CHRONOLOGY : THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD : 1776-1783      1019
 

1776   enemy's advancing.  Great attention Is paid to Fort Washington,
Sept.    the posts opposite to it on the Jersey shore, and the obstructions

18    in the river, which, I have reason to believe, are already effectual,
so as to prevent their shipping passing; however, it is intended
still to add to them, as it is of the utmost consequence to keep the
eneray below us, . . ."—5 Am. Arch., H: 383-84. The origind
of this letter is in the N. Y. H, S.—Battle of Harlem Heights, 139-
42.

"          Gen. Glover writes, frora "Burdett's Ferry" to Washington:

"The Enemy are forming an encampment on the edge ot the North
River, about one mile below the ground where the battle was
fought on Monday last. I have moved the Brigade up the hill
about one and a halt [miles] from the Ferry.

"Colonel Bradley's Regiment is posted between my Brigade &
Powlus Hook. The Asia Man of war passed by that post, nine
o'clock this morning. Colonel Durkee saluted her with five shot—
thirty two pounders, which was not returned."—G/ojj^f Corresp,
(MS.), part 2, p. I,

"          Lieut. Hdiuichs, a Hessian officer wounded in the battle of

the 16th (q.v.), in a letter of this date, written at Harlem, near
"Horn-Huck" (Horn's Hook), thus describes the city: "The Island
ot New York is the most beautiful island I have ever seen. No
superfluous trunk, no usdess twig, no unnecessary stalk, can here
be found. Projecting fruitful hillocks, surrounded by orchards,
meadows, and gardens full of fruit-trees, and single ones scattered
over the hills, with houses attached, line both sides of the river,
and present to the eye a beautiful scene. The houses, which are
two stories high and painted white, are encircled by a piazza, and
have a weather-vane on top. They are also surrounded by beautiful
walks, and are built and furnished In the best ot taste,"—From
"Letters of Brunswick and Hessian Officers during the Am. Rev."
in Munsell'sHist. Ser,, No. 18,201-2.

This date is found on one of Archibald Robertson's drawings
(No. 367—see July 12), entitled "View of Long Island & East
River from my Quarters on N. York Island.  iS'h Septr 1776,"

19          Admird Lord Howe and Gen. Howe, "the King's Coraralssion-
ers for restoring Peace to His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in
North-Araerica," issue at New York the following proclamation or
"Declaration:"

"Although Congress, whom the misguided Americans suffer to
direct their opposition to a reestablishment ot the Constitutional
Gove^|ment ot these Provinces, have disavowed every purpose ot
reconciliation not consonant with their extravagant and inadmissi¬
ble daim ot Independence, the King's Commissioners think fit to
dedare that they are equally desirous to confer with his Majesty's
well-affected subjects, upon the means of restoring the publick
tranquility, and establishing a permanent union with every Colony
as a part of the British Empire, The King being most gracioudy
pleased to direct a revision ot such ot his royd instructions to his
Governours as may be construed to lay an improper restraint on the
freedom of legislation in any of his Colonics, and to concur In the
revisal ot all acts by which his Majesty's subjects there may think
themselves aggrieved, it is recoraraended to the inhabitants at large
to reflect seriously upon thdr present condition and expectations,
and judge for therasdves whether it be more inconsistent with their
honour and happiness to offer up their lives as a sacrifice to the un¬
just and precarious cause in which they are engaged, or return to
their allegiance, accept the blessings of peace, and to be secured in a
tree enjoyment ot their liberties and properties, upon the true prin¬
ciples ot the Constitution,"—From one of these original broadsides,
in the author's collection; see dso 5 Am. Arch., II:  398.

An American "Declaration," answering tlus, is In the form of a
travesty, signed with the naraes ot the Howes and purporting to be
an explanation of their "Declaration,"—Jiii. For another pro¬
clamation by the commissioners, see N 30.

The British orders ot the day provide that: "No Officers are to
take Possession ot Houses in New York but by Application to Maj''
Gen* Robertson;" "The Coounissary Gen' ot stores & Commissary
Gen' ot Artiller'y or their deputysTo attend and take Charge ot all
stores left by the Rebels in the Island of new York;" "A Guard ot an
Officer and 20 Men frora the Brigade of Guards to do duty at Green¬
wich, to Protect the boats and to Preserve order araong the Seamen
There—This Guard to Parade at 40'Clock This Afternoon, a Guide
will attend to Conduct them. The Capfs of Guides and ail the
Guides ot duty to attend at head Qu''* dayly at Orderly time and
there to remain Till Dismiss'd-L' Gen' Earl Pearcy Orders care
 

to be taken by the Reg'^ not to Burn any straw Near the store
houses."—Frora Orderiy Book, British Army (MS.), in N. Y. H. S.
Washington writes from the Morris house to the president of
congress that the British "are bringing raany ot their heavy cannon
towards the heights. . . . They have dso eight or nine ships of
war in the North River, which, it is said, are to cannonade our right
flank, when they open their batteries against our front." He plans
"to maintain the post so long as it shdl appear practicable and
conducive to the general good."—5 Am. Arch,, II: 398-99.

The general orders, issued from "Head-Quarters, Harlem
Heights," contain praise for the British policy "to restrain every
kind ot abuse of private property." They also express complaint
that "the abandoned and profligate part of our own army, counte¬
nanced by a few officers, who are lost to every sense ot honour and
virtue, as wdl as their country's good, are by rapine and plunder
spreading ruin and terrour wherever they go; thereby making them¬
selves infinitely more to he dreaded than the common enemy they
are come to oppose, , , . The Generd [Washington] ... Is
determined to show no favour to officer or soldier who shall offend
herein, but punish without exception every person who shall [be
found guilty ot this most abominable practice, which, if continued,
raust prove the destruction of any army on earth.."—5 Am. Arch.,
II:  413-14-

Lieut. Tench Tilghman, Washington's aide, writes to his father:
"An Ensign is to be tried for marauding to-day, the Gen' will exe¬
cute hira if he can get a Court Martid to convict him."—-Campaign
0/1776, part 2, 87.

In a letter to the Massachusetts assembly, Washington writes
"in a cursory, rough way, an account of the raost raaterlal events
from the battle on Long-Island to the present moment."—5 Am.
Arch.,11:  399-401.

Lord Howe, from the "Eagle off New-York," writes to Lord
Germain: "Finding in a conversation with Mr. Sullivan, a Major
General in the rebel army, taken prisoner In the action ot the 27lh
of August [q. v.], that the leaders of the disaffected Americans, pro¬
fessed to understand the powers delegated by the King's commis¬
sion, were restricted to granting pardons and dedaring the Colonies
at peace, without authority to enter into any discussion ai griev¬
ances, I thought proper to Inform that gentleman, that the object
of his Majesty's paternd desire was to make his American subjects
happy, as wdl as to rdieve them from the calamities of war—That
the Comraissioners were willing to consult and confer with any
persons of influence, upon the raeans of attaining these ends; and
that reconciliation, union and redress of grievances, might be the
happy consequence. Mr. Sullivan hereupon proposed, and with
Generd Howe's approbation, I consented, that he should go to
Philaddphia, and undeceive those who appeared to entertain that
confined opinion ot the King's most gracious intentions.

"On the 9th instant he returned, and acquainted me, that he had
made known the sentiments I had expressed to him; and that
according to the tenor of a resolution of Congress, three Deputies
raight soon be expected in this province, to enquire more particu¬
larly into the grounds of the Information he had communicated.. ,
"Although the object of this deputation apparentiy was to inter¬
rogate rather than to confer, Generd Howe concurred in opinion
with me, that I should not, on that account, dedine any proposition
for a meeting.—We thought It material to controvert the red or
affected Ideas before mentioned, which had probably been circu¬
lated with a view to persuade the ignorant, that the offer ot peace
and pardon hdd forth in our Dedaration of the 14th ot July [q. ti.],
was merdy an artifice to disarra thera, and that their liberties and
properties were only to be secured by a perseverance in their reso¬
lution, to throw off all dependence upon the King and Parliament ot
Great-Britain.

"In the evening ot the sarae day I received Information that
Doctor Franklin, Mr. John Adaras, and Mr. Rutledge, would raeet
me, at any appointed place, on the raorning ot the nth. General
Howe's presence being that day necessary with the array, he could
not accompany me to the raeeting, which I appointed should be on
Staten-Idand, opposite to the town ot Amboy. [For account oi the
conference, see S 11.]

"In consequence ot the result ot the above-mentioned interview,
we judged it necessary to publish the dedaration [see S 19] inclosed
in our joint letter to your Lordship of this day's date.   .   .   .

"I have only to add, that as the rebd army remains strong¬
ly posted at the north part ot the idand of New-York, and the