The New York herald., 1876-11-23
CAPTURE OF FORT ST. GEORGE

ANNIVERSARY OF A HEROIC EXPLOIT IN 1880
sEyEREsT WINTER KNOWN.
One OF the most remarkable and heroic exploits of
the whole Revolutionary took place just ninety-sx
years ago to-day. exploit that succeeded in cutting
or an important source Of supplies to the British
army then occupying the city Of New York. Tho
17S0 very cold, and il is still regarded
the severest known before since. The bay
closed with ice, so that troops of horse and artillery
crossed TO Staten Island, and passing the North
and East rivers and frequent
occurrence All the isands IN the harbor
were connected with another and with the main
land by immense frozen bridge the royal troops
experienced some anxiety relative 10 Sufficient stores
OF fuel and forage. Tho British had possession OF
Long Island, and all the adheronts OF the patriot
were obliged to abandon their homes and seek
shelter elsewhere. Among tho refugees was General
John Smith, whose estate covered several thousand
acres Of woodland. II situated the beautiful
and fertile promontory projecting into South Bay, at
Mastic. party OF tories took possession OF Smiths
manor house, fortified and the grounds around u
and commenced cutting immense quantities OF wood
and sending II to New York the Of the soldiers
stationed IN the city. good price was paid Tor the
commodity and the tories having strongly nrenehsd
themselves in the works they built, which
they named Fort st. George, seemed TO fear
no attack or interruption IN their enterprise
At the solicitation Of smith Washington consented
to despatch iorce 10 disodac the depredators Col
onel Tallmagc intrusted with the management OF
secret expedition for this purpose. With party OF
dismounted Dragons he crossed, November II, the
woodvlle. He concealed his boats In tho bushes by
the side and mar ched by night across the island
TO Mastic On his route he called at q house where
MRS Smith staying and told her his destination
Talmage stated that in the conflict near al hand he
might be compelled TO destroy her house. which tho
loyalis,s had embraced within their works. "Destroy
IT ii you can, only drive out these tores," replied
the patriotic dame. Tallmage TOOK with him
William Booth Tor guide, and he ncared the SEN
try u, crept along the ground and watched
until his back turned. when he rushed on, and
the sentinel was dead before he knew from whence
the bay onet thrust came. The fort at in
vested, and Its garrison taken entirely BY surprise
They had never anticipated such bold and sudden
.wAsHISGroS AND oLoRY'
shouted forth simultaneously the vctors, car
ryng everything before then rushed into the parade
The work carried, ana tho successful party
stood elated with joy volley Of musketry was dis
charged on them from the manor house. which formed
OF the stockade. In a moment the doors
broken in BY tho enraged Americans, who rushed up
and pitched every they could lay hands on
out OF the window. All would have been paassacred
tho spot had not Tamage interfered and stopped
the carnage. In ten minutes everything was quiet
again Having secured the 800 prisoners, who had
formed the garrison OF Fort ST George demolished the
work Itself, burned the vessels at the dock and de-
stroyed immense quantity Of wood, they set out
their return. party detached to Corum, who
destroyed 800 tons OF hay INTENDED for the British
cavalry in New York. In less than twenty four hours
these remarkable results accomplished by hand
ul of daring men. without any loss to themselves,
and who brought back captives nearly four
times their number. Fort ST. George consisted
OF enclosure OF several acres two angles
OF which strong barricade ana at the third re-
doubt, deep ditch and abattis Between the houses
and the fort stockades twelve feet high II was
embrasured for six guns but only two were mounted
This bold and successful enterprise drew from WASH
inRton complimentary letter and from Congress
gratifying resolution. Booth, for his part in the
pediton, received n medal for military merit" The
British troops this CITY, their supplies being thus cut
OF, suffered ssvercx during the hard winter OF
1850 lack of fuel and forage and the loyasts
taught lesson they did not soon forget