The cruelties inflicted by the British in the progress of the war, drew from congress the following representation and remonstrance.

In Congress, April 18, 1777.

"The committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of the enemy beg leave to report,--

That in every place where the enemy has been, there are heavy complaints of oppression, injury and insult, suffered by the inhabitants, from soldiers, and Americans disaffected to their country's cause. The committee found these complaints so greatly diversified that it was impossible to enumerate them, so it appeared exceedingly difficult to give a distinct and comprehensive view of them, or such an account as would not, if published, appear extremely defective when read by the unhappy sufferers, or the country in general. In order, however, in some degree to answer the design of their appointment, they determined to divide the object of their inquiry into four parts. First, the wanton and oppressive devastation of the country, and the destruction of property. Second, the inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become their prisoners. Third, the savage butchery of many who had submitted or were incapable of resistance. Fourth, the lust and brutality of the soldiers in abusing of women. They will therefore now briefly state what they found to be the truth upon each of these heads separately, and subjoin to the whole affidavits and other evidence to support their assertions. First, The wanton and opppressive devastation of the country, and destruction of property.

The whole track of the British army is marked with desolation, and a wanton destruction of property, particularly through West Chester county in the State of New-York, the towns of Newark, Elizabeth-Town, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Kingston, Princeton and Trenton, in New-Jersey. The fences destroyed, houses deserted, pulled in pieces, or consumed by fire, and the general face of waste and devastation spread over a rich and once well cultivated and well inhabited country, would affect the most unfeeling with compassion for the unhappy sufferers, and with indignation and resentment against the barbarous ravagers. It deserves notice that though there are many instances of rage and vengeance against particular persons, yet the destruction was very general, and often undistinguished; those who submitted and took protections, and some who were known to favour them, having frequently suffered in the common ruin. Places and things, which from their public nature and general utility should have been spared by a civilized people, have been destroyed or plundered, or both. But above all, places of worship, ministers, and other religious persons of some particular Protestant denominations, seem to have been treated with the most rancorous hatred, and at the same time, with the highest contempt.

Second,-The inhuman treatment of those who were so unhappy as to become prisoners.

The prisoners, instead of the humane treatment which those taken by the United States experienced, were in general treated with the greatest barbarity. Many of them were near four days without food altogether. When they received a supply, it was both insufficient in point of quantity, and often of the worst kind. They suffered the utmost distress from cold, nakedness and close confinement. Freemen and men of substance suffered all that a generous mind could suffer from the contempt and mockery of British and foreign mercenaries. Multitudes died in prison. When they were sent out, several died in the boats while carrying ashore, or upon the road attempting to go home. The committee, in the course of their inquiry, learned that sometimes the common soldiers expressed sympathy with the prisoners, and the foreigners more than the English. But this was seldom or never the case with the officers; nor have they been able to hear of any charitable assistance given them by the inhabitants who remained in or resorted to the city of New-York, which neglect, if universal, they believe was never known to happen in any similar case in a christian country.

Third, The savage butchery of those who had submitted, and were incapable of resistance.

The committee found it to be the general opinion of the people in the neighbourhood of Princeton and Trenton, that the enemy the day before the battle of Princeton had determined to give no quarter. They did not, however, obtain any clear proof that there were genteral orders for that purpose, but the treatment of several particular persons at and since that time has been of the most shocking kind, and gives too much countenance to the supposition. Officers wounded and disabled, some of them of the first rank, were barbarously mangled or put to death. A minister of the gospel at Trenton, who neither was nor had been in arms, was massacred in cold blood, though humbly supplicating for mercy.

*

Fourth,―The lust and brutality of the soldiers in abusing women. The committee had authentic information of many instances of the most indecent treatment, and actual ravishment of married and single women, but such is the nature of that most irreparable injury, that the persons suffering it, and their relations, though perfectly innocent, look upon it as a kind of reproach to have the facts related, and their names known. They have however, procured some affidavits which will be published in the appendix. The originals are lodged with the secretary of the congress. Some complaints were made to the commanding officers upon this subject, and one affidavit made before a Justice of the Peace, but the committee could not learn that any satisfaction was ever given, or punishment inflicted, except that one soldier at Pennyton was kept in custody for part of a day.

On the whole, the committee are sorry to say that the cry of barbarity and cruelty is but too well founded, and as in conver

*Mr. Roseburgh, minister at the Forks of Deleware.

sation those who are cool to the American cause, have nothing to oppose to the facts but their being incredible, and not like what they are pleased to style the generosity and clemency of the English nation, the Committee beg leave to observe that one of the circumstances most frequently occuring in the inquiry, was the opprobrious disdainful names given to the Americans. These do not need any proof, as they occur so frequently in the newspapers printed under their direction, and in the intercepted letters of those who are officers, and call themselves gentlemen. It is easy therefore, to see what must be the conduct of a soldier greedy of prey, towards a people whom they have been taught to look upon not as freemen defending their rights on principle, but as desperadoes and profligates, who have risen up against law and order in general, and wish the subversion of society itself. This is the most candid and charitable manner in which the committee can account for the melancholy truths which they have been obliged to report. Indeed, the same deluding principle seems to govern persons and bodies of the highest rank in Britain, for it is worthy of notice, that not pamphleteers only, but king and parliament constantly call those acts lenity, which on their first publication filled this whole continent with resentment and horror.

The above report received, approved, and ordered to be published with the proofs.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."

The main body of the British forces had embarked at New-York, sailed up the Chesapeake, and landed at the head of Elk River. The army soon began their march for Philadelphia. General Washington had determined to oppose them, and for this purpose made a stand, first at Red Clay Creek, and then upon the heights, near Brandywine Creek. Here the armies engaged, and the Americans were overpowered, and suffered great loss.

"At day break on the morning of the eleventh, the royal army advanced in two columns, the one commanded by Lieutenant General Knyphausen, and the other, by Lord Cornwallis. While the first column took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made a show of passing it in front of the main body of the Americans, the other moved up on the west side of the Brandywine to its fork, crossed both its branches about two in the afternoon, and marched down on its eastern side with the view of turning the right wing of their adversaries. General Washington, on receiving intelligence of their approach, made the proper disposition to receive them. The divisions commanded by Sullivan, Stirling, and Stephen, advanced a little farther up the Brandywine, and fronted the column of the approaching enemy; Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, remained at Chadd's Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check; Greene's division, accompanied by General Washington, formed a reserve, and took a central position between the right and left wings. The

divisions, detached against Cornwallis, took possession of the heights above Birmingham church, their left reaching toward the Brandywine; the artillery was judiciously placed, and their flanks were covered by woods. About four o'clock, Lord Cornwallis formed the line of battle, and began the attack. The Americans sustained it for some time with intrepidity; but their right at length giving way, the remaining divisions, exposed to a galling fire on the flank, continued to break on the right, and the whole line was soon completely routed. As soon as Cornwallis had commenced his attack, Knyphausen crossed the ford, and attacked the troops, posted for its defence; which, after a severe conflict, were compelled to give way. The retreat of the Americans, which soon became general, was continued that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. The loss, sustained by the Americans in this action, is estimated at three hundred killed, and six hundred wounded.* Between three and four hundred, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. The loss of the British was stated to be rather less than one hundred killed, and four hundred wounded. As the British were advancing toward Goshen to gain the Lancaster road, dispositions were again. made for battle, on the sixteenth, by both armies; but a heavy rain separated the advanced parties, which had begun to skirmish, and its increasing violence soon obliged the Americans to retreat. General Washington on the nineteenth crossed the Schuylkill, and encamped on the eastern banks of that river; while detachments of his army were posted at the several fords, over which the enemy would probably attempt to force a passage.

In the night of the twentieth, General Wayne, who with fifteen 1 hundred men had concealed himself in the woods on the left wing of the British army, with the intention of harassing their rear, was surprised by Major General Grey. The British General, proceeding on the expedition with secresy and dispatch, gave strict orders that bayonets only should be used, and that not a gun should be fired. The loss of the Americans in killed, wounded, and prisoners, is supposed to have been about three hundred men. The loss of the enemy was merely one officer killed, and seven privates killed and wounded.

On the twenty-third of September, Sir William Howe, having secured the command of the Schuylkill, crossed it with his whole army; on the twenty-sixth, he advanced to Germantown; and on the succeeding day Lord Cornwallis, at the head of a strong detachment, took peaceable possession of Philadelphia.

General Washington with his army, reinforced to eight thousand continental troops and three thousand militia, took a position at Ship

Among the wounded were two general officers; the Marquis de la Fayette and General Woodford. The first of these was a French nobleman, who, at the age of 19 years only, left France, and offered his services to congress, which gave him the rank of major general in their army. Count Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, fought also with the Americans in this battle.

pack Creek, on the east side of the Schuylkill, about twenty miles from Philadelphia, and sixteen from Germantown. At this last place lay the main body of the British army. The line of its encampment crossed the town at right angles; the left wing extended to the Schuylkill, and was covered in front and flank by the German chasseurs. The queen's American rangers and a battalion of light infantry were in front of the right; and the fortieth regiment with another battalion of infantry was posted on the Chesnut Road, three quarters of a mile in advance, at the head of the village.

While General Howe was intently engaged in removing obstructions in the River Delaware, General Washington seized the first favourable opportunity to surprise the camp at Germantown. The plan was, to attack both wings in front and rear at the same instant. The divisions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, were to enter the town by the way of Chesnut Hill, and attack the left wing, while General Armstrong with the Pennsylvania militia was to fall down Manatawny [Ridge] road, and turning the left flank, to attack in the rear. The divisions of Stephen and Greene, flanked by M'Dougal's brigade, were to enter by the Limekiln road at the market house, and attack the right wing. The militia of Maryland and Jersey, under Generals Smallwood and Forman, were to march down the old York road, and fall on the rear of the right. The divisions of Lord Stirling, and the brigade of Nash and Maxwell, were to form a corps de reserve.

The army, having moved from its ground about seven in the afternoon of the third of October, began an attack about sun rise the next morning. The advance of the column led by Sullivan (which was accompanied by the commander in chief) encountered and drove in a picket, which presently gave way; and his main body, soon following, engaged the light infantry and other troops encamped near the picket, and forced them from their ground. Though closely pursued, Lieutenant Colonel Musgrove with six companies took post in a strong stone house, which lay in the way of the Americans, and severely galled them by a fire of musketry from the doors and windows. General Washington immediately ordered a brigade to surround the house; but Colonel Musgrove refused to surrender. Four pieces of cannon were brought against him, but he sustained the fire of them until Major General Grey with the third brigade, and Brigadier General Agnew with the fourth, came to his assistance, and attacked the Americans with great spirit. In the mean time General Greene arrived with his column, and attacked the right wing of the enemy. Colonel Matthews routed a party of the British opposed to him, killed several, and took one hundred and ten prisoners; but from the darkness of the day, caused by an uncommonly thick fog, he lost sight of the brigade to which he belonged, and was taken prisoner with his whole regiment. At length a part of the right wing of the British attacked the Americans on the opposite side of the town; while General Grant moved up the forty-ninth