1

At this moment, Washington, who had mounted his horse at the first sound of the cannonade, came galloping to the scene of confusion. Riding in among the fugitives, he endeavored to rally and restore them to order. All in vain. At the first appearance of sixty or seventy redcoats, they broke again without firing a shot, and fled in headlong terror. In all haste, therefore, he sent off an express to the forces encamped above, directing them to secure that position immediately; while another express to Putnam ordered au immediate retreat from the city to Harlem Heights.

It was indeed a perilous moment. Had the enemy followed up their advantage, and seized upon the heights before thus occupied, or had they extended themselves across the island from the place where they had effected a landing, the result might have been most disastrous to the Americans.

In the meantime, Putnam, ou receiving Washington's express, called in his pickets and guards, and abandoned the city in all haste, leaving behind him a large quantity of

GENERAL GREENE.

provisions and military stores, aud most of the heavy cannon. To avoid the enemy, he took the Bloomingdale road, though this exposed him to be raked by the enemy's ships, anchored in the Hudson.

The fortified camp, where the main body of the army was now assembled, was upon that neck of land several miles long, and for the most part not above a mile wide, which forms the upper part of Manhattan, or New York, island. It forms a chain of rocky heights, and is separated from the mainland by Harlem river, a narrow strait, extending from Hell Gate on the Sound to Spyt den Duivel, a creek or inlet of the Hudson. Fort Washington occupied the crest of one of the rocky heights above mentioned, overlooking the Hudson, and about two miles north of it was King's bridge, crossing Spyt den. Duivel creek, and forming at that time the only pass from Manhattan island to the mainland. About a mile and a half south of the fort a double row of lines extended across the Neck

from Harlem river to the Hudson. Washington had established his headquarters about a quarter of a mile within the inner line, at a country-seat, the owners of which were absent. It belonged, in fact, to Colonel Roger Morris, his early companion in arms in Braddock's campaign, and his successful competitor for the hand of Miss Mary Philipse.

While thus posted, Washington was incessantly occupied in fortifying the approaches to his camp by redoubts, abatis and deep intrenchments. In the course of his rounds of inspection he was struck with the skill and science displayed in the construction of some of the works which were thrown up under the direction of a youthful captain of artillery. It proved to be Alexander Hamilton, a young officer whom Greene had recommended to his notice.

On the morning of the sixteenth, word was brought to headquarters that the enemy were advancing. Reed, the adjutant-general, and Washington himself, soon mounted their horses, and rode toward the advanced posts. There was evidently a sharp conflict.

A strong detachment of the enemy had attacked the most advanced post. It had been bravely defended by Lieutenant-colonel Knowlton, commanding a party of Connecticut rangers, volunteers from different regiments. After skirmishing for a time, the party had been overpowered by numbers and driven in, and the outpost was taken possession of by the enemy.

Washington ordered out three companies from Colonel Weedon's regiment, just arrived from Virginia, and sent them under Major Leitch to join Knowlton's rangers. The troops thus united were to get in the rear of the enemy, while a feigned attack was made upon them in front.

The plan was partially successful. A vivid contest took place, in which Connecticut vied with Virginia in bravery. In a little while, Major Leitch received three bullets in his side, and was borne off the field. Shortly afterward, a wound in the head from a musketball brought Knowlton to the ground. The men, undismayed by the fall of their leaders, fought with unflinching resolution under the command of their captains. The enemy were reinforced by a battalion of Hessians and a company of chasseurs. Washington likewise sent reinforcements of New England and Maryland troops. The action waxed hotter and hotter. The enemy were driven from the wood into the plain, and pushed for some distance. The Americans were pursuing them with ardor, when Washington, having effected the object of this casual encounter, and being unwilling to risk a general action, ordered a retreat to be sounded.

It was with difficulty, however, his men could be called off, so excited were they by the novelty of pursuing an enemy. They retired in good order, and as it subsequently appeared, in good season, for the main body of the enemy was advancing at a rapid rate, and might have effectually reversed the scene.

The enemy were now bringing up their heavy cannon, preparatory to an attack upon the American camp by the troops and by the ships. What was the state of Washington's army? The terms of engagement of many of his men would soon be at an end, most of them would terminate with the year, nor did Congress hold out offers to encourage re-enlistments. "We are now, as it were, upon the eve of another dissolution of the army," writes he, "and unless some speedy and effectual measures are adopted by Congress, our cause will be lost." Under these gloomy apprehensions, he borrowed, as he said, a few moments from the hours allotted to sleep," and on the night of September 24th, penned an admirable letter to the president of Congress, setting forth the total inefficiency of the existing military system, the total insubordination, waste, confusion and discontent produced by it among the men, and the harassing cares and vexations to which it subjected the commanders. To the achievements of his indefatigable pen we may trace the most fortunate turns in the current of our revolutionary affairs. It was decreed that eighty-eight battalions should be furnished in quotas, by the different states, according to their abilities. The pay of the officers was raised. The troops which engaged to serve throughout the war were to receive a bounty of twenty dollars and one hundred acres of land, besides a yearly suit of clothes while in service. Those who enlisted for but three years received no bounty in land. The bounty to officers was on a higher ratio. The states were to send commissioners to the army, to arrange with the commander-in-chief as to the appointment of officers in their quotas; but as they might occasionally be slow in complying with this regulation, Washington was empowered to fill up all vacancies.

The security of the Hudson was at this time an object of great solicitude with Congress, and much reliance was placed on Putnam's obstructions at Fort Washington.

On October 9th, however, the Roebuck and Phoenix, each of forty-four guns, and the Tartar, of twenty guns, which had been lying for some time opposite Bloomingdale, got under way with their three tenders at eight o'clock in the morning, and came standing up the river with an easy southern breeze. At their approach, the galleys and the two ships intended to be sunk, got under way with all haste, as did a schooner laden with rum, sugar and other supplies for the American army, and the sloop with Bushnell's submarine machine.

The Roebuck, Phoenix and Tartar broke through the vaunted barriers as though a cobweb. Seven batteries kept up a constant fire upon them, yet a gentleman was observed walking the deck of the second ship as coolly as if nothing were the matter.

The hostile ships kept on their course, the American vessels scudding before them. The schooner was overhauled and captured; a well-aimed shot sent the sloop and Bushnell submarine engine to the bottom of the river. The breeze freshened, and the frigates gained on the two ships fast; at eleven o'clock began to fire on them with their bowchasers, and at twelve o'clock overreached them, which caused them to bear in shore; at half-past one the galleys ran aground just above Dobbs' Ferry, and lay exposed to a shower of grape-shot. The crews, without stopping to burn or bilge them, swam on shore, and the enemy took possession of the two galleys, which were likely to be formidable means of annoyance in their hands.

One express after another brought Washington word of these occurrences. First, he sent off a party of rifle and artillery men, with two twelve-pounders, to secure the new ships which had run aground at Yonkers. Next, he ordered Colonel Sargent to march up along the eastern shore with five hundred infantry, a troop of light-horse and a detachment of artillery, to prevent the landing of the enemy. Before the troops arrived at Dobbs' Ferry, the ships' boats had plundered a store there and set it on fire.

To prevent, if possible, the men-of-war already up the river from coming down, or others from below joining them, Washington gave orders to complete the obstructions.

It is difficult to give an idea of the excitement caused by this new irruption of hostile ships into the waters of the Hudson, or of the various conjectures as to their object. They might intend merely to interrupt navigation and prevent supplies from coming down to the American army. They might be carrying arms and ammunition for domestic enemies skulking about the river, and only waiting an opportunity to strike a blow.

While this agitation prevailed below, fugitive river crafts carried the news up to the Highlands that the frigates were already before Tarrytown, in the Tappan sea. Word was instantly dispatched to Peter R. Livingston, president of the provincial congress, and startled that deliberative body, which was then seated at Fishkill, just above the Highlands, and they wrote to Washington, informing him of the rumors.

Washington transmitted the letter to the president of Congress on October 12th. "I have ordered up," writes he, "part of the militia from Massachusetts under General Lincoln, to prevent, if possible, the consequences which they suggest may happen, and which there is reason to believe the conspirators have in contemplation."

As a further precaution, an express was sent off by Washington to Colonel Tash, who, with a regiment of New Hampshire militia, was on his way from Hartford to the camp, ordering him to repair with all possible dispatch to Fishkill, and there hold himself at the disposition of the committee of safety.

James Clinton, also, who had charge of the posts in the Highlands, was put on the alert. He was charged to have all boats passing up and down the river rigidly searched and the passengers examined. Besides the usual sentries, a barge, well manned, was to patrol the river opposite to each fort every night; all barges, rowboats, and other small craft between the forts in the Highlands and the army were to be secured in a place of safety, to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands and giving intelligence. Moreover, a French engineer was sent up to aid in strengthening and securing the passes.

CHAPTER XIII.

REMOVAL OF HEADQUARTERS TO WHITE PLAINS-ENGAGEMENT AT CHATTERTON'S HILL— THE BRITISH DECAMP FROM WHITE PLAINS-BRITISH CAPTURE FORT WASHINGTON-RETREAT OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY-LORD HOWE'S PROCLAMATION.

PREVIOUS to decamping from Manhattan island, Washington formed four divisions

of the army, which were respectively assigned to Generals Lee, Heath, Sullivan (recently obtained in exchange for General Prescott) and Lincoln. Lee was stationed on Valentine's hill on the mainland, immediately opposite King's bridge, to cover the transportation across it of the military stores and heavy baggage. The other divisions were to form a chain of fortified posts, extending about thirteen miles along a ridge of hills on the west side of the Bronx, from Lee's camp up to the village of White Plains.

Washington's headquarters continued to be on Harlem Heights for several days, during which time he was continually in the saddle, riding about a broken, woody and half-wild country, forming posts, and choosing sites for breastworks and redoubts. By his skilful disposition of the army it was protected in its whole length by the Bronx, a narrow but deep stream, fringed with trees, which ran along the foot of the ridge; at the same time his troops faced and outflanked the enemy, and covered the roads along which the stores and baggage had to be transported. On October 21st, he shifted his headquarters to Valentine's hill, and to White Plains on the twenty-third, where he stationed himself in a fortified camp.

While he was thus incessantly in action, General, now Sir William, Howe remained for six days passive in his camp on Throg's Point, awaiting the arrival of supplies and reinforcements, instead of pushing across to the Hudson, and throwing himself between Washington's army and the upper country. His inaction lost him a golden opportunity. By the time his supplies arrived, the Americans had broken up the causeway leading to the mainland, and taken positions too strong to be easily forced.

Finding himself headed in this direction, Sir William re-embarked part of his troops in flatboats on the eighteenth, crossed Eastchester bay, and landed on Pell's Point, at the mouth of Hutchinson's river. Here he was joined in a few hours by the main body, with the baggage and artillery, and proceeded through the manor of Pelham toward New Rochelle, still with a view to get above Washington's army.

In their march, the British were waylaid and harassed by Colonel Glover, of Massachusetts, with his own, Reed's and Shepard's regiments of infantry. Twice the British advance-guard was thrown into confusion and driven back, with severe loss, by a sharp fire from behind stone fences. A third time they advanced in solid columns. The Americans gave them repeated volleys, and then retreated, with the loss of eight killed and thirteen wounded.

On the twenty-first, General Howe was encamped about two miles north of New Rochelle, with his outposts extending to Mamaroneck on the Sound.

These and other spirited and successful skirmishes, while they retarded the advance of the enemy, had the far more important effect of exercising and animating the American troops, and accustoming them to danger.

On the twenty-fifth, about two o'clock in the afternoon, intelligence was brought to headquarters that three or four detachments of the enemy were on the march, within

four miles of the camp, and the main army following in columns. The drums beat to arms; the men were ordered to their posts; an attack was expected. The day passed away, however, without any demonstration of the enemy. Howe detached none of his force on lateral expeditions, evidently meditating a general engagement. To prepare for it, Washington drew all his troops from the posts along the Bronx into the fortified camp at White Plains. Here everything remained quiet but expectant throughout the twenty-sixth. On the morning of the twenty-seventh, which was Sunday, the heavy booming of cannon was heard from a distance, seemingly in the direction of Fort Washington. Scouts galloped off to gain intelligence. We will anticipate their report.

Two of the British frigates, at seven o'clock in the morning, had moved up the Hudson and come to anchor near Bourdett's Ferry, below the Morris House, Washington's old headquarters, apparently with the intention of stopping the ferry and cutting off the communication between Fort Lee and Fort Washington. At the same time, troops made their appearance on Harlem Plains, where Lord Percy held command. Colonel Morgan immediately manned the lines with troops from the garrison of Fort Washington. The ships opened a fire to enfilade and dislodge them. A barbette battery on the cliffs of the Jersey shore, left of the ferry, fired down upon the frigate, but with little effect. Colonel Magaw got down an eighteen-pounder to the lines near the Morris House, and fired fifty or sixty rounds, two balls at a time. Two eighteen-pounders were likewise