OYSTER BAY, LI, 25 August - Around dawn the artillery barrage began on the encircled Republican army at Flanders Bay. Despite excellent maneuvering the Army was cut off yesterday from the road to the Provisional Capital of the Republic which moved to Montauk from Sag Harbor Tuesday, and from Riverhead last week.
The morning saw fierce fighting as Royalist Troops attempted to break the Republican line between Cherry Pond and the Peconic Bog. By 1:00 pm, the Republican troops had fallen back across the Peconic River. The Army of the Republic at that point mustered less than 12,000 men.
At 2:12, a Cease Fire went into effect to allow the Royalists to take control of two field hospitals being abandoned by the Republic. Fifteen Royalist prisoners were released under flag-of-truce.
The collapse came hard. To the West, the Royalist II Corps, under General Moceri began a full assault on the Republican Flank. Deft maneuvering was once again overcome by sheer numbers.
At 2:25 this afternoon, General Howard Winston Phelps launched a cavalry assault attempting to break through Moceri’s line, with the intention of breaking the Royalist advance to allow the Republican Infantry to move up the peninsula to Mattiluck. The offensive stalled within ten minutes, with Phelps men staggered by infantry fire as the 130,000 man Royal Army moved up the Peninsula.
At 3:15, General Phelps asked for a one hour cease fire, which Moceri refused. His rider, Corporal Paul Stephens had been instructed that if the cease-fire was refused, he was to ask Moceri for terms. The terms were conveyed to General William Morgan, at his headquarters in Riverhead. Moceri granted an hour to consider the terms.
At 3:54 in the afternoon, General William Morgan surrendered the Army of the Republic on terms provided by General Moceri allowing for general amnesty and safe conduct of disarmed enlisted men.
The War is not technically over, but no military force of any size stands between the Royalist Army and Montauk. Reports from Montauk indicate that the Congress there has refused to vote on Surrender, and that the Provisional President and members of the Cabinet have boarded Imperial French Steamers, taking with them gold and records. Smoke can be seen from the vicinity of Montauk which is believed to be the burning of ammunition left for the garrison there.
When Royalist troops march through the streets of Montauk in the morning, the Civil War will be over.
The toll is believed to be a total of 82,000 Royalist casualties over 36,000 Republic casualties. Figures that represent a vast discrepancy in weapons and training. In the end, however the Republican Army stands beaten, more by overwhelming numbers than any lack of skill or brilliance.
The fight of the Republican Army in its long retreat up Long Island will be often remembered. But it is over now, and no guns can be heard firing along the Peconic tonight.
