EXPLOITS OF LEE AND LAFAYETTE.--BRITISH COMMISSIONERS.
During the winter's encampment at Valley Forge, Washington sedulously
applied himself to the formation of a new system for the army. At his
earnest solicitation, Congress appointed a committee of five, called
the Committee of Arrangement, to repair to the camp and assist him in
the task.{1} Before their arrival he had collected the written
opinions and suggestions of his officers on the subject, and from
these, and his own observations and experience, had prepared a
document exhibiting the actual state of the army, the defects of
previous systems, and the alterations and reforms that were necessary.
The committee remained three months with him in camp, and then made a
report to Congress founded on his statement. The reforms therein
recommended were generally adopted.
{Footnote 1: Names of the committee--General Reed, Nathaniel Folsom,
Francis Dana, Charles Carroll, and Gouverneur Morris.}
In the meantime, the distresses of the army continued to increase. The
surrounding country for a great distance was exhausted, and had the
appearance of having been pillaged. The parties sent out to forage too
often returned empty-handed. "For some days past there has been little
less than a famine in the camp," writes Washington, on one occasion.
"A part of the army has been a week without any kind of flesh, and the
rest three or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot
enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery,
that they have not been, ere this, excited by their suffering to a
general mutiny and desertion."
A British historian gives a striking picture of the indolence and
luxury which reigned at the same time in the British army in
Philadelphia. It is true the investment of the city by the Americans
rendered provisions dear and fuel scanty, but the consequent
privations were felt by the inhabitants, not by their invaders. The
latter revelled as if in a conquered place. Private houses were
occupied without rendering compensation; the officers were quartered
on the principal inhabitants, many of whom were of the Society of
"Friends." The quiet habits of the city were outraged by the dissolute
habits of a camp. Gaming prevailed to a shameless degree. A foreign
officer kept a faro bank, at which he made a fortune, and some of the
young officers ruined themselves. "During the whole of this long
winter of riot and dissipation," continues the same writer,
"Washington was suffered to remain undisturbed at Valley Forge, with
an army not exceeding five thousand effective men; and his cannon
frozen up and immovable. A nocturnal attack might have forced him to a
disadvantageous action or compelled him to a disastrous retreat."
On one occasion there was a flurry at the most advanced post, where
Captain Henry Lee (Light-horse Harry) with a few of his troops was
stationed. He had made himself formidable to the enemy by harassing
their foraging parties. An attempt was made to surprise him. A party
of about two hundred dragoons, taking a circuitous route in the night,
came upon him by daybreak. He had but a few men with him at the time,
and took post in a large store-house. His scanty force did not allow a
soldier for each window. The dragoons attempted to force their way
into the house. There was a warm contest. The dragoons were bravely
repulsed, and sheered off, leaving two killed and four wounded.
Washington, whose heart evidently warmed to this young Virginian
officer, not content with noticing his exploit in general orders, not
long afterwards strongly recommended him for the command of two troops
of horse, with the rank of major, to act as an independent partisan
corps. "His genius," observes he, "particularly adapts him to a
command of this nature; and it will be the most agreeable to him of
any station in which he could be placed." It was a high gratification
to Washington when Congress made this appointment; accompanying it
with encomiums on Lee as a brave and prudent officer.
In the month of February, Mrs. Washington rejoined the general at
Valley Forge, and took up her residence at head-quarters. The
arrangements consequent on her arrival bespeak the simplicity of style
in this rude encampment. "The general's apartment is very small,"
writes she to a friend; "he has had a log cabin built to dine in,
which has made our quarters much more tolerable than they were at
first." Lady Stirling, Mrs. Knox, the wife of the general, and the
wives of other of the officers were also in the camp.
The reforms in the commissariat had begun to operate. Provisions
arrived in considerable quantities; supplies, on their way to the
Philadelphia market to load the British tables were intercepted and
diverted into the hungry camp of the patriots; magazines were formed
in Valley Forge; the threatened famine was averted; "grim-visaged war"
gradually relaxed his features, and affairs in the encampment began to
assume a more cheering aspect.
An important arrival in the camp was that of the Baron Steuben,
towards the latter part of February. He was a seasoned soldier from
the old battle fields of Europe; having served in the seven years'
war, been aide-de-camp to the great Frederick, and connected with the
quartermaster-general's department. Honors had been heaped upon him in
Germany. After leaving the Prussian army he had been grand marshal of
the court of the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, colonel in the
circle of Suabia, lieutenant-general under the Prince Margrave of
Baden, and knight of the Order of Fidelity; and he had declined
liberal offers from the King of Sardinia and the Emperor of Austria.
With an income of about three thousand dollars, chiefly arising from
various appointments, he was living pleasantly in distinguished
society at the German courts, and making occasional visits to Paris,
when he was persuaded by the Count de St. Germain, French Minister of
War, and others of the French cabinet, to come out to America, and
engage in the cause they were preparing to befriend. Their object was
to secure for the American armies the services of an officer of
experience and a thorough disciplinarian. Through their persuasions he
resigned his several offices, and came out at forty-eight years of
age, a soldier of fortune, to the rude fighting grounds of America, to
aid a half disciplined people in their struggle for liberty.
The baron had brought strong letters from Dr. Franklin and Mr. Deane,
our envoys at Paris, and from the Count St. Germain. Landing in
Portsmouth in New Hampshire, Dec. 1st, he had forwarded copies of his
letters to Washington. By Washington's direction he had proceeded
direct to Congress. His letters procured him a distinguished reception
from the president. A committee was appointed to confer with him. He
offered his services as a volunteer: making no condition for rank or
pay, but trusting, should he prove himself worthy and the cause be
crowned with success, he would be indemnified for the sacrifices he
had made, and receive such further compensation as he might be thought
to merit.
The committee having made their report, the baron's proffered services
were accepted with a vote of thanks for his disinterestedness, and he
was ordered to join the army at Valley Forge. That army, in its ragged
condition and squalid quarters, presented a sorry aspect to a strict
disciplinarian from Germany, accustomed to the order and appointments
of European camps; and the baron often declared, that under such
circumstances no army in Europe could be kept together for a single
month. The liberal mind of Steuben, however, made every allowance; and
Washington soon found in him a consummate soldier, free from pedantry
or pretension.
The evils arising from a want of uniformity in discipline and
manoeuvres throughout the army, had long caused Washington to desire a
well organized inspectorship. He knew that the same desire was felt by
Congress. Conway had been appointed to that office, but had never
entered upon its duties. The baron appeared to be peculiarly well
qualified for such a department; Washington determined, therefore, to
set on foot a temporary institution of the kind. Accordingly he
proposed to the baron to undertake the office of inspector-general.
The latter cheerfully agreed. Two ranks of inspectors were appointed
under him; the lowest to inspect brigades, the highest to superintend
several of these.
In a little while the whole army was under drill; for a great part,
made up of raw militia, scarcely knew the manual exercise. Many of the
officers, too, knew little of manoeuvring, and the best of them had
much to learn. The baron furnished his sub-inspectors with written
instructions relative to their several functions. He took a company of
soldiers under his immediate training, and after he had sufficiently
schooled it, made it a model for the others, exhibiting the manoeuvres
they had to practise. His discipline extended to their comforts. He
inquired into their treatment by the officers. He examined the
doctors' reports, visited the sick, and saw that they were well lodged
and attended.
The strong good sense of the baron was evinced in the manner in which
he adapted his tactics to the nature of the army and the situation of
the country, instead of adhering with bigotry to the systems of
Europe. His instructions were appreciated by all. The officers
received them gladly and conformed to them. The men soon became active
and adroit. The army gradually acquired a proper organization, and
began to operate like a great machine; and Washington found in the
baron an intelligent, disinterested, truthful coadjutor, well worthy
of the badge he wore as a knight of the Order of _Fidelity_.
Another great satisfaction to Washington was the appointment by
Congress (March 3d) of Greene to the office of quartermaster-general;
still retaining his rank of major-general in the army. The confusion
and derangement of this department during the late campaign, while
filled by General Mifflin, had been a source of perpetual
embarrassment. That officer, however capable of doing his duty, was
hardly ever at hand. The line and the staff were consequently at
variance; and the country was plundered in a way sufficient to breed a
civil war between the staff and the inhabitants. Greene undertook the
office with reluctance, and agreed to perform the military duties of
it without compensation for the space of a year.
The spring opened without any material alteration in the dispositions
of the armies. Washington at one time expected an attack upon his
camp; but Sir William was deficient in the necessary enterprise; he
contented himself with sending out parties which foraged the
surrounding country for many miles, and scoured part of the Jerseys,
bringing in considerable supplies. These forays were in some instances
accompanied by wanton excesses and needless bloodshed. A ravaging
party ascended the Delaware in flat-bottomed boats and galleys; set
fire to public storehouses in Bordentown containing provisions and
munitions of war; burnt two frigates, several privateers, and a number
of vessels of various classes, some of them laden with military
stores. Had the armed vessels been sunk according to the earnest
advice of Washington, the greater part of them might have been saved.
A circular letter was sent by Washington on the 20th to all the
general officers in camp, requesting their opinions in writing, which
of three plans to adopt for the next campaign: to attempt the recovery
of Philadelphia; to transfer the war to the north and make an attempt
on New York; or to remain quiet in a secure and fortified camp,
disciplining and arranging the army until the enemy should begin their
operations; then to be governed by circumstances.
Just after the issue of this circular, intelligence received from
Congress showed that the ascendency of the cabal was at an end. By a
resolution of that body on the 15th, Gates was directed to resume the
command of the Northern department, and to proceed forthwith to
Fishkill for that purpose. He was invested with powers for completing
the works on the Hudson,{2} and authorized to carry on operations
against the enemy should any favorable opportunity offer, for which
purposes he might call for the artificers and militia of New York and
the Eastern States: but he was not to undertake any expedition against
New York without previously consulting the commander-in-chief.
Washington was requested to assemble a council of major-generals to
determine upon a plan of operations, and Gates and Mifflin, by a
subsequent resolution, were ordered to attend that council. This
arrangement, putting Gates under Washington's order, evinced the
determination of Congress to sustain the latter in his proper
authority.
{Footnote 2: [The Highlands had been carefully reconnoitred in the
course of the winter by Putnam, Gov. Clinton, James Clinton, and
several others, and West Point selected as the most eligible place to
be fortified.]}
And here we may note the downfall of the intriguing individual who had
given his name to the now extinguished cabal. Conway, after the
departure of Lafayette and De Kalb from Albany, had remained but a
short time in the command there, being ordered to join the army under
General McDougall, stationed at Fishkill. Thence he was soon ordered
back to Albany, whereupon he wrote an impertinent letter to the
President of Congress, complaining that he was "boxed about in a most
indecent manner," and intimated a wish that the president would make
his resignation acceptable to Congress. To his surprise and
consternation, his resignation was immediately accepted. He instantly
wrote to the president, declaring that his meaning had been
misapprehended, and accounting for it by some orthographical or
grammatical faults in his letter, being an Irishman, who had learnt
his English in France. All his efforts to get reinstated were
unavailing, though he went to Yorktown to make them in person.{3}
{Footnote 3: [Conway here disappears from this history. He became
involved in a duel with Gen. John Cadwalader, in which he was severely
wounded. Upon his recovery from his wounds he embarked for France.]}
The capture of Burgoyne and his army was now operating with powerful
effect on the cabinets of both England and France. With the former it
was coupled with the apprehension that France was about to espouse the
American cause. The consequence was Lord North's "Conciliatory Bills,"
as they were called, submitted by him to Parliament, and passed with
but slight opposition. One of these bills regulated taxation in the
American colonies, in a manner which, it was trusted, would obviate
every objection. The other authorized the appointment of commissioners
clothed with powers to negotiate with the existing governments; to
proclaim a cessation of hostilities; to grant pardons, and to adopt
other measures of a conciliatory nature.
Intelligence that a treaty between France and the United States had
actually been concluded at Paris, induced the British minister to
hurry off a draft of the bills to America, to forestall the effects of
the treaty upon the public mind. General Tryon caused copies of it to
be printed in New York and circulated through the country. He sent
several of them to General Washington, 15th April, with a request that
they should be communicated to the officers and privates of his army.
Washington felt the singular impertinence of the request. He
transmitted them to Congress, observing that the time to entertain
such overtures was past. "Nothing short of independence, it appears to
me, can possibly do. A peace on other terms would, if I may be allowed
the expression, be a peace of war. The injuries we have received from
the British nation were so unprovoked, and have been so great and so
many, that they can never be forgotten." These and other objections
advanced by him met with the concurrence of Congress, and it was
unanimously resolved that no conference could be held, no treaty made
with any commissioners on the part of Great Britain, until that power
should have withdrawn its fleets and armies, or acknowledged in
positive and express terms the independence of the United States.
On the following day, April 23d, a resolution was passed recommending
to the different States to pardon, under such restrictions as might be
deemed expedient, such of their citizens as, having levied war against
the United States, should return to their allegiance before the 16th
of June.
The tidings of the capitulation of Burgoyne had been equally
efficacious in quickening the action of the French cabinet. The
negotiations, which had gone on so slowly as almost to reduce our
commissioners to despair, were brought to a happy termination, and on
the 2d of May, ten days after the passing by Congress of the resolves
just cited, a messenger arrived express from France with two treaties,
one of amity and commerce, the other of defensive alliance, signed in
Paris on the 6th of February by M. Girard on the part of France, and
by Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee on the part of the
United States. This last treaty stipulated that, should war ensue
between France and England, it should be made a common cause by the
contracting parties, in which neither should make truce or peace with
Great Britain without the consent of the other, nor either lay down
their arms until the independence of the United States was
established.
These treaties were unanimously ratified by Congress, and their
promulgation was celebrated by public rejoicings throughout the
country. The 6th of May was set apart for a military fête at the camp
at Valley Forge. The army was assembled in best array; there was
solemn thanksgiving by the chaplains at the head of each brigade;
after which a grand parade, a national discharge of thirteen guns, a
general _feu de joie_, and shouts of the whole army, "Long live the
King of France--Long live the friendly European Powers--Huzza for the
American States." A banquet succeeded, at which Washington dined in
public with all the officers of his army, attended by a band of music.
On the 8th, the council of war, ordered by Congress, was convened; at
which were present Major-generals Gates, Greene, Stirling, Mifflin,
Lafayette, De Kalb, Armstrong and Steuben, and Brigadier-generals Knox
and Duportail. After the state of the forces, British and American,
their number and distribution, had been laid before the council by the
commander-in-chief, and a full discussion had been held, it was
unanimously determined to remain on the defensive, and not attempt any
offensive operation until some opportunity should occur to strike a
successful blow.
The military career of Sir William Howe in the United States was now
drawing to a close. His conduct of the war had given much
dissatisfaction in England. His enemies observed that everything
gained by the troops was lost by the general; that he had suffered an
enemy with less than four thousand men to reconquer a province which
he had recently reduced, and lay a kind of siege to his army in their
winter quarters; and that he had brought a sad reverse upon the
British arms by failing to co-operate vigorously and efficiently with
Burgoyne. Sir William, on his part, had considered himself slighted by
the ministry; his suggestions, he said, were disregarded, and the
reinforcements withheld which he considered indispensable for the
successful conduct of the war. He had therefore tendered his
resignation, which had been promptly accepted, and Sir Henry Clinton
ordered to relieve him. Clinton arrived in Philadelphia on the 8th of
May, and took command of the army on the 11th.
Soon after he had taken the command, there were symptoms of an
intention to evacuate Philadelphia. Whither the enemy would thence
direct their course was a matter of mere conjecture. Lafayette was
therefore detached by Washington, with twenty-one hundred chosen men
and five pieces of cannon, to take a position nearer the city, where
he might be at hand to gain information, watch the movements of the
enemy, check their predatory excursions, and fall on their rear when
in the act of withdrawing.
The marquis crossed the Schuylkill on the 18th of May, and proceeded
to Barren Hill, about half way between Washington's camp and
Philadelphia, and about eleven miles from both. Here he planted his
cannon facing the south, with rocky ridges bordering the Schuylkill on
his right; woods and stone houses on his left. Behind him the roads
forked, one branch leading to Matson's Ford of the Schuylkill, the
other by Swedes' Ford to Valley Forge. In advance of his left wing was
McLane's company and about fifty Indians. Pickets and videttes were
placed in the woods to the south, through which the roads led to
Philadelphia, and a body of six hundred Pennsylvania militia were
stationed to keep watch on the roads leading to White Marsh.
In the meantime Sir Henry Clinton having received intelligence through
his spies of this movement of Lafayette, concerted a plan to entrap
the young French nobleman. Five thousand men were sent out at night
under General Grant to make a circuitous march by White Marsh, and get
in the rear of the Americans; another force under General Grey was to
cross to the west side of the Schuylkill, and take post below Barren
Hill, while Sir Henry in person was to lead a third division along the
Philadelphia road.
The plan came near being completely successful, through the remissness
of the Pennsylvania militia, who had left their post of observation.
Early in the morning word was brought that red coats had been descried
in the woods near White Marsh. Lafayette was expecting a troop of
American dragoons in that quarter who wore scarlet uniforms, and
supposed these to be them; to be certain, however, he sent out an
officer to reconnoitre. The latter soon came spurring back at full
speed. A column of the enemy had pushed forward on the road from White
Marsh, were within a mile of the camp, and had possession of the road
leading to Valley Forge. Another column was advancing on the
Philadelphia road. In fact, the young French general was on the point
of being surrounded by a greatly superior force. Lafayette saw his
danger, but maintained his presence of mind. Throwing out small
parties of troops to show themselves at various points of the
intervening wood, as if an attack on Grant was meditated, he brought
that general to a halt to prepare for action, while he with his main
body pushed forward for Matson's ford on the Schuylkill.
The alarm-guns at sunrise had apprised Washington that the detachment
under Lafayette was in danger. The troops at Valley Forge were
instantly under arms. Washington, with his aides-de-camp and some of
his general officers, galloped to the summit of a hill, and anxiously
reconnoitred the scene of action with a glass. His solicitude for the
marquis was soon relieved. The stratagem of the youthful warrior had
been crowned with success. He completely gained the march upon General
Grant, reached Matson's Ford in safety, crossed it in great order, and
took a strong position on high grounds which commanded it. The enemy
arrived at the river just in time for a skirmish as the artillery was
crossing. Seeing that Lafayette had extricated himself from their
hands, and was so strongly posted, they gave over all attack, and
returned somewhat disconcerted to Philadelphia; while the youthful
marquis rejoined the army at Valley Forge, where he was received with
acclamations.
The exchange of General Lee for General Prescott, so long delayed by
various impediments, had recently been effected; and Lee was
reinstated in his position of second in command. Colonel Ethan Allen,
also, had been released from his long captivity in exchange for
Colonel Campbell. Allen paid a visit to the camp at Valley Forge,
where he had much to tell of his various vicissitudes and hardships.
In a few days, a brevet commission of colonel arrived for him; but he
had already left camp for his home in Vermont, where he appears to
have hung up his sword, for we meet with no further achievements by
him on record.
Indications continued to increase of the departure of troops from
Philadelphia. New York, it was concluded, would be the place of
destination; either as a rendezvous, or a post whence to attempt the
occupation of the Hudson. Would they proceed thither by land or water?
Supposing the former, Washington would gladly have taken post in
Jersey to oppose or harass them on their march through that State. His
camp, however, was encumbered by upwards of three thousand sick; and
covered a great amount of military stores. He dared not weaken it by
detaching a sufficient force; especially as it was said the enemy
intended to attack him before their departure. For three weeks affairs
remained in this state. Washington held his army ready to march toward
the Hudson at a moment's warning, and sent General Maxwell with a
brigade of Jersey troops to co-operate with Major-general Dickinson
and the militia of that State in breaking down the bridges and
harassing the enemy, should they actually attempt to march through it.
In the meantime, the commissioners empowered under the new
Conciliatory Bills to negotiate the restoration of peace between Great
Britain and her former colonies, arrived in the Delaware in the
Trident ship-of-war. These were Frederick Howard, Earl of Carlisle;
William Eden (afterwards Lord Auckland), brother of the last colonial
governor of Maryland; and George Johnstone, commonly known as Governor
Johnstone, having held that office in Florida. The commissioners
landed at Philadelphia on the 6th of June, and discovered to their
astonishment that they had come out, as it were, in the dark, on a
mission in which but a half confidence had been reposed in them by
government. Three weeks before their departure from England, orders
had been sent out to Sir Henry Clinton to evacuate Philadelphia and
concentrate his forces at New York; yet these orders were never
imparted to them. Their letters and speeches testify their surprise
and indignation at finding their plan of operations so completely
disconcerted by their own cabinet.
The orders for evacuation, however, were too peremptory to be evaded,
but Johnstone declared that if he had known of them, he never would
have gone on the mission. The commissioners had prepared a letter for
Congress, merely informing that body of their arrival and powers, and
their disposition to promote a reconciliation, intending quietly to
await an answer; but the unexpected situation of affairs occasioned by
the order for evacuation, obliged them to alter their resolution, and
to write one of a different character bringing forward at once all the
powers delegated to them. On the 9th of June, Sir Henry Clinton
informed Washington of the arrival of the commissioners, and requested
a passport for their secretary, Dr. Ferguson, the historian, to
proceed to Yorktown bearing a letter to Congress. Washington sent to
Congress a copy of Sir Henry's letter, but did not consider himself at
liberty to grant the passport until authorized by them.
Without waiting the result, the commissioners forwarded, by the
ordinary military post, their letter, accompanied by the "Conciliatory
Acts" and other documents. They were received by Congress on the 13th.
The reading of the letter was interrupted, and it came near being
indignantly rejected, on account of expressions disrespectful to
France, charging it with being the insidious enemy of both England and
her colonies, and interposing its pretended friendship to the latter
"only to prevent reconciliation and prolong this destructive war." In
their reply, signed by the president (June 17th), they observed that
nothing but an earnest desire to spare further effusion of blood could
have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so
disrespectful to his most Christian Majesty, or to consider
propositions so derogatory to the honor of an independent nation; and
in conclusion, they expressed a readiness to treat as soon as the King
of Great Britain should demonstrate a sincere disposition for peace,
either by an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of the
States, or by the withdrawal of his fleets and armies.
We will not follow the commissioners through their various attempts,
overtly and covertly, to forward the object of their mission. We
cannot, however, pass unnoticed an intimation conveyed from Governor
Johnstone to General Joseph Reed, at this time an influential member
of Congress, that effectual services on his part to restore the union
of the two countries might be rewarded by ten thousand pounds
sterling, and any office in the colonies in His Majesty's gift. To
this Reed made his brief and memorable reply: "I am not worth
purchasing; but such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich
enough to do it."
The commissioners, disappointed in their hopes of influencing
Congress, attempted to operate on the feelings of the public, at one
time by conciliatory appeals, at another by threats and denunciations.
Their last measure was to publish a manifesto recapitulating their
official proceedings; stating the refusal of Congress to treat with
them, and offering to treat within forty days with deputies from all
or any of the colonies or provincial Assemblies; holding forth, at the
same time, the usual offers of conditional amnesty. This measure, like
all which had preceded it, proved ineffectual; the commissioners
embarked for England, and so terminated this tardy and blundering
attempt of the British Government and its agents to effect a
reconciliation--the last attempt that was made.