USA > New York > The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New-York, v. 3 > Part 14
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Major-general Putnam was now directed to take command at Brooklyn, and passed over with six regiments. On the same day, Lieutenant-general de Heister landed with two bri- gades of Hessians. The next day he took post at Flatbush, and Lord Cornwallis, who had occupied this place, marched to Flatland.
The Hessians under General de Heister composed the cen- tre ; General Grant commanded the left wing, and General Clinton the right. The hostile armies were only separated by a range of hills. The centre of the enemy was not four miles from the lines at Brooklyn, while their right and left wings were not over five or six miles. Colonel Lutz, of the Pennsyl- vania militia, commanded on the coast road, and Colonel Wil- liams, from New England, on the road leading from Flatbush to Bedford.
About nine o'clock at night of the twenty-sixth of August, , General Clinton silently drew off the van of the British army, and marching through the country, seized a pass in the range of hills before mentioned, about three miles east of Bedford. This pass was unguarded, and it seems that he reached it with- out being discovered. They were immediately followed by a strong column under Lord Percy, who reached the same place on the morning of the twenty-seventh. Very early in the same morning, General Grant put the left wing in motion, and ad- vanced along the coast.
Brigadier-general Lord Sterling was directed by General Putnam to march with two regiments, and meet the enemy on the road leading from the Narrows. General Sullivan pro-
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ceeded with a large body of men on the road leading to Flat- bush, while another body occupied the heights between Flat- bush and Bedford.
About break of day Lord Sterling reached the summit of the hills, where he was joined by the troops which had already been engaged, and were retiring before the enemy. Here he endeavoured to make a stand. The enemy began a cannonade, which the Americans returned. This was kept up for some hours. The object of Grant seems, however, to have been merely to amuse them till Clinton should execute that part of the plan entrusted to him. .
Soon after day light, General de Heister commenced a can- monade on the troops under General Sullivan ; but did not move from his ground at Flatbush, until the right wing of the British army had approached the left and rear of the Americans. About half after eight the British right having reached Bed- ford in the rear of Sullivan's left, General de Heister ordered Colonel Donop's corps to advance to the attack, while he fol- lowed with the centre. The approach of Clinton was now dis- covered by the American left, which immediately endeavoured to regain the camp at Brooklyn ; but was met by the British, where a severe conflict ensued, in which the former were defeat- ed and driven back into the woods. In the mean time, Sullivan was obliged to fall back. The Americans were thus attacked in front and rear. A succession of skirmishes took place in the woods, in the course of which, considerable portions of the Americans forced their way through the enemy's ranks, and regained their camp at Brooklyn.
The loss of the Americans in this unfortunate action, includ- ing prisoners, exceeded three thousand men. Major-general Sullivan, and Brigadiers Lord Sterling and Woodhull, were made prisoners. The enemy admitted a loss of twenty-one officers, and three hundred and forty-six privates, but it was probably much greater.
The enemy, believing the Americans to be much stronger than they were in reality, made no immediate attempt upon their lines at Brooklyn. They eucamped in front of them, and on
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the twenty-eighth, at night, commenced throwing up works. The situation of the American army on Long Island, had now become extremely critical. Washington, therefore, determined to withdraw it, before the enemy should surround it. In pur- suance of this determination, he caused the troops to quit their works on the night of the twenty-eighth and the morning of the twenty-ninth, and brought them on to the continent. . This was done with so much secrecy, that the enemy had no intimation before daylight, when they discovered the rear guard in boats.
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Washington has been censured by some, for attempting to defend Long Island ; but those persons did not consider, that the city of New-York could not have resisted an hour, had the . heights at Brooklyn been left undefended. New- York, at . present could not hold out one day, were an enemy possessed of them. If, therefore, any error was committed, it was by those who advised him to defend the city.
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The first use made by Lord Howe, of the victory of the twenty-seventh of August, was to avail himself of the impression it had probably made on Congress, by opening a negociation. For this purpose, General Sullivan was sent on parol to Phila- delphia, with a verbal message, the import of which was, that ' though he could not at present treat with Congress as a poli- tical body ; yet he was very desirous of having a conference with some of their body, whom he would meet at any place they would appoint. That he, in conjunction with General Howe, had full powers to compromise the disputes between Great Britain and America, on terms advantageous to both. - That he wished a contract might be settled at this time, when no decisive blow was struck, and neither party could allege being compelled to enter into it.
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The answer given to Lord Howe, through General Sullivan, was, " that Congress being the representatives of the free and independent States of America, cannot, with propriety, send any of its members to confer with his lordship in their private characters ; but that they being desirous of establishing a peace on reasonable terms, would send a committee to learn whether he had authority to treat or not."
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Mr. John Adams, Mr. Edward Rutledge and Dr. Franklin . were appointed to receive the communications of Lord Howe. They waited on his lordship, and on their return, reported that he had received them on the eleventh of September, on Staten Island, with great politeness.
He opened the conversation by stating to them, that though he could not treat with them as a committee of Congress, yet . as his powers enabled him to confer and consult with any pri- vate gentleman on the means of restoring peace, he was glad of this opportunity, and that if they thought themselves at lib- . erty to enter into a conference he was ready. They observed to his lordship, that he might consider them in what light he pleased, and communicate any propositions he chose ; but that they could consider themselves in no other character, than that in which they were placed. That his lordship then entered into a discourse, which contained explicit propositions of peace, except one ; and that was, that the colonies should return to their allegiance and obedience to Great Britain. That they had signified to his lordship, that a return to the domination of Great Britain was not now to be expected.
These fruitless negociations produced no suspension of hos- tilities. The day after the Americans left Long Island, Gov- ernor's Island was also evacuated.
The British army on Long Island was posted at Bedford, Bushwick, Newtown, Flushing and Hell-gate, comprehending an extent of nine miles. The two armies were divided by East River, which is from twelve to eighteen hundred yards broad, and on both sides of which batteries were erected, which kept up an incessant fire.
Immediately after the battle of Brooklyn, the enemy made dispositions to attack the city of New- York. A part of the fleet sailed round Long Island, and appeared in the Sound near Hell-gate. Two frigates passed between Governor's Isl. and and Red Hook, up East River, and took shelter behind a small island from the American artillery ; while the Admiral, with the main body of the fleet, lay at anchor close in with
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Governor's Island, ready to pass up either East River or Hud- son's River, or both, as occasion might require.
. These movements indicated that the object of the enemy was not an immediate attack upon the city, but to land in West Chester, near Kingsbridge, and take a position which would' enable them to cut off the communication of the American army with the continent, and thereby compel it to surrender.
Washington, in order to guard against this, divided his army into three divisions, the first, consisting of five thousand meu, he stationed at the city of New-York ; the second, consisting of Dine thousand men, 'he stationed at Kingsbridge; while the third he disposed along the intermediate space, in such a man- ner that it could afford assistance to either or both of the others. Soon after this disposition of the army, the enemy began to make arrangements, as if to land at Montresor's island or Mor- . risania. The next morning, a part of their army, amounting to four thousand men, under General Clinton, landed at Kipp's Bay, about three miles above the city of New-York. The troops stationed here, although sheltered by works thrown up, fled with precipitation. Washington ordered the brigades of Generals Parsons and Fellows to march to their support, but the panic which had struck the fugitives, seized these brigades, ' and they also retreated. His only alternative now was to with- draw the few troops remaining, in the city, which he did with very little loss.
September 15, 1776 .- The enemy being now in possession of the city of New-York, stationed some troops in it, and took post with the main body of their army, near the American lines. Their right was at Horn's Hook, on the East River, and their left at Hudson's River, near Bloomingdale, while their centre occupied the middle of the island, which hereabouts is two miles broad. At this time the enemy may be said to have pos- sessed the southern part of the island, and the Americans the northern. The position of the latter was strong, and favoura- ble for a retreat, in case of any disaster or ulterior movement of the enemy rendering such a step necessary.
The day after the retreat from New-York, a detachment
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from the British army made a movement, and attacked a party , of Americans : a smart skirmish ensued, in which the enemy were compelled to retreat, with considerable loss. In this affair Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch fell, ou the side of the Americans.
. The armies did not long retain their positions on the island of New-York. General Howe, being sensible of the strength of the American camp, and remembering Bunker's Hill, had no inclination to force it. His plan was to compel Washington, either to abandon it or to fight him, in a situation in which a defeat must be attended with the destruction of his army. With this view he determined, after throwing up intrenchments on M.Gowan's bill, for the protection of New-York, to gain the rear of the American army, by the road leading to New Eng- land, along which their principal supplies came ; and also to possess himself of Hudson's River, above Kingsbridge. He, therefore, dispatched three frigates up the latter river, and then embarked a great part of his army on board of boats, and pro- ceeding up East River into the Sound, landed at Frog's Neck, about nine miles from Harlaem heights. Frog's Neck is com- pletely surrounded by the water, which, at flood tide, is unford- able ; so that it is, in fact, an island, communicating with the continent by bridges. These bridges were broken down by the Americans, and works were immediately thrown up to ob- struct the enemy's march into the country. Washington moved part of his forces from New-York island to Kingsbridge, while he sent others to oppose the enemy so soon as they should ad- vance from Frog's Neck. The country being intersected in every direction by stone fences, was well adapted for skirmish- ing and impeding the enemy's progress.
General Howe continued some days, quietly waiting for his artillery and reinforcements from Staten Island, which were de- tained by the winds.
On the sixteenth of October, Washington changed the posi- . tion of his army, by extending his left up Hudson's River, to- wards White Plains, and beyond the enemy's right. He was
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induced to this in order to keep up a communication with the country, and to prevent being inclosed by the enemy.
' In the mean time, the artillery and reinforcements having ar- rived, General Howe decamped, and marched through Pelham's manor towards New Rochelle. Several skirmishes were fought on this march, in which the Americans evinced great gallantry. New Rochelle is on the Sound. Washington now occupied the heights between that place and the Hudson. At this place, Howe was joined by General Knyphausen and his Germans, and some cavalry from Ireland. .
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Both armies now moved towards the White Plains, a strong piece of ground, where a large camp had been marked out, and was already occupied by a detachment of militia. The main body of the American army formed a line of intrenched camps, extending twelve or thirteen miles on the different heights, com- mencing at Valentine's Hill, near Kingsbridge, and ending at White Plains. This line of intrenched camps fronted the little river Bronx, and the British line of march. These camps were so situated, that the whole army could be assembled at any one point in a short time, should circumstances require.
While the enemy lay at New Rochelle, Major Green was de- tached by night with a corps to surprise a British regiment, `under Major Rogers, at Mamaroneck. This he executed, killing and taking about sixty men. Soon after Colonel Hand fell in with and defeated a regiment of Hessian chasseurs.
Washington was now encamped on the high and broken grounds, with his right flank covered by the Bronx, which meanders so that it also covered the front of his right wing, which extended along the road leading down on the east side of that river towards New Rochelle, as far as the brow of the hill, where his centre was posted. His left, which formed almost a right angle with his centre, and was nearly parallel to his right, extended along the hills northwardly, so as to retain possession of the commanding ground, and secure a retreat, should it be necessary.
On the right of the army, and on the west side of the Bronx,
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about one mile from the camp, on the road leading from the Hudson, was a hill occupied by General M.Dougal, with six- teen hundred men, mostly militia.
: The enemy, who had advanced from New Rochelle and Ma- maroneck, and were within seven or eight miles of White Plains, now made arrangements to attack the American army in its camp. Early in the morning, they advanced in two columns, the right was commanded by General Clinton, and the left by General Knyphausen, accompanied by General Howe in person. The patroles fell back, and their van appeared about ten o'clock in full view of the American lines. A cannonade was com- menced, without doing much execution on either side.
The right of the enemy was formed behind a rising ground, · about a mile in front of the camp, and stretched from the road leading from Mamaroneck towards the Bronx, so that it was opposed to the centre of the American army.
On viewing the situation of the American army, General Howe determined to possess himself of the hill occupied by the detachment under General M'Dougal, which he deemed as iin- portant to the success of an attack on its centre and right. He, therefore, ordered Colonel Rawle, with his brigade of Hessians, to cross the Bronx, and make a circuit, so as to gain a position, from which he might annoy the right flank of M.Dougal's de- tachment, while Brigadier-general Leslie, with the second bri- gade of British troops, and the Hessians, under Colonel Donop, should attack him in front. When Colonel Rawle had gained the position he had been ordered to take, Leslie and Donop crossed the Bronx, and commenced an attack on the front. The militia fled, but the New-York continentals, under Colonel Reitzimar, and the Marylanders, under Colonel Smallwood, advanced to meet them, and engaged them with great intre- pidity ; being, however, overpowered by numbers, they had soon to retreat. The enemy advanced with great resolution, and after some hard fighting, possessed himself of the hill. General Putnam, who had been ordered up with General Beal's brigade, did not arrive in time to afford support.
In this affair the loss on both sides was supposed to be nearly
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equal. That of the Americans was between three and four hundred.
Washington remained in his lines, expecting every mo- ment an attack, but as a considerable part of the day had been spent in taking possession of the hill occupied by M.Dougal, all attempts on his intrenchments were deferred until the next day. During the night he strengthened his works, and caused the sick and the baggage to be removed. He shifted his right wing by drawing it back to stronger ground.
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In the mean time, General Howe remained inactive until the thirty-first day of October, about which period he received a_ considerable reinforcement, commanded by Lord Percy, when he made dispositions for attacking the whole of the American army in its trenches.
Washington changed his position in the night, and fell back about five miles, where he took a new position on the heights of North Castle. At the same time he sent General Beal with his brigade to take possession of the bridge on Croton river, which lay a few miles in his rear. This position was so strong that General Howe did not consider it prudent to make any attempt upon it. He, therefore, changed his operations, and re- solved upon the reduction of Fort Washington, on the island of New-York, and Fort Lee, on the west side of Hudson's river. These posts, it will be seen, checked very essentially his movements. With a view of putting his resolution into effect, he directed General Knyphausen to cross the country. from New Rochelle, and take possession of Kingsbridge, where some Americans were stationed in Fort Independence. On his approach, the Americans retired to Fort Washington, and Knyphausen crossed over on to the island of New-York, and encamped to the north of the fort.
Meanwhile General Howe decamped and marched to Dobb's. Ferry, from whence he retired slowly down the Hudson to- wards Kingsbridge.
About this time, Washington directed that three thousand men should be stationed at Peekskill, and in the passes of the Highlands, in order that a communication might be kept up between the Eastern and Middle States.
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General Greene, who commanded in New-Jersey, on receiv -. ing intelligence of Howe's movements, directed his attention to the preservation of Fort Washington. He caused most of the stores, belonging to the army in this quarter, to be removed into the interior, so that they might not fall into the enemy's hands, in case he should succeed in his designs on Forts Wash- ington and Lee.
Measures were now taken to cross Hudson's River, with the troops which had been raised on its western side, while those levied on its eastern side remained where they then were, un- der General Lee. Washington accompanied those who pass- ed the river. General Lee, pursuant to the plan concerted, fell back behind Croton River, and took post on the command- ing grounds at Pinesbridge.
Washington having visited the posts about Peekskill, and :given the necessary directions for their defence, joined General Greene near Fort Lee.
Fort Washington was commanded by Colonel Magaw.
About the twelfth of November, General Howe encamped near Kingsbridge, on the heights of Fordham, with his right towards the north, and his left on the Bronx. Dispositions were immediately made for the reduction of Fort Washington. On the thirteenth, Colonel Magaw was summoned to surrender, on pain of the garrison being put to the sword, but he refused, replying, that he should defend the place to the last.
General Howe, on receiving this answer, determined to car- ry it by storm. On the sixteenth, at about ten o'clock, the enemy appeared, and moved on to the assault, in four separate divisions. Their first division consisting of five thousand men, composed of Hessians and Waldeckers, commanded by General Knyphausen, advanced on the north side of the works, where they were received by the troops under Colonel Rawlings .- The second, on the east, was led by General Matthews, sup- ported by Lord Cornwallis, who commanded a corps of reserve. The third was conducted by Colonel Stirling, and the fourth by Lord Percy, accompanied by General Howe, in person.
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Lord Percy, were made about the same instant on the quarters commanded 'by Colonels Rawlings and Cadwallader. The enemy carried the latter, after an obstinate resistance, but at the former, he was repulsed several times, with great loss-at length, however, he succeeded, and Colonel Rawlings retired into the fort.
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General Howe having carried the lines of the fort, and being possessed of the adjoining grounds, which gave him the com- mand of the works, again summoned Colonel Magaw to surren- der. While the capitulation was going on, Washington sent Colonel Magaw a billet, requesting him to hold out until the evening, when he would endeavour to bring off the garrison- but that officer had proceeded too far to retract, and it is pro- bable that the place could not have resisted an assault. Under these circumstances, the garrison, amounting to nearly three thousand men, surrendered prisoners of war. The loss of the enemy, in carrying the lines, amounted to two thousand men, and fell mostly on the Hessians and Waldeckers.
The surrender of Fort Washington was followed by an im- mediate evacuation of Fort Lee, and a removal of the stores into the interior of New-Jersey.
On the eighteenth of November, Lord Cornwallis, with six, thousand men, crossed the Hudson below Dobbs' Ferry, and landed in New-Jersey.
Washington retired, and took post on the west side of Hack- ensack river, but he soon found that it would be impossible to dispute its passage, before such superior forces. He, however, made exertions to impede the advance of the enemy. In the mean time, he sent directions to General Schuyler, who com- manded in the north, to send to his aid the troops of Pennsylva- nia and New-Jersey-he also sont directions to General Lee to cross the Hudson, and hold himself in readiness to join him, should the enemy continue the campaign. He ordered General Mercer, who commanded a part of the flying camp, stationed about Bergen, to come in. The American army, at this time, was diminishing very rapidly, in consequence of the expiration
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for the time for which the men had enlisted, and no hope re- mained of their enlisting again.
November the twenty-first, Washington, with Beals', Heards', and part of Irvings' brigades, fell behind Passaic river, and established his head-quarters at Newark. Soon after, General Vanghan appeared with a numerous detachment, before the new bridge over Hackensack, and forced the Ameri- cans, who had remained there for its defence, to retire. The bridge, however, was broken down. About the same time, General Mifilin was dispatched to Pennsylvania, to endeavour to call the militia out. Colonel Reid was sent to the governor of New-Jersey, to press upon him the necessity of making imme- diate exertions to prevent the whole state from being overrun.
Being unable to make head against the enemy, who were now gathering in great force along the Passaic, Washington decamped, and retired to Brunswick, a village on the west side of Rariton River. Here considerable numbers of his troops left him, being entitled to their discharge. Many of the militia from Pennsylvania deserted, and returned home. The Ameri- can ariny at this time was reduced to about four thousand men, and these were badly armed, fed, and clothed, and almost with- out tents. Every thing seemed to announce a speedy termina- tion of the war. The governor of New-Jersey was unable to furnish the aids required ; disaffection began to manifest itself; those who had been ardent supporters of American rights, be-, gan to show a coolness and indifference to the further prosecu- tion of the war.
The enemy still continuing to advance, and Washington, deeming it not safe to remain any longer at Brunswick, broke up his camp, and retired first to Princeton and then to Tren- ton, on Delaware river. At Princeton he left Lord Stirling, with. about twelve hundred men, who was to watch the move- ments of the enemy.
The army at Trenton did not exceed three thousand men. During these retrograde movements, the only cavalry belong- . ing to the army was a corps of badly mounted Connecticut
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