British and Hessians at the time, and some modern
historians believe their accounts. Sir William Howe
states in his report that fire was set in various places.
Donop is said by Eelking to have written in his diary
that the conflagration was arranged by an American
colonel named Scott, who had previously been a lawyer.
This man had employed forty desperate fellows,
who were provided with all sorts of combustibles, and
who set fire to various houses belonging to Tories.
According to this story, Scott was arrested, and the
whole plan in writing was found upon him. In
support of the opinion of those who believe that the fire
was set by the Whigs, is the undoubted fact that
several leading Americans had advised burning New York,
and that the plan had even been proposed by
Washington to Congress,[1] which rejected it. On the other
hand, panic and fury, stories of incendiarism, and acts
of violence are almost invariable accompaniments of a
great conflagration. Statements made at such a time
should always be taken with the greatest caution.
The story concerning Scott is, I believe, entirely
unconfirmed. It is certain that sundry persons were killed
by English soldiers during the progress of the fire, and
Bancroft says that one poor man, who happened to be
a Tory, was hanged by the heels until he died.
On the 10th of October, 1776, General Howe embarked the greater part of his troops with the intention of again trying to cut Washington's line of retreat and shut him up in Manhattan Island. For four days the British were detained in the East River by an adverse wind, and only passed Hell Gate on the afternoon of the
- ↑ Washington, vol. iv. p. 74.
