November, 1776, to September, 1783 175 



part of 1783. The district so frequently raided by the light 

 troops of both sides, thus deprived of all military control, or 

 semblance of it, was given over to irresponsible bands of 

 thieves and plunderers, who took from the few remaining 

 inhabitants what little they had left. Until the civil authority 

 of the State was once more established, the Borough was 

 the scene of murder, robbery, and burnings, which were 

 without any cloak of military authority, except in so far as 

 they were revengeful attacks upon the few hated loyalists who 

 remained, or who had not fled to New York upon the with- 

 drawal of the British outposts. Even as it was, these ma- 

 rauders did not waste much time, if there wa» anything to be 

 stolen, in asking or inquiring into the political opinions of their 

 victims. 



On August 7, 1783, Sir Guy Carleton received orders from his 

 government to evacuate the city of New York ; but the move- 

 ment was delayed for several months owing to the great num- 

 ber of loyalists who were in the city. Rigorous measures of 

 punishment and confiscation had been enacted in all the States 

 against these unhappy adherents of the crown, and as no 

 assurances of protection could be given by the military authori- 

 ties in view of the prospective resumption of power by the 

 civil authorities, they nearly all desired expatriation rather 

 than submit themselves to the doubtful mercies of their former 

 neighbors and countrymen. It is to the credit of the British 

 Government that it did not forsake these unfortunates entirely 

 in their hour of need ; and especially is credit due to the kind- 

 hearted Carleton, whom Heath considered as the ablest and 

 best of all the British generals who served in America. Trans- 

 portation to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Upper Canada, and 

 England was therefore furnished; but several months were 

 consumed before the city was cleared of the loyalists and the 



