tions of the American General. But before his judg ment, in this instance, is condemned, the reasons which led to it ought to be weighed. Its possession was highly important to cither army; its situation rendered its defence, in a good degree, probable; the range of hills was favourable to the obstruction of an invading enemy; and a fortified camp in the rear opening a communication with the city, and supported by batteries on Governour's Island and the East river, rendered a retreat practicable, when circumstances should make it necessary. There was then a fair prospect of defending the island; at least of detaining the enemy so long in the effort to gain possession of it, as to waste the campaign in the contention. The disastrous consequences of this measure, are not to be attributed to any defect in the original plan, but to the neglect of the commanding officer on the island in guarding the pass on the road from Jamaica to Bedford. Unfortu nately this officer was changed at the time, when hostilities were about to commence; and the General, who directed the disposition of the troops on the day of the action, was imperfectly acquainted with the passes in the mountains. General WASHINGTON, by written instructions, directed this officer "Particularly to guard the defiles in the woods, and to render the approach of the enemy through them as difficult as possible." This order was not fully executed. It appears, that General Sullivan was not apprized of the march of the British detachment from Flatbush to Flatland, on the evening of the 26th, and a guard on the Jamaica road did not seasonably discover the approach of the enemy to give information. General Howe, in his official letter, mentioned, that an American patroling party was taken on this road; and General WASHINGTON in a letter to a friend wrote, "This misfortune happened in a great measure, by two detachments of our people, who were posted in two roads leading through a wood to inte.cept the enemy in their

march, suffering a surprise, and making a precipitate retreat."

It should also be recollected, that the plans of the Commander in Chief, were laid in the expectation of a much larger force, than in the event he realized. The regiments were not complete; and he was absɔlutely destitute of cavalry. There was not a single company of horse on Long Island to watch the motions of the enemy, and give information of their This furnishes some apology for the ignorance of the commanding officer on Long Island, respecting the manœuvre of the enemy.

movements.

The defeat of the 27th made a most unfavourable impression upon the army. A great proportion of the troops lost their confidence in their officers, and in themselves. Before this unfortunate event, they met the enemy in the spirit of freemen, fighting for their highest interests, and under the persuasion, that their thorough use of arms, rendered them equal to the disciplined battalions which they were to oppose. But, on this occasion, by evolutions, which they did not comprehend, they found themselves encompassed with difficulties, from which their utmost exertions could not extricate, and involved in dangers, from which their bravery could not deliver them; and entertaining a high opinion of the adroitness of the enemy, in every movement, they apprehended a fatal snare.

"Our

These melancholy facts were thus narrated by Gene ral WASHINGTON, in his letter to Congress. situation is truly distressing. The check our detachment sustained on the 27th ultimo, has dispirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled their minds with apprehension and despair. The militia, instead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition, in order to repair our losses, are dis mayed, intractable, and impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off-in some instances, almost by whole regiments by haif ones, and by com

panies at a time. This circumstance, of itself, inde pendent of others, when fronted by a well appointed enemy, superiour in number to our whole collected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable: but when their example has infected another part of the army; when their want of discipline, and refusal of almost every kind of restraint and government, have produced a like conduct, but too common to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order and subordination necessary to the well doing of an army, and which had been inculcated before, as well as the nature of our military establishment would admit of, our condition is still more alarming; and with the deepest concern I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops."

The British General being in possession of Long Island, prepared to attack New-York. The body of the fleet lay at anchor near Governour's Island; but particular ships passed up the East river, without sustaining injury from the American batteries; others, sailing round Long Island into the Sound, passed up to the higher part of York Island. By these movements, the situation of the American army became critical. It was uncertain whether the attack would be made upon the lines, or whether General Howe would land his troops above King's bridge, and enclose the Americans. To guard against the danger which threatened him, the Commander in Chief ordered the stores, that were not of present necessity, to be removed above King's bridge, and assembled a Council to determine upon the expediency SEPT. 7. of retreating from the city. The majority of his general officers voted against the imme diate evacuation of New-York. The plan recommend. ed was to station the army in the best manner, to de fend the points menaced with attack, that the enemy might waste the residue of the season in the struggle to possess York Island. The belief that Congress de

sized that New-York should be maintained to extremity, probably had influence on this Council. In communicating the adopted plan to that body, General WASHINGTON clearly indicated an opinion, that an immediate evacuation of New-York was expedient. Speaking of the enemy, he observed,

"It is now extremely obyious, from all intelligence, from their movements, and every other circumstance, that having landed their whole army on Long Island, (except about four thousand on Staten Island) they mean to enclose us on the Island of New-York, by taking post in our rear, while the shipping effectually secure the front; and thus, either by cutting off our commu nication with the country, oblige us to fight them on their own terms, or surrender at discretion, or, by a brilliant stroke, endeavour to cut this army in pieces, and secure the collection of arms and stores, which they well know we shall not be able soon to replace.

"Having, therefore, their system unfolded to us, it became an important consideration, how it would be most successfully opposed. On every side there is a choice of difficulties; and every measure, on our part (however painful the reflection be from experience) to be formed with some apprehension that all our troops will not do their duty. In deliberating on this great question, it was impossible to forget, that history, our own experience, the advice of our ablest friends in Europe, the fears of the enemy, and even the declarations of Congress, demonstrate, that on our side, the war should be defensive-(it has ever been called a war of posts)-that we should on all occasions avoid a general action, nor put any thing to the risk, unless compelled by a necessity into which we ought never to be drawn.

"It was concluded to arrange the army under three divisions; five thousand to remain for the defence of the city; nine thousand to King's bridge and its de pendences, as well to possess and secure those posts VOL. I 8

as to be ready to attack the enemy who are moving eastward on Long Island, if they should attempt to land on this side; the remainder to occupy the inter mediate space, and support either; that the sick should be immediately removed to Orangetown, and barracks prepared at King's bridge with all possible expedition to cover the troops.

"There were some general officers, in whose judg ment and opinion, much confidence is to be reposed, that were for a total and immediate removal from the city, urging the great danger of one part of the army being cut off before the other can support it, the extremities being at least sixteen miles apart; that our army, when collected, is inferiour to the enemy; that they can move with their whole force to any point of attack, and consequently must succeed by weight of numbers, if they have only a part to oppose them; that, by removing from hence, we deprive the enemy of the advantage of their ships, which will make at least one half of the force to attack the town; that we should keep the enemy at bay, put nothing to the hazard, but at all events, keep the army together, which may be recruited another year; that the unspent stores will also be preserved; and, in this case, the heavy artillery can also be secured."

In the full expectation that a retreat from York Island would soon become necessary, the General assiduously continued the removal of the stores and heavy baggage to a place of safety.

The General officers became alarmed at SEPT. 12. the danger of the army, and, in a second Council, determined to remove it from

New-York.

On the fourteenth, several British ships passed up the East river, and large bodies of troops were moved to Montezore's Island with the apparent intention to lan either upon the continent above King's bridge, and wholly to enclose the Americans, or upon the