The Placer herald., 1856-05-31
The Retreat from Long Island

The second volume of lrving's Life Of Geo.
Washington has just appeared Although
largely occupied by military affairs, the
volume contains many fine sketches of pri-
vate character, and lfe-like pictures Of
American society as it was in the time Of
the Revolution. The narrative of the un-
fortunate battle of Long Island and of the
subsequent retreat may be selected as spec
linen of the graphic style in which Mr.
Irving describes military operations. We
extract q few paragraphs:
Never did retreat require greater secresy
and circumspecton. Nine thousand men,
with all the munitions of war, were to be
Withdrawn from before a victorious army, en-
camped SO near that every stroke of spade
and pick-aXe from their trenches could be
heard The retreating troops, moreover, were
to be embarked and conveyed across strait
three quarters Of mile wide, swept by rapid
tides. The least alarm Of their movement
would bring the enemy upon them, and pro-
duce a terrible scene of confusion and csrnage
at the place Standardization.
Washington made the preparatory arrange
ments with great alertness, yet profound Sc
crecy. Verbal orders were sent to Colonel
Hughes, who acted as quartmaster-general,
to impress all water-craft, large and small,
from Spytuden Duivel, on the Hudson, round
to He'll Gate, on the sound, and have them
on the east side Of the city by evening: The
order was issued at noon, and so promptly
executed that, although some Of the vessels
had to be brought distance Of Is miles
they were all at Brooklyn at o'clock in the
evening, and put under the management o.
Colonel Glovers amphibious Marblehead reg
ment.
To prepare the army for a general move
ment without betraying the object, orders
were issued for the troops to hold themselves
in readiness for night attack upon the enc
my. The orders caused surprise, for the poor
fellows were exhausted, and their arms rem
dered nearly useless by the rain; all however
prepared to obey, but several made nuncupa-
tive wills, rs is customary among soldiers on
the eve Of sudden and deadly peril
According to Washington's plan ofretreat
to keep the enemy frem discovering the with
drawl of the Americans until their main body
should have embarked in the boats and push
ed off from the shore, Gen. Mffiin was tc
remain at the lines with the Pennsylvania
troops, and the gallant remains Of Haslet
Smalwood and Hands regiments, with guards
posted and sentinels alert, as ifnothing extra
ordinary was taking place; when the .nain
embarkation was effected they were them
selves to move off quietly march briskly to
the ferry, and embark. in case ofany alarm
that might disconcert the arrangements,
Brooklyn Church was to be the rallying
place, whittier all should repair, SO as united
ly to resist any attack.
1t was late in the evening when the troops
began to retire from the breastworks. AS
one regiment quietly withdrew from their
station on guard, the troops on the right and
left moved up and filled the vacancy. There
was stihed murmur in the camp, unavoida-
BILE in moment Of the kind but it gradually
died away in the direction Of the river, as the
main body moved on in silence and order
The youthful Hamilton, whose military mer-
its had won the favor Of General Greene
and who had lost his baggage and field
piece in the battle, brought up the rear o
the retreatng party. In the dead of thu
night, and in the midst of this hushed anC
anxious movements, cannon went off will
tremendous roar "The effect" says al
American who was present, "wss at once alarm