43. On the 2d of January, 1777, the greater part of the British army marched to attack the Americans. In the evening they encamped near Trenton, in full expectation of a battle and victory in the morning. Washington, sensible of the inferiority of his force; sensible too that flight would be almost as fatal as defeat, conceived another bold project which he resolved instantly to execute.

44. About midnight, having renewed his fires, he silently decamped, and gaining, by a circuitous route, the rear of the ene my, marched towards Princeton, where he presumed Cornwallis had left a part of his troops. At sunrise, the van of the American forces met unexpectedly two British regiments. A sharp action ensued; the former gave way. At this crisis, when all was at stake, the commander-in-chief led the main body to the attack. The enemy were routed and fled. Fortunately the heroic Washington, though exposed to both fires, and but a few yards distant from either party, escaped unhurt.

ers.

45. Instead of pursuing them, he pressed forward to Princeton, where one regiment yet remained. Part saved themselves by a precipitate flight; about three hundred were made prisonThe British loss in killed was upwards of one hundred; the American was less, but in the number were the brave general Mercer, and several valuable officers. Among the wounded was lieutenant James Monroe, afterwards raised to the highest office in the gift of his fellow citizens.

46. In consternation, the British army immediately evacuated Trenton, and retreated to New-Brunswick. The inhabitants, resuming their courage, and giving full force to their rage, which fear had smothered, took revenge for the brutalities they had suffered. The enemy were driven from all their posts in NewJersey, except Amboy and Brunswick, and the American army obtained secure winter quarters at Morristown.

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47. The brilliant victories at Trenton and Princeton raised, from the lowest depression, the spirits of the American people. They regarded Washington as the saviour of his country. became the theme of eulogy throughout Europe. And having displayed, as occasions demanded, the opposite qualities of caution and impetuosity, he received the honorable and appropriate appellation of the American Fabius.

CHAPTER XIX.

CAMPAIGN OF 1777

THE firmness manifested by congress, when disaster and defeat had almost annihilated the American army, entitles the members to the gratitude and admiration of every friend of freedom. They exhibited nesymptom of terror or dismay. They voted to raise an army to take the place of that which was to be disbanded at the end of the year; and, made sensible by experience that short enlistments had been the cause of most of the misfortunes of their country, they resolved that the new levies should be enlisted to serve three years or during the war, at the option of the individual recruits. To defray expenses, they made large emissions of paper money. And to evince their firm determination to the world, they solemnly declared that they would listen to no terms of peace which required a relinquishment of their independence, or which should deprive other nations of a free trade to their ports.

2. Relying on the inveterate enmity of France against Great Britain, they sent commissioners to that court, with instructions to solicit a loan of money, a supply of munitions of war, and an acknowledgment of the independence of the United States. These commissioners were Dr. Franklin, Silas Dean, and Arthur Lee. Franklin arrived at Paris in December. The cause of which he was the advocate, and his own great fame as a philosopher, procured him a flattering reception from all ranks of people. America, her minister, her struggle against oppression, became the themes of popular discourse, and the government itself was rendered in secret propitious to her cause.

3. The ministry permitted arms, covertly taken from the public arsenals, to be conveyed to the United States. They connived at the sale, in their West India islands, and even in the ports of France, of the prizes taken by American privateers. The value of these prizes made in the year 1776, was computed at five millions of dollars, and far exceeded that of the captures made by the enemy.

4. So popular was the cause of the United States, and so exalted the character of their military leader, that many French officers sought an opportunity of engaging in their service. Among these, the young Marquis de la Fayette was most conspicious for his rank, and most distinguished for his ardor

and enthusiasm. At an early period, he communicated to the American agents his wish to join the republican armies. At first, they encouraged his zeal, but learning the disasters which preceded the victory at Trenton, they, with honorable frankness, communicated the information to him, and added that they were so destitute of funds, that they could not even provide for his passage across the ocean.

5. "If your country," replied the gallant youth, “is indeed reduced to this extremity, it is at this moment that my departure to join her armies will render her the most essential service." He immediately hired a vessel to convey him to America, where he arrived in the spring of 1777. He was received with cordial affection by the people, became the bosom friend of Washington, solicited permission to serve without pay, and was ap pointed major-general in the army.

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6. In the last campaign, more prisoners had been taken by the British than by the Americans. They were detained at New-York, and were confined in churches and prison ships, where they endured the extremity of wretchedness. were exposed, without fire and almost without clothes, to the inclemency of a severe winter; were often whole days without food, and when food was offered, it was but a miserable pittance, damaged and loathsome. Many died of hunger, and more of diseases, produced by their complicated sufferings.

7. Washington remonstrated with warmth, and threatened retaliation. After his victories in New-Jersey, their treatment was less inhuman. An exchange was agreed upon, but many, when attempting to walk from their places of confinement to the vessels provided to convey them away, fell and expired in the streets. Yet in the midst of these unparalleled sufferings, they had exhibited fortitude more rare, and more honorable to human nature, than the highest display of valor in battle. To entice them to enlist in the royal army, they were promised relief from misery, and the enjoyment of abundance. They rejected the offer with disdain; thus giving to the world the noblest proof of the absence of all mercenary motive, and of the sincerity and fervor of their devotion to their country.

8. Near the end of May, the American army, which had been augmented by recruits to almost ten thousand men, movel from Morristown, and took a strong position at Middlebrook. The British, soon after, left their encampment, and general Howe endeavored, by various movements, to induce general Washington to quit his strong hold and meet him on equal ground. But the latter, adhering to his Fabian system of warfare, determined to remain in the position he had chosen.

9. General Howe, changing his purpose, transported his army to Staten Island. He there embarked sixteen thousand troops on board a large fleet, and, leaving Sir Henry Clinton in command at New-York, put out to sea on the 26th of July. His destination was carefully kept secret. On the 20th of August, the fleet entered Chesapeake bay, and rendered it certain that an attack upon Philadelphia was intended. The troops were landed at Elk ferry, in Maryland, fifty miles south of that city.

10. The American army immediately crossed the Delaware, and, passing through Philadelphia, directed its march towards the enemy. The people, weary of delays and indecisive movements, demanded that a general engagement should be hazarded for the defence of the metropolis. Washington, yielding to their wishes, took a position on the eastern bank of Brandywine creek, and in the direction of the enemy's route.

11. On the eleventh of September, the British army appeared, and, crossing the creek at several fords, commenced an attack upon the American right, which, after a short resistance, gave way. The other divisions, successively attacked, gave way in like manner, and the rout becoming general, a retreat was ordered to Chester.

12. Several portions of the American army, particularly a brigade from Virginia, exhibited in this battle great firmness and bravery. The misconduct of others rendered their bravery unavailing. The American loss amounted to twelve hundred; the British to no more than half that number. The Marquis de la Fayette took part in the engagement and was wounded. The next day, the army retired to Philadelphia, and soon after to Reading, where a quantity of stores had been deposited. The retreat was performed without a murmur, although many marched without shoes, and slept on the ground without blankets. On the 26th of September, general Howe entered Philadelphia in triumph, Congress having previously removed to Lancaster.

13. The transactions of the contending armies at the north, since the termination of the expedition to Canada, now demand our attention. The Americans halted at Crownpoint, the British at St. Johns, and both employed the remainder of the summer in building vessels and making preparations to secure the command of lake Champlain.

14. On the 11th of October, 1776, the American and British squadrons met, colonel Arnold, who had been a sailor in his youth, commanding the former. After a short contest, the enemy, not being then able to bring their whole force into action, retired. The next day, they returned to the combat, and being greatly superior, drove the American squadron before them, to

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the head of the lake. A sharp action then took place; the offi cers and men fought gallantly, but Arnold losing a part of his force, and perceiving defeat to be inevitable, ran the remainder of his vessels on shore and set them on fire.

15. Winter approaching, governor Carleton returned with his troops to Canada. General Burgoyne, who had served under him during the last campaign, made a voyage to England to concert a plan for future operations. It was determined that a powerful army, departing from Montreal, should proceed, by way of lake Champlain, to the Hudson, with the view of obtaining, by the co-operation of the army at New-York, the entire command of that river. All communication between the states of New-England, and the others lying south of them, would thus be prevented. Either section, alone and unsupported, could, it was supposed, be easily subdued; and the whole strength of the nation might then be directed against the other.

16. Nothing was omitted which might insure the success of this project. Seven thousand choice troops, to be sent from England, were allotted to the service. They were supplied with an excellent train of brass artillery, and with every thing which could add to their efficiency as an army. The command was given to Burgoyne, and several officers of distinguished reputation were selected to serve under him.

17. General Schuyler of New-York, a worthy officer, whose talents were solid but not brilliant, had the chief command of the northern department. He was indefatigable in making preparations for defence; and such was his zeal in the cause of independence, and such his deserved popularity in his native state, that he doubtless accomplished more than any other person could have done. Still, at a late period in the spring, the fortifications were incomplete, and but few troops or munitions of war were collected.

18. Very early in the season, Burgoyne arrived at Quebec. He immediately despatched colonel St. Leger with a party of regulars, tories, and Indians, by the way of the St. Lawrence to Oswego, directing him to proceed thence to the Mohawk, and join him at Albany. With the main army, augmented, in Canada, to ten thousand men, he hastened to Ticonderoga, before which he appeared on the first of July. On his way, he held a conference, at the river Bouquet, with a large number of savages, whom British agents had persuaded to join the army.

19. The garrison of Ticonderoga, which was then commanded by general St. Clair, was insufficient to defend it against so powerful a force. It was evacuated in the night of the 5th, the troops crossing lake Champlain and retreating towards Castleton,