CHAP. XIX.

GEORGE III. (CONTINUED.)-1777.

American campaign-Expedition of the British up the Hudson— Of the Americans to Long Island-Operations of general Howe against Washington in the Jerseys-Seizure of general Prescot on Rhode Island-Expedition of the British army against Philadelphia - Battle of the Brandywine-March of the British towards Philadelphia-Surprise of general Wayne-Lord Cornwallis takes possession of Philadelphia-Two American frigates burnt in the Delaware- Action at German Town Opening of the Delaware-Washington takes up a position at White Marsh-Removes to Valley Forge for winter quarters— Suffering of the army-Representations of Washington to congress-Plan of general Burgoyne's expedition from CanadaHis advance, and proclamation. Ticonderoga fort falls into the hands of the English-Difficulties in the way of general Burgoyne Failure of the British against Fort Stanwix and at Benington-Americans retire to Saratoga-Reinforced by Arnold -General Gates takes the command-The British advanceAttacked by general Arnold-Repulse the enemy, but lose 600 men -Ill effects of this action-Burgoyne fortifies his position-Sir H. Clinton's expedition up the Hudson-Putnam retires-Capture of forts Clinton and Montgomery-American vessels, and Kingston burnt-Sir H. Clinton returns to New York-Arnold attacks his antagonists, but suffers loss-Burgoyne is surrounded on all sides-Capitulates to general Gates-Terms of convention, &c.-Conduct of the American congress regarding the troopsAmerican privateers-Meeting of parliament-King's speechAddress, and debates on it in both houses-Duke of Richmond's motion for a committee to inquire into the state of the nation, and for the production of papers- Mr. Fox makes a similar one in the lower house-Army and navy estimatesIntelligence of Burgoyne's defeat-Lord Chatham's motions for addresses to his majesty-Debates thereon-Royal assent given to several bills-Motion for an adjournment carried-State of public feeling-Regiments raised by different towns, &c.-Subscription for American prisoners-Princess Sophia born-Duty on auctions and inhabited houses.

THE campaign in America began early in the spring with some spirited enterprises on both sides: a detachment of British forces under colonel Bird destroyed the enemy's stores at Peekskill, about fifty miles up the North river; and governor Tryon, at the head of 2000 men, draughted from different regiments, burned some large magazines at Danbury

in Connecticut, and reduced the town itself to ashes. During the time spent in this service, the American generals Wooster, Silliman, and Arnold collected the militia of the country, and greatly harassed the royal troops in their retreat in one of these skirmishes, Wooster was mortally wounded; and though the active and indefatigable Arnold, by crossing the country, took up a very advantageous post in their line of march, at Ridgefield, yet his intrenchments were forced by the courage and discipline of the British forces; the Americans were scattered on all sides; and their commander himself, after some extraordinary acts of personal valor, had a very narrow escape : being however only broken, and meeting with reinforcements of men and artillery, they continued to assail the retreating troops, whenever they had an advantage of ground; and thus harassed the royal forces in flank and rear, until they gained the hill of Compo, near the Hudson, where the naval part of the expedition was left. As the Americans appeared to be preparing for a desperate assault; Sir William Erskine, placing himself at the head of 400 picked men, charged their advancing columns with the bayonet, and put them to so general a rout, that the British were permitted to re-embark without any farther molestation. The success of the enterprise however scarcely compensated for the loss of 200 men and ten officers killed and wounded the great exertions of general Arnold on this occasion procured him promotion from the congress, and the public donation of a caparisoned charger.

In return for these expeditions, the effects of which were severely felt by the Americans, the Connecticut men sent a small force under colonel Meigs against Sag's harbor in Long Island, where commissaries had been employed in collecting forage, grain, and other necessaries for the British army. On the twenty-third of May, about 150 men, crossing the Sound in whale boats, landed on the northern branch of the island: thence dragging their vessels over a tongue of land, they embarked again, and landed on the southern branch, within four miles of the point of attack. Having arrived there before daybreak, they rushed on with great impetuosity; and notwithstanding the resistance of the guard, and the severe fire of a schooner which lay within 150 yards of the shore, they effectually accomplished the object of their enterprise; having burned a dozen vessels which lay at the wharf, and destroyed all the stores deposited on shore: they also carried off near 100 prisoners, including the officer on duty, with his men. This

exploit of colonel Meigs was acknowleged by the gift of an elegant sword from the congress.

After the British had obtained possession of New York, their next grand object was Philadelphia; but in this they had been hitherto baffled by the skill and intrepidity of the American commander in chief: from the situation of the troops under lord Cornwallis at Brunswick and Amboy, so near to those under Washington at Morristown, the duty had been severe and unremitting; and frequent attempts made on both sides to surprise each other's outposts. Though the Americans were generally worsted in these encounters, yet they became gradually inured to military service; until Washington, having received large supplies of men from the different provinces, quitted his camp; and advancing towards Brunswick, took possession of an almost impregnable line of country along Middle Brook, where he commanded a full view of his adversary's motions. The army at New York was not able to take the field till June, for want of tent and field equipage; which at length arriving, with some British and German recruits, Sir William Howe passed over in full force to the Jerseys, and by a well-concerted stratagem nearly succeeded in finishing the campaign by a single blow. Feigning a retreat, and leading off all his troops to Amboy, as if about to pass a bridge which he had thrown over the narrow channel to Staten Island, he drew after him several large bodies of the provincials under generals Maxwell, Conway, and lord Stirling: even Washington himself, with all his caution, left his inaccessible heights, and advanced to a place called Quibble-town, to be nearer at hand for the support or protection of his advanced parties. The British general then expeditiously marched the army back by different routes, in the hope of cutting off his immediate pursuers, and of coming up with Washington's main body; whilst lord Cornwallis, with his column, was ordered to take a circuit, and secure some mountainous passes, the occupation of which would have reduced Washington to abandon that strong position which had hitherto afforded him security. In the prosecution of this part of the plan, his lordship fell in with a detachment of about 3000 provincials under lord Stirling and general Maxwell, strongly posted, and well provided with artillery but the Americans, unable long to sustain the impetuous attack of the British troops, fled, and were pursued as far as Westfield, leaving behind them three pieces of brass cannon, and about 200 men in killed and wounded. Washington

however saw his error, and quickly remedied it, by regaining his station on the hills, and securing those passes, which were the main object of lord Cornwallis's expedition. The British general, despairing of any future scheme for bringing his antagonist to action, drew off his forces to Staten Island, with the intention of conveying them by sea into the heart of Pennsylvania.

During the cessation of hostilities occasioned by these movements, an American colonel, of the name of Barton, conducted a spirited enterprise, in which he carried off general Prescot, commanding officer on Rhode Island, who had imprudently fixed his head quarters near the western shore, at a considerable distance from his troops. Having landed about midnight, and surprised the sentinel, they seized the general in bed, and without suffering him to put on his clothes, hurried him on board a boat, in which they passed under the stern of the British guard-ship without being perceived, and conveyed him safely to Providence. This capture, which was a fair retaliation for the surprise of general Lee, restored that general in a short time to the American cause by exchange.

On the twenty-third of July the British fleet set sail from Sandy Hook; and after a tedious voyage, landed the troops at the head of Chesapeake-bay; for the navigation of the Delaware had been impeded by obstructions of the most astonishing magnitude, under the advice of Dr. Franklin. Washington, having received intelligence of these movements, took possession of some heights on the eastern side of the river Brandywine, which falls into the Delaware below Philadelphia, with an intention of disputing the passage. By day break on the eleventh of September, the British army advanced in two columns from the head of Elk, driving in the advanced guards of the enemy towards Chad's-ford, where a passage was to be attempted to this place general Knyphausen advanced with the second division of the army, as a feint; while lord Cornwallis, at the head of the other, took a circuitous route, crossed the forks of the Brandywine, and fell on the enemy's right.19

19 It seems that Washington, suspecting this manœuvre, had formed a plan of crossing the river himself at Chad's-ford, before his lordship could come up, for the purpose of attacking the British troops, having left their artillery and baggage behind: that the first New Jersey regiment, to which captain Ogden belonged, was posted in advance, and prepared to make the attack; when an answer was sent by Washington to a message from its commander, that he was distracted by contrary intelligence; and he

As soon as the success of his lordship's attempt was made known by the cannonade in that quarter, general Knyphausen gallantly crossed the ford, and carried the batteries: at four o'clock in the afternoon, the British united forces attacked the Americans under general Sullivan, who, to the number of 10,000, were strongly posted on the heights above Birmingham church from thence they were obliged to retire to their forests for refuge, where they obtained reinforcements, and took up another position; but were again driven from it by British valor, and compelled to fly with precipitation, leaving 300 killed in the action, 600 wounded, and 400 prisoners: they lost also several pieces of artillery; but Washington kept together his corps, and retired with his cannon and baggage to Chester, where he remained for the night, unmolested by pursuit:" next day he continued his retreat to Philadelphia, where he collected as many of his routed troops as he was able, and repaired from the magazines of that city the losses which he had sustained in stores. As he had to march twenty-three miles to Philadelphia, which was distant only eighteen from the British camp, Sir William Howe was much blamed for remissness in pursuing and intercepting him; but in excuse it was remarked that the horses were in a miserable condition; and the men, after so long a confinement in transports, were not capable of such great exertions as a rapid pursuit of the enemy would have required.

20

The works for the defence of Philadelphia were carried on with unremitting diligence; while Sir William Howe advanced with caution, and endeavored by his manœuvres to distract the attention of the enemy, who hovered about him, and threatened did not send the expected order to advance. It seems that colonel Hamilton, one of Washington's aides-de-camp, had reconnoitred the enemy, and informed the general that they were in full march up the river, on the other side of it, towards his right: at the same time an express arrived from general Sullivan, who had been placed on the right for the purpose of observing the enemy's movement, saying that there were no troops on that road. On what small circumstances often hang the results of a battle! The videttes sent out by general Sullivan had spent their time in drinking at a tavern; and on their return, reported that the enemy was not on that route: accordingly, the general wrote on a drum-head his despatch, containing this contradictory intelligence; and Washington's right was turned.'-Life of Og-. den, in American National Portrait Gallery.

20 The marquis de la Fayette, who was only nineteen years old, and a volunteer in the American service, was wounded in this action.