Committee of Arrangement-Reforms in the Army-Scarcity in the Camp-The Enemy revel in Philadelphia-Attempt to Surprise Light-Horse Harry-His Gai- lant Defence-Praised by Washington-Promoted-Letter from General Lee- Burgoyne returns to England-Mrs. Washington at Valley Forge-Bryan Fairfax visits the Camp-Arrival of the Baron Steuben-His Character-Disciplines the Fortifications of the Hudson-Project to Surprise Sir Henry Clinton-General Howe Forages the Jerseys-Ships and Stores Burnt at Bordentown-Plans for the Next Campaign-Gates and Mifflin under Washington's Command-Downfall of Con- way-Lord North's Conciliatory Bills-Sent to Washington by Governor Tryon -Resolves of Congress-Letter of Washington to Tryon-Rejoicing at Valley Lafayette Detached to keep Watch on Philadelphia-His Position at Barren Hill-- Plan of Sir Henry to Entrap him-Washington Alarmed for his Safety-Strata- gem of the Marquis-Exchange of General Lee and Colonel Ethan Allen-Allen at Valley Forge-Washington's Opinion of him-Preparations in Philadelphia to Evacuate--Washington's Measures in consequence-Arrival of Commissioners from England-Their Disappointment-Their Proceedings-Their Failure-Their Preparations to Evacuate Philadelphia-Washington calls a Council of War-Lee Op- posed to any Attack-Philadelphia Evacuated-Movements in pursuit of Sir Henry Clinton-Another Council of War-Conflict of Opinions-Contradictory Conduct of Lee respecting the Command-The Battle of Monmouth Court House Correspondence between Lee and Washington relative to the Affair of Monmouth- 3 Lee asks a Trial by Court Martial-The Verdict-Lee's Subsequent History, 385 404 Arrival of a French Fleet-Correspondence of Washington and the Count D'Estaing -Plans of the Count-Perturbation at New York-Excitement in the French Fleet-Expedition against Rhode Island-Operations by Sea and Land-Failure of the Expedition-Irritation between the Allied Forces-Considerate Letter of Indian Warfare-Desolation of the Valley of Wyoming-Movements in New York- Counter Movements of Washington-Foraging Parties of the Enemy-Baylor's Dragoons Massacred at Old Tappan-British Expedition against Little Egg Har- bor-Massacre of Pulaski's Infantry-Retaliation on Donop's Rangers-Arrival of Admiral Byron-Endeavors to Entrap D'Estaing, but is Disappointed-Expedi tion against St. Lucia-Expedition against Georgia-Capture of Savannah-Geor- Winter Cantonments of the American Army-Washington at Middlebrook-Plan of Alarm Signals for the Jerseys-Lafayette's Project for an Invasion of Canada- Favored by Congress-Condemned by Washington-Relinquished-Washington in Philadelphia-The War Spirit Declining-Dissensions in Congress-Sectional Feelings-Patriotic Appeals of Washington-Plans for the Next Campaign-In dian Atrocities to be Repressed-Avenging Expedition set on foot-Discontents of the Jersey Troops-Appeased by the Interference of Washington-Successful Predatory Warfare of the Enemy-Ravages in the Chesapeake-Hostilities on the Hudson-Verplanck's Point and Stony Point Taken-Capture of New Haven- Fairfield and Norwalk Destroyed-Washington Plans a Counter Stroke-Storm- Expedition against Penobscot-Night Surprisal of Paulus Hook-Washington Forti- fics West Point-His Style of Living there-Table at Head-Quarters-Sir Henry Clinton Reinforced-Arrival of D'Estaing on the Coast of Georgia-Plans in Con- sequence The French Minister at Washington's Highland Camp-Letter to La- fayette D'Estaing Co-operates with Lincoln-Repulsed at Savannah-Washing- ton Reinforces Lincoln-Goes into Winter-Quarters-Sir Henry Clinton sends an . 471 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. BURKE ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN AMERICA-NEW JERSEY ROUSED ΤΟ ARMS-WASHINGTON GRANTS SAFE CONDUCT TO HESSIAN CONVOYS-ENCAMPMENT AT MORRISTOWN-PUTNAM AT PRINCETON-HIS STRATAGEM TO CONCEAL THE WEAKNESS OF HIS CAMP-EXPLOIT OF GENERAL DICKINSON NEAR SOMERSET COURT HOUSE-WASHINGTON'S COUNTER PROCLAMATION— PREVALENCE OF THE SMALL-POX-INOCULATION OF THE ARMY-CONTRAST OF THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN COMMANDERS AND THEIR CAMPS. THE news of Washington's recrossing the Delaware, and of his subsequent achievements in the Jerseys, had not reached London on the 9th of January. "The affairs of America seem to be drawing to a crisis," writes Edmund Burke. "The Howes are at this time in possession of, or able to awe the whole middle coast of America, from Delaware to the western boundary of Massachusetts Bay; the naval barrier on the side of Canada is broken. A great tract is open for the supply of the troops; the river Hudson opens away into the heart of the provinces, and nothing can, in all probability, prevent an early and offensive VOL. III. -1 campaign. What the Americans have done is, in their circum stances, truly astonishing; it is indeed infinitely more than I expected from them. But, having done so much for some short time, I began to entertain an opinion that they might do more. It is now, however, evident that they cannot look standing armies in the face. They are inferior in every thing—even in numbers. There seem by the best accounts not to be above ten or twelve thousand men at most in their grand army. The rest are militia, and not wonderfully well composed or disciplined. They decline a general engagement; prudently enough, if their object had been to make the war attend upon a treaty of good terms of subjec tion; but when they look further, this will not do. An army that is obliged at all times, and in all situations, to decline an engagement, may delay their ruin, but can never defend their country." At the time when this was written, the Howes had learnt to their mortification, that "the mere running through a province, is not subduing it." The British commanders had been outgeneralled, attacked and defeated. They had nearly been driven out of the Jerseys, and were now hemmed in and held in check by Washington and his handful of men castled among the heights of Morristown. So far from holding possession of the territory they had so recently overrun, they were fain to ask safe conduct across it for a convoy to their soldiers captured in battle. It must have been a severe trial to the pride of Cornwallis, when he had to inquire by letter of Washington, whether money and stores could be sent to the Hessians captured at Trenton, and a surgeon and medicines to the wounded at Princeton; and Washington's reply must have conveyed a reproof still more mortify* Burke's Works, vol. v. p. 125. 1777.] REPLY TO CORNWALLIS. 3 ing: No molestation, he assured his lordship, would be offered to the convoy by any part of the regular army under his command; but "he could not answer for the militia, who were resorting to arms in most parts of the State, and were excessively exasperated at the treatment they had met with from both Hessian and British troops." In fact, the conduct of the enemy had roused the whole country against them. The proclamations and printed protections of the British commanders, on the faith of which the inhabitants in general had staid at home, and forbore to take up arms, had proved of no avail. The Hessians could not or would not understand them, but plundered friend and foe alike. The British soldiery often followed their example, and the plunderings of both were at times attended by those brutal outrages on the weaker sex, which inflame the dullest spirits to revenge. The whole State was thus roused against its invaders. In Washington's retreat of more than a hundred miles through the Jerseys, he had never been joined by more than one hundred of its inhabitants; now sufferers of both parties rose as one man to avenge their personal injuries. The late quiet yeomanry armed themselves, and scoured the country in small parties to seize on strag glers, and the militia began to signalize themselves in voluntary skirmishes with regular troops. In effect, Washington ordered a safe conduct to be given to the Hessian baggage as far as Philadelphia, and to the surgeon and medicines to Princeton, and permitted a Hessian sergeant * "These rascals plunder all indiscriminately. If they see any thing they like, they say, ‘Rebel good for Hesse-mans,' and seize upon it for their own use. They have no idea of the distinctions between Whig and Tory."-Letter of Hazard the Postmaster. |