Alexander Leslie Examined

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Ordered, That his Accounts be delivered to the Auditors. Alexander Lesslie being brought in, heard, and examined, says: That this morning, opposite Mrs˙ Curtenius' s door, Captain Johnson came to him and asked who was his author for the report he had spread? That be answered, Samuel Burling; and Captain Johnson left him. That in the afternoon, in the Broadway, Captain Johnson asked him if he had found out the author of the report concerning Lord Dunmore' s landing, which had been told to him by a person in the afternoon preceding. That he answered no; that it was a stranger, whom he did not know, who was shaved in his shop. Upon which, Captain Johnson answered, "You, damned rascal, you and Samuel Burling deserve to be caned; and had I him here, I would cane him immediately; and if you, you scoundrel, do not get along about your business, I will cane you;" and, at that instant, drove a cane in his face, and then struck several blows with the cane at his head, which he received on his arms by defending his head. That he (the examinant) then went to pick up a paving-stone to knock him down with it, in his own defence; that, before he could get the stone up, Johnson closed in with him, on which he took Johnson' s stick from him; that immediately thereon, Johnson drew his hanger; on which he made a blow at Johnson with the stick, and missed him, and lost the stick out of his hand, and Johnson then pursued him with his hanger, and he fled from him; and finding an axe in the street, he took it up to defend himself with; and Colonel Ritzema came up and spoke to Johnson.

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That soon after, returning from Hall' s Tavern to his own house, he saw Johnson, and several officers with him, coming out of his (this examinant' s) house; upon which he ran immediately to this Chamber, to lay his case before this Congress, and found the Congress was not yet assembled. That Johnson pursued him to this Chamber, and into the Chamber, and beat him with his stick until this examinant took the stick from him. That Johnson then beat him with his fists, and struck him many blows on his arms, attempting to strike him on the head, and also struck him a blow in the eye, and bit his hand. That Johnson then ordered two other officers to take hold of him (this examinant) and carry him to the Guard-House; that one of them seized him by the collar, and forced him out of the room, and that they forcibly took him to the Guard-House. That William A˙ Forbes was one of the officers, and went to the Guard-House with him. That the other officer told this examinant that Captain Johnson was his superior officer, and that he was obliged to obey him. That they took him to the upper Barrack Guard-room.

The examinant further says, that, yesterday morning, Samuel Burling came into his shop, and mentioned, as a report or news, that Lord Dunmore had landed in Virginia with some troops, and that a number of Virginians had joined him. That he (the examinant) soon after went to dress Colonel Ritzema; and, being by him asked what news, mentioned what Samuel Burling related. That this is the matter for which Captain Johnson called on him for his author.

Sampson Dyckman says he was talking to Captain Johnson; that Johnson called to Lesslie, and asked if he had found that man; that Lesslie said no, but he could find him; and he gave substantially the same account which Alexander Lesslie has given. And he further says, that when Johnson was beating him in the Assembly Chamber, he took Johnson off, and separated them. That Captain Johnson desired him to take Lesslie to the Guard-House, and that he refused.

Alexander Lesslie and Sampson Dyckman ordered to withdraw.

The Congress then went into the consideration of the conduct of Captain John Johnson; and the whole examinations of the parties, and the above memorandum of the evidence of Sampson Dyckman, were severally read.

Mr˙ Van Cortlandt then moved his motion for dismissing Captain Johnson from service, as before entered on the Minutes of this afternoon, be now read and taken into consideration.

And the same being again read, is in the words following:

"I move that the warrant to raise a Company of the Troops of this Colony in Continental service, lately given to John Johnson, be taken from him, and that, as far forth as in the power of this Congress, he be dismissed the Continental service, and all employments under this Congress."

Debates arose thereon; and after some time spent therein, and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the negative, in the manner following, to wit:

For the Negative.
2 Westchester.
2 Dutchess.
2 Suffolk.
2 Ulster.
2 Orange.
2 Charlotte.
2 Tryon.
2 Richmond.
16 votes.

For the Affirmative.
3 Albany. — Mr˙ Gansevoort dissenting.
4 New-York. — Colonel McDougall, Col˙ Lott, Mr˙ Bancker, Mr˙ Prince dissenting.
2 King' s.
3 Cumberland.
11 votes.

Ordered, therefore, That the said motion be rejected.

Mr˙ Gansevoort then moved, and was seconded, in the words following, to wit:

"I move that Captain John Johnson be ordered to the bar of this Congress; and that he make proper concessions for the insult offered to this Congress, by usurping a power which is vested in this Congress; that he be charged to behave himself peaceably towards Alexander Lesslie, whom he has grossly injured; that he receive a severe reprimand from the Chair; and that he be told if he should be guilty of the like behaviour in future, this Congress will cause him to be displaced."

The same being read a second time and agreed to,

Resolved, That Captain John Johnson be ordered to the

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