While the British waited at night for their ships to come up, Washington with admirable quickness seized the single chance of escape, and under cover of a fog withdrew his nine thousand men from Long Island and landed them in New York once more.

This retreat of Washington, when he was to all appearances in the power of the English generals, was masterly.  In two short weeks thereafter the British had sent ships and troops up both the Hudson and East rivers, and New York was no longer tenable to Washington.  He made his way up the Harlem River, where he was joined by Putnam, who also had contrived to escape with four thousand men, and strongly intrenched himself at King’s Bridge.

Washington waited a few days at Harlem Plains planning a descent on Long Island, and resolved on making a desperate stand.  Meanwhile Howe, in his ships, passed the forts on the Hudson and landed at Throg’s Neck, on the Sound, with a view of attacking the American intrenchments in the rear and cutting them off from New England.  A brief delay on Howe’s part enabled Washington to withdraw to a still stronger position on the hills; whereupon Howe retired to Dobbs’ Ferry, unable to entrap with his larger forces the wary Washington, but having now the complete command of the lower Hudson,

There were, however, two strong fortresses on the Hudson which Congress was anxious to retain at any cost, a few miles above New York,—­Fort Washington, on Manhattan Island, and Fort Lee, on the New Jersey side of the river.  These forts Howe resolved to capture.  The commander-in-chief was in favor of evacuating them, but Greene, who commanded at Fort Washington, thought he was strong enough to defend it.  He made a noble defence, but was overwhelmed by vastly superior forces and was compelled to surrender it, with more than two thousand men.  And, as Lord Cornwallis with six thousand men then crossed the Hudson, Washington rapidly retreated into New Jersey with a dispirited army, that included the little garrison of Fort Lee which had escaped in safety; and even this small army was fast becoming smaller, from expiring enlistments and other causes.  General Lee, with a considerable division at North Castle, N.J., was ordered to rejoin his commander, but, apparently from ambition for independent command, disobeyed the order.  From that moment Washington distrusted Lee, who henceforth was his bete noir, who foiled his plans and was jealous of his ascendency.  Lee’s obstinacy was punished by his being overtaken and captured by the enemy.

Then followed a most gloomy period.  We see Washington, with only the shadow of an army, compelled to retreat southward in New Jersey, hotly pursued by the well-equipped British,—­almost a fugitive, like David fleeing from the hand of Saul.  He dared not risk an engagement against greatly superior forces in pursuit, triumphant and confident of success, while his followers were half-clad, without shoes, hungry, homesick, and