1776: "The Appearance Of A Fire In The Town"

Ambrose Serle arrived in the American Colonies in 1774, serving as an undersecretary for the British Secretary of State in the Colonies. By 1776, Serle was a clerk of reports and joined Lord Howe's British army continuing his secretarial work. He kept a diary of his experiences during the American Revolution from 1776 to 1778. This selected excerpt from September 1776 highlights the British occupation of New York City during the New York Campaign, the city's fire, the British navy's access to points around the harbor and rivers, and British ideas for their next military moves. 

Spelling, grammar and capitalization is original. Some spelling or clarifications are provided in [brackets]. 

Thursday, 19th Septr.

Some Pensylvania Germans, taken Prisoners, were brought on board this Morning, overwhelmed with Fear, as they expected nothing but Death. They gave an Account of the cruel Conduct of the Congress & their Committees in forcing People, who are disposed to be quiet, into their Army. They are either to pay 10 [pounds], or enter into their Troops. Those, who refuse, are tied Legs & Arms and carried away to this Service. The poor Wretches were miserably covered; and to call them Soldiers would be an Abuse of Language.

After Breakfast, I took a Trip to New York, and walked both in it & its Environs. It is both delightfully and advantageously situated. The Country round it is the most pleasing of any I have seen since I left Europe. But the Fortifications of the Rebels particularly excited my Astonishment. They have formed Breastworks & Embrazures at the End of every Street or Avenue leading to the Town; Redoubts, Forts, and Lines of Communication every where round about it. The infinite Pains and Labor, which they must have bestowed, one would have thought, from Regret alone, would have inclined them to make some kind of Stand. But their Fears overpowered their Resolution, and they evacuated the Object of all their Toil in one short Hour, without making the least Defence or any thing like a handsome Retreat. The Town is extremely pleasant, has many fair Houses, and is adorned with several public Buildings, which are not by any means contemptible Structures. Many of the loyal Inhabitants were returning with their Goods to the Town; and as to the rebellious, the Quarter master General [Erskine] has marked G.R. upon the doors of their Houses, which are to serve for Habitations to the Army. 

The Renown [ship] came down this Afternoon from the North River, and was pelted at the Rebels from Powley's Hook, who discharged above 20 Shot at her, but without doing her the least Damage.

I went into Rivington's Shop this Morning to look at some of his Books. The Shelves were filled with the Inflammatory Publications of the Faction in England, which, in great measure, have promoted, if not excited, the Troubles here. Nothing else would go down; and as every Man has a Stoop, or Seat at his Door, his neighbours would gather round and ventilate both Politics and the Air together. Thus the Influenza affected almost the whole Country, and, through the Rage of the principal men, who at least should have acted with Calmness, there was no Possibility of circulating or administering an antidote. 

Friday, 20th. Septr.

The Fleet & Army derive immense Quantities of fresh Provisions of all kinds from Long Island, which is a great Savings to Government. The Rebels, beside Cannon & military Stores, left also above 5000 Barrels of Flour behind him at a magazine near New York.

A Rebel Captain with 60 Men deserted last night to our Troops, near Kingsbridge.

I went to the Town this Morning to procure some Copies of Lord & Genl. Howe's Declaration, dated 12th. of July last. The People begin to return to their Dwellings, except those who deserted them in Rebellion, of wch [which], it must be owned, there are many.

Preparations were made this Evening for an Attack of Powley's Hook to-morrow - a Post of the Rebels on the North River almost opposite the Town. They have raised several Works, and have Embrazures prepared for many Guns.

Saturday, 21st. Septr.

This Morning about 1 o'Clock, we were alarmed with the Appearance of a Fire in the Town; and presently after it burst out, at several Places, into a most tremendous Blaze. The Wind was rather strong, which increased the Rapidity of the Flames; & these extended in a Line for almost the Length of a mile, consuming onward from the East River, for several Hours together, to the North River up to St Paul's Church, which wonderfully escaped, while Trinity Church (called the Old English Church, being the oldest Fabric upon the Establishment in the Town) which was less, was utterly destroyed. Many Houses were consumed in and about Whitehall near the Fort. Some Rebels, who lurked about the Town, set it on Fire; and some of them were caught with Matches, and Fire-balls about them. One Man, detected in the Fact, was knocked down by a Grenadier & thrown into the Flames for his Reward: Another, who was found cutting off the Handles of the Water-Buckets to prevent their Use, was first hung up by the Neck till he was dead and afterwards by the Heels upon a Sign-Post by the Sailors. Many others were seized, on account of Combustibles found upon them, and secured; and, but for the officers, most of them would have been killed by the enraged Populace & Soldiery. The New England People are maintained to be at the Bottom of this Plot, which they have long since threatened to put into Execution.

I walked on Shore about Noon, surveyed the Devestation, which has taken in, 'tis supposed, about one fifth Park of the City, and endeavored to settle some Press-Work with the Printers, who, I find, are more tardy here, if possible, than those of their Trade are in London.

The Attack upon Powley's Hook was deferred on account of this vast Conflagration, most of of our Sailors being engaged in extinguishing the Fire. 

As I was amusing myself in perambulating the Fortifications, &c. upon the Environs of New York, a Centinel [sentinel/guard] very properly challenged me, and would have taken me into Confinement, if I had not explained to him, by some Circumstances of Knowledge & Communication with the Army, that I was no Rebel. I commended, as I was much pleased with, the man for the steady Performance of his Duty, as well as with the true Spirit of an Englishman, wch [which] he shewed upon the occasion.

Sunday, 22d., September

Through some unaccountable Conduct, the Renown [ship] of 50 Guns, wch [which] was to have led the Attack upon Powley's Hook, was prevented in her Operations, for which Reason, the Expedition was deferred to another Day.

Monday, 23d. Septr.

About 3 o'Clock this Morning, a Party of 200 Rebels came over to Montresor's Island in the East River, by the Information of a Deserter or two from the Brune Frigate, in order to take off (as they supposed) some other Deserters & to cut off the Piquet. Happily, we had about 50 Highlanders upon that Station, who gave them such a warm Reception, that they were glad to decamp with the Loss of many Men killed & drowned. We had 5 Men killed & 14 wounded, and we took a Rebel Major, and 12 Prisoners.

The Roebuck, the Tartar, the Emerald, & the Carcass Bomb [ships] were up to Powley's Hook, and took it without Molestation. The Rebels have raised considerable Works there also, and have as meanly deserted them. They fired 3 Random Shot only, and retired long before our headmost Ship could come near them. I was at New York at the time; and it was a pleasant Scene to view the Ships and the Debarkation; and the more pleasing to me, as no Blood was shed on the Occasion. 

Tuesday, 24th.

This Morning Sullivan, with other Rebel Prisoners, was sent to Elizabeth Town in Exchange for Genl. Prescot and Soldiers, taken by the Rebels.

The Weather began to be cool to-day, but extremely pleasant. Wind N [north].

Genl. Prescot came on board in the Afternoon to his great Joy. He says, the Rebels behaved indifferently to him, and event sent him to the Goal [jail], after they had heard of the Defeat in Long Island. He is sure, that if we made a Winter's Campaign, their Army must be destroyed, as they have neither Flannel nor warm Cloth to put upon their Backs. They are also equally distressed for Salt, and many other Comforts, if not Necessaries, of Life. Several other Prisoners, to their great Satisfaction, were exchanged at the same time with the General. Our People only wish, that they could part with all their Rebel-Prisoners upon the same Terms. 

[Diary continues; end of this excerpt]

Source:

Ambrose Serle, The American Journal of Ambrose Serle, Secretary to Lord Howe, 1776-1778 (San Marino: The Huntington, 1940), pages 109-113.