Clinton's Command Enlarged—The Council of Safety Order to Captain Collins stration

George Clinton Elected as the ant Governor of the State Legislature State

—Poughkeepsie

Pirsit

—The

Governor and Lieuten-

First Session of the State

Becomes

the

Capital

of

the

89-100

— Table of Contents,

v PAGES.

"The

—Discontentment—Ttie Average Soldier Knew his Rights —His Farm and his Country—His Grievances not without Justification —Pay Small, Food Scarce and Women left to Manage the Farm — Disparity in Pay between the Continental and State Authorities —Hamilton Points out a GrievMilitia

—Washington's

ance

Army—The

Original

Appointment to the Command of the Organization of the

Army—Destitute

Condition of the Colonies at the Outbreak of Hostilities

Helplessness of the General StafC

—The Army Ration—A Dis-

couraging Outlook

Burgoyne Selected

to

Strength of his

101-138

Command the British Army of Invasion Army— Gen. Herkimer and the Battle of

—Gansevoort's Defense of Fort Schuyler (formerly Fort Stanwix) — Col. Willet's Sortie—Three Memorable Episodes— Evacuation of Ticonderoga— Schuyler's Soldierly Retreat—Albany the Base of Supplies—Philip Schuyler, Soldier and Patriot—Washington's Confidence in him— Schuyler's Methods for Retarding Burgoyne's Progress— Succeeded by Gates— Leger's Siege of Fort Schuyler— His Retreat and Flight— The Battle of Bennington— The Defences of the Highlands— George Clinton in Command'—The Advance on Forts Clinton and Montgomery — The Assault—The Fall Semus Heights a Drawn Battle—Burgoyne as an Influential Member of Parliament—His Abilities, his Hopes and his Blunders— Gen. Washington's Comment— Saratoga one of the Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World—Burgoyne Returns to Parliament and Opposes the King— His Defense —New York Relieved of the Presence of Large Standing Armies —How the English Subsidized the Indians—Indians and Tories Remain in Canada for two Years—They Join Burgoyne's Army —Desolation of New York's Frontier—Cherry Valley—Schoharie— Gen. Sullivan's Successful Expedition against Brant Oriskany

'

St.

James Clinton one

of his Lieutenants

139-156

157-166

— Table of Contknts.

Ti

PAGE Si,

Whigs and

Tories

—

Confiscation of Property

—Alexander

Hamil-

ton and the Trespass Act^—The Articles of Confederation

Their Worthlessness

Country

—Nine

—Relationship

States Control the Destiny of the

Union—Helpless —Contemptuous DisCongress —England Refuses to Military PostS'—Demand for a

of the State to the

Condition of the Counti-y Financially

regard of the Authority of

Surrender the Northwestern

Strong Centralized Government—" Great Britain

our

Best

—Washington's Opinion of the Articles —Jealousy between the States and the Nation —Washington's Pessimism. Obscurity of the Origin of Political Parties —Loyalists and Tories—A Revolution within our Country's own Borders States' Rights — George Clinton's Great Influence' in New York— Centralization and Democracy— Three Great Men, Clinton, Hamilton and Gouverneur Morris — The First General Impost—Opposed by Clinton — New York Concedes her Revenue the Federal Government— Clinton Refuses to Call the Legislature together Extraordinary Session — His Reasons — Retaliation against England George Clinton as a Man of Action— His Prominence during the Friend "

.

167-174

to

in

Daniel Shays Rebellion and the Doctors' Riot in

175-182

New York

Washington's Confidence in him and Friendship for him

Honors Bestowed upon him by the People of

his State

— His

Record as Governor and Vice President—His Death at Washington

Correspondence of George Clinton

iss-isa-

191-85T

—

DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS. MSS. VOL.

GEORGE CLINTON PAPERS.

I,

PAGES.

Eev. Dr. Livingston to George Clinton in Congress, urging the 193-194

appointment of a Continental Fast

New York— Defences

Early Days of the "War in

of the

Hudson 194-197

Colonists Capture Munitions of "War

William Smith Sends his Compliments

The

Colonists

George Clinton

197 198

—Pacificatory Tactics —Rumors of two American Republics

by no means United

English

A

to

Colonists Lose 1500 pounds of Saltpetre

Batch of Domestic and

Political

News from

toward the 199-200

Christopher

Tappen

201-202

Making War on Tories

Armed

Connecticut

Too Late

for Gen.

Mr. McKesson tions

is

of Stores at Turtle

Bay by a 203-204

Sloop.

Gage

Day

Troops the

— Seizure

—Arrival

of

a Transport

the Battle of Bunker Hill

filled

with

was fought

204-205

—He Rails at Delays, Criticises Opera-

Impatient

and Appeals for Bounties for the Troops

—Fear

Sympathy from Bermuda

of

Famine and

206

British Cruisers

Renders the People of the Island Circumspect

George Clinton introduces Mr. White, of

New

207-208

Jersey, to Gen.

Washington

208-209

Washington as Commander-in-Chief

—Estimated

erals

As

—List

of Subordinate Gen-

Population of the Several Colonies

to Certain Military

Appointments

382

of his quarters. 382-383

—Methods of the Tories to discon-

cert the plans of the Colonists

383-384

Colonel Allison alludes to Arnold's Defeat on Lake Champlain... 384-885-

— xv

Detailed Table of Contents.

PAGES.

The

385-388

Situation in the North

James Jackson

to

George Clinton, a dunning

388-389

letter

George Clinton orders Lieutenant-Colonel Tupper

to

send down 389

boats to Kings Bridge

Lieutenant-Colonel Tupper reports difficulties in the

way

of ex-

390

ecuting orders

George Clinton reports his intention of

back on Dobbs

falling

390

Ferry to protect stores

391

Successful crusades against Tories

Concentrating at White Plains

army drawn up to Charles

receive

De Witt anxious over

—The

enemy advancing and our

them

391-392

the barracks at Kings Bridge

John McKesson questions the wisdom

the

of

392-393

of

position

the

American Army at White Plains Colonel Morris

Graham put

Military operations

393-394

394

in ari'est

North

in the

—John

McKesson further

de-

velops his plan of campaign Difficulties in the

way

395-397 397-398

of providing for the sick

Troubles of a quartermaster

Discomforts of war

—George

398-399 Clinton predicts more deaths from

—Disclaims

disease than from fighting fined art of

knowledge of the

re-

Majesty deplores the

re-

war

The King's speech

to

399-401

—His

Parliament

bellious conduct of the Colonies, gives assurance of

amity

from several European courts and alludes to the great expense of conducting the war to the

The big chain nearly ready

Commons

402-404

—John McKesson offers a few sugges-

tions relative to the fortifications in the

Highlands

404-406

Looking after clothing for the troops

The death

of Captain

disposition of

Van Wyck

406

— General

Clinton criticises the

some of the troops

George Clinton threatens

to

407-408

resign —^John

proposition and gives sound and

McKesson vetoes the

commendatory reasons

Mrs. Clinton requests to witness a battle

Troubles of the sick tended them

—And

impecuniosity of the doctors

409-412

who

at-

412-413

.

Detailed Table of Contents.

xvi

PAGES-

Graham's conduct at White Plains

Col.

cates Gol.

court martial vindi-

of the charge of cowardice preferred against

him

him by 413-416

Joseph Reed, Washington's Secretary

Henry Wisner

An

—A

41&-417

suggests points to fortify

erroneous report that France had declared

war against Eng-

land

'. .

417-419

Strengthening the worlds in the Highlands

419.420

John McKesson advances a loan

420-421

Mary Tappen

few

421-422

Constitution of the State of

first

George Clinton furnishes a

A

General Clinton

Aunt Clinton a coward

thinks her

Looking toward the

to

list

New

York.

of honor

423-i24

inside disclosures affecting the draughting of our first Con-

424-426

stitution

The General

is

requested to

recommend names

for

subaltern

426^27

officers

And

the General's response

The enemy lands on the west

De Russy makes

Col.

422

side of the

requisition for

George Clinton's proposition struct the

427-429

to the

Hudson

429

ammunition

New York

429-430

Convention to ob-

Hudson

430M131

General Clinton disposed to find fault Clinton's discipline criticised

—Panic

431-432

along the Hudson in con-

sequence of reverses of the Colonists at Fort Washington

and Fort Lee.

432-435

—Vigorous proceedings

Rallying for the defence

directed toward

mobilizing troops and hurrying the obstructions of the

Hud-

son against the approach of the enemy Bill for flour

casks

435-438

439

,

Ceu. Heath requests George Clinton to grant an interview to Gen. Lee

Two

439

regiments to garrison Fort Constitution— General Clinton

asks for three companies of rangers and promises to work

them a

440441

little

Operations on the Hudson

442

Anent Commissary supplies

Timber abundant

in the

Highlands but

442-443 difficult to

obtain

443

Detailed Table of Contents.

xvii PAGES.

Timber men

march

to fell trees to obstruct the

of the

Enemy443-444

scarce

The

militia of Ulster to

Rum

march

and

at a

and Orange Counties ordered

be ready

to

moment's notice

444-445

•

salt the chief luxuries for the

men who

obstruct the

445-446

Hudson Weather

Hudson

interferes with the obstruction of the

446 447-448

Oeneral Heath shy on news

Oommissary Paulding promises

sinking of caissons in the

448

to co-operate

Schuyler appears on the scene

-S

TION, CLINTON

AND MONTGOMERY

COL.

FORTS OONSTITU-

ROMANS DISCREDITED

LORD STIRLING'S REPORT ON THE FORTIFICATIONS OF THE HUDOBSTRUCTING THE RIVER.

SON

New York was the natural gically,

objective point

O'f

tlie

enemy.

Strate-

commercially and topographically, her position was early

recognized by military authorities, English and American, for

her water-ways had for centuries been the route traversed by the Indian whether on the warpath against rival tribes or against the

whites on the frontier or their settlements. ceptible

lof

New York was

invasion by water from the North and South.

A

sus-

land

force operating from the North a naval force from the South,

through tion,

New York Bay

and the Hudsiooi River, by making a junc-

would experience no trouble

in

breaking the backbone of

Neiw York and any coinfederacy of which she was a part. French, in 1687,

way

On

of

first

The

suggested an attack upon the Iroquois by

Lake Ontario, the River Richelieu and Lake Champlain;

January, 1689, the Chevalier de Callieres Bonnevue, governor

of Montreal,

vasion of

Champlain

commanding the troops

in

Canada, proposed an

in-

New York

by way of the River Richelieu and Lake

to capture

Albany and eventually New York City with

the aid of ships that were to be sent there to prevent the Emglish

from receiving succor or reinforcements, a work that was intrusted

Public Papers of George Clinton.

124

Count de Frontenac who burned and cut

to

ectady where he tion for

left

trail of

was

It

mander

As

in 1756.

Canada, Sir

in

water line from the

Guy

St.

to Schen-

is

not equalled in modern

path that the brilliant and illustrious

this historic

Montcalm followed

way

blood and of cruelty and a reputa-

inhumanity and barbarism that

history.

foir

a

his

early as 1768 the English com-

had recommended that the

Carleton

Lawrence

to

Sandy Hook should be

held,

at that time both ends of the rO'Ute were under the domination

of the

Crown.

War with

her Colonies a settled fact, the grand strategy of Eng-

land, as adopted, original, for

it

was simple and comprehensive though not

merely followed the lines that had repeatedly been

used by the French.

contemplated three expedition s.

It

operate from the city of of *Gen. Lord Leger, to

Mohawk

New York

Howe; the

northward, under

Valley; the third, under Burgoyne, to use

The

New York

situation in

three grand

at

command

in the valley of the

New York

movements was

Oswego

his

way through

Howe between Lake

Hudson.

during the formative period of these

critical in

the extreme.

The national

cause was limping along under a series of crushing defeats.

gomery had

fallen at Quebec; Generals Sullivan

*Much misunderstanding has

to the

who from Canada,

Lake Champlain and push

the wilderness and effect a junction with

George and

to

second, under the dashing Barry St.

work southward fnom Lake Ontario

was expected

One

existed

concerning the three

Mont-

and Stirling had

Howes who were

con-

spicuous in America during England's wars in the eighteenth century. The first was George Augustus, third Viscount Howe, who served as a Brigadier- General in the war against Prance, arid was killed at Ticonderoga on July 6th, 1758, when the title passed

A

younger brother was Sir William Howe, the death of the Admiral in August, 1799, the Irish honors of Clenawley reverted to William. The general, therefore, during his career in America, was known as Sir William Howe, but he bore the greater title of Lord Howe, due to his brother's death, from 1799 until his

to his brother Richard, the

general

own death

Admiral.

New York. On the Viscount Howe and Baron

who commanded

in 1814.

in

Public Papers of George Clinton.

125

been taken prisoners; the Battle of Long Island had been fought

and

lost;

British;

Long Island and New York were abandoned

to the

Nathan Hale had been captured and executed as a spy;

the American

flotilla

on Lake Champlain, under the brave, erratic,

much-abused and neglected Arnold, had been wiped out of

we had

ence;

retreated after the Battle of

Washington had succumbed

White Plains; Fort

to superior strategy

Fort Lee had been evacuated. despair, shot the only rays of

Out

exist-

and numbers;

of the gloom, bordering on

hope and encouragement

—Wash-

ington's complete surprise, superb attack and brilliant victories at Trenton

and Princeton.

Aside from the crushing defeats which the patriots had ceived, the Colonies had, to all intents

re-

and purposes, reached the

end of their tether; their resources were exhausted, and factional jealousies, civil

dissension in

and military, were breeding discord,

many

quarters.

strife

and

Nothing in the history of this or

any other country displays greater nobility of character than the conduct of

many

of our public

men

at this crisis.

In public

they whistled most vociferously to keep their courage advancing,

but in their private correspondence the despondency and dejection that at times

overwhelmed them, were only too apparent.

If

the experiment they had assumed were to meet with success,

it

was imperative that the

lutely

reliance

upon the resources and

which had been placed abso-

possibilities of the Colonies,

be abandoned, and immediate aid and co-operation, in

money, sought and secured from other channels. tingency could bring that result about It

was

left to

New York

must

men and

Only one con-

— a great decisive battle.

to see this end accomplished.

The

three decisive battles, that broke the back and the heart of English

supremacy in the United States

and won on her

soil.

of America,

were fought

Public Papers of George Clinton.

126

The valley

of the

The Hudson

tions.

continent, as

Hudson became the theater river divided the State

tJien

it

artery to the Canadas to

colonized,

and practically the

and constituted the main

— continued by portage from

Lake George and Lake Champlain.

most important it

was

of active opera-

It

its

headwaters

was recognized as the The Indians

river in the thirteen Colonies.

Hudson, who never gave his own name to the

Shattemuc.

magnificent stream which he discovered, alludes to ^'

it

as the

Great River of the Mountains," or the " Great River."

For a

was

time

it

rice,

and

^'

called

called " Nassau," then " Mauritius," for Prince

finally,

Dutch River,"

settled along its banks, the

in contradistinction to the "

South " or Delaware

After the conquest of 1664, the English christened

River.

name

when the Dutch

it still

bears,

Hudson

Mau-

it

the

River.

The Dutch divided the Hudson

from

into thirteen reaches

south to north, known as: The Horse Reach; the Sailmaker's; the Cook's; the High; the Fox; the Baker's; John Pleasure's;

the Hart's; the Sturgeon; Fisher's; the Fast; Martelaer's or Martyr's at

West

Point; and the Clover Reach at Hudson.

The principal feeder

of the

territory of the Six Nations,

Hudson, the Mohawk, flushed the

and marked communication by

trail

or water with the Great Lakes and the valley of the Mississippi.

The value

of

New

York, from a military standpoint, was appre-

ciated as thoroughly in

echo of the leaders in

first

England as

it

was

shot had hardly died

New York began

in this country.

away

The

ere the patriotic

to look for British troops.

Wash-

ington's military sagacity early foresaw the necessity of placing fortifications at the strongest points of defence,

because

it

was

only too apparent to him that the British would begin hostilities in this quarter after they evacuated Boston.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

New York, in possession of the

127

enemy, meant a disastrous topo-

graphical division of the Colonies, a separation between

York and New England, a severance tween

New England and

communications

of all

A month

was broken

in

for the first fortification

British plan of campaign

cities

of

be-

the colonies west and south, with a con-

stant menace to supplies for the Army.

possession

New

was outlined

New York and

the Highlands, the

as follows

Albany; to

with very strong garrisons;

to

before ground

fill

"

:

To get

both of these

declare all rebels

who

do not join the King's forces; to command the Hudson and East rivers with a number of small men-of-war and cutters stationed in different parts of nication by water between

northward of

it,

it,

so as to cut off all

New York and

and between

the Provinces to the

New York

and Albany

cept for the King's service; and to prevent, also,

New York and

commu-

all

ex-

communi-

the provinces of

New

Jersey, Pennsylvania and those to the southward of them.

By

cation between the city of

these means the administration and their friends fancy that they shall soon either starve out or retake the garrisons of

Crown

Point and Ticonderoga, and open and maintain a safe intercourse

and correspondence between Quebec, Albany and New York, and thereby afford the fairest opportunity to the soldiery and the

Canadians, in conjunction with the Indians to be procured by G. J. (Colonel

Guy Johnson,

son-in-law of Sir William Johnson*

* Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Golden, acting Governor of the province in the absence of Governor Tryon, who had returned to England, under date of New York, August 2, 1774, wrote to the Earl of Dartmouth: " The public have met with a very great loss in the death of Sir William Johnson which happened on the 11th of last month. He was engaged in business of much importance with a large number of Indians who were then with him on the present

Indian affairs on the frontiers of Virginia. He had been unwell some days but applied closely to business in consultation with the Indians until he was obliged to call for assistance to get to his room and expired soon afterwards. Sir William Johnson's great abilities and singular disposition enabled him to acquire and hold a greater influence among the Indians than any other Englishman ever had. I critical state of

Public Papers of George Clinton.

128

Johnson Hall, Sole Superintendent

of

of Indian Affairs in

York) to make continual irruptions into

New

New

Hampshire, Massa-

chusetts jand Connecticut, and so distract and divide the provincial forces as to render

easy for the British

it

Army

at

Boston

to defeat them, break the spirits of the Massachusetts people^

depopulate their country, and compel an absolute subjection to

Great Britain." Subsequently Washington wrote: "

The importance

and the necessity

of the

Hudson

of defending

it,

river in the present contest

are subjects which have been

so frequently and fully discussed and are so well understood

that

it is

appear,

that

unnecessary to enlarge upon them.

when

it is

it is

considered that

it

These facts at once

runs through a whole State;

the only passage by which the

enemy from New York

or any part of our coast can ever hope to co-operate with an

army from Canada; that the possession essential to preserve the

of it is indispensably

communication between the Eastern,

Middle and Southern States and further, that upon ;

in a great measure,

depend our chief supplies

sistence of such forces as

we may have

its security^

of flour for the sub-

occasion

for, in

the course

of the war, either in the eastern or northern departments or in

the country lying high up on the west side of are familiar to

all

;

they are familiar to you.

I

it.

These facts

therefore request

you, in the most urgent terms, to turn your most serious and active attention to this infinitely important object."

am

recommended his son-in-law Col. Guy Johnson to his Majesty to succeed The Colonel took up the remaining business of the Congress William's death and I know no person so proper to succeed his father-

told lie

him

in his department.

after Sir

in-law."

William Johnson's influence over the Indians was unbounded and unrivalled. By and gentle mode of treatment he had secured their confidence to an extent never before acquired by a white man. His death, coming at this particular juncture, was a most unfortunate event for the British cause in America.— State Historian. Sir

his straightforward

:

Public Papers op George Clinton.

A

129

few weeks after the news was brought from Concord and

New York adopted

Lexington, the Provincial Congress of

pronipt

measures for fortifying the Hudson and obstructing navigation.

On May

25,

1775, the Continental Congress adopted a series

which were transmitted to the Provincial Con-

of resolutions

gress, relative to the defence of

lowing

is

New

York, from which the

fol-

taken

" Resolved, That a post be also taken in the Highlands, on

each side of Hudson's Eiver and batteries erected in such manner

may

as will most effectually prevent any vessels passing that

be sent to harass the inhabitants on the borders of said river;

and that experienced persons be immediately sent to examine said river in order to discover

where

it

would be most advisable

and proper to obstruct the navigation." In accordance with this action the Provincial Congress

days

later,

May

30, 1775,

five

passed the following resolution:

" Ordered, That Colo. (George) Clinton and Mr. (Christopher)

Tappen be a Committee (and that they take

to their assistance

such persons as they shall think necessary) to go to the Highlands and view the banks of Hudson's River there; and report to this Congressi the fortifications,

most proper place

for erecting one or

more

and likewise an estimate of the expense that

will

attend erecting the same,"

On June

13, 1775,

the Committee reported and recommended

the construction of earthworks which were subsequently

known

as Forts Constitution on Martelaer's Island (the present Constitution

bank

Island)

of the

and Clinton and Montgomery on the west

Hudson opposite Anthony's Nose.

The following

recommendation accompanied the report:

"Your Committee begs

leave to observe, that they are in-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

130

formed that by means one side of the

river,

of four or five

booms, chained together on

ready to be drawn across, the passage can

be closed up to prevent any vessel passing or repassing."

On August

18, 1775,

the Provincial Congress passed a resolution

ordering the construction at once of the fortifications on the

banks of the Hudson Eiver selected and reported by the Com-

The Committee

mittee of Congress. finishing

the

and

in charge of erecting

were Messrs. Isaac Sears, John

fortifications

Berrien, Colonel

Edward Flemming, Anthony Kutgers and

topher Miller.

Eleven days

later,

work was begun on

tution Island, for the erection of the

first fort in

eral plan of defence contemplated the construction of

was

Consti-

the Highlands,

which subsequently was known as Fort Constitution.

Constitution Island, on Fort Hill which

Chris-

The

gen-

works on

directly east of the

known

present Garrisons station on the east bank of the river

as the north and south redoubts; one on Sugar Loaf Mountain

and the two more imposing works on the west bank, north and south of Poplopen's Kill

—Forts Montgomery and Clinton.

The plans and

specifications of these

Colonel Bernard

Eomans who was born

his

profession

come a botanist

engineer

of

of no

mean

gineer however. Colonel success.

He

in Holland,

England,

and

who

studied

who had

Romans proved

five batteries

80x25

feet;

be-

As a topographical

reputation.

to

en-

be anything but a

proposed on Constitution Island to construct

block houses; barracks

room;

in

works were prepared by

storehouses and

five

guard

mounting 61 small guns and 20 swivels; a

fort

with bastions and a curtain 200 feet in length, with magazines

and storehouses.

The Commission appointed by Congress

demned Colonel Romans'

plans, declared they

hensive enough and predicted that the

fall of

con-

were not compre-

the province would

Public Papers of George Clinton. follow

the works thus constructed

if

fell into

131

the hands of the

The controversy between them and Colonel Eomans

enemy.

became not only

bitter

The

but personal.

erect a battery at Moore's house in

what

is

latter's proposition to

now known

as

Wash-

ington Valley, and another at a point on the west side of the river

above Verplank's, was vetoed by the Commissioners on the

ground that works at these two spots would prove to be useless

They strongly advised, however, the construc-

in case of attack.

tion of the

works opposite Anthony's Nose

—Forts

Clinton and

Montgomery.

Two weeks

later the Provincial

Commander with

mand

Congress ordered " That a

the rank of Colonel, be appointed to take com-

of the Fortifications or Fortresses in the

Highlands on

Hudson's River."

At the same

time, a committee

which consisted

Livingston, Robert Treat Paine and John

Robert R.

of

Langdon was

pointed to " take an accurate view of the state of our catiion»

on Hudson's River and to report as soon as

it

ap-

f ortifl-

can be

conveniently done."

The report could not have been very gratifying Romans.

"

We

found the Fort

to Colonel

in a less defensible situation

than we had reason to expect," observed the Commission. does not

command

the reach to the southward, nor can

it

" It

injure

a vessel turning the West Point; and after she has got around a small breeze, or even the tide, will enable a ship to pass the curtain in a few minutes. "

The Fortress

about

it;

is

unfortunately comnianded by

but the most obvious defect

West Point

is,

all

the grounds

that the grounds on the

are higher than the Fortress, behind which an

enemy might land without the

least danger.

In order to render

Public Papers of George Clinton.

132

the positions impassable,

it

seems necessary that this place

should be occupied, and batteries thrown up on the shore opposite,

earth

where they may be erected with

is

7,

the Commissioners again recommended that

" the point at Poplopen's Kill is the best

mand

expense, as the

said to be pretty free from stone, etc."

On December

works

little

in the Highlands,

by far for any defensive

and that a battery there would com-

the river up and down, the length of point-blank shot."

Owing

to the differences between Colonel

Romans and

the

Commissioners, the Provincial Congress appointed another Committee consisting of Messrs. Isaac Nicoll,

Thomas Palmer, and

Gilbert Drake, with instructions to proceed to the Highlands and

endeavor to

adjust

the

This

dispute.

through Mr. Palmer on December

14.

Committee reported

They held that " Colonel

Romans must

either have mistaken the charge

or else he has

assumed powers with which he was not intrusted."

The report were

of the

inefficient

committed to him,

Commissioners which held that the works

because they did not sweep the river southward,

urged the construction of " a work at Poplopen's Kill which

would mount 16 or 18 guns, and sweep the

river to the point of

the Dunderberg, a distance of three miles and up the river quite as far."

This report was effective in preventing the further construction of fortifications on Martelaer's Island,

and

in the construc-

tion of the fortification at Poplopen's Kill.

On January 16,

Colonel Isaac Nicoll succeeded to the

of the fortifications in the Highlands,

command

and Colonel Smith of the

Engineer Corps superseded Colonel Romans.

On lin,

April

5,

a Committee of three, consisting of Benjamin Frank-

Samuel Chase and Charles Carroll

of Carrollton,

which had

:

Public Papers of George Clinton.

133

been appointed by the Continental Congress, and directed to pair to

Canada and

re-

invite the co-operation of the people of that

province, visited Fort Constitution and reported the condition of

the fort as follows "

On

the bastion, thirteen six-pounders and one nine pounder

were mounted; the east bastion mounted seven nine-pounders

and one six-pounder; the block-house contained eight double

for-

four-pound guns, mounted; and that the fortifications

tified

ordered by Congress on the 15th of February and laid out by

Engineer Smith, remain wholly neglected."

At

that time the garrison

consisted of three companies of

minute-men, aggregating 124 men.

On May

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry B. Livingston succeeded

4,

Colonel Nicoll by order of Washington in the

defences of the Highlands. der his

was

On May

of the

Mcoll, however, refused to surren-

command and continued

relieved

command

in charge until

June 8 when he

by the Provincial Congress.

20,

Colonel James Clinton reported for duty and pro-

ceeded to discharge

all

the Commissioners except two.

In view of the contentions that were occurring constantly and

apprehensive as to the effect these disorders would produce upon the troops, Washington wrote General Israel for

General

Brigadier

and Colonel Knox

Lord

" to see

Stirling

Putnam on May

with

Colonel

21,

Putnam

and report such alterations as may be

judged necessary for putting

" the

works

in a

fit

and proper

position for defence because he had reason to think that the situ-

ation

was bad

"

and the garrison, on account of arms, worse."

This Board of able soldiers

day commends

itself for its

was written by Lord in

filed

a report which even to this

thoroughness and value.

Stirling to General

the American Archives:

The report

Washington and

is

found

Public Papers of George Clinton.

134

lord stirling to general washington. " " Sir last, in

:

—Agreeable to your request,

I left

June

New York

1,

1776.

on Sunday

order to view the fortifications on the Hudson's River in

the Highlands.

Engineer, and

I

took with

me

Colonel (Rufus) Putnam, Chief

The winds

Captain Sargent, of the Artillery.

were so adverse that we did not reach Fort Montgomery

Wednesday evening;

but, with the help of our boat,

until

we employed

our time in visiting several other parts of the river that appeared

At the mouth,

proper for fortifying.

lands, about four miles below Fort

(Stony Point) which to

many

accounts;

should be cut

off

me

or south end of the High-

Montgomery, there

is

a post

appears well worth possessing on

should the enemy be in possession of

it,

we

from our best communication with the whole

country below the Highlands, eastward as well as westward.

There

is

a very remarkable spot of ground (Verplanck's Point),

easily fortified,

which commands the passage of the

as either of the other posts;

it

commands the mouth and

also

landing of Peek's Kill, from which there

is

Connecticut, which

off;

there

is

is

only twenty miles

an excellent road into

river as well

New

an excellent road into on the opposite side

Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In the passage from this place to Fort Montgomery island, lona,

which would be very useful

to the

enemy

is

a large

in their ap-

proaches to that place. " Fort

which

is

Montgomery

is

situated on the west

there about half a mile broad, and the

feet high;

on the opposite shore

thony's Nose, which

is

is

A

of the river,

bank one hundred

a point of land called An-

many hundred

inaccessible to any thing but goats, or ing.

bank

feet high, very steep,

men

and

very expert in climb-

body of riflemen placed here would be of very great use

Public Papers of George Clinton. ir

annoj-ing an enemy, as the decks of every vessel that passes

must "

lie

open to them.

The works begun and designed at Fort Montgomery are open

lines,

and

all lie

on the north side of a small creek called Poop-

lopen's Kill, on the south side of

projects

and

is

more

into the river,

which

is

commands

a point of land which the principal works,

all

manded by nothing but the

means be

fortified, as well for

their approach

at Fort

up the

Montgomery.

the top

an acre, com-

high, inaccessible mountains, at about

twelve hundred yards distance; this spot,

think, should by all

I

the annoyance of the

enemy

in

river as for the protection of the

works

me the most

proper

Indeed, this aj)pears to

place I have seen on the river to be

my

On

within two and three hundred yards of them.

of this point is a level spot of ground, of near

in

135

made the grand

post; and,

opinion, should be a regular strong work, capable of resist-

ing every kind of attack, and of containing a grand magazine of all kinds of warlike stores.

mand

The whole would then com-

the passage of the river with so formidable a cross

as would deter any attempt to approach with shipping.

works

built are all faced with fascines,

and

good loam but as they are liable to take ;

who have

filled in

fire,

fire

Those

with strong,

the Commissioners

the care and direction of the works, propose to rough-

made

of

plenty at hand.

I

cast the faces of the embrasures with a strong mortar

quicklime and sharp sand, of which there

is

advised them to try the experiment on part of the woi'k as

soon as possible.

on the land the "

hill,

As

these open lines are entirely defenceless

side, it will

be very proper to erect a small redoubt on

in the rear of them.

Fort Constitution

is

about six miles above Fort Montgomery,

on an island near the east side of the

river,

and near the north

end of the Highlands, which on the west and south sides

is

.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

136

bounded by the

river,

and on

tlie

north and east sides by low

marsh and small creeks running through

it.

The works here

consist of four open lines or batteries, fronting the river; the

command

eastermost

the approach up the river very well; the

commands the approach from West Point

next, or middle line,

upwards; the westermost battery

is

a straight

by Mr. Romans, at a very great expense; ures,

two

it

line,

constructed

has fifteen embras-

which face the river at a right angle, and can only annoy a

ship in going past

the embrasures are within twelve feet of each

;

other; the merlons on the outside are about

and about seven

feet deep,

made

two

feet in the face,

of square timber covered with

plank, and look very neat; he also built a log-house or tower on

the highest

cliff,

near the water, mounted with eight cannon

(four-pounders) pointed out of the garret windows, and looks very

Upon

picturesque.

the whole, Mr.

Romans has

genius at a very great expense, and to very tage.

The works,

little

public advan-

in their present open condition

and scattered

there one good place on the

situation, are defenceless;

nor

island on which a redoubt

may be

the whole;

however,

I

is

erected that will

command

have marked in the plan (No.

heights which are most commanding; island is

displayed his

commanded by the

hill

yet every

3)

those

work on the

on the West Point, on the op-

posite side of the river, within five hundred yards, where there is

a

level piece of land of near fifty acres in extent.

on this West Point

accounts.

island, to

One

command

redoubt

absolutely necessary, not only for the pres-

is

ervation of Fort Constitution, but for

many

A

its

own importance on

also is necessary at the west end of the

the approach that way, and to prevent a

landing at the north side of the island.

An

easy communication

by land, as well as by water, may be made with Fort Montgomery from the

West

Point.

"

Public Papers of George Clinton.

'"

'"The garrison

of minute-men, in all about one

The garrison

file.

two companies

James Clinton's regiment, and Captain Wisner's com-

of Colonel

pany

of Fort Constitution consists of

137

hundred and

Montgomery

at Fort

sixty,

rank and

consists of three com-

panies of the same regiment, amounting to about two hundred

men, rank and

file.

The

field-officer of

ant-Colonel Livingston; but the garrisons

is still in

last fall raised a

the regiment

command

of the

Lieuten-

is

whole of both

the hands of Colonel Mcoll, who,

seems,

it

regiment of miflute-men for the purpose of gar-

risoning Fort Constitution, which regiment

Company

cept Captain Wisner's

of

is all

dismissed ex-

about forty privates.

Lieu-

tenant-Colonel Livingston has very prudently avoided any dis-

pute with Col. Nicoll about the command, rather referring the

The whole

matter to your Excellency's determination.

of the

troops at both these posts are miserably armed, as will appear

by the return (No.

me he has order,

Lieutenant-Colonel Livingston informs

4).

lately received about forty firelocks, all in very

bad

from the Committees of Dutchess County, and expects

several hundred

more

few days in the same condition.

in a

I

have therefore directed the blacksmith's shop at Fort Constitution to be enlarged, so that

A

armory.

it

will at the

same time serve

for

an

blacksmith's shop and armory of the like kind,

have directed at Fort Montgomery, and the

I

artificers in those

branches in Clinton's Regiment to be employed in them. *

"

The

*

direction of the

*

Two

»

works at both these

of Cctaimissioners appointed

York.

4f

»

*

forts is in the

by the Provincial Congress

hands

of

New

Commissioners, with four carpenters, two black-

smiths and seven attendants, are at Fort Constitution; two Commissioners, one clerk, fifteen carpenters,

and four masons, are at

Fort Montgomery; the pay of these amounts to at least eight

Public Papers of George Clinton.

138

hundred dollars per month, besides their provisions,

etc.

good engineer, with

think, do

artificers

from the army, might

I

One

the whole business as well. *

"

The

* artillerj^

*

*

*

and ordnance

*

«

stores, at these posts,

Captain Sargent's reports herewith (No.

appear by

The cannon

6).

in gen-

two

eral are, to all appearance, excellent of their kind, excepting

nine and three six-pounders, which are dubious. I

am

There are

also,

informed, six cannon, six-pounders, four of them good and

two dubious,

at

Constitution;

New

Windsor, a place about six miles above Fort

they had better be brought

down

to Fort Mont-

gomery. " Considering the different directions all these matters are

under, I have avoided giving any determinate orders about them,

but

highly necessary that explicit orders should soon issue.

it is

" I

am

your Excellency's most humble servant, " Stirling.

(Signed), ''

To

his Excellency,

General Washington."

Over a year elapsed before the determination navigation of the

Hudson assumed

to obstruct the

practical form.

The Security

Committee appointed by the State authorities consisted

of

Messrs. John Jay, Robert Yates, Christopher Tappen and Levi

Several means were suggested for obstructing the

Pawling. river as

by

fire ships,

booms and chains and

cheveaux-de-frise,

Four points were

either singly or by combination.

selected: at

Fort Washington, on the upper part of Manhattan Island, at Fort

Montgomery, at West Point and Highlands.

at Pollopel's Island north of the

At Fort Washington the

were constructed

in the

summer

fire

of 1776; at

and Pollopel's Island between the autumn of 1778,

and at West Point

in 1778.

ships and obstructions

Fort Montgomery

of 1776

and the spring

Chapxe^r

X.

BURGOYNE SELECTED TO COMMAND THE BRITISH ARMY OP INVASION STRENGTH OP HIS ARMY

GEN. HBiRKIMER AND

MERLY FORT STANWIX)

COL. WILLET's SORTIE

SOLDIERLY RETREAT

—ALBANY

THE

SCHUYLER, SOLDIER AND PATRIOT

SCHUYLER's

BASE' OF SUPPLIES

PHILIP

WASHINGTON'S CONFIDENCE

METHODS FOR RETARDING BURGOYNE'S

SCHUYLEIR's

PROGRESS

THREE MEMOR-

EVACUATION OF TICONDEROGA

ABLE EPISODES

IN HIM

THE BATTLE OP

GANSEVOORT's DEFENSE OP FORT SCHUYLER (FOR-

ORISKANY

SUCCEEDED BY GATES

ST.

LBGEr's SIEGE OP FORT

THE BATTLE OP BENNINGTON THE DEFENCES OF THE HIGHLANDS GEORGE CLINTON IN COMMAND THE ADVANCE ON FORTS CLINTON AND MONTGOMERY THE ASSAULT' THE FALL. HIS RETREAT

SCHUYLER

To

Sir

Northern

AND FLIGHT

John Burgoyne was entrusted the Command

Army

Germaine who

He had

Invasion.

of

in the British cabinet

asked

of the

Lord George

had charge

of the con-

duct of the war in America, for eight thousand regulars, rank

and

file,

exclusive

of

the

artillery,

a

corps

of

watermen,

two thousand. Canadians, including axe or hatchetmen and a

thousand

German

savages.

troops,

His

army

troops

portion of the

amounted

to

and

British

of the corps of artillery.

nearly

one

half.

The

The greater

army was divided between regulars and

erans.

His chief lieutenants

officers,

such

eral Kiedesel,

of

and aggregated seven thousand one hundred

and seventy-three men, exclusive foreign

consisted

men

vet-

were picked and experienced

as Major General Phillips and Brigadier Gen-

and Brigadier General Specht.

Burgoyne had

re-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

140

^

peatedly boasted before leaving London that he proposed to

enjoy his Christmas dinner in the city of Albany, at the head

and that with ten thousand men he could

of a victorious army,

promenade through America. lary of the British

Defeat never entered the vocabu-

commander

or of his troops.

of ever preparing for a retrograde

" This

army must never

force into the State of

New York

Massachusetts to Georgia. officered Its

A

army had never put

equipment and

movement was

retreat," are

The advent

Burgoyne's addresses.

The suggestion repudiated.

words contained

in

one of

of this splendidly equipped

sent a shudder

and a

better organized,

more

its feet

chill

from

efficiently

on the shores of America.

artillery, its supplies

and other impedimenta

were the best and most approved that money could supply. bands of accompanying Indians arrayed in

all

Its

the variegated hues

that the children of the forest loved to deck themselves

in, lent

a

picturesque and glittering glow to the surroundings, incompre-

But with every mile

hensible to the people of our generation. of

advance the shadows deepened over the

ill-fated horde.

Burgoyne, imperious and sanguine, met with no setback until

on August 6th 1777, two months after leaving Montreal General Nicholas Herkimer at the head of 800

Mohawk

Valley and

Tryon County Militiamen, mostly Dutch, Palatine Germans and Scotch-Irish

—men who in truth could as well be called " embat-

tled farmers " as the

men who fought

at Lexington

and Concord

of the beleaguered garrison of Fort —marching to the Schuyler— the newly acquired name of the older Fort Stanwix of relief

the French

upper

war which had now been reconstructed

Mohawk — was ambushed

John Johnson and

St.

Leger.

was destroyed, and Oriskany

at

to

guard the

Oriskany by Brant, Sir

One-half of Herkimer's force will go

down

in history as the

— 141

Public Papers of George Clinton. of

most bloody battle

Herkimer received a

the Revolution.

mortal wound, but refused to leave the

"

field.

will face the

I

enemy," he calmly observed, as they placed him with his back a

to

large

and directed

and

men,

complacently

he

He had managed

affairs.

Col. Peter Gansevoort, in

dicament to ler,

where

tree,

Lieut.-Col.

all volunteers,

lighted

to send

word

command

pipe

his

of his pre-

at Fort Schuy-

Marinus Willet at the head of two hundred rushed forth to the rescue of their imperilled

comrades.

The

terrific.

The most surprised

combatants were the Indians.

They had expected

fighting on both sides

of all the

an easy

was

Indeed they had joined in the

victory.

paign somewhat against their

while they saw all

this

the red coats "

they met

of their best

Leger cam-

The British had

will.

they need not fight; they might

St.

sit

by and smoke their pipes

whip the

rebels."

Instead of

with losses that were appalling.

and bravest chiefs had

them

told

fallen.

Many

Suspecting treach-

With

ery from their white comrades they began to sneak away.

the approach of Willet and his hardy battalions, the English

withdrew from the

after five hours of hard fighting,

field.

St.

Leger however refused to abandon the siege of Fort Schuyler until

of

news came

to

him that Benedict Arnold

an overwhelming force

which

had

been

hurrying to

suade

the

ordered

Gansevoort's Indians

—far

larger than he

forward

or

Sir

The

really

had

Schuyler,

John

exercise his influence over his allies, he finally

gave the order to retreat.

the head

Then unable

assistance.

remain,

to

by Gen.

at

to

Johnson

was per-

to

and reluctantly

retreat degenerated into a flight,

where the unbridled redskins slaughtered helpless captives and straggling

Englishmen

alike.

In

this

memorable campaign

Public Papers of George Clinton.

142

three important incidents are worthy of remembrance;

the

first

unprecedented losses incurred by the American troops at Oris-

kany; second, the fact that the American flag fluttered in the breeze in the face of an

a rude emblem

it

enemy for the first time

at Fort Schuyler

—

was, the blue coming from an old coat, the

white from a shirt and the red from the petticoat of a soldier's wife; third for the first time in the history of our country, the -British ensign

hung as a captive under the American

colors.

Burgoyne never recovered from the blow Herkimer administered at Oriskany.

Burgoyne

in the

meantime had on the evening For want

peared before Ticouderoga. the American

of July

men Gen.

of

commander had been unable

to fortify

Mountain, which commanded his position.

first,

St.

ap-

Clair,

Sugar Loaf

The English took

possession of this formidable spot on the fifth and nothing was left for St. Clair

began his been set

retreat, but the flames of a

afire

That evening he

but to evacuate the place.

burning house which had

The Eng-

by a straggler, exposed the movement.

lish

gave chase, overtook the American rear guard at Hubbard-

ton,

and though outnumbered, the Americans fought with a

valor unsurpassed during the war. ple in Central and Northern

wild panic seized the peo-

New York when

brought them news of this defeat.

ward and combined

A

his forces

St. Clair

was abandoned by Schuyler, who slowly fell

back

reached Fort Ed-

with Schuyler's, on July

same day Burgoyne reached the Hudson

son to Saratoga,

exhausted couriers

to

Kiver.

29.

The

Fort Edward

retired across the

Hud-

and thence

Van

Stillwater,

to

Schaick's Island below Waterford, ten miles North of Albany

where entrenchments were thrown up and preparations made for defence against the English general's advance.

Schuyler at

#S**^%^^"'-^v

Public Papers of George Clinton. this crisis displayed all

143

"the utmost diligence and judgment" and

the qualifications of a general.

Burgoyne was forced to

He

rebuild, he

destroyed bridges which

impeded the navigation

of

streams which Burgoyne had to cross, he choked the roads which

Burgoyne had

and threw

to traverse,

in his

path every obstacle

within his reach. It

seemed as

if

Burgoyne's determination to reach Albany were

Had he had

on the point of attainment.

in front of

him any

other general than the noble hearted Schuyler he could have cap-

tured

What

Albany the day he reached the Hudson River.

Province of

New York was

New

Albany now constituted the base

York.

to the other Colonies,

the

Albany was

to

of operatioins as

had been during the Seven Years' War. The Albany Committee Safety was composed of the most representative tiiQin

of the State,

Albany had been

men

of iaction, energy, character

selected as the receiving

point for the armies in the kinds, ammunition,

medical),

men

field.

supplies,

had been gathered

it

of

of that sec-

and

vigilance.

and the distributing

Military stores, ordnance of

all

(commissary, quartermaster and

in vast quantities

and were now

ex-

posed either to capture by the British hosts or to destruction by the colonists,

No

if

army triumphed.

the British

figure of the

war has grown

to

more heroic proportions

for

pure patriotism and unselfish devotion to the cause than has Philip Schuyler's.

Wealthy, in a position to enjoy

luxuries that

money could

most men the gravity head into the

noo'se

for those days all the

provide, appreciating

more keenly than

of the situation, he unhesitatingly put his

when he took the

side of liberty

and

inde-

pendence, only to discover within a few short months that his patriotism discredited.

was questioned, It

was the

his integrity a,ssailed

and

his courage

old Puritan prejudice against the Dutch.

:

Public Papers of George Clinton.

144 Politics

were as rampant then as now; sectionalism had become

much a

as

Congress.

factor in the Continental Congress as

Edward Butledge under

date of

to-day in our

it is

November

24, 1776,

wrote to John Jay " Let Schuyler,

whose reputation has been deeply wounded by

the malevolence of party spirit immediately repair

toi

Congress and

after establishing himself in the good opinion of his countrymen 'by

a fair and open inquiry into his conduct, concert with the

House, such a plan as he shall think will effectually secure

the

all

upper country against the attacks of the enemy; which plan being agreed to by the House, give him full power to effect

him

off

with

all possible

despatch to carry

it

it,

and send

into execution.

Let

steps be takeui to place real obstructions in the North Elver, at least in that part of

it,

gomery and the other

From Congress went

which can be commended by Fort Mont-

fort in the

Highlands."

Schuyler demanded a Court of Inquiry and he

to the extremity of tendering his resignation.

The Court

of

Inquiry gave him a splendid vindication and Congress refusing to accept his resignation, bestowed

upon him the command

Northern department under his rank of major general. curred in

May

1777.

Few men

of this state, or

and

of the British

Hudson was the natural path

for the

better understood the topographical features

comprehended

possibilities,

This oc-

Schuyler's soldierly instincts had early per-

ceived that the Valley of the

invader.

of the

its conditions,

more thoroughly than

he.

commercial resources

Delaying the progress

advance by every device known to a resourceful

general and an experienced backwoodsman, organizing his in spite of insuperable obstacles

army

and barriers that were almost

insurmountable, he accomplished more by his policy of delay, and

by drawing Burgoyne further away from his base of supplies, than

had he met and defeated him

in a pitched battle.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

But the many reverses an opportunity

to-

to tlie

American arms gave

his military ability.

prejudices against him were revived and

fused to serve under him.

As

New England

troops

fell

selected.

removed him from command.

The magnanimous Washington declined This duty

re-

in all cases following a line of mili-

1st Congress formally

succeed him.

New England

was necessary and Schuyler was

tary disasters, a victim

On August

his enemies

resurrect the old stories detrimental to his

command and

capacity for

145

to designate

an

oflScer to

upon Congress which by the vote

of

eleven states, selected Major General Horatio Gates.

Six days before St. Leger took to

flight,

Burgoyne had received

the unexpected and crushing defeat at Bennington. peril

St. Leger's

had been reported to Burgoyne by a courier and he

determined to co-operate with his colleague. spatched the

German

Baum

Colonel,

He

therefore de-

with six hundred troops

on a foraging or raiding expedition to Bennington, to gather up all

the cattle, horses, supplies, and wagons that the well-to-do and

unprotected farmers on the line of march, possessed. expedition

was fated from the moment Burgoyne

foreigners,

who wore clumsy equipment, heavy

deep in the miry roads, and

who

But the

selected the

boots which sank

halted ten times every hour for

the formality of dressing their ranks.

Thoroughly alive to the

dangers that menaced them the farmers rallied in an incredibly short space of time and they hovered around and stung flanks, like so

many

hornets.

Baum

Baum's

appealed to Burgoyne for

reinforcements and the original mistake was intensifled by for-

warding

five

hundred more Germans under

Col.

Breyman.

John

Stark and Seth Warner with about one thousand Americans 10

146

Public Papers of George Clinton.

.

were on their way to join Schuyler, when news raid

was brought

Breyman were

arriving on the

German

was

The Germans were defeated in as

field,

same ignominious

from

fate.

and he in turn

it,

Baum was

loss aggregated fifty per cent of the

and the

killed

numbers engaged.

must be confessed that neither army, American nor in first-class fighting trim

his forces.

The future

But the American

tide

detail,

Baum's panic-stricken troops

fleeing in the wildest disorder

suffered the

It

to them.

of Burgoyne's

British,

when Gates assumed command

offered but little that

had started on the

was bright

flood

of

to either.

from the dates

Oriskany and Bennington, both victories, to the honor and

of

credit of

New

York, having been fought and

Burgoyne was too able a general not to to see the handwriting on the wall.

won on

her

realize his situation

To

soil.

and

retreat invited defeat.

Burgoyne, moreover, was in honor bound to remain where he was.

All the circumstances

now

favored Gates.

The prejudices

that had existed against Schuyler were not extended to him.

E

V

en the contumacious militia that refused to serve under Schuy-

ler flocked to

Lad

the standards of Gates.

relied upon,

whom

The

tories

whom Burgoyne

he had been assured by the Johnsons and

the Butlers would rally to his aid, failed to appear.

Even the

money

considerations and valua-

ble presents, to join the British army,

were now slinking away

Indians

who had been

from him by the

bribed by

score.

Burgoyne's star which had reached

its

zenith at Ticonderoga began to decline the instant he divided his forces.

While Burgoyne was slowly marching

into the

meshes that the

energetic and sagacious Schuyler had skilfully prepared for him,

along the banks of the upper Hudson, events were occurring

Public Papers of George Clinton.

147

along the lower Hudson which would have produced remarkable

changes in the pages of history, had Burgoyne been able to

communicate with

New York

in

when

it

Henry

city in the

was too

Clinton,

who had taken command

absence of Gen. Howe, and

late, started to

Howe

assigned to

Sir

who now

carry out the part that had been

in the general plan

—an ascent of the Hudson

to join Burgoyne.

Gen. George Clinton, at the suggestion of Washington, had been

appointed to

command

the newly raised levies on the 15th of

and on the 25th

July, 1776,

of

March, 1777, Congress formally

On May 7th, Brigadier General

appointed him Brigadier General.

Alexander McDougall succeeded General Heath, who had been

command, with headquarters

in

at Peekskill, since the 12th of

November, 1776. Progress in completing the works in Clinton's department was exasperatingly slow.

Nearly every general

officer

who

visited the

Highlands complained of the imperfect condition of the works, until

at last a

Board was appointed

constructed.

to report

upon the

forts already

This Board consisted of Generals McDougall, Knox,

Greene, Wayne and George Clinton.

On May

17th, they submitted

a report to Washington, in which they recommended that an obstruction should be placed across the river between Fort

Montgomery and Anthony's Nose, to

consist of a

" in front of which should be one or

two cables

of a vessel before

it

boom with

chain,

to break the force

should strike the chain; that two Continental

ships then on the spot and

two row-gallies should be manned

and stationed just above the obstruction in such manner as fire

upon the enemy's ships

The Board was

of the

in front

to

when they approached."

mistaken opinion that " the enemy will

Public Papers of George Clinton.

148

not attempt to operate by land " because, " the passes through the Highlands are so exceedingly difficult,"

General Putnam,

who had

relieved General

McDougall

in com-

mand, could not be convinced that the British contemplated an attack on the forts in the Highlands, although Washington and

George Clinton early foresaw exactly what eventually occurred.

As soon

as Sir

Henry Clinton was informed that Burgoyne was

approaching within striking distance of Albany, he embarked four thousand troops with the ostensible purpose of sailing in a southerly direction.

Before

Putnam

realized his danger the

Putnam

English forces had landed at Verplanck's Point.

still

maintained that the objective point of the British was the defences on the east bank of the Hudson, nor could he be persuaded to send re-enforcements to General Clinton, until the British

crossed over the King's Ferry from Verplanck's to Stony Point.

On September

nam

26th, General Parsons reported to General Put-

that three thousand and

troops had arrived at

upward

of British

New York and warned him

might be made on the North River

posts.

of

and German

an attack that

In the meantime, Gen.

George Clinton, who should have been receiving re-enforcements,

had been sending large bodies to the south,

of troops to re-enforce

Putnam

and Gates to the north.

On September

29th, Clinton transmitted a circular letter to

three of his colonels, informing

them

of his conviction that the

enemy very speedily intended "to make an attempt against the passes and fortresses in the Highlands and thereby at least

make

a diversion in favor of their Northern army and should they succeed,

form a junction with them."

half their

commands

He

ordered them to march

at once to his defence.

The same day he

Public Papers of George Clinton. reported to

Putnam the arrangements he had made, and

149 also that

he had ordered additional re-enforcements to be sent to him. In the meantime, the British had crossed from the east bank of the river to Stony Point

and were on their march through the

passes of the Highlands between Dunderberg and Bear Mountain

and Montgomery.

to Forts Clinton

The Governor had prorogued

the Legislature, which was then at Kingston, gathered up the militia

who had responded

The British force was divided

command

of Gen. Sir

and occupied the works.

to his call,

into

two columns one under the :

John Vaughan, which consisted

hundred men, the other under the command Campbell, of

five

icans, the latter

of twelve

of Lieutenant Colonel

hundred Regulars and four hundred loyal Amer-

commanded by

ish plan soon unfolded itself.

Col.

Beverly Robinson.

The

Brit-

Campbell was directed to make a

detour around Bear Mountain and to come in on the west and

Vaughan proceeded

the right flank of Fort Montgomery.

east-

ward through the pass between the Dunderberg and Bear Mountain with the intention of striking Fort Clinton on its right flank and rear.

seven-mile

Here he waited

until

Campbell had finished his

march around Bear Mountain.

afternoon, Vaughan, having had his jected, ordered

At

summons

5 o'clock in the for surrender re-

an assault on Fort Clinton, at the same moment

that Campbell having come up on the opposite side of the creek,

began

his attack

on Fort Montgomery.

The Americans made a

stout resistance and though encountering overwhelming bers, repulsed the

enemy

repeatedly.

They maintained

num-

their de-

fence until after dark and finally yielded.

A

large portion of the garrison

James

was captured, while Gen.

Clinton, although badly wounded, succeeded in escaping.

:

Public Papers op George Clinton.

150

by dropping down the side of a hundred foot precipice, clinging to bushes

and shrubs

Governor Clinton escaped

in his descent.

under cover of the darkness by rowing across the

American

two

frigates,

gallies

river.

The

Montgomery, ten guns, and Congress with the

which were supposed to defend the boom and the

chain were burned to prevent their capture by the enemy.

A

visitor

who was

Montgomery

at Fort

at the time of its

capture, furnished the following description three days after the British took possession "

On Saturday

number

night the 5th

of ships, brigs,

armed

inst.,

we had

vessels, etc.,

advice that a large

had arrived

at Tarry-

town, where they had landed a considerable body of men, sup-

posed to be 900 or

1,000,

and had advanced towards the

Col. Luttington (Ludington) being posted there militia,

with about 500

they sent in a flag to him requiring him to lay

arms, and surrender himself and

men

plains.

down

his

prisoners of war; whilst

he was parleying with the flag they endeavored to surround him,

which he perceiving, ordered

his

men

to retreat,

returned to their shipping, and next morning their being under sail,

we had

advice of

and coming up as far as King's Ferry.

In the afternoon they landed a large body of

men on

the east

draw our attention that way, but they

side of the river, to

embarked

whereupon they

in the night,

re-

and next morning landed on the west

side. ^'

On Sunday

commanded

men under to

night his Excellency, Governor Clinton,

at Fort

the

Montgomery, sent out a party

command

watch the motion

of

who then

of about 100

Major Logan, across the Dunderberg,

of the enemy.

The party returned

in the

morning and reported that they had seen about forty boats

full

Public Papers of George Clinton.

men

of

The governor sent out

land below the Dunderberg.

command

other small party of about 28 men, under the

Jackson.

On

who

of Lieut.

with a concealed party

fell in

ordered them to club their muskets, and sur-

render themselves prisoners.

They made no answer, but

upon the enemy and hastily retreated they returned the ;

without losing a man, though within before they were discovered.

men were immediately

in

Upon

afternoon,

being of "

much

five

rods of the enemy

this intelligence, one hun-

fort,

who

fell

about two o'clock in the

superior force, our people were forced to retreat. it

lery with a field-piece to

was thought proper

to send

some

artil-

occupy an eminence that commands the

road that leads to Orange Furnace, with a party of it;

and

when a smart engagement ensued; but the enemy

At the same time

fend

fire

got back to the fort

sent off under Col. Brown,

with them two miles from the

fired

all

pursued our people half a mile; but they

dred

an-

the road that leads to Haverstraw, two or three

miles below Fort Clinton, they of the enemy,

151

men

to de-

they were attacked soon after, and our field-piece did great

execution.

The

field-piece bursting,

men

our

in their retreat

kept up the engagement for some time with small-arms. of our people got within the breastwork,

general on both forts.

At

came

wind being

in sight, but the

the

Most

and the attack became

same time the enemy's shipping light,

and the tide against

them, none of their vessels came up except the galleys and armed sloops, fired

"

which

fired

upon

us,

but did no execution;

we

in return

upon them, and believe did them some damage.

The enemy continued a vigorous and incessant attack upon

the forts;

many

but notwithstanding their utmost

efforts,

they were

times repulsed and beaten back from out breastworks with

Public Papers of George Clinton.

152

But the smallness

great slaughter.

both forts but about to be

five

number (being

of our

hundred,) which required every

upon continual duty and obliged them

ertion, fatigued our people greatly, while the

in

man

to unremittent ex-

enemy, whose num-

bers were supposed to be at least four thousand, continued to press us with troops.

"

About 4

o'clock they sent in a flag,

demanding

in 5

minutes

a surrender of the fort and ourselves prisoners of war,—

^or

would put us

all to

the sword.

An

answer was returned by

we were determined

Livingston acquainting them that

and continued

fort,

At

to give way.

it till

which were none but

way

The darkness

obliged

who nobly

de-

Montgomery, were

to superior force.

of the evening

people, the greatest part of off,

we were

militia,

they, like the garrison at Fort

obliged to give

got

dusk of

the same time they stormed and got possession

of Fort Clinton, in

"

until the

which after a severe struggle and overpowering

us with numbers they got possession of; and

fended

to de-

when they stormed our upper redoubt which com-

the evening,

mands the

sides,

Col.

The action was renewed

fend the fort to the last extremity.

with fresh vigor on both

they

much favored

the escape of our

whom, with almost

all

the

officers,

and have since joined our army or returned to their

places of residence

ment from

Peekskill,

We

are told that the reinforce-

which had been twice urged* during the

day, arrived only in time on the opposite side of the river to see the fort taken, but could give

them no manner

of assistance,

and even a small reinforcement would have enabled the garrison to maintain

it

until efflcient succor

had

arrived.

Under

Waterbury, the express who was sent from Fort Montgomery, purposely the way, and the next day deserted to the enemy.

this misloitered

by

Public Papers of George Clinton.

we have

fortune,

153

the satisfaction to be assured, that

the

all

offi-

cers of the garrison fought like heroes, distinguished themselves

both by their courage and conduct, and that

all

militia as continental, fought with the

w^ell

The quantity

of provisions in the fort

ammunition and stores which

fell

the privates, as

utmost bravery.*

was not

great, but the

into the enemy's hands were

considerable."

Timothy Dwight, afterwards the famous President

Dr.

of

Yale

College and then a chaplain in the American Army, in a letter described the appearance of the forts as follows a few

months

after

their capture:

" I went

down

the river in

company with

several officers, to

examine the Forts, Clinton and Montgomery, built on a point six or eight miles

The

below West Point, for the defence of the

object which

first

met our

we

eyes, after

ascended the bank, was the remains of a

fire

left

river.

our barge and

kindled by the cot-

tagers of this solitude, for the purpose of consuming the bones of

some

been

of the

left

Americans who had

unburied.

Some

and had

fallen at this place,

of these bones

were lying partially

consumed around the spot where the

fire

some had evidently been converted

into ashes.

had been kindled; and

As we went

onward, we were distressed by the odor of decayed human bodies.

To me

this

ing than

I

was a novelty; and more overwhelming and

am

able to describe.

cover the source from which

it

dispirit-

As we were attempting proceeded,

we

to dis-

found, at a small

distance from Fort Montgomery, a pond of a moderate

which we saw the bodies of several men, who had been

size, in

killed in

Lieutenant Timotliy Mix, who died at New Haven, Conn., in 1824, was one of the defenders of Fort Montgomery. While in the act of firing a piece, his right hand was carried away by a shot. Instantly seizing the match with his left, he touched off the cannon; by which discharge it is said a number of the enemy were killed.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

154

They were thrown into

the assault upon the fort.

the preceding autumn, by the British,

was

sufficiently

when probably

Some

deep to cover them.

of

Others had an arm, a

on them; and proved that they were

still

of the

distinctly

body above

and their postures were uncouth,

the highest degree

killed,

militia; being the

Their faces were bloated and mon-

ordinary dress of farmers. strous;

and a part

them

The clothes which they wore when they were

the surface.

were

leg,

the water

them were covered

at this time; but a depth so small, as to leave visible.

this pond,

My

afflictive.

and

distorted,

in

companions had been

ac-

customed to the horrors of war, and sustained the prospect

To me,

with some degree of firmness. nature,

this

was overwhelming.

it

ment and hastened away. objects

we proceeded

to

I

a novice in scenes of

surveyed

this combination of painful

Fort

Clinton,

was

not,

in both

river.

a

rising

The ruins

had been burnt; and what

was extensively thrown down.

mained was a melancholy picture place

on

built

were a mere counterpart of those at Fort Mont-

Every combustible

gomery.

for a mo-

From

ground at a small distance further down the of this fortress

it

we proceeded

Every thing which

of destruction.

From

re-

this

to find the grave of Count Grabouski, a Polish

nobleman, who was killed in the assault, while acting as aide-

de-camp to the British commander. to us

The spot was pointed out

by Lieut.-Col. Livingston, who saw him

us that he

was buried

we found a grave— in buried

—without

a

'

in the place all

stone

'

fall,

where he was

probability, that in to

'

tell

where he

and informed killed.

Here

which he was

lay,'

and now

for-

gotten and undiscoverable; a humiliating termination of a restless, vain,

ambitious

life."

Public Papers of George Clinton. Sir

Henry

Clinton, with his headquarters at Peekskill, having

gained control of the Highlands, sent Sir John

with 1,200

155

men

make

to

Vaughan departed with

Vaughan forward

the passage of the river northward.

his

men

in sloops

and the next day

Here

rived at the village of Esopus, three miles below Kingston.

The

followed a scene wholly inexcusable in the conduct of war. village

was without defences and no shot had been

Vaughan proceeded

invaders, but

house in the act

is

to demolish

village, save one, for a distance of

chargeable to

orders, so far as

While the

Vaughan

known,

village

ar-

fired at the

and burn every

two

This

miles.

alone, Clinton having given no

for such conduct.

was burning, George

Clinton, returning

from

the unsuccessful defense of the Highlands, arrived on the scene.

As

his force tarried in Esopus, a

man under

been seen to swallow something, was Clinton and an emetic given to him.

came a small oval-shaped tre

by the removal of a screw.

arrested,

Out

silver bullet,

Inside

suspicion,

of the

who had

taken before man's stomach

which opened

in the cen-

was found a despatch from

Clinton to Burgoyne saying: " Nous y voici and nothing between

us and Gates. facilitate

to

I

sincerely hope this little adventure of ours will

your operations."

The man under arrest was hanged

an appletree and in consequence

of this fortunate discovery

the news Burgoyne had been waiting for

Abandoning

all

hope, he

When Vaughan Peekskill.

now concluded

never reached him.

to surrender.

heard of Burgoyne's surrender he returned to

The Hudson between Esopus and the scene

surrender therefore never passed

of the

under British control.

In

Vaughan's advance was made the nearest approach which the British forces ever made, toward the accomplishment of that

156

Public Papers op George Clinton.

fond ambition, that well understood necessity, of securing control of this great

water-way and thus cutting

the other American colonies.

A

off

New England from

few years later another attempt

—-the

almost found success; but that was made in rank dishonor

attempt which sought success through the treason of an otherwise brave and patriotic man,

—Benedict Arnold.

Chaf»xkr

XI.

—

BBMUS HEIGHTS A DRAWN BATTLE BURGOYNE AS AN INFLUENTIAL MEMBER OP PARLIAMENT HIS ABILITIES, HIS HOPE'S AND HIS BLUNDERS

— GEN.

WASHINGTON'S COMMENT

SARATOGA ONE

OF THE FIFTEEN DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE WORLD

BURGOYNE

RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT AND OPPOSES THE KING

HIS DE-

— NEW

YORK RELIEiVED OF THE PRESENCE OF LARGE HOW THE ENGLISH SUBSIDIZED THE INDIANS INDIANS AND TORIES REMAIN IN CANADA FOR TWO YEARS THEY JOIN BURGOYNB'S ARMY DESOLATION OF NEW York's frontier cherry valley schoharie gen. SulliFENSE

STANDING ARMIES

— —

—

—

—

—

van's SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION AGAINST BBANT

JAMES CLINTON

ONE OF HIS LIEUTENANTS.

Bemus Heights was a drawn

The English claimed

battle.

it

as a victory because on the night of the contest, they bivouacked

on the

field,

but as an expert has well said " another such victory

would have destroyed the British Army." effort to conceal his

to

chagrin and his mortification.

America with a command that justly and

been given to General

Guy

Carleton,

been a

of Parliament,

sorely offended

of the British Ministry

But Burgoyne possessed the

member

He had come

of right should have

who was

by what he considered the discrimination against him.

Burgoyne made no

influence.

He had

had married the daughter

of the

powerful Earl of Derby, could wield a clever pen, was possessed of a fair

amount

of military ability

brave though not a great man. far

away

in

Canada;

country, of the

and was unquestionably a

Carleton on the other hand was

his extensive

and sound knowledge of the

American character, and

of the obstacles to be

Public Papers op George Clinton.

158

overcome during the campaign, was ignored in order to favor a

man

wlio could exercise unlimited influence in Parliament in

defense and for the cause of the Ministry.

Burgoyne had

America imbued with the

sailed for

loftiest aspi-

rations that ever filled the breast of an ambitious military com-

He saw

mander.

before him, not fame alone but a peerage, a

garter and a place

among

But now with

Abbey.

the hallowed dead of Westminster

disaster staring

him

in the face, he openly

charged that he had been neglected, intimated that he had been

was ignorant

betrayed, but he

of the fact that

Lord George Ger-

maine had carelessly pigeon holed important and imperative ders to the

commanding general

or-

in America, William, Viscount

Howe (who was

a brother of Richard Earl Howe, the admiral

who commanded

the British

campaign

in

New

America), relating to the

fleet in

York; orders which

if

received and executed in

time, might have resulted in converting disaster into victory.

Indeed this curious pigeon-hole story was not publicly known until a century afterwards.

in ignorance of

for

him.

Had Burgoyne

it.

adversaries,

his

Saturated

Burgoyne himself may have died

fate

with

the

might

entertained less contempt

have

corrupt

been

ideas

of

more kind the

labored under the delusion that he could buy his gold

when he could not

fight his

to

he

time,

way with

way with powder and

lead.

He was

too far removed from his base of supplies to secure food,

too far

away

or

Howe

to receive reinforcements

in Pennsylvania.

ways an evidence

of

He

from Carleton

counselled with his

weakness in a commander at a

by day his situation became more circumscribed.

army was dwindling, the American

in

Canada

officers, crisis.

While

-al-

Day his

forces were encouraged by the

thousands of militia that rallied to them.

New England

patriot-

Public Papers of George Clinton. ically

and generously rushed

159

New

to the assistance of

York.

Verily the victories of Oriskany and of Bennington were bearing

and the valor of Herkimer, Gansevoort, Willet and Stark

fruit,

was exerting

itself

and diffusing

through the people of the

itself

Burgoyne's army was in a most

land.

critical position

He beg&n

in a state of hopeless dismay.

dering campaign had been conducted

to realize

—the want

and he

what a

blun-

of foresight in

providing horses, carts, forage and supplies until the expedition

was on the point heavy

of starting

from Canada; the superfluous and

artillery train that so often tangled

up the command

in

the trackless wilderness; his unnecessary halt at Skeenesbor-

ough; his lack of cooperation with Carleton at the North and Gen.

Howe

at the South; his mistake in crossing the

Hudson when

he should have advanced upon Fort Edward by way of Lake George; his sending the German forces to Bennington, instead of English troops,

and

his dividing his

army

in the presence of

the enemy.

Washington wrote

York

aiid

"There the

of Saratoga:

New England

jiouring in their troops

New

states of

resolving to crush Burgoyne, continued

till

the surrender of that army; at which

time not less than 14,000 militia, as actually in General Gates'

I

have been informed, were

camp and those composed

for the

most

part of the best yeomanry in the country, well armed and in

many

instances supplied with provisions of their

Burgoyne could not face the

inevitable.

own

Saratoga became one

of the fifteen decisive battles of the world, because

tain an end of kingly rule in ence,

America and the dawn

which through the assistance

an established fact four years

of the

later,

carrying."

it

made

cer-

of independ-

French people, became

almost to a day.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

160

Burgoyne took

when he returned

enough

his defeat gracefully

to

in America, but

England and to Parliament, he joined the In his Defense, he emphasizes the

opposition against the King.

defeat at Bennington and pointed out the false prediction of Sir

John Johnson that the Tories only awaited the time

He

aid.

"

to rally to his

said:

The circumstances

of the action at

Bennington established a

yet more melancholy conviction of the fallacy of any dependence

upon supposed

friends.

The noble

lord has said, that

'

I

never

despaired of the campaign before the affair at Bennington; that I

had no doubt of gaining Albany

(in

in as short a time as the

due condition of supply) could accomplish the march.'

acknowledge the truth of the assertions in their all

army

my

letters at the

time show

sense apply with the noble lord the epithet of Bennington.

loyalty

was

'

The knowledge

I

fullest extent;

go further and in one

I will

it.

I

'

fatal

'

to the affair

acquired of the professors of

and put an end to every expectation from

fatal/

enterprise, unsustained

by dint of

force.

would have been

It

excess of frenzy to have trusted for sustenance to the plentiful region of Albany.

Had

the march thither been unopposed, the

enemy, finding the British army iinsnpplied, would only have

had to compel the

tories to drive the cattle

and the capitulation followed.

Would

of

and destroy the corn,

Albany instead of Saratoga must have

the tories have risen?

Why

did they not rise

around Albany and below when they found Mr. Gates' army increasing by separate and distinct parties from remote dis-

tances?

They were better

qualified

the favorable moment, than

I

was

by their situation to catch

to advise

it.

Why

did they

not rise in that populous, and, as supposed, well affected district,

the

German

Flats, at the time St. Leger

was before Fort

Public Papers of George Clinton.

Stanwix?*

A

critical insurrection

161

from any one point to create

diversion would probably have secured the success of the cam-

But

paign.

to revert to the reasons against a rapid

the affair of Bennington.

It

was then

also

march

known

after

that by the

false intelligence respecting the strength of Fort Stanwix, the

infamous behavior of the Indians and the want of the promised co-operation of the loyal inhabitants, St. Leger had been obliged to retreat.

The

plausible motive in

first

Mohawk, was

at an end."

New York was

relieved of

haste, the facilitating his descent of the

With the surrender

of Burgoyne,

favor of hazardous

the presence of large standing armies, only to encounter a less

formidable but more appalling danger.

enemy properly organized and

The

civilized British

efficiently officered, was

by the treacherous Redskin and the merciless Tory.

superseded

During the

French and Indian war, the French subsidized the red man with a lavish hand, an example that was faithfully and sedulously

lowed by the British when the

War

of the Revolution opened.

After Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill,

many

thoroughly alarmed,

debauched by expensive

tion

Tories of the

in

Canada.

who had been

from the English emissaries and

were retained in the cause of the King, and ential

when they became

of the Six Nations

gifts

fol-

Mohawk

all

the most

influ-

Valley took up their habita-

But when Burgoyne, with

ishes of a triumphant chieftain, gave the order to

all

the flour-

march the road

that was to lead to ignominy" and disaster, he expressed his hope *It will be observed here that Burgoyne uses the name Fort Stanwix Instead of Fort Schuyle-. The fact remains, however, that the old fort of the French war had been reconstmcted during the Revolution, and had received the new name of Fort Schuyler. Letters which American officers wrote from the fort in the summer of 1777 are dated from Fort Schuyler. The late Douglas Campbell, the author of "The Puritan in England, Holland and America," whose great-grandfather served as a colonel under Gen. Herkimer at Oriskany, owned a powder horn which his ancestor had carved at this fort duriag that summer, and among the inscriptions on it is "Ft. Schuyler 1777." Burgoyne seems to have adhered to the British unwillingness to accept a name taken from that of a "rebel" general, preferring to keep the name that was associated with England's war with France.

11

Public Papers of George Clinton.

162

that his red skin allies would hold in ities,

when he came

checlli:

their ferocious procliv-

in collision with the enemy, refrain

from

pillaging and scalping and conduct operations in the field on the basis of civilized people.

There

is

no question but that Bur-

goyne's policy of humanity inspired the disgust, contempt and

malignancy of the Indians, in their treatment of captives, but on the other hand the generous terms offered by Gates readily be explained

war

of

when Burgoyne

of the Americans.

may the more

himself became a prisoner

With the

dispersion of Burgoyne's

army, the Indians scattered only to organize in the wilderness in those bloodthirsty

sternation, death

bands that ultimately spread

terror, con-

and destruction to the unprotected

settler

on

the frontier.

The

frontier of

New York was

spacious and exposed.

the campaign of 1776 the peace of the people

During

was unquestionably In spite of the

secured by the tireless energy of Gen. Schuyler.

war, the population along the frontier continued to increase but

nowhere during the entire war were the horrors and

The

marked.

settlers built block-houses for rallying places or

for defense, the farmer carried his

for

months

atrocities so

gun with him

to the field

at a time a reign of terror prevailed.

and

But now

the storm was to burst with unparalleled severity and ferocity.

The disappointed and bloodthirsty savages, having broken loose from

all

iheir

own hook and

military restraint and discipline proposed to operate on to obtain in their

own way what had been

denied them at Oriskany, Bennington and during the Saratoga

campaign.

No

proposition during the

war gave

to Governor

Clinton more concern or more uneasiness, or was met with more intelligence

and better military acumen than

of his frontier.

So far as

New York

State

war had ceased to be conducted on the rules

this

—the protection

was concerned, the laid

down

for civil-

Public Papers op George Clinton. ized nations.

Hereafter

tions of the redskin.

vince of

it

and

to be prosecuted after the cruel no-

At the outbreak

New York was

hostilities

was

atrocities

163

of the Revolution the Pro-

Active

divided Into fourteen counties.

were transferred to Tryon County, which

was created from Albany County

in 1772

and named in honor

the provincial governor, and which was

now burned by the

and scarred by the knife

who

pathway ware.

of desolation

The county

of the Indian

and blood from

for the

torch

blazed and carved a

Wood

Creek to the Dela-

most part was sparsely

settled.

It

embraced the extreme frontier west of the Hudson and south the

Mohawk. Many places within

its

of

border are familiar to us

of all

by their historical associations: Cherry Valley, Harpersfield, Oriskany. Fort Stanwix, Stone Arabia, Johnstown, Fort Hunter, Ger-

man

Flats and Caughnawaga.

at Johnstown, the baronial

The County building was situated

home

of the Johnsons.

In

depredations committed, the Indians were under the of Joseph Thayendanegea, called "the

Brant" one

the

all

command

of the

most

en-

lightened Indians in peace, and the most cruel and ferocious in

war, the country ever produced.

He had

lived with the whites,

obtained a fair education and returned to his savage

life.

His

bearing was dignified and his manners courteous in the extreme.

Outwardly he bore every semblance to a highly educated, refined and cultivated man.

He had

been in London and sat at the same

table in private houses with Burke,

In the

summer

of 1777

Fox and Sheridan.

Brant gathered a number of warriors

in the vicinity of Unadilla.

No

fort

had yet been erected

in that

part of the Susquehanna Valley and the settlers of Cherry Valley

were thrown into paroxysms of alarm.

In the spring of 1778

Gen. La Fayette visited Johnstown and the exposed position of

Cherry Valley was represented to him.

He

forthwith ordered

the construction of a fort for the protection of the settlers,

who

Public Papers of George Clinton.

164

had run up and maintained

own way a

line of military

The massacre at Cherry Valley, which

posts wherever feasible.

directed by the notorious Walter N. Butler,

was inspired and

who

in their

prevailed on Brant with a few hundred savages to join him,

upon both names a stain which

will forever leave

all

the expla-

nations and palliating excuses of sentimental writers can never

Brant

eradicate.

true showed

it is

now and then

a streak of

humanity, but he must be held in part responsible for the brutal

and merciless conduct

of the Indians as Butler

inhuman course

for the

Brant however was not

of the Tories.

That eminence belongs to the leader

the worst of the savages. of the Senecas, Hiokatoo,

was responsible

who was

capable of butchering infants.

Brant to some extent restrained the ferocity of the Indians, and he said of the Tories that they were " more savage than the savButler was a scoundrel of the deepest dye.

ages themselves."

For nearly two years he and Brant carried matters with a high Their scalping parties were numerous, and swooped

hand.

down

upon isolated settlements and farmers with the suddenness and fierceness of a

hawk, and successfully escaped with their prey.

Finally these atrocities had become so numerous that Congress

took the

livan

was

ordered ern

to

and

matter

into

selected

to

command an

proceed

to

the

Western

parts

of

Gen.

John

Sul-

expedition

that

was

consideration.

Indian

New

country

York,

in

lay

the

wast^

settlements, destroy their crops and annihilate the tribes sible.

Souththeir if

pos-

General James Clinton had been appointed one of his

lieutenants because of his knowledge of the

which the army was to march.

With the

country through

First and Third

New

York regiments Clinton proceeded up the Mohawk toCanajoharie, where he sent companies of

five

hundred men, consisting of detachments

New York

troops, one of

of six

Pennsylvania, one of

Public Papers of George Clinton. Massachusetts, and one of

rifles,

The expedition was

ment.

Onondaga

to destroy the

successful.

165 settle-

Fifty houses, the entire

settlement and a great abundance of grain were destroyed, be-

tween 20 and 30 warriors were slain and 37 prisoners taken.

Clin-

ton returned to Fort Schuyler in five and a half days, having ac-

complished his mission, and covered one hundred and eighty miles.

Clinton reached Otsego Lake in midsummer.

He

ran his boats

through the outlet around which has since grown up the pleasant village of Cooperstown,

and then dammed the stream.

The Susque-

quence, the waters of the lake rose several feet.

hanna

river

below the

dam was

In conse-

cleared of driftwood, the

dam

was broken, and the boats swept swiftly along with the current The straggling Indians

thus made.

living along the river bank,

unable to understand the rapid rise in the river,

Brant and his Tory

had made

alarm.

light of the Sullivan expedi-

Their ghastly operations at Cherry Valley and the massa-

tion.

cre

allies

fled in

of

Butler, but in

poem

Butler's father. Col.

John

which Brant had no share, though Campbell

in his

Wyoming,

carried

out by

and many historians have wrongly credited

" Gertrude,"

him with leadership

in that frightful atrocity,

—these events had

emboldened the Indians and braced their confidence, but when Clinton on August 28, 1779, joined Sullivan's main force at Tioga Point, the confluence of the

the Indians, for the

was

and

front, flanks

rivers,

time, began to realize that their situation

The American army numbered between four

serious.

thousand

first

Susquehanna and Chemung

five

and

thousand.

Proceeding

rear, protected

with

care, their

by selected troops, Sullivan

on August 28th struck the village of Chemung, twelve miles

from Tioga Point, which with stroyed.

all

the produce in sight, was de-

The next morning about ten

o'clock the Indians under

Public Papers of George, Clinton.

166

Braut and the Butlers were encoimtered at Newtown, a short distance from the

enemy made a

mouth

The

of Butler's Creek, near Elmira.

stout resistance for a time, but were soon battered

out of their position by the artillery of the Americans, and incon-

From

tinently fled.

Genesee Castle, the expedi-

this point to the

tion literally obeyed orders, burning

and destroying every

settle-

ment, every article and particle of produce that could be utilized

by their common enemy, and meeting with but one misfortune, the butchery of Lieut. Boyd and his party of fifteen or twenty

who had been detached on a surrendered, to pieces."

reconnoitering expedition.

was tomahawked and

The country

his

body was

literally "

men Boyd

hewn

Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas

of the

was completely overrun and destroyed.

Brant was driven back

Niagara County, and though occasionally his red imps startled

to

the frontier by their forays afterwards, the western tribes never

recovered from the severe castigation which Sullivan administered. It

was

different

however

in central

New

York,

The John-

sons retained their influence over the Indians and the Tories, and in

May, 1779, after the destruction

Van

of their

town by

Col.

Goose

Schaick, acting under orders from Gen. Sullivan, a party of

Onondagas made a dash

into Schoharie as far as Cobleskill.

this foray twenty-two patriots

jected to horrible multilation

were

killed,

many

of

them

In sub-

and two were captured.

In October 1780, occurred the spoliation of Schoharie and the

Mohawk

valleys by a force of 800 Indians and Tories under Sir

John Johnson, some estimates placing the number who took part in this expedition,

which has been called " The Northern

vasion," as high as 1500. at

Yorktown,

New York

But from that time State

depredations of the enemy.

In-

on, to the surrender

was comparatively

free

from the

—

Chapter

XII.

—

WHIGS AND TORIES CONFISCATION OP PROPERTY ALEXANDER HAMILTON AND THE TRESPASS ACT THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERANINE STATES CONTROL THE DES-

THEIR WORiTHLESSNESS

TION

RELATIONSHIP OF THE STATE TO THE

TINY OF THE COUNTRY

UNION

— HELPLESS CONDITION

OF THE COUNTRY FINANCIALLY

CONTEMPTUOUS DISREGARD OF THE AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS 'ENGLAND REFUSES TO SURRENDER THE NORTHWESTERN MILI-

TARY POSTS

MENT

^'

DEMAND FOR A STRONG CENTRALIZED GOVERN-

GREAT BRITAIN OUR BEST FRIEND"

OPINION OF THE ARTICLES

AND THE NATION

WASHINGTON'S

JEALOUSY BETWEEN THE STATES

WASHINGTON'S PESSIMISM.

In none of the states were rancor and bitterness between the

Whigs and

Tories

more virulently shown than

in

New

York.

Before the approach of Washington's army, the persecution of the

Whigs by the

Tories

was

brutal,

inhuman and shameful.

For the short period intervening between that arrival and the disaster ending on Brooklyn Heights, the

and the Tories had taken

down

in the city, the

New

Jersey

or

Church of England

But when Gen. Howe

flight.

Whigs were driven

Connecticut.

— closed

Whigs had taken heart settled

to seek a habitation in

The Episcopal Churches

their

doors

when

—the

the Revolution

came, and reopened them with the occupation of the British troops.

They were unmolested by either friend

other hand, the Calvinistic churches,

or foe.

On

the

whose sympathies lay with

the Americans, were confiscated by the British and used as hospitals, riding academies or stables.

If

church property were

desecrated what could the private citizen expect.

With

feelings

Public Papers of George Clinton.

168

of humiliation, indignation

and sorrow, the Whig from his

lurk-

ing place, saw his property confiscated and assigned by military

who had espoused

authority to his whilom neighbor

the cause

of the King. It

was not

Whigs should

claimed the

who had erty.

when peace was

pro-

declare reprisals against the

men

surprising, therefore, that

who had

persecuted them and

And

it

was natural that a man

appropriated their prop-

so constituted as Governor

Clinton should champion their cause with

vehemence

As

in his nature.

all

the energy and

chief magistrate of a State that

had suffered more than any other from the war, whose frontiers had been saturated with the blood of innocent children and

women by

the treacherous and merciless redskin, the ally of the

British, he

was governed by a determination

to be as considerate

and helpful to the penniless Whig as he was severe and unyielding to the unfortunate Tory.

persons

who

He

favored the

disfranchise all

bill to

voluntarily remained in neighborhoods occupied by

British troops.

The Council

of Kevision vetoed this

measure on

the ground that a number of districts would go unrepresented

because not enough voters would be

Another device was then resorted Wide spread and far reaching whether

it

left to

hold an election.

The Trespass Act was

to.

in its effect,

ever would have attained

its

but

it is

doubtful

prominent place in

history but for Alexander Hamilton's association with effect it

permitted every person

who had

of the enemy's presence to recover

pass against any person the premises.

barred to the defendant. fled

erty

from

damages

who had taken

To plead the

New York when

A

left his

in

it.

In

home by reason

an action for

tres-

possession of or occupied

justification of a military order

was

poor widow, Elizabeth Rutgers, had

the British took possession.

Her prop-

had passed into the hands of Joshua Waddington, a wealthy

Public Papers of George Clinton.

The widow brought

loyalist merchant.

169

suit to recover

damages.

Partisan politics ran very high and Hamilton exposed himself to severe criticism by appearing as the counsel for the Tory, for

the sympathy and passion of the populace were with the widow. In an argument as masterly as

it

was convincing, he moved

Act because

set aside the Trespass

peace, and placed the State of

it

to

contravened the treaty ol

New York

in

an attitude of detreaty.

He

appealed to the court for justice regardless of everything

else.

fiance against the Congress

He won

his case in face of

The Trespass Act was

which had made the

a hostile court and of popular clamor.

nullified

and Hamilton at a bound took

rank as one of the leaders of forensic eloquence and ability

in

the country.

The worthlessness "

—or

the

—had long been

rec-

of the Articles of Confederation

League of Friendship," as they were called

ognized by every well-wisher, statesman, friend and enemy of the country.

sand."

Washington had aptly described them as " a rope

of

Although the committee of the Continental Congress

which had been appointed to draw up the Articles of Confederation

and Perpetual Union, had made

the adoption failed to

of

report eight days after

its

Congress

the Declaration of Independence,

adopt them until the

fall of

operation before the spring of 1781 State, ratified them.

1777; nor were they put in

when Maryland, the

last

These articles of confederation were mainly

conspicuous for what they could not do.

put in effect than they were repudiated.

They were no sooner England recognized

the impracticability of maintaining a government under them

and watched with more or

less

complacency the floundering and

tossing of the unfortunate nation which

together by them.

What

was supposed

political genius inspired

mystery that has never been solved.

Some

to be held

them,

authorities hold

is

a

John

Public Papers of George Clinton.

170

Dickinson responsible for them, but Dickinson himself never

Under these

claimed the credit.

articles nine out of the thirteen

States controlled every situation, every condition and every crisis.

To declare war, make a

treaty, raise

money

for the main-

tenance of government the votes of nine states were necessary,

Every state was supposed to

each state casting but one vote.

maintain

own

its

some portion

sovereignty and at the same time to surrender

of that sovereignty,

an intangible, indefinable, un-

measurable quantity to the Federal Union, or the League of

The ambiguity

Friendship.

of this relationship of the State to

the Union and the Union to the State,

was disastrous and contemptible

intent as

it

situation

was

off its

was

serious

army, or

as absurd in its

in its results.

The

enough when the country could not pay

its debts,

or the interest on the funds which

had been loaned by France, but when the advantageous treaty which Franklin and Jay and Adams had made with England, was signed and to

carry

it

out

was found that Congress was hopelessly unable its

the physical protection

provisions in

of the

hunted and persecuted Tories, or to enforce payment of debts

due to English creditors, or to insure the return of confiscated estates to loyalist owners

—the necessity for improvement in the

system ceased to be a matter for speculation and became established as a positive fact.

A

more contemptuous disregard

of the authority of Congress

or the provisions of the treaty could not have been displayed

than the course of

New

York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and

several of the Southern States in passing laws to prevent the collection of English debts.

A

beautiful series of complications

were involved in this procedure.

Americans demanded compen-

sation from England for slaves that ran off or were carried

by the British

fieet.

away

Pending arbitrament, action was taken by

:

Public Papers op George Clinton.

171

State legislatures to nullify one of the provisions of the treaty.

England by Northwest^

naw

reprisal refused to surrender the fortresses in the

— Ogdensburg,

Oswego, Niagara, Detroit and Macki-

—which were garrisoned by her troops and which had been

granted to the United States by the treaty.

Of

all

the great leaders of the times Washington, Hamilton,

Jay and Gouverneur Morris were most keenly alive to the danger that threatened the country unless the League of Friendship

were abolished and a strong, centralized form erected in its stead.

government was

of

They had not only become disgusted with

the wild theory of democracy but alarmed by

grow, spread and strengthen. to

Jay commits himself

its

tendency to

Gouverneur Morris in a

in these words,

letter

which to a more or

less

extent sound prophetic: " This country has never yet been

knows what to

it

ever will be.

any other part

known

To England

to

Europe and God

it is less

known than

of Europe, because they constantly

through a medium of either prejudice or faction.

view

it

True

it is

that

the general government wants energy and equally true

it is

that

the want will eventually be supplied.

A

national spirit

is

the

natural result of habitual existence; and although some of the

present generation

may

feel the result of Colonial oppositions

of opinion, that generation will die

On

race of Americans. Is

this occasion as

give place to a

on others, Great Britain

our best friend."

As "

away and

early as March, 1783,

No man

in the

Washington had written

United States

is

or can be

to

Hamilton

more deeply im-

pressed with the necessity of a reform in our present confederation than myself. it

more

No man perhaps has

felt

sensibly; for to the defects thereof,

in Congress,

may

the bad effects of

and want

of

powers

justly be ascribed the prolongation of the war,

:

Public Papers of George Clinton.

172

and consequently the expenses occasioned by the perplexities

I

More than

it.

have experienced in the course of

and almost the whole

of the difficulties

have their origin here.

But

half

my command,

and distress of the army,

the prejudices of some, the

still,

designs of other, and the mere machinery of the majority,

make

address and management necessary to give weight to opinions,

which are to combat the doctrines of those

men

in the field of politics."

Again "

The

in April, 1783,

distresses of the

ments of

Oongres'S,

ments on

all sides,

Washington wrote

Army

for

port opening

toi

to

Tench Tilghman:

want of money; the embarrass-

and the consequent delays, and disappoint-

me

encompass

with

which

I

But as

have been steering,

have gained the entrance of

it.

and produce

difficulties;

every day some fresh source of uneasiness.

I

different classes of

I will

now

I

see the

persevere

I shall

till

then leave the States to

improve their present Constitution, so as to make that Peace and Independency, which

we have

to the millions yet unborn.

fought for and obtained, a blessing

But

to do this, liberality

must supply

the place of prejudice, and unreasonable jealousies must yield to that confidence which ought of these States.

tO'

be placed in the Sovereign power

In a word, the Constitution of Congress must be

competent to the general purposes of Covernment, and of such a nature as to bind us together. (of

Otherwise

Sand, and as easily broken; and

the sport of European Politics even

may if

we

in

shall be like a rope

a short time, become

we should be

disposed to

Peace among ourselves." ITo

Benjamin Harrison, CovernoT of Virginia,

Washington expressed a despondent view

in

of the

January 1784, situation, in

these words "

The

powers

disinclination of the individual States to yield competent to

Congress for the federal government, their unreasonable

Public Papers of George Clinton. jealousy of that body and of one another, and

which seems within

to

itself, will, if

think

there is not a change in the system, be our

This

we have opposed

is

as clear

tO'

me

as the A, B,

we cannot conquer our own this,

C and ;

Great, Britain, and have arrived at the

present state of peace and independency, to very

begin to see

the; disposition,

pervade each, of being all-wise and all-powerful

downfall as a nation. I

173

The powers

prejudices.

and our newly acquired

purpose,

little

of

if

Europe

friends, the British, are

already and pirofessedly acting upon this ground; and wisely too, if

w^e are

determined

toi

persevere in our folly."

In May, 1786, in a letter to John Jay, he wrote: "

We

are certainly in a delicate situation ; but

my

fear is that

the people are not yet sufficiently misled to retract from error.

be plainer

I

think there

To

more wickedness than ignorance mixed

is

in our oo^uncils."

He Out

says further: " Ignorance and design are difficult to combat.

of these proceed illiberal sentiments,

improper jealousies and

a train of evils which oftentimes in republican governments must

be sorely

felt

He viewed

before they can be removed."

with concern the present situation and feared that

virtue in a " great degree " ha& " taken its departure from our

land and the want of a dispoisition to justice

is

the source of the

national embarrassments."

The

crisis that

followed the close of hostilities developed the

great genius of Alexander Hamilton.

begun

to write essays for a

As

new system

early as 1781 he had of

government which

eventually brought about the conventions of Annapolis and Philadelphia,

and the adoption

was quick

of the

Federal Constitution.

to see that so Icmg as the states

Hamilton

maintained their own

autonomy, a powerful Federal government was out of the ques-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

174 tion.

It

was

liis

plan to pirodiice a government nothing sbort of a

limited monarcliy.

The Annapolis convention standard either in

attendance or

its

come up to Hamilton's

failed to

its results.

Commissioners

gathered only from Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and

York.

New

New

Hampshire, Massachusetts, Bhode Island and North

Carolina were unrepresented, although delegates had been appointed.

Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia had

taken no

actioiu

whatever.

Hamilton drew the address which the

Annapolis convention promulgated to the people.

He dwelt upon

the shortoomings of the present system of Federal government,

and stated that tion 'Should

special

and

in the icpinion of the delegates present, a conven-

be called "

of deputies

sole purpose of entering into "

of supplying such defects as

The

from the different states for the

failure of the

may

be discovered to exist."

On February

duced in the Assembly of the state of

all

" digesting a plan

Annapolis convention made necessary the

Philadelphia convention.

calling

and

upon Congress

17, 1787,

New

Hamilton

intro-

York, his resolution

for a convention of representatives

from

the states for the purpose of revising the " articles of con-

federation and perpetual union between the United States of

America by such alterations and amendments as a majority

of

the representatives in such convention shall judge proper and

necessary to render them adequate to the preservation and support of the Union."

On February

26,

he submitted another resolution that

delegates be appointed on the part of

New York

representatives of the other states on the second

to

five

meet the

Monday

of the

next May, at Philadelphia for the express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.

—

Chapter

XIII.

OBSCURITY OF THE ORIGIN OF POLITICAL PARTIES

LOYALISTS AND

—A REVOLUTION WITHIN OUR COUNTRY'S OWN BORDERS states' RIGHTS— GEORGE CLINTON'S GREAT INFLUENCE IN NEW TORIES

YORK

THREE GREAT MEN,

CENTRALIZATION AND DEMOCRACY

THE FIRST GEN-

CLINTON, HAMILTON AND GOUVERNEUR MORRIS

ERAL IMPOST

— OPPOSED BY CLINTON—NEW YORK CONCEDES HER

REVENUE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

CLINTON REFUSES TO

CALL THE LEGISLATURE TOGETHER IN EXTRAORDINARY SION

The

SES-

—HIS REASONS—RETALIATION AGAINST ENGLAND.

origin of political parties in the state of

in the mist of the past.

New York is hidden

During Colonial times there was always

a fraction of the population

who

objected to the constant exactions

and to the imperious financial demands of the crown.

ment that taxation without representation was an

The

senti-

impo'sition

was born long before the Albany Congress, but the inherent loyalty^ so characteristic of the nistsi

to the

means

Anglo-Saxon

race,

mother country with the strongest

of suppressing

bound

ties

the. colo-

and was the

any expression that 'Suggested ingratitude,

treachery or rebellion.

But when England two Tories,

at last the division linest

who were

came between the colonies and

were formed.

On one

stood the Loyalists or

true to England; on the other the

Whigs who

began by trying to conciliate and ended as Rebels who defied England. takable.

The policy

of the Tories

They believed

in

was

simple, direct

and unmis-

England and the King and

temporal power of bishops.

in the

But the Whigs were without

a

Public Papers op George Clinton.

176

Sentiment with them had not

policy and without a country. crystallized into Independence.

History affords no parallel to the fourteen years in America

from 1775, when the colonies struck out for themselves,

when the young nation began For the

tution.

first

tary revolution that

to do business under the Consti-

seven years the colonies were rent by a mili-

was

and as enervating as years,

to 1789

it

as demoralizing as

was

ruinous.

it

was devastating

During the

seven

final

between Yorktown and the adoption of the Constitution,

the country struggled with a political revolution within

its

own

borders that threatened from time to time to shake the masts out of the ship of state or to throw her on her let

beam ends and

Imperial commonwealths,

her founder in the sea of anarchy.

such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and

New York

resented the proposition to place smaller and inferior states

upon a

level

with them, and to grant the same powers and pre-

rogatives and to admit into the

Upper House

same number

whether the population aggre-

of representatives,

of Congress, the

gated one hundred thousand or a million.

The discordant conditions that faced the young nation ing

its financial

outset.

obligations threatened wreck

The Army

at

Newburg was

in meet-

and ruin

at the

and

at the point of mutiny

only the firm and tactful influence of Washington, whose sublimity of character never

and

met a grave

self abnegation, quelled

crisis

with more

self possession

an uprising that would have

re-

sulted in a military despotism and destroyed every possibility of establishing a permanent form of civil government.

Congress of the Confederation was impotent.

The

Local assemblies

had drawn the strongest men from the arena of National to that of State politics.

The

state

had become recognized as an

institu-

Public Papers of George Clinton. tion greater than

any Federal government.

pression " States' Rights "

was heard

177

The ominous

for the first time.

ex-

It is not

surprising therefore that the National Congress should consist of

men

of mediocre ability, only

redeemed by the presence of

such statesmen as Hamilton, Madison, Bland, Clymer and Wilson.

Social

and

political conditions

were hopelessly disordered.

Never were statesmen called upon to face an emergency more

The

grave or to build an enduring system out of such chaos.

people had not been educated up to the truism "in union there

The potency

strength."

The

them.

had never occurred to

of organization

them was not only the unit but the whole

state to

Such leaders as John Hancock,

fabric of government.

sachusetts, George Clinton in

Virginia,

is

who were

New York and

in

Patrick Henry in

exceedingly jealous not only of their

power and influence

in their

own

Mas-

own

states but equally tenacious

of the rights and prerogatives of those states, were honest in their convictions that the sovereignty of a

not be impaired or destroyed by any state

was superior

to

commonwealth should

common union because

the

any National government and possessed

the authority to secede whenever in

its

judgment the necessity

for such a step should occur.

With states

these apparently irreconcilable differences between the

and inordinate jealousies between the

leaders, with the

brutal ingratitude toward the army, with the Congress torn by factional strife, with the

two ideas Centralization and Democracy

clashing with and smashing at each other, each asserting that the

supremacy of the other meant death

to the country, with the

general inclination to repudiate debts and an unmistakable in-

competency to handle the grave question of finance and taxation, the reader of to-day

is

12

amazed to understand how the

feeble

Public Papers op George Ci^inton.

178

young country ever stood the

was ever marked

tional ascendency

ever

came out

of

ordeal,

it

how

out,

the pathway to Na-

and how the Republic

shadow

at all with any

of success or

any

degree of strength.

Three men at this particular period were no

less

conspicuous

for the positions they occupied than for the influence they exerted

Each represented New York though

over events. capacity ilton,

:

George Clinton, governor of the

member

of

state,

in a different

Alexander Ham-

Congress and Gouverneur Morris, Assistant

Financier, of the United States.

As Hamilton

is

the recognized

father of our National Banking system, so Morris,

who was Ham-

ilton's senior

by

five years, is the accredited

tional Coinage system. in

founder of our Na-

Hamilton's influence in Congress was

no wise commensurate with his

abilities.

The majority was

opposed to him; his most commendable projects and suggestions

were

rejected.

He

foresaw the danger to the country in the

development and expansion of democratic principles and in the

The ideas and

great power wielded by the states.

principles he

there enunciated he lived to see adopted by a very large proportion of the people.

George Clinton was recognized as one of the strong men land.

He had

seen service in the

field

with prudence, credit and honor.

had established a following, at once

He was

and had acquitted himself

As governor

of the state he

large, obedient

a politician of unquestioned

of the

ability,

and

faithful.

and he understood

thoroughly the temper and wishes of his people; he was obliging

and considerate though firm and resolute and was sagacious enough

in all his transactions

to perceive that the geographical

position of his state, sooner or later,

meant an Empire

of itself.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

179

Instead of paying tribute to other states or to a National Confederation, he determined that other states should pay tribute to

New

York.

The suggestion United States,

is

for the first general impost for the benefit of the

said to have been proposed in a convention held

at Hartford, Connecticut, consisting of delegates

England States and from

New

York.

The

act,

from the

New

which was passed

by Congress, in February 1781, was absolutely necessary because of " the

utmost extremity of distress for want of money to carry

on the war."

On March

19, 1781, the legislature of

New York

conformity with the recommendation of Congress, passed an

which provided that the duties granted to Congress levied

and collected

pains, penalties

in such

in

act,

" should be

manner and form, and under such

and regulations, and by such

officers as

Congress

should from time to time, make, order, direct and appoint."

Governor Clinton opposed this measure strongly and he

re-

fused to surrender the revenue collected, on the ground that

New York

as an independent sovereignty, had associated with

the otfier colonies merely for the purpose of mutual assistance

and protection and should not be expected to give up of wealth to the Nation at large.

He was

this source

severely criticised by

the Federalists for his course, and denounced as a demagogue

He was

and a hypocrite. repeal of the law.

ing through the

to devise a

The embarrassments experienced

''

first

of the National debt

largely instrumental in securing the

plan," observes Hamilton " the increase

and other circumstances induced Congress

new system

of impost,

on the 18th of April 1783." to the states the

in carry-

power

which was

finally

agreed upon

As a compromise Congress gave

to appoint the collecting officers, but

this proviso

was subsequently annulled by bestowing the power

of removal

upon the Federal

authorities.

All the States ac-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

180 cepted the

new scheme

which would have none

York withheld

for an impost, including of the

its assent.

first,

except

New

Ehode Island

York.

Governor Clinton declared he had

ways favored an impost but he could not agree

to the

which Congress proposed to execute the power.

in

But New

oughly was Congress discredited

al-

manner

How

thor-

shown by a remark from

is

one of Governor Clinton's friends that " Congress being a single

body and consequently without checks, would be apt to misapply the

money

arising from

it."

In 1786 the state legislature passed an act conceding the reve-

nue to the Federal government but reserved " the sole power of Governor Clinton was now

levying and collecting the duties."

recognized as a National character.

By

virtue of his position

as governor and his prominence as an Anti-Federalist, his influence prevailed equally in the Nation, such as state.

He was

it

was, and in the

a far more important personage than any of his

successors, because he

was an ardent exponent

of States' Rights, a doctrine that

was

of the doctrine

steadily expanding,

and

because the power of the state was then recognized by a large proportion of the people as superior to that of any National

government, for the reason that the states by withdrawing from the compact, could destroy the National government while the

National government lacked the power or authority to destroy a single state.

Congress refused to recognize the legislative act of 1786

al-

luded to above and passed a resolution requesting Governor Clinton to call the legislature together in extra session for the

purpose of reconsidering the subject.

The governor refused

to

" listen to the " pressing and repeated supplications of Congress

Public Papers of George Clinton.

'181

on the ground that under the constitution he had no authority to convene the legislature, except on extraordinary occasions

and that the present did not seem to him to

Not content with snapping

ment Clinton turned

justify such

his fingers at the National govern-

his attention

toward England.

could build ships at one third the cost in England.

war England's

profits

from the advantage

Now

ship yards had been enormous.

the enormous trade that

all

On July

America Before the

of using

war was over

that the

all

the covetousness in the British

1783 an order in Council declared that hereafter

trade between the United States and the British

dies

American

was established between America

and the West Indies aroused breast.

a course.

must be conducted

in British built ships

gated by British subjects.

American ships were

Even

West

owned and

In-

navi-

in direct trade with England,

restricted to those articles only that

produced in those states of which their owners were

were

citizens, a

bar that weighed heavily upon our importers and caused losses

and distress immeasurable.

Many Americans

cried for reprisals

against England but the Congress governed by the Articles of

Confederation,

take the lead. state retaliated

was powerless. Under the

It

remained for

to

direction of Governor Clinton, the

by laying a double duty upon

in British ships.

New York

all

goods imported

Other states favored legislation of a

retali-

atory order, but for want of general and combined leadership

no uniform plan could be agreed upon.

Some favored

a

new

non-importation agreement, a few desired to strengthen the

powers of Congress and Massachusetts went so far as to suggest the calling of a Convention of all the states to

modify the Articles of Confederation.

amend and

During the year 1785 ten

182

Public Papers of George Clinton.

states passed acts granting to Congress the

commerce

power

of regulating

for the following thirteen years, but th.ese laws

so incongruous in purpose

and

gress found itself no better

without them.

off

were

so divergent in scope that Con-

with them than

it

was before

Chapter

XIV.

CEORGB CLINTON AS A MAN OF ACTION HIS PROMINENCE DURING THE DANIEL SHAYS REBELLION AND THE DOCTORS' RIOT IN NEW YORK Washington's oonfidbncb in him and friendship for

HIM— HONORS BESTOWED UPON HIM

BY THE PEOPLE OF HIS

HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR AND VICE PRESIDENT

STATE

HIS

DEATH AT WASHINGTON. George Clinton was conspicuously and positively a man of tion.

As soon

as

the Corn Planter had

left

Unadilla in the

an incursion into the valleys

of the

summer

Mohawk and

of 1780, for

Schoharie, he or-

ganized a strong militia force, which with General Eobert

Rensselaer at

its

the marauders.

ac-

heard that Sir Jolin Johnson with Brant and

lie

Van

head started forward vigorously in pursuit of

Johnson had

laid siege in the

meantime

to the

Middle Fort in Schoharie Valley but having been rebuffed,

dropped the

siege,

and proceeded to desolate the lower valley

with the torch, the tomahawk and the scalping knife.

Lower Fort was unsuccessfully baffled lings,

assailed

The

and the marauders

and desperate, took their revenge by destroying dwel-

At

farms and crops that belonged to loyal Americans.

Klock's Field in Stone Arabia, they were overtaken by

Rensselaer and signally defeated.

the remnants of his force and escaped into Canada by

Oswego.

The

Crown Point retreat of a

same

at the

year

Van

Johnson gathered together

Governor

Clinton

way

marched

head of a considerable force to cut

marauding party who contemplated another

off

of

to

the

incur-

"

Public Papers of George Clinton.

184 sion into the

Mohawk

Valley, but the invaders escaped by an

Indian stratagem.

Nor was

this the only instance while

he personally took the

he was governor

in

which

with the determination of seeing

field

things for himself rather than relying upon the heresay or sayso of other persons.

The Daniel Shays Rebellion gave the governor

the opportunity to display one of his strong characteristics. Historians of give to

New England

New York and

to

have ever displayed a reluctance to

New York

statesmen and soldiers credit

for the part they took in this disturbance.

The

fact remains,

however, that Gov. Clinton. by his prompt and vigorous action

had more to do with suppressing

than even the

this rebellion

State of Massachusetts and Gen. Lincoln

who commanded

the

troops.

The following year occurred the memorable in

New

" Doctors' Riot

York, an outbreak due to desecration of the graves of

poor people by young medical students.

For two days Gov-

ernor Clinton personally and fearlessly went

among

besought the law-breakers to restore quiet.

But

the mob, and

his entreaties

being in vain he called out the militia and thus put an end to the disorder. It is

public

a matter of history that Martin oflfices

than any other

man who

the

first

was George

Clinton.

held more

ever lived in this country.

But no man was ever more honored by of his state than

Van Buren

his state

and the people

Not only was he chosen

governor under the constitution, and Lieutenant Gov-

ernor at the same time, but he continuously held the chief magistracy of the state from 1777 to 1795.

His popularity was pheno-

menal, and his record as governor has never been equalled in the

matter of no opposition.

In 1780, in 1783, and in 1786, he

was

re-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

185

elected without having an opponent against him.

Three years

later,

Robert Yates, the " Eough Hewer " whose essays, written

before the declaration of hostilities between England and the colonies,

gave him a reputation of more than local importance,

ran against Clinton and was defeated.

was again a candidate, but

In 1792, Gen. Clinton

failed to obtain

Six senators and six

competitor, John Jay.

a majority over his

members

Assem-

of

by their respective houses, constituted the Canvass-

bly, selected

ing Committee.

Objections having been

made

to the returns

from Clinton, Otsego and Tioga counties, on the ground alleged informalities, the

two United States senators from

of

New

York, Rufus King and Col. Aaron Burr, were chosen as referees,

but failed to agree.

The majority

of the canvassers thereupon decided to reject

the votes from the counties mentioned, and rewarded General Clinton with a certificate of election on an alleged majority of 108.

Subsequently

a number of

was learned that

it

illegal votes

in the county of Otsego

had been cast for Judge Jay, through

the influence of a number of distinguished

official

persons

had used their influence without Judge Jay's knowledge, rorizing voters

On January

who would have supported General

22, 1795,

who

in ter-

Clinton.

General Clinton, in a public address to the

freeholders of the state, declined a renomination for governor,

on the ground that for nearly thirty years successively, he had held elective lic life.

But

in the city

oflSces,

and that he now desired to

in 1800

General Stephen

From

Van

from pub-

he was persuaded to run for the Assembly

and county of

again stood for the

retire

New

office of

York.

The following year he

governor, and

was

elected over

Rensselaer.

1789, he received at each presidential election

up

to 1808,

Public Papers of George 'Clinton.

186

a number of votes for the

office of

president of the United States,

as the champion of the States' Rights or Anti-Federalist party.

was not

It

until 1805, however, that

he was elected vice-president,

on the same ticket with Thomas Jefferson. elected on the ticket with office

In 1808 he was

James Madison, and while holding

re-

this

he died, at Washington, on the 20th of April, 1812.

His most prominent act as vice-president, was his casting vote against the charter of the United States Bank, during the session of

Congress of 1810-11.

Although descended from the aristocracy of England, George Clinton was the embodiment of American democracy.

He

be-

longed to that distinctive class that encouraged the development of

what

politicians of the present time are pleased to call the

" plain people "

—the

class that at the formative period of our

government reprobated slavery.

With

his brother

James he was

a delegate to the Convention that adopted the Constitution of the

United States, and both voted against that instrument.

Between George Clinton and Washington the most

cordial

relations existed for years, in spite of the differences in tempera-

ment and

politics.

A

number

of biographers

have attempted to

undervalue Clinton's military reputation because of the greater reputation he achieved as a

But

civil officer.

if

his actions are

command

studied closely during the time he

was

son River and

be seen that at almost every

crisis

its defences, it will

in

he exercised military ability of a very high order.

failed to defeat the

plied with a

enemy

heavy enough

it

Hud-

of the

If

was because he had not been

force, for it is

he

sup-

a matter of record that

as a rule he anticipated the enemy's intentions.

When

the English men-of-war, on July 11, 1776, started from

Staten Island and ran by the American works on Manhattan

Public Papers of George Clinton. Island, Clinton

187

had anticipated the orders of Washington, and

called out three regiments of militia as soon as the signal

was

given that the British ships were ascending the Hudson.

One

regiment he placed at Fort Constitution, another at Fort Montgomery, while the third he held in reserve at Newburg. of Fort Constitution a

number

of sloops

In front

and boats were gathered

for the purpose of stretching a chain across the river.

Washington said when he appointed him the Highlands

and

to the

command

of

" His acquaintance with the country, abilities

:

zeal for the cause, are the motives that induced

me

to

make

choice of him."

In a letter to Schuyler in 1778, Washington wrote that he " reposed implicit confidence in " Clinton, and directed that he

should be consulted in regard to the invasion of Canada that

then was contemplated.

Again Washington advised with him

army

relative to the peace establishment of the hostilities.

at the close of

Clinton was invited by Washington to be present at

the conference between Washington and Sir led to the evacuation of the British troops

On November

14, 1783,

Guy

Carleton, which

from America.

Washington, with Governor Clinton,

ar-

ranged the program for the departure of the British troops from

New York

City,

and the following day the Governor issued a

proclamation announcing the day that had been designated by Sir

Guy

members the 21st

Carleton for evacuating the of the inst. for

New York

city,

and summoning the

Council to meet at East Chester on

the purpose of establishing a

in the districts that

civil

government

had hitherto been held by British troops.

At the same time the inhabitants

of those districts

were

en-

joined to yield due obedience to the laws of the state and to

be vigilant in preserving the public peace and good order.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

188

Owing days.

the

to

bad weather, the evacuation was deferred for two

Clinton had requested and obtained from Washington

command

of the

American troops that were on the northern

On

outskirts of the city.

the morning of November 25th, the

American army marched from Harlem remained

till

Bowery where

one o'clock when the British troops moved

ward and proceeded

it

for-

The American army with

to the Battery.

Washington and Clinton and hundreds

to the

at its head, escorted

by the

of citizens, followed without delay.

civil officers

That evening

Governor Clinton gave a public dinner at Fraunces' Tavern, Washington, his

staff

and the general

officers of

the

army being

present.

Washington had obtained an advantageous

offer to

purchase

Dow's estate near Alexandria, Va., and negotiated a loan from Governor Clinton of two thousand pounds.

New York

at seven per cent, payable one year after the peace.

currency, It

would

appear from information that has come down to us that Washington and Clinton were interested not only in the purchase of lands in the

Mohawk

Valley, but also in Virginia, for Washing-

ton mentions Governor Clinton in his

will, in

connection with a

part of a tract of land which had been held in equal right

between them. In the history of the state of

He

out as a colossal figure.

who made independence ity, his

New

York, George Clinton stands

belongs to the inspired race of

possible.

It

was

man

his patriotism, his abil-

dogged tenacity and sagacity that exerted a marked

fluence in creating of

New

York.

in-

and maintaining the sovereignty of the state

Whether

as a soldier during the

his record is

examined and scrutinized

months he commanded the defences

in

the Highlands, or as Military Governor of the infant state of

:

Public Papers of George Clinton.

New

189

York, or as Vice-President of the newly created republic,

the same sterling traits, the same steady self-reliance, the same

manly straightforwardness, the same aggressive ways apparent.

His career in many respects was remarkable,

and the four epochs forty of the

epoch No.

1,

ability, are al-

in

which that career can be divided cover

most interesting years of our national existence: the colonial period ; epoch No.

from the outbreak

2,

the military period

of hostilities to the close of the

Revolution; epoch No.

3,

War

of the

his administration as governor of

New

York, which embraces the precarious years from the peace to the adoption of the Federal constitution; and epoch No. ices as vice-president of the

4,

his serv-

United States from 1805, to his death

in 1812.

One who knew him " Mr. Clinton

well, thus described

was prepossessing

moderate but massive.

him

in his appearance; his stature

His demeanor was

dignified,

and his

He

countenance indicative of courage, decision and energy. possessed frankness and amiability in private affectionate in his personal relations,

decided in his enmity. first

to last he

warm

life;

was kind and

in his friendship

and

His patriotism was undoubted, and from

was trusted by Washington.

His boldness and

decision of character are illustrated in the events of his

life,

and

by none more than by the necessary exercise of his authority in the impressment of a large quantity of flour at a period

when

Washington's army was on the eve of dissolution, and was there-

by saved."

HUGH

HASTINGS, State Historian.

Albany, August

23, 1899.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

iMANuscRiF^x Vol.

I.

—

MANUSCRIPT VOL.

I.

1775.

[Letter No.

58.]

Rev. Dr. Livingston to George Clinton in Congress, urging the ap-

pointment of a Continental Fast.

Dear

Sir:

While we are using means

between

for healing the Divisions

the mother Country and the Colonies,

it

becomes -us to look up

to the

God

of Providence for direction

causes

may

be assigned for our present distresses, and however

great the

Hand may

be,

(if

we

Whatever

success.

which some wicked Individuals have,

in bringing all this danger

knowledge,

and

&

Trouble upon us; we must yet ac-

give any Credit to the

word

of Truth,) that

the sins of a people, are always the procuring cause of national Calamities; and, therefore, the Humiliation and repentance of

the people are the important Duties to which such Dispensations call. I

know your sentiments agree with mine

in this matter,

beg leave to remind you of your Engagement to move Congress for a Continental Fast,

—in a political view

swer an important purpose, as the people

more established

more united

ligious prospect,

which

I

it is

in the

it

will an-

will thereby

become

in their present laudable principles for Lib-

erty, as well as

by me,

and

is

in the

all

cause, but in a re-

the only one for which

at once the Call of

need not say, that

common

Duty and means

will

be urged

of prosperity.

other matters ought to give place to this,

as both the motion and resolve will take up but 13

it

little

Time.

Public Papers of Gteorge Clinton.

194

A for

member

a day of Fasting

told

Him of your

&

prayer throughout the province.

design with respect to this, and

move

to I

have

we have waited

from you.

to hear If

had determined

of our provincial Congress

nothing comes in the space of a week,

I

have advised, that

a motion be made in the provincial Congress to address the Continental Congress upon this Head, requesting that a Fast

&

public Humiliation

extend, on one

A

Time

&

may

not be limitted to one province, but

ye same day, from

ISTova Scotia to

Georgia.

ought to be fixed upon, that so the

sufficiently distant

whole Continent may obtain proper information, and could the notice reach England,

I

am

many thousands would

confident

join us in that solemn work.

All the

down,

members

it is

morrow.

of our provincial Congress are not yet

expected they will be able to open this day or

or sentiment

it will

in the

way

of

News

be very acceptable to

Sir,

•

Your most

affectionate Friend

&

York,

May

.

servant, J.

New

to-

you have any Leisure to think of your Friends,

If

and any thing which you may communicate

Dear

come

H. Livingston.

23, 1775.

[No 59]

EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR Defences of the Hudson

IN

NEW

YORK.

— Colonists Capture Munitions

of

War.

D'r Sir:—

Your favour

of the 2d

May

(I

think you meant June)

filed

with Nothing but that you had not any news, came to hand late

on Saturday evening. you.

If I

saw

-you I could say a great deal to

Public Papers op George Clinton. 1st.

Why

a Connecticut Commissary at Albany?*

right that they have a Commissary

&

Troops have provisions able by

who

^

Law

to their

who may

do not want,

own Governm't.

195 I think

it

see that their

& who may

be account-

But our Commissioners,

are good men, might they not have answered as well or

better?

Our people have forwarded

Pork, least

may

it

either 400 or 500 Bis. of

not so easily be done in the future; and a

Considerable Quantity of Flour, some Rice &ca., and have

dered 25 of the largest Batteaus; they of them, have obtained

money on

also,

that

their private security

But

the Expence of transportation from Albany?

jou no delay

is

made

become

will

have raised

or three

and sent

Will the Commissary, or our Commissioners, bear

to Albany.

What

two

is

or-

&

let

me

tell

for the present. of the

Companies that the people

sent and are sending to Ticonderoga?

I

of

Albany

hear that

thank you for your

last Letter.

It is

now Eight

o'Clock in the

Evinging; our Congress has sat since nine this morning.

One Angus McDonald who has been employed listing

this

as an agent in en-

Highlanders to form a Battalion to join General Gage

moment

sent off under a

Guard

of

is

Genadiers to

General

&

guard of

(David) Wooster's Camp.

Three members •Genadiers

is

of this

Congress with an

officer

gone to Richmond County to search the papers

«eize the person

(if

to be found) of

a person who

is

to

&

be a Captain

in that Battalion [Alexander McDonald].

The Congress took Angus McDonald's several persons Battalion.

who had

&

examined

given in their names to be listed in the

Angus McDonald was

of musqueteers, but has

affidavit*

made

seized

&

bro't

up under a

pretty full confessions.

A

file

Con-

McDonald voluntarily made the following affidavit for the information of Congress: New-Yorkj ss.^Angus McDonald of this city, being duly sworn upon the Taoly evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that some time last fall this deponent was at the tov>^n of Boston, and had a conversation with Major John Small, upon the subject of raising a regiment in America; to serve against the inhabitants of America in the present contest. That the plan laid for that purpose, was that such *

" City of

as are now on half-pay in the several Colonies should be promoted in consequence of enlisting such persons as had formerly served as soldiers in this country. That Major Small informed this deponent, that the deponent should be taken notice of and promoted, if the scheme should take place: and mentioned to this deponent the iDeing sutler to the regiment so raised. That this deponent then told him that he was not possessed of sufficient property to engage in that business, and therefore could not accept of that; whereupon the said major told this deponent that he, the deponent, should be taken notice of, if called upon. And this deponent further saith, that in consequence of the plan so laid, a number of men have engaged themselves in the service, but that they have not yet received any bounty money for their enlistment. And this deponent further saith, that he verily believes many half-pay officers are acquainted with the aforesaid plan. That the said plan can not take place without orders from home; and this deponent believes that no such orders will be obtained: That Captain Alexr. McDonald is also concerned in the said scheme, and hath corresponded with.

-officers

Public Papers of George Clikton.

204

necticut sloop full of

rather

armed men have

Monday morning

Turtle Bay.

Sunday Evening or

last

&

carried all the salt Peter

The Boats from the ships

of

stores front

war which pursued next

day came within a mile of her; but the drum beat to arms her

Crew got ready

&

the Boats then chose to return. I

am

your affectionately, J.

June

McKesson.

14th, 1775.

(To George Clinton.)

[No. 65]

TOO LATE FOR GEN. GAGE. Arrival of a transport

-filled

with troops the

Day

the Battle of

BunJcer Hill loas fought.

Saturday past 2 o'clock P. M.

June 17th

1775.

D'r Sir:— Since the Dispatches from our Congress were closed

ered to the Bearer hereof, Capt. Dobbs

our City pilots

me

is

who now

&

deliv-

acts as one of

come up from Sandy Hook with a

vessel

&

gave

the following Information to wit:

That a Transport, a very large

ship,

and

full of soldiers, is

at the Hook, that she waits for a wind to proceed to Boston,

&

Major Small on that subject. That this deponent had seen and read one of the said Major Small's letters, to the said AlexandeT McDonald, which letter came by the Asia man of war. That one encouragement held up to those soldiers who should enlist, was, that they should have each of them one hundred acres of land when the troubles in America should be over. That the deponent does not believe any men are engaged in the county of Albany, because that there is no person there to engage them. That thi» deponent is unwilling to serve against his countrymen and fellow-subjects in America and is sorry the disturbances have risen to so great a height. And further this deponent saith not.

Angus McDonald. Sworn

me. John McKesson, Noty. Pub."

this 14th June, 1775, before

The same day Congress received information that Ireland for Boston and four regiments for

New

York.

six

regiments had embarked from

— Public Papers of George Clinton.

Expected to

from the Hook

sail

of the second

fleet of

this afternoon; that she is part

Transports from Ireland, and

weeks yesterday, destined

for

205

New

York, but

left

now

is

Cork

proceeding

to Boston in pursuance of orders delivered by the Mercury •of

war at the Hook. That

is sent

man

on Board a person who

out as agent for the said Troops and a stewart or Deputy

Agent. ships

this vessel has

five

That

who

this ship is

sailed in

a prime

&

sailer

company four weeks

he does not know the name of the

parted with the other Capt.

ago.

vessel,

but that

Dobbs says it is

not the

old Spry mentioned in the Dispatches from our Congress.

Capt.

& the Deputy

Agent

Dobbs says that the Chief mate informed him that the

first

of this ship

fleet of

Transports from Ireland

(destined for Boston) sailed nine or ten days before this ship, that

the light horse were in that

New

destined for

fleet;

these Troops

12000 men. :as

I

all

ofiQcers,

much.

as he understood.

arrive at Boston Genl.

wish the Massachusetts

to risque too

which had been

fleet

York, of which this ship was apart, had about

26 or 2700 men on Board, besides

When

that the

Gage

men may not be

will

have

so forward

A Defeat in any short time will ruin us

by Delay we gather Strength everywhere, particularly here.

And

Delay there, will not help General Gage but give time to

harrass him.

The Express mounting

at the Tavern

where

I

write

I can't

add

But that I

am

yours affectionately,

John McKesson. 3 o'clock P. M.

George Clinton, Esquire.

June

17th.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

206

[No. 66]

Mr.

He

MgKESSON

IS

IMPATIENT.

Bails at Delays, Criticises Operations and Appeals for Bounties for the Troops.

D'r Sir:— 'Tis I

my power

not in

to write

you any news.

I liave

not Time.

wish in your great wisdom you could allow N. York Troops to

— without

be cloathed

they will look like Ragamuffins

it

in fact not so good, as cloathing

better

men

It is

little

be

Bounty would induce

to enlist.

now

tinental

and a

&

the 24th June and tho' you met 10th

money (without which we

You

made

May

the Con-

can't raise Troops) is not

detain the Greneralissimo for Instructions

j.

while the Massachusetts Sons of Freedom are perhaps cut ta pieces for

want

of his Aid.

Pray don't these things seem as

if

you were very slow, even making allowance for the necessary Delays in

all

your General

popular Bodies or modes of Government.

— instruct

Send

him afterwards.

With submission how can your house think ten thousand men enough to be employed to the Eastward?

5000 might do in

Colony at present, but will ten thousand be Massachusetts ag't

General

Brothers are well.

Our Committee

Gage's

Troops have bro't in their Rejjort. «&

materials ready for as

We

Fleet

this^

defend

sufficient to

& Army?

Your

for the arrangem't of the

Tents are made for 1500 men^

many more & they

will soon be

made.

have agreed with Robt. Boyd for 100 musquets. I

am, yours affectionately, J.

Saturday P. M. June 24th

McK.

'75.

George Clinton Esq'r. P. S.

Troops.

James Clinton

is

to be Colonel of one Battalion of N. Y.

— Public Papers op George Clinton.

207

[No. 67]

SYMPATHY FROM BERMUDA. Fear

Famine and British Cruisers Renders

of

the People of the

Island Circumspect.

My

dear Sir:

Notwitlistanding several Years have elapsed since

I

have been

favored with a Line from you, yet learning that you are at Philadelphia in the distinguished Caraeter of a Congress, on whose

tinental

Wisdom

Redress of the manifold Grievances

member

all

it

of the Con-

America

relies

for

labors under; and for

Deliverance from the multiplied oppressions crnelly heaped on it

by the Folly and Bigotry of a corrupt ministry

;

cannot help

I

doing myself the Honor of renewing an acquaintance, which, during

my

Stay at

New

York, was peculiarly dear to me; and

the Remembrance of which

is

too deeply impressed on

my mind

to be effaced by the ocean that rolls between us or by any Length of Time.

Future ages

unparallelled

will

Wisdom and

view with admiration

«&

applause the

virtue of the noble Americans while

they jperuse the faithful Page of the present Aera.

Many Circumstances concur

rendering us, in Bermuda,

in

passive Spectators on this critical occasion.

Our Lands

afford

us Provisions scarcely sufficient for two months' subsistence in

a year and our Island places that

it

would be

were they disposed open and

free.

is

so difficult of access, but in

in the

to do

it

power

of a

few Cruizers

a few

to starve us

tho' the Ports of the Continent

Our Consequence, beside

in the

were

American system

of Politics is too inconsiderable to promise any accession of

weight to your measures were really wish well to your Cause;

we

publicly to interfere.

and

this is all

Prudence

We will

permit us to say.

We are greatly

alarmed, and not without sufficient Reason, at

Public Papers of George Clinton.

208

the dismal Prospect which daily opens to our view.

Famine

and our Condition must be truly miserable

stares us in the Face;

the Ports on the Continent are shut and no Permission given

if

us to import Provisions for our Consumption. To obtain this our Inhabitants have chosen Deputies to apply to the Congress in their Behalf^

and our address goes by

this vessel

under Cover to

Benjamin Franklin and John Dickinson, Esquires.

Our Eyes

are fixed on you for Relief, and on your Deliberations will depend the Pate of near fourteen thousand Souls.

That Humanity and

universal Philanthropy which breathe through the whole of your

Proceedings induces us to hope that our application will meet a favorable Reception.

You

it.

little

will

I

must entreat the favor

of

you to patronize

by this means confer an eternal obligation on our

Island and immortalize your

own memory.

I

am

in

Hopes

to be able to furnish you with the minutes of our meeting of

Deputies by this vessel.

But should

I

expect them by the next Conveyance.

you

will

be disappointed you

may

For which Purpose

beg

I

be pleased to name some Persons at Philadelphia and

New York

to

whom

I

may

enclose

my

Letters in Case you

may

be set out for your Seat at Ulster. I

am, Dear

Sir,

very respectfully.

Your most obedient humble Servant, Geo. Bascome.

Bermuda, June

30th, 1775.

(George Clinton). [No. 68.]

George CUnton introduces Mr. White, of

New

Jersey, to Gen.

Wash-

ington.

D'r Sir:—

This will be delivered to you by Mr. White, the Son of Anthony

White Esq'r

of

New

Jersey a Gentleman of Character in that

Public Papers of Gteorge Clinton. Province for

whom

Love

much

for our

I

have the greatest Regard.

injured Country he

now

offer his Service as a Vollenteer in the

mand.

And

Inspired with

vissits

Army

209

your

Camp

under your Com-

as his Character stands high as the Gentleman

Patriot, I doubt not but his Merrit will entitle

Friendly notice

&

solliciting in his

Behalf

attention which I

&

now take

shall ever esteem as

to

him

to

&

your

the Liberty of

Favours conferred

on

Your most Obed't

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

4th July 1775.

[No. 69.]

WASHINGTON AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. List of Subordinate Generals

—Estimated Population

of the Several

Colonies.

Resolved, unanimously that George Washington Esq'r be

he

is

hereby appointed General

& Commander

&

in Chief of the

Forces of the United American Colonies embodied for the Defence of their Properties that the Officers

&

&

preservation of their Liberties, and

Soldiers thereof pay due Obedience to

him

as such accordingly. (The motion to appoint Washington

made June dated June

14,

Commander

1775 and was passed June 15.

19, 1775.)

List of Generals.

Seth Pomroy (Seth Pomeroy) Rich'd Montgomery

David Worster (David Wooster)

Wm.

Heath 14

in Chief

was

His commission i»

Public Papers of George Clinton.

210

Joseph Spencer

Thomas (John Thomas)* John Sulivan (John

Sullivan)

Nath'l Green (Nathanael Greene).

Population of the several colonies.

New Hampshire

100,000

Massachusetts Bay

350,000

Rhode Island

58,000

Connecticut

200,000

New York

200,000

New

130,000

Jersy

Pensylvania

300,000

Delaware

30,000

Maryland

250,000

Virginia

400,000

North Carolina

200,000

South Carolina

200,000 2,418,000

818,000 for 4 Colonies below 200,000 adding

all

that

is

over

200,000 in the others.

D'r Sir:—

The Ulster Orange day Evening desired John Thomas was

& I

Kings members of our Congress yester-

would mention by a Line

to

you

&

Mr.

born in Marshfield, Mass., in 1725, died near Montreal, Canada, educated as a surgeon, and saw service on the medical staff of General William Shirley in 1747. He was transferred from the staff to the line, and in 1759 was promoted Colonel and served in Nova Scotia. A year later he commanded a regiment under General Jeffery Amherst at Crown Point, and was present at the capture of Montreal. He then returned to the practice of medicine. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he raised a regiment of volunteers and on February 9, 1775, was appointed a brigadier general by the Provincial Congress. A grave injustice was done him in the matter of promotion, and he resigned his commission, but through the influence of General Washington and Charles Lee, a resolution!

June

2,

1776.

He was

Public Papers of George Clinton.

211

(Henry) Wisner that they desired Mr. Hazard might be appointed

postmaster

How you

—tho' for want of numbers they

proper this Line

is I

could not vote.

submit to you.

If it is

improper

will please to excuse

Your most humble

serv't,

John McKesson. July 27th.

George Clinton Esq'r.

[No. 70.]

As

to

Certain Military Appointments.

D'r Sir:—

The recommendation

of a deputy adjutant General or

Brigade

Major by your Brother Delegates gave some Embarasment.

Our Congress

tho't of

John Lasher, Mr. (Edward) Fleming

&

Mr. (William) Duer; they appointed the Latter with the rank of Colonel. If

you he

a Brigade Major

&

is

is still

wanted they give the nomination ta

your Brother Delegates without any voice of theirs;

a good

officer

you

will

have the Credit of

it; if

if

not this

house will not have the Blame. was passed through Congress, giving him precedence Thomas returned to his command.

of all brigadiers in the

army.

In his letter to the president of Congress, July 10, 1775, Washington wrote: " General Thomas is much esteemed and earnestly desired to continue in the service;

and as far as

my

opportunities have enabled

me

to judge, I

must

join in the general

good officer and his resignation would be a public loss. The postponing him to Pomroy and Heath whom he has commanded^ would make his continuance very difficult, and probably operate on his mind, as the like circumstance hasdone on that of Spencer." He commanded a brigade during the siege of Boston, and on the evening of March 4, 1776, with three thousand men carrying intrenching tools, he took possession of Dorchester Heights where ho erected a strong line of works before morning. His activity and energy in this particular forced the British to evacuate Boston March 17, 1776. For this service he was commissioned Major General. The following year he was charged with the command of the troops in Canada—after Montgomery's death. The force was altogether inadequate to meet the enemy, and h© was forced to retreat. Before reaching Chambly, he was stricken with smallpox, withopinion that he

fatal results.

is

an

able,

—— Public Papers of George Clinton.

212

Please to bring

me two

or three pair of very darkest couloured

thread stockings, Philad'ia make and the smallest men's stockings.

A

copy of the address to the people of England

Congress Declaration of

War

(as it called)

&

of the

printed in a pamphlet

form. I

am

affectionately &c.,

John McKesson. July 31st.

Oeorge Clinton

Esq'r.

[No. 71.]

Oeorge Clinton Introduces Maj.

Hampton

to Col.

Thomas

(Aug.

Dear

Mifflin.

— 1775.)

Sir:

The Bearer Major Hampton quaintance of mine whose

of Elizabeth

warm

him

is

an Old Ac-

Friendship for the Cause of

Liberty induces him to visit your Camp. therefore of recomending

Town

I

take the Liberty

to your Friendly Notice.

Your most Obed't

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton. I

am now

on

my way

to Philadelphia

from whence

I

promise

myself the Pleasure of writing you.

[No. 72.]

A

Flash of Private Business.

Wilmington Sep'r 30th

Dear I

in

1775.

Sir:

can hardly expect, since you wrote

me

last that it has

your power to have transacted any Business for

that you have been

much engaged

in

what was

of

me

as

I

been

know

more Impor-

Public Papers of George Clinton. taDce; however

I

do something in

him

lately,

hope your

late

my

with Watty.

but says

affairs

little of

215

Vacation has permitted you to I ree'd

a

letter

from

Business only the lot of Land adjoin-

ing him has put out to be improved; wish you could get a Con-

veyance of

it

all

;

my

Bond; pray it; if

from him for me there D'r friend try

if

is

also Parent

&

Sweetman's

you Can get them to discharge

you should be successful in gett'g the Money please pay of

that

I

owe

in

New York &

if

any remaining, put

it

out to Int.

In Y'r last you mentioned some Proposals of Settlement v/ith

Watty, which were very agreeable to me,

&

so

if

Him,

I

can see

nothing that Can prevent an amicable settlement, which cerely wish.

I

want nothing but what am

Intituled to.

I sin-

The

10th last June Mrs. DuBois was delivered of a son; both are well;, she desires to be kindly remembered to you

Pray be so good as N. York

&

you'll

to

&

Mrs. Clinton.

forward the Inclosed to Mr. Denning

much

oblige

him who

is

with sincere wishes-

for your felicity,

Y'r most Obed't hum'le Serv't,

John DuBois. Excuse haste. (George Clinton, Esq.).

in

Public Papers of George Clinton.

214

[No. 73.]

Congratulations for George Clinton's Recovery from Illness* I

bless God,

my

dear Friend, for the Prospect of your Recovery

out for Haverstraw where

next month.

I

my

you

.& intend very shortly to visit

Family preparing to set

continue

I shall

the

till

middle of

wish you may be able with Mrs. Clinton to come

and spend a week with

us.

I shall receive

you as risen from the

grave.

There

a Letter from Gamble in Canada to Sherill at Boston

ig

intercepted, by which there

clear Proof of the Resolution of

is

the Canadians to suppoirt the Confederacy of the Provinces;

many

other Letters to the same Purpose; and yesterday Robert

R. L. writes that an Officer of Montgomery's

on his way to N. E. [New England]

&

was

at the

Manor

said that Col Prescot

offered 24 ult. to surrender

if

he might march out with his

•Cannon to Montreal but that

it

was

were not with the

Majur the Provincials would have

Collonies in

Great confusion

been expelled before this day. land on the news of 17 June.

Adieu.

guardedly before your Health

Mrs. Clinton

Yours

&

refused.

is

If

&

the Canadians

wrath in Eng-

Don't venture out un-

established.

Our Compl's

to

Family.

ever,

W.

S.

10 Oct. *

Foot-note by editor of MSS. written on the back of the above letter:

When this letter was filed the year 1776 must have been written by mistake. Gen. Clinton's severe sickness was in 1775. In Sept. & Oct. 1776, we know that he was not only in full health, but in active & arduous duty at & about New York. For fur"

'

'

ther evidence see letter of D. Wynkoop, Kingston^ Oct. " last year.'

i;on's sickness

'

5.

1776, referring to

Gen. Clin-

— Public Papers of George Clinton.

215

[No. 74.]

Another Letter Relating

to the

Same

Suhjeot.

1775?]

[

My

dear Friend:

As your fiions it is

me

late Illness filled

with tbe most painful apprehen-

with the greatest Pleasure

jour Recovery.

I

Hopes

of the

of

congratulate you upon the Prospect and most

God

sincerely bless

now hear

I

for his

mercy and pray for your perfect

Restoration to your Health and Usefulness. satisfaction to you.

I

am

sure

it

afforded

It

me

must be a great

the most singular

Pleasure, to discover the Interest you have in the Esteem of the

Public by the manner in which People allowed themselves

when

most men imagined from our accounts that you had taken Farew^el of this

&

vain

For God's sake be mindful

anxious Life.

the old Rule of not getting well too

fast.

after such an exhausting Dissease you

jourself than

I

know you

but your own Case.

You

Bail

I

are too low to bear the least Relapse.

till

Respects to Mrs. Clinton

&

&

the Spring

any Time during the winter.

therefore no concern about the matter

SL

to defend the Suit

to push on his Cause

have made him easy

suffice if Bail is in

careful of

will incline to be; attend to nothing

him has been down

Bond but

In your weak state

must be more

The Bearer who understands that you are ^brought for

till

&

the

it

will

Give yourself

you are up again.

the Family in whose Joy

am most

we

all

My take

afi'ectionately yours,

Wm.

Smith.

(George Clinton, Esq.).

1776.

[No. 75.]

(Shopkeeper's

bill of parcels.

No

75 omitted.

I

file

very tender Part. I

of

Dec.

7,

1775).

— Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton.

216

[No. 76.]

THE MILITIA APPEARS ON THE SCENE. Gen. Clinton Complains to Gen. Heath of Lack of Provisions and

Conduct of the Enemy.

Eamapough

January 1776.

1st

Dear General: have been greatly distressed since you

I

when

arrived at this Port I found there

I

&

of

This

&

sufficient

Number

&

occasioned

many

home

to go

displeased.

Number

amounting kirk's

of the Eneiny soon after arrived at Hackensack^

to

between 5

Regiment,

Friends

we

&

imprisoned

left there,

Hoppers

&

&

otherwise

insulted

Bush-

the

few

and soon after came up to Pyramus,

others of that Neighbourhood

Hackensack Goal,

&

800 consisting of Regulars

&

took the

now

comfined

plundered some of the Inhabitants of that Place

in

notified of

other Causes too tedious to mention

greatly Disgusted the Militia

A

was not a

Course provided only for the ordinary

of the Garrison.

much

Quarter j

The Commissary had not been

supply of Provisions.

our coming

left this

&

who

are

have since committed many Acts of

Cruelty on the Inhabitants.

I

keep out large patrolling Parties

every Night in that neighbourhood for the Protection of the Inhabitants, but the

thoughts

&

Enemy have

every Motion that

it

so is

good Intelligence of our

beyond

my Power

to give

Protection to the well disposed Inhabitants in any other

than by routing the I

Enemy from

their present Quarters

way

which

have hitherto not had strength to attempt with a probabillity

of success.

The their

now however

Militia are

Duty

&

had

I

daily returning with spirit to

only a Couple of Field Pieces

I flatter

myself

Public Papers of George Clinton.

217

1 shou'd be able to drive the Eebels out of this Quarter of the

Country.

I

my Dear

begg therefore,

enough to order Capt. Bryan the two

Case

I

field

&

Sir,

Lieut. Jaickson to join

Pieces assigned to

my

for the safety of the Artillery. •quest, the

I shall

Events

all

If

I

dare be answerable

you indulge

&

due Respect

Your

Affectionate

of the season

with

be able to attack

me

in this Re-

sooner the greater probabillity of success.

Compliments

me

former Brigade in which

have no Keason to doubt but that

those paricides with success; at

that you will be good

Humble

I

am

with

Serv't

Geo. Clinton. I

^00

have certain Accounts just now rec'd that the Enemy are (?)

strong; on Sunday they had no Artillery but have sent

for Three Pieces.

[No. 77.] Ge7i.

De

Clinton Spurs Col.

Witt.

New Windsor

9th Jan'y, 1776.

Sir:— It gives

me

great Concern to hear that (altho' the Congress have

appointed you

& other

formed

Northern End of Ulster County) not one Company

is

in the

The season

yet imbodied.

"bility

you

Gentlemen Field

may be

called

is

Regim't to be

approaching when in

upon to defend your County

tacks of a Tyranical ministry and

on a County so forward

Officers of a

it

proba-

ag't the At-

will reflect great

in every other

all

Dishonour

Respect in tho Cause of

Liberty to be found so extremely negligent in so important a Matter.

You'll therefore not fail to exert yourself in filling up your

Hegim't with

all

speed agreable to the Directions of the Congress. I

am

Your Most Humble

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

218

[No. 78.]

Manner

Colonel Greaton Instructed on the

of Quartering Troops.

Pouglikeepsie 24th Jan'y 1776.

Sir:— There are great Complaints made by the Inhabitants of Albany that the Soldiers are quartered on them while the Barracks, ciently

commodious

stand Empty.

Cause of

in

suffi-

for the Reception of the greater Part of them,,

Every Distress of this Kind greatly Injures the

which we are engaged.

your good sense

&

I

entertain to high

«&

Oppinion,

Prudence to doubt, therefore, but on Receipt

herewith the present Cause of Complaint will be removed by your ordering into the Barracks such Part of the Soldiery as can be

conveniently accommodated therein; nor but that every specious.of

Injury to the Inhabitants will as far as in your Power to pre-

vent be avoided. I

am

Sir,

Your most Obed't

Serv't,

(George Clinton).. Col. Creeghton.*

[No. 79.]

Original Return of Election of George Clinton and Charles

DeWitt

as Delegates from Ulster County to Provincial Assemhly.

This Indenture

made the

sixth

Day

of

February

in the six-

teenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign, Lord George Third, by the Grace of land,

King Defender

Esq'r.,

High

God

of

Great Brittain, France and

of the Faith

Sheriff, of the

and Derick Wynkoop

&:c.,

Between Thomas

Christopher

Ire-

Colden,,

County of Ulster of the one

Esq'r,

the

Part,.

Tappen, Johanni»

Johnson, Esq'r, Cadwallader Colden Jun'r Esq'r, William Jack*The officer here alluded to is undoubtedly Col. John Greaton of the Third Massachusetts lino.— State Historian.

Public Papers of George Clinton. son,

James McBride and Jonathan Hasbrouok

21^

of the other part,.

Principal Freholders of the County of Ulster aforesaid,

NESSETH

that

WIT-

on the Day above written are Elected and

Chosen by Plurality of Voises of the Freeholders

of the said

County of Ulster, George Clinton and Charles DeWitt Esqrs.

two able and

Freeholders of said County, to Eepre-

sufficient

sent the said County, to Assist His Majesty's Captin General

and Commander

in Chief of

Wednesday the foreteenth Day

the

Province of

New

York, on

of February, Inst., in a

General

Assembly.

IN WITNESS wherof

the Parties abovementioned have here-

unto Interchangably set their Hands and seals the Day and year first

above Written.

Signed and Sealed in the Presence of

Corn. E.

Wynkoop &

Oke Sudam

Thomas Colden

Sheriff

D: Wynkoop Jun.

*

(seal)

Tappen

(seal)

Johannis Jansen Sec'y

(seal)

Cad'r Colden Jun'r

(seal)

William Jackson

(seal)

James McBride

(seal)

Hasbrouck

(seal)

Christ:

'

(seal)

J.

[No. 80.]

Form

Mortgage

—JoJin Belknap

INDENTURE, made

This in the

of

Year

of our

to

George Clinton.

the twentysixth

Day

of

Februarr

Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy

Public Papers of George Clinton.

220

BETWEEN

six,

John Belknap

of the Precinct of

in the County of Ulster, in the Province of

&

of the one Part,

York, Yeoman,

George Clinton, of the Precinct of

WITNESSETH:

Consideration of the of

Burgh,

New Wind-

the County of Ulster, aforesaid, Esquire, of the other

sor, in

Part

New

New

New York

to

him

That the said John Belknap, for and in

Sum in

of Eighty five Pounds, lawful

Hand

paid, by the said

Money

George Clinton

at and before the Ensealing and Delivery of these Presents,

the Receipt whereof the said John Belknap doth hereby confess

and acknowledge, he the said John Belknap,

HATH

granted

bargained, sold, aliened, released and confirmed, and by these Presents,

DOTH

grant, bargain,

unto the said George Clinton,

sell, alien,

release

and confirm,

in his actual Possession

now

be-

ing by virtue of a Bargain and Sale to him thereof made for

one whole Year by Indenture, bearing Date the Day next

Day

fore the

of the

be-

Date of these Presents, and by Force of

the Statute for transferring of Uses into Possession, and to his Heirs and Assigns forever, All those two Lotts, and one half

New

Lott of Land situate in the Precinct of

County

of Ulster, aforesaid, as they

ader Colden, and are known Lotts

Number

of Lott

&

Burgh, in the

were run out by Cadwall-

Names

distinguised by the

of

Thirteen, Sixteen and the equal westerly half

Number

Seventeen, which said Lott

Number

Thirteen,

Begins at the Northerly Corner being a Small white Oak with Stones about

it

and from thence runs westerly along the Line

of Lott No. 14 until

Stones,

comes to Lott No.

Then Southerly along Lott No.

comes to No. a^bout

it

it,

12, to

9, it 9,

being a

and No.

8,

Heap

of

until it

a small Wallnut, and a Heap of Stones

Then Easterly along the Line

Swamp White Oak and

of Lott

Number

a Heap of Stones about

it,

12, to

a

Then North-

Public Papers of George Olinton. erly along the Line of Lott No. 17

And

the said Lott

Oak

at the

Number

To the Place

221 of Beginning.

Swamp

Sixteen, Begins at

White-

North westerly Corner thereof, and from thence

runs Southerly along the Line of Lott No. 12 to a Wallnut Tree

with Stones about

it,

standing in the Line of the Patent, Then

Easterly along the said Line of the Patent until

it

comes to

Lott No. 20, Then Northerly along the Line of the said Lott

No. 20, until

it

comes to Lott No. 17 To a Heap

And

westerly to the Place of Beginning.

Number

one equal half Part of Lott

of Stones,

the said Westerly,

Seventeen, Begins at the

Northerly Corner thereof, at a small White Stones round

it,

of Stones,

it

comes to Lott No. 14 To a Stake and

Then Southerly along the Said Lott Number

14 and the Lott No. 13, until

it

comes to Lott No. 16 to a

White Oak Tree with Stones about

Wood

Oak Tree with

and from thence runs westerly along the Line

of Lott No. 18 until

Heap

Then

Tree with Stones about

it.

to the Place

where the Half Lott

and a half

of

it.

Then Easterly

Then Northerly a first

began

;

The

to

Swamp a Bass

direct Course

said

Two

Lotts

Land above described Containing four hundred

and ninty one Acres With the Rights, Members, and Appurtenances, thereof, (excepting out of the said Eight Acres

and three Quarters

Bounds and Limits

of

an Acre of Land which

Thomas Belknap the Elder formerly conveyed as the

afore-

to

Morgan Powell,

same was surveyed by Jonathan Hasbrouck, And except-

ing also out of the Bounds

&

Limits aforesaid One Hundred

Acres of Land conveyed by the said John Belknap to Thomas

Hageman); And

all

the Houses,

chards, Gardens, Lands,

Out Houses Buildings, Or-

Meadows, Feedings, Trees, Woods, Un-

derwoods, Ways, Paths, Waters, Water-Courses, Easements, Profits,

Commodities, and Advantages, Hereditaments, and Ap-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

222

purtenances, whatsoever, to the said Lotts and one half Lott of

Land above mentioned,

&

described, belonging

wise appertaining (excepting as the

is

before excepted)

or

in

any

AND ALSO

;

and Eeversions, Eemainder and Remainders

Eeversion

Eents and Services of

all

&

singular, the said Premises, above

mentioned and of every Part and Parcel thereof, with the Appurtenances (except as aforesaid);

AND

Eight, Title, Interest, Claim and

Demand whatsoever

the said John Belknap

of, in,

and to

Premises above mentioned, and

of,

ALSO,

and

to,

TO

Parcel thereof with the Appurtenances;

HOLD,

the Estate of

him

and singular, the said

all

in,

all

every Part and

HAVE AND TO

and singular, the said two Lotts and one equal Half

all

&

Lott of Land, Hereditaments,

mentioned,

&

Premises, above particularly

described, and every Part

the Appurtenances, (except as

is

&

Parcel, thereof, with

hereinbefore excepted), unto

the said George Clinton, his Heirs, and Assigns, To the only

proper Use

&

Behoof, of the said George Clinton, his Heirs, and

Assigns forever;

upon Tiis

PEOVIDED,

this express Condition:

always and these Presents, are

That

if

the said John Belknap,

Heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns, shall

and do

well and truely pay or cause to be paid unto the said George Clinton, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, the Just

and

Sum

full

of Eighty five Pounds, Current

York with lawful fifth

Day

Presents,

Interest for the

of February,

now next

Money

of

New

same on or before the twenty ensuing, the Date of these

Then and from thenceforth, these Presents and every

Clause Article and Thing herein contained, shall cease deter-

mine and be utterly

void,

any Thing herein contained to the

Contrary in any wise notwithstanding. shall be

made

in the

Payment

But, in Case Default

of the said

Eighty

five

Pounds,

Public Papers of George Clinton.

and the lawful

Interest thereof, or any Part thereof, at the

hereinbefore limitted, for the in such

223

Payment

Time

Then and

of the same,

Case the said John Belknap doth by these Presents,

nominate, constitute, appoint and impower the said George Clinton, his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, his true

and lawful Attorney, and Attornies with

full

power

&

Author-

and convey in Fee simple. All

ity to grant, bargain, sell,

and one equal half Lott

gular, the said tw^o Lotts

&

sin-

of Land,

Hereditaments, and Premises above particularly mentioned and

&

described,

hereby granted (except as

Vendue;

at public Auction or

&

veyance to make, seal

&

is

&

good

hereinbefore excepted)

suificient

Deeds of Con-

execute for the same to the highest

bidder, therefor, agreable to the Directions of a certain

Act

of the Legislature of the Colony of

New York

Act

Mortgages and for secur-

more

for the

effectual Kegistry of

entitled "

An

ing the Purchasers of mortgaged Estates" in such Case lately

made and so

much

fully

provided; of the

pay

And

Money which

And

to the said

Assigns;

&

keep in his or their Hands

shall arise

by such Sale, as

will

the said Eighty five Pounds; The Interest that

off

shall be thereon due,

such Sale,

to retain

And

the Overpluss,

John Belknap,

And

the (if

Costs and Charges attending

any there

shall be), to

Return

his Executors, Administrators, or

the said John Belknap for himself, his Heirs,

and Assigns, doth covenant and grant

to,

and with the said

-George Clinton, his Heirs, Executors, Administrators and As-

signs that such Sale

two Lotts

&

&

Conveyance so to be made

of the said

one equal half Lott of Land Hereditaments and

Premises above mentioned

&

described, (except as

is

hereinbe-

fore excepted), by the said George Clinton, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns by Virtue hereof, shall be

and forever

Public Papers of George Clinton.

224

&

remain an Entire

absolute Barr both in

and against him the said John (Belknap)* and any other Person or under

him them

or

Law and

his Heirs,

WITNESS,

of (them)*

and Assigns^

same

or Persons* claiming the

any

Day & Year

first

from

by,

whereof, the said

Parties have hereunto inter-[changeably]* set their Seals the

Equity, to

Hands and

above written.

Sealed and delivered in the

John Belknap

Presence of Jas.

Kernaghan

Mathew Dubois Endorsement.

Eec'd on the

(On back of Mortgage.)

the Date of the Within Indenture of Mortgage

named George Money

of

Clinton the

Sum

New York being the

of Eighty-five

(of)*

of

the within

Pounds lawful

Money

Consideration

Day

in full therein-

mentioned.

Pr

me John

Belknap.

Witness present Jas Kernaghan

Mathew Dubois

[No. 81.] Limitations of a Court Martial.

Fort Constitution Febr. 29th 1776.

Sir:—

A

Competent Number

of Officers for the Court Martial

Conveaned here and the Eiver

is

so Closed with Ice that

Not Possable to Get the Barge Out,

much

Tis

Send for You, so we are

Disappointed, Not ondly in Holding the Court, but in not

Haveing the Honer led

to

it

Are

Us

into a

of

Your Company;

this

Disappointment has

minute Inquiery of the Kesolves of Congress and *MSS.

torn.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

Uppon Considering the 39th and 67th

Artikles,

225

We

agree in

Oppinion, that them Artikies will apply so as to Jestify one as

Commander

Cheafe at this Post, to Call a Cort Marcial with

in

out Applying to the General;

and

of the Matter

if

We

Can

I

therefore beg you would Consider

set,

You

the Bairer, but should you be of Oppinion that

with out your Presents

Come Down

so as to

you Can Land

I

beg

You

will

Land on the Back

by

will give us Directions it

Cannot be Held

Engage a Petteauger and where

side of the Iseland

safe.

from Your Humble Servent, Isaac NicolL

N. B.

Colonel Balmer

is

here.

[No. 82.] Col. NicolVs

Reason for not Sending the Barge.

Fort Constitution Febr. 29 1776.

Sir:— I

have Gest Eeceived Yours, and shall send the Barge as soone

as the

Weather Will Purmit; but

that

Tis

it

Not Possable

to

at Present she

is

so Frose

Up

Get Hur Out.

from Your Humble Servent Isaac NicolL

N. B.

Their

is

7 Officers Heare.

(To George Clinton.)

[No. 83.]

Iron for American Frigates under Construction at PoJceepsie.

Eingwood February 29th

1776.

Sir:—

Though personally unknown

to you, yet I

the trouble of this address, which 15

is

hope you

to beg the favour

will

excuse

you would

Public Papbes of George Cl-inton.

226

reconimend the Bearer, Mr. Ambrose Gordon, to some proper person in

New

Windsor, to take in Charge, Six Tons of Iron

T

haye sent there, by order of Mr. Francis Lewis, Merch't N. York, to be forwarded from' thence,

Samuel Tudor

&

by the

first

opportunity, to Messrs.

Aug't Lawrence Superintendents, to the Ship-

building near Poughkeepsee.

My

being totally unacquainted at

ing received orders to deliver ticular person there, I

am

my

New

Windsor, and not hav-

Iron to the Care of any par-

makes an application

of this kind necessary.

happy, therefore^, that on the Service of the Colonies,

this opportunity of applying to a

I

have

Gentleman who has approved

himself a friend to their Rights; the only further apology that shall be offered

by Sir

Your most hum'e

Ser't

Robt. Erskine.

George Clinton Esqr.

'

[No. 84.] Capt. Moffat makes Requisition for more Officers to

Form a Court

Martial.

Blooming Grove Febr. 29th

1776.

S'r:— I

RecM your

orders of yesterday, in consequence whereof I dis-

patched an Express to

my

Lieutenants

who

are attending accord-

ing to directions; should have attened [attended] myself undoubt-

edly but lays his

am

me by

unable by reason of a bad sore in intirely for the Present,

Commission, being Chosen but

a vacancy, on account

of

my

and

Two

my

my

right

Leg which

Ensign has not got

days ago, occasioned by

late Ensign's being

advanced to the

Public Papers of George Clinton.

Rank

of

a Lieutenant

However,

Recruiting orders). cient

Number

present trial

I

in the

of Officers to

thought

it

New

Establishment (and now on

I

be a

least there should not

form a general Court Martial

my

sufiQ-

in the

duty to request the attendance of

Major Howell and Adjutant Woodhull, who ing accordingly, but

227

I

suppose are attend-

have not seen either of .them,

it

being some

time in the Evening before your orders came to hand. I

am

with the most profound Respect Sir your

most obedient and very Hum'e Servant,

Thomas

Moffat.

(To George Clinton).

[No. 85.] Relative to the

Command

in the Eighlands.

Goshen 5th

of

March

1776.

Sir:—

Some time

you Left Congress a Resolve past Signefying

after

that the person to

should Bear the isons

Command

Rank

the fortifycation in the highlands

of Coll, in

Consequence of which four per-

have Recommended to wat Capt. Gxinnold, one Levingston,

and two other persons whoes names perticular Reasons they

ment put

of

and

I

I

have forgot; however for

ware not appointed, But the appoint-

Believe they will not

Be

appointed^ and as Mr.

Nicoll has an inclination to Continue in the Servis

proper to Joyn

Pleas to

me

in a

Recommendation

Draw one and

subscribe I

am

of

him

my name

if

you think

to that office.

under yours.

Sir yours to Serve,

Henry Wisner. (To George Clinton).

•

Public Papers of George Clinton.

228

[No. 86.]

A

Bank Leads

question of

De Witt

Capt.

to threaten

Mutiny^

Little Britain mar. 9th 1776.

Sir:— I

A

Receivd

iiouse of the for

from Colonel McClaughry,

Widow McCobson,

Every Capt.

Date

in the

to

on Friday the 8th

Riggment

of their Commission,

and

to take

if

meet at the

Inst., in

Eank according

order to the

two or more was of one Date

which the Colonel purposed to them.

to Ballot;

A

letter

But there was.

majority of their Commissions of one Date and they Joind for

to Ballot for the whole.

Which

and told them,

I oppos'd,

would take place according

I

to the Orders purposed in the Colonel's letter above mentioned,,

but according to their Bequest the Colonelallow'd them to Ballot against Sir, I

my

not

I

Pray

and Against

his Inclination as

have not Balloted with them; therefore

Me

to Justify if

will

in

Rank according

never will appear in the sir

send

ance will very

me an answer

much Sir,

to the field

Date

with

of

he told me. I

appeal to you

my

Commission,,

my Company.

as soon as possible; your Compli-

oblige,

Your Humble

Serv't, to

Command, D'Witt.

J. R.

(To George Clinton).

[No. 87.] Capt. John Grage also in a State of Rebellion.

Pougconsinck ye 22d March 1776. S'r:— I

suppose you have been Informed, that

Oommition but

I will

;

I

mean

to serve

my

country as

I

have Laid down

much

not be imposed upon by any man.

as in

They

my

still

my

power,

continue

Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton. to send

me

to doe, for I

get

my

orders,

I will

it, I

I

refuse to obay^, and shall continue so

never serve in the Millitia as an

place for

I cannot do

which

I will

not be twice superseded and

me

to ly

I

still.

without serve;

still

wou'd gladly exept

"commition that might be of more adventage to Millitia captain, but there is so

me

many

to attempt

my

of

it

a

country than

soliciters already, that it

any thing of that kind; but

is

almost needless for

if

you could procure any thing of that sort

at

as a singular favour done to S'r,

Officer,

shoud rather suffer severe punishment, altho

is not at all agreeable to

u

229

I

shoud acknoledge

me who am

your most obedient and very Humble Serv't.

John Crage. If

you can think of any thing for

distant with

Honour

me

to doe in this case con-

shou'd very obay any thing you should

I

recomend. f(To

George Clinton)

[No. 88.] Col.

McGlaghry Explains.

'Widdow

Falls's 25th

March

1776.

D'rSir:— Your kind

fav'r of this date, p'r Capt. Burns,

lianded me; the contents of which

I note.

was

just

Am extreamly

now

sorry,

that any complaints (relative to the Minute Men) should be tabled against me; or that any misunderstanding should take place that might retard the Public weal, But can assure you,

was put

[out] of

my

power

to

make any other

Uegiment under my Command than what •consequence of orders from you, in

my Regiment

to

make me

I

I

return

have done.

of

it

the

For^ in

wrote to the several Captains

returns agreeable thereto; which

Public Papers of George Clinton.

230

they have complied with; in which returns (which

me

produce) they have returned in their several Oompainies,

my

from

requisite

done what

is

Conduct, but you,

sir,

have now to

250 or upwards of Minute

if

matter they have not

in this

right, they are alone to

will easily percive,

it

answer for their

was out

of

my Power made me,

to do any thing but in an agreeableness to the returns

Farther orders from you or the Congress relative

untill I receive

to this matter. exprest, belive fare, as I

Men

which somewhat exceeds the Quota

Regiment;

and

just

I

Ann.

me

much

obliged to you, for the Friendship

to remain with equal sincerity for your well-

understand you are just about setting out for Con-

wish you Health and prosperity with a safe

gress, sincerely

return to your Familey.

Mean while take

the liberty to subscribe myself your

Much

obliged and Very

Humble

Serv't,

James McClaghry. (To Gen. Clinton.)

[No. 89.]

A Know

all

Bill of Sale of Crops on the Ground.

men by

these Presents^ that

I

David Hamon,

Windsor, in Ulster County, and Province of in Consideration of the

the Province of

New

sum

of

York, to

New

of

New

York, for and

Twelve Pounds Current money

me

in

of

hand Paid by George Clinton

Esquire of the same Place, the Receipt whereof

I

do hereby

acknowledge, have Bargained, Sold, and Delivered, and by these Presents, according to the due form of Law, do bargaine, Sell,

and Ddiver unto the said George Clinton^ one Equel Third Part of

Twelve Bushels, sowen of Wheat, now standing and Growing

on the Ground

it

being on the farm of Stephen Peit To have

— Public Papers op George Clinton.

and

Bargained Wheat unto the said George

to Hold, the said

Clinton, his Executors,

and

I the said-

David

and Administrators and assigns forever

Hamon

and Assigns

istrators

231

,

shall

for myself,

and

will,

my

Executors and Admin-

iWarrent and forever Defend,

by these Presents, the Aforesaid Bargained Wheat in Withness, whereof

have hereunto set

I

May one Thousend

my hand and

seven Hundred and Seventhy

Sealed and Delivered in the

Corl.

seale this Third

Day

of

six.

David Hamman.

[Seal]

Presence of

Osburn

Mathe-w Dubois.

[No. 90.]

George Clinton Requests Richard taken

ait

Van Wyclc

St. Johns,

to

Account for Arms

Canada.

Sir: I

herewith inclose you Genl. Washington's order* to me, to

Number

make the necessary

Inquiries relative to a

was in-formed were

in Mr. Wilsy's Store with the

Officers

which

taken at

begg you

I

St.

Johns

&

to secure the same.

will secure s'd

Arms, as

are removed from Mr. Wilsy's Store sion,

are

and transmit to me as expeditiously as

Name & Bank & where Wiltsy's

;

The Number

may come by

&

to your

of

he

now

is,

who

I

am

now

of

Arms he

Baggage

of

Agreable to

informed they

in

your Posses-

possible, the officer's

stored

them

at Mr.

Arms & every other Circumstance which

Knowledge respecting the same authenticated

affidavits of the

Facts where in your Power.

And

if it

shall

appear that he has in this Eespect violated the Articles of Capitulation,

I

woud

advise in such Case he be secured from

escaping until the Pleasure of Congress shall be knov/n as to his

Not

found.

— Public Papers

232-

George Clinton.

of,

You'l please at the same Time to return

Conduct.

closed Order.

I

am

me

the

in-

your

Most

O'bed't Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

May 1776. Van Wyck Esq'r Chairman

Fishkill 4th

To Rich'd

of the

Committee

of

Rum-

bout Precinct in Dutchess County.

[No. 91.] ;

George Clinton Explains

tlie

Episode

to

Gen. Washington.

New Windsor Dear

5th

May

1776.

Sir:

On my

arival here I immodiatly

went

to Fishkill to

make

quiery about the arms said to be stored at Capt. Wiltsy's.

In-

I find

that about a week ago, a certain Duncan Campbell, a Major in

the Ministerial Army, taken on Board the Enemy's Vessel at the

Mouth

of the Sorrel,

sloop, landed there

came

&

to the Fishkill^

on Board of an Albany

put in Wiltsy's Store a number of Chests

and Trunks containing

(as

he said) Officers Bagage for which he

took a Rec't from Wiltsy.

He had a

pass from Genl. Schuyler

to go to Fredericksbupgh, in Dutchess County, with his Bagage,

which he shewed to Wiltsy Chests

i&ca., there,

&

applied for assistance to take his

but being disapointed in getting Teems for

the Purpose, they lay some Days in the Store in which Time

some

little

Boys playing

in the store discovered that

Chests which had been nailed up

&

one of the

lashed with a Rope but had

partly got open, contained Fire x\rms of which they acquainted

Mr. Wiltsy who immediately Gave the 'Committee of the Precinct Notice thereof. it

The Committee mett, opened that Chest, found

contained 13 Officers' Pieces with a Paper fastened to each

Piece on which the owner's

&some Pistols;

Name was

then ordered that

& the

written; 7 Broadswords

other Chests 9 in

Number,

Public Papers of George Clinton.

-238

to their Cliairman's House, about 10 Miles back in the Country_,

where they now are as yet unopened but from their extraordinary weight

it is

likely they are all filled

which contained Bagage only are not detained,

away by Campbell.

for

if

believe taken

I

The Committee have appointed to meet

open the other Chests on Monday next bell to attend

The Trunlcs

with arms.

them.

In this

Guilty he will

for

fly

I

&

i^

have summoned Camp-

fear they have been over prudent It is

it.

reported

&

I

believe he has

already. It will

be out of

my Power to

Chests &c. on Monday as

Day which

is

my

his Country's Cause

I

is

I

an Active

have therefore sent the

which

I

will

receive their Keport I will transmit

it

to you.

course disaffected) live

(of

in the Letter

tainty that he

is

gone

Neighbourhood have

among

you shewed me, but off tlio it is

and

Fred-

which many Scotch half pay

Officers

in

in

be done as

necessary,

a Neighbourhood

now

Man warmly engaged

if

is

am

to Kingston that

arms or Campbell

ericksburgh

I

me

doubt not that every thing

well for the securing of the

mentioned

calls

to me, inclosed in a Letter of

send you a Copy, and as he

I

Business

forty Miles Distant.

Chairman your order

soon as

attend the Committee to open the

the Rest.

I can't learn

It

was

with

cer-

said several Persons in that

lately absconded.

with the highest Esteem your

Most Obed't

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

[No. 92.] Qualifications Physical

&

Bloral Necessary for the Position of Post

Rider.

D'r Sir:—

A him

Certain Mr. Tompkins lately applied to me, to recommend to

you as Post Rider, informing

me

at the

same Time that

Public Papers of George Clinton.

234

upon

&

his being able to procure such

some others

Place.

in this

Recommendation from me

County you would appoint him to that

had many Reasons for not signing any Paper

I

Favour, tho

however

I

I

knev*^

nothing

against

in his

his general Character;

was not well enough acquainted with him

to

become

responsible for his Behavior in a Post (which tho not the highest)

Times of great Public Importance, nor did

in these

him

to be the best Quallified Person that

might

offer,

known

that you meant to discharge your Present Rider

ion of

whom

I

need not

now

lived in this

Neighbourhood

believe

were

my

it

opin-

Being well acquainted

mention.

with the Bearer Mr. Mathew DuBois

I

who has

& knowing him

for

some Time

to be a sober in-

& capable Man, warmly attached to the Cause of his & uniform in his Conduct, I thought it woud not only

dustrious

Country

be an Advantage to the Public but to the management of the

&

Post Office were he to consent to serve as Rider consistently appoint him.

tioning

you

what

I

knew

I,

you coud

therefore, took the Liberty of men-

&

of the Matter

his Service in that Capacity

him

of advising

which he consented to

waits upon you for that Purpose.

I

mean not

to offer

& now Ap-

to urge his

pointment being convinced that you will readilly prefer the Person of fairest Character

& who

is

most

likely to serve the public

best. I

am

with Esteem your

Most Obed't (To Ebenezer Hazard.)

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

[No. 93.] Active Politics and Alleged Dishonesty in the Postal Service.

New York May Dear

Mr. Dubois has delivered reading

29th 1776.

Sir,

it

I

me your Favor

of yesterday.

Upon

suspect Tomkins has led you into some mistake,

— Public Papers of George Clinton.

235

which makes

it

of the Case.

Tomkins was a Rider under Case, who discharged

necessary

should inform you of the true State

I

him, as he (Case) informs me, for Mai Practices with Respect to

News it,

&

Being discharged by Case,

Papers.

a

nettled by

little

he was going to ride as a Post to carry News Papers,

plied to

me

employ him

to

&

ap-

in carrying the mail; informing me,

at the same Time that Case had played Tricks with Letters,

having opened some while that a great

him

number

of People

for embezzling their

him (Tomkins)

which would justify

&

it;

me

Charges against Case for Crimes

if

attempting the Proof.

He

late Post

to do)

Case, hearing of

&

get

him

& would He

it,

is

prove the

now engaged

has been counter-

Master Genl.) that his Bond to the King's

an Oath from somebody

&

my Duty

has got a Certificate from Mr. Foxcroft (the

charged, as he behaved with Diligence

Giles

it

he could get the Committee's

Charges against Case, Iwould employ him.

acting him.

thought

put Tomkins upon proving them; promising

Recommendation (which he promised

in

than Case receives.

p'r ann. less

in discharging him, I

same Time that

at the

& had therefore employed

—that they had declared they would Case, — & that he would carry the mail

his acco'tt contained

to attend to

Papers,

was £50

for £200 p'r ann. which

him

News

on the Road were dissatisfied with

to carry them,

never send a Letter by

As

in the Service of the King's Office,

(I

&

Office is dis-

Fidelity as a Rider,

forget who) that

(I

think) Capt.

another Person attempted to intoxicate the Deponent,

him

to do

to

it,

swear Case had broke open a Letter, or ordered

but that

it

was not done,

&

that Case had not only

not broken open any Letters, to the Deponent's Knowledge, but

had given him Person to do

it;

strict

Orders not to do

it

or suffer any other

— & some Certificates against Tomkins.

Public Papers of Gtborge Clinton.

236

Thus stands the Matter at

As Case has not beem

present.

proved guilty, in any one Instance of Mal-Practices,

&

with Propriety discharge him;

Opinion of him

is

yet

I

hfe

Mr. Dumond.

explicit:

chose to refer

me

to you.

&

pleased with your Character of Mr. Dubois,

&

if

my

formed from Hints dropped by People from,

indeed spoke the plainest, but

his Looks,

cannot

do not like the man;

your Way, but not one of them would be

am much

I

you or other Gentlemen

me

will enable

I

I likfr-

to dis-

charge Case by proving any Thing worthy of Dismission against him, or

send

me

if

you

& some

other equally respectable Gentlemen will

a Certificate that you think his Continuance as a Eider

Eevenue, as he

will prejudice the Continental

to People on the Eoad, I will discharge

is

disagreeable-

him & employ Mr. Du-

bois.

The King bled,

of the nation at

whose nod

all

Europe

has humbled himself so much as to beg 400

German Count &

am

men

of a petty

them on Terms which a private Gentle-

got

man's Honor would be piqued I

lately trem-

D'r

at.

Sir,

Your most

obed't humb'e Serv't,

Eben Hazard.. P. S. Please to

communicate this to Messrs. Boyd

&

NicolL.

To Gen. George Clinton. [No. 94.]

Draft hy George Clinton to

New York

New

of Letter of

New York Delegates

in Congress-

Convention, as to the Appointment of Officers of the-

Levies.

[June

—

,

1776.]^

Gentlemen,

We

doubt not but before this you have received our Presi-

dent's Letter, informing you that this Congress have appointed

Public Papers of George Clinton,

^be

Officers for the

Regiment directed to be raised

hj tbe Resolve passed on Friday tbe appointment of •a

Officers

particular Colony; but as

nary Practice

&

last

new

for

we

&

as

we

Levies to be raised in

conceive

it

contrary to tbe ordi-

may, therefore, be considered as in some Meas-

&

Intelligence from

we begg Leave

-State of our

Army

in

of the Detach-

General Thompson at Three this

Account with the

Canada were referred

Army

Colony

there

With four Regiments, that

jported

&

agreed to by Congress.

-& thought it

which

Officers wasi also re-

objected to this Measure

our Duty to withold our Assent not only because

might interfere with Appointments which might probably

Jiave been

made by you

the Former Resolve.

for the

same Regiment

in

The pressing Occasion

&

these Appointments were

had merritted by former Itule;

and

if

Services,

it

necessity of said

of particular Persons

who

it

interfered under no former

the Appointments should be confined to the Pro-

vincial Congress,

it

same Persons must the Design

made

Consequence

was

Dispatch were urged to support the Measure and •as

(the after-

wa^ introducing a new Precedent which might give Offence

iDut

-of

it

We

of reinforcing

to be raised in our

to be one; to expedite the raising of

wards reported)? an Arrangement of the

Board of

to the

Warr, who the same Day reported the Necessity our

(as

Receiving the late

Canada respecting the Repulse

The Dispatches containing

«&;ca.,

On

our Conduct therein.

Army commanded by

of our

Hivers

Colony

are able) to explain the Reasons of Congress for

taking this Step

ment

in our

then transmitted to you

ure infringing on the Rights of the Colony dfar

237

would only create unnecessary Delay as the of Course be appointed by

& Meaning

former Resolve.

We

of

this

them

to

answer

Congress expressed in their

were persuaded, nay we are morally

cer-

Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton.

238

Busy Season

tain, considering the

& The Number

hance the Wages of Labourers in the Service, that this

answer the End fairs in

We &

for

it is

will en-

of Militia

Regiment cannot be raised

which

in

now

Time to

And, should our Af-

designed.

Canada, (which already wear a bad aspect) grow worse,

apprehended, indeed

We

every Misfortune which

want

—^which

Year

of the

feared, that

may

Delay tho unavoidable

attend our

of a proper Reinforcement

Army

Canada

in

for

might by some he imputed to

our Colony notwithstanding their utmost Exertions to expedite this (as

judged

we it

conceive) impracticable

&

innefectual measure.

We

however most prudent bearly to mention our Reasons

for witholding our Assent without

making a more pointed

&

Strenions Opposition to the Measure Thereby leaving the Col-

ony

in such

We

sion.

a Situation as not to incur any Blame on this Occa-

are &ca.

(Note on back of Mss. No. Sullivan arrived at Sorel forces in Canada,

Life

June

&

June

4,

&

1776.

94.)

took

command

A

note Vol.

of the 3, p.

American

432, Spark's

Writing, Washington says that two days after that, 6th,

he sent

Gen. Thompson to Three Rivers,

&

viz,

by the

22nd June, W^ashington at N. Y. had rec'd the news of Gen.

Thompson's defeat

&

capture.

The

curred probably about the 8th June.

affair at

Three Rivers

oc-

June 23 Washington sent

the news to Congress, where Gen. Clinton then was.

promptly voted more troops for Canada. been written on or about the 25th June.

Congress

This letter must have

Public Papers of Gteorgb Clinton.

239

GENEEAL CLINTON EECOMMENDS MAJOR DUBOIS.* New York

Military Outlook in

—

Officers Seeking

Promotion

— The

Disaster in Canada. Philadelphia, 25th June, 1776.

Dear

Sir

—On

Friday

last the

Congress passed a resolve for

raising a regiment of Continental troops in our Colony,

though the augmentation

army appeared

of the

the raising a whole regiment in the Colony of N.

might not (perhaps) have been ordered, were providing

of

those

for

ofificers

al-

necessary, yet

York

at this time

not with a view

it

who have much

reengaging in the service of their country last

and

merit,

from

after the sur-

fall,

render of Montreal, and continuing through a most fatiguing and

dangerous campaign in Canada during the winter.

Major Duboys

is

highly recommended to Congress as well by

the general officers as the committee

Canada,

am

(as I

informed,) and

I

who

lately returned

from

doubt not but he will be ap-

pointed colonel of the regiment, especially as rank as well as merit entitles him to

it.

The Congress having heretofore

appoiiitment or recommendation of the officers of the Provincial Congress, in which the

same are

new

left

levies

raised,

the

with

and being

am informed,)

therefore loath

now

to

the only reason

why

the officers to this regiment are not appointed

here.

It will

break through this

rule, is (I

be wise, therefore, to take special care to

make the

appointments so as to give no just cause of complaint by appointing the officers according to the rank they bear in the arrange-

ment made by General Montgomery

at Montreal, on their reengag-

ing in the service until the 15th of April ultimo, except where real

and extraordinary merit, or the contrary, may warrant a

viation from this general rule. *From

the Journal of the Proceedings of the

New York

Provincial Congress.

de-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

240

.

Enclosed

I

send the arrangement made by General Montgomery

my

of the officers in

and have noted such as

brother's regiment;

are already provided for in the regiment to be recruited in

by Colo, Nicholson.

enclose you a

I also

Colo. Nicholson's regiment, as those

who

list

Canada

of the officers in

are already provided for

by appointments in that regiment, can have no pretensions appointment or promotion in while

it

any

they having been provided for

was uncertain whether any more troops would have been General Montgomery's faith to his

raised.

gaged

this,

to

officers,

also reen-

in the service at Montreal, will not be kept unless the ap-

pointments in this regiment are made agreeable to this arrangement, as thereby

many

officers

their respective regiments than

rangements made by Congress tioning this

is,

acquired

new and higher rank

what they had by the printed

last

summer.

because your Congress

may

new arrangement, and by taking up the tice to those

who

to provide for.

My

reasons for men-

not have heard of such

old one might do injus-

Capt. Bruyn, I believe,

my

is

the oldest captain

character.

I

of education

who

brother's character of him,

well deserves the post which his rank will entitle

man

ar-

the Congress have in view more particularly

continued in Canada; and from

a young

in

him

to.

He

is

and fortune, and bears an unblemished

wish and believe young Piatt

may

be properly

provided for in this regiment; he was with Major Duboys and Capt. Bruyn at Point Lacoy, at the engagement between our

people and a number of Canadians, in which the latter was defeated,

We

and behaved

well, as

Major Duboys can

testify.

have just received the disagreeable intelligence from Can-

ada, of the defeat of part of our of his being taken, &c. &c.

reached us.

We

army under Genl. Thompson, and

which you must have had before

seem unfortunate

in that quarter; but

it

we must

Public Papers of George Clinton.

241

learn to bear the sound of bad as well as good news; indeed,

would be unreasonable

to expect the chance of

war always

in

it

our

iavour.

We have nothing new here liave,

you may expect to hear from me.

friends Treadwell

me

I

mean

whenever we

;

this scroll for

my

and Hubbel, as well as you, not having time

My

write to either of them. lieve

worth communicating

best compliments to them,

and

to be-

to be

Yours, most affectionately, Geo. Clinton. P. S. Please to forward the enclosed to Mrs. Clinton.

£nd any such

stockings as you mentioned yet.

thread German

Town

I

stockings, but very dear.

I can't

can get green

Will they do?

To John McKesson, Esqr.

EEINFOKCEMENTS FOR CANADA.* 'Gen. Clinton

Disapproves of the Manner in Which he

Appointed for the

New

Officers

Were

to

Regiment.

Philadelphia, 26th June, 1776.

—The enclosed

Dear Sir

I

wrote yesterday morning, since which

the board of war reported the necessity of sending more troops Into

Canada

to reinforce our

army

there,

and among other things,

the necessity of immediately appointing the officers in the regi-

ment

ordered to be raised in

New

York, that they might immedi-

ately set about recruiting the regiment;

reported a l3y General

list

of the officers, taking

Montgomery

Tiave confirmed, and

at Montreal

them

it

the Journal of the Proceedings of the

16

same time

rank as arranged

accordingly. I should

been done before the resolve

Friday, directing your Congress to

*From

in

at the

which report the Congress

made the appointments

liave had no objections to this had ^of last

;

and

recommend the

New York

officers

Provincial Congress.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

242 for this

new

regiment, as in that case

might have saved you

it

from troublesome application and blame; but as that resolve was transmitted to your Congress some time ago, at least three days,

and you may have proceeded as

thereby directed,

I

appointment of new

to the

not approve of this

could

especially as I can not think

it

the regiment, and at any rate,

I

much

will

step;

think the recruits yet to be raised

However,

choose strenuously to oppose a measure which If it is

new

hasten the recruiting

can not be got ready in time to save Canada.

essentially necessary.

officers,

I

many thought

wrong, we are not to blame.

not time to add any thing further, nor have

I

did not

I

have

any thing new

worth communicating.

Yours

affectionately,

Geo. Clinton.

THE FIEST ISSUE ON STATE'S IIIGHTS.* Several Neiv York Delegates Take

tJie

Position that the State Bather

than the Federal Authorities Should Appoint State Regimental Officers.

Philadelphia, 27th June, 1776.

Gentlemen

—We

our President's appointed the

doubt not but before this you have received

letter,

informing you that this Congress have

officers for

the regiment directed to be raised in

our Colony, by the resolve passed on Friday last and then transmitted you

;

Congress for

but as

new

we

conceive the appointment of officers by this

levies to be raised in

trary to the ordinary practice, and

a particular Colony,

may

we

we beg

are able, to explain the reasons of Congress for

taking this step, and our conduct therein. •Prom

con-

therefore be considered

as in some measure infringing on the rights of the Colony, leave, as far as

is

the Journal of the Proceedings of the

New

york Provincial Congress.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

On

24.H

receiving the late intelligence from Canada, respecting the

repulse of the detachment

commanded by Gen.

our army

of

Thompson, at Three Rivers, &c. the despatches containing this

army

account, with the state of our

in Canada,

were referred to

the board of war, who, the same day, reported the necessity of reinforcing our

army there with four regiments,

&c.; that to be

raised in our Colony to be one; to expedite the raising of which,

an arrangement of the

officers

was

We objected to this measure,

Congress.

to withhold our assent, not only because

introducing a

and thought it

new precedent which might

same regiment,

was, as

it

we

by

to

our duty

conceived,

give offence, but might

which you might probably have made

interfere with appointments for the

and agreed

also reported

former resolves.

in 'consequence of the

The pressing occasion and necessity of despatch were urged support the measure; and

ments were made former service,

it

it

was alleged that

of particular persons

to

as these appoint-

who had merited

by

it

and even should

interfered with no former rule;

the appointments be continued to the Provincial Congress,

would

in this case only create

it

unnecessary delay, as the same

persons must be appointed] by them to answer the design and

meaning

former resolve.

We

certain, considering the

busy

of this Congress expressed in their

were persuaded, nay we are morally

season of the year, which will enhance the wages of labourers,

and the numbers

of militia

now

in the service, that this regiment

can not possibly be raised in time to answer the end for which is

more particularly designed; and should our

grow worse, as we have reason ances,

we

to

affairs in

it

Canada

apprehend from present appear-

feared lest delay, though unavoidable, and every mis-

fortune which

may

befal lour

army in Canada,

for

want

of a proper

reinforcement, might by some be imputed to our Colony, notwith-

^44

Public Papers of George Clinton.

standing your utmost exertions to carry in execution this impracticable and, as

therefore,

we

conceive, ineffectual measure.

most prudent

We

judged

it,

mention our reasons for with-

lonly to

holding our assent, without making a more pointed and strenuous opposition to the measure, thereby leaving the Colony in such -situation as not to incur

any blame on

We

are,

a

this occasion.

gentlemen.

With

the highest respect,

Your most

obedt. servts.

Geo. Clinton, Fras. Lewis,

Wm.

Floyd,

Henry Wisner, John Alsop. To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of

New- York.

[No. 95.]

IMPORTANCE OF HOLDING THE HUDSON. -Discovery of the Tryon Tory Plot in 'New York City and what followed.

New Windsor

3d July 1776.

:D'r Sir,

This serves to inform you that on the 25th Ulto.

we had an

Election in every Precinct in this County for Delegates to Represent the

same

in Provincial Congress, the

mode was by

Ballot;

on the 27th two Persons from each Precinct Committee attended at Mrs.

Ann Du

was made, and

it

Bois's,

where a

fair

arrangement of the Ballots

appear'd that George Clinton, Charles

De

Witt,

Xevi Paulding, Christopher Tappen, Matthew Cantine, Matthew Rea, Arthur Parks, and Henry Wisner, Jun'r Esqrs. were Elected •by a large Majority for the

purpose aforesaid.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

24:5--

Our accounts from the Northward are very disagreeable;

I

trust in God, our troops will be able to miake a stand; so that our

Frontiers

may

not be exposed to the Ravages of the Enemy,

now Joyn'd by numbers

are

more than savage

possess'd of

numbers

You know my

Cruelty,

if

trial,

true that they murder'd:

were made

answer no Valuable pur-

sincerely wish I

may be mistaken how;

ever think some other precaution should be taken, the

adopted in Phil'a appeared Rational and on full; its a

it,

mode

proved success-

trial

matter of the greatest Importance, the security of

North River, should the Enemy send a few small ships into

(which

I

think

is

Yesterday

of

the-

war

neither Impossable or Improbable)

that our Navigation be stop'd,

consequences.

be

to

opinion relative to the Fortifications

in the Highlands; still think they will

pose in the day of

and seem

cool Blood after they

of our People in

Prisoners.

of the savages,

who

I

I

need not enumerate to you the

was informed that

all

the Carpenters,

have Quit work on the Frigates at Poughkeepsie, the report

on

acc't of their

wages being lower'd;

this report be true

if

doubt the Honorable Congress have solid Reasons for at present

greatest

be of

I

so.

it

is

no

which

cannot devise, but think now's the time that the

Harmony should

subsist,

and that labour undone may^

much worse consequence than

giveing a

little

Extra wages.-

In times of Public commotion there will allways be a shifting of

Property that's very you)

I

visible.

who

are in Possession of

shifted out of the hands of

Quantities of

I

(as I

cannot see that the differance

welfare,

much

But

it)

it,

is

have often mentioned

to-

very great as to the Public

nay

I

think

its

much

Numbers (who now Possess

better large

even to ship Carpenters; than that they should

longer enjoy

it.

have not been able to give the least attention

to

my

private

Public Papers of George Clinton.

246

affairs these three

weeks

Hellish Tory* Plot in

past.

Ever since the discovery

New York we

matters, and as yet to very

little

of that

have been watching Torie

we have

purpose;

got six or

Eight of them in Goal, two others have offer'd to capitulate

& Joseph Penney) and the & New Burgh sent a Gaurd

(say,

New

Geo. Harden

Joint Committees of

Windsor

to disarm Major Golden,

but to their great disappointment, found no arms of any sort whatever; on which they took his Person in Tow, and had him in confinement

When

twenty four Hours.

he appear'd before .

the Committees he was asked whither he would submitt to have,

what was s'd

to be alledged against him, heard and determined

by

Committees, or appeal to a higher Board? he alledged that

agreeable to a Resolve of Congress he was to be tried by the

Committee

where he Lived, and was answer'd

of the Precinct

by the Committees, that they could not submitt to

Body was not superior believe that the

some undue

to themselves, and

Committee where he

that, for that

had good Reason

lived,

was

either under

Influence, or destitute of spirit to deal with him;

which he appeaPd to the County Convention and to-morrow the

Day

how Ready

of trial; you see

to

on is

this scoundrell is to take

Refuge under any Resolve of Congress that may suit his pur-

Lord North

pose, but as regardless as

Regulations haveing neither

Gun sword

of others

i.

e.

the Militia

or amimoinition that could

be found.

Must inform you that since your departure, the matter was debated in our Committee whither we had any suspected Persons in our Precinct

tive Coll,

who ought

to be disarmed

which realy surprised some of

Had an

active

hand

in this,

us.

—

^carried in

Your

who seems

Governor Tryon's

plot.

the Nega-

old Friend, the

to be under such a

Public Papers op G-eorgb Clinton. kind of Influence relative to the Ellisons

As

fully understand. shall

was

I

Golden, that

I

cannot

have allready trespass'd on your patience

I

now conclude informing you

yesterday evening,

&

247

that your Family were

at your House, the old

all

well

Lady hath been

at

Poughkepsle some time past and not yet returned; hope

see

you soon, either at

much

D'r Sir in

New York

or Phila.

to

am

I

Haste, but with Esteem Your most

Obed't

Hum'e

Serv't,

Robt. Boyd, Jun'r.

Gen. George Clinton.

[No. 96.]

Specimen of a Spurious Pass.

•

New London this is to Serty'Fy that

the Contenentle Serves

John Green

is

July 7th 1776.

Got His Discharge From

By His own Request From the

Fleet

Belongin to Philladelphe the Andrew Dorey

Admerel Hopkins Captain Beetle the within

is

a fals Pass which he obtained at Hackensack.

[No. 97.] Col.

James Clinton Suggests Fire Rafts. Fort Constitution July 13th 1776.^

Gentlemen, Since

I

a Coppy

wrote the Inclosed Letter of

which

I

send you;

I

I

Rec'd one from the General,

Expect you

will send orders to

Poughkeepsie so that the Carpenters may Comply with the sam*^

and other Method that Can be thought Pray send a Coppy

of to

make

of the Inclosed Letter to

fire

Rafts.

Albany By

Public Papers op George, Clinton.

248

Express;

I will

Endeavour

to send

by water

if I

have an oppor-

tunity But that Can't be Depended on. I

am

Gentlemen, Your Most Hum'e

Ser't.

James Clinton. (To Committee at

New

Windsor.)

[No. 98.]

Beinforcements Ordered Without Delay

Fort Montgomery.

to

Fort Montgomery Idth July 1776. 4 o'clock P.

To

Col'l Jesse

M.

Woodhull,

(Sir,

I

wrote you this Morning by Express that

any immediate Danger

of the

I

did not apprehend

Enemy's Vessels now laying

in the-

Bays^ comeing further up the River, and considering the very

Buisy season of the year advised you not to march to this Placetill

further Orders.

Since which (this Moment)

I

received by

Express a Letter from his Excellency Genl. Washington of which

you have a Copy

inclosed.

ing a Reenforcem't of

Men

This will shew the necessity of havin these Forts

now countermanding my Orders now

&

to

and Account for

you of this Morning,

And

ordering two hundred of your Regiment properly offieered

well equiped into this Fort without Delay.

400

my

Men

out of Col'l Hasbrouck's

&

I will

Col'l Clinton's

also order-

Regim't that

the Duty may be equally shared.

Yours

sincerely,

Geo. Clinton Brig. Genl.

^

Public Papers of George Clinton,

249

[No. 99.]

Alarm

at Fort Constitution over

tJie

Approach

of the

Enemy

to

Peekskill.

Fort Constitution 14th July 1776. Sir,

By an Port,

two

I

express Just

am

now

arrived p'r Capt. Moffat from the lower

inform'd that the Eneimey have landed their Troops

Miles below Peeks Kill.

You'll Therefore discharge no part

of your Regiment already assembled but proceed without delay

with your hereof

Men

to this Place,

fail not,

from Sir your

Hum'e

Serv't

Geo. Clinton Brig'r Genl. If

you have already discharged your Regiment

gether agg^in

& come

call

them

forward with them leaving only as

to-

many

behind as will secure Your Country from Internal Enemies. [To Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck]

[No. 100.]

THE DEFENCE OF THE HUDSON. George Clinton''s Energetic Steps

to

Prepare for the Enemy.

Fort Constitution, 14th July 1776—7 o'Clock P. M. Crentlemen, I

received yours of this Day;

I

aprove much of your Plan for

making Fire Rafts and doubt not but you into Execution with the utmost Expedition;

to purchase two other Old sloops or more

Purpose but

&

let it

I if

think

it

same

advisable

necessary, for the

be done in the cheapest manner, the oldest

worst Sloops will do.

be had at any

will carry the

rate.

Let

When

Men Value them,

but they must

your Rafts are compleated they

Public Papers op G-eorge Clinton.

250

must be sent here without Delay the sooner the ;

wish

better.

I

coud

the General's Letter, a Copy of which you have, will

if

warrant

it,

a Galley or two to carry a Nine Pounder in their

Bows, could be but this

I

built as they

must submit

ingly, to reconitire the

might answer valuable Purposes

to you,

I

Enemy &

want a Whale Boat exceed-

if

one can be had or built

sent here without retarding the other Business

great service.

am

I

it

&

would be of

with much Respect your most Obed't Servt. G. C.

To the Committee P. S.

I

of Poughkeepsie.

have this Moment received Advise that Part of the

Enemy have

landed about two Miles below Peeks

shows how necessary

it is

ready to march to our

aid.

Kill.

for the Militia to be under

Men

George Clinton Orders Capt. Moffat, to march Fifty

This

arms

to

&

Haver-

straw.

Fort Montgomery 16th July 1776. Capt. Moffat,

You'l take the of

my

Brigade

Command

of 2 Lieuts.

&

50

Men of the Detachm't

& march them Tomorrow Morning

Days Provisions,

Haverstraw

to

habitants there ag't the

early,

With 3

for the Protection of the In-

Common Enemy now

laying in the Bay.

You'l endeavor to prevent their Landing with their Boats unless by suffering small Partys to

take or destroy them. or

If their

Land you may be

Shipping shoud come under way

make any extraordinary Movements,

Notice thereof

&

in

able to

you'l give

me

the earliest

every Case endeavour to anoy them occupy-

ing the most advantageous Defiles near the Shore; shoud they

come

further

up the River; Consult with

Colo

Hays how

Public Papers of George Clino^on.

251

you are to dispose of your Party, so as to render the Inhabitants

most

safe. I

much

trust

own

to your

Discretion.

Geo. Clinton Brig. Ge'l. If there is

any Provision

in the Stores,

remove them

if

you

can to a Place of safety.

[No. 101.]

CLINTON REPORTS TO WASHINGTON. The Situation in the Highlands and

the

Means

devised to Resist the

Enemy. Fort Montgomery 15th July 1776. Sir, I

received your Favour of the 13th Instant yesterday, at this

Place previous to which about 9 o'clock Saturday Morning, the signal at Fort Constitution being given,

&

the Capts. of two

Sloops which about the same Time came too, oposite

having informed

me

the Evening before

that the

&

Enemy had

attacked

my Home^

New York

that they judged by the Report of the

Cannon that the Shipping had passed by as far as Kings Bridge,

thought

I

&

bouring Militia in Motion

it

&

were up the River

my Duty

to put the Neigh-

accordingly issued Orders to three

Regiments, one immediately to march into these Works, another into Fort Constitution

&

the third to Rendevouz at

New Burgh

on the Bank of the River about 9 Miles above Fort Constitution with orders to march

&

Signal

'At the

all

being

given.

the Regiments in

reenforce that Garrison, upon the next

my

same [Time]

I

issued

Orders

to

Brigade North of the Highlands, to

stand ready to march on a Moment's warning and dispatched

Expresses to

West

all

Owners

of Sloops &c. for

Side of the River, to hall them

twenty Miles up the

off so

as to prevent their

252

Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton.

many

.grounding, that as

them as were necessary might be

of

Teady to carry down the Militia to the Forts.

The residue

I

down

ordered

drawing a Chain of them across the narrowest Parts of the

~by

Eiver

& fixing them properly to be

shipping

set

on Fire shoud the Enemy's

attempt passing by, they woud

uable Purpose.

Early in the afternoon

stitution with about 40 of

to

to Fort Constitution as I believe

my

Enemy &

& in the

Evening came

better able here to dis-

Yesterday Evening,

Woodhull with about 200

val-

marched into Fort Con-

Neighbours

this Fort being nearest the

cover their Motions.

I

answer a most

I

of his Regiment,

was joined by

and

this

Col'l

Morning by

iieut. Collo. McClaghry with 500 or upwards of his, and I ex-

two other Regiments are on

;pect

When

Fort.

3nen I

&

me

these join

I will

their

March

for the

upper

draft out of the 4 Regts. 600

imploy them as your Excellency has directed.

have ordered the Colonels

Home

Frontier Companys at

I

have called

to leave the

to protect the Country ag't the

Indians should they be troublesome

-Company as

in,

will be sufficient to

&

as

many Men

out of each

guard against any Attempts

that might be made by Internal Enemies.

The Men turn out

of

their

Havest Fields to defend their

Country with surprizing Alacrity.

them however want

at this

Time when

their Grain

is

of so

many

of

perishing for

of the Sickle, will greatly distress the Country; I coud

ivish a less

Number might answer

called in 8

Hours some

occasion for

them

in our Bays

I

mean

in a

woud (?)

much

the Purpose; less

fain hope, the

Time.

many may be

Shoud there be

Enemy mean by

at present only to cutt off the

cation between Country nel.

The Absence

&

City

& prevent

Shipping

Communi-

our stopping the Chan-

—

Public Papers of George Clinton. Since writing the above

Haverstraw.

I

Hay

received a Line from Colo.

of

send a small Party down there this Even-

I will

Morning but Don't think

ing or in the

253:

I

can continue them long

as the Militia here will think hard to be carried there.

I

am

with the greatest Esteem your

Most Obed't

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

The Bearer

will

be able to give your Excellency any Informa-

you may want respective the State of the Forts, Country^

tion

&ca. as he

is

sensible

&

well acquainted here

& may

be relied on.

Genl. Washington.

[No. 102.]

Ordinance of Netv TorJc Convention, as to Magistrates, Allegiance

and Treason. In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New^

York,*

White

WHEREAS mands

,the

Plains, July 16th 1776.

the present dangerous Situation of this State de-

unremitted attention of every

member

of this Con-

vention,

RESOLVED sity

unanimously that the Consideration of the neces-

and propriety

ment be postponed

of Establishing

until the first

an independent

civil

Govern-

day of August next, and

in

the

meantime

RESOLVED

unanimously,

That

Officers of Justice in this State

Liberties of

America be requested

cise their respective offices:

their proceedings be

State of

New

Magistrates and other

all

who

are well affected to the

until further Orders, to exer-

Provided that

all

under the authority and

processes and other in the

name

of the

York;

the title of Provincial Congress was changed to that of the Convention of the Bepresentatives of the State of New York immediately after the Declaration of Independence had been adopted by that body. State Historian. *

July

9,

Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton.

254

KE SOLVED unanimously, that all Persons abiding within the State of New York and deriving Protection from the Laws of the same, owe allegiance to the said Laws, and are members of the State,

and that

all

Persons passing

thro', visiting or

making a

temporary stay in the said State, being entitled to the Protection of the Laws, during the time of such Passage, visitation or tem-

porary Stay, owe, during the same time, allegiance thereto.

That

all

members

Persons,

State as before discribed,

of,

who

or

owing allegiance

shall levy

War

against the said

State within the same or be adherent to the Britain, or others the

Enemies

to this

King

of Great

of the said State within the same,

giving to him or them aid and Comfort, are guilty of Treason

against the State, and being thereof convicted shall suffer the

Pains and Penalties of Death, Extract from the minutes,

John McKesson Secry.

[No. 103.]

Jacobus Van Zandt Promises Gen. Clinton his Fire Bafts and a

Whale Boat. Poughkeepsie July 16th 1776. Sir,

As you were

pleased to forward us General Washington's

Orders to Compleat a

We

of Fire Rafts

have the pleasure to inform you, that four

Launched best

Number

this Evening;

and fire

tomorrow we propose to

fire

Vessells,

Rafts will be

fix

them

in the

manner we can with dry wood, Tar and such other Com-

bustibles, as vessells

we

We shall

we can

procure, at this place.

Two

shall fix as fast as possible for the

send the

are Compleated.

fire

I

Rafts

down

or three old

same purpose.

to Coll. Clinton as soon as they

have dispatched Capt. Samuel Tuder and

Public Papers of George Clinton.

255

Crave your assistance in procuring six Six pounders at the Fort

New

or those that lay at

The design

Windsor.

of these

Each

protect the Ships and throw up a small breastwork at of Ships,

shoud

which

am

I

sure will annoy the

offer to stop opposite

Bounds

Eound

of

Enemy much,

Pray

them.

let

to

is

if

side

they

us have about 20

We have

Shott, they have plenty at the Fort.

about three hundred of Powder and no Guns of any kind, Except

about 20 Muskets. Capt. Tuder I

all

I shall

Esteem

it

in your power.

Remain Dear

Sir

Your Hble.

Serv't,

Jacobus P. S.

a particular favour to assist

The Whale boat

Van

Zandt, Commissioner.

for yourself shall be

Done

as soon as

possiable, hope this week.

(To Gen. George Clinton.)

[No. 104.]

THE MILITIA CALLED

OUT.

Conditions Under Which they Served and the Bounty Paid them for

Defence of the Hudson River.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of

New

WHEREAS

this

York, July 16th 1776.

Convention have the greatest Reason to

believe that the British armies in

New York & Canada

endeavour by means of Hudsons River to thereby cut of

all

effect

will

a Junction

Intercourse between the eastern

&

&

southern

States,

AND WHEREAS Hudsons River

will

cursions of a cruel will render

&

the Country Contiguous to the Sound and

be greatly exposed to the Ravages unnatural Enemy, which.

them a Scene

of ruin

If

and desolation.

&

In-

not prevented

Public Papers of Gteorge Clinton.

256

AND WHEEEAS from the Situation of the said Country intersected with Defiles and narrow Passes

it

will be extremely practi-

Enemy, provided the

cable to repel the hostile attempts of the its

defence, with the Union,,

men determined

to defend their Eights Sc

Inhabitants exert themselves in spirit

&

alacrity of

transmit the blessings of Freedom to Posterity,

AND WHEEEAS tion by every

&

means

the indispensable

Power

in their

Duty

Conven-

of this

to provide for the Happiness-

Security of their Constituents reposing the highest confidence

in their Virtue

EE SOLVED, of

it is

&

public Spirit, Therefore,

that one fourth part of the Militia of the Counties-

Westchester Dutchess, Ulster

&

Orange be forthwith drawn

out for the Defence of the Liberties, property. Wives and Chil-

dren of the good People of this State

may

of the year the Service

EESOLVED

that each

;

And

as at this busy SeasoU)

be inconvenient to

man be

many

of them,.

allowed Twenty Dollars as a

Bounty with Continental Pay and subsistence and be continued in the service until the last

day of December next unless sooner

discharged.

EESOLVED tants

that

who remain

at

it

be recommended to such of the Inhabi-

home

to give

families of those spirited Persons

al-l

possible assistance to the

who

step forth in defence of

the Eights and Liberties of this invaded Country and that the

Sub Committees

of the several Districts in those Counties

pay

particular attention to see that this recommendation be complied: with.

EESOLVED

that the Brigadier Generals and the field Officers,

of the Militia of each

table

County be directed to adopt the most

and expeditions Mode

nishing with arms those

who

of raising the Levies

are not supplied

and

—the price

equi-

of furof

the

Public Papers of G-eorge Clinton.

25-7

—and

that they be

arms to be deducted out

of

each man's Pay

authorized to call on the Committee of each County for their assistance.

EESOLVED

that these Levies be formed into Companies, to

two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, three

consist of one Captain,

Corporals, one

Drummer, one

fifer

&

fifty privates,

Captain and Subalterns be appointed by the

Regiment

of the Militia Officers;

their respective

a

sufficient

each

to be raised out

having in such appointments a regard to

Ranks and the Dates

number

that the

field Officers of

from which the quotas are

of Militia

And

of their

of such are willing to serve,

be at liberty to appoint such others as they

Commissions not, that

if

may

if

they

think properly

qualified.

RESOLVED

that each Regiment shall consist of ten Companies

and one Surgeon under the Command tenant Colonel

&

one Major,

Quarter Master^ that the

by

&

to

of

one

Colonel,,

one Lieu-

have one Adjutant,

&

one

and 'Surgeon be appointed

field Officers

Convention and the Quarter master and Adjutant in each

this

Regiment by the Colonel thereof; and the non-Commissioned

Offi-

Company under whom they go

into

cers

by the Captains

of

each

Service.

RESOLVED

that each

Man

furnish himself with a Blanket

and Knapsack and every Six men with a Pot or Camp Kettle.

RE'SOLVED

that

two Deputy Commissaries be appointed

provide four months' Provisions for Six thousand

Men

to

to be de-

posited in two Magazines one on each Side of the River at such

Places as his Excellency General Washington shall think proper to appoint.

RESOLVED Ulster

&

-

that

all

the

men now

Orange be stationed 17

in the

raised in the Counties of

Highlands on the west side

:

Public Papers op George Clinton.

258 of the

Hudson Eiver

to

guard those Defiles

thel

possession of which

Brigadier Genl. Clinton shall think most conducive to the safety of the State.

RESOLVED

that the

men

raised in the Counties of West-

chester and Dutchess repair immediately to Peeks Kill and that

Genl. Washington be requested to appoint an Officer to take the

Command

of all the Levies

upon what Station they

on both sides

shall occuppy^

and

to

Deputy Commissaries for the Troops on each

RESOLVED

that

all

of the River, to fix

nominate the two side the River.

the Troops raised in the above Counties

shall be subject to the Articles of

War

established by the Conti-

nental Congress.

RESOLVED

that the Brigadier Generals and Committees, of

the respective Counties, be immediately furnished with Copies of these Resolutions.

RESOLVED

that the following Gentlemen be and they hereby

are appointed field Officers of the Regiments of the Militia to go into immediate Service vizt

In Westchester County.*

Thomas Thomas, Colonel Ebenezer Purdy, Major. Levi Pawling, Colonel

in Ulster County.

Thomas Jansen

Jur. Lieut. Colo.

Samuel Logan, Major, in

Orange County. Isaac Nicoll, Colonel Gilbert Cooper, Lieut, Colo.

Hendrick Van der Linden Van bryck. Major. Extract from the Minutes. Robt. Benson, Secry. Journal of the Provincial Convention.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

259

[No. 105.]

Two

Tories sent to the Guard-House at Fort Montgomery.

Fort Montgomery July 16th 1776.

To

General Clinton,

The Following are the Names

of those Disaffected persons I

Took Last Evening and Confind In

the

Guard House. Jas. Eosekrans.

John Turner

James Bazely

[No. 106.]

Orders

to

Orange County for Troops

to relieve the

Garrison at Fort

Montgomery. Sir,

You

now

in

are to relieve by an equal

Number of your Kegiment

those

Fort Montgomery belonging to said Regiment on Sunday

next 12 o'clock A. M. unless this order shall be countermanded before that Time.

Given under

my Hand

this 17th July 1776.

(George Clinton).

[No. 107.]

HOW THE

LEVIES

WERE MADE.

Vol. Hay's Instructions Relative to the Protection of Haverstraw.

Haverstraw 17th July

To

Colo. A.

1776.

Hawkes Hay,

Sir,

You

are to order a detachment of your Regiment of Militia

'Consisting of one

hundred Men properly Officered

&

accoutred,

to guard the Country against the Enemy's Shipping, to join

Capt. Moffat

now on

JMoming ten

o'Clock.

that

Duty at Haverstraw by tomorroiw

Each Company

in your

Regiment

is

to

Public Papers of George Clinton.

260 furnish

its

Quota

of said

they respectively consist

Busy season

Detachment according of,

&

little

direct your Capts. that in

making

more than one Man out

of a Familly unless

Men

three or more

Numbers-

in order that Inhabitants in thi»^

Year may be distressed as

of the

to the

as possible,

their Drafts they avoid taking:

where there are

You

subject to Military duty in a Familly.

are not to have more Officers in this Detachment than the same-

Number

of

Men have

in the

erica.

This Detachment

of said

Army, and as

Montgomery, to supply

can do

I

woud

them here

is

Army

draw Rations equal

to

it will

Am-

Forces

to the

be inconvenient to do this at Fort

advise that you appoint a proper Person

at the cheapest Rate until the Commissaries^

This Detachment

it.

of the united States of

to be

is

under the

Command

of

Capt. Moffat and you must order a second Detachment of equal

Number can

to relieve

make up the

while necessary.

Account

them on Sunday next Ten o'Clock unless you first

Ground

tachment you are to

Men

of

The Party on Duty

to leave the

shall judge

Detachment

is

willing to continue

not however upon any

until so releived.

relieve in like

The Second De-

Manner, in such Time as you

most Advantageous to the Inhabitants on Account of

their Harvest, allways keeping

up the above Number

until other-

wise ordered unless the safety of the Country requires a stronger

Guard

in

which Case you

Regiment rather than ing on Shore.

it

even with your whole

Enemy

to

Land &

suffer the

Militia called out

casions are to receive

by

augment

get any Foot-

This Detachment will be entitled also to the

same pay that other

called out

will

«&

as 700

his Excellencj^ Genl.

Men

upon extraordinary Ocof

my

Brigade are

Washington's Order* to

now

me

of

the 13th Instant, of which this Detachment will be part, they are of Course to be subject to the Rules

&

Regulations of the

Public Papers of George Clinton.

Army

which you

of

will apprize

themselves accordingly.

I

am

261

them that they may govern

your

Most Obed't Serv't Geo. Clinton, Brig, Genl.

[No. 108.]

Hay

est.

distressed about Provision;

I

am

how

479

sure

we

are

it

will be

to be sup-

plied.

I

am

your

Most Obed't

Serv't,

Geo. Clinton. P.

I

S.

were

forgot to mention that Fort Lee

5 Miles below

it

&

is

to inform you that Colo.

Inst, with 500 of his Militia attacked a

much

Dead on

the spot with the Loss of three

Enemy's main army

Ford on 19th

Superior

the Enemy at or near Springfield, drove them

&

Number

To

high

in

of

Buried 20 of their

wounded

only.

The

are retreating towards Brunswick; our Peo-

ple have had several small advantageous skirmishes with

& are

We

demolished.

them

spirits.

the Honorable

Abraham Tenbroeck

Esqr.

[No. 277.]

TO PKOTECT THE EAST SHOEE OF THE HUDSON. The

Militia of Alhany, Diitcliess and Westchester Called Out and

Ordered Under Gen. Clinton's Command.

In Convention Fishkills,

of the Kepresentatives of the State of

December 21st

New York

1776.

Sir,

From

various intelligence received by the Convention they have

great reason to believe that the

Enemy

are meditating a vigorous

Expedition against the passes in the highlands on the East side of Hudsons River, and sundry Circumstances in the operations of

the disaffected tend to confirm this apprehention.

These passes

will next

week be

in a very defenceless Situation,

the term of the Enlistment of General Spencer's Division will

— Public Papers of George Clinton.

480

then expire, and in

all probability

who has

General Heath

arrive at Peekskill

is

out

received orders to cross the Eiver will

for these reasons thought

it

necessary to

the militia of Westchester, Dutches and of

all

When

uncertain.

The Convention have call

they will return Home.

all

that

part of Albany which lies to the southward of Barn (Barren) Island,

and directed them to march to North Castle.

As some time

that place, and as there

is

reason to suspect that the

to take that Rout, they refer to of the passes on

and march them

will be necessary to collect

your discretion,

your side will admit of

it,

if

to

Enemy mean the security

the Propriety of im-

mediately detaching the whole or part of your Brigade to secure that post,

and Albany

made

such time as the militia of Westchester, Dutches

till

shall

have arrived at that place and proper provision

for defeating the I

am,

sir,

Design of the Enemy.

with great Respect,

Your most Obedient Servant,

By

Ab'm Ten Broeck

President.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of

New York

Order.

Brig'r Genl. George Clinton.

Fishkill Dec'r 21st 1776.

WHEREAS, and Designs

from various Intelligence received

of the

Enemy's Army,

it

of the

motions

appears highly probable

that they meditate an attack upon the Passes in the Highlands on

the East side of Hudson's River,

AND WHEREAS,

the

Term

of the

Enlistment of the militia

under the command of Brigadier General George Clinton which is

at present stationed to defend the Pass at

on the

last of this

Peeks Kill expires

month, and that of great part of the Division

Public Papers of George Clinton.

commanded by Major General North Castle on the 29th

Spencer, which

is

481 stationed

at

inst.,

AND WHEREAS, his Excellency Genl. Washington by his Letter of the 15th instant

has warmly recommended to this state to

exert themselves in procuring temporary supplies of militia

the

new Levies

of the continental

army can be brought

'till

into the

Field,

RESOLVED,

that the whole militia of the Counties of West-

chester Dutchess and that part of the County of lies to

Albany which

the southward of Beeren Island be forthwith marched to

North Castle in Westchester County, well equipped with arms

and ammunition and furnished with Blankets visions

&

a Pot or

Persons as the

Camp

&

six

Days Pro-

Kettle to every six men, except such

field Officers of

the Respective Regiments shall

judge cannot be called into service without greatly distressing their families, or

who may be

actually engaged in the manufac-

turing of salt Petre, or of shoes and Cloathing for the use of the

army.

R-ESOLVED,

that the said militia be allowed continental

Pay

and Rations, and that such men as cannot furnish themselves with

arms

shall be supplied

RESOLVED,

from the continental

that the Colonels or

respective Regiments be

Waggons Baggage

empowered

store.

commanding

Officers of the

to hire, or empress as

many

or sleighs as shall be sufficient for transporting the of their respective

Regiments to their Place

of Rendez-

vous.

AND WHEREAS,

a Secret Committee appointed by the Con-

vention of this State on the 19th instant have in pursuance of the authority given them, directed a

31

number

of Voluntiers to be raised

Public Papers of George Clinton.

482

under the command of the Colonels, Duboia^ Graham and Thomas

Hammon

and Lieutenant Colonel

RESOLVED, tion

that

all

such Voluntiers be

and command of the

respectively engaged,

and Captain Butcher,

Officers

under

under the Direc-

left

whom

they have been

and not marched out with the body

of the

militia.

RESOLVED,

that the said militia

when

called out shall be sta-

tioned at such Posts, and obey such Orders as they shall from time to time receive

from a Committee

by the Convention

RESOLVED Zephaniah

for that purpose to be appointed

of this State.

that Robert R. Livingston, Henry Wisner and

be a Committee for that purpose and that

Piatt, Esqrs.

they be further empowered to discharge from the militia such

mechanicks as the public Service, or the Necessity of the Inhabitants

may

render expedient.

RESOLVED,

that a Letter be written and sent by Express to

General George Clinton, informing him that the Convention of this State

have reason to think that the Enemy have in View to

penetrate the Passes of the highlands on the East side of Hud-

—that the Term

son's River

Division under the

of Enlistment of great part of the

command

of

Major General Spencer expires

on the 29th instant; And submitting to his Discretion, the propriety of immediately crossing

Hudsons River with the whole or

part of the militia under his

command

North Castle;

'till

and Westchester shall be

made

to secure the Post at

such time as the militia of Albany, Dutchess,

shall

march

to that Post or a proper Provision

for defeating the Designs of the

RESOLVED,

that Major General Spencer be requested to ex-

ert his utmost Influence with Troops under his

tinue in service

Enemy.

'till

arrive at the Post

command

to con-

such time as the militia of this State shall

now

occupied by his Division.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

RESOLVED,

483

that Colo. Trumbull Commissary General of the

'Continental army,

and Colo. Hugh's Assistant Quarter Master

General, be informed that a body of the militia of this state will

march

now

to secure the Post

occupied by Genl. Spencer in

Westchester County with the utmost Dispatch; in order that they

may make

a proper and timely Provision for the accomoda-

tion and subsistence of the said militia.

EESOLVED,

that application be

made

Chevers Com-

to Colo.

missary of Ordnance Stores for the Loan of as

many

firelocks

&

Cartouch Boxes as may be necessary to equip such of the militia

now

called into service as

may

be destitute of the same and that

this Convention will indemnify

him for

this loan.

Extract from the minutes. Robt. Benson, Secr'y.

[No. 278.]

Dec. 23, 1776

—List

of Prisoners

ton^s Recent

Taken in Jersey on General CUn-

Night Expedition.

Mens Names

taken.

Hendrick E. Manuel Ramapough 1/8 of a Dollar from him.

Matach Knecht 1

David Byer

2

Isaac

Montanye

Peter Fisher

Wm.

Staat

Do Do

Do Do Do

20 Dollars in paper from him-

2 Coppers 1

Do

L.

M.

Pyramus 11/

&

4

Coppers

hard money. (

2/3 Philadelphia Currency

paper i (

Jacob Morris

Do

Jacob Cole

Do

5/

York Currency.

1/8 of a dollar

&

15/ York money.

1

Copper

Public Papers of George Clinton.

484

3d

Wm. Winter

the

owner of 4 Horses

&

4:\

Cows, Delaware 1/

Nero, a Negro Servant of Judge Fels.

Lodwick

4

Eamapough

Fisher,

1

Stock Buckle 1 Copper

& Do Do

Henry Yanwinker Solomon Demartje

5

1 Sleeve Button.

1/4 Dollar and

Do

Henry Lobach

Do Do Do

Copper.

8/ York Currency 2 Cows^

Waggon Nicholas Yanworker

1

&

2 horses.

3 silver dollars 2 Coppers

&

2/ York Currency 6 (

John Wanemaker

i

Peter

Wanmaker

half a dollar.

8/3 Silver L. M. 6 Coppers.

John Brown, Morris Town. Cornelius Homer, English Neighbourhood.

William Lewis, deserted from Capt. Banker Comp'y, Colo. Lasher's Regt,

Henry

Allen, deserted from Captain Bateman's

1 Lives 1^ Miles

Cattle

&

West

of Mr.

Company.

Sydman's has 2 Horses some

Hogs.

2d At Pyramus near Judge Fells has some Cattle. 3

At Kakiate Considerable Property.

4

At

or near Pyramns.

5 towards 6

'

Pyramus

Same Place some

7 Marius

ab't 9 Miles off has Property.

Property.

Wannemaker's Sons.

Matoick Knight says that Colo. Buskerk has four Companies

commanded by Captain William Yannaten. Colo.

Buskirk,

Lieut. Colo.

New

Bridge,

Brown,

Major Ten penny, Capt'n Yannauten,

Do

Hackensack

Do Do Do

Public Papers of George Clinton. 'Capt.

Peter Retaun,

Capt,

Yan

Eamapougli

Do

Buskerk,

Do

Oapt. Maroh,

Wm.

Lieut.

Do

Dobbs,

Saddle River.

Ramapough

2d Lieut. James Servanier, "^

485

Do Do

Ensign John Babcock,

Serjt.

John Wheeler,

Hans

Philip

Young

Nesaimieus.

*Lives about 2 Miles from Sydman's

&

ab't ^ Mile

from Park-

man's.

Wm. on

Ramepough appeared

Pulisfell lives at

Skinner's Proclamation

t)y Capt.

Yan Keuren

when the Regulars were

&

there.

Taken

Do.

Note on No. 278 in this list

They were the

Haekensack

the 23 Dec'r 1776.

Jacobus Myer

named

at

—by

George W. Clinton.

were taken on the morning

fruit of

"

The prisoners

of Dec. 20, 1776.

an expedition undertaken by Gen. Parsons

Gen. Clinton on the night of Dec. 19 into the English neighbor-

liood in northern part of Jersey.

See Gen. Clinton's letter to the

State Convention of Dec. 21, 1776."

[No. 279.]

FURTHER HONORS FOR THE GENERAL. Appointed

to

In Convention

Command

the Expedition into Westchester County.

of the Representatives of the State of

New

York,

Fishkill— December 19th 1776.

WHEREAS of

West

the Condition of the Inhabitants of the County

Chester, exposed to the Ravages of a cruel

Enemy, loudly

calls for assistance

and merciless

and Protection.

Public Papers op George Clinton.

486

AND WHEREAS

now employed

trated and are of

New

mand

Genefral

&

Heath

of'

the

Enemy have pene-

in the western parts of the State-

and the operations

Jersey,

of

the main body

of the Troops under the

General G. Clinton in Orange

Bergen Counties have diverted the attention Forces which were

left at

Fort Washington

& New York

And

into the

County of West Chester and the Island

PROVIDED

it

of

New

York-

can be conducted with secrecy

Dispatch,

RESOLVED,

therefore, that General

Scott Mr. Duer Mr. Morris are authorized

them

to that

being, therefore, conceived that an Expedition

it

promises success

&

«&

of the Enemy's-

Quarter;

vigor

Com-

&

&

George Clinton, General

Mr. Landon be and they hereby

directed to pursue all such

shall appear proper

ways

& Means

as

to-

and necessary for carrying on such

Expedition, harrasing and destroying the Enemy, and protecting

the persons and property of the good subjects of this State; and for securing the Effects of

the Enemy.

Ml those who have

And, for the purpoises aforesaid,

fled to or

to levy

and draw

& West

out such parts of the militia of the Counties of Dutchess

Chester as they

Commanding

may

Committee

think necessary, and also to apply to the

Officer of the Continental

Continental Troops,

joined

&

Army

Aid

for the

of

every other Assistance which the said

shall judge expedient.

December the 21st

RESOLVED & ORDERED,

1776.

that Mr. Hobart be added to the

Committee appointed on the nineteenth Instant for directing carrying on a Secret Expedition in the County of

West

and'

Chester.

A. M. December 23d 1776.

RESOLVED,

that any Majodty of the

Members

of the Com-^

mittee of the Convention of this state appointed on the 19tb

Public Papers of George Clinton. Instant to

manage and

an Expedition into the County of

direct

West Chester be and hereby

487

are authorized to

manage

direct

and

transact every Business matter or Thing committed to that

Committee. P.

On motion

M. December 23d 1776.

ordered that Mr. Moirris be excused from his attend-

ance on the Secret Co'mmittee for carrying on the intended Ex-

West Chester County.

pedition in

Copied from the Minutes by

John McKesson,

Secr'v.

[No. 280.]

INCOMPETENT COMMISSARIES. The General

Convention Sustains the Complaints of the Militia

to the

Want

over the

of Supplies.

Ramepough 23d

Dec'r 1776.

Sir,

In

my

mentioned the Difficulty the Militia under

last, I

Command

in this

my

Quarter laboured under, for want of a Com-

missary to supply them with Provisions; whole Regiments have

been Days without any, except such scanty supplies as they have

been able to purchase from the Inhabitants.

ments are out

this Day.

at the Post near

he told

me was

Disapointment

I

was

of the Regi-

hopes they might be furnished

Sydman's Bridge; Genl. Heath from the stores

there induced I

in

Most

am now

me

to believe so.

But

to

my

great

informed that the Commissary at that

Place says he has not more Meat (on) hand in store or purchased

than

(will be) suffcient, for

ington issue I

it

who

the

two Regiments

are to leave this in a

to us as his

Appointment

have wrote twice to Colo.

Day is

Hay on

or two.

of Tyler If

&

Hunt-

he has, he cant

confined to Parson's Brigade.

the subject representing the

Public Papers of George Clinton.

488 Difficulties

we labour under & acquainting him

'expected he us.

woud

as a Commissary of their Appointm't supply

has never favoured are

him yesterday but he

sent the last Letter by Express to

I

ill

used and

me

am

I

an answer.

v^^ith

The

Militia think they

my

Opinion they have

sorry to say that in

They declare they

great Eeason to Complain.

Many have

and leave me.

to the latter. I

am

&

not to blame.

I

my

called

them out

&

will not

have done every Thing in

my

It

woud

which contained no more than was

be'' cruel

Moment your

delivered me.

where he Time.

is

Heath marched yesterday

with his Division

or soon expected there on his

lie's

fully war-

them back

it.

Letter of the 21st. with the Inclosures were

Genl.

of the

I

Commanding

as well as unjust to force

&

all

Way

for

Peeks Kill

the Field Pieces before this

Genl. Lincoln from Masachusets

The State

I

Promises to them in the Letter by which

to starve nor shall I have strength (enough) left to do

This

Power.

after not being

I,

ranted by the Resolve of Convention, ever think of

them.

submit

fatal to the Country.

have no further Influence over them^ nor can able to perform

expect but

I

Indeed they must

however well disposed, they

The Consequences may be

Home

will go

already gone nor can

that the rest will be as good as their Word. desert or starve;

that Convention

Bay

is

at Danburry,

Men.

to Peek's Kill with 6,000

Enemy's Army on

this side is as follows

Brigade at and near Acquakanonk

:

& New Ark —300

Les-

with

three Field Pieces at Hackinsack; 6 Companies of Regulars

3 of Buskerk's, at the

New

&

Bridge arrived there yesterday Even-

ing-

The enclosed Letter from

Colo.

Heathorn

&

out as far as Pyramus confirm this Account, tho but the 300 at Hackinsack

is

a Party I

am

I

had

not certain

part of Leslie's Brigade.

By

To-

Public Papers of George Clinton.

morrow,

am

if I

Enemy

to the

not mistaken,

at Hackinsack

&

my Numbers the Bridge.

489

will not be equal I

am

with due Re-

spect

Your Most Obed't

now

observe by the Resolves

I

and other

OflScers are

my Command

I

i

Colonels

put under the Direction of a Secret Com-

I

In justice to myself

must Consider

at least as far as

command

panies they

my

sent me, two of

mittee of your Honorable House.

Leave to mention that

Serv't.

it

I

begg

this as a Suspension of

respects the Regiments

& Com-

my

Orders.

as they cannot be subject to

cant be answerable for the Conduct of the Brigade.

-

.

[No. 281.]

•

Orders Col. Hathorn

to

Guard Against Surprises.

Ramepough 23d D'r I

Dec'r 1776.

Sir,

have received yours of this Day's Date,

Conduct

in

I

had received

;

I

it.

have ordered Colo. Hornbeek's Regiment to

Clarks Town; they are there before this I

this Morning, Intel-

from Hackinsack nearly agreeing with yours but doubted

the Truth of

you.

approve of your

drawing your Force into one Compact Body above the

Meeting of the three Roads. ligence

&

begg you

will

&

will be able to sustain

keep out large scouting Parties who will

not only prevent your being surprized but give Protection to the Inhabitants.

I

doubt not you

will receive the

Enemy

properly

should they come your Way.* I

am your Most Obed't

;

Geo. Clinton.

You must when

I

try to supply yourselves with Provisions a

few Days

hope we shall be provided regularly by a Commissary

Public Papers of George Clinton.

490 as

have wrote to Convention in the mo^t pressing Manner on

I

the Subject.

make any

me

give

make (Col. *

I

have 2 Companies at Pyramus this Day.

me &

Discoveries you shall hear from

and Strenghth

they

begg you will

I

new Discovery you

the Earliest Intelligence of every

of the Disposition

If

Enemy.

of the

Heathorn.)

The Party

Is

just returned

from Pyramus

also say there are 300 of the

Enemy

in

Pyramus with

S Field Pieces.

[No. 282.]

To

Hay and Recommends

the Convention, the General Vindicates Col.

Discharging a Portion of the Militia.

Ramepough, 24th Dec'r

1776.

Sir,

Since

I

wrote you yesterday, Colo.

Hay has been

me and

with

has taken proper Measures for supplying the Troops under

Command

in this

Quarter with Provisions which

He

doubt, but will be regularly done in Future.

he never had the

Body

of

least Intimation

Men were

Provision for them I believe to

&

dont

me

that

hope

Tells

from Convention, that such a

order'd to this Quarter «&

I

&

had not made any

that he never received ray last Letter which

be true.

In a former Letter to the Honorable the Convention, tioned the Propriety of dismissing Part of the Militia

ing in the service about 1000 of them. this

is

my

I

am

done their Minds will be much soured,

greatly injured, and

I flatter

myself that

disposed Inhabitants. large Bodies of the

men-

retain-

convinced unless

& the

Cause thereby

Number

cient to guard the Passes on this side the River

&

I

will be suffi-

& protect the

well

For tho we have had frequent Reports of

Enemy coming

this

Way

by different Routes,

confirmed by Letters from pretended Friends in the City,

&

Public Papers of George Clinton.

Common

am

Eeport

convinced

it

«&

other Circumstances

was no more than an

among

491 the Tories,

I

artful Contrivance, to re-

& unnecessarily harrass the Country Militia, & this you will find to be the Case

tard the recruiting service

by drawing out the

with the dreaded Expedition on your side the River.

1

am

Sir

your Most Obed't Serv't, G. C.

[No. 283.]

The Convention

In Convention

Bestoii'S

Discretionary Poicer upon the General.

of the Representatives of the State of

New

York.

Fishkill Dec'r 25th A. M. 1776.

RESOLVED liis

that General George Clinton be requested to use

Endeavours to engage as many

i'oper]y Officered

County as the Committee untill Field Officers shall

of the

same

shall

judge most proper

be appointed to take the

Command

of

them.

Given at Fort Montgomery the 9th Ap'l 1777. Geo. Clinton, B.

GenL

'";

[No. 439.]

LIEUT. BELKNAP'S GRIEVANCE.

He

accuses Capt. Miller of Gross Misconduct and Brutalitij.

Morris Tov^'n Aprill 10th 1777, Sir,

Inclosed you have the Complaint of Lieut. William Belknap of Colo. Livingston's

Regiment

of

your State, by which you

will see

that he accuses Capt. Alex'r Miller of behaving in a most extraor-

dinary manner to him.

His Excellency wishes jom would have

those people brought before you,

Charge, you

may punish him

in a

&

if

you

find Miller guilty of the

most exemplary manner; trans-

mitting him a Copy of the Proceedings. I

am

Sir,

Y.

mo

Obed't V. Hble. Serv't,

John Fitzgerald,

Aid de Camp. Gciil.

Geo. Clinton,

Public Papers of George Clinton.

708

April

Honoured

On my way from Albany Mases^

who

At

House

his

your Excellency,

to

Boger,

by God,

of the

them where

I

&

I'll

me where

asked

Giddian

I

&

ill

called

was bound;

I re-

Washinton; his answer was,

march you a Prisoner to Goshen Goal you

Guards sided with him,

&

asked them

their reply of

&

others with me.

their Olficers were, they told

business,

One

to

rascal."

Some

my

came

them collowed me shov'd me backwards,

of

plied to his Excellency General

damn'd

I

met with the Miletia Guard & was used very

1

me a damn'd Tory

lie,

1777.

day was Confined on suspision of being a Tory.

this

by them, one

" you

7tli

Sir,

was

that

me

to take

shewed them the Letter Directed

15 or 20 men,

it

was none

of

a drink of water,

no.

them struck me with the Britch

consented that

that

asked

should not see them.

I

they wou'd suffer

if

me

I

of his

&

asked them

if

Then

I

to your Excellency they then

should go to their Officers; on

I

Gun.

they had an

my way

officer

I

met

with them;

& showed me their Capt'n. 1 turn'd back with him, & told him who I was, from whence I came, wher Bound, & what my Business was^ whent with them

they answered me, yes,

to their

Guard House.

He demanded

the Letter Directed to your Excellency; then

imediately shew'd him the letter holding " Sir " I

in

my hand

Saying,

you may read the Superscription."

He swore by God

desired

him not

cient to carry his

it

I

me

he wou'd have

to open thro'

it,

that

I

it

&

catched from

my

hand;

could show him Papers

suffi-

America where the Regulars was not;

answer "I doubt that,"

&

broke the seal

&

also

demanded

Public Papers of George Clinton.

my

&

pocket Book, Saddle bags, Sword,

me a Prisoner

of them, sent

The next morning the was

confined,

searched

my

whent

papers

six miles out of

said Capt'n

came

&

broke open several

Brigadier Gen. Maxwell then called

me &

The Offenders Name

me

Alexander

all

that

His Guard Plun-

abused the

women

Miller, Capt'n of the

Living at Sugar Loaf in Orange County

milletia.

New

is

one directd to

delivered

&

I

with a Gentleman,

letters,

dred the House of plate, Liquer Provision,

a guard.

House where

to the

he had taken excepting one Letter, 4 Dollors.

much.

discharg'd one

my way, with

Room

into a Private

&

Pistles,

709

&

the State of

York.

William Belknap, Lieutenant.

Attest.

[No. 440.]

CLINTONS FORCE INADEQUATE. Correspondence hePween the General and Robert R. Livingston Relative to Tories

and Defences

Manor Dear I

Sir,

ain

Hudson.

of Livingston 11th Ap'l 1777.

< ,

more

among the

of the

& more

A

Tories.

plundered of his

convinced that something

&

his sons cloathing to his

& arms

other majestrates

by a number of

house in the evening; many of

were likewise disarmed.

this time favoured

in agitation

few nights since Mr. Van Veghten was

them who came publickly his neighbours

is

Their motions are at

by the disolution of committees

who

are qualified to act.

It

& want

of

would certainly

be proper to post some troops in or about Tackanick or the Magre Vlactee,

from whence they might occasionally march

parts of the

Manor & Kindrenhook.

sh'd go to work.

The

Militia of the

to different

The Tory commissioners

Manor wants a thorough

reform, one third of the Officers having taken the oaths of allegi-

— Public Papers op George Clinton.

710

Perhaps

ance.

it

might be advisable to

"'annex the

company to the Claverack regiment under Claverack I

number

believe a sufficient

among

themselves.

think

I

Takauick

officers,

as

of good whigs cannot be found

necessary from time to time to

it

advise your Excellency of the motions of this dangerous people as nothing but the strictest care will keep

&

them quiet

past

miscarriages renders them more formidable.

How

stands matters below, are our posts in tolerable order?

And what

prospects have you of having their strength tried?

Your Excellency

will oblige

rence of importance

»&

me by

sending

me

me know any

letting

occur-

such late papers as you have

read.

am

I

to

informed that your Excellency has granted exemptions

work men employed

fall

As

by the enemy.

in rebuilding the I

meet with great

hands for want of such exemption exemption for three hands for

two Carpenders I shall

&

I

I

difficulty in

procuring

must beg the favor

my Mother & as many As

one Mason for each.

be able to get

houses destroyed last

must request blanks

I

of an

for myself

know not

yet

who

for their names.

I

do myself the honor to enclose a Philadelphia edition of the constitution as

I

have not observed that you have one.

With the

greatest respect

&

I

am

esteem

Your Excellency's Most Oh't Hum.

Serv't,

Kobt. R. Livingston.

To His Excellency Gov'r

Clinton.

Gen. Clinton Sends Int&t^esting

News

to

Rohert R. Livingston.

D'r Sir, I

received your Letter of the 11th Instant last Night but not

knowing the Negro Man who delivered neglected answering

it

&

send

it

it

to be your Servant

by him on his Return.

I

Public Papers of George Clinton.

am

I

Til

sensible the Tories as usual intended to have executed

some Wicked Plott more than

to

embody

this Spring, but I believe in Parties according to the

as

many

1

trust

might be able on their Route. which have been apprehended

&

of the

&

&

off

Whigs

Numbers

tlie

confined

was nothing

Numbers

march

to join in different Parts of the State then

Enemy plundering & disarming

it

willing

Join the as they of

them

the fear they must

be in of their plan being discovered will deter them from the farther prosecution of

Enemy Colo.

it

some Attempt

unless favoured by

ag't this Quarter.

Holmes

of W^est Chester

a few Days ago taken on his

Way

was with some other to the

Enemy; the

w'ds escaped; one of the others was killed fined.

ness

&

I

am

I

suppose was to have had the

Board at

this Place

of their Office.

&

'by

Colo, after-

the Rest are con-

&

Command

of a Regt. to

The Commissioners have formed one are industrously imployed in the Duties

Another Board

Block Houses are building in Piatt for the

&

Villians

persuaded he was the Head of this Wicked Busi-

be raised in that way.

aided

of the

formed in Albany.

is

Ammonia

more secure Confinement

Precinct under Capt.

of their Prisoners.

This

a few severe Examples infiicted by the Court of Oyer

&

Terminer sitting at this Place

to open at

Albany next Tuesday

I

the Supreme Court which

is

believe will strike such Terror

(and) put an effectual stop to open Torryism at Present.

As

soon as Mr. Benson and the other Gentlemen Com'rs can be spared from this Place they will proceed to your Quarter

purge I

&

it.

have not yet granted any Exemptions to

by the People who were burnt out

woud be prudent

untill the

Workmen employed

last Fall

Drafts for

filling

nor do

I

think

it

up the Continental

—

Public Papers of George Clinton.

712

when that

Battalion are compleated

is

done J

will chearf ully fur-

nish you with your full Proportion.

There

is

Work Done

a great Deal of

by no means

West Point but

at

in a proper state of Defence ; neither is the

of Troops in this

are to defend

if

Department

the

sufficient for

Enemy shoud come

in

the

many

Posts they

Letter I rec'd two

Days

since from Gov'r Ttumbull, I

to expect the 2300

Men

requested from that State

sets for the

Papers

I

Defence of the River.

have received.

Please to offer

my

I

I

Number

By

Force agt them.

&

it is

am

a

soon

Massachu-

inclose you the

two

last

have no News but what they contain.

best Respects to Mrs. Livingston

Yours

&

believe

me

sincerely,

G. C. I

can),

do nothing with the Militia Company you mention

till

the

next Meeting of the Council of Appointment; when that will be or

when

make out 'Commissions

the Secry. will

Officers as are already appointed

for such of the

God only knows.

[To Robert R. Livingston]

[No. 441.] Capt. 3iiller

to he

Court Martialled on Complaint of Lieut. Belknap.

New Windsor D'r

13th Ap'l 1777.

Sir,

The inclosed Letter* from

his Excellency Genl. Washington

and

Complaintf of Lieut. Belknap will shew the Necessity of the Court Martial whereof you are President, Meeting on the it

adjourned; which

is

avoided.

Room

You

of those

I

was

in

Washington's

letter

which

new Members

in

are in actual Service or otherwise absent,

Person to act as Judge Advocate *

to

Hopes before might have been

are impowered to appoint

who

Day

not found.

&

the

&

a

you'l immediatly cause the

State Historian.

+ See

pages

707, 70S, 709.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

713

Offenders mentioned in Lieut. Belknap's Complaint to be confined

&

brought before the Court for Tryal giving summons for such

Persons to attend as Evidences as Mr. Belknap

may

mention.

The Judge advocate must take down the Evidence

fully

& the Pro-

Commander

ceedings must be fair as they are to be reported to the in Chief.

I

mentioned the late Conduct of Convention respecting

the Prisoners under Sentence of the Court to several

they assure

me

it

was without Design

& want

from inadvertency

if

&

proceeded

proper Information only.

when you meet

notify the Convention

Prisoners to be tried

of

of Offending

Members

any they have

may

that they

in Confinem't

You'l

send such

who

are cog-

nizable before you. I

am

&c.

Geo. Clinton.

[To Col. Woodhull.]

[No. 442.]

FREE AND EASY METHODS. Col.

Woodhull Informs General Clinton that a Court Martial at the Present

Time

is

Out

of the Question.

Blooming Grove 14th April 1777.

Dear General, I

have

this

Moment Received your

orders by the

Hand

of Lieu-

tenant Belknap for the General Court Martial Sitting on the of adjournment.

Your Honour may Remember

General Sentiment

'of

the Officers

who met

that

it

Day

was the

at Little Britton that

they never would Sit on a Court Martial again untill they ware

Informed upon what Principel Convention Did act Prisoners

who ware sentenced by

the Court.

Probable that not a Single member

jurnment unless Particarlly

I

will attend

in

think

Discharging it

on the

notified; there is near

more than

Day

of ad-

one Half of

Public Papers of George Clinton.

714 the

members

that are in the Service absent apd Sick that

I

know

be attended with a Great Deal of Ttoble and will Take

of; it will

up much Time

me

Hinted to

at this time

me

for

make

to

Honour has

a Court; as your

that the Sitting of the Court might been avoided

had

it

not been for the Scandilous Treatment of

Lieutenant Belknap

I

to Justice Hereafter

by the Court as

think that fellow

may

as well be

at Present; as

Brought there

is

several witnesses which I /suppose will be able to support the

Charge. of

have great objections

I

to appointing so

members as would be Necessary

a general acquaintance with the Court than to have one that

is

Larg a number

make a Court

to

officers;

we had

for

want

of

Better have no

not Determined to Bring offenders

to Justice. I

hope that your Honour

will not

be of opinion that these Lines

proceed from a Disposion not to obey the Very Least of your

Commands.

I

Hope your Honour

the Place of meeting and

be Put

Time;

off Till after I

it

I will

Can

find

would be a favour

your Most obedient

will appoint the

members and

attend with Pleasure,

if it

might

which would be a more Lasure

to the Court.

& Very Humb.

In Great Haste, from

Serv't,

Jesse Woodhull.

[To Gen. Clinton]

[No. 443.]

Robert Morris Vouches for Doremus.

D'r

Sir,

Coming by accident Doremus, time agoe

in

to this place, I

whose favor

I

;

called on

had the honour to write

He acknowledges

on his application

was

by Mr. John to 3^ou

some

your kindness in discharging his son,

buf complains, that

altho' he

was afterwards,

on an examination, acquited of any criminal intention, that the

Public Papers of George Clinton.

money taken from him

is still

detained,

he bought for Albert Van Vorhise. son in law to Mr. Doremus, friendly in that neighbourhood;

and also the horses, which

This

Van

and the

horses,

forms me, were intended for his mother, who horses pressed and carried

off at

Vorhise,

who

is

a

who continue

one of the few

is

715

Van Voorhise

lost a

in-

waggon and

Genl. Washington's Retreat, and

her only remaining two were stole out of the stable about the

same

husband then lying on his death bed, and

time, her

distress'd situationi ishe

The family being

was

friends,

when the enemy

left

in this

arrived.

and the above the circumstanceft

of

committee

of

their case, which, they say, has been proved before a

your Convention, has induced

me

to trouble

you with

this, in

the

perswasion that you will use your influence in their favor with

who

those I

am

of the

detain their

money

&

horses.

not unacquainted with the difficulty of geting property out

hands

of

many

too apt to consider

of the

all

common

militia

men; who are but

they get, as lawfull plunder; but think

the circumstances of a suffering friend, ought to weigh, even, with uncultivated minds.

The complaints

of a

man

of fair character,

and who has the

vir-

tue to continue friendly in the situation of the inhabitants of the

lower part

when he

lof

this county, I confess affects

adds, that this misfortune

is

me; more specially

a subject of insult to them^

from their disaffected neighbours, for persisting ple

who

treat them;

to join with peo-

worse than the regulars have.

considered too, that this transaction

is

made use

It

should be

of in a part of

the country where motives of interest are but too predominant. I

beg your excuse for mentioning arguments

with

whom

of this sort to you,

the principles of justice are abundantly sufficient; but

Public Papers of George Clinton,

716 as they

may

be necessary to some concerned,

I flater

myself you

pardon them from

will

Your very humble Servant, Eobt. Morris.

Paramus April 17th

1777.

Genl. Clinton.

[No. 444.]

SAMUEL HARING EXPOSES A TORY

PLOT.

Involving the Capturing of the Convention of the State of

The

—

New York

Details.

Kingston April 17th 1777. Sir,

I

am

directed

by Convention

to transmit

yon the enclosed Reso-

lution extending the Resolution of the 1st inst. for Trying Persons

coming from the Enemy as spies sons

who may be apprehended

in

«S:;c.

by Courts

going to the

Examinationof Sam'l Haring,* now confined at to

some dangerous Persons now lurking

in the

to cause

them I

to use the best

Enemy— also

the

this Place, relative

woods at Minisink

with a number of others not mentioned in the

The Convention request you

martial, to Per-

s'd

means

Examination. in

your Power

to be apprehended.

am

with great Respect Sir

Your most Obedient Servant,

By

Pierre

order,

Van

Cortlandt, V. Pres'dt.

The Honble. Brig'r Genl. George Clinton.

The examination

of

Samuel Harring; he says he was Born

in

Ireland that he was taken into Custody at Minisink in conse-

quence as he was informed of one John Moore's swearing that the

Examinant was to be appointed a Lieutenant *See pages 693 et seq.

in the

Regular

Public Papers of George Clinton.

was Enlisting Men

Sersdce and

717

,

for that purpose; that the said

Moore had formerly Deserted from the Eegular Army, had since Enlisted in our

Time

Army and

Winter the Examinant heard that one Joseph Bar-

in the

ton, living at a place called

Mama Cotting had

which the Examinant was much

to Sell,

That some

has deserted from them.

Examinant went there and while encouragement and Advised him

want

in

there, said

to join the

a Quantity of Salt of; that the

Barton gave him

Eegular Army,

tell-

ing him that matters would soon be settled on the same footing

they were in the year 17G3.

And

if

he wou'd join he wou'd have

100 Acres of Land given him, which the examinant says he

re-

fused.

That some Time after one Solomon Kortreght was sent

to the

Examinant requesting him

to

come

to the said

Barton

immediately, which he refused to do, that the next night the said

Barton went formed.

an

off to

the

That about

Officer

was sent

not succeed,

6

Enemy

Examinant has been

as this

Weeks ago the Examinant was

to take said Kortreght into

in-

informed,

Custody but did

that since that Time said Kortreght has told

the Examinant, he would Enlist

all

the

Men

in his power,

and

inform'd him he had seen a Letter from said Barton which mentioned that he and

all

his Friends should hold themselves in

Readiness, that he intended to be at

Dinner, and on the Night following at Sussex and Goshen; that the

Eum

that,

it

Home

make a

to

Eat

his Easter

general Goal delivery

Examinant waged a

bottle of

would not be done by May Day; that some-

time since the said Kortreght offered the Examinant £ 50 to go with him to the Eegulars, telling the Examinant that himself and

about 20 more had a meeting the night before which was on

Thursday night

last a

Week

past,

had a true Acct. how matters were

who

told the

Examinant he

to be carried on.

The Scheme

Public Papers of George Clinton.

718

was, that as iSoon as the Grass would supply, the Horses with feed sufficient for their Subsistence

a

Number

of Light

Horse together

with a larg party of Tories and some Eegular Troops, was to penetrate into the Country to Sussex and Goshen, which would

be done as soon as they heard that General

General Washington that they

woud

River, as far as

Army and

How

had attacked

drove them from Morris Town;

at the

same time send some shiping up the North

New

Windsor, that about 400 men from Albany

and the upper part

of Ulster

County were to come down to

Kingston and take the Convention Prisoners, carry them down to

New Winsor &

put them on Board the

men

of

War,

for

which

they were to receive great rewards there to meet the other party

or parties.

That when

this

Scheme

is

to be put in Execution

Expresses are to be sent through that part of the Country to the Tories

who was immediately

who would not

assist them.

to joine

and Disarm

all

all

those

That one James MoC'ormack and

William Crum believes was Confederate with Kortreght.

That

Kortreght had told the Examinant that Letters had been

re-

ceived from Pensilvany giving great Encouragement that they

should be join'd from that Quarter that the

Number

now with General How was 5600 and upwards 1500 under his

Command

as this

of Tories

that Barton had

Examinant was informed by

said Kortreght.

Samuel Herrin.

Sworn Before me Jon'n Lawrence

Kingston 16th April 1777.

A true Copy examined & compared by Kobt. Benson, Secry.

Public Papers of George Clinton.

719

New

In Convention of the Eepresentatives of the State of

York.

Kingston April 17th 1777.

EESOLVED that a Copy of the Examination of Samuel Haring be sent to Brig'r Genl. George Clinton

&

that he be requested to

cause the Persons therein mention'd to be apprehended.

Extract from the Minutes. Robt. Benson, Secry.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of

New York.

Kingston April 17th 1777.

RESOLVED first

Day

that the Resolutions of this Convention of the

of April instant,

empowering Court Martials to try

Persons, coming from the Enemy^ as Service, or supplying

iSpies, enlisting

men

them with Provisions, be extended

such Persons as shall be taken in going Etaemy, and continue in force untill the

in this

to all

off privately, to

first

Day

the

of July next

unless sooner repealed.

Extract from the Minutes. Robt. Benson Secrv.

J

t1

Public Papers of George Clinton.

720 >-(

S^^ *

paji'Bsia

ft

w ft ^ < ^ ^ o c

03

IBJOi

w S3

(N

"^

paSj^qosid

Never joined their comp'.

t-

pBaa

t-H

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