TABLE OF CONTENTS. BOOK EIGHTH. SUMMARY.-Designs of the British ministry. Expedition of Burgoyne. Assembly of the Savages. Proclamation of Burgoyne. He puts himself in motion. The Americans prepare to combat him. Description of Ticonderoga. Capture of that fortress; operations which result from it. Burgoyne arrives upon the banks of the Hudson. Siege of fort Stanwix. Affair of Bennington. Embarrassed position of Burgoyne. Gates takes the command of the northern army. Battle between Burgoyne and Gates. Second battle still more sanguinary. Burgoyne in extremity. He surrenders. Generosity of Gates. Ravages committed by the royal troops. The republicans prepare to oppose sir William Howe. The marquis de la Fayette, and his qualities. Howe lands with his army at the head of Elk. Battle of Brandywine. After various movements the royalists take possession of Philadelphia. Battle of Germantown. Operations upon the Delaware. The two armies go into quarters. Miserable condition of the republicans in the quarters of Valley Forge, and their astonishing constancy. Intrigues against Washington, and his magnanimity. Howe succeeded by sir Henry Clinton, and departs for England. BOOK NINTH. The earl of SUMMARY.-Effects produced in England by the events of the war. Chatham proposes a plan of conciliation, but is unable to procure its adoption. Designs of the ministers. Negotiations of Congress in France. Interested policy of the French government. Lewis XVI. acknowledges the Independence of the United States. Lord North makes a motion in favor of an arrangement. Declaration of the French ambassador. Independence of America. Pownal advocates in Parliament the acknowledgment of American Independence. Jenkinson speaks in opposition to it, and obtains the majority of votes. The earl of Chatham dies; his character. War is declared between France and England. Naval battle of Ouessant BOOK TENTH. SUMMARY.-The conciliatory plan of the ministry arrives in America. Effects it produced there. Deliberations of Congress. The treaties concluded with France arrive in the United States. Joy of the inhabitants. The Congress ratify the treaties. The commissioners sent by George third with proposals of peace arrive in America. The Americans refuse all arrangement. The English evacuate Philadelphia. Battle of Monmouth. The count D'Estaing arrives with a fleet in the waters of America, the projects of that admiral. Other operations of the British commissioners. They are without effect, and the commissioners depart from America. The Congress give a solemn audience to the minister of the king of France. Operations in Rhode Island. Engagement between the count D'Estaing and Howe. Discontent of the Americans against the French, and quarrels which result from it. Horrible Excision of Wyoming. The count D'Estaing sails for the West Indies. Byron follows him. The royal army moves to attack the southern provinces of the confederation. BOOK ELEVENTH. SUMMARY.-The French capture Dominica, the English St. Lucia. The British troops land in Georgia, and occupy Savannah. They attempt to carry Charleston, in South Carolina. Their depredations. Different military events. The islands of St. Vincent and Grenada are conquered by the French. Naval action between the count D'Estaing and admiral Byron. The count D'Estaing arrives in Georgia. Savannah besieged by the Americans and French. Count D'Estaing returns to Europe. Political revolution among the Americans. Spain joins the coalition against England. The combined fleets of France and Spain present themselves upon the coasts of Great Britain. They retire. Causes of their retreat. Discontents in Holland against England. Armed neutrality of the northern powers. The British ministry send reenforcements to America. The English obtain great advantages over the Spaniards, and throw succours into Gibraltar. Firmness of the British court. BOOK TWELFTH. SUMMARY-Campaign of the south. The English besiege and take Charleston. Tarle. ton defeats the republicans at Wacsaw. Submission of South Carolina, and proclamations of lord Cornwallis for the reestablishment of tranquillity in that province. New York menaced. New devastations committed by the English. Washington defeats the plan of Clinton. Variations of bills of credit. New efforts of the republicans in South Carolina. Magnanimity of the women of that province. Campaign by sea. Engagements between the count de Guicken and admiral Rodney. Dreadful hurricane in the West Indies. The English capture a French convoy, and the Spaniards, a British convoy. Siege of Gibraltar. Parties in Holland. Secret treaty between the Congress and the city of Amsterdam. Rupture between England and Holland. Revival of ardor among the Americans. M. de la Fayette arrives from France in America, and brings good news. Bank of Philadelphia. Academy of Massachusetts. The count de Rochambeau, arrives in Rhode Island, with French troops. War rekindles in South Carolina. General Gates takes the command of the southern army. Battle of Cambden between Gates and Cornwallis. Bloody executions in South Carolina. Conspiracy and treason. Deplorable death of Major Andre. Hostilities in the Carolinas. Battle of King's mountain. Affair of Blackstocks. Gates succeeded by general Green. Battle of Cowpens. Admirable pursuit of the English, and no less admirable retreat of the Americans. Battle of Guildford between Green and Cornwallis. Green marches upon the Carolinas; Cornwallis upon Virginia. BOOK THIRTEENTH. SUMMARY.-Losses of the Dutch. Depredations of the English at St. Eustatius. The Spaniards seize West Florida. Plans of the belligerent powers. The English revictual Gibraltar. The Spaniards attack that fortress with fury. M. de la Motte Piquet takes from the English the booty they had made at St. Eustatius. Naval battle of the bay of Praya. M. de Suffren succours the Cape of Good Hope. General Elliot, governor of Gibraltar, destroys the works of the Spaniards. Attack upon Minorca. The combined fleets show themselves upon the coast of England. Fierce combat between the English and Dutch. The count de Grasse arrives in the West Indies with a formidable fleet. Combat between him and admiral Hood. The French take Tobago. The count de Grasse and admiral Hood prepare themselves for the execution of their plans of campaign. Intestine dissentions in the United States. Insurrection in the army of Pennsylvania. Battle of Hobkirk. Battle of Eutaw Springs, and end of the campaign of the south. Campaign of Virginia. Cornwallis takes post at Yorktown. The combined troops besiege him there, and constrain him to surrender with all his army. The French make themselves masters of St. Christopher's. Minorca falls into the power of the allies. Change of ministry in England. BOOK FOURTEENTH. SUMMARY-Plans of the belligerent powers. The combined fleets menace the coasts of England. Intrigues of the new ministers. Campaign of the West Indies. Memorable engagement of the twelfth of April 1782, between the count de Grasse and admiral Rodney. Siege of Gibraltar. Description of that fortress. Floating batteries. General attack. Victory of Elliot. Admiral Howe revictuals Gibraltar. Negotiations of peace. Signature of treaties. Alarming agitation in the army of Congress. It is disbanded. Washington divests himself of the supreme command, and retires to his seat at Mount Vernon. HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WAR. BOOK EIGHTH. 1777. THE British ministers, as we have before related, had long since formed the scheme of opening a way to New York by means of an army, which should descend from the lakes to the banks of the Hudson, and unite in the vicinity of Albany with the whole, or with a part, of that commanded by general Howe. All intercourse would thus have been cut off between the eastern and western provinces, and it was believed that victory, from this moment, could no longer be doubtful. The former, where the inhabitants were the most exasperated, crushed by an irresistible force, would have been deprived of all means of succouring the latter. These consequently, however remote from the Hudson, would also have been constrained to submit to the fortune of the conqueror, terrified by the reduction of the other provinces, abounding with loyalists, who would have joined the victor, and also swayed perhaps by a jealousy of the power of New England, and irritated by the reflection that it was her obstinacy which had been the principal cause of their present calamities. This expedition, besides, presented few difficulties, since with the exception of a short march, it might be executed entirely by water. The French themselves had attempted it in the course of the last war. It was hoped that it would have been already effected by the close of the preceding year; but it had failed in consequence of the obstacles encountered upon the lakes, the lateness of the season, and especially because while general Carleton advanced upon Ticonderoga and consequently towards the Hudson, general Howe, instead of proceeding up the river to join him, had carried his arms to the west, against New Jersey. At present, however, this scheme had acquired new favor, and what in preceding years had been only an incidental part of the plan of campaign, was now become its main object. The entire British nation had founded the most sanguine expectations upon this arrangement; nothing else seemed to be talked of among them but this expedition of Canada, which was shortly to bring about the total subjection of America. The junction of the two armies appeared quite sufficient to attain this desired object; the Americans, it was said, cannot oppose it without coming to a general battle, and in such case, there can exist no doubt of the result. The ministers had taken all the measures which they deemed essential to the success of so important an enterprise; they had furnished with profusion whatever the generals themselves had required or suggested. General Burgoyne, an officer of uncontested ability, possessed of an exact knowledge of the country, and animated by an ardent thirst for military glory, had repaired to England during the preceding winter, where he had submitted to the ministers the plan of this expedition, and had concerted with them the means of carrying it into effect. The ministry, besides their confidence in his genius and spirit, placed great hope in that eager desire of renown by which they knew him to be goaded incessantly; they gave him therefore the direction of all the operations. In this appointment, little regard was manifested for the rank and services of general Carleton; what he had already done in Canada, seemed to entitle him to conduct to its conclusion the enterprise he had commenced. No one, assuredly, could pretend to govern that province with more prudence and firmness. He possessed also an accurate knowledge of the country, as he had resided in Canada for several years, and had already made war there. But perhaps the ministers were dissatisfied with his retreat from Ticonderoga, and the repugnance he was said to have manifested to employ the savages. Perhaps also, his severity in the exercise of his command had drawn upon him the ill will of some officers, who endeavored to represent his actions in an unfavorable light. Burgoyne, impatient to make his profit of the occasion, was arrived in England, where, being well received at court, and besieging the ministers with his importunities, he made such magnificent promises, that in prejudice of Carleton he was entrusted with the command of all the troops of Canada. But the governor, finding himself, contrary to his expectation, divested of all military power, and restricted in his functions, requested leave to resign. General Burgoyne arrived at Quebec in the beginning of the month of May, and immediately set himself to push forward the business of his mission. He displayed an extreme activity in completing all the preparations which might conduce to the success of the enterprise. Meanwhile, several ships arrived from England, bringing arms, munitions, and field equipage, in great abundance. General Carleton, exhibiting an honorable example of moderation and patriotism, seconded Burgoyne with great diligence and energy; he exerted in his favor not only the authority with which he was still invested as governor, but even the influence he had with his friends and numerous partisans. His zealous cooperation proved of signal utility, and every thing was soon in preparation for an expedition which was to decide the event of the war, and the fate of America. The regular force placed at the disposal of general Burgoyne, consisting of British and German troops, amounted to upwards of seven thousand men, exclusive of a corps of artillery, composed of about five hundred. To these should be added a detachment of seven hundred rangers, under colonel St. Leger, destined to make an incursion into the country of the Mohawks, and to seize Fort Stanwix, otherwise called Fort Schuyler. This corps consisted of some companies of English infantry, of recruits from New York, of Hanau chasseurs, and of a party of Canadians and savages. According to the plan of the ministers and of the general himself, the principal army of Burgoyne was to be joined by two thousand Canadians, including hatchetmen, and other workmen, whose services, it was foreseen, would be much needed to render the ways practicable. A sufficient number of seamen had been assembled, for manning the transports upon the lakes and upon the Hudson. Besides the Canadians that were to be immediately attached to the army, many others were called upon to scour the woods in the frontiers, and to occupy the intermediate posts between the army which advanced towards the Hudson, and that which remained for the protection of Canada; the latter amounted, including the Highland emigrants, to upwards of three thousand men. These dispositions were necessary, partly to intercept the communication between the enemy and the ill affected in Canada; partly to prevent desertion, to procure intelligence, to transmit orders, and for various other duties essential to the security and tranquillity of the country in the rear of the army. But these were not the only services exacted from the Canadians; a great number of them were assembled to complete the fortifications at Sorel, St. Johns, Chambly, and Ile aux Noix. Finally, they were required to furnish horses and carts, to convey from the different repositories to the army all the provisions, artillery stores, and other effects of which it might have need. Under this last head was comprehended a large quantity of uniforms, destined for the loyalists, who, it was not doubted, would after victory flock from all quarters to the royal camp. But it was also thought that the aid of the savages would be of great advantage to the cause of the king; the government had therefore ordered general Carleton to use his utmost weight and influence to assemble a body of a thousand Indians, and even more if it was possible. His humanity, which could ill endure the cruelty of these barbarians, and experience, which had taught him that they were rather an incumbrance than an aid, in regular operations, would have induced him to decline their alliance; but, in obedience to his |