This evening
Returned a party of our Provincial Troops that had been detached from King's
Bridge and brought in a Captain, one Subaltern, and 23 more Rebels. The
Commander in Chief and his suite arrived this afternoon at 2 o'clock at New
York from Staaten Island.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 426-7
The 17th Dragoons
embarked at Staaten Island and arrived at New York, where they are to be
stationed between it and King's Bridge. The Commander in Chief viewed the works
at King's Bridge. I set off this afternoon for Staaten Island and reached it in
the night. Orders to put that post near the watering place in a state of
defence. Six 6-pounders (Iron) to be mounted in these works.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 427
Working party 150
men began to make fascines for making good the rear of the Redoubts at Staaten
Island and to add 2 small ones for 30 men each to terminate the Flanks. I
returned to New York this Evening. All the Artillery and Stores excepting the
Battery Guns of the 2nd Battalion and 2 of Light Infantry were embarked on
board the Artillery Transports by nine o'clock this morning for Staaten Island.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 427
The Infantry of the
Army embarked from Staaten Island on board their transports for the Expedition
excepting the Guards.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 427
The British and
Hessian Grenadiers embarked, as also the 16th Light Dragoons, leaving for the
defence of Staaten Island the 52nd and 2 of Hessians encamped in the rear of
the Redoubt, round the watering place and the Provincials on the West side of
the Island under the Command of Major-General Skinner. In the redoubts 6 Iron 6
pounders and a detachment of Artillery, each field piece taken with us on the
Expedition has with it 300 rounds.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 427
I accompanied
General Clinton to the Narrows and the works on Staaten Island.
Signals made from the Eagle for the whole fleet to prepare to sail.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull,
Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 427-8
Left Brunswick and
reached Perth Amboy at noon, where we discovered the enemy on Staten Island.
The inhabitants seem to be friends to our present struggle.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At Reveille were
informed that the enemy had landed at Elizabethtown, which caused us to be
marched there. On arrival at 2 o'clock, we found the alarm was a false one. We
determined to cross to Staten Island that night to visit the troops of Gen.
Howe, but a hurricane arose which prevented our embarkation. We afterward
ascertained that we would have been cut off, had we landed.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
This day 1000 of the
Pennsylvania militia came to Perth Amboy. A rifleman was shot by the enemy
going in a boat to Staten Island.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
At 4 P. M. three
schooners came down the Sound and were hailed by our sentries. Returning no
answer, a heavy cannonade ensued on both sides—from our battery near the Ferry,
and from the enemy at Billop's Point on Staten Island. During the action
we had one man killed and one wounded—the schooners got off much damaged.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, pp. 196-7
At break of day the line moved from Brunswick & by evening the whole encamped at Amboy excepting some Regiments that marched through and ferried to Staaten Island. During this day 2 skirmishes happened and one Carronade from the rebels that brought in our rear, two 12 pounders and 3 Battalions with their colours red, yellow and white. We had one man killed and about 16 wounded, the rebels lost some and we took from them a Captain by the name of Porter.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 423
The Commander in Chief reviewed the 2 Battalions Anspach. Baggage waggons ferrying over to Staaten Island. 43 Sail of Transports now in Princes Bay. Boats constantly arriving from New York to take off the Stores from hence.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 423-4
At 4 this morning the whole marched and reached Amboy in 5 hours and mostly encamped. Weather exceptionally hot—no firing at all. This country richer and better watered. Part of the Army Continued their march, crossed the Ferry to Staaten Island and encamped there, and one Brigade of Hessians embarked on board their respective vessels lying near Amboy. Much baggage, Waggons, Horses & ferried across likewise. Some deserters from the Rebels and one Light dragoon. The Vigilant armed with 18 and 24 pounders & made up the Rariton, so as to flank our Camp. Flat bottomed boats and such cratt arrived this afternoon at Amboy from Princes Bay.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, pp. 425-6
The whole day principally taken up in transporting in Flat boats & the Baggage of this Army across to Staaten Island together with every kind of "Stores de Guerre de bouche" besides Artillery, Horned Cattle, waggons, Horses and a working party of 300 men employed in Erazing the Interiour faces of the Redoubts & the Exteriour of Fort Callibogus fronting towards Staaten Island. Six deserters came in. Captain Finch of the Grenadiers died of his wounds and buried this day at Amboy. Every preparation forming this day for our leaving the Province tomorrow. Gallies and armed vessels posted in the Kills and Raritan so as to cover our passage from Staaten Island which ferry is about of a mile across. New York Company of Volunteers detached from King's Bridge towards White plains—killed 6 of the rebels and brought in Eight Prisoners—Twenty five head of Cattle and Eleven Horses.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 426
Wind at South East and rain. This morning early began to call in our posts which were advanced to Strawberry Hill and continued retiring the army to the Town and embarking the whole in boats until past 3 this afternoon when the Province of New Jersey was entirely evacuated by the King's Troops, the Rebels were so disconcerted by the secret and very unexpected movement of the army on the 26th Instant that not a shot has been fired by them since, as the last boats were coming off an Inhabitant came in from Westfield not having met with any one between that and Amboy. Our army on disembarking at Staaten Island immediately marched on and occupied their several grounds for encamping. Head Quarters, this night at Richmond. Arrived the Otter sloop of War from West Indies with 9 sail of vessels under Convoy.
SOURCE: G. D. Scull, Editor, The Montresor Journals, p. 426
