Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

 On August 27, 1776 British General Howe had trapped Washington and his troops on Long Island.  He intended to advance on them the next morning and crush them, ending the war.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Washington gathered every available vessel, including row boats and began to row his 8000 troops to the mainland.  When morning came, however, there were still large numbers of troops dangerously exposed to the British.

Major Ben Talmage, Washington’s Chief of Intelligence wrote, “At the dawn of the next day, those of us who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety.  At this time, a very dense fog began to rise out of the river and it seemed it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments.  I recollect this peculiar providential occurrence perfectly well.  So dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at 6 yards’ distance.”

The fog was so dense that the British could not attack and General Washington was able to evacuate all of his troops.  Never again did the British have such a rare chance to destroy the Continental Army. What a “coincidence!”