Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-09

Never did retreat require greater secrecy aud
circumsprciion Nine thousand mer, with all
the munitions Of war, were 10 be Withdrawn
from beiure victorious army, oncamped SO
near that every stroke Of spade and pickax
frum their trenches could be heard The re-.
treating troops, moreover, were to be embarke ed
aud conveyed across a strait three quarters ol
a mile wide, swept by rapid udes. The least
alarm Of their movement would bring the enemy
upon them. and produce = terrible scene Of cor
lus'uu and carnage at the place Of embarkaiinn.
Washington made the preparatory arrange
menis wilh great acrincss yet profound secrecy.
Verbal orders were sent To Col. Hughes, who
acted as quar,efmas;eT-geucral, 10 impress all
water craft, large and small, from Spuyten
Duyval, on the Hudson. round to Hell-Gate. on
the Sound, and have them on the east side oi
the city by evening. The order was issued at
noon. and so promptly executed that. although
sumo Of the vessels had to he brought dis.
iance Of fifteen miles, they we're all at Brook
lya at o'clock in The evening. and put under
the management Of Col. Gloyers amphbious
Marhlehead regiment.
10 prepare the army for general movement
without he,raying the object. orders were issu-
ed for the troops To huld themselves in readi-
ness for night attack upon The enemy. The
orders caused sarprise, for the poor fellows
we're exhausted, aud their arms rendered nearly
useless by the rain; all, however prepared ,u
obey but several made nuncupa,ire wills, as
is customary among soldiers on the eve Of sud
den and deadly peril.
According 10 Washingion's plan Of retreat.
to keep the enemy from discovering the with.
draTal Of the Americans uuii their main body
should have emharked in the bnats and pushed
of from the shore, Gen. Mlfln was TO remain
al the lines with his Penps yvania troops, and
the gallant remains OF liaslet, Slnallwooi aid
Hands regiments, with guards pusicd and scn-
,ineis alert, as if nothing extraordinary was
taking place; when the main embaTkaiion as
effected, they were themselves 10 muve Of aui-
city, march briskly 10 the ferry and embark -
la case Of any alarm that might disenneer the
arrangements, Bruoklyn Church was To be the
raliyinR place, whittier all should repair, SO as
unledly Ia resist any attack.
IL vas late IN the evening when the troops
began to retire from the breasiworks. As one
regiment quietly withdrew from their station un
guard, the troops on the right and LEFT moved
up and filled the vacancy. There was siilled
murmnr in the camp, unavoidable 10 a move.
men, Of the kind but i, gradually died away
IN the direction of the river, as the main body
moved on in silence and order. The youthful
Hamilton. whose military merits had won the
favor Of General Greene, and who had LOST his
baggage and iell-pieoe IN the battle, brongh,
up the rear Of the rereaiing party. In the
dead Of the night, and in the midst Of this
sSssea I,l d aPa sslHalsq' MsyeRsa geal
once alarming and sublime. Ii the explosion
was within our lines The gun was probably dis
charged in the act Of spking it, and could have
been no less matter Of speculation to the en-
emy than TO Ourselves.
''Wha, with the greatness Of the stake, the
darkness Of the night, the uncertainty Of the
design, and the extreme hazard Of the issue,
odds tho same wriler. ''ii would be diiliculi 10
conceive a more deeply solemn and interesting
scene"
The meaning Of this midnight gun was nev.
er aseeriained; fortunately. though il startled
tho Americans, it failed TO ronse the British
camp.
10 the mean time the embarkaiion went on
with all pussible dispatch, under the viglani
eye Of Washington, who stationed himself at
the ferry, superinleading every movement. Ia
his anxiety for dispatch, he sent hack Col,
Scanned, one Of his aid.de-csmps, 20 hasten
forward all the troops that were on the march.
Scammel blundered 10 executing his errand
and gave the order tn Mflin likewise. The
General instantly called 10 his pckeis and sea-
iinels, and set Oft for the ferry.
By this time the tide had turned there was
a strong wind from the northeast the boats
with oars were insufficient to convey the troops
those with sails could not make headNay against
wind and tide There was some confusion al
the ferry. and in the midst Of IT, Gen. Mifliin
came dawn with the Whole covering party ad-
ding to the embarrassment and upioar.
"Good God General Miflin - crtd Wash
ingion, 81 am afraid you have ruined us By so
unseasonably Withdrawing the irOoPs from the
lines"
II did 50 by your order" replied Mifilin,
with some warmth. at cannot be '' exclaim-
ed Washington. "By G., did - was the
blunt rejoindcr. "Did Scanned ac, as Aid
Z de-Camp for The day ar did he not p "lIe
did" Then" said Mlfilin. II had orders
lhrough him AT is dreadful mistake" re-
joined Washington; sand, unless the troop:
can regain the lines before there absence is
discovered by The enemy, the most disaslrou:
consequences are 10 be apprehended.
/ MifIlin led hack his men 10 the lines, which
had been completely deserted for three-quarleri
of an hour. Fortunately, the dense fog haC
prevented the enemy from discovering that ihey
were uncccupied. The men resumed lhri
former posts, and remained at them until called
of to cross The ferry. "Whoever has seer
troops in a similar siiuation," writes Gen
Heath, "or duly conlemplaies the human hear
in such trials, will know how to appreciate hi
conduct Of these brave men on this occasion.
The fog which prevailed all this time seom
ed almost proyidenial. While il hung ove
Long Island, and concealed the movements o
the Americans, the atmosphere was clear OF
the New York side Of The river. The adverse
wind, TOO, died away The river became 81