counterbalanced by the disorder, irregularity, and confusion they occasion."

In fourteen days after the date of this serious remonstrance, congress resolved to raise eighty-eight battalions, to serve during the war. Under these circumstances, to wear away the campaign with as little. loss as possible, so as to to gain time to raise a permanent army against the next year, was to the Americans an object of the greatest importance. Washington, after much deliberation, determined on a war of posts. Recent events confirmed him in the policy of defending his country by retreating, when he could no longer stand his ground. without risking his army. He well knew, that by adopting it, he would subject himself to the imputation of wanting energy and decision; but with him, the love of country was paramount to all other considerations.

In conformity to these principles, the evacuation of New, York was about this time resolved upon, whensoever it could be no longer maintained, without risking the American army. Arrangements were accordingly made for a temporary defence, and an ultimate retreat when necessity required. The British, now in possession of Long island, could at pleasure pass over to York island, or the main. Washington

Washington was apprehensive that they would land above him, cut off his retreat, and force him to a general action on York island. He therefore moved his public stores to Dobbs ferry, and stationed a body of men at the northern end of York island. With the remainder he kept up the semblance of defending New York, though he had determined to abandon it, rather than risk his army for its preservation.

While Washington was making arrangements to save his troops and stores, by evacuating and retreating, the British commander was prosecuting his favourite scheme, of forcing the Americans to a general action, or breaking the communication between their posts. With this view he landed about 4,000 men, three miles above New York, under. cover of five men of war. Works had been thrown up at this place, which were capable of being defended for some time, and troops were stationed in them for that purpose; but they fled with precipitation, without waiting for the approach of the enemy. Two brigades were put in motion to support them. Washington rode to the scene of action, and, to his great mortification, met the whole retreating. While he was exerting himself to rally. them, on the appearance of a small corps of the

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the enemy, they again broke, and ran off in disorder.

Such dastardly conduct raised a tempest in the usually tranquil mind of Washington, Having embarked in the American cause from the purest principles, he viewed, with infinite concern this shameful behaviour, as threatening ruin to his country. He recollected the many declarations of of congress, of the army, and of the inhabitants, preferring liberty to life, and death to dishonour, and contrasted them with their present scandalous flight. His soul was harrowed up with apprehensions that his country would be conquered, her army disgraced, and her liberties, destroyed. He saw in imagination new formed states, with the means of defence in their hands, and the glorious prospects of liberty before them, levelled to the dust, and such constitutions imposed on them, as were likely to crush the vigour of the human mind, while the unsuccessful issue of the present struggle would for ages to come deter poste-, rity from the bold design of asserting their rights. Impressed with these ideas, he ha zarded his person for some considerable time in rear of his own men, and in front of the enemy, with his horse's head towards the latter, as if in expectation, that, by an honourable death,

&

death, he might escape the infamy he dreaded from the dastardly conduct of troops on whom he could place no dependence. His aides-decamp, and the confidential friends around his person, compelled him to retire. In conse quence of their address and importunity, a life was saved for public service, which otherwise, from a sense of honour, and a gust of passion, seemed to be devoted to almost certain destruction. The shameful events of this day hastened the evacuation of New York. This was effected with very little loss of men; but all the heavy artillery, and a large portion of the baggage, provisions, and military stores, and particularly the tents, were unavoidably left behind, The British, having got possession of the city of New York, advanced in front of it, and stretched their encampments across York island, while their shipping defended their flanks. Washington had made his strongest post at King's bridge, as that preserved his communication with the country. In front of this, and near to the British, he had a strong detachment posted in an intrenched camp. This position of the two armies was particularly agreeable to him, for he wished to accustom his raw troops to face their enemies. He hoped that by frequent skirmishes they would grow familiar with the dangers

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dangers incident to war, and fear them less. Opportunities of making the experiment soon occurred. On the day after the retreat from New York, a skirmish took place between an advanced detachment of the British army and some American troops commanded by colonel Knowlton of Connecticut and major Leitch of Virginia. Both these officers fell bravely, fighting at the head of their troops. The captains with their men kept the ground, and fairly beat their adversaries from the field. This was the first advantage the army under the command of Washington had gained in the campaign: its influence therefore was great. To increase its effects, the parole the next day was "Leitch," and the general gave public thanks to the troops that: had been engaged. He contrasted their con-duct with the late shameful flight of others, and observed, "that the result proved what might be done where officers and men exerted themselves;" and again called on all “so to act as not to disgrace the noble cause in which they were engaged."

General Howe continued to prosecute his scheme for cutting off Washington's communication with the eastern states, and enclos→ ing him, so as to compel a general engage ment. With this view the royal army landed

on