Recollections of the early days of the National Guard : comprising the prominent events in the history of the famous Seventh Regiment New York Militia

Front matter

LIBRARY OF

KEITH M. READ

CONFEDERATE

II

It will not be undertaken in these brief narrations to trace in detail, down through the succeeding years, all the debasing influences of the pudding-headed English, who succeeded to the Government, which were so well calculated to depress and crush out the Martial Spirit of the People ; for, although they sometimes engaged in wars and over-reaching contentions, they were always with the feeble, and for the only object that they ever fight, — namely, oppression of the weak, plunder, or some rascally or swindling advantage in trade, ever ignoring all sentiment of chivalry, or martial or personal honor. The seed, however, that had been sown by the valiant Dutch in the " early days," could not be eradicated ; it had fallen in strong soil, and was too well implanted not to spring up and come forth, in subsequent years, even after the lapse of a century, under the exciting influence of the " freedom's spirit," which began to develop into resistance to the characteristic rascalities and progressive oppressions of English rule.

o RECOLLECTIONS OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.

The exciting times just preceding the Revolution brought out, in many of the people of the City, a strong desire for freedom from the oppressive tyranny of their base rulers, and developed a Martial Spirit, eager for action, which pervaded the Dutch part of the population, and also the descendants of those Huguenots who had sought refuge here from the oppressive tyranny of their own rulers, then forming a considerable portion of the people of the city ; and which had likewise, in some measure, affected the Puritan part of the English residents, stern relics of the old Cromwell-ism.

The organization and proceedings of the "Sons of " Liberty" are to be ever honored and held Glorious ; — their detestation of, and hostility to, the English Tyranny ; — their zeal in arousing the people to resistance ; — their erection of a Liberty Pole in the fields (the present "Park") with a flag inscribed to "Liberty," the first one raised in the Colonies ; — the skirmish between them and the English soldiers, known as the "Battle of Golden Hill," (John street, from Gold to Pearl street,) as early as 1770, January 18th, in which was drawn the first blood shed in the cause of the Revolution ; and their ringing out the "tocsin of Liberty," on the occasion, from the bell of St. George's Church, (Beekman street,) — their active and persistent resistance to the Stamp Act, — all give evidence that the old Martial Spirit had not been dead, — only sleeping ; and it burst

RECOLLECTIONS OP THE SEVENTH REGIMENT, g

forth with great power and brilliancy as soon as the contest began to assume form and a tangible shape. Marinus Willet, Henry Rutgers, John Lamb, Isaac Sears, Alexander McDougall, G-ershom Mott, Richard Yarick, Goven Yan Schaick, Abraham Yan Dyke, Yan Courtlandt, Fish, Gansevoort, John Morin Scott, and hundreds of others, rushing to the front rank in all that was going on ; and forming military associations, and drilling, and qualifying them for service.

The very first germ of the "Continental Army" of the Revolution was formed here, in the New York City Militia. The Provincial Regiments raised in the City, under the excitement of the times, (the officers of the First were commissioned in 1775,) were embodied, in May, as " The Army," being the first important Military Act of the new Continental Congress, which assembled May 10, (1775,) at Philadelphia.

Here, too, we find the impromptu Hero-Boy, Alexander Hamilton, attracting the eye of the Great Washington, as he passed along the Common where the boy-soldier was drilling his company of boy-soldiers by the road-side, and was invited, through an Aid, to an interview with the Great Chief, which led to his engagement at Head Quarters, and early appointment to prominent and responsible Military positions ; and ultimately the attainment to the highest Career, and the very pinnacle of military renown and of Patriotic Statemanship ; which, together with the many other young

RECOLLECTIONS OP THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.

and gallant spirits who rushed forward to the aid of the cause of the Revolution, in various ways, gave so much eclat to the Military and Patriotic character developed in a considerable portion of the people of the City, even under the adverse and oppressive circumstances by which the citizens were overwhelmed, and many crushed down, shortly after the War commenced.