RECAPTURE OF FORT TICONDEROGA BY GEN. BURGOYNE--BATTLE OF
BRANDYWINE--BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN--BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER AT
SARATOGA--WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE--ALLIANCE WITH
FRANCE--1777-1778
[Illustration: Marquis de La Fayette]
The fame of the American cause reached Europe and many foreign officers
came over, asking to be allowed to give their help. Among them was
Thaddeus Kosciusko, a military engineer from Warsaw (Poland). Washington
asked him, "Why do you come?" "To fight for American Independence," he
said. "What can you do?" asked General Washington. "Try me!" was the
brief reply. Washington "tried him," and he proved a valuable help
throughout the Revolution. Another who volunteered his services was
Washington's devoted friend, the young French nobleman, the Marquis de
Lafayette. Though scarcely twenty years of age, Lafayette loved human
liberty more than home and friends and the easy life of the French
court, and at his own expense, he fitted out a ship, loaded with
military stores, and sought to aid the Americans in their struggle.
Washington loved him for his fine spirit, charming manner and soldierly
bearing. He became a member of the Commander's family and his name is
honored by every American.
The year 1777 was a very hard and trying one. Washington's forces were
too weak to fight regular battles with the British. He used every device
to make General Howe think he had a strong army, and at the same time,
tried to convince Congress that he could not act for want of men and
supplies. The British kept him guessing about what they would do next.
Would they attack Philadelphia or the fort on Lake Champlain? He did not
dare to withdraw troops from either place to strengthen the other.
General John Burgoyne, one of Howe's lieutenant-generals, arrived from
England in the summer of 1777. He landed at Quebec and marched with
eight thousand men, British, Germans and Indians, to Fort Ticonderoga.
The garrison of thirty-five hundred men surrendered. Valuable stores
were taken and the presence of this new army discouraged the Americans.
But Washington only said, "We should never despair. If new difficulties
arise, we must only put forth new exertions." He could not leave his own
position, but he showed the greatest wisdom in arranging and locating
the forces in the North. He sent his valued Virginia riflemen, under
Colonel Daniel Morgan, to help fight Burgoyne's Indians.
For months, Washington had watched the British fleet in New York harbor
and now it put to sea with eighteen thousand men on board. Would it go
to Boston or to Philadelphia? Washington led his army toward
Philadelphia, believing this would be the British point of attack, and
soon after, the fleet appeared while Washington was camped at
Germantown, near Philadelphia. The fleet sailed away, however, without
making an attack and the summer passed in marching troops here and
there--calling them out and sending them home again. Washington had a
busy time watching Burgoyne on the Hudson and the lakes, watching Howe,
who was occupying New York and New Jersey, and guarding the coast.
The fleet finally disappeared and, after a council of war, the American
officers decided to leave Philadelphia and all march north together to
attack the British forces in New York. This was such an important move
that a letter was sent to Congress asking permission. The messenger who
carried the letter was Alexander Hamilton, a mere youth, though he was
captain of artillery. He was very small but so brave that they called
him "the little lion" and Washington addressed him affectionately as "my
boy." Congress approved of the plan to attack New York and the army was
about to march, when it was reported that the British fleet was sailing
up the Chesapeake Bay. Washington's army halted near Philadelphia. The
Commander-in-Chief knew that there were people in Philadelphia who did
not favor the cause of American freedom, thinking it foolish for the
poorly equipped Continental troops to fight the British. To encourage
the people of Philadelphia, Washington decided to parade the army
through the city. He rode at the head with his staff. The men were
poorly clad and had no uniforms, but their guns were bright and they
carried them well. They made a brave showing and after the parade,
marched into camp on the Brandywine Creek.
[Illustration: Washington and Alexander Hamilton]
The British landed at Elkton, Maryland--about fifty miles from
Philadelphia. Washington sent troops of light horse to ride about the
country and annoy them in every way possible. One young commander, Henry
Lee, of Virginia, was so daring that they called him "Light Horse
Harry." He was another of the brave young officers whom Washington
loved to have about him and who helped him overcome the difficulties
that beset him at every turn. Washington spent most of his time in the
saddle, watching the march of the British. His troops were unequal to
the enemy in every way, and though the war had lasted more than two
years, he had never dared to risk a real battle. The time had come when
he must make a stand in the open or acknowledge to the world the
weakness of his army. He had about eleven thousand men, while the
British numbered about eighteen thousand. He appealed to his soldiers to
do their best and make a firm stand in defense of their national capital
(Philadelphia). The battle of the Brandywine was fought on September 11,
1777, and the Americans were badly defeated. Following this, Congress
moved to Lancaster (Pa.) and the British, under Cornwallis, took
possession of Philadelphia, which they entered dressed in their bright
scarlet uniforms, the bands playing "God Save the King." What a contrast
to the ragged Continentals who had marched there a few weeks before!
Washington did not despair. His courage and determination grew stronger
in the face of defeat and he firmly believed his fortunes would take a
turn. After resting his troops, he made a surprise attack on General
Howe at Germantown. He was in a fair way to success, when a heavy fog
came on. The Americans could not tell their own soldiers apart from the
enemy and a panic took place. But Washington, who was in the hottest of
the fight, was not discouraged even at this disaster. He had proved to
the world that his troops were not afraid of the British army, and his
men, in spite of their losses, were encouraged by this encounter with
trained European soldiers. The English had looked down on the American
patriots, but they were now beginning to find them worthy foes.
During this time, the army in the North had been busy. General Burgoyne
had sent a force to Bennington, Vermont, to seize cattle and supplies,
but General John Stark, at the head of the New England militia,
completely routed them. He captured a quantity of guns and ammunition
and hundreds of prisoners. At the same time, west of the Hudson, another
body of British was defeated and their tents and stores taken by the
Americans.
This was joyful news to Washington, and these victories served to keep
up the spirits of the patriots and also to disgust the Indians with
their British commanders. The militia, too, gained confidence,
overcoming their fears and finding they were a match for the British and
the Germans. Recruits flocked to the American camp in the North and
Burgoyne was soon surrounded. In the great battle near Saratoga (N. Y.),
he was completely defeated and surrendered to General Horatio Gates on
October 17, 1777.
This splendid victory gave the Americans large quantities of military
stores, but most of all, it gave them confidence, for they had at last
beaten the British forces. The experience of actual warfare and the
example of the trained soldiers had taught them how to fight. One of
Burgoyne's officers said that when the Continental troops were drawn up
to receive the surrender, they stood like soldiers, though dressed as
if they had come from the farm or the shop. He was surprised to see how
straight and strong and fine they were! General Gates ordered his men
not to cheer or show any desire to humiliate their beaten foes, and this
courtesy tendered him by General Gates was reported to Parliament by
General Burgoyne when he returned to England. He was especially touched
by it because he had needlessly burned some of the beautiful homes of
the very officers who were so gracious to him. This courtesy was very
fine in Gates, but he failed in his duty to his Commander-in-Chief, and
in many ways was unreliable. He did not report the victory to
Washington, as was his duty, and paid no attention to his commands. He
did not send the troops to Philadelphia, as he was ordered, and he did
not even return the company of Virginia riflemen until it was too late.
General Gates and his friends were doing all in their power to destroy
the good name and the authority of Washington. They kept back troops
Washington needed and then criticized him for not fighting a decisive
battle. But Washington endured their fault-finding in silence, for he
knew that an open battle with such a powerful foe meant certain defeat,
and patriotism so filled his heart that it left no room for selfish
ambition. He was not seeking personal glory, but independence for
America. If General Howe had attacked him, he would have fought bravely,
but he and his fellow officers knew it was unwise to attack the British.
In many skirmishes, however, his troops showed courage and
steadfastness, and proved they were making progress in the arts of
warfare.
A few months before this, Congress had made some changes in the
quartermaster (the officer who attends to supplies) and in the
commissary (food) departments, although Washington had opposed the
changes. The result was a bad mix-up in getting supplies to the army,
and food and clothing spoiled and went to waste for want of wagons to
carry them to the camp.
Winter set in, and the troops were poorly clad and worn out from
hardships. There were not enough blankets to go around, and many of the
men were obliged to sit by the camp fires all night and thus got very
little rest. Washington decided to go into winter quarters in the
village of Valley Forge, about twenty miles from Philadelphia. From
here, he could watch General Howe's movements and be ready, if
necessary, to defend Congress, which now met at York. On the march to
Valley Forge, many of the soldiers were barefooted and they left a trail
of blood on the frozen ground. To add to their suffering, someone
blundered, and they were several days without food. Washington was
blamed for going into winter quarters and not driving the enemy out of
Philadelphia. He wrote to Congress, giving a full account of how he had
been annoyed and hindered by those who should have helped him. He told
them that nearly three thousand of his men were unfit for duty because
they were almost naked, and two thousand more were sick for want of food
and shelter.
During this cruel winter of 1777-1778, many men froze and starved to
death in camp and hundreds of horses were lost. Washington, who was
always careful about other people's property, was sometimes obliged to
let his men seize food from the farmers. Congress did not stand by him.
Some of the members were jealous of his power and his influence. General
Gates was the popular hero after the victory of Saratoga, and a plot
hatched by officers and members of Congress almost succeeded in putting
him in Washington's place. Though Washington's plan had made the defeat
of General Burgoyne possible, Gates claimed all the credit. Washington
bore all this fault-finding and unfairness with patient courage. He kept
his temper and devoted himself to his suffering men, whose endurance
touched his heart. Fortunately for America, the conspiracy against
Washington failed and the only result was to make his name and fame
brighter and more widespread.
While the Americans in camp at Valley Forge were so miserable, the
British, twenty miles away, were spending a gay winter in the homes of
the people of Philadelphia. Why they did not attack and destroy the
wretched patriot army was a mystery. After awhile, provisions and other
necessities were secured and the camp became more cheerful. Mrs.
Washington and the wives of some of the other officers came to join
their husbands.
Baron Frederick von Steuben, a German officer, who had served in several
wars and received great honors, was sent to America by friends in Paris.
He offered to fight for the colonists without rank or pay. Congress
sent him to Washington, who realized that his experience would be
valuable, and who asked him to drill and discipline the troops. Steuben
was a wonderful soldier and after a few weeks under his direction, the
army learned something of real military tactics, and how to work
together like a great machine. He not only drilled them, but looked
after their comforts and won their love by his kindness.
[Illustration: Benjamin Franklin was at the French Court]
Not all the work for freedom was done on the battle-fields and in the
camps. While Washington and his soldiers were skirmishing with the
British and while they were encamped at Valley Forge, Benjamin Franklin,
one of the foremost thinkers and statesmen of the time, was in Europe
making friends for the American cause and asking help for the struggling
colonists. The King of France made a treaty of alliance with him, which
Congress signed May 4th, 1778. Three days later, it was celebrated in
camp with thanksgiving and parades, and the news that France was to help
the American cause thrilled every patriot's heart with joy.