The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-16
THE BATTLE OF RED BANK,

From advanced sheets of the new volume
(lX) of "Bancroft's History of the United
States:p-
Between the 4th and the sth the fleet of Lord
Howe anchored between New Castle and Reedy
Island. 1t was the middle of October before
they could open narrow and intricate channel
InIoueh the lower obstruction IN the river. The
upper works we're untouched: and the forts on
Red Bank and Mud Island were garrisoneG by
Continental troops; the former under the com
mand OF Colonel Christopher Greene, of Rhode
Island, the latter under that of Lieutenant
Colonel Samuel Smith, of Maryland. Meantime
Sir William Howe, from the necessity of cOncen-
trattng his force, ordered Clinton to abandon
Fort Clinton, on the Hudson, and to send him
reinforcement of full SIX thousand men.M He
removed his army from Germantown 10 Phila-
delphia, and protected it by line of fortihca-
tions from the Schuylkil to the Delaware.
'On the morning of the 18th messenger
arrived in camp, bringing letters from Putnam
and Clinton prematurely but positively an
npunCing the surrender OF the army of Bur-
goyne Washington received them with 10y
uDspeakable and devout gratitude for this
signal stroke OF Providence All will be WE'LL
he said, 'in HIS own good time.' The news cir
culated among The Americans in every direc-
tion, and quickly penetrated the camp Of Sir
Island had rendered its reduction much more
tedious than was conceived3 under q feeling of
exaspeTated impatlence he gave verbal orders TO
Colonel Donop, who had expressed wish for
separate command to carry Red Bank by assault
If 1t could be easily done aud make short work
of the affair. On the 22d, Donop, with Eve regi-
ments OF Hessian grenadiers ana infantry, four
CONF anies OF yagers a few mounted yagers, all
the artillery OF the FIVE battalions, and two Eng
Aish howitzers, arrived at the fort. Making
At once reconnaissance with his artillery
officers, he found that on three sides 1t could be
approached through thick woods within four
hundred yards. 1t was pentagon, with high
earthly rampant, protected in front by an abattls.
The battery of eight 3-pounders and two how
directed on the embrasures At the front OF
each of the four battalions selected for the
assault stood captain with the carpenters and
one hundred men bearing the fascnes which
had been hastily bound together. Mad after
glory, Donop, at balf-past A, summoned the gar
rison in arrogant language defiance being
returned, he addressed few words TO his troops,
Each colonel placed himself at the head of his
division, and at quarter before 5, under the
protection OF brisk canonade from all
their artillery, they ran forward and carried
the abattis. On clearing t they were embar-
rassed by pitfalls, and we're exposed to a terrible
fire of small arms and OF grape shot from con-
Ceaed gallery, while two galleys, which the
bushes had hidden, raked their TANKS with
chain-shot. Yet the brave Hessians formed on
the glacis, filed the ditch, and pressed on
towards the rampant. But Donop, the officers
officers, were killed or wounded; the men who
clim bed the parapets were beaten down with
lances and bay yonets; and as twilight was coming
on, the assailants fell back under the protection
of their reserve. Many OF the wounded crawted
away into the forest, but Donop and a lew others
were left behind. The party marched back
during the night unpursued.
''As the British ships-of-war which had at
tempted 10 take part in the attack fell down
the river the Augusta of siXIy-four guns, aDC
the Merlin frigate. grounded. The next day the
Augusta was set on fire by red hot shot from the
American galleys and floating batteries, anC
blown up before all her crew could escape; the
Merlin was abandoned and set on fire. From
the wrecks the Americans brought of two "a
FOUNDERS. Thank God,' reasoned John Adams
1the glory is not Immediately due to the Com
mander-fn- Chief, or idolatry and adulatiol
would have been so excessive as to endange
our liberties.'
1.-The Hessians, by their own account, lost il
the assault four hundred and two in killed ant
wounded, of whom twenty six were officers
Two colonies gave up their lives. Donop, who's
thigh was shattered fingered for three days
and to Fleury, who watched over his death bee
with tenderness, he said-It is finishing
noble career early; die the victim OF my am
bition and of the avarce of my sovereign Thi
was the moment chosen by Howe to complain
of Lord George Germain, and to ask the king
leave to resign his command; and he added tina
there was no prospect OF terminating the wa
without another campaign, nor then, unes
large reinforcements such as he knew coul
not be furnished should be sent from Europe
s"FuI six thousand men Clinton to Gener
Harvey, 18Th October, wv; in Albemare's Roc
ineham," II 837.