Chapter XVIII: Defending New York

Where the Enemy is going--General Putnam in Command at New
York--Washington Goes There--Hears from the Enemy--Condition of
our Army in New York--Words of Washington--Letter to his
Brother--Action of Congress--Plot to Seize Washington--A
Conspirator Hung--Enemy in the Harbor--Declaration of
Independence Read to the Army--Statue of George III.
destroyed--Putnam and Hamilton--Sir Henry Clinton--Attacking
Fort Moultrie--Cudjo--The Army encouraged--The Corporal
rebuked--The Sabbath honored--Washington's Address--Army in Bad
plight--Order against Profanity--The Enemy moving to capture
Brooklyn Heights--Livingston's Message--Washington's Address to
Army--Terrible Battle--Americans retreat under cover of
Storm--What Sparks says of it--A Council of
War--Deserters--Retreat from New York--Stand at Harlem--Nathan
Hale--Washington's Daring--Great Fire in New York--Loss in
Canada--Disaffection in Army--General Lee returns to
Harlem--Council of War--Another Retreat necessary 349

XIX.

FROM HARLEM TO TRENTON.

Fort Washington and Allies--Retreat to White Plains--Looking for
a Position--The Enemy in Camp--A Battle--Falling back to North
Castle--The Enemy withdraw--What Washington suspected--Advised
to evacuate Fort Washington--The Enemy capture the Fort--Gloomy
Times--Retreat over the Hackensack--Retreat to Newark--General
Lee disobeying Orders--Further Retreat--Boats for Seventy Miles
collected--Disappointment and a Plot--Opposition to
Washington--Retreat to Trenton--Darkest Hour yet--Washington
still hopeful--Will retreat over every River and
Mountain--General Lee's Treasonable Course--General Heath's
Firmness--Crossing the Delaware--Skill of Washington in
Retreating--Lee still disobeys Orders--Lee's Folly and
Capture--Magnanimity of Washington 372