The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

PHILADELPHIA.

Extract of a letter from Newark dated Sept. 1.

"Last Monday morning we went over to Long Island, and about midnight we were alarmed by the return of some of our scouting parties, who advised us that the Enemy were in motion and coming up the island with several field pieces. It was generally thought not to be the main body, but only a detachment, with a view to possess themselves of some advantageous heights. On which near 6000 men were ordered out, consisting chiefly of the Pennsylvania and Maryland troops, to attack them on their march. About sun rise we came up with a very large body of them. The Delaware and Maryland battalions made one part. Col. Atlee, with his battalions a little before us had taken post in an orchard and behind a barn, and on the approach of the enemy he gave them a very severe fire, which he bravely kept up for a considerable time, until they were near surrounding him, when he retreated to the woods. The enemy then advanced to us, upon which Lord Sterling, who commanded, immediately drew us up in a line, and offered them battle in the true English taste. The British army then advanced within about three hundred yards of us, and began a very heavy fire from their cannon and mortars, for both the balls and shells flew very fast, now and then taking off a head. Our men stood it amazingly well, not even one of them shewed a disposition to shrink. Our orders were not to fire until the enemy came within fifty yards of us, but when they perceived we stood their fire so cooly and resolutely, they declined coming any nearer, although treble our number. In this situation we stood from sunrise to twelve o'clock, the enemy firing upon us the chief part of the time. when the main body of their army, by a rout we never dreamed of, had entirely surrounded us and drove within the lines, or scattered in the woods, all our men, except the Delaware and Maryland battalions who were standing at bay with double their number. Thus situated, we were ordered to attempt a retreat, by fighting our way through the enemy, who had posted themselves, and nearly filled every field and road between us and our lines. We had not retreated a quarter of a mile before we were fired upon by an advanced part of the enemy, and those upon our rear were playing upon us with their artillery. Our men fought with more than Roman virtue, and I am convinced, would have stood until they were shot down to a man. We forced the advanced party, which first attacked us, to give way, through which opening we got a passage down to the side of a marsh, seldom before waded over which we passed, and then swam a narrow river: all the time exposed to the fire of the enemy. The companies commanded by Captains Ramsey and Scott were in the front, and sustained the first fire of the enemy, when hardly a man fell. The whole of the right wing of our battalion, thinking it impossible to march through the marsh, attempted to force their way thro' the woods, where they were almost to a man killed or taken. The Maryland battalion has lost two hundred and fifty nine men, amongst whom are twelve officers. Captains Veazy and Bowey, the first certainly killed: Lieuts. Butler, Sterrett Dent, Coursey, Mule, Prawl: Ensigns, Coats and Fernandes: who of them are killed, or who prisoners, is yet uncertain. Many of the officers lost their swords and guns. We have since entirely abandoned Long Island, bringing off all our military stores."

Generals Sullivan and Sterling are both prisoners. Cols. Atlee Miles and Piper, are also taken. There are about a thousand men missing in all. We took a few prisoners. By a Lieutenant we took, we understand they had about 23,000 men on the island that morning. Most of our Generals were on a high hill in our lines, viewing us with glasses. When we began our retreat, they could see the enemy we had to pass through, though we could not. Many of them thought we would surrender in a body, without firing. When we began the attack, General Washington wrung his hands, and cried out Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose! Major Guest commanded the Maryland battalion, the Col. and Lieut. Col. being both at York. Capt. Adams and Lucas were sick. The Major, Capt. Ramsey, and Lieut. Plunket, were foremost, and within 40 yards of the enemy's muzzles, when they were fired upon by the enemy, who were chiefly under cover of an orchard, save a few that shewed themselves and pretended to give up, clubbing their firelocks until we came within that distance, when they immediately presented and blazed in our faces; they entirely overshot us, & killed some men away behind in the rear. I had the satisfaction of dropping one of them the first fire I made. I was so near I could not miss. I discharged my rifle 7 times that day as deliberately as I ever did at a mark, & with as little perturbation."