CHAPTER XXXIII. AMERICAN REVOLUTION.-Labors of congress-Continental currencyRavages committed by the British-Tryon's expedition to Connecticut -Adventure of Putnam-Campaign in the Jerseys—Expedition of the British against Philadelphia-Battle of Brandywine-Capture of Philadelphia-Battle of Germantown-The army at Valley Forge-Anecdote of Lydia Darrah—Campaign in the north-Burgoyne's expedition-Capture of Ticonderoga-Siege of Fort Stanwix-Defeat of Herkimer-Stratagem of the Americans-Murder of Miss M' CreaBurgoyne's advance-Battle of Bennington—Gates commander of the northern army-Battle of Stillwater-Retreat of Burgoyne to Saratoga-Surrender of Burgoyne. CONGRESS, in the mean time, was occupied in the difficult task of giving harmony and united action to the movement and feelings of the different communities which composed the American confederation. The governments of the thirteen colonies remained distinct and independent, and the authority of congress rested only on a voluntary compliance on the part of the several colonial governments. It was the business of congress to apportion the quotas of troops to be raised in each colony, to solicit supplies, to settle plans of campaign, and to negotiate with foreign govern ments. But, above all, it was important to raise funds. No army could be maintained without money, and a revolutionary government in the very outset of its career could not hope to obtain credit with the capitalists of Europe. Congress determined to try what could be done with the people on the strength of their own credit. A scheme was projected to emit bills in the name of the colonies, which should pass for money. Whether any individuals among those who devised or sanctioned this scheme, had any precise notion of the extent to which it was possible to be carried out, does not appear; but it proved, in the end, to be the boldest and most gigantic scheme of finance that was ever conceived. On the 22d of June, 1775, congress passed a resolve "that a sum not exceeding two millions of Spanish milled dollars be emitted by the congress, in bills of credit, for the defence of America, and that the twelve confederated colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills." This resolution passed unanimously; the dangers of the country were too urgent to allow time to be wasted in minor scruples. The prospects of the "continental currency," as it was called, were very slender from the beginning. The country possessed no revenue or means of any sort for the redemption of the bills. Yet the patriotism of the people. gave them a welcome reception, and the paper dollars passed current. In the sequel, this led to the most remarkable consequences, which we shall describe in the proper place. During the year 1777, the enemy wantonly destroyed the New York water works, an elegant public library at Trenton, and the grand orrery which was placed in the college at Princeton. These acts, added to the shameful and horrible atrocities committed upon the females in New Jersey, called out the following speech of Governor Livingston, to the general assembly of New Jersey. "They have plundered friends and foes; such as were capable of division, they have divided; such as were not, they have destroyed; they have warred on decrepit old age and defenceless youth; they have committed hostilities against professors of literature and the ministers of religion, against public records and private monuments. They have butchered the wounded, asking for quarters; mangled the dead, weltering in their blood; refused the dead the rites of sepulture; suffered prisoners to perish for want of sustenance; insulted the persons of females, disfigured private dwellings of taste and elegance, and profaned edifices dedicated to Almighty God." In April, 1777, General Howe detached Governor Tryon, with the command of a major-general of provincials, at the head of about two thousand men, to destroy the American stores at Danbury, in Connecticut. Tryon executed this commission, and destroyed one thousand eight hundred barrels of beef, two thousand bushels of wheat, eight hundred barrels of flour, one thousand seven hundred tents, one hundred hogsheads of rum, &c., with the loss of about a hundred men, killed, wounded, and taken, of the Americans. But this expedition cost the British a severe loss. Three generals were in the neighborhood, Wooster, Arnold, and Sullivan. About six hundred militia were collected in great haste, and followed in pursuit about two miles, during a heavy rain. The next morning the troops were divided. Wooster fell in the rear of the enemy, while Arnold was posted at Ridgefield, in their front. Wooster attacked the enemy, and was mortally wounded in the contest. The troops had to retreat. Arnold gave them a severe reception at Ridgefield, and was repulsed, but renewed the attack during the next day. The yeomanry of the country through which they passed towards the sound, constantly annoyed them, and they made a precipitate retreat to their ships, which conveyed them to New York. They lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, about one hundred and seventy; while the loss of the Americans. did not exceed one hundred. General Wooster lingered until the 2d of May, and expired, in his seventieth year. A monument was voted to his memory by congress, and a horse, splendidly caparisoned, was presented to Arnold, as a token of respect for his intrepidity and good conduct. During the above expedition, General Putnam, who had been stationed with a respectable force at Reading, and was then on a visit to his outpost, at Horse-Neck, was attacked by Tryon, with one thousand five hundred men. Putnam had only a picket of one hundred and fifty men, and two field-pieces, without horses or drag-ropes. He, however, placed his cannon on the high ground near the meetinghouse, and continued to pour in upon the advancing foe, until the enemy's horse appeared upon a charge. The general now hastily ordered his men to retreat to a neighboring swamp, inaccessible to horse, while he himself put . CHAPTER XXXIII. AMERICAN REVOLUTION.-Labors of congress-Continental currency— Ravages committed by the British-Tryon's expedition to Connecticut -Adventure of Putnam-Campaign in the Jerseys-Expedition of the British against Philadelphia-Battle of Brandywine-Capture of Philadelphia-Battle of Germantown-The army at Valley Forge—Anecdote of Lydia Darrah-Campaign in the north-Burgoyne's expedition-Capture of Ticonderoga-Siege of Fort Stanwix-Defeat of Herkimer-Stratagem of the Americans-Murder of Miss M' CreaBurgoyne's advance-Battle of Bennington-Gates commander of the northern army-Battle of Stillwater—Retreat of Burgoyne to Saratoga-Surrender of Burgoyne. CONGRESS, in the mean time, was occupied in the difficult task of giving harmony and united action to the movement and feelings of the different communities which composed the American confederation. The governments of the thirteen colonies remained distinct and independent, and the authority of congress rested only on a voluntary compliance on the part of the several colonial governments. It was the business of congress to apportion the quotas of troops to be raised in each colony, to solicit supplies, to settle plans of campaign, and to negotiate with foreign govern ments. But, above all, it was important to raise funds. No army could be maintained without money, and a revolutionary government in the very outset of its career could not hope to obtain credit with the capitalists of Europe. Congress determined to try what could be done with the people on the strength of their own credit. A scheme was projected to emit bills in the name of the colonies, which should pass for money. Whether any individuals among those who devised or sanctioned this scheme, had any precise notion of the extent to which it was possible to be carried out, |