on the trial of lieut. col. Zedwitz, and though I waited on general Washington, and urged the necessity of attending our troops, yet he refused to discharge us, alledging there was a necessity for the trials coming on, and that no other field-officers could be then had.

'After our dismission from the court martial, it was too late to get over, but pushing over early next morning, found our regiment engaged. Lord Sterling having marched them off before day, to take possession of the woods and difficult passes between our lines and the enemy's encampment; but the enemy the over night had stole a march on our generals, having got through those passes, met and surrounded our troops on the plain grounds, within two miles of our lines. Lord Sterling drew up his brigade on an advantageous rising ground, where he was attacked by two brigades in front, headed by the generals Cornwallis and Grant, and in his rear the enemy's main body stood ready drawn up to support their own parties and intercept the retreat of ours. This excellent disposition and their superior numbers, ought to have taught our generals there was no time to be lost in securing their retreat, which might at first have been effected, had the troops formed into a heavy column and pushed their retreat, but the longer this was delayed, it became the more dangerous, as they were then landing more troops in front from the ships.

'Our brigade kept their ground for several hours, and in general behaved well, having received some heavy fires from the artillery and musquetry of the enemy, whom they repulsed several times; but their attacks were neither so lasting or vigorous as was expected, owing, as it was imagined, to their being certain of making the whole brigade prisoners of war; for by this time they had so secured the passes on the road to our lines, (seeing our parties were not supported from thence, which indeed our numbers would not admit of,) that there was no possibility

of retreating that way. Between the place of action and our lines there lay a large marsh and deep creek, not above eighty yards across at the mouth, (the place of action upon a direct line, did not exceed a mile from a part of our lines,) towards the head of which creek there was a mill and bridge, across which a certain col. Ward, from New England, (who is charged with having acted a bashful part that day,) passed over with his regiment and then burnt them down, though under cover of our cannon, which would have checked the enemy's pursuit at any time, otherwise this bridge might have afforded a secure retreat. There then remained no other prospect but to surrender or attempt to retreat over this marsh and creek at the mouth, where no person had ever been known to cross. In the interim, I applied to general Washington for some regiments to march out to support and cover their retreat, which he urged would be attended with too great risk to the party and the lines; he immediately afterwards sent for and ordered me to march down a New England regiment, and captain Thomas' company, which had just come over from York, to the mouth of the creek, opposite where the brigade was drawn up, and ordered two field pieces down, to support and cover their retreat, should they make a push that way. Soon after our march, they began to retreat, and for a small time the fire was very heavy on both sides, till our troops came to the marsh, where they were obliged to break their order, and escape as quick as they could to the edge of the creek, under a brisk fire, notwithstanding which they brought off twenty-eight prisoners.

'The enemy taking advantage of a commanding ground, kept up a continual fire from four field pieces, which were well served and directed, and a heavy column advancing on the marsh must have cut our people off, their guns being wet and muddy, not one of them could have fired; but having drawn up the musquetry and disposed of some

riflemen conveniently, with orders to fire on them when they came within shot; however, the latter began their fire rather too soon, being at two hundred yards distance, which, notwithstanding, had the desired effect, for the enemy immediately retreated to the fast land, where they continued parading within six hundred yards, till our troops were brought over; most of those who swam over, and others who attempted to cross before the covering party got down, lost their arms and accoutrements in the mud and creek, and some poor fellows their lives, particularly two of the Maryland, two of the Delaware, one of Astley's Pennsylvania, and two Hessian prisoners, were drowned.

'Thomas' men contributed much in bringing over this party-have enclosed a list of the killed and missing, amounting to 256, officers included. It has been said the enemy during the action also attacked.our lines, but this was a mistake; not knowing the ground, one of their columns advanced within long shot, without knowing they were so near, and upon our artillery and part of the musquetry's firing on them, they immediately fled.

'The 28th, during a very hard rain, there was an alarm that the enemy had advanced to attack our lines, which alarmed the troops much, but was without foundation.

'The 29th, it was found by a council of war, that our fortifications were not tenable, and it was therefore judged expedient that the army should retreat from the island that night; to effect which, notwithstanding the Maryland troops had had but one day's respite, and many other troops had been many days clear of any detail of duty, they were ordered on the advanced post at fort Putnam, within 250 yards of the enemy's approaches, and joined with two Pennsylvania regiments on the left, were to remain and cover the retreat of the army, which was happily completed under cover of a thick fog and a southwest wind, both which favoured our retreat, otherwise the

fear, disorder, and confusion of some of the eastern troops, must have retarded and discovered our retreat, and subjected numbers to be cut off.

'After remaining two days in New York, our next station was at Harlaem, nine miles above, at an advanced post opposite to Montresore's and Bohana's islands, which in a few days the enemy got possession of without opposition, from the former of which we daily discoursed with them, being within two hundred yards, and only a small creek between.

'It being judged expedient to abandon New York and retreat to our lines below fort Washington, the military. stores, &c. had been removing some days, when on the 15th September, the enemy effected a landing on several parts of the island below, and it is cutting to say, without the least opposition.

'I have often read and heard of instances of cowardice, but hitherto have had but a faint idea of it till now. Ι never could have thought human nature subject to such baseness. I could wish the transactions of this day blotted out of the annals of America. Nothing appeared but flight, disgrace and confusion; let it suffice to say that 60 light infantry upon the first fire put to flight two brigades of the Connecticut troops-wretches who, however strange it may appear, from the brigadier-general down to the private sentinel, were caned and whipped by the generals Washington, Putnam and Mifflin, but even this indignity had no weight, they could not be brought to stand one shot. General Washington expressly sent and drew our regiment from its brigade, to march down towards New York, to cover the retreat and to defend the baggage, with direction to take possession of an advantageous eminence near the enemy, upon the main road, where we remained under arms the best part of the day, till Sargent's brigade came in with their baggage, who were the last troops coming in, upon which the enemy divided their main

body into two columns, one filing off on the North river, endeavoured to flank and surround us; we had orders to retreat in good order, which was done, our corps getting within the lines a little after dusk.

'The next day about 1000 of them made an attempt upon our lines, and were first attacked by the brave col. Knolton, of New England, who lost his life in the action, and the third Virginia regiment, who were immediately joined by three independent companies under major Price, and some part of the Maryland flying camp, who drove them back to their lines, it is supposed with the loss of 400 men killed and wounded; our party had about 100 killed and wounded, of the former only 15. Since which we have been viewing each other at a distance, and strongly entrenching, till the 9th October, when three of their men-of-war passed up the North river, above King's bridge, under a heavy cannonade from our batteries, which has effectually cut off our communication by water, with Albany.

'I must now break off abruptly, being ordered to march up above King's bridge, the enemy having landed 6000 men from the sound on Frog's Point; 50 ships have got up there, landing more troops; there is nothing left but to fight them; an engagement is generally expected, and soon. Have enclosed a copy of a general return of the battalion, and Veazey's company, being all the troops I marched from Maryland, with the accoutrements and camp equipage, taken in Philadelphia, to be rendered the congress, together with our weekly general return.

'The independents are about their returns of arms, accoutrements and camp equipage, brought by them from Maryland, but not having time to finish, they must hereafter be returned to the council of safety.

'We have upwards of 300 officers and soldiers of the Maryland regulars, very sick, which you will observe by the return, and I am sorry to say, it's shocking to humanity