As Washington had supposed probable, the
English decided upon the occupation of New York.
In July and August the largest army ever collected
in one body upon the American continent prior to
1861, an English army numbering nearly thirty-two
thousand men, with a formidable fleet and
large munitions of war, gathered at Staten Island.
Washington, in the meantime, was occupying a
portion of Brooklyn and a portion of the city of
New York, fortifying each place and preparing to
defend it to the extent of his ability with his small
army, never so well fed nor so thoroughly dis-
ciplined as that of the British.

Human wisdom would have assumed that the
British army would soon succeed in restoring Eng-
lish control; but the best-laid plans miscarry, and
a power interposes that helps the weaker and
hinders the stronger army.

The English did their best to be ready for the
coming conflict, and we know that Washington
spared no pains in preparing for the worst that
might come.

On August 20, Nathan Hale wrote the follow-
ing letter to his brother Enoch--the last letter
that he ever wrote, so far as we know, to reach its
destination. It shows that his heart was absorbed
in the duties of the conflict he was sharing, and it

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