in the other fertile fources of knowledge with which it abounded. His heart fwelled with the pleasing profpect, that the fons of that inflitution would diftinguifh themselves, in the different walks of life, by their literary contributions to the embellishment and increase of human happiness." On the 10th of July, Mr. M. Terney, with a fleet confifling of seven fhips of the line, befides frigates, and a large body of French troops, commanded by the Count de Rochambeau, arrived at Rhode Island; and the following day 6000 men were landed there. A committee from the general affembly of Rhode Island was appointed to congratulate the French general upon his arrival: hereupon he returned an anfwer, in which he informed them, that the king his mafler had fent him to the affiflance of his good and faithful allies the United States of America. At prefent, he faid, he only brought over the vanguard of a much greater force deftined for their aid; and the king had ordered him to affure them, that his whole power fhould be exerted for their fupport. He added, that the French troops were under the ftricteft difcipline; and, acting under the orders of General Washington, would live with the Americans as their brethren. A fcheme was foon after formed, of making a combined attack with English fhips and troops, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot, against the French fleet and troops at Rhode Island. Accordingly a confiderable part of the troops of New-York were embarked for that purpofe. General Washington having received information of this paffed the North River, by a very rapid movement, and, with an army increased to 12,000 men, proceeded with felerity towards King's Bridge, in order to attack New-York; but learning that the British general had changed his intentions, and difembarked his troops on the 21ft of the month, General Washington recrofled the river, and returned to his former flation. Sir Henry Clinton and the Admiral had agreed to relinquifh their defign of attacking the French and Americans at Rhode Island as impracticable for the prefent. An unfuccessful attempt was alfo made about this time in the Jerfeys by General Knyphaufen, with 7000 British troops under his command, to furprife the advanced pofts of General Washington's army. They proceeded very rapidly towards Springfield, meeting little oppofition till they came to the bridge there, which was very gallantly defended by 170 of the continental troops, for 15 minutes, against the British army but they were at Jength obliged to give up fo unequal a conteft, with the lofs of 37 men. After fecuring this pafs, the British troops marched into the place, and fet fire to most of the houses. They were however, at laft obliged to return about the beginning of July without effecting any thing material. But in South-Carolina, the royal arms were attended with more fuccefs, Earl Cornwallis, who commanded the British troops there, obtained a very fignal victory over General Gates, on the 6th of Auguft. The action began at break of day, in a fituation very advantageous for the British troops, but very unfavourable to the Americans. The latter were much more numerous; but the ground on which both armies flood was narrowed by swamps on the right and left, fo that the Americans could not properly avail themfelves of their fuperior numbers. The attack was made y the British troops with great vigour, and in a few minutes the action was general along the whole lines. It was at this time a dead calm, with a little hazinefs in the air, which prevented the fmoke from rifing, occafioned fo thick a darknefs, that it was difficult to fee the effect of a heavy and well fupported fire on both fides. The British troops either kept up a conftant fire, or made Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, who had greatly diflinguifhed himself in this action, was detached the following day, with fome cavalry and light infantry, amounting to about 350 men, to attack a corps of Americans under General Sumpter. He executed this fervice with great activity and military addrefs. He procured good information of Sumpter's movements; and by forced and concealed marches came up with and furprifed him in the middle of the day on the 18th, near the Catawba fords. He totally deflroyed or dispersed his detachment, which confifted of 700 men, killing 150 on the spot, and taking two pieces of brafs cannon, 300 prifoners, and 44 waggons. He was Not long after thefe events, means were found to detach Major-general Arnold, who had engaged fo ardently in the caufe of America, and who had exhibited fo much bravery in the fupport of it, from the interefts of the congrefs. Major Andre, adjutant-general to the British army, was a principal agent in this tranfaction: or, if the overture of joining the king's troops came firft from Arnold, this gentlemen was the perfon employed to concert the affair with him. More muft have been originally comprehended in the fcheme than the mere desertion of the American caufe by Arnold: but whatever defigns had been formed for promoting the views of the British govern ment, they were fruftrated by the apprehending of Major Andre. taken in difguife, after having affumed a falfe name, on the 23d of September, by three American foldiers; to whom he offered confiderable rewards if they would have fuffered him to escape, but without effect. Several papers written by Arnold were found upon him; and when Arnold had learnt that Major Andre was feized, he found means to get on board a barge, and to efcape to one of the king's fhips. General Washington referred the cafe of Major Andre to the examination and decifion of a board of general officers, confiling of Major-general Greene, Major-general lord Sterling, Major-general the Marquis de la Fayette, Major-general the Baron de Steuben, two other major-generals, and eight brigadier-generals. Major Andre was examined before them, and the particulars of his cafe enquired into ; and they reported to the American commander in chief, that Mr. Andre came on fhore from the Vulture floop of war in the night, on an interview with General Arnold, in a private and fecret manner; that he changed his dress within the American lines; and, under a feigned name, and in a difguifed habit, paffed 1 the American works at Stoney and Verplank's points, on the evening of the 220 of September; that he was taken on the morning of the 23d at Tarry town, he being then on his way to New-York: and that, when taken, be had in his poflition feveral papers which contained intelligence for the enemy. They therefore determined, that he ought to be confidered as a spy from the enemy; and that, agreeably to the law and ufage of nations, he ought to fuller death. Sir Henry Clinton, Lieutenant-general Robertfon, and the late American general Arnold, all wrote prefling letters to General Washington on the occafion, in order to prevent the decifion of the board of general officers from being put in force : But their applications were ineffectual. Major Andre was hanged at Tappan, in the fate of New-York, on the 2d of October. He met his fate with great firmness; but appeared fomewhat hurt that he was not allowed a more military death, for which he had folicited. He was a gentleman of very amiable qualities, had a tafte for literature and the fine arts, and poffeffed many accomplishments. His death, therefore, was regretted even by his enemies; and the feverity of the determination, concerning him was much exclaimed against in Great-Britain. It was, however, generally acknowledged by impartial perfons, that there was nothing in the execution of this unfortunate gentleman but what was perfectly confonant to the rules of war. Arnold was made a brigadier-general in the king's fervice, and publifhed an addrefs to the inhabitants of America, dated from New-York, October 7, in which he endeavoured to justify the desertion of their cause. He said, that when he first engaged in it, he conceived the rights of his country to be in danger, and that honour and duty called him to her defence. A redress of grievances was his only aim and object; and therefore he acquiefced unwillingly in the declaration of independence, because he thought it precipitate. But what now induced him to defert their caufe was the difguft he had conceived at the French alliance, and at the refufal of congrefs to comply with the laf! terms offered by Great Britain, which he thought equal to all their expectations and to all their wifhes. The Americans, however, accounted for the conduct of Arnold in a different manner. They alledged that he had fo involved himself in debts and difficulties by his extravagant manner of living in America, that he had rendered it very inconvenient for him to continue there. It was manifeft, they faid, that he could at firft have no great averfion to the French alliance, because that when M. Gerard, minifter plenipotentiary from the court of France, arrived at Philadelphia in July 1778, General Arnold early and carneftly folicited that minifter, with his whole fuite, to take apartments and bed and board at his houfe, until a proper houfe could be provided by the order of the congrefs. This offer M. Gerard accepted, and continued with him fome weeks. The French minifter refided upwards of 14 months in Philadelphia; during which time General Arnold kept up the most friendly and intimate acquaintance with him, and there was a continued interchange of dinners, balls, routes, and concerts: fo that M. Gerard muft have believed, that in General Arnold, he had found and left one of the warmest friends the court of France had in America. He was alfo one of the firft in congratulating the Chevalier la Luzerene, the fecond French minilter. About this time complaints and accufations were exhibited against him by the government of Philadelphia for divers mal-practices; among which charges were, the appropriation of goods and merchandise to his own ufe, which he had feized as British property in Philadelphia in July 1778. It was determined by a court-martial that his conduct was highly reprehenfible; but he was indulgently treated, and was therefore only reprimanded by the commander in chief General Washington. It was in thete circumftances, the Americans faid, bankrupted in reputation and fortane, loaded with debts, and having a growing and expenfive family, that General Arnold first turned his thoughts towards joining the royal arins. After the defeat of General Gates by Earl Cornwallis, that nobleman exerted himself to the utmost, in extending the progrefs of the British arms and with confiderable effect. But one enterprize, which was conducted by Major Ferguson, proved unsuccessful. That officer had taken abundans pains to difcipline fome of the tory militia, as they were termed; and with a party of these and fome British troops, amounting in the whole to about 1400 men, made incurtions into the country. But on the 7th of October he was attacked by a fuperior body of Americans at a place called King'smountain, and totally defeated, One hundred and fifty were killed in the action, and 810 made prifoners, of which 150 were wounded. Fifteen hundred flands of arms alfo fell into the hands of the Americans, whofe loss was inconfiderable. But the following month Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with a party of 170, chiefly cavalry, attacked and defeated General Sumpter, at a place called Black Stocks. Sumpter was wounded, and about 120 of the Americans killed, wounded, or taken. Of the Britifh troops about 50 were killed and wounded. On the third of September, the Mercury, a congrefs packet, was taken by the Veftal, captain Keppel, near Newfoundland. On board this packet was Mr. Laurens, late prefident of the congrefs, who was bound on an embally to Holland. He had thrown his papers overboard, but great part of them were recovered without having received much damage. He was brought to London, and examined before the privy-council; in confequence of which he was committed clofe prifoner to the Tower on the fixth of October, on a charge of high treafon. His papers were delivered to the ministry, and contributed to facilitate a rupture with Holland, as among them was found the sketch of a treaty of amity and commerce between the republic of Holland and the United States of America. At the beginning of the year 1781, an affair happened in America, from which expectations were formed by Sir Henry Clinton, that fome confiderable advantage might be derived for the Royal caufe. The long continue ance of the war, and the difficulties under which the congrefs laboured, had prevented their troops from being properly fupplied with neceffaries and conveniences. In confequence of this on the firit of January, the American troups that were hutted at Morris Town, and who formed what was called the Pennfylvania line, turned out, being in number about one thousand three hundred, and declared, that they would ferve no longer, uniefs their grievances were redreffid, as they had not received their pay, or been furBifhed with the neceffary cloathing or provifions. A riot enfued, in which an officer was killed, and four wounded; five or fix of the infurgents were allo wounded. They then collected the artillery, ftores, provisions, and waggons, and marched out of the camp. They paffed by the quarters of General Wayne, who fent a meffage to them, requesting them to delift, or the confequences would prove fatal. They refused, and proceeded on their match till the evening, when they took post on an advantageous piece of ground, and elected officers among themfelves. On the fecond, they march. ed to Middlebrook, and on the third to Princetown, where they fixed their quarters. On that day a flag of truce was fent to them from the officers of the American camp, with a meffage, defiring to know what were their intentions. Some of them answered, that they had already ferved longer than the time for which they were enlifted, and would ferve no longer; and others, that they would not return, unless their grievances were redrefsed. But at the fame time they repeatedly, and in the ftrongest terms, denied being influenced by the leaft difaffection to the American cause, or having any intention of deferting to the enemy. Intelligence of this tranfaction was foon conveyed to New-York. A large body of British troops were immediately ordered to hold themfelves in readiness to move on the fhorteft notice, it being hoped that the American revolters might be induced to join the Royal Army. Meffengers were alfo fent them from General Clinton, acquainted them that they fhould directly be taken under the protection of the British government; that they should have a free pardon for all former offences; and that the pay due to them from the congrefs fhould be faithfully paid them, without any expectation of military fervice, unless it fhould be voluntary, upon condition of their laying down their arms and returning to their allegiance. It was alfo recommended to move beyond the South river; and they were affured, that a body of British troops fhould be ready to protect them wherever they defired it. Thefe propofitions were rejected with difdain; and they even delivered up two of Sir Henry Clinton's meffengers to the congrefs. Jofeph Reed Efq. prefident of the ftate of Pennsylvania, afterwards repaired to them at Prince-town, and an accommodation took place: fuch of them as had ferved out their full terms were permitted to return to their own homes, and others again joined the American army, upon receiving fatisfactory affurances that their grievances fhould be redreffed. Lord Cornwallis now began to make very vigorous exertions, in order to penetrate into North-Carolina. On the 11th of January his army was in motion, and advancing towards that province; but was formewhat delayed by an attempt made by the Americans, under General Morgan, to make themselves mafters of the diftrict of Ninety-Six. In order to prevent this, Lord Cornwallis detached Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with 300 cavalry, goo light infantry, the 7th regiment, the first battalion of the 71ft regiment, and two three-pounders, to oppofe the progrefs of Morgan. The British troops came up with the Americans under General Morgan on the 17th of January. The Americans were drawn up in an open wood, and having been lately joined by fome militia, were more numerous than the British troops under Tarelton; but the latter were so much better difciplined, that they had the utmost confidence of obtaining a speedy victory. The attack was begun by the first line of infantry, confifting of the 7th regiment, and a corps of light infantry with a troop of cavalry placed on each flank. The The first battalion of the 71ft and the remainder of the cavalry formed the referve. The American line foon gave way, and their militia quitted the field; upon which the royal troops, fuppofing the victory already gained, engaged with ardour in the purfuit, and were thereby thrown into diforder. General Morgan's corps, who were fuppofed to have been routed, then immediately faced about, and threw in a heavy fire upon the king's troops, which occafioned the utmoft confufion amongst them; and they were at length totally defeated by the Americans Four hundred of the British infantry were either killed, wounded, or taken prifoners; the loss of the No. 23. |