escape. No time was to be lost. The night set in with a strong wind which was likely to defeat their purpose. "They felt," says Mr. Paulding, "as if standing on the brink of fate, ready to fall at every moment. Their enemies

were so near that they could hear them at work with their pick axes and shovels, just without the lines, and distinguish the word of command given by the officers, in the loud tones of a triumphant enemy. At length the wind changed to a gentle breeze from the south-west, accompanied by a thick fog, which added deeply to the obscurity of the night. The army, like speechless shadows, entered the boats in death-like silence, one by one, and in such perfect order, that the whole, together with the greater part of the heavy cannon, all the field pieces, provisions, horses, wagons, and ammunition, were in perfect safety before the British discovered that the American line had been evacuated." Scarcely had they landed at NewYork, when the fog, which had so providentially. favoured their escape, lifted, and discovered their enemies taking quiet possession of the spot they had abandoned half an hour before; so narrow was their escape.

This defeat produced a most unfavourable effect upon the army, filling their minds with apprehension and despair. They became more intractable and impatient of restraint, and went off in great numbers, even by companies and regiments at a time. "Our condition," says Washington in one of his communications to con

gress, "is most alarming; and with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops."

army.

The commander-in-chief improved this occasion to urge with all his powers the necessity of a different organization and a more permanent He assured congress that no dependance could be placed on the militia, or on raw recruits raised for a few months only, and took strong ground in favour of an army enlisted to serve during the continuance of the war, or at least for several years. "I am persuaded," he says, "that our liberties must of necessity be greatly hazarded, if not entirely lost, if their defence is left to any but a permanent, standing army; I mean one to exist during the war." Unfortunately the people were exceedingly jealous of an army so constituted, and Washington urged its importance in vain, till repeated calamities convinced the most skeptical of the entire correctness of his position.

In connection with the battle of Long Island is an incident which deserves to be recorded in every work which relates at all to the history of this memorable war. We mean the execution of Captain Hale. This enterprising and amiable young man was a native of Connecticut, and had just graduated at Yale College, being about twenty years of age, when the spark of war, which had been kindled by our repeated wrongs, was suddenly blown into a flame by the blood poured forth in the streets of Lexing

ton.

He immediately abandoned his studies

and his home, and sought the scene of danger. He was first commissioned as a lieutenant, but was soon after promoted to the rank of captain, in the regiment of Colonel Webb. After the retreat from Long Island, General Washington, anxious to obtain a more definite knowledge of the strength and designs of the enemy, called together a council of officers, who determined to send some person to make an examination. For this difficult and dangerous enterprise Captain Hale boldly volunteered his services.

He divested himself of his military suit, and in the character of a schoolmaster, with a certificate of qualifications in his pocket, he entered the British camp, obtained the desired knowledge, and was passing the enemy's outer guard, at the " Cedars," on his return, when he was discovered and recognised by a tory relative, who gave information to the British troops. He was immediately carried before General Howe, where, with the frankness of a soldier, he disclosed his rank, and declared the purpose of his visit. This officer seems to have acted contrary to his accustomed generosity, and gave orders for his immediate execution, which took place on the following morning, under circumstances at which humanity revolts.

A clergyman, whose attendance he had desired to administer spiritual comfort in his awful extremity, was refused him; his request to be furnished with a Bible was denied; and letters which he addressed to his mother and other friends were unfeelingly. destroyed, for the

reason, as the provost marshal declared, "that the rebels should not know that they had a man in their army who could die with so much firmness." Unknown-without a single friend to offer him support or comfort-and in the camp of his enemies, this excellent and promising young man was hurried to his execution, lamenting in his last hour-not that he was cut off in the dawn of a joyous life-not that he was to die the death of a criminal-not that he should no more embrace the tender mother who had looked to him for the comfort of her declining years-BUT THAT HE HAD ONLY ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR HIS COUNTRY. How different was this treatment from that which Major Andre afterward received, under circumstances. precisely similar, from the brave, the generous, the noble-hearted WASHINGTON !

CHAPTER X.

Washington evacuates New-York-Takes post at Kingsbridge-Battle of White Plains-Capture of Fort Washington-Retreat through New-Jersey-Deplorable effects of the campaign-Battle of Trenton-Battle of PrincetonEffects of these brilliant achievements.

THE battle of Long Island was the commencement of a series of disasters which brought the cause of American liberty to the very gates of destruction. Washington soon saw that with his feeble force, which had at no time exceeded twenty thousand effective men,

and which was now greatly reduced and dispirited, it was impossible for him to retain possession of New-York. Sir Wm. Howe, aided by a powerful fleet, had every advantage, and was already sending forward troops with the view of gaining the rear of the Americans, and thus hemming them in, and making them an easy prey.

To counteract these designs, Washington prepared to evacuate the city. He took a strong position beyond Kingsbridge, in Westchester county; to which he moved his military stores, and then disposed his troops in detachments, from New-York to this place, in such a manner as to be able to resist an attack at any point, and, at the same time, to secure his retreat. General Howe, observing the position of Washington's force, ordered some troops to land at Kip's Bay, apparently for the purpose of cutting off the lower division. General Washington, hearing the sound of the guns, hastened to the place of landing, and, to his inexpressible chagrin, saw his troops flying in every direction without firing a gun, although not more than sixty of the enemy were in sight. It is said that he was highly excited at this shameful conduct of his men, and rode hastily toward the enemy till his own person was endangered, in the vain hope of encouraging them to the performance of their duty; but it did not avail: the troops, amounting to eight regiments, fled to the main body on Harlaem Heights, and had the British commander seized the opportunity to stretch his