Goshen Central High School - Yearbook (Goshen, NY)

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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

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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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THE PIONEER 9 suffered great loss in another battle and was much alarmed when the Americans secured the crossing at Saratoga. On October 11, during a heavy fog, Gates attacked him on the heights above Fishkill in a battle which is sometimes called the battle of Saratoga, but is more properly known as the second battle of Bemis Heights. It ended the invasion of Burgoyne, for at Saratoga, October 17, he laid down his arms and part of the great British plan had failed. Early in 1777, Washington, realizing the necessity of holding the Hudson, strongly fortified its banks and stretched a boom, consisting of heavy iron chains and floats, across it from West Point to Constitution Island. When Sir Henry Clinton started up the Hudson to join Burgoyne he destroyed this boom, captured two forts and burned Kingston. Upon hearing of Burgoyne’s surrender he returned to New York city, abandoning West Point to the Americans, who held it as one of their strongest posts during the remainder of the war. In the spring of 1779, Clinton sailed up the Hudson with a large fleet and landed a few miles below the Highlands on May 31. Advancing on both sides of the river and attacking Stony and Verplank Points at the same time, they captured them with little trouble and, after garrisoning both forts, returned to New York city. Anthony Wayne, better known as “ Mad Anthony,” planned an attack against Stony Point on July 15. At midnight his men approached the fort as silently as shadows and forced their way into it at the point of the bayonet. The Americans made a similar but unsuccessful attack on Verplank Point at the same time and, after burning Stony Point, withdrew to the Highlands. The first traitor to the cause was Benedict Arnold, a man who had fought bravely in many battles and had charge of the important post at West Point in 1780. He carried on secret negotiations with the British and promised to surrender that place to them with only a show of resistance. Major Andre was sent to complete the arrangements and, while on his way home, was captured and sentenced to death. The real traitor, Benedict Arnold, escaped and received his promised reward. But many brave and true patriots still existed. While returning from a secret mission to Long Island in search of information, in the dark days of 1776, Nathan Hale, a young captain, was captured by the British and hung as a spy. As an inspiration for all patriots he left his dying words, “ I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” From 1782 to 1783 Washington made his headquarters at Newburgh on the Hudson, and the house in which he lived is still preserved as a relic. During the last years of the war there were no events of much importance along the Hudson. New York had endured every evil of the war. Her inland districts had been ravaged by the bloody Indians and Tories, her chief cities had been helplessly held by the British and her prisoners had been confined in their vile prison ships and sugar houses. After the treaty of peace was signed in 1783, and the British had left New' York and the Hudson, the sturdy patriots had little left but their dearly bought independence. Their progress and growth was steady and rapid and now, in little over a century, we live in a peaceful, well-governed land and are far too apt to forget the glorious struggles of our forefathers which made our Empire State possible. MARGARETTA FARLEY. Ye Visit of Ye Inspector. A manne came down from Albanie towne. Grave and severe was he, He poked around in our little school house And sayed he wanted to see What kinde of place we hade downe here. And whether 'twas suited to be The place fore boys and girles to go And learne about 'ologie. His browe grew dark, and sterne spoke he From out of ye depths of his beard, When he entered ye basement doore of ye school And upon ye coal bin leered. “What ho! Gadzooks! Where's ye fronte doore ? Quoth he in a voice that “skeered, “ Mye Lord, its the onlie doore there is. And we just had that porte-cochere reared. Blacker and blacker became his frowne And fiercer and fiercer grew he Hunting a place where he mighte sit, And not get a bump on his knee. “ Downe with the whole shebang!” he cried, “ For it certainly seems to me That it's no place fore boys and girls to goe. And learne about 'ologie ! A. O. W., '08. High School Athletics. HE season of '08, '09 was not a successful one, from an athletic point of view, mostly on account of the lack of “spirit. A basketball team was organized the latter part of February, so late that we were able to schedule only one game, with Warwick, in which Goshen High was defeated. In the early part of April a meeting of the boys was called, in order to start some “ spirit and to elect delegates to the Athletic Convention.