scene of action. The panic of those who had fled from the works was communicated to the troops ordered to sustain them, and the commander in chief had the extreme mortification to meet the whole party retreating in the utmost disorder, totally regardless of the great efforts made by their generals to stop their disgraceful flight. Whilst general Washington was exerting himself to rally them, a small corps of the enemy appeared, and they again broke and fled in the utmost confusion. The only part to be taken was immediately to withdraw the few remaining troops from New York, and to secure the posts on the heights. For this latter purpose, the lines were instantly manned, but no attempt was made on them. The retreat from New York was effected with an inconsiderable loss of men, sustained in a skirmish at Bloomingdale; but all the heavy artillery, and a large portion of the baggage, provisions, and military stores, much of which might have been saved had the post at Kipp's bay been properly defended, were unavoidably abandoned. No part of the loss was more severely felt than that of tents. The supply of this important article had always been inadequate to the demands of the army. The sufferings of the soldiers in consequence of this deficiency had, at all times, been great; and the season of the year now approached when the want of covering was beginning to be still more severely felt than at an earlier period. In this shameful day, one colonel, one captain, three subalterns, and ten privates were certainly killed:

one lieutenant colonel, one captain, and one hundred and fifty-seven privates were missing; many of whom were made prisoners, and some of them perhaps killed.

The unsoldierly conduct displayed on this occasion, was not attributable to a want of personal courage, but to other causes. The apprehensions excited by the defeat on Long island, had not yet subsided; nor had the American troops recovered their confidence either in themselves, or in their commanders. Their situation appeared to themselves to be perilous; and they had not yet acquired that temper which teaches the veteran to do his duty wherever he may be placed; to assure himself that others will do their duty likewise; and to rely that those, who take into view the situation of the whole, will not expose him to useless hazard, or neglect those precautions which the safety and advantage of the whole may require.

Unfortunately, there existed in a great part of the army, several causes in addition to the shortness of enlistments, and reliance on militia, which were but too operative in obstructing the progress of these military sentiments. In New England, from which part of the union the war had been principally supported, the zeal excited by the revolution had taken such a direction, as in a great degree to abolish those distinctions between the platoon officers and the soldiers, which are indispensable to the formation of an army, capable of being applied to all the purposes of war. It has been already mentioned that these officers, who

constitute an important part of every army, were in many companies elected by the men. Of consequence a disposition to associate with them on the footing of equality, was a recommendation of more weight, and frequently conduced more to the choice, than individual merit. Gentlemen of high rank have stated that, in some instances, those were elected who agreed to put their pay in a common stock with that of the soldiers, and to divide equally with them. It is not cause of wonder that, among such officers, the most disgraceful and unmilitary practices should frequently prevail; nor that the privates could not sufficiently respect them, to acquire habits of obedience and subordination.

This vital defect had been in some degree remedied, in new modelling the army before Boston, but it still existed to a fatal extent. The orders of that period show that several officers of inferior grade, were not, themselves, exempt from the general spirit of pillage and plunder, which, at that time, disgraced the American troops; and which will disgrace all troops not subjected to an exact and rigid discipline; but particularly those who have not been officered with care.

CHAPTER VIII.

Skirmish on the heights of Haerlem.... The British land at Frogs' neck....The American army evacuates York island, except fort Washington....Both armies move towards the White Plains....Battle of the White Plains.... The British army returns to King's-bridge, and general Washington with a part of his army crosses the North river.... The lines of fort Washington carried by the British, and the garrison made prisoners....Evacuation of fort Lee....Weakness of the American army....Ineffectual attempts to raise the militia.....General Washington retreats through Jersey.... Capture of general Lec....General Washington crosses the Delaware....Danger of Philadelphia.... The British go into winter quarters...Battle of Trenton....Of Princeton...Firmness of Congress.

HAVING taken possession of New York,* (September 15, 1776) general Howe stationed a few troops in the town, and with the main body of his army, encamped on the island, near the American lines. His right was at Horen'shook on the East river, and his left reached the North river near Bloomingdale, so that his encampment extended quite across the island, which, though about sixteen miles in length, is in this place scarcely two miles wide; and both his flanks were covered by his ships.

*Soon after New York fell into the hands of the enemy, a fire broke out in the night about eleven o'clock, and continued to rage until the next morning, when it was extinguished by great exertions on the part of the military stationed in the town, after having consumed about one third of the buildings. It is said to have been purposely set