Dean's home two women and two children sat silent, save at rare intervals when Scip brought rumors of American defeat, and well-nigh motionless in the agony of suspense.
During the forenoon the old darkey brought the cheering information that the patriot army was holding the Britishers in check; but shortly after noon stragglers came across from Brooklyn declaring that the day had been lost, and the last proved to be the fact.
Then eight and forty long, dreary hours of anxious waiting, without word from the two men who had left the little party alone in that house on Hanover square, that they might battle for the freedom of their country, and then Scip came with the information that every boat or vessel on the New York side of the harbor had been seized by orders of the Commander-in-chief, and drawn up at the ferry[1] on the Long Island shore. "It was an odd fleet—sloops, sail-boats, galleys, periaugers,[2] flat-boats, row-boats and whale-boats."
All this could only point to the retreat of the American forces, and it can be partially understood in what condition of mind were these two women, wives of prominent Sons of Liberty.
