others, who behaved like heroes. They were surrounded by the enemy, who received constant and large reinforcements, whilst our brave men could not get the least assistance from their friends, as there were not men sufficient to fill our lines, and we expected an attack every minute. There were several other smart and pitched battles till evening, when Lord Stirling's men began to retreat. We have about five hundred and fifty missing at present. This morning General Parsons came in with a few men; he brings an account that the enemy have lost five hundred men, and a hat, with two bullet holes, marked Colonel Grant, and his watch. I wish it was General Grant, but their great officers don't like venturing. In the evening the enemy had a number of tents pitched about a mile distance. This morning about four o'clock I accompanied the General around the works, and we saw very large encampments; by these appearances, and information, the enemy are twenty thousand strong. Our sentries are very near theirs, who are about a quarter of a mile dis tance. [Force, Archives, vol. I, 5th Series, fol. 1195.] [ No. 59. ] Letter from Gen. Washington to Governor Trumbull, giving an Account of the Battle and Retreat. General Washington to Governour Trumbull. New-York, September 6, 1776. SIR: I have been honoured with your favour of the 31st ultimo, and am extremely obliged by the measures you are taking, in consequence of my reccommendation letter. The exertions of Connecticut upon this, as well as upon every other occasion, do them great honour, and I hope will be attended with successful and happy consequences. In respect to the mode of conduct to be pursued by the troops that go over to the Island, I cannot lay down any certain rule; it must be formed and governed by circumstances, and the direction of those who command them. I should have done myself the honour of transmitting to you an account of the engagement between a detachment of our troops and the enemy, on Long-Island, on the 27th, and of our retreat from thence, before now, had it not been for the multiplicity of business I have been involved in ever since; and being still engaged, I cannot enter upon a minute and particular detail of the affair. I shall only add, that we lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, from seven hundred to one thousand men. Among the prisoners are General Sullivan and Lord Stirling. The inclosed list will show you the names of many of the officers that are prisoners. The action was chiefly with the troops from Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Lower Counties, and Maryland, and Colonel Huntington's regiment; they suffered greatly, being attacked and overpowered by numbers of the enemy greatly superiour to them. The enemy's loss we have not been able to ascertain, but we have reason to believe it was considerable. The engagement was warm, and conducted with great resolution and bravery on the part of our troops. During the engagement, a deep column of the enemy descended from the woods, and attempted an impression upon our lines, but retreated immediately on the discharge of a cannon, and part of the musketry from the line nearest to them. As the main body of the enemy had encamped not far from our lines, and as I had reason to believe they intended to force us from them by regular approaches, which the nature of the ground favoured extremely, and at the same time meant, by the ships of war, to cut off the communication between the City and Island, and by that means keep our men divided, and unable to oppose them anywhere, by the advice of the General Officers, on the night of the 29th, I withdrew our troops from thence without any loss of men and but little baggage. I am, &c., [Force, Archives, vol. II, 5th Series, fol. 196.] Go. WASHINGTON. LIST OF DOCUMENTS Relating to the Progress of Revolutionary Measures 1. Letter from Lord Stirling to Col. Ward, relating to the Capture of Frank James. 2. Gov. Tryon's letter to Lord George Germaine, guaranteeing the 3. Letters from Gen. Greene and Benjamin Sands, giving some account of the loyalist recruits, and furnishing evidence against nineteen residents of Queens Co. 4. Washington's Instructions to Gen. Putnam regarding the Loyalists on Long Island. 5. Benjamin Birdsall's Complaint to the Provincial Congress of its neglect of him. 6. Letter of William Smith, of Suffolk county, giving Information against the Tories in his neighborhood. 7. Examination of John Hendrickson, regarding the Conspiracy of the Tories. 7. Sergeant Graham's Plan of Attack. 8. Relating to the Arrival of the British Fleet at Sandy Hook. 8. Information respecting certain Tories at Jamaica. 9. Relating to the imprisonment of Loyalists. 10. Benjamin Kissam's Report to Congress on driving off Stock. 11. Letters of Jeromus Remsen relating to the same matter. 12. Capt. Lambert Suydam's report of Loyalists taken Prisoners. 13. Roll of the Troops of Horse in Kings and Queens Counties, on duty in driving off Stock. 14. Depositions and Letters relating to the Loyalists of Long Island. 14a. Address of Congratulation, signed by 1293 inhabitants of Queens Co., to Gov. Tryon on his return to New York, and Tryon's acknowledgment. |