Wimi^!^Mi»,.-^ BOUGHT WITH THB INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Benrg W. Sage 1S91 .A-/2.;3^ mm E263.N6 Rm" """""''*^ '-"'™^ °mmmmm'im1iS„SfSS^sr. oi Hudson olin 3 1924 032 738 167 DATE DUE i i^l ja^^'^'" 1 mterpi !^&^ jjp!:>7, N Mi^^BflP fSM ^ \'< UA\iiimwf \"n\ c ^ liJUO ^^ .1 i 1 f A GAYLORD PBrNTED INU S A. , 1 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032738167 OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE N AVIG ATIO N OF HUDSON'S RIVER, 1776 TO 1783. Ko* V. JS^ewhopS^um lafli of InffniaiL&Co.ilbaiiyST. OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE NAVIGATION OF HUDSON'S RIVER; EMBRACING The Minutes of the ^ttXtt Committee Appointed by the Provincial Conven- tion of New York, July i6, 1776, AND OTHER Original Documents Relating to the SubjeEi. TOGETHER WITH PAPERS RELATING TO THE BEACONS. BY E. M. RUTTENBER. ALBANY, N. Y. : J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. MDCCCLX. TO Bantuel ^oiim |Jar0an0, toq., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONN. Sir: ROM among the Docu- mentary Memorials, re- lating to the Occupation and Defence of the Highlands of the Hudfon during the Revo- lutionary War, there could fcarcely be feledied any, of a more interefting Clafs, than thofe that afford Details of the Plans to prevent the Paffage of the armed Ships of the Enemy, by obftru61:ing the Channel of the River. So long as an uninterrupted Communication could be maintained, be- tween New England and the States South and Weft of the Hudfon, there was Op- portunity for Cooperation, and a Hope of IV Dedication. efficient Refults from Unity of Adion. If this Communication could by any Means be cut off, the Enemy might reafonably hope to Conquer the revolting Colonies in Detail. The Prominence given to the Subjedj both in the Continental and the Provincial Congreffes, and the various Meafures adopted with a View towards fecuring this important Pafs, are hiftoric- ally Interefting, as throwing new Light upon the Condition of Strategick Science and Military Skill, in the early Infancy of the Republick. Whilft, from the Study of the Details, we derive additional In- formation refpedting the Opinions .of the Publick Men of the Day, the Spirit of the People, and the Refources of the Country. The Documents here iirft colleded, may, for thefe Reafons, juftly claim a Place among the treafured Mementos of the Heroick Age of our Annals. With the Times and Events chronicled in thefe Pages, your diftinguifhed Grand- Father, Brigadier General Samuel H. Dedication. v Pa R s o N s 5 was intimately and prominently connedted. He was the Commanding Officer at Weft Point, when the Chief and beft-known Obftrud:ion to the Paflage of the Enemy's Veflels (the Weft-Point Chain), was in the Progrefs of Conftrudtion. And thus, himfelf a Portion of the Events, it feems only fitting that his Name fhould be clofely aflbciated with the Work that commemorates them. By infcribing this Volume to you, Sir, his worthy Namefake and Defcendant, the Publifher would exprefs his Refpedt for the Memory of the One, and his Efteem for the Chara6ter of the Other. CONTENTS Introdudiion, _..-___--- i Obftrudtions by Means of Fire Ships, - - 17 Obftrudtions at Fort Wafljington, - - - 31 Obftrudtions at Fort Montgomery, - - - 59 Obftrudtions at Pollopel's Ifland, - - - - 95 Obftrudlions at Weft Point, - - - - - 115 Beacons and Signals, -------147 Appendix,- --------- 169 Index, -----------195 INTRODUCTION. HE Student of American Hiftory is familiar with the Fadl, that to obtain Control of the Navigation of Hudfon's River, w^as a favourite Projedt with the Britifli Miniftry, during the whole Progrefs of the War of Independence. In order to a proper Underftanding of the Rea- fons on which this Projedt was bafed, we fhould examine with fome Attention the Topography of the River — not fimply as limited to -the Sedtion of Country through which its Waters flow, but taking a broader View, and regarding its Connedlion with thofe more remote and wide-ipread Regions, that find through it their mofl: diredl and natural Chan- nel to the Seaboard. A 2 IntroduEiion. Even at the prefent Day, when the {killed Enter- prife of a numerous and commercial People has linked the Interiour to the Coaft, by many and vari- ous artificial Channels, the great Thoroughfare of the State of New York holds a preeminent Pofi- tion — 'mainly due to its unrivalled natural Advan- tages. But thefe Advantages were of paramount Importance, both before and during the Revolu- tionary Struggle, when the Canoe of the Indian, or the Bateau of the Voyageur, furnifhed the moft convenient and ipeedy Tranfportation, for Purpofes either of Commerce or of War. Then, to the North, at the Head of Boat-navigation, the Hud- fon was connedled, by an eafy Portage, with Lakes George and Cham plain ; and through them with the St. Lawrence — the great River of the Canadas. Whilft, towards the Weft, its principal Affluent, the Mohawk, gave eafy Accefs — fcarcely interrupted by a few (hort Portages — to the Bafin of the great Lakes, and to the magnificent River Syftem of the Miffiffippi. Thus eftablifhed by Nature as the main Artery, connecting a vaft Network of interiour Water-com- munications with the Atlantick, and draining the IntroduEiion. 3 Refources of almoft half a Continent, the Hudfon occupied aPofition of the iirft ftrategick Importance. The Britifh Miniftry had been taught this Fadt in the Courfe of the long Struggle between Eng- land and France, then but recently terminated. They knew, that by the PofTeffion of the Hudfon they could feparate the Eaftern Part of the Pro- vince of New York and the Provinces of New England from the Remainder of the Confederacy, and thus, by cutting off Communication between thefe Points, fpeedily reduce the Patriots to Sub- jedtion. Hence, in a Letter dated London, July 31ft, 1775, conveying to the Colonifts the Plan of Operations decided upon by the Miniftry, it is faid, that " their Delign is to get PofTeffion of New " York and Albany; to fill both of thefe Cities with " very ftrong Garrifons ; to declare all Rebels who " do not join the King's Forces ; to command the " Hudfon's and Eaft Rivers with a Number of fmall " Men-of-War and Cutters ftationed in different " Parts of it, fo as to cut off all Communication " by Water between New York and the Provinces " to the Northward of it, and between New York " and Albany, except for the King's Service, and to " prevent alfo all Communication between the City 4. IntroduBion. " of New York and the Provinces of New Jerfey, " Pennfylvania, and thofe to the Southward of them. " By thefe Means," continues the Letter, "the Ad- " miniftration and their Friends fancy that they " fhall foon either ftarve out or retake the Garrifons " of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and open and " maintain a fafe Intercourfe and Correfpondence " between Quebeck, Albany and New York, and *' thereby afford the faireft Opportunity to their " Soldiery and the Canadians, in conjundtion with " the Indians, to be procured by G. J.,^ to make " continual Irruptions into New Hampfhire, MafTa- " chufetts and Connedlicut, and fo diftradt and divide " the Provincial Forces, as to render it eafy for the " Britifh Army at Bofton to defeat them, break the " Spirits of the Maffachufetts People, depopulate " their Country, and compel an abfolute Subjection " to Great Britain."^ ^Col. Guy Johnfon, a Son-in- early Part of the Controverfy with Law of Sir Wm. Johnfon, Superin- Englandj he fucceeded in inducing tendent of Indian Affairs of the a large Proportion of the Six Na- Province of New York. On the tions to engage in the Service of the death of Sir William, Col. Johnfon King, was appointed to the vacant Office — a Pofition that gave him great Influ- ^ Journal of the Provincial Con- ence with the Indian Tribes. In the grefs of New York, 172. IntroduEiion. 5 But the Colonifts were equally familiar with the Importance of maintaining Pofleffion of the River. In a Report fubmitted by the Provincial Congrefs of New York to the Continental Congrefs, early in 1775, the Subjed: is thus treated: "If the Enemy " perfift in their Plan of fubjugating thefe States to " the Yoke of Great Britain, they muft, in Propor- " tion to their Knowledge of the Country, be more " and more convinced of the Neceffity of their " becoming Mafters of Hudfon's River, which will " give them the entire Command of the Water " Communication with the Indian Nations, effedl- " ually prevent all Intercourfe between the Eaftern " and Southern Confederates, divide our Strength " and enfeeble every Effort for our common Pre- " fervation and Security. That this was their " original Plan, and that Gen^. Carleton and Gen^. " Howe flattered themfelves with the delufive " Hope of uniting their Forces at Albany, every " Intelligence confirms, and it appears to the Com- " mittee that they will not give up this grand Objedt •* until they fhall finally relinquifh the Project of " enflaving America."^ I Jour. Prov. Conv. N. Y., 723. 6 IntroduEiion. With this brief Explanation of the nati which gave to Hudfon's River the impo tion w^hich it occupied in the Struggle pendence, and of the Plans adopted by th to fecure its Control, we come to confid the Means employed by the Colonifts the Efforts of the Englifh. The genei tions of the Continental Forces are amp in our Hiftories — Ticonderoga, Saratoga Point, are written on their Pages in Cc Time can never dim. Still, there are k of Intereft that have not been recordec efpecially fo in regard to the Fortificati Highlands and the Charadler and Num Obftrudtions to the Navigation of the P fupply Details in reference to the latt will be the leading Objedt of this Paper, from the Connexion exifting between former, alfo, will be incidentally noticed. The Plan of Operations adopted by th< while aiming at general Refults, immc volved the Province of New York ; and Congrefs of that Province took early St( vent its Confummation. Prior to the R( IntroduSiion. 7 the Letter of July 31ft, already quoted, the Provin- cial Congrefs had taken Adlion upon the Subjedt of fortifying the Highlands and obftrudting the Navi- gation of the River, and had invited the prompt Adtion of the Continental Congrefs. On the 25th May, 1775, the latter Body communicated to the former a Series of Refolutions in reference to the Defence of New York, one of which is as follows : " Refohed, That a Poft be taken in the High- " lands, on each Side of Hudfon's River, and Bat- " teries eredted ; * * * and that experienced " Perfons be immediately fent to examine faid " River, in order to difcover where it will be moft " advifable and proper to obftrudl the Navigation."^ This Refolution, together with the Others of the Series, received the Adtion of the Provincial Congrefs at its Seffion held May 30th, 1775, when the following Order was paffed ; " Ordered, That Col. Clinton and Mr. Tappan " be a Committee (and that they take to their " Afliftance fuch Perfons as they fhall think necef- " fary,) to go to the Highlands and view the Banks " of Hudfon's River there; and report to this Con- ijour. Prov. Cong., i6. 8 IntroduEiion. " grefs the moft proper Place for ered " more Fortifications ; and likewife an " the Expenfe of eredling the fame-"^ This Committee made a Report on i June, 1775, in which they fuggefted th of what were afterwards known as F( and Montgomery. In their Report th " Your Committee begs Leave to c " they are informed that by Means of " Booms, chained together on one Side ( *' ready to be drawn acrofs, the Paflage c " up to prevent any Veflel paffing or r On the 1 6th of June, 1775, the Prov grefs took this Suggeftion into Confid( paiTed the following Order : ** Ordered, That Col. Hoffman, Mr. " McDougall, and Mr, Paulding be a " to inquire into the Depth of Water i " River, from the City of New Yor *^ Windfor." We have fearched in vain for the Re Committee ; but it is not eflential, a ijour. Prov. Cong., zo. ^Vo., 45, i2Ib.,4i. IntroduSiion. 9 Matter is fhown by the Report of a Committee fubfequently appointed for that Purpofe. On the 1 8th Auguft, 1775, the Provincial Congrefs paffed the following Refolution : " Rejohed, That the Fortifications formaly^ or- " dered by the Continental Congrefs, * * * " be immediately eredted," In Accordance with this Refolution, the Eredtion of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was immedi- ately commenced, under the Supervifion of a Com- mittee of the Provincial Congrefs, aflifted by Mr, Bernard Romans,^ the Engineer appointed for ^ Thus printed in the Journal; but is written formerly in Original, in the Office of Secretary of State, at Albany. 2 Bernarp Romans was born in Holland, but early in Life remov- ed to England, where he ftudied the Profeffiou of am Engineer. He was employed ais fuch by the Brit- ifli Government, fome Time before the Revoktion, in her Southern American Provinces ; although the firft Notice: that we find of him is in a Manufcript in Harvard Libra ry, written by John Gerard Wil B liam de Brahm^ where he is men- tioned as a Refident of Florida, from 1763 to 1 77 1, as a Draughtf- man. It alfo appears that, pre- 1 We gathered this Fa£l from Mr. Fairbanks ^s recent Hijiory of St. Augufiinc^ p. 165, where the Author's Name is mifprinted John Gerard Williams de Bahm- Mr. J. L. Sibley, Librarian at Harvard, in a Letter relating to this Ma- nufcript, fays, that the Author has fub- fcribed his Name John Gerar William de Brahm ; while a Copyift had written it in the fame Volume, William Gerard de Brahm ; the latter is alfo the Form in which it ftands on the Title Page of the Book he publiihed in eonneftion with Bernard Romans on the Gulf PaflTage. lO IntroduStion. the Purpofe by the Continental Cong Suggeftions of the Committee of May 2 vious to his Employment in the Capacity of Engineer for the Con- ftruftion of Defences in the High^ lands, he was in the Enjoyment of a Penfion from the Britifh Crown, of about £50 Sterling per Year, as Botanift in Florida. Fronj a Paper on the Mariner's Compafs, which he communicated to the American Philofophical Society, we learn that he was ftill at St. Auguftine in 1773. (Trans, ii, 396.) In 1775 he publifhed in New York the firft Volume of a Natural Hiftory of Florida ■} the fecond Volume, al- though announced as in prefs, we do not find to have been iffued. He alfo publilhed the fame Year, a Map of the Seat of Civil War in America. Whilft at the North he became imbued with the revolu- tionary Spirit, and the New York Committee of Safety engaged his Services as Engineer, at $50 per Month, to conftruft Defences in the Highlands. He entered upon the Duties of that Office on the 29th Auguft, 1 775, with the Encourage- ISee Title in full in Duyckinck's Cyc. Am. Literature, 1, 303, ment, as he alleged, fion in the Continent the 1 8th of Septemb his Plans and Eftimi penfes of erefting thi tifications (4 Force': 111,732-36), and ofl for the Completion ^5 000, the Ordnanc The Committee, he to employ him at a the Pay of a Colon tinental Army. C Oftober he applied a Commiffion, wit] Colonel. While } was pending the Co came diflatiffied wit ings, and the Ma before the Contini for their Decifion. verfy refulted in the Mr. Romans, and ( appointed to fill h Correfpondence bel the Committee is giv nal of Provincial C 100-6. On the 8 1776, he was com fain of a Company • IntroduEiion. II in regard to Obftrud;ing the Navigation of the River, do not, however, appear to have been ad:ed Artillery,'- deftined for the Invafion of Canada as a Part of the Northern Army. On the i8th of March, he applied to the New York Com- mittee of Safety for Pay up to the Date of his new Commiffioh, ftating that the Time had expired in which he was to have appeared at the Head of his Company, which want of Money prevented. The next we learn of him, he was fent back from Canada to Albany to be tried, in May, 1776 (4 Am. Archives, VI, 413), for Mifconduft, "a String of Complaints " having been lodged againft him ; the Purport of which was, that he countenanced, or failed to difcountenance, the Depredations committed by his Men upon the People of the Country which they quartered in ; and on the 27th July following he was again tried for fome DiiEculty with his Lieutenant. The Refult of thefe Trials does not appear, but it is inferred that he 1 The Names, Rank, Dates of Com- miilions and Times of Enliftment of the Officers and Privates of his Company, from Feb. 8, to Nov. 28, 1776, when encamped at Ticonderoga, may be found in SaiFell's Rccordi of the Revolution, p. 1 78. was honourably acquitted; for he continued in the Service, and early in November was deputed, by Gen. Gates, to infpeft the Works at Fort Anne and Skenelborough, the Condition of which he report- ed with much Ability ; and in the fame Month, the Pennfylvania Council of Safety direfted that he Ihould be furrilhed with fuch Materials as he might require to perform an Experiment, in Order to give a Specimen of his Skill in deftroying diftant Objefts by Fire. {^ Am. Archives, in.') Unfortun- ately we do not find the Refult of this Experiment. In 1778 he publilhed at Hartford, Conn., the firft Volume of his Annals of the Troubles in the Netherlands; and the fecond Volume' was Printed at 1 As the Exiftence of this fecond Vol- ume is often queftioned, the exaft Title is here given : Annals | of the Troubles |_ in the | Netherlands | from the | Accef- fion of Charles V | Emperor of Germany I A proper and feafonable Mirror for the prefent Americans | coUefled and trans- lated from the moft approved Hiftorians in the Native Tongues | By Bernard Romans | Vol. II | Hartford | Hudfon & Goodwin I m.d.cc.lxxxii. 12 IntroduSiion. upon — farther than to order the Sur tioned — until the fubfequent Year (i77< the fame Place in 1782. He alfo publiflied in England, in 1779, in Conneftion with CapL de Brahm, A Compleat Pilot for the Gulf Paflage, a Subjeft which is treated of in his Work upon Florida. On the 28th Jan., 1779, he married Elizabeth Whiting (Certificate of Rev. Mark Tucker) of Wetherffield, Ct., who died in New York, 12 th May, 1848, aged 89 (Memorandum by Peter Force, Efq.J. Her Miniature, beautifully painted by Romans, is ftill preferved in the Family (Dr. Wm. Dolby of N. T.). We find no other Trace of him except in the Depofition of his Widow, made for the Purpofe of obtaining a Penfion, 1 5th Oa., 1 845, on File in the Pen- lion Office at Walhington, which, divefted of its legal Technicalities, is fubftantially as follows : That he continued in the Line of his Duty as an Officer until 1780, about eighteen Months after his Marriage, when he was ordered to go to the State of South Carolina, there to join the Southern Army; that fliortly thereafter he failed from New Ha- ven or New London for the Place of his Deftination, 1 with all on Board, vi the Paflage by the B ried to Montego Bay, he was held in Caj Clofe of the War i the Britifli Authoritii Time, were applied ment to deliver him u which was declined his Ability to do Inj ifli Interefts ; that h by the Britifti Authc Pretext of fending fome Port in the Ut was (aid to have died though, from Circui ing his Demjfe, his F Reafon to believe ti ftilly murdered. T of his Widow for rejefted on the Gi Service performed b; ever meritorious, 1 tary, and therefore for by the Penfion L Whiting, Efq., Com a Diary of the pi of his Life, he t been the firft Surve Introduction. 13 on the 1 6th of July, a few Days after the Declara- tion of Independence, the Provincial Convention^ again took up the Matter, and appointed a Secret Committee to take the whole Subje<5l in charge ; as will be feen by. the following Refolutions : " Re/olved, unanimoujly. That a Secret Committee " be appointed to devife and carry into Execution " fuch Meafures as to them ihall appear moft " EfFedual for Obftruding the Channel of Hud- " fon's River, or annoying the Enemy's Ships in " their PafTage up faid River ; and that this Con- " vention Pledge themfelves for defraying the " Charges incident thereto. " Refolved^ That Mr. Jay, Mr. Robert Yates,' As a Mathematician, an Artift, an Ordered, that the Style or Title of Author, or as a Publick Man, he this Hoiife be changed from that of feems to have been regarded by all. The Provincial Congrefs of the except the New York Committee of Colony of New York, to that of The Safety, as a choice Spirit. He left Convention of the Reprefentatives of one Son, Bernard Hubertus, who the State of New York. (Journal, died near Havana of Yellow Fever, i, 519.) leaving an only Son of the fame ji^ajjjg_ * Robert Yates was bom at Scheneflady, New York, zyth ^ The Title of the Le^flature of Jan., 1738, and became an eminent the State was changed on the loth Lawyer in Albany ; was a Member July, 1776, from Congrefs to Con- of the Board of Alderman in the z/^/r/ww, as follows : Refolved and latter City from 1 77 1 to 1775; 1 4- IntroduEiion. " Major C. Tappan, Mr. Robert R. Liv " Mr. Paulding be faid Committee." At this Point the Congreffional and Records ceafe to help us in our In^ The Proceedings of the Provincial Con indeed, make frequent References to th tions, but they are brief and unfatisfadti furnifh no Means of identifying and un the Objedts and Events to vs^hich i. Fortunately, however, the Original Mil Proceedings of the Secret Committee, 1 6th July, 1776, have been recently by Mr. James C. Bolton, among the P Grand-father, Gen. James Clinton. I Minutes, Mr. Bolton has found Maps ol at Fort Montgomery, fhowing the Mann it was faftened and floated, and the Char wrote undef the Signature The 1788 was a Mem Rough Hewer, under which Sou- vention which rati briquet he was known ; was a Conftitution ; was Member of the Provincial Con- Secret Proceedings grefs from 1775 to 1777, and the Convention of Chairman of the Committee for after his Death. Military Operations; in 1777 was ticular Account of appointed Judge of the Supreme Council of Revifion Court ; and in 1 790 Chief Juftice ; IntroduSiion. 1 5 Booms placed in Front of it ; together with many other Papers of great Value relating to the Ob~ ftrudtions at Fort Wafhington and PoUopel's If- land. Thefe long-hidden and valuable Documents receive additional Illuftration from a Relick of the Original Obftrudtion at Weft Point, which was raifed from the River's Bed, by Bifhop's Derrick, in 1855.^ Collating and combining this Mafs of new and important Materials, with that to be de- rived from the Proceedings of the Provincial Con- vention, and from other previoufly known Sources, we find that a Flood of Light is thrown upon the Subjedt, enabling us to get a clear and complete Idea of it, in whole and in detail. There were four Points at which it was fought to obftruft the Navigation of the River, by means, either fingly or combined, of Fire Ships, Booms, Chains, and Chevaux-de-Frife. The Firji was at 1 This interefting Relick is now Ggn. James Clinton, referred to in depofited at Waftiington's Head the Text, have found a fitting reft- Quarters, Newburgh. It is the ing Place in the fame CoUeftion, Property of E. Carter, Efq., of having been there depofited by his Newburgh, to whofe Exertions the Grand-fon, Mr. Bolton. Wafliing- Publick are mainly indebted for the ton's Head Quarters was purchafed, valuable CoUeftion of Manufcripts feveral Years fince, by the State of and Revolutionary Rejicks now pre- New York, and is now under its ferved in this old, temporary, Hpme efpecial Care apd Proteftion. of Wafhington. The Papers of 1 6 Intr&duSiion. Fort Wafhington, the Second at Fort Montgomery, the 'Third' at PoUopel's Ifland, and the Fourth at Weft Point. The Fire Ships and Obftrudlions at Fort Wafhington were conftrudted in the Summer of 1776; the ObftrudHons at Fort Montgomery and PoUopel's Ifland in the Autumn of 1776 and Springs of 1777 and 1778; and thofe at Weft Point in 1778. We propofe to notice thefe feveral Obftrudlions in their chronological Order. I. OBSTRUCTION BY MEANS OF FIRE SHIPS. THE OBSTRUCTION OF th£ NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER BY MEANS OF FIRE SHIPS AND RAFTS. NTERIOR to the Appointment of the Secret Committee, there had beenfome Difcuffion, in reference to the Modes to be employed in obftrudling the Navi- gation of the River. Among other Propofitions, the Plan of conftrudting Fire Ships, or Rafts, which had been introduced by Capt. Hazelv70od,^ on the Delaware, was favorably received by the Convention ; and it alfo met the Approval of both JGen. Wafhington and ^ John Hazelwood was a resid- Safety of that City, to whom he ent of the City of Philadelphia, and communicated the Plan of conftruft- was employed by the Committee of ing Fire Ships and Rafts fof the 20 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. Gov. Clinton.^ Early in July, 1776, Wafliington iffued Orders, to the Committee having Charge of the Conftrudtion of the Continental Frigates at Poughkeepfie, to equip a number of Fire Rafts and Veflels. In obedience to this Order, the Work was immediately commenced.^ On the Appointment of the Secret Committee, Defence of the Delaware River. The Legiflature of Pennfylvania, at the Suggeftion of the Committee of Philadelphia, authorized the Con- ftruftion of a Fleet of thefe Veflels, and gave him the Commiffion of Captain. He was fent to Pough- keepfie by the Committee of Safety of Philadelphia, for the Purpofe of Aiding the Secret Committee. (See Letter from Wm. Duer under head of Fort Wafliington. ) After Ms Re- turn from New York, he was raifed to the Rank of Commodore, by the Order of Gen. Greene, 061. 7, 1 777 (^Sparks, v., 77), and rendered efficient Service at the Attack on Fort Mercer, OSt. 21, I777, and in the fubfequent 'Operations on the Delaware River, and was honored by Congrefs with a Sword. His Fleet was di^erfed at the Capture of Forts Mercer and Mifflin, Nov. 21, 1777. i ^ " Fort Constitution, "July 14, 1776. " I Approve of much of your " Plan for making Fire Rafts, and " doubt not you will carry the fame " into Execution with the utmoft " Expedition. I think it advifable " to purchafe two other old Sloops, " or more, if neceflary, for the " Purpofe, but let it be done in " the cheapeft Manner — the old- *' eft and worft Sloops will do. * * " Geo. Clinton. " To Secret Committee." (Clinton Papers, State Lib.) 2 " POUGHKEEPSIE, "July 16, 1776. " As you were pleaied to for- " ward us Genl. Wafliington's Or- " ders to complete a Number of " Fire Rafts and Fire Veflels, we " have the Pleafure to inform you "that four Fire Rafts will be " launched this Evening. To- " morrow, we propofe to fix them " in the \>t& Manner we can with " dry Wood, Tar and fuch other " Combuftibles as we can procure " at this Place. Two or three old " Veflels we fliall fix as faft as poffi- " ble for the fame Purpofe. We " fliall fend the Fire Rafts down to " Col. Clinton as foon as com- "pleted." ****** (Letter from J. Van Zandt to Gov. Clinton.) Fire Ships and Rafts. 2 1 however, the Conftrudlion of Fire Ships pafled into their Hands ; and in their Minutes of July 25th, we find the following, among other Inftruc- tions iffued to the Artizans and Agents employed by them : " 2d. The Building and Fitting out ten Fire " Rafts, and Preparing fuch Veffels as they may be " furniflied with for Fire Ships, and fending the " Same down to Fort Conftitution as foon as made. " Alfo 1 2 Fire Grappling Irons.^ ********* " 4th. To get 1 000 Fire Arrows made and " fixed." At the Meeting of the Committee on the 27th, the following Memorandum of Articles to be pro- cured was entered in the Minutes : " Light Wood and Pine Knots for Fire Vefl"els, " to be got at Efopus and Albany. " Mr. Tappan to procure three old Sloops and " fend them down to Poughkeepfie loaded with " thofe Knots and Light Wood, and as much " Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, and Tar-Tubs and Bar- " rels, as can be got. " Mr. Livingfton and Mr. Yates to procure the " fame Number of Sloops and to fend them down ^ The Grappling Iron has Ra- nemy's Veffel, and thus faften the dialing Hooks at the end, intended Fire Ship alongiide. to catch in the Rigging of an en- 2 2 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. " loaded with the fame Materials. The Pitch, " Tar, and Turpentine not to exceed i oo Barrels. " Alfo, Oakum and Junks^ of Rope. Alfo, to " Procure loo Afh Oars from 14 to 20 feet long. " Mr. G. Livingfton to procure fix Long Boats " and fend them to Poughkeepfie. To get about " twelve Fire Grappling Irons made. To get " 1000 Fire Arrows made. To fit up one or two " armed Sloops at Albany. To fend to Salifbury " for all the Cannon and all the Shot that can be " procured there." The Plan evidently was, to draw thefe Rafts acrofs the River in a Line.^ The Fire Arrows were In- tended to be difcharged in fuch Manner as to communicate Fire to the Sails of approaching Vefi!els, while the Fire Rafts were to be cut from their Moorings and propelled againft their Hulls. The Combuftibles being fimultaneoufly ignited, the Veflils aflTailed would almoft inftantly be wrapped in Flames. The Fire Ships were charged under the Dirediion of Capt. Hazelwood, whofe Services in this Reipedt will be found detailed in the following Certificate, which alfo contains a Lift of the Mate- rials ufed by him : ^ Junk is old Rope, cut into " Poughkeepfie arrived with the ftiort lengths. " Fire Rafts, and To-morrow or " next Day hope to be able to ^ " Auguft 2, 1776. This Day "draw them across the River." " fome of the Carpenters from (Mem. by Gov. Clinton.) Fire Ships and Rafts. 23 " POUGHKEEPSIE, Aug. 26th, I776. " 2 Brls of Spirits of Turpentine. " 6 gals, of Spirit of Wine. " 60 Hand Grenade Shells complete. "12 ftrong Port Fires. " 10 lbs. Slow Matches. " 10 lbs. Spun Cotton. " The feveral Articles mentioned in the above " Lift, were brought up here by Capt. Hazelwood " to Poughkeepfie, part of which Articles have " been ufed by him in charging a Fire Veflel here " ^nd left the Remainder for that Ufe." " Christr. Tappen. " Gij^BERT Livingston. « Copy," Having charged one Veffel, and given proper Inftru.dtions as to the Manner of charging the others, Capt. Hazelwood left Poughkeepfie. The Secret Committee certified to his Services as follows : ** POUGHKEEPSIE, Aug, 26, 1 7/6. "Sir: " Captain Hazelwood, who came up to us " by Requeft of Convention, has fitted a Fire Vef- " fel, as we Conceive in a Mafterly Manner, and ** has given fuch Inftrudtions to fome Perfons we " have here employed with refped: to mixing Fire " Combuftibles, &c,, that we think we can now 24 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. " carry on our Works without further Affiftance," &c. " Christr. Tappen. " Gilbert Livingston. " To Abm. Yates, " Pref 't Provincial Congrefs." At a Meeting of the Convention held Auguft 29th, 1776, the following Refolution paiTed : "The Convention having been informed by " their Secret Committee of the Service of Capt. " Hazelwood, in preparing Fire Rafts, and giving " ufeful Information relative to the Obftrudting the " Navigation of Hudfon's River, think him entitled " to the Thanks of this Houfe : and as a Compen- " fation for his Expenfes and Trouble, " Ordered, That the Treafurer of this Conven- " tion pay to the faid Captaine Hazelwood, three " hundred Dollars," &c. The Fire Ships were fubjedted to an early Teft. The Britifh Frigates Kofe and Phoenix having paffed, in July, the Obftrudtions at Fort Wafhing- ton, and afcended the River as far as Yonkers, it was agreed upon that they fhould be attacked. The Night of the i6th of Auguft was feledted for the Purpofe. The Adtion was witneffed, from the High Grounds at Yonkers, by Gen. Heath, Gen. Clinton, and Others, and it is thus defcribed in Heath's Memoirs : Fire Ships and Rafts. 2 5 On the Evening of Aug. i6th. Gen. Heath, accompanied by Gen. Clinton and other Officers, took a proper Poiition on the Bank of the Hudfon. " The Night," fays Heath himfelf, " was pretty " dark ; we foon found that the GalUes and Fire " Veflels were filently moving" up with the Tide. " After fome Time, and almoft immediately after " the Sentinels on Board the Englifli Ships had " pafled the Word, * All is well,' two of the Fire " Veflels flafhed into a Blaze ; the One clofe on the " fide of the Phoenix, and the Other grappling one " of the Tenders. To Appearances, the Flames " were againft the fide of the Phoenix ; and there " was much Confufion on Board. A Number of " Cannon were difcharged into the Fire VeflTel in "order to fink her. A Number of Seamen af- " cended and got out on the Yard- Arm, fuppofed " to clear away fonie of the Grapplings. The Fire " Veflel was along fide, as was judged, near Ten " Minutes, when the Phoenix either cut or flipped " her Cables, let fall her Fore Top Sail, wore round "and flood up the River, being immediately veiled " from the Spectators by the Darknefs of the Night. " The Rofe and the other two Tenders remained at " their Moorings." Additional Particulars in Reference to the Tranfaftion are given in the following Letter from Gen. Wafliington to Gov. Trumbull,^ under Date of Auguft 18th: ^ Sparks, iv, 54. P 26 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. * * " On the Night of the 1 6th, two of our " Fire Veflels attempted to burn the Ships of War " up the River. One of thefe boarded the Phcenix " of Forty-Four Guns, and was Grappled with her " for fome Minutes, but unluckily (he cleared her- " felf The only Damage the Enemy fufhained " was the Deftrudlion of one Tender. It is agreed " on all Hands, that our People engaged in this " Affair, behaved with great Refolution and Intre- " pidity. One of the Captains, Thorrias, it is to " be feared, perifhed in the attempt or in making " his Efcape by Swimming, as he has not been " heard of His Bravery entitled him to a better " Fate. Though this Enterprife did not fucceed " to our Wifhes, I incline to think it alarmed the " Enemy greatly ; for this Morning the Phcenix " and Rofe, with their Two remaining Tenders, " taking advantage of a brifk and profperous Gale " and favorable Tide, quitted their Stations, and " have returned and joined the reft of the Fleet." The VefTels were confiderably injured in their downward Paflage,in pafling the American Batteries at Fort Wafhington and Harlem River. The Tend- er, which had been burnt by the Fire Ships, was towed down to the Fort the Day after the Affair, although under the Fire of the Enemy's Cannon. This was effefted by a Lieutenant and two Men, in a Manner that refledted great Credit upon their Enterprife and Courage. A Six-pounder Cannon, Fire Ships and Rafts. 27 three fmaller ones, and ten Swivels were taken out of the Tender. A full Account of the Manner in which the Fire Ships were charged, and alfo of the Attack on the Britifh Frigates, was publiflied in the Worcejler Magazine, in 1826, in a Sketch of the Life of Jofeph Bafs, of Leicefter. It will fittingly conclude this Divifion of our Subjed:. Mr. Bafs ftates that at the Time of the Occurrence he was at- tached to the Water Service, under the Command of Commodore Tupper, who wasdiredled to man the Fire Ships defignated for the Service. The Com- modore feledted Bafs to take Charge of one, and put the other under the Command of Captain Thomas, who belonged to New London. The Veffel commanded by Bafs was a Sloop, called the Polly, of about one hundred Tons burthen, nearly new. That commanded by Thomas, was of a fmaller Size. The Frigates lay about eight Miles above Kingfbridge, but having had Intimations that they might be attacked, removed their Station towards the weftern Shore of the River, where the Water was deeper than on the eaft Side. The Fire Ships had been prepared with Faggots of the moft combuftible Kinds of Wood, which had been dipped in melted Pitch, and with Bundles of Straw cut, about a Foot long, prepared in the fame Manner. Thefe Faggots and Bundles filled the Deck and Hold as far aft as the Cabin ; and into this Mafs of combuftible Materials was inferted a 2 8 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. Match, that might be fired by a Perfon in the Cabin ; who would have Time to efcape, through a Door cut in the Side of the Veflel, into a Whale Boat that was lafhed to the Quarter of the Sloop. Befides thefe Combuftibles, there were in each Veflel ten or twelve Barrels of Pitch. A quantity of Canvafs, amounting to many Yards, was cut into Strips, about a Foot in Width, then dipped in Spirits of Turpentine and hung upon the Spars and Rigging, extending down to the Deck. Every thing had been fo prepared that but a Moment's Time was required to fet the whole Veflel in a Blaze. The Fire Ships ftarted from the Spuyten Duyvel Creek about Dark, with a fouth Wind and a favor- able Tide. The Night was Cloudy and Dark, with occafionally a little Rain. Bafs had nine Men at- tached to his Veflel, three of whom he fliationed in the Whale Boat, four had Charge of the Grap- pling Irons, and one adled as Pilot, while Bafs fl:a - tioned himfelf in the Cabin to fire the Materials. Befides the two Britifh Frigates, there was a Bomb Ketch and two Tenders; which were moored near thern. They were anchored in a Line about North and South ; firfl: the Phoenix of about 44 Giins; next the Rofe of 36 Guns; then the Bomb Ketch, and above it the Tenders. As the Night was Dark, and the Fire Ships kept near the Middle of the River, they were not aware that they were near the Britifh VefiTels, until they heard, immedi- Fire Ships and Rafts. 29 ately on their Left, the ftriking of the Bells, and the Cry of the Sentinel's, all's well. It was twelve o'clock, and little did thofe who were flumbering there imagine the Deftrudtion that hung over them. The Shore was bold and rofe above the Mafts ; and, in its dark Shadow, the Americans could not diflinguifh the Situations of the Veffels, neither could they afcertain their Size, or which of them were Frigates. Bafs was a confiderable Diftance in Advance of Thomas, and, upon hearing the Cry of the Sentinels, he immediately bore down upon the Line of the Britifh Fleet. He was already very near the Bomb Ketch before he was difcovered by the Enemy, and foon ftruck her. The Grappling Irons Were made faft in an Inftant — the "Whale Boat was ready to caft; off — the Match was applied, and both VeiTels. were almoft imme- diately in a Blaze. Bafs and his Crew made their way to the Shore, while the Panic-ftruck Crew of the Ketch were feen pouring from their Quarters in the utmoft Confternation. Several of them perifhed in the Flames, others jumped into the Water, and were refcued by the other Veffels of the Fleet; and the Ketch foon burned fo as to part from her Moorings, when fhe drifted on Shore, and was confumed to the Water's Edge. Capt. Thomas was not fo fortunate. He was far in the Rear, and the Light from Bafs's Ship fhowed his Pofition to the Enemy ; who opened a vigorous Cannonade and prepared themfelves to meet the 30 Hudfon River ObJiruEtions. Attack. But, nothing daunted by being difcov- ered, he bore down on the Phoenix, and became grappled with her. He then applied the Match to the Combuftibles, but in fuch a way that his retreat to the Boat was cut off, and he was obliged to leap overboard to efcape the Flames. Five of his Men were compelled to follow his Example, and not being able to reach the Boat, all perifhed in the Water. Notwithflanding the Phoenix was on Fire in jeveral Places, fhe was faved from Deftruftion by cutting away Portions of her Rigging, and flipping her Cables. In the Attack, the Enemy loft nearly feventy Men, befides fome Women and Children who were on board the Ketch. Although there are, in Official Documents, fome farther Allufions to the Fire Ships, they appear to have been found imprad:icable, as their Ufe was foon after abandoned. On the 5th Sept., 1776, Mr. Duane, from a Committee appointed to vifit the Highlands and examine the State of Defences there, reported, among other things, " That the " Fire Rafts are in fuch a State as not to be fit for " ufe, having in part. Water in them ; and that the " General (Clinton) does not know what to do " with them." Their Deftrudiion was probably completed at the reduction of the Forts in Odlober ; and as Experience had not proved that their ufe was practicable, none were fitted out afterwards. II. OBSTRUCTION AT FORT WASHINGTON. THE OBSTRUCTIONS AT FORT WASHINGTON. HE Obflrudions to the Navigation of Hudfon's River at Fort Wafh- ington are almoft entirely loft Sight of in the general Hiftories of the Revolmtiou. This is prolaably due to the Fa£t that they were placed there in the moft fecret Manner ; and that all the Preparations connedted w^ith them, were covered under the Dejign of obJlruSling the Eaji River. Forming, as they did, an important Part in the Plans for the Defeat of the Enemy, and for the Defence of New York, they were, however, re- garded as of the moft urgent Neceffity. The fol- lowing Letter from Mr. Duer to the Secret Com- E 34- Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. mittee, which we find among the Clinton Papers, reveals the Fadls here ftated : "White Plains, Sunday 21ft July, 1776. " Dear Gentl: " I have juft arrived at this Place from New " York where I have converfed with Genl. Wafli- " ington on the Purport of the Letter from the " Secret Committee.^ " Gens. Putnam and Mifflen have made an exad: " Survey of the River oppofite Mount Wafhington <5^\\^> B — Bloomingdale. W— Fort Wafliington. L — Fort Lee. P Palifades. C^-'Chevaux-de-frize. " and find that the Depth in no Part exceeds feven " Fathoms ; the Width, however, of the Channel " (which is from three to feven Fathoms) is not "much lefs than 1800 Yards, the fhallow Part of 1 The Draft of this Letter is not in the CoUeftion of IVTanufcripts. Chevau%-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 35 " the River running in an oblique Diredtion. Genl. " Wafhington exprefles himfelf extremely anxious " about the Obftrudtion of that Channel, and " Meafures are daily ufed for executing that Pur- " pofe. It is impoffible to procure Veffels enough " at New York, fo that the Meafure muft be de- " layed till fuch Time as more Veflels can be " brought through the Sound from Connedlicut ; " however, I am not without Apprehenfions that *• this Refource will be cut off, as I underftand that " fome of the Enemy's Veflels have failed out of " the Hook, with an Intention (probably) of cutting " ofl" our Communication with the Sound. " It is, however, an Objedt of fo much Import- "ancethat no Difficulties, however great, ought " to deter us from our Attempts to carry it into " execution ; if we Jucceed, the Defigns of the Enemy " in this Campaign are effeSlually bafled — if we fail, " we cannot be in a more lamentable Situation than " we are now, " Exclufive of the great Advantage we fhould " reap in obftrudting the Channel fo far to the " fouthward, it is, I fear, the only Place we can " depend upon {hallowing^ to the fouthward of the " Highlands, whilfl the Men-of-War are in the " River, for if proper Batteries are eredted near the " Water at Mount Waftiington, and on the oppofite " Side, mounted with Guns of 1 8, 24 and 32 Pound- ^ Sufficiendy ftiallow. 36 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " ers, it will not be pradticable for any Veflels to be " fo near as to prevent our working under the " Cover of thefe Works. I have ftrongly urged " Genl. Wafhington to fend Genl. Mifflen fome " heavier Metal, and he feems half inclined. This " neceffary Operation has not yet taken Place. " The Genl. is anxious to have either of you " (as Members of the Secret Committee) to be " with him in Town, and has authorized me to " make the Offer to you of his Houfe during your " Refidence. Let me entreat One of you imme- " diately to come Down, and not to quit Genl. " Wafhington till fuch Time as this Meafure on " which our Safety depends is effedted. There is " fuch a Languor and Procraflination in our mili- " tary Operations in that City and the true Objedl " of this appears to me fo much miflaken, that I " am confident either of your Prefences, in Order " to prefs on the Obflrudtions of that Channel, " will be highly ufeful. There is another Con- " fideration which I hope will induce one of you " to repair immediately to New York. The Com- " mittee of Safety of Philadelphia have fent three " Perfons to New York in Order to afTift us in " making Fire Ships — one of them, a Mr. Hazel- " wood, with whom I have converfed is particu- " larly Clever. The Fire Ships charged in his " Manner mufl, I am confident, prove Deflrudhive *' to any Veflel they fix upon. I have fpoken con- " cerning our Wifh to deflroy the Phoenix and Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 37 " Rofe, now in this River, and he is ready to " undertake it, not doubting but he will meet with " generous Encouragement. I applied to Genl. " Wafliington to get Leave for him to come up " the River; but his Prefence will ftill be wanted " in Town, for the Ships there Loading, till this " Day Week, when he will wait on your Com- " mittee if you fend him Notice by Exprefs. He " Lodges at Mrs. Graham's in Broad Street. I " flatter myfelf, however, that either one or the " other of you will fet off for Town immediately " on the receipt of this Letter, in which cafe you " can engage him in our Service, and fend him up " immediately with the neceflary Apparatus. " For News, I muft refer you to Mr. Paulding " who left New York at the fame Time with my- " felf I {hall fet off for Connecticut To-Morrow " where I think my Prefence is Neceflary. No " more than 1 900 of the Connecticut Quota had "joined our Forces when I left Town. " I had almofl: forgot to tell you that this Defign " of obftrufting the Channel near Mifflin's is cov- " ered under the Pretext of preparing Vejfels for " obflruBing the Channel of Eaji River. It will, " therefore, be advifable that your Converfation " fhould give a Coloring to this Matter. " I am, very Sincerely, yours, &c., "Wm. Duer." " P. S. For God's fake exert yourfelf to fecure " the Sea VeflTels which are in the River." 38 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions . The Obftrudtions, at this Point, were placed acrofs the River, between Forts Washington and Lee, and under the Command of their Guns, and were Completed only a fhort Time before the Re- dudtion of the former Fort by the Englifh, on the 1 6th of November, 1776. They were made prin- cipally under the Direction of Perfons in the Em- ploy of the Continental Congrefs, although Origi- nally commenced by the Convention of the State of New York. Material Aid in their Conflrudtion was contributed by the Secret Committee. In the Journal of the Provincial Convention, we find that thefe Obftrudtions received the At- tention of that Body in the early Part of the Year 1776. It was then determined to obftrudt the Navigation of the River at this Point by Chevaux- de-Frize, and the Work of their Conftrudlion was immediately commenced, and fome of them fent down and funk. For the purpofe of haftening the completion of the Obftruitions, however. Gen. Putnam propofed the Plan of finking Ships. This Plan is briefly Stated in a Letter from Gen. Putnam to Gen. Gates, dated July 26, 1776,' as follows : * * " We are preparing C hevaux-de- Prize, at " which we make great Defpatch by the Help of " Ships, which are to be funk ; a Scheme of Mine, " which you may be afilired is very Simple, a Plan " of which I fend you. The two Ships' Sterns lie ^ Sparks' iv, 30. Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 39 " towards each other, about feventy Feet apart. " Three large Logs, which reach from Ship to " Ship, are faftened to them. The two Ships and " Logs flop the River two hundred and eighty " Feet. The Ships are to be funk, and, when " hauled down on one fide, the Picks will be raifed " to a proper Height, and they mufl; inevitably flop " the River, if the Enemy will let us fink them." Finding the depth of the Water greater than had been fuppofed, however, the Work was aban- doned, and fome of the Frames of the Chevaux- de-Frize firfl funk were permitted to float up from their places. On the 12th September, 1776, the Convention called the Attention of Gen. Clinton to the Matter, as follows : " Ordered, That Robt, Harper prepare a Draft " of a Letter to Gen. Geo. Clinton, requefling " him to inform the Convention of the State of " the Chevaux-de- Prize and other Obflrudlions to " the Navigation of the River oppofite to Fort " Wafhington." Mr. Harper drafted the Letter accordingly. It was as follows : " Sir: " Being informed by a Member of the Con- " vention, that fome of the Cheveaux-de-Frize in- " tended to be effedlually funk in Hudfon's River, " were a few Days ago floating with the Tide, I " am Diredted to requefl the Favor of you to in- " form me what Probability there is of the Per- 40 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. " manence of thofe Machines, their Diftance, and " whether you conceive the Navigation of the " Enemy's Fleet is thereby Obftrudled. " I am. Sir, &c., " RoBT. Harper. " To Gen. Geo. Clinton." Gen. Clinton's reply to this Letter we have not been able to find ; but it is not ElTential. At its Seffion on the 17th of that Month, the Conven- tion, in a Preamble and Refolution, doubted the Corred:nefs of the Soundings which had been made in the River at Fort Wafhington, and direfted Capt. Thos. Greenhill to retake the fame, and to conduft the " Matter with all the Secrejy poffible." The Report of Capt. Greenhill does not appear, and as there is nothing in the Proceedings of the Convention indicating that the Work was after- wards under its Dired:ion, it is to be prefumed that the duty of completing the Obftrudtions pafTed over to the Continental Authorities, or more dire(3:ly to Gen. Wafhington, who was at that time making Arrangements for the Defence of New York City. On the 20th September, 1776, Gen. Washing- ton, anticipating an Attack from the Britifh Vef- fels of War at New York, fent a Requeft to the Convention, that they would fend to Fort Wafh- ington fome of the Fire Ships which had been prepared by Capt. Hazelwood, where they would " be Ready to Adt in cafe the Ships {hould Attempt Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 41 " to come up." In accordance with this Requeft, the Convention, on the 21ft Sept., pafTed the fol- lowing Order : " Ordered, That Gilbert Livingfton, Efq., or any " other Member of the Committee who may be " now at Poughkeepfie, do immediately difpatch " the two Fire Ships, prepared and charged by " Capt. Hazlewood, with proper Perfons to navi- " gate them, under the Cover of the Guns of the *' faid Fort, and there deliver them to the Care of "fuch Perfon as His Excellency Gen. Washington " has or fhall appoint to take Charge of them." At this Seffion of the Convention, a Letter from the Quarter- Mafter General to Capt. Cook was read, in which the latter was diredted " to purchafe " and procure Timber and oak Plank, with all pof- "fible Difpatch, for the Ufe of the Army;" and alfo " to purchafe VefTels, or take them at an Ap- " praifement, for completing the Obftrudtions to " the Navigation of Hudfon's River oppofite to " Mount Wafhington." The Convention ap- pointed a Committee to confer with Capt. Cook fdr the Purpofe of afcertaining what Aid " he ex- " pedled of the Convention in the Premifes." As the Refult of this Conference the Committee reported the following Refolutions, which were adopted by the Convention, viz : " Refohed, That the Secret Committee for ob- " ftrudiing the Navigation of Hudfon's River be " empowered and diredted to purchafe or imprefs F 4-2 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " for the Service of the State any Number of Vef- " fels not exceeding fix, which they fhall think beft " calculated for the Purpofe of completing the " Obftrudlions in the Hudfon's River oppofite to " Mount Wafhington — that they caufe an Ap- " praifement of the faid VeflTels to be made by " Perfons under Oath, in the moft equitable and " expeditious Manner poflible in order that Satif- " faction may be hereafter made by this Conven- ** tion to the Owners of fuch VefiTels ; and it is " recommended to the faid Committee to requeft " the Services of Capt. Thomas Grenell in ballaft- **ing, navigating and delivering thofe VefTels to ** Capt. Cooke at Fort Wafhington. " Refohed, That the faid Committee be directed " to fend all the Oak Plank which they may have " in their Poffefllon, to Mount Wafhington with " the utmofl Difpatch." Up to the Tinie of the PafTage of thefe Refolu- tions, the Secret Committee do not appear to have had any Connection with the Obflruftions at Fort Wafhington, their Attention having been entirely given to thofe at Fort Montgomery. On the Re- ceipt of thefe Orders, however, the Committee proceeded to execute them, as is fhown by their Minutes : Chevaux^de-Frize at Ft. Witjhington. 43 "POUGHKEEPSIE, Sept. 23d, 1776* " At a Meeting of the Secret Committee of the " Convention of the State of New York : Pre- " fent, Robert Yates, Chn., Mr. Wifner, Mr. " Livihgfton, Mr. Harper. " The Convention of this State, by their Refolve " of the 2ift Inft., have empovv^ered this Committee " to purchafe or imprefs a Number of VefTels, not " exceeding fix, to complete the ObftrucStions in " Hudfon's River near Mount Wafhington, and to " requeft the Services of Capt. Grenell in navigat- " ing thofe VefTels dow^n. *' By another Refolve of the fame Date, the " Superintendants for building the Frigate are re- " quefted to fend their fhort Plank to the fame " Place ; and " By a third Refolve of the fame Date, the faid " Committee are requefted to fend dow^n two Fire " Ships charged by Capt. Hazlewood to the fame " Place. " The Committee having taken the fame into " Confideration do Refolve immediately to fend " down the Fire VeiTel Mary Anna, and to requeft " the Superintendant of the Shipyards to fpare a " few Hands for navigating her. " Refolded, That Capt. Cafewell load the Sloop " Cambden with all fuch Plank as can be fpared at " the Yards, and carry the fame down to Spiten- " Devil — and that the Superintendants be requefted " (purfuant to the Refolve of Convention), to give " him all the Plank out of the Yards which can be 44- Hudfon River ObfiruEiions. " fpared. That a Letter be wrote to Mr. Moylan, " the Quarter-Mafter General, requefting him to " pay for the Plank, &c. " Refolved, farther. That the Sloop Clinton, pur- " chafed by this Committee be fent down to Mount " Wafliington in order to be funk there for obftrudt- " ing the Channel ; and that the Superintendants " of the Yards be requefted to furnifh Men and " Neceflaries to navigate her down. "Refohed, That another of the Fire Veflels " down in the Highlands be fent down to the fame " Place. " Refohed, That we have agreed to take up the " two Brigs lying here, and the two large Ships at " Efopus. " It is the Advice and Opihion of Capt. Grenell, " that we difpatch the two Brigs to Fort Wafliing- " ton with fuch Men as may be had here, and that "fuch other Men as are more Skillful in Naviga- " tion, that we fhould take them to navigate the " two large Ships at Efopus." The next Meeting of the Committee was held at Poughkeepfie, September 25th, 1776, of which the following are the Minutes : " At a Meeting of the Secret Committee : Prefent, "Robert Yates, Chn., Henry Wifner, Gilbert " Livingfton, Robt. Harper. "This Committee, purfuant to their Refolves " and in confequence of the Power vefted in them " by the Convention of the State of New York, " have imprelTed for the Ufe of the Publick two Chevaux-de- Prize at Ft. Wajhington. 45 "new Ships, the Property of Meffrs. Franklin, " which were found near Efopus Landing — a " Brig belonging to Meffrs. Malcom, Kip and " others, at Poughkeepfie Landing, and another " Brig lying at Schenck's Wharf, [probably Fifh- " kill] owned (as is faid) by Lathrop and others in " New England. " And, in order that the Value of thefe Veffels " refpedtively may be afcertained, fo that the Own- " ers may receive from the Publick a juft and " equitable Compenfation, " Refohed, That Auftin Lawrence, Saml. Tudor, " Thos. Grenell, Stephen Simmons, Lancafter Bur- " ling, Thos. Ives and David Stoddard be appointed, "and they, or a Majority of them, are hereby ap- " pointed Appraifers for the Purpofe of eftimating " the Value of thofe Veffels, together with their " Apparel and Furniture. "Refohed, further. That the faid Appraifers, " previous to their making fuch Appraifement, take " the following Oath : " You fwear that you will, to the beft; of your " Skill and Underftanding, juftly and impartially " appraife the Value of the feveral and refpedtive " Veffels, their Tackle and Furniture above men- " tioned." " And, Refohed, further. That the faid Appraif- " ers or a Majority of them, be requefted, after " fuch Appraifement is made, to reduce the fame to " Writing under their Hands, in order to furnifh "this Committee therewith." 4-6 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions. Minutes of a Meeting on the 26th of September are among the Papers, but as thfe Proceedings have no diredl Reference to either of the Obftrudlions, we have not copied them. On the 27th of Sep- tember, the Appraifers fubmitted their Return. The Minutes are as foUow^s : "PouGHKEEPsiE, Sept. 1'J , ijjd- " At a Meeting of the Secret Committee : Prefent, " Robt. Yates, Chn., Henry Wifner, Robt. Har- " per, Jacob Cuyler. " By the Return of the Appraifers it appears they " have appraifed " The Brig of Lothrop and others, £400 '• The Brig of Malcom and others, 760 " The Ship of John Franklin, 34^9 "The Ship of Samuel FrankUn, 2800 "Total, £7389 "Refolved, That Inftruftions be given to Capt. " North for his Condudt in going to Fort Walh- " ington." ^ The following are the Inftruc- on Board your Sloop, efpecially that tions here referred to : belonging to the Ships, keepifig it PouGHKEEPSiEj Sept. 27, 1776. feparate from the reft, or fo marked " Sir — You are to proceed with that you will be able to diftinguifh your Sloop down the River as far it from what you may have on as Mount Wafliington — there to take Board belonging to the other Vef- Gharge of what Tackle and Apparel fels, and ftore the Same, on your may be on Board the two Ships, Return, in Meflrs. Schenck's Store, two Brigs, and two Sloops, fent with thfe Rigging already there, be- down by this Committee, intended longing to the laid Ships. You will to be funk there, if his Excellency alfo take Charge of the Boards and Genl. Wafliington fliall think it Plank on Board the Brig, belonging neceflary. You will carefully take to Lothrop and others, fell them for the Rigging, &c., of all the Veffels the Market price, keep an exaft « <« Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wapington. 47 " Refohed, farther. That a Letter be fent to General Wafhington, acquainting him with our Proceedings.' ^^ Rejblved, That the feveral Perfons appointed by this Committee for navigating the imprefled Veflels from hence to Fort Wafhington, do fail from this Place immediately to the faid Fort ; and all commanding Officers at the Forts and elfewhere on the River, in the Service of this State, are hereby ordered and requefled to aid Account of the Number and Sales, and return the Amount and Monies to Capt. John Schenck to be kept for the Owner of the Boards. You are to bring the Hands back (on Board your Sloop) which we have fent to navigate the Veflels down, if they don't find an earlier Pat- fege — .keeping Account of all your Expenfes, &c. In cafe His Excel- lency conceives it Needlefs to fink any or the whole of the Veflels fent down you are to have them brought back as foon as poflible, by the ftme Hands th^t carry them down, or fuch other as you can procure. When at either of the Forts in the Highlands or at Mount Wafhington you may apply to the Commanding Officer for an Order on the Com- mifliary for as many Rations of Pro- vifions as are neceflary for your Hands and thofe in the other Vef- fels, being all in the QontmtntaX Service." "By Order, "RoBT. Yates, Chairman. " To Capt. Robert North." ■'■ The following is the original Draft of the Letter to Gen. Wafh- ington here referred to: " POUGHKEEPSIE, Sept. 2/, I776. Sir — In cpnfequence of your Ex- cellency's Requifition, the Commit- tee, which the Convention of thi? State appointed for devifing Ways and Means to obfl;ru(3; the Naviga- tion of Hudfon's River, havQ lately received Direftions from the Con- vention to purchafe VeflTels to be funk near Fort Waftiingtoji, To effeft this we iminediately proceeded up to this Place with Capt. Grenel, whofe Afliftance, by Reafon of his naval Experience, the Convention conceived plight be Ufeful to the Committee. "The Coipinittee, upon their Arrival here, fent down an old Sloop which we h^d purchafed fomc Time before, and direfted that another Sloop lying in the Highlands ftiould alio be fent down. Both are intended to be funk, and we jnake no Doubt but by this Time they are at the Bridge. As 4-8 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " and aflift in ballafting faid VefTels, whenever they " fhall be called upon by any of the Skippers of the " faid VefTels for that Purpofe. " A Copy of the above Refolve fent to Capt. " Henry Benfon for Ship ; do, to Alexander Dean alfo the Fire Ship charged by Capt- Hazelwood, he having charged but One here for want of Materials. " The Committee have alfo im- prefled and now fend down two large Ships and two Brigs ; and in Order to afcertain their refpeftive Values have appointed Perfons of unexceptionable Charafters and great Experience to appraife the Same on Oath, for the Purpofe that the Owners thereof may receive from the Public a Recompence. The faid Appraifement ftands as follows : The Brig of Lothrop and others. The Brig of Malcom and others. The new Ship of John Franklin, The new Ship of Samuel Franklin, £400 760 3429 2800 £7389 The Fire Sloop was pur- chafed for 200 The Sloop fent from Pough- keepfie. 125 The Sloop in the Highlands, 130 £7844 " We found in the Brig owned by Mr. Lothrop a Quantity of Boards, and knowing they were much want- ed at the Bridge, we concluded to fend them down, and have requefted Capt. North to deliver them to fuch Ofijcer as may be appointed to receive and purchafe the fame, and at the Price ufually paid, with Power to receive the Money. "The two Ships have never been out at Sea, and by the Report of Matters of Veflels and Ship Car- penters they are well built and of the very beft Materials. It would, therefore, become a Matter of Con-, cern to fmk thofe Veflels, if the In- tereft of the Public fhould not ren- der the Meafure abfolutelv neceflary and unavoidable. " In order to afford Capt. Cooke proper Afliftance in procuring Plank we direfted Capt. Cafewell, of the Sloop-of-War Cambden, equipped by this State, to carry down all the fpare Plank in the Ship-yards. We have alfo purchafed upwards of 6000 Feet and fent them down by Capt. Donaldfon; and as thofe Sloops proceeded down with a fair Wind on Tuefday laft we make no doubt but they are fafely arrived. " Yr humble Servt. " RoBT. Yates, Chairman. " To His Excellency, Genl. Wafh^ ington." Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 49 " for the other lefler Ship ; do. to Mr. Lewes for a " Brig ; do. to Capt. Hallock for a Brig." The Letter from Robt. Yates, Chairman of the Secret Committee, to the Convention," fhows that the VefTels in queftion were fent to Fort Wafhington. The Fire Veflels fent down by the Secret Committee do not feem to have been of any ufe whatever. The Plank and Boards fent down were ufed — the firft for the Conftrudtion of iThe following is the Original Draft of this Letter: " PouGHKEEPsiE, Wednefday, z5th Sept., 1776. " Sir : We've obtained 2 Sloops, 2 Briggs, and z large Ships for the Purpofe of obftrufting the Channel at Fort Waftijngton. One of the Sloops, the Clinton, heretofore pur- chafed by the Committee, we found here, the other we've ordered from Fort Montgomery. The two Briggs are here afio, one of them belongs to Malcom, Kip & Lott, the other, a New England Brig about 1 20 tons Burthen, loaded with Wheat, Staves, and a confiderable Quantity of inch Plank— the Wheat and Staves we've ordered to be ftored, but keep the Boards for public Ufe. The Ships are in Efopus Creek, owner Meflrs. Franklin. They are two very fine Veffels, in the building of which much extraordinary Pains have been taken, both as to Timber and Work- manfliip. Upon going there we ordered them to be hauled out, and expeft they will proceed to Fort G Walhington this Day. The z Sloops, the Clinton and that from Fort Montgomery, we think are ahnoft arrived at this Time, as the Clinton failed yefterday with a fair Wind and the other muft have proceeded from the Fort after the Clinton ar- rived there ; and as to the Brigs we hope we fliall be able to difpatch them to-day alfo. The Cambden, Capt. Caftle, with near 2000 Feet of Plank and Capt, Donaldfon with upwards of 6000 do. failed yefter- day alfo. The Ships and Brigs aforefaid we are to have appraifed by the Time they are ready to fet off from here ; and we imagine the Ships will run very high. " Our Stock of Money is very low, and our Contracts and Ex- penfes far exceeding the Sum we were furnilhed with — the Demands on this Committee frequent and urgent. Upon thefg Confiderations we hope the Convention will by fome Means or other furnifli us with a farther Supply." 50 Hudfon River ObftruBions. Platforms in the Fort, and the latter in completing the Bridge acrofs the Spuyten- Devil Creek. The Ships and Brigs were received by Capt. Cook. The Minutes of the Secret Committee make no further mention of the Fort Wafhington Obftruc- tions. As we have before remarked, the Obflruc- tions at that Place appear to have been, entirely, under the Charge of others. From what we can gather, Tench Tilghman, Capt. Cook and the Com- mandant at Fort Wafhington, managed the whole Affair, receiving only the AfEfbance of the Secret Committee in the VefTels fent. This is apparent from the following Letter from Tench Tilghman, dated Odtober 3d, 1776 : " Capt. Cook is now up the River cutting Tim- " ber for the Chevaux-de-Frize ; as he is much " wanted here to fink the old VefTels, the Gen. " begs that you would immediately fend him " down ; we are at a Stand for want of him, for as " he has Superintended the Matter from the begin- " ning, he befl knows the propereft places to be " Obflrudted." The hafle with which the Obflrudtions were completed fupplies the Inference that they were far from Perfed:. Indeed, they failed entirely of their Purpofe, as the Enemy's VefTels pafTed them, on the 9th of Odtober, without firing a Gun, as will be feen from the following Letter to the Con- vention : Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 5 1 " Head Quarters, " Harlem Heights, 9th Od:., 1776. " Gentlemen : " About 8 o'clock this Morning the Roebuck " and Phoenix, and a Frigate of about 20 Guns, got " under way from about Bloomingdale, where " they have been laying for fome Time, and Steer- " ed on with an eafy Southerly Breeze towards our " Chevaux-de-Frize, which we hoped would have " given them fome Interruption, while our Batte- " ries played upon them ; but to our Surprife and " Mortification, they all ran through without the " leaft Difficulty, and without receiving the leafl " apparent Damage. How far they intend to go " up, I don't know ; but His Excellency thought " fit to give you the earliefl Information, that you " may put Gen. Clinton on his Guard at the " Highlands ; for they may have Troops on Board " to furprife thofe Forts. If you have any Stores " on the Water fide, you had better have them re- " moved a Second Time ;^ Boards efpecially, for 1 It may be proper to explain Command at Fort Montgomery, the Words, " a Second Time," Among the old Papers depofited in here ufed. On the izth of July, Wafliington's Head Quarters in 1776, before the Obftruftions at Newburgh, is the following Letter Fort Wafhington were in any con- to Gen. Clinton : fiderable State of Forwardnefs, two " Head Quarters, ) Britifli Veflels of War, the Phoenix " July i zth, 1 776. J and the Rofe, Sailed up the River " Sir : as far as Haverftraw. Exprefles " This is juft to inform you, were immediately fent to the Con- " that two Men-of-War have this vention informing that Body of the " Afternoon pafled by our Forts, Faft, and to Gen. Clinton, then in " and gone up the River paft Kings 52 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " which we ihall be put to great Straits if the " Communication is cut off. The Enemy have " made no Move on the Land fide. " I am, Gent., your moft Obd't. Serv't., " Tench Tilghman. " Hon. Convention of New York." This IntelUgence was received with great Con- fternation. Surrounded by Tories, who took courage at the Succefs of the Britifh Vefl"els, and Bridge. You will therefore take fuch Meafures as to put the Forts ■ under your Command in the bell State of Defence poffible to An- noy the Enemy. You are alfo to Difpatch Exprefles along the ' River that no Veflels may fall in ■ their Hands, and to give Notice ■ of this Manoeuvre to the Com- ■ manding Officer at Albany, with ' all Expedition poffible. " By Command of His Excel. Gen. Waftiington, " I am. Sir, " Your very Servant, " Rich'd Carey, Junr., " A. D. C." " P. S. I have it in Command ' farther to delire you would take ' the Carpenters from the Veflels ' which are Building at Pough- • keepfie, and Prepare thofe Vef- ' fels which were taken from the ' Torys, and are now at Efopus, ' Kingfton, to be made ufe of as Fire ' Rafts, or to make Rafts in any ' other way Expeditioufly, that • will Anfwer the purpofe of Har- " raffing the Ships which are gone " up the River. " I am as above, " R. Carey, A. D. C." " Fort Constitution, \ "July 13, 1777. \ " The above is a Copy of a " Letter, I juft now Rec'd by Ex- " prefs from the General. " I am. Sir, " Your Humble Servent. " James Clinton, Col." The Convention immediately ordered out the Militia, and di- refted the Removal " of all Provi- " fions and other Stores," both Private and Publick Property, to places of Safety. The Veflels, however, made no Attempt to pafs the Highlands, but after fupplying the Tories with Arms and Amuni- tion, returned to New York. No farther Effort was made to afcend the River until the Time of the Paflage of the Obftruftions. The Attack of the Fire Ships ,on the Rofe and Phoenix has already been noticed. (See ante, p. 24.) Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 53 having to Rely only upon the half completed For- tifications in the Highlands, and the few Militia Men who remained true to the Declaration (but who refufed to March out of their Refpedlive Counties), the Defence of the State appeared Hopelefs and the Succefs of the Enemy Certain. But notwithftanding the difcouraging Profpedi, the Convention determined to leave nothing undone that could be done. An Exprefs was difpatched to Gens. Clinton and Schuyler, then in Command of Forts Montgomery and Clinton ; the Militia were ordered out to proted: the Shores ; and a Company of Rangers was fent to Fifhkill for the " Purpofe of detedling and fupprefling Confpiracies " formed in this State againft the Liberties of " America." The following Letter, addreffed by the Committee of Safety^ to Gen. Washington Reveals the State of Affairs : " FiSHKiLL, loth Odtober, 1776. " Sir : " We received from Mr. Tilghman an account " of the Enemy's Ships having gone up the River, " and have Defpatched Expreffes to Gen. Schuy- " ler and Gen, Clinton, agreeable to Your Excel- " lency's Requeft. Nothing can be more alarming " than the prefent Situation of our State. We are " Daily getting the moft Authentic Intelligence of ^ This Committee of Safety was in its ' behalf, during the Periods appointed by the Convention, to aft when the Latter was not in Seffion. 54 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " Bodies of Men Enlifted and Armed, with orders " to aflift the Enemy. We much fear that thofe " co-operating with the Enemy will feize fuch " PafTes as will cut off all Communication between " the Army and us, and prevent your Supplies. " We dare not Truft any more of the Militia " out of this County. We have called for fome " Aid from the two adjoining ones, but beg Leave " to fuggeft to Your Excellency the Propriety of " fending a Body of Men to the Highlands or " Peekfkill to fecure the Pafles, prevent Infurrec- " tions and overaw the DifafFedted. " We fuppofe Your Excellency has taken the " neceflary Steps to prevent the Landing of any " Men from the Ships, fhould they be fo inclined, " as no Reliance at all can be placed on the Militia " of Weftchefter County." Fortunately, however, the Veflels proceeded but a fhort Diftance up the River ; Quiet was foon reftored, and redoubled Exertions made to complete the Fortifications and Obftrudtions at Fort Mont- gomery. Two VefTels only of thofe furnifhed by the Se- cret Committee feem to have been ufed ; the others were procured at New York. The Ships and Brigs fent down by the Secret Committee were evidently not ufed for that Purpofe, as will be inferred from the following Correfpondence, which bears Date after the Paflage of the Obftruc- tions by the Roebuck and Phoenix, viz: Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 55 " Head Quarters, Odt. nth, 1776. " Sir: " The General defires that you will Appoint " fome Perfon on behalf of the Country to take " Charge of the two Ships and two Brigs that " were fent down here to be funk. " I am. Sir, your Humble Servant, " William Grayson, A. D. C. " To Brig. Gen. Mifflin." " Capt. Cook is hereby authorized to take " charge of the Ships above referred to and give a " Receipt for the Ships and Tackle. " Thomas Mifflin, B. G. " Odtober 11, 1776." " Received from Capt. Henry Benfon, two " Ships and two Brigs, with the Materials herein- " after mentioned, being Veffels Ordered by the " Convention of the State of New York to this " Place for the flopping the Channel of the North " River, oppofite to Mount Wafhington. [Here follows an Inventory of the Rigging, &c.] " By Order of Brig. Gen. Mifflin, " Mathew Cook. " Spiten-Devil Creek, 12 061., 1776." We have only one more Point to note. Imme- diately upon the Recejpt of the Intelligence of the PalTage of the Britifh Veffels up the River, the Continental Congrefs paffed an order dirediing 56 Hudfon River ObJiruEiions . Gen. Wafhington, " by every Art and at whatever " Expenfe, to obftrud: effediually the Navigation " of North River, between Fort Wafhington and " Mount Conftitution, as well to prevent the Re- " grefs of the Enemy's Frigates lately gone up, as " to hinder them from receiving Succor." But the Redudtion of Fort Wafhington and the Eva- cuation of Fort Lee (Mount Conftitution) followed fo immediately after, as to prevent any Attempt at the Execution of this Order. The Reduction of Fort Wafhington occurred on the 1 6th of November, 1776; and was an- nounced to the Convention of the State of New York by Gen. Wafhington, in a Letter bearing that Date, as follows : " I am Sorry to inform you that this Day about "12 o'clock, the Enemy made a general Attack " upon our Lines about Fort Wafhington, which " having carried, the Garrifon retired within the " Fort, Col. McGraw finding there was no Prof- *' ped: of Retreating acrofs the North River, fur- " rendered the Pofl. We do not know our own " lofs, or that of the Enemy in forcing the Lines, " but I imagine it mufl have been pretty confider- " able on both fides, as the Fire in fome Parts was " of long continuance and heavy ; neither do I " know the Terms of Capitulation. The Force of " the Garrifon before the Attack was about 2000 " Men. I have the Honor to be, &c., " Geo. Washington." Chevaux-de-Frize at Ft. Wajhington. 57 In a Note to his Account of the Reduction of Fort Wafhington, Loffing fays : " The Number " of Regulars was about two thoufand. There " were fix or feven hundred Militia, Volunteers " and Stragglers, all of whom were probably in- " eluded in Howe's Report of ' two thoufand fix " hundred Prifoners.' The lofs of the Americans, " in killed and wounded, did not exceed one " hundred ; that of the Royal Army was almofi: " one thoufand. The Hefiians, as ufual. Suffered " mofl; feverely." Upon obtaining Pofleflion of Fort Wafhington, the Britifh removed the Obflrudtions at that Place, and Demolifhed entirely Fort Lee. H III. OBSTRUCTIONS AT FORT MONTGOMERY. THE OBSTRUCTIONS AT FORT MONTGOMERY. HE Obftruftions to the Naviga- tion of the River at Fort Mont- gomery, were conftrudted en- tirely by or under the Dired:ion of the Secret Committee. In the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee, and in the Letters and other Documents furnifhed us in the Clinton Papers, w^e have : ift. The ciifferent Plans that were propofed, commenced and aban- doned ; 2d. The Plan finally adopted, and an Ac- count of the Difficulties that attended its Execu- tion ; 3d. T!he precife CharaSier of the ObJiruSiions when completed; 4th. The failure that attended the 62 Hudfon River ObJtruEiions. firft Efforts to fix the Chain ; and the fubfequent Succefs. Noticing thefe Points briefly, we remark, ift. The Minutes fhow that the Committee firft agreed to Obftrudt the Navigation by means of a Boom, which was to be conftrudted in the Manner defcribed in the following Extrad:. " It was " Diredled that Rafts were to be made, formed of " Pine Logs of " not lefs than " fifty feet long, " placed ten feet " apart, and framed together by three crofs Pieces ; " that each Raft be placed fifteen feet apart " and Connedted by ftrong Chains of \\ inch " Iron ; that the Rafts be anchored with their "Butts down the River; that the Butts be " armed with Iron." {See Minutes of July 1 9M, and Auguji iji). In Front of the Boom thus conftrud:ed were to be placed Frames of Timber made in the following Manner: " The pointed " Beams to be of about the length of 16 feet, and " to be about 15 foot apart and two Crofs Beams " worked in and Bolted ; * * the Points or Ends " whereof to be fhod with Iron, fo as to Anfwer " the double purpofe of Pounding any Veffels that " may Sail up to it ; and if that fhould fail, to lef- " fen the Shock of thofe Veffels when they come to " the Boom." {See Minutes of July igth). Ef- pecial Attention is afked to this Defcription, from Chain ^ ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 63 the Fadt that it has been ftated that the Chain was placed in Front of the Boom, not only at Fort Montgomery, but alfo at Weft Point. The fadt was exacSlly the reverfe, and was fo, not only for the Reafons affigned by the Committee, viz : " To " receive the firft ftiock of thofe Veflels that may " come up to it," and thus relieve the Boom or Main Obftrudtion ; but from the obvious Fadt that it would be a grofs Abfurdity to place the princi- pal Obftrudtion in a Pofition rendering it liable to be broken and its Purpofe defeated by the firft Onfet of the Enemy. Obftrudtions to River Navigation fhould be conftrudled on precifely the fame Principle as is a Fortification, whofe Out- works are advanced to receive the firft AfTault. 2d. That the Plan of Obftcudbing the River by CaiiTons was propofed by Gen. Philip Schuyler. 3d. That after adopting the Plan firft referred to, the Committee reconfidered their Adtion, and abandoned it, refolving to conftrudt a Chain in- ftead of a Boom. That this Plan was, in turn, temporarily abandoned, and the Conftrudtion of the Boom refumed. And finally, that the Boom again gave place to the Chain ; a large Portion of the latter having been previoufly ufed in Obftrudt- ing the Navigation of the River Sorel, the Outlet to Lake Champlain. 4th. That the Obftrudlions, when completed, confifted of a Chain floated by Spars framed to- 64 Hudfon River ObJir'uBions. gether -^ and that in Front of the Chain were an- chored the Frames of Timber laft defcribed in the Minutes of July ift. The following Engraving, which is copied from the original Map of the Poftion of the Chain, found among the Papers of the Sedret Committee, {hows the Mariner in which it was fecured to the Shores ; how it was floated on the Surface of the Water, and the Poiitibn of the Booms ; for fo we muft Fort Montgomery. B Fort Clinton. . C Poplopln's Kill. D Anthony's Nofe. a FlortS to Chain. b h h Booms in front of Chain. c c c Chain. d Roclc at which the Chain was fecpred with large Iron Roller. e e Cribs and Anchors. / Blocks and Purchafe for tightening phain. g h Crround Batteries for defence of Chain. S Sedlion (howing Floats and Chain. c c c Chain. /// Floats. regard the Frame of Timber pkced in Front of it for its Protefliion : With this Explanation of the Subjeft, we re- fume the Hiftory of the Obftrudlions. From the ^ It is probable that a Portion of Boom were ufed for this Pur^ the Frames previoufly made for the pofe. Chain^ ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 65 Papers referred to, we learn that the Members of the Secret Committee, immediately on their Ap- pointment, proceeded to the Highlands, for the purpofe of afcertaining the Condition of the Forts there ; and to determine, by a Survey, the Char- adter of the Obftrud:ions necelTary, in order to clofe the River againft the Paflage of the Enemy's Veflels. The firft Meeting of the Committee w^as held on the 19th of July, when the following were the Proceedings : " Fort Montgomery, July 19, 1776. " At a Meeting of the Secret Committee from the " Convention of the State of New York : Pre- " fent — Meflrs. Jay, Yates, R. R. Livingfton, " G. Livingfton, and Tappan, Committee, and " Gen. Jas. Clinton, Col. Geo. Clinton, and " Capt. Bedlow. " It is propofed and agreed to, that in order to " Obftruft the Navigation of the Hudfon's River " fo as to prevent any of the Ships of the King of " Great Britain coming up the fame, it will be " neceffary to throw acrofs the River at or near " Fort Montgomery, a Boom, and below it to " Anchor Frames of Timber, the Points or Ends " whereof to be fhod with Iron, fo as to anfwer " the double purpofe of Pounding any Ships that " may Sail up to it ; and if that fliould fail, to lef- " fen the {hock of thofe Veflels when they come to " the Boom — fuch Frames to be made in the > > 66 Hudfon River ObJiruEiiom. " following Manner : The pointed " Beams to be of about the length " of 1 6 feet, and to be about 1 5 foot " apart and two crofs Beams worked " in and Bolted." Under date of July 2otb, we find the following minutes : " July 20th. " Agreed to have 200 Iron Trucks- caft at the " Furnace in the Highlands — and gave orders to " Mr. Boyd to have Moulds made for the Pur- " pofe. " Alfo wrote a Letter to General Wafhington, " apprifing him of our Proceedings and requefting " him to fend to the Forts in the Highlands a " number of Artillery Men.^ i 1 The Following is the original Draft of this Letter : " Fort Washington, zo July, 1776. Sir — We informed your Ex- cellency of our Appointment, and in Confequence of which we took a Survey of the Fortrefs in the Highlands. We are extremely forry to fay, that notwithftanding their Importance and advantageous Situ- ation, they are by no Means in a proper Pofture of Defence. Part of the few Cannon at Fort Consti- tution were fent away, and the whole Number now there and at Fort Montgomery are not fufficient. This Want we fuppofe your Excel- lency will be unable to Supply. We have therefore fent for thofe that were defigned for the Ships that are building at Poughkeepfie ; but if we Ihould obtain them they will be of little Ufe unlefs fome Matrojfes can be fpared from New York fince there are only 14 at both Forts. If your Excellency could lJ3are a few Howitzers they might be of fignal Ufe at this Place. A fkillful Engineer would be at no Place more Serviceable than here, as many fmall Pofts which command this ought to be Fortified. We cannot think the Garrifons by any Means proportioned to the Extent of the Works or the Importance of Chain, &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 67 " Alfo, wrote a Letter to the Proprietors of the " Iron Furnace at Salifbury requefting them to " fend to the landing of Col. Hoffman, all 20 of " the heavy Cannon they may have caft, for the " ufe of the Shipping at Poughkeepfie. " Alfo, v^^rote a Letter to the Convention ap- " prifing them of our Proceedings;"^ The next Meeting of the Committee w^as held the Place. We know the Difficulty that your Excellency will find in fupplying thefe Wants, yet we can not but fiiggeft them, iince we are fatiffied that even if the Enemy fhould be Defeated at New York they may yef take fuch Polls here as we fliould find it Impoffible to Difpoflefs them of. " Since writing the Above we have been informed that the Salif- bury Furnace, at which Place the Cannon are caft, is under the Direc- tion of the Government of Con- nefticut, fo that we have fome Doubt whether we can procure thofe for which we wrote unlefs your Excellency be pleafed to lend us your Affiftance by writing to Gov. Trumbel on the Subjeft. RoBT. Yates, Chn. of Com. 1 The following is the Draft of the Letter to the Convention: " Fort Montgomery, > "July 21, 1776. \ " Gentln. — ^In Confequence of a late Refolution of the Convention of this State we are appointed a Secret Committee to devife Ways and Means for obftrufting the Chan- nel of Hudfon's River. We have determined to throw a Boom acrofs the River in order to prevent the Enemy's Ships from pafliing the Forts in the Highlands, and for this Purpofe we Ihall want 150 White Pine Logs, or any other Wood that will float, of the Length of 14 feet.i You will, therefore, pleafe to pro- cure them, and fend them to Pough- keepfie to Meflrs. Van Zandt, Tu- dor and Lawrence with the utmoft Difpatch. As two Ships are already advanced as far as Haverftraw, and only wait for a favorable Oppor- tunity to pafs the Fortifications, the Neceffity of a Boom is rendered exceedingly preffing. We truft, therefore, that you will exert your- felves upon this Occafion and fend the Logs as faft as they can be pro- cured. You will be immediately furnilhed with Monie by one of our monied Members who leaves this Place for Albany to-morrow. " We are. Gentlemen, &c." 1 Thefe Logs were fubfequently rafted to New Windfor and ufed in conftru£ling the Boom at Weft Point. 68 Hudfon River ObJtruEiions. July 25th, 1776. The following were the Pro- ceedings : " PoUGHKEEPSIE, July 25th, I776. " Prefent — The Committee as before. " It is Propofed and Agreed to, that a Boom be " drawn acrofs the Hudfon's River at the High- " lands. That an Exprefs be fent Gen. Schuyler^ ^ The following is the original Draft of the Letter to Gen. Schuy- ler. It is without date — as follows : " Sir— The enclofed Copy of fame late Refolutions of the Con- vention of the State of New York will inform you, that we are a Committee of that Body and charg- ed with the Execution of the Bufi- nefs mentioned in them. " As the Chain intended to Ob- ftruft the River Sorel cannot now be applied to that Ufe, and will Serve to prevent the Enemy's Ships from going beyond the Hook on Hudfon's River, we muft beg the Favor of you to fend it (the whole or fuch Parts of it as may expe- ditioufly be had) to Poughkeepfie, and Configned to MeSrs. Van Zante, Lawrence and Tudor,, with the utmoft Difpatch. " Be pleafed to inform thofe Gentlemen of the length of fuch Part of the Chain as you can fend,, in order that they may direfl; die defficiency to be Supplied. " We fhall, by this Opportunity, requeft of the Committee of Albany immediately to furnifh us with 150 few Logs of the largeft. fize to flip- port the Chain; and we flatter ourfelves that your Attention and Influence will be extended to both thefe Objefts. " We have the honor be. Sir, with the greateft efteem and ref- pea, " Your moil obedient " And hble. fervt." To this Letter, Gen. Schuyler fent the following Reply : " German Flats, \ " July Z5th, 1776. \ " Gentlemen — Your Letter of the zoth Inft., from Poughkeepfie, was delivered to me at nine this Morning. I have tranfmitted a Copy of it, and of the Refokition it inclofed, to General Gates, with directions to fend the Chain to you, under the Charge of a careful Offi- cer, if it can be fpared. Before I left Tyconderoga, we had it in Contemplation to Draw it acrofs that Part of Lake Champlain which Divides Tyconderoga from the Camp we occupy on the Eaft Shore oppofite to it. I would not wilh you, therefore to make too great a dependence upon receiving it. If it cannot be fpared, Meffrs. Van IS Chain, &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 69 for the Chain intended to be thrown acrofs the River Sorrel, to be employed for the above pur- pofe ; and as it may fall fhort of the Diftance required, it is farther concluded to Apply to Col. R. Livingfton to make until countermanded by this Committee, a quantity of Bar-Iron of about I 3 inches fquare, and to be fent from Time to Time to the Works at Poughkeepfie/' On the Margin of the Minutes of this Meeting the following Memoranda : Zant, Lawrence and Tudor will be Advized of it without delay. " Whether the Chain is fent or not, you may ftand in need of the iaw Logs. For perhaps, you will think it Expedient, if the Chain cannot be procured, to fink Cafoons or Sloops filled with Stone and funk in the River from Tan-canten-hook to the Eaftern Shore, to ftop the Paflage. Part of the Channel there is fo ftiallow that I was once on Board of a Sloop deeply laden which touched at low Water. And that in any part where the Channel there is too deep, two Caflbons or Veflels, one upon the other, would anfwer the Purpofe. A Paflage might be left open in the flialloweft part, and one or more Veflels ready for finking kept at Hand. This Place is indeed above Fort Montgomery, but the Enemy would find it extremely Difficult to Force a Pafl"age through the High^ lands if a Body of Troops well in- trenched were oppofed to them at the narrow Paflage juft beyond the firft Houfe in the Highlands, and between that and where Teller formerly lived. This may have occurred to you; and perhaps there are Difiiculties which 1 am unac- quainted. I have ventured to men- tion this, well knowing that my Motives will be a fufiicient Apology with you for the Liberty I have taken in doing fo. " I am. Gentlemen, " Your mofl: obedr. " And humbl. ServL, '•' Ph. Schuyler." " To RoBT. Yates, Efq., Chair- man, and the reft of the Gentle- men of the Secret Committee, &c." This Reply to Gen. Schuyler is a curious Aifeir. The Suggeftions which he makes evidently refer to the finking of Cafl"oons near PoUo- pel's Ifland — but we have been un- able: to locate Tancanten Hook. yo Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " For 600 yds., or 1800 feet of Chain, you " want 4800 foot of Bar Iron in length." At this Meeting Artizans were appointed to conftrudt the Works agreed upon ; and the follow- ing Inftrudtions iflued to them : " The Convention of the State of New York, " having, by a Refolution of the i6th Day of July " Inftant appointed us a Committee, among other " things to devife Means for Fortifying Hudfon's " River, and Obftrudting its Navigation ; and for " carrying the fame into Execution, we have " thought it neceffary to appoint, and do hereby " appoint Jacobus Van Zante, Auguftus Lawrence " and Samuel Tudor, or any two of them, to " Superintend the following Work (under the Di- " rediion of fuch of the Members of this Com- " mittee as may remain or be at Poughkeepfie) : " I ft. The making of a Chain to fix acrofs " Hudfon's River at the moft convenient place " near Fort Montgomery, and fixing the fame ; " and if it ftiould be found Imprafticable at or near " the faid Fort, then to fix the fame at or near Fort " Conftitution. ***** " If it ftiould happen that none of this Com- " mittee ftiould be at Poughkeepfie, in that cafe " the faid Van Zandt, Lawrence and Tudor are " dire(fted to inform the Chairmain of this Com- " mittee, or any of the Members, of the Meafures " they have taken in confequence of this appoint- Chain, &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 71 " ment. And we hereby engage, for and in be- " half of the State of New York, to Defray the " Expenfe attending the Execution of this Work, " as well as to make to the faid Van Zandt, Law- " rence and Tudor a reafonable allowance for their " trouble." By thefe Inftrudtions, it will be feen that the original Defign was changed, Inftead of a Boom, the Artizans named were diredled to make and " fix a Chain acrofs the Hudfon's River," &c. And here we remark, that the Diftindtion made by the Secret Committee, between a Boom and a Chain, fhould be particularly obferved. In many Inftances, and efpecially in Englifli Hiftories, the whole Obftrudtion was Ipoken of as a Boom, not only in reference to that at Fort Montgomery but alfo that at Weft Point. Stridtly fpeaking, this would, perhaps, be a corredt Defignation ; but the Secret Committee applied the terms Boom and Chain to fpecify different Parts of the Work, inftead of employing them convertibly. This Diftindtion was obferved, not only in the Fort Montgomery Obftrudlions, but alfo in conftrudling thofe at Weft Point ; and in this Senfe we ufe the terms— that is, as fpecifying feparate Parts of the Obftrudlions. Hence we have faid that there was a Boom and a Chain at Fort Montgomery, and a Boom and a Chain at Weft Point, when the Obftrudtions at thofe Points were feverally completed. 72 Hudfon River ObfiruEiions. A Meeting of the Committee was held at Al- bany, July 27, 1776, but the Minutes are entirely illegible. The next Meeting of the Committee was held on the i ft Aug., 1 776 — Prefent, G. Living- fton, Robert R. Livingfton, and William Paulding. At this Meeting the Committee feem to have regarded it as impoffible to get the Chain con- ftrudled in Time to be of any Service, and pafTed a Refolution returning to the Plan adopted at their firft Meeting (July 1 6), as will be feen from the following : ^'Refohed, That it appears to the Members of " this Committee, that the Chain intended for the " River Sorel, will, in all probability, be retained at " Ticonderoga ; that the making one of fufficient " Length will occafion great Delay ; that the Rafts " heretofore agreed upon by this Committee, at ** the Meeting held at Fort Montgomery, and laid " alide on Account of the Difficulty ot procuring " the neceflary Spars, will be the moft effedtual and " fpeedy Means of obftru<3:ing the Navigation of " the River ; that it appears to this Committee, " that the Wood neceffary for forming the Rafts " may be procured, a Contradt having been made *' for the fame by Mr. Tappen, with the Approba- " tion of Robt. Yates, Efq., and Mr. R. Livingfton. ^ The following is the Contraft " and fignified by Letter of Mr. R. here referred to : " Livingfton, refpefting the Deli- " (Copy.) I agree to the pro- "very of i6o Spars of 50 (feet) " pofals made to me by Mr. White " long in Hudfon's River on the « cc <( <( C( (C Chain^ &'c.y at Fort Montgomery. 73 " Refohed, Therefore, that Mr. Jacobus Van Zandt, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Tudor be direft- ed to form the Rafts agreeable to the following Plan : That each Raft be formed of five Logs of not lefs than fifty feet in length, placed ten feet apart, and framed together by three crofs Pieces ; that each Raft be placed fifteen feet apart and Connedted by ftrong Chains of I2 inch thick, and anchored with their Butts down the River ; that the Butts be fhod with iron. " That each Member of this Committee be diredled to Enquire for and Purchafe as many " laft Day of next Week ; for " which, if Mr. Robt. R. Living- " fton and Robt. Yates agree to, I " think they reafonably deftrve the " Sum of £1 1 000. " Signed, " Christopher Tappen. "July 26th, 1776." The following is the Bill for thefe Logs: " POUGHKEEPSIE, "Sept. 15th, 1776. " The Honorable Convention of " the State of New York. " To John R. Livingfton & White, Dr. " For 160 large Trees, as per " Contraft made with your Secret " Convention, £1000" Here is another Bill for Logs — which feem to be thofe referred to in the Letter to the Convention (note 2) and by Gen. Schuyler in his Letter to the Committee, viz : " The Committee of the Con- " vention of the State of New York. " To Robt. Van Rensselaer, Dr. " To 1 1 1 Pieces of Timber of 45 " feet and upwards in length, at " 50 per Piece, . . . £277 o o " To 5 5 Trees cut and " by agreement with "the Proprietors I " was to Pay at the " Rate of 40s per "Tree, but before '' the removal there- " of my Orders " were counter- " manded, 11 00 "To rafting the Tim- "ber from Outh- " out's to Albany, . 7-00 K £275 lo o "Albany, Augft 5th, 1776. " Received of Robt. Yates on aft. £114 10 p." 74 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " Anchors and Cables as they can procure and " fend Word to this Committee by the 7th Day " of this Month of the Number they can obtain. " Rejohed, That it appears to this Committee " that Robt. R. Livingfton ought to go down to " New York and remain with the General in order " to give him all the Affiftance in his Power in " forwarding fuch Operations as His Excellency " may have formed for the Defence of this State ; " and that for that Purpofe Mr. Livingfton be " vefted with all the Powers of this Committee fo " far as he may deem it neceffary to exert the " fame. " In cafe it fhall appear to Mr. Livingfton un- " neceflary for him to remain in New York, that " he can return to this place." It does not appear, however, that this Plan was carried out, farther than by procuring the necefla- ry Logs, as the Conftrudtion of the Chain was ftill continued and was evidently fubfequently placed acrofs the River. The li inch Iron ordered for the Chains mentioned in the Refolutions was Worked up into Chain to ftrengthen the large Chain [Minutes OSi. 9) ; and of the Logs, a Part was probably ufed for the Floats to the Chain, and another Part rafted to New-Windfor for the Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopel's Ifland. The next Meeting of the Convention was held on the 1 3th Auguft, of which the following are the Minutes : Chain ^ ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 75 " Poughkeepfie. At a Meeting of the Secret Com- " mittee of the Convention of New York, Aug. " 13th, 1776. Prefent — Robt. Yates, Chn., " John Jay, Gilbert Livingfton, Chrift. Tappen. " Read a Letter from Gen. Wafhington of the " 2ift ult. Mr. Jay delivered in a Report of his " Proceedings in Connedticut and elfewhere, w^hich " was read and approved of.^ Mr. Jay, according " to Order, alfo produced a Draft of a Letter to his " Excellency Gen. Wafhington, which was read " and approved of, and ordered to be engroffed.^ " Alfo, a Draft of another Letter to the Conven- " tion of New York, which was alfo read and ap- " proved of, and ordered to be engrofled. " The Smiths, to wit : Meflrs. George Smart, " Ifaac Van Duzen, Theop. Anthony and James " Odill waited on the Committee in order to in- " form them at what Rate they would undertake " to make Bolts for the Floats to the Chain. They "offered to make them at the Rate of 32s per " cwt. " Refohed, That there be allowed to Mr. Ifaac '■ Sheldon the Sum of twenty-five dollars for his " Services in going up to Albany and aflifling the " Committee in procuring the Materials for the 1 This Document is among the curing Cannon, &c., for the Forts Clinton Papers with the neceflary in the Highlands. Pafles for its tranfmiffion to Albany. Why it was never forwarded is a ^ This Letter to Gen. Wafliing- Myftery. It refers mainly to pro- ton was for a Supply of Powder for armed Veflels. 76 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " Defenfe of Hudfon's River, and attending at " Poughkeepfie from the 23d of July laft to the " prefent Day. And ordered that Mr. G. Living- " fton Pay him or his Order the above Sum, " Received a Letter from R. Livingfton to John "Jay, Efq., dated the 12th Aug., 1776, acquaint- " ing him that he cannot complete the Trucks for " want of proper Hands to Mould them. Alfo, " received another Letter from the fame Perfon, " dated the nth Inft., diredted to G. Livingfton, " acquainting him that 2 tons of Iron was carried " down to his Landing, and that three tons would " be ready on Tuefday next, and on Saturday next " 5 tons more, and requefts him to fend a VelTel " for it. " P. M. Refohed, That the Meffrs. G. Living- " fton and Chriftopher Tappen pay into the Hands " of the Commiffioners and Superintendents of the " Ship-Yards at Poughkeepfie the Sum of three " hundred pounds, on Account of Expenfes in- " curred or to be incurred by the Execution of the " Orders which they have or may receive from this " Committee. " Agreed to give an order in favor of Dirk "Schuyler for £15 for bringing the Chain and " fome Pine Knots from Albany:" The only point of fpecial Intereft in thefe Pro- ceedings is that in reference to bringing the Chain down from Albany. This Chain muft have been Chain J ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 77 that intended for the River Sorel, for which appli- cation had been made to Gen, Schuyler. The next Meeting was held Aug. 14th, and was con- fined to making Arrangements for Supplies of Provifions, Powder, Men, &c., for the VefiTels of War fitting out at Poughkeepfie. The following Refolution was paffed. " It being necefiary that Meflrs. Yates and Jay " fhould for fome Time be abfent from the Com- " mittee, " Refolvedf That fuch of the Members lefs than " a Quorum as may be prefent at Poughkeepfie, " have power to Execute all the Refolutions of this " Committee which they have already made ; that " they confult with Capt. Hazelwood on the beft " Means of fixing the Chain, and caufe it to be " done in fuch Manner as to them fhall appear " beft: calculated to Anfwer the purpofe it is de- " figned for." The Minutes of the Meetings held on the 2 2d, 23d, 25th and 27th of September we have given in connexion with the Obfl:rudtions at Fort Wash- ington, to which they refer. At the Meeting of the 27th September, however, vigorous Efforts feem to have been made to complete the Chain, as appears from the following Refolutions : " Refolved, That the feveral Blackfmiths em- " ployed in the Continental Service in the Ship 78 Hudfon River ObJtruSiions. " Yards at Poughkeepfie, (purfuant to a Refplve " of the Congrefs at Philadelphia), be ordered and " requefted, and they are hereby ordered and re- " quefted, to proceed with all poffible Expedition " in making and completing the Chain which has " been ordered to be made by this Committee, and " that they feverally defift from any other Bufinefs " until they have completed the faid Chain as foon " as furnifhed with Iron. " Refohed, That Meflrs. Smart, Van Deufen, " Anthony and Odel, or either of them are hereby " impowered to imprefs Wagons and Teams to " draw Coal, paying the ufual Price of the Country ; " likewife, to imprefs Coal at the ufual Price for " Coal ; they paying for the fame ; that the Public " Bufinefs may not be retarded. " Refohed, That Gilbert Livingfton pay MeiTrs. " Franklin & SpifFord one hundred and twelve " pounds fifteen fhillings for two Hogfheads of " Rum purchafed of them by this Committee.'"^ The next Meeting of the Committee was held Odt. 9th. The following are the Minutes : ^The following is the Bill of 223 18 Franklin & Spifford ; 1 8 "PocEPSEY, 27thSeptmr. 1776. •■ " The Secrit Committy of the Con- 205 Gls. at 1 1 s. £112 15 vention of N. York, Bot. of Franklin & Spifford. We fliall fee, prefently, the Ufe 2 Hhds Weft india Rum. which was made of this Rum. 113 — 12 That it was not for "Medicinal 110^6 Purpofes," will be inferred. 223 18 Chain J ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 79 "In Secret Committee, the 9th of Odt., 1776. " Prefent — Gilbert Livingfton, Robert Harper, " Jacob Cuyler, Robt. R. Livingfton. " Refohed, That the inch-and-a-half Iron at " Poughkeepfie be worked up into Chain in order " to ftrengthen the large Chain. " Refohed, That a Fortification be eredted at " Weft Point in order to Defend the Chain, and " that Robt. Harper, Henry Wifner, Jacob Cuyler " and Gilbert Livingfton be a Committee to carry " the faid Refolve into execution. " Refohed, That the faid Gentlemen ere£t any " other Work that they may deem neceflary for " the Defence of the Chain ; or the fecurity of " Anthony's Nofe, which commands Fort Mont- " gomery. " Refohed, That a Letter be written to the Hon. " the Congrefs praying Leave to employ the Car- " penters now at Work upon the Ships building " at Poughkeepfie, and that Robt. R. Livingfton " draft the Letter." The laft Meeting of the Committee, of which we have the Minutes, was held Odt. 14, 1776. At this Meeting we have the name of Mr. Machin^ ^ Thomas Machin was bom in the purpofe of examining a Copper StafFordfliire, England, zoth March, Mine in New Jerfey. He after- 1744; was employed by Brindley wards took up his Refidence in in conftrufting the Canal of the Bofton, and elpoufing the popular Duke of Bridgewater ; afterwards Feeling of the Time, made one of made a Voyage to the Eaft Indies, the Tea Party in 1 7.73 ; was and in 1772 came to America, for wounded at Bunker Hill, while aft- 8o Hudfon River ObfiruSii:ns. firft mentioned, but not in connexion with the conftrudtion of the Chain, he having been pre- vioufly employed in completing the Forts. He was direfted to conftrud; Batteries. The following were the Proceedings : ing as Lieut, of Artillery j 1 8th Jan., 1776, was commiffioned zd Lieut, of Artillery in Col. Knox's Regiment, and was employed from April to June in that Year in laying out the Fortifications for the Defence of the Town and Harbour of Bof- ton; 2 1 ft July, 1776, was direfted by Wafliington to proceed to the Highlands on the Hudfon River to Aft as Engineer under Col. Geo. Clinton, and there continued feveral Years, in conftrufting the Fortifi- cations which the Government un- dertook for the Purpofe of rendering the River impaffable to Britifli Vef- fels. In Gftober, 1777, when Forts Montgomery and Clinton, were taken by the Britilh, Capt. Machin was wounded by a Muflcet Ball, which entered his Breaft and pafled out under his right Shoulder. On his Recovery, he was again aftively engaged in repairing the Damages which the Britifli had done to the Forts, and in throwing Booms and other Obftruftions acrofs the River. Tn April, 1 779, he accompanied Col. Van Schaick's Expedition againft the Onondagas, of which he kept a Journal ; in May of the fame Year he furveyed the Water Level between Albany and Scheneftady, with a View to the Supply of Albany with Water; and in June joined Sullivan's Expe- dition to the Genefee Valley, as Engineer. A Map of this. Expedi- tion, executed by him, is in the pofleffion of his Son, Capt. Thomas Machin. In the Fall of 1 781, he aided in laying out the Works of the American Army then befieging Yorktown. In Auguft, 1782, he married Sufan Daughter of James Van Noftrand, of Huntington, L. I. In 1783, he began a, Settlement at New Grange, Ulfter County, and in the following Year erefted feveral Mills at the Great Pond, a few Miles Weft of Newburgh. In 1787 he formed one of a Company for the Coinage of Copper, which does not feem to have been prof- perous. March 12th, 1793, he was Commiffioned a Captain, to take Rank as fuch from 21ft Aug., 1780. In January, 1797, he re- moved to the Town of Mohawk, in Montgomery County, N. Y., where he praftifed Surveying, and where he died, at his Refidence in Charlefton, a Part of the old Town of Mohawk, 3d April, 1 8 19, aged 72. (Simms's Hijlory of Schoharie County). Chain, &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 8i "Fort Constitution, Oft. 14th, 1776. " Prefent — Mr. Harper, Mr. Cuyler, Mr. G. Liv- " ingfton. Gen. J. Clinton, Col. Bailey, Mr. " Machin, Engineer. " Confidering that there are no Works eredted " at this Poft that can defend the Chain propofed " to be ftretched acrofs the River here, and the " imprafticability of executing any in Seafon for " the above purpofe, and believing that the River " at Fort Montgomery in the narroweft place is " but 1600 feet wide, which exceeds the width of " the River here but 1 00 feet, therefore, " Refohed, That Mr. Machin immediately pre- " pare a place on each Side the River at Fort " Montgomery to faften the Ends of the intended " Chain to ; that he place two or three Guns in a " fmall Breafl-work to be erected for that purpofe ** on the Flat place juft under the North end of the " Grand Battery, where the Fire-Rafts now lay ; " alfo a fmall work, if Time permit, near the " Water Edge, on the South fide of Poplopen's « Kill." On the Back of thefe Minutes is an Outline Map of the Pofition of the Chain, the Forts and the Batteries eredted and to be credited. The Pofi- tion of the Ground Batteries will be feen [g h) on the Map.^ The precife Time at which the Chain was placed acrofs the River is not fhown. By the 1 Ante p. 64. 82 Hudfon River ObftruSiions. Minutes laft given it is apparent that it was then nearly ready ; and we immediately after find the following Refolution paffed by the Convention, on the 22d Odtober, viz: " E.efolv.ed, That Mr. Gilbert Livingfton, one of " the Secret Committee, be directed to fend down " to Fort Montgomery fuch parts of the Chain as " is fixed to the Logs ; and that Mr. Henry Wifner, " Jr., cooperate with him in carrying this Meafure " into Execution in the moft Safe and Expeditious " Manner poflible." The next Intimation which we have of it is in a Letter addrefl"ed by the Prefident of the Conven- tion to John Hancock, Prefident of the Continen- tal Congrefs, ftating that the Chain had broken twice. From thefe two Dates it is; evident that the Chain mufl have been firft placed acrofs the River in the early part of November. The Letter laft referred to, fays : " The great length of the Chain, being upwa:rds "of 1800 feet, the Bulk of the Logs which was ** neceffary to fupport it, the immenfe weight of ** the Water which it accumulated, have baffled " all our Efforts. It feparated twice after holding *' only a few Hours."^ ^ Upon receiving Notice of the if, The following is the Refolu- ,breaking of the Chain, the Conven- tion : tion, on the 23d Nov., direifted " Refolved, That the Committee the Secret Committee to refufe "appointed to Obftruft th& Navi- Payment to the Smiths who made " gation of Hudfon's River, be in- Chain, ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 83 The breaking of the Chain feems to have been a Difficulty not apprehended by thofe engaged in its Conftrudtion, and upon the Occurrence of that Event, confiderable doubt was exprefTed as to the Succefs of any Effort to Obftrudt the Navigation with a Chain. A Conference was called in refer- ence to the Subjedt at which Tench Tilghman, Robt. Yates, Gen. Heath and Gen. Schuyler gave their Views as to the beft Mode of fixing and Sup- porting the Chain. Gen. Schuyler's fuggeftions were fubmitted by Letter as follows : " A Chain " fufficiently long to reach acrofs the River ought " to have better fupporters than floating Logs ; " perhaps Caffoons from thirty to forty feet " ftrufted not to Pay the Black- " fmiths who made the Chain " which was lately drawn acrofs " faid River, and broken by the " Tide, until fuch Time as the " fufficiency of their Work can be " properly Examined ; and that " faid Committee take proper " Meafures for that Purpofe." The Secret Committee imme- diately appointed a Commiffion to Examine the Workmanfliip of the Chain, who reported as follows : " Fort Montgomery, ? " December 9, 1776. \ "Thefe are to Certify that " the Chain that has been ftretched " acrofs the North River, at this " Poft, has been broken twice ; the " firft, a Swivel broke, which came " from Ticonderogo, which was " not welded Sound j the fecond " Time, a Clevin broke, which was " made at Poughkeepfie, in a folid " Part of the Chain, and no flaw " to be feen in any Part of faid " Chain. Which we do Certify " at the requeft of Meflrs. Odl'e " and Vanduzer. " James Clinton, B. G. " Abm Swartwout, Captain, " Jas. Rosecrans, Captain, " Daniel Lawrence, Lieut." On receiving this Report the Convention, on the 1 2th Dec, '■■ Refolved, That the Committee " to Obftruft the Navigation of the " Hudfon River, be direfted to pay " the Blackfmiths who made the " Chain which was lately drawn " acrofs faid River, according to " their agreement with them." 84 Hudfon River ObJtruEiions . " fquare * * * might anfwer the end. If "twenty-five fiich Caflbons were funk at nearly " equal diftances, the intermediate fpace between " each would be about two hundred feet. The " tops of the Caflbons might come up to within " two feet of the furface of the Water at ebb Tide, " and the Chain run through them.' This Sug- gefliion was confidered imprafticable from the depth of the Water (80 feet). Mr. Machin, the Engineer engaged in the Eredlion of the Forts, was prefent at the Confultation and fuggefted that, " with proper alterations" the Chain might ftill be made ufeful; and on the 30th Nov., 1776, the Committee pafled the following Refolution, viz : " Refohed, That Mr. Machin, the Engineer be " requefled and authorized to alter and fix the " Chain intended for the Obftrudlion of the Hud- " fon's River, &c." We do not find anything fhowing the precife Nature of the alterations propofed by Mr. Machin. Sparks in his Life of Wajhington, intimates that they confifted in placing the Chain under the Floats, inftead of over them. However, this may be, it is evident that the alterations were in the Floats, and not in the Chain. Whatever they were, they were immediately commenced and profecuted with Vigor. The Work was removed to New Windfor — where the Chevaux-de-Frize for the Pollopel's Ifland Obftrudtions were being pre- Chain, &'c.y at Fort Montgomery. 85 pared — and condudted under the Superviiion of Gov. Clinton. On the 7th March, 1777, a Com- mittee was directed to vifit the Fortifications in the Highlands and report on the Progrefs of the Ob- ftruftions. This Committee reported that the Work was in a " great forwardnefs" — " the Tim- " ber for buoying the Chain prepared," &c. In a Letter from Gov. Clinton, dated New Windfor, March 1 4th, i ^'J'J, he lays : " We only wait now for Anchors and Cables to " draw the Chain acrofs the River ; the Logs for " buoying it are all completely fixed, and are this " Day fent off in a Raft down the River." On the 23d March, he writes : " A number of our Hands were fent down to " Fort Montgomery Yefterday, to prepare for " drawing the Chain acrofs the River," &c. No farther Difficulty occurred with the Chain, and it continued in good Order up to the Time of its Removal by the Britifh. The Expedition under Vaughan and Wallace paffed up the River on the 4th of Odlober, 1777, and attacked and reduced Forts Clinton and Montgomery on the 7th of that Month. At the Time of the Attack the Forts were not half Gar- rifoned. Many of the Men were oflf to their Farms, engaged in getting in their Winter Grain ; and, in Addition to this, Gen. Putnam, miftakihg 86 Hudfon River ObJlruEiions. the Point of Attack, had taken fome twelve hun- dred Men for the ReUef of Fort Independence and Peekfkill Landing. The noife of the Conflid: at Fort Montgomery made him aware of his Error, and he haftened back. Before he arrived, how- ever, the Enemy had poffeffed themfelves of the Forts. The Americans made a moft gallant De- fence. " Never," fays Gen. Putnam in his Report to Gen. Wafhington, " did Men behave with more " Spirit and Adtivity than our Troops upon this " occafion. They repulfed the Enemy three " Times, who where in number at leaft five to " one." The Enemy deftroyed Forts Montgomery and Conftitution and the Obftruftions in the River. Fort Clinton was Repaired and occupied by them, and its Name changed to Fort Vaughan. Their Occupation lafted twenty Days, when, on the re- turn of the Expedition, this Fort was alfo deftroy- ed, and the Enemy retreated to New York, fmart- ing under the Defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga. Loffing, in his Field-Book, drops the Cur- tain over the Obftrudtions as follows : " Above the Boom, the Americans had two " Frigates, two Galleys and an armed Sloop. On " the fall of the Forts, the Crews of thefe Veffels " fpread their Sails, and (lipping their Cables, at- " tempted to efcape up the River, but the Wind " was adverfe and they were obliged to abandon " them. They fet them on Fire, when they left,, to Chainy &'c.y ctt Fort Montgomery. 87 " prevent their falling into the Hands of the Ene- " my. The Flames fuddenly broke forth, and, as " every Sail vv^as fet, the Veflels foon became mag- " nificent Pyramids of Fire. The Refleftion on " the fleep Face of the oppofite Mountains, and " the long train of ruddy Light vv^hich fhone upon " the Water for a prodigious diftance had a vv^on- " derful EfFedl ; while the Ear v^as awfully filled " with the continued Echoes from the rocky fhores ** as the Flames reached the loaded Cannons, The " whole was fublimely terminated by the Explo- " fions, which left all again in Darknefs. Early in " the Morning, the Obftrudtions in the River, " which had coft the Americans a quarter million " of Dollars, Provincial Money, wrere deftroyed by " the Britifh Fleet.'" Thus it will be feen that the Obftrudtions at Fort Montgomery failed in their Purpofe. The Chain and Boorns, and the armed Ships and Brigs, were alike without Avail — the Forts were the Key to the River, and thefe reduced, the Paflage was at once unlocked. A mafs of Correfpondence, in refped: to the 1 The exaft Coft of the Obftnic- (Beatfotfs Naval: and Mil. Me- tions cannot now be afcertaified, moin, iv, 2j6). Another Boom but were eftimated' at £70,000 near Fort ConftJtution, which muft fterling. The Ch^in was of moft hkewife have Col): much Money excellent Workmanfliip. It was and Labour, was rendered Ufelefs. taken up by the Britilh and fent to (lb.) A large Portion of the England, and thence to Gibralter, Chain was from Fort Ticoijderoga, where it was of great Ufe in pro- and the Remainder njanufafturqd tefting the Shipping at the Moles, at Poughkeepfie. 88 Hudfon River OhJiruEiions. Operations of the Secret Committee, is preferved, from which we cull a few fpicy Specimens. Un- der Date of Sept. ii, 1776, the Convention ad- dreffed to the Committee the following Letter : " FisHKiLL, Sept. II, 1776. " Sir : It is conceived highly necefTary that the " Iron Chain {hould be immediately difpatched. " If it is finifhed, pray fend it down to the Fort " without Delay. If it is not finifhed let no Time " be loft, and in the Interim give us the earlieft " particular Account of its prefent State and when " it will probably be finifhed. " I am. Sir, your very humble Servt., " Abm. Yates, Pres. " To Gilbert Livingfton, Efq., Poughkeepfie." Gilbert Livingfton replied to this Letter in the following fatisfa<3:ory Manner : " PoUGHKEEPglE, Sept. 14th, 1 776. " Sir : Your Letter of the nth current is fafely " came to Hand. Am forry it is not in my Power " to take the Chain down to the Fort. The Iron " the Committee (by the advice of the Smiths) " firft engaged, on Working up we find vaftly " fhort of the Quantity wanted. Since I have been " here, have been obliged (no other Member of " the Committee being with me) to fend an Ex- " prefs to the Forge for ten tun more. This, I " fear, will caufe a Delay we by no Means expedt- " ed, and as finifhing the Work depends on the Chain, &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 89 " Contingency of getting the Iron, it is impoffible " for me to give the Time when it will be finifhed. " I fmcerely wifh that at leaft one of the Gentle- " men of the Committee were with me, as I ex- " pedt to be obliged to go down to the Fort, to " fee that the Aparatus is got ready to faften and " ftretch the Chain with, that there may be no " delay on that account. If one of the Gentlemen " comes up, it will be neceflary that he bring at " leaft two or three thoufand Pounds with him, as " our Treafury is nearly exhaufted. " Am, Sir, with great reipedt, " Your very humble Servt, " Gilbert Livingston. " To Abm. Yates, Jr., Efq., " Prefident of the Con. of N. Y." On the 2ift of Auguft, Carpenters were much wanted, and a Letter was addreffed to the Chair- man of the Safety Committee at Kingfton to pro- cure them. As the Pay offered was exceedingly Liberal, we Copy this Letter : " POUGHKEEPSIE, Aug* 2lft, I776. "Sir: " We ftand in need of ten or twelve Carpen- " ters to execute fome Works for the Defence of " the Hudfon's River. Take the liberty to requeft M go Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " the Favor of you to procure them immediately " and Difpatch them here. They muft bring with " them round Adzes, broad and Wood Axes, " Gauges, Squares and Compalles. We fhall al- " low them 7s 6d and half pint Rum per Day, " they finding themfelves with other neceffaries. " We remain, with refped:, " Your humble Servts., " Christr. Tappen. " Gilbert Livingston. " To John Sleight, Efq., " Chairman of the Com. of Kingfton." As may be prefumed, this Letter brought the Carpenters. Ten were immediately found by Mr. Sleight and fent to Poughkeepfie on the 2 2d Aug. The fecuring of the Carpenters will probably ex- plain the following order : "Sir: " You are hereby ordered to Repair with a f File of 4 Men under your command, to the " Storehoufe of Capt. John Schenck, and there " take out of the faid Store two hhds. of Rum " marked " Congrefe," and take the Guage and " wantage thereof, and fend them by the Wagon " herewith fent — the one to the Ship Yards and "the other to the Store-Houfe of Mr. Richd. " Davis, and this fhall be your fufficient Authority Chain^ ^c, at Fort Montgomery. 91 " from the Secret Committee of the State of New " York. " Christ. Tappen. | Members "William Paulding. I of the " Poughkeepfie, Aug. 16, 1776. j Committee. " To Lieut. Theodorus Brett." Here is a Bill for Services which fhows the great Difficulty of fixing the Chain : " The Secret Committee of the Convention of the " State of New York, " To Ebenezer Young, Dr. " 1776. Expenfes from New York to Poughkeepfie, - - - - - - £1 00 Exprefs to Fifhkill, ----- 60 " Board from the i oth Auguft to the " 25th December, - - - - -12130 "141 Days Superintending the fixing " the Chain and Obftrudting the Na- " vigation at 1 2s per day, - - - 84 1 2 o « £98 II o " Errors excepted. Ebenezer Young. " Received, Aug. lOth, 1777, of Mr. Chrifto- " pher Tappen, one of the Members of the faid " Committee, ninety-eight Pounds eleven Shillings " in full of the above Adt. "98 II. Ebenezer Young." 92 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. A large quantity of the Iron for the Chain was furnifhed by Robt. Livingfton. We have feveral Letters from him to the Committee in regard to the amount fupplied by him. In a Letter dated, " Manor " Livingfton, 1 1 Auguft, 1 776," Mr. Livingfton fays : " I have now brought down to my Wharf " two tuns of Iron, and there is now three tuns " more drawn ready to come down on Tuefday ; " and expect by Saturday to have five tuns more. " All the Iron made fince yourlaft Orders is 2 inch " and the Bars as long as we could make them." In a Letter dated " Manor Livingfton, Sept. 2, " 1776," Mr. Livingfton renders a Bill of Iron furniftied to that date. He fays he cannot furnifh the Iron " under £45 per tun, as my Workmen " cannot Work at the fame Wages they have " done ; every Article they want to fupport their " Famileys, being double, and fome Articles, fuch " as Linens, more than double." He farther fays : " You are pleafed to fay that as foon as you have " the whole quantity of Iron you want you will " draw an Order on your Treafurer for the Pay- " ment. I hope that Gentleman does not live " wide of Poughkeepfie, for if he does, I fhould " not chufe in thefe difficult Times to go after " him." The aniount of the Bill rendered was £902 — or for 22 tons of IroHj, about. The total amoumt of Iron furniftied by him does not appear. The laft Letter from him bears Date Oft, 6th, 1776, and in this he fpeaks of Iron theu being Chain ^ &'c., at Fort Montgomery. 93 made. Mr. Livingfton's Letters fhow that Iron was made in different fized Bars — 2, 2 J, and li inch, the former probably for the Chain, and the latter for ftrengthening the Chain, as appears by the Minutes of Odl. 9th. The Price charged by Mr. Livingfton was regarded by the Convention as exorbitant — £45 per ton — and they gave the mat- ter an Inveftigation on a Charge that he had fold Iron to others for £17 and £20; but the Refult does not appear. IV. OBSTRUCTIONS AT POLLOPEL'S ISLAND. THE OBSTRUCTIONS AT POLLOPEL'S ISLAND. fNLIKE thofe at Forts Clinton and Mont- gomery, the Charafter of the Obftrudtions to the Navigation of the River, extending from Pollopel's Ifland to a Point near Mur- derer's Creek, have not .been a Matter of un- certainty. Thofe Obftruftions confifted of Che- vaux-de-Frize^ formed of fquare Frames of Timber, ^ Chevaux de Frise, (Friejland Horfes, fo called becaufe firft ufed at the Siege of Groningen, in that Province, in 1658), were at firft armed Beams of fquare Timber or Iron, ufed to defend the Fronts of Camps, Breaches, &c. They were ufually from 1 5 to 18 feet long, N and connefted by Chains, each being perforated with finall Holes, to receive Rods of Wood or Iron, pointed at their Extremities, and, when moved in any Direftion, af- fording a fort of Hedge pf Spears. {Enc. Americana). The Chevaux de Frife pfed on this Occafion are 98 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. or Cribs, from which extended Spars, the Points of which were armed with Iron, of fufficient Length to reach within a few Feet of the Surface of the Water. The Cribs, or Frames, thus prepared were loaded with Stone and funk at fuch diftances acrofs the Channel as to prefent a Row of Spears to approaching VeiTels ; which Spears, had a Vef- fel been run upon them, would have pierced its Bottom and caufed it to fink. At the Time the Chain at Fort Montgomery was firft ftretched acrofs the River, it broke twice (as we have ftated in our previous Article in re- lation to that Obftrudlion). The Failure of this here frequently called Cajfoom, be- caufe they were fupported in Caif- fons, a kind of CoiFer-Dam, con- ftrufted of Logs and filled with Stones, as reprefented in the En- graving. The Orthography of thefe Terms is that of the Original Docu- ments. Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopers Ijland. 99 Attempt to fix the Chain led to a Conference be- tween Robt. R. Livingfton, Major-Gen. Heath, and Brig. Gen. CHnton (at which Mr. Machin, who in the meantime had been appointed Engineer in the place of Mr. Romans, affifted), in reference to the Obftrudtions, and to determine what further Steps fhould be taken. At this Conference, Gen. James Clinton^ fuggefted the finking of Chevaux- ^ James Clinton, the fourth Son of Colonel Charles Clinton, was born Aug. 9th, 1736, at the Refi- dence of his Father, in New Wind- for, Ulfter County, N. Y. He re- ceived an excellent Education, and acquired much Proficiency in the exadl Sciences ; but his ruling In- clination was for a Military Life. He was appointed an Enfign in the Second Regiment of the Militia of Ulfter County, by Sir Charles Har- dy, the Governor, and rofe to the Rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the fame Regiment, before the com- mencement of the Revolution. During the War of 1756, between the Englifli and French, he dif- played much Courage, and particu- larly diftinguiftied himfelf at the Capture of Fort Frontenac, where he was a Captain under Colonel Bradftreet, and rendered effential Service by taking a Sloop of War on Lake Ontario, which had obftrufted the Advance of the Army. The Confidence which was repofed in his Charafter may be eftimated by his Appointment as Captain-Com- mandant of the four Regiments le- vied for the Proteftion of the Weftern Frontiers of the Counties of Ulfter and Orange, a Poft of great Refponfibility and Danger, as it devolved upon him the pro- teftion of a Line of Settlements of at leaft 50 miles in Extent, which were continually threatened by the Sa- vages. {Encyc. Americana^ At the Clofe of the old French War, he retired to his Farm at Little Britain, and married Mary, daughter of Egbert De Witt, a young Lady of great RefpeiSability, whofe Ances- tors were from Holland. He had four Sons by this Marriage : Alex- ander, who was Private Secretary to his Uncle, Gov. George Clinton; Charles, who became a Phyfician ; De Witt, afterwards the diftinguifhed Governor of New York ; and George, who was a Lawyer. Gen. Chnton's fecond Wife was a Mrs. Gray. He had feveral Children by this Marriage, one of whom became the Wife of Dr. Francis Bolton, to whofe Son we are indebted for the Minutes of the Secret Committee ; and his Son, James Graham Clinton, reprefented the Orange and Sullivan lOO Hudfon River ObfiruSiions . de-Frize at PoUopel's Ifland. The Conference reported its Proceedings to the Convention, who regarded Gen. Clinton's fuggeftion with Favour, and appointed Henry Wifner and Gilbert Living- fton to take Soundings of the River. On the 22d Nov., 1776, this Committee reported the Refult of their Inveftigations, as follows : " We have founded the River, beginning be- Diftrift in Congrefs for fevera] Years. June 30th, 1775,-the War of the Revolution having juft com- menced, he was appointed, by the Continental Congrefs, Colonel of the Third Regiment of New York Forces. In the fame Year, he marched with Montgomery to Que- bec. {Ibiii.) He was made Brig- adier-General, Aug. 9th, 1776. In Oft., 1777, he commanded, under Gov. Clinton, at Fort Clinton, which, with Fort Montgomery, feparated from it only by a Creek, defended the Hudfon, below Weft Point, againft the Afcent of the Enemy. Sir Henry Clinton, in order to favor the Defigns of Bur- goyne, attacked thefe Forts, Oft. 6th, with three thoufand Men, and carried them by Storm, they being defended by only about five hun- dred Militiamen. A brave Refift- ance was made, from four o'Clock in the Afternoon until dark, when the Garrifon was overpowered. (Allen's Jm. Biog. Bia.) With the utmoft DiiEculty Gen. Clinton efcaped. During the Engagement he received a fevere Wound in the Leg, from which he fuffered in- tenfely. He reached the Woods, and wandered throughout the Night, enduring extreme Torture. In the Morning he caught a Horfe, and rode fixteen Miles before he came to a Houfe, the Inmates of which were ftartled by the frightful Spec- tacle he prefented, his Regimentals covered with Blood, his Cheeks flulhed with Fever, and his Voice hollow and hu(ky. In 1779, with fixteen hundred Men, he joined General Sullivan in his Expedition againft the Indians. Proceeding up the Mohawk in Bateaux about fifty-four Miles above Scheneftady, he conveyed his Boats by Land, from Canajoharie to the Head of Otfego Lake, one of the Sources of the Sulquehanna, down which Stream he muft proceed, in order to join Sullivan. As the Water in the Outlet was too low to float his Bateaux, he conftrufted a Dam acrofs it, and thus accumulated the Water in the Lake. By letting out this Water, and thus fuddenly flufh- ing the Stream, his Boats and Troops were rapidly conveyed to Tioga, Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopel's IJland. i o i tween Verplanck's and Stoney Point, thence Northward through the Highlands to Pollopel's Ifland, and find no Part of the River in that Diftance lefs than eighty feet deep in the Main Channel, till within a {hort Diftance of the If- land. " From the Ifland to the weftern Shore, found by Meafurement, the Diftance to be fifty-three where he found Sullivan, who had afcended the Sufquehanna. (Ibid.) After one Engagement, in which the Indians were defeated with great Loft, all Refinance on their Part ceafed ; and, Defolation being brought home to their own Settle- ments, they fled to the Britifli Fort- refs of Niagara ; where they died in great Numbers, in Confequence of living on falted Provifions, to which they were unaccuftomed. (Enc. Americana.) It was thought that this fevere Blow would put a Stop to further Incurfions by the Indians. Such, however, unfor- tunately for the Frontier Settle- ments, was not the Effeft. In the following Summer their Depreda- tions were renewed, and continued during the War. (Marlhall's Walh- ington.) In 1780, Gen. Clinton was placed in Command of the Northern Department, with his Head Quarters at Albany. That Poft had been one of great Reipon- fibility during the War, and at the Time of Clinton's appointment had loft none of its Importance. The Spring of 1 781, found the Troops ftationed there deftitute of Provi- fions, and in a State of Mutiny. Word was brought to Gen. Clinton that one of the Companies had re- fufed to obey Orders to return to Quarters. Snatching up his Piftols he walked to the Head of the refraft- ory Company, and cafting his Eye along the Line for a Moment, he thundered out, " March !" but not a Soldier ftirred. Turning to the Ringleader, he prefented his Piftol to his Breaft, and told him to ad- vance or he would ihoot him dead on the Spot. The Captain knew well what kind of a Man he had to deal with, and pale with Rage and Fear, moved on. By Energy and Refolution the Mutiny was quelled. In the Winter of 1782, fome Pro- motions were made in which junior Officers took Precedence over Gen. Clinton. The veteran Soldier could not brook what he deemed a great Injury. He folicited and obtained Leave to withdraw from the adlive Duties of the Camp. He made his laft Appearance in Arms on the Evacuation of the City of New York by the Britifh, when he bade I02 Hudfon River ObfiruEiions. " Chains ; the Channel near the Middle of the " River at that Place is about eight Chains broad, " and fifty feet deep ; from the Channel the Water '' fhoals gradually on both fides to the Flats, which " are about eight or ten Chains broad, reckoning " both Sides. " This above defcribed Place is the only one in " our Opinion, that it is pofiible for an Obftruc- " tion to be made by docking, effedtually to im- " pede the Navigation of Hudfon's River, at any " place above the South Part of the Highlands." Upon the ftrength of this Report, the Confer- ence determined to adopt General Clinton's Sug- geftion. In a Report to the Committee of Safety, dated Nov. 26, 1776, they fay : " It is propofed, w^ith Approbation of the Hon. " Congrefs, to Obftrudt the Navigation in this " Part by Cajfoons, which it is conceived will be " very Prafticable." At the Sefiion of the Committee of Safety an affeftionate Farewell to his Com- adopted the prefent Conftitution of mander-in Chief, and retired to his the United States ; and a State Sen- ample Eftate. He did not, how- ator. All of thefe Offices he filled ever, enjoy uninterrupted Repofe, with Credit to himfelf, and Ufeful- but was often called by his fellow nefs to his Country. Gen. Chnton Citizens to- the Performance of civic was of a mild and affeftionate Dif- Duties. He was one of the Com- pofition, but when aroufed by In- miffioners to adjufl the boundary juries and Infults, difplayed extra- Line between Pennsylvania and New ordinary Energy. In Battle he was York ; a Member of the Legifla- calm and coUefted. He died Dec. ture, and of the Convention which 22, 1 81 2. (Encyc. Americana.) Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopefs IJland. 103 held on that Day, the following Refolution was paffed : "Refolved, That the Navigation of Hudfon's " River be Obftrudled near Pollopel's Ifland at the " Northern entrance of the Highlands, agreeable " to the Plan recommended by Gen. James Clin- " ton/ and that the Convention of this State will " exert every Meafure neceffary for that purpofe." Up to this Time, the Convention was unwearied in urging upon the Attention of Congrefs and Gen. Wafhington the Importance of giving the Obftrudlions at Pollopel's Ifland their Attention. Finding that there was little to be hoped for in that Diredtion, by this Refolution they feem to have determined to go on with the Work at their own Hazard and Expenfe. In accordance with this Determination, at the Seflion of the Conven- tion on the 27th of November a Preamble and Refolution were paffed offering to Gen. Schuyler the Superintendence of the Work. The following is the Refolution : " Refohed, That a Letter be immediately written " to Major General Schuyler, informing him of " the Survey that has been taken of Hudfon's River " at Pollopel's Ifland, and requefting him to take ^ The Honour of the Suggeftion to gomery Obftruftions). Gen. Clin- employ Cajfoons, for the Obftruftion ton appears to have examined and of the River, clearly belongs to approved the Plan, and recom- Gen. Schuyler, (fee his Letter in mended its Adoption. conneftioii with the Fort Mont- I04 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. "on himfelf the Superintendence and Diredtion of " fuch Works as he may think Neceflary, either " there or elfewhere, for the Security of Hudfon's " River." A Letter was accordingly written to Gen. Schuy- ler, and another to General Wafhington aiking hini to confirm the Appointment of Gen. Schuyler. At the Seffion, on the 28th November, Mr. Duane fubmitted a Draft of a Letter to Major General Heath,^ from which the following is an Extract : " We have taken into Confideration the Plan " fuggefted by Brigadier General Clinton for Ob- " firufting the River oppofite Pollopel's Ifland, "^ William Heath was born In 1793 he was appointed Judge of March z, 1737, atRoxbury, Mafs., Probate for the County of Norfolk. ofwhichTownoneof his Anceftors He was feveral Times one of the was a Settler in 1636, and was Eleftors of Prefident. Hepublifli- bred a Farmer. In 1775 he was ed Memoirs of Maj-Gen. Heath, appointed Provincial Brigadier, and containing Anecdotes, Details of alfo Brigadier of the United States, Skirmilhes, Battles, &c., during the June 22; and Aug. 9, 1776, Ma- American War, 8vo., 1798. Not- jor General. When the Army re- withftanding the Indications of an moved to New York, he com- excufable Vanity and Simplicity, it manded near King's Bridge. In exhibits him as an honeft, faithful 1777 he was intrufted with the Patriot, and prefents many intereft- Command of the Eaftern Depart- ing Occurrences of the War. He ment near Bofton, and the Prifon- fays of himfelf, " he is of middling ers of Saratoga fell under his Care. " Stature, light Complexion, very In June, 1779, he returned to the " corpulent, and bald-headed." He Main Army, and commanded the was the laft fiirviving Major General Troops on the Hudfon, and in that of the War. He died at the place Station, for the moft Part, he re- of his Nativity, Jan. 24, 18 14, mained until the Clofe of the War. aged 77. (Heath's Memoirs.) Chevaux-de-Frize at PollopePs IJland. 105 *' and conceiving it to be prafticable, we are de- " termined, with the Permiffion of Congrefs, to " proceed with the utmoft Vigor to carry it into « Effea." At this Stage of the Proceedings, a Conference was held between Mr. Livingfton, on the Part of the Convention, and Gens. Heath and Clinton — the former in Command of the Continental Forces at Peekfkill, and the latter in Command of the Forces in the Highlands — in reference to the Ob- ftrudtions. The Refult of this Conference was reported tO' the Convention by Mr. Livingfton, at its SefTion on the 30th November, as appears by the Minutes, as follows : " Mr. Livingfton informed the Convention that " he had Conferred with Major General Heath " and Brigadier General Clinton about Obftrudling " Hudfbn's River at PoUopel's Ifland (at which " Conference Mr. Machin affifted), that it appeared " to them to be extremely Pradticable, and that he " had the pleafure of affuring the Convention that " both Generals feemed ftrongly imprefled with a " Senfe of the Importance of that Work and de- " termined to give every Afliftance in their Power " to perfect the fame, or rather to take it upon " themfehes, which His Excellency Gen. Wafti- " ington's orders on that Head (which Gen. Heath " was fo obliging as to Communicate to Mr. " Livingfton), happily enabled them to do. io6 Hudfon River ObftruEtions. " That in this Conference it was deterniined " that 500 Men, under the Command of Brig. " Gen. Clinton, fhould this Day March for Fort " Conftitution, in order to begin the Work on Sun- " day Morning, in cafe they can be provided with " 300 Axes by this Convention, all other Tools " having been furnifhed by the Continental Stores." Upon Mr. Livingfton's Suggeftion, a Series of Refolutions were adopted extending to Generals Heath and Clinton every Affiftance in the Power of the Convention. Mr. Cuyler and Mr. Duer were authorized and diredted " to Employ fuch " and fo many Perfons as they {hall think fit, to " Purchafe and Colled: 300 felling Axes ; and that " they have Power to imprefs the fame where " there is more than one in a Family," that the Perfons fo employed " fet out on this Bufinefs im- " mediately and return all the Axes they fhall " obtain this Day to Gen, Clinton at New Wind-, "for, by 7 o'clock on Sunday Morning." Boats were alfo ordered colledted for carrying Stone and that " the Boats be delivered to Gen. Clinton, or "his Agent (Mr. Machin), at New Windfor." The Timber which had been colledled at Pough- keepfie for the Fort Montgomery Obftrudtion was ordered to be " immediately rafted to New Wind- " for."^ Gilbert Livingfton was diredled to caufe 1 Among, the Clinton Papers we mittee, in reference to the Timber find the following Letter to Mr. and Iron here referred to : Livingfton, one of the Secret Com- Chevaux-de-Fri%e at Pollopel''s IJland. 1 07 " three tons of Iron of an inch and a half, and one " inch and three quarters thick, or fuch other " quantities and fizes as Gen. Clinton may diredt, " to be delivered as foon as poflible at New Wind- " for," and ^£400 were appropriated to " defray " New Windsor, \ " 1 2th Dec , 1776. ^ "Dear Sir — Laft Night Mr. Ebenezer Young arrived here with a Raft of Timber faid to contain 74 Logs of thirty Feet long and upwards, and 67 of about 13 or 14 Feet, and a Quantity of Ropes, Anchors, &c. "For the Latter he will deliver you the Engineer's Re- ceipt. As to the Timber a great Part of it is fo Short that it cannot be of any Ufe to us in making Blocks to obftruft the Navigation of the River, having, before it arrived, got a Sufficiency of that Length. Had it been fent fooner, we might have ufed it to Advantage. The longer Logs may be ufed in this Bufinefs, but I am informed that moft if not all of them have been procured at fuch an extravagant Price that I can't, without particular Di- reftions from the Honorable the Convention, think of doing it. Tim- ber we can get at little Expenfe indeed, by the Soldiery, fafter than we can poffibly work is up on Blocks — at the higheft Computation not to exceed 55 a Log for thofe quite as Good for our Purpofe as any in the Raft. This being the Cafe, I ftiould not be able to Juftify the ufmg them in the Raft at the immoderate Price of five or fix Pounds a Piece, which I have been informed they coft you. I have, however, ordered the Raft to be laid upon ElUfon's Cove, and fecured there that it may be employed here or fent back to Poughkeepfie, as your Committee or the Convention ftiall direft. Perhaps it may be applied to fome other Purpofe that will better juftify the Ufe of fuch high priced Timber. The Iron you fent — -except the quantity I ap- plied for and of the Size — I dpn't imagine we fliall be able to ufe. If, therefore, you think you can dif- pofe of it at Poughkeepfie, I will order it back— -which I fliould have done immediately had not the Vef- fel that brought it been taken to Garry part of the Northern Troops to Haverftraw. It is Safe in Store, and if I poffibly can Ufe it or dif- pofe of it to any Advantage for you I will. "I am your moft obdt. Servt., " Geo. Clinton. " To Gilbert Livingfton, Efq." In the Fort Montgomery Article the Reader will have noticed the Bill of White & Livingfton, for Logs, of which thefe were probably a Part. We infer that thefe Logs were fubfequently ufed in the Weft Point Chain. io8 Hudfon River ObftruEiions. " the expenfes thereof." This Aftion rendered unneceflary the appointment of Gen. Schuyler — Gens. Heath and CHnton having taken the Work upon themfelves- — and hence a Copy of the Refo- lutions paffed were forwarded to him, together with a Refolution that " Major General Schuyler " be requefted to meet and confult with Gen. " Clinton on the Plan for Obftrudting Hudfon's " River near PoUopel's Ifland." From thefe Proceedings it will be feen that the Obftruftions at PoUopel's Ifland were under the immediate Superintendence of Gen. Geo. Clinton. The place feledled for the Conftrud:ion of the Chevaux-de-Frize was at New Windfor, where re- mains of the Forges ftill exift. The Troops re- ferred to by Mr. Livingfton, in his Statement to the Convention, arrived at Fort Conftitution at the Time appointed, and the felling of Timber for the Conftruftion of the Chevaux-de-Frize imme- diately commenced.^ From this Time we find 1 The following Letter from Gen. Men to get Timber for the par- Clinton to the Convention, Ihows pofe, but I am fo unfortunate as not the Commencement of the Work : to have Axes for the tenth Part of " Fort Constitution, 1 the number, though I have ufed my " ift Dec. 1776. ) beft Endeavors to procure as many " Sir — ^I arrived here Yefterday as I poffibly could. Axes, there- Evening with two Regiments, con- fore, three or four light Anchors" Ming of about 500 Men, deftined and Cables, Drag Ropes, Screws, for garrifoning this Fort, and Ob- Scows and other Boats for coUeft- ftrufting the Navigation of the ing of Stones I mull beg the Con- River near Polopin's Ifland, agree- vention will endeavor to Supply roe able to the Refolve of the Conven- with as quick as poffible. The tion. I immediately fent off the Bufinefs otherwife iwuft in a great Engineer with about one hundred Meafure ftand ftill. I have Smiths Chevaux-de- Prize at Pollopet's IJland. 109 the Convention adting in conjundtion with Gens. Heath and Clinton in conftrufting the Work* On the 4th of December, Gen. Clinton forwarded to the Convention the following Memoranda of Ar- ticles wanted : " Wanted by the Detachment employed in Ob- " ftrucSing the Navigation of Hudfon's River, near employed in making Axes, and I fliall make them Work Day and Night to replace thofe you may Supply me with ; and when Gen. Lee's Divifion paffes the River, and they are now at Peekfkill, we fliall be able to get a number of Boats from that Quarter, but for the pre- fent we muft be Supplied by Con- vention if poffible. I have about 40 Artificers, which are as many as can well be employed, and being furniflied with the above Articles only, I hope I fliall be able to car- ry on the Work without troubling your Honorable Houfe in fome Time for any other Supplies. " Capt. Bedlow has hitherto afted here as a Commiflary of Stores, and Mr. Lawrence as Clerk of the Check, and as there are no other Perfons appointed to take charge of the Stores, Tools, &c*, or keep the Accounts which will be neceffarily multiplied by thi& bufinefs, I am of opinion it will be beft to continue them. I am fure if they do their Duty, as I don't doubt they will, they will fave ten Times more than their Wages ; efpecially as it will be out of my Power to do my own Duty and attend particularly to that Part of the Bufiiiefs, " The Bearer, Capt. Bedlow, who will wait yotir Anfwer and bring down fuch of the wanted Articles as you can furnifli us with, will inform you of the Scandalous Manner fome of the Militia left this Place, without returning the Ammunition or othef Public Stores they had been furniflied with. " Mr. Livingfton gave me Rea- fon to hope I fliould have three Companies of Rangers join me ; I wifli to have them, as we fliall want all the Aid the Convention cia give us, and I have a flirong dcfire to Work thofe Gentry a litde. If they fliould objeft agaiisft going out of their County, as I have heard they do, I'U fix them in it. They will be equailly convenient to the Work. " I am with due refpeft, " Your llloift obt. Servt,, " Geo. CliujtOn.- " To the Honorable the Prefident of the Convention, of the State of New York." no Mudfon River ObJiruEiions. " Pollopeh's Ifland, fix thoufand Bricks for Forges " for Blackfniith's Shops ; and a few Ovens to " bake Bread in for the Soldiers. The Logs at " Poughkeepfie ought to be brought down," &c. At a Meeting of the Convention held Jan. 6th, I yjy, the following Refolution was pafled : " Refolved, That Capt. Machin be empowered, " with the Advice and under the Diredilon of Gen. " George Clinton,^ to employ fuch and fo many ^ George Clinton was the Brigadiei' General before the Inftru- youngeft Son of Col. Charles Clin- ment was ready for the Signature ton, and was born in Ulfter Coun- of the Members, his Name is not ty, now Orange, July 26, 1739. attached to it. March 25, 1777, He was named after the Colonial he was appointed Brigadier General Governor, a Friend of his Father, of the United States. At the firft In his Education his Father was Eleftion under the Conftitution of affifted by Daniel Thain, a Minifter New York, he was chofen, April from Scotland. In early Life he 20, 1777, both Governor and evinced the enterprife which dif- Lieutenant Governor, Accepting tinguifhed him afterwards. He the former office, the latter was once left his Father's Houfe and filled by Mr. Van Cortlandt. He failed in a Privateer. On his Re- was thus elefted Chief Magiftrate turn he accompanied as a Lieute- fix fucceffive Periods, or for nant his Brother, James, in the Ex- eighteen Years, till 1795, when he pedition againft Fort Frontenac, was fucceeded by Mr. Jay. Being now Kingilon. He afterwards at the Head of a Powerful State, ftudied Law under- WiUiam Smith, and in the command of the Militia, and rofe to fome Diftinftion in his his Patriotic Services were of the native County. As a Member of higheft importance to his Country, the Colonial Aflembly in 1771; and On the advance of the Enemy up afterwards, he was a zealous Whig, the Hudfon in Odl., 1777, he Pro- May 15, 1775, he took his Seat as rogued the Aflembly and proceeded a Member of Congreft. He voted ' to take command of Fort Mont- for the . Declaration of Independ- gomery, where he and his Brother ence, July 4, 1 776 ; but, being James made a moll gallant Defence called away hy his appointment as Oft. 6th. He efcaped under cover Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopefs Ijland. Ill " Laborers and Artificers as will be fufiicient to per- " fedt the Obftrudlions in Hudfon's River, and to " lay out and erecfl fuch Works as will be necelTary " for the Defence thereof." The Works here referred to were evidently thofe at Pluaib Point, remains of which, in a re- markable ftate of Prefervation, ftill exift on the Property of P. A. Verplanck, Efq., New Windfor. of the Night. The next Day- Forts Independence and Conftitu- tion were evacuated, He prefided in the Convention at Poughkeepfie, June 17, 1788, for deliberating on the Federal Conftitution, .which he deemed not fufhciently guarded in favor of the Sovereignty of each State. After being five Years in Private Life, he was elefted to the Legiflature. Again in 1801 was he chofen Governor, but in 1804 was fucceeded by Mr. Lewis. In that Year he was elevated to the Vice Prefidency of the United States, in which Station he continued till his Death. It was by his calling Vote that the Bill for renewing the Bank Charter was negatived. In Private Life he was frank, amiable, and warm in Friendlhip. By his Wife, Cornelia Tappan, of King- fton, he had one Son and five Daughters. He died at Wafhington April 20, 1 81 2, aged 72. An Oration on his Death was delivered by Governeur Morris. Of his Energy and Decifion the following are Inftances. At the Conclufion of the War, when a Britilh Officer was placed on a Cart in the City of New York, to be tarred and feathered, he ruflled in among the Mob with a drawn Sword and refcued the Sufferer. During the raging of what was called the Doftor's Mob, when, in Confequence of the Difinterment pf fome Bodies for Diffeftion, the Houfes of the Phyficians were in Danger of being pulled down, he called out the Militia and quelled the Turbulence. The following is an Inftance of the Skill with which he diverted Attention from his grow- ing Infirmities. On a vifit to Pittsfield, as he was rifing from a Dinner Table in his old Age, he fell, but was caught by a Lady fit- ting next to him. "Thus," faid he, " Ihould I ever wifh to fall — into the Hands of the Ladies." For many Years he fuffered much by the Rhumatifm. {Delaplaine's Repofitory ; Encyclopedia America- na ; Jlmon's Remembrancer, 1780, 160; See Street's Council of Revi- Jion). 112 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. We have no further recorded Adlion in reference to the Obftrudlions until the T2th of March, 1777, when a Committee, appointed for that purpofe, reported to the Convention that they had " Waited upon Gen. Geo. CHnton, and w^ere " informed by him that the Obftrudtion of the " Navigation is in great forwardnefs ; a number of " Frames and Blocks are ready for finking," &c., and that " thofe Works w^ill be completed by the "Middle of April." At the Meeting of the Convention held April 26, 1777, two thoufand Pounds were appropriated " for the ufe of the Works carrying on to Obftrud: " the Navigation in Hudfon's River near PoUopel's " IQand," We find nothing fhowing the precife Time at which the Chevaux-de-Frize were placed in the River. That a Portion of them were there \yhen the Expedition under Vaughan^ and Wallace paffed ' John Vaughan, K. B., was pointed Major Genera] in America Son of the Second Lord Lifburne, ift January, 1776, and was iecond of the Peerage of Ireland. He in command of the Britifh Referve entered the Army in 1748, and at the Battle on Staten Ifland, on became Captain in the 17th Regi- the i ft Auguft of that Year. Maj. mentofFootin 1756; Lieutenant Gen., Vaughan commanded about Colonel unattached in January, 1200 Men wcho were direiSed to 1760, and was appointed to the march towards Fort Clinton on 46th or South Devonfliire Regiment the 6th Oft., and cover Cbrps un- of Foot, ferving in America, in der Lt. Col. Campbell. By the November, 1 762, of which Regi- Britilh Account, the Approaches to ment he was commiffioned Colonel, the Fort were through a continued on nth May, 1775. He was ap- Abbatis of near 400 Yards in Chevaux-de-Frize at Pollopel^s IJland. 113 up the River is evident from the following in the Letter from Gov. Clinton to the Convention an- nouncing the Reduction of the Forts : " As foon " as I find the Shipping are likely to pafs the Che- " vaux-de-Frize, I will, by a forced March, endea- " vour to gain Kingfton and cover that Town." In a Letter dated Little Britain, Odt 12, 1777, Gov. Clinton fays that the Enemy are deftroying the Works at Forts Clinton and Montgomery ; Length, defenCve in its whole Cdurfe, and expofed to th6 Fire oF '" JO Pieces -of Cannon. (Beat/on, IV, 236). On the 14th Oft. Maj. Gen. Vaughari, with a Body of Troops in Bateaux, efcorted by Sir James Wallace's Squadron, pro- cee4ed up the River to Kingfton, where they had been informed there \yere confiderable Stores, On the 15 th, finding that Trenches had been thrown up and every Difpofi- tion made to annoy them. Gen. Vaughan determined to attack them before they fliould have Time to ftrengthen their Works, or to col- left Reinforcements. He therefore landed his Detachment, aflailed the Batteries, and having driven the Americans from their Works, and fpiked or deftroyed their Guns, he advanced direftly to the Town, at the Entranced of which he found a Body of Men, with Small Arms and Artillery, drawn up to oppofe him, Thefe he routed and feized tjieir Cannon. On entering the Town his Men were fired upon from the Houfgs, whereupon he gave Orders to fet the Town on Fire, and it was entirely cohfumed, together with a confiderable. Quan- tity of Military Stores. . TheAmcy rican Shipping was alfo all deftroy- ed, except an armed Galley, which ran up the Creek. Finding that a Junftiqn with Gen. Burgoyne's Army was imprafticable, the com- bined Armament returned to New York. (lb., 237-38). His Regi- ment formed part of the Expedition under General Grant to the Weft Indies in 1777, and he was ap- pointed Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in the Leeward Iflands. In- 1 779, when the Britifh pafled the Chevaux-de- Prize, he invefted Fort Lafayette, which furrcndered on the 2d June in that Year. fjb. 503-4). In 1 78 1, he accompanied the Expedition againft the Dutch Weft India Pofleffions. He was next appointed (governor of Ber- wick, and Lieutenant General in 1782. He died Colonel of the 46th Regiment, 30th June, 1795. (N. r. Col. Hi}., VII, 749). 114 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. and, in a Poftfcript to this Letter, he fays : " Yef- " terday Evening an arnied Schooner, two Row " Galleys and a fmall Brig palTed the Chevaux-de- " Prize, and are out of Sight up the River this " Morning." But the Works were not entirely completed until the fubfequent Year, as we find Gov. Clinton writing under date of Jan. 17th, 1778 : "I would " advife, that the Chevaux-de- Prize be completed " under the Direftions of Capt. Machin, who has " hitherto had the Management of that Bufinefs. " He knows how many are yet wanted, and where " to be funk, fo as to perfedt the Obftru(3;ions," V. OBSTRUCTIONS AT WEST POINT. THE OBSTRUCTIONS AT WEST POINT. iHE Oijftrudions to the Navigation of Hudfon's River at Weft Poijfit, wrere placipd there in the Sp rin g of 1778. Immediately after the return of Sir Henry CUnton's^ Expedition to New York, the more thorough Fortifica- tion of the Highlands was urged by Gen. Wafliington, who in a Letter dated December 2d, ^ Henry Clinton, K. B., was the eldeft Son of Admiral George Clin- ton, formerly Governor of the Pro- vince of New York {Nezo York Colonial Hift., vi, 475), and Grandfon of the 6th Earl of Lincoln. He entered theArmy early in Life, having been appointed during his Father's Adminiftration, Captain Lieutenant of the New York Com- panies. He became Lieutenant in the Coldftream Guards ift Nov., 175 1 ; and was promoted to Cap- tain of a Company in the ift Foot Guards 6th May, 1758. {Machn- non's Coldftream Guards, 11, 487). ii8 Hudfon River ObjiruEiions. 1777, inftrudted Gen. Putnam to confult with Gov. Clinton, Gen. Parfons, and the French En- gineer, Colonel Radiere, with a view to the Erec- tion of fuch " Works and Obflrudtions as may be " neceffary to defend and fecure the River againft " any future attempts of the Enemy."^ The fol- lowing is Wafliington's Letter : In 1 762 he became Colonel in the Army, and of the 12th Regiment of Foot on the 28th November, 1 766. After gaining great Credit by his Services during the Seven Years' War in Germany, he rofe to the Rank of Major General 25th May, 1772, and in May, 1775, arrived at Bofton. In June he diftinguiflied himfelf at Bunker Hill, and was rewarded, on the ift of September following, by being created Knight of the Bath and ad- vanced to the Rank of Lieutenant General in America. On ift January, 1776, he was appointed General in America, and was de- feated that Year at Sullivan's Ifland ; commanded the Firft Line of the Britiih Army at Staten Ifland ift Auguft ; on the 27th of the fame Month, commanded a Divifion in the Battle on Long Ifland ; in Ofto- ber, defeated a Portion of the American Army on the Bronx, in Weftchefter County; and in De- cember, and againft his will, was fent to take Pofleflion of Rhode Ifland. In 1777, he was engaged in Operations on the Hudfon River for the Relief of Burgoyne ; was appointed Lieutenant General in the Army in Auguft, and in Oftober was prefent at the Storming of Forts Montgomery and Clinton. In 1778, Sir Henry Clinton was commiffion- ed Commander-in-Chief, and con- dufted the Retreat from Philadel- phia to New York ; was appointed Colonel of the 84th Royal High- landers in December, of the fame Year. In April, 1779, became Colonel of the 7 th Light Dragoons, and in December embarked for Charlefton, which he reduced. He was fucceeded in the Chief Com- mand by General Carleton in 1782, when he returned to England, where he publiflied a Narrative of his ConduH in America, 1782; Obfervations on the Earl Cornzoallis's Anfwer, 1783 ; Letter to the Com- mijjioner of Public Accounts, 1784; and Obfervations on Mr. Stedman's Hijiory of the American War, 1 794. He died 13th December, 1795. {N. r. Col. Hift.,vm, 717). 1 Sparks, v, 177. Chain at Weft Point. 119 " Head Quarters, 2 December, 1777. " Dear Sir : " The importance of the Hudfon River in " the prefent Conteft, and the neceffity of defend- " ing it, are Subjedls which have been fo frequently " and fully difcufled, and are fo well underftood, " that it is unneceffary to enlarge upon them. " Thefe Fadts at once appear, when it is confidered " that it runs through a whole State ; that it is " the only Paflage by which the Enemy from " New York, or any Part of our Coaft, can ever " hope to cooperate with an Army from Canada ; " that the poflefGon of it is indifpenfably elTential " to preferve the Communication between the " Eaftern, Middle and Southern States ; and fur- " ther, that upon its Security, in a great Meafure, • " depend our chief Supplies of Flour for the fub- " fiftence of fuch Forces, as we may have occafion " for, in the courfe of the War, either in the Eaft- " ern or Northern Departments,(or in the Country " lying high up on the Weft fi3e~of^t. Thefe " Fadts are familiar to all ; they are familiar to you. " I therefore requeft you, in the moft urgent " Terms, to turn your moft ferious and adtive At- " tention to this infinitely important objedt. Seize " the prefent opportunity, and employ your whole " Force and all the Means in your Power for " eredling and completing, as far as it fhall be " poflible, fuch Works and Obftrudtions as may be " neceffary to defend and fecure the River againft I20 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " any future attempts of the Enemy. You will " confult Governor Clinton, Geri«?ral Parfons/ and ^ Samuel Holden Parsons, was born at Lyme, Conn., 14th May, 1737, and was graduated at Har- vard in 1756; was admitted to the Bar in 1759, and fettled at Lyriie in the Praftice of the Law ; married in 176 1 ; was Member of the Gen- eral Aflembly from 1762 to 1774, during which Time he filled vai-ious Appointments of Honour and Truft, among which was that of fettling the Boundary of the CoHnefticut Claim on the Border of Pennfyl- vania. In 1773 he was appointed one of the Standing Committee of Correfpondence ■ aiid Inquiry with the Sifter Colonies, of which he was an energetick Member, and origih- •ated the Suggeftion of affemblihg the Firft Corigrefs which fubfe- quently met at New York ; an Aft which led to the Continental Con- grefs, to the Confederation, and that great Chain of Events, connefted with the War of Independence. In Nov; 1 773, he was appointed King's Attorney. In 1775, he with a few Connefticut Gentlemen formed the bold Defign, which vv-as fucceflfuUy executed, of feizing Ticonderogi and Crown Point, the firft offenfive Blow ftruck by the Colonies'. He had been appointed Major of the Fourteenth Regiment of Militia in 1770, and on the 26th April, 1775, was conimiffiqned Colonel of the Sixth Regiment, raiffed for the fpecial Defence and Safety qf the Colony, and foon after marched to and cqn- tinued at Roxbury, until the Britilh evacuated Bofton, when he was ordered to New York. He was aftively engaged at the Battle of Long Ifland, Avig. 1776. (See Botta; Williams's hife Olney; Stiles'^ Diary.') In Aug. 1776, he wa§ appointed by Congreis Brigadier General, and was with the Army at Harlem Heights, Kingftjridge, and in the Battle of White Plains. He was fubfequently ftationed at Peekfkill with a Portion of the Army to proteft the important Pofts upon the North River, and from thence was frequently detached upon vari- ous Expeditions!' In May, 1777, he planned the eminently fucceflFul and important Expedition of Col. Meigs to Sagg Harbour (Marlhall'a Life Wajh., iii, 96), in June fol- lowing reinforced Walhington in New Jerfey ; and on the Retreat of Gen. Howe was detached to Peekfr kill, when, at his urgent Solicitation, th6 Highlands were ftrongjy rein- forced, but before effeftual Meafures were confummated. Gen. Chnton with' a 'ft'rohg Force cd{)tured' all the Defences and paffed above the Highlands. In the Winter of 1 777, fuffering under feeble Health, and a Conftitution broken down in the Service, Gen. Parfons expreffed tQ the Commander-in-Chief a Defire to retire temporarily from the aftive Duties of the Army; but at the urgent Solicitation of Wafhington, he determined to continue at the Chain at JVeJi Point. 121 " the French Engineer, Colonel Radiere, upon " the occafion. By gaining the Paflage, you know Head of his Brigade. In the begin- ning of 1778 he took Command of the Troops ftationed at the High - lands, with the additional Duty of conftrufting Military Works at Weft Point. In a Letter to Wafhington, dated 1 6th March, 1778, he fays': " I fhall pay particular Attention " to forwarding the Work of the " Boats defigned for tranfporting " over, as well as to thofe which " are to be employed for Defenfe " on Hudfon River. I have or- " dered all the Boats and other " Crafts on the River to be coUefted " in different Places, and put in the " beft pofTible State immediately. " When I was laft at Poughkeepfie " the Gun-Boats were in fuch a " State as to give Hopes of their *' being fit for Ufe within a few " Weeks ; and as Gov. Clinton has " been kind enough to take upon " himfelf the Direftion of them, I " think we may hope to fee them " completed foon. I will fend to " Albany, and know the State of " the Boats there, and as the River *' will be foon Clear of Ice, I will " order down fuch Boats and other " Crafts as can be had there, fit for " Tranfportation over the River. " If the Chain is complete, we fhall " be ready to ftretch it over the " River next Week. A fufEcient " Number of the Chevaux-de- Prize " to fill thofe Parts left Open laft " Year, are ready to fink as foon " as the Weather and the State of the River will admit it to be done. ' I hope to have two Sides and one ' Baftion of the Fort in fome State ' of Defence in about a Fortnight. ' The other Sides need very little to ' fecure them. There is a Profp^ft ' of having five or fix Cannon ' mounted in one of our Batteries ' this Week. I think the Works ' are going on as faft as could be ' expefted from our fmall Number ' of Men, total Want of Materials ' provided, and of Money to pur- ' chafe them. We have borrowed ' and begged and hired Money to this ' Time. I have feveral Times ad- ' vanced my laft Shilling towards ' purchafing Materials, &c.; and I ' believe this has been the Cafe with * almoft every Officer here. As we ' ftill live, I hope we fhall accomplifh ' the Works in the River in Seafon, ' if the Enemy move with their ' accuftomed Caution and Tardi- ' nefs ; when I hope Congrefs will * repay what has been advanced, ' and cannot think us blamable if ' we have been compelled to fave * the Public Credit, and forward the ' Bufinefs intrufted to our Care." From the above Correfpondence it appears that the Fortifications at Weft Point, and upon the Highlands, were for a Time under the Super- intendence of Gen. Parfons, where he was ftationed the principal Part of the Years 1778 and 1779, but was frequently Detached upon Ex- peditions to proteft the Sea-coaft 122 Hudfon River OhJlruSiions. " the Enemy have already laid wafte and deftroyed " all the Houfes, Mills and Towns acceffible to of his native State, near Horfeneck, Greenwich, New Haven and New London. Time and Space, how- ever, will not permit a full Statement of his Services. It appears, alfo, from his numerous Opinions, re- corded and preferved among the Manufcripts of Gen. Wafhington, that he was frequently confulted in Queftions of great Moment, and in critical Times of Publick Danger. In 1779, '^'^ was ftationed oppofite Weft Point with Inftruftions to aiTift in conftrufting the Works. In July of that Year, Gen. Tryon having invaded Connefticut with z6oo Men, Gen. Parfons, at the Head of 150 Continental Troops and the Militia under Gen. Wol- cott, attacked the Britifh on the Morning of the izth July, foon after they landed at Norwalk, and although too Weak to prevent the Deftruftion of that Fort, he har- rafled the Enemy fo much during the Day, that they retired for frefh Reinforcements, and finally aban- doned the Undertaking of penetrat- ing that State. On the 29th Oft , 1780, he was one of the Board which tried Major Andre ; and in the fame Month received from Con- grefs a Commiffion as Major Gene- ral, and fucceeded Gen. Putnam in the Command of the Connefticut Line of the Continental Army. The defencelefs Inhabitants between Greenwich and New York, having been much, annoyed, and differed great Lofles by the frequent Incur- Jions of Col. Delancy's Corps at Morrifiaha, Gen. Parfons deter- mined to deftroy the Enemy's Bar- racks, which could not be rebuilt during the Winter ; and thus afford fome Protedlion to the Inhabitants in that Vicinity. For this Purpofe, he advanced, with rapid Marches, to Weft Chefter and Morrifiana, with a few Continentals, attacked the Britifh Troops, and effeftually accomplifhed his Objedl. . Congrefs now paffed a Refolution direfting Gen Waftiington to prefent to Gen. Parfons and the Officers under his Command, the Thanks of Congrefs for his judicious Arrangements, and for the Courage difplayed by the Officers 'and Men. In the Year 1 78 1, he was appointed by the Governor and Council of Conneft- icut to command the State Troops- and Coaft Guards, raifed for the Proteflion of the State, and to dif- pofe them in fuch Manner as he fliould judge expedient 10 proteft the Inhabitants from the Incurfions of the Enemy on the Sea-coaft. At the Clofe of the War he refumed the Praftice of the Law in Middle- town, whither his Family had been removed during the Revolution, and frequently reprefented that Town in the Legiflature. In the Profecu- tion of Meafures for the Formation of Middlesex County, he was more engaged and more influential than any other Man. He was an aftive Chain at Weft Point. 123 " them. Unlefs proper Meafures are taken to pre- " vent them, they will renew their Ravages in the " Spring, or as foon as the Seafon will admit, and and influential Member of the State Convention which aflembled at Hart- ford, January, 178 1, and adopted the Conftitution of the United States. He was a Member and for fome Time Prelident of the Society of Cincinnati, in Connefticut. In the latter Part of the Year 1785, he was appointed by Congrefs, a Com- miflioner, in Conneftion with Gens. Richard Buder of Pittsburg, and George Rogers Clarke of Kentucky, to treat with the Shawanoe Indians, near the Falls of Ohio, for extin- guilhing the Aboriginal Title to certain Lands within the North- weftern Territory. This Treaty was held on the northweftern Bank of the Ohio, near the Mouth of the Great Miama, January 31ft, 1786, and the Indians then ceded to the United States a large and valuable Traft upon which the flourifhing City of Cincinnati now ftands. Un- der the Ordinance of Congrefs of 1787, he was appointed Judge in and over the Territory of the United States northweft of the River Ohio. The Commiffion is dated Oftober Z3d, 1787, and figned by Arthur St. Clair, Prefident, and Charles Thomfon, Secretary of Congrefs. In 1789, he was nominated by Gen. Walhington, by and with the Confent of the Senate, Chief Judge in and over the fame Territory, then embracing the prefent States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michi- gan, which Office he held until his Death. In 1789, he was appointed by the State of Connedlicut a Com- miffioner, with Gov. Wolcott, and Hon. James Davenport, to hold a Treaty with the Wyandots and other Tribes of Indians for extin- guilhing their Claim to the Lands called the Connefticut Weftern Re- ferve, and in the Fall of 1789 he vifited that Country with a View to preliminary Arrangements for holding a Treaty with them. While returning to his Refidence at Mari- etta, he was drowned in defcending the Rapids of the Big Beaver River, the 17th of November, 1789, aged fifty-two years. Among the Manu- fcripts of Gen. Parfons in the Pof- feffion of his Grandfon, Samuel H. Parfons, of Middletown, are a Jour- nal of Obfervations and Occurrences when he firfl: vifited the Weftern Country J a Communication to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Oftober, 1786, defcrib- ing the Weftern Mounds, Manners and Cuftoms of the Aborigines ; Original Addrefs to the Shawanoe Tribes ; befides a voluminous Cor- refpondence before, during, and after the Revolutionary War, with the diftinguifhed Men of that Period. (HildretFs Lives of the Early Set- tlers of Ohio; N. E. Hiji. Gen. Regifter, etc.) 124 Hudfon River ObfiruBkns. " perhaps Albany, the only Town in the State of " any importance remaining in our Hands, may " undergo a like Fate, and a general Havoc and " Devaftation take place. " To prevent thefe Evils, therefore, I fhall ex- " pedt that you w^ill exert every Nerve, and employ " your whole Force in Future, while and when- " ever it is pradlicable, in conftrufting and for- " warding the proper Works and Means of Defence. " The Troops mufl not be kept out on Command, " and a£ting in Detachments to cover the Country " below, which is a Confideration infinitely lefs " important and interefting. " I am. Dear Sir, &c." In a Letter to Gov. Clinton of the fame Date, Gen. Wafhington exprefled much Solicitude on the Subjed:. Gov. Clinton, in Reply, allured the Commander-in-Chief of his hearty Concurrence in any Effort that might be agreed upon ; and he gave feveral important Hints reipedting the Con- ftrudlion of new Works on the River, and efpe- cially recommended, that a " ftrong Fortrefs fliould " be eredred at Weft Point oppofite to Fort Con- " ftitution."' On the fame date, Wafhington alfo addrelTed a L&tter to Major General Gates, diredting him, ^ This was probably the firft Place had been difcufled at the Suggeftion, from any official Source, Time of agreeing to the Conftruc- which led to the Fortification of tion of Forts Montgomery and that important Polition, although Clinton, the Plan of Fortifications at that Chain at Weft Point. 125 " with a certain Part of the Northern Army and " the Affiftance of the Militia of New York and " the Eaftern States, to attempt the Recovery of the " Pofts upon the North River from the Enemy, " and to put them if recovered in the heft " Pofture of Defence." But Gen. Gates vv^as ap- pointed, at about the fame Time, Prefident of the Board of War, and did not adl in the Matter. Wafhington alfo addreffed a Letter to Gov. Clin- ton requefting him " to take the Chief Direction " and Superintendence of this Bufinefs." Gov. Clinton replied that he would cooperate with any one charged with the Chief Direction of the Works, but in Confideration of his other Duties muft decline the Appointment. The Matter thus remained under the Diredlion of Gen. Putnam, who, early in January, 1778, brought the Subjed: before the Provincial Con- vention of New York, as appears from the follow- ing Proceedings : " Thursday, Jan. 8, 1778.' " Application being made by Major General " Putnam, Commanding Officer of the Middle " Department, that this Convention would appoint " a Committee to confer with him relative to the " neceflary Works to be conftrufted for the De- " fences of the Paffes in the Highlands, " Refohed, That the Generals requeft be com- " plied with, and that Mr. Scott, Mr. Pawling, " Mr. Wifner, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Killian Van 126 Hudfon River ObfiriiEiion^. " Renffelaer, Mr. Drake, Mr. Hathorn, and Mr. " Hoffman, be a Committee for that Purpofe."^ " Friday, Jan. 9, 1778. " General Scott, from the Committee appointed " Yefterday Evening, to confer with Gen. Putnam " and Gen. James Clinton, the Lieutenant Colonel " of Engineers and other Military Officers, relative " to the neceffary Works to be conftrudled for the " PafTes in the Highlands, and the Place or Places " where the fame ought to be eredled, reported " that they had conferred with the laid Generals " and other Officers ; that on fuch Conference " there was a difagreement in Sentiment between " thofe Gentlemen (ariling from certain different " Fadls alleged), as to the place where fuch Works " ought to be eredled ; and, therefore, that it was " the Opinion of the faid Committee and the Mi- " litary Gentlemen, that this Convention appoint " Commiffioners to view the feveral PafTes on " Hudfon River, with the Generals and other *' Officers, and advife in fixing the places where " fuch Fortifications fhould be eredled. " Re/ohed, That John Slofs Hobart, Efq.,^ one ^ Jour. Prov. Con., 1 113. pofe the Execution of the Stamp Aft; in 1775 was Member of the ^JoHN Sloss Hobart was born Provincial Convention from Suffolk in Fairfield, Conn., February, County, and was Deputy from the 1738, and was graduated at Yale fame County to the Provincial College, 1757; joined the Sons of Congrefs held in 1775 and 1776, Liberty in New York in Nov., alfo to the Convention of Repre- ,1765, which were organifed to op- lentatives in 1777, which formed Chai?i at Wefi Point. 127 " of the Juftices of the Supreme Court, the Hon. " Robt. R. Livingfton/ Chancellor of this State, the firft Conftitution of the State ; on the 8th May, 1777, was ap- pointed one of the Puifne Judges of the Supreme Court; 23d Oftober, 1779, was placed by the Legifla- ture upon the Council to carry on the Government of the State in the Southern Portion thereof, during the Interval between the Enemy's Abandonment of the Diftridl and the Meeting of the Legillature. In 1788 he was a Member of the Convention which ratified the Con- ftitution of the United States ; on the I ith Jan., 1798, was appointed United States Senator to fucceed Gen. Schuyler, and having attained the age of 6p refigned the Office of Judge of the New York Supreme Court, and alfo the fame Year his Senatorfhip, on being appointed Judge of the United States Diftrift Court for New York ; which Office he held at the Time of his Death, 4th Feb., 1805. (See Street's Council of Revijion^ p. 177.) ^ Robert R. Livingston was born Nov. 27, 1747, and graduat- ed at King's College, New York, in 1765. After completing his Law Studies with William Smith, he was appointed by Gov. Tryon, Recorder of the City ; which Office he refigned at the beginning of the Revolution. In April, 1775, he was eledled to the AfTembly from Dutchefs County. In 1776 - he was a Member of Congrefs, and was placed on the Committee with JefFerfon, Adams, Franklin, and Sherman, to whom was delegated the Talk of Draughting the Decla- ration of Independence. He was alfo on other important Commit- tees. In Auguft, 1781, he was appointed Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and commenced his Duties Odlober 20. The Foreign Bufinefs of Congrefs had previoufly been condufted by the Committee of Secret Correipondence. Domeftick Affairs were alfo in part intrufted to him. He was diligent, prompt, and energetick. His valuable Cor- refpondence has been publifhed in the Diplomatick Correlpondence edited by Jared Sparks. On his Refignation in 1783 he received the Thanks of Congrefs. Under the new Conftitution of New York, which, as Chairman of the Com- mittee, he affifted in forming, he was appointed Chancellor, and filled that Situation until 1 80 1. In 1788 he was Chairman of the State Convention, which adopted the Federal Conftitution ; at that Time uniting his Efforts with thofe of Jay and Hamilton. In 1794 he de- clined the Appointment of Minifter to France, offered by Wafhington. In 1801 he accepted the Office of Minifter Plenipotentiary to France, and proceeded to Paris. He was received with refpeft by the Firft 128 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. " Mr. Piatt, Mr. Wifner, and Colonel Hathorn be, " and hereby are, appointed Commiffioners for the " Purpofe above mentioned, and proceed on that " Bufinefs with all poffible Defpatch.'" This Committee reported, as follows ; " Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1778, " Your Committee, who were fent to afcertain " the Place for fixing a Chain and eredling Forti- " fications for Obftrudling the Navigation of Hud- " fon's River, beg Leave to report : That they " have carefully viewed the Ground on which Fort " Clinton lately flood and its Environs, and find " that the Ground is fo interfered with long deep " Hollows, that the Enemy might approach with- " out any Annoyance from the Garrilon within the " Fort, to within a few Yards of the Walls, unlefs " a Redoubt fhould be raifed to clear the Hollows " next the Fort, which mufl be built at fuch Conful, and after his Miffion had died in 1813, aged 66. He was clofed. Napoleon prcfented to him inftrumental in the JntroduiSion of a fplendid SnufF-Box, containing a Steam Navigation into the United Miniature of himfelf, by Ifabey. States ; introduced the Merino With the affiftance of Mr. Monroe Sheep, and the Ufe of Gypfum into he made the very important Pur- New York ; was Prefident of an chafe of Louifiana for $ 1 5,000,000. Agricultural Society ; 'and alfo Pre- In Paris he formed an Intimacy with fident of the Academy of the Fine Robert Fulton, whom he affifted Arts. A more circumftantial Ac- by his Counfels and Money. After count of the Events of his Life is his Refignation, and the Arrival of given in Street's Council of Revijion, General Armftrong, his Succeffor, 149-59.' he travelled through Italy, Switzer- land, and Germany, and returned ^ Jour. Pro. Conv., 1 113. to America, in June, 1805. He Chain at Weji Point. 129 " Diftance from the Fort that it could not be fup- " ported from thence in cafe of an Affault, fo that " the Enemy might make themfelves Mafters of " the Redoubt the firft Dark Night after their " landing, which would be a good Work, ready to " their Hand for annoying the Fort and facilitating " their operations againft it ; and, together with " the Eminences and broken Grounds within a " fhort Diftance of the Fort, w^ould render it im- " poffible for the Garrifon to refift a general Af- " fault for many Hours together. Another objec- " tion that appeared to the Committee was the " want of Earth on the Spot, which would reduce " the Engineer to the neceffity of erecting his " Works entirely of Timber, which muft be " brought to Pooploop's Kill in Rafts, and from " thence drawn up a fteep and difficult Road to the " top of the Hill. The Rafts cannot be made till " the Water is warm enough for Men to Work " in it, by which it is probable that a Fort cannot " be ered:ed before the Ships of the Enemy will " come up the River. Befide, at this Place, the " Chain muft be laid acrofs the River fo that it " will receive the whole Force of the Ships coming " with all the ftrength of Tide and Wind, on a " line of three or four miles. Add to thefe, if the " Enemy fhould be able to poffefs themfelves of the " Paffes in the Mountains through which they " marched to the Attacks of Forts Montgomery " and Clinton, it would be extremely difficult, if R 130 Hudfon River ObJlruEiions . ' not impoffible, for the Militia of the Country to * raife the Siege. " Upon viewing the Country at and about Weft * Point, the Committee found that there were * feveral places at which the Enemy might land ' and proceed immediately to fome high Grounds * that would command a Fort ered:ed at Weft ' Point at the diftance of fix or feven hundred ' yards, from which they might carry on their ap- ' proaches through a light Gravelly Soil, fo that it ' would be impoffible for the Fort to ftand a long ' Siege. But to balance this difadvantage in this ' Place, there is plenty of Earth. The Timber ' may be brought to the Spot by good Roads from * the high Grounds at the diftance of one to three ' miles. Three hundred feet lefs of Chain will be ' requilite at this Place than at Fort Clinton. It ' will be laid acrofs in a place where Veflels going ' up the River moft ufually lofe their Headway.^ ' Water Batteries may be built on both fides of the ' River for protecfting the Chain and annoying the ' Ships coming up the River, which will be com- * pletely commanded from the Walls of the Fort. ' There are fo many PafTes acrofs the Mountains * to this Place, that it will be almoft impoffible ^ Thofe who are acquainted with Stream abruptly and compels Vef- he Place where the Obftruftion fels, failing under even the moft was fattened to the Shore, will fee favourable Breeze, to make fuch the Force of this Defcription. A Change in their Courfe as will ma- Point of Land here juts put into the terially leflen their Headway. Chain at Weji Point. . 131 " for the Enemy to prevent the Militia from com- " ing to the relief of the Garrifon. " From thefe coniiderations, the Committee are " led to conclude that the mofh Proper place to " obflrudt the Navigation of the River is at Weft " Point ;^ but are at the fame Time fully con- " vinced that no Obftrudtions on the banks of the *' River can effedlually fecure the Country, unlefs " a Body of light Troops, to confift of at leaft tw^o " thoufand effedtive Men, be conftantly ftationed " in the Mountains while the Navigation of the " River is prafticable, to Obftrudt the Enemy in " their approach by Land. " Jno. Sloss Hobart, " Henry Wisner, " John Hathorn, "Zeph. Platt. " PouGHKEEPsiE, Jan. 14th, 1778."^ By Diredlion of Gen. Putnam, Hugh Hughes, D. Q,. M. G., vifited the Sterling Iron Works^ of Noble & Townfend, on the 2d of February, and 1 In Force's American Archievs, ^ Journ. Prov. Con. 1 1 1 7. Plans prepared by Bernard Romans are publiflied, by which it will be ^ The Sterling Iron Works are feen that he firft propofed fortify- ftill in Operation. They are li- ing Weft Point. His Plans, how- tuated on the Outlet of Sterling ever, were not carried out at that Pond, about five miles Southweft of Time, Forts Clinton and Montgo- the Sloatlburgh Station, on the Erie mery having been completed in- Railway. They are owned by De- ftead. The Plates in the Archives, fcendants of Peter Townfend, and therefore, have no value as defcrib- have now been in Operation about ing the Forts at Weft Point. one hundred Years. 132 Hudfon River 0bjiru8iions. entered into a Contradt with the Proprietors to Conftrudt a Chain. This Contradt was as fol- lows : " Articles of Agreement between Noble, Town- " fend & Company, Proprietors of the Sterling " Iron Works, in the State of New York, of the " one Part, and Hugh Hughes, D. Q. M. G, to " the Army of the United States, of the other " Part, witnefleth : " That the faid Noble, Townfend & Company, "jointly and feverally engage to have made and " ready to be delivered at their Works to the faid " Hugh Hughes, D. Q. M. G. or to the D. Q. " M. G. of the Middle Department for the Time " being, on or before the firft Day of April next " enfuing the Date hereof, or as much fooner as " circumftances will admit, an Iron Chain of the " following Dimenfions and Quality, that is, in " Length five hundred yards — each Link about " two feet long, to be made of the beft Sterling " Iron, two inches and one quarter fquare, or as " near thereto as poffible, with a Swivel to every " hundred feet, and a Clevis to every thoufand feet, " in the fame manner as thofe of the former Chain. " The faid Noble, Townfend & Company alfo " engage to have made and ready to be delivered " at leaft twelve tons of Anchors of the aforefaid " Iron, and of fuch Sizes as the faid Hugh Hughes " or his Succeffors in Office fhall diredt, in writ- Chain at Weft Point. 133 " ing, as foon as the completion of the Chain will " admit. "In Confideration of which the faid Hugh " Hughes, in behalf of the United States, agrees to " pay to the faid Noble, Townfend & Company, " or their Order, at the Rate of four hundred and " forty Pounds for every ton weight of Chain^ and " Anchors delivered as before mentioned, unlefs " the General Regulations on Trade, Provifions, " &c., which are now fuppofed to be framed by " Deputies from the United States fhall be publifh- " ed and take effed: before the expiration of four " Months from the date of this ; in which cafe " the price is to be only £400 per ton for the faid " Chain and Anchors. The Payment, if de- " manded, to be made in fuch proportion as the " Work fhall be ready to be delivered, which fhall " be determined in ten Days after requifition made " by a number of competent Judges, not lefs than " three nor more than five, unconcerned with the " Proprietors, or the Works, and if condemned, to be completed at the expenfe of the faid Com- pany, who are alfo to Repair, as aforefaid, all failures of their Work, whenever happening, " whether at the Works or River, or in extending " it acrofs. " The faid Hugh Hughes alfo engages to pro- " cure of the Governor of this State, for the faid ^ Continental Money probably. <( 134 Hudfon River ObftruEiions. " Noble, Townfend & Company, an exemption " for nine Months from the Date hereof, from " Military Duty, for fixty Artificers that are fteadily " Employed at the faid Chain and Anchors, till " completed. Agreeable to the faid Exemption, " the faid Company complying with the Terms " thereof; Providing alfo that the faid Company " give the faid Hugh Hughes, or his Succeflbrs in " Office, the Refufal, by Letter, of all the Bar " Iron, Anchors, &c., made at the faid Works in " the faid Term of nine Months, at the current " Price, unlefs w^hat is neceffary to Exchange for " CJothing and other Articles for the Ufe of the " Works. " It is alfo Agreed, by the faid Parties, that if " the Teams of the faid Company fhall tranfport " the faid Chain or Anchors, or any Part thereof, " to any affigned Poft, they fhall receive for fuch " Services the fame Pay as fhall be given by the " United States for the like ; the Teams of the " Company being exempted from Imprefs by any " of the Q. M. G's Deputies during the fpace of " nine Months. " Laftly, the faid Company engage to Ufe their " utmofl endeavors to keep feven Fires at Forging " and ten at Welding, if affifted with fuch Hands " as are neceflary and can be Ipared from the Army, " in cafe of their not being able to procure others, " the faid Company making dedudlion for their " Labor. Chain at Weft Point. 135 " In Witnefs whereof, the Parties have inter- " changeably Subfcribed their Names this fecond " Day of February, one thoufand feven hundred " and feventy-eight, and in the fecond Year of " American Independence. " Peter Townsend, " In Behalf of Noble & Company. " Hugh Hughes, " In Behalf of United States. " In Prefence of "P. TiLLINGHAST." On the 13th of February, Gen. Putnam wrote to the Commander-in-Chief as follows: " At my Requeft the Legiflature of this State " have appointed a Committee to affix the Places " and manner of fecuring the River, and to afford " fome Afliftance in expediting the Work. The " State of Affairs now at this Poft, you will obferve " is as follows : The Chain and necefTary Anchor " are Contracted for, to be completed by the firfl " of April ; and from the Intelligence I have re- " ceived, I have reafon to believe they will be " completed by that Time. Parts of the Boom in- " tended to have been ufed at Fort Montgomery, " fufhcient for this Place are remaining. Some of " the Iron is exceedingly bad, this I hope to have ^ Copy of Original in Clinton Papers, State Library, 136 Hudfon River ObfiruEiions. " replaced with good Iron foon.^ The Chevaux- " de -Prize will be completed by the Time the " River will admit of linking them (Pollopel's " Ifland). The Batteries near the Water, and the " Fort to cover them, are laid out. The latter is " within the Walls fix hundred yards around, " twenty-one feet bafe, fourteen feet high, the " Talus two inches to the foot. This I fear is too " large to be completed by the Time expedted. " Governor Clinton and the Committee have " agreed to this Plan, and nothing on my Part " fhall be wanted to complete it in the beft and " moft expeditious manner. Barracks and Huts " for about three hundred Men are completed, and " Barracks for about the fame number are nearly " covered. A Road to the River has been made " with great difEculty."- Having proceeded thus far. Gen. Putnam went to Connedticut, leaving Gen. Parfons in command ; but, in the Abfence of explicit Authority, the lat- ter, at firft, declined exercifing any thing more than a mere Supervifory Power over the Works, and little Progrefs was made. Meanwhile the People of the Province, regarding the Works as ^ By Reference to the Minutes duced, fo that each Log of the of the Secret Committee of July firft Boom made three of the new, 14, the Charafter of the Boom re- and the whole Arrangement of ferred to will be explained. The Chains altered, as will appear in a whole Work and Plan, however, fubfequent Part of this Article, was changed by Capt. Machin. The Length of the Logs was re- ^ Sparks, v, 225.- Chain at Wefl Point. 137 really under Putnam's Command, became greatly incenfed at the Delay/ and refufed to render the neceffary Affiftance while he remained, even no- minally, at the Head of the Department. Indeed, the Current of Publick Opinion^ ran fo ftrongly againft Putnam that Wafhington appointed Gen. McDougall to repair to the Highlands and afTume the Chief Command there, comprehending " the " Forts among other Objedts of his Truft." Radiere,^ the Engineer, too, feeling fome Deli- cacy in pufhing forward the Works in the irre- fponfible State of the Command, vifited Congrefs, and refigned his Appointment. He was fucceeded ■"^ The Courfe purfiaed by Gen. Parfons has been made the Subjeft of Cenfure in ftveral of our Hifto- ries, but, it is thought, very unjuft- ly. (See Letters in Appendix.) ^Putnam fufFered much in the Eftimation of Refidents in the Vi- cinity of Forts Clinton and Mont- gomery, and efpecially of thofe en- gaged in their Defence, for his Failure to render Affiftance in Time to defeat Sir Heniy Clinton. The old Story handed down from the Militiamen engaged in that Affair is, that Putnam was bufily engaged in a Game of Chefs with a beauti- ful Lady, who was a Tory in Feel- ing ; and that when warned of the Expedition, he refufed to leave the Game until it was too late. This Story added greatly to his Difcre- dit. ^ La Radicre was one of four En- gineers fent over from France by Franklin and Deane, and was em- ployed by Order of Congrefs. He was oppofed to the Ereftion of For- tifications at Weft Point, but was overrtiled by the unanimous Judg- ment of other OlEcers confiilted on the Occafion, and Kofciufzko was appointed to fiicceed him. (Loffing's Field Book, i, 704.) Mons. de la Radiere was appointed Lieut. Col. of Engineers 8th July, 1777, in Accordance with a Treaty made in France, 13th Feb. 1777; was pro- moted to the Rank of Colonel 17th Nov. 1777 ; retained in the Ser- vice ift Jan. 1779; died in Service fame Year; Benefits of the Refolu- tion loth April, 1780, extended to his Reprefentatives 3d Auguft, 1785. (Journah Congrefs.) 138 Hudfon River ObJiruEiiom. by Kofciufko, who arrived at the Works on the 26th March/ Gen. McDougall arrived, on the 28th of the fame Month, and took Command. Operations were at once refumed and pufhed for- ward with Vigour.^ The Obftrudions to the Navigation of the River, however, had fufFered lefs Delay than the Forts. Gov. Clinton, in Accordance with his Pro- mife to " render any Afiiftance in his Power," had exercifed confiderable Supervilion over that Branch of the Service ; and had diredbed Capt. Machin, who had been employed in completing the Ob- ftrudtions at PoUopel's Ifland, to take Charge of the Obftrudlions at Weft Point alfo.^ The Links of the Chain were brought from the Sterling Iron ^ " Mr. Kofciuflco," fays Gen. Fortifications and Obftruftions McDougall, in a Letter dated April fliould be out of Danger of any 13, "is efteemed by thofe who fudden Attempt from the Enemy, have attended the Works at Weft Point, to have more Praftice than ^ Gov. Clinton, under Date of Col. Radiere, and his Manner of Feb. 13, 1778, thus certifies to treating the People is more accept- Capt. Machin's Services : " I have able than that of the latter ; which Reafon to believe, that upon his Re- induced Gen. Parfons and Gov. covery (from Wounds received ^t Clinton to defire the former may Fort Montgomery), he has been be continued at Weft Point." fteadily engaged to this Time in the neceiTary Preparations for fixing the 2 On the Recommendation of new Chain acrofs the River, com- Gen. Wafliington, Congrefs decid- pleting the Boom, the Chevat(X-de- ed, on the 31ft March, that all the Friz£ (at PoUopel's Ifland), and in Troops in the State of New York, raifing the Galley (the Wafhington) fliould be under one General Ofiicer which was funk (in Efopus Creek) who fliould be authorized to con- on the Enemy's Advance up the centrate the whole Force in the River." Highlands until fuch Time as the Chain at Wefi "Point. 139 Works to Capt. Machin's Forges at New Wind- ibr, where they were joined together and properly faftened to the Logs which formed the Support of the Chain when completed. I. From the Fadts ftated, it is apparent that the Obftrudlions at Weft Point confifted of a Boom and a Chain. The former we find frequently re- ferred to in the Papers quoted ; and from the Por- tion of it which was recovered from the River by Bifhop's Derrick, in the Summer of 1855, and which is now depofited in Wafhington's Head Quarters, at Newburgh, a fatisfadory Defcription of it can be made. The Relick here referred to confifts of two Logs, one of White Wood and the other of White Pine, about fifteen feet in length, and about tvvelve inches in Diameter, drefTed in the Center in the Form of an Odlagon, and rounded at the Ends. Thefe Logs are united to each other by an Iron Band around each End and two Links of Chain of nearly two inch Bar Iron, but which have evident- ly loft much of their original Size from Corrofion. This Boom extended the whole Width of the River, in Front of the Chain. The Plan of its Conftruc- tion is reprefented by the following Engraving : A A a8ii ni i iifl «8 iiiiBiaoa8 A A Boom. h b Iron Rollers for iecuring 140 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. It will be obferved, that the Boom combined great Strength^ with Pradticability. It was, indeed. 1 The Strength of this Boom may be inferred from the Bill of Noble & Townfend, which fpecifies 135 tons wrought into Booms, Bolts, Clips, Chains, Swivels and Bands, the very Articles of which the Relicks are compofed which were recovered, and, it is found, charged feparately from the Items which compofed the Chain. Its Conftruftion was evidently com- menced with the Intention of em- ploying it at Fort Montgomery, as a Subftitute for the Rafts of Tim- ber which were placed in Front of the Chain at that Place. (See Letter of General Putnam, ante.) The annexed Bill of Noble, Town- fend & Co., it will be feen, com- mences before the Reduftion of Fort Montgomery, and clofes be- fore the Contraft was made for the Chain. By the Bill of Capt. Ma- chin, which is alfo annexed, it will be obferved that he calls the Boom Chain Logs, and that they were taken to Weft Point on that Day, April 7. The Chain (" all fixed," fee his Letter) appears from the fame Bill to have been taken down on the 1 6th April, and ftretched acrofs the River on the 30th. garter Mafter General by Me£ieurs Thomas Machin and John Nicoll. To Noble and Townsend Dr. 1777. CO ^6 en 0^ . CO By whom fent. Aug. 6. 24 6 24 Daniel McCoun. " 21. 24 6 24 Francis Welding. tt ft 20 5 20 Amos Mills. " 2S. 3 6 6 6 Francis Welding, Sept. 2. 16 8 16 David Sutherland. " 6. 12 6 12 D. McCoun as far as Thorn's, " 17. 12 8 12 Partrick Sutherland. " 25. 12 9 12 2 David Sutherland. oa. 2. 9 Daniel McCoun. Nov. 13. 22 I I 22 Solomon Curtis. Still at Works. 18 36 And one Lod was fent by the Clove that I have not got the Number Clips, &c. 142 58 21 7 184 8 Chain at Weft Point. 14.1 the Main ObJiruSlion, and was placed in Front of the Chain to receive the full Force of approaching Veffels. The Wt is 17 Tuns, lo C, i Qr. of Boome Iron, &c., at £ s. d. 140S, _ 2453 I 3 To Making 29,24.9 lb. Clips, Chains, &c., at is 3d, - - 2453 i 3 June 19. To 20 o Bar Iron by my Team at 140s, 140 00 " 24. " 30 o 14 do do ati4os, 210 17 6 " 26. " 20 o 4 do Col. Curlies at 140s, - 140 50 July 7. " 20 o o do our Team at 140s, - 140 o o " " " 80 14 do Sam. Brufter, at 140s, - 56 17 6 1778- Jan. 20. " 10 o 14 do by Mandeville, at 330s, 167 1 3 " 28. " 10 1 14 do do do 171 3 4 " Carting 78 of the Boome Bar Iron, - - - iz 16 o ^5945 3 Augt. By Cafh paid Mr. Hawxhurft,'^ - - £500 o o Sept. 14. By Cafh, 1000 o o Nov. 14. By Cafh paid Nathaniel Satly, - - 240 o o Feb. 2. By Cafti received by Col. Hughes, 4027 o o S747 o o Ballance due, £198 3 i The United States of America To Thomas Machin Dr. for Travelling Expenfes and Money paid out in their fervice from January ijjS to Sept. 20 Agreeable to the Acount here under. £ s. d. 1778. Jan. 1. Exploring Hudfons River with 7 Men fix Days, 6 10 o 1 William Hawxhurst was a Hard- "Scots Tavzkn, 23d April, 1778. ware Merchant, doing BuGnels in the *' Sir : I am Jurft now from Nobels at City of New Yorlc. Peter Townfend of "Sterling. The Chane is going on faft. the Sterling Works married his Daughter. " But the anchors (not) Owing (They We infer from the following Letter, " fay) to your Not Sending The wate of which is copied verbatim from the Origi- " Them. I Hope you will forward your nal, that he was not much indebted to ** inftrudlions on The Receipt of This, as the Schoolmafter for any thing in his " There Cant be any Thing Don Till you Line ; but, in thofe Days, bad Spelfing was " Send The wate of Each pertickeler not fo much the Exception, as it is at pre- " anchor. I am Yours Sir in Haft, fent : " Wm. Hawxhurst. " To Cp. Machen, Indian Eare." 142 Hudfon River ObJlruSiions. II. The Chain employed for Obftrufting the River is amply defcribed in the Contradl with Noble & Townfend, already quoted, and by the Jany 7. Expences to PoughKeepfe, iio5 do iz. Expences at FifliKill four Days Detayned on the publick fervice, 400 do 1 6. Expences on the Road to Chefter to agree for the New Chaifi 3 Days, 3126 do 20. Expences Getting Timber for the Chain four Days, 400 do 26. Getting up Drift Timber, --j-.j.-ioo Feby 2. Expences to New Burgh, New Malbrough and New Paltz 4 Days, 446 do 2. For Ten Quire of Paper, 2100 do 12. Expences to New Paltz 3 Days, Hiring one Hand two Days, ---. 4106 do 17. Expences to Weft Point, o 12 6 do 24. Expences when in perfute of Diferters, for Myfelf and Men, at McDonelds, 060 do at Capt. Smiths, 480 do at Sidmans, 5100 do paid Onderdunk to Carry a Letter, i 1 2 o March 5. Getting the Logs to Drye for the Chain at New Paltz, 3100 do II. Expences to Jews Creek, Plattor Kill and New Burgh, two Days, -----.-...200 do 14. Expences to Weft Pt, -'■ oizo do 15. Expences from Weft Pt, ----"•- -0120 do 16. Expences to FilhKill, PoughKeepfe, New Paltz and New Malbrough, fix Days, 600 do 24. Expences to FilhKill for Rigging, i o o do 26. Expences Down the High Lands CoUefting Drift Timber, -- 0126 do 29. Expences to Weft Pt, 080 April 7. Expences Getting Down the Chain Logs with 40 Men, 4 Days, - 600 do 12. Expences to Chefter, 100 do 1 6. Taking Down the Chain, 0160 do 19. Expences to Jews Creek, oioo do 26. Expences to Sterling, 1106 Chain at JVefi Point. 143 Portion now preferved at Weft Point. For buoy- ing the Chain, a large Quantity of Timber was ufed, as appears from the following Extracts from Capt. Machin's Papers : "Jan. 20, 1778 — Expenfes getting 7z>«i5^r yor " the Chain, four Days." " Feb. 22d, 1778 — Wefhall want a large quan- " tity of Timber for the Chain, which cannot be " got up the River on account of the Froft and " when the Froft breaks up it will be to late for " our Bufinefs." April 30. While Getting the New Chain acrofs, - - - - o ii o May 3. Expences when Reafcending the Lady Wafliington Galley atKingfton Creek, zo Days, - - - 9 lo 6 June I . Expences to Peeks Kill, iiio do 4. Expences to PoughKeepfe, 200 do 6. Expences to FifliKill, 0120 do 10. Expences to Kingfton, 400 do 19. Expences to Peeks Kill with four men, t - t 2 o o do 24. Expences to FiftiKill with Ferrys, i 1 2 6 do 29. Expences to Pough Keepfe and Ferrys, - - - - 2100 July 2. Expences to FiihKill, .... ... o 10 8 do 10. Expences to Pough Keepfe and Ferrys with four men, 8 16 o do 19. Expences to Chefter, 106 do 20. Expences to Fifli Kill, oiio Augt I . John Buchanons Bill for Travilling Expences, - 510 dq 2. William McBrides Bill for Travilling Expences in the Service of the States, 540 Jofeph Holfteads Bill for Travelling Expences in the Service of the States, 364 do 7. Expences to Pough Keepfe, 200 do 20 Expences to Fifli Kill, 0120 do Expetices tp Wit Plains, ... , . » - 6 o o £126 I 6 144 Hudfon River ObfiruSiions. "March 5th, 1778 — -Getting the Logs to dry "for the Chains The Chain was put together at New Windfor ; floated down to Weft Point, and fecured in its pro- per Place in the latter Part of April, 1778, as ap- pears from the following Extrad: from a Letter from Gen. Clinton to Capt. Machin, dated Poughkeepfie, 3 May, 1778 : " Dear Sir: " I received your Letter and am happy to " learn that the Chain is acrofs the River, and that " you had the good Fortune to accomplifh it fo " expeditioufly and fo much to your fatisfadlion." The Chain, as it appeared when placed in its Pofition, is thus defcribed by DocSor Thacher in his Journal : " It is buoyed up by very large Logs of about " fixteen feet long, pointed at the Ends, to leiTen " their oppofition to the Force of the Current at " Flood and Ebb Tide. The Logs are placed at " fhort diftances from each other, the Chain carried " over them and made faft to each by Staples." A great Variety of Traditions have been repeat- ed, hiftorically, in reference to the Obftrudlions at Weft Point, and which may be fully explained when the precife Character of the latter is under- ftood. For Example, Mr. Lofting, in his Field Book of the devolution, fays : Chain at Weji Point. 145 " He [Arnold] wrote a Letter to Andre, in a " difguifed Hand and Manner, informing him that " he had weakened the Obftrudtions in the River " by ordering a Link of the Chain to be taken out " and carried to the Smiths, under a pretenfe that " it needed Repairs. He afTured his Employer " that the Link would not be returned to its Place " before the Forts fhould be in Pofleffion of the " Enemy." Arnold could not have taken a Link from the Chain without removing that Part of the Obftruc- tions altogether ; but he could eafily have weakened the Boom by removing a Link from either Side, Again, Mr. Simms, in a recent Letter to the Al- bany Argus, fays : " Gov. Clinton is faid, with Others, to have " walked acrofs the River on the Chain ; and an " old Gentleman by the Name of Wood, who a " few Years ago was living at Springfield, Otfego " County, aflured me that he had crofled the River " on the Chain J' Thefe Traditions are eafily reconciled by fubflri- tuting the Word Boom for that of Chain. The Boom could be readily converted into a Bridge; and it is not improbable that in its Conflruftion, Reference was had to this Objedt, as it would afford Facilities for the tranfport of Troops from one Side of the River to the Other, the Abfence of which had Contribut- T 146 Hud/on River ObJiruBions. ed fo much to the Lofs of Forts Clinton and Montgomery. Another Writer affirms, that the Chain was removed every Winter " by means of a " large Windlafs," and that it made a " huge Pile " on the River Bank." The fimple fad: in refer- ence to this is, that one End of the Chain and of the Boom being loofened from its Faftening, a Windlafs was employed to fwing the Body around to the Shore, a very fimple Procefs and eafily ac- complifhed. But we will not purfue this Branch of the Sub- jedt farther. A large Portion of the Chain was fold to the Weft Point Foundry at Cold Spring, many Years ago, where it was worked up. In removing the Boom finally, a portion of it became detached, and the Logs being Water-foaked, funk to the Bottom of the River, whence after being wafhed by the Tide for over eighty Years, they have been recovered ; and now ferve the noble Purpofe of elucidating an important Branch in the defenfive Operations of the Province of New York in the Struggle for Independence. Relick of Chain preferved at Weft Point. VI. BEACONS AND SIGNALS. THE BEACONS AND SIGNALS. J:AC0NS were the rude Telegraphs >of former Centuries, and were no unimportant Part of the Machinery employed in this Conteft. In our Hiftories are many AUufions to the Beacon-Hills of the Highlands ; Tradition alfo has handed down many Tales of the " Alarm-Fires that often gleamed on their Summits during the War." So far as we have read, however, nothing really tangible has ever been publifhed on the Subjed:. Revelling among the old Manufcripts at Head Quarters, we have found a few Items touching the Signals which were employed during the Revolution for convey- 150 Hudfon River ObJlruSiions. ing Intelligence of the Approach of the Enemy and to diredt the Movements of the Militia and Conti- nental Forces, which we have thought of fufficient Intereft to warrant their Publication in a durable Form. On the 7th of Od:ober, 1775, the Continental Congrefs fuggefted to the Provincial Congrefs of New York the expediency of Adopting, in Connec- tion with the Colonies of Connedticut and New Jerfey, Signals for conveying Intelligence. The Refolution of the Continental Congrefs was as fol- lows : " Refohed, That it be recommended to faid " Convention to Eftablifh, at proper Diftances, " Pofl:s to be ready to give Intelligence to the " Country, in cafe of any Invafion, or by Signals to " give Alarms in cafe of Danger ; and that they " confer with the Affembly of Connedticut and the " Convention of New Jerfey, on the fpeedieft " Manner of conveying Intelligence in fuch Cafes " and receiving Affiftance when neceflary." In accordance with this Suggeftion, the Provin- cial Congrefs of New York, on the 1 7th of Odt., 1775, adopted the following : " Refohed, That in Order to give a General " Alarm throughout the Colony in cafe of Inva- " fion, and for the purpofe of muftering the Regi- " ments aforefaid (Minute Men), that Beacons be Beacons and Signals. 151 ' eredted at convenient Places and Diftances * throughout the Colony ; and where convenient ' Places cannot be found to ered: Beacons, that ' Cannon be fixed inftead of them, and that fome ' fit Perfon be employod under the Diredlion and ' with the Advice of the feveral County Commit- ' tees, to make a proper Arrangement for this Bufi- ' nefs, and to report thereon to the Congrefs. " And for the purpofe of conveying Intelligence * in cafe of Invafion, that it be recommended to ' the feveral County Committees in this Colony, * to appoint and engage fome one or more of their ' ovyn Body (whofe Place of Refidence fhall be ' convenient for the Purpofe, or any other difcreet ' Perfon or Perfons who fhall live on or near the ' moft Public Roads that lead from New York ' through their refped:ive Counties), to have a ' Perfon and Horfe in readinefs to forward Intelli- ' gence in cafe of Invafions, and that the Commit- ' tees fix the feveral Stages in their refpedlive ' Counties from 10 to 15 miles Diftance.'' A Copy of the Refolution of the Continental Congrefs and alfo the Refolutions of the Provincial Congrefs were forwarded to the Aflembly of Con- ned:icut and the Provincial Congrefs of New Jer- fey, " together with a Letter requefting their " Advice on the Subjedt." A Letter was alfo or- dered to the Colonels of Militia and Minute Men, flating that, " In order that timely Affiftance may 152 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions . " be had in cafe of an Invafion on this Colony, " Directions will be given by the Congrefs for the " Eredlion of Beacons at fome and Cannon in other " Places of the Colony to alarm the Country. " Thefe Signals, when erecfted, will be fo arranged " as to prevent any Miftakes in the Alarm." In reply to the Letter from the Congrefs of New York, Governor Trumbull, of Conned:icut ref- ponded ; " Your Plan is approved by the Council " of Safety, and I am requefted by them to procure " proper Perfons to be in readinefs at a Minute's " Warning to carry any Intelligence of Alarm or " Invafion to the Towns where Occafion may re- " quire." This Plan was immediately carried into Effedt, as appears from the following Paper enclofed by Gov. Tryon^ to the Earl of Dartmouth, under Date of Nov. I ith, 1775, viz ; 1 William Tryon received a don or Moira Family), he was ap- Commiffion as Lieutenant and Cap- pointed Lieutenant Governor of tain of the ift Regiment of Foot North Carolina, where he arrived Guards izthOftober, 1751 ('^r/Kji zyth Oftober, 1764, and, on the Lifts); in 1757 married Mifs Death of Mr. Dobbs, was gazetted Wake, of Hanover Street, with Governor of that Colony 20th whom he received a Fortune of July, 1765. (lb. xxxv, 347). £20,000 Sterling (Gentlemaifs He adminillered that Governmqn^ Magazine, xxvii, 'iJj), and on until July, 1 771, -when he was ad- 30th September, 1758, became vanced to that of New York. He Captain and Lieutenant Colonel in was promoted to a Colonelcy in the the Guards. Through fome Court Army 25th May, 1772; became Influence probably, (as we find a Third Major of the Guards 8th Mifs Tryon Maid of Honor to the June, 1775; Major General 29th Queen (lb. xxxi, 431), and he Auguft, 1777, and Colonel of the claimed Relationfhip with the Raw- 70th Regiment 14th May, 1778. Beacons and Signals. 153 " Hancock's Letter to the Congrefs, fays, ' I alfo " enclofe. you a Refolve of the Continental Con- " grefs refpe£ting thofe who in your Opinion are " dangerous by going at Large, to which I alfo " refer.' This Refolve I can't get fight of. I be- " lieve it is deftroyed. 150 Men working at the " Forts, 200 weight of Powder there. Beacons to " be ered;ed 30 miles this Side of the Forts all the " Way up at proper Places to give the alarm. A " Plan is laid to build two more Batteries this Side " of the Forts. An Application to Congrefs for "25 Men to keep Watch at Night, at the Forts " building up the North River. A Plan to fink " Blocks to flop up fome narrow Places going up " to the Forts, in order to prevent large VefTels " going up."^ In the Spring of 1776, Gen. Wafhington ad- In 1 779 his Name was inferted in giftick Obituary Notice of him, the New York Aft of Confifcation. doubtlefs from the Pen of his Son- It is unneceffary here to {peak of in-law Fanning, appeared fhortly his Career in America, as that is after, in the Gents. M^g- lviii, 179. already Notorious as it was Odious. " The Name of Tryon," it aflerts. He refigned the Government, for "will be revered acrofs the Atlan- many Years only Nominal, of New " tick while Virtue and Senfibility York 2ift March, 1780, and re- "remain." The State of New turned to England, where he was York manifefted its Reverence foon appointed Lieutenant General 20th after by erafing the Name of Tryon November, 1782, and Colonel of from the only County that bore his the 29th Foot i6th Auguft, 1783. Name in the State. (N. Y. Col. Governor Tryon died at his Houfe, Hiji. viii, 798.) Upper Grovefnor Street, London, 27th Jan. 1788, and his Remains ^ New York Colonial Hiftory, were depolited in the Family Vault viii, 615. at Twickenham. A highly eulo- u 154 Hudfon River ObJiruSiions. drefled the Convention of New York on the Sub- ject, communicating the Plan which Gens. Sulli- van and Green, and Lord Stirling^ had fuggefted to him for conveying Intelligence of the Approach of the Enemy's Fleet, and fuggefting that the Con- vention fhould employ the fame in calling in the Militia under its Control. This Plan was as fol- lows : " To His Excellency Gen. Wafhington, Com- " mander-in- Chief of the American Army : In Obedience met and deli- " May it pleafe Your Excellency " to the Orders given us, we have ^ William Alexander, generally ftyled, through Courteiy, Lord Stir- ling, was born in New York City, in 1726, but pafled a Portion of his Life in New Jerfey. He claimed to be the rightful Heir to the Title and Eftates of the Earldom of Stir- ling in Scodand, from which Coun- try his Father came, though the Government refufed to acknowledge the Son's Claim, when he repaired to Great Britain in Purfuit of his Inheritance. He was early remark- able for his Fondnefs for Mathe- maticks and Aftronomy, in which Sciences he made confiderable Pro- grefs. He was Aid-de-Camp and Private Secretary to Gpv, Shirley in the French War, was a Member of the Provincial Council of New Jer- fey, and on the Approach of the Revolution was appointed to the Command of a Regiment of Militia, and ultimately rofe to the Rank of Major-General. He afted an im- portant Part throughout the War, and diftinguifhed himfelf particular- ly in the Battles of Long Ifland, Germantown, and Monmouth. In the firft he was taken Prifoner, after having, by a bold Attack upon a Corps commanded by Cornwallis, effefted the Efcape of a large Part of his Detachment. In the fecond, his Divifion, with the Brigades of Genls. Nafli and Maxwell, formed the Corps de Referve; and in the laft, he commanded the Left Wing of the American Army. He was always warmly attached to Wafliing- ton, and the Caufe which he ef- poufed. He died at Albany, N. Y. 15th Jan. 1783, aged 57, leaving behind him the Reputation of a brave, difcerning and intrepid OfB- cer, and a learned and honeft Man, His Biography has been written by his Grapdfon, W. A, Duer. Beacons and Signals. i^^ " berated upon the feveral Matters referred to us " by Your Excellency, and beg leave to Report " that the following Signals be given upon the Ap~ " proach of any number of Ships toward this Port " (New York), viz : Upon the Appearance of any " Number of Ships by Day from one to fix, a large " Flag is to be hoifted over the Highlands of " Neverlink ; upon the Appearance of any Number " from fix to twenty, two Flags ; and for any " greater number, three Flags ; the Flags to be " hoifled upon Flag-Staffs arranged there from " eafl to wefl at twenty Yards Diflance from each " other. The Signal by Night to be given by an " equal number of Fires arranged in the fame Order " and at the fame Places ; thefe Signals to be re- " peated both by Day and Night on the Heights " of Staten Ifland by Flags and Fire arranged in " the fame Manner. The Commanding Officer " in each of thofe Departments to fee that a good " Look-out be kept for Ships both by Day and " Night, and upon their Appearance he is not only " to give the Signals before mentioned, but is as " foon as pofTible to give Intelligence by Exprefs " to the Commander-in-Chief. " We recommend that the Day Signal be given " by large Enfigns with broad Stripes of Red and " White, and that upon the Appearance of three " Flags by Day or three Fires by Night, the " Country is to take the alarm and communicate it 156 Hudfon River ObJiruBions. " as foon as poffible, for the purpofe of calling in " the Militia. " Jno. Sullivan. " Nathaniei- Greene. " Stirling." To this Letter the Convention refponded that " We have not been entirely inattentive to the Sub- " jed: of this Part of your Recommendation ; every " Regiment of our Militia has its Place of Rendez- " vous appointed, and Riders are fixed at the dif- " ferent Stages in this and the neighboring Colo- " nies, to alarm the Country in cafe of an Invafion ; " but if upon confideration vv^e fhall judge that " Signals may be of Service in calling in our Mili- " tia more fpeedily than can be done in that Way, " we fhall communicate to you our own Determi- " nation on that Head." We find no further Mention of the Subjedl in the Proceedings of the Provincial Convention. In 1777, Lord Stirling, commanding at Albany, with a general Supervifion of Military Affairs between that Place and New York, ifTued an Order for the Eredtion of Beacons and Alarm Pofls in Accordance with the Plan which he had fuggefled to Wafh- ington in 1776, above quoted. Thefe Beacons were eredted on the Hills from the Frontier Pofls in Weflchefler to Beacon-Hill, and from thence diverged along the Hills eafl into Connecticut, and fouth and wefl through New Jerfey by way of Beacons and Signals. 157 Morriftown, Pluckemin and Middlebrook, and to the Neverfink Hills at Sandy Hook. They con- fifted of Flags and Alarm Cannon by Day, and Fires and Alarm Cannon by Night ; and were fo arranged as to exhibit the Point where an Attack by the Enemy was expedted. The following Defcription of the Manner in which the Beacon- Fires were made was copied from Stirling's original Order by Mr, Loffing, and is given in his Field Book of the Revolution, as follows : " Each of the Beacons are to be of the follow- " ing Dimenfions : at Bottom fourteen feet Square, " to rife in a pyramidal Form to about eighteen or " twenty feet high, and then to terminate about " fix feet fquare, with a ftout Sapling in the Cen- " tre of about thirty feet high from the Ground. " In Order to eredl them, the Officer who overfees " the Execution fhould proceed thus : he fhould " order the following fized Logs to be cut as near " the Place as poffible ; twenty Logs of fourteen " feet long and about one foot Diameter ; two Logs " of about twelve feet long ; ten Logs of about " ten feet long ; ten Logs of about nine feet long ; " ten Logs of about eight feet long ; twenty Logs " of about feven feet long ; twenty Logs of about " fix feet long. He fhould then fort his longefl " Logs as to diameter, and place the four longefl " on the Ground parallel to each other and about " three feet from each other. He fhould then 158 Hudfon River ObfiruSiions. " place the four next Logs in fize acrofs thefe at " Right Angles, and fo proceed until all the Logs " of fourteen feet be placed. Then he is to go on " in the fame Manner with Logs of twelve feet " long, and when they are all placed, with thofe of " a lefTer Size till the whole are placed, taking Care " as he goes on to fill the Vacan- " cies between the Logs with old " dry fplit Wood or ufelefs dry " Rails and Brufh, not too clofe, " and leaving the fifth Tier open " for Firing and Air. In the be- " ginning of his Work, to place " a good ftout Sapling in the " Centre, with part of its Top " left about ten or twelve feet " above the whole Work. The " two upper Rows of Logs fhould " be fattened in their Places with good ftrong " Wooden Plugs or Trunnels." Here, then, were the Beacon-Fires which were lighted upon Beacon Hill and Butter Hill,^ at the northern Entrance of the Highlands, and which Tradition tells us were refponded to by Beacons on C«\A1^W^\., 1 Beacon Hill, in Dutchefs County near Fiflikill, is 1685 feet in height. Butter Hill, the north- ern moft Peak of the Highlands, is in the Town of Newburgh, Orange County, having an Altitude of 1529 feet. Mr. Willlis has en- deavoured to change the Name of this Eminence to Storm King, which Ihould not be encouraged. Names hallowed by Hiftorick k^o- ciation, however homely and un- poetick they may be, fhould not be difplaced by others of mere Fancy. Beacons and Signals, 159 MuUender's Hill at Little Britain, and Snake Hill' juft weft of Newburgh, in the Vicinity of which Points the Militia and Portions of the Continental Troops were encamped.^ As we have already ftated, the Lighting of the Beacons was accompa- nied by the Difcharge of Cannon. The following Copy of an Order iffued by Gen. James Clinton, which was found among the Papers of Capt. Ma- chin, by J. R. Simms, Efq., and publifhed in his Hijiory of Schoharie County, fhows the Manner of ufing the Beacons and the Alarm Cannon : " Head Quarters, | "Fort Montgomery, July loth, 1777. j " The Signals to be given on the Approach of " the Enemy : On the firing of two Cannon at " Peekfkill, by Gen. Varnum* one Minute from ^ Snake Hill is a rough, rocky and Vicinity, three Brigades at Eminence in the northeaft Part of Danbury, Conn., and the Artillery New Windfor, Orange County, of at Pluckemin, N. J. about 600 feet Elevation above Tide Water. (French's Nezv York ^ James Mitchell Varnum was Gazetteer, '^o^.') born at Dracut, Mafs., 1749, ^""^ was graduated at Rhode Ifland 2 The Range of the Beacons in College in 1 769 ; was admitted to the Winter of 1 779-80 may be af- the Bar 1771, and fetded at Eaft certained from the Location of the Greenwich, R. I., in the praftice Continental Forces. Wafhington's of the Law ; entered the Army Head Quarters were at White 1775, and commanded a Regiment Plains ; feven Brigades were en- at Bunker Hill ; was appointed camped at Middlebrook, N, J., Brigadier-General 1777; refigned nine Brigades on ihe weft Bank of 1 779, and was elefted to Congrefs the Hudfon, from New Windfor to fame Year, and again in 1786; Shawangunk, fix Brigades on the was appointed Judge of the North eaft Bank of the River at Fiflikill Weilerr) Territory 1787; died i6o Hudfon River ObJlruSiions. each other, two will be fired by Gen. Hunting- ton/ two by Gen. Parfons ; to be anfwered by two at Fort Independence, two at Fort Mont- gomery, two at Fort Conftitution, and the Bea- con there to be fired as iifual ; to be anfwered by two from the brafs twenty-four Pounder near New Windfor. Upon this Signal, the Militia on weft Side of Hudfon's River, in the County of Orange and Ulfter, as far as Col. Hafbrouck's Regiment,^ including the fame, are to march by Detachments, without further Notice, as a Re- inforcement of this Garrifon, and the Militia on the eaft Side of the River, as far up as Pough- 71. 77. 79. 81. pr^grefe of, 138. .pronounced prafticable, 84. put together, 144. ready to place, 121. relick pf, 1 46. removed by Britilh, 86. Chain, removed by wjndlafs, 146. river croffed on, 145. ftrength required, 1 29, ftretched acrofs, 14P, timber to buoy, 143. twice broken, 82, 98. Chains, No. furnilhed, 1 40. Champlain, Jake^ 2. Chancellor of State, 1 27. Charlefton, Mont. Co.^ 80. reduced, 118. Chefter, 142, 143, Chevaux de frife, 38^ 39^ 50, 74, .84, 97, 100, 108,1 12, 121, 138, 176. to be .completed, 136. pafled by Eritifli, 51, 54, 113, Cincinnati .ceded, 123. .Connedlicut order of, 123. Clarke, Geo. Rogers, 123. Clinton, admiral George, 117. Alexander, 99. Charles, 99, 110. Col., 7, 20. De Witt, 92. Gen., 162. George, 20, 24, 30, 39, 40, 65, 74, 80, 85, 99, 100, ,105, 106, 107, iq8, 109, 1 10, 112, ,113, 118, 120, 121, 136, 138, 144, 145, 162, 164, 165, 172, 173, 174, 176, .178, 183, 184. biqg. .iketch, no. letter to, 124, 125. Henry, 100, 117, u8, 137, 181, 190. biog. iketch, 117. James, 52, 53, 65,, 81, ,83, 103, i-io, 126, 159. biog. Jketch, 99. 198 Indesi. Clinton, James Graham, 99. papers, 34, 61, 75. floop, 44. Clips, No. furnilhed, 140. Clive, Lord, 1 70. Coal to be imprefled, 78. Coaft Guards, 122. Colden, Alexander, 162. Cold Spring foundry, 146. Colonifts, means employed to de- feat plans of miniftry, 6. Committee of fafety, 1691 fecret correfpondence, 1 27. Congrefs direft river to be effeftu- ally obftmfted, ?6. firft fuggefted, 1 20. member of, 1 27. at Philadelphia, 1 70, 171. Conger's regiment, 187. Connefticut aflembly, 150, 151. beacons, 156. claim boundary, 120. CO mmiffioners, 123. Gazette, 181. line, under Parfons, 1 22. militia, 173. quota, 37. Weftern Referve, 123. Conftitution, mount, 56. U. S. (fee U. S. Conft.) Continental Congrefs, origin of, 120. frigates, 20. forces, 6. money, 133. Convention at Filhkill, 169. of Reprefentatives, 1 26. Cook, Capt., 41, 42, 48, so, 55. Matthew, 55. Copper coinage, 80, Cornwallis, Gen., 154. Cotton mill, firft, 171. Council of State, 127. Cribs, 98. and anchors, 64. Crown Point, Britifhdefigns upon, 4. feizing of, 120. Curlies, CoL, 141. Curtis, Solomon, 140. Cuyler, Jacob, 46, 79, 81, 106. ■p) ANBURY, Ct., 159. -*^ poft at, 189. Dartmouth, letter to, 152. Davenport, James, 123. Davis, Richard, 90. Dean, Alexander, 48. Deane, Silas, 137. Declaration of Independence, 1 27. Delancy, Col., 179. Delancy's Corps, 122. Delaplaine's Repofitory, ill. Delaware river, defence of, 20. Deferters from Britifh, 181. De Witt, Egbert, 99. Mary, 99. Diplomatick correlpondence, 127. Difputes, unhappy, 186. Doctor's mob, 1 1 1 . Dominica, 170. Donaldfon, Capt., 48. Dracut, Mafs., 159. Drake, Mr., 126. Duane, Mr., 30. James, 104, 169. biog. Iketch of, 169. Duaneft)urgh, 169, 170. Duer, John, 1 70. Wm., 20, 33, 37, 106. biog. fketch of, 170. W. A., 154. Dutch Weft India pofleffions, ex- pedition againft, 113. Index. 199 Dutchefs county, 1 27. Dwight, Rev. Timothy, i8z. "PARTH, lack of in Highlands, •*-^ 129. Eaft Greenwich, R. 1 , 1 59. Eaftern Department, 104. Eighteen pounders purchafed, 176. ElUfon's Cove, 107. Encyc. Americana, 97, 99, 1 11. Engineer wanted, 66. Efopus, 21. creek, 138. fliips,44, 45. (fee Kingfton.) Exprefles for alarms, 151, 156. riders, 162, 167. ^AIRFIELD, iz6. -*■ Falls of Ohio, 123. Fanning's regiment, 187. Federal Conftitution, iii, 127. Ferry's, 143. Fire arrows, 21, 22. rafts, 19, 20, 30, 52, 81. fliips, 19, 23, 24, 25, 40, 41, 43. 44- how prepared, 27. imprafticable, 30, 49. fignals, 15?, 157- Fiftikill, S3, 88, 91, 142, 143, 158, 159, 164, 169, 171, 177. rangers fent to, 53. troops at, 189. landing, 178. Flag fignals, 155. Floats to chain, 64, 74, 75. alterations in, 84. Fly on Long Ifland, 1 87. Forage in Highlands, 188. fcarce in N. Y., 166. Force's Archives, 131. Forging, contradl for, 134. Fortifications, defefts of, 129. in Highlands, 6. Fort at Pollopels Ifland, 136, 138. Clinton, 8, 53, 64, 80, 86, 97, 100, 124, 128, 129, 130, 131, 137, 146, 161. deftroyed, 113, 1 14. reduced, 85, 112. Conftitution, 21, 66, 70, 81, ip6, 124, 160, 161, 169, 179, 191. reduced, 86, 87. Frontenac, 99. now Kingfton, no.. Independence, 1 1 1, 160, 187. Lafayette, invefted, 113. Lee, 38, 56, loi. demolifli?d, 57. Mercer, attacked, 20. Miller, falls purchafed, 170. Montgomery, 8, 42, 53, 54, 61, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69. 7°> 7". 72. 80, 81, 8s, 87, 97, 98, 100, 106, 124, 129, 131. 135. 137. 138, 140, 146, IS9, 160, 161, 169, 179. deftroyed, 113. Vaughan, 86. Waftiington, lofles at, 26, 33, 38, 40, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 56, S7. 66, 71, 77, III, 187. Frames to fupport chain, 64, 6s. Franklin, Benj., 127, 137. Meflrs., 4S. & SpifFord, 78. John, ftiip of, 46,..48. 200 Index. Franklin, Samuel, ftiip of, \(>, 48. French, Col., 185. French's N. Y. Gazetteers 159, 163. Fl'ew's regiment, 161. Friefland horfes, 97* Frontenac, 991 Fulton, Robert, 128. GALLEY Wafhington raifed, 138. Lady Wafhingtorij 143. Gates, Gen., 38, 68^ 184. in Highlands j 172, 173. lettei' to, 1 24; pres. board war, 125. GarrifoHj force of, 56; Gazetteer, French's N. Yi, 159, 163. General Affembly, 1 20. Genefee Valley, expedition to, 8q. Gentleman's Magazine, 1531 German Flats, 68. Germantown, batde of, 1541 Gibraltar, chain at, 87. Glen, Mr., 8. Graham, Mrs , 37. Gtant, General, 113. Grappling iron, 21, 22, 28. Gray, Mrs., 99. Grayfon, William, 55. Great Miami, I23. Great Pond millsy 80. Greene, Gen., 20, 154, 156. Greenhill, Capt. Thomas, 40, 42, 43) 44. 45, 47- Greenwich, 1 22. Grift Mill at Fort Miller, 1 70. Gronnigen, iiege of, 97. Ground batteries, 64. Gypfum introduced) 128. Gunboats, building of, 121. ■LJALLOCK, Capt., award fof brig, 49. Hamilton, Alexander, 127, 171. party, 162. Hancock, John, 82, 153. Harlem Heights, 5 1 . Harper, Robert, 39, 40, 43, 44^ 46, 79, 81, Hart Illand, 185. Hartford, 123. Harvard Univerfity, 160. Hafbrouck, Jonathan, 160, l6z. biog. Jketch of, 160. Hathorn, John, 126, 128, 131. Haverftraw, 51, 107. Britilh fliips at, 6-]. forage at, 175. Hawxhurft, Wm., 141. Hay, Col., 175. Hazelwood, John, 19, 22, 23, 24, 36, 40, 43, 48, T]. Hazen's Regiment, 183. Head quarters, manufcripts at, 149. Heath, Gen., 24, 83, 99, 105, 106, iq8, 109, 164, 166. biog. flcetch, 104. letter from, 191. Hendy, Sir Charles, ^f). Heffian regiments, 187. lofs of at Ft. Walhington, 57. Highlands, defences propofed, 125, 126, iz8. difficulty of paffing, 69. forces concentrated at, 138. forts, 66, 67. fortifications urged, 1 1 7. pofts, importance of, 192. refolve to fortify, 7, 172. troops in, 172. Hildreth's Settlers of Ohio, 123, 160. Hiftory of Schoharie county, 159. Index. 20I Hobart, John Slofs, 126, 131. Hoffman, Col., 8, 67, iz6. Horn's hook, 185. Horfeneck, 122. Horfmanden, Chief Juftice, 161, Houfts deftroyed, 122. Howe, Lord, 5. Howe, Gen., 183. Howe's deferters, 181. Howitzer, 66, 178. Hudfon river, projeft of Britilh min- iftry to obtain control of, I, 5, 6. Hudfon river, pofition of firft ftrate- gick importance, 3, 5. Hudfon river, channel founded, 8. importance of, 119. operations on, 118. explored, 141. obftruftions, 172. Hughes, Hugh, 131, 132,133,134, 135- Col., 141, 179. Humphrey, Major, 185. Huntington, Gen., 160. Huntington's brigade, 192. Huts completed, 136. ILLINOIS, judge over, 123. -*• Impreffraent in New York, I85. Impreffment of teams, 78. Indian eare [engineer], 141. Indian treaty at Albany, 169. Indiana, judge over, 123. Indians defeated by Sullivan, loi. Iron in boom bad, 135. price of, 92, 93. fenttoLivingfton's landing, 76. Ifabey, 128. ,, Ives, Thomas, 45. Jamaica bay, 187. Jay, John, 65, 75, 76, 77, iio, 127. Jefferfon, Thomas, 127. Jew's creek, 142* Johnfon, Guy, 4, Sir Williamj 4, Journal committee offafety, 160. Junk, definition of, 22. ■j^ENNEDY, Capt., 181. ^ King's bridge, 104, 185. college, 127. ferry, 163, i8i. ftores, 178. Kingfton, 113, 169 (fee Efopus). burnt by Britilh, 113. committee, 90. creek, 143. Knapp, Uzal, 163. Knickerbocker Magazine, 171. Knox's regiment, 80. Kofciuflco, 184. fucceeds Radiere, 137. popularity of, 138. T ABRADIER, Col., 182. ■^ Lady Walhington galley, 143. Lafayette's letters, 163. Lamb's regiment, 1 86. Lathrop and others, 45. Lawrence, Auguftus, 67, 68, 69, 70. 71. 73- Auftin, 45. Daniel, 83. Jofeph, 187. Mr., 109. Lee, Gen., 109. Leeward Iflands, 113, Legiflature, 127. to affix place for obftruftions, 135- Letter carrying, expence of, 142. Lewes, Mr., award for brig, 49. Lewis, Morgan, m. Aa 202 Index. Lincoln, earl of, 117. Little Britain, 99, 159, 166. Livingfton's (Jas.) regiment, 183. Col. R., 69, 76, 92, 169. Gilbert, 23, 24, 41, 43, 44, 65» 72, 75. 76, 79. 81, 8z, 88, 89, 90, 100, 106, 107. John R., 73. Li. Col., 175. Mr., 21, 105, 106, 108. R. R., 65, 72, 73, 74, 79, 99> .127- biog. feetch of, 1 27. Logs, 74, 85. at Pokeepfie, no. bill of, 73._ coft of dryine;, 142. expenfe of getting down, 142. funk at Weft Point, 146. white pine, 67. Long Ifland battle, 118, 120, 154. impreflment expefted, 185. Loffing's Field Book Rev., 86, 144, J57- Lothrop, brig, 46, 48. Louiliana purchafed, iz8. Ludlow's regiment, 187. Lyme, 120, 184. TV/TACHIN, Thomas, 79, 81, ■'■ -^ 84, 99, 105, 106, no, 114, 138, 139. 143. 144. ^S9> i6i, 182. his bill, 140, 141, Mackennon's Coldftream Guard, 117. Mahopack pond, 190, 192. Malcom, Kip, and others, 45. brig of, 46, 48. W., letter from, 188, Mandeville, 141. Mardion at Fort Miller, 1 70. Marietta, 123. Mary Anna, fire veffel, 43. Matrofles wanted, 66. Maxwell, Gen., 154. Major General, laft furvivor, 104. McCoun, Daniel, 140. McDoneld's, 142. McDougall, Gen., 8, 161, 162, 163, 165, 182, 183, 184, 190. bipg. Iketch of, 161. letter from, 177, 183. in command at Highlands, 137. 138. McGraw, Col, 56. Mercer, fort, attack on, 20. Merino Iheep introduced, 128. Mexican war relics, 163. Meynders, Burger, 162. Michigan, judge over, 123. Middlebrook, 159. beacon, 157. head quarters, 190. Middlefex county, 122. Middletown, 122. Middle Department, 125, 132. Mifflin, Gen., 36, 55. fort, taken, 20. Militia, alarm to, 160. ordered out, 52. of Weftchefter unreliable, 54. of New York, 125, fafety of country cjependent on, 164. to be called out, 173. fignal to colle(ft, 154, 156. of Ulfter county, 1 60. Military duty, exemption from, 134- trafts, 171. Mills, Amos, 140. Index. 203 Mills deftroyed, 122. Minifter to France, 127. Miniftry, plans to control Hudfon river, 3, (;, 6. Miffiffippi river, 2. Minute men, 151, 160. Mohawk river, 100. town of, 80. Money, begged and hired, 1 76. fcarcity of, 121. Moneyed members, 67. Monmouth, battle of, 1 54. Montgomery, Fort (fee Fort Montgomery). Moody, captain, 1 86. Morris, Gouverneur, ill. Morrifiana, 122. Morriftown, beacons, 157. Mortar imprafticable, 178. Mountain pafles, 130, 187. Moylan, Mr., 44. Mullender's hill, 159, 166. Munroe, James, 128. Murderer's Creek, 97. "^APOLEON, 128. •^^ Nafli, Gen., 154. Newburgh, 142, 158, 159. head quarters, 162. relicks at, 139. New Eng. Hill, and Gen. Regifter, 123. Indian invafion planned, 4. New Grange, 80. New Haven, 122. New Jerfey beacons, 156. convention, 150, 151. copper mine, 79. prov. council, 154. plan to feparate from New York, 4. New London, I2z. New London colledlor, 1 60. New Marlborough, 142. New Paltz, 142. Neverfink highlands, 155, 157. New Windfor, 6^, 84, 85, 99, 106, 107, III, 139, 144, 159, 161, 179, 182. alarm, 160 New York, 169. Britifh in, i8lj 187. city, 40> 141. companieSi 117. Col. Hiftory, 117, 118, 153. Doc. Hift., 170. firft congrefs at, 1 20. congrefs, 150, 151, 169, 170. council, 170. firft mayor, 170. defign to get pofleffion of, 3. evacuated, 170, 171. intercourfe with Quebeck, 4. impreflinent by Britifli, 185. inability to attack, 193. militia, 173. movements in, 177. Gen. Parfons fent to, 1 20. propofed attack on, 1 84. troops under one oiKcer, 138. under Tryon, 152, 153. Vaughan returned to, 113. Niagara, fortrefs of, loi. Nicoll, John, 140. Nixon's brigade,- i8j. Noble & Townfend, 131, 132, '33. i34> '35. HZ- bill of, 140. North, Capt., 46, 47, 48. Carolina, Tryon, Gov. of, 152. River, 180. Weftern territory, 123, 159. Northweft territory, judge of, 123. 204 Index. Northern army, 125. department, 101, 172. frontier, 171. Norwalk attacked, 1 22. Norwich, Conn., 160. r^ATH of appraifers, 45. ^~^ Obftruftions, how formed, 63 . Odell, James, 75, 78, 83. OfFenfive blow, firft, 120. Officers advance money, 176. Ohio, judge over, 123. treaty, 123. Onderdunk, 142. Onondagas, expedition againft, 80. Orange county militia, 160. defence of, 99. Orthography, bad, 14I. Otfego lake, 100. Outhout's, 73. pALTZ, 160. Parfons, Gen. Samuel H., 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, 138, 160, 171, 175, 176, 183, 184. autograph, 177. brigade, 183, 190. in command, 136. biog. notice of, I20. letters from, 172, 176, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184. letters to Gen. Gates, 185, 186, 187, 188. his opinion of the proper dif- poiition of the army, 191, 192. unjuftly cenfured, 137. Paflaic, firft mills, 171. Paterfon, Gen., 191. firft mills, 171. Patriots, fcheme to reduce, 3. Paulding, Mr., 8, 37. Wm., 72, 91. Pawling, Mr., 125. Peekikill, 54, 109, 143, 159, 1 73. landing, 86. troops at, 1 86. Penniylvania border fettled, 1 20. plan to feparate from New York, 4. Philadelphia, 169. retreat from, 1 1 8. Phoenix frigate, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30. afcended the river, 51, 52. Pine knots from Albany, 76. Pittftjurg, 123. Plans of obftrudlions, 61, 65. Piatt, Mr., 128. Zephaniah, 131. Plattor kill, 142. Pluckemin, N. J., 159. beacons, 157. Plumb Point, III. Polly, floop, 27. Pollopels ifland, 24, 84, 97, lOp, loi, 112. to be obftrudled, 103, 105, 108,. 110. chevaux de frife at, 136. Pooploop's kill, 129. Poplopin's kill, 64, 8 1 . Portage between Hudfon and the lakes, 2. Pofts of intelligence, 1 50. Poughkeepfie, 68, 69, 88, 89, 91, 106, 107, 121, 131, 142, 143, 160, 163. fhips building at, 66, "j"^. chain made at, 87. committee at, 70, 75, 76, ']■]. congrefs, 126. convention, 1 1 1 . gunboats, 176. Index. 205 Powder mill at Fort Miller, 1 70. Provincial congrefs_. 136. convention, 125. Provifions, ftate of, 184. Puif lie judges, 127. Putnam, Gen., 34, 35, 38, 85, 86, 118, 125, 126, 131, 161, 172, 173, 175, 176. his inattention, 175. left Highlands, 136. letter from, 135. fuperfeded, 162. fucceeded by Parfoijs> 122. unpopularity of, 137. QUEBECK, intercourfe with defired, 4. T> ADIERE, Col., 1 1 8, 1 20. 1 2 1 , -^^ 174. 184- religned, 137. Rafts, 129. laid afide, 72. plan of, 73. for obftruftions, 140. Rebels, who to be declared, 3. Rhode Ifland, 118. college, 159. Riker, Samuel, 187. River, depth of, 84, 100, 102. Robinfon houfe, 165. Robinfon's regiment, 187. ftores, 192. Rock hill heights, 191. to which chain was faft?ned, 64. Roebuck afcended the river, 51. Romans, Bernard, 9, 99, 131- Rofe frigate, 24, 25, z6, 29, 51, 52. Rofekrans, Capt. James, 83. Roxbury, Mafs., 104. Gen. Parfons at, 120. Royal Highlanders, 118. Rum, 90, 192. price of, 78. SALISBURY, cannon from, 22. furnace, 67. controlled by Connefti- cut, 67, Sandy Hook, beacons, 157. Saratoga, 6. Burgoyne at, 86. ^ Satly, Nathaniel, 141. Saw mills at Fort Miller, 1 70. Schenck, Capt. John, 90. Schenck's ftore, 46. wharf, 45, Scheneftady, 100, 170, water level, 80. Schuyler, Dirk, 76. Gen., 53, 68, 73, 77. 83, 103, 104, 108, 127. Gen. Philip, propofes caifTons, 63, ^9' 83. 170- Scott, Gen., 126. Mr., 125. Scots tavern, 141. Scouts to be fent out, 178. Secret Committee, 19, 20, 42. minutes of, 61, 65, 72, 82. letter of, 67. Secretary foreign aifairs, 127. Seven years war in Germany, 118. Shawangunk, 159. Shawanoe Indians, 123. Sheldon, Ifaac, 75. ^ Sherman, Roger, 127. Shipping burnt, 86. deftroyed at Kingfton, 113. Ships building at Pokeepfie, 66. direftions to fmk, 46. owners to be paid, 48. 206 Index. Shirley, Gov., 154. Sidman's, 142. Signals, 155, 157. guns, 164. employed in Highlands, 149, 150. Older of, 163. SimmOTis, Stephen, 41;. Stflims, J. R., i45j 159. Hift. Scho. Co., 80. Sinclair, Gen., 171. Sir nations eiigaged with Britifli, 4. Sleight, John, 90. Sloatfburgh ftation, 131. Sloo, Capt., 178. Sloops to be funk, 47. coft of, 48. Smart, George, 75, 78. Smith, Capt., 142. William, no, 127. Snake hill, 159. Snuff mill at Fort Miller, 1 70. Snyder, Mr., 125. Soldiers drefled in red, 180. Spars, difficulty of procuring, 72. Sparks, Jared, 127. Sparks's Life Walhington, 84, 136. Springfield, Otfego county^ 145. Spuyten-devil creek, 43, 50. Sons of Liberty, i z6, 161. Sorel chain, 68, 69, 72, 77. Soundings in river, 40. Southern army, 180. Stamp aft, organization againft, 126. State Convention, 127. Staten Ifland, 1 1 8. St. Clair, Arthur, 123. Steam navigation introduced, 128. Sterling, 142. iron works, 131, 132, 138, 141. Sterling pond, 1 3 1 . Stevens, colonel, 186. Stirling, Catharincj 171. Lord, 154, 156, 169, 170, 171. Stoddard, David, 45. Stoney Point, loi. enemy at, 193. Storm King, 158. Street's Council of Revifion, in, 127, 128. Struggle between England and France, 3. Sullivan, Gen., 154, 156. expedition, 80, 100. ifland defeat, 1 1 8. Supreme court juftices, 127. Sufquehanna river, 100. Sutherland, David, 140. Patrick, 140. Swart wout, Abraham, 83. his brigade, 164. Swivels, No. furniflniedj 140. 'TpANCANTEN hook^ 69. Tappan, 65. Chriftopher, 23, 24, 72, 73. 75. 76, 90. 91- Cornelia, in. Mr., 7, 21. Tea party, Bofton harbour, 79. Teams to be impreffed, 78. exempt from impreffment, 1 34. Teller, former refidence of, 69. Tender captured, 26. Thain, Daniel, 1 1 o. Thatcher's Journal, 144. Thearfe, Major, 178. Thomas, Capt. loft, 26, 27, 29. Thompfon, Charles, 123. Ticonderoga, 6. Britifti defigns upon, 4. Index. 207 Ticonderoga, chain from, 87. chain at propofed, 68, 72. feizing of, 1 20. fwivel from, 83. Tilghman, Tench, 50, 52,53, 83. Tillinghaft, P., 135. Timber for chain, 143. raft, 107. Tioga, 100. Tories fupplied with arms, 52. Tory female detains Putnam, 137. regiment at Brooklyn, 1 87. Towns laid wafte, 122. Townfend, Peter, 141. defcendants of, 131. Traditions concerning chain, 144. Treafury department, 171. Trinity church, 17P. Trucks, iron, 6S, ^6. Trumbull, Gov., 67, 180. on alarms, 151. Try on, letter from, 153. biog. iketch, 152. county, name erafed, 153. invaded Connefticut, 122. Tudor, Samuel, 45, 67, 68, 69, 70. 71. 73- Tupper, commodore, 27. T TLSTER county, defence of, 99. militia, 160. United States conftitution, 127. fenator, 127. T/ALLEY Forge, 174, 175, i8o, ^ 183. Van Cortland, Mr., 1 10. Van Dufen, Ifaac, 75, 78, 83. Van Noftrand, James, 80. Sufan, 80. Van Renflelaer, Kilian, 125. Van Schaick's expedition, 8p. regiment, 183. Van Zandt, Jacobus, 20, S"], 68, ^9' 70, 71, 73. Varnum, Gen., 159. biog. lljetch, 159. Vaughan, 85. John, biog. fketch, 112. Vermont, 169. cafe, 170. Verplanck, C. A., 1 1 1. Verplanck's Point, loi, enemy at, 193. Veflels, direftions to fmk, 46, 55. imprefled, 4?, 43, 44. number funk, 54. owners to be paid, 48. WAGONS to be impreffed, 78. Wake, Mifs, 152. Wallace, 85. expedition, 112. fquadron at Kingfton, 113. War of 1 81 2, relicks, 163. Walhington, Gen.,, 19, 20, 25, 34, 35. 36, 37. 40. 41. 46, 47. 48. 53. 56. 66, 75, 80, 103, 104, 117, 122, 123, 124, 127, 137, 153, 154, 156, 160, 138, 170, 171, 174, 175, 177, 183, 191. letters from, 119, 165, 175, 180, 182, 183, letter to, 121. 174. 190. bed room, 163. headquarters, 139, 159, 163. Mount, 34, 41, 42, 43, Water batteries, 130. ,162, 44. Welding, Francis, 140. Wfftchefter, 122. county, defeat in, 1 1 8. Weftern frontier companies. .64. 208 Index. Weftern mounds defcribed J 123. Weft Indies, 1 70. Point, 6, 100, 140, 142, 162, 163, 164, 171, 172, 17s, 178, 179, 181, i8z. artillerifts deficient, 186. boom, 6"], chain, 107. contraft for, 132. eligible for defence, 130. for obftruftion, 131. fort at, 1 24. fortifications, 121, 122. oppofed, 137. Capt. Machin at, 138. foundiy, 146. garrifon, 189, obftruftions, 117, 139, 144. propofed to be fortified, 131. returps, 178. White & Livingfton, 107. Mr., 72, 73. Plains, 143, 159. Wilkes's North Briton, 161. Willis, N. P., 158. Windlafs to remove chain, 146. Wifner, Henry, 43, 44, 46, 79, 82, 100, 125, 128, 131. Wood, Mr., 145. Wolcott, Gen., 122, 123. Woolen cloth manufaftures, 171. Worcefter Magazine, 27. Wyandot treaty, 123. Wygond, Martin, 160. "yALE college, 1 26. "*■ Yates, Abraham, 24, 88, 89. 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