and arrived that night at fort Montgomery. The British troops, in the mean time, were secretly conveyed across the river, and assaults upon our forts were meditated to be made on the 6th, which were accordingly put in execution, by attacking the American advanced party at Doodletown, about two miles and a half from fort Montgomery. The Americans received the fire of the British, and retreated to fort Clinton. The enemy then advanced to the west side of the mountain, in order to attack our troops in the rear. Governor Clinton immediately ordered out a detachment of one hundred men toward Doodletown, and another of sixty, with a brass field piece, to an eligible spot on another road. They were both soon attacked by the whole force of the enemy, and compelled to fall back. It has been remarked, that the talents, as well as the temper of a commander, are put to as severe a test in conducting a retreat, as in achieving a victory. The truth of this governor Clinton experienced, when, with great bravery, and the most perfect order, he retired till he reached the fort. He lost no time in placing his men in the best manner that circumstances would permit. His post, however, as well as fort Clinton, in a few minutes, were invaded on every side. In the midst of this disheartening and appalling disaster, he was summoned, when the sun was only an hour high, to surrender; but his gallant spirit sternly refused to obey the call. In a short time after, the British made a general and most desperate attack on both posts, which was received by the Americans with undismayed courage and resistance. Officers and men, militia and continentals, all behaved alike brave. An incessant fire was kept up till dusk, when our troops were overpowered by numbers, who forced the lines and redoubts at both posts. Many of the Americans fought their way out, others accidentally mixed with the enemy, and thus made their escape effectually; for, besides being favoured by the night, they knew the various avenues in the mountains. The governor, as well as his brother, General James Clinton, who was wounded, were not taken.' The administration of governor Clinton, was characterized by wisdom and patriotism. He was a republican in principle and practice. After a retirement of five years, he was called by the citizens of the city and county of New York to represent them in the assembly of the state; and to his influence and popularity may be ascribed, in a great degree, the change in his native state, which finally produced the important political revolution of 1801. At that period, much against his inclination, but from motives of patriotism, he consented to an election as governor, and in 1805, he was chosen Vice-President of the United States, in which office he continued until his death; presiding with great dignity in the senate, and evincing by his votes and his opinions, his decided hostility to constructive authority, and to innovations on the established principles of republican government. He died at Washington, when attending to his duties as Vice-president, and was interred in that city, where a monument was erected by the filial piety of his children, with this inscription, written by his nephew. "To the memory of George Clinton. He was born in the state of New York on the 26th of July, 1739, and died in the city of Washington, on the 20th April, 1812. in the seventythird year of his age. He was a soldier and statesman of the revolution. Eminent in council, and distinguished in war, he filled, with unexampled usefulness, purity and ability, among many other offices, those of governor of his native state, and of vice-president of the United States. While he lived, his virtue, wisdom and valour, were the pride, the ornament, and security of his country; and when he died, he left an illustrious example of a well spent life, worthy of all imitation." There are few men who will occupy as renowned a place in the history of his country as George Clinton; and the progress of time will increase the public veneration, and thicken the laurels that cover his monument. CLINTON, CHARLES, the father of James and George Clinton, was distinguished in the colony of New York, as a gentleman of pure morals, strong and cultivated intellect, great respectability, and extensive influence. His grand father, William Clinton, was an adherent of Charles the first, in the civil wars of England, and an officer in his army; and after the dethronement of that monarch, took refuge on the continent of Europe, where he remained a long time in exile. He afterwards went secretly to Scotland, where he married and then passed over, for greater security, to the north of Ireland, where he died deprived of his patrimony, and leaving James, an orphan son, two years old. When James arrived to manhood, he went to England to recover his patrimonial estate, but being barred by the limitation of an act of parliament, he returned to Ireland, and finally settled in the county of Longford, having married, on his visit to the country of his ancestors, miss Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of a captain in Cromwell's army; by which connexion, he was enabled to maintain, at that time, a respectable standing in the country of his adoption. Charles Clinton, the subject of this memoir, was the son of James Clinton, and was born in the county of Longford, in Ireland, in 1690. In 1729, he came to a determination to emigrate to British America, and having persuaded a number of his relations and friends to co-operate with him, he chartered a ship for the purpose of conveying his little colony to Philadelphia. By the terms of the Charter Party, the passengers were to be liberally supplied with provisions and other accommodations, and the vessel was to be navigated by honest and skilful hands. On the 20th of May, 1729, the ship left Ireland. Besides his wife, he had two daughters and one son with him. After being at sea for some time, it was discovered that the commander of the vessel was a ruffian, and had probably formed a deliberate design of starving the passengers to death, either with a view to acquire their property or to deter emigration. He actually killed a man, and continued so long at sea, that the passengers were reduced to an allowance of half a biscuit and half a pint of water a day. In consequence of which many of them died, and Mr. Clinton lost a son and daughter. In this awful situation. the remedy of seizing the captain, and committing the navigation of the vessel to Mr. Clinton, who was an excellent mathematician, occurred to the passengers; but they were prevented by the fear of incurring the guilt of piracy, especially as they could not obtain the co-operation or assistance of the officers of the ship. They were finally compelled to give the captain a large sum of money as a commutation for their lives, and on the 4th of October, he landed them at Cape Cod. After leaving the ship, she was driven from her moorings in a stormy night, and lost. Mr. Clinton and his friends continued in that part of the country until the spring of 1731; when he removed to the county of Ulster, in the colony of New York, were he formed a flourishing settlement. This misconduct of the commander of the vessel, diverted him from his original design of settling in Pennsylvania. The country which he selected was wild and uncultivated; covered with forests, supplied with streams, diversified with hills and valleys, and abundant in the products of cultivation but so exposed (although only eight miles from the Hudson river and sixty from the city of New York) to the incursions of the savages, that Mr. Clinton considered it necessary to erect a palisade work round his house for the security of himself and his neighbours. In this sequestered retreat he devoted himself to the cultivation of a large farm, and he occasionally acted as a surveyor of land; a profession, which at that time and since, has been followed by the most respectable men of this country. His leisure moments were devoted to study and writing. Possessed of a well selected library, and endowed with extraordinary talents, he made continual accessions to his stores of useful knowledge. Merit so distinguished, and respectability so undoubted, attracted the favorable notice of the government and the community. He was soon appointed a justice of the peace, and a judge of the county of Ulster. In 1756, he was appointed by the govenor, sir Charles Hardy, lieutenant colonel of the second regiment of militia foot, for the county of Ulster. On the 24th March, 1758, he was appointed by lieutenant gover nor Delancey, a lieutenant colonel of one of the battalions of the regiment, in the province of New York, whereof Oliver Delancey, was colonel; in which capacity he engaged in actual service, and acted under the command of colonel Bradstreet, at the siege and capture of fort Frontenac, (now Kings ton,) on the north side of lake Ontario. In 1753, George Clinton, the father of sir Henry Clinton, was installed as governor of the colony. An intimacy took place between him and Mr. Clinton, in consequence of which, and their distant consanguinity, the latter was earnestly solicited by his name. sake, to accept of a lucrative and distinguished office; but preferring the charms of retirement, and the cultivation of literature, to the cares of public life, he declined every overture of the kind. His son George, who was named after the colonial governor, was honoured by his early attentions, and received from his friendship, the valuable office of clerk of the county. Mr. Clinton was also on terms of intimacy with several of the colonial chief magistrates, and the leading men of the province; and he is respectfully noticed by Smith, the historian of New York, for his ingenuity and knowledge. Besides the daughter born in Ireland, Mr. Clinton had four sous in this country. Alexander, educated in the college at Princeton, and afterwards a physician; Charles, also an eminent physician, and a surgeon in the army which took Havanna, in the island of Cuba, James, a major general in the revolutionary army; and George, governor of the state of New York, and vice-president of the United States. He was peculiarly happy and fortunate in his children. Having devoted particular attention to their education, he had the satisfaction of seeing them possessed of the regard of their coúntry, and worthy of the veneration of posterity. He died at his place, in Ulster, now Orange county, on the 19th day of November, 1773, in his eighty-third year, just in time to escape, at that advanced age, the cares and perplexities of the revolution; but foreseeing its approach, he expired breathing an ardent spirit of patriotism, and conjuring his sons, in his last moments, to stand by the liberties of America. Mr. Clinton possessed an uncommon genius; a penetrating understanding; a solid judgment, and an extensive fund of useful and ornamental knowledge, with the affability and manners of an accomplished gentleman. His person was tall, crect and graceful, and his appearance impressive and dignified. If he happened to be in the company of young people, their first impressions would be those of awe and reverence, but in the course of a few minutes, he would enter into the most pleasing and instructive conversation, which would soon restore their composure, and never failed of inspiring the most grateful attachment and the most respectful confidence. He was a dutiful son; an affectionate husband; a kind father; a good neighbour; a disinterested patriot, and a sincere Christian. He sometimes retired from the cares of business and the severe studies of the exact sciences, and took refuge in music and poetry, and courted the communion of Apollo and the muses. The following lines, written by him on the grave of a beloved and elder sister, were casually preserved, and will show the kinder affections which animated his bosom, and which attended him in all the relations and charities of life. Oh! cans't thou know, thou dear departed shade! COMSTOCK, ADAM, was an officer in the continental army, in the revolutionary war. Formed by nature, in body and mind, for a soldier, and glowing with the enthusiasm of liberty, he early entered the field, on the side of the colonies, in the revolutionary conflict. Enjoying the confidence of the illustrious Washington, he was soon promoted, under his auspices, to a colonelcy in the continental line of the army. At the signal victory of Red Bank, he was the "officer of the day," and alternately commanded with general Samuel Smith, of Maryland, in the gallant affair of Mud Fort. On his retiring from the army, he received from the commander in chief the most flattering testimonials of his military career. During a great part of his life, he was the incumbent of various judicial offices, the duties of which he discharged with acknowledged ability and independence, while his parliamentary labours of about twenty years, further evince the respectful consideration in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. Industry, temperance, and integrity, characterized his private deportment. He died at his residence, in Saratoga county, New York, on the 10th of April, 1822, in the eightieth year of his age. |