Photo credit: M. Ciavardini
I am not exactly looking for the American Revolution as I walk from a parking lot on Long Beach Island, N.J. toward “Old Barney,” the lighthouse at its northern end. A plaque near the walk toward the light house tells the story of a not particularly positive development during the War of Independence. After having the good luck to capture a British boat, a team of Patriots were killed on the beach.
Photo credit: M. Ciavardini
That’s almost too much of a tease. These Patriots get the boat, they’re on the beach, was someone keeping watch? Was someone who was keeping watch falling asleep? Was the boat abandoned when Andrew Steelman and his colleagues came across it? If so, didn’t they wonder how it came to be empty?
Before I ascend the 217 steps to the top of the lighthouse, I have to know more. A bookstore should be right here at this plaque, or the story should be inside the lighthouse, or there should be a series of plaques recounting the history episode by episode. By 1782, weren’t we just about done with that revolution? This seems like a surprising loss fairly late in the game. What happened?
A bit of quick research informs me that Andrew Steelman sought volunteers in town—not sure which one, not sure whether it was one on Long Beach Island—to help unload the boat, but one resident opted to go tattle to the Tories. A little sneaking-up violence later, and about two dozen men were dead.
With just a bit more brushing off of dusty websites, I discover that New Jersey claims to be the “cockpit of the Revolution.” Dennis P. Ryan, New Jersey in the American Revolution, 1763 – 1783 A Chronology (New Jersey Historical Commission 1975). I learn of the chaos in the state—like that in Westchester County, N.Y.’s misnamed “neutral zone” —as raids from one side or the other took place. I learn that the man who attacked Steelman and his crew—John Bacon—was himself killed the following year. I learn that the American Revolution wasn’t as neat and as easy as it seemed to be when presented to me in elementary school, in middle school, even in high school. I learn I need to know more of this history.
—Lori Tripoli
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Dear Lori,
Nice to see your note. Captain Andrew Steelman was my great great great – something, uncle. Chreston Steelman, my uncle Chres, is responsible for the placing of the plaque, and possibly its wording.
According to family lore, great uncle Andrew was a Captain of a privateer vessel named The Alligator. This vessel was owned, in partnership, by three men, including Andrew Steelman. Whichever of them organized a particular expedition, or raid, was, for the duration of that endeavor, the captain.
Uncle Chres told me that he wrote a book about the history of the Steelman family in New Jersey, which began in 1642. The book is entitled “Under Five Flags.” I understand that the book was published, if perhaps only self-published, sometime before 1979.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this history, Stephen. It’s wonderful that you know this family history. -Lori Tripoli