New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-04
A CENTENEIAL LETTER.


A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS COMMENTS.
PA1rLE OF LONG ISLAND AND wAsnINGTJNs
EVACUATION OF NEw-YoEK-AN ACCOUNT BY
ONE or INK GARRISON OF FORT WASHINGTON.
The following curious letter Is one Of several in
the possession OF William Dederiek Of Elizabeth.
Nj Iii especially entertaining at this time, and
to NewYork readers from the fact that it bears date
in 1916, and refers to the events which led to tho
evacuation of New-York City by WaShngtOn's
army. The writer was Ludwig RusseA, apparently
private soldier at the time Of writing. which was
at the very opening Of operations in this vicinity.
lie survived through the and raised large fam
lily. Among his Sous the late Hon Jeremiah
RUSSELL and grandson still surviving Is William +.
Russell who served in tLe Legislature in 1850 and
in the XXXYth Congress 1t was addressed to
Matthew Dederick then captain OF militia at West
Camp-wherever that may have been.
The cannonading referred to in the letter as oc-
curing about the latter part of August was UNI
doubleday the firing between the troops at the
Battle of Brooklyn. The several alarms alluded to
were doubtless ocCasioned by fears Of attempts at
landing by Lord Howes troops, who were then
anchored in the Lower Bay and who did finally
effect landing on the site of tine present Fort Ham
ilton. The criticism of the writer the wicked
ness oil the Continental soldiers. and particularly Of
the Pennsylvania regiments, will interest those fam
liar with tho morals Of the troops during the rebe
lion The letter is published almost rerbdtim 81 III
eyatim the changes made not altering the sense in
any way OF course the realer will recognize that
the letter ID dated from near Fort Washington, on
Washington flights in tins city. The old fort was
very nearly the site of tho present Fort Washing
ION station. and the camp from which the letter
written must have been the site of the present
Deaf and Dumb Institution.
one Mile by North Of fort Washington Sept 1th 1910
wan acquaipt you Of al Op rations Of our Armee
On the 18th. OF last Month"; we have had IN alarm butt
proved false one vet a tachmcnt OF 90 Men Of each
egt was nj out to fort Washington but they returned
tsaln that Evening On the 9TH we had another ALARM
Brink was one but Johl Miller went in his pl &c About
Hour after partys was Sent ont OF which Lot
Peter Post Corneus BRINK and several others OF our
Company amounting 10 the Number 0f i Men, myself
one OF them. under the Command of Capt Korregh
We from KINGS bridge that AT enOOn, and arrived
at foh Washington pear Evening: , There ERE we
SHOULD return to our hrst Station at tho
Bride OF which we was l. all glad but bat
lem. bur cuuid not perform IT, because we hal no pro
SLssJn Marched little better than Mile, from
tine Ort and have remained there till this morning. At
OF the Clock, rched 20 the fort there We re-
cye orders to march to tae pI5ee above sid ek
Brdge. Tuesday Evening Informed ~ tue
nIsGtS great Gamma ing ali that Night, and was
three DAYS continually. on tho p We had News that
tne Regulars had lost above 900 Men, and our Loss
Amounting 10 III or 200 Men. All Things Seemed 70 20
sudden Nad notice that Two OF our
Generals taken which proved true, VIZ, oulL
van, AID Elll OF Sterling. on Thuisdly sent 10 the
RrdSr. to gct some things l wanted, for all our
baggage Yet there l ~tald AZ the Bridge
Might ana part Of Next Day. Constantly Busy
with writing. Near went AWAY anl just as was
gong. Pa~LnSs Rect, was aidrmd' however Kent 70
my iJu neg jIyu NY Detachment Nile south OF fort
Wa~hu. n, my way was Informed, that aiTles
ad Abandoned Long Island and It t TO the intire pos
on VI the ministry troops Hat y IA ans, OF what
lirat TIE Il Iar, 4 : Tim s. but LYsry one Cotjee-
LIt too much treacLCiy Is EulHS forward ia ana
about and what the Cyl,,q uCactb ~ II Hlu
BE. God above only la not wonder N orr
NEE can prosper, for Suryri1ed my arrival
wIsLi-tOu Ort, Ia > much NlChl d'sa GONG On
drinking, Stealing, Cursing, ANA other naughty dOiugA
Va Expected IL should 40 Dcttcf alter IN" s Ptnsyl
yanI Rc-.S. had to YORK anu took most uf t.clr
followers with tn IN, but yesterday
them Reggie, Returned Ia the fort,
uIJ wItu came TO the tOIt tbs Morning Lieut.,
that the P,nSyyanDs. Called 10 kmssDrldl;e last
night. | tlu bctWtAt tho iUIt and tIo Bridge. My
Dear friend, 10 Iurri sight o. Sec the People from
MOVING some IN all sorts Of CaITiges, others on
loot, a - Err and lur Certain report q, tat Lord Howe
ID 'nLtulCd the Cry and IN case Was ilZtOn would
(lu. r3euIur, the CITY should st nae Oy the
'lls NJ u j. tue uO ll opinion ui al RANKS, ihat our
yOu I.e.st inform me how Things al home,
especially With my faHt, have Expected Letter from
uunr long ago but IN VAN, piay O1k II al things 20 well
uy Lu,sSt INFORM Il D. not Remember nay
ANA Love tv NY wife AID Every one VI uy AisnbouIs
ana rir families, and be you good and accept Of the
hcinpInbiIng OF ny Love 30 you and al house.
81 FOR The present ;0r he grove uled who calls hl
SELF
your very Hbl Servt
Lulwigh Russell
sept. 4th. KINGS bridge.
IDiHss 70 osteF now rs when wrote you fear rot