Another Account

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New York, August 29, 1776.

On Tuesday, August 20, a number of ships, with troops on board, sailed, from the British fleet at Staten Island, through the Narrows, and next day were followed by many more. Next morning, (the 22d,) a number of troops, supposed to be about ten thousand men, landed between New Utrecht and Gravesend, on Long Island. On Friday, an advanced party took possession of Flatbush, where our people, having possession of the surrounding heights, kept a continual, though irregular, fire upon them, but at too great a distance to do much execution; however, some were killed and wounded on both sides; the enemy keeping up an almost constant fire upon our people from their mortars and field-pieces, loaded with grape-shot, &c. On Sunday, some of their men-of-war and transports got under sail, and it was supposed, were coming up; but it soon appeared they only went to cover the landing of more of their men on Long Island, when great numbers of our men went over to strengthen our posts, and oppose the enemy. On Monday, it was observed that a large body of them, supposed to be near four thousand, were marching from their main body to their advanced posts. That night our people began to throw up intrenchments on the highest hill near Flatbush, which would have commanded the town; but the enemy having the same night formed a design to gain possession of the hill, it is said, both parlies met, and a smart engagement between them began about four in the morning, and continued, together with severe skirmishes between many detached parties, all Tuesday and Wednesday, during which many were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners on both sides, and several are missing. Who kept possession of the hill at Flatbush, where the flag is still flying, we have not heard, nor which party has upon the whole the advantage. Many of our wounded people have been brought over. On Tuesday, twenty-two prisoners of the Regulars, among whom is a Captain, a Lieutenant, and an Ensign, were brought over; yesterday another, and the same day fifty-seven prisoners more were taken by one of our detached parties. The enemy attempted several times to force our lines, but were always repulsed with considerable slaughter, notwithstanding their superiority in point of discipline, and an extended front. On Tuesday, five or six ships stood

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From the best accounts, we learn that the force of the Ministerial Army at Staten and Long Islands is about twenty-three thousand five hundred men; marines unknown. The fleet consists of the following: Ships Asia and Eagle, of sixty-four guns, the Roebuck and Phoenix, of forty-four, one bomb, and about twenty frigates and sloops-of-war. They have also about three hundred sail of transports, store-ships, and prizes.