New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
GENERAL EARLES SCGGESTION.
HE WOULD HAVE THE BLUE AND GRAY PARADE
on THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE
OF HARLEM HEIGHTS
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir | most heartily indo-se the proposition to hoa
in this city great joint parade Of the Fedora ana
Confederate veterans of the Civil War, but wouId
suggest that September l6 be substituted for July l.
September 6 being the anniversary Of the battle OF
Harlem Heights. in ITO
After the battle OF Long Island Washington de-
cidsd to fai! back to New-York, and on August 30
i775 executed the famous from Long Island.
known as one OF the most remarkable events in ms
tory. Washington then attempted TO restore oEGer
and confidence in New-York by reorslnizins the
Army. but he soon found that the enemy max
ing the city untenab.e. and ne quickly decided 10
evacuate All military stores not IN actuai demand
were removed and on Sunday morning. September
Is the troops marched to the upper part Of Man
tnOrp mansion until the troops were IL ssli anu
then rode to the Morris house on Harlem htlehts'
lem Heights fought At sunrise on Monday, sep
TENDER l6 ana occupied but r." HlhuJ , re re
forenoon. and continued nearly four hours As VI
no orthcations h&n Dseh 5pec.eo, t1o ' snail Re-
doubts, which halfway 70 MannattanV!.c.
This battle was the most brilliant ana important j.:
historical OF any isht during tho .tevouion-
AIRY War. 1t was evidently part o. ne E4-t..h
they could nave time to construct defences. The
mistake Of the British in beginning the battle too
and in The wrong place occasoneq me succes1-
sion Of British failures. which imDued the Amerl-
cans with the spirit Of sefcoAhdence which nate1i-
ally assisted them 10 fina victory ana cnaracie:H
their movements unit. peace vas proclaimed. WASH
rgton's army Harlem Heights numbered on the
18th scarcely 5000. ana yet only 1870 were engaged
The British superior in numbers, not less than
GOO Of their choicest troops with seven ned pieces,
being in the action. while SON 10 1900 men were IN
arms ready 10 push Il an Irregular battle
from the very character 81 the picturesque undul =
ing wooded heights, with their rough, rocky ana al
most inaccessible sides. The British plunged In
wherever there opening. the comhat3lts
were in scouts, squads batta.ons and brgades and
fought behind trees. houses ana rocks, the battle
raging from MISUNDERSTANDING to Man
hattanvi..e AT evening Of the 10th the armies occ l.
pied the same relative positions before the batl
their p.ckets almost within speaking distance. Tn
success Of day turned he current OF affairs and
thenceforward the Americans believed IN them
seves. Washington occupied the Morris house IS
his headquarters until about October p, 1I1G.
This battle really the first successful battle Of
the American Revolution. The troops engaged were
from the North and South. Major Leitch Of the
Virginia Rihemen. and Colonel KnOw.ton, OF the
Connecticut Rangers. both lost their lives on tina
occasion thus showing the North and South fight
ing Manhattan Island under the Stars and
Stripes against common enemy. Why not bring
the Blue and the Gray under the same flag In com
memoration OF the day on which our ancestors
fought for liberty?
Great objections to July would be the absence
OF one-half OF the resident citizens. and the danger
from the heat Of july day.
| would respectfully suggest that IN" march be
from the oil Roger Morris house the same
route Tor as : possbel 70 the centre OF Man
haitian Island. FERDINAND i. EARLE.
NeW-YOTk, Dec Z, 1855.