E 359 .N6 P5 Copy 1 WOMEN'S AUXILIARY TO THE AMERICAN SCENIC and HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY Fi Historic Sketch — — of — — Certain Defenses or DeiD York City durincf the Ular of 1812 -1815 WITH AIN ACCOUNT OF THE UNVEILING OF A TABLET ERECTED BY THE AUXILIARY WOMEN'S Auxiliary TO THE American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society A HrSTORIC SKETCH OF Certain Defenses of New York City during the War of 1812-1815 WITH * » ^ AN ACCOUNT OF THE UNVEILING OF A TABLET ERECTED BY THE AUXILIARY / ^f /i' ^V^' > 4 r « A HISTORIC SKETCH OF Certain Defenses of New York City during the War of 1812-1815 Our second war with Great Britain, which decided forever the independence of the United States, greatly affected the citizens of New York. In spite of the fact that no en- gagement was fought around that town, with pick-axe, shovel and spade, they hastened to the defense of the city and showed themselves full of patriotic zeal and no unworthy de- scendants of their Revolutionary fathers. Washington, the seat of the Government, the center of interest, had been invaded (August, 1814,) by the enemy. President Madison and his Cabinet had fled. The White House and Capitol were in flames and the situation was, indeed, critical. To add to the alarm and consternation a British fleet appeared off Sandy Hook and it seemed as if Ne^v York was to share the fate of Washing- ton. The invasion of the British was apprehend- ed from four points: first, by way of Sandy Hook ; second, troops landing on the rear of Long Island and crossing to Brooklyn ; third, by a land and naval force down the Sound occupying Brooklyn Heights, commanding the City and Governor's Island ; fourth, the attack most feared was from Ward's Island to Harlem Heights. An address was issued by the Committee, Nicholas Fish, Chairman, to the citizens of New York exempt from military duty. It said in part : "Rally around the standard of your coun- try and sooner let us die in the last ditch than tamelv and cowardly surrender this deligrht- ful city into the hands of an invading foe. Discard for a while party bickerings which disturb the social harmony which ought to exist at this momentous crisis. Those who will not defend their countrv in times of dan- ger like the present, in their veins does not run one drop of American blood, nor does one American sentiment inhabit their breasts. Upon such men we do not call. "We do invite every American exempt from military duty to sign the roll that will be prepared for the purpose of forming a company of artillery for defense of his city. "All editors who are favorable will insert this twice." In response to this call in four days 3,000 citizens were at work. Even newspapers sus- pended publication for a few days. Among the prominent men serving on this Committee were Mayor DeWitt Clinton, Nicholas Fish and Henry Rutgers of wide experience gained in the Revolutionary War. This Commutee of Defense met daily at City Hall. Various societies responded. The Free Masons worked on the defenses in Brooklyn, gathering at sunrise in front of City Hall. In August the weather was so warm that manv asked to work bv the full moon and the "Moonrise Workers" were organized. Thirty-eight years before in the same month from these very Heights Washington had withdrawn his armv from under the eves of the British, and had brought it in safety across the East River to New York; and the "Moonrise Workers" in August, 1814, were as eager to defend their Hberties and responded to the call with the same patriotic spirit as their predecessors had shown. Six hundred strong they w^orked, succeeded by the "Sunrise Workers." The Masons gave a day, assembling in front of City Hall, which was the rallying place. Grand Master De- Witt Clinton led 1,000 men to Brooklyn. A very quaint song was written at this time by an elderly gentleman of the order who had two sons in the War and was sung while din- ner was served, as follow^s : "Hail ! children of light whom the charities send. Where the bloodhounds of Britain are short- ly expected. Who your country, your wives, your firesides to defend. On the summit of Brooklyn have ramparts erected. Firm and true to the trade, Continue yom* aid, 'Till the Topstone with shouting triumphant is laid. The Free and Accepted will never despair, Led on by their worthy Grand Master and Mavor. For me, wiiose dismissal must shortly arrive, To Heaven I prefer this my fervent petition, May I never America's freedom survive, Nor behold her disgraced by a shameful sub- mission, And though righteously steeled, if at last she must yield, May my sons do their duty and die in the field! But the Free and Accepted will never despair Led on by their worthy Grand Master and Mavor."* About this time Fitz Greene Halleck com- posed a poem on Iron Greys to be sung to the tune of "Adams and Liberty," published in the New York Gazette. Besides the Masons, there were the Master Butchers, who carried a large flag with an ox prepared for slaughter and the words. *From R. C. Guernsey's " History of New York and Vicinity in 1812." "Skin me well and dress me neat and send me on board the Federal fleet." The Sons of Erin, the Marine Society, Tammany Society, Society of Tallow Chand- lers, Hamilton Society and Columbia Stu- dents all helped. (The latter on the fortifi- cations at 123rd Street.) One of the popular songs of this date was by the author of "The Old Oaken Bucket." "Pick-axe. shovel and spade. Crowbar, hoe and barrow, Better not invade, Yankees have the marrow." Historians tell us at this time, that Harlem Heights, which was six miles out of the City, was full of soldiers and fortifications. A boat was run daily to take the volunteer workmen to the defenses built from the Hudson to the Harlem River. This line of defense was chosen because the distance here was short, and money and men were not at command. Beside Block-houses and Stone Towers there were Barrier Gates. * There is no better authority on the loca- *Thank8 are due Mr. Edward Hagaman Hall for this report. tion of the landmarks of Manhattan Island at the time of the War of 1812 than John Randel, Jr., the Civil Engineer, who made the "Commissioners Map" for laying- out the City Plan above Houston Street. Randel says : During the War of 1812, the Barrier Gate at McGowan's Pass was connected with the Barrier Gate at Manhattanville Pass by the following military defenses, which were ex- tended across the Island from Harlem River to Hudson River, to wit: 1. Fortifications on Benson's Point near ord Avenue and 106th Street; 2. Fort Clinton, between lOGth Street and 107th Street and about 170 yards east of nth Avenue ; 8. Fort Fish, between 105th and lOfith Streets and about 10 yards east of 0th Avenue ; 4. A stone tower, about 14 yards south of 109th Street and 7 yards west of 7th Avenue ; 5. A stone tower between 113th and 114th Streets, between 9th and 10th Avenues ; 6. A stone tower on the south side of 121st Street and al)Out 110 yards east of 10th Avenue ; 7. A stone tower on the south side of 123rd Street, about 54 yards east of 10th Avenue ; 8. Fort Haight, at Manhattanville Pass, about 20 yards north of 124th Street and 120 yards east of 11th Avenue. The foregoing is quoted verbatim, from a historical sketch by him to be found in Valentine's Manual for 1864. It is repeated in the "Papers of Daniel D. Tompkins," Governor and Commander-in-Chief during the War of 1812, published by the State of New York. The Barrier Gate at McGowan's Pass was at 107th Street about 116 yards east of 6th Avenue. (Same authority). The Barrier Gate at Manhattanville Pass was at 123rd Street 33 yards west of 11th Avenue. (Same authority). Columbia students, 100 strong, assisted in these fortifications, marching in a body from the Campus, then at College Place, to 123rd Street, little thinking that in the future their OAvn college buildings would be in the im- mediate vicinity of this Fort. Again, this is Revolutionary ground. To the west the heroic General Knowlton fell in the battle of Harlem Heights. Some authorities say this line of fortifications was originally built by the British, then they gradually disap- peared until the call of DeWitt Clinton to help in 1812, when they were restored. In February, 1815, the news that peace was declared with Great Britain reached this country. New York was overjoyed, church bells were rung, cannon fired and Sunday papers of half sheets were issued. For many years the old line of fortifications at Harlem Heights have been of interest to visitors. One by one the defenses have disappeared, but thanks to the protection of Central and Morningside Parks, two are left in a good state of preservation, the one in Central Park and 110th Street and one at 123rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. When the grading of 123rd Street was attempted, through the personal attention of Hon. John D. Crim- i mills, then Park Commissioner, and F. S. Hamlin, then Deputy Commissioner of Pub- lic Works, this site was saved. The street had to be graded and the rock closely drilled without disturbing the old masonry. The citizens at the tim.e these walls were built in 1812 had no cement and used shell-lime, which is still to be seen and show^s its dura- bility. These places have been waiting 90 years to be recognized. In June, 1903, there were signs of these fortifications crumbling away. Through one of the members of the Women's Auxiliary to the American Scenic and His- toric Preservation Society, Park Commis- sioner Wilcox'<5 attention was called to the matter, he immediately responded, restoring the Tower and so called Block House in Central Park. On Saturday, June 4th, 1904, a suitable tablet was presented to the City by the Women's Auxiliary to the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, with appropriate exercises. AN ACCOUNT OF THE UNVEILING OF THE TABLET. The following extract from the Tribune of June 7, 1904, may be of interest. In de- scribing the ceremonies of unveiling the tab- let on the remains of the stone tower at 123rcl Street, it says, first describing the tab- let : This tablet marks the remains of a stone tower, a part of a line of for- tifications extending from the Hud- son to the Harlem River, built for the defense of New York by its pa- triotic citizens during the War of 1812-1815. Erected by the Women's Auxiliary to the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, A. D., 1904. Part of three walls of this tower still re- main, crowning a bluff at the north end of the park, and inside the inclosure thus formed the ceremonies took place, and chairs were set for the visitors. The addresses were de- livered from the east wall, and on the west w^all were gathered the Alexander Hamilton Club, of the City History Club, through the courtesy of Mrs. Robert Abbe, all little eirls in w^hite dresses, with American flags, which they waved as they sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and "The Song of New York." The tablet is affixed to the north wall, and was covered with a flag having six- teen stars. This facsimile of the flag used during the War of 1812 was lent for the oc- casion by Mrs. Richard Henry Greene. The unveiling ceremonies opened with "Hail Columbia" by a brass band, and the program noted that this air was originally called "General Washington's March," having been first played at his inauguration. The prayer of dedication was offered by the Rev. Robert Mackenzie, pastor of the Rutgers Church, of which Henry Rutgers, a member of the Commit- tee of Defense in the War of 1812, was one of the founders. Addresses were given by the Rev. Merle St. Croix Wright and Dean Kirchwey, of Columbia University Law School, Columbia students having assisted in building the Harlem Heights fortification. Also Mr. Henry Richard Greene spoke on the flag. Little Miss Frances Emerson Cole- man, daughter of Mrs. John C. Coleman, was selected for the honor of unveiling the tablet because it was through Mrs. Coleman's ef- forts that the remains of the tower were re- stored. The tablet was presented to the city by Miss Mary Van Buren Vanderpoel, president of the Women's Auxiliary. "The Star Span- gled Banner," was sung, and Hon. J. J. Pal- las, the Commissioner of Parks, accepted }i^^^^* on behalf of the City. Among the societies represented at the unveiling were the Mayflower Society, Co- lonial Dames, four chapters of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, the Founders and Patriots, Settlers and De- fenders, the Sons of the American Revo- lution, West End Association, also Barnard College and Columbia College students and descendants of DeWitt Clinton and Henry Rutgers and the Scenic and His- toric Preservation Society. The tablet committee consisted of Mrs. John Caldwell Coleman, Chairman; Mrs. William Brook- field, Mrs. George Stephenson Bixby, Mrs. Emil L. Boas, Mrs. Richard Henry Greene, Mrs. Virgil P. Humason and Mrs. James E. Pope. Also Miss Mary Van Buren Vander- poel, President, Ex-officio. Thanks are due to Hon. John J. Pallas and his associates for their interested co-opera- tion with this committee. Mrs. John Caldwell Coleman, Chairman of Tablet Committee. June, 1904. New York Citv. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 011 898 173 fi /