The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-21

Brief History of the struggle-Ez-
tract from John jays Address OIL
saturday-How Mrs. Murray De-
tanned the British
The battle of Harlem Plains was, at the
best, mere skirmish. Washington had
practically abandoned the defense of Man
haitian Island when he retrcated from the
opposite bank of the East river. He had
removed most of his troops and stores from
New York city to Harlem Nights three
days before the British took possession of
the city, and had left Putran III command
of the lower pait of the Island Washing
tons position of this time was painful
one He was undoubtedly unable TO de-
eide what course to pursue. 10 retain
foothold upon Manhattan Island was clear
ly impossible to abandon his position too
soon would be TO yield an important advan-
tage to the enemy; to linger TOO long would
make surrender inevitable. His only
hope was to learn Howe's plans, and to act
accordingly; but be had not the slightest
clue to the proposed movements of the enc
my. The services of spy were needed.
SO, receiving his instructions from the COM
mander-in chief in The house of Robert
Murray, on Murray Hill, young Nathan
Hale crossed over to Long Island, and PEN
etrated the enemy's lines. Three days af-
terward he was hung upon tree, i'll the or
chard of the Beekman house, and HE bojy
was thrown into a nameess grave. Tear
compelling romance makers, both English
and American, who have lamentcd for near
" a century the fate of John Andre, have
been strangely silent about poor Nathan
Hale, who, with the rope around hs neck,
regretted that he had but one life TO lose
tor his country.
After Lord Howe and his army landed in
New York Washington removed his head
quarters to Mott avern, at what is now
the corner of Eighth avenue and One Hun
bred and Forty-thrd street. In spite Of
the boiling blood of the colonial army as
exhibited in "Fairbattle's' letter to Lord
Howe. that general landed at Kips Bay the
guard stationed there TO prevent his landing
fled without striking blow, followed by
the two Connecticut brigades under the
command of Generals Parsons and Eel
lows, which had been sent to their sup
port. The chroniclers say that Washington
rode to the scene of action, which he
reached just 10 time to catch glimpse OF
the vanishing brigades, and that, in his an
ger, he dashed lis hat upon the ground ex-
claiming ''Are these the men with whom !
am to defend America ?" He was hurried
from his pcrlous position by his AIDS, ana
he retired with his forces to Kingsbridge,
sending orders to Putnam to eyacuate the
city. SO on the 10Th of September, 177G,
at ten minutes after O'Clock in the after
noon, General Robertson took possession of
New York city, and the cross of St. George
waved over the town. Howe, Clinton and
Tyron passed the night In ApthOrpe house,
far out of town The outer line of the
British army extended from Hoorne's
Hook to Bloomngdale. The colonial
troops occupied the high lands between
Manbattanville and Kingsbridge. Between
the two armies lay Harlem Plans
THE BATTLE.
"Early on the morning of the 10Th Of
September two parties, under the command
of Colonel Kn0wlton and Major Leitch,
were detached by Washington, with orders
to gain the rear or a body of British troops
stationed on Vandewater's Nights, on the
site of the Bloomlngdalc asylum, while 9TH
or attachments would attack the same force
in the front. But the front attack was
made too sooa, and the British made good
their retreat. A detachment of Howe's
army then pushed forward through Ne
Gowan's pass to attack the American
lines. They were met by Knowlton at the
foot of a rocky gorge between Eighth and
Ninth avenues, near the line Of One Hun
bred and Twenty-fourth street. The Brit
ish were driven first to a field two hundred
yards distance, afterward to buckwheat
field four hundred rods further back, and
finally to high hill nearer their lines,
where they were reinforced by Hessians.
The colonial troops fought with great spirit
until Washington, seeing that the main
body of the British army was advancing to
the attack, prudently withdrew his troops.
Sixteen men, including Colonel Knowlton
and Major Letch, were lost by the Ameri-
cans. The British loss was fourteen killed
and seventy-eight wounded. Washington
remained on Manhattan Island until the
25th of November, when he finally retreat
ed across the Hudson river.
The battle of Harlem Plains was celcbra-
ted Saturday with great deal OF enthusi'
asm, the Grafton being delivered by Mr..
John Jay. Mr.. Jay gave graphic account
of the early struggles of our republic; how,
after the retreat at Long Island and the
landing of the British at Kip's bay, when
the caues seemed to be lost, this victory oil
Harlem Plains threw new life into the dis
heartened army, and may on that account,
if on no other, he called ore of the great
est victories of the revolutionary war, BE
recited the prominent events of the mem
orabe 10Th of September, one hundred
wears ago, the incident of Mrs. Murray d
heroism being described as follows;
On 'the commanding hight of lnclen.
berg" now known more modestly as Muir
ray HILL resided Robert Murray, whose
wife Mary Lindley Murray-all honor to
her memory-in the absence OF her hus'
band, invited Sir William and his officers,
as they approached her residence, to STOP
for lunch. A halt was ordered and the in
vitation accepted. The unaccustomcd heat
and theta mornings work seem to have pre-
pared the commander-in-chiefa and his Off
GERS, who were accompanied by his excel
lency, Governor Tryon, to enjoy the prof,
fered rest and repast, In cheerful mooo
after their successful landing, and refreshed
with the generous wine, they bantered theil
hostess with British bluntness ON her rebe
sympatbies, and Mrs. Murray responded
with such graceful tact and pleasant hu
NOR, that two hours or more were whiiec
Al. Il.