Goshen Central High School - Yearbook (Goshen, NY)

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THE PIONEER 7 truth is that a traitor in Fort Washington had made plans of the fort and fled with them to the enemy. The result of this treachery being that the place was assaulted and by the attack the American army sustained heavy losses. By this disaster Fort Lee was also rendeied useless as alone it could not command the wide river. Therefore it was evacuated. Thus far every step in the campaign had been disastrous to Washington, and yet his opponent had been out-generaled at every step. The river was not won, the struggle for its possession had been merely transferred to its upper waters, and the Highlands had been rendered substantial y impregnable. Now that winter was coming on Howe decided to fortify Fort Lee and then withdraw to the comforts and pleasures of New York for the inclement season. Accordingly a part of his army moved up the east side of the Hudson to a place north of the Palisades, where Greene was stationed. A retreat of the patriot army followed. It was at this time that Lee’s treachery became evident. Ever since the retreat from the Hudson began Washington had sent letters almost daily to him ordering him to come with all possible speed to join him with the force left under Lee’s command, and which now amounted to more than half of the army. But Lee had made up his mind to use the loss of Fort Washington for his own advantage. Washington ruined, who other than himself would be appointed commander-in-chief. With this in mind, he wickedly disobeyed orders and loitered at New Castle until he knew he could not reach Washington in time. In the interim he was guilty of writing treacherous letters to influential men in the hope, vain indeed, of poisoning their minds against Washington. His motives were not fully understood then, but papers of his subsequently discovered have shown him to have been an unmitigated scoundrel, a traitor more base in character than Benedict Arnold, and not less dangerous. The winter and spring of 1777 is famous as the time of the Northern Invasion. The British plan of capturing or dispersing the American army and thus getting control of New York city and Ticonderoga and the Hudson River between had failed. Their new plans were ready for the spring. Burgoyne, returning from England after conferring with royal authorities, had instructions to conduct the expedition against Ticonderoga and down the Hudson, while his superior officer, Carleton, was to remain in Canada. St. Leger was to ascend the St. Lawrence and at the same time Sir William Howe was to ascend the Hudson, capture the American forts at the Highlands, and affect a junction with Burgovre. Such was the British plan for the summer campaign. Although it was carefully studied out it failed, mainly because Howe never received full and positive instructions, and being left to act upon his own discretion, failed to cooperate with Burgoyne. When the war was again begun in New York State, Gates took command of the army, which of all previously organized by the Americans was the most efficient. The Hudson was well guarded. On its right bank were about ten thousand men, on its left, the New England militia commanded by Lincoln. The army advanced and encamped near Stillwater, on Bemis Heights, a line perpendicular to the course of the Hudson and reaching almost to its banks. Gates commanded the right near the river, Arnold the left at Freeman’s ; farm. Burgoyne’s march through the wilderness had been unaccountably slow ; his Canadian and Indian allies had proven untrustworthy, and Ticonderoga had been recaptured by an American light horse company which had also burned the flotilla of boats. Thus was his retreat entirely cut off, and he advanced with a somewhat disheartened force to the well-chosen position of his opponents. The battle which followed proved utterly undecisive. A letter from Clinton in New York reached Burgoyne’s camp at Freeman’s Farm, and was to the purport that a diversion was to be made against Putnam, who was watching the Highlands. Meanwhile, however, Putnam had been drawn away behind the hills at Peekskill by a feint and two thousand Germans and English had landed to storm Fort Clinton. But the scheme had been detected by Governor George Clinton, and a gallant resistance was made on the west shore, with little avail, however, for Stony Point Battle was a defeat for the brave Americans. The great chain and boom stretching from Anthony’s Nose to Fort Montgomery proved inefficient. This was thought a grand victory by the British for was not the much coveted water w-ay thus opened to Albany ? The mansion houses which even then lined its banks were plundered as far north as Kingston. But this success was really worthless, since Burgoyne had entrenched himself at Freeman’s Farm and forage and supplies had been cut off by American scouts on all sides. Lincoln joined his forces with these and then, indeed, the situation of the English looked desperate. A short time after, Burgoyne advanced part of his army and the second battle of Bemis Heights took place, resulting in a victory for the Americans. This was the decisive battle of the campaign. The English losses were so great that a retreat was soon begun. They took a position at the Fishkill, a tributary of the Hudson near Saratoga. The horrors of that march are better known from the “Memoirs of Riedesel” than almost any scene of the war. While Burgoyne was encamping his army at Saratoga, Stark, with fresh troops, was closing in on his rear. Negotiations were opened by Burgoyne on the fourteenth of October (seventy-seven), and a convention between the two leaders finally completed. The terms were absurdly lenient for the English were at the mercy of a superior force. On the sixteenth of October, under the stars and stripes, the formalities of surrender were accomplished. This was the end of the season's campaign for the possession of the Hudson River. The river, except at its very mouth, was in virtual possession of the Americans. The militia returned to their homes and vocations. The little nucleus of enlisted Continentals was all that remained to recall its existence.

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6 THE PIONEER The Minisink Prize Essays. The Goshen High School is fortunate in having such good friends as the Minisink Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This year they doubled their kindness and offered two five dollar prizes instead of one. The subject was “The Hudson River. On Friday afternoon, February 26th, the prizes were awarded to the Misses Mary McCormack and Margaretta Farley During the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Campbell Hall, made an interesting address. The following are the essays: THE HUDSON RIVER AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION. AS I sat one day on a bank of the Hudson, idly watching the gliding waters, I grew very sleepy and leaned my head against the trunk of a large tree there, intending to take a nap. Just as I was nodding, however, I became conscious of someone’s speaking. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was the rippling old river itself. I had long wished to learn as much as possible of the history of the Hudson, but I had found very few who could satisfy my curiosity to any great extent, but now I thought my wish might be fulfilled. So, “ Tell me the story of your life» you Hudson,” I cried. “ Many, many hours have I whiled away on your banks, idly dreaming of your past, and prophesying great things for your future.” After a bit of gentle roaring he answered me : “ The story of my life is far too long and too dull to interest you, my youthful listener, but there may be, perhaps, some period of which you care especially to hear ? ” “The Hudson River at the time of the Revolution!” I cried, “that will be most interesting.” Upon that he murmured his consent, and proceeded to tell in a very clever way, this part of his life’s history, which I will try to tell you. Less interesting, I know, but still, perhaps, acceptable. At the beginning of the war, Congress, realizing the importance of the Hudson, gave orders for its fortification. It realized that the struggle for the river would be a long and bitter one, for to hold the narrow belt which lies between the waters of Lake George and the navigable waters of the Hudson was to hold the gateway of the north. New York was given the most attention at first, because, in addition to the control of the interior which the possession of the place assured, the city had become the largest storehouse of military supplies within American limits, and was the commercial center of the country. If the English succeeded in taking the region about the Hudson, the capture would be a masterstroke for them, since New England and Virginia, the two chief centers of the Rebellion, would then be separated, and the success of | perhaps the entire English campaign would be assured. For this end the war in the Empire State was begun. Twenty-five thousand English troops under Lord Howe were landed on Staten Island. Eighteen thousand Americans j were guarding the exposed water front of New York. On I the Hudson there were garrisons at Forts Washington and , Lee, and at Paulus Hook. From across the East River the : Heights of Brooklyn commanded New York just as Dorchester Heights had commanded Boston. Late in the summer. General Howe sent most of his men 1 under Clinton to Long Island, w'here they prepared to attack the American position. Another division of the same army was sent under Grant to menace the right of the Patriot side, while Von Heisler was to cannonade their center. Surrounded this way the American army was at a great disadvantage The English plans had been well made and proved very successful. The battle of Long Island was a great victory for the British. A retreat of the patriot army was soon begun. Brooklyn Heights had been taken, and therefore New York had become untenable for the Americans. Its evacuation followed a short time after the battle of Long Island. It was about this time, too, the capture of Nathan Hale occurred. He was a graduate of Yale College, a gentleman by birth, and promised to become just that sort of man most needed by America at that time. He entered the English lines as a spy and was captured, brutally treated and almost immediately hung. This was one of the many incidents which embittered the popular feeling against the English. After the evacuation of New York, Washington determined to move across Harlem on to the mainland, leaving for the control of the Hudson a strong garrison in Fort Washington which Greene considered impregnable. This was done, although with great hesitancy on the part of the commander-in-chief, and a fortified camp was established extending thirteen miles along the Bronx River to the village of White Plains. Here the two armies met again with forces about equal. No decisive ending was arrived at, and after several attacks the English retreated towards Dobb’s Ferry, then moved south. By this movement the American council of war was entirely misled, being convinced that the invaders were to cross the river and then march northward. Accordingly a body of troopers was sent over the river to reconnoitre and four thousand men were stationed at Peekskill to guard the Highlands, so as to present, if possible, the junction of Howe’s army w’ith that of Carleton’s from the north. Washington, himself, was at the entrance of the Highlands, that grand defile of the Hudson, the object of so much precaution and solicitude. A fort was erected opposite West Point and has since been considered the key of the Highlands. After Ft. Montgomery and Ft. Constitution were completed he entrusted Heath with the command of the Highland passes and encamped him at Peekskill, their portal. Then what was left of the main army followed to the west shore, thence into New Jersey. But all these fortifications availed nothing, for the sad

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8 THE PIONEER Until the summer of 1779 nothing further was done in New York. Then, early in June, Clinton moved up the Hudson and encamped at Stony Point on one side and at Verplank’s on the other. Thus the Americans were cut off from all communication between the opposite shores of the Highlands. This could not continue with safety to the Patriots, so Washington and Wayne devised a plan which the latter carried to successful execution. With the greatest care and secrecy, over a thousand men were led along the different passes of the Highlands to a rendezvous within two miles of Stony Point. Here under the direction of “Mad Anthony Wayne” the works were stormed at the point of the bayonet. The American loss was very small, while they regained the all important King’s Ferry. The war as far as the Hudson was concerned was practically at an end. The river had been the center of a great deal of action as its possession had meant so much in this great struggle. The places on its banks where forts were built and attacks made are now famous. In New York city are many historical remains of that period. On July ninth, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in what is now City Hall Park. The Quaker mansion of Mrs. Robert Murray, to whom Putnam was indebted for his life, stood at the corner of the present Fifth Avenue and Thirty-seventh Street. Fraunce’s Tavern was long remembered as the place of Washington’s farewell to his soldiers when he left for his home in Mt. Vernon. Sailing up from New York to Albany one may see all along the river traces of that Great Rebellion. But I was to hear only of the Hudson at the time of the Revolution, so the story stopped here. I have never visited the spot since that day, but I think shall seek it again when 1 wish to do some more day-dreaming. MARY McCORMACK. THE HUDSON RIVER DURING THE REVOLUTION. AS we glance at the beautiful Hudson as it winds through the peaceful farmlands and thrifty cities of eastern New York, we often find it hard to remember that our modern times have not always existed. Yet this river could tell of many bloody battles fought near its shores, and of great, hostile warships that have floated on its waters. From its source in the Adirondacks until it empties into the Atlantic its borders were ravaged and laid waste in the bloody Revolution. The principal river of the northern colonies, on which one of the chief cities was situated, it was early a coveted spot and took a very important part in the whole struggle. As early as 1760 the colonists along the Hudson began to find the rule of England unbearable. In 1765 they rebelled against the Stamp Act and absolutely refused to use stamped paper, thus forcing Parliament to repeal it a year later. Two years after this they refused to support the soldiers who were sent to oppress them by the Mutiny Act, and it was in a fight with them on Golden Hill in 1770 that the first blood was spilled for American Independence. When duties were placed on many of their imports the merchants, sacrificing all trade for liberty, would not buy a single taxed article, and after they had lost five-sixths of their trade, the Tea Act was passed repealing duties on all but tea. From 1769 to 1774 New York seemed weary of the con quest and little action was taken toward Independence, but, at the close of that period, her patriots took the lead and she again ranked among the most active of the colonics. All was stir and excitement along the Hudson during the next year, but an expedition against Canada was the only event of very great importance. The Declaration of Independence was received with great manifestations of delight by all the New York patriots, wrho responded well to the call for soldiers, and gave, in all, 17,000 men to the strife. New York was now the scene of stirring war movements, for in July, 1776, General Howe landed on Staten Island. Washington fortified eastern Long Island, and after sinking vessels in the Hudson opposite Fort Wash-, ington, built Fort Lee on its palisades. When Admiral Howe joined his brother with a fleet, the British, landing on Long Island, started to march to the city, and afte- capturing several smaller detachments, met General Putnam in what was known as the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. The difference in numbers made the outcome inevitable, and 1,000 Americans surrendered to the invaders. In the foggy night Washington withdrew his poorly equipped army to New York city, and in about fifteen days retreated to Harlem Heights. Greatly disheartened many of the patriots left the army and swelled the ranks of the tories. The British immediately took possession of New York city, and, by cutting off his supplies, forced Washington to fall back to White Plains. There, on October 28, Washington lost 400 men and was forced to leave the Hudson to its fate and retreat across the Jerseys. On November 16 the garrison at Fort Washington was captured and two days later Fort Lee fell. Heath held the Highlands, but all the mouth of the Hudson was now in the hands of the British, who continued to hold it until after the treaty of peace was signed. The British now planned a large, but unsuccessful campaign for capturing the Hudson and central New York. For this purpose an army under Burgoyne came down from Canada by wav of Lake Champlain, and, although it started early in the spring, it was so delayed by the forces under Schuyler that it did not reach Fort Edward on the Hudson until July 30. In the middle of the next month General Gates was put in command of the American army in the north, which was stationed at a small island in the Hudson nine miles above Albany. Not having enough supplies Burgoyne moved to Saratoga and the Americans by cutting off all his communications in the rear forced him to action. In a long and bloody battle he besieged the strong position Gates had fortified on Bemis Heights, and lost six hundred men, twice as many as the Americans. Shortly after this he