The New York herald., 1876-09-15

Colonel Rehsrdson's Maryland regiments. with
n. s% the
the enemy with great inFepidy and drove them from the
having %
since found wa. really the we're sending large body
70 support their party. BY sergeant who de.
their party than imagined i, consisted efhe
Ssss.n of sh. infantry, battalion o, ns aosn
under the eommsod Of Brgadier General Leslie The 90.
eighynins and eight killed In the latter his account is
number The affair in hopes. will be 'uended with
ihspirited tho whole OF our troops
THE LOSSES porH SIDES
The conflict on Harlem Plains was short and severe.
II lasted about four hours, commencing at ten o'clock
In the morning he loss OF the British has been vari
ously stated. The official report represented fourteen
killed and scventy.eight wounded. Other estimates
place their cas- uaes al 900 There 900 picked
royal troops engaged tho action. and Howe, judging
by the bad conduct Of American soldiers the day
before, expected to have driven Washington of the
island. Ia letter written by Clinton, aerward Gov
ernor OF New York, who Witnessed the action, II Is
stated :-"rhcy tthe British are greatly mortifed at
their disappointment and have ever since becn ex-
ceediDgy modest and quiet not having even pairong
parties beyond their lines. lay within a mile OF
them The night after the battle and never heard men
work harder ! believe they thought We intended TO
pursue our advantage and alfack them next morning."
The loss Of the Americans was about sixty but the ad-
vantage gained was greatly clouded by tho tall OF two
valuable officers, Knowon and Lctch The success
OF tie battle greatly inspired the patriots, who had
been much depressed by their defeat on Long Island
WASHINGTON THANKS THE TROOPS
On the day after the battle the following order OF tho
day was issued by the Commander-n Chie:-"rhe
General most heartily thanks the troops commanded
yesterday by MAJOR leltcls who first advanced upon
the enemy, anu the others who so resoiutcly sup
ported them Tho tehavior OF yesterday was such q
contrast to that OF some troops tho day before as must
show what bc done where officers and soldiers
exert themselves Once more, therefore, tho General
calls upon officers and 10 act up to the noOe
cause IN which thoy engaged aud to support the
honor and liberties of their country. The gallant aud
brave Colonel Knowon. who would have been
honor to any country, having fallen yesterday wD.e
uriousy fighting, Captain Brown is TO take the CON-
nand OF the party lately led by Colonel Knowlton"
Finding the Americans too strongly cntrenchcd
upon Harlem Heights 10 promise successful attack
communication with the Eastern and Southern States.
Soon after Washington crossed over into New Jersey.
MARTYR PATRIOT.
Tho sad fatc OF Nathan Hale is closely connected
with the events Immediately preceding the battle OF
Harlem Plains. While Washington, as suited above,
had his headquarters Murray Hill, and in hourly
pectation OF attack by Howe, he found that his
conduct must depend upon the movements OF the Eng
sh General yet with all his endeavors he had failed
to procure che slightest 10 his designs In this
emergency il was resolved council of war, to send
trusty man to penetrate the oucmy's works IN dis
guisc the desired Information Nathan Hale,
young ocer attached to one OF the Connecticut regi
ments, volunteered 10 undertake the dangerous mis-
sion He had recently with single companion cap.
tured English sioop laden win provisions carry
ing her OIL from under the guns OF heavy irigate.
The orders for his gudaace we're issued
rls' house on the shore OF Harlem River.
The commanders OF all armed American vessels were
ordered to convey MIN ne desire
co. Hale crossed the Sound TO Huntington and
made his way to the British camp at Brooklyn and its
vicinity. There ho made drawings OF the works and
gained full intelligence OF the projected movements OF
the British forces On hts return TO Huntington with
his valuable Information he was recognized US belong
ing to the American army and at once arrested He
was conveyed the Beekmun House, corner OF
Ffty-hrst street and First avenue which had be-
come the headquarters OF General Howe. He tried
convicted spy, and sentenced TO he hung the
next morning at day light He was at once delivered
over to Cunningham, the notorious provost marshal,
who confined HIM lor the night in the greenhouse OF
the garden refusing his prayer for light and writing
material that he might write Tor the last tmo to his
parents and friends He was refused
sERvIcEs OF A CLERGrMAN
or even the OF a Bible. Through tho influence,
however OF the lieutenant OF the guard paper and ink
were afterward furnished the unhappy prisoner; but
In the morning Cunningham savagely toro the letter
he had written TO pieces before his eyes, declaring
that the rebels should know that thcNcould die
with so much irmncss, and ordered tho prisoner TO
immediate execution demanding that he should make
n dying speech and confession. Hale with his last
BREATH said, ~ only regret that have but lie to
lose for my country" Hale hanged TO apple
in Rutgers garden, at the corner OF East Broad
and Market street, and his remains were thrust
into a nameless grave in the vicinity. Tho tragedy
caused deep gloom in the army, in which the victim
was universally beloved, while tho hearcssncss with
wh,ch the affair was conducted must ever remain
stigma on the name OF tho British General. Hale was
only twcnty-onc when put to death. he was n grad
OF Yale College. In l7i5 he was commissioned
q lieutenant. and in a lew months made captain.
The OF this youthful patriot martyr appears
luminous the pages of American history, ana tho
grateful citizens of Coventry, Conn., his native town,
nave erected there handsome monument to his