The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-19
8istonral
AUGUST l77e-ls7e,

o"o OVh6tess ~ were present, though some
names were subsequently, added, the latest
being that Of Matthew Thornton, which
was appended in November. Concerning
this illustrious document, which is deposit
ted in Independence Hall, 50 many par
ticulars have been published during this
year that all Americans should be familiar
with them. 1t has been remarked that at
the time of It's adoption no British military
force had footing upon the territory of
the colonies. The month Of August
brought such a change in the condition Of
things as the sagacious foresaw must come.
The moment for the decisive step was
wisely taken. The British Commissioners
charged with terms of peace upon the sub
mission of the colonies to their former
dependent condition, could be met by
nation that had determined to be indie
pendent. The British overtures failed to
produces any notable effect. But a con-
temporary writer remarks :--"Had the
Declaration Of Independence beon defer
red but few weeks longer, the proclama-
ton of the Commissioners might have been
productive Of consequences exceedingly
disastrous to our country. 1t would pro.
bably have increased the number of op.
possrs Of the Declaration, and oecasioncd
the greatest confusion and embarrassment.
In speaking Of the overtures made by
the British commander, we are antieipa-
ting the events of September Those
events, however, hinged upon the Ameri.
can retreat from Long Island, which took
place on the night Of the 29th Of August.
Of this retreat, General Greene writes -
"The retreat from Long Island was the
best effected retreat / ever read or heard
of. 1t may almost be classed among sue.
cesses, although the retreat itself and the
events which preceded it had most dis.
astrous effect upon the spirits and efficien.
cy of the Continental army. General
Washington reported to Congress :-aOur
situation is truly distressing. The check
our detachment sustained has dispirited
too great proportion of our troops, and
filed their minds with apprehension and
despair. The militia, instead Of calling
forth their utmost efforts to brave and
manly opposition, in order to repair our
losses, are dismayed, intractable and i'm.
patient to return. Great numbers of them
have gone off--in some instances almost
by whole regiments, by half ones, and by
at a time"
The American forces on Long Island
were in number from eight to ten thou
sand the British forces which landed on
the island on the 22d were from fifteen to
twenty thousand. There is great difficulty
in fixing the numbers feither force ,contem-
porary writers giving different estimates.
But placing the number Of Americans at
the highest and that of the British ut the
lowest, and considering that the British
were veterans, "the most perfect army Of
that day in the world for experience, dis
sipline, equipment and artillery and that
the Americans were men none Of whom
had seen more than years service aud
perhaps nearly half no service at all, II is
not to be wondered that the Gordon stretch
ID across Long Island was forced at al
points, and the Americans driven in to the
headquarters at Brooklyn The British
had also the support of ten ships Of the
ine and twenty frigates, with transports,
bomb ketches and other vessels, making
up feet of over four hundred ships in
he bay, while the Americans had not even
me ship-of-war
Keeping his own counsel, except SO far
Is the issue Of orders made it necessary to
,:..,. mn -.
[ ,o.a g s 80 pa'pOse, , "asn.us'0n' e 'ne
or transporting his force to the New York
ide; and at night ordered preparations to
'e made for an attack on the British.
But the troops soon found their destina-
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