GENERAL GATES DEFEATED AT CAMDEN, S. C.--BATTLE OF KING'S
MOUNTAIN--WASHINGTON SENDS AID TO THE SOUTH--SIEGE OF
YORKTOWN--SURRENDER OF LORD CORNWALLIS--PEACE TREATY
SIGNED--WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL TO HIS OFFICERS--1780-1783
[Illustration]
Though Washington did not have any encounters with the British for a
long time, the Americans were engaged in bitter fighting in the South.
Lord Cornwallis angered the people of South Carolina by hanging a number
of prisoners at Charleston and by the cruel raids of General Tarleton
and his dragoons, who rode about the country, slaying innocent people.
General Thomas Sumter, who was nicknamed the "Game Cock," gathered
together a few men. Those who had no guns sharpened their saws into
swords and fastened hunting knives on long poles and thus armed, these
soldiers gave the British a great deal of trouble.
Meanwhile, General Lincoln was still held a prisoner of war and the
people were very glad when they heard that General Gates, the hero of
Saratoga, had been sent to take command of the Southern forces of the
American army. Gates was very headstrong, however, and thought he knew
more than any one could tell him and would take no advice from officers
on the ground. He did the worst thing he could do--he rushed at once
into an open battle with Lord Cornwallis (August 16, 1780) and met with
a terrible defeat at Camden, South Carolina.
Cornwallis now marched into North Carolina to subdue that State. Her
Scotch-Irish people, always brave, had declared themselves independent
of Great Britain a whole year before Congress had dared to do so.
Cornwallis found himself in a "hornets' nest." Sharp-shooters and bold
riders cut off his messengers and foraging parties. In the western part,
the mountain people gathered, who were used to Indian fighting. They
were joined by rugged men from all parts of the South. Each man was
dressed in homespun, with a deer's tail or bit of green stuck in his
hat. Each carried a long rifle, hunting knife, knapsack and blanket. At
King's Mountain (on the border line between North and South Carolina),
this little army overtook and destroyed a British and Tory force under
General Ferguson. Soon after, Lord Cornwallis retreated to South
Carolina again.
The victory at King's Mountain aroused all the patriotism of the
mountain folk. Francis Marion, one of the bravest soldiers of the South,
took the field with a brigade of friends and neighbors. Armed with
knives and rude swords, he, like Sumter, would surprise and capture
British posts and then gallop back to the woods, while the enemy would
be at a loss to know where he came from. The British called him the
"Swamp Fox."
About this time, Colonel William Washington, a kinsman of the General,
with a few horsemen, surprised a body of Tories who had made their
headquarters in a log barn. He put the trunk of a tree on two wagon
wheels, painted it to look like a cannon, and pointed it at the barn.
Then he sent a messenger with a white flag of truce to tell them to
surrender or be blown to pieces. Their leader and one hundred and twelve
men surrendered! They felt very foolish when they saw the cannon and
were laughed at all over the State.
General Gates, broken-hearted over his defeat at Camden, was trying to
gather up his scattered army. To add to his sorrow, he received word
that his only son was dead, and soon after, he was notified that
Congress had given his command to General Greene and ordered an
investigation of his defeat. These troubles were almost more than he
could bear, but his feelings were soothed by a letter from General
Washington, full of tender sympathy and expressions of confidence. The
letter so comforted him that he was found in his room kissing the words.
General Greene was also very considerate, and the proud heart of Gates,
who had wronged both these men, was melted, by their kindness, into
lasting love for them.
General Greene found the army small and discouraged, but he soon
inspired the men with renewed hope. He had with him the famous Virginia
Rifles under General Daniel Morgan, who had served bravely at Quebec and
Saratoga. This division was attacked at Cowpens (S. C.) January 17,
1781, by Tarleton and his large force, but Morgan was so daring and
skillful that he routed the British, who lost 800 of their 1100 men.
Cornwallis tried to attack General Greene, who knew his army was too
small to risk a battle; so he led Cornwallis a long chase through
forests and mountains, while his light horse troops under Harry Lee
annoyed the British like wasps that sting and fly away to return and
sting again! Greene was at last overtaken and defeated, but the effect
of the battle so crippled the British that there was nothing for them to
do but retreat to the nearest sea-coast town, where they might get aid
from their fleet. General Greene marched hard after them, turning his
defeat into a victory, and so hampering Cornwallis that he lost hope.
Cornwallis now turned northward into Virginia and Greene gave up the
chase and marched into South Carolina. He, with Lee, Marion, Sumter,
Wade Hampton and other daring officers, fought battle after battle until
they had regained from the British most of Georgia and the Carolinas
(September, 1781).
In Virginia, Lafayette and "Mad Anthony" Wayne kept annoying Cornwallis
as he marched to Portsmouth on the James River.
Meanwhile Washington, while giving advice and directing the campaigns in
the South, where he had sent some of his most brilliant generals, was
watching General Clinton. Ever since the Battle of Monmouth (N. J.), he
had remained in the neighborhood of New York. Though he was needed with
his army in the South, he dared not leave the Hudson unguarded. At last,
however, he planned to help the South by causing the British to recall
some of their troops. He had the French forces come and encamp near his
army, and appear to be making arrangements for laying siege to New York.
Even the soldiers thought they were going to try to take the city.
General Clinton fell into the trap and wrote to Cornwallis for all the
regiments he could spare. Troops were hurried aboard ship and set sail
for New York.
Clinton found out, too late, how completely he had been deceived, for
Washington and Rochambeau slipped out of their camps and marched their
armies across New Jersey! He took his revenge by sending Benedict
Arnold, who was now a British officer, to his native State, Connecticut,
to plunder and lay waste the country and murder the garrisons. This
brutality was Arnold's last act in America, and shortly after, he went
to England.
When the French and Continental armies reached Philadelphia, they were
received with rejoicing. Washington was entertained in the home of
Robert Morris, a patriot banker, without whose help, in raising money,
Washington could not have saved the country and who more than once had
come to the aid of the army. At this time, he loaned the government
$20,000 in gold, and at about the same time, France sent the colonists
more than a million dollars in coin.
The Continental army paraded through Philadelphia (August 30, 1781),
dusty and ragged, but keeping step to the fife and drum. The next day,
the French troops marched through, jaunty in white and green uniforms,
with bands playing. Lafayette, who was in Virginia, sent word to
Washington that the British troops had landed at Yorktown (instead of
going to New York), and that Cornwallis was strongly fortified there.
The British battleships lay in the river before the town. Cornwallis
thought his only enemy was Lafayette, of whom he had little fear.
Lafayette carefully arranged his troops to cut off any retreat from
Yorktown, and waited for Washington. A powerful French fleet arrived
from France and bottled up Cornwallis in the York River. The American
and French armies marched on from Philadelphia, Washington taking time
on the way to visit Mount Vernon, which he had not seen for six years.
[Illustration: Washington spent the first night under a mulberry tree]
Cornwallis felt very safe and snug in Yorktown (Va.) till he saw the
French ships, and then he decided to retreat. But every way was
blocked. The allied armies (American and French) entrenched themselves
close about the town. Washington spent the first night among his men
sleeping under a mulberry tree. On the night of October 6th (1781), the
siege of Yorktown began, Washington himself putting the match to the
first gun. A week later, two strong British redoubts (forts) were
stormed and taken, one by an American company under Colonel Hamilton and
the other by the French. The British kept up a constant bombardment of
the American lines, and Washington was often in the greatest peril. On
one occasion, an officer spoke of his danger and Washington said, "If
you think so, you are at liberty to step back." He was never afraid and
what the Indian had said of him years ago seemed indeed true.--"A mighty
Power protected him and he could not die in battle!"
The Americans pounded the British fortifications to pieces. Cornwallis
looked in vain for help from New York. He was surrounded on all sides
and all hope of escape was gone. On the 19th of October, 1781, in order
not to sacrifice the lives of any more of his brave men, Lord Cornwallis
surrendered to General Washington. The whole country went wild with joy
over this great victory, and the Americans did not forget that the
French, with their men, money and ships, made it possible for them to
win. The troops held services of thanksgiving in camp, and Congress
named a day when all the people should thank God. When Cornwallis
surrendered, Washington treated the British with great kindness and
courtesy.
The English were now having so much trouble in Europe that it was
difficult for them to carry on the war in America; but they were not
willing to make peace on terms that America would accept. Washington
thought that the only way to secure a glorious and lasting peace was to
be prepared to carry on the war. If the British should see the colonists
weak and unprepared, they would either conquer them or offer them an
inglorious peace. He, therefore, fortified his forces at Newburgh on the
Hudson, where they were joined by the French.
The entire year 1782 was spent in camp. The men soon became
discontented. Congress and the States were slow, as usual, in furnishing
supplies. But Washington's patience and fair dealing kept the men loyal
to him and the country.
The first articles of peace were signed in France, November 30, 1782,
but it was not until September 3, 1783, that the final treaty of peace
with England was signed at Paris.
On April 19th (1783), just eight years after the Battle of Lexington,
Washington proclaimed to his troops that the war was over; but the
British did not leave New York until November, and then Washington and
the Governor marched in.
[Illustration: Mrs. Betsy Ross]
On December 4, at Fraunce's Tavern, New York City, he said good-by to
the officers and men who had served and suffered so long with him; there
were tears in his eyes and theirs, as he shook their hands and bade them
farewell. A ship carried him to Annapolis, Maryland, where he
surrendered his commission to Congress. He said, "I close this last act
of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country
to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence
of them to His holy keeping." He sheathed his sword after years of
faithful and honorable service. Through good and evil fortunes, he had
always held firmly to ideals of truth, courage and patriotism, and he
retired from public life admired and loved by his countrymen. He arrived
at Mount Vernon on Christmas eve (1783).
The United States now had a place among the nations of the world. She
had a flag of her own, the beautiful Stars and Stripes, created in the
dark days of the war. For a hundred and fifty years, the colonies had
used the flag of Great Britain. When the Revolution broke out, each
State and regiment had its own flag; but in 1777, Congress appointed
Washington, Robert Morris and Colonel Ross a committee to devise a flag.
They were in Philadelphia at the time, and it was in the house of Betsy
Ross (which still stands) that the first American flag was made,
consisting of thirteen red and white stripes, with a circle of thirteen
white stars on a blue field, "representing a new constellation." (A
group of fixed stars.) This flag was accepted by Congress on June 14,
the day that is now celebrated in the United States as Flag Day.