of the Council of Safety, 1776. 341

a continual Fire from Four Field Pieces, which were well
served & directed, and an Heavy Column advancing on the
Marsh must have cut our People off, their Guns being wet
and muddy not one of them would have fired, but having
drawn up the Musquetry and disposed of some Rifle Men
conveniently, with orders to fire on them when they came
within Shot, however the Latter began their Fire rather too
soon being at 200 yards Distance, which notwithstanding had
the desired Effect, for the Enemy immediately retreated to
the Fast Land, where they continued parading within 800
yards till our Troops were brought over, most of those who
swam over, and others who attempted to cross before the
Covering Party got down, lost their Arms and Accoutrements
in the Mud & Creek, and some Poor Fellows their Lives,
particularly two of the Maryland, two of the Delaware one
of Attleys Pensylvania and two Hessian Prisoners were
drowned. Thomas's Men contributed much in bringing over
this Party—have enclosed a List of the Kill'd & Missing
amounting to 256 officers inclusive, it has been said the
Enemy during the Action, also attacked our Lines, but this
was a Mistake, not knowing the Ground one of their Columns
advanced within Long Shot, without knowing they were so
near and upon our Artillery & part of the Musquetry's Firing
on them, they immediately fled—The 28^th during a very hard
Rain there was an Alarm that the Enemy had advanced to
attack our Lines, which alarm'd the Troops much, but was
without Foundation.—The 29^th it was found by a Council of
War that our Fortifications were not tenable, and it was
therefore judged expedient that the Army should retreat from
the Island that Night, to effect which notwithstanding the
Maryland Troops had had but one Days respite, and many
other Troops had been many Days clear of any Detail of
Duty, they were ordered on the Advanced Post at Fort
Putnam, within 250 yds of the Enemy's Approaches and
join'd with two Pensylvania Reg^ts on the Left, were to remain
and cover the Retreat of the Army, which was happily
compleated under cover of a thick Fog & a South West
Wind, both which favored our Retreat, otherwise the Fear,
Disorder, and Confusion of some of the Eastern Troops must
have retarded & discovered our Retreat and subjected Num-
bers to be cut off.—After remaining two Days in New York,
our next Station was at Harlaem, 9 Miles above at an
Advanced Post opposite Montresore's and Bohana's Islands,
which in a few Days the Enemy got Possession of without
opposition, from the former of which we daily discoursed
with them, being within two Hundred yards and only a small
Creek between—It being judged expedient to abandon New