The battle of Long Island
by Thomas Warren Field
- Login or register to forward title to your Kindle or delivery email
- download the converted book to your desktop.
- Enter rr2.mobi/bBQ in your Kindle browser to download
- Click on cover to see Google Books preview
Excerpt:
The strong impulses of the Puritan were moderated by education, and restrained by a somewhat unnatural selfcontrol; yet his spirit was at times revealed in a fierce energy, that scorned and overleaped these artificial bonds. On the other hand, the self-content of the descendants of the Hollander, which gave them the sensuous characteristic usually termed phlegm, easily blended with the egotistic self-appreciation of the English emigrants, which they denominated loyalty; so that both these elements of population, though animated by widely different motives, united in the desire of preserving the old government. Thus, while the towns along the northern shore readily kindled in sympathetic glow with the New England flame, those on the southern side of Queens county remained cold and impassive.
The first meeting of the citizens of that county, in response to the general sentiment of alarm which pervaded the country after the passage of the Boston Port bill, was held at the inn of Increase Carpenter, near the present village of Brushville. Marked by so important an event, as being the birth-place of the Revolution on Long Island, this inn became memorable as the scene of another tragic event, which here closed the local struggle for liberty.1
The descendants of a little colony of New Englanders, grouped around this spot, early felt the revolutionary fever in their veins. Meeting casually at this inn, or perhaps impelled thither by a common motive, a number of persons requested the town constable, Othniel Smith, to notify the freeholders to meet at the Court House, in Jamaica, for the purpose of taking public affairs into consideration.
1 This structure still remains, nearly in the same condition as at the period of these events, in the possession of a grandson of the revolutionary proprietor. It was while seeking shelter here that Gen. Woodhull fell, beneath the sabres of Delancey's troopers.
In accordance with this call, a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants convened at the appointed place, December 6th, 1774, when a series of resolutions was agreed upon, which at the same time expressed the most fervent loyalty to the King, and the heartiest detestation and abhorrence of the oppressive acts of parliament. A committee of correspondence and observation was also appointed, whose functions were well expressed by its titles.1
It is evident, however, from subsequent events, as well as from the burden of some of the resolutions, that their spirit was far from being the general sentiment. Aroused by the vigorous tone of the resolves of their neighbors, which blended loyalty and rebellion in such vehement terms, one hundred and thirty-six opponents of liberal opinions signed, on the 19th of January, 1775, a statement, averring that the resolutions were expressive of the sentiments of only a small number of the citizens of Jamaica.2
'These resolutions were published in Gaines' Mercury of that week, and are printed in full, with other particulars, in Omlerdonk's Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County.
'" Jamaica, Jan. 27,1775.— Whereas a few people in this town have taken upon themselves the name of a committee, said to be chosen by a majority of the inhabitants, we, the subscribers, freeholders, and inhabitants of the said township, do think it our duty to declare, that we never gave our consent towards choosing that committee, or making any resolves, as we utterly disapprove of all unlawful meetings, and all tyrannical proceedings whatsoever; and as we have always been, so it is our firm resolution to continue, peaceable and faithful subjects to his present majesty, King George the Third, our most gracious sovereign: and we do further declare, that we do not acknowledge any other representatives but the general assembly of this province; by whose wisdom and interposition we hope to obtain the wished redress of our grievances in a constitutional way."
