from his encampment near Morristown at 2 o'clock p. m., and crossed the river over to Staten Island, by sunrise on the 22d inst. at Decker's ferry, and dividing his corps into two brigades, one under the command of Brig.-Gen. Smallwood, the other commanded by Brig.-Gen. De Borre headed by himself, that detachment under Smallwood he ordered to suppress and take Gen. Skinner in his quarters on the upper end of the island, but the guide deceiving them they did not succeed in their main design. Nevertheless, they took several prisoners, and some valuable stores, and it is said his military chest. That part of the army commanded by De Borre, after marching two miles up into the island, filed off to the right, and proceeded down to the New Blazing Star [ferry], where they surprised and took Col. Bartin, with some other prisoners of the new corps, who made no stand after discharging their pieces, but took to their heels and ran into the marshes, where many of them concealed themselves. Whilst this business was performing, Gen. Smallwood bent his course downwards, and passing De Borre took to the forks of the road, and passed him in the rear, and proceeded down through Richmond to the Old Blazing Star [ferry] in order to repass the river, leaving many of his men behind, who were incapable by fatigue to keep up, many of whom afterwards fell into the hands of the enemy. Maj. Powell, who was in the rear, Capt. Herrin, Lieut. Campbell, Lieut. Anderson, Ensign Hall, and Mr. Hall, a sergeant major, being in a house, were surprised by the enemy and made prisoners, except Powell, who was slain. Lieut. Campbell wounded and lost his arm. Gen. Sullivan, having given the necessary orders respecting the removal of the boats from Decker's ferry down to the Old Blazing Star, resolved immediately to follow the first division of his army to that place, and embark the troops on board of the boats which he expected to meet him in consequence of his orders to that effect. But some accident happening the boats they did not arrive, and he was obliged to wait the tedious opportunity of three boats which lay at the ferry for the crossing of both divisions. This delay he justly apprehended would be attended with ill consequences, as he had received information of the enemy

being in motion, and would undoubtedly harass his rear. He, therefore, ordered a picket of 100 men taken from the rear, commanded by Maj. Tillard, and Capt. Carlisle and myself to secure the boats and cover the embarkation of the troops. About 5 o'clock p.m. the troops being nearly all over except our picket, a wagon was ordered back to take any of the men that might be still on the road, with directions to proceed as far back as Richmond. But before he had gone half a mile he espied the van of the English army in full march. I immediately returned and informed Captain Carlisle, upon which he formed the picket as quick as possible to form troops as much fatigued as they were, they having marched 30 miles without any refreshment. In the mean time Maj. Tillard went forward in order to view the number of the enemy, and finding them to exceed ours ran to the place of embarkation, in order to stop the boats which were just then leaving the shore. Col. Smith, who was in one of them, did not think proper to reland, upon which Maj. Tillard applied to Maj. Stewart to know if he would support the picket with what force of his remained on shore. But not receiving any answer from him he returned to the picket which he [had?] represented to Maj. Stewart must unavoidably be cut off by superior numbers, without his assistance. On his arrival he found the picket disposed in a manner he did not think proper to alter. The enemy immediately heaving in sight the firing began, but the ground not favoring our small party, we were compelled to retreat in disorder, as the enemy had outstretched us on the right, and must have surrounded us had we kept our position. On our right we fell in with Maj. Stewart, who had, without giving Maj. Tillard notice, formed his party in our rear, upon which Maj. Tillard endeavoring to collect our men again, many of which had made their escape, but the firing now began from Stewart's party, who also retreating before superior numbers precipitately fell in with the remainder of the picket, which was collected and forming on an eminence having a small valley in our front. Here Maj. Stewart having formed his men on our right made a line of about 200 yards, with a three-rail fence before us.

The fire now began general from left to right, at the distance of about 90 yards, for the space of half an hour, in the course of which time the enemy were more than once broke. They endeavored continually to force our front, but finding it impossible, they extended their lines beyond our right, and doubling in at the same time pressing on in front with two pieces of artillery forced us from our fence, and finding it impossible to hold out against five times our numbers with the advantage of artillery, it was thought advisable to surrender. Our loss in killed was incredible, not exceeding five men. That of the enemy uncertain to me, but was informed by one of their officers that they had killed and wounded about 20, among whom Lieut.-Col. Durgan and Maj. Barren were slain. The enemy acknowledged we made a brave defence, and were surprised at the smallness of our party when they saw us come in. Our number taken in action, and on the road that had not come up through fatigue was about 260, of whom 22 were officers. Our usage was rather cruel than otherwise from this to the 28th inst., having never eaten but four times in seven days, and lodging two nights in the open field, without blankets or the least kind of shelter from the weather. On Saturday the 23d, we were delivered to the Hanspac [Anspach ?] guard, the officers of whom.behaved with the utmost politeness to us, and showed a tenderness which the British seemed strangers to. On Sunday we were put on board a ship and transported to New York, where we were landed the next morning, and conducted to the city hall through a multitude of insulting spectators. We remained in this place until the 28th inst., when we removed to Frankfort Street on parol, with the liberty of said street being 200 yards in length. Here we continued upon two-thirds allowance until the 4th Nov., when we were removed to Long Island to flatlands, upon condition that we would pay our board. Nothing material happened until the 27th Nov., when the appearance of part of the American Army on Staten Island caused such fears in the General commanding New York as to determine him for our better safety to remove us on board a ship. Accordingly two transports being ready, we were the next day put on

board under guard, being in numbers about 255. Here we expected a greater hardship than we had yet undergone, having a scant allowance of provisions, and badly cooked as reasonably may be supposed for the want of materials to do it with, there being but one fire and one kettle to a ship, which being fixed on the deck, rendered it very difficult to cook at all. On Wednesday, which happened very often at this season of the year, on account of bannard days,' as they term it, we drew musty oaten meal. When we could spare time from the cittel, we used to pass the evenings in walking the deck, and playing a game at whist, and sometimes with dancing on the quarter deck, as some of the gentlemen were performers on the violin. Our evenings were generally ended in singing, which always began upon blowing out the light, immediately after turning into our berths. Our situation here was truly pitiable on many accounts, but more especially of provisions, which being altogether salt, without any kind of vegetables, must infallibly have brought on sickness and disorder had we stayed long on board. But the General's fears in regard to the prisoners having subsided, on the twelfth day of our confinement he issued orders that we should return to Long Island, and accordingly on the 10th Dec. we relanded at Brooklyn. During our confinement, Cols. Rollins, Livingston, and Maj. Stewart found means to elude the vigilance of the guard, and make their escape in a boat from alongside the ship Martel.

Banyan days; those on which no meat is issued to sailors.-Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

2 Major Jack Stewart, of Maryland; an account of his escape will be found in Graydon's Memoirs, page 314, Phila. 1846.

ELIPHALET DYER.

BY. J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL.

(Centennial Collection.)

Eliphalet Dyer, first-named of the three delegates sent by Connecticut to the Congress of 1774, was born in Windham, Sept. 14, 1721 (O. S.). His father, Thomas Dyer, a native of Weymouth, Mass., settled at Windham about 1715, married Lydia, daughter of John Backus, gathered a good estate, was a deputy to the General Assembly in several sessions, and major of a Windham County regiment. His only son, Eliphalet, was sent to Yale College, graduated in 1740, studied law, and began practice in his native town. In 1745 (May 9th), he married Miss Huldah Bowen, one of the daughters of Col. Jabez Bowen, of Providence, R. I.

He was chosen deputy to the General Assembly in May, 1747, and again in 1752; but his real entry to public life was through his connection with the project of establishing a Connecticut Colony in the valley of the Susquehanna. Mr. Dyer was an active and influential promoter of this enterprise, an original member of the Susquehanna Company formed in 1753, one of the committee to purchase the Indian title to the lands selected for the proposed colony, at Wyoming, and one of the Company's agents to petition the General Assembly, in 1755, for permission to settle on these lands, which were then believed to be within the chartered limits of Connecticut. The operations of the Susquehanna Company were interrupted by the war with France. In August, 1755, Mr. Dyer was appointed lieutenant-colonel of one of the regiments sent by Connecticut to assist in the reduction of Crown Point, and in 1758 he was made colonel of a regiment in the expedition against Canada. In 1759 and 1760, he was a member of the General Assembly, and in 1762 was elected an Assistant (or member of the Upper House), and was continued in that office, by annual re-election, until 1784.