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diff --git a/21990-h/21990-h.htm b/21990-h/21990-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66976fd --- /dev/null +++ b/21990-h/21990-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,20844 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn, by Henry P. Johnston. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + hr.short { width: 15%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both;} + + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; + font-size: 13px; text-indent: 0em; color: #ababab; + background-color: inherit; + font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; + font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none;} + + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid black 1px; margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + + .border img {border: 2px solid silver;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 75%;} + .smaller {font-size: 50%;} + .small {font-size: 75%;} + .large {font-size: 125%;} + .larger {font-size: 150%;} + .largest {font-size: 200%;} + .vlargest {font-size: 400%;} + + + .sans {font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 125%;} + + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: baseline; + position: relative; bottom: 0.4em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + + .err {border-bottom: thin dotted red;} + .notes {background-color: #eeeeee; color: #000; padding: .5em; + margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Campaign of 1776 around New York and +Brooklyn, by Henry P. Johnston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn + +Author: Henry P. Johnston + +Release Date: July 3, 2007 [EBook #21990] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAMPAIGN OF 1776 *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Linda Cantoni, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="notes"> +<p><i>Transcriber's Note:</i> In quoted passages and in the documents in +<a href="#PART_II">Part +II</a> of this e-book, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, +and abbreviations have been retained as they appear in the original. +In the remainder of the text, obvious printer errors have been +corrected, but archaic spellings (e.g., "reconnoissance" for +"reconnaissance," "aid" for "aide") have been retained.</p> + +<p>Hover the mouse over text <span class="err" title="Transcriber's Note">underlined in red</span> +to see a pop-up Transcriber's Note. Hyperlinks are also provided for items +mentioned in the original book's <a href="#ERRATA">Errata</a> page.</p> +</div> + +<p class="center"><b><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents</a></b><br /><br /></p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h1><span class="smaller">THE</span><br /> +<br /> +CAMPAIGN OF 1776<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">AROUND</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">INCLUDING A NEW AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL ACCOUNT OF</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND AND THE<br /> +LOSS OF NEW YORK,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">WITH A</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller"><i>REVIEW OF EVENTS TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR</i>,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">CONTAINING MAPS, PORTRAITS, AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">BY</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">HENRY P. JOHNSTON.</span></h1> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center">BROOKLYN, N.Y.:<br /> +PUBLISHED BY THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.<br /> +1878.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small"><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1878,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By HENRY P. JOHNSTON</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">For the Society</span>.<br /> +<br /> +S.W. GREEN,<br /> +PRINTER AND ELECTROTYPER,<br /> +16 and 18 Jacob Street,<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>.</span> +</p> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<a name="MAP01"></a> +<img src="images/map01.jpg" width="308" height="500" alt="map" title="map" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map01lg.jpg">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>NEW YORK and BROOKLYN WITH THEIR ENVIRONS IN 1776.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Compiled by H.P. JOHNSTON.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">Steel Engr. F. von Egloffstein, N.Y.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> site now occupied by the two cities of New York and Brooklyn, and +over which they continue to spread, is pre-eminently "Revolutionary +soil." Very few of our historic places are more closely associated +with the actual scenes of that struggle. As at Boston in 1775, so here +in 1776, we had the war at our doors and all about us. In what is now +the heart of Brooklyn Revolutionary soldiers lay encamped for months, +and in the heat of a trying summer surrounded themselves with lines of +works. What have since been converted into spots of rare +beauty—Greenwood Cemetery and Prospect Park—became, with the ground +in their vicinity, a battle-field. New York, which was then taking its +place as the most flourishing city on the continent, was transformed +by the emergency into a fortified military base. Troops quartered in +Broad Street and along the North and East rivers, and on the line of +Grand Street permanent camps were established. Forts, redoubts, +batteries, and intrenchments encircled the town. The streets were +barricaded, the roads blocked, and efforts made to obstruct the +navigation of both rivers. Where we have stores<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span> and warehouses, +Washington fixed alarm and picket posts; and at points where costly +residences stand, men fought, died, and were buried. In 1776 the cause +had become general; soldiers gathered here from ten of the original +thirteen States, and the contest assumed serious proportions. It was +here around New York and Brooklyn that the War of the Revolution began +in earnest.</p> + +<p>The record of what occurred in this vicinity at that interesting +period has much of it been preserved in our standard histories by +Gordon, Marshall, Irving, Hildreth, Lossing, Bancroft, Carrington, and +others. In the present volume it is given as a single connected +account, with many additional particulars which have but recently come +to light. This new material, gathered largely from the descendants of +officers and soldiers who participated in that campaign, is published +with other documents in <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a> of this work, and is presented as its +principal feature. What importance should be attached to it must be +left to the judgment of the reader.</p> + +<p>The writer himself has made use of these documents in filling gaps and +correcting errors. Such documents, for example, as the orders issued +by Generals Greene and Sullivan on Long Island, with the original +letters of Generals Parsons, Scott, and other officers, go far towards +clearing up the hitherto doubtful points in regard to operations on +the Brooklyn side. There is not a little, also, that throws light on +the retreat to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span> New York; while material of value has been unearthed +respecting events which terminated in the capture of the city by the +British. Considerable space has been devoted to the preparations made +by both sides for the campaign, but as the nature of those +preparations illustrates the very great importance attached to the +struggle that was to come, it may not appear disproportionate. The +narrative also is continued so as to include the closing incidents of +the year, without which it would hardly be complete, although they +take us beyond the limits of New York.</p> + +<p>But for the cheerful and in many cases painstaking co-operation of +those who are in possession of the documents referred to, or who have +otherwise rendered assistance, the preparation of the work could not +have been possible. The writer finds himself especially under +obligations to Miss Harriet E. Henshaw, of Leicester, Mass.; Miss Mary +Little and Benjamin Hale, Esq., Newburyport; Charles J. Little, Esq., +Cambridge; Mr. Francis S. Drake, Roxbury; Rev. Dr. I.N. Tarbox and +John J. Soren, Boston; Prof. George Washington Greene, East Greenwich, +R.I.; Hon. J.M. Addeman, Secretary of State of Rhode Island, and Rev. +Dr. Stone, Providence; Hon. Dwight Morris, Secretary of State of +Connecticut; Dr. P.W. Ellsworth and Captain John C. Kinney, Hartford; +Miss Mary L. Huntington, Norwich; Benjamin Douglas, Esq., Middletown; +Mr. Henry M. Selden, Haddam Neck; Hon. G.H. Hollister, Bridgeport; +Hon. Teunis G. Bergen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> Mr. Henry E. Pierrepont, J. Carson Brevoort, +Esq., Rev. Dr. H.M. Scudder, and Mr. Gerrit H. Van Wagenen, Brooklyn; +Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., Jamaica, L.I.; Frederick H. Wolcott, Esq., +Astoria, L.I.; Hon. John Jay, Charles I. Bushnell, Esq., Miss Troup, +Mrs. Kernochan, Prof. and Mrs. O.P. Hubbard, Gen. Alex. S. Webb, Rev. +A.A. Reinke, New York City; Mr. William Kelby, New York Historical +Society; Prof. Asa Bird Gardner, West Point; Hon. W.S. Stryker, +Adjutant-General, Trenton, N.J.; Richard Randolph Parry, Esq., Hon. +Lewis A. Scott, and Mr. J. Jordan, Philadelphia; Hon. John B. Linn, +Harrisburg; Mrs. S.B. Rogers and Mr. D.M. Stauffler, Lancaster; Dr. +Dalrymple, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore; Hon. Cæsar A. +Rodney, J.R. Walter, and W.S. Boyd, Wilmington, Del.; Oswald Tilghman, +Esq., Easton, Md.; Hon. Edward McPherson, Rev. Dr. John Chester, and +Lieutenant-Colonel T. Lincoln Casey, Washington; President Andrews and +Mr. Holden, Librarian, Marietta College; and Mr. Henry E. Parsons and +Edward Welles, Ashtabula, Ohio.</p> + +<p>The cordial and constant encouragement extended by the Rev. Dr. +Richard S. Storrs, President of the Long Island Historical Society, +and the interest taken in the work by Hon. Henry C. Murphy, Benjamin +D. Silliman, Esq., and the Librarian, Mr. George Hannah, are +gratefully acknowledged.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 1em"><span class="smcap">New York City</span>, June, 1878.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3><a href="#PART_I">PART I.</a></h3> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table style="width: 85%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents part 1"> +<tbody> +<tr><td> </td><td class="right"><span class="small">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Significance of the Campaign—Plans and Preparations</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Fortifying New York and Brooklyn</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Two Armies</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Battle of Long Island</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Retreat to New York</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Loss of New York—Kip's Bay Affair—Battle of Harlem Heights</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">White Plains—Fort Washington</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><br /> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Trenton—Princeton—Close of the Campaign</span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<p><br /><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a href="#PART_II">PART II.</a></h3> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table style="width: 85%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents part 2"> +<tbody> +<tr><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap"><a href="#PART_II">List of Documents</a></span>:</td><td class="right"><span class="small">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO01">No. 1.</a></td><td>General Greene's Orders—Camp on Long Island</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.5">5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO02">" 2.</a></td><td>General Sullivan's Orders—Camp on Long Island</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO03">" 3.</a></td><td>General Orders</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO04">" 4.</a></td><td>Washington to the Massachusetts Assembly</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO05">" 5.</a></td><td>General Parsons to John Adams</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO06">" 6.</a></td><td>General Scott to John Jay</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO07">" 7.</a></td><td>Colonel Joseph Trumbull to his Brother</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO08">" 8.</a></td><td>Colonel Trumbull to his Father</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO09">" 9.</a></td><td>Colonel Moses Little to his Son</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO10">" 10.</a></td><td>Lieutenant-Colonel Henshaw to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO11">" 11.</a></td><td>Deposition by Lieutenant-Colonel Henshaw</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO12">" 12.</a></td><td>Colonel Edward Hand to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO13">" 13.</a></td><td>Major Edward Burd to Judge Yeates</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO14">" 14.</a></td><td>Lieutenant Jasper Ewing to Judge Yeates</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO15">" 15.</a></td><td>John Ewing to Judge Yeates</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO16">" 16.</a></td><td>Colonel Haslet to Cæsar Rodney</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO17">" 17.</a></td><td>Colonel G.S. Silliman to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO18">" 18.</a></td><td>Colonel Silliman to Rev. Mr. Fish</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO19">" 19.</a></td><td>Account of the Battle of Long Island</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.58">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO20">" 20.</a></td><td>Journal of Colonel Samuel Miles</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.60">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO21">" 21.</a></td><td>Lieutenant-Colonel John Brodhead to ——</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO22">" 22.</a></td><td>Colonel William Douglas to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO23">" 23.</a></td><td>General Woodhull to the New York Convention</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO24">" 24.</a></td><td>General Washington to Abraham Yates</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO25">" 25.</a></td><td>Colonel Hitchcock to Colonel Little</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO26">" 26.</a></td><td>Major Tallmadge's Account of the Battles of Long Island and White Plains</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO27">" 27.</a></td><td>Account of Events by Private Martin</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO28">" 28.</a></td><td>Captain Joshua Huntington to ——</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO29">" 29.</a></td><td>Captain Tench Tilghman to his Father</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO30">" 30.</a></td><td>Captain John Gooch to Thomas Fayerweather</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right" style="vertical-align: top"><a href="#NO31">" 31.</a></td><td>Account of the Retreat from New York and Affair of Harlem Heights,<br />by Colonel David Humphreys</td><td class="right" style="vertical-align: bottom"><a href="#Page_ii.89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO32">" 32.</a></td><td>Testimony Respecting the Retreat from New York</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.92">92</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO33">" 33.</a></td><td>Major Baurmeister's Narrative</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO34">" 34.</a></td><td>Colonel Chester to Joseph Webb</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO35">" 35.</a></td><td>Colonel Glover to his Mother</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO36">" 36.</a></td><td>General Greene to Colonel Knox</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO37">" 37.</a></td><td>Diary of Rev. Mr. Shewkirk, Moravian Pastor, New York</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO38">" 38.</a></td><td>Major Fish to Richard Varick</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO39">" 39.</a></td><td>Surgeon Eustis to Dr. Townsend</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO40">" 40.</a></td><td>Captain Nathan Hale to his Brother</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO41">" 41.</a></td><td>Extract from a Letter from New York</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO42">" 42.</a></td><td>Extracts from the <i>London Chronicle</i></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.133">133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO43">" 43.</a></td><td>Extract from the Memoirs of Colonel Rufus Putnam</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO44">" 44.</a></td><td>Scattering Orders by Generals Lee, Spencer, Greene, and Nixon</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO45">" 45.</a></td><td>General Lee to Colonel Chester</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO46">" 46.</a></td><td>Captain Bradford's Account of the Capture of General Lee</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO47">" 47.</a></td><td>General Oliver Wolcott to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO48">" 48.</a></td><td>Captain William Hull to Andrew Adams</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO49">" 49.</a></td><td>Colonel Knox to his Wife</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO50">" 50.</a></td><td>Colonel Haslet to Cæsar Rodney</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO51">" 51.</a></td><td>Journal of Captain Thomas Rodney</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.158">158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO52">" 52.</a></td><td>Position of the British at the Close of the Campaign</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO53">" 53.</a></td><td>Narrative of Lieutenant Jabez Fitch</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO54">" 54.</a></td><td>Extract from the Journal of Lieutenant William McPherson</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.168">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO55">" 55.</a></td><td>Deposition of Private Foster</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO56">" 56.</a></td><td>Letters from Captain Randolph, of New Jersey</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO57">" 57.</a></td><td>Extract from the Journal of Captain Morris</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO58">" 58.</a></td><td>British Prisoners Taken on Long Island</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.174">174</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO59">" 59.</a></td><td>A Return of the Prisoners Taken in the Campaign</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right"><a href="#NO60">" 60.</a></td><td>List of American Officers Taken Prisoners at the Battle of Long Island</td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="right" style="vertical-align: top"><a href="#NO61">" 61.</a></td><td>List of American Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers Taken Prisoners,<br />Killed, or Missing, at the Battle of Long Island</td><td class="right" style="vertical-align: bottom"><a href="#Page_ii.180">180</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table style="width: 85%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents end"> +<tbody> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES">Biographical Sketches</a></span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_MAPS">The Maps</a></span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_PORTRAITS">The Portraits</a></span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#INDEX">Index</a></span></td><td class="right"><a href="#Page_ii.197">197</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF MAPS.</h2> + + +<p>1. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP01">New York, Brooklyn, and Environs in 1776.</a></span></p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP02">Plan of the Battle of Long Island and the Brooklyn Defences.</a></span></p> + +<p>3. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP03">President Stiles' Sketch of the Brooklyn Works.</a></span></p> + +<p>4. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP04">Ewing's Draught of the Long Island Engagement.</a></span></p> + +<p>5. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP05">Map of New York City and of Manhattan Island, with the American +Defences.</a></span></p> + +<p>6. <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAP06">Field of the Harlem Heights "Affair."</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>PORTRAITS.</h2> + +<p>1. <span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT01">John Lasher, Colonel First New York City Battalion.</a></span></p> + +<p>2. <span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT02">Edward Hand, Colonel First Continental Regiment, Pennsylvania.</a></span></p> + +<p>3. <span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT03">John Glover, Colonel Fourteenth Continental Regiment, +Massachusetts.</a></span></p> + +<p>4. <span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT04">Jedediah Huntington, Colonel Seventeenth Continental Regiment, +Connecticut.</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><a name="PART_I" id="PART_I"></a>PART I.</h1> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h2>THE CAMPAIGN.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CAMPAIGN—PLANS AND PREPARATIONS.</h3> + +<p><br />"<span class="smcap">Our</span> affairs are hastening fast to a crisis; and the approaching +campaign will, in all probability, determine forever the fate of +America."</p> + +<p>So wrote John Hancock, President of Congress, June 4th, 1776, to the +governors and conventions of the Eastern and Middle colonies, as, in +the name of that body, he reminded them of the gravity of the struggle +on which they had entered, and urged the necessity of increasing their +exertions for the common defence. That this was no undue alarm, +published for effect, but a well-grounded and urgent warning to the +country, is confirmed by the situation at the time and the whole train +of events that followed. The campaign of 1776 did indeed prove to be a +crisis, a turning-point, in the fortunes of the Revolution. It is not +investing it with an exaggerated importance, to claim that it was the +decisive period of the war; that, whatever anxieties and fears were +subsequently experienced, this was the year in which the greatest +dangers were encountered and passed. "Should the united colonies be +able to keep their ground this campaign," continued Hancock, "I am +under no apprehensions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> on account of any future one." "We expect a +very bloody summer in New York and Canada," wrote Washington to his +brother John Augustine, in May; and repeatedly, through the days of +preparation, he represented to his troops what vital interests were at +stake and how much was to depend upon their discipline and courage in +the field.</p> + +<p>But let the significance of the campaign be measured by the record +itself, to which the following pages are devoted. It will be found to +have been the year in which Great Britain made her most strenuous +efforts to suppress the colonial revolt, and in which both sides +mustered the largest forces raised during the war; the year in which +the issues of the contest were clearly defined and America first +fought for independence; a year, for the most part, of defeats and +losses for the colonists, and when their faith and resolution were put +to the severest test; but a year, also, which ended with a broad ray +of hope, and whose hard experiences opened the road to final success. +It was the year from which we date our national existence. A period so +interesting and, in a certain sense, momentous is deserving of +illustration with every fact and detail that can be gathered.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>What was the occasion or necessity for this campaign; what the plans +and preparations made for it both by the mother country and the +colonies?</p> + +<p>The opening incidents of the Revolution, to which these questions +refer us, are a familiar chapter in its history. On the morning of the +19th of April, 1775, an expedition of British regulars, moving out +from Boston, came upon a company of provincials hastily forming on +Lexington Common, twelve miles distant. The attitude of these +countrymen represented the last step to which they had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> driven by +the aggressive acts of the home Parliament. Up to this moment the +controversy over colonial rights and privileges had been confined, +from the days of the Stamp Act, to argument, protest, petition, and +legislative proceedings; but these failing to convince or conciliate +either party, it only remained for Great Britain to exercise her +authority in the case with force.</p> + +<p>The expedition in question had been organized for the purpose of +seizing the military stores belonging to the Massachusetts Colony, +then collected at Concord, and which the king's authorities regarded +as too dangerous material to be in the hands of the people at that +stage of the crisis. The provincials, on the other hand, watched them +jealously. King and Parliament might question their rights, block up +their port, ruin their trade, proscribe their leaders, and they could +bear all without offering open resistance. But the attempt to deprive +them of the means of self-defence at a time when the current of +affairs clearly indicated that, sooner or later, they would be +compelled to defend themselves, was an act to which they would not +submit, as already they had shown on more than one occasion. To no +other right did the colonist cling more tenaciously at this juncture +than to his right to his powder. The men at Lexington, therefore, drew +up on their village grounds, not defiantly, but in obedience to the +most natural impulse. Their position was a logical one. To have +remained quietly in their homes would have been a stultification of +their whole record from the beginning of the troubles; stand they +must, some time and somewhere. Under the circumstances, a collision +between the king's troops and the provincials that morning was +inevitable. The commander of the former, charged with orders to +disperse all "rebels,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> made the sharp demand upon the Lexington +company instantly to lay down their arms. A moment's confusion and +delay—then scattering shots—then a full volley from the +regulars—and ten men fell dead and wounded upon the green. Here was a +shock, the ultimate consequences of which few of the participants in +the scene could have forecast; but it was the alarm-gun of the +Revolution.</p> + +<p>Events followed rapidly. The march of the British to Concord, the +destruction of the stores, the skirmish at the bridge, and, later in +the day, the famous road-fight kept up by the farmers down to +Charlestown, ending in the signal demoralization and defeat of the +expedition, combined with the Lexington episode to make the 19th of +April an historic date. The rapid spread of the news, the excitement +in New England, the uprising of the militia and their hurried march to +Boston to resist any further excursions of the regulars, were the +immediate consequence of this collision.</p> + +<p>Nor was the alarm confined to the Eastern colonies, then chiefly +affected. A courier delivered the news in New York three days later, +on Sunday noon, and the liberty party at once seized the public +military stores, and prevented vessels loaded with supplies for the +British in Boston from leaving port. Soon came fuller accounts of the +expedition and its rout. Expresses carried them southward, and their +course can be followed for nearly a thousand miles along the coast. On +the 23d and 24th they passed through Connecticut, where at Wallingford +the dispatches quaintly describe the turning out of the militiamen: +"The country beyond here are all gone." They reached New York at two +o'clock on the 25th, and Isaac Low countersigns. Relays taking them up +in New Jersey, report at Princeton on the 26th, at "3.30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>" They +are at Philadelphia at noon, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> "forwarded at the same time." We +find them at New Castle, Delaware, at nine in the evening; at +Baltimore at ten on the following night; at Alexandria, Virginia, at +sunset on the 29th; at Williamsburg, May 2d; and at Edenton, North +Carolina, on the 4th, with directions to the next Committee of Safety: +"Disperse the material passages [of the accounts] through all your +parts." Down through the deep pine regions, stopping at Bath and +Newbern, ride the horsemen, reaching Wilmington at 4 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> on the 8th. +"Forward it by night and day," say the committee. At Brunswick at nine +the indorsement is entered: "Pray don't neglect a moment in +forwarding." At Georgetown, South Carolina, where the dispatches +arrive at 6.30 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> on the 10th, the committee address a note to their +Charleston brethren: "We send you by express a letter and newspapers +with momentous intelligence this instant arrived." The news reaching +Savannah, a party of citizens immediately took possession of the +government powder.</p> + +<p>The wave of excitement which follows the signal of a coming struggle +was thus borne by its own force throughout the length of the colonies. +And from the coast the intelligence spread inland as far as settlers +had found their way. In distant Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, men +heard it, and began to organize and drill. At Charlotte, North +Carolina, they sounded the first note for independence. From many +points brave and sympathetic words were sent to the people of +Massachusetts Bay, and in all quarters people discussed the probable +effect of the startling turn matters had taken in that colony. The +likelihood of a general rupture with the mother country now came to be +seriously entertained.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the situation to the eastward assumed more and more a +military aspect. On the 10th of May occurred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> the surprise and +capture, by Ethan Allen and his party, of the important post of +Ticonderoga, where during the summer the provincials organized a force +to march upon and, if possible, secure the Canadas. The Continental +Congress at Philadelphia, after resolving that the issue had been +forced upon them by Great Britain, voted to prepare for self-defence. +They adopted the New England troops, gathered around Boston, as a +Continental force, and appointed Washington to the chief command. Then +on the 17th of June Bunker Hill was fought, that first regular action +of the war, with its far-reaching moral effect; and following it came +the siege of Boston, or the hemming in of the British by the +Americans, until the former were finally compelled to evacuate the +city.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>It is here in these culminating events of the spring and summer of +1775 that we find the occasion for the preparations made by Great +Britain for the campaign of 1776. Little appreciating the genius of +the colonists, underrating their resources and capacity for +resistance, mistaking also their motives, King George and his party +imagined that on the first display of England's power all disturbance +and attempts at rebellion across the sea would instantly cease. But +the sudden transition from peace to war, and the complete mastery of +the situation which the colonists appeared to hold, convinced the home +government that "the American business" was no trifling trouble, to be +readily settled by a few British regiments. As the season advanced, +they began to realize the fact that General Gage, and then Howe +succeeding him, with their force of ten thousand choice troops, were +helplessly pent up in Boston; that Montreal and Quebec were +threatened; that colonists in the undisturbed sections were arming; +and that Congress was sup<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>planting the authority of Parliament. A more +rigorous treatment of the revolt had become necessary; and as the time +had passed to effect any thing on a grand scale during the present +year, measures were proposed to crush all opposition in the next +campaign. Follow, briefly, the course of the British Government at +this crisis.</p> + +<p>Parliament convened on the 26th day of October. The king's speech, +with which it opened, was necessarily devoted to the American +question, and it declared his policy clearly and boldly. His +rebellious subjects must be brought to terms. "They have raised +troops," he said, "and are collecting a naval force; they have seized +the public revenue, and assumed to themselves legislative, executive, +and judicial powers, which they already exercise, in the most +arbitrary manner, over the persons and properties of their fellow +subjects: and although many of these unhappy people may still retain +their loyalty, and may be too wise not to see the fatal consequence of +this usurpation and wish to resist it, yet the torrent of violence has +been strong enough to compel their acquiescence, till a sufficient +force shall appear to support them. The authors and promoters of this +desperate conspiracy have, in the conduct of it, derived great +advantage from the difference of our intentions and theirs. They meant +only to amuse by vague expressions of attachment to the parent state, +and the strongest protestations of loyalty to me, whilst they were +preparing for a general revolt. On our part, though it was declared in +your last session that a rebellion existed within the province of the +Massachusetts' Bay, yet even that province we wished rather to reclaim +than to subdue.... The rebellious war now levied is become more +general, and is manifestly carried on for the purpose of establishing +an independent empire. I need not dwell upon the fatal effects of the +suc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>cess of such a plan.... It is now become the part of wisdom, and +(in its effects) of clemency, to put a speedy end to these disorders, +by the most decisive exertions. For this purpose, I have increased my +naval establishment, and greatly augmented my land forces, but in such +a manner as may be the least burthensome to my kingdoms. I have also +the satisfaction to inform you, that I have received the most friendly +offers of foreign assistance, and if I shall make any treaties in +consequence thereof, they shall be laid before you."</p> + +<p>A stranger in Parliament, knowing nothing of the merits of the +controversy, would have assumed from the tone of this speech that the +home government had been grossly wronged by the American colonists, or +at least a powerful faction among them, and that their suppression was +a matter of national honor as well as necessity. But the speech was +inexcusably unjust to the colonists. The charge of design and +double-dealing could not be laid against them, for the ground of their +grievances had been the same from the outset, and their conduct +consistent with single motives; and if independence had been mentioned +at all as yet, it was only as an ulterior resort, and not as an aim or +ambition. The king and the Ministry, on the other hand, were wedded to +strict notions of authority in the central government, and measured a +citizen's fidelity by the readiness with which he submitted to its +policy and legislation. Protests and discussion about "charters" and +"liberties" were distasteful to them, and whoever disputed Parliament +in any case was denounced as strong-headed and factious. The king's +speech, therefore, was no more than what was expected from him. It +reflected the sentiments of the ruling party.</p> + +<p>As usual, motions were made in both houses that an humble address in +reply be presented to his Majesty, pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>fessing loyalty to his person, +and supporting his views and measures. The mover in the Commons was +Thomas Ackland, who, in the course of his speech at the time, strongly +urged the policy of coercion, and emphasized his approval of it by +declaring that it would have been better for his country that America +had never been known than that "a great consolidated western empire" +should exist independent of Britain. Lyttleton, who seconded the +motion, was equally uncompromising. He objected to making the +Americans any further conciliatory offers, and insisted that they +ought to be conquered first before mercy was shown them.</p> + +<p>The issue thus fairly stated by and for the government immediately +roused the old opposition, that "ardent and powerful opposition," as +Gibbon, who sat in the Commons, describes it; and again the House +echoed to attack and invective. Burke, Fox, Conway, Barré, Dunning, +and others, who on former occasions had cheered America with their +stout defence of her rights, were present at this session to resist +any further attempt to impair them. Of the leading spirits, Chatham, +now disabled from public service, alone was absent.</p> + +<p>Lord John Cavendish led the way on this side, by moving a substitute +for Ackland's address which breathed a more moderate spirit, and in +effect suggested to his Majesty that the House review the whole of the +late proceedings in the colonies, and apply, in its own way, the most +effectual means of restoring order and confidence there. Of course +this meant concession to America, and it became the signal for the +opening of an impassioned debate. Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London, poured +out a torrent of remonstrances against the conduct of the Ministry, +who had precipitated the nation into "an unjust, ruinous, felonious, +and murderous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> war." Sir Adam Fergusson, speaking less vehemently and +with more show of sense, defended the government. Whatever causes may +have brought on the troubles, the present concern with him was how to +treat them as they then existed. There was but one choice, in his +estimation—either to support the authority of Great Britain with +vigor, or abandon America altogether. And who, he asked, would be bold +enough to advise abandonment? The employment of force, therefore, was +the only alternative; and, said the speaker, prudence and humanity +required that the army sent out should be such a one as would carry +its point and override opposition in every quarter—not merely beat +the colonists, but "deprive them of all idea of resistance." Gov. +Johnstone, rising in reply, reviewed the old questions at length, and +in the course of his speech took occasion to eulogize the bravery of +the provincials at Bunker Hill. It was this engagement, more than any +incident of the war thus far, that had shown the determination of the +"rebels" to fight for their rights; and their friends in Parliament +presented it as a foretaste of what was to come, if England persisted +in extreme measures. Johnstone besought the House not to wreak its +vengeance upon such men as fought that day; for their courage was +deserving, rather, of admiration, and their conduct of forgiveness. +Honorable Temple Lutrell followed with an attack upon the "evil +counsellors who had so long poisoned the ear of the Sovereign." +Conway, who on this occasion spoke with his old fire, and held the +close attention of the House, called for more information as to the +condition of affairs in the colonies, and at the same time rejected +the idea of reducing them to submission by force. Barré entered +minutely into the particulars and results of the campaign since the +19th of April, as being little to England's credit, and urged the +Ministry to embrace the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> present opportunity for an accommodation with +America, or that whole country would be lost to them forever. Burke, +in the same vein, represented the impolicy of carrying on the war, and +advised the government to meet the colonists with a friendly +countenance, and no longer allow Great Britain to appear like "a +porcupine, armed all over with acts of Parliament oppressive to trade +and America." Fox spoke of Lord North as "a blundering pilot," who had +brought the nation into its present dilemma. Neither Lord Chatham nor +the King of Prussia, not even Alexander the Great, he declared, ever +gained more in one campaign than the noble lord had lost—he had lost +an entire continent. While not justifying all the proceedings of the +colonists, he called upon the Administration to place America where +she stood in 1763, and to repeal every act passed since that time +which affected either her freedom or her commerce. Wedderburne and +Dunning, the ablest lawyers in the House, took opposite sides. The +former, as Solicitor-General, threw the weight of his opinion in favor +of rigorous measures, and hoped that an army of not less than sixty +thousand men would be sent to enforce Parliamentary authority. +Dunning, his predecessor in office, questioned the legality of the +king's preparations for war without the previous consent of the +Commons. Then, later in the debate, rose Lord North, the principal +figure in the Ministry, and whom the Opposition held mainly +responsible for the colonial troubles, and defended both himself and +the king's address. Speaking forcibly and to the point, he informed +the House that, in a word, the measures intended by the government +were to send a powerful sea and land armament against the colonists, +and at the same time to proffer terms of mercy upon a proper +submission. "This," said the Minister, "will show we are in earnest, +that we are prepared to punish, but are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> nevertheless ready to +forgive; and this is, in my opinion, the most likely means of +producing an honorable reconciliation."</p> + +<p>But all the eloquence, reasoning and appeal of the Opposition failed +to have any more influence now than in the earlier stages of the +controversy, and it again found itself in a hopeless minority. Upon a +division of the House, the king was supported by a vote of 278 to 110. +The address presented to him closed with the words: "We hope and trust +that we shall, by the blessing of God, put such strength and force +into your Majesty's hands, as may soon defeat and suppress this +rebellion, and enable your Majesty to accomplish your gracious wish of +re-establishing order, tranquillity, and happiness through all parts +of your United Empire." In the House of Lords, where Camden, +Shelburne, Rockingham, and their compeers stood between America and +the Ministry, the address was adopted by a vote of 69 to 33.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>This powerful endorsement of the king's policy by Parliament, however, +cannot be taken as representing the sense<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> of the nation at large. It +may be questioned whether even a bare majority of the English people +were ready to go to the lengths proposed in his Majesty's address. The +Ministry, it is true, pointed to the numerous ratifying "addresses" +that flowed in, pledging the support of towns and cities for the +prosecution of the war. Some were sent from unexpected quarters. To +the surprise of both sides and the particular satisfaction of the +king, both Manchester and Sheffield, places supposed to be American in +sentiment, came forward with resolutions of confidence and approval; +and in ministerial circles it was made to appear that substantially +all England was for coercion. But this claim was unfounded. As the +king predicted, the loyal addresses provoked opposition addresses. +Edinburgh and Glasgow, despite the efforts of their members, refused +to address. Lynn was said to have addressed, but its members denied +the assertion, and claimed that the war was unpopular in that town. +The paper from Great Yarmouth was very thinly signed, while Bristol, +Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, and +other places sent in counter-petitions against the war. The justices +of Middlesex unanimously voted that it was expedient to reduce the +colonies to a proper sense of their duty; but at a meeting of the +freeholders of the same county, held at Mile-end, to instruct their +members in Parliament, little unanimity prevailed, "much clamor +arose," a protest was entered against the proposed resolutions, and +only one of the sheriffs consented to sign them all. London, as the +country well knew, sympathized largely with America, but in a manner +which nullified her influence elsewhere. Her populace was noisy and +threatening; Wilkes, her Lord Mayor, was hated at court; her solid men +kept to business. "Are the London merchants," wrote the king to Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +North,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> "so thoroughly absorbed in their private interests not to +feel what they owe to the constitution which has enriched them, that +they do not either show their willingness to support, either by an +address, or, what I should like better, a subscription, to furnish +many comforts to the army in America?" An address from this quarter, +signed by "respectable names," he thought might have a good effect, +and one was presented on October 11th, with 941 signatures; but it was +entirely neutralized by the presentation, three days before, of +another address more numerously signed by "gentlemen, merchants, and +traders of London," in which the measures of government were +condemned. When the point was made in the Commons that the war was a +popular measure in England, Lutrell promptly replied that he had made +many a journey through the interior of the country during the summer +season, and had conversed with "a multitude of persons widely +different in station and description," only to find that the masses +were in sympathy with the colonists. The division of sentiment was +probably correctly represented by Lord Camden early in the year, in +his observation that the landed interest was almost wholly +anti-American, while the merchants, tradesmen, and the common people +were generally opposed to a war.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>Having voted to push the war in earnest, Parliament proceeded to +supply the sinews. On November 3d, Lord Barrington brought in the army +estimates for 1776. Fifty-five thousand men, he reported, was the +force necessary and intended to be raised for the purposes of the +nation, the ordinary expense of maintaining which would be something +over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> £1,300,000. Of these troops, twenty thousand would be retained +to garrison Great Britain, ten thousand for the West Indies, +Gibraltar, Minorca and the coast of Africa, while the actual force +destined for America was to be increased to thirty-four battalions, +each of 811 men, including two regiments of light horse, amounting, in +the aggregate, to upwards of twenty-five thousand men. Barrington, at +the same time, frankly acknowledged to the House that these figures +showed well only on paper, as none of the regiments for America were +complete, and, what was a still more unwelcome admission, that great +difficulty was experienced in enlisting new recruits. Nothing, he +said, had been left untried to secure them. The bounty had been raised +and the standard lowered, and yet men were not forthcoming. +Anticipating this dearth, he had warned the king of it as early as +July, when the latter first determined to increase the army. "I wish, +sir, most cordially," wrote this faithful secretary, "that the force +intended for North America may be raised in time to be sent thither +next spring; but I not only fear, but am confident, the proposed +augmentation cannot possibly be raised, and ought not to be depended +on."</p> + +<p>Barrington was compelled to give an explanation of this state of +things, for the point had been made in and out of Parliament that few +recruits could be had in England, because the particular service was +odious to the people in general. For the government to admit this +would have been clearly fatal; and Barrington argued, per contra, that +the scarcity of soldiers was to be traced to other and concurrent +causes. The great influx of real and nominal wealth of recent years, +the consequent luxury of the times, the very flourishing state of +commerce and the manufactures, and the increased employment thus +furnished to the lower classes, all contributed to keep men out of the +army. Above all,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> it was represented that the true and natural cause +was an actual lack of men, which was due chiefly to the late increase +of the militia, who could not be called upon to serve except in +extreme cases, and who were not available for the regular force. +Barrington, a veteran in official service, true to the king, and +justifying the war—though not at all clear as to the right of taxing +the colonies—no doubt expressed his honest convictions in making this +explanatory speech to the House. There was much, also, that was true +in his words; but, whatever the absolute cause, the fact did not then, +and cannot now escape notice, that in preparing to uphold the +authority of Parliament, and preserve the integrity of her empire in +America, Great Britain, in 1775, found it impossible to induce a +sufficient number of her own subjects to take up arms in her behalf.</p> + +<p>It remained, accordingly, to seek foreign aid. Europe must furnish +England with troops, or the war must stop. The custom of employing +mercenaries was ancient, and universally exercised on the Continent. +Great Britain herself had frequently taken foreign battalions into her +pay, but these were to fight a foreign enemy. It would be a thing new +in her history to engage them to suppress fellow-Englishmen. But the +king regarded war as war, and rebellion a heinous offence; and the +character of the troops serving for him in this case became a +secondary matter. A more serious question was where to get them. No +assistance could be expected from France. Holland declined to lend +troops to conquer men who were standing out for their rights on their +own soil. In Prussia, Frederick the Great expressed the opinion that +it was at least problematical whether America could be conquered, it +being difficult to govern men by force at such a distance. "If you +intend conciliation," he said in conversation to a party of +Englishmen, "some of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> measures are too rough; and if subjection, +too gentle. In short, I do not understand these matters; I have no +colonies. I hope you will extricate yourselves advantageously, but I +own the affair seems rather perplexing."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>Of all the European powers, Russia and the German principalities alone +presented a possible field of encouragement.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> To the former, King +George looked first; for England's friendly attitude had been of the +greatest advantage to Russia in her campaigns against Turkey. The +king, therefore, at an early date, gave directions that Gunning, the +British Minister at Moscow, should approach the Empress Catherine on +the subject of lending aid; and, on the proper occasion, Gunning held +an interview with Panin, the Russian Prime Minister. Catherine +promptly returned what appeared to be a very favorable reply. To use +Gunning's own words communicating Russia's answer: "The empress had +ordered him (Panin) to give the strongest assurances, and to express +them in the strongest terms, of her entire readiness on this and all +other occasions to give his Majesty every assistance he could desire, +in whatever mode or manner he might think proper. She embraced with +satisfaction this occasion of testifying her gratitude to the king and +nation for the important services she had received in the late +war—favors she the more valued and should not forget<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> as they were +spontaneously bestowed.... We were as fully entitled to every succor +from her as if the strongest treaties subsisted."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>Greatly elated by this unequivocal tender of aid, King George wrote to +the empress in his own hand, thanking her for the proffer; and Gunning +at the same time was instructed to ask for twenty thousand Russians, +and enter into a treaty formally engaging their services. If he could +not secure twenty thousand, he was to get all he could. But Gunning's +negotiations were to fail completely. To his surprise and chagrin, +when he opened the subject of hiring Russian troops, the empress and +Panin answered with dignity that it was impossible to accommodate him; +that Russia's relations with Sweden, Poland, and Turkey were +unsettled, and that it was beneath her station to interfere in a +domestic rebellion which no foreign Power had recognized. This sudden +change in Catherine's attitude, which without doubt was the result of +court intrigue,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> filled the English king with mortification and +disappointment, and compelled him to seek assistance where he finally +obtained it—in the petty states of the "Hessian" princes.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<p>Success in this direction compensated in part for the Russian failure. +What the British agent, Colonel Faucett, was able to accomplish, what +bargains were struck to obtain troops, how much levy money was to be +paid per man, and how much more if he never returned, is all a +notorious record. From the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, Faucett hired +twelve thousand infantry; from the Duke of Brunswick, three thousand +nine hundred and a small body of cavalry; and from the reigning Count +of Hanau, a corps six hundred and sixty strong. These constituted the +"foreign troops" which England sent to America with her own soldiers +for the campaign of 1776.</p> + +<p>The plans for the campaign were laid out on a scale corresponding with +the preparations. When Sir William Howe was sent out to reinforce +General Gage at Boston, in the spring of 1775, it was assumed by the +Ministry that operations would be confined to that quarter, and that +if Massachusetts were once subdued there would be nothing to fear +elsewhere. But the continued siege of Boston changed the military +status. Howe was completely locked in, and could effect nothing. The +necessity of transferring the seat of war to a larger field became +apparent after Bunker Hill, and military plans were broached and +discussed in the Cabinet, in the army, and in Parliament. Lord +Barrington, who well knew that men enough could not be had from +England to conquer the colonies, advocated operations by sea. An +effective blockade of the en<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>tire American coast, depriving the +colonists of their trade, might, in his view, bring them to terms. Mr. +Innes, in the House, proposed securing a strong foothold in the south, +below the Delaware, and shutting up the northern ports with the fleet. +But the basis of the plan adopted appears to have been that suggested +by Burgoyne at Boston in the summer of 1775, and by Howe in January, +1776. "If the continent," wrote the former to Lord Rochfort, Secretary +of State for the Colonies, "is to be subdued by arms, his Majesty's +councils will find, I am persuaded, the proper expedients; but I speak +confidently as a soldier, because I speak the sentiments of those who +know America best, that you can have no prospect of bringing the war +to a speedy conclusion with any force that Great Britain and Ireland +can supply. A large army of foreign troops such as might be hired, to +begin their operations up the Hudson River; another army, composed +partly of old disciplined troops and partly of Canadians, to act from +Canada; a large levy of Indians, and a supply of arms for the blacks +to awe the southern provinces, conjointly with detachments of +regulars; and a numerous fleet to sweep the whole coast, might +possibly do the business in one campaign."<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> To Lord Dartmouth, Howe +represented that with an army of twenty thousand men, twelve thousand +of whom should hold New York, six thousand land on Rhode Island, and +two thousand protect Halifax, with a separate force at Quebec, +offensive operations could be pushed so as to put "a very different +aspect" on the situation by the close of another year.</p> + +<p>The plan as finally arranged was a modification of these two views. It +was decided that Howe should occupy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> New York City with the main body +of the army, and secure that important base; while Carleton, with +Burgoyne as second in command, should move down from Canada to +Ticonderoga and Albany. By concert of action on the part of these +forces, New England could be effectually cut off from co-operation +with the lower colonies, and the unity of their movements broken up. +It was proposed at the same time to send an expedition under Lord +Cornwallis and Admiral Parker, to obtain a footing in Virginia or +either of the Carolinas, and encourage the loyal element in the South +to organize, and counteract the revolt in that quarter. By carrying +out this grand strategy, King George and his advisers confidently +expected to end all resistance in America at one blow.</p> + +<p>Thus Great Britain, instead of attempting to recover her authority +over the colonists by a candid recognition of privileges which they +claimed as Englishmen, resolved in 1775 to enforce it. The government +went to war, with the nation's wealth and influence at its back, but +with only half its popular sympathies and moral support. Parliament +refused to listen to the appeals of its ablest members to try the +virtues of concession and conciliation. A heavy war budget was voted, +the Continent of Europe was ransacked for troops which could not be +enlisted in England, and every effort made to insure the complete +submission of the colonies in 1776.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>How America prepared to meet the coming storm is properly the subject +of the <a href="#CHAPTER_II">succeeding chapter</a> of this work. But we find her in no position +in 1775 to assume the character of a public enemy towards the mother +country. She still claimed to be a petitioner to the king for the +redress of grievances. If she had taken up arms, it was simply in +self-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>defence, and these she was ready to lay down the moment her +rights were acknowledged. A revolution, involving separation from +England, was not thought of by the mass of the American people at this +time. The most they hoped for was, that by offering a stout resistance +to an enforcement of the ministerial policy they could eventually +compel a change in that policy, and enjoy all that they demanded under +the British constitution. Towards the close of the year, however, when +the intelligence came that the king had ignored the last petition from +Congress, and had proposed extreme war measures, the colonists felt +that serious work was before them. Independence now began to be more +generally discussed; Washington's troops were re-enlisted for service +through the following year, and Congress took further steps for the +common defence.</p> + +<p>Future military operations were necessarily dependent on the plans to +be developed by the British. But as the siege of Boston progressed, it +became obvious that that point at least could not be made a base for +the ensuing campaign. No other was more likely to be selected by the +enemy than New York; and to New York the war finally came.</p> + +<p>The topography of this new region, the transfer to it of the two +armies, and the preparations made for its defence by the Americans, +next claim attention.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>FORTIFYING NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">New York City</span>, in 1776, lay at the end of Manhattan Island, in shape +somewhat like an arrow-head, with its point turned towards the sea and +its barbs extended at uneven lengths along the East and Hudson rivers. +It occupied no more space than is now included within the five lower +and smallest of its twenty-four wards. Excepting a limited district +laid out on the east side, in part as far as Grand street, the entire +town stood below the line of the present Chambers street, and covered +an area less than one mile square. Then, as now, Broadway was its +principal thoroughfare. Shaded with rows of trees, and lined mainly +with residences, churches, and public-houses, it stretched something +more than a mile to the grounds of the old City Hospital, near Duane +street. Its starting-point was the Battery at the end of the island, +but not the Battery of to-day; for, under the system of "harbor +encroachments," the latter has more than trebled in size, and is +changed both in its shape and its uses. The city defences at that time +occupied the site. Here at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> the foot of Broadway old Fort George had +been erected upon the base of the older Fort Amsterdam, to guard the +entrance to the rivers, and with its outworks was the only protection +against an attack by sea. It was a square bastioned affair, with walls +of stone, each face eighty feet in length, and within it stood +magazines, barracks, and, until destroyed by fire, the mansion of the +colonial governors. For additional security, about the time of the +French war, an extensive stone battery, with merlons of cedar joists, +had been built just below the fort along the water's edge, enclosing +the point from river to river, and pierced for ninety-one pieces of +cannon.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>At this period, the city represented a growth of one hundred and sixty +years. Give it a population of twenty-five thousand souls<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>—more +rather than less—and line its streets with four thousand buildings, +and we have its census statistics approximately. The linear +characteristics of the old town are still sharply preserved. Upon the +west side, the principal streets running to the North River—Chambers, +Warren, Murray, Barclay, Vesey, Dey, and Cortlandt—retain their names +and location; but the water-line was then marked by Greenwich street. +The present crowded section<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> to the west of it, including Washington +and West streets and the docks, is built on new ground, made within +the century. Behind Trinity Church, and as far down as the Battery, +the shore rose to a very considerable bluff. Necessarily, much the +greater part of the city then lay east of Broadway. The irregular +streets to be found on this side are relics of both the Dutch and +English foundation; of their buildings, however, as they stood in +1776, scarcely one remains at the present time. New streets have been +built on the East River as well as on the North, materially changing +the water boundary of this part of the island. Front and South streets +had no existence at that date. On the line of Wall street, the city +has nearly doubled in width since the Revolution.</p> + +<p>Before its contraction, and in view of its convenience and protection +from storms, the East River was the harbor proper of New York. Most of +the docks were on that side, and just above Catherine street lay the +ship-yards, where at times, in colonial days, an eight-hundred-ton +West Indiaman might be seen upon the stocks.</p> + +<p>What is now the City Hall Park was called in 1776 "the Fields," or +"The Common." The site of the City Hall was occupied by the House of +Correction; the present Hall of Records was the town jail, and the +structure then on a line with them at the corner of Broadway was the +"Bridewell." <a name="E1" id="E1"></a>The <a href="#E1E">City Hall</a> of that day stood in Wall street, on the +site of the present Custom-House, and King's, now Columbia, College in +the square bounded by Murray, Barclay, Church, and West Broadway. +Queen, now Pearl, was the principal business street; fashion was to be +found in the vicinity of the Battery, and Broad and Dock streets; the +Vauxhall Gardens were at the foot of Reade; and to pass out of town, +one would have to turn off Broadway into Chatham street, which +extended through Park Row, and keep on to the Bowery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>John Adams has left us a brief description of New York, as he saw it +when passing through to the first Congress at Philadelphia in 1774, in +company with Cushing, Paine, and Samuel Adams. His diary runs:</p> + +<p>"<i>Saturday, Aug. 20.</i>—Lodged at Cock's, at Kingsbridge, a pretty +place.... Breakfasted at Day's [127th street], and arrived in the city +of New York at ten o'clock, at Hull's, a tavern, the sign the Bunch of +Grapes. We rode by several very elegant country-seats before we came +to the city.... After dinner, Mr. McDougall and Mr. Platt came, and +walked with us to every part of the city. First we went to the fort, +where we saw the ruins of that magnificent building, the Governor's +house [burned Dec. 29, 1773]. From the Parade, before the fort, you +have a fine prospect of Hudson River, and of the East River, or the +Sound, and of the harbor; of Long Island, beyond the Sound River, and +of New Jersey beyond Hudson's River. The walk round this fort is very +pleasant, though the fortifications are not strong. Between the fort +and the city is a beautiful ellipsis of land [Bowling Green], railed +in with solid iron, in the centre of which is a statue of his majesty +on horseback, very large, of solid lead gilded with gold, standing on +a pedestal of marble, very high. We then walked up the Broad Way, a +fine street, very wide, and in a right line from one end to the other +of the city. In this route we saw the old Church and the new Church +[Trinity]. The new is a very magnificent building—cost twenty +thousand pounds, York currency. The prison is a large and a handsome +stone building; there are two sets of barracks. We saw the New York +College, which is also a large stone building. A new hospital is +building, of stone. We then walked down to a shipyard. Then we walked +round through another street, which is the principal street of +business. Saw the several markets.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> After this we went to the +coffee-house, which was full of gentlemen; read the newspapers, +etc.... The streets of this town are vastly more regular and elegant +than those in Boston, and the houses are more grand, as well as neat. +They are almost all painted, brick buildings and all."</p> + +<p>Other glimpses we get from English sources. The traveler Smyth, while +visiting this city during the British occupation, has this to say:<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +"Nothing can be more delightful than the situation of New York, +commanding a variety of the most charming prospects that can be +conceived. It is built chiefly upon the East River, which is the best +and safest harbour, and is only something more than half a mile wide. +The North River is better than two miles over to Powles Hook, which is +a strong work opposite to New York, but is exposed to the driving of +the ice in winter, whereby ships are prevented from lying therein +during that season of the year. The land on the North River side is +high and bold, but on the East River it gradually descends in a +beautiful declivity to the water's edge.... Amongst the multitude of +elegant seats upon this island, there are three or four uncommonly +beautiful, viz., Governor Elliot's, Judge Jones's, Squire Morris's, +and Mr. Bateman's. And opposite, upon the Continent, just above +Hell-gates, there is a villa named Morrisania, which is inferior to no +place in the world for the beauties, grandeur, and extent of +perspective, and the elegance of its situation." Eddis, who had been +compelled to leave Maryland on account of his loyal sentiments, was +hardly less impressed with the city's appearance when he stopped here +on his way to England in 1777. "The capital of this province," he +wrote, August 16th, "is situated on the southern extremity of the +island; on one side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> runs the North, and on the other the East River, +on the latter of which, on account of the harbour, the city is +principally built. In several streets, trees are regularly planted, +which afford a grateful shelter during the intense heat of the summer. +The buildings are generally of brick, and many are erected in a style +of elegance.... Previous to the commencement of this unhappy war, New +York was a flourishing, populous, and beautiful town.... +Notwithstanding the late devastation [fire of 1776], there are still +many elegant edifices remaining, which would reflect credit on any +metropolis in Europe."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>Beyond the limits of the city, Manhattan Island retained much of its +primitive appearance. Roads, farms, country-seats, interspersed it, +but not thickly; and as yet the salient features were hills, marshes, +patches of rocky land, streams, and woods. Just upon the outskirts, +midway between the rivers, at about the corner of Grand and Centre +Streets, the ground rose to a commanding elevation on the farm of +William Bayard, which overlooked the city and the island above a +distance of more than three miles. Further east, a little north of the +intersection of Grand and Division Streets, stood another hill, +somewhat lower, where Judge Jones lived, from which opened an +extensive view of the East River and harbor. On the west side, on this +line, the surface sank from Bayard's mount into a spreading marsh as +far as the Hudson, and over which now run portions of Canal and Grand +and their cross streets. Where we have the Tombs and surrounding +blocks, stood the "Fresh Water" lake or "Collect," several fathoms +deep, with high sloping banks on the north and west, and on whose +surface were made the earliest experiments in steam navigation in +1796.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>One nearly central highway, known as the King's Bridge or Post Road, +ran the entire length of the island. Where it left the city at Chatham +Square, it was properly the Bowerie or Bowery Lane. Continuing along +the present street by this name, it fell off into the line of Fourth +Avenue as far as Fourteenth Street, crossed Union Square diagonally to +Broadway, and kept the course of the latter to Madison Square at +Twenty-third Street. Crossing this square, also diagonally, the road +stretched along between Fourth and Second Avenues to Fifty-third +Street, passed east of Second Avenue, and then turning westerly +entered Central Park at Ninety-second Street. Leaving the Park at a +hollow in the hills known as "McGowan's Pass," just above the house of +Andrew McGowan, on the line of One Hundred and Seventh Street, west of +Fifth Avenue, it followed Harlem Lane to the end of the island. Here, +on the other side of King's Bridge, then "a small wooden bridge,"<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +the highway diverged easterly to New England and northerly to Albany.</p> + +<p>This portion of the island above the city was known as its "Out-ward," +and had been divided at an early date into three divisions, under the +names of the Bowery, Harlem, and Bloomingdale divisions. Each +contained points of settlement. The Bowery section included that part +of the city laid out near Fresh Water Pond and around Chatham Square +below Grand Street, and the stretch of country above beyond the line +of Twenty-third Street. In this division were to be found some of the +notable residences and country-seats of that day. James De Lancey's +large estate extended from the Bowery to the East River,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> and from +Division nearly to the line of Houston Street. The Rutgers' Mansion +stood attractively on the slopes of the river bank about the line of +Montgomery Street, and above De Lancey's, on the Bowery, were the De +Peysters, Dyckmans, and Stuyvesants.</p> + +<p>The Harlem division of the Out-ward, with which are associated some of +the most interesting events of 1776, included what is now known as +Harlem, with the island above it as far as King's Bridge. Dutch +farmers had settled here a hundred years before the Revolution. As +early as 1658, the Director-General and Council of New Netherland gave +notice that "for the further promotion of Agriculture, for the +security of this Island, and the cattle pasturing thereon, as well as +for the greater recreation and amusement of this city of Amsterdam in +New Netherland, they have resolved to form a New Village or Settlement +at the end of the Island, and about the lands of Jochem Pietersen, +deceased, and those which adjoin thereto." The first settlers were to +receive lots to cultivate, be furnished with a guard of soldiers, and +allowed a ferry across the Harlem River, for "the better and greater +promotion of neighborly correspondence with the English of the +North."<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> In 1776, the division was interspersed with houses and +fields, especially in the stretch of plains or flat land just above +One Hundred and Tenth Street, and from the East River to the line of +Ninth Avenue. The church and centre of the village were on the east +side, in the vicinity of One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, and the +old road by which they were reached from the city branched off from +the main highway at McGowan's Pass.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> +<p>Bloomingdale was a scattered settlement, containing nearly all the +houses to be found along the Bloomingdale Road, but the name appears +to have identified principally the upper section beyond Fiftieth +Street. Here lived the Apthorpes at Ninety-second Street; the +Strikers, Joneses, and Hogelands above; and, lower down, the +Somerindykes and Harsens. As fixed by law, at that time, this road +started from the King's Bridge Road, at the house of John Horn, now +the corner of Twenty-third Street and Fifth Avenue, and followed the +line of the present Broadway and the recent Bloomingdale Road to the +farm of Adrian Hogeland, at One Hundred and Eighth Street.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> Nearly +on a line with Hogeland, but considerably east of him, lived Benjamin +Vandewater; and these two were the most northerly residents in the +division.</p> + +<p>Still another suburb of the city was the village of Greenwich, +overlooking the Hudson on the west side, in the vicinity of Fourteenth +Street, to which the Greenwich Road, now Greenwich Street, led along +the river bank in nearly a straight line. The road above continued +further east about as far as Forty-fifth Street, and there connected, +by a lane running south-westerly, with the Bloomingdale Road at +Forty-third Street. Among the country-seats in this village were those +of the Jeaunceys, Bayards, and Clarkes; and above, at Thirty-third +Street and Ninth Avenue, stood the ample and conspicuous residence of +John Morin Scott, one of the leading lawyers of the city, and a +powerful supporter of the American cause.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Across the East River, the "Sister City" of Brooklyn in 1776 was as +yet invisible from New York. A clump of low buildings at the old +ferry, and an occasional manor-seat, were the only signs of life +apparent on that side. Columbia Heights, whose modern blocks and row +of wharves and bonded stores suggest commercial activity alone, caught +the eye a century ago as "a noble bluff," crowned with fields and +woods, and meeting the water at its base with a shining beach. The +parish or village proper was the merest cluster of houses, nestled in +the vicinity of the old Dutch church, which stood in the middle of the +road a little below Bridge Street. The road was the King's highway, +and it ran from Fulton Ferry—where we have had a ferry for two +hundred and forty years at least—along the line of Fulton Street, and +on through Jamaica to the eastern end of Long Island. Besides the +settlements that had grown up at these two points—the church and the +ferry, which were nearly a mile and a half apart—a village centre was +to be found at Bedford, further up the highway, another in the +vicinity of the Wallabout, and still another, called Gowanus, along +the branch road skirting the bay. These all stood within the present +municipal limits of Brooklyn.</p> + +<p>As it had been for more than a century before, the population on the +Long Island side was largely Dutch at the time of the Revolution. The +first-comers, in 1636 and after, introduced themselves to the soil and +the red man as the Van Schows, the Cornelissens, the Manjes, and the +like—good Walloon patronimics—and the Dutch heritage is still +preserved in the names of old families, and even more permanently in +the name of the place itself; for the word Brooklyn is but the English +corruption of Breuke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>len, the ancient Holland village<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> of which our +modern city appears to have been the namesake. Smyth, the English +traveler, makes the general statement towards the close of the +Revolution, that two thirds of the inhabitants of Long Island, +especially those on the west end, were of Dutch extraction, who +continued "to make use of their customs and language in preference to +English," which, however, they also understood. "The people of King's +County [Brooklyn]," he says, "are almost entirely Dutch. In Queen's +County, four fifths of the people are so likewise, but the other +fifth, and all Suffolk County, are English as they call themselves, +being from English ances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>tors, and using no other language." Major +Baurmeister, one of the officers of the Hessian division which +participated in the battle of Long Island, leaves us something more +than statistics in the case. He appears to have noted every thing with +lively appreciation. To a friend in Germany, for instance, we find him +writing as follows: "The happiness of the inhabitants, whose ancestors +were all Dutch, must have been great; genuine kindness and real +abundance is everywhere; any thing worthless or going to ruin is +nowhere to be perceived. The inhabited regions resemble the +Westphalian peasant districts; upon separate farms the finest houses +are built, which are planned and completed in the most elegant +fashion. The furniture in them is in the best taste, nothing like +which is to be seen with us, and besides so clean and neat, that +altogether it surpasses every description. The female sex is +universally beautiful and delicately reared, and is finely dressed in +the latest European fashion, particularly in India laces, white cotton +and silk gauzes; not one of these women but would consider driving a +double team the easiest of work. They drive and ride out alone, having +only a negro riding behind to accompany them. Near every +dwelling-house negroes (their slaves) are settled, who cultivate the +most fertile land, pasture the cattle, and do all the menial +work."[17] That the English element, however, had crept in to a +considerable extent around Brooklyn at this time, is a matter of +record.</p> + +<p>The topography of this section of Long Island was peculiar, presenting +strong contrasts of high and low land. Originally, and indeed within +the memory of citizens still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> living, that part of Brooklyn lying +south and west of the line of Nevins Street was practically a +peninsula, with the Wallabout Bay or present Navy Yard on one side of +the neck, and on the other, a mile across, the extensive Gowanus creek +and marsh, over which now run Second, Third, and Fourth Avenues. The +creek set in from the bay where the Gowanus Canal is retained, and +rendered the marsh impassable at high-water as far as the line of +Baltic Street. Blocks of buildings now stand on the site of mills that +were once worked by the ebb and flow of the tides. The lower part of +what is known as South Brooklyn was largely swamp land in 1776. Here +the peninsula terminated in a nearly isolated triangular piece of +ground jutting out into the harbor, called Red Hook, which figured +prominently in the military operations. From this projection to the +furthest point on the Wallabout was a distance of three miles, and the +scenery along the bank presented a varied and attractive appearance to +the resident of New York. The "heights" rose conspicuously in all the +beauty of their natural outline; lower down the shore might be seen a +quaint Dutch mill or two; on the bluffs opposite the Battery, the +mansions of Philip and Robert Livingston were prominent; and not far +from where the archway crosses Montague Street stood the Remsen and, +nearer the ferry, the Colden and Middagh residences. From every point +of view the perspective was rural and inviting.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> +<p>Vastly changed to-day is all this region, which was now to be +disturbed by the din and havoc of war. Its picturesqueness long since +disappeared. Upon Manhattan Island, the city's push "uptown"-ward has +been like the cut of a drawing knife, a remorseless process of +levelling and "filling-in." Forty times in population and twenty in +area has it expanded beyond the growth of 1776. Brooklyn is a new +creation. Would its phlegmatic denizen of colonial times recognize the +site of his farms or his mills? Even the good Whig ferryman, Waldron, +might be at a loss to make out his bearings, for the green banks of +the East River have vanished, and its points become confused. The +extent of its contraction he could learn from the builders of the +bridge, who have set the New York pier eight hundred feet out from the +high-water mark of 1776, and the Brooklyn pier two hundred or more, +narrowing the stream at that point to a strait of but sixteen hundred +feet in width.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The first active steps looking to the occupation of New York were +taken by the Americans early in January of this year. Reports had +reached Washington's head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>quarters that the British were fitting out +an expedition by sea, whose destination was kept a profound secret. In +Boston, rumors were afloat that it was bound for Halifax or Rhode +Island. In reality it was the expedition with which Sir Henry Clinton +was to sail to North Carolina, and there meet Cornwallis, from +England, to carry out the southern diversion. Ignorant of the British +plans, and suspecting that Clinton might suddenly appear at New York, +Washington on the 4th of January called the attention of Congress to +the movement, and suggested that it would be "consistent with +prudence" to have some New Jersey troops thrown into the city to +prevent the "almost irremediable" evil which would follow its +occupation by the enemy. Two days later, General Charles Lee, holding +rank in the American army next to Washington, pressed a plan of his +own, to the effect that he be sent himself by the commander-in-chief +to secure New York, and that the troops for the purpose (there being +none to spare from the force around Boston) be hastily raised in +Connecticut. This was approved at headquarters, and on the 8th inst. +Lee received instructions as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Having undoubted intelligence of the fitting out of a fleet +at Boston, and of the embarkation of troops from thence, +which, from the season of the year and other circumstances, +must be destined for a southern expedition; and having such +information as I can rely on, that the inhabitants, or a +great part of them, on Long Island in the colony of New +York, are not only inimical to the rights and liberties of +America, but by their conduct and public professions have +discovered a disposition to aid and assist in the reduction +of that colony to ministerial tyranny; and as it is a matter +of the utmost importance to prevent the enemy from taking +possession of the City of New York and the North River, as +they will thereby command the country, and the communication +with Canada—it is of too much consequence to hazard such a +post at so alarming a crisis....</p> + +<p>"You will therefore, with such volunteers as are willing to +join you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> and can be expeditiously raised, repair to the +City of New York, and calling upon the commanding officer of +the forces of New Jersey for such assistance as he can +afford, and you shall require, you are to put that city into +the best posture of defence which the season and +circumstances will admit, disarming all such persons upon +Long Island and elsewhere (and if necessary otherwise +securing them), whose conduct and declarations have rendered +them justly suspected of designs unfriendly to the views of +Congress.... I am persuaded I need not recommend dispatch in +the prosecution of this business. The importance of it alone +is a sufficient incitement."<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p></div> + +<p>Washington wrote at the same time to Governor Trumbull, of +Connecticut, Colonel Lord Stirling, of New Jersey, and the New York +Committee of Safety, urging them to give Gen. Lee all the assistance +in their power.</p> + +<p>Lee, who had been an officer in the British army, serving at one time +under Burgoyne in Portugal, had already established a reputation for +himself in Washington's camp as a military authority, and enjoyed the +full confidence of the commander-in-chief, despite certain +eccentricities of manner and an over-confidence in his own judgment +and experience. The defects and weaknesses of his character, which +eventually brought him into disgrace as a soldier, were not as yet +displayed or understood. At the present time he was eager to be of +essential service to the colonies, and he entered into the New York +project with spirit. In Connecticut the governor promptly seconded his +efforts, by calling out two regiments of volunteers to serve for six +weeks under the general, and appointed Colonels David<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> Waterbury, of +Stamford, and Andrew Ward, of Guilford, to their command. By the 20th, +Lee found himself ready to proceed; but while on his way, near +Stamford, he received a communication from the Committee of Safety at +New York, representing that the rumors of his coming had created great +alarm in the city, and earnestly requesting him to halt his troops on +the Connecticut border, until his object were better known to the +committee. Here was something of a dilemma, and it may be asked how it +should have arisen. Why, indeed, was it necessary to organize a force +outside of New York to secure it? Was not this the time for the city +to prepare for her defence, and welcome assistance from whatever +quarter offered? The answer is to be found in the exceptional +political temperament of New York at this time. Her population +contained a large and powerful loyalist element, which hoped, with the +assistance of the three or four British men-of-war then in the harbor, +to be able to give the place, at the proper moment, into the hands of +the king's troops. Only a short time before, Governor Tryon had +informed Howe that it only needed the presence of a small force to +secure it, and develop a strong loyal support among the inhabitants of +both the city and colony. The patriotic party had abated none of its +zeal, but it recognized the danger of precipitating matters, and +accordingly pursued what appeared to colonists elsewhere to be a +temporizing and timid policy, but which proved the wisest course in +the end. The city was at the mercy of the men-of-war. Any attempt to +seize it could be answered with a bombardment. The situation required +prudent management; above all, it required delay on the part of the +Americans until they were ready for a decisive step. That the +Committee of Safety was thoroughly true to the coun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>try, no one can +doubt a moment after reading their daily proceedings. In their letter +to Lee they say: "This committee and the Congress whose place we fill +in their recess, are, we flatter ourselves, as unanimously zealous in +the cause of America as any representative body on the continent: so +truly zealous, that both the one and the other will cheerfully devote +this city to sacrifice for advancing that great and important cause." +But knowing the state of affairs in their midst better than others, +they urged caution instead of haste in bringing the war to New York. +In this case, they informed Lee that no works had been erected in the +city, that they had but little powder, that they were sending out +ships for more without molestation from the men-of-war, their object +being kept secret, and that a general alarm then in the dead of +winter, driving women and children into the country, would work great +distress. "For these reasons," continue the committee, "we conceive +that a just regard to the public cause, and our duty to take a prudent +care of this city, dictate the impropriety of provoking hostilities at +present, and the necessity of saving appearances with the ships of war +till at least the month of March. Though we have been unfortunate in +our disappointments with respect to some of our adventures, yet be +assured, sir, we have not been idle. Our intrenching tools are almost +completed to a sufficient number; we are forming a magazine of +provisions for five thousand men for a month in a place of safety, and +at a convenient distance from this city; we have provided ourselves +with six good brass field-pieces; have directed carriages to be made +for our other artillery, and are raising a company of artillery for +the defence of the colony on the Continental establishment. These +things, when accomplished, with other smaller matters,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> and with the +arrival of some gunpowder, the prospect of which is not unpromising, +will enable us to face our enemies with some countenance." Lee, with +due consideration, replied to the committee that he should comply with +their request about the troops, and do nothing that could endanger the +city.</p> + +<p>It was not until the 4th of February that the general entered New +York. On the same day Clinton arrived in the harbor from Boston, with +his southern expedition, but only to make a brief stay. The coming of +these officers threw the city into great excitement. Many of the +inhabitants expected an immediate collision, and began to leave the +place. One Garish Harsin, writing from New York to William Radclift at +Rhyn Beck, sums up in a single sentence the effect of the harbor +news:<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> "It is impossible to describe the confusion the place was in +on account of the regulars being come." And when rumors magnified +Clinton's two or three transports into a British fleet of nineteen +sail, Harsin informs his friend that the people were taking themselves +out of town "as if it were the Last Day." Pastor Shewkirk, of the +Moravian Church, in his interesting diary<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> of passing events, tells +us that "the inhabitants began now to move away in a surprising +manner," and that "the whole aspect of things grew frightful, and +increased so from day to day." To add to the discomfort and suffering +of the people, the weather was very cold, and the rivers full of ice.</p> + +<p>The Committee of Safety, in their anxiety as to the effect of Lee's +occupation of the city, had already written to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> Continental +Congress on the subject, and that body at once sent up a committee, +consisting of Messrs. Harrison, Lynch, and Allen, to advise with Lee +and the New York Committee. The latter accepted the situation, +consented to the entry of the troops into town, and at a conference +with Lee and the Congress Committee on the 6th, agreed to the +immediate prosecution of defensive measures.</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival, the general sent his engineer, Captain William +Smith, "an excellent, intelligent, active officer," to survey and +report upon the salient points of the position, especially around Hell +Gate and on Long Island. Lee and Stirling also went over the ground +several times. As a result of these inspections, the general became +convinced that to attempt a complete defence of the city would be +impracticable, because the ample sea-room afforded by the harbor and +rivers gave the enemy every advantage, enabling them, with their +powerful fleet, to threaten an attack in front and flank. Lee saw this +at once, and reported his views to Washington, February 19th. "What to +do with the city," he wrote, "I own, puzzles me. It is so encircled +with deep navigable waters, that whoever commands the sea must command +the town;" and to the New York Committee he said that it would be +impossible to make the place absolutely secure. In view of this, he +proposed to construct a system of defences that should have an +alternative object, namely, that in case they should prove inadequate +for the city's protection, they should at least be sufficient to +prevent the enemy from securing a permanent foothold in it.</p> + +<p>Under this plan, the line of the East River required the principal +attention, as here it seemed possible to offer the best resistance to +British attempts upon the city.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> First, to cut off the enemy's +communication between the Sound and the river, it was proposed to +blockade the passage at Hell Gate by a fort on Horn's Hook, at the +foot of East Eighty-eighth Street, as well as by works opposite, on +the present Hallet's Point. A further object of these forts was to +secure safe transit between Long Island and New York. In the next +place, batteries were planned for both sides of the river at its +entrance into the harbor, where the city was chiefly exposed. On the +New York side, a battery was located at the foot of Catherine Street +at the intersection of Cherry, and where the river was narrowest. This +was called Waterbury's Battery. To cover its fire a stronger work was +ordered to be built on Rutgers' "first hill," just above, which was +named Badlam's Redoubt, after Captain Badlam, then acting as Lee's +chief artillery officer. Lower down a battery was sunk in a cellar on +Ten Eyck's wharf, Coenties Slip, a short distance below Wall Street, +and called Coenties Battery. These three, with part of the Grand +Battery and Fort George, included all the works planned by Lee to +guard the East River from the New York side.</p> + +<p>In connection with these, works were laid out on the bank opposite on +Long Island, the importance of which was apparent. Not only was the +site well adapted for guns to sweep the channel and prevent the +enemy's ships from remaining in the river long enough to do the city +serious damage, but it also commanded the city, so as to make it +untenable by the British should they succeed in occupying it. This +bluff, "Columbia Heights," was in fact the key to the entire +situation. Lee considered its possession and security of "greater +importance" than New York; and to hold it he proposed establishing +there an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> intrenched camp<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> for three or four thousand men, +fortified by "a chain of redoubts mutually supporting each other." Of +these redoubts, one was located on the edge of the bluff opposite the +Coenties Battery, and stood on the line of Columbia Street, at about +the foot of the present Clark Street. This came to be known as Fort +Stirling. In its rear, near the corner of Henry and Pierrepont +streets, it was proposed to erect a large citadel; but this, although +begun, was never completed.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> Lee's scheme of defence did not +include the fortifying of either Red Hook or Governor's Island.</p> + +<p>The East River thus provided for, attention was paid to the city and +the North River side. Lee examined Fort George and the Grand Battery, +but gave it as his opinion that neither of them could be held under +the concentrated fire of large ships. He advised, accordingly, that +the northern face of the fort be torn down, and a traverse built +across Broadway above it at the Bowling Green, from which the interior +of the work could be raked, should the enemy attempt to land and hold +it. As the North River was "so extremely wide and deep," the general +regarded the obstruction of its passage to the ships as out of the +question. Batteries, however, could be erected at various points along +the west side where it rose to a ridge, and the power of the ships to +injure the town very considerably diminished. All the streets leading +up from the water were ordered to be barricaded to prevent the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> enemy +from coming up on the flanks; forts were to be erected on Jones', +Bayard's, and Lispenard's hills, north of the town, covering the +approach by land from that direction; the roads obstructed to +artillery; and redoubts, redans, and flêches thrown up at defensible +points throughout the entire island, as far as King's Bridge.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> "I +must observe," said Lee to the Committee of Safety, "that New York, +from its circumstances, can with difficulty be made a regular tenable +fortification; but it may be made a most advantageous field of +battle—so advantageous, indeed, that, if our people behave with +common spirit, and the commanders are men of discretion, it must cost +the enemy many thousands of men to get possession of it."</p> + +<p>To construct these extensive works Lee could muster, two weeks after +his arrival, but seventeen hundred men. Waterbury's Connecticut +regiment was first on the ground; the First New Jersey Continentals, +as yet incomplete, under Colonel the Earl of Stirling, soon followed; +and from Westchester County, New York, came two hundred minute-men +under Colonel Samuel Drake. Dutchess County sent down Colonels +Swartwout and Van Ness with about three hundred more; and on the 24th +Colonel Ward arrived with his Connecticut regiment, six hundred +strong, which had rendezvoused at Fairfield. Stirling's regiment was +quartered principally in the lower barracks at the Battery; +Waterbury's at the upper, on the site of the new Court<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> House; Ward's +was sent to Long Island; and Drake's minute-men were posted at Horn's +Hook, opposite Hell Gate, where they began work on the first battery +marked out for the defence of New York City during the Revolution.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="border"><br /> +<a name="PORTRAIT01"></a> +<img src="images/port001.png" width="265" height="400" alt="John Lasher" title="John Lasher" /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>John Lasher<br /> +COLONEL FIRST NEW YORK CITY BATTALION 1775-1776.</b><br /> +<span class="small">Steel Engr. F. von Egloffstein N.Y.</span></p> + +<p><br /> +But Lee's stay at this point was to be brief. The Continental Congress +appointed him to the command of the newly created Department of the +South, and on the 7th of March he left New York in charge of Lord +Stirling, who, a month before, had been promoted by Congress to the +rank of brigadier-general. This officer's energy was conspicuous. His +predecessor had already found him "a great acquisition," and he pushed +on the defences of the city as rapidly as his resources would permit. +The force under his immediate command, according to the returns of the +13th, amounted to a total of two thousand four hundred and twenty-two +officers and men,<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> besides the city independent companies under +Colonels John Lasher and William Heyer, and local militia,<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> who +swelled the number to about four thousand. On the 14th, Washington +wrote to Stirling that the enemy appeared to be on the point of +evacuating Boston, and that it was more than probable they would sail +southward. "I am of opinion," he wrote, "that New York is their place +of destination. It is an object worthy of their attention, and it is +the place that we must use every endeavor to keep from them. For, +should they get that town, and the command of the North River, they +can stop the intercourse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> between the Northern and Southern +colonies, upon which depends the safety of America. My feelings upon +this subject are so strong, that I would not wish to give the enemy a +chance of succeeding at your place.... The plan of defence formed by +General Lee is, from what little I know of the place, a very judicious +one. I hope, nay, I dare say, it is carrying into execution with +spirit and industry. You may judge of the enemy's keeping so long +possession of the town of Boston against an army superior in numbers, +and animated with the noble spirit of liberty; I say, you may judge by +that how much easier it is to keep an enemy from forming a lodgment in +a place, than it will be to dispossess them when they get themselves +fortified." Stirling immediately sent urgent appeals for troops in +every direction. He ordered over the Third New Jersey Continental +Regiment under Colonel Dayton, and wrote for three hundred picked men +from each of the six nearest counties of that State. Ward's and +Waterbury's regiments, which were impatient to return home to attend +to their spring farming, were many of them induced to remain two weeks +beyond their term of enlistment until Governor Trumbull could supply +their places with troops under Colonels Silliman and Talcott. Congress +also ordered forward five or six Pennsylvania regiments. Meanwhile the +New York Committee of Safety co-operated zealously with the military +authorities.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> At Stirling's request they voted to call out all the +male<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> inhabitants of the city, black and white, capable of doing +"fatigue duty," to work on the fortifications—the blacks to work +every day, the whites every other day;<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> and the same orders were +conveyed to the committee of King's County, where the inhabitants were +directed to report to Colonel Ward, with spades, hoes and pickaxes. To +troops needing quarters the committee turned over the empty houses in +the city, or those that were "least liable to be injured;" coarse +sheets were ordered for the straw beds in the barracks; the upper +story of the "Bridewell" was converted into a laboratory or armory for +repairing guns and making cartridges; and all necessary details +provided for as far as possible. In case of an alarm, the troops were +to parade immediately at the Battery, in the Common, and in front of +Trinity Church. To annoy expected British men-of-war, the committee +despatched Major William Malcolm, of the Second city battalion, to +dismantle the Sandy Hook Light, which the major effected in a thorough +manner, breaking what glasses he could not move, and carrying off the +oil. On Long Island, a guard of King's County troopers was posted at +the Narrows, and another at Rockaway, to report the approach of ships; +and in the city, cannon were mounted in the batteries as fast as they +were completed. On the 20th, Stirling could report that everybody +turned to "with great spirit and industry," and that the work went on +"amazingly well."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p><p>On the same date Brigadier-General Thompson, of Pennsylvania, reported +at New York, and held the command until the arrival, a few days later, +of Brigadier-General Heath, of Massachusetts, who in turn was +relieved, April 4th, by Major-General Putnam.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Affairs at Boston now reached a crisis. The siege, which the +provincial troops had so successfully maintained for ten months, +terminated to their own unbounded credit and the secret mortification +of the enemy. On the 17th of March the city was evacuated by the +British, and immediately occupied by the Americans—an event that had +been foreseen and provided for at a council of war held on the 13th, +at General Ward's headquarters in Roxbury. The commander-in-chief +there stated that every indication pointed to an early departure of +the enemy from Boston, with the probability that they were destined +for New York, and he questioned whether it was not advisable to send a +part of the army to that point without delay. The council coincided in +this opinion, and on the following day the rifle regiment under +Lieutenant-Colonel Hand, and the three companies of Virginia riflemen, +under Captain Stephenson, were put on the march southward. These were +followed on the 18th by five regiments under Brigadier-General Heath, +who had been ordered to march by way of Providence, Norwich, New +London, and the Sound. As the enemy's transports lingered around +Boston for several days, no more troops were sent southward until the +29th, when six regiments were ordered on, under Brigadier-General +Sullivan. On the same date Major-General Putnam received orders to +proceed to New York, assume command, and continue the work of +fortifying the city upon the plan adopted by General Lee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> On the 1st +of April, Brigadier-General Greene's brigade moved in the same +direction, and was followed in a day or two by General Spencer's. Five +regiments remained at Boston, under Major-General Ward.</p> + +<p>Waiting until all the troops were on the march, Washington, on April +4th, himself set out from Cambridge for New York. Crowned with his +first honors as the deliverer of Boston, he was greeted on his route +with respectful admiration and enthusiasm. He had come to New England +comparatively unknown—"a Mr. Washington, of Virginia;" he left it +secure in the affections and pride of its people. Expecting him at +Providence the next day, the 5th, General Greene, who had been delayed +at that place, ordered two regiments of his brigade—Hitchcock's Rhode +Island and Little's Massachusetts—to appear in their best form and +escort the general into the city. The minuteness of Greene's +directions on the occasion furnishes us with the material for a +picture of the personal appearance of the early Continental soldier +when on parade. As preserved among the papers of the Massachusetts +colonel, the order runs as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>Providence April 4, 1776.</i>—Col<sup>o</sup>. Hitchcock's and +Col<sup>o</sup>. Little's regiments are to turn out to-morrow +morning to escort his Excellency into town, to parade at 8 +o'clock, both officers & men dressed in uniform, & none to +turn out except those dressed in uniform, & those of the +non-commissioned officers & soldiers that turn out to be +washed, both face & hands, clean, their beards shaved, their +hair combed & powdered, & their arms cleaned. The General +hopes that both officers & soldiers will exert themselves +for the honour of the regiment & brigade to which they +belong. He wishes to pay the honours to the Commander in +Chief in as decent & respectable a manner as possible."<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p></div> + +<p>Governor Cooke, of Rhode Island, was not less attentive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> and in +addition to calling out "the several companies of cadets, of +grenadiers, and light infantry" in Providence to meet the +commander-in-chief, he had a house prepared for his reception and the +accommodation of his suite, which, besides his officers, included Lady +Washington and Mr. and Mrs. Custis.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> Passing on to New London, +where he hurried the embarkation of the troops, Washington kept on +along the shore road, reached New Haven on the 11th, and on the 13th +arrived at the city of New York. Putnam had come ten days earlier. +Owing to insufficient transportation and slow sailing on the Sound, it +was April 24th before the last of the soldiers reported on the ground.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The new military base in this vicinity was thus fairly established, +and the commander-in-chief, after personally inspecting the position, +urged on the work of defence. As the regiments on their arrival had +been quartered at haphazard in the city, he first arranged the army +into five brigades, with the view of putting them into suitable and +permanent camps. To the command of these he assigned Heath, Spencer, +Sullivan, Greene, and Stirling, in the order of their rank. The +twenty-five battalions which made up the force at this date numbered +together not quite ten thousand men.</p> + +<p>But hardly were the orders for this new arrangement issued before +events required its modification. Our affairs proving to be in a bad +way in the direction of Canada, it became necessary to despatch +General Sullivan with six regiments to the northward, and on the 29th +of April the troops in New York were formed anew into four brigades, +and assigned to their respective camps. Heath's first brigade was +posted on the Hudson, just without the city<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> above the Canal Street +marsh and about Richmond Hill; Spencer's second, on the East River, +around the Rutgers' farm and Jones' Hill; and Stirling's fourth, in +the centre, near Bayard's Hill and the Bowery Road; while Greene's +third brigade was assigned to "the ground marked out upon Long +Island." But one work now lay before these soldiers, namely, to put +New York and its vicinity in a complete state of defence in the +shortest possible time. Howe and his Boston army, it was now known, +had gone to Halifax instead of sailing for New York; but he could +still reach, and, with reinforcements from England, attack the city +before the Americans were ready to receive him. The situation, +accordingly, admitted of no delays, and digging was made the order of +the day. No one could have anticipated, however, that preparations +were to be continued full four months longer before active campaigning +opened.</p> + +<p>This interval of fortifying is not without its interest; and we may +cross, first, with Greene to Long Island, to note what further was +done towards securing that "capital" point in the general system of +defence.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>From the orders of April 24th and 25th it would appear that it was +Washington's original intention to give the Brooklyn command, not to +Greene, but to Sullivan. The latter was assigned to the Third Brigade +before going to Canada, and on the 25th the encampment of this brigade +was ordered to be marked out "upon Long Island." The fact that +Sullivan was senior to Greene in rank, and was entitled, as between +the two, to the honor and responsibility of the separate command, was +doubtless the ground of his assignment in this case. But a greater +responsibility was reserved for Sullivan in Canada, and Greene was +sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> to Long Island. Owing to bad weather, it was the 3d or 4th of +May before the latter crossed with troops. He took with him his old +brigade, consisting of Colonel Edward Hand's Pennsylvania Riflemen, +his two favorite Rhode Island regiments under Colonels James Mitchell +Varnum and Daniel Hitchcock, and Colonel Moses Little's regiment from +Massachusetts. These ranked as the First, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twelfth +of the Continental Establishment, and were as well armed and under as +good discipline as any troops in Washington's army. Hand's regiment, +numbering four hundred and seventy officers and men, was already on +Long Island, having come from Boston in advance of the brigades, and +was engaged in scouting and patrol duty at the Narrows and along the +coast. Varnum's, Hitchcock's, and Little's, having an average strength +of three hundred and eighty each, were the only troops around +Brooklyn.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> The Long Island militia were not as yet in the field, +and the small company of Brooklyn troopers under Captain Waldron and +Lieutenant Boerum, which had patrolled the coast during the early +spring, do not appear on duty again until late in the season.</p> + +<p>It now remained for these regiments to go on fortifying the +water-front of this site to keep the ships out of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> river, and, in +addition, to secure themselves against an attack by land. What Lee's +plan was in reference to Columbia Heights has already been seen. Here +he proposed to establish a camp with Fort Stirling and the Citadel +among its defences, the former of which had been nearly completed and +the latter begun by Ward's regiment and the inhabitants. In +consequence, however, of a move made by General Putnam soon after his +arrival, it had evidently become necessary to enlarge this plan. +Governor's Island, just off the edge of which were moored the British +men-of-war, had not been occupied by either Lee or Stirling; but it +lay within cannon-shot of the Battery and Columbia Heights, and an +enemy once lodged there could work us mischief. General Putnam noticed +its position, and he had not been here three days before he wrote, +April 7th, to the President of Congress: "After getting the works [in +New York] in such forwardness as will be prudent to leave, I propose +immediately to take possession of Governor's Island, which I think a +very important post. Should the enemy arrive here, and get post there, +it will not be possible to save the city, nor could we dislodge them +without great loss."<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> On the very next night he carried out his +proposal, as appears from the following account of the manœuvre +preserved among the papers of Colonel G. Selleck Silliman, of +Fairfield, Connecticut, who had recently come down to relieve the +troops under Ward and Waterbury:</p> + +<p>"<i>Tuesday Morning, 9th April.</i>—Last Evening Draughts were made from a +Number of Regiments here, mine among the Rest, to the Amount of 1,000 +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>Men. With these and a proper Number of Officers Gen<sup>l</sup> Putnam at +Candle lighting embarked on Board of a Number of Vessels with a large +Number of intrenching Tools and went directly on the Island a little +below the City called Nutten [Governor's] Island where they have been +intrenching all Night and are now at work, and have got a good Breast +Work there raised which will cover them from the fire of the Ships; +and it is directly in the Way of the Ship coming up to the Town. The +Asia has fallen down out of Gun Shot from this Place and it deprives +the Ships of the only Watering Place they have here without going down +toward the Hook."<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> There was something of the Bunker Hill flavor +about this move, and it was Prescott's Bunker Hill regiment that was +first stationed<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> on the Island, which subsequently became one of +the strongest posts of the position. At the same time another party +occupied Red Hook,<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> on Long Island, which commanded the channel +between the Hook and Governor's Island.</p> + +<p>The occupation by Putnam of these two points, which was clearly +necessary for a more effective defence of the East River, required, or +at least resulted in, the modification of Lee's plan, and the adoption +of a new line on Long Island. It was now decided to hold the Brooklyn +peninsula with a chain of works thrown up across the neck from +Wallabout Bay to the Gowanus Marsh; and it was in this vicinity that +the encampment for Greene's brigade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> was marked out by Mifflin, the +quartermaster-general, and afterwards approved by Washington.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> By +the fortunate recovery of the daily orders issued by General Greene on +Long Island, and also of original sketches of the site, it has become +possible to fix the location of this line and the names of the works +with almost entire accuracy.</p> + +<p>To defend the approach between the bay and marsh, the engineers laid +out three principal forts and two redoubts, with breastworks +connecting them. The site occupied was a favorable one. On the left +rose the high ground, now known as Fort Greene Place or Washington +Park, one hundred feet above the sea-level; and on the right, between +the main road and the marsh, were lower elevations on lands then owned +by Rutgert Van Brunt and Johannes Debevoise. The flanks were thus well +adapted for defence, and they were near enough each other to command +the ground between them. Two of the works were erected on the right of +the road, and received the names of Fort Greene and Fort Box; three +were on the left, and were known as the Oblong Redoubt, Fort Putnam, +and the redoubt "on its left." In view of the fact that local +historians heretofore have put but three fortifications on this line, +where, it is now well established, there were five, a more particular +description of them becomes necessary. Extending from right to left, +they were laid out as follows:<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Fort Box</span>.—It has been supposed that the fort by this name occupied an +independent site south-west of the main line, with the object of +defending Gowanus Creek where it was crossed by a mill-dam. That it +stood, however, on the right of the line is beyond question. Thus the +letter of a spectator of the battle<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> says: "Our lines fronted the +east. On the left, near the lowest part of the above-described bay +[Wallabout], was Fort Putnam, near the middle Fort Greene, and towards +the creek Fort Box." In his order of June 1st, General Greene directs +five companies to take post "upon the right in Fort Box;" and on +August 16th a fatigue party is detailed "to form the necessary lines +from Fort Box to Fort Putnam," clearly indicating that the two were on +the same continuous line. To confirm the correctness of this locality, +we have the fort and its name distinctly indicated on the <a href="#MAP03">outline map</a> +sketched by President Stiles, of Yale College, in his Diary of +Revolutionary Events. By reference to the fac-simile of the sketch +here presented, it will be seen that although there are errors in the +drawing, the relative position of the principal works is preserved, +and the site of Fort Box finally determined. It stands nearest Gowanus +Creek, and on the right of the other forts. The work appears to have +been of a diamond shape, and was situated on or near the line of +Pacific Street, a short distance above Bond.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a><br /> + </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><a name="MAP03"></a> +<img src="images/map03.png" width="335" height="500" alt="sketch" title="sketch" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map03lg.png">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>SKETCH OF THE BROOKLYN WORKS IN 1776.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>FACSIMILE FROM THE STILES DIARY<br /> +Yale College Library.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>"From one who was stationed at Red Hook all last Summer together with +a Map of the ground, I learn our Fortifications there were as I here +draw them out on the Peninsula around Brooklyn Church." Dr. Stiles, +March 21, 1777.</i></p> +</div> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="small"><i>J. Bien Photo. Lith. N.Y.</i></p> + +<p><br /> +As to its name, we must assume that it was called Fort Box in honor of +Major Daniel Box, Greene's brigade-major (an office corresponding to +the present assistant adjutant-general), whose services were then +highly appreciated. Box first appears as an old British soldier, who +had been wounded in the French war, and afterwards as an organizer and +drill-master of Independent companies in Rhode Island, which +subsequently furnished many fine officers to the Continental army.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +In a letter to Colonel Pickering in 1779, Greene speaks of him in +flattering terms, as having been invaluable in the earlier years of +the war. That he was something of an engineer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> as well as an +excellent brigade-major, is evident from the fact that he assisted in +marking out the lines around Boston in 1775, and later superintended +the construction of Fort Lee, on the Jersey side. No doubt he had much +to say about the building of the Brooklyn lines, and of the work in +particular which bore his name.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fort Greene</span>.—About three hundred yards to the left of Fort Box, a +short distance above Bond Street, between State and Schermerhorn, +stood Fort Greene, star-shaped, mounting six guns, and provided with a +well and magazines. Colonel Little, its commander, describes it as the +largest of the works on Long Island; and this statement is +corroborated by the fact that its garrison consisted of an entire +regiment, which was not the case with the other forts, and that it was +provided with nearly double the number of pikes. It occupied an +important position on one of the small hills near the centre of that +part of the line lying south-west of Washington Park, and its guns +commanded the approach by the Jamaica highway. Being the principal +work on the line, the engineers, or possibly Little's regiment, named +it after their brigade commander.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oblong Redoubt</span>.—Still further to the left, and on the other side of +the road, a small circular redoubt, called the "Oblong Redoubt," was +thrown up on what was then a piece of rising ground at the corner of +De Kalb and Hudson avenues. The reason of its name is not apparent. +Greene's orders refer to it as the "Oblong Square" and the "Oblong +Redoubt." Major Richard Thorne, of Colonel Remsen's Long Island +militia, speaks of being on guard at "Fort Oblong" all night a short +time before the battle.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> This redoubt had very nearly direct +command<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> of the road, and in connection with Fort Greene was depended +upon to defend the centre of the line.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fort Putnam</span>.—From the Oblong Redoubt, the line ascended +north-easterly to the top of the hill included in Washington Park, +where the fourth in the chain of works was erected. This was Fort +Putnam. Star-shaped like Fort Greene, it was somewhat smaller than the +latter, and mounted four or five garrison guns. Its strong natural +position, however, made it the salient point of the line, and it +became, as will be seen, the main object of attack by the British +during and after the battle.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> The fort may have taken its name, as +usually supposed, from Major-General Israel Putnam; but it is +altogether more probable that it was named after Colonel Rufus Putnam, +the chief engineer, who marked out many of the works on Long Island as +well as in New York, and who must have frequently crossed to give +directions in their construction.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Redoubt on the Left</span>.—At the eastern termination of the hill, a short +distance from Fort Putnam, and on a lower grade, stood the last of the +works, which is identified in the orders and letters of the day as the +"redoubt on the left." It was a small affair, and occupied a point at +about the middle of the present Cumberland Street, nearly midway +between Willoughby and Myrtle avenues; but in 1776 the site was twenty +feet higher, and appeared as a well-defined spur extending out from +Fort Putnam. As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> it was commanded by the latter, its capture by the +enemy would bring them no advantage, while as an American defence it +could materially assist in protecting the left.</p> + +<p>Between these five works a line of connecting intrenchments was laid +out, while on the right it was to be continued from Fort Box to the +marsh, and on the left from the Fort Putnam Hill, "in a straight +line," to the swamp at the edge of Wallabout Bay. Anticipating their +construction, we may say that each work became a complete +fortification in itself, being surrounded with a wide ditch, provided +with a sally-port, its sides lined with sharpened stakes, the garrison +armed with spears to repel storming parties, and the work supplied +with water and provisions to withstand a siege if necessary. The +greater part of the line was picketed with abattis, and the woods cut +down to give full sweep to the fire of the guns. As every thing +depended upon holding this front, the necessity of making it as strong +as possible was fully realized, and at the time of the engagement in +August it was considered a sufficient barrier to the enemy's +advance.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Fort Cobble Hill</span>.—Passing to the remaining works on Long Island, we +find a redoubt on the crest of a cone-shaped hill, which stood alone +near the intersection of the present Court and Atlantic streets, and +which was known by the Dutch inhabitants as <i>Punkiesberg</i>. As it does +not appear to have been called Cobble Hill before this date, the +reasonable inference may be drawn that it was so named by Greene's +troops because of its close resemblance to the Cobble Hill which +formed one of the fortified points in the siege of Boston, but a short +distance from Winter Hill, where Greene's brigade was posted. In the +orders of the day, the redoubt is known as "Smith's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> barbette," +Captain William Smith, the engineer whom Lee brought with him, having +it in charge. The work mounted four guns, and, from its central +interior position, could have prevented the enemy from securing a +foothold on the peninsula in the rear or flank of the main line in +case they effected a landing back of Red Hook or crossed Gowanus Creek +above. This hill was long since cut away.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Redoubt at the Mill</span>.—Near the corner of the present Degraw and Bond +streets, a small battery or breastwork, in the form of a right angle, +mounting one gun, was thrown up to cover the narrow passage over a +mill-dam which here crossed Gowanus Creek. It stood at the extremity +of a long low sand-hill, and the dam connected this point with a +tongue of land on the opposite side, on which two mills were built, +known as the upper or yellow, and lower mills. The upper mill was +immediately opposite the redoubt, and it was here that the Port Road +came down to the edge of the creek.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Red Hook—Fort Defiance</span>.—This work, already referred to, was +originally a single water battery, mounting four eighteen-pounders, +<i>en barbette</i>, to prevent the passage of ships east of Governor's +Island, as well as to keep the enemy from landing at the southern +extremity of the peninsula. Washington speaks of it in May as being "a +small, but exceedingly strong" fort. Lieutenant Samuel Shaw, of Knox's +artillery, who was stationed there most of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> summer, states that it +was named "Fort Defiance," and subsequently strengthened by additional +works, which, from the Hessian map and the <a href="#MAP03">Stiles draft</a>, appear to +have consisted of a second and larger redoubt connected with the first +by an intrenchment or inclosed way.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> On the 5th of July, Greene +wrote to Washington that he regarded Red Hook as "a post of vast +importance," and proposed stationing a considerable force there +permanently, as in that case the commanding officer would be "more +industrious to have every thing in readiness, and obstinate in +defence" when the attack came; and on the 8th we find the order for +"Col. Varnum's regiment to remove their encampment to Red Hook, and do +the duty of that post."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fort Stirling</span>.—The first work laid out on Long Island, as we have +seen, was Fort Stirling, which, in connection with batteries on the +New York side, was designed to command the East River channel. Its +exact site has been a point of dispute. Several writers and old +inhabitants associate the name with the remains of a large +fortification which stood at the corner of Henry and Pierrepont +streets as late as 1836. It is clear, however, that this was a work +erected by the British during the latter part of the Revolution. +General Robertson, acting as Governor of New York in 1780, wrote to +Lord Germaine, May 18th, that, among other works thrown up to make New +York more secure against an attack by the Americans, "a large square +fort is built at Brooklyn Heights."<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> The traveller Smyth, writing +in the same year, says, "The town [New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> York] is entirely commanded by +a considerable eminence in Long Island, directly opposite to it, named +Brookland Heights, on which a strong regular fort with four bastions +has lately been erected by the British troops." This exactly describes +the work in question.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> The corner of Henry and Pierrepont streets, +moreover, being a thousand feet back from the river's edge, could not +have been selected at that time as the site for a strictly water +battery intended for effective resistance. The fort must be looked for +nearer the edge of the bluff, and there we find it. Both the <a href="#MAP03">Stiles</a> +and the Hessian maps place it directly on the bank of the river—the +latter, a little north of what was then known as the Bamper House, or +at about the intersection of Clark and Columbia streets.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p>The fort was a strong inclosed work, mounting eight guns. Ward's men +broke ground for it about the 1st of March, and continued digging, as +their major, Douglas, writes, through "cold, tedious weather," until +other troops took their place.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Greene's soldiers, whose experience around Boston had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> made them +veterans, at least in the use of the spade, now went to work to throw +up these lines. He reminded them early of the importance of the post, +and the necessity of preparation and vigilance. "As the security of +New York greatly dependeth on this <i>pass</i>," runs his order of May 5th, +"while these works are constructing, the general hopes the troops will +carefully forward the same as fast as possible;" and this he followed +up with the caution that if any soldier left his work without liberty, +he should do fatigue duty for a whole week. Orders from headquarters +in New York at the same time directed General Greene to report "all +extraordinaries" to the commander-in-chief; the officers at Red Hook +and Governor's Island to do the same; and the officer commanding the +riflemen on Long Island to "constantly report all extraordinaries to +General Greene." Although no enemy had yet appeared, every regiment in +the army was ordered to mount a picket every evening, to lie on their +arms, and be ready to turn out at a moment's notice.</p> + +<p>It is possible to follow the troops on Long Island in their routine of +camp life all through the tedious summer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> they were to spend on this +ground. Digging was the main thing at first, and they had so much of +this that the officers complained of their inability to keep the men +in clothes, they wore them out so fast, and they made themselves so +begrimed with dirt at the trenches, that the allowance of soap would +not clean them; all which moved Greene to write to Washington that it +would be no more than "a piece of justice to the troops" to allow them +a double quantity of soap. Their encampment, in the rear of the lines, +appears to have been a pleasant one. The soldiers lived in bell-shaped +tents with board floors, and varied their regulation fare with the +produce of the Dutch farms; with the permission of their +field-officers they could occasionally cross on a visit to the city. +Their general, however, held them closely to duty, and we find in +these early orders the beginnings of that strictness which +subsequently made him known, with his other soldierly qualities, as a +thorough disciplinarian. No enemy being near them, the men, when put +on guard, perhaps relaxed even ordinary vigilance; but they were soon +brought up sharply by the general, with the direction that every part +of camp duty must be done with as much exactness as if the British +were in their front, for bad habits once contracted, they are told, +"are difficult to get over, and doing duty in a slovenly manner is +both disgraceful and dangerous to officers and men." They were sure of +being watched, too, by Lieutenant-Colonel Cornell, of Hitchcock's +regiment, whose habit of reprimanding the men for every neglect had +won for him the title of "Old Snarl" throughout the camp;<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> but his +subsequent promotion to offices of responsibility showed that in other +quarters his particular qualities were appre<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>ciated. As the warm +season came on, Greene cautioned his soldiers about their health. The +"colormen" were to keep the camps clean, and look after the hospitals. +Many soldiers being down with fever in July, the general recommends +"the strictest attention to the cookery, and that broiling and frying +meat, so destructive to health, be prohibited;" going into the water +in the heat of the day is also forbidden. A neglect of these matters +at this critical season, Greene continues, "may be attended with +dreadful consequences."</p> + +<p>Occasionally it was found necessary to give the soldiers a sharp +reproof for insulting the inhabitants or trespassing on their +property. When the complaint was brought to Greene that some of his +men had been stealing watermelons, he promptly issued an order that +such practices must be punished. "A few unprincipled rascals," he +said, "may ruin the reputation of a whole corps of virtuous men;" and +on another occasion he called upon the soldiers to behave themselves +"with that decency and respect that became the character of troops +fighting for the preservation of the rights and liberties of America." +Perhaps the offenders found an excuse for their conduct in the Tory +character of the complainants; but Greene, though no friend himself to +such people, could never accept this as a provocation to justify a +breach of military discipline.</p> + +<p>The Tory element in the population required other and sterner +treatment.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> It had developed to such an extent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> in Kings and Queens +counties as to require its suppression by the civil and military power +combined. The refusal of the majority of the voters in Queens to send +delegates to the New York Provincial Convention in 1775 indicated not +only a confidence on their part that the Home Government would succeed +in crushing the rebellion, but a secret intention as well to give the +British troops upon their arrival all the aid and comfort in their +power. As they provided themselves with arms and the British fleet +with provisions, the Continental Congress took up the matter, ordered +the arrest of the leaders, and dispatched Colonel Heard, of New +Jersey, with a regiment of militia to execute the business. Arrests +were made, but the complete suppression of the loyalists here was +never effected.</p> + +<p>While Lee was in command he saw no solution of the problem other than +to remove the entire Tory population to some other quarter where they +could do less mischief in the event of active operations; but +Congress, to the regret of Washington, could not sanction so radical a +method. Greene did his best to root out this element, but we may +imagine that it was uncongenial work, and that he took far more +interest in the progress of his redoubts than in chasing suspected +persons on the island.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> +<p>By the 1st of June the works around Brooklyn appear to have so far +progressed as to admit of the mounting of some of the cannon, and on +the evening of that date the troops were ordered to parade with arms +and man the lines. On the 17th the general assigned them to permanent +positions as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Colonel Varnum's regiment is to take Fort Box and the +Oblong Redoubt for their alarm-posts—Fort Box, six +companies; Oblong Redoubt, two companies. Captain +Wolverton's Independent Company<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> to join those in the +redoubt, and to receive orders from Colonel Varnum.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hitchcock's regiment to take Fort Putnam and the +fort or redoubt on the left of it for their alarm-posts.</p> + +<p>Colonel Little's regiment to take Fort Greene for their +alarm-posts."</p></div> + +<p>To impress his soldiers with his own sense of the great importance of +the Long Island front, Greene added the determined words: "In case of +an attack, <i>all these posts are to be defended to the last +extremity</i>." And Colonel Little, who had proved his fitness to command +the post<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> assigned him by his cool and soldierly conduct at Bunker +Hill, quietly resolved that if the enemy assaulted Fort Greene it +should never be surrendered while he was alive.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p>Guards were now stationed at the forts and greater vigilance enjoined +about the camp. Even as early as May 25th, when the works were still +far from complete, the orders were strict that none but a general +officer should be admitted to them without special leave. The lines +were to be manned every morning "between day and sunrise," and the +troops exercised at parapet firing. The orders of July 1st directed +the commanding officers of the regiments "to make a line round each of +the forts and fortifications for the troops to begin a fire on the +enemy if they attempt to storm the works, and the troops are to be +told not to fire sooner than the enemy's arrival at these lines, +unless commanded. The line should be about eighty yards from the +parapet." The officers of the guards were to be accountable for every +thing in the forts, but particularly for the rum lodged there for the +use of the men in time of action. Provisions also were to be supplied +to each alarm-post "in case of siege," and the water-casks kept +constantly full of fresh water. To assure the effectiveness of the +means of defence, one hundred spears were to be placed in Fort Greene, +thirty in the works to the right, twenty in the Oblong Redoubt, fifty +in Fort Putnam, and twenty to the left of it.</p> + +<p>And so the work went on under Greene's eye, and by the middle of +summer his troops<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> had inclosed them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>selves on the Brooklyn +peninsula, with lines which, though unfinished, were still of very +respectable strength.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Recrossing the river to New York, we find the other brigades there at +work as uninterruptedly as Greene's on Long Island. The many +well-known "general orders" issued by the commander-in-chief during +this season testify to the great amount of fatigue duty performed by +the troops. Washington regretted that the necessity for it left so +little opportunity for drilling and he urged his officers to make the +most of what time they had for this purpose. But his chief anxiety was +to have the defences pushed on, and by the middle of June the +principal works were completed or well under way. The location and +names of these are indicated in the orders and maps of the day.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> +Beginning on the North River side and continuing around the city, they +were as follows:</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Grenadier Battery</span>.—This was a "beautiful" circular battery, situated +on the bank of the North River where it ran out into a well-defined +bluff, at the corner of the present Washington and Harrison streets. +Captain Abraham Van Dyck's Grenadier Company of New York City +Independents built it while Lee and Stirling were in command, and +received the thanks of Washington in general orders for the skilful +manner in which they had executed their work. The fort mounted two +twelve-pounders and two mortars. The grenadier company was organized +by Stirling a few years before, when he lived in New York, and he +watched the construction of the battery with considerable pride. The +<i>Pennsylvania Gazette</i> of May 8th, 1776, contains a letter from +Captain Van Dyck to Stirling, informing him of the completion of the +work, and desiring "the approbation of their former captain." Stirling +replied that he had frequently admired the battery, and reflected with +"real satisfaction" on the hour when he formed the company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jersey Battery</span>.—A short distance below, on the line of Reade Street, +just west of Greenwich, stood the Jersey Battery—a five-sided work, +mounting two twelve and three thirty-two pounders. A line of +intrenchments connected these two batteries, and, extending beyond on +either side, made the position a particularly strong one. Their guns +had the range of the bank up and down the river, and could enfilade an +enemy attempting to land in that vicinity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">McDougall's and the Oyster Battery</span>.—The works next below on the +Hudson consisted of two batteries situated on the high ground in the +rear and to the south of Trinity Church. The one on the bluff near the +church, or on the line of the present Rector Street, a little east of +Greenwich, was known under Stirling as McDougall's Battery; but this +name does not appear in the return of June 10th, and in its place in +the order of the works we have the "Oyster" Battery. It is possible +that this was the work a little south of McDougall's, at the +intersection of the present Morris and Greenwich streets. Its location +is described by Putnam in May as "behind General Washington's +head-quarters."<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> It mounted two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> thirty-two-pounders and three +twelve-pounders. In March, McDougall's Battery was provided with six +guns.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fort George and the Grand Battery</span>.—These works at the lower end of +the city had been pronounced almost useless by Lee, but as it was of +course necessary to include that point in the system of defence they +were repaired and greatly strengthened under Washington. In Fort +George were mounted two twelve-pounders and four thirty-two-pounders. +The walls of the Grand Battery were banked up from within, and mounted +thirteen thirty-two-pounders, one twenty-four-pounder, three +eighteen-pounders, two twelve-pounders, one thirteen-inch brass +mortar, two eight-inch and one ten-inch iron mortars.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Whitehall Battery</span>.—A small work on the Whitehall dock on the East +River, and practically a continuation of the Grand Battery. It carried +two thirty-two-pounders.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Waterbury's Battery</span>.—On the dock at the north-east angle of Catherine +and Cherry streets, mounting, in June, two twelve-pounders.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Badlam's Redoubt</span>.—On the hill above, south of Market and between +Madison and Monroe streets. It mounted seven guns in March, but +appears not to have been occupied later in the season.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Spencer's Redoubt</span>.—This was either the horseshoe redoubt at the +intersection of Monroe and Rutgers streets, or the larger star redoubt +between Clinton and Montgomery, east of Henry Street.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> It mounted +two twelve-pounders and four field-pieces.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Jones' Hill</span>.—From Spencer's Redoubt a line of intrenchments extended +around along the crest of the high land above Corlear's Hook to a +circular battery on the northern slope of Jones' Hill, a little north +of the intersection of Broome and Pitt streets, and was pierced for +eight guns. During Stirling's command it was proposed to call this +fortification "Washington," but it was known subsequently simply as +Jones' Hill. From this battery the works continued along the line of +Grand Street to the Bowery, and included two more circular +batteries—one on Grand at the corner of Norfolk Street, and the other +near the corner of Grand and Eldridge streets.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bayard's Hill Redoubt</span>.—Upon this commanding site, west of the Bowery, +where Grand and Mulberry streets intersect, was erected a powerful +irregular heptagonal redoubt, mounting eight nine-pounders, four three +pounders, and six royal and cohorn mortars. It had the range of the +city on one side and the approach by the Bowery on the other. Lasher's +New York Independent companies first broke ground for it about the 1st +of March, and continued digging there as well as on the redoubt around +the hospital until May 16th, when they were relieved, with +Washington's "thanks for their masterly manner of executing the work +on Bayard's Hill."<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> In the March return this battery is called the +"Independent Battery," and it also received the name of "Bunker Hill," +which was retained by the British during their occupation; but its +proper name as an American fort was "Bayard's Hill Redoubt," this +having been given to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> it officially in general orders; and it was so +called in letters and orders repeatedly through the summer.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thompson's Battery</span>.—This was the name given to the work thrown up at +Horn's Hook by Colonel Drake's Westchester minute-men soon after Lee's +arrival. It mounted eight pieces.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Governor's Island</span>.—The forts erected on this island were among the +strongest around New York. According to a letter from Colonel Prescott +of July 3d, they consisted of a citadel with outworks, and were +garrisoned during the latter part of the summer by Prescott's and +Nixon's regiments. The works mounted in June four thirty-two and four +eighteen pounders.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Paulus or Powle's Hook</span>.—The point of land on the New Jersey side, +opposite the city, and which is now the site in part of Jersey City. +Works were commenced here about May 20th, and in June they mounted +three thirty-two-pounders, three twelve-pounders, and two +three-pounder field-pieces.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> + +<p>In addition to these, several other redoubts were erected north of the +town, in which no cannon were mounted, and which had no names. They +were probably thrown up to be ready for occupation in case the enemy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +succeeded in landing above the city. There was a circular battery at +the corner of Broome and Forsyth streets; another in the middle of +Broadway, opposite White Street; another, of octagonal shape, near the +corner of Spring and Mercer streets; a half-moon battery above this, +between Prince and Spring, on the line of Thompson Street; another on +the northwesterly continuation of Richmond Hill, at McDougall and +Houston streets; and still another on the river-bank, near the +junction of Christopher and Greenwich streets. The hospital on Duane +Street was strongly fortified, and breastworks were thrown up at +numerous points between and around the forts. On June 10th the entire +number of guns fit for service in and around New York was one hundred +and twenty-one, thirty-three of which were held as a reserve for field +service, "to be run where the enemy shall make their greatest +efforts." The mortars were nineteen in number.</p> + +<p>As for barricades, the city was full of them. Some were built of +mahogany logs taken from West India cargoes. Not a street leading to +the water on either side that was not obstructed in this manner; so +that, had the enemy been able to gain a footing in the city under the +fire of their ships, they would still have found it, to use Lee's +expression, "a disputable field of battle." The City Hall Park was +almost entirely inclosed. There was a barrier across Broadway in front +of St. Paul's Church, another at the head of Vesey Street, and others +at the head of Barclay, Murray, and Warren. On the Park Row or Chatham +Street side a barricade stretched across Beekman Street; another, in +the shape of a right angle, stood in Printing House Square, one face +opposite Spruce Street, the other looking across the Presbyterian +church<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>yard and Nassau Street;<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> another ran across Frankfort +Street; another at the entrance of Centre Street; and still another +near it, facing Chatham Street.</p> + +<p>Another element in the defence was a motley little fleet, made up of +schooners, sloops, row-galleys, and whale-boats, and placed under the +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Tupper,<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> who had +distinguished himself by a naval exploit or two in Boston Harbor +during the siege. Crews were drafted from the regiments and assigned +to the various craft, whose particular mission was to scour the waters +along the New Jersey and Long Island coast, to watch for the British +fleets, and prevent communication between the Tories and the enemy's +ships already lying in the harbor. Tupper, as commodore, appears first +in the sloop Hester as his flag-ship, and later in the season in the +Lady Washington, while among his fleet were to be found the Spitfire, +General Putnam, Shark, and Whiting. The gallant commodore's earliest +cruises were made within the Narrows, along the Staten Island shore, +and as far down as Sandy Hook, where he attempted the feat of +destroying the light-house. But he found this structure, which the +enemy had occupied since Major Malcom dismantled it in March, a hard +piece of masonry to reduce. He attacked it confidently, June 21st, +after demanding its surrender, but retired when he found that an +hour's bombardment made no impression upon its walls.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> He kept a +good lookout along these waters, gathered information from desert<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>ers, +and when reporting on one occasion that the enemy's fleet were short +of provisions and the men reduced to half allowance, he added, with +unction, "May God increase their wants!" A little later we meet again +with the adventuresome Tupper and his flotilla.</p> + +<p>As the soldiers went on with their exacting duties, the monotony of +the routine was now and then relieved by some diversion or excitement. +One day there is "Tory-riding"<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> in the city, in which citizens +appear to have figured principally. Then the whole camp is startled by +the report that a "most accursed scheme" had come to light, just "on +the verge of execution," by which Washington and all his generals were +to have been murdered, the magazines blown up, and the cannon spiked +by hired miscreants in the army at the moment the enemy made their +grand attack upon the city.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> Again, on the 9th of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> July, the +brigades are all drawn up on their respective parade-grounds, listen +to the reading for the first time of the Declaration of Independence, +and receive it, as Heath tells us, "with loud huzzas;" and, finally, +to celebrate the event, a crowd of citizens, "Liberty Boys," and +soldiers collect that evening at Bowling Green and pull down the +gilded statue of King George, which is then trundled to Oliver +Wolcott's residence at Litchfield, Ct., for patriotic ladies to +convert into bullets for the American soldiers.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>But now occurred a much more stirring and important event to engage +the attention of the army, and this was the arrival of the enemy. It +was full time for them to make their appearance. Nearly three months +and a half had elapsed since the evacuation of Boston; the spring and +a whole month of summer had gone; the best season for active movements +was passing rapidly; and unless the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> British began operations soon, +all hope of conquering America "in one campaign" would have to be +abandoned. Rumors of their coming took definite shape in the last week +of June, when word reached camp that an American privateer had +captured a British transport with more than two hundred Highlanders as +prisoners. On the 25th and 26th three or four large ships arrived off +Sandy Hook, one of which proved to be the Greyhound, with Sir William +Howe on board; on the 29th a fleet of forty-five sail anchored off the +same point, and four days later the number had increased to one +hundred and thirty.<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> This was the fleet from Halifax with Howe's +Boston veterans. Preparations were made to land them on the Long +Island coast near the Narrows; but on being informed that the +Americans were posted on a ridge of hills not far distant, Howe +disembarked his troops opposite on Staten Island,<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> and there went +into camp to wait the arrival of the reinforcements from England under +Admiral Howe. The middle of July saw these also encamped on the +island, with the fleet increased to nearly three hundred transports +and ships of war. On the 1st of August there was an unexpected arrival +in the shape of the discomfited expedition under Generals Clinton and +Cornwallis, that was to gain a foothold in the South;<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> and last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> of +all, on the 12th of August came the British Guards and De Heister's +Hessians, after a tedious voyage of thirteen weeks from Spithead, +completing Howe's force, and swelling the fleet in the Narrows to more +than four hundred ships. England had never before this sent from her +shores a more powerful military and naval armament upon foreign +service.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the enemy hastened Washington's preparations. The +troops which Congress had called out to reinforce his army were coming +in too slowly, and expresses were sent to governors, assemblies, and +committees of safety, announcing the appearance of the enemy, and +urging in the most pressing terms the instant march of the +reinforcements to New York. To his soldiers with him the +commander-in-chief issued both warning and inspiring orders. On the 2d +of July, a few days after Howe arrived, he reminded them that the time +was at hand which would probably determine whether Americans were to +be freemen or slaves. "The fate of unborn millions," he said, "will +now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our +cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance +or the most abject submission. This is all we can expect. We have, +therefore, to resolve to conquer or die. Our country's honor calls +upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully +fail we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us, therefore, +rely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> upon the goodness of the cause and the aid of the Supreme Being, +in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and +noble actions. The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we +shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the +instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them.... +Any officer or soldier, or any particular corps, distinguishing +themselves by any acts of bravery and courage, will assuredly meet +with notice and rewards; and, on the other hand, those who behave ill +will as certainly be exposed and punished: the general being resolved, +as well for the honor and safety of the country as of the army, to +show no favor to such as refuse or neglect their duty at so important +a crisis."</p> + +<p>The digging still went on; the troops were ordered to keep their arms +in condition for immediate use; the officers cautioned to look after +the health of their men, as the season was excessively warm and +sickly; and every attention to necessary details enjoined.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>In addition to their military and naval commands, the two Howes were +invested by their government with extraordinary powers as civil +commissioners. They were authorized to issue pardons, and to open up +the question of reconciliation and a peaceable settlement of the +troubles; but their first advances in a civil capacity completely +failed, though not without furnishing an entertaining episode. On the +14th of July they dispatched an officer in a barge with a +communication for General Washington. The barge was detained by one of +Commodore Tupper's boats in the harbor until Washington's pleasure in +regard to it could be known. Suspecting, by previous experience at +Boston, that Howe would not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> recognize his military title, Washington +consulted a few of his officers in the matter, and it was the +unanimous opinion that should the communication be addressed to him as +a private individual it could not, with propriety, be received. +Colonel Reed, the adjutant-general, and Colonel Knox immediately went +down the bay and met the British officer. The latter, with hat in +hand, bowed politely and said to Colonel Reed, "I have a letter from +Lord Howe to Mr. Washington." "Sir," replied Reed, "we have no person +in our army with that address." "But will you look at the address?" +continued the officer, at the same time taking out of his pocket a +letter marked</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"GEORGE WASHINGTON, <span class="smcap">Esq</span>.,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;"><span class="smcap">New York</span>.</span><br /> +<br /> +HOWE."<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>"No, sir," said Reed, "I cannot receive that letter." "I am very +sorry," returned the officer, "and so will be Lord Howe, that any +error in the superscription should prevent the letter being received +by <i>General Washington</i>." "Why, sir," replied Reed, whose instructions +were positive not to accept such a communication, "I must obey +orders;" and the officer, finding it useless to press the matter, +could only repeat the sentiment, "Oh! yes, sir, you must obey orders, +to be sure." Then, after exchanging letters from prisoners, the +officers saluted and separated. The British barge had gone but a short +distance when it quickly put about, and the officer asked by what +particular title Washington chose to be addressed. Colonel Reed +replied, "You are sensible, sir, of the rank of General Washington in +our army." "Yes, sir, we are," said the officer; "I am sure my Lord +Howe will lament exceedingly this affair, as the letter is quite of a +civil nature, and not of a military<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> one. He laments exceedingly that +he was not here a little sooner." Reed and Knox supposed this to be an +allusion to the Declaration of Independence, but making no reply, they +again bowed, and parted, as Knox says, "in the most genteel terms +imaginable."<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> + +<p>But Howe was unwilling to have the matter dropped in this fashion, and +on the 20th he sent his adjutant-general, Lieutenant-Colonel +Patterson, to hold an interview with Washington in person, if +possible, and urge him to receive the letter and also to treat about +the exchange of prisoners. Patterson landed at the Battery, and was +conducted to Colonel Knox's quarters at the Kennedy House, without the +usual formality of having his eyes blindfolded. Washington, "very +handsomely dressed"<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> and making "a most elegant appearance," +received him with his suite, and listened attentively while Patterson, +interspersing his words at every other breath with "May it please your +Excellency," explained the address on the letter by saying that the +etc. etc. appended meant every thing. "And, indeed, it might mean any +thing," replied Washington, as Patterson then proceeded to say, among +other things, that the benevolence of the king had induced him to +appoint General and Admiral Howe his commissioners to accommodate the +unhappy disputes; that it would give them great pleasure to effect +such an accommodation, and that he (Colonel Patterson) wished to have +that visit considered as preliminary to so desirable an object. +Washington replied that he himself was not vested with any authority<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +in the case; that it did not appear that Lord Howe could do more than +grant pardons, and that those who had committed no fault wanted no +pardons, as they were simply defending what they deemed their +indisputable rights.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> Further conversation followed, when +Patterson, rising to leave, asked, "Has your Excellency no particular +commands with which you would please to honor me to Lord and General +Howe?" "Nothing," replied Washington, "but my particular compliments +to both;" and, declining to partake of a collation prepared for the +occasion, the British adjutant-general took his departure. Again the +king's "commissioners" had failed, and Washington had preserved the +dignity of the young nation and his own self-respect as the commander +of its armies.</p> + +<p>An incident, of greater moment as a military affair, and which +disturbed Washington as much as the Patterson interview must have +diverted him, was the easy passage, on the 12th of July, of two of the +British men-of-war, the Rose and Phœnix, past all the batteries, +unharmed, up the North River. Taking advantage of a brisk breeze and +running tide, the ships with their tenders sailed rapidly up from the +Narrows, and to avoid the fire of the batteries as much as possible +kept near the Jersey shore. The American artillerists opened upon them +with all their guns along the river, but could do them no serious +damage, while by accident, in their haste to load the pieces, six of +their own gunners were killed. The ships sent many shots into the +city, some crashing through houses but doing no other injury, while +the roar of the cannon frightened the citizens who had not already +moved away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> and caused more to go.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> At the upper end of the +island, around Fort Washington, where the batteries and river +obstructions were as yet incomplete, the ships suffered still less +harm, and sailing by, anchored safely in the broad Tappan Bay above. +Their object was to cut off the supplies which came down the river to +Washington's army, and, as supposed, to encourage the loyalists in the +upper counties and supply them with arms. Washington acknowledged that +the event showed the weakness and inadequacy of the North River line +of defences, and reported to Congress that it developed a possible +plan of attack by the British upon his rear. Measures were taken to +annoy if not destroy the ships, and, on the 3d of August, Commodore +Tupper, with four of his sloops and schooners, boldly attacked the +enemy, but though, as Washington wrote, "our officers and men, during +the whole affair, behaved with great spirit and bravery," neither side +sustained serious damage. On the night of the 16th two fire-rafts were +directed against the ships, which were successful so far as to destroy +one of the tenders; and on the 18th the enemy weighed anchor and +returned to the Narrows as readily as they came up.</p> + +<p>It was now apparent that the great struggle between the two armies +could be postponed no longer, and no day after the arrival of the +Hessians passed that the British attack was not looked for. The orders +of August 8th cautioned the men to be at their quarters, "especially<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +early in the morning or upon the tide of flood," when the enemy's +fleet might be expected, and every preparation was made to resist the +landing of the British at any point upon Manhattan Island.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> + +<p>Upon Long Island General Greene and his men were still at work on the +defences, and, since the arrival of the enemy, doubly vigilant. Hand's +riflemen kept close watch at the Narrows and reported every suspicious +movement of the fleet. Word was brought in on the 9th that a large +number of regulars were drawn up at the Staten Island ferry, and +Greene immediately sent around the order for "no officer or soldier to +stir from his quarters, that we may be ready to march at a moment's +warning, if necessary." Upon another alarm, when probably he himself +was indisposed, he directed Colonel Little, the senior regimental +officer present, to superintend the disposition of the troops. His +hastily written letter, penned apparently not long after midnight, +runs as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="right"><span class="smcap">Thursday Morning</span> [August 8 or 15?]</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—By Express from Col Hand and from Red Hook, and +from on board the Sloop at Governor's Island it is very +evident there was a General Imbarcation of the Troops last +evening from Statten Island—doubtless they'l make a dessent +this morning. Youl please to order all the troops fit for +duty to be at their Alarm posts near an hour sooner than is +common—let their flints arms and ammunition be examined and +everything held in readiness to defend the works or go upon +a detachment. A few minutes past received an Express from +Head Quarters. Youl acquaint the Commanding officers of Col +Hitchcock's Regiment and Col Forman's Regiment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> of this, and +direct them to observe the same orders, also the Artillery +officers.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em;">I am ys,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">N. Greene</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>[Addressed to Col. Little.]<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Greene had been promoted to the rank of major-general on the 9th, and +his old brigade on Long Island given to Brigadier-General John Nixon, +of Massachusetts, who was promoted from a colonelcy at the same time. +A new arrangement of the army was effected, and Brigadier-General +Heard's brigade of five New Jersey regiments was ordered to Long +Island to reinforce Greene. His division, now consisting of these two +brigades—Nixon's and Heard's—numbered, August 15th, two thousand +nine hundred men fit for duty. Parts of two Long Island militia +regiments under Colonels Smith and Remsen which joined him about this +date, and Colonel Gay's Connecticut levies, who had been on that side +since the 1st of August, increased this number to something over +thirty-five hundred.</p> + +<p>But Greene was not to be a participator in the approaching scenes. The +prevailing fever which had prostrated so many officers and men seized +him with all but a fatal hold, and he was obliged to relinquish his +command. He clung to it, however, to the last moment in hopes of a +change for the better. "I am very sorry," he wrote to Washington on +the 15th, "that I am under the necessity of acquainting you that I am +confined to my bed with a raging fever. The critical situation of +affairs makes me the more anxious, but I hope, through the assistance +of Providence, to be able to ride before the presence of the enemy may +make it absolutely necessary;" and he assured the commander-in-chief +that his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> men appeared to be "in exceeding good spirits," and would no +doubt be able to render a very good account of the enemy should they +land on Long Island. On the 16th there was no change for the better in +his condition, but on the contrary Livingston, his aid, reported that +he had "a very bad night of it;" and in a day or two he was removed to +New York, to the house of John Inglis now the intersection of Ninth +Street and Broadway where with rest and care he slowly passed the +crisis of his illness.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> + +<p>On the 20th Washington gave orders to General Sullivan, who had +recently returned from Canada, to take the command upon Long Island, +until General Greene's state of health should permit him to resume +it.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO ARMIES.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Right</span> here, before entering upon the details of the coming struggle, +we may delay a moment to glance at the two armies as they lay in their +opposite camps waiting to engage in the serious business before them. +What was their composition and organization, what their strength, who +their officers and leaders? In the case of the American troops +particularly may these questions be asked, because to them and their +services the country has long acknowledged its obligations, and so far +bound itself to perpetuate their memory. Who were the men who stood +with Washington in this first and critical year of our national +life—who came to this vicinity to fight on strange ground for a +common cause? We are called upon to remember them, not as soldiers +simply, but as public-spirited citizens arming to secure themselves in +their privileges, or perhaps as ancestors who had a thought for the +peace and happiness of present generations.</p> + +<p>The original army of the Revolution was that ardent though disjointed +body of provincials which gathered around Boston immediately after the +Lexington alarm, and came nominally under the command of General +Artemas Ward, of Massachusetts. As a military corps it entirely lacked +cohesion, as the troops from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and +Connecticut were under independent control, and yielded to General +Ward's authority only by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> patriotic consent. The appointment of +Washington as commander-in-chief of all the American forces relieved +this difficulty, and the adoption by Congress of the Boston troops as +a Continental army, under the orders and in the pay of Congress, gave +that army more of a military character. But the terms of enlistment +were short, and it became necessary to reorganize the entire body by +new enlistments for a year's service from the 1st of January, 1776. +This force thus recruited was the nucleus of the army which Washington +mustered at New York in the present campaign. It consisted of +twenty-seven battalions, or "regiments of foot," as they were styled, +each divided into eight companies, and having a maximum strength of +about six hundred and forty officers and men. With the exception of +the First Regiment, or Pennsylvania Riflemen, all were from the New +England States; and, as already stated, twenty-one of them, after the +evacuation of Boston, marched to New York under the command of +Generals Heath, Spencer, Sullivan, and Greene.</p> + +<p>This force, diminished by the regiments sent to Canada, was quite +inadequate for the purposes of the campaign, and on the 1st of June +Congress issued a call for large reinforcements both for the New York +army and that on the Canada border. For the former thirteen thousand +eight hundred troops were voted necessary, and for the latter six +thousand, while in addition it was resolved to establish a "flying +camp" of ten thousand men, who could be sent wherever needed. The +quota Massachusetts was to furnish for New York was two thousand; +Connecticut, five thousand five hundred; New York, three thousand; and +New Jersey, three thousand three hundred. For the flying camp, +Pennsylvania was to recruit six thousand; Delaware, six hundred; and +Maryland, three thousand four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> hundred. All these men were to be +militia or State troops, but to serve under the orders of Congress and +in its pay until at least the 1st of December following.</p> + +<p>The necessity of these calls was impressed upon the country by urgent +letters from the President and members of Congress and the leaders of +the day. "The militia of the United Colonies," wrote Hancock, "are a +body of troops that may be depended upon. To their virtue, their +delegates in Congress now make the most solemn appeal. They are called +upon to say whether they will live slaves or die freemen." To the +governors and State assemblies he added: "On your exertions at this +critical period, together with those of the other colonies in the +common cause, the salvation of America now evidently depends.... +Exert, therefore, every nerve to distinguish yourselves. Quicken your +preparations, and stimulate the good people of your government, and +there is no danger, notwithstanding the mighty armament with which we +are threatened, but you will be able to lead them to victory, to +liberty, and to happiness." But the reinforcements came forward +slowly, and it was not until the enemy had actually arrived that the +peculiar dangers of the situation were appreciated and the militiamen +hurried to Washington's assistance at his own pressing call for them. +By the 27th of August, his army, which on July 13th numbered a little +over ten thousand men fit for duty, had been increased in the +aggregate to twenty-eight thousand; but so many were on the sick list +during this month, that he could muster not quite twenty thousand +effectives, officers and men, at the opening of active operations.</p> + +<p>To this force the State of New York contributed thirteen regiments. Of +her Continental battalions then in the service, three were in the +Northern department under Schuy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>ler, part of another in the Highlands, +and two, commanded by Colonels Alexander McDougall and Rudolph +Ritzema, here with Washington, both of which were largely recruited +from New York City. McDougall, colonel of the first battalion, had +identified himself early with the liberty party in the city, became a +member of the Provincial Congress, and by his zealous and energetic +efforts in both his civil and military capacity contributed much +towards preserving the honor and interests of the colony in the +present crisis. In August he was promoted to the rank of +brigadier-general in the Continental army, and rose to the grade of +major-general before the close of the war. Nine of the other regiments +from this State, chiefly militia, formed two brigades under +Brigadier-Generals John Morin Scott and George Clinton. In Scott's +command were two battalions which were credited to and represented the +city distinctively. The oldest and largest was the "First Independent +Battalion," commanded by Colonel John Lasher, remembered as one of the +substantial citizens of the place. A man of property and influence, +with a taste for military affairs and evidently popular, he had been +elected colonel of the Independent Companies during the colonial +régime, and now, with most of his officers and men, had taken up the +Continental cause.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> The battalion was a favorite corps, composed of +young men of respectability and wealth, and when on parade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> was +doubtless the attraction of the city. Its companies bore separate +names, and the uniform of each had some distinguishing feature. There +were the "Prussian Blues," under Captain James Alner; the "Oswego +Rangers," under Captain John J. Roosevelt; the "Rangers," under +Captain James Abeel; the "Fusileers," under Captain Henry G. +Livingston; the "Hearts of Oak," under Captain John Berrian; the +"Grenadiers," under Captain Abraham Van Dyck; the "Light Infantry," +under Captain William W. Gilbert; the "Sportsmen," under Captain +Abraham A. Van Wyck; the "German Fusileers," under Captain William +Leonard; the "Light Horse," under Captain Abraham P. Lott; and the +"Artillery," under Captain Samuel Tudor. As reorganized in the summer +of 1776, the regiment had for its field officers Colonel John Lasher, +Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Stockholm, and Major James Abeel. The Second +New York City Battalion was originally commanded by Colonel William +Heyer, and among its companies were the "Brown Buffs," "Rifles," +"Grenadiers," "Hussars," and "Scotsmen," the latter of whom were +commanded by Captain Robert Smith, of New York, who, after doing good +service at various times during the war, settled in Philadelphia, +where for nearly half a century after he filled offices of public and +private trust.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> In 1776, in the reappointment of field officers, +William Malcom, formerly first major, became colonel; Isaac +Stoutenburgh, lieutenant-colonel; and James Alner, major.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> The two +remaining regiments of Scott's brigade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> were commanded by Colonel +Samuel Drake, of Westchester, and Colonel Cornelius Humphrey, of +Dutchess County. Scott himself was a man of the highest public spirit. +A history of the progress of the revolutionary sentiment in the Colony +of New York would be incomplete without a record of his career. An +able lawyer and speaker, he early resisted the pretentions and +arbitrary policy of the home government, and when war became +inevitable, he spared no energy to provide for the crisis. In 1775 and +1776 he was one of the most active and useful members of the +Provincial Congress and the Committee of Safety. "Nothing from the +other side of the water," he wrote to a friend in November, 1775, "but +a fearful looking for of wrath. But let us be prepared for the worst. +Who can prize life without liberty? It is a bauble only fit to be +thrown away." He served through the present campaign, and then +continued in the public service as Secretary of the State of New York +and afterwards member of the Continental Congress.</p> + +<p>Two other acquisitions to the army in this campaign were the brothers +James and George Clinton, of Ulster County, N.Y., both destined to be +prominent characters in the Revolution. James Clinton, as colonel of +one of the Continental regiments, superintended the construction of +fortifications in the Highlands, and in August was promoted to the +rank of brigadier-general in the Continental service. George was +member of Congress, and after voting for the Declaration of +Independence returned to command a militia brigade which the State +called out during the summer, and which joined Washington's army just +before the battle of Long Island. These troops were commanded by +Colonel Levi Paulding, of Ulster County; Colonels Morris Graham and +James Swartwout, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> Dutchess; Colonel Isaac Nichol, of Orange; and +Colonel Thomas Thomas, of Westchester. Before this, in November, 1775, +an attempt was made to raise three regiments of militia in New York +City to be commanded respectively by Henry Remsen, John Jay, and +Abraham P. Lott; but the enlistment of men into other corps made it +impossible to organize them.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> In this campaign, too, we first meet +with young officers from this State who subsequently rose to +distinction in the service. Here Alexander Hamilton appears; and we +read that upon the certificate of Captain Stephen Badlam, that he had +examined Hamilton and found him qualified for a command, the New York +Convention appointed him, March 14th, Captain of the "Provincial +Company of Artillery of the Colony." Among others were +Lieutenant-Colonel Henry B. Livingston, Majors Nicholas Fish and +Richard Platt, and Hugh Hughes, teacher of a classical school, who, as +assistant Quartermaster-General, rendered, at least on one occasion, a +most important service to the army.</p> + +<p>Long Island was represented in the New York quota by two regiments of +militia and two small companies of "troop." The Suffolk County +regiment, at the eastern end, was commanded by Colonel Josiah Smith, +of South Haven parish, and that from King's County by Colonel Rutgert +Van Brunt. But the militia, especially in disaffected Kings and Queens +counties, could be mustered, as volunteers, with difficulty; and early +in August the New York Provincial Congress ordered a draft to be made +from these counties, and the troops so raised to be commanded by +Colonel Jeronimus Remsen, of Queens,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> with Nicholas Cowenhoven, of +Kings, for lieutenant-colonel, and Richard Thorne, of Queens, for +major. Colonel Smith's lieutenant-colonel at this time was John Sands, +and his major, Abraham Remsen. The two regiments—Smith's and +Remsen's—did not report to Greene until August 15th and after, and +mustered together probably less than five hundred men. The troopers, +not over fifty in all, were a few horsemen from Brooklyn under Captain +Adolph Waldron and Lieutenant William Boerum; and others, representing +King's County, under Captain Lambert Suydam. About the middle of +August, Nathaniel Woodhull, of Mastic, brigadier-general of the Long +Island militia, and now President of the State Convention, dropping +his civil functions, repaired to the Island to render whatever aid the +situation might demand. A man of the purest motives and capable of +doing good service, an unhappy, although a soldier's fate, awaited +him.</p> + +<p>New Jersey at the outbreak of the war met an obstacle to hearty +co-operation with the other colonies in the conduct of William +Franklin, her royal governor. Little sympathy had he with the +revolutionary movement, and his influence was powerful in keeping men +out of it, until the aroused State legislature ordered his arrest. In +William Livingston, her new governor, New Jersey found a patriot and +civil leader of the right stamp for the emergency. Part of the year he +acted in a military capacity, and directed the movements of the +militia in the vicinity of Amboy and Elizabeth. As the Tory element +was very considerable here, the State found the same difficulty +experienced by New York in raising troops for the army; but she +furnished a good proportion. Her three Continental regiments under +Colonels Dayton, Maxwell, and Winds, were in the Canada army during +the present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> campaign. In the spring and summer the State sent several +detachments of militia, under Lieutenant-Colonels Ward and Cadmus and +other officers, to assist in fortifying New York. In answer to the +last call of Congress, the legislature voted to raise a brigade of +five battalions, to be known as "new levies," to serve until December +1st, and to each man that would enlist a bounty of three pounds was +offered. The command of the brigade was given to Colonel Nathaniel +Heard, of Woodbridge, now promoted to a State brigadier. The colonels +were Philip Van Cortland, whose regiment was recruited in Bergen, +Essex, and Burlington counties; David Forman, with four companies from +Middlesex and four from Monmouth; Ephraim Martin, with four from +Morris and four from Sussex; Philip Johnston, with three from Somerset +and five from Hunterdon; and Silas Newcomb, with men from Salem, +Gloucester, Burlington, and Cumberland. In September the command +numbered seventeen hundred and sixty-two enlisted men, and one hundred +and sixty officers.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> We shall find these troops figuring in the +movements on Long Island.</p> + +<p>Pennsylvania was well represented in this campaign. Her troops +participated in nearly every engagement, and had the opportunity in +more than one instance of acquitting themselves with honor. Besides +her large body of "associators," or home guards, many of whom marched +into New Jersey, the State sent four Continental regiments under +Colonels Wayne, St. Clair, Irvine, and De Haas, to Canada, and eight +other battalions, three of them Continental, to the army at New York. +Of these, the oldest was commanded by Colonel Edward Hand, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +Lancaster. It was the first of the Continental establishment, where it +was known as the "rifle" corps. Enlisting in 1775, under Colonel +Thompson, it joined the army at the siege of Boston, re-enlisted for +the war under Colonel Hand in 1776, and fought all along the Continent +from Massachusetts to South Carolina, not disbanding until the peace +was signed in 1783. Hand himself, a native of Ireland, and, like many +others in the service, a physician by profession, had served in the +British army, was recognized as a superior officer, and we find him +closing his career as Washington's adjutant-general and personal +friend. The two other regiments, raised on the Continental basis, were +commanded by Colonels Robert Magaw, formerly major of Thompson's +regiment, and John Shee, of Philadelphia. The remaining battalions +were distinctively State troops, and formed part of the State's quota +for the Flying Camp. Colonel Samuel Miles, subsequently mayor of +Philadelphia, commanded what was known as the First Regiment of +Riflemen. Unlike any other corps, it was divided into two battalions, +which on their enlistment in March aggregated five hundred men each. +The lieutenant-colonel of the first was Piper; of the second, John +Brodhead. The majors were Paton and Williams. Another corps was known +as the First Regiment of Pennsylvania Musketry, under Colonel Samuel +John Atlee, of Lancaster County, originally five hundred strong, and +recruited in Chester and the Piquea Valley. Atlee had been a soldier +in his youth in the frontier service, afterwards studied law, and in +1775 was active in drilling companies for the war. Mercer, who knew a +good soldier when he met him, wrote to Washington that Atlee was +worthy his regard as an officer of "experience and attention," and his +fine conduct on Long Island proved his title to this word of +commen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>dation from his superior. How much of a man and soldier he had +in his lieutenant-colonel, Caleb Parry, the events of August 27th will +bear witness. The three other battalions were incomplete. Two were +composed of Berks County militia, under Lieutenant-Colonels Nicholas +Lutz and Peter Kachlein. Lutz's major was Edward Burd, and their +colonel was Henry Haller, of Reading, who did not join the army until +after the opening of the campaign. Another detachment consisted of +part of Colonel James Cunningham's Lancaster County militiamen, under +Major William Hay.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="border"><br /> +<a name="PORTRAIT02"></a> +<img src="images/port002.png" width="277" height="400" alt="Edward Hand" title="Edward Hand" /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Edw. Hand</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>COLONEL FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT (PENN RIFLEMEN).<br /> +BRIGADIER GENERAL 1777</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">Steel Engr. F. von Egloffstein N.Y.</span></p> + +<p><br /> +Delaware furnished more than her proportion to the flying camp. The +"Lower Counties," as this little State had been known in colonial +times, had shown no haste to break with the mother country. Her people +were chiefly farmers of a peaceable disposition, who used herbs for +tea and felt no weight of oppression. But Delaware had her +public-spirited men, who, when the crisis came, felt that the +"counties" must take their place by the side of the colonies in the +pending conflict. Among these were Thomas MacKean and Cæsar Rodney. +Rodney's right-hand man in his patriotic efforts was John Haslet, born +in Ireland, once a Presbyterian minister, now a physician in Dover, +"tall, athletic, of generous and ardent feelings." The news of the +adoption of the Declaration of Independence Haslet celebrated with "a +turtle feast;" and he did more. Already he had begun to raise a +regiment for the field, and five weeks before the opening battle it +left Dover eight hundred strong, composed of some of the best blood +and sinew Delaware had to offer.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p> + +<p>Maryland raised as her contingent for this campaign four regiments and +seven independent companies; but of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> these, Smallwood's battalion +and four of the companies alone had joined the army when hostilities +commenced. Though forming part of the State's quota for the flying +camp, this was far from being a hastily-collected force. It stands +upon record that while Massachusetts was preparing for the contest in +the earlier days, there were men along the Chesapeake and the Potomac +who took the alarm with their northern brethren. Mordecai Gist, Esq., +of "Baltimore town," was among the first to snuff the coming storm, +and the first to act, for he tells us that as early as December, 1774, +at the expense of his time and hazard of his business, he organized "a +company composed of men of honor, family, and fortune," to be ready +for any emergency. The Lexington news, four months later, found the +best part of Maryland ready to arm. In Baltimore, William Buchanan, +lieutenant of the county, collected a body of the older citizens for +home defence, while their unmarried sons and others organized +themselves into two more companies, donned "an excellent scarlet +uniform," and chose Gist for their leader. When the State called for +troops at large many of these young men responded, and in the spring +of 1776 made up three companies, which, with six other companies that +gathered at Annapolis from the surrounding country, formed the first +Maryland battalion of "State regulars." William Smallwood, living on +the banks of the Potomac, in Charles County, was chosen colonel; +Francis Ware, lieutenant-colonel; and Mordecai Gist, first major. On +the day it left for the field, July 10th, it numbered, inclusive of +Captain Edward Veazey's large independent company from the Eastern +Shore, seven hundred and fifty men. The State sent no better material +into the service. Without cares, patriotic, well drilled, well led, +priding them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>selves in their soldierly appearance, both officers and +men were a notable and much needed acquisition to Washington's army.</p> + +<p>Men from Virginia, too, were to take an active part in this campaign, +but not until after it had opened. The State had nine regiments +organized for service, five of which, under Colonels Weedon, Reed, +Scott, Elliott and Buckner, joined the army during the fall. There +were several Virginia officers on the ground, however, as early as +July and August, one of whom was a host in himself. This was General +Hugh Mercer, who had been a surgeon in the Pretender's army on the +field of Culloden; who afterward coming to America figured as a +volunteer in Braddock's defeat, and then settled down to practice as a +physician in Fredericksburg. Appointed a Continental Brigadier, +Washington intrusted him with the important command of the New Jersey +front, where he kept a constant watch along the shore opposite Staten +Island. He had at various times from three to six thousand troops +under him, composed of Pennsylvania and New Jersey home guards and +militia, but which were never enrolled as a part of Washington's +army.<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></p> + +<p>From New England, as we have seen, came the troops sent on from Boston +by Washington, which formed the nucleus or basis of the force gathered +at New York. These were all Continental or established regiments, and +were reinforced from this section during the summer by militia and +State troops.</p> + +<p>Massachusetts furnished the Continental battalions commanded by +Colonels William Prescott, of Pepperell;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> John Glover, of Marblehead; +Moses Little, of Newburyport; John Nixon, of Framingham; Jonathan +Ward, of Southboro; Israel Hutchinson, of Salem; Ebenezer Learned, of +Oxford; Loammi Baldwin, of Woburn; John Bailey, of Hanover; Paul +Dudley Sargent, of Gloucester, and Joseph Read. In August, +Brigadier-General John Fellows, of Sheffield, brought down three +regiments of militia under Colonels Jonathan Holman, of Worcester +County, Jonathan Smith, of Berkshire, and Simeon Cary, with men from +Plymouth and Bristol counties. The State also sent the only artillery +regiment<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> then in the service, under Colonel Henry Knox, of Boston.</p> + +<p>Many of these officers named had already made something of a record +for themselves. Prescott will be forever associated with Bunker Hill. +With him there were Nixon, who was severely wounded, Ward, Little, +Sargent, and not a few of the officers and men who were here in the +present campaign. Many of them were representative citizens. Little, +of Newburyport, whose name we have seen associated with the defences +of Long Island, had been surveyor of the king's lands, owned large +tracts in his own right, and was widely known as a man of character +and influence. As an officer he was distinguished for his judgment and +great self-possession in the field. His lieutenant-colonel, William +Henshaw, of Leicester, belonged to the line of Henshaws whose ancestor +had fallen in the English Revolution in defence of popular rights and +privileges. A man of the old type, with cocked hat and provincial +dress, modest and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> brave, he writes home to his wife one day that he +finds it difficult to stop profanity among the troops; another day he +hopes his children are improving in all the graces; and then he is +heard of in the heat of some engagement. He was the first +adjutant-general of the provincial army around Boston in 1775, and +served in that capacity with the rank of colonel until relieved by +General Gates. The services rendered by Colonel and afterwards General +Glover in this as well as in other campaigns is a well-known record. +Learned and Nixon became Continental brigadiers. Shepherd, Brooks, +Jackson, Winthrop Sargent, and many other officers from this State, +distinguished themselves in the later years of the Revolution. But +perhaps no man proved his worth more in this campaign than Colonel +Rufus Putnam, of Brookfield, Washington's chief engineer. He succeeded +Colonel Gridley at Boston; and at New York, where engineering skill of +a high order was demanded in the planning and construction of the +works, he showed himself equal to the occasion. That Washington put a +high estimate on his services, appears from more than one of his +letters.<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + +<p>Rhode Island at this time had two regiments in the field. In 1775 they +were around Boston; in 1776 they were here again with the +army—Varnum's Ninth and Hitchcock's Eleventh Continentals. A third +regiment from this State, under Colonel Lippett, did not join the army +until September. Varnum and Hitchcock were rising young lawyers of +Providence, the former a graduate of Brown University, the latter of +Yale. Hitchcock's lieutenant-colonel was Ezekiel Cornell, of Scituate, +who sub<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>sequently served in Congress and became <a name="E2" id="E2"></a><a href="#E2E">commissary-general</a> of +the army. Greene, Varnum, Hitchcock, and Cornell were among those +Rhode Islanders who early resisted the pretensions of the British +Ministry. In the discipline and soldierly bearing of these two +regiments Greene took special pride, and not a few of their officers +subsequently earned an honorable reputation. Varnum was created a +brigadier; Hitchcock, as will be seen, closed his career as a +sacrifice to the cause; Colonels Crary and Angell and the Olneys +served with the highest credit; and the men of the regiments, many of +them, fought through the war to the Yorktown surrender.</p> + +<p>In proportion to her population, no State contributed more men to the +army in 1776 than Connecticut, nor were all ranks of society more +fully represented. Fortunately the State had in Trumbull, its +governor, just the executive officer which the times demanded. A man +of character and ability, greatly respected, prompt, zealous, ardent +in the cause, his words and calls upon the people were seldom +unheeded; and the people were generally as patriotic as their +governor. In the present crisis Connecticut sent to New York six +Continental battalions, seven of "new levies," and twelve of militia. +Her Continentals were commanded by Colonels Samuel Holden Parsons,<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> +of Lyme; Jedediah Huntington, of Lebanon; Samuel Wyllys, of Hartford; +Charles Webb, of Stamford; John Durkee, of Bean Hill, near Norwich; +and Andrew Ward,<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> of Guilford. The "levies" were the troops<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> raised +in answer to the last call of Congress, and were commanded by Colonels +Gold Selleck Silliman, of Fairfield; Phillip Burr Bradley, of +Ridgefield; William Douglas, of Northford; Fisher Gay, of Farmington; +Samuel Selden, of Hadlyme; John Chester, of Wethersfield; and Comfort +Sage, of Middletown. Among these names will be recognized many which +represented some of the oldest and best families in the State. Wyllys +was a descendant of one of the founders of Hartford. His father held +the office of Secretary of State for sixty-one years; his grandfather +had held it before that, and after the Revolution the honor fell to +the colonel himself. The three held the office in succession for +ninety-eight years. Three members of this family, which is now +extinct, were in the army during this campaign, and two served with +honor through the war. From Lebanon came Colonel Jedediah Huntington +and his two brothers, Captains Joshua and Ebenezer. They were sons of +Jabez Huntington, who like Trumbull was a type of the patriotic +citizen of the Revolution. Although his business and property, as a +West India merchant, would be greatly endangered if not ruined by the +war, he and his family cheerfully ignored their personal interests in +their devotion to the common cause. The three brothers and their +brother-in-law, Colonel John Chester, served through the present +campaign as they had in the previous one, and two of them, Jedediah +and Ebenezer, fought to the end of the struggle. Parsons, who +subsequently rose to the rank of a Continental major-general, Wyllys +and Webb, were among those who pledged their individual credit to +carry out the successful enterprise against Ticonderoga in 1775. In +his section of the State few men were more influential than Colonel +Silliman, of Fairfield, where, before the war, he had held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> the office +of king's attorney. After the present campaign, in the course of which +he was more than once engaged with the enemy, he was appointed a State +brigadier, rendered further service during the British forays into +Connecticut, and marched with troops to the Hudson Highlands upon +Burgoyne's approach from Canada. Colonel Douglas, of Northford, +engaged heart and hand in the struggle. Joining Montgomery's command +in 1775, he served in the flotilla on Lake Champlain, and was +subsequently appointed commodore by Congress; but accepting a +colonelcy of Connecticut levies he marched to New York in 1776, after +first advancing the funds to equip his regiment. With Silliman he +enjoyed the confidence and good opinion of the commander-in-chief, and +both were appointed to command regiments to be raised for the +Connecticut Continental Line. Another of those citizen-soldiers who +came from the substantial element in the population was Colonel +Selden. A descendant of the Seldens who were among the first settlers +in the Connecticut Valley, fifty years of age, possessing a large +estate, incapacitated for severe military duty, the father of twelve +children, he nevertheless answered the governor's call for troops, and +joined the army at New York, from which he was destined not to return. +Durkee, Knowlton, Hull, Sherman, Grosvenor, Bradley, afterwards a +Continental colonel, and many others, were men from Connecticut, who +gave the country their best services. The militia regiments from this +State turned out at the governor's call upon the arrival of the enemy. +Of the fourteen he designated to march, twelve reported at New York +before August 27th, each averaging three hundred and fifty men, with +Oliver Wolcott as their brigadier-general,<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> whom no man in +Connecticut had done more to further the public interests of both the +State and the nation. Signing the Declaration in 1776, he was to be +found in the following year fighting Burgoyne in the field, and +afterwards constantly active in a military or civil capacity until the +success of the cause was assured.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Pass these men in review, and we have before us not a small proportion +of those "fathers" of the Revolution, to whose exertions and +sacrifices America owes her independence. It was a crude, unmilitary +host, strong only as a body of volunteers determined to resist an +invasion of their soil. Here and there was an officer or soldier who +had served in previous wars, but the great mass knew nothing of war. +The Continental or established regiments formed much less than half +the army, and some of these were without experience or discipline; +very few had been tested under fire. As to arms, they carried all +sorts—old flint-locks, fowling-pieces, rifles, and occasionally good +English muskets captured by privateers from the enemy's transports. +Not all had bayonets or equipments. Uniforms were the exception; even +many of the Continentals were dressed in citizens' clothes.<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> The +mili<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>tiamen, hurriedly leaving their farms and affairs, came down in +homespun, while some of the State troops raised earlier in the spring +appeared in marked contrast to them, both in dress and discipline. +Smallwood's Marylanders attracted attention with their showy scarlet +and buff coats. The Delawares, with their blue uniform, were so nearly +like the Hessians as to be mistaken for them in the field. Miles' +Pennsylvanians wore black hunting shirts; and Lasher's New York +battalion perhaps appeared, in the various uniforms of gray, blue and +green worn by the independent companies. The general and regimental +officers in the army were distinguished by different-colored cockades +and sashes. For regimental<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> colors, each battalion appears to have +carried those of its own design. One of the flags captured by the +Hessians on Long Island was reported by a Hessian officer to have been +a red damask standard, bearing the word "Liberty" in its centre. +Colonel Joseph Read's Massachusetts Continentals carried a flag with a +light buff ground, on which there was the device of a pine-tree and +Indian-corn, emblematical of New-England fields. Two officers were +represented in the uniform of the regiment, one of whom, with blood +streaming from a wound in his breast, pointed to children under the +pine, with the words, "For posterity I bleed."<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>Had this force acquired the discipline and been hardened by the +service which made Washington's troops later in the war a most trusty +and effective body, the campaign of 1776 would have shown another +record. But not the less are we to respect it, with all its failings +and defeats. If not all the men were "patriots;" if some lost faith in +the cause; if others deserted it entirely and joined the enemy; if +some entered the army from mercenary motives and proved cravens in the +field; if still others who were honest enough in their intentions were +found to be wretched material for the making of good soldiers—this +was only the common experience of all popular struggles. As a body, it +fairly represented the colonists in arms; and as an army, it did its +share in bringing about the final grand result.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>To recapitulate: Washington's army, at the opening of the campaign on +August 27th, consisted of seventy-one regiments or parts of regiments, +twenty-five of which were Continental, aggregating in round numbers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +twenty-eight thousand five hundred officers and men. Of these, +Massachusetts furnished seven thousand three hundred; Rhode Island, +eight hundred; Connecticut, nine thousand seven hundred; New York, +four thousand five hundred; New Jersey, one thousand five hundred; +Pennsylvania, three thousand one hundred; Delaware, eight hundred; and +Maryland, nine hundred. Between eight and nine thousand were on the +sick-list or not available for duty, leaving on the rolls not far from +nineteen thousand effectives, most of them levies and militia, on the +day of the battle of Long Island.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> As officered and brigaded at +this date the army stood as follows:</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><b>GEORGE WASHINGTON,</b></p> + +<p class="center">COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> William Grayson, of Virginia; <i>Lieutenant-Colonel</i> Richard +Cary, Jr., of Massachusetts; <i>Lieutenant-Colonel</i> Samuel B. Webb, of +Connecticut; <i>Lieutenant</i> Tench Tilghman, of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Secretary</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Lieutenant-Colonel</i> Robert Hanson Harrison, of Virginia.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Adjutant-General</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> Joseph Reed, of Philadelphia.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Quartermaster-General</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> Stephen Moylan, of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Commissary-General</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> Joseph Trumbull, of Connecticut.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Paymaster-General</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> William Palfrey, of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Muster-Master-General</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> Gunning Bedford, of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Director of the General Hospital</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Doctor</i> John Morgan, of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Chief Engineer</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Colonel</i> Rufus Putnam, of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Putnam's Division</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL ISRAEL PUTNAM.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">Major Aaron Burr, Major ——.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Clinton's Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES CLINTON.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, David Henly.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Clinton's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Joseph Read,</td><td class="center">Massachusetts</td><td>505<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Ebenezer Learned,</td><td class="center">"</td><td>521</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Bailey,</td><td class="center">"</td><td>503</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Loammi Baldwin,</td><td class="center">"</td><td>468</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Scott's Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN MORIN SCOTT.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Nicholas Fish.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Scott's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>John Lasher,</td><td>New York</td><td class="right">510</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>William Malcom,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">297</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Samuel Drake,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">459</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Cornelius Humphrey,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">261</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Fellows' Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN FELLOWS.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Mark Hopkins.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Fellows' Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Jonathan Holman,</td><td>Massachusetts</td><td class="right">606</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Simeon Cary,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">569</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Jonathan Smith,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">551</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Glover,<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">365</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Heath's Division</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM HEATH.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">Major Thomas Henly, Major Israel Keith.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Mifflin's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS MIFFLIN.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Jonathan Mifflin.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Mifflin's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Robert Magaw,</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td class="right">480</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Shee,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">496</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Israel Hutchinson,</td><td>Massachusetts</td><td class="right">513</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Paul Dudley Sargent,<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">527</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Andrew Ward,</td><td>Connecticut</td><td class="right">437</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Clinton's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE CLINTON.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Albert Pawling.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="George Clinton's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Isaac Nichol,</td><td>New York</td><td class="right">289</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Thomas Thomas,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">354</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>James Swartwout</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">364</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Levi Paulding,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">368</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Morris Graham,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">437</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Spencer's Division.</span></p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH SPENCER.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Major William Peck, Major Charles Whiting.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Parsons' Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL SAMUEL HOLDEN PARSONS.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Thomas Dyer.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Parsons' Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Jedediah Huntington,</td><td>Connecticut</td><td class="right">348</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Samuel Wyllys,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">530<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Durkee,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">520</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Tyler,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">569</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Jonathan Ward,</td><td>Massachusetts</td><td class="right">502</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Wadsworth's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES WADSWORTH.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, John Palsgrave Wyllys.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Wadsworth's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Gold Selleck Silliman,</td><td>Connecticut</td><td class="right">415</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Fisher Gay,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">449</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Comfort Sage,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">482</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Samuel Selden,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">464</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>William Douglas,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">506</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Chester,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">535</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Phillip Burr Bradley,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">569</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Sullivan's Division.</span></p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Major Alexander Scammell, Major Lewis Morris, Jr.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Stirling's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL LORD STIRLING.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, W.S. Livingston.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Stirling's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td class="center">Colonel</td><td>William Smallwood,</td><td>Maryland</td><td class="right">600</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>John Haslet,</td><td>Delaware</td><td class="right">750</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Samuel Miles,</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td class="right">650</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Samuel John Atlee,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">300</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lieutenant-Colonel</td><td>Nicholas Lutz,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">200</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">" "</td><td>Peter Kachlein,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">200</td></tr> +<tr><td>Major</td><td>Hay,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">200</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">McDougall's Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Richard Platt.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="McDougall's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Late McDougall's, New York</td><td class="right">428</td></tr> +<tr><td>Colonel Rudolph Ritzema, New York</td><td class="right">434</td></tr> +<tr><td>" Charles Webb, Connecticut</td><td class="right">542</td></tr> +<tr><td>" Jonathan Brewer (Artificers)</td><td class="right">584</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Greene's Division</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Aides-de-Camp</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">Major William Blodgett, Major William S. Livingston.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Nixon's Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN NIXON.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Daniel Box.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Nixon's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Edward Hand,</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td class="right">288</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>James Mitchell Varnum,</td><td>Rhode Island</td><td class="right">391</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Daniel Hitchcock,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">368</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Late Nixon's,</td><td>Massachusetts</td><td class="right">419</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>William Prescott,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">399</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Moses Little,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">453</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Heard's Brigade</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL NATHANIEL HEARD.</p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Peter Gordon.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Heard's Brigade"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>David Forman,</td><td>New Jersey</td><td class="right">372</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Phillip Johnston,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">235</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Ephraim Martin,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">382</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Silas Newcomb,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">336</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Phillip Van Cortlandt,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">269</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Connecticut Militia</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL OLIVER WOLCOTT.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Connecticut Militia"> +<tbody> +<tr><td class="center">Colonel</td><td>Thompson,</td><td>Connecticut</td><td class="center">350</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Hinman,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Pettibone,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Cooke,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Talcott,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Chapman,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Baldwin,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lieutenant-Colonel</td><td>Mead,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">" "</td><td>Lewis,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">" "</td><td>Pitkin,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">Major</td><td>Strong,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Newberry,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="center">"</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Long Island Militia</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">BRIGADIER-GENERAL NATHANIEL WOODHULL.<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p class="center">Brigade-Major, Jonathan Lawrence.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Long Island Militia"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Colonel</td><td>Josiah Smith,</td><td>Long Island</td><td class="right">250</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center">"</td><td>Jeronimus Remsen,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">200</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Artillery</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"> +Colonel Henry Knox, Massachusetts 406 +</p> + +<p><br />As appears from a document among the papers of General Knox, the +encampments and posts of these brigades, before the advance of the +enemy, were fixed as follows: Scott's, in the city; Wadsworth's, along +the East River,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> in the city; Parsons', from the ship-yards on the +East River to Jones' Hill, and including one of the redoubts to the +west of it; Stirling's and McDougall's, still further west as a +reserve near Bayard's Hill; Fellows', on the Hudson, from Greenwich +down to the "Glass House," about half-way to Canal Street; and James +Clinton's, from that point down to the "Furnace," opposite the +Grenadier Battery. These brigades, forming Putnam's, Spencer's, and +Sullivan's divisions, with the Connecticut militia, were retained +within the city and its immediate vicinity. Of Heath's division, +Mifflin's brigade was posted at Fort Washington, at the upper end of +the island, and George Clinton's at King's Bridge. Greene's +division—Nixon's and Heard's brigades—with the exception of +Prescott's regiment and Nixon's, now under his brother, +Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Nixon, which were on Governor's Island, +occupied the Long Island front.<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A far more perfect and formidable army was that which lay encamped on +Staten Island, seven miles down the bay. It was the best officered, +disciplined, and equipped that Great Britain could then have mustered +for any service. The fact that she found it difficult to raise new +troops to conquer America only made it necessary to send forward all +her available old soldiers. The greater part of Howe's army, +accordingly, consisted of experienced regulars. He had with him +twenty-seven regiments of the line, four battalions of light infantry +and four of grenadiers, two battalions of the king's guards, three +brigades of artillery, and a regiment of light dragoons, numbering in +the aggregate about twenty-three thousand officers and men. The six +thousand or more that came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> from Halifax were the Boston "veterans." +These had been joined by regiments from the West Indies; and among the +reinforcements from Britain were troops that had garrisoned Gibraltar +and posts in Ireland and England, with men from Scotland who had won a +name in the Seven Years' War.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> Howe's generals were men who showed +their fitness to command by their subsequent conduct during the war. +Next to the commander-in-chief ranked Lieutenant-Generals Clinton, +Percy, and Cornwallis; Major-Generals Mathews, Robertson, Pigot, +Grant, Jones, Vaughan, and Agnew; and Brigadier-Generals Leslie, +Cleveland, Smith, and Erskine.</p> + +<p>The Hessians or "foreigners" formed more than one fourth of the +enemy's strength. They numbered eight thousand officers and men, +which, added to the distinctively British force, raised Howe's total +to over thirty-one thousand. His total of effectives on the 27th of +August was something more than twenty-four thousand.<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> +<p>Drawn up in complete array upon the field this army would have +confronted Washington's in the following order:<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></p> + + +<p class="center"><br /><b>ORDER OF BATTLE FOR THE BRITISH.</b></p> + +<p class="center">[SIR WILLIAM HOWE.]</p> + +<p class="small" style="text-align: center">COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.</p> + +<p class="center">LIEUT GENLL CLINTON.</p> + +<p class="small" style="text-align: center">BRIGADIER GENLL LESSLIE.</p> + +<p class="center">2<sup>d</sup> Bat<sup>n</sup> Lt. Infty. 3<sup>d</sup> Brigade<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> Lt. Infty. 1<sup>st</sup> Bat<sup>n</sup> +Lt. Infty.</p> + +<p class="center">Major of Brigade Lewis.</p> + +<p class="small" style="text-align: center">BRIGADIER GENLL CLEVELAND.</p> + +<p class="center">2<sup>nd</sup> Brig. of Art'lly. 3<sup>d</sup> Brigade of Art. 1<sup>st</sup> Brigade of Art.</p> + +<p class="center">Major of Brigade Farrington.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">First Line.</span></p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table style="width: 100%" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="First Line"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Pigot.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Agnew.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">B.G. Smith.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Robertson.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Mathews.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="small">Cavalry.</td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">5<sup>th</sup>, 35<sup>th</sup>, 49<sup>th</sup>, 28<sup>th</sup>.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">23<sup>d</sup>, 57<sup>th</sup>, 64<sup>th</sup>, 44<sup>th</sup>.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">43<sup>d</sup>, 63<sup>d</sup>, 54<sup>th</sup>, 23<sup>d</sup>.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">15<sup>th</sup>, 45<sup>th</sup>, 27<sup>th</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">Guards.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">2<sup>d</sup> Brigade.<br />M.B. Disney.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">6<sup>th</sup> Brigade.<br />M.B. Leslie.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">5<sup>th</sup> Brigade.<br />M.B. McKenzie.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">1 Brigade.<br />M.B. Smith.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">2 Battalions.<br /> </td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Second Line.</span></p> + +<p class="center">LIEUT GEN<sup>LL.</sup> EARL PERCY.</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Second Line"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Grant.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">B.G. Erskine.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">M.G. Jones.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">17<sup>th</sup>, 46<sup>th</sup>, 55<sup>th</sup>, 40<sup>th</sup>.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">71<sup>st</sup> Regiment.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center; border: 2px solid black;" class="small">37<sup>th</sup>, 52<sup>d</sup>, 38<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">4<sup>th</sup> Brigade.<br /> + M.B. Brown.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">3 Battalions.<br /> + M.B. Erskine.</td> + <td> </td> + <td style="text-align: center" class="small">3<sup>d</sup> Brigade.<br /> + M.B. Baker.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<p><br /><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Corps de Reserve.</span></p> + +<p class="center">LIEUT GENLL EARL CORNWALLIS.</p> + +<p class="center">Major Genll Vaughan.</p> + +<p class="center">2 B. Grend<sup>rs</sup> 4<sup>th</sup> B. Grend<sup>rs</sup> 3 Batt. Grend<sup>rs</sup> 1<sup>st</sup> Battln +Grend<sup>rs</sup></p> + +<p class="center">42 Regmt. 33<sup>d</sup> Regt.</p> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Hessian Division.</span><a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></p> + +<p class="center">LIEUT-GENERAL DE HEISTER.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Mirbach's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR GENERAL VON MIRBACH.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Regiments.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Kniphausen. Rall. Lossberg.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Stirn's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL VON STIRN.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Regiments.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Donop. Mirbach. Hereditary Prince.</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Donop's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">COLONEL VON DONOP.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Grenadiers.</span></p> + +<p class="center">Block. Minegerode. Lisingen.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Yagers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></span></p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Lossberg's Brigade.</span></p> + +<p class="center">COLONEL VON LOSSBERG.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Regiments</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">Von Ditfurth. Von Trumbach.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>When and where, now, will these two armies meet? Or rather, the +question was narrowed down to this: When and where will the British +attack? With Washington there was no choice left but to maintain a +strictly defensive attitude. The command which the enemy had of the +waters was alone sufficient to make their encampment on Staten Island +perfectly secure. As to assuming the offensive, Washington wrote to +his brother, John Augustine, on July 22d: "Our situation at present, +both in regard to men and other matters, is such as not to make it +advisable to attempt any thing against them, surrounded as they are by +water and covered with ships, lest a miscarriage should be productive +of unhappy and fatal consequences. It is provoking, nevertheless, to +have them so near, without being able to give them any disturbance." +Earlier in the season an expedition had been organized under Mercer, +in which Knowlton was to take an active part, to attack the enemy's +outposts on Staten Island from the Jersey shore, but the weather twice +interfered with the plan. All that the Americans hoped to do was to +hold their own at and around New York. Washington tells us that he +fully expected to be able to defend the city.<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> Even the passage of +the Rose and Phœnix did not shake his faith. None of his letters +written during the summer disclose any such misgivings as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> Lee +expressed, respecting the possibility of maintaining this base, and in +attempting to hold it he followed out his own best military judgment.</p> + +<p>What occasioned the principal anxiety in the mind of the +commander-in-chief was the number of points at which the British could +make an attack and their distance from one another. They could advance +into New Jersey from Staten Island; they could make a direct attack +upon the city with their fleet, while the transports sailed up the +Hudson and the troops effected a landing in his rear; they could cross +to Long Island and fall upon Greene in force; or they could make +landings at different points as feints, and then concentrate more +rapidly than Washington, as their water carriage would enable them to +do, and strike where he was weakest.<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></p> + +<p>The summer and the campaign season were passing, and still the +uncertainty was protracted—when and where will the enemy attack?</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +<a name="MAP02"></a> +<img src="images/map02.png" width="395" height="500" alt="map" title="map" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map02lg.png">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND<br /> +AND OF THE BROOKLYN DEFENCES<br /> +AUGUST 27<sup>TH</sup> 1776.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Compiled by HENRY P. JOHNSTON.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">F. von Egloffstein del.<br /> +JULIUS BIEN, PHOTO-LITH.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">At</span> length, upon the twenty-second of August, after days of expectation +and suspense in the American camp, the British moved forward. +Thoroughly informed of Washington's position, the strength of his +army, and the condition of his lines at every point,<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> Lord Howe +matured his plan of action deliberately, and decided to advance by way +of Long Island. An attack from this quarter promised the speediest +success and at the least cost, for, should he be able to force the +defences of Brooklyn, New York would be at his mercy; or, failing in +this, he could threaten Washington's flank from Hell Gate or beyond, +where part of the fleet had been sent through the Sound, and by a push +into Westchester County compel the evacuation of the city. +Preparations were accordingly made to transport the troops from Staten +Island<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> across to the Long Island coast and debark them at Gravesend +Bay, a mile to the eastward of the Narrows. A thunder-storm of great +violence on the previous evening, which had fallen with fatal effect +on more than one of Washington's soldiers, threatened to delay the +movement, but a still atmosphere followed, and the morning of the 22d +broke favorably.<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> At dawn the three frigates Phœnix, Greyhound +and Rose, with the bomb-ketches Thunder and Carcass, took their +stations close into the Bay as covering ships for the landing, while +Sir George Collier placed the Rainbow within the Narrows, opposite De +Nyse's Ferry, now Fort Hamilton, to silence a battery supposed to be +at that point. Upon the Staten Island shore fifteen thousand British +and Hessian troops, fully equipped, and forty pieces of artillery had +been drawn up during the day and evening before, and a part of them +embarked upon transports lying near at anchor. At the beach were +moored seventy-five flat-boats, eleven batteaux, and two galleys, +built expressly for the present service, and manned by sailors from +the ships of war, which, with the rest of the naval armament, were +placed under the direction of Commodore Hotham.</p> + +<p>As soon as the covering frigates were in position, the brigade of +light infantry and the reserves of grenadiers and foot, forming an +advance corps four thousand strong and headed by Sir Henry Clinton and +Lord Cornwallis, entered the flotilla and were rowed in ten divisions +to the Gravesend landing, where they formed upon the plain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> without +opposition.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> Then followed the remaining troops from the +transports, and before noon the fifteen thousand, with guns and +baggage, had been safely transferred to Long Island. All who witnessed +this naval spectacle that morning were the enemy themselves, a few +Dutch farmers in the vicinity, and the pickets of Hand's riflemen, who +at once reported the movement at camp.</p> + +<p>The landing successfully effected, Cornwallis was immediately detached +with the reserves, Donop's corps of chasseurs and grenadiers, and six +field-pieces, to occupy the village of Flatbush, but with orders not +to attempt the "pass" beyond, if he found it held by the rebels; and +the main force encamped nearer the coast, from the Narrows to +Flatlands. As Cornwallis advanced, Colonel Hand and his two hundred +riflemen hurried down from their outpost camp above Utrecht, and, +keeping close to the enemy's front, marched part of the way "alongside +of them, in the edge of the woods," but avoided an open fight in the +field with superior numbers.<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> Captain Hamilton and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> twenty men of +the battalion fell back on the road in advance, burning grain and +stacks of hay, and killing cattle, which, says Lieutenant-Colonel +Chambers, he did "very cleverly." Among the inhabitants along the +coast, confusion, excitement, and distress prevailed,<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> and many +moved off their goods in great haste to find refuge in the American +lines or farther east on the island; while others remained to welcome +the enemy, for whose success they had been secretly praying from the +outset.</p> + +<p>The section of Long Island which the enemy now occupied was a broad +low plain, stretching northward from the coast from four to six miles, +and eastward a still further distance. Scattered over its level +surface were four villages, surrounded with farms. Nearest to the +Narrows, and nearly a mile from the coast, stood New Utrecht; another +mile south-east of this was Gravesend; north-east from Gravesend, +nearly three miles, the road led through Flatlands, and directly north +from Flatlands, and about half-way to Brooklyn Church, lay Flatbush. +Between this plain and the Brooklyn lines ran a ridge of hills, which +extended from New York Bay midway through the island to its eastern +extremity. The ridge varied in height from one hundred to one hundred +and fifty feet above the sea, and from the plain it rose somewhat +abruptly from forty to eighty feet, but fell off more gradually in its +descent on the other side. Its entire surface was covered with a dense +growth of woods and thickets,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> and to an enemy advancing from below it +presented a continuous barrier, a huge natural abattis, impassable to +artillery, where with proportionate numbers a successful defence could +be sustained.</p> + +<p>The roads across the ridge passed through its natural depressions, of +which there were four within a distance of six miles from the harbor. +The main highway, or Jamaica Road—that which led up from Brooklyn +Ferry—after passing through Bedford, kept on still north of the +hills, and crossed them at the "Jamaica Pass," about four miles from +the fortified line. From this branched three roads leading to the +villages in the plain. The most direct was that to Flatbush, which cut +through the ridge a mile and a half from the works. Three quarters of +a mile to the left, towards the Jamaica Pass, a road from Bedford led +also to Flatbush; and near the coast ran the Gowanus Road to the +Narrows. Where the Red Lion Tavern stood on this road, about three +miles from Brooklyn Church, a narrow lane, known as the Martense Lane, +now marking the southern boundary of Greenwood Cemetery, diverged to +the left through a hollow in the ridge and connected with roads on the +plain. To clearly understand succeeding movements on Long Island, it +is necessary to have in mind the relative situation of these several +routes and passes.</p> + +<p>When word of the enemy's landing reached Sullivan and Washington the +troops were immediately put under arms. The commander-in-chief had +already been prepared for the intelligence by a dispatch from Governor +Livingston, of New Jersey, the night before, to the effect that he had +certain information from the British camp that they were then +embarking troops and would move to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> the attack on the following +day.<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> As the report came in that the enemy intended to march at +once upon Sullivan, Washington promptly sent him a reinforcement of +six regiments, which included Miles' and Atlee's from Stirling's +brigade, Chester's and Silliman's from Wadsworth's, and probably +Lasher's and Drake's from Scott's, numbering together some eighteen +hundred men. They crossed with light spirits, and were marched to +alarm-posts. Miles' two battalions went on to the Bedford Pass; +Silliman was ordered down into "a woody hill near Red Hook, to prevent +any more troops from landing thereabout."<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> Hand's riflemen, +supported by one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> of the Eastern regiments, watched and annoyed the +Hessians under Donop at Flatbush, and detachments were sent to guard +the lower roads near the Red Lion.<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> Within the Brooklyn lines the +troops stood to their alarm-posts. Colonel Little, expecting that +"morning would bring us to battle," and remembering his promise to +defend Fort Greene to the last extremity, enclosed his will to his +son, and directed him in a certain event to take proper charge at +home.</p> + +<p>The morning of the 23d, however, brought no battle, nor did the enemy +attempt any advance for three days. Washington made Sullivan an early +visit, saw the situation there for himself, and during the day issued +another of his fervent orders to the army. He formally announced the +landing of the British, and again reminded his troops that the moment +was approaching on which their honor and success and the safety of the +country depended. "Remember, officers and soldiers," he said, "that +you are freemen, fighting for the blessings of liberty; that slavery +will be your portion, and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit +yourselves like men. Remember how your courage and spirit have been +despised and traduced by your cruel invaders; though they have found +by dear experience at Boston, Charleston, and other places what a few +brave men, contending in their own land and in the best of causes, can +do against base hirelings and mercenaries." He urged them, too, to be +cool, but determined; not to fire at a distance, but wait for the word +from their officers; and gave express orders that if any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> man +attempted to skulk, lie down, or retreat, he must be instantly shot +down as an example. Those who should distinguish themselves for +gallantry and good conduct were assured that they might depend upon +being honorably noticed and suitably rewarded. Strict orders as to +other matters were also issued. The commissary-general was to have +five days' baked bread on hand for distribution; the men were to have +constantly ready with them two days' hard bread and pork, and the +officers were to see not only that they had it, but kept it. The +officers of the newly arrived militiamen were instructed also to see +that the cartridges fitted their soldiers' muskets, and that each man +had twenty-four rounds and two flints.</p> + +<p>On the Long Island front, Sullivan was alert, and kept his division in +readiness for the attack, which was now hourly expected. He ordered +his command that afternoon, the 23d, to prepare two days' provisions +and turn out the next morning at three o'clock. For the night, he +assigned Hitchcock's and Little's regiments to guard the Flatbush +Pass, Johnston's and Martin's to the coast road, and Remsen's Long +Island militia to support Miles on the Bedford Road. They were all to +be at their posts at six o'clock, and the regiments they relieved were +to return to their encampments and, like the rest, "get two days' +provisions dressed, and be ready for action."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile some brisk skirmishing occurred in front of Flatbush. In the +afternoon of this day, the enemy, as Sullivan reported, formed, and +attempted to pass the road by Bedford, but meeting a warm reception +from the riflemen, some "musketry" sent to their support, and two or +three of our field pieces, they fell back. "Our men," wrote Sullivan +to Washington, "followed them to the house of Judge Lefferts (where a +number of them had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> taken lodgings), drove them out, and burnt the +house and a number of other buildings contiguous. They think they +killed a number; and, as evidence of it, they produced three officers' +hangers, a carbine, and one dead body, with a considerable sum of +money in pocket. I have ordered a party out for prisoners +to-night."<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> The enemy returned in force, and the American +skirmishers, having but two wounded, withdrew to the hills; but their +conduct in the affair was so highly appreciated by Sullivan, that he +issued a congratulatory order in the following terms:</p> + +<p>"The general returns his thanks to the brave officers and soldiers +who, with so much spirit and intrepidity, repulsed the enemy and +defeated their designs of taking possession of the woods near our +lines. He is now convinced that the troops he has the honor to command +will not, in point of bravery, yield to any troops in the universe. +The cheerfulness with which they do their duty, and the patience with +which they undergo fatigue, evince exalted sentiments of freedom and +love of country, and gives him most satisfactory evidence that when +called upon they will prove themselves worthy of that freedom for +which they are now contending."<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p><p>On the 24th, Washington was still in doubt as to the intentions of the +enemy. Reports represented their numbers on Long Island at not more +than eight thousand, whereas they were double this estimate; and it +was suspected at headquarters that their landing might only be a feint +to draw off our troops to that side, while the real attack should be +made on New York. But the imprudence of running any risks on the +Brooklyn side was obvious, and Washington sent over a further +reinforcement of four regiments, which appear to have been Wyllys's, +Huntington's, and Tyler's of Parsons' brigade (his entire command was +there on the next day) together with the Pennsylvania detachments +under Lieutenant-Colonel Lutz and Major Hay. On this date +Brigadier-General Lord Stirling crossed over, where more than half his +brigade had preceded him; and Brigadier-General John Nixon, whose name +now first appears in connection with the operations on Long Island, +was detailed as field officer of the day, with orders to take command +of the outer line and post his men "in the edge of the woods next the +enemy."<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + +<p>But the principal event of the 24th was the change made in the chief +command on Long Island. Sullivan was superseded by Putnam. There were +now on that side the whole of Nixon's and Heard's brigades (the two +regiments on Governor's Island excepted), the larger part of +Stirling's and Parson's, and half of Scott's and Wadsworth's. As this +roster included one third of the army's effective force, the command +could properly be assigned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> to Putnam as the senior major-general +present; but it does not appear that the question of his rank entered +into the reasons for the change. In a letter to Governor Livingston +from Colonel Reed, the adjutant-general, dated August 30th, 1776, the +statement is made that Washington, "finding a great force going to +Long Island, sent over Putnam;" leaving the inference to be drawn +that, apart from his rank, Putnam was considered the proper officer, +or an officer competent, to command such a force. Reed states further +that some movements had been made on Long Island of which the +commander-in-chief did not entirely approve, and this also called for +a change. Sullivan, too, was wholly unacquainted with the ground; +although, as to this, Putnam's knowledge of it was not extensive, as +he had been over it only "occasionally." That Sullivan was a brave, +zealous, and active officer, his military career abundantly proves. +Appointed a brigadier-general from New Hampshire, he commanded a +brigade under Lee throughout the Boston siege, and had been sent, as +already stated, in the spring of this year to help repair the +misfortunes attending our force on the Canada border; but success was +not to be met with there, and Sullivan, finding Gates promoted to the +chief command in that quarter, returned, after visiting Congress, to +the New York army. Like most of our general officers at that date, he +as yet lacked military experience, especially in an independent +capacity, for which his ambition to succeed was not a sufficient +equivalent. How far Putnam was more competent to assume the command on +Long Island, is a point which the issue there, at least, did not +determine. His record before this was all in his favor. A veteran of +the old war, a man of known personal courage, blunt, honest, +practical, and devoted to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> American cause, he had the confidence +of at least the older part of the army, with which he had been +identified from the beginning of the struggle. As he had never been +tried in a separate department, Washington could not say how he would +manage it, but he could say, from his experience with him at Boston, +that Putnam was "a most valuable man and fine executive officer,"<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> +and such he continued to prove himself through the present campaign. +He seconded Washington heartily and efficiently in all his plans and +preparations, and when he was sent to Long Island the +commander-in-chief had reason to feel that whatever directions he +might give as to operations there, Putnam would follow them out to the +letter. But if Putnam took the general command across the river, +Sullivan continued in active subordinate control, as second in +command.<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p><p>On the 25th, Putnam received written instructions from Washington. He +was directed to form a proper line of defence around his encampment +and works on the most advantageous ground; to have a brigadier of the +day constantly upon the lines that he might be on the spot to command; +to have field-officers go the rounds and report the situation of the +guards; to have the guards particularly instructed in their duty; and +to compel all the men on duty to remain at their camps or quarters and +be ready to turn out at a moment's warning. The wood next to Red Hook +bordering Gowanus Creek was to be well attended to, and the woods +elsewhere secured by abattis, if necessary, to make the enemy's +progress as difficult as possible. The militia, or troops which were +least disciplined and had seen the least service, were to man the +interior lines, while the best men were "at all hazards" to prevent +the enemy's passing the woods and approaching the works. He +disapproved also of the unmeaning picket firing and the burning of +houses, and warned the general finally that when the attack came it +was certain to be "sudden and violent."<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></p> + +<p>For brigadier for the day, General Lord Stirling was assigned to duty +on this date.<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<p>In the skirmishing that continued from the 24th to the 26th the +Americans showed skill and bravery, although at times indulging in +desultory firing. The riflemen, supported by field-pieces, made +occasioned dashes upon the enemy and picked off their men with almost +no loss to themselves. Among the troops on picket near Flatbush, on +the 25th, were Colonel Silliman and his Connecticut battalion; and +from the colonel, who wrote from there, on a drum-head, to his wife, +we get a glimpse of the situation at that point during his tour of +duty. "I am now posted," he says, "within about half a mile from the +Regulars with my Regt. under the covert of a woody hill to stop their +passage into the country. There are a number of Regts. posted all +around the town within about the same distance and for the same +purpose. The Regulars keep up an almost constant fire from their +Cannon and Mortars at some or other of us, but neither shott nor shell +has come near my Regt. as yet and they are at too great a distance to +fire muskets at. I have a scouting party going out now to see if they +can't pick up some or get something from them.... They have wounded in +all of our men in 3 days skirmish about 8 or 9, one or two mortally, +which is not half the number that we have killed for them besides +wounded." On the 26th a considerable party with artillery attacked the +Hessians and drove them in, killing several men belonging to the Von +Lossberg regiment, which later in the day advanced in turn and +compelled our skirmishers to fall back. In this affair Colonel Ephraim +Martin, of New Jersey, was severely wounded.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 26th, Washington again crossed to Long Island, +where he remained until night. The records are quite silent as to how +he passed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> most of his time, but judging from his letter to +Congress of this date, in which he expressed his belief that the enemy +had landed nearly all their force on that side, and that it was there +they would make their "grand push," it was doubtless a busy, watchful, +and anxious day with him. To suppose that he did not inform himself of +all the preparations made to meet the enemy, that he did not know what +number of men were posted on the hills and at what points, that he did +not study the several modes and directions of attack possible for the +enemy to adopt, and that he did not himself give personal directions, +would be to charge that at the most important moment of the campaign +he failed to exercise that care and attention to detail which he +exercised on so many occasions both before and after. Indeed, although +Putnam and Sullivan were in immediate command on Long Island, +Washington never shifted the final responsibility from his own +shoulders, and as a matter of fact was probably as well acquainted +with the ground as either of these generals. Towards evening, in +company with Putnam, Sullivan, and other officers, he rode down to the +outposts near Flatbush and examined the position of the enemy. How +long he remained, or what information he was able to gather, does not +appear; but both the other generals, Putnam and Sullivan, made a +detour of the pickets either at this time or at an earlier hour in the +day, visited Miles and Brodhead on the extreme left, took their +opinion as to the movements and intentions of the British, so far as +one could be formed by them, and then rode off to the right "to +reconnoitre the enemies lines."<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<p>On this day also, the 26th, additional regiments were sent over. Two +of these were the remainder of Stirling's brigade—Haslet's Delaware +battalion, the largest in the army, as we have seen, and Smallwood's +Marylanders, one of the choicest and best equipped. Either on this or +one of the two previous days, Lieutenant-Colonel Kachlein's incomplete +battalion of Pennsylvania riflemen, with two or three independent +companies from Maryland, crossed; and among the last to go over were +one hundred picked men, the nucleus of the "Rangers," from Durkee's +Connecticut Continentals at Bergen, with Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas +Knowlton at their head.<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> These additions raised the force on Long +Island on the night of the 26th to a total of about seven thousand men +fit for duty.<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>Following in turn after Nixon and Stirling, Brigadier-General Parsons +was detailed as field officer of the day<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> for the next twenty-four +hours—the day of the engagement.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>At about the time that Washington started to return to his +headquarters at New York, on this evening, Sir William Howe began to +set his columns in motion for the attack, and on the next morning, at +the passes in the hills and along their inner slopes, was fought what +is known in our Revolutionary history as the battle of Long Island.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Fortunately, a point so essential to the comprehension of the progress +of any engagement, the position of both armies on Long Island, just +before the attack, is now known nearly to the last detail. The record +here is clear and satisfactory. On the night of the 26th, the various +regiments and detachments on guard at the American outposts numbered +not far from twenty-eight hundred men. At the important Flatbush Pass, +supporting the two or three gun battery there, and with strong pickets +thrown out to the edge of the woods nearest the enemy, were posted +Hitchcock's and Little's Continental regiments, and Johnston's New +Jersey battalion, the two former being commanded by their +lieutenant-colonels, Cornell and Henshaw. To this point, also, +Knowlton and his rangers appear to have been sent. The battery or +redoubt here stood about where the Flatbush and narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> Port Road +united, and was apparently no more than a plain breastwork, with +felled trees in front of it, thrown up across the road, and perhaps +extending to the rising ground on the left.<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> At the coast road, +around and beyond the Red Lion, the guards consisted of Hand's +riflemen, half of Atlee's musketry, detachments of New York troops, +and part of Lutz's Pennsylvanians under Major Burd. At the Bedford +Pass, to the left of the Flatbush Road, were stationed Colonel Samuel +Wyllys's Connecticut Continentals, and Colonel Chester's regiment from +the same State, under Lieutenant-Colonel Solomon Wills, of Tolland, +who had seen service in the French war and at Havana. Still further to +the left, Colonel Miles was now encamped a short distance beyond, in +the woods. Between these several passes, sentinels were stationed at +intervals along the crest of the ridge, to keep communication open +from one end of the line to the other.<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p><p>As far, then, to the left as Miles' position the hills were as well +guarded as seemed possible with the limited force that could be +spared, and at the passes themselves a stout resistance could have +been offered. But it was still an attenuated line, more than four +miles long, not parallel but oblique to the line of works at Brooklyn, +and distant from it not less than one and a half, and at the farthest +posts nearly three miles. Should the enemy pierce it at any one point, +an immediate retreat would have been necessary from every other. The +line could have been defended with confidence only on the supposition +that the British would not venture to penetrate the thick woods, but +advance along the roads through the passes.</p> + +<p>It will be noticed that in this disposition no provision was made for +holding the fourth or Jamaica Pass far over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> to the left. That the +enemy could approach or make a diversion by that route, must have been +well understood. But the posting of a permanent guard there would +obviously have been attended with hazard, for the distance from the +lines to this pass was four miles, and from the Bedford Pass two miles +and a half through the woods. The position was thus extremely +isolated, if the troops stationed there were expected to make the +fortified line their point of retreat. None were stationed there +during the five days since the British landed, and it nowhere appears +that any were intended or ordered to be so stationed by either +Sullivan, Putnam, or the commander-in-chief. There was but one +effective way of preventing surprise from that quarter, and that was +to have squads of cavalry or troops constantly patrolling the road, +who on the appearance of an enemy could carry the word immediately and +rapidly to the outposts and the camp. But in all Washington's army +there was not a single company of horsemen, except the few Long Island +troopers from Kings and Queens counties, and these were now engaged +miles away in driving off stock out of reach of the enemy. The duty, +accordingly, of looking after the open left flank fell, in part, upon +Colonel Miles' two battalions. Lieutenant-Colonel Brodhead leaves it +on record that it was "hard duty." The regiment sent out scouting +parties every day a distance of four or five miles; one hundred men +were mounted for guard daily, and thirty more with a lieutenant were +kept on duty on the left, evidently in the direction of the Jamaica +Road. General Parsons reports that "in the wood was placed Colonel +Miles with his Battalion to watch the motion of the Enemy on that +part, with orders to keep a party constantly reconnoitering to and +across the Jamaica<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> road." Should he discover the enemy at any time, +it would have been expected of him to report the fact at once, oppose +them vigorously, and retreat obstinately in order to give time for the +other detachments to govern their movements accordingly.</p> + +<p>One other circumstance is to be noticed in regard to this Jamaica +Pass. General Sullivan, subsequently referring to his connection with +this battle, claimed that while he was in sole command he paid +horsemen out of his own purse to patrol the road, and that he +predicted the approach of the enemy by that road. Whatever inferences +may be drawn from this is not now to the point; but we have the fact +that upon the evening of the 26th he exercised the same authority he +had exercised in making other details, and sent out a special patrol +of five commissioned officers to watch the Jamaica Pass. Three of +these officers belonged to Colonel Lasher's New York City +battalion—Adjutant Jeronimus Hoogland and Lieutenants Robert Troup +and Edward Dunscomb; and the other two were Lieutenant Gerrit Van +Wagenen, a detached officer of McDougall's old regiment, and a +Lieutenant Gilliland, who with Van Wagenen had crossed to Long Island, +as a volunteer. What part this patrol played in the incidents of the +following morning will presently appear.</p> + +<p>Thus on the night of the 26th the American outposts stretched along +the hills from the harbor to the Jamaica Pass, with unguarded +intervals, a distance of more than six miles, while in the plains +below lay the enemy, nearly ten times their number, ready to fall upon +them with "a sudden and violent" shock. During the night one change +was made in the picket guard. Colonel Hand's riflemen, who had been on +almost constant duty since the arrival of the British, were relieved +at two o'clock in the morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> by a detachment from the flying camp, +which may have been a part of Hay's and Kachlein's men, and returning +to the lines, dropped down to sleep.<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>If we leave our outposts now upon the hills and pass into the enemy's +camp on the plain below, we shall find them on the eve of carrying out +a great plan of attack. The four days since the 22d had been given to +preparation. On the 25th, Lieutenant-General De Heister crossed from +Staten Island with the two Hessian brigades of Von Stirn and Von +Mirbach, leaving behind Von Lossberg's brigade, with some detachments +and recruits, for the security of that island. With this addition, +Howe's force on Long Island was swelled to a total of about twenty-one +thousand officers and men, fit for duty and in the best condition for +active service.<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> As disposed on the 26th, the army lay with the +Hessians and the reserves under Cornwallis at Flatbush, the main body +under Clinton and Percy massed at Flatlands, and Grant's division of +the fourth and sixth brigades nearer the Narrows.</p> + +<p>Outnumbering the Americans three to one on the island, Howe could lay +his plans with assurance of almost absolute success. He proposed to +advance upon the "rebels" in three columns. Grant was ordered to move +up from the Narrows along the lower road, and De Heister was to engage +the attention of the Americans at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Flatbush Pass, while Clinton, +Percy, and Cornwallis, with Howe himself, were to conduct the main +body as a flanking force around the American left by way of the +Jamaica Pass. A previous reconnoissance made by Clinton and Erskine, +and information gathered from the Tories, showed the practicability of +this latter movement.<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> Grant and De Heister were simply to make a +show of an attack until they were assured by the sound of the firing +that the flanking column had accomplished its design, when their +demonstrations were to be turned into serious fighting. It was +expected that by this plan the Americans stationed at the hills and +passes would be entirely enveloped and thoroughly beaten if not +captured in a body. With what nice precision this piece of strategy +was executed, events will show.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The first collision was ominous. Grant's advance-guard, marching up +from the Narrows, struck the American pickets in the vicinity of the +Red Lion about two o'clock on the morning of the 27th. Whether because +they were all new troops, a part of whom had but just come upon the +ground, and were alarmed by the night attack, or because they were +surprised at their posts and put in danger of capture, or whatever the +reason, our picket guard at that point retreated before the enemy +without checking their march. There was hardly more than an exchange +of fire with Major Burd's detachment, as the major himself writes, and +in the confusion or dark<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>ness he, with many others probably, was taken +prisoner. This was an unfortunate beginning, so far as our men had +abandoned one of the very posts which it had been proposed to hold; +but otherwise, there being other positions available, it was not +necessarily fatal to the plan of defending the hills.<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + +<p>Word of the attack was quickly carried to General Parsons at his +quarters and to General Putnam in camp. Parsons, as the brigadier on +duty, rode at once to the spot, and found "by fair daylight" not only +that the guards had "fled," but that the enemy were through the woods +and already on this side of the main hills. Hastily collecting some +twenty of the scattered pickets, he made a show of resistance, which +temporarily halted the enemy's column.<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> At the same time Putnam, +whose instructions were to hold the outposts "at all hazards" with his +best men, called up Stirling and directed him in person to take the +two regiments nearest at hand and march down to meet the enemy.<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> +Stirling promptly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> turned out Haslet's and Smallwood's battalions and +marched down. Colonel Atlee, who was also ordered forward, was on the +road before him, with that part of his regiment, about one hundred and +twenty men, not already on picket; and Huntington's Connecticut +Continentals, under Lieutenant-Colonel Clark (Huntington himself being +sick),<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> and Kachlein's Pennsylvania riflemen were soon after +started in the same direction. Meanwhile, within the lines, the +alarm-guns were fired, the whole camp roused, and the troops drawn up +at the forts and breastworks. Hand's riflemen, who had but just lain +down, "almost dead with fatigue," were turned out to take post in Fort +Putnam and the redoubt on its left.<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<p>When Stirling reached a point within half a mile of the Red Lion he +found, as Parsons had before him, that the enemy had met with little +opposition or delay at the outposts on that road, and were now on the +full march towards the Brooklyn lines. As there were still good +positions which he could occupy, he immediately made a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> disposition of +his force to offer resistance. The road here ran in a winding course +along the line of the present Third Avenue, but a short distance from +the bay, with here and there a dwelling which together constituted the +Gowanus village or settlement. Where the present Twenty-third Street +intersects the avenue there was a small bridge on the old road which +crossed a ditch or creek setting up from the bay to a low and marshy +piece of ground on the left, looking south; and just the other side of +the bridge, the land rose to quite a bluff at the water's edge, which +was known among the Dutch villagers as "Blockje's Bergh." From the +bluff the low hill fell gradually to the marsh or morass just +mentioned, the road continuing along between them.<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> Right here, +therefore, the approach by the road was narrow, and at the corner of +Twenty-third Street was confined to the crossing at the bridge.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="border"><br /> +<a name="PORTRAIT04"></a> +<img src="images/port004.png" width="272" height="400" alt="Jed Huntington" title="Jed Huntington" /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Jed Huntington</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>COLONEL SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (CONN.)<br /> +BRIGADIER GENERAL 1777.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">Steel Engr. F. von Egloffstein N.Y.</span></p> + +<p><br /> +According to his own account, and from our present knowledge of the +topography, Stirling evidently came to a halt on or just this side of +"Blockje's Bergh." Seeing the British not far in his front, and taking +in the situation at a glance, he ordered Atlee to post his men on the +left of the road and wait the enemy's coming up, while he himself +retired with Smallwood's and Haslet's to form line on a piece of "very +advantageous ground" further back. Atlee reports this preliminary move +as follows: "I received orders from Lord Stirling to advance with my +battalion and oppose the enemy's passing a morass or swamp at the foot +of a fine rising ground, upon which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> they were first discovered, and +thereby give time to our brigade to form upon the heights. This order +I immediately obeyed, notwithstanding we must be exposed without any +kind of cover to the great fire of the enemy's musketry and +field-pieces, charged with round and grapeshot, and finely situated +upon the eminence above mentioned, having entire command of the ground +I was ordered to occupy. My battalion, although new and never before +having the opportunity of facing an enemy, sustained their fire until +the brigade had formed; but finding we could not possibly prevent +their crossing the swamp, I ordered my detachment to file off to the +left and take post in a wood upon the left of the brigade."<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> +General Parsons says: "We took possession of a hill about two miles +from camp, and detached Colonel Atlee to meet them further on the +road; in about sixty rods he drew up and received the enemy's fire and +gave them a well-directed fire from his regiment, which did great +execution, and then retreated to the hill."</p> + +<p>This advantageous site, where Stirling had now drawn up his brigade to +dispute Grant's progress, was the crest of the slope which rose +northerly from the marsh and low ground around "Blockje's Bergh," and +which to-day is represented by about the line of Twentieth +Street.<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> Here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> was an elevation or ridge favorable for defence, +and here Stirling proposed to make a stand. On the right, next to the +road, he posted Smallwood's battalion, under Major Gist; further along +up the hillside were the Delawares, under Major MacDonough;<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> and +on their left, in the woods above, Atlee's men formed after falling +back from their attempt to stop the enemy.</p> + +<p>When Kachlein's<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> riflemen came up, the general stationed part of +them along hedges near the foot of the hill in front of the +Marylanders, and part in front of the woods near Atlee. The line had +hardly been formed before it was observed that the enemy threatened to +overlap it on the left, and Parsons was accordingly ordered to take +Atlee's and Huntington's regiments and move still further into the +woods to defeat the designs on that flank.</p> + +<p>Finding Stirling thus thrown across their path, the British also drew +up in line and disposed their force as if intending to attack him at +once. About opposite to the Marylanders, possibly on Blockje's Bergh, +Grant posted the sixth brigade in two lines, while the fourth brigade +was extended in a single line from the low ground to the top of the +hills in Greenwood Cemetery.</p> + +<p>Here, then, was a regular battle formation—Grant and Stirling +opposing each other—and we may regard it with interest not only as +the only line of battle preserved, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> the American side at least, +during this day's struggle, but as being the first instance in the +Revolution where we met the British in the open field. Before this it +had been fighting under different conditions—the regulars mowed down +at Bunker Hill, Montgomery attempting to storm Quebec, or Moultrie +bravely holding a fort against a fleet; now the soldiers on either +side stood face to face, and the opportunity seemed at hand to fairly +test their native courage. Greatly disproportionate, however, was the +strength of these two lines. Stirling's, all told, contained not more +than sixteen hundred men; while Grant's, which besides the two +brigades included the Forty-second Highlanders and two companies of +American loyalists, was little less than seven thousand strong. But if +we find here a threatening attitude, let us not expect any desperate +fighting. It was not Grant's object to bring on an engagement at this +early hour, now seven o'clock in the morning, for he wished to keep +Stirling where he was until the other movements of the day were +developed. He contented himself with appearing to be on the point of +attack, and Stirling could do no more than prepare for a stubborn +defence of his ground.</p> + +<p>The first move of the British was to send forward a small body of +light troops from their left, which advanced to within one hundred and +fifty yards of Stirling's right. This would bring them not far from +the little bridge on the road, where, from behind hedges and +apple-trees, they opened fire on our advanced riflemen, who replied +with spirit.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, Stirling was reinforced by a two-gun battery from +Knox's artillery, under Captain-Lieutenant Benajah Carpenter, of +Providence, R.I., which was at once placed on the hillside to command +the road, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> according to Stirling, "the only approach for some +hundred yards," which must have been that part of the road running +over the bridge. The skirmishing was kept up at a lively rate for +about two hours, and occasionally, it would appear, our entire line +engaged in the fire. Of the particular incidents which occurred at +this point we have almost nothing; but perhaps, from one or two mere +references that have been preserved, the whole scene can be imagined. +"The enemy," writes one of the Maryland soldiers, "advanced towards +us, upon which Lord Stirling, who commanded, drew up in a line and +offered them battle in true English taste. The British then advanced +within about 200 yards of us, and began a heavy fire from their cannon +and mortars, for both the Balls and Shells flew very fast, now and +then taking off a head. Our men stood it amazingly well; not even one +of them shewed a Disposition to shrink. Our orders were not to fire +until the Enemy came within fifty yards of us, but when they perceived +we stood their fire so cooly and resolutely they declined coming any +nearer, altho' treble our number."<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> Colonel Haslet, although not +with his regiment, reported to his friend Cæsar Rodney that "the +Delawares drew up on the side of a hill, and stood upwards of four +hours, with a firm, determined countenance, in close array, their +colors flying, the enemy's artillery playing on them all the while, +not daring to advance and attack them;"<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> and his ensign, Stephens, +pointed with pride to the standard "torn with shot" while held in his +hands.</p> + +<p>Galled perhaps by the fire of Carpenter's battery, the British light +troops retired to their main line, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> firing from this time was +continued chiefly by the artillery. On their left they advanced one +howitzer to within three hundred yards of Stirling's right, and in +front of his left they opened with another piece at a distance of six +hundred yards, and until about eleven o'clock the cannonading was +vigorously sustained. Here was an engagement begun, and for four hours +Stirling's men were encouraged with the belief that they were holding +back the invaders. Their general inspired them with his own resolution +and bravery, both by word and example; and their good conduct in this +their first experience under fire, exposed without cover to cannon and +musket shot, indicated that Grant could not have pushed them back +without suffering severely. The casualties had not been large, but the +nerves of the men were none the less tested by the ordeal. Among the +Marylanders, Captain Edward Veazey, who commanded one of the +independent companies, doing duty with Smallwood's regiment, fell +"early in the engagement;" and either here, or on the retreat at a +later hour, also fell Captain Carpenter, whose battery had been doing +good work on Stirling's line. Of the Delawares, Major MacDonough and +Lieutenants Anderson and Course were slightly wounded. Accounts agree +that few of the men in either Smallwood's, Haslet's, or Kachlein's +battalions were killed or wounded while holding this position.</p> + +<p>The three regiments immediately under Stirling thus not only appeared +to be doing well, but had actually proved themselves the best of +soldiers, both by keeping an unwavering line when the British light +troops advanced, as if to be followed by the main column, and in +maintaining their ranks and discipline when subjected to the +subsequent fire of the artillery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nor were these the only men who did themselves credit. That little +party composed of Atlee's and Huntington's battalions, under General +Parsons, which had gone into the woods to protect Stirling's left, +must not be forgotten. Our published accounts heretofore fail to +particularize the service it did; but it was of no small account, as +Parson's and Atlee's independent testimony and the returns of the +British losses clearly show. The party, not much over three hundred +strong, filed off to the left, and soon came in sight of "a hill of +clear ground" about three hundred yards distant, which was judged to +be the proper situation from which to watch the enemy.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> The +direction Parsons' men took, the distances mentioned, and the fact +that tradition associates the site with part of the fighting on that +day, can leave no doubt but that the hill referred to here was one of +the two or three distinct elevations in the north-western section of +Greenwood Cemetery, and to one of which has since been given the +commemorative title of "Battle Hill." A spot fitly named, for around +it some brave work was done! As the detachment neared the hill, the +British flanking troops were also observed to be marching to seize it. +Atlee seeing this hurried his men to reach it first, but the enemy +were there before him and poured a volley into his battalion. +Fortunately, not being well aimed, this did trifling damage, but under +the shock a part of his men, with two companies from the Delaware +regiment, which had been ordered to join them, wavered. Rallying the +most of them, Atlee soon ordered an advance up the hill, telling the +men at the same time "to preserve their fire and aim aright;" and they +all pushed forward with so much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> resolution, and apparently with such +an effective discharge of their pieces, that the enemy fell back, +leaving behind them twelve killed and a lieutenant and four privates +wounded. In this encounter Atlee lost his "worthy friend" and +lieutenant-colonel, Caleb Parry, who fell dead upon the field without +a groan, while cheering on the battalion. Ordering four soldiers to +take the remains of "the hero" back into the Brooklyn lines, Atlee +halted his "brave fellows" on the hill, and all Parsons' command here +took post to await the further movements of the British on this flank. +The force they had met and repulsed consisted of the Twenty-third and +Forty-fourth and a part of the Seventeenth regiments, by whom they +were soon to be attacked again. In half an hour after the first affair +the enemy formed for another effort to seize the hill, but again +Atlee's and Huntington's men opened upon them, and for a second time +compelled their retreat, with the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, a +brave and valued field-officer of the Fortieth Regiment, whose fall +gave ground for the report, credited for some days after in the +American army, that Major-General Grant, the division commander, was +among the enemy's killed in the battle of Long Island. Parsons' men by +this time had fired away all their ammunition (Atlee says that his +battalion, at least, had entirely emptied their cartridge-boxes), and +had used what charges could be got from the enemy's dead and wounded, +when Huntington's ammunition cart "very luckily" came on the ground, +and the men were re-supplied for still a third attack, which was +threatened with the assistance of the Forty-second Highlanders; but +the British this time kept a safe distance, and Parsons and Atlee +remained on the hill, where they collected the enemy's dead and placed +their wounded under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> the shelter of the trees. Thus bravely and +effectively had this small body of Americans protected Stirling's +flank and dealt the enemy the severest blows they suffered at any one +point during the day, and this, as in the case of Stirling's men, with +but small loss to themselves. From behind fences and trees, and, if +tradition is correct, from the tops of trees as well, and from open +ground on the hill, they kept up their destructive fire and +successfully accomplished what they had been called upon to do.<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> +That the British did not intend at this hour to drive Parsons and +Atlee from their post is no detraction from the spirited fight made by +these officers and their men, who knew nothing of the enemy's +intentions, and who actually won the field from the troops they met. +All along this front, from Stirling holding the road on the right to +Parsons holding the left, with a long gap between them, the fighting +thus far had resulted most favorably to the American side. The main +line, as already stated, had lost not more than two officers killed +and three or four wounded, with a small number of men; while Parsons +and Atlee both report that in addition to the death of +Lieutenant-Colonel Parry they lost only one or two men wounded. But, +on the part of the British, Grant's two brigades, with the +Forty-second Highlanders and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> two companies of New York loyalists, +lost, according to Howe's official report, two officers killed and +four wounded, and among the men twenty-five killed and ninety-nine +wounded. The four regiments alone which at different times encountered +Parsons—the Seventeenth, Twenty-third, Forty-fourth, and +Forty-second—lost in the aggregate eighty-six officers and men killed +and wounded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>While, now, Stirling and Parsons seemed to be effectually blocking the +advance of the British by the lower road and the Greenwood hills, what +was the situation at the other passes?</p> + +<p>Up to eight o'clock, some five hours after Grant's appearance at the +Red Lion, no determined attack had been reported from either the +Flatbush or Bedford roads. The Hessians had made some show of +advancing from Flatbush at an early hour, but they had not as yet +driven in our pickets, although approaching near enough for the guns +at the breastwork on the road to fire upon them. No word had come from +Miles; nothing had been heard from the patrol of officers at the +Jamaica Pass. Whatever tactics the enemy were pursuing, it was evident +that at this hour they had not developed indications of a simultaneous +advance "all along the line." Were they making their principal push +against Stirling? Were they waiting for the fleet to work its way up +to co-operate? or would they still attempt to force the passes and the +hills at all points and overcome the American outguards by sheer +weight of numbers? Whatever theory our generals may have entertained +at this time as to the intentions of the British—a point which we +have no means of determining—it is certain that at about half-past +eight or nine o'clock Major-General Sullivan rode out from the +Brooklyn lines to the Flatbush Pass, with the evident pur<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>pose of +examining the situation at that and other points, and of obtaining the +latest information respecting the enemy's movements. We have this +substantially from his own pen: "I went," he says, "to the hill near +Flatbush to reconnoitre the enemy."<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> Nothing more natural, and +nothing more necessary; the situation at that hour required that some +responsible general officer should be in this vicinity to direct the +disposition of the troops the moment the enemy uncovered their plan. +Stirling on the lower road had his hands full, and it became some +one's duty to see that he was not put in danger by any possible mishap +elsewhere on the hills. Sullivan, therefore, the second in command, +went out to "examine" and to "reconnoitre." He had been out the +evening before, making the rounds with Putnam; to him Miles had +reported the situation of affairs on the extreme left; and it was by +his general orders that the last detail of guards had been made for +each of the passes. He was accordingly familiar with the plan of the +outer defence, and upon reaching the Flatbush Pass, where, as Miles +states, he took his station at the redoubt or barricade on the road, +he seems to have given certain directions on the strength of the +information he had obtained. If we may credit the writer of one of the +letters published at the time, the general was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> told that the main +body of the enemy were advancing by the lower road, "whereupon he +ordered another battalion to the assistance of Lord Stirling, keeping +800 men to guard the pass."<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> It is not difficult to accept this as +a correct statement of what actually occurred, because it is what we +should expect would have taken place under the circumstances. That +Sullivan took out any additional troops with him when he went to the +pass does not appear, but doubtless some were sent there. But as to +this Flatbush Pass, the most that can be said with any degree of +certainty is, that at about nine o'clock in the morning the Hessians +still remained comparatively quiet at the foot of the hills below; +that our guards and pickets stood at their different posts, not in +regular line, but detached on either side of the road, the commander +of each party governing himself as necessity required; that they were +expected to hold that point stubbornly, if for no other purpose now +than to secure Stirling's line of retreat; and that if attacked they +were to be reinforced. At the hour Sullivan reached the pass the +situation at all points appeared to be satisfactory.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>But little did the Americans suspect that at the very moment their +defence seemed well arranged and their outguards vigilant they were +already in the web which the enemy had been silently weaving around +them during the night. That flanking column! Skilfully had it played +its part in the British plans, and with crushing weight was it now to +fall upon our outpost guards, who felt themselves secure along the +hills and in the woods. Cross again into the opposite camp and follow +the approach of this unlooked-for danger. First, Lord Howe withdrew +Corn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>wallis from Flatbush to Flatlands towards evening on the 26th, +and at nine o'clock at night set this flanking corps in motion. Sir +Henry Clinton commanded the van, which consisted of the light dragoons +and the brigade of light infantry. Cornwallis and the reserve +immediately followed; and after him marched the First Brigade and the +Seventy-first Regiment, with fourteen pieces of field artillery. These +troops formed the advance corps, and were followed at a proper +interval by Lord Percy and Howe himself, with the Second, Third, and +Fifth brigades, the guards, and ten guns. The Forty-ninth Regiment, +with four twelve-pounders, and the baggage with a separate guard, +brought up the rear. All told, this column was hardly less than ten +thousand strong. With three Flatbush Tories acting as guides, it took +up the march and headed, as Howe reports, "across the country through +the new lots" towards the Jamaica Pass, moving slowly and cautiously +along the road from Flatlands until it reached Shoemaker's Bridge, +which crossed a creek emptying into Jamaica Bay, when the column +struck over the fields to the Jamaica Road, where it came to a halt in +the open lots a short distance south-east of the pass, and directly in +front of Howard's Halfway House.<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a></p> + +<p>Here now occurred one of those incidents which, though insignificant +in themselves, sometimes become fatalities that turn the scale of +battle. The five American officers whom General Sullivan had sent out +the evening before to patrol this pass had stationed themselves at +this time, now between two and three o'clock on the morning of the +27th, a short distance east of Howard's house, apparently waiting for +sounds of the enemy on the line of the road.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> Evidently they had no +thought of his approach "across lots" from the direction of Flatlands, +or they could not have left the pass unwatched by one or more of the +party. For most of them, this was the first tour of military duty of +so responsible a nature, and whatever mistakes they made may be +referred to their inexperience or ignorance of the relative situation +of the roads in that vicinity. Who had charge of the party does not +appear. So far as known, only one of them, Lieutenant Van Wagenen, had +seen any considerable service; but although something of a veteran, +having entered the army in 1775 and charged with Montgomery upon +Quebec, he could have known nothing of the country he was now +patrolling. Lieutenants Troup and Dunscomb were young Columbia College +graduates of two years' standing, who had eagerly taken up the cause +of the colonists in the midst of adverse associations. Gilliland may +have once been an officer in McDougall's regiment, and Hoogland was +adjutant of Colonel Lasher's battalion. Had these officers, who +without doubt were all mounted, been patrolling at the pass or nearer +the lines, the events of the 27th might have worn a far different +aspect. As it was, the British by coming into the road at Howard's had +put themselves in the rear of the patrol, and its capture was quickly +effected. Captain William Glanville Evelyn, "a gallant officer" of the +Fourth Infantry, or King's Own, and a descendant of the eminent John +Evelyn, of England, led the British advance this night, and it fell to +his fortune to surround and capture all five American officers and +send them immediately to Clinton, who commanded the leading column. +Here was a blow inflicted upon us by the British, the real importance +of which they themselves even were ignorant of, for they had made +prisoners of the only patrol that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> watching the Jamaica route from +the pass down to the very lines themselves!</p> + +<p>Clinton "interrogated" the prisoners upon the spot, and ascertained +from them that the pass had not been occupied by the Americans. He +then attempted to obtain information of the position at Brooklyn and +the number of troops now there, by pressing the officers with +questions, when Dunscomb, indignant at the advantage he was taking of +their situation, replied to Clinton that "under other circumstances he +would not dare insult them in that manner." For this the young +lieutenant was called "an impudent rebel," and the British officers +threatened to have him hanged. Dunscomb's courage was equal to the +occasion, and, scouting the threat, declared that Washington would +hang man for man in return, and that as for himself he should give +Clinton no further information. But stoutly as Dunscomb and his +fellows maintained their rights and honor as prisoners, their capture +was one of the fatal turns that brought misfortune to the American +army.<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> +<p>Upon learning that the pass was unguarded, Clinton, as Howe reports, +ordered one of the light infantry battalions to occupy it, and soon +after the main column followed. It would appear, however, that he +still moved cautiously, and that the battalion, or the troops that +followed, avoided a direct approach, and reached the Jamaica Road on +the other side of the pass by a roundabout lane known as the Rockaway +Path. The innkeeper Howard was waked up, and with his son compelled +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> guide the British around to the road, where it was discovered, as +the patrol had stated, that the pass was unguarded. When the whole +force had marched through to the other side it was halted for a brief +"rest and refreshment," and then continued down the road to Bedford, +where the van, consisting of dragoons and light infantry, arrived +about half-past eight o'clock in the morning. So this flanking corps +had succeeded in making a slow, difficult, and circuitous march of +some nine miles from Flatlands during the night, and had placed itself +directly in the rear of the left of the American outposts, before its +approach was known in the Brooklyn camp. It was now nearer the lines +than were our picket guards at either of the outposts on the hills, +and by a swift advance down the Jamaica Road and along the Gowanus +Road to its intersection with the Port Road, it could have interposed +itself across every avenue of retreat from the hills to the lines. It +was Howe's plan to cut off the American retreat entirely, but while +successful in reaching our rear he fortunately failed to reap the +fullest advantage of his move. The loss he was now able to inflict +upon us was hardly a third of what might have been possible. But for +the Americans it was more than enough. From this point followed trial +and disaster. The day, which had opened so promisingly on the lower +road, had already, at early dawn, been lost to them at the Jamaica +Pass.</p> + +<p>What next happened after the British reached Bedford? What, in the +first place, had Miles been about in the woods on the extreme left +that the enemy should gain his rear before he knew it? Fortunately we +have the colonel himself and his lieutenant-colonel, Brodhead, to tell +us much if they do not explain all. Miles then puts it on record that, +on the day before the engagement,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> General Sullivan came to his camp, +to whom he reported his belief that when the enemy moved they would +fall into the Jamaica Road, and he hoped there were troops there to +watch them. On the following morning, at about seven o'clock, firing +began at the redoubt on the Flatbush Road, and he immediately marched +in that direction, but was stopped by Colonel Wyllys at the Bedford +Pass, who informed him that he could not pass on, as they were to +defend the Bedford Road. "Colonel Wyllys bearing a Continental, and I +a State commission," says Miles, "he was considered a senior officer, +and I was obliged to submit; but I told him I was convinced the main +body of the enemy would take the Jamaica Road, that there was no +probability of their coming along the road he was then guarding, and +if he would not let me proceed to where the firing was, I would return +and endeavor to get into the Jamaica Road before General Howe. To this +he consented, and I immediately made a retrograde march, and after +marching nearly two miles, the whole distance through woods, I arrived +within sight of the Jamaica Road, and to my great mortification I saw +the main body of the enemy in full march between me and our lines, and +the baggage guard just coming into the road."</p> + +<p>Had Miles been surprised? This is one of the problems of the battle. +For four days he had been on the watch on this flank, and now the +British were in his rear! Would he have made that "retrograde" march +this morning, when the strictest attention to one's particular orders +was necessary, unless he had known that there were no troops on the +Jamaica Road, and unless it was a part of his duty to reconnoitre in +that direction? But he was now making a stout effort to find and fight +Howe,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> and before charging him with a blunder let us follow the battle +to its close.</p> + +<p>One of Miles' soldiers hurried into camp and reported to Putnam that +infantry and cavalry were marching down from the Jamaica Pass;<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> +but all too late, for right upon the heels of the information came the +enemy! They pushed down the road from Bedford, and across the country, +to attack the American outguards in the rear, while the Hessians were +to come up in front. So, if we glance over the field again at about +half-past nine or ten o'clock on this eventful morning, we find the +whole aspect changed, and our entire force on the hills apparently +caught in a trap. Stirling was still facing Grant upon the right, but +his rear was in danger; while Sullivan and the picket guards at the +other passes were wedged in between the two powerful columns under +Howe and De Heister. What now was done? Who escaped?</p> + +<p>Evidently Miles, way out in the woods on the left, had the least +prospect of getting back to the Brooklyn lines. When he found the +British on the road between him and camp he first proposed to attack +their baggage guard and cut his way through to the Sound, but on +consulting his officers (his first battalion alone being with him) he +turned about, determined to attempt a retreat to camp. It was +impossible for him to succeed, for he had a march of full three miles +to make; and after encountering the enemy once or twice in the woods, +he, with many of his men, was compelled to surrender. Brodhead, while +marching through the woods in Indian file to join him, was also +attacked and his men dispersed, though most of them, with the +lieutenant-colonel himself, escaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> to the lines. The rout was +speedily communicated to the guards at the two remaining points. At +the Bedford Pass the detachments under Colonel Wyllys and +Lieutenant-Colonel Wills appear to have realized their danger about +the time the British reached Bedford village. Finding Miles' troops +broken up and flying, they too, through fear of being intercepted, +took up the retreat. Finally, at the Flatbush Pass—the last point in +the outpost line to be attacked—the peril was still greater, for now +the Hessians were moving up in front. Here, as we have seen, General +Sullivan had just arrived to examine the situation. He had not long to +wait, however, before the nature of that situation fully dawned upon +him and the troops at the pass. While watching the Hessians at +Flatbush they suddenly hear the rattle of musketry on the left of +their rear, where British light infantry and dragoons are beginning to +chase and fire upon Miles, Brodhead, and Wyllys, and their broken +detachments. The Flatbush Pass was a point to be held, for it was the +centre of the outpost line, and retreat therefrom would endanger +Stirling; but Sullivan and his men must act promptly if they would do +no more even than save themselves, for the enemy by this time are much +nearer the Brooklyn lines than they. Just what occurred at this +juncture the records fail to tell us clearly. Did Sullivan, as one +letter states, immediately send word to Stirling to retreat?<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +This would have been the first and natural step. Whoever the +commanding officer might be at the Flatbush Pass, it was for him to +watch the situation at the outpost line and give orders to the right +and left. All depended on what was done at that pass. If the guards +there gave way all the others must give way instantly. Whether the +word, therefore, reached Stirling or not, we must believe that +Sullivan sent it, as he ought to have done, and is reported to have +done. As for the general himself and his party, retreat was the only +alternative. Leaving the advanced pickets to fall back before the +Hessians, they turned towards the British in their rear. Very soon +they encountered the light infantry and dragoons, who were now +engaging in the attack with the highest dash and spirit. Reinforced by +four companies of the guards, the latter captured three pieces of our +artillery—the same, doubtless, which had just been playing upon the +Hessians, but were now turned, in the retreat, upon the British—and +which our gunners defended "heroically" to the last. Sullivan and his +men fought well, and apparently in separate parties, until nearly all +that had been stationed at the Flatbush Pass succeeded in breaking or +making their way through to the lines.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Hessians appeared. They came up from the Flatbush plains +with drums beating and colors flying. Donop's grenadiers and yagers +led, and immediately after them followed the veteran De Heister at the +head of the brigades. Reaching the summit of the ridge, they deployed +their lines, and putting their sharpshooters in advance, moved rapidly +upon the position which our Flatbush Pass guard had just abandoned. +They met with little opposition, for they had nothing before them but +our scattered pickets. Soon, however, they fell in with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> the +retreating groups which the British had cut off from the lines and had +pushed back into the hills, and upon these they fell fiercely, and in +many instances cruelly. Where they found a rifleman resisting too +long, they pinned him with their bayonets, and to some of the wounded +they showed no mercy. Most of the prisoners fell into their hands, for +the reason that they had been driven towards the Hessians by the +British; but otherwise the day afforded no opportunity for fair +fighting between these "foreigners" and our troops.<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a></p> + +<p>Thus all along the hills, from the Flatbush Pass to the extreme left, +our outer guards were in full retreat! It was a flight and fight to +reach the Brooklyn lines! Ten o'clock—and Miles, Brodhead, Wyllys, +Wills, Johnston, Henshaw, and Cornell, with two thousand men, were +hurrying through the woods, down the slopes and across the fields, +some singly, some in groups, some keeping together in companies, some +in battalions, all aiming for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> one objective—the camp! Here they +fought the light infantry; there they were charged upon by the +dragoons; those who were intercepted fell into the hands or upon the +bayonets of the Hessians. It was a trying and desperate situation from +which there was no relief and for a long time the woods echoed with +the shouts and cries of the contending parties. But upon the whole the +loss to the Americans up to this time was not heavy, and could +Stirling have been saved, the enemy would have had no great victory to +boast of. Full half of Miles' two battalions reached the lines; +Wyllys' and Chester's suffered but slightly; Henshaw and Cornell +brought their men in without much loss, and in comparatively good +order; the greatest blow to the Jerseymen was the death of their brave +colonel, Johnston, their casualties otherwise being light; and +Knowlton's hundred rangers just saved themselves from the dragoons, +"with the utmost difficulty and on the full run." The artillerymen +suffered more. General Sullivan himself, after showing good courage +and avoiding capture until noon, endeavored to conceal himself, but +was found and made prisoner by three Hessian grenadiers.<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The day was lost at the left and centre, and it only remains to return +to Stirling on the right. This general stood his ground firmly, though +the firing in his rear grew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> ominously distinct. He refused to +retreat, says Scott, for want of orders. If Sullivan sent him orders, +as we have assumed on one writer's authority that he did, they failed +to reach him. The time had come for the general to act on his own +judgment, and finding his salvation dependent on an immediate retreat, +he fell back from Grant's front between eleven and twelve o'clock, but +only to discover that he too was surrounded. The force which had +anticipated him was Cornwallis with the Seventy-first Regiment and the +Second Grenadiers, and they were holding his line of retreat on the +Gowanus Road. Stirling, realizing his danger, at once determined upon +the only manœuvre that promised escape for any of his command. Upon +his left lay the Gowanus marsh and creek, where both were at their +broadest, and where a crossing had never been attempted. But now the +attempt must be made, or every man is lost. Upon the other side of the +creek are the Brooklyn peninsula, the lines, and safety. Stirling +therefore ordered his men to make their way across as they could, +while, to protect them as they forded or swam, he himself took Gist +and half the Maryland battalion and proceeded to attack Cornwallis. +Against all the misfortunes of the day this piece of resolution and +true soldiership stands out in noble relief. The Marylanders followed +their general without flinching, and were soon "warmly engaged" with +the enemy, who had posted themselves at a house—the old "Cortelyou" +house—above the upper mills near the intersection of the Port and +Gowanus roads. They rallied to the attack several times, as Stirling +reports, and seemed on the point of dislodging Cornwallis, when +reinforcements came up, and the British drove back the Marylanders +into a piece of woods. Here, with conspicuous courage and +determina<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>tion, they formed again for still another effort to break +through. Stirling's example was inspiring. "He encouraged and animated +our young soldiers," writes Gist, "with almost invincible resolution." +But his handful of brave men had done all that was possible, and in +their last charge they were met by great numbers and forced to retire +again, "with much precipitation and confusion."<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> They broke up +into small parties and sought escape. Nine only, among whom was Major +Gist, succeeded in crossing the creek, the rest having retreated into +the woods.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> Stirling endeavored to get into the lines between the +British and Fort Box, or by way of the mill-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>dam, but finding this +impossible, he turned, ran through their fire, and eluding pursuit +around a hill, made his way to the Hessian corps and surrendered +himself to General De Heister. He had sacrificed himself and party as +prisoners, but his main object was accomplished. The rest of the +command was saved! They crossed the marsh and creek with a loss of but +two or three killed and six or eight drowned.</p> + +<p>It was during this scene in the incidents of the day that Washington +and his staff came upon the ground. They had remained at New York +watching the fleet, when, finding that no danger was to be apprehended +from that quarter, they crossed to Long Island. From the top of one of +the hills within the lines, possibly Cobble Hill, the Chief witnessed +Stirling's retreat and fight, and is said there to have been +profoundly moved as he saw how many brave men he must inevitably lose. +Colonel Smallwood, of the Marylanders, who had rejoined his regiment, +petitioned for a force to march out and assist Stirling, but the +general declined on account of the risks involved. Douglas's +Connecticut levies, just coming up from the ferry,<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> were sent to +the extreme right opposite the mouth of Gowanus Creek, where, with +Captain Thomas' Maryland Independent Company and two pieces of +artillery, they stood ready to prevent pursuit of the retreating party +by the enemy.</p> + +<p>Last of all, where were Parsons and Atlee? Had they been holding that +hill in Greenwood all the morning, with a tenacity worthy of veterans, +only to be swallowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> up in the defeat and confusion of the day? Such +was to be their fate. For some unexplained reason, when Stirling fell +back, he failed to inform Parsons of his move. Both Parsons and Atlee +state that no word reached them to join the general, and that it was +greatly to their surprise when they found the line, whose flank they +had been protecting, no longer there. Whatever the mistake, there was +no time to lose, for the enemy were now pressing on this little force, +and it must retreat as Stirling had done. But it soon found itself +more effectually hemmed in than any party in the field. Cornwallis, +after driving the Marylanders back, had complete command of the road, +and as Parsons and Atlee came along they found it impossible even to +reach the marsh. Some escaped, but the greater part turned into the +woods and were all taken. Atlee, with twenty-three men, avoided +capture until five o'clock in the afternoon; while Parsons, more +fortunate, hid in a swamp, having escaped from the action and pursuit +"as by a miracle," and with seven men made his way into our lines at +daylight next morning.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The battle was over. It had continued at intervals, at one point or +another, over a range of five miles, from three o'clock in the morning +until nearly two in the afternoon. Less than five thousand Americans +at the passes, including Stirling's command and all others who had +marched out during the morning, had been swept up or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> swept back by +nearly twenty thousand British and Hessians. For our troops it was a +total defeat. They had been forced to abandon the outer line of +defence—the very line Washington wished should be held "at all +hazards"—and had been driven into the fortified camp on the Brooklyn +peninsula. This result would have inevitably come, sooner or later, +but no one could have entertained the possibility of its coming in +this sudden and disastrous shape.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Looking back over the day's work, the cause of the defeat is apparent +at once: <i>We had been completely outflanked and surprised on the +Jamaica Road.</i> Where the responsibility for the surprise should rest +is another question. Evidently, if that patrol of officers had not +been captured, but, upon discovering the approach of the enemy, had +carried the word directly to Miles' camp and to headquarters, the +enemy would not have gained the rear of our outposts without warning. +Miles and Wyllys could have interposed themselves across their path, +and held the ground long enough at least to put our troops at the +other points on their guard. The surprise of this patrol, therefore, +can alone explain the defeat. But as the officers appear to have been +sent out as an additional precaution, the responsibility must be +shared by Miles and his regiment, who were the permanent guard on the +left. Brodhead, who wrote eight days after the event, distinctly +asserts that there were no troops beyond them, and that, for want of +videttes, that flank was left for them to watch. Parsons, as officer +of the day, reports that Miles was expected to patrol across the +Jamaica Road. But to charge the colonel personally with a fatal +mistake or neglect is not warranted by the facts. His own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> patrols and +pickets may have failed him. The simple fact appears that this +regiment was put upon our left, that our left was turned, and the +battle lost in consequence. As to the generalship of the day, if the +responsibility falls on any one, it falls first on Sullivan, who sent +out the mounted patrol in the first instance, and to whom it belonged +to follow up the precautions in that direction. Putnam was in chief +command, but nothing can be inferred from contemporary records to +fasten neglect or blunder upon him any more than upon Washington, who, +when he left the Brooklyn lines on the evening of the 26th, must have +known precisely what disposition had been made for the night at the +hills and passes. And upon Washington certainly the responsibility +cannot rest.<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<p>What has been said of other defeats may be said with equal truth of +this one: if it was a disaster, it was not a disgrace. Even the +surprise upon the left discloses no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> criminal misconduct. In the +actual fighting of the day our soldiers stood their ground. +Necessarily we suffered heavily in prisoners, but otherwise our loss +was incon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>siderable. All the light that we have to-day goes to +establish the very important fact, originally credited and reported by +Washington himself, but which hardly a single historical writer has +since ventured to repeat, that at the battle of Long Island <i>the +British and Hessians suffered a loss in killed and wounded equal to +that inflicted upon the Americans</i>.<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> Howe reported his total +casualties at three hundred and sixty-seven officers and soldiers. On +the side of the Americans the total loss did not exceed one thousand. +About eight hundred, including ninety-one officers, were taken +prisoners; not more than six officers and about fifty privates were +killed; and less than sixteen officers and one hundred and fifty +privates wounded. No frightful slaughter of our troops, as sometimes +pictured, occurred during the action. It was a field where the +American soldier, in every fair encounter, proved himself worthy of +the cause he was fighting for.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>To those who fell in the engagement we may render here a grateful +tribute, though something more than this is due. Their services and +sacrifices are deserving of remembrance rather by a lasting memorial; +for men died<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> here who showed not less of individual worth and heroism +than others who are immortalized on victorious fields. Thus at the +Flatbush Road we find Philip Johnston, colonel of the Jersey +battalion, which formed part of the guard there during the night. He +was the son of the worthy Judge Samuel Johnston, of the town of Sidney +in Hunterdon County. In his youth he had been a student at Princeton, +but, dropping his books, he took up the sword for the colonies in the +French war, from which he returned with honor. The troubles with Great +Britain found him ready again to fight in defence of common rights and +his native soil. Parting from his wife and child with touching +affection, he took the field with his regiment, and when attacked on +Long Island he showed all the qualities which mark the true soldier. A +gentleman of high principle, an officer of fine presence, one of the +strongest men in the army, he fought near Sullivan with the greatest +bravery until he fell mortally wounded. That August 27th was his +thirty-fifth birthday.</p> + +<p>Equally glorious and regretted was the death of Lieutenant-Colonel +Caleb Parry, of Atlee's regiment, which occurred, as already noticed, +at an earlier hour and in another part of the field. He too was in the +prime of life, and eager to render the country some good service. A +representative colonist, descended from an ancient and honorable +family long seated in North Wales, and a man of polish and culture, he +stood ready for any sacrifice demanded of him at this crisis. Parry +came from Chester County, Pennsylvania, leaving a wife and five +children, and crossed with his regiment to Long Island four days +before the battle. Under what circumstances he fell has been told. As +they crossed the line of Greenwood Cemetery to take position at or +near "Battle Hill," the little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> command was greeted with a sudden +though harmless volley from the enemy. The men shrunk and fell back, +but Atlee rallied and Parry cheered them on, and they gained the hill. +It was here, while engaged in an officer's highest duty, turning men +to the enemy by his own example, that the fatal bullet pierced his +brow. When some future monument rises from Greenwood to commemorate +the struggle of this day, it can bear no more fitting line among its +inscriptions than this tribute of Brodhead's, "Parry died like a +hero."</p> + +<p>Captain Edward Veazey, of the Marylanders, belonged to the family of +Veazeys who settled in Cecil County, on the eastern shore of that +State, and who traced their lineage back to the Norman De Veazies of +the eleventh century. The captain was fifty-five years of age, took up +the colonial cause at the start, raised the Seventh Independent +Company of Maryland troops, and was among the earliest to fall in +Stirling's line.</p> + +<p>Captain Joseph Jewett, of Huntington's Continentals, perhaps defending +himself to the last, even when escape was impossible, was three times +stabbed with British bayonets after surrendering his sword. Cared for +by a humane surgeon, but still lingering in pain, he died on the +morning of the 29th, and was buried in the Bennett orchard, near +Twenty-second Street and Third Avenue. He left a family at Lyme, on +the Connecticut, where he lived, and from where he went to join the +army on the Lexington alarm. A soldier who fought on Long Island +remembers him as "an officer much respected and beloved, of elegant +and commanding appearance, and of unquestionable bravery."</p> + +<p>The officers and men of the artillery, who fought the six pieces we +had in the action, covered themselves with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> honor. They were "the +flower" of Knox's regiment, picked for a field fight. Captain +Carpenter, of Providence, fell in Stirling's command, leaving a widow +to mourn him. Captain John Johnston, of Boston, was desperately +wounded, but recovered under the care of Surgeon Eustis. The record +which John Callender, of the same place, made for himself is a +familiar story. To wipe out the stain of an undeserved sentence passed +upon him after Bunker Hill, by which he was cashiered, he rejoined the +artillery as a private soldier, and then, as a "cadet," fought his +piece on Long Island until the enemy's bayonets were at his breast. +Upon his exchange as prisoner a year later, Washington restored him to +his rank as captain-lieutenant, and he served honorably to the end of +the war. Harmanus Rutgers, one of the patriotic Rutgers brothers in +New York, serving, it would seem, as a gunner, was struck in the +breast by a cannon-shot, and fell dead at his post. The tradition +preserved in his family is that he was the first man killed in the +battle. Knox, hearing how well his men had done, wrote to his wife: "I +have met with some loss in my regiment. They fought like heroes and +are gone to glory."</p> + +<p>Of three others known to have been killed during the day, and who +probably complete the list of officers, we have no more than the fact +that they fell. They were Lieutenant Joseph Jacquet, of Miles' first +battalion, and Lieutenants David Sloan and Charles Taylor, of the +second battalion—all apparently from Chester County, Pennsylvania. +Hardly more than three or four names of the private soldiers who were +killed have been preserved, owing doubtless to the fact that, if they +were ever known, it was not until long after, when no rolls would show +their fate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>To the roll of the dead must be added also the honored name of General +Nathaniel Woodhull, of Long Island. On the day after the battle, a +party of British light horse, under Oliver De Lancey, rode out on the +Jamaica Road and surprised the general at an inn, where without +provocation he was cruelly hacked in the head and arm, and carried off +a prisoner. He survived until the 20th, when he died at New Utrecht. +His loss was greatly regretted, for he was a man of energy and +ability, and had the success of the Revolutionary cause most fervently +at heart.<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>This battle was regarded at the time as one of very great importance, +and the result created a deep impression on both sides of the water. +In England they had long been waiting for the news, and the king +became depressed at the British delay in moving; in addition, the +first reports, coming by way of France, were unfavorable. But at last, +at three o'clock on the morning of October 10th, Major Cuyler, of +Howe's staff, reached the government with the official accounts of the +victory. Immediately, as Walpole tells us, the Court was filled with +"an extravagance of joy." The relief was so great that it was +displayed with "the utmost ostentation." The king at once determined +to send Howe "a red riband;" and Lord Mansfield, who had thrown the +weight of his great legal abilities against America, was created an +earl. The Mayor and Corporation of York voted an address to his +Majesty "on the victory at Long Island;" at Leeds they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> rang the +bells, lighted windows, fired cannon, and started a huge bonfire which +made the town "quite luminous;" and at Halifax, Colne, Huddersfield, +and many other places, similar rejoicings were held. At Limerick +Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell ordered the garrison under arms, and fired +three volleys "on account of the success of his Majesty's troops at +Long Island;" and, for the same reason, in the evening "a number of +ladies and gentlemen were elegantly entertained at dinner by the +bishop." From Paris Silas Deane wrote to Congress: "The want of +instructions or intelligence or remittances, with the late check on +Long Island, has sunk our credit to nothing." In Amsterdam, the centre +of exchange for all Europe, English stocks rose; but the Dutch, with +characteristic shrewdness, failed to accept "our misfortune" as final, +and took the opportunity to sell out. In London Tory circles they +considered the American war as practically over, and some began to +talk of new schemes of colonial government.</p> + +<p>As for America, the defeat, coupled with the subsequent retreat, +everywhere carried alarm and keen disappointment. Greene speaks of the +"panic" in the county. But at the same time many brave voices were +raised to counteract despondency. Parsons, in the army, wrote: "I +think the trial of that day far from being any discouragement, but in +general our men behaved with firmness." Bartlett, in Congress, sent +word home to New Hampshire that he hoped the event would only make our +generals more careful in their future operations. "We have lost a +battle and a small island," said Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, in one of +the sessions a few days later, "but we have not lost a State. Why +then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> should we be discouraged? Or why should we be discouraged even +if we had lost a State? If there were but one State left, still that +one should peril all for independence." "The panic may seize whom it +will," wrote John Adams; "it shall not seize me." But the grandest +words inspired by the pervading anxiety were those penned by Abigail +Adams, the noble wife of the Massachusetts delegate. "We have had many +stories," she wrote from Braintree, September 9th, "concerning +engagements upon Long Island this week, of our lines being forced and +of our troops returning to New York. Particulars we have not yet +obtained. All we can learn is that we have been unsuccessful there; +having many men as prisoners, among whom are Lord Stirling and General +Sullivan. <i>But if we should be defeated, I think we shall not be +conquered. A people fired, like the Romans, with love of their country +and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of +glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of +unfortunate events. But, like them, may we learn by defeat the power +of becoming invincible!</i>"</p> + +<p>This was the true inspiration of the hour. It was this that sustained +Washington and the strong men of the country through all the dark +period that followed. The disaster of the 27th was a disciplinary +experience. It was but the first of a series of blows that were to +harden us for future endurance. The event was accepted in this spirit +by all who had taken up the cause in earnest; and in this light the +memory of the day deserves to be forever celebrated and perpetuated. +Here, on Long Island, all was done that could be done, for we had met +the enemy at the sea. Here America made her first stand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> against +England's first great effort to subdue her; and here her resolution to +continue resistance was first tested and tempered in the fire of +battle.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><a name="NOTE"></a><span class="smcap">The Losses at the Battle.</span>—So many widely different +estimates have been made as to the extent of the American +loss on Long Island, that it becomes a matter of historical +interest to fix the actual figures, if possible, beyond +dispute.</p> + +<p>The first official reference to the matter occurs in the +letter which Washington directed Colonel Harrison, his +secretary, to write to Congress on the evening of the +battle. Nothing definite on this point being known at that +hour, Harrison, after announcing the attack of the enemy, +and the retreat of the troops into the Brooklyn lines, could +only make the vague report that the American loss was +"pretty considerable." On Thursday morning, the 29th, at +"half after four <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>," Washington himself wrote to Hancock +that he was still uncertain how far the army had suffered. +On Saturday, the 31st, he wrote again, and in this letter +gave an estimate in figures. This was the only report he +made to Congress in the matter, except indirectly. "Nor have +I," he writes, "been yet able to obtain an exact account of +our loss; we suppose it from seven hundred to a thousand +killed and taken." In subsequent public and private letters +to his brother, to Governor Trumbull, General Schuyler, and +the Massachusetts Assembly, Washington did not vary these +figures materially (except to make the estimate closer, +about 800), and they stand, therefore, as his official +return of the casualties of that day.</p> + +<p>Sir William Howe's report, on the other hand, presented +altogether a different showing. It left no room for doubt as +to the extent of the British victory. Dated September 3d, +seven days after the affair, it contained all those +particulars of events up to that time which a successful +general is well aware will be received with special +satisfaction by his government. The landing at Gravesend, +the occupation of Flatbush, the skilful march of the +flanking column, the bravery of the troops, and the complete +success of the entire plan of action were mentioned in +order; while a detailed statement and estimate of the losses +on either side, including a tabulated return of prisoners +taken, only fortified the impression that a most damaging +defeat had been served upon the Americans. Against +Washington's estimate of a total of one thousand or less for +his own loss, Howe reported that the enlisted men he +captured alone numbered one thousand and six, and that in +addition he took ninety-one commissioned officers, of whom +three were generals, three colonels, four +lieutenant-colonels, three majors, eighteen captains, +forty-three lieutenants, eleven ensigns, one adjutant, three +surgeons, and two volunteers; and he "computed" that in +killed, wounded, and drowned, the Americans lost two +thousand two hundred more. On the part of the British, Howe +reported<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> five officers and fifty-six men killed, twelve +officers and two hundred and fifty-five men wounded, and one +officer and thirty men prisoners and missing. The Hessians +lost two men killed, three officers and twenty-three men +wounded. Howe's total loss, in a word, was made to appear at +less than four hundred; Washington's full three thousand +three hundred.</p> + +<p>The apparent exactness of this report has secured it, in +general, against close analysis. English historians, almost +without exception, quote it as it stands, while there are +American writers who respect it so far as to pronounce +Washington's report clearly, and even purposely, inaccurate. +Thus the most recent English history of this period says: +"The Americans fled in confusion, leaving upwards of three +thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners, including their +three generals of division;" and in a note the writer adds: +"Washington's estimate of the loss on both sides was grossly +incorrect. In his letter to Congress of the 30th August, +giving a very meagre and evasive account of the action, he +says that his loss in killed and prisoners was from 700 to +1000; and that he had reason to believe the enemy had +suffered still more. This would seem to be a wilful +misrepresentation to prevent the public alarm which might +have been caused by the knowledge of his real loss; were it +not that in a private letter to his brother, three weeks +afterwards, he makes a similar statement. General Howe's +returns of <i>prisoners</i>, and of his own killed and wounded, +are precise." (<i>History of England during the Reign of +George the Third.</i> By the Right Hon. William Massey, 1865.) +Among Brooklyn writers, Mr. Field asserts that Washington +concealed the actual extent of his loss, and Dr. Stiles +accepts the British report as it stands. Marshall puts the +American loss at over 1000; Irving, 2000; Lossing, 1650; +Field, 2000; Sparks, 1100; Bancroft, 800; Carrington, 970. +Stedman, the earliest British historian, gives 2000, while +Adolphus, Jesse, and Massey, who cover the reign of George +III., blindly follow Howe and give over 3000 for the +American loss.</p> + +<p>There is but one explanation of this wide discrepancy +between the British and American returns, namely: +Washington's original estimate at its largest limit—one +thousand, killed, wounded, and prisoners—<i>was almost +precisely correct</i>.</p> + +<p>Of this there can be no question whatever, the proof being a +matter of record. Thus, on the 8th of October, Washington +issued the following order: "The General desires the +commanding officers of each regiment or corps will give in a +list of the names and the officers and men who were killed, +taken, or missing in the action of the 27th of August on +Long Island and since that period. He desires the returns +may be correct, &c." (<i>Force</i>). A large number of these +lists are preserved in <i>Force</i>, 5th series, vol. iii., and +from these we obtain the losses of the following regiments: +Hitchcock's, total loss, one officer and nine men; Little's, +three men; Huntington's, twenty-one officers and one hundred +and eighty-six men; Wyllys', one officer and nine men; +Tyler, three men; Ward, three men; Chester, twelve men; Gay, +four men; Lasher, three officers. Smallwood's lost, +according to Gist, twelve officers and two hundred and +forty-seven men; Haslet, according to his own letters, two +officers and twenty-five men; Johnston's New Jersey, two +officers and less than twenty-five men, the rolls before and +after the battle showing no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> greater difference in the +strength of the regiment; Miles' two battalions, sixteen +officers and about one hundred and sixty men (<a href="#NO61"><i>Document</i> +61</a>); Atlee, eleven officers and seventy-seven men. (<i>Ibid.</i>) +No official report of the losses in Lutz's, Kachlein's, and +Hay's detachments or the artillery can be found, but to give +their total casualties at one hundred and fifty officers and +men is probably a liberal estimate. Lutz lost six officers +(all prisoners); Kachlein not more; Hay, one; the artillery, +three. The regiments named in the foregoing list include all +from which Howe reported that he took officers prisoners, +from which it is safe to conclude that these were all that +lost any. No others are mentioned as having been engaged. +These figures show in round numbers a total of <i>one +thousand</i>, and this was our total loss, according to +official returns in nearly every case.</p> + +<p>How many of these, in the next place, were killed and +wounded? If we are to credit certain Hessian and British +accounts, as well as those of our own local historians, the +battle-field on Long Island was a scene of carnage, a pen in +which our men were slaughtered without mercy. The confused +strife, says one writer, "is too terrible for the +imagination to dwell upon." "An appalling massacre," says +another, "thus closed the combat." "The forest," writes a +Hessian officer, "was a scene of horror; there were +certainly two thousand killed and wounded lying about." Lord +Howe himself, as we have seen, "computed" that the American +loss in killed and wounded alone was two thousand three +hundred. But a striking commentary on this computation is +not only the total omission on his part to mention how many +of this very large number he buried on the field, but the +important admission he makes that not more than sixty-seven +wounded American officers and soldiers fell into his hands! +Where were the twenty-two hundred other maimed and fallen +rebels? Obviously, and as Howe must have well known, the +Americans could carry few if any of their dead with them on +their precipitate retreat, nor could any but the slightly +hurt of the wounded make their escape. Full two thousand, by +this calculation, must have been left upon the field. Who +buried them? Were they the victims of the supposed frightful +slaughter? Did the British general purposely give an evasive +estimate to cover up the inhumanity which would thus have +forever stained the glory of his victory? Far from it. That +"computation" has no basis to stand upon; but, on the +contrary, our loss in killed and wounded was not greater +than the enemy's, but most probably less.</p> + +<p>This statement will bear close examination. On the 19th of +September, after he must have been able to satisfy himself +as to the extent of the defeat on Long Island, the +commander-in-chief wrote to the Massachusetts Assembly that +he had lost about eight hundred men, "more than three +fourths of which were taken prisoners." He wrote the same +thing to others. So Washington felt authorized to state +positively that we lost in killed and wounded that day not +over two hundred men and officers. "The enemy's loss in +killed," he added, "we could never ascertain; but have many +reasons to believe that it was pretty considerable, and +exceeded ours a good deal." General Parsons, who saw as much +of the field as any other officer, wrote to John Adams two +days after the battle: "Our loss in killed and wounded is +incon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>siderable." General Scott, writing to John Jay, a week +later, could say: "What our loss on Long Island was I am not +able to estimate. I think from the best accounts we must +have killed many of the enemy." Colonel Douglas wrote, +August 31st: "The enemy surrounded a large detachment of our +army, took many, killed some and the rest got off.... By the +best account we killed more of them than they did of us. But +they took the most prisoners." Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, +who was in the way of gathering many particulars from the +Pennsylvanians who escaped, says: "Our men behaved as +bravely as men ever did; but it is surprising that, with the +superiority of numbers, they were not cut to pieces.... Our +loss is chiefly in prisoners." Lieutenant-Colonel Brodhead, +who had to retreat among the last over the very ground which +others have marked out as the scene of the massacre, as the +site where "lay nearly one thousand men, slain in the shock +of battle, or by subsequent murder" (<i>Field</i>)—Brodhead +says: "I retreated to the lines, having lost out of the +whole battalion, about one hundred men, officers included, +which, as they were much scattered, must be chiefly +prisoners.... No troops could behave better than the +Southern, for though they seldom engaged less than five to +one, they frequently repulsed the Enemy with great +Slaughter, and I am confident that the number of killed and +wounded on their side, is greater than on ours, +notwithstanding we had to fight them front and rear under +every disadvantage." Colonel Silliman, of Connecticut, who +appears to have made particular inquiries in the matter, +wrote, September 10th: "I think upon the best information I +can get that we are about 1000 men the worse for that +action. The Enemy say they have about 800 of them prisoners. +We have about 50 of them in the hospital wounded. Of the +other 150 'tis said that in the engagement a considerable +number of the riflemen deserted and went over to the enemy +and some no doubt escaped towards the other end of the +Island. On the whole I do not think we had 50 men killed in +the action." (<i>MS. letter.</i>) These are statements made by +officers who were present at the battle, and who wrote +within a few days of the event. They all, with many others, +reach the same conclusion that the enemy suffered in killed +and wounded as much if not more than the Americans. Their +testimony, moreover, is strengthened by what we know +directly and indirectly from the returns and other sources. +The loss in officers, of which we have exact figures, is one +basis of calculation. Ninety-one, as already stated, were +taken prisoners, of whom nine were reported wounded in +Howe's return. Among these were General Woodhull, Colonel +Johnston, and Captain Jewett, all three mortally wounded, +and Captain Bowie and Lieutenant Butler, of the Marylanders; +Captain Johnston, of the artillery; Captain Peebles, of +Miles', and Lieutenant Makepeace, of Huntington's. [Colonel +Johnston is usually mentioned as having been killed on the +field. But Howe's return gives one New Jersey colonel +prisoner, and Elking's Hessian account states that he was +wounded after being made prisoner.] Among officers known to +be wounded, not captured, were Major McDonough, Lieutenants +Course and Anderson, of the Delawares; Lieutenant Hughes, of +Hitchcock's; and Captain Farmer, of Miles'. Lieutenant +Patterson, of Hay's detachment, was either killed or +captured (Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> Cunningham's return). The officers killed +were Lieutenant-Colonel Parry, Captain Carpenter, Captain +Veazey, and Lieutenants Sloan, Jacquet, and Taylor. Various +accounts state that Colonel Rutgers, Lieutenant-Colonel +Eppes, Major Abeel (of Lasher's), Captain Fellows, and +Lieutenant Moore (of Pennsylvania) were killed, but there is +an error in each case, all these officers being reported +alive at different dates after the battle. We have, then, +twenty-one killed or wounded (six only killed on the field) +among the American officers engaged in the action. If, as we +have a right to assume, the same proportion held among the +enlisted men, our total loss in killed and wounded could not +have exceeded two hundred or two hundred and fifty, or more +than one hundred less than the enemy's loss. Parsons and +Atlee write that they lost but two or three. Miles says that +in one of his skirmishes he lost a number of men, but nearly +all were made prisoners. Little's regiment lost one killed; +Hitchcock's the same. The five companies of Smallwood's +battalion that attacked Cornwallis lost but one officer +wounded, or at the most one killed and one wounded, and +there is no reason to suppose that the men suffered very +heavily. The loss among the Delawares was nearly all in +prisoners. Lutz had six officers taken, but none killed or +wounded; Hay lost one officer, either killed or prisoner. In +Kachlein's detachment it is certain that the +lieutenant-colonel, major, adjutant, three captains, and +three lieutenants were not killed, which leaves little room +for casualties in a party of not over four or five +companies. So of all the other regiments engaged, they +suffered but slightly in killed or wounded.</p> + +<p>Howe's list of prisoners was undoubtedly swelled by captures +among the Long Island militia and citizen Whigs after the +battle. He includes General Woodhull and two lieutenants, +for instance, who were not taken at the battle but on the +day following, and who, as Washington says, were "never +arranged" in his army.</p> + +<p>The reports of the slaughter and massacre of our troops +current in the enemy's camp at the time were greatly +exaggerated. Some of our men were probably cut down most +wantonly in the pursuit through the woods, both by British +and Hessians, but the number was small. It is a noticeable +and significant fact that the American accounts make no +mention of any such wholesale cruelty, and certainly our +soldiers would have been the first to call attention to it. +That word "massacre" should have no place in any accurate +description of the battle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE RETREAT TO NEW YORK.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">The</span> situation at the Brooklyn lines was relieved on the 29th by the +famous retreat of our army to New York. If Howe had surprised us by an +unexpected manœuvre on the 27th, Washington was now to surprise the +British with a different manœuvre, conducted with greater skill. "A +fine retreat," says Jomini, "should meet with a reward equal to that +given for a great victory." History assigns such a reward to +Washington at Long Island.</p> + +<p>This success—the extrication of the army from what was soon felt to +be a dangerous position—was not to be achieved without a previous two +days' experience of great hardship, trial, and despondency on the part +of the troops; and unceasing anxiety and watchfulness on the part of +the commander-in-chief. The night of the 27th had closed cheerlessly +on the devoted Americans. The hills had been wrested from them; many +of their best officers and soldiers were slain or prisoners; before +them stood the whole British army, flushed with success, and liable at +any hour to rush upon their works, and in their rear flowed a deep, +wide river.</p> + +<p>Washington realized the position the moment of the retreat from the +passes, and immediately took measures to guard against further +disaster. Satisfied that Howe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> had his whole force with him, and that +an attack was not to be apprehended at any other point, he ordered +forward more troops to replace his losses and strengthen the lines. +Mifflin brought down from Harlem Heights the two well-drilled +Pennsylvania regiments under Colonels Magaw and Shee, with some +others; and Glover's Massachusetts was sent on from Fellows' brigade. +These all crossed to Long Island early on the morning of the 28th. At +the same time, the afternoon of the 27th, Washington sent word to +General Mercer in New Jersey to march all the forces under his command +"immediately to Powle's Hook";<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> they might be needed in New York, +they might be needed on Long Island. By the morning of the 28th, the +commander-in-chief had drawn to the Brooklyn lines all the troops that +could be spared from other points, and all with which he proposed to +resist the British if they attempted to carry his position by storm. +He had on that side the largest and best part of his army. The whole +of Greene's division was there, the whole of Spencer's, half of +Sullivan's, one third of Putnam's, and a part of Heath's—in all not +less than thirty-five regiments or detachments, which numbered +together something over nine thousand five hundred men fit for +duty.<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p><p>Had all things been relatively equal, the Americans within the lines, +according to military experience, should have been well able to hold +that front. But there was a total inequality of conditions. The enemy +were thoroughly equipped, disciplined, and provided for. They were an +army of professional soldiers, superior to any that could be brought +against them the world over. Thus far they had carried everything +before them, and were eager to achieve still greater victories. Behind +the Brooklyn works stood a poorly armed, badly officered, and for the +most part untrained mass of men, hurriedly gathered into the semblance +of an army. The events of the previous day, moreover, had greatly +depressed their spirits. Not a few of those who had been engaged in or +witnessed the battle were badly demoralized. To make matters worse, +the very elements seemed to combine against them. The two days they +were still to remain on the island were days of "extraordinary wet." +It rained almost continuously, and much of the time heavily. No fact +is better attested than this. August 28th, writes Colonel Little, +"weather very rainy;" "29th, very rainy." Major Tallmadge speaks of +the fatigue as having been aggravated by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> the "heavy rain." "The heavy +rain which fell two days and nights without intermission, etc.," said +the council which voted to retreat. Pastor Shewkirk in his diary notes +the weather particularly: "Wednesday 28th," he writes, ... "in the +afternoon we had extraordinary heavy rains and thunder." The flashes +of the cannons were intermixed with flashes of lightning. On the 29th, +"in the afternoon, such heavy rain fell again as can hardly be +remembered." To all this deluge our soldiers were exposed with but +little shelter. Necessity required that they should be at the lines, +and constantly on the watch, ready to repel any attempt to storm them. +When they lay down in the trenches at brief intervals for rest, they +kept their arms from the wet as they could. Cooking was out of the +question, and the men were compelled to take up with the unaccustomed +fare of hard biscuits and raw pork. Their wretched plight is referred +to in more than one of the letters of the day. Writes General Scott: +"You may judge of our situation, subject to almost incessant rains, +without baggage or tents, and almost without victuals or drink, and in +some part of the lines the men were standing up to their middles in +water." Captain Olney puts it on record that "the rain fell in such +torrents that the water was soon ankle deep in the fort. Yet with all +these inconveniences, and a powerful enemy just without musket-shot, +our men could not be kept awake." Captain Graydon, of Shee's +Pennsylvanians, says in his well-known "Memoirs:" "We had no tents to +screen us from the pitiless pelting, nor, if we had them, would it +have comported with the incessant vigilance required to have availed +ourselves of them, as, in fact, it might be said that we lay upon our +arms during the whole of our stay upon the island. In the article of +food<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> we were little better off." Under the circumstances could +Washington's force have withstood the shock of a determined assault by +the enemy?</p> + +<p>In spite, however, of weather, hunger, and fatigue, there was many a +brave man in the American camp who kept up heart and obeyed all orders +with spirit. One thing is certain, the British were not permitted to +suspect the distressed condition of our army. Our pickets and +riflemen, thrown out in front of the works, put on a bold face. On the +28th there was skirmishing the greater part of the day, and in the +evening, as Washington reports, "it was pretty smart." Writing from +the trenches on the 29th, Colonel Silliman says: "Our enemy have +encamped in plain sight of our camp at the distance of about a mile +and a half. We have had no general engagement yet, but no day passes +without some smart and hot skirmishes between different parties, in +which the success is sometimes one way and sometimes another. We are +in constant expectation of a general battle; no one can be here long +without getting pretty well acquainted with the whistling of cannon +and musket shot." Scarcely any particulars of these encounters<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> +are preserved, though one of them, at least,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> appears to have been +quite an important affair. The enemy had determined to approach the +lines by regular siege rather than hazard an assault, and late in the +afternoon of the 28th they advanced in some force to break ground for +the first parallel. The point selected was doubtless the high ground +between Vanderbilt and Clinton avenues, on the line of De Kalb. As to +what occurred we have but the briefest account, and that is from the +pen of Colonel Little. "On the morning of the 28th," he writes, "the +enemy were encamped on the heights in front of our encampment. Firing +was kept up on both sides from the right to the left. Firing on both +sides in front of Fort Putnam. About sunset the enemy pushed to +recover the ground we had taken (about 100 rods) in front of the fort. +The fire was very hot; the enemy gave way, and our people recovered +the ground. The firing ceased, and our people retired to the fort. The +enemy took possession again, and on the morning of the 30th [29th] had +a breastwork there 60 rods long and 150 rods distant from Fort +Putnam." It was this move of the British, more than any incident since +the battle, that determined Washington's future course.</p> + +<p>During all these trying hours since the defeat on the 27th, the most +conspicuous figure to be seen, now at one point and now at another of +the threatened lines, was that of the commander-in-chief. Wherever his +inspiring presence seemed necessary, there he was to be found. He +cheered the troops night and day. All that the soldiers endured, he +endured. For forty-eight hours, or the whole of the 28th and 29th, he +took no rest whatever, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> was hardly once off his horse. As he rode +among the men in the storm he spoke to some in person, and everywhere +he gave directions, while his aids were as tireless as their Chief in +assisting him.</p> + +<p>But circumstanced as the army was, it was inevitable that the question +should come up: Can the defence of the Brooklyn front be continued +without great hazard? It could not have escaped the notice of a single +soldier on that side, that if, with the river in their rear, the enemy +should succeed in penetrating the lines, or the fleet be able to +command the crossing, they would all be lost. There was no safety but +in retreat; and for twenty-four hours from the morning of the 29th, +all the energies of the commander-in-chief were directed towards +making the retreat successful.</p> + +<p>To few incidents of the Revolution does greater interest attach than +to this final scene in the operations on Long Island. The formal +decision to abandon this point was made by a council of war, held late +in the day of the 29th, at the house of Phillip Livingston, then +absent as a member of the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. The +mansion made historic by this event stood on the line of Hicks Street, +just south of Joralemon.<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> There were present at the council, the +commander-in-chief, Major-Generals Putnam and Spencer, and +Brigadier-Generals Mifflin, McDougall, Parsons, Scott, Wadsworth, and +Fellows. As far as known, Scott alone of these generals has left us +any thing in regard to what transpired on the occasion beyond the +final result. He preserves the interesting fact that when the +proposition to retreat was presented it took him by surprise and he as +sud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>denly objected to it, "from an aversion to giving the enemy a +single inch of ground." It was the soil of his own State. As a member +of the New York Convention and of the Committee of Safety, and now as +a general officer, he had spent months in uninterrupted preparations +to defend that soil, and on the first impulse of the moment the +thought of yielding any more of it to the invaders was not to be +entertained. But he was soon "convinced by unanswerable reasons," and +the vote of the council was unanimous for retreat. Eight separate +reasons were embodied in the decision. <i>First.</i> A defeat had been +sustained on the 27th, and the woods lost where it was proposed to +make "a principal stand." <i>Second.</i> The loss in officers and men had +occasioned great confusion and discouragement among the troops. +<i>Third.</i> The rain had injured the arms and much of the ammunition, and +the soldiers were so worn out, that it was feared that they could not +be kept at the lines by any order. <i>Fourth.</i> The enemy appeared to be +endeavoring to get their ships into the East River to cut off +communication with New York, but the wind as yet had not served them. +<i>Fifth.</i> There were no obstructions sunk in the Channel between Long +and Governor's Island, and the council was assured by General +McDougall, "from his own nautic experience," that small ships could +sail up by that channel; the hulks, also, sunk between Governor's +Island and the Battery were regarded as insufficient obstructions for +that passage. <i>Sixth.</i> Though the lines were fortified by several +strong redoubts, the breastworks were weak, being "abattised with +brush" only in some places, and the enemy might break through them. +<i>Seventh.</i> The divided state of the army made a defence precarious. +<i>Eighth.</i> Several British men-of-war had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> worked their way into +Flushing Bay from the Sound, and with their assistance the enemy could +cross a force to the mainland in Westchester County, and gain the +American rear in the vicinity of King's Bridge. In view of these +considerations a retreat was considered imperative.</p> + +<p>This was the official record of the council's action as afterwards +transmitted to Congress. It is not to be inferred, however, that +retreat was not thought of, or that nothing was done to effect it +until the council met. That Washington had foreseen the necessity of +the move, that he discussed it with others, and that he had already +begun the necessary preparations, is obvious both from the record and +from all that occurred during the day. The council did no more than to +coincide in his views and confirm his judgment.<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<p>The first thing necessary was to provide all the transportation +available in order to accomplish the retreat in the shortest time +possible after beginning it. There were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> boats at the Brooklyn ferry +and across at New York, but these were too few for the purpose. +Accordingly, on the forenoon of the 29th, Washington sent an order +through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> Mifflin to General Heath at King's Bridge to the following +effect:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span>, August 29<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear General</span>—We have many battalions from New Jersey which +are coming over to relieve others here. You will please +therefore to order every flat bottomed boat and other craft +at your post, fit for transporting troops, down to New York +as soon as possible. They must be manned by some of Colonel +Hutchinson's men and sent without the least delay. I write +by order of the General. I am Affectionately Yours</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Mifflin.</span></p></div> + +<p>At about the same time, Colonel Trumbull, the commissary-general, was +directed to carry a verbal order to Assistant Quartermaster Hughes at +New York, "to impress every kind of water craft from Hell Gate on the +Sound to Spuyten Duyvil Creek that could be kept afloat and that had +either sails or oars, and have them all in the east harbor of the City +by dark."<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> These two orders were carried out with great energy, +promptness, and secrecy by all who had any part in their execution. +Heath "immediately complied" with what Mifflin had written, and sent +down all his boats under Hutchinson's men from Salem, who, like +Glover's from Marblehead, were, many of them, the best of sailors. He +brooked the less delay, perhaps, because he saw at once that +Washington's "real intention" was, not to be reinforced from New +Jersey, but to retreat from Long Island.<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> Hughes, on his part, was +untiring, and rendered the greatest service. He would have been +mistaken this day rather for the master of a military school, than for +what he had been—the master of a classical one. For twenty-two hours, +as his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> biographer tells us, he never dismounted from his horse, but +superintended the collection of the vessels from all points, and at +evening had them ready for their purpose.<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></p> + +<p>The final withdrawal of the troops from the lines was effected under +the cover of a plausible general order, which was the only one known +to have been issued by the commander-in-chief while on Long +Island.<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> This order now comes to light for the first time, and is +important as serving to correct the improbable though stan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>dard theory +that the regiments were moved from their posts under the impression +that they were to make a night attack upon the enemy.<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> The order +as actually given was far more rational, and less likely to excite +suspicion as to its true intent. In the first place, the sick, "being +an encumbrance to the army" were directed to be sent to the hospital, +their arms and accoutrements taken with them, and from there to be +conveyed across to New York and reported to Surgeon-General Morgan. In +the next place, the order announced that troops under General Mercer +were expected that afternoon from New Jersey, with whom it was +proposed to relieve a proportionate number of the regiments on Long +Island, and "make a change in the situation of them." In view of the +distressed condition of most of the troops at the lines, the propriety +of such a "change" was obvious; and in all probability Washington did +originally intend to make the relief. And last, as it was apparently +undecided what regiments were to be relieved, they were all, or the +greater part of them, directed "to parade with their arms, +accoutrements, and knapsacks, at 7 o'clock, at the head of their +encampments and there wait for orders." On the evening of the 29th, +accordingly, we find the troops ready at their camps and the lines to +march off at a moment's notice, and all prepared for a retreat by the +most natural arrangement that could have been devised to conceal the +real design.<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p><p>At dark, the withdrawal began. As one regiment moved away towards the +ferry another would have its situation "changed" to fill the gap, or +extended from right to left. Every move at first was conducted busily, +yet quietly and without confusion. Colonel Little, referring to his +part this night, leaves the simple record that the general ordered +each regiment to be paraded on their own parades at seven o'clock +<span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, and wait for orders. "We received orders," he says, "to strike +our tents and march, with our baggage, to New York." Colonel Douglas +writes: "I received orders to call in my guard <i>all</i>, and march +immediately with the utmost silence." Hitchcock's Rhode Islanders +carried their baggage and camp equipage to the boats on their +shoulders "through mud and mire and not a ray of light visible." The +embarkation was made from the ferry—the present Fulton Ferry—where +General McDougall superintended the movements. Between seven and eight +o'clock the boats were manned by Glover's and Hutchinson's men, and +they went to work with sailor-like cheer and despatch. The militia and +levies were the first to cross, though there was some vexing delay in +getting them off. Unluckily, too, about nine o'clock the adverse wind +and tide and pouring rain began to make the navigation of the river +difficult. A north-easter sprang up, and Glover's men could do nothing +with the sloops and sail-boats. If the row-boats only were to be +depended upon, all the troops could not be ferried over before +morning. Discouraged at the prospect, McDougall sent Colonel Gray<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>son, +of Washington's staff, to inform the general as to how matters stood, +but unable to find him Grayson returned, and McDougall went on with +the embarkation in spite of its difficulties. Most fortunately, +however, at eleven o'clock there was another and a favorable change in +the weather. The north-east wind died away, and soon after a gentle +breeze set in from the south-west, of which the sailors took quick +advantage, and the passage was now "direct, easy, and expeditious." +The troops were pushed across as fast as possible in every variety of +craft—row-boats, flat-boats, whale-boats, pettiaugers, sloops, and +sail-boats—some of which were loaded to within three inches of the +water, which was "as smooth as glass."<br /> +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="border"><br /> +<a name="PORTRAIT03"></a> +<img src="images/port003.png" width="316" height="400" alt="J.W. Glover" title="J.W. Glover" /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>J.W. Glover</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>COLONEL FOURTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (MASS.)<br /> +BRIGADIER GENERAL 1777.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">Steel Engr. F. von Egloffstein N.Y.</span></p> + +<p><br /> +Meanwhile nearly a fatal blunder occurred at the lines. Early in the +evening, a force had been selected, consisting of Hand's, Smallwood's, +Haslet's, Shee's, Magaw's, and Chester's regiments, to remain at the +works to the last and cover the retreat. General Mifflin commanded the +party. Smallwood's men were stationed in Fort Putnam, part of Hand's +under Captain Miller in the redoubt on the left, and the rest at the +lines on the right of the main road; and the other regiments near +them. Brooklyn Church was to be the alarm-post, where the covering +party was to concentrate in case the enemy attacked during the night. +About two o'clock in the morning, Major Scammell, one of Sullivan's +aids now serving with Washington, mistook his orders and started +Mifflin's entire command for the ferry. All the regiments had left the +lines and were marching down the main road, when Washington, who +seemed to be everywhere during the night, met them and exclaimed in +astonishment that unless the lines were immediately re-manned "the +most dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>agreeable consequences" might follow, as every thing then +was in confusion at the ferry. Mifflin's party promptly faced about +and reoccupied their stations until dawn, when Providence again +"interposed in favor of the retreating army." To have attempted to +withdraw in clear daylight would have been a hazardous experiment for +these regiments, but just before dawn a heavy fog began to settle over +Long Island, and the covering party was safe. So dense was this +"heavenly messenger," as Gordon happily describes it, that it +effectually hid the American lines from the British pickets. When the +final order, therefore, came about sunrise for Mifflin's men to retire +to the ferry, they were enabled to do so under cover of the fog +without exciting any suspicion of their movements in the enemy's +camp.<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> "We kept up fires,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> with outposts stationed," says +Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, "until all the rest were over. We left +the lines after it was fair day and then came off." As our soldiers +withdrew they distinctly heard the sound of pickaxe and shovel at the +British works.<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> Before seven o'clock the entire force had crossed +to New York, and among the last to leave was the commander-in-chief. +"General Washington," adds Chambers, "saw the last over himself."</p> + +<p>By the army the retreat was welcomed as a great relief, a salvation +from probable calamity. Not a few appreciated its completeness and +success as a strictly military move. "This evacuation," writes one, +"is a masterpiece." "That grand retreat from the Island which will +ever reflect honour to our Generals," says another. "Considering the +difficulties," is Greene's criticism, "it was the best effected +retreat I ever read or heard of." "It was executed," says Scott, "with +unexpected success." But in the country at large it was generally +associated with the defeat of the 27th, and the skilfulness with which +it was conducted little compensated for the fact that the retreat was +forced upon us.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +<a name="MAP05"></a> +<img src="images/map05.png" width="500" height="210" alt="map" title="map" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map05lg.png">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>MAP OF NEW YORK CITY AND OF MANHATTAN ISLAND<br /> +WITH THE AMERICAN DEFENCES IN 1776.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Compiled by HENRY P. JOHNSTON.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">F. von Egloffstein del.<br /> +JULIUS BIEN, PHOTO-LITH.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>LOSS OF NEW YORK—KIP'S BAY AFFAIR—BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> surrendered, could New York be held? Columbia Heights, +where Fort Stirling stood, had been regarded by Lee as the "capital +point," the key of the position. Greene called the Brooklyn front "the +pass," on the possession of which depended the security of the city. +Both pass and heights were now in the enemy's hands, and New York was +at their mercy. "We are in hourly expectation," wrote Commissary +Trumbull, September 1st, "that the town will be bombarded." Lieutenant +Jasper Ewing, of Hand's riflemen, saw that the British could reduce +the place to "a heap of ashes" in a day's time. Colonel Douglas looked +for an immediate cannonade from Fort Stirling, "which," he says, "I +have the mortification to think I helped build myself." But the enemy +kept their guns quiet, as they wished neither to injure the city nor +drive our army away. They contented themselves at first with +stretching their troops along the water front from Red Hook to Hell +Gate, Newtown, and Flushing on Long Island, and threatening to land at +any point on Manhattan Island from the Battery to Harlem, or beyond on +the Westchester shore.</p> + +<p>As for Washington, the successful retreat had not in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> the least +relieved him from care or anxiety. He had escaped one trap: it was of +the utmost consequence now to see that he did not fall into another. +What he feared most was a sudden move upon his rear in Westchester +County, for in that case he would be hopelessly hemmed in on Manhattan +Island. "The enemy," continued Trumbull on the 1st, "are drawing their +men to the eastward on Long Island, as if they intended to throw a +strong party over on this island, near Hell Gate, so as to get on the +back of the city. We are preparing to meet them." Haslet wrote August +31st: "I expect every moment orders to march off to Kingsbridge to +prevent the enemy crossing the East River and confining us on another +nook.... If they can coop us up in N. York by intrenching from river +to river, horrid will be the consequences from their command of the +rivers." General Heath pressed the matter of watching the Westchester +coast, and Washington, concurring with him "as to the probability of +the enemy's endeavoring to land their forces at Hunt's Point," above +Hell Gate, wrote him on the 31st: "In order to prevent such an attempt +from being carried into execution I have sent up General Mifflin with +the troops he brought from your quarters, strengthened by +reinforcements. With this assistance I hope you will be able to defeat +their intentions. I beg you will exert yourself to the utmost of your +abilities on this momentous occasion." Several days passing without +any demonstration by the enemy, Washington's suspense was only +protracted, and on September 5th he wrote again to Heath as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"As everything in a manner depends upon obtaining +intelligence of the enemy's motions, I do most earnestly +entreat you and General Clinton to exert yourselves to +accomplish this most desir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>able end. Leave no stone +unturned, nor do not stick at expense to bring this to pass, +as I never was more uneasy than on account of my want of +knowledge on this score.</p> + +<p>"Keep, besides this precaution, constant lookouts (with good +glasses) on some commanding heights that look well on to the +other shore (and especially into the bays, where boats can +be concealed), that they may observe, more particularly in +the evening, if there be any uncommon movements. Much will +depend upon early intelligence, and meeting the enemy before +they can intrench. I should much approve of small harassing +parties, stealing, as it were, over in the night, as they +might keep the enemy alarmed, and more than probably bring +off a prisoner, from whom some valuable intelligence may be +obtained."<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a></p></div> + +<p>To add to his burdens, the commander-in-chief found the condition of +his army growing worse instead of improving. The experiences on Long +Island had disheartened many of the troops, and their escape had not +revived their spirits.<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> The militia became impatient and went home +in groups and whole companies, and indeed in such numbers as to +materially diminish the strength of the army. To restore order and +confidence, Washington exerted himself to the utmost. Tilghman, one of +his aids, speaks of "the vast hurry of business" in which the general +was engaged at this time. "He is obliged," he writes, "to see into, +and in a manner fill every department, which is too much for one man." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>To Rodney, Haslet wrote: "I fear Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington has too heavy a +task, assisted mostly by beardless boys."<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a> But fortunately for the +country the general's shoulders were broad enough for these great +duties, and his faith and resolution remained unshaken.</p> + +<p>As soon as possible the army was reorganized and stationed to meet the +new phase of the situation. Several changes were made in the brigades, +and the whole divided into three grand divisions, under Putnam, +Spencer, and Heath. Putnam's, consisting of five brigades, remained in +the city and guarded the East River above as far as Fifteenth Street; +Spencer's, of six brigades, took up the line from that point to Horn's +Hook and Harlem; and Heath with two brigades watched King's Bridge and +the Westchester shore. Greene had not sufficiently recovered from his +illness, and his old troops, under Nixon and Heard, were temporarily +doing duty with Spencer's command.<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> This disposition was effected +by the 2d of September, and by it our army again occupied an extended +line, endeavoring to protect every point on the east side from the +battery to King's Bridge, or the entire length of the island, a +distance of fourteen and a half miles.</p> + +<p>The question of abandoning New York and all that part of the island +below Harlem Heights was, meanwhile, under consideration. The city +would obviously be untenable under a bombardment, and the island +equally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> so if the British crossed into Westchester County. Yet +Washington, strangely, we may say, expressed the conviction that he +could hold both provided his troops could be depended upon.<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> Among +his generals, Greene earnestly opposed any such attempt, and advocated +the evacuation and destruction of the place. "The City and Island of +New York," he wrote to his chief, September 5th, "are no objects for +us; we are not to bring them into competition with the general +interests of America.... The sacrifice of the vast property of New +York and the suburbs, I hope has no influence on your Excellency's +measures. Remember the King of France. When Charles the Fifth, Emperor +of Germany, invaded his Kingdom, he laid whole Provinces waste; and by +that policy he starved and ruined Charles's army, and defeated him +without fighting a battle. Two-thirds of the property of the City of +New York and the suburbs belong to the tories. We have no very great +reason to run any considerable risk for its defence.... I would give +it as my opinion that a general and speedy retreat is absolutely +necessary, and that the honour and interest of America require it. I +would burn the city." John Jay before this also proposed its +destruction. Scott urged abandonment of the place for sound military +reasons, though the move would ruin him. Washington, however, on the +2d, presented the whole question to Congress. Also convinced by the +condition of the army, that the city must be evacuated, he asked, "If +we should be obliged to abandon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> the town, ought it to stand as winter +quarters for the enemy?" Congress voted, in reply, that "it should in +no event be damaged, for they had no doubt of being able to recover +it, even though the enemy should obtain possession of it for a time." +On the 7th, a council of war, inferring that Congress wished the place +to be held, decided to retain five thousand troops in the city and +concentrate the rest around and above Harlem; but on the 12th the +matter was reconsidered, and a second council voted to evacuate the +city and retire to Harlem Heights. The removal of stores and the sick +had already commenced; and on the 14th, when the enemy appeared to be +on the point of crossing from Montressor's, now Randall's, Island to +the mainland, all the teams and wagons that could be found were +impressed by the quartermasters to remove the remaining stores. In one +day more the removal would have been complete and the troops all +withdrawn to the heights. In the evening of the 14th Washington left +the city, and established his headquarters at the Morris Mansion, at +One Hundred and Sixty-first Street, overlooking Harlem River and the +plains.<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The enemy made no advance from Long Island until more than two weeks +after the battle. Howe's preparations were delayed because dependent +upon the co-operation of the fleet. On the night of the 3d of +September, the frigate Rose, of thirty-two guns, sailed up the East<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +River convoying thirty boats, and running through the fire of our guns +at the Grand Battery, the ship-yards, and Corlears Hook, anchored +close into Wallabout Bay, where on the 5th our artillerists "briskly +cannonaded" her. After dark on the 12th, thirty-six additional boats +passed our batteries to Bushwick Creek, and the night after forty more +followed. Then towards sunset on the 14th, the frigates Roebuck, +Phœnix, Orpheus, and Carysfort, with six transports, joined the +Rose without receiving material injury from the heavy fire poured upon +them by our gunners.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, the 15th, the British moved against +Manhattan Island, and in the afternoon New York City fell into their +possession. What occurred beforehand during the day is known as the +"Kip's Bay affair."<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> +<p>Kip's Bay was the large cove which then set in from the East River at +about the foot of Thirty-fourth Street. It took its name from the old +Kip family, who owned the adjacent estate. From this point breastworks +had been thrown up along the river's bank, wherever a landing could be +made, down as far as Corlears Hook or Grand Street. Five brigades had +been distributed at this front to watch the enemy. Silliman's was in +the city; at Corlears Hook was Parsons' brigade, to which Prescott's +Massachusetts men had now been added; beyond, in the vicinity of +Fifteenth Street, on the Stuyvesant estate, Scott's New York brigade +took post; above him, at about Twenty-third Street, was Wadsworth's +command, consisting of Sage's, Selden's, and Gay's Connecticut levies; +and further along near Kip's Bay was Colonel Douglas, with his brigade +of three Connecticut militia regiments under Cooke, Pettibone, and +Talcott, and his own battalion of levies.<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a> Up the river a chain of +sentinels communicated with the troops at Horn's Hook, and every half +hour they passed the watchword to each other, "All is well."</p> + +<p>Very early on the morning of the 15th, which was Sunday, the five +British frigates which had anchored under the Long Island shore sailed +up and took position close within musket-shot of our lines at Kip's +Bay, somewhat to the left of Douglas. This officer immediately moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +his brigade abreast of them. The ships were so near, says Martin, one +of Douglas' soldiers, that he could distinctly read the name of the +Phœnix, which was lying "a little quartering." Meanwhile, on the +opposite shore, in Newtown Creek, the British embarked their light +infantry and reserves, and Donop's grenadiers and yagers, all under +Clinton and Cornwallis, in eighty-four boats, and drew up in regular +order on the water ready to cross to the New York side.<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> The +soldier just quoted remembered that they looked like "a large clover +field in full bloom." All along the line our soldiers were watching +these movements with anxious curiosity—that night they would have +been withdrawn from the position—when suddenly between ten and eleven +o'clock the five frigates opened a sweeping fire from their seventy or +eighty guns upon the breastworks where Douglas and his brigade were +drawn up. It came like "a peal of thunder," and the militiamen could +do nothing but keep well under cover. The enemy fired at them at their +pleasure, from "their tops and everywhere," until our men soon found +it im<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>possible to stay in that position. "We kept the lines," says +Martin, "till they were almost levelled upon us, when our officers, +seeing we could make no resistance, and no orders coming from any +superior officer, and that we must soon be entirely exposed to the +rake of the guns, gave the order to leave." At the same time the +flotilla crossed the river, and getting under cover of the smoke of +the ships' guns, struck off to the left of Douglas, where the troops +effected a landing without difficulty. Howe says: "The fire of the +shipping being so well directed and so incessant, the enemy could not +remain in their works, and the descent was made without the least +opposition." The ordeal the militia were subjected to was something +which in similar circumstances veteran troops have been unable to +withstand.<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> Retreating from the lines, Douglas's men scattered to +the rear towards the Post Road, and the enemy who landed and formed +rapidly were soon after them. Douglas himself, who was an excellent +officer, was the last to leave, and all but escaped capture.<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> +There was no collecting the brigade, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> in any new position in +the field, for the thought of being intercepted had created a panic +among the militia, and they fled in confusion.</p> + +<p>When the cannonade at Kip's Bay began, Washington was four miles +distant, at Harlem. At the first sound of the guns he mounted his +horse and rode with all possible despatch to the scene. At about the +same time, General Parsons, probably by Putnam's order, directed +Prescott's, Tyler's, and the remnant of Huntington's regiment, not +over eighty strong, to march immediately to the assistance of the +troops where the enemy were landing.<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a> Fellows' brigade was also +ordered along for the same purpose.</p> + +<p>At about the corner of the present Thirty-sixth Street and Fourth +Avenue stood at that time the residence of Robert Murray, the Quaker +merchant, on what was known as "Inclenberg" heights, now Murray Hill. +His grounds extended to the Post Road, which there ran along the line +of Lexington Avenue. Just above him a cross-road connected the Post +and Bloomingdale roads, which is represented to-day by the line of +Forty-second and Forty-third streets. On the south side of the +cross-road where it intersected the Post Road was a large corn-field +adjoining or belonging to Murray's estate. When Washington reached +this vicinity he found the militia retreating in disorder along both +the cross and the Post roads, and Fellows' brigade just coming on to +the field. The general, with Putnam and others, was then on the rising +ground in the vicinity of the present Forty-second Street reservoir. +In a very short time Parsons and his regiments arrived by the +Bloomingdale Road, and Wash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>ington in person directed them to form +along the line of the Post Road in front of the enemy, who were +rapidly advancing from Kip's Bay. "Take the walls!" "Take the +corn-field!" he shouted; and Parsons' men quickly ran to the walls and +the field, but in a confused and disordered manner. Their general did +his best to get them into line on the ground, but found it impossible, +they were so dispersed, and, moreover, they were now beginning to +retreat. The panic which had seized the Connecticut militia was +communicated to Fellows' Massachusetts men, who were also militia; and +now it was to sweep up Parsons' Continentals, including Prescott's men +of Bunker Hill. The latter brigade had been brought on to the ground +in bad shape through the fugitive militiamen, and when the British +light infantry appeared they broke and retreated with the rest.</p> + +<p>To Washington all this confusion and rout seemed wholly unnecessary +and unreasonable, and dashing in among the flying crowds he endeavored +to convince them that there was no danger, and used his utmost +exertions to bring them into some order. He was roused to more than +indignation at the sight, and in his letter to Congress on the +following day denounced the conduct of these troops as "disgraceful +and dastardly."<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> Putnam,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> Parsons, Fellows, and others were +equally active in attempting to stop the flight, but it was to no +purpose. "The very demons of fear and disorder," says Martin, "seemed +to take full possession of all and everything on that day." Nothing +remained but to continue the retreat by the Bloomingdale Road to +Harlem Heights.</p> + +<p>During these scenes, Wadsworth's and Scott's brigades, which were +below Douglas on the river lines, saw that their only safety lay, +also, in immediate retreat, and falling back, they joined the other +brigades above, though not without suffering some loss. The parties +now in the greatest danger were Silliman's brigade and Knox with +detachments of the artillery, who were still in the city three miles +below. When Putnam, to whose division they belonged, found that no +stand could be made at Kip's Bay or Murray's Hill, he galloped down +through Wadsworth's and Scott's retreating troops, to extricate +Silliman and the others.<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> Not a moment's time was to be lost, for +should the British stretch out their troops west of the Bloomingdale +Road to the North River, escape would be impossible. Silliman, +meanwhile, had taken post with Knox in and to the right of Bayard's +Hill Fort,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> from the top of which they could see the enemy occupying +the island above them. At this juncture, Major Aaron Burr, Putnam's +aid, rode up to the fort with orders to retreat. He was told that +retreat was out of the question. Knox said that he should defend the +fort to the last. But Burr, who knew the ground thoroughly, declared +that he could pilot them safely to the upper end of the island, and +Silliman's men set out for the attempt.<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a> Putnam also had called in +other guards, and the entire force then took to the woods above +Greenwich, on the west side, and keeping under cover wherever it was +possible, made their way along without opposition. But it proved to be +a most trying and hazardous march. The day was "insupportably hot;" +more than one soldier died at the spring or brook where he drank; any +moment the enemy, who at some points were not half a mile away, might +be upon them. Officers rode in advance and to the right to reconnoitre +and see that the way was clear. Putnam, Silliman, Burr, and others +were conspicuous in their exertions. Silliman was "sometimes in the +front, sometimes in the centre, and sometimes in the rear." The men +extended along in the woods for two miles, and the greatest +precautions were necessary to keep them out of sight of the main +road.<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> Putnam encouraged them con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>tinually by flying on his horse, +covered with foam, wherever his presence was most necessary. "Without +his extraordinary exertions," says Colonel Humphreys, who frequently +saw Putnam that day, "the guards must have been inevitably lost, and +it is probable the entire corps would have been cut in pieces." Much, +too, of the success of the march was due to Burr's skill and +knowledge. Near Bloomingdale, the command fell in with a party of the +British, when Silliman formed three hundred of his men and beat them +off. After making a winding march of at least "twelve miles," these +greatly distressed troops finally reached Harlem Heights after dark, +to the surprise and relief of the other brigades, who had given them +up for lost.</p> + +<p>Although skilfully conducted, this escape is to be referred, in +reality, to Howe's supineness and the hospitality of Mrs. Robert +Murray, at whose house the British generals stopped for rest and +refreshment after driving back our troops. Instead of continuing a +vigorous pursuit or making any effort to intercept other parties, they +spent a valuable interval at the board of their entertaining hostess, +whose American sympathies added flavor and piquancy to the +conversation. "Mrs. Murray," says Dr. Thacher in his military journal, +"treated them with cake and wine, and they were induced to tarry two +hours or more, Governor Tryon frequently joking her about her American +friends. By this happy incident, General Putnam, by continuing his +march, escaped a rencounter with a greatly superior force, which must +have proved fatal to his whole party. Ten minutes, it is said, would +have been sufficient for the enemy to have secured the road at the +turn and entirely cut off General Putnam's retreat. It has since +become almost a common saying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> among our officers, that Mrs. Murray +saved this part of the American army."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Of the Kip's Bay affair there is but one criticism to be made—it was +an ungovernable panic. Beginning with a retreat from the water-line, +it grew into a fright and a run for safer ground. Panics are often +inexplicable. The best troops as well as the poorest have been known +to fly from the merest shadow of danger. In this case, so far as the +<i>beginning</i> of the rout is concerned, probably the militiamen did no +worse than Washington's best men would have done. A retreat from the +ship's fire could not have been avoided, though, with better troops, +the subsequent rout could have been checked and the enemy retarded.</p> + +<p>The incident was especially unfortunate at that time, as it served to +increase existing jealousies between the troops from the different +States, and so far impair the morale of the army. It excites a smile +to-day to read that men from New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland +charged New Englanders generally with provincialism and cowardice, and +that the charge was resented; but such was the fact. The feeling +between them grew to such an extent that Washington was obliged to +issue orders condemning its indulgence. The Kip's Bay panic offered a +favorable opportunity for emphasizing these charges, and the +Connecticut and Massachusetts runaways came in for their full share of +uncomplimentary epithets. The Connecticut men were remembered +particularly, "dastards" and "cowards" being the terms which greeted +their ears. All this of course could not but be ruinous to the +discipline of the army, and it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> an alarming fact to be dealt +with.<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> The men south of New England were not without reason in +making their harsh criticisms, for many of the New England regiments, +the militia in particular, came upon the ground with an inferior +military organization. They were miserably officered in many cases, +and the men, never expecting to become soldiers as such, were +indifferent to discipline. But in another view the criticisms were +unfair, because the Pennsylvanians and others, in making comparisons, +compared their best troops with New England's poorest. As two thirds +of the army were from New England—more than one third from +Connecticut—men from this section were necessarily represented +largely in every duty or piece of fighting, and whenever any +misconduct of a few occurred, it was made to reflect discredit upon +the whole. There was no difference between the better drilled and +officered regiments from the several States, just as there was little +difference between their hastily gathered militia. Thus it may be +mentioned as a notable and somewhat humorous coincidence that at the +very moment the Connecticut militia were flying from the bombardment +of the ships at Kip's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> Bay, New Jersey and Pennsylvania militia were +flying with equal haste from the bombardment of other ships at Powle's +Hook as they sailed up the North River to Bloomingdale on the same +morning; and that while Reed, Tilghman, Smallwood, and others, were +denouncing the Kip's Bay fugitives in unmeasured terms, the indignant +Mercer was likewise denouncing the "scandalous" behavior of the +fugitives in his own command.<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a></p> + +<p>The events of the 15th naturally and justly roused the wrath of both +Washington and Mercer, and their denunciations become a part of the +record of the time. But in recording them it belongs to those who +write a century later to explain and qualify. Justice to the men who +figured in these scenes requires that the terms of reproach should not +be perpetuated as a final stigma upon their character as soldiers of +the Revolution. All military experience proves that troops who have +once given way in a panic are not therefore or necessarily poor +troops; and the experience at Kip's Bay and Powle's Hook was only an +illustration in the proof. These men had their revenge. If the records +of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were to be thoroughly examined, they +would doubtless show that large numbers of Mercer's militia re-entered +the service and acquitted themselves well. This is certainly true of +many of the routed crowd whom Washington found it impossible to rally +on Murray's Hill and in Murray's corn-field.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> Some of those who ran +from the Light Infantry on the 15th assisted in driving the same Light +Infantry on the 16th. Prescott's men a few weeks later successfully +defended a crossing in Westchester County and thwarted the enemy's +designs. Not a few of the militia in Douglas's brigade were the +identical men with whom Oliver Wolcott marched up to meet Burgoyne a +year later, and who, under Colonels Cook and Latimer, "threw away +their lives" in the decisive action of that campaign, suffering a +<a name="E3" id="E3"></a><a href="#E3E">greater loss</a> than any other two regiments on the field. Fellows, also, +was there to co-operate in forcing the British surrender. In Parsons' +brigade were young officers and soldiers who formed part of the select +corps that stormed Stony Point, and among Wadsworth's troops were +others who, five years later, charged upon the Yorktown redoubt with +the leading American Light Infantry battalion.<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>When Washington found that the enemy had made their principal landing +at Thirty-fourth Street, and that a retreat was necessary, he sent +back word to have Harlem Heights well secured by the troops there, +while at the same time a considerable force under Mifflin marched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +down to the strong ground near McGowan's to cover the escape of troops +that might take the King's Bridge road. Chester and Sargent evacuated +Horn's Hook and came in with Mifflin. Upon the landing of more troops +at Kip's Bay, Howe sent a column towards McGowan's, and in the evening +the Light Infantry reached Apthorpe's just after Silliman's retreat. +Washington had waited on the Bloomingdale Road until the last, and +retired from the Apthorpe Mansion but a short time before the British +occupied it. Here at Bloomingdale the enemy encamped their left wing +for the night, while their right occupied Horn's Hook, their outposts +not being advanced on the left beyond One Hundredth Street. The +Americans slept on Harlem Heights, not quite a mile and a half above +them.</p> + +<p>"That night," says Humphreys, "our soldiers, excessively fatigued by +the sultry march of the day, their clothes wet by a severe shower of +rain that succeeded towards the evening, their blood chilled by the +cold wind that produced a sudden change in the temperature of the air, +and their hearts sunk within them by the loss of baggage, artillery, +and works, in which they had been taught to put great confidence, lay +upon their arms, covered only by the clouds of an uncomfortable +sky."<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> +<p>During the day, meantime, the British occupied the city. After the +departure of the last troops under Silliman (Knox with others escaping +to Powle's Hook by boats) a white flag was displayed on Bayard's Hill +Redoubt by citizens, and in the afternoon a detachment from the fleet +first took possession.<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> In the evening a brigade from Howe's force +encamped along the outer line of works. The next forenoon, the 16th, +"the first of the English troops came to town," under General +Robertson, and were drawn up in two lines on Broadway. Governor Tryon +was present with officers of rank and a great concourse of people. +"Joy and gladness seemed to appear in all countenances;" while the +first act of the victors was to identify and confiscate every house +owned and deserted by the rebels. "And thus," says the now happy +loyalist pastor Shewkirk, "the city was delivered from those Usurpers +who had oppressed it so long."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Fortunately, the demoralizing effect of the panic of the 15th was to +be merely temporary. Indeed, before the details of the affair had time +to circulate through the camps and work further discouragement or +depression, there occurred another encounter with the enemy on the +following morning, which neutralized the disgrace of the previous day +and revived the spirits of our army to an astonishing degree. So much +importance was attached to it at the time as being a greatly needed +stimulant for the American soldier that it becomes of interest to +follow its particulars. It has passed into our history as the affair +or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Battle of Harlem Heights</span>.<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a></h3> + +<p>Never for a moment relaxing his watch over the enemy's movements, +Washington, before daylight on the morning of the 16th, ordered a +reconnoitring party out to ascertain the exact position of the +British. The party consisted of the detachment of "Rangers,"<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> or +volun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>teers from the New England regiments, which had been organized +for scouting service since the battle of Long Island, and placed under +the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Knowlton, of Connecticut. No +better man could have been found in the army to head such a corps, for +he had proved his courage at Bunker Hill, and on more than one +occasion since had shown his capacity for leadership. The detachment +started out, not more than one hundred and twenty strong, and passing +over to the Bloomingdale heights, marched for the Bloomingdale Road, +where the enemy were last seen the night before.</p> + +<p>The ground which Knowlton reconnoitred and which became the scene of +the action remains to-day unchanged in its principal features. What +was then known as Harlem Heights is that section of the island which +rises prominently from the plain west of Eighth Avenue and north of +One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. Its southern face extended from +an abrupt point, called "Point of Rocks," at One Hundred and +Twenty-sixth Street, east of Ninth Avenue, northwesterly to the +Hudson, a distance of three quarters of a mile. At the foot of these +heights lay a vale or "hollow way," through the centre of which now +runs Manhattan Street, and opposite, at distances varying from a +quarter to a third of a mile, rose another line of bluffs and slopes +parallel to Harlem Heights. This lower elevation stood mainly in the +Bloomingdale division of the city's out-ward, and is gen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>erally known +to-day as Bloomingdale Heights. In 1776 there were two farms on these +heights, owned and occupied by Adrian Hogeland and Benjamin +Vandewater, which were partly cultivated, but mainly covered with +woods. The Bloomingdale Road, as stated in a previous chapter, +terminated at Hogeland's lands about One Hundred and Eighth or Tenth +streets, and from there a lane or road ran easterly by Vandewater's +and joined the King's Bridge road near One Hundred and Twentieth +Street. East of the Bloomingdale and south of Harlem Heights stretched +the tract of level land called Harlem Plains.</p> + +<p>After the retreat of the 15th, Washington's army encamped on Harlem +Heights, with their pickets lining the southern slope from Point of +Rocks to the Hudson. The British, as we have seen, lay at Bloomingdale +and across the upper part of Central Park to Horn's Hook. An enemy, +posted at the lower boundary of Harlem Plains, around McGowan's Pass, +where the ground again rises at the northern end of the Park, might be +easily observed from the Point of Rocks, and any advance from that +quarter could be reported at once. Nothing, however, could be seen of +movements made on the Bloomingdale Road or Heights, and it was in that +direction that the "Rangers" now proceeded to reconnoitre at dawn on +the 16th.</p> + +<p>Knowlton, marching under cover of the woods, soon came upon the +enemy's pickets, somewhere, it would appear, between Hogeland's and +Apthorpe's houses on the Bloomingdale Road, more than a mile below the +American lines. This was the encampment of the Light Infantry, and +their Second and Third Battalions, supported by the Forty-second +Highlanders, were immedi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>ately pushed forward to drive back this party +of rebels who had dared to attack them on their own ground. +Anticipating some such move, Knowlton had already posted his men +behind a stone wall, and when the British advanced he met them with a +vigorous fire. His men fired eight or nine rounds a piece with good +effect, when the enemy threatened to turn his flanks, and he ordered a +retreat, which was well conducted. In this brief encounter the Rangers +lost about ten of their number, and believed that they inflicted much +more than this loss upon the Infantry.<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a></p> + +<p>At his headquarters in the Morris Mansion, Washington, meantime, was +writing his despatches to Congress. The unwelcome duty fell to him to +report the scenes of the previous day which had so deeply stirred his +indignation. He made a plain statement of the facts, described the +retreat from New York, acknowledged the loss of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> baggage and cannon, +and despondently expressed his misgivings as to the soldierly +qualities of a majority of his troops. "We are now," he wrote, +"encamped with the main body of the army on the Heights of Harlem, +where I should hope the enemy would meet with a defeat in case of an +attack, if the generality of our troops would behave with tolerable +bravery. But experience, to my extreme affliction, has convinced me +that this is rather to be wished for than expected. However, I trust +that there are many who will act like men, and show themselves worthy +of the blessings of freedom." Not unfounded was this trust, for at the +very time the commander-in-chief was writing the words, the Rangers +were bravely fighting in the Bloomingdale Woods, and many others soon +after, including one of the very regiments which fled from Kip's Bay +twenty-four hours before, were likewise to act "like men" and prove +their real worth in the open field. Just as the letters were sent off +word came in to headquarters that the enemy had appeared in several +large bodies upon the plains, and Washington rode down to the +picket-posts to make the necessary dispositions in case of an attack. +Adjutant-General Reed and Lieutenant Tilghman, who had also been +writing private letters describing Sunday's panic, and other members +of the staff, went to the front about the same time. Knowlton's men +had not yet come in, and their fire was distinctly heard from the +Point of Rocks, where the commander-in-chief was now surveying the +situation. Anxious to learn whether the British were approaching in +force on the Bloomingdale Heights, no attack being threatened from the +plains, Colonel Reed received permission to go "down to our most +advanced guard," namely, to the Rangers, whom he found making a +momentary halt on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> their retreat. The enemy soon came up again in +large numbers, and the Rangers continued to retire. Colonel Reed, +describing his experience at this point, states that the British +advanced so rapidly that he had not quitted a house (which may have +been Vandewater's) five minutes before they were in possession of it. +"Finding how things were going," to use Reed's words, he returned to +Washington "to get some support for the brave fellows who had behaved +so well." Knowlton, however, fell back to our lines, and the enemy +halted in their pursuit on the north-east edge of Bloomingdale +Heights, opposite the Point of Rocks, where a part of them appeared in +open sight, and "in the most insulting manner" sounded their +bugle-horns as if on a fox chase. "I never felt such a sensation +before," says Reed; "it seemed to crown our disgrace." But the chase +was not yet over.</p> + +<p>Learning from Knowlton that the British Infantry who had followed him +in were about three hundred strong, and knowing that they were some +distance from their main army, Washington determined, if possible, to +effect their capture. Knowlton's men, who had done nobly, were ready +for another brush, and there were troops at hand who could be depended +upon to behave well under any circumstances. The opportunity for a +brisk and successful skirmish presented itself, and the general +proposed to improve it. Accordingly he formed the plan of engaging the +enemy's attention in their front, while a flanking party should +attempt to get into their rear and cut off their escape. The troops +that were stationed nearest to the Point of Rocks at this time appear +to have been Nixon's brigade, of Greene's division, Weedon's newly +arrived regiment of Virginians, General Beall's Marylanders, Colonel +Sargent's eastern brigade, Clinton's and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> Scott's brigades, and other +regiments belonging to Putnam's and Spencer's divisions. For the +flanking detachment, the general selected Knowlton's Rangers, to whom +he added a reinforcement of three of the Virginia companies, about one +hundred and twenty men, under Major Andrew Leitch. These were directed +to make their way or "steal around" to the rear of the enemy by their +right flank. To make a demonstration against the enemy in their front, +while the flanking party effected its object, a detachment of +volunteers was organized from Nixon's brigade, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Crary, of Varnum's Rhode Islanders,<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> +who marched down into the "hollow way" directly towards the British on +the opposite ridge. As Washington hoped, this move had the desired +effect. The British, seeing so small a party coming out against them, +immediately ran down the rocky hill into an open field, where they +took post behind some bushes and a rail fence that extended from the +hill to the post road about four hundred yards in front of the Point +of Rocks.<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> This field was part of the old Kortwright farm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> lying +just west of the present Harlem Lane, above One Hundred and Eighteenth +Street, in which the line of that fence had been established for more +than half a century before this engagement, and where it remained the +same for more than half a century after. It is possible to-day to fix +its exact position, for the march of modern improvements has not yet +disturbed the site.</p> + +<p>In order to keep the enemy engaged at that point, Crary's party opened +fire at long range, to which the British replied, but not much +execution was done on either side. Meanwhile Knowlton and Leitch moved +out to get in the rear. Colonel Reed accompanied the party, and as he +had been over the ground he undertook the lead, with the Virginians in +advance. It was probably his intention to march down under cover of +the bushes, cross the Kortwright farm unobserved some little distance +below the enemy, and reach the top of the Bloomingdale ridge before +they were discovered. Once there, the British would be effectually +hemmed in. Unfortunately, however, some "inferior officers," as it +would appear, gave unauthorized directions to the flanking party; or +the party forming the "feint" in front pushed on too soon, in +consequence of which Leitch and Knowlton made their attack rather on +the British flank than in their rear.<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> The latter now finding a +retreat nec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>essary, left the fence and started back up the hill which +they had descended. Our men quickly followed, Crary in front, Knowlton +and Leitch on the left, and with the Virginians leading, joined in the +pursuit with splendid spirit and animation. They rushed up the slope, +on about the line of One Hundred and Twentieth Street, and, climbing +over the rocks, poured in their volleys upon the running Light +Infantry.</p> + +<p>It was right here, now, just on the crest of the ridge, and when our +gallant advance was turning the tide against the enemy, that we +suffered the loss of those two noble leaders whose memory is linked +with this day's action. In a very short time after the first rush, +Leitch was severely wounded not far from Reed, having received three +balls in his side in as many minutes; and in less than ten minutes +after a bullet pierced Knowlton's body, and he too fell mortally +wounded. We can identify the spot where the fall of these brave +officers occurred as on the summit of the Bloomingdale Heights below +One Hundred and Nineteenth Street, and about half way between the line +of Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The site is included within the limits of +the proposed "Morningside Park," which will thus have added to its +natural attractiveness a never-fading historical association.<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> +<p>Leitch was borne to the rear to be tenderly cared for until his death +at a later day. In after years the Government remembered his services +by granting his widow a generous pension. Knowlton met his fate with a +soldier's fortitude and a patriot's devotion. "My poor Colonel," +writes an officer of the Rangers, who without doubt was Captain +Stephen Brown, next in rank to Knowlton, "my poor Colonel, in the +second attack, was shot just by my side. The ball entered the small of +his back. I took hold of him, asked him if he was badly wounded? He +told me he was; but says he, 'I do not value my life if we do but get +the day.' I then ordered two men to carry him off. He desired me by +all means to keep up this flank. He seemed as unconcerned and calm as +tho' nothing had happened to him." Reed, on whose horse the colonel +was carried to the lines, wrote to his wife on the following day: "Our +loss is also considerable. The Virginia Major (Leitch) who went up +first with me was wounded with three shot in less than three minutes; +but our greatest loss was a brave officer from Connecticut, whose name +and spirit ought to be immortalized—one Colonel Knowlton. I assisted +him off, and when gasping in the agonies of death, all his inquiry was +if we had drove the enemy." Washington spoke of him in his letters and +orders as "a valuable and gallant officer," who would have been "an +honor to any country."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Rangers and Virginians kept up their attack under their +captains, and Washington, finding that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> the entire party needed +support, sent forward three of the Maryland Independent companies, +under Major Price, and parts of Griffith's and Richardson's Maryland +Flying Camp.<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> At the same time, as Washington reports, some +detachments from the Eastern regiments who were nearest the place of +action, which included most of Nixon's and Sargent's brigades, Colonel +Douglas's Connecticut levies, and a few others, were ordered into the +field. Our total force engaged at this time, now about noon, was not +far from eighteen hundred strong, and very soon a considerable battle +was in progress. Besides Reed and other members of Washington's staff, +Generals Putnam, Greene, and George Clinton accompanied the +detachments, and encouraged the men by individual examples of +bravery.<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> The troops now "charged the enemy with great +intrepidity," and drove them from the crest of the heights back in a +south-westerly direction through a piece of woods to a buckwheat +field, about four hundred paces, as General Clinton describes it, from +the ridge, or just east of the present Bloomingdale Asylum, where the +Light Infantry, now reinforced by the Forty-second Highlanders, +finally made a stand. The distance the latter troops had advanced and +the sound of the firing had evidently warned Howe, at his headquarters +at Apthorpe's, that they needed immediate assistance, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> promptly +ordered forward the reserve with two field-pieces, together with the +Yagers and Linsingen's grenadiers of Donop's corps. The field-pieces +and Yagers came into action at the buckwheat field, and here a +stubborn contest ensued for about an hour and a half.<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> But our +troops pressed the enemy so hard at this point, and the Highlanders +and Yagers having fired away their ammunition, the latter all again +fell back, and the Americans pursued them vigorously to an orchard a +short distance below, in the direction of the Bloomingdale Road. Here +had been hard fighting in the open field, and the best British troops +were beaten! At the orchard the result was the same, the enemy making +little resistance, their fire "being silenced in a great measure," and +the chase continued down one of the slight hills on Hogeland's lands +and up another, near or quite to the terminus of the Bloomingdale +Road. Beyond this third position our troops were not allowed to follow +the enemy, whose main encampment was not far distant. The Fifth +Regiment of Foot had been trotted up "about three miles without a halt +to draw breath," reaching the ground at the close of the action. +Linsingen's grenadiers appeared about the same time, while Block's and +Minegerode's men were sent to McGowan's Pass, which had not yet been +occupied. A large body of the enemy were put under arms, and within +their camp every preparation was made for a general engagement; but +this, above all things, Washington wished to avoid, and, quite content +with the brilliant success of his troops thus far, he despatched<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +Lieutenant Tilghman to the front to bring them off. Before turning +from the field they had won so gloriously, they answered the bugle +blast of the morning with a cheer of victory, and marched back in good +order.<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center"><br /> +<a name="MAP06"></a> +<img src="images/map06.png" width="500" height="345" alt="map" title="map" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map06lg.png">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>FIELD of the HARLEM HEIGHTS "AFFAIR" Sept 16, 1776.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Topography from RANDALL'S MAP OF NEW YORK and old Surveys.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="small">J. Bien Photo. Lith. N.Y.</span></p> + +<p><br /> +This affair, as Washington wrote to Schuyler, "inspirited our troops +prodigiously." The next day the general most heartily thanked the men +"commanded by Major Leitch, who first advanced upon the enemy, and the +others who so resolutely supported them;" and once more he called upon +all to act up to the noble cause in which they were engaged.</p> + +<p>The British loss, according to Howe, was fourteen killed and about +seventy wounded, but Baurmeister puts it much higher—seventy killed +and two hundred wounded. The Americans lost not far from eighty, of +whom at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> twenty-five were killed or mortally wounded. The loss +in officers, besides Knowlton and Leitch, included Captain Gleason, of +Nixon's Massachusetts, and Lieutenant Noel Allen, of Varnum's Rhode +Island, both of whom were killed. Captain Lowe, of Ewing's +Marylanders, was wounded, also Captain Gooch, of Varnum's, slightly. +The heaviest loss fell upon Nixon's and Sargent's brigades, namely: +Nixon's regiment, four killed; Varnum's, four; Hitchcock's, four; +Sargent's, one; Bailey's, five, and two mortally wounded. Colonel +Douglas lost three killed. Among the Marylanders there were twelve +wounded and three missing. The loss in the Virginia detachment and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +the Rangers does not appear. General Clinton on the next day buried +seventeen of our men on the field, and reported over fifty wounded. +Lieutenant-Colonel Henshaw, of Little's regiment, simply writes to his +wife in regard to the action, "I was there," and adds that our loss +was one hundred. He puts the casualties in his brigade alone [Nixon's] +at seventy-five. All the troops behaved well. Greene speaks with pride +of the conduct of his Rhode Islanders, Varnum's and Hitchcock's. +Captain Gooch wrote to a friend enthusiastically, "The New England men +have gained the first Laurells;" while Tilghman wrote with equal +enthusiasm, "The Virginia and Maryland troops bear the Palm." In +reality, palm and laurel belonged to both alike.</p> + +<p>Knowlton, on the 17th, was buried with the honors of war near the road +on the hill slope, not far from the line of One Hundred and +Forty-third Street, west of Ninth Avenue. Leitch died on the 1st of +October, and is said to have been buried by Knowlton's side, where +Major Thomas Henly, a Massachusetts officer, killed on Montressor's +Island on September 23d, was also buried.<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a> On<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> the 22d, Captain +Nathan Hale, "the martyr-spy," was executed in New York. Finding +Washington anxious to have information of the enemy's numbers and +designs, Hale volunteered to enter their camp in disguise. Captured at +the last moment as he was on the point of escape, he frankly avowed +his mission, and just before his execution, on the Rutgers farm, he +told the spectators around him that he only regretted he had but one +life to give for his country. The war saw no more courageous or +unselfish sacrifice. Few worthier of a monument than he!</p> + +<p>The battle of the 16th was followed by inactivity on the part of the +British, and Washington securely established himself on Harlem +Heights. The chief excitement was the occurrence of the great fire on +the night of the 21st of September, which broke out near Whitehall +Slip, in New York, and destroyed a fourth of the city. In addition to +accounts of the calamity already published and generally familiar, the +experiences of Pastor Shewkirk, as given in his diary in the present +work, will be read with interest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>WHITE PLAINS—FORT WASHINGTON.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">What</span> now remains to be noticed as coming within the scope of the +present narrative are those incidents which led to the evacuation of +Harlem Heights by our army, and the subsequent capture of Fort +Washington, by which the British finally came into the possession of +the whole of New York Island.</p> + +<p>The American position at the Heights, strong by nature, was made still +more so by defensive works. Three lines of intrenchments and redoubts +were thrown across the island between One Hundred and Forty-fifth and +One Hundred and Sixty-second streets; batteries were built around +King's Bridge, and at several points on the heights overlooking the +Harlem; and on the commanding site on the line of One Hundred and +Eighty-third Street, two hundred and thirty feet above the Hudson, +stood the powerful fortress called Fort Washington. Describing these +works more in detail, the first of the three lines, that furthest +south, was the one already referred to on which troops were digging +during the action of Harlem Heights. It extended along the line of One +Hundred and Forty-sixth Street. The second line, which was much +stronger, was laid out a short distance above at One Hundred and +Fifty-third Street. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> were four redoubts in the line. Less than +half a mile above, between One Hundred and Sixtieth and One Hundred +and Sixty-second streets, and not extending east of Tenth Avenue, or +the old Post Road, was the third line. It mainly commanded the +depression in the heights which is now known as Audubon Park, and +included no redoubts. In addition to this triple line, there were +single breastworks and batteries at various points from Point of Rocks +north, along the ridge. The high and rugged bank of the Harlem +overlooking the present High Bridge was known as Laurel Hill, and at +the northern extremity, at One Hundred and Ninety-second Street, there +was an American battery, which the British afterwards named Fort +George. On the west side, at One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Street, +there was a small battery which became Fort Tryon. On the further side +of Spuyten Duyvil Creek stood Fort Independence, commanding King's +Bridge and its approaches.<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a></p> + +<p>Fort Washington was a large, five-sided work with bastions, strong by +virtue of its position, and important as commanding the passage of the +Hudson in connection with Fort Lee (first named Constitution), +opposite, on the summit of the Palisades on the Jersey side. Much +labor had been expended upon it, and it was generally regarded as +impregnable. The obstructions in the river consisted mainly of a line +of vessels chained together, loaded with stone, and then sunk and +anchored just below the surface<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> of the river. It was expected that +they would resist the passage of the British ships, which would thus +be also brought to a stop under the guns from either shore, and made +to suffer heavily. Both the Continental Congress and the Provincial +Congress of New York had urged that no means or expense should be +spared to make the obstructions effectual, in view of the serious +results that would follow the enemy's possession of the river above.</p> + +<p>Nearly a month now had elapsed since the retreat of our army to Harlem +Heights, and the British had made no further progress. They had in the +mean time thrown up a series of works across the island in front of +their main camps at Bloomingdale and McGowan's Pass, which could be +defended by a comparatively small force. On the 9th, however, they +showed indications of taking the field again by sending two frigates +up the Hudson. In spite of the sunken obstructions, the ships made +their way through without difficulty. Then, on the morning of the +12th, Howe embarked the greater part of his army in boats, and passing +through Hell Gate, under cover of a fog, landed on Throg's Neck, an +arm of the Westchester coast, about six miles above. Percy was left to +protect New York with three brigades. By this move the British general +placed himself on Washington's flank in Westchester County, and +threatened his communications. But the Neck was a poor selection for a +landing-place.<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> It was practically an island, the crossings to +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> mainland being a causeway and fords, the opposite approaches of +which were fortified by the Americans. Colonel Hand's riflemen had +pulled up the planks on the bridges, and Prescott's Massachusetts were +ready behind breastworks to resist any attempt on the part of the +enemy to cross. Here the British wasted five days in collecting their +stores, while the Americans kept a sufficient force to meet them at +the causeway and vicinity. Among other regiments which relieved each +other at this point were Nixon's, Varnum's, Malcom's, Graham's, and +Ritzema's.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>During and for some time before these movements an interesting +correspondence was carried on between Washington's headquarters and a +committee of the New York Convention, a portion of which may be +introduced in this connection. It gives us a glimpse of the deep +interest and anxiety felt in the Convention in matters affecting the +protection of the State, and the internal difficulties that had to be +encountered. The correspondence was conducted mainly between +Lieutenant Tilghman for headquarters and Hon. William Duer for the +Convention.<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> Thus, on September 20th, the latter writes to +Tilghman as follows:</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I can easily imagine that Gen<sup>l</sup> Howe must be both +chagrined and disappointed at the Retreat of our Army from +New York. I have no doubt but what he expected fully to have +taken them in a net; and he certainly would have succeeded +had we pertinaciously persisted in the plan of defending the +city. You observe that if the passage of the North River is +sufficiently obstructed that our lines will keep the enemy +from making any progress in front. This is certainly true; +but you must recollect that the Sound is, and must ever be, +open; and if they should succeed in landing a Body of Men in +Westchester County, they might, by drawing lines to the +North River, as effectually hem us in, as if we were in New +York. From Sutton's Neck to the North River (if I am not +mistaken) is not above twelve miles."</p></div> + +<p>Again on the 2d of October, speaking of the possibility of the enemy's +getting on our flank or rear, Duer says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I wish they would delay this attempt till Gen<sup>l</sup>. Lee +arrives, or till Mifflin comes from Philad<sup>a</sup>. I am +sensible that however great General Washington's abilities +and vigilance are, he must stand in need of the assistance +of such excellent officers. Is Gen<sup>l</sup> Greene with the Army, +or is he still in Jersey? If he could be spared from that +quarter his presence, I think, would be of great +consequence. I am much mistaken, if he is not possest of +that Heaven-born Genius which is necessary to constitute a +great General.—I can scarcely describe to you my feelings +at this interesting Period—what, with the situation of our +enemies in your quarter and the cursed machinations of our +Internal Foes, the fate of this State hangs on a single +battle of importance."</p></div> + +<p>Again on the 8th:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am sorry to tell you (for the credit of this State) that +the Committee I belong to make daily fresh discoveries of +the infernal Practices of our Enemies to excite +Insurrections amongst the inhabitants of the State. +To-morrow one Company, actually enlisted in the enemy's +service, will be marched to Philadelphia, there to be +confined in jail, till the establishment of our Courts +enables us to hang the Ringleaders."</p></div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>And on the following day Robert R. Livingston added on this subject:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Tho' we are constantly employed in the detection of +treasons, yet plots multiply upon us daily, and we have +reason every moment to dread an open rebellion. We have +ordered troops to be raised but fear they will be too slow +in coming, and that we shall be under the disagreeable +necessity of asking a small and temporary aid from the +Gen<sup>l</sup>; but we shall defer this till reduced to the last +extremity."</p></div> + +<p>When the ships went up the river on the 9th, it was feared they had +troops on board who might make an attempt on the Highlands, whereupon +Duer wrote on the 10th:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In this [attempt] they will undoubtedly be joined by the +villains in Westchester and Duchess County; it is therefore +of the utmost consequence that a Force should be immediately +detached from the main body of our army to occupy these +posts.... By the Influence and Artifices of the capital +tories of this State the majority of Inhabitants in those +counties are ripe for a revolt."</p></div> + +<p>But with a stout heart Duer continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is our Duty, however, to struggle against the tide of +adversity, and to exert ourselves with vigour adequate to +our circumstances. This, as an Individual, I am determined +to do in the Capacity in which I am at present acting, and I +have no doubt those friends I have in the military line will +do the same. We are not to expect to purchase our Liberties +at a cheaper rate than other nations have done, or that +<i>our</i> soldiers should be Heaven born more than those of +other nations. Experience will make us both have and win; +and in the end teach Great Britain that in attempting to +enslave us she is aiming a dagger at her own vitals."</p></div> + +<p>On the 12th, before he heard of the landing at Throg's Neck, he wrote +to Tilghman:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Notwithstanding the enemy had, agreeable to your last +advices, sent no vessels up the Sound, depend upon it, they +will endeavor to make an attack upon your Flanks by means of +Hudson's and the East River.... If General Lee is returned +from the Southward and arrived at your camp (which I suppose +to be the case) I beg my affectionate compliments to him. I +wish to Heaven I could come and see you, but I am so +embarrassed with the Committee I am engaged in that I have +not hardly an hour, much less a few days to spare. This +morning we marched off a Company of men, who had been +enlisted to join the Battalion to be raised by Major Rogers, +to the City of Philadelphia. We have an admirable clue of +their abominable conspiracies, and (however late this +undertaking has been) I hope by spirit and perseverance we +may baffle their wretched Plots of occasioning a revolt in +this State."<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a></p></div> + +<p>On the 13th, Tilghman wrote to Duer:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When your favor of the 10th came to hand, I was attending +his Excellency, who was obliged to ride up to West Chester +upon the Alarm of the Enemy's Landing at Frog's Point.... +From their not moving immediately forward, I imagine they +are waiting for their artillery and stores, which must be +very considerable if they seriously intend to set down in +the country upon our rear. The grounds leading from Frog's +Point towards our Post at King's bridge are as defensible as +they can be wished. The roads are all lined with stone +fences and the adjacent Fields divided off with stone +[fences] likewise, which will make it impossible for them to +advance their artillery and ammunition waggons by any other +Rout than the great roads, and I think if they are well +lined with troops, we may make a Considerable Slaughter if +not discomfit them totally. Our riflemen have directions to +at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>tend particularly to taking down their Horses, which if +done, will impede their march effectually. Our troops are in +good spirits and seem inclined and determined to dispute +every inch of Ground."</p></div> + +<p>On the 15th he wrote to Duer again as follows, after informing him +that the enemy had not moved from the Neck:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"From the number of vessels that have been continually +passing up the Sound we conclude that they are transporting +cannon and stores necessary to enable them to penetrate the +country and set down in our rear. To hinder them from +effecting this, Gen<sup>l</sup> Lee, who arrived yesterday, has +taken the command in that quarter. He will be posted in such +a situation with a very considerable number of Light Troops +that, let the Enemy advance by what road they will, they +cannot elude him; if they march in one great body he can +easily draw his Divisions together; if they divide and take +different Routs, they will fall in with the different +parties. He will have the Flower of the Army with him, as +our lines in front are so strong that we can trust them to +Troops who would not stand in the field."</p></div> + +<p>Duer, on the 17th, replied:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I expect daily to hear of some grand attempt made by the +Enemy.... If one half of our army think as much of the +Importance of the approaching Contest as you do, I shall +entertain no Doubt of our success. May Heaven protect you, +and all my Friends who are venturing their Lives in so great +and good a cause."</p></div> + +<p>On the same date Tilghman wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I have not time to describe the Disposition of our Army +perfectly to you, but you may depend that every step is +taken to prevent the enemy from outflanking us and at the +same time to secure our Retreat in case of need. The Enemy +have made no move from Frog's Point.... I don't know how it +is, but I believe their design to circumvent us this time +will prove as abor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>tive as the former ones. If we can but +foil Gen<sup>l</sup> Howe again, I think we knock him up for the +Campaign. You ask if Gen<sup>l</sup> Lee is in Health and our people +feel bold? I answer both in the affirmative. His appearance +among us has not contributed a little to the latter. We are +sinking the ships as fast as possible; 200 men are daily +employed, but they take an immense quantity of stone for the +purpose."</p></div> + +<p>To meet this move upon their flank and rear, the Americans were +obliged to abandon their strong camp at Harlem Heights. On the 16th, +while the British were still at Throg's Neck, Washington called a +council of war, when it was agreed that they could not keep their +communications open with the back country, if they remained where they +were and the British advanced. At the same it was voted to hold Fort +Washington. To be ready to counteract the next move of the enemy, a +part of the army was stationed at advantageous points in Westchester +County, the main camps being extended along the hills west of the +Bronx River. Both Valentine's Hill and Miles Square were occupied and +fortified.</p> + +<p>On the 18th, Howe left Throg's Neck and transferred his army further +eastward to Pell's Point below New Rochelle. The Light Infantry +advanced from the coast, but were faced by Glover's brigade from +behind stone walls, and made to suffer some loss.<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> Glover and his +men were complimented for their conduct both by Washington and Lee. +The enemy again delayed in the vicinity of East Chester and New +Rochelle until the 22d.</p> + +<p>Wishing exact information of the position of the enemy and of the +topography of the country, the commander-in-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>chief, on the morning of +the 20th, requested Colonel Reed and Colonel Putnam, his engineer, to +undertake a reconnoissance in person. Setting out from King's Bridge +with a foot-guard of twenty men, these officers proceeded to the +heights at East Chester, where they saw some of the enemy near the +church, but could obtain no intelligence. The houses in the vicinity +were deserted. From this point Reed returned to attend to his office +duties, while Putnam, disguising his appearance as an officer by +taking out his cockade, loping his hat, and concealing his sword and +pistols under his loose coat, continued on alone in the direction of +White Plains. Learning from a woman at a house that the British were +at New Rochelle, he passed on to within three or four miles of White +Plains, where he met some "friends to the cause" and ascertained the +general situation. "I found," he writes, "that the main body of the +British lay near New Rochelle, from thence to White Plains about nine +miles, good roads and in general level open country, that at White +Plains was a large quantity of stores, with only about three hundred +militia to guard them, that the British had a detachment at Mamaroneck +only six miles from White Plains, and from White Plains only five +miles to the North River, where lay five or six of the enemies ships +and sloops, tenders, etc. Having made these discoveries, I set out on +my return." Reporting this information to the commander-in-chief about +nine o'clock in the evening, Colonel Putnam retired to "refresh" +himself and horse, only to receive orders soon after to proceed +immediately to Lord Stirling's brigade,<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> now in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> Spencer's +division, which had already advanced on the road towards White Plains. +He reached Stirling at two o'clock that night, and at dawn the general +pushed on to White Plains, arriving there about nine o'clock on the +morning of the 21st. Washington himself and Heath's division followed +during the day, and the troops set to work throwing up lines at that +important point. By delaying near New Rochelle, Howe had missed his +opportunity. During the night of the 21st, Colonel Haslet, of +Stirling's brigade, surprised and captured some thirty men belonging +to the partisan Rogers' Scouts, and soon after Colonel Hand with his +now veteran riflemen proved himself more than a match for an equal +party of yagers encountered near Mamaroneck. In the first of these +skirmishes, Major Greene, a fine Virginia officer, was mortally +wounded.</p> + +<p>Washington concentrated his army at White Plains, completed two lines +of works, with his right on the river Bronx, and awaited the advance +of the British. Howe had moved from New Rochelle to Scarsdale, and on +the morning of the 28th marched against the Americans. A mile or more +from White Plains, on the main road to New York, he fell in with +General Spencer's advance parties under Colonels Silliman, +Douglas,<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a> and Chester, who offered resistance and lost some men, +but they were driven back by superior numbers. On the left of the +American position, across the Bronx, rose Chatterton's Hill, which +offered a good site for the better defence of that flank. Colonel +Putnam had just arrived on the hill to throw up works when the enemy +made their appearance below.<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> Ac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>cording to Haslet, the Delawares +were the first troops to report on this hill, where they took post +with one of General Lincoln's Massachusetts militia regiments, under +Colonel Brooks, on their right. They were followed immediately by +McDougall's brigade, consisting of what was lately his own battalion, +which had no field officers, Ritzema's, Smallwood's, and Webb's. The +troops formed along the brow of the hill, and stood waiting for the +enemy. The two-gun battery brought up at the same time was Captain +Alexander Hamilton's.</p> + +<p>The British marched up in brilliant array towards Washington's +position, but unexpectedly declined to make an attack in front, +although the centre was our weakest point. Chatterton's Hill appeared +to engage Howe's attention at once, and it became the first object of +capture. The troops assigned for this purpose were the Second British +brigade and Hessians under Donop, Rall, and Lossberg, in all about +four thousand men. They crossed the Bronx, under cover of their +artillery, and prepared to ascend the somewhat abrupt face of the hill +on the other side. McDougall's men reserved their fire until the enemy +were within short range, when they poured a destructive shower of +bullets upon them. The British recoiled, but moved up again to the +attack, while Rall came around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> more on the left, and after a brisk +fight, in which the militia facing Rall failed to stand their ground, +they succeeded in compelling McDougall to retreat. Had the militia +held their own, the fight might have been another Bunker Hill for the +enemy. As it was, Colonel Putnam compared it to that engagement. In +falling back, McDougall suffered some loss, but the whole force +escaped to the right of our lines, with fewer casualties than they +inflicted on the enemy. The latter lost about two hundred and thirty; +the Americans something over one hundred and forty. Colonel Smallwood +was wounded, and lost two of his captains, killed. Ritzema's New York +Continentals suffered the most, having made a brave fight. +Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel B. Webb, of Wethersfield, Ct., one of +Washington's aids, who had shown his coolness under fire on Bunker +Hill, was slightly wounded and had a horse shot under him while +carrying orders.<a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a></p> + +<p>This affair on Chatterton's Hill is known as the Battle of White +Plains. On the side of the Americans, not more than sixteen hundred +troops were engaged, but the action was an important one, as it had +the effect of changing the direction of future operations.<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a></p> + +<p>On the following day, the 29th, Howe waited for reinforcements. On the +30th, the rain postponed an intended attack. On the 31st the weather +proved fine about noon, but the British General "did not think proper +to put his former intentions in execution." The next morning, November +1st, there was a further excuse for not attacking: Washington during +the night had fallen back to the almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> unassailable heights of North +Castle, in his rear. Howe was thus again baffled in his attempt to +bring the Americans to a decisive engagement, or to surround them, and +he now turned his attention to another line of campaign. Stedman, the +British historian, probably gives the correct reason why Washington +was not followed. The American position, he says, was now "so +advantageous that any attack on them must have proved unsuccessful, +for the river Croton stretched along their front, and their rear was +defended by woods and heights. Convinced that it was part of the +enemy's system studiously to avoid an action, and that their knowledge +of the country enabled them to execute this system with advantage, +General Howe resolved to cease an ineffectual pursuit, and employ +himself in the reduction of King's Bridge and Fort Washington." This +accomplished, he could then push on to Philadelphia and close the +year's operations with the occupation of that place. The capture of +two cities, the successive defeats inflicted upon the Americans, and +the good prospect of ending the rebellion in the next campaign, would +be a brilliant military record with which to gratify the home +government.</p> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Fort Washington.</span></h3> + +<p>Howe broke up his camp near White Plains on November 5th, and marched +west to the Hudson at Dobb's Ferry. Knyphausen, who had lately arrived +with a second division of "foreigners," had already been despatched to +King's Bridge. After various movements and delays, the entire British +force also moved on the 12th to the immediate vicinity of the bridge, +and dispositions were made to attack and capture Fort Wash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>ington. On +the 15th, Howe sent a summons for the surrender of the fort, in which +he intimated that a refusal to comply would justify the putting of the +garrison to the sword.</p> + +<p>The commander of Fort Washington was Colonel Robert Magaw, of +Pennsylvania. In addition to his own regiment and Colonel Shee's, now +under Lieutenant-Colonel Cadwallader, he had with him several +detachments of troops from the Pennsylvania Flying Camp, under +Colonels Baxter, Swoope, and others, together with a Maryland rifle +battalion, under Colonel Rawlings, whose major was Otho Holland +Williams, an officer distinguished later in the war. The artillery +numbered about one hundred men, under Captain Pierce, and there were +also the "Rangers," parts of Miles's and Atlee's old regiments, such +as escaped the Long Island defeat, and about two hundred and fifty +from Bradley's Connecticut levies, many of whom were to die in +captivity. The whole force under Magaw numbered about twenty-eight +hundred officers and men. The ground they were expected to hold was +that part of Harlem Heights from the first of the three lines already +described, northward to the end of Laurel Hill on the Harlem, and the +hill west on the Hudson, a distance of two miles and a half.</p> + +<p>At the lower lines at One Hundred and Forty-sixth Street, +Cadwallader's men, the Rangers, and some others were posted; at Laurel +Hill, Colonel Baxter, and west of him, at the northern termination of +the level summit of the ridge where Fort Washington stood, was Colonel +Rawlings. Magaw remained at the fort to direct movements during the +attack. The outer defences where the troops were stationed were to be +held as long as possible, while the fort and the intrenchments +immediately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> surrounding it were to be the point of retreat. Magaw +believed he could hold the post against almost any force until +December, and when the summons for a surrender reached him he returned +the following spirited reply:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right">"15 <span class="smcap">November</span>, 1776.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>: If I rightly understand the purport of your message +from General Howe communicated to Colonel Swoope, this post +is to be immediately surrendered or the garrison put to the +sword. I rather think it a mistake than a settled resolution +in General Howe to act a part so unworthy of himself and the +British Nation. But give me leave to assure his Excellency +that actuated by the most glorious cause that mankind ever +fought in, I am determined to defend this post to the last +extremity.</p> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">Rob't Magaw</span>, Colonel Commanding.</p> + +<p>"To the Adjutant-General of the British Army."</p></div> + +<p>On the morning of the 16th, the enemy opened the attack from three +directions.<a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a> The Hessians moved forward from King's Bridge against +Rawlings' position, Rall on the right nearest to the Hudson, +Knyphausen a short distance to his left nearer the King's Bridge road. +Brigadier-General Matthews, supported by Cornwallis, came down the +Harlem from the bridge in boats, and landed at the foot of Laurel Hill +(One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Street), where Baxter was posted. These +formed the attacking columns from the north side. On the south side +Percy marched up from Harlem Plains and engaged Cadwallader at the +lower lines.</p> + +<p>At about the moment the cannonade began, Washington, Putnam, Greene, +and Mercer were putting off from the Jersey shore at Fort Lee to make +a final visit to Fort Washington, and determine whether to defend or +evacuate the post. When they reached the island they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> found the +threatened attack in actual progress, and evacuation then was out of +the question. They saw Percy making his dispositions, and could see +nothing to modify on their own side. All they could do was to await +the result. "There," says Greene, "we all stood in a very awkward +situation." Had they remained much longer it would have been more than +awkward. Putnam, Greene, and Mercer felt that Washington at least +ought not to be exposed in a position which might become dangerous, +and they all urged him to return to Fort Lee, while each in turn +offered to stay and conduct the defence. But the chief, who never +wished to hold the fort as an isolated post, foresaw the possible, if +not the probable, result of the British attack as clearly as his +generals, and he advised the return of the entire party. Entering +their boat they were rowed back to the Jersey side.<a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a></p> + +<p>The fighting began under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery +posted at advantageous points, both on the island and on the east side +of the Harlem River. The several columns pushed forward nearly at the +same time. Rall and Knyphausen encountered the most serious obstacles, +and met with the most obstinate resistance. Their course lay through +woods and underbrush and heavy abattis, felled by the Americans. As +they approached Rawlings, his men received them with a destructive and +determined fire, which lasted a long time. Rall's force, including the +newly arrived Waldeckers, fought desperately, and, as Cornwallis +afterwards declared, "to the admiration of the entire British +army."<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a> Knyphausen led his men and tore down obstructions with his +own hands. Matthews<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> and Cornwallis climbed up the steep hill, and +drove back Baxter's men; but not before Baxter had fallen while +fighting manfully. Percy, with whose column Lord Howe had taken his +station, held Cadwallader's attention and made some progress in that +direction, when Howe ordered a fourth column, consisting of the +Forty-second Highlanders, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling, and two +supporting regiments, to cross Harlem River, and attempt to land +between Cadwallader and Fort Washington. This movement was +successfully conducted under difficulties. The Highlanders rushed up +the steep side of Harlem Heights just below the Morris Mansion, and +captured over one hundred and fifty of the Americans whom Cadwallader +and Magaw had detached to oppose them. Sterling's force, however, +suffered considerably in making the landing. By this attack in flank, +Cadwallader could maintain his position no longer, and his entire +party retreated rapidly towards the fort.</p> + +<p>Knyphausen and Rall, meanwhile, succeeded in driving back Rawlings, +who had made the best resistance during the day, and the former soon +reached <a name="E4" id="E4"></a><a href="#E4E">Fort Washington</a>, where all the Americans had now retreated. +The German general at once sent in a summons for surrender, and Magaw +finding that the fort was so crowded with his beaten troops, and that +it was impossible to attempt further resistance without great +sacrifice of life, agreed to a capitulation on favorable terms, +officers and men to be guaranteed personal safety and allowed to +retain private baggage.<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> +<p>By this surrender the Americans lost in prisoners two thousand six +hundred and thirty-seven enlisted men and two hundred and twenty-one +officers,<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a> the greater part from Pennsylvania, and nearly half of +them well-drilled troops. These were the men, with those taken on Long +Island and at Kip's Bay, for whose accommodation the Presbyterian and +Reformed churches in New York were turned into prisons, and who were +to perish by hundreds by slow starvation and loathsome disease, which +brutal keepers took little trouble to alleviate. The loss of the enemy +in killed and wounded was something over four hundred and fifty, about +two thirds of which fell upon the Hessians. The American casualties +were four officers and fifty privates killed, and not over one hundred +wounded.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Upon whom the responsibility for the loss of this post should rest is +a question on which divided opinions have been expressed.<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a> Greene +had urged the retention of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> fort as necessary, both to command the +passage of the river, and because it would be a threatening obstacle +to the enemy's future operations. For them to advance into the country +with such a fortification in their rear would be a hazardous move. +These reasons were sound, and, as already stated, when the main army +evacuated Harlem Heights, Washington's council voted to retain Fort +Washington. But on the 7th of November, some British men-of-war again +passed the obstructions without difficulty, and Washington wrote to +Greene on the 8th from White Plains as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>: The late passage of the three vessels up the North +River (which we have just received advice of) is so plain a +proof of the inefficacy of all the obstructions we have +thrown into it, that I cannot but think it will fully +justify a change in the disposition which has been made. If +we cannot prevent vessels passing up, and the enemy are +possessed of the surrounding country, what valuable purpose +can it answer to attempt to hold a post from which the +expected benefit cannot be had? I am therefore inclined to +think it will not be prudent to hazard the men and stores at +Mount Washington; but as you are on the spot, leave it to +you to give such orders as to evacuating Mount Washington as +you judge best, and so far revoking the order given to Col. +Magaw to defend it to the last."</p></div> + +<p>General Greene on the following day replied that he did not think the +garrison in any danger, and that it could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> be drawn off at any time. +He believed, too, that the stores could be removed at the last moment, +in spite of an attack; and again he called attention to the advantage +of holding the post as an annoyance to the enemy. No further +communications passed on the subject, but Washington rode to the +Highlands, and, returning on the Jersey side of the Hudson, reached +Greene's headquarters at Fort Lee on the 14th, to find no steps taken +to withdraw men or stores from Mount Washington. Had the enemy in the +mean time invested and captured the fort, it is pertinent to inquire +whether Greene, having been acquainted with the distinct wishes of the +commander-in-chief not to hazard the post, could not have been justly +and properly charged with its loss. Washington's instructions were +discretionary only so far as related to the details or perhaps the +time of the evacuation; and to leave Greene free, he revoked the order +already given to Magaw to defend the fort to the last. Upon the +arrival of Washington at Fort Lee, however, one phase of the question +changed. By not renewing his instructions to evacuate the mount when +he found that nothing had been done in the case, or not making the +instructions peremptory, he entirely relieved Greene of the charge of +non-compliance, which could have been brought against him before. The +commander-in-chief was now present, and Greene was no longer under +instructions, discretionary or otherwise. Washington accepted the +situation as he now found it, and was reconsidering the propriety of a +total evacuation. Finding Greene, of whose military judgment he had "a +good opinion," strong in favor of holding the post, and others +agreeing with him, among whom evidently were Putnam, Mercer, and +Magaw, and knowing that Congress and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> country would not easily be +reconciled to its abandonment, Washington hesitated for the moment to +enforce his own views and opinions. On the 14th and 15th, he still +delayed a final decision. So says Greene. "His Excellency General +Washington," he writes, "has been with me several days. The evacuation +or reinforcement of Fort Washington was under consideration, but +finally nothing concluded on;" and it was not until the morning of the +16th, just at the time of the attack, that they all went over to the +fort "to determine what was best to be done." This clearly settles the +fact that Greene was not under instructions at the time of the +surrender of the post.</p> + +<p>But at the same time, upon a review of all the circumstances, it is +difficult to escape the conviction that but for General Greene's +earnest opposition to an abandonment of the fort, the disaster would +not have occurred. It was an error of judgment, an over-confidence in +the sufficiency of the preparations made for the defence, and a belief +that if matters came to the worst the garrison could be withdrawn in +spite of the enemy. That Greene himself felt that he would be held +largely accountable for the loss of the post, is evident from his own +expressions in the letter he wrote to Knox on the next day. "I feel +mad, vexed, sick, and sorry," are his words. "Never did I need the +consoling voice of a friend more than now. Happy should I be to see +you. This is a most terrible event; its consequences are justly to be +dreaded. Pray, what is said upon the occasion?"<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> +<p>There were those who censured Washington for not overruling Greene, +but the chief kept his counsels to himself, and it was not until +nearly three years later, in August, 1779, that he gave his version of +the affair in a private letter to Colonel Reed. In that he frankly +admits that Greene's representations and other reasons caused a +"warfare" and "hesitation" in his mind, by which the evacuation was +delayed until too late. But he indulged in no censures on Greene. His +confidence in the latter remained steadfast. The disaster was one of +those misfortunes which occur in the career of every great general, +and become, indeed, a step by which he rises to greatness. Greene, +more than any general of the Revolution, learned by experience. Every +battle, whether a defeat or victory, was for him a training-school; +and at the close of the war we find him ranking hardly second to the +commander-in-chief, in military talents, and enjoying nearly an equal +reputation for his achievements.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>This disaster at Fort Washington, the heaviest suffered by the +Americans during the entire war, closed the campaign in the vicinity +of New York. All the western part of Long Island, New York City, and +all Manhattan Island, had fallen into the possession of the British, +and their fleet came into undisturbed control of the Hudson, the East +River, and the waters of the Sound. Every thing that Washington and +his soldiers had sought to secure and defend was wrested from their +hands. Their losses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> too, in men and material, were almost +irreparable. Much the greater part of their artillery had been +captured—two hundred and eighteen pieces of all calibres, according +to the enemy's report. Three hundred and twenty-nine officers and four +thousand one hundred men had been taken prisoners; nearly six hundred +had been killed or wounded; and numbers had been swept off by disease. +The enemy suffered more heavily, except in prisoners and cannon, in +which their loss was nothing; but they had recovered territory, won +victories, and they were now to find before them only a flying and +dissolving body of rebels.</p> + +<p>The situation at this point presented a gloomy prospect for America. +But had the cause been then surrendered, we could still contemplate +this struggle around New York and Brooklyn with respect, as a noble +effort to gain an end worth fighting for. As success, however, was +finally achieved, and achieved through the experience of these events, +they challenge our deepest interest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>TRENTON—PRINCETON—CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.</h3> + +<p><br /><span class="smcap">To</span> appreciate the full significance of what has been described in the +preceding pages, follow the campaign in outline to its closing scenes.</p> + +<p>Thus far the American army had met with nothing but defeat, retreat, +sacrifice, hardship, and discouragement. First came the months of +preparation, with England straining every nerve to conquer the +colonies; then the first and disastrous collision on Long Island, on +which so much depended; then the retreat, the loss of New York, the +withdrawal to White Plains, and a battle which was not a victory for +the Americans; and, finally, the heavy blow struck in the fall of Fort +Washington. Much had been endured and learned alike by general and +private soldier during these gloomy months, and both were now destined +to profit by the trial. All this faith and patience had its legitimate +reward, as we shall find if we now place ourselves in the last days of +the year upon the banks of the Delaware.</p> + +<p>What had occurred in the mean time was the evacuation of Fort Lee, a +hasty retreat through New Jersey, the dwindling away of the army, the +advance of the British towards Philadelphia, the removal of Congress +to Baltimore, and an increase of despondency throughout the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +country.<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a> Washington with the remnants of his army had taken post +on the right bank of the Delaware, and, still strong in hope, was +calling for militia to come to his assistance. At the same time he +watched the opportunity to inflict upon the enemy some happy +counter-stroke that might temporarily raise the spirits of his +soldiers and the people. The opportunity came. The British delayed +crossing the Delaware, and divided their force among different posts +throughout New Jersey. At Trenton they stationed Colonel Rall with a +body twelve hundred strong, composed chiefly of Hessians. This was the +Rall who marched up with De Heister on Long Island, and figured in the +capture of prisoners, who afterwards turned our right on Chatterton's +Hill, at White Plains, and whose attack on Rawlings at Fort Washington +was the brilliant feature of that day. He was every inch a soldier, +except in possessing that reserve of caution which every commander is +bound to exercise in the presence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> an enemy, however remote the +probability of an attack. Rall despised Washington's troops, and would +throw up no intrenchments around Trenton.</p> + +<p>Washington resolved to make a sudden dash upon this Hessian. A +surprise, an irresistible attack, the capture of a post with a +thousand men, might work wonders in their moral effect. The soldiers +with him were trusty men, twenty-four hundred of whom he proposed to +lead himself on this enterprise. Many of the regiments we have already +become familiar with, and their leaders are men who have led them from +the first. Here are Greene, Sullivan, Stirling, Mercer, Glover, and +Sargent, for division and brigade commanders; and with them we meet +new officers—Brigadier-Generals Adam Stephen, of Virginia; Arthur St. +Clair, of Pennsylvania, and De Fermoy, a French officer, lately +commissioned by Congress. Here also are Hand's battalion, parts of +Smallwood's and Haslet's, Knox and his artillerymen, Durkee's, Charles +Webb's, Ward's, and parts of Chester's and Bradley's, from +Connecticut; Sargent's, Glover's, Hutchinson's, Baldwin's, Shepherd's, +Bailey's, and Paterson's, of Massachusetts; Stark's, Poor's, and +Reed's, from New Hampshire, who, with Paterson's, have just arrived in +camp from Ticonderoga; the remnants of McDougall's and Ritzema's New +York Continentals, and Weedon's, Scott's, Elliot's, Buckner's, and +Reed's Virginians. How depleted are these battalions, many of them +less than a hundred strong!</p> + +<p>Washington's plan included a simultaneous move from several points. +The body he was to lead was concentrated, on the night of <a name="E5" id="E5"></a><a href="#E5E">December +24th</a>, at McConkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton. The troops were +to cross at night, reach the town at dawn, and take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> its garrison by +surprise. Lower down were two other bodies of troops. About opposite +Trenton, General Ewing was posted with Pennsylvania militia and +Nixon's Continental brigade, now commanded by Colonel Daniel +Hitchcock, of Rhode Island. At Bristol, General Cadwallader commanded +still another corps of Pennsylvanians, including many young men from +the best families in Philadelphia. Ewing and Cadwallader were to cross +and intercept the retreat of the Hessians from Trenton, or prevent +Donop at Burlington from affording relief. Putnam was to make a +demonstration from Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>To his own force Washington issued minute and stringent orders. The +troops he divided into two divisions, giving Sullivan the first, and +Greene the second. Sullivan's brigades were Glover's, Sargent's, and +St. Clair's; Greene's were Stephen's, Mercer's, and Stirling's. De +Fermoy was to follow in Greene's rear with Hand's riflemen and +Hausegger's German battalion from Pennsylvania. To each brigade were +attached from two to four pieces of artillery, eighteen guns in all, +under Knox. Greene's division was to cross first, Stephen's in +advance, provided with spikes and hammers to spike the enemy's guns, +and with ropes to drag them off if that proved feasible. After the +crossing, Captain Washington, of the Third Virginia, was to proceed +with a guard on the road towards Trenton, and halt and detain any one +who might be passing in either direction. Three miles from the ferry +the road branched, making two lines of approach to the town. Greene's +division was to take the upper road; Sullivan's the lower one near the +river. Stirling's and St. Clair's brigades were to act as reserves for +their respective columns, and in case of necessity were to form +separately or join forces, as the emergency required. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> officers +set their watches by Washington's. Profound silence was enjoined. Not +a man to leave the ranks, read the orders, <i>under penalty of +death</i>.<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a></p> + +<p>The night of the <a name="E6" id="E6"></a><a href="#E6E">24th</a> brought storm, snow, and sleet. Ewing and +Cadwallader could do nothing on account of the ice in the river. But +Washington was determined on the attempt. He called upon Glover's men +to man the boats; and these amphibious soldiers, who had transported +the army on the retreat from Long Island, were ready again to strain +every nerve for the plans of their chief. It was a long, tedious night +as they pushed across the Delaware, through ice and chilling spray, +and it was not until four o'clock in the morning that the force was +ready to take up the march on the Jersey side. They could not surprise +the Hessians before daylight, but a return was not to be thought of. +The troops then marched on in the worst weather that could be +encountered. "As violent a storm ensued of Hail & Snow as I ever +felt," wrote Captain William Hull, of Webb's Continentals. The river +was crossed, says Knox, "with almost infinite difficulty," the +floating ice making the labor incredible. Fortunately the storm was +against our backs, "and consequently in the faces of our enemy." The +march was kept up swiftly and quietly. In Sullivan's column some of +the soldiers could not cover their muskets from the wet, and word was +sent to Washington of the unfitness of their arms. Washington promptly +sent word back by his aid, Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel B. Webb, that if +the men could not discharge their pieces they must use the bayonet, +for the town must be taken.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock the two columns neared the enemy's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +outposts—Sullivan striking them on the lower road but three minutes +after Greene on the upper one. Greene's van was led by Captain +Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, the future President; +Sullivan's by Stark's New Hampshire men. Surprising the Hessian +outguards, our troops dashed after them "pell-mell" into Trenton, gave +the enemy no time to form, cleared the streets with cannon and +howitzers "in the twinkling of an eye," under Washington's own +direction, dislodged them from the houses, drove them beyond into a +plain, surrounded and forced them to surrender, with the loss of their +commander Rall, who fell mortally wounded. A fine and remarkable +exploit! The turning-point of the campaign—if not, indeed, the +decisive stroke of the war! Gathering up their nine hundred and fifty +prisoners, six brass field-pieces, standards, horses, and "a vast +quantity of Plunder," the Americans marched back again, having lost +not a man killed, and hardly more than two or three wounded.</p> + +<p>In General Orders next day, Washington congratulated his soldiers in +the warmest terms. He had been in many actions, in all of which he had +seen misbehavior on the part of some; but at Trenton, he told them +their conduct was admirable, without exception. Among others he +thanked Knox for his services in terms "strong and polite." +"Providence seemed to have smiled upon every part of this enterprise." +"What can't men do," said Hull, "when engaged in so noble a cause!" +"That victory," writes Bancroft, "turned the shadow of death into the +morning."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>One more encounter with the enemy, one more success, and the campaign +closes with final victory assured for America.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + +<p>Convinced that inaction would be as demoralizing as defeat, Washington +once more determined to try his fortunes in New Jersey, and at once +prepared again "to beat up" the enemy's quarters. Crossing the +Delaware as before, he marched on the 30th to Trenton, which the +British had not reoccupied since Christmas. Hearing of this move, +Cornwallis at Princeton gathered a force of seven thousand veterans, +and on the 2d of January started for Trenton. Washington sent out +detachments, and delayed his entry into the town until evening. At +nightfall he took up position on the east bank of the Assanpink Creek, +which ran along the east edge of the town and emptied into the +Delaware. The British pursued our troops to the bridge, but were there +repulsed by Knox's artillery. Cornwallis rested at Trenton, sent off +for reinforcements, and expected the next morning to cross the +Assanpink at the bridge or the fords above, and bring Washington to an +engagement. Obviously the Americans were in a hazardous position. +Should the British drive them back, there was no escape, for the +Delaware flowed in their rear. They must save themselves that night. A +council of war was called, and the situation discussed. From Trenton +to Princeton ran a second roundabout road east of the main highway, +along which Cornwallis had marched, and which it was possible for the +Americans to take, and put themselves in the rear of Cornwallis, with +lines of retreat open beyond to Morristown and the back country. +Washington proposed escape by this route, and the council seconded +him. Orders for a secret night march were given to the officers, and +the regiments were silently withdrawn from their posts along the +Assanpink, and set in motion along this back road towards Princeton. +The camp-fires on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> the banks of the creek were kept up by guards left +behind for the purpose. Nothing occurred to excite suspicion of the +movement in the minds of the British sentinels, nearly within +musket-shot on the opposite bank.</p> + +<p>Washington's troops reached a point within two miles of Princeton +about sunrise. The main column pushed on for the village, while +Mercer's brigade, consisting of the remnants of Haslet's Delawares, +Smallwood's Marylanders, and the First Virginia regiment under Captain +Fleming, turned to the left to break down a bridge on the main road +over Stony Creek, which the enemy would have to cross on returning +from Trenton, in pursuit of Washington.</p> + +<p>Three British regiments had been left at Princeton by Cornwallis, but +were now, on the morning of the 3d, proceeding under orders to join +him. These were the Fifty-fifth, the Fortieth, and Seventeenth, the +latter commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood. Mawhood was a mile in +advance of the others, and had just crossed the Stony Creek bridge, +when, looking across the country to his left and rear, he discovered +Mercer's party on its march. Surprised at the appearance of a force of +rebels where he least expected to see one, Mawhood, nevertheless, with +a soldier's instinct, promptly wheeled about and proceeded to attack +Mercer. They met on a hill and exchanged fire, when Mawhood ordered a +bayonet charge, and put the Americans to rout. Mercer, on horseback, +attempted in vain to rally his men, and was mortally wounded with +bayonet thrusts. Haslet, gallantly fighting on foot, and also trying +to form the broken brigade, fell dead with a bullet wound in his +forehead. Captain Fleming, of Virginia, suffered a like fate, as well +as Captain Neal of the artillery. This sudden and se<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>rious reverse +required instant attention, for Washington could not afford to be +detained long in this position. Cadwallader's brigade, which had +followed Mercer's, was accordingly brought up into line, while +Washington attempted to rally the latter's force; but Mawhood was +making a surprising fight, and he threw Cadwallader's militiamen into +confusion as he had Mercer's. Matters now were worse, and the +commander-in-chief made strenuous exertions, at great personal hazard, +to bring the troops into some order. Meanwhile, he sent word for +Hitchcock's brigade to advance upon the enemy, while Hand's riflemen +endeavored to turn their left. The "gallant Hitchcock" promptly took +his command into action—all that remained of it, five regiments +together hardly five hundred strong—and formed in line. On the right +was Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon, next Varnum's battalion, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Crary, in the centre Colonel Lippett, with the +largest number, one hundred and twenty-eight men, next Hitchcock's, +under Major Angell, and on the left Little's battalion, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Henshaw.<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> They opened fire at one hundred +yards, and then, in conjunction with <a name="E7" id="E7"></a><a href="#E7E">Cadwallader's men</a>, whom +Washington had rallied in part, they rushed upon Mawhood's force, +recaptured the two guns we had lost, and joined in putting the enemy +completely to rout.</p> + +<p>No doubt these old troops experienced a glow of satisfaction over this +brief and final work of the campaign, for they had endured hard +service from the outset. Here was Greene's old brigade, which crossed +with him to Long Island on the 1st of May—Varnum's, Hitchcock's, +Little's, and, by a happy accident, Hand's, on the left—to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> assist in +reversing the record of the year. These men had built the lines around +Brooklyn; Hitchcock's and Little's at the Flatbush Pass had been +caught and all but captured in the surprise of August 27th; they +fought manfully, and suffered the most at Harlem Heights; many of them +responded to Washington's appeal to remain six weeks beyond their term +of service, and now they had shared in the successful manœuvre at +Princeton, which changed the whole aspect of affairs.</p> + +<p>Hitchcock, who had temporarily succeeded Nixon in command of the +brigade, received the thanks of Washington for himself and for his men +in front of Princeton College for their aid and conduct in the action. +But the colonel, a brilliant, promising officer, whose regiment built +and guarded Fort Putnam in Brooklyn, was destined to only a brief +career henceforth. Overcome by the fatigue and hardships of the +campaign, he died in camp at Morristown, on the 13th of January, and +was buried by the Philadelphia and Delaware Light Infantry companies, +under Rodney, with all the honors of war. It was a fitting escort to +the remains of the brave soldier, for Rodney and most of his men had +behaved well at Princeton.</p> + +<p>Sullivan's troops drove the other two British regiments out of +Princeton towards Brunswick, and Washington's tired army then pushed +on, and on the 6th went into camp at Morristown.<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The effect of these two unexpected strokes at Trenton and Princeton +was to baffle Howe, and utterly disconcert his plans. Expecting to +march upon Philadelphia at his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> leisure, he suddenly finds Washington +turning about and literally cutting his way through the British posts, +back to a point where he threatened Howe's flank and rear. The enemy +were at once compelled to retire from all their positions below +Brunswick, give up the thought of wintering in Philadelphia, and fall +back to the vicinity of New York. When Horace Walpole heard of these +movements, he wrote to Sir Horace Mann: "Washington has shown himself +both a Fabius and a Camillus. His march through our lines is allowed +to have been a prodigy of generalship. In one word, I look upon a +great part of America as lost to this country."<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a></p> + +<p>Here the campaign closed. Washington could not be dislodged from his +strong mountain position, and Howe was satisfied to rest his troops +and postpone further operations until the next season. Meantime the +country took heart, Congress voted troops and supplies, and the army +was recruited and organized on a better basis. "The business of war is +the result of Experience," wrote Wolcott from Congress, with faith +unshaken during the darkest hours of the campaign; and experience was +now put to good profit.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> + +<p>The crisis was passed. Events proved decisive. Hardship and anxiety +were yet to come during succeeding years of the war; but it was the +result of this year's struggle that cleared away misgivings and +confirmed the popular faith in final success. England could do no more +than she had done to conquer America; while America was now more ready +than ever to meet the issue. Independence was established in the +present campaign—in the year of its declaration; and more than to any +others we owe this political privilege to the men who fought from Long +Island to Princeton.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3>NOTES.</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Obstructions in the Hudson.</span>—The following letter from Mr. Duer to the +Secret Committee of the New York Provincial Congress refers to the +defence of the Hudson at Fort Washington:</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">"White Plains</span>, Sunday 21st July, 1776.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Gentl</span>:—I have just arrived at this place from New York where I +have conversed with Genl. Washington on the Purport of the Letter from +the Secret Committee.</p> + +<p>"Gens. Putnam and Mifflen have made an exact Survey of the River +opposite Mount Washington and find that the Depth in no Part exceeds +seven Fathoms; the Width, however, of the Channel (which is from three +to seven Fathoms) is not much less than 1800 Yards, the shallow Part +of the River running in an oblique Direction. Genl. Washington +expresses himself extremely anxious about the Obstruction of that +Channel, and Measures are daily used for executing that Purpose. It is +impossible to procure Vessels enough at New York, so that the Measure +must be delayed till such Time as more Vessels can be brought through +the Sound from Connecticut; however, I am not without Apprehensions +that this Resource will be cut off, as I understand that some of the +Enemy's Vessels have sailed out of the Hook with an Intention +(probably) of cutting off our Communication with the Sound.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is, however an Object of so much Importance that no Difficulties, +however great, ought to deter us from our Attempts to carry it into +Execution; <i>if we succeed, the Designs of the Enemy in this Campaign +are effectually baffled</i>—if we fail, we cannot be in a more +lamentable Situation than we are now.</p> + +<p>"Exclusive of the great Advantage we should reap in obstructing the +Channel so far to the Southward, it is, I fear, the only Place we can +depend upon shallowing to the Southward of the Highlands, whilst the +Men-of-War are in the River, for if proper Batteries are erected near +the Water at Mount Washington, and on the opposite Side, mounted with +Guns of 18, 24 and 32 Pounders, it will not be practicable for any +Vessels to be so near as to prevent our working under the Cover of +these Works. I have strongly urged Genl. Washington to send Gen. +Mifflen some heavier Metal, and he seems half inclined. This necessary +operation has not yet taken place.</p> + +<p>"The Genl. is anxious to have either of you (as Members of the Secret +Committee) to be with him in Town, and has authorized me to make the +Offer to you of his House during your Residence. Let me entreat One of +you immediately to come Down, and not to quit Genl. Washington till +such Time as this Measure on which our Safety depends is effected....</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4em;">"I am very sincerely, yours, etc.,</span><br /> +"WM. DUER.<br /> +</p> + +<p>"P.S.—For God's sake exert yourself to secure the Sea Vessels which +are in the River."<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a></p> + +<p>To hasten the completion of the obstructions General Putnam proposed +the following plan of sinking ships, as appears in a letter from him +to General Gates, dated July 26, 1776 (in Sparks'):</p> + +<p>"We are preparing <i>Chevaux-de-Frize</i>, at which we make great Despatch +by the Help of Ships, which are to be Sunk; a Scheme of mine, which +you may be assured is very simple, a Plan of which I send you. The two +Ships' Sterns lie towards each other, about Seventy Feet apart. Three +large Logs, which reach from Ship to Ship, are fastened to them. The +two Ships and Logs stop the River two hundred and eighty Feet. The +Ships are to be sunk, and, when hauled down on one side, the Picks +will be raised to a proper Height, and they must inevitably stop the +River, if the Enemy will let us sink them."</p> + +<p>On the 21st of September, the New York Convention resolved:</p> + +<p>"That the Secret Committee for obstructing the Navigation of Hudson's +River be empowered and directed to purchase or impress for the Service +of the State any Number of Vessels not exceeding six, which they shall +think best calculated for the Purpose of completing the Obstructions +in the Hudson's River opposite to Mount Washington....</p> + +<p>"That the said Committee be directed to send all the Oak Plank which +they may have in their Possession, to Mount Washington with the utmost +Dispatch."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Governor's Island.</span>—The obstructions in the East River between +Governor's Island and the Battery consisted of hulks sunk in the +Channel. This was not done until a few days before the battle on Long +Island. Colonel Douglas, as he states, sounded the river. The present +Buttermilk Channel, between the island and Brooklyn, was not +obstructed. Governor's Island was evacuated on the morning of the +retreat from Long Island, but the enemy failed to take possession for +two days. The interval was improved by the Americans in carrying off +all except the heavy pieces to New York in the night-time.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Battle of Long Island.</span>—The prisoners named in <a href="#NO58"><i>Document</i> 58</a> as having +been captured by us at the battle of Long Island were a small party of +marines, who mistook the Delaware regiment in Stirling's force for +Hessians. They came too near and were taken by Lieut. Wm. Popham, who +was ordered to march them into camp. He made them cross Gowanus Creek +on Stirling's retreat, and brought all but one in safe. Popham +afterwards became major and aid to General James Clinton, and settled +in New York, where he lived to be over ninety years old. Was a member +of the New York Cincinnati. During the battle the marines landed from +the fleet, which could not make its way up above Gowanus Bay, and, +according to one letter, Admiral Howe furnished Grant with ammunition +while fighting Stirling. The Roebuck alone, as already stated, could +work its way along far enough to send some harmless long-range shot at +the Red Hook fort.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><a name="PART_II" id="PART_II"></a>PART II.</h1> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h2>DOCUMENTS.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.5" id="Page_ii.5">[Pg ii.5]</a></span></p> + +<h3><br /><a name="NO01"></a>[No. 1.]<br /> +<br /> +GENERAL GREENE'S ORDERS<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">CAMP ON LONG ISLAND</span><br /> +<br /> +[<i>Colonel Little's Order Book</i>]</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>GENERAL ORDERS.<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a></h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, April 30, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Sawbridge</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Oliver</span>.)</p> + +<p>... Gen<sup>l</sup> Greene's Brigade is to encamp tomorrow at 10 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> on the +ground marked out on Long Island....</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">[<span class="smcap">New York</span>] April 30, 1776.</p> + +<p>The Q<sup>r</sup>. M<sup>rs</sup>. of the 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, 12<sup>th</sup> regts. are to apply +to the Q. M. Gen<sup>l</sup>. for tents & camp utensils this evening to be in +readiness to encamp agreeably to general orders to morrow morning—at +4 o'clock this <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> Col. Varnum & Col. Hitchcock & Col. Little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.6" id="Page_ii.6">[Pg ii.6]</a></span> are +desired to attend at the General's quarters to go over to Long Island +& view the encampment marked out. A serg<sup>t</sup>. & 20 men are to parade +at White Hall to morrow at 7 o'clock, to be under the direction of +Engineer Smith.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />[<span class="smcap">Long Island</span>] May 4th, 1776.</p> + +<p>Captain Spurs is to draw out a party of carpenters to make Bell tents, +they are to apply to Col. Miflin for tools, boards & nails to make +them of. 300 men for fatigue to morrow. The Quarter Master is to make +an estimate of the necessary quantity of boards to floor the tents & +apply to the Quarter Master general for them. The Cols. or commanding +officers of each regiment is to give an order for the boards, +certifying the quantity wanted. A return is to be made of the state of +the cartridges now in possession of the troops & the number wanted to +make up each man's twenty rounds.</p> + +<h4><br />REGIMENTAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><b>[<i>Col. Little's.</i>]</b></p> + +<p>Officers for fatigue to-morrow, Cap. Gerrish, Lt. Kent, & Lt. +Atkinson.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 5th, 1776.</p> + +<p>A fatigue party of 200 men to morrow morning properly officered. No +non-commissioned Officer or Soldier is to pass the ferries to New York +without permission from some of y<sup>e</sup> Field Officers. Any of the +troops attempting to pass over without permission will be confined & +tried for disobedience of orders. Any of the fatigue parties that +leave their work without liberty, shall do constant fatigue duty for a +whole week. As the security of New York greatly dependeth on this +<i>pass</i>, when these works are constructing the General hopes the troops +will carefully forward the same as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants having entered a complaint that their meadow ground +was injured by the troops going upon it to gather greens, they are for +the future strictly prohibited going on the ground of any inhabitants, +unless in the proper passes to & from the encampments & the forts, +without orders from some commissioned officer. The General desires the +troops not to sully their reputation by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.7" id="Page_ii.7">[Pg ii.7]</a></span> any undue liberty in speech +or conduct but behave themselves towards the inhabitants with that +decency & respect that becomes the character of troops fighting for +the preservation of the rights & liberties of America.</p> + +<p>The General would have the troops consider that we came here to +protect the inhabitants & their property from the ravages of the +enemy, but if instead of support & protection, they meet with nothing +but insult & outrage, we shall be considered as banditti & treated as +oppressors & enemies.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span> May 7, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Devonshire</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Cavendish</span>.)</p> + +<p>Every regiment encamped in the lines & every reg<sup>t</sup>. in the brigade +on Long Island, exclusive of their quarter & rear guards, are to mount +a picket every evening at retreat beating at sun set, consisting of +one Cap<sup>t</sup>. 2 Subs, 1 drum & 1 fife & 50 rank & file—they are to lay +upon their arms, & be ready to turn out at a moments notice.</p> + +<p>One Col. one L<sup>t</sup>. Col. & one major are to mount every evening at +sunset as Field Officers of the picket.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon any alarm or order from the Brig. Gen<sup>l</sup>. of the +day, the pickets are to form in the front of their respective +encampments, & there wait the orders of the Field Officer commanding +the pickets, who is instantly to obey the orders of the Brig<sup>r</sup>. +Gen<sup>l</sup>. of the Day.</p> + +<p>A Brig. Gen<sup>l</sup>. is to mount every morning at ten o'clock who will +receive all reports, visit all the outguards in the day time & report +all extraordinary occurrences to the Commander in Chief & the +Brig<sup>de</sup> Major of the day is constantly to attend head quarters to +receive all orders, & distribute them immediately.</p> + +<p>The Col. is to go the grand rounds, & the Lt. Col. & the major the +visiting rounds of the Camp.</p> + +<p>Brig. Gen<sup>l</sup>. Greene will order the same picket to be mounted by the +regiments in his brigade as are mounted in the grand Camp. He will +also direct one field officer to mount daily to command them. Gen. +Greene will report all extraordinaries to the Commander in Chief.</p> + +<p>Col. Prescott or the officer commanding on Nutten's or Gov<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.8" id="Page_ii.8">[Pg ii.8]</a></span>ernor's +Island & the officer commanding at Red Hook, are to report all +extraordinaries to the Commander in Chief on any appearance of the +enemy. The commanding officer at Red Hook will also dispatch a +messenger to Gen<sup>l</sup>. Greene.</p> + +<p>The officer commanding the riflemen upon Long Island will constantly +report all extraordinaries to Gen<sup>l</sup>. Greene, & the officer +commanding upon Staten Island will do the same to the Commander in +Chief.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 8, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officers for the picket, Major Angell, Adj<sup>t</sup>. for the day from +Col. Hitchcock's regiment.</p> + +<h4><br />REGIMENTAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p>Officers for picket tonight, Cap. Parker, L<sup>t</sup>. Jenkins, L<sup>t</sup>. +Burnham, Ensign Story. Officers for fatigue to-morrow, Cap. Dodge, +L<sup>t</sup>. Jared Smith & Ensign Proctor.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span>, May 10<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>The Brig<sup>de</sup> Major is to regulate the duty of the regiments, both +officers & soldiers, by their number & not by regiments, some being +much larger than others, & to establish a regular roster for the +regulation of the same. A subaltern & 11 men are to guard the stores & +ferries.</p> + +<p>The officer commanding the guard is to receive his orders from Deputy +Commissary Brown for the number of sentries necessary for securing the +stores, to be relieved daily.</p> + +<p>The Cols. or commanding officers of the ninth, eleventh, twelfth +Reg<sup>ts</sup> are to draw as many cartridges from the laboratory as will +furnish each man 20 rounds; as many to be delivered out as the +cartridge boxes will contain, the remainder to be tied up by the +cap<sup>t</sup> of companies, & every man's name written on his cartridges, +that they may be delivered without confusion: All the bad cartridges +now in the regiments are to be returned to the Laboratory. The +Brig<sup>de</sup> Major will send a party to the Q<sup>r</sup> M<sup>r</sup> Gen<sup>l</sup> to draw +tents for the establishment of the main guard, to consist of a +subaltern and 21 men. An orderly sergeant from each regiment will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.9" id="Page_ii.9">[Pg ii.9]</a></span> +attend at the general's quarters daily; they are to bring their +provisions with them.</p> + +<p>The commanding officers of the 9<sup>th</sup> 11<sup>th</sup> & 12<sup>th</sup> Reg<sup>ts</sup> are +to make returns of the guns out of repair & the number wanted to +furnish every non commissioned officer & soldier with a gun.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 10<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>A subaltern & 30 men are to parade immediately to fetch over 300 +spears from the Q<sup>r</sup> M<sup>r</sup> Gen<sup>l's</sup> store. The officer must pick +those that are fit for use. He is also to bring over a grindstone to +sharpen the spears on. Col. Hitchcock will send over the arms of his +regiment that are out of order, to Mr. John Hillyard, foreman of a +shop at the King's Works (so called) where they will be immediately +repaired. Any soldier that has his gun damaged by negligence or +carelessly injured, shall pay the cost of repairing, the cap<sup>s</sup> & +sub<sup>s</sup> are desired to report all such.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 11<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night Lt. Col. Henshaw, Adj<sup>t</sup> from +Col. Hitchcock's reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<h4>DETAIL.</h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="detail"> +<tbody> +<tr><td> </td><td class="right">C.</td><td class="right">S.</td><td class="right">S.</td><td class="right">C.</td><td class="right">D.</td><td class="right">F.</td><td class="right">P.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Picket</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">50</td></tr> +<tr><td>Fatigue</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">80</td></tr> +<tr><td>Main Guard</td><td class="right"> </td><td class="right"> </td><td class="right">1</td><td class="right"> </td><td class="right"> </td><td class="right"> </td><td class="right">8</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br />REGIMENTAL ORDERS FOR THE 12<sup>th</sup> REG<sup>t</sup> OF FOOT.</h4> + +<p>Those non commissioned officers & soldiers who have occasion to go +over the ferry to New York will apply to Lt. Col. Henshaw for their +permits.</p> + +<p>A regimental Court Martial will sit today at 12 o'clock at Cap<sup>t</sup> +Wade's tent to try such prisoners as are contained in the Quarter +Guard of the regiment. Cap. Wade, Pres. Lt. Hodgkins, Lt. Parsons, Lt. +Knot & Ens<sup>n</sup> Pearson, members.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 12<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>The 12<sup>th</sup> regiment exempt from fatigue tomorrow having to be +mustered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.10" id="Page_ii.10">[Pg ii.10]</a></span></p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 14, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night, Major Collins, adj<sup>t</sup>. for +the day from Col. Hitchcock's Reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<h4><br />REG<sup>l</sup>. ORDERS FOR THE 12<sup>th</sup> REG<sup>t</sup>. OF FOOT.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span> May 15, 1776.</p> + +<p>The Col. desires hereby to remind the officers & soldiers of this +regiment of the Rules & Regulations of the army, & of the general +orders issued by the Commander in Chief agreable to them, especially +that the Rules & Regulations be often read to the men that no one +plead ignorance if he is called to account for the breach of any of +them.</p> + +<p>The Col. desires & orders that the officers pay particular attention +that the Rules & Regulations be read to the men agreable to the +resolves of Congress, likewise that the officers of each company, off +duty, attend morning & evening to the calling of the roll & if +possible that a report be made every day of such as be absent. The +Col. is sorry to see so much inattention, of the officers & men to the +duties of religious worship, & he desires as we are all engaged in the +cause of God & our country, & are dependent on the Divine assistance +for protection & success, & as it is a duty incumbent on all as far as +possible in a social way to wait upon God in the way of his +appointment, to implore pardon & forgiveness of all our sins, & to ask +his guidance & direction in the prosecution of our affairs, that +neither officers nor soldiers will unnecessarily absent themselves +from the stated worship of God at the house of Prayer—or on the +Sabbath day.</p> + +<p>Commissioned officers for picket tonight Cap. Baker, L<sup>t</sup>. Knot & +Ensign Woodman. Commissioned officers for fatigue tomorrow, Cap<sup>t</sup>. +Parker, L<sup>t</sup>. Silvanus Smith & L<sup>t</sup>. Lamborn; for main guard Ensign +Mitchell.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Brooklin</span> May 16, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col. Varnum's regiment to be off duty tomorrow morning in the +forenoon, to parade on the regimental parade at 8 oclock, to be +reviewed, & their arms examined. Every man in the regiment, that is +well, is to be on parade with arms & accoutrements. No<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.11" id="Page_ii.11">[Pg ii.11]</a></span> soldier is to +borrow either arms or accoutrements from a soldier of either of the +other regiments, as the true state of the regiment with respect to +arms is wanted. Col. Hitchcock's reg<sup>t</sup>. will be reviewed next day +after tomorrow. Col. Little's the day after that will be reviewed in +the same manner.</p> + +<p>No soldier is to mount the picket guard without shoes.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 16, 1776.</p> + +<p>Tomorrow being the day appointed by the Continental Congress to be +observed as a day of fasting & prayer & his Excellency Gen<sup>l</sup>. +Washington having ordered all duties to be discontinued except the +necessary guard until next day after tomorrow, there are no fatigue +parties to turn out tomorrow morning & the reviewing of Col. Varnum's +regiment is put off until next day after tomorrow, the other regiments +are to follow in order as in the morning orders. The general desires +that the troops of the 9, 11 & 12 regiments (except those on duty) may +be strict to attend the duties of the day in a devout & cleanly +manner. Field officers for picket tomorrow night—Adj<sup>t</sup>. from Col. +Varnum's regiment. Detail for Guard & fatigue as usual.</p> + +<h4><br />REGIMENTAL ORDERS FOR THE 12<sup>TH</sup> REG<sup>T</sup>. OF FOOT.</h4> + +<p>James Holland, a fifer in Cap. Dodge's Company is appointed fife major +to this regiment, & is to be obeyed as such.</p> + +<p>Com<sup>d</sup> officers for picket tonight L<sup>t</sup>. Atkinson & L<sup>t</sup>. Fiske.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, 17 May 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">New Castle</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Wilmington</span>.)</p> + +<p>Cap. Wolverton's Company of New Jersey is to join General Greene's +Brigade. The Cap. is to take his orders from the General respecting +his post....</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S MORNING ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 17, 1776.</p> + +<p>A corporal & 6 men to be sent for a guard to fort Sterling to mount at +9 O'clock. This guard is to be sent every other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.12" id="Page_ii.12">[Pg ii.12]</a></span> day. The corporal to +receive his orders from L<sup>t</sup>. Randall of the train.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Henshaw, Adj<sup>t</sup>. +from Col. Varnum's regiment. Fatigue as usual.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 19, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night Major Collins, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from +Col. Varnum's regiment. Detail as yesterday.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 20, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket, Major Angell, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from Col. Hitchcock's +regiment.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 21, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night, L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Crary, Adj<sup>t</sup>. +from Col. Little's regiment.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 23, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket to morrow night, L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Henshaw, +adjutant from Col. Hitchcock's regiment.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, May 25, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Mugford</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Leonard</span>.)</p> + +<p>A working party consisting of nine hundred men to be ordered tomorrow +morning from the different brigades, & the regiments.<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="working party"> +<tbody> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Gen<sup>l</sup>. Heath's</td><td class="center" rowspan="2"><span class="largest">{</span></td><td>Colo<sup>s</sup>. Leonard's & Bailey's</td><td class="center" rowspan="2"><span class="largest">}</span></td><td rowspan="2">To go to Powles Hook.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Colo<sup>s</sup>. Read's & Baldwin's</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="working party 2"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Gen<sup>l</sup>. Spencer's</td> + <td class="vlargest">{</td> + <td>Colo<sup>s</sup>. Parson's & Wylly's—To go to Bayard's Hill.<br /> + Colo<sup>s</sup>. Huntington's to Red Hook. Arnold's to Fort Sterling.<br /> + Col. Ward's—50 men with 4 days provisions to cut pickets....<br /> + The remainder of this regiment's working party—at Fort George.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="working party 3"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Lord Stirlings.</td> + <td><span class="largest">{</span></td> + <td>Nixon's & Webb's<br /> + McDougall's & Ritzema's.</td> + <td><span class="largest">}</span></td> + <td>On Governor's Island every day<br /> + till further orders.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.13" id="Page_ii.13">[Pg ii.13]</a></span></p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 25, 1776.</p> + +<p>Cap. Silas Talbut of Col. Hitchcock's regiment, Cap<sup>n</sup>. Frazier of +Cap<sup>n</sup>. (Col.) Wayne's regiment, L<sup>t</sup>. Noel Allen of Col. Varnum's +regiment & [L<sup>t</sup>.] Samuel Huse of Col. Little's regiment are a +Committee to inspect the provisions for the troops of this brigade. +The commissaries & quartermasters are to apply to them to determine, +which is merchantable and which is not. Such as they say are good the +quarter masters are to receive and such as they condemn are to be +refused.</p> + +<p>No non commissioned officer or soldier is to be out of camp after +retreat beating, & any that are discovered going out after that time +are to be taken up & confined in the main guard, & any that are coming +in, that have been out without leave from their officers are to be +confined; any sentry that permits them to pass without examination +will be punished for disobedience of orders.</p> + +<p>L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Cornell having reported great negligence among the guards, +for the future they will be visited by day & night, by the field +officer of the day. Every commissioned & non-commissioned officer that +commands guards is to be reported, that has not his guard in good +order. No soldier is to be absent from the guard without leave, & not +more than 2 commissioned officers nor more than one non commissioned +officer at a time. All guards except the picket are to mount at —— +o'Clock in the morning. The retreat is to beat half an hour after +sunset. At guard mounting in the morning, the field officer of the day +is to attend the parade & give to each respective officer a proper +detail of his guard.</p> + +<p>One man from each detached guard is to be sent to the grand parade to +pilot the new guard to the relief of the old ones.</p> + +<p>No person is to be admitted to any of the forts where there are cannon +or ammunition except a General officer by day, without the leave of +the officer commanding the guard, & a general officer after dark is +not to be admitted without leave first obtained of the commanding +(officer).</p> + +<p>The officer commanding guards where there are cannon or ammunition, is +to be very watchful & not to suffer by day or night any person to +enter the forts unless they have business there, or are known to +belong to the army, or are with some officer belonging to the army.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.14" id="Page_ii.14">[Pg ii.14]</a></span></p><p>Adj<sup>t</sup>. from Col. Varnum's.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, May 26, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Hancock</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Trumbull</span>.)</p> + +<p>... The working party of Col. Nixon's regiment are to be ordered every +day to Long Island, instead of Governor's Island as mentioned in +yesterday's orders....</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">May 26, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night, Major Collins, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from +Col. Hitchcock's regiment.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />May 29, 1776.</p> + +<p>A garrison court martial to sit for the trial of prisoners now in the +main Guard.</p> + +<p>The commanding officer of the Ferry Guard is to permit the Ferry boats +to pass until ten O'clock with common passengers, but no soldier is to +pass after retreat beating, unless the Col. or commanding officer of +the regiment, to which he belongs, certify the necessity. The troops +are to be under arms at roll calling, morning & evening. Every soldier +detected snapping his lock without orders from his officer, is to be +immediately sent prisoner to the main guard, there to be confined two +days & nights, & allowed nothing to eat or drink but bread & water.</p> + +<p>All officers are desired to be more careful of discovering the +countersign to persons that have no right to know it.</p> + +<p>Any soldier on guard that discovers the countersign to any of his +fellow soldiers, that are not on guard, is to be immediately confined. +Every one that gives the countersign, is to give it as softly as +possible so that if any person is listening, he may not hear it.</p> + +<p>The sentries are not to suffer any person to stand near them, while +they are on their posts after retreat beating.</p> + +<p>The General wishes that every part of camp duty may be done with as +much exactness, as if the enemy was encamped in the neighborhood, for +bad habits once contracted are difficult to get over, & doing duty in +a slovenly manner, is both disgraceful & dangerous to officers & men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.15" id="Page_ii.15">[Pg ii.15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Field officer for picket tomorrow night, Major Smith, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from +Col. Hitchcock's regiment.</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="detail"> +<tbody> +<tr><td> </td><td>C.</td><td>S.</td><td>S.</td><td>C.</td><td>D.</td><td>F.</td><td>P.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Fatigue</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>80</td></tr> +<tr><td>Guard</td><td> </td><td> </td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>20</td></tr> +<tr><td>Picket</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>49</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">After Orders</span>, May 31, 1776.</p> + +<p>Gen. Washington has written to Gen<sup>l</sup>. Putnam<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a> desiring him, in +the most pressing form, to give positive orders to all the Col<sup>s</sup>. to +have colors immediately completed for their respective regiments.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">June 1<sup>st</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>A sergeant & 20 men to parade immediately to clear out Mr. +Livingston's Dock filled up by the Picket pealings. No pealings to be +thrown into the dock for the future.</p> + +<p>Six o'clock this evening the troops to be all under arms to man the +works.</p> + +<p>Five Co<sup>s</sup>. of Col. Varnum's Regiment upon the right in fort Box. The +other three upon the right of fort Green.</p> + +<p>Col. Hitchcock's reg<sup>t</sup>. to man fort Putnam & the redoubt upon the +left of it. 5 Co<sup>s</sup>. in the first & 3 in the Last.</p> + +<p>Five Co<sup>s</sup>. of Col. Little's regiment in Fort Green & 3 in the oblong +square.</p> + +<p>The independent Co. to be reserved in the rear of fort Green.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />June 3<sup>d</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>150 men & officers wanted from Cols Varnum's Hitchcock's & Little's +reg<sup>ts</sup> with arms blankets & 2 days provisions cooked & ½ a pint of +rum a man. To be ready to march at 3 o'clock to morrow morning every +man to take his blanket & none to go but such as are decently +dressed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.16" id="Page_ii.16">[Pg ii.16]</a></span></p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp Long Island</span>, June 7, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col<sup>s</sup>. of 9, 11, & 12 regiments to have all the arms in their +regiments that need repairing sent to the armorers.</p> + +<p>The pikes to be placed in the works in the following order—100 in +fort Green, 30 in the works on the right of it, 20 in the oblong +redoubt, 50 in fort Putnam & 20 in the works on the left of it. Every +reg<sup>t</sup>. to clean the spears once a week at their alarm Post.</p> + +<p>The officers at the Ferry guard to stop all arms coming over the Ferry +to the island, & report immediately to the Gen<sup>l</sup>. who has them & +where they say they are going. 2 sentries to be posted at the church +to stop all arms going eastward from the city, the names and place of +abode of any person stopped with arms to be taken & reported +immediately.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />June 9<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer for picket, L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Henshaw.</p> + +<p>The 9, 11, 12 Reg<sup>ts</sup> to parade tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock on the +right of the encampment, every officer & soldier not on duty or unwell +to join their respective regiments.</p> + +<p>The Fatigue party not to turn out till after y<sup>e</sup> regiments are +paraded.</p> + +<p>The officers of the 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, 12<sup>th</sup> are desired to exercise +together by reg<sup>ts</sup> 4 days, & the whole of the officers of the three +regiments to exercise together once a week to be exercised by the Col. +of the Reg<sup>t</sup>. in turn or by some person appointed by the Col. whose +turn it is. The Col<sup>s</sup>. of the 9, 11, 12, Reg<sup>ts</sup> are desired to +make returns of the state of the arms &c., agreably to yesterdays order +tomorrow.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span> June 10, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Bedford</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Cumberland</span>.)</p> + +<p>The Brig. Gens. are requested to make their different Brigades +perfectly acquainted with their several alarm posts & to pay +particular attention to the men's arms....</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">June 12, 1776.</p> + +<p>A garrison court martial to sit to-day....</p> + +<p>The Col. or Comm<sup>g</sup>: officers of the 9, 11, 12 Reg<sup>ts</sup> to certify +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.17" id="Page_ii.17">[Pg ii.17]</a></span> the Deputy Commissary from day to day the necessary supplies for +the sick. The Surgeons to report every day the state and wants of the +sick. Centries posted at Hospitals & armory not to demand the +countersign of passengers unless they attempt to enter those places.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />June 13, 1776.</p> + +<p>The Camp Cullimen (?) of the 9. 11. 12 reg<sup>ts</sup>. to keep the streets +clean, remove the filth, cover the vaults every day & dig new ones +once a week; they must attend the Hospitals, & give directions for +having them kept in good clean order. Cols. are requested to appoint +nurses. No soldier to purchase clothing of another without leave, many +soldiers stealing and selling clothing.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />June 14, 1776.</p> + +<p>The 5 Co<sup>s</sup>. of Col. Waynes reg<sup>t</sup>. on Long Island are to be +mustered to-morrow afternoon. A subaltern sergeant & 20 men to be +detached from the picket guard every evening to mount guard at Red +Hook Barbette battery to rejoin the picket in the morning.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span>, June 17, 1776.</p> + +<p>The rank of the Captains in Col. Little's reg<sup>t</sup>. being unsettled, a +Court to day is to establish their rank. The members to be from Col. +Varnum's & Hitchcock's Reg<sup>ts</sup>.</p> + +<p>Col. Varnum's Reg<sup>t</sup>. is to take fort Box & the Oblong redoubt for +their alarm posts, fort Box 6 cos., oblong redoubt 2 cos. Cap. +Woolverton's Independent Co. to join those in the redoubt, & to +receive orders from Col. Varnum.</p> + +<p>Col. Hitchcock's Reg<sup>t</sup>. to take fort Putnam & the fort or redoubt on +the left of it for their alarm posts.</p> + +<p>Col. Little's Reg<sup>t</sup>. to take fort Greene for their alarm post.</p> + +<p>In case of an attack all these posts are to be defended to the last +extremity.</p> + +<p>The lines to be manned every morning between day & sunrise & the +troops to be exercised at parapet firing.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp Long Island</span> June 18, 1776.</p> + +<p>The picket to be discontinued till further orders, except guard at Red +Hook.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.18" id="Page_ii.18">[Pg ii.18]</a></span></p> + +<p>300 men with their officers to parade at 8 O'clock tomorrow morning to +receive orders from Engineer Smith.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span> June 19, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">London</span>.) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Montgomery</span>.)</p> + +<p>A working party of 900 men properly officered to parade tomorrow +morning near the artillery park.... Brig. Gen. Greene & Col. Prescott +will furnish 150 men each as a working party on Governor's Island. On +the present emergency all working parties to work till 6 o'clock <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> +Those who go by water will leave work sooner if wind & tide make it +necessary.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">June 20, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer, L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Cornell, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from Col. Little's +Reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<p>Col. Hitchcock's & Col. Little's reg<sup>ts</sup>. to furnish the fatigue +party to Governor's Island tomorrow. The remainder furnished by those +reg<sup>ts</sup>. to be upon the "Abatee" between fort Putnam & the redoubt on +the left of it, & the Cap. from fort Putnam to the half moon. L<sup>t</sup>. +Col. Johnson's 5 Co<sup>s</sup>. of the 4<sup>th</sup> battalion of Pennsylvania +Reg<sup>t</sup>. (Wayne's) to furnish the fatigue party for Cobble Hill. Col. +Varnum's Reg<sup>t</sup>. to be employed on his alarm post. The Gen. +disapproves of the report for the establishment of the rank of the +12<sup>th</sup> reg<sup>t</sup>. & directs the same court to sit again day after +tomorrow to examine the rank of the Cap<sup>s</sup>. & to report how the court +conceives they ought to rank, & how it may be most equitably +established.</p> + +<h4><br />REGIMENTAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">June 21, 1776.</p> + +<p>For guard L<sup>t</sup>. Burnham, for Red Hook tomorrow night L<sup>t</sup>. Collins.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">June 21, 1776.</p> + +<p>L<sup>t</sup>. Huse is requested to oversee the well-digging in fort Greene. +110 men for Governor's Island & 40 for Red Hook.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.19" id="Page_ii.19">[Pg ii.19]</a></span> Those that are to go +on the Island to be at S<sup>t</sup>. George's Ferry by 8 o'clock. The others +to march to Red Hook as soon as they have had their breakfasts.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />June 28, 1776.</p> + +<p>Picket guard to mount from the 9, 11, 12, Reg<sup>ts</sup>. The 9 & 11 +Reg<sup>ts</sup> to lie in their alarm posts—the 12<sup>th</sup> to lie in the oblong +redoubt.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, June 29.</p> + +<p>... The Commissary Gen. to lodge a fortnights provision on Governor's +Island, Powles Hook & in all y<sup>e</sup> detached posts, Gen. Putnam +furnishing him a list of the men.</p> + +<p>All soldiers intrusted with the defence of any work will behave with +coolness & bravery, & will be careful not to throw away their fire. +The Gen. recommends them to load for their first fire with one musket +ball & 4 or 8 buckshot according to the size and strength of their +pieces. If the enemy are received with such a fire at not more than 20 +or 30 yards distance, he has no doubt of their being repulsed.</p> + +<p>Brig. Gen<sup>ls</sup>. to order Chevaux de Freze & Fascines to close the +sally ports of their respective works. 26000 musket cartridges to be +sent Col. Prescott on Gov<sup>r</sup>. Isl<sup>d</sup>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, June 30.</p> + +<p>... Upon the signal of the enemy's approach or on any alarm all +fatigue parties are to repair to their respective corps ready for +instant action. Working parties are not otherwise to be interrupted in +finishing the defences....</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span>, July 1, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col<sup>s</sup>. or comm<sup>d</sup>. officers of 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, 12<sup>th</sup>, Reg<sup>ts</sup>. +are desired to make a line round each of the forts & fortifications +for the troops to begin a fire on the enemy if they attempt to storm +the works & the troops are to be told not to fire sooner than the +ene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.20" id="Page_ii.20">[Pg ii.20]</a></span>my's arrival at these lines, unless commanded. The line should be +about 80 yards from the parapet.</p> + +<p>Com<sup>g</sup>. officers of the guards at Forts Green & Putnam to send a +patrolling party to patrol about the ¼ of a mile to prevent a +surprise by a partisan party.</p> + +<p>The general thanks both officers & soldiers who turned out voluntarily +to work upon the Little Cobble hill; such public spirit is laudable & +shall not go unrewarded, if the gen<sup>l</sup>. ever has it in his power to +make a more suitable acknowledgement.</p> + +<p>No officer below the rank of a field officer to lodge out of camp from +their Co<sup>s</sup>. on any pretence, sickness excepted. The General +recommends the strictest discipline & daily attention to arms & +ammunition. Brigade being sickly the Gen. recommends the strictest +attention to the cookery & that broiling & frying meat so destructive +to health be prohibited.</p> + +<p>A picket of one hundred to go to Red Hook to night by order of a +private message from his Excellency.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Tuesday</span> July 2<sup>d</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>A picket of 50 men in fort Putnam, 25 in fort Box, a serg<sup>t</sup>. & 12 +men at the milldam from the 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, 12<sup>th</sup> Reg<sup>ts</sup>. A +picket of 20 men at fort Sterling & 25 at Smith's redoubt on Cobble +Hill. Upon an alarm Col. Ward's reg<sup>t</sup>. of Jersey militia to form in +the rear of Fort Green, the sentries to be placed at the front of the +redoubts. Major of Brigade to see to them. Patrols to be kept up from +fort Putnam every hour.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 4, 1776.</p> + +<p>Officers of the guards at y<sup>e</sup> different posts to be accountable for +everything in the forts but particularly for the rum lodged there for +the people in time of action. Any one destroying the tools or taking +the liquor without leave will be punished.</p> + +<p>Every Reg<sup>t</sup>. to furnish pickets for their alarm posts & to be +credited therefor in the detail for duty. The 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, +12<sup>th</sup>, Reg<sup>ts</sup>. & the N.J. battalions under Col. Cadmus & Col. Ward +to furnish a fatigue party of 250 men tomorrow morning. Garrison Court +martial to sit tomorrow, Col. Little president. Cap<sup>s</sup>. earnestly +requested to examine the arms and ammunition of their Co<sup>s</sup>. & have +them ready for action at all times.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.21" id="Page_ii.21">[Pg ii.21]</a></span></p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp at Brooklin</span>, July 6, 1776.</p> + +<p>The Ferry guard upon a night alarm are to repair to fort Sterling. The +ground to be levelled from which Col. Hitchcock's Reg<sup>t</sup>. moved. 233 +men for picket from Col. Varnum's, Hitchcock's & Little's Reg<sup>ts</sup>. 66 +men from the same for guard.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 8, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col. Varnum's Reg<sup>t</sup>. to remove their encampment to Red Hook, & do +the duty of that post. Col. Forman's N.J. reg<sup>t</sup>. to camp on the +ground lately occupied by Col. Hitchcock's reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 8, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col. Forman's Reg<sup>t</sup>. to occupy Col. Varnum's old alarm posts, +namely, Fort Box and the Oblong redoubt. Brigade Major to lead the +troops to the alarm Post at 7 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> The guard for the several works to +be continued the same as before from the 11<sup>th</sup> & 12<sup>th</sup> of the old +establishment & the Jersey new levies, that the new levies may have +the benefit of the knowledge of the standing troops.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, July 9, 1776.</p> + +<p>... The Continental Congress impelled by the dictates of duty, policy +and necessity have been pleased to dissolve the connection which +subsisted between this country & G<sup>t</sup>. Britain, & to declare the +colonies of North America, Free & Independent States—the several +Brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their respective parades +at 6 o'clock when the declaration of Congress, showing the grounds and +reasons of the measure is to be read with an audible voice. The Gen. +hopes that this important <i>Point</i> will serve as a fresh incitement to +every officer & soldier to act with courage & fidelity, as knowing +that now the Peace & safety of this country depend (under God) solely +on the success of our arms, & that he is now in the service of a state +possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit & advance him to the +highest honor of a free country.</p> + +<p>The Brigade Majors are to receive copies of the declaration to be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.22" id="Page_ii.22">[Pg ii.22]</a></span>delivered to the Brig<sup>rs</sup>. & Col<sup>s</sup>.</p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">July 9, 1776.</p> + +<p>Adj<sup>t</sup>. for the day to carry the Parole & countersign to the guards +at Red Hook, Smith's Barbette, Fort Box, Fort Green & forts Putnam & +Sterling, & the ferry guard.</p> + +<p>A fatigue tomorrow of 100 men for Smith's Barbette.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 10, 1776.</p> + +<p>Deputy Commissary, Mr. Brown, to issue provisions 3 times a week, Tu. +Th. & Saturdays.</p> + +<p>Putrid fevers prevailing among the troops, the troops are forbid going +into the water only in the mornings and evenings, being dangerous in +the heat of the day.</p> + +<p>A fatigue party of 150 to be furnished from the 11<sup>th</sup> & 12<sup>th</sup> & +Col. Forman's Regt. for Smith's Barbette to be continued till it is +completed.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 11, 1776.</p> + +<p>Fatigue parties to be turned out to be at work on the Hill by five in +the morning.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp Long Island</span>, July 16, 1776.</p> + +<p>Prisoners sent to the main Guard by the Field officer of the day with +or without arms, unless sooner released by him or the Gen. are only to +be kept till the mounting of the new guard, unless a crime be +delivered to the Cap. of the guard in writing against (the prisoners) +by the person that committed them, with his name to it.</p> + +<p>L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Cornell & Cap. Warner are appointed to oversee the works +at Smith's Barbette & complete them. They are to be excused from all +other duty. Fatigue parties for the future are to work as long as the +Col<sup>s</sup>. think advisable every cool day. The general wishes the troops +to be as industrious as possible, lest the enemy attack (the works) +before they are done.</p> + +<p>A subaltern's Guard to mount at Rapalyea's mill upon the point every +night, to continue till sunrise.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, July 18 1776.</p> + +<p>2 guns from fort Cobble Hill on Long Island to be a signal that the +enemy have landed on that Island.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.23" id="Page_ii.23">[Pg ii.23]</a></span></p> + +<h4><br />GEN. GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right">July 18, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field officer of the day tomorrow, L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Henderson, Adj<sup>t</sup>. +from Col. Little's....</p> + +<p>Patrolling parties to be sent out every hour to advance as silently as +possible & to stop & listen every few rods, to discover spies lurking +around the works.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp on Long Island</span>, July 19 1776.</p> + +<p>The works on Cobble Hill being greatly retarded for want of men to lay +turf, few being acquainted with that service, all those in Col. +Hitchcock's & Col. Little's Reg<sup>ts</sup>. that understand that business, +are desired to voluntarily turn out every day, & they shall be excused +from all other duty, & allowed ½ a pint of rum a day.</p> + +<p>Half the fatigue party to work tomorrow at fort Sterling in widening +the ditch. L<sup>t</sup>. Col. Cornell will detach the party & give the +necessary instructions. Cap. Newell of the Train to mount an artillery +guard on Smith's Barbette, on Cobble Hill, of a Sergeant & 6 men.</p> + +<p>F. Officer of the day tomorrow Major Parker, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from Col. +Forman's Reg<sup>t</sup>. (New Jersey).</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 22, 1776.</p> + +<p>F. Off<sup>r</sup>. tomorrow, Col. Forman, Adj<sup>t</sup>. from his reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<p>The Col<sup>s</sup>. or C<sup>g</sup>. Off<sup>rs</sup>. of the 1<sup>st</sup>, 9<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, +12<sup>th</sup> Regiments are requested to send in a return of vacancies, with +a list of names to fill them, by tomorrow at 9 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> The 11<sup>th</sup>, +12<sup>th</sup> & Col. Forman's Reg<sup>ts</sup>. are to parade on the regimental +parade tomorrow <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> instead of going to their alarm posts. Com<sup>g</sup>. +off. of each reg<sup>t</sup>. will receive orders on the spot when & where to +march.</p> + +<p>The duties being exceedingly heavy on the men, the Gen<sup>l</sup>. thinks +proper to lessen the fatigue party ½ & reduce the guard in forts +Green & Putnam ⅓, & a Serj<sup>t</sup>. & 12 men to mount in fort Box, +instead of the present guard.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 24, 1776.</p> + +<p>A fatigue party of 40 men & 1 sub. to cut fascines to parade this <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> +4 days provisions to be provided. Passengers going into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.24" id="Page_ii.24">[Pg ii.24]</a></span> the city not +to be stopped at the ferry unless there is reason to suspect them. No +one to come out without a proper pass. Fatigue for home duty to be +lessened as much as the number detached.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span>, July 28, 1776.</p> + +<p>The success of the campaign must depend on the health of the troops; +nothing should be neglected that contributes to it. Good Policy as +well as humanity claims the attention of every officer to this object; +our honor as well as our success depends on it.</p> + +<p>The good officer discharges his duty not only in one but in every +respect. It is a mistaken notion that the minutiæ of military matters +is only an employment for little minds. Such an officer betrays a want +of understanding and showeth a person ignorant of the necessary +dependence and connection of one thing upon another. What signifies +knowledge without power to execute? He who studies the Branches of +military knowledge relating to Dispositions, & neglects to preserve +the health of his troops will find himself in that disagreeable +situation.</p> + +<p>The general is pained to discover inattention to the digging and +filling vaults for the reg<sup>ts</sup>. & to the burial of filth and putrid +matter. The general directs camp Columen(?) of the several reg<sup>ts</sup>. +to dig new vaults, and fill up old ones every 3 days, & that fresh +dirt be thrown in every day to the vaults, & that all filth in and +about the camp be daily buried. The sickly season coming on, & Putrid +fevers prevailing, the Gen. recommends a free use of vegetables & +desires the men may keep themselves & clothes clean, & cook their +provisions properly; & little injury is to be dreaded. A neglect of +these matters at this critical season may be attended with dreadful +consequences.</p> + +<p>Complaints are made of the troops stealing water mellons. Such +practices must be punished. A few unprincipled rascals may ruin the +reputation of a whole corps of virtuous men. The General desires the +virtuous to complain of every offender that may be detected in +invading people's property in an unlawful manner, whatever his station +or from whatever part of the country he may come.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 1, 1776.</p> + +<p>All the straw bunks & —— in y<sup>e</sup> different reg<sup>ts</sup>. occupied by +the well to be collected for the sick of Col. Forman's reg<sup>t</sup>. A +ser<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.25" id="Page_ii.25">[Pg ii.25]</a></span>geant & 8 men to be employed cutting wood for a coal pit for the +armorers shop—apply to master armorers for orders.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span>, Aug. 4, 1776.</p> + +<p>4 Co<sup>s</sup>. of Col. Gay's reg<sup>t</sup>. to take fort Sterling for their alarm +post & 4—Cobble Hill.</p> + +<p>The countersign having spread too generally in the camp, & amongst +many that don't belong to the army, the Gen<sup>l</sup>. orders every person +to be punished who is base enough to discover it to those who have no +right to it.</p> + +<p>No person allowed to pass after 10 o'clock with or without the +countersign within the limits of the camp or circle of the sentries, +except Gen<sup>l</sup>. & Field Officers, Brigade Majors & expresses. This +order extends to inhabitants as well as the army.</p> + +<p>A fatigue party from Col. Little's, Col. Forman's & Col. Gay's +reg<sup>ts</sup>. of 200 men, properly officered, to work at Fort Sterling +tomorrow. Col. Gay or the com<sup>g</sup>. officer of his reg<sup>t</sup>. is directed +to lead his troops into their alarm posts at 5 o'clock this afternoon. +Officers are directed to acquaint themselves with the ground for miles +about their camps.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Morning Orders</span>, Aug. 6, 1776.</p> + +<p>Commanding Officers of fortifications are requested to pay particular +attention to y<sup>e</sup> provisions lodged at each alarm post for the +support of the troops in case of seige, and also that y<sup>e</sup> water +casks & cisterns are filled & when the water is bad to have it pumped +out & fresh water put in.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 6, 1776.</p> + +<p>By a deserter from Sir Peter Parker's fleet we learn that the +Hessians, from England, & Clinton's troops from S. Carolina are +arrived & that the enemy meditate an attack on this Island & the city +of New York. The Gen<sup>l</sup>. wishes to have the troops provided with +every thing necessary to give them a proper reception. Cap<sup>s</sup>. are +directed to examine the arms of their co<sup>s</sup>. immediately.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 8, 1776.</p> + +<p>A sub. & 20 men to parade immediately to march to Jamaica. Let the men +be decently dressed, & the officers keep them from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.26" id="Page_ii.26">[Pg ii.26]</a></span> offering insolence +or abuse to any person. They are to escort & assist L<sup>t</sup>. Skinner & +wait there for his directions.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 9, 1776.</p> + +<p>A report from Col. Hand mentions a large number of regulars drawn up +at Staten Island Ferry, & boats to embark in. No officer or soldier to +stir from his quarters that we may be ready to march at a moment's +warning if necessary.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 16, 1776.</p> + +<p>Col. Smith (L.I. militia) to app<sup>t</sup> an Adj<sup>t</sup>., Q.M. & Serj<sup>t</sup> Maj. +& Q. M<sup>r</sup>. Serj<sup>t</sup> to his reg<sup>t</sup>., & to have the troops in his +reg<sup>t</sup> not on duty exercised daily in learning the necessary +manœuvres and evolutions.</p> + +<p>Gen<sup>ls</sup>. Nixon and Heard are to furnish a fatigue party from their +brigades and to form the necessary lines from fort Box to fort Putnam. +The gin shops and houses selling liquor, strictly forbidden to sell to +soldiers, excepting near the two ferries.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of houses near the lines are immediately to move out +of them, and they are to be appropriated to the use of the troops. The +General is determined to have any soldiers punished that may be found +disguised with liquor, as no soldier in such a situation can be fit +for defense or attack.</p> + +<p>The General orders that no sutler in the army shall sell to any +soldier more than 1 gill of spirits per day. If the above orders are +not adhered to, there shall no more be retailed out at all.</p> + +<p>The Colonels of reg<sup>ts</sup>. lately come in are immediately to make +returns to the Gen<sup>l</sup>. of their number of men & where they are +quartered. Col. Hitchcock's and Smith's Reg<sup>ts</sup> are to do duty in +Gen<sup>l</sup>. Nixon's brigade—Col<sup>s</sup>. Van Brunt's and Gay's Reg<sup>ts</sup>. to +do duty in Gen<sup>l</sup>. Heard's brigade. Cap<sup>ts</sup> in the brigades are to +be particularly careful that the Rolls are called 3 times a day & that +the troops do not stray from quarters.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters</span>, Aug. 20, 1776.</p> + +<p>... General Sullivan is to take command on Long Island till Gen. +Greene's state of health will permit him to resume it. Brig. L<sup>d</sup> +Sterling is to take charge of Gen<sup>l</sup> Sullivan's division.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.27" id="Page_ii.27">[Pg ii.27]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO02"></a>[No. 2.]<br /> +<br /> +MAJOR GENERAL SULLIVAN'S ORDERS<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">CAMP ON LONG ISLAND</span><br /> +<br /> +[<i>Colonel Little's Order Book</i>]</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right">[<span class="smcap">Long Island</span>,] August 20, 1776.</p> + +<p>Field Off<sup>r</sup> of the Day tomorrow, Col. Phipps, (?) Adj<sup>t</sup> from Col. +Little's reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />August 21<sup>st</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>Five hundred men to be on fatigue to-morrow to be on the works by 8 +o'clock, to leave at 12, & begin at 2 o'clock, & work till half past +6. Nothing can be more disagreeable to the Gen<sup>l</sup>. than to call upon +the men to be so constantly on fatigue, but their own salvation, and +the safety of the country requires it. He hopes that in 2 or 3 days +more the encampment will be so secure that he can release the men from +fatigue and give them an opportunity to rest from their labors. +Adj<sup>t</sup>. of the day to attend at the Gen<sup>ls</sup>. quarters every morning +at 8, and an orderly from each brigade daily. Four men are to be +drafted to row the Gen<sup>ls</sup> boat and do no other duty. The Brigade +majors, upon receiving orders from Head Quarters are to call at Gen. +Sullivan's quarters for his orders, or send adj<sup>ts</sup> to take them off.</p> + +<p>Col. Johnson's and Newcomb's reg<sup>ts</sup> are to consider the woods on the +west side of the creek as their alarm post, and repair there in case +of an alarm. Gen. Nixon will show the ground this evening at 6 o'clock +to the comm<sup>g</sup> officers of the Reg<sup>ts</sup>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 23, 1776.</p> + +<p>The men not to turn out to their alarm posts this afternoon, (but) to +get 2 days' provisions ready, & to be at their alarm posts to-morrow +morning by 3 o'clock in order for action.</p> + +<p>Col<sup>s</sup>. Miles & Ransom's (Remsen's of L.I.) reg<sup>ts</sup>. to take +possession of the Bedford road this night—Col. Ransom's reg<sup>t</sup>. to +march at 5 o'clock. Col. Miles' reg<sup>t</sup>. is on the spot. Col<sup>s</sup>. +Little's & Hitchcock's Reg<sup>ts</sup> to possess the Flatbush road & +Col<sup>s</sup>. Johnson's & Martin's to take possession of the road near the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.28" id="Page_ii.28">[Pg ii.28]</a></span>river. All these reg<sup>ts</sup>. to be at their posts by 6 o'clock. Upon +their arrival the troops now there are to retire to their encampments +& get 2 days provisions dressed, & be ready for action. The Gen. will +never make a 3rd. requisition to the majors of brigade, to attend for +orders.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> Aug. 24 1776.</p> + +<p>A return to be made to the Gen. this afternoon at 5 o'clock of all +y<sup>e</sup> Light Horse & companies of troop within the lines. The adj<sup>t</sup>. +of Col. Little's regiment is to attend at Gen<sup>ls</sup>. quarters at 7 +o'clock <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> to-morrow.</p> + +<p>The Gen<sup>l</sup>. returns his thanks to the brave officers & soldiers who +with so much spirit & intrepidity repulsed the enemy & defeated their +designs of taking possession of the woods near our lines. He is now +convinced that the troops he has the honor to command, will not, in +point of bravery, yield to any troops in the universe. The +cheerfulness with which they do their duty, & the patience with which +they undergo fatigue evince exalted sentiments of freedom, & love of +country gives him most satisfactory evidence that when called upon +they will prove themselves worthy of that freedom for which they are +now contending.</p> + +<p>Col. Ramsons (Remsen's) Reg<sup>t</sup>. to mount no guard except quarter +guard of 12, but be considered a fatigue party, to which they are to +attend from day to day. The Gen<sup>l</sup>. is sorry to find that Reg<sup>t</sup>. +flying from their posts, when timid women would have blushed to have +betrayed any signs of fear at any thing this reg<sup>t</sup>. discovered at +the time of their flight.</p> + +<p>Officers are requested to see that their men always keep at least 2 +days provisions, ready dressed by them. The Commissary is to deal out +one gill of rum per man each day on this Island until further orders. +Soldiers are not to be out of their encampment but upon urgent +business. Gen. Nixon to take command of the lines next the enemy until +further orders, to post his men in the edge of the woods next the +enemy. Brig<sup>de</sup> Majors to attend punctually at the Gen<sup>l's</sup>. +quarters at 10 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span></p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> Aug. 25 1776.</p> + +<p>The following arrangement to take place on Long Island until further +orders—Viz: Col. Mile's 2 battalions, Col. Atlee's, Col. Lutzs, Major +Hayes, Col. Lashers and Drake's to be formed into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.29" id="Page_ii.29">[Pg ii.29]</a></span> one brigade under +the command of Gen. L<sup>d</sup>. Stirling. Col. Hand's, Prescott's, (Late) +Nixon's, Varnum's, Hitchcock's, Little's, Smith's, & Ramson's to be +under Gen. Nixon. Wylly's, Huntington's, Taylor's, (Tyler's) +Silliman's, Chester's, & Gay's under Gen. Parsons; Johnson's, +Courtlandt's, Martins, Newcombs & Freeman's (Forman's), under the +command of Brig. Gen Hurd.</p> + +<p>The General orders that the Brig<sup>rs</sup>. attend at Head Quarters at 8 +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span> to-morrow for directions. Brig<sup>de</sup> Major Box is appointed to act +as Adj<sup>t</sup>. Gen<sup>l</sup>. for this department until further orders.</p> + +<p>A Brig<sup>r</sup>. Gen<sup>l</sup>. of the Day to attend the Grand Parade at Guard +mounting at 10 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, every day afterwards at 8, whose duty it shall be +to see that the guards are regularly made up, & properly posted & duly +relieved. No firing at the outposts <i>to be allowed</i> on any pretense, +except by permission of the Com<sup>g</sup> Gen. of the day, & none within the +lines except by permission. This order not to extend to sentries on +guard.</p> + +<p>Brig<sup>r</sup>. for the day Gen. L<sup>d</sup>. Stirling.</p> + +<p>The Gen. is surprised to find the soldiers strolling about, +notwithstanding repeated orders, miles distant from the lines, at a +time when the enemy are hourly expected to make an attack. The +officers are enjoined to cause the arrest of any soldier who shall be +found strolling without the lines unless they can show a written +permit from their Cap. or Com<sup>g</sup>. officer of the reg<sup>t</sup>. or company. +All the officers and soldiers are to keep within their quarters, +unless ordered on duty.</p> + +<p>All troops in this department are desired to wear a green bough or +branch of a tree in their hats, till further orders.</p> + +<p>Col. Ward's Regt. to be added to Gen. Parson's brigade. All the troops +not<a name="FNanchor_231_231" id="FNanchor_231_231"></a><a href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a>——</p> + +<p>All other troops not mentioned and those which may be sent here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.30" id="Page_ii.30">[Pg ii.30]</a></span> +without a General Officer to command them are to be considered as a +part of Lord Stirling's Brigade till further orders.</p> + +<p>A return of the several Brigades to be made immediately. Eight hundred +(men) properly officered to relieve the troops on Bedford Road +to-morrow morning, six field officers to attend with this party. The +same number to relieve those on Bush (Flatbush) Road, and an equal +number those stationed towards the Narrows. A picket of three hundred +men under the command of a Field Officer, six Captains, twelve +Subalterns to be posted at the wood on the west side of the Creek +every night till further orders.</p> + +<p>It is a very scandalous practice unbecoming soldiers whose duty it is +to defend the liberty and property of the Inhabitants of the country +to make free with and rob them of that property; it is therefore +ordered that no person belonging to this army do presume on any +pretense whatever to take or make use of any Corn, Poultry or +Provision, or anything else without the consent of the owners nor +without paying the common price for them; any breach of this order +will be severely punished. The Commanding Officer of each Regiment and +Company is to see this order communicated to their respective corps +and to see it carried into execution....</p> + +<p>Brigadier Lord Stirling to command the front of our lines next +Hudson's River and to command the reserve within the lines, and when +either of the other Brigade Generals have the command of the Advance +Lines Lord Stirling is to have command of his post in his absence. +Each Brigadier General to assign the Alarm Posts to the several +Regiments under their command.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3><a name="NO03"></a>[No. 3.]<br /> +<br /> +GENERAL ORDERS</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head-Quarters Long Island</span> Aug. 29, 1776.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="parole and countersign"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td>Parole, <span class="smcap">Sullivan</span>,</td> + <td rowspan="2" class="largest">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Countersign, <span class="smcap">Green</span>.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p>As the sick are an encumbrance to the Army, & Troops are expected this +afternoon from the flying camp in Jersey, under Gen<sup>l</sup> Mercer, who is +himself arrived & room & cover is wanted for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.31" id="Page_ii.31">[Pg ii.31]</a></span> troops, the +commanding Officers of Regt's are immediately to have such sick +removed. They are to take their Arms & Accoutrements & be conducted by +an Officer to the Gen<sup>l</sup> Hospital, as a rendezvous & then to cross +to-gether under the directions of the Person appointed there, taking +general Directions from Dr Morgan. As the above Forces under Gen<sup>l</sup> +Mercer are expected this afternoon, the General proposes to relieve a +proportionate Number of Regiments & make a change in the situation of +them.</p> + +<p>The Commanding Officers of Regiments are therefore to parade their men +with their Arms, Accoutrements, and Knapsacks, at 7 <sup>o</sup>Clock, at the +Head of their Encampments & there wait for Orders.<a name="FNanchor_232_232" id="FNanchor_232_232"></a><a href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a></p> + +<p class="center">[From MS. Order Book of Col. Wm. Douglas.]</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Head-Quarters, New York</span>, August 31, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">(Parole, <span class="smcap">Harlem.</span>) (Countersign, <span class="smcap">Flushing</span>.)</p> + +<p>... Both officers and soldiers are informed that the retreat from +<i>Long-Island</i> was made by the unanimous advice of all the General +Officers, not from any doubts of the spirit of the troops, but because +they found the troops very much fatigued with hard duty, and divided +into many detachments, while the enemy had their main body on the +Island, and capable of receiving assistance from the shipping. In +these circumstances it was thought unsafe to transport the whole of an +Army on an Island, or to engage them with a part, and therefore +unequal numbers; whereas now our whole Army is collected together, +without water intervening, while the enemy can receive little +assistance from their ships. Their Army is, and must be, divided into +many bodies, and fatigued with keeping up a communication with their +ships; whereas ours is connected and can act together. They must +effect a landing under so many disadvantages, that if officers and +soldiers are vigilant, and alert to prevent surprise, and add spirit +when they approach, there is no doubt of our success....</p> + +<p class="center">[Force, 5th Series, Vol. I., p. 1248.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.32" id="Page_ii.32">[Pg ii.32]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="NO04"></a>[No. 4.]<br /> +<br /> +GEN. WASHINGTON TO THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<table style="float: right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="address"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td class="right"><span class="smcap">Head-Quarters</span>, Colonel Roger Morris's House, ten + miles from</td> + <td rowspan="2" class="largest">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="right">New York, September 19, 1776.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>: I was honoured the night before last with your favor of the +13th instant, and at the same time that I conceive your anxiety to +have been great, by reason of the vague and uncertain accounts you +received respecting the attack on <i>Long Island</i>, give me leave to +assure you that the situation of our affairs, and the important +concerns which have surrounded me, and which are daily pressing on me, +have prevented me from transmitting, in many instances, the +intelligence I otherwise should have conveyed.</p> + +<p>In respect to the attack and retreat from <i>Long Island</i>, the publick +papers will furnish you with accounts nearly true. I shall only add, +that in the former we lost about eight hundred men; more than +three-fourths of which were taken prisoners. This misfortune happened +in great measure, by two detachments of our people who were posted in +two roads leading through a wood, in order to intercept the enemy in +their march, suffering a surprise, and making a precipitate retreat, +which enabled the enemy to lead a great part of their force against +the troops commanded by Lord <i>Stirling</i>, which formed a third +detachment, who behaved with great bravery and resolution, charging +the enemy and maintaining their posts from about seven or eight +o'clock in the morning till two in the afternoon, when they were +obliged to attempt a retreat, being surrounded and overpowered by +numbers on all sides, and in which many of them were taken. One +battalion (<i>Smallwood's</i> of <i>Maryland</i>) lost two hundred and +fifty-nine men, and the general damage fell upon the regiments from +<i>Pennsylvania</i>, <i>Delaware</i> and <i>Maryland</i>, and Colonel <i>Huntington's</i>, +of <i>Connecticut</i>.</p> + +<p>As to the retreat from the Island, it was effected without loss of +men, and with but very little baggage. A few heavy cannon were left, +not being moveable on account of the ground's being soft and miry +through the rains that had fallen.</p> + +<p>The enemy's loss in killed we could never ascertain; but have many +reasons to believe that it was pretty considerable, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.33" id="Page_ii.33">[Pg ii.33]</a></span> exceeded ours +a good deal. The retreat from thence was absolutely necessary, the +enemy having landed the main body of their army there to attack us in +front, while their ships of war were to cut off the communication with +the city, from whence resources of men, provisions, &c., were to be +drawn....</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">I have the honour to be, &c.,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Go. Washington.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>To the Hon. <i>Jeremiah Powell</i>, Esq., President, &c.</p> + +<p class="center">[Force, 5th Series, Vol. II., p. 399.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3><a name="NO05"></a>[No. 5.]<br /> +<br /> +BRIG. GEN. PARSONS TO JOHN ADAMS<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">PHILADELPHIA</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> 29 Aug 1776.</p> + +<p>... Before this reaches you the account of the battle of Tuesday last +will arrive—'tis impossible to be particular in a narrative of the +matter as many are yet missing, who we hope may come in. In the night +of the 26<sup>th</sup> nine Regiments of the English troops perhaps about 2500 +with Field artillery &c. passed the Western road near the Narrows from +the flat land, for our lines. We had a guard of 400 or 500 men posted +in the wood, who about three o'clock Tuesday morning gave notice of +the enemy's approach, a body of about 1500. We immediately marched +down to oppose the progress of the enemy. We took possession of a hill +about two miles from camp and detached Col Atlee with a Reg't of +Delaware [Penn.] to meet them further on the road; in about 60 rods he +drew up & received the enemy's fire & gave them a well directed fire +from his Reg't, which did great execution & then retreated to the +hill; from thence I was ordered with Col Atlee & part of his Reg't & +Lt Col Clark with Col Huntington's Reg't to cover the left flank of +our main body.</p> + +<p>This we executed though our number did at no time exceed 300 men & we +were attacked three several times by two Regiments y<sup>e</sup> 44<sup>th</sup> & +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.34" id="Page_ii.34">[Pg ii.34]</a></span>23<sup>d</sup> and repulsed them in every attack with considerable loss. The +number of dead we had collected together & the heap the enemy had made +we supposed amounted to about 60. We had 12 or 14 wounded prisoners +who we caused to be dress'd & their wounds put in the best state our +situation would admit. About 10 o'clock we found a large body of the +enemy had advanced on the other roads near our lines, but a constant +fire was kept up on the enemy till about 12, when we found them fast +advancing on our rear to cut off our retreat. Our little main body +advanced boldly up to the enemy in the rear & broke through their +lines and secured the retreat of most of the party; but it fared still +harder with my little party who had three times repulsed the enemy in +front and once in the rear; we had no notice of the retreat of the +main body till it was too late for us to join them, the enemy having +cut off our retreat on three sides & the main body having broke +through the enemy's lines on the other side and left them between us. +We had no alternative left but force through one line into a thick +wood, which we attempted & effected with part of our men, the other +part with Col. Clark being before sent into the wood. When we had made +our way into the wood, I was accidentally parted from Col. Atlee & +most of the men whom I have never seen since. I came in with 7 men +yesterday morning much fatigued. Our loss is impossible to be +ascertained. In my party a Lt. Col. Parry was killed and one wounded. +Our loss in killed & wounded is inconsiderable, but many are missing +among whom are General Sullivan & Lord Sterling. Colonels Miles, +Atlee, Johnson, Lt. Col. Clark Maj. Wells & several other officers of +distinction are yet missing. I think the trial of that day far from +being any discouragement, but in general our soldiers behaved with +firmness.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 7em">I am sir, with esteem & Regard</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">Yr. Humble Svt.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Sam'l H. Parsons</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Morrisania</span> Oct. 8, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span></p> + +<p>Your's of the 2<sup>d</sup> inst I rec'd last night, for which I am obliged to +you. If any information I can give will contribute to your +satisfaction or my country's good I am happy in furnishing what falls +in my observation. I agree fully with you that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.35" id="Page_ii.35">[Pg ii.35]</a></span> were in the dark +as to some facts relative to the transactions on Long Island & am +fully satisfied you still remain so, or you could not suppose the +surprise there was in the day time. To give you a clear idea of the +matter, I must trouble you with a description of that part of the +country where the enemy landed, and encamped, and the intervening +lands between that and our lines. From the point of land which forms +the east side of the Narrows, runs a ridge of hills about N.E. in +length about 5 or 6 miles, covered with a thick wood which terminate +in a small rising land near Jamaica; through these hills are three +passes only, one near the Narrows, one on the road called the Flatbush +Road & one called the Bedford Road, being a cross road from Bedford to +Flatbush which lies on the southerly side of these hills; these passes +are through the mountains or hills easily defensible being very narrow +and the lands high & mountainous on each side. These are the only +roads which can be passed from the south side the hill to our lines, +except a road leading around the easterly end of the hills to Jamaica. +On each of these roads were placed a guard of 800 men, and east of +them in the wood was placed Col Miles with his Battalion to watch the +motion of the enemy on that part, with orders to keep a party +constantly reconnoitering to and across the Jamaica road. The +sentinels were so placed as to keep a constant communication between +the three guards on the three roads. South of these hills lies a large +plain extending from the North River easterly to Rockaway Bay perhaps +5 miles & southerly to the sound bounded on the south by the sound and +on the north by the hills. Those hills were from two to three miles +and a half from our lines. The enemy landed on this plain & extended +their camp from the River to Flatbush perhaps 3 or 4 miles. On the day +of the surprise I was on duty, and at the first dawn of day the guards +from the West road near the Narrows, came to my quarters & informed me +the enemy were advancing in great numbers by that road. I soon found +it true & that the whole guard had fled without firing a gun; these +(by way of retaliation I must tell you) were all New Yorkers & +Pennsylvanians; I found by fair daylight the enemy were through the +wood & descending the hill on the North side, on which with 20 of my +fugitive guard being all I could collect, I took post on a height in +their front at about half a mile's distance—which halted their column +& gave time for Lord Sterling with his forces to come up; thus much +for the West road—On<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.36" id="Page_ii.36">[Pg ii.36]</a></span> the East next Jamaica Col. Miles suffered the +enemy to march not less than 6 miles till they came near two miles in +rear of the guards before he discovered & gave notice of their +approach. This also was in the night & the guard kept by +Pennsylvanians altogether—the New England & New Jersey troops being +in the other two roads through which the enemy did not attempt to +pass.</p> + +<p>We were surprised—our principal barrier lost by that surprise, but as +far as the cover of the night is an excuse we have it.—The landing of +the troops could not be prevented at the distance of 6 or 7 miles from +our lines; on a plain under the cannon of the ships, just in with the +shore. Our unequal numbers would not admit attacking them on the plain +when landed.</p> + +<p>When our principal barrier was lost, our numbers so much inferior to +the enemy, they not disposed to storm our lines, but set down to make +regular approaches to us—were part of the reasons which induced a +retreat from thence and a consequent abandoning New York—. Our +sentinels & guards in my opinion were well posted, they might have +been better, too great security I thought prevailed with some leading +officers, but I still am of opinion, if our guards on the West road & +Col. Miles on East End of the hills had done their duty, the enemy +would not have passed those important heights, without such very great +loss as would have obliged them to abandon any further enterprise on +the Island....</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 10em">I am sir</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 2em">Your Most Humble Sv't</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Sam'l H. Parsons</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Hon. Charles Francis Adams.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3><a name="NO06"></a>[No. 6.]<br /> +<br /> +BRIG. GEN. SCOTT TO JOHN JAY<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span> Sept. 6, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>I received your letter about half an hour ago by the messengers of the +honorable convention, in which you inform me that they are anxious to +be informed of any transactions at this place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.37" id="Page_ii.37">[Pg ii.37]</a></span> that may be of use to +the State, or otherwise of importance. My duty would have directed me +to execute this task before the receipt of your letter, had I been +possessed of the means of conveyance. I shall do it now as far as the +want of good pen and ink, as scarce as almost every other necessary +article, will permit.</p> + +<p>I shall begin with our retreat from Long Island. For previous to that +event the convention was so near the scene of action that they must +have been acquainted with every occurrence. I was summoned to a +Council of War at Mr. Philip Livingston's house on Thursday 29<sup>th</sup> +ult. never having had reason to expect a proposition for a retreat +till it was mentioned. Upon my arrival at the lines on the Tuesday +morning before, and just after the enemy, by beating General Sullivan +and Lord Stirling, had gained the heights <i>which in their nature +appear to have been more defensible than the lines were</i>, it was +obvious to me we could not maintain them for any long time should the +enemy approach us regularly. <i>They were unfinished in several places +when I arrived there</i>, and we were obliged hastily to finish them, and +you may imagine with very little perfection, particularly across the +main road, the most likely for the approach of the enemy's heavy +artillery. <i>In this place three of my battalions</i> were placed, the +traverse of the line in ground so low, that the rising ground +immediately without it, would have put it in the power of a man at 40 +yards' distance to <i>fire under my horse's belly</i> whenever he pleased. +You may judge of our situation, subject to almost incessant rains, +without baggage or tents and almost without victuals or drink, and in +some part of the lines the men were standing up to their middles in +water. The enemy were evidently incircling us from water to water with +intent to hem us in upon a small neck of land. In this situation they +had as perfect a command of the island, except the small neck on which +we were posted, as they now have. Thus things stood when the retreat +was proposed. As it was suddenly proposed, <i>I as suddenly objected to +it</i>, from an aversion to giving the enemy a single inch of ground; but +<i>was soon convinced by the unanswerable reasons for it</i>. They were +these. Invested by an enemy of above double our number from water to +water, scant in almost every necessary of life and without covering +and liable every moment to have the communication between us and the +city cut off by the entrance of the frigates into the East River +between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.38" id="Page_ii.38">[Pg ii.38]</a></span> (late) Governor's Island and Long Island; which General +McDougall assured us from his own nautic experience was very feasible. +In such a situation we should have been reduced to the alternative of +desperately attempting to cut our way [through] a vastly superior +enemy with the certain loss of a valuable stock of artillery and +artillery stores, which the continent has been collecting with great +pains; or by famine and fatigue have been made an easy prey to the +enemy. In either case the campaign would have ended in the total ruin +of our army. The resolution therefore to retreat was unanimous, and +tho' formed late in the day was executed the following night with +unexpected success. We however lost some of our heavy cannon on the +forts at a distance from the water, the softness of the ground +occasioned by the rains having rendered it impossible to remove them +in so short a time. Almost everything else valuable was saved; and not +a dozen men lost in the retreat. The consequence of our retreat was +the loss of [late] Gov<sup>rs</sup> Island which is perfectly commanded by the +fort on Red Hook. The enemy however from fear or other reasons +indulged with the opportunity of two nights to carry off all except +some heavy cannon. The garrison was drawn off in the afternoon after +our retreat under the fire of the shipping who are now drawn up just +behind [late] Gov<sup>rs</sup> Island, and the fire of some cannon from Long +Island shore; but with no other loss than that of one man's arm. What +our loss on Long Island was I am not able to estimate. I think the +hills might have been well maintained with 5000 men. <i>I fear their +natural strength was our bane by lulling us into a state of security</i> +and enabling the enemy to steal <i>a march upon us</i>. I think from the +best accounts we must have killed many of the enemy. We are sure that +late Colonel and afterwards General Grant who was so bitter against us +in Parliament, is among the slain. General Parsons late Col. and +promoted to the rank of a general officer escaped from the action and +pursuit as by a miracle. I believe him to be a brave man. He is a +Connecticut lawyer. He told me that in the action he commanded a party +of about 250 men, with orders from Lord Stirling to cover his flank; +and that when the enemy gave way, he threw into a heap about thirty of +the enemy's dead, and that in advancing a little further he found a +heap made by the enemy at least as large as that which he had +collected. Lord Stirling had ordered him to maintain his ground till +receipt of his orders to retreat. However, finding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.39" id="Page_ii.39">[Pg ii.39]</a></span> that no such +orders came; and finding the enemy by rallying to increase on his +hands, he flew to the place where Lord Stirling was posted, leaving +his party on the ground with strict orders to maintain it till his +return, but he found his Lordship and his whole body of troops gone. +There can be no doubt but Lord Stirling behaved bravely; but I wish +that he had retreated sooner. He would have saved himself and a great +number of troops from captivity, but he refused to retreat for want of +orders. We miss him much, he was a very active officer. General +Sullivan who was also made a prisoner in the action on the heights +went some days ago on parole to Congress to endeavor to procure his +exchange for Prescot. I have not heard of his return. Two or three +days ago the Rose frigate went up between the islands and took +shelter, after a severe cannonade from us, behind Blackwell's Island. +She retreated yesterday as far as Corlear's Hook, where she was +briskly cannonaded till night. I have not heard of her this morning. +By the loss on Long Island and the running away of our militia, +<i>especially those of Connecticut</i>, to their respective homes, our army +is much diminished, and I am sure is vastly inferior to that of the +enemy....</p> + +<p>Poor General Woodhull with a lieutenant and four men were made +prisoners on Long Island. I had a letter from him dated the first +inst. but not dated from any place, nor does he tell me how he was +taken. He has lost all his baggage and requested of me two shirts and +two pairs of stockings, which I should have sent him had not the flag +of truce been gone before I rec<sup>d</sup> the letter. I shall comply with +his request by the first opportunity. Commend me with all possible +devotion to the honorable Convention.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 10em">I am, Sir,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 1em">Your most obedient servant</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Jno. Morin Scott.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S. <i>The army badly paid & wretchedly fed.</i> 1100 men arrived from the +southward. A deserter tells me be (?) 3000 foreign troops on Staten +island. I know not what the flying camp is doing. He says the enemy on +Long Island are 26,000. I believe this much exaggerated; and 1000 in +the shipping.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Hon. John Jay, New York.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.40" id="Page_ii.40">[Pg ii.40]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO07"></a>[No. 7.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. JOSEPH TRUMBULL TO HIS BROTHER<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LEBANON, CONN.</span></h3> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span> 27<sup>th</sup> August 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span></p> + +<p>Since my last the enemy have landed their main force on Long Island +near New Utrecht Church—between that & Flat Bush, our people and +theirs have frequent skirmishes in all which our people have had the +better of them. We have lost several men, killed and wounded—. Col. +Martin of New Jersey badly wounded in the breast, but I hope not +mortally. We just have received an account of a smart skirmish this +morning at break of day—the particulars I don't yet know, if I can +get them before the gentlemen go who bring this I will write you them. +Col. Huntington is unwell, but I hope getting a little better. He has +a slow fever. Maj. Dyer is also unwell with a slow fever. Gen'l Greene +has been very sick but is better. Genls. Putnam, Sullivan, Lord +Sterling, Nixon, Parsons & Heard are on Long Island and a strong part +of our army. We have a fine ridge of hills and woods to meet them in +on Long Island before they come near our lines.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">I am dear Brother your Affectionate</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Jos. Trumbull</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jon<sup>a</sup> Trumbull Jun<sup>r</sup></span> Esq.</p> + +<p>P.S. It was true the enemy attacked in the morning—Several parties of +them penetrated thro' the woods & the whole body are now thro' & +within 2 miles of our lines. Some parties of them have been up to the +lines but are drove back, or upon the Heights about 2 miles off from +the lines. There has been some very brisk firing & smart engagements; +what numbers are killed or wounded on either side—the firing ceases +at present but expect it renewed again by & by. We have lost a Mr. +Rutgers of this town, an artillery man & Lt. Col. Parry of +Pennsylvania. These are all we know yet.</p> + +<p class="right">Your's as before.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Henry E. Parsons, Ashtabula, O.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.41" id="Page_ii.41">[Pg ii.41]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO08"></a>[No. 8.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. TRUMBULL TO HIS FATHER<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LEBANON, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Sept. 1<sup>st</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Honored Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>... We have been obliged to retreat from Long Island and Governor's +Island, from both of which we got off without loss of men. We have +left a great part of our heavy artillery behind. The field train is +off. We are in hourly expectation that the town will be bombarded and +cannonaded—and the enemy are drawing their men to the eastward on +Long Island, as if they intended to throw a strong party over on this +island, near Hell Gate, so as to get on the back of the city. We are +preparing to meet them. Matters appear to be drawing near to a +decisive engagement. Gen. Sullivan is allowed to come on shore, upon +his parole, and go to Congress, on the subject of exchange of himself, +Lord Sterling, and a large number who are prisoners; by the best +accounts we yet have, we have lost, in last week's defeat, about 800 +men killed and missing; how many of each, is not yet known. I rather +expect that they will push in a body of troops between the town and +our posts at and near King's bridge. If they do we shall have them +between two fires, and must push them to the last extremity or be +killed or taken prisoners. The event is in the hand of the Almighty, +Disposer of all events....</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 8em">I am, honored Sir,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 4em">Your dutiful son,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Jos. Trumbull.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Collections of the R.I. Hist. Soc., Vol. VI.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.42" id="Page_ii.42">[Pg ii.42]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO09"></a>[No. 9.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. MOSES LITTLE TO HIS SON<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">NEWBURYPORT, MASS.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">In Camp Long Island</span> June 22<sup>d</sup> 76.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Son</span>—We still continue in Camp at this place. No arrivals since +my last. Some hints this morning that the Torys had laid a plan to +destroy the general officers of our army. The particulars I have not +yet. The Reg<sup>t</sup> generally well.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 6—1776.</p> + +<p>About 160 ships and transports and other vessels are arrived with +about 10000 soldiers—Numbers are landed on Staten Island. We expect +12000 more to join them. Camp very healthy. I have lost only one man +since we left Prospect Hill (near Boston). Our men in good spirits. I +am of opinion our hands will be full—hope we shall do well.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />July 31, 1776.</p> + +<p>Ten ships are added to the King's troops—part very large, can't say +whether they are men of war or transports. This island is a place of +great importance, & if possible must be defended. We are five <i>small</i> +reg<sup>ts</sup>, are scattered, & have 10 forts to defend. Col. Hand's +Reg<sup>t</sup> is scattered over 5 miles in length. I am posted in fort Green +which is the largest. I never desire to give it up, nor be taken while +I am alive. I am of opinion my reg<sup>t</sup>. will stand fast in the cause +of the United States.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />August 9, 1776.</p> + +<p>The enemy were seen to embark 30 boats full of men on 3 vessels & 100 +boats full on the other transports. We expected an attack, but all is +still & quiet.</p> + +<p>Our enemies have been reinforced by the Hessians & Clinton's fleet. +Deserters say the enemy are 30,000 strong & Gen<sup>l</sup>. Greene judges +them 20,000. I think them 16,000. We have only 1600<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.43" id="Page_ii.43">[Pg ii.43]</a></span> fit for duty on +Long Island. I shall pay the Q.M. Gen<sup>l</sup>. the balance due him for +cloathing my reg<sup>t</sup>. this day, which will square all accounts.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug. 22 1776.</p> + +<p>I have thought fit to send you my will—you will take all charge +necessary &c.</p> + +<p>The enemy this day landed on this Island & marched within 3 miles of +our camp. Three or four regiments lodge within 2 miles of the enemy. I +expect morning will bring us to battle.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">In Camp New York</span> Sep. 1, 1776.</p> + +<p>The enemy left Staten Island & landed on Long Island the 22<sup>d</sup>. +Encamped on a large plain 5 or 6 miles across, at Flat Bush 4 miles +distant. Our troops encamped in the edge of the woods in front of +them. Our line extended about four miles on the night of the 27<sup>th</sup>. +In the morning, at 2 o'clock, the enemy attacked our right wing (a +smart engagement for some time).</p> + +<p>The enemy also advanced on the left. Lord Stirling reinforced the +right wing & defended himself till 12 o'clock when our wing gave way. +My regt. was in the center on guard. The enemy's right wing almost +encircled 2 or 3 regt's & as they were not together they were not able +to defend themselves & retreated with about 20 wounded. Our people +came in about 11 o'clock. The enemy at the same time with their light +horse & English troops attempted to force our lines, but soon +retreated being met with a smart fire from our breast works.</p> + +<p>Two deserters informed us that the enemies dead & wounded was upwards +of 500—I wish ours may not be more. On the morning of the 28<sup>th</sup> the +enemy were encamped on the heights in front of our encampment. Firing +was kept up on both sides, from the right to the left. Weather very +rainy. 29<sup>th</sup> very rainy. Firing by both sides in front of Fort +Putnam. About sunset the enemy pushed to recover the ground we had +taken (about 100 rods) in front of the fort. The fire was very hot, +the enemy gave way, & our people recovered the ground. The fire +ceased, & our people retired to the fort. The enemy took possession +again, & on the morning of the 30<sup>th</sup> had a breastwork there 60 rods +long, & 150 rods distant from fort Putnam.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.44" id="Page_ii.44">[Pg ii.44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Two ships of war had got up the sound as far as Hell gate by this +time. The general ordered each reg<sup>t</sup>. to be paraded on their own +parades at 7 O'clock P.M. & wait for orders. We received orders to +strike our tents & march, with our baggage, to New York. Our lines +were manned until day break.</p> + +<p>The reason of the retreat was, that we should have had no chance to +retreat if the ships came up. I am not certain we shall be able to +keep the city of New York. You may hear of our being at King's Bridge. +A great battle I think will be fought here, or near there.</p> + +<p>I am in a good measure of health.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">I am your affectionate father,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Moses Little.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>To Mr. <span class="smcap">Josiah Little</span>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">In Camp Fort Constitution</span>, Oct. 1, 1776.</p> + +<p>I have been solicited by Gen<sup>l</sup>. Green to remain in the service. I +before declined, but he will not hear one word about my refusing to +serve.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Benjamin Hale, Esq.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3><a name="NO10"></a>[No. 10.]<br /> +<br /> +LIEUT. COL. WILLIAM HENSHAW TO HIS WIFE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LEICESTER, MASS.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> 22<sup>d</sup> June, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear</span>—</p> + +<p>... Last evening a Conspiracy of the Tories was discovered; their plan +was to murder Gen<sup>l</sup>. Washington, seize on the Persons of the other +General officers, & blow up our Magazines, at the Instant of Time the +King's Troops should Land. A number of our Officers rode last Night to +Flat bush on this Island, & seiz'd the Mayor of the City, who is now +in safe Custody <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.45" id="Page_ii.45">[Pg ii.45]</a></span>& suppos'd to be in the Conspiracy—several others +are also taken & the Names of others we have, which I hope we shall +soon be able to give a good account of.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 8em">In haste, I conclude</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 4em">Yours affectionately,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Wm. Henshaw.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Aug<sup>t</sup>. 29<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>I have but just time to inform you I am well, as I hope this will find +you, our Family & Friends. You will undoubtedly hear, before you see +this, that we have had an engagement with the Enemy—were surrounded, +& had a Number Killed & Taken. I was with the Party who were +Surrounded & through a kind Providence, got through their fire without +being Wounded or Taken.—The Particulars of which I have not time to +relate as the Enemy are close to us & we expect to be attacked every +hour. I have wrote to Brother Josy by this conveyance which letter he +will let you see.—May God Bless & preserve you from every disaster, +is the unremitting wish of yours &c.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">N. York</span> Sep<sup>t</sup>. 1<sup>st</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>Last Friday we left Long Island, (being unable to keep it any longer, +without being made Prisoners) and came to New York. How long we shall +stay here is uncertain—Our Public Enemies are numerous—Our private +Ones not a few. Happy shall I esteem myself, if I live to see these +Publick Calamities at an End, when we can live peaceably at home & +Enjoy the Fruit of our Labors, the Sweets of Liberty, & none to molest +us: 7 Regiments marched to King's Bridge Yesterday Afternoon. Lord +Sterling & Gen. Sullivan are made prisoners by the Enemy. Sullivan was +with us yesterday and is now gone to Philadelphia to Congress. Numbers +of our People who were surrounded by the Enemy at Flat Bush, and we +thought were Taken by them, have since got in—My Duty to Parents. +Love to Sally, Bettsey, Ruthy & Josey, Brothers, Sisters & all +Friends, with which I conclude,</p> + +<p class="right">Yours, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.46" id="Page_ii.46">[Pg ii.46]</a></span>&c.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">White Plains</span>, Oct<sup>r</sup>. 31<sup>st</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>In your last, you want to know whether I was in the Brush or +Battle,<a name="FNanchor_233_233" id="FNanchor_233_233"></a><a href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a> mentioned in my last.—I was there. In our Brigade was +Kill'd & Wounded, 75—in the whole Kill'd & Wounded on our side, about +100—of the Enemy by the best Information we have about 500—since +which we have had several Skirmishes. I was not in them, though I saw +several of them. One of them last Week was fought by Reed's & +Learned's Reg<sup>ts</sup>., where we had six—kill'd & a number Wounded; the +Enemy had Kill'd & Wounded, about 200—the same Week, a Scouting Party +came across the famous Rogers Scouts, with a scouting party of the +Enemy, took 30 of them Prisoners, & kill'd a number of them—This Week +we had some Battles with them. Monday the 28<sup>th</sup> Ins<sup>t</sup>. about 2000 +of them came on a height of Land on these Plains, Attacked our +Picquet, & after some time, forced our People to give Back. The Loss +on either side I cannot ascertain, but suppose we had Kill'd & Wounded +near 100, as the Fire of Cannon & Small Arms was heavy for some time. +The Day before, they Attacked our Lines near Fort Washington with two +of their Brigades & some of their Ships—Their Ships were much +damaged; one of them they were obliged to Tow off; Our People at the +Lines reserv'd their Fire till the Brigades advanced pretty near, then +gave them a heavy Fire which caused them to Retreat; they form'd & +advanc'd the second time, when our People gave them the second Fire; +they Retreated as before, & form'd the Third time, came up & Fired at +the Lines, which was so warmly returned, that they Retreated. Our +People then Jump'd over the Lines, and pursued them, & Kill'd many, +but the Number is not ascertained.—should I have another Opportunity +to write, can better inform you: we had but one Kill'd in this Battle. +We took 14 Hessians one Day this Week, & one English Officer; have had +several Deserters come in this Week. The Enemy are now Encamp'd within +Gun shot of us, so that there is a continual firing of Small Arms—We +let two Hessians, which we took some time ago, return to the Enemy's +Camp—We daily expect an engagement with the Enemy——</p> + +<p>Brother Denny was here Yesterday to see me; is well & station'd at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.47" id="Page_ii.47">[Pg ii.47]</a></span>Terry Town on the North River about 8 miles from this. Cap<sup>t</sup>. +Lincoln Parkman & our People in general, were well a few Days ago.</p> + +<p>Should I live to see Peace restor'd & our Rights Secur'd, shall prize +the Blessing more than ever. I have heard many rumors that it would be +tedious to write. Last night we took Doc<sup>t</sup>. Whitworth's son (of +Boston) Prisoner. He was in some office with the Enemy.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Miss H.E. Henshaw, Leicester, +Mass.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> + +<h3><a name="NO11"></a>[No. 11.]<br /> +<br /> +DEPOSITION BY LIEUT. COL. HENSHAW</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + + +<p class="right">[Without date.]</p> + +<p>Previous to the Campaign in 1776, there were 3 Reg<sup>ts</sup> commanded by +Lt. Colonels. General Washington offered me the command of either of +them. I conversed with the Officers of these Regiments, & I found they +were averse to a change; I informed Gen'l W. that if I accepted his +offer, it would be injurious to the Service and declined it. He then +said he hoped I would not leave the Service, but would take a Lt. +Colonel's commission, which I did under Colonel Little, & in April we +marched for New York in the Brigade commanded by Gen<sup>l</sup> Green. Soon +after Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington came & ordered said Brigade to Long Island.</p> + +<p>The latter part of August, I commanded in a picket guard at Flatbush, +where the enemy was encamped, who marched by the East wing of the +Pickets, and formed a line between us and our encampments, and knowing +the Gen. could not send us orders to retreat we marched to reach our +encampments. While marching in the rear of the enemy's line, they were +holding a Council of War, whether to storm our lines, or take them by +a regular siege. They chose the latter. Had they broke their lines and +marched into our front, we must have been made prisoners; but they +only turned on their heels and fired at us and we got in with little +loss.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Miss H.E. Henshaw, Leicester, +Mass.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.48" id="Page_ii.48">[Pg ii.48]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO12"></a>[No. 12.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. EDWARD HAND TO HIS WIFE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LANCASTER, PENN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> 27 August 1776 7 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Kitty</span>:</p> + +<p>Part of the enemy landed on the Island on the 22nd. they did not +advance farther than Flatbush until last night—I have had a fatiguing +time of it ever since—A number of our troops have been hemned in, but +behaved well. Many have got clear and many are yet missing. Our +Pennsylvanians were chiefly of the party.</p> + +<p>I escaped my part only by being relieved at 2 o'clock this +morning—Major Burd and Col. Atlee were out and are yet missing. Jessy +and Jacky are yet with me</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Adieu—May God preserve you</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 11em">prays</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">Your affectionate</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Edward Hand.</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. <span class="smcap">Katherine Hand</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lancaster Pa.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Mrs. S.B. Rogers, Lancaster, Penn.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO13"></a>[No. 13.]<br /> +<br /> +MAJ. EDWARD BURD TO JUDGE YEATES</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long Island</span> 3<sup>rd</sup> Sept. 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir.</span></p> + +<p>I was taken prisoner at an advanced Post on the morning of y<sup>e</sup> +27<sup>th</sup> ult<sup>o</sup> after a skirmish, on the same day Capts. Herbert and +Heister were both made prisoners. I was used with great Civility by +General Grant & admitted to my Parole, Brigadier General Agnew and +Major Leslie and Major Batt also treated me with great Politeness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.49" id="Page_ii.49">[Pg ii.49]</a></span></p> + +<p>You must be sensible that hard money can only be of service in my +present situation: The Politeness of several Gentlemen would have very +fully supplied me with it, but I have only taken what will be +immediately necessary for me. I should be much obliged to you if you +could procure me a small Bill of Exchange in which perhaps Mr. Dundas +of Reading could assist you, or Gold to the amount of about £20.</p> + +<p>I can not learn the fate of poor Col<sup>o</sup> Hand or Jesse Ewing but +believe they are not prisoners.</p> + +<p>Col<sup>o</sup> Reed, the Adjutant Gen'l will be the only Person who can +convey any thing to me, my Letter must be short, my Love to all the +Family.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 12em">I am Dear Sir</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Your Affect<sup>e</sup> Brother [in-law]</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Edw. Burd.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jasper Yeates</span> Esq<sup>r</sup>.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original among the Yeates papers.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO14"></a>[No. 14.]<br /> +<br /> +LIEUT. JASPER EWING TO JUDGE YEATES</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span> Aug. 30, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Honoured Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>After a very fatiguing march we are all safely arrived. The Genl. +yesterday gave orders for all the Regts on Long Island to hold +themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, and evacuate +our Lines for the enemy already had extended their advanced posts +across the Island, & we were entirely surrounded, so that the only +refuge he had left was New York—This morn'g a party about fifty men +went a marauding and were surprised by the enemy, who after firing +whole vollies secured one of the Boats, & then the Hessian Riflemen +began to play upon them, so that our loss including that of the first +engagement amounts to 500 men & upwards.</p> + +<p>Lord Stirling & Gen<sup>l</sup>. Sullivan are Prisoners, several officers are +still missing amongst whom are Col. Miles and Atlee—The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.50" id="Page_ii.50">[Pg ii.50]</a></span> militia from +Berks County are almost cut off. The inhuman wretches thrust their +bayonets through our wounded men and refused that mercy to us, which +we granted to them. The situation of New York is very critical, the +enemy being in possession of Long Island may reduce it to a Heap of +ashes in a days time.</p> + +<p>The loss of the enemy amounts to 1500 men amongst whom are a Brigadier +Gen<sup>l</sup>. and several Field Officers.—The Idea which we at first +conceived of the Hessian Riflemen was truly ridiculous but sad +experience convinces our people that they are an Enemy not to [be] +despised, Several Companies of their Light Infantry are cloathed +exactly as we are, in hunting shirts and trowers—Mr. Burd who +commanded a detachment of 200 men is not yet returned, and sorry am I +to say it, he is a Prisoner amongst them.—as this news must certainly +afflict Aunt and the whole family, I have forwarned my Brother from +making any mention of it.</p> + +<p>Please to give my duty to Aunt, mammy, Kitty and my love to all the +children,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 10em">I remain, Hon<sup>rd</sup> Sir</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Y<sup>r</sup> dutiful & obliged Nephew</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">J. Ewing</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>To <span class="smcap">Jasper Yeates</span>, Esq<sup>r</sup>.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original among the Yeates papers.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO15"></a>[No. 15.]<br /> +<br /> +JOHN EWING TO JUDGE YEATES</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"<i>To Jasper Yeates Esq. at Fort Pitt.</i>"</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Lancaster</span> Sept. 14, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hon<sup>rd</sup> Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>As it has pleased Divine Providence to spare my Life, I think it my +Duty to send you as good an act. of the Engagement together with the +enclosed Draught as lays in my power, as I had gone from Elizabeth +Point New Jersey to Long Island to see my brothers I had an +opportunity of seeing everything that occurred from the Time the Enemy +landed on the Island untill a Day or two before we retreated from +thence. Col. Hand's Regmt. had been on duty 2 days & the second Night +were relieved between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.51" id="Page_ii.51">[Pg ii.51]</a></span> 12 and 1 o'clock in the morning and about Two +it is thought the Enemy began their movements from Flat Bush to the +Right, and Left, and at between 7 & 8 o'clock in the morning we had +the mortification from our Lines to see our men commanded by Lord +Stirling almost surrounded by the Regulars, as they kept their stand +on a Hill without flinching an inch, The Regulars were firing at them +like Fury they at last descended then there was a continual peal of +Small Arms for an Hour or better, our men at last partly got off by +the Marsh, as in the Draught inclosed, I have been very Ill of a Fever +which I got by being cloathed too thin and lay at York about 2 Days +before our People had made that Grand Retreat from the Island which +will ever reflect honour to our Generals, from York I was removed to +King's Bridge twelve or fifteen miles from thence, after I had +recovered, my Health suffered from Travelling. The Col<sup>o</sup>. was good +enough to send me Home in a Carriage which thank God I happily—and +dont doubt of recovering Health shortly—I am Sir</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4em">Your affectionate</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Nephew</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Jn<sup>o</sup>. Ewing.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S.</p> + +<p>I shall refer you to the papers for our Loss in the Battle though it +is with infinite regret I must inform you of Major Burd's being among +the prisoners who Lord How treats them with great politeness. Time +will not permitt my saying so much as I would wish—I left the +Col<sup>o</sup>. & all friends very well at King's Bridge where the Reg<sup>t</sup>. +is Stationed as I only left them this day week.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original among the Yeates papers.]</p> + +<p style="text-align: center" class="border"><br /> +<a name="MAP04"></a> +<img src="images/map04.png" width="500" height="361" alt="map" title="map" /></p> + +<p class="center">[<a href="images/map04lg.png">Enlarge</a>]</p> + +<p class="center"><b>Reduction from Original Map. Drawn by J. Ewing Sept. +1776.</b><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="notes"><i>Transcriber's Note:</i> In the following transcription +of the map legend, missing words or letters are supplied +in brackets. Otherwise spelling etc. have been retained as in the original.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><br />A.—The Hill on which Lord Stirling commanded the Brigade which stood +a considerable time exposed to the Enemy's Fire from their +Field-pieces & small-arms.</p> + +<p>B.—Large Bodies of the Enemy marching round our people.</p> + +<p>CCC.—Our Camps with the Forts GGG in front of them.</p> + +<p>D.D.—The Road to the Red Lion, where the Enemy marched from Flat-bush +along the River & got between our People and the Camps.</p> + +<p>E.—Flat-bush Road.</p> + +<p>F.—Where a considerable Number of our people were stationed with +Several Field-pieces & Breast-Works made with Trees felled across the +Road to defend themselves when attacked.</p> + +<p>H.—Fort Putnam where part of Col<sup>o</sup>. Hand's men commanded by Lieut. +C. Chambers were detached from the Regt. to man the Fort.</p> + +<p>I.—A small Upper Fort where [I] was with the Col<sup>o</sup>. the Day of the +Engagement, where we saw the whole Action at A.A.A. Our people after +standing their ground at the Hill, at last decended, and the[re] was +an incessant Fire of Small-Arms for the best part of an Hour or +longer, with little or no intermission, 'till our Men Retreated by the +Mill "I," and in their Retreat "O.O." set fire to the house "M" the +smoke of which prevented the Enemy at B.B. & K from seeing them +retreat & then they came over the Marsh "Q" where several brave +fellows were drowned in the Creek "P." in endeavoring to get over. We +expected every Minute the Enemy would Storm the Forts & Lines "IH," as +they were not above 400 or 450 Yards from Fort "I" to them at "KB," +but our Cannon from Fort Putnam obliged them to lay close.</p> + +<p>R.—The Enemies Camp the Day after the Battle.</p> + +<p class="right">"Draught of the Engagement at Long Island, Aug. 27<sup>th</sup>, 1776."</p> + +<p class="small" style="text-align: center"><i>J. Bien Photo. Lith. N.Y.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO16"></a>[No. 16.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. JOHN HASLET TO HON. CÆSAR RODNEY<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">PHILADELPHIA</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hon'ble Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>I rec<sup>d</sup>. yours with pleasure because it was yours, all the Rest was +Indignation—We went over to Long Island, a Gen<sup>l</sup>. Engagement +ensued, the Southern Troops i.e. Ld Stirlings Battalion bore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.52" id="Page_ii.52">[Pg ii.52]</a></span> the +Violence of the Attack & repulsed the Enemy but were outnumbered at +least three to one, & obliged to retire; the Delaware Battalion have +been complimented as the finest in the Service, they stood unmoved in +firm Array four Hours exposed to the fire of the Enemy, nor attempted +to retire till they received Orders from the Gen<sup>l</sup>, then effected a +most H'oble Retreat up to the middle thro a Marsh of Mud & brought off +with them 23 Prisoners—I fear we shall be outnumbered, expect every +moment Orders to march off to Kingsbridge, to prevent the Enemy +crossing the East River & confining us on another Nook, what the Event +will be God knows—Lt. Stewart & Harney with 25 Privates fell in our +Regiment—Ld. Stirling & Gen<sup>l</sup> Sullivan Prisoners—Miles & Atlee the +same Piper killed—250 of Smallmans (Swallwood's) missing—Atles cut +to pieces—I fear Gen<sup>l</sup>. Washington has too heavy a task, assisted +mostly by Beardless Boys—if the Enemy can coop us up in N. York by +Intrenching from River to River, horrid will be the Consequences from +their command of the Rivers.</p> + +<p>Between five & six thousand Dollars of Continental Money remain in my +hands, unknowing what to do with it, I have entrusted it to the care +of Dr. Rogers & Chaplain Montgomery—if I fall, please to take Order +in the Matter—I have not time to say one Word more, tis the first +Letter I have had time to write—please to mention to some of your +Friends below that I am well, by whose Means it may reach Mrs. +Haslet—I am with</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em">Great Esteem, Sir your Most Obed<sup>t</sup> Humble Servant</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">John Haslet</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Honble Gen<sup>l</sup> <span class="smcap">Rodney</span>.</p> + +<p class="right">Camp at N. York Aug<sup>t</sup> 31<sup>st</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Cæsar A. Rodney, Esq., Wilmington, Del.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO17"></a>[No. 17.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. GOLD S. SILLIMAN TO HIS WIFE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">FAIRFIELD, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Brookline on</span> L.I. Aug<sup>st</sup> 24—1776<br /> +7 o'clock <span class="smcap">a.m.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>... I never was in better Health and Spirits than now. On Thursday the +enemy landed on Long Island at 3<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.53" id="Page_ii.53">[Pg ii.53]</a></span> o'clock P.M. We had intelligence +that our Troops on the Island wanted to be reinforced. My Regiment and +3 more were ordered over for that purpose. My regt. was ordered down +into a woody Hill near Red Hook to take Post that night to prevent any +more troops from landing thereabout. We had the Heavens for our +Covering and the Earth for my bed, wrapt in my blanket, when after +posting my Sentries I slept finely. Was mighty well yesterday, and was +then ordered here where I & my Regt. now are. The enemy are about 3 +miles East of our troops, were a part of them skirmishing with them +all day yesterday and are still on the same ground & have killed a +number of the enemy. The enemy are said to be 8 or 9000 that are +landed here. I am posted here at a fort & to see some breastworks +compleated. By the blessing of Heaven I trust we shall be able to give +a good acct of the enemy.... My love to our Dear Sons & accept the +same yourself from most affec. & loveing Husband</p> + +<p>P.S. I refer you to Capt. Hawley for Particulars.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /> +<span class="smcap">Flatt Bush on Long Island</span> Aug. 25, 1776<br /> +2 o'clock <span class="smcap">p.m.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>I wrote you yesterday morning from Brookline upon the Drum Head in the +field as I do now, which I hope you will receive this day.... Have not +so much as a bear skin to lie on, only my blanket to wrap me in, for +our removals from place to place are so quick & sudden that we can +have no opportunity nor means to convey beds &c., but go only with the +cloaths on our backs & our blankets and a little ready-cooked +victuals. I am now posted within about half a mile from the Regulars +with my Regt. under the Covert of a woody hill to stop their passage +into the Country. There are a number of Regts posted all around the +town within about the same distance & for the same purpose. The +regulars keep up an almost Constant Fire from their cannon & mortars +at some or other of us, but neither shott nor shell has come near my +Regt. yet and they are at too great a distance to fire muskets at as +yet. I have a scouting party going out now to see if they can't pick +up some or get something from them. I came to this post this day at 12 +o'clock & shall remain here till this time to-morrow if God spares my +life, with no other covering than the trees. I cant learn anything +with respect to them different from what I wrote yesterday. The rest +of the troops & their Ships lie at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.54" id="Page_ii.54">[Pg ii.54]</a></span> Staten Island yet to wait the +success of this part of their army, as I suppose before they make any +other attempt. They have wounded in all of our men in 3 days skirmish +about 8 or 9 men, one or two mortally, which is not half the number +that we have killed for them beside wounded....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">New York (Brooklyn)</span> Aug 29 1776.</p> + +<p>... Have been a stranger to a bed ever since last Wens'day night till +last night being relieved from manning a part of the lines with my +regt. where I had been 36 hours I was invited by our mutual friend +Major Mott to take part of his bed & have had a fine night indeed, the +Night before there was a waggon near our Lines into which I got & +wrapt myself in my Blanket after Twelve & half after One was waked & +acquainted that the Enemy were coming up to force our Lines & we +immediately took our Places in the Trenches & there remained untill +after Sun Rise, but it proved a false Alarm, our Enemy have encamped +in plain sight of our camp at the distance of about a mile & half, We +have had no General Engagement yet, but no Day passes without some +smart & Hot skirmishes between different Parties in which the success +is sometimes One Way & sometimes another, We are in constant +Expectation of a General Battle; no one can be here long without +geting pretty well acquainted with the whistleing of Cannon & musket +shott.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Harlem Heights</span> Sep. 17<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>... On the morning of last Sabbath we had news that the regulars on +Long Island were in motion as they would cross the East River & land +about 3 miles above the city. At this place lay their ships close in +with our shores & soon after the regulars marched in a large body down +to the shore & embarked on Board the flat bottomed boats. Upon this +their ships began a most incessant fire on our lines opposite to them +with their grape shot from which they were distant but about 50 rods & +behind which lay Gen<sup>l</sup>. Wadsworth's & Col. Douglass' Brigades until +the fire was so hot from the ships that they were obliged to retreat. +On this the regulars landed & fired upon them which completed their +confusion & they ran away up here & are here now, but a part of them +were out in yesterday's action & behaved nobly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.55" id="Page_ii.55">[Pg ii.55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now as to myself & my brigade we were left to guard the city until all +the rest of the troops were drawn off & about half an hour or an hour +after all the other troops were gone I was ordered with my brigade to +march out of the city & man the lines on the East river opposite to +Bayard's Hill fort. Then I marched & saw the regular Army land above +me & spread across the Island from one river to another until my +retreat seemed to be entirely cut off & soon after received an order +to retreat if I could.</p> + +<p>I attempted it along up through the woods by the North River when I +came in sight of the enemy several times but kept my brigade covered +in the woods so that I got thro' them to their uppermost guard & they +pursued & fired on my rear & took a few of my men. I immediately +formed about 300 of my men on an Hill to oppose them. On seeing this +the regulars fled & I pursued my retreat & got my brigade safe here +where I am now posted—a particular detail of the risks I ran must be +deferred. It was supposed by everybody that I & my brigade were +entirely cut off.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Harlem Heights</span>, 17 Sept. 1777. 2 o'cl <span class="smcap">p.m.</span></p> + +<p>Yesterday at 7 o'clock in the morning we were alarmed with the sight +of a considerable number of the enemy on the Plains below us about a +mile distant.—Our Brigades which form a line across the Island where +I am were immediately ordered under arms—but as the enemy did not +immediately advance we grounded our arms & took spades & shovels & +went to work & before night had thrown up lines across the +Island—There was nothing before but three little redoubts in about a +mile & we are at work this day in strengthening them. But yesterday a +little before noon we heard a strong firing about half a mile below us +in the woods near where we had two Brigades lying as an advanced +guard. The enemy in a large body advanced in the woods a little before +12 o'cl & began a heavy fire on those two Brigades who maintained the +fire obstinately for some time & then they were reinforced by several +regiments & the fire continued very heavy from the musketry & from +field pieces about two hours—in which time our people drove the +regulars back from post to post about a mile & a half & then left them +pretty well satisfied with their dinner since which they have been +very quiet. Our loss on this occasion by the best information<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.56" id="Page_ii.56">[Pg ii.56]</a></span> is +about 25 killed & 40 or 50 wounded. The enemy by the best accounts +have suffered much more than we.</p> + +<p>A prisoner we have I am told says that Genl. Howe himself commanded +the regular & Genl. Washington & Genl. Putnam were both with our +Troops. They have found now that when we meet them on equal ground we +are not a set of people that will run from them—but that they have +now had a pretty good drubbing, tho' this was an action between but a +small party of the army.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Camp at White Plains</span> Oct. 29<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>... Yesterday about 10 o'clock in the morning we had news that the +enemy were approaching, when I with my regiment & 3 others were +ordered out about 1½ miles below our lines to take post on a hill +to gall them in their march as they advanced. We accordingly took our +post & mine & one other regiment had the advantage of a stone wall +right in front at which we had been waiting but little time before the +enemy came up within 6 or 8 rods,—when our men rose from behind the +wall, poured in a most furious fire.</p> + +<p>The enemy retreated & came on several times & were so hotly received +every time that finally we drove them off from the hill. We killed +some they did not carry off & some they did.</p> + +<p>I had not one either killed or wounded. On this the enemy were coming +upon us with a number of field pieces & as we had none there to meet +them with, we were ordered to retreat over West on to another Hill & +join another party of men & accordingly did it & formed a line of +battle. We were I believe near 2000 on the Hill (Chatterton's). The +enemy soon brought their main body opposite to us & formed them into +three lines, one back of the other, & a large number of field pieces +in their front & howitzers with which they threw small bombs on +another Hill. Then they marched their first line off from the Hill +where they stood, down into a deep Valley that lay between us & then +they played on us most furiously with their artillery to keep us from +meeting their people in the hollow & in short the shot & shells came +like hail. I lay right in the heaviest of their fire, with my men by a +fence & had two wounded there & were soon ordered to another post +further on the line of battle up to which the enemy soon came as they +did for a long way in lengths. We gave them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.57" id="Page_ii.57">[Pg ii.57]</a></span> a heavy fire which made +them retreat but they soon returned when a most furious fire followed +which continued for a few minutes when their numbers were increased so +amazingly that we were obliged to retreat which we did thro' a most +furious fire from the enemy for half a mile for so far there was +nothing to cover us from it.... I have lost but 4 out of my reg't & +can hear of only 10 or 12 wounded. We are all now within our line & +the enemy are posted on a number of the neighboring hills & we +expected they would have come on this morning when we should have had +an engagement with both armies but they don't yet move & it is now +about 12 o'clock.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Mrs. O.P. Hubbard, New York.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO18"></a>[No. 18.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. GOLD S. SILLIMAN TO REV. MR. FISH<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">STONINGTON, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span> Sep<sup>r</sup>: 6<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span> Your Favour of the 1<sup>st</sup> Inst<sup>t</sup>: I have this Morning +received and am much obliged to you for it; in Order to answer your +Inquiries I must necessarily give you some Account of our out Lines on +Long Island before we left it, about 8 or Nine Miles below this Town +is that Strait of Water commonly called the Narrows, from the upper +end of it on the Long Island side a Bay puts into the Island on a +Course about Northeasterly and runs into the Land about Two miles; +from the Head of this Bay we had a line of Forts & Redoubts all +connected by Breast Works and some part of it picketed, up +Northeasterly and Northerly to a Bay on the Northwesterly part of the +Island rather above the City; The British Troops landed below the Bay +at the Narrows and marched to Flat Bush a Place on the Island about 6 +or 7 miles from this city and 3 miles beyond our Lines, flat Bush +stands near the Westerly Side of a large Plain which is 4 or 5 miles +over and this plain is surrounded from the Southwest to the Northeast +with a larg Ridge of Hills covered with Woods.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.58" id="Page_ii.58">[Pg ii.58]</a></span> through this Ridge +there are three roads into the Country, toward New York two of them; +and one out to a place called Bedford; At each of these passes which +were from 1 to 1½ Mile asunder we had strong Guards posted +consisting of 600 or 700 Men, the other Forces which we had on the +Island were posted within the Lines and in the Forts and once in 24 +Hours relieved the Guards out at those advanced Posts toward the +Enemy; I was posted out on one of these Advanced Posts on Sabbath Day +July (August) 25<sup>th</sup>, with my own Regim<sup>t</sup> and 2 more near by in +order to stop the Progress of the Enemy into the Country. I was +relieved on Monday about half (past) Two & marched Back within the +Lines to the Place where my Regiment was ordered for their Alarm Post +in order to man the Lines there in case the Enemy advanced which was +at the Northern Part of the Lines, and there was beside the Regiments +that were ordered to man the Lines some Regiments as a Corps de +Reserve to reinforce any Part of the Lines that might be attacked &c. +Early on Tuesday Morning the Guards at all those Three Avenues were +attacked (by) parties that vastly out numbered them, and soon were +drove from their Posts and soon broken at the Same Time.... [The +conclusion missing.]</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Mrs. O.P. Hubbard, New York.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO19"></a>[No. 19.]<br /> +<br /> +ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The evening preceding the action, General Washington, with a number of +general officers, went down to view the motions of the enemy, who were +encamped at Flatbush. The enemy appeared to be striking their tents, +and preparing for a march; whereupon it was ordered that 2400 men +should be posted as guards, in the following manner, viz: 800 on the +road that leads out of the Jamaica road by way of Yellow Hook to +Flatbush; these men were posted in a woods, at four miles distant from +our lines, to oppose the enemy if they attempted that road, and to +annoy them on their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.59" id="Page_ii.59">[Pg ii.59]</a></span> march: 800 more were posted in a woods upon the +Middle road, which leads out of the Jamaica road to Flatbush, about a +mile and a half from the lines; these were posted at about half a mile +distant from Flatbush, and near a mile from the parting of the road, +where an <i>abatis</i> was formed across the road, and a breastwork thrown +up and defended by two pieces of cannon: 800 more were posted at the +Bedford road, which leads out of the Jamaica road, at about three +miles distant from our lines; this party was ordered to guard the +Bedford road, and to patrol the road leading through the New Lots in +the east of the Bedford road, from which it parts at the Halfway +House, about six miles from the lines, and leads from it to Flatbush. +Five officers were also sent out on horseback to patrol the +last-mentioned road and that leading to Jamaica. At 10 o'clock at +night about 5000 of the enemy marched by way of the New Lots, and +arrived, near 2 in the morning, at Halfway House, without being +discovered; they took post in a field, and waited for daylight. The +five officers sent to patrol fell into their hands, and were all made +prisoners. About 3 in the morning a party of the enemy advanced into +the Western road, leading by Yellow Hook, and attacked our guards; the +guards returned their fire, threw them into confusion, caused the +whole to halt, and took one prisoner, who informed us that he belonged +to the regiment which attacked our guards, and was by their fire +thrown into confusion and forced to retreat, and that there were two +brigades, of four regiments each, on their march in that road, +commanded by Brigadier-General Grant. At daylight Lord Stirling was +ordered with two battalions, into that road, to oppose the enemy. He +took post on an eminence in front of the enemy whereupon a smart fight +ensued, which lasted near an hour, and then abated. Two field-pieces +were sent to Lord Stirling, which soon began to play upon the enemy, +who returned the fire from four field-pieces. The two parties stood +opposed to each other for near five hours, without either seeming to +have the advantage, keeping up a continual fire from their +field-pieces, and musketry, with some intervals.—About 8 o'clock +General Sullivan sent (went?) down the flat (bush) middle (road) and +inquired of the guards whether they discovered any movements of the +enemy in either of the roads. He was informed that the whole body of +the enemy had moved up the Yellow Hook road, whereupon he ordered +another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.60" id="Page_ii.60">[Pg ii.60]</a></span> battalion to the assistance of lord Stirling, keeping 800 men +to guard the pass.—About 9 o'clock, the enemy, who came by the +Halfway House, advancing, began a fire in the rear of the party and +advanced briskly to attack the men who guarded that Pass. General +Sullivan hearing at the same instant that the enemy were passing +through the woods to attack Lord Stirling in the rear, ordered 400 men +to succor him, and sent him orders to retreat as soon as possible. The +enemy then wheeled off to the right, and marched up to Fort Green in a +column to attack.—Upon receiving a heavy fire from the lines, were +forced to retire. They then fell back, and endeavored to cut off Lord +Stirling's retreat by destroying his party. He, with a party of his +troops' made an attempt on the enemy's left, commanded by Lord +Cornwallis, and ordered the rest of the troops to retreat across the +creek, which they did with some loss. The number of the enemy engaged +was not less than 11,000; of ours not more than 3,000. The enemy's +loss in killed was over 1,000, exceeding ours.</p> + +<p class="center">[From the <i>South Carolina and American General Gazette</i>, +Charleston, Oct. 2, 1776,<br /> +as reprinted in the <i>Brooklyn +Advocate</i>.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO20"></a>[No. 20.]<br /> +<br /> +JOURNAL OF COL. SAMUEL MILES</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In the Spring of 1776, I was appointed to the command of a regiment of +riflemen, consisting of 1,000 men, formed in two battalions.... My +regiment was soon ordered to join the army at New York. At that time +General Washington had 24,000 men in his army, upwards of 7,000 of +whom were returned sick and unfit for duty.</p> + +<p>On the landing of the British army on Long Island, I was ordered over +with my rifle regiment to watch their motions. I marched near to the +village of Flat Bush, where the Highlanders then lay, but they moved +the next day to Gen'l Howe's camp, and their place was supplied by the +Hessians. I lay here within cannon shot of the Hessian camp for four +days without receiving a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.61" id="Page_ii.61">[Pg ii.61]</a></span> single order from Gen'l Sullivan, who +commanded on Long Island, out of the lines. The day before the action +he came to the camp, and I then told him the situation of the British +Army; that Gen'l Howe, with the main body, lay on my left, about a +mile and a-half or two miles, and I was convinced when the army moved +that Gen'l Howe would fall into the Jamaica road, and I hoped there +were troops there to watch them. Notwithstanding this information, +which indeed he might have obtained from his own observation, if he +had attended to his duty as a General ought to have done; no steps +were taken, but there was a small redoubt in front of the village +which seemed to take up the whole of his attention, and where he +stayed until the principal part of the British army had gotten between +him and the lines, by which means he was made prisoner as well as +myself. If Gen'l Sullivan had taken the requisite precaution, and +given his orders agreeably to the attention of the Commander-in-Chief, +there would have been few if any prisoners taken on the 27th of +August, 1776. As Gordon in his history of the war has charged me +indirectly with not doing my duty, I will here state my position and +conduct.</p> + +<p>I lay directly in front of the village of Flat Bush, but on the left +of the road leading to New York, where the Hessians were Encamped. We +were so near each other, that their shells they sometimes fired went +many rods beyond my camp. The main body of the Enemy, under the +immediate command of Gen'l Howe, lay about 2 miles to my left, and +General Grant, with another body of British troops, lay about four +miles on my right. There were several small bodies of Americans +dispersed to my right, but not a man to my left, although the main +body of the Enemy lay to my left, of which I had given General +Sullivan notice. This was our situation on the 26th of August. About +one o'clock at night Gen. Grant, on the right, and Gen. Howe, on my +left began their march, and by daylight Grant had got within a mile of +our entrenchments, and Gen. Howe had got into the Jamaica road about +two miles from our lines. The Hessians kept their position until 7 in +the morning. As soon as they moved the firing began at our redoubt. I +immediately marched towards where firing was, but had not proceeded +more than 1 or 200 yards until I was stopped by Colonel Wyllys, who +told me that I could not pass on; that we were to defend a road that +lead from Flatbush road to the Jamaica road. Col. Wyllys bearing a +Continental, and I a State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.62" id="Page_ii.62">[Pg ii.62]</a></span> commission, he was considered a senior +officer and I was obliged to submit; but I told him I was convinced +the main body of the enemy would take the Jamaica road, that there was +no probability of their coming along the road he was then guarding, +and if he would not let me proceed to where the firing was, I would +return and endeavor to get into the Jamaica road before Gen. Howe. To +this he consented, and I immediately made a retrograde march, and +after marching nearly two miles, the whole distance through woods, I +arrived within sight of the Jamaica road, and to my great +mortification I saw the main body of the enemy in full march between +me and our lines, and the baggage guard just coming into the road. A +thought struck me of attacking the baggage guard, and, if possible, to +cut my way through them and proceed to Hell Gate to cross the Sound. +I, however, ordered the men to remain quite still, (I had then but the +first battalion with me, for the second being some distance in the +rear, I directed Major Williams, who was on horseback, to return and +order Lt. Col. Brodhead to push on by the left of the enemy and +endeavor get into our lines that way, and happily they succeeded, but +had to wade a mill dam by which a few were drowned,) and I took the +adjutant with me and crept as near the road as I thought prudent, to +try and ascertain the number of the baggage guard, and I saw a +grenadier stepping into the woods. I got a tree between him and me +until he came near, and I took him prisoner and examined him. I found +that there was a whole brigade with the baggage, commanded by a +general officer.</p> + +<p>I immediately returned to the battalion and called a council of the +officers and laid three propositions before them: 1<i>st</i>, to attack the +baggage guard and endeavor to cut our way through them and proceed to +Hell Gate and so cross the Sound; 2<i>nd</i>, to lay where we were until +the whole had passed us and then proceed to Hell Gate; or, 3<i>d</i>, to +endeavor to force our way through the enemy's flank guards into our +line at Brooklyn. The first was thought a dangerous and useless +attempt as the enemy was so superior in force. The 2nd I thought the +most eligible, for it was evident that adopting either of the other +propositions we must lose a number of men without affecting the enemy +materially, as we had so small a force, not more than 230 men. This +was, however, objected to, under the idea that we should be blamed for +not fighting at all, and perhaps charged with cowardice, which would +be worse than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.63" id="Page_ii.63">[Pg ii.63]</a></span> death itself. The 3d proposition was therefore adopted, +and we immediately began our march, but had not proceeded more than +half a mile until we fell in with a body of 7 or 800 light infantry, +which we attacked without any hesitation, but their superiority of +numbers encouraged them to march up with their bayonets, which we +could not withstand, having none ourselves. I therefore ordered the +Troops to push on towards our lines. I remained on the ground myself +until they had all passed me, (the enemy were then within less than 20 +yards of us,) and by this means I came into the rear instead of the +front of my command. We had proceeded but a short distance before we +were again engaged with a superior body of the enemy, and here we lost +a number of men, but took Major Moncrieffe, their commanding officer, +prisoner, but he was a Scotch prize for Ensign Brodhead, who took him +and had him in possession for some hours, was obliged to surrender +himself. Finding that the enemy had possession of the ground between +us and our lines, and that it was impossible to cut our way through as +a body, I directed the men to make the best of their way as well as +they could; some few got in safe, but there were 159 taken prisoners. +I was myself entirely cut off from our lines and therefore endeavored +to conceal myself, with a few men who would not leave me. I hoped to +remain until night, when I intended to try to get to Hell Gate and +cross the Sound; but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon was discovered +by a party of Hessians and obliged to surrender—thus ended the career +of that day.</p> + +<p class="center">[Penn. Archives, Second Series, Vol. I.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO21"></a>[No. 21.]<br /> +<br /> +LIEUT.-COL. DANIEL BRODHEAD TO ——</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Camp near Kingsbridge</span>, 5th Sep'r, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>I doubt not the Hon'ble the Convention of the State of Penn'a, is +anxious to know the state of the Provincial Troops since the Battle on +Long Island, and as I have now all the information to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.64" id="Page_ii.64">[Pg ii.64]</a></span> be expected +concerning it for the present, will give them every circumstance that +occurs to me. On the 26th of last month, Gen'ls Putnam, Sullivan and +others came to our camp which was to the left of all the other posts +and proceeded to reconnoitre the enemie's lines to the right, when +from the movements of the enemy they might plainly discover they were +advancing towards Jamaica, and extending their lines to the left so as +to march round us, for our lines to the left, were, for want of +Videttes, left open for at least four miles where we constantly +scouted by Day, which beside mounting a Guard of one hundred men & an +advance party of subaltern and thirty to the left of us, was hard Duty +for our Reg't: during the night of the 26th, we were alarmed three +Different times and stood to our Arms. As soon as it was light, Col. +Miles, from the right of our first Batt<sup>n</sup>, sent me orders to follow +him with the second, to the left of our lines; when I had marched +about half a mile, I was ordered to the right about to join Col. +Willis's reg<sup>t</sup> of New England troops, but by the time I returned to +the camp, Major Williams on horseback, overtook me with orders from +Col. Miles, to march Obliquely & join him, but could not say where I +might find him; I Observed the orders and directed a Subaltern from +the front of the Batt<sup>n</sup> (which was marching in Indian file) with a +small party to the left of the Batt<sup>n</sup>, and desired Major Patton to +send a Subaltern & small party from the rear to the right of the front +of the Battalion, which he mistook and took the one-half of the +Batt<sup>n</sup> to the right, about two hundred yards, which immediately +threw the half the Batt<sup>n</sup>, so far to the rear as to render it very +difficult to join without sustaining great loss, for presently after +we left our camp we discovered the Enemie's horse & foot to the number +of four or five Thousand in our front, and as we could discover +nothing of the first Batt<sup>n</sup>, the Enemy being vastly superior to us +in Number, I immediately ordered the Batt<sup>n</sup> to gain a Wood to the +left and then formed, but seeing a Number of Artillerymen dragging a +brass field-piece & Howit through a clear field in order to gain a +wood a little to the left of our Front, and knowing the Enemy were +also in our rear, I ordered that part of the Batt<sup>n</sup> which was then +with me, to proceed to the second wood, & cover the Artillery and make +a stand, but the New England Reg<sup>t</sup> aforementioned coming up with us, +and running thro' our files broke them, and in the confusion many of +our men run with them. I did all in my power to rally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.65" id="Page_ii.65">[Pg ii.65]</a></span> the musquetry & +Riflemen, but to no purpose, so that when we came to engage the Enemy, +I had not fifty men, notwithstanding which, we after about three +Rounds, caused the Enemy to retire, and as the Enemy's main body was +then nearly between us and the lines, I retreated to the lines, having +lost out of the whole Battalion, about one hundred men, officers +included, which, as they were much scattered, must be chiefly +prisoners; during this time, four or five Reg'ts, among which were our +musquetry & flying Camp, Delaware & Maryland Reg'ts, and some of our +Riflemen who had joined them, were engaged to the left of us and right +of the Lines. I had no sooner got into the Lines than the Enemy +advanced up to them and kept up a brisk fire on us, but only one man +killed in the Lines; as soon as we returned the fire with our rifles +and musquetry, they retreated, and if we had been provided with a +field piece or two, of which we had a sufficient number elsewhere, we +might have killed the greater part of their advance party; as soon as +the Enemy were beaten from the lines, I was ordered to a point about a +mile and a-half to the right, to cover the retreat of the Delaware +Battalion and the other Troops that might come over under the constant +fire of the Enemie's field pieces and Howits; here I remained 'till +almost night before I was relieved, notwithstanding the Generals there +had a number of Reg'ts who were not engaged, and had had little or no +fatigue. Upon the whole, less Generalship never was shown in any Army +since the Art of War was understood, except in the retreat from Long +Island, which was well conducted. No troops could behave better than +the Southern, for though they seldom engaged less than five to one, +they frequently repulsed the Enemy with great Slaughter, and I am +confident that the number of killed and wounded on their side, is +greater than on ours, notwithstanding we had to fight them front & +rear under every disadvantage. I understand that Gen. Sullivan has +taken the Liberty to charge our brave and good Col. Miles, with the +ill success of the Day, but give me leave to say, that if Gen. +Sullivan & the rest of the Gen'ls on Long Island, had been as Vigilant +& prudent as him, we might, & in all probability would have cut off +Clinton's Brigade; our officers & men in general, considering the +confusion, behaved as well as men could do—a very few behaved ill, of +which, when I am informed, will write you.... Col. Miles & Col. Piper +are prisoners, and I hear are well treated, poor Atly I can hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.66" id="Page_ii.66">[Pg ii.66]</a></span> +nothing of. Col. Parry died like a Hero. No allowance has as yet been +made for the Lieutenant Coll's and Majors Table Expenses, in care of +separate commands. I hope we shall be put upon as respectable a +footing on that acc't as the Maryland officers are, our present pay +being not more than half sufficient to support us according to our +Rank in this Tory Country.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">I am Dear Sir, in great Haste, your most H'ble Serv't</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Daniel Brodhead.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>P.S. The Great Gen'l Putnam could not, tho' requested, send out one +Reg't to cover our retreat.</p> + +<p class="center">[Penn. Archives, First Series, Vol. V.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO22"></a>[No. 22.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. WILLIAM DOUGLAS TO HIS WIFE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">NORTHFORD, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right">[<span class="smcap">Long Island</span>, Feb. 26 (?) 1776.]<a name="FNanchor_234_234" id="FNanchor_234_234"></a><a href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear</span>,</p> + +<p>Our Regiment is now stationed on <i>Long Island</i> at and about the ferry. +We shall soon begin a fortification on this side that will command the +East River and the town. The troops in the City are fortifying in one +of the Streets that will command the old fort, if the Enemy should get +possession of it, (and are putting down the rear of the fort.) We have +begun another Fort near "Hell Gate." The men of war have dropped down +below the town and are very quiet, but supplied from the City by +orders of this Congress. Our troops are very hearty and fare well as +times will admit, most of the valuable articles are moved out of the +City, and one third of the inhabitants. What are left behind look +serious, as it is now a serious point with them. The destruc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.67" id="Page_ii.67">[Pg ii.67]</a></span>tion of +such a City as this would be a great loss, & I hope it will be +prevented. It will be in vain for us to expect to keep the shipping +out of the North River, unless we can fortify at the Narrows, where I +intend to view as soon as the weather is good. The Fenoex now lays +there in order to guard that place, but will not fire on us.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">New York</span>, July 20<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>You have likely heard before this that two ships passed this City +yesterday week, through a warm fire from our batteries, our Gunners +being in too much haste (I make no doubt,) was the occasion of our not +doing them much damage! and us the <i>loss</i> of 4 men in loading our +Cannon. The Enemy did us no harm by their own shot and shells, which +was warmly applied,—as soon as the fire had got pretty warm I receivd +orders to march my Reg<sup>t</sup> to the grand parade which brought us into +Broadway, that leads along the North River, and as we were on our +march in Broadway the tyrants did not fail to pelt at that part of the +town smartly, but luckily for us the houses fended off the shot very +well, &c.... My Reg<sup>t</sup> is now quartered in <i>Broad Street</i>.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">N. York</span> the 27<sup>th</sup> July, 1776.</p> + +<p>No new arrivals of the enemy. The ships that went up the River I +believe would now be glad they were safe back to their old station (by +their motion). I had the Honor to dine with his Excellency Genl. +Washington day before yesterday at which time he had nothing new from +any quarter....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">New York</span> Aug. 10, 1776.</p> + +<p>The enemy have a very formidable Army (some say more) but I suppose +equal in number to ours, and from the best intelligence it is expected +they will give us Battle soon, at which time I hope God in his +infinite mercy will be on our side, and we shall have no occasion to +dread their numbers, or experience. Our cause being so <i>just</i>, I +cannot but hope for success. Our lines are very extensive. The Enemy +are very compact, and together; at what place they will bend their +fury is unknown, but is expected to be at this City, and Long Island. +There sailed night before last,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.68" id="Page_ii.68">[Pg ii.68]</a></span> three Frigates and thirty transports +from the Hook, supposed to be gone round the east end of Long Island, +and are to come through the Sound, and land on the main to the +Eastward of us, whilst the Shipping goes up the north river, and lands +above us and endeavor to meet. If this be their plan I think we must +most surely work them! I suppose they may possibly fire the town, as +the buildings are many of them wood & very dry. But I do not believe +they will fire the town until they grow dubious about the victory, and +that will only serve to encourage us, and when the town is burned it +will be much easier to defend ourselves than at present. If the +"<i>Hessian</i>" troops are so lucky as to fall into our hands I am in +hopes they will meet with such treatment as properly belongs to their +Bloody crimes! For we have had no dispute with them but [they] have +turned themselves out as murderers of the innocent.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">N. York</span>, 13<sup>th</sup> of Aug<sup>st</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>There was 43 large Ships came in yesterday—31 Ships, 10 Brigs & one +Scow. I am now going to sound the channel to see if it will not do to +sink some vessels against the fort....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Aug<sup>st</sup> 23, 1776.</p> + +<p>... The Enemy landed yesterday on Long Island, at <i>Gravesend</i>, about +nine miles from our lines; our flying parties are annoying them all +the while. We have reinforced our side and I hope will be able to make +a good stand. We expect the fleet up every tide, if the wind serves. +Our fire ships in the North River have behaved manfully, have burnt +one of their tenders. The rest of the enemy left the river the first +opportunity afterwards. Our <i>Connecticut</i> Militia have come in +<i>bravely</i>; <i>twelve Regts</i> were on the grand parade yesterday at one +time! Almost one half of the grand army now consists of <i>Connecticut +Troops</i>!</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Saturday, Aug<sup>st</sup> 24, 1776.</p> + +<p>... Our men had yesterday two small brushes with the enemy on Long +Island, and repulsed them both times. As yet things look well on our +side; a few days will now determine as the work is begun. Our troops +are really in high spirits, and it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.69" id="Page_ii.69">[Pg ii.69]</a></span> is a general voice, let them come +on as they <i>can</i> or dare! There has been a heavy clashing of Arms on +Long Island this morning, but have not yet heard the Consequence....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">N. York</span>, Aug<sup>st</sup> 26<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>I am very well although many in the Reg<sup>t</sup> are sick. We have not had +any general action yet. The two Armies are intrenched on Long Island +very near each other and very often exchange a few shots. We have had +no considerable loss as yet. Col. Martin of the Jersey's is supposed +to be mortally wounded. Both the lines are constantly reinforcing, and +by all appearances a general action can't be far off; we have got the +advantage of the hills & woods, they of the plains. We shall not +approach their lines, and if they do ours, it must cost them dear. The +wind and tide served this morning, but they have not dared to give us +battle in the City yet. The Lieut. Col. of the first battalion of York +troops is now before a court marshall for treacherous behavior, and by +the best accounts he will undoubtedly lose his life. I hope God in his +providence will guard us from falling by our open enemy, and from all +<i>traiterous wretches</i>.... It is expected that they mean to give battle +at two places at one and the same time, that is Long Island, and this +City.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">N. York</span>, Aug<sup>st</sup> 31, 1776.</p> + +<p>I take this as the first opportunity to acquaint you that on Tuesday +last we got a severe flogging on Long Island. The enemy surrounded a +large detachment of our army, took many, killed some, and the rest got +off. Major Genl. Sullivan & Brig<sup>r</sup> Genl. Lord Sterling, Col. Clark +and several other field officers are prisoners. Col. Johnson was +killed. By the best act's we killed more of them than they did of us. +But they took the most prisoners. We took twenty one, which I am a +witness to, as they came through my Reg<sup>t</sup> as I was in the woods for +a covering party, and to prevent the enemy from flanking our right +wing. We were prevented from getting even one shot at them by a large +creek which we could not cross. I remained at the most extreme part of +the right wing of our Army in a thick wood to prevent their crossing a +creek, where our sentry's could hail and often fire at each other, +until night before last when I received orders to call<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.70" id="Page_ii.70">[Pg ii.70]</a></span> in my guard +<i>all</i>, and march immediately with the utmost silence, which was soon +done, and the whole army retreated into this city, without the loss of +any lives, except 4 or 5, which were late yesterday morning and were +shot in a boat, as they were coming off. We have also evacuated +Governor's Island where we have lost some Cannon. What is to be our +next manouver I can't tell but I hope it is to make a good stand +somewhere. I am well convinced that for us to try to defend Long +Island, New York, and the Jersey's against their land forces & +shipping will require <i>three armies</i> as large as theirs, as they have +the water carriage to place their men when & where they please. Many +people I suppose will wonder at our leaving Long Island. But I would +have them suspend their judgment for a while, as they know not our +situation or the <i>enemies</i>! The shipping lay now close by the city, +and can in half an hour be abreast of it with the tide. I expect we +[shall] soon have a cannonade from our own battery on Long Island, +(Fort Sterling) which I have the mortification to think I helped build +myself, in cold tedious weather! They fired smartly from it yesterday +at our boats passing from Governor's Island....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /> +<span class="smcap">Country Seat near Turtle Bay</span>,<br /> +Sept<sup>r</sup> 7<sup>th</sup> 1776.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Our Army is now in three grand Divisions. One at the City, which is +our <i>right</i> wing, commanded by Gen<sup>l</sup>. Putnam, one at and above Kings +Bridge, commanded by Genl Heath, and one at and about Harlem, +commanded by Genl Spencer, which is the Division that I belong to, and +is called the Center Division. I have three Reg<sup>ts</sup> of militia in my +Brigade and they give me much fatigue & trouble. Col's. Cook, +Pettibone, & Talcott are the commanders. We are encouraged by 1500 +Troops which have come in from Maryland. I am sorry to say it but it +is a truth, I do not believe that we have got in all our Army as many +men as the enemy. I have heard that it has been said in the country +that we should not have left Long Island, but salied out and drove the +enemy off. We never were more than <i>one</i> to <i>three</i>, on the Island, +neither was it so prudent to abandon other posts for that, as the +shipping could & have since come up the East River and then our +communication was gone, and the Army with it. We are now so as one +part can get to the other, without water carriage, & think if we will +only stand by each other, and not run home like cowards,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.71" id="Page_ii.71">[Pg ii.71]</a></span> with God's +blessing, we may keep them off, which is a victory of itself! I have +taken unwearied pains with the Militia, and I am afraid it is too much +fatigue for me, as my cough is a little increased. But I hope it is +only for a short time.... My expenses has been so large that my money +falls a little short. I was obliged to entirely support the sick of my +Reg<sup>t</sup> for some time, but I suppose you have none to spare. I shall +make out, but not so well as I could wish....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /> +<span class="smcap">In the field at the lines on Harlam Heights</span>,<br /> +18<sup>th</sup> Sept 1776.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Since I wrote last we have had different scenes to go through. I lay +with my brigade a little below Turtle Bay where we hove up lines for +more than one mile in length. Gen'l Wadsworth managed the lines on the +right and I on the left. We lay in the lines Friday and Saturday +nights. Sunday morning at break of day, five ships weighed anchor and +fell in close within a musket shot of our lines quite to the left of +me. I then moved my brigade abreast of them. They lay very quiet until +10 o'clock and by that time they had about 80 of their boats from +under Long Island shore full with men which contained about five or +six thousand and four transports full ready to come in the second +boats. They very suddenly began as heavy a canonade perhaps as ever +was from no more ships, as they had nothing to molest them, but to +fire on us at their pleasure, from their tops and everywhere—their +boats got under cover of the smoke of the shipping and then struck to +the left of my lines in order to cut me of from a retreat. My left +wing gave way which was formed of the militia. I lay myself on the +right wing waiting for the boats until Capt Prentice came to me and +told me, if I meant to save myself to leave the lines for that was the +orders on the left and that they had left the lines. I then told my +men to make the best of their way as I found I had but about ten left +with me. They soon moved out and I then made the best of my way out. +We then had a mile to retreat through as hot a fire as could well be +made but they mostly overshot us. The brigade was then in such a +scattered poster that I could not collect them and I found the whole +army on a retreat. The regulars came up in the rear and gave me +several platoons at a time when I had none of my men with me and I was +so beat out that they would have had me a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.72" id="Page_ii.72">[Pg ii.72]</a></span> prisoner had not I found an +officer that was obliged to leave his horse because he could not get +him over a fence so as to get out of their way. I found myself gone if +I could not ride. I went over the fence and got the horse over whilst +they were firing, mounted him and rode off. We halted here at night +and on Monday the enemy came on and we gave them a good drubbing. I +have not time to give you the particulars of any part of our action. I +have lost my major, a prisoner,—One sargeant or more killed and four +wounded,—have missing out of my brigade which sustained the whole +fire but 8 or 9 as yet. I hope God will be on our side at last. It is +memoriable that I have lost no more and God be praised for it. Our +lines are now good and if they dare come on without their shipping I +hope we shall give them a drubbing. In the utmost haste</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">From your faithful husband</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Wm. Douglas.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>I this moment received yours of the 8<sup>th</sup> inst, but have not got my +horse yet. he is left on the road. My love to the children.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">White Plains</span> 31<sup>st</sup> Oct<sup>r</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>On Monday the enemy advanced to attack us at this place. I was ordered +out with my regiment with three others to meet and endeavor to retard +their march. We moved on and at about twelve were attacked by their +advanced guard. We drove them back but soon after the main body came +on and we stood them until they got on our flank and I ordered a +retreat. We had a most severe fire to retreat under, ten men to our +one, but we came off in good order and very surely fired on our +retreat all the way. I lost three dead and five wounded. They cut my +regiment off from our main body and got ahead of me but I took +advantage of a wood and got clear of them. My regiment has the honour +of behaving most nobly. They are now near neighbors, our lines are +about half a mile.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Benj. Douglas, Esq., Middletown, +Conn.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.73" id="Page_ii.73">[Pg ii.73]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO23"></a>[No. 23.]<br /> +<br /> +GEN. WOODHULL TO THE NEW YORK CONVENTION<br /> +<br /> +HARLEM.</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Jamaica</span>, August 27<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>—I am now at Jamaica with less than 100 men, having brought +all the cattle from the westward and southward of the hills, and have +sent them off with the troops of horse, with orders to take all the +rest eastward of this place, to the eastward of Hempstead Plains, to +put them into fields and to set a guard over them.</p> + +<p>The enemy, I am informed, are entrenching southward, and from the +heights near Howard's.</p> + +<p>I have now received yours, with several resolutions, which I wish it +was in my power to put in execution; but unless Cols. Smith and +Remsen, mentioned in yours, join me with their regiments, or some +other assistance immediately, I shall not be able, for the people are +all moving east, and I cannot get any assistance from them. I shall +continue here as long as I can, in hopes of a reinforcement; but if +none comes soon, I shall retreat and drive the stock before me into +the woods.</p> + +<p>Cols. Smith and Remsen, I think, cannot join me. Unless you can send +me some other assistance, I fear I shall soon be obliged to quit this +place. I hope soon to hear from you.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">I am, gentlemen, your most humble serv't.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Nathaniel Woodhull.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Westward of Queens County</span>, August 27<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>Inclosed I send you a letter from Col. Potter, who left me yesterday +at 11 o'clock, after bringing about 100 men to me at Jamaica. Major +Smith, I expect has all the rest that were to come from Suffolk +county. There have about 40 of the militia joined me from the +regiments in Queens county, and about 50 of the troop belonging to +Kings and Queens counties, which is nearly all I expect. I have got +all the cattle southward of the hills in Kings county, to the eastward +of the cross-road between the two counties, and have placed guards and +sentinels from the north<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.74" id="Page_ii.74">[Pg ii.74]</a></span> road to the south side of the Island, in +order to prevent the cattle's going back, and to prevent the +communication of the tories with the enemy. I am within about six +miles of the enemy's camp: their light horse have been within about +two miles, and unless I have more men, our stay here will answer no +purpose. We shall soon want to be supplied with provisions, if we +tarry here.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Jamaica</span>, August 28<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p>I must again let you know my situation. I have about 70 men and about +20 of the troop, which is all the force I have or can expect, and I am +daily growing less in number. The people are so alarmed in Suffolk, +that they will not any more of them march; and as to Cols. Smith and +Remsen, they cannot join me, for the communication is cut off between +us. I have sent about 1100 cattle to the great fields on the plains, +yesterday. About 300 more have gone off this morning to the same +place, and I have ordered a guard of an officer and seven privates. +They can get no water in those fields. My men and horses are worn out +with fatigue. The cattle are not all gone off towards Hempstead. I +ordered them off yesterday; but they were not able to take them along. +I yesterday brought about 300 from Newtown. I think the cattle are in +as much danger on the north side as on the south side; and have +ordered the inhabitants to remove them, if you cannot send me an +immediate reinforcement.</p> + +<p class="center">[Journals of the New York Provincial Congress.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO24"></a>[No. 24.]<br /> +<br /> +GEN. WASHINGTON TO ABRAHAM YATES, NEW YORK CONVENTION</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Long-Island</span>, Aug. 28<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>—I was just now honored with your favor of this date, with General +Woodhull's letter, and should esteem myself happy, were it in my power +to afford the assistance required, but the enemy having landed a +considerable part of their force, here, and at the same time may have +reserved some to attack New-York, it is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.75" id="Page_ii.75">[Pg ii.75]</a></span> opinion, not only of +myself, but of all my general officers I have had an opportunity of +consulting with, that the men we have are not more than competent to +the defence of those lines, and the several posts which must be +defended. This reason, and this alone, prevents my complying with your +request. I shall beg leave to mention, in confidence, that a few days +ago, upon the enemy's first landing here, I wrote to Governor +Trumbull, recommending him to throw over a body of 1000 men on the +Island to annoy the enemy in their rear, if the state of the colony +would admit of it. Whether it will be done I cannot determine. That +colony having furnished a large proportion of men, I was, and still +am, doubtful whether it could be done. If it could, I am satisfied it +will, from the zeal and readiness they have ever shown to give every +possible succour. I am hopeful they will be in a condition to do it; +and if they are, those troops, I doubt not, will be ready and willing +to give General Woodhull any assistance he may want. But cannot the +militia effect what he wishes to do? They, I believe, must be depended +on in the present instance for relief.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">I have the honor to be, in great haste,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Sir, your most obedient servant,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">George Washington.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Journals of the New York Provincial Congress.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO25"></a>[No. 25.]<br /> +<br /> +COLONEL HITCHCOCK TO COLONEL LITTLE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">CAMP ON LONG ISLAND.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">N. York.</span> Aug. 15<sup>th</sup>, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>, ... Great Changes<a name="FNanchor_235_235" id="FNanchor_235_235"></a><a href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a> and Alterations have lately been +made; it gives me much Uneasiness that your Regiment is not going with +mine; can't learn what kind of a Place it is we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.76" id="Page_ii.76">[Pg ii.76]</a></span> are ordered to take, +but I sat out with a Determination to go anywhere & do anything, that +I was ordered to do—were you going up there with your Regiment, with +me, I should not wish to be better off. hope however we shall be able +to defend Ourselves against Rattle Snakes without you, which I am told +are very Plenty there; The General thinks however they [the enemy] +will attempt to take & occupy the River on both Sides there & +consequently has ordered two more of the established Regiments there; +if they come (& come they certainly will in a few Days) I will defend +the Place as long as I can; they have certainly been embarking for a +Day or two; I am yet fully of the Belief they will Land on Long Island +for One of their Places & where else I don't know, but I'm fully +persuaded, in more Places than One, I wish you & your Regiment all +Happiness. I know you will all play the man—the critical Hour of +America is come; beat 'em once, they are gone—</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 7em">Compliments Mr. Coleman.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">Dear Sir Adieu</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Dan Hitchcock.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Aug.</span> 29<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p>The Wrench I rec<sup>d</sup> in my Back by the Starting of my Horse at my Gun +just as I was mounting him, was so great that I scarcely got off from +my Bed next Day, but feel much better of it now; I hear the Regulars +have built a Fort on the Hill east of Fort Putnam; I am astonished +that our People are not building two Forts where you & I have always +contended for Forts to [be] built. For Heaven's Sake apply to the +Generals yourself & urge the Necessity of it; let two Forts be built +there, & another just such abbatee as is built between Forts Greene & +Putnam, from Water to Water; it can be done in a Day—cut every apple +tree down—if our People are in Spirits; between us, I think our +Salvation depends upon it for their Bombs will drive us out of Fort +Putnam, & if they attempt to force & should get thro', we have 'em +between two Fires.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Chas. J. Little, Esq., Cambridge, Mass.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.77" id="Page_ii.77">[Pg ii.77]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO26"></a>[No. 26.]<br /> +<br /> +MAJOR TALLMADGE'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLES OF LONG ISLAND AND WHITE +PLAINS.</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The movements of the enemy indicating an intention to approach New +York by the way of Long Island, Gen. Washington ordered about 10,000 +men to embark and cross the East River at Brooklyn. The regiment to +which I belonged was among the first that crossed over, and, on the +27<sup>th</sup> of August, the whole British army, consisting of their own +native troops, Hessians, Brunswickers, Waldeckers, etc, to the number +of at least 25,000 men, with a most formidable train of field +artillery, landed near Flatbush, under cover of their shipping, and +moved towards Jamaica and Brooklyn. As our troops had advanced to meet +the enemy, the action soon commenced, and was continued, at intervals, +through most of the day. Before such an overwhelming force of +disciplined troops, our small band could not maintain their ground and +the main body retired within their lines at Brooklyn, while a body of +Long Island Militia, under Gen. Woodhull, took their stand at Jamaica. +Here Gen. Woodhull was taken prisoner and inhumanly killed. The main +body of our army, under Major-Gen. Sullivan and Lord Stirling, fought +in detached bodies, and on the retreat both of those officers were +made prisoners. I also lost a brother the same day, who fell into +their hands, and was afterwards literally starved to death in one of +their prisons; nor would the enemy suffer relief from his friends to +be afforded to him.</p> + +<p>This was the first time in my life that I had witnessed the awful +scene of a battle, when man was engaged to destroy his fellow man. I +well remember my sensations on the occasion, for they were solemn +beyond description, and very hardly could I bring my mind to be +willing to attempt the life of a fellow-creature. Our army having +retired beyond their intrenchment, which extended from Vanbrunt's +Mills, on the West, to the East River, flanked occasionally by +redoubts, the British army took their position, in full array, +directly in front of our position. Our intrenchment was so weak, that +it is most wonderful the British General did not attempt to storm it +soon after the battle, in which his troops had been victorious. Gen. +Washington was so fully aware of the peril<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.78" id="Page_ii.78">[Pg ii.78]</a></span>ous situation of this +division of his army, that he immediately convened a council of war, +at which the propriety of retiring to New York was decided on. After +sustaining incessant fatigue and constant watchfulness for two days +and nights, attended by heavy rain, exposed every moment to an attack +from a vastly superior force in front, and to be cut off from the +possibility of retreat to New York, by the fleet, which might enter +the East River, on the night of the 29th of August, Gen. Washington +commenced recrossing his troops from Brooklyn to New York. To move so +large a body of troops, with all their necessary appendages, across a +river full a mile wide, with a rapid current, in face of a victorious, +well disciplined army, nearly three times as numerous as his own, and +a fleet capable of stopping the navigation, so that not one boat could +have passed over, seemed to present most formidable obstacles. But, in +the face of these difficulties, the Commander-in-Chief so arranged his +business, that on the evening of the 29<sup>th</sup>, by 10 o'clock, the +troops began to retire from the lines in such a manner that no chasm +was made in the lines, but as one regiment left their station on +guard, the remaining troops moved to the right and left and filled up +the vacancies, while Gen. Washington took his station at the ferry, +and superintended the embarkation of the troops. It was one of the +most anxious, busy nights that I ever recollect, and being the third +in which hardly any of us had closed our eyes to sleep, we were all +greatly fatigued. As the dawn of the next day approached, those of us +who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety, +and when the dawn appeared there were several regiments still on duty. +At this time a very dense fog began to rise, and it seemed to settle +in a peculiar manner over both encampments. I recollect this peculiar +providential occurrence perfectly well; and so very dense was the +atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at six yards' distance.</p> + +<p>When the sun rose we had just received orders to leave the lines, but +before we reached the ferry, the Commander-in-Chief sent one of his +Aids to order the regiment to repair again to their former station on +the lines. Col. Chester immediately faced to the right about and +returned, where we tarried until the sun had risen, but the fog +remained as dense as ever. Finally, the second order arrived for the +regiment to retire, and we very joyfully bid those trenches a long +adieu. When we reached Brooklyn ferry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.79" id="Page_ii.79">[Pg ii.79]</a></span> the boats had not returned +from their last trip, but they very soon appeared and took the whole +regiment over to New York; and I think I saw Gen. Washington on the +ferry stairs when I stepped into one of the last boats that received +the troops. I left my horse tied to a post at the ferry.</p> + +<p>The troops having now all safely reached New York, and the fog +continuing as thick as ever, I began to think of my favorite horse, +and requested leave to return and bring him off. Having obtained +permission, I called for a crew of volunteers to go with me, and +guiding the boat myself, I obtained my horse and got off some distance +into the river before the enemy appeared in Brooklyn.</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached the ferry, we were saluted merrily from their +musketry, and finally by their field pieces; but we returned in +safety. In the history of warfare, I do not recollect a more fortunate +retreat. After all, the providential appearance of the fog saved a +part of our army from being captured, and certainly myself among +others who formed the rear guard. Gen. Washington has never received +the credit which was due to him for this wise and most fortunate +measure....</p> + +<p>As the enemy showed a disposition to cross over into Westchester, Gen. +Washington removed the main body of his army up to the White Plains, +taking possession of the high ground North and East of the town. Here +he seemed determined to take his stand, his lines extending from a +mountain on the right, called Chadderton's Hill, to a lake or large +pond of water on his left. An intrenchment was thrown up from right to +left, behind which our army formed. Long poles with iron pikes upon +them, supplied the want of bayonets. Chadderton's Hill was separated +from the right of our intrenchment by a valley of some extent, with +the river Bronx directly before it; but being within cannon shot of +our intrenchment on the right, Gen. Washington thought it best to +occupy it, and ordered Gen. McDougall, with 800 or 1000 men, to defend +it, and if driven from it, to retire upon the right of the line. The +American army were all at their several posts on the last September +and beginning of October; and here it looked as if Gen. Washington +intended to give battle to the British army. On the 27<sup>th</sup> October, +1776, it was announced at Head Quarters that the enemy was in motion +from Westchester, through Eastchester, directly toward the White +Plains. A detachment of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.80" id="Page_ii.80">[Pg ii.80]</a></span> 2000, or 3000 men was ordered to proceed on +the Old York road to meet the enemy in front. As <i>our brigade</i> formed +a part of the force, I, of course, was among them. Before the dawn of +day, on the 28<sup>th</sup> of October, we learned that the enemy were in full +march directly in front of us. Gen. Spencer, who commanded this body +of troops in advance, immediately made the necessary disposition to +receive the enemy, having the river Bronx on our right, and between us +and the troops on Chadderton's Hill. At the dawn of day, the Hessian +column advanced within musket shot of our troops, when a full +discharge of musketry warned them of their danger. At first they fell +back, but rallyed again immediately, and the column of British troops +having advanced upon our left, made it necessary to retire. As stone +walls were frequent, our troops occasionally formed behind them, and +poured a destructive fire into the Hessian ranks.</p> + +<p>It, however, became necessary to retreat wholly before such an +overwhelming force. To gain Chadderton's Hill, it became necessary to +cross the Bronx, which was fordable at that place. The troops +immediately entered the river and ascended the Hill, while I being in +the rear, and mounted on horseback, endeavored to hasten the last of +our troops, the Hessians then being within musket shot. When I reached +the bank of the river, and was about to enter it, our chaplain, the +Rev. Dr. Trumbull, sprang up behind me on my horse, and came with such +force as to carry me with my accoutrements, together with himself, +headlong into the river. This so entirely disconcerted me, that by the +time I reached the opposite bank of the river, the Hessian troops were +about to enter it, and considered me as their prisoner. As we ascended +the hill, I filed off to the right, expecting our troops on the hill +would soon give them a volley. When they had advanced within a few +yards of a stone wall, behind which Gen. McDougall had placed them, +our troops poured upon the Hessian column, under Gen. Rahl, such a +destructive fire, that they retreated down the hill in disorder, +leaving a considerable number of the corps on the field. This relieved +me from my perilous situation, and I immediately remounted my horse, +and taking my course in the valley, directly between the hostile +armies, I rode to Head Quarters, near the Court-house, and informed +Gen. Washington of the situation of the troops on Chadderton's Hill. +The enemy having rallied, and being reinforced, made a second attempt +upon Gen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.81" id="Page_ii.81">[Pg ii.81]</a></span> McDougall's detachment, who gave them a second warm +reception; but, being overpowered, retired upon the right of our line, +then in order of battle. A severe cannonade was kept up from both +armies through the day, and every moment did we expect the enemy would +have attempted to force us from our lines. In the mean time, Gen. +Washington had begun to remove his stores and heavy baggage up to +Northcastle. After remaining in our lines and on constant military +duty for several days and nights, on the 1<sup>st</sup> of November Gen. +Washington retired with his army to the heights in the neighborhood of +Northcastle.</p> + +<p class="center">[Memoir of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge. Prepared by himself. New York, 1858.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO27"></a>[No. 27.]<br /> +<br /> +ACCOUNT OF EVENTS ON THE 15<sup>TH</sup> AND 16<sup>TH</sup> OF SEPTEMBER, 1776, BY +PRIVATE JAMES S. MARTIN, OF COL. W<sup>M</sup>. DOUGLAS' REGIMENT</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>... One evening while lying here (Turtle Bay) we heard a heavy +cannonade at the city; and before dark saw four of the enemy's ships +that had passed the town and were coming up the East River; they +anchored just below us. These ships were the Phœnix, of 44 guns; +the Roebuck of 44; the Rose of 32; and another the name of which I +have forgotten. Half of our regiment was sent off under the command of +our Major, to man something that were called "lines," although they +were nothing more than a ditch dug along on the bank of the river, +with the dirt thrown out towards the water. They staid in these lines +during the night, and returned to the camp in the morning unmolested. +The other half of the regiment went the next night, under the command +of the Lieut.-Colonel, upon the like errand. We arrived at the lines +about dark, and were ordered to leave our packs in a copse wood, under +a guard, and go into the lines without them; what was the cause of +this piece of <i>wise</i> policy I never knew; but I knew the effects of +it, which was, that I never saw my knapsack from that day to this; nor +did any of the rest of our party, unless they came across them by +accident in our retreat. We "manned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.82" id="Page_ii.82">[Pg ii.82]</a></span> the lines" and lay quite +unmolested during the whole night. We had a chain of sentinels quite +up the river for four or five miles in length. At an interval of every +half hour, they passed the watch-word to each other—"All is well." I +heard the British on board their shipping answer, "We will alter your +tune before tomorrow night"—and they were as good as their word for +once. It was quite a dark night, and at daybreak, the first thing that +saluted our eyes, was all the four ships at anchor, with springs upon +their cables, and within musket shot of us. The Phœnix, lying a +little quartering, and her stern toward me, I could read her name as +distinctly as though I had been directly under the stern—. As soon as +it was fairly light, we saw their boats coming out of a creek or cove, +on the Long Island side of the water, filled with British soldiers. +When they came to the edge of the tide, they formed their boats in +line. They continued to augment these forces from the Island until +they appeared like a large clover field in full bloom.... We lay very +quiet in our ditch, waiting their motions, till the sun was an hour or +two high. We heard a cannonade at the city, but our attention was +drawn to our own guests. But they being a little dilatory in their +operations, I stepped into an old warehouse which, stood close by me, +with the door open, inviting me in, and sat down upon a stool; the +floor was strewed with papers which had in some former period been +used in the concerns of the house, but were then lying in woful +confusion. I was very demurely perusing these papers, when, all of a +sudden, there came such a peal of thunder from the British shipping, +that I thought my head would go with the sound. I made a frog's leap +for the ditch, and lay as still as I possibly could, and began to +consider which part of my carcass was to go first. The British played +their parts well; indeed, they had nothing to hinder them. We kept the +lines till they were almost levelled upon us, when our officers seeing +we could make no resistance, and no orders coming from any superior +officer, and that we must soon be entirely exposed to the rake of the +guns, gave the order to leave the lines. In retreating we had to cross +a level clear spot of ground, forty or fifty rods wide, exposed to the +whole of the enemy's fire; and they gave it to us in prime order; the +grape shot and langrage flew merrily, which served to quicken our +motions.... We had not gone far (in the highway) before we saw a party +of men, apparently hurrying on in the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.83" id="Page_ii.83">[Pg ii.83]</a></span> direction with ourselves; +we endeavored hard to overtake them, but on approaching them we found +that they were not of our way of thinking; they were Hessians. We +immediately altered our course and took the main road leading to +King's bridge. We had not long been on this road before we saw another +party, just ahead of us, whom we knew to be Americans; just as we +overtook these, they were fired upon by a party of British from a +corn-field, and all was immediately in confusion again. I believe the +enemies' party was small; but our people were all militia, and the +demons of fear and disorder seemed to take full possession of all and +everything on that day. When I came to the spot where the militia were +fired upon the ground was literally covered with arms, knapsacks, +staves, coats, hats and old oil flasks, perhaps some of those from the +Madeira town cellar in New York.... Several of the regiment were +missing among whom was our major; he was a fine man, and his loss was +much regretted by the men of the regiment. We lay that night upon the +ground which the regiment occupied when I came up with it. The next +day in the forenoon, the enemy, as we expected, followed us "hard up" +and were advancing through a level field; our rangers and some few +other light troops under the command of Col. Knowlton, of Connecticut +and Major Leitch of (I, believe) Virginia, were in waiting for them. +Seeing them advancing, the rangers, &c., concealed themselves in a deep +gully overgrown with bushes; upon the western verge of this defile was +a post and rail fence, and over that the forementioned field. Our +people let the enemy advance until they arrived at the fence when they +arose and poured in a volley upon them. How many of the enemy were +killed & wounded could not be known, as the British were always as +careful as Indians to conceal their losses. There were, doubtless, +some killed, as I myself counted nineteen ball-holes through a single +rail of the fence at which the enemy were standing when the action +began. The British gave back and our people advanced into the field. +The action soon became warm. Col. Knowlton a brave man and commander +of the detachment, fell in the early part of the engagement. It was +said, by them who saw it, that he lost his valuable life by +unadvisedly exposing himself singly to the enemy. In my boyhood I had +been acquainted with him; he was a brave man and an excellent citizen. +Major Leitch fell soon after, and the troops who were then engaged, +were left with no higher com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.84" id="Page_ii.84">[Pg ii.84]</a></span>manders than their captains, but they +still kept the enemy retreating. Our regiment was now ordered into the +field, and we arrived on the ground just as the retreating army were +entering a thick wood, a circumstance as disagreeable to them as it +was agreeable to us, at that period of the war. We soon came to action +with them. The troops engaged being reinforced by our regiment kept +them still retreating, until they found shelter under the cannon of +some of their shipping, lying in the North River. We remained on the +battle ground till nearly sunset, expecting the enemy to attack us +again, but they showed no such inclination that day. The men were very +much fatigued and faint, having had nothing to eat for forty-eight +hours—at least the greater part were in this condition & I among the +rest.... We had eight or ten of our reg<sup>t</sup> killed in the action & a +number wounded, but none of them belonging to our company. Our Lt. +Col. was hit by a grape-shot, which went through his coat, westcoat +and shirt, to the skin on his shoulder, without doing any other damage +than cutting up his epaulette.</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and +Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, etc.<br /> +</i> Hallowell, Me. +1830.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO28"></a>[No. 28.]<br /> +<br /> +CAPT. JOSHUA HUNTINGTON<a name="FNanchor_236_236" id="FNanchor_236_236"></a><a href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a> TO ——</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Camp Near King's Bridge</span>, Sept. 20, 1776.</p> + +<p>You have most likely heard of our retreat from the city, before this, +but I will give you some of the particulars. Sunday morning last, our +regiment, with a number of other regiments, were ordered to the lines +a little below Turtle Bay, where lay five or six ships within musket +shot of our lines. About six o'clock a most furious cannonade began +from the ships. At the same time the enemy landed a large body of men +a little above where our men were posted, and marched directly for the +main road in order to cut off our retreat, which they had like to have +effected, as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.85" id="Page_ii.85">[Pg ii.85]</a></span> greatest part of our army were from six to fourteen +miles distant from the city. In this skirmish we lost some men though +I think not many. I have been unwell about a fortnight, with a slow +fever and the camp disorder, which prevented my being in the skirmish. +I had not passed the enemy but a little while before the enemy came +up; and if I had been with the regiment at the lines, I was so weak +and feeble, I should without doubt have fallen into their hands. I +have now left the regiment for a few days, and am with brother +Chester, about sixteen miles from the city, getting better....</p> + +<p class="center">[Huntington Family Memoir, p. 164.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO29"></a>[No. 29.]<br /> +<br /> +LIEUT. TENCH TILGHMAN<a name="FNanchor_237_237" id="FNanchor_237_237"></a><a href="#Footnote_237_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a> TO HIS FATHER, PHILADELPHIA</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Head Quarters N. York</span> 3<sup>rd</sup> Sep<sup>r</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hond Sir</span></p> + +<p>I have attempted to write to you several times since our Return from +Long Island, but have been as often interrupted by the vast hurry of +Business in which the General is engaged. He is obliged to see into, +and in a Manner fill every Department, which is too much for one +Man—Our Retreat [from Long Island] before an Enemy much superior in +Numbers, over a wide River, and not very well furnished with Boats +certainly does Credit to our Generals. The thing was conducted with so +much Secrecy that neither subalterns or privates knew that the whole +Army was to cross back again to N. York, they thought only a few +Regiments were to go back. General Howe has not yet landed upon this +Island, but I imagine something of that kind is in Agitation, as the +Fleet drew nearer and nearer, they are now about long Cannon Shot from +the Battery, but no firing on either side. We shall be prepared to +meet them here or retreat over Kings Bridge as we shall find Occasion, +our supernumerary and heavy stores are removed, we must leave our +heavy Cannon behind us in Case of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.86" id="Page_ii.86">[Pg ii.86]</a></span> Retreat, but I dont know that that +will be any loss, as we never used them to much advantage....</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">I am most dutifully & Affect<sup>y</sup> Yrs.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Tench Tilghman.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Head Quarters, Harlem Heights</span>, Monday, 16 Sep<sup>r</sup>. 1776.</p> + +<p>Our Army totally evacuated New York yesterday, the Enemy landed a +party of about 3000 from Appearance four miles above the City where +they encamped last Night. They kept up a very heavy fire from their +Ships while their Men were landing, altho' no Body opposed them, I +imagine they did it, thinking we might have some men concealed behind +some lines on the Water side. We removed everything that was valuable, +some heavy cannon excepted, before we left the Town. Our army is +posted as advantageously as possible for Security, out of reach of the +Fire of the Ships from either River; and upon high Grounds of +difficult Access. I dont know whether the New Eng<sup>d</sup> Troops will +stand there, but I am sure they will not upon open Ground. I had a +Specimen of that yesterday. Hear two Brigades ran away from a small +advanced party of the Regulars, tho' the General did all in his power +to convince them they were in no danger. He laid his Cane over many of +the officers who shewed their men the example of running. These were +militia, the New England Continental Troops are much better....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Head Quarters Col<sup>o</sup>. Morris's</span> 19<sup>th</sup> Sep<sup>r</sup>. 1776.</p> + +<p>... On Monday last we had a pretty smart skirmish with the British +Troops which was brought on in the following Manner. The General rode +down to our farthest Lines, and when he came near them heard a firing +which he was informed was between our Scouts and the out Guards of the +Enemy. When our men came in they informed the General that there were +a party of about 300 behind a woody hill, tho' they only showed a very +small party to us. Upon this General laid a plan for attacking them in +the Rear and cutting off their Retreat which was to be effected in the +following Manner. Major Leitch with three companies of Col<sup>o</sup>. +Weedons Virginia Regiment, and Col<sup>o</sup> Knowlton with his Rangers were +to steal round while a party were to march towards them and seem as if +they intended to attack in front, but not to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.87" id="Page_ii.87">[Pg ii.87]</a></span> make any real Attack +till they saw our men fairly in their Rear. The Bait took as to one +part, as soon as they saw our party in front the Enemy ran down the +Hill and took possession of some Fences and Bushes and began to fire +at them, but at too great distance to do much execution: Unluckily +Col<sup>o</sup>. Knowlton and Major Leitch began their Attack too soon, it was +rather in Flank than in Rear. The Action now grew warm, Major Leitch +was wounded early in the Engagement and Col<sup>o</sup>. Knowlton soon after, +the latter mortally, he was one of the bravest and best officers in +the Army. Their Men notwithstanding persisted with the greatest +Bravery. The Gen<sup>l</sup> finding they wanted support ordered over part of +Col<sup>o</sup>. Griffiths's and part of Col<sup>o</sup>. Richardson's Maryland +Regiments, these Troops tho' young charged with as much Bravery as I +can conceive, they gave two fires and then rushed right forward which +drove the enemy from the wood into a Buckwheat field, from whence they +retreated. The General fearing (as we afterwards found) that a large +Body was coming up to support them, sent me over to bring our Men off. +They gave a Hurra and left the Field in good Order. We had about 40 +wounded and a very few killed. A Serjeant who deserted says their +Accounts were 89 wounded and 8 killed, but in the latter he is +mistaken for we have buried more than double that Number—We find +their force was much more considerable than we imagined when the +General ordered the Attack. It consisted of the 2<sup>d</sup> Batt<sup>n</sup>. of +light Infantry, a Batt<sup>n</sup>. of the Royal Highlanders and 3 Comp<sup>s</sup>. +of Hessian Rifle Men. The prisoners we took, told us, they expected +our Men would have run away as they did the day before, but that they +were never more surprised than to see us advancing to attack them. The +Virginia and Maryland Troops bear the Palm. They are well officered +and behave with as much regularity as possible, while the Eastern +people are plundering everything that comes in their way. An Ensign is +to be tried for marauding to-day, the Gen<sup>l</sup>. will execute him if he +can get a Court Martial to convict him—I like our post here +exceedingly, I think if we give it up it is our own faults. You must +excuse me to my other friends for not writing to them. I can hardly +find time to give you a Line.</p> + +<p class="center">[Memoir of Lieut. Col. Tench Tilghman. J. Munsell, Albany, 1876.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.88" id="Page_ii.88">[Pg ii.88]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO30"></a>[No. 30.]<br /> +<br /> +CAPT. JOHN GOOCH TO THOMAS FAYERWEATHER, BOSTON, MASS.</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New Jersey, Fort Constitution</span>, Sept. 23, 1776.</p> + +<p>I know you must be anxious for the certainty of events of which you +can have at that distance but a confused account, as I was on the spot +will endeavor to give you as Concise & Just account as possible; on +the 15th inst we evacuated New York & took all stores of every kind +out of the city, and took possession of the hights of Haerlem eight +miles from the City, the Enemy encamp'd about two miles from us; on +the 16th the Enemy advanced and took Possession of a hight on our +Right Flank ab<sup>t</sup> half a mile Distance with about 3000 men, a Party +from our Brigade [Nixon's] of 150 men who turned out as Volunteers +under the Command of Lieut. Col<sup>o</sup> Crary of the Regm<sup>t</sup> I belong to +[Varnum's, R.I.] were ordered out if possible to dispossess them, in +about 20 minutes the Engagement began with as terrible a fire as ever +I heard, when Orders came for the whole Brigade immediately to march +to support the first detachment, the Brigade consisted of ab<sup>t</sup> 900 +men, we immediately formed in front of the Enemy and march'd up in +good order through their fire, which was incessant till within 70 +yards, when we engaged them in that situation, we engaged them for one +hour and eights minits, when the Enemy Broke & Ran we pursued them to +the next hights, when we were ordered to Retreat. Our loss does not +exceed in killed and wounded twenty five men, the loss of the Enemy +was very considerable but cannot be ascertained, as we observed them +to carry of their dead and wounded the whole time of the Engagement, +they left a Number of killed and wounded on the Field of Battle & a +great number of Small Armes, the great Superiority of Numbers and +every other advantage the enemy had, when considered makes the Victory +Glorious, and tho' but over a part of their Army yet the consequences +of it are attended with advantages very great, as they immediately +quitted the hights all round us and have not been troublesome since, +our people behaved with the greatest Spirit, and the New England men +have gained the first Lawrells. I received a slight wound in the +Anckle at the first of the Engagement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.89" id="Page_ii.89">[Pg ii.89]</a></span> but never quited the field +during the Engagement. I'm now Ready to give them the second part +whenever they have an appetite, as I'm convinced whenever [they] stir +from their ships we shall drubb them.</p> + +<p class="center">[N.E. Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. xxx.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO31"></a>[No. 31.]</h3> + +<h3>ACCOUNT OF THE RETREAT FROM NEW YORK AND AFFAIR OF HARLEM HEIGHTS, BY +COLONEL DAVID HUMPHREY</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>On Sunday, the 15<sup>th</sup>, the British, after sending three ships of war +up the North River, to Bloomingdale, and keeping up, for some hours, a +severe cannonade on our lines, from those already in the East river, +landed in force at Turtle bay. Our new levies, commanded by a state +brigadier-general, fled without making resistance. Two brigades of +General Putnam's division, ordered to their support, notwithstanding +the exertion of their brigadiers, and of the commander-in-chief +himself, who came up at the instant, conducted themselves in the same +shameful manner. His excellency then ordered the heights of Harlaem, a +strong position, to be occupied. Thither the forces in the vicinity, +as well as the fugitives, repaired. In the mean time, General Putnam, +with the remainder of his command, and the ordinary outposts, was in +the city. After having caused the brigades to begin their retreat by +the route of Bloomingdale, in order to avoid the enemy, who were then +in possession of the main road leading to Kingsbridge, he galloped to +call off the pickets and guards. Having myself been a volunteer in his +division, and acting adjutant to the last regiment that left the city, +I had frequent opportunities, that day, of beholding him, for the +purpose of issuing orders, and encouraging the troops, flying, on his +horse, covered with foam, wherever his presence was most necessary. +Without his extraordinary exertions, the guards must have been +inevitably lost, and it is probable the entire corps would have been +cut in pieces. When we were not far from Bloomingdale, an aide-de-camp +came from him at full speed, to inform that a column of British +infantry was descend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.90" id="Page_ii.90">[Pg ii.90]</a></span>ing upon our right. Our rear was soon fired upon, +and the colonel of our regiment, whose order was just communicated for +the front to file off to the left, was killed on the spot. With no +other loss we joined the army, after dark, on the heights of +Harlaem.—Before our brigades came in, we were given up for lost by +all our friends. So critical indeed was our situation, and so narrow +the gap by which we escaped, that the instant we had passed, the enemy +closed it by extending their line from river to river. Our men, who +had been fifteen hours under arms, harassed by marching and +counter-marching, in consequence of incessant alarms, exhausted as +they were by heat and thirst, (for the day proved insupportably hot, +and few or none had canteens, insomuch, that some died at the works +where they drank,) if attacked, could have made but feeble +resistance....</p> + +<p>That night our soldiers, excessively fatigued by the sultry march of +the day, their clothes wet by a severe shower of rain that succeeded +towards the evening, their blood chilled by the cold wind that +produced a sudden change in the temperature of the air, and their +hearts sunk within them by the loss of baggage, artillery, and works +in which they had been taught to put great confidence, lay upon their +arms, covered only by the clouds of an uncomfortable sky.... Next +morning several parties of the enemy appeared upon the plains in our +front. On receiving this intelligence, General Washington rode quickly +to the outposts, for the purpose of preparing against an attack, if +the enemy should advance with that design. Lieutenant-colonel +Knowlton's rangers, a fine selection from the eastern regiments, who +had been skirmishing with an advanced party, came in, and informed the +general that a body of British were under cover of a small eminence at +no considerable distance. His excellency, willing to raise our men +from their dejection by the splendor of some little success, ordered +Lieutenant-colonel Knowlton, with his rangers, and Major Leitch, with +three companies of Weedon's regiment of Virginians, to gain their +rear; while appearances should be made of an attack in front. As soon +as the enemy saw the party sent to decoy them, they ran precipitately +down the hill, took possession of some fences and bushes, and +commenced a brisk firing at long shot. Unfortunately, Knowlton and +Leitch made their onset rather in flank than in rear. The enemy +changed their front, and the skirmish at once became close and warm. +Major Leitch having received three balls<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.91" id="Page_ii.91">[Pg ii.91]</a></span> through his side, was soon +borne from the field; and Colonel Knowlton, who had distinguished +himself so gallantly at the battle of Bunkerhill, was mortally wounded +immediately after. Their men, however, undaunted by these disasters, +stimulated with the thirst of revenge for the loss of their leaders, +and conscious of acting under the eye of the commander-in-chief, +maintained the conflict with uncommon spirit and perseverance. But the +general, seeing them in need of support, advanced part of the Maryland +regiments of Griffith and Richardson, together with some detachments +from such eastern corps as chanced to be most contiguous to the place +of action. Our troops this day, without exception, behaved with the +greatest intrepidity. So bravely did they repulse the British, that +Sir William Howe moved his <i>reserve</i>, with two field-pieces, a +battalion of Hessian grenadiers, and a company of chasseurs, to succor +his retreating troops. General Washington not willing to draw on a +general action, declined pressing the pursuit. In this engagement were +the second and third battalions of light infantry, the forty-second +British regiment, and the German Chasseurs, of whom eight officers, +and upward of seventy privates were wounded, and our people buried +nearly twenty, who were left dead on the field. We had about forty +wounded; our loss in killed, except of two valuable officers, was very +inconsiderable. An advantage so trivial in itself produced, in event, +a surprising and almost incredible effect upon the whole army. Amongst +the troops not engaged, who, during the action, were throwing earth +from the new trenches, with an alacrity that indicated a determination +to defend them, every visage was seen to brighten, and to assume, +instead of the gloom of despair, the glow of animation. This change, +no less sudden than happy, left little room to doubt that the men, who +ran the day before at the sight of an enemy, would now, to wipe away +the stain of that disgrace, and to recover the confidence of their +general, have conducted themselves in a very different manner.</p> + +<p class="center">[Life of General Putnam, by Colonel Humphrey.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.92" id="Page_ii.92">[Pg ii.92]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO32"></a>[No. 32.]</h3> + +<h3>TESTIMONY AT A COURT OF INQUIRY RESPECTING THE RETREAT FROM NEW +YORK<a name="FNanchor_238_238" id="FNanchor_238_238"></a><a href="#Footnote_238_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>... Brigadier General <i>Parsons</i>: Says on the 15th, he ordered three +regiments of his brigade, viz: <i>Prescott's</i>, <i>Tyler's</i>, and +<i>Huntington's</i>, to march from the lines near Corlear's Hook to assist +the troops in the middle division under General <i>Spencer</i>, where the +enemy were attempting to land; that he soon rode on after these +regiments by General Putnam's order, and found them in the main road; +asked the reason why they were not near the river where the enemy were +landing, as he then supposed; was told by the officers that the +enemy's boats were gone farther eastward, and probably would land at +or near <i>Turtle's Bay</i>, on which they pursued their march on the road +to the barrier across the street; he, the examinant, being then near +the rear of the three regiments, observed the front to advance on the +road called <i>Bloomingdale</i> road, instead of going in the post-road; on +which he rode forward to the front of the brigade, in order to march +them into the other road, when he found Colonel Tyler with his +regiment, and was there informed they marched that way by order of +Generals <i>Putnam</i> and <i>Spencer</i>, who were just forward; this examinant +then rode forward on that road some little distance, perhaps sixty or +eighty rods, to a road which turned off eastward to the post road, and +found General <i>Fellows'</i> brigade in that cross road, marching +eastward, and also saw Generals <i>Washington</i>, <i>Putnam</i>, and others, at +the top of the hill eastward, and rode up to them; General +<i>Washington</i> directed that the examinant should attend to keep his +brigade in order and march on into the cross road; he accordingly rode +back and met the brigade as they came into the cross road; as he was +riding back he saw Colonel Tyler in a lot on the south side the cross +road coming from the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road to the cross road and asked +him why he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.93" id="Page_ii.93">[Pg ii.93]</a></span> not with the regiment; he said he was very much +fatigued, it being very hot, and was going across the lot to join the +regiment, it being nearer than to keep the road; this examinant then +rode by the side of the brigade to near the top of the hill, his +attention being to keep the brigade in order, and then heard General +<i>Washington</i> call out, "Take the walls!" and immediately added, "Take +the corn-field!" a corn-field being then on the right adjoining east +on the main road, and north on the cross road; immediately from front +to rear of the brigade the men ran to the walls, and some into the +corn-field, in a most confused and disordered manner; this examinant +then used his utmost endeavour to form the brigade into some order +upon that ground, but the men were so dispersed he found it +impossible; he then rode back into the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road and there +found a considerable part of the brigade but in no order; General +<i>Washington</i> was then forward in the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road, and sent for +this examinant, and gave order to form the brigade as soon as could be +done, and march on to <i>Harlem Heights</i>; as soon as the brigade could +be reduced to any form, they marched on to <i>Harlem Heights</i>; when they +had proceeded about a mile or two, a sudden panick seized the rear of +the brigade; they ran into the fields out of the road; the reason he +knows not; in the fields he saw Colonel Tyler, which was the first +time he recollects to have seen the colonel after the time he saw him +crossing the lot to the front of his regiment....</p> + +<p>Ensign <i>Wait</i>: Says that he was in the rear of the first company of +Colonel <i>Tyler's</i> regiment; that after the brigade had crossed over +from the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road towards the post road, where they met the +enemy, he saw Colonel <i>Tyler</i> at the head of the brigade; that when +orders were given to man the stone wall, he saw the Colonel at the +head of the regiment, who marched up to the fence and presented his +piece, and supposes that he fired; that after that he understood that +orders were given to go into the corn-field, that after they had got +into the corn-field, and a principal part of the brigade were +retreating, the examinant heard Colonel <i>Tyler</i> say to the men, "Why +do you run? this will never beat them;" that at that time he supposes +the Colonel was nearly in the same place where he was when the fire +first began, and that from his behaviour, he has no reason to believe +that the Colonel was at all intimidated; that from the situation the +Colonel was in at the time of the firing, he has reason to believe +that the Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.94" id="Page_ii.94">[Pg ii.94]</a></span> was one of the last that retreated from the enemy; +that the first time he noticed the Colonel after the retreat from the +enemy, was when they had marched about a mile from the cross road up +the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road, where they got into some order, and that +after that the Colonel continued in the front till the brigade reached +the Heights of <i>Harlem</i>....</p> + +<p>Paymaster <i>Sill</i>: Says that he had no opportunity of observing Colonel +<i>Tyler's</i> conduct from the time that they crossed over from the +<i>Bloomingdale</i> road towards the post road, and had returned back to +the <i>Bloomingdale</i> road and marched up it one mile; that when the +brigade had marched up that far, there was a cry from the rear that +the Light-Horse were advancing, and that a great part of the battalion +which Colonel <i>Tyler</i> commanded precipitately threw themselves into +the lot on the west side of the road; that the Colonel went into the +lot and this examinant with him; that from the Colonel's conduct at +this juncture, it appeared to this examinant that his design in going +into the lot was to bring back the men to the brigade, for that in his +presence and hearing the Colonel threatened to fire upon them if they +did not join the brigade.</p> + +<p>Sergeant <i>Palmer</i>: Says that when the brigade crossed over from the +<i>Bloomingdale</i> road towards the post road, he was on the right of the +front rank of the brigade which was led by Colonel <i>Tyler</i>, and that +he had a full opportunity of observing the Colonel's conduct till the +time of the retreat; that on notice that the enemy were approaching +and orders given to take the wall, the Colonel advanced to it, still +keeping in the front, and was the first man in the brigade who fired; +that this examinant discharged his piece twice at the enemy, and on +looking around he saw the whole brigade were retreating, the Colonel +still remaining on the ground, with this examinant, and no person +within several rods of them; that upon this the Colonel ordered them +to stop, and asked them why they run and commanded the officers to +stop them; that this not being effected, the Colonel and he retreated, +the two last men of the brigade, the Colonel along the cross road as +far as he remained in sight, and this examinant along the corn-field; +that when this examinant joined the brigade in the <i>Bloomingdale</i> +road, he saw the Colonel at the head of it; that when the cry was +raised that the Light-Horse were advancing, which occasioned a great +part of the battalion in front to betake themselves to the lot on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.95" id="Page_ii.95">[Pg ii.95]</a></span> the +west side of the road, he heard the Colonel order them back.</p> + +<p>Corporals <i>Brewster</i> and <i>Chapman</i>: Confirm what Sergeant <i>Palmer</i> +said, that the Colonel was the last man that retreated from the enemy, +and that they saw the Colonel, after having marched some distance on +the cross road, strike off to the right, with intent, as they +conceived, to get to the head of the regiment.</p> + +<p>I do hereby certify that the whole Court were of opinion that there is +not sufficient evidence to warrant the charge of cowardice and +misbehaviour against Colonel Tyler; and that this report would have +been made immediately on taking the examinations, had not the Court +apprehended that, the Colonel, having been put under arrest by express +order from Head Quarters, some evidence against him might have been +pointed out from thence.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4em"><span class="smcap">Camp at White-Plains</span>, October 26, 1776.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 2em"><span class="smcap">John Morin Scott</span>, Brigadier-General,</span><br /> +President.<br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Force's Archives, Fifth Series, vol. ii. p. 1251.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO33"></a>[No. 33.]<br /> +<br /> +MAJOR BAURMEISTER'S NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTURE OF NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER, +1776<a name="FNanchor_239_239" id="FNanchor_239_239"></a><a href="#Footnote_239_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">In Camp at Helegatte</span>, September 24, 1776.</p> + +<p>I had the honor on the 2d inst., of dispatching to Captain von +Wangenheim a complete relation, to date, of our doings here with the +condition, that he should send an exact copy of it to you, mentioning +that the continuation would be forwarded to you, with a similar +request to communicate it to Captain von Wangenheim.... I announced +therefore, that the army camped from New Thown to Blockwels +[<i>Blackwell's</i>] peninsula, only the brigade of Major-General Grand +remained under the orders of General von Heister at Belfort +[<i>Bedford</i>] opposite New York, with the two Hessian brigades of +Major-Generals Stirn and von Mirbach, together with Captain Bitter's +English artillery brigade, which were posted behind the hostile works, +in order to keep the rebels<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.96" id="Page_ii.96">[Pg ii.96]</a></span> within bounds, in the city as well as in +their redoubts thrown up on the side of the city, for which end 1 +Captain and 100 men, towards noon on the 2nd. of September, were +obliged to occupy Gouverneurs Island, upon which were found 10 iron +cannons spiked, 4 18- and 6 32-pounders, many unfilled bombs, some +thousand bullets, flour and salt meat in barrels. Every 24 hours this +post was relieved by the pickets of the English and Hessian regiments; +the shore was occupied from Helgatte to Reed-Hurck. Before Helgatte 2 +frigates lay at anchor: la Brüne and Niger, both of 32 guns, with a +bombarding vessel, and on terra firma, just to the left side of these +vessels, a battery was erected of 2 24-pounders, 4 12-pounders and 2 +howitzers. Blockwell Island was occupied by 1 Captain and 100 men of +the English infantry, and in the night of the 3d. of September the +frigate Rose of 32 guns sailed out of the fleet up the East River, +with 30 boats, leaving New York on the left, and without the slightest +difficulty anchored in Whall Bay [Wallabout] and Buschwickfeste. All +the enemy's cannon were put into a serviceable condition and conveyed +to the batteries, which were found in part and also erected on the +rising ground to the left of the village ferry as far as to +Gouverneurs Island.... Often in the night rebels came over to the +English camp in small boats, asked to serve, and enlisted in the newly +raised brigade, 2000 men strong, of a Colonel de Lancy, whose +ancestors settled on York Island, and who had much to suffer from the +present rebels. Some 100 men, from the prisoners of the attack of +August 27th., are also enrolled in this brigade. On the 4th. of +September, the English left their post on Blockwells Island, the +rebels occupied it in force, and so strong, that the outposts on the +main shore were exposed to a continuous fire, which even the great +battery could not silence. The 5th. of September, 5 wagons and the +requisite draught horses were furnished to every regiment, in New +Thown also a forage magazine was erected, and the inhabitants of Long +Island recognized the royal authority, excepting the county of +Suffolck, in which several thousand rebels still remain, not collected +together but scattered, ready to fight against us everywhere on the +first opportunity; why now Brigadier General Erkskine with his strong +detachment advanced no farther than 9 English miles beyond Jamaika and +the 6th of September was obliged to return is not to be divined; it +was then, that this best part of Long Island should have been kept for +the winter-quarters,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.97" id="Page_ii.97">[Pg ii.97]</a></span> for till now wherever the army has been the +country is stripped of provisions, cattle and horses, as everything is +declared rebel property; there is no longer an English regiment to be +found incomplete in horses, and this want will soon no longer appear +in the Hessian regiments, as many officers obtain the horses they need +for little money and even for nothing. I myself have 3 in this way.</p> + +<p>The happiness of the inhabitants, whose ancestors were all Dutch, must +have been great; genuine kindness and real abundance is everywhere, +anything worthless or going to ruin is nowhere to be perceived. The +inhabited regions resemble the Westphalian peasant districts, upon +separate farms the finest houses are built, which are planned and +completed in the most elegant fashion. The furniture in them is in the +best taste, nothing like which is to be seen with us, and besides so +clean and neat, that altogether it surpasses every description.</p> + +<p>The female sex is universally beautiful and delicately reared, and is +finely dressed in the latest European fashion, particularly in India +laces, white cotton and silk gauzes; not one of these women but would +consider driving a double team the easiest of work. They drive and +ride out alone, having only a negro riding behind to accompany them. +Near every dwelling-house negroes (their slaves) are settled, who +cultivate the most fertile land, pasture the cattle, and do all the +menial work. They are Christians and are brought on the coasts of +Guinea, being sold again here among the inhabitants for 50 to 120 York +pounds a head; 20 York shillings are such a pound and 37 York +shillings make the value of a guinea.</p> + +<p>On the 7th the fleet was stationed between Reed Huck and Governeurs +Island nearer to New York, and the baggage of the Hessian corps, +remaining for the chief part on board was loaded upon one transport +for the greater convenience of each regiment, whereby there was a +great relief from the repeated sending, frequently in vain for want of +boats. The Brocklands-Leinen was to be demolished, but on the +representation of General von Heister, that this could not be done by +soldiers without compensation, especially as it would be the work of +four weeks, General Howe recalled this order....</p> + +<p>Many subjects are returning to the legitimate authority, and on Long +Island the villages of Grevesand, New Utrecht, Flattbusch,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.98" id="Page_ii.98">[Pg ii.98]</a></span> Brockland +and Ferry are filled with the fugitive settlers, most of whom however +find their dwellings empty, furniture smashed, not a window left whole +and their cattle gone forever....</p> + +<p>I am to present the compliments of General von Heister. Colonel George +Orboune, our Muster-Commissioner has already reviewed us. Major-Gen. +Mirbach has had an attack of apoplexy, but he expects to recover; but +Major-General Stirn and Col. von Hering are more sick.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">With the greatest respect</span><br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Baurmeister.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">In the Detached Camp, at Helgatte</span>, Sept. 24, 1776.</p> + +<p class="center">[Magazine of American History, N.Y., January, 1877. Original in the possession of Hon. George Bancroft.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO34"></a>[No. 34.]<br /> +<br /> +COLONEL JOHN CHESTER TO JOSEPH WEBB<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">WEATHERSFIELD, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">From the Old House at y<sup>e</sup> Manor of Fordham</span>,<br /> +Oct. 3<sup>d</sup>, 76.<br /> +</p> + +<p>... The Enemy have not altered their situations much since you left +us. Not long since Gen<sup>l</sup> Putnam with a party of 16 or 1800 men as +covering party went on to Harlem plains & with a number of waggons +brought off a large quantity of Grain, but not the whole, for just at +Day break the Enemy had manned their lines & were seen in collumn +advancing: as our party were not more than half theirs it was thought +best to retreat which was done in good order & without a skirmish. We +are daily fetching off large quantities of Hay & Grain from Morrisania +as we are daily in expectation of Landing & an attack there, though we +are determined not to leave the Ground without disputing it Inch by +Inch. Whilst you was here there was a frigate opposite the Wid<sup>o</sup> +Morris's House. Since that there has another come through & anchored +just above Hell Gate opposite Harlem Church almost.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.99" id="Page_ii.99">[Pg ii.99]</a></span> Another has moved +up East of Morrisania a mile or two near Frogs point where if they +land they will probably march up through West Chester & come upon us +by Williams's Tavern.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Rev. Dr. John Chester, Washington.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO35"></a>[No. 35.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. JOHN GLOVER TO HIS MOTHER<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">MARBLEHEAD, MASS.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<table style="float: right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="address"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td class="right"><span class="smcap">Fort Constitution</span></td> + <td rowspan="2" class="largest">}</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="right">Oct. 7: 1776.</td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p><br /><br /><span class="smcap">Dear Mother</span>:</p> + +<p>... On the 23<sup>d</sup> (Sept.) a detachment from several Corps commanded by +Lieut. Col. Jackson, consisting of 240 men were sent off to dislodge +the enemy from Montressor's <a name="E8" id="E8"></a><a href="#E8E">(Ward's)</a> Island, for which purpose six +boats were provided to carry 40 men each. Col. Jackson led, Major +Hendly, of Charlestown with him. They were met by the enemy at the +water's edge before they landed, who gave them a heavy fire. +Notwithstanding this the Col. landed with the party in his boat, gave +them battle and compelled them to retreat, called to the other boats +to push and land, but the scoundrels, coward-like, retreated back and +left him and his party to fall a sacrifice. The enemy seeing this, 150 +of them rushed out of the woods and attacked them again at 30 yards +distance. Jackson with his little party nobly defended the ground +until every man but eight was killed on the spot, and himself wounded, +before he ordered a retreat. Major Hendly carrying off Col. Jackson +was shot dead as he was putting him into a boat, and not a single man +of the 8 but what was wounded. One of them died at the oar before they +landed on the Main. The officers who commanded the other boats are all +under arrest and will be tried for their lives. In short if some +example is not made of such rascally conduct, there will be no +encouragement for men of spirit to exert themselves. As the case now +is they will always fall a sacrifice, while such low-lived scoundrels, +that have neither Honour nor the Good of their Country at heart, will +skulk behind and get off clear.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4em">Yours &c</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">John Glover.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Collections of the Essex, Mass., Institute, vol. v. No. 2.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.100" id="Page_ii.100">[Pg ii.100]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO36"></a>[No. 36.]<br /> +<br /> +GENERAL GREENE TO COLONEL KNOX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">WHITE PLAINS.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Fort Lee</span>, Nov. <a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>, 1776.</p> + +<p>Your favor of the 14th reached me in a melancholy temper. The +misfortune of losing Fort Washington, with between two and three +thousand men, will reach you before this, if it has not already. His +Excellency General Washington has been with me for several days. The +evacuation or reinforcement of Fort Washington was under +consideration, but finally nothing concluded on. Day before yesterday, +about one o'clock, Howe's adjutant-general made a demand of the +surrender of the garrison in the general's name, but was answered by +the commanding officer that he should defend it to the last extremity. +Yesterday morning, General Washington, General Putnam, General Mercer, +and myself, went to the island to determine what was best to be done; +but just at the instant we stepped on board the boat the enemy made +their appearance on the hill where the Monday action was, and began a +severe cannonade with several field-pieces. Our guards soon fled, the +enemy advanced up to the second line. This was done while we were +crossing the river and getting upon the hill. The enemy made several +marches to the right and to the left,—I suppose to reconnoitre the +fortifications and the lines. There we all stood in a very awkward +situation. As the disposition was made, and the enemy advancing, we +durst not attempt to make any new disposition; indeed, we saw nothing +amiss. We all urged his Excellency to come off. I offered to stay. +General Putnam did the same, and so did General Mercer; but his +Excellency thought it best for us all to come off together, which we +did, about half an hour before the enemy surrounded the fort. The +enemy came up Harlem River, and landed a party at head-quarters, which +was upon the back of our people in the lines. A disorderly retreat +soon took place; without much firing the people retreated into the +fort. On the north side of the fort there was a very heavy fire for a +long while; and as they had the advantage of the ground, I apprehend +the enemy's loss must be great. After the troops<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.101" id="Page_ii.101">[Pg ii.101]</a></span> retreated in the +fort, very few guns were fired. The enemy approached within small-arm +fire of the lines, and sent in a flag, and the garrison capitulated in +an hour. I was afraid of the fort; the redoubt you and I advised, too, +was not done, or little or nothing done to it. Had that been complete, +I think the garrison might have defended themselves a long while, or +been brought off. I feel mad, vexed, sick, and sorry. Never did I need +the consoling voice of a friend more than now. Happy should I be to +see you. This is a most terrible event: its consequences are justly to +be dreaded. Pray, what is said upon the occasion? A line from you will +be very acceptable.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;">I am, dear sir, your obedient servant,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">N. Greene.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>No particulars of the action as yet has come to my knowledge. [Mem. on +the back.] I have not time to give you a description of the battle.</p> + +<p class="center">[Life and Correspondence of Henry Knox, Maj. Gen., &c. By Francis S. Drake, Boston, 1873.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO37"></a>[No. 37.]<br /> +<br /> +DIARY OF REV. MR. SHEWKIRK, PASTOR OF THE MORAVIAN CHURCH, NEW +YORK<a name="FNanchor_240_240" id="FNanchor_240_240"></a><a href="#Footnote_240_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>1775.</h3> + +<p><i>Sunday April 23rd.</i>—In Town were many Commotions tho' it was Sunday, +on account of various Reports, especially from Boston, that +Hostilities had been begun between the King's Troops and the +Provincials.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.102" id="Page_ii.102">[Pg ii.102]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Thursday 27th.</i> Late in the evening, Br. & Sr. Van Vleck arrived from +Bethlehem; but finding the Town in such Commotions, he did not think +it proper to stay for the present, apprehending that he might be +called upon to be a Member of the Committee, &c.; and therefore went +the following Evening to Jacobsen's at Staten Island.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 29th.</i>—This whole week, ever since last Sunday all was +alarmed in the City; there was nothing but <span class="err" title="Commotion">Com̅otion</span> & Confusion. +Trade & publick business was at a stand;—soldiers were enlisted; the +Port was stopt, and the Inhabitants seized the Keys of the Custom +House; took the Arms & Powder into their Custody, not trusting the +Corporation, &c. A Panic & Fear seized the People; many were for +moving into the Country, & several did. The case was the same with +some of our People, & especially the Sisters;—we comforted & +encouraged them as well as we could. To-day matters as to the Town +took a Turn; the Divisions & Animosities among one another ceased; +from whence the most was to be feared at present;—they all in general +agreed to stand by one another, & use moderate measures; & since then +it is grown more quiet; & not so many fearful reports are spread.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 30th.</i> This afternoon some of the new England Provincials came +to Town.</p> + +<p><i>Friday May 26th.</i>—Being informed this Ev'ning that the Provincial +Congress which has begun in this City, had made out that all those +Ministers that preach in English are by Turns to open each day the +Congress's Consultations with Prayers, some further Inquiry was made +into this Matter, & we understood,</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 27th</i> that the Matter is not so general as it is thought, & +that if it should be offer'd one may excuse one's self.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday June 6th.</i>—There was again a Hurry in the Town on account of +the King's Soldiers being taken on Board of the Man of War. But we +remained in Peace.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 25th.</i>—In the Town it was very noisy; for our Governor, +W<sup>m</sup>. Tryon was expected to come in on his return from England; and +at the same time General Washington of the Provin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.103" id="Page_ii.103">[Pg ii.103]</a></span>cials, who has been +appointed Chief <span class="err" title="Commander">Com̅ander</span> of all the Troops by the Continental +Congress. They would show some regard to the Governor too, but the +chief attention was paid to Gen. Washington. At one Church the +Minister was obliged to give over; for the People went out, when the +General came, who was received with much ado. The Governor came on +shore late in the Ev'ning.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday August 24th.</i>—Last night was a great Disturbance in the +City. About Mid-night some of the Town Soldiers began to take away the +<span class="err" title="Cannons">Can̅ons</span> from the Battery. The Asia Man of War watched their motion; +the Captain Vandeput who is an humain Man & has no Intention to hurt +the Town, but must protect the King's Property, fired a couple of guns +about 12 o'clock;—his Barge & the Town People fired upon one another; +on both sides some were wounded, & one of the Barge Men killed. The +whole city got up; all was in alarm; the Drums beating, & the soldiers +gathering together. They got away 21 <span class="err" title="Cannons">Can̅ons</span>; the Man of War fired a +Broadside with balls, &c. Several houses were damaged. Many people +flew from their houses, & among them Sr. Kilburn, who was but +yesterday with her Effects, and many of Abr. V. Vlecks & his 2 little +children, &c. come back to her own house. Thus things went on till +Morning, & now the whole day thro' there is nothing but moving out of +the Town; & fearful Reports. Several of our People moved likewise Abm. +V. Vleck's family & Kilburn moved to Jas. Cargyll's, & on fresh +alarming news the next day, with Eliz. Vandeursen & Hil. Waldron to +Second River [New Jersey].</p> + +<p><i>Friday 25th.</i>—Things were the same in the Town as yesterday, & +rather worse. A correspondence was carried on between the Capt. of the +Asia, & the Mayor of the City, & thro' the latter with the Committee +or Congress, to adjust matters. Gov. Tryon acted as Mediator. Some +hot-headed Men seemed to insist on pursuing their rash measures, while +others, & rather the Majority, did not approve of it.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 28th.</i>—The Moving out of the Town continues, & the City looks +in some Streets as if the Plague had been in it, so many Houses being +shut up. Br. & Sr. Seuneffs, with their 7 children, moved to-day to +Philadelphia, for good & all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.104" id="Page_ii.104">[Pg ii.104]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another measure in the Town, which takes place this Week, namely to +divide all Men between 16 & 50 years into Ward companies, caused +Troubles, & was one reason why Seuneff made Haste to get away, tho' he +will doubtless meet with the same in Philad.</p> + +<p><i>Monday Sept. 11th.</i>—Last week & to-day several of the Inhabitants +came back again to Town; also some of our People.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 18th.</i>—The Town-Soldiers, or the Minute Men made a great +Parade to-day; marching with their Baggage & Provision, &c. It was +thought they went on an Expedition, but it was only a Trial. They went +but 5 miles, & came back in the Ev'ning; they made not only for +themselves, but for the greatest Part of the Inhabitants an idle, +noisy, & exceedingly ill-spent Day; & they got, most of them, drunk; +fought together where they had stopt; & when they came back to Town; +so that many are now under the Doctor's & Surgeon's Hands. May the +Lord have Mercy on this poor City.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday Oct. 10th.</i>—On account of an attempt which had been made to +take Blankets, Sheets, &c. out of the King's Store, the city was again +in danger of being fired upon, & it caused new fear & alarm. However +upon Consultations of the <span class="err" title="Committee">Com̅ittee</span> or Congress & the Corporation, +the goods were carried back again, & this Storm blew over, tho' some +ill designed Persons were not pleased with it.</p> + +<p>Other accounts & Reports this Week made that several families move +again out of the Town; & it is observed that some of the Head-Men +begin to hang down their Heads, & many believe they will be ruin'd +men.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 16th.</i>—The Report that the Crown Officers, & also our +Governor here, will be taken up, & on which account Gov. Tryon had +wrote a Letter to the Mayor, which appeared in print, caused new Alarm +this week.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 19th.</i>—In the Afternoon a Captain<a name="FNanchor_241_241" id="FNanchor_241_241"></a><a href="#Footnote_241_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a> of the Rifle Men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.105" id="Page_ii.105">[Pg ii.105]</a></span> +who some time ago marched with his Company thro' Bethlehem, & now +coming from Cambridge near Boston died here, was interred in Trinity +Church-yard, with great Pomp, & military Honours. All the Companies, +many of the Clergy Men, & a great Concourse of the People attended.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 21st.</i>—In the afternoon Br. & Sr. Henry Van Vleck all on +sudden resolved to leave N. York & to return to Bethlehem, or at least +for the present to go to Brunswig. The Reason was because a Report was +spread that a Transport with Troops had been cast away on the Jersey +Coast; from whence it was concluded, & they thought to have sure +Intelligence, that some Troops, with the Fleet from England, would be +here soon. They went this Ev'ning to Powl's Hook.</p> + +<h3>1776.</h3> + +<p><i>Thursday 18th January.</i>—Last night and to-day Troops came in from +the Jerseys; the troubles begin again.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 29th.</i>—The troubles in the town increased. Tenbroeks' moved +to Second River on Wednesday. They would have gone on Tuesday, but the +weather was too bad.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 4th February.</i>—This afternoon Mr. Lee, a General of the New +English (New England) troops came to town; as also the "Mercury," a +man of war, with General Clinton. The men of war <i>here</i> took a +merchant ship coming in, &c.; all which made many commotions in the +town.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 5th.</i>—Soldiers came to town both from Connecticut and the +Jerseys, and the whole aspect of things grew frightful, and increased +so from day to day. The inhabitants began now to move away in a +surprising manner. The weather was very cold, and the rivers full of +ice, which proved a great obstruction to the People's moving. However, +in the middle of the week it thawed fast, which seemed also to answer +the prevention of designs against the men of war, the execution of +which might have proved very fatal to the city. One could not pass the +streets without feeling a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.106" id="Page_ii.106">[Pg ii.106]</a></span> great deal; and at last we were obliged to +encourage it that our sisters and young People might retreat. At the +end of the week about 40 of our People were Moved.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 11th.</i>—This was a gloomy day. The carts went all the day with +the goods of the people that are moving; moreover, in the forenoon the +Soldiers began to take away all the guns from the Battery and the +Fort, and continued till late. This caused an hourly expectation, +especially in the afternoon, that the men of war would fire; however +they did not. It did not at all look like a Sunday. In some churches +they had no service; in others hardly any People. In the forenoon we +had a discourse from behind the table, from the yesterday's +watch-word; "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment, lest +any hurt it," &c. In the afternoon was preaching on Lamentations III. +39-41: "Wherefore doth a living man complain, &c. Let us search and +try our ways," &c. Both times we had more hearers than we expected.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 12th.</i>—His Majesty's ship, the "Mercury," with Genl. Clinton, +and the "Transport" with the soldiers left the harbour yesterday, to +proceed on their voyage southward. The moving out of the town +continues.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 17th.</i>—The whole week those of our people who are yet in +town were visited. This morning the "Phœnix" went out of the +harbor, down to the watering place and the hook. In the afternoon the +"Asia," the ship with the Governor and the two Prices, moved also out +of the east river, and when she was opposite the White Hall she was +fast upon a rock. All was in agitation in town; and it seemed there +was a thought of attacking her, &c.; but they dropt it; and with the +high water the "Asia" got afloat and lies now in the bay below the +Island.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 21st.</i>—In the afternoon Sister Esther Pell came to town +from Middle Town Point. The boat she came in, laden with wood, was +stopped by the men of war, and was sent back; but the passengers were +allowed to come to town.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 25th.</i>—In the forenoon only a discourse was kept on the +watch-word of to-morrow. In the afternoon a sermon was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.107" id="Page_ii.107">[Pg ii.107]</a></span> preached on +the day's gospel. Several of the New England people were present. In +the town the work at the entrenchments continued, and some branches of +trade were likewise working. At night Sister Shewkirk came back from +Second River.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 13th March.</i>—A packet from England arrived once again, and +brought an uncommon number of letters; but they came not on shore. The +postmaster would not take them, for fear that they might be seized +without the postage being paid. The people were not suffered to go on +board to fetch them; unless they took an oath to tell nothing that is +done in the city. A packet for Bethlehem, directed to Bro. Shewkirk, +had been sent from England along with the government despatches +post-free, and was brought by Mr. Ross in the King's Service, who had +been on board privately.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 7th April.</i>—Easter. To-day and last night the commotions in +the city begin to be greater; attacks have been made on the little +islands, and at the watering place.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 8th.</i>—Sister Kilburn who had got the officers, &c., out of +her house, got it cleaned and in order again. Tho' these lodgers had +been better than common soldiers, yet she found her house and premises +much injured. Sister Hilah Waldron on the following days got likewise +the soldiers out of one of her houses, but she has suffered a great +deal more. Indeed it is beyond description, how these uncivilized, +rude, and wild People, abuse the finest houses in the city.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 30th.</i>—Sisters Kilburn and Hilah Waldron, and Sister Boelens +have got the soldiers out of their houses.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 17th May.</i>—This day had been appointed a day of fasting and +prayer throughout the country; therefore we had preaching in the fore +and afternoon. The Text, a.m., was from Joel ii. 12, 13, 14. +"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your +heart, and with fasting and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend +your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; +for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, +and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and +repent, and leave a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.108" id="Page_ii.108">[Pg ii.108]</a></span> blessing behind Him?" The text, p.m., was from +Hosea xiv. 1-3: "O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast +fallen by thine iniquity," &c. Our Saviour gave grace, in this +critical juncture of affairs, to keep in the speaking to the subject +of the text, and to avoid in the application what might be +exceptionable. We had a pretty numerous auditory in the afternoon; +also some of the officers. All behaved with attention. To-day the news +came that the Provincials have raised the Siege of Quebec, with the +loss of their artillery, baggage, and some hundreds of sick.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 13th June.</i>—Here in town very unhappy and shocking scenes +were exhibited. On Munday night some men called Tories were carried +and hauled about through the streets, with candles forced to be held +by them, or pushed in their faces, and their heads burned; but on +Wednesday, in the open day, the scene was by far worse; several, and +among them gentlemen, were carried on rails; some stripped naked and +dreadfully abused. Some of the generals, and especially Pudnam and +their forces, had enough to do to quell the riot, and make the mob +disperse.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 14th.</i>—A printed letter from the Continental Congress was +distributed, which gave intelligence that for certain, within ten +days, the fleet from Halifax would be here, and it was strongly +recommended to make all possible defence. In consequence of this, many +more troops came to town, and all was in alarm.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 18th.</i>—To-day men were drafted out of the different Ward +Companies. This matter gave us some anxiousness. Our brethren could +not stand out, as times and circumstances are, and had none to apply +to. One Alleviation is, that a man drafted may hire another man, if he +can get one. Of our people were only drafted Robt. Thomas and Abraham +Van Vleck. The town is now pretty full again of the soldiers that are +come from Pennsylvania and other parts; and the moving of the +inhabitants out of town continues.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 22d.</i>—Yesterday and to-day the news came that the fleet was +arrived at the Hook, and the troops from Halifax; which caused new +alarm.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.109" id="Page_ii.109">[Pg ii.109]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Sunday 30th.</i>—Some of the inhabitants moved to-day out of town; the +Provincial Soldiers were busy, and had no service; and in general +there is little attention paid to the Sunday. Our preachings were yet +tolerably well attended. The to-day's Word was, "The work of +Righteousness shall be Peace, &c." At 5 was the Congregational +Meeting, in which we called to mind that to-day we conclude the first +half of this year; and how graciously our dear Lord has helped us +through in the troubles of the country, that begun to increase much +with the beginning of the year, and have lasted more or less ever +since; and now, as they approach yet more seriously, the watch-word +with which we begin the next half year, is very comfortable, and was +spoke upon: "Thou shalt know that I am the Lord, for they shall not be +ashamed that wait for me." Our brethren and sisters parted as if there +might again be a scattering, and it proved so; for, the following week +several more left again the town.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 1st July.</i>—The watch-word of the first day of this month was +very comfortable, and suitable to the time we are in. In the evening +the news came that the fleet, or part of it, had left the Hook, and +was coming nearer.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 2d.</i>—This, and more so when towards noon the first ships +appeared in sight this side the narrows,—put the whole town into +commotion. On the one hand every one that could was for packing up and +getting away; and on the other hand the country soldiers from the +neighboring places came in from all sides; and <i>here</i> the Ward +companies were likewise warned out. Theodore Sypher's wife and child +came to our house, and staid with us this night; but the next day went +to a house a couple of miles out of town. In the evening we had our +usual meeting.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 3d.</i>—Bro. Sleur who had brought his wife and daughter into +the country put several of his things into Bro. Henry Van Vleck's +vault; we put also in some goods belonging to the house, &c. To-day we +heard that the shop goods and clothes belonging to Sr. Hilah Waldron +and sons, Henry Ten Broeck, Eliz. Van Deursen, Sr. Keed, Sr. Kilburn, +Abr. Van Vleck, &c., to the amount of above £700, which went in a boat +yesterday with several other people's goods were taken, with the +boat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.110" id="Page_ii.110">[Pg ii.110]</a></span> by a Man of War. Our people would not have sent their goods +with this boat, if they had not been encouraged by the people +belonging to the boat, whom they knew; and who repeatedly told that +they could not nor would they go <i>down</i> the river, but go <i>up</i> the +North river, or put the goods down at or about Powl's Hook; and yet +they went straight down towards the fleet. There were also some +passengers on board. From all circumstances it appeared plain that it +was done designedly.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 4th.</i>—The fear that the fleet would come up to the town +began to subside. It was heard that they had taken possession of +Staten Island; and that they would hardly advance farther before the +fleet from England arrives. The country soldiers of the neighboring +places were sent back again; on the other hand more of the New England +troops came in.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 10th.</i>—Sr. Hilah Waldron, who had applied to Washington to +get a pass to Staten Island, but got none, went again to Second river, +in order to go with Sr. Kilburn to Elizabethtown, to try whether they +could get one there; for the captain of the Man of War had told them +that he wished they would come for their goods.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 12th.</i>—A few more ships came in through the Narrows, and it +was reported that the great fleet from England began to arrive. In the +afternoon about 3 o'clock there was unexpectedly a smart firing. Two +Men of War, with some Tenders came up. They fired from all the +batteries, but did little execution. The wind and tide being in their +favor, the ships sailed fast up the North river, and soon were out of +sight. When they came this side of Trinity Church, they began to fire +smartly. The balls and bullets went through several houses between +here and Greenwich. Six men were killed; either some or all by +ill-managing the cannons; though it is said that a couple were killed +by the ship's firing; one man's leg was broke, &c. The six were put +this evening into one grave on the Bowling Green. The smoke of the +firing drew over our street like a cloud; and the air was filled with +the smell of the powder. This affair caused a great fright in the +city. Women, and children, and some with their bundles came from the +lower parts, and walked to the Bowery, which was lined with people. +Mother Bosler had been brought down into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.111" id="Page_ii.111">[Pg ii.111]</a></span> their cellar. Phil. +Sypher's, with their child, which was sick, came again to our house. +Not long after this affair was over, the fleet below fired a Salute, +Admiral Howe coming in from England. The Srs. Van Deursen and Reed +would fain have gone out of town this evening, but they could not +bring it to bear.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 14th.</i>—It was a wettish day, and it looked as if all was dead +in the town. The English (Church of England) churches were shut up, +and there was services in none, or few of the others; we had not many +hearers either.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 16th.</i>—Bro. Wilson who came to town last Friday,—for he +could be in peace no more at Second River, as the country people will +have the Yorkers to be in town,—asked for a pass to go over on +business; but they would give him none. This week they have begun to +let no man go out of the city. Last Sunday, a flag of truce brought a +letter to Washington; but having not the title which they give him +here, it was not received. Yesterday a message was sent down from +here; to-day an answer came, (Geo. Washington, Eqr., &c., &c.,) but +was again returned on account of the direction.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 18th</i>, was the day appointed when Independence was to be +declared in the City Hall here; which was done about noon; and the +Coat of Arms of the King was burnt. An unpleasant and heavy feeling +prevailed.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 20th.</i>—About noon a General Adjutant from Lord Howe came, +and had a short conversation with General Washington, in Kennedy's +house. When he went away he said, it is reported, to Washington and +the others with him: "Sir and gentlemen, let it be remembered that the +King has made the first overture for peace; if it be rejected, you +must stand by the consequences" and thus—which seems to have been the +main errand—he departed. Much politeness passed on both sides.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 22nd.</i>—Our Bro. Wilson looking at the ferry, whither his +negro was come with some goods from Second River, was put under arrest +by one Johnson, and treated very basely by him, on account of a charge +laid against him by one Gordon, at the Falls, about 12 miles from +Second River; that he and his son had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.112" id="Page_ii.112">[Pg ii.112]</a></span> spoken against the American +cause; were dangerous persons; and had done much mischief to their +neighborhood, &c. Bro. Wilson appeared before the Committee, the +chairman knew nothing of the charge. Wilmot, one of the Committee did, +but they could prove nothing; and Wilson could easily clear himself. +The result was,—if he resided at Second River, they thought he should +stay there. Many persons were ordered to-day to quit the town, because +they were suspected.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 23d.</i>—Bro. Wilson got a pass, and went to Second River +to-day.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 29th.</i>—Bro. Wilson came from Second River; he had got a +certificate of the Committee there, which cleared him sufficiently of +the late charge; and the Committee here gave him a pass to go to +Pennsylvania. He brought letters from Bethlehem, where he intends to +go this week; and returned to Second River this afternoon. He also +brought word that our people have got their goods that were taken with +the boat.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 14th August.</i>—There was much alarm in the town, as it was +expected that the next morning an attack would be made on the city by +the King's troops; which however, did not prove so.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 17th.</i>—Towards night a proclamation was published, in which +all women, children, and infirm people were advised to leave the city, +with all possible speed; as a bombardment was expected; those that +were indigent should be assisted and provided for. This caused a new +fright. Some of the sisters yet in town came to Br. Shewkirk to advise +with him about it.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 18th.</i>—Early in the morning the two men of war and their +tender, that had been up the North River, came back; which caused +again a sharp cannonading till they were passed. Yesterday, a +fortnight ago, they had been attacked by the Row-gallies and a +Privateer, which were obliged to desist from their attempt; having +been gradually worsted by the men-of-war, and lost several of their +men. Last week they attacked them with fire-ships, but could not +obtain their end, and lost one of their captains; they then sunk +vessels, and thought to be sure of hav<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.113" id="Page_ii.113">[Pg ii.113]</a></span>ing stopped their passage; +however, they came back. It was a rainy morning, with a north east +wind. The fright seemed to be not as great as it was when they went +up; and yet the balls hurt more houses; some men were likewise hurt.</p> + +<p>Phil. Sypher's experienced a kind preservation. A nine pounder came +through the old German church on the Broad Way, into the house they +lived in, opposite the Lutheran church, and into the room where they +slept; but they were up and out of the room. The ball come through the +window, which it mashed to pieces, with part of the framework; went +through the opposite wall near the head of the bedstead; crossed the +staircase to another room; but meeting with a beam in the wall, came +back and went a part through the side wall, and then dropt down on the +stairs. A thirty-two pounder, supposed coming from the Powlis Hook +battery, fell into Sr. Barnard's garden, just before her door. If +there was service kept, it was but in one church. Our preaching in the +forenoon was on Jer. 45:19; "I said not unto the seed of Jacob, seek +ye me in vain," &c., and in the evening from Matt. 6, 19 20; "Lay not +up for yourselves treasures on earth" &c.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 21st.</i>—In the evening ... a very heavy thunder storm came +on. It lasted for several hours, till after 10 o'clock; an uncommon +lightning; one hard clap after the other; heavy rain mixed at times +with a storm like a hurricane. The inhabitants can hardly remember +such a tempest, even when it struck into Trinity church twenty years +ago; they say it was but one very hard clap, and together did not last +so long by far. Upon the whole it was an awful scene. Three officers, +viz., one Captain, and two Lieuts., were killed in one of the Camps; +they were all Yorkers; and one soldier of the New English People was +likewise killed in a house in the square; several others were hurt, +and the mast of one of the row gallies mash'd to pieces.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 22d</i> and <i>Friday 23d.</i>—The king's troops landed on Long +Island. The troops from here went over, one Battalion after the other, +and many kept on coming in; yet, upon the whole their number certainly +was not so great as it commonly was made. In the evening we had the +congregational meeting with the little company that was present. We +resolved to drop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.114" id="Page_ii.114">[Pg ii.114]</a></span> the Wednesday meeting for the present, and to begin +that on Tuesday and Friday at 6 o'clock.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 26th.</i>—A good deal of firing was heard on Long Island, and +several skirmishes happened between the scouting parties, wherein the +Provincials sustained loss.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 27th</i> was a Fast and Prayer-day in this Province; which had +been appointed by the Convention; but here in the city it was not and +could not be observed. On the one hand, there are but few inhabitants +in the town, and the soldiers were busily employed; on the other hand +there was much alarm in the city. Soon, in the morning, an alarm gun +was fired in expectation, that the ships were coming up; which however +proved not so; but on Long Island there was a smart engagement, in +which the Americans suffered greatly. Two generals, Sullivan and +Sterling, and many other officers and soldiers were taken prisoners. +All the troops now went over; those from King's Bridge came likewise, +and went over the next morning. As very few of our people came, we +kept only a little meeting in the forenoon, in which a short discourse +was kept on Jer. 48, 17 and 18; and concluded with a moving prayer, +kneeling. This (the result of the battle) was an agreeable +disappointment for all honest men; for what could such a fast signify, +when men want to pursue measures against the Word and Will of God, &c.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 28th.</i>—The different parties on Long Island kept on to be +engaged with one another; the firing was plainly heard. Bro. Shewkirk +met with a young man, who waited on Ensign Goodman, and who was come +back from Long Island. He told him that he, and a small number of his +regiment—Huntington's,—had escaped with their lives. It had been a +sight he should never forget; such as he never wished to see again. +This young man is of a serious turn, and religious more than common, +and promises to be the Lords'. In the afternoon we had extraordinary +heavy rains and thunder. From one of the Forts of the Continental army +on Long Island, two alarm guns were fired in the midst of the heavy +rain; supposing that the regulars would attack their line somewhere +between Flatbush and Brockland; all the men were ordered out though it +rained prodigiously; it was found,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.115" id="Page_ii.115">[Pg ii.115]</a></span> after some time, that it was a +false alarm. The sound of these alarm guns had just ceased, when, +immediately after, a flash of lightning came, followed by a clap of +thunder. It was awful. The very heavy rain, with intermixed thunder, +continued for some hours till towards evening. In the night the +battling on Long Island continued, and likewise,</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 29th</i>; and in the afternoon such heavy rain fell again as +can hardly be remembered; nevertheless the operations on Long Island +went on more or less; and behold, in the night, the Americans thought +it advisable to retreat, and leave Long Island to the King's troops. +They found that they could not stand their ground, and feared to be +surrounded, and their retreat cut off. The great loss they had +sustained, the want of provision and shelter, in the extraordinary +Wet; the unfitness of many of their troops for war, &c.; undoubtedly +contributed to this resolution.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 30th.</i>—In the morning, unexpectedly and to the surprize of +the city, it was found that all that could come back was come back; +and that they had abandoned Long Island; when many had thought to +surround the king's troops, and make them prisoners with little +trouble. The language was now otherwise; it was a surprising change, +the merry tones on drums and fifes had ceased, and they were hardly +heard for a couple of days. It seemed a general damp had spread; and +the sight of the scattered people up and down the streets was indeed +moving. Many looked sickly, emaciated, cast down, &c.; the wet +clothes, tents,—as many as they had brought away,—and other things, +were lying about before the houses and in the streets to-day; in +general everything seemed to be in confusion. Many, as it is reported +for certain, went away to their respective homes. The loss in killed +and wounded and taken has been great, and more so than it ever will be +known. Several were drowned and lost their lives in passing a creek to +save themselves. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland people +lost the most; the New England people, &c., it seems are but poor +soldiers, they soon took to their heels. At night, the few that came +or would come, had a meeting on the texts; and the next day we ended +this troublesome month with the watch-word, "He that believeth shall +not make haste." "Grant me to lean unshaken, &c."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.116" id="Page_ii.116">[Pg ii.116]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Sunday 1st September.</i>—We had our preaching in the forenoon, and in +the evening as usual; and in the afternoon the Congregation meeting. +At the preachings we had goodly companies of strangers.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 3d.</i>—The evening meeting was on the Watchword and Text. The +rebel army begun to re-collect themselves; and the greatest part +marched towards Harlem, and along the East River, some miles from +here; the king's army advanced eastward on Long Island, opposite the +Hell Gate, and thereabouts.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 9th.</i>—Whereas the troubles of War were now near Watts' House, +Phil. Sypher fetched his wife, child, and goods back from thence to +town, as also the things out of the Chapel House that had been there; +and it was just high time, else they might have been lost; for this +house soon after was plundered by the king's troops. Several other +people came back from those parts. By the measures and proceedings of +the Rebel army, it appeared evident, that they intended to leave the +city; for as they had begun last week, so all this week, they removed +their sick, their stoves, and ammunition, and gradually the soldiers +marched away. They likewise took the bells out of all the Churches and +conveyed them away.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 11th</i> and <i>Thursday 12th.</i>—Night and day they were busy to +bring their things away; and it appeared plain, that there would be a +change soon; the reports were various. Almost daily there was firing +from Long Island to Horn's Hook, and the ship yards here.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 13th.</i>—In the afternoon, some Men of War went up the East +river; the few cannons left, fired on the ships, which caused that +they fired back from Long Island and Governor's Island and very +smartly. Isaac Van Vleck, who is too much bewildered in the matter, +made haste to get out of town.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 14th.</i>—In the afternoon more ships went up the East River, +which being fired on again, brought on another smart cannonading; some +Houses were damaged and it was very unsafe to walk in the streets. The +remainder of the Rebel army hasted away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.117" id="Page_ii.117">[Pg ii.117]</a></span> and so did the members of +the Committee, and others of the deluded people.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 15th.</i>—Soon in the morning when the tide served, more ships +passed up both the North and East river; and though what was yet in +town of the Rebel troops got away as fast as they could, yet they +fired again on the ships, as they did likewise from Powles Hook; which +caused a cannonading which made the houses shake, and the sound of it +was terrible. One large ball, supposed to come from Powles Hook flew +against the North Church, just opposite the chapel broke, and a part +of it went back into a neighboring cellar kitchen, where a negro woman +was, who came running over to the kitchen of the chapel-house; where +also Syphers' family was, who had been there all night, as they lived +near the fort, where the houses were most exposed to the firing. After +some time the firing ceased, and at the usual time we had the +forenoon's preaching, in all stillness; the only service kept in the +city. About this time the king's troops had landed on York Island, +about three miles from the city; there was some slaughter, and the +rebels were made to retreat towards Harlem. In the afternoon at three +was the congregation meeting; but the evening preaching we thought +proper to drop. There was a good deal of commotion in the town; the +Continental stores were broke open, and people carried off the +provisions; the boats crossed to Powles' Hook backward and forward yet +till toward evening; some people going away and others coming in; but +then the ferry boats withdrew, and the passage was stopped. Some of +the king's officers from the ships came on shore, and were joyfully +received by some of the inhabitants. The king's flag was put up again +in the fort, and the Rebels' taken down. And thus the city was now +delivered from those Usurpers who had oppressed it so long.</p> + +<p><i>Monday Sept. 16th.</i>—In the forenoon the first of the English troops +came to town. They were drawn up in two lines in the Broad Way; +Governor Tryon and others of the officers were present, and a great +concourse of people. Joy and gladness seemed to appear in all +countenances, and persons who had been strangers one to the other +formerly, were now very sociable together, and friendly. Bro. +Shewkirk, who accidentally, came to it, met with several instances of +that kind.—The first that was done was, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.118" id="Page_ii.118">[Pg ii.118]</a></span> all the houses of those +who have had a part and a share in the Rebellion were marked as +forfeited. Many indeed were marked by persons who had no order to do +so, and did it perhaps to one or the other from some personal +resentment. Bro. Shewkirk, walking through the streets, saw to his +grief, that several houses belonging to our people were likewise +marked; as Sr. Kilburn's, Hilah Waldron's, and Sr. Bouquet's, King's, +Isaac Van Vleck's, &c. He wrote afterwards to Governor Tryon, +congratulating him on the late happy event, and at the same time +interceded in behalf of the 2 Ww's houses. The word of this day was +remarkable: "Israel shall be saved in the Lord, with an everlasting +salvation; ye shall not be confounded world without end." The +following day everything was pretty quiet, though almost daily they +brought in prisoners, who were lodged in the Dutch and Presbyterian +churches. The fear one had of the city's being destroyed by fire +subsided, and the inhabitants thought themselves now pretty secure; +little thinking that destruction was so near.</p> + +<p><i>Friday 20th.</i>—Bro. Jacobsen came from Staten Island, and it was a +true mutual joy to see one another; as, for a couple of months we +could have no communication with Staten Island. By him we heard that +our people there were all well.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 21st.</i>—In the first hour of the day, soon after midnight, +the whole city was alarmed by a dreadful fire. Bro. Shewkirk, who was +alone in the chapel-house, was not a little struck, when he saw the +whole air red, and thought it to be very near; but going into the +street, he found that it was in the low west end of the town; and went +thither. When he came down the Broad Way, he met with Sr. Sykes and +her children. She was almost spent carrying the child, and a large +bundle besides. He took the bundle, and went back with them, and let +them in to our house; when he left them, and returned with their +prentice to the fire, taking some buckets along. The fire was then in +the lower part of Broad street, Stone street, &c. It spread so +violently that all what was done was but of little effect; if one was +in one street and looked about, it broke out already again in another +street above; and thus it raged all the night, and till about noon. +The wind was pretty high from south-east, and drove the flames to the +northwest. It broke out about White Hall; destroyed a part of Broad +street,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.119" id="Page_ii.119">[Pg ii.119]</a></span> Stone street, Beaver street, the Broadway, and then the +streets going to the North River, and all along the North river as far +as the King's College. Great pain was taken to save Trinity church, +the oldest and largest of the English churches, but in vain; it was +destroyed, as also the old Lutheran church; and St. Paul's, at the +upper end of the Broadway, escaped very narrowly. Some of our families +brought of their goods to our house. Bro. Shewkirk had the pleasure to +be a comfort to our neighbors, who were much frightened the fire might +come this way; and indeed, if the wind had shifted to the west as it +had the appearance a couple of times, the whole city might have been +destroyed. The corner house of our street, going to the Broadway, +catched already; Bro. Shewkirk ordered our long ladder, and the others +to be fetched out of our burying ground; which were of service in +carrying the water up to the roof of said house in buckets; and by the +industry of all the people the fire was put out. Several of our people +have sustained considerable loss: Sr. Kilburn has lost two houses; +Pell's three houses; Jacobson one, and Widow Zoeller her's; and others +have lost a part of their goods; as Lepper, Eastman, &c.</p> + +<p>There are great reasons to suspect that some wicked incendiaries had a +hand in this dreadful fire, which has consumed the fourth part of the +city; several persons have been apprehended; moreover there were few +hands of the inhabitants to assist; the bells being carried off, no +timely alarm was given; the engines were out of order; the fire +company broke; and also no proper order and directions, &c.; all which +contributed to the spreading of the flames.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 23d.</i>—The fire has thrown a great damp on the former joyful +sensation; numbers of people were carried to Jail, on suspicion to +have had a hand in the fire, and to have been on the Rebel's side; it +is said about 200; however, on examination, the most men were as fast +discharged.</p> + +<p>Bro. Conrad, also, was taken to Jail, but after a couple of days he +came out again. Daniel Van Vleck expected the same, which made his +wife and family much distressed; for he had often talked too +inconsiderate, and in a wrong spirit; however it blew over. After all, +it is observable, that those of our people who had kept themselves +free from the Infatuation, were acknowledged as such, and met with +nothing disagreeable of that kind.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.120" id="Page_ii.120">[Pg ii.120]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>November.</i>—In November new troubles began on account of the +quartering of the soldiers, of whom more and more come in; as also +many of their women and children. Many of the public buildings were +already filled with Prisoners, or sick, &c; especially all the Dutch +and Presbyterian churches, as also the French church, the Baptists, +and new Quaker meeting; and we were not without apprehension, that +something of that nature might come upon us; and this the more, as the +Chapel-House has the appearance of a spacious building; and just +opposite the same they were fitting up the fine north church of the +English Dutch for Barracks.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 16th.</i>—From early in the morning till towards noon, a heavy +cannonading was heard, tho' at a considerable distance; one heard +afterwards that the king's troops had attacked the lines and the +famous Fort Washington, and carried it; several thousands of the +rebels were taken prisoners, &c. The king's army has been about 2 +months thereabouts; and there have been, from time to time, sharp +engagements, at the White Plains, &c; till at last they have driven +them away from the York Island; and it was a matter of moment, as now +one may hope that the communication with the Jerseys will be open'd, +as also with the places up the East River; so that the Inhabitants may +come to the city and provisions be brought in; especially wood, which +is not to be had, and is extremely dear; a cord of oak wood, bought +formerly for 20s. now 4£s. Fort Constitution, or Lee, opposite Fort +Washington, now Fort Kniphausen, on the Jersey side surrender'd, or +was left by the rebels; and the king's troops got soon master of this +part of the Jerseys, and advanced swiftly towards Philadelphia.</p> + +<p><i>Monday, 18th.</i>—In the forenoon, about 11 o'clock, 2 officers, with 2 +other gentlemen came to see the chapel and house; Bro. Shewkirk showed +them about; one of the officers asked whether service was kept in the +chapel; and hearing it was, said, it would be a pity to take it; the +other ran about very swiftly, and saw every part of the premises. Bro. +Shewkirk, who easily could guess what the meaning was, as soon as they +were gone, made application to the present commanding General +Robertson, and to Governor Tryon. The former was not at home; the +latter re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.121" id="Page_ii.121">[Pg ii.121]</a></span>ceived him kindly, but said he could do nothing in the +matter, as now all the power was lodged with the army; yet he would +recommend the matter to the General; and this he did in a few lines he +wrote under the petition, referring it to the favorable consideration +of the General. Bro. Shewkirk carried it to him, but he was not come +home yet, and so he left it there. He did not know that the 2000 and +more prisoners taken in Fort Washington, had come already to town. In +the afternoon about 4 o'clock he saw at once the street before the +window full of people. The serjeant of the guard came to the door, and +asked whether this was the Moravian meeting? He was order'd to bring +these 400 prisoners here by command of the Generals Smith and +Robertson. If the latter had order'd it, it may be it was done before +he came home to his quarters. Bro. Shewkirk, who was alone in the +house, did not know what to do; he could not go away. By and by the +Major who had command of the prisoners and another man came in; they +looked at the Chapel, and said it was too small; the latter said he +had told that before, he had been in the place before now, and knew +it. He spoke to Bro. Shewkirk, and condoled with him that the place +should be taken; they began to doubt of the certainty, and thought +there was a mistake in the matter; another young man of the city who +knows Bro. Shewkirk, and has now the care of the provisions for the +rebel prisoners, was likewise inclined in our favour. These 3 persons +went backward and forward to make another inquiry; at last one of them +came back and told he had met with the Deputy Barrack Master, a Jew; +who had told him they must be here. Well—the gate on the men's side +was open'd.</p> + +<p>The serjeant of the guard, quite a civil man, advised to take all +loose things out of the chapel before the prisoners came in. This was +done accordingly. Phil. Sykes, who was come before this time, and +extremely welcome, while Bro. Shewkirk was alone in the house, +assisted herein; as also young Wiley; and it took up some time, during +which the Major came again, and order'd the serjeant to wait awhile +longer; he would go to Genl. Robertson. After some time he came back, +and addressed Bro. Shewkirk in a friendly manner; saying, he had +believed they would have been a disagreeable company; and took the +prisoners to the North Church. Bro. Shewkirk thanked the Major for his +kindness; may the Lord reward him as also the other two men. The +pris<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.122" id="Page_ii.122">[Pg ii.122]</a></span>oners, with the guard, stood above half an hour in the street +before our door, and many spectators, of whom none, so far as one +could see, showed a wish for their coming in, but several signified +the reverse, and were glad when it did not take place. An old +gentleman, several weeks after, accosted Bro. Shewkirk in the street, +and told him how sorry he had been when he saw these people standing +before our door; he had heard Bro. Rice, &c. After this affair was +over, Bro. Shewkirk retreated to this room, and thanked our Saviour, +with tears, for his visible help; He has the hearts of all men in His +hands. If these prisoners had come in, how much would our place have +been ruined, as one may see by the North Church; not to mention the +painful thought of seeing a place dedicated to our Savior's praise, +made a habitation of darkness and uncleanness. Praise be to Him and +the Father!</p> + +<p>As the winter quarters of the soldiers in this city were not settled +yet, the apprehension was not over, that some would be put to us; and +so one of our neighbors thought, who in time of peace was one of the +Common Council men; but at the same time he assured Bro. Shewkirk that +as far as he knew, none of the creditable and sensible men of the +town, wished it out of spite, &c. Bro. Shewkirk's character was +well-known, but the house was large, and there was want of room.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday, December 1st.</i>—In the afternoon about two o'clock, a company +of officers came into the House, looking for some quarter for +themselves. It was assured by some that they would not disturb our +church and service; some talked but of some rooms; others said they +must have the whole house, and the chapel too. One, a Cornet of the +Light Horse marked one room for himself; desired to clear it this +afternoon, and let him have a table and a couple of chairs, and he +would willingly pay for it. After they were gone, Bro. Shewkirk, and +Wilson who was just with him, went to Genl. Robertson. The Genl. was +kind; he said he had given them no orders; he intended to have no +place disturbed where service was kept. He took down Bro. Shewkirk's +name and the matter; which chiefly was, not to disturb our chapel, nor +to desire the whole house, Bro. Shewkirk offer'd a couple of rooms if +necessary; and at last said he would go to Alderman Waddel. He was +along with the officers in the street, before they came in, but told +Wilson he had nothing to do with it; he only upon their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.123" id="Page_ii.123">[Pg ii.123]</a></span> desire had +gone along with them, and hear what he knew of the matter, and they +should come along with him. When they were on the way, they met one of +those officers, (the Genl's clerk) and indeed him, who spoke the most +imperiously, and that he would have the chapel; upon which the Genl. +and they returned to the Genl's house. The officer spoke here quite in +another tone and said he had already told the other to look out for +another place, etc. The Genl. said he would see about the matter, and +give an answer the next morning. The brethren went home, and Bro. +Shewkirk held the congregation meeting for which the brethren and +sisters were gathered together. Upon this occasion we found again that +our neighbors were not against us. One said, it cannot be that they +would take your place, the only place where public service was held +when there was none in the whole city. In the evening the room which +the Cornet had marked was cleared, in case he should come; but none of +them came again. Some time after, Dr. Edmunds, belonging to the +hospital came one day, and with much civility and modesty inquired +after a room. Bro. Shewkirk, thinking perhaps it might be a means to +be free from a further endeavor of somebody's being quartered +here,—and moreover wishing to have a man in the house in these +days,—offered him the room the Cornet had marked; and after some +weeks he came, and proves a very civil and quiet gentleman, who causes +little or no troubles.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 2nd.</i>—The commissioner's extraordinary gracious proclamation +in the name of the King, was published in the public papers; by virtue +of which all rebels within 60 days may return without suffering any +forfeiture or punishment; and it has had a great effect; numbers are +come in, have signed the prescribed declaration, availed themselves of +the benefit of the proclamation, and returned to the peaceable +enjoyment of their property; though afterwards some of them have shown +their insincerity and bad principles, going back again to the rebels. +The officers yesterday doubtless thought in a hurry to secure lodgings +to themselves before the proclamation was published, as now they can't +take houses as they please. This was also the answer Genl. Robertson +gave to Bro. Wilson this morning, when he carried in his name, and +mentioned again our house and chapel. The Genl. said the proclamation +would settle these matters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.124" id="Page_ii.124">[Pg ii.124]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 31st.</i>—Whereas it is at present very unsafe in the evenings +to be out, on account of several late robberies, and persons having +been knocked down besides, we were obliged to submit to the times and +circumstances; and therefore the congregation members met at 4 o'clock +in the afternoon, and had a love feast; to praise together our dear +and gracious Lord for all his goodness bestowed on us during this year +full of troubles. Indeed these times have been a time of shaking, and +what had no root is dropped off.</p> + +<h3>1777.</h3> + +<p><i>Tuesday 7th January.</i>—Since the attack and defeat which the Hessians +sustained near Trenton some time ago, the rebels are again in high +spirits; and whereas the King's troops have been ordered down towards +Philadelphia from Newark, and about Hackensack, the rebels are come +again to these places, and distress the inhabitants greatly. Several +are come to town, having fled from thence.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 14th.</i>—Upon the request of General Howe to lend our benches +for the entertainment on the Queen's birthday, several wagons full +were fetched.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 18th.</i>—Several reports prevailed that a part of the rebel +army was approaching this city, and early this morning they had made +an attack upon a fort above King's Bridge; but they were repulsed. +Some of the soldiers here were ordered up that way to-day, and all the +night soldiers kept a look-out.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 20th.</i>—It appears from the public papers, that intelligence +has been had of a further intention to destroy this city by fire. For +this reason the city watch has been regulated anew, according to which +about 80 men watched every night in the different wards. Besides this, +some of the Light Horse patrol the streets in the night. Some other +regulations were likewise published, which give again an aspect of +matters coming again into some order. The effect has also shown +itself, the breaking down of fences, &c., does not go on as it did for +a while; the bread is larger <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.125" id="Page_ii.125">[Pg ii.125]</a></span>&c.</p> + +<p>To-day a beginning was made with the inhabitants to take the oath of +allegiance to his Majesty. Every day 2 wards are taken; it is done +before the governor, mayor, &c.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 6th February.</i>—Our burying ground at Fresh Water, (corner +of Mott and Pell streets) lies entirely open; not the least of a board +or post is left.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 16th.</i>—The evening preaching at 6, was on a part of the +to-day's Epistle: 2 Cor. vi: 1, 2; the subject,—"not to receive the +grace of God in vain." When near the conclusion, another cry of fire +was heard in the street, so that the last verses could not be sung. It +happened to be in the Broadway, but was put out soon.</p> + +<p><i>Monday 17th.</i>—Towards evening there was another alarm of fire, but +it proved to be a false one, and the engines were ordered back.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 4th March.</i>—In the afternoon was the burial of Dr. +Autchmuty, Rector of Trinity Church here, who departed this life last +Tuesday. Bro. Shewkirk was invited, and was one of the ministers that +were pall-bearers. There was a large company of ministers present; the +most of them were strangers, partly belonging to the army. He was +buried in St. Paul's. The weather was bad, raining and snowing, yet +there was a great concourse of people. Mr. Inglis kept the funeral +service.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday 16th.</i>—Some wild officers who came into the evening meeting +disturbed the devotion somewhat; however they went away soon; the +auditory was pretty large and attentive.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 18th.</i>—We have had fine weather of late. On Sunday night +about 100 of the rebels being in a house somewhere above King's +Bridge, some of the King's troops went to take them prisoners; and as +soon as they saw and heard nothing of an opposition, they surrounded +the house, and the Captain and some men went in; but some of the +rebels took up their guns, and killed the captain, and 4 or 5 men; +upon which the others rushed in with their fixed bayonets, killed +about 40, and took the rest prisoners. In the Jerseys some fightings +have likewise been within these days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.126" id="Page_ii.126">[Pg ii.126]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 29th May.</i>—The King's troops are preparing for the +campaign, and to leave the town and winter quarters. The day before +yesterday some of the fleet with fresh troops from home arrived, and +yesterday a large number of troops came in from King's Bridge to +embark.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 31st.</i>—As many troops are come in, some were lodged in the +North Church opposite us, who made a great wild noise. They were of +the recruits that are come from England. Others were lodged in the +Methodist meeting, and in the old Dutch church, &c.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday 3rd June.</i>—The packet came in, as also more troops; but we +got no letter.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 4th.</i>—At noon a salute was given from all the ships in the +river, this being His Majesty's birthday. In the evening meeting we +blessed our dear king; afterwards the front of our house was +illuminated with 48 candles, and made a fine sight to the satisfaction +of the beholders. To-day our Sister Len. Venema came back out of the +country to our joy.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 5th.</i>—In these days the troops were moving, and everything +was in an emotion; and on</p> + +<p><i>Friday 6th.</i>—Many went away into the Jerseys; more of the German +troops were arrived.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday 25th.</i>—An account had come to town within these days, that +the intended expedition of the army had not succeeded:—finding the +rebel army too much entrenched and fortified; and therefore they had +returned to Amboy; would leave the Jerseys, embark, and go upon +another expedition. A good many of the army came to town, especially +also women and children, so as to make the place and streets pretty +full again. Several of the Jersey inhabitants flocked likewise to the +city. In the evening the xii. chapter of the Hebrews was read, and +spoken on.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday 28th.</i>—Since Thursday, a report prevailed that there had +been a smart battle in the Jerseys. After the King's troops had +embarked, and the day was appointed to sail on an expedi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.127" id="Page_ii.127">[Pg ii.127]</a></span>tion, the +general got intelligence that part of the rebel army was come within +three miles from Amboy; upon which the troops were ordered back on +shore, and march'd in the night to surround the rebels, with whom +Washington was, it is said. The reports vary much, and were +exaggerated exceedingly: 1,100 killed of the King's troops; 5 or 6,000 +of the rebels; as many taken prisoners, and their artillery; they were +surrounded with Washington; that they could not escape; nay, +Washington was among the slain; Stirling dead of his wounds; Genl. +Livingston likewise, &c.; 400 Pennsylvanians had grounded their arms, +and come over to the regulars, &c., &c. To-day, the account fell very +much, and came down to a few hundreds lost on the rebel side; how many +on our side, is not said at all. Seventy were taken prisoners, who +were, together with a couple of field-pieces, brought to town early in +the morning. Matters go but slow, and cause concern to all +disinterested well-wishers.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday 3rd July.</i>—The King's army has left the Jerseys, and is +come back to Staten Island. Many came to town daily; so that it grows +quite full again for the present. The rebels have now the whole +Jerseys again except Powless's Hook; and we are just where we were +last year, after the being in possession of N.Y. Island. 'Tis very +discouraging, may the Lord pity this poor country.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in the Archives of the Moravian Church.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO38"></a>[No. 38.]<br /> +<br /> +MAJOR NICHOLAS FISH TO RICHARD VARICK</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, April 9, 1776.</p> + +<p>I have since my last been on Several Excursions in military +Capacity—That to West Chester County to Guard the Cannon & find out +the Authors of Spiking them, has probably ere this time reached you; I +shall not therefore trouble you with a detail.</p> + +<p>You wish to hear what we are about in New York <span class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: blank in original">[ ]</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.128" id="Page_ii.128">[Pg ii.128]</a></span> To be informed, picture to yourself the once +flourishing City evacuated of most of its Members (especially the +fair). Buisiness of every kind stagnated—all its streets that lead +from the North and East Rivers blockaded, and nothing but military +opperations our Current Employment.</p> + +<p>I have been engaged for near three Weeks with the first independent +Battalion on fatigue duty, in erecting a Redoubt round the Hospital, +which we compleated on the 2<sup>d</sup> instant. This, tho' you will suppose +it did not agree well with the tender Hands & delicate Textures of +many, was notwithstanding with amazing agility and neatness, and +laying vanity aside, is generally judged to be the best work of the +kind in the city; the Hospital round which our Works are, is made an +Arsenal for Provisions. On Bayards Mount now called Montgomerie Mount, +as a Monument to that great Heroe, who honorably fell supporting +freedom's cause, there will be a Fortification superior in Strength to +any my Imagination could ever have conceived. Several hundred Men have +been daily employed there for upwards of four Weeks. The Parapet of +the old Battery is raised to a proper Height, with a sufficient number +of Ambersures—As also the Parapet on the Fort Wall. There are two +fortifications on Long Island opposite this City to command the +shipping, one on Gou<sup>rs</sup> Island, one at red Hook, and the City itself +and Suburbs filled with them. Sundays we have none of, all Days come +alike when <span class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: blank in original">[ ]</span> is in question. We have Genl<sup>s</sup> Putnam, Sullivan, +Heath, Thompson, & L<sup>d</sup> Sterling among us, with I believe about 14 +Thousand Troops; fresh arrivals from Cambridge Daily. And Washington +hourly expected with many more—On Sunday the 7<sup>th</sup> instant there was +an Exchange of many shot between our Rifle Men on Staten Island, and +the Man of War, who sent Barges there for Water, of which the Riflemen +prevented their supplying themselves—We know of four of their Men +being killed, nine wounded, and have 12 Prisoners. Our Com<sup>y</sup> now +Guards the Records of the Province which are removed to Mr. N. Bayards +Farm....</p> + +<p class="center">[Hist. Mag., Second Series, vol. v. p. 203. Communicated by Hon. Hamilton Fish.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.129" id="Page_ii.129">[Pg ii.129]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO39"></a>[No. 39.]<br /> +<br /> +SURGEON WILLIAM EUSTIS TO DR. TOWNSEND<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">BOSTON, MASS.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, 28<sup>th</sup> June, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,</p> + +<p>... You will be in Boston long before this can reach you, and will +doubtless have heard of the Discovery of the greatest and vilest +attempt ever made against our country: I mean the <i>plot</i>, the infernal +<i>plot</i> which has been contrived by our worst enemies, and which was on +the verge of execution: you will, I say, undoubtedly have <i>heard</i> of +it, but perhaps I may give you a better idea of it than as yet you +have obtained. The Mayor of York with a number of villains who were +possessed of fortunes, and who formerly ranked with Gentlemen, had +impiously dared an undertaking, big with fatal consequences to the +<i>virtuous</i> army in York, and which in all probability would have given +the enemy possession of the city with little loss. Their design was, +upon the first engagement which took place, to have murdered (with +trembling I say it) the best man on earth: Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington was to +have been the first subject of their unheard of <span class="smcap">Sacricide</span>: our +magazines which, as you know, are very capacious, were to have been +blown up: every General Officer and every other who was active in +serving his country in the field was to have been assassinated: our +cannon were to be spiked up: and in short every the most accursed +scheme was laid to give us into the hands of the enemy, and to ruin +us. They had plenty of money, and gave large bounties and larger +promises to those who were engaged to serve their hellish purposes. In +order to execute their Design upon our General, they had enlisted into +their service one or two from his Excellency's <i>life-Guard</i>, who were +to have assassinated <i>him</i>: knowing that no person could be admitted +into the magazines or among the cannon but those who were of the +Artillery they have found several in our Regiment vile enough to be +concerned in their diabolical Designs—these were to have blown up the +Magazines and spiked the cannon. (Tell Homans, one Rotch, a fellow he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.130" id="Page_ii.130">[Pg ii.130]</a></span>bled for me in Morton's company at N<sup>o</sup> 1 is taken up with his +brother for being concerned.) Their Design was deep, long concerted, +and wicked to a <i>great Degree</i>. But happily for us, it has pleased God +to discover it to us in season, and I think we are making a right +improvement of it (as the good folks say). We are hanging them as fast +as we find them out. I have just now returned from the Execution of +one<a name="FNanchor_242_242" id="FNanchor_242_242"></a><a href="#Footnote_242_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a> of the General's Guard: he was the first that has been tried: +yesterday at 11 o'clock he received sentence, to-day at 11 he was hung +in presence of the whole army. He is a Regular-Deserter ... he +appeared unaffected and obstinate to the last, except that when the +Chaplains took him by the hand under the Gallows and bad him adieu, a +torrent of tears flowed over his face; but with an indignant scornful +air he wiped 'em with his hand from his face, and assumed the +<i>confident look</i>. You remember General Greene commands at Long Island; +with his last breath the fellow told the spectators, that unless +Gen<sup>l</sup> Greene was very cautious, the Design would <i>as yet</i> be +executed on him.</p> + +<p>The trial will go on, and I imagine they will be hung, gentle and +simple, as fast as the fact is proved upon them.</p> + +<p>That any set of men could be so lost to every virtuous principle, and +so dead to the feelings of humanity as to conspire against the person +of so great and good a man as Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington is surprising; few of +our countrymen (as you may imagine) are concerned; they are in general +foreigners: upwards of 30 were concerned, and 'tis said Gov<sup>r</sup> Tryon +is at the bottom....</p> + +<p>Our Expedition against the Light house did not succeed; they command +it so well with y<sup>e</sup> shipping that 'tis thought wise to let it +stand....</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">W. Eustis.</span></p> + +<p><i>Monday Morning July 1st.</i>—Since writing the above upwards of 100 +sail have arrived: we conclude that the whole fleet is there: for we +have counted 140 topsail vessels; some say there are 160: people are +moving out of York; and I think we must very soon come to action; the +flower of our Reg. is picked for a field fight, which we imagine will +take place on long island. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, my best +wishes will be for the felicity of my friend. Adieu. Heaven preserve +us to meet again.</p> + +<p class="center">[New England Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. xxiii. p. 205.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.131" id="Page_ii.131">[Pg ii.131]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO40"></a>[No. 40.]<br /> +<br /> +CAPTAIN NATHAN HALE TO HIS BROTHER</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Aug. 20<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,</p> + +<p>I have only time for a hasty letter. Our situation has been such this +fortnight or more as scarce to admit of writing. We have daily +expected an action—by which means, if any one was going, and we had +letters written, orders were so strict for our tarrying in camp that +we could rarely get leave to go and deliver them.—For about 6 or 8 +days the enemy have been expected hourly, whenever the wind and tide +in the least favored. We keep a particular look out for them this +morning. The place and manner of attack time must determine. The event +we leave to Heaven. Thanks to God! we have had time for compleating +our works and receiving reenforcements. The militia of Connecticut +ordered this way are mostly arrived. Col. [Andrew] Ward's Reg<sup>t</sup> has +got in. Troops from the Southward are daily coming. We hope, under +God, to give a good account of the Enemy whenever they choose to make +the last appeal.</p> + +<p>Last Friday night, two of our five vessels (a Sloop and a Schooner) +made an attempt upon the shipping up the River. The night was too +dark, the wind too slack for the attempt. The Schooner which was +intended for one of the Ships had got by before she discovered them; +but as Providence would have it, she run athwart a bomb-catch which +she quickly burned. The Sloop by the light of the fire discovered the +Phœnix—but rather too late—however, she made shift to grapple +her, but the wind not proving sufficient to bring her close along side +or drive the flames immediately on board, the Phœnix after much +difficulty got her clear by cutting her own rigging. Serg<sup>t</sup> Fosdick +who commanded the above Sloop, and four of his hands, were of my +Company, the remaining two were of this Reg<sup>t</sup>.</p> + +<p>The Gen<sup>l</sup> has been pleased to reward their bravery with forty +dollars each, except the last man who quitted the fire Sloop, who had +fifty. Those on board the schooner received the same.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.132" id="Page_ii.132">[Pg ii.132]</a></span></p> + +<p>I must write to some of my brothers lest you should not be at home. +Remain</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em">Your friend and Brother</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">N. Hale</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Enoch Hale</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>Life of Captain Nathan Hale, the Martyr-Spy of the American Revolution.</i> By I.W. Stuart, +Hartford, 1756.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO41"></a>[No. 41.]<br /> +<br /> +EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM NEW YORK</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, April 12 1776.</p> + +<p>"If you have any idea of our situation, you must be solicitous to hear +from us. When you are informed that New York is deserted by its old +inhabitants, and filled with soldiers from New England, Philadelphia, +and Jersey—you will naturally conclude, the <i>Environs</i> of it are not +very safe from so undisciplined a multitude, as our Provincials are +represented to be; but I do believe, there are few instances of so +great a number of men together, with so little mischief done by them; +they have all the simplicity of ploughmen in their manners, and seem +quite strangers to the vices of older soldiers. They have been +employed in erecting fortifications in every part of the town; and it +would make you sorry to see the place so changed: the old fort walls, +are demolished in part, although that is an advantage to the Broadway. +There is a Battery carried across the street, erected partly at Lord +Abingdon's expense, for the Fascines, were cut out of the <i>wood</i> that +belonged to the Warren estate: it was beautiful <i>wood</i>—Oliver De +Lancey, had been nursing it these forty years; it looks in a piteous +state now: Mr. D. hoped to have it somewhat spared by telling the New +England men, who were cutting it, that a third part belonged to one of +the <i>Protesting Lords</i>. One of them answered, 'Well, and if he be such +a great liberty boy, and so great a friend to our country, he will be +quite happy that his wood, was so <i>happy</i> for our use.' You remember +Bayard's Mount covered with cedars? It commanded a prospect +exceedingly extensive! The top of it is so cut away, that there is +room enough for a house and garden; a fortification is there erected +as well as round<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.133" id="Page_ii.133">[Pg ii.133]</a></span> the <i>Hospital</i>:—in short, every place that can be +employed in that way, is or will be, so used. You may recollect a +sweet situation at Horn's Hook, that Jacob Walton purchased, built an +elegant house, and greatly and beautifully improved the place; he was +obliged to quit the place; the troops took possession, and fortified +there. Oh, the houses in New York, if you could but see the insides of +them! Kennedy's house, Mallet's, and the next to it, had six hundred +men in them. If the owners ever get possession, they must be years in +cleaning them. The merchants have raised their goods to an enormous +price; many articles are scarce indeed; and there is quite a hue and +cry about <i>pins</i>. Common rum, 6 to 7 shillings per gallon; poor sugar, +4l a hundred; molasses none; cotton 4s per pound."</p> + +<p class="center">[From the Historical Magazine.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO42"></a>[No. 42.]<br /> +<br /> +EXTRACTS FROM THE LONDON CHRONICLE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">SEPT.—OCT. 1776.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>FROM A BRITISH OFFICER AT NEW YORK, SEPT. 6, 1776.</h4> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"General Howe finding himself at the head of 21,000 men, in high +health and fit for action, was determined to begin upon it as soon as +possible; accordingly a great number of regiments were reimbarked on +board the transports, and everything prepared for an Expedition, so +secret, that neither the second in Command at land or sea could guess +where the blow was to fall.</p> + +<p>Everything being prepared, and the Cannon embarked in the night of the +21st of September [August], the Rainbow of 50 guns, commanded by Sir +George Collier, got under weigh, and anchored near a strong post of +the enemy's, called Denysys, upon Long Island, who fled from thence +instantly, expecting the man of war would level the place to the +ground.</p> + +<p>A little after nine, the transports all anchored in Gravesend-bay on +the southern part of Long Island; the flat-bottom boats immediately +landed the troops, and the gallant Lord Howe was present to direct the +operation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.134" id="Page_ii.134">[Pg ii.134]</a></span></p> + +<p>The army, when landed, consisted of 18000 men, the rest being left +upon Staten Island. Lord Cornwallis Commanded one of the +advance-posts, Gen. Grant another, and Earl Percy had a post of +difficulty and danger, to which he on all occasions shewed himself +equal. The King's forces lay still, getting ashore Cannon &c. for 3 or +4 days, and then encamped at Flatbush; after this they moved on in +three bodies, and surprised many of the enemy's outposts, and killed +and took a number of men."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>LETTER FROM NEW YORK.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Oct.</span> 20, 1776.</h4> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"No doubt but before you receive this you'll be informed of the King's +troops being in possession of New York, to the great satisfaction of +the loyal part of its inhabitants, who have for a long time suffered +every hardship from a set of tyrants that is possible to be conceived; +however, they are now rewarded who have withstood the traitors, and +remained firm to their King. The Howes do all that is possible to +alleviate the sufferings of a persecuted people, who rather than turn +rebels have despised death and ruin; and if it had not pleased God to +send us death and relief, dreadful would have been the consequence to +every person that dared to be honest; however, we are now protected in +our lives and properties; and some thousands have joined the King's +troops; and every time they attack the rebels they rout them with +great loss; they fly before our victorious army on every onset; and I +don't doubt but in a very little time this daring rebellion will be +crushed. It would before now have been the case, had not the Americans +been fed with hopes from the Court of France. But now let France or +any other Power dare to assist them, we are prepared, and don't at all +fear but we shall be able to give them a proper reception. It is +resolved to attack Washington directly. Proper dispositions are making +for that purpose; and I hope by the next letter to give you an account +of an end being put to a government that have dared to call themselves +the Independent States of America. Almost all the New Yorkers have +returned to their allegiance, and there is not a doubt but the other +Colonies will do the same when they dare declare themselves, and be +properly supported by government.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.135" id="Page_ii.135">[Pg ii.135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is a broad R put upon every door in New York that is +disaffected to government, and examples will be made of its +inhabitants; on the other hand, every person that is well affected to +government finds protection."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>LETTER FROM WHITE PLAINS.</h4> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"The following Letter is from an officer of eminence, who was present +at the engagement at White Plains, to his friend in Edinburgh:</p> + +<p>"<i>Camp at White Plains, 31 Miles from New York, N.E. within six Miles +of Hudson's River, Nov. 2, 1776.</i></p> + +<p>"Our whole army, except about 2000 men, left New York Island, and on +the 12<sup>th</sup> of Oct. passed Hell-gates in our flat boats, and landed on +a part called Frogs-neck, in Westchester county; here we halted a few +days, until provisions were brought to us; and on the 18<sup>th</sup> we again +took to our boats, and passed a creek, in order to move this way, and +to cut the rebels off from King's-Bridge. On our march the 18<sup>th</sup>, we +had two pretty smart skirmishes, but made the provincials give way as +fast as we advanced. After marching about three miles, we halted to +get cannon, provisions, &c. brought forward. On the 26<sup>th</sup> we marched +again by New Rochelle, about four miles without opposition, where we +halted till the 28<sup>th</sup>; and finding that the rebels had moved to this +place from King's-bridge, we followed them, and drove them from hill +to hill, until we came within three quarters of a mile of their +entrenched camp, where they made a shew of disputing a commanding +ground. A brisk Cannonade ensued, and we attacked them on the top of a +rugged hill, where, though covered behind stone walls and fences, we +drove them off. We had about 200 killed and wounded. The rebels left +about 50 killed, besides what they carried off. We then encamped on +the ground, with an intent to drive them from their entrenchments; but +yesterday at day-break they went off of themselves and took post on +another hill, about three-quarters of a mile further on where they are +now. They have left a post behind them in New York Island, near +King's-bridge of about 1500 men, [Fort Washington] which, I think, we +shall give a very good account of. We have taken in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.136" id="Page_ii.136">[Pg ii.136]</a></span> abandoned +works 74 pieces of cannon. Their whole force is now opposed to us. +They burn all the country as they retreat; they are a set of base +fellows. I do not imagine we shall go much further this campaign, but +just force them to go towards New England. I heard from Col. Campbell +the other day. He is well and anxious to be relieved. I write on my +knee very cramped, and have lain in a waggon for three nights past, +one of which was very wet."</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO43"></a>[No. 43.]<br /> +<br /> +EXTRACT FROM THE MEMOIRS OF COLONEL RUFUS PUTNAM<a name="FNanchor_243_243" id="FNanchor_243_243"></a><a href="#Footnote_243_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">WRITTEN BY HIMSELF</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The 31st of March 1776, I received General Washington's orders "to +march to New York by the way of Providence, to afford Governor Cooke +my best advice and assistance in the construction of the work there." +In this tour I went to visit Newport again, where I laid out some +additional works; on my return from Newport to Providence I met with +General Washington there, I believe the 6th of April, and obtained +leave to go by Brookfield to New York. I believe I tarried with my +family part of two days and then pushed for New York where I arrived +about the 20th. On my arrival at New York I was charged as chief +engineer with laying out and overseeing the works which were erected +during the campaign at New York, Long Island and their dependencies +with Fort Washington, Fort Lee, King's Bridge, etc., most of which, +but not all, appear in a plan of New York island etc., and +obstructions in the river, which accompanies Marshall's Life of +Washington. This was a service of much fatigue, for my whole time was +taken up from daylight in the morning until night in the business, +besides sometimes going in the night by water from New York to Fort +Washington.</p> + +<p>September 8th 1776, a council of general officers had determined on +holding the City of New York. See General Washington's letter of that +date. On the 12th of September having been out with General Miflin, by +order of General Washington, to reconnoiter the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.137" id="Page_ii.137">[Pg ii.137]</a></span> country between +Kingsbridge and Morrisania and eastward, on our return we met with +General Washington near Harlem Heights, where we made our report to +him, in consequence of which a council of general officers was +convened, whose advice was the withdrawing the army from the +city,—see the General's letter of the 14th of September,—and this +measure was the salvation of the army, and which probably would not +have been but for the discoveries made by Miflin and myself.</p> + +<p>My being appointed engineer by Congress was wholly unexpected. I had +begun to act in that capacity through pure necessity, and had +continued to conduct the business more from necessity and respect for +the General than from any opinion I had of my own abilities, or +knowledge of that art; true it is that after my arrival at New York I +had read some books on fortification, and I knew much more than when I +began at Roxbury, but I had not the vanity to suppose that my +knowledge was such as to give me a claim to the first rank in a corps +of engineers, yet my experience convinced me that such a corps was +necessary to be established, therefore near the last of September, I +drew up a plan for such an establishment and presented it to General +Washington, and which he transmitted to Congress—see his letter to +that body of the 5th of November 1776. In my letter to General +Washington on the subject I disclaimed all pretension of being placed +at the head of the proposed corps, and signified it would be my choice +to serve in the line of the army.</p> + +<p>October 19th 1776, the British landed on Pell's point and some +skirmishing took place in the afternoon between part of Glover's +brigade and some advance parties of the enemy near East Chester, the +next morning by order of the General I set out from Kingsbridge to +reconnoiter their position etc. I set out in company with Col<sup>o</sup> +Reed, the adjutant-general and a foot guard of about twenty men, when +we arrived on the heights of East Chester we saw a small body of +British near the church, but we could obtain no intelligence; the +houses were deserted. Col<sup>o</sup> Reed now told me he must return to +attend to issuing general orders. I observed that we had made no +discovery yet of any consequence, that if he went back I wished him to +take the guard back for I chose to go alone. I then disguised my +appearance as an officer as far as I could, and set out on the road to +White-plains; however, I did not then know where White-plains was, nor +where the road I had taken would carry me. I had gone about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.138" id="Page_ii.138">[Pg ii.138]</a></span> two and a +half miles when a road turned off to the right, I followed it perhaps +half a mile and came to a house where I learned from the woman that +this road led to New Rochelle, that the British were there and that +they had a guard at a house in sight; On this information I turned and +pursued my route toward White-plains (the houses on the way all +deserted) until I came within three or four miles of the place; here I +discovered a house a little ahead with men about it. By my glass I +found they were not British soldiers; however I approached them with +caution. I called for some oats for my horse, sat down and heard them +chat some little time, when I found they were friends to the cause of +America, and then I began to make the necessary enquiries, and on the +whole I found that the main body of the British lay near New Rochelle, +from thence to White-plains about nine miles, good roads and in +general level open country, that at Whiteplains was a large quantity +of stores, with only about three hundred militia to guard them, that +the British had a detachment at Mamaraneck only six miles from +White-plains, and from Whiteplains only five miles to the North river, +where lay five or six of the enemies ships and sloops, tenders, etc. +Having made these discoveries I set out on my return. The road from +Ward's across the Brunx was my intended route unless I found the +British there, which haply they were not, but I saw Americans on the +heights west of the Brunx who had arrived there after I passed up. I +found them to be Lord Sterling's division; it was now after sunset. I +gave my Lord a short account of my discoveries, took some refreshment, +and set off for headquarters by the way of Philip's at the mouth of +Sawmill river, a road I had never travelled, among tory inhabitants +and in the night. I dare not enquire the way, but Providence conducted +me. I arrived at headquarters near Kingsbridge (a distance of about +ten miles) about nine o'clock at night. I found the General alone. I +reported to him the discoveries I had made, with a sketch of the +country; he complained very feelingly of the gentlemen from New York +from whom he had never been able to obtain a plan of the country, that +from their information he had ordered the stores to Whiteplains as a +place of security. The General sent for General Greene and Gen<sup>l</sup> +George Clinton, since Vice-President of the United States. As soon as +General Clinton came in my sketch and statement was shown to him and +he was asked if the situation of those places was as I had reported. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.139" id="Page_ii.139">[Pg ii.139]</a></span>Gen<sup>l</sup> Clinton said it was.</p> + +<p>I had but a short time to refresh myself and horse when I received a +letter from the General with orders to proceed immediately to Lord +Sterling's, and I arrived at his quarters about two o'clock in the +morning October 21st 1776. Lord Sterling's division marched before +daylight and we arrived at Whiteplains about 9 o'clock <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> and thus +was the American army saved (by an interposing providence from a +probable total destruction.). I may be asked wherein this particular +interposition of providence appears, I answer, first, in the stupidity +of the British general, in that he did not early on the morning of the +20th send a detachment and take possession of the post and stores at +Whiteplains, for had he done this we must then have fought him on his +own terms, and such disadvantageous terms on our part, as humanly +speaking must have proved our overthrow; again when I parted with +Col<sup>o</sup> Reed on the 20th as before mentioned, I have always thought +that I was moved to so hazardous an undertaking by foreign influence. +On my route I was liable to meet with some British or tory parties, +who probably would have made me a prisoner (as I had no knowledge of +any way of escape across the Brunx but the one I came out). Hence I +was induced to disguise myself by taking out my cockade, loping my hat +and secreting my sword and pistols under my loose coat, and then had I +been taken under this disguise, the probability is that I should have +been hanged for a spy.</p> + +<p>October 29th, the British advanced in front of our lines at +White-plains about 10 o'clock <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, I had just arrived on Chatterton +hill in order to throw up some works when they hove in sight, as soon +as they discovered us they commenced a severe cannonade but without +any effect of consequence. General McDougal about this time arriving +with his brigade from Burtis's and observing the British to be +crossing the Brunx below in large bodies in order to attack us, our +troops were posted to receive them in a very advantageous position. +The British in their advance were twice repulsed; at length however +their numbers were increased so that they were able to turn our right +flank. We lost many men but from information afterwards received there +was reason to believe they lost many more than we. The rail and stone +fence behind which our troops were posted proved as fatal to the +British as the rail fence and grass hung on it did at Charlestown the +17th of June 1775.</p> + +<p>After the affair of the 29th of October my time was employed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.140" id="Page_ii.140">[Pg ii.140]</a></span> +examining the nature of the country in a military point of view in our +rear towards North Castle, Croton river, etc., until about the 5th of +November when I received the following order from the General which I +shall take the liberty to transcribe.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Headquarters Whiteplains</span>, November 5th 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>:—You are directed to repair to Wright's mills and lay out any +work there you conceive to be necessary, in case it is not already +done, from thence you are to proceed towards Croton bridge, and post +the two regiments of militia in the most advantageous manner, so as to +obstruct the enemies passage to that quarter, you are also to give +what directions you think are proper to those regiments, respecting +the breaking up the roads leading from the North river eastward, after +this you are to go up to Peekskill and direct Lasher's detachment to +break up the roads there. You are likewise to lay out what works will +be advisable there and order them to be set about.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 2em">Given under my hand—</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">G<sup>o</sup>. Washington.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>To Col<sup>o</sup> Putnam, Engineer.</p> + +<p>November 11th 1776, Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington came to Peekskill and I went +with him to visit Fort Montgomery, on the same day or the next he +crossed the North river, leaving instructions with me to ascertain the +geography of the country with the roads and passes through and about +the highlands, a report of which I afterwards made with a sketch of a +plan.</p> + +<p>December 8th 1776, I wrote to Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington informing him that I +had accepted of a regiment in the Massachusetts line of the +Continental army, with my reasons for so doing, assuring him at the +same time of my attachment to him and readiness to execute any +service.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in the archives of Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.141" id="Page_ii.141">[Pg ii.141]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO44"></a>[No. 44.]<br /> +<br /> +SCATTERING ORDERS BY GENERALS LEE, SPENCER, GREENE AND NIXON<br /> +<br /> +[<i>Colonel Little's Order Book</i>]</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>GENERAL SPENCER'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Sept. 8<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>All the guards in the posts are to be continued as large as at any +time, & be very vigilant & alert. All the Reg<sup>ts</sup> are to lie on their +arms this night & be ready to turn out at the shortest notice, as it +is not improbable we may be speedily attacked. Gen. Wadsworth to send +an adjutant to Head Quarters tomorrow for orders.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Sept. 9<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Guard same as this day & fatigues. The several Brigades in this +Division are to lodge on their arms this night & be ready to turn out +on the shortest notice. Cols. &c. are to take particular care of the +arms & ammunition. Col. Chester to send an adjutant to Head Quarters +for orders.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL NIXON'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">New York</span> Sept 9<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>A serjeant, Corporal & 12 men daily to mount as a guard at Gen. +Nixon's quarters. Officers of guard in the night are to send visiting +rounds between every relief. Complaints are made that orders are not +made known to soldiers. The General expressly enjoins that the +adjutant see that the orders are daily read to the several regiments, +that the soldiers may not plead ignorance thereof.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Sept. 10<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>The Gen. desires officers not to suffer their men to straggle as we +may expect a sudden attack, when one is made. The Gen<sup>l</sup> desires all +the officers to lodge in camp, as in the critical situation of +affairs, much depends on their vigilance.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL GREENE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Fort Constitution</span> Sept. 30<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Major Box is appointed & requested in conjunction with the Engineers +of this Department & Col. Bull to oversee & forward the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.142" id="Page_ii.142">[Pg ii.142]</a></span> +fortifications at Fort Constitution. Lt. Col. Cornell is appointed +Dep. Assistant Adj. Gen<sup>l</sup>. for this Division. The Q<sup>r</sup>. M<sup>r</sup>. +Gen<sup>l</sup> is directed to provide tools of all kinds necessary for a +Blacksmith's & Armorer's shop, large enough to do the business of this +part of the army. Many trangressions of gen<sup>l</sup> orders happen for want +of their being read & explained to the men. The Gen<sup>l</sup> directs that +all orders issued be read to the men in Reg<sup>ts</sup> or Companies, & that +every Captain provide himself with an orderly book that the men may be +fully informed of their duty. The adj<sup>ts</sup> of regiments are to report +any neglect.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 2<sup>d</sup>.</p> + +<p>The Brig<sup>rs</sup>. or officers commanding Brigades are requested to send +the Brig<sup>de</sup> Majors or some other proper officers to fetch the new +regulations of the army, & distribute them among the Reg<sup>ts</sup> of their +Brigades & the C. officers of each reg<sup>t</sup> or corps are directed to +have them read—to have the rules & regulations read first to the +whole regiment drawn up for that purpose & then order the Captains to +read them again to each of their companies the day after they have +been read to the reg<sup>ts</sup>—to be continued the first Monday in every +month. Lt. Mills of Col. Hitchcock's Reg<sup>t</sup> is requested to collect a +party of carpenters from either of the Brigades, reg<sup>ts</sup> or corps in +this Division of the army, that are willing to enter the work for the +same pay, that was allowed last campaign. Officers for the day. Major +Bailey—for fatigue Major Bartholomew.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct 4<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>A guard to mount to-morrow at 8 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> to relieve the guard over +Hackensack River—to take 3 days provision with them. Officers for the +Day L<sup>t</sup> Col. Crary—for fatigue L<sup>t</sup> Col. Culbertson.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 6<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>The Post to be carried out at any time when he arrives, night or day. +No person under guard in the main guard to be released without +permission from the guard. A fatigue party of 400 to complete the +fortifications at Fort Constitution—Cols. Durkee's, Bradley's, +Rolling's & William's Reg<sup>ts</sup>. to form a brigade under Gen<sup>l</sup> +Roberdeau, until his Excellency's pleasure be further known. The D. +Adj<sup>t</sup>. Gen<sup>l</sup> is directed to appoint a grand parade, where all +guards for different posts are to parade.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 7<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>A guard of 50 men to relieve the guard at Hoebuck's Ferry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.143" id="Page_ii.143">[Pg ii.143]</a></span> +immediately, to take 4 days provisions. The commanding officers of +Regts—in the English neighborhood are to take care that none of the +rails are burnt in their Reg<sup>ts</sup> for fire wood. Reg<sup>ts</sup> are to be +furnished with firewood daily, apply to Q.M. Gen<sup>l</sup> for teams. A sub. +& 30 men to go immediately for the stock brought from Bergen.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 8<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Application for leave of absence from camp for a short time on the +occasional business of the regt. is to be made to the Brig<sup>r</sup> Gen<sup>l</sup> +or the commanding officers of Brigade—Brig<sup>rs</sup> are desired not to +grant liberty of absence unless on real business. The houses upon the +waterside, near the ferry are to be cleared of the present inhabitants +for the use of the guards & ferrymen. A cap. & 40 men well acquainted +with rowing to be drawn for the management of the ferryboats. This +party to be excused from other duty & to be continued in that employ. +All the Axes in the different reg<sup>ts</sup> are to be delivered to the Q.M. +Gen<sup>l</sup> Col. Biddle, & he is to deliver an equal proportion to the +Reg<sup>ts</sup> retaining enough for the Public works. Cap. Olney of Col. +Hitchcock's Reg<sup>t</sup> & Cap. Warner of Col. Little's are appointed to +assist in overseeing the fortifications & are to be excused from all +other duty. Commanding officers of Reg<sup>ts</sup> are requested to fix upon +proper places for Barracks, none to be nearer the fort than 50 rods. +The Gen<sup>l</sup> desires com<sup>g</sup> officers to divide the reg<sup>ts</sup> into +messes of 8 men. The men must build timber huts, as boards are not to +be had. Boards are to be had only for the roof. The huts are to be 12 +feet long by 9 wide, to have stone chimneys & to be ranged in proper +streets. The guard at the Bridge to be relieved immediately. The Cap. +of the Artillery is directed to examine the state of the amunition in +the magazine & report to the D. A<sup>t</sup>. Q<sup>r</sup>. The Gen<sup>l</sup> directs that +none of the troops go out of drum call, without liberty from the +Com<sup>g</sup> officer of the reg<sup>t</sup>. The rolls of companies are to be +called 4 times a day. Men not to be found when the reg<sup>ts</sup> are called +to parade may expect to be severely punished & the officers if +negligent of their duty are to be arrested—Adjutant Colman is +appointed to do the duty of Brigade Major for Gen<sup>l</sup> Nixon's Brigade +while Major Box is employed on the Fortifications.</p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 13<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Gen. Nixon's & Gen. Roberdeau's Brigade are to draw & cook themselves +3 days provisions immediately. The guard to be re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.144" id="Page_ii.144">[Pg ii.144]</a></span>lieved from Col. +Ewing's Brigade, the guards at Bergen to be excepted. The other two +Brigades to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's +warning. Cap. Spurr from Col. Hitchcock's reg<sup>t</sup> is to oversee +fatigue parties employed on Fortifications. The Com<sup>y</sup> is desired to +kill all the fat cattle brought from Bergen, that the inhabitants +don't claim—take an account of all the marks & numbers & have their +value estimated by 2 or 3 good men. The sheep that are fit are to be +killed for the use of the Army. An exact account of their number & +marks and value is to be kept. The Q<sup>r</sup>. M. Gen. is directed to take +all horses brought from Bergen & not claimed & to employ such as are +fit in the service; the rest to be disposed of at Public Vendue. Lest +any should be injured that cannot claim his property, a record is to +be kept describing the natural & artificial marks & the value of each.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL NIXON'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Fort Constitution</span> Oct. 13<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>It is Gen. Greene's orders that my Brigade move over the Ferry +immediately. The regiments to leave a careful officer & 12 men each to +bring forward their baggage to King's Bridge, who is to take care that +none of it be left behind or lost. When the Reg<sup>ts</sup> are over the +ferry, they will march to M<sup>t</sup> Washington & remain there till further +orders—You will hurry the march as fast as possible, as they must +cross the ferry this night—</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">J<sup>no</sup> Nixon</span> B.G.</p> + +<p>To Dudley Colman, A.B.M.</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">East Chester</span> Oct. 16<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>The several reg<sup>ts</sup> in this Brigade are to draw 4 days provision & +have it cooked immediately. The Q.M. will apply to the assistant Q.M. +Gen<sup>l</sup> for carriages to transport their provisions. Col. Varnum's +Reg<sup>t</sup> to relieve Col. Nixon's at Froggs Point this <span class="smcap">p.m.</span></p> + +<p class="right"><br />Oct. 16<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Sir—You are to order Col. Varnum's reg<sup>t</sup> to march immediately to +Froggs Neck to relieve Col. Ritzema's or Col. Malcolm's reg<sup>t</sup> (which +of the two you find there not relieved). You will get a pilot from +Col. Nixon's reg<sup>t</sup> to direct them thither.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">J<sup>no</sup>. Nixon</span> B.G.</p> + +<p>To Dudly Colman, Brigade Major.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.145" id="Page_ii.145">[Pg ii.145]</a></span></p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Miles Square, East Chester</span> Oct. 18<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Sir—You will have a working party of 300 men & officers ready to go +to work as soon as the tools arrive, which I have sent for & you will +see that suitable guards are mounted by each regiment.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">J<sup>no</sup>. Nixon</span>, B. Gen.</p> + +<p>To D. Colman, B. Major.</p> + +<h4><br />GENERAL LEE'S ORDERS.</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Miles Square</span>, Oct. 19<sup>th</sup>.</p> + +<p>Gen. Lee returns his warmest thanks to Col. Glover, and the Brigade +under his command, not only for his gallant behavior yesterday, but +for their prudent, cool, orderly & soldier like conduct in all +respects. He assures these brave men that he shall omit no opportunity +of showing his gratitude. The wounded are to be immediately sent to +Valentines Hill at the second Liberty pole where surgeons should at +once repair to dress their wounds. They are afterwards to be forwarded +to Fort Washington.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO45"></a>[No. 45.]<br /> +<br /> +GENERAL LEE TO COLONEL CHESTER</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Camp [Morristown?]</span> Dec<sup>r</sup>: 7<sup>th</sup> 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>—</p> + +<p>You are to proceed from hence to a certain mill about 8 miles distant +where you are to take Post in the most advantageous manner possible, +with half your Party, and remain yourself: The other half you are to +detach under the most understanding, cool officer you can select. He +is to proceed to Harrington Township, where they are to collect, all +the serviceable horses, all the spare Blankets (that is to leave a +sufficient number to cover the People) they are to collect any spare +shoes, great Coats, to serve as Watch Coats—The People from whom they +are taken are not to be insulted; either by actions or language; but +told that the urgent necessity of the Troop, obliges us to the +Measure—That unless we adopt it, their liberties must Perish—That +they must make an Estimate, of what is taken and the Publick shall pay +them—The officer who commands the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.146" id="Page_ii.146">[Pg ii.146]</a></span> Party detach'd, above all, must +take care to advance a Party, to look out, on the Road of Hackinsack +in the Front of the Party who are collecting, that they may not be +surprised, whilst they are thus occupied—A Canadian and Mons<sup>r</sup>. +Vernajou will conduct you; when the whole is finished, you are to +march by another Road to Morristown: By a Road which will be +indicated: you are not to suffer any Country People to pass by you, +who might inform the Enemy of your motions—if the Collecting Party +should be attacked, they will naturally return but in good order to +your Post—the horses and necessaries collected are to be brought up +to Morris Town and then be disposed of by the General—</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Charles Lee</span>, Major-General.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Colonel Chester.</span></p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Rev. Dr. John Chester, Washington, D.C.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO46"></a>[No. 46.]<br /> +<br /> +CAPTAIN BRADFORD'S ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF GENERAL LEE<a name="FNanchor_244_244" id="FNanchor_244_244"></a><a href="#Footnote_244_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"Gen. Lee had advanced with his Division to Baskenridge, about +twenty-two miles from the Enemy's advanced Guards, where they lodged +the night of Dec. 12<sup>th</sup>, Gen. Sullivan being with the body of the +Division, & Gen. Lee in the Rear, or on the flank of the rear about 2 +Miles from the body, having with him only his aid-de-camp, Mr. +Bradford, a Major with an express from Gen. Gates, a French Colonel, a +French Captain, the latter in our service, the former just from Paris +by the way of Dartmouth in Mass. with dispatches for Congress, & +perhaps a dozen guards. The house was surrounded on one side with a +wood, on the other an orchard. The Gen. had just sent forward Gen. +Sullivan, who marched with the Division about 8 o'clock in the +morning, tarrying himself to finish dispatches to Gen. Gates, which +having just done, dressed & sent for his horses, was ready to mount, & +would have been gone in 5 or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.147" id="Page_ii.147">[Pg ii.147]</a></span> 10 minutes, when about 10 o'clock they +were surprised with about 50 horse, which came on the house from the +wood & orchard at once & surrounding fired upon it. The French Col. +escaped & was pursued & overtaken. Gen. Lee looked out of the window +to see how the guards behaved, & saw the enemy twice with his hanger +cut off the arm of one of the Guards crying for quarter—the guard +behaved well, fired at first, but were rushed upon & subdued. The Gen. +sees then that they must submit, & after walking the chamber perhaps +10 or 15 minutes, told his aid-de-camp to go down & tell them Gen. Lee +submitted. Mr. Bradford went to the door & on opening it a whole +volley of shot came in the door—he spoke loud & opened again & +delivered his orders. Gen. Lee came forward & surrendered himself a +prisoner of war, saying he trusted they would use him like a +gentleman. Of this one of them gave assurance & ordered him instantly +to mount. He requested His Hat & Cloke and Mr. Bradford went in to +fetch it, but changing his clothes on his return they did not know him +from a servant & laying down the General's Hat and Cloke he escaped +back into the house. They immediately rode back in triumph with the +Genl."</p> + +<p class="center">[From the Stiles MS. Diary, Yale College Library.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO47"></a>[No. 47.]<br /> +<br /> +GENERAL OLIVER WOLCOTT TO HIS WIFE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LITCHFIELD, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span><a name="FNanchor_245_245" id="FNanchor_245_245"></a><a href="#Footnote_245_245" class="fnanchor">[245]</a> December 13 1776</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Spouse</span></p> + +<p>The 11<sup>th</sup> in the Evening a Detachment of the Enemy took possession +of Burlington, about 20 miles from this City on the Jersey shore. The +Rest of their Army are at Trenton, and upon the Banks of the River +above it; their numbers are uncertain, but are computed about twelve +thousand, and as their Designs, are undoubtedly to gain Possession of +this City, the Congress, upon the advice of Genl<sup>s</sup> Putnam and +Mifflin (who are now here to provide for the Protection<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.148" id="Page_ii.148">[Pg ii.148]</a></span> of the +Place,) as well as the Result of their own Opinion, have adjourned +themselves to Baltimore in Maryland, about 110 miles from this City, +as it was judged, that the Council of America, ought not to sit in a +Place liable to be interrupted by the rude Disorder of Arms, so that I +am at this moment, going forward for that place. Whether the Army will +succeed in their cruel Designs against this City, must be left to time +to discover. Congress have ordered the General to defend it to the +last extremity, and God grant that he may be successful in his +Exertions.</p> + +<p>Whatever Event may take place, the American Cause will be supported to +the last, and I trust in God that it will succeed. The Grecian, Roman +and Dutch States were in their Infancy reduced to the greatest +Distress, infinitely beyond what we have yet experienced. The God who +governs the Universe and who holds Empires in His Hand, can with the +least Effort of His Will, grant us all that Security Opulence and +Power which they have enjoyed.</p> + +<p>The present scene it is true appears somewhat gloomy, but the natural +or more obvious cause seems to be owing to the term of enlistment of +the Army having expired. I hope we may have a most respectable one +before long established. The business of war is the result of +Experience.</p> + +<p>It is probable that France before long will involve Great Britain in a +war who by unhappy Experience may learn the Folly of attempting to +enslave a People who by the ties of Consanguinity and Affection ever +were desirous of promoting her truest Happiness.</p> + +<p>Gen. Howe has lately published a Proclamation abusing the Congress as +having sinister Designs upon the People and has offered to such as +will accept of Pardon upon an unlimited Submission, "Royal +Forgiveness." But who is base enough to wish to have a precarious Care +dependent upon the caprice of Power, unrestrained by any Law and +governed by the dangerous thirst of Avarice and Ambition?</p> + +<p>My best love to my children and friends. May the Almighty ever have +you and them in his protection</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 5em">yours with the most</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 3em">Inviolable affection</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Oliver Wolcott.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> +To <span class="smcap">Mrs. Laura Wolcott</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Litchfield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Connecticut.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Frederick H. Wolcott, Esq., Astoria, L.I.]</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.149" id="Page_ii.149">[Pg ii.149]</a></span></p> +<h2>BATTLES<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">OF</span><br /> +<br /> +TRENTON AND PRINCETON.</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.151" id="Page_ii.151">[Pg ii.151]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="NO48"></a>[No. 48.]<br /> +<br /> +CAPTAIN WILLIAM HULL TO ANDREW ADAMS<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">LITCHFIELD, CONN.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Trenton</span>, Jany 1<sup>st</sup>, 1777.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>Have but a moment which shall embrace with Pleasure to inform you of +the present State of our Army and our late Success. After we had +recruited a few days of a fatiguing March of more than 250 Miles +(thro' all our Windings) Genl. Washington gave orders for us to be +every way equiped for Action. On the Evening of the 25th Ult. we were +ordered to March to a ferry [McConkey's] about twelve Miles from +Trenton, where was stationed near two Thousand Hessians. As violent a +Storm ensued of Hail & Snow as I ever felt. The Artillery and Infantry +all were across the Ferry about twelve O'clock, consisting of only +twenty one hundred principally New England Troops. In this Violent +Storm we marched on for Trenton. Before Light in the Morning we gained +all the Roads leading from Trenton. The Genl. gave orders that every +Officer's Watch should be set by his, and the Moment of Attack was +fixed. Just after Light, we came to their out Guard, which fired upon +us and retreated. The first Sound of the Musquetry and Retreat of the +Guards animated the Men and they pushed on with Resolution and +Firmness. Happily the fire begun on every Side at the same instant, +their Main body had just Time to form when there ensued a heavy +Cannonade from our Field Pieces and a fine brisk and lively fire from +our Infantry. This continued but a Short Time before the Enemy finding +themselves flanked on every Side laid down their Arms. The Resolution +and Bravery of our Men, their Order and Regulariety gave me the +highest Sensation of Pleasure. Genl. Washington highly congratulated +the Men on next day in Genl. Orders, and with Pleasure observed, that +he had been in Many Actions before, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.152" id="Page_ii.152">[Pg ii.152]</a></span> always perceived some +Misbehaviour in some individuals, but in that Action he saw none. +Pennsylvania itself is obliged to acknowledge the Bravery of New Eng'd +Troops. I have a List from Head Quarters of the Killed and taken, +which was taken the day after the Action, since which many more have +been brought in: 1 Col. wounded since dead, 2 Lieut. Col<sup>s</sup>. taken, 3 +Majors, 4 Capts. 8 Lieuts., 12 Ens'ns, 92 Serj'ts, 9 Musicians, 12 +Drums, 25 Servants, 842 Privates, 2 Capt's Killed, 2 Lieuts. killed 50 +privates Six Brass Field Pieces, One Mortar, and about 1500 Stand of +Arms. A large Number of Horses and a vast Quantity of Plunder of every +kind. And this, Sir, I will assure you with only the Loss of six or +seven on our side, this is no Exaggeration but simple fact, 'tis +impossible to describe the scene to you as it appeared. We immediately +retreated across the River and did not get to our Tents till next +Morning—two Nights and one day in as violent a Storm as I ever felt. +What can't Men do when engaged in so noble a Cause. Our Men's Time +Expired Yesterday, they have generally engaged to tarry six weeks +longer. My company almost to a man. Orders have now come for us to +march for Princetown. We have a Rumor that it was burned last night by +the Enemy, who we suppose are about retreating. Compliments to Miss +Adams & Children. Adieu and believe me to be sincerely yours,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Wm. Hull.</span></p> + +<p class="center">[<i>Legacy of Historical Gleanings.</i> By Mrs. C.V.R. Bonney. Vol. I., p. 57. Munsell, Albany. 1875.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO49"></a>[No. 49.]<br /> +<br /> +COLONEL KNOX TO HIS WIFE</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Delaware River, near Trenton</span>,<br /> +Dec. 28, 1776, near 12 o'clock.<br /> +</p> + +<p>... Trenton is an open town, situated nearly on the banks of the +Delaware, accessible on all sides. Our army was scattered along the +river for nearly twenty-five miles. Our intelligence agreed that the +force of the enemy in Trenton was from two to three thousand, with +about six field cannon, and that they were pretty secure in their +situation, and that they were Hessians—no British troops. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.153" id="Page_ii.153">[Pg ii.153]</a></span> hardy +design was formed of attacking the town by storm. Accordingly a part +of the army, consisting of about 2,500 or 3,000, passed the river on +Christmas night, with almost infinite difficulty, with eighteen +field-pieces. The floating ice in the river made the labor almost +incredible. However, perseverance accomplished what at first seemed +impossible. About two o'clock the troops were all on the Jersey side; +we then were about nine miles from the object. The night was cold and +stormy; it hailed with great violence; the troops marched with the +most profound silence and good order. They arrived by two routes at +the same time, about half an hour after daylight, within one mile of +the town. The storm continued with great violence, but was in our +backs, and consequently in the faces of our enemy. About half a mile +from the town was an advanced guard on each road, consisting of a +captains guard. These we forced, and entered the town with them +pell-mell; and here succeeded a scene of war of which I had often +conceived, but never saw before. The hurry, fright, and confusion of +the enemy was [not] unlike that which will be when the last trump +shall sound. They endeavored to form in streets, the heads of which we +had previously the possession of with cannon and howitzers; these, in +the twinkling of an eye, cleared the streets. The backs of the houses +were resorted to for shelter. These proved ineffectual; the musketry +soon dislodged them. Finally they were driven through the town into an +open plain beyond. Here they formed in an instant. During the contest +in the streets measures were taken for putting an entire stop to their +retreat by posting troops and cannon in such passes and roads as it +was possible for them to get away by. The poor fellows after they were +formed on the plain saw themselves completely surrounded, the only +resource left was to force their way through numbers unknown to them. +The Hessians lost part of their cannon in the town; they did not +relish the project of forcing, and were obliged to surrender upon the +spot, with all their artillery, six brass pieces, army colors, &c. A +Colonel Rawle commanded, who was wounded. The number of prisoners was +above 1,200, including officers,—all Hessians. There were few killed +or wounded on either side. After having marched off the prisoners and +secured the cannon, stores, &c., we returned to the place, nine miles +distant, where we had embarked. Providence seemed to have smiled upon +every part of this enterprise. Great advantages may be gained from it +if we take the proper steps. At another post we have pushed over the +river 2,000 men, to-day another body, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.154" id="Page_ii.154">[Pg ii.154]</a></span> to-morrow the whole army +will follow. It must give a sensible pleasure to every friend of the +rights of man to think with how much intrepidity our people pushed the +enemy, and prevented their forming in the town.</p> + +<p>His Excellency the General has done me the unmerited great honor of +thanking me in public orders in terms strong and polite. This I should +blush to mention to any other than to you, my dear Lucy; and I am +fearful that even my Lucy may think her Harry possesses a species of +little vanity in doing [it] at all.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Morristown</span> Jan. 7 1777.</p> + +<p>I wrote to you from Trenton by a Mr. Furness which I hope you have +received. I then informed you that we soon expected another tussle. I +was not out in my conjecture. About three o'clock on the second of +January, a column of the enemy attacked a party of ours which was +stationed one mile above Trenton. Our party was small and did not make +much resistance. The enemy, who were Hessians, entered the town +pell-mell pretty much in the same manner that we had driven them a few +days before.</p> + +<p>Nearly on the other side of Trenton, partly in the town, runs a brook +[the Assanpink], which in most places is not fordable, and over which +through Trenton is a bridge. The ground on the other side is much +higher than on this, and may be said to command Trenton completely. +Here it was our army drew up with thirty or forty pieces in front. The +enemy pushed our small party through the town with vigor, though not +with much loss. Their retreat over the bridge was thoroughly secured +by the artillery. After they had retired over the bridge, the enemy +advanced within reach of our cannon, who saluted them with great +vociferation and some execution. This continued till dark when of +course it ceased, except a few shells which we now and then chucked +into town to prevent their enjoying their new quarters securely. As I +before mentioned, the creek was in our front, our left on the +Delaware, our right in a wood parallel to the creek. The situation was +strong, to be sure; but hazardous on this account, that had our right +wing been defeated, the defeat of the left would almost have been an +inevitable consequence, and the whole thrown into confusion or pushed +into the Delaware, as it was impassable by boats.</p> + +<p>From these circumstances the general thought best to attack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.155" id="Page_ii.155">[Pg ii.155]</a></span> +Princeton, twelve miles in the rear of the enemy's grand army, and +where they had the 17th, 40th, and 55th regiments, with a number of +draughts, altogether perhaps twelve hundred men. Accordingly about one +o'clock at night we began to march and make this most extra +manœvre. Our troops marched with great silence and order, and +arrived near Princeton a little after daybreak. We did not surprise +them as at Trenton; for they were on their march down to Trenton, on a +road about a quarter of a mile distant from that in which we were. You +may judge of their surprise when they saw such large columns marching +up. They could not possibly suppose it was our army, for that they +took for granted was cooped up near Trenton. They could not possibly +suppose it was their own array returning by a back road; in short, I +believe they were as much astonished as if an army had dropped +perpendicularly upon them. However they had not much time for +consideration. We pushed a party to attack them. This they repulsed +with great spirit, and advanced upon another column just then coming +out of a wood, which they likewise put in some disorder; but fresh +troops coming up, and the artillery beginning to play, they were after +a smart resistance put totally to the rout. The 18th regiment used +their bayonets with too much severity upon a party they put to flight; +but they were paid for it in proportion, very few escaping. Near sixty +were killed on the spot besides the wounded. We have taken between +three and four hundred prisoners, all British troops. They must have +lost in this affair nearly five hundred killed, wounded, and +prisoners. We lost some gallant officers. Brigadier-General Mercer was +wounded: he had three separate stabs with a bayonet. A +Lieutenant-Colonel Fleming was killed, and Captain Neil of the +artillery an excellent officer. Mercer will get better. The enemy took +his parole after we left Princeton. We took all their cannon, which +consisted of two brass six-pounders, a considerable amount of military +stores, blankets, guns, &c. They lost, among a number of other +officers, a Captain Leslie, a son of the Earl of Leven and nephew to +General Leslie: him we brought oft and buried with honors of war.</p> + +<p>After we had been about two hours at Princeton, word was brought that +the enemy was advancing from Trenton. This they did, as we have since +been informed, in a most infernal sweat,—running, puffing, and +blowing, and swearing at being so outwitted. As we had other objects +in view, to wit, breaking up their quarters, we pursued our march to +Somerset Court House, where there were about thir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.156" id="Page_ii.156">[Pg ii.156]</a></span>teen hundred +quartered, as we had been informed. They, however, had marched off, +and joined the army at Trenton. We at first intended to have made a +forced march to Brunswick; but our men having been without rest, rum, +or provisions for two nights and days were unequal to the task of +marching seventeen miles further. If we could have secured one +thousand fresh men at Princeton to have pushed for Brunswick, we +should have struck one of the most brilliant strokes in all history. +However the advantages are very great: already they have collected +their whole force, and drawn themselves to one point, to wit, +Brunswick.</p> + +<p>The enemy were within nineteen miles of Philadelphia, they are now +sixty miles. We have driven them from almost the whole of West Jersey. +The panic is still kept up. We had a battle two days ago with a party +of ours and sixty Waldeckers, who were all killed or taken, in +Monmouth County in the lower part of the Jerseys. It is not our +interest to fight a general battle, nor can I think, under all +circumstances, it is the enemy's. They have sent their baggage to +Staten Island from the Jerseys, and we are very well informed they are +doing the same from New York. Heath will have orders to march there +and endeavor to storm it from that side. 'There is a tide in the +affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads on to victory.'</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>Life, etc. of General Knox.</i> By Francis S. Drake. Boston, 1873.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO50"></a>[No. 50.]<br /> +<br /> +COL. HASLET TO CÆSAR RODNEY</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Allentown</span> January 2<sup>nd</sup> 1777.</p> + +<p>This morning we were called up at 2 o'clock under a pretended alarm +that we were to be attacked by the enemy but by daylight we were +ordered to march for Trenton, and when we reached Crosswicks found +that the brigade had gone. We reached Trenton about 11 o'clock and +found all the troops from our different posts in Jersey, collected and +collecting there under General Washington himself; and the regular +troops were already properly disposed to receive the enemy, whose main +body was then within a few miles and determined to dispossess us.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.157" id="Page_ii.157">[Pg ii.157]</a></span></p> + +<p>Trenton stands upon the River Delaware, with a creek called the +Assanpink passing through the town across which there is a bridge.</p> + +<p>The enemy came down on the upper side of this creek, through the town, +and a number of our troops were posted with Riflemen and artillery to +oppose their approach.</p> + +<p>The main body of our army was drawn up on a plain below, or on the +lower side of the Assanpink, near the bridge, and the main force of +our Artillery was posted on the banks and high ground along the creek +in front of them.</p> + +<p>Gen. Mercer's brigade was posted about 2 miles up the creek, and the +troops under Gen. Cadwallader were stationed in a field on the right +about a mile from the town, on the main road, to prevent the enemy +from flanking. We had five pieces of Artillery with our division and +about 20 more in the field, near, and at the town. Our numbers were +about five thousand, and the enemy's about seven thousand. The attack +began about 2 o'clock and a heavy fire upon both sides, chiefly from +the artillery continued untill dark.</p> + +<p>At this time the enemy were left in possession of the upper part of +the town, but we kept possession of the bridge, altho' the enemy +attempted several times to carry it but were repulsed each time with +great slaughter. After sunset this afternoon the enemy came down in a +very heavy column to force the bridge. The fire was very heavy and the +Light troops were ordered to fly to the support of that important +post, and as we drew near, I stepped out of the front to order my men +to close up; at this time Martinas Sipple was about 10 sets behind the +man next in front of him; I at once drew my sword and threatened to +cut his head off if he did not keep close, he then sprang forward and +I returned to the front. The enemy were soon defeated and retired and +the American army also retired to the woods, where they encamped and +built up fires. I then had the roll called to see if any of our men +were missing and Martinas was not to be found, but Leut. Mark McCall +informed me that immediately upon my returning to the head of the +column, after making him close up, he fled out of the field.<a name="FNanchor_246_246" id="FNanchor_246_246"></a><a href="#Footnote_246_246" class="fnanchor">[246]</a> We +lost but few men; the enemy considerably more. It is thought Gen. +Washington did not intend to hold the upper part of the town.</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Cæsar A. Rodney, Esq.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.158" id="Page_ii.158">[Pg ii.158]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO51"></a>[No. 51.]<br /> +<br /> +JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN THOMAS RODNEY<a name="FNanchor_247_247" id="FNanchor_247_247"></a><a href="#Footnote_247_247" class="fnanchor">[247]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right">January 3<sup>rd</sup> 1777.</p> + +<p>... At two o'clock this morning, the ground having been frozen firm by +a keen N. West wind, secret orders were issued to each department and +the whole army was at once put in motion, but no one knew what the +Gen. meant to do. Some thought that we were going to attack the enemy +in the rear; some that we were going to Princeton; the latter proved +to be right. We went by a bye road on the right hand which made it +about 16 miles. During this nocturnal march I with the Dover Company +and the Red Feather Company of Philadelphia Light Infantry led the van +of the army and Capt. Henry with the other three companies of +Philadelphia Light Infantry brought up the rear. The van moved on all +night in the most cool and determined order, but on the march great +confusion happened in the rear. There was a cry that they were +surrounded by the Hessians, and several corps of Militia broke and +fled towards Bordentown, but the rest of the column remained firm and +pursued their march without disorder, but those who were frightened +and fled did not recover from their panic until they reached +Burlington.</p> + +<p>When we had proceeded to within a mile and a half of Princeton and the +van had crossed Stony Brook, Gen. Washington ordered our Infantry to +file off to one side of the road and halt. Gen. Sullivan was ordered +to wheel to the right and flank the town on that side, and two +Brigades were ordered to wheel to the left, to make a circuit and +surround the town on that side and as they went to break<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.159" id="Page_ii.159">[Pg ii.159]</a></span> down the +Bridge and post a party at the mill on the main road, to oppose the +enemy's main army if they should pursue us from Trenton.</p> + +<p>The third Division was composed of Gen. Mercer's Brigade of +Continental troops, about 300 men, and Cadwalader's brigade of +Philadelphia Militia to which brigade the whole of our light Infantry +Regiment was again annexed.</p> + +<p>Mercer's brigade marched in front and another corp of infantry brought +up the rear. My company flanked the whole brigade on the right in an +Indian file so that my men were very much extended and distant from +each other; I marched in front and was followed by Sargeant McKnatt +and next to him was Nehemiah Tilton. Mercer's brigade which was headed +by Col. Haslet of Delaware on foot and Gen. Mercer on horseback was to +march straight on to Princeton without turning to the right or left.</p> + +<p>It so happened that two Regiments of British troops that were on their +march to Trenton to reinforce their army there, received intelligence +of the movements of the American Army (for the sun rose as we passed +over Stony Brook) and about a mile from Princeton they turned off from +the main road and posted themselves behind a long string of buildings +and an orchard on the straight road to Princeton.</p> + +<p>The two first Divisions of our army therefore passed wide to the right +and left, and leaving them undiscovered went into Princeton. Gen. +Mercer's Brigade, owing to some delay in arranging Cadwallader's men +had advanced several hundred yards ahead and never discovered the +enemy until he was turning the buildings they were posted behind, and +then they were not more than fifty yards off.</p> + +<p>He immediately formed his men, with great courage, and poured a heavy +fire in upon the enemy. But they being greatly superior in number +returned the fire and charged bayonets, and their onset was so fierce +that Gen. Mercer fell mortally wounded and many of his officers were +killed, and the brigade being effectually broken up, began a +disorderly flight. Col. Haslet retired some small distance behind the +buildings and endeavored to rally them, but receiving a bullet through +his head, dropt dead on the spot and the whole brigade fled in +confusion. At this instant Gen. Cadwallader's Philadelphia Brigade +came up and the enemy checked by their appearance took post behind a +fence, and a ditch in front of the buildings before mentioned, and so +extended themselves that every man could load and fire incessantly; +the fence stood on low ground between two hills; on the hill behind +the British line they had eight pieces of artillery which played +in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.160" id="Page_ii.160">[Pg ii.160]</a></span>cessantly with round and grape shot on our brigade, and the fire +was extremely hot. Yet Gen. Cadwalader led up the head of the column +with the greatest bravery to within 50 yards of the enemy, but this +was rashly done, for he was obliged to recoil; and leaving one piece +of his artillery, he fell back about 40 yards and endeavored to form +the brigade, and some companies did form and gave a few vollies, but +the fire of the enemy was so hot, that, at the sight of the Regular +troops running to the rear, the militia gave way and the whole brigade +broke and most of them retired to a woods about 150 yards in the rear; +but two pieces of artillery stood their ground and were served with +great skill and bravery.</p> + +<p>At this time a field officer was sent to order me to take post on the +left of the artillery, until the brigade should form again, and, with +the Philadelphia Infantry keep up a fire from some stacks and +buildings, and to assist the artillery in preventing the enemy from +advancing. We now crossed the enemy's fire from right to Left and took +position behind some stacks just on the left of the artillery; and +about 30 of the Philadelphia Infantry were under cover of a house on +our left and a little in the rear.</p> + +<p>About 150 of my men came to this post, but I could not keep them all +there, for the enemies fire was dreadful and three balls, for they +were very thick, had grazed me; one passed within my elbow nicking my +great coat and carried away the breech of Sargeant McKnatts gun, he +being close behind me, another carried away the inside edge of one of +my shoe soles, another had nicked my hat and indeed they seemed as +thick as hail. From these stacks and buildings we, with the two pieces +of Artillery kept up a continuous fire on the enemy, and in all +probability it was this circumstance that prevented the enemy from +advancing, for they could not tell the number we had posted behind +these covers and were afraid to attempt passing them; but if they had +known how few they were they might easily have advanced while the two +brigades were in confusion and routed the whole body, for it was a +long time before they could be reorganized again and indeed many, that +were panic struck, ran quite off. Gen. Washington having rallied both +Gen. Mercer's and Gen. Cadwallader's brigade, they moved forward and +when they came to where the Artillery stood began a very heavy platoon +fire on the march. This the enemy bore but a few minutes and then +threw down their arms and ran. We then pushed forwards towards the +town spreading over the fields and through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.161" id="Page_ii.161">[Pg ii.161]</a></span> woods to enclose the +enemy and take prisoners. The fields were covered with baggage which +the Gen. ordered to be taken care of. Our whole force met at the Court +House and took there about 200 prisoners and about 200 others pushed +off and were pursued by advanced parties who took about 50 more. In +this engagement we lost about 20 killed, the enemy about 100 men +killed and lost the field. This is a very pretty little town on the +York road 12 miles from Trenton; the houses are built of brick and are +very elegant especially the College which has 52 rooms in it; but the +whole town has been ravaged and ruined by the enemy.</p> + +<p>As soon as the enemy's main army heard our cannon at Princeton (and +not 'til then) they discovered our manouvre and pushed after us with +all speed and we had not been above an hour in possession of the town +before the enemy's light horse and advanced parties attacked our party +at the bridge, but our people by a very heavy fire kept the pass until +our whole army left the town. Just as our army began our march through +Princetown with all their prisoners and spoils the van of the British +army we had left at Trenton came in sight, and entered the town about +an hour after we left it, but made no stay and pushed on towards +Brunswick for fear we should get there before him, which was indeed +the course our General intended to pursue had he not been detained too +long in collecting the Baggage and Artillery which the enemy had left +behind him. Our army marched on to Kingston then wheeled to the left +and went down the Millstone, keeping that River on our left; the main +body of the British army followed, but kept on through Kingston to +Brunswick; but one division or a strong party of horse took the road +to the left of the Millstone and arrived on the hill, at the bridge on +that road just as the van of the American Army arrived on the opposite +side. I was again commanding the van of our army, and General +Washington seeing the enemy, rode forward and ordered me to halt and +take down a number of carpenters which he had ordered forward and +break up the bridge, which was done and the enemy were obliged to +return. We then marched on to a little village called Stone brook or +Summerset Court House about 15 miles from Princeton where we arrived +just at dusk. About an hour before we arrived here 150 of the enemy +from Princeton and 50 which were stationed in this town went off with +20 wagons laden with Clothing and Linen, and 400 of the Jersey militia +who surrounded them were afraid to fire on them and let them go off +unmol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.162" id="Page_ii.162">[Pg ii.162]</a></span>ested and there were no troops in our army fresh enough to +pursue them, or the whole might have been taken in a few hours. Our +army now was extremely fatigued not having had any refreshment since +yesterday morning, and our baggage had all been sent away the morning +of the action at Trenton; yet they are in good health and in high +spirits....</p> + +<p class="right"><br /><span class="smcap">Morristown</span> January 6<sup>th</sup> 1777.</p> + +<p>We left Pluckemin this morning and arrived at Morristown just before +sunset. The order of march, was first a small advance guard, next the +officers who were prisoners, next my Light Infantry Regiment, in +columns of four deep; next the prisoners flanked by the riflemen, next +the head of the main column, with the artillery in front. Our whole +Light Infantry are quartered in a very large house belonging to Col. +Ford having 4 Rooms on a floor and Two stories high. This town is +situated among the mountains of Morris County, about 18 miles from +Elizabethtown, 28 from Brunswick and 20 from Carroll's Ferry.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Cæsar A. Rodney, Esq.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO52"></a>[No. 52.]<br /> +<br /> +POSITION OF THE BRITISH AT THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"The following were the exact stations of Gen. Howe's army on the 6th +of January, 1777, from an authentic account.</p> + +<p>At New York.—The first brigade of British consisting of the 4th, +15th, 27th, and 45th regiments; a squadron of light dragoons of the +17th; and three Hessian regiments, viz. Hereditary Prince, Cassel and +Donop.</p> + +<p>At Harlem.—The sixth brigade, British, consisting of the 23d, 44th, +and 6th regiments, and a brigade of Hessians.</p> + +<p>At Amboy.—33d and 71st Regiments, and remains of 7th and 16th [?] +regiments; a detachment of dragoons, and the Waldeck regiment.</p> + +<p>At Brunswick.—The guards, grenadiers, and light infantry.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.163" id="Page_ii.163">[Pg ii.163]</a></span> Second +brigade, British, consisting of the 5th, 28th, 35th, and 49th +regiments. Fourth brigade, British, consisting of the 17th, 40th, +46th, and 55th regiments, and the 42 regiment, which is not brigaded. +Also Donop's corps, Hessian grenadiers, and chasseurs.</p> + +<p>At Bergen.—The 57th regiment, ordered to Amboy, and preparing to +embark.</p> + +<p>At Rhode Island.—Third and fifth brigades of British, consisting of +the 10th, 37th, 38th, and 52d; of the 22d, 43d, 54th, and 63d +regiments; a battalion of grenadiers, and one of light infantry; a +troop of light dragoons; a detachment of artillery, and two brigades +of Hessians.</p> + +<p>This account shews clearly what places Gen. Howe is in possession of, +and what he is not; that in Jersey he has only Brunswick and Amboy, +and in New York only York city and Harlem. All other places are in +possession of the Americans, who seem by the last accounts to be +endeavoring to cut off the troops at Brunswick."</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>London Chronicle</i>, March 1-4, 1777.]</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.165" id="Page_ii.165">[Pg ii.165]</a></span></p> +<h2>RETURNS AND STATEMENTS<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">OF</span><br /> +<br /> +PRISONERS.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h2>1776.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.167" id="Page_ii.167">[Pg ii.167]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO53"></a>[No. 53.]<br /> +<br /> +NARRATIVE OF LIEUT. JABEZ FITCH<a name="FNanchor_248_248" id="FNanchor_248_248"></a><a href="#Footnote_248_248" class="fnanchor">[248]</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>... "I myself was so happy as to fall at first into y<sup>e</sup> hands ... of +y<sup>e</sup> 57th Reg<sup>t</sup> who used me with some degree of Civility, altho, +some perticular Offrs were very liberal of their favourite Term +(Rebels) & now & then did not forget to Remind me of a halter, &c; +they did not Rob or Strip me of any of my Clothing, only took my Arms +& Amunition, & after keeping me in y<sup>e</sup> Field sometime, in Confinment +with several others under a Strong Guard, was sent off to Gen<sup>ll</sup> +Grants Quarters, at Gowaynes. In this March we passd through y<sup>e</sup> +Front of several Brigades of Hessians who were peraded on several +Emininences in order of Battle; they Indeed made a very Warlike +appearance, & as no power appear'd at yt [that] time to oppose them, +their whole attention seemed to be fixed on us, nor were they by any +means, sparing of their Insults; But their Offrs Esspacially, +Represented to y<sup>e</sup> life (as far as their Capacitys would admit) +y<sup>e</sup> conduct of Infernal Spirits, under Certain Restrictions; Having +pas'd through those Savage Insults, we at length came to a hill nigh +to the place where we at first engaged y<sup>e</sup> Enimy y<sup>e</sup> morning; we +were here met by a number of Insolent Soldiers among whom was one +Woman who appeared remarkably Malicious and attempted several times, +to throw Stones at us, when one of our Guard Informed me yt her +husband had been killed in this Day's Action; we were then conducted +down to a barn near y<sup>e</sup> water side, where we were drove into a Yard +among a great number of Offrs & men who had been taken before us; soon +after we came here, Capt. Jewett with a number of others were brought +in, & Confin'd with us; Capt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.168" id="Page_ii.168">[Pg ii.168]</a></span> Jewett had Recd two Wounds with a +Bayonet after he was taken & Strip'd of his Arms, & part of his +Cloths, one in y<sup>e</sup> Brest & y<sup>e</sup> other in y<sup>e</sup> Belly, of wich he +Languished with great pain untill y<sup>e</sup> Thirdsday following when he +Died; Sarg<sup>t</sup> Graves was also Stab'd in y<sup>e</sup> Thigh with a Bayonet, +after he was taken with Cap<sup>t</sup> Jewett, of wich wound he recovered +altho' he afterward perrish'd in Prison with many hundred others at N. +York.... After being some time confined in this Yard, Cap<sup>t</sup> Jewett & +some others who were wounded were ordered to some other place in order +to have their Wounds dress'd, & I see no more of them this Night.... +Early next morning Cap<sup>t</sup> Jewett came to us in excessive pain with +his wounds already dress'd, but yet notwithstanding y<sup>e</sup> applications +of several of y<sup>e</sup> Enimy's Cirgions, Especially one Doc<sup>r</sup> Howe (a +young Scotch Gen<sup>t</sup>) who treated him with great civility & +tenderness, he Languished untill y<sup>e</sup> Thirdsday following (viz: y<sup>e</sup> +29th of Aug<sup>t</sup> at about 5 oClock in y<sup>e</sup> Morning) when he Expired, & +was Buried in an Orchard nigh s<sup>d</sup> House, at about 8 ye same morning, +with as much Deacence as our present Situation would Admit; I myself +[was] Indulg'd by Gn<sup>ll</sup> Grant, at y<sup>e</sup> application of Maj<sup>r</sup> +Brown, who Attended us in this place, to Attend y<sup>e</sup> Captains +Funeral; The aforesaid Maj<sup>r</sup> Brown treated us with y<sup>e</sup> greatest +Civility & Complesance, during our confinment in this place, & +Endeavour'd to make our Accomodations, as agreable as possable; +Gen<sup>ll</sup> Grant also was so good as to send us (with his Compliments,) +two Quarters of Mutton well Cook'd, & several Loves of Bread, which +were Acceptable to us, as most of us had eat nothing since y<sup>e</sup> +Monday before."</p> + +<p class="center">[From copy of original in possession of Mr. Chas. I. Bushnell, New York.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO54"></a>[No. 54.]<br /> +<br /> +EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF LIEUT. WILLIAM McPHERSON<a name="FNanchor_249_249" id="FNanchor_249_249"></a><a href="#Footnote_249_249" class="fnanchor">[249]</a><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.</span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"W<sup>m</sup> McPherson, Lieut. was taken Prisoner the 27<sup>th</sup> Day of August +by the Hathians [Hessians] and was taken to Flatbush, that evening and +staid there five days and then they marched us down to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.169" id="Page_ii.169">[Pg ii.169]</a></span> the river and +sent us aboard of one of their transports. Sept. the 15th. I am as +hearty as the time will admit. The Generals who were taken on Long +Island are Gen<sup>l</sup> Sullivan, Lord Sterling. They were taken the 27th +of Augt. 1776. That day there were twenty-three thousand of the King's +troops on Long Island and about twenty-six hundred of the Continental +troops against them which was suffered very much. Sept. 22<sup>d</sup>. We +sailed from below the Narrows up near New York and there we —— the +23<sup>d</sup> day. There was some firing from the Rowbuck & another small +vessel against our work on Paulus Hook which continued about half an +hour. Col. Miles got leave to go to Philadelphia this 26th of November +1776, from New York where he was prisoner. The 7th of October we all +left the Snow Mentor and were taken into New York and was put into a +close house there. All the officers signed their parole this day & got +a small bound to walk round to stretch their legs, which we found +grateful. Nov. 20, 1776, all the officers got leave to walk in the +bounds of the City of New York."</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in the possession of Hon. Edward McPherson, Gettysburg, Penn.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO55"></a>[No. 55.]<br /> +<br /> +DEPOSITION OF PRIVATE FOSTER<br /> +<br /> +TAKEN PRISONER ON LONG ISLAND.</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Thomas Foster of full age being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that he +was a soldier in the first battalion of the Pennsylvania Riflemen, +commanded by Colo. Miles; that he was made a prisoner on Long Island; +that immediately after he was made prisoner he was stripped by the +Hessians of all his clothes, except his frock and a pair of drawers; +that after they had stripped him, they put a cord about his neck and +hanged him up to the limb of a tree, where they suffered him to remain +until he was almost strangled; that they then cut him down and gave +him a little rum to recover his spirits; that they repeated this cruel +sport three times successively; that he has frequently heard it said +among the British troops that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.170" id="Page_ii.170">[Pg ii.170]</a></span> Hessians hanged several of our +prisoners, and further this deponent says not.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right" summary="signature"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="center">his</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>THOMAS</td> + <td class="center"><span class="sans">X</span></td> + <td class="right">FOSTER,</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="center">mark</td> + <td> </td> + </tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br />examined and sworn in the presence of</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em"><span class="smcap">Gen<sup>l</sup> McDougall</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em"><span class="smcap">John Sloss Hobart</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em"><span class="smcap">Nathl. Sacket</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em"><span class="smcap">William Duer</span></span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">[Journal of the New York Provincial Congress, Vol. II.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO56"></a>[No. 56.]<br /> +<br /> +LETTERS FROM CAPT. NATHANIEL FITZ RANDOLPH, OF NEW JERSEY<br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">WRITTEN WHILE PRISONER.<a name="FNanchor_250_250" id="FNanchor_250_250"></a><a href="#Footnote_250_250" class="fnanchor">[250]</a></span></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Spouse</span>—these with my Love to you and Children may informe you +of my present situation, which is that I am wounded in the head and +arm but not dangerous. Should be glad that you will send me some +necessary Clothing as I now remain in close confinement. I would not +have you make yourself uneasy about me as I have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.171" id="Page_ii.171">[Pg ii.171]</a></span> treated with +the greatest kindness by Col. Prescott who commanded the party of +King's Troops whose hands it was my misfortune to fall into. Likewise +by most of the officers of the 28th and 35th Ridgements. I have been +before Lord Cornwallace, who I believe looks upon my conduct nothing +more than becoming a soldier—and Major Generl. Grant has for my +conduct in taking his steward and stores kindly sent me word that I +may send to him for any necessarys which I may want and shall be +wellcome to. I would request to procure some person to bring what +necessarys you may send to me and believe they will not be molested or +detained if received protection. I now conclude wishing you every +happyness these times can afford and remain your ever affectionate +Husband,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Nathl. Fitz Randolph.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">On board Gaurd House at New Brunswick</span> Jan. 26<sup>th</sup>, 1777.</p> + +<p>P.S. Joseph Combes is well and hearty, and desires that his brother +Stephen may send him some clothes, but in particular to send a pair of +Buckskin Breeches.</p> + +<p> +To Mrs. <span class="smcap">Experience Fitz Randolph</span>—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">to the care of</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">John Hampton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">at</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Woodbridge.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>I make no doubt but every intelligence you have had concerning me has +been favorable and wish it was in my power to send you such +intelligence now—But must informe you in as few words as possible +that the wound in my head is verry painfull and dangerous and am now +close confined in the Provost Goal, By a positive order from Generl. +Howe. I would not have you make yourself uneasy about me as it will be +of But Little Service to either of us—But wish you every Happyness +the world can afford and remain your ever affectionate Husband,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Nath'l. Fitz Randolph.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">New York</span> Feb. 25<sup>th</sup> 1777.</p> + +<p>P.S. Our men who are prisoners here is verry sickly and are Dying +Dayly—John Parker an Indian Israel dyed here a few days ago—Please +to send enclosed by some safe hand.</p> + +<p> +To Mrs. <span class="smcap">Experience Fitz Randolph</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">in</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">East Jersey.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.172" id="Page_ii.172">[Pg ii.172]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>These with my love to you and Children may informe you that I remain +close Confined in the Provost Goal but in vain might attempt to +discribe in a particular manner the misserys that attend the Poor +Prisoners Confined in this Horrid place, they are dying dayly with +(what is called here) the Goal fever but may more properly be called +the Hungry fever which rages among the prisoners here confined in +goals they being deprived of allmost every necessary of Life. As to +the treatment I have received since a prisoner has been varrious +Sometimes like a Gentleman other times like a Ruffin, have been for a +week without a Surgeon to attend me. At other times have been attended +by eight or ten different Surgeons in one day, But have for three +weeks past had verry regular attendance. My wounds is in a fair way of +doing well and am in prety good Health. Being in great haste must +conclude, desireing you to make your self as happy as possible in your +present Situation and wait with patience until time brings a change. I +remain with sincere affection, ever your affectionate Husband,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Nathl. Fitz Randolph.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">New York</span>, March 10, 1777.</p> + +<p>P.S. David Tappin is confined in a Room where the Small Pox is and +Reuben Potter has been unwell for some days past.</p> + +<p class="center">[Originals in possession of Captain John Coddington Kinney, Hartford, Conn.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO57"></a>[No. 57.]<br /> +<br /> +EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF CAPT. JAMES MORRIS, PRISONER AT FLATBUSH, +L.I.<a name="FNanchor_251_251" id="FNanchor_251_251"></a><a href="#Footnote_251_251" class="fnanchor">[251]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"I was put on board with the other prisoners of war [at Philadelphia] +and sailed down the river Delaware, and went to New York. We were 12 +days on our passage. I was then put on my parole of honour and boarded +with a plain Dutch family in Kings County, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.173" id="Page_ii.173">[Pg ii.173]</a></span> the west end of Long +Island. We were confined within the limits of said County.</p> + +<p>At Flat Bush I became acquainted with a M<sup>r</sup> Clarkson a man of +science and of a large property, he owned the most extensive private +Library that I had ever known in the United States, his wife had a +capacious mind and she was remarkably distinguished for her piety. Mr. +Clarkson made me a welcome visitor at his house and gave me access to +his library. He allowed me to take as many books as I chose and carry +them to my lodgings. I there lived two years and six months devoting +my time to reading. I read through a course of ancient and modern +history. My exercise was hand labour and walking. I tended a garden +one summer upon shares and my net profits were about twelve dollars. +The next summer I obtained the use of a small piece of Land and +planted it with potatoes from which my net profits were 30 dollars. I +was treated with great kindness by the family with which I lived. I +endeavored to be always on the pleasant side with them and to be sure, +not to be wanting in my attentions to my landlady. Here I learned that +the little nameless civilities and attentions were worth a great deal +more than they cost me. Here I was peculiarily situated to learn the +human character: for the inhabitants in this county were all attached +to the British Government and said the officers paroled there were all +rebels, and that they would finally be hung for their rebellion, so +that if any of us received any injury or met with any abuse from the +inhabitants we could have no redress we must patiently bear it. The +Dutch inhabitants were uncultivated yet many of them possessed +strength of mind and were intelligent. They were mostly strangers to +the sympathies and tender sensibilities which so much rejoiced the +heart of friends with friends and promote the happiness of society. +But not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.174" id="Page_ii.174">[Pg ii.174]</a></span>withstanding I was thus secluded from my particular friends +and acquaintances yet I enjoyed my share of comfort and worldly +felicity. I felt no disposition to murmer and repine in my then +condition. Every day afforded me its enjoyments excepting a time when +I had a pretty severe attack with the ague and fever which reduced me +low. The whole term of my Captivity was three years and three months +lacking one day. I was exchanged on the 3rd day of Jan<sup>y</sup> 1781. I was +taken from Flat Bush to New York and from thence conveyed to +Elizabethtown in New Jersey and set at liberty."</p> + +<p class="center">[Original in possession of Hon. Dwight Morris, Bridgeport, Conn.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<h3><a name="NO58"></a>[No. 58.]<br /> +<br /> +BRITISH PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE AMERICANS ON LONG ISLAND</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Kings Bridge</span>, August 29, 1776.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>: I send to your care and safe keeping the following +prisoners of war, taken on <i>Long Island</i>, on the 27<sup>th</sup> instant viz: +Lieutenant <i>John Ragg</i>, of the Marines, Sergeant <i>David Wallace</i>, +Corporal <i>Thomas Pike</i> and <i>Edward Gibbon</i>, <i>William Smith</i>, <i>Isaac +Hughs</i>, <i>Thomas Haraman</i>, <i>John Woodard</i>, <i>Edward Cavil</i>, <i>William +Williams</i>, <i>William Coortney</i>, <i>Stephen Weber</i>, <i>John Smith</i>, <i>Samuel +Morral</i>, <i>Thomas Sarral</i>, <i>Joseph Distant</i>, <i>Benjamin Jones</i>, <i>William +Jones</i>, <i>William Pearce</i>, <i>John Hopkins</i>, <i>Henry Weston</i>, <i>Evan +Evans</i>, and <i>John Morten</i>, Privates.</p> + +<p>You will please to secure them in such manner as to prevent their +escape, observing the order of Congress in this respect.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 6em">I am, gentlemen, with Esteem,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 4em">Your humble Servant</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">W. Heath</span>, Major General.<br /> +</p> + +<p>To the Committee of the Town of Fairfield [Conn.]</p> + +<p class="center">[<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i, p. 1215.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.175" id="Page_ii.175">[Pg ii.175]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO59"></a>[No. 59.]<br /> +<br /> +A RETURN OF THE PRISONERS TAKEN IN YORK DURING THE CAMPAIGN 1776</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<div class="notes"> +<p><i>Transcriber's Note:</i> In the original book, +the following table contains vertical text. In order to make the +width of the table manageable, the vertical text has been reduced +to abbreviations, as follows (original spellings used):</p> + +<p>Gn—Generals<br /> +Co—Colonels<br /> +LC—Lt. Colonels<br /> +Mj—Majors<br /> +Ca—Captains<br /> +Lt—Lieutenants<br /> +En—Ensigns<br /> +Ch—Chaplains<br /> +QM—Q. Masters<br /> +Ad—Adjutants<br /> +Su—Surgeons<br /> +Cm—Comissaries<br /> +Eg—Engineers<br /> +WM—Wagon Masters<br /> +Vo—Volunteers<br /> +Pr—Privates</p> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Prisoners"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="center"><span class="smsmcap">When taken</span></td> +<td class="center"><span class="smsmcap">Where</span></td> +<td class="center" colspan="17"><span class="smsmcap">Commissioned officers Staff officers & Privates.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td><span class="small">Gn</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Co</span></td> +<td><span class="small">LC</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Mj</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Ca</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Lt</span></td> +<td><span class="small">En</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Ch</span></td> +<td><span class="small">QM</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Ad</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Su</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Cm</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Eg</span></td> +<td><span class="small">WM</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Vo</span></td> +<td><span class="small">Pr</span></td> +<td class="center"><span class="smsmcap">Wounded</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="small">Aug<sup>t</sup>. 27<sup>th</sup></span></td> +<td><span class="small">Long Island</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">18</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">43</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">11</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1006</span></td> +<td><span class="small">9 Officers, 56 Privates</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="small">Sep<sup>t</sup>. 15 & 16<sup>th</sup></span></td> +<td><span class="small">York Island</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">7</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">354</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="small">Oct<sup>r</sup>. 12<sup>th</sup></span></td> +<td><span class="small">White Plains</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">35</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="small">Nov<sup>r</sup>. 16<sup>th</sup></span></td> +<td><span class="small">Fort Washington</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">5</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">56</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">107</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">31</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">5</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2637</span></td> +<td><span class="small">6 Officers, 53 Privates.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="small">Nov<sup>r</sup>. 18<sup>th</sup></span></td> +<td><span class="small">Fort Lee</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">—</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">99</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td><span class="small">Total</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">8</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">10</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">10</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">79</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">160</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">43</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">11</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">2</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">1</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">3</span></td> +<td class="right"><span class="small">4131</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="9"><span class="small">Copy <span style="margin-left: 7em"><span class="smcap">Chatham</span> Jan<sup>y</sup> 30<sup>th</sup> 1777</span><br /> +P.S. The original taken in New Jersey sent to Gov<sup>r</sup>. Brooks.</span></td> +<td colspan="10"><span class="small">A true copy taken from the Commissary General's, +& brought from York by Major Wells.</span></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p class="center"><br />[Original among Lieut.-Col. Henshaw's papers.]</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.176" id="Page_ii.176">[Pg ii.176]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO60"></a>[No. 60.]</h3> + +<h3>LIST OF AMERICAN OFFICERS TAKEN PRISONERS AT THE BATTLE OF LONG +ISLAND<a name="FNanchor_252_252" id="FNanchor_252_252"></a><a href="#Footnote_252_252" class="fnanchor">[252]</a></h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Three Generals.</span></h4> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Major General</i> John Sullivan,<br /> +<i>Brigadier General</i> Lord Stirling,<br /> +<i>Brigadier General</i> Nathaniel Woodhull.<a name="FNanchor_253_253" id="FNanchor_253_253"></a><a href="#Footnote_253_253" class="fnanchor">[253]</a><br /> +</p> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Three Colonels.</span></h4> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="colonels"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Penn. Rifle Reg't</td><td>1</td><td>Col. Samuel Miles,</td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Musketeers</td><td>1</td><td>Col. Sam. John Atlee,</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Jersey Militia</td><td>1</td><td>Col. Phillip Johnston.<a name="FNanchor_254_254" id="FNanchor_254_254"></a><a href="#Footnote_254_254" class="fnanchor">[254]</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Four Lieut.-Colonels.</span></h4> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Lieutenant-Colonels"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Penn. Rifle Reg't</td><td>1 [Miles']</td><td>Lt. Col. James Piper,</td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Militia</td><td>2</td><td>Lt. Col. Nicholas Lutz,<br />Lt. Col Peter Kachlein,</td></tr> +<tr><td>17th Continental Regt.</td><td>1 [Huntington's]</td><td>Lt. Col. Joel Clark.</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Three Majors.</span></h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Majors"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Penn. Militia</td><td>1 [Lutz's]</td><td>Maj. Edward Burd,</td></tr> +<tr><td>17th Continental Reg't</td><td>1</td><td>Maj. Browne,<a name="FNanchor_255_255" id="FNanchor_255_255"></a><a href="#Footnote_255_255" class="fnanchor">[255]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>22d Continental Reg't</td><td>1 [Wyllys's]</td><td>Maj. Levi Wells.</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Eighteen Captains.</span></h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Captains"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Penn. Rifle Reg't</td><td>2</td><td>Capt. Richard Brown, 1st Batt.,<br /> + " Wm. Peebles, 2d Batt.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Musketeers</td><td>4 [Atlee's]</td><td>Capt. Thomas Herbert,<br /> + " Joseph Howell,*<br /> + " Francis Murray,*<br /> + " John Nice.*<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.177" id="Page_ii.177">[Pg ii.177]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Militia</td><td>5</td><td><i>Lutz' Battalion.</i><br /> + Capt. Jacob Crowle,<br /> + " Joseph Heister,*<br /> + " Jacob Mauser.*<br /> + <i>Kachlein's Battalion.</i><br /> + Capt. Garret Graff,*<br /> + " Henry Hogenbach,*<br /> + " Timothy Jayne.*</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3">The officers designated by the asterisk were exchanged Dec. 9, 1776.<br />See list in <i>Penn. Archives</i>, Second Series, vol. +i., p. 426.</td></tr> +<tr><td>17th Continental</td><td>4</td><td>Capt. Joseph Jewett,<a name="FNanchor_256_256" id="FNanchor_256_256"></a><a href="#Footnote_256_256" class="fnanchor">[256]</a><br /> + " Ozias Bissell,<br /> + " Jonathan Brewster,<br /> + " Caleb Trowbridge,<br /> + " Timothy Percival,<br /> + " Eben. F. Bissell.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Train of Artillery</td><td>1</td><td>Capt.-Lieut. John Johnston.<a name="FNanchor_257_257" id="FNanchor_257_257"></a><a href="#Footnote_257_257" class="fnanchor">[257]</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Maryland Provincials</td><td>2 [Smallwood's]</td><td>Capt. Daniel Bowie.<a name="FNanchor_258_258" id="FNanchor_258_258"></a><a href="#Footnote_258_258" class="fnanchor">[258]</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Forty-three Lieutenants.</span></h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Lieutenants"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Provincial Rifle Reg'ts</td><td>11</td><td><i>1st Battalion.</i><br /> + 1st Lieut. William Gray,*<br /> + " John Spear,<br /> + " John Davis,<br /> + " George Wert,<br /> + 2d Lieut. Joseph Triesbach,<br /> + " Wm. McPherson,<br /> + " Luke Broadhead.*<br /> + <i>2d Battalion.</i><br /> + 1st Lieut. Matthew Scott,*<br /> + " Daniel Topham,<br /> + Lieut. Brownlee.<br /> + <i>Cunningham's Regiment.</i><br /> + Lieut. Patterson.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.178" id="Page_ii.178">[Pg ii.178]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Musketeers</td><td>1</td><td>Lieut. Walter Finney.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Penn. Militia</td><td>6</td><td><i>Lutz' Battalion.</i><br /> + Lieut. Stephen Baldy.<a name="FNanchor_259_259" id="FNanchor_259_259"></a><a href="#Footnote_259_259" class="fnanchor">[259]</a><br /> + <i>Kachlein's Battalion.</i><br /> + Lieut. Lewis,<br /> + " Medow [Middagh],<br /> + " Shoemaker.</td></tr> +<tr><td>17th Continental Reg't</td><td>6</td><td>Lieut. Solomon Orcutt,<br /> + " Jabez Fitch, Jr.,<br /> + " Thomas Fanning,<br /> + " Solomon Makepeace,<br /> + " Nathaniel Gove,<br /> + " Jonathan Gillet.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Delaware Battalion</td><td>2</td><td>Lieut. Jonathan Harney,<br /> + " Alex. Stewart.</td></tr> +<tr><td>1st Battalion N.Y. Continental</td><td>5 [Lasher's]</td><td>Lieut. Edward Dunscomb,<br /> + " Robert Troup,*<br /> + Adj. Jeronimus Hoogland,<br /> + Lieut. Gerrit Van Wagenen,<a name="FNanchor_260_260" id="FNanchor_260_260"></a><a href="#Footnote_260_260" class="fnanchor">[260]</a><br /> + " Wm. Gilliland.</td></tr> +<tr><td>11th Battalion Continental</td><td>1 [Hitchcock's]</td><td>Lieut. John Blunt.</td></tr> +<tr><td>New Jersey Militia</td><td>1 [Johnston's]</td><td>1st Lieut. John Toms.</td></tr> +<tr><td>1st Batt. Maryland Independents</td><td>2 [Veazey's Co.]</td><td>Lieut. Samuel Wright,<br /> + " Edward De Courcy.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Long Island Militia</td><td>2</td><td>Lieut. Coe,<a name="FNanchor_261_261" id="FNanchor_261_261"></a><a href="#Footnote_261_261" class="fnanchor">[261]</a><br /> + " ——.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Train of Artillery</td><td>1</td><td>Cadet John Callender.<a name="FNanchor_262_262" id="FNanchor_262_262"></a><a href="#Footnote_262_262" class="fnanchor">[262]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.179" id="Page_ii.179">[Pg ii.179]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Maryland Provincials</td><td>5</td><td>1st Lieut. Wm. Sterret,<br /> + " Joseph Butler,<br /> + Lieut. Hatch Dent,<br /> + " Walter Ridgely,<br /> + " Walter Muse,<br /> + " Edward Praul.</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Eleven Ensigns</span>.</h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Ensigns"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Penn Musketeers</td><td>4</td><td>Ensign W. Henderson,<br /> + " Alexander Huston,*<br /> + " Michael App,*<br /> + " Septimus Davis.*</td></tr> +<tr><td>17th Continental Reg't</td><td>5</td><td>Ensign Anthony Bradford,<br /> + " Joseph Chapman,<br /> + " Cornelius Higgins,<br /> + "John Kinsman,<br /> + " Elihu Lyman,<br /> + " Joel Gillet.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Maryland Provincials</td><td>2</td><td>Ensign Wm. Courts,<br /> + " James Fernandez.</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + +<h4><br /><span class="smcap">Staff</span>.</h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Staff"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Adjutant</td><td>1 [Huntington's]</td><td>Adj. Elisha Hopkins.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Surgeons</td><td>3</td><td><i>Miles' Battalion.</i><br /> + Dr. John Davis,<br /> + Dr. Joseph Davis.*<br /> + <i>Huntington's Regt.</i><br /> + Dr. Silas Holmes.<br /> +</td> +</tr> +<tr><td>Volunteers</td><td>2</td><td>Lieut. David Duncan,<br /> + " —— Young.<a name="FNanchor_263_263" id="FNanchor_263_263"></a><a href="#Footnote_263_263" class="fnanchor">[263]</a></td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 45%" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.180" id="Page_ii.180">[Pg ii.180]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="NO61"></a>[No. 61.]<br /> +<br /> +LIST OF AMERICAN NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS TAKEN +PRISONERS, KILLED, OR MISSING, AT THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND</h3> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h4>COL. TYLER'S REGT.—TENTH CONTINENTAL [CONN.]</h4> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Killed.</span>—Antony Wolf.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Samuel Everett, Amasa Pebody.<br /> +</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. HITCHCOCK'S REG'T.—ELEVENTH CONTINENTAL [R.I.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Kimball's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Richard Wallen.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Symond's Company.</i></p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Killed.</span>—John Elliott.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Nath. Ramson, John Patten.<br /> +</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain C. Olney's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Caleb Herenden, Benjamin Foster, Daniel Williams, London +Citizen [a negro].</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Bowen's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—William Deputrin.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. LITTLE'S REG'T.—TWELFTH CONTINENTAL [MASS.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Parker's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Killed.</span>—Peter Barthrick.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Wade's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Archelaus Puleifer.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Dodge's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Elijah Lewis.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. HUNTINGTON'S REG'T.—SEVENTEENTH CONTINENTAL [CONN.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Tyler's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Bartlet Lewis, Elisha Benton, Sergeants; Reuben Bates, Olive +Jennings, Joseph White, Jesse Swaddle, Corporals; Joseph Arnold, Joel +Ballard, Azariah Benton, Lemuel Lewis, Seth Rider, John Smith, +Jeremiah Sparks, Jonathan Witherd, Josiah Benton, Luke Kimball, +Jonathan Barnard, James Lindsey, Privates.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.181" id="Page_ii.181">[Pg ii.181]</a></span></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Jewett's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Stephen Otis, Rufus Tracy, Roswel Graves, Sergeants; Nathan +Raymond, Peleg Edwards, Corporals; Joshua Blake, Billa Dyer, +Theophilus Emerson, Jaspar Griffin, Elisha Miller, Adam Mitchel, +Charles Phelps, Silas Phelps, Oliver Rude, Ebenezer Smith, Jacob +Sterling, Timothy Tiffany, Peter Way, Lebbeus Wheeler, Nathan Wood, +David Yarrington, Duron Whittlesey, William Eluther, Zadock Pratt, +Eliphalet Reynolds, Rufus Cone, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Trowbridge's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Daniel Ingalls, Daniel Farnham, Moses Smith, Sergeants; +George Gordon, Levi Farnham, Corporals; Silas Bottom, Drum-Major; +William Bedlock, Alexander Brine, Joseph Clarke, John Colegrove, Luke +Durfee, George Forster, Caleb Green, John Gardner, Ebenezer Keyes, +John Kingsbury; Robert Lithgow, Benjamin Lounsbury, Ishmael Moffit, +Joseph Munsur, Daniel Malone, Solomon Mears, John Pollard, Stephen +Potter, Joseph Russell, Allen Richards, Monday Smith, David Saunders, +John Talmage, William Turner, John Thomas, Samuel White, John Winter, +Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Ozias Bissell's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Ebenezer Wright, Howard Moulton, Sergeants; Freegrace +Billings, Nathan Barney, Abner Belding, Seth Belding, Daniel Church, +Lemuel Deming, George Edwards, Thomas Green, Jesse Judson, David +Lindsey, Michael Mitchel, Samuel Moulton, Joseph A. Minot, Giles Nott, +James Price, Jonathan Price, Benjamin Ripnor, Timothy Risley, Joel +Skinner, Daniel Thomas, Robert Wallas, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Brewster's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Theophilus Huntington, Sergeant; Jabez Avery, William +Button, Corporals; Simon Armstrong, Jesse Barnet, Joseph Ellis, Asa +Fox, Samuel Fuller, Elijah Hammond, Solomon Huntley, Sanford Herrick, +Luther Japhet, John Lewis, Thomas Matterson, Rufus Parke, Amasa Pride, +Jehiel Pettis, Roger Packard, Samuel Tallman, John Vandeusen, Calvin +Waterman, John Williams, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Percival's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Roger Coit, Uriah Hungerford, Rous Bly, [killed,] Sergeants. +Samuel Agard, Daniel Bartholomew, Silas Bates, John Bray, David Brown, +Solomon Carrington, John Curtis, John Dutton,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.182" id="Page_ii.182">[Pg ii.182]</a></span> Daniel Freeman, Gad +Fuller, Abel Hart, Jason Hart, Timothy Isham, Azariah Lothrop, John +Moody, Timothy Percival, Isaac Potter, Elijah Rose, Elijah Stanton, +Benjamin Tubbs, Abraham Yarrington, Jesse Roberts, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Fitch Bissel's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Cornelius Russell, Eleazer House, Hezekiah Haydon, +Sergeants; Samuel Bordman, Aaron Porter, Elisha Boardman, Corporals; +Robert Newcomb, Drummer; John Atwood, Orias Atwood, William Craddock, +Ira Clark, Roderick Clark, Lemuel Fuller, Abner Fuller, Roger Tyler, +Carmi Higley, Erastus Humphy, Jonathan Halladay, John Willson, John +White, John Fletcher, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Hubbard's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—William Talmage, Samuel Skinner, William Parsons, Ebenezer +Coe, Sergeants; Eleazer Brooks, Samuel Buck, Jr., Cornelius Coverling, +Aaron Drake, Benjamin Hills, Alexander Ingham, Elias Leet, Levi +Loveland, Elijah Roberts, Reuben Shipman, Samuel Strictland, Seth +Turner, Nathan Whiting, Job Wetmore, Privates.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. JONATHAN WARD'S REG'T.—TWENTY-FIRST CONTINENTAL [MASS.].</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain King's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Moses Whitney, James Barker, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Bartlet's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Cornelius Warren, Private.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. WYLLYS' REG'T.—TWENTY-SECOND CONTINENTAL [CONN.].</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Pettibone's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—William Gaylord, Private.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Scott's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Eliezur Loveland, Private.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Wright's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Joel Taylor, Private.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Major Holdridge's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Abner Rider, Sherman Shadduck, Elijah Smith, Joseph Watrous, +Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Mills' Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Robert Lusk, Jonathan Ingham, Privates.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.183" id="Page_ii.183">[Pg ii.183]</a></span></p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. MILES' REG'T.—[PENN.]<a name="FNanchor_264_264" id="FNanchor_264_264"></a><a href="#Footnote_264_264" class="fnanchor">[264]</a></h4> + +<p style="text-align: center">(Two Battalions.)</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>First Battalion.—Captain Farmer's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Robert Garrett, Drummer; Alexander Anderson, John Barger, +Henry Cordier, Creewas Bastian, Cornelius Dauel, George Dillman, +George Edwards, Jacob Engelhart, Chushan Foy, Philip Feese, George +Garling, Benjamin Hackett, Lawrence Homan, Nicholas Hause, Martin +Haynes, Jonathan Hager, Jacob Koppinger, Adam Kydle, Conrad Meserly, +George Miller, Jr., Adam Swager, Jacob Shifle [wounded], Francis +Shitz, Jacob Shutt, Jacob Slottner, Goodlip Voolever, Henry Wise, John +Young, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Brown's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—James Anderson, Sergeant; William Lever, Drummer; Hugh +Barkley, Hezekiah Biddle, William Bradley, Peter Carmichael, Samuel +Crosson, Peter Develin, Timothy Driskil, Adam Growss, Alexander +Holmes, Robert Huston, John McGriggor, Christy McMichael, William +Moore, Jonathan Nesbit, Richard Roberts, Nathanael Scott, Degory +Sparks, Robert Stokes, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Long's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Thomas Higginbottom, Sergeant; Henry Donely, Drummer; James +Nelson, Fifer; John Beatty, Thomas Christopher, Abraham Dunlap, John +Elliot, Jr., John Elliot, Sen., Benjamin Harverd, Patrick Kelly, +Daniel McLean, Hugh Mulhalon [wounded], John Williams, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Albright's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Thomas Wilson, Robert Tate, James Geddes, Sergeants; Andrew +Boned, Alexander Boyd, Edward Carleton, James Cuxel, Thomas Fosler, +Hugh Gobin, Jacob Helsley, John Henary, Philip Kennedy, William +Kilpatrick, Thomas Knee (or Karee), Conrad Lead, Henry McBroom, Hugh +McClughan, John McElnay, James McFarland, Bartholomew McGuire, Jacob +Newman, John Rinehart, Henry Shadon, Charles Spangler, Charles Stump<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.184" id="Page_ii.184">[Pg ii.184]</a></span> +[wounded], John Swartz, George Wampler, Edward Wells, Thomas Williams, +Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Shade's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Isaac Gruber, Sergeant; Henry Baker, Henry Bollabaker, John +Bower, Henry Goodshalk, Jacob Isenhart, Adam Kerchner, George Keibler, +John Lee, John McAry, Lorentz Miller, Christopher Neighhast, John +Simmins, Elias Schwartz, Frederick Tickard, Henry Weaver, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Weitzell's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—John Gordon, Sergeant-Major; Thomas Price, Sergeant; William +Allison, Peter Brady, Andrew Carter, Robert Caruthers, Henry Gass, +John Hardy, Dennis Huggins, Martin Kershller, Joseph Madden, William +McCormick, Patrick McVey, Robert Morehead, Andrew Ralston, John Rice, +Jacob Speiss, James Watt, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Second Battalion.—Captain Murray's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Thomas Dudgeon, John Galloway, Daniel McCoy, Thomas +Plunkett, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Peebles' Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—P. Heylands, Sergeant; James Carson, Drummer; Edmuad Lee, +Fifer; James Atcheson, Samuel Dixon, Samuel Montgomery, David Moore, +James Moore, James Mortimore, John Neil, Robert Nugent, Patrick +Quigley, Thomas Rogers, William Witherspoon, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Marshall's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Robert Andrews, Robert Slemen, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Erwin's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—James Dugan, John Justice, William Lindsay, Samuel Roddy, +Sergeants;<a name="FNanchor_265_265" id="FNanchor_265_265"></a><a href="#Footnote_265_265" class="fnanchor">[265]</a> Daniel Brownspeld, Jeremiah Gunnon, John Guthry, +William Guthry, John Henry, Philip Kelly, Andy McKenzie [a volunteer], +William Moore, William Mull, James Nelson, William Nelson, Stephen +Singlewood, Charles Stamper, John Stoops, William Twifold, Angus +Wilkinson, Privates.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.185" id="Page_ii.185">[Pg ii.185]</a></span></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Grubb's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—George Brown, John Hehm, Robert Henderson, Joseph McFarland, +Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Christ's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Matthew Whitlow, Jeremiah Geiss, Sergeants; Paul Frederick, +Yost Fuchs, Privates.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. ATLEE'S REG'T.—[PENN.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Anderson's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Francis Ferguson, William Harper, John Madden, William +McCormick, Hector McGowan, John Moore, Benjamin Nain, Hosea Rigg, +Edward Wood, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Lloyd's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—William Nemrich, Sergeant [wounded]; Jesse Moore, Fifer; +Michael Clary, Michael Derry, Folk Matthias, Archibald Graham, James +Hidden, Robert Kinen, Adam Kingfield, Patrick McCullough, James Moore, +Edward Murphy, William Powel, James Tyrer, Richard Wallace, William +Watson, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Murray's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Joseph Atkinson, James Davis, William Gillespie, John +Guthrie, Thomas Logan, Thomas McConnell, John McEnrae, John Moody, +Patrick Mullan, David Robinson, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain McClellan's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—James Mitchell, Sergeant [wounded]; Joseph Moor, Corporal +[killed]; John Calhoon, James Elder, Michael Kenaday, Robert Love, +Justin McCarty, James McClure, Daniel McElroy, James McElvay, William +McIlvain, Thomas Mitchel, Thomas Moore [wounded], William Murray +[wounded], O'Trail Morris, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Herbert's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Eleazer Crain, John Everhart, John Ingram, George Ridge, +Boston Wagoner, Michael Weaver, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain De Huff's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Michael Loy, Jacob Marks, Christian Mentzer, Patrick +Mulrang, Peter Wile, Godlip Wiseman, Privates.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.186" id="Page_ii.186">[Pg ii.186]</a></span></p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Nice's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Edward Barnhouse, Edward Baxter, Michael Domiller, John Gee, +John Huston, Robert Jones, Edward Justice, Richard Robeson, Michael +Stucke, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Howell's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Michael Carmodey, John Ervine [killed], John Gilkey, James +Gallagher, William Jones, William McMaunagel, William Tweedy, +Privates.</p> + +<h4><br /> +LIEUT.-COL. KACHLEIN'S REG'T.—[PENN.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain John Arndt's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Andrew Hessher, Andrew Reefer, Sergeants; Thomas Sybert, +Martin Derr, George Fry, Lawrence Gob, Anthony Frutches, Peter Froes, +John Harpel, Jacob Dufford, Joseph Stout, Mathias Stidinger, Peter +Beyer, Peter Lohr, Bernhard Miller, Richard Overfeld, Jacob Weid +Knecht, Henry Bush, Sr., Peter Kern, Philip Bush, Abraham Peter.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. GAY'S REG'T.—[CONN.]</h4> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Goodwin's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Clement Maxfield, Martin Nash, Privates.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Wells' Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Joseph Bidwell, Private.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Captain Wilson's Company.</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Benjamin Frisby, Private.</p> + +<h4><br /> +COL. CHESTER'S REG'T.—[CONN.]</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Missing.</span>—Maygot, Cheney, Marret, Upham, Fling, Alderman, Humphry, +Gillet, Martin, Shawn, Sasanan, Tassett, Privates.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.187" id="Page_ii.187">[Pg ii.187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES" id="BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES"></a>BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In the few following sketches the writer has simply incorporated such +facts of personal interest as have come to his knowledge while +preparing the work.</p> + +<p>As for the generals who took part in this campaign, Washington, +Stephen, and Mercer were from Virginia; General Beall, of Maryland, +commanded part of the Flying Camp from that State; Generals Mifflin +and St. Clair were from Pennsylvania—also Generals Cadwallader, +Roberdeau, and Ewing, who commanded Pennsylvania "Associators" for a +short time (Roberdeau also having a brigade under Greene at Fort Lee); +Generals Stirling and Heard, from New Jersey; Generals James and +George Clinton, McDougall, Scott, and Woodhull, from New York; +Generals Putnam, Spencer, Wadsworth, Wolcott, and Parsons, from +Connecticut; General Greene, from Rhode Island; Generals Heath, Nixon, +Fellows, and Lincoln, from Massachusetts; and General Sullivan, from +New Hampshire. General Lee was born in Wales, had served in the +British army, and settled in Virginia. General De Fermoy was a +Frenchman.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Callender, Captain John.</span>—This officer, who behaved so well on Long +Island, was the son of Eliezer Callender, of Boston. At the close of +the war he became a merchant in Virginia, and died at Alexandria, in +October, 1797.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel Joel.</span>—Lieutenant Fitch states that Clark, +who commanded Huntington's regiment at the battle of Long Island, and +was taken prisoner, died about one o'clock on the morning of December +19th, after a long sickness, and was buried in the New Brick +Church-yard [now Park Row], in New York. Officers followed his remains +to the grave.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Douglas, Colonel William.</span>—Born in Plainfield, Conn., January 17th, +1742. Afterwards lived in Northford. Served as Putnam's +orderly-sergeant in the French and Indian War. In 1775 joined +Montgomery, who put him in charge of the flotilla on Lake Champlain, +in view of his nautical experience. In 1776 he raised a regiment for +the army at New York, where, as appears in the narrative, he proved +himself a thorough soldier. In 1777 he raised a Continental regiment, +but his health broke down, and he died May 28th of that year. His +death was a loss to the service, as he was a man of faith, character, +and personal courage. The regiment he raised was given to the famous +Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.188" id="Page_ii.188">[Pg ii.188]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dunscomb, Lieutenant Edward.</span>—Born May 23d, 1754, in New York. Died +November 12th, 1814. Graduate of Columbia College in 1774. He was son +of Daniel Dunscomb, a firm friend of the colonial cause. After his +capture at the Jamaica Pass, August 27th, he was confined on a prison +ship and fell sick, but recovered, and on his exchange rejoined the +army, where, in 1780, he appears as Captain of the Fourth New York +Line. After the war he became clerk of the United States Courts. He +was also a vestryman of Trinity Church, and a trustee of Columbia +College. The tradition in his family is that he was asked to be +Hamilton's second in the duel with Burr, but declined in disapproval +of the practice.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fish, Major Nicholas.</span>—Born in New York, August 28th, 1758; died June +20th, 1833. He was at Princeton a short time, but leaving college, +studied law with John Morin Scott, whose brigade-major he became in +1776. Fish afterwards served with the New York Line through the war, +and as major of light infantry under Hamilton at Yorktown. In 1786 he +became adjutant-general of New York, was afterwards an alderman of the +city and president of the Cincinnati. He was the father of the Hon. +Hamilton Fish, ex-Secretary of State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gay, Colonel Fisher.</span>—Of Wadsworth's brigade. He came from Farmington, +Conn., having served also at the siege of Boston. His regiment was for +some time on Long Island, but the colonel had been sick, and either +died or was buried on the day of the battle, August 27th.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hale, Captain Nathan.</span>—The most authoritative account of his capture +and death is given by Hull, who was captain with him in Webb's +regiment. Lossing states that he was hanged from an apple-tree in +Rutgers' orchard. Hale was a young graduate of Yale; came from +Ashford, Conn. The sketch of his life by I.W. Stuart, Hartford, 1856, +contains the particulars of his career. See <a href="#Page_262">page 262, Part I.</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hamilton, Captain Alexander.</span>—See <a href="#CHAPTER_III">chapter on "The Two Armies."</a> +Hamilton was stationed in New York at the Grand Battery and Fort +George, and doubtless participated in the firing on the ships whenever +they passed up either river. At White Plains his guns did good +execution, also in the subsequent actions in New Jersey. In March, +1777, he became aid to Washington with rank of lieutenant-colonel, and +particularly distinguished himself at Monmouth, and afterwards as +commander of a light infantry battalion at Yorktown. He had few if any +superiors among the younger officers of the Revolutionary army.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Henshaw, Lieutenant-Colonel William.</span>—Born at Boston February 20th, +1735, and removed to Leicester in 1745. He served in the French war +under Amherst. The Lexington alarm he answered promptly, and marched +to Boston at the head of his militia regiment. The Massachusetts +Provincial Congress appointed him adjutant-general of the army +mustered around Boston, and he held that position until relieved by +General Gates in July. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.189" id="Page_ii.189">[Pg ii.189]</a></span> was actively engaged through the entire +campaign in 1776, being in the midst of the fighting on Long Island, +at Harlem Heights, and at Princeton. At the close of the campaign he +retired from the service. A full and interesting sketch of him, +together with his Order Book of 1775, has lately been published by the +Massachusetts Historical Society. Colonel Henshaw died February 20th, +1820.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hughes, Colonel Hugh.</span>—Of Welsh extraction. Taught a select grammar +school, in 1765, in the French Church Consistory Rooms in Nassau +Street, New York. He served most efficiently in the quartermaster's +department during much of the war, and died in 1802, seventy-five +years of age.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Johnston, Captain John.</span>—After partially recovering from his severe +wounds received at the battle of Long Island, Captain Johnston took up +the artist's profession, and painted several historical portraits, +among them that of Samuel Adams and his wife. He also painted his own, +which is in possession of his grandson, Mr. J.J. Soren, of Boston.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Knowlton, Lieutenant-Colonel.</span>—Born in West Boxford, Mass., November, +1740, and removed to Ashford, Conn. He served in the French war as +private in Captain Durkee's company. A full and accurate sketch of him +may be found in the <i>New England Historical and Gen. Register</i> for +January, 1861, by Ashbel Woodward, M.D., of Franklin, Conn.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lasher, Colonel John.</span>—Born March 3d, 1724, probably in New York. A +merchant of some wealth. He lost four houses in the fire of September +21st, 1776. On the expiration of the term of service of his battalion, +he was elected a lieutenant-colonel of one of the New York Continental +regiments, but declined. He died in New York at an advanced age. See +references to him in the <a href="#CHAPTER_III">chapter on "The Two Armies."</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Little, Colonel Moses.</span>—Frequently mentioned in the account of the +campaign. He was one of the "Descendants of George Little, who came to +Newbury, Mass., in 1640"—the title of a handsome little work compiled +by Mr. George T. Little, and printed in 1877. During the retreat +through New Jersey, Colonel Little was sick at Peekskill, and could +not participate with his men at Trenton and Princeton. He rendered +further service at various times during the war.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">McDougall, General Alexander.</span>—Born in Scotland in 1731; died in New +York, June 8th, 1786. It is understood that a biography of this +officer is in the course of preparation. As he was so closely +identified with the Revolutionary struggle, it could be made a +valuable work, if his papers are all preserved. He was a leader of New +York's "Liberty" party before 1776, and served continuously through +the war.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Miles, Colonel Samuel.</span>—Born March 22d, 1739, probably in +Philadelphia. Served in the French war. After the Revolution, held +positions as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.190" id="Page_ii.190">[Pg ii.190]</a></span> Judge of the High Court of Errors, member of the +Governor's Council, and Mayor of Philadelphia. He died at Cheltenham, +Montgomery County, Pa., December 29th, 1805.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Parry, Lieutenant-Colonel Caleb.</span>—Killed on Long Island. See notice of +him on <a href="#Page_196">page 196, Part I.</a> A genealogy recently prepared by Richard +Randolph Parry, Esq., of Philadelphia, contains much interesting +personal history of the family.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Piper, Lieutenant-Colonel James.</span>—He was lieutenant-colonel of Miles' +First Battalion, and "a very worthy gentleman." Taken on Long Island, +and died in New York not long after the battle. Captain Peebles, of +Miles', Captain Bowie and Lieutenant Butler, of Smallwood's, and +Lieutenant Makepeace, of Huntington's, who were all wounded and taken +prisoners, died afterwards in New York, says Fitch.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rutgers, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry.</span>—Of New York City. Brother of +Harmanus Rutgers, killed on Long Island. He was connected with the +army much of the time in the Commissary of Musters Department. Rutgers +College takes its name from him. He left many Revolutionary papers, +which have been unfortunately lost.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scott, General John M.</span>—Born in New York in 1730; died September 14th, +1784. He was the only child of John and Marian Morin Scott, and fourth +in the line of descent from Sir John Scott, Baronet of Ancram, County +Roxburgh, Scotland, who died in 1712. At the age of sixteen he +graduated at Yale College in the class of 1746, and took up the +profession of law in New York, where he rose steadily in practice and +reputation. With Wm. Smith, the historian of New York, and Wm. +Livingston, he became identified with the Whig element in the colony, +and at an early date advocated principles which paved the way for the +final opposition to ministerial measures. These three—Smith, +Livingston, and Scott—became leaders at the bar, and the two latter +also in politics. Scott's residence stood at about the corner of +Thirty-third Street and Ninth Avenue, as appears from Ratzer's +official map of the city and island in 1766-67, and contained 123 +acres. At that date it was some three miles out of town. From papers +still preserved it appears that, very soon after the Revolution, this +fine estate, which had become embarrassed, was sold for $8250, and +that as early as 1813 it was worth $100,000. Scott associated himself +with enterprises that contributed to the progress and social +advancement of the city, becoming in 1754 one of the founders of the +Society for the Promotion of the Arts, and also of a City Library. +From 1757 to 1762 he was alderman of the Out-ward of New York. He +contributed to the <i>Watch Tower</i> and <i>Reflector</i>, and was the author +of several official and literary papers and reports during his +lifetime. When the Revolutionary troubles opened, he was made one of +the committee of one hundred citizens in 1775, took a foremost part +against England's designs, and, as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.191" id="Page_ii.191">[Pg ii.191]</a></span> powerful public speaker in favor +of the colonial cause, might be called the Samuel Adams or James Otis +of New York. As stated in the text, he became a member of the +provincial committee and Congress in 1775-76, and brigadier-general of +State troops in March, 1776, taking active part in the campaign around +his native city. At the close of the year he offered his last month's +salary to those of his troops who would remain in the service a few +weeks longer, and served himself a month without pay. In 1777 he was +appointed secretary of the State, and continued in the public service +in that capacity and as State senator and member of Congress until his +death. His remains lie buried in Trinity Church-yard, near the line of +Broadway, north of the church.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Selden, Colonel Samuel.</span>—Of Hadlyme, Conn. Son of Samuel and Deborah +Dudley Selden. Born January 11th, 1723. His grandfather was Thomas +Selden, one of the original founders of Hartford. A genealogy of the +family is in the course of preparation by Mr. Henry M. Selden, of +Haddam Neck. Colonel Selden was taken prisoner in the Kip's Bay +retreat, being prostrated by the exertions of the day. He was confined +in the present Register's building, in the City Hall Park, where he +died of fever, "on Friday <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, October 11th, about three o'clock." In +the latter part of his sickness he was attended by Dr. Thacher, a +British surgeon, who paid him every attention. He was buried in the +Brick Church-yard. See <a href="#CHAPTER_III">chapter on "The Two Armies"</a> for further +reference. Among this officer's great-grandsons are Chief-Justice +Waite, Hon. Lyman Trumbull, General McDowell, Judge Selden of +Rochester, Colonel Joseph Selden of Norwich, and many others, the +descendants being numerous.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Smith, Captain Robert.</span>—Born in New York in 1752; of Scotch ancestry. +Entered the counting-house of his brother, Alex. Robertson Smith, a +wealthy merchant. In 1776 he raised a company of Scotsmen and sons of +Scotsmen, and joined Malcom's New York Regiment. He was on Long Island +with Scott's brigade, and at White Plains received a severe contusion +from a spent shot. Obliged by ill-health to retire from the service +for a time, he appeared again as a volunteer at Monmouth, and fought +on foot, having given up his horse to a general officer. After the war +he settled in Philadelphia, where he was a bank director for +forty-eight years, holding also other offices of trust. He was a man +of liberal disposition, a Presbyterian elder, and gave freely for all +charitable purposes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Stirling, General Lord.</span>—This officer's name was properly William +Alexander. His father claimed the title of the Earl of Stirling, and +he himself continued it. There is this description of the general in +Surgeon Waldo's diary, kept at Valley Forge <i>(Historical Magazine</i>, +vol. v.):</p> + +<p>"Major-General Lord Stirling is a man of a very noble presence, and +the most martial Appearance of any General in the Service; he much +resembles the Marquis of Granby—by his bald head—the make of his +face, and figure of his Body. He is mild in his private conversation, +and vociferous in the Field."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.192" id="Page_ii.192">[Pg ii.192]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tilghman, Captain Tench.</span>—Aid to Washington. Born near Easton, Talbot +County, Md., December 25, 1744; died April 18th, 1786. From Maryland, +Tilghman went to Philadelphia, became captain of a city military +organization, and joined Washington as volunteer secretary and aid in +August, 1776. He served with his chief through the war, participating +in many battles, and having Washington's closest confidence. His rank +as lieutenant-colonel was dated from April, 1777, by his own desire, +that he might not outrank Hamilton and Meade, who had been appointed +aids earlier in the year. His descendants preserve many relics of his +Revolutionary service.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Troup, Lieutenant Robert.</span>—His father was an officer in the British +Navy, and died before the Revolution. Troup graduated from Columbia +(old King's) College in 1774, and after his capture on Long Island as +one of the patrol at the Jamaica Pass was exchanged in December +following, with a few others. In March, 1777, he accepted a +captain-lieutenancy in the artillery, offered by Knox, but soon after +joined General Gates' staff. In May, 1778, Gates wrote to Laurens, +President of Congress:</p> + +<p>"Having neglected when I left York to recommend a proper person for +D.A. General [deputy adjutant-general] to the army under my command, I +beg to mention Lieut Col: Robert Troup, and desire the Favor you will +propose him to Congress for that office; my knowledge of his Honor, +Merit, Integrity induces me apart from any personal regard, thus +earnestly to wish his promotion."—<i>MS. Letter.</i></p> + +<p>After the war, Troup studied law in New York, became intimate with +Hamilton and Burr, and was one of the very few who retained his +friendship for the latter after the duel. Colonel Troup was appointed +the first United States District Judge for New York.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Van Wagenen, Lieutenant Gerrit H.</span>—Son of Huybert Van Wagenen and +Angenietje Vredenburg, was born in New York at No. 5 Beekman Slip (now +Fulton Street), 1753, January 21st. He went to Canada in August, 1775, +as second lieutenant in the Eighth Company of the First Regiment of +New York State troops under Colonel McDougall. Was at the storming of +Quebec, in the columns of General Montgomery. In May, 1776, he was +sent to New York, and then to Philadelphia, in charge of some +prisoners. On returning to New York and finding that the British were +landing on Long Island, he offered his services to General Sullivan, +and was sent by him with four other officers to the Jamaica Pass, as +described in the <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">chapter on the battle</a>. The party were all taken +prisoners, and he continued a prisoner twenty-two months, when he was +exchanged. He then received an appointment in the Commissary of +Prisoners Department, and continued in that office about three years. +(For a full account of his services, see the "Gen. and Biog. Record," +vol. viii., page 44). In 1783, March 11th, he married Sarah, daughter +of Derrick Brinckerhoff and Rachel Van Ranst. He now engaged in the +hardware business with his father at No. 5 Beekman Slip, where the +business had been carried on by his father since about 1760. The +volume<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.193" id="Page_ii.193">[Pg ii.193]</a></span> entitled "New York during the Revolution" says, under date of +1767, "In Beekman Slip, near Queen Street, was the extensive hardware +store of Huybert Van Wagenen, whose sign of the golden broad axe was +so often referred to in the annals of the period." He lived at Beekman +Slip till 1811, when he removed to 69 Gold Street, near Beekman, and +in 1821 removed with his family to Oxford, Chenango County, where he +died, 1835, November 20th.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Webb, Lieutenant-Colonel S.B.</span>—Born in Wethersfield, Conn., December, +1753. He went to Boston on the Lexington alarm, and was at Bunker Hill +as Captain Chester's lieutenant. He became aid to General Putnam and +then to Washington in 1776. In 1777 he raised a Continental regiment +in Connecticut, and served as its colonel to the end of the war, +though for two years he was a prisoner on parole. His +lieutenant-colonel was Ebenezer Huntington, and major, John P. Wyllys, +both young officers in this campaign. Colonel Webb resided in New York +until 1789, and then removed to Claverack, where he died December 3d, +1807.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Woodhull, General.</span>—There is a good sketch of General Woodhull in +"Thompson's History of Long Island," vol. ii. In regard to his +capture, Lieutenant Jabez Fitch, of Huntington's regiment, says in his +narrative: "On ye 6th [of Sept.] Genll Woodhull, of ye Long Island +malitia, was sent from ye Mentor to ye Hospital at Newatrect [New +Utrecht]; he was an aged Gentleman, & was taken by a party of ye +Enemy's light Horse at Jameca, & altho he was not taken in arms, yet +those Bloodthirsty Savages cut & wounded him in ye head & other parts +of ye body, with their Swords, in a most Inhuman manner of which +wounds he Died at ye Hospital; and altho ye Director of their affairs +took but little care to preserve his Life yet they were so generous to +his Lady, as to endulge her with liberty to carry home ye General's +corpse and bury it with Deacence."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_MAPS" id="THE_MAPS"></a>THE MAPS.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3><a href="#MAP02">PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND AND THE BROOKLYN DEFENCES.</a></h3> + +<p>The outlines and topography of this "Plan" have been compiled from +Ratzer's and United States Coast Survey maps. Bernard Ratzer was a +British Engineer, ranking as lieutenant in the Sixtieth Royal American +Regiment of Foot in 1756. In 1767-8, he made an official survey of New +York and part of Long Island with many details, the accuracy of which +is beyond question.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.194" id="Page_ii.194">[Pg ii.194]</a></span> There is an advertisement in the <i>Connecticut +Gazette</i> for October 25th, 1776, in which Samuel Loudon (late printer +and bookseller in New York, but now in Norwich) offers for sale +"Ratzer's elegant map of New York and its Invirons from Actual +Surveys, showing the present unhappy seat of War." This survey on Long +Island extends nearly to the line of the hills. All beyond is +reproduced from maps of the coast survey, farm lines, and Brooklyn +maps. The whole represents the ground almost exactly as it lay in +1776. One correction should be made at the Jamaica Pass. The name +belongs to the dotted roundabout line which represents the original +pass, the straight road having been cut afterwards.</p> + + +<h3><a href="#MAP03">THE STILES SKETCH OF THE BROOKLYN WORKS.</a></h3> + +<p>Now published for the first time, and quite important as confirming +the Hessian map in vol. ii. of the Society's "Memoirs." The +fortifications at Red Hook are undoubtedly exactly reproduced. Taken +in connection with General Greene's orders, the sketch is valuable, +enabling us to locate the works. The drawing, of course, is not +precise, but the names and relative positions are enough as long as we +have Ratzer to follow in the matter of outline and topography. The +writer is indebted to the librarians of Yale College, Profs. Van Name +and Dexter, for the favor of tracing the sketch from the original.</p> + + +<h3><a href="#MAP04">EWING'S DRAUGHT.</a></h3> + +<p>This is a one-half reduction from the original in the possession of +Mr. Stauffler, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who has kindly furnished +the writer with a tracing. It was drawn by John Ewing, Colonel Hand's +brother-in-law, but in topography is far out the way. It contains, +however, several important items in the references, which are noticed +in the text.</p> + + +<h3><a href="#MAP05">MAP OF NEW YORK CITY AND OF MANHATTAN ISLAND, WITH THE AMERICAN +DEFENCES IN 1776.</a></h3> + +<p>So far as known, no contemporary map exists showing the whole of +Manhattan Island, except the very small and inaccurate sketches in +Stedman, Sparks, and some other works. The one presented in this +volume is believed to be the first to give the entire island, with its +roads, settlements, and topographical features, as it lay in 1776. In +the compilation, Ratzer and Montressor have been followed as far as +they go—namely, from the Battery to about Fiftieth Street. From this +point to King's Bridge the map of the commissioners who first laid out +the island into streets in 1814 has been adopted. This is official, +and gives the old roads as they existed during the Revolution. The +Bloomingdale and King's Bridge roads are laid down in the present map +as the commissioners have them, the surveys being made by Randall. The +fortifications at Harlem Heights are from Sauthier's English map as +given in New York Hist. MS. and Stedman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.195" id="Page_ii.195">[Pg ii.195]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#MAP06">FIELD OF THE HARLEM HEIGHTS AFFAIR.</a></h3> + +<p>Reference has been made to the topography of this battle-field in a +note in <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI</a>. The outlines are taken from Randall's city map, +and the ground has been frequently visited by the writer. Point of +Rocks has been partly cut away, but the main features in the vicinity +remain.</p> + + +<h3><a href="#MAP01">NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN WITH THEIR ENVIRONS IN 1776.</a></h3> + +<p>In this outline map, a bird's-eye view is presented of the entire +position in this vicinity. Details will be found in the larger maps. +Care has been taken to give the outlines, roads, and relative +distances with accuracy. The plan is a photographic reduction of +Ratzer's, Randall's, and Coast Survey charts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_PORTRAITS" id="THE_PORTRAITS"></a>THE PORTRAITS.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>[The portraits are those of representative officers—men who rendered +good service, not only during the campaign, but, in the case of three +of them, during the war. Lasher's and Hand's have never been +published; and the other two are not found in any general work. They +are given here (two of them, at least) as contributions to the list of +Revolutionary portraits. All have been specially photographed and +transferred to steel by Mr. Egloffstein's process, for the present +volume.]</p> + +<p><span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT01">Colonel Lasher's</a></span> portrait is enlarged from a finely-painted and +well-preserved miniature in the possession of Mrs. Kernochan, of New +York.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT02">Colonel Hand's</a></span> portrait is in the possession of his granddaughter, +Mrs. S.B. Rogers, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT03">Colonel Glover's</a></span> portrait appeared first in the publications of the +Essex Institute at Salem, Massachusetts.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap"><a href="#PORTRAIT04">Colonel Huntington's</a></span> portrait appears in the Huntington family +<i>Memoir</i>. The original is a miniature by Trumbull, in possession of +General Huntington's descendants at Norwich.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.197" id="Page_ii.197">[Pg ii.197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p class="center">[The pages refer to <a href="#PART_I">Part I.</a>, unless otherwise indicated.]</p> + +<h3>A.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Adams, Abigail</span>, on the Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Adams, John</span>, describes New York, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">America</span>, success assured for, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Amsterdam</span>, rise of stocks at, on news from Long Island, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Angell, Maj.</span>, at Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Apthorpe, Charles W.</span>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British at house of, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Army, American</span>, described, <a href="#Page_104">104-132</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">roster of, <a href="#Page_126">126-131</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reorganized at New York, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Assanpink Creek</span>, Washington outgenerals Cornwallis at, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Atlee, Col.</span>, sketch of, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at the battle, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">near "Battle Hill" in Greenwood, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taken prisoner, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss in regiment, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>B.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Badlam's Redoubt</span>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Badlam, Capt.</span>, examines Hamilton, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bailey, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Baldwin, Col.</span> L., <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Connecticut, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Baltimore</span>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Congress removes to, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bancroft, George</span>, historian, quoted, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <i>n.</i>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">blames Putnam for defeat on Long Island, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <i>n.</i>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bartlett</span>, of New Hampshire, on Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Battle Hill</span>, Greenwood, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Baurmeister, Maj.</span>, describes Brooklyn, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">narrative of, <a href="#Page_ii.95">Part II., 95</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bayard, William</span>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bayard's Hill Redoubt</span>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Baxter, Col.</span>, at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bedford, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bedford Pass</span>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">guard at, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British at, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Blockje's Bergh</span>, location, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Blodgett, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bloomingdale</span>, described, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British at, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boerum, Lieut.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boscawen, Mrs.</span>, letter from, on Long Island battle, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boston</span>, evacuated, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.198" id="Page_ii.198">[Pg ii.198]</a></span><span class="smcap">Bowling Green</span>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Box, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Box, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bradford, Capt.</span>, account of Lee's capture, +<a href="#Page_ii.146">Part II., 146</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bradley, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Breukelen</span>, ancient name, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Brewer, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">British</span>, plan of campaign, <a href="#Page_31">31-33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">arrive at New York, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Staten Island, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">army, strength of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">list of generals, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">order of battle, <a href="#Page_134">134-137</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">land on Long Island, <a href="#Page_139">139-140</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Bedford, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attack New York, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">occupy New York, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">position at close of campaign, +<a href="#Page_ii.162">Part II, 162</a>. See <span class="smcap"> +<a href="#HOWE">Howe</a>.</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Brodhead, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.63">Part II., 63</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Broadway</span> in 1776, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Bronx River</span>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Brooklyn</span> in 1776, <a href="#Page_44">44-48</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">work, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <i>n.</i>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alarm posts fixed, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to be held, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">prepared for siege, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">situation at, <a href="#Page_209">209-213</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat from, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Brown, Capt.</span>, on fall of Knowlton, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Burd, Maj.</span>, captured near Red Lion, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.48">Part II., 48</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Burgoyne, Gen.</span>, suggests plan of campaign, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Burr, Maj. Aaron</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at retreat from New York, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>C.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Cadwallader, Lieut.-Col.</span>, at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Callendar, John</span>, record at Long Island, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.187">Part II., 187</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Canada</span>, Sullivan ordered to, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Carpenter, Capt.</span>, at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Carrington, Gen.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cary, Lieut.-Col.</span>, aide, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Colonel S., <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Catherine, Queen</span>, declines to lend England troops, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chapman, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chatterton's Hill</span>, location, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle at, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chester, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Brooklyn, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders to, <a href="#Page_ii.145">Part II., 145</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.98">Part II., 98</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Citadel</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_77">77</a> <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Clark, Lieut.-Col. Joel</span>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.187">Part II., 187</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Clinton, Sir H.</span>, Southern expedition, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">leads flanking column on Long Island, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">interrogates prisoners, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at New York, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Clinton, Gen. Geo.</span>, sketch of, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Clinton, Gen. J.</span>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cobble Hill, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders <i>de</i>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Coenties Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Columbia Heights</span>, in 1776, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Congress, Continental</span>, Committee confers with Lee and New York Congress, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">votes not to injure New York, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on river obstructions, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retires to Baltimore, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.199" id="Page_ii.199">[Pg ii.199]</a></span><span class="smcap">Connecticut</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Continental Troops</span>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cooke, Gov.</span>, of Rhode Island, receives Washington, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cornell, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cornwallis, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in flanking column on Long Island, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fights Stirling, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attack on New York, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278-280</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cortelyou House</span>, fight around, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cowenhoven, Lieut.-Col.</span>, of Long Island, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Crary, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cuyler, Maj.</span>, of Howe's staff, carries news of Long Island battle to England, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>D.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dawson, H.B.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Deane, Silas</span>, on Long Island battle, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Defiance, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Delaware</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Delaware River</span>, retreat to, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington crosses on Christmas eve, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">De Lancey, O.</span>, captures General Woodhull, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Demont, Adj.</span>, deserts to British, <a href="#Page_281">281</a> <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">De Nyse Ferry</span>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Donop, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in New Jersey, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Douglas, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attacked at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_232">232-234</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat from, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.66">Part II., 66</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.187">Part II., 187</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Drake, Col. S.</span>, regiment, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Duer, Hon. Wm.</span>, correspondence with Tilghman, +<a href="#Page_266">266-271</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dunscomb, Lieut. Edward</span>, captured on Long Island, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">replies to Clinton, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Durkee, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Dyer, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>E.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">East River</span>, fortified, <a href="#Page_54">54-55</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">obstructions in, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Eustis, Surgeon</span>, letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.129">Part II., 129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Evelyn, Capt.</span>, captures American patrol on Long Island, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mortally wounded, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ewing, Gen.</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ewing, Lieut.</span>, letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.49">Part II., 49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">John E., letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.50">Part II., 50</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>F.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fellows, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade in a panic, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Field, T.H.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <i>n.</i>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fish, Maj.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.127">Part II., 127</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.200" id="Page_ii.200">[Pg ii.200]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, +<a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fitch, Lieut.</span>, narrative, <a href="#Page_ii.167">Part II., 167</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Flatbush</span>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">guard at, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">skirmishes at, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops at, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat from, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Flatlands</span>, British march from, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fleming, Capt.</span>, killed at Princeton, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Flying Camp</span>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Forman, Col.</span>, regiment of, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fort George</span>, described, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fort Putnam</span>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">firing in front of, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fort Washington</span>, <i>see</i> <a href="#WASHINGTON">Washington</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Foster, Private</span>, deposition, <a href="#Page_ii.169">Part II., 169</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Frederick the Great</span>, on America, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fulton Ferry</span>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>G.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gay, Col.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gist, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">George, King</span>, speech on the American revolt, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">applies to Russia for aid, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">obtains Hessians, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">statue pulled down, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on news of battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gleason, Capt.</span>, killed at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Glover, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at the Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade fights light infantry, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.99">Part II., 99</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gooch, Capt.</span>, letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.88">Part II., 88</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gordon</span>, historian, blames Sullivan for the Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the retreat from Long Island, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gordon, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Governor's Island</span>, occupied, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">evacuated, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>; +<a href="#Page_ii.38">Part II., 38</a>, <a href="#Page_ii.41">41</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_ii.116">116</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gowanus</span>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marsh, retreat across, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Graham, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grand Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grant, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">opposite Stirling on Long Island, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grant, Lieut.-Col.</span>, British officer, killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gravesend Bay</span>, British land at, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Graydon, Capt.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grayson, Col.</span>, aide, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Greene, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Col. Little at, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Greene, Gen.</span>, ordered to New York, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to Long Island, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders to, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders from, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">promoted, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taken ill, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">relieved on Long Island, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division of, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on burning New York, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Duer's opinion of, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and the loss of, <a href="#Page_281">281-285</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders on Long Island, <a href="#Page_ii.5">Part II., 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.100">Part II., 100</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.201" id="Page_ii.201">[Pg ii.201]</a></span><span class="smcap">Greene, Maj.</span>, of Virginia, mortally wounded, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Greenwich</span>, described, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Greenwood Cemetery</span>, mentioned, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grenadier Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Griffith, Col.</span>, regiment at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>H.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hale, Capt.</span>, executed as spy, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.131">Part II., 131</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hamilton, Alexander</span>, appointed Captain, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hancock, John</span>, on the importance of the campaign, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">appeal for troops, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hand, Col.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment of, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">falls back before British on Long Island, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on picket on Long Island, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Throg's Neck, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">skirmish near Mamaroneck, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.48">Part II., 48</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Harlem</span>, described, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Harlem Heights</span>, American retreat to, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle of, <a href="#Page_246">246-262</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle-field described, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">losses at battle of, <a href="#Page_259">259-261</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works at, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Americans evacuate, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Harrison, Col.</span>, Secretary to Washington, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Haslet, Col.</span>, sketch of, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the situation at New York, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">surprises Rogers, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed at Princeton, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.51">Part II., 51</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.156">156</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hay, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Heard, Gen.</span>, arrests tories, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade on Long Island, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Heath, Gen.</span>, at New York, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division of, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington to, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Heister, Gen.</span>, arrives at Staten Island, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island with Hessians, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Long Island battle, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stirling surrenders to, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Henley, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Henshaw, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.44">Part II., 44</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.47">47</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.188">Part II., 188</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hessians</span>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">arrive at Staten Island, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">number in Howe's army, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigades, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">march into battle on Long Island, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">not closely engaged, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in attack on New York, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">captured at Trenton, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Heyer, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hinman, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hickey Plot</span>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hitchcock, Col.</span>, regiment escorts Washington, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alarm post, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">thanked by Washington, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">death of, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.75">Part II., 75</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hogeland, A.</span>, farm, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle on farm of, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.202" id="Page_ii.202">[Pg ii.202]</a></span><span class="smcap">Hogeland, Lieut.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Holman, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hopkins, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Horn's Hook</span>, fort, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops at, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Howe, Admiral</span>, arrives at the Narrows, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap"><a name="HOWE"></a>Howe, Gen.</span>, arrives at New York, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as civil commissioner, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter to <i>Mr.</i> Washington, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plan of attack on Long Island, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">report of Long Island losses, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">red riband to be sent to, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273-276</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">demands surrender of Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">campaign plans baffled, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hudson River</span>, indefensible, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">defences, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hughes, Col.</span>, quartermaster, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to collect craft for Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hull, Capt.</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.151">Part II., 151</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Humphrey, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Humphreys, Col.</span>, on retreat from New York, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">extract from writings of, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Huntington, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <i>n.</i>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss of, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Huntington, Capt.</span>, letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.84">Part II., 84</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Hutchinson, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and the Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>I.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Independence</span>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Declaration of, read, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">established, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Independence, Fort</span>, location, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Independents</span>, New York, battalions of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>J.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacquet, Lieut.</span>, killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jamaica Pass</span>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British at, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">American patrol captured at, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">surprise at, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jay, John</span>, appointed colonel, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on destroying New York, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jay, Hon. John</span>, centennial address, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jersey Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jewett, Capt.</span>, mortally wounded, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Johnston, Capt. J.</span>, wounded, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Johnston, Col.</span>, regiment of, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mortally wounded on Long Island, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jones Hill Redoubt</span>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>K.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Kachlein, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Keith, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Kennedy House</span>, headquarters, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">King's Bridge</span>, location, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops at, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">King's Bridge Road</span>, described, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">King's County</span>, inhabitants work on forts, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Kip's Bay</span>, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Colonel Douglas at, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ships cannonade, <a href="#Page_232">232-234</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops panic-struck, <a href="#Page_234">234-236</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.203" id="Page_ii.203">[Pg ii.203]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">criticism on, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Knowlton, Lieut.-Col.</span>, crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reconnoitres the enemy's position, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mortally wounded, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">where buried, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Knox, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment of, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.152">Part II., 152</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Knyphausen, Gen.</span>, arrives, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attacks Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>L.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lasher, Col. J.</span>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at Bayard's Hill redoubt, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lawrence, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lee, Gen. Chas.</span>, sent to New York, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter to from New York committee, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">enters New York, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">inspects, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">goes South, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plan of defence, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Long Island tories, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Duer's opinion of, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">captured by British, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lee, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">evacuated, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Leeds</span>, celebrating Long Island victory, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Leitch, Maj. Andrew</span>, at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">wounded, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">where buried, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lewis, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Limerick</span>, celebrating Long Island battle at, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lippett, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Little, Col.</span>, regiment escorts Washington, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alarm post, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">describes skirmish on Long Island, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">order-book, <a href="#Page_ii.5">Part II., 5</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.42">Part II., 42</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Livingston, P.</span>, mansion, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">council held at house of, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Livingston, R.R.</span>, correspondence, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Livingston, Gov. William</span>, announces movements of enemy, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Livingston. Maj. W.S.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">London Chronicle</span>, extracts from, +<a href="#Page_ii.133">Part II., 133</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Long Island</span>, Dutch population, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works on, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attack expected, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops from, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">topography, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle of, <a href="#Page_137">137-206</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiments on, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">news of the battle in England, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">American and British loss on, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, +<a href="#Page_202">202-206</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigades at, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat from, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">origin of, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders for retreat, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fog on, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="err" title="Transcriber's Note: word missing in original"> +<a href="#Page_298">298</a></span>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lossing, B.F.</span>, quoted, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lott, A.P.</span>, appointed Colonel, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lutz, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss in regiment of, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>M.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">McConkey's Ferry</span>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">McDonough, Maj.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">wounded, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">McDougall's Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">McDougall, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">superintends retreat from Long Island, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>; +<a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.204" id="Page_ii.204">[Pg ii.204]</a></span><span class="smcap">McGowan's Pass</span>, location, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">McPherson, Lieut.</span>, Journal, <a href="#Page_ii.168">Part II., 168</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Magaw, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">refuses to surrender, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">surrenders, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Malcom, Col. W.</span>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mamaroneck</span>, British near, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Manhattan Island</span>, described, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mansfield, Lord</span>, made Earl on news from Long Island, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Marritje Davids Fly</span>, locality, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Martin, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">wounded on Long Island, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Martin, Private</span>, narrative of, <a href="#Page_ii.81">Part II., 81</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Maryland</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">engaged on Long Island, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">conduct of, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">captured, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Massachusetts</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Matthews, Gen.</span>, at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mawhood, Lieut.-Col.</span>, at Princeton, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mead, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mercer, Gen.</span>, sketch of, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops ordered to Powle's Hook, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">mortally wounded at Princeton, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mifflin, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">and the Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <i>n.</i>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">commands covering party, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mill</span>, burned at Long Island battle, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Miles, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">surprised, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fight in woods, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreats, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taken prisoner, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss of regiment, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.189">Part II., 189</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Miles Square</span>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Monroe, Lieut. James</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Montressor, Capt.</span>, on Brooklyn works, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <i>n.</i>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morgan, Dr.</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morris, Capt.</span>, Journal, <a href="#Page_ii.172">Part II., 172</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morris, Lewis</span>, appointed Brigadier-General, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morris, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morris Mansion</span>, headquarters, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Morristown</span>, Americans encamp at, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Mortier House</span>, headquarters, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Moultrie, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Moylan, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Murray, Mrs.</span>, entertains British generals and aids Putnam's escape from New York, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Murray, Robert</span>, residence, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Murphy, Hon. H.C.</span>, on name of Brooklyn, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>N.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Narrows</span>, Colonel Hand at, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British at, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Neal, Capt.</span>, killed at Princeton, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.205" id="Page_ii.205">[Pg ii.205]</a></span><span class="smcap">Newberry, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Newcomb, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">New England</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">New England men criticised, <a href="#Page_240">240-243</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">New Jersey</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat through, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">New Rochelle</span>, British near, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York</span>, war brought to, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in 1776, <a href="#Page_35">35-40</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in 1876, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">occupation of, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Committee of Safety and Lee, <a href="#Page_51">51-53</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lee occupies, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works at, <a href="#Page_84">84-90</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">barricades, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">can it be held, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British attack, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">position of army at, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreat from, <a href="#Page_234">234-240</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss of, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">great fire at, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">American losses in and around, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nichol, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nixon, Gen.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade of, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">posts troops on Long Island, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">North Castle</span>, heights of, Washington retreats to, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">North River</span>, indefensible, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">obstructions in, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>O.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Oblong Redoubt</span>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Olney, Lieut.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Onderdonk, H.</span>, mentioned, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Orders</span>, Greene's, <a href="#Page_ii.5">Part II., 5</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sullivan's, <a href="#Page_ii.27">Part II., 27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Washington's, <a href="#Page_ii.30">Part II., 30</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">scattering orders by Lee, Spencer, Greene, and Nixon, +<a href="#Page_ii.141">Part II., 141</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Out-ward of New York</span>, described, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Oyster Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>P.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Palfrey, Col.</span>, Paymaster-General, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Parliament</span>, proceedings in, on American affairs, +<a href="#Page_19">19-33</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">votes to suppress the rebellion, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Parry, Lieut.-Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>; <a href="#Page_ii.190">Part II., 190</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Parsons, Gen.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on duty, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">covers Stirling's left, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">escapes, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">quoted, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in Kip's Bay affair, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">panic in brigade of, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.33">Part II., 33</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Patterson, Lieut.-Col.</span>, British Adjutant-General, interview with Washington, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Paulding, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Pawling, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Peck, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Pell's Point</span>, British land at, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Pennsylvania</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Percy, Earl</span>, at Long Island, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278-280</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Pettibone, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.206" id="Page_ii.206">[Pg ii.206]</a></span><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, Howe's designs upon, frustrated, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Phœnix</span>, British ship, runs the batteries, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Piper, Lieut.-Col. J.</span>, sketch of, +<a href="#Page_ii.190">Part II., 190</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Platt, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Popham, Lieut. Wm.</span>, captures British prisoners on Long Island, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Powle's Hook</span>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">panic at, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Prescott, Col.</span>, on Governor's Island, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Throg's Neck, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Price. Maj.</span>, Maryland troops under, at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Princeton</span>, battle of, <a href="#Page_294">294-296</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">effect of, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Prisoners</span>, list of, <a href="#Page_ii.174">Part II., 174</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_ii.176">176</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.180">180</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Prospect Park</span>, Battle Pass in, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Putnam, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Putnam, Gen.</span>, ordered to New York, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">occupies Governor's Island, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division of, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">takes command on Long Island, +<a href="#Page_148">148-150</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">instructions to, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders Stirling to meet Grant on Long Island, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">responsibility for Long Island defeat, +<a href="#Page_191">191-195</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">exertions on the retreat, <a href="#Page_237">237-239</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Putnam, Col. R.</span>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reconnoitres White Plains, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Chatterton's Hill, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">journal of, <a href="#Page_ii.136">Part II., 136</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>R.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rall, Col.</span>, at Fort Washington, +<a href="#Page_278">278-280</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">captured at Trenton, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Randolph, Capt.</span>, letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.170">Part II., 170</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rangers</span>, noticed, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <i>n.</i>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">engaged at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_246">246-255</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rawlings, Col.</span>, at Fort Washington, +<a href="#Page_277">277-279</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Read, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Red Hook</span>, location, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">works, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Varnum at, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Red Lion</span>, location, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">skirmish near, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Reed, Adj.-Gen.</span>, interview on flag of truce, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on New England troops, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_250">250-253</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">reconnoitres in Westchester, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Reed, W.B.</span>, on the retreat from Long Island, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Remsen, Maj. A.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Remsen, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rhinelander, F.</span>, letter on New York, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <i>n.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Richardson, Col.</span>, regiment at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ritzema, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rhode Island</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rodney, Cæsar</span>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rodney, Capt. Thomas</span>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">journal of, <a href="#Page_ii.158">Part II., 158</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rose</span>, British ship runs the batteries, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rush, Dr.</span>, on Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rutgers Farm</span>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rutgers, H.</span>, of New York, killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.207" id="Page_ii.207">[Pg ii.207]</a></span><span class="smcap">Rutgers, Col. H.</span>, sketch of, +<a href="#Page_ii.190">Part. II., 190</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>S.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sage, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">St. Clair, Gen.</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sandy Hook</span>, light destroyed, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sargent, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Scammell, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at the Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Scott, Gen. J.M.</span>, mansion, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">noticed, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade of, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the situation at Brooklyn, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at the council to retreat, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade at Kip's Bay affair, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.36">Part II., 36</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.190">Part II., 190</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Selden, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment on Long Island, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taken prisoner at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.191">Part II., 191</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Shee, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Shewkirk, Pastor</span>, excitement in New York, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">diary of, <a href="#Page_ii.101">Part II., 101</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Silliman, Col. G.S.</span>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter on Governor's Island, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">describes skirmish, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on American loss at Long Island, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on the skirmishing at Brooklyn, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in retreat from New York, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.57">Part II., 57</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sloan, Lieut.</span>, killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smallwood, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment at battle of Long Island, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss of, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smith, Col. J.</span>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smith, Col. Josiah</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smith, Capt. R.</span>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.191">Part II., 191</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smith, William</span>, Lee's engineer, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smith, William</span>, historian, quoted, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Smyth, J.F.D.</span>, traveler, describes New York, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island population, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">describes Hell Gate, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Spencer, Gen.</span>, ordered to New York, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Spencer's Redoubt</span>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stark, Col.</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stephen, Gen.</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sterling, Lieut.-Col.</span>, at Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stiles, Dr.</span>, History of Brooklyn quoted, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stiles, Pres.</span>, <a href="#MAP03">map</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stirling, Fort</span>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stirling, Gen.</span>, at New York, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to grenadier company, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">crosses to Long Island, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">takes position on Long Island, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreats, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fights Cornwallis, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.191">Part II., 191</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Strong, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Stuyvesants</span>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sullivan, Gen.</span>, ordered to New York, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">brigade, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.208" id="Page_ii.208">[Pg ii.208]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">ordered to Canada, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Long Island, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">thanks his troops on Long Island, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">superseded by Putnam, <a href="#Page_148">148-150</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sends out patrol, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">goes out to the Flatbush Pass, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">retreats from, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">taken prisoner on Long Island, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">question of the Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">division on Long Island, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders on Long Island, <a href="#Page_ii.27">Part II., 27</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Suydam, Capt.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Swartwout, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>T.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Talcott, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tallmadge, Maj.</span>, account of Long Island battle and White Plains, +<a href="#Page_ii.77">Part II., 77</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tappan Bay</span>, ships at, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Taylor, Lieut.</span>, killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thomas, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thompson's Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gracie's Point, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thompson, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thompson, Gen.</span>, at New York, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thorne, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Throg's Neck</span>, British land at, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tilghman, Capt.</span>, aide, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Harlem Heights battle, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">correspondence with Duer, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.85">Part II., 85</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.192">Part II., 192</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tories</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lee's course, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Greene's, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tory-riding, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">enlist in New York, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Trenton</span>, Rall stationed at, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle of, <a href="#Page_287">287-292</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">effect of, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Troup, Lieut. Robert</span>, captured on Long Island, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.192">Part II., 192</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Trumbull, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders for Long Island retreat, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.40">Part II., 40</a>, +<a href="#Page_ii.41">41</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Trumbull, Gov.</span>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tryon, Gov.</span>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tupper, Lieut.-Col.</span>, commands American fleet, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attacks British ships, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tyler, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.<br /> +</p> + +<h3>V.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Valentine's Hill</span>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Vandewater, B.</span>, farm, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">battle on farm of, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Van Cortland, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Van Dyck, Capt.</span>, and grenadier battery, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Van Wagenen, Lieut. G.H.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.192">Part II., 192</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Varnum, Col.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Red Hook, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">alarm post, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Veazey, Capt.</span>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">killed on Long Island, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Virginia</span>, troops from, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii.209" id="Page_ii.209">[Pg ii.209]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>W.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Wadsworth, Gen.</span>, brigade, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Waldron, Capt.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Wallabout</span>, settlement, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">bay, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Walpole, Horace</span>, on Long Island defeat, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Washington, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ward, Col. A.</span>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Ward, Col. J.</span>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Long Island battle, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap"><a name="WASHINGTON"></a>Washington, Gen. George</span>, sends Lee to New York, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to Stirling, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Providence, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lady Washington, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gen. Washington at New York, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">headquarters in New York, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders to troops on enemy's arrival, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Howe's letter to <i>Mr.</i> Washington, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">inspects position on Long Island, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island during battle, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Brooklyn, takes no rest, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">council for retreat, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">decides to retreat from Long Island, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <i>n.</i>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <i>n.</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders for the retreat, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">anxiety at New York, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter to Heath, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at battle of Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at fall of Fort Washington, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">responsibility for fall of, <a href="#Page_281">281-285</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">orders at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Assanpink Creek, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Princeton, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Walpole on his generalship, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Washington, Fort</span>, location, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">British march to, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">attack upon, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">fall of, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">loss at, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Washington, Capt. William</span>, at Trenton, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Waterbury, Col. D.</span>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Waterbury's</span> battery, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Webb, Col. C.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Webb, Lieut.-Col.</span>, aide, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at White Plains, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">at Trenton, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.193">Part II., 193</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Weedon, Col.</span>, regiment engaged at Harlem Heights, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Westchester County</span>, operations in, +<a href="#Page_265">265-276</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Whitehall Battery</span>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">White Plains</span>, battle of, <a href="#Page_273">273-275</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Whiting, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Wolcott, Gen.</span>, king's statue and bullets, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">writes from Congress on the war, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letter from, <a href="#Page_ii.147">Part II., 147</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Wolverton, Capt.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Woodhull, Gen.</span>, on Long Island, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">captured and wounded, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">prisoner, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_ii.73">Part II., 73</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sketch of, <a href="#Page_ii.193">Part II., 193</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Wyllys, Col.</span>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">on Long Island, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, +<a href="#Page_181">181-185</a>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Wyllys, Maj.</span>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">prisoner at Kip's Bay, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <i>n.</i></span><br /> +</p> + +<h3>Y.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">York</span>, corporation of, votes address on news from Long Island, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ERRATA" id="ERRATA"></a>ERRATA.</h2> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><a href="#E1" name="E1E">Page 37, line 26</a>—The old City Hall stood at the corner of Nassau and +Wall streets, site of present Sub-Treasury Building.</p> + +<p><a href="#E2" name="E2E">Page 119, line 1</a>—Lieutenant-Colonel Cornell became member of the +Board of War, not Commissary-General.</p> + +<p><a href="#E3" name="E3E">Page 243, line 10</a>—But one of the regiments suffered as much as any +other.</p> + +<p><a href="#E4" name="E4E">Page 280, line 21</a>—Rall's column reached Fort Washington first.</p> + +<p><a href="#E5" name="E5E">Page 289, line 31</a>—Read December 25th.</p> + +<p><a href="#E6" name="E6E">Page 291, line 5</a>—Read December 25th.</p> + +<p><a href="#E7" name="E7E">Page 295, line 23</a>—Read Cadwallader's <i>and</i> Mercer's men.</p> + +<p><a href="#E8" name="E8E">Part II., page 99, third line in Glover's letter</a>—Read [Randall's] for +(Ward's).</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Outside of Parliament, all shades of opinion found +expression through the papers, pamphlets, and private correspondence. +Hume, the historian, wrote, October 27th, 1775: "I am an American in +my principles, and wish we could let them alone, to govern or +misgovern themselves as they think proper. The affair is of no +consequence, or of little consequence to us." But he wanted those +"insolent rascals in London and Middlesex" punished for inciting +opposition at home. This would be more to the point than "mauling the +poor infatuated Americans in the other hemisphere." William Strahan, +the eminent printer, replied to Hume: "I differ from you <i>toto +cœlo</i> with regard to America. I am entirely for coercive methods +with those obstinate madmen." Dr. Robertson, author of <i>The History of +America</i>, wrote: "If our leaders do not exert the power of the British +Empire in its full force, the struggle will be long, dubious, and +disgraceful. We are past the hour of lenitives and half exertions." +Early in 1776, Dr. Richard Price, the Dissenting preacher, issued his +famous pamphlet on the <i>Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of +Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War</i>, which had a great +run. Taking sides with the colonists, he said: "It is madness to +resolve to butcher them. Freemen are not to be governed by force, or +dragooned into compliance. If capable of bearing to be so treated, it +is a disgrace to be connected with them."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> "Correspondence with Lord North." Donne.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Upon this point Dr. Price said: "Let it be granted, +<i>though probably far from true</i>, that the <i>majority</i> of the kingdom +favor the present measures. No good argument could be drawn from +thence against receding."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> "A View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland, +and Germany." By John Moore, M.D. Lond., 1786. Vol. V., Letter 75.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Respecting sentiment in Europe on American affairs, the +English traveller Moore wrote as follows from Vienna in 1775: "Our +disputes with the colonies have been a prevailing topic of +conversation wherever we have been since we left England. The warmth +with which this subject is handled increases every day. At present the +inhabitants of the Continent seem as impatient as those of Great +Britain for news from the other side of the Atlantic; but with this +difference, that here they are all of one mind—all praying for +success to the Americans, and rejoicing in every piece of bad fortune +which happens to our army."—<i>Moore's View</i>, etc. Letter 96.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> "History of England from the Accession of George III. to +1783." By J. Adolphus. Vol. II., p. 326.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Two views have been expressed in regard to this. The +English historian Adolphus charges Frederick of Prussia and secret +French agents with having changed Catherine's mind, and he gives +apparently good authority for the statement. The secret seems to have +been known in English circles very soon after Catherine's refusal. On +November 10th Shelburne said in the House of Lords: "There are Powers +in Europe who will not suffer such a body of Russians to be +transported to America. I speak from information. The Ministers know +what I mean. Some power has already interfered to stop the success of +the Russian negotiation." Mr. Bancroft, on the other hand, concludes +(Vol. V., Chap. L., Rev. Ed.) that "no foreign influence whatever, not +even that of the King of Prussia, had any share in determining the +empress;" and Vergennes is quoted as saying that he could not +reconcile Catherine's "elevation of soul with the dishonorable idea of +trafficking in the blood of her subjects." But since Catherine, four +years later, in 1779, proposed to offer to give England effective +assistance in America in order to be assured of her aid in return +against the Turks, it may be questioned how far "elevation of soul" +prompted the decision in 1775. (See Eaton's "Turkish Empire," p. 409.) +In view of England's relations with most of the Continental Powers at +that time, Shelburne and Adolphus have probably given the correct +explanation of the matter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>Fonblanque's Life of Burgoyne</i>, p. 152.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The site of Fort George is now covered in part by the +buildings at the west corner of the Bowling Green block, where the +steamship companies have their offices. South and west of this point +the Battery is almost entirely made-land. (Compare Ratzer's map of +1767 with the maps recently compiled by the New York Dock Department.) +As to other old defences of the city, Wm. Smith, the historian, +writing about 1766, says: "During the late war a line of palisadoes +was run from Hudson's to the East River, at the other end of the city +[near the line of Chambers street], with block-houses at small +distances. The greater part of these still remain as a monument of our +folly, which cost the province about £8000."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The last census before the Revolution was taken in 1771, +when the population of the city and county of New York was returned at +21,863. (Doc. Hist. of N.Y., Vol. I.) At the time of the war alarm, in +1775, this total must have risen to full 25,000. Philadelphia's +population was somewhat larger; Boston's, less.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> "A Tour in the United States," etc. By J.F.D. Smyth. +London, 1784.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> "Letters from America, 1769-1777." By Wm. Eddis. +London.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> "King's Bridge, which joins the northern extremity of +this island to the continent, is only a small wooden bridge, and the +country around is mountainous, rocky, broken, and disagreeable, but +very strong."—<i>Smyth's Tour, etc.</i>, vol. ii., p. 376.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Laws and Ordinances of New Netherlands.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> The caption to the act in the case passed 1751, and +remaining unchanged in 1773, reads: "<i>An Act for mending and keeping +in Repair the publick Road or Highway, from the House of John Horne, +in the Bowry Division of the Out-ward of the City of New York, through +the Bloomendale Division in the said ward, to the house of Adrian +Hoogelandt.</i>"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The Hon. Henry C. Murphy, who visited this place in +1859, says of it: "The town lies in the midst of a marshy district, +and hence its name; for Breukelen—pronounced Brurkeler—means marsh +land." "There are some curious points of coincidence," continues Mr. +Murphy, "both as regards the name and situation of the Dutch Breukelen +and our Brooklyn. The name with us was originally applied exclusively +to the hamlet which grew up along the main road now embraced within +Fulton Avenue, and between Smith Street and Jackson Street; and we +must, therefore, not confound it with the settlements at the +Waalebought, Gowanus, and the Ferry, now Fulton Ferry, which were +entirely distinct, and were not embraced within the general name of +Brooklyn, until after the organization of the township of that name by +the British Colonial Government. Those of our citizens who remember +the lands on Fulton Avenue near Nevins Street and De Kalb Avenue +before the changes which were produced by the filling-in of those +streets, will recollect that their original character was marshy and +springy, being in fact the bed of the valley which received the drain +of the hills extending on either side of it from the Waalebought to +Gowanus Bay. This would lead to the conclusion that the name was given +on account of the locality; but though we have very imperfect accounts +as to who were the first settlers of Brooklyn proper, still, reasoning +from analogy in the cases of New Utrecht and New Amersfoort, we cannot +probably err in supposing that Brooklyn owes its name to the +circumstance that its first settlers wished to preserve in it a +memento of their homes in Fatherland. After the English conquest, +there was a continual struggle between the Dutch and English +orthography.... Thus it is spelled Breucklyn, Breuckland, Brucklyn, +Broucklyn, Brookland, Brookline, and several other ways. At the end of +the last century it settled down into the present Brooklyn. In this +form it still retains sufficiently its original signification of the +<i>marsh</i> or <i>brook land</i>."—<i>Stiles' History of Brooklyn</i>, vol. i., +App. 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> + <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, <a href="#NO33">Document 33</a>. On the other hand, some later +English descriptions are not as pleasant; but the wretchedness the +writers saw during the war was what the war had caused.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> In describing some of the characteristic features of +Long Island, Smyth, the traveler already quoted, mentions what seemed +to him "two very extraordinary places." "The first," he says, "is a +very dangerous and dreadful strait or passage, called <i>Hell-Gates</i>, +between the East River and the Sound; where the two tides meeting +cause a horrible whirlpool, the vortex of which is called the Pot, and +drawing in and swallowing up every thing that approaches near it, +dashes them to pieces upon the rocks at the bottom.... Before the late +war, a top-sail vessel was seldom ever known to pass through +Hell-Gates; but since the commencement of it, fleets of transports, +with frigates for their convoy, have frequently ventured and +accomplished it; the Niger, indeed, a very fine frigate of thirty-two +guns, generally struck on some hidden rock, every time she attempted +this passage. But what is still more extraordinary, that daring +veteran, Sir James Wallace, to the astonishment of every person who +ever saw or heard of it, carried his Majesty's ship, the Experiment, +of fifty guns, safe through Hell-Gates, from the east end of the Sound +to New York; when the French fleet under D'Estaing lay off Sandy Hook, +and blocked up the harbor and city of New York, some ships of the line +being also sent by D'Estaing round the east end of Long Island to +cruise in the Sound for the same purpose, so that the Experiment must +inevitably have fallen into their hands, had it not been for this bold +and successful attempt of her gallant commander." The other spot was +Hempstead Plains, which presented the "singular phenomenon," for +America, of having no trees.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Washington had some misgivings as to his authority to +assume military control of New York, and he sought the advice of John +Adams, who was then at Watertown. The latter replied without +hesitation that under his commission as commander-in-chief he had full +authority. To President Hancock, Washington wrote: "I hope the +Congress will approve of my conduct in sending General Lee upon this +expedition. I am sure I mean it well, as experience teaches us that it +is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves, than it is +to dislodge them after they have got possession."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> "New York in the Revolution." Published by the New York +Mercantile Library Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> + <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, <a href="#NO37">Document 37</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Lee wrote to Washington, February 19th: "I wait for some +more force to prepare a post or retrenched encampment on Long Island, +opposite to the city, for 3000 men. This is, I think, a capital +object; for, should the enemy take possession of New York, when Long +Island is in our hands, they will find it almost impossible to +subsist."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> The location and strength of Fort Stirling, the citadel, +and the other works on Long Island, are noted more in detail further +along in this chapter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> "<i>Feb. 23<sup>d</sup>, 1776.</i>—... General Lee is taking every +necessary step to fortify and defend this city. The men-of-war are +gone out of our harbor; the Phœnix is at the Hook; the Asia lays +near Beedlow's Island; so that we are now in a state of perfect peace +and security, was it not for our apprehensions of future danger. To +see the vast number of houses shut up, one would think the city almost +evacuated. Women and children are scarcely to be seen in the streets. +Troops are daily coming in; they break open and quarter themselves in +any houses they find shut up. Necessity knows no law."—<i>Letter from +F. Rhinelander. "Life of Peter Van Schaack.</i>"</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Privates present fit for duty: Stirling's regiment, 407; +Waterbury's, 457; Ward's, 489; Drake's, 104; Swartwout's, 186; Van +Ness', 110; Captain Ledyard's company, N.Y., 64.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> In the <a href="#CHAPTER_III">chapter on "The Two Armies,"</a> some further account +is given of the troops furnished during the campaign by New York and +the Brooklyn villages.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> The committee humored Governor Tryon, however, with a +few civilities as late as April 4th, when they provided his fleet with +"the following articles, viz.: 1300 lbs. beef for the 'Asia'; 1000 +lbs. beef for the 'Phœnix,' with 18<i>s.</i> worth vegetables; 2 qrs. +beef, 1 doz. dishes, 2 doz. plates, 1 doz. spoons, 2 mugs, 2 barrels +ale, for the packet; 6 barrels of beer, 2 quarters of beef for the +governor's ship, 'Duchess of Gordon.'"—<i>Journal of the Provincial +Congress.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Stirling's orders, March 13th, 1776: "It is intended to +employ one half of the inhabitants every other day, changing, at the +works for the defence of this city; and the whole of the slaves every +day, until this place is put in a proper posture of defence. The Town +Major is immediately to disperse these orders."—<i>Force</i>, 4th series, +vol. v., p. 219. +</p><p> +The citizens were divided off into reliefs or "beats." In the "N.Y. +Hist. Manuscripts," vol. i., p. 267, may be found the "Amount of +officers and Privates of y<sup>e</sup> 22d Beat at work 17 March"—59 men +under Captain Benj. Egbert. Negroes belonging to the 22d Beat—"Pomp, +Cæsar, Peter, Sam, Jo, Cubitt, Simms, John, Cato," etc., 11 in all.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> MS. Order Book of Colonel Moses Little.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> R.I. Hist. Coll. Vol. VI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Ward's, we have seen, was the first regiment stationed +on Long Island. It was there from February 24th until about the end of +March. The <i>N.Y. Packet</i> of February 29th, 1776, says: "Saturday last +Col. Ward's regiment arrived here from Connecticut, and embarked in +boats and landed on Nassau [Long] Island." Lee gave orders that a +Pennsylvania battalion, supposed to be on its way to New York, should +encamp from the Wallabout to Gowanus, but no Pennsylvania troops are +included in Stirling's return, and certainly none were on Long Island +until Hand's riflemen came from Boston. It is probable that Colonel +Chas. Webb's Connecticut Continentals relieved Ward, as Captain Hale +writes that it had been there three weeks, sometime before May 20th. +Greene's brigade were the next troops to cross over.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Force</i>, Fourth Series, vol. v., p. 811.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> MS. letter from Colonel Silliman to his wife, in +possession of Mrs. O.P. Hubbard, New York City.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> General Orders, April 16th, 1776: ... "Colonel +Prescott's Regiment is to encamp on Governour's Island as soon as the +weather clears. They are to give every assistance in their power to +the works erecting thereon."...</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> "Monday night 1000 Continental troops stationed here +went over and took possession of Governor's Island and began to +fortify it; the same night a regiment went over to Red Hook and +fortified that place likewise." <i>New York Packet, April 11, 1776.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> General Orders, April 25th, 1776: "The encampment of the +Third Brigade to be marked out in like manner, upon Long Island, on +Saturday morning. The chief engineers, with the quartermasters, etc., +from each regiment, to assist the quartermaster-general in that +service. As soon as the general has approved of the encampments marked +out, the troops will be ordered to encamp...."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Consult map accompanying this work, entitled "<a href="#MAP02">Plan of +the Battle of Long Island, and of the Brooklyn Defences in 1776</a>;" also +the note in regard to it under the title "<a href="#THE_MAPS">Maps</a>," in <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> "Memoirs of the Long Island Historical Society," vol. +ii., p. 494. "Battle of Long Island." By Thomas W. Field.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> As the British demolished all the Brooklyn works very +soon after their capture, it would be difficult to fix the exact site +of some of them, but for data which have been preserved. That they +were destroyed is certain. Baurmeister, the Hessian major, states that +Howe directed the Hessian division to level the "Brocklands-Leinen," +but recalled the order when General De Heister represented that "this +could not be done by soldiers without compensation, especially as it +would be the work of four weeks." According to tradition, the +inhabitants levelled them by Howe's orders. General Robertson +testified in 1779 that "there were no vestiges of the lines soon after +they were taken." Cornwallis on the same occasion said that, being +detached to Newtown after the battle, he had "no opportunity of going +to Brooklyn till the lines were nearly demolished." But with the +assistance of Lieutenant Ratzer's accurate topographical map of New +York and Brooklyn of 1766-7, the Hessian map published in vol. ii. of +the Society's <i>Memoirs</i>, the plan of the lines thrown up in the 1812 +war, and other documents, the forts of 1776 can readily be located. +Ratzer's map shows all the elevations where works would naturally be +put; and the Hessian map, which is a reduction of Ratzer's, adds the +works. The accuracy of the latter, which heretofore could not be +proved, is now established by the fact that the position of the forts +corresponds to the location assigned them relatively in Greene's +orders. There can be little doubt that this map was made from actual +surveys soon after the battle, and that the shape as well as the site +of the works and lines is preserved in it. Another guide is the 1812 +line as marked out by Lieutenant Gadsden, of the Engineer Corps. A +copy of the original plan of this line, furnished by the War +Department, shows a close correspondence with the Hessian draft. The +same points are fortified in each case. Fort "Fireman" of 1812 +occupies the site, or very nearly the site, of Fort Box; Fort +"Masonic," that of Fort Greene; Redoubt "Cummings," that of the Oblong +Redoubt; and "Fort Greene," that of Fort Putnam. The site of the +"redoubt on the left" was inclosed, in 1812, in the outer intrenchment +which was carried around the brow of the hill. Although the British +obliterated all marks of the Brooklyn defences of 1776, we thus find +nature and the records enabling us to re-establish them to-day.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> MS. letter of General Greene to Colonel Pickering, +August 24, 1779, in possession of Prof. Geo. Washington Greene, East +Greenwich, L.I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> "<i>Force</i>," Fifth Series, vol. ii., p. 202.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Mr. Field states that the site of Fort Putnam was +unfortunately overlooked by the high ground east of it, Greene and his +engineers probably not noticing the fact until after the woods were +cut down. The official surveys of the ground, made before it was +levelled, show no such commanding elevation, the Fort Putnam Hill +being as high as any <i>within range</i>; nor can we credit Greene or his +officers with fortifying a point which was untenable, or with not +observing that it was untenable. As the engineers of 1812 occupied the +same site, it could be safely concluded, were no surveys preserved, +that it was entirely defensible.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Some important and interesting information relative to +the main line at Brooklyn was brought out in 1779 at the examination +of Captain John Montressor, before the Parliamentary Committee which +investigated Howe's conduct of the war. Montressor was a British army +engineer, acting as Howe's aid on Long Island. Being one of the +general's witnesses, he naturally made out the American position as +strong as possible, but the main facts of his testimony are to be +accepted. The examination was in part as follows: +</p><p> +"<i>Q.</i> Can you give a particular account of the state of those +[Brooklyn] lines? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> Yes—the lines were constructed from Wallabout Bay, on one side +to a swamp that intersects the land between the main land and Read +Hook, which terminates the lines. The lines were about a mile and a +half in extent, including the angles, cannon proof, with a chain of +five redoubts, or rather fortresses, with ditches, as had also the +lines that formed the intervals, raised on the parapet and the +counterscarp, and the whole surrounded with the most formidable +abbaties. +</p><p> +<i>Q.</i> Were those lines finished on every part, from the swamp formed by +the Wallabout on the left, to the swamp on the right? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> Yes. +</p><p> +<i>Q.</i> Do you know the particulars of the left part of the line towards +the Wallabout? Have you any reason for knowing that? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> The line runs straight from the rising ground where Fort Putnam +was constructed, in a straight line to the swamp that terminates +itself at the bottom of Wallabout Bay. +</p><p> +<i>Q.</i> Was there a possibility of a single man's passing round the left +part of the line? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> There was not. After entering the lines, Sir William Howe, on the +enemy's evacuating, followed the road to the point, to examine and see +if he could get out at that part, which he could not do, and we were +obliged to return and go out of a sally port of the lines.... +</p><p> +<i>Q.</i> Can you say of your own knowledge, that the right redoubt of the +lines at Brooklyn had an abattis before it? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> I have already said that the whole had an abattis before it. +</p><p> +[He produces an actual survey of the lines.]... +</p><p> +<i>Q.</i> If any one of these redoubts were taken, did not they flank the +line in such a manner to the right and left that the enemy could not +remain in the lines? +</p><p> +<i>A.</i> I have already said, that they could not be taken by assault, but +by approaches, as they were rather fortresses than redoubts."—<i>A View +of the Evidence Relative to the Conduct of the American War under Sir +William Howe</i>, etc.; second edition; London, 1779. <i>Manual of the +Corporation of the City of New York</i>, 1870, p. 884. +</p><p> +The maps in the early London editions of Gordon's and Stedman's +histories of the war, each put <i>five</i> fortifications on the line from +the Wallabout to Gowanus Creek.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> One of Greene's orders refers to this fort as follows: +"<i>Camp on Long Island, July 19, 1776.</i>—The works on Cobble Hill being +greatly retarded for want of men to lay turf, few being acquainted +with that service, all those in Colonel Hitchcock's and Colonel +Little's regiments, that understand that business, are desired to +voluntarily turn out every day, and they shall be excused from all +other duty, and allowed one half a pint of rum a day." Two guns fired +from Cobble Hill were to be the signal that the enemy had landed on +Long Island.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> "Our fort [Defiance] is much strengthened by new works +and more troops, and it is in so good a posture of defence, that it +would be almost impossible to take it either by attack or surprise. To +guard against the latter, each man is every other night on +duty."—<i>Memoir of Samuel Shaw</i>, p. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> <i>Documents, Col. Hist. of New York</i>, vol. viii., p. +792.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> The recollections and incidents preserved by Stiles and +Furman go to show that this was not an American-built fort.—<i>Stiles' +Brooklyn</i>, vol. i., pp. 314, 315.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> A return of the batteries around New York, March 24th, +describes Fort Stirling as opposite the "Fly Market" in Maiden Lane +[<i>Force</i>, Fourth Series, vol. v., p. 480]. Clark, Pineapple, and +Orange streets, Brooklyn, can all be called "opposite" Maiden Lane in +New York. The Hessian map puts the fort nearest the line of Clark.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The work, which was to be known as the <i>Citadel</i>, was in +all probability the "redoubte commencé," or unfinished fort, indicated +on the Hessian map in the rear and to the south of Fort Stirling. The +site corresponds with that of the British fort of 1780, corner of +Henry and Pierrepont streets, which was then, as it still is, the +highest point on Brooklyn Heights, and hence the natural position for +a citadel or commanding fortification. Stirling, in his letter to the +President of Congress of March 14, says: "The work [Fort Stirling] +first begun on Long Island opposite to this city is almost completed, +and the cannon carried over. The grand citadel there will be marked +out to-morrow, and will be begun by the inhabitants of King's County +and Colonel Ward's Regiment." +</p><p> +The list of batteries, March 24th, contains a note to the effect that +a citadel covering five acres, called the <i>Congress</i>, was to be built +in the rear of Fort Stirling. Major Fish writes, April 9th: "There are +<i>two</i> fortifications on Long Island opposite this city, to command the +shipping." One of these was Fort Stirling—the other, undoubtedly, the +citadel then in process of construction. The latter, though not in as +favorable a position for the purpose as the former, could still fire +on ships entering the river. +</p><p> +The position of these two works, taken in connection with Lee's plan +of forming an intrenched camp on Long Island, fortified with a chain +of redoubts, which, according to one of his letters, were to be three +in number, indicates quite clearly that this general intended to hold +simply the heights along the river. The facts fail to bear out the +supposition that the lines, as finally adopted on Long Island, were of +Lee's planning. Work on the citadel was probably discontinued, because +his plan was so much enlarged as to make that fortification +unavailable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> <i>Letter from General Greene written at Fort Lee. Mrs. +Williams' Life of Olney.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> A history of the Tories on Long Island and in New +York—the trouble they gave in the present campaign, and the measures +taken for their suppression—properly forms a subject by itself. The +scope of the present work admits of but brief allusions to them. +However honest this class of the population may have been in taking +sides with the British, and whatever sympathy may be expressed for +them in their trials, losses, and enforced dispersion during and at +the end of the war, there was obviously no course left to the +Americans, then in the midst of a deadly struggle, but to treat them +as a dangerous and obstructive set. The New York Provincial Congress, +in the fall of the year and later, dealt with them unsparingly; and no +man wished to see the element rooted out more than John Jay—a fact to +be borne in mind by those who condemn Lee and other American officers +for attempting to banish the Long Island Tories, as a military +precaution, in the early part of the year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> What General Greene thought of the Tories, and what +treatment he proposed in certain cases, appears from a report on the +subject signed by Generals Heath, Spencer, Greene, and Stirling, and +submitted to Washington towards the close of June: "With regard to the +disaffected inhabitants who have lately been apprehended," say these +officers, "we think that the method at present adopted by the County +Committee, of discharging them on their giving bonds as a security for +their good behavior, is very improper and ineffectual, and therefore +recommend it to your Excellency to apply to the Congress of this +province to take some more effectual method of securing the good +behavior of those people, and in the mean time that your Excellency +will order the officers in whose custody they are to discharge no more +of them until the sense of the Congress be had thereon."—<i>Journals of +the N.Y. Prov. Congress</i>, vol. ii. +</p><p> +On this subject Colonel Huntington wrote to Governor Trumbull, June +6th, as follows: "Long Island has the greatest proportion of Tories, +both of its own growth and of adventitious ones, of any part of this +colony; from whence some conjecture that the attack is to be made by +that way. It is more likely to be so than not. Notwithstanding the +vigilance of our outposts, we are sure there is frequent intercourse +between the Asia and the shore, and that they have been supplied with +fresh meat. New guards have lately been set in suspected places, which +I hope will prevent any further communication."—<i>Force</i>, 4th Series, +vol. vi., p. 725.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> This was a company of New Jersey Minute-men from Essex +County, which had been sent over to Long Island on May 17th.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Colonel Little to his son. + <a href="#NO09">Doc. No. 9</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> It is a somewhat singular fact, indicating perhaps the +scantiness of our material heretofore, that none of the local accounts +of operations on Long Island mention either Hitchcock's, Varnum's, or +Little's regiments in any connection, whereas these, with Hand's, +formed the permanent garrison on that side and threw up the greater +part of the works.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> In locating the works in New York City, the writer +follows the list of batteries reported March 24th, 1776 (Force, 4th +Series, vol. v., p. 480); Putnam's order of May 22d, naming the +several works; Knox's artillery returns of June 10th, giving the +number of guns in each; and Hills' map of the fortifications, drawn at +the close of the war. The first list shows the works as they stood at +about the time the Boston troops came down, and which Lee had planned. +There are alterations and additions in Putnam's and Knox's lists, +which are to be followed where they differ from the list of March +24th. Although many other works were erected, no names appear to have +been attached to them, those only being designated which occupied the +most important points and were provided with guns and garrisons. +</p><p> +The Hills map is indispensable in this connection. John Hills, +formerly a British engineer, surveyed the city and island of New York +as far as Thirty-fourth Street in 1782, and in 1785 made a careful map +of the same, which John Lozier, Esq., presented to the Common Council +in 1847. This is still preserved, and is consulted at times for +official purposes. In addition to giving all the streets, blocks, +docks, and squares, Hills added all the works thrown up in and around +the city during the Revolution, giving their exact location and shape. +Part of the lines have a confused appearance, but they become clear on +referring to the following memorandum on the map: "All the works +colored yellow were erected by the Forces of the United States in +1776. Those works colored Orange were erected by D<sup>o</sup> and repaired by +the British Forces. Those works colored Green were erected by the +British Forces during the War." In the <a href="#MAP05">map of New York</a> accompanying +the present work, Hills' "yellow" line has been followed, showing all +the American forts. Their location corresponds precisely with that +which Putnam gives, so far as he names them; and by projecting the +present streets over Hills' plan, it is possible to ascertain where +they stood in the plan of our modern city.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Washington's Headquarters in New York</span>.—This reference +creates some uncertainty as to the particular house occupied by +Washington in New York during the first part of the campaign. If the +site of the Oyster Battery were known exactly the house could be +identified. On the other hand, if headquarters, as generally supposed, +were at the Kennedy Mansion, No. 1 Broadway, then the battery should +have stood still lower down, at the corner of Battery Place and +Greenwich Street; but the Grand Battery terminated there, and Hills' +map shows no distinct battery at that point. Mr. Lossing states +("Field Book of the Rev.," vol. ii., p. 594, n.) that Washington, on +his first arrival in the city, took up his quarters at 180 Pearl, +opposite Cedar Street, his informant being a survivor of the +Revolution, and that, on his return from a visit to Philadelphia, June +6th, he went to the Kennedy House. That Washington, however, spent the +greater part of the summer at the "Mortier House," on Richmond Hill, +is well known. He was there on June 22d and probably much earlier, as +appears in <i>Force</i>, 4th Series, vol. vi., p. 1157, where one Corbie is +described as keeping a tavern "to the south-east of General +Washington's house, to the westward of Bayard's woods, and north of +Lispenard's meadows." The house referred to was the Mortier. From Mr. +Lossing's informant, and the reference in the orders of August 8th, +which speaks of the "old head-quarters on the Broadway," we may +conclude that Washington first put up at 180 Pearl Street; that if he +then went to the Kennedy House at all, it was but for a short time; +that it is more likely, from the position of the batteries, that the +house he did occupy was one of the two or three next above it; and +that in June he moved his quarters to the Mortier House, where he +remained until September 14th, when he went to the Morris Mansion at +Harlem Heights. The Kennedy House was Colonel Knox's artillery +headquarters during part if not all of the time, his wife being with +him there up to July 12th. (<i>Drake's Life of Knox.</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Spencer's Brigade probably built both works, as it was +stationed in the vicinity of both. Colonel John Trumbull, who was then +Spencer's brigade major, and afterwards in the Canada army, says in +the "Reminiscences" of his own time: "The brigade to which I was +attached was encamped on the (then) beautiful high ground which +surrounded Colonel Rutgers' seat near Corlear's Hook."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> <i>Force</i>, 4th Series, vol. v., p. 492. Compare, also, +<a href="#NO38">Documents 38</a> and <a href="#NO41">41</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> This work stood at the foot of East Eighty-eighth +Street. See <a href="#NO41">Document 41</a>. Some ten years after the war, Archibald +Gracie occupied this site, and it became known as Gracie's Point. The +writer of a city guide-book in 1807, referring to Mr. Gracie, says: +"His superb house and gardens stand upon the very spot called +<i>Hornshook</i>, upon which a fort erected by the Americans in 1776 stood +till about the year 1794, when the present proprietor caused the +remains of the military works to be levelled, at great expense, and +erected on their rocky base his present elegant mansion and +appurtenances."—<i>The Picture of New York, etc., 1807, New York.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> The fortifications erected at the upper part of the +island are noticed in <a href="#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V</a>. Mr. Lossing, it should be said, gives +a very full list of the Revolutionary works in and around New York +("Field Book of the Rev.," vol. ii., p. 593), from which the list as +given here, based on Hills' map, differs in several particulars.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> One side of this barricade ran in front of the <i>Times</i>, +and the other in front of the <i>Tribune</i> building.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> This officer was Lieutenant-Colonel of Jonathan Ward's +Massachusetts Regiment, and subsequently became colonel in the +Massachusetts Continental Line.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> <i>Force</i>, 4th Series, vol. vi., p. 1011.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> "<i>Thursday, 13th June.</i>—Here in town very unhappy and +shocking scenes were exhibited. On Munday night some men called Tories +were carried and hauled about through the streets, with candles forced +to be held by them, or pushed in their faces, and their heads burned; +but on Wednesday, in the open day, the scene was by far worse; +several, and among them gentlemen, were carried on rails; some +stripped naked and dreadfully abused. Some of the generals, and +especially Pudnam and their forces, had enough to do to quell the +riot, and make the mob disperse."—<i>Pastor Shewkirk's Diary, Doc. +37.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> The particulars of this plot need hardly be repeated; +indeed, they were never fully known. It was discovered that an attempt +had been made to enlist American soldiers into the king's service, who +at the proper time should assist the enemy in their plans. They were +to spike cannon, blow up magazines, and, as at first reported, +assassinate our generals; but the latter design seems not to have been +proved, though universally believed. Governor Tryon and Mayor +Matthews, of the city, were suspected of furthering the plot and +furnishing the funds. Matthews was arrested at Flatbush by a party of +officers under Colonel Varnum, but the evidence against him was +insufficient. Among the soldiers implicated was Thomas Hickey, of +Washington's guard, who was tried by court-martial, found guilty of +sedition, mutiny, and correspondence with the enemy, and executed in +the presence of the army on June 28th. Something of the feeling +excited by the discovery of the plot is exhibited in the letter from +Surgeon Eustis of Colonel Knox's regiment (<a href="#NO39"><i>Document</i> 39</a>). This is +better known as the "Hickey Plot."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> The following memorandum, preserved among Governor +Wolcott's papers, is of interest in this connection: +</p><p> +"An Equestrian Statue of George the Third of Great Britain was erected +in the City of New York on the Bowling Green at the lower end of +Broadway. Most of the materials were <i>lead</i> but richly <i>gilded</i> to +resemble gold. At the beginning of the Revolution this statue was +overthrown. Lead being then scarce and dear, the statue was broken in +pieces and the metal transported to Litchfield a place of safety. The +ladies of this village converted the Lead into Cartridges for the +Army, of which the following is an account. O.W. +</p> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="cartridges"> +<tbody> +<tr><td>Mrs. Marvin,</td><td class="center">Cartridges</td><td class="right">6,058</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Ruth Marvin,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">11,592</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Laura Wolcott,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">8,378</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Mary Ann Wolcott,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">10,790</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Frederick "</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">936</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Mrs. Beach,</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">1,802</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Made by sundry persons</td><td class="center">"</td><td class="right">2,182</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Gave Litchfield Militia on alarm,</td><td class="center"> </td><td class="right">50</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Let the Regiment of Col. Wigglesworth have</td><td class="center"> </td><td class="right">300</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="right">———</td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="center"> </td><td class="right">42,088</td><td>Cartridges."</td></tr> +</tbody> +</table></div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> "For two or three days past three or four ships have +been dropping in, and I just now received an express from an officer +appointed to keep a lookout on Staten Island, that forty-five arrived +at the Hook to-day—some say more; and I suppose the whole fleet will +be in within a day or two."—<i>Washington to Hancock, June 29th.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Extract of a letter from an officer in the Thirty-fifth +Regiment at Staten Island, July 9th, 1776: "Our army consisted of 6155 +effectives, on our embarkation at Halifax; they are now all safe +landed here, and our head-quarters are at your late old friend, Will +Hick's Mansion house."—<i>London Chronicle.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> The expedition sailed from Cork for the Cape River in +North Carolina, where Clinton joined it. It was expected that the +loyalists in the State would rise in sufficient numbers to give the +expeditionary corps substantial aid; but not over eighteen hundred +were mustered, and these under General McDonald were completely +defeated by the North Carolina Militia under Colonels Caswell and +Lillington at Moore's Creek Bridge on the 27th of February. The +expedition then moved against Charleston, S.C., and there met with the +famous repulse from Colonel Moultrie off Charleston Harbor on the 28th +of June. Clinton and Cornwallis after this could do nothing but join +Howe at New York.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> <i>Colonel Knox to his wife.</i>—<i>Drake's Life of Gen. +Knox</i>, p. 131.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> "General Washington was very handsomely dressed, and +made a most elegant appearance. Colonel Patterson appeared awe-struck, +as if he was before something supernatural. Indeed, I don't wonder at +it. He was before a very great man, indeed."—<i>Ibid.</i> p. 132.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Memorandum of an interview between General Washington +and Colonel Patterson.—<i>Sparks' Washington</i>, vol. iv., p. 510.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> On August 17th Washington requested the New York +Convention to remove the women, children, and infirm persons, as the +city was likely soon to be "the scene of a bloody conflict." He stated +that when the Rose and Phœnix sailed past, "the shrieks and cries +of these poor creatures, running every way with their children, was +truly distressing." Pastor Shewkirk says: "This affair caused a great +fright in the city. Women and children, and some with their bundles, +came from the lower parts and walked to the Bowery, which was lined +with people."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Captain Nathan Hale, the "Martyr-spy," says in a letter +of the 20th of August: "Our situation has been such this fortnight or +more as scarce to admit of writing. We have daily expected an +action—by which means, if any one was going, and we had letters +written, orders were so strict for our tarrying in camp, that we could +rarely get leave to go and deliver them. For about six or eight days +the enemy have been expected hourly, whenever the wind and tide in the +least favored."—<a href="#NO40"><i>Document</i> 40</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Original in possession of Chas. J. Little, Esq., +Cambridge, Mass.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> <i>Greene's Life of Greene</i>, vol. i.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> <i>General Orders, August 20, 1776.</i>—... "General +Sullivan is to take command upon Long Island till General Greene's +state of health will permit him to resume it, and Brigadier Lord +Stirling is to take charge of General Sullivan's division till he +returns to it again."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> In a letter to Peter Van Schaack, dated New York, +February 23d, 1776, Fred. Rhinelander says: "We are going to raise a +new battalion; Colonel Lasher and Gouverneur Morris are candidates for +the command. As both the gentlemen have great merit, it is hard to +tell which will succeed." The reference here is probably to a plan +formed by private citizens in New York to raise a battalion of fifteen +hundred men for nine months, on condition that the projectors could +appoint the officers. This being refused by the Provincial Congress +the plan was abandoned.—<i>Life of G. Morris</i>, vol. i. p. 89, n.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> See <a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES">Biographical Sketches</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> The New York Congress voted that the City and County of +New York should furnish twelve hundred men as their quota of the three +thousand recently called for, and these were to consist of "the two +independent battalions." They were composed of ten companies each, +which, however, never reached their maximum strength. In September +Lasher's total was 510; Malcom's, 297.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Lewis Morris, one of the Signers of the Declaration, was +appointed brigadier-general of the Westchester County militia, but he +remained in Congress until later in the fall, when he took the field +for a short time with New York militia in the Highlands.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> <i>List of the Officers and Men from New Jersey who served +in the Revolution.</i> By Adjutant-General W.S. Stryker.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> <i>Delaware's Revolutionary Soldiers.</i> By William G. +Whiteley, Esq., 1875.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Durkee's Continentals garrisoned Powle's Hook, and +Bradley's Connecticut regiment was at Bergen, both being returned on +Washington's rolls, but otherwise under Mercer's orders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> At New York, the artillery was increased by Captain +Alexander Hamilton's company, and soldiers were detached from the +several regiments to act as gunners in consequence of Knox's inability +to furnish enough from his own regiment to man all the points.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> <a href="#NO43">Document 43</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, contains interesting and +important extracts from Colonel Putnam's Journal, now published for +the first time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> On his promotion to a brigadier-generalship in August, +Parsons was succeeded by his lieutenant-colonel, John Tyler.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> This was the same officer who came down with Lee in the +spring. When his regiment returned home he was put in command of +another raised on the continental basis. He joined the army in August, +but did not cross to Long Island.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> The original letter from Trumbull to Wolcott, among the +latter's papers, informing him of his appointment, states that the +fourteen regiments had been called out upon "the most pressing +application of General Washington." The governor adds: "Having formed +raised expectations of your disposition and ability to serve your +country in this most important crisis, on which the fate of America +seems so much to depend, I trust you will cheerfully undertake the +service," etc. General Wolcott proceeded at once to New York, and was +with the militia in the city during the fighting on Long Island, and +for some time after. As to the number of the regiments that came down, +see Colonel Douglas' letter of August 23d (<a href="#NO22">Document 22</a>), where he says +twelve were on the parade the day before.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> When it was proposed to put the Boston army on the new +Continental basis on January 1st, 1776, Washington evidently hoped to +have it all uniformed. Thus his orders of December 11th, 1775, read: +"As uniformity and decency in dress are essentially necessary in the +appearance and regularity of an army, his Excellency recommends it +earnestly to the officers to put themselves in a proper uniform.... +The general by no means recommends or desires officers to run into +costly or expensive regimentals; no matter how plain or coarse, so +that they are but uniform in their color, cut, and fashion. The +officers belonging to those regiments whose uniforms are not yet fixed +upon had better delay making their regimentals until they are." The +orders of January 5th, 1776, say: "The regimentals, which have been +made up, and drawn for, may be delivered to the respective Colonels, +by the Quartermaster-General, to the order of those Colonels, who drew +them at such prices as they have cost the continent, which is much +cheaper than could otherwise be obtained. As nothing adds more to the +appearance of a man than dress, and a proper degree of cleanliness in +his person, the General hopes and expects that each regiment will +contend for the most soldierlike appearance." These "regimentals" were +of a brown color. That Little's and Hitchcock's men, or most of them, +were in uniform when they came to New York, appears from General +Greene's Providence order of April 4th (<i>ante</i>, <a href="#Page_62">p. 62</a>). A description +of the colors of Colonel Joseph Read's Massachusetts Continental +regiment refers to the "uniform of the regiment;" so doubtless most of +the Boston army was in uniform. But whether they were kept supplied +with uniforms may be doubted. The men wore out their clothes fast +while throwing up the works, and Washington speaks of the "difficulty +and expense" of providing new ones. (Orders, July 24th, 1776.) At this +date he does not insist on uniforms, but recommends the adoption of +the hunting shirt and breeches as a cheap and convenient dress, and as +one which might have its terrors for the enemy, who imagined that +every rebel so dressed was "a complete marksman." A valuable article +on "The Uniforms of the American Army" may be found in the <i>Magazine +of American History</i>, for August, 1877, by Professor Asa Bird Gardner, +of the West Point Military Academy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> <i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. ii., p. 244.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> The last official return of the army before the battle, +published in <i>Force's Archives</i>, bears date of August 3d; the next +about September 12th. The latter is the proper basis for making an +estimate of the numbers for August 27th, as it includes all the +regiments except Haslet's known to be then present, and no more. On +September 12th the total of rank and file on the rolls, not including +the absent sick, was 24,100. To these add 1800 commissioned officers +and 2500 sergeants, drums and fifes, and the total strength is 28,400. +On the same date, rank and file, <i>fit for duty</i>, numbered 14,700. Add +to these 1000 lost on Long Island and 3500 officers, sergeants, drums +and fifes fit for duty, and we have, all told, between 19,000 and +20,000 effectives on August 27th; and these figures correspond with +Washington's statement of September 2d: "Our number of men at present +fit for duty is under 20,000." The army suffered greatly from sickness +during August and September. General Heath writes in his <i>Memoirs</i>, +under date of August 8th: "The number of sick amounted to near 10,000; +nor was it possible to find proper hospitals or proper necessaries for +them. In almost every farm, stable, shed, and even under the fences +and bushes, were the sick to be seen, whose countenances were but an +index of the dejection of spirit and the distress they endured." On +the 4th of August, Colonel Parsons wrote to Colonel Little: "My Doctor +and Mate are sick. I have near Two Hundred men sick in Camp; my +neighbours are in very little better state." And he asks Little to +consent to his surgeon's mate remaining with him until his own +surgeons were better. [MS. letter in possession of Charles J. Little, +Esq.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> General Clinton being absent all summer in the +Highlands, the brigade was commanded first by Colonel Read, and +afterwards by Colonel Glover.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> The figures given here represent the total number of +enlisted men on the rolls on September 12, absent sick included. In +the case of some of the regiments, especially from the flying camp, +under Lutz, Kachlein, and others, only an estimate can be formed. The +strength of these is noted in connection with the losses on Long +Island in the <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">next chapter</a>. The Connecticut militia regiments are +credited with 350 men each, as Washington gives the figures.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Glover's regiment did not join the army at New York +until August. It was assigned on the 12th to Stirling's brigade, and +on the 15th to Fellows'.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Sargent's and Ward's reported on the ground in August. +They were <i>probably</i> in Mifflin's brigade.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> These regiments were nominally under General Woodhull, +but actually under Greene and Sullivan. At the time of the battle of +the 27th both were doing duty with Nixon's brigade. (Sullivan's +orders, August 25th. <a href="#NO02"><i>Document</i> 2</a>.) Their strength can only be +estimated, but it is probably correct to say that together they were +less than five hundred strong.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> See Appendix to Drake's <i>Life of General Knox</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> The "Highlander" regiments were the Forty-second and +Seventy-first. In <i>Stewart's Highlanders</i>, vol. i., p. 354, as quoted +in the <i>Memoir of General Graham</i>, the following passage appears: "On +the 10th April, 1776, the Forty-second Regiment being reviewed by Sir +Adolphus Oughton, was reported complete, and so unexceptionable that +none were rejected. Hostilities having commenced in America, every +exertion was made to teach the recruits the use of the firelock, for +which purpose they were drilled even by candle-light. New arms and +accoutrements were supplied to the men; and the colonel of the +regiment, at his own expense, supplied <i>broadswords and pistols</i>.... +The pistols were of the old Highland fashion, with iron stocks. These +being considered unnecessary except in the field, were not intended, +like the swords, to be worn by the men in quarters. When the regiment +took the field on Staten and Long Island, it was said that the +broadswords retarded the men by getting entangled in the brushwood and +they were therefore taken from them and sent on board the +transports."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> General Clinton, quoting from Howe's returns on this +date, says he had "24,464 effectives fit for duty; a total of 26,980, +officers not included, who, when added, amount to 31,625 men." See +General Carrington's <i>Battles of the Revolution</i>, p. 199. To the +British force should be added two or three companies of New York +loyalists.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> The list that follows is copied from what appears to +have been the roster-book of Adjutant Gilfillan of the Fifty-fifth +Regiment. The book was captured by Captain Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, of +New Jersey (see <a href="#NO56"><i>Document</i> 56</a>), and is now in the possession of +Captain John C. Kinney, of Hartford, a great-grandson of the latter. +There is no date attached to the "Order of Battle," but from the few +dates that follow it was probably made out in the first part of +August, 1776. The list gives the full British strength, and is +interesting as naming the majors of brigade, represented by the +abbreviation M.B.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> An error, evidently, for Battalion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> The arrangement of the Hessian troops, as here given, +is compiled from Von Elking's work, Baurmeister's Narrative, and the +Hessian map in vol. ii. of the Long Island Historical Society's +<i>Memoirs</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> "Till of late I had no doubt in my own mind of +defending this place."—<i>Washington to Congress</i>, September 2d, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> "Before the landing of the enemy in Long Island, the +point of attack could not be known, nor any satisfactory judgment +formed of their intentions. It might be on Long Island, on Bergen, or +directly on the city."—<i>Washington to Congress</i>, September 9th, +1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> The Tories gave Howe all the information he needed. One +Gilbert Forbes testified at the "Hickey Plot" examination that a +Sergeant Graham, formerly of the Royal Artillery, had told him that he +(the sergeant), at the request of Governor Tryon, had surveyed the +works around the city and on Long Island, and had concerted a plan of +attack, which he gave to the governor (<i>Force</i>, 4th Series, vol. vi., +p. 1178). On his arrival at Staten Island, Howe wrote to Germaine, +July 7th: "I met with Governor Tryon, on board of ship at the Hook, +and many gentlemen, fast friends to government, attending him, from +whom I have had the fullest information of the state of the rebels, +who are numerous, and very advantageously posted, with strong +intrenchments, both upon Long Island and that of New York, with more +than one hundred pieces of cannon for the defence of the town towards +the sea," etc.—<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. 105.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> This storm, which is mentioned by Colonel Douglas, +Captain Hale, Chaplain Benedict, and others, hung over the city from +seven to ten in the evening, and is described by Pastor Shewkirk as +being more terrible than that which "struck into Trinity Church" +twenty years before. Captain Van Wyck and two lieutenants of +McDougall's regiment and a Connecticut soldier were killed by the +lightning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> The landing-place was at the present village of Bath. +No opposition by the Americans would have availed and none was +attempted. Washington wrote to Hancock, August 20th: "Nor will it be +possible to prevent their landing on the island, as its great extent +affords a variety of places favorable for that purpose, and the whole +of our works on it are at the end opposite to the city. However, we +shall attempt to harass them as much as possible, which will be all +that we can do." To the same effect Colonel Reed's letter of August +23d: "As there were so many landing-places, and the people of the +island generally so treacherous, we never expected to prevent the +landing." General Parsons says (<a href="#NO05"><i>Document</i> 5</a>): "The landing of the +troops could not be prevented at the distance of six or seven miles +from our lines, in a plain under the cannon of the ships, just within +the shore." An American battery had gone down to De Nyse's, earlier in +the summer, to annoy the Asia, but there was none there at this date. +The particulars of the debarkation and of subsequent movements of the +enemy appear in the reports and letters of the two Howes and Sir +George Collier. (<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., pp. 1255-6; and <i>Naval +Chronicle</i>, 1841.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> "On the morning of the 22d of August there were nine +thousand British troops on New Utrecht plains. The guard alarmed our +small camp, and we assembled at the flagstaff. We marched our forces, +about two hundred in number, to New Utrecht, to watch the movements of +the enemy. When we came on the hill we discovered a party of them +advancing toward us. We prepared to give them a warm reception, when +an imprudent fellow fired, and they immediately halted and turned +toward Flatbush. The main body also moved along the great road toward +the same place."—Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, of Hand's riflemen, to +his Wife, September 3d, 1776. <i>Chambersburg in the Colony and the +Revolution.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> <i>Strong's History of Flatbush.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> Livingston sent a spy to Staten Island on the night of +the 20th, who brought word that the British were embarking, and would +attack on Long Island and up the North River. Washington received the +information during the storm on the following evening, and immediately +sent word to Heath at King's Bridge that the enemy were upon "the +point of striking the long-expected stroke." The next morning, the +22d, he wrote again instructing Heath to pick out "eight hundred or a +thousand, light, active men, and good marksmen," ready to move rapidly +wherever they were most needed; and he promised to send him some +artillery, "if," he continues, "we have not other employment upon +hand, which General Putnam, who is this instant come in, seems to +think we assuredly shall, this day, as there is a considerable +embarkation on board of the enemy's boats." (<i>Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll.</i>, +volume for 1878. The Heath correspondence.) On the same date +Washington wrote to Hancock: "The falling down of several ships +yesterday evening to the Narrows, crowded with men, those succeeded by +many more this morning, and a great number of boats parading around +them, as I was just now informed, with troops, are all circumstances +indicating an attack, and it is not improbable it will be made to-day. +It could not have happened last night, by reason of a most violent +gust." (<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. 1110). On the 21st, Colonel +Hand at the Narrows reported three times to General Nixon that the +British transports were filling with men and moving down, and the +reports were sent to Washington. These facts show how closely the +enemy were watched. The embarkation was known at headquarters early on +the morning of the 22d, before the landing was made on Long Island.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> Washington wrote to Heath the next day: "Our first +accounts were that they intended by a forced march to surprise General +Sullivan's lines, who commands during the illness of General Greene; +whereupon I immediately reinforced that post with six regiments." +Miles, Silliman, and Chester's adjutant, Tallmadge, state that their +regiments were among the first to cross after the enemy landed. +Sullivan's orders of the 25th and other records seem to indicate that +Atlee's, Lasher's, and Drake's were the other three battalions sent +over at the same time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> + See Sullivan's orders, Silliman's letters, Miles' Journal (<a href="#PART_II">Part + II.</a>), and Chambers' letter. [<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> The marker in the + text for this footnote is missing in the original.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> Referring evidently to this skirmish, +Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers says: "Strong guards were maintained all +day on the flanks of the enemy, and our regiment and the Hessian +yagers kept up a severe firing, with a loss of but two wounded on our +side. We laid a few Hessians low, and made them retreat out of +Flatbush. Our people went into the town and brought the goods out of +the burning houses. The enemy liked to have lost their field-pieces. +Captain Steel acted bravely. We would certainly have had the cannon +had it not been for some foolish person calling retreat. The main body +of the foe returned to town, and when our lads came back they told of +their exploits."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> Little's Order Book, +<a href="#NO02"><i>Document</i> 2</a>. But it seems that +Remsen's Long Island militiamen were seized by a panic, either during +this skirmish or at a later hour, on the Bedford Road, and ran from +their posts. Sullivan rebuked them sharply in his orders of the 24th +(<a href="#NO02"><i>Document</i> 2</a>), and confined them thereafter to "fatigue" duty. This +proved to be only the first of several militia panics experienced in +this campaign.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Sullivan's Orders, August 24th. +<a href="#NO02"><i>Document</i> 2</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> Washington to Congress, January 30th, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> In regard to the change in the command, the +adjutant-general's statement in full is this: "On General Greene's +being sick, Sullivan took the command, who was wholly unacquainted +with the ground or country. Some movements being made which the +general did not approve entirely, and finding a great force going to +Long Island, he sent over Putnam, who had been over occasionally; this +gave some disgust, so that Putnam was directed to soothe and soften as +much as possible." (<i>Sedgwick's Life of Livingston</i>, p. 201.) What +movements were referred to, unless it was the random firing of the +skirmishers and the burning of houses at Flatbush by some of our men, +or how Putnam was to reconcile Sullivan to the change, as he was +directed (this evidently being the meaning of Reed's last phrase), +does not appear. From subsequent occurrences, the inference is +justified that Putnam did not disturb Sullivan's arrangements, but +left the disposition of the troops to him. What Sullivan himself says +is given in a note further along in the chapter. That Putnam went over +on the 24th, and in the forenoon, is evident from a letter from Reed +to his wife of that date, in which he says: "While I am writing, there +is a heavy firing and clouds of smoke rising from the wood [on Long +Island]. General Putnam was made happy by obtaining leave to go +over—the brave old man was quite miserable at being kept here." +(<i>Reed's Life of Reed.</i>) This firing, as Washington wrote to Schuyler +on the same date, occurred in the morning. Putnam had been engaged +during the summer, principally, in looking after the defences in the +city and the river obstructions. He had charge, also, of the water +transportation, boats, pettiaugers, etc. His division was in the city +or close to it. Had the enemy, accordingly, attacked the city +directly, it would have fallen largely to Putnam to conduct the +defence; and this is doubtless the reason why, as Reed says, he was +"kept here." But as it now seemed certain that the British were +concentrating on Long Island, he evidently wished to be with the +troops there, where that morning there was "a heavy firing" going on, +and obtained leave to cross. Finding a change desirable, Washington, +probably at the same time, gave Putnam the command and "sent" him +over.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> Mr. Davis, in his Life of Aaron Burr, who was Putnam's +aid at this time, states that after crossing to Long Island and making +the round of the outposts, he (Burr) urged his general to beat up the +enemy's camp, but that Putnam declined, on the ground that his orders +required him to remain strictly on the defensive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> Sullivan's Orders, August 25th. <a href="#NO02"><i>Document</i> 2</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> Several writers, Mr. Sparks among them, make the +statement that neither Washington nor Putnam went outside of the +Brooklyn lines. It would be impossible to credit this without absolute +proof of the fact. Washington always reconnoitred the position of the +enemy whenever they were near each other; in the last scenes of the +war at Yorktown he was among the first at the outposts examining the +British works. Undoubtedly he rode out to the Flatbush Pass on the +26th, as stated by the writer of the letter to the <i>South Carolina +Gazette</i> (<a href="#NO19">Document 19</a>), who says: "The evening preceding the action, +General Washington, with a number of general officers, went down to +view the motions of the enemy, who were encamped at Flatbush." A +letter from a survivor of the Revolution, present on Long Island, +published in a newspaper several years since, well authenticated, and +preserved in one of Mr. Onderdonk's scrap-books in the Astor Library, +New York, confirms this statement. The soldier recollects that he saw +Washington and others looking at the enemy with their glasses.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> Statement of Colonel Thomas Grosvenor to the late David +P. Hall, Esq., of New York, who knew Grosvenor well, and preserved +many facts in writing in regard to his military career. Knowlton's +captains were Grosvenor and Stephen Brown, of Pomfret, Conn. The +detachment was on duty at the outposts on the night of the 26th. The +soldier whose letter is referred to in the note preceding this was one +of the "Rangers," and he states that their number was about one +hundred. That Smallwood's and Haslet's regiments crossed on the 26th, +we have from Smallwood himself.—<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. ii., p. +1011.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> The regiments were Little's and Ward's, from +Massachusetts; Varnum's and Hitchcock's, from Rhode Island; +Huntington's, Wyllys's, Tyler's, Chester's, Silliman's, and Gay's, and +Knowlton's "Rangers," from Connecticut; Lasher's and Drake's, from New +York; Smith's and Remsen's, from Long Island; Martin's, Forman's, +Johnston's, Newcomb's, and Cortland's, from New Jersey; Hand's, +Miles', Atlee's, Lutz's, Kachlein's, and Hay's, detachment from +Pennsylvania; Haslet's, from Delaware; and Smallwood's, from Maryland. +Among other artillery officers on that side were Captains Newell and +Treadwell, Captain-Lieutenants John Johnston and Benajah Carpenter; +Lieutenants Lillie and "Cadet" John Callender. This list is believed +to include all the battalions and detachments on Long Island at the +time the British attacked.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> Parson's own statement, letter of October 5th: "On the +day of the surprise I was on duty."—<a href="#NO05"><i>Document</i> 5</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> The site of this breastwork is now within the limits of +Prospect Park, and it stood across what is known as "Battle Pass." Dr. +Stiles in his History of Brooklyn, and Mr. Field in vol. ii. of the +L.I. Hist. Society's <i>Memoirs</i>, put a well-constructed redoubt at this +point on a hill-top to the left of the road. The account in the <i>South +Carolina Gazette</i> says that the Flatbush Pass guards were posted "near +a mile from the parting of the road [<i>i.e.</i>, a mile from where the +Flatbush Road branched from the Jamaica Road] where an <i>abattis</i> was +formed across the road, and a breastwork thrown up and defended by two +pieces of cannon." In the original sketch of the "engagement," made by +John Ewing, who was Hand's brother-in-law, and with him on the spot, +there is this reference: "F. Where a considerable Number of our people +were stationed with several Field-pieces & Breast-works made with +Trees felled across the Road to defend themselves when attacked." +(<a href="#NO15"><i>Document</i> 15</a>.) Colonel Miles speaks of "a small redoubt in front of +the village [Flatbush]" (<a href="#NO20"><i>Document</i> 20</a>.) The breastwork across the +road was doubtless the principal defence here, and this was merely +temporary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> The number of men at each of the three passes was about +eight hundred, and on the left of these were Miles' two battalions, +with perhaps five hundred men on duty. Sullivan's orders of August +25th give the detail which was to mount for picket on the following +morning. This detail, therefore, was the one on duty on the night of +the 26th. The order runs: "Eight hundred [men] properly officered to +relieve the troops on Bedford Road to-morrow morning, six field +officers to attend with this party. The same number to relieve those +on Bush [Flatbush] Road, and an equal number those stationed towards +the Narrows. A picket of three hundred men under the command of a +Field Officer, six Captains, twelve subalterns to be posted at the +wood on the west side of the creek every night till further orders." +(See also <a href="#NO05"><i>Documents</i> 5</a>, <a href="#NO18">18</a>, <a href="#NO19">19</a>.) That Miles was on the extreme left, +we well know; that Wyllys was at the Bedford Pass, appears from both +Miles' and Brodhead's accounts; that Chester's regiment was with him, +appears from an extract quoted below—Chester's lieutenant-colonel +being Solomon Wills; that Johnston was at the Flatbush Pass, appears +from the same and other authorities; that Henshaw with Little's +regiment was there, he himself states; that Cornell was also there +with Hitchcock's Rhode Islanders, appears from Captain Olney's +narrative as given in <i>Mrs. Williams' Life of Olney</i>, and from the +lists of prisoners; that Hand was at the lower road, until relieved, +and Major Burd also, the major himself and Ewing's sketch both state; +the New York detachment there was probably a part of Lasher's +regiment. The extract referred to is from the <i>Connecticut Courant</i>, +containing a letter from an officer engaged in the battle, which says: +"The night before August 27th, on the west road, were posted Colonel +Hand's regiment, a detachment from Pennsylvania and New York; next +east were posted Colonel Johnson, of Jersey, and Lieutenant-Colonel +Henshaw, of Massachusetts; next east were posted Colonel Wyllys and +Lieutenant-Colonel Wills, of Connecticut. East of all these Colonel +Miles, of Pennsylvania, was posted towards Jamaica, to watch the +motion of the enemy and give intelligence."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> Hand's letter of August 27th: "I escaped my part by +being relieved at 2 o'clock this morning." (<a href="#NO12">Document 12</a>.) See John +Ewing's letter and sketch.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> Extract from a British officer's letter dated, <i>Statton +Island, August 4, 1776</i>: ... "We are now in expectation of attacking +the fellows very soon, and if I may be allowed to judge, there never +was an army in better spirits nor in better health, two very important +things for our present business."—<i>Hist. Mag.</i>, vol. v., p. 69.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> Stedman, the British historian, who served as an +officer under Howe, says: "Sir Henry Clinton and Sir William Erskine, +having reconnoitred the position of the enemy, saw that it would not +be a difficult matter to turn their left flank, which would either +oblige them to risk an engagement or to retire under manifest +disadvantage. This intelligence being communicated to Sir William +Howe, he consented to make the attempt."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> Hardly more than a general statement can be made in +regard to the attack on the pickets at the lower road. A part of them +watched Martense Lane, where, it would appear from Ewing's sketch, +Hand's riflemen were posted before being relieved. Major Burd's +detachment, on the same authority, was probably on the direct road to +the Narrows, both parties communicating with each other at the Red +Lion Tavern, which stood near the fork of the roads. Grant's main +column advanced by the Narrows Road, and possibly a party of the enemy +came through the Martense Lane at about the same time. The skirmish +Major Burd speaks of occurred in the vicinity of Thirty-eighth and +Fortieth streets, on the Narrows Road, where former residents used to +say the Americans had a picket guard stationed. When the enemy came up +firing took place and some men were killed; and this firing "was the +first in the neighborhood." The pickets retreated, though General +Parsons was misinformed when he wrote that they did so "without firing +a gun." There was firing, but no stand made.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> <i>Parsons' Letters.</i> <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, <a href="#NO05">Document 5</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> <i>Stirling to Washington, Aug. 29th:</i> "About three +o'clock on the morning of the 27th I was called up, and informed by +General Putnam that the enemy were advancing," etc.—<i>Force</i>, 5th +Series, vol. i., p. 1245.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> "Col. Huntington is unwell, but I hope getting a little +better. He has a slow fever. Maj. Dyer is also unwell with a slow +fever. Gen'l Greene has been very sick but is better. Genls. Putnam, +Sullivan, Lord Sterling, Nixon, Parsons, & Heard are on Long Island +and a strong part of our army."—<i>Letter from Col. Trumbull, Aug. +27th, 1776.</i> <a href="#NO07"><i>Document</i> 7</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> See references on Ewing's sketch, <a href="#NO15">Document 15</a>: "H. Fort +Putnam where part of Col<sup>o</sup>. Hand's men commanded by Lieut C. +[Lieutenant-Colonel] Chambers were detached from the Regt. to man the +fort.—I. A small upper Fort where [I] was with the Col<sup>o</sup> the Day of +the Engagement." Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers says: "We had just got to +the fort, and I had only laid down, when the alarm-guns were fired. We +were compelled to turn out to the lines, and as soon as it was light +saw our men and theirs engaged with field-pieces." Nearly all the +accounts put Hand and his battalion at the Flatbush Pass during the +battle on the 27th. This, as we now find, is an error. The battalion +was worn out by its continued and effective skirmishing since the +landing of the enemy, and required rest; but of this it was to get +very little, even within the lines.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> The writer is indebted to the Hon. Teunis G. Bergen, of +Bay Ridge, L.I., for an accurate description and sketch of the Gowanus +Road, as it lay at the time of the battle. His survey is followed in +the "<a href="#MAP02">Map of the Brooklyn Defences</a>," etc., Title,<a href="#THE_MAPS"> Maps</a>. <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> <i>Atlee's Journal.</i> <i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. +1251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> Probably the earliest of modern attempts to identify +the site where Stirling formed his line was that made in 1839 by Maj. +D.B. Douglass, formerly of the United States Army. Greenwood Cemetery, +says Mr. Cleveland in his history of <i>Greenwood</i>, owes its present +beautiful appearance largely to this officer's "energy and taste," +Douglass having been one of the first surveyors of the ground. He +located Stirling's position on what was then known as Wyckoff's hill, +between Eighteenth and Twentieth streets; and tradition and all the +original documents confirm this selection. This was a lower elevation +in the general slope from the main ridge towards the bay. Stirling +simply drew his men up in a straight line from the road towards the +hill-tops, and beyond him on the same line or more in advance, was +Parsons. The map in Sparks' <i>Washington</i> putting Stirling down near +the Narrows is erroneous.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> The colonels and lieutenant-colonels of both these +regiments were detained at New York as members of the court-martial +which tried Lieutenant-colonel Zedwitz, of MacDougall's regiment, +charged with treasonable correspondence with the enemy. They joined +their regiments after the battle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> This name appears in other accounts as Kichline or +Keichline. It is properly Kachlein, being so spelled by other members +of this officer's family.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> <i>Extracts from the Stiles Diary</i> in vol. ii., p. 488, +of the Long Island Historical Society's <i>Memoirs</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> <i>Haslet to Rodney.</i> <i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. ii., p. +881.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> <i>Atlee's Journal.</i> <i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. +1251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> Parsons' reference to this affair at or near "Battle +Hill" in Greenwood is as follows: "I was ordered with Col. Atlee and +part of his Reg't, and Lt. Col. Clark with Col. Huntington's Reg't to +cover the left flank of our main body. This we executed though our +number did at no time exceed 300 men and we were attacked three +several times by two regiments, y<sup>e</sup> 44<sup>th</sup> and 23<sup>d</sup> and repulsed +them in every attack with considerable loss. The number of dead we had +collected together and the heap the enemy had made we supposed +amounted to about 60. We had 12 or 14 wounded prisoners who we caused +to be dressed and their wounds put in the best state our situation +would admit."—<a href="#NO05"><i>Document</i> 5</a>. +</p><p> +See Colonel Atlee's journal in <i>Force's Archives</i> for a full account +of the part his battalion took in this fighting.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> Most of our writers are led into the error of supposing +that Sullivan was already at the Flatbush Pass, and that when he went +to reconnoitre he started from this point. The general says: "I went +to the Hill near Flatbush to reconnoitre the enemy, and with a picket +of four hundred men was surrounded by the enemy," etc. He went to the +hill—where from? The main camp, necessarily. We already had our +pickets well out in front, and had Sullivan gone beyond these he would +have come upon the Hessians. Besides his position fully overlooked +Flatbush, and no reconnoissance was necessary. Miles states that the +general remained at the redoubt. The quotation above means no more +than that Sullivan went out from the Brooklyn lines, and afterwards +was surrounded and fought with four hundred of the guard who were +there at the Pass with him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> <a href="#NO19"><i>Document</i> 19</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> Consult + <a href="#MAP02">map of the battle-field</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Hardly one of our modern accounts refers to this patrol +or its capture. The incident, however, affected the situation gravely. +Howe mentions it in his report as follows: "General Clinton being +arrived within half a mile of the pass about two hours before +daybreak, halted, and settled his disposition for the attack. One of +his patrols falling in with a patrol of the enemy's officers took +them; and the General learning from their information that the Rebels +had not occupied the pass, detached a battalion of Light Infantry to +secure it." Gordon says this: "One of his [Clinton's] patrols falls in +with a patrol of American officers on horseback, who are trepanned and +made prisoners." The letter in the <i>South Carolina Gazette</i> +(<a href="#NO19"><i>Document</i> 19</a>) is to similar effect: "Five officers were also sent +out on horseback to patrol the last-mentioned road and that leading to +Jamaica, ... and were all made prisoners." Still stronger is the +testimony of a letter to be found in the <i>Autobiography and +Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, with Interesting +Reminiscences of George III. and Queen Charlotte, &c., London, 1862</i>. +"The Hon. Mrs. Boscawen to Mrs. Delany.—<i>Glan Villa</i>, 17th Oct. +1776.... To compleat the prosperity of my journey I found on my return +to y<sup>e</sup> inn the most delightful news of our success on Long Island so +that I had a most agreeable supper and drank health to the noble +brothers [the two Howes]. We have had a letter from Capt. Evelyn from +the field of battle; he was in y<sup>e</sup> brigade of light infantry, and +took 5 officers prisoners who were sent to observe our motions. He +mentions Dr. Boscawen's son being well, for whom we were in great +care, being the only child. O! to compleat this by good news from N. +York and then peace!" We know who these officers were from several +sources, the most authoritative and important being the documents left +by one of the party himself, Lieutenant Van Wagenen, and now in the +possession of his grandson, Mr. Gerret H. Van Wagenen, of Brooklyn. +This officer had been sent down to Philadelphia in charge of prisoners +from Canada. At this point his deposition states that "on his return +to New York he found the enemy landing upon Long Island, and being a +supernumerary he went to Long Island and offered his services to Gen'l +Sullivan, who requested him, and four other officers, namely, Robert +Troup, Edward Dunscomb, William Guilderland and Jeromus Hooghland, to +go and reconnoitre the enemy, who were observed to be in motion, and +in the various advances on the enemy, fell in with a body of horse and +infantry by whom he and his little party were made prisoners, and +continued a Prisoner for about twenty-two months." Respecting the +questioning of the officers by Clinton, there is good authority. +Lieutenants Troup and Dunscomb, who afterwards rose to the rank of +Lieutenant-colonel and Captain respectively, have daughters still +living in New York, and from their own recollections and from papers +in their possession, the account given in the text is collated. At the +time of Captain Dunscomb's death one or more letters were published by +friends who had the particulars of the incident directly from him. +(See <a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES">biographical sketches</a> of these officers, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>) The sending +out of officers on such duty as was required this night, was not +unusual. The British scouts who preceded the expedition to Lexington +in 1775 were officers in disguise. Similar instances during the war +could be recalled as at Brandywine. Mr. Henry Onderdonk, Jr., of +Jamaica, states, in his carefully compiled and valuable collection of +<i>Revolutionary Incidents on Long Island</i>, that the patrol was captured +under a tree east of Howard's House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> <i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. 1195.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> The supposition that Stirling commanded outside of the +lines on Long Island is erroneous. He had command of the reserves in +camp (Orders of August 25th), and was the proper officer to call upon +to reinforce any part of the outer line in case of attack. Sullivan +says, "Lord Stirling commanded the main body without the lines;" by +which is meant that he was with the principal force that went out, as +he was. Until the attack, the general officer of the day was in charge +of the outposts. Sullivan governed himself according to circumstances. +He was to be second in command under Putnam within the lines, he +writes; but the situation soon required his presence outside, where he +was also familiar with the dispositions.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> The Hessians are usually credited with taking a +prominent part in this battle, whereas the day was practically decided +before they came up. Necessarily our guards at the Flatbush Pass knew +that the British were in their rear as soon or sooner than the +Hessians knew it. They therefore turned to meet this unexpected enemy. +What Olney and Henshaw say settles this point. Olney states that +Cornell marched towards the lines on hearing firing in his rear, +leaving Olney to reinforce his pickets in front of the Hessians. +Henshaw writes that, finding the enemy between him and the lines, and +knowing no orders could come to retreat, he marched for camp. Cornell +and Henshaw were old officers, knew the ground thoroughly, and saw at +once that they must retreat. No mention is made of the Hessians. +Lieutenant Olney was in front of the latter some time before he +followed after his regiment. Howe reports that it was the <i>British</i> +who took our guns in that part of the field. If there was any such +severe fighting at that pass, as Von Elking makes out, would the +Hessians have lost but two men killed—all that they lost during the +day? There are errors of fact in this writer's account. The most that +the Hessians did was to chase, capture, and sometimes bayonet those of +our soldiers whom the British had already routed. The real fighting of +the day was done by Howe's English troops, and the very best he had, +principally the light infantry, grenadiers, dragoons, and +Highlanders.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> During this fighting by the British infantry, +Cornwallis and the reserves moved straight down the Jamaica Road. The +Thirty-third Regiment and the grenadiers in their pursuit of some of +the American fugitives approached the fortified lines between Fort +Greene and Fort Putnam, and showed such eagerness to storm them that, +according to Howe's report, it required repeated orders to hold them +back. On the part of the Americans, Little reports that the enemy +"attempted to force our lines, but soon retreated, being met with a +smart fire from our breastworks;" and Little, no doubt, was at Fort +Greene, an eye-witness.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> The conduct of the Marylanders was soldierly beyond +praise. But some accounts subject them to a singular martyrdom, +killing every man of the two hundred and fifty-nine reported missing. +As there was but one officer wounded, or at the most one killed and +one wounded in the party, according to the official returns, the +proportion of men killed was doubtless small. The letter in <i>Force</i>, +5th Series, vol. i., p. 1232, referring to this attack, bears every +evidence of having been written by Gist himself, and it is quoted as +his in the text. In this letter Gist speaks of being surrounded on all +sides, and then adds: "The impracticability of forcing through such a +formidable body of troops rendered it the height of rashness and +imprudence to risk the lives of our remaining party in a third +attempt, and it became necessary for us to endeavor to effect our +escape in the best manner we possibly could." This shows that there +were many left to disperse. Their prudence was equal to their +courage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> Before Stirling's fight with Cornwallis took place, the +mill and little bridge at the further end of the mill-dam across +Gowanus Creek were burned down. Colonel Smallwood charged "a certain +Colonel Ward" with the act, and claimed that the destruction of the +bridge prevented the escape of Stirling and the Marylanders with him. +Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Field repeat the charge. But Smallwood is +contradicted both by Stirling and Gist, the former stating that he +could not get by the British on the road full half a mile beyond the +bridge, and the latter adding that he was driven back into the woods. +The charge had no foundation, the bridge not having been set on fire +until after the enemy took possession of the road above (see Ewing's +sketch). The "Colonel Ward" was Colonel Jonathan Ward, of +Massachusetts; and the probability is that he and Colonel Tyler, both +of whom lost some men during the day, had been sent out on the Port +Road, but, finding Cornwallis there, retreated, burning mill and +bridge to obstruct the latter's possible advance in that quarter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> The reinforcements that came over during the forenoon, +besides Douglas's regiment, were Sage's and Selden's, which, with +Douglas, completed Wadsworth's brigade on that side; Charles Webb's, +of McDougall's brigade; and Scott, with Malcom and Humphrey's men, or +the rest of his brigade.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> "Colonel Huntington's and the Maryland regiment +suffered the most. General Parsons says that some of our men fought +through the enemy not less than 7 or 8 times that day. He lay out +himself part of the night concealed in a swamp, from whence he made +his escape with 7 men to our lines about break of day the next +morning."—<i>Letter from an Officer, Conn. Journal</i>, September 18th, +1776. "I came in with 7 men yesterday morning, much +fatigued."—<i>General Parsons</i>, August 29th, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Responsibility for the Defeat.</span>—According to some of +our more recent versions of this battle, the disaster is to be +referred to the wilful disobedience, criminal inattention, and total +incapacity of General Putnam. Several writers make the charge so +pointedly and upon such an array of fact, that the reader is left to +wonder how all this should have escaped the notice of the +commander-in-chief at the time, and why Putnam was not immediately +court-martialled and dismissed the service, instead of being +continued, as he was, in important commands. The charge is the more +serious as it is advanced by so respectable an authority as Mr. +Bancroft. Mr. Field, Mr. Dawson, and Dr. Stiles, following the latter, +incline strongly in the same direction. +</p><p> +Mr. Bancroft first assails Putnam for sending Stirling out to the +right when word came in that the enemy were advancing and our pickets +flying. This is criticised as "a rash order," because it sent Stirling +to a position which was "dangerous in the extreme," with the Gowanus +marsh in his rear. But as to this, it only needs to be said that +Putnam's written instructions from Washington were imperative to +prevent the enemy from passing the hills and approaching the works. It +would have been a clear disregard of Washington's intention had Putnam +not sent Stirling out precisely as he did. The enemy were coming up +from the Narrows and must be checked "at all hazards." Furthermore, +the position Stirling took up at about Nineteenth Street was actually +safer than any other on the outpost line. His right could not be +turned, for it rested on the bay, and he could see every movement of +the fleet. His left was well covered by Parsons, and no one could have +imagined his rear in danger with the other outposts guarding it for +more than three miles. As a matter of fact, Stirling was nearer the +lines than either Miles or Wyllys. +</p><p> +Again, it is charged that when Putnam and Sullivan visited the extreme +left on the 26th "the movements of the enemy plainly disclosed that it +was their intention to get into the rear of the Americans by the +Jamaica Road," yet nothing was done. The foundation of this is +probably a statement of Brodhead's and another by Miles to the effect +that these generals might have themselves observed that the enemy were +preparing for the Jamaica move. But if the intentions of the latter +were so obvious at that time, it is proper to ask why it was not +equally obvious on the next morning that they were actually carrying +out their intentions, and why Miles and Brodhead did not so report at +an early hour. These officers were rightly impressed with the +conviction that the enemy would come by way of Jamaica, but it is +certain that the enemy made no observable move in that direction from +Flatlands, where they had been for three days, until nine o'clock that +night. So says Howe. It was clearly in the plan of the British to give +our outposts no ground for suspecting a flanking manœuvre. Their +movements were far from being "plainly disclosed." The quotation given +by Mr. Bancroft in this connection, namely, that "Washington's order +to secure the Jamaica Road was not obeyed," unfortunately appears as +original in a "Review of the War" published in 1779 and written by +some irresponsible individual in England, who could neither have known +what Washington's orders were, nor whether any attempt was made to +carry them out. +</p><p> +A further charge is this: "Early in the morning, Putnam was informed +that infantry and cavalry were advancing on the Jamaica Road. He gave +Washington no notice of the danger; he sent Stirling no order to +retreat." This is doubtless on the authority of a letter in <i>Force</i>, +5th Series, vol. i., p. 1195. But how early was Putnam informed? The +writer of the letter who brought the word was probably one of Miles' +or Brodhead's men, for he tells us that his regiment was dressed in +hunting-shirts, and he makes the very important statement that on his +way back to his post he met the enemy! The information came too late, +for the British were now marching down towards the lines. Sullivan had +gone to the Flatbush Pass, where he could understand the situation +better than Putnam, and he was the proper officer to give directions +to the outposts at that moment. +</p><p> +The charges made by Mr. Dawson have still less foundation. General +Putnam is stated never to have reconnoitred the enemy's position. +Brodhead, however, states distinctly that he did. "It is also a +well-established fact," says this writer, "that no general officer was +outside the lines at Brooklyn on the night of the 26th." What is the +authority for this? Nixon, Stirling, and Parsons had been successively +officers of the day, and presumably did their duty. Parsons, on the +morning of the 27th, was on the lower road trying to rally the pickets +before Stirling appeared with reinforcements. "The mounted patrols +which General Sullivan had established, as well as the guards at some +of the passes established by General Greene, were withdrawn." The fact +that all the passes were well guarded and a special patrol sent out, +is a complete answer to this assertion, so far as the night of the +26th is concerned. In this light the general conclusion arrived at by +Mr. Dawson, that "General Putnam paid no attention to the orders of +General Washington," cannot be sustained. +</p><p> +With regard to General Sullivan, it is but just to give his own +explanation. A year after the battle, he wrote: "I know it has been +generally reported that I commanded on Long Island when the actions +happened there. This is by no means true; <i>General Putnam</i> had taken +the command from me four days before the action. Lord Stirling +commanded the main body without the lines; I was to have command under +General Putnam within the lines. I was very uneasy about a road +through which I had often foretold the enemy would come, but could not +persuade others to be of my opinion. I went to the Hill near Flatbush +to reconnoitre the enemy, and, with a piquet of four hundred men, was +surrounded by the enemy, who had advanced by the very road I had +foretold, and which I had paid horsemen fifty dollars for patrolling +by night, while I had the command, as I had no foot for the purpose, +for which I was never reimbursed, as it was supposed unnecessary." In +another letter he adds: "I was so persuaded of the enemy's coming the +[Jamaica] route, that I went to examine, and was surrounded by the +British army, and after a long and severe engagement was made +prisoner." These letters were written when Sullivan was restless under +charges brought against him in connection with the defeat at +Brandywine—charges which were properly dropped, however—and are not +conclusive as to the Long Island affair. His statements are no doubt +strictly true, but they in no way affect the main point, namely, did +we or did we not have a patrol out on the Jamaica Road <i>on the night +of the 26th</i>? We have seen that there was such a patrol, and probably +the best that had yet been sent out, and sent out, according to +Lieutenant Van Wagenen, by General Sullivan himself. +</p><p> +There are but few references to the question of responsibility in +contemporary letters and documents. Gordon blames Sullivan as being +over-confident. Miles and Brodhead leave us to infer that this general +had much to do with the plan of action, and must be held at least in +part responsible. Sullivan, on the other hand, according to Brodhead, +blamed Miles for the defeat, as Parsons did. When these officers +wrote, they wrote to defend their own conduct, and their testimony is +necessarily incomplete so far as others are concerned. +</p><p> +In brief, the case seems to be this: On the night of the 26th we had +all the roads guarded. On the morning of the 27th Putnam promptly +reinforced the guards on the lower road when the enemy were announced. +The arrangements were such that if an attack was made at any of the +other points he and Sullivan were to have word of it in ample time. No +word came in time from the left, for the reason that those who were to +bring it were captured, or surprised, or failed of their duty. Hence +the disaster. The dispositions on Long Island were quite as complete +as those at Brandywine more than a year later, where we suffered +nearly a similar surprise and as heavy a loss. Suppose the very small +patrols sent out by Washington and Sullivan to gain information before +that battle had been captured, as at Long Island—we should have +sustained a greater disaster than at Long Island. +</p><p> +Under this state of facts, to charge Putnam with the defeat of the +27th, in the terms which some writers have employed, is both unjust +and unhistorical. That misfortune is not to be clouded with the +additional reflection, that it was due to the gross neglect and +general incapacity of the officer in command. No facts or inferences +justify the charge. No one hinted it at the time; nor did Washington +in the least withdraw his confidence from Putnam during the remainder +of the campaign.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> See +<a href="#NOTE">note</a> at the close of the chapter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> Mr. Onderdonk, Mr. Thompson, and others have gathered +and published all the known incidents respecting the fate of General +Woodhull, which are doubtless familiar to those interested in the +history of Long Island. See General Scott's brief reference to him in +<a href="#NO06"><i>Document</i> 6</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> This order was sent at two o'clock through General +Wooster, then temporarily in New York, and Mercer received it in the +evening near Newark. He sent word at once to the militia at Amboy, +Woodbridge, and Elizabethtown to march to Powle's Hook. <i>Force</i>, 5th +Series, vol. ii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> A close analysis of the returns of September 12th, +estimating all additions or reductions which should be made since the +battle, shows that this was about the number on Long Island at this +date and at the time of the retreat. The brigades now there were +Nixon's, Heard's, Parson's, Wadsworth's, Stirling's, Scott's, two +regiments of Mifflin's, one at least of McDougall's (Webb's), +Glover's, and Fellows', the Long Island militia, artillery, rangers, +and several independent companies. We know at what part of the lines +some of these troops were posted. Greene's four old regiments +doubtless occupied the forts. Varnum was at Red Hook; Little at Fort +Greene; Hitchcock at Fort Putnam, and Hand with him there and in the +redoubt on the left. Forman's New Jersey had been at Fort Box. Three +of Scott's battalions were assigned to the centre, where the +breastworks crossed the Jamaica Road. Magaw, Shee, and Glover guarded +the line from Fort Putnam to the Wallabout; Silliman was at the +"northern part" of the works, probably on the right of Fort Putnam; +Gay's was between Fort Box and the Marsh; Douglas watched the extreme +right in the woods at the mouth of Gowanus Creek; and there was a +"reserve," which perhaps included among others the remnants of +Stirling's shattered brigade. Encircling them a mile or a mile and a +half distant in the edge of the woods, lay the British army with tents +already pitched in many places. North and south of the Jamaica Road, +just below Bedford, was Howe's main column; within and west of +Prospect Park were the Hessians; and on the right, Grant's division +bivouacked along the Gowanus Road.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> In vol. ii. of the L.I. Hist. Society's "Memoirs," the +author, Mr. Field, devotes pages 254-258 to the skirmishing of some +Connecticut soldiers on the extreme right on the other side of Gowanus +Creek, which appears to him to have been rash and foolhardy, and +strangely in contrast with what also appears to him to have been an +exhibition of cowardice on their part the day before. The narrative +from which the incidents are taken (Martin's) shows no such singular +inconsistency in the conduct of these men. This was Colonel Douglas' +regiment, and, as Martin himself says, it moved promptly under orders +from the ferry to the right to cover Stirling's retreat. "Our +officers," he writes, "pressed forward towards a creek, where a large +party of Americans and British were engaged." They very properly did +not halt to help a company of artillerymen drag their pieces along. +The skirmish on the following day was nothing remarkable in its way. +It was just such brushes as the men engaged in that Washington, on +Graydon's authority, encouraged. The regiment displayed no particular +rashness on the 28th, nor any cowardice on the 27th—that is, if +Martin is to be credited.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> See <a href="#NO06"><i>Document</i> 6</a>, in which General Scott says: "I was +summoned to a council of war at Mr. Phillip Livingston's house on +Thursday, 29th ult., etc."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Origin of the Retreat.</span>—Precisely when and why +Washington came to a determination in his own mind to retreat has been +made the subject of a somewhat nice historical inquiry. Gordon gives +one story; Mr. William B. Reed, biographer of Colonel Reed, gives +another; and Mr. Bancroft, General Carrington, and others indulge in +more or less extended criticisms on the point. Gordon's account is the +most probable and the best supported. +</p><p> +Whatever Washington may have thought of the situation on Long Island +after the defeat, it is enough to know that he immediately reinforced +himself there, and that on the 27th and 28th he made no preparations +to withdraw to New York. It far from follows, however, that he had +concluded to stay and fight it out "on that line" at all hazards. He +was acting on the defensive, and was necessarily obliged to guide +himself largely by the movements of the enemy. On Long Island, +therefore, he could only be on the watch, and, like a prudent general, +decide according to circumstances. Up to the morning of the 29th he +was still watching—watching not only the enemy, but his own army +also. In his letter to Congress, written at "half after 4 o'clock +<span class="smcap">a.m.</span>" of this date, he gives no intimation of a retreat, but rather +leaves that body to infer that he proposed to remain where he was. He +speaks, for instance, of expecting tents during the day to make the +troops more comfortable. On the same morning Reed wrote: "We hope to +be able to make a good stand, as our lines are pretty strong;" and he +doubtless reflected the views of his Chief at the time. +</p><p> +The two particular dangers now to which the army was exposed were the +danger of having its communication with New York cut off by the ships, +and the danger of being approached by the enemy in front by siege +operations, which the army was not prepared to meet. The first danger +had existed ever since the arrival of the enemy, and had been provided +for. All the batteries on Governor's Island and on both sides of the +East River had been built to guard against it. In addition, ships had +been sunk in the channel. Washington accordingly must have thoroughly +canvassed the risks he ran in regard to his communications. <i>These +alone had not decided him to retreat.</i> On the morning of the 29th, +however, he first became aware of the second danger. It was not until +then that the enemy fully developed their intention of advancing by +trenches. After working all night, as Howe reports, they had thrown up +by morning, as Little reports, a parallel sixty rods long and one +hundred and fifty rods distant from Fort Putnam. Reed wrote, "They are +intrenching at a small distance." In twenty-four hours at the farthest +they would have come within very close range, and the hazardous +alternative would have been forced upon us to attempt to drive them +out of their own works. Washington well knew that, in view of the +condition of his men and the great disparity of numbers, this could +not be done. When, therefore, he became assured of Howe's intentions +he acted promptly—<i>he determined to retreat</i>; and this determination +he reached early on the morning of the 29th. +</p><p> +This is substantially the theory which Gordon presents as a fact, and +it is most consistent with fact. Gordon's account is this: "The +victorious army encamped in the front of the American works in the +evening; and on the 28th at night broke ground in form about 4 or 500 +yards distant from a redoubt which covered the left of the Americans. +The same day Gen. Mifflin crossed over from New York with 1000 men; at +night he made an offer to Gen. Washington of going the rounds, which +was accepted. He observed the approaches of the enemy, and the +forwardness of their batteries; and was convinced that no time was to +be lost. The next morning he conversed with the General upon the +subject, and said, 'You must either fight or retreat immediately. What +is your strength?' The General answered, 'Nine thousand.' The other +replied, 'It is not sufficient, we must therefore retreat.' They were +both agreed as to the calling of a Council of war; and Gen. Mifflin +was to propose a retreat. But as he was to make that proposal, lest +his own character should suffer, he stipulated, that if a retreat +should be agreed upon, he would command the rear; and if an action the +van." +</p><p> +The fact that Mifflin was given the command of the rear on the +retreat, and the fact that he sent the order to Heath that morning to +send down all the boats from King's Bridge, lend the highest +probability to Gordon's version of the story. Parsons, who was one of +the members of the council, mentions this particularly as one of the +reasons for withdrawing, namely, that the enemy were "not disposed to +storm our lines, but set down to make regular approaches to us." Reed +also puts as much stress on this point as any other. Giving the +reasons for the retreat to Governor Livingston, he said: "The enemy at +the same time possessed themselves of a piece of ground very +advantageous and which they had [fortified]. We were therefore reduced +to the alternative of retiring to this place or going out with +[troops] to drive them off." Washington, too, is to be quoted. In his +letter to Trumbull, September 6th, he writes: "As the main body of the +enemy had encamped not far from our lines, and as I had reason to +believe they intended to force us from them by regular approaches, +which the nature of the ground favoured extremely, and at the same +time meant, by the ships of war, to cut off the communication between +the City and Island, and by that means keep our men divided and unable +to oppose them anywhere, by the advice of the General officers, on the +night of the 29th, I withdrew our troops from thence without any loss +of men and but little baggage." +</p><p> +William B. Reed's account (Reed's Life of Reed) is to the effect, +briefly, that a heavy fog settled over Long Island on the 29th, and +that during the day Colonel Reed, Colonel Grayson, and General Mifflin +rode to Red Hook inspecting the lines. While at the Hook, "a shift of +wind" cleared the fog from the harbor, enabling the officers to catch +a glimpse of the fleet at the Narrows. From certain movements of boats +they inferred that the ships would sail up with the favorable breeze +if it held until the tide turned and the fog cleared off. They +immediately hurried to Washington, informed him of the impending +danger, and induced him to call a council and order a retreat. Mr. +Bancroft, however, has shown very thoroughly that this account cannot +be accepted, because the fog did not come up until the morning of the +30th, and no change of wind occurred. Colonel Reed himself says in the +Livingston letter, written only the next morning, that the enemy's +fleet were attempting every day to get up to town with "the wind +<i>ahead</i>"—thus directly contradicting his biographer. The Reed account +has several errors of detail, one being the statement that the Red +Hook battery had been badly damaged by the guns of the Roebuck on the +27th. It would be nearer the truth to say that it was not hit at all. +The fleet could do nothing that day; as Admiral Howe reports, the +Roebuck was "the only ship that could fetch high enough to the +northward to exchange <i>a few random shot</i> with the battery on Red +Hook." +</p><p> +In a word, Washington, after receiving Mifflin's report in regard to +the approaches of the enemy, and probably other reports from Grayson, +Reed, and others in regard to the general condition of the troops (for +instance, Colonel Shee's uneasiness, referred to by Graydon), found +that the moment had come for decision. That decision was to retreat +that night; and during the forenoon, several hours before the council +met, he issued secret orders for the concentration of boats at the +ferry, as described in the text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> Memorial of Colonel Hugh Hughes. Leake's Life of +General Lamb.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> Heath's Memoirs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> There is an interesting letter of Washington's +preserved in the Hughes Memorial, which adds light on this point. +Eight years after the event, when Hughes needed some official +certificate showing his authority to impress all the craft he could +find, the general replied to him as follows: +</p><p> +"My memory is not charged with the particulars of the verbal order +which you say was delivered to you through Col. Joseph Trumbull, on +the 27th, August, 1776, 'for impressing all the sloops, boats, and +water craft from Spyhten Duyvel, in the Hudson, to Hell Gate, in the +Sound.' I recollect that it was a day which required the utmost +exertion, particularly in the Quarter-Master's department, to +accomplish the retreat which was intended, under cover of the +succeeding night; and that no delay or ceremony could be admitted in +the execution of the plan. I have no doubt, therefore, of your having +received orders to the effect, and to the extent which you have +mentioned; and you are at liberty to adduce this in testimony thereof. +It will, I presume, supply the place of a more formal certificate, and +is more consonant with my recollection of the transactions of that +day." It appears from this that Washington remembered that the <i>entire +day</i> of the 29th was devoted to planning and preparing for the +retreat, and this fits the theory advanced in the note on the "Origin +of the Retreat." As to the delivery of the orders about boats, it is +probable that Trumbull crossed to New York with Mifflin's letter to +Heath and gave it to Hughes to forward. At the same time he gave +Hughes his instructions verbally. Hughes received them, says his +biographer, about noon. He then had eight hours to carry them out, +which gave him time to send to Heath and for Heath to comply, while he +and his assistants scoured the coast everywhere else for boats, from +Hell Gate down. Among other sloops impressed was the Middlesex, +Captain Stephen Hogeboom, while on its way to Claverack. "I was +prevented from proceeding," says the captain, "by Coll Wardsworth and +Commissary Hughes who ordered your memorialist over with the sloop to +Long Island ferry where she was used to carry off the Troops and +stores after the unfortunate retreat, &c."—<i>N.Y. Hist. MS.</i>, vol. i., +p. 620.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> <a href="#NO03"><i>Document</i> 3</a>. "General Orders. Head-Quarters Long +Island, Aug. 29, 1776. Parole, <i>Sullivan</i>, Countersign, +<i>Greene</i>."—<i>Col. Douglas' Order Book.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> All our principal accounts follow Graydon, who states +that the order to attack the enemy was given "regimentally." Colonel +Hand, in his letter describing the night's incidents (Reed's Life of +Reed), makes no allusion to such an order, but on the contrary states +that he and the other colonels of the covering party were told that +they were to retreat. An order to attack would have been a poor +disguise for a retreat, for every man must have felt its utter +rashness and at once suspected some other move.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> A letter from Tilghman, Washington's aid, shows that +the troops received the impression that they were to be relieved. The +retreat, he says, "was conducted with so much Secrecy that neither +Subalterns or privates knew that the whole army was to cross back +again to N. York; they thought only a few regiments were to go +back."—<a href="#NO29"><i>Document</i> 29</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> Mr. Reed, the biographer, states that the fog rose on +the 29th. Dr. Stiles, in his "History of Brooklyn," says: "At midnight +a dense fog arose, which remained motionless and impenetrable over the +island during the whole of the next day [the 29th]." "A dense fog," +writes Mr. Field, "hung over the island and river, when the morning of +the 29th dawned." Now nothing is more certain than that the fog did +not rise until shortly before dawn of the 30th, full six hours after +the retreat had begun. The 28th and 29th, as already seen, were days +of rain-storms, not mist, nor fog, but storm, "torrents," such rain at +times the like of which could "hardly be remembered." Contemporary +writers who mention the rains say nothing of fog on the 29th, whereas +they do notice its appearance the next morning. Major Tallmadge +writes: "As the dawn of the next day approached, those of us who +remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety, and +when the dawn appeared, there were several regiments still on duty. At +this time a very dense fog began to rise, and it seemed to settle in a +peculiar manner over both encampments. I recollect this peculiar +providential occurrence perfectly well; and so very dense was the +atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at six yards' +distance." This officer's regiment was one of the covering party, and +he adds that after leaving the lines by mistake, and receiving orders +to return, "Col. Chester immediately faced to the right about and +returned, where we tarried until the sun had risen, but the fog +remained as dense as ever." "At sunrise a great fog came up," says a +spectator (<i>Stiles' MS. Diary</i>). An officer or soldier of either +Shee's or Magaw's regiment, also of the covering party, wrote a few +hours after crossing: "We received orders to quit our station about +two o'clock this morning, and had made our retreat almost to the ferry +when Gen. Washington ordered us back to that part of the lines we were +first at, which was reckoned to be the most dangerous post. We got +back undiscovered by the enemy, and continued there until daylight. +Providentially for us, a great fog arose, which prevented the enemy +from seeing our retreat from their works which was not more than +musket shot from us."—<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. i., p. 1233. So also, +Stedman, the British historian, referring to the events of the night +of the 29th-30th, says: "Another remarkable circumstance was, that on +Long Island hung a thick fog, which prevented the British troops from +discovering the operations of the enemy." Washington did not, as often +stated in popular accounts, take advantage of a fog to cover his +retreat. More than half the army was over before the fog appeared; but +it protected the covering party, and saved us the loss of considerable +baggage and other material.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> An English patrol under Captain Montressor discovered +the retreat of the Americans very soon after the latter left the +lines, and reported the fact at once. But for some unexplained reason +pursuit was delayed until too late. One boat with four stragglers was +taken by the enemy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> "The Heath Correspondence," Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., +1878.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> Pastor Shewkirk notes in his diary that immediately +after the retreat "a general damp" seemed to spread over the army. +"The merry tones on drums and fifes had ceased, and they were hardly +heard for a couple of days." The wet clothes, accoutrements, and tents +were lying about in front of the houses and in the streets, and every +thing was in confusion. But this was to be expected. General Scott, +referring evidently to expressions heard among his own men, says that +some declared that they had been "sold out," and others longed to have +Lee back from the South.—<i>Scott's MS. Letter</i>, September 6th, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> Washington's aids were most of them quite young men.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> A large number of changes were made in the organization +of the army after the retreat. The Connecticut militia were divided up +and formed into brigades with the levies under General Wadsworth, +Colonel Silliman, Colonel Douglas, and Colonel Chester. A brigade was +given also to Colonel Sargent, of Massachusetts. Putnam's division +included Parsons', Scott's, James Clinton's (Glover's), Fellows', and +Silliman's brigades; Spencer's and Greene's divisions included +Nixon's, Heard's, McDougall's, Wadsworth's, Douglas', Chester's and +Sargent's brigades; while Heath had his former brigades, with a change +of some regiments, under Mifflin and George Clinton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> "Till of late I had no doubt in my own mind of +defending this place, nor should I have yet, if the men would do their +duty, but this I despair of. It is painful, and extremely grating to +me, to give such unfavorable accounts; but it would be criminal to +conceal the truth at so critical a juncture."—<i>Washington to +Congress</i>, September 2d, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> Colonel Reed, the adjutant-general, wrote to his wife, +September 14th, from New York: "My baggage is all at King's bridge. We +expect to remove thither this evening. I mean our +headquarters."—<i>Reed's Reed.</i> Washington, writing of the events of +the 15th, says: "I had gone the night before to the main body of the +army which was posted on the plains and heights of Harlem." These +references fail to confirm the common statement that Washington made +the Murray House on Thirty-sixth Street his quarters for a short time +after leaving the city.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> According to the Hessian major, Baurmeister, the 13th +had been first named as the date for the attack. "On this day," he +writes, "General Howe wished to land upon the island of New York, +because 18 years ago on this day General Wulff [Wolfe] had conquered +at Quebec, but also lost his life. The watchword for this end was +'Quebec' and the countersign 'Wulff,' but the frigates were too late +for this attack as they only sailed out of the fleet at five o'clock +on the evening of the 14th." +</p><p> +The sailing up of these ships is described as follows by the Hon. +Joshua Babcock, one of the Rhode Island Committee who had come down to +consult with Washington in regard to military matters: "Just after +Dinner 3 Frigates and a 40 Gun Ship (as if they meant to attack the +city) sail'd up the East River under a gentle Breeze towards +Hell-Gate, & kept up an incessant Fire assisted with the Cannon at +Govern<sup>rs</sup> Island: The Batteries from the City return'd the Ships the +like Salutation: 3 Men agape, idle Spectators had the misfortune of +being killed by one Cannon-Ball, the other mischief suffered on our +Side was inconsiderable Saving the making a few Holes in some of the +Buildings; one shot struck within 6 Foot of Gen<sup>l</sup> Washington, as He +was on Horseback riding into the Fort."—<i>MS. Letter in R.I. Public +Archives.</i> Also in <i>Force</i>. +</p><p> +Baurmeister preserves the incident that Washington was often to be +seen at the East River batteries in New York, and on one occasion +"provoked the Hessian artillery Captain Krug [on the Long Island side] +to fire off 2 Cannon at him and his suite." "A third shot too would +not have been wanting, if the horses of the enemy had been pleased to +stay," adds the major.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> We know the position of the troops from the statements +of their officers. Douglas says: "I lay with my brigade a little below +Turtle [Kips] Bay where we hove up lines for more than one mile in +length. Gen'l Wadsworth managed the lines on the right and I on the +left." Brigade-Major Fish says of Scott's brigade that they were +"marched to the lines back of Stuyvesant's," about the foot of +Fifteenth Street. Parsons was below at Corlears Hook as appears from +<a href="#NO32"><i>Document</i> 32</a>. Silliman himself says that he was in the city. Consult + <a href="#MAP05">map of New York</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, where the position at the time of the +British attack is given.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> "The first landing was of 84 boats with English +infantry and Hessian grenadiers under command of Lieut-General +Clinton. Commodore Hotham conducted this landing, under cover of 5 +frigates anchored close before Kaaps [Kip's] Bay above Cron Point, and +maintained a 3 hours cannonade on the enemy's advanced posts in the +great wood. The signal of the red flag denoted the departure of the +boats, the blue on the contrary the stoppage of the passage, and if a +retreat should become necessary, a yellow flag would be +shown."—<i>Baurmeister.</i> "Sunday morning at break of day, five ships +weighed anchor and fell in close within a musket shot of our lines +quite to the left of me. I then moved my brigade abreast of them. They +lay very quiet until 10 o'clock and by that time they had about 80 of +their boats from under Long Island shore full with men which contained +about five or six thousand and four transports full ready to come in +the second boats."—<i>Col. Douglas.</i> +</p><p> +Major Fish wrote September 19th that the enemy's ships of war were +drawn up "in line of Battle parallel to the shore, the Troops to the +amount of about 4000 being embarked in flat bottom Boats, and the +Boats paraded."—<i>Hist. Mag.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> All accounts agree that it was next to impossible to +remain under the fire of the men-of-war. Major Fish says that "a +Cannonade from the ships began, which far exceeded my Ideas, and which +seemed to infuse a Panic thro' the whole of our Troops, &c." Silliman +speaks of the "incessant fire on our lines" with grapeshot as being +"so hot" that the militia were compelled to retreat. Douglas's +description is as quaint as it is expressive: "They very suddenly +began as heavy a cannonade perhaps as ever was from no more ships, as +they had nothing to molest them." Martin thought his head would "go +with the sound." Lieutenant John Heinrichs, of the Hessian yagers, +writes: "Last Sunday we landed under the thundering rattle of 5 +men-of-war."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> The enemy's boats, says Douglas, "got under cover of +the smoke of the shipping and then struck to the left of my lines in +order to cut me off from a retreat. My left wing gave way which was +formed of the militia. I lay myself on the right wing waiting for the +boats until Capt. Prentice came to me and told me, if I meant to save +myself to leave the lines, for that was the orders on the left and +that they had left the lines. I then told my men to make the best of +their way as I found I had but about ten left with me. They soon moved +out and I then made the best of my way out."—See further in +<i><a href="#PART_II">Documents</a></i>, <a href="#Page_ii.71">Part II., p. 71</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> <a href="#NO32"><i>Document</i> 32</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> Washington's account of the panic is as follows: +</p><p> +"As soon as I heard the firing, I rode with all possible despatch +towards the place of landing, where to my great surprise and +mortification I found the troops that had been posted in the lines +retreating with the utmost precipitation and those ordered to support +them (Parsons' and Fellows' brigades) flying in every direction, and +in the greatest confusion, notwithstanding the exertions of their +generals to form them. I used every means in my power to rally and to +get them into some order; but my attempts were fruitless and +ineffectual; and on the appearance of a small party of the enemy, not +more than sixty or seventy, their disorder increased, and they ran +away in the greatest confusion, without firing a single shot." +</p><p> +There were several stories current after the affair which cannot be +traced to any responsible source. One was that the Commander-in-Chief +was so "distressed and enraged" at the conduct of the troops that "he +drew his sword and snapped his pistols to check them;" and that one of +his suite was obliged to seize his horse's reins and take him out of +danger from the enemy. Another account represents that he threw his +hat on the ground and exclaimed whether such were the troops with +which he was to defend America; another states that he sought "death +rather than life." Mr. Bancroft has shown how far these statements are +to be accepted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> Hezekiah Munsell, a soldier of Gay's regiment in +Wadsworth's brigade, says: "We soon reached the main road which our +troops were travelling, and the first conspicuous person I met was +Gen. Putnam. He was making his way towards New York when all were +going from it. Where he was going I could not conjecture, though I +afterwards learned he was going after a small garrison of men in a +crescent fortification which he brought off safe."—<i>Hist. of Ancient +Windsor</i>, p. 715.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> Affidavits in Davis' "Life of Burr," vol. i.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> The line of Putnam's retreat appears to have been from +Bayard's Hill Fort on Grand Street across the country to Monument Lane +(now Greenwich Avenue), which led to the obelisk erected in honor of +General Wolf and others at a point on Fifteenth Street, a little west +of Eighth Avenue. (See Montressor's Map of New York in 1775, +"Valentine's Manual.") The lane there joined with an irregular road +running on the line of Eighth Avenue, known afterwards as the Abington +or Fitz Roy road, as far as Forty-second or Third Street. There +Putnam, under Burr's guidance probably, pushed through the woods, +keeping west of the Bloomingdale Road, and finally taking the latter +at some point above Seventieth Street, and so on to Harlem Heights. +(See <a href="#MAP05">Map of New York</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> This jealousy disappeared when the army was reorganized +and the troops became proficient in discipline. The American soldier +was then found to be equal to any that could be brought against him, +regardless of the locality from which he hailed. But in the present +campaign the sectional feeling referred to came near working mischief, +especially as it was kept alive by so prominent an officer as Colonel +Reed, the Adjutant-general. New England officers protested against the +"rancor" and "malice" of his assertions, and represented their +injurious influence to members of Congress. Washington, finding that +the matter was becoming serious, took the occasion to send a special +invitation to Colonels Silliman and Douglas to dine with him in the +latter part of September, when he "disavowed and absolutely +disapproved every such piece of conduct" which had been a grievance to +these and other Eastern officers.—<i>Silliman's MS. Letter.</i> See also +extracts in Gordon's history as to the condition of the army at this +time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> "The militia of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, stationed +on Bergen and at Paulus-Hook, have behaved in a scandalous manner, +running off from their posts on the first cannonade from the ships of +the enemy. At all the posts we find it difficult to keep the militia +to their duty." (<i>Mercer to Washington</i>, Sept. 17th, 1776.) "I don't +know whether the New Eng<sup>d</sup> troops will stand there [at Harlem +Heights], but I am sure they will not upon open ground," +etc.—<i>Tilghman.</i> <a href="#NO29"><i>Document</i> 29</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> The Major of this battalion (Gimat's) was John +Palsgrave Wyllys, of Hartford, who, as Wadsworth's Brigade-Major, was +taken prisoner at Kip's Bay. Alexander Hamilton and Brigade-Major +Fish, of New York, who were swept along in this retreat, also figured +prominently at Yorktown. Two young ensigns in the Connecticut +"levies," Stephen Betts and James Morris, were captains of Light +Infantry in that affair. Lieutenant Stephen Olney, of Rhode Island, +who barely escaped capture on Long Island by Cornwallis's grenadiers, +led Gimat's battalion as captain, and was severely wounded while +clambering into the redoubt; and there were probably a considerable +number of others, officers and men, who were chased by this British +general in the present campaign, who finally had the satisfaction of +cornering him in Virginia in 1781. Scammell, Huntington, Tilghman, +Humphreys, and others, could be named.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> The American loss in prisoners in the Kip's Bay affair +was seventeen officers and about three hundred and fifty men, nearly +all from Connecticut and New York. A very few were killed and wounded, +Major Chapman, of Tyler's regiment, being among the former. +</p> + +<p>The officer of highest rank among the prisoners was Colonel Samuel +Selden, of Hadlyme, Conn., mentioned on <a href="#Page_121">page 121</a>. (See <a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES">biographical +sketches</a>, <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>) One of his officers was Captain Eliphalet Holmes, +afterwards of the Continental line, a neighbor of the Colonel's. Being +a man of great strength he knocked down two Hessians, who attempted to +capture him, and escaped.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> <i>Baurmeister's Narrative.</i> <i>Shewkirk's Diary.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> The centennial anniversary of this battle was +celebrated in 1876, under the auspices of the New York Historical +Society. The oration delivered on the occasion by the Hon. John Jay +has been published by the Society, with an appendix containing a large +number of documents bearing upon the affair, the whole making a +valuable contribution to our Revolutionary history.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> <span class="smcap">The Rangers.</span>—The small corps known by this name +consisted, first, as already stated, of about one hundred men of +Durkee's Connecticut Regiment (Twentieth Continentals), who appear to +have accompanied Lieutenant-Colonel Knowlton, of that regiment, when +he went on any special service. These he took with him to Long Island. +After the battle there the Rangers were formally organized as a +separate body, composed of volunteer officers and men from several of +the New England regiments. These were borne on their respective +regimental rolls as detached "on command." For captains, Knowlton had +at least three excellent officers, men from his own region, whom he +knew and could trust—Nathan Hale, of Charles Webb's regiment, and +Stephen Brown and Thomas Grosvenor, of his own. The rolls in <i>Force</i> +show that there were officers and men in the Rangers from Durkee's, +Webb's, Chester's, Wyllys', and Tyler's Connecticut; Ward's and +Sargent's Massachusetts; and Varnum's Rhode Island. For a time they +received orders directly from Washington and then from Putnam, and +were of great service to the army in watching the enemy along the +Harlem front. They distinguished themselves on the 16th, and later in +the season, when Colonel Magaw was in command of Fort Washington, he +begged to have the Rangers remain with him, as he declared that they +were the only safe protection to the lines. (Greene to Washington.) +They remained and were taken prisoners at the surrender of the fort, +November 16th. Though probably not over one hundred and fifty strong, +their losses seem to have been heavy. Knowlton fell at Harlem Heights; +Major Coburn, who succeeded him, was severely wounded a few weeks +later; Captain Nathan Hale was executed as a spy; and Captain Brown, a +man as cool as Knowlton, was killed at the defence of Fort Mifflin +near Philadelphia, in 1777, a cannon-ball severing his head from his +body. Grosvenor served through the war, retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel +commanding the Fifth of the Connecticut line. These facts are gathered +from MS. Order Books, documents in <i>Force</i> and <i>Hist. Mag.</i>, and from +MS. letter of the late Judge Oliver Burnham, of Cornwall, Conn., a +soldier in Wyllys' regiment and one of the Rangers, in which he says: +"Soon after the retreat from Long Island, Colonel Knowlton was ordered +to raise a battalion of troops from the different regiments called the +Rangers, to reconnoitre along our shores and between the armies. Being +invited by a favorite officer, I volunteered, and on the day the enemy +took New York we were at Harlem and had no share in the events of that +day."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> The Rangers were thus engaged in a distinct skirmish +before the main action of the day. Washington wrote to Congress early +on the 16th: "I have sent some reconnoitring parties to gain +intelligence, if possible, of the disposition of the enemy." A letter +in the <i>Connecticut Gazette</i>, reprinted in Mr. Jay's documents, and +which was probably written by Captain Brown, says: "On Monday morning +the General ordered us to go and take the enemy's advanced guard; +accordingly we set out just before day and found where they were; at +day-brake we were discovered by the enemy, who were 400 strong, and we +were 120. They marched up within six rods of us and there formed to +give us Battle, which we were ready for; and Colonel Knowlton gave +orders to fire, which we did, and stood theirs till we perceived they +were getting their flank-guards round us. After giving them eight +rounds apiece the Colonel gave orders for retreating, which we +performed very well, without the loss of a man while retreating, +though we lost about 10 while in action." Judge Burnham says +substantially the same: "Colonel Knowlton marched close to the enemy +as they lay on one of the Harlem Heights, and discharged a few rounds, +and then retreated over the hill out of sight of the enemy and +concealed us behind a low stone wall. The Colonel marked a place about +eight or ten rods from the wall, and charged us not to rise or fire a +gun until the enemy reached that place. The British followed in solid +column, and soon were on the ground designated when we gave them nine +rounds and retreated.... Our number engaged was only about 120."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> Captain John Gooch, of Varnum's regiment, wrote +September 23d: "On the 16th the enemy advanced and took possession of +a hight on our right flank about half a mile Distance with about 3000 +[300?] men; a party from our brigade of 150 men, who turned out as +volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Crary, of the +regm<sup>t</sup> I belong to, were ordered out if possible to dispossess +them."—<a href="#NO30"><i>Document</i> 30</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> Tilghman's reference to these movements is as follows: +"The General rode down to our farthest lines, and when he came near +them heard a firing, which he was informed was between our scouts and +the outguards of the enemy. When our men [Knowlton's] came in they +informed the General that there was a party of about 300 behind a +woody hill, tho' they only showed a very small party to us. Upon this +the General laid a plan for attacking them in the rear and cutting off +their retreat, which was to be effected in the following manner: Major +Leitch, with three companies of Col<sup>o</sup> Weedon's Virginia regiment, +and Col<sup>o</sup> Knowlton with his Rangers, were to steal round while a +party [Crary's] were to march towards them and seem as if they +intended to attack in front, but not to make any real attack till they +saw our men fairly in their rear. The bait took as to one part; as +soon as they saw our party in front the enemy ran down the hill and +took possession of some fences and bushes and began to fire at them, +but at too great distance to do much execution," etc.—<a href="#NO29"><i>Document</i> 29</a>. +See also Washington's letter to Congress, Sept. 18th, 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> It is quite clear that Knowlton and Leitch did not form +two parties, as some accounts state, one moving against the right +flank of the enemy and the other against the left. They acted as one +body, the Virginians marching in front, having been ordered on to +"reinforce" Knowlton. Thus Captain Brown writes that after retreating +they "sent off for a reinforcement," which they soon received; and +Colonel Reed confirms this in his testimony at the court-martial of a +soldier who acted a cowardly part in the fight. "On Monday forenoon," +he says, "I left Colonel Knowlton with a design to send him a +reinforcement. I had accordingly ordered up Major Leitch, and was +going up to where the firing was," etc. (<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. ii. +p. 500.) Reed's letters to his wife show that Leitch and Knowlton fell +near him, within a few minutes of each other, which could not have +been the case had they been on opposite flanks. The accounts of +Tilghman, Marshall, the soldier Martin, and others, leave no doubt as +to this point that there was but one flanking party, and that Knowlton +commanded it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> Judge Burnham refers to the flank attack briefly as +follows: "Passing over we met the enemy's right flank which had been +posted out of our sight on lower ground. They fired and killed Colonel +Knowlton and nearly all that had reached the top of the height." This +reference to the <i>top of the height</i>, taken in connection with Reed's +statement that "our brave fellows mounted up the rocks and attacked +them as they ran in turn," goes to confirm the selection of the spot +where Leitch and Knowlton fell. Burnham states that he was within a +few feet of the latter when he was shot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> There appear to have been nine companies of Maryland +troops engaged, three under Major Price, three under Major Mantz, and +three others of Richardson's regiment. Among these were one or more +companies of Colonel Ewing's as yet incomplete battalion. One of his +officers, Captain Lowe, was wounded.—<i>Force</i>, 5th Series, vol. ii. p. +1024. Also Capt. Beatty's letter in Mr. Jay's Documents.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> Greene wrote at a latter date: "Gen. Putnam and the +Adj. Gen. were in the action and behaved nobly." "I was in the latter +part, indeed almost the whole of the action."—<i>Gen. Geo. Clinton.</i> +(See his two letters in Jay's documents.) "Gen. Putnam and Gen. Greene +commanded in the Action with about 15 to eighteen hundred +men."—<i>Stiles's MS. Diary.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> "A very smart action ensued in the true Bush-fighting +way in which our Troops behaved in a manner that does them the highest +honor."—<i>Letter from Col. Griffith, of Maryland.</i> Lossing's +<i>Historical Record</i>, vol. ii., p. 260.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> "The General fearing (as we afterwards found) that a +large body was coming up to support them, sent me over to bring our +men off. They gave a Hurra and left the field in good +order."—<i>Tilghman's Letters</i>, Doc. 29. +</p><p> +<span class="smcap">The Battle-field</span>.—Recently gathered material seems to settle all +doubts as to the several points occupied by the British and Americans +during the action. Where did it begin and where did it end? As to the +first skirmish, it began near the British encampment at Bloomingdale. +Here was Howe's left, and, as Howe reports, Knowlton approached his +advanced posts under cover of the woods "by way of Vandewater's +Height." This was what we call Bloomingdale Heights. The original +proprietor of the greater part of this site was Thomas De Key. From +him all or a large part of it passed to Harman Vandewater and Adrian +Hogeland, as the deeds on record show. In 1784 the property was +purchased by Nicholas De Peyster. The position of Hogeland's and +Vandewater's houses as given on the <a href="#MAP06">accompanying map</a> is taken from old +surveys which mark the location and give the names. The Bloomingdale +Road at that time stopped at these farms. That part of it above One +Hundred and Tenth Street, running through Manhattanville and +continuing until recently to the King's Bridge Road at One Hundred and +Forty-sixth Street, did not exist during the Revolution, but was +opened a few years later. (Hoffman's <i>Est. and Rights of the +Corporation of New York</i>, vol. ii.) A lane or road running from +Hogeland's by Vandewater's connected the Bloomingdale with the King's +Bridge road at One Hundred and Nineteenth Street. Washington himself +gives us the general line. Before the battle of Long Island he ordered +Heath to have troops ready to march to New York as soon as called for, +and he describes the proper route thus: "There is a road out of the +Haerlem flat lands that leads up to the hills, and continues down the +North River by Bloomingdale, Delancy's, &c., which road I would have +them march, as they will keep the river in sight, and pass a tolerable +landing-place for troops in the neighborhood of Bloomingdale." (<i>Heath +Correspondence</i>, Mass. Hist. Coll. for 1878.) From this topography and +the records the position becomes clear: Howe camped around +Bloomingdale with his advance posts along the Bloomingdale Road, +perhaps as far as its terminus near Hogeland's. They were last seen in +this vicinity the night before. Knowlton, next morning, marches out +from Harlem Heights, reconnoitres "by way of Vandewater's," and comes +upon the British posts on and along the line of the Bloomingdale Road. +Then he falls back under cover of the woods and over fences towards +the Point of Rocks, the enemy following him. +</p><p> +As to succeeding movements, if we can fix Washington's station and the +hill which all agree that the British descended, there is no +difficulty in following them after. Point of Rocks was the extreme +limit of Harlem Heights. There were our advanced posts overlooking the +country south. Washington states that he rode down to "our advanced +posts" to direct matters. Where better could he do so than at Point of +Rocks? And in a sketch of the field preserved in the Stiles Diary, and +reproduced among Mr. Jay's documents, Washington is given just that +station where an earthwork had been thrown up. To confirm this and +also to locate the next point, we have a letter from Major Lewis +Morris (Jay documents), in which he says: "Colonel Knowlton's regiment +was attacked by the enemy upon a height a little to the south-west of +Days's Tavern, and after opposing them bravely and being overpowered +by their numbers they were forced to retreat, and the enemy advanced +upon the top of the hill opposite to that which lies before Days's +door, with a confidence of success, and after rallying their men by a +bugle horn and resting themselves a little while, they descended the +hill," etc. In one of Christopher Colles's road maps (published in the +N.Y. Corporation Manual for 1870, p. 778), Days's tavern is put +directly opposite Point of Rocks on the King's Bridge Road, which +fixes the hill occupied by the enemy as the north-east bluff of +Bloomingdale Heights, or about One Hundred and Twenty-third Street, +between Ninth and Tenth avenues. They ran down this bluff to fences +and bushes at the edge of "a clear field." This was part of the +Kortwright farm, and the farm lines of 1812 show the same northern +boundary that surveys show in 1711. This northerly fence line is given +in the <a href="#MAP06">accompanying map</a>, and it will be noticed that it would be the +natural line for the British Infantry to take in opposing Crary's +party. The soldier Martin speaks of their taking a post and rail fence +with a field in their rear. General George Clinton, who gives a clear +description of the fighting from this point, also mentions this field +and fence, but appears to have been mistaken in stating that the enemy +were driven back to that position. They ran down the hill and took up +that position. Then, when driven back, they retreated in the general +direction of their first advance—that is, towards their camp, passing +through a buckwheat field, and orchard to the Bloomingdale Road, and +not, as generally stated, to the high ground in Central Park east of +Eighth Avenue. General Clinton says they fell back from the orchard +"across a hollow and up another hill not far distant from their own +lines," which doubtless refers to undulations on Hogeland's place, and +possibly to the then hilly ground about One Hundred and Seventh Street +and Eleventh Avenue. One of the Hessian accounts states that the +Yagers who were sent to support the Light Infantry came into "a hot +contest on Hoyland's Hill"—a reference clearly to Hogeland's lands; +and this with the fact that the Yagers and Grenadiers afterwards +bivouacked "in the wood not far from Bloomingdale," and that the +British "encamped in two lines" at the same place, indicates the point +where the action terminated—namely, near Bloomingdale, between +Hogeland's and Apthorpe's. +</p><p> +In regard to the beginning of the action, General Clinton, in his +account, starts with a locality called "Martje Davits Fly," and +estimates distances from it. This name, more properly "Marritje +David's Vly," strictly described the round piece of meadow at the +western end of the Hollow Way close to the Hudson. It formed part of +Harlem Cove. Old deeds, acts, and surveys give the name and site +exactly. Clinton speaks of the "Point of Martje David's Fly" as if he +had reference to a point of land in its vicinity, possibly the Point +of Rocks, and from which he gives his distances. +</p><p> +The name of the battle appears perhaps most frequently in modern +accounts as that of Harlem <i>Plains</i>. Greene and others speak of it as +the action of Harlem <i>Heights</i> or the heights of Harlem. As the +movements were directed by Washington from the Heights, and as the +fighting was done practically in defence of the Heights, this seems to +be the proper name to adopt. Heath says the fighting took place "on +the Heights west of Harlem Plains," and Washington, Clinton, and +others make similar references to the high ground, showing that the +affair was not associated with the Plains.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> Heath states that Henley was buried by Knowlton's side, +and the spot is indicated in the orders of September 24th: "Thomas +Henley will be buried this <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> from the quarters of Maj. David Henley +below the hill where the redoubt is thrown up on the road." During the +action of the 16th, troops were throwing up intrenchments across the +island at about One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street. This was the first +and most southerly of the three lines constructed on the Heights. +Sauthier's map, the authority in the case, shows this line with a +battery across the King's Bridge Road, just at the top of what is +known as Breakneck Hill. It was on the slope of this hill that +Knowlton and Henley were buried. Mr. Lossing puts his grave in one of +the redoubts on the second line, afterwards included in Trinity +Cemetery; but that line had not been thrown up when Knowlton died. +(Silliman's letter of September 17th, <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> <a href="#Page_ii.55">Part II., page 55</a>.) Mr. Jay +and others have suggested the erection of a monument to Knowlton and +Leitch. No finer site could be found than the spot where they fell in +Morningside Park. +</p><p> +Respecting Major Henley, spoken of by Washington as "another of our +best officers," see Glover's letter, <a href="#NO35"><i>Document</i> 35</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> The position of the various works at Harlem Heights +appears on Sauthier's plan which seems to have accompanied Howe's +report of the capture of Fort Washington. Good copies of it may be +found in Stedman's history and in the <i>New York Revolutionary MS.</i>, +vol. i. In 1812, when Randall surveyed the island, many of these works +were still traceable. He gives parts of the second and third lines, +Fort Washington and the others above, all of which agree with +Sauthier's locations. Some of the works remain well preserved to-day.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> "Frog's Neck and Point is a kind of island; there are +two passages to the main which are fordable at low water, at both of +which we have thrown up works, which will give some annoyance should +they attempt to come off by either of these ways."—<i>Tilghman to +William Duer</i>, October 13th, 1776. <i>MS. Letter.</i> On hearing that they +had landed on the Neck, Duer replied from the Convention at Peekskill, +on the 15th: "There appears to me an actual fatality attending all +their measures. One would have naturally imagined from the Traitors +they have among them, who are capable of giving them the most minute +description of the Grounds in the county of Westchester, that they +would have landed much farther to the Eastward. Had they pushed their +imaginations to discover the worst place, they could not have +succeeded better than they have done."—<i>MS. Letter.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> The Convention's Committee on Correspondence consisted +of William Duer, R.R. Livingston, Egbert Benson, and two others. +Nearly all of Tilghman's letters to the committee have been published +either in Force or in the Proceedings of the N.Y. Provincial Congress. +Of Duer's replies, however, but few are in print, the originals being +in the possession of Oswald Tilghman, Esq., of Easton, Talbot County, +Md., to whom the writer is under obligations for the favor of quoting +the extracts given in the text. (See <a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCHES">biographical sketch</a> of Colonel +Tilghman.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> As evidence of the estimation in which Lee was held at +this time, Duer writes on the 15th to Colonel Harrison: "I beg my +affectionate compliments to Gen<sup>l</sup> Lee, whom I sincerely congratulate +on his arrival in camp—partly on account of himself as he will have +it in his [power] to reap a fresh Harvest of Laurels, and more on +account of his Country which looks to him as one of the brave +asserters of her dearest rights."—<i>MS. Letter.</i> +</p><p> +Lee had just returned from South Carolina, and was associated by the +army with the brave defence of Charleston harbor. The honor of that +affair, however, belonged entirely to Moultrie.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> In this skirmish Captain Evelyn, the British officer +who captured the patrol of American officers on Long Island, was +mortally wounded, and died soon after, much regretted. He is supposed +to have been buried in New York.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> Stirling, who with Sullivan had recently been exchanged +as prisoner, was now in command of Mifflin's brigade, Mifflin being +absent in Philadelphia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> See letters of these officers, <a href="#NO17"><i>Documents</i> 17</a>, <a href="#NO22">22</a>. Also +Tallmadge's account, <a href="#NO26"><i>Document</i> 26</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> "October 29th [28th] the British advanced in front of +our lines at White Plains about 10 o'clock <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> I had just arrived on +Chatterton Hill in order to throw up some works when they hove in +sight; as soon as they discovered us they commenced a severe cannonade +but without any effect of consequence. General McDougal about this +time arriving with his brigade from Burtis's and observing the British +to be crossing the Bronx below in large bodies in order to attack us, +our troops were posted to receive them in a very advantageous +position. The British in their advance were twice repulsed; at length, +however, their numbers were increased so that they were able to turn +our right flank. We lost many men, but from information afterwards +received there was reason to believe they lost many more than we. The +rail and stone fence behind which our troops were posted proved as +fatal to the British as the rail fence and grass hung on it did at +Charlestown the 17th of June 1775."—<i>Colonel Rufus Putnam</i>, <a href="#NO43"><i>Document</i> +43</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> Statement of his son, General James Watson Webb, of New +York.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> The details of the various movements in Westchester +County would fill a long and interesting chapter; but in the present +connection not more than an outline can be attempted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> Consult "<a href="#MAP05">Map of New York</a>," etc., <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> Read the letter Greene wrote to Knox on the following +day.—<a href="#NO36"><i>Document</i> 36</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> Testimony of Cornwallis before Parliamentary Committee +on Howe's case in 1779.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> Washington, who with his officers watched the fighting +from Fort Lee, sent over Captain Gooch to tell Magaw to maintain +himself until night, when an effort would be made to withdraw the +garrison to New Jersey. The captain reached the fort, delivered his +message, and, running through the fire of the enemy, got to his boat +again and recrossed in safety.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> Henshaw's +copy of return of prisoners.—<a href="#NO59"><i>Document No.</i> +59</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> Two weeks before the attack on the fort, Magaw's +adjutant, William Demont, deserted to the enemy. This fact has lately +been established by the recovery, by Mr. Edward F. de Lancey, of the +New York Historical Society, of Demont's own letter confessing the +desertion. It is dated London, January 16th, 1792, and is in part as +follows: +</p><p> +"On the 2d of Nov'r 1776 I Sacrificed all I was Worth in the World to +the Service of my King & Country and joined the then Lord Percy, +brought in with me the Plans of Fort Washington, by which Plans that +Fortress was taken by his Majesty's Troops the 16 instant, Together +with 2700 Prisoners and Stores & Ammunition to the amount of 1800 +Pound. At the same time, I may with Justice affirm, from my Knowledge +of the Works, I saved the Lives of many of His Majesty's +Subjects—these Sir are facts well-known to every General Officer +which was there." +</p><p> +Mr. De Lancey makes this letter the text of a detailed and highly +interesting account of the fall of Fort Washington (published in the +<i>Magazine of American History</i>, February, 1877), in which the new +theory is advanced that the disaster was due in the first instance to +Demont's treason. It is quite probable, as the deserter claimed, that +his information was of some use to the British general in making his +dispositions for the attack, but beyond this the incident could hardly +have affected the situation on either side. Up to the night preceding +the assault, Howe did not know whether the Americans would remain in +the fort or not. Indeed, he gave them the opportunity to evacuate it +by allowing a whole night to intervene between the summons to +surrender and the attack. He could not, therefore, have changed his +plans, as alleged, in the confident expectation of taking a large +garrison prisoners and sending home word of another great victory. +Fort Washington was simply in his way, and he would have moved against +it under any circumstances, regardless of Demont and his treachery.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> This is what Tilghman said upon the occasion: "The loss +of the post is nothing compared to the loss of men and arms, and the +damp it will strike upon the minds of many. We were in a fair way of +finishing the campaign with credit to ourselves and I think to the +disgrace of Mr. Howe, and had the General followed his own opinion the +garrison would have been withdrawn immediately upon the enemy's +falling down from Dobb's Ferry; but Gen'l Greene was positive that our +forces might at any time be drawn off under the guns of Fort Lee. +Fatal experience has evinced the contrary."—<i>Correspondence in +Proceedings of the N.Y. Provincial Congress</i>, vol. ii.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> After the battle of White Plains, Howe, we have seen, +moved against Fort Washington. On the other hand, Washington, +supposing that Howe would aim next for Philadelphia, prepared to cross +part of his force into Jersey and endeavor to protect that city. He +proposed to continue the policy of "wasting" the campaign. Heath was +left to look after the Highlands; Lee with another force remained at +Northcastle, and Connecticut troops were posted at Saw Pits and the +borders of that State. Washington took with him Putnam, Greene, +Stirling, and Mercer, with less than four thousand men, and fell back +before the British through Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton. He wrote +several times to Lee to join him, but Lee was full of excuses and +utterly failed Washington at this crisis. While marching in no haste +by a westerly route through Jersey, Lee was surprised at his quarters +at Baskingridge on the morning of December 13th, and made prisoner by +Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt and a party of dragoons. (The account of +the capture by Captain Bradford, Lee's aid, not heretofore published, +is given in <a href="#NO46"><i>Document</i> 46</a>. In Wilkinson's <i>Memoirs</i> there is another +account.) Sullivan then took command of Lee's troops and joined +Washington, who at Trenton had crossed to the Pennsylvania side of the +Delaware, removing all boats to delay the enemy, and had halted in +camp a few miles above.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> Order of march to Trenton.—<i>Drake's Life of Knox.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> <i>Stiles' MS. Diary.</i> Statement of Rhode Island officers +engaged at Princeton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> In connection with the battles of Trenton and +Princeton, read the interesting letters from Knox, Haslet, Rodney, and +Hull in <a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a> They have all appeared since our general accounts +were written.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> In another letter Walpole says: +</p><p> +"It is now the fashion to cry up the manœuvre of General Washington +in this action [Princeton] who has beaten two English regiments, too, +and obliged General Howe to contract his quarters—in short, the +campaign has by no means been wound up to content.... It has lost a +great deal of its florid complexion, and General Washington is allowed +by both sides not to be the worst General in the field." +</p><p> +Again, in a humorous vein: +</p><p> +"Caius Manlius Washingtonius Americanus, the dictator, has got +together a large army, larger than our ally, the Duke of Wirtemberg +was to have sold us; and General Howe, who has nothing but salt +provisions in our metropolis, New York, has not twenty thousand +pounds' worth of pickles, as he had at Boston."—<i>Walpole's Letters +and Correspondence. Cunningham.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> From the Clinton papers as published in E.M. +Ruttenber's <i>Obstructions to the Navigation of Hudson's River, etc. +Munsell, Albany</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> These orders are from the Order Book kept by Colonel +Moses Little, of Greene's brigade, while encamped on Long Island +during the months of May, June, July, and August, 1776, the original +being in the possession of Benjamin Hale, Esq., of Newburyport, Mass. +They cover the whole period of active operations there after the +arrival of the main army at New York. The book also contains +Washington's general orders from headquarters, New York, General +Sullivan's orders while in command on Long Island, Colonel Little's +regimental orders, and scattering orders from Generals Lee, Spencer, +Greene, and Nixon, in September and October, 1776. As all Washington's +orders are to be found in Force's Archives, a few only are inserted +here to preserve the connection. They are distinguished as "General +Orders." Sullivan's and the others are given separately.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> General Washington was absent at Philadelphia from May +21st to June 6th, leaving General Putnam in command at New York.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_231_231" id="Footnote_231_231"></a><a href="#FNanchor_231_231"><span class="label">[231]</span></a> The order breaks off at this point in Colonel Little's +book, but it is fortunately preserved entire in an orderly book kept +by Captain John Douglass, of Philadelphia. (Hist. Mag., vol. ii., p. +354.) The following order from General Lord Stirling also appears in +Captain Douglass's book: +</p><p class="right"> +[<span class="smcap">Long Island</span>] August 25<sup>th</sup> 1776. +</p><p> +"The Adjutants of each Corps of this Brigade are to attend Brigade +Major Livingston at Gen. Sullivan's Quarters every morning at 9 +o'clock to receive the orders of the day. The Weekly Returns are to be +brought in this day. Such regiments as have tents are to encamp within +the lines as soon as possible."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_232_232" id="Footnote_232_232"></a><a href="#FNanchor_232_232"><span class="label">[232]</span></a> The series of Washington's general orders in Force's +Archives does not contain this order of August 29th, which throws +light on the preparations made for the retreat. It is found, abridged, +in both Col. Little's and Capt. Douglass's order books; in Col. +Douglas's book it appears in the above form. Original in the +possession of Benjamin Douglas, Esq., Middletown, Conn.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_233_233" id="Footnote_233_233"></a><a href="#FNanchor_233_233"><span class="label">[233]</span></a> Harlem Heights, Sept. 16.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_234_234" id="Footnote_234_234"></a><a href="#FNanchor_234_234"><span class="label">[234]</span></a> At the time of writing this letter, Col. Douglas was +Major of Ward's regiment which enlisted for six weeks' service under +Lee, and which was stationed by him on Long Island. The fortification +they were soon to begin was Fort Stirling.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_235_235" id="Footnote_235_235"></a><a href="#FNanchor_235_235"><span class="label">[235]</span></a> Col. Hitchcock had been ordered to Burdett's Ferry, +opposite Fort Washington, on the Jersey side, but returned to Long +Island on the landing of the enemy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_236_236" id="Footnote_236_236"></a><a href="#FNanchor_236_236"><span class="label">[236]</span></a> Of Col. Samuel Selden's Conn. Regiment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_237_237" id="Footnote_237_237"></a><a href="#FNanchor_237_237"><span class="label">[237]</span></a> Aide-de-Camp to General Washington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_238_238" id="Footnote_238_238"></a><a href="#FNanchor_238_238"><span class="label">[238]</span></a> Col. Tyler, commanding the 10<sup>th</sup> Regiment of +Continentals (from Connecticut) was ordered under arrest by General +Washington for "cowardice and misbehaviour before the enemy on Sunday, +the 15<sup>th</sup> instant." The testimony at the preliminary trial brought +out some of the incidents of that day's confusion and panic.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_239_239" id="Footnote_239_239"></a><a href="#FNanchor_239_239"><span class="label">[239]</span></a> Maj. C.L. Baurmeister, of the Hessian Division.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_240_240" id="Footnote_240_240"></a><a href="#FNanchor_240_240"><span class="label">[240]</span></a> A part of this diary was published in the <i>Moravian</i>, +Bethlehem, Penn., in 1876, with notes prepared by Rev. A.A. Reinke, +present pastor of the Moravian congregation in New York. The extracts +for 1775 appear in print now for the first time, and, of the whole, +only those which bear upon public affairs are given here. In 1776, the +Moravian Church stood in Fair street (now Fulton), opposite the old +North Dutch Church on the corner of William street.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_241_241" id="Footnote_241_241"></a><a href="#FNanchor_241_241"><span class="label">[241]</span></a> Capt. Michael Cresap, of Maryland.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_242_242" id="Footnote_242_242"></a><a href="#FNanchor_242_242"><span class="label">[242]</span></a> Thomas Hickey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_243_243" id="Footnote_243_243"></a><a href="#FNanchor_243_243"><span class="label">[243]</span></a> Washington's Chief Engineer in 1776.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_244_244" id="Footnote_244_244"></a><a href="#FNanchor_244_244"><span class="label">[244]</span></a> Capt. Bradford, of Rhode Island, was Aide-de-Camp to +General Lee at the time of the latter's capture, and gave this account +of the affair to the Rev. Dr. Stiles, then at Dighton, R.I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_245_245" id="Footnote_245_245"></a><a href="#FNanchor_245_245"><span class="label">[245]</span></a> Gen. Wolcott, at this date, was a delegate in Congress +from Connecticut.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_246_246" id="Footnote_246_246"></a><a href="#FNanchor_246_246"><span class="label">[246]</span></a> Sipple afterwards joined the Delaware Regiment under +Col. David Hall, and is said to have proved a brave and faithful +soldier.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_247_247" id="Footnote_247_247"></a><a href="#FNanchor_247_247"><span class="label">[247]</span></a> Captain Rodney marched with a Delaware company to the +relief of Washington in the dark days of the campaign. Four other +companies from Philadelphia, joined with his, formed a battalion under +Captain Henry—Rodney being second in command. He was with +Cadwallader's force during the battle of Trenton; and his vivid +description of the storm that night, and the condition of the river +[<i>Force</i>, fifth series, vol. iii.], has frequently been quoted by +historical writers. His interesting account of subsequent events, as +given above, is now published for the first time. It has been made the +subject of a highly interesting paper prepared and read by Cæsar A. +Rodney, Esq., of Wilmington, before the Historical Societies of +Delaware and Pennsylvania.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_248_248" id="Footnote_248_248"></a><a href="#FNanchor_248_248"><span class="label">[248]</span></a> Of Colonel Huntington's regiment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_249_249" id="Footnote_249_249"></a><a href="#FNanchor_249_249"><span class="label">[249]</span></a> Of Colonel Miles' regiment. The journal, McPherson +says, was "wrote at John Lott's, Flatbush, L.I."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_250_250" id="Footnote_250_250"></a><a href="#FNanchor_250_250"><span class="label">[250]</span></a> Captain Randolph was a very brave officer from +Woodbridge, N.J., who, during the war, undertook several hazardous +scouting expeditions. He belonged to the Continental army, was five +times wounded, twice made a prisoner, and finally killed, in July, +1780, in a skirmish near Springfield, New Jersey. He was the officer +who captured the famous Colonel Billop. He appears to have been with +Colonel Heard, when the latter was sent to seize tories on Long +Island, in January, 1776; in which connection the following letter to +his wife will be of interest: +</p><p> +... When we Shall Return Home is unceartain we have Been Busy a +Hunting up and Disarming the Tories ever Since we Have Been Here. Have +collected upwards of two Hundred Muskits with ammunition &c. We was +two nights at Jamaica where I had to take Jonathan Rowland an own +uncle to Roberts wife. Likewise Sam<sup>l</sup> Doughty an acquaintance of +Roberts. Charles Jackson is well and Desires to Be Remembered to his +fammily and I Request of you to Show his wife this Letter. I Remain +yours &c., +</p><p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Nathl. Fitz Randolph.</span> +</p><p> +<span class="smcap">Hempstead</span>, Jan. 24th, 1776. +</p><p> +P.S. We proceed from Here to Oyster Bay.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_251_251" id="Footnote_251_251"></a><a href="#FNanchor_251_251"><span class="label">[251]</span></a> Captain James Morris was a Connecticut officer. He +first entered the service as ensign in Colonel Gay's Regiment, and was +engaged in the battle of Long Island. In the following year, as +lieutenant, he fought at the battle of Germantown, where he was taken +prisoner, and closely confined in Philadelphia until removed to Long +Island. When released, in 1781, he was detailed to Scammell's Light +Infantry Corps, and took part in the capture of Yorktown, Virginia. +One of his letters, written from Flatbush while prisoner, is as +follows: +</p><p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Flatbush, Long Island</span>, June 30, 1778. +</p><p> +Wednesday, the 17th inst., the American Prisoners of war left +Philadelphia. I embarked on board the Sloop Nancy, Capt. Hill. Sailed +as far as Billings Port; then went on board the Brig Minerva, Capt. +Smith, in order to sail for New York. After a passage of 12 days +arrived at New York, being the 28th inst. The 29th I was paroled upon +Long Island, and went to live at the House of Mr. John Lott. Our +treatment, both officers and soldiers, while on board the shipping, +was much better than I expected; our situation was as agreeable as +circumstances would admit. We had the liberty of any part of the ship, +and both officers and soldiers had a supply of provisions and a gill +of Rum per man per day.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_252_252" id="Footnote_252_252"></a><a href="#FNanchor_252_252"><span class="label">[252]</span></a> The left-hand column, naming the regiments, with the +rank and number of officers captured, is taken from the report of +Joseph Loring, the British Commissary of Prisoners.—<i>Force</i>, 5th +Series, vol i., p. 1258. The names added opposite have been collated +from official rolls, published and in manuscript, unless otherwise +stated in notes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_253_253" id="Footnote_253_253"></a><a href="#FNanchor_253_253"><span class="label">[253]</span></a> Reference has already been made to Gen. Woodhull and +Col. Johnston in the <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">chapter on "The Battle of Long Island."</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_254_254" id="Footnote_254_254"></a><a href="#FNanchor_254_254"><span class="label">[254]</span></a> [<i>Transcriber's Note:</i> see <a href="#Footnote_253_253">previous footnote</a>.]</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_255_255" id="Footnote_255_255"></a><a href="#FNanchor_255_255"><span class="label">[255]</span></a> Huntington's regiment appears to have had no major at +this date; certainly none was taken prisoner. In the return of +prisoners exchanged Dec. 9, 1776, there is this memorandum in regard +to Maj. Browne: "Taken on Long Island, not in arms. It is preposed +that he be exchanged for Major Wells, of Connecticut."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_256_256" id="Footnote_256_256"></a><a href="#FNanchor_256_256"><span class="label">[256]</span></a> There is a discrepancy here. The English give four +Captains, while Huntington's return gives six. So also in Lieutenants +and Ensigns.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_257_257" id="Footnote_257_257"></a><a href="#FNanchor_257_257"><span class="label">[257]</span></a> This name does not appear on any roll, but no doubt +Johnston was the Captain intended, no other having been taken +prisoner.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_258_258" id="Footnote_258_258"></a><a href="#FNanchor_258_258"><span class="label">[258]</span></a> Bowie was the only Maryland Captain taken, the rest +being accounted for. Possibly one of the Lieutenants—six having been +taken instead of five, as the English report—was rated by mistake as +a Captain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_259_259" id="Footnote_259_259"></a><a href="#FNanchor_259_259"><span class="label">[259]</span></a> There was but one Lieutenant taken in Lutz's Battalion. +See Rolls in <i>Force</i>, Returns of Col. Haller's regiment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_260_260" id="Footnote_260_260"></a><a href="#FNanchor_260_260"><span class="label">[260]</span></a> Lieuts. Van Wagenen and Gilliland did not belong to +Lasher's battalion, but were taken with Dunscomb, Troup, and Hoogland, +and probably rated with them.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_261_261" id="Footnote_261_261"></a><a href="#FNanchor_261_261"><span class="label">[261]</span></a> In Onderdonk's Revolutionary Incidents it is stated +that Coe was a Lieutenant of the troopers, and was taken the day after +the battle. The other Lieutenant was taken at the time of Gen. +Woodhull's capture, but his name does not appear.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_262_262" id="Footnote_262_262"></a><a href="#FNanchor_262_262"><span class="label">[262]</span></a> Callender is doubtless meant. He was rated as a +Lieutenant afterwards, and was confined in officers' quarters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_263_263" id="Footnote_263_263"></a><a href="#FNanchor_263_263"><span class="label">[263]</span></a> These were two Pennsylvania officers, and it is +supposed that they were serving as volunteers at the battle. Their +names appear in <i>Force</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_264_264" id="Footnote_264_264"></a><a href="#FNanchor_264_264"><span class="label">[264]</span></a> The returns of the losses in the Pennsylvania +regiments, as here given, are copied from the original manuscript +rolls in the public archives of that State. I am indebted to the Hon. +John A. Linn, Assistant Secretary of the Commonwealth, Harrisburg, not +only for the authenticated copies, but for several of the documents in +<a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a>, and for much other information respecting the troops from +Pennsylvania.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_265_265" id="Footnote_265_265"></a><a href="#FNanchor_265_265"><span class="label">[265]</span></a> One of these sergeants escaped, but the rolls do not +show which one.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Campaign of 1776 around New York +and Brooklyn, by Henry P. 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