读者文摘:改变历史的意外时刻(6)（在线收听）

Fog rescues George Washington and a revolution.

雾拯救了乔治·华盛顿和一场革命。

Despite the fireworks and celebrations every July 4th, the year 1776 was a dark one for the American Revolution.

尽管每年的7月4日都有烟花和庆祝，但是1776年对于美国独立战争来说是黑暗的一年。

On August 29, the British had driven George Washington’s Continental Army all the way to the western edge of Long Island.

8月29日，英国已经将乔治·华盛顿的大陆军一路逼到长岛的西部边缘。

His forces were trapped by English soldiers on Brooklyn Heights while English warships patrolled New York’s East River to his back.

他的部队在布鲁克林高地被英国士兵困住，而英国军舰则在他后面的纽约东河巡逻。

To all observers, the American Revolution appeared to be hours away from ending with the capture of General Washington and his helpless army.

在所有观察者看来，华盛顿将军和他无助的军队几小时后就会被抓获，美国革命就此结束。

But then a heavy rain hit the region, forcing English general William Howe to pause his attack.

但随后一场大雨袭击了该地区，迫使英国将军威廉·豪暂停了他的进攻。

In a moment that historian David McCullough later dubbed “the Revolution’s Dunkirk,”

在一个后来被历史学家大卫·麦卡洛称为“独立战争的敦刻尔克”的时刻，

this brief lapse gave Washington the precious time he needed to free his men from the noose around them.

这一短暂的延误给了华盛顿需要的宝贵时间，把他的人从束缚中解救出来。

He started slipping soldiers across the East River under cover of the night and into the morning,

他开始在黑夜的掩护下悄悄把士兵送过东河，一直到早晨，

when a heavy fog miraculously descended and continued to conceal his army’s movements from the British.

大雾奇迹般地降临，他可以继续向英军隐瞒军队的行动。

By the time the fog lifted, the British were flummoxed. George Washington’s entire army had retreated onto Manhattan, along with all their supplies.

当迷雾散去时，英国人已经不知所措了。乔治·华盛顿的全军带着他们所有的物资已经撤退到曼哈顿。

General Washington was reportedly the last soldier to leave Long Island.

据报道，华盛顿将军是最后一位离开长岛的军人。

Although a tactical defeat, Washington’s retreat is considered one of the narrowest escapes in the history of the U.S. military.

尽管在战术上失败了，但是华盛顿领导的撤军被认为是美军历史上最惊险的逃生之一。