History of the Town of Flatbush

centre of the army from Flatbush, and commenced an attack upon the line in command of General Sullivan. The attack was valiantly sustained by General Sullivan, in person, but they soon found that their situation was very critical, for General Clinton fell upon their left flank, and they now discovered to their great surprise, that they were in fact surrounded by the enemy. As soon as they were apprised of their danger, they sounded a retreat, and retired in good order towards their camp, bringing off their artillery. But the royal troops, under General Clinton, who occupied the ground on their rear, charged them furiously. They were compelled to throw themselves back into the neighboring woods, lying between Flatbush and Brooklyn. Here they met again with the Hessians, who repulsed them upon the English, and thus they were driven several times by the one against the other, with great loss. They continued for some time in this desperate situation, till at length, several regiments animated by an heroic valor, opened their way through the midst of the enemy, and gained the camp of General Putnam, at Brooklyn : some few escaped through the woods, but the remainder, together with their commander, General Sullivan, were made prisoners.

The left wing and centre of the Americans being discomfited, the English, to secure a complete victory, made a rapid movement against the rear of the right wing, which in ignorance of what had befallen the other corps, was engaged with General Grant. As soon as they received the intelligence of this disaster, they retired. But now they encountered the English, who had cut off their retreat. They had been engaged from 8 o'clock in the morning, until o'clock in the afternoon, in maintaining their post and charging the enemy. On ascertaining their perilous situation, they were greatly disconcerted. Some of these brave men betook themselves to the woods. But a large number of them endeavored to make their way to the camp at Brooklyn, through the marshes and mill-ponds of Gowanus Cove. Unfortunately many of them were here drowned or perished in the mud: a very small number only escaped the hot pursuit of the victors, and reached the camp in safety. Lord Stirling himself, who had charge of this wing, was taken prisoner. Almost the entire regiment of Maryland, under Colonel Smallwood, consisting of young men of the best families in that province, was cut to pieces. No less than two hundred and fifty nine men of this regiment were destroyed.

The fate of the battle was now decided. The total loss of the Americans in killed, wounded and prisoners, according to Dr. Gordon, was about fifteen hundred, but some have estimated the loss as high as three thousand. Among the prisoners, besides the two Generals whom we have mentioned, were many officers of high rank. The unfortunate issue of this battle, was doubtless to be ascribed in part to the illness of General Greene. He had superintended the erection of the works, and was thoroughly acquainted with the ground. In hope of his recovery, General Washington had deferred sending over a successor, till the urgency of affairs rendered it absolutely necessary, and then General Putnam took the command, without any previous knowledge of the posts beyond the lines which had been fortified, or of the passes by which the enemy could make their approach. Nor had he the time to acquire this knowledge before the action. Had General Greene been on the ground, all the roads or passes would have been secured and defended as that the royal army in attempting or gaining them,