Cornwallis from his post; but, the force in his front increasing, and General Grant now advancing on his rear, he was compelled to surrender himself and his brave men prisoners of war, This bold attempt, however, gave opportunity to a large part of the detachment to cross the creek, and effect an escape.

The loss of the British and Hessians is stated by American historians at about 450; Stedman says, "it did not exceed 300 in killed and wounded." The loss of the Americans was not admitted by General Washington to exceed 1000 men," but in this estimate he could only have included the regular troops." General Howe states the prisoners to have been 1097, among whom were Major-General Sullivan, and brigadiers Lord Stirling and Woodhull. The enemy encamped in front of the American lines; and on the succeeding night broke ground within 600 yards of a redoubt on the left. In this critical state of the American army on Long Island; in front a numerous and victorious enemy with a formidable train of artillery; the fleet indicating an intention to force a passage into East River to make some attempt on New-York; the troops lying without shelter from heavy rains, fatigued and dispirited; it was determined to withdraw from the island; and this difficult movement was effected with great skill and judgment, and with complete success. The retreat was to have commenced at eight o'clock in the night of the 29th; but a strong northeast wind and a rapid tide caused a delay of several hours. In this extremity, Heaven remarkably favoured the fugitive army. A southwest wind, springing up at eleven, essentially facilitated its passage from the island to the city; and a thick fog, hanging over Long Island from about two in the morning, concealed its movements from the enemy, who were so near, that the sound of their pickaxes and shovels was heard. General Washington, as far as possible, inspected every thing. From the commencement of the action on the morning of the 27th until the troops were safely across East River, he never closed his eyes, and was almost constantly on horseback."*

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, applied to General 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

*Holmes' American Annals, p. 354-59.

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 Captain 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 pos sible 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 marshal to execute him the next morning.

The order was accordingly executed in a most unfeeling manner, and by as great a savage as ever disgraced bumanity. 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 extraordi nary reason given by the provost marshal, 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 country.' How superior to the dying words of Andre. Though the manner of his execution will ever be abhorred by every friend to humanity and religion, yet there cannot be a question but that the sentence was conformable to the rules of war, and the practice of nations in similar

cases.

It is, however, a justice due to the character of Captain. Hale, to observe, that his motives for engaging in this service were entirely different from those which generally influence others in similar circumstances. "Neither expectation of promotion nor pecuniary reward, induced him to this attempt. A sense of duty, a hope that he might in this way be useful to his country, and an opinion which he had adopted, that every kind of service necessary to the public good, became honourable by being necessary, were the great motives which induced him to engage in an enterprize, by which his connexions lost a most amiable friend, and his country one of its mast promising supporters.

The fate of this unfortunate young man excites the most interest, ing reflections,

To see such a character, in the flower of youth, cheerfully treading in the most hazardous paths, influenced by the purest intentions, and only emulous to do good to his country, without the imputation of a crime, fall a victim to policy, must have been wounding to the feelings even of his enemies.

Should a comparison be drawn between Major Andre and Captain Hale, injustice would be done to the latter, should he not be placed on an equal ground with the former. Whilst almost every historian of the American Revolution, has celebrated the virtues and lamented the fate of Andre, Hale has remained unnoticed, and it is scarcely known that such a character ever existed.

To the memory of Andre, his country has erected the most magnificent monuments, and bestowed on his family the highest honours and most liberal rewards. To the memory of Hale not a stone has been erected, nor an inscription to preserve his ashes from insult."*

"Immediately after the victory on Long Island, the British made dispositions to attack New-York. It was a serious question, whether that place were defensible against so formidable an enemy; and General Washington called a council of general officers to decide, whether it should be evacuated without delay, or longer defended. The majority of the council advised a middle course between abandoning the town and concentrating their whole strength for its defence. By the plan recommended, the army was to be arranged into three divisions, one of which, consisting of five thousand men, was to remain in New-York; another, amounting to nine thousand, was to be stationed at King's Bridge; and the residue of the army was to occupy the intermediate space, so as to support either extreme. The unexpected movements of the enemy soon induced a change of opinion ; and in a second council it was determined by a large majority, that it had become not only prudent, but necessary, to withdraw the army from New-York.

Several of the enemy's ships of war having passed up North River on the one side of York Island, and East River on the other side, Sir Henry Clinton, embarking at Long Island at the head of four thousand men, proceeded through Newtown Bay, crossed East River, and landed, under cover of the ships, at Kipp's Bay, about three miles above New-York. Works of considerable strength had been thrown up at this place, to oppose the landing of the enemy; but they were immediately abandoned by the troops stationed in them, who, terrified at the fire of the ships, fled precipitately toward their main body, and communicated their panic to a detachment marching to their support. General Washington, to his extreme mortification, met this whole party retreating in the utmost disorder, and exerted himself to rally them; but, on the appearance of a small corps of the enemy, they again broke and fled in confusion. Nothing

* In the autumn of 1821, the remains of Major Andre were disinterred, and transported to England. Where are those of the lamented Hale.—Thacher's Journal, p. 275

now remained, but to withdraw the few remaining troops from NewYork, and to secure the posts on the heights. The retreat from New-York was effected with very inconsiderable loss of men; but all the heavy artillery, and a large portion of the baggage, provisions, and military stores, was unavoidably abandoned.

The enemy, taking possession of New-York, stationed a few troops in that place; but the main body of their army was on York Island, near the American lines. The Americans occupied King's Bridge, both sides of which had been carefully fortified; and they were in considerable force at M'Gowan's Pass, and Morris' Heights. A strong detachment was also posted in an intrenched camp, on the heights of Haerlem, within about a mile and a half of the enemy. The day after the retreat from New-York, a considerable body of the enemy appearing in the plains between the two camps; the general ordered Colonel Knowlton with a corps of rangers, and Major Leitch with three companies of a Virginian regiment, to get in their rear, while he amused them by making apparent dispositions to attack their front. The plan succeeded. A skirmish ensued, in which the Americans charged the enemy with great intrepidity, and gained considerable advantage. The principal benefit however of This action was its influence in reviving the depressed spirits of the whole army.*

The armies did not long retain their position on York Island. The British frigates having passed up North River under a fire from Fort Washington and the post opposite to it on the Jersey shore, General Howe embarked a great part of his army in flat bottomed boats, and, passing through Hell Gate into the Sound, landed at Frog's Neck. The object of the British general was, either to force Washington out of his present lines, or to inclose him in them. Aware of his design, General Washington moved a part of his troops from York Island to join those at King's Bridge, and detached some regiments to West Chester. A council of war was now called, and the system of evacuating and retreating was adopted, with the exception of Fort Washington, for the defence of which nearly three thousand men were assigned.

The royal army, after a halt of six days, advancing from Frog's Neck near to New Rochelle, sustained a considerable loss on their march by a party of Americans, that General Lee had posted behind a wall. Three days afterward, General Howe moved the right and centre of his army two miles to the northward of New Rochelle,

Major Leitch, who very gallantly led on the detatchment, was soon brought off the ground, mortally wounded; and not long afterward Colonel Knowlton fell, bravely fighting at the head of his troops. The Americans, in this conflict engaged a battalion of light infantry, another of Highlanders, and three companies of Hessian riflemen; and lost about 50 men killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy was more than double that number. Colonel Knowlton distinguished himself at the battle of Breed's Hill. He was of Ashford in Connecticut; and General Washington, in his Orders the day after he fell, styled him "the gallant and brave Colonel Knowlton, who would have been a honour to any country.

on the road to White Plains, where he received a large reinforcement. General Washington, while retreating from New York Island, in order to secure the march of those who were behind, inade a front toward the British, from East Chester almost to White Plains; his troops thus making a line of small detached and intrenchèd camps, on the several heights and strong grounds from Valentine's Hill, near King's Bridge, on the right, to the vicinity of White Plains on the left. The royal army moved in two columns, and took a position with the Brunx River in front; and, upon this movement, the Americans assembled their main force at White Plains behind intrenchments. Here à considerable action took place; and several hundreds fell. During the engagement, the American baggage was moved off, in full view of the British army. General Washington soon after changed his front, his left wing stood fast, his right fell back to some hills; and in this well judged position he desired and expected an action. On the thirtieth, four battalions from York Island, and two from the Maroneck Post, having reinforced the British army, a disposition was made for an attack on the American lines the succeeding morning; but a violent rain, setting in and continuing through the whole night, induced a postponement of the assault. General Washington soon after withdrew in the night to the heights of North Castle, about five miles from White Plains, where his position was so strong, that General Howe determined to change entirely his plan of operations.

General Washington, leaving about seven thousand five hundred men at North Castle under General Lee, crossed North River, and took post in the neighbourhood of Fort Lee. Sir William Howe determined to take this favourable opportunity for the reduction of Fort Washington, which was under the command of Colonel Magaw. Works were erected on Haerlem Creek, to play on the opposite works of the Americans; and, every preparation being made, the garrison was summoned to surrender, on pain of being put to the sword. Colonel Magaw replied, that he should defend the place to the last extremity. The next morning, the royal army made four attacks. The first, on the north side, was conducted by General Knyphausen; the second, on the east, by General Matthews, supported by Lord Cornwallis; the third, by Lieutenant Colonel Stirling; and the fourth, by Lord Percy. Soon after day break on the sixteenth of November, the cannonading began, and continued with great fury on both sides until noon. The Hessians under the command of General Knyphausen, then filed off in two columns: one of which, led by Colonel Rhalle, having ascended circuitously to the summit of the hill, penetrated through the advanced works of the Americans, and formed within a hundred yards of the covered way of the front. The other column climbed the hill in a direct line; but, in passing through a thick wood, suffered much by a well directed fire from Colonel Rawling's regiment of riflemen. The second division made good their landing, and forced the Americans from their