HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 291

gone off; in some instances almost by whole regiments, by half ones, and by companies, at a time. . . . I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troops. . . . Till of late, I had no doubt in my own mind of defending this place (New York city); nor should I have yet, if the men would do their duty; but this despair of.” And two days later he wrote again in the same desponding strain: “Our affairs have not undergone a change for the better, nor assumed a more agreeable aspect than before. The militia, under various pretences, are daily diminishing; and in a little time, I am persuaded, their numbers will be very inconsiderable.”

These gloomy forebodings, which so deeply shadowed the generally buoyant and hopeful heart of the commander-in-chief, were by no means groundless. His own army, demoralized by defeat, were gradually slipping away to their homes, carrying with them, wherever they went, the panic with which they had been infected. The enemy, flushed with their late victory, had occupied and garrisoned the American works at Brooklyn; and within a week after the battle their whole force, except four thousand troops left on Staten Island, were in full occupation of Long Island. Their heavy vessels had anchored near Governor’s Island, within easy gunshot of the city;1 while a forty-gun ship2 had passed the American battery at Stuyvesant Point, and was anchored in Turtle Bay, on the East River, ready to act in conjunction with

1 Upon their approach, the small garrisons at Governor’s Island and at Red Hook removed to the city. One man, at Governor's Island, lost an arm, by a ball from a British ship, while embarking.

2 The Rose, which had taken this position the night after the battle. General Johnson, who incorrectly states the date as the 15th of September, says that she “passed up Buttermilk Channel, and anchored opposite Bushwick Creek, near the shore. On the 16th (?) the Americans brought two 33-pounders to Burnt Mill Point (Stuyvesant’s Point, where the Novelty Ironworks now stand), and towards night commenced firing upon the Rose. They fired eighteen shots, and hulled the frigate with seventeen balls, and would have sunk her if daylight had not shut in. The first shot struck her railing at the gangway, and killed a cow taken from Jacob Polhemus, who was on board and saw his cow shot. The frigate removed at night, and anchored between Blackwell's and Long Island, where her hull was protected by the land.”

Lossing says that Major Crane of the artillery, acting under orders from Washing ton, posted two guns upon the high bank at Forty-sixth street, New York, with which he annoyed the frigate, as above described.