* * * 
 
 * * * 
 
y 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 SAN DIEGO 
 
ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
THE 
 
 SPY UNMASKED; 
 
 OB, 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 ENOCH CROSBY, ALIAS HARVEY BIRCH, 
 
 > 
 
 THE HERO OP MR. COOPER'S TALE OF THE 
 
 NEUTRAL GROUND; 
 
 BEING AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE SECRET SERVICES WHICH HE RFNDKREP HIS 
 COUNTRY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 
 
 (Taken from his own lips, in short hand), 
 
 COMPRISING MANY INTERESTING FACTS AND ANECDOTES, NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. 
 
 BY H. L. BARNUM. 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 PRINTED IN NEW YORK CITY, 1828, BY J. & J. HARPEK, 
 
 AND RE-PRINTED BY 
 THE F1SHKILL, WEEKLY TIMES, 
 
 WITH ADDITIONAL APPENDIX AND ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 1886. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 DEDICATION 5 
 
 INTRODUCTION 9 
 
 CHAP. I. Early Impressions 13 
 
 II. Leaving Home 17 
 
 III. The First Campaign 21 
 
 IV. The Tories 28 
 
 V. Secret Service 31 
 
 VI. The Spy and the Haystack 38 
 
 VII. The Escape 44 
 
 VIII. The Mountain Cave 49 
 
 IX. Chaderton's Hill 56 
 
 X. The Secret Pass 63 
 
 XL Lights and Shadows -. 71 
 
 XII. Quaker Hill 75 
 
 XIII. The Spy Unmasked 79 
 
 XIV The Spy and the Traitor 85 
 
 CONCLUSION 91 
 
 APPENDIX 93 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX : 
 
 The Old Senate House, Kingston, N. Y 119 
 
 A Revolutionary Heroine 120 
 
 The Old Brinckerhoff Mansion, Swartwoutville, N. Y 121 
 
 "Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, N. Y 122 
 
 The Crosby Memoirs 129 
 
 The Fishkill Centennial 129 
 
 The Old Trinity Church, Fishkill, N. Y 143 
 
 The Old Reformed Dutch Church, Fishkill, N. Y. . . . 145 
 
 The Wharton House, Fishkill, N. Y. 147 
 
 Anecdote on Continental Money 148 
 
 Fishkill in Olden Time 149 
 
 Revolutionary Reminiscences 150 
 
 Our Nation's Progress 152 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS : 
 
 Enoch Crosby 2 
 
 Old Reformed Dutch Church 47 
 
 Wharton House 61 
 
 Old Trinity Church 93 & 143 
 
 Old Senate House 119 
 
 Old Colonel Brinckerhoff Mansion 121 
 
 Washington's Headquarters 123 
 
 Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World 152 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 TO JAMES F. COOPER, ESQ., 
 
 AUTHOR or "THE SPY," "RED HOVER," &c. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 As it was your fascinating pen that first immortalized 
 
 the subject of the following Memoir, while it elevated the lit 
 erary reputation of our free and happy country, the Compiler 
 has ventured to prefix your name to this unauthorized dedica 
 tion. 
 
 Rest assured, Sir, that in taking this liberty, the under 
 signed had no other incentive but a profound respect for your 
 talents as an author, and a warm esteem for your virtues as a 
 man. 
 
 Under the hope that the motive will justify the act, he 
 begs leave to subscribe himself 
 
 Your most obedient, and very humble servant, 
 
 H. L. BARNITM. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Since the first publication of Mr. 
 Cooper's interesting novel of "The 
 Spy, A Tale of The Neutral Ground," 
 much curiosity has been excited in 
 the reading community, respecting 
 the original of that excellent por 
 traiture, Harvey Birch. It seemed to 
 be generally admitted, that the Spy 
 was not a fictitious personage, but a 
 real character, drawn from life; and 
 the author himself intimates as much 
 in his preface, where he admits that 
 "a good portion of the tale is true." 
 
 But we are happy t$ assure the 
 reader, that the fact does not rest 
 upon the slender basis of fanciful 
 conjecture. A gentleman of good 
 standing and respectability, who has 
 filled honourable official stations in 
 the county of Westchester, and who 
 has long enjoyed the friendship and 
 confidence of Mr. Cooper, informed 
 the writer of this article, on the au 
 thority of Mr. Cooper himself, that 
 the outline of the character of Har 
 vey Birch, was actually sketched from 
 that of Enoch Crosby; but filled up, 
 partly from imagination, and partly 
 from similar features in the lives of 
 two or three others, who were also 
 
 engaged in secret services, during the 
 
 revolutionary war. But Mr. Cooper 
 
 has frequently assured our informant' 
 
 that, though he had borrowed inci- 
 
 1 dents from the lives of others, to com- 
 
 ! plete the portrait, yet Enoch Crosby 
 
 was certainly the original which he 
 
 had in his "mind's eye." 
 
 That there were several such secret 
 agents in the service of the leaders of 
 the revolution, is a fact that is now 
 well known; a fact to which the 
 author alludes in the first chapter of 
 "The Spy," where he says, "Many an 
 individual has gone down to the tomb 
 stigmatized as a foe to the rights of 
 his countrymen, while, in secret, he 
 has been the useful agent of the lead 
 ers of the revolution." Each of these 
 individuals might have contributed a 
 tint, a shade, a line, or perhaps a 
 feature, to the character of Harvey 
 Birch; bat we think no one can per 
 use the following pages without be 
 ing convinced that Enoch Crosby was 
 the original model from which that 
 character was formed. 
 
 It is highly probable, however, 1 that 
 Mr. Cooper never saw Crosby; and, 
 of course, could not have received the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 incidents of his life from his own lips, 
 as did the compiler of the following 
 Memoir. But the honourable John 
 Jay, it will be recollected, was chair 
 man of the "Committee of Safety," 
 under whose sanction Crosby's secret 
 services were performed; and we un 
 derstand, it was at Mr. Jay's resi 
 dence that the novel of "The Spy" I 
 was first conceived and brought into j 
 existence. This venerable patriot, (bet 
 ter than any one else, not even ex 
 cepting the secret agents themselves,) 
 could furnish Mr. Cooper with every 
 requisite material for the character of 
 Harvey Birch; although he was un 
 der the erroneous impression, that 
 Enoch Crosby had long since paid 
 the debt of nature. 
 
 On learning the foregoing facts, 
 from the gentleman alluded to above, 
 the writer of this narrative, being 
 then about twenty miles from tbe 
 residence of Mr. Crosby, was inducsd 
 to pay him a visit, for the purpose of 
 hearing some of the incidents of his 
 life related by himself; but with mt 
 the least intention of ever committing 
 them to paper. 
 
 Although perfect strangers to each 
 other, the old gentleman gave his 
 visitor a cordial reception, and read 
 ily complied with his request, by re 
 lating several particulars of his own 
 eventful life. Some of these were of 
 so interesting a nature, as induced 
 his auditor to suggest the propriety 
 of laying them before the public. 
 The aged veteran modestly waived 
 such a proposition, considering the 
 events of his life as of too little con 
 sequence to claim attention from the 
 patrons of literature. He had never 
 seen "The Spy," as novels were not 
 included in his present course of 
 reading; he was consequently ignor 
 
 ant of being himself the very hero of 
 the tale. When advised of this fact, 
 and solicited to peruse the work, he 
 consented; and the visitor took his 
 leave. 
 
 A short time subsequent to this in 
 terview, Mr. Crosby was called to the 
 city of New York, to give his testi 
 mony in an important law suit, re 
 specting the transfer of some valuable 
 real estate. While attending Court, 
 in the City Hall, he was recognized 
 by an old gentleman, who, not having 
 heard of him for a number of years, 
 supposed (like Jay and Cooper,) that 
 Crosby had been, long since, number 
 ed with the dead. After such mutual 
 greetings as are usual on similar oc 
 casions, Crosby's old acquaintance 
 turned to the Court, and introduced 
 his friend as "the original Harvey 
 Birch of Mr. Cooper's 'Spy.' " 
 
 This anecdote being published in 
 some of the daily papers, Mr. Sand- 
 ford, proprietor of the LaFayette 
 Theatre, politely invited Mr. Crosby 
 to attend the representations of the 
 drama of the "Spy-" which was per 
 formed expressly for that occasion. 
 Mr. Crosby complied; and, the cir 
 cumstance being announced in the 
 paper*, a numerous audience attend 
 ed, who received the old soldier with 
 several rounds of applause, which he 
 modestly acknowledged. He appear 
 ed to be much interested in the per 
 formance, and readily admitted, that 
 some of the incidents resembled 
 transactions in which he himself had 
 been an actor in "olden time," on "the 
 Neutral Ground." 
 
 How Mr. Crosby was pleased with 
 his reception in the city, will be seen 
 from the following letter, which he 
 sent to the Editors of the "Journal of 
 cf," in which paper it appear- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XI 
 
 ed on the twenty-first day of Decem 
 ber last, 1827. 
 
 "For the Journal of Commerce. 
 MESSRS. EDITORS. 
 
 It would be an unsatisfactory re 
 straint of my feelings, should I not 
 express 'my gratitude to the citizens 
 of New York, for their kind attention 
 to me during my late visit to that 
 city, and particularly to the managers 
 of the theatre, who politely invited 
 me to witness the play called the 
 
 'Spy.' 
 
 I was much gratified with the per 
 formance; for, while it called to mind 
 those trying scenes of the revolution 
 ary war, it also created happy emo 
 tions in reflecting upon the glorious 
 result of our labours during that 
 perilous time, which brought with it 
 Independence and Prosperity; and 
 having been spared to enjoy those 
 blessings for half a century, and see 
 them still continued, I can lay down 
 my weary and worn-out limbs in 
 peace and happiness, to see my feeble 
 labours rewarded, and my greatest 
 wishes answered, in gaining our in 
 dependence, and the blessings attend 
 ing it; and my most earnest and fer 
 vent prayer is, and shall be, that they 
 may be perpetuated to the latest 
 posterity. 
 
 Yours, very respectfully, 
 
 ENOCH CROSBY. 
 December 15, 1827." 
 
 The writer of these pages now felt 
 convinced that the public curiosity 
 demanded an authentic narrative of 
 Enoch Crosby's secret services, during 
 the revolutionary war. Under this 
 impression, he paid him a second 
 visit; and, after much persuasion, 
 prevailed on him to relate the princi 
 pal incidents of his life, in the order 
 they occurred, while his visitor took 
 
 them down, from his own lips, in 
 short-hand: The substance of the 
 following pages may, therefore, be 
 depended upon, as facts related by 
 Mr. Crosby himself. It is true, the 
 
 i language is, in the most instances, 
 the Compiler's ; but the ideas, with 
 
 i very few exceptions, are Crosby's 
 
 i own. The language was changed for 
 the two following reasons: 
 
 First, The events and incidents of 
 Crosby's life were related to the Com 
 piler inthe./w\s person; which would 
 have precluded many other facts, 
 from various sources, which have a 
 connection with, or bearing on, those 
 
 ' furnished by himself. By changing 
 the style to the third person, the Com- 
 
 1 piler was at liberty to interweave sev 
 eral important events which can cer ' 
 taiuly detract nothing from the 
 merits of the work. 
 
 Secondly, The particulars of 
 
 : Crosby's adventures, as narrated in 
 the following pages, were elicited in 
 a catechetical colloquy; the style of 
 which is seldom sufficiently accurate, 
 or elevated for the page of history. 
 But the facts themselves did all ac- 
 
 . tually occur, with very trifling 
 
 i variation. 
 
 The following work has been di- 
 
 ; vided into chapters, for the conven- 
 
 | ience of the reader, in making 
 references, &c. ; each of which has 
 been headed with a motto, in order 
 that his path, as he proceads through 
 the narrative, might be diversified 
 with a few flowers of acknowledged 
 sweetness. They may be "read or 
 sung, at the discretion of" tho.se who 
 honor the book with a perusal; or 
 they may be passed over unnoticed; 
 for a motto, like a parenthesis, "can 
 always be omitted without injuring 
 tlif sense." 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; 
 
 OR, 
 
 MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLV IMPRESSIONS. 
 
 Be this brief precept carefully imprest, 
 By every parent, on the infant breast ; 
 "Thy best affections let thy God command, 
 But next to Heaven, adore thy native land." 
 
 Enoch Crosby, the subject of the 
 following memoir, is a native of 
 Harwich, in the county of Barnstable, 
 state of Massachusetts.* He was 
 born on the. fourth day of January, 
 1750; a year rendered somewhat re 
 markable by the first indication of a 
 wish, on the part of the British par 
 liament, to infringe the rights and 
 privileges of the American colonies. f 
 
 It would not be an unpardonable 
 hyperbole to say, that the adventures 
 of Enoch Crosby commenced at the 
 early age of three years; as, at that 
 period, he left the place of his nativ 
 ity, and, after a journey of more than 
 two hundi'ed miles, became a resident 
 in the state of New York. His father 
 had purchased a farm in the town 
 ship of Southeast, J then in the county 
 
 * ''Harvey Birch," savs Cooper.in his interest 
 ing novel of the Spy, "was supposed to be a na 
 tive of one of the Eastern colonies." Spy, Vol. i. 
 p. 81. 
 
 f It is well known, that the "mother country" 
 had. for a long period, reaped a rich harvest 
 from the trade of her colonial subjects in North 
 America. In order t r i secure a perpetuity of 
 these commercial advantages, by compelling her 
 colonists to "let their workshops remain in 
 Eurjpe." sundry prohibitory acts were passed 
 by parliament, in the year alluded to. which pro 
 duced considerable excitement on this side the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 of Dutchess, but since set off as part 
 of the county of Putnam, to which 
 place he removed his family in 1753 
 
 In this delightful retreat, Enoch 
 passed the happy period of childhood, 
 blest with parents whose tenderness 
 and affection were only equalled by 
 the rectitude of their lives; and in 
 dulged with every reasonable gratifi 
 cation that moderate affluence could 
 procure. 
 
 The natural scenery which sur 
 rounded his paternal mansion, was 
 picturesque, wild, and romantic; and, 
 no doubt, contributed to tinge his in 
 fantile mind with that cast of ro- 
 manco and adventure which so 
 eminently influenced the actions of 
 his riper years. His earliest recrea- 
 tions were among cragged rocks and 
 dizzy steeps; frightful precipices, 
 roaring cataracts, and placid lakes. 
 A high and romantic eminence called 
 Joe's Hill, which rises near the centre 
 of the town, and extends several 
 miles into the state of Connecticut, 
 
 I This town derives its name from its situa 
 tion, being the southeast corner of Putnam 
 c.ntiMy. In extent it is about six miles square: 
 bounded by Connecticut ;>n the East, and the 
 county of Westchester (the neutral ground) on 
 tlie South. The face of the country is rather 
 111 mntaiuous and hilly, with numerous little val 
 leys running Southwest and Northeast. It is 
 well watered l>y the Croton and Mill rivers, and 
 their tributary streams. There are. in the town, 
 five natural ponds, the largest of which is two 
 miles in length and one in breadth. 
 
14 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 was the theatre of many of his juven 
 ile exploits; as were, also, the flowery 
 banks of the meandering Croton, and 
 the borders of several beautiful 
 ponds, which lie like mirrors in the 
 bottom of valleys, reflecting from 
 their lucid surface the mountains 
 and the sky. Endowed by nature 
 with more than ordinary physical 
 advantages, he generally bore away 
 the palm from his play-fellows, in 
 every athletic exercise; especially 
 such as required a combination of 
 personal courage, strength, and ac 
 tivity. 
 
 Thus, for several years, glided the 
 smooth current of his existence, 
 sparkling in the sunbeams of hope, 
 and unruffled by any intruding cares, 
 save such as are incidental to the 
 April morning of life. As his mental 
 faculties gradually developed them 
 selves, they were doubtless assisted 
 by such precarious literary instruc 
 tion as could be conveniently obtain 
 ed in a thinly populated district, at a 
 period when the state of education 
 was not very promising in any part of 
 the country. 
 
 Under such circumstances, it is not 
 to be presumed that a lad of fourteen 
 years could have a very clear idea of 
 the political relations existing be 
 tween different countries; yet 4here 
 is little doubt, that the political dis 
 cussions to which, at that age, he was 
 frequently a silent listener, had con 
 siderable influence in preparing his 
 mind for the part he was destined to 
 perform in the great drama of the 
 revolution. 
 
 These discussions originated in cer 
 tain acts of the British parliament, 
 which were passed in the year 1764; 
 one of which commenced in the fol 
 lowing alarming terms: ''Whereas it 
 
 is just and necessary, that a revenue 
 be raised in America, for defraying 
 the expenses of defending, protecting, 
 and securing the same,* we, the com 
 mons, &c., give and grant unto your 
 majesty, the sum of,' &c. Here fol 
 lowed a specification of duties on 
 certain articles of foreign produce, 
 such as sugar, indigo, coffee, silks, 
 calicoes, molasses, and syrups. 
 
 This being the first act of the kind 
 (avowedly for the purpose of raising 
 a revenue from the colonies,) that had 
 ever disgraced the parliamentary 
 statute book, it naturally produced 
 much excitement and animadversion 
 on this side the Atlantic. The mer 
 its of the question were freely and 
 warmly canvassed by persons of all 
 conditions and ages, and in every 
 
 * Tudor, in his life of Otis, gives us the-follow- 
 ing interesting anecdote: ''When President 
 Adams was minister at the court of St. James, 
 he often saw his countryman. Benjamin West, 
 the late president of the royal academy. Mr. 
 NVe.it always retained a strong and unyielding 
 affection for his native land. Mr. West on* day 
 asked Mr. Adams, if he should like to take a 
 walk with him, and see the cause of the Ameri- 
 can revolution. The minister, having known 
 something of this matter, smiled at the proposal, 
 but told Dim that he should lr> glad to see the 
 cause of that revolution, and to take a walk with 
 his friend West any where. The next morning 
 he called according to agreement, and took Mr. 
 Adams into Hyde I'ark. to a spot near the Ser 
 pentine river, where he gave him the following 
 narrative. The king came to the throne a young 
 man, surrounded by .flattering courtiers: one of 
 whose frequent topics it was, to declaim against 
 the meanness of his palace, which was wholly 
 unworthy a monarch of such a country as Kng- 
 land. They said that there was not a sovereign 
 in Europe who was lodged so poorly: thai liis 
 sorry, dingy, old, brick palace of St. .Tames, 
 looked like a stable, and that he ought to build 
 a palace suitable to his kingdom. The king was 
 fond of architecture, and would therefore more 
 readily listen to suggestions, which were in fact 
 all true. This spot that you see here, was se 
 lected for the site, between this and this point, 
 which were marked out. The king applied to 
 his ministers on the subject; they inquired what 
 sum would lie wanted by his majesty, who said 
 that he would begin with a million : they stated 
 the expenses of the war, and the poverty of the 
 treasury, but that his majesty's wishes should be 
 taken i'nto full consideration. Some time after 
 the king was informed, that the wants of the 
 treasury were too urgent to admit <>f a supply 
 from tlieir present means, but that a revenue 
 might be raised in America to supply all tin- 
 king's wishes. This suggestion was followed 
 up, and the king was in this way first led to con 
 sider, and then to consent to the scheme for tax 
 ing the colonies." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 15 
 
 situation where two or three happen 
 ed to be congregated; by females as 
 well as males, and even by children 
 in their seasons of recreation. The 
 village lasses felt indignant at the 
 interference of parliament in matters 
 connected with the regulation of 
 their wardrobes; while the children 
 justly apprehended some economical 
 restrictions in their usual allowance 
 of gingerbread and sweetmeats. 
 
 Master Enoch, of course, was not 
 an indifferent auditor of these per 
 petual discussions; but regularly 
 reiterated, to an audience of school 
 fellows, such of his father's argu 
 ments and observations^ his juvenile 
 mind partially comprehended. Each 
 of his comrades could, from a similar 
 source, furnish his own quota or re 
 mark; and thus a determined spirit 
 of opposition to ministerial encroach 
 ments on colonial rights, was per 
 manently, and almost instinctively, 
 established in the bosoms of the ris 
 ing generation, even before they were 
 capable of understanding the nature 
 or extent of the subject. 
 
 Ere these newly awakened feelings, 
 in the minds of Americans, were 
 allowed time to subside, the celebra 
 ted stamp act was received from 
 England. The astonishment, alarm, 
 and indignation, which now agitated 
 every patriotic breast, would not be 
 restrained, but burst forth in expres 
 sions and acts that could not be mis 
 understood by the friends and 
 abettors of the obnoxious measure. 
 A string of patriotic resolutions on 
 the subject, offered by the celebrated 
 Patrick Henry, and adopted by the 
 legislature of Virginia, were printed, 
 and circulated through all the provin 
 ces. Wherever they were read, they 
 were hailed with enthusiasm; even 
 
 school -boys were encouraged to re 
 cite them in their respective classes, 
 and exhorted to imbibe the spirit by 
 which they had been dictated, f 
 
 A new mode of expressing the 
 popular resentment against this 
 odious act, began with the whigs in 
 Boston, and was soon adopted by 
 those of the neighboring colonies. 
 This was by hanging or burning, in 
 effigy, such of the principal loyalists 
 as had openly avowed themselves 
 friendly to the revenue system. The 
 temper which prompted these tu 
 multuous proceedings rapidly spread 
 i through the colonies, until popular 
 ; commotions prevailed to a degree 
 j that gave serious alarm to those cool 
 and reflecting citizens who regarded 
 the morals as well as the liberties of 
 their country. Scarcely a day passed 
 without furnishing the peaceful in 
 habitants of Southeast with some 
 new account of riots,J mobs, and sum 
 mary chastisements, inflicted on the 
 friends of the stamp act, in Boston, 
 Newport, New York, Baltimore, and 
 ; other populous, towns. This was cer- 
 ! tainly a dangerous spirit to let loose 
 in society; and though, in the present 
 I ins ance, its excesses were, perhaps, 
 I in some measure, sanctified by its 
 motives, still the necessity of its 
 i existence was deeply deplored by the 
 best friends of their country. 
 
 The mind of youth is easily dazzled 
 
 by such vivid corruscations of patri- 
 
 i otic fervour: and there is little doubt 
 
 i that they had a due share of influence 
 
 + When the-*e resolutions were first re;ul in 
 the house of burgesses, in Virginia, the boldness 
 and novelty of them affected one of the members 
 to such a degree that he cried out "Treason! 
 treason!" 
 
 In all America there had been but seven 
 presses issuing newspapers, previous to the 
 year IToO. In 1765 they had increased to twenty- 
 six on the continent, and live in the West India 
 Islands. 
 
16 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 in the formation of Enoch Crosby's 
 character. 
 
 About this period, patriotic asso 
 ciations were formed, the members of 
 which were denominated the "Sons 
 of Liberty" and they agreed "to 
 march with the utmost expedition, 
 (at their own proper cost and ex 
 pense), with their whole force, to the 
 relief of those who should be in dan 
 ger from the stamp act, or its pro 
 moters and abettors, on account of 
 any thing done in opposition to its 
 obtaining." This agreement was sub 
 scribed to by such numbers in New 
 York and the Eastern states, that 
 nothing short of a repeal of the offen 
 sive act could have prevented the 
 immediate commencement of a civil 
 war. It was accordingly repealed on 
 the 18th of March, 1766. 
 
 The subject of this memoir very 
 distinctly remembers the unusual re 
 joicings which took place in his 
 vicinity, in consequence of this highly 
 interesting event. Similar demon 
 strations of joy were exhibited 
 throughout the colonies. The names 
 of Camden and Pitt were cheered to 
 the skies. Every indignant resolu 
 tion was immediately rescinded; the 
 churches resounded with thanksgiv 
 ings; illuminations and bonfires were 
 every where exhibited; and a joyful 
 holiday was held throughout the 
 country. This was another circum 
 stance that made a lasting impression 
 on the youthful mind of Enoch, and 
 assisted in the formation of a char 
 acter which has since been so admir 
 ably delineated by the pen of a 
 master. 
 
 But while the whole country was 
 thus dissolved in joy, there were not 
 wanting a few enlightened patriots, 
 who maintained "that the immoder 
 
 ate transports of the colonists were 
 disproportioned to the advantage 
 they had gained;" for at the same 
 time that the stamp act was re 
 pealed, the absolute unlimited suprem 
 acy of parliament was, in words, 
 asserted. 
 
 "Wherefore do we rejoice?" asked 
 the good clergyman, to whose pious 
 exhortations, both in public and pri 
 vate, the Crosby family over listened 
 with pleased and devout attention. 
 "Is it because the parliament of 
 Great Britian has been graciously 
 pleased to exchange our handcuffs 
 for fetters? Is it because she claims 
 the power and right to bind the 
 colonies in all cases whatsoever? Are 
 we prepared for this? Shall the 
 petty island of Great Britian, scarce 
 a speck on the map of the world, con 
 trol the free citizens of the great 
 continent of America? God forbid!" 
 
 "I believe, sir," replied the elder 
 Crosby, "that we are hallooing before 
 we are fairly out of the woods. Our 
 politicians seem to overlook the de- 
 gradiug condition which is tacked to 
 this boasted repeal, that we must 
 make compensation to those who have 
 suffered, in person or property, 
 through their own wilful adherence 
 to the cause of our oppressors. If 
 we submit to this, we deserve to be 
 slaves." 
 
 "It appears to me," observed the 
 village schoolmaster, who happened 
 to be present, and who was strongly 
 suspected of leaning to the minis 
 terial side of the question; "it ap 
 pears to me, that if we look at this 
 subject by the pure light of sober 
 reason, and not by the illusive flashes 
 of excited passion, we shall see the 
 propriety of waiving alldebate and 
 controversy; and, for the sake of in- 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 17 
 
 ternal peace, of making the trifling 
 compensation required. It cannot 
 amount to much." 
 
 "It is not the amount of the sum 
 that I object to," returned the other. 
 "It is the principal that I am con 
 tending for. If we yield in one 
 point, there is no telling how far 
 their enci'oachments may extend." 
 
 "Is not their compliance with our 
 petitions for repealing the stamp act 
 an evidence of their respect for the 
 rights of the colonies?" 
 
 "No sir," replied the clergyman. 
 "In this measure, the ministry have 
 not been so much actuated by princi 
 ples of equity, as impelled by 
 necessity." 
 
 "Necessity!" reiterated the peda 
 gogue. "To me it appears an act of 
 favour and lenity." 
 
 "The doctrine of submission, pas 
 sive obedience, and non resistance, 
 may do very well in the discipline of 
 your school," answered Crosby ; "but 
 I hope my son will never imbibe 
 from you, or any other man, such 
 sentiments as applied in politics." 
 
 Here the conversation terminated; 
 and Enoch, who was present, did not 
 feel any great increase of respect 
 towards his preceptor in conseqiience; 
 nor was it long afterwards, that his 
 father placed him under the tuition 
 of an elderly gentleman, of superior 
 literary acquirements, whose political 
 sentiments were in accordance with 
 his own. As this personage will 
 again appear on the stage, in the pro 
 gress of our little drama, we beg the 
 reader to bear in mind that he is not 
 only a "staunch whig," but, in every 
 other respect, a worthy man. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 LEAVING HOME. 
 
 "Here, as, with wearied steps. I bent my way, 
 I mark'd each dear and well -remembered 
 
 spot, 
 Where youth had buoyed my mind with visions 
 
 gay, 
 
 Nor thought I then how hard would be my 
 lot," 
 
 At the period of which we are writ 
 ing, it was the earnest wish of all 
 parties, that harmony might be re 
 established between Great Britian 
 and her American colonies. The 
 severities of the British government 
 "had not yet taught the colonists to 
 express themselves in any other 
 modes of language, but what indi 
 cated their firm attachment to the 
 mother country; nor had they erased 
 the habitual ideas, even of tender 
 ness, conveyed in their usual modes 
 of expression. When they formed a 
 design to visit England, it had al 
 ways been thus announced, 'I am go 
 ing home.' Home, the seat of 
 happiness, the retreat of all the 
 felicities of the human mind, is too 
 intimately associated with the best 
 feelings of the heart, to renounce 
 without pain, whether applied to the 
 natural or the political parent."* 
 
 But although a strong desire for 
 the re-establishment of harmony was 
 manifested by persons of every des 
 cription, there still existed a great 
 diversity of opinion as to the best 
 means of producing so desirable a re 
 sult. "There were several classes in 
 America, who were at first exceed 
 ingly opposed to measures that 
 militated with the designs of admin 
 istration. Some, impressed by long 
 
 * Mrs. Warren. 
 
18 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 connection, were intimidated by her 
 power, and attached by affection to 
 Britain; others, the true disciples of 
 passive obedience, had real scruples 
 of conscience with regard to any 
 resistance to 'the powers that be;' 
 these, whether actuated by affection 
 or fear, by principle or interest, 
 formed a close combination with the 
 colonial governors, custom-house 
 officers, and all insubordinate depart 
 ments who hung on the court for 
 subsistence."* 
 
 The partizan distinction of whig 
 aftd tori/ was adopted at an early 
 stage of the controversy, and intro 
 duced in every political altercation to 
 which it gave rise. It was no un 
 common occurrence for members of 
 the same family, not only to es 
 pouse opposite sides of the question, 
 but to defend the stand they had 
 taken with a zeal and pertinacity 
 that ultimately sundered the tender- j 
 est ties of consanguinity. Thus, as 
 the general ferment increased, the 
 father was often arrayed "against the 
 son, and the son against the father;" 
 brothers became implacable enemies 
 to each other; and even the fair sex 
 were not unfrequently involved in 
 this frightful whirlpool of political 
 contention. 
 
 Fortunately for the subject of these ! 
 memoirs, and happily for his coun 
 try, his father's family, to adopt his 
 own expression, were "staunch 
 whigs ;" so was a majority of their i 
 fellow-townsmen, particularly the i 
 good clergyman, the Eev. Mr. Greg- i 
 ory, before mentioned. Indeed, the j 
 clergy, of every denomination, 
 throughout the country, with very 
 few exceptions, warmly espoused the 
 
 * Mrs. Warren's American Revolution. 
 
 cause of the colonies; and embraced 
 every opportunity, both in public 
 and private, of exhorting their flocks 
 manfully to resist every encroach 
 ment on their rights as freemen. 
 Their influence was great, and its 
 effects such as might have been ex 
 pected, f 
 
 The attention of the elder Crosby, 
 however, and that of his amiable 
 family, were, for a time, diverted 
 from political difficulties by domestic 
 misfortunes. From a state of com 
 fort and comparative affluence, he 
 suddenly found himself reduced to 
 poverty and distress. J 
 
 This unexpected reverse of fortune 
 rendered it necessary for the son. at 
 the age of sixteen, to leave, for the 
 first time, the shelter of his paternal 
 roof, and seek his own fortune in an 
 untried world. 
 
 The painful sensations incidental 
 to the parting of an affectionate child 
 
 t The clergyman of New England, in particu 
 lar, were among the strongest advocates of 
 'Whig principles;" there were a few instances 
 only of a separation of a minister f roni his peo 
 ple, in consequence of a disagreement in political 
 sentiment. It was recommended by the provin 
 cial congress of Massachusetts, that on other 
 occasions than the Sabbath, ministers of 
 parishes should adapt their discourses to the 
 times, and explain the nature of civil and re 
 ligious liberty, and the duties of migistrates and 
 rulers. A zealous divine, who had been com 
 pelled to abandon the people of his charge in 
 Boston, on one occasion used, in the pulpit, at 
 P***, the following emphatic language: "O 
 Lord, if our enemies will fight us, let them have 
 fighting enough. If more soldiers are on their 
 way hither, sink them. O Lord, to the bottom of 
 the sea." Thacher's Journal, p. 23. "The clergy 
 of New England were a numerous, learned, and 
 respectable body, who had a great ascendancy 
 over the minds of their hearers. They connected 
 religion and patriotism, and, in their sermons 
 and prayers, represented the cause of America 
 as the cause of Heaven." Ramsey. "The clergy 
 were among the first and niost zealous patriots, 
 both in speaking and writing in vindication of 
 the rights of their country. No class of men had 
 more deeply imbibed the spirit of their vener 
 able ancestors, the first settlers of New England, 
 than they. None more generally engaged in the 
 cause of their injured country, nor had a greater 
 and more general influence upon the people.'' 
 Aforse's Rev. 
 
 J Mr. Cooper frequently intimates that the 
 parents of Harvey Birch had been suddenly "re 
 duced from competence to poverty." See Spy. 
 Vol. i. p. 33, and 154. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 19 
 
 from indulgent parents, and the 
 home of his childhood, are seldom 
 forgotten by the parties concerned; 
 but in the present instance, their im 
 pression was left with a vividness of 
 colouring which the lapse of more 
 than sixty years has not been able to 
 obliterate. In reverting to this inci 
 dent, at the age of seventy-eight, the 
 subject of this memoir expressed 
 himself, in substance, as follows: 
 
 "At the age of sixteen the scene 
 changed, and I was compelled to 
 leave the home of my childhood, to 
 seek the protection of strangers, and 
 depend upon my own exertions for 
 support. With the scanty outfit of a 
 change of clothes and a few shillings 
 in my pocket, I bade a long adieu to 
 the friends I best loved, and the 
 scenes of my happiest days. After 
 receiving the blessing of my parents, 
 with much good advice, and a small 
 Bible, which they assured me would 
 prove my greatest consolation in 
 every trial and affliction that might 
 befall me, I shouldered my pack, 
 clasped their hands in silence for I 
 dared not trust my voice to say '/are- 
 welir and hastened away, leaving 
 my poor mother in an agony of tears. 
 
 "I proceeded a short distance, with 
 a burden at my heart much heavier 
 than the one on my back. I then 
 paused, and cast back a 'longing 
 lingering look,' on the spot that I 
 could once call my home but now 
 no longer a home for me. I then re 
 sumed my march, and after proceed 
 ing a little further, again turned; 
 when, for the last time, I saw my 
 weeping mother through the widow, 
 gazing, with streaming eyes, after 
 her exiled son. I hurried away I 
 could not look again. The hills 
 which surrounded the beloved man 
 
 sion soon hid it from my view, and I 
 \ felt myself alone in the world, cut off 
 from all that I held dear; while the 
 future appeared like a dark impene 
 trable cloud, scarcely illumined by a 
 I ray of hope." 
 
 Painful as these sensations must 
 have been t } a youth in his circum 
 stances, they were soon dissipated by 
 | the novelty ever attendant on a 
 j change of scene and associations. He 
 became an apprentice to a worthy 
 man who resided in the eastern part 
 of Phillipstown, since called Kent, in 
 the county of Putnam. Here he was 
 taught the "art and mystery of a 
 cordwainer," and faithfully fulfilled 
 his term of service, which terminated 
 on the fourth day of January, 1771, 
 that day completing his twenty -first 
 year. 
 
 Let it not be supposed, however, 
 that during all this period he was an 
 unconcerned spectator of the political 
 movements around him. Far from it. 
 The sentiments which he had imper 
 ceptibly imbibed in childhood, "grew 
 with his growth, and strengthened 
 with his strength," and new began to 
 flow out into effective operation. Al 
 though military discipline had for 
 several years been almost totally neg 
 lected, it now began to assume a 
 more respectable attitude. New 
 I trainbands were organized, in one of 
 i which young Crosby soon became an 
 ! active and efficient member; and he 
 largely shared in the prevailing im 
 pression, that a most important crisis 
 was fast approaching, for which, it 
 was the duty of every lover of his 
 country to be duly and properly pre 
 pared. Nor was this impression 
 I weakened by an incident which oc 
 curred in the last year of his minor 
 ity; an incident which forms a 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 conspicuous chapter in the history of 
 those times. We mean the massacre, 
 in cold blood, of several citizens in 
 the streets of Boston, by the British 
 soldiery. This wanton act of bar 
 barity was perpetrated in open day, 
 on the fifth of March, 1770. 
 
 No previous outrage had produced 
 such a general alarm as the one here 
 alluded to. "Yet the accident that 
 created a resentment which embold 
 ened the timid, determined the 
 wavering, and awakened an energy 
 and decision that neither the artifices 
 of the courtier, nor the terror of the 
 sword, could easily overcome, arose 
 from a trivial circumstance: 
 
 "A sentinel, posted at the door of 
 the custom house, had seized and 
 abused a boy, for casting some op 
 probrious reflections on an officer of 
 rank; his cries collected a number of 
 other lads, who took the childish 
 revenge of pelting the soldier with 
 snow balls. The main guard, 
 stationed in the neighborhood of the 
 custom house, was informed by some 
 persons from thence, of the rising 
 tumult. They immediately turned 
 out under the command of a captain 
 Preston, and beat to arms. The cry 
 of fire was raised in all parts of the 
 town; the mob collected, and the 
 soldiery, from all quarters, ran 
 through the streets, sword in hand, 
 threatening and wounding the peo 
 ple, and with evei\y appearance of 
 hostility they rushed furiously to the 
 centre of the town. 
 
 "The soldiers, thus ready for exe 
 cution, and the populace grown 
 outrageous, the whole town v^.s justly 
 terrified by the unusual alarm. This 
 naturally drew out persons of higher 
 condition and more peaceably dis 
 posed, to inquire the cause. Theii 
 
 consternation can scarcely be des 
 cribed, when they found orders were 
 given to fire promiscuously among 
 the unarmed multitude. Five or six 
 persons fell at the first flre, and sev 
 eral more were dangerously wounded 
 at their own doors."* 
 
 "How slightly soever historians 
 may pass over this event, the blood of 
 the martyrs, right or wrong, proved 
 to be the 'seeds of the congregation.'' 
 Not the battle of Lexington or Blin 
 ker's Hill; not the surrender of 
 Burgoyne or Cornwallis, were more 
 important events in American his 
 tory, than the battle of King- street, 
 on the 5th of March, 1770."f 
 
 The immediate result of this out 
 rage is well known. Captain Preston 
 and his party were taken into cus 
 tody of a civil magistrate, tried for 
 mtirder, and acquitted; and all the 
 royal troops were subsequently re 
 moved from the town to the fort 
 about three miles below. But the in 
 dignant feelings which it had created 
 in every patriotic bosom were not to 
 be appeased. The blood of their 
 brethren cried from the ground for 
 vengeance, and the appeal was felt 
 in every section of the country. Like 
 other young men of his age, Enoch 
 Crosby ardently longed for an oppor 
 tunity to mingle the blood of the 
 assassin with that of their victims. 
 But the hour had not yet come.J 
 
 * See Appendix, Xo. 1. 
 
 * Mrs. Warren's American Revolution. 
 f John Adams' letters to Dr. Morse. 
 
 J The town of Boston instituted an annual 
 oration in commemoration of this catastrophe, 
 and among the first orators were such names a 
 Hancock, Warren, and Lovell. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 21 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 
 
 "O, who, reclined in dastard ease, 
 Could hear his country's call in vain; 
 
 Or view her banner court the breeze, 
 Nor sigh to join the hostile train." 
 
 WOOUWORTH. 
 
 As we are not writing a history of 
 the risa and progress of the revolu 
 tionary war, but merely the memoirs 
 of a private individual who took an 
 active part in chat momentous con 
 test, it is only requisite to give a brief 
 detail of such events as are con 
 nected, more or less remotely, with 
 his own transactions. 
 
 The destruction of the tea in Bos 
 ton,* the consequent port bill,f as it 
 was called, the formation of a con 
 tinental congress, and the arrival of 
 General Gage with an army to re 
 duce the "refractory colonists" to 
 submission, are prominent features 
 in the history of four years, from the 
 period of our last chapter. But 
 events of still greater importance 
 were at hand, and anticipated with 
 trembling anxiety. 
 
 Among the "signs of the times," 
 was the newly awakened military 
 ardour which prevailed throughout 
 the colonies, more especially in the 
 Eastern states. In almost every 
 town, a certain quota of hardy youth 
 were draughted from, the militia 
 trainbands, who voluntarily devoted 
 a daily portion of their time to im 
 prove themselves in the military art, 
 under officers of their own choice. 
 These were styled "minute men," and 
 stood ready to march at a moment's 
 warning, to defend the rights of their 
 countrymen. 
 
 t The 1st dny of June, 1774. the day when the 
 I'.osion port-bill began to operate, was observed, 
 iii most of the colonies, with uncommon solem 
 nity, as a day offa?tiny and prayer. 
 
 At this period, the younger Crosby 
 resided at Danbury. in the State of 
 Connecticut; and though it was not 
 his fortune to .be draughted as a 
 minute-man, he was still actuated by 
 the same martial spirit which in 
 spired the rest of his countrymen. 
 The year 1775 had opened without 
 the occurrence of any incident of 
 much political importance; but while 
 thousands of bosoms were throbbing 
 with feelings of intense interest, 
 every eye was directed to the capital 
 of Massachusetts as the quarter 
 from whence momentous intelligence 
 might be hourly expected. 
 
 The public mind was in this state 
 of feverish suspense, when, in the 
 month of April, an express arrived at 
 Danbury, with intelligence that "up 
 wards of four-score of Americans had 
 been inhumanly butchered on the 
 plains of Lexington,* by a detach 
 ment of the British army, which had 
 afterwards been put to flight by a 
 few raw country militia. That houses 
 had been rifled, plundered, and burnt; 
 that neither sex, age, nor infirmity, 
 had been respected by these ruthless 
 marauders; and that women, with 
 their new-born infants, had been 
 compelled to fly naked, to escape the 
 fury of flames in which their houses 
 were enwrapped!" \ 
 
 * When General Washington heard of the 
 battle of Lexington. April 19, 1775, and of the 
 slaughter of the Americans on that occasion, he 
 said, "I grieve for the death of my countrymen; 
 but rejoice that the British are' still so deter 
 mined to kesp God on our side; for the smiles of 
 Heaven can never be expected on a nation that 
 disregards the eternal rules of order and right, 
 which Heaven itself has ordained." TFeems'* 
 Life of Washington. 
 
 t The celebrated Rev. John Horne (Tooke.) 
 two years after the event, vvas tried, in England, 
 and found guilty of publishing an advertisement, 
 in winch it was asserted, "that the king's troops 
 had committed murder at Lexington, in 
 America;" he was consequently, sentenced to 
 imprisonment -for a year, to pay "a tine of ft>200. 
 and to find security for his good behaviour for 
 three years' Fordycc's Chronology. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; on, 
 
 The sensation produced by this in 
 telligence not only at Dnntmry, but 
 in every other place, can be better 
 conceived than described. The shock 
 was electric, and the whole country 
 flew to arms.J 
 
 Within twenty-four hours after 
 the routed "regulars" had regained 
 the protection of their shipping, the 
 town of Boston was invested by sev 
 eral thousands of our exasperated 
 countrymen; while the colonies of 
 Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New 
 Hampshire, seamed all to be in 
 motion. Indeed, "such was the re- 
 santruent of the people, and the 
 arJour of enterprise, that it was with 
 difficulty they were restrained from 
 rushing into Boston, and rashly in 
 volving their friends, in common with 
 their enemies, in all the calamities of 
 a town taken by storm " 
 
 The outrage at Lexington occurred 
 on Wednesday, the 19th of April ; but 
 tne news did not reach the city of 
 New York until late on Saturday even 
 ing, nor was it generallj known un 
 til Sunday morning. A meeting of 
 tha citizens immediately took place; 
 who. without much cnvmony, seized 
 upwards of n'vo hundred stands of 
 muskets and bayonets belonging to 
 his Britannic majesty. 
 
 Oa the following day, the keys of 
 the custom -house were secure:! by 
 the wbigs; who soon made themselves 
 
 I I -it-del Piuir.vn (aftonvar.ls Major-general) 
 was plonking in hi; Held \vli9n he hea-d the 
 new?. He i:ist;mtly stopped his tea-n. left the 
 plong'.i in tlis furrow, in united a h >rse. and in 
 eighteen hour.i was on t : ie battle-gr mud, a dis 
 tance of on? hundred mite 1 1 He t.icn returned 
 to Connecticut. a:vl raised an a.-in/; the pr.ivin- 
 cial congress of M,iaehusett.s having that day 
 voted to raise tiiirty th msaiid men. 
 
 "Tiiey hearcl and the plough in the furrow was 
 
 stay'd. 
 
 Eieh art w.i; relinquished for musket and Wade; 
 T e pipa of tlie sw.iin in the valley was still 
 Wnile the bnijie rang lou.l from' eacii fortified 
 
 hill." 
 
 Mrs. Warreu's American Revolution. 
 
 masters of all the public stores in the 
 king's ware-houses in the city and at 
 Turtle Bay. 
 
 At this tima there were about throe 
 hundred regular British troops in the 
 city, commanded by a Major; and 
 very serious apprehensions were en 
 tertained, that the confused and dis 
 orderly manner in Avhich the 
 foregoing transactions wera con 
 ducted, would produce a rupture be 
 twean the soldiers ani the populace. 
 A regular general moating of the 
 citizens was therefore called, and a 
 committee of fifty appointed, who 
 were invested with full powers to act 
 as the exigency and circumstances of 
 the times might require. At this 
 meeting a set of spirited resolutions 
 were passed, ani signed by the citi 
 zans at large, in which they pledged 
 themselves, their lives, their fortunes, 
 and their sacred honour, to support 
 their committee in all its operations, 
 and al.so every measure of the general 
 congress, then in session at Philadel 
 phia. 
 
 One of the first acts of the com- 
 rnitteo, was an order permitting the 
 British troops to depart without in 
 terruption, taking with them their 
 arms and accoutrements. In conse 
 quence of this order, the troops pre 
 pared to embark on the following 
 day; when it was observed that they 
 had several carts loaded with spare 
 arms. Marinas Willett, and some 
 others, immediately resolved to pre 
 vent this virtual infraction of their 
 agreement; and meeting the troops 
 in Broadway, stopped them, and 
 without much difficulty took posses 
 sion of the spare arms. With these 
 Willett armed a new company of his 
 own raising, with which he joined 
 the first Canadian expedition. 
 
MEMOIRS OP EXOCH CROSBY. 
 
 The citizens of Danbury were not 
 backward in this moment of gene 
 ral excitement. || A rendezvous was 
 opened, to which the youth of the 
 county flocked from every quarter; 
 and two regiments were immediately 
 raised, one under the command of 
 Colonel (afterward General) Wooster, 
 and the other under the command of 
 Colonel Waterbiiry. Within a few 
 hours from the arrival of the express 
 ab D.mbury, the nams of Enoch 
 Crosby was inscribed on the muster- 
 roll of Capttiin Benedict, followed by 
 those of one hundred and fifty young 
 men, a'l residents of that town; form 
 ing the most efficient company in 
 Water bury 's regiment.* 
 
 As soon as these 4 regiments irere 
 duly organized, equipped, and re 
 ported to the provincial congress of 
 Massachusetts, then in session at 
 Waterfcown,t they impatiently waited 
 for orders to move and act in defence 
 of their Eastern brethren. Nor was 
 their impatience abated by the suc 
 cesses of their enterprising neigh 
 bours at Ticondaroga and Crown 
 Point, on the 10th of May following;^ 
 
 Tiiis excitement wa> not confined to any 
 class, ag:- or sex. The females largely partici 
 pate I in the patriotic ardour that prevailed, and 
 exhibited instances of heroic virtue that were 
 never surpassed by the celebrated women of 
 Sparta. See Appendix, No. III. 
 
 * It i- worthy of remark, that every one of 
 t'.ie if yon ig men returned front the Northern 
 'ea.npalgn i.i safety; while, during their short 
 a'jse'iicc-. one hundred deaths occurred in the 
 to AM wliere they belonged. Perhaps, by-going 
 i.it ) danger, many of tlie.n preserved their lives. 
 
 fT.iis legislative body Ind vote! to raise 
 thii'ty thousand men: thirteen thousand and six 
 hu'ulred of them to bo of their own province, 
 aiul that a letierand delegate be sent to the sev 
 eral iv>l >nies of New Hampshire. Connecticut, 
 ari.l Rhode Island. T.ie Committee of safety 
 a'. s> sent letters t> the several towns in the 
 c->lony soliciting assistance. 
 
 This enterprise was manage! by Colonels 
 Ki;t->:i. Arnold, and Allen: and so secretly, 
 j i li [ niily. a;ul rapidly was the expedition con- 
 (hiet'.'d. that they entered the garrison before it 
 was k-iow.i that an enemy was near it. Arnold 
 a'i I Allen contended for the honour of entering 
 t .10 f.)i-t lirst; bat it wa-, finally agreed that they 
 sh >uld both g> in together, they advanced 
 abreast, and entered the fjriress at the duwu- 
 
 but on the news of the battle of Bun 
 ker Hill, it was wrought up to a 
 pitch of painful intensity. Every 
 man longed to be in the field, and 
 share in the dangers and glory that 
 awaited the champions of liberty. 
 This patriotic ardour was shortly to 
 be gratified. 
 
 The continental congress was now 
 in session at Philadelphia; and, at 
 this period, the importance of possess- 
 ing the Canadas, strongly impressed 
 the minds o^ gentlemen of the first 
 penetration, private citizens as well 
 as the representatives of the several 
 colonies, in that august legislative 
 body. It was thought a favourable 
 crisis to make the attempt "when the 
 flower of the British troops, then in 
 America, were shut up in Boston; 
 and when the governors of the 
 Southern provinces, interrupted in 
 their negotiations with the Indians, 
 had taken refuge on board the king's 
 ships, either from real or imagined 
 personal danger." j| It was, there- 
 1 fore, determined to employ Colonel 
 Waterbury's regiment, together with 
 two regiments of New York militia, 
 in this important and hazardous ser 
 vice; the whole force consisting of 
 about three thousand men, tinder 
 the command of Generals Schuyler 
 and Montgomery. 
 
 The reader may easily imagine 
 
 ing of day. A sentry snapped his piece at one of 
 
 them, and then retreated through the covered 
 
 wa> to the parade. The Americans followed, 
 
 and immediately drew up. The commander, 
 
 | surprised in his bed, was called upon to surreu- 
 
 j cler the fort. "By what authority?" exclaimed 
 
 ! the astonished officer, rubbing 'his eyes, and 
 
 j scarcely knowing whether he was asleep or 
 
 awake. 
 
 "I demand it in the name of the great Jehovah, 
 and of the continental congress." was the reply 
 of Colonel Allen. 
 
 The authority could not be disputed. The fort 
 was surrendered without resistance, together 
 with forty-eight prisoners, several brass and 
 iron cannon, and ;. valuable quantity of warlike 
 stores. 
 
 See Appendix, No. III. 
 ii Mrs. Warren's American Revolution. 
 
24 
 
 THE. SPY .UNMASKED; on. 
 
 * In the ye:ir 1775, tlie city of New York (we 
 me:in the co.np:ict part of it) extended no 
 farther north tiui'i Partition street, now called 
 Fulton street, near St. Paul's church. Beyond 
 this there were only a few scattering houses 
 with here and tiiere a handsome country scat. It 
 was considered a pleasant ramble "out of town" 
 to go to '-the flelJUi," where the City Hal! now 
 stands. 
 
 t The fortress of Ticonrle: oja, so often men 
 tioned in the history of the American wars. i : , 
 uowabeapof ruins, though many of the walls 
 are so entire as to exhibit proofs of the excel 
 lency of i heir construction, ami of the plan of the 
 wor.cs. It was built by the French in 17.30, on a 
 point of land forme:! by the junction of Luke 
 (ioorge creek with Lake Champlain, in N. hit. 
 43degs. 5i) min., and 3t min. E. .ong. from New 
 York; elevation, abov*; Lake Champlain, 110 
 -feet; above iide waters, 1% feet. The name is 
 derived to us from the Indians, Prenchfleld ; and 
 signified noisy. Che-on-der-oga; probably in 
 allmion to the wxter. But the French called it 
 Fort Carillon. It was a place of great strength. 
 bit, i by nature and art. On three sides, ii i; 
 surrounded by water, and about half of the other 
 side is occupied by a deep swamp, and the line 
 of defence svas completed by the French, with 
 the erection of a breast-work. 9 feet high, on the 
 only a. isallable ground. In 1768. uene~nl MV-- 
 cr iiiibie, with the British army, assailed this 
 fortreii; wa< defeated Jnlv u. .uth Me loss . 
 1,'JM men. B it ii was surrendered to General 
 Arnherst, in July of the following year. It was 
 
 with what alacrity our hero and his 
 fellow soldiers obeyed the orders of 
 their superiors, to "strike their tsnts 
 and march away." The language of 
 each heart was, 
 
 "Strike up the dru-iis: and let the tongue of war 
 plead for our interest." 
 
 They were ordered to the city of 
 New York, where they were joined by 
 the New York militia, one corps of j 
 which was commanded by the gallant I 
 Willet; but encamped about two 
 miles out of town, near the spot now 
 occupied as Vauxhall garden.* After 
 remaining in this position about three 
 weeks, they removed toHarlaem, and 
 encamped in the village. From 
 thence they took boats, and proceeded ' 
 up the Hudson to Albany, on their 
 way to Lake Champlain. 
 
 General Schuyler .being detained 
 at Albany, for the purpose of nego- 
 ciating an Indian treaty, his coad 
 jutor, the intrepid Montgomery, led 
 on his gallant band of patriots to 
 Ticonderoga, where they arrived on 
 the twenty-first day of August.f As 
 
 soon as a sufficient number of boats 
 could be provided to convey the army 
 down Lake Champlain. they em 
 barked for Isle aux Noix, lying about 
 eleven miles north of the lake, in the 
 river Sorel, which connects the waters 
 of Champlain with that of the St. 
 Lawrence. On reaching Isle La 
 Motte, they were rejoined by Gen. 
 Schuyler, who had prepared an ad 
 dress to the inhabitants of Canada, 
 inviting them to join the standard of 
 liberty, and unite in the common 
 cause of America. 
 
 From Isle aux Noix, the army pro 
 ceeded to St. Johns, the first British 
 post in Canada.^ During their pas 
 sage down the river, the soldiers 
 were directed to hold themselves con 
 stantly in readiness for defence, as it 
 was reasonably apprehended that 
 they might be assailed by the Indians 
 from the woods which skirted the 
 stream. 
 
 On effecting a landing, at a short 
 distance from fort St. John'-, the as 
 sailants, about one thousand in num 
 ber, immediately formed in full view 
 of the garrison, and prepared for 
 hostile operations. Their movements, 
 at this juncture, are thus described 
 by Crosby himself: 
 
 "We were now in full view of the 
 enemy, who kept up a constant can 
 nonading, which only caused us to 
 dodge now and then, merely serving 
 to get us into a fighting mood. We 
 were soon ordered to advance; but 
 had only proceeded a few rods, when 
 we were suddenly attacked by a body 
 of Indians in ambush; who, after a 
 
 the first fortress earned by the a-m<s <>f America 
 in the war that established our Independence; 
 
 it was taken i,y surprise, by Col. Allen. May ID. 
 1 r7.~>. :nd retained li'l July. 1777. when ii 'was 
 evacuated, on the approach of (Jen. Burgo; ne 
 with the British army. 
 
 J Abuiit 115 miles north of Ticoiuleroga. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 25 
 
 short contest, were glad to show us a 
 specimen of their speed in running.* 
 
 "Our sport, however, was soon in 
 terrupted by an order to halt! 
 when, after burying the dead, and 
 providing for the wounded, a council 
 of war was held by the officers, in 
 which it was determined to return to 
 Isle aux Noix, throw a boom across 
 the channel, and erect works for its 
 defence. 
 
 "In the meantime, a breastwork 
 was ordered to be thrown up on the 
 spot where we stood; and accordingly 
 every one went to work with alacrity. 
 While some were felling trees and 
 preparing timber for this purpose, 
 and others throwing up the earth to 
 form a parapet, we were constantly 
 annoyed by the shells thrown: from 
 the fort. This circumstance tended 
 to 'retard our operations; for when a 
 shell rose in the air, every one would 
 stop working to watch its course, 
 and ascertain if it would fall near 
 him. I must confess that I felt no 
 particular affection for these unwel 
 come intruders, but rather regarded 
 them as 'messengers of evil;' still, 
 however, notwithstanding the cold 
 reception which I gave these warm 
 hearted visitors, I never thought of the 
 fashionable expedient of 'not being at 
 home,' (in other words, of 'dodging 
 them,') until I heard some one ex 
 claim, 'Look out! take care, there!' 
 whan I looked up, and saw one des 
 cending towards the very spot where 
 
 * R-vmsay says, that "the British pickets were 
 driven into the fort. The environs were then 
 reconnoitred, and the fortifications were found 
 to be much stronger than had been suspected. 
 This induced the calling of a council of war. 
 which recommended a retreat to Isle anx Noix." 
 Mrs. Warren savs, that "an unexpected attack 
 from a large body of Indians obliged them to re 
 treat to their former post, and await the arrival 
 of reinforcements." The latter account is in 
 strict conformity with Mr. Crosby's own state 
 ment. Both, however, may be correct. 
 
 I was standing. I threw myself flat 
 on the ground, and it just passed 
 over me. 'A miss is as good as a 
 mile' thought I, as I sprang from my 
 recumbent posture, and resumed my 
 labour. But after that, I kept one 
 eye upon the enemy. 
 
 "Our general, however, gave us 
 some instructions on this subject. He 
 advised us never to change our 
 position until the shell was directly 
 over UP ; and if it should then appear 
 that it had lost its projectile force, 
 and was falling, 'it would be \rell 
 enough to step on one side.' He was 
 a noble fellow, that Montgomery.! 
 Every soldier in the army loved him 
 like a brother. 
 
 "When the breastwork was com 
 pleted, which was in a much shorter 
 
 t Montgomery was a warm-hearted Irishman: 
 ami war was his profession. He had been a 
 captain of grenadiers in the 17th regiment of 
 British troops, of which Moncton was colonel. 
 In 1772, he bequitted his regiment, though 
 in a fair way of preferment, because 
 he disapproved of the sentiments of the 
 ministry, and had imbibed an affection 
 for America, which he viewed as the rising 
 seat of arts and freedom. A sentiment of 
 a still more tender nature might have had some 
 influence in this transaction, as he soon after 
 ward married the beautiful and accomplished 
 daughter of Judge Livingston, of New York. 
 His many amiable qualities had procured him an 
 uncommon share of private affection, and his 
 great abilities an equal proportion of public es 
 teem. His name was mentioned in parliament 
 with singular respect. The minister himself ac 
 knowledged his worth, while he reprobated the 
 cause he had espoused. He concluded an in 
 voluntary panegyric, by exclaiming "Course on 
 his virtues! they have undone his country." 
 When he embraced his amiable lady for the last 
 time, on his departure for Canada, and bade her 
 a tender farewell, his parting words were "You 
 shall never blush for your Montgomery." She 
 never did but a nation wept his untimely fall. 
 
 "Yes, ves. I go," he whispered soft, 
 "In freedom's cause my sword to wield, 
 
 Columbia's banner waves aloft, 
 And glory calls me to the field." 
 
 Then foremost on the foe he prest, 
 While war's rude tempest wildly roar'd, 
 
 Till, gushing from the hero's breast. 
 The purple tide in torrents pour'd. 
 
 He fell, and oh! what fancies stole 
 
 Through memory's vista, bright and warm, 
 Till one loved image o'er his soul 
 
 Came like an angel in the storm. 
 But loudly swell 'd the bugle's blast. 
 
 His hand instinctive grasp'd the steel; 
 Again .'t swelled but all was past, 
 
 The warrior's breast had ceased to feel. 
 
 WOODWORTH. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OE, 
 
 tirm thin ml^hb htive been expaste 1 
 considering tha circumstances under 
 which we laboured, we prepared for 
 a retreat; as this show of hostility 
 was merely a rinesse to de/ert the 
 enemy's attention. As soon as nig-ht 
 set in, and every object was shrouded 
 in darkness, we were ordered to de 
 camp with as little noise as possible. 
 We accordingly took our boats, and 
 returned up the river; leaving the 
 oneiny to wonder at our sudden and 
 mysterious exist. On the following 
 d.iy, we reached Isle a:ic Noix, where 
 we remained two weeks, waiting for 
 rainEorca.n nt ;." 
 
 Soon after this event, an extreme 
 bad state of health induced General 
 S3huyler to retire to Ticonderoga, 
 aad the solo command devolved on 
 General Montgomery. Immediately 
 on the a.'nval of his expected rein 
 forcemen", this intrepid and enter 
 pri.siug officer returned to the vi 
 cinity of St. Johns, and opened a 
 b att ry against it on the seventeenth 
 d ly of September. ''Ammunition, 
 howevt r, was so scarce, that the 
 siege could not be carried on with 
 any prosp -ct of spDedy success. 
 
 The General, therefore, detac'.ie 1 a 
 sm ill bo.ly of troops, to attempt the 
 reduation of fort Chambleo, only six 
 miles distant. Success atti n l< s d this 
 enterprise; and, by its surrender, six 
 tons of gun powder were obtained, 
 which enabled the General tc pro.^o- 
 cute the siege of St. Johns with 
 vignvr. The garrison, though strait 
 ened for provisions, persevered in de 
 fending themselves with unabating 
 fortitude.* 
 
 The sever 3 duties of so arduous a 
 campaign; the frequent skii-mishes. 
 
 * Euiasay's American Eavolulioiu 
 
 marches, and counter-marches, nnd 
 constant exposure to sudden changes 
 of woathfi', in the inclement month 
 of October, were not without their 
 effects on the health of the soldiers. 
 Among others, Crosby was seized 
 with a severe indisposition, and re 
 moved to the hospital at Isle aux 
 Noix. But his impatience to share in 
 the dangers and glory of the ap 
 proaching contest, would not permit 
 him to remain under the surgeon's 
 hands but a few days, when he re 
 turned io the armr, in direct op 
 position to the wishes of his medical 
 j adviser. In relating this incident, 
 Mr. Crosby says: 
 
 "I returned against the surgeon's 
 advise, and contrary to the expecta 
 tions of my C.tptairi; for as the time 
 for which we had enlisted had nearly 
 expired, he had no idea that any of 
 us invalids would rejoin the army. 
 As soon as he saw me, he accosted 
 me in a tone of unaffected surprise; 
 "Halloo, Crosby! Have you got 
 back? What induced >ou to return 
 before your health was restored; I 
 never expected to see you here again; 
 so you might as well have gone home. 
 You have not had time to get well; 
 for you look rnoro like a scarecrow 
 than a soldier fit for duty.' I re 
 plied, that I wished to be with him; 
 and that if I was not able to fiyht, I 
 might at least frighten the enemy, as 
 he thought I looked like a scarecrow. 
 At this remark he laughed heartily, 
 and told me, that if I wished so 
 much to tight, that I should soon be 
 gratified. Accordingly, in the course 
 of the day we had a severe engage 
 ment, in which we proved victorious; 
 and, to my great satisfaction, I was 
 one of the number that marched into 
 the fort to the tune of Yankee 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 27 
 
 Doodle, and took charge of the 
 prisoners."* 
 
 Onr invalid soon recovpred his 
 health, and continued in the service 
 until the army took possession of 
 Montreal, which they did, without 
 resistance, on the l'2th of November. 
 His term of enlistment having now 
 expired, he proposed to return, once 
 more, to the tranquil scenes (of his 
 childhood. He was warmly solicited 
 by his commandant to remain with 
 the army, and even promised pro 
 motion if he would comply; but, be 
 ing strongly impressed with the idea 
 that a in or ,3 extensive field for useful 
 ness would soon be opened in the 
 vicinity of New York, he. persisted in 
 his intention of leaving the army. In 
 company with several others, whose 
 term had also expired, (having en 
 listed for six mouths only.) he em 
 barked in a small schoouor for Crown 
 Poiut,f whero he arrived about the 
 1st of December. 
 
 "From thenc?, (says he.) our little 
 pirty proceeded on foot to Ticon- 
 deroga, where we procured u small 
 bout, and rowed up the river which 
 connects Lake George with Champ 
 lain. On reaching the falls, however, 
 we were compelled to draw our boat 
 on shore, and drag it on the ground, 
 across a neck of land about a mile in 
 width. In this manner, with immense 
 labour and fatigue, and suffering 
 
 * Major Pre >ton, the commanding officer at St. 
 .To'ri ;. snrrende I that fortress on reecivhi'j 
 ho i )ii"ii')lc term* of capitulation. "By those it 
 w;i a creed, that the garrhon should march out 
 wit'i the honour* of wa "; that the officers and 
 p -17 it" ; should srroir.i'l t'i<Mr a "ins on the nlain : 
 fie offr'.?r-i to keep th<Mr side-arm-!, and their 
 flr'-ar.n; he re-served for thorn. ;i'id tht the 
 peo^e )f the g-irrison should retain their effect-. 
 A') fit !iv > Irri 1 (' 1 rcst'ilar-i. a-vl one hundred 
 r uri HTIS iwri tn prisoners to th'v pravineia's. 
 T le r a'so a 1 , ini.'e 1 thirty-nine niesesof cannon. 
 s wi ID i-fi"s. a'i 1 t'-vo h r >A'it/"r-;. and about 
 eU it Irri l;-e 1 U:vrl of u'-ns. Among t'i" can- 
 n > i were many brass field- i >ie r> ei. an article of 
 whicli the AmeriLMiu ware nearly destitute." 
 
 greatly from the inclemency of the 
 season, we reached Sabbath-day 
 Point, I in Lake George. Here, how 
 ever, no friendly shelter awaited us; 
 and though, almost perishing with 
 cold, we could obtain no better quar 
 ters than an old pig-stye. This 
 miserable substitute for a tent was 
 soon filled with brush and straw; 
 when, with wet feet and shivering 
 bodies, (all of us being thinly clad,) 
 we laid ourselves down to rest from 
 the fatigues cf the day." 
 
 t On Lake Chaniplain. about 12 miles north 
 of Ticonderoga "The celebrated fortress of 
 Crown Point, one of the best ever erected \\ithin 
 the present territory of the United States, gave 
 its name to this town, which contains the ruins 
 of the fort. Along the lake, the surface is 
 pretty level, but high mountains prevade th9 
 western part. 'I he fort itself is on a point of 
 land jutting far into the water northward, a r.d 
 washed by a considerable bay on the west .called 
 West Bay. This fortress was first erected by 
 the French, in 1731. and called Fort St. Freder- 
 icK. In 1750. it was surrended to the British 
 troops under General Amherst. and was oc 
 cupied by them until May 14. 1775, when it fell 
 into the hands of ihe Americans, (as stated in a 
 preceding note.) but was evacuated^ in 1776, and 
 again fell Into the hands of Ihe British. Tie 
 walls were of wood and earth, twenty-two fee t 
 thick, and sixteen feet in height. ' It was about 
 fifteen hundred yards sqnaie. surnun ded by a 
 deep and broad ditch, cut in a solid granite rock, 
 wilh immense labour. On the north is a double 
 row of strorg stone barracks, of a capacity to 
 contain two thousand troops. On the same side 
 was a irate, a strong drawhiii'ge, and a covered 
 way to the margin of the lake. The whole are 
 now in ruins, and the outworks, of wjiich there 
 were some pretty extensive, are little else than 
 heaps of rubbish, barely sufflbient to revive re- 
 membrance." Stafford's Gazetteer. 
 
 ^ So called from its having been the scene of a 
 bloody massacre on the Sabbath day. A large 
 party of whites had encamped there, witl out 
 suspecting an enemy to be near them; lutthe 
 Indians came upon tfiem suddenly, and cut them 
 off, almost to a man. Verv few escaped to tell 
 the disastrous story. We have often heard the 
 tradition, but are not in possession of the par 
 ticulars. Lake George, of .course, could not 
 have been attractive to our travellers in the 
 middle of winter: hut in any other season it is 
 the most beautiful sheet of clear wafer in Amer 
 ica, perhaps in the world. It is about thir'y- 
 thrce miles in length, and nearly two in breadth. 
 Its northern extremity approaches within two 
 and a half miles of Lake Cliamplain.and the out 
 let is little more then three miles long, where it 
 is said to descend 157 feet. Lake George is sur 
 rounded bv high mountains, and is excelled in 
 romantic beauties bv no similar waters of the 
 world. Its water is very dee)), the bottom so 
 clean that neither winds or freshets render io 
 tuvbi 1, and it abounds with the finest fish for the 
 ang'er. Salmon trout are taken weighing twenty 
 pounds and upwards, with a great variety of 
 other fish. 
 
23 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 At early dawn, on the following 
 morning, this intrepid little party re 
 sumed their unpleasant journey; and, 
 after several days of fatigue and suf 
 fering, without meeting any reraark- 
 able adventure, at length reached 
 their respective homes in safety. 
 
 After a few weeks repose had res 
 tored Crosby to his usual health and 
 strength, he resumed the peaceful 
 occupation of shoemaking, in his 
 former situation at Danbury. Here 
 he continued until the 25th of Jan 
 uary, 1776, when a sudden gloom was 
 spread over the whole country, by the 
 disastrous news that his beloved 
 General, the brave and amiable Mont 
 gomery, had fallen before the walls 
 of Quebec, on the last day of Decem 
 ber. Even at this distant period, 
 (1828,) Mr. Crosby cannot speak on 
 this subject without emotion. The 
 soldiers almost adored Montgomery; 
 and there was scarcely an individual 
 that had ever served under him, but 
 shed tears for his untimely fate. 
 Crosby was so much affected on tirst 
 hearing of the melancholy event, 
 that he found it difficult -to pursue 
 a i occupation that gave so much op 
 portunity for painful reflections; he, 
 therefore, sought relief in change of 
 scenery, and ouid a visit to his friends 
 in Kent, where we leave h'm for the 
 present, while we take a glance at 
 the state of the country, on the open 
 ing of the eventful year 1776. In 
 doing this we shall discover the j 
 causes which prompted the subject of 
 this memoir to assume a new charac- i 
 ter in the revolutionary drama that 
 of a Spy, on tha ''Neutral Ground." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE TOK1ES. 
 
 Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume 
 To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds. 
 They're thrown neglected by; but, if it fails. 
 They're sure to die like dogs, as you shall do. 
 
 ADDISON. 
 
 The winter of 1775-6 passed tardily 
 away, and no military movements of 
 consequence were made on either 
 side. The British troops remained 
 shut up in Boston, under the com 
 mand of General William Howe, the 
 perfidious Gage having sailed for 
 England. The continental army in 
 the vicinity of Boston was rapidly de 
 creasing by the expiration of the 
 short period for which the soldiers 
 had enlisted.* Although Congress 
 had exerted all its energies to create 
 a new army, still the recruiting ser 
 vice went on very slowly, and no 
 active operations were attempted un 
 til the beginning of March, when a 
 threatened bombardment, from the 
 heights of Dorchester,f compelled 
 General Howe to evacuate Boston, 
 and thus relieved the suffering in 
 habitants from their disti'ess and 
 privations. \ The British army was 
 
 * At the close of the year 1775. the continental 
 army near Boston, was reduced to a very 
 critical situation, being obliged to substitute 
 new raised troops and militia, in the place of 
 those \yho had been in service five or six months; 
 and this exchange was made within musket-shot 
 of the enemy's lines. During part of this period, 
 their numbers were not sufficient to man the 
 lines, nor was there powder enough in camp to 
 furni -It-four rounds a man! They had only four 
 small brass cannon, and u few old honey-comb 
 iron pieces, with their trunnions broken off; and 
 these were ingeniously bedded in timbers, in 
 the same manner as that of stocking a musket. 
 These machines were extremely umvieldiy and 
 inconvenient, requiring much skill and labour 
 to elevate and depress them. Had the enemy in 
 Boston been made aequaihted with the situation 
 of their besiegers, the consequences might have 
 been unpleasant. Thacher'x Journal 
 
 t See Appendix, No. IV. 
 
 t The distresses of the inhabitanis of Boston, 
 during the memorable winter of 1775-6, exceed 
 description. They had been promised permis 
 sion, to leave the town, if they would deliver up 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 hastily embarked on board the ships 
 and transports then lying in the har 
 bour, together with a host of lories 
 and refugees, who claimed the protec 
 tion of General Howe, and abandoned 
 their bleeding country. The fleet 
 proceeded to Halifax, where the 
 loyal fugitives were landed, and 
 where Howe determined to remain, 
 until the arrival of his brother from 
 England, with the expected rein 
 forcements, which should enable him 
 to pursue the year with vigour. 
 
 Immediately after this joyful event, 
 Washington sent on the continental 
 army, in detachments, to New York; 
 and as soon as he had made some 
 necessary arrangements for the future 
 defence of the eastern states, he has 
 tened on himself, and made every 
 possible preparation for the reception 
 of the expected enemy, who did not 
 arrive at Sandy Hook until the 29th 
 of June. 
 
 After waiting, at Halifax, two or 
 three months, for the arrival of his 
 brother Lord Howe, with his "motley 
 mercenaries from Hesse, Hanover, 
 and Brunswick,'' Sir William became 
 impatient of delay, and set sail for 
 New York, accompanied by Admiral 
 Shuldham. Here, however, he found 
 the continental army so strongly 
 posted on Long Island and the island 
 
 their arms, which were accordingly deposited in 
 Faueuil H:ul, to the care of the select men. But 
 no sooner were the citizens completely disarmed, 
 then Gage violated his agreement, and refused 
 to let them depart. Nor was general Howe, his 
 successor, any more lenient; for he issued a 
 proclamation, prohibiting all persons attempt- 
 nig to quit the town, without a written license, 
 on penalty of military execution-, and, if they 
 escaped, they were to be proceeded against as 
 tractor*, and their effects to be forfeited. The 
 c Mnequeuces may oe easily conceived. That ill- 
 fated town was a scene of famine and distress. 
 T,ie inhabitants were almost in a state of star 
 vation, for the want of food and fuel. Totally 
 destitute of vegetables, flour, and fresh provis 
 ion -i. they were actually obliged to feed on horse 
 flesh: while the news' of churches, old houses, 
 an I ti nbered wharves, were demolished for 
 fuel. Thacher's Journal. 
 
 of New York, that he did not imme 
 diately attempt anything of conse 
 quence; but landed his troops at 
 Staten Island, and there awaited the 
 arrival of his brother. 
 
 In the meantime, the declaration 
 of Independence was adopted by 
 Congress, and published to the 
 nation. Four day? after its passage, 
 it was read to the army at New 
 York, by whom it was received with 
 the most enthusiastic demonsti'ations 
 of joy. A leaden statue of his Majesty 
 George III, was immediately thrown 
 down, and run into bullets, for the 
 reception of Lord Howe, and his host 
 of mercenaries, who arrived, four 
 days afterwards, with a formidable 
 squadron. 
 
 After amusing, or rather insulting, 
 the American government With an 
 inadmissible proposition of reconcili 
 ation, the enemy made preparations 
 to act with vigour. Having been 
 j joined by "the repulsed troops from 
 the southward,]; and the broken squad 
 ron under the command of Sir Peter 
 Parker; by a regiment from St 
 Augustine, and another from Pensa- 
 cola; also, by a few troops from St. 
 Vincents, some small additions from 
 other posts, and a considerable party 
 of tories from New Jersey, and frcm 
 the environs of Philadelphia and 
 New York, which, by great industry, 
 had been collected and embodied by 
 Governor Tryon," the whole hostile 
 army crossed the channel, and landed 
 on Long Island, where they were 
 posted, in detachments, on the south 
 side, from one end of the island to 
 the other; separated from the Ameri 
 can army by a ridge of hills covered 
 with woods. 
 
 t See first note, in Chapter VIII. 
 
30 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 Tryon, it will be recollected, was 
 the last governor who presided at 
 New York, under the crown of Eng 
 land. He had formerly been gover 
 nor of North Carolina, where his 
 severities had rendered his very 
 name universally detested. He, of 
 course, entered with great zeal into 
 all the measures of the British 
 government; and endeavoured with 
 art, influence, and intrigue, (of which 
 he was perfect master,) to induce the 
 city of New York, and the inhabitants 
 under his government, to submit 
 quietly, and not unite with the other 
 colonies in their plans of opposition. 
 Failing in this purpose, and becom 
 ing apprehensive for his own per 
 sonal safety, he left the seat of 
 government, and put himself at the 
 head of a body of tories, whom he 
 assisted in butchering their fellow 
 countrymen, and committing the 
 most shocking enormities on the de 
 fenceless inhabitants of New Jersey, 
 and wherever else he could penetrate. 
 Heiconstantly held out such flatter 
 ing inducements for these wrefches 
 to join him, that scarcely a day 
 passed without his receiving recruits 
 from some quarter. 
 
 At this period, the "Committee of 
 Safety" for the colony of New York, 
 consisted of Messrs. Jay, Platt, Duer 
 and Sackett; gentlemen who hare 
 since held conspicuous situations in 
 the government of their emancipated 
 country. It, of course, became the 
 policy of this committee to counter. - 
 act, as far as in them lay, the arts 
 and intrigues of tho wily Tryon. For 
 this purpose, they exercised the ut 
 most vigilance to prevent the tories 
 from joining tho standard of the 
 enemy; and felt perfectly justified in 
 resorting to coercive measures to 
 
 effect this desirable object. In fact, 
 so daring had become their opposition 
 and outrages, that any lenity ex 
 tended towards them would have 
 been cruelty to the friends of liberty, 
 as the following facts will amply 
 demonstrate. 
 
 A gang of these unprincipled 
 
 wretches, who had associated in New 
 
 York for the purpose of joining the 
 
 British army, had even concerted a 
 
 plan to assassinate Washington, and 
 
 some other officers; and, while our 
 
 army was engaged with the enemy, 
 
 to blow up the magazines. The 
 
 mayor of the city, and an armourer 
 
 who was employed in making rifles 
 
 for the tories, together with several 
 
 others, were taken into custody, and 
 
 I committed to prison. The mayor, on 
 
 | examiaation, confessed that he had 
 
 i received money from Tryon to pay 
 
 I the armourer for the rifles. Two of 
 
 | Washington's body-guards were con- 
 
 ! federates in this nefarious scheme; 
 
 I 
 
 but a third, to whom the secret was 
 confided, honestly disclosed the in 
 formation. Several of these mis 
 creants were tried and convicted, and 
 I two or three were executed. 
 
 About the same time, a similar plot 
 | was brought to light in Albany by 
 : the confession of two tories. Their 
 plan was to set the city on fire, and 
 i blow up the magazine. In conse- 
 j quence of this premature exposal, 
 some of the conspirators were appre 
 hended, and the meditated plot 
 frustrated.* 
 
 But the most dangerous and cul 
 pable of these internal enemies, were 
 those who had the effrontery and ad- 
 i dress to pass themselves off for whigs. 
 j One of these was Dr. Benjamin 
 
 * See Tbacber's Journal, p. 64. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 31 
 
 Church, who had long sustained a 
 high reputation as a patriot and a 
 son of liberty. He had been a mem 
 ber of the house of representatires of 
 Massachusetts, and waa afterwards 
 appointed surgeon general, and di 
 rector of the hospitals. Previous to 
 the evacuation of Boston, however, 
 he was detected in a traitorous cor 
 respondence with the enejay; tried, 
 convicted, and expelled from the 
 house of representatives, and ordered 
 to be "closely confined in some secure 
 jail in Connecticut, without the use 
 of pen, ink, or paper; and that no 
 person be allowed to converse with 
 him, except in the presence and hear 
 ing of a magistrate, or the sheriff of 
 the county." After all this, however, 
 he was finally permitted to depart 
 from the country. He and his family 
 embai-ked for the West Indies; but 
 the vessel foundered at sea, and all 
 were lostf 
 
 A man by the name of Ledwitz, 
 who, by his own solicitation, had been 
 appointed Lieutenant-colonel in the 
 continental army, was also detected 
 in a traitorous correspondence with 
 the infamous Tryon. He intrusted 
 his letter to one Steen, an honest 
 German, to be conveyed to New York; 
 but, considering it his duty to expose 
 the perfidy, the messenger delivered 
 it to Washington. By this criminal 
 act the perfidious wretch had for 
 feited his life, according to the 
 articles of war; but, on his trial by 
 a court martial, his life was saved by 
 the casting vote of a militia officer, 
 who pretended some scruples of con 
 science! He was, however, cashiered, 
 and declared incapable of holding 
 
 any military office in the American 
 service.* 
 
 But it is unnecessary to multiply 
 instances. Enough has been said to 
 show that the tories were the most 
 insidious, virulent, and implacable 
 enemies, with which the friends of 
 liberty had to contend in the fearful 
 struggle which secured the indepen 
 dence of these United States. Inter 
 nal secret enemies are always more 
 dangerous than open avowed foes in 
 the field; and it ought to be con 
 sidered as a signal and remarkable 
 interposition of divine providence, 
 that their vile machinations were so 
 frequently defeated. But Providence 
 always operates by instruments; and 
 among the most efficient, patriotic, 
 disinterested, and successful agents, 
 in counteracting the meditated 
 treachery and machinations of inter 
 nal secret enemies, was Enoch Crosby; 
 as will be sufficiently shown in the 
 following pages. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SECRET SERVICES. 
 
 What is it that you would impart to me? 
 If it be aught toward the general good, 
 Set honour in one eye. and death i'the other, 
 And I will look on both indifferently; 
 For let the gods so speed me, as I love 
 The name of honour more than I fear death. 
 SHAKSPEARE. 
 
 The unfortunate battle of Long 
 Island, the consequent retreat of the 
 American army, and the subsequent 
 occupation of the city of New York 
 by the British, under Geneial Howe, 
 are events familiar to every reader. 
 The first occurred on the 27th of 
 August, 1776, and the last on the 15th 
 of the following month. The affair 
 at Kipp's Bay,f the contest at Har- 
 
 t See Thacher's Journal, p. 38. 
 
 * Ibid, p. 64. 
 
 f See Chapter VI, third paragraph. 
 
32 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 laem Heights, and the landing of the 
 enemy at Throg's Neck, in West 
 Chester county, followed each other 
 in rapid succession, and excited the 
 most lively interest throughout the 
 country. 
 
 It was during the occurrence of 
 these important transactions, that 
 Crosby determined to rejoin the 
 standard of his country. Several 
 months' repose had recruited his 
 health and strength after the fatigue 
 and sufferings of his northern ex 
 pedition. He was now in the twenty- 
 seventh year of his age, with every 
 personal and mental qualification re 
 quisite for acts of enterprise, hazard, 
 and address. In height, he was 
 nearly six feet, with broa.l shoulders, 
 full chest, and a liberal share of bone 
 and muscle, but not a superabun 
 dance of flesh. \ Active, athletic, and 
 inured to hardships, he determined 
 no longer to indulge in inglorious 
 ease, while his brave countrymen 
 were in arms in defence of their rights 
 and liberties, and while persons of 
 every age, sex, and condition, were 
 cheerfully submitting to unexampled 
 privations, for the sake of political 
 freedom. He, therefore, resumed 
 his knapsack, shouldered his musket, 
 and, once more bidding adieu to the 
 rural scenes of Kent, ho bent his 
 course towards the headquarters of 
 the American army. 
 
 It was towards the close of a warm 
 day, in the month of September, 1776, 
 that he reached a wild and romantic 
 ravine, in the county of Westchester.* 
 
 | "In person, the pedlar \v;is a man above the 
 middle height; spare, but full of bone and mus 
 cle. His eves were tfray sunken, restless: and. 
 for the few moments that they dwelt on the 
 countenances of those with whom he conversed, 
 seemed to read the very soul." Spy, Vol. i. 
 
 f)t > I- 
 
 S33 Appendix, No. V. 
 
 * Wcstdiester county is situated ou the east 
 
 Here he fell in with a gentleman, who 
 appeared to be travelling in the same 
 direction, and with whom he soon 
 entered iuto familar conversation. 
 Among other questions, the stranger 
 inquired, if Crosby was going "down 
 below?" to which he read'ly answer 
 ed in the affirmative. The interro 
 gator appeared pleased with this 
 reply, and let fall some expressions 
 which plainly indicated that he had 
 "mistaken his man," supposing 
 Crosby to be a loyalist, on his way to 
 join the British army. The hitter in 
 stantly perceived the advantage 
 which might be derived from this 
 mistake, and sufferad his new com 
 panion to remain under the errone 
 ous impression. 
 
 "Are you not aware," said the 
 stranger, "that it is somewhat hazard 
 ous to go down alone? The rebels 
 are on the alert, and you may meet 
 with obstacles that will not be very 
 pleasant." 
 
 "Indeed!" returned Crosby, with 
 much affected concern. "What course 
 would you then advise me to pursue?" 
 
 "I will tell you. sir. I reside but a 
 short distance from hence; go with 
 me, and make my house your home 
 for a few days, when you can go 
 down with a company that is now 
 forming for that purpose." 
 
 "That is, indeed, a most fortunate 
 circumstance," replied Crosby; "and 
 I accept the hospitable invitation with 
 as much cordiality as it appears to 
 
 side of the Hudson, immediately above York Is 
 land. It is joined to Putnam county on the 
 north, and Connecticut on the east ; comprising 
 about four hnndrod and eiurlity square miles It 
 enjoys a direct communication with the Hudson 
 on the west, and with the Sound on the south 
 east. Its surface, in some parts, is rushed and 
 mountainous: in others, beautifully undulating, 
 and luxuriantly fertile: the whole well watered, 
 and diversified with scenery that is truly pictur 
 esque and romantic. The centre of this county, 
 lying between the two hostile arniies, during the 
 revolutionary war, was called the "Neutral 
 Ground." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 have been given. This arrangement 
 will relieve my mind from a load of 
 anxiety, and I shall feel myself under 
 a weight of obligation to you." 
 
 "Not at all, sir; it is* a pleasure to 
 serve those who, in these trying 
 times, retain their integrity, and re 
 main faithful to his majesty. I am 
 happy to know that many of my 
 neighbors are of this class; and 
 though the vigilance of Jay, Duer, 
 Platt, Sackett, and their deluded in- 
 strumants, compel my friends to be 
 very circnmspact in their movements, 
 thera is no doubt of their being able 
 to complete their arrangements, and 
 reaching the army without molesta 
 tion. They will very gladly receive 
 you as a member, and in their com 
 pany you will be perfectly safe." 
 
 "I have no doubt of it," returned 
 Crosby; ' ; and am impatient to be in 
 troduced to their acquaintance." 
 
 "Yonder is nay residence; and you 
 need refreshment and repose. Rest 
 yourself to-night, and in the morn 
 ing your wish shall be gratified." 
 
 Crosby I'eadily acceded to this pro 
 posal, and followed his new acquaint 
 ance into a small enclosure that led 
 to a neat farm-house at a short dis 
 tance from the road. Here he was 
 received with a cordial welcome, and 
 furnished with such refreshments as 
 his situation required. After supper, 
 the evening was spent in conversing 
 on a variety of subjects, that natur 
 ally grow out of the critical state of 
 tb.3 times at that period; such as may 
 easily be imagined to have passed be 
 tween a covert whig, anxious to 
 obtain intelligence, and a real tory, 
 who had no suspicion of the charac 
 ter of his guest. 
 
 Having had a comfortable night's 
 rest, and a substantial breakfast, 
 
 Crosby reminded the host of his 
 promise to introduce him to such of 
 his neighbours as were faithful to the 
 royal cause; particularly thos>e who 
 were about forming a company to 
 join the British army. 
 
 "I am anxious," said he, "to be 
 come acquainted with the agents, 
 before I join in the enterprise. It is 
 not every man of fair professions 
 that can be safely trusted. I like to* 
 see and judge for myself." 
 
 The reasonableness of this request 
 induced his kind entertainer to com 
 ply with it without delay. Crosby 
 was accordingly introduced to a num 
 ber of persons, on many of whom the 
 shadow of suspicion had never before 
 lighted, they- having ever professed 
 to be warm adherents of the Ameri 
 can cause. Every one received him 
 with cordiality, and conversed oil 
 political subjects without the least 
 disguise or restraint, so completely 
 had they been thrown off their guard 
 by their confidence in the person who 
 had recommended him. He found 
 the whole of them to be most invete 
 rate and virulent in their hostility to 
 the friends of liberty, and was con 
 vinced that he could not render a 
 greater service to his bleeding coun 
 try, then by counteracting the ma 
 chinations of her most dangerous 
 (because most secret and insidious) 
 foes. 
 
 Accordingly, at the expiration of 
 three days, during which time he had 
 I made himself master of all the infor 
 mation in their power to communi 
 cate, (and some of them held secret 
 correspondence with the enemy,) he 
 told his host, that he felt too im 
 patient to join the army, to wait any 
 longer the dilatory movements of 
 this company. He was, therefore, re- 
 
34 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 solved to proceed alone, and to trust 
 to fortune and bis own address for 
 protection. After vainly exhausting 
 every argument to dissuade his guest 
 from so hazardous a project, the 
 other finally consented, and Crosby 
 resumed his knapsack and musket, 
 took leave of his entertainer, and 
 was soon out of s"ight on the road to 
 New Yoru. 
 
 In this direction, however, he did 
 not travel long; but took advantage 
 of an abrupt angle in the road, to 
 change his course; when, leaving the 
 highway, he plunged into a thicket, 
 and pursued his way, through a path 
 less tract of country, in a northwes 
 tern direction. 
 
 He. had heard of a Mr. Young, who 
 resided within eight miles from 
 White Plains, and knew him, from 
 reputation, to be a warm friend to 
 the American cause. With him, 
 therefore, he determined to consult 
 on the proper steps to be taken with 
 respect to the arrest of these traitor, 
 to their country. Owing, however, to 
 the circuitous route he had adopted, 
 to avoid the observation of his late 
 associates, night had set in before his 
 journey was half accomplished; and 
 it was with extrems difficulty, that 
 he "groped his darkling way" through 
 the wild and broken region that lay 
 between him and the object of his 
 pursuit. Hills were to be climbed, 
 thickets penetrated, and streams 
 forded, before he could gain the road 
 which was to conduct him to the 
 mansion of Mr. Young. 
 
 All these difficulties, however, were 
 at length happily surmounted; but it 
 was near midnight when he reached 
 the end of his journey. Fortunately, 
 the master of the house was still up 
 and alone, his family having all re 
 
 tired. Crosby was a stranger, and 
 the hour unseasonable; but such cir 
 cumstances were not unusual in those 
 "stirring times." He was promptly 
 admitted, and politely invited to take 
 a seat; when Mr. Young, fixing on 
 him a searching gaze, (as if anxious 
 to penetrate into the secret recesses 
 of his heart, and there to read his 
 real character.) intimated that he 
 was ready to learn the purport of his 
 untimely visit. 
 
 Crosby was aware that the inhabi 
 tants in that section of the country, 
 had lost much of their former con 
 fidence iu each other, and knew not 
 whom to trust; he, therefore, hastened 
 to explain the object of his intrusion, 
 and relieve his host from the evident 
 embarrassment his suspicions had 
 created.* 
 
 "I understand, sir," said Crosby, 
 "that you are a friend to the 'upper 
 party.'f Give me leave to ask if I 
 have been correctly informed? Is it 
 true?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," promptly replied the 
 other; "it is true. I am a friend to 
 my country; and am not afraid or 
 ashamed to avow it, to friend or foe." 
 
 "I have always understood, sir, 
 that such was your character, and 
 rejoice to find that I am not deceived. 
 Under this impression, I have taken 
 the liberty to wait on you, for the 
 purpose of communicating informa- 
 
 * "The county of Westchester.after the British 
 had obtained possession of the Island of New 
 York, became common ground, in which both 
 parties continued to act for the remainder of the 
 war of the revolution. A large proportion of its 
 inhabitants, either restrained by their attach 
 ments, or influenced by their fears, affected a 
 neutrality they did not always feel." Spy, Vol. 
 i. p. 2. 
 
 t As respects location, the Americans were 
 always the "upper" party, in the vicinity of New 
 York; for while they retained possession of the 
 city, the British were still below them, at Staten 
 Island. The same relative position continued on 
 their retreat through the county of Westchester. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 35 
 
 tion that may prove beneficial to the 
 American cause." 
 
 "Go on, sir," returned the host, in 
 a tone bordering on sternness, and 
 without relaxing his features. "Pro 
 ceed; I am all attention." 
 
 "Do yon know, sir, that there are 
 traitors around you? that even some 
 of your neighbours are secretly con 
 certing plans to assist the common 
 enemy in plundering and butchering 
 their cwn brethren and fellow-coun 
 trymen?" 
 
 "I am well aware," returned Young, 
 with a sigh, "that there are too many 
 who feel secretly disposed to aid the 
 cause of the enemy. But they dare 
 not openly avow it." 
 
 "That is true, sir." 
 
 "O, that I knew them!" continued 
 the host, with increasing animation, 
 as he rose from his seat. "O, that I 
 could designate them point them 
 out name them! They should soon 
 be linked together by closer and 
 stronger ties than those which now 
 connect them." 
 
 "Then, sir," replied Crosby, with 
 confidence, rising on his feet, and ap 
 proaching the other, "I have news 
 that will interest you. I have just 
 left a company of these wretches, 
 after having spent three days with 
 them, and know all their plans. 
 Their intention is to join the 'lower 
 party,' with whom they now hold a 
 secret correspondence, and raise 
 their parricidal hands against their 
 bleeding country." 
 
 "Is it possible!" 
 
 "It is most true, sir. I know them 
 all have visited their families at 
 tended their secret meetings-assisted 
 them in maturing their nefarious 
 pl:uis." 
 
 'Indeed! Then you yourself' 
 
 " Understand me, " interrupted 
 Crosby. "I have levelled this musket 
 too often at the open and avowed 
 enemies of my country, to be on 
 terms of intimacy with her secret 
 foes, except for the purpose of dis 
 covering and preventing their con 
 templated treachery." 
 
 Here Crosby gave a particular ^de 
 tail of the circumstances connected 
 with his introduction to the members 
 of this hopeful confederacy; par 
 ticulars with which the reader is 
 already acquainted; and, as he pro 
 ceeded, the countenance of his audi 
 tor gradually brightened. As soon 
 as he had finished, the latter seized 
 him eagerly by the hand ; and, with 
 sparkling eyes, exclaimed 
 
 "Is tHis true, upon the honour of a 
 man?" 
 
 "It is true, by Heaven!" returned 
 the other; "and if you will assist me 
 with your advice and co-operation, 
 eight-and-forty hours shall not elapse 
 until you are convinced by the testi 
 mony of your own eyes." 
 
 "Come on, then, my good fellow!" 
 exclaimed Young, seizing his hat. 
 "The Committee of Safety are at 
 White Plains, and thither we ramst 
 proceed immediately. Follow me 
 quickly, and I will be your pilot." 
 
 Crosby was not backward in com 
 plying with this injunction, though 
 already much fatigued by his recent 
 journey; but promptly followed his 
 hasty guide, on this midnight ex 
 cursion. Fences, rocks, and streams, 
 were but slight impediments 
 "To hearts resolved, and limbs inured to toil," 
 and, before two o'clock, they found 
 themselves at the end of their jour 
 ney, in the village of White Plains, 
 and in the presence of the honourable 
 John Jay, one of the most vigilant of 
 
36 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 these watchful guardians of the pub 
 lic safety. 
 
 This gentleman being made ac 
 quainted with the foregoing par 
 ticulars, dismissed his informant 
 with a request that they would re 
 main near at hand, for further in 
 structions, as he intended, at early 
 dawn, to convene the committee, and 
 hold a consultation on th? important 
 subject. 
 
 Were we writing a romance, in 
 stead of an authentic narrative of 
 events which actually occurred, 
 and could we command the descrip 
 tive pen of our inimitable Cooper, 
 here would b3 the place to introduce 
 a series of incidents which attended, 
 (or might have attended,) the subse 
 quent movements of our nocturnal 
 adventurers. Their difficulty in pro 
 curing comfortable quarters for tho 
 remainder of the night; a description 
 of the village inn, where they finally 
 succeeded in rousing the lazy land 
 lord from his slumbers; the motley 
 group whioh lay snoring on the floor 
 of the bar-room; a portraiture of the 
 florid-faced landlady, and the various 
 incidents resulting from this unex 
 pected interruption of her arrange 
 ments for the night, would, all ! 
 together, form sufficient materials for 
 an interesting chapter. But as noth 
 ing of the kind has been promised 
 in our title page, the reader must 
 rest contented with a plain una 
 dorned narrative of such facts as our 
 hero can actually remember at the 
 advanced age of seventy-eight. 
 
 The committee were convened at an 
 early hour on the following morning, 
 when Crolby was summoned before 
 them, to recapitulate the particulars 
 of his recent adventure. After bear 
 ing his statement, and consulting on 
 
 the most proper steps to be taken in 
 the business, Crosby was requested 
 to hold himself in readiness to ac 
 company a detachment of Rangers,* 
 (on the ensuing night,) to the place 
 where his recent associates were in 
 the habit of holding their secret 
 cabal?. 
 
 The enterprise was crowned with 
 complete success. Without dream 
 ing of molestation, these vile con 
 spirators found themselves suddenly 
 surrounded by a troop of horse, and 
 compelled to surrender. Thus, in 
 less time than our hero had specified, 
 his friend Young had the satisfaction 
 of seeing the whole cavalcade, linked 
 together in pairs, safely conducted 
 to prison, to the tune of the "Rogue's 
 March." 
 
 The successful result of this enter 
 prise, induced the committee to 
 believe that the cause in which they 
 had so zealously embarked, might 
 be highly promoted by engaging a 
 person of Crosby's acuteness and ad 
 dress in similar secret services. The 
 proposition was accordingly made to 
 him at a confidential interview. 
 
 'It was your intention," said. the 
 chairman, "again to serve your coun 
 try as a private in the ranks. Such 
 a resolution, in a person of your 
 character and abilities, could only 
 have originated in motives of the 
 purest patriotism. But you must 
 now be convinced that much greater 
 services may be rendered by pursuing 
 a different, though certainly not a 
 less hazardous, course. There is a 
 sufficient number of brave fellows to 
 repulse our open and avowed enemy. 
 The greatest danger which now 
 
 * The <e rangers were a company of mounted 
 men. reserved cxpre-isly for exigencies of this 
 kind, whenever tliev should occur, and to go 
 wherever the Committee should direct. 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 37 
 
 threatens this suffering country, is 
 from her internal foes; those secret 
 enemies who, in their midnight 
 cabals, are plotting our destruction. 
 He who succeeds in bringing such 
 wretches to justice, deserves infinitely 
 more of his country, than he who 
 fights her battles. Are you willing 
 to engage in such service?" 
 
 "I am willing to encounter any 
 danger, and make any sacrifice, (my 
 honour only excepted,) in the service 
 of my country." 
 
 'It cannot be disguised that, in the 
 service now proposed to % you, even 
 honour, in the general acceptation of 
 that term among men, must also be 
 sacrificed; but not so in the eye of 
 that Being who reads the secret 
 thoughts of the heart, and judges 
 the motive instead of the act. He 
 will approve, though man may con 
 demn." 
 
 "It is, indeed, a hazardous part 
 you would have me play. I must be- 
 corna a Spy." 
 
 "In appearance only. Our bleed 
 ing country requires such service at 
 this momentous crisis. We must 
 fight our secret foss with their own 
 weapons; and he who will magnani 
 mously step forward as a volunteer in 
 that service, will merit a rich reward 
 and receive it, too, from Heaven, if 
 not from man. If he falls, he falls a 
 martyr in the glorious cause of 
 liberty." 
 
 "I will be that man," replied 
 Crosby, with firmness. "I have 
 counted the cost, and am aware of 
 tha danger. I know that I must be 
 content to endure reproach, obloquy, 
 and detestation; to cover my poor 
 doating parents with shame and 
 misery,, and incur the hatred of those 
 I dearest love. Perhaps to suffer an 
 
 ignominious death, and leave a name 
 of infamy behind. I know it all, 
 and yet I will not shrink from the 
 task. I will encounter all risk all 
 suffer all, if I can thereby serve my 
 country. But there is one condition 
 If I do fall in the discharge of 
 
 this duty, you must pledge your 
 selves to do justice to my memory. It 
 would be dreadful to die, and leave 
 such a name behind me." 
 
 "Of that rest assured," replied the 
 chairman, not a little affected by the 
 solemn earnestness of this appeal; 
 "but we hope and trust thnt the 
 melancholy duty will not be soon re 
 quired at our hands. We will furnish 
 you with a pass for your protection; 
 but it must never be exhibited save 
 in the last extremity. Should you be 
 arrested as an emmissary of the 
 enemy, you shall be secretly fur 
 nished with the means of escape. 
 But the secret of your real character 
 must go no farther. Your dearest 
 friend must not be intrusted with it." 
 
 After furnishing their new agent 
 with every necessary instruction, to 
 gether with the promised pass, the 
 committee adjourned, and Crosby 
 immediately feet about making ar 
 rangements for his new undertaking. 
 His musket was laid aside; and in 
 stead of a knapsack, he furnished 
 himself with a large pedlars pack,* 
 containing a complete set of shoe 
 maker's tools. Thus equipped, he 
 sallied forth in quest of ad 
 ventures. His ostensible object, 
 (in order to avoid suspicion,) was 
 searching for employment; or what 
 the sons of St. Crispin, at that period, 
 termed "whipping the cat;" but, in 
 
 * ''Harviy Birch had been a pedlar from his 
 youth: at least, so lie frequently asserted." 
 Spy, Vol. i. p. 31. 
 
38 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 more modern times, we believe it is 
 called "cutting a stick." Whatever 
 be tha genuine classical appellation, 
 however, we must leave our intinerant 
 to pursue his peregrinations in the 
 interior of Westchester county, while 
 we take a peep at the army below. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SPY AND THE HAYSTACK. 
 
 "Our foes shall fall, with heedless feet, 
 
 Into the pit they made; 
 And lories perish in the net 
 
 Wuicli their own hands have spread.'' 
 
 Imm3diately after the battle of 
 Long Island, the retreat of the 
 Americans, and the barbarous execu 
 tion of tha bravo and unfortunate 
 Hale,* the enemy made prompt dis 
 positions for attacking the city of 
 New York. It was a serious question 
 with Washington, whether that place 
 was defensible against so formidable 
 a force; it was finally decided, how 
 ever, in a council of war, that it had 
 become not only prudent, but neces 
 sary, to withdraw the army. 
 
 Several of the enemy's ships of 
 war having passed up the Hudson, on 
 the west side of York Island, and 
 also up the East river, on the op 
 posite side, Sir Henry Clinton em 
 barked at Long Island, at the head of 
 four thousand men; and, proceeding 
 through Newtown Bay, crossed the 
 East river, and lauded, (under cover 
 of five ships of war,) at Kipp's Bay, 
 about three miles above the city. 
 Works of considerable strength had 
 bean thrown up at this place, to 
 oppose the landing of the enemy; but 
 they were immediately abandoned by 
 the troops stationed in them. Ter 
 rified at the flre of the ships, they 
 fled precipitately towards their main 
 body, and cim-nunicate;] their p-inic 
 
 t Sj 
 
 to a detachment which was marching 
 to their support. 
 
 Washington, to his extreme morti 
 fication, mec this whole party retreat 
 ing in the utmost disorder, and 
 exerted himself to rally them, but, 
 on the appearance of a small corps of 
 the enemy, they again broke and tit-d 
 in confusion! The General, who was 
 not only mortified and distressed, but 
 actually enraged at their cowardice, 
 drew his sword and snapped his 
 pistols to check them; but they con 
 tinued their flight without firing a 
 gun! 
 
 For a moment, the feelings of 
 Washington got the mastery of his 
 reason. '"Are these the men with 
 which I am to defend America?" ex 
 claimed he, in a tone of bitterness, as 
 he gazed after the recreant fugitives; 
 then, turning his horse's head to face 
 the advancing enemy, he remained 
 for some minutes exposed to their 
 tire, as if wishing, by an honourable 
 death, to escape the infamy ho 
 dreaded from the dastardly conduct 
 of troops on whom he could place no 
 dependence. His aids, and the con 
 fidential friends around his person, 
 by indirect violence compelled him to 
 retire. 
 
 Nothing now remained but to 
 withdraw the few remaining troops 
 from New York, and to secure the 
 posts on the heights. The retreat 
 was effected with very inconsiderable 
 loss of man; but all the heavy ar 
 tillery, and a large portion of the 
 baggage, provisions, and military 
 stores, were unavoidably abandonee 1 . 
 
 Major- General Putnam, at the head 
 of three thousand five hundred con 
 tinental troops, was in th rear of 
 the retreating army. In order to 
 avoid any of the enemy that might 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 39 
 
 l)e advancing in the direct road to 
 the city, he made choice of a rout 
 parallel with, and contiguous to, the 
 North river, till he could arrive at a 
 certain angle, whence another road 
 would conduct him in such a direc 
 tion as that he might form a junction 
 with the main army, it so happened, 
 that a body of about eight thousand 
 British and Hessians were, at the 
 same moment, advancing on the road, 
 which would have brought them in 
 immediate contact with Putnam, be 
 fore he could have reached the tura 
 into the other road. 
 
 Most fortunately, the British Gen 
 erals, seeing no prospect of engaging 
 the Americans, halted their own 
 troops, and repaired to the house of 
 a Mr. Robert Murray, a quaker, and a 
 whig. Mrs. Murray treated thern so 
 hospitably with cake and wine, that 
 they were induced to tarry two hours 
 or more, during which time Tryon 
 was frequently joking her about her 
 American friends. 
 
 By this happy incident, Putnam 
 escaped a rencouatre with a greatly 
 superior force, which must have 
 proved fatal to his whole party, as 
 one half hour would have been 
 sufficient for the enemy to hare se 
 cured the road at the turn, and en 
 tirely cut off Putnam's retreat. Dr. 
 Thacher, in relating this circum 
 stance, adds: "It has since become 
 almost a common saying, among our 
 officers, that Mrs. Murray saved this 
 part of the American army." 
 
 The enemy immediately took pos 
 session of the city, for the defence of 
 which he left a suitable detachment, 
 and then advanced towards Harlaem, 
 in pursuit of Washington. The 
 Americans now occupied Kings 
 bridge, at the northwestern extremity 
 
 of York Island, both sides of which 
 had been carefully fortified; they 
 were also in considerable force at 
 M'Gowan's Pass, and Morris's 
 Heights. A strong detachment was 
 also posted in an intrenched camp, 
 on the heights of Harlaem, within a 
 mile and a half of the enemy. 
 
 On the day after the retreat from 
 New York, a considerable body of 
 the enemy appearing in the plain be 
 tween the two camps, Washington 
 ordered Colonel Knowlton, with a 
 corps of Bangers, under Captain 
 Townsend, and Major Leitch, with 
 three companies of Virginians, to get 
 in their rear, while he amused them 
 by making apparent dispositions to 
 attack them in front. The plan suc 
 ceeded. A skirmish ensued, in which 
 the Americans charged the enemy 
 with great intrepidity, and gained 
 considerable advantage. 
 
 Knowlton was killed, and Leitch 
 badly wounded; but their men be 
 haved with great bra vary, and fairly 
 beat their adversaries from the field. 
 Most of these were the same men 
 who had disgraced themselves the 
 day before, by running away from an 
 inferior force. Struck with a sense 
 of shame for their late misbehaviour, 
 they had oftered themselves as 
 volunteers, and requested the com- 
 mander-in chief to give them an op 
 portunity to retrieve their honour. 
 
 In the mean time, Crosby was 
 earnestly pursuing his new vocation; 
 traveling about the country; and, 
 with his characteristic acuteness.* 
 becoming "all things to all men," in 
 order to elicit such information as 
 
 * "Harvey Birch possessed the common man 
 ners of the country, and was in no way distin 
 guished from men of his class, but hy his 
 acuteness and the mystery which enveloped his 
 movements. Spy, Vol. i. p. 31. 
 
40 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 would enable the committee of safety 
 to discriminate between their real 
 friends <md their secret foes. Through 
 his intimacy with the latter, (who, of 
 coarse*, hailed him as a kindred 
 spirit,) he obt lined regular informa 
 tion of the movements of the enemy 
 below, and privately transmitted the 
 same to his employers. 
 
 As miy readily be supposed, the 
 committee, at this time, were tremb 
 ling for the safety of the American 
 army; and their well-grounded ap 
 prehensions were hourly increasing, 
 when a secret communication from 
 their new agent informed them, that 
 the contest on the heights of Har- 
 laern hud fully retrieveJ the tarnished 
 honour of the American arms; that 
 their good conduct, at this second en 
 gagement, had proved an antidote to 
 the poison of their example on the 
 preceding day; and demonstrated 
 that Americans only wanted resolu 
 tion and good officers to be on an 
 equal footing with their enemies. 
 The committee were thus inspired 
 with hopes, that a little more ex 
 perience would enable their country 
 men to assume, not only the name 
 and garb, but the spirit and firmness 
 of soldiers. 
 
 In one of Crosby's reconnoitering 
 excursions, the approach of evening, 
 and some fatigue of body, reminded 
 him that it was time to look out for 
 comfortable quarters for the night. 
 There was no public house of enter 
 tainment within several miles, and 
 only a few poor farm-houses, thinly 
 scattered, within the whole circum 
 ference of his vision. To one of 
 these, therefore, he determined to ap 
 ply, for supper and lodgings. He 
 accordingly struck off into a foot 
 path which led to the nearest; and, 
 
 banding beneath the weight of his 
 pack, advanced to the door, and 
 knocked for admittance. 
 
 A rosy-cheeked girl, of about fif 
 teen, just budding into maturity, of 
 rustic appearance, and bashful de- 
 maanour, at length appeared, with 
 visible reluctance, to answer to his 
 summons. Ou being made acquainted 
 with his wishes, the timid maiden 
 hesitated, stammered, and then sud 
 denly retreating; saying, as she 
 closed the door, "I will 'ask mother, 
 sir." 
 
 In a few minutes, however, she 
 again made her appearance, and 
 bade him walk in. He did not wait 
 | for a second invitation; but followed 
 his fair conductor into an apartment 
 that served at once the two-fold pur 
 pose of parlour and kitchen. Here 
 he reoeated his request to a middle- 
 aged female, who sat in a corner of 
 the capacious fire-place, very busily 
 employed with her knitting-work. 
 
 "Lodging, did you say?" exclaimed 
 the good woman, surveying her 
 weary guest over the top of her 
 spectacles. "We don't keep lodgings, 
 sir." 
 
 "I am very much fatigued, madam; 
 and would be vary grateful for per 
 mission to stay in your house till 
 morning." 
 
 "O well, I don't know," returned 
 the old woman, rising from hjr seat 
 and approaching the stranger to 
 examine him more particularly 
 "There's some strange works, now-a- 
 days, and I don't like to keep any 
 body for fear of something. What, 
 in mercy's name, is that great bag 
 there?" 
 
 "That, Madam, is my shop. I am 
 a shoemaker, by trade, and am in 
 search of work, with my shop upon 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 41 
 
 my back. WilJ you give me leave to 
 dismount it?" 
 
 "Well, I don't care if you stay long 
 enough to make our John a pair of 
 shoes, for he is going over east, to 
 see some men that are going down 
 to the army next week." 
 
 "Are they going to our army?" 
 asked Crosby, as he disen3umbered 
 himself from his ponderous pack.* 
 
 "I 'spose you mean the lower army; 
 don't you, sir?" 
 
 "O, yes, madam; certainly," ans 
 wered Crosby, helping himself to a 
 chair. "I mean the royal army, a 
 large detachment of which is now at 
 Throg's Neck. The rebel army has 
 run away from York Island, and is 
 now moving towards White Plains. 
 But Howe will soon overhaul them, 
 and give a good account of them, 
 too, or I miss my guess." 
 
 "Here, Sally! Where are you? 
 Got this man something to eat, for 
 his good news; and then see if the 
 best bed-room is pot to rights, and 
 make him as comfortable as you can." 
 
 As a good loyalist, Crosby was now 
 made welcome to the best the house 
 afforded. While he was thus refresh 
 ing himself, and chatting with his 
 loquacious landlady, the good man of 
 the house himself came home, to 
 whom she eagerly introduced her 
 guest as a warm adherent of his 
 Majesty, and a sworn enemy to the 
 rebels. This assertion was abundantly 
 confirmed by .the remarks of Crosby 
 himself, during a long and interest 
 ing conversation on the subject of 
 that wicked rebellion against the 
 mother country. 
 
 * "At first sight bis strength Kflemed unequal 
 
 to manage the unwieldy burden of his ]>a':k; yet 
 lie threw it on and off with fit-cat dexterity, and 
 with as much apparent e;iv? as if it had been 
 leathers." .S;J/y. Vnl. i. )i. 81. 
 
 In the course of this conversation, 
 Crosby learned that a company was 
 forming, about three miles east of 
 that place, for the purpose of joining 
 the British army. On his intimating 
 a desire to become a member of this 
 corps, his host readily agreed to 
 introduce him to the Captain, in the 
 course of the following day. He 
 then conducted his guest to the best 
 bed in the house; and, wishing him 
 a pleasant night's repose, left him to 
 his own meditations, to dream of 
 i plots and counterplots, or any other 
 subject that fancy might conjure up. 
 
 Whatever might have been the 
 character of his dreams, however, 
 j our adventurer arose the next morn 
 ing completely refreshed and in 
 vigorated; and, after partaking of a 
 hearty breakfast, he accompanied his 
 : host to the residence of the tory Cap 
 tain before mentioned. On being 
 introduced, by his attentive guide, as 
 a loyalist, who was desirous of serv 
 ing his Majesty, Crosby was most 
 cordially received, and politely in 
 vited to stay to dinner, and to spend 
 the remainder of the day and the 
 coming night at the Captain's house. 
 
 This invitation was readily ac 
 cepted; and, in the course of the 
 evening, Crosby was made acquainted 
 with many interesting particulars 
 relative to the plans and intentions of 
 the Captain and his confederates. 
 
 On the following morning, at break 
 fast, the subject was again introduced, 
 when Crosby was asked if he was 
 ready to enter his name on the mus 
 ter roll. 
 
 "I have not yet entirely made up 
 my mind," replied he. "Such a step 
 will necessarily be attended with 
 considerable danger; for, in case I 
 should be taken by the Americans, 
 
42 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 and my name known, they would 
 hang me as a traitor." 
 
 "Were there any solid grounds for 
 such an apprehension," replied the 
 other, "you would only incur that 
 risk in common with us all. But the 
 rebels dare not resort to such ex 
 tremities, for fear of a terrible re 
 taliation." 
 
 "It may be so," returned Crosby. 
 "But I think I should rather go down 
 without entering my name on the 
 'roll; unless, indeed. I could first 
 examine, and see if there are any 
 names of my acquaintance on it." 
 
 "That privilege shall be cheerfully 
 granted you," said the Captain, pro 
 ducing a long roll of signatures, and 
 handing the same to his visitor, who 
 ran over them with a satisfaction 
 which he took good care to conceal ; 
 for he readily perceived, to use his 
 own expression, that there was a "fine 
 haul for his net." After attentively 
 examining every name, he rolled up 
 the list, with an air of disappoint 
 ment; s:iying, as he returned it to 
 the Captain, 
 
 "I shall beg to be excused, sir. 
 They are all strangers to me; and it 
 is net impossible that this roil may 
 one day fall into the hands of the 
 Americans. Besides, I can just as 
 well go down without enrolling my 
 name." 
 
 "Well, sir," replied the Captain, "1 
 have a safer way yet, for those who 
 are influenced by similar apprehen 
 sions with yourself. I put five or six 
 names on one slip of paper, which I 
 then conceal beneath a large stone in 
 my meadow. I have several such de 
 posits. Come along with me, and 
 say what you think of the plan." 
 
 So saying, he arose from the tible, 
 and, accompanied by his guest, sallied 
 
 out into a lai'ge meadow, at som? dis 
 tance from the house. After visiting 
 several spots where these secret mus 
 ter rolls werj deposited, he directed 
 the attention of his -companion to a 
 hay-stack of enormous dimensions, 
 and asked him what he thought of it. 
 
 "I think it would prove a great 
 temptation to a rebel foraging party," 
 answered Crosby,after a short silence, 
 and with some covert humour which 
 cost him an exertion to conceal. \ 
 
 ."It probably would," observed the 
 other, "were such parties abroad. 
 But it would be difficult for the best 
 mathematician among them to deter 
 mine its solid contents by measuring 
 its superficies. It is a mystery worth 
 penetrating into. Let me instruct 
 you." 
 
 With these words, the speaker 
 lifted up the hay, on one side o!: the 
 huge edifice, and discovered a small 
 opening which led to the interior of 
 the excavated pile. Fond of adven 
 ture, Crosby entered without hesita 
 tion, and found himself in a most in 
 genious hiding place, of sufficient 
 capacity to contain forty or fifty men, 
 comfortably seated. 
 
 "What think you of that?" asked 
 the proprietor of the hay. as his 
 guest emerged from its interior. 
 "Would the rebels ever think of look 
 ing for you there?" 
 
 k 'I think not," replied the other, 
 with an inward chuckle, as he sur 
 veyed the exterior of the premises 
 
 t "When engaged in hU ordinary business, 
 the Intelligence of his face appeared lively, ac 
 tive, and llexiiile. though uncommonly acute; if 
 the conversation turned on the ordinary tran 
 sactions of life, his air became abstracted and 
 restless; but if, by chance, the revolution and 
 the country were the to'uc. his whole system 
 seemed altered -all his faculties were concen 
 trated lie would listen for a great length of 
 time without speaking, and then would break 
 silence by some light and .jocular remarks, that 
 were too much at vari-riee with hi-* former man 
 ner, not to be Affectation." Spy, Vol. i. p. 31. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 43 
 
 very attentively. "I should as soon I 
 think of searching for a needle in a j 
 haymow." 
 
 The Captain smiled with much 
 selP-complaceney at this brief ap 
 proval of his invention, and then re 
 newod his solicitations for Crosby to 
 enroll his name. The latter, however, 
 still hesitated, but promised to give a 
 definite answer on the following. 
 day. With this assurance the other 
 'i-am lined satisfied, and the remainder 
 of that diy was devoted to making 
 further arrangements for the con 
 templated expedition. 
 
 Night soon returned, and Crosby 
 was still the Captain's guest. At 
 the usual hour, he retired to his bed. 
 wherj he lay, listening attentively to 
 every movement in the house, until 
 he felt perfectly assured that the 
 family were safely locked in the arms 
 of sleep. When ''every sound was 
 hushed, and all was still," he 
 cautiously arose, dressed himself, and 
 stole out of the house, without giving 
 any alarm. Before midnight he was 
 consulting with his employers at 
 White Plains. 
 
 Such arrangements wer immed 
 iately adopted by the Committee of 
 Safety as were considered, by all 
 parties, appropriate to the emergency. 
 Their informant th^n took his leave; 
 and, before daylight, was again snor 
 ing in his bed, at the house of the 
 loyal Captain. 
 
 On the following morning, he in 
 formed his entertainer that he had 
 made up his mind as to the subject of 
 their recent conversation. He was 
 willing and anxious to become a 
 member of the company; and would 
 hold himself in readiness to m;u*ch 
 with them at a moment's warning; 
 'but should decline signing his name 
 
 to the muster-roll until they had 
 safely arrived within the British 
 lines. The Captain appeared satisfied 
 with this arrangement, and expressed 
 a hope that every thing wouM be 
 prepared for their departure on the 
 following day. 
 
 'Would it not be advisable, then," 
 asked Crosby, "to call a general meet 
 ing of the company this evening 1 ? 
 There is much to do, and it is neces 
 sary that we act in concert. When 
 we are all together, our plans can be 
 better digested, as we shall have the 
 opinion and advice of each individual. 
 Such a meeting is indispensable be 
 fore we go down, and there is cer 
 tainly no time to be lost." 
 
 'The idea is a good one," replied 
 the Captain; "and every man shall 
 be notified to meet here this evening, 
 when we will complete our arrange 
 ments, and be off to-morrow. You 
 must assist me in calling them to 
 gether." 
 
 Crosby readily consented to exert 
 himself on this occasion; and went 
 about the business with such cheer 
 ful alacrity, that, before nine o'clock 
 in the evening, the whole company 
 were assembled in the Captain's "par 
 lour, with the exception of the lieu- 
 I tenant, who had gone from home on 
 I some temporary business. 
 
 By ten o'clock the business of the 
 | meeting was nearly all completed ; 
 | and the usual refreshments were 
 ! about being introduced, when the at 
 tention of the party was suddenly 
 I arrested by the loud trampling of 
 | horses. 
 
 The lights were instantly extin 
 guished ; and they all sat in breathless 
 silence; every heart palpitating with 
 fearful anticipations of some un 
 pleasant adventure, until they were 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 aroused to action by a voice at the 
 door exclaiming 
 
 'Surrender! or you are all dead 
 men!" 
 
 At that instant the door was thrown 
 from its hinges, and the apartment 
 was filled with the American Bangers, 
 all heavily armed. 
 
 "Surrender! I demand it in the 
 name of the continental congress!" 
 exclaimed the leader of these unwel 
 come intruders. "Resistance is use 
 less, and escape impossible, for the 
 house is surrounded. You are our 
 prisoners." 
 
 Words are inadequate to depict 
 the general consternation produced 
 by this alarming salutation. Some 
 flew to the attic; others retreated as 
 precipitately to the cellar; and all 
 vnost devoutly wished themselves in 
 the bowels of the hay-stack, as there 
 was nothing to hope from the bowels 
 of their captors. Several attempted 
 to throw themselves from the win - 
 dows; but were soon convinced that 
 there was no chance for escape in 
 that direction. The secret, but un 
 suspected cause of all this confusion 
 and dismay, made a feint of conceal 
 ing himself in a closet; but was 
 quickly dragged forth, and compelled 
 to siiare the fate of his companions, 
 who were manacled together in pairs, 
 and marched, like felons, to the vil 
 lage of White Plains. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE ESCAPE. 
 
 To be the mark 
 
 Of smoky muskets! O you leaden messengers. 
 That ride upon the violent speed of lire. 
 Fly with false aim. 
 
 SHAKRSPKAKE. 
 
 The historic events connected with 
 the name of White Plains, will long 
 live in the pages of American history; 
 and if the readers have patience to 
 
 accompany us through a few more 
 chapters, he will acknowledge that 
 there is sufficient cause for this last 
 ing celebrity. At present, we merely 
 wish to introduce him to the scene of 
 so many impoi'tant transactions. 
 
 Bronx river, a beautiful stream of 
 water that rises just on the south 
 line of Newcastle, in the county of 
 Westchester, holds its course nearly 
 due^ south to the village of West 
 Farms, from whence it empties into 
 the East river, between Morrissania 
 and Throg's Neck. A few miles east 
 of this stream, and nearly parallel 
 with it, is another called Mamaroneck 
 creek, which empties into Long 
 Island Sound, near a village of the 
 same name. 
 
 Between these two little rivers, and 
 near the head of the latter, is the 
 township of White Plains, comprised 
 in an area of about eight and a half 
 square miles; with Northcastle on 
 the north, Harrison on the east, 
 Scarsdale on the south, and Greens- 
 burgh on the west. On a fine plain, 
 near the centre of the town, stands 
 the flourishing little village, of the 
 same name, which has been the 
 theatre of so many revolutionary in 
 cidents. The reader will recollect 
 that we left our prisoners on the 
 march to this place, under a strong 
 escort of Townsend's Rangers. 
 
 On arriving at the village, where 
 the Committee of Safety were still in 
 session, awaiting the result of the en 
 terprise, each of the prisoners under 
 went a partial examination, which 
 resulted in their ' being ordered to 
 Fishkill, there to await a more formal 
 investigation. Our hero was pri 
 vateiy reminded that he must still 
 continue to support the character he 
 had assumed, until his arrival at 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 45 
 
 their place of destination, when some 
 means should be provided by which 
 he might effect his escape, without 
 awakening any suspicions as to his 
 real character. 
 
 On the following morning, the 
 whole party resumed their journey, 
 in the same order as before. After a 
 
 sible! Explain this horrid mystery! 
 How is it that I see you in this 
 situation?" 
 
 Crosby instinctively returned the 
 friendly pressure of his tutor's hand; 
 then casting his eyes on the ground, 
 he meekly replied, 
 
 "You see me as I am. I have no 
 
 march of about twenty-five miles, ! explanation to offer." 
 
 they arrived at Peekskill, a small vil 
 lage on the eastern bank of the Hud 
 son, where they took boats, and 
 
 "Good God! Is it then true that 
 you have turned traitor to your coun 
 try, and are now a prisoner to her 
 
 crossed the river to Fort Montgom- j brave defenders ! It cannot be. There 
 ery.* Here the prisoners were per- j must be some dreadful mistake, 
 mitted to remain a short time, for | Speak, and relieve me from this fear- 
 rest and refreshment. And here our j ful suspense. Have you been con 
 hero encountered the most distressing | corned in the secret plots for which 
 incident that he had ever yet ex- 1 these men are now in custody?" 
 perienced. "Were it not so," replied Crosby, 
 
 On entering the fortress, the first i with a slight tremor in his voice, "we 
 person he recognized was his former should both have been spared the 
 tutor, the worthy gentleman of whom j pain of this interview." 
 a brief notice was taken at the con | "O, wh shall tell your poor old 
 elusion of our first chapter. The j father this!" exclaimed the other, 
 recognition was mutual; but the cir (dropping his pupil's hand, and 
 cumstauces under which the meeting , clasping both his own together in 
 
 took place, rendered it peculiarly 
 painful to both parties. 
 
 The worthy preceptor started with 
 
 agony, while the big tears coursed 
 each other down his furrowed cheeks. 
 "What will be the feeling of your 
 
 terror and astonishment, on behold- j doatiug parents, when they learn 
 
 ing his favorite pupil, the son of his 
 dearest friend, manacled like a felon, 
 and dragged to prison, with a gang 
 
 that the son to whom they looked as 
 the pride and prop of their declining 
 age, has proved unworthy of the care 
 
 of unprincipled wretches, under the j and 
 ignominious charge of treason to 
 their country! He gazed for a mo 
 ment, as if unwilling to believe his 
 senses; then, advancing to the 
 prisoner, and seizing him by the 
 hand, he exclaimed, with an emotion 
 that it was impossible to conceal, 
 
 "Enoch Crosby ! It cannot be pos- 
 
 affection which have been so 
 freely lavished upon him! That he 
 has forgotten the precepts of his 
 father the lessons of his teacher 
 and is a convicted trator to his coun 
 try! The news will break their 
 hearts." 
 
 For the first time, Crosby now felt 
 
 * "This fort was toleralih situated on the 
 vesteru bank of the Hudson, fo annoy shipping 
 foing up the river; the works were pretty good 
 on that side, hut were not so. nor fully completed 
 on the back side." -He .itlt'x Memoirs, p. 129. 
 
 the full weight of the cross to which 
 he had voluntarily lent his shoulder. 
 He felt and it almost crushed him. 
 But it was too late to recede; he had 
 put his hand to the p'ough. and dared 
 
46 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 not look back. With a groan of an 
 guish, he lifted up his nianly form 
 beneath the load. The effort was 
 desperate, but it. was successful. 
 
 "Spare me," he faintly articulated, 
 as he brushed a truant tear from his 
 eye, and turned to accompany his 
 fellow-captives to their quarters. 
 ''There is one who knows who 
 "judges who approves. He will com 
 fort my parents. Farewell." 
 
 So saying, he daparfced with the 
 rest, leaving his good old tutor to la 
 ment an apostacy as unexpected and 
 inexplicable as it was mortifying and 
 distressing. The old gentleman im 
 mediately despatched a letter to the 
 el ler Crosby, in which he communi- 
 c itivl tho afflicting intelligence with 
 as nrich caution delicacy, and gen 
 tlrtnass. as possible. It was a blo~w 
 for which the parents were not pre 
 pare.!; but it is not our province to 
 porfcr.iy their feelings on the occasion. 
 Wo must accompany the son. 
 
 From Fort Montgomery, the pris 
 on ars wjre again embarked, and pro 
 ceeded up the river, through the lofty 
 and sublima scenery of the High 
 lands, and between those Herculean 
 pillars of the Western world, which 
 are supposed to have been once uni 
 ted in an adamantine barrier across 
 the present course of the majestic 
 Hudson. Leaving West Point and 
 Butter-Hill on the left, and the Col- 
 lossean break neck,* St. Anthony, on 
 the right, a beautiful campaign 
 country opened at once upon their 
 view. Here the pleasant villages of 
 New Windsor, Newburgh, and Fish- 
 kill, with the smiling landcnpes be 
 yond them, presented a charming 
 contrast to the rude scenery which 
 
 * See 4th note in Chapter IX. 
 
 our voyagers had just left behind 
 them. 
 
 On reaching the mouth of Fishkill 
 creek, on the east side of the Hud 
 son, nearly opposite Newburgh, the 
 prisoners were landed; and from 
 thence proceeded on foot, under their 
 former escort, along the delightful 
 valley,then thickly studded with trees, 
 through which that stream pursues 
 its sinuous course to the river. A 
 march of five miles brought them to 
 the beautiful little village which was 
 to terminate their journey. 
 
 Here the captive loyalists were 
 committed to prison; or, rather, con 
 ducted to church, for such was the 
 edifice which the peculiar circum 
 stances of the times had converted 
 into a sti'ong hold for the safe keep 
 ing of prisoners of war. It was a 
 low antiquated building, in the 
 Dutch style of architecture, with 
 enormous thick walls of rough stone. 
 pierced with two rows of arched win 
 dows. The main building was an 
 oblong square, with a square tower 
 attached to the eastern extremity, 
 from the top of which arose a modest 
 Gothic steeple, surmounted by a ball 
 and weathercock. The principal en 
 trance was in the centre of the south 
 side, fronting the road which led 
 from the village to the river. 
 
 Instead of the sepulchral yew, 
 with which romance has invariably 
 embellished such consecrated ground, 
 a number of luxuriant willows here 
 cast a melancholy shade among the 
 rustic memorials .of departed worth. 
 Here it was that little groups of 
 villagers were wont to assemble on a 
 Sabbath morning; and, while they 
 awaited the appearance of their pi 
 ous clergyman, reverently discuss the 
 local news and politics of the day. 
 
OLD KEFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, FISHKILL, N. Y., 
 
 IN WHICH CROSBY WAS IMPRISONED. 
 
 [See Pages 46 and 145.1 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 47 
 
 But, alas! even the hallowed rites 
 of the sanctuary must sometimes give 
 place to the blighting footsteps of 
 ruthless war! That roof which had 
 so often resounded with the language 
 of U p3ace, and good will to man," 
 was now re-echoing with the curses 
 of disappointed malevolence. The 
 stonT church had become a prison, as 
 its more humble neighbor (a wooden 
 church without a steeple) had, for 
 similar reasons, been converted into 
 a hospital, for the sick and wounded. 
 If this be s-icrilege, of what was that 
 British General guilty, who protitu- 
 ted an elegant church in Boston to 
 the purposes of a stable! But this 
 is digression. Our present business 
 is at Fishkill. 
 
 This pleasant little village (situated 
 in a township of the same name), is 
 in the cjunty of Dutoaess, north of 
 the Highlands, and about five miles 
 east from the Hudson. It consists ef a 
 han:lso;n3 collection of neat white 
 farm houses, with here and there a 
 mansion of mor^ ample dimensions 
 and showy exterior. These buildings 
 are principally on a semi-circular 
 street, a little north of a correspond 
 ing bend in the stream before men 
 tioned; and in the midst of them, on 
 a little plain, are the two churches, 
 rising with molest dignity above the 
 elevation of the humbler mansions 
 around them. 
 
 The first appearance of this vil 
 lage, in approaching it from the 
 south, is picturesque in the extreme. 
 After toiling, for fifteen miles, among 
 the rugged hills and shapeless rocks, 
 between which the road winds its 
 serpentine course; when there ap 
 pears no prospect of a speedy ter 
 mination to the traveller's fatigue; 
 and when his impatience begins to 
 
 despair of relief; at that moment, 
 the village and plains of Fishkill 
 suddenly open upon his view -with 
 the effect of enchantment, affording 
 an ampje compensation for all his 
 previous anxiety and perplexity. 
 
 Although this is the oldest village 
 in the county of Dutchess, it was but 
 thinly populated at the time of which 
 we are writing. The Marquis de 
 Chateleux, who visited it four years 
 afterwards, when it had become the 
 principal depot of the American ar 
 my, says: '"There are not more 
 than fifty houses in the space of 
 two miles." He adds, however, that 
 the American magazines, hospitals, 
 workshops, &c., "form a little town 
 of themselves, composed of hand 
 some large barracks, built in the 
 woods at the foot of the moun 
 tains." It is well known, that Fish- 
 kill possessed all the qualities neces 
 sary for a place of military depot, at 
 this critical period; being situated 
 on the high road from Connecticut, 
 near the river, and West Point, that 
 "Gibraltar of America;" and pro 
 tected, at the same time, by a chain 
 of inaccessible mountains, which oc 
 cupy a space of more than twenty 
 miles between the Croton river and 
 that of Fishkill. 
 
 But whatever local advantages, or 
 rural charms, this village might have 
 boasted in the year 1776, they were 
 all lost r^n the wretched inmates of 
 the stone church. The Committee 
 of Safety had arrived from White 
 Plains, and were now in session, at a 
 farm house within a few rods of their 
 prison. Thither were the newly-ar 
 rived captives conducted, one by one. 
 to undergo a second private examin 
 ation. The muster-roll, and other 
 papers, found on the person of their 
 
48 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 leader, were considered as a sufficient 
 testimony of their traitorous inten 
 tions; they were, therefore, remanded 
 to prison to await a more formal in 
 vestigation before a competent tri 
 bunal. 
 
 Crosby, in his turn, was also placed 
 at the bar of this military inquisi 
 tion. On entering the apartment 
 where his employers were seated in 
 all that magisterial dignity which 
 surrounds, or is supposed to sur 
 round, the stern arbiters of life and 
 death, he affected such extreme re 
 luctance to advance, as rendered it 
 necessary for the officer in attend 
 ance to compel him to proceed. W 7 ith 
 clanking chains, and an aspect of va- j 
 cant despair, he at length approached 
 the awful bar, and tremblingly 
 awaited the pleasure of his judges. 
 A lurking smile was visible in each 
 of their visages; but the prisoner ap 
 peared to be too much agitated with 
 terror to observe it. 
 
 As soon as the officer had re 
 sumed his station on the outside of 
 the door, however, and Crosby was 
 left alone with the Committee, the 
 characters were changed; for they at 
 once lost the gravity of judges, and 
 laughed outright at a scene which so 
 neaily approached the ludicrous. 
 W 7 hen their merriment had a little 
 subsided, they highly commended 
 Crosby for the effective manner in 
 which he had performed his part, and 
 the important service he had thereby 
 rendered to his country. They then 
 consulted with him on the best mode 
 of making his escape; and requested 
 him, when that was effected, to re 
 pair, with all possible diligence, to 
 Wapp^nger's Creek, and call upon 
 
 with further instructions, as "there 
 
 was business for him on the other 
 side the Hudson.'" 
 
 Crosby signified his readiness to 
 continue in this hazardous and disre 
 putable service; but suggested the 
 propriety of his assuming a different 
 i name, in order to prosecute it with 
 ! greater effect. The Committee ap- 
 ! proved the idea, and it was finally un- 
 \ derstood between them, that all com- 
 i munications from their secret agent 
 would, in future, bear the signature 
 of "JOHN SMITH." 
 
 As soon as these preliminaries were 
 all duly adjusted, the Committee re 
 sumed their former stern deportment, 
 | and Crosby his fictitious character. 
 j The officer re-entered, and, in obedi- 
 | ence to orders, led his trembling pris 
 oner back to the church. 
 
 On the approach of night a com 
 petent number of soldiers were de 
 tailed for the prison guard, some of 
 whom were stationed in the basement 
 of the tower, to guard the eastern 
 entrance of the building. On the 
 outside, four armed sentinels were 
 posted in as many different positions, 
 corresponding to the four cardinal 
 pointsofthe compass. The remainder 
 of the little force then in the village 
 were in barracks, at a short distance 
 from the church. 
 
 In entering and leaving his prison, 
 Crosby had hastily reconnoitred the 
 premises without; and after his at 
 tendance on the Committee, he lost 
 no time in making his observations 
 within. He soon ascertained that 
 there was only one avenue through 
 which an escape could be attempted 
 with the least probability of success: 
 and that was a window at the extreme 
 northwest corner, which was partially 
 obscured by the thick foliage of a 
 large willow that grew near it. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 49 
 
 Screened from observation by the 
 friendly gloom of this tree, he 
 thought it practicable to pass the 
 sentinel, and clear the church-yard 
 in safety. Or, should he not be able 
 to elude the vigilance of the guard, 
 still the uncertainty of his aim in that 
 shadowy position, would leave little 
 to apprehend from the discharge of 
 his musket. At all events, he deter 
 mined to make the experiment. 
 
 Harassed in mind, and fatigued in 
 body, the prisoners soon availed 
 themselves of such indifferent accom 
 modations as their situation afforded ; 
 and, before the "noon of night," 
 there were few, besides Crosby, who 
 were not fast locked in the arms of 
 sweet forgetfulness. But, as Hamlet 
 
 says, 
 
 Some must watch, while others sleep, 
 So runs this world away. 
 
 When every sound was hushed, 
 save the discordant nasal chorus of 
 the unconscious performers around 
 him, Crosby arose from his counter 
 feit slumber, and cautiously ap 
 proached the window, from which he 
 had previously succeeded in remov 
 ing the fastenings. Without noise, 
 he raised the sash, 
 
 "And, that they might not clank, held fast his 
 chains." " 
 
 In the next momen,t he was safely 
 seated on the soft mould of a newly 
 covered grave, busily employed in 
 divesting his limbs of their iron 
 bracelets. When this was accom 
 plished, he cautiously raised himself 
 upon his feet; and, knowing that a 
 thick swamp lay within one hundred 
 rods, northwest of the church, he 
 started in that direction with as 
 much speed as the uneven surface of 
 a burying ground would permit. 
 
 He had not proceeded fifty paces, 
 however, before he was suddenly 
 
 challenged by a sentinel on his right. 
 Hesitation would have been fatal. 
 ! The swamp was before him the path 
 | had become plainer he darted for- 
 I ward with the celerity of a deer. 
 i The whizzing of a bullet and the re 
 port of a musket saluted his ear at 
 the same moment; but he considered 
 the salutation merely as a friendly 
 warning not to relax his speed. The 
 race was for life or death ; for the 
 | alarm was given, and "the chase was 
 up." Three or four more leaden 
 messengers,* each as harmless as the 
 first, passed him in quick succession; 
 and, as if emulating their Telocity, 
 j he pursued them with accelerated 
 swiftness. Th pursuers were be 
 hind but the friendly swamp was 
 in front, extending its bushy arms to 
 receive him. One more effort He is 
 safe ! 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN CAVE. 
 
 Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, 
 I' the war do grow together. Shakspeare. 
 
 WHILE the foregoing events were 
 transpiring in the vicinity of the 
 Highlands, transactions of higher im- 
 ; portance and on a much larger scale, 
 j were going forward forty miles below. 
 j It was an important object with 
 i Washington to secure the roads and 
 I passes that communicated with the 
 j eastern states ; to prevent which Howe 
 had left New York, with the greater 
 j part of the royal army, by the way of 
 | Hurlgate, and landed, as before men 
 tioned, at Throg's neck, in Westehes- 
 ter county. It was evidently the de 
 termination of th British General, 
 
 * "Fifty pistols lighted the scene instantly, 
 i and the bullets whistled in every direction 
 around the head of the devoted pedlar.l' Spy, 
 1 Vol. i, p. 138. 
 
50 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 either to force the Americans from 
 their position on York Island, or to 
 enclose them in it. 
 
 Aware of his design, Washington 
 removed a part of his troops from 
 York Island to join those at Kings- 
 bridge; and, at the same time, de 
 tached some regiments to Westches- 
 ter. It still appeared to be bis in 
 tention, however, to retain that part 
 of the island which he now occupied; 
 and there was cert'iinly a prevailing 
 disposition among the officers gener 
 ally to do the s ima. But the gallant 
 Loe, who had just returned from a 
 successful expedition at the south,* 
 gave such convincing reasons for 
 evacuating the island altogether, that 
 it was immediately resolved to with 
 draw the bulk of the army. 
 
 He also urged the expediency of 
 evacuating fort Washington;! but in 
 this he was opposed by Greene, who 
 argued that the possession of that 
 post would divert a large body of the 
 enemy from joining their main force; 
 and in conjunction with fort Lee, on 
 the opposite side of the river, would 
 bj of groat use in covering the trans- j 
 portation of provisions and stores, 
 
 up the Hudson, for the service of the j 
 
 . i 
 
 * Some time previous to the evacuation of' 
 Boston, Sir Henry Clinton had been sent south- . 
 ward, to the assistance of Governor Martin and 
 Lord William Campbell, Governors of the two 
 Carolinas. As soon as this was known in Cam- i 
 bridge. Lee was ordered to set forward and ol>- i 
 serve his movements, and prepare to meet him ! 
 with advantage, in any part of the continent he 
 might think proper to visit. On reaching New 
 York, with his detachment from Cambridge. Lee 
 put the city in a state of defence, and proceeded 
 south with such haste, that, to the astonishment 
 of Clinton, Lee was in Virginia before him. But 
 as the object of the British armament was still 
 further south. Lee, with uncommon celerity, tra- i 
 versed the continent, met Clinton in North Car- I 
 olina, and was again ready for the defence of 
 Sullivan's I*huul, near Charleston, in South Car- ' 
 olina, before the arrival of the British troops, 
 under the command of Clinton. The Americans 
 were .triumphant, and the discomfited enemy ; 
 was glad to retire to the general rendezvous be- ; 
 fore New-York. 
 
 t This fort was situated on the bank of the ! 
 Hudson, in the vicinity of Kingsbridge. 
 
 American troops. He added further, 
 that the garrison could be brought 
 off at any time, by boats from the 
 Jersey side of the river. 
 
 Unfortunately for the cause, the 
 opinion of Greene prevailed. Though 
 the system of evacuating and re 
 treating was generally adopted, an 
 exception was made in favor of Fort 
 Washington, and near three thousand 
 men were assigned for its defence. 
 An unfortunate error, as will appear 
 in the sequel ; for, as Adjutant-Gene 
 ral Read afterwards said, in a letter 
 to Lee, ''If a real defence of the lines 
 was intended, the number was 
 too few; if the fort only, the garri 
 son was too numerous by half" 
 
 In retreating from York Island, 
 the American leader was careful to 
 make a front towards his enemy, 
 from Eastch^ster almost to "White 
 Plains, in order to secure the march 
 of those who were behind, and to de 
 fend the removal of the sick, the 
 cannon, and the stores of the army. 
 In this manner, the Americans formed 
 a line of small, detached, intrenched - 
 camps, on the several heights and 
 strong grounds, from Valentine's 
 Hill, near Kingsbridge, on the right, 
 to the vicinity of the White Plains, 
 on the left: the whole, of course, 
 fronting eastward. 
 
 In the mean time, the enemy was 
 not idle; although he had, apparently, 
 been so, for several days after his 
 landing at Throg's Neck which is a 
 kind of mole or point, connected with 
 the main by a lougcauseway,through 
 a marshy tract of considerable extent. 
 His spies, however, had been on the 
 alert; and the tirst movement of 
 Washington was the signal for Howe 
 to commence his favourite scheme of 
 circumvention. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 51 
 
 Flushed with his recent victory on 
 Long Island, the British General ar 
 dently longed to grapple, once more, 
 with his discomfited opponent. But 
 Washington wisely considered that 
 the pr'ze at stake was of too much 
 value to be risked on the fortuitous 
 result of a single contest, under his 
 present disadvantages of numbers 
 and discipline. He, therefore, cau 
 tiously avoided a general engage 
 ment, while his troops were daily 
 acquiring confidence and experience 
 by skirmishing with their enemies. 
 
 After several unsuccessful attempts 
 to pass the causeway before men 
 tioned, which was strongly guarded 
 by the Americans, the British crossed 
 to the other side of Throg's Neck, em 
 barked on board their boats, crossed 
 over the cove, and re-landed on a 
 place called Pell's Neck. From thence 
 they commenced a brisk movement 
 towards New Rochelle.J Three or 
 four American regiments were im 
 mediately sent forward to annoy 
 them on their march. These took a 
 good position behind a stone fence; 
 and when the advance of the enemy 
 had approached sufficiently near, 
 poured such a well directed fire upon 
 his columns, as caused many of his 
 finest troops to bite the dust. This 
 unexpected assault not only checked, 
 but even caused the advancing party 
 to fall back; but, being immediately 
 supported, they returned vigorously 
 to the charge. For a short time, the 
 action was sharp, and well supported; 
 but the Americans were finally 
 obliged to give way to superior force, 
 and the enemy pursued his march al 
 most to New Rochelle, where he 
 halted. 
 
 t Xe\v Kochelle is about five miles south of 
 White Plains, and is washed on one gide by the 
 waters of the East river, or L'jug Island Sound. 
 
 Shortly after this affair, Howe re 
 moved the right and centre of his 
 army two miles farther north, on the 
 road to \Vhite Plains. During this 
 movement, a skirmish took place be 
 tween two hundred of Lee's men and 
 three hundred Hessians, in which the 
 latter suffered considerably. The 
 British then moved on, in two 
 columns, and took a position with the 
 Bronx river in front;* upon which 
 Washington assembled his main force 
 at White Plains, behind intrench - 
 ments. 
 
 Thus, like two skillful chess-players, 
 did these able Generals maiMfiuvre 
 their men; while the theatre of their 
 movements, like an immense, chess 
 board, was crossed with lines, . .and 
 chequered with redoubts and in 
 trench ments. But an important crisis 
 in the game was now evidently at 
 hand; one more move must, appar 
 ently, decide it. Heaven grant that 
 it may be "checkmate to the king." 
 
 But while theso two gallant op 
 ponents are thus sternly looking 
 defiance at each other, both eagerly 
 watching for an opening to strike, it 
 is our duty to return to the fugitive 
 whom we left in the swamp, near the 
 village of Fishkill. 
 
 Crosby remained secure in his 
 place of concealment, until every 
 sound of alarm and pursuit had 
 ceased; he then proceeded, with no 
 little difficulty, to grope his way 
 through bushes and brambles, quag 
 mires and morasses. He doubtless 
 reasoned with himself, on this occas 
 ion, as ^Esop's fox is said to have 
 done, under similar circumstances: 
 "For the sake of the good, let me 
 bear the evil with patience; each bit 
 ter has its sweet; and these brambles, 
 
 * See Chupter VII, 2d paragraph. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 though they wound my flesh, pre 
 serve iny life from danger." 
 
 After much exertion and fatigue, 
 he succeeded in emerging from the 
 
 and while the weary traveller was 
 diligently employed in appeasing the 
 cravings of a voracious appetite, his 
 entertainer proceeded to "open the 
 
 thicket; and, fortunately, oh the side i business of the meeting.'' 
 
 opposite to where he entered. He 
 then pursued his course northward, 
 with the speed of one who is sensible 
 that every step removes him farther 
 from danger. 
 
 In less than two hours he found 
 his course impeded by a stream, 
 which he rightly conjectured to be 
 Wappinger's Creek, the boundary 
 line between Fishkill and Poughkeep- 
 sie.f 
 
 Agreeably to the instruction he had 
 received from the Committee, he now 
 turned to the left, and a short half 
 
 hour brought him to the residence of 
 jyj r ***# 
 
 To be suddenly aroused from bed, 
 by soma hasty messenger, at any 
 hour of the night, had become so 
 common an occurrence, since the 
 commencement of hostilities, that 
 this gentleman evinced no symptoms 
 of surprise or alarm, when he ap 
 peared at the door, in his night gown 
 and slippers, to answer to the knock 
 of his untimely visitor. A few brief 
 sentences, exchanged in a low voice, 
 convinced both that they were tread 
 
 It appeared, that Mr. ***** had re 
 ceived certain information that an 
 English officer was privately enrolling 
 a company, on the other side of the 
 river. This fact he had communicated 
 to the Committee of Safety, on their 
 arrival at Fishkill; and they had 
 agreed to send him an agent with 
 whom he might concert some feasible 
 plan for seizing the officer, and mak 
 ing prisoners of his men. 
 
 This being a business in which 
 Crosby, to use his own expression, 
 felt himself "perfectly at home," he 
 readily entered into the scheme, and 
 undertook to see it accomplished by 
 his own ingenuity and address. This 
 proposition was gladly acceded to by 
 his host, who gave him such instruc 
 tions as would tend to facilitate the 
 project; and, before daylight, our 
 hero was safely landed on the western 
 bank of the Hudson, in the town of 
 Marlborough, a little north of New- 
 burgh. 
 
 Agreeably to the directions he had 
 received, Crosby immediately struck 
 into the country, in a southwestern 
 
 ing on safe ground. Crosby was, course from the river; and, after pro- 
 therefore, requested to enter and be ceeding about twelve miles, applied 
 
 seated, while the other retired to re 
 sume such habiliments as were better 
 adapted to the purposes of business. 
 On the return of his host, Crosby 
 was informed that his coming had 
 
 at a farm-house for refreshment. 
 Here a comfortable breakfast was 
 cheerfully prepared for him; and, 
 while partaking of it, he received 
 such topographical inforrnntion, as 
 
 been anxiously waited for, as the j convinced him that he had reached 
 Committee had intimated that he j the right spot to commence opera- 
 might be expected before midnight, j tions. 
 Refreshments were then introduced;! After finishing his repast, th^re- 
 
 t This name is said to have been derived from | fore, ho began to m'lke himself known 
 
 word Apoteeptino, signifying "safe [ as an itineraut shoemaker, in pursuit 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBT. 
 
 53 
 
 of work; and intimated a wish of be 
 ing employed to make shoes for the 
 farmer or his family. 
 
 'I wish to do something to pay my 
 way," added Crosby, with an honest 
 simplicity, which he well knew how 
 to assume; "as I don't like to be be 
 holden to any one for a meal's vict 
 uals, or a night's lodging." 
 
 "That's all very right," returned 
 the farmer; "every honest man would 
 wish to live by hie own airnens." 
 
 "Well, don't you think that you 
 could give me something to do for a 
 few days? If you are not in want of 
 shoes, I wouldn't care to turn my 
 hand to anything." 
 
 '"Why, yes," replied the other, after 
 a little reflection; "I rather guess 
 that I should like to have you work 
 for me a day or two. It is true, I 
 have no shoemaking to do at present; 
 but if you can help me on the farm, 
 in killing hogs, and sich like, I should 
 like to have you, and my wife shall 
 assist you." 
 
 Crosby readily consented; and, as 
 there was no cavil on the score of 
 wages, the bargain was soon struck. 
 He accordingly went to work with 
 that characteristic diligence and 
 assiduity which was always certain 
 to win the approbation of his em 
 ployers. 
 
 But though his whole time and at 
 tention appeared to be devoted to the 
 duties of his new vocation, his grand 
 object was never lost sight of. At 
 every fitting opportunity, he strove, 
 by sxindry indirect, and apparently 
 indift'erent, inquiries, to elicit some 
 information from the family, that 
 might assist in the prosecution of his 
 ulterior designs. For two days he 
 was unsuccessful; but, on the third, 
 he was indebted to accident for what 
 
 his ingenuity had been vainly exerted 
 to obtain. 
 
 It was a mild morning, near the 
 close of October, that Crosby and his 
 employer were making some arrange 
 ment for the business of the day, 
 when their attention was arrested by 
 a sound that resembled distant thun 
 der. It came from the southeast, 
 from whence a light air was breath 
 ing; but neither cloud nor rack ap 
 peared in that quarter. 
 
 "Can that be thunder?" asked 
 Crosby. 
 
 "I should rather guess not," re 
 plied the other: "we seldom have it 
 so late in the fall. It is more likely 
 ' the two parties are skrimmaging be- 
 | low." 
 
 "They must be skirmishing to some 
 purpose," observed Crosby. "That is 
 ' the language of artillery, and not. of 
 ! the smallest caliber. And yet," con 
 tinued he, in a soliloquizing tone, 
 I "they cannot be abo^ e the Plains." 
 | Then, turning to his companion, he 
 \ inquired if he thought the report of 
 | cannon could be heard so far. 
 
 "Why, yes, I should say so." replied 
 the other. "From here to White 
 Plains is only about forty miles, in a 
 straight line; and in the last French 
 war, when General Abercrombie was 
 beat at Ticonderoga, the cannon was 
 heard at Saratogue, which is over 
 fifty miles, as plain as we hear these." 
 The sounds still continued, without 
 much intermission, while both re 
 mained silent, and listened with in 
 terest. At length Crosby ventured 
 to observe -- 
 
 "They must have warm work be 
 low. Both parties must loose blood 
 whichever gains the day." 
 
 "Ah! these are awful times!" sighed 
 
54 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 the other. "There's no telling how it 
 will end." 
 
 "What do you think of all this 
 business?" asked Crosby, in a tone 
 that did not indicate much interest j 
 in the question. 
 
 "Why, really, I don't know what to j 
 think," replied the other, evasively. ; 
 'Sometimes I think it is a very j 
 doubtful case with us; and then,! 
 again, I almost think, If I had a good ; 
 chance, and no family to support, | 
 that I would just go down to the j 
 lower party. But, you know, it won't j 
 do for me to say so." 
 
 "Perhaps you couldn't get down 
 there safe, if you felt ever so mnch 
 disposed to go." said Crosby, in a 
 tone that might be considered in 
 terrogatory or not, as the auditor 
 pleased. 
 
 "O, yes. I could," returned the 
 other, with a significant leer, that in 
 timated the speaker knew more than 
 he was at liberty to communicate. 
 
 Like a keen pointer, Crosby had 
 now scented the game, and was de 
 termined to persevere in the pursuit, 
 he, therefore, promptly answered 
 
 "Well, I wish that / could; for I 
 believe that I might do better there 
 than by staying here." 
 
 The other turned on him a look of 
 cautious scrutiny; but, reading noth 
 ing in his countenance to excite 
 suspicion, he ventured to observe 
 
 "I can tell you, if you promise not 
 to expose me, how you can get there 
 if you wish." 
 
 "Of course, I will not expose you; 
 for how can I, without exposing my 
 self? I will be much obliged to you 
 if you will assist me in going down, 
 so that I may not be detected by the 
 rebels." 
 
 "Well, then I will tell you," re 
 
 turned the other, with renewed con 
 fidence; at the same time looking 
 cautiously around, in every direction, 
 to ascertain that no listeners were 
 near. "Do you see yonder mountain? 
 On the west side of it is a curious 
 little cave, that's been dug o' purpose; 
 but you might pass it a hundred 
 times without knowing there wassich 
 a thing there. In that cave, an Eng 
 lish Captain keeps himself concealed: 
 and we, who are in the secret, supply 
 him with every thing that heart can 
 wish. He is recruiting among the 
 Highlands, and has nearly got his 
 company filled." 
 
 "I will offer myself immediately," 
 exclaimed Crosby, with a sudden 
 animation, that might have excited 
 suspicions in the mind of a keener 
 observer than his companion : who, 
 withoat noticing it, immediately re 
 plied 
 
 "Well I will tell you just where 
 you can go to find him; or, wait till 
 after dark, and I will go with you." 
 
 "That will lie the very thing," re 
 turned our hero, inwardly chuckling 
 at the success of his manoauvre. "By 
 joining his company, I can go down 
 in safety." 
 
 "No doubt of it. But we must be 
 very cautious. In these times, every 
 one is watching his next neighbour." 
 
 "You may depend upon my pru 
 dence," returned Crosby. "I have 
 n inclination to get into the hands 
 of the rebels again; it was at the 
 hazard of mv life that I escaped from 
 them at Fishkill." 
 
 "What! have you really been taken 
 by them? Why, how in nature did 
 you get away?" 
 
 Crosby here recapitulated the par 
 ticulars of his escape from the stone 
 church, and then added 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 55 
 
 "They are obstinate dogs, for, you 
 hear, they are at it yet." 
 
 "Let the riglars get them at close 
 quarters, with the baggonet, and the 
 rebels will stand no chance," replied 
 the other. "They must be at long 
 shot now, or the skrimmage would 
 not last so long." 
 
 Here the conversation ended; and, 
 separating to pursue their respective 
 avocations, they met no more till 
 supper time. After which they set 
 out, according to agreement, to seek j 
 an interview with the military hermit I 
 in the "cave of the mountain." 
 
 On arriving at the western side of 
 the lofty eminence which our hero's 
 conductor had pointed out to him in 
 the morning, they paused near a 
 clump of dwarf cedars which grew at 
 its base. In front of them was a dafk 
 looking object, which proved to be a j 
 huge rock, cleft in twain by some i 
 concussion of the elements, or by a i 
 precipitate descent from the dizzy j 
 steep above it. With a heavy stick, ! 
 which the farmer carried with him, ' 
 he struck several blows, in quick sue- 1 
 cession, on the flat surf ace, of the! 
 rock; and, in a short time, a bright j 
 ray of light daited from behind it, j 
 and gradually increased in brilliancy. 
 In the next moment the object of 
 their visit stood before them, with a 
 small lanthern in his hand, by the 
 aid of which he took a critical survey 
 of his visitors without speaking. He 
 then bid the farmer welcome, who 
 promptly introduced his companion 
 as "John Smith, a faithful friend to 
 his majesty," and instantly disap 
 peared. 
 
 The Captain received Crosby very 
 cordially; and after numerous in 
 quiries, to all of which he received 
 
 plausible and satisfactory answers, 
 he at length exclaimed 
 
 "Well, sir, you appear to have limb 
 and muscle, and would make a devil 
 ish good looking soldier. I should 
 like to have you in my corps of High 
 landers, which have just been col 
 lected. Come, what say you?" 
 
 "I have not the least objection," 
 replied Crosby; "and as I have no 
 fixed home, or place to go to, I should 
 like to stay with you; forif the rebels 
 catch me again, they will show me no 
 mercy." 
 
 "Agreed!" exclaimed the Captain, 
 after eyeing him sharply for a few 
 
 moments. "You are a d d honest 
 
 looking fellow, and I'll try you. 
 Come, sir; see if you can double up 
 that gigantic carcass of yours so as 
 to get into that hole," pointing to the 
 mouth of an artificial excavation in 
 the mountain, just behind the cloven 
 rock, which Crosby had not before 
 observed. 
 
 The new recruit instantly obeyed 
 the orders of his superior, and found 
 himself in a small, comfortable, well- 
 furnished apartment, with seats, and 
 other conveniences, suitable for two 
 or three persons. In the centre of 
 the fleer, stood a small round table, 
 liberally supplied with a great variety 
 of cold meats, pastry, bread, butter, 
 cheese, and every other kind of eat 
 ables that the neighbouring farm 
 houses could furnish. But what the 
 occupant of the cave most earnestly 
 commended to the attention of his 
 guest, was a large jug, or rather its 
 contents, which he swore was as fine 
 Madeira as had ever graced the table 
 of Sir Harry, or even his lordship 
 himself. 
 
 "Come, my good fellow, help your 
 self," said the hermit, pushing the 
 
56 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 jug to his now proselyte, after filling 
 bis own goblet to the brim. "D n 
 me, but you shall live like a fighting 
 cock, for the few clays longer that I 
 have got. to burrough in this hole. A 
 health to his Majesty, and success to 
 the good cause." 
 
 'With all ray heart," exclaimed 
 Crosby, and drained the goblet. 
 
 As our hero now appears to 1 e 
 very comfortably situated, in a strong 
 hold, with plenty of provisions for 
 the garrison, we will venture to leave 
 him there for a few days, while we 
 revisit the scene from whence pro 
 ceeded those '/sounds of war," which 
 gave rise to the conversation that 
 ultimately brought about the present 
 change in his circumstances. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CHADERTOX'S HILL. 
 
 *. -. This day hath made 
 
 Much work for tears iiiin uiy ;i:i English mothpr. 
 Whose sons lio scattered on the bleetling ground ; 
 Many a \vido,\ 's husband groveling lies 
 Coldly embracing the discoloured earth. 
 
 SlIAKS. KlNGjOHX. 
 
 We left the two hostile armies, in 
 front of each other, at White Plains, 
 with souls "in arms, and eager for 
 the fray." On the morning of the 
 28th of October they still retained 
 the same position, sharply watching 
 each other's motions. 
 
 In the mean time, a commanding 
 eminence, on the southwest of the 
 American camp, had caught the at 
 tention of Washington; who, know 
 ing the importance of strengthening 
 ,his position, resolved to reconnoitre 
 the ground immediately. He, accord 
 ingly, ordered such of his general 
 officers as were not on duty, to attend 
 him, and rode to the spot; but, on 
 examination, found it not so suitable 
 for his purposes as he had antici 
 pated. 
 
 "Yonder," said Lee, pointing to 
 another eminence on the north, "is 
 the ground we ought to occupy." 
 
 "Let us, then, go and view it," ro 
 plied the commander-in-chief ; and 
 away they posted as fast as their 
 mettlesome steeds would carry them. 
 
 They had not proceeded far, how 
 ever, when a light horseman was seen 
 corning up, on full gallop, his steed 
 almost out of breath. Hastily salut 
 ing the General, he exclaimed 
 
 v- The British are on the camp, sir!" 
 
 "Then, gentlemen," said Washing 
 ton, "we have other business than re 
 connoitring. Follow me!" 
 
 So saying, he put spurs to his 
 prancing charger, and galloped to 
 the camp, swiftly followed by his 
 well-mounted Generals, Lee, Heath, 
 and the rest. On arriving at head 
 quarters, the party were met by the 
 Adjutant General, the Gallant Read, 
 who hastily addressed his coiu 
 mander 
 
 "The guards, sir, have been all 
 boat in, and the whole army are now 
 at their respective posts, in order of 
 battle." 
 
 "Washington, on hearing this,turned 
 coolly to his officers, and dismissed 
 them with this brief order 
 
 "Gentlemen, you will repair to 
 your respective posts, and do the best 
 you can.''* 
 
 Here they separated, each officer 
 repairing to his own division, which 
 he found in the lines, firmly awaiting 
 the charge, which had already com 
 menced on the right of the Americans. 
 by a column of Hessians, the forlorn 
 hope of the British army. They 
 were commanded by General do 
 Heister and Colonel Rhal, who di- 
 
 * See Heath's Memoirs. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 57 
 
 rected their first attack against the 
 Americans that were posted on an 
 eminence called Chaderton's Hill, 
 commanded by General M'Dougall. 
 The cannonade now become brisk 
 on both sides. Suddenly, the enemy's 
 right column, consisting of British 
 troops, under the command of Gen 
 eral Leslie, appeared in the road 
 leading to the court-house, in front of 
 Heath's division, on the American 
 left. This advancing column was 
 preceded by about twentj light-horse 
 men, ia full gallop, brandishing their 
 sworde, as if they intended to decapi 
 tate every Yankee they could reach. 
 Without hesitation, they leaped 
 the fence of a wheatfield, nt the foot 
 of the hill on which the brave Mal 
 colm's regiment was posted; of which 
 circumstance the cavaliers were not 
 aware, until a shot from a field-piece 
 struck in the midst of them, and up- 
 horsed one of the party without cere 
 mony. 
 
 This being a hint that the gentle 
 men could not well misunderstand, 
 they wheeled short about and gal 
 loped out of the field as as fast they 
 came in? nor did they slacken their 
 speed until a friendly hill left noth- ' 
 ing but the tips of their n] times for i 
 Malcolm to waste his fire on. 
 
 Whether it was owing (to this cir 
 cumstance, (the precipitate flight of ! 
 his horse,) or to previous arrange- ; 
 rnent, it is certain that the British 
 column advanced no farther up the 
 road, but suddenly wheeled to the ; 
 left, by platoons, as fast as they came 
 upland, passing through a bar or 
 gateway, directed their head towards 
 the troops on Chaderton's Hill, al 
 ready engaged with the Hessians. 
 
 The appearance of this column of 
 well disciplined troops, the flower of 
 
 the British army, was truly imposing. 
 Their brightly polished arms, brist 
 ling' with bayonets, glittered in the 
 sunbeams with almost a dazzling 
 lustre. -What a contrast to their un 
 disciplined opponents, the American 
 militia, who, with rusty muskets, 
 irregular accoutrements, and scarcely 
 a bayonet to a platoon, stood before 
 them undismayed, and (even when 
 vanquished) unsubdued! 
 
 The cannonade still continued brisk 
 across the Bronx; the Americans 
 firmly retaining their position on the 
 hill, and the enemy directing all his 
 energies to dislodge them. Con 
 vinced, at length, that long shot 
 would never effect the object, pre 
 parations were made to come to 
 closer quarters. 
 
 For this purpose, a part of the 
 enemy's left column, composed, of 
 British and Hessians, forded the 
 river, and marched along, under 
 cover of the hill, until they had 
 gained sufficient ground to the left of 
 the Americans; when, by facing to 
 the left, their column became a line 
 parallel with their opponents. In 
 this order they ascended the hill with 
 a quick movement. 
 
 The fire from the British artillery 
 now ceased, of course, in order not to 
 endanger their own men, who were 
 bravely advancing to charge the 
 Americans on the summit of the hill; 
 but the fire of the musquetry between 
 the two parties was so rapid and in 
 cessant, that it was impossible to dis 
 tinguish the sounds. 
 
 The Americans finally gave way 
 before superior discipline, and 
 moved off the hill in as good 
 order as could have been expected. 
 The British ascended the hill verv 
 slowly, but in that close compact or- 
 
58 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 der for wliich their infantry are so 
 justly celebrated. There is no doubt, 
 however,, that every man felt glad 
 when he had reached the summit, 
 where they formed and dressed their 
 line, without evincing any disposition 
 to pursue their retreating foe. 
 
 The fact is, both parties felt per 
 fectly willing to rest awhile after the 
 fatigues of the day. It is true, that 
 obtaining possession of the contested 
 eminence gave the British great ad 
 vantage over their opponents; but, 
 feeling too sore to pursue this advan 
 tage, they were content to let things 
 renrtin as they were for the present. 
 
 During this action, which ought to 
 be called the "Battle of Chaderton's 
 Hill," several hundreds fell on both 
 sides. It was a waste of lives, with 
 out much advantage to either party. 
 In the midst of the engagement, how 
 ever, the American baggage and 
 stores were moved off in full view of 
 the British army.f 
 
 Washington soon after changed his 
 front, by drawing back the right and 
 centre of his forces to some hills in 
 his rear, and leaving the left wing in 
 its former position; thus forming a 
 line nearly east and west, fronting 
 his enemy on the south. In this 
 eligible position he expected and de 
 sired an action;, but the enemy did 
 not see fit to make the attempt. He 
 afterwards withdrew the whole army 
 to the heights of Northcastie, about 
 five miles above White Plains, near 
 the Connecticut line, where his 
 position was so strong that Howe 
 
 f "The brunt of this battle," says Shallus. 
 "was sustained by the American General 
 M'Dahgall. posted on the right of the American 
 arinv. who nobly sustained his post with six 
 hundred m:i. agiinst the British army. tli'iu^h 
 basely deserted by four regiments of mll.'tia. 
 who fie I on the approach of two hundred and 
 fifty light horse." 
 
 found it necessary to adopt an entire 
 new plan of operations. 
 
 In the mean time, Crosby was en 
 joying ease and luxury in the "cave 
 of the mountain," which was regular 
 ly supplied with provisions by sev 
 eral farmers who secretly favored the 
 royal cause. He found the Captain 
 to be a good-humoured jovial fellow, 
 somewhat coarse in his manners, but 
 not a disagreeable companion. As he 
 and Crosby lived and messed to 
 gether, they were, of course, on the 
 most familiar terms of intimacy; it 
 will, therefore, be readily conceived, 
 that the latter soon made himself ac 
 quainted with every particular of the 
 others plans. 
 
 "In three days, my lad, we shall 
 cross the Highlands," said the Cap 
 tain, gaily, as he folded a letter 
 which had just been handed him by 
 our hero's late employer. 
 
 "In three days," repeated the other. 
 "Let me see that will be Tuesday, 
 as this is Saturday." 
 
 "Yes, this is Saturday, and to 
 morrow will be Sunday, when your 
 rnotely psalm-singing rebel army will 
 be chaunting hallelujahs through 
 their noses; that is, if our cavalry 
 didn't shave off those vocal appen 
 dages at White Plains." 
 
 "According to the letter you have 
 just read to me, it would seem that 
 some of the royal cavalry have been 
 even closer shaved by the rebels in 
 Heath's division," returned Crosby, 
 with a slight indication of humour in 
 his countenance. 
 
 "By Heaven!" exclaimed the Cap 
 tain, "you look and talk as if you 
 were glad of it." 
 
 "I should be glad to have been in 
 their situation," said Crosby, drily. 
 
 "Where? Behind the hill?" 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 59 
 
 "No I would have cleared the 
 hill, and made for the Heath." 
 
 "Good by *** ! If the flash of 
 your musket be like that of your wit, 
 you will be an honour to the corps." 
 
 "Wit sometimes wounds a friend." 
 
 "Then there the comparison ends, 
 for your musket will only be levelled 
 at the rebels. But come; let's to 
 business. Do you know where the 
 little heap of earth stands which the 
 Yankees call Butter Hill?"* 
 
 "Yes at the north entrance of the | 
 Highlands, opposite St. Anthony's ! 
 face."f 
 
 "True and were that break-neck 
 rock a real living saint, and the op 
 posite hill composed of genuine 
 Goshen butter, d -n me, but the 
 saint's mouth would water. But, as 
 I was saying, on the western side of 
 that mountain, (for so we would call 
 an eminence of fifteen hundred feet 
 in England,) is a lonely barn, belong 
 ing to a goad loyalist, and a d d 
 
 fine fellow. To that barn we must all 
 go on Tuesday evening; and, after 
 taking an hour's rest in the hay-mow, 
 pursue our course to the royal lines. 
 To-morrow you and I will bid good 
 bye to this cursed hole, as my friend 
 S**** has generously offered to ac 
 commodate the whole of us, until we 
 march." 
 
 Having nothing to oppose to this 
 
 * This is a high cobble hill, on the west side of 
 Hudson river, opposite Breakneck Hill. These 
 are the northern hills of the Highland chain. 
 
 t St. Anthony's Face is on the south side of 
 Breakneck Hill, at the north entrance of the 
 Highlands, sixty miles from the citv of New 
 York. Its name is derived from a ludicrous re 
 semblance of a Colossal human face, as seen 
 from the river. The rock which has this ap 
 pearance, exhibits a good profile of a face of 
 thirty-two feet, aided by a little fancy, and a 
 relish for the marvellous" A tree which grows 
 upon the chin, just reaches the height of the 
 eyes, and kindly spreads its branches for the 
 eye-brows of the saint. There is another pro 
 montory, opposite the site of Fort Montgomery, 
 live miles below West Point, which is called St. 
 Anthony's Nose, but the resemblance is less re 
 markable. 
 
 arrangement, Crosby made no objec 
 tion; and Sunday evening saw the 
 whole corps (about thirty) assembled 
 at the house of Mr. S****. 
 
 But how was the Committee of 
 Safety to be made acquainted with 
 these circumstances? This was a 
 question that, for some time, baflled 
 the ingenuity of our hero; as he was 
 aware that he could not absent him 
 self a moment without exciting sus 
 picions. At length, however, he hit 
 upon a plan, and hastened to put it 
 into execution. Taking the Captain 
 apart, he thus commenced it: 
 
 "I am apprehensive, sir, that our 
 being here altogether may turn out 
 to be bad policy." 
 
 "Your reasons Jack, your reasons," 
 said the other, with a dramatic air. 
 "The devil's in't if we are not retired 
 enough; there's not a neighbor within 
 a mile." 
 
 "It is just such retired situations 
 that Townsend's Bangers are always 
 searching. They seldom seek for 
 organized companies. of loyalists in 
 populous villages." 
 
 "D n Townsend's Rangers! They 
 are o^ er the river." 
 
 "That's not certain. They are ev 
 erywhere by turns, and no where 
 long. But let us suppose the worst. 
 If the rebels should discover us, and 
 surprise us altogether, the whole corps 
 is at once annihilated. But if we 
 disperse until the hour of marching, 
 they can only pick up one or two, and 
 the main body will remain safe." 
 
 "D n me, Jack, but you shall be 
 my orderly. Your advice is good, 
 and we will separate immediately. 
 No one shall know where another 
 sleeps, and that will prevent treach 
 ery. There's an improvement of my 
 i own, Jack. Go choose your own 
 
60 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 lodgings; and you need be at no loss 
 in this bundling country of yours. 
 But recollect, here we all muster at 
 seven o'clock, on Tuesday evening." 
 
 With these words they separated; 
 when Crosby lost no time in repair 
 ing to the house of a man whom he 
 kue^w to be a warm friend to the 
 country, and desired him to saddle 
 his horse instantly, and carry an ex 
 press to the Committee of Safety, at 
 Fishkill. The other complied without 
 hesitation; and, while he was pre 
 paring for the journey, our hero 
 wrote the following communication: 
 "To the Committee of Sri f sty : 
 ''Gentlemen 
 
 'I hasten this express to re 
 quest you to order Captain Town- 
 send's company of Rangers' to repair 
 immediately to the barn, situated on 
 the west side of Butter-Hill, and 
 there to secrete themselves until we 
 arrive, which will be to-mor'ow even 
 ing, probably about eleven o'clock; 
 where, with about thirty tories, they 
 may find, 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "JOHN SMITH." 
 Monday evening, Nov. 4, 17". 
 
 As soon as this express was des 
 patched to Fishkill, Crosby repaired 
 to the house of his former employer, 
 where he remained until the hour ap 
 pointed on the following evening; 
 when (his messenger having returned 
 with an answer), he rejoined his 
 company, which was* now assembled, 
 at the house of Mr. S****. Every 
 thing being arranged for their de 
 parture, they took leave of their loyal 
 host, and cautiously proceeded across 
 the country, to Cornwall, where they 
 forded Murderer's Creek, and soon 
 reached the solitary barn where they 
 contemplated to rest in safety. 
 
 Completely jaded by their long and 
 rapid march, every one was eager to 
 secure a snug berth in the hay, in or 
 der to snatch an hour's repose before 
 they resumed their journey. Our 
 hero nestled down with the rest, 
 close to the side of the building; and, 
 in a few minutes, he was the only in 
 dividual awake. 
 
 In about an hour he heard some 
 one cough on the outside of the barn. 
 This, being the preconcerted signal, 
 was immediately answered by Crosby, 
 through an opening between the 
 ! boards; and, in the next moment, the 
 building was tilled with armed men, 
 headed by Captain Townsend, accom 
 panied by Colonel Duer, one of the 
 Committee of Safety, who had given 
 the signal befora mentioned. 
 
 'Surrender!" exclaimed Townsend, 
 in a voice that startled every drowsy 
 slumberer from his rustling couch. 
 "Surrender! or, by the life of "Wash 
 ington, you have taken your last 
 nap on this side of the grave!" 
 
 No resistance was attempted, for 
 none would have availed against such 
 fearful odds. Some gave up without 
 hesitation, while others endeavored 
 to conceal themselves in the hay; but 
 they were soon dragged forth, and 
 mustered on the barn -floor, where 
 several of the Rangers were stationed 
 with lanterns. 
 
 "Who commands this band of he 
 roes?" demanded Townsend. 
 
 "I do," answered the Englishman, 
 I promptly and proudly. "I have the 
 ; honor to bear his majesty's commis- 
 ! sion, and demand your authority for 
 i this arrest and detention." 
 
 "The authority of the continental 
 congress, whose commission I have 
 the honor to bear," answered Town- 
 send: "I shall, therefore, trouble 
 
THE WHARTON HOUSE, FISHKILL, N. Y. 
 [ See pages 61 and 147.] 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 61 
 
 you for such papers as you may have 
 in your possession; we pledge our 
 selves, however, that nothing of a 
 private nature shall be detained." 
 
 The Englishman reluctantly com 
 plied with this military usage, and at 
 Townsend's request, proceeded to call 
 his own men by the muster-roll. At 
 the name of Enoch Crosby no an 
 swer was returned. 
 
 "Search for him with your bayo 
 nets!" exclaimed Townsend, and fifty 
 blades were instantly plunged into 
 as many different sections of the hay 
 mow. Our hero now began to think 
 it high time to show himself, and ask 
 for quarter. 
 
 On descending to the floor, the first 
 person he recognized was Col. Duer, 
 a member of the Committee, who had 
 accompanied the party for the ex 
 press purpose of affording Crosby an 
 opportunity to escape; but this gene 
 rous intention was completely frus 
 trated by the zeal of Townsend, who 
 instantly knew the prisoner, and 
 seized him with an arm as muscular 
 and sinewy as his own. 
 
 "Well met, again, old comrade!" ex 
 claimed the Ranger, with a smile of 
 triumph. "You showed us a light 
 pair of heels at Fishkill; but if I do 
 not see them made sufficiently heavy 
 this time, may I never be a Major." 
 
 "Who is he?" inquired Duer, affect 
 ing ignorance of the prisoner's per 
 son. 
 
 "Enoch, the patriarch," returned 
 Townsend, smiling at his own con 
 ceit. "He who disappeared from the j 
 church in Fishtill, almost as myste 
 riously as his ancient namesake is 
 said to have done from the earth." 
 
 "It is true, he did play us a slip 
 pery trick," observed Duer, who 
 thought it necessary to say some 
 
 thing. "But we cannot blame the 
 poor fellow for consulting his own 
 safety." 
 
 "Poor!" echoed Townsend. "If he 
 be poor, John Bull must pay him 
 ill." 
 
 "Yes, indeed." said the Lieutenant, 
 who felt his own honor a little 
 piqued at Crosby's former escape: 
 "King George owes him a. duke 
 dom." 
 
 "And Congress a halter," added 
 the Captain, as he resigned the silent 
 subject of these sarcasms to two men, 
 who soon shackled his limbs in such 
 a manner as to prevent the possibil 
 ity of his again giving them the slip. 
 As soon as the prisoners were all 
 secured, the party were ready to 
 march; and, "to shorten a long story," 
 as Crosby quaintly expressed it, not 
 many hours elapsed, before he found 
 i himself in full view of the stone 
 church at Fishkill. 
 
 But Crosby, it appears, had for- 
 | feited the protection of the church ; 
 for while the other prisoners were 
 conducted into that friendly asylum, 
 he was compelled to march a mile 
 further, to a farm house on the east 
 side of the plain, which lies in front 
 of the village. 
 
 Here he -was permitted, to halt; 
 and soon discovered that it was not ' 
 only the temporary headquarters of 
 Captain Townsend, but the perma 
 nent residence of Mr. Jay, chairman 
 of the Committee of Safety. This 
 circumstance, however, was not likely 
 to operate in his favor, as Townsend 
 immediately adopted such prompt 
 measures to prevent the escape of his 
 prisoner, as evinced the deep inter 
 est that officer felt in his detention. 
 Crosby was pJaced in a room by him 
 self, and a guard detailed for his se 
 
G2 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 curity, comprising some of the most 
 vigilant members of the corps. 
 
 All men must eat at times, and 
 Captain Townsend had fasted for the 
 last twelve .hours. Under such cit 
 cumstances, it is not surprising that 
 he awaited the preparations for sup 
 per with no little degree of impa 
 tience. This feeling, however, was 
 frequently beguiled and diverted by 
 the frank, free, and insinuating ad 
 dress of a rosy -cheeked lass, who, on 
 this occasion, officiated in the capac 
 ity of house-maid. The Captain was 
 no anchorite, and the maid appeared 
 to be scrupulously attentive to his 
 most trifling wants ; until he became 
 so completely absorbed with love, 
 wine, and broiled chickens, that he 
 forgot there was such a man as 
 Enoch Crosby in the world. 
 
 But Miss Charity was too liberal in 
 her opinions of right and wrong to 
 
 "Feast the rich, and let the humble starve." 
 
 She very considerately reflected that 
 the sentinel at Crosby's door, might 
 probably be as sharp set as his Cap 
 tain; and, under this impression, 
 without consulting the superior, pre 
 pared him another chicken, which 
 she accompanied with a bottle of 
 Jay's best old French brandy. How 
 the ranger relished the joke was 
 never accurately ascertained; but one 
 thing is certain, that, owing either to 
 the quality or quantity of the liquor, 
 he actually fell asleep on his post. 
 
 About midnight, our hero was 
 aroused from an unquiet slumber, by 
 a gentle shake of the shoulder. On 
 opening his eyes, he beheld the figure 
 of a female bending over him, with a 
 dark lantern in her hand. 
 
 "Follow me, without speaking," 
 said she in a whisper; '^and hold fast 
 
 by them ugly things, that they don't 
 make a noise." 
 
 Crosby instinctively obeyed in si 
 lence, and followed his fair conduc 
 tor from the apartment. For a mo 
 ment he paused to gaze at the snor 
 ing sentinel, while Charity carefully 
 closed and locked the door. She then 
 led the way through a small garden, 
 in the rear of the house, and pointing 
 to the West Mountain, against the 
 side of which the moon was pouring 
 a stream of mellow radiance, she bid 
 him haste to seek a shelter amidst its 
 almost impenetrable fastnesses. 
 
 "But how have you effected this?" 
 asked the bewildered and astonished 
 prisoner; "and what will be the result 
 to yourself, and that careless senti 
 nel?" 
 
 "Fear nothing, for either," hastily 
 replied the girl; "but hasten to the 
 mountains. I shall instantly return 
 the key to Townsend's pocket, who is 
 himself snoring on the sofa. Dr. Mil 
 ler's opiates are wonderfully.powerful 
 when mixed with brandy. Now, fly 
 for your life! The sentinel shall be 
 on his feet when the relief comes. 
 You have not a moment to lose. I 
 shall be at Hopewell by the time the 
 alarm is given. Not another word 
 I want no thanks Jay i your pro 
 tector-Fly!" 
 
 With these words she disappeared 
 in the house. 
 
 The heavy shackles with which our 
 hero's limbs were encumbered, allow 
 ed him to move but slowly. The coast 
 was perfectly clear, however, and the 
 moon illumined the whole of the 
 plain before him. No obstacle ap 
 peared to oppose his progress to the 
 mountain, which, rising like a huge 
 pyramid, seemed to invite his ap 
 proach. He advanced with confi- 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CR08BY. 
 
 dence, but with tardiness and fatigue, 
 until he reached a little thicket on 
 the left, where he determined to stop, 
 and, if possible, free himself from 
 his fetters. This object being effected, j 
 after much exertion, he bounded for 
 ward with a heart as much lightened 
 as his heels, until he found himself 
 beyond the possibility of pursuit, 
 among the intricate passes of that 
 gigantic eminence. 
 
 On the following morning, T0wn- 
 send found himself refreshed, the 
 key in his pocket, and a trusty senti 
 nel before the door of his prisoner's 
 apartment. There was no other out 
 let to the room except a window, 
 closed with a strong shutter, and 
 guarded by another sentinel on the 
 outside. No alarm or noise had been 
 heard by any one during the night, 
 and what doubt could there be of the 
 prisoner's safety ? 
 
 But words are inadequate to a de 
 scription of Townsend's feelings, 
 when, on taking the key from his 
 pocket, and unlocking the door, the 
 apartment was found evacuated and 
 without a tenant. The guard were 
 all summoned, but every one pro 
 tested his ignorance and innocence 
 of the prisoner's escape; and all uni 
 ted in expressing their surprise that 
 a man in irons could creep up the 
 chimney. But there was no other al 
 ternative; if he did not escape that 
 way, in which way could he have 
 made his egress from the apartment? 
 
 Captain Townsend could not for 
 give this second deception. He felt 
 that his honour, as an officer, was im 
 plicated ; and inwardly swore that if 
 Enoch Crosby became his prisoner 
 again, a very summary process should 
 put an end to his career.* 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE SECRET PASS. 
 
 We must tintl 
 
 An evident calamity, though we hud 
 Our wish, which side should win: for either thou 
 Must, as a foreign recreant, he led 
 With manacles through our streets, or else 
 Triumphantly tread on thy country's ruin. 
 .s. (foriolann*. 
 
 As soon as our hero considered it 
 prudent to leave his place of conceal 
 ment in the West Mountain, which 
 was not until the following night, he 
 cautiously descended in a southern 
 direction; and being, by this time, 
 well acquainted with every pass 
 through the Highlands, knowing 
 where the ravines might be penetra 
 ted, and where the streams were 
 fordable, he proceeded with silent 
 celerity, and increasing confidence. 
 For several hours he pursued his 
 coui'se without interruption, carefully 
 avoiding such spots as he knew to be 
 inhabited; sometimes plunging into 
 thickets, at others finding it neces 
 sary to ascend hills that appeared to 
 be almost inaccessible. 
 
 About sunrise he ventured to de 
 scend into the highway, where he 
 continued to travel until fatigue and 
 hunger compelled him to seek for a 
 habitation where he might safely ap 
 ply for refreshment. 
 
 At this juncture, he fotind himself 
 within a quarter of a mile of a farm 
 house, the owner of which he knew 
 to be a tory, and would doubtless 
 supply his immediate wants. He di 
 rected his steps accordingly, and soon 
 received a cheerful welcome from the 
 mistress of the family, her husband 
 being 7 absent from home. He told 
 his story, or as much of it as was 
 proper to be related, and his loyal 
 hostess could not find language to ex- 
 
 * See the Spy. Vol. I. .('hap. V., three oom-Iu- 
 dint; page.*. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 press her commiseration of his suffer 
 ings, and her indignity at the wrongs 
 he had received at the hands of the 
 abominable rebels ! In short, she 
 treated him like a son; and insisted 
 upon his making her house his home, 
 for as long a time as he thought it 
 prudent to remain. On his depart 
 ure, she loaded him with provisions 
 and clothes, with a capacious new 
 pack to contain them. 
 
 Being well aware that patrols were 
 scouring the country ia every direc 
 tion, who, if they recognized him, 
 would be sure to retake him, he felt 
 the necessity of being very cautious 
 in his movements. It is true, that he 
 might meet a cordial welcome from 
 those who secretly favored the Bri 
 tish cause; butaat a period when so 
 many were induced by circumstances 
 to disguise their real sentiments, it 
 was difficult to discriminate between 
 friends and foes. Every whig would 
 have thought it a duty he owed his 
 country to deliver up the fugitive to 
 the vengeance of her violated laws; 
 while many, who felt interested in 
 his safety, were deterred from afford 
 ing him protection by a prudent re 
 gard for their own. 
 
 Under such circumstances, our hero ! 
 soon found himself placed in a very j 
 unpleasant dilemma; while every 
 succeeding day seemed to increase 
 the gloom, which, like a por 
 tentous cloud, hung over his unto 
 ward destiny. Hunted like a beast 
 of the forest by one party suspected 
 and avoided by the other he felt 
 himself, at times, an outcast in the 
 world a houseless wanderer, without 
 a country or a home!* While look- 
 
 * " Most of the movements of the pedlar 
 through the country, were made at the hours 
 which others allotted to repose. His approaches 
 to the American Hues were generally so con 
 
 ing at this side of the picture, it ex 
 hibited a cheerless, dreary scene of 
 desolation, at the contemplation of 
 which his heart sickened within him. 
 But when he recollected the object 
 for which he had voluntarily submit 
 ted to this living martyrdom when 
 he reviewed the motive of the sacri 
 ficea ray of peaceful tranquillity, 
 emanating from a self-approving 
 conscience, stole over his mind, 
 which he would not have exchanged 
 for the crown and sceptre of Eng 
 land. 
 
 It was near the close of a toilsome 
 day's wandering, in the cheer) ess 
 month of November, that he called 
 at an indifferent looking farm-house, 
 and requested to be accommodated 
 for the night. This request was 
 cheerfully granted; and, throwing off 
 his pack, he sat down, with a thank 
 ful heart, to rest from the fatigues of 
 the day. 
 
 He had not remained in this situa 
 tion long, when two large men, 
 armed with muskets, entered the 
 apartment. One of them started on 
 seeing our traveller; and, in a Jow 
 voice, said something to his com 
 panion, to which the other apparently 
 assented. 
 
 Crosby remained silent, watching 
 the movements of these men with the 
 deepest interest, as he suspected them 
 to be volunteer scouts, numbers of 
 which were constantly on the look 
 out for such persons as were sus 
 pected of toryism. 
 
 In a short time they advanced to 
 our hero, and, after surveying him 
 attentively, one of them accosted 
 him 
 
 ducted as to baffle pursuit. Many a sentinel, 
 placed in the gorges of the mountains, spoke of 
 a strange figure that had been seen gliding by 
 them in the midst of the evening. "Spy. Vol. ('.. 
 p, Ui). 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 65 
 
 "I think, sir, that I have seen your 
 face before." 
 
 "Very possibly, sir," resumed Cros 
 by, cooly ; "though I cannot say that 
 I have the pleasure of recollecting 
 yours." 
 
 "Probably not. But, if I mistake 
 not, I saw you conducted to Fishkill 
 prison a short time since, in company 
 of a number of tories, arrested by 
 Townsend's Hangers." 
 
 "O, yes, it is he," exclaimed the 
 other; "I could swear to him among 
 a thousand." 
 
 "So, you have made your escape, 
 sir, it seems," continued the first 
 speaker. "But under our escort you 
 will not, find it so easily done again. 
 To-morrow morning you shall accom 
 pany us to Heath's head-quarters; 
 and, if the provost marshal does his 
 duty, your plots and escapes will 
 soon be terminated. The Committee 
 of Safety will not take the trouble 
 of trying you again " 
 
 "It is a serious subject for jesting." 
 observed Crosby, throwing an un 
 quiet ey<? around, as if in search of 
 some avenue of escape. 
 
 "You will find it no jest," returned 
 the other. "Jay and Duer are deter 
 mined to make an example of you. 
 A tory they can pardon and pity. 
 But a traitor, who, after bearing arms 
 in the good cause, basely turns those 
 arms against his countrymen, has 
 forfeited all claims to protection. 
 Mercy to such a wretch would be a 
 cruelty to our country. "* 
 
 "And think you that Jay would 
 
 * "D irk and threatening hints began to throw 
 suspicion around his movements, and the civil 
 authority thought it incumbent on them to ex 
 amine narrowly into his mode of life. His im 
 prisonments were not long, though frequent : 
 and his >'scanes from the guardians of the law 
 oiiijviratively easy, to what Ke endured from 
 the persecution of the military.'' Spy, Vol. i, 
 I). -i4. 
 
 \ pronounce me a traitor?"! asked 
 i Crosby, with earnestness. 
 
 "How could he do otherwise?" re 
 turned the other. "What have you 
 j to urge in your own defence?" 
 
 Notwithstanding his reliance on the 
 
 secret protection of the Committee, 
 ! our hero felt a strong repugnance to 
 
 become a prisoner again so soon; es- 
 ; pecially, as the exasperated Bangers 
 
 (at a time when the civil law, but lit- 
 | tie regarded by the soldiery) might 
 ; feel themselves justified in inflicting 
 
 a summary punishment, without the 
 1 ceremony of a trial. Weakened and 
 i fatigued as he was by toilsome 
 ! marches, he could not contend against 
 
 such odds with any hope of success. 
 , Having weighed all these circum- 
 ! stances in his mind, he concluded 
 ! that he would be justified in appeal- 
 ; ing to the last resort; his present sit- 
 | nation being one of extremity. He, 
 
 therefore, drew a small folded paper 
 ! from a secret place within the lining 
 j of his vest, and presented it to his 
 
 interrogator. 
 
 "Read that, sir," said he pioudly, 
 
 "and learn how easy a thing it is to 
 j mistake a man's real character; and 
 i how prone we are to suspect the in 
 i nocent." 
 
 The two strangers perused the pa- 
 ! per in silent astonishment; and, for a 
 
 moment, appeared unwilling to credit 
 ! their own senses. At length, how- 
 j evei% he who appeared to be princi- 
 
 pal, returned the paper, saying. 
 
 "I am satisfied, sir, that we have 
 : been mistaken in your real character, 
 
 for those signatures I know to be gen 
 
 nine; and the writers certify that you 
 
 are actually engaged in the service of 
 
 + "Will Washington say so. think you?" said 
 Kirch, with a ghastly smile. "Nono no 
 Washington would never say, 'lead him to a 
 gallows.' "--Spy. Vol. i, p. ->49. 
 
66' 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 your country. But how is the mys 
 tery to be explained? Why were yon 
 imprisoned by the orders of those 
 very men?" 
 
 "Ask me no further questions, if 
 you please," replied Crosby, as he re 
 turned the pass to its secret deposit 
 ory. "Be content to believe me a 
 true whig, and in the service of my 
 country. But, above all, I most earn 
 estly request you, as you wish well to 
 the cause, never to disclose what you 
 have now learned to any human be- 
 ing." 
 
 So saying, he re-shouldered his 
 pack; and, after evasively answering 
 the numerous questions with which 
 they assailed him, he bade both a 
 hasty ''good evening," and left them 
 to wonder at the strangeness of the 
 adventure. He now felt convinced 
 that it would not be prudent to re 
 main there for the night, as he had 
 at first intended; and being some 
 what refeshed by the short respite he 
 had enjoyed, he travelled onward, in 
 search of a more eligible asylum. 
 
 After proceeding more than two 
 miles farther, he ventured to apply 
 at another cottage, and renew his re 
 quest for accommodation ; which, af 
 ter much solicitation on his part, was, 
 at length, reluctantly complied with 
 by the woman of the house. Here 
 again he disencumbered himself of 
 his pack, and sat down, much fa 
 tigued with his prolonged journey. 
 
 While inwardly congratulating him 
 self on the happy termination of that 
 day's labours, and fondly anticipa 
 ting a comfortable night's rest, his at 
 tention was caught by the particular 
 and suspicious manner with which he 
 found himself regarded by a man 
 who had just entered, and taken a 
 seat by the fire. Crosby felt confi 
 
 dent that he had somewhere seen 
 him before; but could not recall to 
 mind the place or circumstances; and 
 began to feel somewhat alarmed at 
 the closeness of his scrutiny. At 
 length, Crosby spoke 
 
 "Somewhat cool, this evening, sir." 
 Without noticing this sagacious re- 
 mai'k. the other started on his feet, 
 and exclaimed, with a bitterness of 
 tone that well corresponded with the 
 ghastliness of the grin that accom 
 panied it, 
 
 -"Now I know you! I thought I 
 could not be mistaken. You are the 
 
 very d d rascal that betrayed us 
 
 to the ;rebel Committee, and caused 
 our company to be taken and con 
 fined in jail. Now, sir, if you don't 
 
 make yourself scarce pretty d d 
 
 quick, I will call one of my neigh 
 bours, who swears that, if ever he 
 
 ; can lay eyes on you again, he will 
 
 I take every drop of your heart's 
 
 : blood!" 
 
 Crosby made several efforts to re 
 
 I ply, during the delivery of this phil 
 ippic; but the other refused to hear 
 a word he had to say, and thus con 
 tinued 
 
 "You shall leave this house imme 
 diately, sir; but not till I have had the 
 satisfaction of pounding you!" 
 
 1 ''Come on, sir," said our hero, ris 
 ing cooly from his seat, and elevating 
 himself to the full height of his manly 
 stature; while that of his antagonist 
 appeared to dwindle in the same pro 
 portion. "Come on! sir;" repeated 
 he, deliberately rolling up his sleeves* 
 and displaying a pair of muscular 
 arms and bony fists, of the most for 
 midable dimensions. "Come on I 
 am ready to try you a pull." 
 
 But, from come cause or other, tho 
 
 host had suddenly changed his mind, 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 67 
 
 and appeared a little more inclined to 
 the side of mercy; for, in a less ele 
 vated tone he replied, 
 
 "I believe I will let you off this 
 time, if you will leave my house im - 
 mediately, and never set your foot in 
 it again." 
 
 Tired and jaded as he was, Crosby 
 thought it best to comply; and trav 
 elled another mile before he suc 
 ceeded in procuring lodgings for the 
 night; but there he learned a fact 
 which induced him to change his 
 plans immediately. 
 
 He had long been anxious to obtain 
 a private interview with the Commit 
 tee: but dared not venture to Fish- 
 kill, while Townsend remained in 
 the village with his vigilant Rangers. 
 He now ascertained, however, that 
 the corps was on the other side of the 
 river,* and resolved to profit by the 
 circumstance on the following morn 
 ing. This determination he. put in 
 execution, and arrived at Duer's resi 
 dence, on the succeeding evening, 
 without interruption or molestation. 
 
 After a long consultation, that gen 
 tleman advised him to repair pri 
 vately to a retired residence, on Wap- 
 pinger's Creek ;^he farm house of an 
 honest old Dutchman, and there work 
 at his trade for the family, and keep 
 himself concealed from observation, 
 until further orders. 
 
 Being furnished with a complete 
 set of tools for the purpose, he shoul 
 dered his pack, and proceeded to the 
 designated place; where . lie soon 
 found himself very comfortably situ- 
 
 *"O:icc when a strong !>o;ly of the 
 l;il army held tiic F.Mir Corners, for a \vhoh> 
 summer, orders had been rereivd from Wash 
 ington himself, never to leave the door of Harvey 
 1'ircii niiwatHicd; the command was rigidly 
 ol.iey.eil. and during this long period, the pedlar 
 \v is umecMi. Tii" Setacumeift was withdrawn: 
 a iid the next night Biroh re-entered his dwell 
 ing." -Xj>;j, Vol. i.,p. 15u. 
 
 ated, in the family of the friendly 
 old Dutchman, who had feet enough 
 in his family to keep the shoemaker 
 in constant employment. It is true, 
 a large majority of them were the 
 property of females ; but Crosby soon 
 found, by actual admeasurement, that 
 the understanding of a plump round 
 face, rosy-cheek, country Dutch lass, 
 is not such a trifling appendage, as 
 the same article appears to be among 
 our modern city belles; for, at the 
 period of which we are writing, the 
 doctrine of Dr. Sitgreaves most gen 
 erally prevailed, that "the wider the 
 base, the more firm is the superstruc 
 ture." 
 
 In this tranquil asylum he had 
 
 continued but two days, when a letter 
 
 from Duer, desiring his immediate 
 
 1 attendance on the Committee, at 
 
 Fishkill, was handed him on his seat, 
 
 j by a messenger sent express for that 
 
 purpose. 
 
 The good old Dutchman, as well as 
 
 every member of his family, evinced 
 
 much curiosity to know the purport 
 
 : of this communication; which they 
 
 I knew, by some expressions that had 
 
 i fallen from the messenger, must have 
 
 come from high authority; and our 
 
 ! hero immediately rose, in their esti- 
 
 i mation, at least one hundred per 
 
 cent. Could he have conversed with 
 
 Mynheer, in the mother-tongue of the 
 
 latter, there is little doubt that he 
 
 might have ''taken his pick" among 
 
 the daughters, with a good farm into 
 
 the bargain. 
 
 "Mine Cot!"" exclaimed the Dutch- 
 man, knocking the ashes from his 
 pipe; "you know tee shentlemen of 
 tee army? Vat for tey rite you .'" 
 
 "I suppose they want shoes for the 
 
 soldiers," replied Crosby, rising from 
 
 his seat, and taking oft' his leather 
 
.68 
 
 THE SPT "UNMASKED; OB, 
 
 ;apron, which he carefully spread over 
 his unfinished work and tools. "I 
 understand that the poor fellows are 
 ;all barefoot, and there's a cold winter 
 -at hand. At all events, I must g 
 ,and see.; but will probably return 
 time enough to finish Catrine's shoes 
 for Sunday." 
 
 "Now, don't you disappoint nae," 
 icried the smiling girl, with sparkling 
 <eyes, and one of her sweet insinua 
 ting tones. "If you do, you'll be 
 ^sorry." 
 
 "Tevil take tee shoes.!" exclaimed 
 the father, [filling his pipe again. 
 *'Vy you botter tee shentlemen mit 
 shoes, ven he got bishness mit tee 
 army? You know Gitty ish sick pon 
 tee ped, and vont vant hern till 
 Christmas. But, dunder and blixeni, 
 man ! You vont trudge to Vishkill 
 mit Shank's mare. Here, you Hauns! 
 Puckle tee pest shaddleon Valdecker, 
 and pring him to tee horse plock, ti- 
 rectly you hear!" 
 
 Crosby was not very strenuous in 
 declining this polite arrangement of 
 his friendly host; but was soon 
 mounted, and waving a farewell to 
 the whole groupe, who had assembled 
 in the yard to witness his departure, 
 he struck his pony into a gallop, and 
 was soon out of sight. 
 
 On reaching Fishkill, he immedi 
 ately waited on Duer, to learn the 
 pleasure of the committee? who re 
 minded him that it would be ex 
 tremely unsafe for him to remain in 
 that place long enough for the com 
 mittee to hold a consultation; he 
 therefore directed him to leave the 
 village as secretly as he entered it, 
 and travel about three miles, in a 
 north-east direction, to a place called 
 Hopewell; there to inquire for Dr. 
 Miller, who kept a small retail drug 
 
 gist shop, where one of the commit 
 tee would meet him in the course of 
 the 'afternoon. 
 
 In compliance with these instruc 
 tions, Crosby again mounted his 
 Dutch pony, and soon found the resi 
 dence of the Doctor, who happened 
 to be absent from home, and not ex 
 pected back until evening. 
 
 This information was communica 
 ted by a sprightly smiling female, 
 whose voice and figure struck Crosby 
 as not being entirely new to him; 
 while some marked peculiarity in her 
 manner of addressing him, evinced, 
 on her part, a reciprocal recognition. 
 But it was in vain that he tasked his 
 recollection to elucidate the mys 
 tery; until, with an arch smile, and 
 an emphasis of much meaning, she 
 said 
 
 "If you wish any article from the 
 shop, sir, I think I can wait upon you 
 to your satisfaction. Dr. Miller's 
 opiates, you recollect, are wonderfully 
 powerful when mixed with brandy. 
 They have been known to put even 
 the vigilant Rangers to sleep." 
 
 "Is it possible!" exclaimed Crosby. 
 "Are you then the - 
 
 "Hush! Not a word on that sub 
 ject, for your life!" returned the dam 
 sel, in a low voice. "These men by 
 the fire are not Rangers; but it might 
 not be safe to expose your real name 
 in their hearing." She then added 
 aloud, "You had better take a seat by 
 the tire, Mr. Brown; as the Doctor 
 will not be home till dark." 
 
 Several of the neighbours were, as 
 usual, collected round the fire, at one 
 end of the shop, discussing the news 
 andpolitics of the day. Crosby ven 
 tured to mingle with the groupe: 
 and, not being personally known to 
 either, had the satisfaction to hear 
 
MEMOIR9 OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 his own adventures related, and des 
 canted on, with all those embellish 
 ments, variations, and exaggerations, 
 that ever accompany the verbal dis 
 posal of retailed wonders. 
 
 "There can be no doubt," observed 
 one, "that Sir Henry Clinton ob 
 tained that information from Crosby. 
 How else would Knyphausen, and 
 
 his d d Hessians, have known the 
 
 way to Spiten-devil Creek?"* 
 
 "Aye, and how the d 1, without 
 
 the assistance of some spy, could the 
 regulars ha^ e known on which side 
 to attack the post on Laurel Hill f" 
 demanded another, looking round 
 him with an expression of triumph 
 thit challenged contradiction. "The 
 Dutchman's left column, you know, 
 bore all the brunt of the battle, and 
 were pretty decently peppered." 
 
 "Well, well," said a third, with a 
 self-complacent smile, and a knowing 
 toss of the head; "every dog has his 
 day. But if Townsend ever gets the 
 traitor in his clutches again, he will 
 soon dangle in the air, without judge 
 or jury." 
 
 "What sort of a fellow is this 
 Crosby?" asked our hero, addressing 
 the last speaker. "Have you ever 
 seen him?" 
 
 "O yes, I saw him at Fishkill. He 
 is a little slender artful looking fel 
 low, of about five feet three. There's 
 no confining him; for he'll creep out 
 of a knot-hole, and I have no doubt 
 that all our late disasters may be 
 attributed to his secret intercourse 
 with the enemy." 
 
 * Xear the site of Fort Washington, in the vi 
 cinity of Kingsbridge. 
 
 t This hill was bravely defended by the Amer 
 icans, during the attack of Fort Washington. It 
 is supposed that over twelve hundred of the 
 royal troops were kille;! or wounded. After be 
 ing twice summoned, the commandant. Oolonel 
 Magaw, was compelled to surrender, with 2870 
 Americans. 
 
 "It is shrewdly suspected," said 
 Crosby, dryly, "that this fellow was 
 at the bottom of the affair at Kipp's 
 Bay." 
 
 "Very probably," said the other, 
 forgetting the nature of that affair ;J 
 wherever there is a tory plot, you may 
 swear that Crosby is head-devil in 
 the business." 
 
 "Whether at the head or tail," ob 
 served a third, "his intrigues have 
 given an unfortunate turn to our af 
 fairs. Fort Washington and Fort 
 Lee are both in the hands of the en- 
 emy. The American army is re 
 treating through the Jerseys, and 
 Howe is close upon their heels." 
 
 "But didn't Gooch do the neat 
 thing?" exclaimed the first speaker. 
 
 "Gooch! Who the d 1 is he?" 
 
 asked his friend. 
 
 "Who is he! A full-blooded yan- 
 
 kee, from Boston, and a captain in 
 
 Heath's division. During the attack 
 
 I on Fort Washington, which was 
 
 I bravely defended by Colonel Magaw, 
 
 i the commander-in-chief, who was 
 
 j across the river, on the high bank at 
 
 Fort Lee, was a spectator of the 
 
 whole affair. He wished to send a 
 
 message across to Magaw, and Gooch 
 
 offered to be the bearer of it. He 
 
 ran down to the river jumped into 
 
 a small boat pushed over in style 
 
 landed under the bank ran up to 
 
 the fort, and delivered the message 
 
 came out ran and jumped over the 
 
 broken ground dodged the Hessians, 
 
 t See Chapter VI., 3d paragraph. 
 
 Soon after the reduction of Fort Washing 
 ton Lord Cornwallis, with a large force, conjec 
 tured tj amount to about six thousand men, 
 crossed over the North Kiver, to attack Fort 
 Lee. on the opposite .Jersey shore. On the intel 
 ligence of their approach, the first determina 
 tion of the Americans was to meet and fight 
 them; but it WHS soon discovered that the con 
 test would be too unequal, and the garrison was 
 saved bv an immediate evacuation, under the 
 able guidance of General Greene. 
 
70 
 
 THE -SPY - UNMASKED', OR, ' 
 
 some of whom struck at him with 
 their pieces, while others attempted 
 to thrust him with their bayonets. 
 But he escaped through the whole 
 got into his boat, and returned to 
 Fort Lee."* 
 
 "Was that message a recommenda 
 tion to surrender?" asked Crosby. 
 
 "So it is presumed," replied the 
 other. "Magaw had been summoned 
 to surrender; but requested that he 
 might be allowed to consider until 9 
 o'clock the next morning, before he 
 gave a decisive answer. Only two 
 hours were granted, and Magaw re 
 plied that he would defend the fort 
 to the. last moment. After receiving 
 Washington's message, however, the 
 fort was surrendered; and it wouid 
 have been a useless waste of lives to 
 hold out any longer." 
 
 "Was our loss great?" asked 
 Crosby. 
 
 "Not in killed and wounded;" re 
 turned the other; "but the loss in 
 prisoners was a serious blow indeed. 
 It is said they were marched to the 
 city, and crowded into prisons and 
 sugar houses, where they are now dy 
 ing off by dozens; so that probably 
 very few of the poor fellows will ever 
 get home again." 
 
 At this stage of the conversation, 
 a gentleman entered the shop; and, 
 without noticing the speakers, ad 
 vanced to the counter, and ordered a 
 phial of medicine. In this new comer, 
 our hero instantly recognized the per 
 son of Jay, who had ridden from 
 Fishkill on an elegant horse, which 
 was standing at the door. While the 
 shopman was waiting npon his cus 
 tomer, Crosby slipped out, and pre 
 tended to be admiring the noble ani 
 mal, until his owner approached to 
 
 *"$w Heath's Memoirs. 
 
 remount. Our hero politely held the 
 stirup, while Jay seized that oppor 
 tunity to whisper in his ear 
 
 "It will not do; there are too many 
 observers in this place. Return to 
 the Dutchman's, and there wait for 
 further orders." 
 
 He then mounted; and was soon 
 out of sight, on the road to Fishkill. 
 
 On re-entering the shop, which he 
 did without being perceived, Crosby 
 discovered that his own person had 
 been the subject of remark, by the 
 loungers present. 
 
 "His conversation and manners be- 
 
 | speak the gentleman," observed the 
 
 i principal speaker. "I wonder who 
 
 he is, and what his business can be 
 
 with Dr. Miller?" 
 
 "He appears to be acquainted with 
 Jay," said another; "for I saw them 
 whispering together at the horse 
 block." 
 
 On overhearing these remarks, 
 Crosby began to feel apprehensive, 
 that if he remained much longer, 
 these village politicians might become 
 more inquisitive than he could wish. 
 He therefore told the shopman that 
 he would call in the evening; then 
 mounted his horse, and soon found 
 himself on the banks of Wappinger. 
 
 His host met him in the yard, in 
 front of the cottage, with his insepa 
 rable companion, the pipe, in his 
 mouth. 
 
 "Veil, ten, sho you cot pack," said 
 he, puffing a huge volume of curling 
 vapour from his mouth. 
 
 "O yes," replied Crosby, dismount 
 ing. "There is no difficulty in getting 
 back, on such a horse as yours, when 
 his head is once turned toward 
 home." 
 
 "O yaw, Valdecker vill ride any 
 potty right to mine house. Here? 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 Haunse! Take off tee shaddle, ant 
 rup him town rait a visp of shtraw; 
 ant, to ye hear, Haunse! tout let him 
 trink till he coutch'd coold." 
 
 "O there is no danger," returned 
 Crosby; "I have not rode him hard. 
 Bat how are the girls, and poor 
 Gitty?" 
 
 "Veil, she complains as she is leetle 
 petter; but she stood up, ven tinner 
 vosh ready, pon tee ped, and ate 
 pred, mit putter by it;" 
 
 By this time they had entered the 
 house, where Crosby was met by the 
 smiling Catreen, who kindly wel 
 comed him back, and again reminded 
 him of her Sunday shoes. These he 
 promised to attend to immediately; 
 and, after visiting Gitty in her room, 
 resumed his seat, and pursued his 
 usual vocation. 
 
 CHAPTER X.I. 
 
 LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. 
 
 Why then, you princes, 
 
 Do you, with cheeks abashed behold our works : 
 And think them shames, which are, indeed, 
 
 nought else 
 
 But the protractive trials of great Jove, 
 To find persistive constancy in men. 
 
 Shaktpeare. 
 
 The political intelligence which Cros - 
 by gathered from the conversation 
 at Hope well, proved, alas! to be too 
 true. Forts Washington and Lee 
 had fallen into the hands of the en 
 emy; and the Americans were retreat 
 ing across the Jerseys, closely pur 
 sued by the British ; so closely, ''that 
 the rear of the army pulling down 
 bridges, was often within sight and 
 shot of the van of the other, building 
 them up." 
 
 At Newark, Washington asked Col. 
 Reed "Should we retreat to the 
 back parts of Pennsylvania, will the 
 Pennsylvanians support us?" 
 
 "That may depend upon contin 
 
 gencies." replied the Colonel. "If 
 the lower counties are subdued, and 
 give up, the back counties will doubt 
 less do the same." 
 
 "My neck does not feel as though 
 it was made for a halter," returned 
 Washington, passing his hand over 
 it. "We must repair to Augusta 
 county, in Virginia. Numbers will 
 be obliged to repair to us for safety, 
 and we must try what we can do in 
 carrying on a predatory war; and, if 
 overpowered, we must cross the Alle- 
 gany mountains." 
 
 To increase the gloom which now 
 shrouded his future prospects, the 
 hero, about this time, was deprived 
 of one of his most able coadjutators 
 and active generals. The veteran Lee, 
 while leading on his division to join 
 the main army, incautiously took up 
 his lodgings at a hotise 3 or 4 miles 
 from his troops. This circumstance 
 was immediately communicated, by 
 some unprincipled tories. to Colonel 
 Harcourt, of the Britsh light-horse, 
 who resolved to attempt his capture. 
 Accordingly, with a detachment of 
 dragoons, he speedily surrounded 
 the house; made Lee his prisoner; 
 and, not permitting him time to take 
 I his hat and cloak, mounted him on a 
 horse, and conveyed him to New 
 York. 
 
 In the meantime, Carleton's army in 
 Canada, after driving the Americans 
 from post to post, had made their ap 
 pearance before Ticonderoga. A na 
 val engagement had also taken place 
 between the two fleets on Lake 
 Champlain, which continued about 
 four hours, and then resulted in the 
 defeat of the Americans. The enemy, 
 soon afterwards, established himself 
 at Crown Point, and strengthened 
 the fortifications; while Gates, with 
 
72 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; on, 
 
 a corresponding ardor, continued to 
 increase the works of defence at Ti- 
 conderoga, determined to give his 
 neighbour a warm reception, if he 
 honored him with a visit. 
 
 During the development of the 
 foregoing transactions, the Commit 
 tee of Safety felt very anxious res 
 pecting the state of affairs on the 
 northern frontier. Frequent instan 
 ces had been reported to them, of 
 persons, in that quarter, being de 
 tected in enlisting soldiers for the 
 tory regiments in New York. It had 
 been already decreed, that every per 
 son of this description, who might 
 fall into the hands of the Americans, 
 should be tried by court-martial; and, 
 if found guilty, executed as a spy.* 
 Some had already suffered death nn 
 der this law, and still the nefarious 
 practice was continued. Under such 
 circumstances, the Committee deter 
 mined to send Crosby to the north. 
 
 Our hero was still a member of the 
 Dutchman's family. Gitty had re 
 covered her health, and the Sunday 
 shoes of Catreen had been once dis 
 played at church. 
 
 It was a cold morning, near the 
 close of December, and at a very 
 early hour, that Crosby received a 
 communication from the Committee 
 of Safety, on the subject of this 
 northern excursion. He had just re 
 sumed his seat on what has been not 
 unaptly termed St. Crispin's fiddle; 
 for, in the present instance, it not 
 only resembled that instrument in 
 form, but also in tone, as its unstable 
 joints squeaked in unison to the music 
 of the hammer and lapstone. Such 
 
 * One Daniel Strong was found lurking about 
 our army at Peekskill, and. on examination, en 
 listing orders were found sewed in his clothes. 
 He was immediately tried as a spy Trow the en 
 emy, sentenced to suffer death ; and was executed 
 accordingly. Thaelwr'ts Journal. 
 
 as it was, however, it was the manu 
 facture of Crosby's own hands; ex 
 hibiting another evidence of that 
 Yankee ingenuity which has since 
 become proverbial in the production 
 of horn flints, wooden nutmegs, and 
 artificial pumpkin -seeds. 
 
 He had just taken his seat, and was 
 attempting to soften a roll of wax by 
 the warmth of his own breath, when, 
 casting his eyes to the window, he 
 saw a horseman at the gate, in the 
 act of dismounting from a white 
 steed, of superior form and dimen 
 sions. 
 
 The unusual clatter of an old iron 
 knocker, which ornamented the front 
 door of the building, soon announced 
 a massage of more than ordinary im 
 port; on being admitted, however, 
 j the messenger appeared to have for 
 gotten the object of his journey amid 
 I the more important concerns of blow 
 ing his fingers, and warming his feet. 
 j But as soon as such matters were 
 I perfectly arranged to his mind, he 
 took a letter from his pocket, and in 
 quired for Jacob Brown.* 
 
 'I answer to that name, for want 
 of a better," quaintly observed Cros 
 by, waxing his thread. 
 
 "Then you are the man into whose 
 hand I am directed to deliver this 
 letter. An answer is expected by 
 those who sent me." 
 
 Crosby broke the seal, perused the 
 
 epistle, and then wrote a brief reply, 
 
 with which the messenger departed 
 
 | on foot. This done, our hero re- 
 
 i paired to the sleeping room of his 
 
 I host, who was yet in bed, and in- 
 
 i formed him that he was under the 
 
 I necessity of leaving him immediately; 
 
 being ordered to the north, on busi- 
 
 i 
 
 *This was the name bv which Crosby was 
 1 known in the Dutchman's family. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 ness that would admit of no delay, 
 and that a swift horse had been sent 
 for the express purpose of expediting 
 his journey. 
 
 "Mine Cot!" exclaimed the other, 
 starting up in his bed. "Ten you vill 
 not shtay mit us all tee Christmas 
 holidays." 
 
 "Not an hour," replied Crosby. 
 
 "Veil, den, shtay till I kit up, and 
 Catreen kit tee breakfast py tee ta 
 ble. You must not ride pon your 
 pelly empty in tee coldt." 
 
 The whole family were soon mus 
 tered: and, by the time Crosby had 
 completed his own preparations for 
 the journey, the table was loaded 
 with hot buckwheat cakes, fried sau 
 sages, and every other substantial ar 
 gument with which a Dutch farmer's 
 larder is always liberally supplied. 
 During breakfast, our hero expressed 
 his gratitude to every member of the 
 family, for the kindness and hospi 
 tality which he had uniformly re 
 ceived at their hands. 
 
 "Nonesense, man! nonesense!" ex 
 claimed the generous Dutchman. 
 "Who vouldn't do tee same, ish no 
 petter ash nobody." 
 
 After taking an affectionate leave 
 of every member of the family, and 
 slily saluting Catreen as he stooped 
 to assist her in buckling his port 
 manteau, which she had liberally 
 furnished with necessaries, Crosby 
 left the hospitabe mansion, and 
 mounted his horse. He then inquired 
 of his host, who had followed to the 
 gate, the most direct road to Sharon. 
 
 "To Sharon? Val, you see dat 
 roat pon de hel? pointing in a 
 northeast direction. 
 
 "O, yes, I see it." 
 
 "Val, you musht not take dat roat. 
 You see dis roat py toe colabarak?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Val, dat ish not tee roat But you 
 musht go right straight py tee parn, 
 and vere yeu see von roat dat crooks 
 just so see.here" bending his elbow, 
 and describing it at the same time 
 "and ven you kit dere, keep right 
 along; and you musht mind to come 
 pack, and shtay all night mit me, and 
 make done our Hannse's shoes." f 
 
 In due time Crosby found himself 
 in the right road, and mounted upon 
 an excellent horse. But the dreary 
 season of the year, and the conse 
 quent inclemency of the weather, 
 rendered the journey extremely un 
 pleasant. In speaking of this excur 
 sion, Crosby says 
 
 "I travelled as far as Benuington,J 
 in Vermont, a distance of one hun 
 dred and twenty-five miles, and suf 
 fered much from the cold and severe 
 storms I encountered, and from ri 
 ding on horseback, contrary to my 
 usual habits. Had it not been for 
 expediting my journey, I should 
 rather have trusted to my legs." 
 
 The object of his journey, however, 
 was accomplished; for, besides de 
 tecting a number of secret enemies 
 to the country, in that quarter, whom 
 he caused to be apprehended and 
 brought to justice; he obtained such 
 information, also, as enabled him ul 
 
 t This direction of the worthy Dutchman re 
 minds the writer of the following story: "A. 
 Yankee, travelling through a DuteTi settlement, 
 in jhe State of Xo'w York, and. guessing that he 
 was near his place of destination, thought he 
 would ascertain the fact by inquiring of a man 
 who was hard at work in a field of potatoes. 
 He was answered in the following manner: 
 "Val. den, you vill turn de potato patch round, 
 de pridge over, and de river? up stroam, and de 
 hel up; ilnd tireetly you see mine prother 
 Haune's parn, shingled mit straw: dat's his 
 hou-e vare mine brother Schnyven lives. He'll 
 tell vou so petter as I can. And you go little 
 further, you see two roats you must not take 
 bote lit 'em." 
 
 * Bennington is about thirty-six miles from 
 Albany in a northeast direction, and is famous 
 for General Starke's victory over the Hessians, 
 on tlie 16th of August. 1777. 
 
74 
 
 .THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 timately to surprise a company of | sang, until the night was far spent, 
 them much nearer home. I It was the Hessians' Christmas ban- 
 
 In the meantime, while Washing- j quet. But like the impious feast of 
 ton, with the main body of the Amer I Belshazzar, its termination was to be 
 ican army, was retreating through ! fatal. The handwriting was already 
 the Jerseys, -closely pursued by the j on the wall of their air-built castle of 
 
 enemy, General Heath, with his di 
 vision, remained to fortify and defend 
 
 success and security. In the morn 
 ing watch, the hero of Liberty came 
 
 the Highlands, on both sides of the i upon them like a thief, and few es- 
 river. While attending to this ardu caped. After a contest of half an 
 ous duty, assisted by Lincoln, Woos- houi', those who had not fallen, surren- 
 ter, Scott, and Ten Broeck, he re- j dered to the victorious chief, and his 
 ceived agreeable intelligence that | gallant little band of barefooted he- 
 Washington, who had previously re- i roes.* 
 
 treated over the Delaware, into Penn 
 sylvania, had ouddenly turned upon 
 his pursusrs with the most complete 
 success. 
 
 Such an event was totally unex 
 pected by the enemy, who were re 
 posing in confident security in Tren 
 ton, and other parts of New Jersey. 
 They had been celebrating the festi 
 val of Christmas with unusual satis 
 faction, occasionally mingling in their 
 
 The news of this affair was like the 
 first ray of sunshine after a long dis 
 mal storm. It rejoiced the Commit 
 tee of Safety, elated and encouraged 
 the army, and revived the drooping 
 hopes of Americans in every section 
 of the country. 
 
 In the midst of their congratula 
 tions on this auspicious event, the 
 same gallant band stole a march 
 upon the British who were posted at 
 
 libations some bitter sarcasms against | Princeton, over whom they obtained 
 the flying Yankees. The mercenaries i another complete victory, f 
 of Hesse, Waldecker, and Hanover. The tide of success which had so 
 who were posted at Trenton, were i long flowed in favour of the enemy, 
 particularly elated on this occasion, had now turned against them; while 
 as they fondly believed that their la- j the Americans, suddenly aroused 
 bors were now over, and the prom- from a state of despondency, had be- 
 ised reward ready for their accept- i come elated with joy; and, in their 
 ance. They imagined that they had turn, pursued their invaders with as 
 at length succeeded in driving the i much rapidity as they had recently 
 rebels from their country, and that j fled before them. Washington had 
 their houses and lands were to be im always been popular; he was now the 
 mediately divided among the Hes- ! idol of the army the acknowledged 
 sians for such had been the delusive i saviour of his country, 
 tale with which they had been flat- 1 In order to take advantage of the 
 tered by their false-hearted employ- ; general consternation which these 
 ers. events had produced in the ranks of 
 
 Under such, impressions, they cele- the enemy; and, if possible, to drive 
 brated the birth of the Saviour with ] them entirely out of the Jerseys, 
 unusual demonstrations of joy; and 
 
 feasted, and drank, and laughed, and 
 
 * See Appendix, No. VII. tlbicl, No. VII). 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 75 
 
 Washington sent an express to Heath, 
 whose headquarters were atPeekskill, 
 directing him to draw his forces from 
 the Highlands (excepting a sufficient 
 guard), and march them down 
 through the "neutral ground," to 
 wards New York, as if he had a de 
 sign upon the city. This manoeuvre 
 had the desired effect. The enemy 
 became alarmed for the safety of the 
 city, and withdrew his forces to pro 
 tect it. 
 
 Heath advanced down as far as 
 Kingsbridge, where a battle took place 
 without much advantage on either 
 side. He then retired to the for 
 tresses of the Highlands, where he 
 retained the command until Wash 
 ington ordered him to take that of 
 the eastern department, and hold his 
 headquarters at Boston. 
 
 Several other events of interest 
 occurred about this period. General 
 Dickinson, with four hundred mili 
 tia, and fifty Pennsylvanian riflemen, 
 defeated a British foraging party of 
 equal numoers, taking nine prisoners, 
 one hundred horses, forty wagons, 
 besides a number of sheep and cattle. 
 Shortly after this affair. Colonel 
 Neilson, of New Brunswick, with a 
 party of militia, defeated the British 
 Major Stockton, killed four of his 
 man, and captured fifty nine, together 
 with their commander. 
 
 Every such incident produced a 
 beneficial effect on the reviving hopes 
 of America: and tended, not a little, 
 to lessen the mortification arising 
 from several concomitant disasters; 
 such as the enemy taking possession 
 of Rhode Island; and also, their de 
 stroying some stores at Peekskill. 
 
 This latter affair, however, was of 
 trifling import. Heath had gone 
 to Boston ; and McDougall, who com 
 
 manded the post at Peekskill, finding 
 it prudent to retire, on the approach 
 of the enemy, the object of their ex 
 pedition was partially accomplished. 
 But the gallant Willett, then Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel, with only sixty men, 
 came upon the enemy by. surprise, 
 and compelled them to retire with 
 great precipitation, on board their 
 vessels in the North river, after hav 
 ing suffered a considerable loss. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 QUAKER HILL. 
 
 Do you confess, 'twas not a thirst of honour 
 Drew you thus far: but hopes to share the spoil 
 Of conquered towns, and plundered provinces? 
 Fired with such motives, you do well to join 
 With Cato's foes, and follow Caesar's banners, 
 
 ADDISON. 
 
 While the prospects of the Ameri 
 can army were the most gloomy, and 
 the hopes of the people at the lowest 
 ebb, the two Howes, flushed with the 
 rapid successes of the royal troops, 
 had availed themselves of the occa 
 sion, and put forth a second procla 
 mation, granting pardons to all those 
 who should, within sixty days, sub 
 scribe a declaration to remain peace- 
 | able, not to take up arms, nor encour 
 age others to act against the king's 
 authority. At the same time, they 
 charged and commanded all who 
 were assembled in arms, against his 
 majesty, to disband; and all legisla 
 tive assemblies, committees, &c., to 
 desist from their treasonable prac- 
 | tices, and relinquish their usurped 
 j power, within sixty days from the 
 | date of the proclamation. 
 
 In order to convince the friends of 
 
 England that Crosby was in the ern- 
 
 | ployment of Howe, the Committee of 
 
 ; Safety, previous to his journey to the 
 
 I north, had furnished him copies of 
 
 the foregoing proclamation, together 
 
76 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 with Howe's former declaration, of 
 fering rewards to such Americans as 
 would assist him in subjugating their 
 fellow-countrymen. 
 
 By exhibiting these documents to 
 such as were too wary to avow their 
 real sentiments, our hero was certain 
 to gain their confidence, which was 
 all that was requisite to secure their 
 ultimate detection. It was not al 
 ways easy to determine who were 
 genuine whigs, as hundreds assumed 
 that mask to conceal their real char 
 acters. But there was little difficulty 
 or danger in denouncing the cautious 
 and the wavering as tories. In a 
 cause where the liberties of the whole 
 nation, and the lives and property of 
 thousands, are all at stake, "he who 
 doubts is damn'd." He that is not 
 for his country, is virtually operating 
 against it. It was to such persons 
 that Crosby exhibited the British 
 proclamations, and always with suc 
 cess. 
 
 But there were not wanting occa 
 sions of detecting the blustering pre 
 tenders also. Crosby had sufficient 
 discernment, and had seen enough of 
 human nature, to know that hypoc 
 risy is apt to overact its part. Un 
 der this impression, he frequently 
 set his trap for some of the most vio 
 lent brawlers in the cause of liberty 
 and always with the same result 
 for the mask of patriotism was in 
 stantly thrown off, while the wearer 
 would secretly confess to the bearer 
 of Howe's proclamation, that he was 
 at heart a partizan of Britain. 
 
 On his return from this excursion, 
 while on his way toFishkill, our hero 
 ascertained that a company of loyal 
 ists was about being formed and or 
 ganized at Pawling, a small town in 
 Dutchess co,unty,near the Connecticut 
 
 line, and not many miles distant 
 from the scenes of his boyish days. 
 
 To Pawling, therefore, he imme 
 diately repaired; where, in the course 
 of a fortnight, he succeeded in win 
 ning the confidence of the recruiting 
 officer; and, as usual, agreed to be 
 come a member of the company. 
 
 In the centre of this town is an ex 
 tensive valley, bounded by high hills 
 on the east and west; and in the 
 midst of the valley is a great swamp, 
 where Croton river, Fihhkill creek, 
 and some other streams, take their 
 rise. On the east side of the valley, 
 a well known eminence, called Qua 
 ker-hill, rears its gigantic height, on 
 which stands a large old-fashioned 
 Quaker meeting-house 
 
 It was at a retired habitation, in 
 the vicinity of this building, that the 
 newly formed company of tories were 
 in the luibit of holding their secret 
 meetings. Our hero, accordingly, 
 made his arrangements to have the 
 whole corps, himself included, taken 
 into custody. Unwilling, however, to 
 trust himself again in the hands of 
 the rangers, and aware that his ab 
 sence at the time of the capture, 
 would awaken the suspicion of his 
 less fortunate comrades, he applied 
 to Colonel Morehouse, who resided 
 in the vicinity, and requested his co 
 operation. This gentleman had n9 
 immediate command, but promised 
 to assemble and arm a sufficient num 
 ber of men for this particular occa 
 sion. 
 
 Accordingly, at the time appointed, 
 the trries being all collected at their 
 usual rendezvous, two of the mem 
 bers hastily entered, with some de 
 gree of consternation depicted in 
 th,eir faces, one of whom addressed 
 the captain 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CK08BY. 
 
 77 
 
 "Sir, there is a company of armed 
 men collecting at Colonel More- 
 house's. What can be their object?" 
 
 "Are we betrayed!" exclaimed the j 
 Captain, looking sternly round upon 
 the company. "Can it be possible 
 that we have any traitors among us?" 
 
 1 O no;" replied the Lieutenant. 
 "The probability is, that the lower 
 paity are coming up to drive the 
 d d rebels oft'; and that More- 
 house has collected this company to 
 oppose them." 
 
 "Some of you go out and reconnoi 
 tre," said the Captain; "and if there 
 be any appearance of danger, give 
 us timelj notice." 
 
 Five or six immediately sallied 
 forth, while their comrades remained 
 in anxious suspense for their report. 
 This suspense, however, was not of 
 long duration; for the challenge of 
 "stand! surrender!" soon saluted the 
 ears of the whole party, and threw 
 them into a state of consternation, 
 dismay, and confusion, which it 
 would be difficult, if not impossible, 
 to describe. Some sprang from the 
 windows, and attempted to conceal 
 themselves by plunging into snow 
 banks; others ran to the top of the 
 building, and secreted themselves un 
 der the eyes of the roof. Crosby ! 
 retreated to an adjoining room, and 
 crept undar a bed; but was soon 
 dragged out, when he learned, to his 
 secret joy, that scarcely one of the 
 party had succeeded in making good 
 his escape. Seing his fellow-captives 
 undergoing the process of being j 
 bound, our hero was seized with such j 
 a severe lameness in one of his limbs, j 
 as rendered it utterly impossible for 
 him to walk. 
 
 "I beg that you would not bind 
 me," said he to the Colonel: "for in 
 
 attempting to escape I have sprained 
 my leg in a most shocking manner, 
 and am not able to move a stop." 
 
 "Go you shall!" exclaimed the Col 
 onel, preparing to mount his horse. 
 "Lame, or not lame, dead or alive, to 
 prison you go with the rest. If you 
 cannot walk, you shall be carried; 
 here's a good horse, that will carry 
 double, and you shall be tied to the 
 crupper." 
 
 So saying the Colonel mounted, 
 and ordered two of his men to rai=e 
 up Crosby and seat him, straddle, on 
 the crupper behind him. The men 
 instantly obeyed, without much ten 
 derness for the sprained leg, of which 
 the prisoner bitterly complained. 
 
 The whole cavalcade, horse and 
 foot, now took up the line of march, 
 with their prisoners tied together in 
 pairs. On approaching the place of 
 confinement, the Colonel dropped in 
 the rear, and in a whisper gave 
 Crosby the necessary directions for 
 escaping. The escort halted in two 
 lines, between which the prisoners 
 marched into the building. While 
 every eye was fixed upon the proces 
 sion, Crosby slipped from the Colo 
 nel's horse and disappeared; nor was 
 his absence noticed for several min 
 utes ; so that all search for the fugi 
 tive was rendered unavailing* 
 
 From Pawling Crosby made his 
 way to Patterson, a few miles further 
 south; but "finding no game in that 
 quarter." he concluded to repair to 
 Fishkill for further orders. On reach 
 ing that place, and obtaining a pri 
 vate interview with the Committee of 
 
 * "Why the rebels suffer him to escape so ea 
 sily, is more than I can answer," returned the 
 Captain, "but Sir Henry would not permit a 
 hair of his head to be injured." 
 
 "Indeed!" cried Frances, with interest; "is he 
 then known to Sir Henry Clinton?" 
 
 "At least he ought to be," said the Captain, 
 smiling significantly. Spy, Vol. 1, p. en. 
 
78' 
 
 THE' SPY UtfMASKEir; 'OH, 
 
 Safety, they informed him that the 
 service on which they next wished to 
 employ him, would expose him to the 
 danger of taking the small -pox, which 
 then prevailed in various sections of 
 the country. They therefore wished 
 him to repair to Dr. Miller's to re 
 ceive the disorder by inoculation; to 
 which proposition he very readily as 
 sented. Being furnished by the Com 
 mittee with a letter of introduction, 
 together with the necessary funds, in 
 ''continental," he immediately waited 
 on the Doctor for th it purpose. The 
 process was so favorable, that the pa 
 tient was confined but- a few days. 
 
 As soon as he was pronounced n't 
 for duty, the Committee requested 
 Crosby to visit the city of Albany, 
 and the town of Claverack,f upon 
 special business with Colonel Van 
 Ness. Of the purport of this mis 
 sion, or the time it occupied, we have 
 not been informed; but during the 
 absence of their agent, the Commit 
 tee -of Safety was dissolved, \ and two 
 Commissioners appointed in their 
 stead; viz., Captain M. Smith, and a 
 Mr. Benson. 
 
 At Claverack, Crosby remained 
 some time, acting as an agent, in 
 transferring the property, which had 
 been left by those tories who had 
 joined the enemy, into the hands of 
 
 t OUiverack is about thirty-five miles south of 
 Albany, on the eastern side of the Hudson. It 
 was se'ttled at a very early period by the Dutch, 
 and their descendants .still <>ccir>y a lar^e pro 
 portion of the rich lands in its vicinity. 
 
 i Jay was afterwards sent as an envoy to the 
 court of Spain. " Hi < capacity was eqiril to the 
 business; he was well received, and uis public 
 character acknowledged; yet his negotiations' 
 were of little consequence 10 America, while he 
 resided i;i Spain. Perhaps, apprehensive that 
 the spirit of freedom and revolt might extend to 
 her own colonies, Spain chose to withhold her 
 assistance." "Tlie highest favor he could obtain 
 was, the trivial loan of four or live thousand 
 pounds. A short time afterwards, however, 
 Spain declared war against England." ir<ir- 
 ren'a ' 
 
 such as had abandoned their own 
 property, in order to escape from the 
 British. "This course," says Crosby, 
 "had a very beneficial effect ; as the 
 tories soon became tired of leaving 
 their property to the enjoyment of 
 other people." 
 
 On returning to the vicinity of the 
 'Neutral Ground," our hero resumed 
 his former vocation of ferreting out 
 such tories as were concocting plans 
 to aid the common enemy, and caur- 
 ing them to be brought to justice. 
 But such was the result of his ingenu 
 ity and address, that his plans were 
 always so contrived as to leave an im 
 pression on the minds of his victims, 
 that he was one of their warmest ad 
 herents. He was frequently taken 
 and imprisoned with the rest; but 
 always escaped, and in such a rayste 
 rious, inexolicable, wonderful man 
 ner, as occasionally, elicited from 
 some good old Dutch matron, a dark 
 hint, or an "ambiguous giving-out," 
 that Crosby had entered into a sol 
 emn covenant with a certain being 
 whose name shall not sully our 
 pages. 
 
 Through the medium of the tories, 
 whoso confidence in our hero's loy 
 alty was every day strengthened by 
 the risks he run to serve their cause, 
 he obtained much valuable intelli 
 gence respecting the contemplated 
 movements of the lower party. This 
 he always found means to communi 
 cate to the Commissioners, who as 
 regularly transmitted the same to 
 headquarters. 
 
 The year 1777 was distinguished by 
 many events, highly interesting to 
 those who were engaged in the glori 
 ous struggle for American freedom; 
 and there is little doubt that in the 
 development of several, the unseen 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBT. 
 
 agency of Crosby produced the most 
 auspicious results. 
 
 Among the fortunate incidents of. 
 the year, may be enumerated, the j 
 brilliant success of Colonel Meigs, at | 
 Sag-Harbour, on Long Island ; the: 
 capture of the British General Pres- 1 
 cott, by Colonel Barton, of Provi- \ 
 dence, R. I.;f Colonel Willett's sue- 1 
 cessful sally from Fort Stanwix, ; 
 since called Fort Schuyler;J General i 
 Stark's victory, at Bennington; Col- j 
 onel Brown's success at Lake George i 
 and Ticonderoga ;i the battles of Sa- ! 
 ratoga and Stillwater;*} the defeat of | 
 the Hessians at Red Bank, by Colo 
 nel Greene;** and, finally the sur 
 render of General Burgoyne, with 
 his whole army. ft 
 
 But this life, alas! is a chequered j 
 scene, and the current of human af- i 
 fairs seldom runs smooth. As a set- ; 
 off to the foregoing, the Americans j 
 had to deplore a series of disasters, .j 
 The most important of these were, j 
 the unsuccessful battles of Brandy- 1 
 wine and Germantown:JJ Wayne's 
 defeat at Paolj ; Warner's defeat at 
 
 * O;i the 4 2lth of May. Colonel Meigs made a 
 successful attack on the British. store at Sag- 
 Harbour; tTeiflroylrig twelve brigs and schooners, 
 together with great Quantities of hay, corn, &c. 
 He sustained no loss, and orougat on with him 
 nuiejty prisoners. 
 
 t See Appendix No. ix. }See Appendix No. x. 
 .See Appendix No. xi. 
 
 ; On the lth of September, the Americans, 
 under Col. Bro\vn, attacked and defeated the 
 British, ou the north end of Lake George, and 
 TicoiKlerogn. They took 293 prisoners, released 
 100 Americans, and retook the continental stand 
 ard left there on its evacution, July 6. 1777. 
 
 T See Appendix, No. xii. 
 ; ** See Appendix. No. xiii. 
 <- See Appendix, No. xiv. 
 ij See Appendix, No. xv. 
 
 Hubbardstown, in Vermont; |!j Her- 
 kimer's defeat, while marching to the 
 relief of Fort Stanwix, a the plun 
 dering and burning of Danbury, in 
 Connecticut, and the consequent bat 
 tle, in which General Wooster was 
 mortally wounded, and a number of 
 Crosby's old friends and fellow-sold 
 iers slain ;b the occupation of Phila 
 delphia by the enemy; the capture of 
 Fort Montgomery ;c and the wanton 
 conflagration of the continental vil 
 lage of Esopus, and Livingston's 
 manor. 
 
 . the 2lst :;f September the British, under 
 General Gray, surprised the American General 
 Wayne, about one o'clock in- the mornimr. at'Pa- 
 oli. Of the Americans about three hundred 
 Were killed- or wounded with the bayonet, and 
 about seventy or eighty prisoners taken, inclu 
 ding several officers. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED. 
 
 Fictitious characters aside are thrown, 
 And epilogues are given in their own. 
 
 PLAYER'S MANUAL,. 
 
 Intrigue and stratagem in war, are 
 not only justifiable, but .aosolutely 
 necessary; and he who proves the 
 greatest adept in these, will eventu 
 ally pluck the laurel from the brow of 
 his opponent. But that man must pos 
 sess more art, ingenuity, and address, 
 than generally falls to the share of 
 an individual, who can support a fic 
 titious political character for months, 
 and even years, without being com 
 pelled sooner or later to throw off the 
 misk, anl to stanJ exposed in his 
 own proper person. 
 
 '! E Colonel Warner commanded the rear guard 
 of General St. ('lair, consisting of twelve hun 
 dred men. on their inarch from Tieonderoga to 
 Hubbardstown, in Vermont. They were pursued 
 by- a detachment from Burgoyne"'s army, under 
 General Fraser, who overtook them near Hifb- 
 bardstown, where a close and severe engage 
 ment took place, in which the brave Colonel 
 Francis f,- 11, with other valuable American offi 
 cers. American loss. 324 killed, wounded, and 
 prisoners. British loss. 133 killed and wounded. 
 
 a Fort Stanwix. since called Fort Schuyler, 
 was. early in August, invested by a body of Bri 
 ton-;. Canadians, toiies, and Indians, anil Herki- 
 mer \va< on his march to disperse them. See 
 Appendix, No. x - 
 
 b See Appendix, No. xvi. 
 c-See Appendix, No. xvii. 
 
80 
 
 THE SPT UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 Such, at length, proved to be the 
 destiny of our hero. The mysterious 
 and inexplicable exits, by which he 
 uniformly eluded the fate and penal 
 ties of his less fortunate companions, 
 began to excite suspicions, which 
 were not long in receiving confirma 
 tion. The loyalists naturally con 
 cluded that there was something 
 more in this than mere chance and 
 good luck, if their philosophy could 
 only find it out; and by consulting 
 on the subject, collating circum 
 stances, and comparing notes, they at 
 length came to the conclusion that 
 Enoch Crosby, instead of being what 
 he pretended, a friend to the king, 
 was in fact an American Spy; and 
 unanimously resolved to take sum 
 mary and exemplary vengeance on 
 the delinquent. 
 
 Aware of the threatening storm, 
 Crosby thought it prudent to retreat 
 from its fury. He had a brother-in- 
 law in the Highlands, to whom he 
 had lately imparted the secret of the 
 part he had been playing, for the 
 purpose of relieving his parents from 
 the burden of anxiety under which 
 they had so long labored. He there 
 fore concluded to retire to the High 
 lands, and remain with this relation, 
 until he could procure a respectable 
 situation in the army of Washington. 
 
 But he was watched, by his new 
 enemies, more closely than he had 
 anticipated; and, on the second day | 
 of his retirement, was fired at through ! 
 a window, by some person in ambush ' 
 on the outside of the house. The 
 ball just grazed his neck, and lacera- ! 
 ted the collar of his coat; it then bur- ; 
 ied itself in an opposite wainscot, | 
 where the perforation is still to be '\ 
 seen. But, on the strictest search, no ' 
 
 traces of the assailant could be dis 
 covered. 
 
 Our hero was now compelled to be 
 very circumspect and guarded in his 
 movements; seldom venturing to 
 show himself on the outside of the 
 dwelling, and constantly sleeping in 
 a retired back room, with a loaded 
 musket at hand. But what precau 
 tion can elude the subtlety of deter 
 mined vengeance? 
 
 'A few nights subsequent to the fore 
 going incident," says Crosby, in rela 
 ting this circumstance to the com 
 piler, "an armed gang came to the 
 house of my brother-in-law, burst 
 open the door, dragged him from his 
 bed, and demanded where I was to be 
 found. On his refusing to tell them, 
 they commenced beating him until 
 they had almost killed him. Perceiv 
 ing that there was no alternative 
 left him, but either to die under their 
 hands, or to inform them where I 
 slept, he directed them to my room, 
 which they entered with the fury of 
 demons. 
 
 "I now awoke, out of a sound sleep, 
 when the first object that met my 
 view was a large hideous looking fel 
 low, coming at me, with a light in 
 one hand, and a drawn pistol in the 
 other. I immediately sprang from 
 my bed; but, before I could reach my 
 gun, he discharged his pistol at me 
 happily without effect. I instantly 
 returned his fire: but, being in a 
 scuffle, my aim was imperfect, and the 
 shot, of course, ineffectual. J then 
 grappled with him, and soon had him 
 on the floor, completely at my mercy. 
 
 "At this moment, however, finding 
 myself, amidst the smoke and confu 
 sion, assailed by three others, I was 
 obliged to relinquish my fallen en 
 emy, who sprang upon hid feet, while 
 
MEMOIRS OF EXOCH CROSBY. 
 
 91 
 
 I was defending myself against this 
 formidable reinforcement. Two of 
 them at length succeeded in making 
 the nselves masters of my hands and 
 arms, which they held extended, 
 while a third presented a pistol to 
 my breast, with the manifest inten 
 tion of blowing me through the body. 
 But this was prevented by the Jni- 
 m r .ine interference of him who had 
 just recoi ered his feet, 
 
 '"Don't shoot the d d rascal!' 
 
 exclaimed he. 'Let us pound him to 
 death !' 
 
 "And sure enough, at it they went; 
 and soon found that I had hands and 
 feet as well as themselves. More than 
 one of them was saluted with a kick 
 in the windchest that shortened his 
 breath: and, notwithstanding their 
 superior numbers, several of them 
 got a flooring, from a pair of fists 
 that had seen some service. 
 
 "But they finally proved too power 
 ful for ma; when, exhausted with ex 
 ertion and loss of blood, I fell on the 
 floor in a state of insensibility." 
 
 Supposing that they had now con 
 summated their bloody purpose', these 
 merciless marauders left their sense 
 less victim weltering in his gore, and 
 returned to the apartment of his 
 brother-in-law, who was not in a 
 much more enviable situjftion; while 
 the shrieks of wo'men, and the cries 
 of children, added to the distress and 
 confusion of the scene. 
 
 The villians then proceeded to 
 plunder the house. They broke open 
 every drawer and closet they could 
 find; and not a single portable arti 
 cle, of the most trifling value, was 
 left behind. Among other things, 
 they took the clothes and musket of 
 our fallen hero, together with a sum 
 of money belonging to his brother - 
 
 ! in-law. They then departed with 
 their booty, leaving the family in a 
 situation that baffles description.* 
 
 But these midnight assassins had 
 happily thought more of their plun- 
 ; der, than of their personal safety. 
 The report of fire-arms had alarmed 
 the neighbors, who hastily assembled 
 and pursued the retreating ruffians, 
 whom they finally overtook on the 
 bank of the Croton. They were con 
 sidered outlaws, undeserving of quar 
 ter. Those who escaped the fire of 
 their pursuers, were driven into the 
 river, and several of them drowned! 
 On the fall*of the stream, in the en 
 suing spring, the musket of our hero, 
 with some other articles, were found 
 and restored. 
 
 Crosby recovered slowly from his 
 j wounds and bruises, so that it was 
 i several months before he was tit for 
 ; active duty of any kind. The health 
 [of his brother-in-law was much more 
 speedily restored; but the event it 
 self was one of too much consequence 
 to every individual concerned, to be 
 ' easily forgotten. 
 
 In the mean time, through the in- 
 'fluence.of the Marquis LaFayette, 
 ! an alliance had been formed between 
 ] France and the United States of 
 i America. This event gave a new and 
 ; brighter aspect to affairs; and was 
 ' soon followed by the active co-opera- 
 I tion of a French army and fleet. La 
 ; fayette himself had been appointed a 
 ! major general, by Congress, at an 
 I early period of the war; but, as yet, 
 held no separate command. He had, 
 I however, distinguished himself, in 
 i several engagements, by the side of 
 , Washington; and, at the battle of 
 
 ! * Robbery <>f Harvey Birch by the Skinners, 
 ! boat's sonic resemblance to this' affair. -See the 
 -S'/Jl/, Vol. i. p 455. 
 
82 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 Brandywine, received a severe wound. 
 While posted at Earron Hill, in 
 Pennsylvania, with a detachment of 
 two thousand five hundred men, an 
 attempt was made by General Grant, 
 at the head of seven thousand troops, 
 to surprise him. But the Marquis 
 defeated his design by a masterly re 
 treat, which did him much honor. He 
 also acted a conspicuous part at the 
 battle of Monmouth,* where victory 
 perched on the standard of freedom. 
 Time rolled its ceaseless course, 
 and the great contest was continued 
 with various success; dame Fortune 
 sometimes smiling on one* party, and 
 sometimes on the other. While the 
 enemy could boast of his successful 
 depredations at Rhode Island, Egg- 
 Harbour, Nantucket, New Haven, 
 and various other places, the Ameri 
 cans could congratulate themselves 
 on Wayne's glorious victory at Stony - 
 Point;f the enemy's repulse at Rhode 
 Island, by General Sullivan ;J and on 
 the success of Major Lee, at Pawles 
 Hook. Although they had to deplore 
 
 * In this affair the enemy left four officers and 
 245 men dead on the field of battle, who were 
 buried by the Americans; they also left four 
 officers and forty men wounded. Several died 
 on both sides from the excessive heat of the 
 weather, it being the 28th of June, and ther 
 mometer at 96. 
 
 t Gen. Wayne took Stony Point, by assault on 
 the Kith of July. 177;>. Lieut.-Col. Johnson, com 
 mandant, and flv'e hundred and forty three men 
 were taken prisoners. The enemy lost sixty- 
 three killed, and the Americans fifteen, with 
 eighty-three wounded, thirty of them very badly. 
 Wayne was wounded in the head with a musket 
 ball. 
 
 J In this affair the enemy lost 38 killed and 210 
 wounded; 12 missing; total loss, 200. The Amer 
 ican loss was much less. 
 
 On the 19th of July, 1779, Major Lee, of the 
 Virginia cavalry, surprised the enemy's post at 
 Pawles' Hook. Major Sutherland, who com 
 manded the fort, with a number of Hessians, 
 escaped: thirty of the garrison were killed, and 
 seven officers and 1(50 men taken. The Ameri 
 can loss was only six killed and wounded. Lee, 
 according to his orders, retreated immediately. 
 A large British force being in the vicinity pre 
 vented his destroying the barracks and artillery. 
 Lee was a man of chfvalric spirit and enterprise^ 
 and commanded the finest corps of cavalry that 
 Washington could boast of. This active officer 
 and amiable gentleman distinguished himself 
 ou maay occasions diariog the war, and is, no 
 
 the unfortunate surprise of Col. Bay 
 lor, at Tappan, by the British General 
 Gray, who ordered no quarter to be 
 given to the Americans; yet they had 
 the consolation of several brilliant 
 I achievements, on their own part, 
 which were unsullied by a single act 
 | of inhumanity, or a drop of needless 
 blood. 
 
 The history of our hero lurnishes 
 no event of interest, since the mid 
 night assault of his enemies, until 
 we find him holding a subordinate 
 command in the elegant corps of the 
 Marquis La Fayette. 
 
 Two brigades had been selected 
 from the different regiments in the 
 main army, by Washington himself, 
 as a compliment to his gallant young 
 friend, and fellow-laborer in the glo 
 rious cause of liberty. When duly 
 I organized, they were paraded and re 
 viewed by the commander-in-chief, 
 with all his general officers, who 
 were unanimously of the opinion that 
 the whole army could not furnish a 
 more excellent corps of light in 
 fantry. They were then presented, 
 in form, to the young marquis, who 
 was so delighted with his command, 
 that he immediately equipped them, 
 at his own individual expense, in a 
 style of superior elegance. To every 
 officer he presentd an elegant sword, 
 and the privates were clothed in a 
 beautiful uniform. "He infused into 
 this corps a spirit of pride and emu 
 lation, viewing it as one formed and 
 modeled according to his own wishes, 
 and as deserving his highest confi 
 dence. They were the pride of his 
 heart he was the idol of their re 
 gard. They were constantly panting 
 for an opportunity of accomplishing 
 
 doubt, the "Major Dunwoody" of Cooper's 
 Spy. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBT. 
 
 83 
 
 some signal achievement worthy of 
 his and their character, and their 
 wishes were, ultimately gratified." 
 
 A detachment from this corps, com 
 manded by Colonel Van Cortlandt, 
 was stationed on the east side of the 
 Hudson, to manoeuvre on the -"Neu 
 tral Ground," wh*>re the inhabitants 
 were now continually exposed to the 
 ravages and insults of refugees and 
 tories. One company of this de 
 tachment was commanded by Crosby, 
 during the absence of his captain to 
 the north; and was not uufrequently 
 engaged in some interesting affair 
 with the enemy's outposts and pa 
 troles. 
 
 The situation of the "Neutral 
 Ground," at this period, was pain 
 fully interesting to the patriot as 
 well as the philanthropist. The 
 country was rich and fertile, and the 
 farms appeared to have been advan 
 tageously cultivated; but it now wore 
 the marks of a country in ruins. A 
 largo proportion of the proprietors 
 having abandoned their farms, the 
 few th it remained found it impossi 
 ble to harvest the produce. The 
 meadows and pastures were covered 
 with grass of a summer's growth, 
 and thousands of bushels of apples 
 and other fruit were ripening on the 
 trnes, for no other purpose than to 
 fall and rot on the ground ! 
 
 The even mead that erst brougnt sweetly forth, 
 The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, 
 Wanting the scythe, all uucorrected, rank. 
 Conceives by idleness: and nothing teems. 
 But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs. 
 Losing b:>th be-uity ana utility. 
 And as our vineyards, fallows, meads, and 
 
 hedges. 
 
 Defective in their natures, grow to wildness. 
 SHAKS., HRK. V. 
 
 Those of the inhabitants of the 
 "Neutral Ground" who were tories, 
 had joined tneir friends in New York; 
 while the whigs had ratired into the 
 intarior of the country. Some of 
 
 each side had taken up arms, and 
 were now the most cruel and deadly 
 foes. Within the Britsh line, were 
 hordes of banditti, consisting of law 
 less villains, who devoted themselves 
 to the most rapacious pillage and 
 robbery among the defenceless in 
 habitants between the lines, many of 
 whom were dragged off to New York, 
 after witnessing the plunder of their 
 houses and farms. These shameless 
 marauders were known by the name 
 of cow-boys and refugees; who, by 
 their atrocious deeds, had become a 
 scourge and terror to the people. 
 
 In the vicinity of the American 
 lines, was another class of robbers, 
 equally unprincipled, but still more 
 criminal, because they committed 
 their depredations under the mask of 
 patriotism. These were called sA - m- 
 ners, and professed to be whigs; 
 while tbecoiv-boys claimed the title of 
 loyalists. The lust of plunder alone 
 I was the governing impulse of each. 
 
 Numerous instances occurred of 
 these miscreants subjecting defence 
 less persons to cruel tortures, to com 
 pel them to deliver up their money, 
 or to disclose the places where it had 
 been secreted. It was not uncommon 
 ! for them to hang a man by the neck 
 j till apparently lifeless;* then re- 
 i store him; repeat the experiment, 
 j and leave him for dead. 
 
 While Crosby was on duty in the 
 j vicinity of Teller's Point, where the 
 I waters of the Croton empty into 
 ; Tappan Bay, a British sloop of war 
 i came up the river and anchored in 
 I the stream, opposite the Point. With 
 
 * In Cooper's description of the preparations 
 for hanging a Skinner, by a leader of the Refu 
 gees, he says, the Skinner "had so often resorted 
 to a similar expedient to extort information or 
 plunder, that he by no means felt the terror an 
 unpractised nab would have suffered, at these 
 omiuious movements." Sec Spy, Vol. ii' p. 254. 
 
84 
 
 THK SPY UNMASKED"; OR, 
 
 an unconquerable predilection for 
 stratagem, our hero immediately con 
 certed a plot, for the sole purpose, as 
 he says, of affording "a little sport 
 for his soldiers." He accordingly, 
 proceeded down to the Point, accom 
 panied by six men; live of whom, 
 besides himself, 2oncealed themselves 
 in the woods, which grew a short dis 
 tance from the shore, while the other 
 paraded the beach, so as to display 
 La Fayette's uniform in so conspicu 
 ous a manner as to attract the notice 
 of the officer on board the vessel. 
 
 The enemy swallowed the bait; and 
 a boat soon put off from the sloop of 
 war, manned with eleven men, under 
 the command of a lieutenant, to make 
 a prisoner of this one yankee, who 
 precipitately fled into the woods, as 
 the barge approached the shore. The 
 Englishmen -followed, threatening to 
 shoot the fugitive unless he stopped 
 and surrendered. 
 
 As soon as the pursuers had passed 
 his own little party, which were scat 
 tered in various directions, Crosby 
 exclaimed 
 
 "Come on, my boys! Now we have 
 them !" 
 
 At this signal every man sprang 
 up in his place, with a shout that 
 made the welkin ring; making, at the 
 same time, such a rustling in the 
 bashes, that the British, thinking 
 themselves surrounded by a superior 
 force, surrendered without resistance. 
 On the next day they were marched 
 ta Fishkill, and confined in the old 
 Dutch church. 
 
 Van Courtlandt's detachment was 
 small; but by a well-nrmaged finesse. 
 he often succeeded in deceiving the 
 enemy, as to its real numbers. Ho 
 would occasionally approach the 
 British lines; and, posting his men 
 
 in scattered positions, among the 
 hills, cause each squad to boat to 
 arms successively. Theywould then 
 show themselves to the British, and 
 manoeuvre in such a manner as to 
 appear like reinforcements coning 
 down Ho join the main body. This 
 ruse cle guerre often deterred the en 
 emy from pursuing his predatory ex 
 cursions against tha defonceless in 
 habitants of the "Neutral Ground." 
 
 Van Cortlandt's detachment, how 
 ever, was at length ordered to West 
 Point, and from thence to the main 
 army at Tappan, in New Jersey; 
 where Crosby remained until his 
 stipulated term of service had ex 
 pired. In the meantime, the follow 
 ing incident occurred, for the authen 
 ticity of which we have the testimony 
 of Van Cortlandt himself; although 
 the particulars, it is believed, have 
 never before been published : 
 
 A young man, of Peekskill, by the 
 name of John Paulding, while serv 
 ing his country in the Westchester 
 militia, was taken prisoner, and sent 
 to New York city. Whether he was 
 confined in a sugar-house, or thepro- 
 vost,\ as it was then called, we have 
 not been informed; nor do we know 
 the length of time he remained a 
 captive. It was in the summer of 
 1780, however; about the period that 
 a celebrated satirical poem was pub 
 lished in New York, entitled the 
 "Cow-Chase,"! frrm the pen of John 
 Andre, adjutant-general in the Bri 
 tish army. 
 
 t The present debtor's jail. 
 J This hitter satire, the reader will doubtless 
 recollect, was directed against the American 
 Brijpidier-CTenerai Wayne, the hero of Stony 
 Point: whom the poet accuses of stealing cattle 
 for the use of the American army. The poem 
 concludes with the following prophetic stanza: 
 "And now I close my epic strain, 
 
 I tremble as I show it, 
 Lest this same warrior-drover Wayne 
 Should ever catch the poet." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 85 
 
 Though vigilantly watched, Paul- 
 ding was allowed the liberty of his 
 prison-yard, a capacious enclosure, 
 surrounded by a strong high fence. 
 By bribing a colored woman, who 
 lived in the vicinity, to furnish him 
 with a ladder, he one night effected 
 his escape from the yard; and, after 
 remaining concealed some time in 
 her cellar, succeeded in reaching the 
 North River, undiscovered. Here he 
 found a boat, and finally landed in 
 safety, on the Jersey shore, near Ho 
 boken. He then made the best of 
 his way to the American army at 
 Tappan, where he related his adven 
 ture to his fellow townsmen, Colonel 
 Van Cortlandt, whose assistance he 
 solicited, in proceeding to Peekskill. 
 Van Cortlandt, accordingly, supplied 
 him with money, furnished him with 
 a pass, and procured him a passage 
 across the river. 
 
 After landing on the eastern side 
 of the Hudson, Paulding directed 
 bis course homeward: but had not 
 proceeded far, when he met two of 
 his farmer companions in arms, Da 
 vid Williams and Isaac Van Wart; 
 who hailed his return with joy, and 
 heartily congratulated him on his 
 fortunate escape. After some con 
 versation, they prevailed upon Paul- 
 ding to relinquish, his intention of 
 going directly to Peekskill, and to 
 accompany them on an excursion 
 down the "Neutral Grounds" towards 
 the British lines, where they were 
 going, they said, "to have some fun 
 with the cow-boys." Young and en 
 terprising, Pauldkig readily acceded 
 to the proposal; and, after providing 
 himself with a rmisket, and other 
 requisites, he accompanied his reck 
 less associates to Tarrytown, where 
 they achieved an adventure that im 
 
 mortalized their names, and saved 
 their country from inevitable ruin. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE SPY AND THE TRAITOR. 
 
 Is there not some chosen curse, 
 
 Some hidden thunder in the stores of heaven, 
 Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the man 
 Who owes his greatness to his country's ruin! 
 
 ADDISON. 
 
 About the middle of September, 
 the commander-in-chief, attended by 
 Generals LaFayette and Knox, with 
 a splendid retinue, left the American 
 camp in New Jersey, and proceeded 
 to Hartford, in Connecticut, for the 
 purpose of holding a conference with 
 the commanding officers of the French 
 fleet and army, which had lately ar 
 rived at Rhode Island. In the mean 
 time, the command of the American 
 army devolved on Major-General 
 Greene, whose head -quarters were at 
 Tappan, where the corps to which 
 Crosby was attached, was now sta 
 tioned. 
 
 A week had elapsed since the de 
 parture of Washington, and no inci 
 dent of importance had occurred. 
 Greene had learned, through the 
 medium of his spies, that some secret 
 expedition was on foot, at the city of 
 New York; but of its nature and di 
 rection, he could not obtain the 
 smallest hint. On the ninth day, 
 however, at three o'clock in the morn 
 ing, an alarm was spread through the 
 American camp; and, in a few 
 minutes, all were under arms. A de 
 tachment, consisting of two regi 
 ments, was immediately ordered to 
 march to West Point, with all pos 
 sible expedition; and the rest of the 
 troops were directed to hold them 
 selves in readiness to march at a 
 moment's warning. 
 
 While every one was pondering in 
 
86 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 his own mind the probable object of 
 this sudden movement, and vainly en 
 deavoring to conjecture the cause, a 
 general order was promulgated,which 
 soon explained it to the whole army, 
 filling every breast with astonishment 
 and indignation. The following com 
 munication, in the orders of General 
 Greene, was read by the Adjutants to 
 their respective regiments: 
 
 "Treason, of the blackest dye, was 
 yesterday discovered. General Ar- 1 
 nold, who commanded at West Point, ; 
 lost to every sentiment of honor, of i 
 private and public obligation, was i 
 about to deliver up that important ! 
 post into the hands of the enemy. 
 Such an event must have given the 
 American cause a dangerous, if not a 
 fatal, wound. Happily the treason 
 has been timely discovered, to pre 
 vent the fatal misfortune. The 
 providential train of circumstances, 
 which led to it, affords the most con 
 vincing proofs that the liberties of 
 America are the object of Divine pro 
 tection. At the same time that the 
 treason is to be regretted, the Gen 
 eral cannot help congratulating the 
 army on the happy discovery. Our 
 enemies, despairing of carrying their 
 point by force, are practicing every 
 base art to effect, by bribery and cor 
 ruption, what they cannot accomplish 
 in a manly way. 
 
 "Great honor is due to the Ameri 
 can army, that this is the first in 
 stance of treason of the kind, where ' 
 many were to be expected from the j 
 nature of our dispute. The brightest 
 ornament in the character of the 
 American soldier is, their having 
 been proof against all the arts and se 
 ductions of an insidious enemy. 
 
 "Arnold has made his escape to the 
 enemy; but Major Andre, the Adju 
 
 tant-General of the British army, who 
 came out, as a spy, to negociate the 
 business, is our prisoner." 
 
 The particulars of Andre's arrest 
 and trial are familiar to every reader.* 
 Lieutenant- Colonel Jameson was 
 then the commanding officer on the 
 American lines, above the neutral 
 ground; and to him was Andre con 
 ducted by his incorruptible captors, 
 Paulding, Van Wart, and Williams; 
 whom, in our last chapter, we left on 
 their way to Tarrytown. The pris 
 oner immediately requested Jameson 
 to inform Arnold, by letter, that 
 John Anderson was taken on his 
 way to New York, with which 
 request the Lieutenant Colonel 
 immediately complied. Arnold re- 
 ceiv3d the letter about ten o'clock 
 in the morning, while at break 
 fast. Two of Washington's aids. 
 Major Shaw and Dr. M'Henry, had 
 just arrived, and were at breakfast at 
 Arnold's table. His confusion was 
 visible, but no one could divine the 
 cause. 
 
 Struck with the pressing danger of 
 his situation, momentarily expecting 
 Washington's return from Hartford, 
 the traitor called instant'ly for a 
 horse. 
 
 "A horse!" exclaimed he, as he 
 started from the table. "Any one 
 even if a wagon horse!" 
 
 He then bade a hasty adieu to his 
 wife,and enjoining a positive order on 
 the messenger not to inform any one 
 that he was the bearer of a letter 
 from Colonel Jameson, he repaired to 
 his barge, and ordered the coxswain, 
 with eight oarsmen, to proceed down 
 the river, to the sloop-of-war Vulture, 
 which he reached in safety, under the 
 
 * Si': 1 Apld'iu'.ix, No. XVIII. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 87 
 
 protection of a flag, and which im- j 
 mediately set sail for New York. 
 
 Washington arrived at Arnold's j 
 quarters in two hours after the traitor 
 had escaped. Not finding Arnold at 
 home, and being informed that he | 
 had gone to West Point, Washington j 
 passed over the river to view the 
 works at that post; but not finding | 
 Arnold, he returned, in the hope of j 
 meeting him at his quarters. But 
 here he was again disappointed, for 
 no person could account for his 
 absence. 
 
 Mrs. Arnold was. now in her 
 chamber, in great agitation and dis 
 tress, deprived of her reason, and Dr. 
 Eustis in attendance. At a lucid in 
 terval, she requested to see Washing 
 ton; but by the time he reached the 
 chamber, her distraction returned, 
 and she knew him not. He then 
 withdrew, and, repairing to the 
 dining-room, sat down to dinner, but 
 soon arose again with apparent agita 
 tion. He then took Colonel Lamb 
 aside, and expressed to him his sus 
 picion that Arnoli had deserted to 
 the enemy. In less than two hours it 
 was ascertained that the conjecture 
 was too well founded; for a despatch 
 arrived from Colonel Jameson, with 
 an ac3ount of the capture of Andre, 
 accompanied by his own letter of 
 confession. The prisoner was con 
 ducted to West Point, and from 
 thence to headquarters at Tappan, 
 where preparations were made for his 
 trial by a court-martial. 
 
 Washington immediately pro 
 ceeded to the camp, at Tappan; and, 
 the momant he arrived, sent for 
 Major L-38, who was posted, with the 
 Virginia light-horse, soma distance in 
 front. "This officer repaired to haad- 
 quirtars with celerity, and found the 
 
 General in his marquee alone, busily 
 engaged in writing. So soon as Lee 
 entered, he was requested to take a 
 seat, and a bundle of papers, lying on 
 the table, was given him for perusal. 
 
 "In these papers, much information 
 was detailed, tending to prove that 
 Arnold was not alone in the base 
 conspiracy just detected; but that 
 the poison had spread; and that a 
 Major-General, whose name was not 
 concealed, was certainly as giiilty as 
 Arnold himself. 
 
 "This information had just been re 
 ceived by Washington, through his 
 confidential agents in New York; 
 and Lee immediately suggested the 
 probability that the whole was a con- 
 i trivance of Sir Henry Clinton, in 
 1 order to destroy that confidence be 
 tween the commander and his officers, 
 on which the success of military 
 i operations depend. 
 
 "The suggestion,' replied Wash 
 ington, 'is plausible, and deserves due 
 consideration. It early occurred to 
 my own mind, and has not been 
 slightly regarded. But the same 
 suggestion applies to no officer more 
 forcibly than a few days ago it would 
 have done to General Arnold, now 
 known to be a traitor. . 
 
 " 'I have sent for you, sir, in the ex 
 pectation that you have in your corps 
 individuals capable and willing to un 
 dertake an indispensable, delicate, 
 and hazardous project. Whoever 
 comes forward on this occasion, will 
 lay me under great obligations per 
 sonally; and, in behalf of the United 
 States, I will reward him amply. No 
 time is to be lost; he must proceed, if 
 possible, this night. My object is to 
 probe to the bottom the afflicting in 
 telligence contained in the papers 
 you have just read, to seize Arnold, 
 
88 
 
 THE spy UNMASKED; OR, 
 
 .and, by getting him, to save Andre, place from a quarter unforeseen and 
 They aro all connected. While my unexpected. Andre disdained de- 
 emissary is engaged in preparing { fence, and prevented the examination 
 means for the seizure of Arnold, the j of witnesses, by confessing the char- 
 guilt of others can be traced ; and the ' acter in which ho stood. He was 
 
 timely delivery of Arnold to me, will 
 possibly put it into my power to res 
 tore the amiable and unfortunate 
 Andre to his friends.' " * 
 
 Lee readily undertook t:> find a 
 member of his corps capable of exe- 
 
 consequently declared to be a spy, 
 and condemned to suffer accordingly. 
 Washington approved the sentence, 
 and ordered his execution to take 
 place on the first day of October, at 
 five o'clock in the afternoon. In this 
 
 cuting this hazardous service, but I decision he was warranted by the very 
 doubted whether be would consent to | unpromising intelligence cjntained 
 engage in an enterprise, the first step j in another letter from Champe, which 
 to which was desertion. The person ' he had just received; by the still ex- 
 he selected was the Sergeant -Major i isting implication of other officers in 
 of the corps, Champe by name, and a ! Arnold's conspiracy; by a due regard 
 Virginian by birth; who, after much j to public opinion; and by real ten - 
 persuasion, consented to undertake it. i derness to the prisoner himself. 
 He that night deserted to the enemy ; I Neither Congress nor the nation 
 and, though closely pursued, reached ' could have been, with propriety, in 
 Pawles' Hook in safety, and was j formed of the cause of the delay, had 
 taken on board a British galley, any been interposed; and without 
 which conveyed him to New York, such information, it must have ex- 
 where he was closely examined by cited in both, alarm and suspicion. 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton, who gave him a 
 letter of introduction to Arnold, who 
 
 The secret was known to none bat 
 Washington, Lee, Champe, and a con- 
 
 immediately appointed him one of | fidential agent in New York. Andre 
 his recruiting sergeants. himself could not have been in- 
 
 lu the meantime, the interposition j strusted with it; and would, conse- 
 of Sir Henry Clinton, who was ex- j quently, have attributed the un- 
 tremely anxious to save his much- 1 looked-for event to the expostulation 
 loved aid-de-camp, still continued; j and exertion of Sir Henry Clinton, 
 and it was expected that the exami- j which would not fail to produce in 
 nation of witnesses, and the defence ! his breast expectations of ultimate 
 of the prisoner, would protract the de- j relief; to excite which would have 
 cision of the court of inquiry, which j been cruel, as the realization of such 
 assembled on the twenty-ninth of the i expectation depended only on a pos- 
 month, and give sufficient time for j sible, but improbable, contingency. 
 
 the consummation of the project 
 
 the first day of October, at the 
 
 committed to Champe, from whom hour appointed, a large concourse of 
 information had just been received people assembled to witness the exe- 
 
 that gave some hopes of his success. 
 But a complete disappointment took 
 
 See the Memoirs of Major Henry Lee. 
 
 cution of the gallant and unfortunate 
 young officer. The gallows was 
 erected, and the grave and coffin pre 
 pared; but a flag of truce arrived 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 89 
 
 with a communication from Sir Henry 
 Clinton, making another and further 
 proposals for the release of Major 
 Andre; in consequence of which the 
 execution was postponed until twelve 
 o'clock on the following day. 
 
 This flag was accompanied by the 
 British General Robertson, with An 
 drew Elliott and William Smith, 
 Esquires, for the purpose of pleading 
 for the release of Major Andre, the 
 royal army being in the greatest 
 affliction on the occasion. 
 
 Elliot and Smith, not being mili 
 tary officers, were not permitted to 
 land; but General Greene was ap 
 pointed, by the commander-in-chief, 
 to meet Robertson, at Dobb's ferry, 
 and to receive his communications. 
 He had, however, nothing material to 
 urge, but that Andre had come on 
 shore under the sanction of a flag, 
 and therefore could not be considered . 
 as a spy. But this plea was contra 
 dicted by Andre's cwn confession. 
 
 "Having failed in this point, Rob 
 ertson requested that the opinion of 
 disinterested persons might betaken; 
 and pioposed Generals Knyphausen 
 and Rochambeau, as proper persons. 
 This proposition could not be ac 
 ceded to, 
 
 "Robertson then had recourse to 
 threats of retaliation, on some people 
 in New York and Charleston; but he 
 was told that such conversation could 
 not be heard nor understood. 
 
 "He next urged the release of 
 Andre on motives of humanity, say 
 ing he wished an intercourse of such 
 civilities as might lessen the horrors 
 of war, and cited instances of Sir 
 Henry Clinton's merciful disposition; 
 adding that Andre possessed* a great 
 share of that .gentleman's affection 
 and esteem, and that he would be in- 
 
 finitelj obliged if he was spared. He 
 offered, that if his earnest wishes 
 were complied with, to engage that 
 any prisoner in their possession, 
 whom Washington might name, 
 should be immediately set at lib 
 erty."* 
 
 But all intercession was fruitless; 
 and least of all availed a letter to 
 Washington, of which Robertson was 
 the bearer, from the traitor Arnold, 
 tilled with threats of retaliation, and 
 the accountability of Washington for 
 the torrents of blood that might be 
 spilt, if he should order the execution 
 of Andre! It is difficult to say which 
 created the most astonishment in the 
 breast of Greene that Arnold should 
 have the consummate effrontery to 
 write such a letter; or that Robert 
 son should consent to be the bearer 
 of it. 
 
 Nothing, of course, was effected by 
 this interview, and the messengers 
 returned in despondency to New 
 York. Andre, in the meantime, dur 
 ing his confinement, trial, and con 
 demnation, evinced a composure and 
 dignity of mind, that enlisted the 
 sympathies of all in his favor. Not 
 a murmur escaped him ; while the 
 civilities and attentions bestowed on 
 him, were gratefully and politely ac 
 knowledged. Having left a mother 
 and two sisters in England, he was 
 heard to mention them in terms of 
 the tenderest affection ; and in his 
 letter to Sir Henry Clinton, he recom 
 mended them to his particular at 
 tention. 
 
 Crosby assures us that, though 
 every one acknowledged the policy of 
 the sentence, there was scarcely on 
 that spoke of his approaching fate 
 
 * See Thacher's Journal, p. 271. 
 
90 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR. 
 
 without evincing the deepest emo 
 tions of sympathy. The principal j 
 guard officer, who was constantly 
 in the room with Andre, informed 
 Crosby that when the fatal hour ar 
 rived, and the prisoner was sum 
 moned to attend, he heard and com 
 plied without any visible emotion; 
 and while all present were more or 
 less affected, he retained a serene 
 countenance, with calmness and com 
 posure of mind. 
 
 The prisoner walked from the stone 
 house in which he had been confined, 
 between two subaltern officers, arm 
 in arm. A large detachment of 
 troops was paraded, and an immense 
 concourse of people assembled, to 
 witness the awful ceremony. As the 
 situation of Crosby, in the procession, 
 was not so convenient for observa 
 tion, we will give the remaining par 
 ticulars in the language of Dr. 
 Thacher, to. whose excellent journal i 
 we have already acknowledged our- j 
 selves largely indebted. 
 
 "During the solemn march to the j 
 fatal spot," says the Doctor, "I was j 
 so near as to observe every move- j 
 ment, and participate in every emo 
 tion, which the melancholy scene was 
 calculated to produce. The eyes of 
 the immense multitude were fixed on 
 the prisoner; who, rising superior to 
 the fears of death, appeared as if j 
 conscious of the dignified deportment 
 which he displayed. He betrayed no 
 want of fortitude, but retained a 
 complacent smile on his countenance, 
 and politely bowed to several gentle 
 men whom he knew, which was re 
 spectfully returned. 
 
 "It was his earnest desire to be 
 shot, as being the mode of death 
 most comformable to the feelings of a 
 military man, and he had indulged 
 
 the hope that his request would be 
 granted. At that moment, therefore, 
 when suddenly he came in view of 
 the gallows, he involuntarily started 
 backward, and made a pause. 'Why 
 this emotion, sir?' said an officer at 
 his side. Instantly recovering his 
 composure, be said 'I am reconciled 
 to my death, but I detest the mode.' 
 
 "While waiting, and standing near 
 the gallows," continues Dr. Thacher, 
 ''I observed some degree of trepida 
 tion; placing his foot on a stone, and 
 rolling it over, and choking in his 
 throat, as if attempting to swallow. 
 So soon, however, as he perceived that 
 things were in readiness, he stepped 
 quickly into the wagon; and, at this 
 moment, he appeared to shrink: but, 
 instantly elevating his head with firm 
 ness, he said, ; It will be but a momen 
 tary pang;' and taking from his 
 pocket two white handkerchiefs, the 
 provost marshall, with one, loosely 
 pinioned his arms; and, with the 
 other, the victim, after taking off his 
 hat and stock, bandaged his own 
 eyes, with perfect firmness, which 
 melted the hearts and moistened the 
 cheeks, not only of his servant, but of 
 the throng of spectators. 
 
 'The rope being appended to the 
 gallows, he slipped the noose over his 
 own head, and adjusted it to his neck, 
 without the assistance of the awk 
 ward executioner. Colonel Scammel 
 now informed him that he had an op 
 portunity to speak, if he desired it. 
 He raised the handkerchief from his 
 eyes, and said 'I pray you to bear 
 me witness that I meet my fate liken 
 brave man.' The wagon being now 
 removed from under him, he was 
 suspended, and instantly expired. It 
 proved, indeed, 'but a momentary 
 pang.' 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSB1. 
 
 "He was dressed in his royal regi 
 mentals and boots; and his remains, 
 in the same dress, were placed in an 
 ordinary coffin, and interred at the 
 foot of the gallows; and the spot was 
 consecrated by the tears of thou 
 sands."* 
 
 The enterprise of Chainpe was well 
 concerted, and would probably have 
 succeeded but for an unforeseen ac 
 cident. On the day preceding the 
 night fixed upon for the execution of 
 the plot, Arnold removed his quarters 
 to another part of the town; and 
 Chain pe, with all Arnold's new re 
 cruits, were transferred from their 
 barracks to one of the transports. 
 He was thus compelled to proceed 
 with Arnold to Virginia, where he 
 made his escape, and rejoined the 
 American Ariny soon after it had 
 passed the Congaree, in pursuit of 
 Lord Kawdon. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Now are our brows bound with victorious 
 
 wreaths, 
 
 Our bruised arms hung up for monuments: 
 Our stern alarms changed to merry meetings, 
 Our dreadful marches, to delightful measures; 
 (iriui-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled 
 
 Iront. SHAKEJsl'KAKK. 
 
 A few weeks after tbe foregoing 
 events, intelligence was received of a 
 very brilliant exploit of the militia in 
 North Carolina, under Colonels 
 Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, and 
 Sevier; who, with about three thou 
 sand volunteers, attacked and de 
 feated Major Ferguson, at the head 
 of a large force of refugees and tories. 
 Ferguson, with one hundred and 
 lifty of his men, were killed, and 
 eight hundred and ten taken pris 
 oners, of whom one hundred and fifty 
 were wounded. They also took fifteen 
 
 * Tn the autumn of 1821, the remains of Major 
 Andre were disinterred, and transported to 
 England. 
 
 hundred stand of arms. Of the 
 Americans, Colonel Williams was 
 mortally wounded; about twenty 
 killed, and a number disabled. Ten 
 of the prisoners were immediately 
 hung as traitors. This is called the 
 Battle of King's Mountain. 
 
 But few incidents occurred in the 
 
 vicinity of New York, during the en- 
 
 suing winter and spring. In July 
 
 ; following, the French and American 
 
 ! armies formed a junction at White 
 
 Plains, from whence they proceeded 
 
 j to New Jersey. After some ingenious 
 
 maneuvering to deceive the British 
 
 with respect to his real designs, 
 
 Washington suddenly marched to the 
 
 south, with the combined armies, 
 
 i leaving Sir Henry Clinton under the 
 
 apprehension of an immediate attack 
 
 on the city of New York. 
 
 The result of this southern expe- 
 lition is well known. Cornwallis 
 surrended his army at Yorktown, and 
 the ministry of England gave up the 
 contest in despair. Our independence 
 was acknowledged, peace restored, 
 and the smiles of joy scattered over 
 the long afflicted country. 
 
 Crosby remained, with the division 
 of the army which was left under the 
 command of Heath, for the defence of 
 the posts in the Highlands, until the 
 period of his engagement had ex 
 pired. He then retired to Southeast, 
 where his father died shortly after 
 wards; and there he has since re 
 sided up to the present day. 
 
 He cultivates a small farm, the 
 product of his own industry, since 
 the peace of 1783; having receivsd, 
 for all his revolutionary services, 
 only the trifling pittance of two hun 
 dred and fifty dollars.f He has had 
 
 + "Never!" said JMrch. speaking out; "was it 
 for money I did all this." Spy. Vol. ii. p. 274. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED. 
 
 two wives, the last of whnh was the 
 widow of Colonel Greene; and he is 
 the father of four children, two sons 
 and two daughters, who are grown 
 up, and settled in the county of 
 Westchester. For twenty-eight years 
 he was justice of the peace in the 
 town of Southeast; and for the last 
 fourteen years he has held the office 
 of deacon in the Presbyterian church. 
 He has likewise held that of deputy- 
 sheriff for the county. He is uni- 
 
 \ versally respected by his neighbors, 
 < acquaintance, and fellow-citizens 
 generally; and now enjoys a "green 
 I old age," which, we trust, will be 
 | succeeded by a happy immortality; 
 i for Enoch Crosby was, "for years, a 
 faithful and unrequited servant of 
 his country. Though man does not, 
 may God reward him for his con 
 duct."* 
 
 * See the concluding paragraph of the "Spy." 
 
OLD TRINITY CHURCH, FI3HKILL. 
 [See Page 143.] 
 
APPENDIX, 
 
 NOTE I. PAGE 21. 
 
 DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA IN BOSTON HAR 
 BOR. 
 
 The Americans, determined to op 
 pose the revenue system of the Eng 
 lish parliament, in every possible 
 shape, considered the attempt of the 
 East India Company, to evade the 
 resolutions of the colonies, and dis 
 pose of teas in America, as an indi 
 rect mode of taxation, sanctioned by 
 the authority of parliament. Several 
 public meetings were held on the 
 subject, particularly in the town of 
 Boston. At one of these meetings, 
 while the assembled multitude were 
 in quiet consultation, on the safest 
 mode to prevent the sale and con 
 sumption of an herb, noxious at least 
 to the political constitution, the de 
 bates were interrupted by the en 
 trance of the Sheriff,- with an order 
 from the governor, styling them an 
 illegal assembly, and directing their 
 immediate dispersion. 
 
 This authoritative mandate was 
 treated with great contempt, and the 
 Sheriff instantly hissed out of the 
 house. A confused murmur ensued, 
 both within arid without the walls; 
 but in a few moments all was again 
 quiet, and the meeting adjourned 
 without delay. 
 
 . Within an hour after this was 
 known abroad, there appeared a great 
 number of persons, clad like the 
 aborigines of the wilderness, with 
 tomahawks in their hands, and clubs 
 
 on their shoulders, who, without the 
 least molestation, marched through 
 the streets with silent solemnity, and 
 amidst innumerable spectators, pro 
 ceeded to the wharves, boarded the 
 ships, demanded the keys, and with 
 out much deliberation knocked open 
 the chests, and emptied several thou 
 sand weight of the finest teas into 
 the ocean. No opposition was made, 
 though surrounded by the king's 
 ships; all was silence and dismay. 
 
 This done, the procession returned 
 through the town in the same order 
 and solemity as observed in the out 
 set of their attempt. No other dis 
 order took place, and it was observed 
 the stillest night ensued that Boston 
 had enjoyed for several months. 
 
 The number of persons disguised 
 as Indians is variously stated none 
 put it lower than 60, none higher 
 than 80. The destruction was effected 
 by the disguised persons, and some 
 young men who volunteered; one of 
 the latter collected the tea which fell 
 into the shoes of himself and com 
 panions, and put it into a phial, and 
 sealed it up; which phial is now in 
 his possession, containing the same 
 tea. The contrivers of this measure, 
 and those who carried it into effect, 
 will never be known; some few per 
 sons have been mentioned as being 
 among the disguised; but there are 
 many and obvious reasons why se- 
 cresy then, and concealment since, 
 were necessary. None of those per- 
 
94 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sons who were confidently said to 
 have been of the party, (except some 
 who were then minors or very young 
 men,) have ever admitted that they 
 were so. Mr. Samuel Adams is 
 thought to have been in the counsel 
 ling of this exploit, and many other 
 men who were leaders in the political 
 affairs of the times; and the hall of 
 council is said to have been in the 
 back room of Edes and Gill's print 
 ing office, at the corner of the alley ; 
 leading to Brattle-street from Court- ! 
 street. There are very few alive now, i 
 who helped to empty the chests of ; 
 tea, and these few will probably be as j 
 prudent as those who have gone be 
 fore them." 
 
 No. II. PAGE 23. 
 
 FEMALE PATRIOTISM. 
 
 The following anecdote, which is 
 too well authenticated to be disputed, 
 furnishes one instance, among thou 
 sands, of that heroic spirit and love 
 of liberty which characterized the 
 American females during the struggle 
 for independence. 
 
 "A good lady we knew her when 
 she had grown old in 1775, lived on 
 the sea-board, about a day's march 
 from Boston, where the British army 
 then was. By some unaccountable 
 accident, a rumor was spread, in town 
 and country, in and about there, that 
 the regulars were on a full march for 
 that place, and would probably ar 
 rive in three hours at farthest. This 
 was after the battle of Lexington, 
 and all, as might be well supposed, 
 was in sad confusion some were 
 boiling with rage and full of fight, 
 some with fear and confusion, some 
 hiding their treasures, and others 
 flying for life. In this wild moment, 
 
 when most people, in some way or 
 other, were frightened from their 
 property, our heroine, who had two 
 sons, one about nineteen years of 
 age, the other about sixteen, was seen 
 by our informant, preparing them to 
 discharge their duty. The eldest she 
 was able to equip in fine style she 
 took her husband's fowling-piece, 
 'made for duck or plover,' (the good 
 man being absent on a coasting voy 
 age to Virginia,) and with it the pow 
 der horn and shot-bag; but the lad 
 thinking the duck and goose shot not 
 quite the size to kill regulars, his 
 mother took a chisel, cut up her 
 pewter spoons, and hammered them 
 into slugs, and put them into his 
 bag, and he set off in great earnest 
 but thought he would call one 
 moment and see the parson, who 
 said, 'Well done, my brave boy God 
 preserve you' and on he went in the 
 way of his duty. The youngest was 
 importunate for his equipments, but 
 his mother could find nothing to 
 arm him with but an old rusty 
 sword; the boy seemed rather un 
 willing to risk himself with this 
 alone, but lingered in the street, in a 
 state of hesitation, when his mother 
 thus upbraided him. 'You John 
 H*****, what will your father say, if 
 he hears that a child of his is afraid 
 to meet the British 1 ? go along; beg 
 or borrow a gun, or you will find one, 
 child -some coward, I dare say, will 
 be running away, then take his gun 
 and march forward, and if you come 
 back, ard I hear you have not be 
 haved like a man. I shall carry the 
 blush of shame on my face to the 
 grave.' She then shut the door, 
 wiped the tear from her eye, and 
 waited the issue; the boy joined the 
 march. Such a woman could not 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 95 
 
 have cowards for her sons. Instances 
 of refined and delicate pride and af 
 fection occurred, at that period, every 
 day, in different places; and in fact 
 this disposition and feeling was then 
 so common, that it now operates as 
 one great cause of our not having 
 more facts of this kind recorded. 
 What few there are remembered 
 should not be lost. Nothing great or 
 glorious was ever achieved which 
 women did not act in, advise, or con 
 sent to." 
 
 No. III. PAGE 23. 
 
 BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL. 
 
 The heights of Charlestown were so 
 situated as to make the possession of 
 thtm a matter of great consequence, 
 to either of the contending parties. 
 Orders were therefore issued, June 
 16th, by the provincial commanders, 
 that a detachment of a thousand men 
 should intrench upou Breed's Hill.* 
 Here the Americans, between mid 
 night and morning, with uncommon 
 expedition and silence, threw up a 
 a small redoubt, which the British did 
 not discover till the morning of the 
 17th, when they began an incessant 
 firing, and continued it till afternoon. 
 With the intrepidity of veteran 
 soldiers, the Americans bore this fire, 
 aud proceeded to finish their redoubt 
 and to throw up a breastwork, ex 
 tending eastward of it to the bottom 
 of the hill. About noon, General 
 Gage detached Major-General Howe, 
 and Brigadier -General Pigot, with 
 the flower of his army, in two de 
 tachments, amounting in the whole 
 to nearly 3,000 men. They landed at 
 a point about 150 or 200 rods south - 
 
 * Historians, through mistake, have called the 
 hill where the battle was fought, 'Hunker Hill 
 which is a quarter of a mile, north of Breed's, or 
 Itussell 3 Hill, where the battle was foujjht 
 
 east of the redoubt, and deliberately 
 prepared for the attack. While the 
 troops, who first landed, were waiting 
 for a reinforcement, the Americans 
 on the left wing towards Mystic 
 Kiver, for their security, pulled up 
 some adjoining post and rail fence, 
 and set it down in two parallel lines 
 near each other, and filled the space 
 between with hfty, which the day be 
 fore was mowed and remained in the 
 adjacent field. The British troops, in 
 the meantime, formed in two lines, 
 and about 3 o clock advanced slowly 
 towards the Americans. The hills 
 and steeples in Boston, and the cir 
 cumjacent country, were crowded 
 with anxious spectators of the du 
 bious conflict. While some felt for 
 the honor of the British troops, mul 
 titudes, with a keener sensibility, 
 felt for the liberties of a great and 
 ! growing country. The attack com- 
 | menced on the part of the British 
 ' troops. The Americans had the pre 
 caution, in obedience to the orders of 
 their commanding officer, to reserve 
 their fire till their enemies had ap 
 proached within 10 or 12 rods of 
 their works. They then began a 
 well-directed and furious discharge 
 of small arms, which mowed down 
 their enemies in ranks, and occasioned 
 a disorderly and precipitate retreat 
 Their officers rallied them with dif 
 ficulty, and pushed them forward 
 with their swords, to a second attack. 
 They were in the same manner put to 
 flight a second time. With still 
 greater difficulty they were forced by 
 General Howe to a third attack. By 
 this time the powder of the Americans 
 began to fail, and their redoubt was 
 attacked on two sides. Under these 
 circumstances, a retreat was ordered ; 
 the left wing of the Americans, north- 
 
96 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 east of the redoubt, still continuing 
 their fire, ignorant of what had taken 
 place on the right, till the British 
 had nearly surrounded them. The 
 retreat was affected, with an incon 
 siderable loss, considering the greater 
 part of the distance they had to pass 
 was completely exposed to the inces 
 sant fire of the Glasgow man-of-war, 
 and two floattng batteries. In this 
 retreat Warren fell. 
 
 During the heat of this bloody 
 action, by order of General Gage, 
 Charlestown was set on fire, by a bat 
 tery on Cops Hill, in Boston, and a 
 party from the Somerset man-of-war, 
 lying in Charles River, and nearly 
 400 houses, including six public 
 buildings, were consumed, with their 
 furniture, &c.. valued by nineteen 
 men, under oath, at 156,900 specie; 
 and 2,000 persons reduced from 
 affluence and mediocrity, to the most 
 aggravated poverty and exile. 
 
 The number of Americans engaged 
 in this memorable action was only 
 1,500. There have been few battles 
 in modern wars in which, all cir 
 cumstances considered, there was a 
 greater slaughter of men than in this 
 short engagement. The loss of the 
 British, as acknowledged by General 
 Gage, amounted to 1,054 men. Nine 
 teen commissioned officers were killed, 
 and 70 wounded. The loss of the 
 Americans was 77 killed, 278 wounded 
 and missing. 
 
 The death of Major-General War 
 ren, who four days before had re 
 ceived his commission, and, who, 
 having no command assigned him, 
 fought this day as a volunteer, was 
 particularly and greatly lamented. 
 "To the purest patriotism, and the 
 most undaunted bravery, he added 
 the eloquence of an accomplished 
 
 orator, and the wisdom of an able 
 statesman." 
 
 No. IV. PAGE 28. 
 
 DORCHESTER HEIGHTS. 
 
 On the 22d of February, 1776, it 
 was evident that some great pre 
 parations were on foot, in the Ameri 
 can army, for some important event. 
 Orders were received, in the hospital 
 department, to prepare lint and 
 bandages, to the amount of two thou 
 sand, for fractured limbs and other 
 gun-shot wounds. On the second of 
 March, a very heavy discharge of 
 cannon and mortars commenced from 
 all the works at Cambridge and Rox- 
 bury, which continued at intervals for 
 two days. This, it seems, was merely 
 a finesse to draw the enemy's atten 
 tion to a wrong quarter. On the 
 fourth, the designs of \Vashkigton 
 were made known to the army. 
 
 "The object in view," says Dr. 
 Thacher, "is now generally under 
 stood to be the occupying and fortify 
 ing of the advantageous heights of 
 Dorchester. A detachment of our 
 troops is ordered to march for this 
 purpose this evening; and our regi 
 ment, with several others, has re 
 ceived orders to march at 4 o'clock 
 in the morning, to relieve them. 
 We are favored with a full bright 
 moon, and the night is remark 
 ably mild and pleasant; the pre 
 parations are immense; more than 
 three hundred loaded carts are in 
 motion. By the great exertions of 
 General Mifflin, our Quartermaster- 
 General, the requisite numbpr of 
 teams has been procured. The cover 
 ing party of eight hundred men ad 
 vance in front. Then follow the 
 carts with the intrenching tools: after 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 97 
 
 which, the working party of twelve 
 hundred, commanded by General 
 Thomas, of Kingston. Next in the 
 martial procession are a train of carts, 
 loaded with fascines and hay, screwed 
 into large bundles of seven or eight 
 hundred weight. The whole pro 
 cession moved on in solemn silence, 
 and with perfect order and regularity; 
 while the continued roar of cannon 
 serves to engage the attention and 
 divert the enemy from the main 
 object. 
 
 At about four o'clock our regiment 
 followed to the heights of Dorchester 
 as a relief party. On passing Dor 
 chester Neck I observed a vast num 
 ber of large bundles of screwed hay, 
 arranged in a line next the enemy, to 
 protect our troops from a raking fire, 
 to which we should have been greatly 
 exposed, while passing and repassing. 
 The carts were still in motion with 
 materials: some of them have made 
 three or four trips. On the heights 
 we found two forts in considerable 
 forwardness, and sufficient for a de 
 fence against small arms and grape 
 shot. The amount of labor per 
 formed during the night, considering 
 the earth is frozen eighteen inches 
 deep, is almost incredible. The 
 enemy having discovered our works 
 in the morning, commenced a tre 
 mendous cannonade from the forts in 
 Boston, and from their shipping in 
 the harbor. Cannon shot are con 
 tinually rolling and rebounding over 
 the hill; and it is astonishing to ob 
 serve how little our soldiers are ter 
 rified by them. During the forenoon 
 we were in momentary expectation of 
 witnessing an awful scene: nothing 
 less than the carnage of Breed's Hill 
 battle was expected. The royal 
 troops are perceived to be in motion, 
 
 as if embarking to pass the harbor, 
 and land on Dorchester shore, to at 
 tack our works. The hills and ele 
 vations in this vicinity are covered 
 with spectators to witness deeds of 
 horror in the expected conflict. His 
 Excellency General Washington is 
 present, animating and encouraging 
 the soldiers, and they in their turn 
 manifest their joy, and express a 
 warm desire for the approach of the 
 enemy; each man knows his place, 
 and is resolute to execute his duty. 
 Our breast-works are strengthened, 
 and among the means of de 
 fence are a great number of 
 barrels, filled with stones and 
 sand, arranged in front of our 
 works ; which are to be put in motion 
 and made to roll down the hill, to 
 break the ranks and legs of the 
 assailants as they advance. These 
 are the preparations for blood and 
 slaughter! Gracious God! if it be 
 determined in thy Providence that 
 thousands of our fellow creatures 
 shall this day be slain, let thy wrath 
 be aopeased, and in mercy grant, that 
 victory be on the side of our suffer 
 i ing, bleeding country. The anxious 
 day has closed, and the enemy has 
 ! failed to molest us. From appear- 
 i ances, however, there are strong rea- 
 i sons to suppose, that they have only 
 postponed their meditated work till 
 another day. It is presumed that the 
 martial fire, which has been enkindled 
 in the breasts of our soldiery, will 
 not be extinguished during the night, 
 and that they will not rest quietly un 
 der their disappointment. Early in 
 the morning of the 6th, our regiment 
 | was relieved from its tour of duty, 
 | and I bade adieu to Dorchester 
 ; heights, without being called to dress 
 i a single wound. Not more than two 
 
98 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 or three men were killed or wounded 
 during the twenty-four hours. Some 
 of the British troops were seen to 
 embark, and pass down towards the 
 castle last evening, to be in readiness, 
 it was supposed, in conjunction with 
 others, to attack our works this morn 
 ing; but a most violent storm came 
 on in the night, and still continuing, 
 obliges General Howe to abandon 
 his enterprise; and thus has a kind 
 Providence seen fit. to frustrate a de 
 sign, which must have been attended 
 with immense slaughter and blood 
 shed. General Howe must now be 
 sensible of his exposed situation, and 
 be convinced of the immediate ne 
 cessity of evacuating the town of 
 Boston, if he would prevent the sacri 
 fice of his fleet and army." 
 
 No. V. PAGE 31. 
 
 PATRIOTIC SACRIFICES. 
 
 "From whatever cause it proceeded, 
 it is certain, that a disposition to do, 
 to suffer, and to accommodate, spread 
 from breast to breast,and from colony 
 to colony, beyond the reach of human 
 calculation. It seemed as though 
 one mind inspired the wLole. The 
 merchants put far behind them the 
 gains of trade, and cheerfully sub 
 mitted to a total stoppage of business, 
 in obedience to the recommendation 
 of men, invested with no legislative 
 powers. The cultivators of the soil, 
 with great unanimity, assented to 
 the determination, that the hard- 
 earned produce of their farms should 
 remain unshipped, although in case 
 of a free exportation, many would 
 have been eager to have purchased it 
 from them, at advanced prices. The 
 sons and daughters of ease renounced 
 imported conveniences, and volun- 
 
 tarily engaged to eat, drink, and 
 wear, only such articles as their coun 
 try afforded. These sacrifices were 
 made, not from the pressure of pres 
 ent distress, but on the generous 
 | principle of sympathy, with an in- 
 I vaded sister colony, and the prudent 
 , policy of guarding against a preced- 
 i ent which might, in a future day, 
 ; operate against their liberties. 
 
 The season of universal distress ex 
 i hibited a striking proof how prac- 
 1 ticable it is for mankind to sacrifice 
 j ease, pleasure, and interest, when the 
 i mind is strongly excited by its pas- 
 I sions. In the midst of their suflVr- 
 I ings, cheerfulness appeared in the 
 face of all the people. They counted 
 every thing cheap in comparison 
 with liberty, and readily gave up 
 whatever tended to endanger it. A 
 noble strain of generosity and mutual 
 support was generally excited. A 
 great and powerful diffusion of pub 
 lic spirit took place. The animation 
 of the times raised the actors in these 
 scenes above themselves, and excited 
 them to deeds of self denial, which 
 the interestedjprudence of calmer sea 
 sons can scarcely credit." 
 
 No. VI. PAGE 38. 
 
 EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN HALE. 
 
 The particulars of this tragical 
 event, sanctioned by General Hull, 
 who was knowing to them at the 
 time, are thus related by Miss H. 
 Adams, in her History of New Eng 
 land. 
 
 "The retreat of General Washing 
 ton left the British in complete pos 
 session of Long Island. What would 
 be their future operations, remained 
 uncertain. To obtain information of 
 their situation, their strength, and 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 future movements, was of high im 
 portance. For this purpose, General 
 Washington applied to Colonel 
 Knowlton, who commanded a regi 
 ment of light infantry, which formed 
 the van of the American army, and 
 desired him to adopt some mode of 
 gaining the necessary information. 
 Colonel Knowlton communicated this 
 request to Captain Hale, of Connecti 
 cut, who was then a Captain in his 
 regiment. This young officer, ani 
 mated by a sense of duty, and con 
 sidering that an opportunity pre 
 sented itself by which he might be 
 useful to his country, at once offered 
 himself a volunteer for this hazard 
 ous service. He passed in disguise 
 to Long Island, examined every part 
 of the British army, and obtained the 
 best possible information respecting 
 their situation and future operations. 
 
 In his attempt to return, he was 
 apprehended, carried before Sir Wil 
 liam Howe, and the proof of his ob 
 ject was so clear, that he frankly ac 
 knowledged who he was. and what 
 were his views. 
 
 Sir William Howe at once gave an 
 order to the provost marshall to exe 
 cute him the next morning. 
 
 This order was accordingly exe 
 cuted in a most unfeeling manner, 
 and by as great a savage as ever dis 
 graced humanity. A clergyman, 
 whose attendance he desired, was re 
 fused him; a bible, for a moment's 
 devotion, was not procured, though 
 he requested it. Letters, which on 
 the morning of his execution, he 
 wrote to his mother, and other friends, 
 were destroyed; and this very extra 
 ordinary reason given by the provost 
 marshal, 'that the rebels should not 
 know that they had a man in their 
 
 army, who could die with so much 
 firmness.' 
 
 Unknown to all around him, with 
 out a single friend to offer him the 
 least consolation, thus fell as amiable 
 and as worthy a young man as Amer 
 ica could boast, with this as his dy 
 ing observation, 'that he only 
 lamented he had but one life to lose 
 for his country.' How superior to 
 the dying words of Andre. Though 
 the manner of his execution will ever 
 be abhorred by every friend to hu 
 manity and religion, yet there cannot 
 be a question but that the sentence 
 was conformable to the rules of war, 
 and the practice of nations in similar 
 cases. 
 
 It is, however, a justice due to the 
 character of Captain Hale, to observe, 
 that his motives for engaging in this 
 service were entirely different from 
 those which generally influence others 
 in similar circumstances. Neither 
 expectation of promotion nor pecun 
 iary reward, induced him to this at 
 tempt. A sense of duty, a hope that 
 he might in this way be useful to his 
 country, and an opinion which he 
 had adopted, that every kind of ser 
 vice necessary to the public good, be 
 came honorable by being necessary, 
 were the great motives which in 
 duced him to engage in an enterprise, 
 by which his connections lost a 
 most amiable friend and his country 
 one of its most promising supporters. 
 
 The fate of this unfortunate young 
 man excites the most interesting re 
 flections. 
 
 To see such a character, in the 
 flower of youth, cheerfully treading 
 in the most hazardous paths, in 
 fluenced by the purest intentions, 
 and only emulous to do good to his 
 country, without the imputation of a 
 
1(30 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 crime, fall a victim to policy, must 
 have been wounding to the feelings 
 even of his enemies. 
 
 Should a comparison be drawn be 
 tween Major Andre and Captain Hale, 
 injustice would be done to the latter, 
 should he not be placed on an equal 
 ground with the former. Whilst 
 almost every historian of the Ameri- 1 
 can Revolution, has celebrated the j 
 virtues and lamented the fate of 
 Andre, Hale has remained unnoticed, 
 and it is scarcely known that such a 
 character ever existed. 
 
 To the memory of Andre, his coun 
 try has erected the most magnificent 
 monuments, and bestowed on his 
 family the highest honors and most 
 liberal rewards. To the memory of 
 Hale not a stone has been erected, 
 nor an inscription to preserve his 
 ashes from insult." 
 
 No. VII. PAGE 74. 
 
 BATTLE OF TRENTON. 
 
 "Washington having obtained in 
 formation that the advanced party of 
 the enemy, consisting of about fifteen 
 hundred Hessians and British light 
 horse, under command of Colonel 
 Rahl, was stationed at the village of 
 Trenton, concerted a plan for taking 
 them by surprise. For this purpose, 
 he made choice of Christmas night, 
 under the idea that in consequence of 
 the festivity, they might be less 
 vigilantly guarded. At this time the 
 whole force under his immediate 
 command did not exceed three thou 
 sand men. At the head of about 
 two thousand four hundred men, one 
 division being commanded by Gen 
 eral Greene, and the other by Gen. 
 Sullivan, he crossed the river Dela 
 ware in boats, in the night of the 2oth 
 
 of December, daring a severe storm 
 of snow and rain. The passage of 
 the boats was rendered extremely 
 difficult and hazardous by the ice, 
 and part of the troops and cannon 
 actually failed in the attempt. Hav 
 ing landed on the Jersey shore, he 
 had nine miles to march, and he 
 reached the village about 7 o'clock in 
 the morning with such promptitude 
 and secrecy, so as to attack the enemy 
 almost as soon as his approach was 
 discovered. A smart firing ensued, 
 which continued but a few minutes, 
 when the enemy, finding themselves 
 surrounded, threw down their arms, 
 and surrended as prisoners. Colonel 
 Rahl, the commanding officer, was 
 mortally wounded and several other 
 officers were wounded and left at Tren 
 ton on their parole. About thirty-five 
 soldiers were killed, sixty wounded, 
 and nine hundred and forty-eight, 
 including thirty officers, were taken 
 prisoners, amounting in all to one 
 thousand and forty-eight. Of the 
 continentals, not more than ten, it is 
 supposed, were killed and wounded. 
 General Washington re-crossed the 
 Delaware the same day in triumph, 
 bringing oft' six excellent brass can 
 non, about one thousand two hun 
 dred small arms, and three stand 
 ards, with a quantity of baggage. &c. 
 This very brilliant achievement is 
 highly honorable to the commander - 
 in-chief, and*to all that were en gaged 
 in the enterprise. We are sanguine 
 in the hope that this most auspicious 
 event will be productive of the 
 happiest effects, by inspiring our de 
 jected army, and dispelling that 
 panic of dispair into which the peo 
 ple have been plunged. General 
 Washington allowed the Hessian 
 prisoners to retain their baggage, and 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 101 
 
 sent them into the interior of Pennsyl 
 vania, ordering that -they be treated 
 with favor and humanity. This con 
 duct, so contrary to their expecta 
 tions, excited their gratitude and 
 veneration for their amiable con 
 queror, whom they styled, l a very 
 good rebel. ,'" Thacher. 
 
 No. VIII. PAGE 74. 
 
 BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 
 
 "After his success at Trenton, Gen 
 eral Washington received consider 
 able reinforcements of troops from 
 Virginia and Maryland, and some 
 regiments of militia, which enabled 
 him again to cross the Delaware into 
 the Jerseys, and face the enemy. 
 While at Trenton, Lord Cornwallis 
 advanced to attack him, and a severe 
 cannonade commenced. In the eve 
 ning, General Washington ordered a 
 great number of fires to be lighted 
 up, and, leaving a sufficient number 
 of men to keep them burning during 
 the night, to deceive the enemy, stole 
 a march with his main army, taking 
 a circuitous route, and, at 9 o'clock 
 the next morning, attacked three 
 regiments of the British, who were 
 posted at Princeton, routed them, and 
 drove them from their redoubts. By 
 this masterly manoeuvre, the enemy 
 lost about five hundred in killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners. The loss on 
 our side is very inconsiderable in 
 point of numbers, but we have to 
 lament the death of Brigadier-Gen 
 eral Mercer, a brave officer who com 
 manded the Virginia militia. The 
 fact is published, that after General 
 Mercer surrended himself, the enemy, 
 deaf to the voice of humanity, stabbed 
 him with their bayonets, and with the 
 butt end of a musket battered and 
 
 disfigured his face in a savage man 
 ner. It is to be remarked, that on 
 this memorable occasion, Lord Corn- 
 wallvB was completely out-gen eraled; 
 while he was expecting to find the 
 continental army at their lighted fires 
 at Trenton, he was astonished and 
 confounded to hear the firing occas 
 ioned by this same army, beating up 
 their quarters twelve miles in his 
 rear. His lordship immediately re 
 paired by a forced march to Princeton, 
 | but arrived too late to retaliate on his 
 vigilant antagonist, who had taken up 
 his route to Morristown. Finding 
 that the continentals were out of his 
 ! reach, his lordship proceeded, with- 
 j out halting, to Brunswick. Strata 
 gems in war, when wisely concerted, 
 and judiciously executed, are con 
 sidered as characterizing a military 
 genius of superior order, and is a 
 quality of inestimable value in every 
 commander. It is often exultingly 
 remarked in our camp, that Wash 
 ington was born for the salvation of 
 his country, and that he is endowed 
 with all the talents and abilities nec 
 essary to qualify him for the great 
 j undertaking. The militia ofJersey, 
 | immediately on their being liberated 
 ! from the control of the British, flew 
 | to arms, exasperated and stimulated 
 j by a recollection of their sufferings, 
 I and have become their most bitter 
 and determined enemies; and are 
 ; very active and vigilant in harassing 
 them on all occasions, keeping a con 
 tinual watch, and cutting off small 
 ; parties whenever opportunities ofter. 
 \ It is gratifying to the army, that 
 ; Congress have conferred on their 
 Generalissimo more ample powers, 
 j and appointed him Dictator for the 
 1 limited term of six months; to reform 
 and new model the military arrange- 
 
10*2 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ments, in such manner as he may j 
 judge most advantageous for the | 
 public service. Much good is ex- j 
 pected to result from this measure." j 
 Th acker's Journal. 
 
 No. IX. PAGE 79. 
 
 CAPTURE OF PRESCOTT. 
 
 "In the month of July, 1777, Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel Barton, of the Rhode 
 Island militia, planned a bold exploit 
 for the purpose of surprising and 
 taking Major-General Prescott, the 
 commanding officer of the royal army 
 at Newport. Taking with him, in the 
 night, about forty men in two boats 
 with oars muffled, he had th? address 
 to elude the vigilance of the ships of 
 war, and guard boats, and having ar 
 rived undiscovered at the quarters of 
 General Prescott, they were taken 
 for the sentinels, and the General 
 was not alarmed till his captors were 
 at the door of his lodging chamber, 
 which was fast closed. A negro man, 
 named Prince, instantly thrust his 
 beetle head through the pannel door, 
 and seized his victim while in bed. 
 The General's aid-de-camp leaped 
 from a window undressed, and at 
 tempted to escape, but was taken, and 
 with the General brought off in 
 safety. In re-passing the water- 
 guards, General Prescott said to 
 Colonel Barton, "Sir, I did not think 
 it possible you could escape the vigi 
 lance of the water-guards." This is 
 the second time that General Pres 
 cott has been a prisoner in our hands 
 within two years. This adventure is 
 extremely honourable to the enter 
 prising spirit of Colonel Barton, and 
 is considered as ample retaliation for 
 the capture of General Lee by 
 Colonel Harcourt. The event occas 
 
 ions great joy and exultation, as it 
 puts in our possession an officer of 
 equal rank with General Lee, by 
 which means an exchange may be ob 
 tained. Congress resolved that an 
 elegant sword should be presented to 
 Colonel Barton for his brave exploit. 
 It has been ascertained that General 
 Howe has relaxed in his rigid treat 
 ment of General Lee, and conducted 
 towards him in a manner suitable to 
 his rank. The Hessian officers, on 
 whom retaliation had been inflicted, 
 are also restored to their former con 
 dition as prisoners of war."-Tha<'her'$ 
 Journal. 
 
 No. X. PAGE 79. 
 
 SIEGE OF FORT 8TANWIX. 
 
 "On the third of August, 1777, 
 Colonel St. Leger. and Sir John 
 Johnson, with a body of Britons, 
 Canadians, tories, and Indians, in 
 vested Fort Stauwix. now Fort Schuy- 
 ler, one hundred and ten miles from 
 Albany. General Herkimer, with 
 about eight hundred militia, was ad 
 vancing to disperse this motely col 
 lection, and to relieve the garrison; 
 but unfortunately he fell into an am 
 buscade, and buffered a considerable 
 loss. Being himself wounded in both 
 legs, he was seen sitting on a stump, 
 and courageously encouraging his 
 men, by which they maintained their 
 ground, and did great execution 
 among the enemy. Several of the 
 Indian chiefs were slain by the first 
 fire, which so lisheartened the re 
 mainder, ths t they were thrown into 
 the greatest confusion, and turning 
 on the tories, and other white people, 
 a warm contention ensued between 
 them, and many of the whites were 
 killed. Colonel Gansevort, the com- 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 103 
 
 mander of the fort, sent out Lieuten 
 ant Colonel Willet, with two hundred 
 and fifty men, who bravely routed 
 the Indians and tories, destroyed 
 their provisions, and took their ket 
 tles, blankets, muskets, tomahawks, 
 deer skins, &c., with five colors, and 
 returned to the fort. The brave Gen 
 eral Herkimer soon died of his 
 wounds, and one hundred and sixty 
 of his militia men, having fought 
 like lions, were killed, besides a great 
 number wounded. St. Leger's vic 
 tory over our militia was purchased 
 at a dear price, more than seventy of 
 his Indians were slain, and among 
 them a large proportion of their most 
 distinguished and favorite warriors, 
 and the survivors were exceedingly 
 dissatisfied. The object of the expe 
 dition was far from being accom 
 plished ; the commander did not, how 
 ever, despair of getting possession of 
 the fort; for this purpose he sent in 
 a flag, demanding a surrender. He 
 greatly magnified his own strength, 
 asserted that Burgoyne was at Al 
 bany ; and threatened that, on re 
 fusal, his Indians would destroy all 
 the inhabitants in the vicinity; and so 
 soon as they could enter the fort, 
 every man would be sacrificed. 
 Colonel Gansevort nobly replied in 
 the negative, being determined to de 
 fend the fort at every hazard; aware, 
 however, of his perilous situation, he 
 found means of sending to General 
 Schuyler at Stillwater for assistance. 
 General Arnold was now despatched 
 with a brigade of troops to attack the 
 besiegers; but, finding their force 
 greatly superior to his own, he sent 
 back for a reinforcement of one thou 
 sand light troops. 
 
 An object which cannot be accom 
 plished by force is often obtained by 
 
 j means of stratagem. Lieutenant- 
 j Colonel John Brooks, an intelligent 
 j officer from Massachusetts, being in 
 I advance with a small detachment, 
 I found one Major Butler, a noted 
 | officer among the Indians, endeavor- 
 ! ing to influence the inhabitants in 
 | their favor, and he was immediately 
 secured. A man also by the name of 
 Cuyler, who was a proprietor of a 
 handsome estate in the vicinity, was 
 I taken up as a spy. Colonel Brooks 
 proposed that be should be employed 
 as a deceptive messenger to spread 
 the alarm, and induce the enemy to 
 retreat. General Arnold soon after 
 arrived, and approved the scheme of 
 General Brooks; it was accordingly 
 agreed that Cuyler should be libera 
 ted, and his estate secured to him on 
 the condition that he would return 
 to the enemy, and make such ex 
 aggerated report of General Arnold's 
 force, to alarm and put them to flight. 
 Several friendly Indians being pres 
 ent, one of their head men advised 
 that Cuyler's coat should be shot 
 through in two or three places, to add 
 credibility to his story. Matters be 
 ing thus adjusted, the imposter pro 
 ceeded directly to the Indian camp, 
 where he was well known, and in 
 I formed their warriors that Major 
 | Butler was taken, and that he himself 
 narrowly escaped, several shot having 
 ; passed through his coat, and that 
 ! General Arnold with a vast force was 
 advancing rapidly towards them. In 
 I aid of the project, a friendly Indian 
 | followed and arrived about an hour 
 | after, with a confirmation of Cuyler's 
 report. This stratagem was success 
 ful; the Indians instantly determined 
 to quit the ground, and make their 
 escape, nor was it in the power of St. 
 Leger and Sir John with all their art 
 
104 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 of persuasion, to prevent it. When 
 St. Leger remonstrated with them, 
 the reply of the chief was, "When we 
 marched down, you told us there 
 would be no fighting for us Indians, 
 we might go down and smoke our 
 pipes; but now a number of our 
 warriors have been killed, and you 
 mean to sacrifice us." The conse 
 quence was, that St. Leger, finding 
 himself deserted by his Indians, to 
 the number of seven or eight hun 
 dred, deemed his situation so hazard 
 ous, that he decamped in the greatest 
 hurry and confusion, leaving his 
 tents, with most of his artillery and 
 stores, in the field. General Arnold, 
 with his detachment, was now at 
 liberty to return to the main army at 
 Stillwater; and thus have we clipped 
 the right wing of General Burgoyne. 
 In the evening, while on their retreat, 
 St. Leger and Sir John got into a 
 warm altercation, criminating each 
 other for the ill success of the expe 
 dition. Two Sachems observing this, 
 resolved to have a laugh at their ex 
 pense. In their front was a bog of 
 clay and mud; they directed a young 
 warrior to loiter in the rear, and then, 
 of a sudden, run as if alarmed, call 
 ing out they are coming, they are 
 coming. On hearing this, the two 
 commanders in a fright took to their 
 heels, rushing into the bog, fre 
 quently falling and sticking in the 
 mud, and the men threw away their 
 packs, and hurried off. This and 
 other jokes, were several times re 
 peated during the night for many 
 miles." Thachers Jourtia t. 
 
 No. XI. PAGE 79. 
 
 BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 
 
 On the 16th of August, 1777, the 
 Americans, under General Stark, de 
 
 feated the British and Indians, under 
 Lieutenant Colonels Baum and Brey- 
 man, at Bennington, Vt. Stark 
 divided his troops into three divisions, 
 and ordered Colonel Nichols, with 
 two hundred and fifty men, to gain 
 the rear of the left wing of the enemy, 
 who were secured by entrenchments. 
 At the same time, Colonel Hendrick 
 made a similar movement on the 
 enemy's right wing, while Stark at 
 tacked them in front. The Indians, 
 alarmed at the appearance of being 
 surrounded, endeavored to make their 
 escape in a single file between the 
 two parties, with their horrid yells 
 and the jingling of cow bells. The 
 i flanking parties approached each 
 other in their rear, and General 
 Stark making a bold and furious on- 
 i set in front, a general and close con- 
 ; flict ensued, and continued with more 
 i or less severity for about two hours. 
 Though Colonel Baum had nearly 
 twice their numbers, and was de 
 fended by breastworks, the force 
 opposed to them proved irresistible, 
 forcing their breastworks at the muz 
 zles of their guns, and obliging them 
 to ground their arms and surrender 
 at discretion, so that the victory on 
 our part was complete. We took 
 two pieces of brass cannon, and a 
 number of prisoners, with baggage, 
 &c. This was no sooner accomplished, 
 than Colonel Breyman, with one 
 thousand German troops, arrived 
 with two field pieces, to reinforce 
 Colonel Baum, who had just been 
 defeated. General Stark's troops 
 i were now scattered, some attending 
 the wounded, some guarding the 
 prisoners, and still more in pursuit 
 i of .plunder; and all exhausted by ex- 
 I treme hunger and fatigue. At this 
 ' critical moment, Colonel Warner's 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 105 
 
 regiment arrived, and the other 
 troops being rallied, the whole were 
 ordered to advance. A field piece 
 had been taken from Baurn in the 
 forenoon, and Stark ordered it to be 
 drawn to the scene of action; but his 
 men, having never seen a cannon, 
 knew not how to load it, the General 
 dismounted, and taught them by 
 loading it himself. An action soon 
 commenced, and proved warm and 
 desperate, in which both sides dis 
 played the most daring bravery, till 
 night approached, when the enemy 
 yielded a second time in one day, to 
 their Yankee conquerors. The Ger 
 man troops being totally routed, 
 availed themselves of the darkness of 
 night to effect their retreat. The 
 whole number of killed, wounded, 
 and prisoners, was nine hundred and 
 thirty-four, including one hundred 
 and tifty-seven tories; of this number, 
 six hundred and fifty-four are pris- 
 oners. Colonel Baum received a 
 mortal wound, of which he soon after 
 died. Besides the above, one thou 
 sand stand of arms, four brass field 
 pieces, two hundred and fifty dragoon 
 swords, eight loads of baggage, and 
 twenty horses, fell into our hands. 
 The loss on our side, is not more than 
 one hundred in the whole. The officers 
 and men engaged in this splendid 
 enterprise merit all the praise which a | 
 grateful country can bestow; they j 
 fought disciplined troops, completely i 
 accoutred, while they wielded their 
 ordinary firelocks with scarce a 
 bayonet, and at first without cannon. 
 The consequences must be most aus- j 
 pioious as respects our affairs in the 
 northern department. Burgoyne i 
 must feel the clipping of another 
 wing, and it must diminish his con- ! 
 fidence in his successful career. The ; 
 
 event will also be productive of the 
 happiest effects on the spirits of our 
 militia, by increasing their confidence 
 in their own prowess. The following 
 anecdote deserves to be noticed for 
 honor of the person who is the sub 
 ject of it, though his naaae has not 
 been ascertained. A venerable old 
 man had five sons in the field of bat 
 tle near Bennington; and being told 
 that he had been unfortunate in one 
 of his sons, replied, 'What, has he 
 misbehaved, did he desert his post, 
 or shrink from the charge?' 'No, sir,' 
 says the Informant, 'worse than that: 
 he is among the slain; he fell con 
 tending mightily in the cause.' 'Then 
 I am satisfied,' replied the old man: 
 'bring him in, and lay him before me, 
 that I may behold and survey the 
 darling of my soul.' On which, the 
 corpse was brought in, and laid be 
 fore nim. He then called for a bowl 
 of water and a napkin, and with his 
 own hands washed the gore and dirt 
 from his son's corpse, and wiped his 
 gaping wounds, with a complacency, 
 as he himself expressed it, which 
 before he had never felt or experi 
 enced." Tltachcr's Journal. 
 
 No. XII. -PAGE 79. 
 
 BATTLE OF STILLWATER, OR SARATOGA. 
 
 The American army, under the com 
 mand of General Gates, in the vicin 
 ity of Stillwater. in the county of 
 Saratoga, in the State of New 
 York, attacked the enemy, under 
 General Burgoyne, on the 19th of 
 September. 1777. At about three 
 o'clock, both armies being formed in 
 a line of battle, the action became 
 general, and the combatants on both 
 sides evinced that ardour and gal Ian 
 try which shows a determination to 
 
lOfi 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 conquer or die. The firing for about with the eighth Massachusetts regi- 
 three hours was incessant, with con- ! ment, remained in the field till about 
 tinued tremendous roar and blaze, ! eleven o'clock, and was the last who 
 filling the field with carnage and ! retired. Major Hull commanded a 
 death. Few battles have been more | detachment of three hundred men, 
 obstinate and unyielding at one j who fought with such signal ardour, 
 
 point the British are overpowered ;! that more than 
 
 half of them were 
 The whole num- 
 engaged in this 
 
 but, being reinforced, the Americans I killed or wounded, 
 are baffled; these, being supported, } ber of Americans 
 and renewing their efforts, regain j action, was about two thousand five 
 their advantages; the same ground is j hundred; the remainder of the army, 
 occupied alternately, the dead and j from its unfavorable situation, took 
 wounded of both parties are mingled i little or no part in the action. The 
 together. The British resort re- j British have suffered a loss, as is 
 peatedly to their bayonets" without supposed, of more than five hundred 
 effect the Americans resist and foil j in killed, wounded, and prisoners. 
 their attempts. Captain Jones, of ] On the side of the Americans, sixty - 
 the British artillery, had the com- j four were killed, two hundred and 
 mand of four pieces of cannon, which j seventeen wounded, and thirty-eight 
 he conducted with great skill and ! missing. Among the killed, are 
 valour till he fell, and thirty-six out j Colonels Adams and Colbnrn, two 
 of forty-eight of his artillery-men | valuable officers mxich regretted. The 
 were killed or wounded; his cannon j victory on this important occasion is 
 were repeatedly taken and re-taken, ! claimed by the enemy, but the advan- 
 but finally remained with the enemy tages are most decidedly on the side 
 for the want of horses to bring them j of the Americans: they were the as- 
 off. During the engagement, a num- j sailants they held their ground dur- 
 ber of our soldiers placed themselves j ing the day and, at the close, re 
 in the boughs of high trees, in the | tired to their encampment without 
 rear and flanks, and took every op- j being pursued. The royal army lay 
 portunity of destroying the British j all the ensuing night on their arms 
 
 officers by single shot: in one in 
 stance, General Burgoyne was the 
 object, but the aid-de-camp of Gen 
 eral Phillips received the ball through 
 his arm, while delivering a message 
 to Burgoyne; the mistake, it is said, 
 
 at some distance from the field of 
 battle." Thacher's Journal. 
 
 No. XIIL PAGE 79. 
 
 RED BANK AFFAIR. 
 
 'The Americans had erected sev- 
 was occasioned by having his saddle j efal forts and redoubts on the banks 
 furnished with rich lace, and was of the Delaware river, and on Mud 
 supposed, by the marksman to be the j Island, to guard against the passage 
 British commander. In the dusk of ! of the British fleet up this river to 
 evening the battle terminated, the : Philadelphia. In one of these forts 
 British in one quarter silently re- 1 at Red Bank, Colonel Greene, of 
 treating, the Americans in another j Rhode Island, was posted, with about 
 give way, and quit the long-contested | four hundred men. General Howe, 
 battle field. Lieut. Colonel Brooks, perceiving the great importance of 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 10? 
 
 reducing these works, detached Count 
 Donop, an officer held in high esti 
 mation in the royal army, with 
 twelve or fifteen hundred Hessian 
 troops, well supplied with artillery, to 
 take possession of it. Having ar 
 rived near the redoubts, he summoned 
 the commander to surrender, to which 
 he resolutely replied, he would de 
 fend the place to the last extremity. 
 This fort being originally constructed 
 on a large scale; it was found neces 
 sary to run a line across the middle, 
 and divide it into two, so that the ex 
 ternal part was left without defence. 
 The Hessian commander ordered his 
 troops to advance under cover of the 
 smoke of his cannon, and storm the 
 redoubt; they soon gained the unoc 
 cupied part with loud huzzas on their 
 supposed victory; but on approach - 
 ^ng the new line within, where our 
 troops were stationed, the brave 
 garrison poured on them such hot 
 and well-directed tire for about forty 
 minutes, that they were completely 
 overpowered, and fled in every di 
 rection. -Colonel Donop, their com 
 mander, was mortally wounded and 
 taken, and more than one hundred 
 were killed on the spot, and a greater 
 number wounded and prisoners. The 
 enemy retreated with great precipi 
 tation, leaving many of their wounded 
 on the road, and returned to Phila 
 delphia with the loss of one-half their 
 party. Colonel Greene, and his 
 brave troops, acquired great honor 
 for their gallant defence of the fort, 
 which is a key to other posts on the 
 river. Congress has rewarded the 
 Colonel, with an elegant sword. The 
 British army found it difficult to pro 
 cure the necessary supplies in Phila 
 delphia, and the continental galleys 
 and strong chevaux de frize in the 
 
 Delaware, rendered a passage of 
 their ship up to the city almost im 
 possible. Admiral Lord Howe de 
 termined to attempt the removal of 
 these formidable obstructions, and he 
 ordered six of his ships to engage in 
 this service. They were so unmerci 
 fully handled by our galleys, and 
 from Fort Mifflin, at Mud Island, 
 that two of them, one of sixty-four 
 guns, run aground, and were set on 
 fire by the crews who deserted them, 
 and soon after they blew up."- 
 Thacher's Journal. 
 
 No. XIV. - PAGE 79. 
 
 SURRENDER OF BUKQOYNK. 
 
 "After the battle of Still water, the 
 situation of General Burgoyne be 
 came very precarious. His Indian 
 auxiliaries deserted daily; and his 
 army, reduced to little more than five 
 thousand men, was limited to half 
 their usual allowance of provisions. 
 His stock of forage was entirely 
 exhausted, and his horses were per 
 ishing in great numbers. The Ameri 
 can army had become so augmented, 
 as to render him diffident of making 
 good his retreat. To aggravate his 
 distress, no intelligence had yet been 
 received of the approach of General 
 Clinton, or of any diversion in his 
 favor from New York. 
 
 In this exigency. General Burgoyne 
 resolved to examine the possibility of 
 dislodging the Americans from their 
 posts on the left, by which means he 
 would be enabled to retreat to the 
 lakes. For this purpose he drew out 
 fifteen hundred men, which he 
 headed himself, attended by Generals 
 Phillips, Keidesel, and Fra/er. This 
 detachment had scarcely formed, 
 within less than half a rnile of the 
 American intrenchmeuts, when a 
 
ros 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 furious attack was made on its left; 
 but Major Ackland, at the head of | 
 the British grenadiers, sustained it 
 with great firmness. The Americans 
 soon extended their attack along the 
 whole front of the German troops, 
 which were posted on the right of the 
 grenadiers; and marched a body 
 around their flank, to prevent their \ 
 retreat. On this movement, the ! 
 British light infantry, with a part of ; 
 the twenty-fourth regiment, instantly j 
 formed, to cover the retreat of the ' 
 troops into the camp. Their left ] 
 wing, in the meantime, overpowered i 
 with numbers, was obliged to retreat, 
 and would inevitably have been cut 
 to pieces, but for the intervention of 
 the same troops, which had just been 
 covering the retreat on the right. 
 The whole detachment was now under 
 the necessity of retiring ; but scarcely | 
 had the British troops entered the 
 lines, when the Americans, led by 
 General Arnold, pressed forward, 
 and, under a tremendous fire of grape 
 shot and musketry, assaulted the I 
 works throughout their whole extent ' 
 from right to left. Toward the close 
 of the day, a part of the left of the 
 Americans forced the intrenchments, 
 and Arnold with a few men actually 
 entered the works; but his horse be 
 ing killed, and he himself badly 
 wounded in the leg, they were forced 
 out of them, and it being now nearly 
 dark, they desisted from the attack. 
 On the left of Arnold's detachment, 
 Jackson's regiment of Massachusetts, 
 then led by Lieutenant Colonel 
 Brooks, was still jaore successful. It 
 turned the right of the encampment, 
 and carried by storm the works, oc 
 cupied by the German reserve. Lieu 
 tenant Colonel Breyman was killed ; 
 and Brooks maintained the ground 
 
 he had gained. Darkness put an end 
 to the action. The advantage of the 
 Americans was decisive. They killed 
 a great number of the enemy; made 
 upward of two hundred prisoners, 
 among whom were several officers of 
 distinction; took nine pieces of brass 
 artillery, and the encampment of a 
 German brigade, with all their equip 
 age. Among the slain of the enemy 
 was General Frazer, an officer of dis 
 tinguished merit, whose loss was par 
 ticularly regretted. The loss of the 
 Americans was inconsiderable. 
 
 Gates posted fourteen hundred 
 men on the heights opposite the ford 
 of Saratoga; two thousand in the 
 rear, to prevent a retreat to Fort Ed 
 ward; and fifteen hundred at a ford 
 higher up. Burgoyne, apprehensive 
 of being hemmed in, retired immed 
 iately to Saratoga. 
 
 An attempt was made to retreat to 
 Fort George. Artificers was accord 
 ingly despatched, under a strong es 
 cort, to repair the bridges, and open 
 the road to Fort Edward; but they 
 were compelled to'make a precipitate 
 retreat. The situation of General 
 Burgoyne becoming every hour more 
 hazardous, he resolved to attempt a 
 retreat by night to Fort Edward; but 
 even this retrograde movement was 
 rendered impracticable. While the 
 army was preparing to march, intelli 
 gence was received, that the Ameri 
 cans had already possessed them 
 selves of Fort Edward, and that they 
 were well provided with artillery. No 
 avenue to escape now appeared. In 
 cessant toil had worn down the whole 
 British army; which did not now 
 contain more than three thousand 
 five hundred fighting men. Provisions 
 were almost exhausted, and there 
 were no possible means of procuring 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 109 
 
 a supply. The American army, which 
 was daily increasing, was already 
 much greater than the British in 
 point of numbers, and almost en 
 circled them. In this extremity, the j 
 British General called a council of \ 
 war; and it was unanimously resolved 
 to enter into a convention with j 
 General Gates. Preliminaries were ; 
 soon settled, and the royal army sur- j 
 rendered prisoners of war. 
 
 The capture of an entire army was 
 justly viewed as an event that must 
 essentially affect the contest between 
 Great Britain and America; and i 
 while it excited the highest joy among i 
 the people, it could not but have a 
 most auspicious influence in the cabi 
 net and in the field. The thanks of 
 Congress was voted to General Gates 
 and his army, and a medal of gold, ; 
 in commemoration of this splendid 
 achievement, was ordered to be struck, 
 to be presented to him by the presi 
 dent, in the name of the United 
 States." Holmes' American Annals. 
 
 No. XV. PAGF 79. 
 
 BKANDYWINE AND GERMANTOWN. 
 
 "General Washington having as 
 certained that it was the great object 
 of Sir William Howe to possess him 
 self of the city of Philadelphia, put 
 in requisition every effort in his 
 power to counteract his measures for 
 this purpose. His force during the 
 whole campaign was considerably in 
 ferior to that of the enemy. Battles 
 and skirmishing of more or less impor 
 tance were frequent, but not decisive, 
 though attended by no inconsiderable 
 loss of human lives. On the llth of 
 September, the two armies approach 
 ed each other in the order of battle, 
 and a general action took place at 
 Brandywine, in which the officers and 
 
 soldiers of both armies displayed a 
 spirit of intrepidity and heroism, 
 scarcely ever exceeded. The British 
 claim the victory; but it was only a 
 partial one, and besides a prodigious 
 sacrifice of lives, they failed in their 
 main object, that of forcing their way 
 to Philadelphia. It is stated that, 
 from particular circumstances, little 
 more than one-half of General Wash 
 ington's force was opposed to nearly 
 the whole strength of the enemy. 
 Our loss is mentioned in round num 
 bers at one thousand. The Marquis 
 de la Fayette, and General Woodford 
 were slightly wounded. The loss of 
 the royalists, according to accounts 
 published, greatly exceeds that of the 
 Americans." Thacher's Journal. 
 
 No. XIV. PAGE 79. 
 
 BURNING OF DANBURY, CONN. 
 
 "On the '26th of April, 1777, the 
 notorious Tryon, at the head of 
 two thousand tories and refugees, 
 marched to Danbury, in the state of 
 Connecticut, where they burnt eigh 
 teen houses with their contents, and 
 a very valuable quantity of stores, 
 provisions, and 1,790 tents. This 
 wanton devastation alarmed the 
 country, and the militia collected un 
 der Major-General Wooster, assisted 
 by Arnold and Silliman. A smart 
 action soon ensued, and continued 
 about one hour, in which our militia 
 and a small number of continentals 
 conducted with distinguished bravery, 
 but being overpowered by a superior 
 force, they were obliged to retreat. 
 The amount of stores destroyed by 
 the enemy was very considerable, but 
 the loss of valuable officers and men 
 is infinitely more important. Gen 
 eral Wooster was mortally wounded, 
 and died soon after. Lieutenant 
 
110 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Colonel Gould and four or five other 
 officers were killed, and about sixty 
 men were killed or wounded. Among 
 the slain is Dr. Atwater, a respectable 
 character, whose death is greatly 
 lamented. General Arnold had his 
 horse shot under him when within 
 ten yards of tbe enemy, and a soldier 
 was advancing with fixed bayonet 
 towards him, when, with great pres 
 ence of mind, he drew his pistol from 
 his holsters, and instantly shot him 
 through the body. On the side of 
 the royalists, the loss, as stated by 
 General Howe, is one hundred and 
 seventy-two in killed, wounded, and 
 missing, but by other accounts it is 
 much more considerable. Among 
 the wounded is Brigadier-General 
 Agnew, and two other field officers." 
 Thacher's Journal. 
 
 No. XVII. -PAGE 79. 
 
 I 
 
 FORTS MONTGOMERY AND CLINTON. 
 
 "On the 6th of October, 1777, the 
 British, under Sir Henry Clinton and 
 General Vaughan, succeeded in an j 
 assault on Forts Montgomery and 
 Clinton, on the western bank of the 
 Hudson, a few miles below West 
 Point. These fortresses were defen 
 ded by Governor George Clinton, and 
 his brother, General James Clinton, 
 of New York, having about six hun 
 dred militia men, a force greatly in 
 adequate to the defence of the works. 
 The enemy came up the river, landed, 
 and appeared unexpectedly, and de 
 manded a surrender of the forts, 
 which being resolutely refused, were 
 taken by assault, though not without 
 a firm and brave resistance. General 
 James Clinton received a bayonet 
 wound in his thigh, but he and the 
 Governor, with a pnrt of the garrison, 
 made their escape, leaving about two 
 
 hundred and fifty men killed, wound 
 ed, and prisoners. The enemy suf 
 fered a severe loss of three field 
 officers killed, and their dead and 
 wounded is estimated at about three 
 hundred. General Putnam, who com 
 manded at Peekskill in the vicinity, 
 having a small force only to guard 
 the deposit of stores, was obliged to 
 retire, and the barracks, stores, and 
 provisions, to a very considerable 
 amount, fell into the hands of the 
 enemy, and were destroyed. With 
 wanton cruelty they set fire to the 
 houses and buildings of every des 
 cription, and spread ruin and devas 
 tation to the extent of their power. 
 To consummate their destructive 
 scheme, General Vaughan destroyed 
 by conflagration, the beautiful town 
 of Esopus, with the church, and 
 every other building it contained. 
 Thus we experience the horrid effects 
 of malice and revenge; where they 
 cannot conquer, they wantonly ex 
 terminate and destroy. They are 
 well apprised of the disastrous and 
 desperate situation of their boastful 
 General Burgoyne, and if they dare 
 not march to his relief, they can cow 
 ardly retaliate by conflagration with 
 impunity. It is the prevalent opinion 
 here, that by taking advantage of 
 wind and tide, it is in the power of 
 Sir Henry Clinton to convey his 
 forces to this city within the space of 
 five or six hours, and having arrived 
 here, a march of about twenty miles 
 will carry him without opposition to 
 Stillwater, which must involve Gen 
 eral Gates in inexpressible embarrass 
 ment and difficulty, by placing him 
 between two armies, and thereby ex 
 tricating Burgoyne from his perilous 
 situation. We have been trembling 
 ly alive to this menacing prospect, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Ill 
 
 but our fears are in a measure allayed 
 by the following singular incident. 
 After the capture of Fort Montgom 
 ery, Sir Henry Clinton despatched a 
 messenger by the name of Daniel 
 Taylor, to Burgoyne with the intelli 
 gence; fortunately he was taken on 
 his way as a spy, and, finding himself 
 in danger, he was seen to turn aside 
 and take something from his pocket 
 and swallow it. General George 
 Clinton, into whose hands he had 
 fallen, ordered a severe dose of emetic 
 tartar to be administered; this pro 
 duced the happiest effect as respects 
 the prescriber; but it proved fatal to 
 the patient. He discharged a small 
 silver bullet, which being unscrewed, 
 was found to enclose a letter from 
 Sir Henry Clinton to Burgoyne. 
 'Out of thine own mouth thou shalt 
 be condemned.' The spy was tried, 
 convicted, and executed. The follow 
 ing is au exact copy of the letter en 
 closed : 
 
 FORT MONTGOMERY, Oct. 8th, 1777. 
 
 Nous voici and nothing between 
 us but (rates. I sincerely hope this 
 little success of ours may facilitate 
 your operations. In answer to your 
 letter of the 28th of September, by C. 
 C., I shall only say, I cannot presume 
 to order, or even advise, for reasons 
 obvious. I heartily wish you success. 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 
 To General Burgoytie." Thacher's 
 Journal. 
 
 No. XVIII. PAGE 86. 
 
 CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 The treason of Arnold, and the 
 consequent capture and execution of 
 Major Andre, are events that have 
 been widely circulated in all parts of 
 the world ; but the following extracts 
 
 from the "Life and Correspondence 
 of General Greene," contain several 
 additional facts, which cannot fail of 
 being read with interest: 
 
 "It was when Washington was on 
 his march to Kingsbridge, with a 
 view to the attempt on New York, 
 and when he had mustered every man 
 who could carry a musket, that he 
 placed Arnold in command of a corps 
 ; of invalids at West Point. The com- 
 ; mander-in -chief had offered him a 
 ! command suitable to his rank and 
 reputation in the army; but he made 
 the unhealed state of his wounds, and 
 some other causes, the pretext for de 
 clining it; for his negociations for 
 the surrender of West Point had al 
 ready commenced, or been consum 
 mated; and he made interest to obtain 
 I that appointment. 
 
 Greene was in command of the 
 
 
 
 American army, at the time Arnold's 
 
 treachery was detected. Soon after 
 
 the relinquishment of the enterprise 
 
 against New York, a meeting was 
 
 concerted to take place between the 
 
 j American commander-in-chief, and 
 
 i the French military and naval com- 
 
 | manders. Hartford, on the Connecti- 
 
 ! cut river, was the place assigned for 
 
 : their meeting, and its object was to 
 
 consult on their future joint opera- 
 
 : tions. 
 
 Upon the departure of Washing 
 ton, Greene was placed in command 
 of the main army. This was on the 
 17th of September. On the 18th, 
 Admiral Rodney arrived with such an 
 overwhelming reinforcement to the 
 British navy, as must have set the 
 consultations at Hartford all at 
 I nought. From that time, Greene's 
 communications to the president of 
 Congress are full of hurried prepara 
 tions going on at New York for some 
 
112 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 important enterprise. Little did he 
 or any other suspect to what point 
 that enterprise was directed. It ap 
 pears that he had established a 
 regular communication for obtaining 
 intelligence from the city by spies; 
 and his correspondents in that place 
 were at a loss whether the expedition 
 was intended against Rhode Island 
 or Virginia. To one or the other of 
 those places the enemy had been care 
 ful to throw out hints, or exhibit ap 
 pearances that the expedition was di 
 rected. Yet Greene was not deceived ; 
 for in a letter of the 21st k> General 
 Washington, he writes, 'Colonel 
 communicated the last in 
 telligence we have from New York; 
 since that I have not been able to ob 
 tain the least information of what is 
 going on there, though we have peo 
 ple in from three different quarters. 
 None of them returning, makes me 
 suspect some secret expedition is in 
 contemplation, the success of which 
 depends altogether on its being kept 
 a secret.' 
 
 This letter is dated at Tappan, for 
 to that place he had been directed by 
 General Washington, on his depar 
 ture for Hartford, to remove a divis 
 ion of the army. 
 
 On the 23d, the whole mystery was 
 developed by the capture of Major 
 Andre. He had ascended the river 
 in the Vulture sloop-of-war, to hold a 
 personal conference with General 
 Arnold. The British commander had 
 become sensible that no time was to 
 be lost; as most probably, on the re 
 turn of Washington from Hartford, 
 he would assume the command in 
 person at West Point, or confide it to 
 Greene. The present, therefore, was 
 the most favorable time that would 
 ever present itself; the recent move 
 
 ment of the army nearer that place 
 excited to despatch; and the arrival 
 of Rodney gave the enemy the com 
 mand of such abundant means of 
 water transoortation, without expos 
 ing the city to a coup de main from 
 the French and American forces, that 
 the British commander would have 
 been culpably negligent, not to have 
 embraced it. Andre was accordingly 
 despatched to make the final arrange 
 ments for consummating the treach 
 ery of Arnold. 
 
 The well known object of Arnold's 
 negociation was to put Clinton in 
 possession of the post at West Point 
 This is a beautiful little plain, lying 
 on the west bank of the Hudson, a 
 little below where it breaks through 
 the chain of mountains called the 
 Highlands. Its form is nearly cir 
 cular; in one half of its circumference 
 defended by a precipice of a great 
 height, rising abruptly from the river; 
 | and on the other, by a chain of rug 
 ged, impassable mountains. It is ac 
 cessible by one pass only from the 
 river, and that is narrow and easily 
 defended; while, on the land side, it 
 can be approached onJy at two points, 
 j by roads that wind through the 
 mountains, and enter it at the river 
 bank, on the north and south. 
 
 Great importance had always been 
 attached to this post by the Ameri 
 cans, and great labor and expense 
 bestowed upon fortifying it: whether 
 judiciously or to good effect, has 
 never been tested. But the place is 
 naturally, scarcely assailable, very 
 healthy, and commands the river, 
 | throughout a long circuit that it 
 I stretches round the point, and where 
 j it is deep and very narrow. 
 
 The North river had long been the 
 great vein that supplied life to the 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 113 
 
 American army; and had the enemy j Verplanck's Point. It was received 
 obtained possession of this post, be- j the evening of the 25th. The object 
 sides the actual loss in men and j of the preparations in New York im- 
 stores, the American army would mediately became palpable; and, with- 
 have been cut off from their principal i out delay, he made every disposition 
 resources in the ensuing winter, or ; for marching to the defence of West 
 been obliged to fall back above the j Point; so that when General Wash- 
 Highlands, and leave all the country icgton's order reached him, ataquar- 
 below open to conquest; while the ter past three, on the morning of the 
 
 communication between the eastern i 26th, 
 and western states would have been been 
 
 the whole army had already 
 put under marching orders. 
 
 seriously interrupted, if not wholly The first Pennsylvania brigade under 
 excluded. Wayne had been put in motion; so 
 
 Arnold well knew the bearing of J that it actually fell to the lot of 
 this post upon all the operations of ; Andre to find the 'warrior-drover 
 the American army, and afterwards Wayne' in command, when he was 
 avowed his confident expectation, delivered a prisoner at the village of 
 that had the enemy got possession of Tappan. But Wayne did not sit in 
 it. the contest must have ceased, and i the board of officers who tried him; 
 Americans been subdued. Clinton, perhaps from consideration of deli- 
 it appears, also well understood the cacy; there may have remained some- 
 value of this place; and it is prob- thing of personal irritation; the 
 able, that the purchase of it had been j wounds of the pen last longer than 
 arranged with Arnold some months those of the sword, 
 prior to the detection of the plot. It is very well known that Major 
 It was well remembered afterwards, Andre was taken near a place called 
 that he had been intrigued for some j Tarry Town, on the east side of the 
 time to get appointed to the com- ! Hudson, where it forms Haverstraw 
 mand, not only in person, but through j Bay. Ten years afterwards, the 
 the agency of his friends in Congress ! large sycamore near which he was 
 ftfid the army; and the activity which i taken, was shown to the traveller; 
 he displayed in making his escape, and the incidents at his capture were 
 and afterwards, as a commander un- familiarly known to, and related by, 
 der Clinton, support the oelief that every inhabitant of the village. 
 the pain and weakness from his j Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart, 
 wounded legs, on which he founded J who captured him, were poor, but 
 his claims to a command suited to an j reputable men, and exhibited a strik 
 invalid, were in a great degree | ing instance of disinterestedness and 
 affected. Indeed, in one of his pub- i fidelity. Andre offered them large 
 locations he acknowledges, that he bribes, but they were not to be cor- 
 had long retained his commission rupted, and conducted him a prisoner 
 only to find some opportunity to in- 1 to Colonel Jamieson, who commanded 
 ttict such a blow. | a scouting party on that side of the 
 
 The development of Arnold's plot \ river. 
 
 was communicated to Greene by a \ The circumstances attending the 
 letter from Colonel Hamilton, dated capture of Andre are differently re- 
 
114 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 lated by the different authors who 
 have written on the American war. 
 They are all correct as far as they 
 go; but being deficient in a few par 
 ticulars, excited surprise at the sup 
 posed, want of self-possession in so 
 brave a man as Andre. The British 
 army in New York was, at that 
 time, supplied with beef, principally 
 through the aid of a class of men, 
 who obtained the appellation of cow 
 boys. They were a species of settlers, 
 or dealers in live stock, who beiog 
 well acquainted with the roads and 
 passes, penetrated into the country, 
 and either stole or purchased cattle, 
 which they secretly drove into the 
 enemy's lines. Besides watching the 
 movements of the enemy, one princi 
 pal object for detaching Jamiesou to 
 that quarter was, to check the prose 
 cution of this trade or practice. For 
 this purpose, small scouting parties 
 were occasionally pushed beyond the 
 American posts, to reconnoitre the 
 interjacent country between their 
 posts and those of the enemy. And 
 as the cattle taken from the cowboys, 
 unless stolen, were held to be prize 
 of war; and it was an object with the 
 well-affected to suppress a practice 
 which exposed their stock to depre 
 dations, small volunteer parties oc 
 casionally waylaid the roads for that 
 purpose. Of this description were 
 the captors of Andre; who, after the 
 fatigue of prosecuting their enter 
 prise, had seated themselves under 
 this tree, in a situation retired from 
 the view of travellers approaching 
 along the road. It is said that they 
 were engaged in a game at cards, 
 when the tread of Andre's horse at 
 tracted their notice. 
 
 The station they had taken was in 
 view of a point where several roads 
 
 unite near the village, and Andre, 
 who was visible to the party before 
 they were visible to him, was engaged 
 in examining a sketch of the route, 
 no doubt to determine which of the 
 roads in his view he ought to follow. 
 At the first rustling of the leaves 
 made by the motion of the party in 
 ambush, he precipitately thrust the 
 paper he was examining into his 
 boot, on the opposite side of his 
 horse from that on which the party 
 appeared. This was noticed by one 
 of the party, and led to the examina 
 tion which produced the detection. 
 On being stopped, he resumed his 
 composure, and exhibited the pass 
 1 from Arnold, on which he had thus 
 ! far succeeded in clearing the Ameri 
 can posts and patrols; and the party 
 had already released his bridle, when 
 I one of them inquired what he had 
 : done with the paper he was reading? 
 An indistinct view of the dangerous 
 dilemma in which the question in 
 volved him, produced in An ire a 
 momentary hesitation; his embarrass 
 ment was noticed by the party, and 
 made them resolve again to detain 
 him. Knowing that the pass from 
 Arnold would not avail him after th^ 
 discovery of the contents of his boot, 
 Andre then desired them to tell him 
 truly, whether they were 'from above 
 or below?' and on their answering 
 'the latter.' which was consistent with 
 the truth in fact, though not in the 
 sense he meant it, which was, whether 
 they were whigs or tories; he ac 
 knowledged himself to be a British 
 officer on urgent business, and begged 
 them not to detain him. On their 
 persisting to detain him, the whole 
 extent of danger burst upon him, and 
 he liberally tried the persuasive voice 
 of gold. But though he had just 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 115 
 
 witnessed, that one in a much more 
 elevated rank had lent a propitious i 
 ear to similar arguments, he found 
 these honest yeomen not to be cor- 
 rupted. Until then, he had learned, 
 that it is at last in the integrity of; 
 the well-informed yeomanry of a ; 
 country that the strength and secur- 1 
 ity of every free government is to 
 be found. Wo to that government ; 
 which ever suffers this class of men | 
 to remain in ignorance, or to he ex 
 posed to corruption ! 
 
 Upon searching the boot into which ' 
 the paper had been thrust, a plan of 
 West Point, the strength' and dis- j 
 position of the garrison, and other 
 suspicious papers were discovered; 
 and Andre wes immediately conveyed 
 to the headquarters of Colonel Jamie- 
 son. By this time, it appears, that 
 Andre had completely recovered his 
 self possession, if indeed, he had ever 
 lost it: and he had the ingenuity to 
 play off on Jamieson a ruse de guerre, 
 to which the partiality of his friends, 
 and the feelings of his admirers, have 
 managed to give a character which 
 it by no means merits. 
 
 He prevailed on Jamieson to des 
 patch a note to Arnold, informing 
 him that John Anderson (this was 
 Andre's assumed name) was taken. 
 This has been construed into a mag 
 uariimous effort to save Arnold; 
 whereas it was obviously an ingenious 
 artifice to save himself. And it must 
 have succeeded, had not the former, 
 instead of taking the hint as it was 
 intended, verified by his conduct the 
 trite adage, 'there is no faith among 
 the dishonest,' by immediately trans 
 ferring all his attention to his own 
 escape. Arnold could easily have 
 despatched an order to Jamieson to 
 release Andre, or have adopted some 
 
 fiction or plan for getting him into 
 his own hands, for the purpose of 
 giving him his liberty, and thus have 
 escaped with him. Jamieson ob 
 viously entertained no suspicion of 
 Arnold, by sending him this message: 
 and by the time that elapsed before 
 he forwarded to General Washing 
 ton the papers found upon Andre, it 
 is clear that he waited for some com 
 munication from Arnold with regard 
 to the future fate of John Anderson. 
 
 It is curious to contemplate the 
 good fortune of this interesting young 
 man. in the favorable views which 
 writers of both nations, indeed all who 
 have ever noticed him, have taken of 
 his conduct. But such is the effect 
 of excited feeling upon the judgment 
 of mankind, or perhaps, such the 
 proclivity of man to follow a popular 
 leader, and to avoid the perplexity of 
 ! reflection. The breathing pen of 
 1 Colonel Hamilton was generously em- 
 1 ployed in describing the magnanimity 
 , with which Andre met death; the di- 
 1 rection on.ce given to public opinion 
 has been followed, 'nothing loth,' 
 and every subsequent writer has vied 
 with his predecessor in representing 
 Andre's conduct in the most favorable 
 colors. The stern moralist, who, 
 knowing the first to pity, then to 
 imitate, is too often the course 
 through which vice, and error steal on 
 society, presumes, in such a case as 
 this, to exclaim, 'pause and reflect;' 
 will be more apt to incur the frowns, 
 than the plaudits of his contem 
 poraries. But there is a time of life 
 when a writer may no longer feel the 
 undue influence of popular applause. 
 
 Andre has also been greatly ex 
 tolled for his magnanimity in com 
 municating to General Washington 
 his real name and character, by the 
 
116 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 express which conveyed to the com- 
 mander-in-chief the papers found 
 upon him. But what else remained ; 
 for him to do? His life was clearly 
 forfeited; and in the character of 
 John Anderson,he must have suffered, i 
 'unpitied and unwept, the summary ! 
 and ignominious death of a spy, or | 
 been detected as Major Andre, with a j 
 falsehood on his lips. His only j 
 chance of escape was to declare his ' 
 real character, and place himself un- j 
 der the protection of the circumstau- ' 
 ces under which he alleges that he 
 came within the American posts; or 
 perhaps, to interest the feelings or 
 the fears of the American commander 
 in his behalf. His letter contains one 
 passage which serves as a plain de 
 velopment of his motives in writing 
 it. It teas to save his own life by ex 
 citing fear for that of others. The 
 passage alluded to is the following: 
 'I take the liberty to mention the 
 condition of some gentlemen at 
 Charleston, who. being either on ; 
 parole or under protection, were en 
 gaged in a conspiracy against us : \ 
 though their situation is not similar, 
 they are objects who may be sent in 
 exchange for me, or persons whom 
 the treatment I receive might effect.' ; 
 It is truly astonishing, that the un- j 
 generous character of this paragraph ! 
 has never been properly animadverted | 
 upon. Who these 'gentlemen at i 
 Charleston' were, is afterwards more 
 explicitly declared, in Arnold's letter 
 to General Washington, of the 1st of 
 October: 'I have farther to observe, 
 that forty of the principal inhabitants 
 of South Carolina have justly for 
 feited their lives, which have hitherto 
 been spared by the clemency of his 
 excellency Sir Henry Clinton, who 
 cannot in justice extend his mercy to 
 
 them any longer, if Major Andre 
 suffers, which, in all probability, will 
 open a scene of blood at which hu 
 manity will revolt.' 
 
 Thus it appears that Andre's hint 
 was greedily caught at by Arnold ; 
 and Sir Henry Clinton himself, in 
 his communications, very plainly 
 hints the same thing. 
 
 Yet nothing could have been more 
 base and dishonorable than the at 
 tempt to save his forfeited life, by 
 drawing down ruin upon a number of 
 innocent men, who, after bravely re 
 sisting the enemy, had surrended on 
 terms that had been most dishonor 
 ably evaded. The assertion also con 
 tained in Andre's letter, that the 
 prisoners alluded to had engaged in 
 a conspiracy, was absolutely destitute 
 of truth; as it was well known, that 
 every individual of those prisoners 
 had, from the first, courted and de- 
 tied investigation; and there existed 
 no cause for their confinement at St. 
 Augustine, to which place they had 
 been removed, but the prevalence of 
 an opinion that their influence kept 
 others from accepting of the King's 
 protection, the illiberal suggestions of 
 some of the loyalists who could not 
 bear the reproachful looks of those 
 whom they had deserted, and above 
 all, the convenience of retaining such 
 respectable hostages to cover such 
 men as Arnold and Andre. 
 
 The introductory paragraph also to 
 Andre's letter cannot be dismissed 
 without a remark. It is in these 
 words. 
 
 '\Vhat I have as yet said concern 
 ing myself, was in the justifiable at 
 tempt to be extricated. I am too 
 little accustomed to duplicity to have 
 succeeded.' [That is to say, I have 
 hitherto been doing what no man 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 117 
 
 who sufficiently values the obligation j 
 of truth would do, or at least, expose 
 himself to the danger of being 
 obliged to do, even for 'the justifiable j 
 attempt to be extricated,'] I have | 
 hitherto dealt out nothing but false 
 hoods; but for want of practice, my 
 firmness fails me.' 
 
 In the first place, this paragraph 
 is uncandid; for if his disguise could 
 any longer have availed him, he 
 would have retained it; in the next 
 place, there is no small cause to be- 1 
 lieve that this was not the first time ; 
 in which Major Andre had played offj 
 the practical falsehood of assuming a j 
 disguise, and acting the spy. 
 
 It is believed by many, that in the j 
 character of a spy, he had been i 
 greatly instrumental in involving in ; 
 captivity, the very men whom he now 
 wished to involve in the horrors of 
 retaliation. 
 
 Let political expediency disguise it | 
 as it may, still the character of a \ 
 soldier cannot be blended with that 
 of a spy, without soiling the pure i 
 ermine of the former. And, however, ' 
 his sovereign may applaud and re- j 
 ward the officer who tempts his enemy 
 to treachery, there is something so 
 foul in the constitution of the crime, 
 that we cannot look upon him who 
 seduces another to the commission of 
 it, but as the instigator or propagator 
 of crime. The breath of treachery 
 gives a taint to the reputation of the 
 man who but holds converse with it. 
 
 Indeed, there appears to have been 
 a combined attack upon morals made 
 by all the particepes criminis in this 
 black transaction. One can hardly 
 i-ead with "patience the letters of 
 Clinton, Robertson, ^ and Arnold, 
 boidly insisting that Andre was not 
 punishable as a spy, because he came 
 
 within the garrison under the 
 sanction of a Hag, or under the pro 
 tection of the commander; although 
 in fact, with that commander he was 
 concerting measures to get possession 
 of the post where that officer com 
 manded; that he was himself inno- 
 cent, because he prostituted the usual 
 protection of innocent and honorable 
 purposes to the perpetration of the 
 basest treachery. And to complete 
 the ridicule of the scene, the chief 
 justice of the state is brought upon 
 the carpet to support this holy doc 
 trine. / 
 
 This was at a conference which was 
 held by appointment at King's Ferry, 
 between General Robertson and Gen 
 eral Greene, on the subject of Andre's 
 treatment. Robertson brought with 
 him from New York, Chief Justice 
 Smith, and the Lieutenant Governor 
 to support him in the argument; but 
 whether it was that the man of the 
 sword was afraid to encounter the 
 man of the gown in argument, Greene 
 would not suffer Smith to land, and 
 the conference resulted in nothing 
 but mutual confirmation in pre-exist 
 ing opinions. On the 2d of October, 
 Andre was executed as a spy on a 
 gibbet, at the village of Tappan, 
 where the principal part of the army 
 was then encamped. 
 
 As his case was one of many novel 
 features, and threats of retaliation 
 had loudly resounded, General Wash 
 ington did not order his execution 
 I summarily, as by the laws of war he 
 | would have been justified to do, but 
 commanded a board of general officers 
 i to be convened, and submitted the 
 case to their consideiation. 
 
 Greene was appointed to preside, 
 , and Colonel John Laurens was pres- 
 , ent in the capacity of judge advocate 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 general, which station he held in the ' one constituted more worthy to .be 
 army. LaFayette and Steuben were ; respected. There was in it six Major 
 members of the court; and, if dignity, ' Generals and eight Brigadiers. They 
 worth, and service can give weight to ' were unanimously of opinion, that 
 the decision of the court, never was Andre must suffer as a spy." 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX 
 
 The Old Senate House, at Kingston, N. Y. 
 
 [From tlie Fishkill Times, July 15, 1885.] 
 The cut at the head of this article 
 is a fair representation of the old 
 stone house, at Kingston, known as 
 the old Senate House. This is one of 
 the oldest buildings in this State, 
 having been erected by Col. Wessel 
 Ten Broeck, in the year 1676, and is 
 consequently considerable over 200 
 years old. It is 70 feet long, and 
 built of stone with walls about two 
 feet in thickness. The heavy oak 
 timbers put in when it was first 
 erected are sound, and apparently 
 good for several centuries to come. 
 The Fourth Provisional Congress as 
 sembled at White Plains July 9th, 
 1776, and immediately adopted the 
 Declaration of Independence. The 
 next day the body changed its ap 
 pellation to the ''Convention of the 
 Representatives of the State of New 
 
 York." On the 29th of August follow 
 ing, it adjourned to Eishkill, and 
 from here it moved to Kingston. A 
 committee, of which John Jay was 
 chairman, was appointed to draft a 
 constitution for the State. Their 
 work was completed and the new con 
 stitution was adopted on the 20th of 
 April, 1777. The committee met in 
 this house, and under its venerable 
 roof this important document was 
 drafted. The first election under 
 this constitution was held July 30th, 
 1777. George Clinton was elected 
 Governor and installed in presence of 
 the military and citizens assembled 
 at Kingston. After the organization 
 of the Stale Government the Senate 
 held its sessions in this house until 
 the British forces, under command of 
 General Vaughan, sacked and btirned 
 the village of Kingston in October 
 
1-2(1 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPKXD1X. 
 
 following. Part of the roof of this 
 house was burned at that time and 
 restored soon after. Geii. Armstrong, 
 the boy hero of the Revolution, after 
 wards Secretary of War, lived in this 
 house in 1804, previous to his depar 
 ture as Minister to the French Court. 
 A marble fireplace, erected by him, 
 still adorns one of the rooms. This 
 house has for many years been the 
 property of Frederick E. Westbrook, 
 Esq., son of Rev. Cornelius D. West- 
 brook, D. D., who was for many years 
 pastor of the Reformed Dutch church 
 in this village. Dr. Westbrook's last 
 years were spent in this house, where 
 he died in March, 1858. Dr. West- 
 brook's father, Gen. Frederick West- 
 brook, was an officer of the Revolu 
 tion, and a Brigadier-General in the 
 war of 1812. Ho died in this village 
 in 1823, and was buried in the old 
 burying ground near the entrance to 
 the chapel. 
 
 I From the Fishkill Times, July 1. l*M 
 
 A Revolutionary Heroine. 
 
 In the year 177(5 there resided at 
 White Plains, Westchester county, 
 N. Y.. a family consisting of the Rev, 
 Samuel Mills, his second wife, who 
 was a sister of General Humphrey, 
 and several children by his first wife, 
 the oldest being a daughter, then 
 some ten or twelve years of age The 
 father was an ardent patriot, or as 
 the British and their Tory allies would 
 have termed him, a bitter rebel. 
 When after the battle of Long Island, 
 the British landed at Throgg's Neck, 
 and commenced their advance into 
 the country, Mr. Mills consider. >! it 
 prudent for him to leave his home 
 and seek safer quarters farther in the 
 interior. Being left alone with tin- 
 
 children, Mrs. Mills busied herself 
 during the few hours allowed her be 
 fore the arrival of the enemy, in pro 
 viding for the safety of the children 
 and the property left in her charge. 
 First she took the little ones into the 
 woods and lodged them in the cabin 
 of some friendly Indians. She then 
 returned to her home, and after 
 throwing her spoons into the well, 
 carried off and hid all the portable 
 property she could before the invad 
 ers came and fired the house. Power 
 less to prevent, she witnessed the des 
 truction of her home and all its 
 contents which she had not been able 
 alone to remove. Remaining near 
 the spot all night, in the gray dawn 
 of the morning she discovered a soldier 
 who had straggled from hiscommand 
 asleep by the side of a fence Stealth 
 ily approaching, she secured his mus 
 ket, and compelling him to surrender, 
 marched him at the point of the 
 bayonet to the American camp and 
 delivered him up as a prisoner of 
 war. The little twelve-year-old girl, 
 who on that eventful day was taken 
 by her step-mother to that Indian 
 wigwam, in after years was the 
 mother of the late Samuel M. Stevens. 
 Mr. Stevens, for many years re 
 sided near this village, and his 
 widow and two SODS, William and 
 George, and daughter Sarah, now re 
 side in this place. Mrs. Stevens 
 still has in good preservation, the 
 curtains which Mrs. Mills that day 
 stripped down from her spare-room 
 bed before the red coats applied their 
 torch to ' her dwelling. The spoons, 
 which were afterwards recovered 
 from the well, were some years ago 
 sold for old silver. 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 121 
 
 THE OLD COLONEL BRINCKERHOFF MANSION. 
 
122 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 [From the Fishkill Times, July 8, 1885.] 
 
 The Old Col. Brinckerhoff Mansion. 
 
 The old Col. Brinckerhoff house, a j 
 fine illustration of which appears in 
 this number of the TIMES, remains 
 substantially the same as when first 
 erected nearly a hundred and fifty | 
 years ago. It is constructed of stone, 
 except the gables, which are of brick 
 imported from Holland. In the west 
 ern gable appears the date of its 
 erection, 1738, in colored brick, as 
 can be plainly seen in the cut. This 
 house stands a short distance south of 
 the road which runs from the village 
 of Fishkill to Hopewell, near the 
 little hamlet called Swartwoutville. 
 During the Revolutionary war it was 
 frequently occupied by General 
 Washington. His letter to Gen. Lin 
 coln announcing the appointment of 
 the latter by Congress to the com 
 mand of troops for the defence of 
 Charleston, dated "Headquarters, 
 Fishkill, Oct. 3d, 1778," and numer 
 ous other letters and orders were 
 written at this house. He occupied 
 the bedroom back of the parlor, which 
 remains the same as it then was,except 
 that a door has since been cut through 
 communicating with the hall. 
 
 The Colonel was a devout member 
 of the old Dutch church, at Fishkill. 
 When Washington first became a 
 member of his family he is said to 
 have stated "I am commander-in- 
 chief in my own house, and wish 
 everybody under my roof to attend 
 family prayers." Of course Wash 
 ington complied. Col. Brinckerhoff 
 died in 1785, at the age of 82 years, 
 and was buried near the entrance of 
 the old burying ground at Fishkill. 
 His grave stone is still standing, and 
 as sound and legible as when first 
 erected a hundred years ago. 
 
 Col. Brinckerhoff, by his will dated 
 Dec. 29th, 1784, gave the farm on 
 which he lived, including this house, 
 to his grandson, John Brinckerhoff 
 Van Wyck, from whom it descended 
 to his son, Alfred Van Wyck, who 
 held it for many years. Mr. Van 
 Wyck sold it about 30 years ago and 
 moved to Illinois, where he still re 
 sides. It is at present owned and oc 
 cupied by Mr. Myers Brownell. 
 
 Washington's Headquarters. 
 
 BY E. M. RUTTENBER. 
 
 The building now so generally 
 known as Washington's Head-quar 
 ters at Newburgh, is situated in the 
 south-east part of the city. It is con 
 structed of rough stone; is one story 
 high, fifty-six feet front by forty-six 
 feet in depth, and is located on what 
 was originally Lot No. 2, of the Ger 
 man Patent. The title of the lot was 
 vested, by the Patent referred to, in 
 Herman Schoneman, a native of the 
 Palatinate of Germany, who sold, in 
 1721, to James Alexander, who subsc - 
 quently sold to Alexander Golden and 
 Burger Meynders, by whom it was 
 conveyed to Jonathan Hasbrouck. 
 The north-east corner of the build 
 ing, more particularly shown by the 
 walls and the timbers of tho roof re 
 maining in the attic, is the oldest 
 portion; it was erected by Hasbrouck 
 in 1750. The south-east corner was 
 added by him for a kitchen, arid in 
 1770 he erected the west half and 
 embraced the whole under one roof. 
 
 Jonathan Hasbrouck, from whom 
 the building takes the name of 'The 
 Hasbrouck House," was the grand 
 son of Abraham Hasbrouck, one of 
 the Huguenot founders of New Paltz. 
 He was a man of marked character; 
 of fine physique, being six feet and 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 123 
 
 four inches in height; was colonel of \ 
 the militia of the district, and was \ 
 in frequent service in guarding the \ 
 passes of the Highlands. His occu 
 pation was that of a farmer, a miller, ; 
 and a merchant. He died in 1780. 
 In the spring of 1782, Washington 
 
 Congress, of distress throughout the 
 country, and of complaint and dis 
 content in the army, the latter at one 
 time bordering on revolt among the 
 officers and soldiers. 
 
 It was at this place, on the 22d day 
 of May, 1782, that Col. Nicola pro- 
 
 made this building his Head-quarters, 
 and remained here until August 18th. 
 1783, on the morning of which day he 
 took his departure from Newburgh. 
 At this place he passed through the 
 most trying period of the Revolution: 
 the year of inactivity on the part of 
 
 posed, by letter to Washington, that 
 he should become King, for the "na 
 tional advantage/' a proposal that 
 was received by Washington with 
 "surprise and astonishment," "viewed 
 with abhorrence," and "reprehended 
 with severity." The proposition it- 
 
124 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 self was of little significance, and of j reply, were written by Major John 
 no general importance whatever. It Armstrong, Aid-de-camp to General 
 has, however, been so colored up by Gates, who, as senior officer of the 
 the fervent imagination of some wri- army, had command of the encamp 
 ters, that a passing reference to it ment, with his quarters at the Ellison 
 
 seems proper. 
 
 house, now more generally known as 
 
 The inattention of Congress to the , "Knox's Head-quarters." The anony- 
 
 payment of the army, during the suc 
 ceeding winter, gave rise to a more 
 important episode in the history of 
 the war. On the 10th of March, 1783, 
 the first of the famous "Newburgh 
 Letters" was issued, in which, by im- 
 
 mously called meeting was not held. 
 The motives of its projectors we will 
 not discuss; but its probable effect, 
 had it been successful, must be con 
 sidered in connection with Washing 
 ton's encomium of the result of the 
 
 plication at least, the army was ad- meeting which he had addressed: 
 vised to revolt. The letter was fol- i ''Had this day been wanting, the 
 lowed by an anonymous manuscript : world had never known the height to 
 notice x for a public meeting of officers which human greatness is capable of 
 
 attaining." 
 
 Notice of the cessation of hostilities 
 
 on the succeeding Tuesday. Wash 
 ington was equal to the emergency. 
 
 He expressed his disapprobation of 
 the whole proceeding 1 , and with great 
 wisdom, requested the field officers, 
 with one commissioned officer from 
 each company, to meet on the Satur 
 day preceding the time appointed by 
 the anonymous note. He attended 
 this meeting and delivered before it 
 
 was proclaimed to the army April 
 I'.Hh, 1783. It was receded with g,v;>t 
 rejoicings by the troops encamped at 
 New Windsor, and, under Washing 
 ton's order, was the occasion of an 
 appropriate celebration there. In the 
 evening, signal Beacon lights pro 
 claimed the joyous news to the stir- 
 
 one of the most touching and effective | rounding country. Thirteen cannon 
 
 addresses on record. When he closed 
 his remarks, the officers unanimously 
 resolved "to reject with disdain" the 
 
 came pealing up from Fort Putnam, 
 and were followed by a fe- 
 rolling along the lines. "The moun- 
 
 infamous proposition contained in the tuin sides resounded and echoed like 
 anonymous address. tremendous peal.s of thunder, and the 
 
 The meeting of officers referred to flashing from thousands of fire arms. 
 was held at the New Building, or in the darkness of the evening, was 
 "Temple" as it was called in the New I like unto vivid flashes of lightning 
 
 Windsor encampment, but Washing 
 ton's address was written at his Head 
 quarters, in Newburgh. The "New- 
 burgh Letters," to which it was a 
 
 *The slander should never he repeated that 
 Nicola represented tin- army. He was iut its 
 representative in any sense, luit spoke for him 
 self alone. Theiv is no evidence that lie e\en 
 consulted with any one. nor was it ever claimed 
 that he did. He held no important rank in the 
 army, hut was simply Colonel ,,f (,,..- Invalid Con- 
 
 tineniai Regimen! ai Philadelphia, lie- had no 
 service in the tidd. 
 
 from the clouds." From this time 
 furloughs were freely granted to sol 
 diers and entire regiments who wished 
 to return to their homes, and when 
 the army was finally disbanded by 
 Congress, in November, those absent 
 were discharged from service without 
 being required to return. Practically, 
 however, the army was disbanded by 
 furlough prior to June 20, when 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 125 
 
 the remnant of short term men were 
 inarched from New Windsor to West 
 Point. As the fnrloughed regiments j 
 mov^d off the encampment grounds 
 at New Windsor, there were many sad 
 parting scenes. 
 
 "Painful," gays Thacher, "was the 
 parting; no description can be ade- \ 
 quate to the tragic exhibition. Both 
 officers and soldiers, long unaccus 
 tomed to the affairs of private life, 
 were turned loose upon the world. 
 Never can the day be forgotten when 
 friends, companions for seven years 
 in joy and sorrow, were torn asunder, 
 without the hope of ever meeting 
 again, and with the prospect of a mis 
 erable subsistence in the future." 
 
 Major North adds : "The inmates of 
 the same tent, for seven long years, 
 grasped each others' hands in silent 
 agony. To go, they knew not whither; 
 all recollection of the art to thrive by 
 civil occupation lost, or to the youth 
 ful never known.. Their hard-earned 
 military knowledge worse than use 
 less; and with their badge of brother 
 hood, a mark at which to point the 
 finger of suspicion- ignoble, vile sus 
 picion! to be cast out on the world 
 long since by them forgotten. Sev 
 ered from friends and all the joys 
 and griefs which soldiers feel ! Griefs, 
 while hope remained when shared 
 by numbers, almost joys! To go in 
 silence and alone, and poor and hope 
 less; it was too hard! On that sad 
 day how many hearts were wrung! 
 I saw it all, nor will the scene be ever 
 blurred or blotted from my view!" 
 
 Perhaps both of these pictures are 
 overdrawn, but it is true that the men 
 were literally hurried away were lit 
 erally poor and without where to lay 
 their heads. 
 
 "\Vhy was the army brought hith 
 
 er?" and "What portion of the build 
 ing was particularly occiipied by 
 Washington?" are questions so fre 
 quently asked that a few words of ex 
 planation appear to be necessary. The 
 presence of the army of the Revolu 
 tion north of the Highlands, and in 
 the yicinity of the river, was for the 
 purpose of counteracting the plans of 
 the British Ministry, who hoped, by 
 obtaining control of the navigation of 
 the river, to cut off the Eastern Prov 
 inces from the Southern, with a view 
 to confine the rebellion to the former 
 and render its reduction certain. The 
 Hudson thus became the strategic 
 line of the contending forces, to which 
 the possession of the Highlands was 
 the key. While English cannon thun 
 dered at New York and Qiiebec, the 
 extremes of the line, the forces of the 
 patriots guarded the Highland passes; 
 on both sides of the river the camp- 
 fires of the army were lighted, while 
 from the centre of the field first at 
 his Head-quarters in New Windsor, 
 and subsequently at the Hasbrouck 
 House Washington, through the se 
 cret service, watched the movements 
 of his powerful antagonist. Once, 
 twice, the centre of the line had been 
 lust, and recovered almost by a mira- 
 cle. Sir Henry Clinton's victorious 
 banners were given to the breeze from 
 the Highland battlements October 7. 
 1777, and his messenger sped away to 
 bid Burgoyne hold on. It seemed but 
 the question of a day: but accident 
 led the messenger into the hands of 
 a rallying militia the silver bullet 
 which he conveyed revealed his pur 
 pose. Burgoyne, after waiting his 
 arrival until he could wait no longer, 
 surrendered at Saratoga, and forts 
 Clinton and Montgomery, blackened 
 by fire and strewn with the dead, re r 
 
126 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 turned to the patriot forces. The 
 treason of Arnold was not less acci 
 dentally prevented from accomplish 
 ing its purpose. And in this connec 
 tion how singular is the fact, that 
 while accident or miracle twice saved 
 the cause of liberty, the immediate 
 agents through whom so great a boon 
 was gained Taylor and Andre suf 
 fered death at the hands of hang 
 men! 
 
 To the second question we answer: 
 Washington's family consisted of him 
 self, his wife, and his Aid-de-camp, 
 Major Tench Tighlman. The large 
 room, which is entered from the piazza 
 on the east, known as "the room with 
 seven doors and" one window," was 
 used as the dining and sitting room. 
 The north-east room was Washing 
 ton's bed-room, and the one adjoining 
 it on the left was occupied by him as 
 a private office. The family room was 
 that in the south-east; the kitchen 
 was "the south-west room; the parlor : 
 the north-west room. Between the 
 latter and the former was the* hall and 
 stair -case, and the store-room, so 
 called from having been used by Col. 
 Hasbrouck and subsequently by his 
 widow as a store. The parlor was 
 mainly reserved for Mrs. Washington 
 and her guests. A Mrs. Hamilton, 
 whose name frequently appears in 
 Washington's account book, was his 
 housekeeper, and in the early part of 
 the war made a reputation for her 
 zeal in his service which Thacher 
 makes note of and Washington ac 
 knowledges in his reference to an 
 exchange of salt. There was little 
 room for the accommodation of guests, 
 but it is presumed that the chambers 
 were reserved for that purpose. Wash 
 ington's guests, however, were mainly 
 
 connected with the army and had 
 quarters elsewhere.* 
 
 The building is now substantially 
 in the condition it was during Wash 
 ington's occupation of it. The same 
 massive timbers span the ceiling; the 
 old tire- place with its wide-open chim 
 ney is ready for the huge back-logs 6f 
 yore; the seven doors are in their 
 places; the rays of the morning sun 
 still stream through the one window; 
 no alteration in f->rm has been made 
 even in the old piazza the adorn 
 ments on the walls, if such the ancient 
 hostess had, have alone been changed 
 for souvenirs of the heroes of the na 
 tion's independence. In presence of 
 these surroundings, it requires but 
 little effort of the imagination to re 
 store the departed guests. Forget 
 ting not that this was Washington's 
 private residence, rather than n place 
 for the transaction of public business, 
 we may, in the old sitting-room, re- 
 spread the long oakeji table, listen to 
 the blessing* invoked on the morning 
 meal, hear the cracking of joints, and 
 the mingled hum of conversation. 
 The meal dispensed, M,rs. Washing 
 ton retires to appear at her flower 
 beds or in her parlor to receive her 
 morning calls. Colfax, the captain 
 of the Life-Guard, enters to receive 
 the orders of the day perhaps a 
 horse and guard for Washington to 
 visit New Windsor, or a barge for 
 Fishkill, or West Point, is required; 
 or it may be Washington remains at 
 home, and at his writing-desk con 
 ducts his correspondence, or dictates 
 orders for army movements. . The old 
 arm-chair, sitting in the corner yon 
 
 Thastellux relates that when lie vNiterl the 
 Head-quarters in December. V..'. the room which 
 srr\ed :is a sitting-room in the day-time \\a> his 
 lied room 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 127 
 
 der, is still ready for its former occn- ! 
 pant. 
 
 The dinner hour of five o'clock ap- ; 
 pi'oaches; the guests of the day have ! 
 already arrived. Steubon, the iron ; 
 drill -master and German soldier of' 
 fortune, converses with Mrs. Wash 
 ington. He has reduced the simple 
 marksmen of Bunker Hill to the dis 
 cipline of the armies of Europe, and 
 tested their efficiency in the din of 
 battle. He has leisure now, and j 
 scarcely knows how to find employ- ; 
 ment for his active mind. He is tell- , 
 ing his hostess, in broken German- 
 English, of the whale (it proved to be 
 an eel) he had caught in the river. 
 Hear his hostess laugh? And that is 
 the voice of Lafayette, relating per 
 haps his ventures in escaping from 
 Fiv.nce, or his mishap in attempting 
 to attend Mrs. Knox's last party. 
 Wayne, of Stony Point; Gates, of 
 Saratoga; Clinton, the Irish-blooded 
 Governor of New York, and their 
 compatriots we may place them all 
 at times beside our Pater Patn'ie in 
 this old room, and hear amid the min 
 gled hum his voice declare: "Happy, 
 thrice happy, shall they be pro 
 nounced hereafter, who have contrib 
 uted anything, who have performed 
 the meanest 'office in erecting this 
 stupendous fabi'ic of Freedom and 
 Empire on the broad basis of inde 
 pendency; who have assisted in pro 
 tecting the rights of human nature, 
 and in establishing an asylum for the 
 poor and oppressed of all nations and 
 religions." 
 
 In France, lifty years after Wash 
 ington lived here, Marbois repro 
 duced, as an entertainment for La 
 fayette, then an old man, this old 
 sitting-room and its table scene. 
 From his elegant saloon he conducted 
 
 his guests, among whom were several 
 Americans, to the room which he had 
 prepared. There was a large open 
 tire-place, and plain oaken floors ; the 
 ceiling was supported with large 
 beams and whitewashed; there were 
 several small-sized doors and only one 
 window with heavy sash and small 
 panes of glass. The furniture was 
 plain and unlike any then in use. 
 Down the centre of the room was an 
 oaken table covered with dishes of 
 meat and vegetables, decanters and 
 bottles of wine, and silver mugs and 
 small wine glasses. The whole, had 
 something the appearance of a Dutch 
 kitchen. While the guests were look 
 ing around in surprise at this strange 
 procedure, the host, addressing him 
 self to them, said: "Do you know 
 where we now are?" Lafayette looked 
 around, and as if awakening from a 
 dream, exclaimed, "Ah! the seven 
 doors and one window, and the silver 
 camp goblets such as the Marshals of 
 France used in my youth. We are 
 at Washington's Head-quarters on the 
 Hudson fifty years ago."* 
 
 Fortunate will it be for America if, 
 in the coming time, her children, 
 drawing inspiration from those old 
 walls and from the lessons of patriot 
 ism, of honor, of official integrity, of 
 political action, which were here in 
 culcated, shall sincerely and reveren 
 tially respond: "The seven doors and 
 one window -tee are at Washington'* 
 Head-quarters on the Hudson!" 
 
 After the retirement by Washington 
 the Hasbrouck family resumed pos 
 session of the house, and remained 
 there until a short time anterior to 
 1849, when the title of the property 
 
 * While quoting rliis story as current litera 
 ture, it is hut just to history to say that Lafayette 
 was never iii the Has'hrouck house during its 
 occupation liy Washington. He was in France. 
 
128 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 became vested in the people of the 
 State of New York, under the fore 
 closure of a mortgage given to the 
 commissioners to loan certain moneys 
 of the United States. For many years 
 it was called "the old Hasbrouck 
 house," but the memory of Washing 
 ton and of the events which clustered 
 around it during his residence here, 
 ever brightening as time advanced, 
 caused this name gradually to fade 
 away before the undying one by 
 which it is now known. 
 
 By an act of the Legislature, passed 
 April 10, 1850, the property was placed 
 in tho care of the Board of Trustees 
 of the then Village of Newburgh, to 
 be preserved as nearly as possible as 
 it was at the time of its occupation 
 by Washington, and to erect a flag 
 staff from which should be unfolded 
 the United States flag, upon which 
 should be inscribed: '''Liberty and 
 Union, now and forever, one and in 
 separable" 
 
 The interior of the building had 
 been modernized in some respects, 
 but the Trustees of Newburgh, true 
 to their trust, appointed a committee, 
 and by them every part of the build 
 ing was carefully restored to the con 
 dition it was in at the time of its oc 
 cupation by Washington. This being 
 done and the flag-staff erected, on 
 the 4th of July, 1850, the place was 
 formally dedicated, with appropriate 
 ceremonies, on the green in front of 
 the building. 
 
 The property thus set apart and 
 dedicated to be forever kept to awaken 
 patriotic memories, passed to the care 
 of the city authorities of Newburgh, 
 on the passage of the city charter in 
 1866, where it remained until 1874, 
 when the Legislature, by act of May 
 llth, appointed a Board of Trustees 
 
 to hold and maintain it. This Board, 
 composed of Wm. C. H. Sherman, 
 David Carson, David Moore, James 
 G. Graham, Jos. H. H. Chapman, Cy 
 rus B. Martin, Peter Ward, Joel T. 
 Headley, Edward C. Boynton, and 
 James W. Taylor, is now (through its 
 successors) in the discharge of the 
 duty assigned to it. 
 
 Washington's Headquarters. 
 
 BY MARY K. MONKLL,. 
 
 Sung at the Dedication of tlie Old Buihliny. 
 July 4, 1850. 
 
 Free men, pause! this ground is holy; 
 
 Noble spirits suffered here ; 
 Tardy justice, inarching slowly, 
 
 Tried their faith from year to year- 
 Yet their patience 
 
 Conquered every doubt and fear. 
 
 Sacred is this mansion hoary; 
 
 'Neath its roof-tree, years ago. 
 Dwelt the father of our glory, 
 
 He whose name appalled the foe; 
 Greater honor 
 
 Home nor hearth can never know. 
 
 Unto him and them are owing 
 Peace as stable as our hills; 
 
 Plenty, like yon river flowing 
 To the sea from thousand rills; 
 
 Love of country, 
 Love that every bosom thrills. 
 
 Brothers! to your care is given. 
 Safe to .keep this hallowed spot; 
 
 Though our warriors rest in heaven, 
 And these places know them not, 
 
 See ye to it 
 That their deeds' be ne'er forgot. 
 
 With a prayer yonr faith expressing, 
 Kaise your country's flag on high ; 
 
 Here, where rests a nation's blessing. 
 Stars and stripes shall float for aye ! 
 
 Mutely telling 
 Stirring tales of days gone by. 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 129 
 
 The Crosby Memoirs. 
 
 Enoch Crosby finished his life where 
 Capt. Barnum's narrative left him, at 
 his quiet home near Brewsters, in 
 Putnam county, N. Y. He died on 
 the 26th of June, 1835, and was buried 
 with his family in the old Gilead 
 burying-ground. A plain marble slab 
 21 inches wide and 2 inches thick, 
 bearing the following inscription, 
 marks his last resting place: 
 
 in 
 
 memory -of 
 ENOCH CROSBY, 
 
 who died 
 
 June 2. m5. 
 
 aged 85 years, 
 
 .5 mo's and 21 d's. 
 
 His first wife, one son and two 
 daughters are buried by his side, and 
 have headstones similar to his. His 
 Family Bible, containing the family 
 record, is said to be still in existence, 
 though our reporter was unable to 
 find it. His family consisted of two 
 sons, Enoch and Lewis, and four 
 daughters, Betsey, Rebecca, Sally and 
 Hannah. Enoch married a daughter 
 of Hackaliah Bailey, of Somers, West- 
 chester county, and moved to Sing 
 Sing, where for many years he kept 
 a prominent hotel. He owned and 
 ran a line of stages between -Sing 
 Sing and Somers, which was extended 
 to Patterson, Putnam county, a part 
 of the time. He also owned an inter 
 est in the Red Bird stage line which 
 ran to Albany. 
 
 Lewis lived at the old homestead, 
 aud died in 1836, at the age of 46 
 
 years. Betsy died in 1806, aged 21 
 years. Rebecca died in 1841, also 
 aged 21 years. We were not able to 
 learn when Sally died, but were in 
 formed that neither she, Betsey nor 
 Rebecca was ever married. Hannah 
 married Philip Rundell, and lived 
 near her old home. She died April 
 16, 1871, aged 71 years. As far as we 
 could learn, Hannah and Enoch left 
 no children. Lewis had six sons, 
 Edward, Joseph, Ira, Benjamin, Hen 
 ry and Charles, and one daughter, 
 Zilla. Edward is a physician, and 
 resides near Salem, Westchester coun 
 ty. Joseph died in 1869, aged 54. 
 Ira is living in Steuben county, N. Y. 
 Benjamin keeps a hotel in New Ca 
 naan, Conn. Charles is dead. Henry 
 is living at Jefferson Valley, West 
 Chester county. Zilla never married ; 
 she died in 1863, at the age of 46. 
 
 Enoch Crosby was married twice. 
 After the death of his first wife, who 
 was the mother of all his children, 
 aboiit the year 1824 he married the 
 widow of Col. Benjamin Green, of 
 Somers, Westchester county. His sec 
 ond wife died about 1828, and was 
 buried by the side of her first husband 
 in Mount Zion Methodist church yard, 
 in the town of Somers. 
 
 The Fishkill Centennial. 
 
 The one hundredth anniversary of 
 ; the disbanding of the Continental 
 | Army, by an order from Washington 
 ; dated June 2d, 1783, furloughing his 
 non-commissioned officers and men, 
 \ who then struck their tents in Fish 
 ; kill and made preparations to return 
 
 to their homes, was celebrated at 
 Fishkill Village on Saturday, June 2, 
 
 ; 1883. Not only did the inhabitants 
 ' of the village turn out en masse, but 
 
 vehicles of all sorts brought people 
 
130 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 from the out-lying districts, while the 
 cars brought many more from the 
 towns and villages along the lines of 
 the Newburgh. Dutchess and Connec 
 ticut, and the New York and New 
 England Eailroads. The village was 
 in gala attire, almost every house 
 being decorated with the National 
 colors, portraits of Washington, etc. 
 Crowds of people thronged the streets, 
 especially in the vicinity of the Man 
 sion House, where the procession 
 formed. Mr. A. E. Wiltsie acted as 
 Grand Marshal, and Messrs. W. H. 
 Wood, H. W. Smith, W. E. Dean, H. 
 R. Scofield, Absalom Niver and Frank 
 Wakeman as Aids. 
 
 THE PROCESSION. 
 
 Piano's Brass Band of 19 pieces. 
 
 A choir of 18 male singers, led by 
 Dr. C. M. Kittredge. 
 
 The Centennial Committee J. J. 
 Monell, C. M. Kittredge, J. H. Cook, 
 G. W. Owen, F. B. Goodrich, J. E. 
 Dean, R. B. Van Kleeck, C. M. 
 Wolcott. 
 
 Committee of Arrangements- H. H. 
 Hustis, J. T. Smith, J. W. Spaight, 
 Lyman Robinson, 1. E. Cotheal, E. 
 Luyster, Augustus Hughson, H. F. 
 Walcott, Isaac Gary, H. B. Rosa, A. 
 W. Armstrong, I. O. Norris, E. M. 
 Goring, F. I. Jackson, L. C. Rapalje, 
 Garrett DuBois, Storm Emails, L. V. 
 Pierce, C. W. Horton. 
 
 The Clergy including the pastors 
 of all the churches in the town. 
 
 The Speakers of the occasion. 
 
 Members of the Press. 
 
 The thirteen Vice-Presidents, repre 
 senting the 13 original States: Wal 
 ter Brett, J. B. Burnett, J. L. Sco 
 field, John Place, Lewis Tompkins, 
 W. H. Mase, F. K. Scofield, Major E. 
 C. Boynton, E. M. Ruttenber, T. V. 
 
 W. Brinkerhoff, J. G. Van Wyck, M. 
 V. B. Brinckerhoff, Dr. L. H. White. 
 
 Thirty-eight 3*oung ladies dressed 
 in white, with sashes of red, white 
 and blue, each bearing a small s^lk 
 flag, represented tbe present number 
 of States. 
 Veterans, citizens and invited guests. 
 
 After the procession had formed, it 
 marched through Broad. Jackson and 
 Main streets, and arrived at "The 
 Battery," where the exercises were to 
 take place, at 3 o'clock. A large plat 
 form had been erected for the speak 
 ers, officers, band, singers, etc., and 
 the entire field was surrounded with 
 suitable decorations. A cannon had 
 been planted near by, and a salute of 
 13 guns was fired during the moving 
 of the procession. About 3000 per 
 sons had gathered in and about the 
 Battery to take part in the occasion. 
 When the procession arrived the plat 
 form was soon filled, and the exercises 
 began. 
 
 Hon. J. J. Monell, of Fishkill Land- 
 ! ing, arose and spoke as follows: 
 
 Fellow-citizens From the opening 
 
 to the close of the Revolutionary war 
 
 ! a strong military force was stationed 
 
 i at this village, extending through the 
 
 ! passes of the Highlands toward West 
 
 i Point. Its object was to keep up com- 
 
 . munication with the Eastern States, 
 
 j to supply the troops at West Point 
 
 1 and the lower Hudson, and to harass 
 
 and prevent the British troops from 
 
 ! joining Burgoyne at Albany. Fish- 
 
 I kill became an armed encampment, 
 
 and one of the most important places 
 
 in Dutchess county. After eight long 
 
 years of watching and suffering, on 
 
 the 2d of June, 1783. an order from 
 
 the Commander-in-Chief reached the 
 
 camp, directing that "arrangements 
 
 be made for marching the troops 
 
 of their respective States to their 
 
 homes." Peace had been proclaimed, 
 
 the war was over, the battles had been 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 131 
 
 fought, the victories won, and Amer 
 ica was free! A shout of joy went up 
 throughout all the camp. To com 
 memorate the Centennial of this event 
 we have this day assembled. 
 
 We also meet preparatory to the 
 erection of an appropriate monument 
 to honor and perpetuate the memory 
 of all those who died in the encamp 
 ment and were buried in the Revolu 
 tionary grave-yard at the foot of yon 
 der mountain. 
 
 /- 
 
 "They fell devoted but undying. 
 The very Rale their praise seems sighing. 
 The waters murmur with their name. 
 The woods are peopled with their fame, 
 Their memory wraps the dusky mountain. 
 Their spirits sparkle in the fountain." 
 
 On all important occasions, before 
 after battle, in times of trial, in 
 the hour of victory, at the proclama 
 tion of the Proposals of Peace, and at 
 the dissolution of the army, Gen. 
 Washington always ordered that the 
 chaplains should recognize the Su 
 preme Ruler of the universe. Fol 
 lowing his example, and from the im 
 pulses of our own hearts. Dr. John H. 
 Hobart, rector of the old Revolution 
 ary church in this place, has been 
 selected to open this celebration with 
 prayer, to be followed by a psalm of 
 praise, in which it is hoped all the 
 people will join. As Dr. Hobart has 
 recently been severely afflicted by the 
 loss of a beloved sister. Rev. Robert 
 B. Van Kleeck, a descendant of Henry 
 Schenct, who was Quarter-Master at 
 Fishkill during the Revolution, will 
 perform the services. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Van Kleeck then offered 
 prayer, which was followed by the 
 choir singing "Praiee God from whom 
 all blessings flow." 
 
 Hon. J. J. Monell then introduced 
 Mr. Benson J. Lossing, the historian, 
 who was selected to act as chairman, 
 as follows: 
 
 We are favored to-day by the pres 
 ence of a citizen of Dutchess county 
 who is a brilliant example of what our 
 institutions can do for man. From 
 being a printer's boy, he has risen by 
 his own exertions to be one of the 
 first historians of the age. and has 
 
 j done more than any other person to 
 j delineate and perpetuate the events 
 | of the Revolution. He has been hon 
 ! ored by the colleges of our own coun- 
 try and by the universities of Europe, 
 ! and he honors us this day by consent- 
 i ing to act as chairman of this meet- 
 | ing. I introduce to you the Hon. 
 | Benson J. Lossing." 
 
 Upon taking the chair, Mr. Lossing 
 said: 
 
 Ladies and gentlemen Citizens of 
 Fishkill: I thank you for the great 
 honor you have conferred upon me by 
 inviting me to preside on this most 
 interesting occasion. I am officially 
 supported by thirt'een distinguished 
 citizens, and sustained by the pres 
 ence of charming representatives of 
 all our States; what more could I 
 desire! 
 
 This summer you are privileged to 
 celebrate not only the disbandment of 
 the Continental army, but the bi 
 centennial of three important events 
 in the history of the ancient and un 
 divided town of Fishkill, namely : 
 
 1. The advent within its domain of 
 the first white child born in Dutchess 
 county. 
 
 2. The purchase of the land of this 
 region from its barbarian inhabitants, 
 and so planting the seeds of settle 
 ment and civilization and empire in 
 this county; and 
 
 3. The marriage of the chief pur 
 chaser, an ex -May or of New York 
 city, with the attractive yor.ng widow, 
 Helena Van Ball, whose daughter, 
 seventeen or eighteen years afterward, 
 became Madame Brett, a personage 
 distinguished in your local annals 
 and honored by her worthy descend 
 ants among you. 
 
 On the 19th of last April the citi 
 zens of Newburgh celebrated the cen 
 tennial of Washington's announce 
 ment of peace, in accordance with a 
 proclamation by the Continental Con 
 gress on the llth ; to-day the citizens 
 of Fishkill celebrate the centennial of 
 Washington's order for the virtual 
 disbandment of the Continental army, 
 the logical sequence of the proclama- 
 
182 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 tion of the llth and the announce 
 ment of peace on the 19th of April. 
 
 One hundred years ago to-day, 
 Washington wrote to Gen. Putnam 
 that the Secretary of War and the 
 Paymaster-General were at headquar 
 ters at New burgh, the latter ''empow 
 ered to settle all accounts" with the 
 soldiers the final act of the war. 
 
 The definitive treaty of peace had 
 already been negotiated by the agents 
 of the high contracting t powers, and 
 only needed the proper signatures. 
 These were appended in September 
 following. 
 
 You are assembled to-day to cele 
 brate the last of the two final events 
 in the history of the oW war for inde 
 pendence, namely: the disbanding of 
 the army which had been instrumental 
 in securing peace and independence 
 for our beloved country. 
 
 I congratulate you, citizens of Fish- 
 kill, because of the privilege you en 
 joy of being residents of a precinct so 
 hallowed and consecrated by great 
 deeds, the memory of which more 
 eloquent tongues than mine will this 
 day awaken. 
 
 The choir sang the grand old hymn, 
 "The Star Spangled Banner." Hon. 
 J. J. Monell then addressed the chair 
 and said: 
 
 Mr. Chairman, the following Vice 
 Presidents have been selected by the 
 Centennial Committee: 
 
 Mr. Walter Brett, a descendant of 
 Madame Brett. She was the first 
 white woman who settled in this 
 town an heiress who inherited over 
 28,000 acres of land extending from 
 the Hudson river along Fishkill creek, 
 four hours journey, sixteen miles. 
 She was greatly beloved in her day, 
 and her memory is still held in great 
 honor by her numerous descendants. 
 She died in 1764, and was buried in 
 the graveyard attached to the Re 
 formed Church of this village. When 
 the steeple was erected it was over 
 her grave; an appropriate monument 
 to her memory. 
 
 Mr. Joseph B. Burnet, of New Wind 
 sor, grandson of Major Robert Burnet, 
 who was a delegate to the Temple, 
 
 when, under the inspiration of Wash 
 ington, the officers of the army, neg 
 lected by Congress, resolved to stand 
 by their country Major Robert Bur- 
 net heard Washington say, when he 
 could not see clearly to read his ad 
 dress, "You see, gentlemen, I am 
 growing blind, as well as gray, in the 
 service of my country." 
 
 Gen. Jacob L. Scofield, born in the 
 lifetime of Washington, and an officer 
 in the war of 1812, has lived under 
 every Administration of this Govern 
 ment. 
 
 Messrs. John Place, Lewis Tomp- 
 kins, and Willard H. Mase, represent 
 atives of the mercantile and manufac 
 taring interests of the town. Men 
 who have risen to places of influence 
 by their own efforts, examples of what 
 our institutions can do to improve 
 the condition of man. 
 
 Major Edwar*d C. Boynton, of New- 
 burgh, late of the United States army, 
 who wrote the history of West Point, 
 and has recently compiled the general 
 orders of Washington, issued at New- 
 bui'gh. 
 
 Mr. E. M. Ruttenber, the historian 
 of Newburyh, of Orange county, and 
 of the Indian tribes of the Hudson, 
 who for years has devoted his leisure 
 hours to collect the historical events 
 of this region. 
 
 The remaining five Messrs. Fred 
 erick K. Scofield, Jacob G. Van Wyck, 
 T. Van Wyck Brinkerhoff, Matthew 
 V. B. Brinckerholf, and Dr. Lewis H. 
 White represent old Revolutionary 
 families, who gave up their homes to 
 the occupation of Revolutionary offi 
 cers, and did all they could for their 
 comfort. Many of these persons oc 
 cupy the same houses that their an 
 cestors did, rich in historic associa 
 tions. 
 
 These thirteen Vice-Presidents are 
 chosen to represent the thirteen orig 
 inal States. 
 
 Each of the thirty-eight young la 
 dies personates one of the 38 States; 
 they represent the stars on the blue 
 ground of our flag, the 38 stars in the 
 dome of our National Capitol, the 38 
 States that are woven and interwoveu 
 into the very texture of our Constitu 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 133 
 
 tion, so as to be "one and inseparable, 
 now and forever." They, with the 
 ladies in charge of them, represent 
 'Heaven's first, best gift to man 
 woman." And now, let the toast be, 
 "Dear woman!" and let the Band re 
 spond. 
 
 Amid much applause, the Band 
 played and the choir sang "Let the 
 toast be, Dear Woman!" repeated 
 three or four times. 
 
 Mr. Lossing then introduced Hon. 
 Theodoric R. Westbrook, of Kingston, 
 a Justice of the Supreme Court, and 
 a native of Fishkill Village, who made 
 the opening address. He spoke as | 
 follows: 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen Upon the i 
 elevation of a century of years which 
 onr country has now attained, of the 
 greatness of which we are forcibly 
 reminded by the presence of these 
 young ladies representing the thirty- 
 eight States of the Union, we are as 
 sembled to look backward to their 
 beginning; to rescue so far as we can 
 from oblivion the events which then 
 transpired in this locality; and, while 
 we contemplate the past and the pres 
 ent, to remember the Hand which has 
 led us, and shaped and directed the 
 occurrences making the history of the 
 intervening period. 
 
 In the immediate locality of this 
 assembly there were no battles, but 
 the scenes of carnage were not far 
 a way. Quite near us are Stony Point, 
 Forts Clinton, Montgomery and Put 
 nam, and West Point historic and 
 classic ground made memorable, not 
 only by the deeds of patriotic valor, 
 but by treason, almost successful, of 
 a trusted general. Many of the act 
 ors in those great events were familiar 
 with the landscape upon which we 
 now look. They saw the same old 
 hills, and beheld the same old build 
 ings. The ground around and about 
 us is hallowed by recollections of 
 those who here, from time to time, 
 took counsel together concerning the 
 important events in which they were 
 participants. 
 
 On the 28th day of August, 177G, 
 
 the Provincial Convention of this 
 State as its Legislature was then 
 called then in session at W 7 hite 
 Plains, selected Fishkill as the place 
 to which should be removed the treas 
 ury and archives of the State, and in 
 which the subsequent sessions of that 
 body Avere to be held. They were 
 accordingly resumed at this point on 
 the 3d day of September, 1776. The 
 Episcopal church, still standing and 
 subsequently occupied as a hospital, 
 was selected, because then unoccu 
 pied, but on assembling there it was 
 found to be "foul with the dung of 
 doves, and without seats, benches, or 
 other conveniences," and thereupon 
 the convention adjourned to the old 
 Reformed Dutch church, which still 
 rears its spire heaven-ward, and whose 
 walls still stand, the silent witnesses 
 of the wisdom and patriotism of its 
 then occupants. That historic build 
 ing continued to be the place of meet 
 ing of the convention until its removal 
 to Kingston, where it continued its 
 labors from February, 1777, to May of 
 the same year. Here also, in the 
 same old church, the Committee of 
 Safety met. There, too. as tradition 
 informs us, the prisoners captured by 
 our soldiers were confined. Ah, could 
 those walls but speak, what tales they 
 could tell! What woi'ds of wisdom 
 they heard, what secrets they bear of 
 dangers averted by action determined 
 upon within their enclosure! What 
 hopes and aspirations there uttered, 
 and what forebodings ~f evil, almost 
 inaudibly whispered, they in silence 
 listened to! The details of what there 
 transpired shall never be disclosed to 
 us, but from the character of the bod 
 ies which there assembled we are sure 
 that much of the history marked by 
 the stirring events of the Revolution 
 was there formulated and resolved 
 upon. The old diureh-yard, too, what 
 a sacred and hallowed enclosure it is! 
 There repose the bodies of Col. John 
 Brinckerhoff, General Jacobus Swarf- 
 wout, General Frederick Westbrook, 
 Capt. Gridley. and of raanv other pa 
 triots and soldiers of the Revolution. 
 Sleep on, and sleep sweetly, dear kin 
 dred dust, until the archangel's trump 
 
134 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 shall wake you upon the glorious 
 resurrection morn! 
 
 Let me resume the history of the 
 convention which assembled here: 
 The draft of the Constitution was 
 submitted to the convention in Kings 
 ton on the 12th day of March, 1777, 
 and was adopted on the 20th of April. 
 Concerning it, the late Mr. Gulian 
 C. Verplanck said: "The Constitution 
 of the State of New York was printed 
 in 1777, and was the first as well as 
 the most important book ever printed 
 in the State. The people could find 
 but one press in their domain with 
 which to print the work of their rep 
 resentatives. It was done at Fishkill 
 by Samuel Loudon, who had been a 
 Whig editor and printer in the city of 
 New York, and who had retired with 
 his press to Fishkill, where was the 
 chief deposit of stores, hospitals, etc., 
 for the northern army of the United 
 States." 
 
 The same Samuel Loudon also pub 
 lished here till the close of the war 
 a newspaper called "The Fishkill 
 Packet." This paper was the official 
 organ of the Whigs of the Revolution, 
 and contained four pages of eight by 
 ten inches in size. Upon the press of 
 Loudon was also printed the official 
 orders of the American army. 
 
 It would be interesting to pause at 
 this point to consider how great a 
 work in the establishment of our lib 
 erties that humble paper wrought. 
 Beside the printing of the State Con 
 stitution and the orders of Washing 
 ton, how many hearts were cheered 
 and hands strengthened by its stir 
 ting words during the long years of 
 the bloody struggle for freedom! 
 
 With Loudon and other patriot 
 lefugees who fled hither from New 
 York upon its occupation by the Brit 
 ish, was a Mr. Van Steenberg, who 
 was the schoolmaster of the Collegiate 
 Reformed Dutch Church of that city, 
 and here established a school. At it 
 many of the inhabitants of this local 
 ity were educated. Who can calcu 
 late the influence for good of that 
 seminary of learning, thus early es 
 tablished, upon this neighborhood? 
 We know it bore fruit in the virtue 
 
 I and intelligence of the occupants of 
 i the homes all around us. 
 
 On the 14th of October, 1776, Fish- 
 kill, in addition to being the deposi- 
 i tory of the treasure and archives of 
 I the State, was turned into an armed 
 ! encampment. Chastellux gives this 
 'general description of the place in 
 1780: "This town, in which there are 
 ; not over fifty houses in the space of 
 ; two miles, has long been the principal 
 i depot of the American army. It is 
 ; there they have placed their maga- 
 ; zines, their hospitals, their workshops, 
 j etc., but all these form a town by 
 themselves, composed of handsome 
 large barracks, built of wood at the 
 ; foot of the mountains." The barracks 
 referred to by the writer extended 
 from the place recently occupied by 
 the late Sidney E. Van Wyck to the 
 foot of the mountain, and near by was 
 j the soldiers' burial place, where many 
 now unknown patriot dead repose. 
 | From what cause it was largely filled 
 ! let the following extract from the 
 ' same author describing the invalid 
 camp, tell: "The houses were made of 
 logs and were erected by the soldiers. 
 To this place the troops, however 
 healthy and fit for service, were sent 
 when they became destitute of clotL- 
 i ing. They i-emained at the barracks 
 i as long as they had rags which could 
 ! be patched into a covering, but when 
 i they became naked they were sent 
 ! into this hiding-place." What a tale 
 : this is in simple words! We shudder 
 : as we fill in all the details of horrors 
 here portrayed in general terms. In 
 hunger, and in cold, with no food or 
 clothing, our heroes died. No stone 
 marks their resting places, their names 
 I are not preserved to us, but He who 
 | called them into being knows where 
 I they sleep. In the volume of His 
 1 book their deeds are all recorded, and 
 | by and by, in His own good time, 
 \ shall their virtues and their works be 
 , proclaimed so loudly that the uni- 
 ' verse shall hoar, and applaud. 
 
 The Van Wyck mansion was the 
 i officers' headquartei-s, and must often 
 i have been honored by the presence of 
 j Washington, Lafayette. Steuben. Put- 
 i nam and others. Lafayette was sick 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 135 
 
 in this village for six weeks of a fever, I 
 and while ill remained at the house ! 
 more recently owned by Matthew V. ! 
 B. Brinckerhoff. The Baron Steuben ' 
 and his military family occupied the ; 
 residence of Mr. Samuel Verplanck, ; 
 near the Landing, in which the con- 1 
 stitution of the now historic society 
 of the Cincinnati was formally signed ! 
 on May 13th, 1783. 
 
 A word should here be spoken con- ' 
 cerning Washington's headquarters* ; 
 when in this locality, and of their 
 owner. Col. John Brinckerhoff, who 
 died full of years and honors March 
 26th. 1785. The house is thus de 
 scribed by one who is present with us 
 to day. and who may be justly styled 
 the Historian of the Revolution, Mr. ; 
 Benson J. Lossing: "It is an old- j 
 fashioned house built of stone, with ; 
 the date 1738 on one of its gables, 
 formed of brick imported from Hol 
 land." According to the same author 
 ity, "a letter written by Gen. \Vash-. 
 ington to Gen. Lincoln, announcing 
 the appointment by the Continental ; 
 Congress of the latter gentleman to 
 the command of troops for the de 
 fence of Charleston," was here penned, . 
 and ''is dated at Col. Brinckerhoff's, , 
 October 3d, 1778." Mr. Lossing also 
 states: "In the Brii.ckerhoff mansion 
 Washington remained a few days at 
 this time, dating his letters written 
 tn^iv. after the one just mentioned: 
 "Headquarters, Fishkill." Whenever 
 Washington was at Fishkill he made 
 Col. Brinckerhoff's his headquarters. 
 He occupied the bedroom back of the 
 parlor, "which remains the same (at 
 date of 1874) excepting a door that 
 opens into the hall, which has been 
 cut through." 
 
 In Fishkill lived John Bailey, who 
 had also fled from the city of New 
 York. He was a mechanic, and in 
 his shop were forged many of the 
 weapons of the patriot soldiers, and 
 among them was a sword worn by the 
 Father of his Country, now deposited 
 with other national relics at the city 
 of Washington, and bearing the in 
 scription "J. Bailey, Fishkill.'' To 
 
 : ' See illustration <> 
 
 this same individual Gen. Washing 
 ton alludes in a curious letter dated 
 October 7th, 1779, as the person who 
 could supply him with a two-bladed 
 pocket knife, of which he was then in 
 need, having lost "an eld and favorite 
 one," by which loss he was "much 
 distressed." 
 
 Party spirit ran high during those 
 days in this locality, but at least two- 
 thirds of the inhabitants were loyal 
 to home and country, and the ladies 
 were ever active in their contributions 
 for our needy and suffering soldiers. 
 As proof of their loyalty, it may be 
 mentioned that on the 14th day of 
 August, 1776, they possessed them 
 selves by force of a quantity of tea 
 stored here by Alderman Lefferts, of 
 New York, disposed of it at six shil 
 lings per pound, and distributed the 
 proceeds of the sale for the benefit of 
 the patriot cause. 
 
 During the week now closing stir 
 ring recollections of another great 
 and successful struggle one fought 
 to preserve the Union which our fath 
 ers formed have been awakened. All 
 over this broad land have our people 
 gathered to decorate with flowers the 
 graves where departed heroes sleep. 
 As I recalled the stirring reminiscen 
 ces of the war to achieve, and of the 
 war to preserve, "Liberty and Union." 
 and remembered the issue of each, I 
 could not but think that the Union of 
 the States wil 1 be perpetual, ever 
 blessing the world with the vision of 
 a government by the people for a peo 
 ple prosperous as never before wit 
 nessed on earth, and of a nation great 
 in all that makes true greatness be 
 yond all present human conception! 
 
 The choir then sang "Columbia, 
 the Land of the Brave," rendering the 
 chorus amid the waving of their flags 
 by the 38 young ladies. Mr. J. Her 
 vey Cook, of Fishkill-on Hudson, was 
 then introduced as the next speaker, 
 and said: 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentle 
 menGo back with me one hundred 
 years. June 2, 1783, has been alike 
 charming, and in all nature there is 
 
136 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 the most attractive loveliness, but is 
 there not a fuller joy in Newburgh, 
 New Windsor, Cornwall, West Point, 
 and Fishkill, than can be felt upon 
 tbis gladsome day? United in heart 
 as now, those who have been long in 
 camps, and in action upon many a 
 field, hear from yonder old headquar 
 ters the orders of their beloved Wash 
 ington, summoning them once more 
 to the Cantonment, and they strike 
 their tents and hasten, while prayers 
 go up from devout lips, and loud 
 shouts and huzzas cause the welkin 
 to ring, to be echoed and re-echoed 
 among these hills and mountains. 
 
 From that holy Temple where their 
 leader had refused the crown that the 
 people might be sovereigns, the non 
 commissioned officers and soldiers day 
 after day are furloughed in obedience 
 to the voice of Congress, never in the 
 providence of God to return, and are 
 taking that reluctant leave of each 
 other which springs from an affection 
 that has been born of being fellow 
 sharers in perils, sufferings, enjoy 
 ments and triumphs, and they hurry 
 away to the heart-touching welcomes 
 awaiting them in their homes, where 
 the loved shared with them the bless 
 ings which freedom brings. It is not 
 the proclamation of tincertain war, 
 nor the declaration of independence, 
 but the divine assurance of peace, it 
 is the taking off the harness more 
 gloriously than it was put on. 
 
 The story of Fishkill in the Revo 
 lution has never yet been fully told 
 I know this is saying much in the 
 presence of this multitude, who have 
 been listening to the most eloquent 
 Titterances, and seeing around me 
 these historical writers, with the au 
 thor of "The Field Book of the Revo 
 lution" in the chair, who has given 
 therein with pen and pencil so much 
 to endear him to Americans, but even 
 he and I say it with deference 
 could tell but little of what could not 
 be crowded into a volume, having to 
 range through the thirteen States. 
 But some of you may know much 
 more than I can narrate to you, and 
 you ought to, for they were your own 
 
 ancestors who were living here then, 
 and acting with them. 
 
 When the news came to the Provin 
 cial Congress in New York of the 
 battle of Lexington, where 
 
 "the embattled farmers stood. 
 And flred the shot heard round the world," 
 
 we see Nathaniel Sackett hastening 
 back to Fishkill, like another Paul 
 Revere, to spread the general alarm, 
 and organize the Committee of Ob 
 servation. At that first meeting there 
 was a Spartan woman present who 
 declared, with patriotic zeal, that if 
 the exigencies required it, her own 
 sex would take up arms. Who of you 
 can claim her in your lineage, need 
 boast no more. 
 
 Many went out to battle, and many 
 never to return. Fathers and sous 
 and brothers were frequently arrayed 
 against each other, as tories were in 
 all ranks of society still loyal to their 
 king, who had cut off by his mis-rule 
 the natural allegiance. The names of 
 those patriots are familiar to you, 
 and many of them you bear. In this 
 brief space I could not name them all, 
 and to speak of a few would be mak 
 ing an inglorious distinction. How 
 they looked, you have often heard, 
 and there are those of you who re 
 member seeing in your childhood 
 some of those heroes in their age. 
 
 But those spirits are around us 
 now. Along this old Post Road lead 
 ing down through the Highlands, 
 which was formerly an Indian path, 
 and was laid out by Lord Loudon in 
 the French and Indian war, we see 
 them moving one way and the other. 
 
 Near the close of August, 1776, the 
 Provincial Legislature is meeting in 
 yonder old Trinity Church, no longer 
 ornamented with a spire, and soon 
 moves into the old Dutch Church near 
 by for reasons which the historian 
 gives, which is so changed that the 
 fathers scarcely know it. seeing but 
 here and there a trace of the Dutch 
 left in it. The president, Abraham 
 Yates, is seen riding backward and 
 forward to the old Teller house, in 
 Matteawon, where he makes his stay. 
 Many remarkable men are gathered 
 in this Convention. That elderly, 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 137 
 
 courtly gentleman is Philip Living 
 ston, to become afterward a signer of 
 the Declaration of Independence, and 
 Lewis Morris is to be alike honored. 
 Among them are Pierre Van Cort- 
 laudt, Leonard Gansevoort, General 
 John Morin Scott, Robert Van Rens- 
 selaer, with James Duane, the emi 
 nent lawyer. Another to have higher 
 distinction is Robert R. Livingston, 
 who is to be associated with Adams, 
 Jefferson, Franklin and Sherman in 
 drafting the Declaration of Indepen 
 dence, and to be named as the first 
 Chancellor, and to administer Ihe 
 oath to Washington as President of 
 the United States. But there is one 
 more already famous for having writ 
 ten the Petition to the People of Great 
 Britain in the first Continental Con 
 gress, which Jefferson pronounced 
 "the production of the finest pen in 
 America," and he is to have greater 
 glory here. This young man can be 
 none other than John Jay, who will 
 have brighter honors to be with Ad 
 ams, Franklin and Laurens in negoti 
 ating the Treaty of Peace, and the 
 first Chief Justice. 
 
 I must tell my eloquent friend why 
 this Convention went from here to 
 Kingston. Scott, in writing Wash 
 ington at the time, says it was on ac 
 count of "inconvenience of lodging," 
 and he opposed it with much vigor, 
 declaring it was highly important 
 that they should remain to further 
 the obstructions in the river, to be 
 nearer New York, and to strengthen 
 the patriots who were in the midst of 
 so many tories. 
 
 A number of those members were 
 to be in that brilliant Convention in 
 Poughkeepsie, to act upon the adop 
 tion of the Federal Constitution, and 
 you remember how conspicuously they 
 shone along side of Hamilton, George 
 Clinton, and Melancthon Smith, in 
 those long and able discussions. Gen. 
 Swartwout was a member from here 
 of that body, and gave his vote against 
 it. not wishing to favor it without fur 
 ther amendments. It was not what 
 Hamilton wished, who had proposed 
 a much stronger government, but who 
 gave to its passage a mighty strength, 
 
 hoping that time would mould it as 
 he would like to see it. How this vil 
 lage then appeared, you have learned 
 through your fathers around the old 
 hearth-stones. Scattered two miles 
 around were only about fifty houses, 
 quaint in their looks, and some of 
 them going back to tne first settle 
 ment two hundred years ago. The 
 hospitals, magazines, workshops, bar 
 racks and military stores, stretching 
 along on either side down to the 
 mountains, were like a military town, 
 and you must not forget that there 
 were thousands of soldiers. There 
 were major-generals, brigadiers and 
 many other officers. Many patriots 
 took refuge here after the disasters 
 on Long Island. Putnam came from 
 Peekskill on the capture of Fort Mont L 
 gomery, and in this retreat was the 
 most trying time to him of the war. 
 You may think it strange that he 
 should be questioned, upon whose 
 tombstone is inscribed, "He dared to 
 lead where any dared to follow," but 
 so it was. It was not enough that he 
 endured sufferings and hardships, 
 and was so cruelly scarred in the old 
 French and 1 Indian war, nor that he 
 should have been among "the bravest 
 of the brave" with Warren at Bunker 
 Hill, although overpowered by the 
 superior numbers of S'"r Henry Clin 
 ton. JThe youthful Hamilton" must 
 criticise him, and Washington must 
 yield to the prejudices aroused, to 
 relieve him for a while from command. 
 But the Cotnmander-in-Chief one hun 
 dred years ago this very day sat down 
 | in the old Headquarters and wrote 
 I with warmth this Roman general that 
 | he would "never be forgotten." Among 
 i those generals were Poor, Learned, 
 I Parsons, McDougal and the Clintons. 
 ! The Baron Steuben had his head- 
 | quarters in the Scotield house, in 
 ; Glenham, and at the last at the Ver- 
 I planck house near the river, where the 
 ! other dfir the centennial of the Soci- 
 j ety of Cincinnati was duly celebrated. 
 The valiant soldier of Frederick the 
 ! Great gave us his best services, like 
 I DeKalb and Kosciusko. We see the 
 Mad Wayne ar Fishkill Landing rap- 
 i idly dashing off a note to Sackett in 
 
IBS 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 mysterious language, meditating up 
 on another attack like that which at 
 Stony Point gave a brilliancy to his 
 name. Across those ferries to and 
 from Newburgh and New Windsor, 
 and up and down along the old roads 
 leading to this oM village, those men 
 are seen coming and going. 
 
 In the old Brinckvrhoff house La 
 fayette lay very sick with a fever. He 
 was so young, so unseltish, so God 
 like in those qualities which adorn 
 .human nature. I need not speak his 
 praise. 
 
 There is another soldier I must be 
 permitted to speak of, who went out 
 from this connty, the gallant Richard 
 Montgomery, who fell at Quebec. 
 
 Washington was familiarly known. 
 In camp, on horseback, or in his head 
 quarters at Col. John Brinckerhoff 's, 
 he was grave and thoughtful, and 
 there are many anecdotes remem 
 bered. The Commander in-Chief on 
 his way to Connecticut spent the night 
 here w'ith Benedict Arnold just a week 
 before he went over to th3 enemy to 
 betray us, and he was on this road 
 going toward West Point, riding down 
 through those Highlands, when he 
 learned that he who had been rash in 
 his courage, but had done much in 
 the service to merit distinction, had 
 become a traitor. Well might he ask 
 in sorrow, "Whom can we trust now?'.' 
 Here Joshua Hett Smith, supposed 
 to bo in complicity with Arnold, was 
 captured, as was also Claudius Smith, 
 who was hanged in Orange county as 
 a tory. 
 
 In your old church-yard lies the 
 dust of mmy of your fathers, who 
 won for themselves the patriot's im 
 mortal name, but how many there 
 were who died from wounds and dis 
 ease in yonder church hospitals, who 
 have long since mouldered and min 
 gled with mother earth in the neg 
 lected burial plot down near those i 
 mountains, who, though nameless to j 
 us, are in the guardianship of those 
 spirits that keep holy watch over their 
 country and ours, whom we can never 
 call by name until the books are 
 opened in which the recording angel 
 has written the beauty of their heroic 
 
 lives. They are no longer distin 
 guished by the States from which 
 they came, but lie together as fellow 
 patriots. 
 
 The fathers have long since entered 
 upon their high reward. The chil 
 dren, too, have nearly passed away, 
 and here are their children's children 
 rising up to call them blessed. 
 
 Descendants of the men of the Rev 
 olution, God Almighty has given you 
 His own peculiar blessing, in giving 
 you such a lofty line, which is more 
 than to claim a kinship with kings. 
 There is no battle-field that has more 
 hallowed ground, for it was consecra 
 ted through all those years. The 
 buildings are becoming fewer and 
 fewer in which they were, and while 
 they need no monuments, we should 
 set' up memorial stones everywhere 
 for other ages to look upon, to be the 
 common heritage of freemen. Those 
 beacons shall forever remain, from 
 whose proud heights our fathers saw 
 the sun of Liberty rising through the 
 golden gateways, whose divine rays 
 are radiating in the fullness of their 
 effulgence, never to depart while God 
 sits upon His throne and rules in His 
 majesty among the children of men. 
 
 The choir then sang "Our Braves," 
 to the tune of Kellar's "American 
 Hymn." 
 
 Hon. James G. Graham, of New- 
 burgh, was then introduced and spoke 
 as follows: 
 
 What more beautiful than a day in 
 June? And surely it is fitting that a 
 day like this, when nature is in the 
 "bloom of her beauty," and the land 
 scape is blossoming with the ensign 
 of the Republic, should be chosen for 
 these patriotic ceremonials. It is tit- 
 ting, too. that ministers of religion, 
 and ministers of justice, and men of 
 business that age. with whitened 
 locks, and youth, with growing aspi 
 rations; the strength of manhood and 
 matronly worth and culture and the 
 grace and beauty of maidenhood 
 
 "On their hearts the dew of youth, 
 Ou their lips the smile of truth;" 
 
 that all these should gather on this 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 139 
 
 centennial day, and lay some offering 
 on the altar of patriotic memories 
 and more than all, should strive to 
 learn the lessons which our Revolu 
 tionary history is teaching. 
 
 It is indeed a day for solemn 
 thought. In the march of time, an 
 other one of the centuries has passed. 
 You have gathered here with reverent 
 steps, from the valley of the Central 
 Hudson, in honor of the great events 
 which have made this region famous 
 forever. May you not recall, with 
 pride, the fact that nowhere in all the 
 land are riverside, and mountain, and 
 valley so pervaded with deep historic 
 significance, as in this Highland re 
 gion. Curtis has well said that "'the 
 Hudson is rich in Revolutionary rem 
 iniscences, and the beauty of its sce 
 nery is touched with the glamour of 
 romantic and historic associations." 
 
 Do we realize as we should our rare 
 privilege in having our homes, not 
 only where the surroundings of Na 
 ture are so grandly beautiful, but 
 where there also ever rests over all, 
 like the glory of sunset, the golden 
 radiance of Revolutionary traditions'? 
 
 The claims of this village, and of 
 this town, to an honoi'ed place in Rev 
 olutionary history, have been justly 
 and eloquently presented by Judge 
 Westbrook and Mr. Cook. They have 
 told you of the sword made here for 
 Washington and still preserved; and 
 as the song of the "Sword of Bunker 
 Hill" has been heard at thousands of 
 assemblages all over the land, why 
 should not the story of the '"Sword of 
 Washington" be woven into a national 
 song, and be heard in days to come, 
 by many a camp tire, and on many a 
 day of patriotic rejoicing? 
 
 The fact that the first constitution 
 of the State, adopted at Kingston in 
 1777, had to be brought to Fishkill to 
 be printed, speaks emphatically of 
 her patriotic public spirit at that 
 early day in the struggle, and I re 
 gard as one of my most treasured 
 Revolutionary relics a copy of that 
 old New York "Packet," printed by 
 Snmuel London, at Fishkill, in March. 
 1777, which I now hold in my hand. 
 It contains proceedings of the "Com 
 
 mittee of Safety," then in session in 
 Kingston, and also many other items 
 of interest in reference to the pend 
 ing struggle. 
 
 This press had been driven from 
 
 New York by the British forces, and 
 
 the printer states he "has fixed the 
 
 printing office at the house of Mr. 
 
 Isaac Van Wyck, in Fishkill." It also 
 
 states that the "post office for the 
 
 State of New York is kept by Samuel 
 
 Loudon, at Fishkill," and that u a 
 
 post office is opened at headquarters 
 
 in Morristowu, New Jersey, through 
 
 which we receive the Philadelphia 
 
 mail once a week. The Boston upper 
 
 ! post riders, by way of Hartfoid, arrive 
 
 ! at Fishkill Wednesday evening; the 
 
 I lower post, by way of New London, 
 
 | arriving on Saturday evening." 
 
 The hearts that thrilled as its con- 
 I tents were read, more than a hundred 
 | years ago, have long since ceased to 
 i beat, and the eyes that pored over it 
 I with eager interest have long been 
 | closed in dreamless sleep. When these 
 I centennial days are past I shall lay it 
 I again awav, fondly dreaming, per- 
 ! haps, that it may still be cared for, 
 and that some descendant who may 
 treasure the memory of Revolutionary 
 days, may meet with your descend 
 ants here one hundred years from to 
 day, and bring with him, then, this 
 old relic of 1777. For surely these 
 memorable events will be worthy to 
 be celebrated anew as each century 
 rolls round. Even in our wildest 
 dreams we cannot hope to picture the 
 Republic as it will be when another 
 centm-y shall have passed; with our 
 flag floating over the whole conti 
 nent, and our population reaching 
 a hundred millions. These grand 
 mountains, only, may not change. 
 They will still stand like sentinels, 
 stationed by the Eternal in the early 
 morning of time, still keeping watch 
 and ward over the valley below; and 
 then, perhaps, even as to-day, the 
 flowery spring-time will be passing 
 onward to the golden summer through 
 gates of pearl, and beneath a sky of 
 cloudless blue. 
 
 It is fitting, too, that your neigh 
 bors from beyond the Hudson should 
 
140 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 join with you in these ceremonies to 
 day, for their history was most inti 
 mately connected with that of Fish- 
 kill in those eventful days. The ferry 
 between Fishkill and New Windsor 
 was crossed over by Col. Morgan and 
 his brave troopers, in 1775, on their 
 way to join the American army near 
 Boston. He led them through this 
 same valley and through youder pass 
 in the mountain. During the whole 
 period of the Revolution the same 
 ferry was constantly used in connec 
 tion with military movements and the 
 transportation of military supplies. 
 
 Miy I ask you to follow me across 
 the river, and look on some of the fa 
 mous grounds that lie beyond it. New 
 Windsor was in truth one of the 
 birth places of that spirit of resist 
 ance and revolution which culminated 
 at last in Independence. Her sons of 
 Liberty were early in their resistance 
 to the Stamp Act, and their leader, 
 George Clinton, in the Colonial Leg 
 islature, was among the foremost in 
 urging appeal to arms. His brother, 
 Gen. James Clinton, fought bravely 
 in the French War, as well as in the 
 Revolution. They seemed, in truth, 
 born soldiers, and lovers of Liberty. 
 The home of George Clinton, during 
 the war, was on the river bank, where 
 the Ludlow, or Chrystie House, now 
 stands. And what a proud record his 
 public life presents for seven terras 
 Governor of New York, and twice 
 Vice President of the United States; 
 and during much of his early service 
 as Governor, holding important mili 
 tary commands. He died with his 
 arnnr on, while in the public service, 
 as Vice President. 
 
 The Ulster "Plebeian" of April 12, 
 1812, which I have before me, con 
 tains the proceedings in Congress in 
 honor of the memory of George Clin 
 ton, the patriot, statesman and hero. 
 
 Washington had his headquarters 
 at the Thomas Ellison house, on the 
 river bank, in 1778, and also in 1780, 
 and in 1781, while prepai'ing for York- 
 town. At the last of March, 1782. h^ 
 established his headquarters at the 
 old Hasbrouck house at Newburgh 
 There he remained almost continu 
 
 ously until August 17, 1783. It was 
 sorn-stimes the scene of social enjoy 
 ment, but oftener of the gravest anxi 
 eties. The army in October, 1782, 
 went into "quarters" beyond Snake 
 Hill, and there remained until June, 
 1783, with detachments also in neigh 
 boring localities. A district of but a 
 few miles square thus embraced not 
 only the headquarters of the great 
 commander, but those of Steuben, and 
 Knox, and Heath, and all his other 
 generals the cantonment of the army 
 at tfew Windsor, and whnt is worthy 
 of deepest veneration of all, the burial 
 grounds of the soldiers who died 
 there. 
 
 What other region in all our bor 
 ders is thus crowded full of historic 
 grounds and historic traditions ? This 
 alone should secure for it the visits 
 and veneration of lovers of liberty 
 from all climes. But it has stronger 
 title to remembrances by reason of 
 the momentous events of which it 
 was the theatre. Impartial history 
 has awarded Washington the praise 
 of consummate generalship. Frede 
 rick the Great, one of the most famous 
 of European generals, after the Rev 
 olution was over presented him a 
 sword inscribed, "From the old"st to 
 the greatest General of the age." 
 Washington had won renown at Tren 
 ton and Monmouth, and was fresh 
 from his crowning triumph at York- 
 ! town ; but towering above thorn all in 
 i importance and moral grandeur, were 
 | his triumphs won at the old Head 
 quarters at Newburgh and at the 
 "Temple" in New Windsor. Wash 
 ington's Headquarters at Newburgh 
 are forever associated with the essen 
 tial grandeur of Washington and the 
 sure foundation of the Republic. It 
 was there that the Commander in- 
 Chief, alone, prevented the great vic 
 tory, after the long and terrible con 
 flict, from ending in an incalculable 
 catastrophe, and alone secured the 
 I well ordered and lawful peace for 
 i which the war had been waged. 
 
 After the addresses you have al- 
 I readv heard, it Wwiild be needless to 
 i detain you bv farther and fuller ref- 
 i erence to the wonderful scenes of 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 141 
 
 which the "Temple" was the witness. 
 Had Washington accepted the offer 
 of kingly authority, made by Col. 
 Nicola on behalf of many of the offi 
 cers, you cannot doubt that the army, 
 then in a mood of angry discontent, 
 would have followed and recognized 
 his sole authority. A monarchy, in 
 stead of a Republic, would have been 
 established in this young colonial em 
 pire, which had at last secured inde 
 pendence. 
 
 Do you realize, then, how momen 
 tous was the decision of Washington 
 when he refused the crown? How it 
 shaped the course of American histo 
 ry, and secured the establishment of 
 an American Republic? Surely the 
 "Headquarters" and "Temple Hill" 
 should be the shrine to which every 
 lover of republican liberty should 
 journey, with something of that spirit 
 of veneration which impels the fol 
 lower of Mahomet on a pilgrimage to 
 Mecca, or the Christian traveler, as he 
 treads the streets of Jerusalem, or 
 the "sacred mountains" round about 
 her. 
 
 The places of special historic inter 
 est in your vicinity should be marked 
 "by some lasting memorial, and above 
 all, the burial place of continental 
 soldiers, here and at Temple Hill, 
 should be guarded from further des 
 ecration, and made beautiful with 
 shrubs and flowers. Then the song 
 birds will gather there and chant their 
 morning hymns, and the sunshine will 
 linger lovingly above them. 
 
 As the wonderful story of these 
 closing Revolutionary days is recalled 
 and brought often before you, you are 
 transported back, in fancy, through 
 the years of the century and look up 
 on the camps of the soldiers on the 
 hillside. You hear the words of prayer 
 and praise on Lord's day, at the Tem 
 ple; you see Washington sitting at 
 sunset at the door of the Headquar 
 ters, forgetting his cares as he gazes 
 on the river and the mountain suffused 
 with the "rose flush of departing day," 
 and as the night comes on you hear 
 the tread of the sentinel marching on 
 his lonely round, and near the grounds 
 where we are gathered see again many 
 a battle-worn soldier, and at times 
 
 some honored general meets you. You 
 are startled as some form rushes past 
 you in the darkness, but in a moment 
 you recognize it as Harvey Birch, 
 fleeing from his prison toward the 
 mountain. What is the clattering tu 
 mult on the distant highway where 
 the cloud of dust is rising? It is 
 Morgan and his band of troopers 
 dashing on toward Boston. 
 
 As this day is the centennial of the 
 beginning of the virtual disbandment 
 of the continental army, I may, in 
 conclusion, refer briefly to the closing 
 scene. 
 
 We can never too highly honor the 
 veterans who, in the war of the Re 
 bellion, preserved that Republic which 
 the men of the Revolution had es 
 tablished. But yet, how marked, in 
 some respects, were the contrasts in 
 history, at the close of the respective 
 struggles. In the last war, the Gov 
 ernment faithfully kept all its en 
 gagements as to pay and clothing and 
 supplies for the soldiers in its service; 
 although in cost, and numbers en 
 gaged, that war exceeded, many hun 
 dred fold, the Revolutionary struggle 
 and who can forget the grand array 
 i of all these Union veterans, who when 
 ! the war had ceased, passed in review 
 | at Washington, before the President 
 I and other chief officers of the Govern- 
 j'ment. with martial bearing and ban- 
 ! ners floating, and music lending its 
 ! enchantment to the pageant; and as 
 j they reached their various homes they 
 ! were welcomed with shouts of rejoic- 
 i ing and words of grateful speech and 
 I song: and they were well worthy of 
 ! all these honors they can never be 
 fully repaid. 
 
 But now go back to 1783, and see 
 how these "Continentals" are leaving, 
 after seven long years of sacrifice and 
 suffering. Think for a moment what 
 their triumph had secured. They had 
 won Independence for the colonies, 
 and laid the foundations of an Amer 
 ican Republic, stretching now from 
 ocean to ocean and embracing 50,000,- 
 000 of people. Surely, in view of such 
 sacrifices and such results secured, 
 they were worthy, if ever soldiers 
 were, to have their dues paid in full 
 measure and "running over." They 
 
142 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 were worthy,, if ever successful war 
 riors were when parting from their 
 officers and brother soldiers, to be 
 clothed in "purple and tine linen," and 
 even to wear, as did the victors of old, 
 robes "richly inlaid with silver and 
 gold." 
 
 How different the picture presented 
 there in those June days one hundred 
 years ago! With long arrearages of 
 pay, for which the prime of their 
 manhood had been sacrificed, and with 
 clothing scanty and threadbare, these 
 Continental soldiers broke camp and 
 turned their faces homeward. With 
 no grand review, no floating banners, 
 no ranks keeping step to martial mu 
 sic, and passing proudly before their 
 great commander and all his gener 
 als. Day after day in succession, the 
 troops of the several States struck 
 their tents, and said their sad words 
 of parting. Faithful soldiers whose 
 sense of duty and love of country was 
 proof against all temptations. The 
 flag which had floated over the en 
 campment for nearly a year, torn and 
 battle stained, but which to them was 
 more beautiful than if woven of sum 
 mer sunset hues this old flag was 
 taken down and folded away forever. 
 
 Yes! there, as the "Army of the 
 Continentals," you "passed out of 
 mortal sight, bat into immortal his 
 tory." And your grateful country-' 
 men of this imperial republic, on this 
 centennial of your disbandment, with 
 eye of faith and loving reverence, be 
 hold you now not in "ragged regi 
 mentals" and with faces saddened and 
 careworn, but they behold you radiant 
 with joy, and wearing the glittering 
 robes of crowned Champions of Free 
 dom, where 
 
 "On Fame's eternal camping ground 
 
 Your silent tents are spread. 
 Where glory guards with solemn round 
 
 The bivouac of the dead." 
 
 But now the lengthening shadows 
 admonish me to close. It is an hour 
 of mingled sadness and pleasure. 
 Sadness, that those who are gathered 
 on this festal "centennial" day will 
 never again all meet for this pious 
 duty. The old will soon be gathered 
 to their fathers, and even the young 
 cannot expect that their life, long 
 
 though it may be, can span the com 
 ing century. This will be your last 
 centennial commemoration of the clos 
 ing Revolutionary days. And yet, it 
 is an hour of rejoicing that the sea 
 son to which so many have looked 
 forward with patriotic longing has 
 come, and we have all been permitted 
 to offer some tribute, however hum 
 ble, to the memory of these veterans 
 of the Revolution. We have been 
 allowed, as it were, to sit at the feet 
 of these patriarchs of the Republic, 
 and to hear again from their lips the 
 great lessons of "trust in Providence" 
 and of "unconquerable patriotism." 
 and "love of country," which their 
 liyes so splendidly illustrated. And 
 we have an abiding faith that long 
 after the ceremonials of to-day shall 
 be past the lessons of these heroic 
 lives will be seen and felt in the lives 
 of all our citizens, and that thus we 
 may rise to a nobler individual man 
 hood, and a higher national life may 
 gladden the future of the Republic. 
 
 The name and fame of these illus 
 trious men of the Revolution are now 
 left, in some measure, to your keep 
 ing. But. matchless and towering 
 above them all, stands the majestic 
 character of AVasbington. "Like the 
 magnolia in Spring, one cloud of 
 snowy bloom like the tree of the 
 tropics, under the blossoms, the rarest 
 fruits, profuse and perennial." The 
 loving reverence of his countrymen 
 has long since crowned him with that 
 noblest of titles, "the Father of his 
 Country." Here we leave him, and 
 we go forward refreshed, strengthen 
 ed, inspired, by the light of the life 
 which, like a star, serene arid inextin 
 guishable, 
 "Flames in the forehead of our morning sky." 
 
 The choir then sang "America." 
 
 The Chairman made a few closing 
 remarks, when the choir sang the 
 "Doxology," and the Benediction was 
 pronounced by Rev. M. Bross Thomas, 
 of the Reformed Church, Fishkill, 
 which closed the exercises, and the 
 vast crowd dispersed, having appro 
 priately honored the great centennial 
 anniversary of the disbanding of the 
 Revohitionary army. 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 143 
 
 OLD TRINITY CHURCH, FISHKILL, N. Y., AS IT FORMERLY 
 
 APPEARED. 
 
 [Foni the Fishkill Wee!dy 
 
 Trinity Church, Fishkill, is one of 
 the oldest church edifices in the State 
 of New York. It was the third church 
 organized in the town of Fishkill, and 
 the first of its denomination in Dutch- 
 ess county, or anywhere above the 
 Highlands on the east side of the 
 Hudson. As originally built, it had 
 a tall, tapering spire, surmounted by 
 a ball and vane, as was usual a cen 
 tury ago. The early records are lost, 
 but from the best evidence obtainable 
 it is believed that the church was 
 built about 1760. 
 
 At that time the people in this sec 
 tion were few in number and poor in 
 worldly goods, and .it was no light 
 matter to procure funds for erecting 
 what was then considered a large and 
 expensive structure. A gentleman 
 who now resides in this village in 
 forms us that his grandfather was 
 one of the original contributors to 
 the building fund for this church, 
 and in order to pay his subscription 
 he was compelled to mortgage his 
 farm to an amount which ho was 
 never able to pay during his lifetime. 
 
 Times, of Feb. 17, 1880.] 
 
 The land was not sacritied, however, 
 and still remains in the family, and 
 last year a great-grandson of this 
 contributor, who now tills the same 
 acres that his liberal ancestor first 
 broke up, sold over twenty tons of 
 grapes from his vineyard, beside abun 
 dance of other products of the farm. 
 
 The first service was held by the 
 Rev. Samuel Seabury, in 1756. The 
 first rector was Rev. John Beardsley, 
 who was appointed by the society for 
 the propagation of the gospel, and 
 accepted the charge Oct. 26, 1766. This 
 church was connected with Christ 
 Church in Poughkeepsie for nearly 
 fifty years. Rev. Mr. Beardsley was 
 removed to -New York Dec. 16, 17Y7, 
 by order of the Council of Safety. It 
 appears the church was then without a 
 pastor over nine years, during part of 
 which time it was used both by the 
 military and civil authorities as a hos 
 pital for the sick and wounded, and 
 a meeting place for the Constitutional 
 Convention of this State. 
 
 The next rector was Rev. Henry 
 Van Dyck, who accepted the rector- 
 
144 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 ship Jan. 22, 1787. He remained un 
 til the spring of 1791, and was suc 
 ceeded by Rev. George H. Spierea, 
 Nov. 12, 1792. He in turn was suc 
 ceeded by Rev. John J. Sayers, Jan. 
 5, 1795. Mr. Sayers continued in the 
 rectorship two years, and was suc 
 ceeded by Rev. Philander Chase, af 
 terward Bishop of Ohio and also of 
 Illinois. Bishop Chase was the foun 
 der of Kenyon College, at Gambier, 
 Ohio, and Jubilee College, at Robin's 
 Nest, Illinois. Mr. Chase left here in 
 1805, and was succeeded by Rev. Bar 
 zillai Bulkley, Aug. 6, 1806. 
 
 Mr. Bulkley was succeeded in 1812 
 by Rev. John Brown, who was fol 
 lowed in 1816 by Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck. 
 He remained a short time, and left, 
 when the church had no settled min 
 ister for a number of years, being 
 supplied through missionary sources 
 until 1833, when Rev. R. B. Van 
 Kleeck, D. D., was duly installed as 
 rector. He was succeeded in 1837 by 
 Rev. Colly A. Foster, who was fol 
 lowed in 1838 by Rev. Richard F. 
 Burnham. Rev. Robert Shaw suc 
 ceeded Mr. Burnham in 1841, and 
 was succeeded in 1844 by Rev. Wm. 
 H. Hart. Mr. Hart remained about 
 three years, and was followed by Rev. 
 Christian F. Cruse, D. D., in 1847. 
 Rev. F. W. Shelton succeeded Dr. 
 Cruse in 1853, and was followed by 
 Rev. John R. Livingston in 1855. 
 Mr. Livingston served the church 
 long and faithfully, and, dying in the 
 harness, was succeeded in the minis 
 try, in 1879, by Rev. J. H. Hobart, 
 D. D., the present incumbent. 
 
 The church book comprises minutes 
 of each vestry from 1785, and, like all 
 old records, contains many curious 
 entries : 
 
 "At a meeting of the Trustees of 
 
 Trinity Church at Fishkill, oD the 
 llth day of August, 1788, present, 
 John Cook, Peter Mesier, Jeremiah 
 Cooper, James Cooper, and Elbert 
 Willett, Jr., the following resolution 
 was entered into, to wit: That said 
 Trustees should meet Quarterly on 
 the first Monday in May, first Monday 
 in Augxist, first Monday in November 
 and first Monday in February, here 
 after. In case of absence of any of 
 the Trustees at any time of meeting, 
 the person or persons so neglecting 
 shall forfeit and pay respectively for 
 every such neglect the sum of four 
 shillings, two pence, for the benefit 
 of the church. Resolved by the ves 
 try, all voting, that the damages this 
 church received by the publick was 
 duly appraised by James Weekes, 
 Isaac Van Wyck, and Capt. Cor's 
 Adriance. 
 
 From the year 1776 to 1783: 
 The use of the church 140 
 
 " " " " " yard 20 
 Damages to the same by 
 
 the publick 189 4 11 
 
 349 4 11 
 
 This statement given to John Cook, 
 i to be Liquidated by the Publick. 
 
 Resolved The compensation so ob 
 tained shall be applyed in finishing 
 and repairing the church so far as it 
 will go, and for no other purpose 
 whatever." 
 
 By a resolution passed in 1789 it 
 was ordered that the church should 
 receive two shillings from the par 
 ents for every child baptized. 
 
 In 1803 money was raised to repair 
 the steeple, but if the work was done 
 it does not appear to have been effect - 
 ual, for in a few years after com 
 plaints were made that the spire was 
 unsafe, and in 1817 it was removed. 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 145 
 
 The apprehensions about the spire 
 were probably not unreasonable, as 
 the carpenter who removed it said 
 that as he worked at the top, in the 
 early morning, he could see his shad 
 ow swaying backward and forward 
 on the ground a long way to the west 
 ward. The base was left standing, 
 and from that time to about 1860 the 
 church had a short tower with an or 
 namental balustrade, as shown in the 
 accompanying illustration. Then the 
 building was repaired and this tower 
 removed, since which it has appeared 
 as shown in the larger engraving.* 
 Some years later the interior was 
 considerably changed also. The high 
 pews were removed, and more com 
 fortable ones substituted, and the 
 tall pulpit, with its antiquated sound 
 ing board, which stood near the cen 
 tre of the church, was dispensed with. 
 
 In the burying-ground which sur 
 rounds the church on all sides except 
 the front, a great many of the early 
 residents lie buried. Forty or fifty 
 years ago, when interments were fre 
 quent in this ground, it was no unu 
 sual thing to dig up pieces of blank 
 ets, which had probably been wrap 
 ped around the remains of those who 
 died in this edifice when it was used 
 as a hospital. 
 
 In September, 1865, the church 
 celebrated its Centennial, when in 
 teresting services were held and an 
 address was delivered by Eev. Dr. 
 Brown, who more than fifty years 
 before had been its rector. 
 
 *See page 92. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church, 
 Fishkill. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church of 
 Fish kill was organized in 1716 by the 
 Rev. Petrus Vas, pastor of the church 
 at Kingston. At that time there was 
 but a sparse population in this sec 
 tion. The census taken two years 
 before gave 445 as the total popula 
 tion of Dutchess county, which was 
 then much larger than at present. 
 That the people were not only few 
 but poor, is evidenced by the tax-list 
 of 1717, which gives a total valuation 
 for the county of 1,300. Six years 
 later, in 1723, there were only 195 
 taxable inhabitants in this county. 
 The first church building was erected 
 in 1731, and was of stone, and part of 
 these walls still remain in the present 
 edifice. [See cut on page 47.] 
 
 The first pastor was the Rev. Cor 
 nelius Van Schie, who was installed 
 Oct. 4, 1731. He remained but a few 
 years, and accepted a call to the 
 church in Albany. Calls were then 
 sent to the Classis of Amsterdam, and 
 afterward to Germany, but no pastor 
 was obtained until 1745, when the 
 Rev. Benj. Meynema was installed, 
 and held the position for ten years, 
 when he resigned. The third to oc 
 cupy the position was the Rev. Jacob 
 Vannist. He died in the ministry af 
 ter serving two years and a half, and 
 was buried beneath the pulpit. His 
 headstone, still standing at the end 
 of the church, states that he died 
 April 10, 1761, in his 27th year. In 
 December, 1763, the Rev. Henricus 
 Schoonmaker assumed the charge, 
 and officiated nearly two years, and 
 was then succeeded by the Rev. Isaac 
 Rysdyck, who was installed in Sep- 
 
146 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 tember, 1765. In the spring of that 
 year the church lost one of its mem 
 bers, who had attained a very remark 
 able age. The silver tankard used in 
 celebrating the Lord's Supper was 
 presented to the church in January, 
 1820, and bears the following inscrip 
 tion: "Presented by Samuel Ver- 
 planck, Esq., to the First Reformed 
 Dutch Church in the town of Fish- 
 kill, to commemorate Mr. Englebert 
 Huff, by birth a Norwegian, in his 
 lifetime attached to the Life Guard 
 of the Prince of Orange, afterwards 
 King William III. of England. He | 
 resided for a number of years in this 
 county, and died with umblemished 
 reputation at Fishkill, 21st of March, 
 1765, aged 128 years." 
 
 During the pastorates of Messrs. 
 Schoonmaker and Rysdyck the R. D. 
 churches in this country were divided 
 into two parties, called the Coetus 
 and Conferentie, between which the 
 contention was very sharp and bitter, 
 insomuch that they shut the churches 
 against each other, and sometimes 
 broke them open by force. Until 
 then all clergymen had been educa 
 ted and licensed in Holland, which 
 was very inconvenient, and caused 
 great delay in obtaining pastors. The 
 Coetus partisans advocated their edu 
 cation and ordination here, while the 
 Conference looked on such a proposal 
 as revolutionary and impious. Mr. 
 Schoonmaker belonged to the former 
 party, and Mr. Rysdyck to the latter. 
 When the former was ordained in 
 Poughkeepsie the church doors were 
 closed against him, and the services 
 were held under an apple-tree near 
 by. It is related that on one occasion 
 the Coetus party broke open the 
 church door here with an ax, and that 
 the heads of families sat during the 
 
 service with clubs in their hands. 
 Truly it was then a "church militant" 
 in the fullest sense. These differences 
 were finally adjusted at a meeting 
 held in New York in June, 1772, 
 although contention in the churches 
 did not cease until 1778. On the 12th 
 of May of that year a meeting was 
 held in this church, when the two 
 consistories were combined, one-half 
 of each retiring, and the others re 
 maining as the official board of the 
 united church. 
 
 Dominie Rysdyck, in addition to 
 his pastoral duties, was principal of 
 a grammar school which had previ 
 ously been established here, and was 
 the first academy in this county. He 
 was considered the most learned theo 
 logian in the Dutch Church at that 
 time, and was as familiar with Latin, 
 Greek and Hebrew as with his native 
 tongue. During the latter part of his 
 ministration he preached alternately 
 in Dutch and English, the services 
 having previously been always con 
 ducted in Dutch. He died Nov. 20, 
 1790, and was buried at New Hackeu 
 sack. His successor, Rev. Isaac Blau 
 velt, who was born and educated in 
 this country, was installed Oct. 26, 
 1783. He gave one thii-d of his time 
 to the Middle Presbyterian Church, 
 dividing the remainder between this 
 and the Hopewtll church. In 1790 
 he removed to Pararnus, N. J. The 
 next pastor was Rev. Nicholas Van 
 | Vranken, who was installed Nov. 23, 
 i 1791. He preached two Sabbaths each 
 ; month here, and divided the other two 
 I between Hopewell and New Hacken- 
 | sack. He died May 20, 1804, after a 
 brief illness, in the 42d year of his 
 age. He was buried in the church 
 yard of this church, near the entrance, 
 where his grave stone is still stand- 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 147 
 
 ing. During his ministration preach 
 ing in Dutch was discontinued. 
 
 After his death the union of the 
 three churches was dissolved, Fishkill 
 becoming a separate charge, over 
 which Ilev. Cornelius D. Westbrook, 
 D. D., was installed, March 9, 1806. 
 His pastorate was a long one, lasting 
 until July, 1830. During his ministry 
 the church at the Landing was organ 
 ized, Dr. Westbrook preaching in this 
 church morning and evening, and 
 there in the afternoon. In October, 
 1830, Kev. George H. Fisher became 
 pastor of this church, and remained 
 here five years. He was followed by 
 Rev. F. M. Kip, D. D., in August, 
 1836. Dr. Kip's pastorate was long 
 and successful, extending over a third 
 of a century. In September, 1866, 
 the 150th anniversary of the organi 
 zation of the church was celebrated 
 with appropriate services, in the pres 
 ence of a large concourse of the chil 
 dren and friends of the church, on 
 which occasion Dr. Kip preached a 
 historical discourse, from which we 
 gather many of the facts in this 
 sketch. Dr. Kip resigned the charge 
 in May, 1870, and was followed by 
 Ilev. Peter E. Kipp, who was installed 
 in August of the same year. On ac 
 count of impaired health, he resigned 
 in January, 1875, and was succeeded 
 by Rev. Asher Anderson, who was in 
 stalled in August following. After 
 laboring here with great zeal and 
 success about five years Mr. Anderson 
 accepted a call to a church in Passaic, 
 N. J., and Rev. M. B. Thomas was 
 called to the charge, being installed in 
 March, 1881. Mr. Thomas still holds 
 the position, being the thirteenth pas 
 tor in regular succession since the 
 organization of the church, 170 years 
 ago. If we sount the two who jointly 
 
 held the position during the contro 
 versy between the Coetus and Confer 
 entie parties as one, there have been 
 but twelve pastors since the church 
 was founded, which would make them 
 average over fourteen years each. 
 
 [From the Fislikill Times, March 24, 1886.] 
 
 The Wharton House, Fishkill, N. Y. 
 
 The accompanying illustration* was 
 engraved expressly for the TIMES from 
 a photograph recently taken for us by 
 Mr. C. A. Palmer, of Matteawan, and 
 is an exact representation of the re 
 nowned "Wharton House" as it ap 
 pears at the present day. This ancient 
 edifice stands on the easterly side of 
 the old Post Road, about one mile 
 south of the centre of this village, not 
 far from the foot of the mountain 
 which it faces. Like most of the 
 houses in this region built a century 
 or more ago, it was fronted toward 
 the south, without regard to position 
 or direction of the road which runs 
 by it. It is not known when it was 
 built, but from deeds in the posses 
 sion of Mr. J. J. Van Wyck of this 
 village, we learn that the land on 
 which it stands, which then included 
 a tract of 959 acres, was purchased by 
 Cornelius Van Wyck, of Hempstead, 
 Long Island, from Catharine Brett, 
 familiarly known in local history as 
 "Madam Brett," on the 10th of April, 
 1733. In 1757 Mr. Van Wyck by will 
 divided his land between his sons, 
 Cornelius and Richard. The portion 
 where this old homestead stands fell 
 to the share of Cornelius, while the 
 portion nearer the village went to 
 Richard. Cornelius, the second, in 
 turn divided the property between his 
 two sons, Cornelius C. and Isaac, the 
 latter retaining the southerly part, 
 * See page CO. 
 
148 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 containing the old mansion. His bro 
 ther on his tract, soon after the close I 
 of the Revolutionary War, built the 
 house now owned and occupied by 
 Mr. George R. Shaw. The old house 1 
 which is the subject of our sketch j 
 was undoubtedly erected by Corneli 
 us, the original settler, as in his wiH 
 he provides that his widow shall oc 
 cupy the west room and the small 
 room back of it, with the furniture 
 contained in both, during her life. 
 That it was occupied as an official 
 headquarters during the greater part 
 of the llevohition, is a matter of his 
 tory on which there is no dispute. 
 The name of "W barton" is, however, 
 entirely fictitious, and is derived from 
 Cooper's story of "The Spy." No 
 family of that name ever owned or 
 occupied the premises. 
 
 As stated above, Cornelius Van 
 Wyck, tfee original settler, bequeathed 
 it to his son Cornelius. From him it 
 descended to his son Isaac, who was 
 born, spent his life and died there, 
 and bequeathed it to his son Isaac I., 
 and he in turn to his son Sidney E. 
 He died childless in 1883, and the old 
 homestead passed into the hands of 
 Mr. David Hustis, who owns it at the 
 present time. Isaac I. Van Wyck be 
 queathed the southerly part of his 
 farm to his son Joseph J., and on his 
 death, in February of last year, it 
 passed to his son Joseph J., who now 
 holds it. Another and larger portion 
 of the original purchase a little fur 
 ther down the valley, but adjoining 
 the above, belongs to Mr. Jacob G. 
 Van W T yck, another descendant of the 
 fifth generation from the original set 
 tler, being a grandson of Mr. Corne 
 lius C. Van Wyck. 
 
 Across the road from the old head 
 quarters was the camp of the troops, 
 
 their barracks extending for a quarter 
 of a mile to the foot of the mountain. 
 On a knoll in the camp grounds stands 
 the black walnut tree which, during 
 the time the troops were quartered 
 here, was used as a whipping-post 
 where deserters and tories were pun 
 ished with the lash. This tree is 
 fully six feet in diameter at the base, 
 and the iron rings to which the cul 
 prits' hands were tied have long been 
 overgrown and hidden from sight. 
 Directly in front of the old mansion 
 across the little brook whose crystal 
 waters come purling down from the 
 mountain, is the old burying-ground 
 where hundreds of brave men who, in 
 the midst of privation and suffering 
 which we shudder to think of, gave 
 their lives for their country, lie in 
 unmarked and unhonored graves. 
 
 THE Cold Spring Recorder says : A 
 traveler, just at the close of the Eev- 
 olution, was crossing the Fishkill 
 mountains at the time when it took a 
 hatful of Continental money to buy 
 a breakfast. He had no money, but 
 he had a copy of a famous little book, 
 one of the earliest printed books in 
 America, called "The New England 
 Primer," which contained the shorter 
 catechism of the Scotch Church. It 
 was a little book, but it had pictures 
 with rhymes, such as "In Adam's fall 
 we sinned all." He counted out a 
 number of these pages after eating 
 his breakfast, and handed them to the 
 old lady who served him. She didn't 
 know much about reading, but she 
 took them, looked at them closely, 
 spelled out a few pious words, and 
 said: "That's right; I am so glad that 
 Congress has at last got some money 
 with a little religion on it." 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 149 
 
 From the Fishkill Weekly Times of Oct. 21, issr,. 
 
 Fishkill in the Olden Time. 
 
 Our friend Mr. John B. Jones, of 
 New Hackensack, contributes to our 
 columns some interesting anecdotes 
 of "ye olden time," which we print 
 below: 
 
 Having heard from my grandmother 
 a few incidents of the olden time, I 
 thought perhaps they might be inter 
 esting to your readers. 
 
 About the year 1760 Benjamin Roe 
 bought of Samuel Verplanck a tract 
 of land near Myers' Corner, now divi 
 ded into five farms. The country then 
 was almost a wilderness, a few fami 
 lies of Indians living still in the neigh 
 borhood. Mr. Roe built a residence, 
 which is still standing, and is now 
 owned and occupied by James H. 
 Kent. One acre of land was paid for 
 by Mrs. Roe knitting a pair of stock 
 ings for Mrs. Verplanck. 
 
 On one occasion a squaw, who had 
 a wigwam near by, came to the house, 
 having some young Indians with her. 
 As there was a number of cats and 
 kittens around, Mrs. Roe asked the 
 children if they would like one. They 
 said "Yes," and she gave one to them. 
 They immediately took it to the wood 
 pile and cut off its head with an ax, 
 and when their mother came out one 
 of them held the kitten up by its hind 
 legs and said, "Have some good braw 
 to-morrow." 
 
 During the Revolutionary War the 
 Roe family were loyal to the country, 
 and one night a company of tories 
 took possession of the house for the 
 purpose of plunder. They tied the 
 old man to the bed, and made his 
 daughter Ruth pilot them around the 
 bouse. Mr. Roe had at that time a con 
 siderable amount of silver money in 
 
 the house, which he intended to pay 
 on his farm, and it is supposed that 
 some of the men were aware of that 
 fact. While they were searching the 
 house they examined the chest which 
 contained it, but did not find it, as 
 the chest had a double bottom. The 
 daughter, who was afterwards my 
 grandmother, had a gold ring on her 
 finger, which she slipped into her 
 mouth. One of the men, taking hold 
 of her hand, wanted to know what 
 had become of the ring? She had 
 silver buckles on her shoes, which 
 they appropriated. One of the men 
 said, "There used to be two watches 
 hanging over that mantel-piece; what 
 has become of them?" The watches 
 belonged to the two sons, who were 
 away at that time and had the watches 
 with them. 
 
 The men found a small amount of 
 Continental money, which they took, 
 saying it would be of no use to them, 
 but they could give it to some of their 
 friends. Grandmother thought she 
 knew one of the men, although they 
 wore masks, and she called him by 
 name; but he said she was mistaken. 
 However, some time after the war 
 one of my grandmother's cousins was 
 at a party on the other side of the 
 river, and this man's sister was one 
 of the company, having silver buckles 
 on her shoes. This cousin said to 
 her,. "You have my cousin Ruth's 
 1 buckles on your shoes." The girl 
 commenced crying, and said she 
 "couldn't help what her brother had 
 done." 
 
 Grandmother said she kept the men 
 as long as she could, hoping that some 
 of the colored people would manage 
 to get word to the soldiers who were 
 quartered at that time near by, at the 
 house then owned by a Mr. Schenck, 
 
150 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 now occupied by Mrs. P. Flaglor. A 
 short distance from Mr. Roe's house 
 was a log-cabin occupied by their 
 slaves, the man named Ish and his 
 wife Nan. When Nan was asked why 
 she did not put her husband out of 
 the back window and send word to 
 the soldiers, she said she was afraid 
 they would kill Ish. 
 
 In the year 1782 my grandfather 
 Abraham Sleight married Ruth Roe 
 in this house, the ceremony being 
 performed by the Rev. Isaac Rys- 
 dyck. who came from Holland, and 
 was at that time pastor of the Re 
 formed Dutch churches of Pough- 
 keepsie, Fishkill, Hopewell, and New 
 Hackensack, preaching in the Dutch 
 language. He served as such pastor 
 for twenty-five years until his deaih, 
 and was buried under the pulpit of 
 the church nt New Hackensack. 
 
 J. B. JONES. 
 
 From the Fishkill Weekly Times of Feb. 4, 1885. 
 
 Revolutionary Reminiscences. 
 
 ME. EDITOK: You ask for incidents 
 of Revolutionary times. I will give 
 you some that I remember hearing 
 when a boy. from the actors in those 
 scenes. My grandfather, Abraham 
 Sleight, was a soldier of the Revolu 
 tion. This is the only story of his 
 that I now remember, perhaps be 
 cause it was the most striking one. 
 He was once struck by a spent can 
 non ball. It hit him below the knee, 
 but did not break his leg. He could 
 show that he received the wound when 
 facing the British, as the skin in 
 front, below the knee, was calloused 
 to the bone. He secured the ball and 
 kept it as a relic of the times. I 
 remember seeing it; it was about the 
 size of a large orange. 
 
 An old colored woman, living near 
 the New Hackensack church, used to 
 tell about seeing, when she was a 
 girl, Gen. Burgoyne's army, after his 
 surrender, pass along the road as pris 
 oners of war on their way south. She 
 said they passed over the hill where 
 Dr. Underbill now lives, and down by 
 Fishkill village. 
 
 An old man worked on the farm for 
 my father who went by the name of 
 Hush (pronounced Hoosh) Haines. 
 He said his true name was Godfrey, 
 but when he was a small boy his 
 father one day sent him to a neigh 
 bor's to get some bush beans to plant. 
 When he got there he had forgotten 
 the name, but asked for "hush" beans. 
 After that he was always called Hush 
 Haines. At the time Burgoyne's army 
 ! passed he was a young man, living 
 with his father in the old stone house 
 now occupied by Mrs. Charlock, on 
 the Hopewell road. Uncle Hush, as 
 we all called him, said that on that 
 day he was away from home with his 
 father's horses, and did not get home 
 until in the night, and it was very 
 dark. The wagon-house was opposite 
 the house, close to the road. Going 
 into the wagon-house to hang up his 
 harness, he stumbled and fell over 
 something, and reaching down to find 
 out what it was, he passed his hand 
 over the cold face of a dead man. 
 Hush said he never was so frightened 
 in his life. The harness did not get 
 hung up, but he got out as rapidly as 
 possible. He did not know that Bur 
 goyne's army had passed along the 
 road that day. The next morning he 
 heard that one of the soldiers had 
 been accidentally killed and laid in 
 the wagon- house as the army was 
 passing. 
 
 That winter the other stone houso 
 
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 151 
 
 down at the end of the lane was the 
 headquarters of Gen. Lafayette and 
 staff. Hush said he had seen the 
 French officers go out on the swamp 
 near the road, cut holes in the ice, 
 run spears down in the mud, and pull 
 out frogs on the spears. They pre 
 ferred frogs to quail or rabbits, which 
 were plenty in the swamps at that 
 time. Hush said the officers had 
 great sport hunting for the frogs. It 
 seems that eating frogs is not a new 
 thing for Frenchmen. 
 
 Uncle Hush used to tell one story 
 with great gusto, in which he was the 
 hero. He said the tories and cow 
 boys used to steal the farmers' cattle 
 and horses, and run them into the 
 British lines, down near White Plains, 
 in Westchester county. Col. Brinck- 
 erhoff then lived in the house now oc 
 cupied by Mr. Matthew V. B. Brincker- 
 hoff. The Colonel had a valuable team 
 of horses, and to prevent them from 
 being stolen he kept them in the 
 house cellar, at the north end of the 
 house. In the day time the door was 
 not fastened, but at night it was bolted 
 and barred on the inside. The Colo 
 nel slept in a room directly over the 
 horses, and kept his musket loaded 
 and primed standing by his bed near 
 the window, so that he could point 
 the gun out and fire at a moment's 
 warning. Hush had heard him say 
 that he would give any man a hun 
 dred dollars that could steal the 
 horses out of the cellar in the night. 
 
 One hundred dollars was more mon 
 ey than Hash had ever seen in his 
 life. He thought he would take the 
 chances for that hundred. One day 
 he managed to get into the cellar and 
 hide himself without being seen by 
 any one. He laid low and kept still. 
 It was a common thinar at that time 
 
 for old men to take their toddy for a 
 "night-cap," in order to sleep well. 
 Hush did not move until he was sure 
 all in the house were sound asleep. 
 He could tell by' the snore over his 
 head that the '"night-cap" was work 
 ing like a charm. He then knew just 
 how to go to work to get the door 
 open and. not make any noise. Then 
 he untied the horses and led them 
 very carefully out through the yard 
 and into the road. He then stopped 
 and listened, but heard no sound. He 
 was on good terms with the old dog, 
 who would not bark at him. He then 
 mounted one of the horses, and, lead 
 ing the other, soon had them in his 
 father's stable. The next morning 
 his father was out early, and going as 
 usual to the stable to see if his own 
 horses were safe, saw the other horses 
 and knew them. He came back to 
 the house and went to the stairs and 
 sang out: 
 
 "Hush! do you know how Colonel 
 Brinckerhoff's horses got in our 
 stable?" 
 
 "I put 'em in." 
 
 "You did?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Come right down, then, and take 
 them home in a hurry!" 
 
 Hush said he got up, started down, 
 but did not take the horses. When 
 he got to the Colonel's house the Col 
 onel was out on the front stoop tear 
 ing around in a great rage, and giv 
 ing orders to have the neighbors all 
 notified to start out in pursuit of the 
 thief and horses. Hush modestly 
 asked the Colonel what was the mat 
 ter? The answer was: 
 
 "My horses have been stolen !" 
 
 "Colonel, didn't you say if any one 
 could get your horses out of that eel- 
 
152 
 
 ADDITIONAL APPENDIX. 
 
 lar you would give him a hundred 
 dollars?" 
 
 "Yes what if I did?" 
 
 "If you will give me that hundred 
 dollars I will return the horses." 
 
 "How can you do it?" 
 
 "The horses are up in our stable." 
 
 "Did you get them horses out last 
 night?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Well, now, Hush, you go home 
 and bring the horses back." 
 
 Hush said he took them home and 
 tied them in the cellar. He never re 
 ceived the hundred dollars, but got a 
 new suit of clothes. 
 
 EDGAR SLEIGHT. 
 
 Our Nation's Progress. 
 
 About one hundred and ten years 
 have elapsed since the thirteen Amer 
 ican colonies commenced their strug 
 gle for national independence. Dur 
 ing this short period, compared with 
 the usual life of nations, our country 
 has grown and increased at a rate 
 never witnessed on this planet before. 
 An energetic and enterprising people, 
 possessing a land abounding in re 
 sources, enjoying the blessing of peace 
 at home and abroad, might well be 
 expected to grow in greatness; yet 
 our advancement has vastly exceeded 
 the most sanguine expectations of 
 the founders of our government, and 
 astonished the other nations of the 
 world. Our system of government, 
 which wise men considered weak and 
 lacking the elements of perpetuity, 
 has stood the test of time and carried 
 us safely and triumphantly through 
 one of the greatest civil wars to which 
 a nation was ever subjected. 
 
 What the future of this land will 
 be, the wildest dreamer cannot now 
 
 predict; but if the growth of the na 
 tion in intelligence and virtue keeps 
 pace with the advances of science and 
 wealth, our favored land will soon 
 occupy a proud position at the head 
 of all the nations of the earth. Let 
 every boy and girl who reads this 
 little book, and learr\s something of 
 the privations our fathers endnred to 
 give them the grand heritage thoy 
 possess, resolve to do their part to 
 preserve and promote our glorious 
 institutions to 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD, erected on 
 Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor. 
 
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