08/21/2026
The history of Daniel Bissell, the "deserter" who was a Connecticut Spy, died August 21, 1824.
The history of Daniel Bissell, the "deserter" who was a Connecticut Spy, died August 21, 1824.
Among the names of the Windsor soldiers in the revolution, occurs that of Daniel Bissell, accompanied on the official return by the ominous suffix, " deserter.'' The record was as undoubtedly authentic, as it was unpalateable; but a few enquiries among the old people, suggested a probability that there were some extenuating circumstances, or possibly a satisfactory explanation. Investigations were at once instituted, and finally we had the extreme pleasure of vindicating the deserter's character; and of bringing to light the record of a life of devotion to his country's interests, and of suffering in her service, such as has been seldom paralleled, even in the roll of brave deeds which ennobles the page of American history.
For, if honor and gratitude are due to him who boldly maintains a just cause by force of arms and personal bravery, how much more is it due to him, who renouncing glory's brightest dream, takes upon himself the unenviable character and office of a spy, in his country's service? Such a one, not only subjects himself to the ignominy of a felon's death, if detected, but expatriates himself from all human sympathy. He knows — and it is the most terrible thought that a noble heart can feel — that not only his comrades are covering his name with execration, but that those who are nearest and dearest to him, are either unconscious of his real character, or if conscious, are dragged down and suffering from the contempt which he has brought upon them. For him, all hope of return is past, and the future has but one bright hope to illumine his pathway, the hope that his country will profit by the sacrifice which she demands of him. Such was Hale, whose martyr memory is precious to every patriot heart — such too, though more fortunate, was Daniel Bissell, of Windsor.
The following account of his military services and adventures is gleaned from a package of documents, now sacredly preserved, in the keeping of his son, Dr. D. Bissell, resident physician at the Quarantine on Staten Island, N. Y. They are copies from the original documents in the department of war, at Washington, and their authenticity is fully attested by the seal of the department and the signature of the secretary, John C. Calhoun, under date of December 5th, 1820.
Daniel Bissell, the eldest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Loomis) Bissell, of Windsor, was born in 1754, and arrived at the years of early manhood with a character marked by a great degree of personal courage, self-reliance, prudence and strict integrity. Upon the breaking out of the Revolution, he enlisted in the continental line, where his sterling qualities of head and heart, speedily gained the esteem of his comrades, and the confidence of his officers.
He served through the war with credit — was present at the battle of White Plains, also at Trenton and Monmouth; at the latter place he was slightly wounded in the cheek. In the summer of 1781, he was selected by Gen. Washington to obtain information of the enemy's force and plans in the city of New York, and on Long Island. We will let our hero tell his own story, in his own way, in the following affidavit:
State of New York, Ontario County, ss: I, Daniel Bissell, of Richmond, of more than sixty years of age, do testify and say, that on the thirteenth day of August, 1781, Colonel Heman Swift, of the 2d Connecticut Regiment, called on me early in the morning, and stated to me that he dined at Head Quarters the day before, and His Excellency found it necessary to send within the British lines, to ascertain their position and force, some person, and that I was determined on for the undertaking; and further stated that His Excellency conceived that the great danger was in passing the several examinations. After some further conversation on the subject passed between us, I agreed to accept the perilous tour. Col. Swift then directed me to go to a certain place near Head Quarters, where Col. David Humphrey would meet me. Soon after I arrived at the place appointed, the Colonel came and put into my hand a paper, requesting me to go to some bye-place and read it over, through the course of the day, then destroy it, go to my Regiment, get some refreshment, put on and carry with me two suits of clothes, wear in my watch, silver buckles, &c., which I wore in the American army, so as it should have the appearance of deserting; and at the time the army was on the parade for evening roll-call, quit the Regiment, go to a bridge between the army and Col. Schammel's Light Infantry, where I should meet Col. Swift, who would give me further instructions. Col. Swift directed me to call on Col. Schammel at his marquee at nine o'clock in the evening; and Col. Schammel went with, and conducted me by his Camp guards and sentinals, and informed me that he had ordered off all guards and patrols from the North River road (until after midnight) down as far as Croton Bridge, that being the extent of our lines. I was then to answer (if hailed) 'friend to Britain.' The paper Col. Humphrey gave me was as follows, to the best of my recollection:
As Gen. Arnold is now in Virginia, with all the new raised corps, there will be no recruiting parties in New York; and as the fleet is now at the Hook, consequently there will be no press [gang] in the city; and with the money you carry in, you can get a protection from the Mayor or Police of the city, to go to Lloyd's Neck, thirty miles on Long Island, to cut wood for the Crown. After this, you will return to King's Bridge or Laurel Hill, and view the works there, obtain the number of each regiment, the number of men each contains, by whom commanded, their several alarm posts, the number of cannon mounted in each work. You will view all the works on York Island in the same manner; get the whole number of regular forces, distinguishing the British from foreigners; the number of the new raised corps, and also the number of militia enrolled for the defence of the city. Get what information you can of their works and force at Powler's Hook, also that of Staten Island. Obtain the number of Shipping in the Harbour, and that at the Hook; and when you have completed your business here, you will pass over to Brooklyn, view the works there, ascertain their force on Long Island. When you have got the business completed, the seventh or ninth night, be at a place called Whitestone, not far from Lloyd's Neck, where a boat will attend to fetch you off.
In case you can not attend on one of those nights, you will then make your escape off at the east end of Long Island. Then followed all the probable questions that would be asked me, in the several examinations, together with their answers. But when I arrived in New York, to my great disappointment, I found that Gen. Arnold had returned and had established his recruiting parties in every place where deserters could come in; that the British fleet had got into New York and shut out the French fleet; and that the press-gangs were in every part of the city; that the Commander-in-chief, Sir Harry Clinton, had issued a late order that there should be no more protections given to deserters. After avoiding the press-gang for three days, and being attacked with a violent fever, I caused my name to be enrolled in Arnold's regiment.
I was. soon after sent to the Hospital at Flushing, in December following removed back to York Island (Harlem Heights), put into a barn, which was their Regimental Hospital, where I remained until May. Here my suffering was truly great; without fire the greatest part of the time, only wood allowed for the purpose of cooking our pork and peas; without attendance; but one additional blanket to two men; without shifting my clothes for three months; covered with head and body lice; unable to walk. In this situation, I was taken out of the Hospital to do Quarter- Master Sergeant's duty, for said Regiment, by Capt. Robert Rowley, who acted also as Quarter-Master to the same; and through his kind attention to my health, I owe my escape from them. When I returned from the British Army, to the American Head Quarters, and after being there two days, committing to paper the information which I had obtained. Col. Humphrey informed me that his Excellency said that he could not reward me in the way and manner he intended when I went in; my being detained there so long, also there being so many super-numerary officers. Congress had ordered there be no more commissions given; and asked me if I wished to be discharged from service.
I told the Col. I had been in every campaign of the War (and out of health) that my wish was to continue through. I was then asked to join the Invalid Corps and receive a pension. This I declined on the ground, my Country was poor and it would be of no advantage to me. He said, I might do duty or not as I pleased. I went to my Regiment and did orderly sergeant duty until May following, when I obtained permission from his excellency to go to Susquehannah, And on my return to the regiment I found the last division of the army had been furloughed the day before; my clothes which I left in the regiment were all stolen. I found there had been a General Order for me to attend at Head Quarters and receive an honorary certificate and a badge of military merit. These were given me by Jonathan Trumbull, then secretary.
In the year 1777 or 78, Congress passed a resolution that any non-commissioned officer or private who should furnish himself with clothing (regimental) should receive thirty-six dollars, seventy-five cents per year. Agreeably to the resolve, I furnished myself with clothing the most part of four years, as it will appear by the Books of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment, now at the seat of Government. Thirteen months I clothed and victualled myself, while in actual dangerous service for my country, and sacrificed a constitution as good perhaps, as any ever entered the American service.
In Washington's administration I petitioned Congress for compensation for extra services, and for money paid for clothing' in the War. Daniel Buck, Esq. member of Congress from the state of Vermont, carried forward my petition, he was to call on the President, show him my certificate and badge of merit. The President did advise Mr. Buck to put in a petition for me. Accordingly he did. Mr. Buck, on his return to Vermont, informed me I was barred by law, this being the year the Limitation Act took place. James Fisk, Esq., member of Congress from Vermont, carried forward my second petition; on his return informed me that the committee on claims, reported in favour of the petitioner; that it went to the second reading, when Mr Talmadge, a member from Connecticut moved to have the petition put over to the next sitting of Congress (and carried). Here the business has rested ever since. Furthermore the deponent saith not.
Daniel Bissell.
Personally appeared Daniel Bissell, of Richmond, Ontario County, State of New York, and made solemn oath, that the above, within and foregoing written deposition by him sub- scribed contains the truth, according to the best of his recollection and belief. Sworn to, this 7th of January 1818 at Richmond before, Wm. Baker, Justice of the Peace.
The Honorary Certificate, which accompanied the Badge of merit, above alluded to, was as follows:
I, George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the American Army, &c., &c., &o.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, sendeth Greeting:
Whereas, it hath ever been an established maxim in the American Service, that the Road to Glory was open to all, that Honorary Rewards and Distinctions, were the greatest Stimuli to virtuous actions, and whereas Sergeant Daniel Bissell of the Second Connecticut Regiment, has performed some important service, within the immediate knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief, in which his fidelity, perseverance and good sense, were not only conspicuously manifested, but his general line of conduct throughout a long course of service, having been not only unspotted but highly deserving of commendation.
Now, therefore. Know Ye, that the aforesaid Sergeant Bissell, hath fully and truly deserved, and hath been properly invested with, the Honorary Badge of Military Merit, and is entitled to pass and repass all Guards and Military Posts, as freely and as amply as any Commissioned Officer whatever; and is further Recommended to that Notice which a Brave and Faithful Soldier deserves from his Countrymen.
Given under my hand and seal, in the Highlands of New York, this Ninth day of May, A. D. 1783.
Signed. George Washington.
Registered.
Jonathan Trumbull, Secretary.
This certificate was highly prized by the recipient and in after life carefully preserved between the leaves of an old Family Bible, which, together with all his earthly goods, was lost by the burning of his house, in Richmond, N. Y. A copy, however, had been made, the authenticity of which was subsequently attested by the following affidavits and letters.
Sgt. Bissell, afterward served in the campaign against the Indians in 1799, known as the Adams War. He then held the rank of 1st lieutenant in the 16th regiment of U. S. Infantry.
Still later he removed to Vermont, where he married a second wife. In 1810 he removed to Richmond, N. Y., where he died in August, 1824, aged 70 years.
His character was that of an upright, fearless, public spirited citizen. His naturally fine constitution never recovered from the privations and sufferings to which he was exposed during his service as a spy within the British lines at New York; the maladies to which his after life was subject, undoubtedly tended much to cripple his energies, and to thwart the success which those energies would otherwise have accomplished, he brought up a large family of children, all of whom have taken responsible and useful positions in life. And to his latest hour, the remembrance of his patriotic service, was a source of honorable pride, which fully compensated him for all the sufferings which it had entailed upon him.
History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, by Henry Reed Stiles, 1859.
Image: Badge of Military Merit, started by George Washington.
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