=Washington Heights= rise in a bold bluff above Jeffrey’s Hook.  After the withdrawal of the American army from Long Island, it became apparent to General Washington and Hamilton that New York would have to be abandoned.  General Greene and Congress believed in maintaining the fort, but future developments showed that Washington was right.  The American troops, so far as clothing or equipment was concerned, were in a pitiable condition, and the result of the struggle makes one of the darkest pages of the war.  On the 12th of November Washington started from Stony Point for Fort Lee and arrived the 13th, finding to his disappointment that General Greene, instead of having made arrangements for evacuating, was, on the contrary, reinforcing Fort Washington.  The entire defense numbered only about 2000 men, mostly militia, with hardly a coat, to quote an English writer, “that was not out at the elbows.”  “On the night of the 14th thirty flat-bottomed boats stole quietly up the Hudson, passed the American forts undiscovered, and made their way through Spuyten Duyvil Creek into Harlem River.  The means were thus provided for crossing that river, and landing before unprotected parts of the American works.”

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  Faith’s pioneers and Freedom’s martyrs sleep
  Beneath their shade:  and under their old boughs
  The wise and brave of generations past
  Walked every Sabbath to the house of God.

  Henry T. Tuckerman.

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According to Irving, “On the 15th General Howe sent a summons to surrender, with a threat of extremities should he have to carry the place by assault.”  Magaw, in his reply, intimated a doubt that General Howe would execute a threat “so unworthy of himself and the British nation; but give me leave,” added he, “to assure his Excellency, that, actuated by the most glorious cause that mankind ever fought in, I am determined to defend this post to the very last extremity.”

“Apprised by the colonel of his peril, General Greene sent over reinforcements, with an exhortation to him to persist in his defense; and dispatched an express to General Washington, who was at Hackensack, where the troops from Peekskill were encamped.  It was nightfall when Washington arrived at Fort Lee.  Greene and Putnam were over at the besieged fortress.  He threw himself into a boat, and had partly crossed the river, when he met those Generals returning.  They informed him of the garrison having been reinforced, and assured him that it was in high spirits, and capable of making a good defense.  It was with difficulty, however, they could prevail on him to return with them to the Jersey shore, for he was excessively excited.”

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  Hark!  Freedom’s arms ring far and wide;
    Again these forts with beacons gleam;
  Loud cannon roar on every side—­
    I start, I wake; I did but dream.

  Wallace Bruce.

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