The War With The Jerseymen
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Jacob Cuddeback said to Van Inwegen, “We are old men; our lives are of less consequence than those of our younger companions; let us take our places in the front of the line.” This act of self-sacrifice was immediately carried into execution; even the younger men evincing no dissatisfaction at the wise arrangement. The line was formed in double column, with the two old men in front as a cover to those in rear, and the Major himself at the head of his men; with this disposition of the force, they calmly awaited the onset with breathless interest. The Jerseymen came within gunshot and halted. Such a military array as that with which they were now confronted-at once so unexpected and so formidable-served to weaken the ardor even of Jerseymen bent on conquest. Another incident, coming also unawares, contributed to strike dismay still more deeply into the stern hearts of the invaders.
Gerardus Swartwout, a young son of the Major, who was in the line behind the old men, called out to his father in a voice loud enough to be heard by the invading party “Is this all in fun, Father, or in sober earnest; are we to shoot to kill, or only aim to hit them in their legs?”
“Shoot to kill,” shouted the Major in tones of thunder- “pepper every rascal of them! Down with the ruthless invaders of our soil !“
This was more than the Jerseymen could stand. Their column began to waver, when Van Inwegen called out to the Major to give the order to open the battle.
“Ready! take aim! fire!” roared the Major. The two old men in front raised their weapons at the word of command, but before they could pull trigger the Jerseymen were in full retreat for the woods. Some stray shots were sent after them by some of the young men in the rear of the line of battle, with no effect. With this the military operations of the day concluded.
Some time after this the Jerseymen made another effort to capture the Major and Captain Johannes Westbrook. They chose the Sabbath as the time when, and the door of the church as the place where, they would be the most certain of taking their prey. Somewhere between the years 1764 and 1767 one Sabbath morning, a strong party surrounded the church armed with clubs. The Major and Captain Westbrook were among the congregation of worshippers. After the services were concluded and the people were coming out of the church, both men were captured and made prisoners, but not until after a long, rough-and-tumble struggle. The Major, being reckoned the more dangerous of the two, was taken and confined for a while in a Jersey prison.
Captain Johannes Westbrook. They chose the Sabbath as the time when, and the door of the church as the place where, they would be the most certain of taking their prey. Somewhere between the years 1764 and 1767 one Sabbath morning, a strong party surrounded the church armed with clubs. The Major and Captain Westbrook were among the congregation of worshippers. After the services were concluded and the people were coming out of the church, both men were captured and made prisoners, but not until after a long, rough-and-tumble struggle. The Major, being reckoned the more dangerous of the two, was taken and confined for a while in a Jersey prison.Table of Contents