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

CFrom Irvings Life of Washington.
THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND

About nine o'clock in the evening of the 26th
August, l776,l Sir Henry Clinton began his
march from Flatlands with the vanguard, COM
posed of light infantry. Lord Percy followed
with the grenadiers, artillery and light Dragons
forming The centre. Lord CORVALLIS brought
up the rear guard with the heavy ordnance.
General Howe accompanied this division.
1t was a silent march, without beat Of drums
or sound of trumpet, under guidance of a Long
Island tory, along bv-roads, traversing swamp
by a narrow causcway, and so across the coun-
try to the Jamaica road. About two hours be-
fore day break, they arrived within half mile
of the pass through the Bedford hills, and halted
to prepare for an attack. At this juncturc they
captured an American patrol, and learned, to
their surprise that the Bedford pass was unoc-
cupied. In fact, the whole road beyond Bed
ford, leading to Jamaica, had been left unguard-
ed. except by some light volunteer troops.
Colonels Williams and Miles who were sta
toned to the left of Colonel Hand, among the
wooded hills, had been instructed to send out
parties occasionally to patrol the road, but no
troops had been stationed at the Bedford pass.
The road and pass may not have been included
in General Green's plan of defense, or may have
been thought too lar out of the way to need
special precaution. The neglect of them, how
ever, proved fatal.
Sir Henry Clinton Immediately detached a
battalion of light infantry to secure the pass;
and, advancing with his corps at the first break
of day, possessed himself OF the heights He
was now within three miles of Bedford, and his
march had been undiscovered. Having passed
the heights therefore, he halted his division for
the soldiers to take some refreshment prepara-
tory to the mornings hostilities.
There we Will leave them, while we note how
the other divisions performed their part If the
plan.
About midnight General Grant moved from
Gravesend bay with the left wing, composed of
two brigades and a regiment of regulars, bat
TALON of New York loyaIists, and ten field
pieces He proceeded along the road leading
past the Narrows and Gowanus Cove, toward
the right of the American works. picket
guard Of Pennsylvania and New York militia,
under Colonel Atlee, retired before him, fight
ing, to position the skirts OF the wooded
hills.
In the mean time, scouts had brought in word
TO the American lines that the enemy were ap-
preaching in force upon the right. General Put
nam instantly ordered Lord Stirling to hasten
with the two regiments nearest at hand, and
hold them in check. These were Haslett's Della
ware and Smallwoods Maryland regiments; the
latter the Daacdronis, In scarlet and buff, who
had outshone, in camp, their yeoman fellow
soldiers in homespun. They turned out with
great alacrity, and Stirling pushed forward with
them on the road toward the Narrows. BY the
time he had passed Gowanus Cove, daylight be-
gan to appear. Here, On a rising ground, he
met Colonel Atlee with his Pennsylvania Pro-
+ vlncIals and learned that the enemy near.
indeed their front began to appear IN the uncer-
tam twilight. Stirling ordered Atlee to place
himself In orchard on the left of the road,
and await their coming up, while he formed the
+ Delaware and Maryland regiments along ridge
I from the road up to piece of woods on the top
OF the hill,