eighth to dislodge him. With this view, a brigade of the Hessians, under Colonel Rhal, passed the Bronx, and while the other troops assailed General M'Dougall in front, gained a position which enabled them to annoy his flank. The hill, however, was defended against this force and twelve pieces of artillery, for more than an hour, though General M'Dougall was deserted by two thirds of his men; four whole regiments of militia had abandoned him in the commencement of the action, at the approach of a small body of light horse, not exceeding two hundred and fifty.

During this attempt to dislodge General M'Dougall, the American baggage was moved off in full view of the British army; and a scattering fire was continued along the adjoining walls and enclosures. The Americans lost forty-seven killed and seventy wounded, and by a return said to have been found on the field, a common expedient with the Americans at this time, for discovering the superior loss of the British, that of the enemy was said to have been ten officers, including Colonel Leslie, and one hundred and forty-three privates killed and wounded. From the advantage of position, possessed by the Americans, there seems to be nothing unreasonable in allowing so small a proportion.

Soon after this the Hessian grenadiers were moved forward, within reach of the American cannon; with the second British Brigade in their rear, and two Hessian brigades on the left of the second; the eighth and centre maintaining their ground. In this position, the whole royal army lay upon their arms, impatiently waiting for the left to make their attack. But during the night, Washington changed his front; his left kept its post, while his right fell back and occupied a range of hills. In this admirable position, with his works increased and strengthened, he was prepared and wished to receive the enemy. But Sir William Howe was too wary to assail him, and on the twenty-ninth, after an ineffectual attempt to dislodge a small force under Glover, from a hill he had occupied, drew off his army towards Dobb's Ferry, determining, as he said, to defer a general ac-tion until a reinforcement, which was hourly expected under Earl Percy, who had been left to watch the garrison at Fort Washington; and the Americans filed off in a north eastern direction.

The American loss during these evolutions and skirmishings was very inconsiderable. A few privates and four officers only were taken by the enemy. At first it was apprehended to be much more severe; but the missing militia were constantly returning to camp after their terrour had abated. A few prisoners, and among them a small number of Hessians and Waldeckers, who testified some astonishment when they found they were to be neither tortured nor scalped, when captured by the Americans. The reinforcement under Lord Percy arrived; and General Howe determined to attack Washington in his trenches. Preparations were made for the evening of the thirty-first, but a heavy

rain delayed the attempt beyond the appointed hour, and it was afterwards postponed, although the day was serene.

A deserter during the same day to the Americans, gave Washington intelligence of this design, and in the course of the following night, he withdrew his troops-totally abandoned his camp, and on the morning of November first, occupied the high grounds in North Castle District, about two miles distant, leaving a strong rear in the woods and on the heights at White Plains. So soon as this was known to the British General, he ordered this corps to be attacked, but again he was prevented from effecting his purpose by a violent rain. The town of White Plains was set on fire by their rear guard, with all the forage near the lines, and entirely consumed. The above measure in the bitterness of party animosity, was charged to the American commander, but it became evident, afterwards, that the burning of the village was wholly owing to the misconduct of Colonel Austin, from Massachusetts. After these maneuvers, Washington, with part of his army, crossed the North River, and took a position on the Jersey side, near Fort Lee, opposite Fort Washington, leaving seven thousand five hundred men under General Lee, at North Castle.

Capture of Fort Washington.-On the 15th of November 1776, the royal army approached Fort Washington, and sent a summons to Colonel Magaw; to which he replied that the post should be defended to the last extremity. Intelligence of this was carried to Washington; he repaired to Fort Lee, and had nearly crossed the North River, for the purpose of aiding in the defence, when he met General Greene and General Putnam returning; they informed him that the troops were in high spirits, and would make a gallant defence-it was late in the evening, he returned. At this time the garrison might have been withdrawn-there was a misgiving in the mind of Washington: but even he did not believe the danger so imminent that a night was to determine the fate of the garrison.

On the following day, November 16th, the royal army advanced against the post in four different points. While the enemy were approaching, Generals Washington, Putnam, Greene, and Colonel Knox, with their Aids, had crossed the river, and were hastening to the fort, when a sudden sense of their imprudence, fortunately induced them to return.

The first attack on the north side was conducted by General Knyphausen, at the head of two columns of Hessians and Waldeckers. The second, on the eastern side, was made by two battalions of guards, supported by Lord Cornwallis, with a body of grenadiers and the thirty-third regiment. These two parties crossed Haerlem Creek, in boats, and landed on the American right. The third attack, meant as a feint, was conducted by Lieutenant

Colonel Stirling, with the forty-second. The fourth division was under Lord Percy, with his reinforcements from the south of the island. Each party was supported by a powerful and well served artillery.

The party under General Knyphausen was compelled to pass through a thick wood, where a regiment of riflemen under Col. Rawling were posted. Between these parties an action immediately commenced, which was continued with unexampled spirit until the Hessians had lost a great number of their men.

In the mean time, a body of the British light infantry advanced against a party of Americans, who were posted upon a steep and almost inaccessible eminence, which poured a very destructive fire from behind the rocks and trees; and after suffering severely, drove them from their position, and thus secured the landing of the main body.

Lord Percy carried an advanced work on his side; and Colonel Stirling, with the forty-second, and two battalions of the second brigade, effected a landing on the left of the American lines, forced his way to the summit of a steep hill, took one hundred and seventy prisoners, and then crossed the island. A detachment from the American flying camp, who were stationed upon the lines, abandoned them after a slight resistance, and crowded tumultuously within the fort; into which, also, Colonel Magaw had determined to throw himself, when thus he saw the lines forsaken.

In the mean time, Colonel Rhal, who led the right column of Knyphausen's attack, pushed forward and lodged his troops within one hundred yards of the fort, where he was soon joined by the left column. A summons was then repeated, and the garrison surrendered as prisoners of war; the officers keeping their side arms and baggage. The number of men which surrendered was about two thousand; the British loss is stated to be about eight hundred.

Death of Captain Hale.-After General Washington, by his retreat, had left the British in complete possession of Long Island, and not knowing what would be their future operations, he

From the position in which Washington was placed, he could distinctly see his soldiers bayonetted, while upon their knees, with their hands uplifted, and even at that hour, great as must have been his anxiety, when the fate of so important a post was at stake, the feelings of the man were as conspicuous as those of the soldier. It is said, he was affected with the butchery even to tears: and General Lee, to whom the fate of the post was sent by express, so far forgot the natural and unbending stateliness of his character, as to burst into the most passionate exclamations, accompanied also with tears. It was indeed a terrible blow. Even on the 19th, he had not recovered his composure; for he wrote thus to Washington on that day—‘Oh General, why would you be over-persuaded by men of inferior judgment to your own? It was a cursed affair!' The defence of the post had always appeared impossible to this eccentrick man. The moment he was told that it was determined to maintain it, he exclaimed, then we are undone !'

applied to Colonel Knowlton, commander of a regiment of light infantry, to devise some means for gaining necessary information of the design of the British in their future movements. Captain Hale nobly offered himself for this hazardous and important service. His amiable, pious, intelligent, and patriotic character, and the sacrifice of his life in the manner in which he made the sacrifice, entitle him to a distinguished rank among the first patriots of the revolution. The particulars of this tragical event, sanctioned by General Hull, who was knowing to them at the time, are related by Miss H. Adams, in her History of New-England.

The retreat of General Washington, left the British in complete possession of Long Island. What would be their future operations remained uncertain. To obtain information of their situation, their strength and future movements, was of high importance. For this purpose General Washington applied to Colonel Knowlton, who commanded a regiment of light infantry, which formed the van of the American army, and desired him to adopt some mode of gaining the necessary information. Colonel Knowlton communicated this request to Nathan Hale, of Connecticut, who was then a captain in his regiment. This young officer, animated by a sense of duty, and considering that an opportunity presented itself by which he might be useful to his country, at once offered himself a volunteer for this hazardous service. He passed in disguise to Long Island, examined every part of the British army, and obtained the best possible information respecting their situation and future operations.

In his attempt to return, he was apprehended, carried before Sir William Howe, and the proof of his object was so clear, that he frankly acknowledged who he was, and what were his views. Sir William Howe at once gave an order to the provost marshall to execute him the next morning.

The order was accordingly executed in the most unfeeling manner, and by as great a savage as ever disgraced humanity. A clergyman, whose attendance he desired, was refused him; a Bible, for a moment's devotion was not procured, though he requested it. Letters, which on the morning of his execution he wrote to his mother and other friends, were destroyed; and this very extraordinary reason was given by the provost marshall, 'that the rebels should not know that they had a man in their army, who could die with so much firmness.'

Unknown to all around him, without a single friend to offer him the least consolation, thus fell as amiable and as worthy a young man as America could boast, with this as his dying observation, 'that he only lamented he had but one life to lose for his coun

try.

Retreat of Washington through New-Jersey.-General Wash

ington was posted at Newark, where his little army had been refreshing themselves, for about a week, without experiencing or anticipating any further molestation, when he was informed that Lord Cornwallis, with a chosen body of troops, was on his track. This was the 28th of November; he marched immediately for Brunswick; and Lord Cornwallis entered Newark the same day. A rapid retreat was now the only hope of Washington. It must open the heart of the country to his enemy, but distressing as was the alternative, he preferred doing this to losing the relicks of his army, upon which, as a future rallying point, every thing would depend. Lord Cornwallis had six thousand men, and trod so vigorously upon the heels of Washington, that his van successively entered Newark, Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton, as the American rear was leaving each; and finally, at twelve at night, reached the banks of the Delaware, just as the rear of the retreating army had left it. Here it was confidently expected by Lord Cornwallis, that the Americans would lose their baggage and artillery; and, but for the destruction of a bridge over the Raritan (at Brunswick) which delayed their pursuers for some hours, it is extremely probable that his expectations would have been realized. But here, as Lord Cornwallis had orders not to advance beyond Brunswick, the pursuit was discontinued; and it is probable too, but for these orders, that the event would have taken place notwithstanding this delay, as the Raritan was fordable at Brunswick at every recess of the tide. Other facts, somewhat unaccountable at such a season were these. The Americans did not leave Princeton till the enemy were within three miles of it, and the two British coluinns, which first reached Princeton at four o'clock in the afternoon, actually slept there, and consumed seventeen hours, within twelve miles of Trenton, while Washington was crossing the Delaware at that place. Sir William Howe, in a despatch of the 20th of December, declared that his first design was only to get possession of East New Jersey, and Washington certainly conducted at this time, as if he not only knew this design, but was confident that it would not be departed from; for after advancing his main body to Trenton and leaving Lord Stirling with about twelve hundred, as a covering party; he afterwards reinforced his Lordship with the whole militia that arrived, and privately returned himself to Princeton. Perhaps he also knew, that Lord Cornwallis had been ordered not to advance beyond Brunswick. Except on this supposition, the fact of halting so long at Princeton, is inexplicable; and the conduct of the enemy still more so, while Washington was on his way to Trenton. From Brunswick, Lord Cornwallis had despatched an express to General Howe, assuring him that then was the time to conclude the war; that, if vigorously