Redcoats in New York and Rhode Island

Lieutenant General Earl Hugh Percy was a distinguished British Army officer who served throughout the early years of the American Revolutionary War. While a small selection of his letters from this period was published a century ago, the vast majority of his correspondence, diaries, and other military papers has remained unpublished until now. For the first time, many of these manuscripts have been arranged in chronological order and integrated with an informative narrative that places these primary sources into historical context. Together, they offer a unique and revealing perspective on the war through the eyes of a senior British commander, providing fresh insights into the military operations, personalities, and challenges of the conflict. A first volume - The Road to Lexington - Letters and papers of Lord Percy 1768-1776 traces the origins of the hostilities in and around Boston, culminating in the British evacuation of the town in March 1776. This volume draws on Lord Percy's letters and miscellaneous papers, and enables readers to follow General Howe's army as it regroups in Nova Scotia before tracing the subsequent campaign in North America, including the Battles of Long Island, Kips Bay, and White Plains, together with the capture of Fort Washington. The volume concludes with the British occupation of Rhode Island and Lord Percy's return to England in May 1777.

Chapter 2 Staten Island HMS Greyhound and the ships escorting her arrived off Sandy Hook on 25th June. Anchored offshore, General Howe was able to assess the situation as he awaited the main fleet. He also took the opportunity to meet with the Royal Governor of New York, William Tryon. The Governor had been forced to quit the city and take refuge aboard his ship some months earlier, but was to some extent able to advise Howe on the numbers and dispositions of Washington’s troops. Four days after Howe arrived, the main fleet came into view. Percy’s Journal 29th   In the morning made land – The Centurion joined us last night – came to an anchor at Sandy Hook about 4 0’clock P:M: & delivered over command to the Genl. - Ordered for the future to take command of the advanced Guard consisting of all the Light Infantry of the Army – the Grenadiers – Highlands & first Brigade.1 Earlier in the day, provincial troops had reported that 45 British ships had been sighted off the coast at about 9am. By mid-afternoon, this vast fleet of Royal Navy and transport ships had swollen to above 120 and now lay at anchor off Sandy Hook. The formidable sight of so many vessels was described as looking like a wood of pine trees, with one American observer recalling that it appeared that all of London was afloat.2  The spectacle spread before the eyes of those on Staten Island would eventually swell to around 450 ships over the coming weeks, as reinforcements arrived. Tightly packed and at least a mile wide, this growing city of sail resembled a thick swamp, as a rebel officer described it. Such a pageant would not be repeated until the D-Day landings of 1944. Journal 30th, 31st  Preparing to land upon Long Island & in the Evening moved up with the fleet into Grieves Bay.1  The fleet now began to relocate further up New York Bay and stood off Gravesend on Long Island while making ready for a landing of the troops on 1st July. However, after further reflection and discussions with Governor Tryon†, General Howe paused. Consulting with his senior officers, he made the decision to alter this plan. He had concluded that the terrain his troops would have to march through against an unknown enemy, a perceived lack of water, and believing that maintaining communication with the fleet would be difficult, he had decided to exercise caution and wait for further reinforcements. The troops would disembark onto Staten Island instead. The British ships therefore weighed anchor the next day and made their way over the Narrows towards the Watering Place on Staten Island. According to Captain Archibald Robertson of the Royal Artillery, this relocation was not to go altogether smoothly. He noted that after the tide had turned and with a little breeze, the transports fell into great confusion, all dropping upon one another without steerage way... We observed a good many of the rebels in motion on shore. They fired musquetry at the nearest ships without effect.... lucky for us the rebels had no Cannon here or we would have suffered a good deal. 3 Percy made no comment on this chaos, but calmly wrote: Percy’s Journal 2nd July    It was determined to change the Plan of operations & proceed up the narrows early this morning to effect a landing on Staten Island – went therefore immediately on board Phoenix & passed with two frigates thru the narrows but as it came calm, the Transports could not follow us – Anchored within sight of N: York – The Rebels fired two shot at us from Red Hook but they did not reach half way – In the evening, run in towards the watering Place on Staten Island within musket shot on which the Rebel Troops evacuated the Island which was taken possession of by the Grenadiers & Light Infantry.1  At around 1 0’clock as the advanced warships Rose, Greyhound, and Phoenix lay off the Watering Place, the signal to prepare for landing was sent. Generals Robertson and Pigot landed around 8 o’clock in the evening with the grenadier and light infantry companies. Although it was reported that the rebels had three to four hundred men positioned in a redoubt, they speedily evacuated the island before any British landed. Not only did they meet no opposition, but it is also said that the redcoats were welcomed with open arms by the Loyalist inhabitants on the island. Such was the zeal of the loyal local men that they soon formed themselves into a militia of around 500 men. The following day, as the rest of the troops began to disembark, Earl Percy went ashore and established his headquarters at Richmond: Journal 3rd June  Landed with the first Brigade – was detached to Richmond to command on the West Side of the Island. In the afternoon an acct. was brought that the Rebels had landed on the Island which was false. In the evening posted 12 companies of Grenadiers at the Old Blazing Star.  4th - Some firing heard in the morning on the opposite side of the Island which proved to be from Bergen points where the Rebels brought down a Gun – The Troops almost all landed – The Enemy seem to be busy about Amboy. Ordered the Grenadiers from the Blazing Star.1  Percy was not to know until some days later, that the Declaration of Independence had been signed and that the 13 colonies had now separated themselves from the British Crown and the government of Great Britain. The same day, Percy’s own regiment, the 5th Foot, along with other regiments that had now landed, were given permission to recruit from the local Loyalist population.4 The conditions being that any who volunteered would serve until the end of the conflict only, when they would be discharged.  While on the island, the light company of the 5th Foot were cantoned  from the Dutch Church to Richmond,  the grenadiers at Richmond and the battalion companies with the 2nd Brigade at the New Blazing Star. The positions of the British brigades on Staten Island were as follows: The First Brigade was at Decker’s Ferry, commanded by Gen. James Robertson. The Second was at the New Blazing Star† under Gen. Robert Pigot. The Third was stationed on the road from the Dutch Church (at Decker’s Ferry) to the Elizabethtown Ferry under Gen. Valentine Jones. The Fourth was on the Amboy road or near the Old Blazing Star‡ under Gen. James Grant. The Fifth Brigade was on the road from the Watering Place to the Narrows under Brig. Gen. Francis Smith. The Sixth was quartered at Billopp’s Ferry opposite Perth Amboy, under the command of Brig. Gen. James Agnew. Lord Percy had his headquarters at Richmondtown, where he directly commanded the light cavalry and grenadiers stationed there. The Artillery and "Broken Corps” were at and about the Watering Place.  Percy Journal 5th June  Visited the Posts from opposite Amboy to Richmond at night had information of a Rifleman concealed. Sent a party & took him up.  6th, 7th, 8th  Nothing particular happened – some few persons well affected came in– It was reported on the 7th that Genl. Washington had quitted New York with 13,000 men & was into the Jerseys.1  On June 7th, General Howe came ashore and set up his Headquarters a mile north of the Watering Place, at the house of Adrian Bancker, a member of the New York Provincial Congress. In spite of the main body of rebels removing themselves from the island, there continued isolated reports of the occasional shots from riflemen, though nothing of concern. It was also reported that a number of the local riflemen began to defect to the British cause. The county of Monmouth in New Jersey, like Staten Island, was inhabited by many who remained loyal to the crown. Upon the British landing, numerous people immediately began to communicate intelligence regarding the movement of rebels, some of whom active were recruited into a spy network. Conversely, there were also those who were resolved to serve the rebel cause and provide military information to the Continental Army, one of the most famous networks being the Mersereau ring. Captain John Mersereau, who had fled his home on the island, is known to have secretly crossed back in July and gained information on the British positions and numbers before reporting back to General Mercer in New Jersey. This was a civil war and therefore, it was often difficult to determine who was friend or foe. On Sunday, July 7th, Lord Percy received his first intelligence reports from New Jersey, brought by civilians who had ventured to cross the Kill Van Kull Channel: Intelligence No. 1 The following persons came last night from Jersey to Genl. Agnews quarters  St: Van Brockle, George Smith     }Amboy & Woodbridge  Jno.. Cray  Silas Allwood   James McCollon      The following persons were taken up yesterday as from Amboy & sent towards or to E. Town Mr C Bearing  Wm. Kearby  D. Lawson  Mr Hariholm   Mr Turnbull  George Smith says that the day before yesterday 300 militia under the command of Maj. Dyekink [Duyckinck] marched into town, no cannon there, a few pieces were there but carried off about 3 days ago & said now to be opposite to the Blazing Starr, No troops in their barracks all quartered in the town, 2 sentrys in the front, the Guard room, Mr Skinners office, only sergeants Guard, All the boats were sent away 2 nights ago – Sentrys posted every night from the Guard on Raritan River…. was yesterday in Town when Mr C Kearny, Mr M. Kearny, Thos Skinner, Wm. Hick, Jno, Smyth Esq. Isaack Bonnice Esq, Dr Larason,† Mr Fairiholm & Mr Turnbull were taken up & caried to Woodbridge.  Esq. Isaack Bonnice Esq, Dr Larason, Mr Fairiholm & Mr Turnbull were taken up & carried to Woodbridge.  Jono. Cray says he was at Woodbridge yesterday, Genl. Heard [Gen. Nathaniel Heard]  was there, hearing the Committee was to *** *** away That there was at Woodbridge 3 or 4 Comps of Militia, & 1 Comy. Of Continental troops. Does not know where they were before. The militia was sent to Amboy & Blazing Starr, to have  Guard at Smiths Point – Yesterday the two Mr Kearneys‡, Mr Smyth. Mr Burrell the sheriff, Thos Skinner, Mr Hick & others – were carry’d thro Woodbridge brought to the same place Govr. Franklin is Carr’d to.  Silas Allwood, was at Amboy the day before yesterday carted goods for Mr Kearney, no troops tho’ he understood Major Dyekink Marched in that day with 4 Compys. ….heard they were entrenching at York, finding that he was to be called before their Committee to swear that he would not serve against the Congress, he ran away, came off last night, saw tho’ Mr Kearny, Mr Smyth, The Sheriffe, Skinner, Hick & Dr Larason5   The arrest of Loyalists had begun two weeks earlier, following an alleged plot by Governor Tryon to raise a volunteer force in New York and aid the Crown forces. Furthermore, it was believed that an attempt to assassinate General Washington would be made as well as the destruction of powder stores and even setting fire to the city. Following the arrival of the British army on Staten Island, there was naturally a mistrust in the neighbouring counties of New Jersey of anyone suspected of bearing allegiance to the King. General Washington had given orders that if there was any just reason to suspect anyone around Amboy of giving intelligence and aid to the enemy, then, for the safety of the public, they should be removed to places where they could have no opportunity of carrying out such acts. Those names listed in the latter intelligence were among a number who were arrested and removed to Trenton. William Franklin was the first to be detained, having been the Royal Governor of New Jersey until he was ousted by the rebel Provincial Congress and had been under house arrest since the previous January. Officially declared as an enemy to the liberties of the country on June 19th, by the Provisional Congress, Franklin was taken to Connecticut, where he could do no harm.  The arrest of William Franklin The other men named in the intelligence also appear in an official American source, which confirms the men as being Phillip and Michael Kearny, Captain Turnbull, Dr John Lawrence, Isaac Bonnell, Johnston Fairholm, William Hick, and the baker Thomas Skinner. All of these men were, however, paroled on 15th July and ordered to stay within 6 miles of named towns, well away from the British lines. The following month, Thomas Skinner and Isaac Bonnel swore oaths to the state and as a result, were released as good subjects. Nevertheless, Skinner remained loyal to the crown and, as a result, had his estate confiscated by the Americans. In the case of William Hicks, he was allowed to return home under a Bond of £500 as security for his good behavior.6 An English innkeeper, Hicks had settled in Princeton before being hounded out due to his loyalty to the crown and relocated to Amboy to continue his business. It is known that he died in 1780 on a passage back to England. The Kearnys were members of a prominent Loyalist family and, after his release, Michael was employed as a clerk in the British army in New York. He later served as an officer in a Loyalist militia regiment, yet still returned to Amboy after the war.  Major John Duyckinck commanded the Middlesex County Militia in New Jersey, although he was later to bear allegiance to the King when the British eventually occupied New Jersey. In 1777, he returned to Washington’s forces but was suspected of spying for the British and placed under arrest. He was finally released in 1779 without any charges brought against him.  Among those who brought over information to the British on 7th July was Silas Allwood.† One of numerous New Jersey Loyalists, he would play an important and dangerous role and continue to furnish Lord Percy with intelligence. Another source of vital information was that of detailed maps. One man employed by General Howe to create such items was the French-born surveyor and cartographer, Claude Joseph Sauthier.† Following the landing on Staten Island, Sauthier was commissioned to produce a map of the area and instructions were issued to ensure he received all assistance. Percy’s Journal 9th 10th July Nothing particular – The above report not true.‡ This day the 10th. A Regt. Commanded by Genl. Mercer & about 500 Rifle men marched into Amboy so that they have about 1200 men there. 1 Intelligence 10th July 1776  The 9th at night 500 men said to be Riflemen marched into Amboy & 1000 more were expected on the 10th.  A report that 15000 men are to land on the island & to be headed by Putman with 3 or 4,000 more men from N. England as an advanced guard  8th in the evening, Genl. Mercer arrived at Amboy with his Battalion. 8 Over the first few weeks of July, the newly appointed Brigadier Hugh Mercer began to establish a flying camp around Amboy in New Jersey, as well as positioning troops and erecting defence wor