the non-commissioned officers himself, and then superintending their instruction of the soldiers. The Highlanders made rapid progress in this discipline, being, in general, excellent marksmen, and requiring only to have their natural impetuosity restrained, which often led them to disdain the idea of fighting in ambush.

At this time, the army consisted of the 17th light dragoons, the 4th, 5th, 10th, 17th, 22d, 23d, 27th, 35th, 38th, 40th, Royal Highlanders, 45th, 46th, 49th, 52d, 55th, 63d, 64th, and Fraser's Highlanders. To this force were added the troops which had arrived from England on the 1st of July, making the total amount 30,000 men, of whom 13,000 were Hessians and Waldeckers, newly arrived in the fleet commanded by Lord Howe.

The campaign opened by a landing on Long Island, on the 22d of August 1776. The reserve was landed first in Gravesend Bay to the right of the Narrows, and being immediately moved forward to Flat Bush, the Highlanders and a corps of Hessians were detached to a little distance, where they encamped. After the disembarkation was completed, the whole army followed, and occupied the ground from Flat Bush in front of the villages of Gravesend and Utrecht. General Putnam with the American army was encamped at Brooklyn, a few miles distant, where his works crossed a small peninsula, having the East river on his left and a marsh on his right. The two armies were separated by a range of woody hills, which intersected the country from east to west. The direct road to the enemy lay through a pass beyond the village of Flat Bush. The army lay in this position till the morning of the 27th, when it was determined to attack the enemy in three divisions.

At night-fall, the right wing of the English army, under the command of General Clinton, supported by the brigade under Lord Percy, moved towards their right, with an intention of occupying a pass on the heights, three miles from Bedford, which the enemy had neglected to guard. This pass being seized without opposition, the main body of the

army marched through, and descended to the level country which lay between the hills and General Putnam's lines. Meanwhile the Hessians remained at Flat Bush, and General Grant with his brigade (to the support of which the Royal Highlanders were ordered up from the reserve) was directed to march from the left, along the coast to the Narrows, and attack the enemy in that quarter. At 9 o'clock in the morning, the right of the army having reached Bedford, an attack was made on the left of the enemy, who, after a short resistance, quitted the woody grounds and retired to their lines in great confusion, pursued by the British troops, Colonel Charles Stuart leading with his battalion of Highland grenadiers. The enemy's line had been strengthened with considerable labour, but, as was afterwards proved, could offer no effectual resistance to troops so ardent and so eager to close with their antagonists. General Howe formed a different opinion, and would not permit the troops to attack the position; a resolution the more to be regretted, as he must have seen both the spirit which animated his own men, and the despondency of the Americans. By this cautious proceeding, and, as stated by General Howe, from a desire to save the lives of his soldiers, many thousands were afterwards sacrificed to recover what, on this occasion, was lost.

But

When the firing at Bedford was heard at Flat Bush, the Hessians under General De Heister attacked the centre of the American army, and, after a smart engagement, drove them through the woods, with the loss of three pieces of cannon. General Grant, with the left of the army, advanced from the Narrows by the edge of the bay, to attack the enemy in that quarter. The attack commenced with a smart cannonade, which was kept up on both sides till the Americans heard the firing at Bedford, when they retreated in great confusion. Unfortunately, the same caution and the same want of confidence in the bravery of his troops, which characterized Sir William Howe, also influenced General Grant, and, consequently, the same loss

of time took place as on the right. Instead of moving rapidly forward in pursuit of the enemy, who, having to retreat through a deep morass, intersected by a narrow path, must have surrendered had they been closely pursued, the general halted, and thus not only lost the opportunity of capturing a numerous body of the enemy, but also of intercepting those who had retreated from Flat Bush. Having thus retired from all the points of attack, the Americans took shelter within their lines.

In this affair, the enemy lost 2000 men killed, drowned in the morass, or taken prisoners. Among the latter were Generals the Earl of Stirling, * Sulivan, and Uddell. The British lost 5 officers and 56 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and 12 officers and 245 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded. A party of marines, mistaking a detachment of the enemy for Hessians, were taken prisoners. The loss of the Highlanders was, Lieutenant Crammond and 9 rank and file wounded, of the 42d; and 3 rank and file killed, and 2 serjeants and 9 rank and file wounded, of the 71st regiment.

The same evening (the 27th) the army encamped in front of the enemy's lines, and on the 28th broke ground opposite their left redoubt. But General Washington, who had crossed over from New York during the action, seeing no hope of resisting the force opposed to him, resolved on a retreat, which was conducted so skilfully, that 9000 men, with guns, ammunition, and stores, were, in the course of one night, transported over a broad ferry to New York, and with such silence and secrecy, that our army were not aware of their intention till next morning, when the last of the rear-guard were seen in their boats, and out of danger.

*This was a gentleman of the name of Alexander, born in America, who claimed and assumed the title of Earl of Stirling. The family must now be extinct, as no claimant has appeared since this gentleman's death.

*

After the escape of the enemy, active operations were resumed on the 15th of September; and the reserve, which the Royal Highlanders had rejoined after the action at Brooklyn, crossed over the island to New York, three miles above the town, and, after some opposition, took post on the heights. The landing being completed, the Highlanders and Hessians, who were ordered to advance to Bloomingdale, to intercept the enemy, now retreating from New York, fell in with and captured a corps of New England men and Virginians. That night the regiment lay on their arms, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy. On the 16th, the light infantry were sent out to dislodge a party of the enemy, who had taken possession of a wood facing the left of the British. The action becoming warm towards the evening, and the enemy pushing forward reinforcements, the Highlanders were sent to support the light infantry, when the Americans were quickly driven back to their entrenchments. Perceiving that our force was small, they returned to the attack with 3000 men; but these were likewise repulsed, with considerable loss. In this affair our loss was 14 killed, and 50 officers and 70 men wounded. The 42d lost 1 serjeant and 3 privates killed, and Captains Duncan Macpherson and John Mackintosh, Ensign Alexander Mackenzie, (who died of his wounds,)

* This night Major Murray was nearly carried off by the enemy, but saved himself by his strength of arm and presence of mind. As he was crossing to his regiment from the battalion which he commanded, he was attacked by an American officer and two soldiers, against whom he defended himself for some time with his fusil, keeping them at a respectful distance. At last, however, they closed upon him, when unluckily his dirk slipped behind, and he could not, owing to his corpulence, reach it. Observing that the rebel officer had a sword in his hand, he snatched it from him, and made so good use of it, that he compelled them to fly, before some men of the regiment, who had heard the noise, could come up to his assistance. He wore the sword as a trophy during the campaign. He was promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 37th regiment, and died the following year, much respected and beloved.

and 3 serjeants, 1 piper, 2 drummers, and 47 privates, wounded.

No farther operations of any importance occurred for some days. The enemy, who at first appeared much disheartened by their late defeats, were now gradually recovering spirits and confidence. To encourage this rising confidence, and for the purpose of forming a chain of detached corps along the heights from Kingsbridge to the White Plains, Washington made a general movement of his army, and established them on strong ground in the rear of the plains. General Howe, who had hitherto been occupied in throwing up entrenchments, as if expecting to be attacked, resolved to make a movement, with the view of inducing the enemy to quit their strong position. In consequence of this determination, the army embarked on the 12th of October, in flat-bottomed boats, and, passing through the intricate passage called Hell Gate, landed the same evening at Frogsneck, near West Chester. Here it was found that they could not proceed, as a bridge, by which this latter place was connected with the mainland, had been destroyed by the enemy. The troops, therefore, re-embarked on the 13th, and, proceeding along the coast, landed on Pell's Point, at the mouth of Hudson's River. Moving forward, they lay that night on their arms, their left being on a creek opposite to East Chester, and their right near Rochelle; and, the following day, reached White Plains, where the enemy had concentrated their whole force. Both armies being now in front of each other, it was determined to begin the attack by forcing a rising ground where the enemy had posted 4000 men. This post was carried with great spirit by the 28th and 35th regiments; but the position was found too distant to allow any impression to be made from it on the enemy's camp. General Howe, after a few ineffectual movements to bring the enemy to action, gave up the attempt, and proceeded against Forts Washington and Kingsbridge, the former being very strong by nature, and rendered considerably more so by art. As it cut off the