The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-06-08
MIS-C'EL L. A. EOUS.
THE BATTLE OF LONG-ISLAND,
From Discourse delivered before the .Netc- York His
tOrcai Society,"
BY SAMUEL WARD. JR.
[Concluded.1

At half past two o'clock, passing clouds OBJ
$cured the harvest moon the night waxed gloomy
and the air chill Suddenly sharp report of mus
kerry, in the direction of Yeow-Hook, alarmed
the American camp. 1t was a startling sound
in the stiffness of the morning, and the troops
sprang to. their arms, as the rereiUe summoned
each man to his duty. Many brave lad awoLe
from dreams of peaceful home, of the faher-house
and its loved inmates, where, in presence ofthe glad
corps the warke sounds that lulled him to sleep
seemed but as dream-notcs, and the danger he
anticipated, zone that was passed He had obey
ed the watch-word of liberty, which called him to
the hardshps of war; But his heart told him life
was sweet, and his cottage home q paradise The
drum ratified in his ear, and aroused him to the
stern reality he feared not, coured not
Ere the alarm ceased beating the menhad seiz-
ed their muskets. Word had been passed from
the remote picquets on the coast, that the enemy
were approaching. Lord Stirling was instantly
directed by General Putnam to march with the two
nearest regiments TO their rencounter. These
proved to be the Pennsylvania and Maryland troops,
under Colonels Haslet and Smawood with
whom, proceeding over the uneven ground in the
direction of the attack, he found himself on the
road to the Narrows, toward day-break, and soon
met Colonel Atlee, with his Delaware regiment,
retiring before the British, with the picquets to
WHOSE dlu lney nau duFalceu. ClallOnlnS ms
officer on the left of the road by which enemy were
approaching Lord Stirling formed his two regi-
ments along an advantageous ridge, ascending
from the road to piece of wood on the top of a
hill. The British were received with two or three
warm rounds by the Delawares, who,. as their
ground became untenable, withdrew to a wood on
Lord Strings left, where they formed.
The assailants now in sight, proved to be two
brigades, Of four regiments each, under the COM
mand of General Grant.-They proceeded to &C.
cupy the elevation opposite Lord Stirling, at a
distance Of three hundred yards. Their light
troops came one hundred and fifty yards nearer,
with view to gain possession of superior EN-
inence on his left. AS they marched up this hll
thaywere met by the deadly fire of Kichline's rifle
corps, who had just reached the ground in time to
protect this important point, and who, as was re-
Gently informed by an old man. then and yet liv-
ingnear the spot, novel them down as fast as they
appeared. The An e'icans brought up two field
pieces to oppose the ten of their opponents A
sharp cannonade ensued, and was vigorously sus-
tanned on both sides, to late hour until when,
let us shift the scene.
While. the, Americans were occupied as we
have seen, on the previous evening there was, to-
ward Dusk. an unusual stir in the British right
wing. The regiments already at Flhthnds uni
der Earl Percy, were Joined at nghtfall by those
under Lord CORVALLIS and General Clinton, who
left the Hessians, masters at Flatbush. The dark
forms of the tall soldiery, theplay of their mus
kets in the moonlight, the whispered order and
tlrm tread of discipline, all announced some sudden
or adventurous movement. One by one, the
companies filed off in the direction of New Lots
and before night was far advanced, Flatlands was