- 1 c/^^^^^-l^ ,>-:^^^^.^<^ although he thought it rather hard to to. be obliged to serve under a younger officer, pafrioticaUy waived his claim of rank and his commission from Connecti cut, and consented to join the army. But when that point was yielded, the troops began to doubt whether they would move at all: and, finally, they determined not to expose themselves to the rigors of a northern winter, cut off from a possibility of return, by hyperborean frosts and snovsrs. Against this resolution, Wooster vehemently remonsfrated; but found support only from his secretary and chaplain: the latter of whom was most indefatigable in his exertions. His lay and clerical exhortations, were eventuaUy successfiil, and the men consented to embark on the 23d October. In a few days, the General and his men reached the camp; and pro bably his influence produced some change in the disposition of the batteries, for the army, on the 28th, took up a new position, on the northwest side ofthe work.* Here a battery was erected, on an eminence commanding the Fort, within two hundred and fifty yards. Three twelve, one nine-pounder, with three mortars and three cohorns, were mounted; and while it was in process of erection, the enemy kept up a con stant fire of round and grape shot; by which several were kiUed or wounded.! Captain Lamb, M'ho commanded in this battery, returned the enemy's shot, by a persevering and well * American Archives. \ Holt's paper. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 115 directed fire, which was kept up, without intermission, day and night, and did great execution.* Governor Carleton had learnt the extremity to which the garrison of St. Johns was reduced, and resolved on a vigo rous effort to relieve it. He embarked with a large force from Montreal, and detailed Colonel Maclean,! with three hundred and fifty men, to cooperate with him by a different route. This officer, who had recently joined General Carle ton, had been arrested on his way to the Canadas, and inter rogated by the Provincial Congress of New York, in regard to the object of his journey; and he gave assurances of his pacific intentions, which so far satisfied that body, that they suffered him to proceed; but notwithstanding these declara tions, he at the time, bore the King's commission to raise a body of Highlanders for the service of the Crown, a part of ¦which composed the detachment. The two divisions, after effecting a junction, were to push forward ; and at a given signal, the garrison were to attempt a sortie. By this at tack, he hoped to raise the siege and force the Americans to retreat; or at least, to enable Major Preston to cut his way through the invaders, and form a junbtion with him to de fend Montreal; but attempting to land at Longueile, he was met by Colonel Warner, at the head of his Vermonters, and a part of the second New York regiment (Van Schaick's), and effectually repulsed.f News of this defeat had reached Montgomery;^ and aware of the condition of the garrison and of their expectations of relief from this movement, in order to save the effusion of blood, he determined to send a flag, with one of the prisoners taken at Longueil, to Major Preston, the commander of the fort, and invite him to sur- render.|| With this view, late in the evening ofthe 2d No vember, he sent an officer to Captain Lamb,§ with instruc tions to cease fire until farther orders. Major Preston, who had made a very brave defence, doubted, or pretended to * American Archives. Marshall. Holt's paper, t Idem. } Idem. § Idem. II Idem. 116 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. doubt, the prisoner's report, aUeging that he was subject to fits of insanity: he offered to surrender if not relieved in four days. To these conditions the General would not accede; but sent the officer back with his ultimatum, which, if not complied with, should be announced rejected, by a shot from the fort Preston, despairing of relief, now agreed to ca pitulate. The terms were adjusted, and next morning, Capt Lamb, with his company and a detachment of two hundred men from the other corps of the army, was ordered to receive the surrender of the fort, and to take possession.* The garri son, consisting of five hundred men of the regular army, and one hundred Canadians, many of them of the noblesse ofthe Province, were made prisoners of war. During the siege, the fort expended six hundred shells, beside round and grape shot.! The protraction of the seige of St. Johns was fatal to the success of the campaign. Had the means at the disposal of Schuyler, been more efficient, or had those under the com mand of Montgomery been governed by the discretion of the General, the fortress might have been earlier taken, and a junction formed with Arnold, in time to have taken advan tage of the panic of the garrison of Quebec. That city, although better fortified, was not, until after the taking of St. Johns, so well garrisoned as the captured fortress; and would, in all probability, have opened its gates to the com bined American forces. It is true, the Green Mountain boys, after engaging to follow, had, in consequence of some griev ance, fancied or real, deserted Montgomery's standai-d; but with what remained of the army after their defection, the force was sufficiently formidable to ¦warrant success. The causes for this delay, are to be found principally in the de murs and dissatisfaction of the troops; and there are many reasons to believe that the General had increased these dis contents, and his own difficulties, by his impetuosity, and a spirit too exacting. * Vide Appendix B, f Marshall. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 117 During the seige. Captain Gershom Mott, of the first, or McDougall's regiment, had command of the fatigue party who were erecting the mortar battery; and upon a sudden alarm in the night, had abandoned his post and retreated. The account of a lieutenant of the party being at variance with that of Capt. Mott, the General was induced to believe that the battery had been unnecessarily abandoned; and he ordered the arrest of Mott, whom he threatened to treat with great rigor. Mott was known to the officers of the New York ttoops, as one of the most daring agitators of the times preceding the Revolution; and none knew him better than Captain Lamb, with "whom he had acted for ten years upon the most important comrnittees — from the time of the burn ing of Lieut.-Gov. Colden in effigy, in 1765, to the opening of the campaign. Neither he nor his fellow officers could believe, that one who had always displayed so much moral firmness, and who had frequently encountered personal dan ger with intrepidity, could be stained with cowardice; and they petitioned the General to restore him to his command. This interference was not well received by the General, and it formed one of his complaints to Schuyler; but it appears that he must have yielded to the request, as Mott marched with his company to Montreal, and behaved well at the storm of Quebec* Another instance occurred,! in which the opinions of the New York officers came in conflict with that of the General. In the articles of capitulation of St. Johns, the baggage of the officers and that of the men was secured to them. But in addition to the clothing already served out previous to the surrender, a new suit for each soldier was claimed from the captured stores; and this was ordered by the General to be given them.J The best clothed of our troops, were scan tily provided, and many were nearly naked: these thought the order of the General more generous to the prisoners than just to his own soldiers, and murmured at it The officers * Holt's paper. tAmericanArchives. f Wem. 118 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. joined in that belief, and remonsfrated against what they thought an overstraining of the articles, to the prejudice of their men. The General took fire at this interposition, and insisted that the rules of the British service allowed an extra suit, for holiday purposes.* The officers demurred to this decision. They could not perceive the propriety of con demning their men to severe privations; while the prisoners, who were to be marched into a warmer climate, should be permitted to carry away a superabundance of clothing. The march on Montreal commenced the day after the su> render of St. Johns, by the way of La Prairie. The forces of Gov. Carleton held the mouth of the SoreU, and Col. Eas- ton, with Livingston's corps, and Brown's detatchments, was sent to dislodge them. This enterprise was successfiU, and Col. Maclean, who, with a body of Highlanders, raised in the province, and some Canadians loyal to the Cro^wn, held the post, were defeated and driven off, before the British flo tilla on the St. Lawrence,, could make its escape. WhUe thus hemmed in, Carleton heard of Arnold's arrival before Quebec; and committing the defence of Montreal to Gen. Prescott, disguised as a Canadian voyageur, he embarked on board a canoe, himself assisting at the paddles, and success fully passed the American batteries at the mouth of the So reU. The fire of these was so well directed, as to compel the British vessels above them to surrender; in effecting this, Lieut. Lockwood, of the Connecticut forces, performed effi cient service. Not long after the surrender of the fleet, Montgomery ap peared before Montreal, and despairing of a successful re sistance. Gen. Prescott capitulated. It is not surprising, that in the controversy respecting the issue of the clothing taken at St. Johns, that the officers of the New York troops, should have taken that view of the question which they believed their duty prompted; and it is * American Archives. t American Archives. t Marshall. J American Archives. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 119 highly probable, that Gen. Montgomery was right, in ascrib ing to Capt. Lamb, which he did, in a letter, of Nov. 13th, to Gen. Schuyler, the day of the surrender of Montreal, much of the vehemence with which he was urged on that occasion.* For Lamb was peculiarly tenacious of his own rights, and even more sensitive to any attempt to infringe those of his men, and therefore likely to resist any curtailment of their comforts. Another offence of a still more serious nature, provoked the high spirited Commander. He ha'd consented that many of the prisoners taken at Montreal, among whom were some of ficers of rank, should remain on parole within the city, while the army marched on Quebec;! ^^^ ^s the (Officers generally were ofthe opinion that such indulgence was dangerous, they, on the 23d November remonstrated against it.J This so in censed Montgomery, that he threw up the command.^ But when a committee was appointed to explain the motive, they alleged it to have been done, to' afford the Commander an ex cuse for refusing further indulgence, and for retracting that already granted, if he should afterwards concur with them in their opinion. This excuse was sufficient to mollify the re sentment ofthe General, and he resumed the command. On this occasion, in a letter to Gen. Schuyler, of the 24th, he charges Captain Lamb with being the agitatbr; and ad mitting his " bravery," " activity," and " intelligence," ac cuses him of being of " bad temper, turbulent and trouble- some."|| If, by being of a bad temper, he meant, and proba bly he did mean nothing more, than that he was sudden and irascible; none who ever knew Capt. Lamb, will deny the charge. But his temper, if hasty, was noble and generous; not tinctured with moroseness, or malevolence; ever ready to repair a -wrong, and placable to any concession, whenever any such was inflicted upon him. He saw men and things, * American Archives. Dunlap's History. tIdem. } American Archives. § Idem. ]| Idem. 120 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. through a different medium from that which formed the Ge neral's perspective; and to what extent he and his coadju tors were justifiable, the facts must determine. It is too evi dent that Montgomery had imbibed prejudices common to the officers bred in the English army, and that his aristocratic propensities caused him to undervalue the officers under him.* That their coarse habiliments, and imperfect equipments, (many of those of the infantry, from the city of New York, having been obliged to ask advances from the Provincial Congress, to complete their outfit), seem to have generated contempt in his mind, is evident from his letter to Schuyler, in which he says, " I wish some method could be fallen upon of engaging gentlemen to serve."! This remark, in connec tion with another, lauding the gentility ofthe officers taken at Chamblee,J indicates that he considered those in service under him as beyond the prescribed pale; and the natural consequences of such an opinion, would be to increase the difficulties under which he labored. If, as we are free to admit, there was a deviation from subordination to military rule on these occasions, there are many things which may be pleaded in palliation. This was Lamb's first campaign. At home, he had been for some time, possessed of almost tribunitial authority; and he found it difficult, thus soon, to yield implicit obedience to the mUi tary consul. There can be no doubt, that these passages were reviewed in after life, with little satisfaction; especially, as the ac complished General, whom none more ardently admired than Captain Lamb, had met so gallantly a soldier's doom. For when he himself had risen in the service, he was peculiarly sensitive to any encroachments of his superiors, and equally tenacious of his own authority with regard to his subordi- nates.§ * American Archives. t Idem. } Idem. § To the officers under his command, he was always kind and courte ous, unless prompted to a different course, by any breaches of civility on LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 121 At Montreal, Captain Lamb was informed that the Gene ral Congress had not taken satisfactory order, with regard to the pay and emolument of his company, promised by the Provincial Congress. As most of his men had been enlisted under assurances of being put upon the footing of the artil lery of other armies, this neglect placed him in an unplea sant position, with respect to the men thus enlisted; and he could not endure the thought of retaining the command of dissatisfied soldiers, who might think him a party to their. disappoinment. He, therefore, signified to General Montgo mery his determination to retire from the public service. From this resolution, the General most earnestly dissuaded him;* and immediately wrote to General Schuyler, urging him to use his influence to remove the causes of his dissatis faction. " If (says he) we are to have artillery, Captain Lamb is absolutely necessary to the army."! -A-S this letter their part; and to the younger officers he was particularly affectionate and considerate. But he would bear no approach to an improper fami liarity. The wound that he had received at Quebec, disfigured the left eye and cheek, and he wore a green patch over it, to conceal the de formity. The following anecdote is told by General Burbec, the son of an old artillery commander; and himself an officer in the same corps, during the war of the Revolution : " In 1780, he was ordered to West Point, under the command of Col. Lamb, and afterwards removed to the Park, posted in the vicinity. While there, he contracted a violent inflammation in his eyes, and requested to be ordered to the garrison, to put himself under cure. He reported himself at the quarters of the colonel, who. received him with great cor diality, and dismissed him, that he might pay his respects to the ladies at the post. These thinking that the 'joke' would be ' laughable,' per suaded him to place a patch over the left side of his face ; and they fabri cated one, exactly resembling the colonel's. Thus accoutred, he made his appearance at the quarters of the Commander. He was received with a reserved bow, and accosted with some sternness ; Sir, I perceive you are in a fair way to be cured of your malady, and the sooner you join your company at the Park, the better." There was no appeal, and the fur lough was shortened. ?American Archives, Holt's paper. Dunlap's History, t Idem. 16 122 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. was written after the altercation respecting the clothing ta ken at St. Johns, it is evidence of the placability of the Ge neral, and of the predominance in his mind of the public good, over his own private griefs. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 123 CHAPTER VIII. March on Quebec. — Junction with Arnold. — Quebec invested. — Breast works of Ice, — Fire on the Town ineffectual. — Montgomery's Visit to the Trenches. — Aaron Burr. — Preparations for storming Delayed. — Re solved on. — Montgomery killed. — McPherson — Cheeseman. — Camp bell orders a Retreat. — Lamb with Arnold's Detachment, leads the Van of the Stormers. — First Battery. — Gun abandoned. — Battery carried by the Bayonet. — Arnold wounded. — Morgan. — Lamb wound ed. — Second Barrier carried. — News of the Repulse of Montgomery. — Sortie of the Garrison. — Retreat of the Advance cut off. — Occupy a House. — Cannon brought against it. — Surrender of the Detatchment. Scottish Commissary. — The Hospital. The supplies obtained at Sorel and at Montreal, afforded comfortable clothing for the troops; but difficulties beset the gallant General on every side. The Roman Catholic priests had exerted their great influence with the Canadian noblesse, to induce them not to join his army, or to declare against the British; and he was forced to be content with professions of neutrality, of doubtful continuance, should the fate of war be adverse to the expedition.* Soon, that curse of the army, short enlistments, began to thin their ranks, by the abandon ment of those companies whose engagements had expired;! but he did his best to conquer those difficulties, and to hasten his departure from Monreal. Capt. WiUett had been placed in charge of the garrison at St. Johns; and leaving Wooster in command of the posts behind him, Montgomery embarked his troops on board the flotilla captured from the enemy, and made aU haste to join Arnold at Point au Tremble. From thence, both detachments taking up their march, they arrived and encamped together on the Plains of Abraham, on the 5th December. Here in the dead of winter, the ground frozen to a great depth, and covered with snow; scantily provided with in- * Marshall. f Idem. 124 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. trenching tools; with only a field train of artillery, and a few mortars; the General made the best dispositions for attack which the occasion presented.* Gabions, ranged abreast, and filled up with snow, with water poured upon it until it was thoroughly frozen, formed the Only intrenchments;! and by incessant labor and perseverance, they succeeded in throwing up a breast work opposite to the gate of St. Louis, four hundred yards distant from the walls, for the artillery, while Montgomery, with the major part of the army, sat down opposite to the citadel of Cape Diamond; some mor tars had also been placed in the suburbs of St. Roques. From the ice battery, upon which was mounted five guns and a howitzer, Capt. Lamb commenced a well sustained but ineffectual fire upon the walls. This was returned by the heavy artillery of the fortress, with ample usury: the brittle barriers were shivered at every discharge; some of the ' guns were dismounted, and rendered useless, ¦while scarcely any impression was made upon the ramparts of the enemy. The commander of the artiUery was exceedingly annoyed by one particular gun from the town, the position of which he marked by its ranging with the tower of a church, which at each discharge, scattered his fragile defenses in every di rection. On one occasion, a shot from this piece struck the muzzle of one of his own guns, and splintered a piece of metal from it; and scarcely had it been repointed and dis charged, when the next shot from the town dismounted this identical gun.J For five successive days and nights, the garrison were kept on the alert, by the shot and shells of this battery; and although very slight damage w£is done to the wall by the balls, the town was fired by the shells in many places. Gen. Montgomeiy, in the hope that the citi zens were disaffected, now summoned the garrison to sur render; but the flag was fired upon, and ordered back. In * Marshall. t American Archives. Holt's paper. X Holt's paper. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 125 order to create dissatisfaction among the population, the In dians in the invading camp, were instructed to fire letters, attached to their arrows, to the citizens, announcing Carle- ton's refusal to treat, and advising them to compel him to do so, by popular clamor;* but nothing was gained by the manoeuvre. Little had been expected from these batteries, by those who had them in command, and knew the ineffi ciency and lightness of the guns; which excluded all hope of being able to breach the walls:! still, however, they answered the destructive discharges of the garrison, with great spirit. It was near the dose of the day, the fire during which had been unusually destructive, that Gen. Montgomery paid a visit to the trenches; and at the instant that one ofthe mur derous missiles of the enemy had dismounted one of the guns, and disabled many of the men, he arrived in the bat- tery.J A second shot, almost as destructive, immediately followed. " This is warm work, sir !" addressing Captain Lamb. " It is, indeed." was the reply, " and certainly no place for you, sir." " Why so, Captain?" said the General. " Because," he answered, " there are enough of us here to be killed, without the loss of you, which would be irrepara- ble."§ After some time the General became satisfied of the insufficiency of the batteries, and on retiring he gave Capt. Lamb permission to withdraw his men, whenever he thought proper: immediately, jf he chose to do it. He decided to remain until after dark; when, securing all their guns, they abandoned the ruined redoubt. On this occasion, the Gene ral was accompanied by Aaron Burr,|| whom he had appoint ed his aid. This was the first time that Lamb had ever seen him; and as his appearance wasjuvenile in the extreme, he wondered that the General should encumber his family, with the addition of one, who seemed a mere boy. But upon a more thorough- scrutiny of his countenance, the fire of his eye, and his perfect coolness and immobility, under t Holt. X Family tradition. i Idem. II Idein. 126 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. such dangerous fire, convinced him that the young volunteer was no ordinary man; , and not out of place in the most im portant position. The only hope now, was by escalade, and this the Gene ral resolved to attempt; but the design was for a long time delayed by the dissensions which hadgro^wn up in his camp.* A feud of long standing, had existed between Arnold and Major Brown, who had done good service at St. Johns and Chamblee. Arnold, who had been commissioned by Massa chusetts to enlist men for the capture of Ticonderoga;! hear ing that a movement for the same purpose, was about to be made by Ethan Allen and others; anticipated the march of his own levies, and reached the forces destined for the at tempt, at Castleton, in Vermont.J With these troops was Major Brown. Arnold exhibited his commission, and claimed the command, which was refused by Alien and his asso ciated officers. The resentment roused by this occurrence was never appeased; but was exhibited on both sides, on many occasions throughout the Canadian campaign. Be fore the junction with Montgomery, some difficulty had arisen between the commander of the other corps, and one of his captains; with whom, two others, afterwards, sided. Brown took this occasion to gall his former antagonist, by fomenting the dispute,^ and encouraging them to hope to be detached from Arnold's corps, to a separate command under him. When a council was caUed, and the plan of attack by storm proposed, Montgomery found, to his great mortification and surprise, that these three captains made their detachment from Arnold, a condition of assent to the service.|| To this act of injustice, the General would not consent, and it was with great difficulty, that the malcon tents could be made to forego their unreasonable demand, and join in the attack. * American Archives, Holt's paper. tIdem. X American Archives. { Idem. || Idem, LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 127 This insurrectionary movement quelled, the General formed his plan of the assault. One-third part of the effective men of the army, taking advantage of a favorable wind, were to fire some houses which would have communicated the con flagration to the stockades recently erected at St. Roques,* and in the confusion, they were to force the barriers of the lower town, while the main body attempted the bastion at Cape Diamond, by escalade.! The ladders were provided, and a favorable moment awaited with anxiety, but frorn some movement of the garrison, it was suspected, that the plan had been made known to the Governor,! by deserters, who had left the camp, after the arrangement had been deter mined on, and the design was abandoned. Still resolved upon a coup de main, the General directed Col. Livingston to make a false attack, with shew of firing the gate of St. John, and another detachment under Capt. Brown, to make a feint upon the bastion at Cape Diamond.^ While Arnold's corps, strengthened by Capt. Lamb, with forty men of his company, should assault the suburbs and batteries by St. Roques,|| Mont gomery himself, at the head pf the residue of the forces, was to pass below the bastion of Cape Diamond, and defiling along the river, carry the defences at Drummond's Wharf. The morning of 31st December arrived, and with it a hea^vy fall of snow, which in some measure, gave facility to the operations, and aU parties proceeded to execute the several duties assigned to them.H Something occurred to prevent Livingston's attack on the gate of St. John, thereby failing to create a diversion favorable to Arnold's detachment. But the feint on Cape Diamond was made, which concealed the march of the General, who, notwithstanding great difficul ties, occasioned by the broken and narrow path they had to pursue; he, at the head of his forlorn hope, surprised the bat tery, and as soon as the piquets could be sufficiently removed, * American Aichives. f Idem. t Marshall, American Archives, Holt's paper. . } Idem. || Idem. If American Archives, Holt's paper. 128 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. -with his aids, and Capt. Cheeseman, of the first New York regiment, followed by some of his men, he entered the breach sword in hand.* The surprise was perfect; the gunners broke from their guns, leaving their linstocks behind them.! The General, and his gallant associates, -v^ere pressing on, elated with success, when a drunken sailor,! staggering up to the gun, gave fire with most fatal effect. The gaUant Montgomery, with McPherson, one of his aids, and the brave Capt Cheeseman, of the Yorkers, were struck down. The two first were instantly killed, but Cheeseman, who had received a canister shot through the body, made. an effort to rise, and push onward; but the wound was mortal, and he fell back a corpse. This gallant officer, had a remarkable presentiment, that he should fall in the attack, and mentioned it freely to his comrades. He dressed himself that morning with unusual neatness, and putting a considerable sum of gold in his pocket, cheerfully remarked, that it might ensure him a decent burial. With him, fell a sergeant, and several men of his company.^ The death of Montgomery, was fatal to the enterprise. The officer next to the General in lineal rank, was at some dis tance from the front of the detachment, and Col. Campbell, the Quartermaster-General to the army of the north, took the responsibility of assuming the command, for which he was totally unqualified; for instead of inspfriting the men, and pressing on the victory half won, he was entirely discon certed by the sudden loss of the commander, and ordered a retreat, leaving || behind him fifteen dead bodies ofthe detach ment, among whom was that of Montgomery himself * Marshall, American Archives, Holt's paper. f Idem. X Family tradition. j Holt. II It was unfortunate that this individual had acquired so much influ ence over the mind of the General, as to have been employed on this oc casion, and still more so, that no officer was present, entitled to dispute the command with Col. Campbell. Parts of the New York regiments were engaged in this storm; bufthe first had mai-ched under the Lieut. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 129 Meanwhile, the diversion in favor of the other detachment, the attack upon the gate of St. John, had failed;* but at the signal given, they marched with great secrecy and des patch. It was necessary to make a considerable detour to the south, in order to gain the east side of the town; and to march through the suburb St. Roque, under the walls, to the south, or river side of the city. Arnold, like Montgomery, had resolved to lead the forlorn hope in person. Accompa nied by Oswald, one of his former captains at Ticonderoga, now his secretary! and twenty-five men, and followed by Captain Lambf and his company, with a field piece, mount ed on a sled, they pressed on to the attack.- The main body marched in the rear ofthe artillery; a company with ladders and scaling implements preceding Morgan with his riflemen. The path to the battery was so narrow, that the guns which defended it commanded every inch of the passage; while the right flank of the whole corps was exposed to a fire from the walls of the town§ and the pickets of the barrier. The fall of snow, which had continued without intermission, was so heavy, and the drifts so deep, as to render it impossible to move the field piece further; and Captain Lamb sent notice -to the commander, while his company was brought to a halt.|| He informed the officer of the next corps in his rear of his inability to move, and offered to open his column, so as to permit the advance; but the prudent captain declined to avail himself of this opportunity to lead the van, alleging Colonel, and even he had been left behind at Montreal, and Col. James Clinton, of the third regiment, brother of George Clinton, afterwards Go vernor of New York, did not arrive in camp until a fortnight after the re pulse. Had not that officer been on other duty, the command would have devolved on him, and from his well known resolution, we have assurance that he would not have retreated, while a possibility of success remained. * Marshall. t American Archives. t The histories of this seige, all deceived by Lamb being with Arnold's detachment at the storm, affirm that he marched with him through the ¦wilderness; and Marshall, in his last revised edition, has not corrected the error of his first publication in that respect. } Idem II Family tradition. 17 130 UFE OF JOHN LAMB. that he was specially ordered to keep in rear of the artillery, and the march of the whole detachment was impeded.* Morgan, who foUowed next, pressed forward to ascertain the delay; and ordered the too scrupulous officer onward, with a very emphatic anathema. The artiUery opened to the right and left, and afforded a passage. In this manner, they passed through to the front, and Morgan was first after Ar nold, under the piquets of the battery, and engaged with the enemy.! Arnold was now wounded and forced to retire; and Lamb, receiving orders to abandon the gun, led on his company, armed with muskets, to assist the advance. J The joining of Lamb with a band of resolute fellows with bayonets, was to Morgan a joyful circumstance. The rifle is not an efficient weapon in an esceJade, particularly in the obscurity of a night, increased by the faUing snow; and although Botta, in extolling the skill of the American sharp shooters, makes them kiU many of the British gunners through the embra- zures, he forgets that the darkness was such, that the posi tion of those embrazures could only be known by the fire of the artillery; and that the transient flashes which issued from the guns, could not afford time for deliberate aim. The battery was well defended; and close under the mu^les of the guns the assailants received a discharge of grape shot; miraculously escaping with the loss of one man only. The remains of the forlorn hope, under Oswald,] | now joined Lamb's company; and the whole force mounting the para pet, they carried the place with the bayonet, taking the cap tain of the guard and the garrison prisonei-s.lf An hour now elapsed since the first ffre was opened from the walls and the battery; and it beginning to grow lighter, the invaders who were pressing on to the second barrier, were exposed to a galling fire from the walls of the city, which constantly thinned their ranks; but as each brave fel- * Family tradition. t Idem. t Idem. § Marshall. II Family tradition. T Holt's paper. ''y//M\"^'l]%^'*4^ XttlK of R.B. Pease. ^-Z/fia/rv. ¦^ . . . , f^ <; w u R w H b ^ s= ^^ ¦!: t^ f S'^ V^ ^ ^ • ¥ - ^ t^:^« V \ ^ » 'i;' >- ^ i 1 ^«3 ,5i ^N •III 4. 1 ¦ ?na.ke Ike deiour. ^fOi^e.Aliany LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 177 in the pocket of his coat; the point of the weapon was ar rested by the book; and the General escaped with a wound in his thigh, not so deep as to disable him.* George Clin ton was unhurt, but came near captivity or death. He had reached the river side, as a boat with part of the garrison, was on their way across to the opposite shore, when he hailed the fugitives. An officer, familiar with the sound, recog nized the Governor's voice, and ordered the boat back. It was loaded to the gunwale, and Clinton, unwiUing to endan ger the safety ofthe others, refused to enter; determining to attempt the passage by swimming. To obviate this necessity, the patriotic officer offered to surrender his place, and run the risk of captivity himself, rather than to hazard the safety of the Governor; but to this the latter would not consent. An experiment was made, and it was found that the boat might possibly carry them all, without swamping. The passage, though attended with much danger, was happily made, and the whole party landed safely on the opposite shore.! Col. Lamb, soon after the close investment of the fort, was ordered by Gov. Clinton, to the water batteries; J where a hea^vy attack had begun, sustained by a part of the enemy's flotilla; which had, notwithstanding the fire ofthe American galleys, approached within striking distance. While busily engaged in the defence, a drummer boy,§ finding bis vocation of little use, accosted Col. Lambj and fregged that he might have a musket.|| This, on account of his extreme youth, and presumed inexperience, was at first refused; and the little * Traditional history. t Mr, Headly, in his life of James Clinton, has this incident erroneously stated. He makes that General, the person, who by entreaty, and almost by compulsion, saved the life of the Governor, his younger brother. He forgets that both fortresses were carried about the same time, and that at the moment the lines were forced, the brothers were more than half a mile apart. X Traditional history. 5 Now or lately Gen. Godwin, of Patterson, New Jersey. II Family tradition, 23 178 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. fellow cried with vexation, and disappointment at the refusal. This so wrought on Col. Lamb, that he ordered him to be sup plied with arms ; and side by side, with the Rev. Mr. Gano, the Chaplain, he waited the advance of the storming party. A part of the platoon was for firing too soon, but the new re cruit insisted upon waiting until the white of the eye was visible, that the shot might have sure effect; and he sustained his part very bravely throughout the remainder of the action.* The defenders pf the fort, from the paucity ofthe garrison, were much scattered, and part of the parapet on the other side had been scaled and was in the possession of the enemy. The reverend, and valiant chaplain, having ascertained this, and that the defences on Lamb's side, would soon be assailed in the rear, advised him ofthe fact; and as a wounded officer from the other side arrived, announcing the hopelessness of farther resistance; orders were given to cut their way through the enemy. This was done; and rushiug down the outside of the parapet, a part of the garrison. Lamb, sword in hand at their head, escaped;! himself without personal injury, hut with the loss of his private and military papers. In this affair, the heaviest loss in officers and men, feU upon the assailants of Fort Montgomery,! Colonels Camp bell and Grant,§ with other officers, were kiUed, and the command of the detachment which assailed that fort had de volved on Col. Robinson, at the time of the capture. The defence of these posts was obstinate and well con tested. The loss of the British was severe. An aid-de-camp of Sir Henry Clinton, two colonels, besides other officers, were killed, and the valor evinced by the garrison, officers and men, was loudly applauded. The reputation of both the Clintons, for courage, was deservedly high, and the bra very exhibited on this occasion, added much to their military * Family tradition. f Idem. f Idem. § Sir H. Clinton's ofiicial account, in Almon's Remembrancer, 5th vol., 424, SfC. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 179 fame; and the histories ofthe time, gave great commenda tion to the defenders of these forts.* There was a volunteer, a Scotchman, by the name of Stuart, engaged in this battle; and it appears that he did not hold the reSeZs in the same horror, as his countryman at Quebec; for he joined the American ranks, and resisted the assailants with much intrepidity. He had often heard the *And yet Mr. Hamilton, regardless ofthe well-earned fame of others, has ventured to decry it. In page 146, of the life of his father, speaking of Forts Clinton and Montgomery, he says : ' ' The former, a circular height, defended by a line for musketry, with a barbet battery in the centre of three guns, and flanked with two redoubts ; the latter, ' strong ly fortified by nature, almost inaccessible in itself, and sufficiently manned,' were both, 'after a feeble and unskilful defence, carried by storm.' Gov. Clinton, who commanded, a man of courage, and on most occasions, active and vigorous, having escaped." The above remarks , describing Fort Clinton, are extracted from the official report of the storm by Sir Henry Clinton, ¦without any marks of quotation, and those which relate to Fort Montgomery, are marked as extracts. I have not been able to discover from whence they were taken, but every book relating to the subject, to which I have had access', so far from expressing such sentiments, gives opinions directly the reverse. But from whatever source derived, they are notoriously untrue ; and in their application to the Clintons, to Lamb, Livingston, Dubois, Bruyn, and to the other officers, and to the rank and file of the garrisons, they are ungenerous and unjust. Instead of being formidable by nature, and sufficiently manned. Fort Montgomery was incomplete, and easily attained. There were not half men enough in both garrisons to have defended Fort Clinton alone, which was by far the most impregnable position. And as for the ability and . vigor of the defence, Steadman, a British officer, who served in the war, under Sir Henry Clinton, and other Generals, in his history of the times, after rating the garrison at four hundred men, admitting that "the point assailed at Fort Montgomery, was not very strong, either from situ ation or works," extols the valor, and " invincible resolution" of the as sailants "im no instance exceeded during the American war," a.ni de clares that the Americans defended themselves courageously," Even Gates, who was reluctant to admit the merit of any one, not of his fac tion, (and the defenders of the Highland Forts, were the fast friends of Washington,) declares that " the noble defence of Fort Montgomery, will, to the latest posterity, adorn the name of Clinton." Was it well done in the grandson of Schuyler, a patriot of the purest 180 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. officers boast the goodness and justice ofthe cause they were engaged in. I know little about the quarrel, was the reply, and care less; it is enough for me, that you are rebels to the House of Hanover, to keep me on your side. My grand • father was a rebel, and out in the Fifteen; and my father was engaged in Forty-five, and at CuUoden. I was born a character, whose memory has more than that of any other, suffered by false history, and the calumnies of the time, thus to deny recorded tacts, and to controvert established history, in order to derogate from the fame those who stood " second to none," not even to that illustrious ancestor, whom he justly reveres, for patriotism in council, and prowess in the field? That the forts might have been successfully defended, and the force sent against them, cut to pieces, had General Putnam known how to use the means at his disposal, is very probable; but he was completely de ceived, in taking the feint, for the real attack; permitting the British General to carry an overwhelming force against the only object of his ex pedition, and by inain force, literally to crowd out the garrison, by dint of numbers. That works, a quarter manned, should be able to resist so formidable a force the whole day, does not speak "a feeble and unskilful defence ;" and that the chief commanders, and a large part of the garrison, should be able to cut through the press that surrounded them, is some evidence of intrepidity in their defenders. That Washington so considered it, we have the authority of Chief Justice Marshall, who says: " The works were defended with resolution, and were maintained until dark ; when the lines being too extensive to be completely manned, the assaUauts entered them in different places. The defence being no longer possible, some of the garrison were made prisoners, while their better knowledge of the country, enabled others to escape." The Court of Enquiry, ordered by Congress, to investigate the causes of the loss, entirely acquits the commanders of the forts, of all blame, and ascribes it to the weakness of the garrisons alone, as will appear by the following extract from the Journals of Congress ; Aug. 17, 1778. Report of Court of Enquiry, respecting the loss of Forts Montgomery, and Clinton: " That upon a careful examination of the facts stated to the Court of Enquiry, and consideration of the evidence taken, and transmitted ; it appears that those posts were lost, not fi:om any fault, misconduct, or negligence of the commanding officers ; but solely through the want of an adequate force under their command, to maintain and defend them.'' To this report Congress agreed. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 181 rebel, and bred a rebel, and a rebel to that family, I will be to the day of my death.* In scrambling down the parapet, in the retreat, he missed his footing and fell, his sword escaping his grasp; as he had gained his knees, and was groping for the lost weapon, a British soldier was close upon him, with intent to dispatch him with the bayonet; the uneveimess of the ground caused him too to stumble ; and before he could recover; the Scotch man, drawing his dirk, pinned him to the ground; and leap ing over the dead body, joined his companions. The loss of his hereditary claymore, grieved him sadly; and after the war was ended he waited on Col. Lamb, requesting him to use his influence with Congress, to have his sword recovered, or another given him in its stead.! * Family tradition. f Idem. 182 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER Xni. Putnam out maneuvered, — Oswald begs to reinforce the Forts, — Retreat to New Windsor. — Heth's Battle of Germantown. — Fort Constitution, — Geo, Clinton meditates recovery of the Forts, — Putnam an attack on New York. — Oswald's Letter. — Col, Malcom's. — Burgoyne's Surren der. — Sir H. Clinton moves up the River. — ArtQlery on both sides at tempt to annoy him. — Esopus burnt. — Holt. — C. Colles, — Gen. Knox's Letter. — Red Bank. — Gates sends Reinforcements to main Army. — Putnam detains them. — Ordered by Hamilton to join Head Quarters at White Marsh. — Gen Knox's Letter. — Fort Mifflin. — Fortifications.— Philadelphia. Before Gen. Putnam left the camp on his project of recon noitering the enemy, Lieut.-Col. Oswald, who had pene frated the real intention of the expedition, begged to be or dered with a reinforcement to the relief of the forts;* and it was not until Sir Henry Clinton had crossed, with the great body of the troops, to the other side, and the posts there absolutely invested, that the general began to discover that his post was not the object of attack. He then ordered a reinforcement to the fort, but it was too late to aid in the defence; and was of no benefit, unless it helped the garrison to make good their retreat. In the vexation of the moment, Oswald ¦wrote the following letter: 6th October, 1777. Heaven preserve you all, my dear Colonel ! I feel for you, and lament that I can't assist you. I have made application to Gen. Putnam, that a reinforcement of artiUerymen and myself, might be sent off to your support, but to my mortifi cation, he absolutely refuses. By the next express let him know if more artillery are needed, and that I might be or dered to join you. A large reinforcement is on their march to your assistance.! Yours, affectionately. Col. Lamb. E. Oswald.! * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. } Sent after Putnam's return. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 183 After the heroic, though unsuccessful defence of the forts. Governor Clinton, with James Clinton, Colonel Lamb, and other officers and men who cut their way through the enemy, assembled at New Windsor, and for several days meditated the recapture of the forts from the British. At this place. Colonel Lamb received a letter from his fel low prisoner at Quebec, Heth.* The information contained in it, brought little consolation to the mind of one, who felt so keenly the disasters of the country; and as some of his companies were with McDougall's brigade, he deplored the loss of the battle of Germantown, almost as severely as his own defeat. Camp Parcomans, Oct. 12, 1777. Dear Colonel: The inclosed just came to hand by some Gent, in the Frederick militia. I seize the present hour to write you, tho' am uncertain when it will meet with a conveyance. Before this reaches you, the news of our late action at Germantown, no doubt will have come to hand. It was a grand enterprise; an inimitable plan, which nothing but its Godlike author could equal. Had the execution of it been equal to its formation, it must have been attended with the most happy success. The following are the outlines of the orders, and the assault, which had nearly completed the ruin of the whole British army. In fact we had gained a victory, had we known it. On Friday evening, the 3d inst., the whole army marched from their encampment, (about 11 miles from the enemy,) disposed of in such a manner, as to march by several routes, so as to arrive at the enemy's picquets, by 2 o'clock — then wait until the hour of 4, and then to advance with charged bayonet, upon their front, flank and rear; but from short marches and frequent halts, it was near 6, before the first volley of small arms was heard; when General Greene and Stephens' divisions who were to oppose the enemys right, were then, (from some mismanagement,) only forming at more than a mile distant. However, our troops who made * This officer kept a journal ofthe events of the war, and Marshall has made, as he acknowledges, great use of it in his history. 184 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. the attack were successful; they drove the enemy from field to field, and through part of Germantown. In the mean time, our wing, by another piece of bad conduct, attempted to march in line of battle, 'til that order was found impracti cable; which from the number of post and rail fences, thick ets, and in short every thing that could obstruct our march, threw us frequently into the greatest disorder; and as the heavy fire before us, urged us on to a dog trot, we were nearly exhausted before we came to the first field of action; when unfortunately a sfrong stone house, in which the enemy had taken post, drew the attention of ten times the number, that would have been sufficient to keep them snug; and from which we received considerable damage. And after we had brought some artiUery to play upon opposite parts of the house; each party took the other for the enemy. About this time, an opinion prevailed among some general officers, that the house was occupied by our own men, when part of our troops were ordered off. The hea^v^^ smoke, added to a thick fog, was of great injury to us. It undoubtedly encreased the fears of some, to fancy themselves flanked and surrounded; which like an electrical shock, seized some thousands, who fled in confusion, without the appearance of an enemy. What makes this inglorious flight more grating to us, is, that we know the enemy had orders to retreat, and ren dezvous at Chester; and that upwards of two thousand Hessians had actually crossed the Schuylkill for that purpose; that the tories were in the utmost distress, and moving out of the city; that our friends confined in the new gaol, made it ring with shouts of joy; that we passed, in pursuing them, upwards of twenty pieces of cannon, their tents standing, fUled with their choicest baggage; in fine, every thing was as we could wish, when the above flight took place. Tho' we gave away a complete victory, we have learned this valuable truth, that we are able to beat them by vigorous exertion, and that we are far superior in point of swiftness. We are in high spirits; every action gives our troops fresh vigor, and a greater opinion of their own strength; another bout or two, must make their situation very disagreeable. They have made several attempts to bring up their ship ping, which has been attended with some loss on their side. Fort Mifflin is strong, and great dependence is put in the of ficer who commands, and the troops under him. We have lost many valuable spirits; but none that I now recollect, of your LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 185 particular acquaintance. The enemy have also lost in the same way. I am, Dr Sir, Yours sincerely, • Will Heth.* Col. Lamb. The enemy, after the capture of Forts Montgomery, and Clinton, sent a flag to Fort Constitution, with summons to surrender. Capt. Mott, who commanded there, with a hand ful of artificers, fired on the flag, and refused to treat. He had resolved on evacuating the place, which he did on the same night, and drew off his men.! The enemy now pushed up a force of two thousand men, and landing below the fort, they marched into its unoccupied walls, without any opposi tion.! Some of the histories seem to consider the evacuation of Fort Constitution, as unadvised, and precipitate. Probably deceived by the hardihood of the garrison, in firing upon the flag, they imagined that the place was well garrisoned, and de fensible. This is a mistake; it was a mere laboratory, as the following letters from the Commander will manifest: Fort Constitution, 31 Aug., 1777. Dear Colonel: I am obliged to go to Fort Montgomery to-morrow morn ing, when I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you. Lieut. Ashton is just arrived, and as he is unwell, I have laid my commands upon him, not to leave this post without my con sent; you'll be kind enough to excuse this, and I wUl pro duce him to you in the morning. Our men are continually on guard, that is three relieves. I should be happy in the command of this post, if the Gene ral would see it proper to send fifty men more, without which reinforcement, our smiths must stand still in four days. If this reinforcement should be sent, we could burn the coal ne cessary; furnish the fatigue parties, and keep the necessary guards; though I humbly conceive seventy -two ought to be * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. } Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. 24 186 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. the reinforcement, as many of our men stand in need of dis cipline. I am affectionately yours, G. Mott.* To Col. Lamb. Fort Constitution, 3d Oct., 1777. " We have only two barrels of flour in this garrison, and not a boat to fetch any, or transport coal across the river; our only boat is with our oars, detained at Fort Montgomery. I beg you would be pleased to speak to the General, to have that boat and oars sent to this garrison, otherwise, our arti ficers must be idle, as well as our grinders, having no bread." I am Sir, your very humble serv't, Geeshom Mott.! Col. Lamb. While Gov. Clinton was endeavoring to coUect his scat tered forceis on the west side of the Hudson, ani gathering strength to make an effort to regain the Highland Forts, Put nam was pursuing a line of conduct, tending, if not intended, to embarrass the design. The troops under his command, were ordered to be in readiness to march. It seems that he seriously indulged the visionary intention of attacking New York, while Sir Henry Clinton was on the river above him; and had ordered a force to Peekskill, preparatory to a march for that object. No cooperation from him therefore, could be expected to favor the recovery of the posts. The follow ing letters from Col. Oswald, will throw some light upon the General's movements, and intentions: Fishkill, 13 Oct., 1777. " G. Parsons is at Peekskill. This morning, old Put came and ordered me to send off Capt. Lockwood, with his two pieces to join him, and I am told we are all to go down to the Whiteplains. " This morning, G. Parsons sent intelligence, that Chn- ton had been reinforced from New York, and is determined to push up the river."J *Lamb papers, N. Y, His. Soc. fldem. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 187 Fishkill, 15th October, 1777. Dear Colonel: The whole army are paraded, and wait orders for march ing to PeekskiU, or perhaps farther dOwn, just as the maggot may bite; however, I am ordered to send for a number of shells, &c., prepared for the two inch mortars, and to have them in readiness when called for. " I hope to have the pleasure of spending the remainder of the campaign with you. If we move on towards New York, I suppose that part of the army with you, will join us." Colonel Lamb.* While these movements, so conflicting with the design of recapturing the forts, were in agitation, great efforts were made to forward preparations. Col. Malcom had been sent by Gov. Clinton, to Albany, for that purpose; but it was soon ascertained that the British had evacuated and destroyed them.! The battle of Saratoga had been fought; Burgoyne had reached Albany, a prisoner, and the whole country knew the particulars of the capitulation, a fortnight before the of ficial account reached Congress.f The Convention of Sara toga, found few favorers among those who were not of the Gates faction; and Col. Lamb was loudest in condemnation of that precipitate^ and inexpedient measure ;§ nor were the miserable reasons afterwards assigned by Gates, and his fol lowers, though satisfactory to Congress, sufficient to change his opinion. These sentiments, unequivocally avowed, did not bring him into much favOr with Putnam, nor did they fa~ cilitate the future operations of his department.|| The enemy had proceeded up the river, on the marauding expedition, under Gen. Vaughan, and had burnt Kingston. They were followed by our artillery, on both sides of the river;' the guns on the west side, were too light to do them serious injury. They had, indeed, one twenty-four pounder, soon made fit for service, but had no sliot. Gov. Clinton therefore dispatched a messenger to Albany, for a supply for *Lamh papers, N. Y, His. Soc. f Idem, fldem. i Idem. tl Lamb papers, N Y. His. Soc, 188 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. that, and for the four pounders, which were also deficient in ball. Col. Oswald, on the other side, was better prepared, and with some heavy guns, did them considerable damage,* and every effort was made to annoy them, as they were as cending, and at their return. At Hurly, Lamb received the following letter from Col. Malcom: Albany, Oct. 18, 1777. Dear Sir: I hope you will soon be in a sufficient force to put you in possession of F. M. Write me by the return of this express, what is -wanted, and every thing that you can suggest If the fort falls, can not the fleet be shut in? I think so; if that is the case, they ought not to be annoyed in the river, nor alarmed in any way; nor any communication allowed with them. 30 odd ps of train, in B.'s camp, chiefly smaU; 4 12, two 24s, two 8 inch howitzers, and I think 4 or 5 royals. You will see my letter to the Governor. The sooner I have your letter, the better. Maj. Stevens, of artillery here, ap pears to be very clever, and hath every kind of stores, in abundance. Your estimate then. It's necessary for me to stay here. I'll tell you why, when I see you. Burgoyne is here. Yrs affec'y, W. Malcom.! Col. Lamb. Here Col. Lamb received intelligence of the misfortunes of two of his old friends. Holt, the patriot printer, who, on the evacuation of New York, had removed to New Haven, send ing a part of his materials to Danbury, which were much scattered, when the British destroyed that town; afterwards removed to Kingston, to which place, Christopher CoUes had also retired for safety; but both these unfortunate non-com batants were driven off by the enemy, and their property de stroyed by the conflagration of Kingston.J The officers on the west side of the river, were ordered to Putnam's head quarters, and by appointment, Col. Lamb met Gen. James Clinton, at New Windsor, from whence they pro- * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 189 ceeded together to Fishkill. At that place, the following let ter was received :* ' Head Quarters, 26 October, 1777. Dear Sir: I am just informed of an express going off to Gen. Putnam, and can not refrain from congratulating you on the success of our arms in the Delaware. About four o'clock in 1;he after noon of the 22d, Count Donop, with about twelve or fifteen hundred Hessians, attacked our redoubt at Red Bank, con structed as a security for our gallies, on the Jersey side; and after a very serious trial, of about three-quarters of an hour, -were obliged to retreat; leaving our brave garrison in pos session of the redoubt, and -victory. Count Donop, the Com mander, was wounded, and taken prisoner; as were near an hundred others. The enemy left about 1-00 dead on the field; their whole loss must have been 600. They retreated with the utmost precipitation, until they recrossed the Delaware to Philadelphia. The next miorning, 6 ships came up thro' the lower che- vaux de frize, and commenced a most furious fire at Fort Is land, and the galleys. These answered them with great spirit, and after this infernal racket had continued for six hours, the enemy's fleet were obliged to retreat. In doing which, a sixty-four gun ship, and a frigate, both run aground, and were burn'd. These events, glorious in themselves, will have the best consequences. , The garrisons at Red Bank, and Fort Mifflin, are in high spirits, as well as the men on lioard our fleet We have hopes of being able to prevent them from getting possession of the river; which if we effect, they must depart Philadelphia. Please to shew this to Gen. Par sons, and give my love to him. I am, dear sir, yours, affectionately, H. Knox.! The gallantry displayed in this affair, and the eclat which it gave to our arms, was peculiarly gratifying to Col. Lamb, inasmuch as his old friend, and fellow prisoner at Quebec, Col. Greene, commanded the redoubt. Gen. Washington derived but little aid from the army of the Highlands, and still less from the northern army. Gates, * Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. f Idem. 190 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. with ample stores, and a formidable force, would not im port them to strengthen the Commander-in-Chief, whom he vainly imagined he should soon supersede; and gave out that he meditated an expedition to Ticonderoga, as his ex cuse. Pressed by Washington, he was so tardy in his move ments, that Col. Hamilton was dispatched to hasten his de termination. He stopped on the way at New Windsor, the camp of Gov. Clinton, and crossed to Fishkill, to confer with Putnam.! On his arrival at Albany, he found Gates' reluctant to part with any of the forces. One reason assigned, was the fear of an attack from Sir Henry Clinton, and the desfruction of the arsenal at Albany.f He was so strenuously urged, how ever, that he at length consented to send Morgan's corps, and some very thin brigades, to the general camp. HamUton vehemently remonstrated at the inefficiency of this relief; and by the vigor of his arguments, and some persuasion, he suc ceeded in changing the design.§ On his way back, he again visited the camp at Fishkill, and foimd that Putnam, (stiU dreaming of the capture of New York), had detained a part of the forces dispatched by Gates; and even marched them to Tarryto-wn, and had himself advanced cis far as White Plains, on his favorite project.]] Col. Hamilton, now, by the advice of Gov. Clinton, as sumed the authority of issuing a peremptory order to Putnam, to put the continental troops in motion, for the camp at White Marsh.1T The complaints of Col. Hamilton, of the " blunders and ca prices of Putnam," were so severe, that it was rumored at head quarters, that he would be arrested on his arrival, for disobedience of orders; but however provoked on the occa- casion, the Commander-in-Chief did not visit the offence with such heavy retribution. f Hamilton's letters to Washington. f Idem. 5 Hamilton's letter. || Lamb papers. T Hamilton's letters. LIFE OF JOHN LAMR 191 The sailing of the fleet from New York with reinforce ments to the Delaware, relieved the mind of Gen. Gates of the fear of invasion at Albany; and he was instructed by Congress to take command in the Highlands, while Putnam, with twenty-five hundred men, including Morgan's corps, were to strengthen Washington and the main army. The Commander-in-Chief was now at the head of a very formida ble force, and wished to provoke the enemy to offer battle.* The following extract of a letter from Major Piatt, aid-de camp of Gen. McDougall, exhibits the feelings of the army on the subject : , He All Quarters, White Marsh, ) 13 miles from Philadelphia, 29th Nov., 1777. \ " We have now the most formidable army ever on foot on the American establishment; and I dare pledge my life there are not more than twelve thousand continental troops, and about twenty-five hundred or three thousand militia. It has been G en. Washington's misfortune, the most of this cam paign, to be inferior in numbers to the enemy; which has been the reason of his not risking what he otherwise would have wished. Thank God, we are now superior to the ene my in the field. And they, conscious of our superiority, have fortified from Delaware to Schuylkill. They have thrown up very strong lines across, and besides these, ten or twelve very sfrong redoubts, ditched, friezed, picketed and abbatied; every one of which cross fire, and flank their lines. All these redoubts are within the space of one and a half or two miles; the distance from river to river being not greater. Judge, then, whether an attack will take place from our army this winter. My sentiments are the reverse. I, am, D'r. Col., With esteeih. Your humble serv., RrcH. Platt. P. S. My respects to the worthy officers with you. For your comfort I can tell you that old Daddy Putnam is ordered on to the main army, and a trial is inevitable. God speed it.! General Knox also corroborated the opinion of Major Platt, in regard to the enemy's works ; and it is a pity that * Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. f Idem. 192 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. the sfrength of the lines was too great, to have permitted an attempt to force him to action. That gentleman writes as follows : Camp White March, 2d December, 1777. Dear Sir : It is some time since I had the pleasure to hear from you (I think the " 4th November," by Capt. Wool) , and which I believe I have never answered, owing to the hurry of business, and want of opportunity. Captain Wool was to have called upon me, but if he did call, I was absent I shall wish to see you this winter, in order to know whether there are any regulations necessary to be adopted in the corps of artillery, which I may have omitted in my memorandums. The enemy have at last got possession of the navigation of the river, altho' they have not yet been able to raise the chevaux de frize : but have found out a new channel be tween the islands : made by the middle of the river, being stopped by the chevaux de frize. The defence of Fort Mifflin was as gallant as is to be found in history. Capt.-Lieutenant Treat, one of the most promising and best of young officers, was killed. He had the command of the artillery on the island. Captain Lee has acquired great reputation in the defence of the fort The last day of the siege, his company suffered much. His first lieutenant, two sergeants, and three privates kiUed. Nine wounded, some of them mortally. The ffre the last day of the siege, exceeded by far, any thing ever seen in America. The enemy had five batteries on Province island of 18s, 24s and 32 pounders at 500 yards distance : Besides these, they brought up by the new channel, the large float ing battery which was cut down in New York, mounting 22 twenty-four pounders within forty yards of an angle of the battery on Mud Island. Four sixty-four gun ships with in about nine hundred yards, and two forty gun ships. The incessant fire of these, joined with the fire of our floating batteries and gondolas, formed a scene truly picturesque, of the horrors and grandeur of war. The fire began at ten in the morning, and lasted till late in the night. The brave little garrison, then commanded by Major Thayer, of the Rhode Island troops, had but (wo cannon but what was dismounted. These soon shared the fate of the others : Every body who appeared on the platform were killed or LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 193 wounded by the musketry from the tops of the ships ; whose yards almost hung over the battery. Long before night, there was not a single palisade left. All the embrazures ruined, and the whole parapet levelled. All the block houses had been battered down some days before. Things being in this situation, the brave garrison finding no kind of shelter, were ordered to evacuate the place : which they did, with out any loss, about two o'clock in the morning, having first burnt the barracks, and brought off the stores. " The enemy have fortified themselves with fourteen strong redoubts, friezed and palisaded with strong abbattis, run ning from one redoubt to the other. We exceedingly wish them to come out and give us battle; but I believe, that tho' this is an event they threaten, and we wish, it will not hap pen. So I suppose the time is not far off, when we shall en deavor to get some kind of winter quarters. The men being badly clothed, and in a great manner destitute of blankets, render a winter's campaign impossible. Please to write me the intended operations on the east side of the river. I am, my Dear Sir, Yr. most Hble Servt. H. Knox.* Col. Lamb. The gallantry displayed at Mud Island, particularly by the Artillery, which was from his regiment, was very grati fying to Col. Lamb. But the loss of the officer who com manded it, a very excellent subaltern of his own regiment, was sincerely regretted. * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 25 194 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XIV. Gates' Apology for Capitulation, — Lamb at Albany. — Letter of Doughty — Lee's Dragoons. — Artillery ordered to the River. — Orders counter manded by Putnam. — Major Meigs's Letter. — Court of Enqoiry res pecting Loss of Highland Forts. — Artillery again ordered to the River — Lamb to command — to march to Valley Forge, — Oswald's Letter, — Philadelphia evacuated. — Order to march countermanded. — Gates commands in Highlands, — Vexatious Interference. — General Order, — Supercedes the Commander of Artillery. — Remonstrance of Lamb. — Letter to the President of Congress, — Commander in Chief. — ^Colonel Malcom. — Battle of Monmouth. — Letter of Knox. — Design on New York. — Artillery to ¦Rfhite Plains, — Letter to Gov. Trumbull. — Dis pute of Rank with Col, Harrison. — Settled in favor of Lamb. Gen. Gates in his apology for the convention with Bur goyne, had made the loss of the forts in the Highlands, a very prominent consideration to that measure; and Congress' seemed to consider the recovery of these, as of the last im portance. The Commander in Chief, was therefore informed of the light in which they viewed the repossession of those passes, and Gen. Gates, was clothed with plenary powers to make such dispositions for the defences of the Hudson river, as he thought proper.* Col. Lamb was in command ofthe artillery on the river, and in order to forward the prepara tions of his department, he went to Albany,! to hasten the equipments. While there. Gen. Knox passed through Fish kill on his way to Boston, and made a new arrangement of the regiment, by which some companies doing duty with it, were assigned to Proctor's battalion. Four companies of his command were now at headquarters, and Lieut -Col. Os wald was directed to take the command of them thercf These, in the mean time, in the absence of superior officers, * Journals Congress, f Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc, fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 195 were in charge of Capt. Doughty, who had been promoted to the company formerly Hamilton's, and which had been annexed by Gen. Knox to Lamb's regiment. In making his return to his superior officer, Capt. D. mentions an affair not noticed in many of the histories of the time, which, with his reflections thereon, deserve to be extracted.* " We have no news at present, and have remained in peace and quietness, except a small alarm we had a few days ago; which I dare say you have heard of before this; but lest you should not, as it is a credit to our arms, I will trespass upon your patience in informing you of it On the 19th instant, the whole of the enemy's horse, supposed to be near two hundred, after a circuitous march on the preced ing night, attempted to surprise, at day-break, a party of our ¦horse, under command of Captain Lee, which forms our most advanced post; but unhappily for these bravadoes, this truly good officer observing their intentions; his retreat be ing dangerous, betook himself, with the small party then with him, consisting of a sub. sergt. corpl. and six men, to a large store house; and there, by his superior address and bravery, withstood the repeated attacks of so superior a num ber; and after supporting the conflict for some time, made these gentry relinquish their plan, and retreat with disgrace and confusion; leaving six dead on the field. Capt. Lee's loss was but trifling, none but his lieutenant being wounded. I assure you, nothing can reflect more honor on the cha racter of a soldier, than Capt. Lee's behavior on this occa sion; and when added to his former services, entitle him to the esteem of every soldier; whilst at the same time, it teaches us young soldiers, that it is not numbers that ensure us suc cess; and that a few good, determined fellows, will execute, what a thousand dastardly wretches, would tremble at at tempting. ¦ My best wishes for your health, and happiness always at- * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 196 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. tend you. I beg you will make my best respects to Col. Oswald, and believe me with The greatest respect, Your mo. ob. serv., Jno. Doughty. Park of ArtiUery, 27th Jan'y, 1778. Col. John Lamb. In compliance with orders from head quarters. Col. Lamb dispatched one of his companies to -bring to the river certain artillery, near the Connecticut line, which might have been of service in his defences; but he was thwarted in his de sign by the pertinacity of Gen. Putnam. Col. Meigs, in whose charge the pieces were left, in refusing to permit them to be removed, sent the following excuse : Harrison's Purchase, Jan'y 28, 1777 [1778]. Dear Colonel : I have just received your favor by Capt. Wool, who is ar rived with a detachment to remove the artillery. I am sorry to inform you that I have received an order from Gen. Put nam, not to permit the removal of any of the artiUery or men without his express order. It seems that the General had intimation of your sending for the artillery. You will excuse me, sir, for detaining them, as I have the General's orders therefor. For my part, I wish they were removed, and have thought of removing them to Stanwich, six miles from Horseneck, where forage may be had for the horses. I have not the least use for the artillery, except the grass hoppers, and am, sir, with esteem. Your most obed. servant, Return Jona. Meigs. Col. Command't* Col. Lamb. Congress having passed a resolve to entrust the fortifica tion and defences of the North River to Governor George Clinton, directed the cannon ordered from Ticonderoga, to be put at the requisition of that officer: and Col. Lamb being called to his family upon some pressing emergency, left the camp at Fishkill for Southington. While there, he received a letter from Brigadier-General Huntington, inviting him to ""¦iamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 197 attend a Court of Enquiry at West Point, to investigate the causes of the loss of the Highland Forts. The reasons for his absence continuing, he did not attend the court, and missed the opportunity of seeing Gen. Knox on his return from Boston; who being under pressing orders to return to head quarters, left instructions relative to the department, and announced that Gen. McDougall was to supersede Putnam in the com mand of the Highlands!. That General had hardly assumed his station, when Congress directed Gen. Gates| to Fishkill, with orders to hurry on the fortification of the passes, agree ably to their former resolves. While his brief command lasted. Gen. McDougall dispatched the following letter, which soon brought Col. Lamb to the camp : Head Quarters, April 4th, 1778. Sir: I received your favor of the 25th ultimo, respecting the Court of Enquiry. I wish you had attended it, especially as General Huntington advised you of it being to be held. The state of your Corps, and the public service, requires your attendance and Col. Oswald's, ¦without delay; for I have reason to fear a visit from the enemy very soon. Time will only permit me to add that I am Your humble servant, Alex'r McDougall.^ Col. Lamb. Soon after his arrival at Fishkill, he received a letter frora Gen. Knox, by Gen. Greene, the Quarter Master General, directing him to make arrangements for the transportation of all the artillery and stores at Farmington, some of the heaviest guns on the river, and the tvFO twenty-four pounders at Albany taken from Burgoyne, to head quarters; and in this letter was an answer to his pressing request to be ordered into field service in the following words : " As it is your de sire you are to take commancf of all the artillery mentioned, and march them to head quarters by such route as Gen. * Lamb papers, N.Y. His. Soc. f Idem. f Journals Congress. ^ Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc 198 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. Greene shaU point out to you. Major Stephens (Stevens) will command the artillery on the River."* The utmost dispatch was made to comply with this requi sition; and if anything could add celerity to his motions; it was a letter received from Oswald, already with the compa nies at head quarters, of the following import : Artillery Park, Camp Valley Forge, { 15th May, 1778. " Our army is now very formidable, but not such as ena bles Gen. Washington to attack the enemy in Phila. which mcinceuvre I believe is in contemplation, and will be carried into execution, as soon as we are in a situation to do it Reinforcements have lately arrived — a few more wiU give us superiority of our enemy."! Notwithstanding every effort of Col. Lamb to hasten his departure for camp, unavoidable delays profracted his desfre; and while he was sanguine in the hope of being able to share in the intended battle, he received the foUowing letter which effectually put an end to his expectations. Artillery Park, Valley Forge, 2 June, 1778. Dear Sir : The enemy have been for some time past, preparing to evacuate Philadelphia, and we are in hourly expectation of that event taking place. Under this appearance Of things, the march of the artillery which you were directed to bring here would be entirely useless. His ExceUency, General Washington, has ordered me to have it halted at some distance from the North river. I think Litchfield would be a proper place for that purpose : But if you have not yet moved it from Farmington, I leave it to you, to halt, either at Litchfield, or Farmington, until further orders. The enemy intend taking their route through the lower part of the Jersies to South Atnboy and Staten Island. Our army will march in different divisions to the North river. His Excellency is somewhat apprehensive that the enemy * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 199 may have a design to get possession of the passes of the river ; and thinks our force there inadequate to prevent ef fecting it with their whole force. Therefore he wishes the artillery to be at a distance. The artillery from Albany is also to be halted on the east side of the river. I am dear sir your Most Humble servant, H. Knox.* Col. Lamb. General Gates had now taken the command in the High lands ; and if any vexations, or inconvenience had been suffered while Putnam was in power, they were not likely to be decreased during the rule of a commander, more suc cessful in his intrigues with Congress even, than in the field, where he had gathered a harvest he had not sown, in the northern campaign. He had shown little disposition to ac commodate Colonel Lamb or the public service ; refusing his request that part of one of his companies at Fort Schuy ler, might be relieved by a detachhaent from* the corps under Major Stevens at Albany.! The reason assigned for refu sal, was avowedly for the purpose of gratifying Major S. in not separating his men by detaching part of them on that service. This gentleman had been appointed a lieutenant- colonel of infantry, 30th April, by brevet, and a subsequent order assigned him to the artillery, on the first vacancy which should occur : and soon after Gates had taken com mand at Fishkill, a general order was issued by him, ap- pqinting Major Stevens, as by order of Congress and with the approbation of the Commander-in-Chief, to the command of the Artillery in the Northern and Middle Department.J This appointment of a junior officer, over a superior who had been once designated as commander of artillery over the northern department ; and who had exercised the functions of that branch of service with acknowledged ability in the Middle : particularly iti favor of one who had been origin ally considered as belonging to his regiment, could not fail * f Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. f Gate's general order. 200 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. to be extremely unpalatable to Colonel Lamb ; and he was therefore not backward in expressing his indignation. He wrote to the President of Congress in the following terms. Farmington, 4 July, 1778. Honored Sir: Enclosed you have an exfract from Gen. Gates's orders, bearing date the 4th June, by which it appears, that I am superseded in the command of the artillery in the middle de-- partment, by an inferior officer. As I have too high an opinion of the justice of Congress, to suppose that they have designedly cast such unmerited re flection upon me; or would give their sanction to so flagrant an act of injustice; I have (tho' reluctantly) ventured to frou- ble you on this disagreeable subject, and to request that you wUl be pleased to honor me, with a line, and enclose me a copy of the resolve, respecting Col. Stevens's appointment I am, Most Respectfully, Your Honor's Most ob't servant, John Lamb.* Hon'ble John Hancock. He also wrote to the Commander-in-Chief, and to Gen. Knox, remonstrating against the injustice, and was fiiUy re solved to resist the palpable flagrancy of so unmiUtary a pro ceeding.! His disgust at these proceedings, were not less ened on the arrival of Capt. Mott at Farmington, with his company, ordered from Fishkill, to relieve a company sta tioned there, that they might march to camp, in order to in crease the command of Lieut. -Col. Stevens at that place.J The following letter to Col. Malcom, Adjutant-General of Gates army, was written on the spur of the last aggression; and is characteristic of a man, jealous of his rights, and re solved to maintain them: * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 201 Farmington, 4 July, 1778. Dear Sir: Your letter ofthe 25th ult., (per Capt. Mott), came duly to hand; the contents of which, I must confess, astonished me to the last degree. What in the Devil's name, could in duce Gen. Gates to order Capt. Mott's company upwards of ninety miles, (to relieve Capt. Buckland's), in extreme hot weather, to the prejudice of their health, and manifest in jury to the publick service? Is it because we have too great a number of troops in the American army, and therefore ab solutely necessary to take some of them off by murdering them with sickness? No ! I do not suppose this to be the reason, but that the General was inclined, partially, to favor Stevens, by collecting his corps together; and thus insult me, by malfreating the officers and soldiers who are under my command. If he has any particular pique or spleen against me, it would redound much more to his honor, to have manifested it to me personally, than to wreak his resentment against the officers and men. I am no stranger, (I assure you) to Gen. Gates's partiality in favor of Col. Stevens, as it but too evi dently appeared, on my application to him, respecting his or dering part of Stevens's corps, to relieve that part of. Walker's company, (of my reg't) which are now at Fort Schuyler; this he declined doing, altho' the public service demanded it, (as they were one hundred miles nearer that post), and put me off in the most trifling manner, by saying that Stevens v?ould choose to have his corps together; as if less attention ought to be paid to the application of a superior officer, than to that of an inferior. I am just now furnished with an extract from general or ders ofthe 4th June, that strikes immediately at me; and by which, I conceive myself insulted in the grossest, and most barefaced manner, viz: " that Lieut.-Col. Ebenezer Stevens, by the direction of Congress, aiid the approbation of His Ex cellency, Gen. Washington, is appointed to the command of the artillery of the northern, and middle department." This is the height of absurdity; for it would be ridiculous to sup pose that Congress, and Gen. Washington, would give their sanction to a measure so inconsistent with all military rule, and order, as to direct an inferior officer to command a su perior; I have written to Congress, and His Excellency, re specting this matter, and have transmitted them a copy of 26 202 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. the order. I shall wait their answer before I take any steps in consequence of it. Good Heavens ! if this be the base, and cruel treatment we are to meet with, for sacrificing our property, destroying our health, risquing our lives, and bleeding in the defence of our country; it is high time for every man of spirit, to quit a service, where superior officers may insult with impunity, and where mal-treatment is to be the only reward we are to re ceive,, for bravely doing our duty as officers, and soldiers. I flatter myself, however, that it will not be many days before I shall again act in the line of a private citizen; when I shall dare to call to a Severe account, those who have injured or in sulted me, let their characters, or rank in life, be what they will. I have not to add, being. Dear Sir, Yours, &c, Col. Malcom. John Lamb.* The battle anticipated, in public expectation, on the re treat of the British from Philadelphia, had been fought, and Washington was pressing onward for the North River. The hopes which Col. Lamb indulged of sharing in- this battie, were disappointed; but next to a successful participation in an action so honorable to the American name; he was gra tified by the applause gained by his brother in arms, Oswald, who with Banmans, Doughty, Mansfield, and Bliss's compa nies of the regiment, performed signed service;! ^^^ acquired new claims to the confidence of their superiors; as will ap pear by the following extract of a letter from Gen. Knox, written some days after the battle: " 19th July, 1778. I this morning received your favor of the 4th instant; I am very sorry for the circumstances which very justly have given you such disgust; but I hope Upon joining the army, they will be all removed to your entire satisfaction. I shall deliver your letter to his ExceUency, and that to Col. Oswald : who is one of the best officers of the army, and an acquisition to the corps of artillery. I thank you for your congratulations on the affair of the 28th. Our corps, as usual, did themselves the justice to behave like men, con tending in the great cause of liberty and tiieir country."! * Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc. fldem, f Idem, LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 203 Another testimony to the merits of Col. Oswald is to be found in a letter of Gen. Lee, of 3(1 July, 1778, to the Trenton Gazette. " The behavior of the whole, both men and offi cers, was so equally good, that it would be unjust to make discriminations; though I confess it is difficult to refrain from paying compliments to the artillery, from Gen. Knox, and Col. Oswald, down to the very drivers." The same letter contained pressing injunctions to hasten on the artillery to White Plains. . Col. Lamb lost no time in accomplishing his orders. In obedience to which he wrote to Governor'- Trumbull of Connecticut in thfe following terms :* Farmington, 22d July, 1778. Sfr : ^ It being his Excellency Gen. Washington's orders, that great part ofthe artillery at this place be immediately moved to White Plains, and a guard of militia procured for its secu rity on the way. I have thought proper to send the bearer, Lieut. Strachan, to your excellency, to request your ordering one hundred of the militia, (including officers,) for that pur pose. As it is highly probable that Gen. Washington has some thing serious and important in contemplation, and means to act in conjunction with the French squadron which is now off Sandy Hook; and being apprehensive that his intended operations may be retarded for want of the artillery; I must entreat your excellency, to give the necessary orders for the above mentioned number of militia, to march immediately to this place. I shall be happy to be honored with a line from you, and am, with the greatet respect. Your Excellency's Most Obd't. Humb. Serv't John Lamb.! His Excellency, Governor Trumbull. Col. Lamb had not reached the Park at camp, before he was apprised that more vexations waited him, growing out of that fruitful source of contention " relative rank."J Capt. * Lamb papers. fldem. fldem, 204 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. Mott, with two of his companies, had preceded him by a single day; and was apprised that seniority was claimed by Col. Harrison, of Virginia. This point had been mooted at Valley Forge, and the difficulty was then obviated by regi mental musters.* At White Plains, Col. Harrison assumed the same pretensions, and Capt. Mott, who was cis jealous ofthe honor of the regiment as his superior; and was unwilling to establish any precedent against it, neglected to muster his coinpanies at the general parade; receiving from the com. manding officer of artillery in the camp, an admonition on the occasion. On the arrival of Col. Lamb, he addressed a letter to the Commander-in-Chief, on the 12th August, re. questing that a board of officers might be appointed, to set. tie the disputed precedence, which could not be immediately accorded, but which afterwards met, and the matter was satisfactorily adjusted in his favor.! * Lamb papers. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 205 CHAPTER XV. Consequences of the Battle of Monmouth. — Gates Faction, — Meditated Attack on New York. — Confidence of Success. — Letter of Malcom. — Of Secretary of Congress. — Of Gen. Level. — Gates's General Order un authorized. — Oswald resigns. — Camp at White Plains breaks up. — Distress of the Men. — Mott's Letter. — :Lamb left in command of thfe ArtDlery on the River. — Design on Canada. — Relinquished. — Army concentrated in the Highlands, — Letter of Du Simitiere. — " The Sta tue." — Lieut.-Col. Stevens appointed to Lamb's Regiment. — Supine ness of Congress. — Of the People. — Letter of Gov. Clinton. — Of Sears. —1778, 1779. The Gates faction were at first exfremely elated at the re sult of the affair of Monmouth, and the consequent arrest of Lee; hoping that the combined influence of both the factious generals, would be sufficient to enable them to triumph oyer Washington. But the " monster party" had received its death blow in Congress; and the tide of public opinion, re ceived a. new and proper impulse, from the bold measures of the commander-in-chief. The star of the northern hero, as his friends were fond of calling him, was no longer lord of the ascendant; and with its wane, began to decline his malig- uant influence in the army. When the army took post at White Plains, it was ex pected that an attack would have been made upon New York, with the cooperation of the French fleet, which had recently arrived at the Hook. But Count D'Estaing, apprehending difficulty in crossing the bar with some of his ships, which were of unusual size, relinquished the design of cooperation, and the attempt on the city was postponed.* So confident were the hopes of the capture of the mefro- polis, that it was considered as actually in our possession; * Marshall. 206 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. ; and plans were in agitation to prevent the restoration ofthe lukewarm and loyalist factions, to the supremacy which had exercised such dangerous influence, in 1774, and 1775. The following letter from Col. Malcom, will exhibit the apprehensions which were felt on the occasion; and the com binations which were relied on, to counterpoise the mis chievous influences anticipated. July 25, 1778. Dear Sir ; In all human probability, the enemy will soon leave York. That will open a scene, which will require perhaps equal exertions with any that whigs have yet been caUed to. A thousand stratagems are already formed, to prosfrate all the fruits of our toils and dangers. Aristocracy will rear its head, ere our great ones are one week peaceably settled in the metropolis; and Tories, Paracides, of every rank, will he pardoned, countenanced, and protected, to sfrengtlien the hands of that party. It's time to look out You Imow there (are) but few, that will take the labouring oar, tho' many that will follow, and shove along. I wish you and Col. Hughes were here. Col. Troup* waits with me to hear from you. I hope you can come; but if anything absolutely pre vents, do pray write at large. Converse with H. H. (Col. Hughes); propose, and give us by him, a plan to begin on. Make a catalogue of such men as occur to you, that we may form an early association. I will not even suggest to your wise head, because I look to you. In haste, Y'rs affectionately, W. Malcom. Colonel Lamb. Another letter from the same gentleman, who had acted for a short time as adjutant-general of Gates's army, will serve to show, the negligence which prevailed in the middle department *Fort Arnold, Aug. 2, 1778. Dr Sir : A few days before I left the camp, I rec'd a packet from • Gen. Gates's aid. * This was the name given to the first fortification at West Point. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 207 you, not a line in it for my perusal. The enclosures were forwarded; and a few days brought m^ your letter of the 4th ult, which by mistake went to Gen. Knox— no great matter — and I dare say, has had the honor of a reading at head quarters. The Commander-in-Chief being now on the ground, will procure you, I dare say, deliverance from all the grievances complained of in your letter. I lament very much the occa sion of them, for a variety of reasons.. On the arrival of the General, I was sent to this command; which I found in just as bad order, as even your imagination can conceive. Will you believe, that there ¦was not one pound of meat in the garrison of any kind; and but tviro hundred barrels of flour — altho' General Glover told me every thing was complete. K the enemy do come, I shgdl fight them in the field, which is my only chance. The works are not worth a farthing; but I flatter myself they will never more pass Dobb's Ferry. I have now some spare time, which I will devote to cor respond with my friends. I hope to hear from you when op portunity offers. I hoped the army would have attempted York when united; but I think there are other objects — perhaps for the best. Great men another year. My best respects to Mrs. Lamb and family, and believe me, y'rs affectionately, W. Malcom.* Colonel Lamb. Agreeably to the request made to the Commander-in- Chief of the 13th, a board of officers were ordered to assem ble to settle the matter in dispute between the two officers of artillery:! and a letter having been written to Gen. Arnold at Philadelphia,! requesting him to procure from the records of Congress some information in relation to it, the following letter from the secretary of that body, was received in reply: Sfr: I return enclosed the letter from Mr. Lamb, with the reso lution respecting Col. Harrison's regiment of artillery. It does not appear that the regiment was raised with a view to r *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. f Idem 208 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. any particular service. When Gen. Lee was going to the southward to command there, a comp'y of artillery, at his request, was ordered to be raised in Virginia: afterwards an other was added. When the regiment was determined on, these two companies were to compose a part of the regiment I wish the information I give, may settle the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned; and particularly of Col. Lfmh, of whom I entertain a high opinion. I am, Sir, Your humble serv., Aug. 29, 1778. Chas. Thompson.* Gen. Arnold. No answer having been received from the President of Congress an regard to the general order of Gates, superceding Col. Lamb in the command of the artillery; some unpleasant feelings began to arise in his mind, in consequence of the supposed neglect, when a letter arrived from Mr. Lovel, a member of Congress, explaining the cause of the delay. August Sth, 1778. Sfr: Mr. Hancock having left Philadelphia, before the arrival of your letters, of July 6, which were delivered to me from the post office, the 4th inst. I have sent the resolve, passed on the 30th of AprU, rela tive to the officer concerning whom, you T^Tote to Mr. H. I apprehend this is what the general orders refer to. You will let me know whether it is in my way, to do you any other pleasure, than by inclosing your letter to Mr. H., hav ing already mentioned to him that I should do so. Your humble serv't, James Lovel.! Col. Lamb. The resolve above alluded to, was simply to appoint Maj. Stevens, of the artillery, a Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet of infantry; and the assumption ofthe general order, was wholly the fruit of the arrogance of Gates, and of his overweening partiality for Lieut.-Col. Stevens, combined with some ma levolence against Col. Lamb. The consequence of this pre- *Lamb papers, N, Y, His, Soc. tIdem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 209 dilection of Gates for particular officers, had the usual effect of souring the minds of those who happened to be on the shady side of the General's favor, and of exciting strong pre judices against the more fortunate individuals, who enjoyed the sunshine.* This was the case with Col. Lamb, whose feelings had been most outraged on the occasion; and it was not until after active operations in the field, with that excel lent officer, and a community of service and danger, which brought them into close contact, that the feelings then pro duced against Lieut.-Col. Stevens, were wholly removed.! That fruitful cause of dissatisfaction, and contention, the claim of relative rank!, threw some of the best officers out of the ranks of service; and Col. Lamb was deprived of his ex cellent coadjutor, Oswald, who was by some outrageous in justice compelled to resign.J Orders were given to prepare for marching, and the army was soon expected to be put in motion. That the situation of the men at White Plains, was something like that at Val ley Fofge, the preceding winter, will be evinced by the fol lowing extract of a letter from Capt. Mott; which at the same time that it exhibits the sufferings of the men, will also illustrate the sympathies of some of those who commanded them: 24 November, 1778.§ " Ten of my men are barefooted, and can not endure the march, unless supplied; therefore, as shoes are to be had at the Clothier-General's store, I think it would be best to draw them from thence immediately. I will be accountable for them, and charge them to the men; as I had rather pay all the money I am possessed of, and finaUy lose it, than com mand men on a severe march, when I am sensible they can not do the duty required of them." While the army was at White Plains, and Col. Lamb at head quarters, there were no conflicting claims of command, *Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc. f Idem. f Idem, § Idem. 27 210 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. arising out of the general order of Gates, of the 4th June; but upon the determination to go into winter quarters, the following order was issued by Gen. Knox, which effectually established the point in dispute, and put an end to the disa greeable feelings, which the unwarrantable measure of Gen. Gates, had occasioned: Fredericksburg, 25th Nov. 1778. Sir: The principal part ofthe army, under His Excellency, Gen. Washington, being ordered to cross the Hudson River, to take up winter quarters in the Jersies, among which are the park of artillery, and myself; you wiU remain on this side, as commanding officer of artillery. There wiU be two compa nies of your battalion, and one of Col. Cranes, stationed with the troops at Danbury; three companies of Col. Cranes's, with the troops under Gen. McDougaU, in, and about the Highlands; and one company of Lieut.-Col. Stevens, and one of Col. Proctor's, at Forts Arnold, and Constitution, on the river." You will please to be particular, in not granting, or re commending either officers or men, for fiirloughs, except on pressing emergencies. Some operations which may proba bly be undertaken in the course of the winter, render this hint necessary." Col. Lamb.* The hint above alluded to, in all probability, referred to a plan of the Commander-in-Chief, to make an attempt upon the passes by Lake Champlain, into Canada; and against the forts on the lakes, during the winter.! But this plan was absorbed in the gigantic scheme of a campaign, which had been concocted in Congress, without consulting the Com mander-in-Chief, or any other military officer, and which was based upon the visionary hope and expectation, that the Brit ish intended to evacuate the country, and abandon the contest When this project of the Congress, which assumed tiiat the war for defence was ended, and a new one for conquest, had become expedient, was disclosed to Washington; his saga- •Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Marshall. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 211 city immediately perceived the baseless fabric of the design, and he exerted all his influence to persuade its projectors to abandon it. This was done with extreme difficulty. The greater undertaking being relinquished, the lesser was not executed, and the movements of the enemy, rendered neces sary, a concentration of the army near the peisses of the High lands.* Among the friends and correspondents of Colonel Lamb, was a French gentleman, named Du Simitiere,! who had taken up the occupation of a miniature painter, and who was a great antiquary, virtuosi, and collector of curiosities ; and it is even said that his cabinet formed the basis of Peale's Museum, and his collections, that of the Historical So ciety of Philadelphia. This gentleman was the translator into French of the manifesto of Congress to the Canadians, at the invasion under Montgomery, and he happened to be in Philadelphia when the British took possession, where he re mained after the evacuation. As the correspondence of one friend with another, is illustrative of the characters of both ; and as one of the letters which passed between them had some relation to forgotten facts, it is inserted entire. My dear Sir : It is now two years, since I have been deprived of the pleasure of seeing you ; and the hope of meeting with you again soon, joined with an unaccountable aversion to letter writing, have been the only causes, of your not hearing di rectly from me : which-I must acknowledge, might appear at first, negligence, but it is far from being the case. I still, and shall ever, retain for you the same sincere attachment and re gard, contracted by a friendship of so many years standing : and I please myself, with the thought, that you still continue me a share of your affection. As often as opportunities have occurred, I have not failed of inquiring very particularly after you ; and was much concerned to hear you had been wounded at Danbury. If it is your fate to be wounded in every action your are engaged * Marshall. f Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 212 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. in you share that fate with very great men : Among the rest, the famous Mareschal De Rantzau ; who had an epi taph made for him, which for its brevity I insert here for your amusement. Du corps du grand Rantzau, tu n'as qu'une des pars ; L'autre moitie resta, dans les plaines de Mars : II dispersa, partout, ses membres et sa gloire ; Tout abbattu qu'il fut, il demeurra vainqueur : Son sang fut en cent lieux, le prix de sa victoire. Et Mars ne lui laissa rien d'entier, que le cosur. Translation. A remnant, here, of mighty Rantzau lies ! The rest lie bleaching on the battle plain . Where, in his num'rous toils and victories. He left his members, amid heaps of slain. Each triumph, cost his martial frame a part. And left entire, alone, the warrior's heart. This is very brilliant, but in my opinion, it is acquiring glory, at a very dear rate ; may you my dear friend, con tinue in the field of honor, at somewhat less expence ; for the sake of yourself, your family, and friends. I find the catastrophe of my imprisonment, and its disa greeable circumstances, had reached your ears. I would willingly give you a particular account of this unfortunate passage of my life, but it is attended with such concentra tion of particular events ; the recital of which, would be very long, and far exceed the bounds of a letter ; and'pei'- haps prove tedious reading after all ; that therefore, I shall content myself to inform you, that I was put in prison soon after the British took possession of this city ; some of my papers siezed by the Town Major ; my apartment locked up, and the key and papers, carried to the Commandant, Lord Cornwallis. My confinement lasted three weeks, and three days ; during which time I suffered a variety of hard ships, and much anxiety, especially asl could not well learn the cause of my imprisonment, only in general, for my hav ing transacted business for Congress : Being a dangerous person, unfriendly to government— of republican principles, &c., &c. : Nor did the letters I wrote to several, avail any thing. However, at last, by the intercession of an old friend of mine, to some persons in power, I was restored to my lib erty, without ever having been examined, interrogated, or even asked a single question. My key and my papers were returned to me, and my room was never searched, nor even LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 213 opened during the whole time of my being confined. But notwithstanding I was thus liberated, I was not for many months afterwards, without fear of another arrest. I had beside, a world of difficulties to struggle with. In the spring I met with some employment among the officers of the Brit ish army ; but that lasted but a little while, for as soon as Lord North's speech came over, their • thoughts were aU turned upon it : and soon after, the orders for the heavy baggage to be put on board was the first signal of their depart ure ; which they effected at last in the quietest manner irU- maginable. They did not go away, they vanished, to the great joy of every friend of America. It -would be in vain to attempt to give you an account of the devastation they committed in the environs of the city, indiscriminately, on whig and tory property : but am very certain, that you would not know them again. The perse cution that numbers of worthy citizens underwent, from the malice of the tories, the tyranny of the police on all those they supposed to be friends to the liberties of America ; all these, would fill up a volume. To describe to you the luxu rious way of living of the officers of that army, cooped up within their lines, for several months : Their gambling, plays, balls, gallantries, &c. &c. ; and to conclude, to de scribe the entertainment given by them to their General Howe, (which they called Meschianza) would hardly be worth while, and not in my power to do : Let it suffice, that they staid here near nine months without doing anything towards their pretended conquest of the country, and at last, went away to the place from whence they came ; but did not reach it so numerous, as when they left the city, having met with rubbers on their way thither ; and there I shall leave them. As to the transactions here, since the time that this city returned into the hands of its lawful possessors, I could in form you of nothing more than what you have long since seen in our papers. I shall now' return to my little affairs. As you have seen above, I was fortunate enough to save my collection, which has greatly increased, since you was here; and to which, by the assistance of a few acquaintances, I am adding now and then something to; and as I have a whole house to myself, and a very good apartment for it, it appears with much greater advantage, and is more c6inmodiously seen, than ever it was before. How happy would I be, to see you in my 214 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. hermitage ! From you, my dear friend, I have received many valuable additions to my cabinet; and it is very unlucky that as I am lately informed by Col. Oswald, the fragment pf the statue,* which he told me you sent me last summer twelve months, has never come to my hands; nor any letter from you, if you have wrote any, which is a great disappoint ment The above gentleman informs me, that he thinks most of the statue is preserved still in some part of the east ward.! If that is the case, it might perhaps be possible for you, to procure another piece at some future time. He told me that the piece you sent me, was some of the locks of hair. Now we ha(l a report here formerly, that the whole head had been found by the enemy at Fort Washington; and another account said, that it was found near Harlem; but it seems that all this- is not frue, since you had some ofthe hair, which undoubtedly grew upon some part of the head. I have been positively assured, that the sword has been seen in this city the winter before last; but I could never discover in whose possession it was. Since I am on this topic, I can not avoid reminding you of a promise you have been so obliging cis to make me, from time to time, of your collections of manuscript, in the time of the Stamp act, at New York. These wouM indeed be a very valuable acqui sition, and fill up a chasm in my repository; having none but printed papers of that period. May I beg the favor of you to fulfill your promise, by sending these papers to me by some gentleman of your army coming this way, which hap- * This undoubtedly alludes to one of the two statues erected on the re peal of the Stamp Act ; and probably to the leaden statue of the King, placed in the Bowling Green, which was pulled down on receiving the news of the Declaration of Independence in July, 1776, and cast into balls for the use of the Patriot Army. If so, it is difficult to conceive how a fragment of it could have been in the possession of Lamb, who was at the time of its prostration, a prisoner at Quebec; unless he had tried the temper of his sword on tbe saturnine effigy of royalty, previous to his march to the North : an exploit which, as an inflexible republican, h« was very likely to have performed. f " At the breaking out of the war, this statue was overthrown, and lead being highly valuable, was sent to Gen, Wolcott's, at Litchfield, for safe keeping, where, in process of time, it was cut up and run into bul lets by his daughters and their friends. An account of the number of cartridges made by each, is still preserved among the family papers. ' Gi46»' Administrations Washington and Adams, from the Wolcott papers LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 215 pens very frequently. I must conclude this article, by letting you know, that my collection is very deficient of New York papers in general; I mean newspapers, hand bills, and all kinds of other political publications; especially of last year and this; as I have nobody there that sends them to me, and gather only a few now and then here. While I lived with the worthy Mr. Ph. Livingston^ he always gave me the pa pers he received from thence. He died, much regretted at Yorktown, last spring, in the faithful discharge of his trust to his injured country; and I have much lamented his loss; he was a good patron of mine. If it falls in your way to collect any papers, new or old, send them to me, I beg of you. I shall now take my leave of you for the present, and hope that I shall soon receive some lines from you. It 'U be a great satisfaction to me, to hear that you are in good health; and my warmest wishes I tender to you, for its continuation. My insignificance is so great here, that I can hardly pre sume to offer my services, in what you might have occasion of, but this I can sincerely assure you, that it would be the greatest pleasure to me, to give you some proofs of the sin cere esteem, and unfeigned frienclship, with which I remain. Dear Sir, Your most affectionate & most obedient, humble servant, Du Simitiere, in Fourth sfreet, near the Academy. Philad'a, November 24th, 1778. Col. Lamb. P. S. I inclose this letter, under cover of His Excellency, the Governor of your State, as I am not certain of your place of residence.*Gen. Gates had been ordered to the command at Boston, and the companies under Lieut-Col. Stevens, had been con solidated with Crane's regiment; but notwithstanding this order, Stevens, by some means contrived to maintain a sepa rate command, until he was transferred to Lamb's regiment.! That officer, who, by a resolve of Congress, had been made Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery, to rank from the date of his *Lamb papers. Journals Congress, N. Y. His. Soc. tIdem. 216 LIFE OF JOI^ LAMB. brevet, and entitled to service at the next vacancy, was as signed to Lamb's regiment, to supply the place of Lieut- Col. Oswald, who had resigned his command; and accord ingly, Stevens joined that part of the corps, at the park at head quarters.* The dream of Congress, that the war of defence was ended, seemed to have been infectious, and the people at large were falling into the same delusion.! So little energy was exhi bited in the prosecution of the public business, that the Le gislature of New York, which had been ordered to assemble on the Sth January, had not, twelve days after that period, gathered in sufficient numbers, to form a quorum for business. Gov. Clinton, whose sagacity', like that of Washington, could not be blinded to the alarming apathy which prevailed, de plored this supineness of the people, in a letter to Col. Lamb, in the following terms: Pougheeepsie, 20 January, 1779. " Our Legislature were to have met at this place on the Sth instant, but a sufficient number of members have not yet ap peared, to proceed on business; when there will, God only knows. So little attention is paid to the public weal, by the guardians of the rights of the people, as to discourage me, more than I can W(>11 express." I am, Dr Sir, in the utmost haste. Your Most Obed't Serv't, Geo. Clinton.| Col. Lamb. Nor were these gloomy apprehensions without cause; the dissensions in Congress, artfully fomented by the infrigues of the British commissioners; and the general yearning for peace, occasioned by the opening of negotiations, had paralized the public mind to an alarming degree. Another pafriotic friend,t viewed the perilous crisis, with equal alarm; and although he was removed fi-om the dangers of the war, in the peaceful pursuits of his former occupation, he was yet * Journal Congress. t Lamb papers, N. Y, His. Soc. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 217 awake to the evil auguries of the time, and expressed his fears as follows: Boston, January 18, 1779. Dear Sir: In looking over the late newspapers, I read the piece of Silas Deane, and Common Sense's answer, which was very alarming to me, when I consider the fate of this country de pends on the virtue of its representatives. I have, within these few days past, met with something more alarming. I am informed, by a gentleman of veracity, that G. M.,* from your state, declared himself in the following words, just be fore he was chosen a member of Congress: " I thank God, we in this state, have the keys of the thirteen United States,- in our own hands, and it is in our power, to give them up to the King of Great Britain, if they will not secure to us, those lands that are so justly claimed." The majority of the mem bers of Congress, are truly worthy of great veneration; but remember the fate of Cato's virtuous Senate. For God's sake, let us be on our guard; and if we have any incendiaries among us, find them out." The gentleman who made the above declaration, is ready to make oath to the same, if called on before Congress, whose name will be given up, if requested. I am. Sir,. Your Obed't H'ble Serv't, Isaac Sears.! Col. John Lamb. ? Gouverneur Morris. — This, in all probability, was one of the thou sand rumors, circulated by the British, to scatter dissensions among the patriots. fLamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc, 28 218 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XVI. Appointed Surveyor of Ordnance. — Dispute of Rank with Col. Crane. — Correspondence with Gen. Parsons, — Verplanck's, and Stoney Point taken. — Probability of an Attack on West Point, — Alacrity of the Militia, — Ordered to West Point, — Stoney Point Stormed. — Design on Verplanck's, fails. — Relative Rank with Crane decided against him. — Tenders his Resignation to Washington. — Not accepted. — Washing ton's Letter. — Gov, Clinton's Letter, — Appeals to Congress, — Con tinues in Command, — Camp Rumors, — Letter of Col, Carrington. — Gen. Parsons prevents Recruits to Artillery. — Ordered by Washington to desist. It was not until the opening of the year, that Congress seemed to rouse themselves from torpor, and seriously began to prepare for the approaching campaign.* Col. Lamb, then on furlough, had been caUed to camp by Gen. McDougall, and after dispatching some special business of his depart ment, again resumed his leave of absence. Before this had expired, he received a commission from the war office, ap pointing him, on the 6th March, Surveyor of Ordnance, and he immediately assumed the duties of that station.! While yet at home, he received a letter from the Com mander-in-Chief, apprising him of his intention, to order a board of general officers, to assemble, in order to settie the claims of rank of the colonels of artillery, which had not yet been fully adjusted. Agreeably to this order, he transmitted to head quarters, a detail of bis pretensions of seniority, which according to the resolves of Congress, and former pre cedents in the army, he deemed sufficient to establish his claims.J Community of service, had brought on a friendship witii Major Samuel Shaw, aid-de-camp to the general of artillery; and in an official communication in regard to Col Lamb's ? Marshall. fLamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 219 recent appointment, that gentleman closed, by some remarks upon the aspect of public affairs: Artillery Quarters, Pluckemin, 15th March, 1779. " I congratulate you on the present promising aspect of our public affairs, arising from the friendly disposition of many respectable European powers. All things, will no doubt, go well with our Israel at last. It was to be wished, however, she would render herself more worthy of the bless ings in store for her. People are much divided in their opinion, respecting the operations of the present year. Whether we shall have a campaign or not, seems with some a question. I wish the conjectures may not have an undue influence on our pre parations, and betray us into an error. At all events, we ought to be ready; it will do us no harm. To be in a con dition of sustaining a war properly, is one of the surest means of procuring an advantageous peace. I am dear Colonel, Your affectionate Friend and humb. Servt. S. Shaw.* Col. Lamb. Movements began to exhibit themselves on the part of the enemy, which caused the camp at Peekskill, to be on the alert. An express from General McDougall, to Gov. Trum bull at Hartford, left a letter for Col. Lamb, which induced him, without delay, to repair to the North river.! For some time the enemy so masked their designs, that they could not be penetrated; and head quarters, and the river camp, were equally at fault, with regard to their destination.J Under standing that the board of officers to decide the question of relative rank, were to assemble at Pluckemin, Col. Lamb went to that place, to prefer his claims; and remained there, until after Stoney Point, and Fort Fayette, at Verplanck's, were taken by the enemy.§ Some rumors, prejudicial to the reputation of Gen. Par sons, then at West Point, having gained currency; he sur- * Lamb papers, N, Y. His, Soc. fldem. fldem, § Idem. 220 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. mised that they had been countenanced by Col. Lamb; and consequently, he wrote to him for explanation; to which let ter he received the following reply : Pluckemin, 21st May, 1779. Sfr : Yours of the 29th April, I received a few days since, in which you mention, your having been informed that 1 have propagated reports, prejudicial to your reputation. With respect to your conduct to the inhabitants below the lines, I do not recollect that I ever heard any body charge you with plundering, or doing them the least injury; nor have I ever heard that you was suspected of holding cor respondence, or trading with the enemy; and altho' I shall ever presume to speak freely of the misconduct of men who act in public character; I am ever cautious of reporting any thing to the prejudice of others, unless I have it in my power to prove the facts, either from my own knowledge, or the testimony of others, in whose veracity I can confide. In regard to one of the charges which you mention, " that of having employed a number of soldiers on board a private vessel of war;" the matter stands thus. Sometime in May, 1778, Lieut. Waring, of Capt. Lockwood's company, com plained to me at West Point, of the severity of his duty; owing to your having furloughed Capt. Lockwood, Lieut Brewster, a sergeant, and four men, for the purpose of cruiz ing in the sound, on board of a galley, in which he said, you 'Were deeply concerned. As this complaint was made to me at a time when that post was liable to be attacked by the enemy; I conceived it a duty which I not only owed the public, but my own repu tation, to make immediate application to Gen. McDougaU, requesting he would order Lockwood, and Brewster, with the men under their command, to join the company without delay. This application was made officially, and I do not know that I have mentioned it to any other person. It is probable, however, that I may have spoken of it to some of my offi cers, as the matter was no secret; it having been frequently mentioned by them to me. I flatter myself, that you will do me the justice to believe, that as I value my own reputation above every other consi deration; so I shall ever be cautious, how I report any thing to the prejudice of another man's character, without good foundation; and that I will not deny, any thing I have said. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB, 221 If you conceive yourself injured by any thing that I have said or done, I shall ever be ready to give you that satisfac tion, which a gentleman, and a soldier, has a right to demand from me.* I am. Sir, your humble serv't, John Lamb.! Brig. Gen. Parsons, West Point. Arnold, while in command at Philadelphia, was concerned in privateers equipped from the Delaware, and it was thought derogotory to a military commander to engage in such en- terprizes; but it does not appear that his cotemporary, al though a native of the same state, suffered much from this transaction. On the news of the loss of Verplanck's Point, Col. Lamb hastened to Fishkill from whence he wrote the following letter to General Knox : Fishkill, 6 June, 1779. Dear General : It is impossible at present, to penetrate the designs of the enemy : By the best intelligence that can be had from de serters, (a number of which come out daily) their main body now lies at Verplanck's Point, from whence, it will be impracticable to dislodge them : Their advanced picket is at Lent's Home, two miles from the Point. The greatest part of their ships, have gone down below Tappan Bay : Some of the deserters who have come in to day, say that a report prevailed in their camp, "that a con siderable reinforcement had arrived at New York ; and that the ships had gone down for the purpose of bringing them up the river. This I believe to be no more than camp news, *The readiness with which the amende militaire, was tendered, was in strict conformity with the chivalric notions, which prevailed at that time to a great extent, in the army. The same weakness, at a later day, deprived the country of one of its greatest ornaments ; -who braved cer tain death, rather than incur the suspicion of being wanting in'a qualifi cation, of which he hsul on all occasions, given the most unequivocal proofs. When will reason, religion, humanity, and common sense, get the better ofthe false principles ofthe code of honor. fLamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 222 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. and (as is but too common) the lie of the day. As a supply of at least sixty barrels of powder is wanted for the gairrson of Fort Arnold, and as there is no prospect of pro curing it in time from Boston ; I wish you would order that quantity, to be brought forward immediately from Colonel Ford's Mills, near Morristown. Mr. Ruddock has sent ex presses to Springfield, and Boston for powder, lead, and musket cartridge paper, but all that he can obtain in answer to his application, is, that no teams can be procured to bring these articles forward. This has been the situation of mat ters in that department, from November last : to whom this neglect is owing, I cannot possibly determine, but it is ex tremely chagrining, to see the public suffering by the partial politics of some states ; who pay no attention but to their own particular interests. I forgot to mention the great want of musket cartridge paper, which must be had from the southward if possible. I have the pleasure to inform you, that the mUitia of this state, have turned out in the most exemplary manner. His Excellency the Governor, informs me, that he has up^svards of two thousand from the county of Dutchess alone. This is a very pleasing circumstance ; and which I flatter myself, will produce the happiest consequences, should the ene my incline to attack us. I have now to add, but my com pliments to Major Shaw ; and am with the greatest-respect. Dear General, Brigadier Gen. Knox, Your Ob't Humble Serv't Pluckemin. John Lamb.* The British General continuing to make demonstrations on the North river, Washington resolved to be prepared to meet him at all points, and turned his attention to the forts in the Highlands, which were considered of the first import ance to his plan of operations ; and had approached his camp within covering distance, of these posts. At the same time, he caused the following letter to be \vritten.! New Windsor, 29 June, 1779. Dear Colonel : His Excellency, General Washington, considering the great importance to this continent of the posts at West Point, and the absolute necessity, that the artillery on which the * Lamb papers. f Marshall. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 223 defence of these posts must ultimately depend, should be in the best order, and under the direction of an officer of rank and ability ; has directed me to desire you to repair to that place, and take the command of the artillery there. Many things are wanted for the ordnance, and I have directed Capt. Post, after sending the work he has on hand to New Hack- ensack ; or where the ordnance stores are, to repair with his company to West Point, to execute such ordnance work, as the commanding officer shall direct. Lieut. Burbeck's company, is not attached to any brig ade. I wish them to be sent to the posts at West Point. I am dear Colonel, Your Humble serv't, H. Knpx.* As soon as the public service would permit. Col. Lamb took the command at West Point ; but his time was divided between that post and Fishkill, in the prosecution of the duties of his department. The Commander-in-Chief, now meditated a simultaneous attack on the lower posts ; and detached a force under Wayne against Stoney Point, while two brigades under McDougall, should threaten Verplanck's, on the eastern side. Wayne was instructed to carry the fort with the point of the bayonet, and to turn the guns of the captured fortress, upon the vessels of the enemy, and upon the garrison on the other side of the river. The storm of Stoney Point, was perfect ;! and the ships were driven down the river : but the party under McDougall, not being supplied with ammunition for their battering train, were not in a situation to sieze the fa vorable moment for attack, and lost the opportunity to cap ture the place :J for the British General, immediately ad vanced a heavy force across the Croton, and frustrated the enterprise. This misfortune compelled Washington to aban don his conquest,§ and retire to his former position in the Highlands. In this brUliant affair of Wayne, Col. Lamb had the plea sure to rejoice in the share of the glory gained by two of his * Lamb papers, N. Y, His. Soc. f Marshall. fldem. J Idem. 224 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. gallant associates in the storm of Quebec, Febiger and Meigs; whose regiments were engaged in the enterprise, and both behaved with distinguished bravery. The board of officers now took up the disputed question of rank, between Col. Lamb and his competitors. Upon the terms of the resolves of Congress, directing that the Conti nental commissions, should take precedence of those issued by State authority; and in virtue of former precedents, he had a right to expect a determination in his favor; but to his mortification and surprise, the descision was otherwise; and Col. Crane was preferred before him. He had asked that Lieut.-Col. Stevens, whose personal knowledge would have strengthened his claims, might be examined before the board, which was refused; and feeling very sore at this de gradation of rank, he was induced to tender his resignation; which he did at the close of a letter on mUitary business to the Commander-in-Chief, in the following words : Fishkill, 12th August, 1779. " As I conceive myself greatly injured by the Board of General Officers, appointed to settle the rank of the officers ofthe artillery; I must beg your Excellency's permission to resign. This step, I can with great truth assure your Ex cellency, I take with the greatest reluctance; after making sUch sacrifices of time, health and property, as I have done by being in the service. I shall ever retain the most grateful sense, of your Excel lency's tenderness and attention to me, respecting my ap pointment to the regiment, at a time when I was neglected by the public, from being a prisoner with the enemy. Wishing your Excellency every species of earthly felicity, and a succession of honors, I beg leave to subscribe myself, Your Excellency's Most Ob'd. Hum. Serv. His Excellency, John Lamb.* Gen. Washington. This letter was followed by an answer from head quarters, which after noting the matters of business contained in the letter of resignation, closes as follows : * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 225 West Point, August the 13, 1779. " I sincerely wish your letter had been upon no other, than the subject above. It pains me much, to find an officer of your rank and merit, soliciting a resignation; and I would willingly hope, upon further consideration, that you will de cline your application. Your good sense, and judgment, will not permit me to expostulate with you, or to use any persua sions upon the occasion; but you will remember, sir, that the resignation of every good officer, especially if he is of high rank, is attended with great injury -to the public. They not only experience an injury in the loss of his individual ser vices, but the example has an unhappy and pernicious influ ence. And your case, too, has been decided by a very re spectable board of officers, fully possessed of all the circum stances of yours, and Col. Crane's services; and who could have nothing in view, but substantial justice to either party. I repeat my wishes, that yoU will decline your application; but if you finally determine to persevere in it, you will be pleased to make it to Congress, as I have not of late accepted the resignation of any Colonel. I feel myself very sensibly obliged, by the terms in the conclusion pf your letter, which -are so personally interesting, and am. With great respect and esteem, Sir, your rnost ob'd. servant. Go. Washington.* Col. Lamb. The body of this letter is in the hand writing of Col. Har rison, the aid-de-camp and secretary; but the concluding sentence is in the hand of Washington himself This circumstance, and the paternal character ofthe epistle generally, drew from Col. Lamb the following rejoinder : Fishkill, 19 Aug., 1779. Sfr: As I was at Fredericksburgh on public business, when your Excellency's favor of the 13th instant reached this place, it did not come to hand until last evening, which will I presume, apologize for my not answering it sooner. I am extremely sorry to be under the necessity of taking * Lamb papers, N, Y, His, Soc. 29 226 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. any step, that can possibly excite pain in your Excellency's generous mind; or that may have the most distant tendency to injure the cause in which I have been embarked for a se ries of years, from the most disinterested motives. But, sir, you must allow that it is impossible for a soldier, who is te nacious of his honor, (the only jewel worth contending for) to suffer himself to be degraded, by being superseded; and his just right torn from him, and given to another, without resenting the cruel injury, in a becoming manner. I must frankly acknowledge, that my sensibilities are deeply wounded by this event; and your Excellency, can much better con ceive my feelings, than I can possibly describe them. When I examine the general order of the 10 September last, and observe the principles there laid do^wn by the com mittee of arrangement for settling the rank of the army; which is confirmed by a subsequent resolution of Congress of the 28th November; I must confess, lam at a loss to con ceive on .what principle the board have decided in favor of Col. Crane: and it appears to me, that they have in this in stance, manifestly deviated from the principles established by the board of officers of the whole line. I wish to be indulged with a sight of the proceedings of the board, for which purpose I will do myself the honor to wait on your Excellency to-morrow. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect. Your ExceUency's Most ob'd. humb. serv., His Excellency, John Lamb.* Gen. Washington. Among other friends to whom he communicated his griefs. Col. Lamb wrote to Gov. Clinton, and received from him the following reply :! Po'keepsie, 26th Aug., 1779. Dear Sir : I received your letter, the moment I was setting out to meet the legislature at ICingston, or I should have answered it sooner. I perfectly agree with your other fi iends, that you ought to appeal from the determination ofthe board of general offi cers, to the justice of Congress, respecting your rank; and it is my opinion that you can not with propriety resign, until this * Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 227 shall prove ineffectual. I am sensible your situation is a deli- ¦cate one; but it might equaUy subject you to censure, to quit the service without first pursuing the proper measures to ob tain redress, as to continue in it, after a degradation of rank. I enclose you a letter to the President of Congress, men tioning your case, and requesting him to interest himself, in obtaining a speedy, and equitable decision. This letter, you wiU either forward, or retain, according to your final deter mination on the subject. I shall be happy, whenever it is in my power, to serve you, and am^ d'r sir. With great regard. Your most ob'd. serv., Geo. Clinton.* Col. Lamb. In conformity to this suggestion. Col. Lamb addressed a memoir to Congress, from which the follQwing is extracted :! West Point, 3d September, 1779. Sfr: "It is to the honorable the Congress, sir, and to them only, that I must look for redress, and that justice, which the board have denied me. And as it is a matter in which I am deeply interested, and of the utmost importance to my happiness; I flatter myself, that the honorable the Congress, will be so in dulgent as to pardon my troubling them on so disagreeable a subject. And I have to request, that they will please to di rect, that the operations of this decision of the board of gene ral officers, be suspended 'til I cmi be favored with a hearing; either before Congress, or a committee appointed by them for that purpose. As it is more than probable, that the operations of the campaign, may require my presence in the field 'til the close of it, I thought it most consistent with my duty, to make the application in this manner: and shall esteem myself highly honored to be favored with a line on the subject. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect. Your Excellency's Most ob'd., hum. serv., His Excellency, John Lamb.| John Jay, Esq. Col. Lamb, after preferring his petition to Congress, con- * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. f Idem. 228 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. tinned in the discharge of the functions of his command; which was in truth, no sinecure; as much irregularity ex isted in the laboratories in the eastern towns. The severity of these duties, brought on a painful attack of illness, which prevented him from meeting the Commander-in-Chief at West Point.* He received exhilarating news in a letter of 13th Sep., from Gen. Knox, informing him of the appear ance of a French fleet off the Hook; and the strong proba bility of an advance of our army on New York; but this news proved to be fabricated, and was contradicted a few days after,! in a letter from Lieut. Col. Carrington; and an other rumor, equally as fa] lacious, substituted in its stead!. As a sample of these, the letter of Col. Carrington is given at length. New Windsor, Sept 23, 1779. D'r Col. The bearer brings you a letter from Gen. Knox, which I was requested to forward you immediately. He will also deliver you the tables of jMortar practice, which jjyou was kind enough to lend me; all except the one, on which you noted I might retain. Those tables, I have copied, and send them back, accompanied by one which Major Bauman gave me for you. A report prevailed yesterday of the evacuation of the Posts at Kings Ferry, and may probably have reached you. How ever, we learn this morning that it was premature. We have it also, that some prisoners who have escaped from New York, report that a few days ago, intelligence had come to Sir Harry, that a French or Spanish fleet was off the coast of Georgia; in consequence of which, orders were immedi ately dispatched to call the troops lately embarked back again. By this I think we may learn that they were destined for the southward. This wretch seems much embarrassed! frustrated in his views on all hands ! But what can he dol Alass ! how are the mighty fallen. We also hear, that a party of the enemy near Croton, was taken yesterday, consisting of one hundred and fifty. Only a re|)ort. I am yours sincerely, Ed. Cabrington.J * Lamb papers, N. Y. His, Soc. t Idem. | Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 229 These rumors were constantly occurring, as every deserter, many of them concealed spies, devised that which would be likely to ensui e him the most favorable reception. A general order had been issued to authorize the recruiting of men of the State lines, enlisted for a term, to be enrolled into the continental service, during the war. And as it was understood, that a number of those of the Connecticut line, were willing to join the artiUery upon those conditions, orders were given to fill up the companies of Lamb's regiment from those corps.* This design was for a while frustrated by Gen. ParsonSj who pretended that infantry companies only were to be thus filled.! Col. Lamb therefore made a repre sentation at head quarters, of this vexatious interference, and the Commander-in-Chief directed Gen. Parsons to withdraw his opposition; upon which no further molestation was ex perienced from that quarter; and the recruiting officers de tached, proceeded to fill up the skeleton companies, and put them in a formidable condition for service.^ The posts at Stoney Point, and Verplanck's, at last, were abandoned by the enemy. The Commander-in-Chief ordered them to be put in an efficient situation for defence, and pre paration to receive a garrison. The news at camp seemed to, indicate an advance to the city,§ and it appears that the situation of the men in the Highlands, during the campaign of 1779, was not dissimilar in regard to clothing, to their condition during the preceding winters.|| Col. Lamb was frequently distressed by the complaint of his officers, and one in particular, who had endured with him, the hardships, and misfortunes ofthe Canadian expedition, wrote thus: West Point, 11th Oct., 1779. " The distressed situation of the men for want of clothes, is deplorable. There are sixteen of them almost naked, and bare footed. I had only one pair of shoes for forty-five men, at the last drawing. There are three, or four coats, in the company, and about as many shoes, and stockings. It is *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. t Idem, fldem. {Idem. || Idem. 230 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. my duty to represent the above circumstances, to you; being the only person that can remedy these evils.* Col. Lamb now received the following instructions from Gen. Knox: New Windsor, 22 Novem'r 1779. Dear Sir: " You will please to examine the different posts, at and near West Point, and direct the number and size of the can non, and quantity of ammunition, which shall be put into each, respectively, that is finished for their reception, accord ing to an arrangement made by Generals McDougaU, Du Portail, and myself, and approved by His ExceUency, the Commander-in-Chief; a copy of which is given to you. It is also necessary that you should examine whether the posts at Verplanck's, and Stoney Points, are finished for the recep tion of the cannon, designed for them. If they are prepared, or when they shall be, you will direct the cannon, which has been pointed out to you, and a proportionable quantity of ammunition, (about twenty-five or thirty rounds for each piece, with a sub, and fifteen or twenty men to manage them.) The artillery men of the garrison, will consist of Moodies, Walker's, and Fleming's companies, of your battalion; and Sewell's, Dinnel's, Wells', and Burbeck's companies, of the 3d battalion." " After you have performed these services, you wiU please take upon you, the duties of the office of Surveyor of the Ord nance of the United States, to which you were appointed by the board of war and ordnance. You will receive particular instructions from them and me, on the subject.! *Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 231 CHAPTER XVn. Derangement of Quarter-Master's Department. — Depot at Litchfield. — Congress neglect, — Ordered to Springfield. — Letter ofthe Secretary of the Board of War, — Report of Surveyor, — Distress of the Army, — De preciation of Currency, — Exorbitant Prices of Necessaries, — New Or ganization of Artillery, — Recommended by Gen, Knox.— Referred to Lamb from Department of War. — Lamb against it, — Adopted. — De monstrations against the Highlands. — Ordered to West Point, — Affair of Springjfield, — Concentration near West Point, — Defect of Transpor tation, Great inconvenience had been experienced in all parts of the public service, in consequence of the distance between Springfield and Farmington, the principal depots and labo ratories for the army, and the North River; and much time had been lost in the transportation of munitions of War, frOm those remote places. Col. Lamb, had early in 1778, called the attention of the head of the artillery department, to this subject,* and recommended the establishment of a depot, and laboratory, at Litchfield, in Connecticut, as a place from which supplies could be sent in every direction, with greater facility, and despatch, than from the present arsenals. Although the opinion of Gen. Knox, coincided with that of his subordinate, nothing was done by Congress, to alter the existing arrangements. As soon as Gen. Gates had as sumed the command in the Highlands, Col. Lamb .addressed a letter to him,! reiterating the arguments jireviously ad vanced, and urged upon him, the great importance of the measure; to this, no answer was received, and the public ser vice continued to suffer, for the want of a place of deposit, more central, and more convenient to the Hudson River. The loss of time was not the only inconvenience occasioned by *Lamb papers, Pi" Y. His. Soc. f Idem. 232 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. these remote positions. They were so far removed from the scrutiny of the war department, that great remissness in the execution of the necessary orders, had crept in; and at a very important period, when the enemy were expected to bend their whole force on the Highland passes, much inconvenience, and even danger, was occasioned by the neglect in forwarding the necessary materiel for defence.* The board of war, on the 6th March, had commissioned Col. Lamb, as surveyor of the ordnance, and he had served in that capacity, until, on the threatened attack on West Point, he had been ordered to the command of that post.! But Congress had made very slender provision for the extraordinary expenses of that de partment; and Gen. Knox had written to the board of war on the subject, but had received an answer, so little satisfac tory, that he communicated the result of his enquiry to Col. Lamb as follows :f Morristown, 29 Dec'r, 1779. Dear Colonel: I have this moment received from the board of war, an an swer to my letter, written to them before I left New Wind sor, on the subject of your expenses, whilst exercising the office of surveyor. They say, that the expenses of the office, so far exceed the provision made by Congress, that they can not desire you to undertake it; but that the department at Springfield, is in such amazing confusion, that they wiU un dertake to pay your expenses, whilst executing the business of inspecting that department. Thus, the most useful office is likely to fail, for want of support. I beg you will please to write me on the subject as soon as possible. ' I am, dear Sir, Your hum'e saw't, H. Knox.§ Colonel Lamb. This letter was followed by an order from the war depart ment, in these terms: War and Ordnance Department, Decem'er 24, 1779. Sfr: The 'affairs at Springfield are in amazing confusion. We * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. fldem. §Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 233 hear perpetual complaints, which from our distance from the post, we can neither enquire into, nor remedy. We must, therefore, beg you will proceed to the post, and strictly ex amine into all circumstances there; in which we mean to in clude, the character, abilities, and so far as you can judge, the conduct ofthe officers, who are not necessary; what work is done in a given time; the situation of the buildings, and stores, and in short, every thing you deem necessary, to ena ble you to make to us a full report. We depend much on your information, to enable us to adjust the business at Springfield, which seems to have been confused and clogged by a clashing of power among the principal officers, either real or assumed ; and a feud too, imprudently kept alive, be tween the artificers, and the inhabitants of the place. As ¦we wish to make reformations to save expense, we shall be glad of your ready compliance with our request, and the more es pecially, as we have detained a sum of money, destined for the works at Springfield, until better convinced of the pru dence with which it will be disbursed, and the necessity of its advance. Your travelling charges will be borne. We shall be glad of a report in writing. We are, Sir, With much esteem. Your very Obed't Servants, Richard Peters. By Order.* Col. John Lamb, Surveyor Ordnance. AU other branches of this order, were more agreeable to the feelings of Col. Lamb, than the inquisitorial part; but it was not in his nature to decline any public service, how ever unpleasant. He proceeded to execute the prelimi nary duties assigned him, previous to' his orders, and on his arrival at Springfield, he found that the apprehensions of the board, had not been merely conjectural. The greatest dis order prevailed in every branch of the department, and nu merous schemes of peculation were exhausting the appropri ations ofthe government;! artizans were kept in the pay of the public, whose services, were more necessary to the emolu- *Lamh papers, N, Y, His. Soc. fldem. 30 234 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. ment and convenience of the superintendents, than to the government; and these were permitted to labor for the citi zens on their own account, after the stated hours of occupa tion for the public* A system, by which frauds were com mitted, and peculations practised upon the materials provided for the public; shoemakers and tailors, were in constant employ, when it was difficult to discover to whose use their manufactures could be legitimately applied. To these were added, an infinity of abuses: mere boys, the sons ofthe em ployees were engaged as clerks, with the pay and emolu ments of captains in the line.! Colonel Lamb was not backward in denouncing these abuses, which he did in a very elaborate report,J ofthe 21st February, 1780, recommending a reduction, and a new or ganization of the department; in which the duties of the whole were properly balanced, and a due system of command, and accountability established and perfected. His journey to Springfield, was much retarded by the severity of the weather, and the prodigious snow storms, which prevailed at that season; (memorized as the Hard Winter;) the exposure to which, together with the arduous duties of his mission, brought on an attack of his old com plaint, and in a short time after he reached the residence of his family at Southington, a violent fit of the gout, set in, which confined him at home for nearly three months; and he did not reach his post at Fishkill, until the 14th June. While he was suffering the pains of illness in his bed, his comrades in the field, were encountering aU the horrors of the climate, aided by the miseries of starvation. Gen. Knox, frora Morristown, 6th January, 1780, wrote as foUows : " The army at this place, has been miserably in want of provisions; five days without beef, and as many at another time, without flour. It ought to astonish the bulk of America, that her veteran soldiers bear it with a degree *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 235 of fortitude, and patience, unexampled by the people at large. But the curse of it is, that all this is borne for a peo ple, who seem to pay but little regard to their sufferings: a precious little more, than if the army were Britons."* i^'The military chest was empty : the means, and even the personal credit of the Commissary General were exhausted ; and he was compelled to annnounce to the Commander-in- Chief, his utter inability to procure farther supplies for the army ; and Washington was forced to sustain them, in a sea son of uncommon scarcity, by requisitions in kind, from the several states.! Added to these evils, the currency had reached that state of depreciation, as to have become almost valueless. In the language of Chief Justice Marshall, " the pay of a Major General, would no longer hire an express ri der ; and that of a Captain, would not purchase the shoes in which he marched."f Col. Lamb, although, in consequence of his illness, in a country removed from the proximity of the army, and in comparative plenty, found great difficulty in procuring the articles necessary to the subsistence, and comfort of his family in his immediate vicinity : he therefore wrote to a relative and friend at Boston, to make for him the requisite pur chases, and received the following reply : Boston, May 29, 1780. " The next day after I received yours, I went from shop to shop, and enquired for the articles you wrote for, and the prices. Many of the articles could not be purchased for paper money. In the evening I sat down and made a cal culation what the articles you wrote for would cost : I found by the computation, that it would be seven thousand pounds lawful money. I declined making a purchase, 'til I could have your answer, as it is a great sum, for so few articles, as bad as the money is." || The President of Congress, in a visit, to camp proposed to *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Marshal. f Idem. II Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 236 LIFE OF JOHN ],,AMB. General Knox, that two companies of Lamb's regiment, should be attached to that of Col. Proctor, aijd their places supplied by an equal number to be raised in the state of New Jersey. The proposition being submitted to the board of war, produced the following correspondence. War Office, March 2, 1780. Sfr: The enclosed is the copy of a letter from General Knox, to the board,*on the subject of making some new arrange ments in your regiment and Col. Proctor's. The board request your sentiments, upon the proposed al teration, as early as possible. I am sir, your most obedient serv't By order, Ben. Stoddert,! Col. Lamb. Secretary. This letter met with much delay, and when received, was answered as follows : Southington, 1st. AprU, 1780. Gentlemen : Your favor of the 2d ultimo, inclosing Brig. Gen. Knox's letter of the 30th January, did not reach my hands 'tU yes terday, or I should have done myself the honor of answer ing it sooner. I can not possibly conceive how the two companies of my regiment that were raised in Pennsylvania can, on any prin ciple of equity, be excluded from participating of the liberal provisions made by that state : especially, as they are re turned to youi- board, agreeably to a resolution of Congress, as part of tjieir quota of troops. As those companies are frequently detached from the regiment, it is in General Knox's power, to make such an arrangement respecting them, as he may think is most conducive to the service. They may there fore be brigaded with the Pennsylvania line, which wiU re move the inconvenience complained of by President Reade, as it will put them in a situation to receive every benefit and advantage intended them by the state. If local policy, and the convenience of particular states, or individuals, is to be adopted, the same objection that has *Lamb papers, N. Y. Hjs. Soc. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 237 been made by President Reade, with respect to the compa nies raised in Pennsylvania, may with equal propriety, be made by the states of Connecticut and New York, whose troops compose part of my regiment, likewise. Should the state of Jersey, agree to raise two companies of artillery on the principle mentioned in General Knox's letter, it will be a long time, before it can possibly be effected, and I doubt whether it can be done at all ; as there is a ma terial difference, in the present state of our currency, between a resolution to raise troops, and the carrying the same into execution. It is a melancholy truth, that the most trifling present advantage, weighs more with the bulk of mankind, than the promise of great rewards, to be paid them in future. And this disposition is more apparent in the soldier, than any other ; who from the nature of his calling, reflects that the chances of living to enjoy the future good, is much against him. He therefore prefers the present advantage, to the fu ture, and views the latter, as a mere shadow, that has no other existence, but in speculation. But could every diffi culty with respect to raising the men be surmounted, it is more than probable another will arise. I mean that of the state's appointing the officers to command them : such a measure, would occasion great uneeisiness in the regiment : and it would essentially injure a number of my officers, who would have an indubitable right to complain. The regiment I have the honor of commanding, having been patronized by no particular state, was consequently raised under many, and great disadvantages. And though I am well convinced it has cost the continent much less to raise it, than many others, I flatter myself, it is equal to any in the service, with respect to its officers and men. The offi cers of the other regiments of artillery received great en couragement and assistance from the respective states where they were raised. But mine having been raised in different states, on a more extensive scale ; and being considered as the troops of the continent at large, we were deprived of those partial advantages which the others derived from their local situation. On the whole I must confess it would be extremely char grining to me, to have the regilnent dismembered, by lop ping off those companies, after the officers and men have ac quired a considerable degree of knowledge and experience in their profession; and to have them replaced by raw, in experienced, and undisciplined troops, who would have every 238 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB, thing to learn, and by whose misconduct, or want of expe rience, the reputation of the regiment may be destroyed. However disagreeable such an arrangement would be to me, I would readily assent to it, if it would tend to promote the service; but this is not the case, as it can only affect a particular state. And should the same partial policy be adopted by all those states whose troops compose my regi ment, it must consequently be annihilated, and some of my officers, after long and painful service, have just cause of complaint. K it is proper that the state of Jersey should raise two companies of artillery, it would be more eligible, that the men when raised, should be draughted into the weakest com panies, in the four regiments; as many of them must be very thin at present I have the honor to be. Gentlemen, Your Ob't Serv't, The Honorable, John Lamb.* The Board of War and Ordnance. The return of Sir Henry Clinton, from the south, induced the Commander-in-Chief to believe that a formidable attempt would immediately be made by the troops on board the fleet, just arrived at the Hook; and feeling that a vigorous de fence of the posts on the Hudson river, might ensure the safety of the arniy, then in an alarming state of weakness, the following order was directed to issue from head quarters: Springfield, (N. Jersey,) 21st June, 1780. My Dear Sir : I received your favor of the 14th instant. I was sorry that you had been unwell, but am happy to hear that you have recovered. West Point, having so large a proportion of the corps of artillery; and being of such great consequence to America, demands that an officer of high rank in the artil lery should be there. You being acquainted with that post and its vicinity, and other circumstances, point you out, as the officer most proper to take that command. You will please, therefore, to repair to that place, and inform General How and Major Bauman of this order. * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 239 The probability of an attempt of the enemy to wrest West Point from us; the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, from Charlestown, with a part of his army, and some good intel ligence of his designs, render it highly necessary that ever}- thing in every department at West Point, should be placed in the best state possible. I am certain you will omit nothing in the ordnance department."* Sir Henry Clinton had landed and advanced a great force from Elizabethtown, to attack General Greene, on the 23d June, at Springfield. The artillery stationed to defend the passage of the Rahway, was very smartly engaged with that of the enemy,! ^ud Col Lamb, who valued the reputation of his corps, almost as highly as his own, was much gratified to learn, that one of his companies was very efficient on that occasion; but the reputation that the regiment acquired by this display of gallantry, was purchased by the death of Capt.-Lieut. Thompson, and several valuable men. In Gen. Knox's letter ofthe 22d, mention is made of Maj. Bauman, and some allusion to certain characteristic pecu liarities. Of these. Col. Lamb had a foretaste, on his arrival at Fishkill. As his commanding officer (for Barman was the major of his regiment,) he wrote him as follows : FisfflOLL, 22d June, 1780. Dear Major: As the carriage of the twelve pounder which is in the re doubt at Stoney Point, is a bad one, and the piece itself is not very good; I wish if there is a good piece of that calibre, that can possibly be spared, you would send it to that post without delay; as they have a gin there to remount it. I likewise wish, that a number of the damaged royals, be sent there at the same time, as they will answer the purpose of hand grenades, should the enemy attempt the redoubts, at Verplanck's and Stoney Point, by assault. In passing throug-h the Continental village, I have observed a number of shells, which I have directed Major Campbell to have collected, and sent to your post. I am with Esteem, Yours, &c.. Major Bauman. John Lamb. J * Lamb papers, N.Y. H. S. f Marshall. fLamb papers. N. Y. H. S. 240 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. The person to whom this letter was addressed, had been on Col. Lamb being dispatched to Springfield, invested with the command ofthe artillery, at West Point; and enamored of his brief authority, was quite unwilling- to have it invaded, even by the order of his legitimate superior.* Major Bau man was not willing- to receive this instruction, so salutaty to the public, in any other than an advisory tight; and so signified his intentions. The arrival of Gen. Knox's letter was opportune, and perhaps prevented some unpleasant con sequences, as will appear by the following- : FisHKiLLS, 23 June, 1780. Dear Generak Your favor ofthe 21st instant, was handed me by General How, to whom I communicated its contents, agreeably to your directions. I .shall repair to West Point immediately, as I informed Gen. McDougall, I would do, previous to the receipt of your letter, as soon as it became probable the ene my had any thing serious in contemplation, with respect to that post. I am sensible that Major Bauman is a sfrange genius, and that it requires the greatest address to manage him without giving up my own consequence, as his superior offi cer. But as I always abhorred punctUio, when unneces sary, so I shall wave every thing of the kind, when the public interest is immediately concerned: and here it can possibly be done, without betraying a want of spirit, or of at tention to the necessary military forms. I am affec'y, Yr Hum'e Serv't, John Lamb.! Brig. Gen. Knox. The check given to the British commander, by Gen. Greene at Springfield, (N. J.), seemed to discourage him from a far ther attempt on our positions by land.J StiU he might avaU himself of his naval means, and assail the river ports. To he prepared for this event, a part of the army was drawn nearer to the points of attack, to cover these important stations. Every branch of the public service, suffered the paralyzing * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Marshall. f Lamb papers. LIB^E OF JOHN LAMB. 241 effects of an empty treasury. Munitions of war, were on hand, but these were inefficient^ for the want of means to transport them, to the points where they were most wanted; Evidence of this will be found in the following letter:* Ramapaugh, 29 June, 1780. Dear Sir: " I have but just returned from Trenton, where I have been on public business. The enemy will, I believe, be cautious how they invest West Point, under their present circumstan ces; but in any case I hope the place will be found in the best situation of defence, our means will admit. I have repeatedly demanded a mUch greater quantity of powder than is there at present, but have not been able to obtain it. We have at Pompton, and Mount Hope furnaces, between five and six thousand eighteen pound balls, and three thousand shells, for the French 9 inch mortars, but I have not been able to have them transported to West Point, by reason of the utter inability of the Quarter-Master General's depart ment." *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Socj 31 242 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XVm. Meditated Attack on New York, — Opinions of Officers relative to French Armies, — Erroneous. — Succeeds to the Command of the Post, and De partment. — Scant Rations, — Knox's Letter, — Quarter-Master General resigns. — Embarrassments of the Army. — New York. — Arnold to com mand the Highlands. — Mr, Duer's Letter. — Moody a Spy, — Derange ment of the Department. — Correspondence with Arnold. — Prisoners ordered to Camp — Moody detained. — Lamb's Opinion against, — Ar nold weakens the Garrison. — Lamb remonstrates. — Correspondence with "Arnold, — Malcom. — Knox. — 17S0. • The situation ofthe Commander-in-Chief, and ofthe army, was extremely embarrassing. The arrival of the auxiliaries from France, was hourly expected, and no plsms of coopera- ion, were formed for the exigency; nor could Washington venture upon any determination, from the want of knowledge of the intentions of Congress, and the States.* It was hoped that the fleet would be sufficiently powerful, to drive that of Great Britain off the coast, or to enable the French Admiral to attack New Y6rk in conjunction with the American army.! But the situation of that army, and its rescources were not such as to enable the Commander-in-Chief to enter with confidence into definitive arrangements ; and the direct attack on the city was abandoned. The French commander, by force of these circumstances, instead of entering the Hook, made his land ing at Rhode Island.J Great diversity of opinion prevailed in the army respect ing the employment of the French land forces; and that mea sure, afterwards found so efficacious, met with severe repre hension from many of the officers; among them was Major Shaw, the aid-de-camp of Gen. Knox, who seems to have been a liberal thinker, and not backward, to speak his senti ments on the occasion, as will appear by the following letter: •Marshall. fldem. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 243 Camp at Prakenis, 12 July, 1780. " We have accounts here, via: New York, which look very like a certainty, of the French armament being on the coast. The Gaudaloupe man of war has been so hard chased by this fleet, that she was obliged to throw over her guns, and spars, in order to get out of their way. This intelligence has oc casioned a vast bustie in New York, and the Britons, with their adherents, are making mighty preparations, to ward off the impending blow. As an American citizen, I rejoice in the prospect of so speedy, and I hope an effectual aid; but as a soldier, I am dissatisfied. How will it sound in history, that the United States of America, could not, or rather would not, make an exertion, when the means were amply in their power, which might at once rid them of their enemies, and put them in pos session of that liberty, and safety, for which we have been so long contending"? By Heaven ! if our rulers had any mo desty, they would blush at the idea of calling in foreign aid ! 'Tis really abominable, that we should send to France for soldiers, when there are so many sons of America idle. Such a step ought not (had these great men, any sensibility),- to have been taken, until the strength of the country had been nearly exhausted, and our freedom tottering on the brink of ruin. Let us be indebted to France, Spain, or even to the devil himself, if he could furnish it, for a navy, because we can not get one seasonably among ourselves; but do let us, unless we are contented to be transmitted to posterity with disgrace, make an exertion of our own strength by land, and not owe our independence entirely to our allies."* In these sentiments, Col. Lamb heartily coincided,! and it is probable that the dissatisfaction with the employment of the French land forces, was extensive; but these opinions were unfounded. There was no probability that Congress could, in the deranged condition of the pecuniary affairs of the country, procure the necessary funds for the embodyment of an efficient army. The auxiliary aid of the French land forces, was not only the means of adding to our physical strength, but the formidable preparations of France, gave an impulse to the people at home, and animated them to exer- ¦* Lamb papers, N. Y, His. Soc f Idem. 244 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. tion, and at the same time, inspired confidence abroad in the ultimate success of the struggle, which raised the credit of the countey with the bankers of Europe. While Col. Lamb was sustaining a hazardous, and honor able command, and head of an important department; his si tuation in regard to emolument, was very similar to that of the secretary of the Duke of Lerma, memorized by Le Sage, and he was placed in a situation to ruin himseff effectually, by the enormous personal expenses, imposed upon him by his station.* West Point was an object of curiosity; pri vate, and official visitors, and public messengers, without number, were constantly arriving. It was not in his nature to fail in any duty of hospitality, and Congress had stinted his supplies in a most extraordinary mcumer. These incon veniences were expressed to Gen. Knox, and produced the following letter in reply:! Camp Prakenis, 12 July, 1780. " It pains me exceedingly, to think of your situation, as commanding officer of artillery, so humiliating as to be obliged to subsist on one ration only, when your important charge, involves you in a much greater expense, than any Colonel commandant of a brigade. This I have faithfully represented to the General, some time ago, when I gave you orders to re pair to West Point. He seemed to accede to the propriety of my representation, but thought he could not remedy the matter, without establishing a precedent that might have disagreeable consequences."! It would seem that the unpleasant situation of the Com mander-in-Chief, could not well be aggravated. He was pledged by Congress to active cooperation with the com mander ofthe French forces, M'hile that body had made very little progress to enable him to redeem these pledges; and when at a venture, he had resolved upon a forward move ment ofthe army; a new organization of the general staff, compelled the Quarter-Master to resign his commission.^ * Lamb papers, N, Y, His, Soc. ' fldem. fldem. § Marshall. LIFE OF JOHN 'LAMB. 245 Yet notwithstanding the embarrassment occasioned by this measure, he still determined upon an approach to New York, 3nd otders for' the march were given. The evening these or ders were issued. Gen. Arnold arrived in camp, preparatory to assuming the command of the Highland Army.* In the plan of operations, it was contemplated that Col. Lamb should join the army, with part of the artillery;! but news arriving the next day that Sir Henry Clinton had returned from the eastward, he was ordered to resume his command at West Point, and to detatch four of the most efficient companies of artillery; thereby weakening the garrison nearly one-half f Col. Lamb was no way satisfied with the dismemberment of his forces, and expressed his uneasiness in the following letter of Sth August, to Gen. Knox: " The enemy, under the command of Brandt, and Butler, are laying waste the upper part of this state. These operations, I conceive, are intended as a diversion to draw the militia that way, and afford Sir Harry an opportunity of attempting this post, by a coup de main; this would not, in my opinion, be a very arduous undertaking, in the present state of this garrison, and this state, the enemy will not long be ignorant of. There is no dependence to be placed upon such militia, who are badly officer'd. The night before last, the guard suffered three tory prisoners to escape; and last night, four more. I am not apt to conjure up phantoms, nor to antici pate disagreeable events, but I do not like the present situa tion of matters here."§ On that same evening, the following letter was received, directed to the commanding officer at West Point : Rhinebeck, Aug. 7, 1780. Sfr: I esteem it my duty to inform you, that there is a certain Lieut. Moody, now at Fishkill, a Lt. in the enemy's new le vies, who was taken up lately in Jersey, with a commission and instructions from Gen. Knyphausen,-to seize Governor Livingston. Notwithstanding this, and several other cir- * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem, fldem. ^Idem, 246 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB, cumstances, which I am informed from good authority. Gov. Livingston is acquainted with, he is now on his parole, and will probably soon make his escape from (to) the enemy; and thereby escape the fate, be so richly deserves, of being hung as a spy. I am informed this person was sent off in a hurry to West Point, at the time our army was moving; from which circumstance, I presume the particular circumstances of his capture were not communicated. As I know your zeal in every matter which may affect the public safety, I am sensible it will be sufficient to mention what I have, to induce you to give orders for securing this person, 'til he can be tried by proper authority. As soon as this is effected. Gov. Livingston will, I am sure, be obliged to you, if you will give him notice, as he apprehends at present that he has made his escape. I am sfr. Your Obed't Hum'e Serv't, Wm. Duer.* Col. Malcom,! Commanding Off'r, West Point In consequence of this letter. Moody was given in charge of the guard at Fort Putnam, with sttict injunctions to prevent his escape ; and the provost at that place being in a very unsafe condition. Major Villefranche, the engineer, was directed to order the necessary arrangements for its security.! At the same time the following letter was sent to General Arnold. West Point, 9th August, 1780. Dear General : The enclosed letter to Col. Malcom, I received last night, together with the prisoner mentioned therein ; who it seems is the officer that was sometime lurking about in Jersey for the purpose of carrying off Governor Livingston. As I have received no official directions respecting him, I do not think myself authorized to order him in irons, but have given the officer of the guard, particulcir instructions to have a strict eye over him ; emd that his men be directed to be * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fit appears from this, and some letters of Col. Malcom, thathe -svas ordered to the command of the post, in consequence of Col, Lamb taking the field, and that after the order was countermanded. Col. M. marched with the army. f Lamb papers. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 247 vigilant. But ais they are a militia guard, you are sensible that no dependence can be placed upon them. As this is the case, I wish you to write to General Washington, on the subject. In the interim I shall be glad to have your orders respecting him."* Before any reply was received, the prisoner was put in irons ; probably induced by the insecurity of the Provost, and two days elapsed before any answer Was given.. Mean time, by some connivance. Moody found means to write to General Arnold claiming to be a prisonerof war, and grossly exaggerating the rigor of his confinement.! The commu nication of Moody was enclosed to Col. Lamb, in the fol lowing letter. Head Quarters, Robinson's House, Aug. 11, 1780. Dear Sir : I enclose you a letter which I have this minute received from Ensign Moody ; I should have wrote you before now on the subject of your letter respecting him, had not I ex pected to have seen you at the Point. My leg being a little inflamed has prevented my coming over. I don't think it justifiable to put prisoners of war in irons as a punishment, and on no other principle but retaliation ; or when it is absolutely necessary to secure them. We have rr.ade heavy complaints on that head, in particular in the in stance of Col. E. Allen. I believe Moody a bad man, but considered as a prisoner of war, no discrimination can be made, if he has observed his parole. I know not by whose order he has been put in irons, but suppose by yours. I could therefore wish they might be taken off by you, without his knowing that I have interfered in the matter ; and that he should be confined in a manner to prevent any possibilitji of escape. I am with great regard. Dear Sir, your ob't. humble serv't. Col. La'mb. B. Abnold.J In answer to this, Colonel Lamb wrote as follows : Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. fldem. 248 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. West Point, Aug; 12, 1780^ Dear General : Your favor of yesterday I have received. In answer to which, I have to observe, that as Moody was formerly pa- rolled by General Washington, the General must certainly have been informed of some criminality on the part of the prisoner, which had not come to his knowledge before; or he would not have been induced to deprive him of his parole, and order him to close confinement. For my part, I view him in the light of a spy, from every circum stance respecting him. And as he was brought into the garrison in open day light, and has had an opportunity, (from the simplicity of the guard, and the facility of con versing with them) of knowing the state of the garrison; at least what kind of troops it is composed of ; I think it will be highly improper to take off his irons, and let him escape ; which he undoubtedly will do, in forty-eight hours if he is unshackled. Two more prisoners were suffered to escape yesterday at noon day. I think this garrison a -vety improper place to send prisoners of his enterprising spirit to,- and I wish you would write to General Washington, on the subject as soon as possible. Every method ought to be taken to prevent the enemy from knowing the real state of this post. For altho' they may not at present have it in contemplation to attack it ; yet when they are informed what kind of troops are destined for its defence, it may become an object. And shoidd they embark their troops, and finesse,* as if they were going else where, and embrace the opportunity of pushing up the river with a strong southerly wind, (after landing a sufficient body of troops in Jersey to draw General Washington's at tention that way) , I know not what could prevent it faUing into their hands. I am. Dear General, Your ob'dt serv't Major Gen. Arnold. John Lamb.! *This was precisely the plan afterwards adopted by Sir Henry CUn- ton, as will appear by his despatches, and was probably suggested by Arnold, from this letter. If not it afl5Drds evidence of the sagacity and vigilance of the commander of the post. f Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 249 These arguments appeared too cogent to be controverted, and the next day the order for the release of Moody from irons was countermanded. The quarter-master department of the Highland army, was very ill supplied, and very inefficiently executed. A detachment of one hundred men, were sent from the garri son to Fishkill, for the purpose of making musket cartridges; and there was not a single camp kettle, to be obtained, to supply their necessities*. The officers of the garrison could not obtain a single sheet of paper, upon which to make their returns; even the commander was obliged to borrow some from Gen. Arnold for that purpose.! And the public stores were plundered by the soldiers, for want of locks to secure them from depredation. J " A heavenly situation" (exclaimed Col. Lamb in a letter to Gen. Knox,) " and God knows when it wUl end!"§ Nor were the troops better supplied on the march, as the following letter from Col. Malcom, who had recently commanded the post, will evince : Haverstraw, Aug. 14, 1780. My Dr. Col : Here we are ! it is the devil ! nothing to cover either offi cer or soldier; not even axes to cut boughs! I did not choose to take away the trifling stores of the garrison, especially as I expected to find something- at King's Ferry. But all alike; a few old pickaxes, are all the moveables there. I have at tacked the General's generosity. I thought it best that Ben- scoten, should stop as he passed, as you might have a deli cacy about issuing without his previous acquiescence. I have heard nothing as yet; but perhaps to-morrow I may ride to H. Q. Three vessels at T. point. Your boats are all ordered up. I am uneasy about your situation, but the enemy are not enterprising. Yours, most sincerely, W. Malcom.|| We must have Hughes.lF Urge the General to provide. * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. fldem. J Idem. ||Idem. ICol. Hugh Hughes, Assistant Q. M. Gen. under Mifflin, and then in a different department under Pickering. 32 250 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. The garrison at the point, after the four companies of ar tillery were sent to the army, was already too weak for de fence;* and the subsequent draft of an hmidred men to Fiskill, left not a disposable man for other service.! The Commander-in-Chief, by general orders, dfrected all the prisoners, except prisoners of war, to be sent, under guard, to head quarters at Tappan.J Col. Lamb considering the case of Moody, as coming within the order to march; and anx ious to get rid of so suspicious a person, was desirous of send ing him with the others to camp. He therefore wrote, on the 16th August, to Gen. Arnold, expressing his views of the true character of the prisoner, and of his desfre to include him with the others. At the same time, he mentioned the deficiencies of the post in necessary ammunition.^ " I am ap prehensive," (said he,) " that if the prisoners are sent by land, under a militia guard, many of them will make then escape before they reach head quarters. To prevent which, I shall send them by water, to King's Ferry. And as a far ther security, I will send a careful sergeant, £ind six men of my own corps, to make part of the guard. I shaU be happy if you will please to order Col. Livingston to relieve the guard, and send the prisoners to head quarters, by a detach ment of the troops under his command. " We have not more musket cartridges at present, at this post, than will afford thirty rounds per man, for fifteen hun dred men; and, therefore, can not possibly permit the issuing a single cartridge to the troops that remain in the depart ment. I thought it proper to give this information, that you may know how we are circumstanced in this respect; and to prevent any further draughts being made on us for that article, 'til we have an ample supply."|| The vigilance of the Commander of West Point, could not be very gratifying to a man who had actually sold it to the enemy; yet Arnold in his reply, commended the forecast and dUigence displayed; but was determined, so far as he might * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem, fldem. 4 Idem. ||Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 251 do it with safety to himself, to defeat it.* Although he had ordered Moody in irons, he still chose to consider him a prisoner of war, and directed him to be retained in the garri son. Probably estimating him, as too good an auxiliary to the cause he himself had embraced, to be trusted within the reach of the provost marshal of the camp at head quarters. He also refused to order the guard from the garrison, reUeved at King's Ferry, under the plea that Colonel Livingston, who was the commander ofthe posts there, was already too weak.! WhUe Col. Lamb was so unwilling to part with the small force necessary to guard the prisoners on their way to camp; and was conquering his vexation as well as he could, at the refusal to restore that detachment to the garrison, he received the astounding intelligence that he was to be still farther weakened by the requisition of Arnold to furnish two hundred men for the purpose of being employed by the D. Q. M. Gen'l in cutting fuel for the different posts. J Against this blow, he did what was possible to guard himself, and wrote the following letter, the least cordial in its terms, that had ever passed between hiin and Arnold : West Point, Aug. 18, 1780. Dear General: I have to inform you that I have this day sent off the pri soners to head quarters. I mentioned to Major Franks, yes terday, that two hundred men from the Massachusetts brigade, were sent to FishkiU, previous to your arrival. What occa sion there is for such a guard at that place, I can not possibly conceive. Half the number, will be sufficient. If such 'draughts as are caUed for are made from the gar rison, we shall neither be able to finish the -works that are incomplete, nor in a situation to defend those that are finished. Capt. Hubbel will explain to you, the reasons why the men ordered for cutting fire-wood, are still here. They are wait ing your farther orders respecting them. I am Dear Gen'l, Y'rs, &c. Major General Arnold. John Lamb.§ * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. fldem. § Idem. 252 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. In this mood, he answered the letter of Col. Malcom of the 14th, and the following exfract will disclose the bitter ness of his mortification. West Point, 18th Aug., 1780. " What wiU become of this garrison ? Hay has called upon the General for two hundred wood-cutters, which the General has complied with. Exclusive ofthe guards, we have between four and five hundred men, daily on fatigue. This is murder to a garrison whose troops ought to have some little discipline."* Still in the hope that Arnold might relent, and not persist in detailing so effective a part of the garrison, Col. Lamb wrote him another letter, reminding him of the useless de tachment ofthe Massachusetts men at FishkiU, and giving him further information of the state of his defences;! West Point, 19th Aug., 1780. Dear General : I have to inform you, that we could not turn out this morning, more men than were necessary for the fatigue and guards; and as it was not expressed in general orders of yes terday, whether the two hundred men order^ for the pur pose of cutting fire-wood for the garrison, should march im mediately for Fishkill, or wait 'til the officer commanding them, shall receive directions from Col. Hay, I have thought it proper to order them on the necessai-y fatigue of the gar rison, till your pleasure should be known.f Col. Lamb had been compelled, on several occasions, to complain of the neglect of the quarter master's department, and the general inefficiency of that branch of the service.^ It is palpable from the answer of Gen. Knox, that the sarae evils were felt with great severity, at head quarters; and the consequences to be apprehended under the new organization were not considered trivial. Camp at Tappan, 22d Aug. 1780. " You mention difficulties in the Q. M'r Gen'l department I am sorry for them, but know not when they will subside. * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. fldem. § Idem LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 253 Congress have made a new system, and have appointed a new Q. M'r Gen'l to carry it into execution, viz : Timothy Pickering, Esq. Whether this will accelerate, or frustrate, the intended operations of the campaign, it is easy to deter mine. Perhaps the rulers of America, are the only people under the sun, who refuse the benefit of experience. We were nearly ruined in 1777, by changing one of the great departments ofthe army, in the middle of a campaign; and as if that event was totally obliterated from our minds, the same expedient is now repeated, with an eagerness that seems to render our annihilation certain."* *Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc, 254 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XIX. Moody's Case submitted to Washington. — Ordered to Camp. — Army of fer Battle, — Letter from Col. Varrick. — Joshua Smith. — Arnold's Vis its. — Conversation at Arnold's Table. — Mrs. Arnold at Hea4 Quarters. — Guns ordered to Dobbs's Ferry. — Delayed. — Vulture in Haverstraw Bay. — Requisition for Powder, — Reluctantly granted. — Purpose for which it was expended. — Vulture driven from her Position. — Wash ington arrives at Fishkill, — At the Garrison. — Arnold receives Jami son's Letter, — Escapes. — Washington receives News. — Disclosed to Lamb. — Orders to Verplanck's and Stoney Pointj. — Back to West Point. — Varrick's Illness. — Uneasiness. — His Letters. — Oswald's. — Smith's Trial. — Causes of Arnold's Defection. — McDougall in Command. — Superseded by St. Clair. — Lamb commands Artillery. — At Fishkill. Gen. Arnold had found it expedient to refer the case of Moody to the Commander-in-Chief,* and received orders to have him dispatched to camp. He was accordingly sent under strict guard, and the garrison relieved of his presence.! Arnold in the mean time, was affecting great concern for the good condition of the post. All the departments were ordered to furnish the most accurate return of the munitions on hand.| At this juncture, the Commander-in-Chief seems to have determined to offer battle to Sir Henry Clinton. The army was drawn down the river, and strong temptations were of fered to the British General, to take some steps to bring on an engagement.§ But that Commander, perhaps relying upon his secret plans, was willing to rest his hopes upon a less sanguinary mode of terminating the campaign, and per haps the war. The following exttact of a letter from Major Shaw, written with his usual freedom, will disclose how far the supineness of the British General, was increased by the hopes he indulged from the schemes he was pursuing: ¦* Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. fldem. fldem. {Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 255 " We have been here in the neighborhood of Fort Lee, bid ding defiance to Sir Harry for eight or ten days, but he does not choose to take the advantage of our position; which, with proper deference, I think a — one. Should the enemy land above us, they would have an amazing odds ip their favor. If our left flank should be turned, and a defeat ensue, a retreat must be attended with the utmost confusion, as we have two rivers directly in our rear, and the only passage across one of them, is over a bridge, which would not sup port two-thirds the weight of one of our heavy eighteen pounders." Believe me my dear sir, Yodrs sincerely, S. Shaw.* 31 Aug., 1780, Tenick. Colonel Lamb. A supply of powder had reached the garrison, and in Gen. Knox's dispatch, which preceded it, he announced the defeat of Gates at Camden, and the disasters of the southern army;! but news had reached Arnold's head quarters, of the escape ^of part of the Maryland line, which was communicated by Col. Varrick, the secretary and aid of Arnold, in the follow ing characteristic extract : Hd. Qrs. Rob. House, Sept. 11, 1780. " In a postscript of His Excellency's letter ofthe 9th, dated in the afternoon, he says: 'I have this moment received a letter from Gov. Jefferson, by which it appears that above one-half of the Maryland division, had made their refreat good, after a most obstinate engagement." This is glorious news to our country, when compared with Gates's account. He will be blasted in this World, and humanly judging, he ought to be in the next, for not supporting the Maryland troops, and suffering them to be so mauled; when, had he behaved like a soldier himself, Cornwallis would have been ruined, and to use a common term, Cornwalladed; for Col. Sumpter, of South Carolina, was in his rear, with above one thousand * A most excellent, and interesting memoir of this gentleman, has re cently been published by the Hon. Josiah Quincy. fLamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. 256 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. men. May America's reproaches light on the polttoon, who will turn his back on such gallant troops as those of Mary land."* Gen. Arnold had reached the Highlands, on the 4th Au gust, leaving Mrs. Arnold behind him in Philadelphia.! To amuse his lonely hours, as he stated to his friends, he was in the habit of visiting at the house of Joshua Hett Smith, at Haverstraw, a short distance from Stoney Point; and on se veral occasions, invited Col. Lamb to accompany him, giv ing him a tempting picture of the pleasant society he would meet with there. These invitations were invariably declined, although Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Lamb, were nearly related, and the reasons for so doing, unreservedly given. He knew, (he said) that Smith was a tory; and he would not visit his own father, in a similar category.^ Arnold had been absent from his quarters several days, and on his return, on the 13th September, he brought Mrs. Arnold with him.§ The day of his arrival, he issued the fol lowing order to Col. Lamb : Head Quarters, Robinson's House, Sept 13, 1780. Dear Sir : Two nine, or twelve pounders, are wanted in the redoubts at Dobbs's Ferry,|| for the purpose of signal guns, as weU as to keep off the enemy's boats, who come up almost every day, and insult the post. You wiU therefore please to inform me by the bearer, whether there are none of the stocked pieces of those calibres, which are of no great service here; and that may answer the purpose mentioned at Kings Ferry. The twelves, will be most eligible, if to be spared.f On the same day the General was informed that the guns were ready for service; but it was not until the seventeenth of the month, that they were ordered by him to their desti- * Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. f Family tradition, § Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. Ifldem. II So in the original, LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 257 * nation;* and on the return of the batteau, intelligence was brought that the sloop of war. Vulture, was in Haverstraw bay;! which soon took her station near Teller's point, some eight or ten miles below King's Ferry. The next day, a flag was despatched from the vessel to Gen. Arnold.J It hap pened that day, that Col. Lamb dined at head quarters, where Smith was an invited guest. In a narrative of these trans actions, published by Smith, it is stated, that he, (Smith) enquired the meaning of this intercourse. At first, he says Arnold replied, " that in a short time, the business of the flags would be explained" ; soon afterwards, it was mentioned at dinner, by Gen. Arnold, that the flags had brought letters from Col. Beverly Robinson, who. Gen. Arnold said, was very anxious to make terms for the recovery of his estates, that bad been confiscated to the public use, and that Col. Robinson was authorized to propose, through his medium, some preliminary grounds for an accommodation between Great Britain and America. Col. Lamb, an old arid saga cious officer, who, with a number of other officers from the garrison, was present at the dinner, immediately said, that any proposition of that kind, ought with more propriety, to be made to Congress, than to a General, only conimanding a district.§ Gen. Arnold replied, that the communication * Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc. fldem. f Smith's narrative. § The coincidence cjf this opinion, with that subsequently given by the Commander-in-Chief, is worthy of remark: "To all appearance, the letter related only to Robinson's private affair, and merely contained a request for an interview respecting that matter. Washington did not approve the proposal-, and told Arnold that such a 5. conference would afford grounds for suspicion, in the minds of some ^ people, and advised him to avoid it; saying further, that the subject in which Col. Robinson was interested, did not come within the powers of a military ofiicer, and that the civil government of the state was the only authority to which he could properly apply." — Sparks's Arnold, pages 187, 188. 33 258 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. must at first, be made through some channel, and here the conversation ended.* The day after this conversation. Col. Livingston, command ing at Verplanck's point, supposing that the Vulture could be annoyed from the shore, sent a messenger to West Point, for a supply of ammunition.t This was furnished, and with it, was sent the following letter : West Point, 20th Sept., 1780. Sfr: I have sent you the ammunition you requested, but at the same time, I wish there may not be a wanton waste of it, as we have littie to spare. Firing at a ship with a four pounder, is in my opinion, a waste of powder; as the damage she will sustain, is not equal to the expense. Whenever applications are made for am munition, they must be made through the commanding officer of artillery, at the post where it is wanted. I am Sir, Yours, &c., John Lamb.J Col. Livingston. Had Col. Lamb been aware of the blessed effects to be pro duced by this cannonade, he would not have dispensed his munitions so grudgingly; for never were balls so well ex pended, as those which were ffred upon that occasion. On the next night, the 21st, Arnold had despatched a flag by Smith, to the Vulture to bring on shore the Adjutant- General of the British forces, in order to consummate his plans for the surrender of the Forts in the Highlands, and the ruin of Washingston's army.§ The meeting was appointed on the west bank of the Hudson, at the foot of the Long Clove, below the American posts, and within the lines of the army. This was accordingly effected, and the conference being a long one, the day- was on the point of dawning, be fore it was completed.|| Here the British officer, obtained plans of the fortifications, and the returns of the different de- * Appendix D. t Lamb papers, N. Y. His. Soc. f Idem. { Smith's Narrative, l|Idem LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 259 partments, which had been procured by Arnold, with so much dUigence; and here, the traitor received the pledge of indem nity, and emolument, which was to be the reward of his vil lainy.* A difficulty now occurred, that had not been fore seen, or provided for. The business was completed, and nothing wanting but the return of Major Andre to the Vul ture. This was ordered done,! but the boatmen, already fatigued with having rowed twelve miles, would not consent to go back to the ship; J particularly, as the ebb tide was set ting strongly, and would have swept then! below the vessel. The morning of the 22d, had fairly dawned, when the four pounder at Teller's point, opened upon the Vulture, and compelled her to shift her moorings.^ Arnold, after re maining at Smith's house, with his victim, the greater part of the day, furnished passports, and prevailed upon Smith to accompany Andre through the American lines, by land, and hence the providential discovery of the plot, which, had it been successful, might have involved the country in irretriev able ruin.|| This portion of the plot seems to have been most clumsily contrived; and unless it was changed in part of its details, failed from its own stupidity. Why the Vulture should not have been ordered nearer to the place of meeting, if the in terview which took place, was originally intended to be on the west side, and at the Long Clove, is very difficult to ima gine. From Smith's account, boats were procured above the mouth of Haverstraw creek,1[ and after passing the Ameri can forts, proceeded eight or nine miles below them, in order * Smith's narrative. f Idem. t This part of Smith's narrative, is discredited by Mr. Sparks, and yet it is quite as credible as any other part of it. Stress is laid upon the de claration of Smith, on board the ship, that a horse would be in readi ness to take Andre to his house; but if such was the original intention, it is very strange that it was not done immediately on landing ; instead of wasting hours in the bushes, which might have been more conveniently spent in more comfortable quarters. 4 >> am) ratified by the Convention of this state, on the 36th Jtthr last"* The Senate passed both their bills, and they were summarily rejected by the House, three dapatterwanif On the 22d December, the House perfected their bill, and trans mitted it to the Senate for concurrence. The provisions of the bill were sutetahtiaUy the same as those now adopted for the choice of Senators of this state in Congress. J The Senate, on motion of Mr. Schuyler, amended the bill, so that of the two Senators to be chosen, each House were to nominate, and if the nomination disagree,' the Senate were to choose one of those nominated by the House; and the House to choose one of those nominated by the Senate }§ and the same mode to prevail in the choice of Electors. The, House refused to concur in the amendment, and the Senate , adhered. A conference was proposed 6 January, 1789, by the House^ but it produced no agreement, and both parties resolved to maintain their respective positionS,|| A ne-w bill, for the choice of Senators, was framed by Mr. Jones, which was adopted by the House, on the 19th, containing the provisions ofthe rejected bill,1I and the Assembly pro posed a joint resolution in the following words: " Resolved if the Sienate concur therein, that eight persons be appointed Electors of the President, and Vice President of the United States of America, in 'the same manner as delegates are chosen to represeseiit this state, in the United States in Con- ¦ gresis assembled, and that the. House wiU immediately pro ceed to the nomination of eight 'persons, as aforesaid. That the -said persons shaill meet in the City HaU, of the city of &\hmj, on the first Wednesday of February, in the year of dlir Lord one thousand seven hundred ' and , eighty-nine, arid then, and 'there proceed to vote by ballofy for two persons, as mentioned in the fifth section; of the seieond article pf the Constitution ofthe United States, in the manner, and agree- * Assembly Journals. fldem.. fldem. i Senate Journals and Assembly Journals, || Idem, f Idem 328 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. able to the directions therein contained; and further, to do, and perform all other, the duties enjoined upon them by the said Constitution,"* To this, Mr. Schuyler, in the Senate, proposed an amendment, that eight electors be chosen; the Senate to choose four, and the House to choose the other four.! The Assembly refused to agree to the amendment, and the resolution fell. The bill for the election of Senators shared the same fate;| the Senate amended it, and the House refused to concur in the amendments. A secbnd conference, invited by the As sembly, also, on the 9th February, resulted in disagreement.^ and the time for the meeting of the Electors having passed, the state was not represented either in the Electoral CoUege, or in the Senate of the United States.[| The failure to choose Electors, disconcerted the plans of Gov. Clinton's friends, and he received but three votes, which were cast by electors from Virginia.il This may be considered the first precedent in which parties in the Legislature, by pertinaciously adhering to modes of action, or to particular candidates, have defeated elections to the Senate of the United States. Mr. Hammond suggests that the course taken by Messrs. Smith, Jones, and eleven other members of the Convention, in yielding the question of preliminary amendments, was ad vised by Gov. Clinton. Dunlap, too, says that it was the re sult of a determination in caucus. Both are probably mis taken. That a caucus was held, is known, and that thirteen of those who had voted against adjournment, on the 16th July, resolved to change, and did change their votes upon • Mr. Smith's resolutions, as renewed by Rlr. Lansing; but that this was adverse to the wishes of the Anti-Constitution alists, is evident, from the vote on the final proposition of Mr. Lansing, and from the letter of Dewitt Clinton, which, as it respects the opposition, stood the same as before. The seceding members were principally from Long Island, * Senate Journals and Assembly Journals, f Idem, f Idem. ^ Journals of Assembly. || Idem. T[ Journals Congress. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 329 and under the influence of Mr. Jones, whUe the delegation from Ulster, from which county the Governor was elected, to a man voted against adoption; so did that of Orange, the birth place of the Clintons, and where they had great con trol, with a single exception, and all the other delegations over whom the Governor had the most influence, stood firm in opposition. Again, the apologetic tone of the preceding letter ofthe Committee to the different counties, which most likely spoke the language of Messrs. Smith, and Jones, indi cates an apprehension that the falling off of the southern por tion of the state, had created a schism in the party of tlfe Non-Adoptionists. Mr. Hammond also intimates a doubt whether Gov. Clin ton, seriously expected, that the call of another general Con vention would be successful. The proceedings of the Com mittee, organized 13th October, some of whom were his most intimate friends, together with his special call of the Legis lature, and his strenuous recommendation to that body, to carry out the unanimous resolve of the Convention in that respect, are pretty conclusive evidence. But the action of the Congress of 1789, which engrafted amendments upon the Constitution, superseded the necessity of the convocation. 42 330 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XXIV. Party Excitements, — Quarrel bet-ween Oswald, and Hamilton. — Duel Prevented, — Heats in Albany. — Greene Street Battle. — Attack on GreenleaPs Office in New York. — On Gen. Lamb's House, meditated. — Preparations for Defence, — Design Abandoned. — Washington No minates Lamb for the Collectorship. — Senate Confirm. — French Re volution. — Party Heats, — Republicans side with the French, — The Federalists lean to the other Party, — Aggressions of the British. — Con tested Election between Jay, and Clinton. — Clinton successful. — Second Presidential Election. — Some votes cast for Clinton. — Arrival of Genet, the French Minister, — Great Honors paid him. — Cities Address him. — A French Frigate arrives, — Officers Feasted. — Fleet zirrives. — French Privateers fitted out in the Delaware. — Lieutenants of the Am buscade decoyed on board the Boston, — The Boston sends a Challenge to the Ambuscade, — Accepted — Battle. — Captain of the Boston killed. — Boston escapes. The violence with which each party urged its arguments, and the acrimony which was exhibited against each other, in their respective party papers, gave rise to numerous quar rels and contentions, and in one instance had nearly ended in a duel, between Col. Oswald, and the great champion of the Constitutionalists. In consequence of some exttaordinary provocation, a cartel was borne to the latter, by Major John Wiley, grandfather of Mr. Wiley, the bookseller; but upon explanation, satisfactory to Col. O., he withdrew the challenge, and the affair was adjusted honorably to both parties, Mr. John C. Hamilton, in his book, vol. 2, page , as serts that there was a party combination, to take the life of his father by duel, and that it was defeated through the in terposition of Isaac Ledyard. This is a grave charge, and should not have been lightly hazarded. Such a scheme might * Traditional history LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 331 have been broached by some rash, and violent men; but that it received countenance from any high-minded, and honor able man of the party, is not credible. If such a design had existed, the challenge of Col. Oswald would not have been so readily withdrawn, and a dispute so near the last resort, so easily compromised. So far as Gen. Lamb was concerned, though placed in di rect conflict with Col. H., on the question of rescinding the disqualifications of the Loyalists, and in the still more mo mentous one, ofthe adoption of the Constitution; there was yet a friendly intercourse between the former, and his great antagonist. On one occasion, Hamilton was expostulating with him, upon the violence of his opposition to the new scheme of government, and the unreasonableness of his fears, that its powers would be abused; since, as he observed, that it was matter of certainty, that Washington would be the first President. Lamb in reply, readily admitted, that un limited power might be safely trusted to that great man ; but he added, that he knew of no other mortal, to whom he would be willing to confide, the enormous authority which the Con stitution had granted; and that not e-ven the influence of a name so illustrious, could shake his opposition to the dan gerous instrument. Difference of opinion, in regard to the adoption of the Constitution, created violent contentions; and party feuds had scarcely ever raged higher. When the news of the accession of Virginia reached Albany, on the 3d July, the friends of the new charter repaired to the fort, where it was read, and fired a salute on the occasion. The next day being the anniversary of Independence, the other party commenced the celebration of the national birth day by burning the Constitution at the same place where their adversaries had testified their joy. These acts excited mutual bitterness; and when, in the exuberance of their triumph, the constitu- * Traditional history. 332 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. tionalists, in procession, determined to pass the house at which the other party held their celebration, they were re sisted, and driven back.* Rallying in greater force, they made another attempt in a different direction. To repel this, the other party had planted a field piece, in Green street, charged with small stones, in the middle of the street, opposite to their citadel, through which the assault was to be made. And eis the troop of dragoons, which headed the procession of their antagonists, began their charge, the defenders of the pass applied the match to their gun; but the priming had been wetted, or the piece spiked, and it failed to explode. Su periority of numbers prevailed; and, notwithstanding a stout resistance, in which many on both sides were wounded, the anti-constitutionalists were routed. This affray is still re membered; and the stoney battle of Green street is part of the history of the time.! The anti-constitutionalists, although the dominant party in the state, were in a fearful minority in the city. The pa per of that party, which for sometime after the death of its original conductor, had been managed by Greenleaf for the benefit of the widow of Mr. Holt, had become the property ofthe editor; who, although a decided party man, resolved to conduct the contest with moderation. And in compari son with the practice which afterwards prevailed, and which continues to the present day, it must be admitted that his course was marked with great prudence and impartiality. Notwithstanding this forbearance, as the hopes of the friends of adoption increased, their animosities against the opposers of the constitution, enkindled from day to day. And when the great victory, which had been so long doubtful, was at length decided in their favor, they resolved to manifest their triumph by signal marks of vengeance upon the editor and his friends. This was threatened for several days previous, but * Loudon's paper. f Greenleaf. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 333 Greenleaf, relying too much upon the justice of his enemies, took very imperfect measures to defend his premises and property.* His domicile was in Pine street, and he was visiting at the house of Maj. J. Miles Hughes, on the other side of the street, and nearly opposite. As soon as the tu multuous cheerings of the mob were heard approaching the entrance of William street from Wall, he began to appre hend that his office would be assailed. Hurrying across, armed only with his pistols, he dismissed his workmen, who were preparing the paper for publication, and determined to abide the defence alone. One of his apprentices, how ever, refused to quit with the others, and armed with the best weapon he could find, stood by the editor's side. It was not until midnight that the rioters were prepared for the attempt, when they marched into the street and commenced the at tack. Greenleaf, with his resolute apprentice, were in the chamber above; and upon throwing open his window to as certain the number and character of his invaders, he was sa luted by a shower of stones; and he discharged in return one of his pistols among the crowd. The shot took effect upon the dexter hand of a sailor, who, attracted by the glorious mis chief going forward, was foremost of the group, and car ried away two of the middle fingers. Thus placed hors du combat, he made his retreat, and two of the most vociferous of the party, who had stood near him, thinking the affair past a joke, followed in his wake. The second pistol, though aimed with hearty good will, missed fire. Axes had been procured, and Major W. Livingston was using one of them, in order to force an entrance, when Greenleaf, reaching his arm out of the window, brought the muzzle of the pistol within a few feet ofthe ear of the assailant, and pulled trig ger without effect. The click of the lock, and the formid able appearance ofthe weapon, caused some of the party to recoil; but a second attempt to fire it being ineffectual, they returned to the charge.! The office was forced, whUe » Croo,,i»,fi„ n.-rK>.- t Traditional History. 334 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. the garrison above stairs made their escape at the rear of the building, into Wall stteet. The rioters, disappointed by this escape, threw every thing into pi, damaged the cases, and carried off some of the ma terials, by which means the publication of the paper was suspended for many days.* Others were not so improvident of the means of defence; and General Lamb, the most obnoxious of the anti adoption- ists, had been loudly threatened. With the vigilance of an old campaigner, he provided fifteen or twenty stand of arms, with the requisite ammunition, which with his side arms con stituted tolerable means of defence. As soon as it was known that the attack was meditated on that night. Col. Oswald, who happened to be in town, repaired to the house, and Capt. Tillinghast, son-in-law to the General, also arrived. General Lamb had sent his wife with some of the female domestics, to the house of Mr. Tillinghast in Cherry street; his sister was also sent abroad; but his youngest daughter, afterwards married to Reuben Attwater, who became Secre tary of Michigan in 1808, with a Miss Chapman from Con necticut, a visitor in the family, refused to quit the house. And a colored servant, much attached to her master, deter mined to remain also. This Amazonian reserve was sta tioned in the attick story, where a large number of porter bottles, and heavy Dutch tiles, the debris of a former roof, had been stowed away. The party above had orders to cast these among the crowd at the first report of musketry. Not having been able to provide himself with hand grenades, as was his original intention, the commander deemed these no inefficient substitute. The females thus disposed, the garrison below was mus tered. Captain Tillinghast received peremptory orders lo join his family at home;! and notwithstanding his ardent supplication for permission to remain, under a threat of per sonal ejection in case of recusancy, he reluctantly obeyed. * Greenleaf s paper. f Family tradition. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 335 About this time a reinforcement arrived in the person of Major John Wiley, a relative of the family, a gentleman of well known courage and resolution; and one who had figured largely in the prostration of the King's statue in the Bowling Green, on the day that the news of the declaration of inde pendence was received. Three veterans, a youth of seven teen, the present Gen. Anthony Lamb, and a near relative about the same age, then a medical student, afterwards Dr. John Lamb, who died of yellow fever in 1798; with a black servant, formerly belonging to Gen. Bloomfield of New Jer sey, who had been with his former master at the battle of Monmouth, and no flincher withal, was the effective force remaining. The doors and windows below were barred; the haU was obstructed by a barricade, composed of the furniture of the dining room ; the stairway was in like manner de fended; and the garrison was mustered in the second story.* The boys were stationed at the magazine, to hand fresh musk ets, and to load those emptied at each discharge; and thus pre pared. Gen. Lamb placed each man at his station, with strict injunctions, in no event to be provoked to fire, until be should begin the action; resolving to reserve his own fire until the assault should seriously begin. All the lights were extin guished, save that at the arsenal, to enable the guns to be reloaded with accuracy and dispatch, and in this condition they quietly awaited the onslaught. The rioters having finished at GreenleaPs, with shouts and huzzas, began to throng into Wall street, where on the south side, about mid way between Pearl and William streets. Gen. Lamb resided. The whole street in front of the house, it be ing moonlight, presented to the view of those stationed at the windows, a dense mass of heads; while the shutters of the windows being closed, and loop holes cut fbr observation, and for the fire arms, nothing was discoverable from without.! AU sorts of noises, threats, and revilings were vociferously uttered, but the inmates of the house made no reply; and the leaders of the mob, somewhat disconcerted, prepared * Family tradition. t Idem. 336 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. to hold a council of war. The conclusion to which they arrived was, either that the house was deserted, or that it was to be vigorously defended. The first ¦ suggestion, the weU known character of the occupant forbade them to indulge; and coming to the latter conclusion, they all knew the hazard of the encounter, and very prudently abandoned the enterprise. The matter at this day may be treated with pleasantry, but it was a most solemn crisis, and pregnant with serious danger. Had the attempt been made, so ample were the means of defence, and so obstinate the courage of the de fenders; that a fearful loss of life would have ensued. If ultimately successful, the invaders might have taken the females captive; but the dead bodies of the male defenders, alone would have signalized the triumph; while hecatombs of their own friends would have been sacrificed in the affray. The city would have been disgraced; and the sanguinary scenes afterwards enacted at Baltimore, would not have lacked a precedent. This was the only tumult which occur red on the final adoption of the Constitution, and the great and important change in the government of a nation, was quietly effected. The complexion given to parties by the controversies in regard to the restoration of the tories, was for a while, merged in the disputes concerning the Constitution; whose friends had become intolerant after their success; and strenu ous exertions were made to punish those who had opposed its adoption. The first session of the Congress after the election of President and Vice President, was held m New York; and great efforts were made to induce General Wash ington to overlook Lamb, (who held the office of Collector of the Customs under the government of New York,) in his nominations to the Senate. He had not solicited the nomi nation of the President; and a pretext was made, that he ought for that cause to be dropped; but the chief arguments used against him, were the active measures which he had LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 337 taken to defeat the adoption of the Constitution.. These lat ter considerations, had no weight in the mind of Washing ton; who was too just to punish any one, for a difference of political opinion; but he was seriously embarrassed by the neglect of Lamb, to make application for reappointment.* Many were the candidates for the office, who sanguinely expected the President's influence in their favor; and still General Lamb adhered inflexibly to his resolution not to solicit the appointment. To the arguments of his friends, who urged him to apply; he replied, "No man knows better than the President, whether I have acquired claims upon the government, by services to the country.! If he thinks pro per to nominate me I shall be duly grateful for the favor; but if he should deem another man's pretensions more worthy than mine; I shall cheerfuUy submit."J For several days the President withheld the nomination, in the expectation of a formal application; but being apprized of the footing upon which General Lamb rested his case, on the 6th Aug. 1879, he sent in his name to the Senate, who unanimously ratified the appointment.^ Accounts were, on the 24th September, received of the commencement of the French Revolution; which being headed by La Fayette, and many who had served in Ame rica, was hailed with great enthusiasm by all parties. Even those who had adhered to the Crown, during the war, viewed the event with joy; as it seemed to strike a blow against the natural enemies of Britain. But as that revolu tion advanced, the doubtful course, pursued by the parties which successively displaced each other, shook the faith of the more sagacious in the patriotism of all. And when the sanguinary proceedings of the Jacobins, had disgraced the nation, and stained the cause by their course of rapine and blood, a large party in the United States reprobated and de nounced it. But there were many, who did not approve of the mur- * Family tradition. fldem. fldem. § Senate Journals. 43 338 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. ders and crimes of the revolutionists; yet could not abandon hopes of a beneficial termination of the revolt; and were for strengthening the efforts of France, by the direct influence of the government. This was avoided by the President; and a position of neutrality was taken by the administra tion. Out of this question, grew violent contentions; the lines, which had been drawn during the contest for the en'- franchisementofthe tories; were now, more strongly marked than ever; and the parties, mutually charged each other, with being factions of the belligerents of Europe; and in- truth, the situations, into which both parties had been thrown by circumstances, gave color to the accusation. The exas perations produced by these collisions, were continually in creasing. If the friends of the administration were justified in their course, by the malconduct ofthe revolutionists; the friends of France, were confirmed in their detestation of the English, by the unwarrantable conduct of their government; who still kept possession of the posts upon the upper lakes; and even maintained a naval armament on Lake Cham plain. Nor did the conduct ofthe commanders of British vessels arriving, 7th December, 1791, in our harbors, tend to di minish the excitement against their government. An armed schooner of that nation arrived, which, upon being boarded by our revenue officer, claimed exemption from the visit, as a government vessel; and the master refused to show his commission.* The anti-constitutional party in the city which had hith erto claimed to be designated as the Federal Republican, now abandoned the ground to their antagonists, and adopted the title of Republican; and the electioneering contest was carried on under that name, opposed to the one under which they had formerly rallied; and which had been usurped from them. The Bank of New York, which had been established under * Greenleaf 's and other papers. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 339 the auspices of Col. Hamilton in 1784, was, 25th March, 1791, incorporated; and as it had always exercised an im portant influence upon the elections, its power upon the ap proaching struggle, was not weakened by the stability which it had acquired by its charter. The chair of State was in 1792 disputed between George Clinton of the Republican party, and John Jay, the Federal candidate; and the battle was carried on with great viru lence. The Clinton party, charged upon the opposing- can didate, the authorship of many severe articles which had been published against them. This charge, entirely inconsistent with his whole character, was indignantly denied by Mr, Jay. But on the 4th April, the most singular theme of vitu peration against the Federal candidate, was that of being too much under the influence of the general administration.* Clinton was elected, and the defeated candidate was appointed Chief Justice of the United States. The second election of President and Vice President, took place about this time; and George Clinton received fifty votes for the Vice Presi dency.! New York had now passed a law for the appoint ment of electors; and twelve of her votes were cast for Clin ton. Virginia gave him twenty-one; North Carolina twelve; Georgia four; and Pennsylvania one. The heats engendered by this election, had not subsided, when the French frigate, the Ambuscade, arrived at Charles ton on theSth April, 1792, bringing as Minister ofthe French Republic, Edmond Charles Genet, Adjutant-General of the Republican armies. This vessel had made many prizes on our coast; and the eclat given to the arrival of the gallic envoy, was as grateful to the Republican, as it was repulsive to the Federal party. The papers gave out, that the new Minister was about to declare certain ports open to a more extended commerce with the United States; and this an nouncement had a tendency to increase the public good will towards the Republic and its missive. The progress of the * Greenleaf s and other papers. f Journals of Congress. 340 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. Ambassador towards the seat of government, was triumphal. His approach was heralded by the newspapers; and the citi zens, on the 17th May, en masse, were invited to meet him, and escort him into Philadelphia. A public address was given hira ; and the high honors which were paid him by the people, could not have failed to confirm him in a belief of the popularity of his mission, and of his personal importance. And when the Ambuscade, which had brought him, after scouring the coast, arrived in the bay of New York, 12th June, the commander ofthe Frigate and his officers, were re ceived with the highest distinction.* The Cap of Liberty was erected upon the top ofthe flag staff of the Tontine, on the 15th, which was declared under the protection of all real Whigs; its molestation denounced, and the removal strictly forbidden. After enjoying for ten days the demonstrations of the friendship of the Republicans, the commander of the Ambus cade, on the 22d June, sailed on a cruise, with the good wishes of the one, and the maledictions of the other party. Factious animosities continued to increase; French privateers were fitted out in southern ports, and in the Delaware; and citi zens of Pennsylvania were arrested for having served on board them. The general government, as was proper, denounced them; and issued a proclamation of neutrality, which was iU received by the Republicans, who doubled their demonstra tions of respect for the French envoy, as the administration seemed disposed to circumscribe his influence. The conduct of the envoy was conciliatory to the people; and he severely denounced the commanders of certain French vessels, for maltreating the American flag. The Ambuscade arrived on the 14th July, and her officers received renewed tokens of the friendship of the Republicans, whose sympa thies were more sttongly excited by an occurrence not very honorable to the British flag.! A pilot boat came in, on the 21st, reporting the Concorde, a consort ofthe French vessel, off * Greenleaf s and other papers. f Idem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 341 the Hook; and a Lieutenant with a boat's crew, unwilling to await the arrival of the frigate, went out to meet her. De ceived by the report of the pilot, and by the tri-colored flag, which was spread aloft, they mounted the decks; when to their surprise, they found themselves prisoners of war, on board the Boston, a British frigate. This ungenerous act was severely reprobated by the Republicans; and the trea chery of the pilot, deservedly denounced. The commander of the Boston, not satisfied with the insult that he had offered, sent to Capt. Bompard, of the Ambuscade, an invitation to meet him at sea; and the French frigate, on the 30th July, sailed with the intention of fighting the Boston. It was said that this challenge was accepted, at the solicitations of some of the leading Republicans of the city. It in certain that many citizens volunteered to man the French ship ; and others thronged the pilot boats, and went down to the Hook, in order to witness the approaching combat. The vessels met; and after a severe action, Courtney, the Captain ofthe Boston, was killed; his main-top-mast shot away, and with much water in her hold, the British ship bore away for Hali fax. Bompard for some time followed the chase; but all his lower masts being wounded, and it being imprudent to follow her farther, his antagonist escaped.* * Greenleaf s and other papers. 342 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. CHAPTER XXV. • Bets upon the Issue of the Battle — French Party elated. — Mortification of the English. — Genet arrives in the City. — Demonstrations of Re spect. — Arrogance of the Minister. — Government neutral. — Genet threatens to appeal to Congress from the President's decision — Charged with threatening to appeal to the People. — Denies the charge — Calls upon the Attoriley-General of the U. S. to prosecute Jay and King for circulating the Report. — Attorney-General refuses. — Ultraism of Party on both sides, — Tri-colored cockade worn by the Republicans. — Term Democrat introduced. — Democratic Society formed. — Governor orders the Ships of War of both Nations below Governor's Island. — French Li berty Cap mounted on the Flag-staff at the Tontine. — Contested Election between Jay and Yates, — Jay successful. — Jay's Treaty denounced. — ,Public Meetings, — Democrats burn the Treaty. — Quarrel between Gen. Hamilton and Commodore Nicholson. — Compromised. — Popularity of Genet declines. Lamb's ill health — Death of his Assistant and Son- in-law. — Death of Col. Oswald. — Infidelity of Lamb's Clerk. — Conse quent Difficulties. — Attack of the Gout. — Death. — His Character. Bets had run extravagantly high, upon the result of this encounter. All who believed in the invincibility of the tars of old England, had given large odds that the Ambuscade would be taken; and were not a little chop-fallen, at their disappointment; while the exultation of the Republicans was vociferous. During the continuance of these excitements, on the 3d Aug., a French fleet, of fifteen sail, arrived in port; whose officers were treated with the same extravagant civility which had been bestowed upon those of the Ambuscade. And in the midst of these demonstrations, the arrival of the French Minister at Powle's Hook, was announced on the 7th.* The beUs were rung, a salute was fired, and a large meeting was held in the fields, of which Commodore James * Greenleaf s and other papers. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 343 Nicholson was chairman, and White Matlack secretary; and a committee of forty was appointed to arrahge a meet ing with the ambassador, and to escort him into town. The next day, a counter meeting was called, of which Nicholas Cruger was chairman, which strongly inculcated the obser vance of the President's proclamation of neutrality, and de nounced service on board French privateers. The Chamber of Commerce concurred with this meeting. The very extraordinary countenance which had every where been given by* the leaders of the republican party to the French envoy, together with the enthusiastic reception which the people gave him on his advent among them, in flated the pride of the Minister, who was not over diflldent of his own importance. He had been led into much impru dence of language with regard to the Executive and his ad visers; and he disclosed to Alexander J. Dallas of Philadel phia, his determination to appeal to Congress from the President's measures. Mr. Dallas reported this conversa tion to Gov. Mifflin of Pennsylvania, who understood him to say, the Minister had threatened to appeal from the Pre sident to the people; and the Governor in turn detailed to Messrs. Hamilton and Knox, members of the President's cabinet, that the envoy had so threatened. These gentlemen repeated this information to Messrs. Jay and King, who, at the moment when the popular favor towards France was at the highest, published, under the sanction of their names in the newspapers, the threat of M. Genet, as they had under stood it. This statement was denied by the friends of the Minister, and as confidently reaffirmed by the opposite party; crimina tions and recriminations were lavishly uttered, and the ran cour of the different factions was increased.* M. Genet, unwilling to remain under the charge brought against him by Messrs. Jay and Hamilton, wrote a letter to the President, calling upon him to disavow it. This letter * Greenleafs and other papers. ij** LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. was replied to by Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State, in which he apprises the Minister that direct applications to the Executive are inadmissable, and that to the Department of State his appeals ought to be addressed. A new cause of complaint was found by the Minister in consequence of the revocation, by the President, of the exe quatur of the Vice-Consul of France to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Against this act, the envoy rudely remonstrated, and denied the authority ofthe Presi dent in the case. He followed this declaration- by a formal complaint, to the Secretary of State, against Messrs. Jay and Hamilton. He also wrote to the Attorney-General, Ran dolph, calling upon him to vindicate the honor of France by prosecuting those gentleman for a libel upon her Minister; but that functionary, after a conference with the French envoy, declined to prosecute, because be did not consider the case sustainable. During all these controversies, the repub lican party, in all parts of the country, spmpathized with Genet; and the citizens of Philadelphia gave him a public dinner.* About this period. Col. Oswald, formerly Lieut.-Col. of Lamb's regiment, and who had gained much reputation by his conduct of the artiUery at the battle of Monmouth, re turned. He had been to England upon some business, and guided by his natural enthusiasm for liberty and passion for military renown, had crossed the channel and entered the army of Dumourier. He was received with distinction, and the command of a regiment of artillery was given him; in which he served at the battle of Mons or Jemappe.! The * Greenleafs paper. f Col. Oswald, is undoubtedly, the American alluded to in the follow ing sketch : " The French were aware of the superiority of the cavalry of the enemy they had to contend with: to this force, they were strongly ad vised by an American, who had made a campaign with them in the Low Countries, and was at the battle of Jemappe, to bring a more than usual quantity of artillery into the field. This suggestion was adopted and LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 845 appearance of this officer in his foreign uniform, and wear* ing the tri-colored cockade, among his former acquaintance.^, tended in no small degree to exacerbate thehostUities of his old antagonists; whUe the frequent insults of the British to our flag upon the high seas, and their spoliations upon our commerce, inflamed the hostilities of the republicans against that nation, and all those who directly, or indirectly, sus tained it. Meetings were called, on the 27th Feb., 1794, to take into consideration these spoliations; and the decla mations, pro and con, were highly exciting. In this state of feeling all classes and occupations mingled. It even in vaded the green room of the theatre; and Mrs. Melmoth, then in high favor with the p-ublic, refusing to speak an epilogue to the opera of Tammany, came very near expe riencing -a severe rebuke, for that refusal, from the adherents ofthe republican party. The tri-colored cockade was worn by numbers; and some enthusiasts recommended its adoption as the national cockade of the Union. French manners and modes of address were imitated; the term of " citizen"^ was adopted by many; and the democrats, who favored the French, and the Sons of Liberty of our own revolution, were, in the publications of the republicans, strongly assimilated.* A writer, whose article was headed " Demo crat No. 1," addressed the President as " Citizen George Washington;" and a democratic society was formed, of which Commodore Nicholson was president, and Tunis Wortman secretary.! From this period may be dated the adoption of the term democrat in the party nomenclature; occasioned a sudden and vast promotion of ofS.ceis.'"— Biography of Mo' reau; Universal Magazine, No. IV, of Vol. I, for April, 1804. * Greenleafs paper. f Mr. Davis, in his life of Burr, vol. 1, page 53, says, " Soon after the adoption of the New Constitution, the anti-federal party were re cognized by a name more descriptive of their principles and their views. They assumed the title of Democrats. They considered themselves an ti-constitutionalists ^ but not anti-federalists," In this he is certainly mistaken. 44 346 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. and the successors of the party of that day, were long known sometimes as republicans, sometimes as democrats. The de mocratic society and its officers were denounced and ridi culed by the federalists;* its members were -called Jacobins and sans culottes; but they stoutly defended themselves; and democratic societies were every where established under the auspices of the French Minister. The ships of war of both nations were crowded into the harbor, and Gov. Clinton, probably considering their proxi mity alarming, on the 12th June, ordered the armed vessels in port to go below Governor's Island, and inhibited them all approach to the city within a mile of that place. This was afterwards, on the 24th Oct., relaxed to vessels wanting repairs.! The flag staff at the Tontine was surmounted by the Cap of Liberty; and the democrats had hoisted the tri-colored flag beneath the national emblem. This was, on the 20th May, 1795, hauled down by the opposite party and secreted; or, as the papers of the democrats phrased it, " insultingly and feloniously" carried away .J But the indignation of the party was appeased when, after a few days, it was reclaimed and restored. In the midst of these heats and heart burn ings, an election occurred. George Clinton having de clined to be again the candidate of his party, Robert Yates, Chief Justice of the State, was selected in his stead; and William Floyd was associated with him as Lieutenant-Go vernor; while the federal party put in nomination John Jay, Envoy to the Court of St. James, and Stephen Van Rensselaer, the Patroon of Albany, as their candidates. They were triumphant; and for the first time the power of the state government passed from the republican party. In proportion to the decline of their influence, the animo sities of that party increased. Fuel was added to the flame, when the terms of the treaty, negotiated by Chief Justice Jay, with the British government, 15th July, 1795, were dis- * Greenleaf. f Proclamation of the Governor. fldem. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 347 closed to the public. The Senate had this important subject for sorae time before them, in secret session, when the whole matter was prematurely made known to the people, by Ste vens Thompson Mason, a Senator from Virginia.* The burst of indignation which followed this disclosure was extreme. The Democratic papers denounced the treaty most emphati cally; they indulged hopes of its rejection by the Senate; and after it had been ratified by that body, they clung to the belief, that the President would interpose his veto to the adoption. Disappointed in their expectations, no other resource was left them, but to express their repugnance to the treaty, and its abettors, and by attempts to rouse the popular sentiment against them. Public meetings were called; July I8th, thanks were resolved to Mr. Mason, for his conduct in the Senate, and the treaty was abused, and repudiated. At one of these assemblies of the people, Alexander Hamilton, and Rufus King, undertook the defence of Gov. Jay, and his treaty;! aud they defended the compact, with their usual abi lity; while on the other side, it was formidably assailed by Peter R. Livingston, Brockholst Livingston, and others. A majority of the meeting, disapproved the treaty. Commit tees were chosen to report resolves against it, and a proces sion of five hundred, on the 22d July, proceeded to the Bat tery, where the document, so obnoxious to their resentment, was formally burnt. Never, since the commotions of 1765, and 1775, had party acrimony risen to so high a pitch, or threatened such dangerous results,J Bitter quarrels were en gendered, and a duel was about to be fought between Col, Hamilton, and Commodore Nicholson, which happily, was prevented by the interposition of Dewitt Clinton, aided by other pacificators,^ It is hardly necessary to declare, that in all these excite ments. Gen, Lamb, in perfect consistency with his enthusi- » Greenleaf, and other papers. f Idem. f Greenleaf. {This is asserted upon the declaratioi* of Solomon Southwick. 349 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. astic character, and his former preferences, took a decided part, although incapacitated by frequent attacks of the gout, from assuming an active lead. His predilections, as regarded the belligerents of Europe, leaned to France, and throughout the whole contest, he was the determined supporter of the Democratic party. His house had been, and still was the resort of all the officers of the French vessels, when in port, Bompard was feted there, on his triumphal return from his action with the Boston, and it was the rallying point of all who were in favor of the Revolutionists of France. From his earliest acquaintance with George Clinton, Gen. Lamb had imbibed the warmest attachment, to that excellent man; and he ranged himself on all occasions, imder the po litical banner of that devoted patriot. This friendship was as ardently returned, and endured until it was dissolved by death. With the French Minister, his relations had been always friendly; and these ties became closer cemented, by the alliance of that personage, with the family of his friend. If the honors paid to the Envoy by the people, and his consequent triumphs were too exuberant; the reaction of the popular sentiment, through the instrumentality of the great leaders of the Federal party, was unjustly severe; but in his exultations in prosperity, and in his subsequent mortifications, and undeserved disgrace, Gen. Lamb ardently, and sincerely sympathized. These predilections, and the ardor with which he sustained them, rendered him peculiarly obnoxious to the resentment of the party opposed to him. Gen. Lamb had never been able to eradicate the gout, which had so severely attacked him in the hospital in Quebec; and the fatigues, and exposure, incident to a military life, had augmented the inveteracy of that cruel disease. Its at tacks now became more frequent, and severe; often threaten- ening the vital parts, and at length, he was in a great mea sure confined to his own house, and unable in person to attend to the duties of his office. These, however, were ably managed by Capt. Charlesk Tillinghast, his son-in-law, much LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 349 to the satisfaction of the public, and the government. This gentleman, during the ravages of the yellow fever, prompted by the benevolence of his own heart, and acting as minister to the charities of Gen. Lamb, which were in that distressing calamity, extended to all within his reach; had exposed him self to the contagion, by visiting the unfortunate persons un der its influence, and was himself visited by a severe attack of the dreadful malady. He survived this, but upon biS convalescence, he again exerted himself on similar missions of humanity; a relapse occurred, always more fatal than the first attack, and in a few days he fell a victim of his own philanthropy. This loss, to all his friends and relatives, was irreparable. To Gen. Lamb it was beart-rendingly severe. Independent of the claims to his attachment, from his close affinity, as his son-in-law ; the amiable character, and exalted virtues of the deceased, had acquired his unbounded affection, and the blow was heavy indeed. Aside from those family ties, and those social virtues of the deceased, which had attracted the affections of all who knew him; the fidelity and zeal with which Mr. Til- Unghast had performed his duty to the country throughout the war, had given him additional claims to the regard of General Lamb. He had served with distinguished credit, as assistant of Col. Hughes, in the Quarter-Master's depart ment, of the Middle District, a position arduous in the ex treme, and attended with great danger, whenever his func tions were to be exercised within the neutral ground : the inhabitants of which had become demoralized by the disor ders of the times, and by the alternate incursions of both the British, and American armies. After the retirement of Col. H., Mr. Tillinghast continued in the department, under the immediate command of Col. Pickering, the Quarter-Master General. While acting with Col. Hughes, they had one signal op portunity of carrying into execution the special orders of the 350 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. Commander-in-Chief, whose prudence, and forecast were ever vigilant. This was in providing, the means of transport, for bringing off the army, after the fatal defeat on Long Island, in 1776. Every thing available along the coast, from Spuyten Duyvel creek, to the Sound, had been, during the battle, pressed into the service by order of Washington; and the secrecy with which these vessels were secured, and posted, with the promptitude, and energy of the officers employed, called forth the special acknowledgement of the Commander- in-Chief, after the retreat was perfected. During both these attacks of the pestilence, he who had ministered in like extremity to others, received from his friends, every assistance, and consolation they could bestow. Col. Willett, who had been his partner in business, with Anthony Lamb, his friend, and brother, were constantly with him, and Col. Oswald, who happened in town at the last attack, flew to the bedside of the sufferer, whom he loved with fraternal affection, and relieved his other nurses in their assiduous efforts to restore him. The two first, escaped the danger to which they had exposed themselves; but Oswald, who had so often faced death in the field of battle, was now to encounter him in a different sphere. In his attendance upon the last moments of his expiring friend, he had con- fracted the unrelenting pestilence, and in a few days after he had seen the remains of one he had loved, deposited in their last resting place, in Trinity Church yard; he himself died, and was buried in Saint Paul's, on the 2d October.* The death of his old friend, and faithful companion in arms, following so near, a dearer loss, was attended by other bereavements, which added to his distress, and severely af fected the health, and spirits of Gen. Lamb; but in the so ciety of his domestic circle, which was now increased by the widow, and orphans of his departed son; and in the sympa thies of many of his fellow soldiers, he found consolation in * Greenleafs paper. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 351 the infirmities which were growing upon him. He had an other source of comfort, in the indulgence of the benevolence of his heart, and the liberality of his disposition. The boun ties distributed by his means, to the sick and suffering, during the trying scenes of the yeUow fever, were long remembered, and the writer of this memoir, in a country far removed from the sphere in which they had been disseminated, heard them recounted, by one who had witnessed them, and had been herself, a recipient of his benefactions. Nor were his benevolences confined to this, and simUar occasions alone. In repeated instances, his means were freely used to open the prison doors, to many, whom the rigorous laws of the time, had doomed, as debtors, to con finement, which, without the aid of others, would have been perpetual. Frequent were the calls upon his open handed generosity; and seldom, whether from Jew, or Gentile, were they made in vain. The following letter, among many others of a similar character, was found among the papers of Mrs. Tillinghast, his eldest daughter; which, as it does credit to the writer, as well as illustrates the character of the indivi dual to whom it is addressed, is inserted entire : My Dear General Lamb : Before I retire to rest, let me entreat you to accept all that the heart of gratitude can offer, for the friendship you have shown to Mr. Nathan, and myself, and believe that no period of time, however remote, can possibly lessen the idea I en tertain of your exalted worth, or lead to a forgetfulness of the sensations, which your benevolence of disposition, this moment gives rise to my now made happy bosom; they wtUI live with my lif6, and end but in my death; for you have kindly snatched me from the black precipice of despair, and placed me in the bright and cheering ray of hope. To-morrow, my husband, through your charitable aid, will be set free from prison! Thus am I given to expect; and may the Father of mercies enable Mr. Nathan to repay thee, my dear General, in some measure; for he never can render ample compensa tion [for] the manifold obligations he owes you in this, the present case, and those of long past date. 352 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. I received your polite message by my friend, Mr. Moses-, and lament exceedingly that you are in pain. My prayers are offered to the throne of grace, for the reestablishment of your health, and that the sweet reward of virtue, may be ever thine. You will pardon my frequent addresses to you, sir, and re ceive them as the warm effusions of a mind yielding to the impulses of affectionate gratitute and esteem. Good night my dear General. That you may ever wake to happiness, and every earthly blessing, is the ardent, and first wish rising in the breast of your infinitely obliged friend,. G. Nathan.* My warmest acknowledgments are due to your son-in-law^ Mr. Tillinghast, which my heart prompts me to solicit him to accept, through the channel of this letter. God bless you sir, G.N, Tuesday night, 11 o'clock. Gen. Lamb.! In these pursuits, so soothing to a charitable heart. Gen', Lamb continued to employ himself, and to seek consolation for the bereavement of friends, and for the ravages in the circle of his political associates, by the mutations of the times. The success of the Federalists was complete, and many of those who had been ardent in their devotion to Clin ton, and his measures; when the fountain of political pafron- age was no longer within his control, and its stream was- diverted into another channel, followed the current, and joined the triumphant party. To one so ardent of temper, party defeat, and its concomi tants, were severe, and they were correspondently felt; but a blow was impending, more momentous in its consequences; one fatal to his peace; — which overwhelmed him in dis tress, and cut him short of the luxury of benevolence. The -*Thi8 is the same lady who remonstrated with Miss Edgeworth, against the portrait of the Jew, in the story of the " Prussian Vase," f Lamb papers, N, Y. His. Soc. LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 353 death of Mr. Tillinghast was unfortunate to Gen. Lamb, in more than one respect. He not only lost a tender, and de voted son, but an able assistant in his business; and one, who for perfect knowledge of its details, it was not easy to replace. During the illness of this gentleman, the business usually entrusted to his care, was confided to another, for whose dili gence, and fidelity. Gen. Lamb conceived he had ample war rant;- He had, many years before, been importuned to assist an Englishman, confined in jail upon a debt; the amount of which being large, seemed for ever to exclude the debtor from hope of redemption. Upon favorable representations of his integrity, and capacity. Gen. Lamb discharged the debt, and gave the released captive employment as one of the clerks of the Custom House. The industry, and ability which he displayed, won the confidence of his employer, and that of his substitute, and he was promoted to the most confidential station under the Deputy. This man, during the illness of Mr. Tillinghast; upon his decease ; and until his successor could be sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of the business; had been left in charge of the whole fiscal concerns of the department; and in the interval of his supervision, had commenced a system of pecu lation and embezzlement, which was carried on afterwards; and by great adroitness, concealed from detection. Suddenly he left his employment; and giving out that he had inherited a large fortune by the death of a relation in England, he em barked extensively in foreign commerce; set up a coach, and launched forth into a luxurious and expensive style of living. It was not long after this, that a large deficiency of the funds of the Custom House was discovered. This disclosure was as astounding to Gen. Lamb, as it was agonizing to him and aU his friends. The defalcation was utterly inexplicable to him; nor could the scrutiny of his as sistants ascertain in what manner it had occurred. No one; not even the most bitter of his enemies, doubted the perfect 45 354 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. honor and integrity of the collector; and many of these, for getting their political hostility, sympathized in his distress on the occasion. It was well known, that the large property of Gen. Lamb was amply sufficient to cover quadruple the amount of the deficiency; and in order to ascertain the exact sum, the agents of the government called to their aid the quondam clerk, who had so recently left the office. This unprincipled wretch then unravelled a part of his own web; and by investigations which he alone could make; ac counts which had been passed by the government were opened, and errors detected, by which the defalcation was swelled to a much greater amount than was at first discovered. At this juncture. Gen. Hamilton and Col. Troup, the most formidable of his political opponents, called upon Gen. Lamb, and assured him, that if a schedule of his property should be given to the government; and its fiscal agents could be con vinced of its availability to discharge the debt; that ample time would be given him, to raise the necessary sum. This was done; a list of lands, far exceeding in value his liability to the Treasury, was given, and he resigned the office. To make the security of the government the more assured, the wealthy friends of Gen. Lamb, offered to take a part of the property, and give their individual bonds, on time, to the government; and this proposition was acceded to: but when each was prepared to give security for the share which he was willing to assume, the agent of the government re fused to carry out the arrangement; and required a joint and several bond of the parties to be executed. This was not complied with: the most summary process was resorted to; and the property was sold by the Marshal, under an execu tion of the government. As might have been expected, it was sold at an enormous loss. Lands treble the value of the whole debt, were sacri ficed; the family was ruined; and the government claim was not yet satisfied. For this, the agents of the government were LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 355 alone to blame. Their mistaken policy forever put it out of the power of their victim to discharge the deficiency. Messrs. Hamilton and Troup did not see their fellow soldier thus sttipped of his property, without indignation; and both ve hemently condemned the course pursued against him. Others of the high-minded and honorable leaders of the party, shared in their sympathy: but there were not wanting many, who rejoiced in the ruin of so indefatigable an opponent. The blow was struck; and Lamb, from affluence and ease, was involved in poverty and distress. But the brave veteran was not abandoned by his friends and companions in arms. The Clintons, Rutgers, Willett, Burr, and others, stood by him in all his difficulties, and tendered what consolation was afforded by the circumstances: and the grateful condolences and sympathies, of many who had shared his bounty in the days of prosperity, helped to soothe him in his adversity. But the stroke of fate was given. His constitution had re ceived a severe shock from the agitations which he had endured; [and the disease, -with which he had so long labored, was aggravated by calamity. For a long time, he was a martyr to the gout in its most distressing form, which kept him prisoner to his house; and he was seldom free from paroxysms of alarming nature. The frequency of these, admonished him of the approach of death; and he prepared calmly for its last and fatal attack. This occurred on the 3 1st of May, 1800: and the indomita ble spirit, which naught human could subdue, bowing sub missively to the chastening of Omnipotence, yielded itself, in hope without fear, into the hands of its creator. Thus died John Lamb, who for more than thirty years, had devoted himself to the service of his country. Few, very few men, have acted more manfully the parts which have been allotted to them. As a pioneer bf the great events which -wrought out the fevolution, he was second to none in perseverance and intre pidity. As a soldier in the field, he was never surpassed in 356 LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. valor and constancy, by any, the most daring. As a citizen, neighbor, and philanthropist, he was distinguished for his public spirit; respected for his suavity; and admired for his benevolence. As a husband, father, and friend, he was tender, affectionate, and sincere. Deeply indeed was he regretted; and the aching void, left in the bosoms of those who knew him in correspondent relations, neither time nor circumstances could ever fill. General Lamb, had been Vice President of the Cincin nati: once while Baron Steuben was President; and after wards under George Clinton. He was borne to the grave, in Trinity church yard, followed by the members of that so ciety. He was buried with the military honors which he had so well deserved. And the long array of citizens, as they attended him to the tomb, attested the respect which his virtues, his bravery, and worth, had universally com manded. The following obituary notice, ascribed at the time to the pen of Dr. Peter frving, is exfr acted from Denniston's paper: " How sleep the brave ! who sink to rest; With all their country's wishes blest. On Saturday moriiing, departed for a better world, our much respected fellow citizen. Gen. John Lamb; who, to the unbending honor and martial spirit of a soldier — to the un shaken integrity of a real patriot; added the humane and benevolent virtues of the true philanthropist. He distinguished himself throughout our Revolutionary struggle. He lost an eye at Quebec, where the gaUant, but ill fated Montgomery fell! He was otherwise severely wounded; was captured, and suffered the hardships of im prisonment, in asserting the cause of freedom and his countty. General Lamb has. from early manhood trod the rugged paths of life in public view; and though fortune has not smoothed his descent into the vale of yeais, nor scattered roses in his path; yet he has ever preserved a purity of LIFE OF JOHN LAMB. 357 character, which even the breath of defraction has not dared to sully. Peace be to his ashes! He is gone into the presence of that Being, who will reward his virtues. The blessings of misfortune's children, waft his spirit onward: while the tears of the veteran patriots who fought and conquered by his side, embalm his memory. APPENDIX, APPENDIX A. Memoir of Col. Hugh Hughes, Deputy Quarier-Ma.?ter-Gen- eral ofthe United States, during ihe Revolutionary War. It too often happens, that meritorious officers, who have served their country with singular efficiency in the staff de partments ofthe army, are overlooked in history; and their names are lost in the blaze of glory of those very victories, which their services have so much assisted to achieve; and without which the ablest General would have been fettered in his operations, and his efforts paralyzed. A well regulated Commissariat, and Quarter Master's De partment, constitute the soul of an army; and it was in a great measure owing to the want of such, that the war of the Revolution was so long protracted, and the country so often placed in jeopardy, from inability to move its forces upon important emergencies. The poverty of the United States was one great cause of the deficiencies in the Quarter Mas ter General's department: but its improper constitution; and the frequent changes which were made; some of which were produced by disgust at the measures of Congress; were mainly instrumental in rendering it, at times inoperative, and at no time so effective as the exigencies of the service required. Of the many officers of the Revolution, who served in the armies of America, and by their fidelity and zeal, contributed 360 APPENDIX. to the successful issue of the war, few were more distinguished for promptitude and efficiency; and very few have had so little justice done to their merits, as Col. Hugh Hughes, Deputy Commissary-General of New York, and of the Quar ter-Master's department under Col. Mifflin, and afterwards under Col. Pickering. This gentleman was of Welch origin, whose ancestors emigrated to America at an early period. In the year 1765, he warmly opposed the acts ofthe British Ministry; and al though his brother was appointed Stamp Distributor for Pennsylvania, and sought to obtain the same office for his son in New Jersey; Hugh Hughes used every effort to put down the Stamp Act, and to compel the distributors to resign their appointments. And when the Sons of Liberty in No vember, 1765, were determined to force his brother to relin quish his commission; there is little doubt that the persua sives of Mr. Hughes were joined to the coercive arguments of the committee of that association, in order to effect the renunciation of the Stamp Master. At the time of these transactions, Mr. Hughes was a resi dent of New Jersey; but he became not long afterwards an inhabitant of New York; and in the year 1766, he taught a select grammar school in the consistory room of the French church in Nassau street. Mr. Hughes was an energetic writer, and although he was not a member of the Committee of Vigilance of 1765, he used his exertions, and employed his pen in the patriotic cause. Among the papers of his daughter Mre. Stotesbury, now in the possession of the honorable Philemon Dickerson of New Jersey, were found many letters from Thomas Young, (once a member of the Sons of Liberty of Albany; and af terwards of the grand committee of Boston), of date as early as the days of the Stamp Act; and there can be no doubt that Mr. Hughes, was the ardent cooperator of Lamb, Sears, and others, in all their revolutionary movements; and the uncomprpmising opponent of the usurping ministry. APPENDIX. 361 Mr. Hughes's adherence to the patriotic cause, must have been anterior to that of McDougall, whose name is not to be found in the early proceedings of the associated, until the year 1769; when he become distinctly identified with the radical Revolutionists, and was one of the first to offer his services to the Provincial Congress at the breaking out of the war. In this respect, Mr. Hughes was little behind him; and the rank which was given him, proves the estimation in which he was held by the Provisional Government. On the 16th of February, 1776, he was appointed to the important office of Commissary of Military Stores for New York, by the Provincial Convention ; and shortly afterwards was made Deputy Quarter-Master General of the forces, under the head of that department. Col. Mifflin. ' When the army was partly in the city, and partly on Long Island, Col. Moylan, the senior Deputy, was selected to act as aid to the Commander-in-Chief, and the manage ment of the department entirely devolved upon Col. Hughes, who was indefatigable in performing the onerous and re sponsible duties required of him. At the battle of Long Island, under his direction, the troops were passed over to the Island, as the exigencies of the day required. The signal for the dispatch of each detachment, being a flag raised on the top of the house at head quarters. And after the retreat was determined on, Col. Hughes re ceived by Joseph Trumbull, the Commissary General, a ver bal order from Gen. Washington, to impress every kind of water craft from Hellgate on the Sound, to Speyghten Duyvel Creek, that could be kept afloat, and that had either sails or oars, and have them all in the east harbor of the city by dark. Secrecy was enjoined as well as dispatch; and although the rendezvous was fifteen miles distant from the anchorage of some of the vessels, they were ready for service at the ap pointed time. At noon the order was delivered, and at eight o'clock of the evening, such was the celerity of the 46 362 APPENDIX. movements of those employed, that every thing important to the occasion was in readines.s, to be placed in the most fa vorable situations to secure the retreat. So judiciously were the vessels posted, that no delay or confusion occurred; and every material of the army that could possibly be secured, was brought off. At this alarming crisis, when the fate of the campaign, and probably the success of the Revolution, depended upon the Quarter-Masters, Col. Hughes never dismounted from his horse until ten o'clock the day after the order was given; having kept the saddle unremittingly employed for twenty- two hours. Had not the duties of the Quarter-Master's Department been well performed on that day, the army might have been lost, or, at least, its artillery and stores captured; and Wash ington could not have been able to make head against the superior force which menaced the city. The opinion of of the Commander-in-Chief, in relation to that service, was expressed in general orders; and in after times was re iterated in the following letter: Mount Veenon, August 22, 1784. Sfr: I have received your letter of the 31st ult, from Philadel phia. My memory is not charged with the particulars of the verbal order which you say was delivered to you through Col. Joseph Trumbull, on the 27th August, 1776, " for im pressing all the sloops, boats, and water creift from Spyghten Duyvel, in the Hudson, to Hell Gate, in the Sound." I re collect very well that it was a day which required the great est exertion, particularly in the Quarter-Master's depart ment, to accomplish the retreat which was intended, under cover of the succeeding night; and that no delay or cere mony could be admitted in the execution of the plan. I have no doubt, therefore, of your having received orders to the effect, and to the extent you have mentioned; and you are at liberty to adduce this letter in testimony thereof It wiU, I presurae, supply the place of a more formal certificate, and is more consonant with my recollection of the transac tions of that day. APPENDIX. 363 It is with pleasure I add that your conduct in the Quarter- Master's line, so far as it has come under my view, or to my knowledge, was marked with zeal, activity, and intelligence, and met my approbation accordingly. With grateful thanks for your good wishes, I remain, sir. Your most obedient, humble servant. Go. Washington.* Colonel Hugh Hughes. Col. Hughes continued Deputy Quarter-Master General as long as Col. Mifflin retained his office ; and when Gen. Greene assumed the command of the department, he was desirous to secure the services of Col. Hughes as assistant, as will appear by his letter, of which the following is a copy: Camp Valley Forge, 3 1st March, 1778. Sfr: You will probably have heard before this reaches you, of my appointment to the office of Quarter-Master General; and as I would wish to continue in their respective stations all * In a vei-y exceUent book, entitled ' ' History of Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York," but which contains much history and many matters of interest, which do not appear within the scope of its title, the following notice is taken of this retreat : " The masterly retreat of Gen. Washington with his army across the East river, from Brooklyn to New York, is thus related by Major, after wards Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, in his military journal ; ' In the face of many difficulties, the Commander-in-Ciiief so arranged his business that on the evening of the 29th of August, by ten o'clock, the troops be gan to retire from the lines, in such a manner that no chasm was made in the line ; but as one regiment left their station on guard, the remaining troops moved to the right and left, and filled up the vacancies ; while Gen. Washington took his station at the Ferry and superintended the embarkation of the troops.' " Gen. Washington has never received the credit which was due to him for this wise and fortunate measure. When the enemy had taken possession of the heights opposite to the city, they commenced firing from the artillery ; and the fleet pretty soon were in motion to take pos session of those waters ; had this been done a little earlier, this division of our army must inevitably have fallen into their hands." — Simmsh His tory, Sfc., S[C.,pp. 215, 216. 364 APPENDIX. such officers as I find in the department, whose conduct has manifested their fitness for the employment, I should be glad to know how you are disposed on that subject, as speedily as may be; and if you are inclined to continue, you will be pleased to inform me of the terms and conditions of your for mer appointment; and what are your expectations under the new one. In the meantime, I doubt not, you will be careful that the business of the department does not suffer. Consi derable supplies are expected from the Eastern States, which will be directed to your care, particularly from Col. Chase and Mr. Benjamin Andrews of Boston, and from Jacob Greene, Esq., of Warwick, Rhode Island; which I beg you will forward on to the camp, with all possible care and dis patch, as fast as they arrive. I am, sir, your most Obedient, humble servant, Nath. Greene, Quarter-Master General. Owing to some disgust relative to rank, a fruitful source of dissatisfaction, in the staff, as well as the line of the army; Colonel Hughes declined the employment; but notwithstand ing, continued to perform all the services required of him by General Greene, until his successor could assume his duties. Without any intention to disparage the exertions of the officer who, in 1780, had charge of the department in the Highlands; it will not be deemed invidious to say, that it was not so vigorously, or so effectually exercised, as when under the administration of Colonel Hughes, Colonel William Malcom, who had been commander of the post of West Point; but on the marching of the army to the attack of New York, in August 1780, had been super ceded by Colonel John Lamb, ofthe artillery; in a letter to that gentleman of the 14 August; bitterly complains of the want of proper implements at Stoney Point, wherewith to construct shelter for the troops while detained there; and concludes his letter, " we must have Hughes," While in service under Colonel Mifflin, Colonel Hughes, in the spring of the year 1777; obtained a furlough in order APPENDIX. 365 to visit his family, then in Connecticut; and happened to be in New Haven, where Lamb's artiUery companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Oswald, were then stationed, (the com mander of the regiment being at Southington, twenty mUes north of the city.) Here it was rumored that Tryon, ex- Governor of New York, was about to make a descent some where in the state. Reports of an armament in the Sound, of formidable ex tent, had for several days, been rife; but the point at which the invasion would be made was uncertain. At length, it wa? ascertained that Tryon had landed near Norwalk, and it was apprehended that the depot at Danbury, was the object of attack. As soon as Generals Wooster and Arnold, both residents of New Haven, had made their preparations to join General Silliman, who commanded the Militia in that quarter; and Arnold had ordered Lieutenant-Col. Oswald to march with as many companies of Lamb's regiment as were sufficiently filled, to the scene of action; Col Hughes, posted to South ington, where Colonel Lamb's family resided; well know ing that his old coadjutor, would participate in his desire to meet that mischievous functionary in the field, whose machi nations in the sphere of his former government, they both had so much assisted to frustrate. In this respect, he was not disappointed; Colonel Lamb was as eager for the encounter as himself; and they spurred with all haste to join in the affray. They arrived on the ground at the time when the last and most obstinate contest, that of Compo Hill, was raging. Arnold, after having intercepted the retreat of the enemy on Norwalk; had pressed the British General so hard, that he had ordered the marines of the fleet, and reinforcements of troops; whose congregated numbers were nearly equal to the whole body of his assailants to his aid; and on the strong post of Compo, sustained himself until his fresh men could be marched to the front, and his worn out forces relieved. 366 APPENDIX. Colonel Hughes sought out Arnold in the thickest of the fight, and offered his services as aid, which were gladly accepted; and in that capacity he continued throughout the day, bearing orders to different parts of the field; escaping unharmed, the severe fire of the enemy. He had the good fortune, moreover, to fall in with his friend. Colonel Lamb, in a wounded state to help him off the field. Throughout the campaign of 1777, he was indefatigable in the discharge of his arduous duties; obeying exactions from every quarter; and the army under Lord Sterling in the south, and that of Schuyler in the north, were both indebted to his exertions. After the battle of Bemus's Height, on the 19th September; the depot ofthe army at Albany, being ex hausted. Gen. Arnold sent pressing requisitions for supplies of bread; and the celerity with which this order was obeyed by Colonel Hughes, was equalled alone by the promptitude by which he secured the retreat of the army from Long Is land. In less than twenty-four hours after the order was received at Peekskill; three hundred casks of bread reached Albany; and fearful that adverse winds might detain this supply on the river; an adequate quantity, was despatched by land from Sharon, in order to provide against casualties. These provisions reached the army very opportunely; as there were not a day's rations in camp, at the time of their delivery. And but for this timely supply, the army, instead of being able to gain the important victory of the 7th of Oc tober, would have been Compelled to retire before the enemy. On a certain occasion, the date of which is not now re collected, a British vessel, loaded with intrenching tools and other munitions, was taken by an , American Privateer, and her lading, after condemnation in our Court of Admiralty had been ordered to be sold. Colonel Hughes applied to the head of the department for orders to purchase a large por tion of the cargo, iind for funds to enable him to do so, but received for answer that there were no funds disposable for that object. APPENDIX. 367 So confident was Colonel Hughes, that in an early stage of the campaign these articles would be found indispensible, that he raised funds by means of loans of his friends, among whom was Governor George Clinton, and purchased as many of the necessary implements as he was able. It was not long afterwards when articles of this kind were found to be requi site; and few being in the market, the public were supplied by Colonel Hughes, without any advance in cost, although the market price had risen fifty per cent, after his purchases. Some of his friends thought him over liberal to the go vernment in not claiming from it the full value of his sup phes; blithe disclaimed all idea of speculating upon the ne cessities of the army. In after times he was made to feel that the public generosity was not commensurate with his own, and that even its justice might be fruitlessly invoked. When Colonel Pickering was made Quarter Master Gen eral, in 1780; he urged Colonel Hughes to resume the com mand he had relinquished in May, 1778; and as the officer who had outranked him at that period, had accepted the ap- ppintment of agent ofthe state of New York; he returned to the duties of the Quarter Master department. And on the 31st August, 1780, he received from Col. Pickering a letter of which the following is an extract : " These principles, have naturally led me to offer, and to request your acceptance of the office of Deputy Quarter Mas ter of the state of New York, under the new plan for con ducting the Quarter Master General's Department. This office in so considerable a state, and which is the scene of war, demands a gentleman of capacity to fill it" This command was accepted, and Col. Hughes continued to serve in a double capacity, until the close of the year 1781, when he relinquished the first, in order the more closely to devote himself to the duties of the second appointment. On this occasion, general orders were issued by the Commander- in-Chief, of which the following is an extract : 368 APPENDIX. Head Quarters, Highlands, December 6, 1781. Col. Hug-h Hughes, having resigned his appointment of Deputy Quarter-Master to the army, the General returns him his hearty thanks for his attention to, and discharge of the several duties of his office, while in service, under innumera ble embarrassments. Col. Hughes still retains his office of Deputy Quarter -Master for the state of New York. H. Sew all, Aid-de-Camp. While acting in this capacity, he went from Peekskill to Albany, with funds of the department, in order to provide boards for quarters for the army at, and near West Point; -and arriving at the ferry, on the east side of the river, after ¦the ferrymen had withdrawn their boats for the night, he fastened his horse, and went in search of means of convey ance across the river. During his absence his saddle bags were rifled, and the money, nearly fifteen hundred doUars, 'stolen; a loss which occasioned him much inconvenience af terwards. Col. Hughes continued to perform the important fimctions of his office throughout the war, and until the office was abol ished in 1783. In January, 1784, he was elected to the As sembly, from the city of New York, with John Lamb, Mari nus Willett, William Malcom, and others of his old asso ciates, anterior to, and during the war. He was -with Mr. Lamb, associated with John Lansing, Jr., the member from Albany, as a Committee to draft an answer to the Governor's address to the Assembly, and he continued in the Legislature until the end of the session. On the bill more effectually restraining the returned Loy alists, and to impose a test oath on all such as should offer their votes at the polls; Col. Hughes voted with that party, who, during the war, fought for Liberty, and a Republican form, of government; consequently he was opposed by those who merely sought to bring about a separation from the Mother Country, without much innovation of her political APPENDIX. 369 institutions, and ever, during his life time, he adhered to the party of George Clinton, who was the leader of those who held similar opinions to his own. The infirmities produced by the severe duties of his depart ment, induced ..frim to retire from the city, and he rented a farm at Yonkers, the property of his friend Col. Lamb; and there, in order to gratify attachments, formed in early life, and which in generous minds are undying, he undertook the charge of the younger children of his friend, and the present Gen. Anthony Lamb, of New York, was many years an inmate of his family; and at a later period, from the same benevolent impulse, the children of Maj. Charles Tillinghast, his deceased assistant in the Quarter-Master's department, throughout the whole period of his service, were permitted to enjoy the same advantage, and to this hour, they acknow ledge with gratitude, the paternal care of their affectionate, and venerable friend. Col. Hughes had made efforts to settle his accounts with the war department, but such was the pressure of business upon those employed in that bureau, that he was unable to effect it. Another attempt was made in the fall of 1788, but StiU his accounts could not be adjusted. On the 22d Janu ary, 1789, at a time when he was absent from home, a fire broke out in the house he occupied, which being remote from inhabitants, obtained such ascendency before assistance could arrive, that it baffled the exertions of the members of his household to arrest its progress, and all the important papers of Col. Hughes, together with his accounts, and vouchers, were consumed; depriving him of the means of proving the indebtedness of the government for his services and expenses, which amounted to nearly nine thousand dollars. Col. Hughes made afterwards several efforts to procure from the officers of the government, the just settlement of his accounts; the loss of the vouchers of which, had been owing to former delays on their part; and he offered to sup ply the evidence necessary to establish his claims, as well as 47 370 APPENDIX. circumstances would admit of; but the too rigid construction of the laws by the government officials, shut out the equity of his demands, and threw him upon the action of Congress for redress. Accordingly, in 1793, he presented a memorial to that body, stating his claims, and the nature, and extent of the services he had rendered the army, in the most trying con- jmictures of the war; to which he appended the letters of Gen. Washington, and Greene, heretofore quoted, as well as other testimonials of his merits : among which were certifi cates from General James Clinton, Parsons, and Gates, to gether with others from Col. Pickering, the principal of the department, with whom he had last served. These wexe backed by a letter from George Clinton, the Governor of New York, whose friendship for Col. Hughes, began anterior to the war, knew no abatement so long as its object survived. But every effort to obtain justice from Congress was un availing, and three days after his return from the last finiitless journey to Washington, disappointment, and its concomi tants, hastened the ravages of a disease contracted in the public service, and he died at Tappan, on the 15th March, 1802, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Col. Hughes was a man of spotless integrity, and unsullied honor; sagacious to discern the right, and inflexible in his determination to pursue it. His fortitude in the most trying times was never shaken, and in physical, and moral courage, he was exceeded by none. His attachments were imperish able; and no change of circumstances, or mutability of for tune, could weaken his friendships, so long as their objects were deserving. He survived most of his revolutionary co adjutors, and in the close of his life, was made to realize the ingratitude of the government, which at the hazard of that life, and the sacrifice of his fortunes, he had assisted to es tablish. Two sons of Col. Hughes were in the army of the Revo lution, and both served on the staff of Major Generals, in the APPENDIX. 371 memorable campaign of 1777. The eldest, Peter, was aid to Gen. Arnold, and bore his orders to various parts of the field, in the battles of the 19th September, and the 7th Oc tober. He often, in his narrations of the last fight, confirmed the reports circulated at the time, and currently believed, that Arnold, actuated by a stern necessity, pointed out Gen. Eraser to Morgan, as the greatest obstacle to the success of his manoeu-vres, and that that designation, resulted in the death of the gallant British General. James Miles Hughes, the younger son, served as aid to Gen. Gates, so long as his own service with the army con tinued. Before the termination of hostilities, he commenced the study of the law, and was for many years a practitioner in the city of New York, where he was extensively known as one of the public notaries of the state. He left two daugh ters, who both died without issue. Peter, the eldest son, was for many years Clerk of the county of Cayuga, in New York, and left at his decease, children of both sexes, none of whom survive; but several grand children are yet living, one of which, Jasper Hughes, is a resident of the city of New York. The family of Col. Hughes is still farther renewed in the children of the Hon. Philemon Dickerson, of Patterson, New Jersey, not long since a representative in Congress, and sub sequently Governor of that state; who married Sidney Stotes bury, grand daughter of Col. Hughes. Mrs. Dickinson was the daughter of Captain Stotesbury, a very brave officer of dragoons, who, in one of the cavalry actions, fought during the war, against a superior force of the enemy, after receiving several severe sabre cuts on the head, was thrown from the saddle, and feU beneath his horse. Here he remained, trampled under the feet of the squadrons contending above him, until the fight was over. He was then drawn from the heaps of dead, and wounded, with frac tured limbs, and bleeding from his numerous hurts. It seemed impossible to his friends that he could survive; but to their 372 APPENDIX. great joy, and the surprise of the surgeon, he recovered. His face and head, however, bore ever afterwards, the marks of this desperate rencounter. APPENDIX B. Extracted from the American Archives. 1V75. Gov. Tryon continued to prorogue the Assembly from time to time, and to carry on his intrigues with the Loyalists, preparatory to the organization of a military force, to be com posed of those citizens, in order to enforce the orders of the ministerial party. It was not long before their designs be came known to the patriots, and a determination was formed in the Continental Congress to secure his person. Apprehending this arrest, he addressed the corporation, Oct. 13, calling upon that body to protect him, and advising them, that if the design against his person should prevail, that the fleet would demand him, and in the event of a refusal to 14. release him, would bombard the city. He requested the corporation to take the sense of the citizens, relative to his stay among them; and if they were averse to his remain- 17, ing, he would retire on board the Asia. The corpo 18. ration replied, that no danger to his person need be apprehended, and requested him to remain. The Committee of One Hundred, assured him that no motion to seize him had been agitated in the Provincial Congress. They hoped much from his mediation with the Ministry, and m'ged him to stay, and farther said; " that he might rest assured, of all that protection from us, and our fellow citizens, which will be con sistent with the great principle of our safety, and preservation." These representations proved unconvincing, and the Go- Oct. 19. vernor replied from on board the Halifax packet, that he was not satisfied with the assurance, either of the Corpora tion, or of the Committee. Thenceforth the public business APPENDIX. 373 was transacted on board some vessel in the harbor. From the 1775 ship Dutchess of Gordon, he informs the Corporation, Dec. 4. that he has His Majesty's permission to withdraw from his government whenever exigencies might make such a course expedient; and some days afterwards, he enclosed to 18. the Corporation the letter of Captain H. Parker, of His Majesty's ship Phoenix, declaring that " if any body of men are raised, or any fortifications thrown up, or any magazines attempted, be has orders to treat them as in open rebellion 23 against the King." Five days afterwards, the Governor farther prorogued the Assembly to the ffrst of February; and 1776, that proclamation was shortly followed by another, Jan, 2, dissolving them, and the issuing of writs for the elec tion of a new Assembly, on the first of February. This elec tion never took place. The Committee of Public Safety, not- 6. notwithstanding the threat of the Captain of the Phoenix, resolved that Gen. Lee's troops should march into the city, and occupy the barracks; and , accordingly that General Feb. 5. marched in, and took possession of the city. On the same day. Sir Henry Clinton arrived in the Mercury fri gate. The Committee refused supplies to the Mercury, and 6. serious fears were entertained that a bombardment would follow the refusal; the records of the government were removed to the house of Alderman Nicholas Bayard, in the 11, out ward; and not long afterwards, the Governor de parted to the Quarantine at Staten Island, to mature his grand design, which is shadowed forth in the following extract of a letter from Gen. Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Boston, 16th January, 1776. " He, [Tryon,] seems positive of being able to raise two thousand men, upon the arrival of the army in New York, who may be rendered very useful, if accompanied by his personal services in the field." On his return to the city, after its evacuation by the Americans, in August, he devoted himself to his military functions; and in the organization of the corps of Loyalists above aUuded to, of which he was appointed Major-General. S74 APPENDIX. APPENDIX C.' From American Archives. An fextract of a letter from Captain Lamb to a friend in New York, taken from the American Archives, third vol ume, fourth series, page 1343, gives a detail of the surrender, which is as follows : " St. Johns, November 3, 1775. " I have the pleasure to inform you, that I had the honor of marching into, and taking possession of this fortress, at the head of my company, and about two hundred men from the different corps of which our army is composed, about nine o'clock this morning; when the garrison, consisting of about six hundred men, marched out, and grounded their arms on the plains to the westward of the fort, (agreeable to the terms of the enclosed capitulation,) and were embarked in batteaux for Captain Mead's encampment; and from thence to be sent under guard as speedily as possible, for Ticonde roga, Connecticut, or any other place which the Continental Congress friay direct. I most sincerely congratulate you on this most fortunate event; which in my opinion will be a most fatal stab to the hellish machinations of the foes of free dom, as it will facilitate the reduction of Canada, and secure the Canadians in our favor. " We have taken in the fort a considerable quantity of ar tillery stores, among which are seventeen pieces of excellent brass artillery, two of them twenty-four pounders; the rest of them field pieces, two royal howitzers, several mortars, cohorns, and a considerable number of iron cannon. There were in the garrison about five hundred regular troops, the rest were composed of Canadian volunteei-s, among whom are many of their noblesse, who I believe are, from appear ances, on the stool of repentance. And as you are fond of knowing how we have proceeded in carrying on the siege of this place since my last, I will give you a detail of the particular operations since that period. " On Saturday, the 28th ultimo, the main body of the army decamped from the south, and marched to the north side of the fort, under the command of General Wooster. We were joined in the evening by General Montgomery; APPENDIX. 375 and the same night we began to throw up a breast-work, (on an eminence which entirely commanded the enemy's works) in order to erect a battery of cannon and mortars: this battery they kept continually pelting at with grape shot and shells, but without doing us the least injury, until Wed nesday morning, when we opened our battery, consisting of three twelves, and one nine pounder, three mortars, and as many cohorns, with which we kept an almost incessant blaze on them a great part of the day — and likewise from our bat tery on the east side of the river; which the enemy returned with the greatest spirit. " Late in the afternoon, I received a message from General Montgomery, ordering me to cease firing until further orders. These orders were extremely disagreeable tome, when I saw some of my men bleeding before my eyes, and dying of the wounds they had received, " On our ceasing to fire, the general ordered a parley to be beat, and sent an officer to demand a surrender of the fort. Two officers soon after returned with him, and were led blindfolded through the camp to the General's tent, where a pretty long conference was held; and they promised the Gen eral an answer from the commanding officer the next morn ing, which was complied with. The answer imported that if they should receive no relief within four days, he would then send in some proposals. The General replied that he must have an explicit answer next morning, and that the gar rison must remain prisoners of war at all events; and if they had any intention to renew hostilities, they need only sig nify it by firing a gun as a signal. This, though very un palatable, they were at length obliged to digest, as you see by the capitulation. " You will readily excuse the incorrectness of this scrawl, when I inform you it is now past one o'clock in the morning; having had no time to write before, as I have been all day at the fort, examining the stores, and we are to begin our march for Montreal this morning; and my fingers and sen ses are so benumbed with cold, that I can scarcely write at all, owing to a north-easterly wind and plenty of snow, which is now falling in abundance; yet, notwithstanding, I am not so senseless or ungrateful as to forget my friend. I am yours, etc., etc. " P. S. My little company has been rather unfortunate, as I have had five killed; four by the enemy and one by acci dent — six wounded, one died by sickness — which is as great 376 , APPENDIX. a loss as has been sustained by the whole army, except in the first skirmish with the Indians, etc.; but this is what we must naturally expect, as the post of honor ever is the post of danger." Such is the real history of the capture of Fort St. John; but in the same publication from which most of the facts in relation to the siege are taken, there will be found au thorities of quite a different import; and if the colonial re cords of New Hampshire were to be consulted, and their contents relied upon; some future historian will claim in be half of that province, the entire merit of the success which, after a siege of two months, crowned the arms of the revo lutionists. APPENDIX D. As Smith's narrative is not easy to be met with, the fol lowing extract from it may be interesting. It comprises from 16th to 37th page of the London copy. " My house was situated on the nearest route, where all communications generally passed from the eastern and south ern States, across the ferry at Stoney Point, about 18 miles below West Point. Gen. Arnold's residence, while com manding the garrison, was at the house and farm of Col. Beverly Robinson, who had relinquished them and joined the royal army at New York. This residence was situated on the eastern side of the Hudson; a dreary situation, envi roned with mountains, and no way calculated for the resi dence of a lady of Mrs. Arnold's taste; she being well quali fied from a most amiable disposition, and very engaging at tractions, to be, at once the example and ornament of the po litest circles. Being at that time but recently returned from Charleston, South Carolina, with my family, Mrs. Smith was equally destitute of the society which each had been accus- APPENDIX. 377 tomed to, in their respective cities. The intercourse by land or water, from West Point to Stoney Point, in the summer season, was easily attained; they were therefore engaged in frequent visits to each other; and General Arnold was as frequently with me, in search of those culinary supplies, un attainable in his mountain recesses. I felt myself happy in rendering him every aid in my power; and cultivated his acquaintance from motives of security; for in my absence from the State of New York, my family in general were sus pected of disaffection to the American cause; my eldest brother, the late Chief Justice of Canada, having been banished within the British lines at New York, for his unequivocal attachment to the English government. An other brother, who was generally deemed an enemy to the revolution, and myself, were also more than suspected of being in the British interest, from the circumstance of my being appointed with two other gentlemen, of the county of Orange, a Doctor Butwater and Col. Sherrod (by a very large majority of the electors of that county), to oppose in the convention of delegates ofthe different counties of the province in 1776, the measure of independence then recom mended and adopted by Congress. Indeed, such was the jealousy of the times, that to be descended from English parentage, or to possess any lukewarmness in the rash and intemperate measures that the demagogues of the mob chose to dictate, was sufficient to render the tenure of life, liberty, and property most precarious. From the elevated situation I possessed, commanding an extensive view of the capacious Bay of Haverstraw, at this part of the river five miles wide, I frequently observed flags of truce, passing and repassing;* and I took the liberty of re questing to know from General Arnold, if there was any im propriety in the simple interrogation, whether the flags were for an exchange of prisoners by cartell He answered gene rally, that in a short time the business of the flags would be * This was early in Sept., 1780. 48 878 APPENDIX. explained. Soon afterwards, it was mentioned at dinner by General Arnold, that the flags had brought letters from Colo nel Beverly Robinson, who General Arnold said, was very anxious to make terms for the recovery of his estates that had been confiscated to the public use, and that Colonel Robinson was authorized to propose through his medium, some preliminary grounds for an accomodation between Great Britian and America. Colonel Lamb of the artUlery at West Point, an old and sagacious officer, who with a number of other officers of the garrison, was present at din ner, immediately said, that any proposition of that kind ought with more propriety, to be made to Congress, than to a General only commanding a district. General Arnold re plied, that the communication must at first be made through some channel, and here the conversation ended. Sometime afterwards. General Arnold, in another visit, seemed more communicative; he expressed his detestation of the French alliance from the perfidiousness of their national character; ridiculed the solecism and inconsistency of an ab solute monarch, being the ally of a people contending for freedom, who kept his X)wn subjects in the most despotic and absolute slavery; thought it was an unnatural union of no duration; and that it was not made by France, until she saw the Americans were able to defend themselves, which would be more for their own national glory. Gen. Arnold then mentioned, that he had received another flag of truce, and that Colonel Beverl}' Robinson had anxiously solicited an in terview, to be more explanatory of the propositions that were to produce, if acceded to by Congress, a general peace; and happily terminate the expense of blood and treasure, that were ruinous to both countries, in the prosecution of a war without an object. He said he conceived that the overtures made bn the part of Great Britian by her Commissioners, the Earl of Carlisle, Governor Johnston, and Mr. Eden, (now Lord Auckland), were founded in all sincerity and good faith; that they fully met the ultimatum that the generality of the Americans desired, but by what he could learn from APPENDIX. 379 Colonel Robinson, the present terms held out, went much farther than the propositions of 1778; and he made no doubt that they would be the basis of an honorable peace. This event, he said, he most cordially wished, being heartily tired ofthe war; and he then complained of being ill used by Congress, and the executive of Pennsylvania, which had treated him with injustice, in not sufficiently estimating his services.* I requested to know from Gen. Arnold if he had informed Gen. Washington of Col. Rdbinson's applications, and what was the General's opinion of the business? He answered that he had written to him for directions how to act; but that he was then gone to Connecticut or Rhode Island on a visit to Count Rochambeau, the Commander-in-Chief of the French troops, lately arrived from France. Soon after this conversation, I accompanied my family on a visit to Fishkill, a settlement about 18 miles higher up from Robinson's house, where I left them ; and stopping at Gen. Arnold's quarters on my return, agreeably to his parti cular request, he solicited me to conduct a flag of truce to the Vultuke sloop of war, then lying in Haverstraw Bay, for the purpose of bringing Col. Robinson to the intended interview. I was so deeply iqt-erested in the object of this meeting, ;as represented to me by Gen. Arnold, and the suc cess of it was. sp' congenial to my wishes, that I made no hesitation tft assure him of my cheerful concurrence; and in a day or two afterwards. Gen. Arnold came to my house, at Haverstraw, with the necessary passports for my mission to the Vulture. Having himself made the necessary arrangements, such as * At the time of this interview. General Arnold was at my house, and in the familiarity of conversation, he expressed himself as follows:— Smith, here I am, after having fought the battles of my country, and find myself with a ruined constitution, and this limb, (holding up his wounded leg) novif rendered useless to me. At the termination of this war, where can I seek for compensation for such damages as I have sus tained? 380 APPENDIX. providing a boat from the Quarter-Master, Major Kiers, at Stoney Point, with every publicity, I was surprised that he should request me to go in the night. He begged me to pro cure for him hands from among my tenants, that had been used to the water. I stated to him the impropriety of con ducting a flag in a manner which I deemed unprecedented; but he overruled my objection by assurances that it was pro perly understood on hoard the Vulture, and that the business was of a nature not to be generally known, for the present, among the citizens. Having made the promise, I could not recede, and with much reluctance, I consented to go; but he had great difficulty to persuade my tenants to accompany me, as they were intimidated by the danger of the under taking by night; nor would they have consented, although promised handsome pay, and menaced with confinement for their non-compliance, if I had not appeared wiUing to coun tenance the measure, assuring them that it was, in my opin ion, for the good of the country, which, upon the represent ations of Gen. Arnold, were my real sentiments. Accojflingly Gen. Arnold had given the order for muffling the oars, that we might not be impeded by the boats that guarded the shores; a precaution necessary, as there was a regular water patrol, to -prevent those disaffected to the American interest, or tories, as the friends of the royal cause were called, from carrying provisions or intelligence to the British ships occasionally lying in the river. This precau tion, however, staggered the confidence of the eldest of the watermen, who bluntly told Gen. Arnold that, if the business was of a fair and upright nature, as he assured them it was, he saw no necessity for any disguise; or to seize the veil of night to execute that which might as well be ttans- acted in broad day light. The watermen were simple, hon est, had been accustomed to their occupation, and were my tenants, in whom I could place the utmost confidence; and it afterwards appeared, I was not deceived. Gen. Arnold in sisted on their pursuing the business, and assured them he APPENDIX. 381 he had the command of the militia ofthe country for sixty miles round West Point, by order of Congress, and that he would give a countersign to the guard boats that we might pass unmolested. The countersign given was Congress; thus arranged, no further hesitation was made to gain the Vulture, then lying at the extremity of Haverstraw Bay. The night was se rene, the tide favorable, and the silent manner in which we passed the fort at Stoney Ptjint, at the mouth of Haverstraw creek, precluded any obstructions; in short, although the distance was nearly 12 miles, we soon reached the ship. On our approach, We were haUed by the centinel on deck, ordered to bring to, and questioned whither bound? I an swered, with a flag of truce to the Vulture, Sloop of war; up on which, I was heartily assailed with a volley of oaths, all in the peculiarity of sea language, by the officer command ing the watch on the quarter deck, and commanded instantly to haul along side, or he would blow us out of the water. Upon coming along side, I was saluted by another discharge of the same nautical eloquence, and orders were given to hoist the rebel rascal on board, which was prevented by my climbing up a rope fastened to the main chains, and so reaching the main deck. I -was questioned as to my business, and how I could presume to come on board His Majesty's ship under color of a flag of truce, at night? To which, I answered, I was so authorized by my papers, which I re quested he would give to Capt. Sutherland, the commander of the ship, and Col. Robinson, as I knew they were on board. This request, however, seemed to have no effect; but he poured on me. torrents of abuse, threatening to hang me at the yard arm, as he said another rebel had been a few days before. Being, nevertheless, unintimidated, and seeing Col. Robinson and the Captain, for whom I had letters, I raised my voice, and said he must be answerable for my be ing delayed. Whether I was heard in the cabin or not, I can not say, but soon afterwards a boy came on deck and said. 382 APPENDIX. " the Captain orders the man below.'" He conducted me into the cabin, where, on my entrance, I saw a . venerable looking gentlemen, whom I recognized to be Col. Beverly Robinson, dressed in a regimental uniform. He received me politely, desired me to be seated, and, shortly, introduced me to Capt. Sutherland, who lay ill in his berth. Col. Be verly Robinson, having perused the letter from Gen. Arnold, apologized for retiring a few minutes, ordering some refresh ment, and left me to converse with Capt. Sutherland, to whom I related my uncourtly reception on deck; and his ur banity, compensated me for the incivility of his officer on deck. Having conversed with Capt. Sutherland for twenty minutes on indifferent subjects, Col. Robinson returned and introduced Mr. Anderson to me, saying he was mentioned in Gen. Arnold's letter, for whom he had sent a pass to come on shore, in case he, Col.; Robinson, should be unable to accompany me. Col. Robinson pleaded indisposition and said Mr. Anderson could as effectually answer all purposes by going on shore as himself. There seemed no reluc tance on the part of Anderson to supply Col. Robinson's place, and he appeared in a dress equipped for the purpose; wearing boots and a large blue great coat. For my own part, it made no difference to me who bore me company; so that the object of my mission was fully answered, and the great national ends obtained, which Arnold assured me would be the result of the affair. Mr. Anderson being ready, we left the ship; and we rowed in a short time to the western shore, to the place which Gen. Arnold had appointed for the interview; this was at the foot of the Long Clove, near the low water mark, whither my servant had conducted Gen. Arnold on horse back, he being still lame from his wounds. Very little conversation passed between Mr. Anderson and myself, excepting tt'ivial remarks about the tide, the weather, and matters of no concern. Mr. Anderson, from his youthful appearance and the softness of his manners, did APPENDIX. 3^3 not seem to me qualified for a business of such moment; his nature seemed fraught with the milk of human kindness. On my approach to the place of appointment, I found Gen, Arnold ready to receive me; he was hid among the firs. I mentioned to him Col. Beverly Robinson's reason for not ac companying me; and the delegation of a young gentleman, a Mr. Anderson, whom 1 had brought with me, and who was then with the watermen on the Strand. He appeared much agitated, and expressed chagrin at the disappointment of not seeing Col. Robinson. He desired me, however, to conduct Mr. Anderson to him, which being- done, he requested me to remain with the hands at the boat. I went as directed, but felt greatly mortified at not being present at the interview, to which I conceived myself entitled, from my rank in life and the trouble I had taken to effect the meeting. At length, they continued such a time in conference, that I deemed it expedient to inform them of the approaching dawn of day. Shortly afterwards both came down to the boat, and Gen. Arnold, with much earnestness, solicted me to return with Mr. Anderson to the Vulture; but I pointed out the imprac ticability of effecting his wish, from the great distance, and the fatigue of the hands. He then applied to the men, who declared themselves unable to gratify his wish, through want of strength to accomplish it, and the ebb tide against them. Convinced of the apparent impracticability of the attempt to reach the ship, and return before day, without being disco vered from eithei; shore by the inhabitants, whose eyes were constantly watching the movements on the river, not only from the forts, but the surrounding shores; he relinquished his solicitations, and desired I would endeavor to return the boat to the place from whence we first embarked; this, with much. labor, and taking the circuit of the eddies, was nearly effected, (as we left the boat at Crane's Island,) when our attention was called to the cannonade from Gallows Point, against the Vulture, which was compelled to fall down the river, and appeared to be set on fire. Col. Livingston, how- 384 APPENDIX. ever, must have been totally unacquainted with Gen. Arnold's designs, or he never would have fired at that time upon the ship. I will here request the candid and liberal reader, to judge whether any man in his senses, would, or would not, have refused to carry JNIr. Anderson back to the Vulture, if he knew the extent of Gen. Arnold's plot, and the danger to which he was exposed, in case of discovery. If the purport of the interview had been fully accomplished, why could not Gen. Arnold have given me a flag to carry this gentleman on board the Vulture? The fact is, he had not recovered the trepidation into which he was thrown, on Mi. Anderson's first landing, from what cause, let the reader form his own opinion. Julius Caesar did not discover more intrepidity than Gen. Arnolil, who, in the many actions in which he was engaged, iitver retired without some scar, or wound, as ho norable testimonies of bravery. On my return home, I found that Gen. Arnold, and Mr. Anderson had arrived long before. Mr. Anderson having mounted the horse my servant had rode, when he followed Gen. Arnold to the Long Clove, the place of Anderson's land ing. He appeared vexed that the ship had been compelled to leave her position, and after taking breakfast, and mv ague coming on, it being the day of its return, I was obliged to retire, as well on that account, as to recover from the fa tigue of the night, so that Gen. Arnold, and Mr. Andei-son were left alone the far greater part of the day. The conver sation at breakfast was principally about the arrival of the fleet at New York, under the command of Admiral Arbuth- not; the general health, and spirit of the British army, and other desultory topics, of no consequence. Towards evening, Arnold came to my house, and proposed that I should convey Mr. Anderson back to the Vulture, which had nearly regained her former situation; he saw, however, from thestate of sick ness under which I then labored, with a fit of the ague upon me, that I was unable to gratify him, on which he proposed APPENDIX. 385 my accompanying him part of the way, on his return to New York by land, as soon as my health would permit, on the re moval of my ague fit; to which I made no objection, as when better, it woul.d be on my way, to visit and bring home my family from Fishkill, being obliged to cross the river for that purpose. He soon after returned, and told me a difficulty had occurred, of which he was not before apprised; for that Anderson had come on shore in a military dress, which he had borrowed from an officer of his acquaintance at New York; that, as it would be impossible for him to travel in that uniform, he requested the loan of one of my coats. Be ing nearly of my size, I lent him a coat; the other parts of his dress did not require change. Gen. Arnold then proposed returning to his command at West Point; leaving Mr. An derson very disconsolate with me. I endeavored to amuse him by showing him the prospect from the upper part of my house, from whence there was an extensive view over the capacious bay of Haverstraw to the opposite shore; he cast an anxious look towards the Vulture, and with a heavy sigh, wished he was on board. I endeavored to console him, by the hope of his being at the White Plains, or New York, before her. Finding myseff better, I promised to accompany him on his way. I could not help remarking to him, that I thought the General might have ordered a flag of truce from Stoney Point, to have returned him to the Vulture, without the fatigue of his going to the White Plains; that, appear ing to me, a circuitous route, unless he had business to trans act at that place, of a public nature. From this time he seemed shy, and desirous to avoid much conversation. He continued to urge preparations for his departme, and care fully avoided being seen by persons that came to the house. Previous to his quitting it. Gen. Arnold had prepared a pass port for him to go to the White Plains, and a flag of truce,. for me to go thither, and return. 49 386 APPENDIX. APPENDIX E. Brigade order, Oct. 8, 1781. A field officer of artillery will be appointed every day to command in the trenches, to be relieved every twenty-four hours. He will pointedly attend that the fire is well directed according to the object; and that the utmost coolness and regularity is observed. The officers of artillery in the batteries are to level every piece themselves. General after orders Oct. 20. The General congratulates the army upon the glorious events of yesterday. The generous proofs which his most Christian Majesty has given of his attachment to the cause of America, must force conviction on the minds of the most deceived among the enemy, relative to the good consequences of the alliance, and inspire every citizen of these States with sentiments of most unalterable gratitude. His fleet, the most numerous and powerful that ever appeared in these seas; commanded by an Admiral whose fortune and talents ensure great events: an army of the most admirable composition, both in officers and men, are the pledges of his friendship to the United States; and their cooperation has secured us the present signal suc cess. The General on this occasion, entreats his Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, to accept his most grateful acknow ledgments for his counsels and assistance at all times. He presents his warmest thanks to the General Baron de Vio menil, Chevalier Chastelleux, Marquis de St. Simon, and Count de Viomenil; and to Brigadier-General de Choise, who had a separate command; for the illustrious manner in which they have advanced the common cause. He requests that Count de Rochambeau will be pleased to communicate to the army under his immediate command, the high sense APPENDIX. 387 he entertains of the distinguished merits, of the officers and soldiers of every corps: and that he wUl present in his name to the regiments of Augenois and Deux Ponts, the two pieces of brass ordnance captured by them,* as a testimony of their gcJlantry in storming the enemy's redoubt on the night of the Mth instant, when officers and men so universaUy vied with each other in the exercise of every soldierly virtue. The General's thanks to each individual of merit, would comprehend the whole army: but he thinks himself bound, however, by affection, duty and gratitude, to express his ob ligations to Major-Generals La Fayette and Steuben, for dis positions in the trenches; to General du Portail, and Col. Carney, for the vigor and knowledge which were conspicuous in their conduct of the attacks; and to General Knox and Col. D'Abeville for their great care, attention and fatigue in bringing forward the artUlery and stores, and for their judi cious and spirited management of them in the parrallels. He requests the gentlemen above mentioned to communicate his thanks to the officers and soldiers of their respective commands. Ingratitude, which the General hopes never to be guilty of, which would be conspicuous in him, should he omit thanking in the warmest manner, his Excellency Governor Neilson, for the aid he has derived from him, and from the militia under his command; to whose activity, emulation and courage, much applause is due. The greatness of the acqui sition, will be ample compensation for the hardships and hazards which they encountered with so much patriotism and firmness. In order to difpiise the general joy through every heart, the General orders, that those men belonging to the army, who may be now in confinement, should be pardoned, released, and join their respective corps. Divine service is to be performed to-morrow in the several * Congress afterwards confirmed this gift by a resolve to that effect. 388 APPENDIX. Brigades and Divisions, The commander-in-Chief recom mends that the troops not on duty should universally attend, with seriousness of deportment and gratitude of heart, which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interposi tions of Providence demand of us. Brigade orders, Oct. 21, 1781. It is with the highest degree of pleasure. Gen. Knox obeys the request of His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, in communicating His Excellency's thanks to the corps of ar tillery. The attention to the public interests in all ranks of officers, in bringing forward with uncommon labour to this point, the cannon and stores, which have, in conjunction with those of our good friends the French, in a capital degree effected the joyful event of the 19th, merit the warmest effu sions of gratitude. The skill so conspicuously manifested in the meuiagement and direction of the cannon and mortars, have convinced our noble allies, and brought home to the feelings of our enemies, that the officers of the American artillery have acquired a respectable portion of knowledge in their profession. General Knox peculiarly requests Colonel Lamb to accept of his most, sincere acknowledgments for his care and atten tion in conducting the stores and troops from the head of Elk to this place. He also thanks Lieut.-Col. Stevens for his great exertions at Christiana Bridge in forwarding the stores from that place, and for the essential assistance he afforded Col. Lamb in the other parts of his duty: and Major Bauman for the separate transportation of stores with which he was charged. He is highly impressed with the merit of the above gen tlemen, and with that of Lieut -Col. Carrington, in the im portant duties of the batteries, which they discharged in a manner highly honorable to themselves aud their counfry.'' APPENDIX. 389 APPENDIX F. Mr. John C. Hamilton, in the life of his father, says that in the election of 1784, " Clinton was supported by the most violent of the Whigs, and the most violent of the Tories, who had become Whigs." This assertion, which ranges part of the Tories on the side of Clinton, is repeUed by common sense, and virtually contradicted by himself, in another pas sage of his book. The election laws of 1777, and 1778, dis franchised the Tories, and the Legislature of 1784 confirmed former enactments to that effect. Test oaths were enjoined, and administered; and none who had openly favored the British, (and the violent Tories must have done so), could take this oath without instant detection, and consequent ex posure to punishment for perjury. Nor is it at all probable that any of the Tory party, who had prudence enough to con- cea^their former acts, or present predilections, if they had been permitted to vote, would have favored that side, which had ever been, and still was, resolved to perpetuate their dis franchisement. They would certainly have chosen the other side : more especially, as at this very time, Col. Hamilton was striving to remove their disabilities, and was publishing the numbers of " Phocion" in the newspapers, for this avow ed purpose; and there is no probability that any of these per sons failed to attach themselves with devotion, to the man who was stemming the torrent of a just and natural prejudice, in order to emancipate them from the outlawry occasioned by their former acts. The truth of history corresponds with the promptings of common sense. The Tories, to a man, sided with Hamilton, and his party, and it was the successful efforts of that gentle man to overcome the public animosities, that enabled him to obtain his election to the Assembly of 1787, and to carry out his favorite measure, the repeal of the laws of exclusion, un der which the Loyalists were disfranchised. There he had 390 APPENDIX. the address, and influence, to procure the abrogation of the most important part of those laws; and by the accession of the great body of the enfranchised Tories to his party, to prostrate at once his opponents in the city, and to secure his election to the general Convention of 1787, and afterwards that of his friends from the city, in the Convention of the state, assembled in 1788. That the restoration of the Loyalists to full citizenship, was in a general view, proper, none at this day wiU deny; but it was a measure which numbers at that time, who possessed as much probity, and patriotism as Hamilton himself, did deny, and most strenuously oppose; and it is a little remarkable, that having it in his power to effect a perfect repeal ofthe law. Col. Hamilton should have contented himself with the abro gation of a part, the operation of which was to let in thou sands of voters, leaving its more rigorous penalties in force against a few, who, by name, were yet doomed to outlawry; all of whom were persons of great respectability, and worth, and who had done no more to merit perpetual ex<;lusion, than those restored by him. To perform this act of mercy, was left to his political opponents, and at the next session of the Legislature, on motion of Samuel Jones, a staunch supporter of Gov. Clinton, the last clause of the law of 1784, was re pealed. That the Tories could have formed no part of George Clinton's party, and that they, and their influence, were ri gorously excluded by the enforcement of the test oath of 1784, the following extract from Hamilton's book, vol 2, pp. 260, 261, wiU disclose : " These considerations were disregarded, and this oath was prescribed. The election was thus in the bands of a few vi olent persons, together with those who wa-e tempted by this bribe, to perjury. " As a consequence, the representatives were composed of men of similar character; the most conspicuous of whom was APPENDIX. 391 Aaron Burr; men chosen by an infuriate populace, in the midst of a disturbed, and overawed city." What bribe was here offered? and who were, or could be corrupted by its allurements? Not any of the Whigs, violent or otherwise, most certainly; for they were not within the scope of its influence, and it must have been the Tories alone, who were tempted to perjury; and on whose side did they vote, if any indeed dared the hazard? Certainly not with their proscribers; not with the men who were pushing them from the polls by every effort in their power. A bribe must carry with it some prospect of gain, and if any perjured votes were cast, they were for the Hamilton party, their open friends, and not for their bitterest enemies. The names of the successful candidates at the first election in the city, after the peace, were Marinus Willett, John Lamb, Isaac Sears, William Malcom, Hugh Hughes, Henry Rutgers, John Stagg, Robert Harpur, and Peter P. Van Zandt. Of these, all had shown as much moral courage, and endurance, and the two first at least, had as often, and as manfully met the enemy in the field as any the most vaunted of the opposite party. Their moral characters were as pure and untainted as their patriotism, and the charge of motives of cupidity against such men, is as rash as it is undeserved. As well might any one, desirous of detracting from the high character of Gen. Hamilton; and the writer of this is not so desirous, (for he always viewed, and still regards the death of that distinguished man, a national misfortune). As well might they affirm that he was induced to favor the perfect restoration of the Tories, because they were, or were to be come the most valuable of his clients, as to ascribe the ac tion of those men, to impure, or selfish motives. The history of Alexander Hamilton ought to have been written in a better spirit, and the motives of his antagonists should have been judged with more candor; but the author, blinded by personal, and party prejudice, assails with bitter ness all who opposed him; and even Gov. Clinton, to whose 392 APPENDIX. devotion to the country, Hamilton himself had borne witness, is attacked with the same rancorous virulence. That great man was a patriot of the purest character, and may with jus tice, be placed second to Washington alone, in efficient ser vice to the nation. His efforts in the arduous station in which he acted throughout the war; difficult as it was rendered by the great body of the disaffected in the state, were justly ap preciated by Congress, and the people; and yet he escapes not the fate of his cotemporaries. While all the acts of Ham ilton are ascribed to a regard for the public good, and the most exalted patriotism, those of Clinton, and his cotempo raries are placed to account of the most nan-ow, factious, and selfish motives. It is to be regretted that Mr. Hamilton in his laudable ef fort to do justice to his father, did not rely upon the merfrs of that distinguished man alone, in order to establish his claims upon posterity; much more that he should attempt to draw invidious comparisons for the purpose of exalting a character which required no adventitious aids. Still more is it to be deplored that he should have suffered his own pre judices and animosities to prevail, and induce him to decry the talents and services of others, in order to render ima ginary contrasts more glaring. No man acquainted with the history of the principal leaders of the party opposed to the restoration of the loyalists, can with truth affirm that they or the party which sustained them, merit the sweeping denunciations pronounced against them. Their motives to action were as pure, and as little traceable to personal or corrupt inducements, as those of the great names which were opposed to them; while their patriotism and devotion, at all times exhibited; equalled, if it did not transcend the zeal of the most exalted of those individuals who differed from them on that important question. There is not a name upon the list of representatives which he denounces, which is behind that of Alexander Hamilton^ for integrity, for personal or moral courage, or purity of APPENDIX. 393 patriotism; nor ought their descendants to admit such a pro scription to obscure the fame of their ancestors. To place this controversy in the proper light, it must be remembered, that many of those who fought the battles of the Revolution, and a still greater number of those who did not bear arms, but who favored the cause, and aided it in their several spheres of usefulness; even during the war, pro claimed that they fought for independence of the Mother Country, rather than for an alteration of its form of govern ment. And as the prospect of peace grew stronger, these sentiments were more openly avowed. On the other hand, the Republicans, or according to Chancellor Livingston's no menclature, " the violent W^higs" fought for liberty, and a commonwealth; repudiating the aristocratic features of the English form of government. That Col. Hamilton belonged to the first of these parties was well known. While yet the war existed, he disclosed his opinions on this subject to Col. Hugh Hughes, assistant Quarter -Master General, who afterwards became one of the members of the Assembly, so obnoxious to his son's resent ment; and the attitude which he assumed in the Convention of 1787, affords conviction that his opinions were even then unchanged, and that he would have been satisfied if the Bri tish Constitution, with very slight modification, had been es tablished by that Convention. Holding these opinions, which if not at the time openly avowed, were very little disguised; it is not surprising that he met from the sturdy Republicans, the most determined resistance. Accordingly they opposed his measures, and kept him and his party in check, until they were themselves borne down by the extension of the elective franchise to his friends, and their inveterate enemies. But setting aside all other views of the question, save that of a contest for political supremacy. The balance of power, was suspended upon it; The men in possession of the govern ment, had a natural right to defend themselves; and George Clinton, and his friends, are as much entitled to be considered 50 394 APPENDIX. as pure in their motives as were Colonel Hamilton, and his supporters. The result, as it terminated in the immediate overthrow of his opponents in the city; and their ultimate prostration throughout the state, proved, that if not the bet ter cause; the better fortune, was on Hamilton's side; and it justified the resistance ofthe other party, by the law of self- preservation. The history ofthe bill which called forth the vituperation of Mr. Hamilton, and which he charges the Assembly to have passed; " under the specious title, of An act to preserve the freedom and independence of this state, and for other pur poses;" is this. A special election for members to repre sent the city in the House of Assembly was held in January, 1784, to take their seats in the seventh session of the Legis lature, one term of which had already expired. At the meeting of the two houses, a bill was introduced in the As sembly entitled, " An act declaring certain description of persons, without the protection of this state, and for other purposes therein mentioned." This bill embodied some of the provisions of former election laws; and the last section was a decree of perpetual outlawry and banishment against certain persons named in it. In the Senate, Abraham Yates, a member ever distinguished for his patriotism, moved an amendatory clause in the following words: " That aU and every person, and persons, falling under the descriptions hereinbefore mentioned in the 12th section of the Act enti tled An act to regulate Elections within this state, passed the 27th March, 1778; and who has, or have not, left this state, are hereby forever disqualified, and rendered incapa ble of holding, exercising or enjoying, any legislative, judi cial, or executive, office or place whatsoever, within this state: and shall, and hereby is, and are, forever disqualified and incapacitated to elect or vote either by ballot or viva voce at any election to fill any office or place whatsoever within this state." This clause passed 10 to 6, Mr. Whiting, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Rosevelt, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Ward, and Mr. APPENDIX. 395 McDougall voting against it. "Mr. Oothout farther re ported, that they had gone through the bill, made several amendments, and altered the title in the words follow ing, viz: " An act to preserve the freedom and independence of this state, and for other purposes therein mentioned." These amendments were adopted by the Assembly, who did nothing more than concur with the Senate in the passage of the amended bill, with its new title and the obnoxious clause; and the lower house is, therefore, innocent of the specious title of which Mr. Hamilton complains. This bill he truly asserts was negatived by the council of revision. But he omits to state, that it passed both houses, by the constitu tional majority, and was in force, when at the election of 1787, Colonel Hamilton was returned to the Assembly. yiv. Hamilton has fallen into many inaccuracies in his desire to stigmatize the opponents of his father. And in his attempt to cast odium upon Colonel Burr, the archives of the state have been partially consulted, carelessly perused, or wilfully perverted. Acts of one Legislature have been as cribed to men chosen at a subsequent period; and deeds at- fributable to another Assembly of which he was not a mem ber, are charged upon a man, against whom, as the son of his father, he had just cause of hatred, but to whom, as an historian, he was bound to do at least justice. Col. Burr was not a member of the Legislature which passed the bill complained of by Mr. Hamilton. He was elected at the regular election of April, 1784. His colleagues in that Assembly, were Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Com fort Sands, John Lawrence, Henry Remsen, Daniel Dunscomb, WiUiam Denning, William Goforth, and Thomas Randall. Several of these were Col. Hamilton's friends, and at that session advocated measures favored by him, and more than one subsequently became his very efficient partisans. Certainly Mr. Hamilton could not have taken the trouble to inform himself who those members were who composed either Assembly, for he would hardly have ventured know- 396 APPENDIX. ingly to denounce men of such high character; many of whom were coadjutors with his father, merely for being associated with Col. Burr : who, after all, was innocent of the act of which he complains. As Mr. Hamilton's book has been adopted by many as au thentic, and has misled even Hammond, whose Political His tory has now become a text book; it may not be improper to notice another error into which he has fallen in his details of the proceedings of the Assembly of 1787, in regard to the answer of the House to the Governor's speech. The Gover nor had refused to call a special meeting of the Legislature, in conformity to a request of Congress; and it was the wish of his friends to embody in the answer an approval of that measure by the Legislature. This Col. Hamilton and his friends endeavored to prevent, but were unsuccessful, tfle was of the committee to report the answer; and to his report, Richard Varrick, the Speaker, offered an amendment, which gave the sanction of the House to the course pursued by the executive. Mr. Hamilton asserts that the Speaker, Richard Varrick, withdrew his motion, and that Gen. Malcom offered his amendment as a substitute. The following is an extract from the Journals of the House, in relation to the adoption of the answer reported by Mr. Hamilton from the committee appointed to draft the address, the first paragraph of which was as follows: " We, the representatives of the people of the State of New York in Assembly, beg leave to assure your Excellency that the several important matters mentioned in your Excellency's speech, and communicated in the papers that accompany it, shall, in the course of the session, engage our serious attention." That the said paragraph having been read, Mr. Speaker (Richard Varrick) made a motion that Eifter the word " leave,'' the following words should be inserted, viz: " to express our approbation of your Excellency's conduct in not convening the Legislature at an earlier period." APPENDIX. 397 And at the same time, that Mr. Ma'com made a motion that as a farther amendment, the following words should be added to the first paragraph of the address, after the word " attention," viz: " We learn by a resolution of the Unfred States in Congress assembled, accompanying your Excellem- cy's speech, that the law passed by the Legislature of this State at their last session, has not been considered by that honorable body as a compliance with their act of the 18th April, 1783; and that they had recommended to the execu tive of this State to convene the Legislature, to take under their consideration that very important subject. Although our inclination, as well as the persuasion that it is the senti ments of our constituents, will dispose us on all occasions to manifest the most respectful attention to the recommendation of the United States in Congress assembled; yet when we consider the short space of time between the passing of the said resolution and the period appointed bylaw for the meet ing ofthe Legislature; the expense which an extraordinary meeting would have occasioned, and the great inconvenience to which the members would thereby have been subjected; we are of opinion that your Excellency was justifiable in forbearing to'convene the Legislature until the time appointed by law." Here is evidence that Varrick's amendment was not with drawn, and that Malcom's amendment was not offered as a substitute for Varrick's, but in addition and confirmation of the sentiments expressed in it. For Malcom's resolution, the first put, Varrick voted; but it was lost; and he sustained his own motion, when next offered, for which Malcom voted; while Mr. Hamilton voted against Malcom's, and also against Varrick's amendments; in which last vote he was sustained by C. Livingston, Bayard, Brooks, Gordon, J. Livingston, Sickles, Dongan, and Denning. The last gentleman was a member of the Assembly of 1784^5, with Col. Burr, and is one of those who comes within the scope of the anathema of Mx. Hamilton. ¦ CORRECTION. After page 362 had been printed, J. R. Simms, Esq., of FultonviUe, furnished the publisher with conclusive evidence that the retreat from Long Island was on the 29th August, and not on the 27th, as stated in the memoir of Col. Hughes, The order mentioned was given immedi ately after the retreat was determined on in the council of war, which was held on the 29th August : and, therefore, the recollections of both Gen. Washington and Col. Hughes are erroneous. INDEX. Abercrombie, colonel, at Yorkto-wn: storms French redoubts: his war cry, 281. Abeel, John and James, al^fdavits of, 26. Abraham, Plains of: Montgomery and Arnold arrive at, 123. Adair, Robert, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Allen, Ethan, with Arnold at Ticonderoga, 126. Alliance with France, diversity of opinions on, 242. Allicoke, Joseph, Son of Liberty of New York, 4. Ailing, Stephen, lieutenant in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 125. Allison, Patrick, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Ambuscade, French Frigate, arrives at Charleston with envoy, 339. At New York : officers feasted : sails on a cruise : again ar rives, 340. Is challenged by the Boston : sails to meet her : battle off the Hook, and the Boston beaten, 341. Anderson, James, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Andrfe John, adjutant-general of the British army: meets Arnold: con cealed at Smith's house, 258. Arms of Sons of Liberty seized hy collector of New York, 95. Demanded, and threats of vengeance from the Mohawks, 95. Army of France land at Rhode Island, 242. At Yorktown, 278. Efficient cooperation there, 279. Arnold, Benedict, colonel: with Allen at Ticonderoga, 126. Joined by Montgomery at Point au Tremble, 123. Before Quebec: joined by Lamb's company: assault on Que bec, 127. Leads his forlorn hope: is wounded and retires, 130. Defeats a detachment from Quebec : superseded in command by Wooster: takes command in Montreal, 142. At Reading with Wooster, 157. At Ridgefield, 158. Intercepts Tryon's retreat, and attacks him, 159. Compo battle, 160. 400 INDEX. Arnold, Benedict, colonel: march to Fort Stanwix, 170. Letter to Lamb, 171. His horses detained, 172. Arrives at Washington's camp, 245. At West Point, 246. - Letter of Moody to: wishes irons taken off Moody, 247, Retracts his order, 250. Complies with Hays' requisition for wood cutters, 251. Visits at Smith's house at Haverstraw; Letter to Lamb, 256. Sends Smith on board the Vulture for Andre: meets them at the Long Clove, 258. Arranges his business with Andr'- : disconcerted by the firing upon the Vulture: invites Washington to Breakfast, 259. Receives notice of Andre's capture: escapes on board the Vulture: his bombastic addresses, 268, 269. Sketch of, and surmises of the probable causes of his defec tion, 269, 270. Arnold, Mrs. Margaret, wife of Benedict, arrival at Robinson's house, 256. Her alarm at the news of Andre's capture : well played scene to deceive Washington, 261. A pensioner ofthe Queen of England, 270. Arnold, Hannah, sister of the general, 153. Arnold, Fort: the first redoubt at West Point so called, 206. Articles of Union formed by Sons of Liberty, and sent to the east and south, 19. Artillery: brass removed from Salem, 98. Henry Knox, colonel of, 136. Brigadier-general of, 149. Ordered to be removed to the North River, 196. To Valley Forge, 197. Stopped on the river, 199. Ordered south, 277. Efficiency at Yorkto-wn, 280. Complimented in general orders, 281. Heavy, left on the Delaware: field, ordered to camp, 2S2. Ashton, Joseph, lieutenant in Lamb's regiment, 150. Asia, man of war: her boat destroyed, 107. Fires on the city, 108. Her boat fired upon, 108. i Assembly, Colonial, prorogued, 34, 35, 46, 106. Declines complying with the mutiny bill, 34. Bold attitude of, 35. Becomes alarmed and grants supplies: compensates major James: its functions abolished, 39. INDEX. 401 Assembly, colonial, about to expire grants farther supplies: dissolved, and writs for anew election, 40. New assembly chosen: address parliament, 42. Refused permission to read Massachusetts letter: remon strate thereat, 43, Against the governor's interference, 45. Grant farther supplies, 46. New assembly meet ; governor Colden demands farther sup plies, 49, Vote, Philip Schuyler alone dissenting, certain handbills li bellous: offer a reward for the discovery of the writer: order Lamb before the house: he is examined and discharged: full compliance with the mutiny bill yielded, 51, Reject the bill for elections by ballot, 53. Loyal to the king, 87. Vote down the patriots and adjourns. Assembly, state, first election of members for the city, 1784, 296, Resent outrage upon the French officers: refuse imposts to congress : debates upon the answer to the governor's speech, 300. Atherton, Joshua, letter from, opposing the adoption of the federal con stitution, 313, Augenois and Deux Ponts regiments, presented by Washington with brass guns captured by them in the redoubt, 281, Auxiliaries from France, arrival of, 242, Bancker, Flores, a Son of Liberty of New York, 4, Bank of New York, articles of association, 297. Incorporated, 339. Barracks required under mutiny act, 30 Batteries at St, Johns changed, 14. Fire from destructive, 114. Battles: of Golden Hill, 56. New Jail, 58. Of Lexington, 101. Ridgefield and Compo, 159, 160. Monmouth, 202. Springfield, New Jersey, 239. Green street, Albany, 332. Berrien, John, wounded by soldiers, 32, Berrien, John Jun, and Cornelius, their affidavits, 33. Bickers, Henry, Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4. Bills of credit: proposition of governor Colden to issue, 49. Opposed by the Sons of Liberty, 50. 51 402 INDEX. Bills of credit: city delegation vote for issue, 50. Proposition of assembly of 1784 to issue, countenanced by the old members ofthe Sons of Liberty, 297. Benning, Benjamin, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Bloomfield, Joseph, chairman of a meeting at Burlington, N. J., 290. Major general in war of 1812, 290. Boardley, S, Jun,, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Bogert, John Jun,, justice of the peace colonial, 25. Bolton, John, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4, Bompard, captain of the French frigate Ambuscade, 341. Accepts the challenge of Courtney : meets the Boston and is victorious, 341. Bordley William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Boston sympathizes with New York, 40. Port closed: rumors from, 44 Sympathies of N-ew York for: Massachusetts sheriff bnrnt in effigy, 45. Resolves not to relax non-importation so long as there is a shadow of duty on tea, ^8. Relaxes and imports, 70. Tea ships arrive, 78. Tea destroyed, 80. > Renews non importation league, 84. Proposes a convention, 93. Rumors of bombardment, 94. Boston, English frigate, Courtney commander: decoys French officers on board : sends a challenge to Bompard of the Ambuscade : fight off the ho'ok: Courtney killed and Boston escapes, 341. Bradford, William, Son of Liberty of Pennsylvania, 4. Letter from, 25. Brant and Butler: rumors of invasion, 169. Incursions of, 245, 272. . Brasher, Ephraim, affidavit of, 33. Brown, major Arthur, insolence of, 33. Brush, Thomas, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Burke, jEdanus, opposes the institution of Cincinnati, 295. Opposes constitution without amendment, 308. Burlington, officers at, address letter to general Washington, 285. His reply, 287. Citizens of, address officers, 290. Burns's coffee house, meeting at, 14. Burrowes, Jo., Son of Liberty of Connecticut, 4. Campaign, extravagant, planned by congress, 240. INDEX. 403 Cairns, William, partner of Lamb, absconds, 9 Campbell, colonel, marches on Fort Montgomery 175. Is killed, 176. Campbell, colonel Donald, quarter-master-general northern army: com mands after the death of Montgomery: orders retreat, 128. Anathematized by prisoners, 135. Cannonade on Quebec does little injury, 124. Carleton, Sir Guy, attempts to relieve Fort St. John: defeated at Longue ile, 115. His design to defeat escape of prisoners : humane treatment of, 137. Sallies from Quebec and raises blockade, 142. Paroles the prisoners, 145. Succeeds Sir Henry Clinton, 287. Cap of Liberty erected on the flag-staff of the Tontine Coffee House, 340. Carrington, colonel Edward, letter from, 228. At Yorktown, 278. Chamblee taken by Livingston and Brown, 113. Chambers, Rowland, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Chambers, captain, expected with tea: arrives: persists in declaring that he has none on board, 82. His hatches opened and the tea cast into the dock, 83. Chamier, D., Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Charon, British frigate burnt at Yorktown, 279. Chase, Samuel, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Letter from opposing the adoption of the federal constitution, 310. Chase, Thomas, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Cheeseman, captain, killed at Quebec: his presentiment of death, 128. Cedars, disaster at, 142. Cedar Point, Tryon lands at, 154. Cincinnati, order of instituted: origin ascribed to general Knox: draft of the constitution in hand writing of major Shaw, 294. Opposed as an incipient order of nobility : fear not well found ed, 295. Citizens defend their liberty pole, 37. Defend the acts of the assembly, 4. Some of them arrested by soldiers, 73. Citizen, term adopted from French revolutionists introduced; applied to President Washington, 345. Clinton, fort of, commanded by James Clinton, 173. Congress appoint George Clinton to, 174. Stormed and taken, 176. Clinton, Gen. James, commands in Fort Clinton, 175. 404 INDEX. Clinton, general James; defends it bravely ; wounded, and escapes, 176. Anecdote of bis escape, 177. Clinton, De Witt, letter from, opposing constitution unless amended, 316. Mediates in a quarrel between commodore Nicholson and Hamilton, 347. Clinton, George, brigadier-general and governor of New York: elected to command Highland forts by congress, 174, Throws himself into Fort Jlontgomery and bravely defends it, 176. Cuts his way through the enemy; anecdote of his escape, 177. Designs to retake the posts, 186. Fortifications ofthe Highlands entrusted to, 196. Desponding letter from, 216, Letter from, 282. His opinion of th6 Vermonters, 283. His great activity in the public service 288. Refuses to call a special session of the legislature at the in stance of congress; debates on answerto his speech, 301. Defeated in New York: elected a delegate to the state con vention from Ulster, 314. Letter from, opposing constitution unless amended, 315, Doubts of his sincerity in his proposition to call a new con- ¦yention unfounded, 316- Contested election with Jay: successful in, 339. Receives three votes from Virginia for vice president, 17S9, 328, Receives fifty votes for vice president in 1792, 339, Orders ships of war below Governor's Island: decUnes being agaiti candidate for governor, 346. Clothing obtained for the troops at Montreal, 123. Cockade, tri-colored worn by Oswald in New York: by French party of citizens, who wished it adopted in the national uniform, 345. Clockmakcr at Quebec an engineer, 137. Colden, Cadwallader, lieutenant-governor; warlike demonstrations of; burnt in effigy, 15, Declares he will not issue stamps, 16. Assembly refuses compensation to, 32. Power devolved on, by the death of Sir H. Moore, the go vernor, 47, Not noticed in the toasts of the meeting of 1st November, 1769, 48. Demands supplies under the mutiny act; coalesces with the Delanceys; proposes the emission of bills of credit, 49. Great expectation of from committee of fifty-one, 89. INDEX. 405 Colden, Cadwallader, rejoices at the vote of the assembly against the congress of 1774: pretends that no troops are expected in the city, 104. Commissary, Scotch, at Quebec; his humane suggestions, 152. Committee of vigilance of 31st October, 1765, 14. Of merchants relax the non-importation league, 65. Disapprove ofthe denunciation of Rhode Island, 67. Rebuke the committee of vigilance, 68, Abandon the league ; are denounced at Albany, 69, Of fifty-one how chosen : their designs explained by Gouverneur Morris, 87. Rivington's hopes of them, 89. Interfere with committee of vigilance, 92. Denounce meeting in the fields: become alarmed and propose a general convention, 93. Recommend a choice of delegates to congress of 1774, 100. Of one hundred chosen; address lord mayor of London and,. lieutenant-governor Colden, 102. Deny the report of the declaration of independence by con gress, 107. Compo, battle of, 159, 160, Conckling, Cornelius, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Confederation, old; imperfect and inefficient for government, 300, Congress of 1765, 12, Provincial, 100, Of 1774-5 pass resolves of non importation, 95, Advise not to resist the landing of British troops : recommend provisions of munitions of war, 105. Resolutions of, 148. Gigantic scheme of, 210. Inactivity of, 288. Pass resolves requesting governor Clinton to call special meet ing ofthe legislature, 300, Connecticut orders provision of arms and ammunition, 97. Troops of, march into New York, 106. Lamb's Regiment recruited in, 149. Consolidationists, term of, applied to friends of the constitution as adopt ed, 318. Constitution Fort, first fortification in the Highlands, 172. Summonedby Sir Henry Clinton; flag fired upon; and evacu ated; merely a laboratory, 185. Federal, adopted in convention at Philadelphia: general dis content : pronounced anti-federal, 305. 406 INDEX. Constitution, federal, society formed to oppose unless amended, 306. Ratified by state convention, 1788, 318, Amended by congress, 329. Consul of France complains of insult to French officers, 300, Convention at Saratoga, Gates blamed for, 187. Convention, general, recommended by congress ; sits at Philadelphia, 301. Yates, Lansing, and Hamilton delegates to 302. Sits with closed doors: Lansing and Yates secede from: forms a constitution; signed by Hamilton in behalf of the state of New York, 305. Cornwallis Lord, defeats Gates at Camden, 255. Checked by Greene, 273. Invested at Yorktown, 278, Capitulates, 280. Covenhoven, Peter Jun,, Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4. Custom houses established, 40, Closed in New York, 102. Customs, collector of seizes arms ofthe Sons of Liberty, 96. Dallas, Alexander J., his report to governor Mifflin misunderstood, 343. Danbury burnt, 157. Davis, captain, brings stamps, 16. Declaratory act, 1765, 38. Resisted by Massachusetts; by New York, 38. De Lancey, Peter, stamp distributor of New York; refuses to act, 21. Delegates to the convention and congress of 1774; their sentiments de clared, 94. Elected, 100, Democratic party synonymous with republican: societies formed, 345. Denning, William, member of assembly of 1787, 302, Deserters from Montgomery's army defeat the first plan of the attack, 127, Destruction of major James's property, 1765, compensated by assem bly, 16. Deux Ponts and Augenois' regiments, presented with guns by general Washington, 281, Diamond, cape, 124, Design on Bastion at, 127, Disputes between Colonels Pickering and Hay relative to forage: ad justed by arbitration: award paid by congress, 276. Dongan, Mr,, of the assembly of 1787, Doughty, Captain John, letter from, 195. Drummer boy at Fort Montgomery, 177. Duer, William, letter from, 246. INDEX. 407 Dunlap's history, useful, 8. His declaration respecting the adoption of the constitution, 328. Dunmore, Lord governor, arrives, 70. Assembly subservient to, 71. Removed to Virginia, 74. Dunscomb, James, his affidavit, 26. Durkee, John, Son of Liberty of Connecticut, 4. Du Simitiere, Paul, translates the manifesto of Congress, 102. His letter to Lamb, 211, 215. Effect of Confinement upon the mind, 138. Election of delegates to congress of 1774, 100. General convention, 301 State convention, 315. Enlistments for short periods produce evil in the army, 123. Escalade of Quebec resolved on, 126. Postponed: and attempted, 127. Enquiry, court of, in regard to the loss of the Highland forts, 197. Exchange, fair at, 18, Febiger, a prisoner at Quebec, 140. Lieutenant-colonel at storming of Stoney Point, 224. Federalists, each party claims to be, 306. Of Albany fire guns on the adoption of the constitution by Virginia, 317. Battle with their opponents in Green street, 322. Those of New York attack Greenleafs office, 322. Design to attack the home of Lamb, 322. Federal Party lean to England: execrate French Jacobins, 339. Apply that term to their adversaries, 346. Fire of the beseigers of Quebec ineffectual, 124. Flag staff erected 4th June, 66. Governor Moore attends, 28. Torn down, 33. Reerected, 33. Destroyed, 37. Reinstated, 37. Soldiers attack: citizens defend, 37. On the Tontine Coffee House, surmounted with cap of liberty: tri-colored flag hoisted: torn down: and replaced, 346. Fleet, French, reported off the Hook, 228. Arrive and sail for Rhode Island, 242. Arrives at New York, 342. 408 INDEX. Floyd, William, in favor of restoring the loyalists, 297. Candidate for lieutenant-governor, 346. Forts Montgomery and Clinton erected, 173. Stormed, 176. Foy, colonel, adjutant-general at Quebec: his kindness to American prisoners, 145. Fox, Daniel, Son of Liberty, Maryland, 4. French consul complains of insult to the officers of his nation, 300. Land forces: objections of American officers against, 242. Mistaken views, 243. Officers insulted in the city, 299. Party in New York, 300, 338. Great increase of, 340, Privateers fitted out in the Delaware, 340. Frisbee, Peroy, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Gabions, filled between with snow, saturated by water and frozen, formed the ramparts of the besiegers at Quebec, 1-24, Gage general, commander of the forces; his forbearance: thanked by the corporation, 15, Goes to Boston, 42. Gaine, Hugh, printer in New York, 11. Garland, the lieutenant of, rebuked, 25. Garnet, George, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Gate palace at Quebec, sortie from, 131, Gates, Horatio, major-general; ill treats captain Mott, 166, Intrigues against Washington, 170. Refuses to strengthen the main army, 189, Colonel Hamilton's mission to, and its result, 190. Ordered to the command in the Highlands, 191. Takes command; issues a general order displacing Lamb; Appoints Stevens, 199. His general order unauthorized, 208. Defeated at Camden, 255. Gelston, David, of the society to procure amendments to the constitution, 320. Genet, Edmond C, envoy from France, arrives at Charleston, 339, Great honors paid to him; triumphal march to Philadelphia; public addresses to, 340, Arrives at Powles Hook: great meeting of citizens; address and escort him to the city, 342, Threatens to appeal to congress from the president's decisions: misrepresented: writes to the president, 343. Receives a rebuke from Mr. Jefferson, secretary of State, 344. INDEX. 409 Genet, Edmond C, envoy from France, complains ofthe removal ofthe French vice-consul ; rudeness of to the president : urges at torney-general Randolph to prosecute Messrs, Jay and King, Georgia gives four votes to George Clinton as vice president, 339. Goddard, William, his post office scheme, 86. Godwin, general, anecdote of, 177. Golden Hill, battle o"f, 56. Goods arrive from Glasgow in contravention of the resolves of congress; ordered back, 97 Gordon the historian, error of, 14. Gordon, Mr., ofthe assembly of 1787, Grant, colonel, killed at Fort Montgomery, 178. Great Britain, pacific overtures of, 287. Their effect on congress and the states, 288. Greene, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, prisoner at Quebec, 131. Defends Fort Mifflin, 189. Greene, General Nathaniel, quarter master general's letter from to Hughes, 364. Greenleaf, printer anti-adoptionist, 332. His office sacked, 333. Hamilton, Alexander, early patriotism of, 8. Aid to Washington: his mission to Gates, 189. Orders troops from Putnam camp, 190. With Washington at Robinson's house, 261, Storms redoubt at Yorktown, 279, 280, Labors to restore loyalists, 299. In assembly of 1787 : debates on answer to Governor's Speech, 301. Brings forward a bill to restore the loyalists; carries it through; elected to general convention, 302. Signs the constitution in behalf of New York, 305. Labors with Jay and Madison to defend the constitution, 300. His masterly essays in favor of: chosen delegate to the state convention, 314. His persevering efforts in favor of adoption, 315. And prevails by his eloquence in its behalf, 318. Challenged by colonel Oswald, 330. His amicable relations with Lamb, 331. Is misinformed by governor Mifflin, and misleads Jay and King, 342. Defends Jay's treaty: quarrel with commodore Nicholson mediated by De Witt Clinton. 52 410 INDEX. Hamilton, John C, Unfairness of his account of the defence of forts Montgomery and Clinton, 179. Charge against the states rights party, 300. Illiberal remarks against the members of assembly of 1784: against Burr. — Vide appendix. Head quarters of the army removed from Morristown to Ramapo, 169. Army march to the Delaware, 170. Take a position near West Point, 223. Hall, John, Son of liberty of Maryland, 4. Hallam lieutenant, called to account by Sons of Liberty, 25. Hammond, Jabez D,, his opinion of the cause of governor Clinton's ac quiescence to the adoption ofthe constitution, 328, Hampden Hall, house bought by Sons of Liberty: Sons of Liberty hold repeal celebrations at, 62. Rebukes Fanuiel at Boston for abandoning non importation league, 70. Hancock, John, letter from, 44. Hands, Thomas B., Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Hard winter, 1779, 1780; sufferings in the camp in New Jersey, 235. Hardenbrook, Theophilus, wounded by soldiers, 32. Harpur, Robert, of the assembly of 1784, 296. Hay, colonel Udney deputy quarter-master-general: his requisition for wood-cutters from the garrison of West Point, 252. State agent: his disputes with colonel Pickering, quarter master-general ofthe army, 275. Haviland, captain, arrives with stamps on board, 23. Hazard House, hit by a cannon shot, 155. Temporary hospital for the wounded at Compo, 162. Heath, James, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Hendrickson, Daniel, Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4 Henry, Robert, Son of Liberty at Albany, 4. Henry, Patrick, of Virginia: his letter opposing constitution unless amended, 307. Heth, William, prisoner at Quebec, 140. His account of the battle of GermantovsTi, 183. Hillsborough, Lord, forbids the reading ofthe Massachusetts letter, 43. Hobart, John S,, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Holmes, Joseph, Jun., Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4, Holland accedes to the armed neutrality, 274. Holt, John, patriotic printer. New York: threatened by Sons of Liberty, his manifesto, 8. Suffers loss at Kingston, 188. Hostilities at the north cease ; continued at the south and on the Sound, 290. How, general, quells mutiny in New Jersey line, 274. Howell, Isaac, Son of Liberty of Philadelphia, 4. INDEX. 411 Hughes, Hugh, Son of Liberty of New York, 8. Quarter-master-general's department, 160. Aid to Arnold at Compo, 161. Relied upon to resist aristocratic influences, 206. Chosen to assembly, 1784: committee to answer the gover nor's speech, 302. • One of the survivors of the Sons of Liberty, 304, Memoir of, in appendix. Hughes, James M,, of the association to procure amendments to the con stitution. 320. See appendix. Huntington, Jedediah, colonel at Danbury, 159. Falls on the rear of the British on their retreat, 160, At the battle of Compo, 161. Writes to Lamb, 196. Imlay, Peter, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 6. Imposts to congress, grant to in 1781: recalled by the state: attempts to procure a re-grant: a qualified grant, 300. Congress requests governor Clinton to convene legislature to consider: not complied with, 300. Intrigue against Washington, 170. Irving, colonel, taken at three rivers, 143. Ivers, Thomas, affidavit of, 26. Jacobins, term of applied in derision to the democrats, 346. James, major, his property destroyed, 16. Assembly compensates therefor, 32. Jandine, Catharine, wife of John Lamb, 10. Jarvis, James, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Jay, John, delegate to congress, 1774, 95. Labors with Hamilton and Madison to defend the federal constitution, 306. Delegate to the state convention, 314. Great efforts, 318. Candidate for governor against Clinton and beaten, 339. Chief justice ofthe United States, 339. Envoy to England, 339. Candidate for governor against Robert Yates: is elected, 346. His treaty assailed, 346. Jefferson, Thomas, secretary of state, rebukes the French envoy Genet, 344. Jones, Samuel, in assembly of 1787: sustains governor Clinton, 301. State convention, 315, 412 INDEX. Jones, Samuel, opposes adoption ofthe constitution without amendments; yields and adopts, 318. Is of the association to procure amendments, 320. Kelly, burnt in effigy, 76. Kent, chancellor James, at Hazard House, 155. King, the statue of voted by assembly, 29. Erected, 70. Forbids the assembling of congresses, 39. His stoi-e on the North River broken open, 107. King, Pit and Liberty, inscribed on the first liberty pole, 28. King, Rufus, misinformed by Knox and Hamilton, 343. Defends Jay's treaty, 347. King's Ferry, posts at in a bad condition, 263, King Fisher, sloop of war detains James of Glasgo-w, 97. Knox, Henry, Rivington's letter to, 91. Colonel of artillery, 136. Brigadier-general, 149. His letters to Lamb, 189, 192, 199, 203, 210, 230, 232, 235, 238, 249, 253. Letters of Lamb to, 222, 340. Reports governor Mifflin's conversation to Jay and King, 347. La Fayette, Marquis de, at West Point with Washington, 261. Storms redoubt at Yorktown, 279. Embarks for France from Batterv, 299. Heads revolution in France, 337. Lamb, Anthony, father of John, optician at New York, 9. His death, 300, Lamb, Anthony, son of John, 10. Defends his father's house, 336. Lamb, John, birth and education ; early occupation : wine merchant, 9. Committee of Sons of Liberty, 9. Goes to Philadelphia to enforce resignation of stamp mas ter, 19. Addresses meeting in fields against the issue of bOls of credit, 50. Ordered before assembly, examined and discharged, 51. Threatens Tryon should he attempt to force landing of tea, 78. Addresses meeting at Coffee House to oppose landing, 79. Participates in destruction of tea at Coffee House slip, 84. Etches a description of that affair on copper, 84. Threatens the collector of customs unless arms are deliver ed, 96. INDEX. 413 Lamb, John, letter to, from Boston, 99. Presides at a meeting, and seizes boards destined to Boston, 101. Joins Sears in detaining all vessels bound east, and in closing custom house, 102. Acts on committee of 100, 103. Seizes the king's magazine at Turtle Bay, 105. Offers his services to congress, 105. Appointed captain of artillery, 106. Removes guns from battery by orders of congress, lOS. Refuses to be attached to McDougall's regiment: ordered to tbe north: and marches, 109. Arrives at Ticonderoga, 110. At St. Johns; beds a mortar 112. Marches into the Fort of St. Johns at the surrender, 116. Marches to Montreal, 118. Difficulties with Montgomery, 119. At Quebec; opens a fire upon, 124. Joins Arnold's corps at the storm, 12,7. Field piece becomes useless and abandoned, 129. Joins Morgan in assault on the barriers : wounded and taken prisoner, 131. Found insensible : revived and taken tp the hospital ; attacked by the gout, 132. Loses the sight of his left eye; wound reopened and cured: threatened to be sent to England in irons : convinces Carle ton of his firmness, 133. Is promoted, 136. Reproves his men for joining Carleton, 139. Is himself reproved, 139. Applies for release on parole ; embarks for home : arrives on the coast of New Jersey ; the great fire then raging ; reflec tions thereon, 146. Reports himself at head quarters: joins his family at Strat ford: memorializes congress, 147. Notice of congress, 148. Receives a letter from general Knox; and promotion, 149. Arrives at Compo at the battle, 160. Takes command of volunteers: storms British artillery, 161. Wounded, and taken by colonel Hughes to the hospital, 162. Ordered to New Haven, 163. Commands there, 164. Ordered to Fort Montgomery: asks for active duty, 168. In Fort Montgomery at the storm: directs artillery, 176. 414 INDEX. Lamb, John, ordered to Water Battery, 177. Retires to New Windsor, 183. Commands artillery on the river, 194. Orders it from Connecticut line, 196. Ordered with artillery to Valley Forge, 197. Order countermanded: is superseded by general order of Gates, 199. Writes to president of congress: to the commander-in-chief, 200. To colonel Malcom, 201. To governor Trumbull, 203. Dispute of rank with Harrison : adjusted in his favor, 204. General order of Gates unauthorized, 208. Appointed surveyor of ordnance, 218. Letter to general Knox, 222. Letter from Knox, 223. Board of general officers rank him below Crane : tenders hia resignation to Washington, 224. Resignation not accepted, 225. Letters from Washington to, 225, 263, 264. Letter to Washington, 226. To president of congress, 227. At West Point in command, 240. Letter to Arnold in regard to Moody the spy, 247. Another, 249. Informs Arnold of the weakness of the garrison, and deficien cy of powder : begs the garrison may not be weakened, 250 . Rernonstrates against farther details of men, 251. Letters to Arnold on the subject: to colonel Malcom, 252. To colonel James Livingston: reluctant to supply powder, 258. Consternation at the discovery of Arnold's treason, 261. Ordered to command the posts below, 263. Resumes his command, 264, Artillery stationed at Dobbs's Ferry; ordered to the south, 277. Arrives at James River : is second in command of American artillery, 278. Commands in the trenches the day the Chamade -was beaten, 280. Conducts the artillery to BurliuRton, N. J. : stationed there, 282. Letter to Gov. Clinton, 284. To colonel Willett, 285, Expects promotion and disappointed, 290. INDEX. 415 Lamb, John, denounces the Newburgh letters, 294. In favor of the order of Cincinnati, 295. Returns to the city of New York ; is elected to the assembly : opposes the restoration of the royalists, 296. Favors the emission of bills of credit, 297. Appointed collector of New York by the council of appoint ment, 297. Is chairman of association to oppose the adoption of the con stitution of the United States unless amended, 306. Corresponds with Patrick Henry and other infiuential men at the south, 307. Beaten m the election of delegates to the state convention, 314. Opposes the ratification of the constitution by the state with out amendments, 306 to 331. Amicable relations with Hamilton: confidence in general Washington, 331. His house threatened by the federalists ; preparations to de fend, 334. Efforts are made to prevent his nomination by the .president, 336. Declines making application ; is nominated and appointed, 337. Is of the party which supports France and her revolution, 347. Feasts the French officers : favors Genet the French minister, and is friendly to him in his reverses, 348. Severely afflicted with the gout; greatly distressed hy the loss of his son-in-law, 350 . His benevolent character: letter of Mrs. Nathan to, 351. Undiminished friendship for Gov, Clinton, 352. Infidelity of his clerk, 353 Who embezzles the public funds: defaulter to the government in consequence, 354. Friendship of Hamilton and Troup: severe measures of the government, 354. Ruin of his family, 355. Decline of life, and death of, 355. His character, 356, 357. Lansing John J,, of a committee to draft answer to governor's speech, 296. Delegate to general convention at Philadelphia, 302. Secedes from the convention, 305. Delegate to the state convention: his great efforts to procure amendments, Laight, Edward, Son of Liberty of New York, 4. Lawrence, Elisha, Jr., Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4, 416 INDEX. Lawrence, Nathaniel, of the society to procure amendments to the con stitution, 320. Lawyers objected to as assemblymen, 41. Ledlie, Hugh, a Son of Liberty of Connecticut, 4. Lee, Richard Henry, of Virginia, letter from, 308. Lee, captain, gallantry of, 195, Lendrum, Rev. Andrew, Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4. Letters, threatening, sent to Holt, 8, To the assembly; and action thereon, 22, Liberty pole erected, 28, 33, 37, 59. Destroyed, 32, 33, 37, 55. Attempted by soldiers, 62. Litchfield recommended as a depot by colonel Lamb: and reasons for, 333, Livingston Major Wm., assaults Greenleafs office 333. Livingston, colonel James, not at the gate of St. Johns 31st Dec, 1775, 127. Commands at King's Ferry: his requisition for powder to fire at the Vulture, 250, Ordered to Robinson's house for a conference with Washing- ton, 250. Livingston, J., member of assembly, 1787, 302. Livingston, C, member of assembly, 1787, 302. Livingston, William, governor of New Jersey, 289. Lockier, captain ofthe Tea Ship: taken possession of, 82. Lockwood, Samuel, of Connecticut, captain in Lamb's regiment, 150. Long Island threatened descent on, 166. Lott, Mr., clerk of assembly, receives a threatening letter, 22. Lovell, James, letter from, 208. Lowndes, Rawlins, of South Carolina, letter from, opposing constitu tion as adopted, 308. Low, Cruger, Alsop, and Delancey, elected to assembly, and give fifty pounds each to the poor, 41 . Loyalists disfranchised, 297. Schuyler and Hamilton labor to restore, 298. Lush, Stephen, aid to governor Clinton, taken at Fort Montgomery, 176, Lux, William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. McCauIey, Gideon, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. McDougall, Alexander, early patriot, 8. Arrested on a bench warrant: refuses to give bail : imprisoned: case assimilated to that of Wilkes : visited hy all classes in prison, 61. Toasted by Sons of Liberty of Hampden Hall: procession of citizens visit, 63. INDEX. 417 McDougall, Alexander, indicted for a libel upon the assembly, 63. Ordered to the bar of the assembly: defended by George- Clinton, 71. Declared guilty of contempt, 72. And imprisoned: writ of Habeas Corpus issued: house refused to obey the writ :. probably yielded, and restored him to liberty, 73. Member of the provincial convention, 100. Colonel of first New York Regiment, 108. Brigadier-general at Germantown, 183, At Valley Forge, 191, Letter from, 197. At West Point, 271. Arrested by general Heath, 283. In senate of New York votes for emission of bills of credit ; first president of the bank of New York: in favor of re storing the royalists, 297. Votes with Schuyler and Hamilton; death of, 304. McEvers, Jaines, stamp distributor of New York: refuses stamps, 13. McHard, Joseph, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Matlean, colonel, of Quebec; letterof. 139. McPherson, captain, aid to Montgomery, killed at Quebec, 128. Malcom, colonel William, sent to Albany by Clinton, 187. Letters from, 188, 206, 207. Adjutant-general of Gates's army, 206. Deprecates revival of tory influences, 206 . At Haverstraw, 249. Chosen to assembly of 1784, 296. Again in 1787; amends speaker Varrick'i motion, 300 1 Votes for the restoration of the royalists, 302, Mansfield, Samuel, a captain of Lamb's regiment, 150. Maryland, Sons of Liberty of, 4. Three letters from, 22, 27. Mason, Rev. John, letter from, 277. Mason, Stevens Thompson, senator from Virginia; discloses proceed ings in regard to Jay's treaty : denounced therefor by the federalists, and applauded by the democrats; thanks of a public meeting voted, 347. Massachusetts refuses mutiny bill, 40. Address letter to New York assembly, 42. Forbidden to be read, 42. Governor of burnt in effigy, with the sheriff, 45. Meeting at Burns's Coffee House, erroneously dated; committee ap pointed at, 14. 53 418 INDEX. Meetiilg of 25th November, 1765, 21. 23d June, 1766, 29. In the fields, to denounce the issue of bills of credit, 50. Recommending vote by ballot, 53. To resolve against the insolence of the soldiery, 55. To purchase ground for liberty pole, 59. To decide upon rejecting the tea, 79, Meigs, Return Jonathan, major, prisoner at Quebec, 132. Lieutenant-colonel, his expedition to Long Island, 166. Letter from, 196. At the storm of Stoney Point, 224. Melmoth, Mrs., about to be rebuked, 345, Metcalf, Simon, suspected of being stamp distributor of New York, 22, Mifflin, Fort, attack on described, 192. Governor, misapprehends A. J. Dallas, 343. Miles, John, captain in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 150. Militia of New York, patriotic, 222. Minerva, ship, arrives, 20. Boarded for stamps, 23, Mix, Timothy, lieutenant in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 150. Moale, John, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Mohawks notified to be in readiness, 76. Monmouth, battle of, 202. Oswald's behavior at, 203. Death of the Gates faction, 205. Montanya, Abram, affidavit of, 20, Montagnie's house becomes the resort ofthe governor's party, 61, Montgomery, general Richard, wishes to remove his batteries, 113. Difficulties with his-officers, 117, Charges Lamb as agitator, 119. Commends his bravery and skill, 119. Dissuades him from resigning: declares him indispensible to the army, 121, In the trenches at Quebec, 124, Orders Lamb to draw off his guns, 125. Refuses to dismember Arnold's corps, 126. Determines to storm Quebec, 126. Passes below the bastion of Cape Diamond, 1 27 , Attacks battery and is killed: death of, fatal to the enterprize, 133, Montgomery, Fort, Lamb ordered to, 168. Is stormed, 177. Governor Clinton commands, 174. Brave defence of, 17 S, INDEX. 419 Moody, James, spy, in irons at West Point, 247, Sent to Washington's camp, 252, Steals despatches to congress, and defeats the design to attack New York, 274, Moodie, Andrew, lieutenant in Lamb's company of artillery; prisoner at Quebec, 146. Embarks for home with Lamb, 146. A captain in Lamb s regiment, 150. Letter from, 229. Moore, Sir Henry, governor, arrives in the city; declares his determina tion not to force the issue of the stamps ; orders repairs of the forts to be discontinued ; adjourns assembly: his popularity : addressed by Sons of Liberty, 20. Attends at raising the flag-staff, 28. Demands supplies under the mutiny act, 29. Demands full compliance with the bill, 34, Forbids the reading ofthe letter from assembly of Massachu setts; demands further supplies, 43. Still more, 45. Prorogues the assembly; dies, 46. Morgan, captain Daniel, at Quebec, 130. Storms under Arnold, 131. Resists until the last, and is taken prisoner, 132, Mott, Gershom, Son of Liberty of New York, 4. Committee of Oct, 31, 1765, 14. Captain in McDougall's regiment at St. Johns : difficulty with Montgomery; arrested, 117. And released at the intercession of the New York officers, 117. Captain in Lamb's regiment, 150. Sent to recruit at Albany, 165. > Letter from respecting general Gates, 166. Recommended by Lamb for the majority of his regiment; at Fort Constitution, and his annoyances there, 169, Is summoned by Sir Henry Clinton; fires on the flag, and evacuates the fort, 185. His letters, 185, 186, 209. Difficulties at White Plains, 204, Murray, William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Mutiny bill, extracts from, 28, 30. Assembly refuses to comply with, 31. Yield a partial compliance, 34. Yielded still more, 39. Again yield a further supply, 46. Give full assent, 50. 420 INDEX. Nathan, Mrs. G., her letter to Lamb; a correspondent of Miss Edge- worth, 352. Nestle, Peter, a lieutenant in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 150. Neutral ground, disputes about forage in, 275. INew Jersey line, troops of, mutiny, 273. Quelled by general How, 274. New Hampshire, relied upon to vote against ratifying the constitution of the United States, 313. Adopts the constitution, 316. New York raises four regiments, 108. Appoints colonel Udney Hay agent; claims pay for forage on forfeited estates, 275, City, contemplated attack on, 205. Another meditated, 210, Bank of, association formed, 297. Chartered, 339. Nicholson, Joseph, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Nicholson, Joseph, Jr , Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Nicholson, commodore Jaines, chairman of the meeting to receive Genet the French minister, 342. President of the democratic society, 345, Quarrel with Hamilton composed by De Witt Clinton, 347. Nichol, William, speaker of assembly; answer of to governor Moore, 34. Nicoll, Charles, Son of Liberty of New York, 4. Nominations, self, denounced, 40. Non-importation association, 4, Philadelphia does not join, 45, New York adopts stringent measures, 46. Punishes informers, 64. Punishes infractors, 64. Abrogated in every thing but tea, 70. North Carolina, against the adoption of the U. S. constitution unless amended, 307, Gives George Clinton 12 votes for president, 339. North River, hostile demonstrations at, 219. Norwalk River, Arnold posted on, 159. November first, 1765, stamp law took effect: riot of, 15. 1769, toasts drank at the celebration of, 47. October 31, first meeting at Burns's; erroneously dated, 15. Officers, field, of Montgomery, oppose removal of batteries, 113. Order of Mercy Nuns of, their convent, made a temporary hospital for American prisoners taken at Quebec, 132. Order, general, of Gates, supersedes Lamb in command of artillery of the Highlands, 201. INDEX. 421 Unauthorized, 208. Ordnance, surveyor of. Lamb appointed, 218. Ordnance and war department, letter from, 233. Oswald, lieutenant colonel Eleazer, with Arnold at the storm of Quebec: takes the command of forlorn hope after Arnold was wounded: puts himself under command of Lamb, 130 Appointed lieutenant-colonel of Lamb's regiment of artillery, 149. Recruits in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, 152. Marches by Arnold's command to Compo, 157. Provoked by Putnam ; resigns: foregoes his purpose, 168. Applies to Putnam for orders to reinforce Fort Montgomery, 182. His letters, 182, 186, 187, 198. At the battle of Monmouth: commended by general Knox, 202. By general Lee, 203. Outranked and resigns, 209. Letters from, on the subject of Arnold's treason, 266. Challenges colonel Hamilton; quarrel appeased, 330. Part of the- garrison of Lamb's house, 335. At the battle of Jemappe; returns from Euro-Jje: wears French uniform and tri-colored cockade, 344. Contracts the yellow fever in attendance on major Tillinghast : dies, and is buried in St. Paul's church yard, 350. Ox roasted in the fields, 4th June, 1766, 28. Paca, William, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Paper currency, great depreciation of 235. Parker, James, printer of McDougall's manifesto, examined at the Fort by governor and council, 60. Death of, 73, Parsons, general 'Samuel H,, letter from, 164. Plans expedition of Meigs, 166. Rumors prejudicial to, 219. Letter to from Lamb, 220. Interferes to prevent recruiting from Connecticut line, 229. Party, excitements of, on the subject of the constitution of the U. S., 330. Peekskill, army at, 166. Oswald at, 167. Philadelphia, citizens of, burn king's solicitor, Wedderburn, in effigy, 86. Defences ofthe British army at, 191. Letter of Du Simitiere from, 212-215. Devastations in by the British army, 213. 422 INDEX. Philadelphia, citizens of arrested for serving on board French privateers, 340. Give the French minister Genet a public dinner, 344. Pennsylvania does not join in the non-importation association, ' 45. Afterwards joins: committee ridicules the committee pf New York for relaxing, and demands the Liberty pole, 68. Herself relaxes, 70. Gives one vote to George Clinton for vice president in 1792, 339. Peters, Richard, secretary of the board of war and ordnance, 223. Pickering, Timothy, quarter-master-general, 253. Disputes with colonel Hay, state agent, 275, Extracts of letters from, 367. See appendix A. Pickets at Fort Clinton, driven in on the morning of 6th Oct., 1777, 175. Pilot Sandy Hook, deceives officers ofthe Ambuscade, 341, Pitt honorable William, statue of brass to, voted by assembly, 29. Marble one erected, 70. Pasquinades against, 70. Statue mutilated, 75. Platt, Richard, aid-de-carap to McDougaU, letter from, 191. Point au Tremble, reached by Montgomery's army, 123. Porter, James, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Porterfield, Charles, a volunteer at Quebec, taken prisoner, 140. Lieutenant-colonel: killed at Camden, 140. Post office, new scheme proposed by William Goddard, 86. Posts of Fort Anne and Fort George at the north, taken, 273. Potter, Gilbert, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Preston, major, summoned to surrender Fort St. John, 115. Priests Roman Catholic, of Canada, loyal to the British, 123. Prisoners at Quebec, plan escape; advised of its discovery, 137. Apply for release on parole, 145. Privateers, French, fitted out in the Delaware, 340. Provincial congress organized, 100. Address circular letter to Canadians, 105. Pullaine, major, interferes with enforcers of non-importation agreement, 54. Putnam, general, projects a descent on Long Island, 166. Of the Gates faction, and probably influenced therein by his aid, colonel Burr, 167. His manners unpolished, 16S. Rumors in his camp, 169. Deceived fty Sir Henry Clinton; fails to reinforce the High land forts in time, 174. INDEX. 423 Putnam, general, outmanreuvered by Sir Henry Clinton; refuses to send Oswald to relief of the posts, 182. Designs an attack on the city of New York, 186. Retains forces from Washington's camp; ordered to send them by Hamilton : rumors of his being about to be ar rested, 190. Refuses to permit artillery to be removed from the interior, 196. Quebec, march on by Montgomery, 123. Attacked by storm, 128. Bishop of, kind to American prisoners, 139. Arnold holds in blockade, 140. Expedition from fails: sortie from successful; blockade raised, 142. Quarter-master-generals department, inefficiency of, and general neglect in, 207, 241. Arrangement of altered, 244. Rank, relative, between Harrison and Lamb, 207. Between Crane and Lamb, 224. Raymond's Point, Tryon's debarkation in first invasion of Connecticut, 154. Red Bank, defence of, 189. Attack on described, 192. Repeal celebrations: stamp act begins to decline, 74. Reports in the armies at the north, false on both sides. 111. Republican party, assumption of the name, 338. Pay extravagant honors to Genet, 343. Wear tri-colored cockade; ape French terms and manners: form democratic societies, and call themselves democrats, 345. Revere, Paul, letter from, 81. Lieutenant-colonel, letter from, 153. Revolution, French, hailed with joy by all parties: disgraced by the Jacobins, 337, Rhode Island, falls from non-importation agreement: denounced by Sons of Liberty: their manifesto against, 65. Ridgefield, battle at, 159. Ringgold, William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Ringgold, Thomas, do do Ringgold, Thomas, Jun., do do Ritzma, lieutenant-colonel, his unsuccessful march, 112. 424 INDEX. Robbins, Ezekiel, of the society to procure amendments to the constitu tion, 320. Robinson, Thomas, a Son of Liberty of New York, 4, Member of committee of 1765, 14. Robinson, Beverly Col: at Fort Montgomery, 176. Commands after death of Campbell, 177. Intrigues with Arnold, 257. Rogers, Nathan, denounced by Sons of Liberty, 64. Roques, St., surburbs of Quebec, 124. Design upon, 127. Americans pass through at the storm of the city, 129. Roseboom, Myndert, Son of Liberty of Albany, 4. Rumors in camp, 169, 222, 228. Sailor, wounded at Greenleafs, 333. St. Clair, general Arthur, intrigue against, 170. St. Johns, fort of, Carleton attempts to relieve, 115. Surrendered, 116, St. Louis, gate of, position of Lamb's battery opposite, 124. Saugatuck River, Arnold crosses bridge of, 160. Schooner sunk by Montgomery's batteries at St. Johns, 113. Schuyler, major-general Philip, and Montgomery at Isle au Noix ; recon noitre the fort and return, 110. Returns sick to Ticonderoga, 111. Instrumental to Lamb's promotion, 136. Intrigues against, 170. Favors the restoration of royalists, 297. Procures the passage of Hamilton's bill in the senate, 302. His party gains a majority in the senate, 326. Defeats the bill for the election of Presidential electors, 327, And the bill for the choice of senators to first congress, 328, Sears, Isaac, Son of Liberty of New York, 4, An early patriot, 8, Ofthe committee of 1765, 14, Affidavit of, 26, Wounded by soldiers, 32. Arrests a soldier, 55. Affray with, 56. Removed from office, 74. At a meeting of the people proposes arming the citizens ; ar rested therefor; released by the people, 101. Letter to Lamb, 217, Chosen member of assembly, 29T? Makes a voyage to China; and die> in Canton, 304. INDEX. 425 Seminary at Quebec, American officers imprisoned in, 137. Sewall, H,, aid-de-camp to Washington, 368. Shaw, Samuel, aid to general Knox; letters from, 219, 243, 256. Original draft of the constitution of Cincinnati in his hand writing, 294. Shelburne, Lord, his instructions to governor Sir Henry Moore, 34. Ship Nancy, tea ship, blown off the coast; arrives at Antigua, 81. Damaged in a gale: arrives at the Hook; taken possession by committee, 82. Ordered to sea, 84, Ships of war, of both French and English nations ordered by governor Clinton below Governor's Island, 346. Sickles, , of assembly of 1787, 302. Silliman, general, at Reading with Wooster, 157. Detached by Arnold: joins Huntington, 160. Battle of Compo, 161. Smith, Melancthon, defeated in the city: is elected delegate to state con vention from Dutchess, 314. Great efforts to procure preliminary amendments, 317. Yields to the adoption without them, 318, Is ofthe association to procure amendments, 320. Smith, Joshua Hett, house at Haverstraw; Arnold visits there; Lamb's opinion of, 256. His narrative, appendix D. Tried by a court martial and acquitted: handed over to the civil authorities, 267. Makes his escape, 268. Smith, William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Smith, Richard, Son of Liberty of New Jersey, 4, Smyth, Thomas, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4, Sneething, Barack, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Soldiers destroy liberty pole, 32, 33, 37, 55. Attempt to blow up with powder, 37. Wound citizens, 32, 33. Fire into Bardin's house, 37, Attack the pole, 37, 54, 55, 62, Attack Montagnie's house, 54. Arrested: attempt to rescue; attack the citizens, and battle at Golden Hill, 56. Many disarmed: renew the fight at the New Jail, 57. Attack Bicker's house, 63. Attack citizens at Exchange, 73. Sons of Liberty, organization of, 2. Of Maryland, 3, 54 426 INDEX. Sons of Liberty, New York the central post, 3. Effects of their exertions, 13. Committee of 31st Oct., '65, 14. Head the populace ; burn lieutenant-govemer Colden in effi gy, 4, Correspond with the merchants; enforce regulations ofthe congress of 1765, 18. Compel John Hughes, stamp distributor of Pennsylvania, to resign, 19. Frame articles of union of the colonies, 18. Compel Hood, the distributor of Maryland, to resign, 21. Board the Minerva in search of stamps ; notice to the associa- tion, 23. Burn stamps by Haviland: and those of Lewis Pintard, 24. Of Philadelphia, tiieir letter, 25. Of Maryland, letters from, 22, 27. Letter from their London correspondent, Nicholas Ray; and answer to, 36. Celebrate repeal at Bardin's, 37. Oppose emission of bills of credit ; publish hand-biUs against it, 50, 51. Call a meeting in the fields, 51. Purchase a piece of ground, and erect a liberty pole upon it, 59. Buy a house for their meetings, and call it Hampden Hall, 62. Denounce infractors of non-importation league, 65. Manifesto against Rhode Island, 65. • Continue firm against importation, 70. Resolve against tea, 77. Destroy tea, 84. Covenant with Boston, 87. Burn solicitor Wedderburne and Gov. Hutchinson in effigy, 87. Call a meeting in the fields, 93. Decline of their power, 304. Spain joins confederacy against England) 274. Springfield, derangement of affairs at, 232. Lamb ordered to visit, 233, Frauds committed at; Lamb's report on, 234. New Jersey, battle of, 239. Stagg, John, chosen to assembly, 296. Stamp act, 2, 12, 13, 27, 28. Stamp distributors burnt in effigy at Boston, 13. Elsewhere, 117. Compensation ordered to, 40. INDEX. 427 Stamped papers brought by Davis, 16. Tillett, 20. Lodged in the fort, 16, 20. Delivered to common council, 16, Burned, 24. State rights party seek amendments to the constitution of the United States, 320 Their proceedings, 321 to 325, Recommend George Clinton as a candidate for vice president, 326. Defeat senate bill for the election of electors, and choice of senators, 327, 328. In favor of France; take the name of republican, and demo crat, 338. Statue ofthe king ordered, 29. Erected, 70. Torn down and cast into bullets, 214. Of Pitt>,ordered, 29. Erected, 70. Mutilated, 75. Steele, lieutenant, prisoner at Quebec; reproves his men for enlisting^ under Carleton: reprehended by Maclean, 138. Stephenson, William, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 3. Sterling, Lord, selects the position of Fort Clinton, 174, Steuben, Baron de, commands in the trenches at the surrender of York- town, 280. Stevens, major Ebenezer, m£^rches to Ticonderoga, 153. Made to supersede Lamb in Gates's general orders, 199. Appointed lieutenant-colonel of Lamb's regiment, 216. At Yorktown, 278, Stuart, a Scotch volunteer at Fort Montgomery : his reasons and adven tures,' 180, Stukely, William, Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Sturgis, Jonathan, Son of Liberty of Connecticut, 4, Surgeon at Quebec restores Lamb and operates upon his wound, 132. Tariff of duties, 40. Tea, a duty on: East India company encouraged to import; ladies resolve not to use, 40. Duty resisted: growing excitements against, 75. Commissioners for New York decline serving; ships expect ed, 76. Sons of Liberty resolve against, 77. Ships arrive at Boston, 78. 428 INDEX. Tea rejected by the citizens: destroyed at Boston, 80. More destroyed afterwards, 81. New York ship blown off the coast: reaches Antigua, 81. Arrives : Chamber's ship expected ; arrives and is searched, 82. Tea found on board and destroyed, 83. New York ship arrives : taken possession of by committee and ordered to sea, Thayer, , a prisoner at Quebec, 140. Defends Red Bank, 189. Thomas, general, supersedes Wooster, 142, Thompson, Charles, secretary of congress, letter from, 208, Thompson, general, defeated at Three Rivers, 143. Thompson, captain-lieutenant, killed at Springfield, New Jersey, 239. Ticonderoga, Lamb at, 110. Allen and Arnold at, 126. Throop, John R., lieutenant in Lamb's regiment, 150. Tillinghast, Charles, secretary of association to oppose constitution un less amended, 306. Assistant collector under Lamb: attacked by yellow fever and dies, 348. His character and revolutionary services, 350. Tolmie, Norman, his affidavit, 24. Tory reef memorized by Tryon's pilot, 150. Townsend, Solomon, of the society to procure amendments of the consti tution, 320. Travis, Jacob, lieutenant, his noble conduct at Compo, 163. Treat, captain lieutenant, killed at Fort Mifflin, 192. Treaty of commerce with England denounced by the democrats, 346. Trenches, duty of at Yorktown prescribed, 278. Troops, British, expected at Boston, 42. Arrive at Sandy Hook; depart for Boston, 105. Troops at West Point, insufficiently clad, 229. Troup, Robert, lieutenant in Lamb's regiment, 151. Aid to general Gates, 151. Deprecates renewal of Tory influences, 206. His friendship for Lamb, 354. Tryon, William, governor of New York, 74. Goes to England, 80. Raises a corps of loyalists, and is major-general, 154. Attacks Danbury in Connecticut, and destroys, 158. Retreats on Norwalk, 159. Intercepted by Arnold, 159. At Compo Hill; debarks; his official report, 161. Commands Reserve at the attack on Fort Montgomery, INDEX. 429 Trumbull, Jonathan, governor of Connecticut, letter of Lamb to, 203. His great exertions in the public service, 288. Valley Forge, camp at, breaks up, 198, Van Dike, Henry, a Son of Liberty of Maryland, 4. Van Dervoort, Peter, wounded by soldiers, 32. Van Rensselaer, Jeremiah, Son of Liberty at Albany, 4. Van Rensselaer, Stephen, elected lieutenant-governor, 346. Van Zandt, Peter P., chosen to the assembly, 296, Varrick, colonel Richard, aid and secretary to Arnold; letters from, 255, 264, 265. Prostrated by the intelligence of Arnold's defection, 264. Demands a court of enquiry, 264. Speaker of assembly: amends answer to governor's speech, 300. Vaughan, general, expedition of up the river, 187. Verplanck's Point taken, 219. Attempt to retake fails, 223. Evacuated by the British and repossessed by the Americans, 229. Vermont, controversy with, 285. Vice consul of France removed by Washington, 344. Viomenil, Baron de, storms redoubt at Yorktown, 279. Virginia relied upon to vote against the constitution unless amended, 307. Adopts the constitution, 316. Gives George Clinton three votes for vice president in 1788, 328. And twenty-one in 1792, 339. Vulture, sloop of war, arrives in Haverstraw Bay : flags to and from, 257 Andre lands from, 258. Fired upon by order of colonel Livingston : shifts her moor ings, 259, War and ordnance department, order Lamb to Springfield, 233, Lamb's report to, 234. Letter of secretary to Lamb, 236. Reply of Lamb, 237. Washington, general, his masterly retreat of the army from Long Island, Appendix A. Letter to Lamb, 225. Lamb's letters to, 224, 226. Embarrassed by neglect of congress, 242, Offers battle to the enemy, 254. Confers with the French commander at Hartford, and returns to Fishkill ; sends his suite to Arnold's quarters ; turns aside to examine a redoubt, 260. 430 INDEX. Washington, general, receives news of Arnold's treason, 261. His firmnnss on the occasion, 263. Orders Lamb to the posts below, 263. Meets French generals at Weathersfield, 274. Disputes between Hay and Pickering referred to: declines to interfere, 275. Meditates an attack on the south, 276. Out-manoeuvres Sir Henry Clinton,-and marches to Virginia, 277, Invests Yorktown: fires the first gun from the American batteries, 278. Presents guns taken in the redoubts stormed by the French, to the regiments who attacked, 281. Letter to the officers at Burlington, 287. Washington, George, president, elected, 328. Is neutral between France and England, 338. His proclamation, 340. Expected by the democrats to veto Jay's treaty, 347. Wayne, general's, division mutinies, 273. Webb, Samuel, officer in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 150. Weeks, George, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Weeks, Michael, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. West Point, bad condition of, 207. Lamb ordered to, 223. Again, 238. An expensive post, 244. Garrison insufficient: badly supplied with ammunition, 250. Whigs, party name restored, 26, Declared protectors of the Liberty cap on the flag staff at Tontine Coffee House, 340. Whitehall, damage at by the fire of the Asia, 108. Wiley, William, Son of Liberty of New York, 4, 8, 14, Committee of 1765, 14. . Affidavit of, 26. Wiley, John, offered a captain's commission in Lamb's regiment, 151. Bears a challenge from Oswald to Hamilton, 330. Helps to garrison Lamb's house, 335. Will, Philip, affidavit of, 35. Willett, Marinus, early patriot, 4. Presides with Lamb at a meeting ofthe people, and seizes a vessel bound to Boston, 101. Captain, left in command of Fort St. John, 123. Lieutenant-colonel, a letter from to Lamb, 283. Chosen to the assembly, 296. INDEX. 431 One of the surviving Sons of Liberty, 304. Of the association to procure amendments to the constitution, 3-20. Williams, Nathaniel, Son of Liberty of Long Island, 4. Wilson, John Q., letter from, 155-6. Winter, fortifications of at Quebec, 123. Of snow saturated by water and frozen, 124. Woodward, Peter, lieutenant in Lamb's regiment of artillery, 150. Wolcott, Oliver, at the battle of Compo, 156. Wool, Isaiah, lieutenant in Lamb's company at Quebec, 109. And captain in regiment of artillery, 150. Wooster general, marches into New York, 106. Arrives at Ticonderoga, 113. His men refuse to march to St. Johns: are prevailed upon to go: consents to act under Montgomery, 114. Commands at Montreal, 123, Arrives at Quebec : is superceded by general Thomas, 142. At Danbury, 157. Despatches Arnold from Bethel: falls on the left flank and rear ofthe British: is killed, 158. Wortman, Tunis, secretary ofthe democratic society of New York, 345. Yates, Robert, delegate to general convention, 302. Secedes, 305. Candidate for governor in opposition to Jay, 346. Yorktown, troops at : investment of: seige vigorously prosecuted : orders of artillery at, 278. March from, 282. Young, Thomas, Son of Liberty in Albany, 4. Ofthe committee of Boston; his letters, 86, 92. plvMh^ ^ ',>^^'.i '?nil ''41 ! 1. -^I'