The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-23
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THE VICTORY OF
THE DEFEA TED.
A Story of General Washinston's Re-
. treat After the Battle Of
Long Island.
BY CLINTON ROSS.
CopYRIeHT, 1900, BY CLINTON Eoss.
~ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

" HAS been recorded by the enemy
as one Of the important battles of
the war; indeed, a most bloody, de-
cisive affair. In the abbey of London
1t is put down in list of Lord Howe's
great achievements, yet the fact Of the
matter remains that it was, too,
victory for the defeated. One of the
greatest victories of any time was the
mastery retreat the chief made across
the river. Out of the most dishearten-
Ing circumstances he won for us our
hearts again.
In connection with this affair of
Long Island, my cousin and I, who, as
you know, We're on the different sides,
had two remarkable adventures. Be
ing involved with Lord Strings re-
treating division on mission Of the
generals, whom should I catch as
prisoner but my own cousin. When,
afterward in the withdrawal from the
works, the few prisoners were being
carried to the boats, he, in the con-
fusion, hid and 1, rushing back to the
defenses, was caught by him-as he
cried out the warning to the enemy.
So, in describing this mastery retreat.
have to make known, too. his and
my own adventures.
Now let me begin with the day Of
the battle.
The whole event makes that day in
some respect the most terrible of my
life. What did we know of war for
the most? We had Bunker Hill and
few fights behind us, but what did we
know of the reality, which began with
that sanguinary retreat that left fully
1000 dead out Of 5000 actually engag-
ed? That men, for the most part farm
ers, utterly inexperienced in warfare,
stood up SO bravely as they did seems
to be sufficiently wonderful. The real
trouble with us, indeed, was not so
much on the side of our soldiers as
that our generals were completely out
witted and outmaneuvered. The ILL
ness of General Greene had brought to
the care of the works new managers,
who in the haste Of the moment We're
in some confusion, not having had the
time to properly prepare themselves;
so, while of the three passes in the
hills two-that to the south toward
Gravesend and the Narrows and that
toward Flatbush were guarded, the
fourth. through the Bedford hills,
was left without a vestige of defense
This news being brought by a spy to
Sir Henry Clinton, that general per-
formed his now famous night march
and occupied this pass. In the morn
IN Dv;+ sch, l;,,;e 81,
rows advanced toward Smallwood's
Marylanders and Haslet's Delaware
ans. engaging yet not closely pushing
them, while at the same time the Hes
SLAMS vigorously attacked our Colonel
Hand in the central pass, near Flat
bush. Presently the fatal fact was
borne to us. A booming of guns was
heard from Bedford way. We knew
the flank had been turned and that
these vanguards Sullivan's, Haslets
and Smallwood' s-were in danger of
being cut off from us. The next thing
to be expected was the massing of the
British divisions before the works on
the heights, which it is doubtful if we
could hold, while when once they had
carried the position New York would
be at their mercy, and more ships of
the line were beating up the bay, plain
" to cut off our retreat.
1t was at this moment that the gen
eral in chief ordered me in some way
to get word to Lord Stirling Of his
danger, for from our point of vantage
on the heights we could see Lord Corn
wallis troopers defiling in the fields,
which Lord Strings officers from
their positions would not see. The
chiefs choicest troops were in the most
fearful danger, and there was left none
but militia to man the works.
captain Manners" he cried, tyou
can see the situation. It's race be-
tween you and Corvallis" Then he
made that we'll known remark-I never
Z had heard him use an oath before
which ended, after passion, in sadness,
what brave fellows l must lose this
dayw You must know all this while
there were puffs of smoke and loud re-
ports toward Flatbush, where General
Sullivans men were being cut down,
bayoneted without mercy by the Hes
SLAMS, maddened to the battle fury.
You can understand, then. how that
calm leader was so aroused, he who
was then perpleXed in that great COM
mand, with all the uncertainty of the
situation about him. How was he to
defend New York, then, with the
broad stretch of the inlets about it?
And now he saw the men who We're
for the defense Of Brooklyn heights
being cut down. He saw all the rea-
sons for defeat and, yet, like all men
who win Others faith, he did not lose
faith in himself.
There were at that time in New York
colony or state two branches Of the
family Of Manners. My father and his
stood by the colonies. my uncle and
his by the king-for good reasons of
property. So it CHANGED that found
myself arrayed against John Manners,
my cousin. knew he was down there
among the kings men who had volun-
teered, and he was my best friend and
oo,nrodo That Tim Manners was