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to direct a retreat towards Saratoga. But the enemy had stationed a great force on the ford at Hudson's river, so that the only possibility of retreat was, by securing a passage to lake George; and, to effect this, a body of workmen were detached, with a strong guard, to repair the roads and bridges that led to fort Edward. As soon as they were gone, the enemy seemed to menace an attack, which rendered it necessary to recall the guard; and the workmen, being of course left exposed, could not proceed. The boats, which conveyed provisions down Hudson's river, were now exposed to the continual fire of the Ameriean marksmen, who also took many of them; so that it became necessary to convey the provisions over land. In this extreme danger it was resolved to march by night to fort Edward, forcing the passages at the fords either above or below the place; and, in order to effect this the more easily, it was resolved that the soldiers should carry their provisions on their backs, leaving behind their baggage and every other incumbrance. But, before this could be executed, intelligence was received that the enemy had raised strong entrenchments opposite to these fords, well provided with cannon, and that they had likewise taken possession of the rising ground between fort George and fort Edward, which in like manner was provided with cannon. All this time the American army was increasing by the continual arrival of militia and volunteers from all parts. Their parties extended all along the opposite bank of Hudson's river, and some had even passed it in order to watch the least movement of the British army. The whole force under general Gates was computed at upwards of 18,000 men, while the army under general Burgoyne did not amount to 6,000; and every part of the camp was penetrated by the grape and rifle shot of the enemy, besides discharges from their artillery, which were almost incessant. In this state of extreme distress and danger, the army continued with the greatest constancy and perseverance till the evening of the 13th of October, when, an inventory of provisions being taken, it was found that no more remained than what were sufficient to serve for three days; and, a council of war being called, it was unanimously determined, that there was no method now remaining but to treat with the enemy. In consequence of this, a negociation was opened the next day, which speedily terminated in a capitulation of the whole British army; the principal article of which was, "that the troops were to have a free passage to Great Britain, on condition of not serving against America during the war." On this occa

sion, general Gates ordered his army to keep within their camp, while the British soldiers went to a place appointed for them to lay down their arms, that the latter might not have the additional mortification of being made spectacles of so melancholy an event. The number of those who surrendered at Saratoga, amounted to 5,750; the list of sick and wounded left in the camp when the army retreated to Saratoga, to 528; and the number of those lost by other accidents since the taking of Ticonderoga, to near 3,000. Thirty- ve brass field-pieces, 7,000 stand of arms, clothing for an equal number of soldiers, with all the tents, baggage, military chest, &c. likewise fell into the hands of the Americans. This memorable event happened on the 17th of October, 1777; it diffused universal joy over America, and laid a foundation for the treaty with France.

But previous to these transactions, the main body of the British forces had embarked at New York, sailed up the Chesapeak, and landed at the head of Elk river, with the view of attacking Philadelphia. General Washington had determined to oppose them, and for this purpose made a stand, first at Redclay creek, and then upon the heights, near Brandywine creek. Here a desperate and bloody engagement took place on the 11th of September, which lasted nearly the whole day. The Americans were overpowered, and suffered great loss; having no less than 1,000 killed and wounded, besides 400 taken prisoners; and it was only through the approach of night that they were saved from being entirely destroyed. The British soon pursued their march, and took possession of Philadelphia about the end of September. On the 4th of October, the two armies were again engaged at German town, seven miles from Philadelphia. At the beginning of the action the Americans had the advantage, but the fortune of the day turned in favour of the British army. General Washington's troops made a very resolute attack, but they were received with such bravery, that they were compelled to abandon the attempt, and retreat in great disorder; with the advantage, however, of carrying off their cannon, though pursued for a considerable way, after having 300 killed, one of whom was general Nash, 600 wounded, and upwards of 400 taken prisoners, among whom were fiftyfour officers. On the British side, the loss amounted to 430 wounded and prisoners, and seventy killed; among whom were general Agnew and colonel Bird, with some other excellent officers.

There still remained the two strong forts of Mud island

and Red bank, on the Delaware, to be reduced. In the attack upon these, the Hessians were unsuccessful, and their commander, colonel Donop, mortally wounded. The British, during the heat of the engagement, lost the Augusta, a ship of the line, and the Merlin frigate, both of which took fire and were burnt to ashes. But the forts were finally reduced, and the navigation of the Delaware opened. General Washington had now been reinforced. by a considerable part of the troops which had composed the northern army, under general Gates; and both armies retired to winter quarters.

In October, the same month in which general Burgoyne was taken at Saratoga, general Vaughan, with a small fleet, sailed up Hudson's river, and burnt Kingston, a beautiful Dutch settlement, on the west side of the river.

The beginning of the next year, 1778, was distinguished by a treaty of alliance between France and America; by which the Americans obtained a powerful and generous ally. When the English ministry were informed that this treaty was on foot, they despatched commissioners to America, to attempt a reconciliation. But congress would not now accept their offers. Early in the spring, count de Estaign, with a fleet of fifteen sail of the line, was sent by the court of France to assist America.

General Howe, having left the army, and returned to England; the command then devolved upon sir Henry Clinton."

In June, the British army left Philadelphia, and marched for New York. On their march they were annoyed by the Americans; and at Monmouth, sixty-four miles from the former city, a very regular action took place between part of the armies; the British were repulsed with great loss, and had general Lee obeyed his orders, a signal victory must have been obtained. General Lee, for his ill conduct that day, was suspended, and was never afterwards permitted to join the army.

General Lee's conduct, at several times before this, had been very suspicious. In December, 1776, he lay at Chatham, about eleven miles from Elizabeth-town, with a brigade of troops, when a great quantity of baggage was stored at Elizabeth-town, under a guard of only 500 Hessians. General Lee was apprized of this, and might have surprised the guard and taken the baggage. But he neglected the opportunity; and, after several marches and counter-marches between Troy, Chatham, and Morris-town, he took up his quarters at or near White's tavern, where he was surprised and taken

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prisoner by a party of the British horse. He was heard to say, repeatedly, that general Washington would ruin a fine army. It was suspected that he had designs to supplant the general; and his friends attempted to place him at the head of the army. General Washington's prudent delays and cautious movements, afforded general Lee's friends many opportunities to spread reports unfavourable to his character. It was insinuated, with some success, that general Washington wanted courage and abilities. Reports of this kind, at one time, rendered general Lee very popular, and it is supposed he wished to frustrate general Washington's plans, in order to increase the suspicions already entertained of his generalship, and turn the public clamour in his own favour. His conduct at Monmouth must have proceeded from such a design; for he commanded the flower of the American army, and was not destitute of courage.

In August, general Sullivan, with a large body of troops, attempted to take possession of Rhode island, but did not succeed. Soon after, the stores and shipping at Bedford, in Massachusetts, were burnt by a party of the British troops. The same year, Savannah, then the capital of Georgia, was taken by the British, under the command of colonel Campbell. In the following year, 1779, general Lincoln was appointed to the command of the southern army.

Governor Tryon and sir George Collyer made an incur. sion into Connecticut, and burnt the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk. But the Americans were crowned with success, in a bold attack upon Stoney-point, which was surprised and taken by general Wayne, in the night of the 15th July; 500 men were made prisoners, with little loss on either side.

A party of British forces attempted this summer to build a fort on Penobscot river, for the purpose of cutting timber in the neighbouring forests. In Massachusetts a plan was laid to dislodge them, and a considerable fleet collected for the purpose. But the plan failed of success, and the whole marine force fell into the hands of the British, except some vessels which were burnt by the Americans themselves.

In October, general Lincoln and count de Estaing made an assault upon Savannah, but were repulsed with considerable loss. In this action, the celebrated Polish count, Pulaski, who had acquired the reputation of a brave soldier, was mortally wounded.

In this summer, general. Sullivan marched with a body

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of troops into the Indians country, and burnt and destroyed all the provisions and settlements that fell in their way.

On the opening of the campaign the next year, 1780, the British troops left Rhode island. An expedition under general Clinton and lord Cornwallis was undertaken against Charleston, South Carolina, where general Lincoln commanded. This town, after a close siege of about six weeks, was surrendered to the British commander: and géneral Lincoln, and the whole American garrison, were made prisoners.

General Gates was appointed to the command in the southern department, and another army collected. In August, lord Cornwallis attacked the American troops at Camden, in South Carolina, and routed them with considerable loss. He afterwards marched through the southern states, and supposed them entirely subdued. The same summer, the British troops made frequent incursions from New York into the Jerseys, ravaging and plundering the the country.

In June, a large body of the enemy, commanded by the Hessian general, Kniphausen, landed at Elizabeth-towh point, and proceeded into the country. They were much harassed in their progress by colonel Dayton and the troops under his command. When they arrived at Connecticat farms, according to their usual but sacrilegious cus tom, they burnt the Presbyterian church, parsonage house, and a considerable part of the village. But the most cruel and wanton act that was perpetrated during this incursion, was the murder of Mrs. Caldwell, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, of Elizabeth-town.

This amiable woman, seeing the enemy advancing, retired with her house-keeper, a child of three years old; an infant of eight months, and a little maid, to a room seeured on all sides by stone walls, except at a window opposite the enemy. She prudently took this precaution to avoid the danger of transient shot, should the ground be disputed near that place, which happened not to be the case; neither was there any firing from either party near the house until the fatal moment, when Mrs. Caldwell, unsuspicious of an immediate danger, sitting on the bed with her little child by the hand, and her nurse, with her infant babe by her side, was instantly shot dead by an unfeeling soldier, who had come round to the unguarded part of the house, with an evident design to perpetrate the horrid deed. Many circumstances attending this inhuman murder, evince not only that it was committed by the ene my with design, but also that it was by the permission, if

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