The Jersey City news., 1903-11-21

ten by DIR. Il. j. Gordon, director OF lhe
Free Public Library was read in the
schools yesterday
At the time of the Revolutionary War
marsh land At several points in the
marshes were hiEocks of sand. One of
these was near Hamilton Park, another
near the corner of Monmouth and Mont
gomery streets, and another in the sec
tion bounded by Montgomery, Hudson,
Essex and Warren streets. This last
elevation was called Paulus Hook. 1t
was surrounded by Harsimus Cove, the
Hudson River, Communipaw Cove, and
salt marshes. A creek ran northerly
through these marshes across the present
line Of Newark avenue and Warren
street, connecting Communipaw and
Harsimus Coves and making Paulus
Hook an island at high tide.
Early in the spring of 17!6 fortffica-
tions were constructed at Paulus Hook
by the Americans, and General Mercer
was placed in command. On the 18th
of July, two vessels of the British feet,
which had come from Boston, sailed up
the Hudson and were attacked by the
batteries at Paulus Hook. 1t was then
that the first gun was fred from the
( New Jersey shore. On September %,
1776, the British, who had captured New
York on September 15, vigorously at
Atacked Paulus Hook. General Mercer
and his troops were compelled to aban-
don it. The British took possession and
strengthened the Notifications. They
madeS az ditch twenty feet wide around
Pauluss Hook, with view to making ap-
proach by land impossible. Over this
ditch, near what is now the corner Of
Newark avenue and Warren street, was
drasTbridge with barred gate. The
British constructed additional fortifca-
tions The fortiscations at Paulus Hook
and New York, which guarded the en-
trance to the Hudson River, were held
by the British uRtilsthe end of the Reyo-
lutionary War.
After Wayne's raid on Stony Point,
Major Henry Lee, better known as
Light Horse Harry" discovered that
the British stationed at Paulus Hook,
feeling secure had become careless in
guarding the fort, and planned to sur
prise them. Washington approved the
plan.
On the evening of August 1S, 1779,
Major Lee, WHO was only twenty-three
years old, with about s450 men, left New
Bridge or Hackeasaek, from which point
the raid lad been ordered. He intended
ito attack the fort that night, but, owing
to the hard, and difscult road, he did not
reach the creek or ditch, which separated
Paulus from the mainland, until about
three O'Clock on the morning of August
19, 1873. Owing to misunderstanding
of orders, Lees force numbered about
two hundred men when he arrived at
Paulus from the mainland, until about
bered him on.the New York. shore, he had
|. to III
kad to wade Through the swamps and
rd the ditch and creek at times up
the neck in the water, their arms were
= seless. As he had no cannon he was
forced to attack with bayonets For
unately, he was mistaken for foraging
barty which the British had sent out, and
s gained the fort before the garrison was
fully awakened. The British commander,
Major Sutherland, with a few soldiers,
retired to small block house on the left
of the fort and opened fire on the Amer
\ leans. Alarm had been given to the
ships en- the river. Fearing the approach
cf superior force, which had alread left
New Kyork, Lee withdrew, taking with
him 159 prisoners, officers and men, His
own loss was two killed and three wound
ed.
1t was originally intended to retreat by
way of Prior's Mill, which was located
near the Point of Rocks, Academy street,
Bergen avenue, St. Paul's avenue, and
no cross Dow's Ferry, at the foot of St.
Paufs avenue, but the delay IN making
he attack had led those in charge of the
oats at the ferry to believe that il had
Been postponed. They had, therefore,
removed the boats Lee was compelled
to change, his route and retreated across
lots toward the line of what is now Sum-
NIT avenue, his retreat being covered by
Lord Stirling with five hundred men, Al
though the route he followed was very
dangerous, because he was liable to be
attacked by British troops, he arrived
safely at Hackensack about one q clock