1776 War for Independence (The English Troops)
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General Charles Cornwallis Favored with distinguished ancestry and a good education, Cornwallis rose rapidly in the British army. By age twenty-nine, he was colonel of the 33rd Regiment, having performed with éclat in Europe during the Seven Years' War. In the Revolutionary War, with Henry Clinton at Charleston in June 1776, he joined Sir William Howe in New York for the Battle of Long Island, 7 August, and a series of campaigns in New Jersey in the winter of 1776–77. |
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Described by General George Clinton About the middle of last week it was determined, for many reasons, to evacuate the City of New-York; and accordingly, orders were given for removing the ordnance, military, and other stores from thence, which, by Sunday morning was nearly effected. On Saturday, four of the enemy's large ships passed by the city up the North River, and anchored near Grenage, and about as many up the East River, which anchored in Turtle Bay; and from the movements of the enemy on Long-Island and the small Islands in the East River, we had great reason to apprehend they intended to make a landing, and attack our lines somewhere near the city. |
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Our army for some days had been moving upwards this way, and encamping on the heights, southwest of Colonel Morris's, where we intended to form lines, and make our grand stand. On Sunday morning the enemy landed a very considerable body of troops, principally consisting of their Light Infantry and Grenadiers, near Turtle Bay, under cover of a very heavy cannonade from their shipping. |
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Our lines were but thinly manned, as they were then intended only to secure a retreat to the rear of our army, and unfortunately by such troops as were so little disposed to stand in the way of grape-shot that the main body of them almost instantly retreated, nay, fled, without a possibility of rallying them, though General Washington himself, (who rid to the spot on hearing the cannonade) with some other General Officers, exerted themselves to effect it. Reference |