clear, would have seen what was going on, and been enabled to cut off the greater part of the rear. One of my soldiers being too feeble to carry his musket, which was too precious to be thrown away, I took it from him, and found myself able to carry it, together with my own fusee. On attaining the water, I found a boat prepared for my company, which immediately embarked, and taking the helm myself, I so luckily directed the prow, no object being discernible in the fog, that we touched near the centre of the city. It was between six and seven o'clock, perhaps later, when we landed at New York; and in less than an hour after, the fog having dispersed, the enemy was visible on the shore we had left."

CHAPTER VI.

Lord Howe meets a Committee of Congress, on Staten Island. -General Howe pushes his army to Hell-gate-Heath, and death of Henly-Hale is executed-Affair of Kipp's Bay—Difficulties of evacuating the city-Death of Leich and of KnowltonFire of 1776-Gen. Howe crosses to Frog's Point-White Plains -Fort Washington-Rawlins-Prisoners.

1776

GENERAL HOWE's object was to preserve the houses for his army, and to get between Washington and the main land. He pushed forward his forces to Hell-gate, occupying an extent of nine miles, and evidently intended to cross the East River or Sound, so as to enclose the Americans on the Island of Manhattan. To guard against these indications, the continental army was divided into three parts. Five thousand men remained in the town. A body supposed to be nine thousand were near Kingsbridge, and the remainder lined the shores opposite to the enemy. While these military movements were going on, Lord Howe, to take advantage of the recent victory, parolled General Sullivan, and attempted to negotiate with congress without acknowledging them as a political body. He, through Sullivan, expressed his desire to have a conference with some of the members, and offered to meet them where they should appoint. He said, that he and General Howe had powers to settle the dispute on terms advantageous to both the contending parties. That he wished the compromise to take place before either America or Great Britain could be said to be compelled to it. The answer returned 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 or not." Accordingly, Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge, passed over to Staten Island, from Perth Amboy; and, on their return, reported that Howe had received them politely, on the 11th of September; he observéd that he could not treat with them as a committee of congress; but was glad of the opportunity of a conference with them as private gentlemen. They answered, that he might consider them in what light he pleased, and make any propositions; but they could consider themselves in no other character than that in which they were announced. Howe's propositions amounted to the return of the colonies to their allegiance; and the com

mittee let him know that was not now to be expected, and so the fruitless conference ended.

Too much reliance had been placed upon a chevaux-de-frise, which General Putnam, in a letter to Gates, prides himself upon having invented; but which proved inefficient. General Greene pressed the evacuation of New York, and pointed out the ease with which the enemy could land on either side the island, and throw strong lines across, supported at each end by their ships this would divide the American army, and force those in the town to capitulate, or fight to great disadvantage with a very superiour adversary. Greene strenuously advised the destruction of the city. The spade had been liberally used. Fort George-the battery below and to the south of it; the wharves and streets had redoubts and breastworks; Bayard's mount was crowned by a fort, and called Bunker's Hill; Corlear's Hook was surrounded by batteries, and lines crossed the island at various distances. But Washington saw that the enemy could surround the town-their troops had possession of the islands—and their ships passed his batteries unharmed, on either side of the city. He had no confidence in his army, and little command over the best of his troops: reluctantly he agreed with his council of war, to abandon a place that had cost so much labour to strengthen for defence, and which he knew the congress and people expected him to hold. Still he hoped to make a stand on Manhattan Island, at Haerlem Heights, Fort Washington, and Kingsbridge. At the council, many thought the post should be retained; but Greene saw the danger of the attempt, or even of the measures resolved upon, of withdrawing a part of the army to the forts and lines at Kingsbridge; he urged an immediate retreat from the island, and burning the city and suburbs. However, against the destruction of the place congress had determined; and as it could not be defended by troops without discipline, and inferiour both in spirit and numbers, all Washington could do was to withdraw his forces and stores, with as much safety as circumstances permitted. About the middle of September, events occurred which convinced the general and all his officers that a speedy retreat from New York was necessary. The Connecticut militia he directed to be withdrawn, and stationed on the Sound, and opposite the enemy's force on Long Island. To remove the stores was an object of great consequence and difficulty, while an attack was momentarily expected. To secure an overflowing hospital, and give every convenience to a great number of sick, was another service that tasked this great man's care and humanity; and every moment the enemy were taking stations with the ships of war, or divisions of soldiers, that increased the difficulty of evacuating the city. On the 13th of September, four frigates had passed between Governour's Island (of which the

English had taken full possession) and Long Island, through Buttermilk Channel, and anchored opposite Stuyvesant's house, above the town. Other ships passed the city, up the North River, and were stationed at Bloomingdale. These last prevented the removal of stores, or the sick, by water. General Washington now shifted his head-quarters to Colonel Morris's house, at Haerlem Heights; and, on the 15th, the enemy attacked his redoubts at several points. The general finding that they were attempting to land at Kipp's Bay, where two brigades were posted, rode thither, and found his soldiers flying in every direction, even before a boat of the enemy had approached the shore. The English ships were covering the landing by cannonading. The appearance alone of an advance guard, caused the brigades of Fellows and Parsons (notwithstanding the efforts of the officers to keep them in their redoubts) to fly in the most scandalous confusion. About fifty men of the enemy were landed, and Washington was left by his countrymen, alone, exposed to their fire, and for a moment wishing for death rather than the power to witness such dastardly conduct. It is said, that he threatened the cowards with death by his pistols; but they feared the English more than their commander, who was in a manner forced from the spot by those around him. He soon recovered his equanimity-issued orders for covering the retreat, and securing the height of Haerlem; and the enemy gained a footing on the island without farther advantage than the capture of part of the baggage of the American army.

In the retreat from New York, it is said, that by some errour, Silliman's brigade remained too long in the city, and by the cowardly behaviour of the men at Kipp's Bay, was nearly cut off. Colonel Knox led them to the fort on Bunker's Hill, or Bayard's Mount, where they must have surrendered: but Burr, then an aid to Putnam, saw their situation, and marched them by cross roads, towards the west side of the island, and in safety they joined the main army. This Bunker's Hill fort was on a small cone-shaped mount, to the west of the junction of Mott and Grand streets, and could not have contained half a brigade. Major Burr, being familiar with the island, knew that by crossing the new road, now Broadway, about the site of the present Grand street, he could lead these lost men along the edge of a swamp, and to the woods which surrounded the house, formerly Washington's head-quarters; and that, by then taking the Greenwich road, he must avoid the enemy. The service was important, and reflected honour on Burr's military talents.

Colonel Knox and the men with him were strangers on this island; and finding that the enemy had possession of the Boston road, and, for any thing he could know, all that part of the island between them and the army, Knox seemed to have selected this

cone-shaped hill, with its redoubts, as a place for at least temporary defence. Bayard's Mount, or Bunker's Hill, looked down on the city, from which it was separated by the Kolch or fresh water pond.

At the time of which we speak, a few straggling houses marked the Bowery, or Boston road. The new road had been cut through the hills, and partially levelled. This extended to Sandy Hill, and is now a part of Broadway. A crooked cross road led from the new road to the Bowery, commencing from what is now the corner of Grand street. Between this crooked path and the Kolch, were the house and garden of Nicholas Bayard, with the hill called Bayard's Mount. To the north and east were orchards and woods. To the west, Mr. Knox could have seen only swamps and woods.

Before General Howe had crossed to Frog's Point, General Heath had command of the posts above and below Haerlem River. There is a small island near Hell-gate, which was, in 1776, called Montresor's Island. The British had possession of this place, and in an attempt to surprise their garrison, another gallant officer lost his life this was Major Thomas Henly. But he fell a volunteer in an expedition for his country's service, and instantly expired after receiving a shot, surrounded and lamented by his friends. Robert Smith, who was a captain in Malcom's regiment, commanded the third boat, and on their touching the island, they were received by vollies from about seventy Highlanders, drawn up on the bank, who had been aware of their approach through the firing of Heath's undisciplined sentinels.

Nathan Hale, a fine young man, voluntarily risked the chance of an inglorious death among his country's enemies, exposed to brutal taunts, and that, without the hope or promise of other reward than an approving conscience. This intelligent young man, late a student at Yale college, and now a captain in Knowlton's Rangers, being informed of the great lack of information respecting the enemy, after the retreat from Long Island, offered to go among them in disguise, and bring accurate statements to General Washington. All the world has heard of Major André. He has been sung by poets, and monuments have been raised to him. He fell into the snare he had contrived with a traitor for the destruction of thousands; but Captain Hale, who died, only lamenting that he had "but one life to sacrifice for his country," has, until recently, been unnoticed by history; and no stone tells where his bones were interred.

He passed in disguise through the English posts on Long Island, and had made such observations as an intelligent gentleman alone could make; but in attempting to return he was apprehended, and carried before General Howe. He acknowledged his object and rank, and was delivered over to the provost-marshal, Cunningham, for execution. This savage added all in his power to the bitterness