The History of England - a Study in Political Evolution

p the bay, and brought with them a large force of troops. North-east of them was the long stretch of l

ene was placed with a large force on Brook-lyn Heights, to guard the shore, and troops were sent a mile

t the King's troops were on the move, and would so

the south side of Long Isl-and. Word soon came to New York that the King's troops were at Graves-end, a

He told them to be cool, but firm; not to fire when the foe were a long way off, but to wait till they were so near that each

eld-guns. Corn-wal-lis made haste to seize a pass that ran through the hills, but fou

place. There was good cause for fear, as it had been told that if our troops had to leave New York it

in bed. The brave man was glad when he had leave to go, for he did not want

ith his van-guard, on his march from Flat-bush. Lord Corn-wal-lis brought up the rea

eir course through by-roads and on cause-ways till they came n

s by Gen-er-al Greene, who must have thought

first break of day his troops were on the H

es that the foe were in force on the right, and Put

-ing-ton was still in doubt if this was part of the main fight in which New York was to share. Five ships of the line tried to beat up the bay, but were kept back by a strong head wind. As the day wore on, and there were

hole field. He saw his men cut their way through a host of foes. He saw

ries of men who fought for their lives. On this side and that, our troops were swept down or put to rout by a force they had

night in front of our lines, but ou

ss was

less th

fog, from which New York was quite free. Here was a chance for the tro

no time should be lost. His fear was that the King's ships would come up the bay at the turn of

ht a big gun went off with a great roar, that gave a shock to the nerves of those who we

ere safe on the New York side. Wash-ing-ton, who had not slept for two days and nights, and had spent the

the earth-works they found not a sign of life there, and not a thing they could use. Our men

hat lay on each side of the town. But he knew that if the red-coats took New York they would soon be made to give it up, and so he made up his mind that his best course was to with-draw

, and breast works, and on Oc-to-ber 23, took his s

n the men-of-war, but could not keep them back, and the red-coats still gave chase to our troop

look at a height at the north where it was thought he

here is the ground w

and view it," sa

en a horse-man rode up in haste and cri

lse to do than this," and at once put spurs to h

was close at hand. In his calm way he turned to those who had been out with

e stand, but the red-coats were too strong for them, and drove t

talks of corn, or maize, which the men took from a field near at hand. The roots of the stalks, with the earth on them, were placed on the face of the works, in the same way that so

he well-fed troops that kept them at bay. The nights were cold, the Fall rains set in, and not a few of the red-coats were ill. Their chiefs knew how to fight in straight lines, but

t work on sea and on land from New York to Al-ba-ny. Our tro

he red-coats was to cross the Hud-son, north of Fort Lee, and make their way through New Jer-

haste, but ere they could reach the Hack-en-sack the van-guard of the foe was close at their heels. It was thought that a fi

left it. His whole camp were in flight. He staid a few days at New Bruns-wick, in hopes that fresh troops would be sent to his aid, but none came, though his needs were so

THE DELAW

ware, and left New Jer-sey in the hands of the foe. If he and his men once got to Phil-a-del-phi-a, they

-cem-ber 11, where his troops had been forced to halt for two days for

Wil-kin-son, who was with him, looked down the lane that led from t

Lee "Here are

?" sai

the h

e with an oath. "Where is the

stacked their arms and sat down on the south side of a house to sun them-selves. As the horse-men came up the

great haste-for they wished to make sure of their prize-and placed on Wil-kin-son's horse which stood at the door. He was but half-drest, had no hat on his head, and wore

our cause, as it was hoped that he would do much to bring the

There was snow on the ground, and the march of the troops could be tra

of a man, named Rahl, who had done brave work for

on from the hands of the foe. He and his force were to cross the stream nine miles north of the town; Gen-er-al Ew-ing

o took part in it, yet there was naught to b