stone twice, ho rc;ji:iii'il 1'lurk iii DiiiI evening." Kilt this in clearly a
mistake, as tho account of Washington's halt with his army noar Som-
erset Court-house during the night succeeding the battle is well authen-
ticated.
% In Washington's dispatches to Congress dated at Pluckamin on that
day he says, "Our whole loss cannot bo ascertained, an many who are
in pursuit of the enemy (who were chased three or four miles) aro not
yet come in."
g The flag-Htaff which was used at Washington's headquarters, Morris-
CHAPTEE VI.
HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES IN
THE REVOLUTION (Continued).
Tho Marvelous Change produced by the Campaign of Trenton and
Princeton— Gen. Howe's " Protections"— Atrocities of the British in
Somerset and Hunterdon Counties — Washington's Proclamation to the
People— Skirmish at Weston, Somerset Co. — Gen. Dickinson Defeats
the British and Captures a Wagon Train— Occupation of Middle-
brook by the American Forces in 1777— Letter of Gen. Heard from
Earitan — "Washington Rock" — Attempt to Entice Washington from
his Stronghold in the Hills— The British Troops leave the State and
the American Army march through Somerset and Hunterdon to the
Delaware— Washington's Letters from Coryell's Ferry — Hunterdon
and Somerset Troops at Battle of Brandywine — Valley Forge— Col.
Frelinghuysen's Expedition to Staten Island — A Female Tory Dispatch-
Carrier — The Tories Penn and Chew under Surveillance in Hunterdon
County— Extracts from Minutes of the Council of Safety, Etc. —
British evacuate Philadelphia and pass through New Jersey — Wash-
ington's Army cross at Coryell's— Battle of Monmouth, Etc.— Somerset
and Hunterdon Troops behave gallantly — Cantonments at Middle-
brook — Gen. Washington and Wife at Somerville — Five Soldiers Hung
— Gen. Knox's Headquarters at Pluckamin — Grand Ball and Supper —
Simcoe's Raid in 1770— Burning of the Church, Court-house, Etc. —
Capt. Peter G. Voorhees killed — The Ladies of Huuteidon and Somer-
set — Close of the War — The Currency — Patriotism under War Burdens
— Processes against Forfeited Estates, Etc.
FROM THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON TO THE CLOSE
OF THE WAR.
The glorious result of the campaign which com-
menced on the south shore of the Delaware at Mc-
Conkey's Ferry at nightfall on the evening of Christ-
mas Day, 1776, and ended when the weary and shiv-
ering soldiers of Washington entered their compara-
tively comfortable winter quarters at Morristown,
wrought a wonderful change in the aspect of affairs
in New Jersey. A few weeks before, when the slender
and constantly-decreasing columns of the American
army were crossing the State towards the Delaware in
flight before the pursuing and victorious legions of
Cornwallis, a large proportion — probably a majority
■— of the people of the State had become discouraged,
and, despairing of a successful issue to the struggle
for liberty, large numbers of them promptly availed
themselves of the terms offered by the proclamation
of the British commander guaranteeing pardon and
Ijrotection to such rebels and disaffected persons as
would come forward to abandon the patriot cause and
renew their allegiance to the king.|| It is stated that
town, up to tho time of erecting a liberty-pole, was removed in the sum-
mer of 1880 to the residence of D. D. Craig, at Basking Ridge, in Somer-
set Co., where it was again raised.
|| "The British commissioners [Gen. William Howe and his brothor,
Admiral Lord Richard Howe] issued a proclamation commanding all
persons assembled in arms against His Majesty's government to disband
and return to their homes, and all civil officers to desist from their trea-
sonable practices and to relinquish their usurped authority. A full par-
don was offered to all who within sixty days would appear before an
officer of the Crown, claim the benefit of the proclamatk md subscribe
a declaration of his submission to tho royal authority. Seduced by this
proclamation, not only tho ordinary people shrunk from tho apparent
fate of the country in this its murkiest hour, but tho vaporing patriots
who sought office und distinction at the hands of their countrymen when
danger in their service was distant now crawled into the British linos,
humbly craving the mercy of their conquerors, and whined out, as justi-
HUNTERDON AND SOMKRSKT COUNTIKS IN THE REVOLUTION.
61
for a considerable time the daily average of persona
within the State who thus signified their adhesion to
the royal cause was more than two hundred. Scarcely
an inhabitant of the State joined the army of Wash-
ington as he was retreating towards the Delaware, but,
on the contrary, great numbers of those who were
already in the Bervice from this State deserted and
returned to their homes. " The two Jersey regiments
which had been forwarded by Gen. Gates, und
St I lair, went nil' to a loan the moment they entered
their own State. A few officers, without a single pri-
vate, will- all of these regiments which St. Clair
brought t'> the commander-in-chief." The mosl
earnest exertions of Governor Livingston to induce
the militia to oppose the invading army were Bruit-
less. "Those who visited the army brought l>ark an
unfavorable report. They secretly or openly advised
others to do nothing that would involve them in dis-
loyalty, ami thus jeopardize their possessions. Old
people t'll US that aucb was the talk with many. The
Legislature, itself defenseless, had moved from Prince-
ton to Burlington,! and there, on the 2d of December,
thej adjourned, each man going home to look after
his own affairs. Until the battle of Trenton, on the
L'i'.ih .f that month, New Jersey might have been Con-
sidered a eoni|Uered province. Even Samuel Tucker
[of Hunterdon], chairman of the Committee of Safety,
treasurer, and judge of the Supreme Court, took a
protection of the British, and thus renounced allegi-
ance to this State and vacated his offices.] Open in-
surrection against the American cause had broken
out ill several counties, among which was that of
Hunterdon, where i as heforc noticed the malcontents
had proceeded to violence against the Whig inhabit-
ants of that section, plundered the house of ('apt.
Joues and boldly declared tin ir intent) in of p icing
the British army. In Monmouth County a similar,
hut even more desperate, state of affairs existed, to
suppress which it was deei I aecessarj to detach a
Btrong military force under Col. Forman. Panic, dis-
affection, and cowardl] submission were found every-
where; despair had seized on all hut the sturdiest
patriots ; ami the conflict for liberty seemed well-nigh
hopeless.
But a marvelous change was wrought by the favor-
able result of the campaign of Trenton and Prin
ton. The Christmas victory at Trenton rekindled a
bright spark of hope in the breasts of despairing pa-
triot-, and tin- glorious event of Princeton fanned
that -park into a strong and steady tlame. An imme-
diate result was a rei ival of hope and courage among
■<>■.f j sey militia, causing I «rs of them to
join the American army, adding materially to its ef-
fective -live .th. ['he militia are takings] into, and,
I am told, an- i bag in fast & this Stat'
(ien. Washington in his dispatch - writ-
ten ai Pluckamin on the 5th of January, only two
days after the victory of Princeton; ami tin
-ion- from thi- source wire much more numerous
after that time. "The militia of New Jersey, who had
hitherto behaved shamefully,^ from this time forward
generally acquired high reputation, and throughout
a long ami tedious war c lucted themselves with
spirit ami discipline scarce surpassed by the regular
troop-. In -mall parties they now semi red the i ntry
in every direction, -ei/ed on stragglers, in several Light
skirmishes behaved exceptionaUy well, and collected
in such numbers a- to threaten the weaker British
posts with the fate which tho-e at Trenton ami Prince-
ton had already experienced. In a few days, indeed,
the Americans had overrun the Ji rsi j -." Among the
in ha Lit a nt-. tho-e who had maintained their II n-werv-
ing devotion to the patriotic cause once more took
heart; and even of tho-e who, from motives of fear
ami self-interest, had availed themselves of the "pro-
tection" of the British, the greater number were n-
joiced at the successes of Washington. Gen. Howe's
'â– protections''^ had proved to them a delusion. Dur-
ing tin' time in which the British held undisputed
control the country in all directions had been rav-
igedbyth ir fcraging-partiBS, composed principally
of Hessians. Tins,- mercenaries were unable to read
the English language; and s,,, when the "loyal''
inhabitants who had secured protection papers exhib-
ited them to the German marauders, the latter regard) d
them no more than if they had been Washington's
pa .hut treated their holders with contempt and
-howed them no more consideration than was accor-
ded io their Whig neighbors,— which was -imply none
at all.
In the depredation- and atrocities committed during
thi- period by the Hessian and l'.riti-h soldiery, Som-
flcntltm. Him, though they tool Milted with ..there in locking a .- lilu-
Uonal tvilrra of grievance, the; approved not u Maura lut.lv
adopted, and wen at all timet oppose ."— OeroWi Hi-
tort, ,./ .Vic Jtrtey, p. 223.
• Ibid.
|Tho removal! of iho Legislature, enforced bj thi
British army, were
ton to Burlington ; from Bnrltngton i.i PiUstown; and finally, from thai
I Id, where It was dissolved on thi 2d of December, 1778.
J Motfs " Find Centurj of Hunterdon County."
Gordon | finiy tlu"
I Qallowoy and Mien, of Pennsylvania, He might ha 1
i i o .1 \.„ Jersey."
{SeeOordon't "History ,.f New Jersey," p> 2TO.
| The whole number of those who, In the state of Now Jersey, took
advantage of tho proclamation of the brothers Bows I* said toharo been
two thousand seven hundi
r VbUov
I mntyman bj thai an ' who,alltUe more
than two weeks later, «;,- defeat! i by Washington el Prim ston i
â– â– I do hereby Oertirj that the Dearer Abraham Sedham.of sfJddle-
bnah, In thi ' "'" d anl a r a Ho n
ii Proclamation pnbUshs i al V « I
,-t. by Hi" Uil:''' B
osllsno) Qensral Hows. Wherebj he la entitled to the protection of aU
ad Soldlen lerving In nil KaJeaUes' Army in America, both Ibr
bimsalf, In- numb and property, and t" paai un.l r.|wu» on his lawful
â– i: .ut molestation.
■i.e. n ,1 n. I. t my hand this l-Hi day ■•! Deoember, 1778,
62
HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
erset* and Hunterdon were among the four or five
counties which suffered the most severely of any in
the State. " Neither the proclamation of the commis-
sioners [General and Admiral Howe] nor protections
saved the people from plunder or insult. Their
property was taken and destroyed without distinction
of persons. They exhibited their protections, but the
Hessians could not read and would not understand
them, and the British soldiers deemed it foul disgrace
that the Hessians should be the only plunderers.
Discontents and murmurs increased every hour with
the ravages of both, which were almost sanctioned by
general orders, and which spared neither friend nor
foe. Neither age nor sex was protected from outrage.
Infants, children, old men and women, were left
naked and exposed, without a blanket to cover them
from the inclemency of winter. Furniture which
could not be carried away was wantonly destroyed,
dwellings and outhouses burned or rendered unin-
habitable, churches and other public buildings con-
sumed, and the rape of women, and even very young
girls, filled the measure of woe. Such miseries are the
usual fate of the conquered, nor were they inflicted
with less reserve that the patients were rebellious sub-
jects. But even the worm will turn upon the op-
pressor. . . . What the earnest commendations of
Congress, the zealous exertions of Governor Living-
ston and the State authorities, and the ardent suppli-
cations of Washington could not effect was produced
by the rapine and devastations of the royal forces.
The whole country became instantly hostile to the in-
vaders. Sufferers of all parties rose as one man to re-
venge their personal injuries. Those who, from age
and infirmities, were incapable of military service
kept a strict watch upon the movements of the royal
army, and from time to time communicated informa-
tion to their countrymen in arms. Those who lately
declined all opposition, though called on by the sacred
tie of honor pledged to each other in the Declaration
of Independence, cheerfully embodied when they
found submission to be unavailing for the security of
their estates. . . . Men who could not apprehend the
consequences of British taxation nor of American in-
dependence could feel the injuries inflicted by inso-
lent, cruel, and brutal soldiers."!
Gen. Washington was not slow to avail himself of
the advantages to the American cause offered by this
situation of affairs, and on the 25th of January he
issued, from his headquarters in Morristown, a procla-
mation requiring all persons who had accepted pro-
tection from the British commissioners to repair to
* "Somerset County lay at tlio mercy of the enemy, whose fornging-
partles went out from New Brunswick, where Howe had quartered his
troops, across the Millstone as Tarns Neshanlc and the South Branch,
gathering everything they could lay their hands on, and maltreating
llf Inhabitants most cruelly whenever any resistance wan offered. It
"" laelfthe idea that they were or might be rohels formedasuffl-
Clent excuse in the minds ot the soldiers for any outrage that their pas-
sions prompted them to commit." — Mealer'u History nf Somerset County.
t Gordon, pp. 232, 233.
the army headquarters, or the nearest headquarters of
any general officer iu the Continental service, and
there to surrender their protection papers and swear
allegiance to the United States of America; upon
which terms they were to receive full pardon for past
offenses, provided this was done within thirty days
from the date of the proclamation. But such as should
fail to conform to these requirements within the speci-
fied time were commanded to forthwith withdraw
themselves and families within the enemy's lines, and
upon their refusal or neglect to do so they were to be
regarded and treated as adherents to the King of
Great Britain and enemies of the United States.
The effect of this proclamation was excellent. Hun-
dreds of timid inhabitants who had taken protection
now flocked to the different headquarters to surrender
them and take the required oath of allegiance. The
most inveterate and dangerous Tories were driven
within the enemy's lines, or entirely out of the State,
and the army was largely increased by volunteers and
by the return of many who had previously served in
its ranks, but had deserted and returned to their
homes during the dark days of November and De-
cember, 1776.
The main body of the army lay in quiet at Morris-
townj for nearly five months. During this time,
although no general movements were made, small
bodies of militia and other troops were almost con-
stantly harassing the enemy, and several minor fights
occurred, one of the most important of which took
place at Weston, in Somerset County, on the 20th of
January. In consequence of the Americans having
captured and destroyed a number of boats ascending
the B.aritan laden with provisions for the use of Corn-
wallis' forces at New Brunswick, the British were
compelled to forage the country with more than their
usual energy. One of their foraging-parties, about
four hundred strong,? had been raiding on the east
side of the Millstone River, in that part of Somerset
County which is now the township of Franklin,
where they had seized a large number of cattle and
sheep, and, learning that a considerable quantity of
flour was stored in a mill at Weston, proceeded to
that place, took possession of the flour, and com-
menced loading it upon their wagons. But in the
X A detached force of sevoral hundred men, under command of Gen. Is-
rael Putnam, was stationed at Princeton in the latter part of January to
act as a corps of observation merely, being too weak in numbers to offer
serious opposition if the enemy should appear in force. In Hagemnn's
"History of Princeton" there is related an incident illustrative of Geu.
Putnam's strategy, as follows : " A British officer, Maj.-Gon. McPhorson,
who lay mortally wounded at Princeton, desired the presence of a mili-
tary comrade in his last moments, The kind-hearted Gen. Putnam could
not refuse the request, but resorted to strategy to hide his weakness
from the enemy. Ho Bout a flag to Now Brunswick in quest of the
friend, who entered Princeton after dark. The general had arranged it
so that every unoccupied house was carefully lighted, lights gleamed in
all the collogo windows, and ho marched and countermarched his
scanty forces to such effect that the British soldier on his return to the-
camp reported it at least five thousand strong, while he had only a fow
hundreds."
I One account places its strength at six hundred men.
HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES IX THE REVOLUTION.
C3
mean time intelligence of the movement was earned
to Gen. Philemon Dickinson, who with a -mall force
was stationed to hold a small earthwork at Somerset
Court-house (Millstone village), a shorl distance from
the mill, but on the opposite side of Millstone Etivi r.
Upon learning the facta, Gen. Dickinson, being de-
termined (" attack the party, moved out with a force
hi two compani: a of • mtinental tiitv F: inn • ham i
riflemen, and a small body of New Jersey militia, —
in all. about four hundred and fifty men, — and, pro-
ceeding to the bridge at Weston, attempted to cross
it, but failed, as the enemy held the opposite end,
with three pieces of artillery trained upon it. The
Americans then Bought a fording-place below, and,
plunging into the river where the water was waist-
deep and filled with Boating ice, crossed the stream
and attacked the British with such vigor and deter-
mination that they fled precipitately towards New
Brunswick, leaving forty-three wagons, one hundred
and four horses, one hundred and eighteen cattle,
seventj sheep, and twelve prisoners in the hands of
Gen. Dickinson, whose loss of men in the liirlit was
five. The total loss of the enemj was about thirty
men. Gen. Washington, in his mention of this affair,
highly commended the energy and skill of Gen. Dick-
inson, and the gallantry evinced by the force under
hi- command, v than hall' of which was composed
of raw militia.
A similar affair occurred on or about the 1st of
February at Piscataway, in which at least thirty-six
of the < â– 1 1 â– â– 1 1 1 > were killed, while the Americans h>st
nine killed ami fourteen wounded. The force of the
British was about one thousand, with three field-
pieces; while the Americans were only ahniit seven
hundred strong, and uearlj or quite all militia. En
the first attack the enemy were compelled to retire.
but, receiving reinforcements, they again advanced
ami drove the militia from their position. About
three week- la t er, " I 'i >1 . N ei Isi 'i i . 1 1 f New I '.ru usw ick,
with a detachment of one hundred and fifty militia,
surprised and captured Mai. Stockton (one of the nu-
merous family of that name, who from his treachery
was called ' Double Kick'), at the head of fifty-nine pri-
vates, refugees, in British pay." Two or three quite
severe fights lined at "SpanktOWn" Kahwayi,—
oni mi the 6th of January, in which a thousand
bushels uf salt ami other stores were captured t'r
the British, and another on the 2Sd of February, be-
tween the brigade of Gen. Maxwell and the Third
British Brigade from A.mboy. [n the latter fight the
Americans were victorious also, and drove the enemy
through the -inn\ all the wa\ back U) \ml...y, in-
flictingon (hem a less (according to British reports
nf four officers and nearly one hundred men killed and
WOUnded, The loss of the American- ua- three killed
and twelve wounded, lac ni'i- similar to those
above mentioned, and others of less importance, were
of frequent occurrence during the winter and spring
of 1777.
On the opening of spring, the American commander,
from bis position at Morristown, watched closely and
anxiously the movements of Gen. Howe's forces at
New Brunswick, for he had no doubt that the British
general was intending to make an important move-
ment, though in what direction he could do! learn,
though he believed that I [owe's objective-point would
be the city of Philadelphia. Early in May it was ascer-
tained by Gen. Washington that the British force- at
New Brunswick had been largely augmented; and that
they were engaged in building " u portable bridge SO
constructed that it might be laid on flat-boats," — in
other word-, a pontoon-bridge. Regarding this as an
almost certain indication that Howe was preparing to
move forward ami cross the Delaware, Washington at
:e decided to move his forces to a point nearer New
I '.in n- wick, to l.c within striking distance of the enemy
in case be should ait. nipt to i secute his suspected de-
sign. The point selected was the range of hills to the
Inward of the village of Bound Brook,— generally
meiiti. I as the" Heights of Middlebrook,"- -ami to
this place the army was moved from Morristown about
the 28th ..I "May.; on which day the headquarters of the
+ Detached commands <>t the army had, however, i n Btatlonod at
different polnti on the Millstone and Rarltan Riven prior t" this,
during the winter and spring. Gen. Dickinson had been stationed at
Somerset Court-house, as wo have - and had made a successful ad-
â– in i. hi Unit place in January against the British foraging party at
\ forceundei Gen. Lincoln had i n Btatlonod nt Boot
earlj as April. This fact In menti I i-> ill" lt.-v. l>r. Mr..-
Sen. Bet I era el the
. end of tin- village, li was th ilj house
having two stories tint Bound Brook < Id boast [twasinba
tin- ii t.v Peter w llllamson. Gen. Lincoln himself, when giving an
account of bis retreat from thla place, usee tt'<' foil
• Being -i itlonod al Bound Brook, on the Rarltan, he had an extent ■■(
in -i\ mil. â– - to guard win, u force of I - -, iiiiiu to-' hundred men lit
for duty. On the 18th of Ipril, 1777, owing to ' his pa-
trol, be was surprised by a large party of tl ii.-inv under Oomwallls and
Grant, who came opon him so suddenly thai the general and one ol bis
aides had ; i shack ; tl t â– >
\, ,, this house ■• bio It-house ,.r f..r-
. ommandlng Uie crossing over Bouud Brook
tha river.
i . shop which Mm.
Olios owns When Gen. Lincoln rati inta sll fled to the
mountain, leaving a soldlor's corpse In the blot It-house u the
pant >.f the
I earl] In
the spring, as i- shown by the follov li sd by him to Gov-
ernor Livingston (N. J. Revolutl try Oorrespondon
" II. IDO.1 hoi SI, BjJU tl
1 you have it py <-f a letter I I
I , ,i. id untyol Hunterdon, by which you will see vi I
of novornl panlos rafuatug to do Uialr duty, I should
, ill,- nutter, it. hi Hi- man may I
hero, they being very much wanted
times expire this day Llki wise, should be glad of dl
what Is to be done with people Uiat refuse to glvt apt!
1 bmvt \. ii m. u lot confinement thai op. T'i°
mlllUa lawpolntaont noi laol what is to bo dono with such people.
.I found "itli l.c
, army, and no* In confinement, who has iufuruied
64
HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
commander-in-chief were established at the new posi-
tion. The location of the American forces at Mid-
dlebrook is thus described :*
" We may sufficiently indicate the precise place of the encampment by
sa}'ing that it was on the right of the road leading through the moun-
tain-gorge in which Chimney Rock is situated, just where it rises up
from tho bed of the little stream and attains the level of Washington
valley. A strong earthwork was thrown up about a quarter of a mile
to the northwest, almost in the centre of the valley, as a protection to
any movement approaching from Pluckamin; and the whole of the de-
file leading through the narrow mountain-valley was strongly guarded,
while the brow overlooking the plain bristled with cannon. Just at the
edge of the wood, east of Chimney Rock, huts were erected as quarters
for the officers, and everything done which either safety or comfort de-