The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-12-23

HE CAPTURE OF NEw YORK BY THE
BRITIsH-Ninety-two years ago, to-day
September 18th, 1776l. the city Of New
York fell into the hands Of the British,
and remained in their possession for seven
years, two months aud ten days there
after; at the expiration of which time,
the war Of the revolution being ended and
the independence Of the colonies esta-
blished, the last Of the hostile army
evacuated these shores. The Continental
Army having suffered a defeat at the
battle near Brooklyn, on the 29th of
August. l776. it left. Long Island in pos
session of the Royal troops, and, under
cover of heavy fog, crossed over in safety
TO Manhattan Island. On the following
day the British feet sailed up the bay,
under command Of Admiral Howe, and
anchored near Governors Island General
Washington in command at New York,
seeing the impossibility Of holding the
city against the combined land and naval
forces of the enemy, determined on re-
moving to more secure position. At
first he thought of destroying New York,
so that it might not afford winter quar-
tiers for the invaders but in this he was
overruled by the Continental Congress.
lie then called a council of his officers.
and, on the 18th Of September, it was
decided to evacuate the city-three of
council Generals Heath, Clinton and
Spencer being the only protestants against
the measure.
The movement was Immediately begun,
under the direction of Col Glover The
sick were removed to New Jersey, the
public stores. etc, to Dobb's Ferry, and
the main body of the army to Harlem
Heights, Mount Washington and vicinity.
Gen. Putnam was in the city proper,
which then extended only as far north
ward as Duane street, with orders to Join
the other iorces as soon as the landing
Of the British should compel such course.
On the 18th Sunday Sir Henry Gin
ton, with 1000 men, crossed over from
the mouth of New-town Greek, and land
ed at Kip's Bay, foot of what is now
Thirty fourth street, East River, under
cover of ten British men-of-wsr that lay
opposite the present site Of the House
Of Refuge. Another division of the in
yading army, mostly Hessians, landed at
point higher up the island, and soon
Joined their forces with those Of Gen.
Clinton. Hearing the cannonading from
the English ships, Washington, who was
in Harlem, rode down to Kip's Bay, just
in time to see the brigades of Parsons
and Fellows, mostly Connecticut troops,
which were stationed there to oppose the
landing, running away panic stricken.
Aided By the officers Of these brigades,
he tried to rally them, but the attempt
was Intellectual.
The American then retreated to the
north end of the island, and Washington
sent an express order to Putnam to
evacuate the city forthwith. The old
veteran of Horseneck barely succeeded
in making good his retreat. the British
forces having already marched inward to
an eminence known as " heidelberg" situat-
ed between what are now the Fifth and
Sixth avenues, Thirty-ffth and Thirty
eighth streets. The retreat was noticed,
and attempt made to cut it off, brigade
of British light infantry being sent out
for that purpose; but they were whipped
back, the fight taking place about where
One-hundred and-sixth street intersects
Eighth avenue. By sunset the British
had extended their lines from Horns
Hook, foot of Eighty-ninty street, to
Bloomingdale, and the Harlem Plains
divided the hostile camps. General Robert
sou, with strong force, then marched
into the city proper, and took possession
oft in the name of King George. On
the following day, (September 10TH. the
battle of Harlem Plains was fought. in
which the invaders lost the greater pro-
portion Of men, though the American
army was forced TO retreat to the heights,
and two months afterward Ford Washing
ton, | miles from the City Hall, between
ls0th and ls6th streets, capitulated. leav-
ing the whole island in the hands Of the
Royal troops, until, after the declaration
of peace, they, on November %, 1888,
left it aud the country forever.-Ner Pork
Tribune.