322 a weak g ruined it." “ I am, The b astoundi the midst members first, to h his frien way end censorio the car familiar explana received mediate leged, a way in members the camp prospect kept to 1 remain a not accep was supp to further after. In the 1 invidious c of the tw under Was GTON DEFENDED. 325 capital." And Major-general ArmPennsylvania militia, writes at the cil of his State: "Be not deceived General Washington's numbers; be aid. Let the brave step forth, their e many. You all speak well of our distance; don't you want to see him, erous, one martial visit, when kindly ar the end of a long campaign? There Ives the unremitting zeal and toils of e night, multiplied into years, without of his own, without murmur or comd calls this arduous task the service of God." were actually in General Gates' camp, and those empsed, for the most part, of the best yeomany in the country, well armed, and in many instances supplied with provisions of their own carrying. Had the same spirit pervaded the peope of this and the neighboring States, we gt before this time have had General Howe nearly in the situation of General Burgoyne. -My own difficulties, in the course of the campaiga, have been not a little increased by the extra aid of continental troops, which the gloomy prospect of our affairs in the north immediately after the reduction of Ticonderoga, induced me to spare from this army. But it is to be hoped that ail will yet end well. IF THE CAUSE IS AD VANCED, INDIFFERENT IS IT TO ME WHERE We have put the last sentence in capitals, for it speaks the whole soul of Washington. Glory with him is a secondary consideration. Let those who win, wear the laurel — sufficient for him is the advancement of the cause. NOTE. We subjoin an earnest appeal of Washington to Thomas Wharton, president of Pennsylvania, on the 17th of October, arging him to keep up the quota of troops demanded of the State by Congress, and to furnish additional aid. "I assure you, sir," writes he, "it is a matter of astonishment to every part of the continent to hear that Pennsylvania, the most of ant and populous of all the States, has but twelve hundreditia in the field, at a time when the enemy are endeavoring to make themselves completely masters of, and WASHINGTON DEFENDED. 325 eir quarters in her capital." And Major-general Armcommanding the Pennsylvania militia, writes at the time to the Council of his State: "Be not deceived rong notions of General Washington's numbers; be he wants your aid. Let the brave step forth, their le will animate the many. You all speak well of our nder-in-chief at a distance; don't you want to see him, y him one generous, one martial visit, when kindly to his camp near the end of a long campaign? There see for yourselves the unremitting zeal and toils of lay and half the night, multiplied into years, without ouse or home of his own, without murmur or combut believes and calls this arduous task the service of try and of his God." 1 sant cannonade and bombardment for several days, defied all repairs. The block-houses were demolished, the palisades beaten down, the guns dismounted, the barracks reduced to ruins. Captain Treat, a young officer of great merit, who commanded the artillery, was killed, as were several non-commissioned officers and privates; and a number were wounded. The survivors, who were not wounded, were exhausted by want of sleep, hard duty, and constant exposure to the rain. Colonel Smith himself was disabled by severe contusions, and obliged to retire to Red Bank. The fort was in ruins; there was danger of its being carried by storm, but the gallant Fleury thought it might yet be defended with the aid of fresh troops. Such were furnished from Varnum's brigade: Lieutenant-colonel Russell, of the Connecticut line, replaced Colonel Smith. He, in his turn, was obliged to relinquish the command through fatigue and ill health, and was succeeded by Major Thayer of Rhode Island, aided by Captain (afterwards commodore) Talbot, who had distinguished himself in the preceding year by an attack on a ship of war in the Hudson The present was an occasion that required men of desperate valor. On the fourth day the enemy brought a large Indiaman, cut down to a floating battery, to bear upon the works; but though it opened a terrible ire, it was silenced before night. The next day several ships of war got within gunshot. Two prepared to attack it in front; others brought |