"Under General Howe the British held Boston, which Washington besieged for the entire winter. At the opening of spring he completely outgeneraled Howe by the construction of his fortifications and compelled him to evacuate the city, and the British under an agreement were permitted to go aboard their fleet. The next move of the great commander was to defend New York. He reached the city just as the British were about to strike a blow in that quarter. Completely beaten at Fort Moultrie the British landed a strong force on Long Island. General Putnam had failed to guard the passes on the left of the American army. Unperceived, the English surrounded Sullivan and then it was simply a question as to how much of the army could be saved. Washington came on the field at the close of the battle. A thousand of his men lay dead upon the field, and three of his generals were prisoners. He gathered together his shattered forces and decided to withdraw to New York. The heavy fog favored him, for under cover of the darkness, with muffled oars, all night long the soldiers were carried from Brooklyn to New York, one of the most masterly retreats on record. From the rejoicing and enthusiasm created by the Declaration of Independence this story conducts us to Washington's move on New York, which he reached just in time to baffle the plan of Clinton, and then to the disastrous defeat of the American army in the battle of Long Island."