said he, in addressing them, "have now landed on Long Island, and the hour is fast approaching, on which the honour and success of this army, and the safety of our bleeding country, depends. Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are freemen fighting for the blessings of liberty; that slavery will be your portion and that of yourpo sterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men. Remember how your courage has been despised and traduced by your cruel invaders; though they have found, by dear experience, at Boston, Charlestown, and other places, what a few brave men, contending in their own land, and in the best of causes, can do against hirelings and mercenaries. Be cool, but determined. Do not fire at a distance, but wait for orders from your officers." He repeated his injunctions to shoot any person who should misbehave in action, and his hope that none so infamous would be found; but that, on the contrary, each for himself resolving to conquer or die, and trusting to the smiles of Heaven on so just a cause, would behave with bravery and resolution." His assurance of rewards to those who should distinguish themselves, were repeated; and he declared his confidence, that, if the arny would but emulate and imitate their brave countrymen in other parts of America, they would, by a glorious victory, save their country, and acquire to themselves immortal honour.” Major Major-General Putnam was now directed to take command at Brooklyn, the camp at which was reinforced with six regiments; and he was charged most earnestly by the Commander in Chief to be in constant readiness for an attack; and to guard the woods between the two camps with his best troops. On the same day Lieutenant General de Heister landed with two brigades of Hessians. The next day he took post at Flat Bush, and in the evening, Lord Cornwallis, with the British, drew off to Flat Land*. General Washington had passed the day at Brooklyn, making the best arrangements for the approaching action, and at night returned to New York. The Hessians, under General de Heister, composed the centre of the British army at Flat Bush; Major-General Grant commanded the left wing, which extended to the coast; and the greater part of the British forces, under General Clinton, Earl Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, turned short to the right, and approached the opposite coast of Flat Land. The two armies were now separated from each other by the range of hills already mentioned. The centre of the enemy, at Flat Bush, was scarcely four miles distant from the lines at Brooklyn, and a direct road led across the heights from * General Howe's letter. the the one to the other. There was also another road, rather more circuitous than the first, leading from Flat Bush by the way of Bedford, a small village on the Brooklyn side of the hills. The right and left wings of the British army were nearly equidistant from the American works, and about five or six miles from them. The road leading from the Narrows along the coast, and by the way of Gowan's Cove, afforded the most direct route to their left; and their right might either return by the way of Flat Bush, and unite with the centre, or take a more circuitous course, and enter a road leading from Jamaica to Bedford. These several roads unite between Bedford and Brooklyn, a small distance in front of the American lines. On the direct road from Flat Bush to Brooklyn, and very near the former place, the Americans had constructed, in the hills, a strong redoubt, in which were mounted some few pieces of artillery, and it was defended by a body of troops deemed sufficient for the purpose. The coast and Bedford Roads were guarded by detachments posted on the hills, within view of the British camp, which were relieved daily; and directions had been given to throw obstructions in the way, which might embarrass the enemy when advancing. The Convention at New York had ordered General Woodhull, with the militia of Long Island, to take post on the high grounds, as near the enemy as possible; but he was yet at Jamaica, and seemed scarcely to suppose himself under the control of the regular officer commanding on the island. Light parties of volunteers were directed to patrol on the road from Jamaica to Bedford. About two miles from which, and near Flat Bush, Colonel Miles, of Pennsylvania, was stationed with a regiment of riflemen. On the 26th, Colonel Lutz, of the Pennsylvania militia, commanded on the coast road; and Colonel Williams, from New England, on the road from Flat Bush to Bedford. Colonel Miles, with his regiment of riflemen, still remained on the ground where he had originally been placed. About nine o'clock at night, General Clinton silently drew off the van of the army, consisting of the light infantry, grenadiers, light horse, reserve under Lord Cornwallis, and some other corps, with fourteen field-pieces, from Flat Land, across the country, through that part which is called the New Lotts, in order to seize a pass on the heights, about three miles east of Bedford, on the Jamaica road. Arriving entirely undiscovered, about two hours before day-break, within half a mile of the pass, he halted, in order to make his dispositions for taking possession of it. Here his patrols fell in with and captured, without giving any alarm, one of the American parties, which had been stationed on this road for the purpose of giving notice of the first approach of the enemy in that quarter. Learning from his prisoners that the pass was unoccupied, General Clinton immediately seized it; and, on the appearance of day, the whole column passed the heights, and advanced into the level country between them and Brooklyn. They were immediately followed by another column under Lord Percy *. General Grant advanced along the coast, at the head of the left wing of the British, with ten pieces of cannon. As his first object was to draw the attention of the Americans from their left, he moved slowly, skirmishing, as he advanced, with the light parties stationed on that road f. The suspicions of General Putnam having been very much directed towards the route along the coast, this movement of General Grant was soon discovered and communicated to him. It having been determined that the passes through the hills were to be very seriously contested, reinforcements were immediately ordered out to the assistance of the parties which had been advanced in front; and, as the enemy continued to gain ground, still stronger detachments were employed in this service. About three o'clock in the morning, Brigadier-General Lord Sterling was directed, with the two nearest regiments, to meet the enemy on *General Howe's letter. + Ibid. the |