[Burning of Kingston, 1777] “Kingston laid in ashes by the Enemy” ...: It should be noted that Clinton was sworn in as New York’s first governor on 9th July 1777 shortly after Kingston was established as its first capitol (20th April 1777). Thus, the burning of Kingston and change of capitol to eventually Albany was a rel

CLINTON (George), First Governor of New York State, 1777-1795, 1801-1804; also 4th Vice-President of the United States, 1805-1812 under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

"Kingston laid in ashes by the Enemy" ...

8vo (7-3/4 x 6-1/2 inches), 1-1/2 pages on laid paper, with integral address leaf (remnants of wax seal, some fading to text and signature, scattered minor

It should be noted that Clinton was sworn in as New York's first governor on 9th July 1777 shortly after Kingston was established as its first capitol (20th April 1777). Thus, the burning of Kingston and change of capitol to eventually Albany was a consequence of the War for Independence.

Remarkable handwritten manuscript explaining that the British troops arrived at Kingston before his own re-enforcements, whereupon 1000 men burned the town and immediately returned to their ships, warning that a similar fate awaits the settlements along the shore and that forage and property should be moved from the path of the enemy, reminding him to take the sleigh from the barn as it is all the personal property that remains to him after the destruction in Kingston, noting that the enemy is advancing up the river to Saugerties with Tryon commanding on the east side and Vaughn on the west.

[Transcript]

Head Quarters, Hurley 17th October 1777

Dear Brother,

"Before this can reach you [you] will receive the – disagreeable account of Kingston being laid in ashes by the Enemy. They landed before my troops arrived after a little opposition by the few militia Cols Pawling & Snyder could collect, and marched about 1000 Men immediately up to Town - where they were told by some Tories who continued in it that my People were advancing on the Hurley Road & they immediately set it in Flames and extracted precipitately on Board their Vessels tho their Orders were to proceed to Hurley & the adjacent Neighborhoods to give them the same Fate, so that tho I was not able to get my Troops Time enough to save Kingston, they saved this and the other Parts of the Country near it. This will show you the Fate New Windsor & the other settlements along shore are to partake on the Enemy's Return down. Therefore the Necessity of removing the Forage &c from the Banks of the River among which remember my Slay in the Barn as it is now the only moveable Property I have left, the Best being removed to Kingston shared its Fate, tho indeed a great share of Property has been saved out of Town. The enemy sailed up the River this Morning as high as Saghertyes burning along Shore as they go. When they go a little higher I [will] follow them. They have Parties on both Sides of the River. Tryon commands those on the East & Vaughan on the West Side [of] the River.

Yours Sincerely

Geo Clinton

On Friday evening, 16 October 1777, a British fleet commandeered by James Wallace and John Vaughn (the latter on board the 'Friendship') which had anchored near Easopus Island the day before, came into the mouth of Rondout Creek and engaged the gallery "Lady Washington". Shortly after noon, the British landed on Rondout Creek and the Cove above Columbus Point. Vaughn personally led the march, capturing and forcing a negro to lead them into town without meeting resistance. The troops went through the streets in parties led by Tories, setting the whole place on fire in response to the occasional resistance lodged by residents from within their houses. There was looting and vandalism. Meanwhile part of the fleet went a bit up the River and creek to destroy landings and sloops. By the time George Clinton arrived into Kingston, the whole town was ablaze and the British party had set out to return to their ships.

In a letter on 18 October penned at Little Britain (NY) in response to this letter, his brother B. Genl. James Clinton writes:

D'r Brother,

Yours of yesterday's Date I have just received. I am sorry for the Loss of Kingston &c. Five of the Enemy's Shipping Returned Down the River last night without Doing any Damage Except fireing Some Cannon and small arms at our men and wounding one of ours on Board of a Ferry Boat…"

The war became personal for the governor specially after what had happened to Kingston. In a letter to William Smith [@ 31 October 1777], his sentiments and commitment are laid bare:

"The Cruelties as well Cowardice with which this Warr has been conducted ag't us, must, I think, be sufficient at this late Hour to convince every Man that all connection with Great Britain is at an End…"

Reference: Public Paper of George Clinton, First Governor of New York (War of the Revolution Series. New York: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co., 1900. Volume II, pp. 457-459). Our letter of 17 October 1777 appears to be unknown to the editors of the Clinton papers although they do list and transcribe the 18th October response by his brother James. Consequently, our letter appears to be the only firsthand account by the governor of New York on the actual burning of Kingston, an event historically reenacted locally each year within Ulster County.