Congress. He had sent the captured American General, Sullivan, on his
parole to Philadelphia to endeavour to induce Congress to come to
terms, and save the further effusion of blood. He assured them that
he was not at liberty to treat with them as a Congress, but he would
willingly meet some of them as private gentlemen, having full powers,
with his brother, General Howe, to settle the dispute between them and
Great Britain, on advantageous terms; that, on finding them disposed to
agree to honourable conditions, he would seek for the acknowledgment
of their authority to treat with him, so as to make the compact valid.
The delegates appointed were sufficiently indicative of the little good
that was to be hoped from the interview. They were Dr. Franklin, John
Adams, and Edward Rutledge. Franklin had returned a most insulting
answer to a private letter sent to him by Lord Howe. It was in vain
that Lord Howe assured the deputies that England was disposed to
forget all, to pardon all, and to repeal all the obnoxious taxes, and
that inexpressible calamities would be avoided by the Colonies simply
returning to their allegiance. The deputies replied, that the only
terms on which America could make peace was as independent states. This
put the matter beyond accommodation.
On the 12th of October General Howe, who would have been better
employed in driving the enemy before him than in waiting for his
brother's useless negotiations, sent a considerable part of his forces,
with flat-bottomed boats, through Hell Gate into the Sound, and landed
them at Frog's Neck, about nine miles in the rear of Washington's
position, thus cutting off all his supplies from the country. The
ships ascended higher up the North River, cutting off the retreat into
the Jerseys. Had Howe, instead of landing at Frog's Neck, done so
at Pell's Point, he would have rendered Washington's retreat nearly
impossible. But this was neglected till the 18th of October, by which
time Washington, finding that he was getting gradually hemmed in, and
Lee, who had now joined him from Sullivan's Island and the Carolinas,
insisting that nothing but instant retreat could save them, they
therefore made a rapid retreat into the open country called the White
Plains. They had much difficulty in carrying away their artillery;
and the whole of it must have been taken, had Howe shown any ordinary
activity. Between this date and the 21st there was considerable
skirmishing, which compelled Washington to retire farther into the
White Plains, and from thence towards the Delaware.
On the 18th of November Lord Cornwallis crossed the North River with
six thousand men, and, landing on the Jersey side, began to attack
Fort Lee, standing nearly opposite Fort Washington. The garrison
fled, leaving behind all its tents standing, all its provisions and
artillery. Washington was compelled by this to fall back from his
position on the Croton, thence to Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, and
finally to the Pennsylvanian side of the Delaware. Lord Cornwallis
followed at his heels. Cornwallis penetrated to the remotest parts
of east and west Jersey, and everywhere the inhabitants received him
as a friend and deliverer. On the 24th of November Lord Cornwallis
was approaching Brunswick, when he received orders to halt. By this
means, Washington was allowed to escape across the Delaware. It was
not till the evening of the 16th of December that Cornwallis received
orders to proceed, and, though he made all haste, he was too late. The
rear of the American army quitted Princeton as the van of the English
army entered it. Washington, in headlong haste, fled to Trenton, and
began ferrying his troops over the Delaware. When Cornwallis reached
Trenton, at nine o'clock the next morning, he beheld the last boats
of Washington crossing the river. Once over the water, the remains of
the American troops lost all appearance of an army. They were a mere
dirty, worn-out, ragged, and dispirited mob. Washington had taken the
advantage of the halt of Cornwallis to collect all the boats from
Delaware for the distance of seventy miles, so that the English could
not cross after them. Cornwallis, being thus brought to a stand, put
his army into winter quarters between the Delaware and the Hackensack.
Whilst Cornwallis was pursuing Washington through the Jerseys, Clinton
swept Rhode Island of the American troops, and drove Commodore Hopkins
with some ships up Providence River, where he remained. Rhode Island,
however, required a strong body of English soldiers constantly to
defend it. Meanwhile Sir Guy Carleton, having destroyed the American
flotilla on Lake Champlain, was daily expected to march from Crown
Point and invest Ticonderoga, which was only fifteen miles distant,
and where Schuyler lay prepared to abandon it on the approach of the
English. But Carleton, who had displayed so much activity and energy,
now, like the rest of our generals, seemed at once to abandon them at
the decisive point. He descended the Champlain to Isle-aux-Noix, put
his forces into winter quarters there, and proceeded himself to Quebec,
to prepare for the next campaign. Thus ended the campaign of 1776.
At the very time that Washington was flying before the British army,
Congress, putting a firm face on the matter, went on legislating as
boldly as ever. It established Articles of Confederation and perpetual
union between the several States. These Articles were a supplement to
and extension of the Declaration of Independence, and were sixteen in
number:--1st. That the thirteen States thus confederating should take
the title of the United States. 2nd. That each and all were engaged
in a reciprocal treaty of alliance and friendship for their common
defence, and for their general advantage; obliging themselves to assist
each other against all violence that might threaten all or any of them
on account of religion, sovereignty, commerce, or under any other
pretext whatever. 3rd. That each State reserved to itself alone the
exclusive right of regulating its internal government. 4th. That no
State in particular should either send or receive embassies, begin any
negotiations, contract any engagements, form any alliances, or conclude
any treaties with any king, prince, or power whatsoever, without the
consent of the United States assembled in Congress; that no person
invested with any post in the United States should be allowed to accept
any presents, emoluments, office, or title, from any king, prince, or
foreign Power; and that neither the General Congress, nor any State in
particular, should ever confer any title of nobility. 5th. That none of
the said States should have power to form alliances, or confederations,
even amongst themselves, without the consent of the General Congress.
6th. That no State should lay on any imposts, or establish any duties,
which might affect treaties to be hereafter concluded by Congress with
foreign Powers. 7th. That no State in particular should keep up ships
of war, or land troops beyond the amount regulated by Congress. 8th.
That when any of the States raised troops for the common defence, the
officers of the rank of colonel and under should be appointed by the
legislature of the State, and the superior officers by Congress. 9th.
That all the expenses of the war, etc., should be paid out of a common
treasury. Other clauses defined the functions and powers of Congress,
and the 14th offered to Canada admission to all the privileges of the
other States, should she desire it; but no other colony was to be
admitted without the formal consent of nine of the States composing the
Union.
After thus settling the form and powers of the constitution, Congress
voted eight million dollars to be raised as a loan, and ordered a fresh
issue of paper money. But, above all, it laboured to acquire aid from
abroad, without which it was clear they must yield to the superior
military force of the mother country, and return to their obedience on
humiliating terms. For this purpose, in addition to Silas Deane, who
was already in Paris, Franklin and Arthur Lee were dispatched to that
capital to obtain aid with all possible speed. These gentlemen set sail
in the beginning of November, though in much apprehension of being
intercepted by the British cruisers; but managed to reach Quibéron
Bay in safety, and Paris before the end of the year. So successful
was Franklin in Paris, that he obtained a gift of two millions of
livres from the French king in aid of America, and the assurance that
this should be annually augmented, as her finances allowed. The only
stipulation for the present was profound secrecy. Franklin had also
found the cause of America so popular, that many officers were anxious
to engage in her service; and the enthusiastic young Marquis Lafayette,
notwithstanding the ill news from the United States, engaged to embark
his life and fortune with Washington and his compatriots.
[Illustration: AMERICAN BILL OF CREDIT (1775).]
In England Parliament met on the 31st of October, and Lord North now
moved, in a Committee of Supply, for forty-five thousand seamen for
the service of the following year; and in a warm debate, in which Mr.
Luttrell made a severe charge of maladministration at the Admiralty,
and of the most shameful corruptions and peculations in that department
and in the Commissariat, he called for the production of the necessary
papers to enable him to substantiate these charges.
Yet the whole demand for sailors was carried, and the demand of inquiry
as absolutely rejected. Parliament went on and voted three million two
hundred and five thousand five hundred and five pounds for the expenses
of the navy; four thousand pounds for Greenwich Hospital; five hundred
thousand pounds for the discharge of the debts of the navy. For the
army, including some new contracts with the German princes for men to
serve in America, three million pounds. What was still more disgraceful
was that, amid all these charges on the public purse, the king came
again with a fresh demand for six hundred thousand pounds for debts on
the Civil List. It was pretended that extraordinary calls had been made
on the royal purse by the suffering Royalists in America; but it was
notorious that the Royal household continued in the same condition of
reckless waste and extravagance as it was when the former half million
was voted for the same purpose. Yet the Commons granted this sum; and,
by way of preventing the king from falling into fresh difficulties,
added one hundred thousand pounds a year to the Civil List. The matter,
however, did not pass without a plain reminder to his Majesty. The
rough-spoken Sir Fletcher Norton, the Speaker of the Commons, when
presenting this Bill for the increase of the Civil List to the king,
said:--"Sir,--In a time of public distress, full of difficulty and
danger, under burdens almost too heavy to be borne, your faithful
Commons postponed all other business, and granted your Majesty not only
a large present supply, but a very great additional revenue--great
beyond example--great beyond your Majesty's highest wants!" Having
passed these votes, Parliament was prorogued on the 13th of December
till the 21st of the following January.
But whilst England had been thus preparing for the augmentation of the
navy, America had been aiming a blow at the efficiency of that navy,
which must for years, if successful, have prostrated our whole maritime
forces, and exposed our shores to the easiest invasion. This intended
blow was nothing less than the destruction of our great naval dockyards
and arsenals, and military storehouses, at Portsmouth and Plymouth. The
chief agent in this infamous design, if the evidence of a miscreant can
be believed, was Silas Deane. On the 7th of December the rope-house of
the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth was found to be on fire. By active
exertions it was got under, after it had destroyed that building, and
was imagined to be an accident. But on the 15th of January, 1777,
one of the officers of the dockyard found a machine and combustibles
concealed in the hemp in the hemp-house of the same dockyard. Suspicion
now fell on a moody, silent artisan, who, on the day of the fire, had
been looking about the dockyard, and who, by some chance, had got
locked up in the rope-house the night before. His name was not known,
but the fact only that he was a painter, and had been called John
the Painter. Government immediately offered a reward of fifty pounds
for his apprehension; the same sum, with a strange simplicity, being
offered to him if he would surrender himself for examination. Nothing,
however, could be learned of him in Portsmouth or the country round;
but fresh fires were now breaking out at Plymouth Dockyard and on the
quays of Bristol. At Plymouth the fire was instantly checked, and the
perpetrator was nearly seized. At Bristol the fire was laid near a
narrow, deep creek, crowded with shipping, which was nearly dry at
low water, so that it was impossible to get the shipping out. Six or
seven warehouses were destroyed, but the shipping escaped. In another
house at Bristol combustibles were discovered, and the alarm became
general that the American incendiaries, having failed to burn New
York, were come to England to burn our dockyards and maritime houses.
Fortunately, in the beginning of February, a man was apprehended for
the perpetration of a burglary at Odiham, in Hampshire; and, by the
activity of Sir John Fielding, the London magistrate, he was identified
as John the Painter. When brought before Sir John and other magistrates
in town, the man conducted himself with tact and address. Though
closely examined and cross-questioned by some of the members of the
Privy Council, by Lords of the Admiralty, and other officers of the
board, he maintained the scrutiny without betraying any embarrassment,
or letting anything escape him that could in any degree incriminate
him. A confession was, however, wormed out of him by another painter,
named Baldwin. Silas Deane, John the Painter declared, according to
Baldwin's evidence, had encouraged him to set fire to the dockyards of
Plymouth and Portsmouth, Woolwich and Chatham, as the most effectual
means of disabling Great Britain; that he gave him bills to the amount
of three hundred pounds on a merchant in London, and promised to reward
him according to the amount of service he should do to the American
cause. Before his execution he freely admitted the truth of the charges
against him. He confessed to having twice attempted to fire the
dockyard at Plymouth, and to burning the warehouses at Bristol, having
in vain endeavoured to deposit his combustibles on board the ships.
He, moreover, stated that he had a recommendation from Silas Deane to
Dr. Bancroft, in London, to whom he had declared that he would do all
the harm he could to England; that the doctor did not approve of his
conduct, but had, at his request, promised not to betray him.
On the 8th of May, 1777, Ministers moved for more money for the
insatiable Landgrave of Hesse, whose troops were at this very time
exhibiting the most scandalous state of defiance of discipline, of
consequent inefficiency, and of plunder of the inhabitants of America.
This grant, though violently opposed, was carried, but only by a
majority of eight. All parties now began to denounce the shameless
rapacity of these German princes. Nor did Chatham, ill as he was,
allow the Session to pass without making one more energetic protest
against the continuance of the war with America. On the 30th of May
he moved an address to his Majesty for the immediate cessation of
hostilities. Notwithstanding all that had been said on our successes
over the Americans, Chatham contended as positively as ever that we
could never conquer them. "You have," he said, "ransacked every corner
of Lower Saxony, but forty thousand German boors never can conquer
ten times the number of British freemen. You may ravage, you cannot
conquer--it is impossible--you cannot conquer America. You talk of your
numerous funds to annihilate the Congress, and your powerful forces
to disperse their army; I might as well talk of driving them before
me with my crutch! But what would you conquer? The map of America? I
am ready to meet any general officer on the subject" (looking at Lord
Amherst)--"What will you do out of the protection of your fleet? In the
winter, if together, they are starved; and if dispersed, they are taken
off in detail. I am experienced in spring hopes and vernal promises. I
know what Ministers throw out; but at last will come your equinoctial
disappointment. You have got nothing in America but stations. You have
been three years teaching them the art of war. They are apt scholars;
and I will venture to tell your lordships that the American gentry will
make officers enough fit to command the troops of all the European
Powers." Chatham's motion was rejected by ninety-nine votes against
twenty-eight. Parliament was prorogued by the king on the 6th of June,
in a speech in which he indulged the fallacious hope that the American
insurrection would be terminated in the present campaign. But Chatham's
prophecies were at the very time realising themselves. Had the Howes
had the necessary qualities of commanders in such an important
cause--had they pursued and dispersed the American army, as they ought
to have done on defeating it, and as they might readily have done;
and had the British Government instantly, whilst in this favourable
position, repealed all the obnoxious statutes, they would have thrown
Congress and Washington so completely into the wrong, that it would
have been impossible for them to have made head again. But neither
the Generals nor the Government of that day had the capacity for such
strategic and statesmanlike policy. The Generals went comfortably into
winter quarters, leaving the embers of war to rekindle and spread; and
Government, deaf to the warnings of Chatham, still stolidly refused
justice whilst rigorously enforcing their injustice. And, indeed, when
Chatham gave his last Cassandra-like remonstrance, it was already too
late. We had indeed taught the Americans the art of war. Washington
was no longer contented to stand on the defensive, happy if he could
preserve his soldiers from running off without fighting at all. His
circumstances were desperate, and the energy which springs from despair
now urged him to measures of daring and wakefulness just as the English
Generals, like northern bears, were entering on their winter's sleep.
Benedict Arnold had paid him a visit in his wretched camp beyond the
Delaware, and probably from their united counsels sprang a new style of
movement, which confounded his unsuspecting enemies.
The army of Lord Cornwallis, which had so triumphantly pursued
Washington through the Jerseys, supposing the Americans now put beyond
all possibility of action, if not wholly dispersed, lay carelessly
in their cantonments on the left bank of the Delaware. The two main
outposts, Trenton and Bordentown, were entrusted to bodies of Hessians.
At Trenton lay Colonel Rahl, and at Bordentown Count Donop. As the
Christmas of 1776 was approaching, they had abandoned all discipline.
The British officers, too, had mostly quitted their regiments, and
had gone to enjoy the Christmas at New York, where General Howe was
keeping up great hospitality, imagining the war to be fast drawing to
a close. But if the English paid no attention to Washington, he was
paying every attention to them. His plans arranged, he set out on the
evening of Christmas day, 1776, and crossed the river at Mackonkey's
Ferry, nine miles above Trenton, to attack that fort. The river was so
encumbered with ice that he found it a most arduous undertaking, but he
accomplished it with the division immediately under his command--two
thousand four hundred in number. He continued his march through the
night on Trenton, and reached it at about eight o'clock in the morning.
A trusted spy had informed him over night, that he had seen the
soldiers, both British and Hessians, asleep, steeped in drink. When he
arrived, the soldiers still lay sunk in their Christmas debauch; and it
was only by the first crash of the cannon that they were roused. When
they ran to arms Washington had already invested the town. The brave
Colonel Rahl, in his endeavour to form his drunken troops, and lead
them on, was mortally wounded by an American rifle, almost at the first
discharge. The light horse and a portion of the infantry, who fled on
the first alarm, escaped to Bordentown. The main body attempted to
retreat by the Princeton Road, but found it already occupied by Colonel
Hand and his regiment of Pennsylvanian riflemen. Thus cut off, ignorant
of the force opposed to them, and without enthusiasm for the cause,
they threw down their arms and surrendered. About a thousand prisoners
and six cannon were taken. The Americans had two killed, two frozen to
death, and a few wounded. As soon as Washington had refreshed his men,
he re-crossed the Delaware, carrying with him his prisoners, the stores
he had taken, and the six field-pieces that he brought with him.
This spirited and brilliant action had a wonderful effect on the
American mind. It revived the courage of the troops, which had
sunk very low after so many defeats. It inspired them and the
public at large with confidence in the talents and daring of their
Commander-in-Chief, who was now eulogised as another Fabius. Such was
the confidence inspired, even in himself, by this success, that, being
immediately joined by three thousand six hundred Pennsylvanian militia,
he determined to cross the Delaware, as it was now strongly frozen
over. But General Grant had already joined General Leslie at Princeton,
with a strong body of British and Hessian troops; and General Howe,
on hearing of the fresh spirit of the American army, had detained
Lord Cornwallis, who was about to leave for England. He hastened to
Princeton, and took the command of the whole force, concentrating all
the troops on the Delaware shore. On the 2nd of January, 1777, he
marched from Princeton for Trenton, drove in the enemy's outposts, and
reached Trenton by five o'clock the same afternoon. Washington retired
as he approached. The British, on arriving at the fort and bridge
of the Assumpinck, found both guarded by artillery, and Washington
posted on some high ground beyond. Cornwallis cannonaded the bridge
and forts, and his fire was briskly returned. He then encamped for
the night there, intending to force the creek the next morning; but
Washington did not wait for him. With his raw militia only a few days
in camp, he had no chance of resisting Cornwallis's army, and yet--a
thaw having taken place--it was impossible to cross the Delaware. He
called a council of war, and it was concluded that, from the great
force of Cornwallis in front, the rear could not be very strong. It was
therefore determined to make an attempt to gain the rear, beat up the
enemy's quarters at Princeton, now, as they supposed, nearly deserted,
and, if they could succeed, fall on the British stores and baggage at
New Brunswick. Their own baggage was, accordingly, sent quickly down
the river to Burlington, the camp-fires were replenished, and small
parties being left to deceive the enemy by throwing up entrenchments,
Washington, about midnight, silently decamped by a circuitous route
towards Princeton. At dawn they encountered two out of three English
regiments, which had been at Princeton, on the march. These were the
17th and 55th, hastening to join Cornwallis at Trenton. They imagined
the Americans, owing to a thick fog, to be a body of Hessians; but,
on discovering the mistake, a sharp fight took place, and for some
time the two British regiments withstood Washington's whole force.
Colonel Mawhood, the English commander, posted his force advantageously
on a rising ground between the Americans and Princeton, sent back
his baggage waggons, and dispatched messengers to bring up the 40th
regiment, still in Princeton, with all speed. The 40th not arriving,
Washington managed to force his way between the two British regiments.
The 17th continued its march for Trenton; the 55th fell back upon
Princeton, where the 40th, which had defended itself in the college,
after losing a considerable number of prisoners, joined the 55th, and
retreated upon New Brunswick.
Washington found no rest at Princeton. Cornwallis no sooner heard
the cannonading near Princeton than he immediately comprehended
Washington's _ruse_, and, alarmed for his magazines at New Brunswick,
he hastened in that direction. Washington, aware of his approach, found
it necessary to give up the attempt on New Brunswick. He therefore
hastened across Millstone river, broke down the bridge behind him to
stop pursuit, and posted himself on the high ground at Morristown,
where there were very strong positions. Here he received additional
troops, and entrenched himself. Cornwallis, not aware of the real
weakness of Washington's army despite all its additions, again sat down
quietly for the winter at New Brunswick. For six months the British
army now lay still. Washington, however, lost no time in scouring all
quarters of the Jerseys. He made himself master of the coast opposite
Staten Island, and seized on Newark, Elizabeth Town, and Woodbridge.
The inhabitants had been plundered by the Hessians and English, and
now they were plundered again by their own countrymen for having
received the English well. Washington exerted himself to suppress this
rancorous conduct of the New England and Virginian troops, and issued
a proclamation absolving the people of their oaths to the English, and
promising them protection on their taking a new oath to Congress. The
people of the Jerseys gladly accepted this offer.
Meanwhile, the American emissaries were both busy and successful at the
Court of France. Though the Government still professed most amicable
relations towards Great Britain, it winked at the constant sale of
the prizes taken by American privateers, or those who passed for
such, in their ports. The Government had, as we have seen, supplied
the insurgents with money and arms. It was now arranged between Silas
Deane and the French Minister, Vergennes, that the supplies of arms
and ammunition should be sent by way of the West Indies, and that
Congress should remit payment in tobacco and other produce. The French
Government supplied the American agents with money for their purchases
of arms and necessary articles for the troops, also to be repaid in
tobacco. Two of the ships sent off with such supplies were captured
by the British men-of-war; but a third, loaded with arms, arrived
safely. To procure the money which they could not draw from Europe,
Congress made fresh issues of paper money, though what was already out
was fearfully depreciated. They voted a loan also of five millions of
dollars, at four per cent. interest. They authorised a lottery to raise
a like sum, the prizes to be payable in loan-office certificates. These
measures only precipitated the depreciation of the Government paper;
people refused to take it; and Washington, to prevent the absolute
starvation of the army, was endowed with the extraordinary power of
compelling the acceptance of it, and of arresting and imprisoning
all maligners of the credit of Congress. Congress went further, and
passed a resolution that their bills ought to pass current in all
payments, trade, and dealings, and be deemed equal in value to the
same sum in Spanish dollars; and that all persons refusing to take
them should be considered enemies to the United States; and the local
authorities were called upon to inflict forfeitures and other penalties
on all such persons. Still further: the New York convention having
laid before Congress their scheme for regulating the price of labour,
produce, manufactured articles, and imported goods, it was adopted.
But these arbitrary and unscientific measures the traders set at
defiance, and the attempts to enforce them only aggravated the public
distress. Loans came in slowly, the treasury ran low, the loan offices
were overdrawn, and the issue of bills of credit was reluctantly
recommenced; ten additional millions were speedily authorised, and as
the issue increased, the depreciation naturally kept pace with it. The
Commissioners in France were instructed to borrow money there, but the
instructions were more easily given than executed.
[Illustration: WASHINGTON AND HIS MEN AT VALLEY FORGE. (_See p._ 239.)]
Such were the difficulties under which Congress and Washington had
been struggling through this winter to raise and keep together any
considerable force; whilst General, now Sir William Howe, had been
completely dozing at New York. The first movements of Howe were to
execute several detached evolutions, and a vast quantity of stores
were destroyed. As a retaliation, the Americans sent Colonel Meigs
over to Long Island, to a place called Sag Harbour, where the English
had a great quantity of provision stores, which they learned were very
remissly guarded. Meigs, who had been trained under Arnold, conducted
the enterprise very adroitly. He passed the Sound in whale-boats in
the night, landed without much difficulty before the break of day,
and began to fire the magazines. He met with a brave resistance from
the crews of the merchants' vessels; but, having two hundred men, and
there being no soldiers to oppose him, he destroyed twelve of the
trading vessels, took ninety prisoners, and returned triumphantly
without the loss of a single man. In the meantime, Washington had
quitted his encampment at Morristown, and taken up a strong position at
Middlebrook, about twelve miles from Princeton. On the 13th of June
Howe at last marched out of New Brunswick to attack him. On this,
Washington called to his assistance a great part of the troops in the
highlands, the whole force of the Jersey militia, whilst Arnold, who
had the command at Philadelphia, was actively engaged with Mifflin in
preparing defences for the Delaware. The object of Howe was to draw
Washington from his entrenchments, certain that, on fair ground, it
would require little exertion to totally dissipate his army; therefore,
after marching up almost to the American lines, he commenced a retreat,
evacuated even New Brunswick, and fell back to Amboy. Washington fell
into the snare; he sent a strong force in pursuit of Howe, who, keeping
up the _ruse_, threw a bridge over the narrow strait which divides
Staten Island from the mainland, and sent over part of his baggage
and a number of troops. Satisfied then that Howe was bent on resuming
his old quarters at New York, Washington quitted his camp, which had
cost him so much labour to create, and descended with his main body
to Quibbletown. On seeing this, Howe advanced again, and dispatched
several bodies of soldiers by different routes, to get, if possible,
between Washington and his old post on the hills, so as to bring him
to an engagement on the plain. Washington instantly became aware of
his design, and retreated with all speed. Lord Cornwallis, who led the
British van, notwithstanding, managed to come up with him, and fell
upon a division of three thousand strong, advantageously posted, and
defended with cannon. Cornwallis's charge, however, threw him into
confusion, the rout became general, and the British pursued them as far
as Westfield, when, coming to a woody country, and the heat of the day
being intense, they halted for the night. This halt was the salvation
of Washington: it enabled him to regain his old fortified post in the
hills, leaving behind him part of his cannon, and about two hundred men
killed.
Instead of waiting to watch Washington, or leaving any force for that
purpose, Howe now suddenly altered his plans, marched back in reality
to Staten Island, and left the enemy in full command of the Jerseys.
Embarking his army on the 5th of July, he left General Clinton at New
York with seventeen battalions, a body of loyal American militia, and
a regiment of light horse. He set sail on the 23rd of July, and stood
out to sea. Washington, now supposing that he meant to make an attempt
on Boston, moved slowly towards the Hudson; but he had soon information
that caused him to retreat again towards the Delaware; and, news
coming that Howe had been seen off Cape May, he advanced to Germantown.
Instead of entering the Delaware, however, the British fleet was
presently seen steering eastward, and all calculations were baffled.
Washington, now believing that he was intending to return to New York,
proceeded to Philadelphia, and had an interview with Congress.
Howe's real intention had been to enter the Delaware, and proceed
up it direct to Philadelphia; but, understanding that the Americans
had placed enormous impediments in the river, he stood away for the
mouth of the Elk, in Chesapeake Bay. He was tediously detained by the
contrary winds that always prevail on that course in that season, and
it was the 28th of August before he entered the Elk, and reached the
Elk head, where he landed his troops. On the 2nd of September (1777)
he began his march for Philadelphia. He soon came upon a body of
Washington's army at Iron Hill, which he charged and drove from the
hill. On the 11th he came in sight of Washington's main army, strongly
posted and fortified on the forks of the Brandywine river. Here Howe's
dispositions were excellent. He sent forward, under General Knyphausen,
the second division, which advanced to a ford called Chad's Ford,
and drove a detachment of Americans across it. Howe then advanced,
and, planting his cannon along the bank of the river, he engaged the
Americans in a brisk cannonade across the stream. Meanwhile, Lord
Cornwallis was silently marching in the rear of Howe's troops, round
to another ford at the forks of the Brandywine, which he crossed,
and took Washington's army in the rear. On firing his signal gun,
the Americans were thrown into consternation, and at the same moment
Knyphausen dashed across Chad's Ford, and drove the surprised Americans
from their batteries and entrenchments at the point of the bayonet.
The batteries were instantly turned against them, and Cornwallis, who
had been checked by a division under Sullivan, coming up, there was a
general rout. The Americans fled in utter confusion, having lost three
hundred killed, six hundred wounded, and four hundred taken prisoners.
The English had one hundred killed and four hundred wounded.
But, scarcely had Howe posted himself at Wilmington, when Washington
re-crossed the Schuylkill and marched on the British left, hoping
to imitate the movement of Cornwallis at the Brandywine which had
been so effectual. Howe, aware of the strategy, however, reversed
his front, and the Americans were taken by surprise. In this case,
Howe himself ought to have fallen on the Americans, but a storm is
said to have prevented it, and Washington immediately fell back to
Warwick Furnace, on the south bank of French creek. From that point he
dispatched General Wayne to cross a rough country and occupy a wood on
the British left. Here, having fifteen hundred men himself, he was to
form a junction with two thousand Maryland militia, and with this force
harass the British rear. But information of this movement was given to
Howe, who, on the 20th of September, sent Major-General Greig to expel
Wayne from his concealment. Greig gave orders that not a gun should be
fired, but that the bayonet alone should be used, and then, stealing
unperceived on Wayne, his men made a terrible rush with fixed bayonets,
threw the whole body into consternation, and made a dreadful slaughter.
Three hundred Americans were killed and wounded, about a hundred were
taken prisoners, and the rest fled, leaving their baggage behind them.
The British only lost seven men.
Whilst Washington manœuvred to prevent Howe from crossing the
Schuylkill above him, the English General crossed below on the 22nd
of September, and thus placed himself between Philadelphia and the
American army. It was now necessary for Washington to fight, or give
up that city; but the condition of his troops, deficient in clothes
and shoes, owing to the poverty of the commissariat department,
with wretched arms, and fatigued by their recent exertions, forbade
all hope of maintaining even the defensive. He therefore fell back,
and Cornwallis, on the 27th, advancing from Germantown, entered
Philadelphia amid the welcome of the loyal inhabitants. Cornwallis
occupied the city with four regiments, but the body of the British army
encamped at Germantown, ten miles distant. But, though the Americans
had evacuated the city, they still held the command of the Delaware
below it, and thus cut off the supplies of the British army by sea,
and all communication between the army and the fleet, except by the
circuitous course of Chester, liable to capture by the enemy.
Within a few days of taking Philadelphia, Lord Howe raised three
batteries on the side of the river. On the 3rd of October Washington
issued from his camp on the Schuylkill, about fourteen miles from
Germantown, having heard that two British detachments had been
withdrawn thence to attack the forts on the Delaware. He had been
reinforced by militia from Maryland and New Jersey, and determined to
surprise the British camp at Germantown. Two columns of Continental
troops, led by Greene and Sullivan, were to gain the front of the
British, and attack it; whilst two other columns of militia were to
attack the rear. This force marched all night, and entered Germantown
about sunrise, and all seemed likely to favour their enterprise. A fog
prevented the discovery of their approach. But, at the first surprise,
Colonel Musgrove threw himself into a storehouse, and kept up such a
fire from the windows as checked the assault of the Americans, and
gave time for the rest of the British force to get under arms. The
village of Germantown consisted of one long street. Across this street
the British army had encamped, and stoutly resisted the advance of the
Americans. Musgrove was summoned to surrender; but he continued his
fire from the house without taking any notice, and, before artillery
could be brought up to batter the house, General Greig and Brigadier
Agnew came up to his assistance. The Continental troops in front, led
on by Washington himself, made a brisk attack, but were repulsed at all
points, and were badly co-operated with by the militia in the rear.
Washington was compelled to fall back to his camp at Skippack Creek,
leaving behind him about eight hundred killed and wounded, and four
hundred prisoners. So far, however, was Sir William Howe from availing
himself of this opportunity to follow up the attack on Washington, and
disperse his army, that he, as usual, thought only of getting into snug
winter quarters.
Thus was another glorious chance for the utter dispersion of the
American army thrown away by this most incompetent commander; and, as
Washington saw that he had nothing to fear during the winter, except
from the elements, he determined to encamp himself, so as to keep the
British in constant anxiety about him. He selected a strong piece of
ground at a place called Valley Forge, covered with wood. He set his
soldiers to fell trees and make log-huts, the interstices of which they
stopped with moss, and daubed up with clay. As they had plenty of fuel,
they could thus pass the winter in some degree of comfort. A great
number of his men were on the verge of the expiration of their term,
and were impatient to return home; but he persuaded many to remain,
and he employed them in throwing up entrenchments on the right of his
camp, which was open towards the plain. His left was defended by the
Schuylkill, and his rear by a steep precipice descending to the Valley
Creek. He began two redoubts, but he soon saw that there was no fear of
Howe moving so long as the winter lasted, and he left them unfinished.
And thus the winter went over, Howe lying snugly at Philadelphia,
enjoying his wine and his cards, and apparently forgetful that there
was any such place as Valley Forge within five-and-twenty miles of him.
Whilst these movements had been progressing, very different ones had
been in development in the north. The British Government, with the
fatality which distinguished nearly all its counsels in this war, had
thought proper to take the command of the army destined to operate by
way of Canada on the northern colonies, from Sir Guy Carleton, and
to confer it on General Burgoyne. The campaign had been planned--not
by experienced military men on the spot, capable of estimating the
difficulties of the enterprise, but in the Cabinet at home, directed by
defective maps, and still more defective information.
This scheme was to take Ticonderoga, and then to advance upon Albany.
Whilst the army was marching to this point, the fleet, carrying another
strong force, was to ascend the Hudson, and there meet Burgoyne, by
which means the British could then command the Hudson through its whole
extent; and New England, the head of the rebellion, would be entirely
cut off from the middle and southern countries. The plan was excellent
in itself, but demanded for its successful accomplishment not only
commanders familiar with the country, but the most ardent spirit in
them, and the most careful co-operation.
Being conveyed to St. John's, Burgoyne there disembarked, and on the
16th of June he commenced his march for Crown Point, the shipping
following him by the lake. On the 1st of July he appeared before
Ticonderoga. The place required ten thousand troops effectually to
defend it; but St. Clair who commanded them had only three thousand,
very indifferently armed and equipped. St. Clair saw at once that he
must retire, as the Americans had already done, at Crown Point; but he
sought to do it unobserved. Accordingly, in the night of the 5th of
July the flight took place; but St. Clair's orders were immediately
disobeyed; the soldiers fired the house which had been occupied by
General de Fermoy, and the British were at once apprised of the
retreat. The sailors soon broke up the obstructions at the mouth of the
river, and a fleet of gunboats was in instant pursuit. They overtook
the Americans near the falls of Skenesborough, and quickly mastered
the protecting galleys, and destroyed the vessels. General Burgoyne
followed with other gunboats containing troops, and at the same time
dispatched Generals Fraser and Reisedel by land after St. Clair.
St. Clair had marched with such celerity that he reached, before the
next night, Castleton, thirty miles from Ticonderoga. But the rear
division under Colonel Warner halted at Hubberton, six miles short of
Castleton. Early next morning, General Fraser found them on a hill. No
sooner did they descry him, than one of the regiments turned and fled,
leaving most of their officers to be taken prisoners. But the other two
regiments, commanded by Warner and Francis, stood their ground stoutly.
Fraser had with him only about eight hundred men, and the Americans
were from one thousand two hundred to one thousand five hundred
strong. But Fraser advanced up the hill and attacked them briskly. The
Americans were protected by a sort of breastwork formed of logs and
trees, and they gave Fraser a smart reception. But, calculating on the
approach of Reisedel and the Germans, he fought on; and Reisedel soon
after marching up with a full band of music, the Americans imagined
that the whole body of the Germans was there, and fled on to Castleton
as fast as they could.
General Schuyler was hastening to support Ticonderoga, when, on
reaching Saratoga, he was met by the news of this succession of
defeats. He had, when joined by St. Clair and Long, who had been left
to defend St. John's in vain, about five thousand men, the whole now
of the northern army; but many of these were militia hastily called
together--many of them without arms--more, destitute of ammunition,
and still more, of discipline. But Schuyler depended much more on the
nature of the country which the British would have to traverse from
this point than on his men. The whole region between Skenesborough and
the Hudson was an almost unbroken wilderness. Wood Creek was navigable
as far as Fort Anne; from Fort Anne to the Hudson, over an exceedingly
rough country, covered with thick woods, and intersected by numerous
streams and morasses, extended a single military road. Whilst Burgoyne
halted a few days at Skenesborough to bring up the necessary supplies,
Schuyler seized the opportunity to destroy the navigation of Wood
Creek, by sinking impediments in its channel, and breaking up the
bridges and causeways, of which there were fifty or more on the road
from Fort Anne to Fort Edward. Had Burgoyne been well informed, he
would have fallen back on Ticonderoga, have embarked on Lake George,
and proceeded to Fort George, whence there was a waggon-road to Fort
Edward, the place he was aiming at. Instead of this, he determined on
separating himself from his baggage and artillery, sending these, under
General Philips, to Fort George, and proceeding with the main portion
of the army across the rugged country that lay between himself and Fort
Edward. On this route they had not only to contend with swamps swarming
with mosquitoes, deep gullies, ravines, and rivulets, but to make
temporary bridges to supply the place of those destroyed by Schuyler,
and remove the trees felled by him. The weather, to add to their
stupendous labour, was intensely hot; yet, surmounting everything,
on the 30th of July Burgoyne and his army hailed with enthusiasm the
sight of the Hudson, which they had thus reached through a series of
brilliant successes.
[Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON. (_After the Portrait by Smart._)]
There only needed now one thing to render the expedition triumphant,
and place the Hudson from Albany to New York in the absolute power
of the British army--that General Howe should have been prepared to
keep the appointment there with a proper fleet and armed force. But
Howe was engaged in the campaign of Philadelphia, and seems to have
been utterly incapable of conducting two such operations as watching
Washington and supporting Burgoyne. As soon as Burgoyne discovered
this fatal want of co-operation on the part of Howe, he ought to
have retreated to the lakes, but he still determined to advance; and
before doing so, he only awaited the coming up of the artillery and
baggage under General Philips, and of Colonel St. Leger, who had been
dispatched by the course of the Oswego, the Oneida Lake, and Wood
Creek, and thence by the Mohawk river, which falls into the Hudson
between Saratoga and Albany. St. Leger had two hundred regulars--Sir
John Johnson's Royal Queen's and Canadian Rangers--with him, and a
body of Indians under Brandt. St. Leger, on his way, had laid siege to
Fort Schuyler, late Fort Stanwix, near the head of the Mohawk. General
Herkimer raised the militia of Tryon county, and advanced to the relief
of the place.
On hearing this, Burgoyne dispatched Colonel Baum with two pieces of
artillery and eight hundred men--dismounted German dragoons and British
marksmen. They were to surprise Bennington, a place about twenty miles
to the east of the Hudson, where the Americans had collected their
stores from New England, and, having secured these, to return and carry
them to St. Leger. Baum, however, found himself surrounded by Generals
Starke and Warner at St. Corick's Mill, on Walloon Creek, six miles
from Bennington, before help came up. For two hours a fierce attack
was kept up on Baum's entrenchments on all sides by the Americans with
muskets and rifles. Baum made a most gallant defence, and three times
drove them from some high ground which they occupied above his camp.
At last he was picked off by a rifleman and fell mortally wounded.
His German troops retreated into the woods, in the direction of Fort
Edward, and were there met by Breyman, who was slowly advancing with
reinforcements. He reorganised the fugitives, and commenced his
retreat, hotly pursued by Starke and Warner; he made his way back to
Burgoyne, but not until he had fired nearly his last cartridge.
During this time St. Leger had been investing Fort Schuyler. The whole
of his miscellaneous force did not exceed six hundred, exclusive of
Indians; and on the 5th of August he learned that General Herkimer was
advancing to the relief. He instantly dispatched Sir John Johnson with
a party of regulars and a number of Indians to waylay him. Herkimer
fell into the ambush, and was himself mortally wounded. St. Leger,
finding that his light artillery made no impression on the walls of
Fort Schuyler, and hearing a false rumour that Burgoyne was defeated,
raised the siege, leaving behind him his artillery, tents, and stores.
His precipitation was occasioned by the more certain news of the
approach of Arnold with ten pieces of artillery and two thousand men,
who indeed, reached Fort Schuyler two days after his retreat.
Burgoyne was now in a condition which demanded all the talents of a
great general. His forces were heavily reduced, those of the enemy
much increased, and he was amongst bogs and wildernesses, which
Barrington and Barré had from the first declared would be fatal to any
army. He had sent express after express to Howe to urge a movement
in co-operation, but no news of it arrived, and every day he was
becoming more and more cut off from advance or retreat. Whilst these
circumstances were operating against him, Burgoyne collected his
artillery and provisions for about a month, and, forming a bridge of
boats, passed his army, on the 13th and 14th of September, over the
Hudson, and encamped on the heights and plains of Saratoga. Just at
this juncture Schuyler had been superseded by his successor Gates, yet
he himself remained to give his assistance in the campaign. The day
after Gates assumed the command, Morgan had marched in with his rifle
corps, five hundred strong, and Major Dearborn with two hundred and
fifty other picked men. Arnold, too, had returned from pursuit of St.
Leger, with two thousand men. The Americans numbered, with militia
continually flocking in, nearly eight thousand, whilst Burgoyne's
force did not exceed half that number. To approach the Americans it
was necessary to cross the low ground, seamed with watercourses and
rugged with scrub and stones, and to lay down bridges and causeways.
This being completed, on the 19th the British army took position at
Bemus's Heights in front of the American left. Gates, stimulated by
the presence of Arnold, began the attack by sending out a detachment
to turn Burgoyne's right flank, but they soon perceived the covering
division of Fraser, and retreated. Gates then put Arnold at the head of
a still stronger detachment to fall directly on Burgoyne's position,
and a severe fight commenced about three o'clock in the afternoon,
which lasted until sunset. Arnold made the most impetuous assaults
on the British line to break it, but everywhere in vain, although the
whole weight of the attack fell on three or four of our regiments,
the rest being posted on some hills, and the Germans on the left at a
greater distance. Whenever they advanced into the open field, the fire
of the American marksmen from their concealment drove them back in
disorder; but whenever the Americans ventured out, the British rushed
forward and committed havoc amongst them; so the contest continued till
night. The British remained in the field and claimed the victory; but
it was a victory severely won, and far from decisive. The losses on
both sides had been from five hundred to six hundred killed and wounded.
The English lay all night on their arms, and, as day dawned, began
to entrench their position. If ever a general needed to push on his
advantage it was now. Every day was consuming Burgoyne's stores; every
day was augmenting the forces of the enemy. The country was closed
to Burgoyne; it was open with all its resources to the Americans.
Yet he lay there, as if paralysed, from the 20th of September to the
7th of October. The reason of this fatal delay is said to have been
that Burgoyne had received a letter from General Sir Henry Clinton
at New York, informing him that he must expect no co-operation from
General Howe, but that he himself would take the responsibility of
making a diversion in his favour by attacking the Forts Montgomery and
Clinton, on the lower part of the Hudson. Burgoyne, on receiving this
intelligence, sent Clinton word that he would remain where he was till
the 12th of October--a fatal resolve, as a calculation of his stores
should have shown him, which the acts of the Americans were certain to
render calamitous. Elated at being able to stand their ground in some
degree, this novel and almost sole success in the war had raised the
spirits of the Colonials as by a miracle. They poured in on all sides,
and Arnold, ever ready in resource, suggested to Gates an enterprise
to be effected while Burgoyne was lying still and consuming his own
victuals.
This was to send a part of Lincoln's militia, under Colonel Brown, to
endeavour to surprise Fort Ticonderoga, Mount Independence, and Fort
George, to capture or destroy all the stores there, to hold them in
strong force, and thus completely to cut off Burgoyne's retreat by the
lakes to Canada. Brown, being joined by another body of militia under
Colonel Johnson, invested Ticonderoga. Being repulsed there, he sailed
through Lake George in the vessels he had taken; made a fresh attempt
upon Diamond Island, and, being also repulsed there, he set fire to
the captured vessels, and returned to the American camp in the rear
of Burgoyne. Partial as his success had been, he had, however, opened
the route, and whilst he and the rest of the militia were watching
Burgoyne, other bodies of Americans were mustering in his track, and
the retreat of Burgoyne became an impossibility. He could stay where he
was no longer. His provisions were exhausted; his horses were dying for
lack of forage, and his situation was most deplorable.
In this situation the English General determined to attempt--what
he should have attempted at first--to force the American lines.
Accordingly, on the 7th of October, he drew out one thousand five
hundred picked men, and formed them less than a mile from the American
camp. No sooner were they descried, than they were attacked furiously
by Poor's New Hampshire brigade. The attack extended rapidly to the
right, where Morgan and his rifle corps stole round through some woods,
and opened fire on the flank of the column. Other troops rushed out
of the American entrenchments, and endeavoured to force their way
between the British and their camp; but Major Ackland and his riflemen
withstood them bravely; yet Burgoyne and his one thousand five hundred
men were forced to fall back, leaving their cannon behind them. Morgan
and his riflemen were now arriving, under cover of the woods, near
the flank of the right wing; and Fraser, perceiving them, advanced
to dislodge them. In this he succeeded, but was picked off by the
American marksmen, as usual safe behind their trees, and fell mortally
wounded. Meanwhile Colonel Brooks, at the head of Jackson's regiment
of Massachusetts, was more successful. He turned the entrenchments of
the German brigade, maintained his ground within the lines, and, to the
wonderful relief of the Americans, seized the baggage of the Germans,
and an ample supply of ammunition.
Retreat was now inevitable, and Burgoyne determined to attempt to
reach Fort George, at the southern end of Lake George. He had but
three days' provisions left, and his force was now reduced to three
thousand five hundred men, and these had to make their way through a
wilderness swarming with active and elate enemies. Gates, aware of
the movement which Burgoyne was intending to make, sent troops up the
river to occupy the banks of the Hudson, and to guard all passages
of escape. The distance to Saratoga was only six miles, but the rain
fell in torrents, the roads were almost impassable, the bridges over
the Fishkill were all broken down by the Americans. Burgoyne sent
forward detachments of soldiers to repair the bridges and re-open the
roads; but they found the woods swarming with riflemen, and that it
was impossible to execute the task assigned them. On the 10th, when
he arrived at the fords of the Fishkill, he found them obstructed by
strong forces of Americans. He soon dispersed them with cannon, but
they only retired to the Hudson, where still stronger bodies of troops
were posted to oppose his crossing. He might, perhaps, have dispersed
these too, but other bodies were seen already in line on the left bank,
and to cross there appeared hopeless.
Driven to desperation, Burgoyne now contemplated crossing the river
in the very face of the enemy, and fighting his way through, and for
this purpose he sent a party up the river to reconnoitre a suitable
spot. Once over, he had little doubt of making his way to Fort Edward,
and thence to the Canadian lakes. At this moment Gates was informed
that Burgoyne had effected his passage, and that he had left only
the rear-guard in the camp. He was in full march upon the camp, in
the belief that he could seize it with ease, and part of his forces
had actually crossed the fords of Fishkill, near which Burgoyne was
strongly posted, when a spy or a deserter informed him of his mistake.
Had it not been for this circumstance he must have suffered a surprise
and a certain defeat, and the fortunes of Burgoyne would probably have
been different. He was now on the alert to receive the Americans, and
when, to his mortification, he saw them at a signal again retreating,
he poured a murderous fire into them, and pursued them in confusion
across the creek. This was his last chance. No news reached him from
Clinton; but he ascertained that the Americans had already, in strong
force, blocked up his way to Fort Edward. This was decisive. On the
13th he called together a council of war, at which every captain was
invited to attend, and the unanimous result of the deliberations was
that they must capitulate. Accordingly, an officer was sent with a note
to the American headquarters that evening, to propose an interview
between General Burgoyne and General Gates. The American General agreed
to the meeting at ten o'clock the next morning. There Burgoyne stated
that he was aware of the superiority of Gates's numbers, and, to spare
the useless effusion of blood, he proposed a cessation of arms, to
give time for a treaty to that effect.
Gates replied that he was well aware that General Burgoyne's army was
reduced to the last extremity; that it had lost the greater part of its
men by repeated defeats, sickness, etc., together with their artillery,
horses, and ammunition; that their retreat was cut off, and, therefore,
he could listen to nothing but an absolute surrender. Burgoyne said
he would never admit that his retreat was cut off whilst he had arms
in his hands; and Gates, who knew that Clinton was on his march, and
might soon alter the whole face of things, was only too anxious to have
Burgoyne's army out of the way. After some preliminaries, therefore,
to save appearances, on the 16th it was agreed that the British should
march out of their camp with all the honours of war; should deposit
their cannon on the banks of the Hudson, and there pile their arms at
the command of their own officers; that the troops, of whatever nation
they might be composed, should retire in all security and honour to
Boston, where they should be provided with all necessary comforts until
they embarked for England, under condition of not serving against the
United States again during that war; that the Canadians should be
allowed to return in all honour to their own country; and that in no
case should officers be separated from their own men. These were not
such terms as are usually granted to conquered armies; and the reason
was, that Clinton was every day drawing nearer. Scarcely were these
terms agreed on, when this fact became known to Burgoyne. For a moment
he hesitated whether he should sign the contract; but, on consultation
with his officers, he felt himself bound in honour to ratify it, and
accordingly, the next morning, the 17th of October, the deed was
signed, and the troops, marching out, grounded their arms.
Whilst Burgoyne had been looking in vain for aid from New York, Sir
Henry Clinton, at length daring the responsibility of a necessary deed,
had set out with three thousand men, in vessels of different kinds,
up the Hudson. On the 6th of October--eleven days before Burgoyne
signed the capitulation--Clinton set out. Leaving one thousand men
at Verplank's Point, he crossed to the other bank with his remaining
two thousand, and landed them at Stony Point, only twelve miles from
Fort Montgomery. He advanced with one-half of his force to storm Fort
Clinton, and dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell to attack Fort
Montgomery. Both forts were to be attacked, if possible, at the same
instant, to prevent the one from aiding the other. The simultaneous
assaults took place about sunset. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell was
killed leading his column against Fort Montgomery, but his brave troops
entered and drove the garrison of eight hundred men from the place.
Clinton found the approach to the fort of his own name much more
arduous. But on went our brave fellows till they reached the foot of
the works, where, having no ladders, they hoisted one another on their
shoulders to the embrasures, through which they pushed past the cannon,
and drove the Americans from their guns, and across the rampart,
at the points of their bayonets. It was dark by the time the forts
were taken, but the Americans soon threw light enough on the scene
by setting fire to several vessels which were moored close under the
guns of the forts. Had the English been disposed to risk the attempt
to save them, they were prevented by several strong booms and chains
thrown across the river. These they afterwards broke through, and, on
the 13th of October, at the very moment that Burgoyne was making his
first overtures for surrender, the English troops under General Vaughan
ascended, in small frigates, as far as Esopus Creek, only thirty miles
overland to Saratoga. But Burgoyne having now surrendered, and Gates
being at liberty to send down strong reinforcements to co-operate with
Putnam, the English vessels and troops were recalled, and returned
to New York. Such was the campaign of 1777; equally remarkable for
the valour of the British troops, and for their misfortunes; for the
imbecility of their Government, and the incapacity or rashness of their
commanders.
[Illustration: SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE AT SARATOGA. (_See p._ 244.)]