The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-06-22
4 CLERGYMAN OF THE RETO-
LUTON.

4 CLERGTM4N OF THE REVO-
LUTON.
During the War of American Inde-
pendence no man took bolder stand on
behalf of the reyolted Colonies than the
Reverend James Caldwell, the soldier
parson" of New Jersey.
He was native of Virginia, and be-
came pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth) in
1851. From the inception of the strug-
gle for independence Mr.. Caldwell took
very active part, and became the
special object of hatred to the Tories in
New York and New Jersey.
He served as chaplain in Colonel
Dayton's regiment Of the New Jersey
Brigade, and was at all times prominent
for his bold patriotism and feryent zeal
for his country's cause.
The murder of Mrs. Caldwell by a
British soldier, and the assassination Of
her husband, a few months later, by a
soldier of the Continental Army, form a
double tragedy of painful yet thrilling
interest.
The circumstances of the murder of
Mrs. Caldwell, an act of fendish bar
barity that has few parallels in civilized
warfare, were as follows: On June 9th,
1880, force of six thousand British
troops left New York and landed during
that night and the following morning at
Eiizabethtown Point, intending to sur
prise the American force at Short Hills,
and if successful, to push on to Morris
town and attack Washington's camp at
that place.
After slight skirmish in the streets of
EEzabethtown, during which the British
general, Stirling, received wound from
which he afterward died, the invading
column advanced toward Short Hills.
News of the landing of the British
troops had been sent with all speed to
the signal-post on Prospect Hill, in the
rear of Springfield the signalgun was
fred and the tar-barrel blazed up,
rousing all the country round.
: In the American camp at MorristoVn
the rattle of drums and the sharp notes
of the bugle called to arms" and the
troops were speedily on the march to
meet the enemy.
In the meantime the militia had as
sembled from all quarters, and, joining
Colonel Dayton's detachment. which had
fallen back from Elizabethtown, with
the remainder of the brigade under
General Maxwell, presented stubborn
resistance to the foe.
By continual skirmishing the British
advance was much retarded, and finally
checked at point just beyond the
village of Connecticut Farms.
During the afternoon this hastily
gathered and undisciplined handful OF
Continentals, militia and farmers, boldly
attacked the British regulars and drove
them back for some distance; but on the
British bringing up one thousand five
hundred fresh troops the Americans
were compelled to retire to their former
position zEs y
The British commander, however, soon
learned that Washington had occupied
with his entire force the strong position
at Short Hills, and he at once determined
to retreat.
The village of Connecticut Farm
was then given.up to pillage. After the
dwellings, had been thoroughly ran
sacked they were given to the flames
The church editice shared the same fate
The British commenced their retreat
at about ten o'clock the same evening
during violent thunderstorm; but, de-
spite the severity of the weather, the
militia followed and harassed the re-
treating column until it reached the
shore of Staten Island Sound. The total
loss of the British was about two hun.
dred men; that of the Americans
seventy-three.
It was during the sack of the village
that Mrs. Caldwell was murdered in the
parsonage then occupied by the minister
family. On the arrival of the Roya
troops, Mrs. Caldwell, at their demand
provided refreshments for the officers
and when they left the house she retired
with her hcusekeeper and children, to ,
back room for security against stray
shots, should the contending forces be
come engaged near the house. TIL
servant who had accompanied her to thi
apartment, on looking outof the window
told her mistress that red-coat soldie
had jumped over the fence, and was ap
preaching the window with gun. Mrs
Caldwell rose from her seat to look out
when the soldier fred his musket at he
through the window. She was sho
through the breast, and instantly ex
pired. The brutal soldier fired tn
house, and it was with difficulty tina
| her horror-stricken friend obtained pei
mission to remove her body before tn
house was consumed.
| This shameful deed raised storm {
passionate indignation that added not