The New York herald., 1875-08-23
NEW YORK BOMBARDEE.
The British Man-Of-War Pouring Her Broad.
sides Into the City for Three Hours.
THE STORY OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

It's very difficult thing for the citizens OF this rch
populous and powerful metropolis TO realize that there
could be any possible danger OF its bombardment by
hostile fleet that the guns OF any vessel manned by
enemies of the citys welfare could ever have been
turned on It's people.
But II Is fact that hundred years ago today tho
city Of New York bombardcd by the British neof
battle ship Asia under command OF Captain George
Yanderpu and that during that combat between tho
Sons Of Liberty and the number Of citizens
were killed.
To those only who we'll acquainted with the
workings of the different political parties in this city
and who knew what struggles there in 1861
there be faint idea of how matters stood tho
23d of August 1775 Bunker Hill had fought two
months before and Colonies just beginning to
feel that there in them who pledged
victory death 1t pretty certain from the records
that exist that New York city full OF tories.
There were meetings of the Sons Of Liberty night
after night and taken by them to pre-
any assistance being rendered the British tho
outskirts of tho city, through vessels OF war in the
river or harbor, all of which under the COM
mand Of General Gage. There fort in
the neighborhood OF Bowling Green, in which
a number of guns wero mounted and tho patriots hav-
ing been convened and instructed, IL deemed by
them of immediate necessity that all these guns should
be seized the first favorable opportunity in order
that the British should carry them away and thus
practically uncover the city to their attacks
THE COMPANY BEATS"
The city was distrcted and formed what then
called company beats" These companies really
volunteer organizations under the management
and instructions of the famous Sons of Lib
5rty and each of them had two ofh-
GERS who responsible for the safety OF their
men, arms and equipments. These men were nl tried
and assured patriots and every determined to
stand by the issue made by the Colonies with Great
Britain An organization formed by committee OF
two from each district 'boat' in
reality the first armed body of patriots that
this Manhattan Island ever had. The OF tha
members of the committee and the numerically desig-
mated ''beats' hundred years ago. foows-
West OF Broadway, from the Battery to Chambers
str r,et-No l, Thomas Randall, Frederick jay; No 2,
Nicholas Bogart jacob Van Voorhees,; No 3, William
W. Gilbert Robert Ray; No. A. John White John An
! thony; No 5, Abraham Duryee, Abraham p. Lott
East of Broadway and Chatham street. from tho Bat
terry to James strcet.-No 6, John Lasher Nicholas
| Hoffman; No l. William Denning, Abraham Brincker.
hoG; No. s, William W. Ludlow, Peter Goeet; No. o,
| George Janeway, Lancaster Burng; No. 10, Eeazer
Miller John Broome No. IL, Daniel Dunscomb,
| Evert Bancker; No IL, Cornelius p Low, John
| Reade; No. 13, William Bedlow, Francis Bassetti
! No A. Victor Bicker, Hercules Muligan; No. Is John
Inlay Gcrardus Duyckinck; No. l6 John Berrian, D.
Bcckman Augustus Van Horne; No. IT, Joseph Tottcn,
| b. MOOre
| Walton; No 10, Theoph Anthony; James Desbrosscs;
! No 20, Oliver Tcmplcton; Garret Keteltas; 10. 81,
| Gabriel II. Ludlow, John Woodward No % Comfort
Sands Nicholas Roosevelt; No 23, Richard Sharpe,
Hamilton Young; No. "a, Cornelius Chopper, William
Seton.
Some few ofthesc afterward were found to be
true the patriotic In company cheat" IA
we'll known aud well todo tailor named Hercules Multi
gam Irshman of considerable influence An anecdoto
is told Of Mr. Mulgan which is well worthy OF record,
showing the temper Of the times and the character oftho
| YOUNG ALEXANDER HAMILTON
friend OF Muigan atterward destined to I'LL largo
space in American history. Hamilton and Mulligan
both Sons Of Liberty and the former boarded with
the latter No. 100 Broadway. When the Asia began
pour her broadsdes the city and amid the gen.
eral and confusion Hamilton engaged in
assisting others TO haul of of the heavy guns from
the fort which had been captured by the Sons Of Lib
erty Hamilton left his musket in the care of Mulgan,
and worked like a beaver among the artillery pieces
the firing increased Mr.. Mulligan became anxious
tho continued absence OF his young friend, feeling
natural for his safety aud went in search Of
him. leaving the musket on duty In Pearl street he met
Hamilton. where's my musketY' asked the latter
81 left it in yonder embrasure said Muigan pointing
to the fort. Upon which, Hamilton deliberately and
fort and recovered his
VICTORY:
There thirty pieces of heavy cannon in the fort
which was situated south Of tho Bowling Green and q
Of State and somo short distance north Of
pearl street On the night of August % a hundred
years ago the Sons OF Liberty what called
! the 'helds," but which Is now known the City Hall
park and held secret consultation as TO what measures
were TO taken comply with the wishes OF Congress-,
which earnestly desired that the patriots should allow
the to be removed, as they needed to
some Of the forts little while previously erected on
the Highlands Lambs Battery OF McDouga's regiment
of the Continental Army stood to their in the dark
ness of the night TO assist the patriots and
reply to the guns Of the that vessel
discovered the attempted removal the artillery At
eleven O'Clock at night the patriots headed by Captain
Parker's company Of light infantry of the battalion OF
Colonel Lasher, silently entered the battery and pro-
| cccded TO remove the guns. This was, doubt
solemn moment TO all the loyal hearts congrcgaed on
the Battery waiting anxiousy to the result OF the
endcavor Under the gmmering OF tho August
the barge Of the Asia discovered her and
party of marines watching carefully all the move
mcnts of the patriots. Young Hamilton OF tho
first rope which had been attached to
non At about twelve O'Clock the barge moved away
slowly through the water in the direction of the dark
hull of the line -o battle ship As the barge moved or
a musket fired by marine in tho stern sheets at
the patriots the Battery, and this shot replied
to Immediately by sharp fire of muskctry from Cap
tain Parkcrs light infantry. Very shortly after the
Asia, having secured her position, op ned fire from
three guns The drums began to beat the city, and
| those who had arms sezed them aud hurried down Ia
the scene Of conflict Now the conflict became general
and tho Asia went 10 work IN earnest firing by broad
sides from her eighteen and twenty four FOUNDERS.
! New York had at that time 1900 inhabitants and
1000 houses What guns could be got into position
the patriots side fred by them rapidly posi-
| BILE from the Battery. Families fled from their houses
in hot haste and number of persons wero
| killed and wounded in tho streets The can
nonade from the Asia lasted until three o'clock
| in the morning of the oath OF August but, in
/ spite of her furious thunder, tho guns wcro
! all safely removed from the fort, which, being de-
nudcd of all warkc pharaphcrnalia, abandoned
until the Asia should depart At the time Of the notion
the tory Governor OF the province Tryon, Long
Island, and party OF patrol cavalry started TO secure
his person He stated however, that he knew nothing
Of the approach Of Gage the British general or any Of
his troops from Boston, and having promised that he
would take of all damages in the city caused by
the commander Of the Asia, he was let go undsurbed.
And thus ended the FIRST and no doubt the last BON.
bardment Of New York, which occurred hundred
years ago, the night OF August % l775
THE GAGGED PRESS OF GERMANY.
tPoris Aug p correspondence OF the London Timesl