The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-08-23

dawn rode over to Hands position,
when he was ast9unded by the roar of
artillery on his flank and rear Hasten
ing back he learned u his di>nay that
the enemy in powerful force were be-
tween his advance and the entrenched
lines He Immediately ordered an ad-
vance for the purpose OF fighting his
way through, tut his men were met
by terrible fire from the English and
driven back. De Hester, having
forced tine Flatbush pass, now came
up with his whole corps, and. swarm
ing over the hills, bore down with saw
aye wells on Sullivv ms disordered regi-
ments. Then followed a terrible strug-
gle. The Hessians used the bayOuet
on the regiments of Miles and Will
Jams, and slaughtered the Americans
in cold blood. CORVALLIS pressed them
from below. aud thus the whole Amer
lean lett was literally between t"o
fires-outnumbered, outgeueraled, rid
den down by Dragons with sabres;
riddled by solid Infantry fire, cut ana
torn by night batteries that command
ed every avenue of escape. All through
that hot August morning the conflict
ragged \ few cut their way through
10 the American entertainments, but
the bulk of Sulivan's forces were fly
ing fugitIves in the hills. or Were Killed,
wounded aud prisoners, sullivan him.
self among the latter
A DESPERATE CONFLICT.
The fight was now transferred To
the American right, where ii ragged
with increased fury, aud was equally
As disastrous to the patriots. Grant
had fully ) 900 men, while the force
of Lord Sterling was only about 1000,
consisting of Maryland, Delaware aud
Connecticut regiments, with Atlee's
rifle corps and kichline's Peunsylva
MIA musketeers n advance guard.
Grant struck Atlee early on the
moruIug OF The 10, and rove hlm ia
upon the GoWanuS road, when Ster-
Ing formed his line OF battle, stretch
lug from Gowanus Bay t. FAlbush
road, his centre being on what Is now
known as Battle Hill, in Greenwood
Cemetery.
OF tins centre comp lsed of Mary
land aud Delaware men. he took COM
maud IN person, planting on the hill
two field pieces, whose well-served
fire, backed by Klckliue's rtlemen,
soon arrested Grants apparent adj
vance. For six hours very sharp line
flung followed, and the feint was 50
fiercely pressed that Putnam believed
HuWe's design was To force the line at
that point.
This view of the matter was confirm
ed 10y Grants reception OF two addl-
tioual regiments at 10 O'clock from the
fleet, whereupon Sterling ordered for
ward all his reserves to defend Battle
H'll to the last extremity before retlr-
ins uenIud Gowanus Creek.
Now was to ensue the most desper-
ate conflict Of that hot and bloody day.
/ With the arrival of achievements 10
Grant, came also the signal from
Howe, far to the east (about Il O'Clock
a. IN. two guns fired in rapid success
sion. 1t meant Grant advancew De
Hester with his Hessiaus already had
engaged Sullivan. Grant immediately
dashed forward, and the fighting be-
came fierce and bloody. Atlee's men
out on the skirmish line were all
| (about $3.50 killed or made prisoners.
! Then the Connecticut regiment, hold
/ ing the Gowanus road, was literally
overwhelmed. At the same time the
Hessians having carried the Flatbush
road, came streaming in on Sterliug's
left and rear, and pushed on to seize
the Cortelyou house, which command
ed the Gowanus Creek bridge.
The Americans displayed sublime
and almost superhuman valor at this
point on the field. But all in vain.
The odds against them-in point OF
numbers, discipline and armament
were too many. On the couquering
British pressed! 0a the ruthless Hes
Z slams came!-the Americans falling be.
fore them by scores. 1t was a terrible
spectacle The dead and wounded
were strewn on all sides. RidSrles-
horses rushed from the ranks am gal.
loped where they would The air was
| filed with the roar of cannon, the rat
tie of musketry, the clashing OF sabre-,
the groans of the dying, iutermiugl- led
with the cheers and yells of the Eng.
lish and Hesslans. The sky above
was thick with smoke, in which al DC.
casional vista would be made by the
piercing dart of "a sudden sun ray
through which the crimson flag oi
| England could be seen waving in vic.
tory. On press the enemy like surg.
ing sea. TIE Americans now wavered
ali along the line. Their situation wa.
desperate.
CHARGE OF THE MARYLAND LINE
Lord Sterling quickly realized that
| his entire command was lost if he
could not temporarily hold the enemy
/ in check. Acting quickly, he chose
one half of his regiment of Maryland,
ers, less than 400 III number, and or.
/ dering the remainder of his force to re.
/ treat over the adjacent swamp to and
over the creek, he prepared to stem
/ the advance of the victorious enemy
while his flying troops We're making
their way to place of safety. Placing
! himself at the head of his Maryland
contingent, many of whom on that
day saw for the first time the flash OF
/ hostile guns, Sterling prepared for the
terrible shock of battle that was now
| inevitable. The little band, number.
/ ing less than 400 men, prepared for an
assault upon five times their own mum.
Der of the best troops of the relocated
enemy, who were iufiamed with all
the arrogance of successful combat
Forming quickly on ground in the
vicinity of what is now Fifth avenue
and Tenth street, Brooklyn, the light
column advanced along the Gowanus
road into the jaws of battle with un.
wavering trout. Artillery in every di.
rection plowed their ranks with the
iron bolts of war; infantry poured in
its terrible volley of musket balls in
leaden showers, and from the near ~.
ing hills the deadly Hessan wager.
sent swift messengers of death into
manly bosoms. Sill above the roar OF
cannon, musketry and rifles, was