ters, Colonel Pickering, and last, though certainly not least, General Gates. Mifflin's resignation of the commission of quartermaster-general had recently been accepted; but that of major-general was continued to him, though without pay. General Gates was appointed president of the board, and the President of Congress was instructed to express to him, in communicating the intelligence, the high sense which that body entertained of his abilities, and peculiar fitness to discharge the duties of that important office, upon the right execution of which the success of the American cause so eminently depended; and to inform him it was their intention to continue his rank as major-general, and that he might officiate at the board or in the field, as occasion might require; furthermore, that he should repair to Congress with all convenient dispatch, to enter upon the duties of his appointment. It was evidently

the idea of the cabal that Gates was henceforth to be the master spirit of the war. His friend Lovell, chairman of the committee of foreign relations, writes to him on the same day to urge him on. "We want you at different places; but we want you most near Germantown. Good God! What a situation we are in; how different from what might have been justly expected! You will be astonished when you know accurately what numbers have at one time and another been collected near Philadelphia, to wear out stockings, shoes, and breeches. Depend upon it, for every ten soldiers placed under the command of our Fabius, five recruits will be wanted annu

SALLY FORTH OF GENERAL HOWE. 347

ally during the war.

The brave fellows at Fort Mifflin and Red Bank have despaired of succor, and been obliged to quit. The naval departments have fallen into circumstances of seeming disgrace. Come to the Board of War, if only for a short If it was not for the defeat of Burgoyne, and the strong appearance of a European war, our affairs are Fabiused into a very disagreeable posture." 1

season.

While busy faction was thus at work, both in and out of Congress, to undermine the fame and authority of Washington, General Howe, according to his own threat, was preparing to "drive him beyond the mountains."

On the 4th of December, Captain Allen McLane, a vigilant officer already mentioned, of the Maryland line, brought word to head-quarters, that an attack was to be made that very night on the camp at White Marsh. Washington made his dispositions to receive the meditated assault, and, in the mean time, detached McLane with one hundred men to reconnoiter. The latter met the van of the enemy about eleven o'clock at night, on the Germantown road; attacked it at the Three Mile Run, forced it to change its line of march, and hovered about and impeded it throughout the night. About three o'clock in the morning the alarm-gun announced the approach of the enemy. They appeared at daybreak, and encamped on Chestnut Hill, within three miles of Washington's right wing. Brigadier general James Irvine, with six hundred of the Pennsyl 1 Gates' Papers, N. Y. Hist. Soc. Lib.

vania militia, was sent out to skirmish with their

and wounded, his troops

gave way and fed in all directions, leaving him and four or five of his men wounded on the field, o were taken prisoners.

General Howe passed the day in reconnoitering and at night changed his ground, and moved 32 co the left, and within a mile of the Azerac Be It was his wish to have a genera artika but to have it on advantageous terms. He had scrutinized Washington's position and sequenced it inaccessible. For three days he mazegrered to draw him from it, shifting his own posted becasionally, but still keeping on advanthe road Washington was not to be de

He knew the rast advantages which superve scenos. Esipline, and experience, gave the L'IT a cea fell dght, and remained within As best officers approved of his Serena starp skirmishes occurred at Edge ant eise bere, in which Morgan's riflemen sini de Kugland militis were concerned. There ss in both sides, but the Americans gave

vit jelet a great superiority of numbers. 1e of these skirmishes General Reed had He was reconnoitering the en

istingon's request, when he fell in with Je Presspivazia militia who had been cvrei và Đdeavored to rally and lead them Es borse was

through the head, in to the ground; the enemy's

EVOLUTIONS AND SKIRMISHES.

349

flankers were running to bayonet him, as he was recovering from his fall, when Captain Allen McLane came up with his men in time to drive them off and rescue him. He was conveyed from the field by a light horseman.1

On the 7th there was every appearance that Howe meditated an attack on the left wing. Washington's heart now beat high, and he prepared for a warm and decisive action. In the course of the day he rode through every brigade, giving directions how the attack was to be met, and exhorting his troops to depend mainly on the bayonet. His men were inspirited by his words, but still more by his looks, so calm and determined; for the soldier regards the demeanor more than the words of his general in the hour of peril.

The day wore away with nothing but skirmishes, in which Morgan's riflemen, and the Maryland militia under Colonel Gist, rendered good service. An attack was expected in the night, or early in the morning; but no attack took place. The spirit manifested by the Americans in their recent contests, had rendered the British commanders cautious.

The next day, in the afternoon, the enemy were again in motion; but instead of advancing, filed off to the left, halted, and lit up a long string of fires on the heights; behind which they retreated, silently and precipitately, in the night. By the time Washington received intelligence of their movement, they were in full march by two or

1 Life and Cor. of Reed, vol. i. p. 351.

sir Pladelphia. He immediately mut parties to all upon their rear, but Ta on the way for any but light

server writes to President

17 de : As all their movekum 7 their repeated declarations of gra over the Blue Moun→ near x assure us of their having

T

de determination to fight, it was tradent in seep our post upon the hills, I zderstand it was resolved,

at bera the attack soon, to have en su eres it not being supposed Ja nasistent with their own feelings, sen the city so suddenly ng piscinating on what they intended

vis inccer cecasion of which the

Sungan Aed themselves to deTHEOUS MOET, Yes it was clearly His beart yearned for erevaner við dhe enemy. In his dise. Fresiaent of Congress, he writes, “I S due they made an attack; as 1 minuty, from the disposition mi dhe string situation of our camp, been ictumce and happy. At the mus mhà thu resson, prudence, and 1024 # včer kebude us from quitting mikes them. Nothing but success

• Kučna Commissary of Prisoners, to and Cor. of Reed, vel. i. p. 351.