were they aware, by the signal guns of Clinton, that he was prepared to act on the offensive, than they advanced quickly to the attack, forced the passages without serious difficulty, and gradually entrapped the Americans in the snare laid for them.
Clinton, marching rapidly through Bedford, threw himself upon the left flank of the American troops, who, driven backward and forward between a double fire, were, the greater part of them, taken prisoners. "Hemmed in and entrapped between the British and Hessians, and driven from one to the other, the Americans fought, for a time, bravely, or rather, desperately. Some were cut down and trampled by the cavalry; others bayonneted without mercy by the Hessians. Some rallied in groups, and made a brief stand with their rifles from rocks, or behind trees. The whole pass was a scene of carnage, resounding with the clash of arms, the tramp of horses, the volleying of fire-arms, and the cries of the combatants, with now and then the dreary braying of the trumpet." Some of the Americans, by a desperate effort, cut their way through the host of foes, and effected a retreat to the lines, fighting as they went; others took such refuge as they could find in the fastnesses of the hills; but, as we have said above, the greater part were killed or taken prisoners, General Sullivan being among the latter.
The corps under Stirling maintained a steady front against the force commanded by Grant, who waited the signal of Clinton's cannon, to push the attack. Sensible of^ his danger, Stirling attempted to retreat to the camp, but, met by Cornwallis and his grenadiers, he was unable to accomplish his purpose. A desperate fight ensued; more than two hundred and fifty men perished in the deadly struggle; a part of the corps effected a retreat across the Gowanus Creek; but Lord Stirling was made prisoner. Washington, who had witnessed the attack from a hill within the lines, wrung his hands in agony at the sight. "Good God!" cried he, "what brave fellows I must this day lose!"
The victory of the British was complete. Their loss was about four hundred men; while the Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, not much short of two thousand men.[1] Washington expected that the enemy would storm the works directly, and had they done so, probably the result would have been disastrous; but the British commander, restraining the ardor of his men, and encamping in front of the American lines, made preparations for regular approaches. Whether General Howe dreaded the result of thus attacking a desperate foe, or supposed that with the co-operation of the ships the enemy could not escape him, he preferred the course he had determined upon, and began immediately to open trenches. The rain poured incessantly for two days, and the Americans were exposed to it unsheltered. Had the English ships advanced up the East River, and stationed themselves
- ↑ Marshall discusses at length, and very ably, the question as to the expediency of Washington's attempting to defend Long Island. See "Life of Washington," vol. i, pp. 92–94.
