Life of George Washington, volume 2 of 5

Note 114 — Chapter XXXIV · MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY—COUNCILS OF WAR—QUESTION OF THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CITY—DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY—SHIPS IN THE EAST RIVER—THE ENEMY AT HELL GATE—SKIRMISH AT TURTLE BAY—PANIC OF THE CONNECTICUT MILITIA—RAGE AND PERSONAL PERIL OF WASHINGTON—PUTNAM’S PERILOUS RETREAT FROM THE CITY—BRITISH REGALE AT MURRAY HILL.

Reading edition

Graydon’s Memoirs, Littell’s ed., p. 174. General Greene, in a letter to a friend, writes: “We made a miserable, disorderly retreat from New York, owing to the conduct of the militia, who ran at the appearance of the enemy’s advanced guard. Fellows’ and Parsons’ brigades ran away from about fifty men, and left his excellency on the ground, within eighty yards of the enemy, so vexed at the infamous conduct of his troops, that he sought death rather than life.”

Return to CHAPTER XXXIV. MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY—COUNCILS OF WAR—QUESTION OF THE ABANDONMENT OF THE CITY—DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY—SHIPS IN THE EAST RIVER—THE ENEMY AT HELL GATE—SKIRMISH AT TURTLE BAY—PANIC OF THE CONNECTICUT MILITIA—RAGE AND PERSONAL PERIL OF WASHINGTON—PUTNAM’S PERILOUS RETREAT FROM THE CITY—BRITISH REGALE AT MURRAY HILL.