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WASHINGTON DESPONDENT. 249
remnants of Smallwood's and Haslett's battalions, was confided the task of
covering the retreat. " Torn with the shock of battle, and enfeebled by the
terrible and exhausting exertions of its struggle, these brave men still kept
the post of peril; and on their courage and devotion the commander-in-chief
depended for covering the retreat."
Under pretence of attacking the enemy, these brave men remained under
arms all night, marching and counter-marching, while their comrades were
being safely conveyed across the river. On their courage and devotion
depended the fate of the army, and perhaps of the cause. As daylight
dawned the great task was accomplished, as the last of Washington's army
crossed from the beach, between Fulton and Main streets. The enemy did not
discover the retreat of the American army until the last detachment of the
Marylanders and Pennsylvanians was half way across East Kiver and out of
reach.
. The recent defeat disclosed to Washington the weakness and disorganization of his army, and filled his mind with a sad presage of the future. He
writes to congress on the 3d of September: " Our situation is truly distressing, . . and, with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want
of confidence in the generality of the troops." After giving a gloomy and
discouraging prospect of the future, he urged congress to exert every power
it possessed to serve the cause
Washington's dissatisfaction with the policy of congress may be seen from
the annexed letter to Lund Washington (who had been left in charge at
Mount Vernon) which we print in full, as it has not yet found its way into
history:
" Colo. Morris's, on the Heights of Harlem, \
" 30th September, 1776. \
" Dear Lund: Your letter of the 18th, which is the only one received and unanswered,
now lays before me. The amazement which you seem to be in at the unaccountable
measures which have been adopted by [Congress] would be a good deal increased if I had
time to unfold the whole system of their management since this time twelve months. I
do not know how to account for the unfortunate steps which have been taken, but from
that fatal Idea of reconciliation which prevailed so long—fatal, I call it, because from my
soul I wish it may not prove so, tho' my fears lead me to think there is but too much
danger of it. This time last year, I pointed out the evil consequences of short enlistments—the Experience of Militia—and the little dependance that was to be placed in them.
I assured [Congress] that the longer they delayed raising a standing army, the more
difficult and chargeable would they find it to get one—and that at the same time that the
Militia would answer no valuable purpose, the frequent calling them, it would be attended
with an experience that they could have no conception of. What does Dr. Craik say to
the behaviour of his countrymen and townspeople? Remember me kindly to him, and
tell him that I should be very glad to see him here, if there was anything worth his
acceptance, but the Massachusetts people suffer nothing to go by them that they can lay
hands upon."1
1 Southern Magazine, xiv., p. 320; March, 1874. private affairs upon taking command of the
General Washington, in a letter to Lund army, dated " Camp at Cambridge, August 20,
Washington, to whom he left his estates and 1775," says: "The people of this government
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000280 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | WASHINGTON DESPONDENT. 249 remnants of Smallwood's and Haslett's battalions, was confided the task of covering the retreat. " Torn with the shock of battle, and enfeebled by the terrible and exhausting exertions of its struggle, these brave men still kept the post of peril; and on their courage and devotion the commander-in-chief depended for covering the retreat." Under pretence of attacking the enemy, these brave men remained under arms all night, marching and counter-marching, while their comrades were being safely conveyed across the river. On their courage and devotion depended the fate of the army, and perhaps of the cause. As daylight dawned the great task was accomplished, as the last of Washington's army crossed from the beach, between Fulton and Main streets. The enemy did not discover the retreat of the American army until the last detachment of the Marylanders and Pennsylvanians was half way across East Kiver and out of reach. . The recent defeat disclosed to Washington the weakness and disorganization of his army, and filled his mind with a sad presage of the future. He writes to congress on the 3d of September: " Our situation is truly distressing, . . and, with the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops." After giving a gloomy and discouraging prospect of the future, he urged congress to exert every power it possessed to serve the cause Washington's dissatisfaction with the policy of congress may be seen from the annexed letter to Lund Washington (who had been left in charge at Mount Vernon) which we print in full, as it has not yet found its way into history: " Colo. Morris's, on the Heights of Harlem, \ " 30th September, 1776. \ " Dear Lund: Your letter of the 18th, which is the only one received and unanswered, now lays before me. The amazement which you seem to be in at the unaccountable measures which have been adopted by [Congress] would be a good deal increased if I had time to unfold the whole system of their management since this time twelve months. I do not know how to account for the unfortunate steps which have been taken, but from that fatal Idea of reconciliation which prevailed so long—fatal, I call it, because from my soul I wish it may not prove so, tho' my fears lead me to think there is but too much danger of it. This time last year, I pointed out the evil consequences of short enlistments—the Experience of Militia—and the little dependance that was to be placed in them. I assured [Congress] that the longer they delayed raising a standing army, the more difficult and chargeable would they find it to get one—and that at the same time that the Militia would answer no valuable purpose, the frequent calling them, it would be attended with an experience that they could have no conception of. What does Dr. Craik say to the behaviour of his countrymen and townspeople? Remember me kindly to him, and tell him that I should be very glad to see him here, if there was anything worth his acceptance, but the Massachusetts people suffer nothing to go by them that they can lay hands upon."1 1 Southern Magazine, xiv., p. 320; March, 1874. private affairs upon taking command of the General Washington, in a letter to Lund army, dated " Camp at Cambridge, August 20, Washington, to whom he left his estates and 1775," says: "The people of this government |
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