STRYKER The Seed Controversy, THE - Reed Controversy. THE REED CONTROVERSY FURTHER FACTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTER OF JOSEPH REED, ADJUTANT GENERAL ON THE STAFF X)F GENERAL WASHINGTON. (PRINTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION.) TRENTON, N. J.: JOHN L. MURPHY, STATE GAZETTE PRINTING HOUSE. 1876. . first attack made on the military record of Joseph Reed, Adjutant General on the Staff of General Washing- ton in the Revolutionary War, was an article addressed to the "Independent Gazetteer," September 3d, 1782. It was signed " Brutus," and has generally supposed to have been writ- ten by Dr. Benjamin Rush. General Reed, however, thought his former comrade, General John Cadwalader, was the author, and he addressed a communication to him, dated November ist, 1782, to show the falsity of the innuendos concerning himself. A reply was made by General Cadwalader early in the year 1783. In May, 1847, tne life an d correspondence of Joseph Reed by his grandson William B. Reed, was published, which presented the character of General Reed in the most exalted light. In the year 1856, the attacks upon General Reed were renewed in a pamphlet entitled "Nuts for future Historians to crack," by Horace W. Smith. This document contained a re-print of Gen- eral Cadwalader's reply to General Reed with the addition of certain anonymous papers, first published in the "Evening Jour- nal," in September and October, 1842, and commonly called the "Valley Forge Letters." In the year 1866, the Hon. Geotge Bancroft published the Ninth Volume of his History 4 THE REED CONTROVERSY. of the United States of America, which contains much new mat- ter relating to this subject, and re-opened the controversy. In February, 1867, Mr. William B. Reed replied thereto in a pam- phlet entitled " President Reed, of Pennsylvania, a reply to George Bancroft and others." This was followed in the same year by Mr. Bancroft, with "Joseph Reed, a Historical Essay." A rejoinder by Mr. Reed the following year, closed the discus- sion. The correspondence herein contained, gives some further facts in the Reed controversy, and can hardly fail to attract the atten- tion of antiquarians searching for facts which have remained concealed a hundred years. STATE OF NEW JERSEY, "\ OFFICE OF ADJUTANT GENERAL, TRKNTON, January 26th, 1876. 3 Dr. George H. Moore, New York Historical Society, New York City : MY DEAR SIR : As a searcher after historical truth, I desire to present you with some facts which I have lately discovered in reference to one of the charges made against Colonel Joseph Reed, Adjutant General to General Washington, that he took protection from the enemy during the Revolutionary War. The data which I shall give you were not ascertained until my work " Jerseymen in the Revolutionary War," was in print, and therefore the final record of the officer I shall refer to does not appear therein. In Mr. Bancroft's " History of the United States," gth vol., page 229, we find in the original text, as a foot-note, an extract from the diary of Colonel Donop, the Hessian commander of the advance guard of the British Army, dated December 2ist, 1776. Again, in the pamphlet, "Joseph Reed, a Historical Essay by George Bancroft," page 27, the same passage is repeated, with translation added : " Der Oberst Reed, der neulich eine Protection erhalten, seye dem General Mifrlin entgegen gekommen, und habe dem- selben declarirt, dass er nicht gesonnen sey weiteres zu dienen, worauf ihm Mifrlin sehr hart begegnete und ihm sogar einen dem Rascal geheissen habe." " Colonel Reed, who lately received a Protection, is said to have gone up to General Mifflin and declared to him that he was not disposed to serve any longer, upon which Mifrlin rnet him very harshly, and even called him a damned rascal." 6 THE REED CONTROVERSY. Allow me to call your attention to the record of a certain Colonel Read, of New Jersey. On the 27th day of November, 1776, in compliance with Washington's request, conveyed to Governor Livingston by Adjutant General Reed, the Legislature of this State passed an act to organize State Troops, by embodying, as occasion required, a certain quota of volunteers from the militia of the different counties. The law contemplated the raising of four battalions, on account of " the present situation of publick affairs, and partic- ularly the invasion of the State by the enemy." These bat- talions were to be " immediately got in readiness and marched to join the army under the command of His Excellency General Washington." They were to continue in service until the ist day of April, 1777. One of the battalions to be formed was to consist of three companies from the county of Middlesex, two companies from the county of Monmouth, and three companies from the county of Burlington. For this battalion Charles Read, the Colonel of the Second Battalion of Burlington Militia, was detailed as Colonel to command. The records of this office show that Charles Read was in com- mission as Colonel, and Thomas Seabrook, of First Battalion, Monmouth Militia, as Lieutenant Colonel of said Battalion of State Troops, and it does not appear that the battalion ever did any service under these officers, for Lieutenant Colonel Sea- brook "refused taking the oaths to the State," and Colonel Read took protection from the enemy. During the "Confusion of the Times," the Legislature adjourned December 2d, 1776, from Burlington to Trenton. But on the 22d of January, 1777, they met in Pittston, and on the 2Qth we find them in session at Haddonfield, sixteen miles from Mount Holly. During the month of February the Legis- lature was busily employed in organizing the Second Establish- ment, Continental Line. These matters undoubtedly delayed the reorganization of the Militia and State Troops, and the con- THE REED CONTROVERSY. 7 duct of Colonel Read did not become officially public. But on the i5th day of March, 1777, Governor Livingston, in special message, reported : " Colonel Charles Read, of one of the Burlington Battalions, is in such a situation with Respect to his having submitted to the Enemy, that it is not probable he will act any longer in that office." I take it for granted that Colonel Donop thought the force in front of him was commanded by General Mifflin, who cer- tainly was on his way to Lancaster, Penn., at that time, and that he referred to a conversation held by a Colonel Reed with Colonel Samuel Griffin, a name sounding not unlike Mifflin, who was at that time doing all in his power to harass the British troops. Without entering into the discussion as to the whereabouts of Colonel Joseph Reed between the i4th of December, when the Hessian advance entered the Black Horse, and the 2ist of December, when the entry was made in the diary, it certainly does appear to me that he could not have taken protection during that time, have had this interview with the commander of the American troops opposing the Hessian column, been entrusted by letter of Washington, dated December 23d, with the secret of the intended surprise at Trenton, and then fail to communicate the same to Donop, only six miles away. I ask your candid opinion, is it not altogether probable that Colonel Charles Read, who had large landed interests in Bur- lington county, while on his way from Mount Holly to his home in the southern part of the county, might have been the Read who, having " lately received protection," told Griffin " that he was not disposed to serve any longer." I am, very truly, yours, WILLIAM S. STRYKER, Adjutant General of New Jersey. 8 THE REED CONTROVERSY. STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OFFICE OF ADJUTANT GENERAL, TRENTON, February gth, 1876. J Dr. George H. Moore, New York Historical Society, New York City : MY DEAR SIR : I desire to add another fact bearing on the subject concerning which I addressed you in my letter of January 26th. Since writing you I have seen an extract from the official report of Colonel Donop, from his headquarters at Bordentown, to Major-General Grant at New Brunswick. The passage I quote is of the same date, December 2ist, 1776, as the entry in his diary before alluded to. " Ce qui est bien sur, c'est que le meme pres midi Gen. Mifflin est avanc6 avec un corps Rebelle sur la route de Moorstown, jusqu'au Pont de trois miles eloignees de Mont-holly, mais qu'il n'a rien enterpris que de ruiner entierement ce pont apres qu'il est retourne a Moorstown. Le Col. Reed, qui dernierement a recu une protection a rencontre le Gen. Mifflin, aupres de ce Pont, et lui a declare qu'il avoit quitte le parti Rebelle, sur quoi Mifflin 1'a traite tres durement, le nommant a dam' Raskel, et aparamment il 1'a emmene comme prisonnier avec lui, puisque depuis on ne 1'a plus vu a Blackhorse." While Donop's diary is in German, his report to his British commanding officer is in French, and French of a very indiffer- ent quality. However, the meaning is clear, that General Miff- lin (referring to Colonel Griffin,) had advanced his rebel corps to the bridge on the Moorestown road, three miles from Mount Holly. That Colonel Reed had met him near this bridge and had the conversation before referred to, and that Mifflin had as it appeared taken him off as a prisoner, as he had not since been seen at the Black Horse. I desire to call your attention to the fact that the bridge spoken of here, is on the road which Colonel Charles Read, of THE REED CONTROVERSY. 9 the Burlington Militia, would have taken whenever he travelled between Mount Holly and his home. It is apparent also, that Colonel Griffin did carry off Colonel Charles Read as Colonel Donop reported. In the Memorandum Book of the Council of Safety, of Pennsylvania, which may be found in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, at Harrisburg, we find just one month later Colonel Read of New Jersey in Philadelphia, and in the custody of Colonel Richard Humpton, then commanding nth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. The following is the extract : "January 2ist, 1777. The following Prisoners, taken in New Jersey, were sent by Col. Humpton to the Council. Col. Charles Reed, discharged on giving his word not to quit Phil., without leave." This memorandum is noted in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. I, Page 496. I think this is additional proof that Donop refers in his diary and in his report of the same date, to Colonel Read, 2d Bur- lington Battalion, New Jersey Militia, who received a Protec- tion, was taken prisoner and then gave his parole, and not to Colonel Reed, the Adjutant General of the Army. I am yours, very sincerely, WILLIAM S. STRYKER, Adjutant General of New Jersey. WASHINGTON, D. C., 1,623 H ST., ") February 10, 1876. j MY DEAR SIR: My friend, Mr. Moore, has allowed me to read the letter which you addressed to him on the 26th January last. I have immediately perceived the bearing of your discoveries and have profited by them. 10 THE REED CONTROVERSY. May I ask of you the favor to permit me to be the first to announce them to the public ? If you will do so, you may be sure that I shall give all the honor to you, to whom is due the clearing up of what before was indistinct and perplexing. I remain, my dear General, Very sincerely your obliged, GEO. BANCROFT. Adjutant General W. S. Stryker. STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OFFICE OF ADJUTANT GENERAL, TRENTON, February I5th, 1876. ,) MY DEAR SIR : Your kind favor of the loth was received to-day. I am pleased that my communication of January 26th to Mr. Moore was sent you by him, and am gratified to find, as I infer from your note, that you agree with me as to the bearing of my dis- coveries. I do not propose to give further publicity to the result of my investigations, but should you deem them of sufficient import- ance to be more widely made known, I shall feel highly gratified to have them reach the public through so illustrious a channel. I have the honor to be yours, very truly, WILLIAM S. STRYKER, Adjutant General of New Jersey. Hon. George Bancroft, Washington, D. C. In the Centenary edition of Bancroft's History of the United States, Vol. V, Chap, xiii, page 479, the following note appears THE REED CONTROVERSY. It in reference to the entry of December 2ist, 1776, in Donop's official report to General Grant : " From discoveries recently made in the New Jersey archives by Adjutant General William S. Stryker, I think there can be no doubt that the Colonel Reed referred to in this passage, and in the corresponding words of the Donop German diary, was Colonel Charles Read of New Jersey, who is known to have 'submitted to the enemy.' " THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. Series 9482 3 1205026553568 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY in ill lliiin II I I mi | | in I |l|| D 000 981 344 5