Elias Dayton

Overview

Elias Dayton was a colonial soldier from New Jersey who started his military career during the French and Indian War. In 1755, he was part of Braddock’s Expedition (1755) and fought with the “Jersey Blues” in the Battle of Quebec (September 13, 1759), where General James Wolfe led British forces to victory. Dayton supported the Patriot Cause and was a member of the Committee of Safety. In January 1775, he was part of General William Alexander’s expedition that captured the British supply ship, Blue Mountain Valley. He was sent to the Mohawk Valley, where he helped build fortifications and defend the inhabitants. Dayton returned to New Jersey, where he became involved with the Mersereau Spy Ring, before participating in key battles during the Philadelphia Campaign. Dayton stayed with Washington’s Army through Valley Forge, the Battle of Monmouth, Operations Around New York City, and the Yorktown Campaign. He was at Yorktown when the British surrendered on October 19, 1781. Dayton remained in the army until the end of the war and was promoted to Brigadier General. Following the war, he returned to New Jersey, joined the Society of the Cincinnati, and was elected President of the state’s chapter.

Personal Facts

• Born: May 1, 1737, in Elizebethtown, New Jersey.
• Parents: Jonathan Dayton (father) and Patience Bailey (mother).
• Spouse: Hannah Rolfe (1757).
• Died: October 22, 1807, at the age of 70.
• Buried: First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
• Significance: Elias Dayton is important to American History because of his military service during the American Revolutionary War.

Biography

Early Life

Elias Dayton was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, on May 1, 1737. His father was Jonathan Dayton, a militia captain, Presbyterian church trustee, and leading citizen of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He was descended from Ralph Dayton, who left England for Boston, Massachusetts, about 1638, during the Great Puritan Migration. He helped found East Hampton on Long Island.

Early Military Career

Dayton was an apprentice to a mechanic in Elizabethtown. On March 19, 1756, he was appointed Lieutenant in the militia, known as the “Jersey Blues.”

• Jersey Blues — A militia regiment established in 1673 to help defend Piscataway, New Jersey, against Native American Indians who carried out raids and attacks in the area. The nickname came from the blue coats the men wore. The regiment still exists as part of the New Jersey National Guard.

During the French and Indian War, Dayton served in the provincial forces under General James Wolfe at Quebec (September 13, 1759). He was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Jersey Blues on March 19, 1760, and then marched to Detroit during Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763–1766).

• Provincial Forces — Colonial troops who served alongside British Regulars (Redcoats) during the war. The British looked down on the provincials, creating some of the tension that led to the American Revolution.

Dayton kept a journal of his expedition to Detroit in 1764. The expedition included two companies under Dayton’s command. They left Elizabethtown on April 30 and set out for Albany, New York, where they arrived on May 4. He was at Fort Detroit on September 5, 1764, when he recorded the following:

“About fifty Indians from different Nations came asking for peace, Ottewas, Chippewas, and Cheifmonatews, which seemed to be settled to the satisfaction of all parties. They declaring, their eyes were at length opened, and they clearly saw the Great God on our side, or we never could come all so safe over the great lake. They thought of course the English must soon be governors of the world, and for their part, they should always fight in this country for their brothers, the English, &c.”

Dayton’s expedition left Detroit on September 14 and returned to Elizabethtown, where he owned and operated a general store on the town square, called “Elias Dayton & Son.” He was a leading citizen and was chosen as an alderman.

• Alderman — An elected member of a municipal court.

Continental Association

On December 6, 1774, Dayton was appointed to the Elizabethtown Committee of Thirty-One, which was responsible for enforcing the Articles of Association, per the Continental Association.

• Continental Association — An organization created by the First Continental Congress to enforce the Articles of Association — a trade boycott against British merchants — unless Britain repealed the Intolerable Acts.

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War started with the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775), which led to the Siege of Boston (1775–1776). As the siege dragged on, Congress organized the Continental Army. New Jersey and the other colonies provided regiments of troops for the new army. 

On January 10, 1776, Dayton was commissioned as a Colonel in the 3rd Regiment of the New Jersey Line, which was known as the “Jersey Greys.” Dayton’s son, Jonathan, served under him starting on February 9, 1776, first as paymaster and later as a Captain. 

• Jonathan Dayton (1760–1824) — Dayton was 15 when he left the College of New Jersey (Princeton) to fight in the war. He participated in battles during the Philadelphia Campaign (1777–1778) and was at Valley Forge. Following the war, he entered politics. He represented New Jersey in the Confederation Congress and the Constitutional Convention (1787). He was the youngest signer of the United States Constitution.
• New Jersey Line — A formation in the Continental Army comprised of regiments of troops from New Jersey. The first two regiments were authorized on October 9, 1775.

Blue Mountain Valley Whaleboat Raid

As the Siege of Boston (1775–1776) continued, British ships carrying supplies and provisions were sent to the city. Late in January 1776, the New Jersey Committee of Safety, which was led by Robert Ogden, learned that one of these supply ships, the Blue Mountain Valley, had been driven off course by a storm. It was near Sandy Hook, with no naval vessels to defend it from an attack.

• General William Alexander responded by gathering 40 men and marching to Amboy.
• He intended to take a ship out and capture the Blue Mountain Valley.

While Alexander was en route to Amboy, the Committee of Safety found out the man-of-war Asia was sailing to Sandy Hook to help the Blue Mountain Valley. Ogden called for volunteers to sail out to help Alexander and his men.

• Dayton gathered roughly 80 men and three ships to support Alexander’s mission.
• On January 23, 1776, the four ships sailed to engage the Blue Mountain Valley, which was carrying supplies to Boston.
• The Blue Mountain Valley’s master, James Hamilton Dempster, thought they were fishing boats and allowed them to move close to the ship.
• The Americans stormed the ship and easily captured it.

Alexander reported the incident to Congress, saying: “On Monday last, I received intelligence that a transport laden with stores for the Ministerial army at Boston was hovering off Sandy Hook, in distress, and waiting for assistance from the men-of-war at New York. I thought it a matter of so much importance that I immediately set out for Amboy, and there seized a pilot-boat, with forty men, that was just putting out, and about two, yesterday morning, I was joined by three other boats from Elizabethtown, who voluntarily came on this service under Colonel Dayton and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas. We found her about six leagues South-East of Sandy Hook. We boarded and took her without opposition. She proves to be the Blue Mountain Valley, commanded by Captain James Hamilton Dempster, laden with coal, provisions, &c. (I wish it had been arms and ammunition, as I expected.) We are now off Amboy, and intend to push this evening into the Sound, between Staten Island and the Main. I write now in the hurry and noise incident to such occasions; I will write the particulars as soon as possible.”

Operations in the Mohawk River Valley

Soon after the Blue Mountain Valley was captured, Dayton’s regiment was sent to New York City, where American forces were building defensive fortifications. After the Siege of Boston ended, Washington moved most of the army to New York and sent troops to aid American forces who were retreating from Canada after the failed Invasion of Quebec.

Dayton was sent to Albany in May 1776. Upon arrival, he received orders to go to Johnstown, New York, to capture John Johnson, a Loyalist. While Dayton was on his way to Johnstown, Johnson fled. When Dayton arrived, his men defied orders and ransacked Johnson’s mansion.

Afterward, Dayton’s Regiment spent the summer and fall in the Mohawk River Valley. They worked on repairing Fort Stanwix, near present-day Rome, New York, and built Fort Dayton, near present-day Herkimer, New York. 

• Dayton and his men became the first Americans to garrison Fort Stanwix in July.
• He renamed it “Fort Schuyler” in honor of General Philip Schuyler.

Dayton was sent to Fort Ticonderoga and was there from November 1 to 20. At that point, he left the regiment and returned to New Jersey. The regiment remained there until March 2, 1777, when it was sent back to New Jersey.

• Fort Stanwix — The fort played an important part in the Saratoga Campaign (1777). It was the site of the Siege of Fort Stanwix (August 1777), which contributed to the Battle of Oriskany (August 6). On August 3, during the siege, the Americans at Fort Stanwix raised what is believed by some to be the first American flag.

New Jersey and the Mersereau Spy Ring

Dayton rejoined the regiment after it returned to Morristown, New Jersey, in March 1777. They were involved in engagements at Bound Brook (April 13, 1777) and Staten Island (August 22, 1777). During this time, Dayton became involved with the Mersereau Spy Ring, which spied on British forces operating on Staten Island.

• Mersereau Family — The Mersereau Family owned a tavern on Staten Island and operated a stagecoach line from New York to Philadelphia. The family members involved with the Patriot Cause and the spy ring were two brothers, Joshua Mersereau, John Mersereau, and Joshua’s sons, John LaGrange Mersereau and Joshua Mersereau Jr. After British forces captured New York City in 1776, their property was confiscated or destroyed. Most of the family escaped to New Brunswick, New Jersey, but John LaGrange, who could not carry a musket due to a problem with his right arm, remained on Staten Island.
• Mersereau Spy Ring — During Washington’s Retreat Through New Jersey (1776), he asked Joshua Mersereau to have John LaGrange spy on the British forces occupying Staten Island. When the British suspected John LaGrange of spying, he left Staten Island, and his younger brother, 16-year-old John Jr., continued to gather intelligence, which was passed to Washington through intermediaries. Dayton worked with the Mersereaus to pass information to Washington.

On July 5, Washington wrote to Congress, saying, “I keep people constantly on Staten Island, who give me daily information of the operations of the enemy.” 

• Dayton expanded the network, adding more operatives, including Captain Baker Hendricks, his brother, John Hendricks, John Meeker, and John Vanderhovan. 
• Some spies, including the Bankers and Vanderhovan, had their network of agents collecting information. 
• Vanderhovan also had connections with Caleb Brewster, a member of the Culper Spy Ring.

Philadelphia Campaign

In 1777, British forces carried out two military campaigns. The first, led by General John Burgoyne, intended to capture the Hudson River Valley and cut New England off from the rest of the American states. The second campaign was led by General William Howe, who sought to capture Philadelphia.

Washington moved his army to defend Philadelphia, and Dayton’s Regiment went with him. During this campaign, Dayton saw action at Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777), before spending the Winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778) as part of General William Maxwell’s brigade.

While Dayton was at Valley Forge, three of his spies — John Hendricks, Baker Hendricks, and John Meeker — were arrested by American officials and accused of corresponding with the British. Dayton asked Washington for assistance. 

• Washington was faced with executing his spies.
• He wanted to save them, without exposing their mission.
• Washington wrote a letter to Governor William Livingston of New Jersey, asking for help.
• It is unclear what Livingston did, but all three spies appear to have escaped from prison.

In 1778, the British decided to abandon Philadelphia. General Henry Clinton, who had replaced General Howe, marched his troops back to New York City. Dayton harassed Clinton’s army and fought in the Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778).

Return to New Jersey

The British escaped Pennsylvania and returned to New York. Washington’s army followed, and Dayton’s Regiment was placed in New Jersey to defend against British forces on Staten Island.

Sullivan’s Expedition

Maxwell’s Brigade, including Dayton’s Regiment, was part of the Sullivan Expedition, which retaliated against the Iroquois Confederacy for attacks carried out against frontier settlements, including the Wyoming Massacre (July 3, 1778). Dayton’s Regiment is credited with attacking and destroying the village at Runonvea, near present-day Big Flats, New York (August 31, 1779).

Defense of New Jersey

Afterward, Dayton’s Regiment returned to New Jersey, where Washington’s army was encamped around Morristown. Dayton and his men were placed near Elizabethtown, where they could defend their hometown, and they helped fight off attacks from British forces.

• In June 1780, General Wilhelm von Knyphausen sent British forces into New Jersey.
• At the time, Von Kyphausen was in command of British forces in New York City because General Henry Clinton was conducting the Siege of Charleston, South Carolina.

Dayton and his men helped defend Springfield, New Jersey, and the surrounding area for over two weeks. On June 7, Dayton’s men fired on British forces, forcing them to fall back. By the end of the month, the British were forced to withdraw. However, they burned nearly every building in the town of Springfield before they returned to Staten Island.

Afterward, the war came to a standstill in the North. The British were entrenched in New York City, while Washington’s Army was spread out from Morristown to Albany, New York. Because of this, men in the New Jersey Line resigned from the Continental Army and joined their local militias. However, Dayton remained part of Washington’s Army until the end of the war. He even declined an opportunity to serve in Congress.

Continental Army Reorganized

General William Maxwell resigned in July 1780, and Dayton took command of the New Jersey Brigade. On January 1, 1781, Washington reorganized his army, and Dayton was transferred from the 3rd New Jersey to command the 2nd New Jersey.

Pompton Mutiny

During the winter of 1780–1781, American troops in the camps in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York grew restless due to the lack of food and supplies, especially clothing. They were also upset over not having been paid for roughly 16 months.

In early January, troops from the Pennsylvania Line mutinied, but the situation was quickly resolved. However, this inspired New Jersey troops stationed at Federal Hill near Pompton, New Jersey, to revolt on January 20, 1781.

• 200 men walked away from the camp and marched south.
• Colonel Israel Shreve sent a message to General Washington, notifying him of the situation, which Washington received on January 21.
• Meanwhile, the mutineers camped near Chatham, New Jersey.
• On January 23, Dayton, Shreve, and others met with Sergeant Major George Grant, who represented the mutineers.
• Dayton offered the men a full pardon if they immediately returned to the army.
• They agreed, and Shreve led them back the next day.

Washington was outraged over the situation and wrote, “…unless this dangerous spirit can be suppressed by force there is an end to all subordination in the Army, and indeed to the Army itself.”

• Washington sent Major General Robert Howe and troops from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire to Ringwood, New Jersey.
• Howe was ordered to demand the unconditional surrender of the mutineers and execute the most “…active…and incendiary leaders.”

Howe marched south through heavy snow, arriving at Ringwood on January 25. He met with Dayton and Shreve and told them to end negotiations with the mutineers. The next day, January 26, Howe learned the mutineers were causing trouble in the camp and ignoring orders. Later that night, Washington himself arrived at Ringwood.

• Howe and Washington met.
• Around midnight, Howe and his men marched from Ringwood to Pompton.
• They surrounded the camp and confronted the mutineers in the morning.
• Howe ordered them to come out of their tents and form their ranks.

Three men were pulled from the ranks: Sergeant David Gilmore, Sergeant John Tuttle, and Sergeant Major Grant. Gillmore and Tuttle were executed by firing squad, consisting of other mutineers, while Grant was spared.

• The British tried to take advantage of the situation in the following days. 
• They sent operatives to the American camps and tried to incite more trouble. 
• One of the Americans, Uzal Woodruff, received a written proposal, which he turned over to Dayton.

By January 29, the situation calmed down. Howe returned to his camp in New York, and Washington returned to his camp in New Windsor, New Jersey.

Yorktown and the End of the War

When Washington departed for Yorktown, Dayton went with him, leading the New Jersey Brigade. The Siege of Yorktown ended with British forces surrendering on October 19, 1781. This brought an end to the significant fighting. However, skirmishes continued for at least a year, ending with the Battle of Lookout Mountain (September 20, 1782), near present-day Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Last Encampment in New Jersey

Following Yorktown, plans were made for Washington’s Army to establish a new camp around Newburgh, New York. Dayton received orders to “…take Post somewhere in the Vicinity of Morristown, to cover the Country adjacent, and to secure the communication between the Delaware and North River.”

• Dayton and his men arrived at Morristown on December 7, 1781.
• At this time, his brigade was down to 700 men.
• It is believed they made their camp in Jockey Hollow.
• On August 29, 1782, Washington ordered Dayton to march to King’s Ferry.
• When they left, the Continental Army’s final encampment at Morristown ended.

On January 7, 1783, at Washington’s request, Congress promoted Dayton to the rank of Brigadier General. He remained in the army until the New Jersey Line was discharged on November 3, 1783.

Post-War Career

After the war, he returned to his general store in Elizabeth, Elias Dayton & Son. He was a leading citizen and community leader:

• He served as the Major General of the militia.
• Dayton was a trustee of the Presbyterian church.
• He was a member of the Confederation Congress (1787-1788). 
• Dayton served as the recorder of Elizabeth (1789).
• He was a member of the New Jersey Assembly twice, from 1791–1792 and 1794–1806.
• Dayton was President of the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati.
• He was the Mayor of Elizabethtown.

Dayton died of “gout in the stomach” in Elizabethtown, now called Elizabeth, on October 22, 1807. He was buried in the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Elizabeth.

Appendix

Elias Dayton’s Report on Brandywine and Germantown

This report about the Philadelphia Campaign is taken from Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, Volume IX (1846). It is Dayton’s eyewitness experience during the key battles at Brandywine and Germantown.

September 11, 1777, was fought the battle of Brandywine, near Chadd’s Ford and Birmingham meeting house. The cannonading began about 8 o’clock in the morning. At the same time, a party of light troops under General Maxwell attacked a party of the enemy on the opposite side of the river. The action was warm for some time, and who should keep the field doubtful, but upon the enemy advancing a brigade in the rear of those already engaged, our people gave way, though not until they had killed a considerable number of Howe’s men, with little loss on their part.

About 1 o’clock, we received intelligence of the main body of the enemy having crossed the creek about six miles above us, which was westward in the country. Why this pass was not attended to is truly astonishing, but so it was; and after the enemy was properly formed on our side, Generals Sullivan’s, Stirling’s, and General Stephen’s Divisions were ordered to march and attack them. 

Accordingly, they all marched immediately and, between 3 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon, formed the largest part of the three divisions upon a hill near Birmingham meeting house. The enemy very soon advanced to attack. I believe before Gen. Sullivan’s division was formed, as they changed their ground on which they drew up. A number of them were marching past my regiment when the fire first began, consequently, I believe never fired a gun. 

In half an hour at farthest, the whole of our men gave way; the enemy pursued briskly, by which means a number of our wounded, as also some well men fell into their hands, in the whole about four hundred, and six or eight pieces of brass cannon six-pounders. 

The pursuit continued until after sunset, when the night approaching, and also a check they got from General Greene’s division, caused the enemy to give over the pursuit.

We had continued marching and countermarching from the 11th of September to the 4th of October, except a small skrimmage on or about the 18th of September, near the White Horse Tavern, on the Lancaster road, between the advance parties of both armies. We were drawn up in order of battle, expecting every moment to engage the whole of the enemy’s army. After remaining about two hours in order of battle, and it beginning to rain very hard, we were ordered to march off the ground, which we did about 12 o’clock.

Mid-day the storm increased, and we marched the whole night through the heaviest storm almost, that ever was known. All our cartridges were wet, and I much feared the ruin of the whole army would have been the consequence. Indeed, it must have been the case, had General Howe advanced upon us in this situation; but fortunately for us, he never moved towards us, but continued his route by easy marches towards the fords where he intended to pass the Schuylkill.

Our first halt was at or near a place called the Yellow Springs; here our stay was very short, as we had no ammunition. We moved off to Reading Furnace, a very strong part of the country by nature, where, I believe, no army would think of pursuing. From Reading, we marched and countermarched about the country until October 2d, when we encamped at Worcester, twenty miles from Philadelphia. The evening of the third we marched off with the whole army, with the design to attack the enemy, who lay near Germantown, about fifteen miles distant from us; unfortunately for us the night proved very dark, which so retarded our march that we did not reach the enemy’s advanced post until sunrise, whereas our design was to attack them at first dawn of day.

At sunrise, the fire began: their advanced party soon gave way, our people pursued them closely to the main body, which they immediately attacked likewise, and they soon gave way, and were pursued from field to field with great loss on their side. 

We suffered considerable in advancing, by a party the enemy had thrown into a large stone house, said to belong to Benj. Chew. At this place fell Capt. McMyer and Ensign Hurley of Col. Ogden’s regiment; Capt. Conway, Capt. Morrison, Capt. Baldwin and Lt. Robinson, wounded, of the same regiment, together with about 20 men; of my regiment, Lt. Clark and Ensign Bloomlield were wounded, and 18 men killed and wounded; my horse was shot under me at the same place, within about three yards of the corner of the house. 

About this time came on perhaps the thickest fog known in the memory of man, which, together with the smoke, brought on almost midnight darkness; it was not possible at one time (I believe for the space of near half an hour) to distinguish friend from foe five yards distance. This obliged all our parties to give over the pursuit, as they were in danger of firing upon their friends, and probably did several times before the fire ceased. 

At this instant, the enemy rallied their scattered forces and advanced upon us, when we retreated in turn, although with very little loss. I believe every man we had either killed or wounded met his fate full in front as he was advancing. We lost one Brigadier General, who was shot in the thigh with a cannon ball, of which wound he died three days afterwards. Our good Major Weatherspoon was shot dead by a cannon shot in the head as we were advancing through the streets of Germantown.

British Surrender at Yorktown

These diary entries are taken from Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, Volume IX (1846). They document the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781.

Sunday, 14 — The fire from our batteries much superior to that of the enemy by day; early in the evening, the brigade of light infantry, commanded by the Marquis, in conjunction with a number of French, stormed two redoubts, took 72 prisoners, and killed about 30. Same night, we threw up lines from one redoubt to the other.

Monday, 15 — Went on duty in the trenches with the Jersey Brigade; little or no firing from us, all employed in completing the works; the enemy annoyed us with rifles from their lines and threw a number of shells, which killed and wounded for us eight or ten men; in the night the British light infantry got within the French lines (they passed for Americans), by which means they spiked eight heavy cannon, but as soon as the deception was discovered two or three companies of the French granadiers gave a shout and charged the infantry, killed ten on the spot and took eight prisoners; the enemy attacked our lines at same time by way of diversion.

Tuesday, 16 — Began to open some batteries of mortars and cannon with great effect upon the enemy; our riflemen took place in front and annoyed the enemy very much in their works; in the after part of the day the British fired very little; we kept up a very heavy fire all night, although there was almost as severe a storm of wind and rain as I ever remember to have seen.

Wednesday, 17 — Continued firing, or rather increased it; about 2 o’clock [Cornwallis] beat a parley and offered to surrender, but his terms were not agreed to; firing ceased.

Thursday, 18— Negotiation continued all day, and, consequently, no firing from either side.

Friday, 19 — In the morning articles of capitulation were signed, and the British army marched out and piled their arms in the presence of the French and American armies, who were all formed into line on the occasion. The British marched out of Yorktown about 4 o’clock P.M., and after piling their arms, returned at about sunset to their old quarters.

Saturday, 20 — The whole day spent in collecting stores, taking prisoners’ paroles, &c, &c.

Sunday, 21 — At two o’clock P.M., the prisoners from Yorktown march out on their way to Williamsburgh.

From the 20th to the first of November, spent mostly in collecting and patting on board vessels ordnance and stores of all kinds for Elk.

Thursday, Nov. 1 — Left Yorktown on a schooner called the Rachel, with a number of shells and about 40 sick on board; after a disagreeable passage of seven days, arrived at the head of Elk.