[CHAPTER IX.]
THE WAR OF 1812.
Notwithstanding other ostensible causes, it was really necessary to complete the independence of the United States, only partly effected by the War of the Revolution, that the War of 1812 should be begun and fought out. Great Britain claimed the right to search American ships, impress American seamen into her service, and make prizes of all American vessels going to or from France or her allies which did not clear from or touch English ports. France issued retaliatory decrees which were more damaging to America than England. They declared that its vessels which had touched English ports or submitted to be searched by an English ship should be the property of France, and that English goods, wherever found, should be subject to confiscation. Thus endangered by the policy of both nations, Congress in 1809 declared an embargo prohibiting American vessels from sailing from foreign ports, and foreign ships from carrying away American cargoes—a law which virtually suspended our commerce and exposed our merchants to the risks of bankruptcy. England gave notice to the President that her claims before stated would be adhered to, and Congress, seeing no other means of redress, formally declared war on June 18, 1812.
Orange County citizens had given expression to their views on the embargo act in March, 1800. A Republican county convention held at Goshen selected General Hathorn as its chairman, and a committee on resolutions was appointed consisting of Jonathan Fisk, Colonel John Nicholson, General Reuben Hopkins and Judge Nathan White. The resolutions reported and adopted asserted that the American embargo was "a wise and patriotic measure, imperiously demanded by the exposed condition of our seamen, shipping and trade to the audacious outrages of foreign powers." In the Federal party's county convention, held later, Daniel Niven was chairman, and its committee on resolutions consisted of John Barber, Alexander R. Thompson, Alanson Austin, John Bradner, J. N. Phillips, John Morrison, John Duer, Samuel Saver, James Storey, Solomon Sleight, John Decker and Samuel B. Stickney. The resolutions protested against the enforcement of the embargo, as "unjust, illegal and oppressive, subversive of the rights and dangerous to the liberties of the people."
But when the war came the views of many of the Federalists had changed, and they sustained the Government.
The first call for troops was made April 21, 1812, when the militia was arranged in two divisions and eight brigades, and the brigades were divided into twenty regiments. The second brigade of the first division, embracing the militia of Orange and Ulster, under Brigadier General Hopkins of Goshen, was organized as the Fourth Regiment, and its Commander was Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Hardenburgh of Shawangunk. In 1813 and 1814, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Belknap took the place of Lieutenant Colonel Hardenburgh. The cavalry and artillery were similarly organized.
The second call was made in July, 1813, and the third in July, 1814, when the places of rendezvous were Newburgh and New Windsor, and from these the men were moved on sloops to New York and assigned to the neighboring fortifications. They embarked Aug. 28, and returned Dec. 4, having been absent only a little more than three months.
Among the uniformed companies at that time were the following: Orange Hussars of Montgomery, Captain William Trimble (succeeded by Captain Milliken); Captain Van Orsdal's and Captain Dorcas's companies of infantry of Montgomery; Captain Kerr's company of artillery of New Windsor; Captain Butterworth's company of artillery of Newburgh; Captain Westcott's company of cavalry of Goshen; Captain Acker's company of cavalry of Newburgh and Marlborough; Captain Denniston and Captain Birdsall's companies of infantry of Newburgh.
It appears that Captain Westcott was afterwards appointed Major of the first regiment of cavalry, when Charles Lindsay was made captain of his company; Joseph H. Jackson, first lieutenant; Daniel McNeal, second lieutenant, and Stephen P. Rockefellow, cornet, all being residents of Montgomery except Major Westcott.
