CH. I.] THE BRITISH IN NEW YORK CITY. these the men with which I am to defend America!" Snapping his pistols at some of them, and drawing his sword in the bootless effort to check others, he became utterly regardless of his own safety, and was so near the enemy, only eighty paces distant, that he might easily have been made prisoner. One of his aides seized the reins of his horse and hurried him away from that point of imminent danger. Such moments as these reveal, in part, at least, the depth and vehemence of Washington's spirit when it was thoroughly roused.* Orders were given to evacuate the city of New York at once. The retreat was effected, not without loss and in great haste; all the heavy artillery, and a large portion of the baggage, provisions and military stores were unavoidably abandoned to the enemy. Had it not been for delays on the part of the British for refreshments at Murray Hill, the entire force of the Americans, under Putnam, would almost certainly have been cut off. Hence, there was as much truth as poetry in the remark of Colonel Grayson, that "Mrs. Murray saved the American army." The royal troops immediately entered the city, where they were warmly received by the Tories. The bitterest feelings existed between the two hos * General Greene, in writing to a friend, as quoted by Mr. Irving, says, "We made a miserable, disorderly retreat from New York, owing to the conduct of the militia, who ran at the appearance of the enemy's advanced guard. Fellows' and Parsons' brigades ran away from about fifty men, and left his Excellency on the ground, within eighty yards of the enemy, so vexed at the infamous conduct of his troops, that he sought death rather than life.” 437 tile parties, and it was fearfully exemplified by means of an accident that occurred a few nights after the occupation. This was a fire, which broke out in the dead of the very night when Hale reached New York, September 21st, and owing to the drought of the season and a strong south wind, increased with alarming rapidity. Upwards of a thousand buildings, Trinity church among the number,* were consumed, and but for the exertions of the soldiers and sailors, the whole city would probably have been destroyed. In the excited state of party feeling, it was said that the "Sons of Liberty" were the incendiaries, with a view to drive out the army, and several suspected persons were hurled into the blazing buildings by the British soldiers. It was with no little satisfaction that Washington beheld the good conduct of the very troops who had so scandalously abandoned the field at Kip's Bay; for, in a skirmish, on the 16th, the day after the British took possession of New York, a detachment, under the brave Colonel Knowlton, supported by troops under Major Leitch, met the enemy, repulsed them with spirit, and were with difficulty recalled from the pursuit. Unhappily, both Major Leitch and Colonel Knowlton were mortally wounded. Washington's praise of the latter was, that he was a man who "would have done honor to any country." The effect of this encounter with the British, was of the best description upon the whole army. * See Dr. Berrian's "History of Trinity Church," pp. 144, 5. Washington being strongly entrench- | clear and full terms, his letter concludes 1776. with these words: "There is no situation upon earth less enviable, or more distressing, than that person's, who is at the head of troops regardless of order and discipline, and unprovided with almost every necessary. In a word, the difficulties, which have forever sur ed at Harlem Heights, General Howe did not think it prudent to attack him, and remained inactive on the plains below more than three weeks.* Much Much sickness prevailed in the American camp; suitable hospital arrangements were entirely wanting, and the suffering soldiers were com-rounded me since I have been in the pelled to find such accommodation as service, and kept my mind constantly they could anywhere, in barns, or sta- upon the stretch; the wounds, which bles, or even by the road side. De- my feelings, as an officer, have received sertions were becoming frequent; and by a thousand things, that have hapthere was a general and scandalous ten- pened contrary to my expectations and dency to disobedience of orders, plun- wishes; the effect of my own conduct, dering, and various irregularities in the and present appearance of things, so camp. No wonder that the mind of little pleasing to myself, as to render it the commander-in-chief was filled with a matter of no surprise to me, if I should anxiety as to the future: the army, en- stand capitally censured by Congress; listed for one year, was now again on added to a consciousness of added to a consciousness of my inability the eve of its dissolution, and the exto govern an army composed of such perience of the past year had confirmed discordant parts, and under such a vaall Washington's fears as to the ruinous riety of intricate and perplexing cirpolicy of short enlistments, and of rely- cumstances;-induce not only a belief, ing on the militia to act against veteran but a thorough conviction in my mind, troops. that it will be impossible, unless there be a thorough change in our military system, for me to conduct matters in such a manner, as to give satisfaction to the public, which is all the recompense I aim at, or ever wished for." Borrowing "a few moments from the hours allotted to sleep," Washington, on the night of the 24th of September, addressed an energetic and admirable letter to the President of Congress, showing most conclusively, the inefficiency, insubordination, confusion, and harassing cares and vexations of the present system under which the army was organized. Pointing out the only effectual remedy, in * On the 19th of September, the brothers Howe issued a DECLARATION, addressed to the people. For this document, and the acute and spirited remarks of Judge Drayton, of South Carolina, upon it, we refer to the Appendix at the end of the present chapter. The expostulations of Washington were finally productive of the result which he so earnestly desired. It was determined that the army should be reorganized and placed on a permanent footing. Eighty-eight battalions were decreed to be furnished in quotas, by the different states, according to their abilities. The pay of the officers was * They were to be raised as follows: three in CH. I.] WASHINGTON RETREATS FROM YORK ISLAND. raised. The troops which engaged to serve throughout the war, were to receive a bounty of twenty dollars and a hundred acres of land, besides a yearly suit of clothes while in service. Those who enlisted for but three years, received no bounty in land. The bounty to officers was on a higher ratio.* The states were to send commissioners to the army, to arrange with the commander-in-chief, as to the appointment of officers in their quotas; but, as they might occasionally be slow in complying with this regulation, Washington was empowered to fill up vacancies. While engaged in the arduous duties of his post connected with the reorganization of the army, Washington was not unmindful of the powerful enemy who lay near his encampment. Greatly perplexed at the inactivity of Howe, whose troops were in a first rate condition, and well supplied with all that they needed, Washington looked anxiously to see what movements were being made against him. Howe had already determined upon a change of plans. He sent some ships of war up the Hudson, which, in spite of the American batteries, succeeded in forcing a passage, thus, to some extent, intercepting the communication, and preventing supplies from reaching Washington by 439 the river. Leaving behind him a force to cover New York, he transferred the rest of his army to Pell's Point, on Long Island Sound, and took up a position on the neighboring heights of New Rochelle. Hence, having received a strong reinforcement of Hessians and Waldeckers, under General Knyphausen, he threatened a movement in the rear of Washington, so as to cut him off from all communication either by land or water, or compel him to a general action. A council of war was now called, when, to defeat this plan, it was resolved to evacuate York Island, and advance into the interior. The question arose, whether a garrison should be left behind in Fort Washington, a measure which seemed of little use, inasmuch as the British had obtained the command of the river. Washington and Lee were opposed to this plan, but it was strenuously urged by Greene, who considered the fort to be sufficiently strong to resist an attack from the enemy. It was supposed, too, that the besieged would always be able to escape, if needful, by crossing the river; and a garrison of about three thousand men was accordingly left in the fort, under the command of Colonel Magaw. Congress expressed their opinion, likewise, "that Fort Washington should be retained as long as possible." Washington finding it necessary to retire before the enemy, did so in the best manner he was able; the great de ficiency, however, in every description and means of transportation, made it a very laborious and tedious operation. He gradually moved to White Plains, maintaining a line parallel to that in which the British army was marching, and separated from it by the river Bronx. On the 26th of October, the Americans encamped on the east side of the Bronx. A bend in the river covered their right flank, and Washington posted a body of about sixteen hundred men, under General M'Dougall, on Chatterton's hill, in a line with his right wing, but separated from it by the Bronx. Frequent skirmishes ensued, and though, on the whole, the British gained the advantage, yet it was of service to the Americans, who were thus becoming accustomed to face the enemy without apprehension. On the 28th, the British force came in view, and displayed itself on the sides of the hills in front of Washington's lines, and within two miles of his camp. Howe, having observed the detachment on Chatterton's Hill, ordered it to be dislodged, which was accomplished after a short but severe action, with about equal loss on either side. Washington certainly expected a general assault would now be made; but it was not attempted. Meanwhile, the commander-in-chief occupied the neighboring heights of North Castle, where, two or three days after, when Howe had received reinforcements, he seemed to be too strongly entrenched, to make it all safe to venture upon an assault. General Howe now made another change in his plans. Finding that Washington was too cautious to be drawn into a general engagement, the British commander withdrew his army towards the Hudson and Kingsbridge. Perceiving clearly, that the plan of the enemy would be, to invest Fort Wash ington, pass the Hudson, carry the war into New Jersey, and probably push for Philadelphia, Washington made his arrangements accordingly. Leaving General Lee at the head of about four thousand men, including the New England militia, whose term of enlistment was about to expire, he ordered all the forces west of the Hudson, to make a tedious circuit, and cross the river at King's Ferry, at the entrance of the Highlands, the enemy's ships occupying the lower part of the river. He next visited the strong posts in the Highlands, ordered fresh works to be thrown up, and crossing the river, joined his troops at Hackensack. Howe had already invested Fort Washington, and it was resolved to make the assault on the fort from four different points. The policy of maintaining this post had always seemed exceedingly doubtful to Washington; but it was now too late to evacuate it; the troops could not be got off in face of the enemy. Colonel Magaw had already been summoned to surrender, but replied, that it was his intention to defend the post to the uttermost. The evening before the attack, Washington was crossing the river to inspect the post, when he met Greene and Putnam coming over from it, who assured him, the men were in high spirits, and would make a good defence, which induced him to return with them to the camp. Greene sent over reinforcements, and early the next morning, November 16th, Colonel Magaw awaited the assault. The defence was sustained with bravery, the British having lost some four hundred men in gaining possession 1776. Ca. I.] THE LOSS OF FORT WASHINGTON. of the outworks. But when the enemy were within a hundred yards or so of the fort, into which the soldiers had crowded, Magaw could not prevail upon his men to man the lines; and hence the whole force, nearly three thousand in number, and all the artillery, were surrendered into the hands of the enemy. "Washington,"-to use Mr. Irving's words-"surrounded by several officers, had been an anxious spectator of the battle from the opposite side of the Hudson. Much of it was hidden from him by intervening hills and forests; but the roar of cannonry from the valley of Harlem River, the sharp and incessant reports of rifles, and the smoke rising above the tree-tops, told him of the spirit with which the assault was received at various points, and gave him for a time a hope that the defence might be successful. The action about the lines to the south, lay open to him, and could be distinctly seen through a telescope; and nothing encouraged him more, than the gallant style in which Cadwalader, with an inferior force, maintained his position. When he saw him, however, assailed in flank, the line broken, and his troops overpowered by numbers, retreating to the fort, he gave up the game as lost. The worst sight of all, was to behold his men cut down and bayoneted by the Hessians, while begging quarter. It is said so completely to have overcome him, that he wept with the tenderness of a child.'"* The surrender of Fort Washington rendered Fort Lee untenable. Wash * Irving's "Life of Washington, vol. ii., p. 423. VOL. 1-58. 441 ington accordingly directed it to be evacuated, and a removal of the stores to be immediately commenced. But before this could be effected, Lord Cornwallis landed on the Jersey side, six or seven miles above Fort Lee, with the purpose of enclosing the garrison between the Hudson and Hackensack Rivers. The retreat, consequently, had to be hastened, and the heavy cannon and military stores were left behind. Washington was quite aware that he could not dispute the passage of the river; he therefore only made a show of resistance, until his stores could be removed, and then, crossing the Passaic took post at Newark. There he remained several days, making the most urgent entreaties for reinforcements from any and every quarter, and particularly pressing upon General Lee, whom he had left with a strong force at North Castle, to join him at the earliest possible moment. It was a gloomy prospect which the commander-in-chief had before him at this date. With his army reduced to some three thousand men, who were dispirited and almost hopeless, badly furnished, with no means of entrenching themselves, without tents to shelter them from the approaching winter's snow and ice, and in the midst of a lukewarm if not hostile population, it required a power of endurance, such as few men possess, to bear up at all under such a pressure of adversity. The British army, more than twenty thou sand strong, composed of veteran troops, were in excellent condition, and confident of an easy victory over the frag |