John Jacob “Rifle Jack” Peterson was a Revolutionary war era patriot of African and Kitchewan descent whose quick thinking helped repel British forces in Croton, New York. His actions threw Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans into disarray and led to the capture of Major Andre. This heroism inspired the erection of a memorial plaque at Teller’s Point, now Croton Point, in Croton New York. The plaque also commemorates the actions of George (aka Moses) Sherwood but the marker has been more popularly known as the Jack Peterson Memorial.
 Interactive map of John Jacob "Rifle Jack" Memorial | |
| Location | 1 Croton Point Park Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°11.038′N 73°54.051′W / 41.183967°N 73.900850°W |
John Jacob “Rifle Jack” Peterson was a Revolutionary War era patriot of African and Kitchewan descent whose quick thinking helped repel British forces in what is now Croton-on-Hudson, New York.[1] His actions threw Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans into disarray and contributed to the capture of Major John André. This heroism inspired the erection of a memorial plaque at Teller's Point, now Croton Point, in Croton-on-Hudson. The plaque also commemorates the actions of Moses Sherwood,[2] but the marker has been more popularly known as the Jack Peterson Memorial.[3][4]
History
In 1780, Peterson was a 35-year-old veteran soldier, having already served in the 2nd New York Regiment and fought in major battles such as Saratoga (1777) and Monmouth (1778) before re-enlisting in the 3rd Westchester militia. On September 21, he was in the company of a white 19-year-old fellow private class soldier named Moses Sherwood.[5][6] (The two shared a profound bond: Peterson had reportedly held Sherwood’s father in his arms as the latter died during the Battle of Saratoga three years earlier).[7] That day, they were reportedly not on official guard duty but at a cider mill on Teller’s Point, crushing apples,[8] when they spied the British HMS Vulture sending a rowboat of men towards land. A skilled marksman, Peterson fired on the rowboat, forcing its occupants to return to the ship. The two then sped to Fort Lafayette at Verplanck's Point to alert their commander about the vessel. Acting upon this information, troops set up a cannon at Teller's Point to attack the sloop in a fiery battle that lasted two hours. These actions contributed to the later capture of Major André, who would have been rescued by the British but was instead stranded on shore.[9]
Peterson was given land in Cortlandt and later moved to Peekskill.[9][10] Sherwood also remained in the area after the war. He lived and died in Ossining and was buried on February 17, 1837, in the historic Sparta Cemetery there.[11] Remarkably, that cemetery itself bears scars from the same September 1780 event: one of its gravestones still shows damage from a British cannonball fired from the HMS Vulture during the engagement at Teller's Point.[11][12]
Despite his contributions to this pivotal chapter in American history, Peterson did not receive a pension until age 90 for his bravery. He died in 1850 and was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Croton.[5] The story of the two soldiers' feat of valor was repeated many times and equated to be a vital part of winning the war.[1] Even the log of the British sloop cited the event and “complained of a violation of the military rule in that a boat the day before had been decoyed and fired upon by armed men concealed in the bushes.”[13]
Memorial
The suggestion of a monument to commemorate both Peterson and Sherwood's attack on the British was raised as early as 1859.[14] Noted Westchester historians Bolton and Scharf also credited the two men "for causing the departure of the Vulture and the change in André’s route to British headquarters in New York City, necessitating his attempt to deliver the plans of West Point by land through Westchester County which resulted in his capture at Tarrytown."[13]
In 1963, one writer said the two belonged "to the Valhalla of America's great."[15]
A plaque was finally unveiled in 1967 by the Mohegan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The inscription says "Commemorating the defense of Teller's Point by George Sherwood[2] and Jack Peterson who repulsed the landing of British troops from the "Vulture" September 21, 1780, aiding in the capture of Major André."[16] The monument is located in today's Croton Point Park.
In 2004, the site of Peterson's heroism was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County[17] based on research conducted by Dr. Larry Spruill.[18][19] According to then-Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, a former history teacher, the selection of the site as one of the inaugural educational tour stops on the Trail was made with the input of the African-American Advisory Board.
See also
References
- ^ a b G.P. Wygant (October 19, 1936). "Peterson and Sherwood, Local Men Real Heroes of "Vulture" Episode". Peekskill Evening Star.
- ^ a b While named "George Sherwood" on the plaque, he has been subsequently identified in modern history and military records as Moses Sherwood.
- ^ John J. Curran (2008). Peekskill's African American History: A Hudson Valley Community's Untold Story. The History Press.
- ^ Suzanne Clary (July 8, 2020). "The Hamilton Musical And History's Unsung". New York Almanack. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "Tappan Tavern". Peekskill Evening Star. June 18, 1938. p. 20.
- ^ "Ten Miles Around Peekskill Address Delivered by Stephen D. Horton, Thursday Afternoon, October 28, 1909, at his Home, Before the Van Cortlandt Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution and Their Guests". The Highland Democrat. October 30, 1909.
- ^ Clary, Suzanne (July 5, 2020). "The Hamilton Musical And History's Unsung - The Heroism of Jack Peterson". Jay Heritage Center.
- ^ "Jack Peterson Memorial". Clio.
- ^ a b "Jack Peterson". Manitowoc, Wis.: The Manitowoc Pilot. January 13, 1860. p. 1.
- ^ Thomas I. Ford (October 4, 2001). "Times that try men's souls'". Bronxville Review Press and Reporter.
- ^ a b Reynolds, William Joseph (July 4, 2011). "Ossining's Sparta Cemetery, Rich in History". Ossining Daily Voice.
- ^ A bronze plaque installed on the Ladew family plot confirms the event. It reads: "This stone was pierced by a cannon shot fired from the British sloop-of-war Vulture commanded by Lieut. Sutherland, September 1780".
- ^ a b "Croton Ceremony to Relive History". Ossining, New York: The Citizen Register. May 5, 1967.
- ^ "Revolutionary Incidents". Skaneatles, New York: Skaneateles Democrat. October 13, 1859.
- ^ "The Shrine of the Memorial Museum". The Putnam County Courier. November 28, 1963.
- ^ "Commemorating the Defense of Teller's Point". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ "African American Heritage Trail brochure". Westchester County, New York. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "County Historical Society names Schulman Award Winners". The Harrison Review. June 27, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Whitaker, Barbara (March 7, 2004). "History: A Trail That Traces a Heritage". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2021.