Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Friday, July 01, 2016

Evidence the Battle of Pelham May Have Begun at Glover's Rock After All


More than a century ago, most local historians and military scholars believed that the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776 began near a large glacial boulder located on what, today, is Orchard Beach Road in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.  Little scholarly attention was given to the battle until 1901 when William Abbatt published a book about the battle. See:

Abbatt, William, The Battle of Pell's Point (or Pelham) October 18, 1776. Being the Story of a Stubborn Fight. With a Map, and Illustrations from Original Photographs and Family Portraits (NY, NY: William Abbatt, 281 Fourth Ave. 1901) (Library of Congress Control Number 01027896, Library of Congress Call Number E241.P3A2). 

Although Abbatt's book contained a wealth of historically accurate information as well as interesting photographs, some of the conclusions regarding the location of the battle and how it progressed since have been shown to be erroneous based on Abbatt's misplaced reliance on the so-called "Sauthier Map" published in London in 1777. 

The map, by Claude J. Sauthier, is entitled "A plan of the operations of the King's army under the command of General Sir William Howe, K.B. in New York and east New Jersey, against the American forces commanded by General Washington from the 12th of October to the 28th of November 1776, wherein is particularly distinguished the engagement on the White Plains the 28th of October. By C. J. Sauthier."  Today it is widely believed by scholars of the battle that the Sauthier map inaccurately shows large bodies of British troops landing at the tip of Pell's Point and also along the side of the Neck on October 18, 1776.  In addition, as others have pointed out, the Sauthier map is not a particularly accurate depiction of the area and seems to have been intended to serve as a general depiction crafted more to show general troop movements during the relevant period rather than the true lay of the land (somewhat analogous to a modern New York City Subway map that intentionally shows some distortions of geography in an effort to simplify the presentation of the truly important data compiled as part of the map: the various subway lines that traverse the City beneath the surface of the land.) 



By C. J. Sauthier  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

When he wrote his book, William Abbatt apparently was unaware of the existence in the collections of The Library of Congress of a map known as the "Blaskowitz Map."  The Blaskowitz map was created in 1776 by Charles Blaskowitz.  It is entitled "A survey of Frog's Neck and the rout[e] of the British Army to the 24th of October 1776, under the command of His Excellency the Honorable William Howe, General and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's forces, &ca, &ca, &ca."  The Blaskowitz Map is widely believed to be a surprisingly accurate depiction of the area in which the Battle of Pelham occurred and the movement of troops during that battle.  



The Charles Blaskowitz Map Entitled "A survey of Frog's Neck
forces, &ca, &ca, &ca."  NOTE:  Click on Image
To Enlarge.

In his book, Abbatt analyzed the letter about the battle written by Col. John Glover who led American troops during the battle.  Col. Glover provided estimates of the distances that the British and German troops traveled on known roadways before they reached the oncoming American troops and began fighting.  Abbatt attempted to use those estimates to locate the site where the battle began.  In so doing, however, he appears to have measured from the very tip of Pell's Point where he thought the bulk of the British and German troops had landed.  Abbatt's assumption that the bulk of the British and German troops landed at the tip of Pell's Point, however, seems to have been inaccurate.  As the Blaskowitz map indicates and as now seems well-established, the bulk of the troops landed along the side of Pell's Point at the place where the roadway then ended when it reached Eastchester Bay. 

In his defense, Abbatt was not the first to make such a mistake. Earlier efforts to place the commencement and progress of the battle by Henry B. Dawson in his book Westchester County During the Revolution, pp. 233-46 (Morrisania, NY: 1886), made a similar error.  By measuring 1-1/2 miles from the tip of Pell's Point (as suggested by a distance estimated by Col. Glover in his letter), William Abbatt came to the conclusion that the battle began near a spot marked by a large glacial boulder located along what we know today as Orchard Beach Road.  He placed a photograph of the boulder in his book (Illustration 1 between pages 4 and 5) and labeled it "Glover's Rock".  The name stuck.

Indeed, on October 18, 1901, shortly after Abbatt published his book on the battle and on the 125th anniversary of the battle, the Bronx Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Mount Vernon, N. Y., unveiled a bronze memorial tablet affixed to the newly-named Glover's Rock.  It read:  

"GLOVER'S ROCK. In memory of the 550 patriots who, led by Colonel John Glover, held General Howe's army in check at the BATTLE OF PELL'S POINT. October 18, 1776. Thus aiding General Washington in his retreat to White Plains. 'Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.' Erected by Bronx Chapter of Mount Vernon, N. Y. Daughters of the American Revolution. October 18, 1901."



Glover's Rock, A Recent Photograph by the Author Showing
The Glacial Boulder and the Memorial Tablet Affixed to It.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Since the publication of Abbatt's book, historians who have had access to the Blaskowitz map have concluded that the Battle of Pelham began nowhere near Glover's Rock.  Instead, according to more recent scholarship, the battle began near a small rise in the midst of today's Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Course.  See, e.g., Franko, Alfred Michael, Pelham Manor: The Forgotten Battle of the Revolution: Near Mount Vernon, N.Y. (Pelham Manor, N.Y.: The Bicentennial Committee of the Town of Pelham, New York Oct. 1975) (republication of 1963 publication, revised in 1966; 67 pp., 12 pp. of plates, ill., 22 cm with bibliographic references).

Accordingly, in recent years, local historians and battle scholars have scoffed at the notion that the Battle of Pelham began near Glover's Rock.  Such historians, it turns out, may have to revise their thinking once again.  Though it seems clear that skirmishers associated with the Americans led by Colonel John Glover first engaged the British and German forces on the rise located in the midst of today's Split Rock and Pelham Bay Golf Course, there is anecdotal evidence that other Americans who were not associated with the men led by Colonel Glover skirmished with the British and German troops shortly after the enemy landed on Pell's Point and that a party of American Militia fell back along the road we know today as Orchard Beach Road, specifically using the large glacial boulder known today as Glover's Rock for cover!

According to family tradition within the De Veaux family, on October 18, 1776, an American Militia unit of which Abel De Veau, Jr. (also known as Abel Deveau) was a member, was on Pelham Neck when British and German troops landed in advance of the Battle of Pelham.  I have written before about Abel De Veau, Jr.  See Fri., Sep. 19, 2014:  Abel Deveau, An American Skirmisher on Rodman's Neck as British and Germans Landed Before the Battle of Pelham.

Some accounts say this Militia unit was the first to engage the British and Germans, firing on the advancing enemy from "behind the large rock standing on the City Island road" -- i.e., today's Glover's Rock.  According to one account:

"When the Army of General Howe started on their march from Pelham Neck a party of Militia, of whom Abel De Veau -- the Grandfather of Capt. John D. De Veau -- lay behind the large rock standing on the City Island road and fired upon the British Army.  The British followed them up and they retreated, keeping up the fire along Pelham Lane [i.e., today's Shore Road], and lost two men before they got to Prospect Hill.  There they were joined by a large party of Militia, and then they had a brisk fight.  They then fell back to the hill of Mrs. Ronalds, and there they stood and had another brush.  As the British advanced they kept up the fire as long as possible, and only retired when compelled by the numbers of the British to do so.  They made a gallant defence."  [Source:  See full quote and citation below.]

This brief anecdote may be significant for two reasons.  First, it seems to support the longstanding tradition that the Battle of Pelham actually began near the glacial boulder known today as "Glover's Rock."  Though this initial skirmish did not involve the main body of Americans led by Colonel Glover (or their skirmishers), it arguably marked the beginning of the battle.  Second, the reference seems to suggest that the Militia unit that was not affiliated with the regiments led by Glover suffered two casualties of its own that, until now, have not been counted among the American casualties of the Battle of Pelham.  



Portrait of Colonel John Glover.
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is the pertinent text from the material that includes the reference to an American Militia unit firing from behind today's Glover's Rock.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"Abel, Jr., b. 1755; m. Jemima Secor at New Rochelle about the commencement of the Revolution.  At that period great excitement was produced among the people; families were divided in opinion -- brother against brother, fathers opposed to sons -- the majority of them, however, were generally loyal to King George; but Abel, being somewhat patriotic, early took sides with the Whigs and joined the militia.  We find among the incidents connected with the local history of the town the following:  'When the Army of General Howe started on their march from Pelham Neck a party of Militia, of whom Abel De Veau -- the Grandfather of Capt. John D. De Veau -- lay behind the large rock standing on the City Island road and fired upon the British Army.  The British followed them up and they retreated, keeping up the fire along Pelham Lane [i.e., today's Shore Road], and lost two men before they got to Prospect Hill.  There they were joined by a large party of Militia, and then they had a brisk fight.  They then fell back to the hill of Mrs. Ronalds, and there they stood and had another brush.  As the British advanced they kept up the fire as long as possible, and only retired when compelled by the numbers of the British to do so.  They made a gallant defence.'*  [Footnote "*" provides:  "*New Rochelle Press, local history, 1879"].

Another writer notices:  'Deveau Town is a small scattered hamlet in this vicinity, so named after Abel Deveau, an old Whig of the Revolution, and proprietor of a small estate.  This individual was fond of relating how he and others were deployed as skirmishers to waylay the British near the causeway after their landing on Pelham Neck in 1776, firing from behind the rocks near Rapelye's and retiring as they advanced towards East Chester.'

Abel De Veau was by trade a weaver, although occasionally he dabbled in politics, being found in 1791 a Constable, besides being a Collector for some five years, when he was chosen a Road-master, changed in 1804 to one of the 'Overseers of Highway.'  In 1812 he conveys some three acres and five perches of land to Elbert Roosevelt, when he signs his name Able Devous.  The next year he disposes of another piece of land on the road leading to Pelham, adjoining the land of Elijah Devoue, Sen., disposes 'of about two acres of land to Robert Devoue, adjoining to the land now or late belonging to Elias Devoe.'  Abel had children, James, Elizabeth, Anna, Joseph, Elijah, Hannah (b. 1787, died 1874; unmarried), Coles, Elias, Mary (b. 1796), Sarah (b. 1797, died 1839), Abel, and Robert."

Source:  De Voe, Thomas F., Genealogy of the De Veaux Family - Introducing the Numerous Forms of Spelling the Name by Various Branches and Generations in the Past Eleven Hundred Years, pp. 110-11 (NY, NY:  1895).

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I have written extensively about the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776.  See, for example, the following 50 previous articles many of which, like today's, document research regarding the battle:  


Bell, Blake A., The Battle of Pelham:  October 18, 1776, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 41, Oct. 15, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.  

Bell, Blake, History of the Village of Pelham:  Revolutionary War, HistoricPelham.com Archive (visited Dec. 18, 2015).  

Wed., May 25, 2016:  Did the Pell Homestead Known as "The Shrubbery" Serve as General Howe's Headquarters After the Battle of Pelham?

Mon., Apr. 25, 2016:  Extract of December 3, 1776 Letter Addressing Battle of Pelham Casualties on October 18, 1776.

Thu., Mar. 24, 2016:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Published in The McDonald Papers.

Fri., Feb. 19, 2016:  The 600-Year Old "Lord Howe Chestnut" Tree that Once Stood in Pelham.

Fri., Dec. 18, 2015:  Brief Report on the Battle of Pelham Fought October 18, 1776 Prepared Five Days Afterward.

Tue., Sep. 08, 2015:  Pelham Manor Resident Makes Revolutionary War Discovery.

Mon., May 18, 2015:  Cannonball Fired in The Battle of Pelham Found on Plymouth Street in Pelham Manor.

Mon., Apr. 27, 2015:  Obituary of British Officer Who Participated in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 as a Young Man.

Mon., Feb. 28, 2005:  Glover's Rock on Orchard Beach Road Does Not Mark the Site of the Battle of Pelham.  

Mon., Apr. 18, 2005:  Restored Battle of Pelham Memorial Plaque Is Unveiled at Glover Field.  

Fri., May 27, 2005:  1776, A New Book By Pulitzer Prize Winner David McCullough, Touches on the Battle of Pelham.  

Thu., Jul. 14, 2005:  Pelham's 1926 Pageant Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Pelham.  

Wed., Oct. 26, 2005:  Remnants of the Battlefield on Which the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  
Fri., May 19, 2006:  Possible Remains of a Soldier Killed in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Found in 1921.  

Fri., Aug. 11, 2006:  Article by William Abbatt on the Battle of Pelham Published in 1910.  

Thu., Sep. 21, 2006:  A Paper Addressing the Battle of Pelham, Among Other Things, Presented in 1903.  

Mon., Oct. 30, 2006:  Brief Biographical Data About Sir Thomas Musgrave, British Lieutenant Colonel Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Nov. 1, 2006:  Two British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Tue., Jan. 16, 2007:  Brief Biography of British Officer Who Served During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Feb. 09, 2007:  Extract of October 23, 1776 Letter Describing British Troops in Eastchester After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Mon., Feb. 12, 2007:  Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Opens New Exhibition:  "Overlooked Hero:  John Glover and the American Revolution."  

Thu., Jan. 18, 2007:  Three More British Military Unit Histories that Note Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jul. 16, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Revolutionary War Diary of David How.  

Tue., Jul. 17, 2007:  Mention of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 in Writings of Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Aide-de-Camp to British General Clinton.  

Wed., Jul. 18, 2007:  Another British Military Unit History that Notes Participation in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.  

Tue., Aug. 7, 2007:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Contained in the McDonald Papers Published in 1926.  

Wed., Aug. 8, 2007:  A Description of an Eyewitness Account of the Interior of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester During the Revolutionary War.  

Thu., Sep. 6, 2007:  Information About St. Paul's Church, the Battle of Pelham and Other Revolutionary War Events Near Pelham Contained in an Account Published in 1940.  

Mon., Oct. 8, 2007:  American Troops Who Guarded Pelham's Shores in October 1776.  

Fri., Oct. 12, 2007:  Images of The Lord Howe Chestnut that Once Stood in the Manor of Pelham.  

Fri., Oct. 27, 2006:  Orders Issued by British Major General The Honourable William Howe While Encamped in Pelham After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Thu., Jan. 22, 2009:  Another Brief Biography of Sir Thomas Musgrave, a British Officer Wounded at the Battle of Pelham on October 18 1776.  

Wed., Feb. 17, 2010:  British Report on Killed, Wounded and Missing Soldiers During the Period the Battle of Pelham Was Fought on October 18, 1776.  

Fri., Apr. 23, 2010:  Charles Blaskowitz, Surveyor Who Created Important Map Reflecting the Battle of Pelham.  


Thu., Feb. 06, 2014:  A Description of the Revolutionary War Battle of Pelham Published in 1926 for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Mon., May 19, 2014:  Biography of British Officer Who Fought in the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Wed., Jun. 04, 2014:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Presented and Published in 1894.  

Fri., Jun. 27, 2014:  Newly-Published Account Concludes Colonel William Shepard Was Wounded During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Jun. 30, 2014:  A British Lieutenant in the Twelfth Foot Who Fought at the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Fri., Sep. 19, 2014:  Abel Deveau, An American Skirmisher on Rodman's Neck as British and Germans Landed Before the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Sep. 17, 2014:  References to the Battle of Pelham in 18th Century Diary of Ezra Stiles, President of Yale College.

Fri., Oct. 17, 2014:  First-Hand Diary Account of Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Mon., Oct. 20, 2014:  American Diary Account of Events Before, During, and After the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Tue., Oct. 21, 2014:  November 1, 1776 Letter Describing the Battle of Pelham and Events Before and After the Battle.

Fri., Oct. 24, 2014:  October 21, 1776 Report to the New-York Convention Regarding the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Feb. 18, 2015:  Young American Hero James Swinnerton, Badly Wounded in the Battle of Pelham.

Wed., Feb. 25, 2015:  Where Were the Stone Walls Used by American Troops During the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776?


Thu., Mar. 24, 2016:  An Account of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 Published in The McDonald Papers.  

Mon., Apr. 25, 2016:  Extract of December 3, 1776 Letter Addressing Battle of Pelham Casualties on October 18, 1776.



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