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expedite the plan, Gov. Hamilton took up his quarters at Vincennes, that he might act the more promptly and effectually, December 15th.

When the knowledge of the expedition reached Virginia, Col. Clark assembled 130 men, and took the desperate resolution of surprising Gov. Hamilton at Vincennes, and by one bold stroke, putting an end to the plan. Col. Clark, after enduring incredible hardships on his march of 16 days, through the wilderness, reached Vincennes on the 23d of February, carried the town by assault, and the next day Gov. Hamilton surrendered the fort, with a garrison of 79 men, with himself, prisoners of war. Col. Clark next detached 60 men to intercept a convoy provisions from Detroit, to carry on the war, which was all taken, to the amount of 10,000l. in goods, provisions, &c. together with the guard of 40 men, and thus by this bold stroke, the expedition was defeated, and Hamilton, with his coadjutors, were safely conveyed into Virginia, and committed to close prison, and in irons, there to remain for further orders.

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Pending these operations, Sir Henry Clinton concerted measures with the tories, and British under his command, to assume a general system of predatory war in America, and submitted his plans to the British ministry, who expressed their approbation. This plan soon reached the American commissioners at Paris, and was communicated to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut, on the 6th of April

1779.

Sir Henry Clinton detached General Tryon, (late governor of New-York,) with 2600 land forces, protected by the sqadron under Sir George Collier, and supported by General Garth, to begin their depredations upon Connecticut. On the 4th of July the armament moved up the Sound, and the commanders issued a proclamation to "the citizens of Connecticut, offering pardon and protection

to all such as would return to their allegiance; but threatening ruin and destruction to all who should reject this overture. On the morning of the 5th, General Tryon landed his division at East-Haven, and General Garth landed at West-Haven, and proceeded directly into NewHaven, and gave up the town to promiscuous pillage. The militia collected so fast on the next day, that the enemy abandoned the town in haste, burnt some stores on Long-Wharf, and embarked their troops. General Tryon proceeded to plunder and lay waste the town of East-Haven, destroying the cattle, &c. then made a hasty flight on board his fleet, and sailed for Fairfield. General Tryon sent a flag to Colonel Whiting, and summoned the town to surrender within one hour; to which the colonel returned the following reply" The flames have now preceded our reply to your flag, and we shall oppose to the utmost, that power that is exerted against injured innocence." On the same night the town was given up to pillage, and conflagration, which extended to Green-Farms, and on the next day the enemy made a basty retreat on board their fleet, and left the town of Fairfield smoking in ruins. This hero of pillage and conflagration next proceeded to Norfolk; laid that village in ashes, and returned to New-York, covered all over with disgrace and infamy.

General Washington at this time concerted a plan of op, erations against Stoney-Point; and these movements, possibly, might have checked the further operations of Gen. Tryon, by occasioning his hearty recal to New-York.

General Washington, having matured his plans, detached General Wayne with a strong party to reduce StoneyPoint. The general commenced his movements on the 15th at noon, and after crossing the mountains through dangerous, and difficult defiles, he approached the fort, about eight of the same evening; having reconnoitered

the position of the enemy, General Wayne put himself at the head of his troops, precisely at 20 minutes after 12, on the night of the 16th, and entered the fort with screwed bayonets, amidst a most tremendous fire of musquetry and grape, and carried the fortress without firing a gun. Lt.. Col. Fleury entered the fort with his division at the opposite side, at the same time, and both parties met in the centre; and both parties spared the garrison, who were made prisoners of war, to the number of 543. General Wayne was ordered to dismantle the fort, bring off the cannon and stores, and abandon it, which he promptly executed. Congress passed a vote of thanks to General Washington, General Wayne, and the officers and troops under his immediate command, for the masterly movement, in the capture of Stoney-Point.

I shall close this chapter with the following interesting naval combat. About the last of July the American Capt. John Paul Jones, sailed from Port Le Orient in France, on a cruise, on board the French ship Bon Homme Richard of 40 guns, and 375 men, accompanied by the frigates Alliance of 36 guns, Pallas 32 guns, the Vengeance, an armed brig of 12 guns, and a cutter; Commodore Jones cruised off the coast of Scotland with his little squadron, until he fell in with the homeward bound Baltic fleet, under convoy of the Serapis Capt. Pearson, and the Countess of Scarborough, Capt. Piercy. When Capt. Pearson discovered Commodore Jones, he made sail to cover the convoy, and gave signal at the same time to the Countess of Scarborough to join him, which was done immediately, September 23d. Soon after this junction, Commodore Jones laid his ship along side of the Serapis, and commenced an ac tion, which soon became desperate on both sides; but the Serapis appeared to reap advantage in the action, from her superior management. To obviate this, Commodore Jones laid his ship across the bows of the Serapis, and

the ships grappled, yard arm and yard arm, so that the muzzles of the guns were nearly in close contact. In this position they lay vomiting forth death, and strewing the decks with carnage and destruction, about two hours; both ships were frequently on fire; but the Serapis not less than 10 or 12 times, and both maintained the desperate conflict, determined to conquer or die, and both seemed devoted to destruction. The Alliance attempted to co-operate in the. action, and with some good effect, until the darkness of the evening rendered it impossible to distinguish correctly, and she killed 11 men, and wounded several others on board Commodore Jones' ship. At this critical moment, the Serapis struck, after having secured the escape of her. convoy, and closed the sanguinary scene. At the close of the action, the Bon Homme Richard, was so much of a wreck, as to have about 7 feet water in her hold, which rendered it necessary to remove the crew on board the Serapis, and the wounded on board the Pallas; on the 24th, the pumps of the Bon Homme Richard were closely plied through the day and night; but on the 24th she went down. Fortunately no lives were lost.

The Pallas engaged and took the Countess of Scarborough, at the same time, and Commodore Jones sailed with his prizes, for the coast of Holland, and anchored off the Texel. This naval action was highly honourable to Commodore Jones, and the brave captains under his command, and gave great eclat to the naval prowess of America.

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CHAPTER XVI.

GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION CONTINUED.

I shall pass over the expedition of Gen. Sullivan against the unfriendly tribes of the Six Nations, together with the general operations of this Indian war; also the expedition of Maj. Lee against the fortress at Powles Hook, together with the appointment of John Jay, Esq. then President of Congress, as minister plenipotentiary to the court of Madrid, and the Hon. Samuel Huntington of Connecticut as his successor in office, as well as the appointment of the Hon. John Adams as minister plenipotentiary to the court of St. James', to negociate a peace, and pursue the subject of the southern war.

Gen. Lincoln did not attempt to pursue Gen Prevost, in his flight into Georgia, but contented himself to remain at Charleston, and devote his whole strength to the fortifications necessary for the defence of that place, in case of another attack from the enemy.

Pending these operations, he learnt the successes of the French fleet in the West-Indies under the Count de Estaing, and that after the conquest of Grenada, he had retired to Cape Francois. Gov. Rutledge, Gen. Lincoln, and the French consul at Charleston, wrote the Count de Estaing, pressing him to come onto the coast, and co-operate with the American army in driving the British from Savannah. The count obeyed the invitation, as being agreeable to his instructions, and on the 1st of September, he arrived off Charleston with a fleet of 20 sail of the line, 2 of 50 guns, and eleven frigates. The British man of war of 80 guns, under the command of Sir James Wallace, with three frigates, were surprised and captured.

Gen. Lincoln, upon the first intelligence of the arrival of the count, marched with his whole force for Savannah, VOL. III.

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