History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay

PDF processed with CutePDF evaluation edition www.CutePDF

N

TME CUSTODY OF THE
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

0(.

r^.

T H

32

HISTORY
O F T

H

E

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

By

DAVID

IN

R A

M

S

A

Y,

M. D.

TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME

ir.

PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED AND SOLD BY

J?.

Sl.DCC.LXXXlX.
0/

AITKEN

JjT

-SaX
i

Vi

"^1^

CONTENT^
O

r

F

H

E

SECOND VOLUME.
CHAPTER

XIV.
Pagco

Campaign of

^"^HE
§

1

777,

-

-

-

States,

middle

the

in

CHAPTER

-

XV.

The Northern Campaign of 1777,

-

CHAPTER
The

The Campaign

XVI.

APPENDIX,
Continental Paper

Of

Indians,

No.

I90«

II.

r

^25*

XVIII.

and Expeditions into the Indian
-

-

Country^
i

'•

Currency,

CHAPTER

59.

XVII.
-

-

Campaign of I779>

-

of 177S,

CHAPTER
Of

25.

between France and the United

Alliance

States.

l»

-

-

CHAPTER

XIX.

1780, in the Southern States,

Campaign of

CHAPTER
Campaign of

1780,

in

the

States,

18

r.

XXI.

Foreign Affairs, connected with the American
^
Revolution, 1780, J 781,

CHAPTER

151.

XX.

Northern

CHAPTER

136.

205.

XXII.

The Revolt of

the Pennfylvania Line; of part
the Jerfey troops: Diftrefles of the Ame^f
rican army. Arnold's luvalion of Virginia,

218.

CHAPTER

CONTENTS.

ii

CHAPTER
Campaign of
Carolinas,

XXlir.

1781:
Operations
and Georgia,

CHAPTER
Campaign of

1781:

-

^

Virginia:

New-London

deftroyed,

APPENDIX,

No.

the treatment of Prifoners, and of the difof the Inhabitants,

CHAPTER

XXVI.
-

-

1782,

APPENDIX,
The

281.

Foreign events and Nego-

Cimpaign of 1782.
Pear.e

254.

III.

treffes

ciations.

229.

XXIV.
in

Operations

Cornwallis captured:

Of

the two

in
-

290.

No. IV.

of Parties; the advantages and difadvantages of tlie Pvevolution; its influence on
flate

-

the minds and morals of the Citizens,

CHAPTER

310V

XXVII.

The

difcharge of the American army; the evacuation of New- York
The Refignation of
General Wafliington: Arrangements of Con:

grefs for difpofing of their V/eftern territory,
and paying their debts The diflreffes of the
:

States after the Peace

:

The

inefficacy of the

A

general convention for an'.ending the government : The
New Conflituiion General Waihington apArticles of the Confederation:

:

An Addrefs to the People
pointed Preiident
of the United States,
:

325.

Alphabetical lifl of the Members of Congrefs,
who attended from the feveral States, from the

5th November,

1789,

-

to the

1774,
-

3d of March,
u

..

357.

The

Prefatot-y

fevery individual

them

timates

his political charaBer.

iv:

tude.

-j'-

As

men, he efand does not
their moral redi-

private

in proportion to their fecial virtues,

wilh to invalidate whatever

He

Address,

to

acknowledges

be

may

elTential to

have written with freedom.

:

but the

conCroverfy of the prelent day, as connefled with the future happinefs of our common country, demands an unequivocal invefliHe is willing to (land the
gation of public men and meafures.

of principles ; and for this purpofe only, has he confented to
give his name as a voucher for the fmcerity of his obfervations.
teft

The
he

is

may

caufe of

real,

undejilcd religion, as

inculcated in the gofpelf

ever defirous to efpoufe, and if any remarks on its profeflbrs
appear pungent, it is for the fole purpofe of difcriminating be-

neither would he uncharitably contween piety and hypocrify
fuch men, as differ from him, as hypocrites or apof*
temn all
tat^s ; yet the feverity and indecency with which fome have repli:

ed to his remarks,

juftify

him

in adminiftering the tartar of retal-

iation.

He

has been particular in fome of his numbers to appeal to the
and unbiafTed judgment, of the young men. He has
good
made his addrefs to this valuable clai's of citizens, from the moft
fenfe,

and though he may be thought, by a
documents
few of them, to have efpoufed dodtiines fubverfive of their intere-ft,
on a candid re-perufal of the fubjecl, acquit
yet he trufts they will,
He has furnifhed tliem with the
fuch defign.
him from any
of the merchants, fanctioned with names of the
fpecific proceedings

iuconteftible

;

hlgheft credibility

on

this

;

and he leaves

it

with the young

men

to decide

important queftion.

is wrong in any one particular throughout the feveral
numbers, he is willing to acknowledge his error ; but fcurrility
and defamation will never be confidered as arguments, either to
abandon his principles, or intimidate him from perfeverance. The

If he

remarks are fubmitted to a candid public ; and to their tribunal
he is ready to fubmit his plea. Having no fmifter views to gratify, if

he
they are acceptable to his fellow-citizens,

warded

The

is

perfadtly re-

for his labours.

author Hands on the bafis of the conftitution

he maintains an

biUingfgate effufions

;

and while

which
compad:, the
juftifiable by
a defperate faftion will be unnoticed. If
of

attitude,

is

this

8

Prefatory Aildresst

any rnan

will

meet him with

his name, he

is

willing to inveftigate

a gentleman and citizen.
After this exfubjeifi, becoming
declaration, whoever replies, in abufive language, in an ari'
plicit
the

onymous

dlfguife,

will

be treated as fuch a chara(5ler ought ever to

be, with lilent contempts

THE

HIS

T O
O

F

R Y

T H E


CHAP.
The Campaign of I777>

in

XIV.
the

Middle States.

after the declaration of independence, the au-

thority
SOON

of Congrefs was obtained for raifing an army, that would be more permanent than the temporary
levies,
It

was

which they had previoufly brought into the
atfirft

field.

propofed to recruit, for the indefinite term

of the war, but it being found on experiment that the
habits of the people were averfe to engagements, for fuch
an uncertain period of fervice, the recruiting officers were
inftrudled to offer the alternative of, either enlifting for

the war, or for three years. Thofe who engaged on the
firfl conditions were promlfed a hundred acres of land, in

The troops raifed by
addition to their pay and bounty.
for the fervice of the United States, were called,
Congrefs
continentals.

Though

in

September 1776,

refolved, to raife 88 battalions, and in

it

had beea

December follow-

was given to gener.d Wadiington to raife
little progrefs had beea made in the
bufinefs, till after the battles of Trenton and
recruiting
Everi after that period, fo much time was
Princeton.

ing, authority
1

6 more, yet very

necefliirily

confumed before

thefe

new

recruits joined the

whole force at Morris-town,
and the feveral out-pofts, for fome time, did not exceed
1500 men. Yet, what is almoft incredible, thefe 1500

commander

in chief, that his

many thoufands
Vol. II.

kept

as

of the Britilh clofcly pent up in

A

Brunfwick.

1777.

The

2

1777.
^'''''^^"*^

history

of

the

Al moll every party that was fent out by the
was fuccefsfully oppofed by the former, and the
adjacent country preferved in a great degree of tranquility.
It was matter of aftoniihment, that the Britifli fuffered
Brunfvvick.

latter,

the dangerous interval between the difbanding of onearmy, and the raifing of another, to pafs away without attempting fomething of confequence againft the remaining

fhadow of an armed

Hitherto there had been a

force.

deficiency of arms and ammunition, as well as of
but in the fpring of i 777, a vefiel of 24 guns arrived

men,
from

France at Portfrnoxith in New-Hampfliire, with upwards
of 11,000 ftand of arms, and 1000 barrels of powder.
Ten thoufand {land of arms arrived about the fame time,
in another part of the United States.
Before the royal army took the field, in profecutionof
the main bnfinefs of the campaign, two enterprizes for
the deftru(Stion of American ftores were undertaken, in
an oppofite direction to what proved eventually to be the
theatre of the operations of Sir William Howe. The firfl

March
23.

^

was conduced by colonel Bird, the fecond by major geThe former landed with about 500 men
neral Tryon.
General
at Peek's-kill, near 50 miles from New-York.
Wafhington had repeatedly cautioned the commilTaries not
to fufFer large quantities of provifions to be near the water, in fuch places as were accellible to fhipping, but his
The few Ameprudent advice had not been regarded.
ricans,

who were

frationed as a gnard at Peek's-kill,

on

the approach of colonel Bird, fired the principal ftorehoufes, and retired to a good pofition, about two or three

The lofs of provifions, forage, and other
valuable articles, was confiderable.
Major general Tryon, with a detachment of 2000 men,

miles diftant.

at New- York, and paffing through the Sound,
landed between Fairfield and Norwalk.
A
^
They advanced
April 26
A
A
the country without interruption, and arrived in
through
On their approach the few
about 20 hours at Dar.bury.

embarked

M

,

,

•

,

.

•

•

•

,

who were

in the town withdrew from it.
burn and defiroy, butabftained from
began
injuring the property of fuch as were reputed tories
18 houfes, 800 barrels of pork and beef, 800 barrels of

continentals

The

Britilh

to

flour.

bufliels of grain, 1700 tents, and fome other
were loft to the Americans. Generals Woofter,
Arnold and Silliman, having haftily collected a few hundred of the inhabitants, made arrangements for interrupting the march of the royal detachment, but the arms of
thofe who came forward on this emergency, were injured
by exceflive rains, and the men were worn down with

flour,

2000

articles

Such diimiles in the courfe of a day.
were neverthelefs made, and fuch advantageous
pofitions
inpofts were taken, as enabled them greatly to annoy the
General Arnold,
vaders when returning to their Ihips.
with about 500 men, by a rapid movement, reached
a

march of 30

R.idgefield in their front---barricadoed the road, kept up
a brilkfire upon them, and fuftained their attack, till they

had made

lodgement on a ledge of rocks on his left.
After the Britifh had gained this eminence, a whole platoon levelled at general Arnold, not more than 30 yai-ds
diftant. His horfe was killed, but he efcaped. While he
was extricating himfelf from his horfe, a fuldier advanced
to run him through with a bayonet, but he ihot him dead
The Amewith his piftol, and afterwards got ofFfafe.
in feveral detached parties, harrafled the rear of
ricans,
the Britifti, and from various ftands kept up a fcattering
fire upon them, till they reached their (hipping.
a

;

The
but

it

accomplilhed the object of the expedition,
coft them dear.
They had by computation 2 or
Britiflr

—

wounded, or taken. The lofs of the
AAmericans was about 20 killed, and 40 wounded.
309 men

mong

killed,

the

former was Dr. Atvvater,

a

gentleman of re-

Colonel
fpedlable charadter, and conflderable influence.
Lamb was among the latter. General AVoofter, though
feventy years old,

behaved with the vigour and

fpirit

of

While

glorioufly defending the liberties of his
country, he received a mortal wound. Congrefs refolved,
that a monument fhould be eredled to his memory, as an

youth.

acknowledgment

of

his merit

and

fervices.

They

alfo

refolved, that a horfe, properly caparifoned, fliould be
prefented to general Arnold, in their name, as a token of
their approbation of his gallant conduct.
Not long after the excurlion to Danbury,

colonel

Meigs,

HISTORY

The

4
1777.
^'''"''^^

jyiay 24.

of

the

Meigs, an enterprifing American officer, tranfportcd a
detachment of about 170 Americans, in whale boats, over
the Sound, which feparates Long-Ifland from Connecticut,
^^j burned twelve brigs and floops, belonging to the Bri-

and deftroyed a large quantity of forage and other
articles, colle£led for their ufe in Sagg-Harbour on that
killed fix of their foldiers, and brought off 90
ifland;

tifii,

—

killed or
prifoners, without having a ilngle man either
his puny returned to Guilwounded. The colonel and

ford in 25 hours from the time of their departure, having
in that fhort fpace not only completed the objeft of their
a fpace not
expedition, but traverfed by land and water,
lefs

than 90 miles.

Congrefs ordered an elegant fword
good conduct in

to be prefented to colonel Meigs, for his
this expedition.

the feafon advanced, the American army in Newthe fucceffive arrival of recruits,
Jerfey, was reinforced by

As

'^

^'

aopening of the campaign, it
men.
7272
Great pains had been taken to recruit the Britifharmy
commiffion of brigadier gewith American levies.

but neverthelefs

mounted only

at the

to

A

neral had been conferred on Mr. Oliver Delancey, aloy-

and he was augreat influence in New-York,
thorifed to raife three battalions.
Every effort had been
alifl:

of

men, both within and without theBriti ill lines, and alfo from among the American prifoners,
but with all thefe exertions, ori'ly 597 were procured.
Mr. Courtland Skinner, a loyalift well known in Jerfey,
was alfo appointed a brigadier, and authorifed to raife five

made,

to raife the

Great

battalions.

ed

Towards

were alfo made to procure re-

command) ^V-

cruits for his

only to 5

efforts

i

their

whole number amount-^

7.

the latter end of

May, general WaQiington
at Morriftown, and took
quitted his winter encampment
a flrongpofition at Middlebrook. Soon after this movement was effefted, the Britifli marched from Brunfwick,
and extended their van as far asSomerfet court-houfe, but
This
a few days returned to their former flation.
fudden change was probably owing to the unexpe(51:ed oppofition which feemed to be colle<ftin^ from all quarters.
in

for the Jerfey militia, turned out in a very fpirited
Six months before that fame
ner, to oppofe them.

man-

army
marched through New- Jerfey, without being fired upon,
and even fmall parties of them had fafely patrolled the
but experience
country, at a diftance from their camp
Britifh prote£tions were no fccurity for
having proved that
•,

property, the inhabitants generally rcfolved to try the
of refiftance, in preference to a fecond fubmiffion.

effciHis

A

fortunate miftake gave them an opportunity of aflembling in great force on this emergency. Signais had been

agreed on, and beacons eredted on high places, with the
view of communicating over the country, inftantaneous
few hours
intelligence of the approach of the Britifli.

A

before the royal army began their march, the fignal of
alarm, on the foundation of a falfe report, had been

The farmers, with arms in their hands, ran to
hoifted.
the place of rendezvous from confiderable diftances. They
had fet out at leafl: twelve hours before tlie Britifli, and
were collefted in formidable numWilliam Howctniendcd to force hi$
way through the country to the Delaware, and afterwards

on

their appearance
Whether Sir

bei's.

to Philadelphia, or to attackthe

American army,

is

unccr-t

but whatever was his deugn, he thought proper, fudThe
denly to relinquifh it, and fell back to Brunfwick.

tain,

army, on their retreat, burned and deftroyed the
farm houfes on the road, nor did they fpare thofe buildings which were dedicated to the fervice of the Deity.
Sir William Howe, after his retreat to Brunfwick, en-

Britifli

deavoured to provoke general Wafliington to an engagement, and left no manoeuvre untried, that was calculated
to induce him to quit his pofition.
At one time he apas if he intended to pufli on without
peared
regarding the

At another he accurately exaarmy oppofed to him
mined thefituation of the American encampment, hoping
that fome unguarded part might be found, on which aq
attack might be made that would open the way to a general engagement. All thefe hopes were fruftrated. General Walhington knew the full value of his fituation.
He had too much penetration to lofe it from the circumvention of military manoeuvres, and too much tem^

}

The

6
1777.
^-"'^y'^^

,

its

the

fortune to a fingle attion.
Sir William

*'

*

of

He was well
per to be provoked to a dereli<ftion of it.
it was not the intereft of his
apprized
country, to commie

>'

V

HISTORY

^" front of the

force to

Howe

fuddenly relinquifhed his pofition
and retired with his whole

Americans,

Amboy. The

apparently retreating

Britifli,

were

puriued by a confiderable detachment of the American
army, and general Wafiiington advanced from Middle-

*

brook

to

Quibbietown,

to be near at

port of his advanced parties.

t
*

^

^^
"

mediately
*

marched

his

The

hand

Britifli

for the fup-

general im-

army back from Amboy, with

great expedition, hoping to bring on a general a£lion

on

equal ground, but he was difappointed. General Waihington fell back, and pofted his army infuch an advanta-

geous polition, as compenfated for the inferiority of his
numbers.
Sir William Howe was now fully convinced
of the impofllbility of coinpelling a general engagement
on equal terms, and alfo fatisfied that it would be too hazardous to attempt paffing the Delaware, while the country was in arms, and the main American army in full
force in his rear. He therefore returned to Amboy, and

^

thence palTed over to Staten-Ifland, refolving to profecute the objects of the campaign by another route. During the period of thefe movements, the real defigns of

*

general Howe were involved in great obfcurity. Though
the feafon for military operations was advanced as far
as the month of July, yet his determinate objedt could not

be afcertained. Nothingon his part had hitherto taken place,

but alternately advancing and retreating. General Wafiiington's embarraifment on this account, was increafed by

which arrived, that Burgoyne was coming in
force towards New- York, from Canada.
Appregreat
hending that Sir William Howe would ultimately move
intelligence

the North-River, and that his movements, which
looked fouthwardly were calculated to deceive, the American general, detached a brigade to reinforce the northern divifion of his army. Succeffive advices of the advance of Burgoyne, favoured the idea, that a junction of
the two royal armies, near Albany, was intended. Some

up

'

movements were therefore made by general Wafliington,
towards


7

towards Peek's-kill, and on the other fide towards Trennear the Clove,
ton, while the main army was encamped
or fouth, as the
in readinefs to march either to the north

movements of Sir WiUiam Howe might require. At
of the royal army, confifting of
length, the main body
and Heffian battalions, with a regiment
and a loyal provincial corps, called the
of light horfe,
in
Queen's rangers, and a powerful artillery, amounting
whole to about 16,000 men, departed from Sandythe
About
hook, and were reported to fteer fouthwardly.
the time of this embarkation, a letter from Sir William
Howe to general Burgoyne was intei'cepted. This contained intelligence, that the Britifh troops were defined
The intended deception was fo futo New-Hamp(hire.
thirty-fix Britifh

'

in
perficially veiled, that

conjun^ion with the intelligence

of the Britifh embarkation, it produced a contrary eflfe6t.
Within one hour after the reception of this intercepted
letter, general Wafiiington gave orders to his army to

move

to the fouthward, but he was nevcrthelefs fo much
with a conviction, that it was the true interefl

imprefTed

Howe to move towards Burgoyne, that he ordered the
American army to halt for fome time, at the river Delaware, fufpedting that the apparent mavement of the royal
army to the fouthward, was a feint calculated to draw him
The Britifli fleet having
farther from the North-river.
were a week at fea, before they
failed from Sandy-hook,
At this time and place, for
reached cape Henlopen.
that do not obvioufly occur, general Howe gave
reafons
of

idea of approaching Philadelphia, by afcending
the Delaware, andrefolved on a circuitous route by the vi^ay

up the

of the Chefapeak.
Perhaps he counted, on being joined
reinforcements from the numerous tories in Maby large
ryland or Delaware, or perhaps he feared the obftructions which the Pennfylvanians had planted in the DelaIf thefe were his reafons, he was miflaken in
ware.
both.

From

the tories he received no advantage, and
in the river, his fhips could have

from the obftruftions

received no detriment, ifhehad landed his troops at NewCaftle, which was 14 miles nearer Philadelphia than the

head of Chefapeak bay.

The

1777.

history

The

of

the

The Britifh fleet, after they had left the capes of thi
Delaware, had a tedious and uncomfortable paffage, being twenty days before they entered the capes of Virgi"
nia.
They afcended the bay, with a favourable wind,
AUg.25.

gj-jj

landed

at

Turkey-point.

The

circumftancc of the

Britifh fleet putting out to fea, after they had looked into the Delaware, added to the apprehenlion before en-

whole was a feint calculated to draw
American army farther from the North-river, i'o as
prevent their being at hand to oppofe a jundlion be-

tertained, that the

the
to

tween Howe and Burgoyne.
Wafliington therefore fell
back to fuch a middle flacion, as vv-ould enable him, either fpeedily to return to the North-river, or advance to

The Bririfh fleet, after leavthe relief of Philadelphia.
the capes of Delaware, were not heard of for near
ing
three weeks, except that they had once or twice been feen
council of offinear the coaft fleering fouthwardly.

A

cers

convened

it

moufly gave

Nefliaminy, near Philadelphia, lanani-

at

as

their opinion,

that Charlefliown, in

South-Carolina, was mofl: probably their object, and that
it

would he

for

its

impoflible for the

relief.

pair the lofs

army

to

march

in feafon

was therefore concluded to try, to reof Charlefton, which was confidered as unIt

avoidable, either by attempting fomething on New- York
or by uniting with the northern army, to give
fmall change
more efi^edtual oppofltion to Burgoyne,

ifland,

A

of polition, conformably to this new fyftem, took place.
The day before the above refolution was adopted,
fleet entered the
Chcfapeak.
Intelligence
thereof, in a few days, reached the American army, and
difpelled that mifl: of uncertainty, in which general Howe's

the Britifli

movements had been heretofore enveloped.

The Ame-

motion to meet the Britifh army.
rican troops were put
numbers on paper amounted to 14,000, but their
Their
real eiTe^live force on which dependence might be placed
in the day of battle, did not much exceed 8000 men.
Every appearance of confidence was afTumed by them as
in

they pafled through Philadelphia, that the citizens might
be intimidated from joining the Britifh. About the fame
time a

number of

the principal inhabitants of that city,

being


9

to the American caufe,
bting fufpe^led of difaffedlion
were taken into cuftody, and fent to Virginia.
Soon after Sir William Howe had landed his troops
in Maryland, he put forth a declaration, in which he in-

formed the

1777.
<-.'or«0

that he had iflued the ftridtefl
" for the
prefervation of regularity
and that the mofl: exemplary punifli-

inhabitants,

orders to the troops

and good difcipline,
ment fhould be inflidled upon thofe who fhould dare

to

the perfons of any of his
plunder the property, or moleft
It feemed as though
majefty's well-difpofed fubjeds."
fully apprized of

the confequences,

which had refulted

from the indifcriminate plunderings of his army in Ncwto adopt a more politic line
Jerfey, he was determined

Whatever his lordfliip's intentions might
of conduct.
were by no means feconded by his troops.
be, they
The royal army fet out from the eaftern heads of the Sept.
Chefapeak, with a fpirit which promifed to compenfate
for the various delays, which had hitherto wafted the camTheir tents and baggage were left behind, and
paign.
trufted their future accommodation to fuch quarters
they
arms might procure.
They ad^^anced with boldwere within two miles of the American arthey
General
my, which was then pofted near New-port.
foon changed his pofition, and took poft on
Wafhington
the high ground near Chadd's Fort, on the Brandywine
It
creek, v/ith an intention of difputing the paiTage.
was the wifh, but by no means the intercfl: of the AmeTheir
ricans, to try their ftrength in an engagement.
as their
nefs,

till

regular troops were not only greatly inferior in difcipline,
but in numbers, to the i*oyal army. The opinion of the
inhabitants, though founded on no circumftances more

impofed a fpecies of necefto keep his army in front
fity on
the enemy, and to rifque an adlion for the fecurity of
of
Inftead of this, had he taken the ridge of
Philadelphia.
fubftantial than their wifhes,

the

American general

high mountains on his right, the Britifh muft have re-'
fpedled his numbers, and probably would have followed
the country. In this manner the campaign might
have been wafted away in a manner fatal to the invaders,
but the bulk of the American people were fo impatient

him up

Vol.

II

B

-

of

3.

The

10

1777.
^"""^^"^^

history

of

the

of delays, and had fuch an overweening conceit of the
numbers and prowefs of their army, that they could not
comprehend the wifdom and policy of manceuvres to flmn
a general engagement.
On this occafion neceffity

dictated,

that

a

facrifice

A

fhould be made on the altar of public opinion.
geII. neral aftion was therefore hazarded.
oep.
This took place
at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandy wine, a fmall flream

which empties
flux

itfelf

into Chrifiiana creek,

near

its

con-

with the river Delaware.

The royal army advanced at day break In two columns,
commanded by lieutenant general Kniphaufen, and by
lord Cornwallis. The firfl took the dire6l road to Chadd's
Ford, and made a fliew of paffing it, in front of the
main body of the Americans. At the fame time the other
column moved up on the weft fide of the Brandy wine
to

its

fork, and crofled both

its

branches about 2 o'clock

afternoon, and then' marched down on the eafl
fide thereof, with the view of turning the right wing of
in the

their adverfaries.

This they efFefted and compelled them to retreat with
General Kniphaufen amufed the Americans
great lofs.
with the appearance of croffing the ford, but did not attempt it until lord Cornwallis having crofled above, and
moved down on the oppofite fide, had commenced his
attack.
Kniphaufen then crofled the ford, and attacked
the troops pofled for

its defence.
Thefe, after a fevere
were compelled to give way. The retreat of the
Americans foon became general, and was continued to
Chefter, under cover of general Wceden's brigade, which
came off in good order. The final iflue of battles often

conflict,

depends on fmall circumftances, which human prudence
cannot control
one of thefe occurred here, and pre-

—

vented general Wafliington from executing a bold defign,
to eftedl which, his troops were aftually in motion. This
was to have crofl"ed the Brandywine, and attacked Kniphaufen, while general Sullivan and lord Stirling, fliould
In the moft critical mokeep earl Cornwallis in check.

ment, general Wafliingtoa received intelligence which
he was obliged to credit, that the column of lord Cornwallis

,


ii

wallis had been only making a feint, and was returning
This prevented the execution of a
to join Kniphaufen.
v/ould probably have
plan, which, if carried into efFe£l,
to the events of the day. The killed
given a diflferent turn

and wounded

in the royal

army, were near

fix

hundred.

The lofs of the Americans was twice that number. In
the lift of their wounded, were two of their general officers,— The marquis de la Fayette, and general AVoodThe former was a French nobleman of high rank,
ford.
animated with the love ©f liberty, had left his nawho,
tive country, and offered his fervice to Congrefs. While
he efpoufed
in France, and only nineteen years of age,
the caitfc of the Americans, with the moft difinterefted

and generous ardour.
Having determined to join them,
he communicated his intentions to the American commiffioners, at Paris. They juftly conceived, that a patron
of fo much importance would be of fervice to their caufe,
and encouraged his defign. Before he had embarked

from France, intelligence arrived in Europe, that the
American infurgents, reduced to 2000 men, were fleeing
through Jerfey before a

Britifli

force of 30,000.

Under

American commiffioners at Pabut honeft to difTuade him from the pre-

thefe circumftances, the
ris

thought

it

fent profecution of his perilous enterprife. It was in vain
His zeal to ferve a
that they adled fo candid a part.

was not abated by her misfortunes.
a veflel, which he purchafed for the
in Charledon, early in 1777, and
the American army. Congrefs refolved,
foon after joined
*•
in conflderation of his zeal, illuftrious family and
that
connexions, he fliould have the rank of major general in
their army."
Independent of the rifque he ran as an
American officer, he hazarded his large fortune in confequence of the laws of France, and alfo the confinement
of his perfon, in cafe of capture, when on his way to the
diftreffed

country,

Having embarked in
purpofe, he arrived

United

States,

by any nation

•,

without the chance of being acknowledged
for his court had forbidden his proceed-

ing to America, and had difpatched orders to have him
confined in the Weft-Indies, if found in that quarter.

This gallant nobleman,

who under

all

thefe difadvantages

had

1777.

The

12
1777.

history

had demonftrated
ceived

but he

his

good

of

the

will to the

wound

United

in his leg, at the battle of
neverthelefs continued in the field,

a

States, re-

Brandywine,
and exerted

himfelt" both

Ame-

ricans.

in the

by word and example in rallying the
Other foreigners of diftindlion alfo (liared

Count Pulafki, a Polifh nobleman, the
engagement.
fame who a few years before had carried off king Stapiflaus from his capital, though furrounded with a nu-^
merous body of guards, and a Rufllan army, fought with
the Americans at Brandywine.
He was a thunderbolt
of war, and always fought for the polt of danger as the
Soon after "this engagement Congrefs
pofl of honour.
him commander of horfe, with the rank of briappointed
Monfieur du Coudray, a French officer of high
gadier.
and great abilities, while on his way from Philadelrank,
phia to join the American army, about this time was
drowned in the river Schuylkill. He rode into the flatbottomed boat on a fpirited mare, whofe career he was
not able to flop, and flie went out at the farther end in^
to the river, with her rider on her back.

'

The evening after the battle of Brandywine, a party of
the Britifh went to Wilmington, and took prefident
M'Kinley prifoner. They

alfo

loaded with the moft valuable

took pofTcflion of a ihallop,
efFcdls of the inhabitants.

Howe perfevered in his fcheme of gaining the right
This was no !efs Ifeadily purîftank of the Americans.
fued on the one

fide,

ingtonâme forward

than avoided on the other. Wafhin a few days with a refolution of

He accordingly advanced as
rifquing another aîon.
far as the Warren tavern on the Lancafter roadNear
that place both armies were on the point of engaging with
their whole force, but were prevented by a moil violent

Sep.

1

8.

flonn of rain, which continued

Whtp
pight.
their ammunition

the vain ceafed, the

and
Americans found that

for a whole day

was entirely ruined. They therefore
Before a proper fupply
a place of fafety.
withdrew 10
the Britilh marched fi'om their pofition
was procured,

near the White Plorfe tavern, down towards the Swedes
The Americans again took poff in their front ;
Ford.
ût the Britilh, inflead of urging an a(ftion, began 10

march

rnarch

To

up towards Reading.

fave the

ftores

which

took a new
depofited in that place, Wafliington
and left the Britifh in undifturbed pofleffion of

had been
pofition,

His troops were
the roads which lead to Philadelphia.
down with a fuccefllon of feverc duties. There were
worn
in his

army above

a thoufand

and who had performed

all

men who were

barefooted,

movements in that
Americans fuftained a

their late

About this time the
condition.
confiderable lofs by a night attack, conduiSted by general
Grev on

a

detachment of their troops,

which was en-

camped near the Paoli tavern. The outpofts and pickets
were forced without noife, about one o'clock in the morn-

The men had

ing.

fcarcely time to turn out,

^'

and when

in the light
they turned out they unfortunately paraded
This directed the Britifh how, and where
of their fires.
to proceed.
They rufhed in upon them and put about

300

to death in

a filent

fo

manner by

a tree

and exclufivc

The

enterprife was conducted with
addrefs, that the lofs of the affailants did not ex-

ufe of the bayonet.

much

ceed eight.
a fliort refidence at Baltimore
Congrefs, which after
had returned to Philadelphia, were obliged a fecond time

to confult their fafety by flight.
They retired at
and afterwards to Yorktown.
Lancafter,

firfb

to

The bulk

of the Britifh army being left in Germantown,
Sir William Howe, with a fmall part, made his triumphal
with the hearty
entry into Philadelphia, and was received
welcome of numerous citizens, who either from con- Sep. 26,
fcience, cowardice, interefi;, or principle, had hitherto feparated themfelves from the clafs of a»5tive whigs.

The

pofTeffion of the largcfh city in the United States,
with the difperfion of that grand council which

together
had heretofore conducted their public

oned by the fhort fightcd

as decifive

afBiirs,

of their

were reckfate.

The

fubmifTion of countries, after the conqueft of their capital,
had often been a thing of courfe, but in the great conteft
for the fovereignty of the United States th^ queftion did

not

reft

with a ruler, or a body of rulers, nor was

it

to

be determined by the poflefHon or lofs of any particulai*
It was the public mind, the fentiments and opyiplace.
Jon§

history

The

the

of

yeomanry of the country which were to deThough Philadelphia had become the refidence of

ions of the
cide.

the Britidi army, yet as long as the bulk of the people
of the United States were oppofed to their government,

Indeed it was prefumed by
the country was unfubdued.
the more difcerning politicians, that the luxuries of a
as to
great city would io far enervate the Britifli troops
them for thofe aftive exertions to which they
indifpofe
while inconveniently encamped in the
were

prompted,
open country.

To
make

take off the impreffion the Britifh fuccefles, might
in France to the prejudice of America, Doctor

Franklin
*'

gave them

an

ingenious turn, by obferving,
Howe had taken

Sir William

that inftead of

faying
Philadelphia, it would be more proper to fay,
phia had taken Sir William Howe."

One of

the

firft

got pofTeffion, was

and

objeas of the Britilh, after they had
to ereft batteries to

to proteiSl the city

Britifli fliipping

PhiladeU

from any

command

infult

the river,

by water.

The

were prevented from afcending the De-

which
by obii:ru(Stions hereafter to be defcribed,
were fxxed near Mud-Iiland.
Philadelphia, though poffefled by the Britifli army, was expofed to danger from

lawai^e,

the

American

veflels in the river.

The American

frigate

Delaware, of 32 guns, anchored within 500 yards of the
unfiniflied batteries, and being feconded by fome fmaller
the batteveiTels, commpnced a heavy cannonade upon
ries and town, but upon the falling of the tide ftie ran
asround. Beinc?

briflvlv fired

upon

fron» the town, while

was foon compelled to furrender.
The other American veffels, not able to refift the fire
from the batteries after lofing one of their number, rein

this condition

flie

tired.

Geoeial Wafliington, having been reinforced by 2500
men from Pecks-kill and Virginia ; and having been informed, that general Howe had detached a confiderable
of his force, for reducing the forts on the Delapart

ware, conceived a defign of attacking the Britifli poll
Their line of encam.pment, crofled
at Germantov/n.
The left wing
the town at right angles near its centre.
extended


t?

extended to the Schuylkill, and was covered In front by
The queen's
the mounted and difmounted chalTeurs.
and a battalion of light infantry were
American rangers
The 40th regiment with another
in front of the

1777-

right.

battalion of light infantry

were pofred on the Chefnut-

Lord
in advance.
quarters of a mile
Cornwallis lay at Philadelphia, with four battalions of
few of the general officers of the Ameroad, three

hill

A

grenadiers.
rican army, whofe advice was requefted on the occafion

unanimoufly recommended an
that

it

attack-,

and

it

was agreed

niade in different places, to produce
confufion, and to prevent the feveral parts

fliould

the greater
of the Britifh

be

from affording fupport to each
From an apprehenfion, that the Americans from
other.
the want of dicipline would not perfevere in a long attack, it was refolved that it fhould be fudden and vigorous, and if unfuccefsful to make an expeditious retreat.
The divifions of Sullivan and Wayne flanked by Conway's brigade, were to enter the town by the v^^^yof Chefforces,

nut-hill, while general Armftrong with the Pennfylvania
militia (liould fall down the Manatawny road, and gain

The divilions of Greene
left and rear of the Britifli.
and Stephen's flanked by M'Dougal's brigade were to enter
The militia of Maryland and
by the lime kiln road.
under generals Smallwood and Furman, were to
Jerfey
march by the old York road, and to fall upon the rear

the

of their right.
to

Lord Stirling with Nafhe's and Maxwell's brigade were
form a corps de referve. The Americans began their

attack about funrifc on the 40th regiment, and a batta-

of light infantry.
Thefe two corps being obliged
to retreat, were purfued into the village. On their retreat

lion

colonel Mufgrove with fix companies took
Mr. Chew's flrong ftone houfe, which lay in front

lieutenant
poft in

of the Americans.

From an adherence

to the

military

maxim

of never leaving a fort poiTeircd by an enemy in
the rear, it was refolved to attack the party in the houfe.
In the mean time general Greene got up with his co-

lumn and attacked
routed

a

the right wing.
Colonel Mathews
party of the Britilh oppofed to him, killed fevera!,

OiTt.

4'

The

iS
1777.

history

the

of

and took i 10 prifoners, but from the darknefs of^
the day loft fight of the
brigade to which he belonged,
veral,

and having feparated from it, was taken prifoner with his*
whole regiment, and the prifoners which he had
previA number of the troops in
oufly taken, were relealed.
Greene's divifion, were ftopped
by the halt of the party
before Chew's houfe.
Near one half of the American
army remained for fome time at that place inadlivc. In
the mean time general Grey led on three battalions of the
third brigade, and attacked with
A fharp convigour.
teft

Two

followed.

Bi-itifh

attacked

regiments

at the

fame time on, the oppoiice fide of the town. General
Grant moved up the 49th regiment to the aid of thofe
who were engaged with Greene's column.
The morning was exti'emely foggy. This, by conceal-

—

ing the true lituation of the parties occafioned miftakes,
and made fo much caution necefTary as to give the Britifh

time to recover from the

effedls of their firft
furprize.
thefe caufes the early
promiling appearances on the
The Amepart of the aiTail ants were fpeedily reverfed.
ricans left the field haftily, and all efforts to
rally them
were inefFe£lual. Lord Cornwallis arrived with a
part/

From

of light horfe, and joined in the purfuit. This was continued for fome miles
The lofs of the royal army, inthe wounded and prifoners, was about
Acluding
500.

were brigadier general Agnew, and lieuThe lofs of the Americans, in400 prifoners, was about 1000. Among their
cluding
Hain were general Nafta and his aid de camp major Wi-

mong

their flain

tenant colonel Bird.

therfpoon.

Soon

after

this battle

the Britifta

left

Germantown,

and turned their principal attention towards opening a
free communication between their army and their
fliipping.

Much

induftry and ingenuity had been exerted for the
on the water fide. Thirteen gal-

fecurity of Philadelphia

lies, two floating batteries, two zebeques, one brig, one
fhip, befides a number of armed boats, fire fliips and rafts,
were conftru6ted or employed for this purpofe. The A-

mericans had alfo built a fort on Mud-Ifland, to which
they

ICAN REVOLUTION.

AIVIeR

they gave the name of fort Mifflin, and ere^led thereon a
This ifland is admirably fituated
confiderable battery.
for the ereftion of works to annoy (liipping on their way
up the Delaware. It lies near the middle of the river,

No vcfTcls of burden
about 7 miles below Philadelphia.
main Ihip channel, which
can co/ne up but by the
narrow for more
palfes clofe to Mud-Illand, and is very
to fort MlfHin there is a
than a mile below.
Oppoiite
This overlooks not only the
height, called Red-Bank.
On this eminence,
river, but the neighbouring country.
a refpefluble battery was eredled. Between thefe two fortreffes, which arc half a mile diAant from each other,
the

American naval armament for the defence of the rimade their harbour of retreat. Two ranges
frife were alfo funk into the channel. Thefe

ver Delaware,
of chevaux de

tonfilled of large pieces of timber, ilrongly framed together,
in the manner ufual for making the foundation ot wharfs
in deep water. Several large points of bearded iron projelling down the river were annexed to the upper parts
of thefe chevaux de frife, and the whole was funk with
fo as to be about four feet under the water at low
Their prodigious weight and ftrength could not
fail to eiFect the deftru6tion of any veficl which came
upon
them.
Thirty of thefe machines were funk about 300
yards below fort Mifflin, fo as to ftretch in a diagonal

ftones,

tide.

line acrofs the channel.
The only open paifage left was
between two piers lying clofe to the fort, and that was
fecured by a ftrong boom, and could not be approached
but in a direct line to the battery. Another fortification

Avas erected

on a

Iiigh

bank on

the Jerfey fliore,

called.

And

Billingsport.
oppofite to this, another rant^e of chevaux de frife was depoGted, leaving only a narrow and

Ihoal channel on the one fide.

There was

alfo a

tempo-

rary battery of two heavy cannon, at the mouth of Mantua creek, about halfway from Red-Bank to Billingfport.

The Britlfli were vi-ell apprized, that without the command of the Delaware, their poireffion of Philadelphia
would be of no advantage. Thev therefore fcrained everv
^

—

to this end
nerve, to open the navigatioti of that river,
lord Howe had early taken the nnoit efll-jftual meafures

Vol.

II.

C

foi-

i8

1777.

The

HISTORY

of

the

for condufling the fleet and tranfports round from the
Chefapeak to the Delaware, and drew ihem up on the

Pennfylvania fhore, from Reedy-Illand to New-Caftlc.
Early in Odlober, a detachment from the Britifh army
croffed the Delaware, with a view of
dillodging the Ainericans from Billingfport. On their approach, the place
was evacuated.
As the feafon a;dvanced, more vigorous
meafures for removing the obftruftions were concerted
between the general and the admiral.
Batteries were
erected on the Pennfylvania fhore to affift in diflodging
the Americans from Mud Iflarid.
At the fame time
Count Donop with 2000 men, having crofled into NewJerit^y, oppofite to Philadelphia, marched down on the
eaftern fide of the Delaware,

to

attack the redoubt at

Red Bank. This was defended by about 400 men under
the command of colonel Greene.
The attack immediately commenced by a fmart cannonade, under cover ot
which the Count advanced to the redoubt. This place
was intended fOr a much larger garrifon than was then in
it. It had therefore become
necefTary to run a line in the
middle thereof, and one part of it was evacuated That
part was eafily carried by the afTailants, on which they
indulged in loud huzzas for their fuppofed victory. The
garrifon kept up a fevere well diredled fire on the afTailants by which they were compelled to retire. They fuffered not only in the afTault, but in the approach to, and
retreat from the fort.
Their whole lofs in killed and
wounded was about 400. Count Donop was mortally
wounded and taken prifoncr. Congrefs refolved, to prefent colonel Greene with a fword for his good conduct
on this occafion. An attack made about the fame time
on fort MifHin by men of war and frigates, was not more
fuccefsful than the afTault on Red-Bank.
The Augufta
man of war of 64 guns, and the Merlin, two of the veffels which were
engaged in it, got aground. The former
was- fired and blew up.
The latter was evacuated.

Though the firfl attempts of the Britifli, for opening
the navigation of the Delaware, were unfuccefsful, they
tarried their point in another way that was unexpe^led.
The chevaux dc

frife,

having been funk fome confidcrable

able time, the current of the water was diverted by this
In confeqijcnce thereof
greaL bulk into new chirlfiels.
the oafTage between the lilands and the Pcnnfylvania f}ore

deepened as to admit vcflels of fome coiifiderable
Through this paiTage, the Vigilant,
draught of water.

was

fo

down fo as to draw but little water,
with 24 pounders, made her way to a pofition
mounted
from which fhe might enfilade the works on Mud-Ifland.

a Idige Ihip, cut

This gave the Britilh fuch an advantage, that the port was
no longer tenable. Colonel Smith, who had with great
gallantry defended the fort from the latter end of Sep-

November, being wounded, was
Within five days after his removal,
major Thayer, who as a volunteer had nobly offered to
take charge of this dangerous poft, was obliged to eva-?

tember, to the

removed

cuate

I

ith of

to the main.

it.

This event did not take place till the works were enand
tirely beat downr--every piece of cannon difmounted,

one of the

Britifh (hips fo near that fhe
J|rew granadoes
and killed the men uncovered in the plat-

into the fort,

form.

The

Mifflin,

made

troops

who had

fo

bravely defended fort

Red-Bank. Congrefs voted
lieutenant colonel Smith and com-

a fafe retreat to

fwords to be given to

modore Hazlewood,

for their gallant defence of the I)e-

Within three days after Mud-Ifl.ind was evacuated, the garrifon was alfo withdrawn from Red-Bank,
on the approach of lord Cornwallis, at the head of a large
Some of the American gilforce prepared to aflault it.
lies and armed velTels efcaped by keeping clofe m with

laware.

the Jerfey (hore, to places of fecurity above Philadelphia,
but 17 of them were abandoned by their crews, and iired.

Thus

a free communication between
and (hipping. This event was to them very
army
defirable.
They had been previoufly obliged to draw
their provifions from Chefter, a diftance of fixteen miles,
The long
at fome rifque, and a certain great expence.

the Britifh gained

their

protradled defence of the Delaware, deranged the plans
of the Britifh, for the remainder of the campaign, and

confcquently faved the adjacent country.
About this time the chair of Congrefs became vacant,

by

The

history

of

the

by the departure of Mr. Hancock,

after he had difchargedi
the duties of that office to great'*'acceptance, two years an4

months.
Henry Laurens, of South-Carolina, was
He had been in Engunanimoufly ele^ed his fucceffor.
land for fome years, antecedent to the hoftile determirations of parliament againft the colonies, but finding
the difpute growing ferious, he conceived that honour
five

iMov.

I,

and duty called him to take part with his native country.
He had been warmly folicited to flay in England, and ofwere made him not only to fecure, but to double his
American eftate, in cafe of his continuing to reiide there,
—but thefe were refufed. To a particular friend in London, dilTuadsag him from coming out to America, hereplied on the yth of Nov. 1774, when at Falmouth, on
the point of embarking, " I fliail never forget your

fers

"

friendly attention to my intereft, but I dare not return.
Your minifkers are deaf to information, and fctm bent

<*
*'

on provoking unneceffliry

^'

I now go refolved ftill to
the part of
a^aithfal fubjedt,
labour for peace ; at the fame time determined in the

**

conteil:.

I

think

I

have

a«fl:ed

**

laft event to fcand or fall with my country."
Immediatelv on his arrival in Charlefton, he was ele^led
a member, and foon after the prefident of the provincial
the
congrefs,--- the prefident of the council of fafety

— and

—

a member of congrefs.
vicc-prefident of the ftate,
While Sir Williarn Howe was fucceeding in evei y enterprize in Pcnnfylvania Intelligence arrived, as fliall be

the next chapter, that general Burgoyne and
whole army had furrendercd prifoners pf war to the
Americans.
General Wadiingtou foon after received a confiderable reinforcement from the northern army, which had
related in
his

With this increafed force
accomplifhed this great eventThe royal
he took a pofition at and near Whitemarfl:i.
army having

Dec

A

^^^^

Sir

river

liicceeded in

Delaware,

WiUiam Howe,

removing the obftruflions in

were ready for new enterprizes.
marched out of Philadelphia with

almoft his whole force, expcfting to bring on a general
The next morning he appeared on Chef-^
engagement.
nut-hil! in front of,

and about three miles diAant fiom
the


2%

On the day follow- 1777.
the right wing of the Americans.
^"^""^^"^
the Britilh changed their ground, and moved to the
ing
the
ftill farther to
after they moved
Two
d;iys

right.

and made every appearance of anintentionro attack
Some llcirmilhes took place,
the American exicampment.
and a general action was hourly expected: but inftead
right,

thereof on

after various

morning of the next day,

the

from Dec.

marches and countermarches, the Britiih filed off
their right,

by two Qr three different routes,

in

fuU m.arch

for Philadelphia.

The

in a military point
polxtion of general V/afnington
He was fo fenfible of the advan-'

of view was admirable.

of Sir V/illiam IIowc
tages of it, that the manoeuvres
In confefor fome days, could not allure him from it.
of the reinforcement lately received, he had not
quence

any preceding period of the campaign been in an equal
condition for a general engagement.
Though he arwiflied to be attacked, yet he would not relinquifh
dently
a pofition, from which he hoped for reparation for the
in

adverfities of

Howe

He could not believe that
the campaign.
with a viftorious army, and that lately re-

general
inforced with four thoufand

come

men from New- York,

ftiould

Philadelphia only to return thither
He therefore prefumed that to avoid the difgrace
again.
of fuch a movement, the Brirllh commander would, from

out

of

a fenfe of, military

honour, be compelled

to attack

him,

though under great difadvantages. When he found him
cautious of engaging and inclining to his left, a daring
defign was formed which would have been executed, had
the Britilh either continued in their pofltion, or
little farther to the left of the American army.

a

was
phia.

to

have attempted

The

in the night to furprife

moved
This

Philadel-

neceffary preparations for this purpofe were

made, but the retreat of the
tion.

Soon

army

retired

Britifli

prevented

its

execu-

Smallwood with a
confiderable force, was ported at Wilmington on the banks
pf the Delaware, and general Wafhington, with the main
after thefe events general

to

winter quarters

at

Valley Forge,

16

from Philadelphia. This poGtion was prediilant and more comfortable villages, as being

miles diifant
.

ferred to

calculated

v

9»

1777.

history

The

22

of

the

calculated to give the moft extenfive fecurity to the coun-?
try

to

adjacent

The

Philadelphia.

American

army

might have been tracked, by the blood of their feet, ia
marching without fhoes or ftockings over the hard frozen

Some
ground, between White marfli and Valley Forge.
hundreds of them were without blanKefs. Under thefe
circuniftances they had to fit down in a wood, in the
end of December, and to build huts for their accommodation. This mode of procuring winter quarters,

latter

if

not entirely novel, has been rarely if everpractiled in.
Tiie chcerfulnefs with which the general

modern war.

and his army fubmitted to fpend a fevere winter, in fuch
circumftances, rather than leave the country expofed, by
retiring farther, demonftrated as v.-eli their patriotifm as
their fixed rc^folution to fufFcrevery inconvenience, in pre-

Thus ended

ference tofubmifiion.

Though

with the moft

the campaign of

i

777.

had been crowned
having gained two confi-

Howe's army

Sir William

brilliant fuccefs,

and been equally triumphant in many
adions, yet the whole amount of this tide of
rood fortune was no more than a good winter lodging

derable

vicStories,

fmaller

for his troops in Philadelphia, whilif the men under his
command pofieffed no more of the adjacent country than
v/hat they immediately
it

is

true,

commanded with

their arms.

was compelled to leave the

Congrefs,
of their deliberations, and the
States changed a number of

firft

The
feat

United
whig inhabitants for a
as true that the minds of

in the
greatefl: city
its

numerous royal army but it is
the Americans were, if pofiible, more
;

hoftile to the claims

of Great-Britain than ever, and their army had gained
much by difcipline and experience, as compenfated for

tis

its

diminution by defeats.
The events of this campaign were adverfe to the fanruine hopes which had been entertained of a fpeedy conquefl:

of the revolted

colonies.

Repeated

proofs

had

been given, that, though general Wafhington was very
forward to engage when he thought it to his advantage,
for the royal commander to bring
yet it was impoflible
his confent.
him to aclion
By this mode of conagainfi;

the
duiSlihg the defence of

new formed

dates,

two campaigns

AMERICAN REVOLUTION'.
and the work which w
paigns had been wafted away,
for one, was ftill unfiniihcd.
originally allotted
An account of fome mifcellaneous tranfaiStions will
Lieutenant colonel Barton, of a militia
of the ftaie of Rhode-Ifland, accompanied by
regiment
about forty volunteers, pafTed by night from Warwick neck
to Rhode-Ifland, and furprifed general Prefcot in his
clofe this chapter.

quarters, and brougUt him and one of his aids fafe off
to the continent.
Though they had a pafTage of ten
miles by water, they eluded the (hips of war and guard
The enterprize
boats, which lay all round the ifland.
was conduiSted with fo much {ilence and addrcfs, that

prize.

till the colonel and
had nearly reached the continent v/ith their
Congrefs foon after refolved, that an elegant

fword

fliould be prefented to lieutenant colonel Barton, as

there was no alarm anions the Britilh
his party

a teftimonial of their fenfc of his gallant behaviour.
It has already been mentioned, that Congrefs in the latter

end of November 1775, authorifed the capture of

veflels,

laden with ftores or reinforcements for their ene-

On

the 23d of March ij'j(^f they extended this
permiffion fo far as to authorife their inhabitants to fit
out armed vefTels to ci'uife on the enemies of the united

mies.

colonies.

The Americans henceforth devoted

thenifelves

lu the courfe
lo privateering, and were very fuccefsful.
of the year they made many valuable captures, particularly

of homeward bound V/eft-India men.

The

particulars

cannot be enumerated, but good judges have calculated,

months after Congrefs authorifed privathe Britifh lofs in Captures, exclufive of transteering,
ports and government ftore fliips, exceeded a million fuelthat within nine

ling.

They found no

difHcuity in

felling their

prizes.

The

ports of France were open to them, both in Europe
and in the V/cfi--Indies.
In the latter they were fold

without any difguife, but

was paid

to appearances.

former a greater regard
Open fales were not permitted

in the

harbours of France at particular times, but even
then they were made at the entrance or offing.
In the French Weft-India iflands the inhabitants not
in the

©nly purchafcd prizes, brought

in

by x^merican crulfers,
but

J

^ "'

tHE
777.

but

fitted

HISTORY

OF

THE

out privateers under American colours and

com'*'

and made captures ofBritifti veflels.
William
of Philadelphia, was ftationed as the agent of
Bingham,
Congrefs, at Martinico, and he took an. early and adtivc
mifiions,

part in arming privateers in St. Pierre, to annoy and cruife
The favourable difpofition of
ugainft BritiOi property.

the inhabitants furnifhed him with an opportunity, which
he fuccefsfully improved, not only to diftrefs the Britifli
commerce, but to fow the feeds of difcord between the
French and English. The American privateers alfo found
countenance in fome of the ports of Spain, but not fo readily nor fo univerfally as in thofe of France. The Britifli
took many of the American veflels, but they were often
of inferior value. Such of them as were laden with provifions, proved a feafonable relief to their Weft-India iflands, which otherwife would have fuffered from the want
of thofe fupplies, which before the war had been ufually

procured from the neighbouring continent.
The American privateers in the year I777> increafed
in numbers and boldncfs.
They infulted the coafts of
Great-Britain and Ireland, in a manner that had never
Such was their fpirit of advenbefore been attempted.
ture, that it became neceflary to appoint a convoy for
the protection of the linen fhips from Dublin and Newry.

The

general Mifflin privateer, after making repeated captures, arrived at Breft, and faluted the French admiral.

This was returned

in

form

as to the vefiel

of an independ-

Lord Stormont, the Britifh ambaflador, at
ent power.
the court of Verfailles, irritated at the countenance given
to the Americans, threatened

to return immediately to

was given, and different meaAn order was iflued in
fures were adopted by France.
confeqiience of his application, requiring all American
veflels to leave the ports of His Moft Chriftian Majefty,
but though the order was pofitive, fo many evafions were

London, unkfs

fatisfaiilion

and the execution of it was fo relaxed, that it
no permanent difcouragement of the beneficial
produced

praftifed,

intercourfe.

C

H A

F.


CHAP.
7he

XV.

Northern Campaign of 1777.

efFeft a free communication between New- York
and Canada, and to maintain the navigation of the
intermediate lakes, was a principal obje6l with the Britilh,
The Americans prefuming
for the campaign of ^777-

TO

had been early attentive to their Itcurity, in that
quarter. They had refolved to conftrudl a fort on Mount
Independence, which is an eminence adjoining the ftraic
on which Trconderoga ftands, and nearly oppoilte to that
fortrefs.
They had alfo refolved to obftru£l the navi~
gation of the ftrait by cafToons, to be funk in the water, and
joined fo as to ferVe at the fame time for a bridge between
the fortifications on the eafl and weflfide of it;— and that
to prevent the Britifh from drawing their fmall craft over

on

this,

land into lake George, the paffage of that lake (hould be
obftru£led,— that Fort Schuyler, the fame which had
formerly been called Fort Stanwix,fhould be flrengthened,

and other

fortifications erected near the

Requifitions

were made by

the

Mohawk

commanding

river.

officer in the

department for 13,600 men, as neceffary for the fccurity
The adjacent ftates were urged to fill up
of this didricl.
their recruits, and in all refpefts to be in readinefs for an

—

adlive

campaign.

The

Britifli

miniftiy were very fanguine in their hopes,

from the confequences of forming a line of communication between New- York and Canada.
They confidered

New England people to be the foul of the confederacy,
and promifed themfelves much by fevering them from all
free communication with the neighbouring flates. They
hoped, when this was accompliHied, to be lible to furround
them fo effeftually with fleets and armies, and Indian alAnimated with thefe
lies, as to compel their fubmiffion.
left nothing undone, which bid fair for
expectations they
enfuring the fuccefs of the plans they had formed for
the

this purpofe.

The

regular troops, Britifh and

this fervice,

fidered

Vol.

were upwards of 7000.

to be particularly ufefui
II.

D

in

German,

As
an

allotted to

artillery

is

con-

American war,
where

~^

The

history

of

the

where numerous inhabitants are to be driven out of
woods and faftnefl'es, this part of the fervice was partiTi.e brafs train that was fcnt put,
cularly attended to.
was perhaps the fineft, and the moft excellently fupplied,
both as to officers and men, that had ever been allotted to
In addition to
fecond the operations of an equal force.
the regulars, it was fuppofed that the Canadians and the
the neighbouring flates, would add large reloyaliits, in

inforcements, well calculated for the peculiar nature of
Arms and accoutrements were accordingly
the fervice.
to fuppiy them. Several nations of favages had
provided
alfo been induced to take up the hatchet, as allies to his
Not only the humanity, but the poBritannic majefty.
of employing them, was queftioned in Great-Britain.
licy
The oppofers of it contended that Indians were caprici-

ous, inconftant and intradtable, their rapacity infatiatc,
And their aftions cruel and barbarous. At the fame time
their fervices were reprefented to be uncertain, and that
could be placed on their moft folemn enno

dependence

On the other hand, the zeal of Britifli mireducing the revolted colonies, was fo violent
to make them, in their excefiive wrath, forget that their

gagements.
nillers for
as

men.
They contended, that in their
circumftances every appearance of lenity, by inciting to
difobedience, and thereby increafing the objefts of punifh-

adverfaries were

In their opinion partial fement, was eventual cruelty.
and the only method of fpeedverity was general mercy,
crufhing the rebellion, was to invelopc its abettors
-

jly

in

fuch complicated

intolerable,

diftrefs, as

would make them

by rendering their fituation
willing to accept the prof-

The fentiments of
fered bleffings of peace and fecurity.
for employing Indians againft the Amethofe who were
Prefents were liberally diftributed
ricans, prevailed.
them. Induced by thefe, and alfo by their innate
among
thirft for war and plunder, they poured forth their warriors in fuch abundance,
to be an incumberance.
The vafc force deftined

the

that their

numbers threatened

for this fervice was put under

lieutenant general Burgoyne, an officer
abilities were well known, and whofe fpirit of enttr-

command of

whofe

prizc

'

and thirft for military fame could not be exceeded.
was fupported by major general Philips of the artilhad eftabliflicd a folid reputation by his good
lery, who
conduft during the late war in Germany, and by major
general Reidefel, and brigadier general Speecht of the
German troops, together with the Britifh generals Frazer,
pi-ize

He

Powell and Hamilton, all officers of- dillinguifhed merit.
The Britilh had alfo undifputed pofTeliion of the navigation of Lake Champlain. Their marine force thereon,
with which in the preceding campaign they had deftroyed
American fhippingon the lakes, was not only entire,

the

but unoppoied.

A

conliuerable force nas

left in

Canada for

and Sir Guy Carleton's military

fccurity,

internal

to the limits of that province.
ministry attributed the prefervation of

reftricled
Britifli

its

command was
Though the

Canada to
177$ and 1776, yet by their arrangements

his abilities in

he was only called upon to act a fefubfervicncy to the grand expedition comcondary
His behaviour on this octo general Burgoyne.
mitted
was conformable to the greatnefs of his mind.
cafion,
Inftead of thwarting or retarding a fervice which was
for the year 1777,
part, in

taken out of his hands, he applied himfelf to
and forward it in all its pans, with the fame difupporc
ligence as if the arrangement had been entirely his own,
and committed to himfelf for execution.
virtually

The plan of the Britilh for their projected irruption
into the northweflern frontier of New- York, confided of
two

parts.

General Burgoyne with the main body, was
way of Lake Champlain, with polltive
has been faid, to force his way to Albany, or at

to advance by the

orders, as
leaft

fo far as to effe6l a junction with

from New- York.

A

the royal

army

detachment was to afcend the river
St. Lawrence, as far as Lake Ontario, and from that quarter to penetrate towards Albany, by the way of the Mohawk river. This was put under the command of lieutenant colonel St. Leger, and confifted of about 206 Britiih troops,

a

regiment of

commanded by
vages.

New-York

loyalifts raifed

and

John Johnfon, and a large body of faLieutenant general Burgoyne arrived in Quebec
on
Sir

The

28
I

777.

<—^v->w;

on the 6th of May, and exerted

*

'

jyg jj^g

of

all

the

diligence to profecut«

He proceeded
objects of the expedition.
Lake Champlain and landed near Crown-Point.
Atup
this place be met the Indians
them a war feaft, and
gave

Ij-j
•'

HIST OR Y

j]^g

—

made
them

a fpeech to them. This was well calculated to excite
to take part v/iih the royal army, but at the fame

time to reprefs their barbarity. He pointedly forbad them
to fhed blood when not oppofed in arms, and commanded
that aged men, women, children, and
prifoners, fhould
be held facred from the knife and the hatchet, even in
the heat of a£lual confli(5l.
reward was promifed for

A

and a fevere enquiry threatened for fcalps,
though permiffion was granted to take them from thofe
who were previoufly killed in fair oppofition. Thefe reftridlions were not fufficient, as will appear in the
fequel,
prifoners,

The Indians having decidedly
taken part with the Britifb army, general Burgoyne ifTued
a proclamation, calculated to Tpread terror
among the inhabitants.
The numbers of his Indian affociates were
to retrain their barbarities.

magnified, and their eagernefs to be
defcribed in high founding words.

armies and

let

loofe to their prey

The

foi'ce

of the

prepared to crufh every part of the
revolted colonies, wasalfo difplayed in pompous language.
Encouragement and employment were promifed to thofe
Britifli

fleers

who

fhould aflift in the re eftablifliment of legal government, and fecurity held out to the peaceable and indufAll the catrious, who continued in their habitations.
lamities of war arrayed in their mofl terrific forms, were

denounced

againfir thofe

v»ho fhould perfevere in a mili-

tary oppofition to the royal forces.

June 30.

General Burgoyne advanced with his army in a fevr
At this place he iflued orders of
days to Crown-Point.
the following, words are a part: "The army emwhich
barks to-morrow to approach the enemy.

The

fervices,

required on this expedition are critical and confpicuous.
During our progrefs occafions may occur, in which, nor
This
difficulty, nor labour, nor life, ai'e to be regarded.
muft not retreat." From Crown-Poinc ihe royal
army

On their approceeded to inveft Ticonderoga.
to it, they advanced with equal caution and order
proach

ariT.y

orx

on both

fides

of the lake, while their

nax'al

29

force kept in

its center. Within a few days they had fnrrounded threefourths of the American works ac Ticonderoga and
Mount Independence; and had alfo advanced a work on
Sugar Hill which commands both, fo far towards comhours it would have been ready to
pletion, that in 24

In thefe circumftances general St. Clair the commanding officer, refolved to evacuate the poft at all events ;

open.

but conceiving
general officers,

it
prudent to take the fentiments of the
he called a council of war on the occafion.

was reprefented to this council, that their whole numbers were not fufficient to man one half of the works,

It

and that

as the

whole muft be on conftaot duty,

ir

wotild

be impoffible for them to fuftain the necelTary fatigue for
any length of time, and that as the place would be corwinvefted on all fides within a day, nothing but an
pleteiy

immediate evacuation of the poiks could fave their troops.
fituation of general St. Clair was eminently embarof the ftates in the fanraffing. Such was the confidence
cied ftrength of this poll, and of the fuppofed fupi.;iority
of force for its defence, that to retreat without rifquing

The

an action could not

fail

To

of drawing on him the execration

of the multitude.
fi:ill, and
by fuffering himto rifque his whole army for a finglc
felf to be furrounded
In
to the true intereft of the fi:ates.
poft, was contrary
with the unanimous approbaiion of
this trying fituation,
fland

a council of his general officers, he adopted the heroic
refolution of facrificing perlbnal reputation to lave his

army.

The

afTumption of confident appearances by the garritheir adverfaries to proceed with great

fouj had induced

While from this caufe they were awed into rethe evacuation was completed with fo much fecrecy
fpe6t,
and expedition, that a conliderable part of the public
caution.

was faved, and the whole would have been cmbarked, had not a violent gale of wind which fprungup
flores

in the night, prevented the boats
tion.

from reaching

their fla-

The works abandoned by the Americans, were as folThe old French lines conflru^ed in the late war

low

:

between

1777.

The

30
1777.

HISTORY

the

of

between France and England, which looked towards
gcBurgoyne's encampment had been repaired the year
About the center was
before, and were in good order.
a battery of fix guns.
Thefe occupied about two-thirds
of the high ground from the flrait to the old fort.
The

^^--^r^^ neral

remaining third was open, butfome fleches were thrown
up for irs fecurity. The old fort was in ruins, but fome
guns were mounted on a ravelin thereof, that looked
towards the lake.

There was alfo a battery of four guns
On the
lines, which had the fame afpecfi:.
point above the bridge was a battery of four guns, and on
in the

French

Mount Independence another

of

fix

The

or eight.

fort,

on that fide was nearly a mile from the battery, and was
formed of piquets. The defence of it might have employed four hundred men, but it could not have refifted
a fix pounder.
There were no barracks within it, nor a
drop of water, but
battery at the point,

at a cojifiderable diOance.

a

line

From

the

of entrenchment ran round

the mount, upwards of a mile and a half in
length. There
had been a ftrong abbatis in front of this line the year
it had been confumed
by fire, as was alfo that
cf the French lines.
Towards the eaft of the

before, but
in fi-ont

mount was

Another was on the Ticonwere begun on the mount, but
deroga
there was neither time nor llrengch of hands to complete
them.
great deal of timber had been felled between
the eafi: creek and the foot of the mount, to retard the
All the redoubts on the low
approaches of the Britilh.
a block-houie.

fide.

New works

A

ground were ah;u)doned,for want of men to occupy them.
Thefe works, together with ^'^ pieces of ordnance, and a
large collection of pi-ovifions, fell into the hands of the
Britifh.

July 6,

This evacuation of Ticonderoga was the

fubje<St

of a

fevere fcrutiny.
Congrefs recalled their general officers
in the northern department, and ordered an enquiry into
their condu(St.
They alfo nominated two gentlemen of
in the law to aflift the
judge advocate in profecuting thac enquiry, and appointed a committee of their
own body to collect evidence in fupport of the charges,

eminence

which were on

this occafion

brought

againfi:

them.

General

ncral St. Clair,
to

this

from the

neceffity

of the

cafe,

fubmitted

mode of conducting

innovation in the

nt

courts

behalf of the army protefted againft its
Charges of no lefs magnibeing drawn into precedent.
and treachery, were brought
tude than cowardice, incapacity
forward in court againft him, and believed by many. The
martial, but

in

fore with the lofs of Ticonderoga, and appublic mind,

of general diflrefs, fought to eafe itfelf by
When the fituation of
throwing blame on the general.
an enquiry into his conduft, he was
the army permitted
In the courfe of his trial it was
honourably acquitted.
to appear, that though 13,600 men had been early
made
prehenfive

called for as neceflary to defend the northern pofts,

yet

on the approach of general Burgoyne, the whole force
collected to oppofe him was only 2546 continentals, and
From
000 militia badly equipped, and worfe armed.
the infufficiency of their numbers, they could not pofTefa
themfelves of Sugar-hill, nor of Mount-Hope, though the
former commanded the works both of Ticonderoga and
Mount Independence, and the latter was of great importance for fecuring the communication with Lake George,
fortified the year before with that view.

and had been

To

the queftion which had been repeatedly ailced,
was the evacuation, if really neceflary, delayed,

"

till

why
the

furrounded, as to occafion the
**
from
lofs of fuch valuable ftores ^ It was anfwered, that
various circumftances it was impofliblefcr general St. Clair
to get early information of the numbers oppofed to him.

Americans were

They made no

fo nearly

debarkation

till

they came to

Gilliland's

about 40 miles to the northward of Tiand from this they fpeedily reimbarked. The
conderoga,
deterred fmall reconfavages which they kept in front,
from approaching fo near as to make any
noitring parties
creek, which

is

difcoveries of their numbers.

Large parties from the na-

ture of the ground, could not have been fupported without rifquing a general atSlion, and that from the com-

bined operation of thefe circumftanccs, the numbers of
the approaching royal army were effeftually concealed

from the
full

garrifon,

view before

it."

till

the van of their force appeared in

The

retreating

army embarked

as

much

1777.

1777.

hist op. Y

The

32

of

the

of their baggage and flores as they had any proof faving on board batteaux, and difpatched them
ipc£t
under convoy of five armed grillies to Skenefborough.

much

Their main body took

way of

Caftleton.

its

The

route towards the fame place by
were no fooner apprized

Britilh

of the retreat of the Americans than they purfued them.
General Frazer, at the head of the light troops, advanced

on

their

main body-

Major general Reidefel was

alfo

ordered with the gi*eater part of the Biamfwic troops, to
General Burgoyne in permarch in the fame direction.
fon

conducted the purfult by

watei'.

The

obfkru£lions

to the navigation, not having been completed, were foon
The two frigates— the Royal George and
cut through.
the Inflexible, together with the gun boats, having ef-

fe£led their paiTage, purfued with fo much rapidity, that
in the courfe of a day the gun boats came up with and at-

tacked the American

falls.
gallics near Skenefborough
of the frigates all oppofition ceafed.
On the approach
Two of the gallies were taken and three blown up. The
Americans fet fire to their works, mills and batteaux.

They were now

left in

the woods, deftltute of provifions.

In this forlorn iituation they made their efcape up Woodcreek to fort Anne.
Brigadier Frazer purfued the reAmericans— came up with, and attacked their
treating
x-ear

Ju^y 7*

of the engageguard, at Hubbordton. In the courfe
^y^g joined by the German troops, commanded
The Americans commanded by coReidefel.

j^gj^j. j^g

by general
lonel Warner,

made a gallant refinance, but after
Lieut.
confiderable lofs, were obliged to give way.
ing
colonel Hall, with the ninth Britifli regiment, was detached
from Skenefborough by general Burgoyne, to take poft
enfued between this renear fort Anne.
fuftain-

An engagement
and a few Americans, but the latter, after a congiment
flia of two hours, fired the fort, and retreated to fort
Edward. The deftruftion of the gallies and batteaux of
the Americans at Skenefborough, and the defeat of their
rear, obliged general St. Clair,

in order

to avoid being

between two fires, to change the route of his main body,
After a faand to turn off from Caftleion to the left.
tiouiug and dlflrefring march of leven days, he joined
general


33

Their combined forces,
general Schuyler at fort Edward.

whole 4400
on the approach of general Bur-

inclusive of the militia, not exceeding in the

men, were not long

after

goyne, compelled to retire farther into the country, bordering on Albany. Such was the rapid torrent of fuccefs,
which in this period of the campaign fwept away all oppo-

from before the royal army. The officers and men
were highly elated with their good fortune.
They contoils to be nearly at an end
fidered their
Albany to be

fition

;

within their grafp, and the conqueft of the adjacent proIn Great-Britain intellivinces reduced to a certainty.
difFufed a general joy.
gence of the progrefs of Burgoyne
As to the Americans, the lofs of reputation which they
fuftainedin the opinion of their European admirers, was
than their lofs of polls, artillery and troops. They

greater

were ftigmatifed as wanting the refolution and abiliticiS
of men in the defence of their deareft rights. Their unfubmiffion was
qualified fubjugation, or unconditional
An opinion was difconlidered as being near at hand.
fufed, that the war in efFed was over, or that the farther reiiftance of the colonifts would ferve only to make

more humiliating. The terof Ticonderoga fpread throughout the
New-England ftates was great, but neverthekfs no difin any
pofition to purchafc fafety by fubmiffion appeared
did not link under the apprehenfions of
They
quarter.
the terms of their fubmiffion

ror which the

lofs

The royal
danger, but adted with vigour and firmnefs.
after thefc fucceffi;s, continued for fome days in
army,
Skene''fborough, waiting for their tents, baggage and proIn the mean time general Burgoyne put forth a
viiion.
proclamation, in which he called on the inhabitants of

the adjacent towns to fend a deputation of ten or more
perfons from their refpeftive townlhips, to meet colonel
at Caftleton, on the I 5 th of July. The troops were
fame time bufily employed in opening a road, and
clearing a creek, to favour their advance, and to open a

Skene

at the

A

piirty of
paffage for the conveyance of their (lores.
the royal army which had been left behind at Ticonde-

roga, was equally induftrious in carrying gun boats, proand battcaux over land, into lake George.

vifion, vefTeis,

Vol.

II.

An

E

y

7777-

lyyy.

HISTORY

The

34

of

the

An

immenfity of labour in every quarter was neceflary,but animated as they were with paft fuccefles and future
hopes, they difregarded

From Skenefborough

and danger.
general Burgoyne directed his

toil

courfe acrofs the country to Fort Edward, on Hudfon'sRiver. Though the diilance in a right line from one to
the other is but a few miles, yet fuch is the impracticable
nature of the country, and fuch were the artificial diffi-

thrown in his way, that nearly as many days were
confumedas the diflance pafTed over in a direct line tvould
The Americans under the dihave meafured in miles.
retStion of general Schuyler, had cut large trees on both
culties

fides

of the road, fo

The

broken

as to fall acrofs

with their branches

the country was likewife fo
with creeks and marflies, that they had no lefs

interwoven.

face

of

than forty bridges to conftruft, one of which was a logwork over a morafs, two miles in extent. This difficult
march might have been avoided, had general Burgoyne
fallen back from Skenefborough to Ticonderoga, and
thence proceeded by lake George, but he declined this
route, from an apprehenfion that a retrograde motion on
He had
his part would abate the panic of the enemy.

that fome delay might be occafioned by
American garrifon at Fort George, as in cafe of his

alfo a fufpicion

the

taking that route, they might fafely continue to refift to
the laft extremity, having open in their rear a place of
retreat. On the other hand it was prefumed, that as foon
as they
rection

knew

that the royal

which was

army was marching

in a di-

to cut off their

retreat, they
likely
their fafety by a feafonable evacuation. In
addition to thefe reafons he had the advice and perfuafion

would confult

of colonel Skene. That gentleman had been recommended
to him as a perfon proper to be confulted. His land was
fo fituated, that the opening of a road between Fort Edward anil Skenefborough would greatly enhance its value.
This circumftance might have made him more urgent in
his

recommendations of

the n^ortefl:,

it

that route, efpecially as its being
bid fair for uniting the royal intereil: with

The opinion formed by general
private convenience.
the effect of his direct movement from Skenef-

Bursovne of

horoueh

American

35

garrifon, was

1777*

verified by the event ; for being apprehenfive of having
their retreat cut off, they abandoned their fort and burnt

^^'^'^'""^

borough

to ForL

Edward on

the

of Lake George being
and ammunition M'ere brought
thereby left free,provifions
forward from Fort George to the firft navigable parts of
Hudfon's-River. This is a diftance of 15 miles, and the
The intricate combination of
roads of difficult paflage.
land and water carriage, together with the infufficient
means of tranfportation, and exceffive rains, caufed fuch
delays, that at the end of fifteen days there were not more
than four days provifion brought forward, nor above ten
thsir

vefl^els.

The

navigation

batteaux in the river. Tht; difliculties of this conveyance,
as well as of the march througli the wildernefs from

Skenefborough to Fort Edward, were encountered and
overcome by the royal army, with a fpirit and alacrity
which could not be exceeded. At length, after incredible
fatigue and labour, general Burgoyne, and the army un- July 30.
der his command reached Fort Edward, on Hudfon's-R.iver. Their exultation on accomplifliing, what for a long
time had been the object of their hopes, was unufually
great.

While the

Bririfh

were retarded

in their

advance by

the combined difficulties of nature and art, events took
place, which proved the wifdom and propriety of the re-

from Ticonderoga. The a*-my faved by that means,
was between the inhabitants and general Burgoyne. This
abated the panic of the people, and became a center of
treat

On the other hand,
rendezvous for them to repair to.
had they flood their ground at T iconderoga, they muft in
the ordinary courfe of events, in a fliort time, either have
been cut to pieces, or furrendered themfelves prifoners
In either cafe, as general St. Clair reprefented
of war.
" Fear and
in his elegant defence
difmay would have
:

on the inhabitants from the falfe opinion that had
been formed of the ftrcngth of thefe pofts, wringing grief
and moping melancholy, would have filled the habitations
of thofe vvhofe deareft connexions were in that army, and
a lawlefs hoft of ruffians, fetloofe from every focial prinfeized

ciple,
^

would have roamed

at large

through the defcncelefs

The

history

of

the

country, while bands of favages would hate carried
havock, devaftation and terror before them. Great part
lefs

of the

ftate

of

-queror, and

New-York muil have

fubmitted to the con-

he would have found the means to
his fuccefs. He would have been able effeftually
profecute
to have co-operated with general Howe, and would proin

it

bably foon have been in the fame country with

him—

that country where the illuftrious Wafhingion, with an
inferior force made fo glorious a ftand, but whomufl: have

been obliged to retire, if both armies had come upon him
at once— or he might have been forced to a
general and
decifive action in unfavourable circumftances,

whereby the
founded hopes of America —of liberty, peace and iafety might have been cut off forever.'*
Such, it was apprehended, would have been the confequences, if the American northern army had not retreated
from their ports at Ticonderoga. From the adoption of
that meafure very different events took place.
In a few*
hopes, the

now

well

days after the evacuation, general Schuyler iffued a proclamation, calling to the minds of the inhabitants the late
barbarities and defolations of the royal army in
Jerfey

—

warning them

that they would be dealt with as traitors,
if they joined the Britiili, and
requiring them with tJieir
arms to repair to the American ftandard.
Numerous
parties were alfo employed in bringing off public ftores,
and in felling trees, and throwing obfi:ru(n:ions in the way

At firft an univerfal panic
intimidated the inhabitants, but they foon recovered. Tha
laws of felf-prefervation operated in their full force, and
of the advancing royal army.

diffufed a general adivity through the adjacent ^aies.
formalities of convening, draughting and
officering
tne militia, were in many inftances difpenced with. Hun-

The

dieds feized their firelocks, and marched on the general
call, without waiting for the orders of their immediate

commanders. The inhabitants had no means of fecurity,
but to abandon their habitations, and take up arms.
Every
individual faw the neceffity of becoming a
temporary fol-

The terror exited by the Indians, inftead of difpofing
the inhabitants to court Britifh protedion, had a
contrary
dier.

tffecl.

The

fiieuds of the royal caufe, as well as

its

ene-

anieSj

mies, fuiFered

from

their indifcrimlnate barbarities.

Among

other inftances, the murder of Mifs M'Crea excited an
This young lady, in the innocence of
univerfal horror.
the daughter of a fteady
and the bloom of beauty
youth,

—

aod engaged to be married to

loyalifl,

a Britifli officer,

was on the very day of her intended nuptials, mafiacrcd
*
by the favage auxiliaries, attached to the Britifh army.
Occalion was thereby given to inflame the populace, and
to blacken the royal caufe.

The

cruelties of the Indians,

aad the caufe in which they were engaged, were aflbciated
together, and prefcnted in one view to the alarmed inThofe whofe intereft it was to draw forth
habitants.
the militia in fupport of American independence, ftrongly expreffed their execrations of the army, which fub-

mitted to accept of Indian aid, and they loudly condemned
tiiat goverr.ment which could cull fuch auxiliaries into a
civil conteft, as

were calculated not

terminate a people
je^s.

whom

to fubdue, but to exihey affedled to reclaim as fub-

Their cruel mode of warfare, by putting to death

as well the Imiling infant and the deftncelefs female, as
the refifting arffied man, excited an univerfal fpirlt of re-

In conjunftion with other circumflances, it imon the minds of the inhabitants a general convicprefled
tion that a vigorous determined oppofition was the
only

fifi:ance.

alternative for the prefervation of their property, their
children and their wives.
Could they have indulged the

hope of

fecurity and proteiSlion while they remained
peaceably at their homes, they would have found many
excufes for declining to affume the profeilion of foldiers,

but when they contrafted the dangers ef a manly rcfiflance,
with thofe of a pafiive inaction, they ehofe the former,
as the leall

of two unavoidable

evils.

All the feeble aid,

which
*
This, thougTi true, was no premeditated barbarity. The circumftancet
were as follows Mr. Jones, her lover, bom an anxiety for her fafety, engaged
fome Indians to remove her from among the AmericcUis, and promifed to reward tiie ptrfon who fliould bring her fafe to him, with a barrel of rum. Tvo
of the Indians, who had conveyed her fome diftance, on the
way to her intended hulband, difputed, which of them iliotdd prefent her to Mr.
Jones.
Both were anxious for the reward. One of cheni killed her with his tomahawk,
to prevent the other from
Burgoyne obliged the Indians to de-t
receiving it.
liver up the murderer, and threatened to
Kis life was onl^
put him to death.
the Indians
to terms, which the general thought woulc|
fpared, upon
agreeing
be more efficacious than an execution, in
fimilar ir.ifcliicfs.
preventiro;
:

The

history

of

the

which the royal army received from their Indian auxiliwas infinitely overbalanced by the odium it brought
on their caufe, and by that determined fpirit of- oppoiition
aries,

which the dread of their favage
danger was remote, the preffing

cruelties excited.
calis of

While

Congrefs, and of

the genera! ofiiceiSj for the inhabitiints to be in readinefs
to oppofe a diftant foe were unavailing, or tardily executed, but no fooner had they recovered from the firft

»

out
impreffion of the general panic, than they turned
The owners of the foil came
with unexampled alacrity.

forward with that ardor, which the love of dear connecAn army was fpcedily
tions and of property infpires.
"When
forth from the woods and mountains.
poured
thev who had beoun the retreat were nearly wafted atheir
fpirit of the country immediately fupplied
with a much greater and more formidable force.
place
In addition to thefe incitements, it was early conjedlured,
that the royal army, by pufliing forward would be fo enor retrat on equal
tangled iis not to be able to advance
terms. Men of abilities and of eloquence, influenced with

way, the

this expectation,

harangued the

inhabitant.--, in their

Itve-

forth in high-colouring, the cruelties of
the favage auxiliaries of Great-Britain, and the fair proforce of their enemies.
fpedls of capturing the whole
From the combined influence of .thefe caufes, the Ameral

towns— fct

men.
army foon amounted .to upwards of 13,000
While general Burgoyne was forcing his way down to-

rican

wards Albany, lieutenant colonel St.Leger was co-operatHe had afcended
ing with him in the Mohawk country.
the river St. Lawrence, crofTed Lake Ontario, and com-

On the approach of
the fiege of Fort Schuyler.
this detachment of the royal army, general Harkimer
3- collected about 80c of the
whig militia of the parts admenced

^"S-

jacent, for the relief of the garrifon.
St. Le^er aware of the confequences of being attacked

detached Sir John Johnfon, with fome
adlories and Indians to lie in ambulli, and intercept the
took efiefl- The general
vancing militia. The ftratagem
but feveral of the Indians
and his militia were
in his trenches,

e,

were ncyerthelefs

furprifed,
by their

killed

fire.

A

fcene of confufion

fion followed.

Some of Harkimer's men run

off,

but others

pofted themfelves behind logs, and continued to fight with
The lofs on the fide of the Ameribravery and fuccefs.

cans was 160 killed, befides the wounded.
Among the
former was their gallant leader general Harkjmer. Several

of their killed and wounded were principal inhabitants

Colonel St. Leger availed
of that part of the country.
himfelf of the terror excited on this occafion, and endeavoured by ftrong reprefentations of Indian barbarity to
intimidate the garrifon into an immediate furrender. He
"
fent verbal, and written meffages,
demanding the fur-

render of the fort, and Rating the impoffibility of their
obtaining relief, as their friends under general

Harkimer

were entirely cut off, and as general Burgoyne had forced
his way through the country, and was daily receiving the
fubmiffion of the inhabitants," he reprefented " the pains
he had taken to foften the Indians, and to obtain engagements from them, that in cafe of an immediate furrender
every

man

in

the garrifon fliould be fpared," and paron the circumfl;ance, " that the Indi-

ticularly enlarged

ans were determined, in cafe of their meeting with farther oppofition, to mafficre not only the garrifon, but

every man, woman or child in the
Colonel Ganfevort, who commanded
**

Mohawk

country."

in the fort, replied,

being by the United States entrufred with the
of the garrifon, he was determined to defend it to
charge
the laft extremity, againft all enemies whatever, without
any concern for the confequcnces of doing his duty."
that

It

being refolved maugrc, tite threats of Indian barbadefend the fort
Lieutenant colonel Willet un-

rities to

dertook, in conjundlion with lieutenant Stockwell, to give
information to their fellow citizens, of the ftate of the

Thefe two adventurous ofBcers paffed by night
the befiegers works, and at the hazard of falling
through
into the hands of favages, and
fuffering from them the
garrifon.

feverity of torture,

dangers and

made

their

way

for fifty miles through

order to procure relief for
their befieged affociates.
In the mean time the Britifh
carried on their operations with fuch
induftry, that in lefs
than three weeks they had advanced within i i;o
yards of
the fort.

difficulties,

in

The

The

40

7777'
^•"""^""^

HISTORY

of

the

The

brave garrifon, in its hour of
danger, was not forGeneral Arnold, with a brigade of continental
troops, had been previoufly detached by general Schuyler
for their relief, and was then near at hand.
Mr. Toft
Schuyler who had been taken up by the Americans, on
gotten.

,

fufpicion of his being a fpy, was promifed his life and his
cftate, on confideration that he fhould go on and alarm

Indians with fuch

the

marching againft them,

He

reprefentations of the numbers
as would occafion their retreat.

immediately proceeded to the camp of the Indians,

and being able to converfe in their own language, informed
them that vaft numbers of holtile Americans were near
hand. They were thoroughly frightened and determined to go off.
St. Leger ufed every art to retain them,
but nothing could change their determination. It is the
charadteriftic of thefe people on a reverfe of fortune to
at

betray irrefolution, and

which

a total want of that conftancy,

necelTary to ftruggle for a length of time with
diSiculties.
They had found the fort ftronger and better
is

defended than was expeded. They had lofl: feveral headin their engagement with
general Harkimer, and had
no plunder. Thefe circumftances, added to the cergotten
tainty of the approach of a reinforcement to their adver-

men

which they believed to be much greater than it
made them quite untraclable. Part of them
decamped, and the remainder threatened to folinftantly
This
low, if the Britifii did not immediately retreat.
meafure was adopted, and the fiege raifed.
From the

iliries,

really was,

xlug. 2 2

diforder, occafioned by the precipitancy of the Indians,
^Yic tents, and much of the
artillery and ftores of the be-

The difconhands of the garrifon.
tented favagcs, exafperated by their ill fortune, are faid,
fiegers, fell into the

on

their retreat, to have

robbed

their

Britill:*

affociates,

of their baggage and provifions.
While the fate of Fort Schuyler was in fufpenfc, it
occurred to general Burgoyne, on hearing of its being
beficged, that a fudden and rapid movement forward

would

As the principal
be of the utmoft confequence.
front between him and

force of his adverfaries was in

Albany, he hoped by

advancing on them, to reduce

them

f


41

to the neceffity of fighting, or of retreating out of
Had they to avoid an attack,
his way to New-England.
the Mohawk river, they would, in cafe of St.
retreated

them

up

Leger's

Had

have put themfelves between two fires.
it was fuppofed their fitu-

fuccefs,

they retreated to Albany,

atioQ

would have been worfe,

New-York was

expected.

as

from
move-

a co-operation

Befides, in cale of that

ment, an opportunity would have been given for a juncTo have retired from
tion of Burgoyne and St. Leger.
the fcene ofadion by filing off for New-England, feemed

With fuch
to be the only opening left for their efcape.
views general Burgoyne promifed himfelf great advantages,

The

principal

was the

difficulty

from advancing rapidly towards Albany.
objedtion againO: this plaufible project,
to his troops.
of furnifhing

To keep up

provifions

munication with Fort Geoi-ge, fo

as to

a

com-

obtain from thatgar-

rifon, regular fupplies at a diftance daily encreafing,

was

The advantages which were exwholly impradlicable.
pected from the propofed meafure, were too dazzling to
be eafily relinqui{hed. Though the impoffibility of drawwas known
ing provifions from the ftores in their rear,
and acknowledged, yet a hope was indulged that they
A plan was therefore
might be elfewhere obtained.
from the plentiful farms of
formed to open refources,
Vermont. Every day's account, and particularly the information of colonel Skene, induced Burgoyne to believe,
that one defcription of the inhabitants in that country
were panic ftruck, and that another, and by far the moft
numerous, were friends to the Britifli intereft, and only
wanted the appearance of a prote£ling power to fhew
themfelves.
Relying on this intelligence, he detached
only 500 men, 100 Indians, and two field pieces, which be
fuppofed would be fully fufficient for the expedition.

The command
nel

of

Baum, and

this force

it

was given to lieutenant coloit he
would

was fuppofed that with

upon a magazine of fupplies which the
colle6led at Bennington, and which was
It was alfo intended to try the
only guarded by militia.
of the inhabitants and to mount the dragoons.
temper
be enabled to feize

Americans had

Lieutenant colonel

VoL.

II.

Baum was
F

infl:ru£ted to

keep the regular

1777-

The

history

of

the

gular force ported, while the light ti-oops felt then- way ;
and to avoid all danger of being furrounded, or of having his retreat

ctit off.

But he proceeded with

lefs

cau-

tion than his perilous fituation

required.
Confiding in
the numbers and promifed aid of thofe who were dependOn his aped upon as friends, he prefumed too much.

proaching the place of his deftination, he found the AHe
merican militia ftronger than had been fuppofed.
entrenched his party,
therefore took poft in the vicinity,
and difpatched an exprefs to general Burgoyne, with an

—

Colonel Breyman was detached
Though every exertion was made to

account of his fituation.
to reinforce him.

pulh forward this reinforcement, yet from the impracticable face of the country and defective means of tranfportation, 32 hours el apfed before they had marched 24
miles.

General Starke

who commanded

the

American

Bennington, engaged with them before the junc-^On
tion of the tvv^o roval detachments could be eflfedted.
militia at

this occafion

about JJoo undifciplined

onets, or a fingle piece of

artillery,

militia, without

bay-

attacked and x'outed

500 regular troops advantagcoufly pofled behind entrenchments-— furniOied with the bed arms, and defended
The field pieces were taken
with two pieces of artillery.
from the party commanded by col. Baum> and the great*
ell part of his detachment was either killed or captured.
Colonel Breyman arrived on the fame ground and on the
Infl:ead of
fame day, but not till the acTtion was over.
his friends, as he expefted, he found himfelf
meeting
This was begun by colonel Warner,
briflcly attacked.
with his continental regiment, which having been
(who
ient for from Mancheficr, came opportunely at this time)
and was well fupported by Stark's militia, which had juft
defeated the party
inan's troops,

commanded by

colonel

Baum.

Brey-

though fatigued with their preceding luarch,

behaved wiili great refolution, but were at length compelabandon their artillery, and retreat. In thefe two
anions the Americans took four brafs field pieces, twelve

led to

drums, 250 dragoon fwords, 4 ammimition wagThe lofs of the Amerigons, and about 700 prifoners.
was about 100 men.
Cvins, inclufive of their wounded,

brafs

Congrefs

History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay

History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (19)

Destaque

Destaque (20)

Semelhante a History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay

Semelhante a History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay (20)

Último

Último (20)

History of the american revolution In Volume II By David Ramsay