Autographs
Revolutionary War Content Letter to Baron von Steuben Regarding the June 1780 Battle Elizabethtown, New Jersey
WILLIAM STEPHENS SMITH (1755-1816). Revolutionary War Soldier who served under both LaFayette and General George Washington; Member of U.S. House of Representatives from New York.
c. 1778 Revolutionary War Period, (undated) Autograph Letter Signed, “Wm. S. Smith, Lt. Colo.”, 1 page, measuring 7.25” x 9.75”, at Elizabethtown (New Jersey), Very Fine. Nicely written upon clean period laid paper with a thin strip of reinforcement strip along the left edge. Smith writes to Baron von Steuben at Springfield, regarding enemy activity intelligence. It reads, in part,

“Eliza.Town Monday, 3 o’clock - The Enemy detached a small party to engage those stationed at this post. I have the satisfaction to inform you that they retired with more expedition than they advanced & at present remain quiet but still keeping possession of the Main Bridge. Capt. Belkin is return to the post but destitute of his horse in consequence of his Asit. marching them off without my knowledge & not leaving word where he was to be found. I would wish to know whether Lt. Sullivan had your Honour’s (---) to retire if not I think him highly culpable for he has left the post. --- A small party are again advancing we Will Drub them & send you the account thereof. -- With respect I remain Yours Ect. -- (Signed) Wm (William) S. Smith, Lt. Colo.

“A small party are again advancing we Will Drub them & send you the account thereof. With respect I remain yours.”

After receiving several wounds while holding the command of the 13th Massachusetts Regiment, Smith subsequently served for a short time on Baron von Steuben’s staff before becoming Aide-de-Camp to General Washington. Springfield, New Jersey, the town to which Smith addresses this letter to Baron von Steuben, was the scene of a Revolutionary battle on 23 June 1780, at which time General Greene repulsed the British. The town of Elizabeth was an important point in General Washington’s maneuvers during the Revolution. (Please see our online version for a more complete description of this historic battle.)
Colonel Shreve to his wife Mary (“Polley”),

Connecticut farms 4 1/2 miles back

of Elizabethtown 14th June 1780

“Before this Arives you will have seen Mr. Faulkner I Expect, who will Give you some Account of my welfare. I will Endeavour to Give the particulars of what has happened since the present Alarm - on tuesday night the 7th [actually the 6th] of June between 11 & 12 oClock the Enemy Landed at Elizabethtown point, Our Piquets fired upon them Which Alarmed Camp. Immediately a Light Horseman Arived from Colo. [Elias] Dayton [3rd New Jersey Regiment] who Commanded that they were Landed in force, We Immediately Caled in all Guards about Camp, and Marched towards Elizabethtown and fell in about 2 miles above the town upon the Connecticut farm Road but thought it prudent to Retire a Little up the same being joined by the third Regt. from town, halted at the [Connecticut] farms Meeting house, Leaveing Capt.[Nathaniel] Bowman with his [light] Company [2nd New Jersey Regiment] at a fork of the Road, half a mile below. --

on the Enemys Appearance which was a little before sunrise Capt. Bowman fired upon their advance party, and Retired over a small bridge where was but a Narrow pass he being there joined by five [?] Piquet Guards - Disputed the pass for two hours and an half, - some part of the time very near sometimes one party Giveing way, sometimes the other, - at Length a Large Reinforcement from the Enemy Come up and our people Expending thirty Rounds a man, was Obliged to Give way, Covered by the third Jersey Regt. and part of the other three, - however the Combat was Renewed very Briskly, but Obliged to Give way slowly untill we Arived at Springfield Bridge, Where the Militia had Gathered with a peace of Cannon, this pass was so well Defended that the Enemy Gave way although there Numbers was 4 or six to one, and two peaces of Cannon in front was playd upon us Occationally, but Did no Execution - by this time it was past two oClock in the Afternoon the men Got fresh Carthrages and the Militia Came in very fast. -

we Crossed the bridge with all Our fource and made a furious Attact, and Drove them some way when their second Line Came up, so much superior to Our fource that we was obliged to Retreat again, which was Done in pretty Good order, though through a shower of Musket shot, we Crossed the bridge and after an hours Dispute maintained our Ground, towards sunset the Enemy Drew of[f] & all Encamped back of Connecticut farms Meetinghouse. in the Evening General Washington Arived with the Army.

General [Wilhelm] Kniphausen who Commanded the Enemy secretly Moved off at Midnight to Elizabethtown point, There he yet Remains. - in the above affair the Loss of the Jersey Brigade according to Exact Returns since made was five Rank & file with Ensign [Moses] Ogden [Spencer’s Additional Regiment] killed, - Lieut. [Absalom?] Martin [1st New Jersey,] [Samuel] Seely [1st New Jersey,] [David] Kirk Patrick [Spencer’s Additional] & Ensign Regin [unit unknown]. With twenty Eight Rank and file Wounded, - and Eight Rank & file missing. – Capt. [Isaac] Reeves his Brother and several Others of the [New Jersey] Militia killed, and some Wounded. -

Near as we Can find Out the young Count Donop and forty or fifty of the Enemy killed, and Many more Wounded among them for a Certainty [British Brigadier] General [Thomas] Stirling had his Thigh Broke and is said since Dead, - in the Neighbourhood they burnt Eleven houses with all the barns and Other Out houses there unto belonging. Commited several Rapes, plundered Whig & tory Amasingly...”

Israel Shreve was less effusive about the 24 June engagement:

Camp 24th June 1780

“Yesterday the Enemy again Came out in force when a sevear skirmishing Ensued - My Regt was Once Engaged very warm for some time but Retreated in Good Order in the face of the Enemys firing with the Loss of one man killed with a Cannon shot out of Johns [the Colonel's son] Plattoon. the Enemy Got Possession of the town of Springfield & burnt one Prisbiterian Church and about 30 houses, one Continental Brigade with ours, Commanded by General [Nathanael] Green and the Malitia Commanded by General [Philemon] Dickinson, - Our Whole Loss but trifleing the Enemys Much more, they Retreated to Elizabethtown with the Greatest precipitation with a fire in their Rear all the way. -

I am then once more Preserved from Extreme Danger - Am in Good health and John. - I Receivd yours by Bowman have not forgot I have a famaly and wish it in my power to Do more for them which I hope will soon happen but am Quite Out of mony at this time No pay for six months. - I am with Every Respect Due from an Indulgent Husband to a Loveing wife your Husband - Israel”

Also See: William S. Smith to George Washington, 10 November 1780, George Washington Papers, Presidential Papers Microfilm, (Washington, DC, 1961), series 4, reel 82 (misdated 1781) (hereafter cited as GW Papers).

William S. Smith to George Washington, 10 November 1780, GW, series 4, reel 82 (misdated 1781.)

In later years, in a letter dated December 23, 1799 William S. Smith writes to Alexander Hamilton. Lt. Col. William S. Smith discusses his plans for a monument to the memory of General Washington, with an inscription of a poem penned by him the previous night: "Sacred to the Memory of the Illustrious George Washington, General of the Armies of the United States of America, Who paid the Great Debt of Nature, The 14th. of December, 1799. To Commemorate his virtues. To hand down to Posterity,...

After the death of George Washington, on February 24, 1800 in regard to Commemorating George Washington, William S. Smith writes to Alexander Hamilton. Smith reports that, in accordance with the Proclamation of the President, suitable eulogies, orations, and discourses were given on Feb. 22nd by the Union Brigade at Scotch Plains, New Jersey to celebrate the life of George Washington.