"The retreat, in its plan, execution, and success, has been regarded as one of the most remarkable military events in history, and as reflecting the highest credit on the talents and skill of the commander. So intense was the anxiety of Washington, so unceasing his exertions, that for forty-eight hours he did not close his eyes, and rarely dismounted from his horse."
"We cannot hold New York," said Washington, at a council of war he called immediately. "We are at the mercy of the enemy on every hand."
"From Brooklyn Heights British guns can lay this city in ashes," added Putnam.
"That is true; but the Howes will never order that destruction so long as half the citizens are Tories," replied Washington.
"Sure enough; that is a voucher against such a measure," responded Putnam. "But if thirty thousand well-armed and well-fed British troops, having possession of all the land and water around Manhattan Island, can"t capture this small and undisciplined army, they don"t deserve the name of soldiers."
"And now our men are disheartened," continued Washington. "We lost nearly two thousand men, killed, wounded, and missing, on Brooklyn Heights, and many of those who escaped have deserted. We must evacuate the city."
"And leave it in flames," added Putnam.
"Yes, apply the torch," said another; "we must do it in self-defence.
What a strong position against us it will afford to the enemy!"
Washington saw reasons for adopting this extreme measure, but he could not take the responsibility. He did write to Congress about it, however, as follows:
"If we should be obliged to abandon the town, ought it to stand as winter quarters for the enemy? They would derive great convenience from it on the one hand, and much property would be destroyed on the other.
At the present, I dare say, the enemy mean to preserve it if they can."
On the tenth day of September, Congress voted to leave the fate of the city in Washington"s hands, and he left it unharmed.
Concerning the alarming desertions after the retreat from Brooklyn Heights, he wrote, in humane extenuation of the deserters" offence:
"Men just dragged from the tender scenes of domestic life, and unaccustomed to the din of arms, totally unacquainted with every kind of military skill, are timid, and ready to fly from their own shadows.
Besides, the sudden change in their manner of living brings on an unconquerable desire to return to their homes."
Establishing his headquarters at King"s Bridge, Washington superintended the retreat from New York, which was accomplished without the loss of anything except his heaviest cannon.
Colonel Humphreys wrote: "I had frequent opportunities that day of beholding Washington issuing orders, encouraging the troops, flying on his horse covered with foam, wherever his presence was most necessary.
Without his extraordinary exertions the guards must have been inevitably lost, and it is possible the entire corps would have been cut in pieces."
He made a n.o.ble stand at Harlem Heights for three weeks, where he had several encounters with the foe. In one of these, two of his most brilliant officers were killed, Colonel Knowlton and Major Leith.
Knowlton"s last words were, "Did we drive the enemy in?" Speaking of Colonel Knowlton reminds us of an incident.
Soon after the retreat from Brooklyn, Washington said to Knowlton:
"It is important for me to know the strength of the enemy on Long Island. Can you name a trusty man who will find out?"
"I can," answered Knowlton. "If he will consent, he is just the man for such service."
"Send him to me immediately."
Within a short time Nathan Hale of Connecticut, one of the bravest and most promising young officers in the army, presented himself to the general.
"Can you ascertain for me the number and strength of the British on Long Island?" asked Washington.
"I think I can," replied Hale; "I am willing to try."
"You understand that it will cost your life if the enemy capture you. It is serious business."
"I understand. I understood that when I entered the army," was young Hale"s cool and heroic reply.
"Go, then, and quickly as possible obtain the information I so much need."
Hale went to Long Island in the capacity of a schoolmaster, obtained the information that Washington desired, and on his return was discovered and arrested as a spy. Without trial or court-martial he was executed, in extremely aggravating circ.u.mstances.
"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 sister, were destroyed; and this very extraordinary reason was given by the provost-martial, "that the rebels should not know that they had a man in the army who could die with so much firmness." Unknown to all around him, without a single friend to offer him the least consolation, as amiable and as worthy a young man as America could boast was thus hung as a spy." His last words were:
"I lament only that I have but one life to give to the cause of liberty and the rights of man."
Soon after Washington withdrew his defeated army to Harlem Heights, he heard cannonading at the landing, where breastworks had been thrown up.
Springing upon his horse, he galloped away in the direction of the firing, and, before he reached the place, he met his soldiers in full retreat before a squad of British, numbering not more than sixty or seventy. He drew his sword, and with threats, endeavored to rally them; but in vain. He was so shocked by their cowardice, and so determined to repel the foe, that he would have dashed forward to his death, had not his aides seized the reins of his charger, and turned him in the other direction.
On the 20th of September, after the British took possession of New York, a fire started one night in a drinking saloon, where soldiers were revelling (perhaps celebrating their triumphal entry into the city), and it spread with great rapidity. The buildings were mostly of wood, so that the devouring flames licked them up as tinder; and although the thousands of British soldiers exerted themselves to the utmost to extinguish the fire, one quarter of the city, about one thousand buildings, was laid in ashes.
At this time the army in Canada had withdrawn to Crown Point, numbering about six thousand, one half of them being sick and the other half disheartened and disaffected. General Washington ordered them to retire to Ticonderoga for safety and rest. The small-pox was spreading among them to an alarming degree.
Jealousies among officers, dissatisfaction among soldiers, clashing interests among the Colonies, and a growing distrust of Washington, added to the complications of the American cause, and to the trials of Congress and the commander-in-chief.
Referring to the discordant interests throughout most of the Colonies, John Adams wrote: "It requires more serenity of temper, a deeper understanding, and more courage than fell to the lot of Marlborough, to ride in this whirlwind."
By request, General Lee returned from the South at this time. He was an accomplished military officer, and his successes at the South added much to his laurels. Many regarded him superior to Washington. The latter esteemed him highly as an officer of skill and experience. At a council of war held soon after his arrival, General Lee said:
"A position is not a good one simply because its approaches are difficult. No army can maintain itself with the enemy in front and rear, especially when the enemy"s ships command the water on each side, as they do here. Your recent experience on Long Island and in New York shows the danger of such position."
"That is very true," answered Washington. "We cannot afford to hazard too much in the present condition of the army. I have satisfactory evidence that General Howe"s purpose is to surround our camp, and capture the whole American army."
"And he is not much of a general if he does not do it," responded Lee.
"For my part, I would have nothing to do with the islands to which you have been clinging so pertinaciously. I would give Mr. Howe a fee-simple of them."
"Where and when shall we be in a better condition to meet the enemy?"
inquired General George Clinton, a brave but inexperienced officer. "We must fight the enemy somewhere; why not here?"
"I will answer your inquiry," replied Washington. "We shall be in a better condition to meet the foe when the Colonies have had time to furnish their quotas of recruits, as recently ordered by Congress."
At the earnest solicitation of Washington, Congress had voted that the Colonies should furnish eighty-eight battalions, in quotas, according to their abilities; that the pay of officers should be raised; troops serving throughout the war should receive a bounty of twenty dollars and one hundred acres of land, with a new suit of clothes annually.
Those enlisting for three years were to receive twenty dollars bounty, but no land. This provision was a response to Washington"s frequent protests against short enlistments and small pay, and it pointed to a reorganization of the army, on a permanent footing, according to Washington"s frequently expressed ideas. The general had great expectations of relief from this more liberal policy.
"Our present action should look solely to the safety of the army,"
interjected Lee. "To save it from annihilation or capture is our first duty."
"Certainly," rejoined Washington; "and now let this question be answered definitely: whether (considering that the obstructions in the North River have proved insufficient, and that the enemy"s whole force is in our rear on Grog Point), it is now deemed possible, in our situation, to prevent the enemy from cutting off the communication with the country, and compelling us to fight them at all disadvantages or surrender prisoners at discretion?"
Every number of the council except General Clinton decided that it was impossible to occupy the present position without exposing the army to destruction or capture; hence, another retreat followed.