Remember, officers and soldiers, that you are freemen, fighting for the blessings of liberty--that slavery will be your portion and that of your posterity, if you do not acquit yourselves like men." He repeated his instructions respecting their conduct in action, and concluded with the most animating and encouraging exhortations.
{July 25.} Major General Putnam was now directed to take command at Brooklyn, with a reinforcement of six regiments; and he was charged most earnestly by the Commander-in-chief, to be in constant readiness for an attack, and to guard the woods between the two camps with his best troops.
General Washington had passed the day at Brooklyn, making arrangements for the approaching action; and, at night, had returned to New York.
The Hessians under General De Heister composed the centre of the British army at Flatbush; Major General Grant commanded the left wing which extended to the coast, and the greater part of the British forces under General Clinton.

Earl Percy and Lord Cornwallis turned short to the right, and approached the opposite coast of Flatland.[39] [Footnote 39: General Howe's letter.] The two armies were now separated from each other by the range of hills already mentioned.

The British centre at Flatbush was scarcely four miles distant from the American lines at Brooklyn; and a direct road led across the heights from the one to the other.

Another road, rather more circuitous than the first, led from Flatbush by the way of Bedford, a small village on the Brooklyn side of the hills.

The right and left wings of the British army were nearly equi-distant from the American works, and about five or six miles from them.