"I give tiefe Booits
for the. foiJ^ndiKg of a. College in this Colony'''

'YigLILE«¥]MII¥IEI^S2ir¥"

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME
OF THE
PERKINS FUND

"Evacuation Day,"
1783,

Sergeant Van Aridale Tearing Dmon the British Flag.
WtTH RECOLLECTIONS OF
OAPT. JOHN VAN ARSDALB.
OF THE VETERAN COBPS OF ABTILLERy,

BY JAMES RIKER.

cv

"Evacuation Day,

1783, ITS

MANY STIRRING EVENTS;

WITH

RECOLLECTIONS

OF

CAPT. JOHN VAN ARSDALE.
OF THE VETEKAN COEPS OF ARTILLERY,
BY WHOSE EFFORTS ON THAT DAY
THE ENEMY M^ CIRCUMVE1(TED,
AND
THE AMERICAN FLAG SUCCESSFULLY RAISED OI(THE BATTERY.

WITH ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES.

BY
JAMES RIKER,
Author of the Annals of Newtown, and History of Harlem ; Life Member of the
New York Historical Society, Etc.

Pkinted fob the Authoe.
NEW YOEK
1883.

Entered accordmg to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by
James Bikeb,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. 0.

L..r.'- "i - ' -^s C. «¦¦

CRICHTON & CO.,
Prihteks,
221-226 Pulton St., N. Y.

EVACUATION DAY.

CHAPTEE I.
^UR MEMORABLE REVOLUTION, so proKfic of grand
and glorious themes, presents none more thrilling than is
afforded by the closing scene in that stupendous struggle
whioh gave birth to our free and noble Republic. New York
Oity will have the honor of celebrating, on the 25th of November,
the hundredth anniversary of this event, the most signal in its
history ; and which will add the last golden link to the chain of
Revolutionary Centennials. A century ago, on "Evacuation
Day," so called in our local calendar, the wrecks of those proud
armies, — sent hither by the mother country to enforce her darling
scheme of "taxation without representation," — withdrew from
our war-scarred city, with the honors of defeat thick upon them,
but leaving our patriotic fathers happy in the enjoyment of their
independence, so gloriously won in a seven years' conflict.
With the expiriDg century has also disappeared the host of
brave actors in that eventful drama ! Memory, if responsive, may
bring up the venerable forms of the " Old Seventy Sixers," as
they still lingered among us two score years ago ; and perchance
recall with what sonl-stirring pathos they oft rehearsed "the
times that tried men's souls. " But they have fallen, fallen before.
the last great enemy, tiU not one is left to repeat the story of their
campaigns, their sufferings, or their triumphs. But shall their
memories perish, or their glorious deeds pass into oblivion ?
Heaven forbid ! Rather let us treasure them in our heart of
hearts, and speak their praises to our children ; thus may we keep
unimpaired our love of country, and kindle the patriotism of those
who come after us. To-day they shall live again, in the event
we celebrate. And what event can more strongly appeal to the
popular gratitude than that which brought our city a happy de
liverance from a foreign power, gave welcome relief to our patriot
sires, who had fought for their country or suffered exile, and
marked the close of a struggle which conferred the priceless
blessings of peace and liberty, and a government which knows no
sovereign but the people only. Our aim shall be, not so much
to impress the reader with the moral grandeur of that day, or
with its historic significanoe as bearing upon the subsequent
growth and prosperity of our great metropolis ; but the rather to

present a popular account of what occurred at or in connection
with the evacuation ; and also to satisfy a curiosity often expressed
to know something more of a former citizen, much esteemed in
his time, whose name, from an incident which then took place, is
inseparably associated with the scenes of Evacuation Day.
At the period referred to, a century ago, the City of New York
contained a population of less than twenty thousand souls, who
mostly resided below Wall Street, above which the city was not
compactly built ; while northward of the City Hall Park, then
known as the Fields, the Commons, or the Green, were little more
than scattered farm houses and rural seats. The seven years'
occupation by the enemy had reduced the town to a most abject
condition ; many of the church edifices having been desecrated
and applied to profane uses ; the dwellings, which their owners
had vacated on the approach of the enemy, being occupied by the
refugee loyalists, and oiBcers and attaches of the British army,
were despoiled and delapidated ; while a large area of the City,
ravaged by fires, stUl lay in ruins !
The news of peace with Great Britain, which was officially pub
lished at New York on April Sth, 1783, was hailed with delight by
every friend of his country. But it spread consternation and dis
may among the loyalists. Its effects upon the latter class, and
the scenes which ensued, beggar all description. The receipt of
death warrants could hardly have been more appalling. Some of
these who had zealously taken up commissions in the king's service,
amid the excitement of the hour tore the lapels from their coats
and stamped them under foot, crying out that they were ruined
forever ! Others, in like despair, uttered doleful complaints, that
after sacrificing their all, to prove their loyalty, they should now
be left to shift for themselves, with nothing to hope for, either
from king or country. In the day of their power these had as
sumed the most insolent bearing towards their fellow-citizens who
were suspected of sympathy for their suffering country ; while
those thrown among them as prisoners of war, met their studied
scorn and abuse, and were usually accosted, with the more popu
lar than elegant epithet, of "damned rebel ! " The tables were
now turned ; all this injustice and cruelty stared them in the face,
and, to their excited imaginations, clothed with countless terrors
that coming day, when, their protectors being gone, they could
expect naught but a dreadful retribution ! Under such circum
stances. Sir Guy Carleton, the English commander at New York,
was in honor bound not to give up the City till he had provided
the means of conveying away to places within the British posses
sions, all those who should decide to quit the country. It was
not pure humanity, but shi-ewd policy as well, for the king, by
his agents, thus to promote the settlement of portions of his

dominions, whioh were cold, barren, uninviting, and but sparsely
populated. By the cessation of hostilities the barriers to commercial inter
course between the City and other parts of the State, &c., were
removed, and the navigation of the Hudson, the Sound, and con
nected waters was resumed as before the war. Packets brought
in the produce of the country, and left laden with commodities
suited to the needs of the rural population; or with the British
gold in their purses ; for all the staples of food, as flour, beef,
pork and butter, were in great demand, to victual the many fleets
preparing to sail, freighted with troops, or with loyalists. The
country people in the vicinity also flocked to the public markets,
bringing all kinds of provisions, which they readily sold at mode
rate rates for hard cash ; and thus the adjacent country was
supplied and enriched with specie. The fall in prices, which
during the war had risen eight hundred per cent, brought a most
grateful relief to the consumers. Simultaneously with these
tokens of better days, the order for the release of all the prisoners
of war from the New York prisons and prisonships, with their
actual liberation from their gloomy cells, came as a touching re
minder that the horrors of war were at an end.
Many of the old citizens who had fled, on or prior to the
invasion of the City by the British, and had purchased homes in
the country, now prepared to return, by selling or disposing of
these places, expecting upon reaching New York to re-occupy
their old dwellings, without let or hindrance, but on arriving here
were utterly astonished at being debarred their own houses ; the
commandant. General Birch, holding the keys of all dwellings
vacated by persons leaving, and only suffering the owners to enter
their premises as tenants, and upon their paying him down a
quarter's rent in advance ! Such apparent injustice determined
many not to come before the time set for the evacuation of the
City, whUe many others were kept back through fear of the
loyalists, whose rage and vindictiveness were justly to be dreaded.
Hence, though our people were allowed free ingress and egress
to and from the City, upon their obtaining a British pass for that
purpose, yet but few, comparatively, ventured to bring their
families or remain permanently till they could make their entry
with, or under the protection of, the American forces.
Never perhaps in the history of our City had there been a
corresponding period of such incessant activity and feverish
.excitement. Stimulated by their fears, the loyalist families
began arrangements in early spring for their departure from the
land of their birth (indeed a company of six hundred, including
women and children, had already gone the preceding fall)
destined mainly for Port Roseway, in Nova Scotia, where they

ultimately formed their principal settlement, and built the large
town of Shelburne. Those intending to remove were required to
enter their name, the number in their family, &c., at the
Adjutant-General's Office, that due provision might be made for
their passage. They flocked into the City in such numbers from
within the British lines (and many from within our lines also)
that often during that season there were not houses enough to
shelter them. Many occupied huts made by stretching canvass
from the mined walls of the burnt districts. They banded
together for removing, and had their respective headquarters,
where they met to discuss and arrange their plans. The flrst
considerable company, some five thousand, sailed on April 27th,
and larger companies soon followed. Many held back, hoping
for some act of grace on the part of our Legislature which would
allow them to stay. But the public sentiment being opposed to
it, and expressed in terms too strong to be disregarded, these at
last had to yield to necessity, and find new homes. The mass of
the loyalists went to Nova Scotia and Canada ; others to the
Island of Abaco, in the Bahamas ; while not a few of the more
distinguished or wealthy retired to England. The bitterness felt
towards this class was to be deplored, but, in truth, the active
part taken by many of them during the war against their country,
and above all the untold outrages committed upon defenceless
inhabitants by tories (the zealous and active loyalists), often in
league with Indians, had kindled a resentment towards all
loyalists alike that stifled every philanthropbic feeling. This
exodus was going on when General Carleton, about the beginning
of August, received his final orders for the evacuation of the
City ; but it took nearly four months more to complete it, as a
large number of vessels were required to transport the immense
crowds of refugees who left with their families and effects during
that brief period. Hundreds of slaves (ours being then a slave
State) were also induced to go to Navy Koshec, as they called it.
Their masters could do little to hinder it, though a committee
appointed by both governments to superintend all embarkations
did something towards preventing slaves and other property be
longing to our people from being carried away. Such negroes as
had been found iu a state of freedom, General Carleton held,
ha.i a right to leave if they chose to do so, and many probably
got away under this pretext ; but to provide against mistakes tiie
name of each negro (with thatof his former owner) was registered,
and also such facts as would fix his value, incase compensation were
allowed. In this, as in the whole ordering of tlio evacuation,
whioh was more than the work of a day, General Carleton must
have credit for humanity nnd a disposition to pursue a fair and
honorable course, which, under the extraordinary difficulties of

the situation, required rai-e tact and discretion. Of course he
was blamed for muoh when he was not responsible (natural
enough in those who suffered grievances), and especially for the
great delay in giving up the Oity, which bore hard on virtuous
citizens who had sacrificed opulence and ease at the shrine of
liberty, and had now thrown themselves out of homes and busi
ness in the expectation of an early return to the City. Yet
Carieton's fidelity to the various trusts committed to him, maJdng
one delay after another unavoidable, it may be doubted whether
he could have suiTendered the City at an earlier date.
Closing up the affairs of the army was truly a Herculean task.
The shipment of the troops began early in the season. A portion
of the army was disbanded to reduce it to a peace establishment
pursuant to orders from England. Then there was the settle
ment of innumerable accounts, pertaining to every department,
and the sale and disposal of surplus army property, as horses,
wagons, harness and military stores, with several thousand cords
of fire wood, which was sold oft" at half its cost. Even the
prisonships were set up at auction. A sale of draft horses was
begun, October 2d, at the Artillery Stables near St. Paul's church.
Auctions ou private account were rife ; daily, in every street,
the red flag was seen hanging out. Audit was alleged that a great
deal of furniture was sold to whioh the venders had no good title ;
much of it being newly painted or otherwise disguised, that its
proper owner might never know and reclaim it ! We need not
doubt it, for it seemed as if the refugees would strip the Oity of
every portable article, even to the buildings, or the brick and
lumber composing them ; insomuch that the authorities, in formal
orders, forbade the removal or demolition of any house till the
right to do so was bhown.
These irregularities, with the brag and bluster of the enraged
tories, was enough to keep society in a broil. The uppermost
themes were the evacuation, and the removal to Nova Scotia, or
elsewhere. They were irritating topics, and gave rise to endless
and hot discussions, in which tory vexed tory. While one main
tained that Nova Scotia was a very Paradise, another denounced
it as unfit for human beings to inhabit. Disappointed and cha
grined at the issue of the war, they would curse the powers to
whom they owed allegiance ; as rebellious as those they called
rebels. In other cases, the turn the war had taken had a magic
effect upon their principles ; once avowed loyalists, they suddenly
became zealous patriots ! It was a witty reply given by a tai
lor, — the tailor, in the olden time, we must premise, was often
applied co, to rip up and turn a coat, when threadbare or faded.
" How does business go on ? " asked a friend. " Not very well,"
said he, " my customers have all learned to turn their own coats !"

The shrewd whigs were not to be deceived by these sudden con
versions. They drew the line nicely at a meeting held on Nov.
18th, at Cape's Tavern, in Broadway, (site of the Boreel Build
ing), to arrange plans for evacuation day. Before touching their
business, they " Resolved. That every person, whatever his poli
tical character may be, who hath remained in this City during the
late contest, be requested to leave the room forthwith."
Society could not be very secure, when, as is stated, scarcely a
night passed without a robbery ; scarcely a morning came, but
corpses were found upon the streets, the work of the assassin or
midnight revel. Indeed at this juncture, there was much under
lying apprehension in the minds of good citizens ; the situation
was unprecedented, men's passions had been wrought up to a
fearful pitch, and who could foresee the outcome ! Sensible of
the danger, and with the approval of the commandant, a large
number of citizens lately returned from exile, organized as a
guard and patrolled the streets, on the night preceding evacua
tion day. The vigilance of these returned patriots, and the pro
tection it afforded, added greatly to the public security at this
threatening crisis.
A word as to the aspect of the City ; sanitary rules being sus
pended, the public streets were in a most filthy condition. All
the churches, except the Episcopal, the Methodist, and the Lu
theran (spared to please the Hessians), had been converted into
hospitals, prisons, barracks, riding-schools, or storehouses ; the
pews, and in some the galleries, torn out, the window-lights
broken, and all foul and loathesome. Fences enclosing the
churches and cemeteries had disappeared, and the very graves
and tombs lay hidden by rubbish and filth ! No public moneyed
or charitable institutions, no insurance offices existed ; trade was
at the lowest ebb, education wholly neglected, the schools and
college shut up ! But the long-wished-for event, whioh was to
light up this dark picture, and work a happy transformation, was
at hand.
Finally, the day fixed upon for the evacuation, nnd for the
triumphal entry of Washington and the American army, to take
possession of the city, was Tuesday, the 25th of November. At
an early hour, on that cold, but radiant morning, the whole pop
ulation seemed to be abroad, making ready for the great gala day,
regardless of a keen nor'wester. .During the forenoon many del
egations from the suburban districts began to arrive, to share iu
the public festivities, or to witness the exit of the foreign troops,
and the entrance of the victorious Americans ; while with the
latter was exjiected a host of patriots, to re-occupy tbeir desolate
dwellings, from which thoy had been so long cruelly exiled ; or

9

otherwise, only to gaze upon the charred and blackened ruins of
what was once their homes !*
To guard against any disturbance which such an occasion might
favor, in the interval between the laying down and the resump
tion of authority, and as rumors were afloat of an organized plot
to plunder the town when the King's forces were withdrawn ; the
hour of noon had been set for the Eoyal troops to move, and by
an understanding between the two commanders-in-chief, the
Americans were to promptly advance and occupy the positions as
the British vacated them ; the latter, when ready to move, to send
out an officer to notify our advance guard. There was no longer
any antagonism between these, so recently hostile, forces ; the
plans for the evacuation, on the one part, and the occupation, on
the other, being carried out in as orderly a manner, and to all
appearance, with ' as friendly a spirit, as when, in time of peace,
one guard relieves another at a military post.
Major Gen. Knox, a large, flne looking officer, had been ap
pointed to command the American troops which were flrst to enter
and occupy the city. With his forces, consisting of a corps of
dragoons, under Capt. John Stakes, another of artillery, and
several battalions of infantry, with a rear guard under Major John
Burnet, Knox marched from McGown's Pass, Harlem, early in
the morning, halting at the present junction of the Bowery and
Third Avenue. Here he waited — meanwhile holding a friendly
parley with the English officers, whose forces were also resting a
little in advance of him — until about one o'clock in the afternoon.
The British then receiving orders to move, took up their march,
passed down the Bowery and Chatham street, and wheeling into
Pearl, finally turned off to the river, and went on shipboard. The
American forces under Gen. Knox, following on, proceeded
through Chatham street, into and down Broadway, and took pos
session. As they advanced, greeted with happy faces and joyful
acclamations by crowds of freemen who lined the streets, or fairer
* The Gbeat Fiee, of September 20, 1776, beginning at Whitehall
slip, swept along the river front and northward, consuming all the
buildings between Whitehall street on the west and Broad street on the
east, extending up Broadway to a point just below Rector street, and
up Broad street as far as Beaver, above whioh the houses on Broad
street escaped ; the flre being conficed to a hne nearly straight from
Beaver, near Broad, to the point it reached on Broadway. Crossing
Broadway, it also swept everything north of Morris street, including
Trinity Church ; from which point passing behind the city (later
Cape's) Tavern, it spared the line of buildings, mainly dwellings, fac
ing Broadway, with a few joining them on the cross streets, but other
wise made a clean sweep as far up as Barclay street, where the College
grounds stayed its further progress.
The fire of Augast 3, 1778, which was confined to tbe blocks be
tween Old slip and Coenties slip, reaching up to Pearl street, was a
small affair in comparison.

10

forms drawn to the windows and balconies by the beat of the
American drums and the vociferous cheering, the march down
Broadway to Cape's Tavern (on the site now of the Boreel Build
ing), was indeed the triumphal march of conquerors !
Our troops having halted and taken their position opposite
and below Cape's Tavern,* Gen. Knox quitted them, and heading
a body of mounted citizens, lately returned from exile, and who
had met by arrangement at the Bowling Green, each wearing in
his hat a sprig of laurel, and on the left breast a Union cockade,
made of black and white ribbon, rode up into the Bowery to re
ceive their Excellencies General Washington and Governor
George Clinton, who were at the Bull's Head Tavern (site of the
Thalia Theatre), they having arrived at Day's Tavern, Harlem,
on the 21st inst. , the very day on which Carleton had drawn in his
forces and abandoned the posts from Kingsbridge to McGown'.s
Pass, inclusive.
At the Bull's Head, where the widow Varien presided as hostess-,
congratulations passed freely, and a series of hearty demonstra
tions began, on the part of the ovei-joyed populace, which con
tinued along the whole line of Washington's march, and closed
only with the day. The civic procession having formed began its
grand entry in the following order :
General Washington, "straight as a dart and noble as he could
be," riding a spirited gray horse, and Governor Clinton, on a splen
did bay, with their respective suites also mounted ; and having
as escort a body of Westchester Light Horse, under the com
mand of Capt. Delavan.
The laeutenant Governor, Pierre Van Cortlandt, with the mem
bers of the CotmcU for the temporary Government of the South
ern District of New York ; four abreast.
Major Gen. Knox, and the officers of the army ; eight abreast.
Citizens on horseback ; eight abreast.
The Speaker of the Assembly, and citizens on foot ; eight
abreast.

* The orders of Nov. 24, to our troops read : " The Light Infantry
will furnifih a company for Main Guard to-morrow. As soon as the
troops are formed in the city, the Main Guard wil be raarched off to
Fort George ; on their taking possession, an officer of artillery will im
mediately hoist the American standard. * * * Ou the stand
ard being hoisted in Fort George, the artillery will fire thirteen rounds.
Afterwards his Excellency Governor Clinton will bp received ou the right
of the line; Tbe officers will salute his Excellency as he passes them, and
the troops present their arma by coi-ps, and tlie drums beat a march.
After his Excellency is past the line, and ahgbted at Cape's Tavern, the
artiUery will fire thirteen rounds."
As our flag was not raised ou Port George, nor the salute fired ur.til
after Gov. Clinton and Gen. Washington arrived there, the delay, and
failure to cari-y out the ordeis strictly as issued, must be accounted for
by the embarrassing incident hereafter noticed.

Tia.A.£>
Showing Washington's line of march from Bull's Head
(Bowery), to Cape's Tavern, in Broadway ; and tht nee
to Fort George.

BuU's Se

13

Near the Tea-water Pump, (in Chatham street just above
Pearl), where the citizens on foot had gathered to join the pro
cession, Washington halted the column, while Gen. Knox and
the officers of the Eevolution drew out and, forming into line,
marched down Chatham street, passing a body of the British
troops which were still halting in the fields (now the City Hall
Park) ; whUe Washington and the rest, turning down Pearl street,
proceeded on to Wall stre3t, and up Wall, then the seat of
fashionable residence.^, to Broadway, where both companies
again met, and while our troops in line fired a feu-de-joie,
alighted at the popular tavern before mentioned, kept by John
Cape, where now stands the Boreel Building. *
We must mention here, that when Gen. Knox reached the New
Jail, then known as the Provost (and now the Hall of Records),
Capt. Cunningham, the Provost Marshall, and his deputy and
jailor Sergeant Keefe, both having held those positions during
most of the war, aud equally notorious for their brutal treatment
of the American prisoners who were confined there, thought it
about time to retreat ; and quitting the jail, followed by the
hangman in his yellow jacket, passed between a platoon of
British soldiers and marched down Broadway, with the last
detachment of their troops. When Sergeant Keefe was in
the act of leaving the Provost, (says John Pintard), one
of the few prisoners then in his custody for criminal offences,
called out : " Sergeant, what is to become of us ? " "You may
all go to the devil together," was his surly reply, as he threw
the bunch of keys on the floor behind him. " Thank you. Ser
geant," was the cutting retort, " we have had too much of your
company in this world, to wish to follow you to the next ! "
Another incident, which respected Cunningham, was witnessed
(says Dr. Lossing), by the late Dr. Alexander Anderson. It was
* Why " the officers of the Eevolution" should have taken a different
rout admits of this explanation. Tbe officers referred to were no doubt
the mounted citizens who had ridden up with Knox from Bowling
Green, among whom were colonels, captains, etc., of the late army.
The move was evidently made to re°.ch Cape's Tavern first, and be in
position ready to receive their Excellencies, Washington aud Clinton,
and present addresses, which had been prepared. This is referred to
in a letter written by EUsha D. Wlutlesey, dated Danbury, Conn.,
Aug. 24, 1821, "A committee had been appointed by the citizens to
wait upon Gen. Washington and Gov. Clinton and other American offi
cers, and to express their joyful congratulations to them upon the oc
casion. A procession for this purpose formed in the Bowery, marched
through a part of the oity, and halted at a tavern, then known by the
name of Cooper's [Cape's] Tavern, in Broadway, where the following
addresses were delivered.* (Mr. Thomas Tucker, late of this town
[Danbury], and at that time a respectable merchant in New York, a
member of ihe committee, was selected to perform the office on the
part of the committee."
* For that to Washington, and his reply, see next note.

14

during the forenoon, that a tavern keeper in Murray street hung
out the Stars and Stripes. Informed of it, thither hastened
Cunningham, who with an oath, and in his imperious tone, ex
claimed, " Take in that flag, the City is ours tUl noon." Suii-
ing the action to the word, lie tried to pull down the obnoxious
ensign ; but the landlady coming to the rescue, with broom
in hand, dealt the Captain such lusty blows, as made the
powder fly in clouds from his wig, and forced him to beat a re
treat ! The Provost Guard, and the Main Guard at the Oity
Hall (Wall street, opposite Broad, where the U. S. Treasury
stands), were the last to abandon their posts, and repair on ship
board. The brief reception being over, at Cape's Tavern, (with pre
senting of addresses to Gen. Washington and Gov. Clinton), the
cavalcade again formed, and marched to the Battery, to enact
the last formality in re-possessing the City, which was to unfurl
the American flag over Fort George"^ A great concourse of peo
ple had assembled, not only to witness this ceremony, but to
obtain a sight of the illustrious Washington and other great
generals, who had so nobly defended our liberties.
But now a sight was presented, which, as soon as fuUy under
stood, drew forth from the a.stonished and incensed beholders
execrations loud and deep. The royal ensign was still floating
* Address to Geneba.1. Washington.
Presented at Gapers Tavern.
To his Exjelleucy Geoege Washington, Esquire, Gsneral and Com
mander iu Chief of the Armies of the United States of America :
The Address of the Citizens of New York, who hive returned
from exUe, in behalf of themselves and their suffering
brethren :
Sik: At a moment when the arm of tyranny is yielding up its fondest
usurpations, we hope the salutations of long suffering exiles, but now
happy freemen, will not be deemed an unworthy tribute. In this
place, and at this moment of exultation and triumph, while the ensigns
of slavery still linger in our sight, we look up to you, our deliverer,
with unusual transports of gratitude and joy. Permit us to welcome
you to this City, long torn from us by the hard hand of oppression,
but now by your wisdom and energy, under the guidance of Provi
dence, once more the seat of peace and" freedom. We forbear to speak
our gratitude or your praise, we should but echo the voice of applaud
ing miUions; but the Citizens of New York are emitieutlv indebted to
your virtues, and we who have now the honor to address yom- Excel
lency, have been often companions of your sufferiug-i, and witnesses of
your exertions. Permit us therefore to approach your E.xcelleucy with
the dignity and sincerity of freemen, aud to assure you that we shall
preserve with our latest breath our gratitude for your services, and
veneration for your character. Aud accept of our sincere and earnest
wishes that you may long enjoy that calm domestic feUoity which you
have so generously sacrificed ; that the cries of injured Uberty may

15

as usual over Fort ¦ George ; the enemy having departed without
striking their colors, though they had dismantled the fort and re
moved on shipboard all their stores and heavy ordnance, whUe
other cannon lay dismounted under the walls as if thrown off in
a spirit of wantonness. On a closer view it was found that the flag '^
had been naUed to the staff, the halyards taken away, and the pole i
itself besmeared with grease ; obviously to prevent or hinder the
removal of the emblem of royalty, and the raising of the Stars and
Stripes. Whether to escape the mortiflioation of seeing our flag
supplant the British standard, or to annoy and exasperate our
people were the stronger impulse, it were hard to say. It was too
serious for a joke, however, and the dUemma caused no little con
fusion. The artillery had taken a position on the Battery, the
guns were unlimbered, and the gunners stood ready to salute our
nevermore interrupt your repose, aud that your happiness may be
equal to your virtues.
Signed at tJie request ofthe meeting. Thomas E.^ndall.
.Dan. Phobnix.
Samii. Bkoome.
Thos. Tuckee.
Heney Kipp.
Pat. Dennis.
Wm. GiiiBEET, Sr.
Wm. Gilbeet, Jr.
Feancis Van Dyck.
Jeeemiah Wool.
Geo. Janeway.
ABEA'm P. Lott.
^^ Epheaim Beashiee.
New Yoek, Nov. 25th, 1783.
The Genebal's Eeply.
To the Citizens of New York who have returned from exile :
Getnlemen —
I thank you sincerely for your affectionate address, and entreat you
to be persuaded that nothing could be more agreeable to me than your
polite congratulations. Permit me in turn to felicitate you on the
happy repossession of your City.
Great as your joy must be on this pleasing occasion, it can scarcely
exceed that whioh I feel at seeing you, Gentlemen, who from the noblest
motives have suffered a voluntary exile of many years, return again in
peace and triumph, to enjoy the fruits of your virtuous conduct.
The fortitude and perseverance, which you and your suffering
brethren have exhibited in the course of the war, have not only
endeared you to your countrymen, but will be remembered with admi
ration and applause to the latest posterity.
May ihe tranquility of your City be perpetual, — may the ruins
soon be repaired, commerce flourish, science be fostered, and all the
civil and social virtues be cherished in the same illustrious manner
which formerly reflected so much credit on the inhabitants of New
York. In fine, may every species of felicity attend you. Gentlemen,
and your worthy fellow citizens. Geo. Washington.

16

colors. But the grease baffled all attempts to shin up the staff.
To out the staff down and erect another would consume too much
time. Impatient of delay, " three or four guns were flred with
the colors on a pole before they were raised on the flag-staff."*
But this expedient was premature and humUiating, while the
hostile flag yet waved as if in defiance. The scene grew exciting :
and now appeared another actor, hitherto looking on, but no idle
observer of what was passing. He was a young man of medium
height, whose ruddy honest face, tarpaulin cap and pea-jacket
told his vocation. Born neither to fortune nor to fame, yet by
his own merits and exertions he had won the regard of some in
that assembly, having served under McClaughry, and WUlett,
and Weissenfels, as also the Clintons, to whom he had lived
neighbor, within that patriotic circle in old Orange, where these
were the guiding spirits, and every yeoman with them, shoulder
to shoulder, in the common cause. As a subaltern officer he had
made a good record during the war, and none present, however
superior in station, had sustained a better character or exhibited
a purer patriotism. This was John Van Arsdale, late a Sergeant
in Capt. Hardenburgh's company of New York Levies. At nine
teen years of age, quitting his father's vessel, where he had been
bred a sailor, he enlisted in the Continental Army at the begin
ning of the war, and had served faithfuUy till its close. Suffer
ing cold and hardship in the Canada expedition, wounded and
taken prisoner at the battle of Fort Montgomery, he had lan
guished weary months in New York dungeons, and in the foul
hold of a British prisonship, and subsequently braved the perils
of Indian warfare in several campaigns. And with such a record,
where expect to flnd him but among his old compatriots, on this
day of momentous import, when the struggles of seven yeaxs
were to culminate in a flnal triumph.
Van Arsdale volunteered to climb the staff, though with Uttle
prospect of succeeding better than others, especiaUy when after
making an attempt, saUor fashion, he was unable to maintain his
grasp upou the slippery pole. Now it was proposed to replace
the cleats which had been knocked off ; and persons ran in haste to
Peter Goelet's hardwai'e store, in Hanover Square, and returned
with a saw, hatchet, gimlets, and nails. Then willing hands sawed
pieces of board, split and bored cleats, and^began to naU them on.
By this means Van Arsdale got up a short distance, with a Une to
which our flag was attached ; but just then, a ladder being brought
to his assistance, he mounted stUl higher, then completed the as
cent in the usual way, and reaching the top of the staff, tore down
the British standard, and rove the new halyards by which the
* Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, who was present, so stated to the writer
Feb. 15, 1848. '

17

Star-spangled Banner was quickly run up by Lieut^_JLnthony ^
Glean, and floated proudly, whUe the multitude gave vent to their
joy in hearty cheers, and the artiUery boomed forth a national
salute of thirteen guns !* On descending. Van Arsdale was
* A patriotic song was composed for that day, entitled, "The Sheep
Stealers," which was distributed and sung with immense gusto in the
evening coteries. Coarse, but designed to cast ridicule on the enemy,
it is given as a specimen of the popular songs of the period :
King Geobge sent his Sheep-stealers,
Poor Refugees and Tories !
King George sent his Sheep-stealers
To fish for mutton here,
To fish for mutton here,
To fish for mutton here.
But Yankees were hard dealers.
Poor Refugees and Tories ;
But Yankees were hard dealers,
They sold their sheep-skins dear.
They sold their sheep-skins dear.
They sold their sheep-skins dear,
But Yankees were hard dealers.
They sold their sheep-skins dear !
At Boston Britons glorious.
The Refugees and Tories,
Made war on pigs and fowls.
But o'er men uu-victorious.
They fled by night lilie owls !
The Howes came in a huff. Boys,
With Refugees and Tories,
To plunder, bum and sink ;
But like a candle-snuff. Boys,
They went — and left a stink !
Burgoyne, that cunning rogue, ah I
With Refugees and Tories,
Of conquest laid grand schemes ;
But Gates at Saratoga,
Awak'd him from his dreams !
The noble Earl Cornwally,
With Refugees and Tories,
Of southern plunderers chief.
At Yorktown wept the folly
Of stealing "Rebel" beef !
Clinton, that son of thunder.
With Refugees and Tories,
At New York took his stand,
And swore that he asunder
Would shake the Rebel land !
Of mighty deeds achieving,
With Refugees and Tories, '
He talked, O ! he talked big.
But changed hia plan to thieving
\)t turkey, goose and pig !

18

warmly greeted by the overjoyed spectators, for the service he
had rendered ; but some one proposing a more substantial ac
knowledgement than mere applause, hats were passed around,
and a considerable sum collected, nearly all within reach contrib
uting, even to ^the Commander-in-Chief. Though taken quite
aback. Van Arsdale modestly accepted the gift, with a protest at
being rewarded for so trivial an act. But the contributors weer
~^ of another opinion ; he had accomplished what was thought im
practicable, and the occasion and the emergency made his success
pecuUarly gratifying to all present. On returning home to his
amiable Polly (they had been married short of six months), the
story of "Evacuation Dj.y," and the sUver money which he
poured into her lap, caused her to open her eyes, and fixed the
circumstance indeUibly in her memory !
But to return : during the scene on the Battery, which con
sumed full an hour, the last squads of the British were getting
into their boats, whUe [many others, flUed with soldiers, rested
on their oars between the shore and their ships, anchored iu the
North Eiver. Thay kept silence during this time, and watched
our efforts to hjist the color.s (no doubt enjoying oui- embarrass
ment), but when our flag was run up and the salute fired, they
rowed off to their shipping, which soon weighed anchor and pro
ceeded down the bay.*
This scene over, the Commander-in-Chief and the general offi
cers, accompanied Gov. CUnton to Fi-aunces' Tavern, also a
popular resort, and which stUl stands on the corner of Pearl and
Broad streets. Here the Governor gave a sumptuous dinner.
The repast over, then came " the feast of reason and the flow of
soul," when the sentiments dearest to those brave and loyal meu
found utterance in the following admirable toasts :
1. The United States of America.

Of conquest then despairing.
With Refugees and Tories,
George for his Bull-dogs sent ;
They Yankee vengeance fearing,
Qreased t/ie flag-staff^anA went !
Then Yorkers, let's remember
The Refugees and Tories,
The five and twentieth day
Of the bleak month, November,
When the Cow-thieves snea'ved away !
* The British troops did not take then final departm-e from Lout
Island and Staten Island till the 4th of December. Their flag waved
over Governor's Island till the 8d, when tbe Island was formally given
up to an officer sent over by Gov. Clinton, for that purpose. (Mag of
Am. Hist., 1883, p. 430.) Sir Guy Carleton aud other officers aud
gentlemen sailed in the frigate Ceres, Capt. Hawkins.

19

2. His most Christian Majesty.
3. The United Netherlands.
4. The King of Sweden.
5. The American Army.
6. The Fleet and Armies of France, which have served in
America. 7. The Memory of those Heroes who have fallen for our Free
dom. 8. May our Country be grateful to her Military Children.
9. May Justice support what Courage has gained.
10. The Vindicators of the Rights of Mankind in every Quarter
of the Globe.
11. May America be an Asylnm to the Persecuted of the Earth.
12. May a close Union of the States guard the Temple they
have erected to Liberty.
13. May the Remembrance of This Day, be a Lesson to
Princes. An extensive illumination of the buUdings in the evening, a
grand display of rockets, and the blaze of bonfires at every corner,
made a fitting sequel to the events of the day. * Great as was the
joy, and Uvely as were the demonstrations of it, not the slightest
outbreak or disturbance occurred, to mar the public tranquUity ;
and the happy citizens retired to rest in the sweet consciousness
that the reign of martial law and of regal despotism had ended !
But it was remarked, says an eyewitness of the time, that an
unusual proportion of those who in '76 had fled from New York,
had been cut off by death and denied a share in the general joy,
which maiked the return of their fellow citizens to their former
habitations. And those habitations, such as had survived the
fires, how marred and damaged, as before intimated ; in many
cases mere shells and wrecks. And the sanctuaries, where they
and their fathers had worshipped, all despoiled, save St. Paul's,
St. George's in Beekman street, the Dutch Church, Garden
street, the Lutheran church, Frankfort street, the Methodist
Meeting House in John street, (none remaining at present but
the first and last), and some three or four small and obscure
places. Years elapsed, before, in their poverty, the people
were enabled fuUy to restore some of them to their former
sacred uses. The churches which suffered most at the ene
my's hands were the Middle and North Dutch churches, in
Nassau and WUliam streets, the two Presbyterian churches, iu
Wall and Beekman streets, the Scotch Presbyterian church,
* Among the more authentic newspaper accounts of the Evacuation,
is one of which I have here availed myself, contained in the New York
Sun of Nov. 27th, 18.50, but copied from the Observer. Much valuable
material is also brought together in the Jff. Y. Corp. Manual for 1870.

20

in Cedar street, the French church in Pine street, the Baptist
church. Gold street, and the Friends' new Meeting House, in
Pearl street; all since removed to meet the demands of trade.
Religious affairs were found in a sad plight when the evacuation
took place. The Dutch, Presbyterian and Baptist ministers had
gone into voluntary exile. The Rev. Charles Inglis, D.D., Rector
of Trinity Parish, having made himself very obnoxious to the
patriots, concluded to follow the loyalists of his flock to Nova
Scotia, and therefore resigned his rectorship Nov. 1st, preceding
the evacuation. Dr. John H. Livingston, arriving with our peo
ple, immediately resumed his services in Garden street. Other
pastors were not so favored. Dr. John Rogers, of the Presby
terian church, returned on the day after the evacuation, aud on the
foUowing Sabbath, Nov. 30th, preached in St. George's chapel,
" to a thronged and deeply affected assembly, " a discourse adapted
to the occasion from Psalms cxvi, 12, — " What shall I render
unto the Lord, for all His benefits towards me ?" The vestry of
Trinity church having kindly offered the use of their two chapels,
St Paul's and St. George's, the Presbyterians occupied these
buildings a part of every Sabbath until June 27th, 1784, when
they took possession of the Brick Church, Beekman street, which
had been repaired.
On the Friday following the evacuation, the citizens lately
returned from exile, gave an elegant entertainment, at Cape's
Tavern, to his Excellency, the Governor, and the CouncU for gov
erning the City ; when Gen. Washington and the Officers of the
Army, about three hundred gentlemen, graced the feast. The
foUowing Tuesday, Dec. 2d, another such entertainment was
given by Gov. Clinton, at the same place, to the French Ambas
sador, Luzerne, and in the evening, at the Bowling Green, the
Definitive Treaty of Peace was celebrated by "an unparalleUed
exhibition of fireworks," and when, says an account of it, "the
prodigious concourse of spectators assembled on the occasion,
expressed their plaudits in loud and grateful clangors !" Ou
Thursday, the 4th, Gsn. Washington bade a final adieu to his
feUow officers at Fraunces' Tavern. The scene was most affect
ing. " With a heart full of love and gratitude," said he, "I now
take leave of you, and most devoutly wish that your latter days
may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been
glorious and honorable." Embracing each one in turn, whUe
tears coursed down their manly checks, he parted from them, and
from the City, to resign his commission to Congress, aud seek
again the retirement of private life.
The following Thursday, Dec. 11th, was observed by appoint
ment of Congress, " as a day ot pubUc Thanksgiving throughout
the United States." On this occasion Dr. Rogers preached iu

31

St. George's chapel, a sermon from Psalms cxxvi, 3, — " Tho
Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." It
was afterwards published with the title — " The Divine Goodness
displayed in the American Eevolution."
Thus just eight score years after Europeans first settled on this
Island of Manhattan, our City had its new birth into freedom,
and started on its unexampled career of prosperity and greatness.
And as we contemplate the growth, enterprise, trade, commerce,
credit, opulence and magnificence of the present City, with its
hundreds of churches, schools and other noble institutions, and
contrast it with the contracted, war-worn, desolate town, of which
our fathers took possession on the 25th of November 1783, well
may we exclaim — " What hath God wrought ?" That day, whose
memories were so fondly cherished by our grandsires while they
lived, was one of great significance in the history of our City and
Country. Its anniversary has ever since been duly celebrated by
mUitary parades, and a national salute fired on the Battery at
sunrise, by the "Independent Veteran Corps of Heavy ArtUlery,"
composed at flrst of Eevolutionary soldiers, and of which John
Van Arsdale was long an efficient and honored member, and, at
the time of his decease, its First Captain-Lieutenant.* For many
* It caused great surprise, in 1831, that an officer of the Revolution,
Capt. John Van Dyck, of Lamb's artillery, who was present at the evac
uation of New York, and ' ' was on Fort George and within two feet of
the flagstaff," should have stated in the most positive terms, that
"there was no British flag on the staff to pull down:" also tbat no
ladder was used, and besides, more than intimated that Van Arsdale did.,,
not perform the part ascribed to him! (His Utter, in If. T. Com
mercial Advertiser, of Jane 30th, 1831.) We well remember Capt. Van
Dyck, an i do not doubt the sincerity of his statements ; but it only
shows how effectually facts once weU known may be obliterated from
the memory by the lapse of time. For few facts in our history are
better authenticated than that tbe royal standard was left flying at the
evacuation; and it was afterwards complained of, as the able historian,
Mr. Dawson writes me, by John Adams, our first embassador to Eng
land, as an unfriendly act, to evacuate the City without a formal sur
render of it, or striking their colors. The fact is also mentioned in a
pamphlet printed in 1808, by the "Wallabout Committee," (appointed
to superintend the interment of the bones of American patiiots who
perished in the prison ships), and consisting of gentlemen who cotdd
not have all been ignorant on such a point, viz., Messrs. Jacob Van
dervoort, John Jackson, Issachar Cozzens, Burdet Stryker, Robert
Townsend, Jr., Benjamin Watson and Samuel Cowdrey. Hardie, who
wrote his-account prior to 1825, ("Description of New York," p. 107,)
also makes the same statement, and so does Dr. Lossing : ' ' Field Book
of the Revolution," 2:633. A letter written in New York the day after
the evacuation, says "they cut away the halyards from the flagstaff in
the fort, and hkewise greased the post ; so that we were obliged to have /
a ladder to fix a new rope." The use of a ladder is attested by Lieut.'-'
Glean ; and al'o by the late Pearson Halstead, who witnessed the
ascent. Mr. Halstead stated this to me, in 184.5, and that, about the
year 1805, he was informed that Van Arsdale was the person who
climbed the staff. His association with Mr. Van Arsdale, both in busi-

22

years the day was observed with great eclat; the troops, in parad
ing, "went thiough the forms practiced on tikin? po3S33sioa of
the City, maneuvering and firing feux-de-joie, &a., as occurrel
on the evacuation. " AU shops and busin-jss places were closed,
artisans and toilers ceased th.^ir work, aal tha streets, decorate!
with patriotic emblems, aud alive with happy people, wsra given
up to gaiety and mirth. To civic aid military displays wjre
added sumptuous dinners, and con-vivial parties, while the school
boy rejoiced in a holiday ; the whole b3aring witness to a peo
ples' gratitude for the deliverance which that memorable day
brought them. And boys Of older growth may yet recaU the
simple distich :
"It's Evacuation Day, when the British ran away.
Please, dear Master, give us holiday !"
In the evening every place of amus3m3nt was well attended,
but none better than Peale's American Museum, because, asdulv
alvsrtised : — "The Flag hoisted by order of Gen. Washington,
/ on the Battery, the same day the British troops evacuated this
city, is displayed in the upp3r hall, as a saorad memorial of that
day." This flag was presented to the museum by the Common
Council in 1819. It was raised on the Battery for the last time
in 1846, and when the museum was burned the old flag per
ished !
Well deserves this day not merely a local but a national com
memoration ; since it inaugurated for the nation an era of free
dom, the blessings of whicli all could not realize, while the chief
city and seaport of our country were held by f jreign armies.
Another chapter, introducing us to colonial and revolutionary
times, will tell more of Capt. VaUj Arsdale, what he cUd and
endured for his country, aud ensure him a grateful remembrance
so long as "Evacuation Day "shall cheer us by its annual
return.

ness and in the Veteran Corps, gave him the best means of knowing the
common belief on that subject, and he said it was "a fact understood
aud admitted by the members of the Veteran Corps, who used often to
speak of it." Capt. George W. Chapman, of the Veteran Corps, then
84 years of age, informed me, in 184."), that he commanded the Corps
when Van Arsdale joined it, and that the fact ascribed to the latter was
well known to the members of the Corps, and never disputed. John
Nixon, a reliable witness, said to me, in l844, that he saw the' ascent,
&c., "h-y n sltort tliiclcset man in sailor's dress," and that ten years
later (1793) he became acquainted with Van Arsdale, and then learned
that ' lie WIS the person who tore down fie British flag, in 1783." Gen.
Jeremiah Johnson informed me, in 1846, that he " sawthe sailor, in ordi
nary round jacket and seaman's dress, shin up the flagstaff ; a middling
sized m^sre, well proportioned." Major Jonathan Lawrence, who was
present; said "a sailor mounted the flagstaff, with fresh halyards,
rigged it and hoisted the American flag."

23

CHAPTER IL
(>HB real conservators of the rights of mankind have rarely
been found among the rich or titled aristocracy. They
belong to the more ingenuous, sympathetic, and -virtuous
middle class of society, so called. This is not the less true
because of the notable exceptions, where the endowments of
wealth, rank, and influence, hive added lustre to the names of
some of earth's best benefaotors. The fact must remain that
the bone and sinew of a nation, and in which consists its safety
in peace, and its defense in war, are its hardy yeoman who guide
the plow, or wield the axe, or ply the anvil ; and -without whose
practical ideas and well-directed energies, no community could
protect itself, or make any real advan?ement. It was most for
tunate that the founders of this nation were so largely of this
sterling class ; the architects of their own fortunes, no labor, no
difficulties or dangers appalled them ; the very men were they,
to break by stalwart blows the fetters whioh despotism was fast
riveting upon them.
Such was Captain John Van Arsdale, in the essentials of his
character. It chafed his young, free spirit to see his country, the
home of his ancestors for a century before his birth, bleeding
under the iron hand of tyranny, and invoking the sturdy and
the brave to come forth and strike the blow for freedom. He
was one of the first to heed that call, and to fearlessly enter the
lists ; nor ceased to battle minf uUy till our independence was
achieved ! If honest, unswerving patriotism, standing the triple
test of manifold hardships and dangers, long and cruel imprison
ment and years of arduous, poorly-requited service, should enti
tle one to the love and gratitude of his country ; then let such
honor be awarded to the subject of this sketch, and the power of
his example tell upon all those who may read it.
John Van Arsdale was the son of John and Deborah Van Ars
dale, and was born in the town of Cornwall (then a part of
Goshen), Orange County, N. Y., on Monday, January 5th, 1756.*
His ancestors for four generations in this country, as mentioned
in the records of their times, were men of intelligence and virtue,
honored and trusted in the communities in which they lived, and
on whom, as God-fearing men, rested the mantles of their fathers
who had battled for their faith in the wars of the Netherlands.
His grandsire, Stoffel Van Arsdalen (for so he and his Dutch
* Absdale was formerly pronounced as if written aurs-daul ; hence
the various modes of spslling it to exp'.-ess the Dutch pronunciation by
English letters, as Osdoll, etc. But the growing disposition to correct
such departures by resuming the original form of surnames, leads us
to hops for a reformition in this case also, especially as a large part of
the family have held to the form which early obtained.

24

progenitors -wrote the name), had removed from Gravesend, Long
Island, to Somerset County, New Jersey, in the second decade of
that century, and eventually purchased a farm of two hundred
acres in Franklin township, where he lived, zealously devoted to
the church, and highly esteemed, tUl his death near the begin
ning of the Revolution.* He married Magdalena, daughter of
Okie Van Hengelen, and had several chUdren, of whom, John,
born 1722, and CorneUus, bom 1729, removed to the County of
Orange, aforesaid, t John, by trade a miU wright, was engaged
by Mr. Tunis Van Pelt to buUd a grist mUl on Murderer's Creek,
so caUed from an Indian tragedy of earUer times ; and from which
name softened to Murdner, in common usage, came the modem
Moodna. WhUe so occupied, and sharing the hospitalities of
Mr. Van Pelt's house, he wooed and married his daughter, Deb
orah, in 1744. Associating -with his father-in-law in the milling

* Simon Jansen Van Absdalen, the
grandfather of Stoffel, fin Enghsh, Chris
topher,) was the common ancestor of all
in this country bearing the name of Van
Arsdale, or its modification. Van Osdoll,
which latter preserves the Dutch pro-
mmeiation. He was bom in Holland
in 1629, of an ancient Helvetian family,
emigrated to this country in 1653, and
settled in Flatlands, L.I., where he mar
ried Petemelle, daught r of Claes (or
Nicholas) Wyckoff. He acquired prop
erty, was a magistrate and repeatedly
chosen an elder of the church, and Mved
to be over four score years of age. He
had, besides daughters, two sons, Corne
Uus and John, both of whom inherited their father's virtues aud were
prominent in civil and church affairs. Each of these had six sons (Cor
nelius had Derick, John. Simon, Philip, Abraham and Jacobus or
Jam,es ; and John had Simon, Stoffel, Nicholas, Jurian, or Uria/i,
John and Cornelius'), most of whom (except Nicholas who lived in
Jamaica, L. I.,) settled about the Raritan in New Jersey, whence some
removed into Pennsylvania ; they were as a family, remarkably attached
to the church and to the elder Frelinghuysens . John, first named,
married, 1695, Lammetie, daughter of Stoffel Probasko, lived for some'
years in Gravesend, but died in the town of Jamaica, about 1756, aud
as wiU be seen was the father of Stoffel, named in the text. The family
has been very prolific, and has furnished to society many capable
business men, besides physicians, clergymen, bankers, etc. Of these
was the late Dr. Peter Van Arsdale, of this city.
t Akent Tbunissen. great grandfather of Magdalena-Vau Hengelen,
came out to this country from Hengelen (now Hengelo), in the County
of Zutphen, in 1653, the same year in which Simon Van Arsdale
arrived. He was under engagement to Baron Vander Capelle, to cul
tivate his lands on Staten Island, but was slain in the Indian massacre
of 1655, His son Eeynier, was the father of Okie Van Hengelen,
named in the text, who left descendants iu Now Jersey, called 'Van
Anglen, of whom was Capt. John Van Anglen. of tho Eevolution.

25

business. Van Arsdale eventually became proprietor, assisted, we
believe, by his brother Cornelius, who was a miller. Building
up a large trade, he also became known for his private -virtues
and public spirit. A lieutenant's commission (in which he is
styled "of Ulster County, Gentleman"), under Capt. Thomas
Ellison, and dated October 10th, 1754, is now in the -writer's pos
session. But misfortune, the loss of a vessel sent to the Bay of
Honduras laden with flour, and where it was to ship a cargo of
logwood, led him to give up the business and remove to New
York, where he took charge of the Prison in the old City Hall, in
Wall street, whioh was deemed a post of great responsibility. It
was soon after this change that John, the subject of our sketch.
was born, at Mr. Van Pelt's residence, at Moodna, where his
mother had either remained, or was then making a visit. About
six weeks thereafter, having come to the city, with her infant, she
sickened and died ot the small pox. After four years (in 1760),
Mr. Van Arsdale married Catherine, daughter of James Mills,
deputy-sheriff of New York . Ten years later, weary of his charge,
then at the New Jail, built in 1757-9 (the Provost of the Revolu
tion, and now the Hall of Records) ; he resigned it, bought a
schooner, and engaged in the more congenial pursuit of market
ing produce.
The Revolution coming on, Capt. Van Arsdale entered with his
vessel into the American service, supplied our army at New York
with fuel brought from Hackensack (the Asia man-of-war once
taking his wood and paying him iu continental bills), and after
wards helped to sink the ehevaux-de-frize in the Hudson, opposite
Fort Washington. In this arduous work he was aided by his son
John, then lately returned from the Canada expedition. The day
the 6nemy entered the City he conveyed his family to his vessel
at Stryker's Bay, and, crowded with fugitives, made good his
escape up the Hudson to Murdner's Creek. Here his companion,
who had borne him eleven chUdren, died in 1779 ; but he survived
not only to witness the war brought to a happy close, but long
enough to see much of the waste repaired, aud the greatness of
his country assured. Respected and beloved for his amiable
quaUties and exemplary christian character, Capt. Van Arsdale,
the elder, died in 1798 at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr.
WiUiam Sherwood, at " The Creek."
The junior Van Arsdale would have been unworthy his honest
ancestry had he not possessed in a gOod degree the same stability
of character. Bereft of a mother's love at so early an age, John
was tenderly reared at his grandfather Van Pelt's till his father
married again. Then New York became his home for ten years
or more, during whioh time his playground was the Green (now
City Hail Park) with the fields adjacent to the New Jail, of which

26

his father still had the custody. The times were turbulent, and
many stirring scenes passed under his boyish eyes. One was
the Soldiers' Riot, in 1764, when the jaU was assaulted and broken
into by a party of riotous soldiers, with design to release a
prisoner, and in which Mr. MiUs, in resisting them, was rudely
handled and wounded. And the gatherings, hardly less
tumultuous, of the " Sons of Liberty " to oppose the Stamp Act,
or celebrate its repeal, by raising liberty poles, which w?re
several times cut down aud replaced, all serving to implant in his
young mind an abhorrence of foreign rule, with the gsrms of
that patriotism whioh matured a." he grew in years.* But an
elder brother Tunis (his only own brother Uving, save Christopher,
a brassfounder, who died, unmarried, in the West Indies in 1773),
ha-ving served an apprenticeship -with Fronce MandeviUe, of
Moodna, blacksmith, married, in 1771, Jennie Wear, of tbe town of
Montgomery, aud the next spring began m-irrisd life on a farm of
eighty acres, which he had purchased, lying in that part of Han
over Precinct (now Montgomery) caUed Neelytown. Much
attached to Tunis, John thereafter spent several years with him,
attending school.
But uow the growing controversy between the Colonies and the
mother country had ripened into actual hostiUties; the first
aggressive movement in whioh this Colony took part being the
expedition against Canada, planned iu the summer of 1775. It
fired young Van Arsdale's patriotism, and about August 25th he
enlisted under Oapt. Jacobus Wynkoop, of the Fourth New York
Regiment, James Holmes being the colonel and Philip Van
Cortlandt the lieutsnant-oolonel. These forces, proceeding
up the Hudson, entered Canada by way of lakes George
and Champlain ; part of the Fourth Regiment, under Major
Barnabas TuthiU, taking part in the briUiant assault upan
Quebec, December 31st, but unsucsessful, aud fatal to the gallant
leader. General Montgomery, aud numbsrs of his meu. On their
way to Quebec, and especially in crossing the lakes on the ice.
Van Arsdale and his comrades suffered so intensely from the
extreme cold that the hardsliips and incidents of this, his first
campaigu, remained fresh iu his momory even tiU old age.
Van Arsdale having "served his time out in the year's ser
vice, returned to New York," where the Americans were

* OppDsite thf jiil stiod, in thosj diy^, a p'.iblio whippingpost,
6to3k<, etj., the t irror of la v-b.- 'aksri, a id by w'aijh less 2rorim?s ware
expiated. The late Abraham Viu Ars Me, born the year of the Sol
diers' Riot (a 'id old eniightofly h'u kite, as he did', from tha rjof
of the prison, while his ta'hef kapt it), well ramMubared thesj in
struments of justica, ani info-mKl m3 thit he hid scan gallows erected
and persons oxecutad, iu front of the j lil. They then hun' for
stealing ! "

27

concentrating troops, in order to oppose the royal forces
expected from Europe. Here he assisted his father on board
the schooner in sinking the obstructions in the Hudson,
as before noticed, and when the enemy captured the city, accom
panied him to Orange County. It was on Sept. 16th, 1776,
that the British forces landed at Kip's Bay, on the east side of
the island, three mUes out of the city. A great many of the citi
zens who were friends of their country, made a precipitate flight,
and the roads were lined with vehicles of every kind, remo-ving
furniture, etc. The elder Van Arsdale, with difficulty, and only
by paying down $200, got the use of a horse and wagon to take
his family and effects from his house to the schooner lying in
Stryker's Bay. WhUe dra-wing a load, a spent cannon baU
knocked off one of the wagon wheels, at which his little son
CorneUus, but eight years old, was so frightened that he never
forgot it. The schooner was crowded to excess with citizens and
their famUies, all eager to get away, and for fear they might sink
her, Capt. Van Arsdale was obliged to turn off some who applied
for a passage. They left deeply loaded, and in their haste were
obUged to take with them a lot of mUitary stores whioh were on
board. Arriving at Murdner's Creek, John, at his father's re
quest, and taking his brother Abraham, set out afoot for Neely
town, to inform their brother Tunis of their arrival. The journey
of twelve miles seemed short, and ere long the weU-known farm
house hove in sight, seated a little way back, and to which led a
lane between rows of young cherry trees, and near it on the road
the low, dusky smith-shop, with its debris of cinders, old wheel-
tires and broken iron-work strewn about. Entering, as Tunis,
¦with his back towards them, stood at the forge heating his iron,
and his assistant, Aleck Bodle, lazily blowing the beUows, the
first surprize was only surpassed, when after hearty greetings,
they imparted the startling news of the capture of New York by
the British, and that their father, having barely escaped with his
vessel, had arrived at the Creek. At once out went the fire, and
out went Tunis also to harness his horses, in order to go and bring
up the rest of the famUy ; but on second thought, as the day was
far spent, he concluded to await the morrow. The next day there
was a joyous reunion at the farm-house, but tempered with many
sad comments upon the doleful situation.
John spent the -winter -with his brother Tunis, aiding in farm
work and at the forge ; he had just reached his majority, and
found congenial spirits in Alexander Bodle and Joseph Elder,
then serving apprenticeships with Tunis, and afterwards much
respected residents of Orange County. Around the evening fire
side they indulged in many a joke, when laughter made the wel
kin ring, or behind the well-fed pacer, were borne in the clumsy

28
box sled, with the gingle of merry bells, to the rustic frolic ; but
the bounds of decoram were never exceeded, and lips which could
teU all about it, bore us pleasing witness to Van Arsdale's correct
habits and deportment at a stage of life so beset with syren snares
for the unwary, and which commonly moulds the character.
But nevertheless the winter was one of great military acti-vity,
especially among the organized militia of Orange County, in
which (in the town of New Windsor) was the sub-district of Little
Britain, the home of the Clintons ;* the menacing attitude of the
enemy under Lord Howe, who had approached as near as Hack
ensack, and the protection of the passes of the Highlands, requir
ing frequent calls upon the yeomanry to take the field. The
inhabitants of Hanover Precinct, which precinct joined on New
Windsor, had from the first shown great spirit ; their Association,
dated May 8th, 1775, in which they pledge their support to the
Continental Congress, &o., in resisting "the several arbitrary and
oppressive acts of the British Parliaments," and "inthe most
solemn manner resolve never to become slaves," is signed first by
Dr. Charles Clinton and presents 342 names. The Precinct in
the winter of 1776-7, contained four militia companies, under
Captains Matthew Felter, James Milliken, Hendrick Van Keu-
ren and James McBride, and these were attached to a regiment of
which that sterling patriot, James McClaughry, of Little Britain,
brother in law to the Clintons, was lieutenant colonel command
ant, t Tunis and John Van Arsdale lived in Capt. Van Keuren's
beat. The Captain was a veteran of the last French war, and it
gave him prestige, in the command to which he had been recently
promoted. He had ' ' warmly espoused the cause of his country,
and evinced unshaken firmness throughout the whole of the con
test." Ool. McClaughry had taken the field with his regiment
early in the winter, proceeding down into Jersey, aud of which,
on his return, Jan. 1st, he gave a humorous account to Gen.
Clinton ; but though highly probable, we have no positive evi
dence that John Van Arsdale went into actual service tUl the
spring opened.
Forts Montgomei'y and Clinton, beg-un in 1775, stood on the
west side of the Hudson, opposite Anthony's Nose, at a very im
portant pass, where the river was narrow, easUy obstructed, and
* To avoid confusion, we speak here aud elsewhere of Orange
County as now organized. Previous to 17.9S, it embraced the present
Rockland County, while the town of New Windsor, and all those towns
lying to the north of a line running west from the southern boundary
of New Windsor belonged to Ulster County. Of course. Little Britain,
and the Precinct of Hanover were then in Ulster.
t James Clinton had been colonel of this regiment, till appointed a
brigadier general.

29

from the elevation whioh the forts occupied, was commanded a
great distance up and down. Fort CUnton was below Fort
Montgomery, distant only about six hundred yards, the
Poplopen Kill running through a ravine between them ; the
fortress was smaU, but more complete than Fort Montgomery,
and stood at a greater elevation, being 23 feet the highest, and
123 feet above the river. These posts were distant (southeast)
from the Clinton mansion only abou.t sixteen miles. The two
fortresses required a thousand meu for their proper defense, but
till early in 1777, had usually been in charge of a very small
force under Gen. James Clinton. The time of these soldiers
expiring on the last day of March, Col. Lewis Dubois, with
the Fifth New York Regiment was sent to garrison Fort
Montgomery, A meeting of the field officers of Orange and Ulster, was held
at Mrs. Falls' in Little Britain, March 31st, 1777, pursuant to a
resolve of the New York Convention empowering General George
Clinton, lately appointed commandant of the forts in the High
lands, to call out the mUitia " to defend this State against the
incursions of our implacable enemies, and reinforce the garri
sons of Fort Montgomery, defend the post of . Sidnam's Bridge
(near Hackensack), and afford protection to the distressed inhabit
ants." It was there resolved, with great spirit, to caU one-third
of each of the several regiments into actual service, to the num
ber of 1,200, and to form them into three tenipurary regiments,
of wiiioh two should garrison Fort Montgomery, under Colonel
Le-vi Pawling (with Lt. Col. McClaughry), and Ool. Johannes
Snyder. As the men were raised they were to march in detach
ments to that post, and were to serve tUl August 1st, and receive
continental pay and rations. Each captain was forthwith direct
ed to raise his quota, and "iu the most just and equitable
manner." John Van Arsdale was among those chosen from his beat, and
sometime in AprU, borrowing from his brother an old but trusty
musket, proceeded to Fort Montgomery. Being of a resolute,
active temperament, with a knowledge of tactics, and au aptness
to command, he was made a corporal ; an evidence of the good
opinion entertained of him by his officers, flattering to one of
hia years. It was also in his favor that he was a good penman,
and had acquired a fair EngUsh education foi the times.
Drilling his squad, placing and reUeving the guards, and
other daily routine duty, gave our young corporal enough
to do, whUe the courts for the trial of some notorious
tories, held at that post, during the spring and summer, added
to frequent alarms due to indications that the enemy frbm below
meditated an attack upon the forts, kept everything lively. On

30

July 2nd, Gen. Clinton, upon a hint from Wf shington that Lord
Howe, in order to favor Burgoyne, might attempt to seize the
passes of the Highlands, and "make him a very hasty visit, "
with which view, accounts given by deserters from New Tork
coincided; immediately repaired to Fort Montgomery, after
first ordering to that post the full regiment of Col. McClaughry,
-with those of Colonels WilUam Allison, Jesse WoodhuU, and
Jonathan Hasbrouck. The mUitia came in with great alacrity,
almost to a man. But ten days passed without a sign of the
enemy. Parties went daily on the Dunderbergh (Thunder Moun
tain) to look down the river, but could not see a single vessel ;
then, as usual, when there was no immediate prospect of any
thing to -do, the transient militia became uneasy, and were
allowed to go home in the belief that they would turn out more
cheerfully the next time.
But as the term of service of those called out in AprU expired
on August 1st, on that date another call was made by Gov. CUn
ton on the respective regiments, to make up eight companies, by
ballot or other equitable mode, and to march -with due expedition
to Fort Montgomery, and there put themselves under command
of Colonel AUison, with McClaughry as his Lieutenant Colonel.
They were to draw continental pay, etc. In this instance no
immediate danger being apprehended, the miUtia did not respond
very promptly, although much needed to replace part of the con
tinental force which had been withdrawn for other service.
Again, on August 5th, CUnton, by -virtue of threatening news from
Gen. Washington, directed AUison and McClaughry to march all
the mUitia to Fort Montgomery, except the frontier companies,
which were to be left for home protection. But repeated orders
to urge them forward were but partiaUy successful. September
closed, the quotas were far from complete, orders then issued by
AUison, McClaughry, and Hasbrouck (by direction of Clinton)
for half their regiments to repair to Fort Montgomery were but
slowly complied -with, and the delay was fatal ! Van Arsdale had
re-enlisted and held his former position. It was at this time that
he made the aquaintance of Elnathan Sears, and which ripened
into friendship under very trying circumstances.
Forts Montgomery and Clinton at this date mounted thirty-two
cannon, rating from 6 to 32 pounders. The garrison consisted of
two companies of Col. John Lamb's artiUery, under Capts. An
drew Moodie and Jonathan Brown (one in each fort) and parts of
the regiments of Cols. Dubois, AUison, Hasbrouck, WoodhuU and
McClaughry with a very few from other regiments. Thus matters
stood on Sunday, October Sth, 1777.
Hark ! what bustling haste — of people running to and fro 
has suddenly disturbed the Sabbath evening's repose at Neely-

31

town ? Tidings have just reached them that the enemy's vessels
are ascending the Hudson with the obvious design of attacking
Fort Montgomery and the neighboring posts. The orders are for
every man able to shoulder a musket to hasten to their assist
ance ! This was grave intelligence for the inmates at the Van
Arsdale home (and which may serve to represent many others), but
the call of duty could not be disregarded. For most of the night
the good -wife was occupied in baking and putting up pro-visions
for Tunis and his two apprentices to take with them, while these
were as busy cleaning Iheir muskets, moulding bullets, etc., that
naught might be wanting for the stem business before them.
Towards moming, taking one or two hours rest, they arose,
equipped themselves, and made ready for the journey to the fort,
which was fuU twenty mUes distant. As the parting moment had
come, the kind father kissed his three little ones tenderly, then
uttered in the ear of his sorrowing Jennie the sad good-bye, and
¦with the others hastened from the house, his wife attending him to
the road, and weeping bitterly for she understood but too well that
it might be the final parting. Her longing eyes followed them
tUl they disappeared beyond an intervening hill. " Oh ! " said
she to the writer more than sixty years afterwards, as she related
these facts, her eyes even then suffused with tears, "You may
read of these things, but you can never feel them as I did. I
wept much during those seven years."
During the day, those whose kinsmen had gone to the battle
met here and there in little bands to condole with each other, and
talk over the unhappy situation. Later, the boom of distant artil
lery awakened their worst fears, for now were they sure that those
dear to them were engaged in a mortal conflict with the enemy.
The shades of evening closing around, brought no reUef to their
burdened hearts ; but, on the contrary, the most torturing sus
pense as to the issue of the battle. To make the situation more
depressing, there came on a cold rain, and the dreariness without
was a fit index of the desolate hearts within. At a late hour Mrs.
Van Arsdale retired to her sleepless pUlow ; but her case found its
counterpart in many an anxious household over a large section of
country. At length moming broke upon that unhappy neighborhood,
and with it came persons from the battle bringing the appalUng
news that the Aniericans had been defeated, and many of them
slain, or made prisoners, and that the enemy were in fuU posses
sion of the forts. Then other parties arrived whose woe-stricken
faces only conflrmed the sad inteUigence. Soon anxious inquiries
sped from house to house where any lived who had escaped from
the slaughter, to learn about this one and that, who had gone to
the battle, but had not returned. Jennie could get no tidings of

her husband, though she spent the greater part of the day in
watching on the road, and several times even fancied that she saw
him coining ; but alas ! only to flnd it a delusion. It added to her
fears for her husband, when a neighbor named MoneU, at whose
house she called, met her with the sorrowful news that his brother,
Robert Monell, first lieutenant in Capt. Van Keuren's company,
had been kUled in the battle. At length the apprentices arrived,
their faces begrimed with powder, and one of them crying for his
brother, who had been shot down by his side, and died instantly. *
The other, who was Joseph' Elder, before spoken of, a young
man of giant frame, had narrowly esciped death, having his hat
and jacket pierced with bullets iu the engagement ! But having
been separated from Mr. Van Arsdale, they had not seen him
since the battle, and so were ignorant as to his fate. The wretch
ed woman was in dispair ; many of her neighbors had now
returned and the prolonged absence of her Tunis seemed to for-
bode that he had either been kUled or captured by the enemy.
But now still others arrive, and she is led from their statements,
to hope that Tunis has escaped, and is making his way homeward
through the mountains. Her heart leaps with joy, and she
returns to the house, and even indulges a laugh as her eye gets
a sight of the mush kettle stUl hanging on the trammel, as she
placed it there in the morning ; no meal stirred in, and she hav
ing eaten nothing the whole day. Towards night Tunis arrived,
on horseback, with his brother-in-law William Wear, who at
Jennie's request, had gone out some distance to look for him.t
He was fast asleep from exhaustion when they reached the house,
(Wear behind him and holding him on the horse), and his face so
•" BeUeved to have been James Thompson, whose brother John was
killed at Fort Montgomery. Others slain in MoClaughry's regiment
were Capts. James Milliken and Jacobus Roosa, Lieut. Nathiniel Mil-
liken, and Privates Theophilus Corwin, David Benson, James Gage,
David Halliday, etc.
t The Weabs, respectable Protestants from the north of Ireland,
were noted for longevity. William Wear, their ancestor, dying, Ms
widow with two children, William aud Jennie, emigrated to Pennsyl
vania iu 1749, and thence iu 1760 to the town of i&omgomery. Mrs.
Wear died at her daughter's house December 3, 1803, aged 92 years.
Her son William, named iu the text, resided near Orange Lake, had a
numerous family, and attained the age of 97 years. He died November
7, 1828, and was ancestor of WiUiam Wear, Esq. Mrs. Van Arsdale
was borh March 31, 174(;, as maintained by her brother, who was
much the oldest, and hence was in her 100th year at her decease,
September. 17, 1845. Her husband, Tuuis, died April 9, l)il3, aged 67
years. This worthy pair united with the Walkill Church in 1782.
Mrs. V. was a woman of remarkable energy, aud retained her faculties
tiU the last, almost perfectly. Her memory extended back to the
closing events in the hfe of Stcffel Yan Arsdale, her husband's grand
father, and she lived to see his descendants of the sixth generation.

33

blackened with powder that his -wife hardly knew him. He was
much depressed in spirits, but grateful to God who had preserved
and restored him to his family and friends. That evening brought
in his captain, Van Keuren, who for some cause was not in the
fight, with his minister, Eev. Andrew King, and many other
neighbors — a house full, — some to congratulate Van Arsdale on
his escape, others, with anxious faces to inquire after missing
friends, and others stUl to learn the particulars of the battle.
The account he gave of what happened after leaving home for the
scene of conflict, was briefly as foUows :
A walk of several hours brought them to a Uttle stream at the
foot of the hUl upon which Fort Montgomery stood, and where
they had intended to stop and eat their dinner; but hearing a great
deal of noise and bustle in the fort, they only took a drink from
the brook, and hastened up into the works, when they soon
learned that a large body of the enemy had landed below the
Dunderbergh, and were advancing by a circuitous route to attack
the fort in the rear. About the middle of the afternoon the Brit
ish columns appeared, and pressed on to the assault with bayo
nets flxed. But our men poured down upon them such a destruc
tive flre of bullets and grape shot that theyfeU in heaps, and were
kept at bay tUl night-faU, when our folks, being worn out by con
tinued fighting, and overpowered by numbers, were obUged to
give way. Then Gov . Clinton told them to escape for iheir lives,
when many fought their way out, or scrambled over the waU,
aud so got away. It must have fared badly with the rest, as the
enemy after entering the fort continued to stab, knock down and
kill our soldiers without pity. Favored by the darkness, Tunis
attempted to escape through one of the entrances, though it was
nearly blocked up by the assaUing column, and the heaps of
killed and wounded ; but presently, as an English soldier held a
miUtiaman bayoneted against the waU, Tunis, stooping down,
slipped between the Briton's legs, and escaped arotmd the fort
toward the river. He said he had gone but a little way, when a
cry of distress, evidently from a young person, arrested his atten
tion. A poor boy, in maldng.his escape, had faUen into a crevice
in the rooks, and was unable to extricate himself. Tunis, at no
Utfle risk, crept down to where the lad was and drew him out,
but in doing so hurt himself quite badly, by scraping one of his
legs on a sharp rock. He then gained the river and found a skiff,
in which he and two or three others crossed over. Then a party
of them travelled in Indian file, through the darkness and cold
drizzling rain, stopping once at the house of a friendly farmer,
where they got some food, and as the day broke entered FishkiU;
whence they crossed to New Windsor, and there met Gov. Clinton
and many more who had made good their escape. AU felt greatly

34
dispirited,- but the Governor tried to cheer them, remarking :
"WeU, my boys, we've been badly beaten this time, but have
courage, the next time the day may be ours. " Without much de
lay Mr. Van Arsdale set out for home, as fast as his lameness ad
mitted of, knowing how great anxiety would be felt on his ac
count. But of his brother John ; he had no knowledge of what
had befallen him, and indulged the worst feais as to his fate.
Such in brief was Van Arsdale's account of that sanguinary
affair divested of many Uttle particulars of the battle and its
sequel. But his limited observation could include but a smaU
pai-t of what passed on that most eventful day, as we are now
able to gather it from many sources.
With ^a view to cooperate -with General Burgoyne, who had
invaded the State from the north, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry
Clinton, having a force of about 3,000 men, sailed from New York
on the 4th of October, with the design of reducing the forts in
the Highlands, and, if possible, open communication -with Bur
goyne's army. The same night their advance as far as Tarryto-wn
was known at Fort Montgomery, and that they had landed a large
force at that place. The next moming (Sunday) advices were
received that they had reached King's Ferry, connecting Ver
plank's and Stony Point. That alternoon they landed a large
body of men on the east side of the river, to divert attention from
the real point of attack, but they re-embarked in the night An
extract from Sir Henry CUnton's report to General Howe, dated
Fort Montgomery, October 9th, -wUl begin at this point, and form
a proper inlarodnction to our side of the story. Says he :
' ' At day-break on the 6th the troops disembarked at Stony
Point. The avant-garde of 500 regulars and 400 pro-vincials,*
commanded by Lieut. -Ool. Campbell, -with Ool. Robinson, of the
provincials, under him, began its march to occupy the pass of
Thunder-hiU (Dunderbergh). This avant-garde, after it had
passed that mountain, was to proceed by a detour of seven miles
round the hiU (caUed Bear HUl), and debouoher in the rear of
Fort Montgomery ; whUe Gen. Vaughan, with 1200 men,t was to
continue his march towards Fort CUnton, covering the corps
under Lieut.-Col. Campbell, and aportee to cooperate, by attack
ing Fort CUnton, or, in case of misfortune, to favor the reti-eat.
Major-Gen. Tryon, -with the remainder, being the rear guard, | to
* The 52d and 27th Regiments, the Royal Amei ican Regiment, Col .
Beverly Robinson, the No-w York Volunteers, Major Grant, aud
Emerick's Provincial Chasseurs.
, t Grenadiers and Light Infantry, the 26th and C3d Regiments, one
company of the 71st Highlanders, one tioop of dismounted dragoons,
and Hessian Chasseurs.
X The Eoyal Fusileers and Hessian Regiment of Trumhack.

35

leave a battalion at the pass of Thunder-hiU, to open our com
munication with the fleet.
" Tour Excellency recollecting the many, and^I may say extra
ordinary difficulties of this march over the mountains, every natu
ral obstruction, and all that art could invent to add to them, will
not be surprised that the corps intended to attack Fort Mont
gomery in the rear, could not get to its ground before flve o'clock ;
about which time I ordered Gen. Vaughan's corps, aportee, to be
gin the attack on Fort Clinton, to push, if possible, and dislodge
the enemy from their advanced station behind a stone breast
work, having in front for half a mUe a most impenetrable abatis.
This the General, by his good disposition, obUged the enemy to
quit, though supported by cannon ; got possession of the wall,
and there waited the motion of the cooperating troops, — when I
joined him, and soon afterwards heard Lieut. Col. CampbeU be
gin the attack. I chose to wait a favorable moment before I
ordered the attack on the side of Fort Clinton, which was a circu
lar height, defended by a line for musketry, with a barbet-battery
in the centre, of three guns, and flanked by two redoubts ; the
approaches to it through a continued abatis of four hundred
yards, defensive every inch, and exposed to the flre of ten pieces
of cannon. As the night was approaching, I determined to seize
the first favorable instant. A brisk attack on the Fort Montgom
ery side, the gallies -with their oars approaching, firing and even
striking the fort, the men-of-war at that moment appearing,
crowding aU saU to support us, the extreme ardor of the troops,
in short, aU detei mined me to order the attack ; Gen. Vaughan's
spirited behavior and good conduct did the rest. Having no
time to lose, I particularly ordered that not a shot should be fired ;
in this I was strictly obeyed, and both redoubts, &c., were
stormed.* Gen. Tryon advanced with one battaUon to support
Gen. Vaughan, in case it might be necessary, and he arrived in
time to join in the cry of victory !
" Trumbach's Regiment was posted at the stone waU to cover
our retreat, in case of misfortune. The night^being dark, it was
near eight o'clock before we could be certain of the success of
the attack against Fort Montgomery, which we afterwards found
had succeeded at the same instant that of Fort CUnton did ; and
that by the excellent disposition of Lieut. Col. CampbeU, who
was unfortunately kUled on the flrst attack, but was seconded by
Col. Hobinson, of the loyal American Eegiment, by whose knowl
edge of the country I was much aided in forming my plan, and

* This refers only to the final assault; the enemy filed upon our
people both inthe preliminary Bkiimishes and after they were masters
of the forts. J. B.

36
to whose spirited conduct in the execution of it, I impute in a
great measure the success of the enterprise."
Prom this official account by the British commander, we shaU
better understand the statements (including Gov. CUnton's report)
left us by the brave defenders of the two beleaguered fortressess ;
and which -wUl properly begin upon the day preceding the
battle. On Sunday night Gov. Clinton, who had just arrived and taken
command at Fort Montgomery, (the defense of Fort CUnton
being intrusted to his brother Gen, James CUnton), sent out a
party of about 100 men under Major Samuel Logan of the 5th,
or Dubois's regiment, across the Dunderbergh to watch the
motions of the enemy. The party returned in the morning and
reported that they had seen about forty boats fuU of men land
below the Dunderbergh. The real intention of the enemy was
now apparent. Hereupon the Governor sent out another party
of observation, consisting of 30 men, under Lieut. Paton Jackson
(5th regiment) who took the road that led to Haverstraw ;
when at about ten o'clock in the forenoon, having reached a
point some two mUes and a half below Fort Montgomery,
they suddenly came upon a concealed party of the enemy,
within five rods distant, who ordered them to club their muskets
and surrender themselves prisoners. They made no answer, but
fired upon the enemy and hastUy retreated. The fire was returned
and our people were pursued haU a mUe ; but they got off with
out losing a man, and retired into Fort Clinton. Soon after, intel
Ugence was received at Fort Montgomery that the enemy were
advancing on the west side of Bear HUl to attack that work in the
rear. Upon this Gov. CUnton immediately sent out 100 men
under Lieut. Col. Jacobus Bruyn (5th regiment) and Lieut. Col.
McClaughry, to take the road around Bear HiU to meet the ap
proaching enemy ; and at the same time dispatched another party
of 60 men, of Lamb's ArtUlery, with a brass field piece, to occu
py a commanding eminence on the road that diverged westerly to
Orange Fumaoe, or Forest of Dean. They were not long out, '
before both parties were attacked, about two o'clock in the after
noon, by the enemy in fuU force. The party under Cols. Bruyn
and McClaughry, fell in with them two mUes from the fort, when
the enemy haUing McClaughry, who took the lead, incimred how
many men he had. "Ten to your one, d  ^n you," replied the
undaunted colonel. But the enemy being so superior in numbers,
our people had to retreat, as of course they had expected, yet
keeping up a galling fusUade upon the foe. WhUe doing so, the
ground being very rough and in places steep, Capt. James
Humphrey, McClaughry's brother in law, lost his gun (for then
the American captains carried both a gun and sword), or as otliere

37

say, and which seems most correct, had it broken by a shot from
the enemy. In this dUemma he asked McClaughry what he should
do. " Throw stones Uke the devil," repUed the latter in thunder
tones ! The party on the Furnace road were strengthened to
upwards of an hundred, and kept their fleld piece playing Uvely
upon the cautiously advancing foe, doing great execution, till the
cannoniers were driven off with the bayonet, the enemy almost
surrounding them. But spiking the gun, they retreated in good
order to a twelve pounder, which by the Governor's direction had
been placed to cover them, and also keeping up the engagement
with small arms, tUl most of them got within the breastwork of
the fort. The late Lieut. Timothy Mix, of Lamb's ArtUlery, and
who died at New Haven in 1824, aged 85 years, was of this party.
WhUe in the act of flring the cannon his right hand was disabled
by a musket shot. Instantiy seizing the match with his left, he
touched off the piece !
Clinton immediately posted his men in the most advantageous
manner for defending the works, and before many minutes the
enemy, advancing in several columns, reached the walls and in
vested them on every side where possible to do so. Cannon
planted at the entrances mowed them down as they ascended the
hUl, but the breach was immediately closed up, and they press'^d
on to the assault. The attack now became general on both forts,
and was kept up incessantly for some time ; though the small
ness of our numbers (about 500, in both forts), which required
every man to be upon continual duty and demanded unremitted
exertion, fatigued our people greatly, while the enemy, whose
number was thought to be at least 4,000, continued to press us
-with fresh troops. Yet notwithstanding their utmost efforts, the
enemy were many times repulsed and beaten back from our breast
works with great slaughter. Col. Mungo Campbell feU in lead
ing the flrst attack on Fort Montgomery, his place being taken
by Col. Beverly Eobinson, of the Loyal Americans. This caused
a temporary check. About half-past four, they sent a flag, which
Lt.-Col. WilUam Livingston was deputed by the Governor to go
out and receive. They demanded a surrender in five minutes, to
prevent the effusion of blood, otherwise we should all be put to
sword ! The gallant young colonel answered, -with irony, that he
would accept their proposals if they meant to surrender, and could
assure them good usage ; that we were determined to defend the
fort to the last extremity! Then the action was renewed with
fresh vigor on both sides ; our officers aiding and encouraging their
men to every possible effort. Col. McClaughry was one of the
most active; full of fire, he fought like a tiger; his white coat
was seen, now here, now there, as he kept going about among
his men, inspiring them with his o-wn invincible spirit. The con-

38

flict went on untU the dusk of evening, when the enemy stormed
the upper redoubt at Fort Montgomery, which commanded the
fort, and after a severe struggle, and overpowering us with num
bers, got possession of it, when our men were forced to give way.
The flrst to enter the fort were the New York Volunteers (led by
Capt. George TurnbuU), a provincial corps, whose commander.
Major Grant, was kUled before the assault. At the same time
they stormed and got possession of Fort Clinton, in which, besides
a company of Lamb's ArtiUery, were none but miUtia, but who
nobly defended it, till they also were obliged to yield to superior
force. The garrisons, or as many as could, bound not to surrender,
gaUantiy fought their way out, those of Fort Montgomery retreat
ing across the gully on the north side ; whUe many others, includ
ing Gov. Clinton, escaped over the south breastwork, and making
their way down to the water's edge, crossed the river on the boom.
The darkness of the evening much favored the escape of our sol
diers, as did their knowledge of the various paths in the moun
tains, and a large number, with nearly aU the officers, got away.
But many were taken prisoners, and about 100 were slain ; among
the latter was a son of Colonel Allison, and Capt MUUken, of Mc
Claughry's regiment (Mr. Sears' captain) ; also James Van Ars
dale, of Hanover Precinct, a kinsman of Tunis and John, and a
private in Dubois's regiment. John Thompson was kjUed, who
was nearly related to the Clintons, and cousin to WUliam Bodle,
Esq., late of Tompkins County, N. Y* The enemy paid dearly
for their conquest, both in officers and men, the total being 41
kUled and 142 wounded. Among the officers kUled, besides Col.
CampbeU, Majors Grant and Sill, and Capt Stewart, was Count
* Judge Bodle wae bom only a stone's throw from the Clinton'home-
sfcead, in Little Britain (being a s eoad cousin to the Clintons); but at
the time of the battle was a farmer on the Walkill. The distance made
him late, and he reached the vicinity of the forts only to learn that the
enemy had possession . Next morning, going home, he suddenly met
Claudius Smith, the noted Tory robber. They knew each other.
Bodle was perplexed, but putting on a bold front, approached Claudius'
who seemed very friendly. After inquirmg the news from the river'
Smith said he had to go away, but added: " Mr. Bodle, you are weary'
go to my house yonder and ask my wife for some breakfast, and say
that I sent you." Seeming to accept his offer, but suspecting a trick
Bodle steered for home, nor felt quite safe tiU he reached Chester'
Smith was a bold, accomplished villain, a terror to the people of
Orange, and whose career of brigandage has aU the air of romance
He was finally hung at Goshen, January 22, 1779. Mr. Bodle was one
of the citizens who guarded him while in jaU. Smith asked him if he
-would really shoot him, if a rescue were attempted. Bodle said his
duty would compel him to it. "Ah I Bodle, I don't believe you," said
Smith. See Eager s Orange County, for an account of Smith and his
gang, made up in part from an article w6>rote many years ago for the
"True Sun." But not a fact in that article (save the incident above
related), came from Judge Bodle, as Mr. Eager assumes.

39

Gribouski, a Polish nobleman acting as aid-de-oamp to Sir Henry
Clinton ; and Sir Henry himself narrowly escaped our grape-shot,
as also Maj. Gen. John Vaughan, whose horse was shot under
him. Many incidents are related of those who met -with hair-breadth
escapes. Gen. James CUnton was among the last to leave Fort
Clinton, and escapsd not until he was severely wounded by the
thrust of a bayonet, pursued and firad at by the enemy, and his
attending servant killed. He sUd down a declivity of one hun
dred feet to the ra-vine of the creek which separated the forts,
and proceeding cautiously along its bank reached the mountains
at a safe distance from the enemy, after ha-ving fallen into the
stream, by which, the water being cold, the flow of blood from
his wound was staunched. The return of Ught enabled him to
find a horse, which took him to his house, in Little Britain, where
he arrived about noon, covered -with blood, and suffering from
a high fever. Oapt. WiUiam Faulkner, of MoClaughry's regi
ment, had a bayonet driven in his breast with such force that,
being unfixed at the same moment, it stuck fast, when he himself
drew it out, and threw it back with all his might, and his man
feU. The enemy were pressing into the fort, and the captain
made his way on the ground by the side of the column and got
out. Walking a mUe or so he lay down to drink at a brook, the
draft stopped the blood, but he was too weak to rise. He " made
his peace -with God " (to use his own expression), and expected
there to die. But a man came along on horseback, who plaoed
him on his horse, and took him to an inn two miles beyond.
There he found a dozen of his own men, by whom he was taken
to his own house on the WalkiU, and he flnally recovered.*
When the battle had ended, and the enemy had set a guard,
Corporal Van Arsdale, who had shown great spirit in the flght,
and was among the last to cease flring, resolved not to be made a
prisoner, and managed to escape from the fort ; but he had only
gone a short distance when he was shot in the caK of the leg, and
seized by a British soldier while in the act of crossing
a fence. He was conducted back into the fort, under
a torrent of abuse from his captor, who threatened to take
his Ufe, and he himself expected instant death. His gun was
demanded, and wheu deUvered, the barrel was yet so hot from
frequent flring that the soldier quickly dropped it, with another
imprecation. . Then the old musket, its last work so nobly done,
was ruthlessly broken to pieces over the rocks. Van Arsdale and
* Jeptha Lee, of Lamb's Artillery, was one of those who escaped
out of the fort with General James Clinton. He served with John Van
Arsdale, under Cipt. Faulkn3r, in 1779, and died iu 1855, at Ulysses,
N. Y.

40
the other prisoners, two hundred and seventy-five in aU, includ
ing twenty-eight officers, were kept under guard for a day or two
at the forts, then put on board the British transports and taken
to New York. Forty -four of Van Arsdale's regiment were among
them including the brave colonel McClaughry (who was suffering
from seven wounds),''' and his brother-in-law Capt Humphrey, of
whom it was said by one Van Tuyl (among the last to escape from
Fort Montgomery) that, when he left, Humphrey was yet thro-wing
stones ! The prisoners, on arri-ving at New York, October, 10th,
were landed, and the privates marched up to Livingston's
Sugar House, in Liberty Street, between Nassau and WiUiam,
and put in custody of Sergeant WooUy ; excepting the badly
wounded, who were sent to the hospital. The officers, -with
simUar exception, were taken to the old City HaU, whence,
two days after, they were inarched up to the Provost, and
placed in charge of the brutal Cunningham, where they remained
tUl after the surrender of Burgoyne, when, retaUation being
feared, nearly all the officers were sent (November Ist) to Long
Island, upon parole, t The privates had all been removed from
the Sugar House, October 24th, and put on board a prisonship,
anchored opposite Governor's Island. Van Arsdale, and his
friend Sears, needing surgical aid, were, with others, suffering
from their wounds, taken directly to the Presbyterian Church
in Beekman Street, known as the "Brick Church," and then
used by the enemy as an hospital. Sears had been very
badly hurt in the battle. After being shot in the leg, and
stabbed in the side by a bayonet, which fllled his shoes with blood,
he was knocked down with the but of a gun and trampled upon by
the invading column. At the hospital, the bullets being extracted
* OoL. McClaughky, though a prisoner and sorely wounded, showed
the same indomitable spirit as before. Left to suffer three days befc re
his wounds were dressed, in the belief that be could not Uve, his cap
tors tried to extort information from him, as to our strength. He re
plied curtly that Washington had a powerful army, and would yet whip
them , and he should live to see it ! He was soon exchanged, resumed his
command and survived the war. He was made an honorary member of
the Cincinnati, and lived most respectably upon his farm at Little Brit
ain, till his death in 1790, aged 67 years. He left no children.
Gen. Allison, as later styled, was exchanged during the ensuing
winter, and took home with him to Gov. Chnton f 2,000 m gold, loaned
by a good whig on Long Island, to aid the American cause. He died
in 1804, at the Drowned Lands, where he resided; leaving a very
respectable family and an ample estate. His daughter Sarah mar
ried William W. Thompson, and daughter Mary married Dr. William
Elmer. t The exceptions were 'Col. McClaughry, Capt. Humphrey, Lieut.
Solomon Pendleton and Ensign John McClaughry, both of Dubois's
regiment, Bnd Lieut. John Hunter, of MoClaughry's ; who were still
there Nov. 5th.

41

and theu- wounds dressed, they began to mend, but only three weeks
and three days elapsed, when they too were sent to the prison -
ship, and conflned between decks. Winter had set in very inclem
ent, their food was not only stale and unwholesome, but even this
was limited in quantity to two-thirds of a British soldiers when
at sea, which was one-third less than the allowance upon land ;
in consequence of which they suffered everything but death from
hunger and- cold. Nor was this the worst. The prisoners, from
these and other causes, became very sickly, and died off in great
numbers. Abel WeUs and four others of the Fort Montgomery
party, being tailors, were sent from the prisonship to the Provost,
November 24th, to make clothing for the prisoners there. * They
informed Judge Fell, a prisoner, that their company was then
reduced to one hundred. This mortality would seem to have
been heavy among Col. Dubois's men, very few of whom ever
rejoined their regiment. Van Arsdale was taken sick about the
20th of December, and had the good fortune to be sent to the
hospital, where he had some care, and soon recovered. Shortly
after going there he was joined by Sears, who was in a suffering
and helpless condition, his feet and legs having been badly frozen
in the prisonship. Fortunately Van Arsdale was getting better,
so that he was of great service to his friend, and which also tend
ed to divert his mind from his own misfortunes. He even begged
"coppers " from the British officers to buy Uttle comforts for
Sears ; but which, had it been for himself, he declared he would
have scorned to do, in any extremity. Sears always held that Van
Arsdale saved his life, and he spoke feelingly of his kindness to
him to the day of his death. Van Arsdale finding his condition
in the hospital much more tolerable, managed to prolong his stay,
by tying up his head and feigning illness when the doctor made his
daUy call. Thelatter would leave him some powders, but only to be
thrown away. This did not long avail him, and when reported well
enough to remove, he was taken back to the prisonship, to en
dure its indescribable miseries for several weary months. Words
cannot portray the horrors of this prison, which was loathesome
* They were, besides Wells, Robert Huston, Francis McBride, and
William Humphrey, of MoClaughry's regiment, and John Brooks, of
WoodhuU's. Abel Wells sickened and died in the Provost, Dec. 13,
1777. Benjamin Goldsmith and Garret Miller, worthy residents of
Smith's Clove in Orange County, deserve notice in this connection.
Goldsmith had a valuable horse stolen by Claudiui Smith's gang, and
some of his neighbors sustained similar losses. Finally a party went
out in pursuit of the robbers, but some, including Goldsmi'h and Miller,
fell into the hands of the British, and were sent to the Provost, where
both died of smallpox, Miller on the memorable 6th of October, and
Goldsmith on the 20th of October, 1777. Goldsmith was tbe father of
Daniel, who was the father of the present Mr. Daniel Goldsmith, of
Bloomingrove, and of the late David Goldsmith, of Schuyler Co., N. Y,

42

with filth and vermin, and where to the pangs of hunger anp
thirst, were added the alternate extremes of heat and cold.
Especially when the hatches were closed, as was always done at
night, the heat and stench caused by the feverish breath of hundreds
of prisoners became almost suffocating. Consequently dysentery,
small-pox and jaU fever made fearful ravages. The ghastly faces
of the starved and sick, and the pale corpses of the dead, the
groans of tha dying, the commingled voices of weeping, cursing
and praying, joined to the ravings of the dalirious; such were the
shocking saenes to which Van Arsdale was a witness, and which
added to his personal sufferings, made his situation one of the
most appalling to be conceived of. Fitly was this dungeon de
scribed by one of its inmates as " a Uttle epitome of Hell !" Kept
near to starvation. Van Arsdale, when allowed with other pris
oners, a few at a time, to go up on the quarter deck, was glad to
eat the beans or crusts he skimmed from the swUl kept there to
feed pigs, that he might partially relieve the knawings of hunger !
But we forbear further comment upon a fruitful topic, the cruel
treatment of the American prisoners, and whioh has flxed a stain
upon the perpetrators never to be wiped out !
Sears had returned to the prisonship about the last of March,
and in the month of May he and Van Arsdale, with other pris
oners, were picked out and removed again to the Sugar House.
This was probably a step towards an exchange of prisoners, then
contemplated, which made it necessary to separate those be
longing to the land service from the naval prisoners. The Sugar
House, with its five or six low stories, was crammed with Amer
ican patriots, and the passerby in warm weather could see its
Uttle grated windows filled with human faces, trying to catch a
breath of the external air ! But now a little more lenity seems to
have been shown some of the prisoners, perhaps in ¦view of the
exchange. Van Arsdale found a friend in his father's cousin,
Vincent Day, who had enUsted iu Lamb's ArtUlery, in 1775, but
did not go to Canada, and was now regarded as a loyalist. He
was permitted to see Van Arsdale, bring him food, etc.,* and a
* This kindness was repaid a dozen year later (1790) when Mr. Van
Arsdale and his wife took Mr. Day's eight year old motherless daughter
to nurture as thair own, they having been bereft the year previous of
their three young children, though seven more were given them after
wards. And Miry Day, (whose father died Oct 19, 1802, aged 49), re
mained with them till her marriage to William Hutohiugs, the father of
Mr. John Hutchings, of Norwalk, Ct. Amiable woman, pure and
artless as a child, aud to sum up her life iu a word, filling her humble
sphere with perfect fidelity,— among the happier days of the writer's
boyhood were those spent in summer recreations at her modest home at
Cow Bay, with the mill poni ani Squire MitcheU's old red grist miU,
and Uncle Billy's cooperage near it, aud aroimd the bluff tbe broad
sandy b?aoh, as rambhng ground; your pardon, indulgent reader, if
thoughts of the past do force a tear.

43
next step was to get leave for him to visit his house. This was a
most grateful reUef ; but it being suspected that Van Arsdale
meditated an escape (which my informant said was the case), this
privUege was cut off, and Day sent to the Provost for his human
ity. This incident was related to me by Mr. Abraham Van
Arsdale, before mentioned.
Van Arsdale had dragged out some two months of miserable
existence in the Sugar House, and in aU nine months and a half
as a prisoner, when the day of happy deUverance arrived. Gen.
Washington had long been trying to effect an exchange of prison
ers, but to overcome the scruples of the British commander took
months of negotiation. Terms were at length agreed upon by
which some six hundred Americans were set at liberty. On July
20th, Van Arsdale was released from iiis dungeon, and taken with
others in a barge down the bay, and via the KUls to EUzabeth
town Point, where they landed, and were delivered up to Major
John Beatty, the American Commissary. In marching from the
Point two miles to the village of Blizabethto-wn, Van Arsdale was
obUged to support his friend Sears, who was too feeble to walk
alone. Now breathing the air of freedom, they set out together
for their homes in Hanover Precinct, where Van Arsdale was
heartUy greeted by his numerous friends who received him as
one risen from the dead, and found a warm welcome in the house
of his brother Tunis. Emaciated to a degree, and suffering
from scurvy, he was for some time under the doctor's care, but
finally regained his healtli.
A nation's gratitude is the least tribute it can render to its
brave soldiers who have fought its battles ; but if any class of
patriots should be tenderly embalmed in a nation's memory, it is
those who, through devotion to country, have languished in
prison waUs, whether the " Sugar House," or a "Libby !" What
flrmness, and what consecration to country was required in
the Eevolutionary prisoners, under the pressure of their suffer
ings, to spurn the alluring offers freq lently made, to entice them
into the British service ; but so rarely successful. Do not their
names deserve to be -written in letters of gold, on the proudest
obeUsk that national gratitude and muniflcence united could
erect ?*
* List of the Amebicans who were made prisoners at Forts
Montgomery and^Clinton, Oct. 6, 1777.
OrFICEES.
Col. William Allison. Lieut. Paton Jackson, Sth Eegt.
Lt. Ci)l. James McClanghry. Lieut. John Furman, Sth Eegt.
Lt. Col. Jacobus Bruyn. Lieut. Henry Pawling, Sth Kegt.
Lt. Col. William Livingston. Lieut Ebenezer Mott, Sth Eegt.
Major Samuel Logan, Sth Eegt. *Lieut. Alexander McArthur, 5th Begt.

44

Van Arsdale's bitter experience at the hands of the Britons,
had changed his animosity towards them into unmitigated hate,
and we know that time but partially overcame it. So far from

Major Stephen Luoh, Brig de Major to
G n. G ciTc CUnton.
Mnjor Daniel Hamil, Brigade Major to
Gen. Jamps Clinton.
Maior Zachariah Dubois, Woodhuire
Regt.
Capt. Henry Godwin, Sth Regt,
Capt. James Humphrey, McClaughry's
Regt.
Capt. Lt. Cornelius Swartwout, Lamb's
Artillery.
Capt. Lt. Ephraim Fenno, Lamb's Ar
til le"rv.
Lieut. Solomon Pendleton, Sth Regt

Liput. Samuel Dorlge, Sth Eegt
Liput John Hunter, 3IcClaughry's
Rpgt.
Lieut Benjamin Halstead, Allison's
Reet.
Lient Hpury Brewster, Allison's Regt.
Enign Abraham Le'j-gett, Sth Regt.
Ensign John McClaughrv, Sth Regt.
EnPign Henry Swartwout. 5th Reet-
Afij. Dfp Qr. Mr. Gen. Oliver Glean.
Qr. Master Nebpmiah Carpenter.
Capt. Janes Gilliland, Director of Ord
nance.

Pbivates and Non-Commissionbd Ofpicbks.

5th, or CoL Dubois's Regiment.

David McHollister.
Martin Sh.iy.
Jacobus Tarbnsh.
Thaddeup Kennedy.
John McDonald.
John Conklin.
Jame*» Montanye.
Henrv Optraniier.
JacobuB Lngier.
David Bovins.
Vincent Venney.
Jeremiah Dunn.
Rohprt Pntrick.
"William Barber.
Benjamin "Wiley.
Danford Winchester.
* William Mullen.
Lewis Dixon.
John Tvery.
Nathaniel Otter.
Eliakim B'ush.
Robert Gille-pie.
Abraham Wright..
Jonathan Hallock.
James Weldon.
Thomas Tinn . "^
Samuel Tnrner.
Dar.iel Dominlck.
John WitIoci<.
Jacobus Terwilliger.
James Steel.
Thomas Crispell.
Enos Lent.
Jacobus Lent.
John Albright.
Alexander Ockey.
Thomas Hartwell.
Patrick Dorian.
Samui I Crosby.]
Mosep Shnll,
John West.
Johi Mrlntosh.
Henry Schoonmaker.
Joseph Morgan.
Jonathan Slockham.
Abel Randall
'I'homas Kent.
William Banker.
Peter Woll^.
Jopeph Deneyck.
Jolin Wpston.
Michael Bnrgh.
Thomas Smith.

Themas Conklin.
Ephraim Adams.
Francis Sears.
Samuel Gprrison.
William Willis.
Abraham Jorden.
John Storm .
Thomas McCarty.
Thomas Hendricks.
John Chamberlin.
Zpbulou Woodruff.
Paul Keizler.
George Heck.
John Miller.
John AHi'-'on,
Samuel Boyd.
Wil iam Weaver.
William Ivery,
John Stanley,
John Brown.
George Polton.
*Philip Felix.
Aaron Knapp.
James Mitchell,
J-^hn Johnston.
Nehemiah Sniffen.
Solomon Shaw.
Jame-* Montieth.
Daniel Lower.
John Hunt.
Michael Johnston
Jo.«i ph Reeder.
John Price.
Robert Marshall.
Scott Travers.
John Satterly.
James Amprman.
Harman * rum.
Snmuel Gr ffin.
Cornpllns Acker.
Jacob Lawrence.
Francis Gaines.
Benjamin Griffln.
Enos Snitfeu
Joseph Boltou
James Hannah
William Slott.
Benjamtn Chichester
Francis Drake.
Jiisrer Smith
Williiim Casseltou
Edward Allen
Wimam Banl

45

weaning him from the dangers and hardships of a soldier's life,
it only nerved him with courage, and fixed his purpose to re-enter
the service, an opportunity for which soon offered.
The frequent atrocities committed by the Indians and Tories
upon the settlers on the frontiers, within New York and Pennsyl
vania, aud especially the massacres, the preceding year, at Wyom
ing and Cherry Valley, led to retributive measures, which took

Elisah Petty,
David Clark.
HuU Peck.
William Taylor.
Edwara Keen.
Hugh Liudsey.
David Pembroke.
Thomas Griflith,
Robert English.
David Stone.
John TwitchelL
Hugh McCall.
Thaddeus Barnes.

Col. Lamb's Arttllekt
AlexandtT Moffat t
David Haamore.
James Shearer.
William Swan.
John Patterson.
John Nelson.
IcMattl Smith.
Sa iiuel Furman.
Alexander Young.
John Kelly.
Alexander McCoy.
John Gardner.
Timothy Nichols.

Samuel Taylor.
James Bell,
Robcirt E-iton.
Kiciiard Sheridan.
James Koyl.
^James Lewis.
Jamea Tnompson.
Michael Dunning.
Jam ts Sawyer.
Joseph Mo'jre,
Jesse Dauniug.

Coii. AijiiisoN*s Regiment,
Peter Joues.
Uriah Black.
FredericK Nochton.
David Wheeler.
I'eter Stage.
Isaac Ketuham.
Henry Brewster.
Frederick Peiliger.
Caleb Ashley.
Timothy Corwiu.

*John McMullen.
Henry Neely.
Robert Henry.
William Scott.
Matihew Dubois.
Francis McBride.
Robert Huston.
Andrew Wilson.
Christopher Sypher.
John Djj*kis.
William Stinson.
Wi.Jiam Humphrey.
George Humphrey.
James Humphrey.
John Carmictiel.
John Skinner.
Gerardus Vineger.
Baltus Van Kieek.
Cornelius Slott.
WiUiam Howell.
John Hanan.

Coii. McOlaughrt's Begiment.
Robert Barkley.
James Wood.
David Thompson.
BJias Wool.
*Robert W..0I.
*Sarauei Hodge. ''
Wilham McMullen.
Isaac DeniOD.
Moses Cantine.
George Brown.
Eluathau Sears.
Philip Millfsp^iugh.
John Van ^vrsdate.
George Coleman.
Abel vVells.
Hezekiah Kune.
John Mauny.
Isaac Kinbrick
Samuel Falls.
James MUler.

George Wilkin.
CorneUus Roosa.
Simon Ostrander.
Zachariah Terwilliger.
John Stevenson.
WUliam Warren.

Coii. Hasbrouck's Eegembnt.
Benjamin Lawrence.
Conn-liuB Sievens.
John Biugham.
John Snyder.
Robert Cooper.

46

the form of an expedition into the Indian country. This expedi
tion was to move in two divisions ; one under Major General
SulUvan, who was chief in command, to ascend the Susquehanna
river from Easton, the other under General James Clinton to
descend that river from the Mohawk VaUey ; and the two meet
ing at Tioga Point, the united force was to proceed up the
Chemung, to give the Indians battle, should they make a stand,
or otherwise to bum and lay waste their viUages, orchards and
crops, thus depriving them of subsistence, andthepower to repeat
their bloody forays upon the border settlements.
This design was scarcely matured, when our legislature, on
March 13th, 1779, ordered the raising of two regiments from the
miUtia, to be called State Levies, for the special defense of the
State, and particularly of the frontiers of Orange and Ulster,
which were subject to the stealthy attacks of roving Indians,
and of Tories disguised as Indians, the fear of which kept
the loyal inhabitants in constant alarm, and called for the main
tenance of a miUtary guard to prevent their falling a prey to these
destroyers in the British interest, or their abandonment of their
homes and possessions. One battalion of levies, so raised, was
commanded by Lieut.-Col. Albert Pawling, and under whom, in
the company of Capt. "WUUam Faulkner, our Van Arsdale en
Usted on the 10th of May. Governor Clinton had assured Wash-
Coii. WOODHtCLL's B.EGIMSNT.
John Brooks. James MitcJieU.
John Lamerey. John Armstrong.
Henry Cunningham. Peter GiUen.
John Crooks. Edward Tomkins.
William Penoyer. Randle House.
Simon Currens. "Christian House.
Israel Cushman. Isaac Hoffman.
Asa Kamsey.
*Joel Curtiss.
Thomas Harten. Col. flUTnTjionV, Zachariah Taylor.
Jesse Carpenter. Col. Drake's, Juhn Vantassel.
Benjamin Simmons. Col. Holme's, Cornelius Cornelius, Wil-
IsaacCooly. liam Eaudle.
Joshua Cnrrey. Col. Ogden'a, Thomas Cook.
James Thompson . Col. ^nW!'«, Jonathan Nichols.
Stephen Glark.
Corps Unknowk.
John Donalds. Tohias Lent.
Joseph Mead. George Depew.
George Peck. Auris Verplank.
Jense Lockwood . Albert Vautass .
Wagoners.
John Handle. 'Jacob Morris
Elias Vanvolver. 'John Tallow.
Samuel Anderson.
N. B.— The ten with a star are named in a list preserved by Col
¦Wm. Faulkner, but are not iu that furuiehed Gov. Clinton, by Josepli
Loring, British CommiBBary of Piisoners. McArthur returned to his
regiment, the other nine are not found again.

4^
mgton that Pawling would reinforce Gen. Clinton on his march
and take part in the expedition. But the sudden seizure of
Stony Pomt by the British, May Slst, and a further advance
which menaced West Point and obUged Governor CUnton to take
tbe fleld with aU his avaUable force, together with the burning
of Minisink by red and white savages under the cruel Brant, and
the fatal battle that ensued, July 22d, near the Delaware, in
which feU many of the brave yeomen of Orange, made it so'un-
safe to withdraw the levies from these borders that Governor
Clinton expressed a fear that he might not be able to detach
them upon the western expedition.
But eventuaUy Col. Pawling, with his battalion, about five
hundred men, left Lackawack and Shandaken, on the borders of
Ulster, upon the 10th of August The route lay across the country
for a hundred mUes, over mountains and rivers, and through
dark forests known only to the guides ; but it so happened that,
added to these obstacles, the rains set in and the rivers became
swoUen and impassable, except by rafts. This, with the state of
his provisions and other considerations, rendered it impracticable
for him to proceed, and he reluctantly turned back. He how
ever, pushed forward a smaU detachment of sixteen men, under
Capt. Abraham Van Aken, either to advise Gen. Clinton of his
approach or of his inabiUty to join him ; but Van Aken reached
Aghquaga, or Anquaga, on the Susquehanna, the day after Clin
ton had passed, so missed of seeing him ; and remaining there
some days, as would appear, then returned to camp, where he
arrived September 1st. It transpired that CUnton had reached
Anquaga on the 14th, and, waiting till the 16th, then sent out
Major Church, with the Fourth Pennsylvania Eegiment, five or
six mUes to look for Pawling, but they returned without seeing
him, and the next morning Clinton pursued his march. This
was a great disappointed to Van Arsdale and others, who were
fuU of ardor to share in the expedition under SulUvan, and our
statement must correct the existing belief that Van Arsdale did take
part in it, whUe it explains how he faUed of the coveted oppor
tunity. Major Van Benschoten, with a detachment of the levies, includ
ing Van Arsdale and his company, in which he was serving as cor
poral, proceeded, October 31st, to the camp on the Hudson, and
were ordered to Stony Point to augment its garrison. But the
winter setting in with severity, the men through anxiety to reach
home, began to desert in great numbers, on account of which
they were ordered to Poughkeepsie, and set out December 16th.
At PishkUl, the next day they were paid off, up to October 31st,
the date they arrived in camp. What Capt. Faulkner then paid
him was all that Van Arsdale received in Ueu of his services, past

48

or subsequent, till after the war ended. He remained with his
company untU it was disbanded on December 25th, when he was
honorably discharged and went home, having acquitted him as
" a good soldier " in the estimation of his captain.
He spent the winter at Neelytown, giving spare time to improv
ing his mind in some useful studies. It was the famous "Hard
Winter," and it made a fearful draft on the woodpUe ; taking the
brothers often to the woods with their axes, to keep up the sup
ply of fuel. Snow covered the ground to an average dej)th of six
feet or more, fences and roads were obUterated, and travel went
in aU directions over the hard crust. Being difiicult if not dan
gerous for a team, they drew their wood home on a hand sled.
On the melting of the snow iu the spring, the stumps left were of
sufficient length to be used by Tunis for making fence raUs !
A dark cloud hung over our cause in the spring of 1780 ; there
were no funds with which to pay the army, or even to supply it
with necessary food and clothing. Pressed by keenest want,
officers were resigning, large bodies of soldiers whose time had
expired were leaving, while such as remained were disheartened,
— ^less by the remembrance of hardships past, than by what the
future seemed to forebode. It was under such discouragements,
when '* Allegiance wand'ring turns astray
And Faith grows dim for lack of pay."
that Van Arsdale re-entered the army, to share its fortunes what
ever those might be. An Act had been passed March 11th, 1780,
to raise a body of levies for the defense of the frontiers. It
required every thirty-five male inhabitants, of competent age, to
engage and equip one able-bodied recruit to serve in their stead
in said levies. Whether at the soUcitation of his neighbors, Uable
under this Act, or prompted by his own devotion to the service,
or both combined, we have no means of knowing, but we find
Van Arsdale joining the levies on the 2d of May. But under au
act of June 24th ensuing, which permitted, privates serving in
the luvies to enlist in either of the continental battaUons belong
ing 10 the State Line, provided they engaged to serve for the war.
Van Arsdale with the theu common idea that this was the more
hrnorable service, took his discharge from the levies, and enlisted
in the company of Oapt. Henry Vandebergh (^being the 1st com
pany) of the 5th New York regiment, of which Marinus WiUett
was Lieut -Col. Commandant, and belonging to Gen. James Clin
ton's brigade. This brigade was theu in garrison at West Point,
and Van Ai'sdale's initial service was fatigue duty on the four re
doubts at that post, and guard duty at Fort Montgomery ; the
latter reviving but too vividly the campaign of 1777, and its great
disaster, many traces of which were stUl .visible. Vandebergh,

49
who had had command of the company as lieutenant for the four
months since its captain, Rosecrance, became a major, was now
promoted July 1st, and on the 30th, was officially put in command
as captain. Upon the latter date (it having before been given
out that an attack was to be made upon New York City), the New
York brigade was directed to march next moming at sunrise.
They moved accordingly, crossed the Hudson and took up a posi
tion below PeekskUl. But the object of the advance, which was
merely strategic, having been served, the army again crossed the
river at Verplank's Pomt, and on August 7th made headquarters
at Clarkstown. Washington had given orders a week previous
for the immediate formation of a corps of Light Infantry, to be
commanded by General Lafayette. It consisted of two brigades
each of three battalions, and each battaUon composed of eight
companies selected from the diflferent lines of the army, by taking
the first or "Ught company" of each regiment. Capt. Vande-
bergh's company was included in a battaUon under Ool. Philip
Van Cortlandt. Gen. Lafayette was "at great expense to equip
this corp which was pronounced as fine a body of meu as was ever
formed. They were in neat uniform, and each soldier wore a
leather helmet, with a crest of horsehair, and carried a fusU.
The General took command August 7th, and at three o'clock the
next moming the army marched, with the Ught infantry in the
advance, and proceeded to Orangetown, where and in the vicinity
it lay for some time, in readiness, should Sir Henry CUnton leave
on an expedition eastward or southward, of which there were in
dications, to strike a vigorous blow at New York. Soon after
occurred the foul treason of Arnold, and the capture, trial and
execution of Major Andre. The Ught infantry were at Tappan,
October 2d, when this last sad tragedy took place.* Lafayette
felt great pride in ^his corps, and was at infinite pains to perfect
its discipUne, which by the assiduity of the officers he brought to
*Gen. Latatette, upou his last visit to this country, arrived at
Staten Island, on Sunday, August 15, 1824. Capt Van Arsdale had a
grandson bom on the same day. The next morning on landing at the
Battery, the General was received by the Veteran Corps, and passing
along the Une, took each member cordially by the hand. Coming to
Capt. Van Arsdale, he looked him intently in the face, as If he knew
him, yet was not quite sure. But the iuBtant the Captain alluded to his
service in the Light Infantry Corps, the General's countenance Ughtened
up, and there was a full recognition. "Van Arsdale,"' said he with
emotion, as if the glorious past was flushing his memory, "Van Arsdale,
I remember you weU!" Going home, pleased beyond measure, that the
General should recollect bim, after a lapse of foity-fo or years, Capt. Van
Arsdale went to see his little grandson, and being desired to give him
a name, called him John Lafayette. This was the late Col. J. Lafayette
Kiker, of the 62d New York Volunteers, who in defense of the flag for
which his grandsire sacrificed so muoh, nobly laid down his life at the
battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.

50

high proficiency. But the campaign passed without affording
him an opportunity to perform any signal service. The corps
was broken up on November 28th for the winter, and the com
panies returned to their respective regiments.
¦ On December ith the New York Une saUed for Albany to go
into winter quarters, but, the levies whioh had joined it, being
discharged by order of Gen. Washington, because of a scarcity
of provisions and clothing. Van Arsdale took leave of his regi-
ment,December 15th, much to his disappointment, having enlisted
for the war. But he had won the favor of Col. WUlett, who
was pleased to say that he was " a good soldier and attended to|
his duties." Except a small gratuity from the State, of "Twen
ty DoUars of the BiUs of the new emission," received when he
joined the Sth regiment, he returned without any remuneration
for his services in this campaign ; but with a patriotism uncooled,
and rising superior to mercenary motives, the winter recess was
no sooner past when Van Arsdale again joined the levies raised for
the defense of the State, under Ool. Albert Pawling. One of the
captains was John Burnet, of Little Britain, who had been in the
battle at Fort Montgomery. Van Arsdale entered his company,
AprU 25th, 1781, and was given the position of sergeant, with
ten doUars a month pay, which was an advance of two doUars.
He was posted much of the time on the frontier of Ulster County,
where the levies were billeted on the families, a few in a house,
to protect them from Indians. These had done but Uttle mis
chief in this section of the State, since the crushing blow inflicted
upon them by SulUvan's expedition. The principal outrage had
been committed th's last year (1780), when a small party under
Shank's Ben, on September 17th, attacked the house of Col.
Johannes Jansen, in Shawangunk, intending to capture him, but,
faUing in this, seized and carried off a young woman -named Han
nah Goetschius, and whom, with one John Mack and his daughter,
Elsie, they murdered and scalped in the woods !
But the present year witnessed a more formidable invasion.
Col. PawUng bed sent out Silas Bouck and PhiUp Hine, on a
scout, to watch for the enemy. Near the Neversink Kiver, they
discovered a large body of Indians and Tories approaching ; but,
then starting back to give the alarm, were intercepted by Indian
runners and captured. The settlements were therefore unpre
pared for a visit ; when early on Sund;iy miuniug, August 12th,
this savage horde stole into Wawai-sing and began an attack upou
the stone fort. Being repulsed with loss, tht v departed to plun
der and burn a dozen scattered dwellings ; many others being
saved by the bravery of the levies quartered iu them. Pursued
by Col. PawlUig as soon as he could coUect a force, they had time
to escape ; but, on September 22d, returned again to burn Wa-

51

warsing. On this occasion, also, they flrst attempted to surprise
the fort, but an alarm being given by the sentinel flring his gun,
the garrison were warned and tho inhabitants fled from their
houses and secured themselves. The enemy, again repulsed with
a number slain, proceeded to pUlage and burn the place. Capt.
Burnet was then stationed at a blockhouse at Pinebush (in Mom-
backus, now town of Bochester), whence he and Capt. Kortright
marched towards Wawarsing, but, not being in sufficient force
to give battle, turned back. Soon Col. PawUng arrived and they
pursued the enemy about 40 mUes, being out seven days, but
they could not overtake them. There was a private in Van
Arsdale's company named George Anderson, who three years
before had performed an exploit which marked him as a hero.
He and Jacob Osterhout were seized one evening in a tavern at
Lackawack, by some Indians and Tories, and carried off towards
Niagara. When within a day's march of that place, Anderson,
at midnight, effected their release, aud with Ms own hand toma-
, hawked the three sleeping Indians who then had them_in charge ;
then, each taking a gun, provisions, etc. , set out with all speed
for home, where they arrived exhausted and almost starved, after
seventeen days. The State gave Anderson £100 " for his valor. "
Van Arsdale used to relate this adventure, whence has come the
mistaken idea that it happened with himself.*
On Dec. 19th, Van Arsdale's service ended, and he returned
home to spend the winter ; with a good conscience, doubtless,
but stUl with empty pockets ! Yet all looked bright and hopefiU,
great success had crowned our arms in other quarters ; the proud
CornwaUis had been humbled, and his splendid army captured.
On the opening of 1782, measures were concerted to foUow up
these successes ; the army was maintained, and a body of levies
were also raised in this State to afford the usual protection to our
frontiers. In these Van Arsdale enUsted on the 27th of AprU, in
the company of Capt John L. Hardenburgh, of Ool. Frederick

* Soon after Anderson's escape, the Indians, in retaliation, as was
beUeved, burnt a house and several bams near Pinebush (m Mom-
backus), murdered two men, and carried off a third, named Baker,
who was never heard of again, aud was probably reserved for the
worst tortures. Two or three hundred troops then lay at a fort on
Honk Hill, under Lt. Col. Newkerk, of MoClaughry's regiment, and
volunteers being called for, to go out and intercept the Indiana who
were supposed to be few in number, Lieut. John Graham offered himself ,
and set out with twenty man. At the Chestnut Woods (now Grahams-
viUe, Sullivan Co.,) they lay in wait for the wiley foe, but were them
selves drawn into an ambush, and only two escaped to tell the sad
tragedy. Lieut. Graham feU at the first fire. This happened on Sep
tember 6th L778. Three hundred men went out and buried the dead
where they fell. They had all been scalped . Graham was an uncle to
the lady whom Van Arsdale afterwards married, and a half-brother to
"Wm. Bodle, Esq., before mentioned. <

52

Weissenfels' regiment. Five days after, he was made sergeant,
and served as such during that campaign, holding the place of
flrst or orderly sergeant from Sept. 24th. But the season passed
iu inactivity, and the magazine of provisions at Marbletown being
exhausted, the levies wers disbanded, and on December 28th,
Van Arsdale received an honorable and flnal discharge from the
army. He laid away his musket with a Ughter heart than on any
former occasion. True he and his fellow soldiers had received no
pay during the last three oampaigns! But he had escaped the
thousand perUs of the service and was permitted to see
this grevious war practically closed and independence secured.
Recompense ample, yet the State was just to its brave defenders,
and soon afterwards paid them for this service, and also those who
had been prisoners of war, for their time from the day they were
captured to the day of their return from captivity.*
There were more times than one. Van Arsdale being at home,
when the farmhouse at Neelytown, upon sudden news of a victory,
echoed with cheers long and loud, and witnessed a Uvely jig,
enacted then and there impromptu, with all his early zest for the
dance ; but how buoyant were his spirits now, the bitterness of
the struggle being past and the flnal victory achieved, whUe the
future seemed radiant with promise.
The ensuing winter, spent with his brother, was one of unusual
gayety, and at a social party given by his old friend, Alexander
Bodle, then married and living at La Grange, he first met with
his future wife, Mary Crawford, a most amiable girl, six years his
junior. Escorting her home in his sleigh, the acquaintance
ripened — the bans were pubUshed in the church at Goshen, of
which her father, David Crawford, was an elder ; and the Rev.
Nathan Ker married them at the hospitable farmhouse, iu WaUdll
on the 16th of June, 1783. Van Aisdale now left his brother's
where he had experienced a kindness almost parental, and with
his biide, who ever proved herself a discreet companion, went to
keeping house in New Windsor. He had found an occupation
suited to his robust and active temperament. The owner of the
Black Prince, «¦ vessel used during the war as a gunboat, but now
fitted up for the more peaceful service of conveying passengers
and freight on the Hudson, wanted Van Ai-sdale as a partner.
The latter assented, he always loved the water ; it was moreover

* He was entitled to a "Soldier's Right," (500 acres), in the unappro-
pnated lands of the State, which was promised each recruit joinius the
Levies m 1781, to be given him as soon afer his term of service clSsed
as the survey could be safely made ; but it is traditionary in the familv'
that thmkmg it of little value, he neglected to secure it within the tune
prescribed by law, three years after tbe war should close. Eights sold
for only $60, after the war. ^

53

an opportunity to begin life respectably with his Polly, for a Uving
was not so easUy secured just after the war, when the country
was impoverished, money scarce and times hard, whUe he saw
many of his old comrades in arms wanting employment. So he
donned the tarpaulin and sailor jacket, and entered on a calUng
in which he was engaged when the incident of November 25th,
1783, occurred; and at which he became a veteran, sustaining the
character of a safe and skUlful captain, and an honest and noble-
hearted man. Affable to and careful of the passengers who
patronized his packet ; this in itself was an advertisement, and
many making their annual visit to the City, either for pleasure or
to seir their dairies or other farm produce, or to purchase goods
(for the day of raUroads was not yet), muoh preferred sailing
with " Captain John. " His passenger list was full on the trip
preceding Evacuation Day, but of that memorable day we need
add nothing ; and the sequel of Oapt. Van Arsdale's life will be
briefly told.
After four years the Captain closed his business relations with
New Windsor, and removed to New York, taking command of the
"Democrat" for Col. Henry Rutgers, and where, with the excep
tion of brief residences on Long Island and in Westchester County,
before his fiaial return to the Oity in 1811, he made his home for the
rest of his life. He was granted the freedom of the City, April
1st, 1789 ; and shortly after engaged in a different calUng, but flve
years later resumed the old one, and successively saUed (some
times as part owner), the Deborah— named for his mother— the
Packet, Neptune, Rising-Sun, Ambition, Venus and Hunter. It
was while saiUng the Hunter, during the last war with England,
that in coming out of Mamaroneck Harbor (September 17th,
1813), he narrowly escaped capture by one of the enemy's vessels;
a market boat which they had seized and manned, to more easUy
entrap ours. The Captain thought they acted strangely, but dis
covered their real character only when they bore down and
rounded to, with intent to board him. But the Captain was too
quick for them. Ordering the passengers below, he instantly
tacked about, the bullets now flying thick around him, and shout
ing to the foe to fire away, it was not the first time they had
wasted powder on him, he was soon beyond their reach, and got
in safely, witb no other damage than saUs riddled, and a few holes
in the hull. The people ashore, havmg heard the flring and
alarmed for the Oaptam's safety, were overjoyed, and came out in
small boats to help him in. There were several Uttle mcidents
conneoted with this adventure. A brave woman on board, a Mrs.
Wallace Uisisted upon rowmg with a sweep, tUl fakly forced to
desist and go below. The cabm-boy when told to go down,, de
murred, saying, "Captam, when your head is off, I'U take the

.54
helm." A few days before, the Captain going into the country
to buy produce, had told his son David to keel up the vessel aud
and give it a coat of taUow, which preserved tbe timbers, kept her
tight and helped her saUing. David obeyed orders, but so
thoroughly and weU, that he ran up a big score for tallow at the
store, to the astonishment of his father when he came to see the
bill, and who gave David a round reprimand for his extravagance.
But after the trial of speed with the enemy, "David," said the
Captain, patting his son on the shoulder, " we hadn't a bit too
much tallow on to-day !"
Speaking of David, he was in one respect " a chip of the old
block," he reUshed a joke next the best. And so it happened on
an occasion, that the schooner lay at Cow Harbor, loading with
wood, when a Montauk Indian came aboard, asking a passage to
New York. Now the Captain had a kind heart ; but had sworn
eternal enmity to the whole race of aborigines. His ears flUed
with recitals of Indian outrages, when scouting on the frontiers ;
an eye-witness of the cruelties inflicted on peaceable communi
ties by the flrebrand and the tomahawk ; yes, his soul harrowed
at the sight of innocent victims, as they lay in their gore, mur
dered and scalped ; if there was on earth an object at sight of
which his very blood boiled, it was an Indian ! David knew it
well, yet the young rogue sent the Indian into the cabin to see
the Captain. "What do you want?" asked the latter gruffly.
" To go to New York, Captain," said the poor native. " Get out
of this, you Indian dog," was his only answer, whUe the Cap
tain's cudgel at his heels, as he scrambled up the compauionway,
sent the applicant off at a much liveUer gait -than "an Indian
trot." But then it was that the joke turned on David, when he
had to meet the scathing question, — How he dared to send an
Indian into the cabin to him !
But we said the Captain himself enjoyed a joke. In 1821, he
and Squire Daniel Riker took a friendly tour, in the latter's gig,
as far as Orange County ; Mr. V. to see his kinlred and acquaint
ances, and one of his daughters being also there on a visit. Con-
cluiUng to go as far as Montioallo, they set out from Blooming-
burgh, the Squire and Deborah in the gig, aud the Captain on
horseback. Shortly before reaching the Neversink River, the
latter stopped to have a shoe set, but told the Squire to drive on
aud he would soon follow. Now the Squire was a spruce widower
of flfty, but Diborah just out of her teens. So on they went
reaching the toll-gate in high glee and at a lively pace. The in
quisitive gate-keeper had noticed the sp?od at which they rode,
and overheard a tell-tale remark let fall by the Squire, that by driv
ing fast they might rciidi the Neversink bridge before tlie Captain
cdiild oato/i t/ici)i .' Soon the O.iptain arrived in seeming haste.

55

and reigning his horse at the gate, inquired of the keeper U he
had seen a runaway couple that way ; an old man eloping with
his daughter. " Yes, yes," said the man, "they just passed, and
were hurrying to reach the bridge before you could catch them ;
but you'll do it it you're only smart." " Quick, quick, hand me
my change," said the Cax^tain, and spurring his horse, on he went,
almost bursting before he could give vent to his laughter ; whUe
the gate-keeper ran in to tell about the wonderful elopement.
But on their return, there was a hearty laugh all round, as the
gate-keeper took in the situation, and the Captain, with a smirk,
remarked, "You see, I caught the runaways." The joke spread,
to the merriment of aU, but none enjoyed telling it more than
the Captain.
In 1816, having quit his old occupation the previous year, and
being now sixty years of age, Oapt. Van Arsdale was apijointed
Wood Inspector in the First Ward, a post he held for twenty
years ; and which he had previously enjoyed for a short time, in
1812, under a commission from De Witt Clinton, then Mayor.
Daily at Peck Slip, he was seen, with his measuring rod in
hand, busy at his avocation ; tUl " Uncle John " became one
of the flxed features of the locality. He continued here, indeed,
tiU the use of coal had so far supplanted that of wood, that busi
ness dwindled to nothing, and he resigned his office in disgust
He was made a member of the "Independent Veteran Corps of
Heavy ArtUlery," Oct 6th, 1813. This Corps was organized for
the special defense of the Oity of New York, and for the whole
period Mr. Van Arsdale was connected with it (except a short in
terval), was commanded by Oapt. George W. Chapman. Their
umform was a navy blue coat and pantaloons, white vest, black
stock, a black feather suimounted red, black hat, and cockade,
bootees and side arms yellow mounted. Oapt. Van Arsdale took
great interest in the coips, rarely if ever missed a parade, and in
' 1814, for over three months, ending December 4th, was in active
service guarding the Arsenal in Elm street, a plot being susptcted
to blow up the bmlding with its 14,000 stand of arms. On Nov.
25th. 1835, he was promoted to the next position to the command
ant, that of FUst Captain-Lieutenant.
Capt. Van Arsdale had now reached his eighty-flrst year, he
had survived his companion four years, his mental faculties were
stm good, but his strength was faUing ; yet he attended to busi
ness tUl near the last. But borne down by the weight of years,
a short iUness closed the scene, and the veteran gently passed
away August 14th 1836, at his residence 134 Delancey street. He
was mterred the next day in the cemetery m FUst street, with
the honors of war, by the corps in which he had held command ;
the Napoleon Cadets, Capt Charles, acting as a guard of honor.

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and a concourse of citizens paying their last respects. His re
mains now rest in Cypress HiUs Cemetery.*
In person Mr. Van Arsdale was of medium height, stoutly
buUt, erect, and elastic of foot even till old age. Always neat in
his person and dress ; we recaU his good-natured chiding, when,
an urchin, running in to see Grandpa, heated from our play, and
collar, boylike, weU sweated down ; — " Go home, you Uttle rascal,''
he would say, " You've no collar to your shirt" A democrat of
the old school, he was pronounced in his opinions, and no way
sparing of opponents. It was in the autumn of 1834, that a
friend asked him how the party which that year took the name of
Whig, got it. " Got it," said the old man, his face kindling with
honest indignation, "SmUey, they got it as their fathers, the
Cowboys of the Revolution, got their beef, — they stole it!" The
Captain was then visiting friends in SuUivan County, and was
riding out to see his old war-chum Sears. They met on the road,
when Mr. V. springing from the wagon. Sears instantly recognized
him, and overcome with emotion, threw his arms around him and
burst into tears ! How flushed up the faded memories of camp
and battle scenes, and dismal prison life ; verily a picture for the
limner. At this time also, the Captain had the pleasure of visit
ing Mr. Hugh Lindsey, who was captured with bim at Fort
Montgomery ; he died shortly after Van Arsdale's return. But
we have done. The kind father, — ^fUial affection stUl cherishes
his memory ; the true friend, — alas, but few survive to embalm
the friendship so long sundered ; the worthy citizen, whose heart
was ever open to the poor and suffering around him, — let it suf
fice that the savor of good deeds is immortal ! But more fitting
to close this imperfect tribute to his worth are the apt words of
the burial orders, recaUing the saUent fact in Oapt. Van Arsdale's
life,- — " A tried Soldier of the Revolution !"
* Capt. Van Arsdale had five children who reached adult years ;
three of whom, Ms only son before named, aud two daughters, yet
survive. His eldest daughter, married to the late Alderman James
Kiker, and long since deceased, was the mother of the writer of this
sketch, also of Col. J. Lafayette Hiker, named in a preceding note ;
another daughter jet survives her husband, the late estimable John
Phillips ; another iS the widow of Jacob G. TheaU, and mother of Mrs.
Dr. Jared G. Baldwin, of New York, and a fourth daughter married the
la e, much respected, Capt. Andrew Dorgan, of Mobile, whose sous
Augustus P. and Lyman Dorgan, are well known merchants at that
place. (<S«« Annals of Newtoion, p. 307.)

MR. DAVID VAN ARSDALE.

(This venerable citizen, son of Oapt. John Van Arsdale, and to
¦whom some humorous references have been made in these pages,
has suddenly ended his pilgrimage, as our last sheet was passing
from the press. He died yesterday, (November 14th,) at the age
of 87 years. His decease on the very eve of the Oeuteunial, in
the observance of which he was expected to take a special part
causes the deeper regret; but we forbear remark, while the City
Press is teeming with obituaries expressive of respect for his
memory.

i^^^^P'-

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