From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 159<br />
waft <strong>the</strong> boats across <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> New York side. If anything more were needed <strong>to</strong> prove that God was favoring <strong>the</strong><br />
smallest battalions, it was <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> night was clear on <strong>the</strong> New York side of <strong>the</strong> river.<br />
"God is propitious <strong>to</strong>-night," said Washing<strong>to</strong>n <strong>to</strong> Putnam in a hopeful <strong>to</strong>ne. "Under cover of this darkness we<br />
must cross <strong>the</strong> river and save our army."<br />
"Our only salvation," replied Putnam.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n superintended <strong>the</strong> retreat personally, and, as <strong>the</strong> fog did not clear away until ten o'clock on <strong>the</strong><br />
following day, his whole force, with guns and ammunition, were carried across <strong>the</strong> river before <strong>the</strong> enemy<br />
discovered <strong>the</strong> retreat. This retreat was regarded as one of <strong>the</strong> most signal achievements of <strong>the</strong> war. Sparks<br />
says, in his "Life of Washing<strong>to</strong>n:"<br />
"The retreat, in its plan, execution, and success, has been regarded as one of <strong>the</strong> most remarkable military<br />
events in his<strong>to</strong>ry, and as reflecting <strong>the</strong> highest credit on <strong>the</strong> talents and skill of <strong>the</strong> commander. So intense was<br />
<strong>the</strong> anxiety of Washing<strong>to</strong>n, so unceasing his exertions, that for forty-eight hours he did not close his eyes, and<br />
rarely dismounted from his horse."<br />
"We cannot hold New York," said Washing<strong>to</strong>n, at a council of war he called immediately. "We are at <strong>the</strong><br />
mercy of <strong>the</strong> enemy on every hand."<br />
"<strong>From</strong> Brooklyn Heights British guns can lay this city in ashes," added Putnam.<br />
"That is true; but <strong>the</strong> Howes will never order that destruction so long as half <strong>the</strong> citizens are Tories," replied<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
"Sure enough; that is a voucher against such a measure," responded Putnam. "But if thirty thousand<br />
well-armed and well-fed British troops, having possession of all <strong>the</strong> land and water around Manhattan Island,<br />
can't capture this small and undisciplined army, <strong>the</strong>y don't deserve <strong>the</strong> name of soldiers."<br />
"And now our men are disheartened," continued Washing<strong>to</strong>n. "We lost nearly two thousand men, killed,<br />
wounded, and missing, on Brooklyn Heights, and many of those who escaped have deserted. We must<br />
evacuate <strong>the</strong> city."<br />
"And leave it in flames," added Putnam.<br />
"Yes, apply <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>rch," said ano<strong>the</strong>r; "we must do it in self-defence. What a strong position against us it will<br />
afford <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> enemy!"<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n saw reasons for adopting this extreme measure, but he could not take <strong>the</strong> responsibility. He did<br />
write <strong>to</strong> Congress about it, however, as follows:<br />
"If we should be obliged <strong>to</strong> abandon <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn, ought it <strong>to</strong> stand as winter quarters for <strong>the</strong> enemy? They would<br />
derive great convenience from it on <strong>the</strong> one hand, and much property would be destroyed on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. At <strong>the</strong><br />
present, I dare say, <strong>the</strong> enemy mean <strong>to</strong> preserve it if <strong>the</strong>y can."<br />
On <strong>the</strong> tenth day of September, Congress voted <strong>to</strong> leave <strong>the</strong> fate of <strong>the</strong> city in Washing<strong>to</strong>n's hands, and he left<br />
it unharmed.<br />
Concerning <strong>the</strong> alarming desertions after <strong>the</strong> retreat from Brooklyn Heights, he wrote, in humane extenuation<br />
of <strong>the</strong> deserters' offence: