CHAPTER XIV.

Events of 1776 continued-Necessities of the American army— Backwardness of their supplies-State of preparation-Orders, letters, remarks-Attempt to entice the foreigners from the British service.—Enterprise against the enemy's vessels in the North River-Battle on Long Island; retreat of the Americans Reflections.

The concentration of the forces under Admiral and Sir William Howe, officers distinguished for their talents and experience, was to be the signal for battle. That under the immediate command of Sir William, was to be about thirty thousand men ; sometimes it was less, but at one period it amounted to nearly thirty two thousand. These were chosen troops, well officered; veterans, with a fine train of artillery, and all the necessary appendages of an army in such abundance, as to present the most formidable aspect of any army ever before assembled at once on the continent of America. The total amount of the various divisions, distributed over the country for this campaign, by the policy of Great Britain, exceeded fifty five thousand men; supported by a powerful navy, always on the alert, and ready to attack every defenceless post from one extremity to the other of the Colonies. To encounter such overwhelming preparations, the Americans had but a temporary army, not half equal even in numbers to that of the enemy, undisciplined, unof ficered, and unprovided even with ammunition; and no navy except a few frigates, which could only act as privateers. On the arrival of General Howe at Staten Island, the American army did not exceed ten

thousand men, and by the end of August, while General Howe had assembled at Staten Island thirty one thousand six hundred and twenty-five men, it had been gradually and slowly augmented to only seventeen thousand. Of these, a great part were militia, and one fourth part of the whole was sick. The diseases to be expected from the crowded association of new troops during the warmest season of the year, prevailed to an alarming extent, and was rendered still more threatening and destructive from the deficiency of tents.

But these few were so judiciously distributed on York Island, Long Island, Governour's Island, Paulus Hook, and in the Sound towards New Rochelle, East and West Chester, that while they were secure from any enterprise against them by detachment, they served so completely to embarass the enemy, that he acted with the most exemplary caution: a caution which, though unwilling, was at the same time an unequivocal tribute to the Americans. On the eighth of August the entire force, under the command of Washington, was as follows: ten thousand, five hundred and fourteen fit for duty sick present, three thousand and thirty nine: sick absent, six hundred and twenty nine; on command twenty nine hundred and forty six on furlough ninety seven; Total, seventeen thousand two hundred and twenty five. These, it must be remembered, were raw troops, very much scattered, some being fifteen miles apart, and consequently unable to unite suddenly for defence or attack. They might, from their situations, escape a superiour force, but they could not resist in hope of succour. What should have been expected of such an army, opposed to such an enemy? Not to have been swept from the

face of the earth, by the thirty thousand veterans of Europe, would have been the most exalted eulogium upon them.

Experience had taught the Americans how difficult it is to dislodge a powerful antagonist. The design of Sir William Howe had always been supposed by Washington, to be the possession of New York. After much deliberation, it was determined, as the only chance of preventing this, to throw up a chain of redoubts, hazard nothing, and wear away the campaign by ineffectual skirmishing and delay. Such a system would accustom the new troops to stand fire; give them confidence in themselves and their officers; and gradually weaken the enemy who could not supply his losses, while the American army was constantly encreasing in strength, numbers, discipline and experience. The good effects of this system was always conspicuous wherever it was steadily pursued; the men in the ranks were every hour becoming better soldiers ; and their officers were acquiring a greater relish and respect for the military character and science.

The Americans, from their want of experience, were not to be trusted in the field. An entrenchment, however weak, was regarded as a defence; and the British, from their reception at Breed's Hill, were not particularly anxious to inspect any of the American lines so closely, as to discover their efficiency or inefficiency to withstand an assault. These works, which were thrown up at Long Island, at Haerlem Heights, and round the city, consisted of field redoubts of earth, with a parapet and ditch, with batteries. Slight as were these obstacles, yet the season for the campaign was nearly consumed before they were so far overcome as to allow the enemy to penetrate the country.

These vast preparations for their punishment, instead of alarming or disheartening the Americans, only served to excite them to more vigorous counteracting exertions, and to draw them into a closer and stronger alliance. The Colonies were but the more firmly united to each other by the pressure applied on all sides; until they became, literally one body and one soul, feeling through all their frame alike, an injury inflicted upon the most inconsiderable member. The flying camp, respecting which General Washington had manifested so much anxiety, was to be composed of a kind of troops between a regular and militia force. This camp had been completed, but the backwardness of the militia, relied upon for its defence, prevented any active movement, even for defence. The fear of the Commander in Chief for the important passes in the Highlands, was not yet allayed; but it was not possible, under the constant expectation of an attack, to spare any part of his inconsiderable force. Situated as he was, it would have been rashness to weaken the main army for such purposes, or to employ any part of his command for the construction of works not absolutely necessary to the preservation of the army, one step beyond his power of supporting them in emergency. There were points to be guarded in every direction, each of the greatest importance, in the views of those who had most at risk in its vicinity, and Washington had not, by one third, troops enough for the defence of New York.

On the 21st of this month (July,) a desperate plot of the loyalists in the back part of New York, was disconcerted by General Schuyler. The parties or ringleaders were not known, as the General was bound to secrecy by an oath. On the 22d, the Commander of

each department was authorised by Congress to negociate an exchange of prisoners, on terms of complete reciprocity, rank for rank; the resolutions recognizing at the same time, the right of each state to make its exchange on its own terms for prisoners taken or lost by itself. And, on the same day, it was also determined to emit five millions of dollars in bills of credit.

An irregularity in the recruiting service at this pe riod, had proceeded to such an alarming length that it became necessary for the Commander in Chief to take notice of it. It was first the trick of some needy villain, with little sense of shame, but it had extended so far as to be practised by not only the privates, and men who would have scorned any thing dishonourable, but even by their officers, as a justifiable and profitable traffick.

"It is with great astonishment and surprise," says Washington, in his order of the 23d," the General hears the soldiers enlist from one camp to another, and frequently receive a bounty, and that some officers have knowingly received such men. So glaring a fraud upon the publick, and injury to the service will be punished in the most exemplary manner."

And by the following extracts from the order of the 24th, the necessities of the army, the state of appropriations, and allowance for minute expenses, with the scrupulous attention to economy, which was indispensable, will be seen in a light almost ludi

crous.

"Each Brigadier, with the Colonel and Commanding Officer of the several regiments in his brigade, are to meet and estimate the quantity of paper absolutely