New York, or a junction with the northern army. In view of these, Hamilton instructed Colonel Dayton to obtain intelligence of the situation of the enemy near New York, their strength and motions, the number of wagons they were collecting, and of boats that might be gathered "for any sudden secret expedition.'

99

Soon after,* over Washington's signature, he wrote to Congress. From the time which had elapsed since advices were received from Howe, it was presumed that he meditated an attack upon Charleston. "The extensive commerce, the vast accumulations of military and other stores in that town and its dependencies, with the eclat it would give his arms, if he should unfortunately take it, afford him stronger inducements to direct his operations there than he could possibly have elsewhere. Matters being thus circumstanced, an important question arises. How this army is to be employed if his intentions are such as I suppose them? It appears to me that an attempt to follow him would not only be fruitless, but would be attended with the most ruinous consequences." Having pursued this train of thought, he observes: "We have no other alternative left than to remain here idle and inactive on the remote probability of his returning this way, or to proceed towards Hudson River with a view of opposing General Burgoyne, or making an attempt upon New York Island, as the situation of affairs shall point out. A successful stroke, with respect to either, woud be attended with the most signal advantages, and would be the best compensation we could make for any losses we may sustain at the southward. Besides these considerations, if, after all our conjectures and reasoning upon the subject, General Howe should be gone to the eastward to co-oper

* Aug. 21.

ate with Mr. Burgoyne, the army will be, by the movement proposed, so far on its way to prevent, I hope, the success of his enterprise. The above reasons led me to call a council of general officers this morning to take the subject of removing the troops hence into consideration, and I am happy to inform Congress they were in sentiment with me upon the occasion as they will perceive by a copy of the proceedings there had. Never

theless, as it is a movement which may involve the most important consequences, I have thought proper to submit it to Congress for their deliberation and decision. If it is deemed expedient, we have perhaps not a moment to lose in carrying it into execution; and, under this persuasion, I have sent Colonel Hamilton, one of my aids, who will have the honor of delivering this, to bring me the result of their opinions." Having in view the temper of Gates, he added: "As the northern department has been all along considered separate, and in some measure distinct, and there are special resolves vesting the command in particular persons, in case it should hereafter appear eligible to unite the two armies, it may perhaps be necessary that Congress should place the matter upon such a footing as to remove all scruples or difficulties about the command, that could possibly arise on my arrival there. This I request from a disposition to have harmony, and from my knowing the ill and fatal consequences that have often arisen from such controversies, and not from the most distant apprehension that one would take place upon such an The thing, however, is possible, and to guard against it can do no injury." These operations were abandoned in consequence of advices received of the approach of General Howe. His original design was to sail up the Delaware, but on entering the capes, deterred by the supposed difficulties of reaching Philadelphia by water,

event.

among which were the fire ships and rafts, he resolved to pass up the Chesapeake. Baffling winds prevented his coming into the bay until the middle of August, when he made his course, entered the Elk, and, on the twentyfifth of August, began to disembark his troops at its head.

Three days before, General Sullivan made a descent upon Staten Island with a body of troops chiefly composed of Jersey militia. Here were stationed in a fortified camp more than two thousand men-one regiment of British regulars, two of Hessians, the residue new raised levies of provincials. Sullivan crossed over in the night, surprised part of the enemy, made prisoners two colonels, a number of officers and one hundred and thirty privates. On an alarm he hastened to withdraw, but from an insufficiency of boats, his rear guard was attacked before they could embark. They made a brave resistance, and the American loss was equal to the British. Hamilton wrote him over the signature of Washington, "It is unfortunate that an affair that had so prosperous a beginning should have terminated so disagreeably as in a great measure to defeat the good consequences that might have attended it. * I am not sufficiently acquainted with circumstances to form a correct judgment of what might have been expected from this expedition, but from the view I have of them, and from your own representations of the matter, the situation of the enemy seems to have been such as afforded an opportunity of reaping much more decisive advantages than were in fact gained."

The incompleteness of this gallant attempt having given rise to censure, Sullivan demanded a court of inquiry. It was composed of Lord Stirling, McDougall, Knox, Spencer and Clark. The sentence of the court,

drawn up by Hamilton, states, that "the expedition was eligible, and promised great advantage to the cause of America; and that General Sullivan's conduct in planning and executing it was such, that he deserved the approbation of his country and not its censure."

CHAPTER X.

THE scene of the operations of the armies under Washington and Howe was between the head waters of the Elk and the Schuylkill, running nearly parallel. southern border was the Delaware.

The

This generally level country was intersected by successive small streams, known as the Christiana, White Clay, and Red Clay Creeks, separated from each other by gentle elevations and flowing transversely into the Christiana River, which, uniting with the Brandywine near Wilmington, empties into the Delaware. Of more volume than the other water-courses, the Brandywine, from its forks, near which is a ford called Buffington's to its mouth, takes a southern direction parallel to the Schuylkill.

Below its forks are four other fords, Wistars's, Jones's, Brinton's, and Chad's ford, nearly equidistant from each other within a few miles.

The enemy moved from their place of disembarkation in two divisions, that under Cornwallis to the west of the Elk, that of Knyphausen, who, on the recent return of Heister to Europe, commanded the German auxiliaries to the east of that stream.

The design of this separation of the force computed