^v .^ ^yj^^^. ^, .^ .^^^ ^^ -^^ W||X)^/ /'--^^ .,gP/ ^^ «' a P^^o i. • o > ■•: %/ -^^^ \/ .«■- \.** --M-- ''^\ '^^"WS ^^^"^"-o ''^^' 0^"%. •^Tp'"* ,<^'\ • • » \ * ^"^ *^ * • . ° ' .V °^ - ^Q-n^ . ?>:■'■■ h. A .5, "^^ a' O » " " ^ < o ■/^ll' ^°-^. .■:i •« • / ^^ ^o >' ^oV .-■-■as- ^-^0* »^-.>->J ^^ -^-ov* _,^jv-.-., -p^Q^ A jP -n... >^^ A^ '■^^' ^'--^ "-■^^ /f:^ /^^^ipc^^.^^ HISTORICAL RECORD TO THE CLOSE OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY OF Motkl^n^ Couttttr^ NEW YORK. ILLUSTRATED. Edited by Arthur S. Tompkins. NYACK, N. Y. VAN DEUSEN & JOYCE, PUBLISHERS 1902. 77^7 • PRESS OF Star Publishing Company of Nvack, N. Y, 1902. PREFACE. PREFACE. The essential pre-reqiiisite of a rational patriotism is an intelligent acquaintance with the history of one's country. Macanley, the historian, has said that the history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people. To supply a means towards making that acquaintance through all available sources is the cherished object of this work. Hence the manifest interest of our citizens demand a clearer record of the early days of this part of southern New York than we now possess. There- fore, in the following pages it is designed to give a complete narrative — m as few words and as simple form as possible — relating to the early liistory, with a brief sketch of the character, habits and religious views of the aborigines and particularly the names, occupancy, changes, organ- ization and progress of the civil and religious bodies of the county of IJocklaud from its first settlement up to the present time. The history of what is now the county of Rockland, formerly part of the county of Orange, and the early history of this county after its sep- ai-ation from Orange county is as interesting as that of any county in the State. It is rich and teeming with events of the Revolutionary period, which should be read with the keenest interest by all who are to-day enjoying the fiiiits of the sacrifices and achievements of that period. This county is one of the five or six coimties of the State that are directly and closely identified with the great struggle for independence. The British foi'ces and the Continental Anuy camped and marched and fought over much of the ten-itory of Rockland county. In the following pages we have endeavored to give an accurate description of the important part which this county has had in tlie build- ing and preservation of the Republic. For the historical part of the work valuable information was selected from the works of eminent ^vrit- ers. With a due acknowledgement for these historical facts thus PREFACE. selected, for the "Bench and Bar" of the county, by Hon. Alouzo "Wheeler; the Medical Profession, by N. B. Bayley, M. D.; the different to^viis in the county, by J. Bogert Sufleni, Esq., District Attorney Thomas H. Lee, Aaron VanKeuren, Esq., E. H. Fenton, Esq., Emma K. Odell, Capt. Charles M. O'Blenis and others, for the valuable informa- tion of the religious bodies of the county, furnished by the various clmrcli officials, and for the many incidents of interest not hei'etofore published, given by our venerable and esteemed citizens, thanks are hereby rendered. I have devoted as much of my time and attention to the general supervision of the editorial department of the work as my other duties Would permit, and with a consciousness that the greatest vigilance can- not wholly e.xchule errors, this work is respectfully submitted. Nyack, July 15th, 1902. - ARTHUR S. TOMPKINS. CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. A GENERAL SURVEY. The Subject — Location and Surroundings — Prominent Features of the Landscape — The Stories They Tell — Boundaries — Principal Industries — Poi^ulat ion IT CHAPTER II. PREHISTORIC CURRENTS. Geolog-ical Formation — Erratic P.oulders and Other Drift Deposits — Scratched Surfaces — The Palisades a River of Lava — Features of the Landscape 24 CHAPTER III. DISCOVERY OP ROCKLAND COUNTY. Navigators Who Came Before Henry Hudson — The Half Moon's Arrival in the Tappan Zee — The First Red Man Slain — Early Traders — Era of Colonization Begun 30 CHAPTER IV. THE ABORIGINES. Tribes of the Lower Hudson Valley— The Tapjjans and Haverstraws— Characteristics and Mode of Life — Bountifully Supplied by Nature — Principles of Government and Evidences of Religion 3S CHAPTER V. INDIAN WARS. Encroachments of the Dutch — The Colony at Vriesendael — Consequences of Stealing an Indian's Beaver Coat — Tappans Driven from Home by Jlohawks— Massacres at Pavonia by Dutch Soldiers— Allied Tribes Take Revenge — Vriesendael Destroyed 50 CHAPTER VI. APPORTIONING THE LANDS. Second Attempt at Colonization— The English Seize the Province— The Christian I'atented Lands of Haverstraw— Town of Orange— .\ppor- tioniug the Lands — Beginnings of Government — List of Pioneers— Life in the Wilderness — Colonel MaeGregorie BO CHAPTEE VII. COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. Courts and Court Houses— Precincts Established— Names of Officers and Representatives— First Roads— Colonial Prices — Religious Influences — Family Customs— General and Local Laws— Public Improvement.s — French and Indian War — Militia System 70 CONTENTS. CHAPTEIl VIII. THE ARENA OF STRIFE. The Oraugetown Kesolutions — Fortifying' the Hiylilands — The Militia — Companies Raised for the Continental Line — Sons of Oran<;fe in the Invasion of Canada — The Shore Gua«l'— Otiieers of Companies — South- ern Orange Bears tlie Rrunt — ^The First Alarm — " Battle of Haver- straw " — A Naval Fight — Duty Calls — Activities of the Tories 90 CHAPTEE IX. THE FALL OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. Re-AppcaraiK'O of the Enemy in the Spring — Militia Called Out — Reluetant to Obey — British Plans — Sir Henry Clinton's Armada Arrives — Put- nam Deceived and Governor Clinton Overwhelmed — Heroic Resistance by the Sons of Orange and Ulster 110 CHAPTEE X. " THE FORT'S OUR OWN." New Defences in the Highlands — Massacre at " Old Ta])i)an " — Petition from Citizens — Stony I'oint Seized by the British — ilain Continental Army Arrives — Stony I'oint Stormed and Recaptured by Wayne's Light Infantry — The Battle Described — Fate of the Lady Washington — The Fort Abandoned by the Americans — Evacuated by the British.. 121 CHAPTEE XL THE WAGES OF TREASON. General Arnold Assigned to Command West Point — He Conspires to Betray the Fortress — Intercoxirse With .Josliiia Hett Smith — His Mid- night Meeting With Ma.ior Andre — At the Smith Mansion — .\rrest of Andre — Plight of Arnold — Smith Acquitted — Court Martial and Execu- tion of the Spy 138 CHAPTEE XII. SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. The Last Campaign — The French Army — Members of the Haverstraw Regiment of Militia — The Continentals — Members of Capt. Robert ■Tolmston's Company — Of Capt. Amos Hutchins' Company — Officers of . the Orangetown Regiment 138 CHAPTEE XIII. CLOSE OF THE WAR. Readjustment of County Lines — Increase of Population — Militia Com- panies Before the Civil War — Regiments Organized During the Civil War — Transportation — County Officers 16s CHAPTER XIV.— Rockland County Medical Profession, 182. CHAPTER XV.— Bench and Bar, 329. CHAPTER XVI.— Town of Haverstraw, 373. CHAP- TER XVII.— Town of Orangetown, 345. CHAPTER XVIIL— Town of Clarkstown, 415. CHAPTER XIX.— Town of Ramapo, 470. CHAPTER XX.— Town of Stony Point, 553. PART I. HISTORICAL. HISTORY OF Rockland County. CHAPTEE I. A GENERAL SURVEY. The Subject — Location and Siirroiinding-s — Prominent Features of the Landscape — The Stories They Tell — Boundaries — Princiiial Industries — Popu- lation. THE County of Rockland, in the State of New York, is the most southern of the tier of counties on the west bank of the Hudson River. Triangular in fonn, its boundaries on two sides are merely straight geographical lines, drawn by the hand of man, but the boundaiy marks of tlie third side were set by the Almighty Creator, and adorned with many of the most beautiful lineaments in nature. Frontetl by the widest reaches of the river and buttressed by a remarkable chain of hills, with the Palisades on one hand and the battlements of the Highlands on the other, the shore of Rockland County has a character distinct and pic- turesque. More precisely, the river side of the county is bounded on the south by the State line of jS'ew Jersey and on the north by Poplopen's kill, which, where it issues from a deep ravine to unite with the river, passes between two famous fortified places of the Revolution, Fort Clin- ton and Fort Montgomery. The significance of the name chosen by the fathers for their county is apparent upon viewing the wonderful escarp- ments of trap-rock that give the riglit bank of the lower Hudson the ap- pearance of a far-reaching fortress. But behind this I'ough exterior, on the other side of the adamantine curtain, are broad acres of pleasant plains and gently rolling country, so that full two-thirds of the total sur- face of the coimty is fanning land. The thitnders of the lofty Dunder- berg and its rugged companions, which so alarmed the early Dutch nav- igators of the "River of the Mountains," have no terrors for those who dwell in these peaceful valleys. Against the "Mountain of Thunder" the summer showers seem to break, as white-crested billows dash furious- ly against a rocky isle at sea, and the first warning of a coming tempest is given by the reverberations from its sides. Have you not heard of the "little bulbous-buttoned Dutch goblin, in trunk hose and sugar-loaf hat, 18 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. with speaking trumpet in his hand, which, they say, keeps the Dunder- berg," and how "in stonny weather, in the midst of tlie turmoil, the river captains can hear him giving orders in low Dutch for the piping np of a fresh gust of wind, or the rattling off of another thunderclap?" And, "sometimes he has been seen suiTOunded by a crew of little imps in broad breeches and short doublets, tumbling head over heels in tlie rack and moist, and playing a thousand gambols in the air, or buzzing like a thou- sand flies about Antliony's Nose," at which times, 'tis said, the "Iuutv- scuri'y" of the storm was always greatest. Geographically the Palisades have their beginning in the town of Ilaverstraw, where High Tor and Little Tor (or Spire) are like knots in the head of the chain. With their feet in the river, they extend south- ward for thirty miles or more, but have their greatest magnitude within the limits of the ToA\m of Clarkstown, in that titanic buttress known as Hook Mountain, behind which, all unsuspected from the river, nestles, lovely and tranquil, Rockland Lake. Here and there the great wall is cut by gorges, as at Piennont (formerly Tappan Lauding), where the Hparkill flows out, and through these openings the river traveler gets glimpses and suggestions of what lies beyond. The ridge is narrow, be- ing in some places hardly half a mile mde. At its feet, on the river side, are heaped the debris of ages upon ages, in the form of rocks that have crumbled from the cliffs above, in some places overg^o^vn with stunted trees and shiiibbery or climbing vines. On the western side the slope, for the most part, is gentle, covered with rich soil and wooded. In height the Palisades exceed four hundred feet on the average, but the most elevated knob on the Hook is 668 feet above the river. The Dutch called it Verdrietigh Hoeck — Tedious or Vexation Point — because here they expected to meet adverse winds that would detain their vessels for a long time in this part of their course. Curious, stupendous and impres- sive, the Palisades are one of the wonders of the Western World. In front of Rockland County the Hudson river expands into two broad lakes, the lower on© called the Tappan Zee, and the upper one Haverstraw Bay. They are separated by Croton Point, a projection from the eastern shore nearly two miles in length, at the moiith of the Croton river. In former times it was kno^\^l as Teller's Point, and by the Indians called "Se-nas-qiia," in honor of Sarah, wife of William Teller, who purchased the valuable estate from them for a barrel of rum and twelve blankets. Each of the great bays is from two to three miles A GENERAL, SURVEY. 19 across, and they constitute the broadest portions of the Hudson. At the head of Haverstraw Bay, on opposite sides, are Stony and Veqjlanck's Points, and a little farther north, where the stream narrows again, are the abrupt mountain peaks which form the southern gate of the High- lands. Near the northern extremity of the county is lona Island, be- tween which and Anthony's Nose the river is not more than three- eighths of a mile \vide. But the channel is deep, and so swift is the cur- rent that the reach is called ''The Race." The island was fifty years ago the private estate of Dr. C. W. Grant, who, coming from Newburgh, engaged here in the extended propagation of choice fruits. His vine- yards covered twenty acres; his fruit trees were thousands in number; with eleven propagation houses, he produced plants that were called for from all parts of the country. The celebrated lona Grape originated here. The Indian name of the island was "Man-a-ha-wagli-kin;" the present name ("I-own-a-Island") was bestowed by Dr. Grant. Recently purchased by the United States Government, the tract is now being equipped as an ammunition station for the Navy; extensive magazines and other buildings are in course of erection. The Minisceongo, at Grassy Point, and the Sparkill, at Piermont, are the only streams of importance which enter the Hudson from Rockland County, but the interior is well watered by rivers or creeks that find their way to the sea in other directions, notably the Hackensack, which has one of its sources in Rockland Lake; the Passaic, the Pearl, the Ram- apo and the Mahwah. The largest body Avithin the confines of the coun- ty is Rockland Lake. Situated at an elevation above the Hudson of 150 feet, separated from the river only by a narrow ridge of mountains, and surrounded on nearly every side by shores steep and rugged, it is both picturesque and remarkable. In form an irregular ellipse, it covers five liundred acres, being about half a mile in length and three-quarters of a mile at the widest part. Along the eastern margin are extensive ice- houses, and the ice harvest in Avinter provides employment for many hands. The blocks of ic« begin their journey to the metropolis by be- ing lowered down an inclined plane to wharves at the river, Avhence they are transported by barges. Portage Lake and Shepherd's Pond, in the western corner of the county; Lake Antrim, near Suffem, and Highland Lake, in the northerly angle, and the lake at Congers are the only other considerable bodies of water in Rockland. No other reach of river or stretch of country is so filled with mem- 20 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. orics of the long stmgglo for American Independence as is the Rockhnid County shore of the Hudson. Every' bokl headland, sheltered cove and iiniting beach has contributed something to the history of Amei'ica, or can tell a story of romance or tradition. The Highland forts speak rev- erently the names of the patriot fanners who died in their defence. Ev- ery stone and breastwork in what wa.s finally an impregnable chain of fortifications extending from Stony Point northward to Plum Point, was a monument of humble, disinterested devotion by the standing sol- diers of this valley, who without hope of pay reared them and defied their oppressors to take them. The batteries, forts and redoiibts which they constructed, the booms and chains which they stretched from shore to shore, saved the States from being cut asunder and separately conquered. The very iron in the chains that literally bound together the two sections of the young republic was taken out of the veins of the adjacent coun- ties. Against Stony Point Mad Anthony Wayne led his Continentals to victory, first assembling them in the passes behind Bear Mountain and the Dunderberg. In the little cove on the north side of the rocky pro montory was the King's Ferry landing, the ferry being the connecting link between New England and the colonies west and south of the Hud- son. Here the French army crossed when going to Yorkto\vn, and wlion it returned. To Treason Hill came Arnold and Andre to mature their plan for the surrender of West Point, and yonder, where the Haverstraw mountain range comes down to meet the tide, Andre, escorted by Joshua Hett Smith, landed by a small boat from the British sloop-of-war Vul- ture. In the thicket close by he met his "Gustavris," and with him con- spired until tlie day broke; when it being too late for the British Adju- tant-General to return to the vessel unobser\'ed by the shore guard, ho -was persuaded by the traitor to accept protection until the following night. Disregarding the orders of his General, Andre passed within the American lines with his "protector," and never came out alive. Forty- one years later another British man-of-war came up the river to the Tap- pan Zee, and a commission sent by the British Government, debarking at Sneden's Landing, proceeded to Tappan, where they exhimied the bones of Andre and carried them back to England. At Verplanck's Point occurred the grandest international military review in the historj^ of the nation. On August 31, 1782, for the pur- pose of recei^^ng and tendering a welcome to the French anny, then on its return from Virginia, the forces constituting the Main Continental A GENERAL, SURVEY. 21 army moved by land and water from their separate cantonments and sta- tions in and near the Highlands and encamped at Verplanck's Point. The American forces numbered abont eight thousand men, and for the first time since the beginning of the war were decently uniformed, well armed, properly equipped and camped in tents of regular model. Six years of service in the field had made them trained veterans. All the tents were immediately decorated with laurel, evergreens and branches of trees, and the camp presented a picturesque and beautiful appearance. The French ti-oops arrived at Stony Point on September 14, being salut- ed with cannonry and hailed with cheers by their allies on the farther shore. After crossing in boats furnished by the Americans, the French column marched through the American lines, receiving every mark of honor from Washington's men, and went into camp a short distance away. General Washington and his officers reviewed the French army on October 1, and the next day the French officers reviewed the Ameri- can forces. A fortnight later eight battalions picked from the Continen- tal troops were maneuvred before the officers of the two armies. An eye-witness recorded that several of the French officers, who had seen troops of different European nations, bestowed encomiums and applause on our army, saying that they had seen no troops superior to the Amer- icans. The Americans bestowed every courtesy and attention upon the French soldiers, who had aided them in throwing off the British yoke. On October 22 the French legions marched away for Boston, and there embarked for home. Until 1798 the territory now embraced in Rockland County formed part of Orange. By act of the Legislature, Rockland was then set off and bounds established as follows : "All that tract of land in the county of Orange lying northwest of a line beginning at the mouth of Poplo- pen's kill, on Hiulson's river, and running from thence to the southeast- ermost corner of the farm of Stephen Sloat, and then along the south bounds of this farm to the southwest comer thereof, and then on the same course to the bounds of the State of New Jersey, shall be and is hereby erected into a separate county, and shall be called and known by the name of Orange;" and, "all that part of the said county of Orange lying southward of the above described line shall be erected into a sepa- rate county, and shall be called and known by the name of Rockland." The Act of April 3, 1801, gives the line between the two counties as "from the middle of Hudson's river west to the mouth of Poplopen's 22 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. kill, and from thenc« on a direct course to the east end of the mill dam now or late of Michael Weiman across the Eamapough river, and from thence a direct covirse to the twenty-mile stone standing in the said divi- sion line between this State and the State of New Jersey." The original Orange County was one of the first twelve into which the Province was divided in 1C83, and extended "from the limits or bounds of East and West Jersey, on the west side of Hudson's river, along the said river to Murderer's creek, or bounds of the coiinty of Ulster; and westward into the woods as far as the Delaware river." The act which separated Rock- land from Orange also set off the towns of New Windsor, Newburgh, AVallkill, Montgomery and Deerpark from the county of Ulster and an- nexed them to the county of Orange. The history of Rockland County, therefore, in Colonial and Revolutionary^ times, was identical with that of Orange. The first town or precinct to be organized in the county was the town of Orange (Orangeto^\^l), in 1686, and in 1719 the precinct of llaverstraw was formed. The town divisions of the county are now five in number, namely: Orangetown, Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Ramapo and Stony Point. The county capital is at New City, in the town of Clarkstown, and the largest centers of population are Nyack and Haverstraw villages. Although Rockland County contains no incorporated city, there are a large num- ber of villages, for the most part handsomely laid out and kept, the cen- ters for many fine estates. Omng to the proximity of the metropolis, it is convenient and agreeable for many gentlemen whose place of bus iness is in the city to have their home in this county. Facilities for trav- el and transportation are supplied by the river and a number of railroads. Regailar lines of steamboats call daily at the principal river towns. The West Shore Railroad passes through the county north and south, between Tappan and lona Island, and by tunnel through the Haverstraw moun- tain range; north of Haverstraw the line follows the river shore.Other roads are the Erie and the Piermont branch, the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, with Nyack as the nort.hem terminus, and the New Jersey and New York, tenninating at Haverstraw. One of the largest industries of the county, brick making, has its center on the shore of Haverstraw Bay, where great beds of clay are found overtopped ^vith sand. For tliree miles the river is lined ^\^th brick sheds and yards, and the face of nattire has been sadly scarred by long continued excavating for material. Haverstraw has l)een the A GENERAL SURVEY. 23 leader in this industry for tlie whole country, both in invention and pro- duction. At Garnerville are the Rockland print works, one of the larg- est establishments of the kind in the State. The prosperity of the group of villages on this bay can be judged in part from the growth of the vil- lage of West Havei"straw, which in the last decade increased from a pop- ulation of 180 to 2,078. The section shows marked improvement in its residential features.. In Havei-straw village this is particularly notice- able in the vicinity of the West Shore railroad station. Another large industry of the county is at Tomkins Cove, where immense limestone deposits and fine facilities for shipping are found in combination. The extensive business of the Tomkins Cove Stone Company, begiin here in 1837, mth its quarries, kilns, crushing-works and barges, gives employ- ment to many hands. Xyack, originally the principal market town and commercial port for the co\inty, with turnpikes extending into the back country, has become in the last half centuiy an important manufactur- ing center, with a variety of products, notably shoes, boats and man- ufactures of iron. At Ramapo and Hillbum are large ii'on works, and at Pearl River the Dexter folding machine works. The population of the county increased from 35,162, in 1890, to 38,- 298, at the last census, in 1900. In 1880 the population was 27,G90. The complete figures are as follows : 1900. 1890. Clarkstown, including upper Xyack village 6,305 5,216 Upper Nyack village 516 668 Haverstraw town, including Haverstraw and West Haverstraw villages 9,874 9,079 Haverstraw village 5,935 5,070 West Haverstraw village 2,079 180 Orangetown, including Nyack, Piermont and South Nyack villages 10,456 10,343 Nyack village 4,275 4,111 Piermont village 1,153 1,219 South Nyack 1,601 1,496 Ramapo town, including Hillburn and Suffem vil- lages 7,502 5,910 Hillbum village 824 Suffem village 1,619 Stony Point town 4,161 4,614 24 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. CHAPTER IT. PREHISTORIC CURRENTS. Geologfioal Formation — Erratic Boulders and Other Drift Deposits — Scrat-clied Surfaces — The Palisades a River of Lava — Features of the Land- scape. IN regard to the geological history of the section, Prof. Mather, who made an official survey and report, for the State of New York, con- sidered it evident that a vast inland sea once occupied the Hudson and St. Lawrence valleys, since the periods of the drift deposits. The materials deposited from the waters in that area during a considerable period of time are such as we might, he said, expect in such a body of water, with a moderate flow tlu"ough its channels of communication with the ocean, and liaving the general contour of its bottom and shores the same as we now find the topographical features of the country to be. The water level has changed in this area, and as the ocean maintained its equilibrium, this vast tract of country had become elevated in mass with little relative change of height, but to an absohite height of tliree hun- dred to one thousand feet above the former level. This elevation had probably been effected in a short time, and caused strong currents to flow through the channels, commimicating with the ocean, and through which the watere had drained to their present levels, depositing beds of sand, gravel, pebbles and boulders in the eddies. The coarse deposits of gravel and pebbles, and even boulders, in the valle}^ near the nan'ow passes of the Highlands, and wherever the current was confined, seemed strongly to favor tlie view that the elevation by which these formations were raised above the level of the sea was not so slow in operation as that of the elevation of some other lands, and it may have been sudden. It has long been supposed, continues Professor Mather, that a great lake formerly existed above the Highlands, and many speculations have b(>en made concerning it, and the rending of the mountain so as to drain it off; btit the quarternary and drift deposits found in the valleys indi- cate that tlio channel through the Highlands existed nearly the same during these two epochs, as it is at present; so that from these circum- stances it is known that it has been an open channel of communication between the Atlantic and St. LawTence basins during and since these two p(>riods. Most of the rocks in place in the Hudson valley when un- covered from the drift that covers them in many places, show their sur- faces to have been gTound off, as if by tlie attrition of heavy moving- masses of rocks, and are scratched and grooved. PREHISTORIC CURRENTS. 25 Prof. Matlier found two classes of facts that afford evidence of a sliifting of the position of rocks that can be referred to the g(^ofiTaphical period, when the formations were being elevated. One of these is a fault in some clay and gravel beds on th^ west bank of the river, where the clay and sand horizontally stratified were separated by a vertical line on the surface exposed, each abutting against the other, with little dis- turbance of either, and covered by beds of coarse gravel. The other class is where the slate rocks on the east side of the Hudson valley had been ground down, smoothed, deeply grooved and scratched along the edges, and since the action that had prodiiced these effects the masses of slate had been shifted a few inches in a vertical direction by a slight fault, so that the grooves and scratches of the lower part- of the mass were continued qiiite \\]> to the part that had been elevated. This shift of position, or slight fault, must have been subsequent to the period when the scratches were made. The drift deposits spoken of are composed of fragments of all the pre-existing rocks exposed to the action of the causes that have contrib- uted to their transportation. They are mostly coarse, composed of blocks, bouldei-s, pebbles, gTavel and sand, sometimes loose, but fre- quently aggregated by ergiltaceous matter that rendei-s a pick neces- sary to dig it. The boulders and blocks are scattered not only over the valleys, plains and hills of moderate elevation, but are found on the peaks of high Uioimtains. The materials of the drift deposits are often far distant, Uiit only from the hills and mountains and every known locality from wJiich they may have been derived, but are often separated from their parent sources by numerous plains, broad valleys, deep lakes or arms of the sea. The valley of the Hudson river through the Highlands shows boulders, blocks and pebbles of all the rocks of the Hudson, Mohawk and Champlain ^'alleys that would not easily grind up by attrition. Tlie plain at West Point, which belongs in part to the drift, is an instructive example of these deposits. In the gravel, pebble and boulder beds at that place, says Prof. Mather, a person may collect a suite nearly com- plete of all the rocks, and many of their mineral and fossil remains, that are found in place for a ilistance of two hundred and fifty miles to the north. The valley of Smith's Clove contains boulders of conglomerate like that of Skunnemuuk mount-ain; of granite, gneiss, etc., like the Highlands; grits and slates, like those of the Hudson valley, and pebbles 26 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. of the Potsdam sandstone. Bonlders of other rocks are found in this clove, but those of the vicinity are most numerous. The well developed deposit of drift spoken of as being at West Pomt extends along the gTavel terrace from the base of Crow Nest to three miles below West Point, and also on the opposite bank of the Hudson, one-fourth to one-half mile from the river. Specimens of this drift can all be referred to their proper strata, and all are evidently and un- doubtedly derived from a northwardly source. The boulders and erratic blocks are especially numerous in the valley on the northern side of the Highlands, as if stopped there by an ancient shore. Stones of many tons weight are not uncommon in the high valleys of the Highlands. Examples of scratched surfaces may be seen on the top of the moun- tain between Grassy Point and the iron works at Smith's Clove, a little west of the old turnpike gate, and on ridges farther west. On the road leading south from Haverstraw over the monntflins of trap and in return- ing between High Tor and Little Tor — all these gorges are water worn and abraded where imcovered by the soil that protected the rock from fD COUNTY. The Indians would not allow the mentioning of the name of a friend after liis death. They sometimes streaked their faces with black when in monniing, but when their affairs went well they painted their faces red. They were great observers of the weather and of the habits of birds and animals; they studied the virtues of roots and herbs. When a person of note died far from home his companions would carry his corpse to be buried among his kin. They were exceedingly faithful in visiting and keeping in order the graves of their dead. They called per- sons and places by the names of tilings remarkable. The marriage cere- mony was sometimes thus: the relations and friends being present, the bridegroom delivered a bone to the bride, she an ear of Indian com to him, meaning that be was to pro^'ide meat, she bread. In case of sub- sequent disagTecmcnt and divorce, the children went with the party that loved them best. They had gTeat respect for age and were kind to the decrepit. Strict observers of the rights of property, they apparently had no great desire for large possessions. Their wigwams were mostly together in \^llages, but tribes having large territory moved about in the summer season for pleasure or in pursuit of game. When a company traveled together they generally followed each other in silence and in single file. In person they were upright and of straight limbs; their tine figures distingiiishcd American Indians from the savages of all other lands. Their bodies were strong, seldom crooked; their features regular, their countenances strong; in temper, cool and deliberate. Xevcr in haste to speak, the Indian waited for a certainty that the person addressing him had spoken all he wished to say. When in council his behavior was par- ticiilarly dignified. Evei-y one entitled to speak wa.s heard in his turn, according to rank of years, or wisdom, or service to his nation or tribe. The youthful were expected to keep silence altogether. Liberty, as has been said, was the corner-stone of their system of gov- ernment; the utmost liberty ■with the least compulsion. Freedom and independence were principles they had learned from Nature, after which they patterned their lives. Slavery was dreaded more than deatli and they themselves never made slaves of inferior races. Their children were trained up to cherish the idea of freedom and that they were freemen. Accordingly, they were seldom punished -natli blows, but appealed to with reason. The parents said that the mischief their children might do Avould not be serious until their own reason and sense of right would mod- THE ABORIGINES. 43 ify their conduct. Tlieir ponnl code was limited; they had a system of punishments peculiarly their own. Atonements were in most cases vol- mitary. The respect which tliey accorded to their chiefs and sachems was voluntarj'; nothing of the kind could be exacted under their idea of independence and personal freedom. Respect was earned hj merit, and not based on fear. Age was revered. The sachems directed in this councils and had the power to sign deeds when land was disposed of. When making treaties or when presenting formal complaints to the white men, they had a singular custom, perhaps designated to help their memories, perhaps to give force to what they said. They had belts and strings of black and whit* wampum, and sometimes sticks of wood, each of which would correspond to one count in the indictment, or to on<> phase of the subject under discussion. The Indians treasured these belts when delivered to them in ti'eaties. Illustrative of the use made of the belts and strings, the speech of a chief of this section at a covincil fire with English governors may be quoted: The chief spoke in English: "Brethren: It is now more than two yeai-s since we heard of our cousins, the Delawares, taking up the liatchet against the English. We invited them and they came to a great meeting at our town of Otsaningo. We then gave our cousins a belt a fathom long, and twenty-five rows in breadth, and desii-ed them to lay do^vn the liat«het that they had taken up against the English, and to be easy with them. And if they would follow this advice we told them that they would live in peace until their heads were white with age; otherwise, it might not be so with them. Not bearing from our cousins for some time what they did in consequence of this belt, we sent to them two other belts, one of sixteen and the other of twelve rows, desiring them once more to be easy with their brethren, the English, and not to strike them any more: But still we heard noth- ing from them ; indeed, some time afterward, we understood the Dela- wares would say that the Indians at Otsanigo had grey eyes, and even should have had the hatchets struck into our heads. We now want to know what is become of these belts; maylje they may be under ground, or they may have swallowed them down their throats. . . . Breth- ren: As our enemies have been loth to give any answer to these belts, we now desire that they may let us kni>w in public conference what they have done with them." The old chief here put down a string of wam- pma to emphasize his inquiry and the conclusion of his remarks. 44 HISTORY OP ROCKLAND COUNTY. The generally expressed opinion of the early white critics for the re- ligion of the red men was one of contempt, but time has somewhat mod- ified that view. If by the word religion is meant assent to certain creeds, or the obser^^ance of forms and ceremonies, snch as are common among us, then it may be said that the Indian had no religion. But if by re- ligion we im.derstand a belief in a Suj^remc Being, in an over-ruling pro\'idence, in a hunger after knowledge of Him, and a fima belief in a happy life beyond the grave for those who order themselves right in tliis life, then it must be admitted that the Indian had a religion. In 1737 a young man who had acquired great familiarity with the Indian lan- guage was sent by the Governor of Virginia on a journey to Onondaga, the capital of the Six Nations. He set out in Februaiy on his five- hundred mile jom-ney through the wilderness, accompanied by a Dutch- man and three Indians. Wlien they were one liundred and fifty miles on their journey they came into a narrow valley, both sides of which were formed of high moTintains, where the snow lay about three feet deep. The trail led along the slope of one of these mountains, and to keep from slipping the travelers were obliged to dig footholds in hard places. As they crept on it happened that the old Indian's foot slipped, and the root of the bush by which he held breaking, he slid down the mountain side as from the roof of a house. By a strange fortune he was stopped in his fall by the stoiit string which fastened his pack catch- ing on the stimip of a tree. When he was rescued by his companions, and all had descended in safety to the valley, it was discovered that had the Indian gone a few feet farther, he would have fallen over a preci- pice, rocky and vertical, at the foot of which were bare bouldei-s. The Indian was astonished and turned pale. Then, with outstretched arms and great earnestness, he spoke tliesc words: 'T thank the great lord and governor of this world in that he had mercy upon me, and has been Avilling that I should live longer." The Indian words, the Governor's commissioner, imderstanding them perfectly, set down at once in liis journal. The next year the same commissioner went on another journey to Onondaga, in company with three other woodsmen. It happened that an Indian came to them in the evening, who had neither shoes, stock- ing's, knife, gun, shirt nor hatchet; in a word, he had nothing but an old torn blanket and some rags. On the white men inquiring whither he was going, he answered, to Onondaga. Said the interpreter afterward THE ABORIGINES. 45 iu wTiting the account: "I knew him and asked how he woiild under- take to go a journey of three hundred miles so naked and unprovided, having no provisions, nor any arms to kill game for his sustenance? He answered that he liad been amongst enemies, and had been obliged to save himself by flight, and so had lost all, but he told me very cheerfully Ihat 'God fed everything which had life, even the rattlesnake, and that Ciod woidd provide in such a manner that he should come to Onondaga alive; he knew for certain that he should go there; that God was always with the Indians in the wilderness, because they alwaj^s cast their cares on him, biit that contrary to this, the Europeans always carried their bread with them.' He was an Onondaga, liis name was Anontagketa. The next day we traveled in company, and the day following I pro^'ided him with a knife, hatchet, flint and tinder, also shoes and stockings, and sent him before me to give notice to the council at Onondaga that I was coming, which he truly performed, being got thither three days before me." Apparently, a life of dissipation and ease, sometimes of appetite, satiety, indolence and sleep, seemed to be the ambition of the average Indian ; but sometimes a desire for better things was observed. An old king who was dying gave utterance to these words in the presence of men able to take account of them: "It is my desire that my brother's son should come to me and hear my last words; for him have I appointed king after me. . . . My brother's son, this day I deliver my heart into your bosom; and mind me. I would have you love what is good and keep good company; refuse what is evil and by all moans avoid bad company. Be sure always to walk in a good path and if any should speak any evil of Indians or Christians, do not join it, but look at the sun from the rising of it until the setting of the same. In speeclics that shall be made between the Indians and the Christians, if any wrong or evil thing be spoken, do not join with that; but join with the good. When speeches are made, do not you speak first; be silent and let all speak be- fore you, and take good notice what each one speaks, and when you have heard all, join to that which is good. . . . Brother's son, you have heard what has passed; stand up in time of speeches, stand in my steps and follow my speeches; this do and what you desire in reason shall be granted. Why should you not follow my example? I have had a mind to be good and do good, therefore do you the same. Sheoppy and Swam- pis were to be kings in my stead, but understanding by my doctor that 46 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. Sheoppy secretly advised liiin not to cure me, and they both being with me, that I myself saw that they were given more to drink than to take notice of my last words, — ^for I had a mind to make a speech to them, and to my brethren, the English conmianders, therefore I refuse them to hv kings after me, and have now chosen my brother's son, lahkursoe, in their stead to succeed me. . . . Brother's son, I advise you to be plain and fair with all, both Indians and Christians, as I have been; I am very weak, otherwise I would have spoken more." The sub-divisions of the local tribes, as of the nations, were numerous, and government was of the simj)lest character consistent with good order. It might be said that every man was a law unto himself, yet he must not be lawless. The head of every tribe, the sachem, was its representative in tlie coimeils with neighboring tribes, or at the representative assem- blies of the nation. In all cases not requiring concerted action the tribes had independent discretion. Each nation had its emblem or totem, the form of which they drew upon rocks and trees as they paused, either to give notice to friends or warning to enemies. The Indians' totems cor'-esponded to the flags of modern nations. The totem of the nation to which the Tappans and Haverstraws belonged was a wolf. The chief possessions of the red brethren were held in common. Their land was never divided among individuals; the ownership was in the tribe, and was disposed of by the sachem with the consent of the people. There is but little data to estimate Indian populations. The total was not so large as might be supposed. The strength of the Six Nations did not exceed t/Cn thousand, and there are reasons for believing that the numbers of the Mahican and Lenape federations were but little greater respectively. The Ilackensacks, who were more numerous than the Tap- pans or Haverstraws, numbered about one thousand. All belonged to the great Algonkin family, which occupied the Atlantic coast from the Savannah river to Labrador. The dialects of all were related, and evi- dently at some distant day they had spoken the same tongue. The area occupied by the Algonkin family was more extensive than that of any other linguistic stock in America. Nature provided with a liberal hand for the necessaries of life. In tlie forests were great plenty of deer, beside wild turkeys, many par- tridges, wild ]iigcons flew in flocks of thousands. In the rivers and lakes and along the smaller water courses, especially in the spring and autumn, were all kinds of fowl in great numbers — swans, geese, ducks, teal and THE ABORIGINES. 47 brant, wliich fell easy prey to woodsmen. Also in the country were pan- thers, bears, wolves and foxes. Fish abounded in the river, particularly pike, eeels, perch, lampreys, suckers, cattish, sunfish, shad, bass. In the spring, in May, a man with a hook and line, could catch in an hour, it is said, as many perch as ten or twelve persons could eat. The virgin soil yielded abundantly mth slight encouragement. All the natural productions were lu.xuriant. Where the primeval forests had not been ravaged by fires, the trees were large and beautiful. The Indians some- times burned the woods to more easily hunt deer. Wild fruit, berries and nuts were abundant in season: cherries, plums, mulbemes, currants, goosebeiTies, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries; chestnuts, beech- nuts, walnuts, butternuts, hazelnuts. Innumerahle medicinal plants were also to be found, and the Indians knew the properties of many of them and were skillful in using them. To keep their bodies comfortable in winter our predecessors in the land were well provided with furs and skins. For their feet tliey had deerskin mocassins; and other garments were composed of the same ma- terial. From the skins of beavers, martins, minks, squin-els or raccoons, they fashioned shirts, jackets and robes that were often handsome. It largely depended iipon the taste of the individual Indian how he was at- tired. For their couches they had undressed deer, panther or bear skins. The white settlers, w!io learned many things about hunting and general woodcraft from the children of the forests, adapted the buckskin gar- ments and mocassins when it was necessary for them to be much in the forests. They could travel much farther when so attired, with less fatigue. For his head the Indian disdained any covering. It was a matter of personal pride to be physically robust and hardened; to be men of great endurance, agility, athletic, muscular. As a warrior he must not only be fearless, but equal to every physical requirement. From his point of view he was a high type of physical manhood, and must not demean himself by manifesting weakness; he must endure torture without flinching and laugh in the face of danger. No one will chal- lenge the fact that the Xorth American Indians, and especially the mem- bers of the Hudson river tribes, were the masters and superiors of all other savage races. Even among the civilized races there were but few able to cope with them physically. Perhaps to add to their fierce aspect, they arranged their thick black hair in a peculiar manner. Cropping it close on the sides, they left a 48 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. lock of about the width of three fingers, and two or three fingers in length, and being coarse and thick it stood on end like a rooster's comb. It was natural for them to have no beard. Their skin they painted red, blue or black at times; black was a sign of mourning; red, when applied in a certain way, meant war. When they traveled they took along some of their maize, a kettle, a wooden bowl and a spoon ; these they packed to- gether and hung on their backs. When they wished to build a camp- fire they obtained a flame quickly by rubbing certain kinds of wood to- gether in a particular way. In time of war the savage in them was supreme. Cruel then be- 3^ond expression, they slew -without mercy and died without a sign of fear. Captives were subjected to fearful tortures. War was to the death and unspeakably horrible as they conducted it. This was the least admirable side of the Indian character. Their weapons, before the white man gave them firearms, were bows and arrows, spears, clubs, hat- chets and knives. Their arrow heads were made of flint, bone or copper, sharpened, barbed and poisoned. When shot with power these would penetrate a body like a musket ball. Their castles or strongholds were formed of heavy wooden stockades. When arranged to withstand a long siege, they contained living quarters, store houses and water sup- ply. To these the women and children would hasten in case of attack, and the men also, if outnumbered by the enemy. Pride made Indians brave. ISTone cared to show the white feather or to be called a coward. By a custom that was the same as law, every able-bodied man A\'ith every boy over the age of fourteen was a defender of his tribe or nation. War was declared after full consideration and imanimous decision. On the battle-field the chiefs were obeyed implicitly; they were chosen for their valor; but at the council fire of the tribe every member had an equal voice. The Indians made their houses for the most part of bark, with a frame work of poles, water tight and wann, and kindled fires in the mid- dle of them. When a son or daughter was married, an addition was built and a new hearth-fire lighted. Thus some of the houses became in the course of years very long, and a nimiber of fires burned therein, each representing a branch of the family. From bark they also made light canoes; by hollowing out and shaping the tnmks of suitable trees they constructed larger ones. Some of these could carry ten or twelve per- sons. Although there were no courts of justice for the punishment of THE ABORIGINES. 49 offences, there was still a court of public opinion, and established cus- toms tliat could not be disregarded. Crimes against individuals were avenged by the parties agg-rieved; murder was avenged by the next of kin. But the colonists have left recorded their testimony that "not half so many murders and villainies were committed among the savages as among Christians." "O poor me! Who am going- out to fight the enemy, And know not whether I shall return again, To enjoy the embraces of my children And my wife. O poor creature! Whose life is not in his own hands, ' Wtio has no power over his own body. But tries to do his duty. For the welfare of his nation. O thou Great Spirit above, Take pity on my children And on my wife. Prevent their mourning on my account, Grant that I may be successful in this attempt, That I may slay my enemy, And bring home the trophies of vvnar To my dear family and friends, That we may rejoice together. O take pity on me! Give me strength and courage To meet my enemy. Suffer me to return again to my children And to my wife. And to my relations. Take pity on me and preserve my life. And I will maJce thee a sacrifice. Going to war was termed figuratively "taking up the hatchet." The subject of grievance, the matter of alliances, and the messages brought by runners were considered in solemn conclave, and the chiefs would, the cause being STifficicnt, appeal in eloquent orations to the patriotism and courage of their braves: "The bones of your murdered country- men lie uncovered and demand revenge at our hands; their spirits loud- ly call upon us, and we must obey; still greater spirits watching over our honor inspire us to go in pursuit of the slayers of our brethren. Let ua follow their trail and devour them ! ... Do not sit inactive. . . Follow the impulse of your hereditary valor. Paint your faces, fill your quivers, make the woods echo with shoiits for revenge! Comfort the spirits of the deceased and revenge their blood." Rising, a war dance would begin, participation in this being equivalent to volunteering for so HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. the expedition. The war song of the Lenapes has thus been translated and recorded in history: References: Ruttenber's "Indian Tribes of Hiulson's River." Smith's His- tory of New .leTsey. "The Old New York Frontder" — Halsey. N. Y. Historical Society coUeictions. CHAPTEE V. INDIAN WARS. Encroachments of the Duitch — The Ooloiiy at Vrfiielsendael — Oonsequenccs of Stealing an Indian's Beaver Coat — Tappans Driven from Home By Mohawks — Massacres at Pavonia By Dutch Soldiers — Allied Tribes Take Revenge — Vrie- sendael Destroyed. THE denizens of the forest not only treated the newcomers from across the sea in a friendly manner, but were generous and help- ful in many ways. They saw the colony on Manhattan Island increase in population, and viewed with indifference the establishing of trading posts at several other places. For many years peace and amity existed between the two races. Such land as the settlers desired they could obtain for a triile, for the owners had j)lenty more. Thus, Man- hattan Island changed hands in consideration of the payment of sixty guilders, or about twenty-foiu- dollars, and the Manhattans, retiring northward, left the Dutch in full and undisputed possession of what is now the most valuable tract of land on the continent. But while they lived at peace with the newcomers, the Indians had troubles of their own. The ilahicans ^nd the Mohawks on tlie upjicr Hudson distiu-bed the pub- lic peace for about two years, so that most of the Christians fled froon Fort Orange to Manhattan and remained until the two nations smoked the pipe of peace again. Encouraged by the traders at Manhattan, the tribes began to spend much time in the hunting field, killing and trapping wild animals for tlieir furs, the trading post offering a market for all that could be obtain- ed. During the year 1632 the exports from New Netherlands amount ed to more than fifteen thousand skins, the greater number of which were beaver. The Indians on the lower river made frequent trips to the fort, but it was the custom of the interior or distant nations to make the jour- ney annually with their .supplies of furs. Such was the good feeling in this quarter, the fort on Manhattan Island was allowed to go to decay, open at every side and the guns off their carriages. The Dutch govern- a z w Z a: m H CO H 73 L INDIAN WARS. 51 ment at Amsterdam gave a special riglit for exclusive trade with the natives to one finn, but many private persons, disregarding this charter, engaged openly in traffic, and wei-e generally able to secure skins of a quality superior to those wliich were offered to the company. Some of the free traders were ser\'ants of the company, but, becoming rich, re- signed from the employment and established large plantations. The profits of the fur trade were very great, and in the opinion of the new- comers, now was the time to make their fortunes. Spreading them- selves through the country, they built cabins and engaged in trade with the Indians, who were frequent visitors at their doors. These encroach- ments, unnoticed at first, in time became numerous and amioying. Even an Indian, however unselfish, could not bear with equanimity the sight of his com being trampled do^vn by a stranger's cattle. Then the au- thorities at New Amsterdam, now confident of their physical ability to enforce the measure, levied a tax of corn, furs or wampum against the original owners of the soil, to help defray, as they said, the expense of maintaining their military establishment, by wliich the Indians were protected from their enemies. These matters were naturally the sub- ject of serious consideration at tlie council fires of the tribes and nations, and sigiis of the first estrangement began to appear. Reports also reach- ed the river tribes from Fort Orange that their old-time enemies, the Mo- hawks, were being supjjlied with firearms, while they of the Unamis aTid Mahican nations were unable to obtain any. Director-General Kieft had forbidden the furnishing of firearms to the natives under pain of death, but he either countenanced the act, or was unable to prevent the Mohawks (of the Six JvTations) from receiving weapons, which placed them at a great advantage over all other nations. Tlie river tribes ap- pealed again and again to the Dutch authorities against this discrimina- tion, but without avail. On the other hand, any Mohawk who had col- lected twenty beaver skins could exchange them for a musket at any free trader's house in his country, and the equivalent of ten or twelve giiilders would buy a pound of powder. Many private individuals, desirous of obtaining the large profits that accrued from the traffic, imported fire- arms and ammunition from Holland in quantities and disposed of them to the Mohawks, who in a short time became well equipped, while the river tribes remained comparatively defenceless. The natural conse- quence followed immediately; the thunderbolts of war were loosed and warriors from the Long House of the Six Nations scattered death and de- 52 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. struction among their neighbors along the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes. While the Tappans, in common with the Mahicans and the other riv- er Indians, were brooding over annoyances and particularly the partial- ity of the Dutch for the Iroquois federation, Director-General Kieft de- termined to exact the tribute of corn, furs and wampum. In pursuit of this object, he sent out an armed sloop on a collecting expedition, first to the Tappans. When he landed and made known his errand, a council was called, and in the course of the proceeding's the agent of the Dutch West India Company was clearly and emphatically informed as to the state of mind existing in that tribe. ''The Sakenia of the fort," ex- claimed the chiefs of the Tappans, "must be a mean fellow; he has not invited them to come and live here, that he should now take away their corn." The tax was not collected, nor was any violence offered the In- dians. For the first time the Tappans manifested ill-will toward their white brethren, and were evidently prepared to resist an attempted enforce- ment of the proclamation of taxation. With dignity one of the chiefs reproached the Dutch for being "men of blood," alluding to some un- called for deeds in another part of the country, and another warrior in- timated that though they might be strong on the water, they were weak on the land. Upon his return to Manhattan the Director-General, feel- ing that he liad cause for alarm, issued an order for the troops and fort to be made ready for defence, for every civilian to provide himself with a gun, and for the people at large upon hearing the discharge of three cannon to ha.sten at once to the fort. Up to this time the Hudson river Indians had kept their war hatchets buried; no wrong had ever come to the white people from them. Though a crisis had now arisen, a governor less headstrong a.nd tyrannical tlian Kieft might have saved his countrymen much sorrow. A trifling incident, which, especially in the then inflamed state of af- fairs, should have been overlooked, was made the excuse for an atrocious assault against the Indians. One morning some swine were missing from the plantation of Captain De Vries, on Staten Island, and though the offence was at once charged against the nearest Indians, the Haritans, in- quiry would have disclosed that some of the Director-General's own men had committed the depredation. Forthmth, a force of fifty soldiers was sent against the nearest Raritan village, and although the Indians offered to make good a loss for which they were in no wise responsible, INDIAN WARS. S3 the soldiers fell upon them, killed or butchered several of their number and burnt their crops. This occurred in the year 1G40. The previous spring Captain David P. De Vries, sailing from Fort Amsterdam in his own sloop, on a journey to Fort Orang-e, to see the country, an'ived tlic first evening at Tappan (now Piennont), where he found a beautiful plateau, some two hundred feet above the river, where the hills fall back. Pleased with the place, he opened negotiations with the Tappan tribe for its purchase, and at a small cost became the owner. Having been on good terms with all the Indians on the lower river, he was the more easily able to make the purchase. The tract consisted of about five himdred acres, and besides having the advantage of being at no great distance from Fort Amsterdam, contained an extensive bed of clay. David Peterson De Vries had been a resident of the country since 1630, when, coming from Holland, he and seven of the Directors of the Dutch West India Company, among whom was Van Rensselaer, form- ed an association for planting a colony on the Delaware river, where they intended to raise tobacco and grain, and, with a ship that they o^\^led, prosecute whale fishery. Although the Company considered this en- terprise an invasion of its vested rights, the colony was allowed to re- main. But, two years later, Indians in revenge for some wrong de- scended on the place and destroyed it, and all the inhabitants, thirty-four in number, were massacred. De Vries, returning from a voyage to Hol- land, found the bones of his murdered people unburied and his buildings in ruins. A few years before his visit to Tappan he had purchased land on Staten Island, some Holland merchants being partnei's in the trans- action, and had foimded a colony there with immigTants from the old coimtry. He hoped that this new place would be more secure from at- tack than the old one on the Delaware, which had been destroyed. AVhile his o%vn private residence and estate was situated on the bank of the Hudson above Fort, Amsterdam, he had never until now sailed up the river. His estate on Manhattan Island was a large one, with "hay enough for two himdred head of cattle." His intention in buying Tap- pan was to send a company of immigrants there — not to make the place his own abode. The colonists came in the autumn of 1641, and at once proceeded to erect habitations. This was the first white settlement with- in the territory of Rockland county. The name Vriesendale was given to it. Frederick De Vries, Secretary of the City of Amsterdam, Hol- land, and a manager of the West India Company, was a brother and 54 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. partner of Captain David De Vries. The ucxt year another colony was established, wathin an hour's walk of this one, by !MJ^ldert JMyudcrtsen van der IIoi*st, from Utrecht, Holland. The second plantation extend- ed from Newark Bay north toward Tappan, and included the valley of the Hackinsack river. The headquarters of the settlement was but five "or six hundred paces from the principal village of the Ilackensack In- dians. Each settlement was essentially a trading post. Meanwhile, the Raritans had not forgotten their treatment at the hands of Kieft's soldiers, and, after the manner of their race, had been thii-sting for revenge. When a favorable moment arrived, they de- scended upon De Vries' 2>lantation at Staten Island and destroyed his building-s and killed four of his plantere. Kieft, for some reason, sent no troops ag-ainst the Raritans, though the provocation was greater than when he dispatched the punative expedition of the preceding year; but instead he offered a reward of ten fathoms of wampum for the head of every Karitan. So far as known, the reward was claimed but once, when an Indian of the Haverstraw tribe appeared at the fort with the head of a dead man fastened to the end of a stick. Tradition says it was the head of the chief of the Raritans, and that the Indian who brought it was a chief of the Haverstraws, in testimony of his friendship for the "Swan- nekins," as the Dutch were called by the red men. After having thus squared accounts, the Raritans and the authorities at the fort came to terms and smoked the pipe of peace; and not even when all the other tribes raised the hatchet against the pale faces did the Raritans break the pledge they then gave. Until 1643 the Tappans and Haverstraws lived in peace wnth the newcomers. Then the stealing of a beaver-skin coat from an Indian at Hackinsack was the immediate occasion for an outbreak. Dutch li- quor had begim to do its work among the aborigines, most of whom, nn- flble to resist its fascination, would sacrifice anything they possessed to obtain it. For the sake of easy and profitable traffic, the colonists had been willing to give to the Indians what proved in many instances disas- trous alike to savage and to settler. A yoimg Hackinsack had gone to the trading post and stupified himself \\'itli rum. Upon coming some- what to his senses, and missing his fine coat, he accused the "Swanne- kins" of stealing it and swore vengeance. Captain De Vries at that mo- ment was coming from his plantation at Vriesendale through the woods, f^nd meetino' the intoxicated and enraged brave, was informed of what INDIAN WARS. SS I'ad happened. "You are a good cliief," said the Hackinsack; "when we nsit you we get milk to drink for nothing." He bore no ill-will toward the white chief, but he was going to his lodge for his weapons, and would kill tlie first Swannekin he met. !Not many hours after the news came that he had kept his vow; an unoffending immigrant had been slain un- awares, as he was roofing the house of the owner of the trading post at Hackinsack. The whole countryside flew to arms; anxiety and fear prevailed. A deputation of Indian chiefs somewhat allayed alarm by visiting Captain De Vries, who was president of the advisory council of Twelve for the province, and repudiating the acts of their younger brother. They of- fered to make atonement in money, but could not deliver up the mur- derer, who had tied to the mountains, among the Ilaverstraws. And, besides, he was a chief's son, and therefore could not be molested, ac- cording to their code. Captain De Vries advised them to proceed to Fort Amsterdam and make their explanation in person to Director-Gen- eral Kieft; to ensure their safe return he would accompany them. Ui> on hearing the appeal the Greneral declared that justice in such a case could only be satisfied by the punishment of the murderer. He de- nounced in solemn words the enormity of the crime, and declined any atonement of money. Oritany, the great sachem of the Hackensaeks, while regretting the crime, expressed the opinion that "the Swannekiiis ought not to sell fire-water to our young men to make them crazy. Your own people fight with knives and commit fooleries when drunk." That mnter, in February, an attack which the river Indians had long apprehended as a consequence of selling firearms indiscriminately to the Six Nations was made. Suddenly and ferociously a hundred Mohawks, every one armed -svitli a musket, against which a bow and arrow was a poor defence, fell upon the villages on both sides of the river below the Highlands and pillaged them. Surprised and inadequately equipped, the people could make no defence ; their only safety was in flight. Those on the east side of the river fled toward Manhattan Island, seeking refuge among the settlers and at the fort; while on the west side the fugitives first came Vriesendael, and then ovei-flowed to Hackensack and Pavo- nist For two weeks, while the dreaded Mohawks remained in the vi- ciniir, they lived on the bounty of the Dutch. At this juncture Kieft was virged by some brutal spirits in his community to take advantage of the opportunity to punish the river Indians for several offences, but 56 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. others, notably De Vries, advised against such action. Public opinion at Manhattan had long been divided on the question of the treatment to be accorded the Indians, and now upon the presentation of a formal petition by a few who assumed to speak for the whole commiinity the General decided in favor of inflicting a terrible punishment upon the de- fenceless refugees, and issued the following orders: "Whereas, the inhabitants in our neighborhood continue to reside in the country under great alarm, and cultivate their land in anxiety, through fear of the savages, who now and then have murdered some of them in a most villainous manner, without any previous provocation, and we cannot obtain any satisfaction for these massacres; we must therefore appeal to our anns, so that we may live here in security. In the full con- fidence that God will crown our rcsohitions with success; moreover, as the commonality solicits on the 22nd day of February, 1643, that we may execute the same; we therefore hereby authorize Maryn Andriasen, at his request, to attack a party of savages skulking beliind Corker's Hook, or plantation, and act with them in every manner as they deem proper, and the time and opportunity shall permit. "Sergeant Rodolf is commanded and authorized to take under liis command a troop of soldiers, and lead them to Pavonia, and drive away and destroy the savages being behind Jan Evertsen's, biit to spare, as much as possible, their wives and children, and to take the savages pris- oners. . . . The exploit is to be executed at night, with the great- est caution and prudence. Our God may bless the expedition." No pen can fully describe the hoiTors of that night between the 25th and 26th of February. Crossing over to Pavonia, the soldiers silently surrounded the camp of the refugee Tappans and HavcrstrawB, who were already mourning the death of fathers and sons at the hands of the Mohawks, and siiifering privations attendant upon being driven from their homes in mid-winter. At midnight the massacre began. Captain De Vries, the proprietor of Vriesendael, in the country of the Tappans, was a distiint eye-witness. He was at Director-General Kieft's that night. When seated at table that evening the commander had told his guest of a desire to make the savages "wipe their chops." De Vries had remonstrated long with him, especially pointing out what the result of "jangling with the Indians" on the Delaware and Staten Island had been. "You will go," said he, "to break the Indians' heads, but it is our nation that you are going to murder." Kief t answered that the Cap- INDIAN WARS. S7 tain might be assured there woiild be no danger. As the night advanc- ed, after the sokliers and anned civilians had left, he took a seat in the iiitchen by the fire. "At midnight I heard loud shrieks," he wrote in his journal, "and went out to the parapet of the fort and looked toward Pavonia. I saw nothing but the flashing of the guns. I heard no more the cries of the Indians. They were butchered in their sleep." He re- entered the house, with his heart aching for his poor friends, the Tap- pans. Presently an Indian, with his squaw, who had li\'ed near Vries- endale, came into the room. He had escaped from the slaughter in a skiff. "The Fort Orange Indians have fallen on us," said he, "and we nave come to hide ourselves in the fort." "It is no time to hide in the fort — No Indians have done this deed. It is the work of the Swanne- kins — the Dutch," answered De Vries, as he led them to the gate. Eighty human beings were murdered that night at Pavonia, and thirty at Corlaer's Hook, under the most horrible circumstances. Some of those who escaped instant death and dragged their mutilated bodies towards the fort, not realizing that it was the lair of their enemies, had had their hands struck off; some were found with legs missing; others "were supporting their entrails vnth their hands." Unwilling to believe at first that the Christians had committed the shameful deed, the red men burned with hatred when they realized the truth. The hatchet was raised, war whoops rang through the land; the white invaders should be made to know the power of the race they had despised. Eleven tribes, including the Tappans and Haverstraws — than whom none were more furious — allied themselves for revenge. The in- cautious Kieft when giving orders for the massacres had not reckoned on the consequences to his own people. Scattered among the Indians for thirty miles north and east and twenty west and south, were now many small settlements and detached cabins. Among these the toma- hawk, scalping knife and firebrand were soon committing deeds no less horrible than the atrocities which the Christians had perix?trated. Erom the Ramapo to the Connecticut the cries of agonized mortals and the flames of desecrated hearths ascended to heaven; and the directors at Fort Amsterdam realized that in signing the deaiJi warrants of innocent natives they had also signed the death warrants of their own countr^micn. Among the places burned was Captain De Vries' private plantation; his cattle, tobacco, haystacks and everything except his house was de- stroyed. His workmen and their families saved themselves by taking 58 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. refuge in the dwelling, which they successfully defended until an In- dian, coming late on the scene, intei-posed to save the dwelling and re- lated how Captain De Vries had once befriended him. The assailants ceased firing; then with signs of regret and good will departed. The mediator was the Indian who had come to De Vries at the Governor's on the night of the Pavonia massacre. Uiwn his first meeting with the Governor, De Vries asked him if he did not now see that he had made a mistake. Kieft made no answer. With the bodies of his countrymen strewing the forests, with the fort crowded with fugi- tives, and as many as could go hastening to return to Holland, the ciTor that had been committed was only too apparent. The commander-in- chief was reproached on every hand; even his life was in danger. When the carnage had continued about a week, three Indians with a white flag came to the fort and asked that commissioners be sent to a conference with their cliiefs, on the seashore, some miles away. Two representatives were sent, one being Capt. De Vries. They an-ived at the appointed place that evening, but the council did not meet until the next morning. Then sixteen chiefs placed themselves in a circle around the whites, and one, who had a bimdle of small sticks in his hand, com- menced a speech. "He related," \vrites De Vries "that when we first arrived on their shores we were sometimes in want of food; they gave us beans and corn, and let us eat oysters and fish, and now for recom- pense we murdered their people. Here he laid down one little stick — this was one point of accusation. The men who in your first trips you left here to barter your goods until yoiir return, these men have been treated by us as we Avould have done by our eyeballs. He laid down an- other stick." . . . The result of the conference was the going of all the chiefs to see the Governor at the fort, where other warriors, among them a party of Tappans and Hackensack chiefs and leaders, join- ed the council. Peace was ostensibly made, presents were exchanged — but everything was not satisfactory to the Indians, and they left grum- bling. One presently came back and gave warning, but hostilities were suspended until September, when nine Indians, believed to have been Tappans, killed four soldiers unawares at Pavonia, and bunied all the houses there. They carried a Dutch lad captive to Tappan. War with all its horrors was resumed. The father of the Dutch boy came with the Governor to De Vries, to beg him to go to the Indians and free his INDIAN WARS. 59 son. With two Indians the proprietor of Vriensendael sailed in a pri- vateer to Tappan, and returned in safety with tlie child. Resolved to stay no longer in a land where he had experienced so many sorrows and losses, De Vries went to General Kieft and bade hira farewell, saying that "vengeance for innocent blood which he had shed in his murderings would sooner or later come on his head." He sailed on a fisherman's vessel to Virginia, "in order to proceed from thence to Europe," and Rockland county knew him no more. He was evidently a just as well as enterprising man. Fifteen hundred warriors were now on the warpath, and to oppose them the Dutch had no more than three hundred men, including about fifty soldiers. Many Christians had fled back to Holland. The bar- barians swept tlie country, and by destrojang all that had not been de- stroyed before, made it utterly desolate. In one way and another, but principally by capture, they had well equipped themselves ^vith gTins and ammunition. Unburdened by their families, who had been sent far into the interior, they were free to execute vengeance. Even the Mohawks now feared them and came not near. Fort Amsterdam would have fallen an easy prey had it been attacked, and the gan-ison, with little ammuni- tion, expected every day to be overwhelmed. Not a plough could be put in the ground, and no one dared go far from the fort alone. Exactly when or under what circumstances Vriesendael, the first white settle- ment in Rockland county, met its fate is unknown. It went down in tlic general crasli. Let us liope that but few if any souls perished at its fall. "WTint doth the Indian love? Revengie. What doth he fight for? Revenge. WhaJt doth he pray for? Revenge. It is sweet as the flesh of a young bear; For this he goes hungry, roaming the desert. Living on berries, or che\ving the rough bark Of the Oiak, and drinking the slimy pool." In his extremity the Director-General asked the commonality to se- lect an advisory committee from their number, and eight men were ap- pointed to aid Eeft with their counsel. One of their first acts was to send an appeal for help to Holland, but they did not neglect to cliarge the Director with bringing on hostilities with the Indians without suf- ficient cause, and to demand his removal. In May (1644) unexpected help arrived in the fonu of a Dutch man-of-war, which landed a force of 150 soldiers, together witli fifty other armed men. The Dutch sought diligently to secure peace with the Indians, but the war continued with 60 HISTORY OF ROCKL,AND COUNTY. all the incidents of such a struggle until August, 1645, during all of which period the river Indians were masters of their country, except at Fort Amsterdam. Fort Orange was outside of the field of carnage. On August 30, as the result of previous negotiations, the sachems of the surrounding tribes came to a council at Manhattan. In a pleasant glade outside the fort the sacliems of the Haverstraws and Tappans, with dele- gates from Long Island, Oritany of the Hackensacks, Aepjen, chief of the Mahicans proper, who also represented the Sint Sings, Wappingnecks and other east side tribes of the river, besides some mediators from the Iroquois confederacy, had a long "talk" with the Governor and his advis- ors, and as the result Christians and barbarians bound themselves sol- emnly and finnly to keep the peace thereafter. No white man should go armed to an Indian village without permission; no armed In- dian to approach a Christian's dwelling. Each party pledged to apply in case of difficulty to the proper authorities, so that justice could be administered. The sixth of September following was observed in the churches as a day of thanksgiving. The hatchet was buried and the Eu- ropean had come to stay. CHAPTER VI. APPORTIONING THE LANDS. Second Attempt at Colonization — The English Seize the Province — The Christian Patented Lands of Haverstraw— Town of Orange — Apportioning the Lands — Beginnings of Government — List of Pioneers — Life in the Wilderness — Colonel Mac Gregorie. WILLIAM KIEFT, as Director-General, or Governor, of the prov- ince, was in May, 1047, superseded by Peter Stuyvesant, who had for several years been in the service of the West India Company, as Director of its colony at Curacoa, off the coast of Soutli America. The new officer was distinguished for bravery as well as en- ergy, and had lost a leg in fighting the battles of his country. For three months Kieft tarried at Fort Amsterdam, and when he sailed it was not for a safe voyage home to Holland, but to be shipwrecked and drowned on the coast of Wales. Immediately upon Stu^Tosant's accession he References: N. Y. Hist. Soc. Does. — Rnttenber's Indian Tribes of Hudson's River — O'Callaghnn's New Netherlard — 0e Vries' .Journal — Brodhead's New York. APPORTIONING THE LANDS. 61 determined upon a reform in tlie manner of government that would re- lieve him of some of the responsibility and perliaps enable him to avoid the mistakes into wliieli his predecessor fell. He organized a council representative of and chosen by the commonality, and consisting of nine members. The council suggested various important measures for the upbuilding of the province to which the Governor gave his consent, and in carrying out which he gained the good-will of the Indians so lately in revolt, and restored harmony among all classes. But at best it was an autocratic government. The governors sent out were merely managers in a commercial corporation, who at least until now had given little con- sideration to the welfare of independent settlers, or to matters not con- nected with the traffic which their company carried on — "the hardy, ad- venturous, lawless, fascinating fur trade." The result of that policy had been physical and financial disaster, and now a new start must be made along a different line. The wishes of the "people" should hence- forth be more consulted, and some special advantages should be held out to home builders. The farmer upon his arrival with his family from over the sea was now granted by the Company for the tenn of si.x years a "Tjouwerie," or farm, which was partly cleared and a good part of it fit for the plough. The Company then furnished the farmer with a house, bam, farming implements and tools, together with four horses, four cows, sheep and pigs, the "usufruct and enjoyment of which" the husbandman had dur- ing the six years, when he was expected to return the number of cattle he had received. The increase remained with him, but he was required to pay a yearly rental of one hundred guilders and eighty poimds of but- ter. It is stated in official papers that the people who took advantage of this offer all prospered during the tenn of their residence on the Com- pany's lands. But the "bouweries" remained the property of the great corporation, and at the expiration of the term of his lease the husband- man was expected to make new arrangements. In this connection it is interesting to read that certain freedom and exemptions were allowed to "all those who shall be willing to repair to JSiew ISTctherland," but the nature of the conditions was such that only a "privileged few" comparatively speaking, could avail themselves of the offer. An individual might purchase of the Indian owners a tract of land on which to plant a colony, or establish a manor, provided that he should agree to begin the cultivation of the land within one year of the 62 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. date of purchase, and, further, that each proprietor shoukl ship to liis plantation in the course of four years at least one hundred souls, all above the age of fifteen. The Indians could be satisfied for their lands by a few trifles, but the deed had to be signed by both parties to the trans- action in the presence of some member of the Company. He who es- tablished such a colony was to be considered a patroon or chief, in whom were centered all the rights pertaining to the position. He could admin- ister justice, appoint ofiicers and magistrates, arrange for the service of a clergyman and schoolmaster, and make use of the title of his colony according to his pleasure and qTiality, all, however, with the knowledge and consent of the Assembly of Fifteen. A patent to authorize the dis- posal of this feudal estate by will was to be granted to every patroon who desired it. Avowedly the owner was a sort of feudal lord, owing allegiance to the West India Company and to the .States General, but independent of control within the limits of his own territory. His es- tate could be four leagues in length on the river, and extend inland as far as the patroon desired. Or, if he desired to have his manor on both sides of the river, he might claim two leagues along each shore. More- over, the Company promised not to take from the service of a pa- troon any colonist, whether man or woman, son or daiighter, man-ser- vant or maid-servant, or permit any other proprietor to do so, or permit any colonist, tenant or servant to leave his patroon except by previously written consent of the latter, during the term of contract. Shoidd any colonist run away to another patroon, or take liis freedom without per- mission, the Company promised to have him, so far as lay in its power, returned to his patroon, to be proceeded against by the master according to the circumstances of the case. The system was a fonn of feudalism, under which the coloni.sts, while not serfs, were far from being free and independent citizens. The first colony in Kockland county, "Vriesendael," was organized under this law. Director Michael Paauw in the same way had previously es- tablished "Pavonia." Killean Van Eensselaer, with some of his brother Directors, founded the colony called "Rensslaei-wyck." (The pri^'i- leges of a patroon were at first restricted to the members of the Com- pany.) The estates and fortimes of many families of the present time had their beginning under the rule of the Dutch "West India Company. The second attempt to foimd a colony in the territory now included in Rockland county was begun in the year 1651, by Cornelius Wcrck- E- w o a. o xn o a > APPORTIONING THE LANDS. 63 hoven, who is described in the records as "Councillor of the Municipality and ex-Schepen of the City of Utrecht," who appeared at the office of the "West India Company at Amsterdam and declared himself Patroon of two colonies which he intended to establish in T^Tew Netherland, "one beginning at the Navesinck and stretching northward to the colony of the lord of ^N'ederhorst, the other beginning at Tappan and stretching northward through the Highlands, both subject to the conditions and conforming to the rules lately made by the Company," quoting from the official entry made at the chamber of Amsterdam, "and delivered to their High: Might: for approval, or such other privileges and exemptions as may be granted hereafter by the aforesaid Company, with the knowledge of their High: Might:. The aforesaid Hon. Van Werckhovcn prom- ised to act in everything properly, and for the service of the Company, while His Honor receives on the part of the Company a promise of ev- ery help, favor and assistance possible, in witness whereof this record has been made on the day and in the year as above: "The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, to all who shall see this or hear it read. Greeting! Know ye, that they have con- sented and authorized, as they herewith consent and authorize, His Hon- or, Cornelis Van Werckhoven, . . . that he may as Patroon estab- lish a colony in New Netherland, beginning at Tappan, near the colony of Nederhorst, and stretching northward through the Highlands, all subject to the conditions and conforming to the rules lately made by the Company, and submitted to their High: Might: the Lord States General for approval as may be granted hereafter by the aforesaid Company with the knowledge of their High: Might:. They order, charge and request every one whom this may in any way concern not to hinder his said Hon- or, Cornelis Werckhoven, herein, but to help, favor and assist him when necessary, whereas this has been decided to be for the benefit of the Com- pany. This done at a meeting at Amsterdam, the 7th of November, 1651." (The same for a colony beginning at the Navesinck and stretch- ing northward to the colony of the lord of Nedorhoret.) Upon revie\ving the foregoing document, the Company's Directors at Amsterdam perceived that it was indefinitely and loosely drawn. Even in a country where and at a time when land was so easily obtaine W O 02 o < o 3 < Q APPORTIONING THE LANDS. 73 40 women, of wliom thirty-seven were wives and thre« widows; 57 boys under sixteen years; 84 girls or maids; 33 negroes, men, women tiiul cliildren, all slaves. Only five men were above sixty years; one of tliese was Justice of tlie Peace William Merritt; another Dirck Storm, the Clerk. One of the citizens had an Indian woman for a wife. The names of the men in this census roll are as follows: William Merritt, Abram Hearingh, Roloft' Van Howi;ten, John Hendrickssen, Geridt Hendrickssen, Geridt Lambertzen, Lowe Reynerssen, .Tohnn Classen, Johnnus Gerissen, Coenrat Hanssen, Dirck Straat, (Josyn Hearingh, Samuel Conklijn, John Waard, Pieter ]Iearingh, John D'puy, Gerritt Huijbrechtz, Pouhis Tjurekssen, Meichert Casperssen, John Perre, Isaac Brett, Will: Juell, Jr., Arian Crom, Floris Crom, Cornelius Coeper, Frans Wey, Cleas Van Howtton, Daniel Dc Klerck, Thomis Eoelllzen Van Howtten, Ilendrick Geritssen, Herman Hendrickssen, Lambert Arianssen, Thonis Taelman, Casper Janssen, Reyn Janzen, Jacob Cool, Reijnier Mijnerssen, Cornelius Hearingh, Jacob Flierboom, Abram Blauvelt, Isaac Gerrissen, Jeremiah CenilT, John D'fries, John Meijer, John Hey, Jurian Meigerissen, Jemes Weller, Will: Juell, Willem Crom, Gysbert Crom, Albert Mimelay, Edward Mek, Dirck Storm, Jacob De Klerck. The Justices of the Peace at the time when the census was taken were: William Men-itt, Daniel De Klerck, Theunis R. Van Ilowton and Cornelius Clasen. One of the four being unable to write his name, made his mark instead. Justice ifen-itt owned eight slaves, but he is not credited with anv children. Justice Van Howton possessed two 74 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. slaves, and was blessed with six xmmarried daughters and three unmar- ried sons. Peter Hearingh had five "gerells," one boy, and one man- slave, in his household. Thonis Taelman kept two men-slaves. Al- bert Mhnelay had one male and two female slaves. In brief, slaves were owned in seventeen families. In regard to the total number of in- habitants of the county, there are reasons for doubting that the num- ber was correctly given. For instance, the names of none of the Scotch and Irish families composing the Miirderer's creek colony appears in the census report. This settlement lay partly in Orange and part- ly in Ulster coimty, and had existed without interruption since 1GS4, when Col. MacGregorie, his brother-in-law "and twenty-five others . . settled themselves, their families and sundry of their servants, on lands . . . and peaceably and quietly possessed and enjoyed themselves during the terms of their natural lives," as a paper signed by Mrs. Mac Gregorie bears witness. Moreover, the lady expressly states that her residence was "in the county of Orange." Here is clear proof that the alleged census did not account for all the inhabitants of the county. It is even doubtful if every person south of the Highlands was included. In 1693 it was officially reported that Orange county contained "no more than twenty families, free-holders, all living in Orangetown." This we know was an error. From the use of the word "freeholders," however, there is a possible inference that only proprietors were considered in the enumeration. The pioneers of Orangetown and Haverstraw had by tliis time be- come well settled in their ways of life. The children they had brought with them into the wilderness were well on to manhood and woman- hood; some had founded homes of their own. The schooling the boys and girls received was sturdy, though limited. It was an era when book- learning was not so needful for the fonner as physical streng-th for labor, wit for trade, and skill in woodcraft and farming; and for the girls expertness in household duties. Dutch customs prevailed; the Dutch element still led in business and government. According to the standard of the age, the people lived in comfort; the virgin soil yielded abundant croi>s; game and fish were plentifid in forest and stream; the necessaries of life were easily obtainable. The Indians for the most part had retired into the interior, and now gave the colonists little or no trouble. There were marryings and givings in marriage; there were christenings and betrothals; days of labor in the field, evenings of con- APPORTIONING THE LANDS. 75 Acrsation, meditation and prayer about the fire-place; besides the Sab- bath walks to and from religious meetings, social gathering-s and wayside chats, hoiTsehold hopes anil sorrows; the incidents of daily life can easily be imagined. Already the county had produced one man of note — a prototype of George Clinton. Patrick MacGregorie had not long resided on Plum Point, in the Murderer's creek settlement, when the Governor called him to be the Muster-General of the Militia of the province. Before coming across the sea he had fought for his king in France. In Jime, 1(586, when much irritation existed between the French in Canada and the authorities of New York, MacGregorie was commissioned to lead a trading party to the Ottawa country; overtake a party that had gone out the previous year, and bring both expeditions back to Albany. He was ordered not to distiu'b or meddle with the French. Below Fort St. Joseph, at "the Detroit of Lake Erie," MacGregorie and his party of twenty-nine Christians, six Indians and eight prisoners were seized as trespassers by a superior force of French troops, taken to Fort Niagara and sent thence to Montreal, not to be released until the Fall of the fol- lowing year, when there was an exchange of prisoners. In 1688 he ex- ecuted an important mission to Canada for Governor Andros of ]\Ias- sachusetts. Though not a resident of Massachusetts, he was selected for this duty because of his special fitness. In 1689, ^vith the rank of Lieu- tenant-Colonel, he was on duty in Maine and subse(]uently at Boston during the "secession" agitation, with Captain George Lockhart and Major Brockholls, all New York officers. In March, 1691, Colonel IMao Gregorie was ordered to proceed with his regiment to New York city, "to assist in maintaining the King's government" against Gov. Leisler, who was in rebellion. On the 17th of the month T^eisler with his own hand fired one of the guns of the fort at the King's troops, as they stood on parade. This was followed by a furious cannonade and volleys of musketry. The fire from the fort was answered from without, and in firing one of the cannon six persons were killed. One was Col. ^fno Gregorie. His widow continued to reside on Plum Point, whicli with a considerable estate was confirmed to her by the government. References: Holland Documents. Colonial Documents. Ruttenber's Orang'e County. Schuyler's Colonial New York. "The Eng-lish in New York," by .7. A. Stevens. B. Tnckerman's "Peter Stuyvesant." Roberts' New York. Lewis Beach's Cornwall. Brodhead's New York . Cole's Rockland County. \ 76 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. CHAPTEK VII. COLONIAL GOVERNMLNT. Courts and Coiirt-Houses — Precincts Kstablislied — Names of Officers and Represent^^tdves — First Boatls — C'oloniail Prices — Religfiious Influences — Fla.mily Customs — General and Local Laws — Public Improvements — French and Indian War — Militia System. TT TlTH the year 1703 a new era of government began for the coun- Vy ty. Although erected in 1683, not until 1703 was Orange permitted to exercise all the rights and privileges granted to other coimties. The first meeting of the Court of Sessions and Pleas was held at Tappan (Orangetown) on April 28, 1703, Judge William Mcrritt and Judge John Merritt sitting. These judges had been ap- pointed by Governor Combury. The first recorded meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held April 27, of the same year; — present, "William Merritt, John Merritt, C^ornelius Cooper, Theunis Van IIow- ton, Thomas Bun-oughs, Michael Hawdon, justices; John Perry, Sher- ifp; William Iluddleston, clerk; Conradt Hanssen, constable. In June (1703) a general law was enacted that there should be "elected and chosen once every year, in each town, by the freeholders and inhabitants thereof, one of their freeholders and inhabitants to compute, ascertain, examine, oversee and allow the contingent, public and necessary charge of each county, and that each and every inhabitant, being a freeholder in any manor, liberty, jurisdiction, precinct and out-plantation, shall have liberty to join his or their vote with the next adjacent town in the county, where such inhabitants shall dwell, for the choice of a sup- ervisor." The same enactment also provided that there should be annu- ally chosen "in each town, ward, manor and precinct, by the freeholders and inhabitants thereof, two assessors and one collector." The elections were called for the first Tuesday in April, "or on such other days as were appointed by charters and patents." Tlie annual meetiiig of the Board of Supervisors was appointed for the first Tuesday in October. A coun- ty treasurer was to be chosen by the Supervisors. Soon after the organization of the town of Orange the inhabitants of the adjoining patents, inchuling Ilaverstraw, were attached to it, and this connection was not broken until 1719, when Ilaverstraw was made a separate precinct, with boundai'ies described as "from tlie north- COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. 77 crmost bounds of Tappaii to the northermost boimds of Haverstraw." The Town of Orange continued to be the only organized township in the county until 1714, when Goshen was founded as a township; then the adjoining patents were legally attached to it, and the whole made and constituted the Precinct of Goshen. Tappan was the county-seat, and the county and general courts assembled there exclusively until 1727. The first count}' building was erected in 1703, being a court house and jail combined. When it became necessary to elect a member of As- sembly the polls were opened at Tappan only, and qualified electors in order to vote were required to go thither from all parts of the county. The Sheriff presided over the ballot box and declared the result. Only freeholders could vote for an Assemblyman, and it was not required that they should be actual residents. A freeholder could vote in any and every county where he had property — ''lands or tenements improved to the value of forty pounds" — free from all incumbrances. The polls were kept open several days, to enable all who desired to appear and vote. The non-resident property-owners could also vote with the inhabitants for towm officers. Beginning in 1727, courts were held alternately at Goshen and Tap- pan as a matter of convenience, but the polls for the election of the Mem- ber of Assembly continued to be at Tappan only until 1749, when they were opened at Goshen also, and for not less than four, nor for more than six days, at each place. The court house in Orangetowni was re- built, at an expense of £300, in 1737, when the population of the coun- ty had increased to about three thousand, and at the same time a court- house and jail for the convenience of the inhabitants north of the High- land M'as erected at Goshen. The county records remained in Orange- town, and there the principal official business of the county was trans- acted. The precinct of Goshen included all the territory of the coim- ty not attached to Orangetown and Haverstraw; in other words, the ter- ritory north and west of the mountains, from the Hudson riwr to the Delaware. But the precincts of Goshen and Orangetown should not be confounded with the towms themselves. The Cornwall, Warwick and Greycourt neighborhoods, for example, while in the precinct of Go- shen, yet formed no part, of Goshen town. The jurisdiction of the pre- cincts of Orangetown and Haverstraw corresponded very nearly to the territory of the present Eockland county. 78 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. In the Colonial Assembly the county was represented by one mem- ber until 1726; thereafter by two. Among the early Assemblymen were Peter Haring, Koris Crom, Cornelius Haring, Henrtrich TenEyck. Cornelius Cooper, Lancaster Symes, Vincent Matthews, Abram Haring, Theodorus Snedeker, Gabriel Ludlow, Thomas Gale, Henry Wisner, Se- lali Strong, John DelN'oyelles, John Coe. Among the county judges following the Merritts, were John Corbett (1710), Peter Haring and Cornelius Haring (1717), Vincent Matthews of Goshen, James Jack- son of Goshen, Abram Haring and John Haring. The Haring family was exceptionally prominent in public life in colonial times. Among the County (^Icrks who followed Stonu and Huddleston were Gerardus Cluwes (1721), Thomas Pullen (1723), Vincent Matthews of Cornwall (1726), Gabriel Ludlow (1735), Vincent Matthews (1736), David Mat- thews (1763). Among the Sheriffs were Floris W. Crom (1690), Stan- ley Handcock of New York (1694), John Peterson (1699), Thcunis Van Howton (1702), John PeiTy (1703), Jeremiah Caniff (1706), Cor- nelius Cooper (1708), Cornelius Haring (1709), Timothy Halstead (1718), William Pullen (1730), Michael Dunning of Goshen (1737), Thadeus Snedeker (1739), Joshua Sackett of Cornwall (1747), John Lawrence of Cornwall (1756), Daniel Everett of Goshen (1758), Dan- iel Denton of Goshen (1761), Isaac WoodhuU of Cornwall (1764), Je^se Woodhiill of Cornwall (1772). Among the early Supervisors of Or- angetowii were Renear Kisaike (1722), Cornelius Haring (1723-8), Cor- nelius Smith (1729-31), B,arent Naugell (1732-3), Gabriel Ludlow (1734-8), Henry Ludlow (1740-6), John Ferdon (1747), Adolph Len*-. (1748-57), David Blauvelt (1758-9), Daniel Haring (1760-3). When the mind runs back to the first half of the eighteenth century in Rockland (Orang^e) county the people are found in the enjoyment of an existence which in spite of c^ertain -sdci&situdes and even some depriva- tions must have approached very nearly the acme of earthly happiness for the average man. When all the circumstances by which their lives, their desires and their affairs were limited and shaped are considered, and when a proper estimate is made of the large measiire of elements essential to contentment that was accorded to them, it will be perceived that after the rough edges of a new country had been smoothed away, when the paths and lanes to neighbors' homes, to the Glebe and to the riverside had become a bit worn, when the barns biilg-ed with the har- vests, and cattle grazed on a hundred hills, when fine white curtains hung COLONIAL, GOVERNMENT. 79 in tlic windows, and there was plenty to eat and to wear, colonial life was on the whole very satisfactory. What is called in modern times "the strug- gle for existence" was tlien almost unknown; the cruelties of competi- tion had all been left behind in the old world. Xot only were the neces- saries of life easily obtained, but wealth came to every home by natural increase. "Built before the Revolution" is the legend on a number of fine mansions that have survived to testify of the prosperity of the period. Even the illiteracy of the fathers, which was more apparent than real, was but anotlier sign of the easy-going life. Men must be judged by the age in which they live.- The colonial folk of the first and second generations not only had every material comfort, but also peace of mind ; they had an independence of which no man could deprive them; they had an assured future for themselves and a good heritage for their chil- dren. Order, dignity, refinement and Christian fellowship ornamented their daily life. Their estates embi'aced the most beautiful countiy conceivcai)le, with geographic and climatic situation unsuqiassed, and their descendants have been content to live in the same place these many generations since. The wealth which nature bestowed comprised horses, cattle, sheep, fowl, lumber, grain, hay, wool, furs, hides, pork, bacon, lard, beef. Some of the products could be exchanged for siigar, molasses, tea, coffee, and general supplies at the store, and some could be converted into money on shipment to New York. At Tappan Slote was the boat landing, but if one preferred riding, there was the King's highway, — and Paulus Jlook was only thirty miles away. This highway had developed in the natural course of events from an Indian trail to a settlers' path, and at length to a passable road for horsemen. It connected the various set- tlements along the west side of the river. It may be assumed that the route of the old highway was virtually "engineered" by the red men, perhaps centuries before the Europeans came. From Tappan it pro- ceeds to Haverstraw, passes on to Stony Point, winds through Doodle- toAvn to Fort Montgomery and West Point, climbs over Cro'nest and Storm Xing — to Cornwall, Moodna, Plum Point, the "Parish by Quae- saick" (Newburgh), and so on to Esopus, Catskill and Albany. As the back country grew up, the Ramapo Clove road, another natural higb- Avay, became uiore and more traveled. This was the way to Goshen. Three highway commissioners for each town were provided for by a gen- eral law enacted in 1091. The Commissioners in 1730 were: For 80 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. Tappan — T\oynicr Keyserryck and Rocloff Van Honten; for Haver- straw — Cornelius Kuyper and Jonathan Kosc. Every male inhabitant, inchiding freeholders not actually residing in the county, was required to work five days in each year on the roads or furnish a man. Ilavcrstraw and Xyack as well as Tappan had their early landing places for sloops, to which roads led. The river shore at Haverstraw was particularly beautiful in colonial times. An idea of the economic conditions prevailing before the Revolu- tion can be obtained from the price-lists for land, farm products, store goods and labor. Land values were of course very low. The Indians, as has been observed, released their real estate for very slight considera- tions. In 1755 Aure Smith sold his large farm, lying between South Nyack and Sparkill creek, and fronting on the river-shore, to Gerrett Ondcrdonk for £350, including buildings. In 1716 Cornelius Cooper sold 330 acres of good land for £34, 15s. In 1753 Peter Gresler sold 225 acres (at Valley Cottage) for 45s. an acre. The capital required by a pioneer when he had secured his land was small. A yoke of oxen was valued at $70; a cow at $15; indispensable farming tools, $20, and an ox-cart, $30. A log house containing four rooms could be built for about $200. Wheat was reckoned at three shillings a bushel. Four shil- lings was the price of a day's labor for a mechanic. Sixty dollars would buy a horse. Tailors charged six shillings for making a pair of breeches, eight shillings for making a coat. "For the use of a horse, three pence per mile for 153 miles." " For ride of my mare, 20 miles, six shillings, eight pence." Farm hands were paid eight to eleven dollars per month when they could be obtained. The rate paid for help in the haying sea- son was fifty cents per day. At the saw mills ordinary timber was worth $3.50 per thousand. The best economy advised home manufacturing to every possible extent. The farmer himself made everything he needed as far as he could, and called on his neighbors to help him in emergencies. Where he left off the blacksmith and wagon-maker, the saw mill and grist mill took hold. Each coniinunity necessarily was in a large degree self-sup- porting. A blacksmith not only made shoes for horses, and iron for wagons, but to him the farmers went for their forks and rakes also. Ever}' farmer's \nfe saw that yarn was provided for stockings and mit- tens, as well as flannel for imderwear. Some homes had looms for weav- ing a coarse cloth. This huge machine was kept in a room apart, or COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. 81 under the sloping roof of the "bock stocp," Cliildren Avere set at work as soon as they were able to spin and card. Itinerant weavers were often hired to operate the loom. In later years mills to card the wool into rolls, and also to color, fnll and dress the cloth, were common through- out the country. The slaves were decently treated and did not feel their bondage. Anything else than kind treatment was impossible from their God-fear- ing masters. Indians were occasional visitors. Once a year the tribes were permitted to visit Manhattan. People came long distances to the Dutch Reformed Church at Tappantown. The first edifice was erected during the ministration of the Eev. ]Mr. Bertholf. It was constructed of stone. When the first settled pastor, the Rev. Frederic Muzelius, came, in 1724, services were held each Lord's day, morning and afternoon. The slaves sat in the gallery, and the minister usually had some words for their particular benefit. Religious exercises and observances, and church affairs in general, filled a large part of life. The privilege of hearing the gospel expounded was a priAalege indeed. Sabbath observ- ance was strict, the whole time being spent as the catechism commanded. The day was not ended until the catechism had been recited in whole or part in the family circle, portions of Scripture read, and the blessing of the Heavenly Father asked on bended knee. Apart from religious exercises, the Dutch had many pretty customs. The birth of a child was announced to the neighborhood by hanging an elaborately trimmed pin cushion on the knocker of the front door, a blue cushion to signify a boy, a white one for a girl. The cushion may have been brought from the Dutchland, or made by the grandma or auntie; at any rate, the practice was to hand it down from one generation to another, it being as handsome as taste and skill could devise. A cushion having many names and dates embroidered upon it constituted a sort of ianiily record. At the same time, the head of the house saw that the record in the family Bible was complete. Each birth was celebrated in due season by a caudle party. Elaborate preparations were made for the feast. Cookies, "aclilerlingen," krullers and "olykoecks" were made in great number, biit the particular dainty of the occasion was the "caudle," the component elements of which were a secret in every family. A recipe that has been handed down in one family specifies three gallons of water, seven pounds of sugar, oatmeal, spice, rasins, lemons by the quart, and two gallons of the best Madeira wine. This seductive and 82 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. sometimes bcAnlderlng mixtiirc was served in a large bowl, around which were hung quaint little spoons, so that each person could ladle out enough for his china cup to hold, and at the same time fish out a plump raisin or a bit of citron. The bowl and spoons were kept as souvenirs. Any festivity, business or ceremony calling for a meeting of the neighbors was always well responded to either from a sense of duty or for pleasiire. Such gatherings afforded almost the only relief from the general monotony of existence in a new country. Besides, the ties of friendship were strong, and every household religiously respected the obligations which it owed to others in a secluded community. The cir- cumstances attending a death among the colonists were particularly sad. The loss of one who had left the old land and come across the sea \\dth them, and had shared their life on the frontier of civilization, was a deep affliction to old friends. From necessity or preference, the dead were buried not in a one central cemetery, but each bereaved household had a sacred enclosure on its own farm, though now obliterated and forgot- ten. The absence of facilities for properly marking graves was one of the misfortunes of most communities in colonial times. In the second generation, when the church had been erected at Tappan, the church- yard came into use as a bur^'ing-ground. In the absence of other means of notification, it was the duty of the precentor of the congregation to convey invitations to a funeral. The service for the dead, with the other attendant ceremonies, was a protracted and exceedingly solemn function. A black clotli with hea\^' tassels called a "dood kleed" was thrown over the coffln. This pall belonged to the church. The pall-bearers literally carried the cofiin from the house to the grave when the distance was not too great. Each bearer was distinguished by a small white cushion on one shoulder, held in place by bands passing across the back and breast, and fastened under the opposite ann. After the interment, the proces- sion returned to the house, where pipes and tobacco were distributed among the men. Marriages were merry festivals. The groom was required to take out a license, and for many years it was possible to obtain one no nearer than New York city or Esopus. The bride wore as many petticoats as she could carry, as they were a part of her dower and a sign of prosperity. A maiden bride wore a peculiarly shaped cro\vn of embroidered silk over a pasteboard or metal form. The attendants of the bride were usually COLONIAL, GOVERNMENT. 83 matrons. There is a tradition that the first yoiing man to be married in Eockland county was Floris Crom. Until about 1750 the church at Tappan was the only one south of the Highlands. Then two congregations were organized within the bounds of the present town of Ramapo, one called the "English Pres- byterian Church," of New Hempstead, and the other was the Dutch Iteformed Church, long known as the "Brick Church. It was a law of the pro\'ince that there sliould be no unnecessary traveling and no servile labor on the Lord's Day, nor any physical exercising, or any pastimes, sports, playing, fishing or shooting. It was not lawful to travel any- wliere except to a house of worship, or on an errand of mercy or neces- sity, such as for the purpose of fetching a physician or nurse. Even the journey to church coTild not exceed twenty miles. For an Indian not professing the Christian religion there was no exemption at all; he must not be found traveling abroad on the holy day. Violators of this law, if freeholders, were an-ested and fined six shillings, or put in the stocks. Servants, slaves and Indians, who could not pay the fine, were publicly whipped, thirteen being the legal number of lashes. The stocks and whipping-post at Tappan were long the terror of evil-doers. Vagabonds were whipped and hurried out of the county. The early settlers were woiTied not a littlp by the prowling of wikl beasts, such as wolves and panthers, and the colonial statute books con- tain numerous enactments relating to bounties for their extermination. The evening lullaby of the cliildren was the howling of the wolves in tlie mountains, and at night time all domestic animals had to be under cover. At the same time there was a law against hunting deer with bloodhounds or beagles, and when such dogs were found off their owners' premises, they were to be killed. Tlie poor were not neglected, though we fancy few ever felt the pinch of poverty. The trustees of each town were constituted overseers of the poor, and were required to annually set apart a competent sum for relieving distress. In the absence of trustees, towns were required to elect overseers. A law passed by the General Assembly Xovcmber 24, 1750, empowered the judges, justices and the clerk of the court of com- mon pleas in this county to take the probate of wills and grant letters of administration. Until then such business for this county was transacted in New York. 84 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. An importaiit highway cntcrjirise was undertaken in 1760, when William Ilawxlmrst and others interested with him in the Sterling Iron Works and Mines, together with persons inhabiting and holding lands in the county, petitioned the General Assembly for a road to be built from the iron works across the coimty to the landing at Haverstraw. l"he Assembly concurred in the opinion that siich a highwa}^ was not only necessary in order to enable the persons interested in that useful manufactory to carry on the same to perfection, bi;t it would also tend to open a short communication to the river, to the great ease of all those whose habitations were seated behind the highlands, and to the manifest improvement of that part of the colony. It was therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, the Council and ihe General Assembly that it would be lawful for Henry Wisner, Esq., Charles Clinton, Esq., and William Hawxhurst, or any two of them, — and they were empowered and authorized as Commissioners, at the expense of the petitioners and of such other persons as would voluntarily contribute, — to lay out, clear, open, make and complete a public road or highway not exceeding three rods in breadth, and on the shortest course, that conveniently could be from the iron works, through the Highlands to the most convenient land- ing place at Haverstraw on the river. The interests of Haverstraw and of a large section of the county were greatly advanced by the construc- tion of this thoroughfare. Charles Clinton, who was the engineer and surveyor in charge, was the head of the family of that name Avhich became prominent in national aimals. His home was in Little Britain, six miles soiithwest of Newburgh. Little Britain was and still is a dis- trict with indefinite boundaries. The Clinton home was a plain farm- house, situated on a cross-road, midway between the main Little Britain turnpike and the village of Washingtonville. To that place he came in the Spring of 1731, when forty years of age, at the head of a company of immigrants, who had sailed the preAaous year from Ireland, and tar- ried for a while at Cape Cod. Being a man of scholarly accomplish- ments, a good surveyor, and having a knowledge of legal forms, his ser- vices were soon in demand throughout the surrounding country. The first surveyor of importance in the history of Orange and Ulster counties, he was the original surveyor of a great many lots and patents in this sec- tion. He was prominent both in political aifairs and in the militia. At Little Britain he raised and educated his two sons, James and George, both of whom became generals. One commanded a division of the FORT PUTNAM. COLONIAL, GOVERNMENT. 85 American troops at Yorktown and received the colors of Cornwallis; the other became the first Governor of the State and a Vice President of the United States. All three — ^the father and the two sons — foua-ht in Bradstrcct's expedition of 1758 against Fort Frontenac. The boys, at the head of a small company, distinguished themselves by capturing a French sloop-of-war on Lake Ontario. The freeholders, having become dissatisfied with the method of levy- ing taxes, a law was passed by the Assembly, in 1764, for a more equal taxation in the county of Orange. Each town was authorized to elect an assessor, who should be a member of a board of county assessors. These assessors were required to meet annually on the second Tuesday of April, and proceed to perform their duties in the following prescribed manner. "They shall proceed all together from house to house through- out the said county, till they have gone through the whole, and shall make out a true and exact list of names of freeholders and inhabitants of the said county; and against the name of each person they shall set down the value of his or her estate, according to the value of the improve- ments thereon, and of personal as nigh as they can discover the same to be within the county, setting down for every hundred pounds real value stated as aforesaid, four pounds, and in that proportion for a greater or less sum." A new precinct was added to the county by act of the Assembly, Oct. 20, 1764, when the Precinct of Goshen was divided by "a straight line, beginning at the borders or verge of the coimty of Ulster, near the new dwelling of John ]\rauno, thence on a course which will leave the house of Barnabas Ilorton, Jr., ten chains to the westward, to the most extreme parts of said precinct; all the lands lying to the west of said line to be Goshen Precinct, and all eastward to be called Xew Corn- wall Precinct." What was probably the first "fire department" in the county was established in 1776, when the inhabitants at their annual meetings were authorized by the Assembly to elect as many men as should be deemed needful, to be known as Firemen, who were empowered "on view or information of any fire happening in the woods, ^vithin their districts, to require and command every able man to aid and assist in putting out tlie same. If anyone refused to obey, he was to be fined three shillings, one half nf whicli sum was to go to the firemen. 86 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. In 1769 the long-contested boundary line between the patented lands commonly called Cheesecocks and Kakiat was settled by act of the Assembly designating the exact boundary. Previous to 1770, the meetings of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange were held in the court house at Tappan. This place being found by experience to be inconvenient, on account of its situa- tion, an act was passed by the General Assembly (Dec. 30, 17C9) permit- ting the Supervisors to meet annually on the first Tiiesday of October at the house of Daniel Coe, at Kakiat, " and from thence adjoiu-n to any other place near the center of tlie county as shall seem most convenient." A law passed in 1770 specified that "whereas the ascertaining of the quotas or proportions of each respective precinct in the coimty of Orange towards the taxes has given occasion for disputes," it was enacted that ''from henceforth the taxes, rates and contingent expenses shall be levied" in the following proportion. "If at any time the sum of £3,650 be raised in the said county, Goshen shall contribute £1,250, Cornwall £620, Haverstraw £690, and Orangetown £800,— and £290 for the Pre- cinct of Minisink." Taverns were reqiiired to keep two spare beds, one to be a feather bed, with proper sheeting and coverings, and good and sufiicient pro- vision for four persons; besides good stabling and provender for four horses. Another statute required that the wheels of a wagon should not be less that four feet eight inches apart, and every wagon bear the initial of its owner. Another important highway enterprise was begun in 1773, when John DeNoyelles, David Pye and Ann Hawkes Hay were appointed commissioners to lay out, open and improve a highway through the High- lands from Haverstraw to the Skunemunk clove road, and to the north bounds of Orange county, near Murderer's Creek. Previously the road over tlie mountains had been only a bridle path. Traveling was mainly an horseback, wagons being few and generally of rude construction, often with wheels cut from the end of a log. John DeNoyelles was also one of the three commissioners appointed by tlie Assembly of the Pro\nnce of Xew York, to act with commission- ers appointed in New Jersey, for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the boundary line between New York and New Jersey. The other New York commissioners were Samuel Gale and William Wickham. COLONIAL, GOVERNMENT. 87 The Government instituted postal arrangements at an early period. The general letter office was at New York city, and from time to time mail was sent out by post riders throughout their majesties' colonies and plantations. For the post of every letter not exceeding one sheet, from New York to Boston, or Maryland, the rate was nine pence. For not exceeding eighty miles the postage was four pence. Alexander Ham- ilton was deputed in 1092 by the Governor to manage the general post office system throughout all their majesties' plantations. The first half of the eighteenth century was an era of peace and pros- perity for the county south of the mountains. Wealth gradually accu- mulated and the evidence thereof could be seen in many spacious if not pretentious dwellings. There were grist and saw mills with their great water-wheels at favorable locations; at Tappan Slote and Haverstraw landing were general stores — the Noah's arks of colonial commerce. Sloops made regular trips to New York in summer, and it was the cus- tom to lay in goods enough in the fall to last during the winter. Amid this material prosperity, however, had arisen some political discontent, growing out of a desire for "popular rights" which the an-ogant British governors were disposed to deny. Although the General Assembly faithfully represented the interests of the people at large, its members held office during the pleasure of the governor, and until he was pleased to dissolve the assembly, no new election could take place. Governor (Admiral) Clinton told the Assembly that it had no authority to sit but by the King's commission and instructions to him. Struggles over the revenue between governor and assembly wei"e constant features of the chronicles of New York. The liberty of the press, a principle long and zealously contended for, was finally secured. Trouble was brewing with the French and Indians. French emis- saries were artfully at work among the red men, instigating depreda- tions on the northern and western frontier, where sig-ns were frequent that the allies were watching for opportunity of successful attack. See- ing that the difficulties with France would cvdminate in a great war, Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia proposed a plan of union for all the colonies, and this was formally agreed to on July 4, 1754, in a con- vention at Albany. The dogs of war were unchained the following spring, four expeditions having been resolved upon: one to reduce Nova Scotia; one under Braddock to recover the valley of the Ohio; a third, commanded by Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, to drive the FrcMich «^ 88 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. from Fort Niagara; and a fourth, under Major-General William John- son, to assail Crown Point. New York became tlie tlieatre of military movement and had to bear the brunt of the war. Volunteers from the militia of Orange and Ulster marched with the expedition across the St. Lawrence to Fort Frontenac, and to the defences of Lake Champlain. Tlie successful expedition against Fort Frontenac was commanded by Bradstreet, whose force was composed of eleven hundred and twelve New Yorkers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Clinton of Little Britain and Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Corse of Queens, with nineteen hundred and twenty-three other colonists, and forty-two Indians. The strain of this long conflict on the county of Orange was severe. Xot only was a slender population required to send forth men to the sev- eral expeditions against tlie French, but bodies of troops were fi'equently marched through the county, and the arbitrary system of quartering them on citizens was oppressive. Moreover, the Indian allies of the French turned their weapons against the frontier families, and can-ied the war into the heart of Orange county. The section west of the Wall- kill was for the most part "abandoned by the inhabitants," the records of the colony state, "who, for their safety, removed their families to the east side of the river, and became a charge on the charity of their neigh- bors." Others moved to distant parts. Those who remained or ven- tured beyond the Wallkill did so at the risk of their lives. Numerous butcheries were committed in spite of the militia that were constantly ranging the woods and the partial security offered by block houses and forts. Heroic riflemen, as well as women and children, were often shot down by the hidden foe. In June, 175S, a detatchment when going from Warwarsing to Minisink was ambushed, and suffered the loss of seven killed and three wounded, while a woman and four children were carried off. At Westfalls, on another occasion, seven soldiers were killed. Seventeen persons were massacred at a house where they had sought refuge. A woman taken prisoner at Minisink Avas killed and her body cut in halves. Two Goshen militiamen, Sutton and Rude, were killed at Minisink; Morgan Owen was killed and scalped within four miles of Goshen. While no atrocities were committed within the bounds of the present Rockland county, so far as kno\vn, the precincts of Orangetown and Haverstraw contributed their share of armed men to the common defence. Every man within the ages of sixteen and sixty, Tinless for good and sufllcient reason excused, was a member of the COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. 89 militia, upon wliicli force drafts were made from time to time for men needed in the field. The war with the French ended in ITdO. but the depredations of the Indians continued for years after\vard. In 1703 some parts of Orange and Ulster were ravaged; people were mercile.s.sly slain, and families, temfled, fled from their habitations. On the recom- mendation of Lt.-Governor Golden, the Assembly commissioned Colonel Tusten of Warwick to enlist a special company of two hundred men to protect the frontier. One result of the war, and of the rigid military system which Great Britain at all times enforced throughout her American colonies, was the training up of military leaders for the great struggle for national inde- pendence. Every man was a soldier. Under the law, boys upon arriv- ing at the age of sixteen, were required to enlist with the captain of the troop or company of their district, under penalty of a fine of three shil- lings for every month they remained out. Twice each year the com- panies constituting a regiment or battalion were mobilized and exercised. In 1773 Orange county had two regiments, three battalions, twenty- three companies. The meeting place for the semi-annual general train- ing south of the mountains was agreed on in advance by the oflficers. Cavalrymen were required to furnish their own horses, and every soldier was expected to keep at his home in readiness one pound of powder and three of bullets. No miisket was to be discharged after eight o'clock at night, except in case of alarm ; then four shots and the beating of a diinn would call every militiaman to his colors. References: Colonial Documents. Oolden Papers. Euttenber's Oranpfe Connty. Colonial Laws. Cole's Rockland County. Halsey's Old New York Frontier. Greeu'is R/ockland Coiinity. American .Vrcliiives. "The Goede \'rou\v of Ma.niliattan," by Mrs. .1. K. V'an Rienissellaer. Roberts' New York. 90 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. CHAPTER VIII. THE ARENA OF STRIFE. The Orangietown Resolutions — ^Portifjing- the Hig-hlands — The Militia — Companies Raised for the Conitinental Line — Sons of Orange in the Invasion of Canada — The Shore Guard — Oflicers of Conijxinies — Soutliern Orange Bears the Brunt — The First Alarm — "Battle of Haverstraw" — A Naval Fight — Duty Calls — Activities of the Tories. THE interval between the fall of Montreal and the Battle of Lexing- ton was less than fifteen years, which was but a short time for rest and recuperation after five years of warfare. The political strain meanwhile had destroyed all peace of mind. The successive acts of oppression on the part, of the mother country were the subjects of con- .sideration and protest in Orangetown and Ilaverstraw, as elsewhere, wherever men met together. The sturdy, conscientious fathers spoke not rashly. Their sense of duty as loyal citizens was put in the scale of their judgment to weigh against their indignation at the continued injus- tice of the ruling power. At length public setitiment was crystallized and formally recorded in the famous "Orangetown Resolutions" of July 4, 1774. This action, which preceded the Mecklemburgh declaration of independence by nearly a year, was taken at a meeting of citizens at Mabie's taverv in Tappan, and it made a profound impression throughout the colonies. The opening declarations, that they were and ever wished to be true and loyal subjects of His Majesty, and that they were most cordially disposed to support His Majesty and defend his cro\vm and ilignity in every constitutional measure, is proof that the people of Orangetown acted Avith due deliberation and had proper respect for con- si itntcd rights. Biit however well disposed towards His ^Majesty, they could not view late acts of Parliament without declaring their "abhor- rence of measures so unconstitutional and big with destruction." Consid- ering themselves in duty bound to iise every just and lawful measure to obtain a repeal of acts so destructive, it was their "unanimous opinion that the stopping of all exportation and importation to and from Great P)ritaiu and the West Indies would be the most effectual methods to obtain a speedy repeal." Colonel Abraham Lent, John Haring, Thomas Cutwater, Gardner Jones and Peter T. Haring were appointed a com- mittee to correspond with the city of New York, and to conclude and THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 91 agree upon svxcli measures as they should judge necessary in order to obtain a repeal of the acts of Parliament complained of. The desire for liberty strengthened under continued oppression, sepa- ration from England was resolved upon, and the Revolution came. On Sunday evening, April twenty-second, 1775, the people of Orangetown and ITaverstraw heard the news which hard-riding couriers had brought, tiiat the now historic Battle of Lexington had been fouglit. Events now moved quickly. Calls were issued for a Provincial Congress at New York city and a Continental Congress at Philadelphia. The Orange county delegates to tlie Provincial Congress were: From Orangetown — Col. Abraham Lent and John Haring. Havorstraw — John Coe and David Pye. Goshen — Michael Jackson, Benjamin Tusten, Peter Clows and William Allison. Cornwall — Israel Seely, Jesse WoodhuU and Jeremiah Clark. The Orangetown representatives were chosen at a meeting hckl at the house of Mr. Yoost Mabie, Jacob Conklin being chairman, and Dr. Tlios. Cutwater clerk. Tlie Goshen meeting was at the inn of Isaac Nicoll, with Peter Clows as chairman and Balth. De Heart clerk. Tlic (/omwall meeting was at the house of John Brewster. The Provincial Congress met at the Exchange in New York city on May 22. Orange county being entitled to but two votes, the eleven delegates decided among themselves how the votes should be recorded on any question. It not being necessary that all the delegates sliouhl 1)6 present at one time, the most regular attendants were Ilaring, Lent, Pye, Tusten and Woodhull. One of the first resolves of the Congress was that a post be taken in the Highlands on each side of the river, and batteries erected to prevent ships of the enemy from passing up. Col. James Clinton and Christopher Tappen, memljers fi-om Ulster, were ordered to go to the Highlands, taking such persons to assist them as they would deem necessary, and view the banks of the river; then to report to Congress the most pi-oper place for fortifications. The imjwrt- ance of controlling the Highlands, and consequently the river, was fully realized from the beginning. After the preliminary fights at Boston, the principal strategy of the war on the part of the British was to divid(> the colonies on the line of the Hudson. Nearly all the moves in the great conflict, beginning with the landing of Howe's army on Long Island, were parts of or incidental to that general plan. The Conti- nental Congress, when urging New York to hasten the completion of 92 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. the Highland fortifications, transmitted a letter from General Schuyler at Ticonderoga saying: "Should a body of forces be sent up Hudson's river, and a chain of vessels stationed in all its extent, it would undoubt- edly greatly distress if not wholly ruin our cause. ... To me, Sir, every object of importance sinks almost to nothing M'hcn put in com- petion with the securing of Hudson's river." With the valley of the Hudson as the principal arena of the strife, and the Highlands as the key to the situation, Orange county, of which Kockland then fonned a part, was necessarily at the forefront of events. That she bore with fortitude the burdens and sutferiugs, and discharged with fidelity truly heroic the duties imposed upon her, is a part of the glorioiis history of the nation. The transactions of the Provincial Congress at its first session con- sisted principally, as might be supposed, of arrangements for carrying on the war; and although the representatives from Orange county were prominent in the proceedings, and although many of the transactions had a particular relation to our territory, only a few such matters may Le here referred to. It is worthy of record, as showing the general char- acter of the American soldiers in this war, that without exception they were fine specimens of manhood. None others were engaged for active seiwice in the field. "You will have great regard," said the order of Congress, "to moral character, sobriety in particiilar. Let oiu- manners distinguish us from our enemies as much as the cause we are engaged in." The Congress at Philadelphia having asked New York to raise four regiments for the Continental line, the Provincial Congress approved of the following officers: Fir.st Regiment — Colonel, Alex. McDougall; Lieut.-Colonel, liudol- phus Ritzema; xVdjutant, John Brogden. Second Regiment — Colonel, Myndert Roosebaum; LicTit.-Colonel, Goose Van Schaack; Adjutant, Barent T. TenEyck; Quart-ennaster, John W. Wendel. Third Regiment — Colonel, James Clinton; Lieut.-Colonel, Edward Fleming; Major, Cornelius I). Wyncoop. Fourth Regiment — Colonel, James Holmes; Lieut.-Colonel, Philii) Van Cordtlaudt; Major, Barnabas Tuthill. An arrangement was made with Robert Boyd of Xew Windsor and Henry Watkeys of New York to manufacture muskets for the New York troops, Boyd to make the gun linrrels and ramrods, and Watkeys a, H ;^ ©■ Q <: o 5 THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 93 tlic locks, stocks and fittings. The factory was on Quassaick creek, in the town of Xew Windsor. Arrangements were also completed for the manufacture of powder at Khinebeck. A temporary supply of powder was procured from Elizabethtown. Upon being brought by mule team to Dobbs Ferry (west shore), David Pye, acting for Congress, received and consigned it to a sloop bound for Albany. When CongTess adjourned on July 8th a Committee of Safety was left in charge of Provincial affairs, ilr. Pye represented Orange county on this committee. One of its first acts was the purchase of sufficient Pussia drilling to make fifteen hundred waistcoats and as many pair of breeches. Also enough low i^riced linen to make three thousand shirts. Also fifteen thousand hats, fifteen hundred pair of shoes, three thousand pair of coarse homespun knit hose, and material for three thousand cra- vats. The Commissary-General was oi-dered to have the goods made up. From this the reader may obtain an idea of how the New York troops were attired. Peter Lent and Gilbert Cooper of Orange county were appointed muster-masters for Captain Robert Johnson's company, then enlisted for the Continental line. On Thursday, June 15, George Washington was chosen by the Congress at Philadelphia to command all the Conti- nental forces. Artemas Ward and Charles Lee were chosen major-gen- erals, and HoK.tio Gates adjutant-general. The Pledge of Association, an oath of allegiance to the patriot cause, received the following signatures in Orangeto\vn : DaWd Lawrence, David Aljea, Albert Aljea, Daniel Lawrence, Edward Brig-g-s, Garret Blauvelt, KasiJarius Conklin, Adrian Onderdonk, John Eycher, •Vvery Campbell, Rain Roll, Abraham Conklin. .Tames .Tacklin, Speedwell Jacklin, Nathandel Lawrence, Abraham Post, Conrad Gravenstine, Abraham Miabie, Jr., .Tacoib Wllfer, Michael Cornelison, Jacobus De Clarke, William ilaritin, Daniel Voorhees, Abraham Onderdonck, Jonas Torrell. .Tohn Gissnar, Jr., Abraham Tallman, Peter Retian, Daniel Onderdonk, Jacob Conklin, .Tohn Westervelt, William Bell, Jr., John Van Houten, Abraham Mabie, Harman Tallman, Garret Ackerson, .Tacob Ackerson, Hiarman Tallman, Jr. Certain persons who would not sign the main pledge drew up the following: "That we would not countenance rebellion, nor have any hand in a riot, but stand for king, country and liberty agreeable to the charter, hut at the same time disallowing taxation in any wise contrary 94 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. to the charter, and shall never accept taxation without being fully repre- sented with our consent." The foregoing received the following signa- tures: Isaac Sherwood, Cornelius Smith, CorneliuB Benson, Harmanus Kiselar, Guysbert F. Camp, Johannes Bell, Auri Blauvelt, Thunis Emmut, Thunis Crom, David D. Ackerman, Johannes Forshee, Cornelius De Gray, Garet Smith, ,Tohn Palmer, Peter Forshee, John Smith, John Van Horn, John Rureback, Antthony Crouter, Peter Bush, Benjamin Secor, Reynard House, Jr. Alberd Smith, Daniel Gerow, John Cox, Derick Stra^vs, John Darlington, K. Quackenboss, Abraham DeBaun, Jacob Waldron, Arthur Johnston, Cornelius Smith, In Haverstraw Precinct the Association pledge was signed by the following : Robert Burns, John Coleman, Auri Smith, Adriani Onderdonk, John Acketrson, Samuel Knapp, • Abr'm Stephenson, Walter Smith, Cornelius Paulding-, Dowse Tallman, Thomas Morrall, Nathaniel Towenson, Harmanus Hoofman, James Hannan, Abriaham Polhemus, Edward Cane, Peter Salter, Andrew Onderdonk, Thunis Remsen, .Toseph Seamonds, Robert Ackerly, William Deronde, Jerod Knapp, Alex:ander Gilfon, .Johannes J. Blauvelt, .John Van Dolfsen, Edward Ackerman, John Martine, , Rulef Onderdonk, Albtard Onderdonk, Abraham Onderdonk, .Jeremiah Jlartine, .Jost Voorhis, .Johannes Cole, John Hill, Patten Jackson, John Allison, Joseph Knapp, John Coe, Henry Brower, John Smith, Alexander Mannell, John Suffern, ■John Springsteei, .John Lent, Abram Ackerson, .John Wallace, Da\id Hoofman, Thomas Allison, Harmanus Felter, Thomas Dolphen, Peter Snyder, Rem Remsen, Stephen Stephenson, William Stringham, .James Thene, .John Toten, Richard Osbom, .John Dunscombe, .Jobair Knapp, ■-- Thomas Klngen, .Johannes Vanderbillt, Andrew Van Orden, Carpenter J\elly, Thomas Kelly, .James Onderdonk, Jacob Coles, Mauhel Tenure, Powlas Seamonds, Steiphen Voorhis, E. W. Tveese, Amos Hutchins, Joseph Allison, Peter Allison, David Pye, Robert Johnson, Thomas Eckerson, Harmanus Blauvelt, James Lanu, Abraham Rej'nolds, Joseph .Jones, .Jr., Jacob Polhemus, Theunis Snedeker, Nathaniel Barmore, Garret Cole, Henir.v Hallsited, Johannes Demarest, William Bell, Abraham Blauvelt, Matthew Coe, Thunis Tallman, Garret Paulding, Jacob Archer, John Toten, .Jr., Thomas DicMngs, Abel Ivnapp. Thomas Gilfon, Andrew Onderdonk, Rulef Stephensen, Derick Van Houten, Jacob Jirckie, Garret Onderdonk, Jacob Onderdonk, Henry Onderdonk, Johannes De Frees, John Voorhis, Edward Jones, Jacob Ivenifen, Peter Kiselar, Benjamin Allison, Roibert Allison, THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 95 Acl&ni Brady, Joseph Concklin, Abraham Garrison, GfeTa-it Van Hon ten, Peter Van Houfen, Harmanns Tfemper, John Graham, John Noblet, A. Kawkes Hay, Peter Orum, Henry Wood, Benjamin Knapi), ^.._ Abraham Derunde, Reuben Hunt, Jolin CuTiiming-s, "Mud Hole" Tenure, Johannes De Gray, John Hetcock, Aurt Remsen, Jobais Derunde, James Shirley, Jacobus Mayers, Simond Trump, Andrew Cole, .loliannes Bl'auvelt, Peter Salter, James Paul, Thunis Remsen, John Felter, Theunis Tallman, Garret Meyers, Theodorus Snedeker, G^a^ret Van Cleft, Cr^tTT^E'TTemseh, Cobar De Clark, Samuel Wilson, Leonard Bayle, Gilbert Fowler, ■Jacob Secor,- Thomas Osborn, Daniel Coeklate, — Ellis Se<"or,v John Secor,' .Jonah Halstead, .Torialthan Taylor, ■Tames Stewart, .Tames Smith, Cornelius Smith, Auri Smitih, ■Tacob .Tones, Cornelius Cooper, .Tacob Cooper, John W. Cog-g, .John .T. Coe, Samuel Coe, .Tohn .Tohnson, Michael Concklin, Claus Van Houten, Roosevelt Van Houten, Thunis Van Houten, Powlas Vandervoort, John Jersej', Abraham DePuy, Daniel Morall, William Crum, Robert Wood, ■Tames Carmelt, ,Tohn Ackerman, Gilbart Hunt, ■Tolin De Grote, Benjamin Holstead, John Slotrt., John Mead,~ Henry Mackrel, Theodorus Polhemus, Timothy Halstead, Abra.ha,m Mayers, .Tohiannes Meyer, Thomas Blauvelt, Isaac Mianuel, .Tonaithan Lounsberry, .Joseph Wood. ,Tr., Jeremiah Williamison, Derick Vander'bilt, William Felter, Abraham Tallman, Abraham Thew,~- — James Kelly, Aurt Polhemus, Luke Stephenson, Daniel De Clark, Henry Tenure, Sr., Thomais .Tax-ks, Peter Easterly, ■Ton'ah Wood, Gairit Snedeker, Stephen Beane, .Tames Seoor, — . Peter De Pue, .Tohn Hialstead, Benjamin .Tones, Thunis De Clark, Stephen Smith, Lambert Smith, Daniel Smith. Theunds Cuyper, Wilvart Cooper, .John Cuyper, Gaibriel Fargyson, Daniel Coe, William Concklin, Abraham Concklin, Charles R. Van llouteu, P. Van Houten, Sr., Rulef Van Houten, Nathaniel Odie, Jr., Siba Banta, John Thew, Gilbard Crumm, .Tohn Parker, William Wood, Moses C. Charter, ■Tacob Derunde, .Toseph Hunt, Thomas Goldtrap, .John Stogg, William Trunoper, .John Vandervoort, Jonrnas Sele, .Tohannes Polhemus, Daniel Parker, John Mayers, ■Tames Wilson, Isaac Blauvelt, John Clark, Pcnvlas Hopper, Harmianus Tallman, .Jacob Meyers, Isaac Dutcher, ■Tohannes Remsen, Ebenezer Wood, .Tames Sharp, .Tohn Brush, Jacobus De Clark, Jobair Lauery, .Tohannes ■Tenwie, ■Jacob Tenure, Thomas Wilson, Abraham Stag, >Tr., Aurt Amorman, Jonas Snedeker, William Slatt, David Secor, . William Dozenberry, John Smith, Peter Reed, Joseph De Clark, William Smith, Peter Smith, Daniel Ward, Gilbard Cuyper, Albard Cooper, ■John Cuiper, Jr., Benjamin Coe, Daniel Coe, Jr., 96 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. Joseph Jones, Garrit Ackersion, James Christie, Francis Cline, Fred Urie, FraiK-is Girnee, Isaac Girnee, Jr., Harmanus Snyder, Gra-sliam Huff, Willinei Crnm, William Hause, ,Tohn D. Tallman, John Jeffries, John Hogrencamp, William Stephens, Paul Persall, Charles MotJt, II. Trumper, Jr., Jacob Mall, David Babcock, Isaac Cole, Abraham Koll, Petris Blauvelt, William Youman, Jr. John Parker, Jr., .Tohn Gardner, John G. Lorald, Ezekiel Ward. Philip Sa-rveult, The following resl' Association: Matthew Ste^el, Dennis Sneeding, Riahl Bogard. Gesebert E. Bogardit, In the Precinct of Roger Osburn, Benjamin Osbnrn, .Tohn R. Osburn, William Babcock, Tompkins Oddle, .Tohn G. .Tohnston. LodoAvick Shumaker, .Tonais Loderick, William Dobbs, John Pollan, Abraham Babcook, Benjamin Ackerson, Thomas Ackerson, Lewis Concklin, .Toseph Concklin, Frederick Post, John Post, Henry Hoisted, Powl'as Vandervoort, Joseph .Tones, Jr., Gilbert Wilson, James Stia^g, Jos.eph Palmer, Patrick Gurnee, Francis Girnee, Jr., (2) Francis Girnee, Henry Snyder, Sr., Edward Holstead, Ilendrick PoUiemus, David Sherwood, Thomas Dinard, Richard Springsteel, Benjamin Benson, .Tames Rumsev, Markel Mott, " .Toseph Johnston, ,\ndrew Abrames, William Snyder, Reynard Hopper, Daniel Van Sickles, .Taoobns Van Orden, Ezekiel Youmans, Isaac Parker, George .Tohnston, .Tacob Bartholomew, William Kempe, Adrian Sarvent. Samuel Sidman, John Harper, Samuel Youmans, Abraham Springsteel, Henry Houser, Stephen Girnee, Isaiac Girnee, Paul RiJttan, Henry Snyder, Jr., Jacob .Tones, Thunis H. Tallema, Samuel Hunt, John Burges, Hendrick Stephens, .Tohn Persnll. Jr., Salvanus Mcrtt, Thomas Tillt, William Rider, M. Vandervoort, Reynan Gerow, Aliraham Brower, Albard Stephenson, Daniel Martine, Benjamin Furmian, Paul Vandervoort, .Tohn Lorillard, Da\'id Halstead, Rev. Robert Burns, Jacob Parker, dents of Orangetown declined to sign the General .Taoob C. Ackerson, Robert .Sneeding, Isaac G. Blauvelt, Jaoo'b Gessener, Haverstraw the follo\ving Richard Osburn, Nathaniel Osburn, Abraham Babcock, Gilbert .Tohnston, Abraham .Tohnston, William Winter, Ezekiel Ferguson, A. Montgomery, .Tohn .Tohnston, John Springsteel, Jacob Ackerson, David Ackerson, Lewis Concklin. .Tr., Ezeldel Concklin, Isaac Post, Joseph Heston, Henry Hoisted, Sr., William Concklin, Johannes Perry, George Man, Jesse Sneeding. would not sign: James R. Osburn, .Tamets Babcock, Nathaniel Oddle, Guysbert .Tohnston, Lawrence .Tohnston, Andris Pallis, Raynard House, Sr., Jtatthew Ellison, William Brabcock, Thomas Ackerman, Derick Ackerson, Abraham Concklin, ■Tohn Con<"klin, S. Heymen. Abraham Post, .Toseph Knapp, Thoma.s Sinith, Nicholas Concklin, THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 97 Isaac Concklin, L. VanBuskrrk, Peter Wanamaker, Johannes Eush, Samuel Matthews, Ooon Fridrick, Moses Van Niostrant, John Eider, John Armstrong, ^John Secor, Peter Stephens, Adam Deter, Jacob Sarvant, John Sarvent, Henry Tenyek, James I/amb, Sr., Jost Buskirk, y- Jacobus VanBusldrk, Peter Frederick, Haulberg Bucker .Tost Short, Andrew Haldrom, G. Van Nostrant, Joseph Rider, Hemry Warden, Samuel Secor, Henry Areler, John Dobbs, Henry Sarvent, Isaac Berea, Henry Tenyek, Jr., Cornelius Crum, Jacob Waldron, Andrie Bellis, Henry Wanamaker, Samuel Bairta, John George, John Weaver, Peter Jersey, Daniel De Clark, John Tovcn, xTohn Secor, Jr., /Isaac J. Secor, Clans Corlosh, Peter Vandervoort, Philip Sarvent, Jacob Tenyek, Samuel Bird, .John Crum, Edward Waldron, The reader should not too hastily condemn those who failed at this time to signify their allegiance to the cause of independence, for some afterward took their stand by tlie side of the patriots. Justice should he rendered to those who could not see the wisdom of forcing opinions into warfare, and who for a while longer held to what they deemed con- scientious loyalty. It is a matter of history, however, that a large ele- ment among the people, more especially those not long over from Eng- land, and many who were called "aristocrats," did not enter at any time into the spirit of the revolution. The sentiment on the east side of the lower Hudson in 1775 vas such that the record of the Provincial Con- gress bears testimony that the militia of Westchester county could not be depended on. When it is considered that the whole population of Orange county, north and south of the mountains, was only about twelve thousand (including slaves), and that less than half of this number belonged to Haverstraw and OrangetoA\ai, it -will be understood that in furnishing the number of patriot soldiers wliich will hereafter appear, Southern Orange, or the present Rockland county, performed a most distinguished service for the country. In August Congress passed a law for the general reconstruction of the militia, and in obedience thereto the county was divided into dis- tricts, or beats, by the local Committee of Safety, and one company was raised in each district. A company ordinarily consisted of eighty-three men, including officers. The officers were chosen by the ballots of all the members in the most democratic manner possible. The company was dra\vn up in line before the local Committee of Safety, and each man stepped forward and registered his choice. Every able bodied man, 98 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. unless for some reason excused, was a member of the militia and liable to be called out at any time. Having organized this force, Congi-ess pro- ceeded to form companies called Minute Men, by taking every fourth man from the militia and assigning him to duty as a "minute man." Whenever whole companies offered their services as minute men they were commanded by the officers already chosen. Otherwise, militia officers were appointed for the minute men according to rank. The minute men met once eaeli week for drill, and the other troops once a month. The militia regiments of the counties of JSI^ew York, Kings and Richmond were formed into one brigade ; the Dutchess and Westchester men into another brigade; the Orange and Ulster men constituted a brigade imder General George Clinton, and the Queens and SuH'olk troops were brigaded together. When the Provincial Committee of Safety met again, in September, John Haring of Oraugx^town was unanimously chosen chairman. In October the first batteries were completed in the Highlands, and the colors I'aised over them. The first fortifications were situated on Con- stitution Island, or Marteleaer's Rock, as the name then was. Colonel Hay of Haverstraw was appointed commissary for all the militia north of King-sbridgc when in service on the west side of the Hudson. Captain Hutchins was appointed commander of the minute men of Ilavei-straw. (It may be well to state here that the minute men as a distinct organiza- tion had but a brief existence.) The militia of Orangctown were con- stituted one reg-iment, and the militia of Haverstraw another. The Orangetown soldiers elected the following officers: Colonel, Abraham Lent; Lieut.-Colonel, Johannes David Blauvclt; Major, Johannes Joseph Blauvelt; Adjutant, Jacobus De Clark; Quar- termaster, Isaac Perry. Southern Company — Captain, Johannes Jacobis Blauvelt; Fii-st Lieutenant, James Lent; Second Lieutenant, James Smith; Ensign, Hemy V. Verbryck. Northern Company — Captain, Isaac Smith ; First Lieutenant, Johan- nes Isaac Blauvelt; Second Lieutenant, William Sickles; Ensign, Lam- bert Smith. Eastern Company — Captain, Johannes Bell; First Lieutenant, John Sitcher; Second Lieutenant, William Graham; Ensign, Daniel Onder- donk. THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 99 Estimating each company's strength at eighty men gives a battalion strength of 240. The total white population of Orangotown at that time was scarcely one thousand. Colonel Lent was an experienced officer, but he had his own troubles. His battalion was chiefly composed of those who understood but little English, and he found it impossible to drill them in a proper manner. In ilarcli of the foUoAving year he gave up in despair and resigned his commission. The command then devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel David Blaiivelt. Colonel Hay was the iirst commander of the Haverstraw militia regi- ment, but the names of the other regimental officers were not spread on the minutes of Congress. A minute company was organized in Haverstraw precinct, with the following officers: Capt., Benjamin Coe; First Lieut., Abram Onder- donk; Second Lieut., Paulis M. Vandervoort; Ensign, Daniel Coe, Jr. The A^arious minute companies of the county were organized into one regiment, for Avhich the county committee selected the officers : Colonel Isaac Nicoll of Goshen: Lieut.-Col., Gilbert Cooper of Haverstraw; First Major, Hendrick Vanderlinder Verbryck of Tappan; Second Ma- jor, Hezckiah Howell of Blooming Grove. In February, 1776, David Pye, who was chairman of a committee on the south side of the mountain, recommended the following for offi- cers in two companies for the Continental line, "upon the probability that they will be completed:" (1) Capt., Amos Hutchins; First Lieut., Patrick Jackson; Second Lieut., Eobert Wood; Ensign, George John- ston. (2) Capt., Auri King; First Lieut., William Sickler; Second Lieut., John D. Coe; Ensig-n, Peter Oblenus. It was subsequently decided by CongTess that one company only was needed from this sec- tion of the county, and Amos Hutchins was appointed captain. Pre- sumably Peter Jackson was at tlie same time appointed First. Lieuten- ant; Kobert Wood, Second Lieutenant, and George Johnston, Ensign. A military company was mustered at Kakiat, in Fcbniary, 1776, Avith the following officers: Capt., Reynard Quackenboss; First. Lieut., Gar- ret Eckerson; Second Lieut., Jacob TenEyck; Ensign, Roger Osbom. The first request for troops from Orange county for general service came in November, '75, Avhen the Continental Congress asked for 67 men to assist in gaiTisoning the Highland batteries. Ulster and Dutchess each contributed the same number for the same puqiose. A large stock of provisions had by this time been stored at the forts. The next order 100 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. of tlio kind took ITiitoliins' niinutc iiicn from Ilavcrstraw, Ttoliort John- son's fi'oni Clarkstown, and Denton's from Goshen, to join the First (Rit- zema's) Continental ilej^ment at New York. Subsequently they were assigned to Colonel James Clinton's regiment, the Third. Upon their departure from IIav(;rstraw, llntchins' men were supplied with powder from Edward Kiers' store, at the order of the Provincial Congress. In March, '70, sixty-five privates were drafted out of Colonel Hay's regi- ment of militia and thirty-five from Colonel Blauvelt's, and all sent to New York, under Captain Isaac Blauvelt, for service in the Continental line. Seven men in Captain Avery Blauvelt's militia company, at Hav- erstraw, who refused to obey the draft, were arrested and sent to New York under guard. The several companies thus sent to New York went with the expedition under Montgomery to the invasion of Canada. They were well armed and nnifonned, wearing blue broadcloth dresscoats, with crimson cuffs and facings. Each of the four regiments had a differ- ent uniform, at least so far as related to the colors of the coats. The breeches came only to the knee, where the long homespun stockings began. Add the black broad-brimmed felt hats and you have a picture of the Continentals. The gallajitry they displayed and the sufferings they endured, in the vain attempt to take Quebec with an insufflcient force, are known to all. Early in July General Howe landed, first on Staten Island, and on the 27th of the following month the Battle of Long Island was fought. The disparity between the forces was too great to render the result doubt- ful. The British secured New York city and the control of the lower Hudson, for Washington was coni]>elled to retreat in the course of the following month to Harlem Heights, and then to White Plains, where, on October 28, a battle was fought. The American di\'isions retreated into New Jersey, and on November 16 Fort Washington was taken by the British; two days later Fort Lee fell. 0\ving to these reverses, the Fourth Provisional Congress was compelled to move from New York city to Harlem, Kingsbridgc, Yonkers, White Plains and Fishkill. The delegates to that Congress from this county were John Haring, David Pye, Thomas Cutwater, Jo.shua H. Smith, Isaac Sherwood, William Allison, Archibald Little and Jeremiah Clarke. The fortifications that had been erected on Constitution Island were not considered satisfactory by commissioners sent by the Continental ( 'ongvess to inspect them. Lord Sterling reported that Mr. Romans, THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 101 the engineer, had "disj)hiyprl liia genius at very great expense and to very little public advantage." The construction of Fort Montgomery on the north side of Poplopcn's kill had then been ordered. This fort when completed consisted of open lines, "faced with fascines and filled in with strong, good loam." There was a small redoubt on the hill in the roar of the main works for defence against an attack on the land side. The garrison at Fort Montgomery in June, 1776, consisted of three com- panies of Colonel James Clinton's regiment, in all about one hundred and sixty men, and the force at Fort (constitution consisted of two com- panies of the same regiment and Captain Wisner's company of minute men. All these were from Orange and Ulster counties. Upon the appearance of the Eritish at Now York, the construction of anotln'r fort was commenced on the south side of Poplo|>en's kill, and on higher ground than where Fort Montgomery stood. At the same time orders were issued for the construction of a boom with chain to be stretched across the river from Fort Montgomery to Anthony's Xose, where there was a fortified position for protecting the eastern end of the unique obstruction to navigation. In front of the massive construction of logs aud chains, two cables were to be suspended, with their ends fastened to the shores. Several armed vessels, including the Montgomery and the Congress, were stationed above the batteries. The armament of Fort ^lontgomery comprised four 32-pounders, ten 12-pounders, ten 6-pound- ers, one 3-pounder on field carriage, and two 2-pounders on garrison car- riages. Fort Clinton was nearly as well armed. So far as their front a.spect was concerned, the works were unquestionably formidable, and it is not conceivable that a fleet could have run past. They were built under the practical supervision of Captain Machin, from designs evolved by several commissions. The actual labor of constructing Fort Clinton and the works at Anthony's ISTose was perfonued by the garrison of Fort Montgomery, on General George Clinton's order. Unfortiuiately, Fort Clinton had few defences against a land attack, and Fort Montgomery only a small redoubt. Apparently, no one ever imagined that the forts would be subjected to assault from the rear. On the evening of Friday, July 14, signal fires on High Tor and other mountain tojis, the reverberations of cannon-shots from the forts and the beating of drums summoned the militia to arms. Three large ships of war and four cutters had passed the forts at Now York that after- noon, and some hours later one forty and one twenty-gmi ship anchored 102 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. off Nyack. That niglit a boat attempted to land, but turned back on be- ing challenged. Fast-riding couriers set out from Haverstraw with Col- onel Hay's oi'ders and dispatches, and soon the companies were on the march to the point of danger. At daybreak the next morning the Nyack shore was lined with four hundred concealed riflemen. Soon a barge under the escort, of a cutter attempted to land. The eiitter grounded some distance fi'om the shore, and the barge met a fire from the river bank that caused it to put back. The squadron continued at anchor until Saturday morning between ten and eleven, when all the vessels weighed and set sail up the river. The patriot troops followed by road. At noon the ships arrived in Haverstraw Bay, and finally came to anchor off the village. ImTnediately four barges were lowered, with the evident design of ransacking the stores, that had been accumulated there for the American troops. The smaller ships came in close to cover the landing party, but met a detennined resistance from the shore, led by Conmiitteeman John Coe. Undaunted by the heavy broadsides from the ships, the patriots presented an unyielding front, and prevented the landing of the sailors. No damage was done by the British fire. The "Battle of Haverstraw" was a victory for the gallant defenders! Early in the afternoon one of the cutters grounded near Stony Point, which was then unfortified. If Colonel Hay had been equipped with artillery ho could have destroyed the vessel, where she lay, as six hours elapsed before she was freed. When lying in the middle of the river the ships Avere out of range of shore musketry, and some were protected along the sides by sand-bags. General George Clinton was at Fort Constitution when he heard of the coming of the fleet Friday afternoon. He immediately dispatched couriers to Colonel Hasbrouck at Newburgh, Colonel Woodhiill at Corn- wall, and to Colonel McClaughry at New Windsor, ordering the first to hurry two hundred men to Fort Constitution at once, the second to send two himdred to Fort Montgomery, and the third to march to the river bank at Newburgh, there to await a second signal before proceeding on to Fort Montgomery. At the same time he issued orders to all reg- iments in his brigade north of the Highlands to stand ready to march at a moment's notice, and dispatched expresses to the owners of all sloops for twenty miles iip the river to be prepared to carry down the militia. 'J'hat very night Woodhull's Cornwall regiment marched into Fort Mont- gomery, and the next morning came Lieut.-Colonel McClaughry and THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 103 his men, not two Inindrcd strong:, but five liundred, from New Windsor and Little Britain. Tlie five luindrcd were Col. James Clinton's men; tliey had come to help defend the fort which he commanded. Mc- Clanc,hry was second in command in this regiment. Gen. George Clin- ton had ordered the Colonels to leave the frontier companies at home, to protect the country against the Indians, for the men of '76 were vir- tnally between two fires. The same day Congress ordered out for active service one-fourth of all the militia in Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester, the levies to be fonned into companies and regiments. The troops thus raised on the east side of the river were to proceed to Peekskill, and those on the west side to take station in the Highlands at such places as Gen. Clinton should designate. For the Orange county troops the following officers were appointed: Colonel, Isaac NicoU of Goshen; Lieutenant-Colonel, Gilbert, Cooper of Ilaverstraw; Major, Hendrick Vanderlinden Van Kryck. Each regiment imder this call consisted of ten companies, and each company of sixty-one men. Every private had to furnish or pay for his own gun, also provide himself Avith a blanket and knapsack, and every six men were expected to find a camp kettle. The term of enlist- ment was six months. Twenty dollars, as bounty, and continental pay were allowed to each man. On Sunday, the 17th, Captain Moffat and eighty men were sent from Fort Montgomery to reinforce the shore gaiard at Ilaverstraw and per- mit some of Hay's men to return home. One hundred men of the pre- cinct were to remain on diity for a week, then be relieved by one hundred others from the same regiment. The commanding general also aiTived at Ilaverstraw on Sunday, and moved the government goods, sheep and cattle back to a place of safety. The British ships, the largest of which were named the Phenix and Rose, spent much time in making soundings. No communication with the shore was allowed. On Sunday afternoon one of the cutters ven- tured up the river too far and received a bolt in her quarter from one of I'ort Montgomery's thirty-two pounders, which caused her to beat a hasty retreat. Later the same vessel sent a party ashore at Peekskill to commit depredations. They had set fire to one dwelling and to a wheat field, when some American riflemen assembled and opened 07i them, killing several. The movements of the ships kept the shore guard, and the gan-ison at Fort Montgomery, constantly on the alert. To 104 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. guard against surprise at night, General Clinton posted sentinels on the point of the Diindcrhcrg and elsewhere with orders to discharge their muskets and start signal fires if the ships made any suspicious move- ment. Non-combattants were forbidden from walking along the shore after dark, and all boats were kept in Minisceongo creek, near Colonel Hay's house, under guard, with the object of preventing any commimi- cation with the enemy. Some large fire-rafts that had been hastily con- trived at Poughkeepsie Avere arranged in line, by anchors and cables, between Fort Montgomery and Anthony's Nose. Some of the "rafts" were old sloops and schooners. All were filled with highly combustible material, to be ignited in case of attack, not only for the purpose of guid- ing the aim of the gainnei-s, but also to menace, if not destroy, the enemy's ships. Along the east shore General Clinton had prepai-ed large j^iles of biiish, wood and leaves, with sentries at hand to fire them on the signal being given from below. The General was especially ajiprehensive of the enemy selecting a dark night to slip by. One night a deserter from the Rose swam ashore, and Colonel Hay and Captain jVicoll pumped him dry and forwarded the information to General ClLn- tdu, who in turn transmitted it to Xew York. From the sailor it was learned that the name of the captain of the Phenix was Parker, and that Wallace was the name of the captain of the Rose. Captain Wal- lace himself on one occasion, the sailor said, had led a shore party that destroyed a poor man's house at a lonely place under the mountain. The captain had taken for his share of the loot a handkerchief full of salad and a pig. As from time to time the shore guard was changed various officers were in charge. Colonel Hay was tireless and faithful. Colonel Blau- velt and Major Cooper were also efiicient. Others who were on this duty during the period of danger were Colonel Nicoll, Major Samuel Logan, Lieut. Brewster, Lieut. Langdon, Lieut. McNeal and Captain Moffat, all either Orange or Ulster men. The squadron continued in Hav-er- straw Bay until haK-past ten o'clock on the morning of July 25, when it set sail and crossed over to the cove on the south side of Croton Point, at the mouth of the river of the same name, where, it is recorded, the erews were able to obtain some supplies from the (Westchester) shore. All this while the patriot sons of Orange and Ulster were building the fortifications on the south side of Poplopen's kill and at the foot of Antliony's Nose. H xn O THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 105 There was no relief from the strain for shore guards and garrison nntil Saturday afternoon, August 3, wlien five trim vessels flying the American colors were discovered coming up the Tappan Zee. The hoiu- of reckoning had come for the British intruders. The rattle of the drums as the surprised ships pi'epared for action came faintly across the water. Closer came the American squadron, and the King's sailors could see that, though few in number and small the vessels of our "new navy" were heavily armed. The first shot was fired from H. M. S. Phe- nix at a quarter past one, and was immediately replied to by the Amer- ican flagship, which proved to be the Lady Washington, commanded by Benjamin Tupper. The reports echoed among the moimtains ^and brought hvmdreds of people to the banks of the river, to gaze upon the first naval fight in the history of the Hudson. The British projectile went wide, but the course and effect of the American answer thereto proved that the ''man behind the gun" knew his business. The thirty- two pounds of iron bored the Plienix through. The high sides of the forty-gun frigate offered a fine target for our gunners, and soon the splin- ters began to fly. The other vessels of the Continental squadron, the Spitfire, Shark, Whiting and Crown, ranged up in line with the Lady Washington and poured in their iron. The British twenty-gun ship, the Rose, and the four sloops of war gallantly followed the motions of the Phenix, and the black pall of battle was throwni over all. For an hour and a half the terrific bulldog fight continiied. With little or no chance to manoeuvi-e, it was simply a case of execution and endurance. Wooden sides were stout and did not smash like egg shells by any means; they offered a considerable measure of protection from fiercest gunfire of the period. Only the gun flashes could be seen through the dense >5niokc, but the thunder of the broadsides was heard many miles away. An hour an a half was a long time to continue such fearful work. Tlie long 32-pounder on the Lady Washington did gi-eat execution until it cracked. And although the flagship received the principal fire of tlio Phenix, not one aboard of her was killed, and oidy four slightly wound- ed. Naturally, the sails and rigging were cut considerably, but her oaken walls withstood the iron hurricane successfully. Gradually the opposing lines drifted apart, and the firing ceased by general consent. From Dobbs Ferry Conunander Tupper sent a report to the State Leg- islature at five o'clock, after a conference with his captains. The Sjiit- fire reported only one killed and two badly wounded, but the Shark had 106 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. nine killed or wounded. The Spitfire's hull and rigging were much damaged, and the Lady AVashington had thirteen holes in her hnll. The damage to the British was reported as heavy, though particulars were not obtainable. The aim of the American gunners must have been, as ever, very accurate, for Commander Tupper "saw many splinters drift- ing down." Parker, the English commodore, did not try to renew the fight, and the Americans, knowing that there were other British men- of-war in New York harbor, and, fearing to be caught between two fires, retired to Spiayten Duyvel creek. The King's ships gave no more trouble, and on the ISth ran past Fort Washington and the American batteries at New York to join the royal fleet in the bay below. The departure of the enemy pennitted the shore guard and the garrisons at the Highland forts to be reduced to skeleton organizations. But there was more work to do. Immediately came a call for troops to confi'ont the British at New York, and General George Clinton being assigned to the command of all the levies raised and to be raised in Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester, was ordered to march all his forces, except such as were needed for patrol and garrison duty, to the fortifications at King's Bridge. Under this call two new companies were formed oTit of what remained of Colonel Hay's militia, and ordered to report to Major Thompson at Pcekskill, there to be employed in erect- ing fortifications at the mouth of the kill, on the north side, with Cap- tain Machim as engineer in charge. Captains Dnrunde and Onderdonk were appointed to command these troops. All other companies on the west sliorc then in active service were dispatched to King's Bridge, and the iwo troops of cavalry attached to the militia of Orange and Ulster were called from their homes and directed to patrol the ri\'ersidc from Foi t ]\rontgomery southward as far as necessary. In the battles of Harlem Heights and White Plains the men from Orange county took conspicuous parts. At Harlem, Clinton's brigade twice repulsed and pursued superior numbers. "SAHien the British entered New York, many families fled into the country, and scarcely a homo in Orangetown or Haverstraw but received and sheltered strang- ers. Tlic burdens, sacrifices and sufferings of our heroic ancestors are beyond expression. When the American forces were driven from Har- lem, the wounded were forwarded by sloops to Tappan, and the court house in Orangetown was prepared for their occupancy. AVe may well THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 107 imagine that the kindly women of the neighborhood contributed much to aik'viate the sufferings of the stricken defenders of their country. Little or no rest was pennitted the patriots of southern Orange. When there was scarcely a home that was not represented on the firing- lines in Westchester, in tlic sliore patrol or among the toiling fortifica- tion-builders in the Highlands, word came that the Indians were com- mitting ravages on the western frontier of the county. Detatchments had scarcely set off for diity there when alarm guns were heard from the river again. Another British squadron was coming. On the morning of October 9 th, at eight o'closk, three large ships, one being the Plienix and another the Koebuck, of 44 guns, besides three tenders, came within range of Forts Washington and Lee. Though "briskly cannonaded," they kept on, with all sails set, and being favored by a southerly breeze, smashed through the chevaux-de-frise, much to the surprise and mortifi- cation of the Americans. Lying above the forts were two new and yet unanned Continental men-of-war and two smaller vessels. All set sail and headed up stream. The small vessels (sloops) were captured, but for a while the others, one of which was the Independence, showed clean pairs of heels to their pursuers. As they could not enter Spu\i:en Duyvel creek on that tide, they were compelled to keep on. The wind strengthening, the British frigates with their greater sailspread began to close the gap. At eleven o'clock they opened fire with their bow-chasers and at noon had over-reached their enemy, which now stood inshore, where the water was shoal. At half-past one the Independence and her consort, being all the while under a heavy fire, were run ashore just above Dobbs Ferry, and the crews escaped to the shore by s^rimming. That night the beacon fires were blazing along the river, and couri(^rs flying with orders. Colonel Hay's militia were called to the river again, and in a few days he received reinforcements from the upper part of the county. Between November 8th and 10th Washing-ton's army crossed to the west side of the Hudson. Lord Sterling crossed on the 9th at King's Ferry vnth 1,200 men, followed the next day by General Hand -with 7,000, and by General Ball with 1,700 of Putnam's men. Other divi- sions passed over at Sneeden's Landing and Tappan Slote. General Howe followed with 6,000 British, crossing to Closter, N. ,T. General Clinton remained for a time ia the Highlands. 108 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. For the next two months Southern Orange was the arena for march- ing armies, for skirmislies and depredations. The Tory element, encour- aged by the successes of the Britisli and the proximity of Lord Howe's forces, became dangerous as well as malignant. Even among the rem- nant of Hay's regiment were mutterings, disaffection and open insubor- dination, so much so that General Scott was ordered by General Heath, whose headquarters were at Peekskill, to proceed to Haverstraw with his brigade to cover the stores and prevent the passage of the enemy into the defiles of the Highlands. In the river opposite l^yack lay a squadron of seven British ves- sels, -with Colonel Malcolm and a patriot force of one lumdred guard- ing the shore, but not entirely able to prevent depredations by the sailors. Colonel Himtington was in Ramapo pass, where he had thrown up earthworks and erected barracks. Winter was coming on and the ])rivalions of both the people and the soldiery were extreme. For a time Tyler's regiment was at Tappan, and when it withdrew to Eamapo the Tories and "cowboys," always active between the lines, raided the village (December 7th), cut down the liberty pole, stole whatever they could and terrorized the inhabitants. The next morning Colonel Mal- colm's force from Nyack went on the trail of the raiders, routed them out of their homes and hunted them for miles. It is sad that the history cf TJockland coimty is stained with the doings of some misguided sons. The Tories within her borders joined with those in Bergen county in forming armed companies to aid the King's caiise, and were so active and threatening in the vicinity of Tappan that General Heath marched thc^i'e with 2,000 men, including the force he had previously stationed at Haverstraw, and after two days continued on to Ilackcnsack. Colonel Hasbrouck's regiment, from iSlewburgh, now took post at Haverstraw, and Colonel Allison's at Orangetown. General Heath found the inhabitants in the utmost distress. The Tories; wfre joining the enemy and insulting and disanning the Whigs, besides stripping them of their cattle and effects. But the advent of so many freemen eager to square accounts completely extinguished Tory '/.cal in that quarter. The last campaign of a trying year for the faithful militia of Orange county began in the second week of December, when Cieneral George Clinton called out 2,000 men, all from Orange and Ulster, and marched by divisions into the Ramapo valley to harrass the enemy's rear. General w ■Si i5 o s z 5 THE ARENA OF STRIFE. 109 Heath returned with his force to Pe-ekskill, after capturing large stores at Ilackensack. The British detachments had fled from that village at his approach to Newark. General Clinton, after excursions to Ilacken- sack, Paramu's and Ringwood, disposed his forces through the Ramapo valley and across the country to Closter, N. J., on the Hudson. He had strong posts at Sydman's bridge, Siiflfem and Tappan. Clinton's head- quarters were for a time at Suffern, which was a strategical point of great importance. The road down the long cloves from Newburgh here met the great military road to King's Ferry, over which route troops and wagon trains were constantly passing. It was a door of communication letween AVashington's army and New England, between Boston and Pliiladclphia, between the colonies north and the colonies south. Upon Colonel Hay, the indefatigable commissary and militia commander at Haverstraw, reposed the duty of keeping Clinton's forces supplied with provisions. The material resources of the colonies not being large, he \\as often sorely tried. A large share of the siipplies came to him by way of King's Ferry, the east landing place of which was at the end of Ver])lanck's Point, and the western landing in the cove on the north side of Stony Point. The river here is narrow, and besides it was the first crossing place north of New York accessible to the Americans. General Clinton's men spent the ensuing weeks in huts, and in the banis and houses of the inhabitants. Clinton had hard work to keep the men together, not that they were disloyal or cowardly, but your militiaman of "70 considered himself his own master; and when he could not per- ceive the necessity of remaining on duty longer, and calls from home were pressing, he was disposed to leave the ranks and return to his fanu and family. I>ater in the war a sterner discipline and a better system of military organization were enforced. After the news from Trenton and Princeton, and the winter having set in, causing suspension of opera- tions., the militiamen of Orange and Ulster were permitted to return home. References: American Archives. Journal of the Provincia.1 Congress. Clinton Papers. 110 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. CHAPTER IX. THE FALL OF THE HIGHL\JMD FORTS. Re-Appearance of the Enemy in tbe Spring- — Militia Called Out — Reluc- tant to Obey — British Plans — Sir Henry Clinton's Armada Arrives — Putnam Dec&ived and Goveirnor Clinton Overwhelmed^Heroic Resistance by the Sons of Orang-e and Ulster. THE siiccesses at Trenton and Princeton refreshed the cause of lib- erty and a re\'ived hope made the rigors of the remaining \\nnter months for Washington's army at Momstown more bearable. The British were impounded at Amboy and New Brunswick, on the Raritan. Their forces were snfHcient to have driven the shattered American army out of New Jersey, but orders were wanting. Com- wallis was in command at New Brunswick, and Vaughan at Amboy, but their commandei--in-chief was diverting himself in New York city vAth. various pleasures that appealed to his nature. Howe, viewing the results of the campaign of 1776, was disposed to rest satisfied for awhile. He had subjected our Continental line to a long series of disasters. Stat- cn Island, Long Island, Manhattan Island and Rhode Island were in his possession; Connecticut had virtually concluded that the war was over; the lower Hiidson, with Westchester county and the State of New Jersey, was at his mercy. Only Orange county, with its passes fortified and manned, had not yielded an inch. England's squadrons had not attempted to pass our Highland forts; her troops had not ventured to make the circuit of the mountains through the narrow defile where the marksmen of Orange and Ulster stood guard. Orange, the buffer county, with Ulster at her back, stood ever firm and true, while West- chester and others faltered. Though General George Clinton was per- mitted to spend a part of the winter at home, his vigilance never relaxed ; his sentinels and guards were never entirely withdrawn from the Ram- apo valley and the river shore. The work on the defences of the High- lands of the Hudson went on through the winter, but progress was e.\as- peratingly slow, owing not to indisposition — but rather to the scarcity of financial means and mechanical facilities. The principal work now in liand was in connection with the obstruction between Plum point and Polopel's island. Lieut. -Colonel Johannes Da\ad Blauvelt, who had commanded the Orangetown battalion since Colonel Lent resigned, ten- THE FALL OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. Ill dcrcMl liis own resignation March 1, 1777, and Major Johannes Joseph Blauvelt was by General George Clinton appointed to succeed him. Later the organization was merged into the Haverstraw regiment. With the opening of navigation, Britisli sliips came again up the ri\'er. On March 22, 1777, a twenty-gun frigate and two galleys, con- voying four large transports filled with troops, anchored in Haverstraw Bay, off Croton Point. Tlie next day at noon a thousand redcoats under Colonel Bird landed at Peekskill, and caused the destruction of all the American magazines, ban-acks and store-houses that liad been erected at the place, with a large quantity of provisions, military stores, clothing and accoutrements. They retired without the loss of a man. General McDougall, not having numbers sufficient to oppose them with a prob- ability of success, removed the greater jjart of tlie stores, and himself set fire to the rest. He then, leaving the enemy unopposed, retreated to Fort Independence, about ten miles distant. The British wore greatly disappointed in not securing tlie stores. A severe blow, swiftly and unexpectedly delivered, this misfortune greatly disheartened as well as alarmed the patriots. As it was evidently the design of the enemy to distress and plunder the shore, rather than make any attempt to pass the forts. Colonel Hay, having now less than a hundred men to protect the ferry and the bay shore, appealed to Cu^n- eral Clinton for reinforcements, and received an answer, saying: "In consequence of the beacon being fired at Fort Constitution yesterday, about four in the afternoon, I issued orders to Colonels Woodliull's (Cornwall), !McClaughry's (New Windsor) and Ilasbrouck's (Newburgh) regiments to inarch immediately, the two first to reinforce the garrison at this place, the latter to Fort Constitution, a part of which may be expected in this evening, and I arrived here about three o'clock this morning myself. Until the above regiment arrive we cannot possibly spare any men from this, as it is a post of the utmost consequence; but you may rest assured we will give you every aid and protection in our power the moment a reinforcement arrives, and let me beseech you in the meantime to call out your regiment and inspirit tlicm to make a proper defence should the enemy attempt anytliing against you." The militia of Southern Orange received the call to arms in no kindly spirit. The major of the Haverstraw regiment publicly declared that if the men were to be harassed as last year, he would give up the cause. Colonel Hay, desiring to station a company at King-'s FeiTy, could not prevail 112 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. on men to stay, as tlicy said they must go home and protect their prop- erty, as Colonel Pawling had arrived with all his troops from below and left that district exposed. This was the first time that Hay's men had ever really failed him. Clinton eonnseled with his field officers and called out one-third of the militia of Orange and Ulster, including exempts, the total nimiber alfected being about twelve hundred. Three regiments were formed from the levy, two from Ulster, under Colonel Pawling and Colonel Snyder, and one from Orange, which Colonel Hawthorne was a.ssigned to command. The Orange regiment was directed to take post in Kam- apo clove, and the two Ulster regiments were sent to Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton. Dutchess county was a few days later ordered to forward two companies to Fort Independence. Nothing could be expected from Westchester, that county being full of Tories, who gave valuable aid and encouragement to the British. The number of avail- able militiamen there was less than one himdred. But it was one thing to call out the citizen soldiers, and another to make them come, and yet another matter to induce them to stay. Gen- eral George Clinton once remarked, "Before we are out a week we lose our men, and of course we have supernumerary officers and mixst dis- charge them, which can't always be done without giving offence." The force required in this emergency was slow in coming, though it was generally understood the enemy was contemplating an attack in large force. Not only had the squadron, now lying in the Tappan Zee, off Sneeden's Landing, been reinforced, but a fleet of twenty-two sail had been concentrated off Fort Washington, with many troops aboard. Major Johannes Joseph Blauvelt of Orangetown infonned the General tliat, though the captains in his command had several times called their (companies out, many of the men had not come, and some who had responded brought no arms. "Indeed, matters are come to such a height," said Major Blauvelt, "that they who are friends of the Amer- ican cause must for their own safety be cautious how they speak in public, for I make no doubt we have often spies among us. If accounts we have received from different quarters may be depended on, soine of those Avho have been active in favor of our cause may be carried down to New York." On the 25th of April the King's fleet, which had concentrated at Fort Washington, moved up the river, and joined the ships that were wait- THE FALL OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. 113 ing off Sneedcn's Landing. Wliilc Washington was urging Clinton to get all tlie men possible, the commander of the Highland district was receiving returns from regimental officers that their men had not responded adequately to the call. Colonel Cooper of the Orange county regiment reported from the Ramapo pass that he had been able to raise only 259. Ninety-six of these he had posted at Nyack, under Captain Onderdonk, Captain Gardiner and Captain Bertliolf. Clinton was not intimidated by the threatening demeanor of the fleet. He made the most of what he had to fight with and was ready. "I don't fear but what we shall give a good account," he said. The expected attack did not come; either the fleet was deterred by the foi-midable fortifications, or the movement was only a feint, made for the purpose of annoying the Americans and compelling them to demonstrate the strength they were capable of putting fortli. On May fir.st the expedition returned to New York. The real onset came in October. On the part of the British it was a long contemplated and elaborately planned series of movements, an instructive example in grand tactics. Three simultaneous campaigns were arranged for, to be prosecuted in three different sections of the country, but all intended to accomplish one great end — the conquest of the Hudson. The first part of the general plan was Howe's combined military and naval expedition against Philadelphia, the chief purpose of which was to draw Washington away from the Highlands with all the troojib that could possibly be spared from this quarter. The design was most successfully accomplished. Governor Clinton was left with only a handful to garrison the forts, and the consummate strategy of the enemy also served, as will appear, to hold off Putnam, who was posted on the east shore with fifteen hundred men. But strategy alone could not have availed without overwhelming strength. Sir Henry Clinton's dash up the Hudson was the second part, and the long and unsuccessful marches of Burgoyne and St. Leger constituted the third section of the great strategic plan evolved by the AYar office in London. The armies from Canada were stopped, but Sir Henry Clinton got through. Why England did not take full advantage of the latter victory and retain possession of the river is one of the mysteries of the war. 'J'he fortifications in the Highlands at this time consisted of Fort Mont- gojuery, with its boom and chain, and its immediate neighbor, Fort Clinton; the batteries opposite West Point called Fort Constitution, 114 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. and Fort Independence, which was situated two miles above Peekskill. IS'o works had yet been constructed at West Point, Stony Point or Ver- planck's Point. Xorth of the Highlands was another line of obstruc- tions, consisting of a chivaux-de-frise and a protecting water battery. The chivanx-de-frisc extended from Phmi Point to Polopel's Island, and consisted of great cribs filled with stone and sunk in the river, holding iu position long iron-tipped spars. The points of the spars lay a few feet beneath the surface, at an angle, ready to rip open the first English frigate that should attempt to pass. It was a much more dangerous obstruction than the chivaux-de-frise the enemy had plunged through off Fort Washington. The defences were still in process of construction under the general supervision of Captain Thomas Machin, who had sup- ervised the erection of Fort Independence and Fort Clinton. The obstructions in the lower Highlands have already been described. They were practically complete at this crisis. The boom and chain, the stout cables, the line of anchored fire rafts, and some armed vessels of small tonnage, including the Congress, Montgomery, Lady Washington and Shark, were all in position. Everything was in readiness there but men. Calls for troops came from Washing-ton on the Delaware and from Schuj'ler on the upper Hudson. Clinton and Putnam greatly weakened their lines in responding to urgent apjx^als. Yet Clinton fvilly realized the probability of an expedition shooting up the river from Xew York. He understood that conditions as they existed in the Highlands were at all times well known in the city, the news being carried by Tories innumerable. The New England States were strangely supine. The few militia that Connecticut had sent were precipitate in rctiiming home at this critical period, leaving New York State to confront single-handed both Burgoyne's splendid army and the armada apprehended from New York. General Clinton (who was now the Governor of the new State) called out every man who could bear arms. Colonel Dubois's Conti- nentals had been at Fort Montgomery since Spring opened, constantly drilling at the guns or maneuvering in the mountain passes. Colonel McClaughry's regiment (formerly General James Clinton's), from Little Britain, was engaged in .similar exercises at Fort Clinton. Other reg- iments received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. Wash- ington, writing from Chester, Del., on August 5, intimated to Governor Clinton that he was convinced that the British designed an expedition MAJOK JOHN ANDKE. THE FALL OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. US up the Hudson to meet Biirgoyue while his o^vn army was being held back by Howe. Eelay riders kept the Governor informed of the pro- gress of affairs at the north and in communication with American leaders elsewhere. As the news of the successive victories of the British invaders was received, the gloom deepened. When the report of Washington's mis- fortune on the Brandy^\'ine came, the Governor ordered eleven regiments to march immediately, six to join General Putnam at Peekskill, two to strengthen the garrison at Fort Montgomery, and three to report to ifc- Dougall at Ramapo. Every regiment of the State guard south of Kingston was now on duty. Others were not called for fear of depriv- ing the hard-preased northern army of that succor \vhich it had a right to expect, and which Gates was now appealing for. The six which joined Putnam belonged to Dutchess county. The Governor had called for half the strength of each, because he knew the whole could not be obtained. On the afternoon of October 4th Lieut. Gano, who had been down to Peekskill, hurried into Fort Clinton with the news that a British fleet had landed troops at Tarrytown. Immediately General James Clinton dispatched a courier to his brother, the Governor, at Little Britain. The Governor wrote back advising that alann gims be fired at the mo- ment it became apparent that the enemy's intentions were higher up. It was but a feint, the landing at Tarrytown, and the next morning at dawn even a larger armada than had stopped at Tarrytown was lying between the headlands of Stony Point and Verplanck's Point. With the reinforcements received during the night, the armament consisted of a dozen frigates headed by the Mercury, Tartar and Preston, a num- ber of sloops and transports, and fifty flat-bottomed boats, together with cbout four thousand soldiers. Before the sun was up that Sunday morn- ing several thousand men had been lauded at Verplanck's, where only a small American guard had been stationed. The landing was designed to impress IMajor-General Putnam and attract general attention to the east shore. Piitnam was completely deceived. Retreating inland, he left the forts to their fate, and Sir Henry Clinton had accomplished one part of his design. The Americans had no easy puzzle to decipher; who of us under the sx.nc circumstances could have foreseen where the blow would fall? The presence of so many troops and small boats was an indication that a 116 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. land assault was contemplated. A naval bombardment was also to be expected from such a fonnidablc fleet. And would not Fort Inde- pendence be assailed first, being the most southerly? All that day and at night eyes and eai-s were alert for beacon fires and alarm guns. But the enemy remained quiet. Any threatening movement would have been detected by the vigilant shore guard. But, being apprehensive, the Governor had sent out a special scout, in the person of Major Logan, to report anything of importance, l^o word came from Putnam, the M a jor-G eneral commanding. When daylight appeared on Monday morning, the 6th, the valley was shrouded in fog. Human vision could no more penetrate the mist than the American mind could solve the mystery of British intentions. But as the morning advanced, the young New Windsor officer in his mountain eyrie eventually caught the sound of oars, and when certain that the enemy was landing in gTeat force at King's FeiTy he sprang away to inform his commander. Six or seven miles was the distance he had come by rough shortcuts when he entered the Governor's presence with the alarming intelligence. Lieut. Jackson was detailed with a small party to discover fiirther hostile movements. Two miles down the Haverstraw road they ran into the British vangiiard. After return- ing the fire that was opened on them, they hun-ied back to alarm the garrison. Biit Governor Clinton had heard the musketry and detached Lieut. -Colonel Bruyn with fifty men, and Colonel McClaughry with an equal number, to harass the advancing foe. Presently the guns of these trained wood rangers were heard sending messengers of death down the distant ravine. Their deadly execution stopped a long British col- iimn that was advancing on Fort Clinton. But another was reported coming along the Forest of Dean road to Fort Montgomery. The Gov- ernor, who commanded in person at Fort Montgomery, sent Colonel Lamb with a field piece and sixty men to confront this new danger. Sixty other Continentals he sent presently to support- the first sixty. His hope at this hoiir was to retard the enemy until he could got a reinforce- ment from General Putnam, to whom he had sent for help at the first alann. But the messenger turned traitor in this extremity; the mes- sage was never delivered. ( Vlonel Lamb wheeled his gim in the face of the on-coming Tories and ploughed their ranks with gi-apeshot, while his supports poured in a l(>aden hail from the sides. Shrieks mingled with the deafening crash THE FALL OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. 117 of arms. The assailants fell back in dismay, leaving many dead and W(jimded. They had begim to pay the fearful price wliich the daunt- less Americans demanded for their works. Again and again this col- inim was driven back by the well posted force from Fort Montgomerj', while the defenders of Fort Clinton, led by the intrepid General James I'liuton, were also standing firm. The fog had cleared away and each side perceived what it had to contend against. "Eight to one" were the odds George Clinton sup- posed, and as hour after hour passed with leaden heels, and Putnam not yet come, the little garrison still held their ground. The British fleet remained down the river out of range of the American batteries. A thousand E|ritish troops lay idle at Vei-planck's, satisfied with holding ofE Putnam. Fort Independence, several miles below, and Fort Constitu- lion, several miles above the scene of conflict, could not aid their beleagiired neighbors. Oif in the mountains wa telling the fray were belated militiamen unable to get in. The first success in the assault came to the British at two o'clock, nearly four hours after the beginning of the fight, when by a flanking movement to right and left in large numbers they almost suiTounded Colonel Lamb's men and obliged them to spike their guns and nin. At this crucial moment the Governor ordered out a twelve-pounder, which, being well served, stopped the for- eigners' nish. During the next three hours, however, the garrison was slowly driven back toward the fort. At five o'clock the noble fellows retreated inside. About this hour of the day Major-General Putnam began to come to a true comprehension of affairs, and was sending half his force to the riverside with orders to cross if they could. At any time that number added to the Governor's forces would have saved the forts. At five o'clock a British officer approached Fort Montgomery with a wliite flag, and the Governor sent Lieut.-Colonel Livingston, who was in the fort by accident, not belonging to any organization there, to ascer- tain the British message. The bearer of the flag, who said he was Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, demanded the surrender of the fort, to save the further effusion of blood. Livingston replied that he had no author- ity to treat, but if the British wished to surrender he could assure them of good treatment; and if they would not accept this offer they could renew the attack with a knowledge that the works would be defended to the last extremity. The battle, awful in its violence and ferocity, was continued until the shades of night fell, when the King's legions 118 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. brol^e through into both forts, and the. Americans began to cut their way out. Tlie merciful mantle of darkness protected many in the last raoments, and assisted them to escape into the surrounding mountains or across the river. When the fate of the forts was sealed, the torch was applied to the tire rafts by their own guardians. This \tos an act justifiable under the circumstances, as with the capture of the forts they were certain to fall into the hands of the enemy. The spectacle was sublime. But the two frigates, the Congress and tJie Montgomeiy, were also destroyed by their crews, which was a proceeding greatly regretted by the nation at large. They had been built at Poughkcepsie, and with much difficulty inadequately armed and manned. Each carried ten guns. The Lady Wasliington and the Shark waited for a favorable wind and retreated up the river, the fonuer to Rondout creek, where later on she aided the shore batteries in giving battle to Vaughan's expedition. To save her from the British, the crew scuttled her in the creek. The British force which landed at King's Fen-y numbered twelve hundred men under the command of Gen. Sir John Vaughan and nine hundred under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell. Four hundred of Campbell's cohimn were comprised in a body of "Loyal Americans," under the notorious Colonel Beverly Eobinson, whose deserted residence was on the east shore of the Hudson, opposite West Point. Landing under the cover of the fog, the whole army took the road that led around tlie west side of the Dunderberg. When they an-ived after a long detour at the forks in the deep valley between the Dunderberg and Bear Mountain, Vaughan's division halted, while Campbell's continiied on around to the north side of Bear Mountain, to get in the rear of Fort Montgomery. W^hile waiting to hear Campbell's guns, Vaughan was attacked by the Ameiican scouts, and the long battle was begun. The splendid resistance of the Americans was the only consolation the young republic obtained for the destruction of defences that had cost a ('uarter of a million dollars and two years of labor and devotion, not all of wliich could be paid for in money. General James Clinton was bay- oneted at his post, but escaped deatli and made his way home. The Governor dropped down the Heights unscratclicd, and from the beach stepped into a small boat which was with othere putting off for the east sliore. Colonel McClaughry, Major Logan, Colonel Allison and Col- onel AVoodhiill were captured, with many others. To tlie credit of the THE FALL, OF THE HIGHLAND FORTS. 119 British be it said, tlicy fouglit fairly and stained tlieir viotoiy with no massacre. Tlie reinforcement from Pntnam an-ived on the opposite side of the river in time to see the forts taken and the torch applied to the shipping. Behind Fort Clinton was a pond, and between it and the river a neck of land that had been obstnicted with an abatis, which aided the garrison in retarding the advance of the foe. After the battle the bodies of several soldiers were fonnd in the lake, while others were left imburied on the land. The bones of the nnknown and unclaimed were in the course of the following months gathered up and burned. Such in brief is the story of the fall of Forts Clinton and Mont- gomery. Though not the only battle fought on the soil of Rockland count}', it was the most important. "The valor here displayed was exceeded by no other instance during the war," was the world-wide opin- ion. Xothing but overwhelming nmnbers gave the victory to Sir Henry Clinton. In the British columns were many Tories well acquainted with the topography of the district. Putnam has been blamed for the disaster, but only a force on each shore equal to the English total could have coimteraoted their strategy and I'epulsed their onset, and the marshaling of such numbers under the limitations of the age, the place and the population, was beyond the ability of the American people, and for that no man was responsible. The Fifth New York, commanded by Colonel Dubois, and Lamb's Artillery were the Continental troops engaged. The Fifth was raised in the counties of Orange and Ulster, and included Captain Amos Hiitchins' company from Haverstraw and other sections of Southern Orange. Other patriots from the same section were in Lamb's artillery and in some of the militia battalions. Walter King of Orangetown fought under Captain Humphrey, and though grievously wounded escaped through the dark woods to a mountain cottage, where he lay l)etween life and death for seven weeks, when returning strength enabled hun to get hoTne. The militia engaged consisted mainly of portions of Mc- Claughry's New Windsor regiment, Woodhull's of Cornwall, Allison's (^'oshen regiment, and a few of other commands. Hasbrouck's of New- burgli, though originally ordered to Fort ]\Iontgomery, was before the light transfeiTcd to Fort Cojistitution. Colonel Hay's battalion was not called to the forts, but was as usual on guard duty along the Haverstraw .shore. The number of men who defended the ramparts was about six hundred, and of these about two hundred were militiamen. Wliile it is 120 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. apparent that the Continentals bore the greater weight of the fight, every man did his duty, and practically all were from the same section of country, now comprised in the counties of Orange and Rockland. Gov- ernor Clinton depended too much upon the ability or willingness of the militia to respond. While they had answered previous calls nobly, they failed in this instance. The watennen played an inconspicuoiis part. In the absence of any statement to the contrai-y, it is presumed they remained on their vessels and lired into the assailants of the garrison when a mark was presented. Sir Henry's fleet remained at anchor ofF Stony Point, except some small ■vessels Avhicli at one time dunng the day came within range and received a furious fire from the batteries afloat and ashore. With the forts in tlicir jx)ssession, the British easily imfastened the chain and cables that obsti'ucted navigation. In the course of the next few days Sir Ilenr^^ Clinton took possession of Peekskill and massed the greater part, of his f I )rces there. Putnam ofi^ered no resistance and both Fort Independence and Fort Constitution were relinquished to the enemy. When the marauding expedition imder Vaughan and Wallace started up the river, their ships had a clear course, except at Polopel's Island, and here they ei titer found a gap in the chevaux-de-frise or made one. The battery on Plum Point was yet incomplete, and the few guns mounted rendered little or no service, owing to lack of ammunition. Governor Clinton collected the remnant of his troops at Little Britain, near Washing-ton Lake, and many recruits came to him as he pursued Vaughan to Kings- ton. The marauder did not remain long up the river after hearing of IJUrgO}^le's defeat. With his headquarters at Peekskill, Sir Henry C:iinton retained possession of the Highland forts for twenty days, when he abandoned and destroyed them, and returned with all his forces to IN'ew York. Kefe^rences: Olint.on Papers. Bea^-h's Hfet. Cornwall. "Provincial and Revolutionary Military Org-anizations" — Ruttenber. Uoynton'.s West Point. .Tones's New York. "THE FORT'S OUR OWN-" 121 CHAPTER X. "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." New Defences in the Highlands — Massacre at. "Old Tappan — Petition from Citizens — Stony Point Seized by the British — Main Contineuit.al Army Arrives — Stony Point Stormed and Recaptured by Wayne's Light Infantry — The Battle Described — Fate of the Lady Washing-ton — The Fort Abandoned by the Ameri- cans — Evacuated by the British. EARLY the follo\ving year, 1778, the Americans began anew to erect fortifications in the Highlands. West Point was chosen as the place for the principal works. Forts, batteries and redoubts snc- cessively appeared, rising in tiers from the water's edge to the crown of Mount Independence, where Fort Pntnam stood overlooking all and protecting the rear. Fort Arnold (afterwards Fort Clinton) on the edge of the plain commanded a wide sweep of the river, and at every position where a foe might appear great gnns looked threateningly through em- brasures. The river was crossed by a massive chain and boom. The links for the chain were forged at the Sterling Ironworks, carted to Brew- stei''s forge at Moodna and there fitted together. Their average length was a little over two feet, and the thickness of the iron two and a half inches. They were floated down the river and arranged in position by Cajitain Machin. Their total weight was 180 tons. When complete the chain stretched across the river at its naiTowest part in connection with a boom of heavy logs. Two years were spent in building the fortifica- tions, and so extensive and formidable were they that West Point was often referred to as the "American Gibraltar." Stony Point and Ver- jjlanck's Point, thirteen miles south, were recognized by the strategists of the day as positions of much importance, but not of a nature to be successfully defended against a strong assault by either land or water. Notwithstanding their admitted vulnerableness, some defences were reared on the headlands in 1778, to serve as outposts for West Point and at the same time give some protection to King's Ferry. The scene of conflict was for the most part transferred from New York State during the year 1778. The leading events in general his- tory were the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, June 18, fol- lowed by the battle of Monmouth ten days later, the arrival of the French fleet under Coimt d'Estaing and the massacres of Wyoming and 122 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. Clicrry Valley. The guards along the west shore of the Tappan Zee and in the Raniapo valley discharged their usual ardiious duties. Colonel Hay at Ilaverstraw was tireless in receiving and fonvarding sup- plies. King's Ferry was not molested. The year, however, did not pass without blood being shed in this sec- tion. The end of September found Lord Cornwallis ^vith a large detach- ment of the British army occupying the country between Hackensack, ^. J., and the Hudson river for a strategical purpose. General Kny- phausen at the same time with another part of the army was in the county of Westchester opposite his Lordship, having the Hudson on his left, the Bronx on his right. A war fleet, with a large number of flat-bot- tomed boats, was anchored in the Hudson opposite the two encampments, so that if Washington, whose headquarters was at White Plains, should think proper to attack either wing, the other might be instantly trans- ferred to its assistance. Washington, however, was detennined to put nothing to the risk. Information coming to Cornwallis that an Ameri- can battalion lately arrived from Virginia and commanded by Col. Bay- lor, a young Virginian of reputable family and large estate, was quar- tered three miles southwest of Tappan, he sent General Grey with twelve companies on the night of the 27th to surprise it. Baylor's troops were designated as "Mrs. AVashington's Own," because of their being from Virginia. They were serving that night as an advance guard for a bri- gade of the American army under Wayne, who with the main body \vas at Orangeburgh. But we have stated only part of the British design. It was their hope to capture or annihilate Wayne's brigade, as well as the Virginia Light Dragoons. In combination with Grey's column, there- fore, another was sent out by General Kuj^ihausen, from the east shore of the river, to cross at Dobbs Ferry and get into the rear of Wayne. Tlie enemy's Tory guides knew the roads as well, if not better, than the Continental soldiers. Grey's camp was some miles distant from where Baylor's troops were quartered. The Virginians having posted a few pickets, these were cut off and silenced by Grey's advance guard at 2 o'clock in the morning. Baylor and his staff were at the house of Cor- nelius A. Haring, and the rest in the houses and barns of the Blauvelts, Demarests, Harings, Bogarts and Holdrinns. The total numlicr of dra- goons was one hundred and sixteen. The British wth fixed bayonets broke into the houses and barns, and before the Virginians could have recourse to their amis, many were mas- "THE FORT'S OUR OWN-" 123 sacred in cold blood. General Grey's inhuman orders were to "stab all and take no prisoners." Men were bayoneted and brained after they liad siu'rendered. With shameless brutality the King's swift and silent butch- ers ran from bam to bam on their mission of blood. Some of theii- vic- tims recei'S'ed as many as ten, some twelve homble thrusts through their bodies. One English captain disobeyed orders and refrained from stab- bing those who surrendered. When Grey departed he left eleven dead and seventeen dying Virginians, and took away thirty-nine prisonei-s. Tlie rest of Baylor's men escaped by flight or concealment, but not all v.ithout terrible wounds. A merciful mind must shudder at the bare mention of so inhuman a deed. It was not war but crime, and of the deepest dye. General Wayne's brigade, fortunately warned in season, escaped the clutches of Knyphausen's column. On hearing the next morning of this shocking affair, Col. Hay called out liis regiment and marched a few miles into New Jersey, but finding ihiit he had Comwallis's army to contend with he returned to Clarks- town and sent to Gov. Clinton for reinforcements. Captain Bell's com- pany of Colonel Graham's regiment was ordered from New Jersey to join Hay for the defence and protection of the inhabitants of the south- ern part of the county. Bell's company had recently been fonned out of the Ilaverstraw and Orangetown militia. Regiments from other parts of Orange county were also ordered to the scene by the Governor, and Washing-ton sent over to New City Woodford's brigade of 700, who after a few days were drawn off to New Jersey. Hathom's and Marvin's militia regiments, which came at the Governor's order, likewise remained but a little while, much to the regret of the patriotic inhabitants. From a numerously signed petition to the Governor for assistance, dated October 18, 1778, it appears that the British marauders, after butchering Baylor's dragoons, turned their cruelties against women and old men, "whom they ti-eated with every kind of brutality their pei-fidi- ousness could invent, and from thence extended their depredations to witJiin a quarter of a mile of Clarkstown, and have continued every day since to display in and about the State the most wanton scenes of cruel- ty." The names attached to the petition are reproduced here to record who were citizens in the exposed quarter: Andris Onderdonk, Johannes Blauvelt, Thomas Blauvelt, Abraham Blauvelt, Uyldrick Blaiivelt, Cornelius Blauvelt, Derick Vanderbilt, Daniel Martine, Johannis Vandcrbielt, David Smith, John Coleman, 124 HISTORY OF ROCKL,AND COUNTY. "William Sickels, Walter Van Orden, Jacob Onderdonk, Johannis Blaiivelt, Abraham Blauvelt, David Pye, Jacob Cole, J. P.; G. Jones John Stagg, Sr., John Farrand, John D. Haring, Wm. Heyer, Martines Hogencamp, Abraham Lamatcr, Parent Xaugle, David Demeray, Yan Nagie, John J. Bogert, Richard Blauvelt, Thos. Creger, Andrew Thomp- son, James Emraens, Henry Broadwell, Ronlof Onderdonek, William Stephens, Wm. Stutt, John Paulhemeus, Ilendrick Polhamoiis, Joseph D. Clarck, Yohannes Nagel, Resalvert Striegansen, Gerret Onderdonek, John Montanye, Edward Sayler, James Quackinbush, Nicholas Cox, Isaac Blauvelt, Peter De Pue, Andris Onderdonek, Yohannes Meyer, Joseph Seaman, David Van Sickel, Aart Polhemus, Andrew Cole, Johannes J. Blauvelt, Capt. John Hoogland, David Van Houta, Joseph Johnson, John Hallsed, Stephen Campbell, Jacobus de Clerck Roger Osborn, Abram Derunder, Garrett Van Cleft, Abm. W. VanDeursen, Peter Vandervoort, Jacob King, William Nagel, William Christie, Cor- nelius Blaiivclt, John Tinkie, John Gardner, Daniel Haring, Jacobus Van Veelen, Tobies Derunder, John Blauvelt, Gilbert Hunt, John On- derdunck, Samuel Knapp, Wm. Conklin, Daniel Phillips, Eli Phillips, Gibbart Phillips, Richard Dickens, Cornelius Cooper, Ilendrick Dermi- der, Peter Cnim, Gilbert Williams, Rulof Stephens, John Stagg, John Conkling, Joseph Conkling, Francis Gurnee, Lukus Degi'aw, Edward Smith, John Smith, John Campbell, A. L. Haring, John Meyer, Johan- nes VanDalfsen, Cornelius C. Roosevelt, Jacob Arden, Jr., John Suf- fer n. During the first week of December the appearance of a fleet of twen- ty-si.x sail off aSTyack was an occasion for alarm, and for movements by Continental troops. Five hundred Pennsylvanians were ordered to cross from Peekskill to Haverstraw, and Nixon's brigade was directed to the same place. On Friday the British landed at Tarrytowm, and after gathering up such provisons as they coiild find, re-embarked and came on lip the river to the head of Haverstraw bay, anchoring at 9 a. m. At eleven they landed fifteen himdred men at King's Ferry (west side), in the expectation of capturing stores, but these had been removed in time to save them. The American post at the ferry could offer no resist- ance to such numbers, and the guard retired. At three o'clock Nixon's brigade advanced to attack the British at tlie fen-y, but the redcoats fled back to their ships and set sail down the river. They had simply « Xl •^, *iM ^m 1 V^*\ ^smm.. JOSHUA UETT SMITH. "THK FORT'S OUR OWN." 125 come on a foraging expedition. Provisions were scarce around New York city, or clsewliore. That winter, wheat could not be had for less than sixteen dollars per bushel, and other necessaries were proportion- ately high. When the spring of 1779 (the middle year of the war) opened, Wash- ington's main Continental army, consisting at that time of regiments from the Middle and Southern States, was in winter quarters at Middle- brook, N. J., a feAV miles north of Bound Brook, where the men had fared much better than at Valley Forge the year before. West Point was garrisoned Avith Paterson's brigade of Continentals. Major-General McDougall \vas at Peekskill, Gates at Providence. Sir Henry Clinton proposed to force Washington to fight, preferably somewhere in the open. The strength of the British anny at New York was thirteen thousand. An advance on Middlebrook would only compel Washing- ton to retreat farther away, while it would subject Clinton's commu- nications to inten-uption and leave New York in danger. Indeed, in pursuing Washington Clinton feared he might meet the fate of Bur- goyne. He would try, then, to draw the American coramander-in-chit^f out of the Jerseys, rather than drive him farther in. A movement threatening West Point, "the key to the continent," might have the effect of drawing him into a position where he coTild be dealt with decisively. Sir Henry, however, as he aftenvard acknowledged, had no idea of attacking West Point. The first movement in the prosecution of this plan was the seizure of Stony and Verplanck Points. As usual in British excursions up the Hudson valley, this was a combined naval and militarj' expedition. The ships and transports, numbering altogether about seventy sail, Avith many small boats, moved up to Yonkers on Sunday, May 30 (1779), and there took on board four thousand troops, under General Vaughan. The same day they sailed for Haverstraw bay, with Sir Henry Clinton commanding in pei-son, and all had an-ived by Monday noon, anchoring out of range of the guns of Verplanck's. The guard at Stony Point on discovering the fleet, began to draw off the military stores they had in charge. A part of the army under Vaughan landed on the ea.st shore, and the rest, under Clinton, sailed farther up and then landed, about four o'clock, three miles below Stony Point, at Haverstraw village. The peoi>le fled, but some of Colonel ITay's militia and other troops drew up at a distance, but not in force sufficient to offer resistance. As Clin- 126 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. ton's corps advanced leisurely in the direction of the Point, the Ameri- can company stationed there applied the torch to the block house and other structures and fell back to the mainland, and then into the moun- tains. Meanwhile some British ships were bombarding Fort Lafayette, at A^erplanck's, and receiving a fire in return. Sir Henry continued on around, with nothing to oppose him, and took possession of the heights. The night was spent in landing guns from the ships and drawing them up the steep sides of tlie promontory, a work of gi-eat difflculty. Fifty- eight men in harness, besides many tugging at the wheels, were hardly able to get up the heavy twelve-pounder. By five o'clock in the morning batteries had been prepared and opened ag-ainst Verplanck's. The distance between the points, fifteen hundred yards, was found to be too great for all except three pieces, a ten-inch mortar, an eiglit-inch howitzer and the heavy twelve-pounder. General Pattison was in command of the artillery. The commander- in-chief came ashore to watch the bombardment, to which some of the sliips also contributed. The three guns of the barbette battery on Ver- planck's answered with spirit, but the shots directed at Stony Point gen- erally passed over head. At noon Vaughan's coi-ps appeared in sight behind the fort, and the Vulture being stationed on the north side and other ships to the south, escape was cut off for Captain Annstrong and his company of seventy-five North Carolinians. Captain (afterward ]\lajor) Andre was then sent with a flag of truce to demand the surrender of the place, and the comraander deeming further resistance useless, permitted his colors to be lowered. During these two days the Havei-straw militia were harassing the rear of the British, but not doing much damage. On t^ie second day five hundred men set out from the Point to capture three hundred head of cattle that the Americans had driven into the country. The militia made the journey fruitless and unpleasant by driving the cattle out of reach and peppering the flanks all the way. Under Sir Henry Clinton's orders, the engineers and artillerists set about to make Stony Point as strong as possible. In the course of the next fortnight seven more facine batteries, nearly all facing inland, were completed, mounting twenty-four guns. When Washington heard of Sir Henry Clinton's departure from New York he immediately (May 30) put his army in motion and June "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." 127 (ith passed Tuxedo Lake and entered the Eaniapo valley. On the fol- lowing- day the Virginia division went into camp near the present New- bnrgh Junction, the Pennsylvanians five miles beyond, in Smith's Clove, "Widow Ambrose's," at the junction of the road to Fort Montgomery', and the iMaryland division encamped between them. From these posi- tions Washing-ton's forces could reach the Hudson by several different routes in short order and in the most eflfective manner. He could find the shore either at Haverstraw, Fort ilontgomery or Cornwall. There was even a possibility of catching Sir Henry in a trap, if lie should ven- ture higher or come looking for Washington in this valley. It was the general American hope, as it was the English fear, that he would be "Burgoyned." The Amei'ican Continentals and militia in the river counties were also moving into strategical positions on the west and east shores, in anticipation of an attack on West Point, which was the osten- sible ultimate object of the offensive campaign. Washington resisted the temptation to retaliate at this time, though the army keenly felt the loss of the facilities which King's Ferry had afforded. It was a deep game and Sir Henry Clinton's turn to play again. The fort at Stony Point had a garrison of 750 infantry, besides a company of artillery. It was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Johnson. Extensive fortifications had also appeared at Verplanck's. While the works were building, marauders overran nearly the whole county of Westchester. Lea^^ng• the gai-rison and one ship, the Vulture, at King's Ferry, the British commander-in-chief returned with the rest of his naval and military forces to New York, from whence he sent Gen- eral Tryon and Commodore Collier on a plundering expedition through Connecticut. The secret but unsuccessful purpose of the devastation of property was to draw Washington and his main army to that quarter. By the first of July Washington had moved his lieadquartei-s from Smith's Clove to the Ellison house on the river shore in New Windsor village, which, since the closing of King's Ferry to the Americans, had become an important transfer point. The main Continental army, now numbering about ten thousand men, occupied these positions: The center, at West Point, where McDougall was in command, with three brigades of Massachusetts and North Carolina troops; the left wing, under General Heath, and composed of Massachusetts and Connecticut divisions, at Garrisons, on the east side of the river; the right, consti- tuted by the Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania brigades heretofore 128 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. mentioned, and now commanded by General Putnam, wcrc in Smith's Clove and at the Forest of Dean Mines. At this time General Anthony "Wayne was called from his home at Chester, Pa., and assigned to the command of the"Light Infantry Corps," the members of which, fonr battalions, had been posted on the plateau on the west bank of the ris'er, north of and near Port IMont- gomery. It was an organization new to the army, and popularly con- sidered the "crack" corps, but by Washington intended for a special pui-pose, the nature of which he intimated to its energetic and daring commander at the outset. Washington considered that while the enemy were making excursions to distress the country, it had a very disagi-ee- able aspect for him to remain in a state of inactivity. The reputation of the army and the good of the service seemed to exact some enterprise on his part. The importance of Stony Point to the enemy made it desirable that this defiant promontory should be the object. To that end he instructed Wayne to gain all the information he could concerning the nature, situation and strength of the British works, and the Pennsylvania general, whom some people delighted to call "mad," M'ent the next day (July 2), in company with two of his officers, Colonel Butler and Major Stewart, to reconnoitre the situation of the works'. In his report to his superior lie minutely described the bat- teries, the abatis and the topographical features, and remarked that the position was so fonnidable that "a storm" would be impracticable, but perhaps "a surprise" might be effected. This was but the firet of a series of inspections by Wayne. The matter was most carefully con- sidered by Washington, who himself on at least one occasion went -with Wayne to examine the position and approaches. So thorough was tlieir preliminary calculations, it is conceivable that everything in tactics which transpired at the assault had been pliotographed in advance by tlieir imagination. This is evident from the remarkable letter of final instructions which Washington sent to Wayne on the 10th and from Wayne's "Order of Biattle." At least one officer unknown to AVayne made an observation at the instance of Washington. ^lajor HaiTy Lee's legion of troopers and riflemen lurked in the mountain behind the prom- ontory or peered curiously down from the craggy sides of olil Dunder- berg, losing no opportunity to obtain information. Colonel Rufus "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." 129 Putnam, an engineer of note, and then attached to the Light Infantry- Corps, perched himself on a commanding knob and made careful sur- veys and sketches. Up at Wayne's camp a magnificent body of infantry was being fash- ioned with enthusiasm. The inspiration for it had come from abroad, but American genius was improving on the original pattern. In European armies there were brigades of special construction and excep- tional quality to which it was esteemed a high honor to belong. Pride of corps was encoui-aged by elegance of uniform, a distinctive designa- tion and positions of honor — and danger. Napoleon's Guard was a later exemplification of the idea, but the American republic in modem times has not considered it advisable to follow the precedent. Wayne agreed with the sentiment that pride in a soldier was a substitute for almost every other virtue. He acknowledged that he was so much prejudiced in favor of an elegant unifomi that he would rather risk his life and reputation at the head of a well groomed brigade, even though it were provided with only one round of ammunition, than lead the same men when well armed but poorly clothed. "It may be a false idea, but I can't help cherishing it," he added. While Washington did not believe in making too great a difference between the Light Infantiy corps and the troops of the line, he promised a good siipply of clothing. The country was now too poor to furnish a gay outfit : a pair of overalls, two shirts, a hat, one blanket, and a pair of shoes per man, was the best that could be done at that moment for the ragged Continentals about to be rushed into the jaws of death.. The strength of the corps was augmented until it comprised four regiments of two battalions each, •^\ith four full companies to every bat- talion. The regimental commanders were : Pii-st, Colonel . Christian Pebiger; Second, Colonel Richard Butler; Third, Colonel Jonathan Meig-s; Fourth, Colonel Eufus Putnam. The battalion commandci-s were Lieut.-Colonel Pleury and Major Thomas Posey; Lieut.-Colonol Samuel Hay and Major John Stewart; Lieut.-Colonel Isaac Sherman and Acting Major Henry Champion; Major William Hull and Major Hardy Murfree. Every regiment then with the main Continental army was represented in the Light Infantry Coi-ps. SLx companies of Vir- ginians and two of Pennsylvanians composed the Pirst Regiment; four from the Pennsylvania line and four from the Maryland the Second; 130 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. eight Connecticut companies made up the Third Eegiment, and six Massachusetts and two North Carolina companies constituted the Fourth. That such a corps became exceptionally proficient in tactics may rightfully be supposed. The personnel was probably unequalled any- where oiitside of the young republic. They would not have been Amer- ican soldiers of the line if other than men of the first order, inured to physical exertion, trained to accurate marksmanship and accustomed to field and forest. America never had to make excuses for her soldiei-s and sailors. Wayne was "a heaven-made general." So he was denominated by Sir Hem-y Clinton. He wa.s a native of Chester county. Pa., and at the outbreak of the war was engaged in tilling his ancestral acres. He had received a superior education and his services as a surveyor and con- veyancer were often in demand. He had also inherited from his father a tannery business with extensive connections. Besides being a man of substance and education, he was a figure in society. In an age when homespun simplicity was the nile, ilr. Wayne's fine broadcloth suit, laifiled wristbands and bosom, his jaunty three-cornered beaver and highly polished boots gave his graceful person no little distinction. The infantrymen knew they were not intended for an ornamental jmrpose. Their immediate duty as the van of the army was to be the first to meet an onset against West Point. It was well understood that Sir Henry Clinton might appear again at any moment with his great armament. "Whatever means the 'enemy may employ," ;i-emarked Bar-on Steuben one day to Washington, "I am positive that their opera- tions are directed exclusively to getting possession of this post and the river as far as Albany. If this is not their plan they have not got one which is worth the expense of a campaign. On their success depends the fate of America." Stony Point, strongly fortified and gamsoned, was a thoni in the American side. It hurt. As a matter of fact, it was a wedge driven into the most important line of American defenses. Another stroke might drive it farther. The British had great faith in the stronghold they had built. It was generally considered imprcgnal>le. An Amer-< ican captain who had to go to the fort with a flag of trace was twitted with the question if his people intended to stoi-m. "We will let you send "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." 131 your best engineer to take a plan of the works before you attack," the p]nglishman added sarcastically. The little tongue of land was undeniably a hard proposition for the American military mind to consider. The King's men were more capable of defending it than the Continentals, for the reason that they were not required to pro\ade against a naval bombardment. Nearly all their batteries pointed landward, as the one side from which the enemy must approach if he came at all. The other three sides were inaccessible to the Americans. The garrison, nearly six hundred strong, consisted of the Seventeenth Regiment of Foot, the Grenadier company of the Seventy-first Regiment, a company of the Loyal Americans, and detachments of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and Volunteei's of Ireland. After examining the problem, Washington came to the conclusion that the assault should be made under cover of darkness, and mth the utmost secrecy. He favored a bayonet charge with unloaded muskets. Cold steel would be better than a shower of lead with much noise. He desired that the officers should be informed in advance what batteries or particular parts of the line they were respectively to seize. To avoid confusion and fatal mistakes in the darkness, every American shoiild wear a white cockade or other \-isiblc badge of distinction. The assault, he believed, should be made in three divisions, and secrecy was moi'o essential than numbers. Too much caution could not be used to conceal the intended enterprise from all but the principal officers until the moment of execution. As the usual time for such exploits was a little before daylight, and sentries were then more vigilant, Washington for that reason recommended a midnight hour. The main attack should proceed from the beach on the south side, and the darker the night the better. The views of Wayne and his field officers coincided with Washing- ton's in the main, but they suggested that as the troops would derive confidence from the reputation of numbers, it be given out that the whole Virginia line was to support the Light Infantry. Wayne's plan of operations, supplementing Washington's general instructions, specified a march around the Bear and Dnndcrbcrg moun- tains by existing roads or paths, to the rear of the Point, the identical route over which the British advanced two years previously to attack 132 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. 3'^ort Montgomery. There was a nearer way whicli cut off the long cir- cnit behind Bear Mountain, bnt tlie column might be exposed. The dis- tajice by the longer route was fourteen miles, and almost every mile rough and wearisome. In the final arrangements it was concluded not to use Colonel Rufus Putnam's entire regiment (the Fourth), and Major Hull's battalion on this occasion consisted of a detachment of the Mas- sachusetts line from West Point. Colonel Putnam did not participate in the adventiire, but remained at Fort Constitution, and Major Hull assumed command of what for the occasion was recognized as the Fomlh Ilegiment. The fifteenth of July was a hot and sultry day. Orders had been issued for a general review of the Light Infantry Coi-ps at Sandy Beach, two miles aboA'e Fort Montgomery. The men had been drilled by com- panies and battalions, but this was to be the first mobilization of the entire corps. It was an occasion of no little importance, and not a little rivalry was manifested. When, at twelve o'clock, the men found them- selves marching in a long column down toward Fort Montgomery, they may have considered the movement a part of the drill. But as they continued on and on, entering the mountains, some wonder must have been expressed. At Clement's fork, behind Bear Mounfain, whei'e they rested and ate their rations by the brookside, a glimmer of the trath may have passed from lip to lip; and when, on resvmiing the march, the column turned to the left, instead of keeping to the right, suspicion must have given place to conviction in their minds. The right-hand road would have taken them to the Forest of Dean Mines, but this led to — Stony Point. General AVayne timed the march so as to arrive at David Spring- steel's house, near the lower edge of the mountains, at eight. Captain McLean's rangers had protected the advance that far; they had arrested and detained all stragglers, they had posted guards at every house in the district to prevent exit, and made sure that no tale-bearer entered the fort. ISTot even a dog barked as the ranks silently came near the end of the arduous march. The English reported subsequently that our scouts had killed every dog in the vicinity. It was a beautiful summer eve; darkness was settlino- dovvii; the air was laden with the rich perfume of the season. At the brook the heroes qiTcnched tlieir thirst, ate their frugal ration and discussed in "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." 133 Avhispers the business that had been assigned them. Unexpectedly called lo face death again, the solemn truant tliought and the quickened heart throb must have come even to these brave fellows in this still hour. Here in the vale, where tlie corps lingered for several hours, the orders of the night were read and explained. Every man learned what was for him to do, and was encouraged by the announcement that the whole Virginia line was coming behind, and that Captain Christie's Pennsylvanians were on picket duty in front. Wayne himself had gone on ahead for a final survey. Pieces of white paper were passed around, one for every hat, as Washington had commanded. When Wayne returned the dispositions were made and the last instnictions given. The corps, which had a strength of 1,150, was divided into thi'ee principal parts and each designated as a column. The leaders in each column had all been over the ground. The columns were desig- nated naturally as right, center and left, which corresponded to the places they were to each respectively assault. The riglit column would circle around and rush into the south side of the works, the left would execute its part on the north side, and the oolunm of the center advaucp as if for direct assault. The right column was arranged in thi'ee sections. First, a "forlorn hope" detachment of twenty picked men, Virginians and Pennsylva- nians, led by Lieut. Knox; next one hundred and thirty Virginians and Pennsylvanians, under Colonel Fleury, and finally the main body under Colonel Febiger, but with General Wayne commanding in person. Meig-s's Eegiment and Hull's Battalion were in this column. The left column, imder the general command of Colonel Butler, ■was similarly arranged. The "forlorn hope" detachment was led by T.ieut. Gibbons. Then followed one hundred Maryland boys under Major Stewart, with Butler's Eegiment close behind. The third column consisted of Major Murfree's two companies of Isort.h Carolinians. Captain Benjamin Fishborne and Captain Henry Archer were aids to General Wayne. The orders were for the "forlorn-hope" men to deal with the sentries and make an opening in the abatis for the column to pass through. The moment the riish lines succeeded in getting inside the works they were to set up a shout, "The fort's our own!" Until tlien silence must rule. The honor of leading the "forlorn hopes" was 134 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY, awarded by lot. A bounty of five liimdred dollars with immediate pro- motion was oiTered as a prize for tlu.^ first man who entered the works, with $400 for the second; $300 for third; $200 for the fourth, and $100 to the fifth. The main attack was to be from the south, and the cen- tral assault in the nature of a feint, designed to draw the enemy to the causeway and leave the flanks and rear exposed. The North Carolinians in making their demonstration over the usually traveled road were to use firearms, hut the other columns were to rely on silence and the bay- onet. The preparations were all finished at eleven, and General Wayne sat down to express his thoughts of the moment to a dear friend. His concluding words were: "I am called to sup, but where to breakfast — either within the enemy's lines in triumph, or in another world." At half-past eleven came the order to advance. The distance from Spring-steel's to the marsh which separated the promontory from the mainland was a mile and a half, and thirty minutes was the time allowed for reaching there. The column led by Wayne passed around and through where the village is now, and the one under Butler followed a farm lane to the northerly side. The !North Carolina companies kept on down the direct road to the edge of the marsh, where they waited until the moment came to open fire. A few words about the leaders. Knox and Gibbons, who led the "forlorn hojies,"' were young Pennsylvanians. Lieut.-Colonel Fleury was a gallant Frenchman; Major "Jack" Stewart, a jaunty Marylander; Colonel Ckristian Febiger, popularly called "Old Denmark," was, like Fleury, a soldier of fortune, and hail won liis spurs at Bunker Hill and Quebec. Major Thomas Posey of Virginia rose to be a Major-General in the war of 1S12, and was the second Governor of Indiana. Colonel Meigs had served under Montgomery at Quebec. Lieut.-Colonel Sher- man had fought at Trenton and Princeton. The reason why no New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island or New Hampshire troops were pres- ent this night was that they were fighting with S\illivau against the Six Nations. Stony Point was a black and forbidding forni dimly outlined in the darkness. The tide was yet high when Wayne's column stole cautiously down to the beach. Water covered the sands, and there was no other way than through it. Two hundred yards distant crouched the lion-like fortress. The first splash in the water would mean discovery. "For "THE FORT'S OUR OWN." 135 ward!" Knox and his gallant twenty led the way into the water. A shot rang out from the Bi-itish picket line. "To arms!'' was the cry that came across the water. The cohimn waded on with gims a-shoul- der, aiming to strike the side of the j^eninsula beliind the double row of abatis that extended across the front of the works from the water's edge. The British were running to their batteries, breastworks and redoubts. Just then came a crash of miisketry and shouts on their immediate front. The North Carolinians had begun to "amuse" themselves. The Biitish batteries opened and a torrent of gi'apeshot and shell belched across the morass. The head of the right column was now directly under the fort. The increasing fire from the embrasures above passed mostly overhead. The feint on the front was of the greatest help to the Americans in draw- ing the enemy's fire in that direction. As the pioneers and rushers struck the almost perpendicular bank, Lieut-Colonel Fleury left liis position in line, ran ahead of the "Twenty," and came up even with Knox. General Wayne had been marching beside Colonel Febigcr, but before they came to the morass he ordered the Colonel down the flank to reiterate his orders about not firing. But "Old Denmark" hur- riel forward again, and was not far from the front when the charge up the hill began. "Come on; we defy you!" cried angTy voices from above. "We'll be with you in a minute," was the American retort. Until now the marching order had been well maintained; not a shot had been fired or a loud word spoken in the column on the right. Fear had departed; victory, rewards and promotion were in sight; the strife now was to get there first. The start was scarcely a fair one; Fleury and Knox had the lead of Skelton, Febiger, Posey, Meigs, Hill, Sher- man, Lawson, McDowell and Hay, whose names stajid out on history's page, and who necessarily had to keep their places in the line. The first line of abatis was turned by most of the troops, but the second was in the way and had to be chopped tlarough, torn open or surmounted. The pioneers made a small opening, rushed on, and all poured through the sally port and over the parapet. Fleury climbed a bas- tion and was the first man in, and the fii-st to shout, in broken English, "The fort's our own!" Knox was right at his heels. Sergeant Baker of Virginia, bleeding from four wounds, was the third to enter. Sergt. Spencer, also a Virginian, and wounded, was the fourth, Sergt. Dunlop of Pennsylvania the fifth. Five voices united in the cry, "The fort's our o'ft'n!" 136 HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY. The American officers led their companies to seize the varions bat- teries and positions that had been assigned to them in the plan. The white cockade distingiiished friend from foe in the daxkness. Colonel Febiger went in with the rush line, seized the first Britisher he enconn- tcred and demanded to be led to Colonel Johnson, the commandant of the fort. At this juncture most of the British infantrymen and Colonel Johnson with them were down defending the front approach, which our North Carolinans appeared to be assaulting. Hearing the shouts of victory from the heights behind him, Johnson turned back, encoun- tered fleeing men and was informed that the Americans were in posses- sion of the main body of the fort, having come up the side. Lieut. Gibbons, with his "forlorn hope," was leading the left col- umn toward the north side of the promontory. When going up the hill Major Stewart took the responsibility of changing the order of bat- tle. He directed Gibbons squad to diverge to the right, while he kept on along the hillside to the eastern extremity of the point. With Gib- bons was Major Normont de Laneuville, a Frenchman, who was ren- dering gallant service. With their clothing muddy and torn, they entered the main works boldly and encountered resistance. Only four of the party came through without wounds to join the right column at the summit. They took forty prisoners. The manner of the Ameri- can entry split the garrison into sections, which were separately over- whelmed. Resistance of a desperate kind was sometimes encountered, and some few accepted death rather than surrender. Mercy was granted when appealed for. Bullets as well as bayonets completed the conquest, which had occupied about twenty-five or thirty minutes. The Hag of the fort continued at the masthead for some time after the Amer- icans could have lowered it. One of the Gibbons party struck it and as it came fluttering down a soldier caiight and handed it to Lieut.-Colonel T'leiiry. General Wayne was struck down by a bullet as he paused for a moment at the second abatis. Stunned for a moment, and fearing that the wound Avas mortal, he asked to be carried forward, that he might die if need bo in the fort. The injury proved not to be serious. At 2 a. m. he dispatched the news of the victory to Washington. Guns were at once brought to bear against Verplanck's Point by a company of artillery led by Captain Pendleton and Captain Bnrr, and they also directed a few bolts at TI. M. S. 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