evacuated. the British campaign. risk an assault, and the army was removed to a more defensible 1776. position. The Canadians at this juncture receiving considerable re-enforcements, the Americans were compelled to relinquish Canada one post after another, and by the 18th of June they had evacuated Canada.1 Beside the relief of Quebec and the recovery of Canada, the Objects of British, in the projected campaign for this year, proposed two objects; one was, to make a strong impression on some of the southern colonies; the other, and the principal, was to take possession of New York. The execution of that part of the plan which respected the southern colonies, was committed to general Clinton and Sir Peter Parker; who, having formed a junction at Cape Fear, concluded to attempt the reduction of Charlestown. For that place they accordingly sailed, with 2800 land forces; and, crossing Charlestown bar on the 4th of June, anchored about three miles from Sullivan's Island. Every exertion had been previously made to put the colony, and especially its capital, in a posture of defence. Works had been erected on Sullivan's Island, which lies about six miles below Charlestown toward the sea, and so near the channel, as to be a convenient post for annoying ships when approaching the town. The militia of the country now repaired in great numbers to Charlestown; and at this critical juncture major general Lee, who had been appointed by congress to the immediate command of all the forces in the southern department, arrived with the regular troops of the northern colonies. On the 28th of June, Sir Peter Parker Attack of attacked the fort on Sullivan's Island, with two 50 gun ships, the British four frigates of 28 guns, the Sphynx of 20 guns, the Friendship van's armed vessel of 22 guns, and the Ranger sloop and Thunder Island. bomb, each of 8 guns. On the fort were mounted 26 cannon, with which the garrison, consisting of 375 regulars and a few militia, under the command of colonel Moultrie, made a most gallant defence. The attack commenced between ten and eleven in the morning, and was continued upward of ten hours. The flag staff of the fort being shot away very early in the action, sergeant Jasper leaped down upon the beach, took up the flag, and, regardless of the incessant firing of the shipping, mounted and placed it on the rampart. Three of the ships, advancing about twelve o'clock to attack the western wing of the fort, be 1 A small force, which arrived at Quebec in May, was followed by several British regiments, together with the Brunswick troops, in such a rapid successsion, that in a few weeks the whole were estimated at 13,000 men. 2 Garden's Anecdotes. Governor Rutledge presented sergeant Jasper with a sword, and offered him a commission; the first he gratefully accepted, but the last he modestly declined.-South Carolina had assumed a government of its own, and chosen John Rutledge its chief magistrate, under the title of Prestdent. on Sulli 1776. British repulsed. came entangled with a shoal; to which providential incident the preservation of the garrison is ascribed. At half past nine, the firing on both sides ceased; and soon after the ships slipped their cables. In this action, the deliberate and well directed fire of the garrison exceedingly shattered the ships; and the killed and wounded on board exceeded 200 men. The loss of the garrison was only 10 men killed and 22 wounded. Though many thousand shot were fired from the shipping, yet the works were but little damaged. The fort being built of palmetto, a tree indigenous to Carolina, of a remarkably spongy nature, the shot which struck it were merely buried in the wood, without shivering it. Hardly a hut or a tree on the island escaped. The thanks of congress were given to general Lee, and to colonels Thomson and Moultrie, for their good conduct on this Fort named memorable day; and the fort, in compliment to the commanding officer, was from that time called Fort Moultrie. Fort Mou!trie. April 14. Congress institutes a flying camp, and calls on the states for men. Lord Howe It had early occurred to general Washington, that the central situation of New York, with the numerous advantages attending the possession of that city, would render its reduction an object of the first importance to the British. Under this impression, before the enemy evacuated Boston he had detached general Lee from Cambridge, to put Long Island and New York into a posture of defence. Soon after the evacuation, he followed, and fixed his head quarters in New York, where the greater part of the troops rendezvoused. A part of the residue was left in Massachusetts; and about 2000 or 3000 were ordered to Canada. At the opening of the campaign, congress instituted a flying camp, to consist of an intermediate corps, between regular soldiers and militia; and called for 10,000 men from the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, to be in constant service to the first day of the ensuing December; and for 13,800 of the common militia from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The command of the British force, destined to operate against New York, was given to admiral lord Howe, and his brother, Sir William; who, in addition to their military powers, were appointed commissioners for restoring peace to the colonies. General Howe, after waiting two months at Halifax for his brother and the expected re-enforcements from England, sailed with the force which he had previously commanded in Boston; and, directing his course toward New York, arrived on the 25th of June off Sandy Hook. Admiral lord Howe, with part of the re-enforcement from England, arrived at Halifax soon after his brother's departure; and, without dropping anchor, followed and joined him on the 12th of July at Staten Island. General Clinton arrived there about the same time, with the troops brought back 1776. from the expedition of Charlestown, South Carolina; commodore Hotham also appeared there, with the re-enforcement under his escort; and in a short time the army amounted to about 24,000 men, English, Hessians, and Waldeckers.1 The royal commissioners, before they commenced military operations, attempted to effect a reunion between the colonies and Great Britain. Lord Howe announced his pacific powers Offer proto the principal magistrates of the several colonies. He promised posals of pardon to all who, in the late times, had deviated from their peace. allegiance, on condition of their speedily returning to their duty; and, in case of their compliance, encouraged their expectation of the future favour of their sovereign. In his declaration he observed, "that the commissioners were authorized in his majesty's name, to declare any province, colony, county, district, or town, to be at the peace of his majesty; and that due consideration should be had to the meritorious services of any, who should aid or assist in restoring the public tranquillity; that their dutiful representations should be received, pardons granted, and suitable encouragement to such as would promote the measures of legal government and peace, in pursuance of his majesty's most gracious purposes." The matter and the form of these pacificatory proposals were too exceptionable, to be for a moment seriously regarded. The British forces waited so long to receive accession from Halifax, South Carolina, Florida, the West Indies, and Europe, that the month of August was far advanced before they were in a condition to open the campaign. The first and second divisions of German troops, under general Heister, amounting to about 9000, arrived at New York on the 12th of August; and 100 of the English guards joined the army of general Howe. The British commanders, having resolved to make their first attempt on Long Island, landed their troops, estimated at about 24,000 Aug. 22. men, at Gravesend Bay, to the right of the Narrows. The Americans, to the amount of 15,000, under major general Sulli- at Long van,2 were posted on a peninsula between Mill Creek, a little above red Hook, and an elbow of East river, called Whaaleboght Bay. Here they had erected strong fortifications, which were separated from New York by East river, at the distance of a 1 Botta, b. 7. Several regiments of Hessian infantry were expected to arrive shortly, when the army would amount to the number of 35,000 warriors, of the best troops of Europe. Ib. 2 The part of the army stationed on Long Island, was originally commanded by major general Greene; but he, being taken extremely ill, was succeeded by major general Sullivan. This officer commanded all the troops without the lines; and major general Putnam took command at Brooklyn, the camp at that place being re-enforced with six regiments. British army lands Island. 1776. mile. A line of intrenchment from the Mill Creek enclosed a large space of ground, on which stood the American camp, near the village of Brooklyn. This line was secured by abbatis, and flanked by strong redoubts. The armies were separated by a range of hills, covered with a thick wood, which intersect the country from west to east, terminating on the east near Jamaica. Through these hills there were three roads; one near the Narrows, a second on the Flatbush road, and a third on the Bedford road; and these were the only passes from the south side of the hills to the American lines, excepting a road which led to Jamaica round the easterly end of the hills. General Putnam, agreeably to the instructions of general Washington, had detached a considerable part of his men to occupy the woody hills and passes; but in the performance of this service there appears to have been a deficiency either of skill or of vigilance. Aug. 27. and. When the whole British army was landed, the Hessians, under general Heister, composed the centre at Flatbush; major general Grant commanded the left wing, which extended to the coast; and the principal army, under the command of general Clinton, earl Percy, and lord Cornwallis, turned short to the right, and approached the opposite coast at Flatland. The position of the Americans having been reconnoitred, Sir William Howe, from the intelligence given him, determined to attempt to turn their left flank. The right wing of his army, consisting of a strong advanced corps, commanded by general Clinton and supported by the brigades under lord Percy, began at nine o'clock at night on the 26th of August to move from Flatland; and, passing through the New Lots, arrived on the road that crosses the hills from Bedford to Jamaica. Having taken a patrol, they seized the pass, without alarming the Americans. At half after eight in the morning, the British troops, having passed the heights and reached Bedford, began an attack on the left of the American army. In the centre, general De Heister, soon after day light, had begun to cannonade the troops, which occupied the direct road to Brooklyn, and which were commanded by general Sullivan in person. As soon as the firing toward Bedford was heard, De Heister advanced and attacked the centre of the Americans, who, after a warm engagement, were routed and driven into the woods. The firing toward Bedford giving them the alarming notice that the British had turned their left flank, and were getting completely into their rear, they endeavoured to escape to the camp. The sudden rout of this party enabled De Heister to detach a part of his force against those who were engaged near Bedford. There also the Americans were broken and driven into the woods; and the front of the British column, led by general Clinton, continuing to move forward, intercepted and engaged those whom De Heister had routed, and drove them 1776. back into the woods. There they again met the Hessians, who drove them back on the British. Thus alternately chased and intercepted, some forced their way through the enemy to the lines of Brooklyn; several saved themselves in the coverts of the woods; but a great part of the detachment was killed or taken. The left column,, led by general Grant, advancing from the Narrows along the coast, to divert the attention of the Americans from the principal attack on the right, had about midnight fallen in with lord Stirling's advanced guard, stationed at a strong pass, and compelled them to relinquish it. As they were slowly retiring, they were met on the summit of the hills about break of day by lord Stirling, who had been directed, with the two nearest regiments, to meet the British on the road leading from the Narrows. Lord Stirling having posted his men advantageously, a furious cannonade commenced on both sides, which continued several hours. The firing toward Brooklyn, where the fugitives were pursued by the British, giving notice to lord Stirling that the enemy had gained his rear, he instantly gave orders to retreat across a creek, near the Yellow Mills. The more effectually to secure the retreat of the main body of the detachment, he determined to attack in person a British corps under lord Cornwallis, stationed at a house somewhat above the place where he proposed crossing the creek. With about 400 men, drawn out of Smallwood's regiment for that purpose, he made a very spirited attack, and brought up this small corps several times to the charge, with confident expectation of dislodging lord Cornwallis from his post; but, the force in his front increasing, and general Grant now advancing on his rear, he was compelled to surrender himself and his brave men prisoners of war. This bold attempt, however, gave opportunity to a large part of the detachment to cross the creek, and effect an escape.1 The enemy encamped in front of the American lines; and on the succeeding night broke ground within 600 yards of a redoubt on the left. In this critical state of the American army on Long Island; in front a numerous and victorious enemy with a formidable train of artillery; the fleet indicating an intention to Aug. 30. force a passage into East river to make some attempt on New American York; the troops lying without shelter from heavy rains, fatigued army reand dispirited; it was determined to withdraw from the island; L. Island. 1 The loss of the British and Hessians is stated by American historians at about 450; Stedman says, "it did not exceed 300 in killed and wounded." The loss of the Americans was not admitted by general Washington to exceed 1000 men," but in this estimate he could only have included the regular troops." General Howe states the prisoners to have been 1097, among whom were major general Sullivan, and brigadiers lord Stirling and Woodhull. treat from |
