CHAPTER VII.

T may be doubted whether the success of the American cause was greatly accelerated by the assistance afforded by France. The people, who before had relied solely upon their own energies, began now to think their triumph was secured, and from that moment to remit in some degree

the exertions they would otherwise have made. Washington's efforts were unceasing, both with the army and the Congress, in warning against the dangers of a false security, and though in the next two years there were few military movements of much consequence, it may be doubted whether the Father of his Country ever served her interests more effectually than in this period. Still, the army was suffered to dwindle away until it amounted to less than three thousand; disaffection spread among the troops; the Connecticut line mutinied; and the farmers, having lost all faith in the ability of Congress to pay

for their produce, refused to trust any longer in the promises of that body.

Among the military operations of the year, were the melancholy destruction of Wyoming, in Pennsylvania, and the storming of Stoney Point. The last act was gallantly accomplished by General Wayne. Washington had in view an attack on the enemy's posts at and about King's Ferry, which he decided to take in detail, rather than risk a general system of operations, which the failure of a single link might render ineffectual. Stoney Point was one of the most inaccessible of these, and in addition to its natural strength, was defended by six hundred of the enemy, under Colonel Johnson. It was intended to take it by surprise, and for that purpose midnight was chosen for the attack. The hour came, and Wayne's little band marched in silence to execute their purpose. There was but one way of approaching this strong position, and that was over a narrow causeway, crossing a marsh. They advanced without speaking a word, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, preceded by the forlorn hope, consisting of two parties of twenty men each. They gained the works without being discovered; for the enemy little dreamed of an attempt on their strong position. A few minutes after twelve, the attack

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commenced; the Americans dashed forward under a heavy fire, and carried the fort at the point of the bayonet, with the loss of about one hundred, killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy was sixtythree killed, and upwards of five hundred prisoners. Wayne received a slight wound in the head, which stunned him for a few minutes; but, supported by his aids, on either side, he continued at his post, and entered the fort with the foremost of his associates.

This affair recalled the attention of Sir Henry Clinton from Connecticut, whither he had sent an expedition under Governor Tryon, and he advanced up the Hudson, towards the Highlands, and repossessed himself of Stoney Point. Finding, however, that he could not attack Washington with any chance of success, in the strong position he occupied, the British commander fell back upon the city, and devoted his attention to the affairs of the south, whither the tide of war was now flowing. Leaving a sufficient force to protect New York, he carried the war into the south with more vigour than ever. He besieged and took Charleston, which surrendered the 12th of May, 1780, and with it the whole southern army, under General Lincoln.

By this disaster the whole southern section of the

country was left exposed to the enemy. No assistance could be obtained from the American army in the north, which was now weakened in numbers, and by want and misery; so that General Schuyler wrote as follows to Washington on the subject:"At one time the soldiers ate every kind of horse-feed but hay. As an army, they bore it with the most heroic patience; but sufferings like these, accompanied by the want of clothes, blankets, &c., will produce frequent desertion in all armies; and so it happened with us, though it did not create a single mutiny."

Another gloomy period succeeded the hopes awakened by the alliance with France. As yet it had done nothing but draw on the Americans a greater weight of vengeance. The French fleets were followed by superior fleets of the enemy, which checked their operations on our coasts; and when they departed for one place, took advantage of their absence to Scourge those whom they came to protect. Congress could procure no supplies for the army in exchange for promises, whose fulfilment depended on a distant hope. It became impossible to graduate the pay of the army to the rapid depression of the medium of payment. The pay of a field officer would not furnish provender for his horse, and that of a common soldier could find nothing necessary to

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his comfort within the compass of his means. Owing to a want of uniformity in the military establishment, arising in a great degree from the different quotas of the states being placed under the supervision of those who sent them, and not of Congress directly, and the means or will of some of the states being greater than of others, it frequently happened that the troops of one state would be, at least partially, supplied with necessaries or comforts, of which the rest were wholly destitute. Thus, to the miseries of want, was added the aggravation of seeing others in comparative plenty; for though the soldiers sometimes shared with each other, it was not to be expected that they would strip themselves to clothe a stranger, or divide their last morsel with any but

their dearest associates.

In this condition of things, a strong disposition to mutiny began to manifest itself among the common soldiers, which was not checked by an exertion of the influence of the officers. They too were suffering like their fellows; those who had private fortunes were compelled to expend them, and those who depended on their pay were left destitute by the worthlessness of paper-money. The officers of more than one line unanimously announced their determination to resign, and without doubt, if they had