[Sidenote:  August 28.]

In the night of the 28th, the army retired by two roads leading to the works on the north end of the island, having its rear covered by Colonels Livingston and Laurens, who commanded light parties on each.

[Sidenote:  August 29.]

Early next morning the retreat was discovered by the British, who followed in two columns, and were engaged on each road by Livingston and Laurens, who retreated slowly and kept up the action with skill and spirit until the English were brought into the neighbourhood of the main body of the Americans, drawn up in order of battle on the ground of their encampment.  The British formed on Quaker Hill, a very strong piece of ground, something more than a mile in front of the American line.

[Sidenote:  Action between Sullivan and the British army.]

Sullivan’s rear was covered by strong works; and in his front, rather to the right, was a redoubt.  In this position, the two armies cannonaded each other for some time, and a succession of skirmishes was kept up in front of both lines until about two in the afternoon, when the British advanced in force, attempted to turn the right flank, and made demonstrations of an intention to carry the redoubt in front of the right wing.  General Greene, who commanded that wing, advanced to its support, and a sharp engagement was continued for about half an hour, when the British retreated to Quaker Hill.  The cannonade was renewed, and kept up intermingled with slight skirmishing until night.

According to the return made by General Sullivan, his loss in killed, wounded and missing was two hundred and eleven.  That of the British, as stated by General Pigot, amounted to two hundred and sixty.

[Sidenote:  August 30.]

The next day, the cannonade was renewed, but neither army was inclined to attack the other.  The British waited for reinforcements, and Sullivan had at length determined to retire from the island.

The Commander-in-chief had observed some movements among the British transports indicating the embarkation of troops, and had suggested to Sullivan the necessity of securing his retreat.  A fleet of transports soon put to sea with a large body of troops, of which immediate notice was given to Sullivan in a letter recommending his retreat to the continent.  This reinforcement, which consisted of four thousand men, commanded by Sir Henry Clinton in person, was delayed by adverse winds until the letter of General Washington was received, and the resolution to evacuate the island was taken.  The whole army passed over to the continent unobserved by the enemy, and disembarked about Tiverton by two in the morning.

[Sidenote:  Sullivan retreats with his army to the continent.]

Never was retreat more fortunate.  Sir Henry Clinton arrived the next day; and the loss of the American army would have been inevitable.

[Sidenote:  Sullivan, in one of his general orders, makes use of expressions which offend the count.]