Extract of a letter from an
officer, dated English Neighbourhood, 30th August 1780.
“On the 24th the
light camp, which you know is commanded by Major-General the Marquis de la
Fayette, took up its line of march from the place of its encampment in the
vicinity of Fort Lee, and moved on the road to Bergen. We arrived near the
town about one o’clock at night, where we halted, and fixed our picquets and
patroles. Col. Steuart with his regiment took post within about musket shot
of Paulus Hook, the place where our friend Lee so very deservedly gained such
reputation. Altho’ I have been on this ground before, I was not till then
sufficiently sensible of the multitude of difficulties which must have been
opposed to his success.
“In the morning the light camp
took a position on the high ground between Bergen town and Paulus Hook. The
city, the shipping, Long-Island, and the harbour lay exposed to our view. The
troops in New-York of course had an opportunity of seeing us, and I make no
doubt felt themselves injured by our near approach.
“All this day the infantry
were employed in foraging as low as the Kills. The enemy fired a number of
shot upon those on Bergen Neck from Staten-Island, but they were too
ineffectual either to disturb the waggoners who were loading with grain, or to
drive off any of the foragers.
“I cannot say the amount of
cattle and dry forage collected; but certificates were given to the people
that they might have as little room as possible for complaint. These will
procure them, at some future day, compensation; and in the mean time they
should consider, that they have contributed heretofore very little to the
support of this war; and that what was taken for the use of this army, and to
prevent its becoming a source of subsistence to the enemy, does not amount to
the value of their taxes. In this light we have only assisted them to
liquidate a tax, cheerfully paid by their fellow citizens, and which they
could have paid in no other manner, owing to their particular situation.
“But a business of this kind
is seldom unattended with more or less of injury to the household property of
the inhabitants. The soldiers will find occasions to pilfer, however watched
by the officer. It is impossible to exclude every practice of this nature.
All the officer can do in this case, is to punish the offender when
discovered, and restore the goods. This was done in every instance, and one
of the soldiers hanged on the spot.
“What think you of all this,
with Clinton’s eyes fixed upon every motion of ours? Have we not offered him
an opportunity to fight us, had he been so disposed? And as he has not done
it, was it not submitting to a glaring insult? Will not the world consider it
in this light? And can he any longer boast to his vain Court, that he only
wished and waited for a fair occasion to fight? Have we not offered him
battle every day since we recrossed the North river and took post near Dobb’s
ferry? And at this instant is not our situation at the liberty-pole, and the
neighbourhood of Fort Lee, of the nature of a military challenge? We have
done the same thing, precisely, as a man in private life who has been injured,
and who twits the fellow by the nose, or shakes a cudgel over his shoulders,
who abused him. Clinton has behaved like the fellow who quietly submits to
the chastisement.
“The light camp in this
movement were supported by the Pennsylvania line. It commanded the passage at
Hoebuck. The Jersey brigade Bull’s ferry, and the York troops the
intermediate space between that and the rest of the army which remained
encamp’d at the liberty-pole. The whole was under Major General Greene, who
commands the right wing of the army. His arrangements in this movement do him
a great deal of credit.
“We are again where we were.
Clinton, ‘tis said, has landed at Frog’s-point, in the county of West-Chester,
with intention I would suppose, to take care of himself. I wish we could
irritate him to come where we want him.
“I think it probable that the
army will change its situation in a few days.”
The New Jersey Gazette
(Trenton,) September 6, 1780.
Back | Up | Next