Author Title Imprint 10—47372-3 GPO CATALOGUE ts dud Mies WASHINGTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS, NEWBURGH, N. Y. WITH HISTORICAL SKETCH. Prepared for the Trustees. Under Act of May 11, 1874. BY e: m*: ruttenber. Journal Printing House and Book-Bindery, newburgh, n. y. I89O. FT v\ M^L Entered according 1 to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by the TRUSTEES OF WASHINGTON'S HEAD-QUARTEKS, NEWBURGH, N. Y., In the Office of the Librarian of Cong-ress at Washington. Gift American Hi - PIB 2 6 HISTORICAL SKETCH. ' H E building now so generally known as Washington's Head- jW quarters at Nkwburgh, is situated in the south-east part of jV the city. It is constructed of rough stone, with walls two feet **■ J | '^ some thirty feet, and is fifty-six feet front by forty-six feet in depth. It has six rooms and kitchen on the first floor, and five in the attic, some of the latter being of more modern construction than the original building. The roof is sustained by long timbers of red cedar rough hewn, which still give out the peculiar aroma of the wood. The ceilings of the lower floor are low with heavy hewn timbers supporting the floor above. The building is located on what was originally Lot No. 2, of the German Patent, the title of which was vested in Michael Weigand, one of the colony of immigrants from the Palatinate of the Rhine in 1709, who sold to Burger Meynders, who conveyed the por- tion on which the house stands (including the eastern half of the farm) to Jonathan Hasbrouck in 1747. The north-east corner of the build- ing, more particularly shown by the walls and the timbers in the attic, is the oldest portion, and was erected by Hasbrouck in 1750; the south- east corner was added by him in 1760, and the west half in 1770, and the whole embraced under one roof. Jonathan Hasbrouck, from whom the building retained for many years the name of "The Hasbrouck House," was the grandson of Abraham Hasbrouck, one of the Huguenot founders of New Paltz (1677). He was a man of marked character; of fine physique, being six feet and four inches in height. As colonel of the militia of the district, he was in frequent service in guarding the passes of the Hudson High- lands. His occupation was that of a farmer, a miller, and a merchant. He died in 1780. The first meeting for the Precinct of Newburgh was held here on the first Tuesday in April, 1763, when its owner was elected Supervisor, and Precinct meetings continued to be held here for several years. During the early part of the Revolution, the Committee of Safety of the Precinct assembled here. Military companies were organized, and the regiment which Col. Hasbrouck commanded assembled here to move to the defence of the Highland forts. The conventional north-east view perhaps conveys more strikingly the outlines of the building, but the west or south-west view presents a better idea of it as it appeared at the time of its occupation by Wash- ington, the west being the true front of the building on Liberty street, then "the King's highway 11 or old public road. As described bv men who were familiar with the premises from boyhood, there was a front- yard on Liberty street with a rail fence running along the road north Washington's head-quarters. to Broadway, while immediately south of the house were the barns and outbuildings of the farm. North of the front-yard was afield. East of the building was the family garden, beyond which at the south-east, "between the house and river," was the family burial plot in which Colonel Hasbrouck was buried. On the 4th of April, 1782, Washington made this building his Head- quarters, and remained here until August 18th, 1783, on the morning of which day he took his departure from Newburgh. While here he passed through the most trying period of the Revolution; the year of inactivity on the part of Congress, of distress throughout the country,, and of complaint and discontent in the army, the latter at one time bordering on revolt among the officers and soldiers; but a period nev- ertheless marked by victories more substantial than those which had been won in the field, as well as by the successful culmination of the long and heroic struggle for national independence. Although fully treated in general histories, a brief reference to a few of the more important episodes of this period is apparently proper in a sketch of this character. It was here that Washington refused the crown. As the prospect of peace brightened the attention of many of the officers was naturally directed to the form of government which should be adopted in order to secure the confidence both of the army and people, and hence be stable and permanent. After a careful dis- cussion of the subject in its various aspects, it was resolved, by a por- tion of them, that a limited monarchy, like that of England, with some modifications, was the best. This conclusion being reached, Col. Nicola, an old officer and a personal friend of Washington, was se- lected to convey the proposition to the latter. It was received with such stern and overwhelming indignation that the authors of it were filled with consternation and abandoned the project at once. Although this danger was averted, a greater one arose in a different quarter. An anonymous letter, dated March 10, 1783, was circulated through the army, of a most inflammatory nature— the first of the fam- ous "Newburgh Letters." After reciting the neglect, injustice and contempt to which the army had been subjected by Congress, it called on the former to take the matter in its own hands and redress its own wrongs, and for this purpose a meeting of the officers was called for the next day at The Temple.* When this paper was handed to Washing- ton he felt that the great crisis of the struggle had come. As Com- mander-in-Chief he could forbid the meeting; but, with his great sagacity, he saw that this would only intensify the feeling and increase the excitement, and so he simply postponed it for four days, and thus gave time to the army for a sober second thought, to himself to decide on the best course of action in order to meet the danger and not only ward it off but bind the army to him by still stronger ties of confi- * The army was encamped in barracks about three miles back from Washington's Head-quarters. On a high ridge opposite it Washington ordered a large building to be erected tor the use of public gatherings of all kinds, especially for religious ser- vices on the Sabbath for the soldiers. This was called "The Temple." (See Appendix.) HISTORICAL SKETCH. dence and love than ever. He did this by being present at the meeting and delivering an address to the assembled officers, which, by its ex- pression of affection for the army, its earnest appeal to their patriot- ism and honor, stands without a parallel in military history. Throwing himself unreservedly on their love of country and faith in its promises, he seems to have had no fear of the result, and closed his address with these memorable words: " Had this day been wanting, the world had never known the height to which human greatness is capable of attaining.' 1 ' 1 Almost immediately following the meeting which has been referred to, notice of the cessation of hostilities was received by Washington, and was announced by him in public proclamation to the army on the 19th of April, 1783. By Washington's order the announcement was made the occasion of one of the most remarkable celebrations ever held by the army. As indicated in Washington's order and in the notes by Thacher and Heath, it was conducted with the most imposing military and civil ceremonies. At "The Temple," at noon, the army was as- sembled and hailed the proclamation with cheers, with prayer and thanksgiving, and rolled out against the sky with voices and instru- ments the song of freedom which had so long been its inspiration, " No King but GodP' 1 — in the evening beacon fires blazed on the hills, and the air was filled with the peal of cannon and the rattle of musketry until " the mountain sides resounded and echoed like tremendous peals of thunder, and the flashing from thousands of fire-arms, in the dark- ness of the evening, was like unto vivid flashings of lightning from the clouds." Grand as was this visual display, substantial as were its reli- gious and political features, rising above them all was the declaration of Washington : " Happy, thrice happy, shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed anything, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabric of Freedom and Em- pire on the broad basis of independency; who have assisted in protect- ing the rights of human nature, and establishing an asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions." Is it too much to say that this was a well considered expression of his opinion in regard to the character of the government which should be established? Is it too much to say, also, in view of the teachings of these events, that while Independence and the rights of the people to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was proclaimed at Philadelphia, while it was maintained with so much suffering and so much honor in the field, it was established by Washington at his Head-quarters in Newburgh? The disbandment of the army by furlough followed. Regiments and battalions were so rapidly decimated by this process that by the 20th of June few if any of the men who had enlisted "for the war" remained. The grand old army of the Revolution was practically dis- solved, and the fragment that remained, composed principally of men who had enlisted for short periods, broke camp and marched to West Point. The parting of the veterans, so touchingly described by North and Thacher, embraced Washington's heroic " Life Guard," whose Washington's head-quarters. relations with him had been so intimate, and which assembled at Head-quarters for the last time on the 7th of June. Washington's last Orders while here were issued on the 17th of August, and on the 18th he took his departure to attend the Congress then iu session at Princeton. — " Why was the army brought hither ?" and " What portion of the building was particularly occupied by Washington ?" are questions so frequently asked that a few words of explanation appear to be nec- essary. The presence of the army of the Revolution north of the Highlands and in the vicinity of the river, was for the purpose of coun- teracting the plans of the British Ministry, who hoped, by obtaining control of the navigation of the river, to cut off the Eastern Provinces from the Southern with a view to confine the rebellion to the former and render its suppression certain. The Hudson thus became the strategic line of the contending forces, to which the possession of the Highlands was the kev. While English cannon thundered at New York and Quebec, the extremes of the line, the forces of the patriots guarded the Highland passes; on both sides of the river the camp-fires of the army were lighted, while from the centre of the field — the Has- brouck House at Newburgh, or the Ellison House at New Windsor, at an earlier period— Washington watched, through the secret serv- ice, the movements of his powerful antagonist. Once, twice, the centre of the line was lost, and recovered almost by miracle. Sir Henry Clinton's victorious banners were given to the breeze from the High- land forts, October 7, 1777, and his messenger sped away to bid Bur- GOYNE hold on at Saratoga. The result of the contest for Independ- ence then seemed but the question of a day. Fortunately the messen- ger fell into the cauip of a rallying militia, and the silver bullet, enclosing a message to Burgoyne, which he carried, was taken from him and revealed his mission. Burgoyne, after waiting for his arrival until he could wait no longer, surrendered his army — Clinton fell back to New York, and the Highland forts, blackened by fire and strewn with the bodies of those who had fallen in their defence, returned to the possession of the patriot forces. The treason of Arnold was not less fortunately prevented from accomplishing its purpose. And in this connection, how singular the fact that while events apparently fortuitous twice saved the cause of liberty, the immediate agents through whom so great a boon was wrought— Taylor, the British messenger, and ANDRE,j,the British spy — suffered death at the hands of hangmen. In answer to the second question, it may be said that WASHINGTON and his family occupied the entire house. His family consisted of him- self, his wife, and his Aids-de-camp, Major Tighlman, Colonel Hum- phreys, and Major Walker. A Mrs. Thompson was his housekeeper and in the earlier part of the war won a reputation for zeal in his ser- vice which Thacher makes a note of and Washington acknowledges in his accounts in recording an exchange of salt. The story is that Mrs. Thompson found it difficult to obtain a supply of eggs for the HISTOKICAL SKETCH. table. The Quarter-master had all the salt and the farmers had all the eggs, and continental money could not buy the latter. As a last resort the General gave an order to Captain Colfax of the Guard, whose duty it was to furnish the supplies for the General's table, to send Mrs. Thompson a butt of salt, with which that lady soon established an ex- change for the needed eggs. The matter leaked out and "No salt no eggs ! " became a by-word in camp. The large room, which is entered from the piazza on the east, known as the room with " seven doors and one window/' was WASHINGTON'S dining-room ; the north-east room was his bed-room, and the one ad- joining it on the left was his private office. The family room was in the south-east; the parlor was the north-west room; opposite this and across the hall was the store-room, so called from having been used as a store by Colonel Hasbrouck; the south-west room was the kitch- en. Although one of the largest dwellings in the district at that time, it was too small for the accommodation of guests other than at dinner, and hence was not altogether suited to Washington's necessities. The best if not the only authoritative account of the manner in which it was occupied, as well as other details, comes to us from the pen of Mah- QUIS De Chastellux, an officer Under Rochambeau and a visitor here in December, 1782, who writes: "We passed the North river as night came on and arrived at six o'clock at Newburgh, where I found Mr. and Mrs. Washington, Col. Tighlman, Colonel Humphreys and Major Walker. The head-quar- ters at Newburgh consist of a single house, neither vast nor commodi- ous, which is built in the Dutch fashion. The largest room in it {which was the proprietor 's parlor for his family and which General Washing- ton has converted into his dining-room) is in truth tolerably spacious, but it has seven doors and only one window. The chimney, or rather the chimney back, is against the wall, so that there is in fact but one vent for the smoke, and the fire is in the room itself. J found the com- pany assembled in a small room which served by way of a parlor. At nine o'clock supper was served, and when the hour of bed-time came, I found that the chamber, to which the General conducted me, was the very parlor 1 speak of wherein he had made them place a camp-bed. We assembled at breakfast the next morning at ten, during which in- terval my bed was folded up, and my chamber became my sitting room for the whole afternoon. The smallness of the house, and the difficulty to which Mr. and Mrs. Washington had been put to receive me, made me apprehensive lest Mr. Rochambeau, who was to set out the day after me, by traveling as fast, might arrive on the day 1 remained there. I resolved therefore to send to Fishkill to meet him, with a request that he would stay there all night. Nor was my precaution superfluous, for my express found him already on the landing, where he slept, and did not join us until the next morning as 1 was setting out. The day I re- mained at head-quarters was passed either at table or in conversation. General Hand, Adjutant-general, Colonel Read of New Hampshire, and Major Graham, dined with us.'' WASHINGTON 8 HEAD-QUARTERS. In noting a previous visit to Washington, the same writer says: " The repast was in the English fashion, consisting of eight or ten large dishes of butcher's meat and poultry, with vegetables of various sorts, followed by a second course of pastry, comprised under the two denomi- nations of pies and puddings. After this the cloth was taken oft, and apples and a great quantity of (hickory) nuts were served, which Gen- eral Washington usually continues eating for two hours, toasting and conversing all the time." Again : " The head-quarters of this army neither presents the image of want nor inexperience. Wben one sees a battalion of the General's guard encamped within the precincts of his house; nine wagons, destined to carry his baggage ranged in his court; a great number of grooms taking care of very fine horses belong- ing to the general officers and their aids-de-camp ; when one observes the perfect order that reigns within these precincts, where the guards are exactly stationed and where the drums beat an alarm and a par- ticular retreat, one is tempted to apply to the Americans what Pyrrhus said of the Romans : ' Truly these people have nothing barbarous in their discipline.' " Prom these descriptions it requires very little effort of the imagina- tion to reproduce the occupants of the house and its surroundings while Washington was here. The long oaken table may be spread, the fire lighted on the ancient hearth, the guard stationed, the guests summoned, the alarm and the retreat drums sounded, the wagons, the horses, the grooms, the barns and outbuildings, the rail fences, may all be reproduced on canvas or in tableaux vivants Verplanck relates that Marbois partially attempted this in Prance, many years ago, in honor of La Payette, and so accurate was the reproduction that the latter was compelled to exclaim: "Ah ! the seven doors and one win- dow, and the silver camp goblets such as the Marshals of France used in my youth. We are at Washington's Head-quarters on the Hudson fifty years ago !" La Fayette's recognition was no doubt from de- scriptions which he had received. He was never a visitor at the New- burgh Head-quarters. Fortunate will it be for America if, in the com- ing time, her children, drawing inspiration from these old walls and from the lessons of patriotism, of honor, of official integrity, of political action, which were here inculcated, shall reverently respond: " The seven doors and one window— we are at Washington's Head-quarters on the Hudson! " — The Hasbrouck family resumed possession of the house in the fall of 1783 and the property remained in the possession of their descend- ants until 1849,* when the title became vested in the people of the State of New York, under the foreclosure of a mortgage given to loan certain moneys of the United States, the suggestion for its purchase having been made by Andrew J. Caldwell, one of the loan com- * It may be proper to add that Jonathan Hasbrouck, to whom the property came by descent, endeavored, in 1843, to organize an Association to take and hold the prop- erty and erect a monument thereon. This effort was not successful, and the property came into the possession of the State in the manner related in the text. HISTORICAL SKETCH. missioners. For many years it was called "The Hasbrouck house"; but the memory of Washington, and of the events which clustered around it during his residence here, ever brightening as time advanced and succeeding generations came to appreciate more fully the results of the firmness of his devotion to the principles which he had espoused, caused this name to fade away before the undying one by which it is now known. By an act to the Legislature, passed April 10, 1850, the property was placed in the care of the Board of Trustees of the then Village of New- burgh, to be preserved as nearly as possible as it was at the time of its occupation by Washington, and to erect a flag-staff from which should be unfolded the United States flag upon which should be inscribed: "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.'''' The interior of the building had been modernized in some respects, but the Trustees of Newburgh, true to their trust, appointed a com- mittee of which the late Enoch Carter was chairman, and by them every part of the building was carefully restored. This being done, and the flag-staff erected, on the 4th of July, 1850, the place was formally dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies. A fervent prayer was offered by the Rev. John Johnston. The dedicatory address was delivered by Hon. John J. Monell, and an ode, written by Mrs. Mary E. Mo- NELL, was sung by a choir. At the conclusion of the ode, Major-gen- eral Winfield Scott raised the flag upon the flag-staff. The Declara- tion of Independence was read by Frederick J. Betts, and an oration delivered by Hon. John VV. Edmonds. The property passed to the care of the city authorities, on the pass- age of the city charter in 1866, where it remained until 1874, when the Legislature, by Act of May 11th, appointed a Board of Trustees to pre- serve and maintain it. This Board, composed of Wm. C. H. SHERMAN, David Carson, David Moore, J as. G. Graham, J. H. H. Chapman, Cyrus B. Martin, Peter Ward, Joel T. Headlky. Edward C. Boynton, and James W. Taylor, is so constituted that the members serve for five years, two of the ten going out annually. The prop- erty is maintained by a tax on the city and by State appropriations, from which latter source money was obtained for the purchase of an additional lot on the south. The trees with which the grounds are planted were contributed by farmers and residents, and the iron fence was erected by the State, the gates being the contribution of the lathes of the city. For the collection of relics the public is largely indebted to the late Enoch Carter, although many articles have been added by other parties. The papers and relics deposited by Mr. Carter, whose interest in the preservation of the premises ceased only with his life, were permanently added to the collection by his heirs (June 20, 1874), viz: Mrs. Jane Carter Marks, Mrs. Catherine Carter Ryer, Mrs. Mary T. Le Fever, and Miss Antoinette Woolsey, and are marked by an asterisk (*) in this Catalogue. 10 Washington's head-quarters. DIAGRAM— First Floor. A— Dining Room, or Room with Seven Doors and one Window. B— Family Room. C— Kitchen. D— Hall. E— Parlor, or Sitting- Room. F— Washington's Office. G— Washington's Bed-room. H— Store Room. CATALOGUE. ELLISON PAPERS. The manuscripts of this series were presented by Thomas Ellison, Jr., and are embraced in the " Ellison Papers" Case 2. Thomas Elli- son, to whom the first papers refer, was one of the early settlers of the town of New Windsor, being a freeholder in 1728. He was the ancestor of the family, and was the principal merchant and banker in this sec- tion of country. He was one of the first militia officers in the (lis trict, and held the rank of colonel at the outbreak of the Revolution, but was retired by the reorganization of the militia in 1775. The office of Deputy Chief Ranger for the County of Ulster, which he held until 1772, conferred upon him police authority over horses, cattle, etc, running at large unmarked in the Queen's woods, which then em- braced the unenclosed lands of the county. No person was permitted to sell a horse "to go out of this province, without being first viewed'* by him, "that frauds and cheats by horse stealers'' might be pre- vented. 1. Commission to Thomas Ellison to be a Deputy Ranger for the County of Ulster, 1753. Autograph Signature of Gov. Cadwal- lader Colden. 2. Benefits and Perquisites of the Chief Ranger of Her Ma- jesty's Province of New York. 3. An account of the expedition for the relief of Fort William Henry, prepared for Hutchins' Family Almanac. Dated ^Sov. I, 1757. The expedition referred to was one of the important movements in the French and Indian War of that period. The paper here given is mainly a defence by Col. Ellison of the militia under his command. Butchins' Family Almanac, for which it was prepared, was founded by John Nathan Hutchins. He was a teacher in the Glebe School of Newburgh from 1771 to 1782. 4. Letter from Thomas Ellison to Gov. Colden, enclosing a letter from Major Cadwallader Colden, Jr., dated Sept. 25, 1757. These letters refer to the murder of (nil) Baston by the Indians. Easton was a resident of Ulster county, and wasshot near David Coag's house. The facts are stated in plain language. Easton was wounded, says the Letter, "being shot through the Note —Manuscripts not in Cases or Frames are filed tor more effectua tion. They can be examined by historians or persons specially interested m them, on application to the Superintendent. Where names of donors do not appear intbj alogue, the record has been lost, Corrections will be made in subsequent editions on communication of information to the Trustees. 12 Washington's head-quarters, body, but he did (not) fall when shot. He says he hurried about and saw two Indians standing- who did not offer to pursue him. He swore at them (in his usual manner), and made the best of his way to the house," where he died. 5. Commission to Thomas Ellison as Colonel of the Second Regiment of militia in Ulster county, dated Dec. 9, 1772. 6. Circular letter from Gov. Tryon to Colonel Thomas Ellison, dated New York, Dec. 22, 1773, directing a return of the militia of his district. 7. Keturn of the Second Regiment of the County of Ulster, Sept. 5, 1773. 8. A list of all the rank and file men within the Precinct of Shawangunk, on the east side of the Wallkill, whereof Johannes Hardenburgh is Captain, August 24, 1772. Return made to Colonel Ellison. 9. A list of a company of Eoot Militia, commanded by Capt. William Faulkner, July 13, 1772. Return to Col. Ellison. 10. Letter from Gov. Tryon to Col. Ellison, dated New York, March 10, 1774, in reference to forming Battalions. The Governor states, that " out of respect to the family, and in consideration of the long- and faithful services of the old gentleman" (Col. Charles Clinton), he had ap- pointed James Clinton to the command of the First Battalion of Ulster county Militia. The command embraced the Militia of New Windsor mainly. The Clintons had already won reputation in the French and Indian war, and were then a controlling element in the politics of the county. 11. Letter from Catharine Ellison to her husband, John El- lison, dated Oct. 17, 1771. A private letter. 12. Letter from Thomas Ellison, Jr., to his father, dated New York, Feb. 7, 1774. A private letter. 13. Letter from C. Gibbs to Thomas Ellison, accepting his house for occupation by Washington as Head-quarters. The letter is dated 21st of June, 1779. Caleb Gibbs was at that time Captain Commandant of a mounted corps of one hundred and eighty men known as the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly called The Life Guard. The obtaining- of suitable quarters for Washington, was one of the special duties of the corps. The house referred to in this letter is more gener- ally known as the William Ellison House, from its occupation in later years by Will- iam Ellison, son of Col. Thomas. It was occupied by Washington in 1779, 1780 and 1781. It was taken down a few years since. A large photograph from an original painting of the building is embraced in this Collection. 13£. Copy Certificate from Major-General Knox, endorsed by Pickering, Q. M. G., stating that General Greene, Colonels Biddle and Wadsworth, and General Knox, "occupied three rooms, as military quarters, five weeks in the months of June and July, 1779," and that " I, the subscriber (General Knox), occupied three rooms as military quarters ten weeks in the fall of the same year. Also, from the 20th of November, 1780, to the 4th of July, 1781, I CATALOGUE. 13 occupied two rooms as military quarters ; and from May, 1782, to September, I occupied one room for the same purpose, making fourteen weeks." Dated, West Point, 9th Sept.. 1783. The build- ing was subsequently occupied by Major General Gates— Dec. 1782, to April, 1783. John Ellison was brother to William and son of the firsl settler, Col. Thomas Ellison. The house is still in possession of Ellison heirs. CLINTON PAPERS. The papers of this series were presented by James Clinton Bolton, Esq. As the names of the Clintons frequently occur in this Catalogue, it may be remarked in explanation that Alexander, Charles, James and George, were the sons of Charles Clinton, who emigrated from Ireland, in 1729, and settled at Little Britain, in Orange ("then Ulster) county. Alexander became a physician. Charles also studied medicine, and as a surgeon's mate accompanied the quota of forces furnished by New York in the expedition for the reduction of Havana in 17G2; subse- quently on hospital service. James was a civil engineer and surveyor, but nevertheless a practiced soldier from his youth up. He became justly distinguished for his services as a general officer during the war of the Revolution. George studied law, and, in 17(35, was selected to represent his native county in the Colonial Assembly, where he was one of the leaders in opposition to the principle involved in the Stamp Act. In 1775 he was elected one of the Delegates from New York to the second Continental Congress. From this post he was transferred to the office of Governor of New York, and held that position from 1777 to 1792 and again in 1801. In 1805 he was elected Vice President of the United States, on the ticket with Thomas Jefferson, and again in 1808, on the ticket with James Madison. He died at Washington during his second official term. DeWitt Clinton was the son of James. The MSS. of this series are in the " Clinton Papers," Case 2, unless othet wise marked. A. Diploma of Alexander Clinton from Princeton College. 14. Letter from Charles Clinton, Jr., to his father, dated Fort Pitt, Aug. 12, 1762, giving an account of a battle with the Indians. Frame, room F. Clinton accompanied the expedition for tin- relief of For, I'itt as Mate, and the letter relates in brief the incidents of the route. He was quently a practicing physician in the town of Montgomery-. I4£. Letter from Charles Clinton, Si\, to his son, addressed : "To Mr. Charles Clinton, Apothecaries Mate, at the Hospital in Elizabethtown/ 1 dated Little Britain, November loth, 1762. An interesting letter from the founder of tbe Clinton family 14 Washington's head-quarters. 15. Letter from Charles Clinton, Jr., to his father, dated Elizabethtown, Oct. 22, 1762. Frame, room F. This letter was written immediately after the return of the expedition against Havana, and has reference to the siege. The siege of Havana lasted thirty days, when Moro Castle was taken by storm. 15£, Letter from George Clinton to his brother Charles, ad- dressed: "To Mr. Charles Clinton, Junior, Mate of His Majesty's Hospital at Elizabethtown," dated New York, 30th Jan., 1763. :• §5 George Clinton was at that time a student at law in the office of Judge Smith. He excuses himself for not visiting his brother, by saying that " the Ferry Boat crosses to and from Staten Island so seldom that I fear should I venture over there I might not be able to return with such speed as Mr. Smith would expect." 16. Letter from George Clinton to his brother Charles, dated New York, 23d May, 1763, stating that the return of the latter t the Hospital was required. Frame, room F. 17. Letter from Charles Clinton, Jr., to his father, dated New York, June 6th, 1763. Frame, room F. This letter is in reference to the purchase of the Surgency of Dr. Calhoun, under whom Clinton was acting. The price asked was two hundred pounds sterling. Young Clinton doubted the expediency of the purchase, on account of the probable discon- tinuance of the war. B. Day-Book of Charles Clinton, Jr., from April 6, 1778— an interesting record of families in which his professional services were employed. Case 1. C. Scrap-Book of Elizabeth Clinton, daughter of General James Clinton. Case 1. D. See No. 135 in Frame, room F. E (1). See No. 136 in Frame, room F. E (2). Letter from Mrs. Mary Clinton to her husband, General James Clinton, dated Little Britain, April 9th, 1780. E (3). Letter from Mrs. Mary Clinton to her husband, ad- dressed: "The Honourable James Clinton. Brigadier-General at "Yorktown, in General Washington's Camp," dated Sept. 28th, 1781. These letters from Mrs. Clinton, while mainly relating to family matters, show the writer to have been worthy of the honor reflected on her name through her son, Governor De Witt Clinton. In the letter she writes: "I wish you success, and hope the Lord, the Great General of Heaven and Earth, will be at the head of your army and be your Director and Counselor, and cover your head in the day of battle, and give you success, that you may all safe return to your homes and families." Mrs. Clinton not only gave her husband to the service, but her oldest sou, Alexander, a lad of fifteen years. Like Cornelia of old, could she not say : " Here are my jewels ? " F. Letter from DeWitt Clinton to Doct. Charles Clinton, dated New York, Sept. 19, 1788, in reference to rejection of Consti- tution of the United States by North Carolina. Frame, room F. DeWitt Clinton was then Private Secretary to his uncle, Governor George. The Clintons opposeu the adoption of the Federal Constitution, not approving of strme of CATALOGUE. ] 5 its provisions, which they regarded as trenching upon the rights of the States. Got . Clinton especially favored very limited Federal powers. A considerable number of Clinton Papers are given under other classifications, and others will be found in the "Clinton Papers" (case 2) not specifically enumerated in this Catalogue. SACKETT PAPERS. The papers of this series were presented by the late Samuel B. Sackett, whose father, Nathaniel Sackett, was born in the town of Cornwall, Orange County, N. Y., in the year 1735, and was the son of Rev. Samuel Sackett, a Presbyterian minister at Bethlehem Church in 1742. According to the custom of those days, he served an apprentice- ship in a mercantile house in New York, and subsequently settled at Fishkill, where he opened a store. While on a visit to New York, in the spring of 1775, the news of the Boston massacre reached him. He immediately returned home, and took a prominent part in calling a meeting of the inhabitants of " Rombout Precinct, " in which he lived, to consider what steps should be taken to secure the united action of the colonists. The meeting was held at the house of John and Hend- rick Wyckoff, on the 5th of May, and resulted in the formation of an association. Sackett was afterwards in the secret service of Washing- ton. He was a member of the first Legislature of New York, and con- tinued a representative until his death. The several papers of the collection are worthy of perusal. The;/ are included in the "Sackett Paqiers," Case 2, unless otherwise marked. 19. Circular letter to the Inhabitants of Rombout Precinct, May 2d, 1775. This letter was designed to arouse the people to attend a meeting called by Sacketl and others, at the house of John and Henry Wyckoff, for the purpose of "taking the alarming condition of this Continent into consideration;" and requests that none on any account or excuse whatever, will keep back but appear at the place designated. 20. Minutes of proceedings of meeting at house of John and Hendrick Wyckoff, pursuant to above call. 21. Letter from Eben Hazzard to Sackett, dated Heights of Harlem, Oct. 3d. 1776. This letter is in reference to a form of government for the Province of Xew York. 22. Letter from John Hancock to the Committee of Safety, of which Sackett was a member, dated Phila., June 11, 1776. 23. Commission of Sackett as one of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies, with power to call out the militia for that purpose. 24. Printed Document, showing the nature of the duties of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. 16 Washington's head-quarters. 25. Commission of Washington, appointing, Sackett to Secret Service. (Withdrawn by family.) 26. Letter from Sackett to Washington, dated Suffern House, April 7, 1777. This letter gives in detail the operations of Sackett since his appointment. His mode of obtaining information was novel in some instances. In this letter he relates the case of a woman who had some grievances against the Whigs. Sackett advised her to go to New York and lay her complaint before Lord Howe. She did so, and on her return Sackett obtained all the information she had picked up. 27. Letter from Washington to Sackett, dated Morristown, April 8, 1777. Frame, room F. This letter exhibits the manner in which secret intelligence was sometimes con- veyed. It is unintelligible at the present time in many of its references. 28. Circular letter from John Jay and others, Committee from Orange, Ulster and Duchess, dated Kingston, June 2d, 1777, re- questing a meeting at New Windsor for the purpose of " agreeing on the men proper to fill the great offices of Government." The meeting nominated Charles DeWitt, Levi Paulding, Zephaniah Piatt, Jona- than Landon, Henry Wisner, Sr., and Jesse Woodhull, for Senators from the Middle District. 29. Letter from Egbert Benson, dated June 5th, 1777, in refer- ence to the meeting at New Windsor. 30. Letter from William Duer to Sackett, dated Philadelphia, June 20, 1777, in reference to appointment of latter as D. Q. M. Gr., on the east side of Hudson's River. 31. Letter from Robert Harper to Sackett, dated Kingston, Oct. 7th, 1777. This letter is in reference to the appointment of "gentlemen of different connec- tions and families to fill up the leading offices of the State," and other matters. The State government under the first Constitution was then being organized. 32. Letter from Samuel Sackett to his son Nathaniel, dated Hanover, Oct, 29th, 1776. In this letter the father requests his son to "send us two wagons immediately, to help us away with some small matters before the enemy are upon us." 33. Letter from Anthony Wayne to Sackett, dated Fishkill, Aug. 4th, 1779, ordering a "detachment of one hundred and fifty men" for "particular duty." Wayne had just returned from his successful attack at Stony Point, Some new expedition was now proposed, but what, does not appear. 34. Letter from Gen. Heath to Sackett, dated West Point, April 1, 1781, detailing account of engagement between the French and English fleets off the Capes of Virginia, and the movements of the Southern army. 35. Letter from Washington to Sackett, dated Newburgh, Aug. 15, 1785, thanking him for the cheese which he had been kind enough to'send him. CATALOGUE. 17 36. Eeceipt to Sackett from John Morin Scott, for payment " on his and his father's bond," " 18 dollars in specie, and 17 dollars in Notes of the Continental Treasurer." 37. Letter from Gen. Heath to Sackett, dated Eoxbury, Mass., Nov. 12, 1785. 38. Letter from Daniel Boone to Captain Eben Piatt, dated Limestone, 7th March, 1786. Sackett, while traveling- through the West, stopped at the residence of Boone. In his visit he had been preceded a few hours by Piatt, who was traveling in the same direction. In the expectation that Sackett would overtake Phut. Boone wrote ami sealed this letter. Sackett failed to see Piatt, and the Letter remained in his hands unopened, and in that state was hand -d down to his children, and it was not until a number of years after his death that it was read. REVOLUTIONARY PLEDGES, ETC. The large expenditures of England in the French and Indian war of 1755, and the increase in the public debt and the necessity for raising additional revenue which it involved, led to the taxation, by Acts of Parliament, of the American Colonies. The first act of this class was passed in 1764, and was estimated to yield £341,377: Os: Id: (about $8,500,000) from new imposts and duties upon trade and commerce. Though regarding the levy as unjust and earnestly remonstrating against it, the Colonies submitted to it without resistance. Had the scheme of taxation ended here there would have been no further trouble, but the act was followed, in 1765, by a Stamp act which im- posed no less than fifty-three different sorts of stamp and other duties, some of them exorbitant and heavy and all of them hitherto unheard of in America. This act, coming upon the heels of unpopular import taxes, aroused a storm of opposition, and in all the cities the stumps were seized and destroyed by riotous mobs. The act was repealed in 1766, and in 1770 all other taxes were removed except that of a duty of three-pence per pound on tea, which was then brought in by the ex- clusively privileged ships of the East India Company. The collection of this tax was remonstrated against, and its repeal demanded. The excite- ment ran high and developed the famous attack upon the company's ships and the destruction of cargoes of tea in Boston harbor and the refusal to permit similar cargoes to be landed in New York and other ports of entry. The Boston Port Bill, as it was called, was then en- acted, one of the purposes of which was to compel the people of Bos- ton to reimburse the East India Company. The bill was coupled with the appointment of General Gage as Governor of Massachusetts, with a fleet at his command under Lord Howe to enforce obedience. The dissensions and excitements evolved from these several acts spread over the Colonies and led to the calling of a Continental Congress in 18 Washington's head-quarters. Philadelphia in the Fall of 1774, for the purpose of promoting a closer union between the Colonies and agreeing upon a plan for united action. This plan took the form of a Non-importation Agreement which was passed Oct. 14, and signed on the 20th by the representatives assem- bled. This agreement embraced not only the refusal to import goods of any kind from England, but the formation of associations in every town and city under a common pledge, and which were rapidly multiplied. The collisions between General Gage's armed forces and the people at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, the appointment of Washington as commander-in-chief of the Continental forces, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, followed in rapid succession, and the appeal to arms was fully inaugurated. In this collection the Stamp Act. the Congressional signatures to the Non-importation Agreement, and the proceedings and signatures of several local associations are represented. 38£. Sheet of parchment with a stamp of the Stamp Act at- tached. The tax on this deed was two shillings and sixpence sterling, and is represented by two stamps— Is. and Is: 6d.— on the pieces of blue paper. The device of the stamps is the same — a double Tudor rose, inclosed by the Royal Garter. Above this is a crown, and be- low, the money value of the stamps. It is not known that another paper has been preserved with the stamp attached, so completely was their use iernored. Frame, room F. 39. Lithograph copy of the Congressional signatures to the Non-importation Agreement of Oct. , 1774. Case 2. 39^. Circular address to the inhabitants of the different Coun- ties of the province of New York, by the Committee of New York city, dated May 31, 1774. Case 2. Appended to this paper is a Call for a meeting of the inhabitants of Beekman Pre- cinct, Duchess County, at the house of Mr. DeLonge, on the 18th of June, to consider the same. This was one of the first Revolutionary meetings in the Precinct. 40. Proceedings of a meeting of Freeholders of the Towns of Kingston, Hurley, Marbletown, Rochester and New Paltz, held January 6th, 1775, to send delegates to Convention. Case 2. 42. Protest agaiast the action of the Meeting held at New Paltz, April 6th, 1775. MSS. book, case 1. This paper was drawn by Cadwallader Colden, Jr., and signed by himself, Peter lhiBois, and Walter DuBois. Colden's father was Lieutenant-Governor of .New York, and acting Governor for most of the time from 17(50 to 1775. He was, of course, loyal to the King, and his son shared in his opinions. Though in other respects an esteemed and influential citizen, he was committed to prison for his political course, not long after this protest was written. He. resided, tor many years at Coldenham, Orange. County. CATALOGUE. 19 The meeting to which the protesl refers was composed of Committees or Delegates from the several Towns a nd Precincts of Ulster County, called together For th pose of selecting Delegates to represent the County in a Provincial Convention at New York, April 20, 1775. The original minutes of the meeting are on file with the Clinton papers in the State Library. 43.* Pledge of " a general Association, agreed and subscribed to by the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Precinct of Hanover, in Ulster County,' 1 May 5th, 1775. Frame', room F. The towns of Montgomery, Crawford, and part of Hamptonburgh, in Orange County, cover the original territory of the Precinct of Hanover. The pledge is similar to those quoted hereafter. 44. Original Qualifications of the Officers of the Regiment of Militia of the Precinct of Hanover, dated Nov. 30, 1775. Frame, room F. This pledge reads: "We, the subscribers, officers of the Etegimenl of Militia of Foot in Hanover Precinct, in Ulster County, of the Colony of New York, do hereby promise and engage, under all the ties of Religion, Honor and regard to our ( Ountry, that we will respectfully duly observe and carry into execution to the utmost of our power, all and every of the Orders, Rules and Recommendations made or to be made by the Continental Congress, and the Congress or Convention of this Colony," &C. Signed, CHARLES CLINTON, Chairman, and at different periods by William Jackson, Arthur Parks, James McBride, Andrew Neeley, Henry Smith, Johannes Newkirk, jr. William Crist, M Colden, Peter Hill, James Latta, Nathaniel Milliken, Win. Goodyion, John J. Graham, jr., Samuel Barkley, Joseph Crawford, James McCurdy, John Gillespie, Jason Wilkin, Robert Hunter, jr., Samuel Gillespy, John Barbour, James Mouell. 45. Pledge of New Windsor Militia Company. Frame, room F. " To observe and carry into execution to the utmost of our power, all and every the orders, rules and recommendations, made or to be made by the Continental or our Provisional Congress," &c. Signed, James McClaghrey, John Burnett, Jacob Newkirk, Samuel Logan, George Denniston, James Umphrey, William Telford. James Kernaghan, James Faulkeuer, Richard Wood, Alexander Beatty. This is the original Pledge and was never returned to Congress; at least it is not published in the Archives of Congress where those that were returned from other towns are found. McClaghrey was brother-in-law to Gov. Clinton. At that time he was Captain of the New Windsor Militia Company, but on the reorganization of the Militia in 1775, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. At the reduction of Fori Mont- gomery he was in command of his regimenl and was taken prisoner. Umphrey and Logan were also in service iu the field ; thelatterwas Major of Col. DuBois' 3d \. V.. and was among the prisoners taken by the British at Fort Montgomery. 46. Proceedings of several meetings held in the Town of New Windsor, and Precinct of Hanover, 1775; and Pledge of Associa- tion, with signatures. Frame, room F. The Pledge is the same as those already quoted, with the addition, " and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation shall be effected." independence, h ield In abeyance in deference to the views of those who, while opposed to the measures of the Ministry, were also opposed to rebellion. The list is not a complete return of the town, but appears to be one of two or more lists, nono of which are published in the Archives of Congress. 20 Washington's head-quarters. 47. Letter from George Clinton to his brother Charles, dated New York, Feb. 14, 1775. Clinton Papers, case 2. This letter is in reply to some resolutions adopted at a meeting held in Hanover Precinct, and is one of the most spirited of the collection. Clinton was then a repre- sentative in the Provincial Convention, and in this letter refers to the action of that body. He condemns the policy of non-resistance, which many were then advocating, as a policy calculated to divide the sentiment of New York; and predicted that those \ who were advocating that course would " bring shame and confusion on themselves, and brand them with the indellible name of Enemies to their Country." It is possible that it was in accordance with his wishes that the New Windsor Pledge, which gave inferential endorsement to non-resistance, was not returned, as it might have the effect of instructions which representatives then were not permitted to disregard. 47^. Printed Circular of Proceedings " in Convention of the Representatives of the State of New York, Sept. 21st, 1776," to de- vise means for the defeat of the "barbarous machinations of do- mestic as well as external foes." EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA. The expedition against Canada was one of the leading features of the campaign of 1775. It was under the command of Gen. Schuyler, but, from his illness, the duty of leadership devolved on Col. Richard Montgomery. The expedition successfully attacked St. Johns, Chain b- ley and Montreal, and moved on to attack Quebec, in conjunction with Arnold. After a siege of three weeks, an attempt to take the city by storm was made on the morning of the 31st of December. In the as- sault, Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded, and the great ob- ject of the expedition failed. 48.* Orders of General Montgomery, issued at Montreal, Nov. 15th, 1775. MSS. Book, case 1. In these orders Montgomery entreats his soldiers not to lay him " under the neces- sity of abandoning Canada— of undoing in one day what has been the work of months —of restoring to an enraged and hitherto disappointed enemy the means of carrying on a cruel war into the very bowels of their counti'y." The appeal was successful, and amid the snows of December, and surrounded by many difficulties, the expedition pressed on to join Arnold in the assault upon Quebec. 49. Order from Gen. Wooster to Gen. James Clinton, dated Montreal, Jan. 4th, 1776. Clinton Papers, case 2. This order directed Clinton to " proceed with all possible expedition to the army lately commanded by our brave deceased Gen. Montgomery, and take the command of them till Col. Arnold shall recover from his wounds, or till otherwise ordered." 50. Bill of Col. James Clinton against the United States for expenditures, &c, while on Expedition to Quebec. Amount £95: 13s: 3d. Clinton Papers, case 2. 50£. Letter from Matthew DuBois to his son, Capt. David DuBois, "in the New York Forces, in the Continental Service, at Quebec, in Oanuda<" dated. New Windsor. March 5th, 177G. MS& Book, case 1. CATALOG tE. 21 BURGOYNE'S EXPEDITION. Burgoyne's expedition was the principal feature in the campaign of 1777. It was undertaken by the British Ministry for the purpose of opening direct communication between their forces at New York and Quebec, and thereby sever the Eastern from the Middle and Southern Provinces. It was a "Sherman's march to the Sea," without Sher- man's success. The following papers relate to the movements of tin- expedition, and its surrender to General Gates. 51.* Letter from Mat. Visher to Gov. Clinton, dated "Army above Stillwater, Oct. 7th, 1777, giving information of an engage- ment with the enemy. Misc. Papers, case 2. 52. Letter from John Barclay to Pierre Van Cortland, dated Albany, Oct. 15, 1777, announcing the surrender of Burgoyne. Frame, room F. 53. Order Book of Gen. Bnrgoyne from the time he entered the State until his surrender to Gen. Gates at Saratoga, From ./. O. Bolton. Case 2. This is the Original Order Boob, and contains the Orders issued, the Articles of Capitulation, and the forces surrendered. Of the latter the following is the memo- randum :— British prisoners, :.',ll:.'- Foreigners, 2,194 Gen. Burgoyne and Staff < >fflcers, including- six members of Parliament. 12 sent to Canada, 1,100 sick and wounded, 598 —Total, 0,350. Prisoners before surrender, 600 deserters, 300 Losl ;it Bennington, 1,200— Killed between the 17th September and L5th October, 600— Taken at Ticonderoga, 413— Killed at Gen. Herkimer's battle, 300 Grand total, 9,583, exclusive of Indians, Teamsters and Sutlers. Ordnance, &c, taken: 6 pieces of Cannon .it Bennington :.' Cannon and 4 Royals at Fort Schuyler— 400 set of Harnessand a number of Ammuni- tion Wagons and Horses— 5,000 Stand Of Arms 37 nieces of Cannon. Implement- and Stores. The Book was printed by Joel Munsell, of Albany, in 1877, as one of his His- torical Series. 54. Extra Fishkill Packet, Oct. 21, 1777, announcing the sur- render of Burgoyne. Frame, room F. FORTS MONTGOMERY AND CONSTITUTION. The papers embraced in this series are mainly from the Clinton Papers, presented by James C. Bolton, Esq. The first plan for the defence of Hudson's" river embraced the erec- tion of fortifications in the Highlands, and the obstruction of the navi- gation of the river by means of Booms, Chains, &c. The erection of forts was formally ordered by the Provincial Congress of New York, in 1775. This action was communicated to the Continental Congress, which body, on the 35th May. resolved, "That a post be taken in the Highlands on each side of Hudson's river, and batteries erected/' | n accordance with this resolution, commissioners were appoint-, 1. selected the sites of Forts Montgomery and Constitution, and after 22 Washington's head-quakters. wards that of Fort Clinton. Fort Montgomery was situated on the north side of Poplopen's kill, Fort Constitution on the island opposite West Point, and Fort Clinton on the south [side of Poplopen's kill. The latter was a mere outpost of Fort Montgomery. These forts were reduced by Sir Henry Clinton while on his expedition up the Hudson, to secure a diversion in favor of Burgoyne, Oct. 7, 1777. The defence of Fort Montgomery was conducted with great spirit, and lasted from 2 o'clock, p. m., until dark, when the works were carried by assault. There are several papers in the collection relating to the construction of the forts, &c, included with those more immediately connected with the obstruction of the navigation of the river. 55. Pay-roll of Artificers and others employed by Col. James Clinton, in the service of the United States, at Fort Montgomery, from June 16 to August 1st, 1776— showing names, occupation, days' work, and wages of persons employed. MSS. Book, case 1. 56. Pay-rolFof^Artificers, as above, from August 1st to Decem- ber 1st, 1776. MSS. Book, case 1. 57. Duplicate of above. 58. Return of men employed by the Commissioners of Fort Constitution, June 20, 1776. MSS. Book, case 1. 59. Pay-roll of Artificers and others employed by Brig.-Gen. James Clinton, at Fort Constitution, from Aug. 1st to December 1st, 1776. Clinton Papers, case 2. 60. List of persons employed by the Commissioners at Fort Montgomery, June 21, 1776. Frame, room F. 61. A return of forces stationed at Fort Constitution, July 19, 1776. Case 2. 62.* Letter from Lieut. Oliver Lawrence to Joseph Jackson, dated Fort Montgomery, June, 1777, giving the number of cannon, &c. Case 2. "Fort Montgomery, which has got thirty-five pieces of Cannon "—" Fort Clinton, which has twelve pieces of Cannon, which lies about forty rods from the grand battery." 63. Agreement of Isaac Cromwell and others to do garrison duty at Fort Constitution from Jan. 1st to Jan. 31st, 1777. Frame, room F, 63£. Order issued by Col. Jonathan Hasbrouck, dated New- burgh, Oct. 5th, 1777, directing Lieut. -Col. Cornelius .Masten to march all the men in his company to Fort Montgomery. Frame, room F. Col. Hasbrouck was then the owner and occupant of the Hasbrouck House, now known as Washington's Head-quarters at Newburgh. The order is one of a number issued about the time of its date (preserved in collection elsewhere), the first of which directed Lieut. -Col. Masten to move half of his men. This was followed by the above order requiring him to move all of his company. The first forts in the Highlands CATALOGUE. 2o" were garrisoned by Col. DuBois 1 5th Continental Regiment, and Col. Lamb's artillerj . The militia of the district was made subject to call in case of necessity. This was the condition of the garrisons when they were stormed and taken in ( (ctober, 1777. 64.* List of officers taken prisoners at Fort Montgomery, belonging to Col. DuBois' Regiment. Frame, room F. 65. Copy of the letter from Sir Henry Clinton to General Burgoyne, dated Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8, 1777. Frame, room P. This letter was contained in a silver bullet which was swallowed by the British messenger, Daniel Taylor, on his capture by the Americans, alter the reduction of Fort Montgomery. It is as follows : Fort Montgomery, Oct. 8th, 1778. "iVowsv Void (we are here) and nothing' between us but Gates. I sincerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your operations. In answer to your letter of the 8th September, by C. C, 1 shall say I cannot presume to order, or even ad\ ise, for reasons obvious. I heartily wish you success. Faithfully yours, To General Burgoyne. H. CLINTON." The messenger was captured near Little Britain, was tried as a spy, convicted and huug near Kingston. HUDSON RIVER OBSTRUCTIONS. The papers of this series are entirely from the Clinton Papers pre- sented by Mr. Bolton. The obstruction of the navigation of Hudson's river was a work commenced simultaneously with the erection of forti- fications. On the 16th of July, 1776, the Provincial Convention of New York appointed a Secret Committee to take the work in charge. The papers here preserved embrace the original minutes of the transactions of this committee, map of the chain at Fort Montgomery, letters relat- ing to the obstructions at Fort Washington, Fort Montgomery, West Point, Pallopel's island, &c, and also to the construction of Fire Ships, &c. The principal papers are numbered. The substance of the whole has been published by Mr. Munsell, of Albany, under the title: "Ob- structions to the Navigation of Hudson's River." A portion of the West Point obstruction and also of that at Pallopel's island, now in this collection, will be referred to hereafter. We may remark here that the obstruction at Fort Washington was a Chevaux-de-frize supported by sinking old sloops; that at Fort Montgomery was a Boom and Chain; that at West Point a Boom and Chain; that at Pallopel's island, a Chevaux-de-frize composed of massive pikes projected from .sunken cribs of stone. The papers are in MSS. book, case 1, and accessible on application to Superintendent. SeeNos. 690, 691, 692. 66. Letter from Wm. Duer to Secret Committee in reference to obstructions at Fort Washington, dated July 21st, 1776. 67. Proceedings of Secret Committee, Sept, 23, 1776, in refer- ence to same. 68. Proceedings of Secret Committee, Sept. 27, 1776, showing purchase of vessels to complete obstructions at Fort Washington. 24 Washington's 'head-quakters. 69. Draft of letter to Gen. Washington, dated Sept. 27, detail- ing proceedings of Committee. 70. Instructions to Capt. North by Committee, Sept. 27. 71. Letter from Tench Tilghman to Convention of New York, dated Oct. 6, 1776, in reference to the passage up the river of the English ships of war. Tench Tilghnian was one of Washington's aids-de-camp, and was with him dur- ing his occupation of the Hasbrouck house at Newburgh. 72. Letter from Richard Carey, Jr., A. D. C, dated July 12, in reference to same subject. This was the first passage up the river of the Rose and Pfuznix. Case 2. 73. Proceedings of first meeting of Secret Committee at Fort Montgomery, July 19, 1777, in reference to obstructions at that place. 74. Letter from Robert Yates, Chn. of Com., to the Provincial Convention, dated July 21. 75. Letter from Robert Yates to Gen. Washington, " apprising him of our proceedings." 76. Proceedings of Secret Committee, July 25. 77. Draft of letter to Gen. Schuyler, in reference to the Chain at Fort Ticonderoga. 78. Reply of General Schuyler. 79. Memorandum showing the manner of charging Fire Ships and rafts. 80. Certificate showing the services rendered by Capt. Hazle- wood in constructing and charging Fire Rafts. 81. Proceedings of Secret Committee, July 27. Also, Nos. 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, for other dates. 87. Correspondence, Bills, &c, in connection with obstruc- tions at Fort Montgomery. 88. Letter from Gov. Clinton in reference to the obstructions at Pallopel's island. 89. Letter from Gov. Clinton on the same subject. 90. Other papers relating to the same subject. 91. Extract from a letter from Washington to Provincial Convention, dated July 27, in reference to passage up the river of the English fleet, and suggesting the employment of Row (ialleys against them. Misc. Papers, case 2. 92. List of articles received by Adam Morgan, to be delivered by him to Capt. Hazlewood, to be used in constructing Fire Ships. CATALOGUE. 25 93. Letter from Robert Yates to Gilbert Livingston in relation to Fire Rafts, July 22d, 1776, with signatures of Committee. 94. Copy original resolutions appointing the Secret Committee. 95. Copy of Instructions to Gilbert Livingston in relation to Fire Rafts, with signatures of Committee. 96. Letter from Nathaniel Woodhull, President of Provincial Convention, to Secret Committee, informing them of their appoint ment on a committee for the organization of a new Government. 97. Original draft of letter in reply to Woodhull. BEACONS AND SIGNALS. Beacon lights and flags, and signal cannon, were employed during the Revolution to convey intelligence of the movements of the enemy. Tl it- Highlands of the Hudson were prominent Bea- con Stations. We learn from the second paper embraced in this series, that the Signal Beacon, or the Beacon that gave the signal to other Bea- cons, was on Butter Hill, and that the Beacons on the opposite hills were subordinate to it. The Beacon-pyres were pyramidal in form, made of logs filled in with brush and inflammable mater- ials, and carried to a height of thirty feet. 98. General Orders, dated Poughkeepsie, March 18, 1778, giving the number of signal guns to be fired on approach of enemy up the river. Misc. Papers, case 2. 99*. Letter from Gen. Heath to Gov. Clinton, dated Robinson House, showing the locations of the Beacons. Misc. Papers. case 2. PRIVATEERING. The papers of this series are known as the Miller papers. They were among the effects of the late Judge Smith, and wen- presented to the collection by Thos. C. Kin-, Esq. Abraham Miller, to whom they belonged, was a merchant at Hast Hartford. The papers are in MSS. Book, case 1, and accessible on application to Supennten The attention of the Continental Congress was directed to the - ject of a Navy in 1775. Before definite action had been taken, how- 26 Washington's head-quabtees. ever, Washington fitted out five or six armed vessels at Boston as Privateers. Congress subsequently affirmed this action, and formally authorized the granting of Letters of Marque and Reprisal. Very little is known of the number of vessels engaged in privateering service, or of their operations. It is asserted, however, that the number of vessels captured by American cruisers during the war was eight hundred and three, and that the value of merchandise obtained amounted to over eleven millions. In the papers here preserved will be found many facts relating to the operations of the privateer company, in whose service Miller acted as agent. The vessels employed by the company were the sloop Game Cock, schooner Ship Jack, brigatine Marshall, sloop Re- venge, schooner .Raven, sloop Hawk, ship Gen. Hancock, and armed boats American Revenue, Arnold and Independence. The prizes taken were the ship Charity, captured by the ship Gen. Hancock, command- ed by Ishmael Hardy; the brig Allday and schooner Fanny, taken by the schooner Raven; the sloop Sally, captured by boats Arnold and In- dependence, commanded by Moses Butler and Grurdon Burnham; the ship Lovely Lass, taken by sloop American Revenue, Capt. Samuel Champlin, and sloop Revenge, Capt. James Conkling; prizes taken by sloop Game Cock, Capt. Richard Reynolds; prizes taken by brig Mar- shall, Capt. Thos. Buckley. The papers are not consecutively num- bered. They embrace a large number of receipts, letters, day book, and memorandum book, etc. Of the letters the following are of most interest: 107. Letter from Giles Hollister to Abraham Miller, New Lon- don, 6th August, 1781, in reference to an unsuccessful cruise of the schooner Raven. Hollister says: "We fell in with the Genl. Arnold from New York, carrying twelve four-pounders and a number of howitzers. After running- from her six hours she gave us the lirst broadside, and then an action commenced which lasted but a short time. She got so much damaged that she was obliged to quit her station, and make the best of her way from us. We had hve men wounded, two of them badly." 109. Letter from E. Miller, Jr., to his brother Abraham, dated Morristown, Aug. 9, 1777, giving prices current and intelligence of the movements of the enemy's fleet. From other letters of the series written by E. Miller, Jr., it would appear that he was employed as a sutler near the American army. His letters furnish many details of army movements and other causes affecting prices of goods, and constitute at least a partial inside view of the rebellion. CONSPIRACIES. These manuscripts are principally from the Clinton Papers presented by Mr. Bolton. The organization of Committees, in the several Cities, Towns, Precincts, &c, of the Colony, for detecting and defeating con- spiracies, was directed by a resolution of the Committee of Safety of CATALOGUE. 27 the Provincial Convention of New York, March 27, 1776. These com- mittees were empowered to "cause to be disarmed all persons within their respective districts who are known to be disaffected to the cause of America." By a subsequent Act of the Provincial Convention, a Board of Commissioners, with general powers for the same purpose was, appointed. 110.* Letter from Charles Clinton, Chairman of the Commit- tee of Hanover Precinct, dated Aug. 15, 1776, in reference to an ex- amination of William Brown and Doct. John Hunt, by the Coin mittee of Six-Mile Run in East Jersey. Clinton Papers, case 1. 111. Original Minutes of an examination of Beverly Robinson by the Committee appointed for " Enquiring into, Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies," and the Board of Commissioners appoint- ed for the same purpose, held Feb. 22d, 1777. Presented by the late Col. Isaiah Townsend. Frame, room F. These proceedings are of deep interest, and show that the sympathies of Kobinson were with the Ministry from the first, and that he was only restrained from openlj avowing' his sentiments by pecuniary considerations. Heapproved the course of liis son in joining the English forces, and refused to take the oath of allegiance to i In- state. 112. Extract from Proceedings of Committee of Safety, dated Fishkill, Sept. 13, 1776, directing the Committee of Hanover Pre- cinct to arrest Jacob Peets, Johannes Snyder, Andries Harh, and John Archibald, as "persons inimical to the cause of American Liberty." 113. Letter from John R. Livingston to Robert Yates, dated Claremont, July 25, 1776, stating that Mr. Tappen had been badly beaten by some people at Esopus. Christopher Tappen was prominent in tin- Provincial Convention. He wasa mem- ber of the Secret Committee for obstructing the navigation of Hudson's river, and held other important stations. At this time he was one of the Commissioners for Detecting Conspiracies, and the beating lie received was at the hands of Tories. 114. Letter from Robert Beusou, Secretary of Committee of Safety, to Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies in Orange Co., dated Poughkeepsie, Sept. 16, L777. MSS. Book, case 1. In this letter it is stated that "theenemj al New York have determined to suffer no more nags to come down by water until a flag with notice thereof be previously sent in by land," and that the Commissioners should act accordingly. Also, dir that Fletcher Matthews and Thomas Bull be confined in goal for exchange th.-> hav- ing refused the oath of allegiance to theState wherethej were to "receive similar treatment with that of our friends who have been confined in the Provosl goal at New York." Orange County, at that time, was principally south of Murderer's creek. 115. Official order to Isaac Nicoll, from Zephaniah Piatt and others, Commissioners, directing the arrest of certain persons. 28 Washington's head-quarters, 116. Proceedings of Provincial Convention of State of New York, at sessions held March 5th and April 9th, 1777, in reference to the powers of Commissioners for the Detection of Conspiracies — appointing persons to "take into their custody and dispose of the property of ill-disposed persons,' 1 &c. MSS. Book, case 1. 117. Proceedings of Convention, May 13, on same subject. 118. Warrant issued by Commissioners for the arrest of Steph- en Reeder. LETTERS FROM WASHINGTON AND HIS OFFICERS. 119."" Letter from Washington to General Gage, dated Cam- bridge, Aug. 8, 1775, in reference to prisoners. Frame, room F. This is an original copy of the celebrated letter from Washington to Genl. Gage. It is written in a tone of the purest patriotism, and exhibits the supercilious conduct of Genl. Gage in no very flattering terms. " You affect, sir, to despise all rank not derived from the same source with your own. I cannot conceive one more honorable than that which flows from the uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people, the purest source and original foundation of all power." * * "If your officers, our prisoners, receive a treatment from me different from what I wished to show them, they and you will remember the occasion of it." This copy is in the handwriting- of Joseph Read, at that time Washington's Aid and Secretary. Read was the author of the noble sentiment, " I am not worth purchasing, but such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it." 120.* Letter of Invitation from Washington to Dr. Thomas, requesting the company of the latter at dinner. Frame, room F. Dr. Thomas was a Surgeon in the Massachusetts line, at that time encamped at New Windsor. Washington's Head-quarters were at Newburgh, and the dinner re- fex-red to was served in the " room with seven doors and one window." 121.* Letter from Washington to Gov. Clinton, dated Dobbs' Ferry, Aug. 10, 1781, giving information of the intention of emis- saries to seize the person of the Governor. Frame, room F. " I am informed," says the letter, " that George Hai-den, James Kiltz, one Boice of Duchess County, and a fourth person whose name is not noted, are promised a very considerable reward if they will seize upon your person and conduct you to New York." The closing years of the Revolution were rife with attempts to abduct some of the leading patriots. Tradition locates an attempt to betray Washington at a dinner party at a house late the residence of Mr. Hale, now occupied by the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, near Quassaick creek. Doct. Thacher, in his Journal, under date of June 30, 1781, says : " Private intelligence from a confidential source, we understand, has been received at Head-quarters, that a plan has been concocted in New York to end out four parties— one to assassinate or take Genl. Washington; another, Gov. Livingston, of New Jersey; a third, Gov. Clinton, of New York; and the fourth is unknown. Measures will undoubtedly be adopted to guard against and defeat this singular enterprise." 122. Letter from Washington to Mr. S. L., declining the "honor of his dedication." Presented by Abel Corwin, Esq. Frame, room F. CATALOGUE. 29 123. Letter from La Fayette, addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth Ham- ilton, widow of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, dated "On Board the Norfolk Steam Boat, Feb. 24th, 1825." Presentedby Mrs. Zabriskie. Frame, room F. 126.* Letter from LaFayette, dated LaGrange, July 1st, 1832, accepting an invitation to attend a public dinner of Americans in Paris, on the Anniversary of American Independence. Presented by the late Prof. S. P. B. Morse, to whom it was addressed and who was present on the occasion. Frame, room F. During the encampment of the army at New Windsor, 1774-80, LaFayette was a frequent guest at Washington's Head-quarters at the Ellison house. The house occu- pied by him at New Windsor is still standing. 127.* Letter from Baron Steuben to Gov. Clinton, dated New Windsor, April 10, 1782. Frame, room P. The Baron states that he had just completed a review of the troops, and adds: " The appearance of the New York Line does them the greatest honor. The men are exceedingly well clothed and armed." The letter also commends to Executive favor the son of Col. Weisenfeldt's who had served in the state Levies. While t he arms was encamped at Newburgh, Steuben had his Head-quarters at the Verplanck house, FishkiU. 128. Letter from Major-General Knox, to William Smith, dat- ed Philadelphia, April 7th. 1791. Frame, room F. 7",.;. l\'--r<..- is in reference to the possibility of opening an inland aavigation from Connecticut river to Boston— a project which the writer admits is " more conformable to my wishes than to the real nature of the object." but i< nevertheless " determined to ascertain its practicability by some able surveyor," for which purpose John Mills had been employed "to" investigate the subject and to ascertain by actual surveys whether it be practicable or nor." We believe Genl. Knox also projected a canal from Albany to Hudson, and that it was partially constructed. 129." Letter from Lord Stirling to Governor Clinton, dated Albany, Dec. 14, 1782, requesting information in reference to the discharge of the State Levies. Frame, room F. 131.* Letter from Aaron Burr to Eansom Halloway, dated FishkiU, Oct, 1, 1815, in reference to a suit in law. requesting the lat- ter to have evidence ready. Of interest only as an autograph. Frame, room F. 132. Letter from Major-General St. Clair to James Bate, A. D. Q. M., dated Morristown, March 23d, 1777, in reference to con- veying a sum of money to Peekskill for the use of the Armv. Frame, room A. 133* Letter from Genl. Heath to Gov. Clinton, dated High- lands May 8th, 1782, in reference to four or five persons confined in Provost Prison, at West Point, by the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. ' la8( Gen. Heath entered the American army in 1775, and continued in the service until the close of the war. The principal theatre of his operations i Hudson. He commanded at West Point after the treason of Arnold. The Provost Pri Point, was a retaliatory institution where English prison "Hilar to that servwl out to American prieuiKJre in ttou bid Provost in Nfcw 1 brk. \ito! 114,.) 30 Washington's head-quarters. MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 134. Letter from Kobert Morris, dated Sept. 30, 1784, resign- ing his place as Superintendent of Finance. Frame, room F. Robert Morris was a delegate to Congress from Pennsylvania. He was very active in establishing the first Bank of the United States. In 1780 he accepted the appoint- ment of Superintendent of Finance. His personal credit contributed in no small degree to the procuring of money for the public service. " I want money for the use of the army," said Morris to a Quaker friend. "What security canst thee give?" asked the lender. " My note and my honor," responded Morris. " Robert, thou shalt have it," was the prompt reply. 135. Letter from George Clinton to his brother Charles, dated King's-Bridge, Sept. 12, 1776, in reference to the attack of the British on New York, and the retreat of the American forces. The loss of the Americans is stated at "700 killed and taken, but mostly taken/' Frame, room F. 136. Letter from Genl. James Clinton, dated Aug. 30, 1779. Frame, room F. This letter was written while Clinton was on the expedition to chastise the Six Nations of Indians. The Six Nations, though strongly urged to remain neutral, were ultimately induced to take up the hatchet in the service of the English government, with which they had been in alliance for over one hundred years. After they had made repeated incursions on the frontier settlements, it was determined to send an expedition and lay waste their towns. For this purpose Genls. Sullivan and Clinton marched— the former from Easton, Pa., into the valley of the Susquehanna, and the latter from Albany into the Mohawk Valley— and united their forces in the Indian country. The expedition was entirely successful. Thirty-six Indian towns were burned. In this letter Clinton gives an account of an engagement with Col. Butler and his Tories and Indians, and other matters. 137. Note of Patrick Henry, promising to pay Philip Ryan " twelve pounds ten shillings." Case 2. 138. Letter from D. Brinckerhoff to Gudsbert Schenck, dated Philadelphia, March 6, 1775. MSS. book, case 1. In this letter the particulars of an Election Riot in Philadelphia are given. The occasion was the election of Delegates to the first general Congress at New York. The supporters of the Ministry opposed the election, but were defeated. Says the letter : " We have had the greatest and warmest day ever known in this city before, among all ranks of people, about choosing Delegates. Each party met in the fields and walked down to the Exchange, where they met, and it is agreed on all hands that such a number was never together before. * * They had not met five minutes before the fists and sticks began to play very brisk for some time, so that many abloody nose, broken head, and wounded arm was got till they got tired of that work and proceeded to business, but it was soon decided in favor of delegates." The reputation of Philadelphia for Election Riots does not appear to be altogether of modern origin. 139. From same to same, dated Philadelphia, March 10, 1776. MSS.Ibook, case 1. 140.* Letter from Abm. Schenck, dated Aug. 11, 1776. MSS4book,'case, 1. CATALOGUE. 31 141.* Letter from Samuel A. Barker to his brother, dated Caiup-near-Hudson, Sept. 20. 1777. Misc. Papers, case 2. This letter gives an account of the movements of the army. The writer states that his " spirits are good," ami that he has "no doubt wheneverwe have an oppor- tunity to meet the enemy, without the assistance of their Bhips, we shall, with the blessing of Heaven, meet with success." 142.* Letter from George Leonard to Genl. James Clinton, dated Oct. 24, 1777, announcing the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British. Frame, room F. 143. Letter from Kobert Harpur, dated Fishkill, Jan. 16, 1777, in reference to public affairs. Kobert Harper was a leading member of the Provincial Convention, and also a member of the Secret Committee for obstructing the navigation of Hudson's river. 144. Letter from Pierre Van Cortland, President, and Evert Bancker, Speaker of the Provincial Convention of New York, dated Jan. 30, 1780, addressed to Matthew Van Benschoten and others, committee of Rombout precinct. Misc. Papers, case 2. In this letter it is stated that the troops of the New York Line" are almost desti" tute of shirts," and directs the Committee to appeal to the " Patriotism and Humanity of the Country, and endeavor to obtain a supply by voluntary and gratuitous sub- scription.'" The army suffered severe privations during the Winter of L779 80. Wash- ington writes : "At one time the soldiers ate every kind of horse food but hay." Clothing became so scarce in the Highlands that a building was erected at Fishkill as a retreat for naked men. Soldiers patched their clothes until patchesand clothes both gave out, and then they were sent to this retreat for naked men. England's de- claration of war against Holland, at this time, saved the American army from destruc- tion, as it induced Holland to send money to aid the rebellion. 145.* Letter from Ezekiel Hyatt, of Crompond, Westchester Co., to Jos. Jackson, of Fishkill, dated July 6, 1777. Hyatt writes: " Huson is out after your horses, and is to have a hundred guineas for them if he gets them." Joseph Huson, the man referred to, was a notorious free- booter fed a perfect terror to the inhabitants of Westchester county. He was killed by Seth Whitney in the house of Genl. Bernardus .Montrose, in Crompond. 'See 208.) 146. Letter from Samuel Townsend to his wife, Sarah Town- send, dated Provost Prison, New York, AugustJ3, 1781. Townsend had the misfortune to be taken prisoner, and was confined in Provosi Prison He writes: " I en joy a tolerably good Mateo! health, and am well supplied with the necessaries of life." He requests that Mr. Sackett and others should make effort to secure his exchange. 147.* Letter from Nathaniel Tom to Thomas Bodmau, dated Plymouth, Nov. 26, 1777. Misc. Papers, case 2. Tom was in service in the Massachusetts line. ThelateUzal Knapp represented him as a man of herculean frame and greal power of endurance. 148.* Letter from Daniel Lyman, Aid-de-camp, dated Peeks- kill, Sept. 10, 1781. Misc - Papers, case 2. Directs an examination of all persons passing the Continental ferry at New Wind- sor, as some soldiers had escaped from the Southern army. The Continental ferry- was incorporated in the Newburgh Ferry after the war. 32 Washington's head-quarters. 149.* Letter from Daniel McDonald, Lieut. 3d Penns. Reg., to Washington, dated April 12, 1778, asking for leave of absence. Frame, room F. 150. Letter from Lieut. J. Brouson, dated American lanes, Sept. 24, 5.1781. Presented by Major O. W. B. Tompkins. Frame, room A. 151. Letter from J. Burnet to Lord Stirling, dated West Point, Oct. 26. 1774. Presented by Major G. W. B. Tompkins. Frame, room A. 152. Letter from Jno. Pray, dated Nyack, March 23d, 1782. Relates to materials for building boat for the Water-Guard. Pre- sented by Major O. W. B. Tompkins. Frame, room A. 153. Order of Governor and Council of Safety of Connecticut, July 27, 1776, granting to New York the loan of twenty cannon, and other supplies. With autograph signature of Jonathan Trumbull, Governor. Case 2. The cannon referred to were obtained to assist in the defence of the City of New York. Jonathan Trumbull was not only one of the most inflexible patriots, but it was from him that the American people take the sobriquet, " Brother Jonathan." ANDRE AND SMITH PAPERS. The treason of Arnold, and the fate of Andre are too familiar to readers of history to require special notice. The original papers of this series are the letters of the Smiths— William, Thomas and Joshua H. William was Chief Justice of New York, and the author of " Smith's History of New York." Joshua was a physician. Thomas alone pro- fessed attachment to the American cause. It was to the house of Dr. Joshua, two and-a-half miles from Stony Point, that Arnold conducted Andre after their midnight interview. Here Smith concealed Andre all the next 'day, furnished him with coat, saddle and bridle, and ac- companied him part of the way to New York. Smith then rejoined his family at Fishkill, where he had temporary residence, and where he was arrested for complicity in Arnold's proceedings. He was tried be- fore a court-martial and imprisoned in Goshen jail, from whence he es- caped (May 22, 1781), reached New York, and subsequently accom- panied the British army on its return to England, where he soon found it necessary to defend himself against the charge of having betrayed Andre to his captor, for which purpose he issued a small, and now very rare book, in which he gave a full account of the affair, as well as of the manner of his own escape from Goshen jail. 155. Proceedings of the Board of General Officers convened for the trial of Andre, Sept. 20, 1780. One of the pamphlets imieti afcfon after the trial, Frame, room F. CATALOGUE. 33 156. Copy of some of the papers found on the person of Andre at the time of his arrest, Misc. Papers, case 2. 157.* Letter from Joshua H. Smith to Governor Clinton, dated Goshen, Nov. 11, 1780. Misc. Papers, case 2. This letter was written during Smith's confinement in the Goshen jail. In it he complains that his health is being seriously Injured; ami requests thai his imprison- ment may soon terminate. 158.* Letter from Thomas Smith to Governor Clinton, dated Sept. 15th, 1730. Misc. Papers, case 2. In this letter Smith requests the privilege of an interview with his brother Wil- liam in reference to family affairs. 159. Letter from William Smith to Thomas', dated October 12, 1780, in reference to Joshua H. Smith, and other matters. Misc. Papers, case 2. 160. Letter from Thomas Smith to Governor Clinton, enclos- ing letter from William Smith, and requesting the privilege of cor- responding with him, dated Oct. 16, 1780. Misc. Papers, case 2. 161. Letter from Governor Clinton to Thomas Smith. Misc. Papers, case 2. In this letter Gov. Clinton denies the requests of Thomas Smith from the "very extraordinary and exceptional conduct of Mr. William Smith,'' which renders it his duty to prevent, as far as in his power, "every kind of communication and inter- course with him." Clinton studied law in the office of Judge Smith, and his determi- nation in this matter has additional interest from the fact of previous persona] friendship. 162. Letter from Peter R. Livingston to William Smith, Esq., dated Poughkeepsie, Oct. 2, 1780. Misc. Papers, case 2. In this letter Livingston, who was an active Republican, requests Smith never to write to him " again during the present contest." Smith's reputation must have been at low ebb when to receive letters from him was regarded with suspicion. CLAUDIUS SMITH PAPERS The papers of this series came into the possession of the late Samuel W. Eager, and were presented by his son, F. S. EaRT Lee Block-House en Backgrounds. 68 Washington's head-quaetees. 692.* A portion of the boom obstructing the river at West Point. Taken from the bottom of the river opposite the old West Point dock, by Bishop's derrick, in 1856. It is composed of massive links secured by bands to the logs by which they were floated. The boom was placed on the south side of the chain and was the most formidable obstruction of the two. In Out-house. 693. Wheel of a cannon carriage. Raised in Hudson's River on the anchor of sloop E. A. McAllister, Capt. T. L. Wotton, and by him presented. In Out-house. 694. Bell. Formerly in use on the John Ellison place (Knox's Head-quarters), in New Windsor, and was also used in connection with the first M. E. Church edifice in Orange County. Bell bears the date of 1762. In Out-house. 695. Door of the " famous Block-house, near Fort Lee, in Bergen woods." Shown on engraving No. 692. From Judge Suf- fern, Rockland County. In Out-house. The Block-house to which this was the door, was that which Genl. Wayne unsuc- cessfully attacked in 1780. The house was occupied by a British picket for the protec- tion of Tories, wood-choppers, cattle, etc., on Bergen Neck. Wayne was sent to capture the works and drive the cattle into the American lines. When he arrived on the ground he found that he could not make an impression on the Block-house with musket balls, and as he had no artillery to help him he retired without glory or cattle. His failure was the text of Andre's satirical poem, " The Cow Chase "— " And now I've closed my epic strain. I tremble as I show it, Lest this same warrior-drover Wayne Should ever catch the poet." TROPHIES FROM THE STATE ARSENAL. Room B. 700. One Trophy Cimeter— blade marked with peculiar em- blems — a relic of the Revolution. Case 6. 701. Two Trophy Sabres — from Lundy's Lane — war of 1812. 702. Six Cavalry Sabres— war of 1812. 703. Four Cutlasses— war of 1812. 704. Six Broadswords — war of 1812. 705. Twenty French muskets — part of the number obtained in France by La Fayette, and with which the Corps which he com- manded in 1780 was armed. The Corps which La Fayette commanded in 1780, was composed of selected men who were returned to their original regiments in October of that year. Thacher writes of this Corps : " He (La Fayette) has spared no time or expense to render his CATALOGUE. 69 corps of infantry as line a body of troops as can be produced in any country; every officer under his command received from him a present of an eleganl sword, and the soldiers were put in uniform tnosl l.v at his own expense." The guns were rel urned to the State of New Vork as pari of its quota, at the close of the war. 706. Twenty-six English Muskets. Taken from the Hessians at Trenton, by Washington, Dec. 2G, 177G. 707. Twelve English Pistols. Taken at Trenton as above. Case 6. 708. Two Ellis Rifles — for four charges — sliding lock. An ex- perimental rifle. 709. One of Hall's Rifles — loading at breech. Experimental. 710. Four Stock Lock Muskets. 711. A number of Cannon Balls. Two Tube Canisters. Hand Grenade, used at Saratoga. 712. Two Pole-axes or Boarding-axes — taken from the English by Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813. 713. Two Cartridge-boxes, used in the war of Revolution. Case 6. 714. Cartridge-box — taken from the body of a dead soldier at Plattsburgh. The bullet-hole will be observed. 715. Six Bayonet-scabbards and Belts of the Revolution ; and Scabbards and Belts of 1812. 716. Six State, Canteens— war of 1812. 717. A number of S. N. Y. Knapsacks — 1812. Up-stairs. 718. A number of S. N. Y. Cartridge-boxes— 1812. 719. Four Knapsacks of the Revolution. 720. Two State Standards. In service and riddled with balls in the battle of Plattsburgh, 1814. Upstairs. 725. Two Cannon Sponge Boxes. SUPPLEMENTARY CATALOGUE. 800. Canoe paddles from the Sandwich Islands. 801. Indian War Club. 802. New Zealand War Club. 803. Skeleton Fish Head. 70 Washington's head-quaktees. 804. Brass Trumpet. 805. Sword of Sword-fish. 806. " " 807. Indian Arrow. 808. Skeleton Head. 809. Saw of Saw-fish. 810. Indian Sword of South Sea Islands. 811. Saw of Saw-fish. 812. 813. Skeleton of Shark's Head. 814. Fancy Pipe. 815. Pipe — Amber mouth-piece. 816. Sword found on battle-field of Minisink. Case 6. 817. Iudian Spears. Against beam. The foregoing (Nos. 800-817) are from the estate of the late Rev. John Brown, D. 1)., ure without history other than stated, and are in case 5, unless otherwise stated. 818. Six-lb. Cannon Ball. Found August, 1878, 5 feet below surface in front of 92 Water street, New burgh, by Patrick Kelly. 819. Ball dug up on ea-t side of Hudson River, opposite Forts Montgomery and Clinton. Presented by J. 11. llqggerty, of Sara- toga. 820. Ball, ploughed up at Fort Washington, N. Y., July, 18G3. Presented by It. G. Itankin 821. Ball ploughed up in preparing for foundations of Hat Works at Fishkill Landing in 1885. Presented by Mrs. Leivis Tomp- kins. Case 5. 822. Conical Shell. 822£. Grape Shot. Found imbedded in solid rock, fourteen feet below the surface,in excavating site of Wright Engine Works, 1882— had probably worked its way down in a crevice of the slate rock. Deposited by L. B. Terhune. 823. Sword of Sword-fish. Presented by M. G.Almy. Case 4. 824. Coffee Pot. Taken from the Hessians at Trenton, Dec. 26, 177C. Presented by M. G. Aim y. Case 4. 825. Bolt of the Lock of the Vault in which Washington was first buried. Presented by M. G. Almy. Case 3. CATALOGUE. 71 826. Power of attorney issued by Washington to Gov. Gtorge Clinton in 1795, empowering him to sell lands in the State of New York. Prtsenttd by Lindenwctld Lodye, No. 442, 7". O. of O. F., of Hudson, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1878. Frame, room A. 827. Letter from Col. A. Thompson to Washington, dated Fort Rennselaer on Mohawk river, Feb. 24, 1783, giving an account of the expedition against Fort Oswego. The expedition was di- rected by Washington, but failed of success for reasons in this let- ter stated. Presented by \V. Ii. T. Johnston, great-grandson of the writer. Frame, room A. 828. Copper Tea-Keltle. From Mrs. Kachel Loughran, New- burgh, N. Y., a family heirloom since 17G5. Formerly the property of Mrs. Matthew Jansen. of Shawangunk, N. Y. Room A. 829. Dishes used by Genl, Washington at his head-quarters at Gowanus, L. I., previous to the battle of Long Island, August 27th, 1770. Presented by Charles L. Brown, of West Newbur^h. Case 3. 830. Wafer Box. Used by Washington during the Revolu- tion. Presented by M. G. Almy. Case 3. 831. Cob Pipe. Presented by M. G. A buy. Case 3. 832. Ball Screw. Found in the cartridge-box of a Hessian soldier taken prisoner at Trenton by John Cassedy, of Bergen county, N. J., 1776. Presented by Samuel Cassed//, of Jersey City. Case 4. 833. Ghsses worn by Samuel Sackett, of Blooming-Grove, N. Y. Presented by D. T. Brown. Case 4. 834 and 835. Glasses. Both pairs old enough to have some record, but none has been kept. Case 3. 83G. Key and Handle to Door of old block-house " Mclutire," near York, Me., built in 1070 as a defence against the Indians. Case 3. 837. A variety of Confederate Relics. Case 3. 838. Hat worn by Uz d Knapp, the last of Washington's Guard. Claimed to have been presented by Washington. Case 3. 839. German Lock. From the ruins of an old still-house on the farm of Nathl. Seeley, in the town of Blooming-Grove. Case 3. 840. Piece of Electric Win? rsed at the explosion of the rocks at Hurl-gate, in 187G. Presented by Samuel Bowers. Case 4. 841. Pet rifled Chicken. A genuine article. Presented hy Mrs. David A. Mabie. Case 4. 842. Italian Knife. Presented foj Steele Harrison. Case 4. 72 Washington's head-quarteks. 843. Ancient Knives that may have had useful lives without telling any lies. Case 4. 844. Camp Candlestick of the Revolutionary era and claimed to have been used by Washington. Presented by M. G. Almy. Case 4. 845. Knee Buckles, said to have b een worn by Genl. Greene. Case 4. 845^-. Indian Bowl. (See Indian implements.) 846. Pistol found in the grave of an Omaha chief in 1870, after being buried 30 years, at Port Calhoun, Neb. Presented by E. B. Pierce. Case 6. 847. An old Colt Revolver. Found buried at Newburgh. Pre- sented by M. G. Almy. Case 6. 848. Pair of Confederate Trophy Pistols in the Holsters (849) from Manassas, Va. Case 6. 850. Plan of the city of New York in 1728. Presented by J. Myers. Frame, room B. 851. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United States, by Baron de Steuben, Sept. 20, 1776, with draw- ings. A most interesting and valuable contribution. Presented by Charles Bush. Frame, room B. 852. Bill of Robert Erskine, Ring wood Iron Works, against Tliomas Machin and John Nicoll for the United States, for mater- ials used in the obstructions to the navigation of the Hudson at Fort Montgomery, 1777. Loaned by Lieut. W. L. Nicoll, U. S. N. Frame, room B. 855. Boston and Gazette Country Journal, March 12, 1770, containing account of "Boston Massacre." Lithograph copy. Pre- sented by Vhas. W. Springer, Englewood, N. J. Frame, room B. 856. Two Bricks from the Great Wall of China. Presented by Mr. Jansen, for many years a resident of Peking. Room B. 857. Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declara- tion of Independence. Presented by E. M. Buttenber. Frame, room A. 858. Views of Washington's Head-quarters, viz: Miller House at White Plains, N. Y.; DeWitt House at Tappan, N. Y.; Smith House at Haveratraw, N. Y. ; House at Pompton, N. J., and Withe House, Williamsburgh, Va. These were only temporarily in oc- cupation. Presented by E. M. Buttenber. Frame, room A. 859. View of Building and Rooms of Washington's Head- quarters at Morristown, N. J. Presented by the Trustees. Frame, room A. CATALOGUE. 73 860. Original of the Stars and Stripes, with Pedigree of Wash- ington. Frame, room A. 861. Sketch of Bunker Hill Battle. Fresentedby Wm. Stocker. Frame, hall. 862. Government House, New York. Erected in 1790 for resi- dence of President U. S. Subsequently occupied by Govs. Clinton and Jay, and afterwards as the Custom House until 1815, when it was taken down. Presented by Mrs. Jane Growney, Orange, N. J. Frame, hall. 863. Staff and Officers of Putnam Phalanx, of Hartford, Conn. Veneering and carving of frame from wood of the Charter Oak. Presented by the Company. Frame, hall. 864. Two Chairs. Formerly owned and used by DeWitt Clin- ton. Preserved in the Conger family. Presented by J. H. H. Chap- man. Hall. 865. " An Original View of the Encampment of the Massachu- setts soldiers during the last year of the Revolutionary War," from drawings made by William Tarbell, a private in Capt. Noah Allen's company of the 7th Mass. Continentals. Copied from the originals by Caldwell & Garrison, Civil Engineers, and finished by Thos. B. Pope, Artist, etc. Frame, room F. 866. .Letter from Michael Jackson, dated Goshen, April 15, 1754. Deposited by Clark Galatian. Jackson was one of the first settlers of Goshen and a leading man of the pioneer era. Case 2. 867. Parchment Deed to Samuel Crawford, 1756. Deposited by Clark Galatian. Case 2. 868. Parchment Deed to John Milliken, 1758. Presented by Clark Galatian. Case 2. Crawford and Milliken were early settlers on the parent to Jas. Alexander in the town of Montgomery. 869. Autograph of President James Madison. Case 2. 870. Autograph of President James Buchanan. Both num- bers presented by Henry L. Toplitz, of New York City. < !ase 2. 871. Autograph of G. W. Werdler, better known as "Kit ('ar- son." Presented by J. W. Burdick. ('use 2. 872. Engraving of the Capitol of Connecticut at Hartford. Pre- sented by Putnam Phalanx. Frame, room H. 873. Corps Badges of army of the United States, 1865. Frame, room H. 874. Photograph of Original Painting of Washington by Chas. W. Peale, executed in 1786 by Bernard Gallagher of Dumfield, Prince William, Co., Va. Presented by Rev. Mason Gallaght r. Frame, room G. 74 Washington's head-quarters. 875. Copy of Original Miuiature of Genl. Washington, taken from life at the siege of Boston in 1775. Frame, room G. 876. Copy of Original Miniature of Martha Washington, taken from life at the time of the first presidency, 1787. Frame, room G. 877. Oil Painting of Joel Barlow. Copied from original painting by Robert Fulton (1805) by his grandson, Robert Fulton Ludlow, and presented by him. Frame, room Of. Joel Barlow was a Chaplain in the Army of the lievolution, and subsequently earned the title of " Poet and Politician," the former through his well-known poem, " The Coluinbiad," and the latter from his connection with government service. He was appointed Embassador to France in 1811, and died in 1812, near Cracow, when on his way to a conference with Napoleon I. at Wilua. 878. Bible used by Joel Barlow, Chaplain, at Encampment in New Windsor, and presented by him to Mrs. Saml. Brewster, where he resided, in 1783. Case 2. 879. Part of Bible brought from Dublin in 171G by Eev. Francis Peppard, first pastor of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, New Windsor, N. Y., and used to preach from. Case 2. 880. Flag presented to Co. B, 3d N. I 7 . V., by ladies of Balti- more in 18G1. Room A. Company B, Capt. S. W. Fullerton, Jr., was recruited in Newburgh, and was the first company raised in the State of New York in 1S01, although not the first mustered into service. 881. Petrified Tree Stump, found in the Yellowstone Park during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Pre- sented by Capt. J. M. Dickey and Major W. 11. Weston, of New- buryh. Room A. 882. Almanac of 177G. Presented hj I\ter W. Fuller, of New- burgh. Case 2. 833. Journal of the Yotes and Proceedings of the General As- sembly of the colony of New York, 1743-1745, Vol. 2. Presented by Thomas 11. Oram, of Highland Falls, N. Y., through Hon. Peter Ward. Case 1. 884. Elk's Head. Presented l>y J. K. Jeffrey, Cheyenne. Up-stairs. 885. Watch Case. Presented' by the late Margaret Carter Wool- sey. Case 3. 880. Piece of Flag-ship Constitution — " Old Ironsides." Pre- sented by IK. J. J'ancheon. 887. Piece of Holy Stone from Mount Calvary. Case 4. Portraits of Major-Genl. Knox, Major-Genl. Anthony Wayne, and Major-Genl. Baron de Steuben. Presented by E. M. Muttenber. Frame, Room A. CATALOGUE. 75 889. Original copy of Order issued by Governor Hardy of the Province of New York " to Johannes Hardenburgh, Esq., Colonel of the First Regiment, and to Thomas Ellison, Esq., Colonel of the Second Regiment of Foot for the County of Ulster,'' for detachments of men for service in the French and Indian War, dated March 9th. 1757. Found among the papers of Dr. Jonathan Bailey, formerly of New Windsor, Orange Co., N. Y., and presented by his grandson, the late Win. Wardrop, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Frame, room A. 890. Lithograph fac simile copy of the New England Weekly. Journal, April 8, 1728. Copy also shows the size of the original. Presented by the late Wm. Wardrop, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Frame, room A. TROPHY AND OTHER GUNS. No. 1. Eight-inch Howitzer — tnken at the storming of Stony Point, July 15, 1779— marked with coat of arms and inscriptions: " Honi soit qui mal y pense " — " Dieu et nion droit " — " Specteonus Agendo"— '"A Sehalch, Fecit 1744"— "S R- 11-1-23." No. 2. Eight-inch Mortar — taken at the storming of Stony Point, July 15, 1770— marked, "2GR"— " W. Bowen, Fecit 1759" —"4-1-5." No. 3. Eight inch Howitzer — maiked with coat of arms and inscriptions: "Honi soit qui mal y pense " — "Dieu et mon droit" — "Tria juncta"— "A Sehalch, Fecit 1752 "— " SR. 12-1-2." No. 4. Six-pound Gun — maiked, "Tria juncta in Uno " (sur- rounding L)— " 2 GR"— "W. Bowen, Fecit 1755"— " 4-3-1G." No. 5. Six-inch Howitzer — marked, "Tria juncta in Uno" (surrounding L)-"2GR"— "W. Bowen Fecit, 17C0"— " IC-4-0-24." No. 6. Six*-iuch Howitzer — marked, "Honi soit qui mal y pense" (surrounding M)-"<*iR"— " It. Gilpin, Fecit 1756"—" IC- 4-0-17." No. 7. Eight-inch Howitzer — marked. " Berenger — A. Douay " ••1 May, 1779." The above guns were from Watervliet Arsenal in L873, bj order of the Secretary of War, without other history than that given in the inscriptions. The8-inch Bow- it/iT (No. 7) was probably one of the new French guns captured from Mewl, en at Point of Forks, Va., June 10, 178], and subsequently mounted by Cornwallisal York- town, where it was recaptured by the Americans, Oct. 17, 1781. It had a brief field service. No. 8. 9-lb. French, marked: " Ducdion 9"— "A Donay, Par. J. Berenger 1 '— "22 Aoust, nee," (22d August, 17GG) " S. N. Y." This gun is said to have been captured by Col. Lamb's N. V. Artillery at some period during the Revolution, in which case it must have been previously captured i,\ the English trom the French. It came from the old New York Arsenal without history. 76 Washington's head-quarters. No. 9. French, marked : " A Douay, par. J. Berenger" — " 26 May, 1762." No. 10. French, marked : "L'Altiere" — "Ultima Batio Begun" — " Pluribus Nee Impar" — "A Strasbourg, Par. J. Berenger, 1758." No. 11. French, marked: " A Siuguliere" — " Ultima Batio Re- gun"— Pluribus Nee Irupar" — "A Strasbourg, Par. J. Berenger, 1758." No. 12. French, marked: " LaVipere" — " Ultima Ratio Regun" — " Pluribus Nee Irupar"— "A Douay, Par. J. Berenger, 1756." No. 13. French 6-lb. gun, marked : " Minerve," " A Strasbourg, 1760." No. 14. French 9-lb. gun, marked : " LaMajestueuse" — "Ulti- ma Ratio Regun"— "Pluribus Nee Irupar " — "A Douay, Par. J. Berenger, 1756." No. 15. French 6-lb. gun, marked : "LaColombe" — " A Stras- bourg, 1761." No. 16. French 11-lb. gun, marked : " LaNormande " — "A Strasbourg, Par. Emb te Dartein, Commiss re , Des Fontes, 1762." No. 17. French, marked : " LeBraue " — " P. Dupont, Commis- sionaire" — "Fonte A. Rochefort, 1764." These guns (9 to 17) have no history that has been preserved beyond the inscrip- tions which they bear. They were obtained from the old New York Arsenal. Beren- ger, whose name frequently occurs in the list, was a noted gun-maker at Douay, in the north of France, during the greater part of the last century. No. 18. French long 18-lb. gun — marked, " Liberte — Egalite " — " Perier, Fr., Paris, an 3." ' k S. N. Y." No. 19. French 18-lb. gun — marked, "Liberte — Egalite" — '• Arsenal de Paris, an 3." " S. N. Y." " An 3 " is the date of construction and corresponds with our 1792. The two guns of this date are said to have been taken from the British by New York troops in the War of 1812 as the mark " S. N. Y. " indicates, but, like others, were first captured from the French by the English. No. 20. Thirty-two lb. Iron Gun — part of the armament of Fort Ticonderoga— captured from the English by Ethan Allen— recaptur- ed by Burgoyne, and returned to the Americans at Saratoga. When originally received was mounted on a Lake Erie (Perry) ship gun carriage, of which the present carriage is a. facsimile. The origi- . nal monogram is defaced. No. 21. Niue-lb. Iron Gun and Carriage — originally part of the armament at Fort Ticonderoga— captured by Burgoyne on St. Clair's retreat and recaptured by the Americans at Saratoga, Octo ber, 1777. No. 22. Three-pound Gun — marked : " Griflone — 3-lb. Imp. — Francesco Bianco— F. A. 1795." "S. N. Y." CATALOGUE. 77 No. 23. Three-pound Field Gun — marked : " Imp. Francesco Bianco, 1793." " S. N. Y." These guns were captured by New York troops during the war with Mexico, L846. They came from the old New York Arsenal. No history accompanying. No. 24. Breech-loader — an experimental gun constructed un- der plans by Capt. Smith, of West Point, in 1863. No. 25. Six-pound Confederate. No. 26. No. 27. No. 28. No. 29. Twelve-pound Confederate. No. 30. No. 31. No. 32. No. 33. No. 34. The guns bearing these numbers were captured by tb» Federal troops during the war of secession. They were sent from the Watervliet Arsenal, by order of the Secretary of War, without history. No. 35. Twelve-pound Howitzer — Springfield, 1848. No. 36. No. 37, Six-pound Iron Howitzer — Tredegar Works. The above guns (mounted except No. 37) were captured by the 56th N. Y. V. at Dingle's Mills, S. C, in 1805. No. 38 Six-pound Gun— mounted— Ames, Chicopee, 1852. Ob- tained from the State by Brig. Genl. S. C Parmenter, for use of the 19th Reg. N. Y. S. M. No. 39. Four-pound Iron Gun— exhumed from swam]) in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster Co., N. Y. Presumed to have been placed there for concealment. I vR'-V-'-