miserable security from the rain, sleet and snow. On the 3d of
January came one of the most tremendous snow storms ever
remembered. Some of their sheltering hovels and tents were
blown down or torn to pieces, and the soldiers became like
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY. 207
sheep under the snow, which fell to a depth of from four to six
feet. So obstructed were the roads as to prevent the usual re-
ceipt of supplies, and for ten days each man had but two pounds
of meat and some even were entirely destitute. But why con-
tinue the details of the condition of the American army during
that hard winter ? They are matters of general history. We
have given enough to show that it was under the most disheart-
ening circumstances that the plan of invading Staten Island
was conceived and set in operation.
General Stirling was dispatched with a body of the troops to
attack the outposts of the enemy on Staten Island. They pro-
ceeded in sleighs, and crossing the river on the ice at Elizabeth-
town point, took up their line of march toward the present site
of Port Richmond. The bridge of ice was sufficient to allow
the passage of any force across the kills, and it was supposed
that the same obstruction would prevent the movement of re-
inforcements to the enemy by means of their shipping in the
bay. The detachment under Stirling numbered about two
thousand five hundred men.
When a little east of Port Richmond the column divided,
part marching onward toward New Brighton, where the British
post had been erected on the hills, and the other wing proceed-
ing up Mill lane, the present Columbia street of West New
Brighton, and approached the mill which stood at the head of
the pond. The night of the 14th, on which they made this
long passage from camp to the designed scene of action was a
starry night, bright and clear, but so intensely cold that about
one third of the men were more or less wounded by the biting
frost. The intent was to surprise Skinner's brigade of new re-
cruits, but it was soon discovered that their designs had been
anticipated by the enemy, information having reached them
through the kind offices of their tory friends. A surprise was
now out of the question, and as the works of the enemy were
well situated and apparently strong, and the means of receiv-
ing reinforcements from New York not obstructed as had been
expected, it was deemed unadvisable to make an assault.
The troops spent the day of the 15th of January and the fol-
lowing night on the island, in snow waist deep, protecting them-
selves as well as they could from the inclement weather by
making huge fires of the cordwood which they found piled up
where they halted. The British during the day sent a boat to
208 HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
New York, which returned at evening with reinforcements. On
the morning of the 16th Stirling withdrew his detachment to
Elizabethtown. The official report of Stirling concludes with
the following statements :
" The retreat was effected in good order, and with very little
loss. A party of the enemy's horse charged our rear guard
under Major Edwards, but was immediately repulsed. The
major had three men killed. Some few of the men were frost
bitten, and though we took all the pains in our power to have
all those unable to march transported in sleighs, yet I imagine
a very few may have been left behind.
" Immediately after crossing, a party was detached under
Lieutenant-Colonel Willett, to Decker's house. The corps there
had been alarmed and barely made its escape. The house as
a garrison place, and 8 or 9 small vessels were burned. A con-
siderable quantity of blankets and other stores were found.
" While the troops were upon the island, a number of per-
sons from this side [Elizabethtown] took advantage of the oc-
casion to pass upon the island, and plunder the people there in
the most shameful and merciless manner. Many of them were
stopped on their return, and their booty taken from them. In
addition to which, I have sent an order for publication, requir-
ing those who had eluded the search to restore the articles in
their possession, and exhorting the good people at large, to as-
sist in detecting them. All the soldiery on recrossing the ice,
were searched, and the little plunder they had taken from them,
and their names noted, that they may be brought to punish-
ment. The articles recovered are, and will be deposited with
the Revd. Mr. Caldwel, who is exerting himself in the affair,
to be returned to the owners. I am happy to inform your Ex-
cellency, that a very inconsiderable part indeed, of the troops,
dishonored themselves, by participating in these enormities.''
Additional light is thrown upon the affair by the following
extract from a letter from an officer on board the British brig
" Hawk," lying off Staten Island at the time.
" On the 15th inst. at Day break, the Alarm was given, that
the Rebels were on Staten Island, an Express was sent on
board from Gen. Sterling to prepare for Action; we immedi-
ately got a Spring on our Cable and cleared Ship, the Rebels
appeared on the Hill over the Ferry, and brought a Field Piece
to bear upon us, which we perceiving, fired our bow Gun twice
HISTOKV OF RICHMOND COUNTY. 20U
at them, the second shot roused them from a Meal they wer
making of broiled Beef Stakes; their Fire from the Field Piece
was well directed, but the Shot fell short of us some Yards.
A large Party of Rebels came down to burn the Houses and For-
age, we fired on them, shot one Man's Arm off; he bled to death
and now lays in the snow; our Firing made them retreat as fast
as possible up the Hill to their main Body (which by the In-
formation of two Prisoners and a Deserter that we had on board,
consisted of 4,000 Foot, 200 Horse, 6 Brass Field Pieces 6
Pounders, and a Number of Art.illery Men) Gen. Skinner sent
a Letter on board, thanking us for the Service we did. 'Tis
certain that the 'Hawk' prevented the Forage, the Tavern,
and all the Houses in that Neighborhood from being burnt. A
Number of Men, Women and Children came on board for Ref-
uge with their Goods and Effects."
Another British account contains so much that will be read
with interest that it is presented here. Proper allowances must
be made for the partisan coloring in these statements of inter-
ested persons at the time :
" On Friday Night the 14th inst. a large Detachment from
the Rebel Army, consisting, it is supposed, of between 3 and
4000 Men, with 6 Pieces of Cannon, and 2 Howitzers, moved
suddenly from the Neighborhood of Morris-Town, and being
(as it is reported) transported in Sleighs over the Ice, reached
Staten-Island before Day break in the Morning of the 15th,
bending their March towards Decker' s-Ferry. Colonel Buskirk
commanding the 4th Battalion of Brigadier- General Skinner's
Brigade posted there, having received Intelligence of their Ap-
proach, judged it proper to retire towards Ryerson's Ferry, not
being in Force sufficient to oppose so considerable a corps.
The Rebels pursued their March, and before Noon took Post
upon the Heights, near the Redoubts, constructed at the North
End of the Island : from their Position, cutting off the Com-
munication between the Corps hutted there, and the Troops at
Richmond and the Flag Staff : they remained in this Situation
till early in the Morning of the 16th, when they were observed
retiring from Staten Island, without attempting any Thing ;
they burnt Decker's House, and a very few small Vessels frozen
in by the Ice at that Place. A small Detachment which har-
assed their Rear, made a few Prisoners ; and several Deserters
came to the different Posts during their Stay on the Island.
14
210 HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
"They committed many Excesses, in plundering and dis-
tressing the Inhabitants.
"Sixteen Prisoners have been already sent to New York ;
and it is imagined there are others not yet arrived from Staten
Island."
It may be noted in passing that the ice soon after became
more solid, and there was a bridge across the bay from the is-
land to New York, over which loaded sleighs and other heavy
burdens were drawn. A paper of February 7 has the item that
eighty six loaded sleighs passed over on the ice the day before.
The most intense frost, accompanied by great falls of snow be-
gan about the middle of December, and shut up navigation to
the port of New York from the sea for many weeks. The se-
verity of the weather increased to such an extent that about
the middle of January all communication with New York city
by water was cut off, and new means opened by the ice. The
passage of the North river from the city was about the 19th of
January practicable for the heaviest cannon, a circumstance
previously unknown in the memory of man. Soon after pro-
visions were transported in sleighs, and detachments of cavalry
marched from New York to Staten Island upon the ice. The
East river was also blocked up for many days. In this state of
their communications the British on New York island were ap-
prehensive of an attack from the army of Washington, and set
on foot a project for putting the loyal expressions of the in-
habitants to a test by raising about forty companies of troops
among them. This gave them good courage and they actually
began to hope that the Americans would make an attack, so
well prepared did they feel to resist it. It was not until the
20th of February that the frost abated so as to allow the waters
surrounding New York to become navigable.
General Knyphansen, who had command of the Hessian
troops on Staten Island, early in June, 1780, resolved to make
an incursion into New Jersey, Springfield being the point to
which his efforts were to be directed. On the night of the 6th
he passed over with about five thousand men, accompanied by
Generals Robertson, Tryonand Sterling to Elizabethtown point.
The militia stationed near there fired upon them and Sterling-
was wounded in the thigh. The British troops, however,
maintained their march and reached the town (Elizabeth) early
in the morning of the 7th, whence, after a halt, they moved on
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY. 211
toward Springfield. Finding the forces in that direction too
strong to oppose, he drew back to Elizabethtown and awaited
the arrival of Clinton and Arbuthnot on their return from
Charlestown. The main strength of AVashington's army now
being engaged in guarding points along the North river which
were threatened by the British commander, Knyphausen hav-
ing been reinforced marched again toward Springfield, where
he engaged the Americans under Green and Dickenson, on the
23d. From this engagement he returned the same day to Eliza-
bethtown, and during the night following brought his entire
army across to Staten Island.
Toward the end of October, 1780, there was great excite-
ment among the British on Staten Island, caused by a rumor
that Lafayette had arrived in the vicinity of Elizabethtown
with a large force, and furnished with boats on wheels, and
that he meditated an attack on the British posts on the
island. Every precaution was taken to prevent a surprise; the
defenses were all strengthened, and defects which they sup-
posed would not be observed by the inexperienced and unedu-
cated eyes of the American officers, but which the more culti-
vated observation of the French would readily detect, were re-
paired so far as time and means permitted. Simcoe marched
his rangers down from Richmond to Billop's point toward the
close of the day, in full view of the people on the opposite
shore, to create the impression that an inroad into New Jersey
was about to be made, and then marched them back again
through the interior after dark. Reinforcements were sent from
New York city, and Simcoe issued the following procla-
mation :
" The Lt. Colonel has received information that M. Lafayette,
a Frenchman, at the head of some of his majesty's deluded
subjects, has threatened to plant French colors on the Rich-
mond redoubts. The Lt. Colonel believes the report to be a
gasconade; but as the evident ruin of the enemy's affairs may
prompt them to some desperate attempt, the Queen's Rangers
will lay in their clothes this night, and have their bayonets in
perfect good order."
He also had orders from the commander-in-chief to abandon
his post " if the enemy should land in such force as to make,
in his opinion, the remaining there attended with risk." Noth-
ing, however, came of this alarm.
212 . HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
The following letter, sent by Washington to Captain Judah
Alden, commanding officer at Dobb's ferry, indicates that the
American leader had some important scheme in contemplation
which for some reason or other was never carried out, and the
details of which are unknown to us. Nevertheless we consider
the letter worthy of preservation, as it shows that Washing-
ton's eye was frequently turned toward Staten Island, and that
he had a lively sense of the importance of this little bit of terri-
tory in the great struggle.
" HEADQUARTERS, 23d Novem., 1780.
" SIR : I impart to you in confidence that I intend to execute
an enterprise against Staten Island to-morrow night, for
which reason I am desirous of cutting off all intercourse with
the enemy -on the east side of the river. You will therefore to-
morrow at retreat beating set a guard upon any boats which
may be at the flat or neck, and not suffer any to go out on any
pretense whatever until next morning. Toward evening you
will send a small party down to the Closter landing, and if they
find any boats there you will give orders to have them scuttled
in such a manner that they cannot be immediately used, but to
prevent any possibility of it the party may remain there until to-
ward daylight but are not to make fires or discover themselves
and then return to your post. I depend upon the punctual
observation of this order, and that you will keep this motive
a secret. Acknowledge the rec' t of this, that I may be sure
you have got it.
" I am, Sir, Yr. Most obt. Servt.,
" GEO. WASHINGTON."
On Friday evening, February 23, 1781, Capt. Cornelius Het-
field, with a party of five tory refugees from New Jersey, crossed
over to Elizabethtown and attacked the command of Captain
John Craig, who was posted there. Seizing them by surprise
the assailants were able to secure the captain and ten men as
prisoners, and with them they returned to Staten Island. A
similar raid was made on the night of March 1st, when a party
of tories brought off Commissioner Clossen and an ensign
and another man. The same method of partisan warfare was
being prosecuted by the whigs from New Jersey, who made
frequent descents upon the tories of the island, carried away
prisoners and plundered their families.
On the 20th of March a party of militia and refugees from the
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY. 213
island, under command of Lieut. Richard Seaman of the militia
and Joseph Shotwell of the refugees, made an incursion several
miles into the country in the township of Woodbridge, where
they captured and brought off two subalterns and eleven pri-
vates of the New Jersey militia. On their return they boasted
with apparent pride that they had not stooped to the mean-
ness of plundering the houses of those who fell in their power.
The leader of the above exploit was at this time desirous to
dispose of his farm, as will be seen by the following announce-
ment, which is too much of a curiosity to be thrown away.
" To be sold at Vendue, On Thursday the 19th inst, The Farm
belonging to Richard Seaman, very pleasantly situated on the
south side of Staten-Island (formerly the mansion house and
part of the valuable plantation that did belong to Mr. Jaquis
Poilloin, deceased) containing 190 acres, exclusive of the beach
and flats on the front of the said farm, which will be included
in the purchase on which comes great quantities of sea weed (a
very valuable manure.) On said farm is a good house, barn,
and all other necessary out-houses, a very good apple orchard, of
above 200 ingrafted trees of the best fruit, now in its prime,
with most sorts of other fruit trees, common to this country.
The natural advantages of this plantation are so well known,
that it is unnecessary to say any more on the subject. The
vendue will be held on the premises, where the conditions of
sale will be made known by Richard Seaman."
On Saturday evening, the 21st of April, Capt. Cornelius Bit-
field, with some of his tory refugees and a detachment of Gen-
eral Skinner's corps under his command, crossed over to Eliza-
bethtown, where they surprised and drove in the picket. Here
they engaged in a skirmish, in which one of their number,
Elias Mann, a tory, was killed. Hetfield and one private were
also wounded. The party succeeded in liberating one Michael,
a tory, who was held there in chains, and then made good their
return to the island.
A return of this kind of excursion took place on Tuesday,
May 9th. Captain Hendricks, accompanied by a sergeant and
eleven men, came from Elizabethtown to the island and at-
tempted to take the patrol of the First battalion of New Jersey
loyalists. Finding it impossible to surprise them they secreted
themselves in the woods until they supposed the patrol had left
the neighborhood, but were discovered later and a skirmish
214 HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ensued, in which one man was killed, another wounded, and
two of the assailants made prisoners. They then retired to the
Jersey shore.
We give the account of another of these incursions as related
from the British stand-point. On the 29th of June a party, con-
sisting of thirty-eight of the First battalion of New Jersey vol-
unteers, with about thirty-four militia and refugees, the former
under the command of Lieutenant Hutchinson and Ensign
Barton, and the latter under command of Captains Durham and
Robbins, landed at Twembley's point, near the mouth of Rail-
way river and surrounded a tavern in hopes of taking three
rebel light horse, who were supposed to be stationed there to
give notice of any troops approaching from Staten Island. Not
finding these men here they proceeded to the house of one
Captain Amos Morse, who was surprised and taken out of his
bed, with four other " rebels." The party then went in search
of cattle, and succeeded in capturing about forty head, and
eighty sheep. As they were driving them to the landing at
Twembley's point about forty of the "rebels" having collected,
pursued them, and a skirmish ensued, in which twenty of the
pursuers were made prisoners and some others were wounded.
The British and tories were then able to land their booty and
prisoners on Staten Island.
July 21st Captain Heth'eld made an incursion into New Jer-
sey and brought off Lieutenant Obadiah Meeker and fourteen
privates of the "rebel" militia as prisoners, with whom he re-
turned to Staten Island.
On the night of the 23d of August a party from New Bruns-
wick, under command of Captain Hyler, in six boats, landed
on the island and took off with them three tories and nine
horses. They also collected about one hundred head of. cattle
on the shore, but the militia of the island being apprised of
their movements, they were unable to convey them away.
The incident related in the following paragraph, taken from
a newspaper of November 12, 1781, shows the social possibili-
ties under a martial condition such as that in which Staten
Island then lay :
" Last Saturday William Hetfield, an inhabitant of Elizabeth-
Town, Railway, came to Staten Island with a small quantity of
flour to dispose of, that he might get some hard money which
would enable him to pay the taxes imposed by the rebel Gov-
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY. 215
ernor : On his return in the evening, he was met in the Sound
by one Peter Terrat, a noted thief, who supports himself and a
gang of such miscreants, by robbing and plundering ; to him
and his party Hettield surrendered himself; but after he was
a prisoner, Terrat thought Hetfield threw something overboard,
on which the infernal fiend took a pistol out of his pocket and
shot him dead, laid the body on the bank of the Sound, and
went off exulting with the other prisoners he had taken.
" Hetfield has left a wife and several children to lament their
loss. It is said the people of the county, detesting such horrid
violence, intend making enquiry into the murder, and punish
the villain as he deserves.
" We since hear that a Jury has brought a verdict against
him guilty of murder, on which he fled from justice."
Captain Adam Hyler, who has been already mentioned, made
many predatory raids on Long Island, Staten Island and in New
Jersey. He was an active partisan in and about that part of
New Jersey where he resided. As his expeditions against the
enemy were chiefly conducted by water, and in small boats, it
is probable that he held his title of captain by courtesy, and not
by commission. In January, 1782, a party of infantry from
Staten Island, in six boats, went up the Raritan to New Bruns-
wick, and before daylight succeeded in capturing all his boats.
In less than a month thereafter Hyler launched a large new boat
built for thirty oars.
The following, taken from a paper, published in New York, in
the interests of the royalists, is another instance of the enter-
prise and indomitable resolution of Hyler. The date is July
15, 1782 :
" Last Tuesday night Mr. Hyler took 2 fishing boats near the
Narrows, and ransomed them for $100 each. One of them has
been twice captured."
The same day " a little before sunset, Mr. Hyler, with 3 large
24-oared boats, made an attack on the galley stationed at
Prince's Bay, south side of Staten Island. VThere being little
or no wind, he came up with a good deal of resolution, but
Capt. Cashman gave him an 18-pounder, which went through
the stern of one of the boats, and obliged Hyler to put ashore
on the Island, where, after a smart combat, he was obliged to
leave one of his boats and make the best of his way home with
the other two."
21 G HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
"John Althouse, with 12 men, was on board a guard-boat at
anchor in Prince's Bay, when two whale boats were descried
under South Amboy shore. It was calm. The cable was sprung
and a 24- pounder brought to bear, which sent a shot through
Hyler's boat. His crew were taken in the other boat, (Dickey's)
and all made off for New Brunswick with Gen. Jacob S. Jack-
son, whom they had captured in South Bay, and kept prisoner
till he was ransomed."
The mantle of Captain Hyler appears to have fallen on other
shoulders after his death. The New Jersey Gazette of Novem-
ber 18, 1782, says: "The brave Capt. Storer, commissioned as
a private boat-of-war, under the States, and who promises fail-
to be the genuine successor of the late valiant Capt. Hyler, has
given a recent instance of his valor and conduct in capturing
one of the enemy's vessels, and in cutting out a vessel lying
Tinder the nag-staff and within half pistol shot of the battery
of 14 guns, at the watering-place, Staten Island.' 1
But the years of war were drawing to a close. The tale of
plunder, rapine and murder, committed under the pretext of
war was closed, and on the 16th of June, 1783, Adjutant Gen-
eral De Lancey issued from his headquarters in New York the
proclamation by which all estates on the island were to be im-
mediately delivered up to their proprietors or their attorneys.
This, however, did not entirely conclude the condition of war.
<>] abolish the presence of a soldiery. A few months of hesi-
tancy ensued.
On the 25th day of November, 1783, the British finally evacu-
ated New York and Staten Island. Eight years before, they
had entered the country with the expectation that, in less than
as many months, they would overrun it from north to south,
and trample out the rebellion. The people should be made to
bow with abject submission before the invincible power of Great
Britain, and humbly sue for the privilege of lying in the dust
and having her foot placed upon their necks. The march of the
army through the land, from its beginning to its end, was to be
an uninterrupted triumph. But they now returned overcome
and crestfallen. The rebellion which they came to conquer had
conquered them, and their overweening arrogance and pride had
received a blow such as it had never received before nor has
since. An eye witness of their departure described the scene as
in the highest degree impressive. Several days before the 25th
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
bad been occupied in conveying the troops, cannon, tents, etc.,