General Howe led his men on for half a mile, until they reached a large
country house. This was the home, and all about it was the farm, of a
family named Murray (who gave their name to Murray Hill). These Murrays
were friendly to the patriots, but they were also well acquainted with
Governor Tryon, who was with the British army. So the army rested close
by the house, and Howe, Tryon, and the other officers were given a fine
dinner by Mrs. Murray.
[Illustration: Mrs. Murray's Dinner to British Officers.]
Now although the Americans had retreated north up the island from Kip's
Bay, and were safely on their way to the main army on Harlem Heights,
you must remember there were 4,000 soldiers still in the city. So the
British were in the centre of the island with a very large force; the
main body of the Americans was to the north; while to the south was this
little band of 4,000, far away from their army and in a position to be
trapped by the British. Had the British officers at once decided to
stretch their men across the island, the 4,000 would have been penned
up on the lower part and would have been made prisoners. It therefore
seemed to Putnam's men that there was but one way for them to escape
capture, and that was by slipping past the British who rested at Murray
house and joining the main army on Harlem Heights.
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