Chapter VI.
THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND, AUGUST, 1776.
The first division of Hessians, some eight thousand
strong, passed Sandy Hook on August 15, 1776, and
landed at Staten Island amid salvoes of artillery and
musketry. The division was under the command of
Lieutenant-general Philip von Heister, a tough old
soldier of the Seven Years' War. It is related that
when Landgrave Frederick II. called him to command
the Hessian expeditionary force, he did so in these
terms: “Heister, you must go along to America.”
“Very well, your Most Serene Highness, but I take
the liberty of making a few requests.” “And what
may they be?” “First, my debts must be paid, my
wife and children must be taken care of until I come
back, and if I should fall, my wife must have a
pension.” When the Landgrave had smilingly assented,
Heister cried out: “Now your Serene Highness shall
see what this old head and these bones can do.”
The army collected on Staten Island under the command of Sir William Howe numbered, after the arrival of the Hessians, between twenty-five and thirty thousand soldiers. It was supported by a fleet under Sir William's brother, Lord Howe. The opposing army of Washington was composed of some thirteen or fourteen thousand men, not more than six thousand of
