The New York herald., 1876-09-15
Centennial of an American Victory
on Manhattan Island.
ABANDONMENT OF THE CITY.
Valuable Services Rendered by a
Quaker Lady.
TIE MARTYR NATHAN HALE.


in which the Americans achieved decided ad-
vantage the enemy. Tho Continental troops
sorey depressed by their defeat in
Brooklyn on the proceeding 27th OF August, ana
the success gained 5000 alter Manhattan Island
raised their dropping spirits 10 high degree In this
respect though the city had been vacua,ed the action
productive of fhe best results. The fate OF Nathan
Hale accomplished and promising young officer
who volunteered n dangerous but most important
service. and In tue performance OF which he became
martyr In the OF his country interviewer with
the memories awakened by the centennial or the bat
ilc This battle will DC celebrated by the New York
Historical Society tomorrow the high ground from
1l0th to l25h street, between the Ninth and Tenth
avenues, where it took place. The Grafton OF the day
will bc delivered by Hon. John Jay. The exercises
will be commenced at half past two p. NJ. sketch is
appended of the principal events connected with the
battle
EVACUATED
Notwithstanding the fortfcanons created 1t was
evident all that the city after the defeat Long
Island could not maintain siege against the British
the neighboring islands aud the ships OF war which
held the harbor The enemy had complete possession
Of both They could ascend when they pleased,
and, landing above, hem Washington IN and insure
the destruction OF his army, for the resistance would
be IN vain with such unequal forces They could assail
the city could from Brooklyn and
attack when they thought proper That he would
eventually be forced New York lie forcsaw
clearly; 10 evacuate 1t too would be to yield
Important advantage TO the enemy; to lingcr long
would be to surrender his army. council OF war
sembcd September H. 1716. II determined by
This body that IL not alone prudent but absolutely
necessary abandon the city. Evidently it
The plan OF the enemy to get In tho rear, and,
by cutting of communication with tho main land,
obge the Americans 10 force passage
through them the terms they wished or to become
prisoners in short time for of the necessary
supply OF provisions There proposition to
burn the before retiring, but 1t voted down
by the Council On the l4th the evacuation took
place. The military and the SICK who
very numerous, were removed across the Harlem
River. Putnam. with a force of 900 men. left
the city, and Washington withdrew with the main
body to Harlem Heights. The Commander-in-Chief
first fixed his headquarters at the house OF Robert
Murray when he issued instructions to Captain Nathan
Hale TO enter the enemy's camp On tho 10Th, whom
The British landed at Kips Bay, he was at Motifs
Tavern, l43d street and Eighth avenue subsequently
he established his headquarters at Colonel Norris
house, whero they continued until the army retired
IRON New York This place about three miles
north OF the village and Hilo and half south OF
Fort Washington.
BRITISH
On the 18th oil September, day after the
ton, under cover OF heavy fire from the ships which
swept tho island, Howe landed at the foot of
Thriy-sixth street rho troops stationed there fed
without nriug shot, and Washington, witnessing their
bad conduct, expressed himself in strong terms OF dis
appreciation. He Immediately retired to his headquar-
ters at Motifs tavern and directed the under his
command TO fall back on Kingsbridgc. He also sent
orders 10 Putnam to leave the city without delay. In
the m antime Howe advanced TO the centre OF the
tsln nd and
preparations stretch Gordon from river 10 river
and thus the capture of the troops still the
city. The latter, rallying under the supposiion that
ali the avenues Of escape were IN possession of the
enemy, determined to make hold stand and
sell their lives as dearly MS they could AT
this critical juncturc Aaron Burr at this
time one the aids OF Putnam, up to
eXtricate them from the difficulty by his superior
kpowledro of the country Guiding the iroops by n
cross path road recently cut through the hills
the lnc OF Broadway he led them along the edge OF
swamp TO the woods which lhe hou SO OF Rob
rrt Murray at lnceberg cmrcnce between tho pres
Fiith and Sixth avenues and Thirty NTH aud Thirty
eighth streets In the meantime Washington was I'M
patiently awaiting their Arrival at the Apthorpc House.
on the road to Bloomingdalo Hons. Clinton Tryon
and u few other royass commuters had halt a in
their advance at the residence OF Murray, which had
been Washingtons headquarters the day before. for
treshmcnts. Here, besuiied by the smiles aud choice
wines of the Quaker hostess, who had received HINT
from the American Commander-ln-Cneit to deain them
long possible. they fingered IN iorgcfuncss of the
enemy they considered certain prey, until sol
der rushed in, painting for breath. to tell them that The
Americans had passed almost within tner grasp and
were now advancing up the Bloomingdae road To
mount and pursue them was the work of
nm instant Fifteen minutes after Washing
ton had Quilted the Ap,horpo House It was nncd
with English troops; but few moments delay had
saved The retiring soldiers. Al ten minutes past three
In the afternoon the coors was struck IN New York.
The Brsh under General Robertson entered the city,
ana renamed their uninterrupted possession for
The succeeding seven years and three months The
wcared patriots under Putnam, who had been Tor
lunaiely cxtricatcd by Burr. drcnchcd by sudden
Ihower slept the open air on The Heights OF Harlem
that night The royal forces separated by the Plains
ny cd a. IN ne be
Bioomingdale
Early next morning september 10y two parties,
nndcr Colonel knowlion twho had greatly disun-
Eushcd himself at the ba,uc OF Bungcr's hlp and
Major Lci,ch OF Nirenia were detailed by Washington
with orders to gain the OF body OF British troops,
appeared the site of the pfescn, Boonng laic
Ayuin while dispositions were made To attack ihcm
In lronl but by mistake nrc VAS opened them
before Their rear gained Warned OF their danger
they made good their retreat 20 tho main body OF
,he army. By way of retaliation Howe ordered
detachment. to push forward ana attack ihe
American lines They met by Colonel
knowon a, tue foot oil rocky gorgs between Eighth
and ninth avenues, the line OF l2ilh street, who
them into clear field, 200 rods distant, where
they TOOK shelter behind fence and continued the
contest II not long before ncy were forced from
mis- position, and retiring TO ouekwhca, acid, 400
rards on. they made stand on the summit OF heh
bill, where, joined " reinforcement OF HessiaGs,
.hcy fought Tor Two hours with great spirL but
snsly forced retreat Tor the third time TO another
,ill nc,r the British lines. the body pre-
pared to advance 10 their aid ~hen Washington. not
wishing TO risk a general engagement ordered the
withdrawal OF the Americans from the nel. they had
conquered to within his own lines
wAsni~GToS's REroRr or rHg ACTION
Washington al this lime 10 constant tommuni-
cation with Congress. on the 18th he forwarded the
following report the TO the President o. tha,
body
As M Of the ich contained intelligence OF
nature aud such rt lead Congress TO
that the oi New lork the Heights
II Harlem IN the they made, would
eed. hy some other interesting events, beg o.
that nothing has been
isrs. aud general plan of ass,k About the Of the
with letter tho appeared In
bodies the plains. atout two and halt
niles from hence. rode down adv yanced posts
situation n they should
oms on when arrived snerc heard firing which.
between party OF under the
OF Lieutenant Colonel knowlion and an advanced
our IN aud told shat the
body OF the enemy Themselves concealed.
sisted Of so they could guess imme
ordered three companies OF Coone Necdcns regi
uent. RON Virginia. nader the command OF Major