The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-11-11
9istoriral
November l77e-1a7e.

November, hundred years ago, was
month Of continuous disaster TO the Amer
lean arms. 1t is easy to Judge of the wis
dom or Of the folly Of the acts Of warriors
or of statesmen by the light of subsequent
events; but to face the present and fore
cast the future is the duty which the ac-
tors in arms or in policy have before them.
Whilst the heroic patience and hope of
General Washington are now the theme Of
praise, his contemporaries were by no
means unanimous in their confidence; and
the officers under his nominal command
severely tried his patience, where any
show Of an alternative was presented,
by taking their own view, and disregard
ing the known wishes of the Commander
in-Chief Yet while the patriotism of
these men was and is indisputed, the un-
prejudiced student cannot fail to admit
that the disasters of November we're
heightened, if not caused, by the disagree
ing purposes of the General, and his officers.
And, on the other hand, the mistaken
policy Of the English commanders-
folly Of which is now universally conceded
was more serviceable to the American
cause than victory would have been.
Rhode Island was invaded and occupied
by force against which the Americans
could not contend But the troops de-
tailed for this purpose, had Clinton's ad-
vice been followed, could have been effec-
tually employed in the occupation of New
Jersey, and perhaps have caused the com
plete destruction Of Washington's army.
Fort Washington, the last post held by
the Americans on the New York side Of
the Hudson, surrendered to the British
with two thousand six hundred prisoners,
on the 18th. There was no lack of gal.
lantry on either side The Americans had
the advantage of position, the British the
superiority in numbers. The slain and
wounded on the side of the Americans
amounted to hundred and fifty. The
loss of the British was above five hundred.
The greatest victory of the day was the
conquest of his own spirit by the Ameri-
can Commander-in-C Chief. In the delicate
posture of the affairs of the young repub- |
lie, Washington preferred to suffer blame
rather than embarrass the cause Of his
country by efforts at standardization. He
even apologized for the mistakes Of others.
On the 2OtL, Fort Lee, on the Jersey
side of the Hudson, was evacuated, as no
longer tenable, the British having crossed
in such force that to defend the post was
impossible. The withdrawal Of the garri- |
son Of two thousand men was made in ex-
treme haste, but Washington SO covered |
the retreat that less than hundred pris.
oners were taken by the British. But the
Americans lost or left behind all their
camp equipage, and in most cases even
their blankets and, with no commissariat |
worth the name to fall back upon, had to |
face the rigors of the waning season.
And now follows the " Retreat through
the Jerseys" over the Passaic to New.
ark from Newark, after few days, to
Brunswick from Brunswick to Prince.
ton; thence to Trenton; and thence, on
the Sth Of December, across the Delaware.
The advance of the British army often
overlook the rear-guard Of the Americans
and the British reached Trenton just in sea-
son to see the last of the Americans safely
over, and beyond their reach. For Wash.
ington had sent his sick and his stores over
in advance, and had destroyed all the boats
for miles above and below. Major-Gen-
eral Lee, who was with his command in
Westchester county, New York, at the
time Of the fall of Fort Washington,
though frequently ordered to join Wash
ington, failed to do SO, but fingered and
delayed, in the effort to carry out his own
purpose, His misfortune in New jersey
belongs to the notes on the month Of De-
cember.
Any man may be glorious in prosperity.
But to command respect and honor under
adversely is the highest test and evidence
Of manhood. AT no point in his command
did Washington exhibit the capacity of
the General, Joined to the prudence Of the
man and the hope of the patriot, than in
the retreat from New York, at an ipclem-
ent season, and just in advance of pur-
suing force. The prudence of the man
was exhibited in his forbearance to assert
himself, when his vindication would have
involved the exposure of the weakness Of
his army, and when to contend with his
officers would have been to increase the
evil Of disordered counscls, and to present
before his countrymen the disheartening
spectacle of military jealousy, where they
looked to find self.denying patriotism
Philadelphia Ledger.