BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. trip,
but they soon appeared.
when
ferry stairs
I
I
think
saw Gen. Washington on
I
stepped into one of the
at the ferry, tied to a post.
The
my
for
and
finally
by
had got
from the
we were
the
horse
and the
off
with him some
As
saluted merrily from their
mus-
their field-pieces.
artillery,
my
in Brooklyn.
When
possession of the heights opposite the city of firing
I left
got leave to return with a I
enemy appeared
distance into the river before the
ketry,
I
favorite horse.
soon as they reached the ferry
boats.
last
troop3 having all safely reached N.
Y., and the fog continuing thick as ever,
crew of volunteers
163
fleet
pretty
enemy had taken
the
N. Y., they commenced soon were in motion to
take possession of those waters." Col.
The guns
the retreating Americans.
batteau,
fell
Talhnadge, as quoted by Simms.
of Fort Stirling were unspiked and turned on the boats of
Three persons who
left
into the enemy's hands.
the Island last in a IV".
E. Chronicle.
Hand's Account of the Retreat.
Col.
827. In the evening of the 29th of August, 1776, with several other
commanding officers of corps, I received orders to attend Major Gen. Mifflin when assembled, Gen. Mifflin informed us that in conse:
quence of the determination of a board of General tion of
night
mand
Long
Island,
where we then were, was
to
that the Commander-in-chief had honored
;
officers, the
evacua-
be attempted that
him with the com-
of the covering party, and that our corps were to be employed
that service
he then assigned us our several stations which
;
was dark, and pointed out Brooklyn Church as to repair and unitedly opin case they discovered our movements and made an consequence. My regiment was posted in a redoubt on the
to occupy as soon as
an alarm post, pose the enemy attack in
m
we were
to
it
which the whole were
and in the lines on the right of the great road below Brooklyn Church; Capt. Henry Miller commanded in the redoubt. Part of a regiment of the flying camp of the State of New- York, were in the begin[eft,
ning of the night posted near
me
;
they showed so
much
uneasiness at
them to march off, lest they might communicate the panic with which they were seized to my people the General granted my request, and they marched off their station, that I petitioned General Mifflin to suffer
;
accordingly.
After that nothing remarkable happened at
my
post
till
about two o'clock in the morning, when Alexander Scammell, since Adjutant General, chief,
who
came from
be with
me
the
that day acted as A. D. C. to the left
at the time.
inquiring for Gen'l Mifflin,
Scammell
told
him
Commander-in-
who happened
that the boats
to
were wait-