CHAPTER XX.

A. D. 1776-1777.

Independence Lines drawn-Sentiments of Abraham Clark, theSigner - British Fleet - Staten Island taken by the British Troops - The War at the Door-Defence of the Town-Arrest of Traitors- - Female Patriot Forays -Changes in the Town-Error of Mr. W. Jrving - Disaffection of Pa. Troops Battle of Flatbush-Wm. Livingston, First Gov. of the StateGen. Matt. Williamson, in command here -John DeHart declines & Robert Morris appointed Chief Justice of N. J.-Depot for Prisoners here — Am. Army evacuate N. York-Letter of Rob. Ogden-Disasters - Retreat through N. Jersey - People flee - Town occupied by the British-Williamson resigns-Defections - Protection Papers-Am. Troops at Short Hills Rev. J. Caldwell -Skirmish - Death of Col. Ford - Capture of Hessians at Trenton Capture of Princeton-Retreat of British Army - Washington at Morristown-Enemy driven out of Newark and E. T.-Capt. E. LittellBarbarity of the Enemy-Tories and Neutrals driven out-Frequent Skirmishes British Army evacuate the State.

A NEW Era now dawns on the Town, the State, the Nation. A resolution had been submitted, June 7th, to the General Congress, by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, to the effect, "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." On the 10th, having been freely and earnestly discussed for three days, it was adopted in committee of the whole, by a bare majority of the several delegations. For the sake of greater unanimity, it was reconsidered and postponed until the first of July.* In the meantime, it was warmly debated among the peo

Pitkin's U. States, I. 862.

ple, and in the several provincial congresses. The new Delegates from New Jersey, chosen June 21st, were instructed, "in case they judged it necessary and expedient for supporting the just rights of America, to join in declaring the United Colonies independent, and entering into a Confederation for union and defense." The consideration of the question was resumed in Congress on Monday, July 1st, in committee of the whole, and passed by the vote of fine colonies. Being reported to the house, it was deferred until the next day, Tuesday, July 2d, when it was passed by the vote of twelve Colonies, the Delegates from New York, though personally favorable, being restricted by official instructions from voting. The Declaration of Independence, having been referred to a special committee, was reported on the 28th of June, and, having been closely scrutinized for two days, on the evening of the fourth of July, was adopted by the same vote.*

The die was now cast. The state of vassalage was terminated. The house of Hanover was dethroned. Royalty was abolished. All dependence on Britain was abjured. A Republic was inaugurated. A Nation was born. The struggle ceased to be a civil war. Rebels were now patriots. The British were foreign foes. The war was henceforth to be waged by rival nations. Loyalists were now traitors, and to. be treated as foes to their country. Neutrality could no longer be tolerated. King or Congress must rule. Sides must be taken. Every man must be a friend or a foe-for or against his country. He could not be neither.

Tidings of this event soon spread all over the land. Here in this town, as elsewhere, it was received with mingled joy and sorrow. The great majority of the people, including nearly the whole of the Presbyterian party, and some few of the Episcopalians, hailed the Declaration with the utmost satisfaction and exultation, and nerved themselves anew for the conflict. But "from that time," some who had hitherto consorted with the patriots, Jonathan Hampton among the number, "went back, and walked no more with" them. Of these some few subsided into a state of apparent quietude,

Pitkin's U. States, I. 364, 5. Bancroft's U. S., VIII. 457, 9, 65, 7.

and of constrained acquiescence with the new order of things, taking little or no part in public affairs. Others took the first opportunity to connect themselves, openly and violently, with the cause of royalty.

The "Declaration" was entered on the journal of Congress, on the fourth, and immediately published to the world. But no signatures were appended to it. On the 19th, it was ordered to be engrossed on parchment, and signed by every member. Accordingly the engrossed copy was presented on Friday, Aug. 2d, and received the signatures of all the members then present, some of whom had not been present at its adoption. This town has the honor of having contributed. one of her noble sons, ABRAHAM CLARK, to that immortal band. In a letter, written at Philadelphia, Aug. 6th (four days only after signing the Declaratión), to his townsman, Col. Elias Dayton, then on service at German Flats, he gives utterance to the following appropriate sentiments:

As to my title, I know not yet whether it will be honourable or dishonourable; the issue of the war must settle it. Perhaps our Congress will be exalted on a high gallows. We were truly brought to the case of the three lepers: If we continued in the state we were in, it was evident we must perish; if we declared Independence, we might be saved,—we could but perish. I assure you, sir, I see-I feel, the danger we are in. • I am far from exulting in our imaginary happiness; nothing short of the almighty power of God can save us. It is not in our numbers, our union, our valour, I dare trust. I think an interposing Providence hath been evident in all the events that necessarily led us to what we are-I mean independent States; but for what purpose, whether to make us a great empire, or to make our ruin more complete, the issue only can determine.*

Mr. Clark was a man of prayer, and was quartered, at Philadelphia, with his colleague, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon. Both these worthy men had acted throughout on Christian principle, and with a deep sense of their responsibility to Almighty God.

The transition from vassalage to independence, on the part of the people of Elizabeth Town, was made in the midst of the most serious alarms. Washington wrote from N. York, June 29th, to General Livingston, commanding at E. Town:

*Pitkin's U. S., I. 869. Journals of Cong. Am. Archives, 5th Ser. 1.785.

I have received certain information from the Hook, that about forty of the enemy's fleet have arrived there, and others are now in sight, and that there cannot be a doubt, but the whole fleet will be in this day and to-morrow. I beg not a moment's time may be lost, in sending forward such parts of the militia, as Col. Reed shall mention. We are so very weak at this post, that I must beg you to order the three companies, which I mentioned in my last for Staten Island, immediately to this city.*

These ships were the British fleet from Halifax, under the command of Admiral Shuldham, with the British Army under General Howe, recently driven out of Boston, with six transports filled with Highlanders just sent over. Orders were immediately issued for the removal of the live stock from Staten Island, and the people of this town were called upon to aid in this movement. Washington writes from N. York, July 3d, to the President of Congress,

I am this minute informed by a gentleman that the Committee of Elizabeth Town sent their Company of Light Horse on Monday to effect it, and that some of their Militia was to give their aid yesterday [Tuesday],— he adds that he was credibly told last night by part of the Militia coming to this place, that yesterday they saw a good deal of stock driving off the Island and crossing to the Jerseys.t

The Staten Islanders had made profession of patriotism, it has been seen, and so were allowed to resume trade with this town. The value of their professions may be seen from the report of Gov. Tryon of New York to Lord George Germain, dated, "Dutchess of Gordon, off Staten Island, 8th July, 1776:"

General Howe disembarked the troops under his command on Staten Island the 2d Instant without opposition, on which occasion the inhabitants of the Island came down to welcome the arrival of their deliverers, & have since afforded the army every supply & accommodation in their power. On Saturday last [6th] I received the Militia of the Island at Richmond Town, where near four hundred appeared, who chearfully, on my Recommendation, took the Oath of Allegiance & fidelity to his Majesty. To-morrow I am to have another muster for the enlistment of Voluntiers to form a Provincial Corps for the defence of the Island.

By this defection and the occupation of the Island by the British, this town was brought into the very fore-front of the

Sparks' Washington, III. pp. 445, 6.

+ Am. Archives, 4th Ser., VL 1234. N. Y. Col.'Docmts., VIII. 631.

field of conflict, and so continued throughout the war. Staten Island became thenceforward not only a British post, but a nest of Tories, and the common resort of the "Loyalists," in their flight from East Jersey.

The day after their landing, the enemy made their appearance on the western shore of the Island, opposite E. Town Point.

As soon as the troops landed (says a correspondent), they paraded the north shore, and on Wednesday morning [3d] made their appearance near Elizabeth-Town point; but the country being soon alarmed, they retreated, took up the floor of the drawbridge in the salt meadows, and immediately threw up some works. Their near approach to Elizabeth-Town point greatly alarmed the inhabitants of Essex county, and particularly the people of Elizabeth-Town and Newark; but they are now in a condition to receive them whenever they may think proper to approach. Two young men from Elizabeth-Town crossed the river in a canoe last Thursday [4th], and fired upon the regulars; but a number of them rushing out of the woods, they were obliged to retreat and cross the river again.*

Livingston writes to Washington, on the 4th, that they had

Thrown up a couple of small breast works on the causeway leading from the Point over the Salt Meadow. We have between four and five hundred at the Point who have thrown up a line from the Point House eastward to answer as a cover. We have two field-pieces, with a part of the Company of Artillery of this Province [Capt. Neill's]. (He adds), Our men are raw and inexperienced, our officers mostly absent, want of discipline is inevitable, while we are greatly exposed for the distance of twelve or fourteen miles.†

He makes an urgent appeal for troops to defend the town against the disciplined troops on the Island, from whom an invasion was constantly expected. Washington, thereupon, writes, on the 5th, to the President of Congress,

General Mercer arrived here on Tuesday, and, the next morning, was ordered to Paulus Hook to make some arrangements of the militia as they came in, and the best disposition he could to prevent the enemy's crossing from Staten Island if they should have any such views. The distressed situation of the inhabitants of Elisabeth Town and Newark has since induced me, upon their application, to give up all the militia from

Pa. Eve. Post, No. 229. Pa. Journal, No. 1758. ↑ Am. Archives, 4th Ser., VI. 1262.