conflict between Cornwallis's force and the American for- 1 7 7 6 lorn hope, but in the end the survivors of the gallant band were dispersed or captured.

Caution

By two o'clock, the fighting was at an end. The Howe's demoralized Americans who escaped from the net found ill-timed shelter behind the intrenched line, in what is now the heart of Brooklyn. Howe had still six hours of daylight, but instead of pressing forward to assault the works, he waited until the following day, broke ground for a regular siege, and began a cannonade. The English historian, Lord Mahon, says that by his ill-timed caution the English general flung away the opportunity of destroying the flower of the American army. But Howe at Bunker Hill had seen Americans defend intrenchments and the "ill-timed caution" may have been born of the prudence that he gained from that day's experience. This is the common explanation of his failure to assault, but he may have hoped that the northeast wind that had prevented the war-ships from coming up the bay would change so that they could enter the East River. He certainly had counted upon such aid from the fleet. In fact, while the morning fight was in progress, five ships of the line, under command of Sir Peter Parker, made an unsuccessful effort to beat up the bay, and one ship of smaller size did work up far enough to injure the breastworks and to dismount some of the guns of the inadequate battery at Red Hook. Had Sir Peter Parker been successful, the American force in Brooklyn would have been in a trap and would have been forced to surrender without much further loss of life.

Additional troops were brought across the river and, The Better by the morning of the twenty-eighth, Washington had Part of Valor nine or ten thousand men on Long Island. The morning was lowering and presently a drenching rain set in. It was a case of four to one, but the expected assault was not made. Charles Francis Adams says that "when it came to dilatoriness, Sir William Howe seems always to have proved himself equal to any occasion." Facing the danger that that "providential" northeast wind would

1776 die out and that the British fleet would enter the East River, Washington recognized his mistake and prepared

Escape

to extricate himself from its consequences. In the early evening of the twenty-ninth, he submitted a plan of retreat to a council of war that unanimously accepted it. On the morning of the same day, he had through Mifflin, the quartermastergeneral, ordered General Heath at Kingsbridge to send "every flat bottomed boat and other craft at your post, fit for transporting troops, down to New York as soon as possible." It is probable that orders had been previously issued to provide transportation for the retreat if one became necessary. At all events, every available boat was impressed, and the flotilla was wisely manned with Hutchinson's men from Salem and Colonel Glover's "amphibious regiment" from Marblehead.

Revolution

per

In the early evening of the twenty-ninth, the still sisting northeast wind made it almost impossible to use the sailing craft, but, about eleven o'clock, the gale died down and changed into a gentle southwest breeze that proved of great assistance. Just before dawn, "Providence further interposed in favor of the retreating army by sending a thick fog," under cover of which, soon after sunrise of the thirtieth, the last regiment crossed in safety. All the stores and artillery were saved except a few heavy pieces. The last boat that crossed bore the commander-in-chief. The British were not vigilant; there were no inquisitive scouts along the lines, or prowling patrol boats in the East River. Howe and his officers knew nothing of what was going on until the Americans were safe across the river, then a thousand feet wider than it is today; of course, they were deeply morti

FOR the Encouragement of thofe that fhall Islift in the the Continental Army The CONGRESS in their Refolves of September 16th, 18th, 19th, October 8th, and November 12th, 1776, Engage,

HAT Twenty Dollars be given as a Bounty to each Non-CommifThioned Officer and Pavate Soldier who fhall Inlift to ferve for the Term

That each Non-Committoned Officer and private Soldier fhall annually receive a Suit of Cloaths, to confift for the prefent Year, of Two Linnen Hun ing Shirts, Two Pair of Overalls, a Leathern or Woolen Waistcoat with Sleeves, One Pair of Breeches, a Hat or Leather Cap, Two Shirts, Two Pair of Hofe, and Two Pair of Shoes, amounting in the whole to the Value of Twenty Dollars, or that Sun to be paid to each Soldier who fhall procure thole Articles for himfelf, and produces a Certificate thereof from the Captain of the Company to which he belongs, to the Pay Mafter of the Regiment.

That each Non-Commiffioned Officer and private Soldier who fhall Inlift and engage to continue in the Service to the Clofe of the War, or until difcharged by CONGRESS, fhall receive in Addition to the above Encouragement, ONE HUNDRED ACRES OF LAND, and if any are Slain by the Enemy, the Reprefentatives of fuch Soldiers fhall be intitled to the aforefaid rundred Acres of Land.

And for their further Encouragement, the State of Maffachusetts-Bay, has, by a Refolve of November 25 laft, engaged,

That each Non-Commiffioned Officer and private Soldier who fhall Inlift into the Continental Army, either during the War, or for the Term of Three Years, as Part of the Quota of Men affigned this State, the Sum of Twenty Pounds on his paffing Mufter, the faid Twenty Pounds to be paid in Trealurer's Notes of Ten Pounds each, payable to the Poffeffor in Four Years, with Intereft to be paid annually, at the Rate of Six per Cent,

In the Boufe of REPRESENTATIVES, Dec. 4. 1776. THE foregoing Extracts were Read and Ordered to be Printed. JAMES WARREN, Speaker.