declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. New Hampshire. Massachusetts Bay. Rhode Island. Step. Hopkins, Connecticut. Roger Sherman, Sam'el Huntington, Oliver Wolcott. New York. Wm. Floyd, Phil. Livingston, Frans. Lewis, Lewis Morris. New Jersey. Richd. Stockton, Pennsylvania. Robt. Morris, Delaware. Maryland. Samuel Chase, Wm. Paca, Thos. Stone, JOHN HANCOCK. Charles Carroll of Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina. Edward Rutledge, Thos. Heyward, Junr., Thomas Lynch, Junr. Arthur Middleton. Georgia. Button Gwinnett, Geo. Walton. 219. Washington at New York.-Having forced the British to evacuate Boston, Washington soon repaired to New York. Washington had selected New York because he felt sure that Howe would make his next attack at that point. In this his judgment proved correct, for hardly had the American army seized and fortified the commanding position of Brooklyn Heights ere the British arrived from Halifax under Sir William Howe, reinforced by a fleet from England under command of Admiral Howe, brother of Sir William. 220. The Howes Offer Peace.-The British government still clung to the idea that the colonists would "repent of their folly," and the Howes were jointly commissioned to publish an amnesty proclamation offering pardon to all those who had been engaged in rebellion. As they were not commissioned to recognize the existence in any way of a separate government, and had nothing to offer but pardon to those who would admit no guilt, nothing came of their overtures and they were under the necessity of continuing the war. They at once planned to capture New York, seize the Hudson river, and cut New England off from the other colonies. They began operations by landing a heavy force for the capture of Brooklyn Heights. 221. Battle of Long Island-August 27: Loss of New York. The intrenchments on Brooklyn Heights were occupied by General Israel Putnam with nine thousand men. The British advanced to the attack in three divisions. Two of these divisions succeeded in surrounding a force under Generals Stirling and Sullivan and these two generals with a thousand troops were captured. Night coming on, the British took position as if for a siege. Washington arrived with reinforcements the next day. Knowing that the British would cut off the retreat of the army if it was not moved at once, Washington that night set the army in motion. Under cover of a dense fog he safely carried the entire army to the New York side bringing with him every piece of ordnance and all his army supplies. New York was now untenable and Washington withdrew to the highlands north of the city. 222. Nathan Hale.-An incident occurred during the Long Island campaign which brought home to the colonists the cruelties of war. Nathan Hale was a captain in the American army. Washington, desiring information concerning the movements of the British on Long Island, Captain Hale volunteered for the service. He had secured the information and was returning, when he was recognized and arrested. He was tried and convicted as a spy and after a brief period was hanged. The patriot was treated with undue severitythe farewell letters of his mother and sister being destroyed, the service of a minister denied, and even a Bible withheld. He was a true patriot to the last, going to his death with these noble words: "I regret only that I have but one life to give to my country." 223. Retreat of Washington Across the Delaware.-General Howe now advanced to the highlands outside the city of New York whereupon Washington withdrew from Harlem Heights to White Plains, later intrenching himself at North Castle. The British commander, however, remembering his experience at Bunker Hill, could not be induced to give battle there. The Hudson was guarded by Forts Washington and Lee. It was hoped that these forts would be strong enough to prevent the British fleet, under Admiral Howe, from passing up the river, but the fleet, passing them, landed a large body of the British above the forts, thus practically cutting off their garrisons from the rest of the American army. Washington thereupon ordered General Nathaniel Greene to abandon the forts unless some military condition arose that would make their retention possible. Greene thought Fort Washington on the east bank of the river might be held and reinforced it. But Greene erred in judgment. Howe sent an overwhelming force against the fort, and though the Americans desperately defended their position, their whole force, consisting of three thousand men, was captured (November 16), and an immense quantity of supplies fell into the hands of the British. Fort Lee was abandoned and its garrison of two thousand men joined General Israel Putnam's force in New Jersey. Washington himself took command of this force of six thousand men, and, sending peremptory orders for General Charles Lee to follow and join him, with his troops, moved slowly south, seeking a strong position for the battle which he felt sure Howe would now hazard. 224. General Charles Lee.-Lee, upon whom Washington depended, proved unworthy. He had seen service in the English army, and, coming to America with Braddock, had served through the French war. He was now second in command. Could he by delay or in any other manner compass the downfall of Washington, he was in line for immediate advancement to the head of the army. Sending flimsy excuses to Washington to account for his delay, he occupied himself in strengthening his position and in poisoning the public mind against the commander-in-chief, who by this time had begun to suffer from criticism incident to the loss of New York |