The conflict at Lexington was followed by the battle of _Bunker's Hill_, which was fought on the 17th of June, 1775. [Sidenote: 1776] These events caused several regiments to be embarked for America early in the year 1776; the FORTY-SIXTH embarked from Ireland at this period, and arrived on the coast of North Carolina early in April, when Major-General Henry Clinton, who was serving with the local rank of General in America, assumed the command. The men landed at Cape Fear to refresh themselves after the voyage, and returning on board the transports, sailed on the 1st of June with the expedition against _Charleston_. After passing Charleston bar, the troops landed on one of the islands; but the armament proved of insufficient strength for the capture of the capital of South Carolina, and the troops re-embarked and proceeded to Staten Island, where the main body of the British forces had assembled under Major-General the Honorable Sir William Howe, K.B., who was serving with the local rank of General in America. The seventeenth, fortieth, FORTY-SIXTH, and fifty-fifth regiments were here formed in brigade under Major-General James Grant. On the 4th of July, 1776, the American Congress issued their declaration of independence, abjuring their allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, and all hope of accommodation failed. A landing was effected by the British on _Long Island_ on the 22nd of August, and in the evening of the 26th the army was put in motion to pass a range of woody heights, which intersect the island, and to attack the American force in position beyond the hills. The column under Major-General Grant, of which the FORTY-SIXTH formed part, was directed to advance along the coast, with ten pieces of cannon, to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter. Moving forward at the appointed hour, this column fell in with the advanced parties of the Americans about midnight, and at daybreak on the following morning, encountered a large body of troops formed in an advantageous position, defended by artillery. Skirmishing and cannonading ensued, and were continued until the Americans discovered by the firing at _Brooklyn_, that the left of their army had been turned and forced, when they retreated in great confusion through a morass. The American army, being driven from its positions with severe loss, made a precipitate retreat to their fortified lines at _Brooklyn_. The Americans quitted their fortified lines during the night of the 28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to New York; the reduction of _Long Island_ was accomplished in a few days, with little loss. The regiment shared in the operations by which the capture of _New York_ was accomplished: also in the movements by which the Americans were driven from _White Plains_, and in the reduction of _Fort Washington_.