“Guards are to be particularly instructed in their duty.”
“A ‘brigadier of the day’ is to remain constantly on the lines, that he may be upon the spot, and see that orders are executed.”
“Skulkers must be shot down upon the spot.”
“The distinction between a well-regulated army and a mob, is the good order and discipline of the former, and the licentiousness and disorderly behavior of the latter.”
“The men not on duty are to be compelled to remain at, or near, their respective camps or quarters, that they may turn out at a moment’s warning; nothing being more probable than that the enemy will allow little time enough for the attack.”
“Your best men should at all hazards prevent the enemy passing the woods and approaching your works.”
These orders were preëminently adapted to the character of the American troops. Their neglect disconcerted the entire plan of the Commander-in-Chief for an efficient defence of the works.
The American force on the Heights, including Stirling’s Brigade, which crossed over the river to Brooklyn on the day of the battle, was not quite eight thousand men; but included Atlee’s Pennsylvania Rifles, Smallwood’s Maryland and Haslet’s Delaware regiments, which then, and ever after, were among Washington’s “Invincibles.” But notwithstanding Greene’s designation of suitable outposts, and Washington’s orders, the disposition of the American advance outposts was of the feeblest kind. At the time of the first landing on the twenty-second, when Colonel Hand fell back to Prospect Hill (see map), it does not appear from any official paper, or record, that he gave notice of the landing of the second British division, or established scouts to ascertain and report subsequent British movements. Their landing, division after division, had been as impressive as it was successful, and deserves notice. Four hundred transports were escorted by ten line-of-battle ships and twenty frigates. Seventy-five flat-boats, besides batteaux and galleys, moving in ten distinct, well-ordered divisions, simultaneously touched the beach near the present site of Fort Hamilton, and landed four thousand men in just two hours, according to the Admiral’s “log-book,” after the signal reached the topmast of the “flag-ship.” Five thousand additional troops were landed with equal celerity and order, a little lower down the bay. Before twelve o’clock, fifteen thousand men, with artillery, baggage, and stores, were landed without hindrance or mishap. On the twenty-fifth, De Heister’s Hessian command landed with equal skill at Gravesend.
A glance at the map indicates that the long range of hills between Brooklyn and the sea had four openings available for approach by the British troops; the first, and shortest, along the bay by Martense Lane; the second, in front of Flatbush and the American intrenchments; the third, by road northward from Flatbush, to Bedford and Newtown; and a fourth, by road past Cypress Hill, which extended to Flushing, but crossed the Bedford and Jamaica road about three miles eastward from Bedford.
General Stirling, who had been awakened at three o’clock on the morning of the twenty-seventh, commanded the extreme American right. In front of Flatbush there were intrenchments, and one redoubt, with one howitzer and three field-pieces. General Sullivan, second in command, was, he stated after his capture, “to have commanded within the lines; but went to the hill near to Flatbush, to reconnoitre, with a picket of four hundred men, when he was surrounded by the enemy who had advanced by the very road he had paid horsemen fifty dollars for patrolling by night, while he was in command.” Miles’ Pennsylvania Rifles and Wylie’s Connecticut were at, or near, the Bedford Pass. The Jamaica road had been overlooked, or neglected. Putnam, already somewhat impaired in physical vigor, and wholly unacquainted with the outposts, made neither reconnoissance nor change of pickets, upon receipt of Washington’s orders. Instead of feeling for, and finding, the enemy, he awaited their arrival.