Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

tunities for offensive operations as might be attempted without hazarding too much. The principal expedition of this kind was directed against the six nations of Indians who inhabited the fertile country between the western settlements of New York, Pennsylvania, and the lakes of Canada. These, from their vicinity to, and intercourse with, the white people, had attained a degree of civilization exceeding what was usual among savages. To them many refugee tories had fled, and directed them to the settlements, which they had laid waste, and at the same time massacred the inhabitants. In the early period of Washington's life, while he was commander of the Virginia troops, he had ample experience of the futility of forts for defence against Indians, and of the superior advantage of carrying offensive operations into their towns and settlements. An invasion of the country of the six nations being resolved upon, the commander in chief bestowed much thought on the best mode of conducting it. The instructions he gave to general Sullivan, who was appointed to this service, were very particular, and much more severe than was usual with Washington, but not more so than retaliation justified, or policy recommended. Sullivan with a considerable force penetrated

into the country of the Indians, in three directions, laid waste their crops, and burnt their towns. His success was decisive, and in a great measure secured the future peace

of the frontier settlements. The late residence of the savages was rendered so far uninhabitable, as to reduce them to the necessity of seeking an asylum in the more remote western country.

While the British were laying waste Connecticut, general Washington, after reconnoitring the ground in person, planned an expedition against Stoney Point, a commanding hill projecting far into the Hudson, on the top of which a fort had been erected, which was garrisoned with about 600 men. One of the motives for assaulting this work, was the hope that, if successful, it might induce the detachment which had invaded Connecticut, to desist from their devastations, and to return to the defence of their own outposts; The enterprise was assigned to general Wayne, who completely succeeded in reducing the fort and capturing its garrison.

Sir Henry Clinton, on receiving intelligence of general Wayne's success, relinquished his views on Connecticut, and made a forced march to Dobb's ferry, twenty-six miles above New York. The reduction of Stoney

Point was speedily followed by the surprise of the British garrison at Paulus Hook. This was first conceived and planned by major Lee. On being submitted to general Washington, he favoured the enterprise, but withheld his full assent till he was satisfied of the practicability of a retreat, of which serious doubts were entertained. Lee, with 300 mea, entered the fort about three o'clock in the morning, and, with very inconsiderable loss, took 159 prisoners, and brought them off in safety from the vicinity of large bodies of the enemy.

The policy adopted by Washington for avoiding all hazardous offensive operations in the present unprovided state of his feeble army, was strongly enforced by a well-founded expectation that a French fleet would appear on the coast in the course of the year 1779. Policy required that the American army should be reserved for a co-operation with their allies. The fleet, as expected, did arrive, but in the vicinity of Georgia. The French troops, in conjunction with the southern army, commanded by general Lincoln, made an unsuccessful attempt on the British post in Savannah. This town had been reduced in December 1778 by colonel Campbell, who had proceeded so far as to re-establish British authority

authority in the state of Georgia. Soon after the defeat of the combined forces before Savannah, and the departure of the French fleet from the coast, sir Henry Clinton proceeded with the principal part of his army to attack Charlestown, and confined his views in New York to defensive operations.

The campaign of 1779 terminated in the northern states, as has been related, without any great events on either side. Washington defeated all the projects of the British for getting possession of the highlands. The Indians were scourged, and a few brilliant strokes kept the public mind from despondence. The Americans went into winter quarters when the month of December was far advanced. These were chosen for the convenience of wood, water, and provisions, and with an eye to the protection of the country. To this end the army was thrown into two grand divisions. The northern was put under the command of general Heath, and stationed with a view to the security of West Point and the adjacent country. The other retired to Morristown in New Jersey. In this situation, which was well calculated to ́secure the country to the southward of New York, Washington, with the principal division of his army, took their station for the winter.

The

The season following their retirement was uncommonly severe. The British in New York

and Staten island no longer enjoyed the security which their insular situation usually afforded. The former suffered from the want of fuel and other supplies from the country. To add to their difficulties, Washington so disposed his troops, as to give the greatest possible obstruction to the communication between the British garrison and such of the inhabitants without their lines as were disposed, from various motives, to supply their wants. This brought on a partisan war,

which individuals were killed, but without any national effect. Had general Washington been supported as he desired, the weakness of the British army, in consequence of their large detachments to the southward, in conjunction with the severity of the winter, would have given him an opportunity for indulging his native spirit of enterprise; but he durst not attempt any thing on a grand scale, for his army was not only inferior in number to that opposed to him, but so destitute of clothing as to be unequal to a winter campaign.

« AnteriorContinuar »