From September to November, 1776 139 



clothing, and pay, were sickly, and constantly murmuring 

 and dissatisfied. And the one were veteran troops, carrying 

 victory and conquest wheresoever they were led; the other 

 were new-raised and undisciplined, a panic-struck and de- 

 feated enemy, whenever attacked — such is the true compara- 

 tive difference between the force sent to suppress, and that 

 which supported, the Rebellion." 



The period of inactivity was broken on the twelfth of 

 October. Leaving Earl Percy in command of the defences at 

 New York, Sir William Howe embarked the first detachment 

 of his army of thirty thousand men on flat-boats, and, sup- 

 ported by several ships of war to cover his landing, proceeded 

 through Hell Gate and the East River, and about nine o'clock 

 in the morning landed at Throgg's Neck. The morning was 

 foggy, so that his movement could not be seen from head- 

 quarters, and Washington was unaware of it until that after- 

 noon, when he received an express from Heath, whose outpost 

 at Westchester town apprised him of the accomplishment of 

 the landing. During the afternoon of the same day, the 

 second detachment of Howe's army, in forty-two vessels, 

 supported by nine vessels of war, successfully followed their 

 comrades in arms. 



The left flank of the American army was threatened and 

 Washington was in despair. His actions and orders of that 

 day show that the calm and equable temper of the great man 

 gave way; and, believing that all was lost, he surrendered to 

 the despondency which possessed him. He virtually turned 

 everything over to Heath, an able and active subordinate, 

 authorizing him to make such dispositions of the troops as he 

 thought proper, "begging and trusting that every opposition 

 would be given to the enemy," and concluding with, "God 

 bless and lead you on to victory!" The next day, Sunday, he 



