Congress voted their approbation to the General, commending the plan of attack, and extolling the courage displayed in its execution, for which their thanks were awarded to Washington, and the continental army.

In its moral consequences, however, the battle of Germantown was of essential service to the American cause. It checked the growing defection of the people, arrested the despondency of the public mind, and cheered the drooping spirits of the friends of freedom.

No reverse could depress the indormitable energy of Washington, or throw the chill of torpor on his enterprising and active genius. He still continued to harass the British from his camp at Skippack creek, and to devise and execute means to cut off their supplies; at the same time that he meditated an attack upon their forces stationed at Wilmington. Congress co-operated with Washington in cutting off the supplies from the enemy, by passing a resolution which subjected to the punishment of death, by martial law, all who should furnish them with provisions.

He now directed his attention to the defence of the forts on the Delaware, and the fortifications of Red Bank; the latter of which was so gallantly defended by Colonel Greene, against an attack made by the Hessians, under Colonel Donop, who suffered a signal repulse with the loss of 400 men. This affair, though comparatively small, had a benign effect upon the American cause, and extorted the approbation of Congress.

The British army having evacuated Germantown, and retired to Philadelphia, Washington advanced to White Marsh, where he pitched his camp, intent upon a system of harassment, skirmishing, and surprises, waiting for favourable occasions to attack, cut off, and distress the enemy, or, if practicable, bring them to a general action. For this purpose, he despatched Colonel Hamilton, his aid, to General Gates, to hasten his reinforcements from the north.

Fort Mifflin, in the command of Colonel Samuel Smith, was now besieged and assaulted by General Howe, whose cannonade was irresistible: the works were beaten down, Colonel Smith was wounded, and, after being defended to the last extremity, it was evacuated by the American troops on the 16th of November, at eleven at night.

General Howe, having completed a line of defence from the Delaware and the Schuylkill, and received a reinforce

ment from New York, was emboldened to plan an attack upon Fort Mercer, under Cornwallis, at the head of two thousand men.

Washington made exertions to preserve this post, but they proved unavailing, and the fort was accordingly evacuated. Thus the British army at length succeeded in opening a free communication with their fleet, by the Delaware.

As the limits assigned to this work do not admit of a detail of the events of the revolution in which General Washington was not personally concerned, we can only observe, that, as far as his agency extended as commander in chief, in planning the northern campaign of this memorable year, he evinced the most consummate skill, combined with a comprehensiveness of conception, and a soundness of judgment, which won general admiration, and extorted the applause of his enemies, notwithstanding the disastrous issue of it, by the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort Independence, which, however, were richly compensated by the victory of Bennington, by the gallant action of Stillwater, and finally, after repeated defea's, by the total surrender of the army of Burgoyne to the American forces under General Gates-events which, owing much of their success to the genius and foresight of Washington, did not fail to reflect on his character a lustre which, added to his other merits, kindled a blaze of glory round his brow.

The effect of the surrender of Burgoyne, both in the United States and Europe, was highly favourable to the American cause. Earl Chatham, in the House of Lords, moved to amend the Address to the King, by introducing a recommendation to his majesty to procure an immediate cessation of hostilities with America, and commence a treaty of conciliation, to restore peace and liberty to America, strength and happiness to England, security and permanent prosperity to both countries. In support of this motion, he said, But, my Lords, who is the man that, in addition to the disgraces and mischiefs of war, has dared to authorise and associate to our arms the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage?-to call into civilised alliance the wild and inhuman inhabitants of the woods?-to delegate to the merciless Indian the defence of disputed rights, and to wage the horrors of his barbarous war against our brethren? My E

Lords, these enormities cry aloud for redress and punishment. Unless thoroughly done away, it will be a stain on the national character. It is not the least of our national misfortunes that the strength and character of our army are thus impaired. Familiarised to the horrid scenes of savage cruelty, it can no longer boast of the noble and generous principles which dignify a soldier. No longer you sympathise with the dignity of the royal banner, nor feel the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war, which makes ambition virtue. What makes ambition virtue?-the sense of honor. But is this sense of honor consistent with the spirit of plunder, or the practice of murder?-can it flow from mercenary motives, or can it prompt to cruel deeds?"

Chatham had struck the true chords of the motives of those who warred upon this country; and the whole British empire vibrated with one intense sensation of horror. The contest on the part of England was mercenary and cruel. On the part of the Americans, love of liberty and love of country led to deeds of heroism that astonished mankind, and to sacrifices, sufferings, and losses, which could alone flow from the purest devotion to freedom and independence.

Washington was now pressed by all sides to make an attack upon Howe's army in Philadelphia, as well by his own officers as by the strong current of public opinion; and the plan was drawn, canvassed, and demonstrated by a few ardent spirits to be infallible. But the prudence, sagacity, firmness and patriotism of Washington resisted the public clamour, and detected flaws and dangers in the scheme, which his own friends, who were importunate for the measure, wholly overlooked. Despising the appeals made to his own glory, he preferred the safety of his country to the brilliancy of his own fame; for though he might succeed in adding lustre to the one, he might, at the same time, fail in securing the independence and safety of the other. He therefore declined the perilous attempt, and thus exhibited one of the most sublime spectacles of moral grandeur to be found in the history of military chiefs. That he now panted with uncommon ardour to signalise himself in a decisive action, was proved by the unceasing efforts he made, after the defeat of Burgoyne, to procure a reinforcement from the northern army, under Gates, to whom he had despatched a large portion of his best troops; but he was too much devoted to his country to gratify it at the possible expense of its

final subjugation by a cruel and oppressive enemy. The wisdom of his determination was soon demonstrated by the preparations of Lord Howe to attack the American army.

On the 4th of December, at night, Howe marched out of Philadelphia at the head of his entire force, and the next day encamped on Chesnut Hill, in front of Washington's right wing. But nothing beyond an inconsiderable skirmish resulted from the complicated demonstrations of the English general, who was deterred from the attack by the admirable position of the American commander; and, on the 8th December, Howe retreated to Philadelphia. The two armies were nearly equal in numbers, of 12,000 men each: and the circumstance of Howe declining an action with raw troops, after marching out for that purpose, evinced a respect for the talents of Washington and the bravery of his troops, which did not fail to produce an impression favourable to the American cause, and still more honourable to the commander of the American grand army.

Washington now went into winter quarters, at Valley Forge; the weather having set in with a severity of cold which caused great sufferings to his exposed troops, who were destitute of tents, blankets, and comfortable clothing; and, to add to these privations, the danger of famine now stared them in the face, in a land abounding with plenty. This was caused by the great depreciation of the continental money, now so sunk in value as to be almost utterly worthless. This want of provisions, and the radical defects in the commissary department, now pressed with great force upon the army, and often destroyed its faculty for action. This subject now brought into light a trait of greatness, justice and benevolence in the character of Washington, which, in my opinion, has never been enough extolled. Congress had empowered him to seize all provisions he might want within seventy miles of head quarters, giving a certificate for the value of the same. Necessity forced him, in some measure, to exert this authority, or behold his troops famish around him. But he failed to exert it to the extent intended by Congress; his feelings revolting from a measure which might produce distress to families, and was on its very face oppressive to the people. For this humanity he incurred the disapprobation of Congress, who renewed their orders to him to enforce the seizure; but such was his innate sense of justice and humanity, as well as his percep

tion of sound policy, that he never would fully comply with the resolutions of Congress.

The Legislature of Pennsylvania had remonstrated to Congress against Washington's moving into winter quarters, and expressed great dissatisfaction with his measures; although they had been criminally negligent in furnishing him with means to keep the field, or to prosecute active hostilities: so prone are men to complain of others, when they even fail to discharge their own duties.

Envy, faction and ambition, panting to rise upon his ruin, took advantage of these partial and unjust discontents, to impeach his character and assail his capacity. The splendid achievement of General Gates at Saratoga, had awakened the ambition of that officer, and stimulated his friends to attempt that he might supplant Washington in the chief command of the American forces; and these feelings operating upon one portion of Congress and the public, who are always impatient under inaction, and whose feelings hurry them to an excessive admiration of whatever is bold, brilliant and daring, produced a considerable array of opposition to Washington; at the head of which stood General Conway, a friend of Gates, for the avowed purpose of investing the latter with the command in chief.

The

This powerful intrigue was so extensively diffused, that attempts had been made to alienate the confidence of the States from Washington; and an anonymous letter addressed to Patrick Henry, of Virginia, then governor of that State, was transmitted by him to Washington. immediate intrigue that developed the plot, was a passage in a letter written by Colonel Conway to General Gates, which ran thus: heaven has been determined to save your country, or a weak general and bad counsellors would have ruined it.' This passage of the letter was communicated by a member of Congress to Washington.

Strong in the affections of the people, and almost idolized by the great majority of the army, it was only necessary to expose a combination and intrigue so unprincipled and selfish, in order to cover its authors with merited ignominy, and exalt still higher in public esteem, the intended victim of its malignancy. Looked upon by all as the saviour of his country, it was not difficult to withstand and triumph over an intrigue, which the moment it was touched by the spear of truth, for such in fact was the cha