USA > New York > Kings County > Revolutionary incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties; with an account of the Battle of Long Island and the British prisons and prison-ships at New York > Part 11
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Revolutionary incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties; with an account of the Battle of Long Island and the British prisons and prison-ships at New York > Part 11
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a few people from the Island. Left L. I. on Sunday to come to Con- gress, and was arrested when he got to McGowen's at Harlem.
[Parson Schoonmaker requested two Stillwells to leave Harlem and not act as witnesses, for which act of kindness the Colonel gave the Parson eight guineas .- Ed.]
799. Sam'l Hubbard, of Gravesend, was examined by Congress. He left home for Bedford, Aug. 22, and could not return because the British had landed. He removed Lt. Vanderbilt's wife and Ryerson's wife and daughter to Mr. Benson's. John Sickles says Parson Schoonmaker said Mr. Hubbard was a hearty friend to the American cause.
800. Mr. Abm. Van Ranst of Bushwick arrived Aug. 27, at Har- lem in a boat with his family, and says he understood that last night 1,500 men surrounded the house of Mr. Simon Duryea, a mile south of his house, and took away his arms, horses and wagon; that 2 companies of militia in the neighborhood of Bedford were disarmed and perhaps taken prisoners." Journal, 594.
801. Explanation of the operations of the two Armies, Aug. 22-29. See Map.
m. Denyse's large stone house, now Fort Hamilton, (where 'tis said were a cannon and body of men posted,) abreast of which lay the Rain- bow, so as to enfilade the road from N. Y.
n. N. Utrecht beach, where the British landed, Aug. 22 and 24, on the farms of Isaac Cortelyou and Adrian Van Brunt, which lay W. of the Bath House, i. e. between the Cortelyou road and the Bath road, anciently called De Bruyn road.
o. Schoomaker's Bridge, (still extant,) a very narrow passage where the army under Clinton might easily have been stopped.
p. A passage over the hill by which J. Howard led the British army or a detachment of it, about 2 o'clock A. M., Aug. 27.
q. The Jamaica Pass. The road in 1776 went around a large hill.
r. The Hunder-fly Road.
s. Baker's Tavern.
t. Bennett's Cove, where 'tis said, 3,000 British landed on the morn- ing of Aug. 27.
u. Martense's Lane, by which Stirling says the forces came, who were opposed to him.
v. Red Lion Tavern, as is supposed, mentioned by Stirling.
w. Stirling's force [on Wykoff's Hill ?] morning of Aug. 27.
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x. Grant's force, morning of Aug. 27.
y. The scene of Stirling's last encounter with the enemy, while his main body escaped over the Creek and Mill-dam.
N. B. The precise spots w, x, y, cannot now perhaps be identified. The hills remain, but all else is changed.
z. Cortelyou House, built of brick and stone, 1699, by N. Vechte, and still standing. Probably the scene of some fighting. One writer says " Cornwallis was posted in a house above where the crossing was to be made ;" and another says " the British had several field-pieces stationed by a brick house, and were pouring cannister and grape on the Ameri- cans crossing the creek."
1. British redoubt thrown up on the night of Aug. 28, on high land of George Debevoise.
2. Buttermilk Channel.
3. Stone (Dutch) church in the road, where 'tis said, Washington held his military council. It was the alarm post on the night of the retreat.
4. Brower's Mill. The side toward the Fort (l) was ripped off so as to expose it to the fire of the Fort, in case the enemy should occupy it. In the confusion of the retreat, 'tis said, Col. Ward set fire to this mill before the retreating Americans got over. Hence they were drowned in the mill-pond. There was then no road over the dam, only a foot path. The mill is still standing, the pond mostly filled up.
5. Flatbush Pass. A large old oak was felled as an abatis across the road, to cover the small redoubt of 3 six pounders.
6. Americans retreating across the mouth of the creek.
7. A 'party of Americans who covered the retreat of those who swam over the creek.
8. Port or Mill Road, by which De Heister may have descended.
9. Brooklyn Ferry.
10. Wallebocht.
11. East River.
12. Paulus Hook.
13. North River.
14. Gowanus Bay.
15. Yellow Hook.
16. The Narrows.
17. Road to the Narrows.
18. Road to New Lots.
19. Howard's Halfway House.
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N. B. The dotted lines indicate the supposed routes of the three divisions of the British army on the morning of Aug. 27.
802. Aug. 26. Gen. De Heister landed with the Hessians and proceeded to Flatbush, when Cornwallis moved off to Flatlands. Learning from the disaffected inhabitants that the Jamaica pass was unoccupied, Howe arranged his plan of attack.
1. Gen. Grant was to advance by the shore road [or Martense's lane,] towards Brooklyn, and make a feint in that direction. The ships were to bombard the Fort at Red Hook.
2. De Heister was to take up the attention of the Americans at Flatbush pass, till he should hear the British fire in their rear, when he was to push on in earnest.
3. The main body of the army was to draw off under cover of night towards Flatlands, and take a circuitous route through New Lots, and so surprise the Jamaica pass, and get in the rear of the American forces.
Accordingly at 9 A. M., Aug. 26 (some respectable farmers act- ing as guides), the van of the army under Clinton, the main body under Percy, and the reserve under Cornwallis, moved off by the road leading to Flatlands Neck, and came out at Schoonmaker's Bridge. There (E. of D. Rapalje's) they left the road, threw open the fence and crossed the fields towards Howard's, where they ar- rived 2 hours before day.
The American patroles were all seized and no alarm given. The Jamaica pass was secured. At daylight, the whole British army had passed through the woods and then halted to take refreshments.
While they are breakfasting, let us visit Grant near the shore. As he was advancing, his advance guard, about midnight, fell in with the American outposts, who were driven back on the main body under Stirling, who was now posted on a side hill [Wykoff's ?] that commanded the road, where an indecisive cannonade was kept up for several hours.
Let us now go to the Flatbush pass. According to the precon- certed plan, De Heister commenced a moderate cannonade on the American redoubt at daybreak.
Meantime, the main body having now finished their morning re- past, hastened on to Bedford, intercepting on the way small parties of Americans who were retreating from the woody heights on dis-
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covering the enemy in their rear. The moment De Heister heard the firing, he ordered Col. Donop to storm the redoubt, and fol- lowed on himself.
The Americans now essayed to retreat towards Brooklyn, but were forced back by Clinton, upon the Hessian bayonets, and in this way they were driven to and fro, till a few boldly cut their way through the enemy and escaped within the lines.
It was now 9 A. M., when Cornwallis fired 2 signal guns for Grant, and pushed on to cut off Stirling's rear. Stirling, seeing the day was lost, ordered the main body of his division to make their way into the lines as best they could across the meadows and creek at Gowanus, while he with a forlorn hope kept Cornwallis in check, till overpowering numbers in front and rear forced him to surrender.
It is supposed about 5,000 Americans were engaged in differ- ent parts of the battle-field, and twice that number of British, but it is all conjecture.
Hardly had the discomfited Americans escaped within the lines, when the King's forces pushed in hot pursuit nearly up to the trenches, regardless of shot from cannon and musketry. Howe, however, did not care to risk an assault. On the evening of the next day, the British had a redoubt thrown up E. of Fort Putnam, and were preparing to cannonade the American works.
The Americans were ordered not to quit the lines, but now and then a lawless rifleman would spring over the works and pick off a British scout. A constant skirmishing was kept up.
But the rain was so excessive-a fine penetrating drizzle-and no tents, the lines so extensive, and the men so few, that the troops were quite exhausted and dispirited. Aug. 29, a council of war was held, and it was decided to retreat. As it was all-important to keep this secret from the British, Washington gave out that he was going to attack the enemy in the rear, and wanted a great number of boats to transport a detachment up the East River and land on L. I., at Hellgate. Accordingly in the evening there was marching and counter-marching, 2 Reg's would march down to the Ferry and one up, 2 down and one up, till but one Reg. was left to embark.
The retreat was to commence with the militia at 8 o'clock, but the wind was N. E., and with difficulty a few passed over. A. 11, the wind chopped round S. W., and then the boats crossed rapidly.
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This was the critical moment for the British fleet (which had been kept down the Narrows 3 days by adverse wind) to sail up, fire on and sink the American boats, but their drowsy sentinels did not ob- serve the change. A fog also hung over the Brooklyn shore till a late hour next morning, and thus the entire American army of 9,000 men, with their prisoners, most of the wounded, baggage and mili- tary stores were saved.
Meanwhile the British reconnoitering parties drew nearer and nearer. As they were not annoyed by any firing, and stillness reigned along the lines, they suspected all was not right. By and by one more daring than the rest cautiously crept into the works, and seeing a perfect solitude, gave the alarm. The King's forces rushed in and hastened to the Ferry, regardless of the fire from the American battery at the ship yards, and the vessels in the stream. But they were too late! They fired indeed on a few straggling boats, and 'tis said, compelled one to return.
Intense must have been the anxiety of Washington. He says, he had no sleep, and indeed was scarce out of his saddle for two entire days.
It is said, that Mrs. John Rapelye, who lived at the Ferry, sus- pected what was going on, and sent her slave to inform the British general of the preparations for a retreat, by the American army. The negro was apprehended by a Hessian guard, and not being able to make himself understood, was detained under guard till morning, when he was escorted to Head Quarters, and delivered his message just in time to be too late.
PART II.
LETTERS RELATING TO THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 1
Lord Howe's Leller describing the Landing.
803. " Gen. Howe giving me notice of his intention to make a descent in Gravesend Bay, on L. I., on the morning of the 22d, the necessary disposition was made, and 75 flat-boats, with 11 batteaux and 2 galleys, built for the occasion, were prepared for that service. The command of the whole remained with Com. Hotham. The Capts. Parker, Wallace, and Dickson, in the Phenix, Rose, and Greyhound, with the Thunder and Carcass bombs, under the direc- tion of Col. James, were appointed to cover the landing. The flat boats, galleys, and 3 batteaux, manned from the ships of war, were formed into divisions commanded respectively by the Capts. Vande- put, Mason, Curtis, Caldwell, Phipps, Caulfield, Uppleby, and Dun- can, and Lt. Reeve of the Eagle. The rest of the batteaux, making a 10th division, manned from the transports, were under the conduct of Lt. Bristow, an assistant agent. Early in the morning of the 22d, the covering ships took their station in Gravesend Bay. The light infantry, with the reserve to be first landed, forming a corps together of 4000 men, entered the boats at Staten Island the same time. The transports in which the several brigades composing the 2d debarka- tion (about 5000 men) had been before embarked, were moved down and suitably arranged without the covering ships by 8 o'clock. The first debarkation not meeting with any opposition, the second suc- ceeded immediately after ; and the other transports, carrying the rest of the troops, following the former in proper succession. The whole force then destined for this service, consisting of about 15,000 men, was landed before noon. On the 25th an additional corps of Hessian troops under Gen. Heister, with their field artillery and
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BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND.
baggage, were conveyed to Gravesend Bay. Being informed next day by Gen. Howe of his intentions to advance with the army that night to the enemy's lines, and of his wishes that some diversion might be attempted by the ships on this side, I gave directions to Sir Peter Parker for proceeding higher up in the channel toward the town of New-York next morning. with the Asia, Renown, Preston, (Com. Hotham embarked in the Phenix, having been left to carry on the service in Gravesend Bay,) Roebuck, and Repulse, and to keep those ships in readiness for being employed as occasion might require ; but the wind veering to the northward soon after the break of day, the ships could not be moved up to the distance proposed : therefore when the troops under Gen. Grant, forming the left col- umn of the army, were seen to be engaged with the enemy in the morning, the Roebuck, Capt. Hammond, leading the detached squad- ron, was the only ship that could fetch high enough to the northward to exchange a few random shot with the battery on Red Hook ; and the ebb making strongly down the river soon after, I ordered the signal to be shown for the squadron to anchor."
" The Admiral directed Sir Geo. Collier to place the Rainbow at dawn of day in the Narrows abreast of a large stone building called Denyse's, [now Ft. Hamilton,] where he understood the rebels had can- non and a strong post, in which situation she would also be able to en- filade the road leading from N. Y., and prevent reinforcements being sent to the rebel outposts as well as to their troops who were stationed to oppose the landing." Journal of a British Officer.
Joseph Reed to Mrs. Reed.
804. Head Quarters, Aug. 24. Our troops have been skirmish- ing with the enemy on L. I. with various fortune, but we have g ?- nerally driven them back ; several were killed on both sides. Most of the Penn. troops are ordered over. The officers and men behave exceedingly well, and the whole army is in better spirits than I have known it at any time. The gallantry of the southern men has in- spired all others, so that there will be an emulation who shall be- have best. There is a wood between our works and the enemy's camp, of which each party is endeavoring to possess themselves. As yet we have kept it, and hope we shall, as it is very important. The enemy's ships are moving so much downwards, that we begin to think their grand attack will be on Long Island. Indeed, the city
7
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is now so strong, that in the present temper of our men, the enemy would lose half their army in attempting to take it. While I am writing there is a heavy firing and clouds of smoke rising from that wood. Gen. Putnam was made happy by obtaining leave to go over. The old man was quite miserable at being kept here.
805.
British Official Account of the Battle.
Camp at NEWTOWN, L. I., Sept. 3, 1776.
MY LORD :- On the 22d of last month, in the morning, the Brit- ish, with Col. Donop's corps of chasseurs and Hessian grenadiers, disembarked near Utrecht, on L. I., without opposition, the whole being landed, with 40 pieces of cannon, in two hours and a half, under the direction of Com. Hotham ; Lieut. Gen. Clinton command- ing the first division of the troops. The enemy had only small par- ties on the coast, who upon the approach of the boats, retired to the woody heights, commanding a principal pass on the road from Flat- bush to their works at Brooklyn. Lord Cornwallis was immediately detached to Flatbush with the reserve, two battalions of light in- fantry, and Col. Donop's corps, with six field-pieces, having orders not to risk an attack upon the pass, if he should find it occupied ; which proving to be the case, his lordship took post in the village, and the army extended from the ferry at the Narrows, through Utrecht and Gravesend, to the village of Flatland. On the 25th, Lt. Gen. De Heister, with two brigades of Hessians from Staten Island, joined the army, leaving one brigade of his troops, a detachment of the 14th regiment from Virginia, some convalescents and recruits, under the command of Lieut. Col. Dalrymple, for the security of that island. On the 26th, Lt. Gen. De Heister took post at Flat- bush ; and in the evening Lord Cornwallis with the British drew off to Flatland. About 9 o'clock the same night the van of the army, commanded by Lt. Gen. Clinton, (consisting of the light dragoons and brigade of light infantry, the reserve under the command of Lord Cornwallis, excepting the 42d regiment, which was posted to the left of the Hessians, the first brigade, and the 71st regiment,) with 14 field-pieces, began to move from Flatland across the country through the New Lots, to seize a pass in the heights extending from east to west along the middle of the island, and about three miles from Bed- ford on the road to Jamaica, in order to turn the enemy's left, posted at Flatbush. Aug. 27th. Gen. Clinton being arrived within half a
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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 fortified the pass, de- tached a battalion of light infantry to secure it, and advancing with his corps upon the first appearance of day, possessed himself of the heights, with such a disposition as must have secured success, had he found the enemy in force to oppose him. The main body of the army, consisting of the guards, 2d, 3d, and 5th brigades, with 10 field- pieces, led by Lord Percy, marched soon after Gen. Clinton, and halted an hour before day in his rear. This column (the country not admitting of two columns of march) was followed by the 49th regiment, with four medium 12 pounders ; and the baggage closed the rear, with separate guard. As soon as these corps had passed the heights, they halted for the soldiers to take a little refreshment, after which the march was continued ; and about half an hour past 8 o'clock, having got to Bedford. in the rear of the enemy's left, the attack was commenced by the light infantry and light dragoons upon large bodies of the rebels, having cannon, who were quitting the woody heights before mentioned to return to their lines upon discov- ering the march of the army, instead of which they were drove back, and the army still moving on to gain the enemy's rear, the grena- diers and 33d regiment, being in front of the column, soon approached within musket shot of the enemy's lines at Brooklyn, from whence these battalions, without regarding the fire of cannon and small-arms upon them, pursued numbers of the rebels that were retiring from the heights, so close to their principal redoubt, and with such eager- ness to attack it by storm, that it required repeated orders to prevail upon them to desist from the attempt : had they been permitted to go on, it is my opinion they would have carried the redoubt ; but as it was apparent that the lines must have been ours at a very cheap rate by regular approaches, I would not risk the loss that might have been sustained in the assault, and ordered them back to a hollow way in the front of the works, out of the reach of musketry. Lt. Gen. De Heister began soon after daybreak to cannonade the enemy in the front, and upon the approach of our right, ordered Col. Donop's corps to advance to the attack of the hill, following himself at the kead of the brigades. The light infantry about that time, having been rein-
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forced by the light company, the grenadier company, and two other companies of the guards, who joined them with the greatest activity and spirit, had taken three pieces of cannon, and were warmly en- gaged with very superior numbers in the woods, when, on the Hes- sians advancing, the enemy gave way, and was entirely routed in that quarter. On the left, Maj. Gen. Grant, having the 4th and 6th brigades, the 42d regiment, and two companies of New-York Provin- cials, raised by Gov. Tryon in the spring, advanced along the coast. with 10 pieces of cannon, to divert the enemy's attention from their left. About midnight he fell in with their advanced parties, and at daybreak with a large corps having cannon, and advantageously posted, with whom there was skirmishing and a cannonade for some hours, until, by the firing at Brooklyn, the rebels suspecting their retreat would be cut off, made a movement to the right in order to secure it across a swamp and creek that covered the right of their works; but being met in their way by a part of the 2d grenadiers, who were soon after supported by the 71st regiment, and Gen. Grant's left coming up, they suffered considerably : numbers of them, however, did get into the morass, where many were suffocated or drowned. The force of the enemy detached from the lines where Gen. Putnam commanded was not less, from the best accounts I have had, than 14,000 men, who were under the orders of Maj. Gen. Sullivan, Brig. Gens. Lord Stirling and Woodhull. Their loss is computed to be about 3,300 killed, wounded, prisoners, and drowned, with five field-pieces and one howitzer taken. A return of the prisoners is inclosed. On the part of the King's troops, 5 officers and 56 non-commissioned officers, and rank and file killed; 12 offi- cers, and 245 non-commissioned officers and rank and file wounded : one officer and 20 grenadiers of the marines taken, by mistaking the enemy for the Hessians. The Hessians had two privates killed, three officers and 23 rank and file wounded. The wounds are in general very slight. Lt. Col. Monckton is shot through the body, but there are the greatest hopes of his recovery. The behavior of both officers and soldiers, British and Hessians, was highly to their honor. More determined courage and steadiness in troops have never been experienced, or a greater ardor to distinguish themselves, as all those who had an opportunity have amply evinced by their actions. In the evening of the 27th, the army encamped in front of the ene-
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my's works. On the 28th, at night, broke ground 600 yards distant from a redoubt on their left ; and on the 29th, at night, the rebels evacuated their intrenchments and Red Hook with the utmost silence, and quitted Governor's Island the following evening, leaving their cannon and a quantity of stores in all their works. At daybreak on the 30th their flight was discovered, the pickets of the line took possession, and those most advanced reached the shore opposite to New-York as their rear guard was going over, and fired some shot among them. The enemy is still in possession of the town and island of New-York, in force, and making demonstration of opposing us in their works on both sides of Kingsbridge. The inhabitants of this island, many of whom had been forced into rebellion, have all submitted, and are ready to take the oath of allegiance. This dis- patch will be delivered to your lordship by Major Cuyler, my first aid-de-camp, who I trust will be able to give your lordship such fur- ther information as may be required.
I have the honor to be, &c., WILL. HOWE.
To LORD GEO. GERMAINE.
P. S. I have omitted to take notice, in its proper place, of a movement made by the King's ships towards the town, on the 27th at daybreak, with a view of drawing off the attention of the enemy from our real design, which, I believe, effectually answered the intended purpose.
About Aug. 22, we embarked in boats for L. I., and landed without opposition in Gravesend Bay, marched 6 miles inland and halted till 26th, a large body of the Americans near us keeping up a firing from behind walls and trees. About 4 P. M., Aug. 26, struck tents and lay on our arms during the night about 3 miles from Bedford ; and though it was summer, it was the coldest night I have experienced up to Nov. 25. At daybreak, Aug. 27, the light infantry attacked and forced sev- eral small posts which the Americans had on the road leading to their lines at Bedford. This appeared to be the first notice they had of our being near them. About 9 we fired two signal guns to a part of the army under Gen. Grant, who was to make a feint in the front of the Americans, while we got round to their rear, and immediately marched briskly up to them, when, almost without firing a shot, they abandoned their post and retreated to their lines under cover of their guns. Our men were most eager to attack them in their lines, but were ordered to
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retreat out of reach of their guns, and lay from about 4 P M. till very near dark at the entrance of a small wood exposed to the fire of their riflemen. During the whole evening they hit but one man, though their balls continually whistled over our heads and lodged in the trees above us. Their loss is acknowledged by them to have been 2600 ; ours 300 killed and wounded. Lord Harris.
From an Officer in Gen. Frazer's Bat., 71st Regt.
" The Hessians and our brave Highlanders gave no quarters ; and it was a fine sight to see with what alacrity they dispatched the rebels with their bayonets, after we had surrounded them so they could not re- sist. We took care to tell the Hessians that the rebels had resolved to give no quarter-to them in particular,-which made them fight des- perately, and put to death all that came into their hands."
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