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ET. 44.]

PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT.

267

CHAPTER XXXII.

In the course of the morning, General Mifflin, with Adjutant-General Reed, and Colonel Grayson of Virginia, one of Washington's aides-de

THE night after the battle was a weary, yet camp, rode to the western outposts in the neighalmost sleepless one to the Americans. Fa-borhood of Red Hook. While they were there, tigued, dispirited, many of them sick and wound- a light breeze lifted the fog from a part of the ed, yet they were, for the most part, without New York Bay, and revealed the British ships tent or other shelter. To Washington it was a at their anchorage opposite Staten Island. night of anxious vigil. Every thing boded a There appeared to be an unusual bustle among close and deadly conflict. The enemy had them. Boats were passing to and from the pitched a number of tents about a mile distant. admiral's ship, as if seeking or carrying orders. Their sentries were but a quarter of a mile off, Some movement was apparently in agitation. and close to the American sentries. At four The idea occurred to the reconnoitring party o'clock in the morning, Washington went the that the fleet was preparing, should the wind round of the works, to see that all was right, hold, and the fog clear away, to come up the and to speak words of encouragement. The bay at the turn of the tide, silence the feeble morning broke lowering and dreary. Large batteries at Red Hook and the city, and anchor encampments were gradually descried; to ap- in the East River. In that case the army on pearance, the enemy were twenty thousand Long Island would be completely surrounded strong. As the day advanced, their ordnance and entrapped. began to play upon the works. They were proceeding to intrench themselves, but were driven into their tents by a drenching rain.

Alarmed at this perilous probability, they spurred back to head-quarters, to urge the immediate withdrawal of the army. As this Early in the morning General Mifflin arrived might not be acceptable advice, Reed, emboldin camp with part of the troops which had been ened by his intimacy with the commander-instationed at Fort Washington and King's Bridge. chief, undertook to give it. Washington inHe brought with him Shee's prime Philadelphia stantly summoned a council of war. The diffiregiment, and Magaw's Pennsylvania regiment, culty was already apparent, of guarding such both well disciplined and officered, and accus- extensive works with troops fatigued and distomed to act together. They were so much pirited, and exposed to the inclemencies of the reduced in number, however, by sickness, that weather. Other dangers now presented themthey did not amount in the whole, to more selves. Their communication with New York than eight hundred men. With Mifflin came might be cut off by the fleet from below. also Colonel Glover's Massachusetts regiment, Other ships had passed round Long Island, and composed chiefly of Marblehead fishermen and were at Flushing Bay, on the Sound. These sailors, hardy, adroit, and weather-proof; might land troops on the east side of Harlem trimly clad in blue jackets and trowsers. The | River, and make themselves masters of King's detachment numbered, in the whole, about thir- | Bridge; that key of Manhattan Island. Taking teen hundred men, all fresh and full of spirits. | all these things into consideration, it was resolved Every eye brightened as they marched briskly to cross with the troops to the city that very along the line with alert step and cheery as-night. pect. They were posted at the left extremity of the intrenchments towards the Wallabout.

There were skirmishes throughout the day, between the riflemen on the advanced posts and the British "irregulars," which at times were quite severe; but no decided attack was attempted. The main body of the enemy kept within their tents until the latter part of the day; when they began to break ground at about five hundred yards distance from the works, as if preparing to carry them by regular approaches.

On the 29th, there was a dense fog over the island, that wrapped every thing in mystery.

Never did retreat require greater secrecy and circumspection. Nine thousand men, with all the munitions of war, were to be withdrawn from before a victorious army, encamped so near, that every stroke of spade and pickaxe from their trenches could be heard. The retreating troops, moreover, were to be embarked and conveyed across a strait three-quarters of a mile wide, swept by rapid tides. The least alarm of their movement would bring the enemy upon them, and produce a terrible scene of confusion and carnage at the place of embarkation.

Washington made the preparatory arrangements with great alertness, yet profound secro

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268

RETREAT FROM LONG ISLAND-WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CAMP.

[1776.

cy. Verbal orders were sent to Colonel Hughes, | alarming and sublime. If the explosion was who acted as quartermaster-general, to impress within our lines, the gun was probably disall water craft, large and small, from Spyt den charged in the act of spiking it, and could have Duivel on the Hudson round to Hell Gate on been no less a matter of speculation to the enthe Sound, and have them on the east side of emy than to ourselves."* the city by evening. The order was issued at noon, and so promptly executed, that, although some of the vessels had to be brought a distance of fifteen miles, they were all at Brooklyn at eight o'clock in the evening, and put under the management of Colonel Glover's amphibious Marblehead regiment.

To prepare the army for a general movement without betraying the object, orders were issued for the troops to hold themselves in readiness for a night attack upon the enemy. The orders caused surprise, for the poor fellows were exhausted, and their arms rendered nearly useless by the rain; all, however, prepared to obey; but several made nuncupative wills; as is customary among soldiers on the eve of sudden and deadly peril.

According to Washington's plan of retreat, to keep the enemy from discovering the withdrawal of the Americans until the main body should have embarked in the boats and pushed off from the shore, General Mifflin was to remain at the lines with his Pennsylvania troops, and the gallant remains of Haslet, Smallwood, and Hand's regiments, with guards posted and sentinels alert, as if nothing extraordinary was taking place; when the main embarkation was effected, they were themselves to move off quietly, march briskly to the ferry, and embark. In case of any alarm that might disconcert the arrangements, Brooklyn church was to be the rallying place, whither all should repair, so as unitedly to resist any attack.

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"What with the greatness of the stake, the darkness of the night, the uncertainty of the design, and the extreme hazard of the issue, adds the same writer, "it would be difficult to conceive a more deeply solemn and interesting scene."

The meaning of this midnight gun was never ascertained; fortunately, though it startled the Americans, it failed to rouse the British camp.

In the mean time the embarkation went on with all possible despatch, under the vigilant eye of Washington, who stationed himself at the ferry, superintending every movement. In his anxiety for despatch, he sent back Colonel Scammel, one of his aides-de-camp, to hasten forward all the troops that were on the march. Scammel blundered in executing his errand, and gave the order to Mifflin likewise. The general instantly called in his pickets and sentinels, and set off for the ferry.

By this time the tide had turned; there was a strong wind from the north-east; the boats with oars were insufficient to convey the troops; those with sails could not make headway against the wind and tide. There was some confusion at the ferry, and in the midst of it, General Mifflin came down with the whole covering party; adding to the embarrassment and uproar.

"Good God! General Mifflin!" cried Washington, "I am afraid you have ruined us by so unseasonably withdrawing the troops from the lines."

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"I did so by your order," replied Mifflin, It was late in the evening when the troops with some warmth. "It cannot be!" exclaimed began to retire from the breastworks. As one Washington. "By G-, I did! was the blunt regiment quietly withdrew from their station rejoinder. "Did Scammel act as aide-de-camp on guard, the troops on the right and left moved for the day, or did he not?" "He did." "Then," up and filled the vacancy. There was a stifled said Mifflin, "I had orders through him." "It murmur in the camp, unavoidable in a move- is a dreadful mistake," rejoined Washington, ment of the kind; but it gradually died away" and unless the troops can regain the lines bein the direction of the river, as the main body moved on in silence and order. The youthful Hamilton, whose military merits had won the favor of General Greene, and who had lost his baggage and a field-piece in the battle, brought up the rear of the retreating party. In the dead of the night, and in the midst of this hushed and anxious movement, a cannon went off with a tremendous roar. "The effect," says an American who was present, "L was at once

fore their absence is discovered by the enemy, the most disastrous consequences are to be apprehended."

Mifflin led back his men to the lines, which had been completely deserted for three-quarters of an hour. Fortunately, the dense fog had prevented the enemy from discovering that they were unoccupied. The men resumed their for

Graydon's Memoirs, edited by I. 8. Littell, p. 167.

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APDHEAT FROM LONG ISLAND-WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CAMP.

[1778.

were sent to Colonel Hughes, | alarming and sublime. If the explosion was Gaggiorminster-general, to impress ¦ within our lines, the gun was probably diszesti, lipo and small, from Spyt den charged in the act of spiking it, and could have. 37jvel ng charafudson rogul to Hell Gate on been no less a matter of speculation to the enthe foal, mut lave them on the east side of emy than to ourselves.” * Ciss cfy by evening, Tho order was issued at and so pretapily executed, that, although ad to be brought a distance they were all to Brooklyn at the peeling, and pot under the bgnment of Colonel Glover's-amphibious

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"What with the greatness of the stake, the darkness of the night, the uncertainty of the design, and the extreme hazard of the issue," adds the same writer, it would be difficult to conceive a more deeply solenin and interesting scene."

The meaning of this midnight gun was never. ascertained; fortunately, though it startled the -Americans, it failed to rouse the British camp.. In the mean time the embarkation went on with all possible despatch, under the vigilant eye [of Washington, who stationed himself at the ferry, superintending every movement. In his anxiety for despatch, he sent back Colonel. Scammel, one of his pides-de-camp, to hasten and forward all the troops that were on the anarch Scammel blundered in executing his errand, and gave the order to Milun likewise. The general log the with-instantly called in his pickets and sentinels, and the main body set off for the ferry. Dots and pushed By this time the tide had turned; there was end Mailin was to re- a strong wind from the north-east; the hoals -Tounsylvania troops, with oars were insufficient to convey the troops; or Hedet, Studiood,those with sails could not make headway against ith grands thered and the wind and tide. There was some confusion at the ferry, and in the midst of it, General Milline came down with the whole covering party; adding to the embarrassment and uproar. "Good God! General Mifllia !” cried Wash ington, I ain afraid you have ruined us by so s to unseasonably withdrawing the troops from the repair, lines."

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"I did so by your order," replied- Mifflin, the troops with some warmth. "It cannot be!" oxclaimed As ons Washington. "By G-, I did!" was the blunt alon rejoinder. "Did Scaunel act as aide-de-camp ad for the day, or did he not ?" "IIa did." "Then," said Mifflin, "I had orders through him." It is a dreadful mistake," rejoined Washington, and unless the troops can regain the lines belyfore their absence is discovered by the enemy, the most disastrous consequences are to bo ap theprehended.".

Millin led back his men to the lines, which Le been completely deserted for three-quarters. of an hour. Fortunately, the dense fog had evented the enemy from discovering that they e unoccupied. The men resumed their fer

Graydon's Memoirs, edited by, I. 8. Littell, p. 101,

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