Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-03-04

rode to the western outposts in the peicbhor-
hood of Red Hook. While they were there :,
Hght breeze lifted the fog from part of the
New York bay, and revealed the British sbips
at their anchorage opposite Staten Island. There
appeared to be an unusual hustle among them
Boats were passing to and from the Admirars
ship, as If seeking carrying orders. Some
movement was apparently in agitation. The
idea occurred to the reconnoiterinc partv that
the fleet was preparing, should the wind hold
and the fog clear away, to come up the bav at
the turn Of the tide, silence the feeble batteries
at lied Hook and the city, and anchor in the
East river. In that case the army on Long
Island would be completely surrounded and en-
trapped.
Alarmed at this perilous probability. they
srurred back to headquarters to urge the i'm
mediate Withdrawal of the army. AS this u,iobt
not be acceptable advice, Reed emboIdened bv
hls intimacy with the Commander-in- Chief. nm
dertook to give it. Washington instantly sum-
moned a council of war. The difficulty was
already apparent of guarding such extensive
works with troops fatigued and dispirited. and
/ exposed to the inclemencies of the weather
Other dangers now presented themselves
Their communication with New York might be
cut off from the fleet below Other ships had
passed round Long Island and were at Flush
ing Bay, on the Sound. These might land
troops on the east side Of Harlem river. and
make themselves masters of Kings Bridge. that
key OF Manhattan Island. Taking all these
things into consideration it was resolved to cross
with the troops to the city that very night
Never did retreat require greater secrecy and
eircumspection Nine thousand men, with all
the munitions of war were to be withdrawn
from before victorious army. encamped so near
that every stroke of spade and pickaxe from
their trenches could be heard The retreafino
troops, moreover, We're to be embarked and cen
veyed across a strait three quarters of mile
wide, swept by rapid tides. The least alarm of
their movement would bring the enemy upon
them, and produce 4 terrible scene of confusion
and carnage at the place of embarkation.
Washington made the preparatory arrange
ments with great alertness, yet profound secrecy.
Verbal orders We're sent to Col Hughes who
acted as Quarternaster General TO impress all
water-craft large and small from Spuvten Duy-
vel, on the Hudson, round to Hell-Gate. on the
Sound, and have them on the east side of the
civ by evening The order was issued at noon,
and SO promptly executed that, although some
of the vessels had to be brought distance Of
fifteen miles, they We're all at BROOKLYN at eight
o'clock in the evening, and put under the com
mand of Col Glovers amphibious MarbleEead
regiment.
To prepare the army for a general movement.
without betraying the object, orders We're issued
for the troops to hold themselves in readiness
for night attack upon the enemy. The orders
caused surprise, for the poor fellows were ex-
baUsted and their arms rendered nearly useless
by the rain; all, however. prepared TO obey; but
several made nuncupative wills, as is customary
among soldiers on the eve Of sudden and deadly
peril
According to Washington's plan Of retreat, 10
keep the enemy from discovering the Withdrawal .
Of the Americans until their nam body should I.
have embarked in the boats and pushed off from
the shore, General Mit1in was to remain at the
lines with his Pennsylvania troops, and the gal
lant remains of Haslctt, Smallwood and Hands
regiment, with guards posted and seutinels alert.
as if nothing extraordinary was taking place
when the main embaIkation was effected. thev /
were themselves to move off quietly, march .
briskly to the ferry and embark. In case Of
any alarm that might disconcert the arrange
ments, Brooklyn Church was TO be the rally
place, whittier all should repair, so rs unItedlv
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 I
up and filled the vacancy. There was stifed (
murmur in the camp, unavoidable in movement
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 HamIl-
ten, whose military merits had won the favor Of
Gen. Greene and who had lost his baggage and /
a field-pece in the battle, brought up the rear
Of the retreating party. In the dead of the .
night, and in the midst Of this hushed and anx-
ious movement, cannon went off with a tre- /
mendous roar s'The effect says, an American |
who was present, was at once alarming and |
sublime If the explosion was within our lines, .
the gun was probably discharged in the act of
spiking it, and could have been no less matter
of speculation to the enemy than to ourselves"
What with the greatness of the stake, the [
darkness of the night, the uncertainty of the 4
design, and the extreme hazard of the issue /
conceive a more deeply solemn and interesting
scene"
The meaning ofthis midnight gun was never
ascertained; fortunately, though it startled the /
Americans, it failed TO rouse the British camp.
In the mean time the embarkation went on /
with all possible despatch, under the vigilant
eve of Washington, who stationed himself at
the ferry, experimenting every movement. In .
his anxiety for despatch, he sent back Colonel
Scanned, one Of his aides-de-camp, to hasten /
forward all the troops that were on the march I
Scammel blundered in executing his errand,
and gave the order to Mifflin likewise The
General instantly called in his pickets and SEN
tinels, and set off for the ferry
By this time the tide had turned there was
a strong wind from the northeast; the boats
with oars We're insufficient to convey the troops
those with sails could not make headway against