Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-24

fContinued
10 return to our narrative. On the removal
OF the army from the vicinity of Boston, it
was Col. Henshaw's purpose to retire from
military service entirely, and was only deter
red by the urgent request of General Washing
ton to remain, who offered him the choice of
three regiments, then without commanders.
On consulting the Subatern officers OF these
regiments, he found them all anticipating pro.
motion, and would feel injured to he suppressed
ed by one outside their rauks. He therefore
declined, but consented to accept a lieutenant
colonets commission in regiment whereof
,tSpL Little was COMMANDMENT officer with
= On he had formed pleasant acquaintance
Al Gen. Green's brigade. They had marching
orders for New York in March, l776 but while
mastering tor the march, on the first day of
April, received counter orders to repair to
Newport, Il. where thirty British ships had
made their appearance These, however, soon
left without doing, or receiving damage, and
our troops arrived at New York about the
middle of April A few days later, General
Washington came on ald ordered this brigade
to long Island, aboutSsIle Sfr4 Of May, ten
regiments having preyi ShslLgNcssd aved march
ing orders for Qagkee, " Tour the 25th,
and six on the 30tF of Aprik-- C Oh Henshaw
wrote under date Of
lone ISLAND, Both July, I776.
Recruits from Worcester county arrived on
Sunday at New York. and were ordered back
on Monday to Kings Bridge about fifteen
miles off, where suppose they vii bes cation
ed have not seen them. The ken&pgS, still
lie at Staten Island; fifteen sgins,sQQre We're
added to them yesterday. We are preparing
five RATS to destroy them"
: The campaign of this summer on Long Isl
and was marked with startling incidents and
strange events, that kept the country in con.
slant alarm. Plots and conspiracics of the en-
envy to blow up our magazines, and murder
the officers, were earl y attempted, but FORUM
ately discovered III season. Hand to hand
combats, and conflicts between squads Of op
posing parties meeting outside the lines, were
OF daily occurrence. The American troops, at
this station, We're mostly from New England
the enemy made up Of British and HesSian, in
about equal parts. Besides the military were
hordes of thieves, robbers, and incendiaries,
ready 10 perpetrate any crime for the spols,
and the more willy tory and traitor, ready for
any mean service, for reward Our Yankee
soldier hated tory worse than a IIessan, and
never failed to give him a threshng when
caught in his beat Our grandmothers used
to say, "our army sad times in the city,
alarming times on Long Island bloody times
up North River and terrible times in the Jer-
seys." The last proposition became chronic,
and has passed down to the present generation
as an cold saying" Mr.. Joseph Sprague said
there was not a rod OF way from the ferry land
ing to Flatbush, without historic interest; that
diligent Harvey Birch" with papers from
both sides, might have collected facts enough
to fill a monthly Knickerbocker of 300 pages
duodeclmo and material LETT for an extra NUM-
Der.
Who ,0aS Joseph Sprdgue? He was an hon
ored and respected citizen of Brooklyn, n. Y,
nearly forty years, until his death in 1854, and
first mayor elected after its incorporation as a
city. An enthusiastic antiquary, OF industri-
GUS habits, and untiring in the pursuit Of his
faVorite researches, he collected rich fund of
traditional anecdotes of the revolutionary war;
on Long Island OF a pleasant disposition,
easy demeanor, and affable in conversation
he managed to tax largely the memories of
of old residents OF Long Island, without weary
ing their patience. He was born and educated
in Leicester, where he resided an il the age of
thirty. In his annual visits to his early home
and numerous relations, he would entertain a
circle of eager listeners with "reminiscences of
the Revolutionary War. AT the historical
celebration at Leicester in l849 he read an n
tereSting paper, relating in detail the military
services OF Colonel Henshaw in the summer of
1776. And, when visited by his former towns
men at his adopted home, he was wont to lead
them out on long rambles over the island, and
point out where such and such Skrmlshes
took place, where fierce conflicts occurred, or
successful retreats were effected. "Here is
where the American troops were stationed, at
one time, and the general officers had their
head quarters. Here was the magazine OF
ammunition which renegade tories tried to
blow up. A little further on is the spot where
our old townSnan, Col. H1nshaIand-hjs brave
horse guakk actonipiisiM tI9ir w@nderiul
escape thrdns5lt the &rrks 81 BfIpshafftf' Hessian
troops"
Mr.. Sprague's relation of this event was to
this effect, though stated more infinitely. In
August a detachment of picked men, for
mounted rangers, under command Of Col
Henshaw was detailed to reconnoter the en-
my position, and examine the grounds Ior
military operations, i'll the expectation OF
general engagement at no distant day. Re
turning TO their encampment, they suddenly
came upon a large force of the enemy drawn
up in double file, in circular form, preventing
any retreat except in the rear, towards the en-
emy's camp. fog in the atmosphere at the
time prevented discovery of the stratagem
earlier; and the British officers, not knowing
the amount of troops they were preparing to
encounter or their near approach, were just
then convened in council to determine on the
mode of attack, while their troops were list
lessly resting on their arms Perceiving their
critical position, our gallant band halted and
hesitated few moments, when their leader
turned the head of his horse, and his anxious
eye meeting the eager glances of his brave
comrades, raised himself in his stirrups, and
waving his sword gave the laconc order 4" I'M
sheaihe lS,cordS-Cm Right and Left-FoR-
wARD!' Leading the way himself they all
dashed through the enemys lines, and before
the officers could regain their posts, Or the sol.
diers their equilibrium, were out of reach of
their musketry Passing a stream OF water in
their retreat, some of the men dismounted and
coolIy removed the planks from bridge to
retard the progress Of their pursuers, and gain
ed their quarters in safety. Mr.. Spragues
fondness for the romance of history led him to
make full and careful investigation of facts,
and his enthusiasm in narrating such events
impaired peculiar interest to his anecdotes.
Col. Henshaw did not relate scenes Of blood
shed in his family letters, or domestic CONVEX
sation; and seldom alluded to his personal
participation, unless pressed on the subject
Whether the suboined extract relates to the
above-named adventure, or some other action,
seems uncertain, as hostile meetings and con-
fcts, more or less sanguinary, were frequent
at that period -
"LoNG ISLAND August 20, l776.
You will undoubtedly hear before you see
this, that we have had an engagement with
the enemy were surrounded by them, and
had number killed and taken. ! was with
the party who were surrounded, and through
Kind Providence got through their fire with
out being wounded or taken-the particulars
OF winch have not time to relate, as the enc
my are close to us and we expect to be at
tackled every hour. | have written to brother
Joseph by this conveyance, which letter he
will let you see"
III memorandum drawn up towards the
close of his life, relating to pecuniary losses