unperceived by the British, they all crossed over to New York in safety, carrying every thing with them but their heavy cannons. When the fog rolled away, and the sunlight burst upon Brooklyn and New York, the last boat-load of patriots had reached the city shore. Mifflin, with his Pennsylvania battalion, and the remains of two broken Maryland regiments, formed the covering party. Washington and his staff, who had been in the saddle all night, remained until the last company had embarked. Surely, if "the stars in their courses fought against Sisera," in the time of Deborah,' the wings of the Cherubim of Mercy and Hope were over the Americans on this occasion. Howe, who felt sure of his prey, was greatly mortified, and prepared to make an immediate attack upon New York, before the Americans should become reinforced, or should escape from it." Unfortunately for the cause of freedom, at that time, the troops under Washington lacked that unity of feeling and moral stamina, so necessary for the accomplishment of success in any struggle. Had patriotism prevailed in every heart in the American army, it might have maintained its position in the city, and kept the British at bay. But there were a great many of merely selfish men in the camp. Sectional differences weakened the bond of union, and immorality of every kind prevailed. There was also a general spirit of insubordination, and the disasters on Long Island disheartened the timid. Hundreds deserted the cause, and went home. Never, during the long struggle of after years, was the hopeful mind of Washington more clouded by doubts, than during the month of September, 1776. In the midst of the gloom and perplexity, he called a council of war [Sept. 12th], and it was determined to send the military stores to Dobbs' Ferry, a secure place twenty-two miles up the Hudson, and to retreat to and fortify Harlem Heights," near the upper end of York British of the movement. The negro fell into the hands of the Hessians. They could not understand a word of his language, and detained him until so late in the morning that his information was of no avail. Judges, chapter v., verse 20. 1 * He ordered several vessels of war to sail around Long Island, and come down the Sound to Flushing Bay, so as to cover the intended landing of the troops upon the main [page 258], in Westchester county. In the mean while, Howe made an overture for peace, supposing the late disaster would dispose the Americans to listen eagerly to almost any proposition for reconciliation. He parolled General Sullivan, and by him sent a verbal communication to Congress, suggesting a committee for conference. It was appointed, and consisted of Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. On the 11th of September, they met Lord Howe at the house of Captain Billop, on Staten Island, opposite Perth Amboy. The committee would treat only for independence, and the conference had no practical result, except to widen the breach. When Howe spoke patronizingly of protection for the Americans, Dr. Franklin told him courteously, that the Americans were not in need of British protection, for they were fully able to protect themselves. 4 The army, which at first consisted chiefly of New England people, had been reinforced by others from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, all of them jealous of their respective claims to precedence, and materially differing in their social habits. Cotemporary writers give a sad picture of the army at this time. Among many of the subordinate officers, greed usurped the place of patriotism. Officers were elected on condition the should throw their pay and rations into a joint stock for the benefit of a company; sur as sold recommendations for furloughs, for able-bodied men, at sixpence each; and a captain cashiered for stealing blankets from his soldiers. Men went out in squads to plunder from frd and foe, to the disgrace of the army. Its appointments, too, were in a wretched condition. The surgeons' department lacked instruments. According to a general return of fifteen renents, there were not more than sufficient instruments for one battalion. [See Washington's Letter to Congress, Sept. 24, 1776.] These extend from the plain on which the village of Harlem stands, about seven and a half Island. This was speedily accomplished; and when, on the 15th, a strong detachment of the British army crossed the East River from Long Island, and landed three miles above the town, at Kipps' Bay (now foot of Thirty-fourthstreet, East River), without much opposition, the greater portion of the Americans were busy in fortifying their new camp on Harlem Heights. 2 The invading Britons formed a line almost across the island to Bloomingdale, within two miles of the American intrenchments, just beyond the present Manhattanville, while the main army on Long Island was stationed at different ⚫points from Brooklyn to Flushing.' On.the 16th, detachments of the belligerents met on Harlem plains, and a severe skirmish ensued. The Americans were victorious, but their triumph cost the lives of two brave officers-Colonel Knowlton of Connecticut, and Major Leitch of Virginia. Yet the effect of the victory was inspiriting; and so faithfully did the patriots ply muscle and implement, that before Howe could make ready to attack them, they had constructed double lines of intrenchments, and were prepared to defy him. At once perceiving the inutility of attacking the Americans in front, he next endeavored to gain their rear. Leaving quite a strong force to keep possession of the city' [Sept. 20], he sent three armed vessels up the Hudson to cut off the communications of the Americans with New Jersey, while the great bulk of his army (now reinforced by an arrival of fresh troops from England) made their way [Oct. 12] to a point in Westchester county, beyond the Harlem River. When Washington perceived the designs of his enemy, he placed a garrison of almost three thousand men, under Colonel Magaw, in Fort Washington,' and withdrew the remainder of his army to a position on the Bronx River, in Westchester county, to oppose Howe, or retreat in safety to the Hudson Highlands, if necessary. He established his head-quarters at White Plains village, and there, on the 28th FORT WASHINGTON. 6 miles from the City Hall, New York to Two Hundred and Sixth-street, near King's Bridge, at the upper end of the island." Also called Manhattan. See note 1, page 48. 1 2 Some Connecticut troops, frightened by the number and martial appearance of the British, fled at their approach. Washington, then at Harlem, heard the cannonade, leaped into his saddle, and approached Kipp's Bay in time to meet the flying fugitives. Mortified by this exhibition of cowardice before the enemy, the commander-in-chief tried to rally them, and in that effort, he was so unmindful of himself, that he came near being captured. 3 Wishing to ascertain the exact condition of the British army, Washington engaged Captain Nathan Hale, of Knowlton's regiment, to secretly visit their camps on Long Island, and make observations. He was caught, taken to Howe's head-quarters, Turtle Bay, New York, and executed as a spy by the brutal provost-marshal, Cunningham. He was not allowed to have a Bible nor clergyman during his last hours, nor to send letters to his friends. His fate and Andre's [page 326] have been compared. For particulars of this affair, see Onderdonk's Revolutionary Incidents of Long Island, etc., and Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution. At one o'clock on the morning of the 21st, a fire broke out in a small groggery near the foot of Broad-street, and before it was extinguished, about five hundred buildings were destroyed. The British charged the fire upon the Americans. Although such incendiarism had been contemplated when the Americans found themselves compelled to evacuate the city, this was purely accidental. The whole British army now numbered about 35,000 men. 6 Throg's Neck, sixteen miles from the city. Fort Washington was erected early in 1776, upon the highest ground on York Island, ten miles from the city, between One Hundred and Eighty-first-street and One Hundred and Eightysixth-streets, and overlooking both the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. There were a few traces of its embankments yet visible so late as 1856. 8 Nominally, nineteen thousand men, but actually effective, not more than half that number. |