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History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 41
GEN. ISAAC BELKNAP.—There is an anecdote Cold of this gentleman, while a boy of 16, and as it is connected with the Revolution, a subject always dear to our citizens, and shows the temper and young ambition of the individual, we will relate it. During the summer of the year in which Fort Montgomery was taken by the English, young Belknap was sent by his father with his mother and children into the now town of Crawford, upon a farm near Graham’s church, with some cattle and sheep to pasture there, and the young man to take care of them. After young Belknap conveyed his mother, family and stock to Mr. Gillespie’s, he returned, visited his father’s house, removed the sash out of the windows, took all the kitchen furniture and dug a hole in the garden and buried them. This was done to make the house appear old and deserted, and in case the English should land at the place, as it was expected, they would give it no attention, and the house escape destruction.— Having accomplished this, the young man returned to his mother. At this time his father was out in the service of the country.
This was a wise and timely precaution on the part of Mr. Belknap, and anticipated the orders of the Committee of Safety by some months. It was thought if the English should ascend the river, they would probably land in many places on both sides, for the express purpose, if no other, of supplying themselves with fresh provisions. The council of Safety anticipated such a result, and to protect the inhabitants in the possession of their property, and prevent the same from contributing to the necessities of the enemy, on the day that Fort Montgomery was taken, October 7, 1777, resolved that certain committees appointed for the purpose, should forthwith cause all cattle, live stock, &c. to be removed from the banks of both sides of the river, except such as they should judge necessary for the present use and benefit of the owners, and keep them in the interior of the country under the direction of keepers appointed by them for the purpose. The keepers were to make a return to Robert Benson of the number, places kept at, &c.
On the 8th of October, 1777, the Committee of Safety passed the following resolution on the subject to carry out their previous determination.
Resolved, That the President be directed to send without delay, by express, to the respective committees the Resolutions passed yesterday, for the removal from places near the banks of the Hudson river, all cattle, live stock, etc., and that he be empowered to impress persons and horses for the purpose.
The danger anticipated, we believe did not befall the inhabitants of Orange, though the English did ascend the river, burn Kingston, and pillage other counties.
After being there some time, and hearing that the English were coming up the river, young Belknap could resist the temptations of curiosity and the strivings of patriotism no longer, and like another young Norval from the Grampian Hills, left his flocks and herds and hastened his steps towards Newburgh. On his way down, he called on Abel Belknap, Esq., father of Aaron Belknap, Esq., then residing about two miles west of Newburgh, where he first learned that Fort Montgomery had been taken the day before. At this time, it was notorious the English shipping were moving slowly up the river, and Belknap, stimulated by youthful ardor in the cause of his country, borrowed of Mr. Belknap a gun and bayonet with cartridge box and all necessary fixtures, for a short service. A rally was made by him for other troops, and he finally succeeded to fluster a dozen or two of boys like himself, all anxious and determined to take part in the war, by attacking the English ships, as they passed the village. For all the injury they could inflict on these floating batteries, they might as well have fired pop-guns from Snake Hill or Beacon Heights. By the time this patriot band of young heroes reached Newburgh, some transports filled with soldiers, were opposite the present site of the village. As the wind was adverse, the vessels had to tack their course, which, at every turn on this shore, brought them near the land. This was a most favorable condition, and ensured success, if the thing was possible. The land force hastened down to the shore, now about Crawford’s dock, and took their positions behind large trees which then grew upon the spot, and pretty close to the water. Here with throbbing hearts, and anxious to try the effect of their inexperienced eyes and arms, in a land assault with muskets, upon a fleet of transports, armed with heavy ordninance,— the farmer boys waited till some vessel should run in shore and tack her course, and be within point blank shot of their ill-appointed and unfurnished weapons. Little calculation we suppose was made upon the bayonets’ power. At the favorable moment, bang, bang, went the scattering shots towards the enemy. We may well suppose them taken by surprise at this unexpected attack from land in open day, and where no foe was suspected to lurk concealed; but soon recovering, seeing whence the intended injury came, and the harmless nature of it, let slip one of their ever-ready and growling bulldogs in the proper direction. The shot proving ineffectual, the young guerilla party, no wise disconcerted, scampered from their hiding places, to take a new position, and continue the hazardous sport. They proceeded up the river, to about where the vessel would be when tacking on this shore, and about where the factory of Farnum & Jennings is now situate, near the Newburgh Mills, determined if possible to inflict some injury and have the satisfaction of a parting blow before the enemy left the bay. Here again, among the thick growth of young trees and bushes, which covered the spot, but high up on the bank above the river, they waited till the vessel was in the wished for situation, and then fired off another regular volley. On this occasion, there appeared on board something more than mere surprise, for confusion seemed mingled with it, but whether any injury was done or not, there were no means of determining. The vessel however returned the salute, fired another ball, which met the bank so far below as to be entirely harmless, and filling upon her new tack, left the shore; and the youthful warriors returned home, in all the pride of having had an affair with the English, and played their part in the war.