his force, had formed an ambuscade along a fence side, and perceiving the enemy slowly approaching, leveled and discharged his piece, and the commander fell. The British, unable, from the darkness of the night, to make any calculation with regard to the number of their opposers, were intimidated, and sought safety in flight.* Some allowance should be made for rhetorical embellishments in these statements. The numbers, it is quite likely, are somewhat exaggerated. Yet this may be taken as a specimen of the kind of warfare, that for several months, at this period, was prosecuted by the militia of this town and vicinity. At this period, it will be borne in mind, the town included nearly the whole of the present Union County-the towns of Union, Springfield, New Providence, Westfield, Plainfield, Rahway, Linden, and Clark, having since been organized out of the ancient territorial domain of Elizabeth Town. When Mr. Caldwell and his people returned to their homes the second week of January, 1777, from their exile of six weeks, they found everything in ruins their houses plundered, their fences broken down and consumed, their gardens laid waste, their fields an open common, and their records, both private and public, destroyed. The outrages committed by the ruthless foe, British and Hessian both, during this short occupation, were a disgrace to human nature. Foremost among those, who wreaked their vengeance upon the patriots, were their former tory neighbors. Many of these had, a twelve-month before, consulted their own safety by taking refuge on Staten Island, and subsequently at New York. When the town was occupied, Nov. 30th, by the British army, the most of these tories returned to their old homes, and took every opportunity to assert their importance, to retaliate upon the opposite party the injuries that they had endured, and to single out the Whigs as marks of brutal indignities and violence.† It was the deep sense of these grievous wrongs, that roused the whole population against their brutal invaders; so that, * Garden's Anecdotes of the Rev. War, 2d Ser., p. 210. Barber's N. J. His. Coll., pp. 184–5. ↑ Barber's His. Coll. of N. J., pp. 183-4. See, also, Remembrancer, IV. 307; V. 77, 154, 253-7. Am. Museum, (Carey's) IV. 236. Sparks' Washington, IV. 278. although Washington, at Morris Town, found great difficulty in gathering an enlisted army, the British, on the Raritan, were so hemmed in, that they could obtain forage for their borses and cattle, and supplies for their army, only at the point of the bayonet. Every foraging party, venturing but a few miles into the country on either side of their lines, was sure to be attacked by some partisan leader, like Capt. Littell, and his band, or by the brave Maxwell with his militia, and seldom returned to camp without loss. Washington says, Jan. 20th," Within a month past, in several engagements with the enemy, we have killed, wounded, and taken prisoners between two and three thousand men.' The timid souls, who had taken protections from the British General, now found themselves in a position of great difficulty. General Maxwell, the post commandant, in accordance with Gen. Washington's proclamation, required all who would not take the oath of allegiance, to take themselves and their families off immediately to the enemy. They demanded. the privilege of remaining till the thirty days were expired. Maxwell wrote for further instructions. Washington replied, on the 12th of February as follows: These fellows at Elizabeth Town, as well as all others, who wish to remain with us, till the expiration of the thirty days, for no other purpose than to convey intelligence to the enemy, and poison our people's minds, must and shall be compelled to withdraw immediately within the enemy's lines; others, who are hesitating which side to take, and behave friendly to us till they determine, must be treated with lenity. Such as go over to the enemy are not to take with them any thing but their clothing and furniture. Their horses, cattle and forage must be left behind. Such as incline to share our fate are to have every assistance afforded them, that can be granted with safety. Neither wagons nor horses must be too much hazarded in doing this business. The effects of all persons in arms against us must be seized and secured.t The lines were now effectually drawn, and every man was compelled to show his colors. The young men, or "fellows," as Washington calls them, most probably went over to the enemy, and became partisan soldiers of the most malignant *Sparks' Washington, IV. 287. Hall's Civil War in America, pp. 269-71. type, spies, scouts, and guides to the British, inflicting subsequently no small injury upon their kindred and former friends. It was a hard case; as the line ran, in some instances, between parents and their children, as well as between brothers and sisters.* The enemy had been driven out of the town on the 8th of January, but they remained still in the neighborhood. They occupied Perth Amboy, and ranged at will over the greater part of Woodbridge, separated from this town only by the Rahway River. The situation of the inhabitants, therefore, during the first half of the year 1777, was exciting enough. They lived continually in the midst of alarms. Gen. Sullivan was in command below the range of hills on the West, while Maxwell held the town. Their troops were continually moving from Chatham and Springfield, or from Westfield and Scotch Plains, watching for opportunities to cut off the foraging parties, or pick up the scouts of the enemy. Skirmishes, more or less severe, were of almost daily occurrence. Several actions took place in January, February and March, just beyond the southern line of this town, a few miles only to the south; and, in the most of them, the soldiers of this post participated. The people here had their full share, during this period, of "the pomp and circumstance of war," and were not without considerable apprehension constantly of having the war brought once more to their very doors.† The following notices are copied from a tory journal:— Last Thursday Week (Feb. 27th), Major Tympany crossed from Staten Island to Elizabeth Town, with about sixty men, when he was attacked by a Body of the Rebels, two or three of whom were killed on the spot, and four or five taken Prisoners. The Major returned safe, without having a Man hurt, and brought with him ten Head of Cattle. Last Friday (June 13th) a Party of about twelve Men went from StatenIsland to Elizabeth Town Point, when they were fired upon by the Rebels, but they soon put them to flight, killed one and wounded three more, and brought off a new flat-bottomed Boat sufficient to hold a hundred men; *Sparks' Washington, IV. 299-9. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, p. 26. Remembrancer, V. 79, 80, 88, 95, 136, 177-8, 221, 260-1. Hall's Civil War in America p. 274. Whitehead's Amboy, pp. 840, 1, 3, 4. By one of our People's Pieces going off through Carelessness, Peter Kingsland was shot in the Head, of which wound he died immediately.* The campaign in East Jersey was brought to a close on the 30th of June. The British evacuated New Bruswick, on Sunday, the 22d of June, retiring to Perth Amboy. On Thursday morning, 26th, they advanced in force, from Amboy, as far as Westfield, under the command of Sir William Howe, and Lord Cornwallis. On the way, the advance of the latter fell in with Col. Daniel Morgan's Corps of Rangers, at Woodbridge, with whom a hot contest was kept up for half an hour, at the expense of a considerable number of men. At Scotch Plains, a severe engagement ensued with the troops under Lord Stirling, who were obliged, being greatly inferior in numbers, to fall back to the heights in the rear, with the loss of a few men and three cannon. At Westfield, perceiving the passes on the left of Washington's Camp to be strongly guarded, and no prospect of getting into his rear, as was contemplated, the enemy encamped for the night, after a burning hot day. Here they remained until 3 o'clock P. M. of Friday, when they marched to Rahway, closely followed, and assailed, in the rear and on the flanks, by Scott's light horse, and Morgan's rangers. The next day they returned to Amboy, still followed as on the previous day. Here they rested on the Sabbath, and the next day, Monday, June 30th, they left, a part crossing over to Staten Island on a bridge of boats; and another part embarking on board of 270 transports, which filled the harbor, and sailed away on the 23d of July.t Thus, after seven months' occupation, and a vast expenditure of resources, after a vain attempt to penetrate to Philadelphia, and to bring the war to a speedy end, the great army of invasion, having been for nearly six months restricted to the line of the Raritan River, was compelled wholly to evacuate the State, to the disgrace and chagrin of their leaders, and the bitter disappointment of the whole tory faction. Gaines' Mercury, Nos. 1324, 1338. ↑ Sparks' Washington, IV. 470-6. Pa. Ledger, No. 102. N. Y. Gazette, No. 2. Remembrancer, V. 260, 1. Moore's Diary, I. 449-52. Graham's Life of Morgan, pp. 125-8. Hall's Civil War in America, p. 292. Irving's Washington, III. 126. CHAPTER XXI. A. D. 1777-1780. Forays from S. Island-N. J. Volunteers - Sullivan invades S. Island - British Incursion - Dickinson invades S. Island-Exchange of Prisoners- Confiscation-London Trading - Great Privations-Spies - Forays - Battle of Monmouth Maxwell in command here - Sale of Confiscated Estates - Expedition of Sir Chas. Grey-Lord Stirling stationed here- Flags of Truce -Washington at E. T.- Plots against Gov. Livingston-Invasion of the Town - Burning of the Barracks, Parsonage and Academy-Livingston's Correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton Continental currency - Trouble in the Camp-Case of Mrs. Chandler-Troops 'pacified - Forays of S. IslandersNegro Panic-Col. Dayton in command here --Severe Winter - Great Snow Storm-Sufferings of Troops-N. Y. Harbor closed with solid Ice-Lord Stirling invades S. Island-Refugees invade E. T. and burn the Court House and Presb. Chh.—The Incendiary — Old "Red Store House' -Gen. St. Clair, and then Baron De Kalb in command here --Forays from S. Island. THE first Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence found the old Borough freed from the harassing fears, which, for months, had deprived its people of peace. The enemy, so long encamped in force on its southern border, had now wholly departed. They were in force still on Staten Island; but the broad waters of "the Sound" were an effectual barrier against any surprise or sudden invasion. It became necessary, however, to be constantly on the watch, and to keep up a competent force, to patrol and guard every accessible point along the shore. A letter written from the New Blazing Star on Staten Island, to a tory friend in New York, July 20, 1777, says, On the Night of the 19th Instant, two of the Rebel Light Horse deserted from Elizabeth Town. They belonged to Dr. Barnet's Company, and inform, that there is two Battalions, consisting of two hundred |