dispersing continentals, who hastened to regain | six several times to the charge, and nearly dis the camp, while there yet was time. It was, alas, lodging the British commander, who, but for the too late! As regiment after regiment emerged arrival of large reinforcements, would have been from the wood, they encountered the bayonets of driven from his station. This band of four hunthe British, and all retreat was cut off. Driven dred, composed, say the British accounts, of back into the forest, after desperate efforts to youths, the flower of the best families in Mary. cleave their way through the close ranks of the land, sustained severe loss. But the object was enemy, they were met by the Hessians, a part of attained, and the regiments, whose retreat it was whom were at the same time detached toward designed to favour, effected their escape over Bedford, in which quarter the cannon of Clinton marsh and creek, with the loss of a single man announced that he also was attacking the Ameri- drowned. In his official report, Lord Howe speaks can rear. The British pushed their line beyond of numbers who perished in crossing the inlet. the Flatbush road, and when our brave troops But this, I am convinced, is incorrect. The selffound their only outlet was through the enemy, devoted heroes of this exploit were surrounded, skirmish after skirmish ensued, in which they and made prisoners of war. displayed signal bravery. Many forced their way through the camp, some escaped into the woods, and many were slain. Colonel Parry was shot through the head, while encouraging his men.

We may readily conceive with what feelings. their brethren in the camp beheld the undeserved ill fortune of the troops engaged in the action. General Putnam, a warrior of the true stamp, conI leave the reader to imagine the disastrous strained to remain within the fortifications, and consequences of this surprise to the Americans, so little prepared for the events of the day, as to when, hemmed in by the surpassing numbers, and be only able, where the enemy appeared, to deco-operating wings of the British, they saw inev-tach troops to meet them, saw with dismay the itable death or capture, on every side. Here, striking again through the wood, and lured by an enticing path, which promised safety, they rushed from its shelter upon the drawn sabres of the enemy; there, retiring to its recesses before a superior force, they fell upon the levelled muskets of the Hessians; bullets and balls sought victims in every direction; and many a brave soldier sank to die beneath the tall forest tree, offering up with his parting breath, a prayer for his country, consecrated by his life-blood.

manœuvre which made them masters of the field. His efforts had all along been directed to General Grant's motions. For the defence in front, he relied on General Sullivan to provide, and great was his surprise, on seeing the enemy turn that officer's flank. As the engagement between Lord Stirling and General Grant grew warmer, his attention was attracted by the broadside which the British frigate Roebuck opened upon the Redhook battery in his rear. Too late aware of his mistake, he was compelled to await the issue.

Against the hottest of the enemy's fire, Gene- At this juncture, General Washington reached ral Sullivan, on the heights above Flatbush, made the lines, and beheld, with infinite grief, the dis a brave resistance for three hours. Here the comfiture of his beloved troops. Wringing his slaughter was thickest on the side of the assail-hands, he is said, when he saw no aid could reach ants. Fairly covered by the imperfect entrenchment, the Americans poured many a deadly volley upon the approaching foe. The old man, already mentioned, well remembers seeing a pit wherein large numbers of the Hessians, who fell here, were buried; and from another source, I learn, that, to stimulate the commander of these foreign mercenaries, he had been offered a golden substitute for every missing man.

them, to have given vent to the keenest anguish. From the height he stood upon, the movements of both parties were revealed to him. Here, was seen Lord Stirling, gallantly attacking Cornwal lis; there, a troop of Americans, escaping with thinned numbers through the British ranks, were pursued to the very entrenchments. By the creek, soldiers plunging into the unknown depths of its waters, or struggling through the miry bog, were fired upon by the foe; toward Flatbush, the Hes sians and British were combining to enfold, in a still narrower circle, the few and undaunted con tinentals.

Leaving Generals Clinton and Percy to intercept the Americans in this quarter, Lord Cornwallis proceeded toward the scene of General Grant's engagement with Lord Stirling. We left this gallant officer bravely opposing a superior Lest the foregoing imperfect description should force. He continued the resistance until eleven have left obscure some of the details of this af o'clock, when, hearing a sharp firing in the direc-fair, let me briefly recapitulate its successive dis tion of Brooklyn, it flashed upon him that the asters. I have supposed the reader to be, where British were getting between him and the Ameri- all would have chosen to stand on that occasion, can lines. Discovering the position of Lord Corn- on the American side. A glance at the motions wallis, he instantly saw, that unless they forded of the British, will show how admirably their ma the creek near the Yellow Mills, the troops under nœuvres were planned and executed. The suc him must all become prisoners. The reader will cess of the concerted movement was insured by see that he had some distance to gain, before this the unforeseen malady of General Greene. All could be effected. Hastening back, he found the the passes to Brooklyn were defended, save one; enemy much stronger than he anticipated; and, and it was by this that the troops, which decided that his main body might escape, he determined the fortunes of the day, and were the same we in person to attack Lord Cornwallis, who was left filing off from Flatland to New-Lots, on the posted at a house near the upper mill. This previous night, turned the American flank. The movement he performed with the utmost gallant-road from Jamaica to Bedford was left unprotect ry, leading half of Smallwood's regiment five or led; the enemy early ascertained this fact; and,

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o enable them to profit by our neglect, General Grant's advance, which was a diversion, had been devised. The fleet and General de Heister cooperated with him in this manœuvre. General Putnam, taking this feint for a bona fide attack, was deceived; and the Americans were entrapped by forces superior in discipline, in tactics, in numbers, in good fortune, but not in courage; for though eleven hundred were either killed or taken, near four thousand fought their way back to the

camp.

Nine thousand men, with all their stores and ammunitions, crossed the East river during the night, unperceived by the enemy. For four-andtwenty hours previous, the commander-in-chief had not left the saddle. The immediate embarcation of the troops was under the direction of General M'Dougall, to whose vigilant activity high praise is due.

Incurious popular opinion has admitted this to have been a shameful defeat. I trust that all who have watched the phases of the day, and the concurrence of good and evil fortune on the respect ive parts of the British and Americans, will acknowledge the injustice of this decision. One great advantage of the assailant lies in the choice of points for attack, presented by any extensive field. This was peculiarly the case in the battle of the twenty-seventh of August. The outer line of defence was disproportioned to the force employed; and the enemy's subsequent moves, compelling our army to retreat, proved the fortification within to have been planned on too small a scale for the defence of that part of the island.

To the absence of General Greene, who had studied, and would doubtless have guarded, all the approaches to the camp, and to the want of a general commanding officer throughout the day, may this disaster be attributed. General Putnam could not leave his lines, and the double care of & New York and Long Island devolved upon the commander-in-chief. General Woodhull, who had A been ordered to guard the road from Bedford to Jamaica, with the Long Island militia, remained at Jamaica. The neglect which lost us the day, cost him his life. Riding home, after disbanding the volunteers under his command, he was cap- It was no disgraceful rout. We have shown, tured by the British, and infamously cut to pieces, that the troops behaved with high spirit; and on his refusing to say, "God save the king." would that we might do justice to the distinImpartiality must award high praise, on this guished courage displayed by the bands under occasion, to the bravery of the enemy's troops, General Sullivan and Lord Stirling on this occawho followed so hotly in pursuit, that they were sion. In particular, may the attack of the latter with difficulty withheld from attacking the Amer-upon Lord Cornwallis, be singled out as a feat ican trenches. At night, the patriots within them told their missing brethren; and when their loss became known, and uncertainty veiled the fate of the absent ones, gloom and despondency pervaded the camp. The victorious British, on the contrary, hastened to secure the ground they had gained, and flushed with victory, passed the night in exultation.

of chivalrous gallantry; and the stand long maintained by the Marylanders, upon the hill, with flying colors, under the enemy's severest fire, be cited as examples of Spartan heroism. Some blame has been attached by Gordon to General Sullivan, for neglect of vigilance upon the unfortunate Jamaica road. This officer is defended by Judge Marshall, who observes, that the paucity of his troops, and the entire want of cavalry, forced him to rely upon General Woodhull for the defence of that

pass.

On the twenty-eighth, a violent rain kept the two armies in their respective encampments. That night, the enemy broke ground within about six hundred yards of Fort Greene, and on the fol- It may be asked, why a defeat has been selectlowing day were busily engaged in throwing up ed for my theme, in lieu of some one of the vicentrenchments. Their main force was advancing, tories of the revolution. I answer, that even a by slow but sure approaches, to besiege the Amer-reverse, when stamped by so much bravery, and ican fortifications, and their superior artillery incurred through such unforeseen ill-chance, is itwould doubtless soon silence our batteries. The self a high encomium upon the valor of our ancesadvanced sentinel of the British army was sur-tors. We have no stronger comment to offer prised, on the morning of the thirtieth, by the un-those who would stigmatize it, than our actual wonted stillness within the American lines. Cal- liberties. By falling, the infant learns to walk; ling a comrade or two around him, they proceeded by losses, the merchant learns to gain; by defeat, to reconnoitre. Emboldened by the silence, they and all history tends to prove it, an army is taught crept near the embankment, and cautiously peep-to conquer. Moreover, the reverses imbue us ing into our camp, perceived not a vestige of the with a saner spirit than the triumphs of the revoarmy to whose challenges they had listened the lution. They recall to mind the price of our libnight before. The alarm was given, and the party erty. If success flushes the brow of the victoriwho first rushed in, to take possession of the ous, and lends impetuosity to determination, deworks, saw in the midstream, out of gun-shot and feat still more powerfully operates to paralyze filled with well-pleased Americans, the last of the courage, and depression is its immediate, if not barges which had borne their comrades across lasting, result. It is, then, a manlier study, to the waters that night. Beyond it, in a small boat, mark the workings of the spirit which took breath there sat an American officer, of calm and digni- in discomfiture for renewed resistance at Harlem, fied mien. On his pale countenance the anxious where Leitch and Knowlton fell, and at White muscles were relaxing into a heavenly smile. Plains. Such a soul filled the breast of WashingThis bark bore Cæsar and his fortunes; and a ton. His glory lay more in retrieving the war's prayer seemed to escape the lips of Washington, losses, throughout the long struggle, than even in as a glance at the distant shore told him the the laurels of Princeton, and Trenton and York American army was beyond the reach of danger.

REVOLUTIONARY BATTLES ILLUSTRATED.
OPERATIONS IN NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE, AND PENNSYLVANIA.

At the time of the Declaration of Independence, | icans with so much activity, that the latter were July 4. 1776, Washington occupied the city of New compelled to evacuate the city about the 15th of SepYork and the western extremity of Long Island with seventeen thousand troops, principally raw recruits. On the 22d August, 24,000 British troops, under Lord Howe and his brother Sir William Howe, landed on Long Island near the Narrows, about nine miles from New York. On the 27th, a very hot battle was fought among the hills and woods on Long Island, in which the Americans were defeated. On the 29th, under the cover of the night, they joined the rest of the army in New York. The British now pressed the Amer

tember. Several hot skirmishes took place on the island, and a battle at White Plains occured on the 28th of October. The Americans withdrew as far as Peekskill on the Hudson, and crossed the river at that place early in November. Washington's design was to harass the British army under Cornwallis in New Jersey. Fort Washington surrendered to the British with about two thousand men on the 16th. Washington reached Hackensack, soon after, with about five thousand troops. Cornwallis, the British general, entered New Jersey, opposite Yonkers above Fort Lee, November 18th. The American

"December 27th, 1776. This Congress, having maturely considered the present crisis; and having perfect reliance on the wisdom, vigour, and uprightness of General Washington, do hereby

army passing through Paterson, reached Newark, large body of Hessians, who however resisted only Nov. 24th, and New Brunswick Dec. 1; the Brit- for a short time. Five hundred cavalry escaped; ish close in pursuit were at Amboy. Washington, but some fine cannon and about a thousand prisoners perceiving it to be the evident design of the enemy were taken by the Americans. Cornwallis, who lay to push on to Philadelphia, hastened on through a few miles off, thought so little of the American Princeton and reached Trenton Dec. 30. The Amer-"ragamuffins," at this time, that he mistook the noise ican force at this time was very inferiour, and alto- of the cannon at Trenton for thunder. In the night gether insufficient to make a stand against the ad- of the second of January '77, apprehending an atvancing enemy. The time the militia enlisted for was tack from the British, Washington started off for the short, and many of them went home. Whole compa- mountains of New Jersey. He reached Princeton nies deserted, and the army was soon so small that at daybreak, and fell upon the British there so sudWashington knew every man by name. They were denly and so fiercely, that sixty of them were killed, so nearly naked and ragged too, and looked so miser- and three hundred taken prisoners. Washington able that their own countrymen were almost ashamed soon reached Morristown, and there, as well as at to join them. The enemy pressed them so closely, Middlebrook or Boundbrook formed a camp. Here that large numbers went over to them, alleging that he commenced re-organizing his army for the cam"they might as well be ruined one way as another." paign of 77. Congress, notwithstanding the exThey crossed the Delaware, and week after week treme jealousy which had prevailed in relation to they were driven up and down its banks with scarce- the danger of a military ascendency, were conly a hope of relief. The bare and sore feet of the strained in the present alarming aspect of affairs, to infantry left the frozen ground bloody behind them. invest Washington with dictatorial powers. The The British cavalry traversed the country, with proceedings were as follows:their large, fine horses, and elegant uniforms. But the few horsemen of the American army, were mounted upon wretched, worn-out horses, so lean and frightful, as to be the constant theme of ridicule with the British soldiers. The whole were ridiculed as a company of "ragamuffins.” These were "the times that tried men's souls: " and the American people began to fear, that they would be crushed in their struggle for freedom. Many were entirely disheartened, and numbers basely deserted the cause of their country at this hour of need, and went over to the enemy. But the glorious Washington remained firm and undismayed. While other minds were shaken with doubt and fear, he remained steadfast and resolved. Looking deeply into the future, and placing his trust in Heaven, he seemed to penetrate the clouds that shed their gloom upon the land, and to see beyond them a brighter and a happier day. He always appeared before his soldiers with a smile, and fought or fasted with them, as necessity required. He inspired all around him with courage, and wrote many letters to Congress, to the governours of the states, to his generals and to his friends, entreating them to make great exertions to send him assistance. These appeals were not without effect. Philadelphia, in a very short time furnished him with a regiment of fifteen hundred noble fellows who were resolved to support him to the last.

"Resolve, That General Washington, shall be, and he is, hereby vested with full, ample, and complete powers to raise and collect together in the most speedy and effectual manner, from any or all of these United States, sixteen battalions of infantry, in addition to those already voted by Congress; to appoint officers for the said battalions of infantry; to raise, officer, and equip three thousand lighthorse, three regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers, and to establish their pay; to apply to any of the states for such aid of the militia as he shall judge necessary; to form such magazines of provisions, and in such places, as he shall think proper; to displace and appoint all officers under the rank of brigadier-general, and to fill up all vacancies in every other department in the American army; to take, wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the use of the army, if the inhabitants will not sell it, allowing a reasonable price for the same; to arrest and confine persons who refuse to take the continental currency, or are otherwise disaffected to the American cause; and return to the states, of which they are citizens, their names, and the nature of their offences, together with the witnesses to prove them.

The British now withdrew into winter quarters. "That the foregoing powers be vested in General They occupied the villages for many miles up and Washington, for aid during the term of six months down, on the eastern bank of the Delaware. Wash-from the date hereof, unless sooner determined by ington was below them, on the other side. But they Congress." were tired of pursuing him; and they believed that Although these powers constituted Washington, his army would soon dwindle away, and the whole in all respects a Dictator, according to the Roman country be conquered. They scarcely took the sense of that word, yet he never exercised them trouble to set guards at night. But Washington any farther than the exigency of the case demanded. watched them like a lynx. On the night of Decem- In consequence of the very great efforts that were ber 25th, he crossed the Delaware again, with a made by every friend of the American cause, militia large part of his army. The night was dark, stormy crowded from all parts to Washington's camp at and cold. The river was crowded with broken ice, | Middlebrook and Morristown. His army in the rushing together, and sweeping down upon its swift current. But notwithstanding these difficulties and dangers, the river was passed by the American troops, and they marched on to Trenton. They entered that place at eight in the morning, and met a

spring of '77 amounted to fifteen thousand men. He was so strongly intrenched among the hills, that the English dared not attack him. The following summer was spent in marching to and fro in New Jersey, without effecting much. But in July the British

mustered a force of sixteen thousand men, at New | sent down the river Delaware, near to the city. York. These left there, soon after, with a large They expected that these would explode, and among fleet. An attack was expected everywhere upon the the British shipping; they did, however, no damage, coast; but no one knew whither they were bound. but the British were very much alarmed, and acWashington moved his army towards Philadelphia. cordingly, fired cannon at every thing they saw The British fleet at last, entered Chesapeake Bay, floating in the river. This afforded the Americans and landed their men at Turkey Point. They left a fund of amusement. Francis Hopkinson, one of that place September 3d, and marching towards the signers of the Declaration, and a man of great Philadelphia, came up with a portion of Washing-wit, wrote the following humorous ballad upon the ton's army, at a place called Chad's Ford, on the subject:river Brandywine. On the 11th, they had a warm skirmish, and the Americans were driven back. Congress removed to Yorktown, Virginia; and Howe entered Philadelphia, in great triumph, September 26th.

The Americans were defeated again at Germantown, on the 4th of October. The battle began early in the morning, when nothing could be seen farther than thirty yards. During the whole action, which lasted nearly three hours, the firing on both sides was directed by the flash of each other's guns. The smoke of the cannon and musketry, mingled with the thick fog, rested over the armies in clouds. The Americans saved their artillery, even to a single cannon, which had been dismounted. General Greene displayed most remarkable coolness in this action.

About this time, a smart action was fought at Red Bank, on the Jersey side of the Delaware, seven miles below Philadelphia. The Americans had erected batteries here, and upon Mud Island, in the middle of the river. Nothing, therefore, belonging to the British, could pass up and down between their camp at Philadelphia, and their fleet in the river below. Two ranges of chevauxdefrise were placed in the channel. Howe sent down two thousand Germans, under Colonel Donop, to attack the Red Bank redoubt, which was defended by four hundred men. This number was so small, that half the redoubt was left vacant, and a line was drawn through the middle of it. The enemy came on very fiercely with a brisk cannonade; entered the empty part of the redoubt, and shouted for victory. But the garrison poured out such a tremendous fire, that the Germans, after a brief conflict fled, with the loss of four hundred men, and their brave commander Donop.

Washington retired into winter quarters at Valley Forge, sixteen miles from Philadelphia. His army might have been tracked by the blood of their feet, in marching without shoes or stockings, over the hard, frozen ground. Thousands of them had no blankets, and were obliged to spend the night in trying to get warm, instead of sleeping. They erected log huts for lodgings. For a fortnight they nearly starved-sometimes they were without bread and without meat. A person passing by the huts of these poor fellows in the evening, might have seen them through the crevices, stretching their cold hands over the fire, and a soldier occasionally coming in or going out, with nothing but a blanket on his shoulders. 'No pay, no clothes, no provisions, no rum," said they to each other. But to their praise be it spoken, they loved Washington and their country too well, to desert them in these trying

times.

66

During the winter, the Americans contrived some machines, which were filled with gunpowder, and

BATTLE OF THE KEGS.

Gallants, attend, and hear a friend
Trill forth harmonious ditty:
Strange things I'll tell, which late befell
In Philadelphia city.

"Twas early day, as poets say,
Just when the sun was rising,
A soldier stood on log of wood,
And saw a thing surprising.

As in a maze he stood to gaze,

The truth can't be denied sir,-
He spied a score of kegs, or more,
Come floating down the tide, sir.

A sailor too, in jerkin blue,

This strange appearance viewing,
First rubb'd his eyes, in great surprise,
Then said, "Some mischief's brewing.
"These kegs do hold the rebels bold,
Pack'd up like pickled herring;
And they're come down t' attack the town,
In this new way of ferrying."

The soldier flew, the sailor too,

And, scar'd almost to death, sir,
Wore out their shoes, to spread the news
And ran till out of breath, sir.

Now up and down, throughout the town,
Most frantick scenes were acted;
And some ran here, and others there,
Like men almost distracted.

Some fire cried, which some denied,

But said the earth had quaked;
And girls and boys, with hideous noise,
Ran through the streets half naked.
Sir William he, snug as a flea,

Lay all this time a snoring,
Nor thought of harm, as he lay warm,
The land of dreams exploring.

Now in a fright he starts upright,
Awaked by such a clatter:
He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries,
"Alas! what is the matter?"

At his bedside he then espied

Sir Erskine at command, sir;
Upon one foot he had one boot,
And the other in his hand, sir.
"Arise, arise!" Sir Erskine cries;
"The rebels-more's the pity-
Without a boat, are all afloat,

And ranged before the city.

"The motley crew, in vessels new,

With Satan for their guide, sir,
Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs,
Come driving down the tide, sir.
"Therefore prepare for bloody war-
These kegs must all be routed,
Or surely we despised shall be,
And British courage doubted."

The royal band now ready stand,
All ranged in dread array, sir,
With stomach stout, to see it out,
And make a bloody day, sir