Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-31
l0s-soolsool-s-eo4-s os-sel
/ THE VICTORY OF ;
THE DEFEAT /
= A Story Of General washington's Re-
treat After the Battle of
n Long Island. !.
= BY CLINTON ROSS.
corYn1onr, 1900, ny CLINTON Ross.
,.....ee.-.sss-soe.-.se4-.oes-.e
BY CLINTON ROSS.


Long Island, my cousin and l, who, as
you know, were on the different sides,
had two remarkable adventures. Be-
ing involved with Lord Strings re-
treating division on n mission of the
generals, whom should / 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.
was taken, even as they got away.
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.
some respect the most terrible Of my
life. What did we know Of war for
the most? We had Bunker Hill and a
few fights behind us, but what did we
know Of the reality, which began with
that snnguinary 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 i'll
ness Of General Greene had brought to
the care of the works new managers,
who in the haste Of the moment were
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 q vestige Of defense.
This news being brought by spy to
Sir Henry Clinton, that general per-
formed his now famous night march
and occupied this pass. In the morn
ing the British divisions at the Mar
rows advanced toward Smallwood's
Marylanders and Haslet's Delaware
ans, engaging yet not closely pushing
them, while ut 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, Haslet's
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 1t 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 of our retreat.
It 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 detiling in the fields,
which Lord Strings officers from
their positions would not see. The
CHIEFS choicest troops We're in the most
fearful danger, and there was left none
but militia to man the works.
Captain Manners" he cried, "you
can see the situation. It's a race be.
tween you and CORVALLIS" Then he
made that well known remark-I never
had heard him use an oath before
which ended, after passion, In sadness,
What brave fellows must lose this
day" You must know all this while
there were puffs of smoke and loud re-
ports toward Flatbush, where General
6ullivan's men We're being cut down,
bayoneted without mercy by the Hes.
SLAMS, maddened to the battle fury.
.4ou 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 were
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
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
,omrade. That l, Jim Manners, was
N General Washington's staff was but
'ot of consideration for the influence
We had In New York. / was then
barely IL, captain. respected, l be-
iege, by the general In chief. You
vii scarce understand that situation
low. was old for my years. so 1 was
loing that service; SO I was riding |
lown from the works; SO, knowing the
ay of the land, was carrying the
rider of the chief to our Lord Stirling.
say riding down. Directly aban-
1oned my mare; was poking through
The underbrush: directly found Lord
Strings eyes on me.
They'll have you surrounded"
,ried.
But too late; they were down on us.
We We're at 1t hand to hand. wonder
what those who had decried the uni
'orms and discipline of the Maryland
RS and Delawareans would have said
o 1t. But they were too numerous,
md l, who was in 1t, found myself
Misunderstanding, that is, If that
'hrase be more self respectful.
In a little chunk of woods came
N an officer.
"Jim." said he; my cousin, you know.
Jack" said 1.
You're prisoner" said he.
mot If know It," said 1.
The others bore away; we were quite
lone in that glade-with beyond us
omewhere the noiseful struggle. 1
carce know how 1t happened; here
Tas l, sent as staff officer, involved;
ere was I, struggling with my best
rtarad my old comratie and nlayfeIlov