The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-10

,heir balls. He reached Fort Lee N safety and
paid by the high compliment bestowed upon his patriotism
and galantyy by his beloved commander.
The loss OF Fort Washington at tho time . serious
affair, and was subject OF much anxiety to General
Washington against whose wshes had been held Leo,
writing about IT, calls "cursed AFFAIR and Washington
himself wrote a. follows regarding it,
This 10 most unfortunate affair and has given grea.
modification have lost not only tive thousand
that there bat good deal Of artillery and some
10 tha. this post, after the last ships passed t. was held
contrary 70 my wishes and opinion, AZ con
ceiyed ~ be hazardous one Upon ,.,.,e me
General Greene under whose care it was that would
be best evscuae the place. but as the order was dis
cretiouary and his opinion differed from mine u unhapp
~ delayed too late to my great grief as think taat
General Howe-considerDg his army and ours-wonld
have but poor tale tell withoutt and would have
found IL difcut unless come Southern expedition may
prove successful 10 reconcile the people OF England 70
tho conques. Of few pitfa islands, none Of which we're
defeDsibe considering the great number or thor siTS
and the power they have by 70 surround ana renaer
them uiapproachable.
As stated in tho foregoing letter Of Washington tho
enemys had passed tho river despite the che
frs. and the rcdoubt At the oo Of Mount Wash
ingon and aided capture Of the fort by blockadng
II on the river side.
The prisoners taken at the surrender Of the fort
mmured in the old Sugar House in Liberty street.
from which very few ever out alive.
Apart from the Revolutionary associations and remnis
cences which cluster about the place, the sito
Of Fort Washington is one or the most oeaut-
fuI and picturesque localities on the banks Of the
Hudson, and affords view Of the scenery for thirty miles
up and down the river On the opposite side Of the river
rse the height Of five aud six hundred feet huge
formations Of trap rock known the Palisades, and
which look like immense walls built by the hands of
Ttans while stretching far away 70 the right, ill they
lost in the blue haze of the distance extend the
rhapsodze work themselves into ecstacics
natural aud artificial beauties of the Rhine and the old
that strewed along its banks but after all II is
inferior TO the Hudson point Of grandeur aud magnih
cence, and quiet landscape scenery And who Is
there that would exchange the glorious memories
of the Revolution for all the old ruins and remains of feu
da kngiy rule about which much has oeen said and
sung and written There few If any ruins 1t true
upon but the thriving and picturesque towns that dot
banks, from the great city Of New York TO the cap
tai of the Satehe living realities of the presentare bet
than any feudal remains Of which the Rhine boast
Within quarter of hours ride from the by rail is
the old Dutch town of Yonkers and pleasant walk from
there brings you to ssepy Hollow made famous by our
great author Washington Irving, the Of that
wonderful feat Of sonoescence which he tells was
performed there many years ago. Ten miles to
the south is the great city ITSELF and stll further
Off Staten and Long islands, with the Sarrows be
tween, looking more iko continuation oc the
great river than arm Of the Tho East
river is visible at intervals from the site Of tho
fort and the picturesque villages Of Flushing AMI Astoria
also be Then, addition TO the scenery, there
il the busy life of commerce, which finds the
Hudson Of the greatest fields for its deveopeent
progress which presents the appearance of grand
moving panorama In the scene.
The particular locality Of the fort itself is diversified
with all those features without which no scenery can be
called beautiful That portion Of which speak an
Of forty acres and possesses all the varied charms
of rock river lake, hill and glade has extensive
river 'front.' and through the pleasant little valley the
east Of the fort stream which in part Of
grounds forms beautiful miniature lake. Take alto.
gcser there h MOI more lovely spot the island OF
Manhattan than the locality Of Fort Washington and
doubt II there any place the banks Of the Hudson
which affords view Of more magnificent scenery.