Oass__ Book f !- ., k\, -^<\ ' SEWOJUTG s&^KfSr. '■"-•\^'«5 J. C. DERBY & CO. 1 8 4 6 . THE BATTLE GROUNDS OF AMERICA, ILLUSTRATED BY STORIES Of THE REVOLUTION; Tr AUBURN, N. Y. J. C. DERBY & Co, 1846. • F ■ 0% Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by E. FERKETT & CO., '. in f?re oftkp *>£}.ht; cleyk of the I>i^' ricr Court of the United .* \ .' States $1^0$ ij>r. t,lte EastprC' t'isf.rict of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. The object of the compiler of the following volume has been to present his young countrymen with a connected view of the War of Independence, by a series of narratives of its most brilliant and striking events, interspersed with such per- sonal traits and anecdotes as might serve to illustrate the peculiar spirit and character of that period. It is by no means unimportant to preserve, in every practicable way, the memory of so remarkable and interesting an epoch. It was one in which patriotism and self-sacrifice were conspicuous traits in the character of the people and their leaders. It was a period when all felt that they were laying the foundations of a great republic, and that an object so glorious was worthy the liberal expenditure of blood and treasure. In sacrificing their own ease and personal prosperity to the welfare of those who should come after them, our ancestors not only preferred a lasting claim to our gratitude, but left us an example which is worthy of imitation. The youthful American should remember, that although wars have ceased in our land, the duties of patriot- ism are still imperative; and that every citizen may promote the welfare of his country, by studying its history, and the true character of its institutions; and by endeavouring to preserve the purity of our government — elevating to public office those only who respect the virtues of our ancestors and imitate their bright example. CONTENTS. Causes of the Revolution Passage of the Stamp Act Bql 1 Language of Patrick Henry- Repeal of the Stamp Act - The Tea Tax Affair of the Sloop Liberty Boston Massacre - The Tea Riot - Battle of Lexington Fight at Concord Bridge - Battle of Bunker's Hill John Hancock - Brother Jonathan Death of Montgomery Attack on Sullivan's Island The First Prayer in Congress Declaration of Independence Dr. Franklin in Congress Patriotic School Boys • Battle of Long Island Capture of Ethan Allen Battle of Trenton Battle of Brandywine • La Fayette Rattle of Germantown • General Wayne's War Horse Battle of Bennington Rev. Thomas Allen - Battle of Saratoga Putnam's Feat .... Battle of Monmouth Court House General Lee .... Rhode Island Anecdote of a Negro Boy - Siege of Savannah Storming of Stony Point - De Kalli's account of his Family Battle of Camden Death of Baron De Kalb General Gates .... General Marion's Address to h Soldiers .... Battle of King's Mountain Lieutenant Reese Bowen Arnold's Treachery • Death of Major Andre - Baron Steuben .... Arnold the Traitor Battle of the Cowpens General Morgan - Colonel William Washington - Battle of Guilford Court House General Greene ... Battle of Eutaw - Battle of Yorktown ... Page 135 13S 140 147 H9 153 154 162 16S 172 177 182 ISmMlfsljments. '. Frontispiece— Siege of Eoston. ', Ornamental Title Page— Putnam's Feat. Paj»e Destruction of the Tea in Boston Harbour ..... 32 v. ''Affair at Lexington ........ 37 » Provincials harassing the British on their Retreat from Concord 44 .- Battle of Bunker's Hill 54 y Carpenter's Hall 80 Retreat of the Americans from Long Island • • • • -94 • Battle of Trenton • 104 /Burgoyne's Encampment on the Hudson • • • • • 134 "'Burgoyne's Retreat on the Hudson River 133 ' Storming of Stony Point • ...... 162 Capture of Andre ........ 200 Battle of the Cowpens ........ 205 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION. Until the close of the French war, in the year 1763, the regulations of the British ministers, for the government of the colonies, appear to have had no other object than the common good of the whole empire. When, however, the French power in America had been overthrown, and by the cession of the Floridas by Spain, George III. had obtained possession of the whole continent, his ministerial advisers resolved to change the measures under which the American settlers had so long flourished. When children, the colonies had been indulgently treated, and now, when grown to manhood, they expected the parental authority to be relaxed, the mother country rose in her demands, and multiplied the restraints which she had formerly imposed. 1* (5) 6 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. When in 1764, the parliament of the British empire commenced restricting the commerce of her American colonies and subjecting them to taxation, they naturally became impatient of subordination, and by resisting every innova- tion, they gradually prepared themselves for an increase of their independence. A great ma- jority of the people, however, was disposed to submit to the British restrictions upon their manufactures and commerce, acknowledging that the exercise of these powers was incident to the sovereignty of the mother country, and that the restrictions were imposed for the com- mon good of the whole empire. But the novel doctrine of internal taxation, was universally opposed, as contrary to every right granted to them, as well by nature as by their charters and constitutions. For a century and a half, they, had taxed themselves, and in their own way, and they had largely contributed to the support of the French war, and now, when they were beginning to recover from the expenses they had incurred, they thought it especially unjust on the part of parliament to attempt to tax them. " It would be absurd," says Gra- ham, " to suppose that Great Britain, even by CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION. / the mildest and most liberal system of policy, could have retained the American provinces in perpetual submission to her authority. Their great and rapid advancement in population, and the vast distance by which they were detached from the parent state, combined with other causes to generate ideas of freedom and inde- pendence in the minds of their inhabitants, and portended an inevitable, though, in point of time, an indefinite limit to the connection between the two countries. A separate and independent political existence was the natural and reasona- ble consummation to which the progress of society in America was tending : and Great Britain, eventually, had but to choose between a graceful compliance, or a fruitless struggle with this irresistible development. By wisdom and prudence, she might, indeed, have retarded the catastrophe, and even rendered its actual occurrence instrumental to the confirmation of friendship and good will between the two coun- tries. Her conduct and policy, however, were perversely calculated to provoke and hasten its arrival, and to blend its immortal remembrance with impressions of resentment, enmity and strife." STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT. On the first reading of this bill, it was op- posed as an unjust and oppressive measure by Colonel Barre, an officer who had served with the British army in America, and who was highly distinguished in the Hcuse of Commons as an eloquent and zealous advocate of the principles of liberty. Charles Tovvnsend, an- other member of the house, who afterwards succeeded to the office of Grenville, supported the bill with much warmth, and after severely reprobating the animadversions which it had received from Colonel Barre, concluded his speech by indignantly demanding: — "And now, will these Americans, children planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence until they are grown up to a high degree of strength and opulence, and protected by our arms — will they grudge to contribute their mite to relieve us from the heavy weight of that burden which we lie under ?" Barre, in an explanatory speech, after repelling the censure that had been per- sonally addressed to himself, thus forcibly re- PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT. V plied to the concluding expressions of Town- send : — " They planted by your care I No, your oppressions planted them in America. They fled from your tyranny to a then uncul- tivated and inhospitable country, where they exposed themselves to almost all the hardships to which human nature is liable ; and among others, to the cruelties of a savage foe, the most subtle, and I will take upon me to say, the most formidable of any people upon the face of God's earth : and yet, actuated by principles of true English liberty, they preferred all hardships to those which they had endured in their own country, from the hands of men who should have been their friends. They nourished by your indulgence / They grew by your ne- glect of them. As soon as you began to care about them, that care was exercised in sending persons to rule them in one department and an- other, who were, perhaps, the deputies of depu- ties to some members of this house, sent to spy out their liberties, to misrepresent their actions, and to prey upon them — men, whose behaviour on many occasions has caused the blood of those sons of liberty to recoil within them — men, promoted to the highest seats of justice, 10 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. some of whom, to my knowledge, were glad, by going to a foreign country, to escape being brought to the bar of a court of justice in their own. They protected by yovr arms / They have nobly taken up arms in your defence ; and have exerted a valour, amidst their constant and laborious industry, for the defence of a country whose frontier was drenched in blood, while its interior parts yielded all their little savings to your emolument. And believe me, — remember, I this day told you so — that the same spirit of freedom which actuated that peo- ple at first, will accompany them still : — but prudence forbids me to explain myself farther. God knows, I do not at this time speak from motives of party spirit : what I deliver are the genuine sentiments of my heart. However superior to me in general knowledge and expe- rience, the respectable body of this house may be, yet I claim to know more of America than most of you ; having seen and been conversant with that country. The people, I believe, are as truly loyal as any subjects the king has ; but a people jealous of their liberties, and who will vindicate them, if ever they should be vio- lated. But the subject is too delicate — I will PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT. 11 say no more." At the second reading of the bill a petition was tendered against it, from all the merchants of London who traded to Ame- rica, and who, anticipating the effect of the contemplated measure in that country, were struck with alarm for the security of their out- standing debts ; but it was rejected in conform- ity with a rule of the house, that no petition should be admitted against a money bill in its progress. General Conway, a member distin- guished alike by the liberality of his political sentiments and the magnanimous resolution of his character, strongly urged the house, on so great an occasion, to relax this rule, which, he asserted without denial, had not always been inflexibly maintained : but the ministers were earnestly bent on enforcing it in the present instance, in order to justify the application of it to the American petitions which had now ar- rived at London, and in some of which, it was known, that the right of Britain to tax the colo- nies was openly denied. The ministers wished to avoid a discussion of this delicate point, and perhaps imagined that they had gained their end and prevented the prerogatives of the pa- rent state from being publicly questioned, when 12 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the various petitions from the American pro- vinces were rejected as summarily as the peti- tion of the merchants of London. So little impression was produced by the efforts of the opponents of the Stamp Bill, that after it had finally passed the House of Commons, where 250 members voted for it and only 50 against it, it was carried through the House of Lords without a moment's obstruction or a syllable of opposition. BOLD LANGUAGE OF PATRICK HENRY. When Patrick Henry, who gave the first impulse to the ball of the American revolution, introduced his celebrated resolution on the Stamp Act in the House of Burgesses, of Vir- ginia, May, 1765, while descanting on that hateful act, he exclaimed, " Caesar had his Bru- tus ; Charles the First had his Cromwell ; and George the Third" (" Treason !" cried the speaker. " Treason ! Treason !" echoed from every part of the house.) It was one of those moments which are decisive of character. REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT. 13 Henry faultered not for an instant ; but rising to a loftier attitude, and fixing on the speaker an eye flashing with fire, he continued, " and George the Third may 'profit by their exam- ple. If there be treason in this, make the most of it." REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT. " You have no right," said Pitt, in the House of Commons, " to tax America. Nevertheless, I assert the authority of this kingdom to be sovereign and supreme, in every circumstance of government and legislation whatsoever. Taxation is no part of the governing or legis- lative power : the taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the commons alone. The con- currence of the peers and of the crown is ne- cessary only as a form of law. This house represents the commons of Great Britain. Here we give and grant what is our own : but it is unjust and absurd to suppose that we can give and grant the property of the commons of Ame- rica. This constitutional right has ever been 2 14 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. exercised by the commons of America them- selves, represented in their own provincial as- semblies : and without it, they would have been slaves. At the same time, let the sovereign authority of legislative and commercial control, always possessed by this country, be asserted in as strong terms as can be devised ; and if it were denied, I would not suffer even a nail for a horse-shoe to be manufactured in America. But the Americans do not deny it. We may, and they are willing that we shall bind their trade, confine their manufactures, and exercise every power, except that of taking money out of their pockets without their consent. There I draw the line; there are the bounds Qvos ultra, citraque, nequit consistere rectum.'''' — " My position is this," said Lord Camden ; " and I repeat it, and will maintain it to my last hour : taxation and representation are insepa- rable. This position is founded on the laws of nature. It is more : it is itself an eternal law of nature. For, whatever is a man's own is absolutely his own. No one has a right to take it from him without his consent. Who- 9ver attempts to do it, commits an injury : who- ever does it, commits a robbery." After de- REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT. 15 bates more violent and protracted than had oc- curred since the British Revolution, the repeal bill passed the House of Commons at three o'clock of the morning by the votes of 275 against 167 members. Amidst general accla- mations, it was soon after carried to the House of Lords by Conway, the mover, accompanied by more than 200 members, — a larger con- course than was ever remembered to have ac- companied the progress of any former bill. In the upper house, the feebler arguments of its opponents were reinforced by superior influ- ence ; and Lords Strange and Bute scrupled not to declare that the private sentiments of the kino; were adverse to it. Nothing could be more unconstitutional than the promulgation of such intelligence, whether it were true or false. The ministers ascertained by inquiry that it was true : but were neither deterred from prosecuting the measure which they had car ried so far, nor prevented from conducting it to a successful issue. The bill, notwithstanding much opposition, and two protests, was carried through the House of Lords ; and finally re- ceiving the royal assent, was passed into a law. The bare prospect of this measure had been 16 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. hailed with the liveliest joy in London ; where the church bells were rung and the houses illu- minated as soon as the progress of the bill through the House of Commons was made known. Similar demonstrations of public joy and gratulation attended the final completion of the measure. In America, where the people had been taught to regard the repeal as a hopeless pro- position, the intelligence of its political con- summation and actual prevalence produced a transport of mingled surprise, exultation, and gratitude. In the provincial assemblies, it was impossible that even those members who sym- pathized not in the general flow of enthusiastic sentiment, could decently refuse to unite in the expressions of it suggested by their colleagues : and, among the people at large, many who had more or less deliberately contemplated a peril- ous and sanguinary conflict, were unfeignedly rejoiced to behold this terrible extremity avert- ed or retarded. Amidst the first emotions of surprise and pleasure, the alarming terms of the Declaratory Act were little heeded. The assembly of Massachusetts presented an ad- dress of grateful thanks to the king, in which REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT. 17 they declared their apprehension that the Ame- ricans had been greatly misrepresented to his majesty, and injuriously reproached with aver- sion to the constitutional supremacy of the British legislature. Thanks were also voted to the royal ministers, and to Lord Camden, Pitt, Colonel Barre, and other individuals who had promoted the repeal or defended the Ame- ricans. Similar demonstrations occurred in New Hampshire. The assembly of Virginia voted that a statue of the king should be erect- ed in this province : and in a general meeting of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, it was unani- mously resolved " that to demonstrate our zeal to Great Britain, and our gratitude for the re- peal of the Stamp Act, each of us will, on the 4th of June next, being the birth-day of our gracious sovereign, dress ourselves in a new suit of the manufactures of England, and give what homespun clothes we have to the poor " 18 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE TEA TAX. A bill was introduced into the House of Commons by Townsend, imposing duties on all glass, lead, painters' colours, tea, and paper, imported into the American provinces. In the preamble of the bill, it was declared, that " it is expedient that a revenue should be raised in his majesty's dominions in America, for mak- ing a more certain and adequate provision for defraying the charge of the administration of justice and the support of civil government, in those provinces where it shall be found neces- sary ; and towards farther defraying the ex- penses of defending, protecting, and securing the said dominions." By one clause in the bill, the king was empowered to establish, by sign manual, a general civil list, in every province of North America, to an indefinite extent, with salaries, pensions, and appointments to an un- limited amount : and it was provided, that after liquidation of the contents of the civil list, the residue of the revenue to be derived from Ame- rica should abide the disposal of the British THE TEA TAX. 19 parliament. This bill met with hardly the sha- dow of opposition in parliament; though it excited as much concern and anxiety, and expe- rienced an opposition as determined, though not as violent, as the Stamp Act had done. In- stead of the aversion with which the colonists regarded the recent act being diminished by the consideration that the duties which it imposed were strictly speaking external taxes, the im- position of these duties and the sanction which they received from an extension of the princi- ple of external taxation, tended to destroy all the respect or acquiescence which this preroga- tive had ever obtained in America. That there was no solid distinction between internal and external taxation, had been maintained by Otis, in America, and by Grenville, in the British parliament : it was a deduction that manifestly followed from the reasonings of Pitt and Cam- den ; and was a tenet embraced and avowed by many other politicians, both among the friends of America and the partizans of Britain. Some of the leading politicians in Massachu- setts having suggested that the last of the de- fensive measures employed against the Stamp 20 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Act, the non-importation agreement, had been more efficient than all the others and was pecu- liarly applicable to the present emergency, the idea was eagerly embraced ; and at a general meeting of the inhabitants of Boston, resolu- tions were passed to discontinue the importa- tion of commodities from England, and espe- cially of all those on which the new duties had been laid, until not only the act imposing them, but all the late revenue acts, likewise, should be repealed ; — and, as a subsidiary measure, to promote by every possible effort the growth of domestic manufactures and the practice of in- dustry and economy. These resolutions were propagated throughout America, and from the first zealously executed in New England, where a considerable change of manners now began to appear. Of late years a taste for gay and expensive pleasures had been gaining ground among the descendants of the puritans, espe- cially in Massachusetts ; and several attempts had been made, though ineffectually, to procure a repeal of the law which prohibited theatrical entertainments. But now a general simplicity of dress and living was diligently cultivated ; and even the taste for expensive funerals, which AFFAIR OF THE SLOOP LIBERTY. 21 the law had vainly attempted to restrain, was sacrificed to the practice of habits which were justly accounted the firmest as well as the most respectable bulwarks of American freedom. By degrees the example of this people obtained imitation as well as applause. The political clubs, which began to resume their functions and activity, employed every art of persuasion and even intimidation to induce their country- men to embrace the non-importation agreement, which by their aid and other concurring cir- cumstances obtained a general, though not till two years after the present period, a universal prevalence in America. AFFAIR OF THE SLOOP LIBERTY. Meanwhile, additional cause of offence and quarrel arose in America from the operation of the Act by which a board of customs had been established at Boston. Paxton, one of the commissioners, had long been an object of gen- eral detestation to the people of Massachusetts, 22 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. on account of the zeal with which he seconded all the pretensions of British prerogative ; and only his absence from the province during the Stamp Act riots, had saved him from a share of the popular vengeance on that occasion. He and his colleagues now enforced the trade laws with a rigour hitherto unknown, and which contributed not a little to increase the prevail- ing inquietude and irritation. At New York there was printed and circulated, a manifesto or proclamation assuring the inhabitants that commissioners of customs would soon be estab- lished there as well as at Boston, and summon- ing every friend of liberty to hold himself in readiness to receive them with the same treat- ment which had been bestowed upon " a set of miscreants under the name of stamp-masters, in the year 1765." All the efforts of the go- vernor to discover the authors of this inflam- matory proclamation proved ineffectual. In this province the spirit of liberty was no way depressed, nor was even the conduct of public business obstructed by the act of parliament restraining the assembly from the exercise of legislative functions. With a plausible show of obedience to the letter of the statute, the as- AFFAIR OF THE SLOOP LIBERTY. 23 sembly forbore to enact formal laics : but when- ever money was needed for public purposes, they passed resolutions to which the people lent a prompt and cheerful obedience : and thus the act, though sufficient to exasperate, proved quite impotent to punish. It had been the prac- tice in every quarter of British America for the officers of the customs to allow merchants and ship-masters to enter in the custom-house books only a part of their imported cargoes, and to land the remainder duty free. To this practice, which had become so inveterate that the colo- nists regarded the advantage accruing from it as a right rather than an indulgence, the com- missioners now resolved to put a stop. A sloop called the Liberty, belonging to Hancock, hav- ing arrived at Boston laden with wine from Ma- deira, the captain, as usual, proposed to the tide- waiter who came to inspect the cargo, that part of it should be landed duty free ; and meeting a refusal, laid violent hands upon him, and with the assistance of the crew locked him up in the cabin till the whole cargo was carried ashore. The next morning he entered a few pipes of the wine at the custom-house, as having formed all his lading: but the commissioners of the 24 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. customs, declaring that the entry was false, caused the sloop to be arrested. To secure the capture, it was proposed that the vessel should be removed from the wharf and towed under the guns of the Romney man-of-war ; and by the assistance of the Romney's boats this was accordingly performed in spite of the opposition of a great assemblage of the people, who, find- ing their remonstrances disregarded, assaulted the custom-house officers with a violence that had nearly proved fatal to their lives. On the following day, the populace again assembling before the houses of the collector, comptroller, and inspector-general of the customs, broke their windows, and then seizing the collector's boat, dragged it through the town, and burned it on the common. Their violence, whether satiated or not, was checked at this point by the flight of the commissioners and other offi- cers of the customs, who, learning that renew- ed assemblages of the people were expected, and believing, or affecting to believe that far- ther outrages were meditated against them- selves, hastily left the place, and took refuge first on board the ship of war, and afterwards in Castle William. The city, meanwhile, re- AFFAIR OF THE SLOOP LIBERTY. 25 sounded with complaints of the insult thai had been offered to the inhabitants in removing the sloop from the wharf, and thus proclaiming ap- prehensions of a rescue. These complaints were sanctioned by the assembly, who declared that the criminality of the rioters was extenu- ated by the irritating and unprecedented cir- cumstances of the seizure ; but added, never- theless, that as the rioters deserved severe pun- ishment, they must beseech the governor to direct that they should be prosecuted, and pro- claim a reward for their discovery. The riot- ers, however, had nothing to fear : nor was any one of them ever molested. A suit for penal- ties was afterwards instituted against Hancock in the court of admiralty : but the officers of the crown finding it beyond their power to ad- duce sufficient evidence of facts which though every body knew, nobody would attest, aban- doned the prosecution and restored the vessel. 26 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BOSTON MASSACRE. The British senate had been assured by Franklin that a military force despatched to America, though it would not find, would easily create a rebellion ; but more credit had been given by the present ministers to the represen- tations of Bernard, Hutchinson, Oliver, Paxton, and other partisans of prerogative, that an impending rebellion could be averted only by the exhibition of military power. Ever since the arrival of the troops at Boston, the inhabit- ants of this city had regarded the presence of these instruments of despotic authority with an increasing sense of indignity ; and reciprocal insults and injuries paved the way for a tragi- cal event which made a deep and lasting im- pression of resentment in America. An affray which commenced between an inhabitant of the town and a private soldier, having been gradu- ally extended by the participation of the fellow- citizens of the one and the comrades of the other, terminated to the advantage of the sol- diers, and inflamed the people with a passionate BOSTON MASSACRE. 27 desire of vengeance, which, it has been justly or unjustly surmised, was fomented by some persons of consideration, who hoped that the removal of the troops would be promoted by a conflict between them and the towns-people. A corresponding animosity was cherished by the soldiers, some of whom had been severely hurt in the affray. They began to carry clubs in their hands when they walked in the streets, gave other symptoms of willingness to renew the conflict, and evinced the most insulting con- tempt for a people to whom their presence was already sufficiently offensive. After the lapse of three days from the first affray, and afler various symptoms had betrayed that some dan- gerous design was harboured on both sides, a party of soldiers while under arms in the even- ing were assaulted by a body of the people, who pressed upon them, struck some of them, loaded them with insults, terming them bloody- backs, (in allusion to the practice of flogging in the British army) and cowards, and taunt- ingly dared them to fire. The conduct of the soldiers was far from blameless. They had previously by studied insult provoked the rage of the people, and they now exasperated by 28 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. retorting the verbal outrages, which they pos- sessed the most fatal means of avenging. One soldier, at length, on receiving a blow, fired at his assailant ; and a single discharge from six others succeeded. Three of the citizens were killed, and five dangerously wounded. The town became instantly a scene of the most violent commotion ; the drums beat to arms ; thousands of the inhabitants flocked together, and beheld the bloody spectacle of their slaugh- tered fellow-citizens with a rage that would have lengthened and aggravated the calamities of the night, if Hutchinson, the deputy-governor, and the other civil authorities, had not promptly interfered, and, arresting the soldiers who had fired, together with the officer under whose immediate command they had been, and loudly blaming them for firing without the order of a magistrate, held forth to the people the hope of more deliberate vengeance, and prevailed with them to disperse. The next morning Hutchin- son convoked the council, which was engaged in discussing the unhappy event, when a mes- sage was received from a general assemblage of the citizens, declaring it to be their unani- mous opinion, that nothing could rationally be BOSTON MASSACRE. 29 expected to restore the peace of the town and orevent bloodshed and carnage, but the imme- diate removal of the troops. After some hesi- tation, Hutchinson and the commander of the forces, who each desired to throw the respon- sibility of this measure upon the other, per- ceiving that it was inevitable, agreed to it ; and the commotion subsided. One of the wounded men died ; and the four bodies of the slain were conducted to the grave with every ceremonial expressive of public honour and respect by an immense concourse of people, followed by a long train of carriages belonging to the princi- pal inhabitants of the town. Captain Preston, who had commanded the party of troops en- gaged in the fatal affair, and all the soldiers who had fired, were committed to jail, and arraigned on an indictment of murder. Their trial was awaited with earnest expectation, and for some time with passionate hope or stern conviction in the public mind that it would ter- minate fatally for the accused. Considering the mighty cloud of passion, prejudice, and exaggeration, through which their conduct was viewed, such an event would have merited more 3* 30 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. regret than reprobation. Captain Preston, though entirely innocent* was exposed to pecu- liar danger from the generosity with which in vindicating his men when first reproached by the civil authorities, he forgot to exculpate him- self from the charge implied in their questions, of having authorized and ordered the firing. But the defence of the prisoners was undertaken by two of the most eminent lawyers and deter- mined patriots in Massachusetts, — Josiah Quin- cy, whom we have already noticed, and John Adams, a kinsman and intimate friend of Sam- uel Adams, and who afterwards held the high office, — the highest that a champion and patron of human liberty and happiness has ever filled, — of president of the United Slates of America. These men were not less eager to guard the justice and honour of their country from re- proach, than to defend its liberty from invasion ; and exerted themselves in defence of their cli- ents with a manly eloquence and reasoning worthy of, and worthily appreciated by the integrity, justice, and good sense of the jury. Preston was acquitted ; as were all the soldiers except two, who were found guilty of man- BOSTON MASSACRE. 31 slaughter. The event was highly honourable to Massachusetts. Some British politicians, indeed, are said to have viewed it merely as an act of timidity, or a mechanical adherence to legal rules. But, (as an ingenious American writer has justly observed) in this forbearance of the people, on an occasion where truth and reason, combating violent passion, pronounced the bias of their feelings unjust and wrong, there was truly exhibited a force and firmness of character which promised to render them unyielding and invincible when supported by a sense of justice and right. Though the issue of the trial was generally approved in Massa- chusetts, the anniversary of the massacre, as it was termed, was observed with much solemni- ty ; and the ablest of the provincial orators were successively employed to deliver annual harangues calculated to preserve the irritating remembrance fresh in the popular mind. STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE TEA RIOT. Though the duties on glass, paper, and paint- ers' colours had been repealed, the British go« vernment rashly determined to enforce the Tea duty, — of which the most considerable effect hitherto had been vast importations of smug- gled tea into America by the French, the Dutch, the Danes, and the Swedes, — and attempted to compass by policy what constraint and author, ity had proved insufficient to accomplish. The measures of the Americans had already occa- sioned such diminution of exports from Britain, that the warehouses of the English East India Company contained above seventeen millions of pounds of tea, for which it was difficult to procure a market. The unwillingness of tho Company to lose their commercial profits, and of the ministry to forego the expected revenue from the sale of tea in America, induced a com- promise for their mutual advantage. A high duty had been imposed hitherto on the exporta- tion of tea from England : but the East India Company were now authorized by act of par- i » PASSAGE OF THE STAMP ACT. 33 liament to export their tea free of duty to all places whatever. By this regulation it was expected that tea, though loaded with an excep- tionable duty on its importation into America, would yet readily obtain purchasers among the Americans ; as the vendors, relieved of the British export duty, could afford to sell it to them even cheaper than before it had been made a source of American revenue. The crisis now drew near when the Americans were to decide whether they would submit to be taxed by the British parliament, or practically support their own principles, and brave the most perilous consequences of their inflexibility. One com- mon sentiment seemed to be awakened through- out the whole continent by the tidings of the ministerial plan, which was universally repro- bated as an attempt at once injurious and insult- ing, to bribe the Americans to surrender their rights and bend their own necks to the yoke of arbitrary power. A violent ferment was every where excited : the corresponding committees and political clubs exerted their utmost activity to rouse and unite the people ; and it was gene- rally declared that as every citizen owed to his country the duty at least of refraining from 34 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. being accessory to her subjugation, every man who should countenance the present dangerous measure of the British government should be deemed an enemy of America. Some of the popular leaders expressed doubts of the pru- dence of actual resistance to a measure of so little intrinsic importance ; and preferably urged that the people should be restrained from vio- lence till the occurrence of an opportunity of rousing and directing their force against some invasion of American liberty more mo- mentous and alarming. But to this suggestion it was reasonably and successfully replied, that such an opportunity might never occur again ; that Britain, warned by the past, would avoid sudden and startling innovations ; that her policy would be, — by multiplying posts and offices, and either bestowing them on her parti- sans, or employing them to corrupt her antago- nists, — to increase her force proportionally faster than the force of the patriotic party would increase by the growth of the American population ; that she had latterly sent out as her functionaries a number of young men who, marrying into provincial families of influence and consideration, had weakened the force of THE TEA. RIOT. 35 American opposition ; and that now was the time to profit by the general irritation of the people and the blunders which Britain had com- mitted, in order to precipitate a collision which sooner or later was inevitable, and to prevent a seeming accommodation of the quarrel which would only expose the interests of America to additional disadvantage. The East India Com- pany, confident of finding a market for their tea, reduced as it now was in price, freighted several ships to America with this commodity, and appointed consignees to receive and dispose of it. Some cargoes were sent to New York ; some to Philadelphia ; some to Charleston, the metropolis of South Carolina; and some to Boston. The inhabitants of New York and Philadelphia prevailed with the consignees to disclaim their functions, and forced the ships to return with their cargoes to London. The inhabitants of Charleston unladed the tea, and deposited it in public cellars where it was guard- ed from use and finally perished. At Boston the consignees, who were the near kinsmen of Governor Hutchinson, at first refused to resign their appointments ; and the vessels containing the tea lay long in the harbour watched by a 36 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. strong guard of the citizens who, from a nume- rous town-meeting, despatched the most peremp- tory commands to the ship-masters not to land their obnoxious cargoes. After much delay, the consignees, alarmed by the increasing vio- lence of the people, solicited leave from the governor to resign, but were encouraged by him to persist. They proposed then to the peo- ple that the tea should be landed, and preserved in some public store or magazine ; but this com- promise was indignantly rejected. At length the popular rage could be contained no longer. From the symptoms of its dangerous fervour, the consignees fled in dismay to the castle ; while an assemblage of men dressed and paint- ed like. Mohawk Indians, boarded the vessels and threw the tea into the ocean. The conduct of the East India Company in assisting the policy of the British government, strongly ex- cited the displeasure of the Americans. This sentiment was manifested in a singular manner in Rhode Island, where a confederacy of re- spectable women united in resolutions to abstain from and discourage the use of tea procured from the East India Company. Learning that an inhabitant of the province had imported BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. O? some of the obnoxious commodity, they request- ed him to return it; and he instantly complied. Thus again was another notable scheme of the British Government rendered completely abor- tive. BATTLE OF LEXIXGTOX. A considerable quantity of military stores having been deposited at Concord, 18 miles from Boston, General Gage, who commanded the British troops in that city, determined to destroy them. In pursuance of his design, he, on the evening of the 18th of April, 1775, despatched a party of 800 grenadiers and light infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, who crossed Charles river from the foot of Boston common to Phips's farm in Cambridge, about eleven o'clock at night, and commenced a quick but silent march for Concord. Though they attempted to preserve secresy, yet the friends of liberty were too vigilant not to notice their departure, and many messengers were imme- diately sent to alarm the country. Of these, 4 0? STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Colonel Revere, Mr. Dawes, and three or four others of the most active, fell into the hands of a party of British officers, who kept them as prisoners for a time, but, becoming alarmed at the firing of a party of militia at drill near Lexington meeting-house, they took the horses from their captives and rode off. The follow- ing account of the battle is given by one of the most celebrated orators of New England. " The Committee of Safety had set the pre- ceding day at West Cambridge ; and three of its respected members, Gerry, Lee, and Orne, had retired to sleep, in the public house, where the session of the committee was held. So diffi- cult was it, notwithstanding all that had passed, to realize that a state of things could exist, be- tween England and America, in which Ameri- can citizens should be liable to be torn from their beds by an armed force at midnight, that the members of the Committee of Safety, though forewarned of the approach of the Bri- tish troops, did not even think it necessary to retire from their lodgings. On the contrary, they rose from their beds and went to their windows to gaze on the unwonted sight, the midnight march of armies through the peace- BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. ol) ful hamlets cf New England. Half the column had already passed, when a flank guard was promptly detached to search the public house, no doubt in the design of arresting the mem- bers of the Committee of Safety, who might be there. It was only at this last critical mo- ment, that Mr. Gerry and his friends bethought themselves of flight, and without time even to clothe themselves, escaped naked into the fields. " By this time Colonel Smith, who command- ed the expedition, appears to have been alarmed at the indications of a general rising through- out the country. The light infantry companies were now detached and placed under the com- mand of Major Pitcairne, for the purpose of hastening forward, to secure the bridges at Concord ; and thus cut off the communication between this place and the towns north and west of it. Before these companies could reach Lexington, the officers already mentioned, who had arrested Colonel Revere, joined their ad- vancing countrymen, and reported that five hundred men were drawn up in Lexington, to resist the king's troops. On receiving this ex- aggerated account, the British light infantry was halted, to give time for the grenadiers to 40 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. come up, that the whole together might move forward to the work of death. The company assembled on Lexington Green, which the British officers, in their re- oort, had swelled to five hundred, consisted of sixty or seventy of the militia of the place. Information had been received about nightfall, both by private means and by communications from the Committee of Safety, that a strong party of officers .had been seen on the road, directing their course toward Lexington. In consequence of this intelligence, a body of about thirty of the militia, well armed, assem- bled early m the evening ; a guard of eight men under Colonel William Munroe, then a sergeant in the company, was stationed at the hoube of the Rev. Mr. Clark ; and three men were sent off to give the alarm at Concord. These three messengers were however stopped on their way, as has been mentioned, by the British officers, who had already passed on- ward. One of their number, Elijah Sanderson, has lately died at Salem at an advanced age. A little after midnight, Messrs. Revere and Dawes arrived with the certain information that a very large body of the royal troops was in BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 41 motion. The alarm was now generally given to the inhabitants of Lexington, messengers were sent down the road to ascertain the move- ments of the troops, and the militia company under Captain John Parker appeared on the green to the number of one hundred and thirty. The roll was duly called at this perilous mid- night muster, and some answered to their names for the last time on earth. The company was now ordered to load with powder and ball, and awaited in anxious expectation the return of those who had been sent to reconnoitre the enemy. One of them, in consequence of some misinfor- mation, returned and reported that there was no appearance of troops on the road from Boston. Under this harassing uncertainty and contra- diction, the militia were dismissed, to await the return of the other expresses, and with orders to be in readiness at the beat of the drum. One of these messengers was made prisoner by the British, whose march was so cautious, that they remained undiscovered till within a mile and a half of Lexington meeting-house, and time was scarce left for the last messenger to return with the tidings of their approach. " The new alarm was now given ; the bell 4 # 42 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. rings, alarm-guns are fired, the drum beats to arms. Some of the militia had gone home, when dismissed ; but the greater part were in the neighbouring houses, and instantly obeyed the summons. Sixty or seventy appeared on the green and were drawn up in double ranks. At this moment the British column of eight hundred gleaming bayonets appears, headed by their mounted commanders, their banners fly- ing and drums beating a charge. To engage them with a handful of militia of course was madness, — to fly at the sight of them they dis- dained. The British troops rush furiously on ; their commanders, with mingled threats and execrations, bid the Americans lay down their arms and disperse, and their own troops to fire. A moment's delay, as of compunction, follows. The order with vehement imprecations is re- peated, and they fire. No one falls, and the band of self-devoted heroes, most of whom had never seen such a body of troops before, stand firm in the front of an army, outnumbering them ten to one. Another volley succeeds ; the killed and wounded drop, and it was not till they had returned the fire of the overwhelm- ing force that the militia were driven from the FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 43 field. A scattered fire now succeeded on both sides, while the Americans remained in sight ; and the British troops were then drawn up on the green to fire a volley and give a shout in honour of the victory." FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. Elated with its success at Lexington, the British army took up its march toward Con- cord. The intelligence of the projected expe- dition had been communicated to this town by Dr. Samuel Prescott ; and from Concord had travelled onward in every direction. The in- terval was employed in removing a portion of the public stores to the neighbouring towns, while the aged and infirm, the women and chil dren, sought refuge in the surrounding woods About seyen o'clock in the morning, the glitter mg arms of the British column were seen ad vancing on the Lincoln road. A body of mill tia, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, who had taken post for observation on the 44 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. heights above the entrance to the town, retire at the approach of the army of the enemy, first to the hill a little farther north, and then beyond the bridge. The British troops press forward into the town, and are drawn up in front of the court-house. Parties are then ordered out to the various spots where the public stores and arms were supposed to be deposited. Much had been removed to places of safety, and some- thing was saved by the prompt and innocent artifices of individuals. The destruction of property and of arms was hasty and incom- plete, and considered as the object of an enter- prise of such fatal consequences, it stands in shocking contrast with the waste of blood by which it was effected. It was the first care of the British commander to cut off the approach of the Americans from the neighbouring towns, by destroying or occu- pying the bridges. A party was immediately sent to the south bridge and tore it up. A force of six companies, under Captains Parsons and Lowrie, was sent to the north bridge. Three companies under Captain Lowrie were left to guard it, and three under Captain Parsons pro- ceeded to Colonel Barrett's house, in search of FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 45 provincial stores. While they were engaged on that errand, the militia of Concord, joined by their brave brethren from the neighbouring towns, gathered on the hill opposite the north bridge, under the command of Colonel Robin- son and Major Buttrick. The British compa- nies at the bridge were now apparently bewil- dered with the perils of their situation, and be- gan to tear up the planks of the bridge ; not remembering that this would expose their own party, then at Colonel Barrett's, to certain and entire destruction. The Americans, on the other hand, resolved to keep open the commu- nication with the town, and perceiving the at- tempt which was made to destroy the bridge, were immediately put in motion, with orders not to give the first fire. They drew near to the bridge, the Acton company in front, led on by the gallant Davis. Three alarm-guns were fired into the water, by the British, without ar- resting the march of the citizens. The signal for a general discharge is then made ; a British soldier steps from the ranks, and fires at Major Buttrick. The ball passed between his arm and his side, and slightly wounded Mr. Luther Blanchard, who stood near him. A volley in- 16 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. stantly followed, and Captain Davis was shot through the heart, gallantly marching at the head of the Acton militia against the choice troops of the British line. A private of his company, Mr. Hosmer, of Acton, also fell at his side. A general action now ensued, which terminated in the retreat of the British party, after the loss of several killed and wounded, toward the centre of the town, followed by the brave band who had driven them from their post. The advance party of British at Colonel Barrett's was thus left to its fate ; and nothing would have been more easy than to effect its entire destruction. But the idea of a declared war had yet scarcely forced itself, with all its consequences, into the minds of our country- men ; and these advanced companies were al- lowed to return unmolested to the main band. It was now twelve hours since the first alarm had been given, the evening before, of the medi- tated expedition. The swift watches of that eventful night had scattered the tidings far and wide ; and widely as they spread, the people rose in their strength. The genius of America, on this the morning of her emancipation, had sounded her horn over the plains and upon the FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 4/ mountains ; and the indignant yeomanry of the land, armed with the weapons which had done service in their lathers' hands, poured to the spot where this new and strange tragedy was acting. The old New-England drums, that had beat at Louisburg, at Quebec, at Martinique, at the Havana, were now sounding on all the roads to Concord. There were officers in the British line that knew the sound ; they had heard it, in the deadly breach, beneath the black, deep-throated engines of the French and Span- ish castles, and they knew what followed, where that sound went before. With the British it was a question no longer of protracted contest, nor even of halting long enough to rest their exhausted troops, after a weary night's march, and all the labour, confusion, and distress of the day's efforts. Their dead were hastily bu- ried in the public square ; their wounded placed in the vehicles which the town afforded ; and a flight commenced, to which the annals of warfare will hardly afford a parallel. On all the neighbouring hills were multitudes from the surrounding country, of the unarmed and in- firm, of women and of children, who had fled from the terrors and the perils of the plunder 43 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. and conflagration of their homes ; or were col- lected, with fearful curiosity, to mark the pro- gress of this storm of war. The panic fears of a calamitous flight, on the part of the Bri- tish, transformed this inoffensive, timid throng into a threatening array of armed men ; and there was too much reason, for the misconcep- tion. Every height of ground, within reach of the line of march, was covered with the indignant avengers of their slaughtered bre- thren. The British light companies were sent out to great distances as flanking parties ; but who was to flank the flankers 1 Every patch of trees, every rock, every stream of water, every building, every stone wall, was lined, (I use the words of a British officer in the battle,) with an unintermitted fire. Every cross-road opened a new avenue to the assailants. Through one of these the gallant Brooks led up the mi- nute-men of Reading. At another defile they were encountered by the Lexington militia un- der Captain Parker, who, undismayed at the loss of more than a tenth of their number in killed and wounded in the morning, had returned to the conflict. At first the contest was kept up by the British with all the skill and valour FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 49 of veteran troops. To a military eye it was not an unequal contest. The commander was not, or ought not to have been taken by sur- prise. Eight hundred picked men, grenadiers and light infantry, from the English army, were no doubt considered by General Gage a very ample detachment to march eighteen or twenty miles through an open country : and a very fair match for all the resistance which could be made by unprepared husbandmen, without concert, discipline, or leaders. With about ten times their number, the Grecian com- mander had forced a march out of the wrecks of a field of battle and defeat, through the bar- barous nations of Asia, for thirteen long months, from the plains of Babylon to the Black Sea, through forests, denies, and deserts, which the foot of civilized man had never trod. It was the American cause,— its holy foundation in truth and right, its strength and life in the hearts of the people, that converted what would naturally have been the undisturbed march of a strong, well-provided army, into a rabble rout of terror and death. It was this which sowed .he fields of our pacific villages with dragon's eeth ; which nerved the arm of age ; called 5 50 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the ministers and servants of the church into the hot fire ; and even filled with strange pas- sion and manly strength the heart and the arm of the stripling. A British historian, to paint the terrific aspect of things that presented itself to his countrymen, declares that the rebels swarmed upon the hills, as if they had dropped from the clouds. Before the flying troops had reached Lexington, their rout was entire. Some of the officers had been made prisoners, some had been killed, and several wounded, and among them the commander-in-chief, Colonel Smith. The ordinary means of preserving dis- cipline failed ; the wounded, in chaises and wagons, pressed to the front and obstructed the road ; wherever the flanking parties, from the nature of the ground, were forced to come in, the line of march was crowded and broken : the ammunition began to fail ; and at length the entire body was on a full run. " We at- tempted," says a British officer already quoted, " to stop the men and form them two deep, but to no purpose ; the confusion rather increased than lessened." An English historian says, the British soldiers were driven before the Ame- ricans like sheep ; till, by a last desperate effort, FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 51 the officers succeeded in forcing their way to the front, " when they presented their swords and bayonets against the breasts of their own men, and told them, if they advanced they should die." Upon this they began to form, under what the same British officer pronounces " a very heavy fire," which must soon have led to the destruction or capture of the whole corps. At this critical moment a reinforcement arrived. Colonel Smith had sent back a messenger from Lexington to apprise General Gage of the check he had there received, and of the alarm which was running through the country. Three re- giments of infantry and two divisions of ma- rines with two field-pieces, under the command of Brigadier- General Lord Percy, were accord- ingly detached. They marched out of Boston, through Roxbury and Cambridge, and came up with the flying party, in the hour of their ex- treme peril. While their field-pieces kept the Americans at bay, the reinforcement drew up in a hollow square, into which, says the British historian, they received the exhausted fugitives, " who lay down on the ground, with their tongues hanging from their mouths, like dogs after a chase." 52 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. A half hour was given lo rest ; the march was then resumed ; and under cover of the field-pieces, every house in Lexington, and on the road downwards, was plundered and set on fire. Though the flames in most cases were speedily extinguished, several houses were de- stroyed. Notwithstanding the attention of a great part of the Americans was thus drawn off, and although the British force was now more than doubled, their retreat still wore the aspect of a flight. The Americans filled the heights that overhung the road, and at every defile the struggle was sharp and bloody. At West Cambridge, the gallant Warren, never distant when danger was to be braved, appeared in the field, and a musket-ball soon cut off a lock of hair from his temple. General Heath was with him, nor does there appear till this moment, to have been any effective command among the American forces. Below West Cambridge, the militia from Dor- chester, Roxbury, and Brookline came up. The British field-pieces began to lose their terror. A sharp skirmish followed, and many fell on both sides. Indignation and outraged humanity struggled on the one hand, veteran discipline FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE. 58 and desperation on the other ; and the contest, in more than one instance, was man to man, and bayonet to bayonet. The British officers had been compelled to descend from their horses to escape the certain destruction which attended their exposed situa- tion. The wounded, to the number of two hun- dred, now presented the most distressing and constantly increasing obstruction to the progress of the march. Near one hundred brave men had fallen in this disastrous flight ; a consider- able number had been made prisoners ; a round or two of ammunition only remained ; and it was not till late in the evening, nearly twenty- four hours from the time when the first detach- ment was put in motion, that the exhausted remnant reached the heights of Charlestown. The boats of the vessels of war were immedi- ately employed to transport the wounded ; the remaining British troops in Boston came over to Charlestown to protect their weary country- men during the night ; and before the close of the next day the royal army was formally be- sieged in Boston. 5* 54 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. The traveller who visits Boston can scarcely fail to associate in his mind the field of battle where the early heroes of the Revolution first established the character of that event, marked as it was by undaunted resolution, the offspring of a determined purpose. From the State-House of Massachusetts, conspicuously seated on an eminence, the eye ranges over Charlestown, a considerable place that now adjoins Boston by a spacious bridge. The patriot will scarcely content himself with a remote view of this impressive scene, designated by a monument to the memory of General Warren, who fell dis- tinguished on that occasion. At a distance of about two miles, some hills are discerned, viz., Prospect Hill, Ploughed Hill, Breed's Hill, and Bunker's Hill. As you advance on the road in the rear of the navy yard at Charlestown, Breed's Hill rears its venerable brow on the left. Here it was that a detachment from the American army of one thousand men, under Colonel Prescott, began at twelve o'clock in the BATTLE OF BUNKER S HILL. 00 night of the 16th of June, 1775, to throw up some works extending from Charlestown to the river which separates that town from Boston. They proceeded with such secrecy and despatch that the officers of a ship of war then in the river, expressed their astonishment when in the morning they saw entrenchments reared and fortified in the space of a few hours, where, from the contiguity of the situation, they least expected the Americans would look them in the face. The alarm being immediately given, orders were issued that a continual fire should be kept playing upon the unfinished works, from the ships, the floating-batteries in the river, and Copp's Hill, a fortified post of the British in Boston, directly opposite the American redoubt; but, with extraordinary perseverance, the Ame- ricans continued to strengthen their works, not returning a shot till noon, when a number of boats and barges, filled with regular troops from Boston, approached Charlestown. The day was exceedingly hot. Ten companies of grena- diers, ten of light infantry, with a proportion of field artillery, landed at Moreton's Point, the whole commanded by Major-General Howe and 56 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Brigadier-General Pigot. These troops having formed, remained in that position till joined by a second detachment of light infantry and gre- nadier companies, the 47th regiment, and a bat- talion of marines, making in the whole near three thousand men. The Americans had not a rifleman amongst them, not one being yet arrived from the south- ward, nor had they any rifle pieces ; they had but common muskets, and these mostly without bayonets ; but then they were almost all marks- men, being accustomed to sporting of one kind or other from their youth. A reinforcement of Massachusetts troops was posted in a re- doubt, and in part of the breast-work nearest it. The left of the breast-work, and the open ground stretching beyond its point to the water side, along which time did not admit of accom- plishing the work, were occupied partly by the Massachusetts, and partly by the Connecticut men under Captain Nolton, of Ash ford, and the New Hampshire under Colonel Stark, the whole amounting to about one thousand five hundred men. By direction of the officers the troops upon the open ground pulled up the post and rail fence, and carrying it forward to an- BATTLE OF BUNKER S HILL. 0/ other of the same kind, and placing some clods of grass between, formed a slight defence in some parts. A critical scene now opened to the view. The British regulars, formed in two lines, ad- vanced slowly, frequently halting to give time for the artillery to fire. The light infantry were directed to force the left point of the breast-work, and to take the American line in flank. The grenadiers advanced to attack in front, supported by two battalions, under Gene- ral Howe, while the left, under General Pigot, in- clined to the right of the American line. As the British advanced nearer and nearer to the attack, a carcass was discharged from Copp's Hill, which set on fire an old house in Charlestown, and the flames quickly spread to others. The houses at the eastern end of Charlestown were set on fire by seamen from the boats. The whole town consisting of about three hundred dwelling houses, and nearly two hundred other buildings speedily became involved in one great blaze being chiefly of timber. The large meeting house, by its aspiring steeple, formed a pyra mid of fire above the rest. The houses, heights and steeples in Boston were covered with spec 58 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. tators of this anxious scene, and the surround- ing hills were occupied by others. The slow movement of the British troops advancing to the attack, afforded to the Ameri- cans the advantage of taking a surer and more deliberate aim. The wind having shifted, car- ried the smoke from the conflagration in such a direction that the British had not the cover of it in their approach. The destruction of the place, however, served to prevent their oppo- nents from effecting a lodgement in the houses whence they might have annoyed to advantage. General Warren, who had been appointed by Congress a Major-General in their armies only four days before, was every where aiding and encouraging his men. General Pomeroy com- manded a brigade, and General Putnam, a brave and meritorious officer, directed the whole on the fall of General Warren. The troops were ordered to reserve their fire until the close approach of the British. They strictly obeyed, with a steadiness and composure that would have done honour to the most approved vete- rans, and when the enemy had arrived within ten or twelve rods poured in a discharge of small arms which arrested and so staggered BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. 59 their foes, that they could only for a time re- turn it, without advancing a step. Finding the stream of the American fire so incessant as to mow down whole sections, they retired in dis- order to the river. Rallying as well as their extraordinary loss of officers would admit of, the British again advanced with an apparent resolution of forcing their way, whatever loss of lives it might cost them. The Americans again reserved their fire till the enemy arrived within five or six rods, when, discharging their pieces, which were admirably pointed, they threw the opposing ranks again into confusion. Gen- eral Clinton, who, with General Gage, the com- mander-in-chief of the British forces in Boston, was on Copp's Hill, observing the events of the day, when he perceived the disconcerted state of the troops, passed over and joined just in time to be of service. The united and strenuous efforts of the different officers were again successful, and the columns were advanced a third time to the attack, with a desperation increased by the un- shaken opposition they experienced. It is pro- bable, from the nature of the resistance, that every effort to dislodge the Americans would have been ineffectual, ha J not their ammunition 60 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. failed ; on sending for a supply none could be procured, as there was but a barrel and a half in the magazine. This deficiency prevented them from making the same defence as before ; while the British enjoyed a farther advantage by bringing some cannon to bear so as to rake the inside of the breast-work from end to end, upon which the Americans were compelled to retreat within their redoubt. The British now made a decisive movement, covered by the fire of the ships, batteries, and field-artillery. The Americans disputed possession of the works with the butt-ends of their muskets, until the redoubt, easily mounted and attacked on three sides at once, was taken, and their defences, the labour of only a few hours, had been pros- trated by artillery. Whilst these operations were going on at the breast-work and redoubt, the British light infantry were engaged in at- tempting to force the left point of the former, through the space between that and the water, that they might take the American line in flank. The resistance they met with was as formida- ble and fatal in its effects as experienced in the other quarter; for here, also, the Americans by command, reserved their fire till the enemy's BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. CI close approach, and then poured in a discharge so well directed and with such execution, that wide chasms were made in every rank. Some of the Americans were slightly guarded by the rail fences, but others were altogether exposed, so that their bravery in close combat was put to the test, independent of defences neither formed by military rules nor workmen. The most determined assaults of their regular oppo- nents, who were now brought to the charge with redoubled fury, could not, after all, com- pel them to retreat, till they observed that their main body had left the hill, when they retro- graded, but with a regularity that could scarcely have been expected of troops newly embodied, and who in general never before saw an en- gagement. Overpowered by numbers, and see- ing all hope of reinforcement cut off by the incessant fire of the ships across a neck of land that separated them from the country, they were compelled to quit the ground. The staunch opposition of this band of pa- triots saved their comrades, who must other- wise have been cut off, as the enemy, but for them, would have been in the rear of the whole. While these brave heroes retired, disputing 6 62 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. every inch of ground, and taking up every new position successively that admitted of defence, their leader, the gallant Warren, unfortunately received a ball through the right side of the skull, and mechanically clapping his hand to the wound, dropped down dead. The British, taught by the experience of this day to respect their rustic adversaries, content- ed themselves with taking post at Bunker's Hill, which they fortified. The Americans, with the enthusiasm of men determined to be free, did the same upon Prospect Hill, a mile in front. It was here that General Putnam regaled the precious remains of his army after their fa- tigues, with several hogsheads of beer. Owing to some unaccountable error, the working par- ties who had been incessantly labouring the whole of the preceding night, were neither re- lieved nor supplied with refreshments, but left to engage under all these disadvantages. This battle was generally admitted, by expe- rienced officers of the British army who wit- nessed it and had served at Minden, Dettingen, and throughout the campaigns in Germany, to have been unparalleled for the time it lasted, and the numbers engaged. There was a con- BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. 63 tinued sheet of fire from the breast-work for near half an hour, and the action was hot for about double that period. In this short space of time, the loss of the British, according to General Gage, amounted to 1054, of whom 226 were killed: of these 19 were commis- sioned officers, including a lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, and 7 captains ; 70 other officers were wounded. The battle of Quebec, in the former war, with all its glory, and the vastness of the con- sequences attending it, was not so disastrous in the loss of officers as this affair of an Ameri- can entrenchment, the work of but a few hours. The fact was, the Americans, accustomed to aim with precision and to select objects, directed their skill principally against the officers of the British army, justly conceiving that much con- fusion would ensue on their fall. Nearly all the officers around the person of General Howe were killed or disabled, and the general him- self narrowly escaped. At the battle of Min- den, where the British regiments sustained the force of the whole French army for a consi- derable time, the number of officers killed, in- cluding two who died soon after of their wounds, 64 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. was only 13, and the wounded 66; the total loss of the army on that occasion was 291 in killed, and 1037 wounded. The British acknowledged the valour of their opponents, which, though by no means new to them, surpassed on this occasion what could have been expected of an handful of cottagers, as they termed them, under officers of little military knowledge and still less . experience, whom they affected to hold in contempt. They pretended to forget that many of the common soldiers who gained such laurels by their singular bravery on the Plains of Abra- ham, when Wolfe died in the arms of victory, were natives of the Massachusetts Bay. When Martinique was attacked in 1761, and the Bri- tish force was greatly reduced by sickness and mortality, the timely arrival of the New Eng- land troops enabled the British commander to prosecute the reduction of the island to a happy issue. A part of the troops being sent on an expedition to the Havana, the New-Englanders, whose health had been much impaired by ser- vice and the climate, were embarked in three ships for their native country, with a view to their recovery. Before they had completed BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. 63 their voyage, they found themselves restored, ordered the ships about, steered immediately for the Havana, arrived when the British were too much weakened to expect success, and by their junction, contributed materially to the surrender of the place. Their fidelity, activity, and good conduct were such as to gain the approbation and unbounded confidence of the British officers. Of such elementary principles were the heroes of Bunker's Hill composed. It surely was a misguided policy to rouse the opposition of men made of these materials. A spot so fertile in great associations, could not but attract the special notice of the Presi- dent of the United States during a tour to the eastward. It was precisely where Warren fell that his excellency met the citizens of Charles- town on the occasion, and addressed them as follows : " It is highly gratifying to me to meet the committee of Charlestown upon a theatre so interesting to the United States. It is impossi- ble to approach Bunker Hill, where the war of the Revolution commenced, with so much ho- nour to the nation, without being deeply afTected. The blood spilt here roused the whole Ameri- 6* 6*6' STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. can people, and united them in a common cause, in defence of their rights. — That union will never he broken." Whether indeed we consider the action of the 17th of June in itself, or as the prelude to succeeding events, we must pronounce it to be the most glorious of our history, for the num- bers engaged and the defences made use of. If we except that of New Orleans, no paral- lel is to be found to it in the extent of impres- sion produced upon the enemy. But there time had been afforded for maturing the works, which were constructed under the superintend- ence of skilful engineers, and extended across a position that could not be outflanked. Twelve hours only were gained for those on Breed's Hill, formed, during a great part of the time, under a heavy fire from the enemy's ships, a number of floating batteries, beside fortifications which poured upon them an incessant shower of shot and shells, and left incomplete, owing to the intolerable cannonade. JOHN HANCOCK. 67 JOHN HANCOCK. During the siege at Bos'.on, General Wash- ington consulted Congress upon the propriety of bombarding the town of Boston. Mr. Han- cock was then President of Congress. After General Washington's letter was read, a solemn silence ensued. This was broken by a mem- ber making a motion that the House should resolve itself into a committee of the whole, in order that Mr. Hancock might give his opinion upon the important subject, as he was deeply interested from having all his estate in Boston. After he left the chair, he addressed the chair- man of the committee of the whole in the fol- lowing words. " It is true, Sir, nearly alt /he property I have in the world is in houses and other real estate in the town of Boston ; but if the expulsion of the British army from it, and the liberties of our country, require their being burnt to ashes — issve the order- for that pur- pose immediately /" 66 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BROTHER JONATHAN. A sea captain, who chanced to be in London during our revolutionary war, met several Bri- tish officers in a tavern, who were busily dis- cussing American affairs. " We should have conquered them long ago," said one, " had it not been for that arch rebel, Washington." " With all his skilful manoeuvres, they are the same as conquered already," observed another. The American said nothing, but his counte- nance bore strong marks of honest indignation. " What, Jonathan, are you from the rebel colo- nies ?" asked the officers. " I am from New England, gentlemen." " Well, what news do you bring? Will your crops be heavy enough to feed the regulars ?" " My countrymen tell me," replied he, " that British blood is the best manure they have ever had. Turnips larger than a peck measure are raised on Bunker Hill." DEATH OF MONTGOMERY. 69 DEATH OF MONTGOMERY. General Montgomery had marched at the precise time stipulated, and had arrived at his destined place of attack, nearly about the time we attacked the first barrier. He was not one that would loiter. Colonel Campbell, of the New York troops, a large, good-looking man, who was second in command of that party, and was deemed a veteran, accompanied the army to the assault, his station was rearward ; Gene- ral Montgomery, with his aids, were at the point of the column. It is impossible to give you a fair and com- plete idea of the nature and situation of the place solely with the pen — the pencil is required As by the special permission of government obtained by the good offices of Captain Pren tis, in the summer following, Boyd, a few others and myself, reviewed the causes of our disas ter ; it is, therefore, in my power, so far as my abilities will permit, to give you a tolerable no tion of the spot. Cape Diamond nearly resem bles the great jutting rock, which is in the nar 7U STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. rows of Hunter's falls, on the Susquehanna. The rock, at the latter place, shoots out as steeply as that at Quebec, but by no means forms so great an angle, on the margin of the river ; but is more craggy. There is a stronger and more obvious difference in the comparison. When you surmount the hill at St. Charles, or the St. Lawrence side, which to the eye are equally high and steep, you find yourself on Abraham's Plains, and upon an extensive cham- paign country. The bird's-eye view round Quebec, bears a striking conformity to the sites of Northumberland and Pittsburg, in Pennsyl- vania ; but the former is on a more gigantic scale, and each of the latter wants the steep- ness and cragginess of the back ground, and a depth of rivers. This detail is to instruct you in the geographical situation of Quebec, and for the sole purpose of explaining the man- ner of General Montgomery's death, and the reasons of our failure. From Wolf's cove there is a good beach, down to, and around " Cape Diamond." The bulwarks of the city came to the edge of the hill, above that place. Thence down the side of the precipice, slantingly to the brink of the river, there was a stockade of DEATH OF MONTGOMERY. 71 strong posts, fifteen or twenty feet high, knit together by a stout railing, at bottom and top with pins. This was no mean defence, and was at the distance of one hundred yards from the point of the rock. Within this palisade, and at a few yards from the very point itself, there was a like palisade, though it did not run so high up the hill. Again, within Cape Dia- mond, and probably at a distance of fifty yards, there stood a block-house, which seemed to take up the space between the foot of the hill and the precipitous bank of the river, leaving a cart- way, or passage on each side of it. When heights and distances are spoken of, you must recollect that the description of Cape Diamond and its vicinity is merely that of the eye, made as it were running, under the inspection of an officer. The review of the ground our army had acted upon, was accorded us as a par- ticular favour. Even to have stepped the spaces in a formal manner, would have been disho- nourable, if not a species of treason. A block- house, if well constructed, is an admirable me- thod of defence, which in the process of the war, to our cost, was fully experienced. In the instance now before us (though the house was 72 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. not built upon the most approved principles) yet it was a formidable object. It was a square of perhaps forty or fifty feet. The large logs neatly squared, were tightly bound together, by dove-tail work. If I am not much mis- taken, the lower story contained loop-holes for musketry, so narrow, that those within could not be harmed from without. The upper story had four or more port holes, for cannon of a large callibre. These guns were charged with grape or cannister shot, and were pointed with exactness towards the avenue at Cape Diamond. The hero Montgomery came. The drowsy or drunken guard did not hear the sawing of the posts of the first palisade. Here, if not very erroneous, four posts were sawed and thrown aside, so as to admit four men abreast. The column entered with a manly fortitude. Mont- gomery, accompanied by his aids, M'Pherson and Cheeseman, advanced in front. Arriving at the second palisade, the general, with his own hands, sawed down two of the pickets in such a manner as to admit two men abreast. These sawed pickets were close under the hill, and but a few yards from the very point of the rock, out of the view and fire of the enemy, DEATH OF MONTGOMERY. from the block-house. Until our troops ad- vanced to the point, no harm could ensue, out by stones thrown from above. Even now there had been but an imperfect discovery of the ad- vancing of an enemy, and that only by the intoxicated guard. The guard fled, the general advanced a few paces. A drunken sailor re- turned to his gun, swearing he would not for- sake it while undischarged. This fact is related from the testimony of the guard on the morn- ing of our capture, some of those sailors being our guard. Applying the match, this single discharge deprived us of our excellent com- mander. Examining the spot, the officer who escorted us, professing to be one of those who first came to the place after the death of the general, showed the position in which the general's body was found. It lay two paces from the brink of the river, on the back, the arms extended — Cheeseman lay on the left, and M'Pherson on the right, in a triangular position. Two other brave men lay near them. The ground above described was visited by an inquisitive eye, so so that you may rely with some implicitness on the truth of the picture. As all danger from 7 74 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. without had vanished, the government had not only permitted the mutilated palisades to remain, without renewing the enclosure, but the very sticks, sawed by the hand of our commander, still lay strewed about the spot. Colonel Campbell, appalled by the death of the general, retreated a little way from Cape Diamond, out of the reach of the cannon of the block-house, and pretendedly called a council of officers, who, it was said, justified his reced- ing from the attack. By rushing on, as military duty required, and a brave man would have done, the block-house might have been occupied by a small number, and was unassailable from without but by cannon. From the block-house to the centre of the lower town, where we were, there was no obstacle to impede a force so pow- erful, as that under Colonel Campbell. Cowardice, or a want of good will towards our cause, left us to our miserable fate. A junction, though we might not conquer the for- tress, would enable us to make an honourable retreat, though with the loss of many valuable lives. Campbell, who was ever after considered as a poltroon in grain, retreated, leaving the bodies of the general, M'Pherson, and Cheese- DEATH OF MONTGOMERY. 75 man, to be devoured by the dogs. The disgust caused among us, as to Campbell, was so great as to create the unchristian wish that he might be hanged. In that desultory period, though he was tried, he was acquitted ; that was also the case of Colonel Enos, who deserted us on the Kennebec. There never were two men more worthy of punishment of the most exem- plary kind. It was on this day, that my heart was ready to burst with grief, at viewing the funeral of our beloved general. Carleton had, in our former wars with the French, been the friend and fellow-soldier of Montgomery. Though political opinion, perhaps ambition or interest, had thrown these worthies on different sides of the great question, yet the former could not but honour the remains of his quondam friend. About noon the procession passed our quarters. It was most solemn. The coffin covered with a pall, surmounted by transverse swords, was oorne by men. The regular troops, particularly that fine body of men, the seventh regiment, with reversed arms, and scarfs on the left elbow, accompanied the corpse to the grave. The funerals of the other officers, both friends and 7b STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. enemies, were performed this day. From many of us it drew tears of affection for the defunct, and speaking for myself, tears of greeting and thankfulness towards General Carleton. The soldiery and inhabitants appeared affected by the loss of this invaluable man, though he was their enemy. If such men as Washington, Carleton, and Montgomery, had had the entire direction of the adverse war, the contention in the event might have happily terminated to the advantage of both sections of the nation. M'Pherson,Cheeseman, Hendricks, Humphreys, were all dignified by the manner of the burial. ATTACK ON SULLIVAN'S ISLAND. The execution of the plan of reducing the southern colonies, was committed to General Clinton and Sir Peter Parker ; who, having formed a junction at Cape Fear, concluded to attempt the reduction of Charleston. For that place they according sailed, with 2800 land forces ; and, crossing Charleston bar on the ATTACK ON SULLIVAN'S ISLAND. 77 4th of June, anchored about three miles from Sullivan's Island. Every exertion had been previously made to put the colony, and espe- cially its capital, in a posture of defence. Works had been erected on Sullivan's Island, which lies about six miles below Charleston toward the sea, and so near the channel, as to be a convenient post for annoying ships when approaching the town. The militia of the coun- try now repaired in great numbers to Charles- ton ; and at this critical juncture Major-Gene- ral Lee, who had been appointed by Congress to the immediate command of all the forces in the southern department, arrived with the regu- lar troops of the northern colonies. On the 28th of June, Sir Peter Parker attacked the fort on Sullivan's Island, with two 50 gun ships, four frigates of 28 guns, the Sphynx of 20 guns, the Friendship armed vessel of 22 guns, and the Ranger sloop and Thunder bomb, each of 8 guns. On the fort were mounted 26 can- non, with which the garrison, consisting of 375 regulars and a few militia, under the command of Colonel Moultrie, made a most gallant de- fence. The attack commenced between ten and eleven in the morning, and was continued up- 7* 78 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ward of ten hours. The flag-staff of the fort being shot away very early in the action,, Ser- geant Jasper leaped down upon the beach, took up the flag, and, regardless of the incessant firing of the shipping, mounted and placed it on the rampart. Three of the ships, advancing about twelve o'clock to attack the western wing of the fort, became entangled with a shoal ; to which providential incident the preservation of the garrison is ascribed. At half past nine, the firing on both sides ceased ; and soon after the ships slipped their cables. In this action, the deliberate well-directed fire of the gar- rison exceedingly shattered the ships ; and the killed and wounded on board exceeded 200 men. The loss of the garrison was only 10 men killed and 22 wounded. Though many thousand shot were fired from the shipping, yet the works were but little damaged. The fort being built of palmetto, a tree indigenous to Carolina, of a remarkably spongy nature, the shot which struck it were merely buried in the wood, without shivering it. Hardly a hut or a tree on the island escaped. The thanks of Congress were given to General Lee, and to Colonels Thomson and Moultrie, for their good THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS. 79 conduct on this memorable day ; and the fort, in compliment to the commanding officer, was from that time called Fort Moultrie. THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS. The subjoined extract of a characteristic letter from John Adams, describing a scene in the first Congress in Philadelphia, in 1774, shows very clearly on what Power the mighty men of old rested their cause. Mr. Adams thus wrote to a friend at the time : " When Congress met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay, of New York, and Mr. Rutledge, of South Carolina, because we were so divided in religious sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabap- tists, some Presbyterians, and some Congrega- tionalists, that we could not join in the same act of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams rose and said that he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer from any good man of piety and virtue SO STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. who was at the same time a friend to his coun- try. He was a stranger in Philadelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dushay they pro- nounced it) deserved that character, and there- fore he moved that Mr. Duche, an Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read prayers to the Congress, to-morrow morning. This mo- tion was seconded, and passed in the affirma- tive. Mr. Randolph, our President, waited on Mr. Duche, and received for answer that if his health would permit, he certainly would. Ac- cordingly, next morning he appeared with his clerk, in his pontificals, and read several pray- ers in the established form, and he then read the collect for the seventh day of September, which was the thirty-fifth Psalm. You must remember, this was the next morning after we had heard the rumour of the horrible cannon- ade of Eoston. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning. " After this, Mr. Duche, unexpectedly to everybody, struck out into an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced. Episcopa- lian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself never prayed THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS. 81 with such fervour, such ardour, such correctness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime, for America, for Congress, for the pro- vince of the Massachusetts Bay, especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that Psalm. If there is any faith in the sortes Yirgiliance, or sortes Homericce, or especially the sortes Biblica?, it would be thought provi- dential." Here was a scene worthy of the painter's art. It was in Carpenter's Hall, Carpenter's Court, between Third and Fourth streets, Phila- delphia, a building which still survives in its original condition, though now converted into an auction mart, the forty-four individuals met to whom this service was read. Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, and Randolph, and Rutledge, and Lee, and Jay ; and by their side there stood, bowed down m reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New Eng- land, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their hum- ble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed. They prayed fervently for " America, for the Con- 82 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. gress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston :" and who can realize the emotions with which they turned imploringly to heaven for divine inter- position and aid? " It was enough," says Mr. Adams, " to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, pa- cific Quakers of Philadelphia." DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. On the 6th of May, 1776, John Adams moved a resolution, in Congress, that the colo- nies, which had not already done so, should establish independent systems of government ; and this resolution, after having been strenu- ously debated for nine days, passed. The deed was done, — but the principle must be asserted. On the 7th of June, by previous concert, reso- lutions to that effect were moved by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and seconded by John Adams, of Massachusetts. They were debated in committee of the whole, on Saturday, the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 83 8th, and again on Monday, the 10th, on which last day the first resolution was reported to the House, in the following form : " That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states ; that they are ab- solved from all allegiance to the British crown ; and that all political connexion between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." The final decision of this resolution was postponed till the first day of July, but in the meanwhile it was, with characteristic simplicity, resolved, in order, " that no time be lost, in case the Congress agree thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration, to the effect of the first resolution." The following day a committee of five was chosen. Richard Henry Lee, who had moved the resolutions for independence, and would of course have been placed at the head of the committee, had been obliged, by sickness in his family, to go home, and Tho- mas Jefferson, of Virginia, the youngest mem- ber of the Congress, was elected first on the committee in his place. John Adams stood second on the committee ; the other members were Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and 84 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Chancellor Livingston. Jefferson and Adams were, by their brethren on the committee, de- puted to draw the Declaration, and the immor- tal work, was performed by Jefferson. Meantime the resolution had not yet been voted in Congress. The first day of July came, and at the request of a colony, the decision was postponed till the following day. On that day, July the 2d, it passed. The discussion of the Declaration continued for that and the fol- lowing day. On the 3d of July, John Adams wrote to his wife, in the following memorable strain : " Yesterday, the greatest question was decided, which was ever debated in America ; and greater perhaps never was nor will be de- cided among men. A resolution was passed, without one dissenting colony, — That these United States are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." In another letter the same day, he wrote, " The day is passed ; the second of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding gen- erations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of De- liverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Al- DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 85 mighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bon- fires, and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward for ever. You will think me transported with enthusiasm; but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, blood, and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States ; yet through all the gloom I can see rays of light and glory ; I can see that the end is worth more than all the means ; that posterity will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I hope we shall not." On the following day, the 4th, the Declara- tion was formally adopted by Congress, and proclaimed to the world ; — the most important document in the political history of nations. As the day on which this solemn manifesto was made public, rather than that on which the resolution was adopted in private, was deemed the proper date of the country's independence, the Fourth of July has been consecrated as the National Anniversary ; and will thus be cele- brated, with patriotic zeal and pious gratitude, by the citizens of America, to the end of time. 8 *3 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. DR. FRAXKLJX IX COXGRESS. Whbm the Declaration of Independence was under the consideration of Congress, there were two or three unlucky expressions in it, which gave offence to some members. The words " Scotch and other auxiliaries," excited the ire of a gentleman or two of that country. Se- vere strictures on the conduct of the British king, in negativing our repeated repeals of the law which permitted the importation of slaves, were disapproved by some southern gentlemen, whose reflections were not yet matured to the full abhorrence of that traffic. Although the offensive expressions were immediately yielded, those gentlemen continued their depredations on other parts of the instrument. I was sitting by Dr. Franklin, who perceived that I was not insensible to the mutilations. " I have made it a rule," said he, " whenever it is in my power, to avoid becoming the draughtsman of papers to be reviewed by a public body. I took my lesson from an incident which I will relate to DR. FRANKLIN IN CONGRESS. b7 you. When I was a journeyman printer, one of my companions, an apprentice hatter, having served his time, was about to open shop for himself. His first concern was to have a hand- some signboard, with a proper inscription. He composed it in these words : — ' John Thompson, Hatter, makes and sells hats for ready money? with the figure of a hat subjoined. But he thought he would submit it to his friends for their amendments. The first he showed it to, thought the word ' hatter'' tautologous, because followed by the words ' makes hats,' which show he was a hatter. — It was struck out. The next observed that the word ' makes' might as well be omitted, because his customers would not care who made the hats ; if good, and to their mind, they would buy, by whomsoever made. He struck it out. A third said he thought the words ' for ready money' were useless, as it was not the custom of the place to sell on credit — every one who purchased expected to pay. They were parted with and the inscrip- tion now stood, 'John Thompson sells hats.' Sells hats ? says his next friend ; why nobody will expect you to give them away. What then is the use of that word? It was stricken out, 88 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. and « hats' followed it, the rather as there was one painted on the board ; so his inscription was reduced ultimately to ' John Thompson,' with the figure of a hat subjoined." PATRIOTIC SCHOOL BOYS. In November, 1776, the General Court or- dered four brass cannon to be purchased for the use of the artillery companies in Boston. Two of these guns were kept in a gun-house that stood opposite the Mall, at the corner of West street. A school-house was the next building, and a yard enclosed with a high fence was common to both. Major Paddock, who then commanded the company, having been heard to express his intention of surrendering these guns to the British army, a few individuals re- solved to secure for the country a property which belonged to it, and which, in the emer- gency of the times, had an importance very disproportionate to its intrinsic value. Having concerted their plan, the party passed PATRIOTIC SCHOOL BOYS. 89 through the school-house into the gun-house, and were able to open the doors which were upon the yard, by a small crevice, through which they raised the bar that secured them. The moment for the execution of the project was that of the roll-call, when the sentinel, who was stationed at one door of the building, would be less likely to hear their operations. The guns were taken off their carriages, car- ried into the school-room, and placed in a large box under the master's desk, in which wood was kept. Immediately after the roll-call, a lieutenant and sergeant came into the gun-house to look at the cannon, previously to removing them. A young man, who had assisted in their removal, remained by the building, and followed the officer in, as an innocent spectator. When the carriages were found without the guns, the sergeant exclaimed, " Halloa, they 're gone ! I '11 be hanged if these fellows won't steal the teeth out of your head, while you 're keeping guard." They then began to search the build- ing for them, and afterward the yard ; and when they came to the gate that opened into the street, the officers observed that they could not have passed that way, because a cobweb 8* tKJ STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. across the opening was not broken. They next went into the school-house, which they exa- mined all over, except the box, on which the master placed his foot, which was lame ; and the officer, with true courtesy, on that account excused him from rising. Several boys were present, but not one lisped a word. The Bri- tish officers soon went back to the gun-house, and gave up the pursuit in vexation. The guns remained in that box for a fortnight, and many of the boys were acquainted with the fact, but not one of them betrayed the secret. At the end of that time, the person who had withdrawn them, came in the evening with a large trunk on a wheelbarrow ; the guns were put into it and carried up to a blacksmith's-shop at the South-end, and there deposited under the coal. After lying there for a while, they were put into a boat in the night, and safely transported within the American lines. BATTLE OF LO.NG ISLAND. 91 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. When the whole British army was landed, the Hessians, under General Heister, composed the centre at Flatbush ; Major-General Grant commanded the left wing, which extended to the coast ; and the principal army, under the command of General Clinton, Earl Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, turned short to the right, and approached the opposite coast at Flatland. The position of the Americans having been recon- noitred, Sir William Howe, from the intelli- gence given him, determined to attempt to turn their left flank. The right wing of his army, consisting of a strong advanced corps, com- manded by General Clinton, and supported by the brigades under Lord Percy, began at nine o'clock at night, on the 26th of August, to move from Flatland ; and, passing through the New Lots, arrived on the road that crosses the hills from Bedford to Jamaica. Having taken a patrol, they seized the pass, without alarming the Americans. At half after eight in the morn- ing, the British troops, having passed the heights 92 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. and reached Bedford, began an attack on the left of the American army. Tn the centre, General De Heister, soon after daylight, had begun to cannonade the troops, which occupied the direct road to Brooklyn, and which were commanded by General Sullivan in person. As soon as the firing toward Bedford was heard, De Heister advanced and attacked the centre of the Americans, who, after a warm engage- ment, were routed and driven into the woods. The firing toward Bedford giving them the alarming notice that the British had turned their left flank, and were getting completely into their rear, they endeavoured to escape to the camp. The sudden rout of this party enabled De Heis- ter to detach a part of his force against those who were engaged near Bedford. There also the Americans were broken and driven into the woods ; and the front of the British column, led by General Clinton, continuing to move for- ward, intercepted and engaged those whom De Heister had routed, and drove them back into the woods. There they again met the Hessians, who drove them back on the British. Thus alternately chased and intercepted, some forced their way through the enemy to the lines of BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 93 Brooklyn ; several saved themselves in the co- verts of the woods ; but a great part of the detachment was killed or taken. The left column, led by General Grant, ad- vancing from the Narrows along the coast, to divert the attention of the Americans from the principal attack on the right, had about mid- night fallen in with Lord Stirling's advanced guard, stationed at a strong pass, and compelled them to relinquish it. As they were slowly retiring, they were met on the summit of the hills about break of day by Lord Stirling, who had been directed, with the two nearest regi- ments, to meet the British on the road leading from the Narrows. Lord Stirling having posted his men advantageously, a furious cannonade commenced on both sides, which continued several hours. The firing towards Brooklyn, where the fugitives were pursued by the British, giving notice to Lord Stirling that the enemy had gained his rear, he instantly gave orders to retreat across a creek, near the Yellow Mills. The more effectually to secure the retreat of the main body of the detachment, he deter- mined to attack in person a British corps under Lord Cornwallis, stationed at a house some- 94 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. what above the place where he proposed cross- ing the creek. With about 400 men, drawn out of Smallwood's regiment for that purpose, he made a very spirited attack, and brought up this small corps several times to the charge, with confident expectation of dislodging Lord Cornwallis from his post ; but, the force in his front increasing, and General Grant now ad- vancing on his rear, he was compelled to sur- render himself and his brave men prisoners of war. This bold attempt, however, gave oppor- tunity to a large part of the detachment to cross the creek, and effect an escape. The enemy encamped in front of the Ame- rican lines ; and on the succeeding night broke ground within 600 yards of a redoubt on the left. In this critical state of the American army on Long Island ; in front a numerous and victorious enemy with a formidable train of artillery ; the fleet indicating an intention to force a passage into East River to make some attempt on New York ; the troops lying with- out shelter from heavy rains, fatigued and dis- pirited ; it was determined to withdraw from the island ; and this difficult movement was effected with great skill and judgment. CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN. 95 CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN. " Over with you, boys !" said old Ethan, as a boat, crowded with his men, pushed off into the St. Lawrence ; " Over with ye, and keep quiet, or ye '11 have warm work on't." " Ay, ay, Curnell !" was responded from the boat as it passed heavily through the water. Ethan and the remainder of his band stood upon the bank, watching its slow and toilsome progress, until it was no longer discernible through the darkness of night. The dull sound of oars was still heard, coming at intervals upon the fitful and gusty night-breeze. " Well, boys," said Allen, as the sound died away in the distance, " we 've got a devilish hard job before us, but we'll just let the red coats know we 're the size for it." " Sartin, Curnell," returned a six-foot Green Mountain Boy at his elbow. " You may de- pend on the Varmounters. They war'nt born in the woods to be scared at owls — but I tell you what, I don't like these ere Canady chaps. 96 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. I 'd give 'em all for half their number of true- blue Varmounters." " Indeed you would 1" said a Canadian, turning fiercely on the last speaker. " If it war'nt for making a rumpus, I 'd learn ye bet- ter manners." " Come on, and be darn'd to ye,'* said the unblenching Vermonter. " I could lick a dozen like ye." The uplifted arm of the Canadian was struck down by the tremendous fist of Allen. " What, are ye for fighting ?" he exclaimed ; " ye '11 have enough of that before morning, and you, Mike Hunter," turning to his townsman, " let me hear no more of your palavering, or" — and he clinched his determination with a terrible oath — " I '11 knock you into the river." " Well, jist as you say, Curnell," said the Vermonter, somewhat mortified at the rebuke of his commander, " but hang me if I don't think I 'm right, arter all." " Silence !" thundered Allen. The whole party knew the mood of their commander, and an almost breathless silence succeeded. In a few moments the sound of CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN. 97 oars was again heard, and a dark object ap- peared moving on the river. " Who goes there," demanded Ethan ; " friend or enemy !" " Joe Cady," was the laconic answer. " Ay — 'tis the boat," said Ethan ; " make yourselves ready, my men, we must all go now." The boat soon came to land, and Cady, a stout, rough-featured fellow, stepped from it leisurely. " Have you got a drop of comfort for a body?" he inquired, dropping his tobac- co quid into the river. " Holloa there ! Bring out the rum bottle," vociferated Allen. He drank long and heartily, and handed it to Cady, who in his turn passed it to his com- panions. " Are ye ready?" demanded Ethan. " Ay, ay, sartin !" was the quick response of the company, who were exhilarated by the draught they had just taken. " Tumble in then, all hands," said Allen, seating himself in the boat, where he was speedily followed by his company. " Off, off 9 88 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. with ye," he shouted. " Here 's for Montreal or a turf jacket !" •' Amen !" was responded from a dozen voices, as the loaded boat ploughed deeply into the river. A long silence succeeded, broken only by an occasional growl from old Ethan. He sat at the head of the boat, upright and as firm as a pillar, the grim outline of his coun- tenance just visible in the star-light. He had now leisure to reflect coolly on the hazard of his gigantic enterprise, and had the light been stronger, his companions might have witnessed the struggle of his feelings — the alternate sun- shine and shadow which passed over his rugged features. The boat ground heavily on the shore. Ethan and his party left it in silence, and proceeded to join their companions. After a few brief inquiries, Allen ordered sentinels to be posted between his party and the town, with orders to intercept all who attempted to pass or repass them. By this time the sun was just rising. Impatience and anxiety became visible in the countenance of Ethan. He strode rapidly back- wards and forwards, now cursing such of his party as happened to cross his way, and then CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN. 99 starting wildly, as the morning breeze brought to his ear the murmur of the distant town, where as yet no sign of alarm was visible. A solitary individual was now seen stealing round the eminence, behind which the party were stationed. He proved to be one of their companions, who had just returned from the other side of the island. The long strides of Allen were at once checked. " What news from Brown ?" he de- manded. " He han't come yet," returned the messen- ger. " Not yet ?" repeated Allen, in a tone in which disappointment and rage were blended. " No, Curnell, and we've got into a darned putty kittle of fish," returned the other ; " them plaugy Montrealers will drive us clean into the river." " Go to the devil, you cursed scare-crow !" roared Ethan. " I could handle a regiment of 'em myself." " Yes, you could, I 'spose," said the messen- ger, " but I 've heard it said that Brag was a good dog, but Holdfast was better." It was well for the speaker that this remark iLofC.! 100 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. was unheard by Allen, who had now other ob- jects to engage his attention. The quick roll of the enemy's drum fixed every eye upon their fortress. A moment more, and a column of British infantry made their appearance, where the Lion of St. George swayed heavily to the breeze. There was an almost breathless silence throughout the little band of adventurers, as the firm and disciplined enemy bore down upon them, with a movement, rapid but regular. Even old Ethan himself seemed paralyzed by the suddenness of the spectacle, and without issuing a word of command, stood gazing in an attitude of defiance upon the imposing array before him. " To the boats ! to the boats ! there is a thou- sand of ( 'em !" rang suddenly from a dozen voices. " Shut your clam-shells, every man of ye !" roared Ethan, brandishing a huge horse-pistol — " The man that turns his back on the red- coats, shall smell gunpowder." This had the desired effect. Every one saw the impossibility of crossing the river; and yielding to the necessity, made preparation for CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN. 101 an immediate encounter. Each rifle was care- fully examined— the rum bottle circulated freely, and, after taking a fresh supply of tobacco quids, those hardy and ignorant hunters awaited the onset of the enemy. " Now stand your ground, boys," said Allen, as a party of British soldiers moved towards them, from the main body, at double quick time. " Let 'em come on and be darn'd," said a tall, resolute young fellow at his side. " Only give us the word, Curnell," and he dropped his rifle to his eye as he spoke. " Fire !" shouted the British officer. " O God !" exclaimed the young man, as the blaze of the musketry flashed full in his face, " I am a dead man !" He staggered — the rifle fell from his hands — he dropped dead at the feet of his commander. The hardy followers of Ethan shrank back from the ghastly spectacle. They had been sprinkled with the blood of their comrade — they had seen, for the first time, the horrible struggles of a life extinguished by violence, and nothing short of the powerful example of their leader could have roused them to resistance. 9* 102 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. " Fire and brimstone !" he exclaimed, in a voice which sounded in their ears like the com- ing on of an earthquake, " Why don't you let 'em have it?" The fire of the enemy was now returned with considerable effect, for several were seen to stagger and fall. As the number of com- batants increased, the field of action was en- larged, and every rock and tree and fence be- came a citadel. But the party of Allen rapidly diminished; several were killed on the spot, and others sought safety in flight. Old Ethan was left alone. An officer of the enemy pressed closely upon him. Both levelled and discharged their muskets at the same mo- ment, without injury to either ; and Ethan, who saw his chance of escape was hopeless, gave up his sword to the officer. Thus ended the famous expedition of Ethan Allen against Montreal. As his companions, who had also yielded themselves up as prison- ers, passed over the field of action, many a rough settler paused to weep over his slaugh- tered brethren. There they lay — the young and strong-limbed hunters, who but an hour before had stood up with the energy of life, BATTLE OF TRE.NTON. 10 > stretched out on the bloody turf, their features rigid and grim in death. Even Allen, stem and hardened as he was, gave tokens of sensi- bility, and turned from gazing on the ghastly victims of his enterprise, to bestow his bitterest curses on the enemv. BATTLE OF TRENTON. Washington divided his troops into throe parts, which were to assemble on the banks of the Delaware on the night of the 25th of De- cember. One of these divisions, led by Gene- ral Irvine, was directed to cross the Delaware at the Trenton Ferry, and secure the bridge below the town, so as to prevent the escape ot any part of the enemy by that road. Another division, led by General Cadvvallader, was \6 cross over at Bristol, and carry the post at Bur- lington. The third, which was the principal division, and consisted of about 2400 continen- tal troops, commanded by General Washington in person, was to cross at M'Konkey's Ferry, 104 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. about nine miles above Trenton, and to march against the enemy posted at that town. The night fixed on for the enterprise was severely- cold. A storm of snow, mingled with hail and rain, fell in great quantities ; and so much ice was made in the river, that the artillery could not be got over until three o'clock ; and before the troops could take up their line of march, it was nearly four. The general, who had hoped to throw them all over by twelve o'clock, now despaired of surprising the town ; but knowing that he could not repass the river without being discovered and harassed, he determined, at all events, to push forward. He accordingly formed his detachment into two divisions, one of which was to march by the lower or river road, the other, by the upper or Pennington road. As the distance to Trenton by these two roads was nearly the same, the general, supposing that his two divisions would arrive at the place of destination about the same time, ordered each of them, immediately on forcing the outguards, to push directly into the town, that they might charge the enemy before they had time to form. The upper division, accompanied by the gene- ral himself, arrived at the enemy's advanced BATTLE OF TRENTON. 105 post exactly at eight o'clock, and immediately drove in the outguards. In three minutes a firing from the division, that had taken the river road, gave notice to the general of its arrival. Colonel Rahl, a very gallant Hessian officer who commanded in Trenton, soon formed his main body, to meet the assailants ; but at the com- mencement of the action he received a mortal wound. His troops, at once confused and hard pressed, and having already lost their artillery, attempted to file off by a road on their right. leading to Princeton ; but General Washing- ton, perceiving their intention, threw a body of troops in their front, which intercepted ai sailed them. Finding themselves surrounded, they laid down their arms. About 20 of the enemy were killed ; and 909, including officers, surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The number of prisoners was soon increased to about 1000, by the addition of those who had concealed themselves in houses. Six fie'/J- pieces, and 1000 stand of small arms, were also taken. Of the Americans, two privates only were killed ; two were frozen to death ; one officer and three or four privates were wounded. General Irvine being prevented by 106 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION the ice from crossing the Delaware, the lower road toward Bordentown remained open ; and about 500 of the enemy, stationed in the lower end of Trenton, crossing over the bridge in the commencement of the action, marched down the river to Bordentown. General Cadwaila- der was prevented by the same cause from at- tacking the post at Burlington. This well- judged and successful enterprise revived the depressed spirits of the colonists, and produced an immediate and happy effect in recruiting the American army. BATTLE OF PRINCETON. General Washington, having secured the Hessian prisoners on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, recrossed the river.two days after the action, and took possession of Trenton. Generals Mifflin and Cadwallader, who lay at Bordentown and Crosswix with 3600 militia, were ordered to march up in the night of the 1st of January, to join the commander-in-chief, BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 107 whose whole effective force, including this ac- cession, did not exceed 5000 men. The de- tachments of the British army, which had been distributed over New Jersey, now assembled at Princeton, and were joined by the army from Brunswick under Lord Cornwallis. From this position the enemy advanced toward Trenton in great force, on the morning of the 2d of January ; and, after some slight skirmishing with troops, detached to harass and delay their march, the van of their army reached Trenton about four in the afternoon. On their approach, General Washington retired across the Assum- pinck, a rivulet that runs through the town, and by some field-pieces, posted on its opposite banks, compelled them, after attempting to cross in several places, to fall back out of the reach of his guns. The two armies, kindling their fires, retained their position on opposite sides of the rivulet, and kept up a cannonade until night. The situation of the American general was at this moment extremely critical. Nothing but a stream, in many places fordable, sepa- rated his army from an enemy, in every respect its superior. If he remained in his present position, he was certain of being attacked the 108 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. next morning, at the hazard of the entire de- struction of his little army. If he should re- treat over the Delaware, the ice in that river not being firm enough to admit a passage upon it, there was danger of great loss, perhaps of a total defeat ; the Jerseys would be in full pos- session of the enemy ; the public mind would be depressed ; recruiting would be discouraged ; and Philadelphia would be within the reach of General Howe. In this extremity, he boldly determined to abandon the Delaware, and by a circuitous march along the left flank of the ene- my, fall into their rear at Princeton. As soon as it was dark, the baggage was silently re- moved to Burlington : and about one o'clock the army, leaving its fires lighted, and the sen- tinels on the margin of the creek, decamped with perfect secrecy. Its movement was pro- videntially favoured by the weather, which had previously been so warm and moist, that the ground was soft, and the roads were scarcely passable ; but, the wind suddenly changing to the northwest, the ground was in a short time frozen as hard as a pavement. About sunrise, two British regiments, that were on their march under Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood to join the BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 109 rear of the British army at Maidenhead, fell in with the van of the Americans, conducted by General Mercer, and a very sharp action en- sued. The advanced party of Americans, com- posed chiefly of militia, soon gave way, and the few regulars attached to them could not maintain their ground. General Mercer, while gallantly exerting himself to rally his broken troops, received a mortal wound. The British rushed forward with fixed bayonets, and drove back the Americans. General Washington, who followed close in the rear, now led on the main body of the army, and attacked the ene- my with great spirit. While he exposed him- self to their hottest fire, he was so well sup- ported by the same troops which had aided him a few days before in the victory at Trenton, that the British were compelled to give way. The 17th regiment, which was in front, forced its way through a part of the American troops, and reached Maidenhead. The 55th regiment, which was in the rear, retreated by the way of Hillsborough to Brunswick. General Wash- ington pressed forward to Princeton. A party of the British that had taken refuge in the col- lege, after receiving a few discharges from the 10 110 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. American field-pieces, came out and surren- dered themselves prisoners of war; but the principal part of the regiment that was left there, saved itself by a precipitate retreat to Brunswick. In this action, upward of 100 of the enemy were killed on the spot, and nearly 300 were taken prisoners. The loss of the Americans in killed was somewhat less ; but, beside General Mercer, Colonels Haslet and Potter, two brave and excellent officers from Pennsylvania, Captain Neal of the artillery, Captain Fleming, and five other valuable offi- cers, were among the slain. Lord Cornwallis, discovering at daylight that the American army had moved off, broke up his camp, and commenced a rapid march to Brunswick, and was close in the rear of the Americans before they left Princeton. Gene- ral Washington retired with his army to Mor- ristown. During these movements, many of the American soldiers were without shoes ; and their naked feet, in marching over the frozen ground, were so gashed, as to mark each step with blood. There was scarcely a tent in the whole army. EATTLE OF BRANDYWINE. Ill BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE. Sir William Howe, having in vain attempt- ed to entice or provoke General Washington to an engagement, had, in June, retired with his army from the Jerseys to Staten Island. After keeping the American general in long and per- plexing suspense concerning his intended ope- rations, he at length sailed from Sandy Hook with about 16,000 men; entered Chesapeake Bay ; and on the 24th of August arrived at the head of Elk river. Generals Grant and Kny- phausen having joined him on the 8th of Sep- tember with the troops under their command, f ie whole army moved onward in two columns toward Philadelphia, the possession of which was now discovered to be the object of the Bri- tish commander. General Washington, who regulated his movements by those of the enemy, had by this time, with the whole American army, excepting the light infantry, which re- mained on the lines, taken a position behind Red Clay Creek, on the road leading directly 112 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. from the enemy's camp to Philadelphia. The British boldly advanced until they were within two miles of the Americans. General Wash- ington, on reconnoitering their situation, appre- hending their object to be to turn his right, and, suddenly crossing the Brandy wine, to seize the heights on the north side of that river and cut ofF his communication with Philadelphia, changed his position early in the night of the 8th of September, crossed the Brandywine, and the next morning took post behind that river, on the height near Chadd's Ford. At daybreak on the morning of the eleventh, the royal army advanced in two columns, the one commanded by Lieutenant-General Kny- phausen, and the other by Lord Cornwallis. While the first column took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made a show of passing it in front of the main body of the Americans, the other moved up on the west side of the Brandywine to its fork, crossed both its branches about two in the afternoon, and marched down on its eastern side with the view of turning the right wing of their adversaries. General Wash- ington, on receiving intelligence of their ap- proach, made the proper disposition to receive BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE. 113 them. The divisions commanded by Sullivan, Stirling, and Stephen, advanced a little farther up the Brandywine, and fronted the column of the approaching enemy ; Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, remained at Chadd's Ford, to keep Knyphausen in check ; Green's division, accompanied by General Washington, formed a reserve, and took a cen- tral position between the right and left wings. The divisions detached against Cornwallis took possession of the heights above Birmingham church, their left reaching toward the Brandy- wine ; the artillery was judiciously placed, and their flanks were covered by woods. About four o'clock, Lord Cornwallis formed the line of battle, and began the attack. The Ameri- cans sustained it for some time with intrepidity ; but their right at length giving way, the re- maining divisions, exposed to a galling fire on the flank, continued to break on the right, and the whole line was soon completely routed. As soon as Cornwallis had commenced his attack, Knyphausen crossed the ford, and attacked the troops posted for its defence ; which, after a severe conflict, were compelled to give way. The retreat of the Americans, which soon became 10* 114 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. general, was continued that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. The loss, sustained by the Americans in this action, is estimated at 300 killed, and 600 wounded. Between 300 and 400, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. The loss of the British was stated to be rather less than 100 killed, and 400 wounded. As the British were advancing toward Goshen to gain the Lancaster road, dis- positions were again made for battle, on the 16th, by both armies; but a heavy rain sepa- rated the advanced parties, which had begun to skirmish, and its increasing violence soon obliged the Americans to retreat. General Washington on the 19th crossed the Schuylkill, and encamped on the eastern banks of that river; while detachments of his army were posted at the several fords, over which the ene- my would probably attempt to force a passage. LA FAYETTE. ] 15 LA FAYETTE. The general was dining with his family cir- cle at Alexandria, during his visit to the United States in 1825, when the landlord of the hotel entered, and whispered to Mr. C. that a very- old revolutionary soldier, from Delaware, wish- ed to see the general. He was an exceedingly old man, had travelled a great way, they had given him a dinner, and he awaited an audi- ence. " Show him in," was the reply : " the general is always at home to his ancient com- rades." Respectfully assisted by the landlord, the veteran entered the room. " Your servant, general ; an old man's blessing be with you. They call you old ; but you are quite a boy to me. I am ninety-six. You are much altered, truly, since I saw you at Brandy wine — ah! there was hot work there. T am heartily glad to see you. I have travelled all the way from Wilmington on foot. Sure, some kind gentle- man offered to pay the old fellow's passage in the stage; but no — I have always marched, 116 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. and I can march still ; though I am in pretty- quick steps to the grave. The sight of you brings the remembrance of former times. Do you recollect that when a deserter fired at you in New Jersey, you, Sergeant Pierce, and I, caught the rascal ? Do you remember Jemmy, the Rover? poor Jemmy, he was a half-witty body and full of his jokes, but he could never stand fire. I believe the American army thought 1 was a man who could. You remember old Allen, of Delaware. We were distantly related. The McLeans were never famous for turning their backs on any enemy." Here La Fayette filled a glass of wine, saying, " Drink with me, my good friend ; here is your health." The veteran took the glass, bowed his acknowledg- ments, and attempted to raise it to his lips ; but the palsied hand of extreme age, refused to do its office. The wine was nearly all spilled ; but the little that remained served to warm his heart, as though he had quaffed " long and deep." The soldier continued : " I am a very poor man, and must beg a pair of shoes to set me home ; these are worn out in my long jour- ney." La Fayette arose, and taking the arm of the veteran, hurried him into his chamber and BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 11? shut the door. They soon returned ; the last of the revolutionary generals, whom assem- bled senates had risen to honour, supporting the poor old soldier of the Revolution. " Farewell, my good friend," said he : " may Heaven bless you." The McLean would have answered ; his lips moved, but gave forth no sound ; his eyes, whose lustre nearly a hundred years had dim- med, alone spoke the language of his heart. All who were present attended him to the door, and bade farewell to the hero of ninety-six. BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. General Washington, having been rein- forced by 1500 men from Peekskill, and 1000 from Virginia, and having received intelligence through two intercepted letters, that General Howe had detached a part of his force for the purpose of reducing Billing's-point works and the forts on the Delaware, entertained the thought of attacking the main body as it lay at Germantown. The line of encampment crossed 118 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the town at right angles about the centre : the left wing extended to the Schuylkill. It was covered in front by the mounted and dismount- ed chasseurs : a battalion of light infantry, and the queen's American rangers were in the front of the right ; and the 40th regiment, with an- other battalion of light infantry, were posted at the head of the town, upon Chesnut-Hill road, three quarters of a mile in advance. Lord Cornwallis lay at Philadelphia with four batta- lions of grenadiers. When General Washing- ton had communicated to his council of war the account he had obtained, the general officers unanimously agreed upon an attack, and to its being made in general places, to produce the greater confusion and distraction, and to hinder the several parts of the enemy's forces afford- ing support to each other. It was to be sudden and vigorous, in expectation of carrying the point speedily, from an apprehension that the Americans would not persevere in a prolonged attack, for want of better discipline and more acquaintance with military service. Was it found that they could make no impression upon the enemy, they were after a while to make an expeditious retreat. The divisions of Sullivan BATTLE OF GEBMANTOWN. 119 and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, were to enter the town by way of Chesnut Hill ; while Armstrong, with the Pennsylvania mili- tia, got upon the enemy's left and rear. Colo- nel Thomas Conway, Knight of St. Louis, had been elected so early as May, a brigadier-gen- eral, upon the recommendatory letters he brought from France. The divisions of Greene and Stephen, flanked by M'Dougall's brigade, were to enter by taking a circuit at the market- houses, and to attack the right wing ; and the militia of Maryland and Jersey, under Gene- rals Smallwood and Freeman were to march by the old York road, and fall upon the rear of the right. Lord Stirling, with Nash's and Maxwell's brigades, were to form a corps de reserve. They began their march about seven o'clock in the evening of the 3d of October. General Washington is with the divisions of Sullivan and Wayne. He expects that if the enemy has gained timely intelligence of his march, they will wait for him on Chesnut Hill, and receive him as he comes out of the woods. When arrived on the hill, without any appearance of opposition, he is congratulated upon the persua- 120 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. sion that the British will be completely sur- prised. About sun-rise on the fourth the attack is began on the 40th regiment, and the batta- lion of light infantry which accompanies it. These corps are overpowered and pursued. In this exigence Lieutenant-Colonel Musgrave throws himself, with six companies of the 40th regiment, into Mr. Chew's stone-house, lying full in the front of the Americans. These halt. A discourse ensues between Generals Knox and Reed, in the presence of the commander-in- chief, whether or not to advance without first reducing the house. Knox urges that it is con- trary to all military rule to leave a fort pos- sessed by an enemy in their rear. Reed ex- claims — " What ! call this a fort, and lose the happy moment !" Conway is inquired after to give his judgment, but cannot be found. It is agreed to send a flag to the house, and sum- mons the British officer to surrender. A young person undertakes to carry it. He approaches, is fired upon, and killed. Meanwhile, General Greene gets up with his column, and attacks the right wing of the enemy. The morning being exceeding foggy, prevents the Americans from fully improving the advantages they gain. BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 121 Colonel Matthews, of Greene's column, attacks with uncommon spirit, routes the parties opposed to him, kills a great number, and makes 110 prisoners ; but, through the fog, loses sight of the brigade he belongs to, is separated from it, and is taken prisoner with his whole regiment, accompanied with the release of all whom he had captured. A number of Greene's troops are stopped, by the halt of the division before Chew's house, where near or quite one half of General Washington's army remains some time inactive. During this inactivity, General Grey, bringing the front of a great part of the left wing by a timely movement to Germantown, leads on three battalions of the third brigade and attacks with vigour, being supported by General Agnew at the head of the fourth bri- gade. A warm engagement ensues. At the same time two British regiments attack on the opposite side of the town ; while General Grant moves up the 49th regiment, to the aid of the 4th, which is employed in supporting the troops engaged with Green's column. The fog is so great, that at times you cannot see twenty yards before you, and frequently not more than fifty. It occasions the American parties mistaking 11 122 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. each other For the enemy, and prevents their observing the true situation of the latter. Ow- ing hereto in a great measure, the Americans quit every part of the town ; and when Gene- ral Grey, having passed it, advances with the British right wing upon their left, they leave the field hastily and entirely, in spite of every effort that can be made to rally them. Lord Cornwallis arrives with a squadron of light horse just in season to join in the pursuit. Greene with his own and Stephen's division, happens to form the last column of the retreat- ing Americans. Upon coming to two roads, and thinking it will be safest, and may prevent the enemy's advancing by either so as to get ahead of him ; and that the divisions may aid each other upon occasion, he marches one divi- sion on the one road, and the second on the other. While continuing his retreat, Pulaski's cavalry who is in his rear, being fired upon by the enemy, ride over the second division, and throw them in the utmost disorder, as they know not at first but that they are the British dragoons. The men run and scatter, and the general is apprehensive that he shall lose his artillery. He cannot collect a party sufficient BATTLE OF GERMA.NTOWN. 123 to form a rear guard, till he hits upon the de- vice of ordering the men to lay hold of each other's hands. This answers. He collects a number, and by the help of the artillery, brings the enemy to give over the pursuit, after having continued it near five miles. The Americans then proceeded in their march back to Shippach Creek without further disturbance. The British officers acknowledged soon after this affair, that it was the severest blow they had met with ; that it was planned with judg- ment, and executed with spirit ; and that they were at a loss for its not being followed up, unless it was for want of ammunition. The Americans lost in killed 25 continental officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, wound- ed 102, and an equal number missing. The militia were, 3 killed, 4 wounded, and 11 miss- ing. Of rank and file, continentals, 109 were killed, and 378 wounded — militia, 7 killed and 19 wounded. They had artillery officers, 2 killed and 11 wounded ; and matrosses 6 killed and 7 wounded. The total of their killed was 152 ; and of their wounded 521. Upward of 400 were made prisoners, among whom were 54 officers. The number of missing among 124 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the Americans is no rule by which to judge of the number captured by the enemy, as many of the missing, who do not return to their co- lours, go home. General Nash, of North Caro- lina, was among the slain, and will be honoured by Congress with a monument, the same as other generals who have fallen in action bravely contending for the independency of the United States. The loss of the royal army, including the wounded and a few prisoners, amounted by their own acknowledgment, to 535 ; but the slain scarcely exceeded 70. Among these, however, were some distinguished officers, par- ticularly General Agnew and Lieutenant-Colo- nel Bird. They suffered probably more than they allowed. The battle, by General Knox's watch, held two hours and forty minutes. General Washington is of opinion, that the Americans retreated at an instant when victory was declaring in their favour. The royal army was indeed completely surprised ; and appear- ances in the beginning were evidently on the side of the former. But it is said, that a cer- tain colonel, not being sufficiently experienced, instead of pressing with fixed bayonet on the BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 125 enemy whom he had driven, kept ordering his men, as they advanced, to load and fire, by which they expended their ammunition : and that, instead of halting on the ground till fur- nished afresh, he ordered his regiment to re- treat. This retrograde manosuvre enabled and encouraged the enemy to recover themselves, while the other Americans, who were advanc- ing, were disheartened and disconcerted by the retreating regiment, not knowing the occasion of such retreat. It is admitted, however, that the colonel behaved boldly, by keeping himself in the rear next to the enemy. General Ste- phen was guilty of unofficer-like behaviour in the retreat, owing to inattention or want of judgment ; which might occasion a whisper to be circulated unfavourable to General Greene. But upon General Reed's asking the command- er-in-chief whether he was dissatisfied with Greene's conduct, he candidly answered " No, not at all ; the fault lay with ourselves ;" refer- ring to the column with which he was, and their stopping to attack Chew's stone house. Several causes might co-operate to effect the precipitous retreat of the American army. And yet had that column advanced without delay, 11* 126 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. leaving only a sufficient corps with a couple of field-pieces to guard the house, the obstacles to success that afterward offered, might have been removed or prevented, and Howe's army have been totally defeated, unless the superiority of their discipline and bravery could have hin- dered. GENERAL WAYNE'S WAR-HORSE. At the battle of Germantown, General Wayne rode his gallant roan ; and in charging the enemy, his horse received a wound in his head, and fell, as was supposed, dead. Two days after, the roan returned to the American camp, noi materially injured, ; and was again fit for servic?. BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 127 BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. General Burgoyne's progress toward Al- bany was delayed through the want of a speedy and sufficient supply of provisions. He con- sidered in what way the difficulty was to be surmounted. According to information, the Americans had a great deposit of corn, flour, and store cattle at Bennington, which was guarded only by militia. Every day's account confirmed the persuasion of the loyalty of one e description of the inhabitants in that part of the country, and of the panic of the other. He therefore entertained the design of surprising the stores at Bennington, and of sending a very large detachment upon the expedition ; but was diverted from the latter (as supposed) by Major Skeen, who assured him, " The friends to the British cause are as five to one, and they want only the appearance of a protecting power to show themselves." Relying upon their attach- ment, the general sent the German Lieutenant- Colonel Baum, with only about 500 men, and 128 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 100 Indians, who carried with them two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate the operation the army moved along the east shore of Hud- son river, and encamped nearly opposite to Saratoga ; and a bridge of rafts being thrown over, the advance corps passed to that place. Lieutenant-Colonel Brey man's corps, consisting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry, and chasseurs, were posted at Batten-kill, in order if necessary to support Baum. Stark, hearing that a party of Indians was at Cam- bridge, sent Lieutenant-Colonel Gregg with 200 men to stop their progress. Toward night he was informed by express, that there was a large body of regulars in the rear of the Indians. On that he drew together his brigade, and the militia who were at hand, in order to stop their march ; sent to Manchester for Colonel War- ner's regiment, and forwarded expresses to the neighbouring militia to join him with all speed. He then marched, in the morning of the 14th, with Colonels Warner, Williams, and Brush, and the men present, and in about seven miles met Gregg retreating, and the enemy within a mile of him. The troops drew up in order of battle; and the enemy, upon coming in sight, BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 129 halted upon a very advantageous piece of ground. Baum perceiving that the Americans were too strong to be attacked by his present force, sent an express to Burgoyne with an ac- count of his situation ; and Breyman was im- mediately despatched to reinforce him. Mean- while small parties of the Americans skirmished with the enemy, killed and wounded 30 of them, with two Indian chiefs, without any loss to themselves, which had a good effect upon their courage. The ground Stark occupied not be- ing suitable for a general action, he retreated about a mile and encamped. In a council of war, it was agreed to send two detachments into the enemy's rear, while the rest of the troops attacked in front. On the 15th of August it rained all day, which retarded the intended assault ; however there were frequent skirmishings in small par- ties. The heavy rain, together with the bad- ness of the roads, prevented also Breyman's advancing to Baum's assistance with despatch. The next day, August 16th, Stark being joined in the morning by Colonel Seymonds, from Berkshire, pursued his plan. Baum, in the meanwhile, had entrenched and rendered his 130 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. post as defensible as time and its nature would permit. Gen. Stark detached Nichols with his force to the rear of his left : Colonel Hen- rick, with 300 men, was sent to the rear of his right: they were to join, and then attack. Warner, Hubard and Stickney, with 200, were posted still further on his right. A hundred men were also advanced toward his front to draw his attention that way. About three o'clock in the afternoon all were ready for the attack. Before Nichols and Henrick could join, the Indians pushed off between the two corps, but receiving a fire as they passed, had three killed and two wounded. Nichols then began the assault upon Baum, and was followed by the rest ; those in front pushing forward. In a few minutes the action became general, and lasted about two hours, with one continued noise like the ruffling of a drum. Baum made a brave defence ; and the German dragoons kept together after having expended their am- munition, and led by their colonel charged with their swords, but were soon overpowered. The whole detachment, though well enclosed by two breast-works, were forced to give way to the superior number and courage of the Americans, BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 131 who with their brown firelocks, scarce a bayo- net, little discipline, and not a single piece of cannon, ventured to attack 500 well-trained regulars, furnished with the best and completest arms and accoutrements, having two pieces of artillery, being advantageously posted, and ac- companied by 100 Indians. When the militia had gained the victory, they dispersed to collect plunder, which they were very desirous of se- curing. This nearly proved fatal to them. While thus busied, Stark received information, that the reinforcement under Breyman was within two miles of him. Happily, at that instant, Warner's continental regiment, which had been sent for from Manchester, came up fresh, marched on, and began to engage ; mean- while the militia collected as fast as possible, and pushed on to its assistance. The action became general ; and the battle continued ob- stinate on both sides till sunset ; when the Ger- mans gave way, partly through a failure of ammunition, leaving their two pieces of artil- lery behind them, and a number of prisoners. They retreated in the best manner they could, improving the advantage of the evening and of the night. 132 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The Americans took four brass field-pieces, twelve brass drums, two hundred and fifty dra- goon swords, four ammunition wagons, and about 700 prisoners, among whom was Lieuten- ant-Colonel Baum. Three hundred dead are said to have been found upon the spot : but if so, surely the slain on each side must have been included. The Americans lost but about 100 killed and wounded. The courage of the men was sharpened by the prospect of advantage, for in General Stark's orders they were pro- mised all the plunder that should be taken in the enemy's camp. The royal officers were astonished to see how undauntedly they rushed on the mouths of the cannon. Both men and officers are entitled to much honour for their gallant behaviour. Colonels Warner and Hen- rick's superior skill in military matters was of service to the general, who was less conversant with them than they ; but his rank in the army of the United States was afterward given him by Congress, on the 4th of October, when they " Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be presented to General Stark, of the New Hamp- shire militia, and the officers and troops undei his command, for their brave and successful REV. THOMAS ALLEN. 133 attack upon, and signal victory over the enemy in their lines at Bennington ; and that Brigadier Stark be appointed a brigadier-general in the army of the United States." Never were thanks more deservedly bestowed. This was the first turn of affairs in favour of the Ameri- cans in the northern department after the death of General Montgomery. It raised the spirits of the country, and made the militia willing to turn out beyond what would otherwise have been done. REV. THOMAS ALLEN. Rev. Thomas Allen was the first minister of Pittsfield. When the American Revolution commenced, he, like the great body of the cler- gy, ardently espoused the cause of the oppressed colonies, and bore his testimony against the oppression of the mother country. When, in anticipation of the conflict which finally took place at Bennington, the neighbouring country was roused to arms, he used his influence to increase the band of patriots, by exciting his 12 134: STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. townsmen to proceed to the battle ground. A company was raised in his parish and proceed- ed. Some causes, however, were found to re- tard their progress on the way. Hearing of the delay, he proceeded immediately to join them, by his influence quickened their march, and soon presented them to General Stark. Learn- ing from him that he meditated an attack on the enemy, he said he would fight, but could not willingly bear arms against them, until he had invited them to submit. He was insensible to fear, and accordingly proceeded so near as to make himself distinctly heard in their camp, where, after taking a stand on a convenient eminence, he commenced his pious exhortations, urging them to lay down their arms. He was answered by a volley of musketry, which lodged their com nts in the log on which he stood. Turning inly to a friend who had followed him undej cover of the breast- work which formed his <*>otstool, he said — "Now give me a gun ;" ai d this is said to be the first American gun that spoke on that memorable occasion. He continued to bear his part till the battle was decided in favour of the American arms, and contributed honourably to that result. BATTLE OF SARATOGA. 135 BATTLE OF SARATOGA. After collecting thirty days' provision Bur- goyne passed the Hudson, and encamped at Saratoga. Gates, with numbers already equal, and continually augmenting, began to advance towards him with a resolution to oppose his progress at the risk of a battle. He encamped at Stillwater, and Burgoyne hastened forward to open the way with his sword. On the 17th of September the two armies were within four miles of each other. Two days after, skirm- ishes between advanced parties terminated in an engagement almost general, in which the utmost efforts of the British merely enabled them to maintain the footing of the preceding day. Burgoyne, unassisted by the British forces under Clinton at New York, found himself un- able to pursue his march down the river, and in the hope of this assistance, was content to remain in his camp, and stand on the defensive. His army was likewise diminished by the de- 136 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. sertion of the Indians and the Canadian militia, to less than one half of its original number. Gates finding his forces largely increasing, be- ing plentifully supplied with provisions, and knowing that Burgoyne had only a limited store, which was rapidly lessening, and could not be recruited, was not without hopes that victory would come, in time, even without a battle. His troops were so numerous, and his fortified position so strong, that he was able to take measures for preventing the retreat of the enemy, by occupying the strong posts in his rear. Accordingly nineteen days passed with- out any further operations, a delay as ruinous to one party, as it was advantageous to the other. At the end of this period, the British general found his prospects of assistance as remote as ever, and the consumption of his stores so alarming, that retreat or victory be- came unavoidable alternatives. On the 8th of October a warm action ensued, in which the British were everywhere repulsed, and a part of their lines occupied by their ene- mies. Burgoyne's loss was very considerable in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while the favourable situation of Gates's army made its BATTLE OF SARATOGA. 137 losses in the battle of no moment. Burgoyne retired in the night to a stronger camp, but the measures immediately taken by Gates, to cut off his retreat, compelled him without delay to regain his former camp at Saratoga. There he arrived with little molestation from his ad- versary. His provisions being now reduced to the supply of a few days, the transport of ar- tillery and baggage towards Canada being ren- dered impracticable by the judicious measures of his adversary, the British general resolved upon a rapid retreat, merely with what the sol- diers could carry on their backs. On a careful scrutiny, however, it was found that they were deprived even of this resource, as the passes through which their route lay were so strongly guarded that nothing but ar- tillery could clear them. In this desperate situ- ation a parley took place, and on the 16th of October the whole army surrendered to Gates. The prize obtained consisted of more than five thousand prisoners, some fine artillery, seven thousand muskets, clothing for seven thousand men, with a great quantity of tents, and other military stores. All the frontier fortresses were immediately abandoned to the victors. 12* 138 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. It is not easy to overrate the importance of this success. It may be considered as deciding the war of the Revolution, as from that period the British cause began rapidly to decline. The capture of Cornwallis was not of more import- ance than that of Burgoyne, nor was it in itself an event of greater splendour, or productive of more exultation. PUTNAM'S FEAT. About the middle of winter, while General Putnam was on a visit to his out-post at Horse- Neck, he found Governor Tryon advancing upon that town with a corps of fifteen hundred men. To oppose these General Putnam had only a picquet of one hundred and fifty men, and two iron field-pieces, without horses or drag- ropes. He, however, planted his cannon on the high ground, by the meeting-house, and retarded their approach by firing several times, until, perceiving the horse (supported by the infantry) about to charge, he ordered the pic- pctnam's fevt. 1*39 quet to provide for their safety, by retiring to a swamp inaccessible to horse, and secured his own by plunging down the steep precipice at the church upon a full trot. This precipice is so steep, where he descended, as to have artifi- cial stairs, composed of nearly one hundred stone steps, for the accommodation of foot pas- sengers. There the dragoons, who were but a sword's length from him, stopped short ; for the declivity was so abrupt that they ventured not to follow ; and, before they could gain the val- ley, by going round the brow of the hill in the ordinary road, he was far enough beyond their reach. He continued his route, unmolested, to Stanford ; from whence, having strengthened his picquet by the junction of some militia, he came back again, and, in turn, pursued Gover- nor Tryon in his retreat. As he rode down the precipice, one ball, of the many fired at him, went through his beaver : but Governor Tryon, by way of compensation for spoiling his hat, sent him, soon afterwards, as a present, a com- plete suit of clothes. 140 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BATTLE OF MONMOUTH COURT-HOUSE. General Washington, hearing that the enemy were on their march in the direction of Monmouth Court-House, despatched Brigadier- General Wayne with a farther detachment of 1000 select men to strengthen the forces on the lines. The continental troops, now in front of the main army, amounting to at least 4000 men, General Washington sent the Marquis de La Fayette to take command of them, and soon after, General Lee, who with two additional bri- gades joined the front division, which was now under his direction, and encamped at English- town, a few miles in the rear of the British army. A corps of 600 men, under Colonel Morgan, hovered on the right flank of the Bri- tish ; and 800 of the Jersey militia, under Gen- eral Dickenson, were on the left. General Washington with the main body of the Ameri- can army encamped about three miles in the rear of his advanced corps. Such was the dis- position of the two armies on the evening of the BATTLE OF MONMOUTH COLRT-HOTSE. 141 27th of June, 1778. About twelve miles in front of the British, the high grounds about Middletown would afford them a position, which would effectually secure them from the impres- sion of the Americans. General Washington determined to risk an attack on their rear be- fore they should reach those heights. General Lee was accordingly ordered to make his dis- positions for the attack, and to keep his troops constantly lying on their arms, that he might take advantage of the first movement of the enemy ; and corresponding orders were given to the rear division of the army. The British army marched in two divisions, the van commanded by General Knyphausen, and the rear by Lord Cornwall is ; but the Bri- tish commander-in-chief, judging that the de- sign of the American general was to make an attempt on his baggage, put it under the care of General Knyphausen, that the rear division, consisting of the flower of the British army, might be ready to act with vigour. This ar- rangement being made, General Knyphausen's division marched, in pursuance of orders, at break of day on the 28th of June ; but the other division, under Lord Cornwallis, attended 142 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. by the commander-in-chief, did not move until eight, that it might not press too closely on the baggage. General Lee appeared on the heights of Freehold soon after the British had left them ; and, following them into the plain, made dispo- sitions for intercepting their covering party in the rear. While he was advancing to the front of a wood adjoining the plain, to reconnoitre the enemy in person Sir Henry Clinton was marching back his whole rear division to attack the Americans. Lee now perceived that lie had mistaken the force, which formed the rear of the British ; but he stbll proposed to engage on that ground. While both armies were prepar- ing for action, General Scott, mistaking an oblique- march of an American column for a retreat, left his position, and repassed a morass in his rear. Lee, dissatisfied with the ground on which the army was drawn up, did not cor- rect the error of Scott ; but directed the whole detachment to repass the morass, and regain the heights. During this retrograde movement, the rear of the army, which at the first firing had thrown off their packs and advanced ra- pidly to the support of the front, approached the scene of action ; and General Washington, BATTLE OF MONMOUTH COURT-HOUSE. 143 riding forward, met the advanced corps, to his extreme mortification and astonishment, retiring before the enemy. On coming up to Lee, he spoke to him in terms of disapprobation ; but, though warm, he lost not for a moment that self-command, than which at so critical a mo- ment nothing could be more essential to the command of others. He instantly ordered Col- onel Stewart's and Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay's battalions to form on a piece of ground, which he judged suitable for giving a check to the ene- my ; and, having directed General Lee to take proper measures with the residue of his force to stop the British columns on that ground, he rode back himself to arrange the rear division of the army. His orders were executed with firmness. A sharp conflict ensued ; and though Lee was forced from the ground on which he had been placed, he brought off his troops in good order, and was then directed to form in the rear of Englishtown. The check, which he had given to the enemy, procured time to make a disposition of the left wing and second line of the American army, in the wood and on the eminence to which Lee was retreating. Lord Stirling, who commanded the left wing, 144 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. placed some cannon on the eminence, which, with the co-operation of some parties of infan- try, effectually stopped the advance of the Bri- tish in that quarter. The enemy attempted to turn the left flank of the Americans, but were repulsed. They also made a movement to the right, but were there repelled by General Greene, who had taken a very advantageous position. Wayne, advancing with a body of troops, kept up so severe and well-directed a fire, that the British soon gave way, and took the position which Lee had before occupied, where the ac- tion commenced immediately after the arrival of General Washington. Here the British line was formed on very strong ground. Both flanks were secured by the woods and morasses, and their front could only be reached through a nar- row pass. The day had been intensely hot ; and the troops were greatly fatigued ; yet Gen- eral Washington resolved to renew the engage- ment. He ordered Brigadier-General Poor with his own and the Carolina brigade to gain the enemy's right flank, while Woolford with his brigade should turn their left. The artillery was ordered at the same time to advance and play on them in front. These orders were BATTLE OF MONMOUTH COURT-HOUSE. 145 promptly obeyed; but there were so many im- pediments to be overcome, that before the at- tack could be commenced, it was nearly dark. It was therefore thought most advisable to post- pone farther operations until morning ; and the troops lay on their arms in the field of battle. General Washington, who had been exceedingly active through the day, and entirely regardless of personal danger, reposed himself at night in his cloak, under a tree, in the midst of his sol- diers. His intention of renewing the battle was frustrated. The British troops marched away about midnight in such profound silence, that the most advanced posts, and those very near, knew nothing of their departure until morning. The American general, declining all farther pursuit of the royal army, detached some light troops to attend its motions, and drew off his forces to the borders of the North River. Sir Henry Clinton, after remaining a few days on the high grounds of Middletown, proceeded to Sandy Hook, whence he passed his army over to New York. The loss of the Americans in this battle was 8 officers and 61 privates killed, and about 160 wounded. Among the slain, and much regret- 13 14G STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ted, were Lieutenant-Colonel Bonner, of Penn- sylvania, and Major Dickenson, of Virginia. The loss of the British army, in killed, wound- ed, and missing, is stated to have been 358 men, including officers. Among their slain was Lieutenant-Colonel Monckton, who was greatly and deservedly lamented. About 100 were taken prisoners ; and nearly 1000 soldiers, principally foreigners, many of whom had mar- ried in Philadelphia, deserted the British stand- ard during the march. Both parties claimed the victory in the battle of Monmouth. It is allowed, that in the early part of the day, the British had the advantage, but it is also contended, that in the latter part, it was on the side of the Americans ; for " they maintained their ground ; repulsed the enemy by whom they were attacked ; were pre- vented only by the night and the retreat of Sir Henry Clinton from renewing the action ; and suffered in killed and wounded less than their adversaries." GENERAL LEE. 147 GENERAL LEE. General Lee was remarkably slovenly in his dress and manners ; and has often, by the meanness of his appearance, been subject to ridicule and insult. He was once attended by General Washington to a place distant from the camp. Riding on, he arrived at the house where they were to dine, sometime before the rest of the company. He went directly to the kitchen, demanding something to eat, when the cook, taking him for a servant, told him she would give him some victuals in a moment — but he must help her off with the pot. This he complied with, and set down to some cold meat, which she had placed before him on the dresser. The girl was remarkably inquisitive about the guests who were coming, particularly of Lee, who she said she had heard was one of the oddest and ugliest men in the world. In a few moments, she desired the general again to assist her in placing on the pot, and scarcely had he finished, when she requested him to take 148 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. a bucket and go to the well. Lee made no objections, and began drawing water. In the meantime, General Washington arrived, and an aid-de-camp was despatched in search of Lee ; whom to his surprise, he found engaged as above. But what was the confusion of the poor girl on hearing the aid-de-camp address the man with the title of general. The mug fell from her hands, and dropping on her knees, she began crying for pardon ; when Lee, who was ever ready to see the impropriety of his own conduct, but never willing to change it, gave her a crown, and turning to his aid-de- camp, observed, " You see, young man, the advantage of a fine coat — the man of conse- quence is indebted to it for respect — neither vir- tue nor abilities without it, will make you look like a gentleman." RHODE ISLAND. 149 RHODE ISLAND. . The British army in Rhode Island, consist- ing of about 6000 men, commanded by Major- General Sir Robert Pigott, lay principally at Newport. The American army, consisting of about 10,000 men, commanded by Major-Gen- eral Sullivan, lay on the main, about the town of Providence. Soon after the arrival of the British fleet, a plan of attack on the town of Newport was concerted between- General Sulli- van and Count D'Estaing. The fleet was to enter the harbour, and land the troops of his Christian majesty on the west side of the island, a little to the north of Dyer's Island ; and the Americans were to land at the same time on the opposite coast, under cover of the guns of a frigate. On the 8th of August, General Sulli- van joined General Greene at Tiverton, to which place, lying on the east side of the east channel, this general had marched a detach- ment of continental troops with some militia ; and it was agreed, that the fleet should enter 13* 150 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the main channel immediately, and that the de- scent should be made the next day. The ships of war entered the channel accordingly, but, the militia not arriving precisely at the expected time, General Sullivan stated to the count the necessity of postponing the attack. The next day, Lord Howe, who had sailed from New York for the relief of Newport, appeared in sight ; and D'Estaing the morning after went out of the harbour determined to give him bat- tle. The French fleet having the weather-gage, Lord Howe weighed anchor and put out to sea. D'Estaing followed him ; and both fleets were soon out of sight. On the morning of the 9th, General Sullivan, discovering that the British troops at the north end of the island had been recalled in the night into the lines at Newport, determined to take immediate possession of the works, which had been abandoned. In conformity to this deter- mination, the whole army immediately crossed the east passage, and landed on the north end of Rhode Island. On the 14th, the army moved toward the lines, and encamped between two and three miles from the town of Newport ; RHODE ISLAND. 151 and the next morning commenced the siege of the place. The two admirals, after manoeuvring two days without coming to action, were separated by a violent storm ; and it was not until the evening of the 19th, that the French fleet made its reappearance. Instead, however, of the ex- pected co-operation in the siege, the fleet sailed on the 22d for Boston to refit, to the extreme dissatisfaction of the Americans. The militia, thus deserted by their allies, on whose co-ope- ration much dependence had been placed, went home in great numbers ; and General Sullivan soon found it expedient to raise the siege. Hav- ing, on the 26th, sent off his heavy artillery and baggage, he, on the night of ihe 28th, re- treated from his lines. Very eany ihe next morning, the enemy, discovering his retreat, followed in two columns ; and the whole day was spent in skirmishes between them and co- vering parties of the Americans, which succes- sively fell back on the main body of the army. This was now encamped in a commanding situ- ation at the north end of the island, and, on the approach of the enemy, it drew up in order of battle. The British formed on Quaker Hill, 152 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. about a mile in front of the American line. Sullivan's rear was' covered by strong works, and in his front, somewhat to the right, was a redoubt. A cannonade and skirmishes having mutually been kept up until about two o'clock, the enemy, then advancing in force, attempted to turn the right flank, and made demonstra- tions of an intention to dislodge General Greene, who commanded the right wing, from the re- doubt in its front. Four regular regiments were moved forward to meet them, and General Greene advanced with two other regiments of continental troops, and Lovell's brigade of mili- tia. Colonel Livingston's regiment was ordered to reinforce the right. After a very sharp and obstinate engagement of half an hour, the ene- my gave way, and retreated to Quaker Hill. The loss of the Americans, in killed, wounded, and missing, was 211. The loss of the enemy is stated to have been 260. The day after the action, a cannonade was kept up by both armies. A letter was now re- ceived by General Sullivan from General Wash- ington, informing him that a large body of troops had sailed from New York, most probably for the relief of Newport : and a resolution was ANECDOTE OF A NEGRO BOY. 153 immediately formed to evacuate the island. This movement was effected with great judg- ment, and entire success. General Sullivan, while making every show of an intention to resist the enemy and maintain his ground, pass- ed his army over, by the way of Bristol and Howland ferries, on the night of the 30th, to the continent. It was a remarkable escape. The delay of a single day would probably have been fatal to the Americans; for Sir Henry Clinton, who had been delayed by adverse winds, arrived with a reinforcement of 4000 men the very next day, when a retreat, it is presumed, would have been impracticable. ANECDOTE OF A NEGRO BOY. When the Count D'Estaing's fleet appeared near the British batteries, in the harbour of Rhode Island, a severe cannonade was com- menced, and several shot passed through the houses in town, and occasioned great conster- nation among the inhabitants. A shot passed 154 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. through the door of Mrs. Mason's house just above the floor. The family were alarmed, not knowing where to flee for safety. A negro man ran and sat himself down very composedly, with his back against the shot-hole in the door ; and being asked by young Mr. Mason why he chose that situation, he replied, " Massa, you never know two bullet go in one place." SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. After the conquest of Grenada, in the sum- mer of 1779, Count D'Estaing, with the force under his command, retired to Cape Francois. Letters from Governor Rutledge and Monsieur Plombard, the Consul of France in Charleston, were received at that place by the victorious French admiral. In all of these a speedy visit to the coast of the American continent was re- commended, and by some of them he was in- formed that Savannah might be taken by a coup- de-main, and that, on his arrival, he would find everything ready for an assault. This invita- SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 155 tion coinciding with the instructions he had received from the King, his master, to act in concert with the forces of the United States whensoever an occasion should present, itself, he sailed for the American continent, and ar- rived early in September with a fleet consisting of twenty sail of the line, two of fifty guns, and eleven frigates. As soon as his arrival on the coast was known, General Lincoln, with the army under his command, marched for Sa- vannah ; and orders were issued for the militia of South Carolina and Georgia to rendezvous immediately near the same place. The British were equally diligent in preparing for their de- fence. Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger, who had a small command at Sunbury, and Lieutenant- Colonel Maitland, who was in force at Beaufort, were ordered to repair to Savannah. As the French frigates approached the bar, the Fowey and Rose, of twenty guns each, the Keppel and Germain armed vessels, retired towards the town. The battery on Tybee was destroyed. To prevent the French ships from coming too near the town, the Rose and Savannah armed ships, with four transports, were sunk in the channel. A boom was laid across it, and seve- 156 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ral small vessels were also sunk above the town. The seamen were appointed to the different bat- teries. The marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the 60th regiment, and great numbers employed bolji by day and night in strengthening and extending the lines of de- fence. Count D'Estaing made repeated decla- rations, that he could not remain more than ten or fifteen days on shore. Nevertheless the fall of Savannah was considered as infallibly cer- tain. It was generally believed that in a few days the British would be stripped of all their southern possessions. Flushed with these ro- mantic hopes, the militia turned out with a read- iness that far surpassed their exertions in the preceding campaign. Every aid was given from Charleston by sending small vessels to assist the French in their landing ; but, as the large ships of Count D'Estaing could not come near the shore, this was not' effected till the 12th of September. On the 16th, Savannah was summoned to surrender to the arms of France. This was urged by the loyalists as an argument of the intentions of the French to conquer for themselves. The true reason was, that the American army had not then come up. It SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 157 would have been therefore absurd for a French officer to demand the surrender of a town to an absent commander. The garrison requested twenty-four hours to consider of an answer. This request was made with a view of gaining time for the detachment at Beaufort, command- ed by Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, to join the royal army in Savannah. An enterprise was undertaken to prevent this junction, but it proved unsuccessful. The pilots would not undertake to conduct to a proper station the frigates des- tined to intercept the communication. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Maitland availed himself of this circumstance, pushed through by Dawfuskies, dragged his boats through a gut, and joined General Prevost before the time granted for pre- paring an answer to Count D'Estaing's sum- mons had elapsed. The arrival of such a re- inforcement, and especially of the brave Lieu- tenant-Colonel Maitland, determined the garri- son to risk an assault. The French and Ame- ricans, who formed a junction the evening after, were therefore reduced to the necessity of storm- ing, or of besieging the garrison. The resolu- tion of proceeding by siege being adopted, the attention of the combined armies was immedi- 14 158 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ately called to the landing of cannon, and the erecting of batteries. The distance of the fleet from the landing-place, together with the want of proper carriages to transport the cannon and stores from Thunderbolt to Savannah, a dis- tance of five miles, consumed a great deal of time. The works of the town were every day perfecting by the labour of several hundred negroes, directed by that able engineer Major MoncriefF. On the evening of the 23d the French and Americans broke ground, and on the 24th Major Graham, with a small party of the besieged, sallied out on the French troops, but he was soon repulsed. The pursuit was continued so near to the British entrenchments, that the French, on their return, were exposed to a heavy fire, by which many of them fell. On the night of the 27th Major M'Arthur, with a party of the British pickets, advanced and fired among the besiegers. This was conducted so artfully as to occasion a firing between the French and American camps. On the 4th of October the besiegers opened with nine mortars, thirty-seven pieces of cannon from the land- side, and sixteen from the water. These con- tinued to play with short intervals for four or SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 159 five days, but without any considerable effect. On the 8th, in the morning, Major L'Enfant, with five men, marched through a brisk fire from the British lines, and kindled their abba- tis ; but the dampness of the air, and the mois- ture of the green wood, prevented the success of this bold undertaking. Soon after the commencement of the cannon- ade, General Prevost solicited for leave to send the women and children out of town. This humane request was, from motives of policy, refused. The combined army was so confident of success, that it was suspected a desire of secreting the plunder lately taken from the in- habitants of South Carolina, was a considera- ble object covered under the specious veil of humanity. It was also presumed that a refusal would expedite a surrender. The period being now long since elapsed which the count had assigned for his expedition, and the engineers informing him that more time must be spent if he expected to reduce the garrison by regular approaches, it was determined to make an as- sault. This measure was forced on Count D'Estaing by his marine officers, who had re- monstrated against his continuing to risk so 160 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. valuable a fleet, in its present unrepaired con- dition, on such a dangerous coast in the hurri- cane season, and at so great a distance from the shore, that it might be surprised by a Bri tish fleet. These remonstrances were enforced by the probability of their being attacked by a British fleet completely repaired, and with their full complement of men, soldiers, and artillery on board, when the ships of his most Christian majesty were weakened by the absence of a considerable part of their crews, artillery, and officers. In a few days the lines of the be- siegers might have been carried into the works of the besieged ; but under these critical cir- cumstances no further delay could be admitted. To assault, or to raise the siege, was the only alternative. Prudence would have dictated the latter, but a sense of honour determined to adopt the former. The morning of the 9th of Octo- ber was fixed upon for the attack. Two feints were made with the country militia; and a real attack on the Spring-Hill battery with 3500 French troops, 600 continentals, and 350 of the Charleston militia, led by Count D'Estaing and General Lincoln. They marched up to the lines with great boldness ; but a heavy and SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 161 well-directed fire from the batteries, and a cross- fire from the galleys did execution such as threw the front of the column into confusion. Two standards were nevertheless planted on the Bri- tish redoubts. Count Pulaski, at the head of two hundred horsemen, was in full gallop, rid- ing into town between the redoubts, with an intention of charging in the rear, when he re- ceived a mortal wound. A general retreat of the assailants took place after they had stood the enemy's fire for fifty-five minutes. Count D'Estaing received two wounds ; six hundred and thirty-seven of his troops, and two hun- dred and fifty-seven continentals, were killed or wounded; of the three hundred and fifty Charleston militia, who were in the hottest of the fire, six were wounded, and the intrepid Captain Shepherd killed. 14* 162 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. STONY POINT. Among the many exploits of gallantry and prowess which shed a lustre on the fame of our revolutionary army, the storming of the fort at Stony Point has always been considered one of the most brilliant. To General Wayne, who commanded the light infantry of the army, the execution of the plan was entrusted. Secrecy was deemed so much more essential to success than numbers, that it was thought unadvisable to add to the force already on the lines. One brigade was ordered to commence its march, so as to reach the scene of action in time to cover the troops engaged in the attack, in case of any unlooked for disaster ; and Major Lee, of the light dra goons, who had been eminently useful in ob- taining the intelligence which led to the enter- prise, was associated with General Wayne, as far as cavalry could be employed in such a service. The night of the 15th of July, 1779, was : . i, * III!: m m I iui <& STORMING OF STONY POINT. 163 fixed on for the assault ; and it being suspected that the garrison would probably be more on their guard towards day, twelve was chosen for the hour. Stony Point is a commanding hill, projecting far into the Hudson, which washes three-fourths of its base The remaining fourth ; s, in a great measure, covered by a deep marsh, commenc- ing near the river on the upper side, and con- tinuing into it below. Over this marsh, there is only one crossing-place. But at its junction with the river is a sandy beach passable at low tide. On the summit of this hill was erected the fort, which was furnished with a sufficient number of heavy pieces of ordnance. Several breast-works and strong batteries were ad- vanced in front of the principal work, and about halfway down the hill, were two rows of ab- battis. The batteries were calculated to com- mand the beach and the crossing-place of the marsh, and to rake and enfilade any column which might be advancing from either of those points towards the fort. In addition to these defences, several vessels of war were stationed in the river, so as, in a considerable degree, to command the ground at the foot of the hill. 164 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The fort was garrisoned by about six hun- dred men, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Johnson. At noon of the day preceding the night of the attack, the light infantry commenced their march from Sandy Beach, distant fourteen miles from Stony Point, and passing through an ex- cessively rugged and mountainous country, arrived about eight in the afternoon at Spring Steel's, one and a half miles from the fort, where the dispositions for the assault were made. It was intended to attack the works on the right and left flanks at the same instant. The regiments of Febiger, and of Meiggs, with Ma- jor Hull's detachment, formed the right column, and Butler's regiment, with two companies un- der Major Murfree, formed the left. One hun- dred and fifty volunteers, led by Lieutenant- Colonel Fleury and Major Posey, constituted the van of the right ; and one hundred volun- teers under Major Stewart, composed the van of the left. At half past eleven, the two co- lumns moved on to the charge, the van of each with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. They were each preceded by a forlorn hope of STORMING OF STONY POINT. 105 twenty men, the one commanded by Lieutenant Gibbon, and the other by Lieutenant Knox, whose duty it was to remove the abbatis and other obstructions, in order to open a passage for the columns which followed close in the rear. Proper measures having been taken to secure every individual on the route, who could give intelligence of their approach, the Americans reached the marsh undiscovered. Eut unex- pected difficulties having been experienced in surmounting this and other obstructions in the way, the assault did not commence until twenty minutes after twelve. Both columns then rushed forward, under a tremendous fire of musketry and grape shot. Surmounting every obstacle, they entered the works at the point of the bay- onet, and without having discharged a single piece, obtained complete possession of the post. The humanity displayed by the conquerors was not less conspicuous, nor less honourable, than their courage. Not a single individual suffered after resistance had ceased. All the troops engaged in this perilous ser- vice manifested a degree of ardour and imp-- 166 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. tuosity which proved them to be capable of the most difficult enterprises ; and all distinguished themselves whose situation enabled them to do so. Colonel Fleury was the first to enter the fort, and strike the British standard. Major Posey mounted the works almost at the same instant, and was the first to give the watch- word — " The fort 's our own." Lieutenants Gibbon and Knox performed the service allotted to them with a degree of intrepidity which could not be surpassed. Out of twenty men who constituted the party of the former, seventeen were killed or wounded. The loss sustained by the garrison was not considerable. The return made by Lieutenant- Colonel Johnson, represented their dead at only twenty, including one captain, and their wound- ed at six officers and sixty-eight privates. The return made by General Wayne states their dead at sixty-three, including two officers. This difference may be accounted for, by supposing, that among those Colonel Johnson supposed to be missing, there were many killed. The pri- soners amounted to five hundred and forty-three, among whom were one lieutenant-colonel, four STORMING OF STONY POINT. 167 captains, and twenty subaltern officers. The military stores taken in the fort were also con- siderable. The loss sustained by the assailants was by no means proportioned to the apparent danger of the enterprise. The killed and wounded did not exceed one hundred men. General Wayne himself, who marched at the head of Febiger's regiment in the right column, received a slight wound in the head, which stunned him for a time, but did not compel him to leave the co- lumn. Being supported by his aids, he entered the fort with the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Hay was also among the wounded. The intrepidity, joined with humanity, its noblest companion, displayed on that occasion by the Pennsylvania Hero and his brave fol- lowers, cannot be too highly esteemed nor too frequently commemorated. 168 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. DE KALB'S ACCOUNT OF HIS FAMILY. His excellency, Horatio Gates, was the com- mander-in-chief; but as he had not yet arrived, the command rested on that brave old German general, the Baron de Kalb. Colonel Semp introduced us in very flattering terms ; styling us " continental colonels, and two of the wealthi- est and most distinguished patriots of South Carolina !" I shall never forget what I felt when intro- duced to this gentleman. He appeared to be rather elderly ; but though the snow of winter was on his locks, his cheeks were still reddened over with the bloom of spring. His person was large and manly, above the common size, with great nerve and activity ; while his fine blue eyes beamed with the mild radiance of intelligence and goodness. He received us with great politeness, saying, " I am glad to see you ; especially as you are the first Carolinians that I have seen ; which has not a little surprised me. I thought that DE KALB'S ACCOUNT OF HIS FAMILY. 169 British tyranny would have sent great numbers from South Carolina to join our arms ; but so far from it, we are told they are all running to take British protection. Surely, they are not already tired of fighting for liberty !" " I assure you, sir," replied Colonel Marion, " that though kept under by fear, they still mor- tally hate the British ; and will, I am confident, the moment they see an army of friends at their doors, fly to their standard, like a gene- rous pack to the sound of the hunting horn." " I trust it will prove so," answered De Kalb. After some general conversation, while we were comfortably enveloped in fragrant clouds of tobacco smoke, he said to Colonel Marion, " Can you answer me one question V 9 " A thousand, most gladly, if I can, gene- ral." " Well, colonel, can you tell me my age?" " Why, truly, that is a hard question, gene- ral." " A hard question ! How do you make that out?" " Why, sir," replied Marion, " there is a strange January and May sort of contrast be- tween your locks and your looks, that quite 15 170 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. confuses me. By your locks you seem to be in the wilder, by your looks in the summer of your days. You may be about forty." " Good heavens ! no more than forty ?" "Not a day more, upon a soldier's honour." " Ha ! ha ! ha ! — Well, colonel, I would not for a thousand guineas, that your riflemen shot as wide off the mark, as you guess. Forty- two years I have been in the service of the king of France ; and I am now sixty-three." '* Impossible !" we both exclaimed at once. " Such youthful bloom at sixty-three !" " If you are surprised at my looks, gentle- men, what would you have thought to have seen my father, at the age of eighty-seven 2" " Is your father yet alive, general V " Alive ! yes, thank God ; and I trust he will be for many a good year yet to come. The very Christmas before I sailed for America, I went to see him. It was full three hundred miles from Paris. On arriving at the house, I found my dear old mother at her wheel, in her eighty-third year, while one of her great-grand- daughters carded the wool, and sung a hymn for her. Soon as the first transport of meeting was over, I eagerly inquired for my father. DE KALB'S ACCOUNT OF HIS FAMILY. 171 " Do not be uneasy, my son," said she ; " your father has only gone to the woods with his three great grand-children, to cut some fuel for the fire, and they will all be here presently." In a short time, I heard them coming. My father was the foremost, with his axe under his arm, and a stout billet of wood on his shoulder ; and the children, each with his little load, stagger- ing along, and prattling .to my father with all their might. Be assured, gentlemen, it was a most delicious moment to me. Thus, after a long absence, to meet a beloved father, not only alive, but enjoying health and dear domestic happiness above the lot of kings. Also to see the two extremes of human life, youth and age, thus sweetly meeting and mingling in that cor- dial love, which turns the cottage into a para- dise." While telling this story of his aged father, the general's fine countenance caught an ani- mation which perfectly charmed us all. 172 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN RE VOLITION BATTLE OF CAMDEN. The efforts of the British in the Southern States had been very strenuous and successful. Charleston, the chief city, had been taken. All the American detachments, collected with great difficulty, easily dissolved by their own fears, ill furnished with arms, and unqualified for war, by inexperience and want of discipline, were instantly overwhelmed and dispersed by the well-equipped cavalry of Tarleton, and the vete- rans of Rawdon and Cornwallis. The Ameri- can leaders were famous for their valour, per- severance, and activity ; but these qualities would not supply the place of guns, and of hands to manage them. At this crisis General Gates took the command of that miserable rem- nant which bore the name of the southern army, and which mustered about fifteen hundred men. A very numerous and formidable force existed in the promises of North Carolina and Virginia. The paper armies of the new states always made a noble appearance. All the muniments BATTLE OF CAMDEN. 173 of war overflowed the skirts of these armies; but, alas ! the field was as desolate as the paper estimate was full. The promised army proved to be only one-tenth of the stipulated number, and assembled at the scene of action long after the fixed time. The men were destitute of arms and ammunition, and scantily supplied both with the patriotism and courage of true soldiers. Two modes of immediate action were pro- posed. One was to advance into the country possessed by the enemy, by a road somewhat circuitous, but which would supply the army with accommodations and provisions. Gates was averse to dilatory measures. He was, per- haps, somewhat misled by the splendid success which had hitherto attended him. He was anxious to come to action immediately, and to terminate the war by a few bold and energetic efforts. He therefore resolved to collect all the troops into one body, and to meet the enemy as soon as possible. Two days after his arrival in camp he began his march by the most direct road. This road, unfortunately, led through a barren country, in the hottest and most un- wholesome season of the year. During this march all the forebodings of 15* 174 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. those who preferred a different track were am- ply fulfilled. A scanty supply of cattle, found nearly wild in the woods, was their principal sustenance, while bread or flour was almost wholly wanting, and when we add to a scarcity of food the malignity of the climate and the season, we shall not wonder that the work of the enemy was anticipated in the destruction of considerable numbers by disease. The perse- verance of Gates, in surmounting the obstacles presented by piny thickets and dismal swamps, deserves praise, however injudicious the origi- nal choice of such a road may be thought by some. In this course he effected a junction with some militia of North Carolina, and with a detachment under Porterfield. He finally took possession of Clermont, whence the British commander, Lord Rawdon, had previously withdrawn. That general pre- pared, by collecting and centering his forces in one body, to overwhelm him in a single battle. Lord Rawdon was posted with his forces at Camden. After some deliberation, the Ameri- can leader determined to approach the English, and expose himself to the chance of a battle. Rumour had made the numbers of the Ame- BATTKE OF CAMDEN. 175 ricans much greater than they really were in the imagination of the British. Cornvvallis him- self hastened to the scene of action, and, though mustering all his strength for this arduous occa- sion, could not bring above two thousand effec- tive men into the field. Nineteen, however, out of twenty of these were veterans of the most formidable qualifications. With the rein- forcement of seven hundred Virginia militia and some other detachments, Gates's army did not fall short of four thousand men. A very small portion of these were regular troops, while the rest were a wavering and undisciplined militia, whose presence was rather injurious than beneficial. Notwithstanding his inferiority of numbers, Cornvvallis found that a retreat would be more pernicious than a battle under the worst au- spices ; and he himself, on the 16th of August, prepared to attack his enemy. General Gates had taken the same resolution at the same time ; and the adverse forces came to an engagement in which the Americans suffered a defeat. The loss of the battle was ascribed with reason to the cowardice and unskilfulness of the militia, j&xnong these the rout and confusion was abso- 170 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. lute and irretrievable, and Gates had the singu- lar fortune of conducting the most prosperous and most disastrous of the military enterprises in this war. Here was a dismal reverse in the life of Gates. His prosperous scale sunk at Camden as fast as it had mounted at Saratoga. There had been a difference of opinion as to the best road to the theatre of action, and the hardships and diseases which one party had foretold would infest the road which he took, actually exceed- ed what was menaced. A battle lost against half the number, in circumstances where the vanquished army was taken, in some degree, by surprise, would not fail to suggest suspi- cions as to the caution or discernment of the general. Gates continued in command till October the 5th in the same year, about fifty days after the disaster in Camden. In this interval he had been busily employed in repairing the conse- quences of that defeat, and was now reposing for the winter. He was, on that day, however, displaced, and subjected to the inquiry of a spe- cial court. This inquiry was a tedious one, but terminated finally in the acquittal of the DEATH OF BARON DE KALB. 177 general. He was reinstated in his military command in the year 1782. In the meantime, however, the great scenes of the southern war, especially the capture of Corn wal lis, had passed. DEATH OF BARON DE KALB. Major Horry, in his "Life of General Ma- rion," gives the following account of an inter- view with the brave De Kalb, the day before the disastrous battle of Camden : Immediately on receiving orders of depar- ture, we waited on the good old De Kalb to take our leave, and to express our deep regret al parting with him. " It is with equal regret, my dear sirs, that I part with you," said he ; " be- cause I feel a presentiment that we part to meet no more." We told him we hoped better things. " Oh no !" replied he, " it is impossible. War is a kind of game, and has its fixed rules, whereby, when we are well acquainted with them, we can pretty correctly tell how the trial 178 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. will go. To-morrow, it seems, the die is to be cast ; and, in my judgment, without the least chance on our side. The militia will, I suppose, as usual, play the back-game ; that is, get out of battle as fast as their legs will carry them. But that, you know^, won't do for me. I am an old soldier, and cannot run ; and I believe I have some brave fellows that will stand by me to the last. So, when you hear of our battle, you will probably hear that your old friend, De Kalb, is at rest." I never was more aftected in my life ,* and I perceived tears in the eyes of General Marion De Kalb saw them too,- and taking ns by the hand, he said, with a firm tone, and animated look, " No ! no ! gentlemen ; no emotion for me, but those of congratulation. I am happy. To die is the irreversible decree of him who made us. Then what joy to be able to meet death without dismay. This, thank God, is my case. The happiness of man is my wish; that happiness I deem inconsistent with slavery. And to avert so great an evil from an innocent people, I will gladly meet the British to-mor- row, at any odds whatever." As he spoke this, a fire flashed from his eyes, DEATH OF BARON DE KALB. 179 which, seemed to me to demonstrate the divinity of virtue, and the immortality of the soul. We left him with feelings which I shall never for- get, while memory maintains her place in my aged brain. It was on the morning of August 15th, 1780, that we left the army in a good position, near Rugeley's mills, twelve miles from Camden, where the enemy lay. About ten, that night, orders were given to march and surprise the enemy, who had, at the same lime, commenced a march to surprise the Americans. To their •mutual astonishment, the advance of both ar- mies met at two o'clock, and began firing on each other. It was, however, soon discontinued by both parties, who appeared very willing to leave the matter to be decided by daylight. A council of war was called, in which De Kalb advised that the army should fall back to Ruge- ley's mills, and wait to be attacked. General Gates not only rejected this excellent counsel, but threw out insinuations that it originated in fear. Upon this, the brave old man leaped from his horse, and placed himself at the head of his command on foot, saying, with considerable warmth, " Well, sir, perhaps a few hours will show who are the brave." 180 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. As daylight increased, the frightened militia began to discover the woods, reddened all over with the scarlet uniform of the British army, which soon, with rattling drums and thunder- ing cannon, came rushing on to the charge ; and they scarcely waited to give them a distant fire before they broke, and fled in every direc- tion. General Gates clapped spurs to his horse, as he said, " to bring the rascals back." How- ever, he did not bring himself back, nor did he stop till he reached Charlotte, eighty miles from the field of battle. Two-thirds of the army having thus shamefully taken themselves off, the brave old De Kalb and his handful of con- tinentals were left to try the fortune of the day. More determined valour was never displayed : for though outnumbered more than two to one, they sustained the whole British force for more than an hour. Glorying in the bravery of his continentals, De Kalb towered before them like a pillar of fire. But, alas ! what can valour do against equal valour, aided by such fearful odds ? While bending forward to animate his troops, the veteran received eleven wounds. Fainting with loss of blood, he fell to the ground, while Britons and Americans were killed over him, DEATH OF BARON DE KALB. 181 as they furiously strove to destroy, or to defend. In the midst of clashing bayonets, his only sur- viving aid, Monsieur de Buyson, stretched his arms over the fallen hero, and called out, " Save the Baron de Kalb ! save the Baron de Kalb !" The British officers then interposed, and pre- vented his immediate destruction. De Kalb died, as he had lived, the uncon- quered friend of liberty. When an English officer condoled with him for his misfortune, he replied, "I thank you, sir, for your generous sympathy ; but I die the death I always prayed for ; the death of a soldier, fighting for the rights of man." He survived but a few hours, and was buried in the plains of Camden, near which his last battle was fought. Many years after, when the great Washing- ton visited Camden, he eagerly inquired for the grave of De Kalb. It was shown to him. Gaz- ing upon it thoughtfully, he exclaimed, with a deep sigh, " So, there lies the brave De Kalb ; the generous stranger, who came from a dis- tant land, to fight our battles, and to water, with his blood, the tree of liberty. Would to God he had lived to share its fruits !" 16 182 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. GENERAL GATES. The following highly interesting anecdote was given by Dr. William Read, at the period of its occurrence, superintending the Hospital Department at Hillsborough : Having occasion to call on General Gates, relative to the business of the department under my immediate charge, I found him traversing the apartment which he occupied, under the influence of high excitement ; his agitation was excessive — every feature of his countenance, every gesture betrayed it. Official despatches, informing him that he was superseded, and that the command of the Southern Army had been transferred to General Greene, had just been received and perused by him. His counte- nance, however, betrayed no expression of irri- tation or resentment ; it was sensibility alone that caused his emotion. An open letter which he held in his hand, was often raised to his lips, and kissed with devotion, while the exclama- tion repeatedly escaped them — " Great man !" GENERAL GATES. 183 ' Noble, generous procedure !' When the tu- mult of his mind had subsided, and his thoughts found utterance, he, with strong expression of feeling, exclaimed — ' I have received this day a communication from the commander-in-chief, which has conveyed more consolation to my bosom, more ineffable delight to my heart, than I had believed it possible for it ever to have felt again. With affectionate tenderness he sym- pathizes with me in my domestic misfortunes, and condoles with me on the loss I have sus- tained by the recent death of an only son ; and then, with peculiar delicacy, lamenting my mis- fortune in battle, assures me, that his confi- dence in my zeal and capacity is so little im- paired, that the command of the right wing of the army will be bestowed on me as soon as I can make it convenient to join him.' " 184 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. GENERAL MARION'S ADDRESS TO HIS SOL- DIERS. After the destruction of the American army at Camden, Colonel Marion, with his little band of volunteer troops, being in the immediate neighbourhood, were in imminent danger. When he heard the dreadful tidings of defeat, he re- treated to the woods, and ordering his company to halt and form, he addressed them as follows : " Gentlemen, you are aware of our situation — so widely different from what it once was. Once we were a happy people ! Liberty shone upon our land, bright as the sun that gilds yon fields ; and we and our fathers rejoiced in its beams, as gay as the birds that enliven our for- ests. But, alas ! those golden days have fled, and the clouds of war now hang dark and low- ering above our heads. Our once peaceful land is filled with uproar and death. Foreign ruf- fians invade our very firesides and altars, and leave us no alternative but slavery or death. Two gallant armies have marched to mr assist- ance, but both are lost. That under General GENERAL MARIONS ADDRESS. 185 Lincoln, duped and butchered at Savannah ; and that under General Gates, imprudently over- marched, is now cut up at Camden. Thus all our hopes from the north, are at an end ; and poor Carolina is left to fight for herself. A sad alternative indeed, when her own children are madly uniting with the enemy, and not one in a thousand will rise to take her part. My countrymen ! I wish to know your minds on this momentous subject. As for myself, I con- sider my life as but a moment ; and to fill that moment with duty, is my all. To guard this innocent country from the evils of slavery, now seems my greatest duty : and I am therefore determined, that while I live, she shall never be enslaved. She may come to that wretched state, — but these eyes shall never behold it. She shall never clank her chains in my eyes, and, pointing to the ignominious badge, exclaim, ' It icas your coivardice that brought me to this: " One and all, they answered, " We will con- quer for our country, or die with you." " Then, my brave friends," said he, " draw your swords ! Now for a circle, emblematical of our eternal union ! and, pointing your blades 16* 186 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIOxN. to heaven, the bright throne of Him who made us free, swear you will never be the slaves of Britain !" It was all devoutly done. The reader will be pleased to hear that this brave man rose to a high rank in the army and lived to enjoy the peace and prosperity of the country he so ably defended. His wife sur- vived him ; and as long as she was able to ride, the poor people of Carolina used to press round her carriage, and bless her, as they exclaimed, " That is the widow of our glorious old Ma- rion !" BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. From the time of the general submission of the inhabitants of South Carolina, in the sum- mer of 1780, pains were taken to increase the royal force by the co-operation of the yeomanry of the country. Commissions in the militia were given by the British commanders to such of the inhabitants as they supposed had influ- ence, and were most firmly attached to their interest. They persuaded the people to embody BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 187 by representing to the uninformed that Ameri- can affairs were entirely ruined, and that far- ther opposition would only be a prolongation of their distresses, if not their utter ruin. They endeavoured to reconcile those who had fami- lies and Were advanced in life to the bearing of arms, by considerations drawn from the neces- sity of defending their property and keeping their domestics in proper subordination. From young men without families more was expected. Whilst Lord Cornwallis was restrained from active operations by the excessive heats and unhealthy season which followed his victory at Camden, Colonel Ferguson, of the seventy-first British regiment, had undertaken personally to visit the settlements of the disaffected to the American cause, and to train their young men for service in the field. With these, at a pro- per season, he was to join the main army, and to co-operate with it in the reduction of North- Carolina. This corps had been chiefly collected from the remotest parts of the State, and was induced to continue for some length of time near to the western mountains, with the expec- tation of intercepting Colonel Clark on his re- treat from Georgia. Among those who joined 188 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Colonel Ferguson were a considerable propor- tion of those licentious people who have col- lected themselves out of all parts of America into these remote countries, and were willing to take the opportunity of the prevailing con- fusion to carry on their usual depredations. As they marched through the country on the pre- tence of promoting the service of his Britannic majesty, ' they plundered the Whig citizens. Violences of this kind, frequently repeated, in- duced many persons to consult their own safety by fleeing over the mountains. By such lively representations of their sufferings as the dis- tressed are always ready to give, they commu- nicated an alarm to that hardy race of repub- licans who live to the westward of the Alle- gheny. Hitherto these mountaineers had only heard of war at a distance, and had been in peaceable possession of that independence for which their countrymen on the sea-coast were contending. Alarmed for their own safety by the near approach of Colonel Ferguson, and roused by the violences and depredations of his followers, they embodied to check the neigh- bouring foe. This was done of their own mo- tion, without any requisition from the govern BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 189 ments of America, or the officers of the conti- nental army. Being all mounted and unencum- bered with baggage, their motions were rapid. Each man set out with his blanket, knapsack, and gun, in quest of Colonel Ferguson, in the same manner he was used to pursue the wild beasts of the forest. At night the earth afford- ed them a bed, and the heavens a covering : the running stream quenched their thirst, while a few cattle, driven in their rear, together with the supplies acquired by their guns, secured them provision. They soon found out the en- campment of Colonel Ferguson. This was on an eminence of a circular base, known by the name of King's Mountain, situated near the confines of North and South Carolina. Though Colonel Campbell had a nominal command over the whole, their enterprise was conducted with- out regular military subordination, under the direction of the four colonels, Cleveland, Shel- by, Sevier, and Williams, each of whom re? spectively led on his own men. It being appre- hended that Colonel Ferguson was hastening his march down the country to join Lord Corn- wallis, the Americans selected nine hundred and ten of their best men, and mounted them 190 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. on their fleetest horses. With this force they came up with Colonel Ferguson on the 7th of October, 1780. As they approached the royal encampment, it was agreed to divide their force. Some ascended the mountain, while others went round its base in opposite directions. Colonel Cleveland, who led one of the detachments round the mountain, in his progress, discovered an advanced picquet of the royal army. On this occasion he addressed his party in the fol- lowing plain, unvarnished language : " My brave fellows, we have beat the Tories, and we can beat them. They are all cowards. If they had the spirit of men, they would join with their fellow-citizens in supporting the independ- ence of their country. When engaged you are not to wait for the word of command from me. I will show you by my example how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man must consider himself as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can, and stand your ground as long as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees or re- treat ; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If we are repulsed, let us make a point to re- turn and renew the fight. Perhaps we may BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 191 have better luck in the second attempt than the first. If any of you are afraid, such have leave to retire, and they are requested immediately to take themselves off." A firing commenced. Some of the Americans were on horseback, others on foot. Some behind trees, and others exposed. None were under the restraints of military discipline, but all were animated with the enthusiasm of liberty. The picquet soon gave way, and were pursued as they retired up the mountain to the main body. Colonel Fer- guson, with the greatest bravery, ordered his men to charge. The Americans commanded by Colonel Cleveland followed his advice, and, having fired as long as they could with safety, they retired from the approaching bayonet. They had scarcely given way when the other detachment, commanded by Colonel Shelby, having completed the circuit of the mountain, opportunely arrived, and from an unexpected quarter poured in a well-directed fire. Colonel Ferguson desisted from the pursuit, and engaged with his new adversaries. The British bayonet was again successful, and caused them also to fall back. By this time the party commanded by Colonel Campbell had ascended the moun- 192 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. tain, and renewed the attack from that emi nence. Colonel Ferguson, whose conduct was equal to his courage, presented a new front, and was again successful ; but all his exertions were unavailing. At this moment the men who began the attack, no less obedient to the second request of their commander in returning to their posts, than they were to the first in secur- ing themselves by a timely retreat, had rallied and renewed their fire. As often as one of the American parties was driven back, another re- turned to their station. Resistance on the part of Colonel Ferguson was in vain ; but his un- conquerable spirit refused to surrender. After having repulsed a succession of adversaries pouring in their fire from new directions, this distinguished officer received a mortal wound. No chance of escape being left, and all pros- pect of successful resistance being at an end, the second in command sued for quarters. The killed, wounded and taken, exceeded eleven hun- dred, of which nearly one hundred were regu- lars. The assailants had the honour of reduc- ing a number superior to their own. The Ame- ricans lost comparatively few, but in that num- ber was that distinguished militia officer, Colo- LIEUTENANT REESE BOWEN. 193 nel Williams, who has already been mentioned as uncommonly active in heading the Whig citizens of the district of Ninety-Six, in the State of South Carolina. This unexpected advantage gave new spirits to the desponding Americans, and in a great degree frustrated a well-concerted scheme for strengthening the British army, by the co-ope- ration of the inhabitants who were disaffected to the cause of America. LIEUTENANT REESE BOWEN. At the battle of King's Mountain, Lieutenant Reese Bowen, of Colonel Campbell's regiment, raised in Washington county, Virginia, was observed, while marching forward to attack the enemy's post, to make a hazardous and very- unnecessary exposure of his person. One of his companions calling out, " why, Bowen, do. you not take a tree 1 why rashly present your- self to the deliberate aim of riflemen, concealed behind every rock and bush before you ? Death 17 194 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. must inevitably follow if you persist." He in- dignantly replied, " take to a tree ! no — never shall it be said, that I sought safety by hiding my person, or dodging from a Briton or Tory, who opposed me in the field." As he concluded the sentence, a rifle-ball struck him in the breast. He fell and expired. ARNOLD'S TREACHERY. In the early part of the year 1780, Arnold received the first written proposal, which was addressed to him from New York, by an agent of Sir Henry Clinton, to engage him to change his party. Praises and promises were lavished in a manner which could seduce no one but a man who was already blinded by his own pas- sions. Resolved to have no confidents among his fellow-citizens, he imparted his perfidious designs to his wife alone, who had so much contributed to inspire him with them. He stu- died to conceal them, under appearances of patriotism, and affected to have forgotten the Arnold's treachery. 195 sentence of the court-martial. The intermediate agent between Clinton and him, was Charles Beverly Robinson, who, though an American by birth, served as a colonel in the English army. Congress had just been informed of the near arrival of the French army, commanded by Count Rochambeau, and this secret, ill kept by some members of that assembly, had reached the ears of Arnold. For the purpose of know- ing the plan of the campaign, he paid a visit to the French ambassador, which he had ne- glected to do since the correspondence of which we have spoken, and his questions were so dex- terous, that Luzerne could only elude them in part. It was instructing Arnold too much to tell him that a conference would take place be- tween Washington and Rochambeau, that com- missioners on the part of France would arrive before the army, and that the squadron would sail in a few weeks after their departure. Ar- nold understood that the country bordering on the Hudson, would be the principal theatre of the war, that it was of importance to the Eng- lish to make themselves masters of the course of that river, and that he could not serve them 196 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. better, than by getting an appointment at West Point, where a chain barred the Hudson. He obstinately refused more brilliant situations, and solicited this with so much perseverance that he obtained it. The English, of whom he demanded before- hand the price of his treason, thought proper to confine themselves to promises. He was to receive thirty thousand pounds sterling, and to preserve in the English army his rank of bri- gadier-generaL On his side, he promised to deliver West Point, and Sir Henry Clinton pressed him to fulfil that engagement on the 10th of July, 1780. But Arnold wished to wait till the departure of General Washington, who was to go very soon to meet Count Ro- chambeau at Hartford, in Connecticut. " Our master leaves his quarters on the 11th of September" he wrote to John Andre, a young aid-de-camp to General Clinton. A cor- respondence was established between Andre and Arnold, under fictitious names, and veiled by pretended commercial transactions, they employed an American as their messenger, who lived between the lines which separated the two armies. Arnold's treachery. 197 Washington not having set out on the 17th, nor either of the three following days, Arnold demanded, as an indispensable preliminary, a conference with Andre. They met on the bank of the river, Arnold put into the hands of An- dre plans of routes, of forts, of the condition of the garrison, memoirs of engineers, &c, and it was agreed that the enterprise on West Point should be executed on the 25th or 26th. A canoe was to reconduct Andre on board : an English sloop of war had brought him five miles below W 7 est Point, but an American fort firing on the vessel had forced her to drop some miles lower. This change of station alarmed the master and rowers of the canoe ; they re- fused to carry Andre, who, in quitting his Eng- lish uniform, ran the risk of returning by land, furnished with a passport from Arnold. He had reached Tarry Town, and believed him- self no longer on the enemy's territory, when three young militiamen stopped him. He ac- costed them as Englishmen, and when he dis- covered his error, he showed them his passport, but it was too late. They searched his boots, and found in them the papers which Arnold had put into his hands, and conducted him to Colo- 17* 193 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. nel Jameson, who commanded the American advance post. The first idea of Jameson was to carry him before Arnold himself, which would have insured the success of the enter- prise ; but soon recollecting the papers seized were in the hand-writing of that general, Jameson sent Andre to Old Salem, under a strong escort, and addressed the papers to "Washington, informing him of all that had happened. The messenger intrusted with that despatch did not meet Washington, who returned from Hartford by another road, and it was this cir- cumstance which saved Arnold. The latter was informed on the 25th, that Andre had been arrested on the 23d, and he did not deliberate long on the part which remained for him to take. He withdrew from West Point an hour before the arrival of Washington. The Con- gress brought Andre to trial ; two foreigners, Generals La Fayette, and Steuben, were of the number of his judges. Conformably to the laws of war and the usage of nations, it was declared that he had, as a spy of the enemy, merited death; he submitted to it with calm courage, of which no ostentation lessened the Arnold's treachery. 199 nobleness or weakened the interest. Mrs. Ar- nold, who had been left at West Point, was treated with attentions, which the historian is pleased to represent as extremely honourable to the Americans. As to Arnold, it is not said whether he received the thirty thousand pounds sterling, but he obtained the rank of brigadier general in the English army, and served in that capacity during the rest of the war against his country. He died despised even by the English, the usual fate of traitors. General Washington did not forget the three militiamen who had arrested Andre. He transmitted their names to Congress, and that assembly passed a resolution importmg, that they had a high opinion of the virtuous and patriotic conduct of John Paulding, David Wil- liams, and Isaac Vanwert: that each of them should receive annually two hundred dollars from the public treasury, and that a medal should be struck, upon which, after inserting their names, should be inscribed these words, "lovo of country has triumphed." 2"0 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. DEATH OF MAJOR ANDRE. In the year 1780, General Arnold, who, from his rank and talents, had been in great favour with the Americans, quitted their ranks and joined the British army. This, though a valuable acquisition, was too dearly purchased by the degradation and death of the brave and amiable Major Andre, who volunteered his ser- vices, to make arrangements with Arnold on the occasion. By some accident Major Andre was compelled to remain disguised within the American lines all night, and next morning was discovered, after he had passed them on his way to New York. He was seized, con- fined, tried, and sentenced to be hung as a spy, notwithstanding every remonstrance that could be urged against it. The American officers who guarded him the day before his execution, describe him as maintaining the utmost firm- ness and composure; and when they were silent and melancholy, he would, by some cheerful remark, endeavor to dispel the gloom. DEATH OF MAJOR ANDRE. 201 However, his composure was not the result of a want of sensibility, or a disregard oflife; but of those proud and lofty feelings, the character- istics of true greatness, which raises the soul above the influence of events, and enables the soldier, with unfaltering nerve and steady eye, to meet death in whatever form it may approach him; for in his sleep, nature would play her part — and home and friends — his country and his fame— his sisters and his love, would steal upon his heart, contrasting fancied pleasures with certain pain, rendering his dreams disturbed, and his sleep fitful and troubled. Early in the morning, the hour of his execution was an- nounced. His countenance did not alter. His servant burst into tears. "Leave me," said he, with greatness, "until you can behave more manfully." The breakfast was furnished from the table of General Washington. He ate as usual, then shaved and dressed himself; placed his hat upon the table, and cheerfully said, "I am ready at any moment to wait upon you, gentlemen." Lieutenant Bowman de- scribes it as a day of settled melancholy, and that Major Andre was, apparently, the least affected. To General Washington it was a 202 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. trial of excruciating pain. It was with great difficulty that he placed his name to the war- rant of his execution. Captain and Lieu- tenant Bowman walked arm in arm with Major Andre. It is well known that he solicited to be shot; and it was not until he came within sight of the gallows, that he knew the manner of his death. "It is too much," said he mo- mentarily shrinking. "I had hoped," added he, recovering himself, "that my death might have been otherwise. But I pray you to bear witness that I die like a soldier." FREDERICK W. AUGUSTUS BARON STEUBEN. After General Arnold treacherously deserted his post at West Point, the Baron Steuben never failed to manifest his indignation and abhor- rence of his name and character; and while inspecting Colonel SheMon's regiment of light horse, the name of Arnold struck his ear. The soldier was ordered to the front. He was fine looking fellow, with horse and equip- BARON STEUBEN. 203 ments in excellent order. " Change your name, brother soldier," said General Steuben; "you are too respectable to bear the name of a traitor." "What name shall I take, General?" "Take any other name. Mine is at your service." Most cheerfully was the offer accepted; and his name was entered on the rolls as Steuben. He, or his children, now enjoy land given to him, in the town of Steuben, by the Baron. This brave soldier met him after the war. " I am well settled, General," said he, "and have a wife and son. I have called my son after you, sir." "I thank you, my friend. What name have you given the boy?" "I called him Baron. — What else could I call him?" 204 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BENEDICT ARNOLD, THE TRAITOR. Every body knows, we presume, that Bene- dict Arnold was the object of scorn and con- tempt in England, after his treachery, and that he was often grossly insulted in that country. The following anecdote, however, which we have never seen in print, may be new to some of our readers. Shortly after the peace of 1783, Arnold was presented at court. While the King was con- versing with him, Lord Balcarras, a stately old nobleman, who had fought under General Burgoyne in the campaigns of America, was presented. The King introduced them with, "Lord Balcarras — General Arnold." " What, Sire," said the haughty old Earl, drawing up his lofty form, "the traitor Ar- nold," and refused to give him his hand. The consequence, as may be anticipated, was a challenge from Arnold. They met, and it was arranged that the parties should fire to- gether. At the signal, Arnold fired ; but Lord Balcarras, throwing down his pistol, turned BATTLE OF THE COVVPENS. 2^5 on his heel, and was walking away, when Ar- nold exclaimed, " Why don't you fire, my Lord?" " Sir," said Lord Balcarras looking over his shoulder, " I leave you to the executioner." BATTLE OF THE COWPENS. "Morgan (pursued by Tarleton) having been accustomed to fight and to conquer, did not relish the eager and interrupting pursuit of his adversary ; and sat down at the Cowpens to give rest and refreshment to his harassed troops, with a resolution no longer to avoid action, should his enemy persist in pressing it. Being apprised at the dawn of day of Tarleton's ad- vance, he instantly prepared for battle. This decision grew out of irritation of temper, which appears to have overruled the suggestions of his sound and discriminating judgment. The ground about the Cowpens is covered with open wood, admitting the operation of cavalry with facility, in which the enemy trebled Mor- 17 206 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. gan. His flanks had no resting place, but were exposed to be readily turned ; and the Broad river ran parallel to his rear, forbidding the hope of a safe retreat in the event of disaster. Had Morgan crossed this river, and approached the mountain, he would have gained a position disadvantageous to cavalry, but convenient for riflemen ; and would have secured a* less dangerous retreat. But these cogent reasons, rendered more forcible by his inferiority in numbers, could not prevail. Confiding in his long tried fortune, conscious of his personal su • periority in soldiership, and relying on the skill and courage of his troops, he adhered to his resolution. Erroneous as was the decision to fight in this position, when a better might have been easily gained, the disposition for battle was masterly. Two light parties of militia, under Major M'Dowel, of North Carolina, and Major Cun- ningham, of Georgia, were advanced in front, with orders to feel the enemy as he approached ; and, preserving a desultory well-aimed fire as they fell back to the front line, to range with it and renew the conflict. The main body of the militia composed this line, with General Pick- BATTLE OF THE COWPEXS. 207 ens at its head. At a suitable distance in the rear of the first line a second was stationed, composed of the continental infantry and two companies of Virginia militia, under Captains Triplett and Taite, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Howard. Washington's cavalry, re- inforced with a company of mounted militia, armed with sabres, was held in reserve ; con- venient to support the infantry, and protect the horses of the rifle militia, which were tied, agreeably to usage, in the rear. On the verge of battle, Morgan availed himself of the short and awful interim to exhort his troops. First addressing himself, with his characteristic pith, to the line of militia, he extolled the zeal and bravery so often displayed by them, when un- supported with the bayonet or sword ; and declared his confidence that they could not fail in maintaining their reputation, when supported by chosen bodies of horse and foot, and con- ducted by himself. Nor did he forget to glance at his unvarying fortune, and superior experience ; or to mention how often, with his corps of riflemen, he had brought British troops, equal to those before him, to submission. He described the deep regret he had already ex- 203 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. perienced in being obliged, from prudential considerations, to retire before an enemy always in his power ; exhorted the line to be firm and steady; to fire with good aim; and, if they would pour in but two volleys at killing dis- tance, he would take upon himself to secure victory. To the continentals he was very brief. He reminded them of the confidence he had always reposed in their skill and courage; as- sured them that victory was certain, if they acted well their part ; and desired them not to be discouraged by the sudden retreat of the militia, that being part of his plan and orders. Then taking post with this line, he waited in stern silence for the enemy. The British lieutenant-colonel, urging for- ward, was at length gratified with the certainty of battle ; and, being prone to presume on victory, he hurried the formation of his troops. The light and legion infantry, with the seventh regiment, composed the line of battle ; in the centre of which was posted the artillery, con- sisting of two grasshoppers ; and a troop of dragoons was placed on each flank. The bat- talion of the seventy-first regiment, under Major M' Arthur, with the remainder of the cavalry, BATTLE OF THE COW PENS. 2.-9 formed the reserve. Tarleton placed himself with the line, having under him Major New- marsh, who commanded the seventh regiment. The disposition was not completed when he directed the line to advance, and the reserve to wait further orders. The American light parties quickly yielded, fell back, and arrayed with Pickens. The enemy, shouting, rushed forward upon the front line, which retained its station, and poured in a close fire ; but, con- tinuing to advance with the bayonet on our militia, they retired, and gained with haste the second line. Here, with part of the corps, Pickens took post on Howard's right, and the rest fled to their horses — probably with orders to remove them to a further distance. Tarle- ton pushed forward, and was received by his adversary with unshaken firmness. The con- test became obstinate, and each party, animated by the example of its leader, nobly contended for victory. Our line maintained itself so firm- ly, as to oblige the enemy to order up his reserve. The advance of M' Arthur reanimated the British line, which again moved forward ; and, outstretching our front, endangered How- ard's right. This officer instantly took mea- 18* 210 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. sures to defend his flank, by directing his right company to change its front ; but, mis- taking this order, the company fell back ; upon which the line began to retire, and General Morgan directed it to retreat to the cavalry. This manoeuvre being performed with pre- cision, our flank became relieved, and the new position was assumed with promptitude. Con- sidering this retrograde movement the precur- sor of flight, the British line rushed on with impetuosity and disorder; but, as it drew near, Howard faced about, and gave it a close and murderous fire. Stunned by this unexpected shock, the most advanced of the enemy recoil- ed in confusion. Howard seized the happy moment, and followed his advantage with the bayonet. This decisive step gave us the day. The reserve having been brought near the line, shared in the destruction of our fire, and pre- sented no rallying point to the fugitives. A part of the enemy's cavalry, having gained our rear, fell on that portion of the militia who had retired to their horses. Washington struck at them with his dragoons, and drove them before him. Thus, by simultaneous efforts, the in- fantry and cavalry of the enemy were routed. BATTLE OF THE COW PENS. 211 Morgan pressed home his success, and the pur- suit became vigorous and general. The British cavalry, having taken no part in the action ex- cept the two troops attached to the line, were in force to cover the retreat. This, however, was not done. The zeal of Lieutenant-Colonel Washington in pursuit having carried him far before his squadron, Tarleton turned upon him with the troop of the seventeenth regiment of dragoons, seconded by many of his officers. The American lieutenant-colonel was first rescued from this critical, contest by one of his sergeants, and afterwards by a fortunate shot from his bugler's pistol. This check concluded resistance on the part of the British officer, who drew off with the remains of his cavalry, col- lected his stragglers, and hastened to Lord Corn- wallis. The baggage guard, learning the issue of the battle, moved instantly towards the Bri- tish army. A part of the horse, who had shamefully avoided action, and refused to charge when Tarleton wheeled on the impetuous Wash- ington, reached the camp of Cornwallis at Fish- er's creek, about twenty-five miles from the Cowpens, in the evening. The remainder ar- rived with Lieutenant- Colonel Tarleton on the 212 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. morning following. In this decisive battle we lost about seventy men, of whom twelve only were killed. The British infantry, with the ex- ception of the baggage guard, were nearly all killed or taken. One hundred, including ten officers, were killed ; twenty-three officers and five hundred privates were taken. The artil- lery, eight hundred muskets, two standards, thirty-five baggage wagons, and one hundred dragoon horses, fell into our possession. The victory of the Cowpens was to the south what that of Bennington had been to the north. General Morgan, whose former services had placed him high in public estimation, was now deservedly ranked among the most illus- trious defenders of his country. Starke fought an inferior, Morgan a superior, foe. The for- mer contended with a German corps ; the lat- ter with the elite of the southern army, com- posed of British troops. In military reputation the conqueror at the Cowpens must stand be- fore the hero of Bennington. Starke was nobly seconded by Colonel Warner and his continental regiment ; Morgan derived very great aid from Pickens and his militia, and was effectually supported by Howard and Washington. The GENERAL MORGAN. 213 weight .of the battle fell on Howard; who sus- tained himself gloriously in trying circum- stances, and seized with decision the critical moment to complete with the bayonet the ad- vantage gained by his fire. Congress manifested their sense of this im- portant victory by a resolve, approving the conduct ofthe principal officers, and commemo- rative of their distinguished exertions. To Gen- eral Morgan they presented a golden medal, to Brigadier Pickens a sword, and to Lieutenant- Colonels Howard and Washington, a silver medal, and to Captain Triplett, a sword. GENERAL MORGAN. General Morgan was a plain home bred man. He always called his men his boys, and his hearty familiarity made him popular ; and his orders were obeyed in a moment. He would order a draft of men at 3 o'clock in the morning to go twenty-eight miles before day- light. Horsemen were always at hand to take 214 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the riflemen on behind them. No inquiries by the men were allowed. He told his men to shoot at those who wore epaulettes, rather than the poor fellows who fought for six-pence per day. COL. WILLIAM WASHINGTON. While attached to the light corps command- ed by General Morgan, Colonel William Wash- ington, by a very ingenious stratagem, carried the post at Rugely's, taking a large body of the enemy, without firing a single shot. Apprized of the character of his opponent, Rugely, he fixed a pine log on the front wheels of a wagon, so as to make it appear, at a distance, as a field- piece, and threatening immediate destruction should resistance be attempted; the affrighted colonel requested that quarter might be allow- ed, and surrendered at discretion. On this occasion, Lord Cornwallis, writing to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Tarleton, laconically said— "Rugely will not be a brigadier." He, in a high degree, contributed to the achievement of COLO.NEL WILLIAM WASHINGTON. 215 the brilliant victory at the Cowpens, although his too ardent zeal had nearly cost him his life; for, anxious by example, to increase the energy of pursuit, he was led so far in advance, as to be surrounded by several officers of the British legion ; and must have fallen, had he not been rescued by the gallantry of a sergeant and his bugleman, Ball, who, by a well-aimed pistol-shot, disabled the officer, whose sword was raised for his destruction. In the retreat into Virginia, and in all the manoeuvres subse- quent to the recrossing of the Dan, he essen- tially aided to baffle the skilful efforts of Lord Cornwallis, to force General Greene, heading an inferior army, to battle. At Guilford, he acted a most conspicuous part. By a spirited and most judicious charge, he broke the regi- ment of guards commanded by Colonel Stew- ard, who fell in the action, and followed by the gallant Colonel Howard, leading on the Mary- landers, with fixed bayonets, nearly annihilated them. Trifles have often, in the heat of battle, been productive of the most unlooked for con- sequences. Washington's cap fell, and while he dismounted to recover it, a round of grape, from the British artillery, fired by the order of 216 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. General Webster, on friends as well as foes, the more effectually to check the success of the Americans, so grievously wounded the officer next in command, that, incapacitated from managing his horse, the animal wheeled round and carried him off the field, followed by the rest of the cavalry, who unhappily supposed that the movement had been directed. This accident saved the remnant of the Guards, and, in all probability, the entire British army. 1 heard, from an officer of distinction in the army of the enemy, who was wounded in this action, the following interesting particulars: — "I was near General Webster, when the charge was made by Washington. The desperate situation of the Guards, had its effect on all around. An officer of rank, in the American army, quickly perceiving it, rode up to the British line, and called aloud, ' surrender, gentlemen, and be certain of good quarters.' Terrified by ap- pearances, and concluding that defeat was in- evitable, the soldiers of the regiment De Bose, were actually throwing down their arms. Con- fusion was increasing. General Webster, whose presence of mind could not be disturbed, ex- claimed — ' Unless that gallant fellow is taken COLONEL WILLIAM WASHINGTON. 217 off, we are lost.' A lieutenant of artillery, bringing up a field-piece at the moment, was directed to fire into the throng, where the Guards now appeared to be greatly out-num- bered, and did so with the happiest success — the cavalry wheeled off, the remains of the bat- talion rallied, and the army was saved." At Fobkirk's Hill, new honours awaited him. Gaining the rear of the British army, by judi- cious manoeuvring during the action, he cap- tured and parolled eleven officers, and made prisoners of upwards of two hundred men — fifty of whom he brought off the field ; the re- treat of the American forces obliged him to re- linquish the remainder. But, in the evening of the day on which the engagement took place, having decoyed Coffin, who commanded the horse of the enemy, into an ambuscade, he charged him with an intrepidity that could not be withstood, and compelled him, after the loss of half of his men, to fly and take shelter in Camden. At the battle of Eutaw, though un- fortunate, no hero had ever, in a higher degree, merited success. His repeated charges on the British light infantry, would, probably, have disconcerted a corps less brave, or commanded 19 213 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. by any other officer than Majoribanks; but, they maintained their position with a steadiness that could not be subdued ; and in a last effort for victory, Washington's horse being killed, he became entangled, as he fell, in the ranks of the enemy, and being unable to extricate himself, was bayoneted and taken. The intre- pid conduct of his gallant followers, cannot be too highly extolled. Captain Watts, the second in command, Lieutenants Stuart, King, Gor- don and Simons, were wounded ; Mr. Carlisle, a volunteer, killed, and half of the men de- stroyed. After which, the residue were drawn off by Captain Parsons, the only officer who escaped without injury. The action at the Eutaws, was the last in which Lieutenant- Colonel Washington was engaged. Remain- ing a prisoner to the conclusion of the war, he married a lady, equally distinguished by her virtues and accomplishments, and settled in South Carolina. Possessing a very consider- able property, he indulged in unbounded hospi- tality, receiving, with affectionate attention, his military associates, and maintaining the re- spectable character of a liberal and independ- ent country gentleman. GUILFORD COURT-HOUSE. 219 BATTLE OF GUILFORD COURT-HOUSE. The battle of Guilford Court-House took place on the loth of March, 1781. The American army consisted of four thousand four hundred and ninety-one men, of whom two thousand seven hundred and fifty-three were militia of North Carolina and Virginia, one thousand and sixty from the first state, and sixteen hundred and ninety-three from the last ; the British of about two thousand four hundred men, chiefly troops grown veteran in victories. The American army was drawn up in three lines ; the front composed of North Carolina militia, under the command of General Butler and General Eaton ; the second of Virginia militia, commanded by General Stevens and General Lawson; the third and last of the Maryland and Virginia continentals, amount- ing to fourteen hundred and ninety rank and file, commanded by General Huger and Colo- nel Williams. Lieutenant-Colonel Washing- ton, with his cavalry, and a corps of Delaware light-infantry, and some riflemen under Colonel 220 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Lynch, covered the right flank. Lieutenant- Colonel Lee, with his legion, and some rifle- men under Colonel Campbell, the left. After a brisk cannonade in front, the British advanced in three columns, the Hessians on the right, the Guards in the centre, and Lieutenant-Colonel Webster's brigade on the left, and attacked the front line. This gave way when their adver- saries were at the distance of one hundred and forty yards. Some of the North Carolina mi- litia, who composed this line, fired once, but a great number ran away without firing or being fired upon. All exertions of their officers to rally them were ineffectual. The Virginia mi- litia behaved much better; kept up their fire till they were ordered to retreat, and did great execution. General Stevens had posted forty riflemen at equal distances, twenty paces in the rear of his brigade, with orders to shoot every man who should leave his post. This gallant officer, though he received a wound through the thigh, did not quit the field. He had the ad- dress to prevent his brigade from receiving any bad impressions from the retreating North Ca- rolinians, by giving out that .they had orders to retire after discharging their pieces. To cherish BATTLE OF GUILFORD COURT-HOUSE. 221 this idea he ordered the militia under his com- mand, to open their files to favour their passage. The continental troops were last engaged, and Huger fought with great spirit. Towards the close of the action, a charge was made on the British guards by the cavalry of Lieutenant- Colonel Washington and the Maryland troops, commanded by Colonel Gunby and Lieutenant- Colonel Howard, with such execution that the whole corps was nearly annihilated. After a severe conflict of an hour and a half, the disci- pline of veteran troops carried the point against numbers. General Greene abandoned the field to his rival, still however showing a good face; he retreated no farther than over the Reedy Fork, a distance of three miles. The Ameri- cans lost four six-pounders which had been in the possession of both armies in different stages of the action. This victory cost the British dear. Their killed and wounded exceeded six hundred men. The Guards lost Colonel Stuart, with the Captains Schutz, Maynard and Good- riche, besides subalterns. Colonel Webster, an officer of distinguished reputation, died of his wounds, to the great injury of the service, and the universal regret of the royal army. 222 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Brigadier-Generals O'Hara and Howard, and Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with several other officers, were wounded. About three hundred of the continentals and one hundred of the Virginia militia were killed and wounded ; among the former was Major Anderson, of the Maryland line, a valuable of- ficer, and the same who behaved so well in General Gates's defeat. Among the latter were General Huger and General Stevens. The early retreat of the North Carolinians saved them from much loss. Though the Americans had fewer killed and wounded than the British, yet their army sustained a greater diminution by the numerous fugitives from the militia, who no more rejoined the camp. Lord Cornwallis suffered so severely, that he was in no condition to improve the advantage he had gained. The British had only the name, the Americans all the good consequences of a vic- tory. General Greene retreated, and Lord Cornwallis kept the field; but, notwithstanding, the British interest, in North Carolina, was ruined by this action. Three days after the battle Lord Cornwallis issued a proclamation, setting forth his complete victory, and calling GENERAL GREENE. 223 on all loyal subjects to stand forth, and take an active part in restoring good order and govern- ment ; and offering a pardon and protection to all rebels, murderers excepted, who would sur- render themselves on or before the twentieth day of April. On the day on which this pro- clamation was issued, his lordship left his hos- pital and seventy-five wounded men with the numerous loyalists in the vicinity of Guilford, and began a march towards the sea-coast, which had the appearance of a retreat. Thir- teen days before the expiration of this act of grace, he had reached his shipping at Wilming- ton, all the upper country remaining in the power of General Greene's army. GENERAL GREENE. "The knowledge of Greene" (said General Knox to a distinguished citizen of South Caro- lina) "is intuitive. He came to us, the rawest, and most untutored being I ever met with; but, in less than twelve months, he was equal, in 224 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. military knowledge, to any general officer in the army, and very superior to most of them." The British officer, who opposed him in Jer- sey, writes — " Greene is as dangerous as Wash- ington ; he is vigilant, enterprising, and full of resources. With but little hope of gaining any advantage over him, I never feel secure when encamped in his neighbourhood." To speak of his disinterestedness, General Washington gives the following honourable tes- timony of his character: — "There is no officer in the army more sincerely attached to the in- terests of his country than General Greene. Could he but promote these interests in the character of a corporal, he would exchange, without a murmur, his epaulette for the knot. For, although he is not without ambition, that ambition has not for its object, the highest rank, so much as the greatest good." In compliment to his brilliant successes, the Chevalier de la Luzerne, the Minister of France, who, as a Knight of Malta, must be considered as a competent judge of military merit, thus speaks of him : — " Other generals subdue their enemy by the means with which their country or sovereign furnishes them ; but, Greene ap- BATTLE OF EUTAW. 225 pears to subdue his enemy by his own means. He commenced his campaign, without either an army, provisions, or military stores. He has asked for nothing since ; and yet, scarcely a post arrives from the south, that does not bring intelligence of some new advantage gain- ed over the foe. He conquers by magic. His- tory furnishes no parallel to this," BATTLE OF EUTAW. The effective force of the hostile armies may be fairly estimated as nearly equal, each about two thousand three hundred. A portion of both armies, and that too nearly equal, had never as yet been in action ; so that in every respect the state of equality was preserved, ex- cepting in cavalry, where the advantage, both in number and quality, was on our side. The night passed in tranquillity ; and, judg- ing from appearances, no occurrence seemed more distant than the sanguinary battle which followed. 226 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Greene advanced at four in the morning, in two columns, with artillery at the head of each, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee in his front, and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Washington in his rear. While moving with much circumspection, in the well grounded expectation that we should fall upon the British picquets unperceived, Cap- tain Armstrong, conducting the reconnoitring party, communicated to Lee the approach of a body of the enemy. This occurred about eight o'clock in the morning, four miles from the British camp. Forwarding this intelligence to the general, and presuming that the descried foe, consisting of horse and foot, must be the van of the enemy, Lee halted, waiting for the approximation of our main body. The legion infantry were drawn up across the road, the cavalry in open wood on its right, and Henderson with his corps in thick wood upon its left. Shortly the British appeared, fol- lowing Armstrong. The action opened, and the enemy were soon forced in front, while the horse, making a rapid movement under Major Eggleston, gained the rear. The infantry was destroyed, several killed, and about forty taken with their captain; the cavalry, flying in full BATTLE OF EUTAW. 227 speed as soon as they saw the legion dragoons pressing forward, saved themselves, as did the foraging party following in the rear, consisting of two or three hundred without arms. Pressing forward, we soon got in view of an- other body of the enemy, with whom the action recommenced. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, advis- ing the general of this occurrence, requested the support of artillery to counteract that of the enemy now opening. Quickly Colonel Wil- liams, Adjutant-General, brought up Captain Gains with his two pieces in full gallop, who, unlimbering, took his part with decision and effect. During this rencontre both armies formed : The American having, as before mentioned, moved in two columns, each composed of the corps destined for its respective lines, soon ranged in order of battle. The North Carolina militia under Colonel Malmedy, with that of South Carolina, led by the Brigadiers Marion and Pickens, making the first, and the Continentals making the second line : Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell with the Virginians on the right ; Brigadier Sumner with the North Carolinians in the centre ; and the 228 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Mary landers, conducted by Williams and. How- ard, on the left, resting with its left flank on the Charleston road. Lee with his legion was charged with the care of the right, as was Hen- derson with his corps with that of the left flank. The artillery, consisting only of two threes and two sixes, commanded by Captains Gains and Finn, were disposed, the first with the front and the last with the rear line; and Baylor's regiment of horse, with Kirkwood's infantry of Delaware, composed the reserve, led by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Washington. The British army was drawn up in one line, a few hundred paces in front of their camp (tents standing) with two separate bodies of in- fantry and the cavalry posted in its rear, ready to be applied as contingencies might point out. The Buffs (third regiment) composed its right, resting with its flank on the Charleston road; the remains of several corps, under Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger, the centre; and the sixty-third and sixty-fourth (veterans) the left. On the Eutaw branch, which runs to the British camp, right of the Charleston road, was posted Major Majoribanks at the head of the light infantry, making one battalion ; his righ BATTLE OF EUTAW. 229 on the branch, and his left stretching in an oblique line towards the flank of the BufTs. This branch issued from a deep ravine, be- tween which and the British camp was the Charleston road, and between the road and the ravine was a strong brick house. The artil- lery was distributed along the line, a part on the Charleston road, and another part on the road leading to Roache's plantation, which passed through the enemy's left wing. The front line of the American army, fol- lowing close in the rear of the two pieces under Captain Gains, began now to be felt by the van, who, diverging to the right and left, firing obliquely, took post on the flanks agreeably to the order of battle. The militia advancing with alacrity, the bat- tle became warm, convincing Lieutenant-Co- lonel Stuart, unexpected as it appears to have been, that Greene was upon him. The fire ran from flank to flank ; our line still advanc- ing, and the enemy, adhering to his position, manifesting a determination not to move. The sixty-third and the legion infantry were warmly engaged, when the sixty-fourth, with a cart of the centre, advanced upon Colonel Mal- 20 230 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. medy, who soon yielding, the success was push- ed by the enemy's left, and the militia, after a fierce contest, gave way ; leaving the corps of Henderson and the legion infantry engaged, sullenly falling back. Greene instantly ordered up the centre of the second line under Brigadier Sumner, to fill the chasm produced by the recession of the militia, who came handsomely into action, ranging with the infantry of the legion and the corps of Henderson, both still maintaining the flanks with unyielding energy. The battle be- ing reinstated grew hotter, and the enemy, who had before gained ground, fell back to his first position. Stuart now brought into line the corps of infantry posted in the rear of his left wing, and directed Major Coffin with his cav- alry to take post on his left; evincing a jealousy of that flank where the woods were open and the ground opportune for cavalry, in which we excelled. In this point of the action Lieutenant-Colonel Henderson received a ball which stopped his further exertion. His corps however, soon recovered from the effect pro duced by his fall ; and, led on by Lieutenant Colonel Hampton, continuing to act well its BATTLE OF EUTAW. 231 part; the American line persevered in advance, and the fire became mutually destructive. Greene, determining to strike a conclusive blow, brought up the Mary landers and Vir- ginians ; when our line became dense, and pressing forward, with a shout, the battle raged with redoubled fury. The enemy, sensible that the weight of our force was bearing upon him, returned our shout, and sustained himself nobly from right to left. Majoribanks now for the first time was put in motion, which being perceived, Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, with the re- serve, was commanded to fall upon him, and at the same moment the line was ordered to hold up its fire and to charge with the bayonet. The air again resounded with the shouts of the advancing Americans; the enemy answering by pouring in a close and quickly repeated fire. As we drew near, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, at the head of his infantry, discerning that we outstretched the enemy's line, ordered Captain Rudolph to fall back with his company, to gain the enemy's flank, and to give him a raking fire as soon as he turned it. This movement was executed with precision, and had the hap- 232 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. piest effect. The enemy's left could not sus- tain the approaching shock, assailed in front as it was in flank, and it instantly began to give way, which quickly afterwards took place along the whole line, in some parts of which the hostile ranks contended with the bayonet, many individuals of the Mary landers and of the Buffs having been mutually transfixed. The conquering troops pressed the advantage they had gained, pursuing the foe, and possess- ed themselves of his camp, which was yielded without a struggle. Washington promptly ad- vanced to execute the orders he had received, and made a circuit to gain the rear of Majori- banks, preceded by Lieutenant Stuart with the leading section. As he drew near to the enemy, he found the ground thickly set with black jack, and almost impervious to horse. Deranging as was this unlooked for obstacle, Washing- ton with his dauntless cavalry forced his way, notwithstanding the murderous discharge of the enemy, safe behind his covert. Human courage could not surmount the obstruction which interposed, or this gallant officer with his intrepid corps would have triumphed. Cap- tain Watts, second in command, fell, pierced BATTLE OF EUTAW. 233 with two balls. Lieutenants King and Sim- mons experienced a similar fate; and Washing- ton's horse being killed, he became entangled in the fall, when struggling to extricate himself he was bayoneted and taken. Lieutenant Stu- art was now dismounted, being severely wound- ed, and his horse killed close to the hostile ranks ; nor did a single man of his section escape, some being killed and the rest wound- ed. The gallant young Carlisle, from Alexan dria, a cadet in the regiment, was killed, and half the corps destroyed ; after which the resi- due was drawn off by Captain Parsons, assist- ed by Lieutenant Gordon. This repulse took place at the time the British line gave way. Majoribanks, although victorious, fell back to cover his flying com- rades ; and Major Sheridan, with the New York volunteers, judiciously took possession of the brick house, before mentioned, for the same purpose ; while, with the same view, Major Coffin, with the cavalry, placed himself on the left, in an open field west of the Charleston road. In our pursuit we took three hundred prison- ers and two pieces of artillery: one taken by 20* 234 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Captain Rudolph, of the legion infantry, ana the other by Lieutenant Duval, of the Mary land line, who was killed — a young officer of the highest promise. As soon as we entered the field, Sheridan began to fire from the brick house. The left of the legion infantry, led by Lieutenant Manning, the nearest to the house, followed close upon the enemy still entering it, hoping to force his way before the door could be barred. One of our soldiers actually got half way in, and for some minutes a struggle of strength took place — Manning pressing him in, and Sheridan forcing him out. The last pre- vailed, and the door was closed. Here Cap- tain Barry, deputy adjutant-general, the brother of the celebrated Colonel S. Barry, and some few others, were overtaken and made prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, finding his left discom- fited in the bold attempt, on the success of which much hung, recalled it; and Manning so disposed of his prisoners, by mixing them with his own soldiers, as to return unhurt ; the enemy in the house sparing him rather than risking those with him. At this point of time Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, with a part of his regiment, passed BATTLE OF EUTAW. 235 through the field towards the head of the ra- vine, and Captain Kirkwood appeared approach- ing the house on its right. Majori banks, though uninjured, continued stationary on the enemy's right, as did Coffin with the cavalry on the left. Sheridan, from a few swivels and his musket- ry, poured his fire in every direction without cessation. During this period, Stuart was actively em- ployed in forming his line; difficult in itself from the severe battle just fought, and render- ed more so by the consternation which evident- ly prevailed. The followers of the army, the wagons, the wounded, the timid, were all hast- ening towards Charleston ; some along the road in our view, others through the field back of the road, equally in view ; while the staff were destroying stores of every kind, especial- ly spirits, which the British soldiers sought with avidity. General Greene brought up all his artillery against the house, hoping to effect a breach, through which he was determined to force his way ; convinced that the submission of the enemy in the house gave to him the hostile army. At the same moment Lieutenant-Colo- 236 STORIES OP THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. nel Lee (still on the right) sent for Eggleston and his cavalry, for the purpose of striking Coffin, and turning the head of the ravine; which point was properly selected for the con- centration of our force, too much scattered by the pursuit, and by the allurements which the enemy's camp presented.* Here we command- ed the ravine, and might readily break up the incipient arrangements of the rallying enemy ; here we were safe from the fire of the house, and here we possessed the Charleston road. While Lee was halted at the edge of the wood, impatiently waiting for the arrival of his horse, he saw Captain Armstrong (the leading officer for the day) approaching, and not doubting that the corps was following, the lieutenant- colonel advanced into the field, directing Arm- strong to follow. Their failure to do so impaired the glory of the battle by preventing the total destruction of the enemy, but did not prevent the victory of the Americans, who repelled the British and took 500 prisoners. Colonel Campbell was killed, and Colonels Washington, Howard, and Henderson wounded. BATTLE OF YORKTOWN. 237 BATTLE OF YORKTOWN. The autumn of 1780 found the British in pos- session of most of the southern states. Charles- ton had fallen, South Carolina had been over- run, Virginia was threatened ; and the victorious Gates, advancing to the succour of the patriots, had been totally destroyed at Camden. But the savage policy adopted by Cornwallis to secure his conquest was ultimately the cause of his ruin. He issued a proclamation, sequestering the estates of all those, not included in the capi- tulation of Charleston, who were in the service or acting under the authority of Congress, and of all others who, by an open avowal of liberal principles, or other notorious acts, should show a leaning to the colonial authorities. He also gave orders to the British officers, at their several posts, to execute any persons who, having once taken a protection as British subjects, had since repented and assumed arms in behalf of their country. By these measures he hoped to crush all resistance, and secure the southern colonies to the crown, even if it should become neces- 233 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. sary to acknowledge the independence of the states north of the Potomac. But he over- reached himself. His cruelty shocked the luke- warm, and infuriated the hostile. The people saw that there was no alternative but in perfect freedom or hopeless slavery. At this juncture Marion appeared ; the militia flocked to his standard ; and the success of the partisan war carried on by him and Sumpter raised the drooping spirits of the whigs. The appoint- ment of Greene to the command of the southern army, and the brilliant affair at the Cowpens, still further exalted their hopes ; so that even the check at Guilford Court-House failed to dis- hearten them. Indeed, the result of that battle was almost as unfavourable to the British as to the Americans, In a few days Greene was ready to renew the contest ; but Cornwall is eluded his grasp, and reached Wilmington, in his way to Virginia, on the 7th of April, 1781. The American leader, finding it impossible to bring his enemy to battle, took the bold resolu- tion of marching into South Carolina, and thus forcing Cornwallis to follow him or abandon his conquests. The British general, on receiv- ing intelligence of this movement, hesitated, but BATTLE OV YORKTOWN. 239 finally determined to pursue his first design, and overrun Virginia. By this daring step he would place his army in a country not yet wasted by war, and where, consequently, supplies would be plentiful ; while, if he should succeed in re- ducing the colony, the subjugation of the other southern states would inevitably follow, no mat- ter how fortunate Greene, in the mean time, might be. The movement spread consternation among the friends of freedom. No one can under- stand the almost universal fears entertained for the south, who has not perused the correspond- ence of that day. For a time success followed every footstep of the foe. Cornwallis, advanc- ing rapidly northward, had united himself to the British generals Philips and Arnold, as early as the latter end of May ; while Lafayette, who had been despatched to succour Greene, but had been arrested by the enemy on the James River, was preserved from capture only by his energy and address. At length a junc- tion was effected between him and Wayne, and subsequently a detachment led by Baron Steu- ben still further increased his force. Happily, at this crisis, Sir Henry Clinton, alarmed by 240 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Washington's preparations for the siege of New- York, recalled a portion of the force of Corn- wallis, and that general, now somewhat weak- ened, retired to Yorktown. La Fayette had never ceased to urge on Wash- ington the practicability of capturing Corn- wallis, and thus ending the war at a blow, provided the northern army, by a sudden march from the Hudson, could be thrown into the scales against the enemy. But the comman- der-in-chief's favourite scheme was the reduc- tion of New York, and it was long before he could be brought to see its impracticability. When he was once convinced, however, he acted with his usual skill and promptness. The whole of the French allies and two thousand of the continental line were detailed for the south- ern expedition, which Washington determined to lead in person : the march of the troops was concealed as long as possible, while a sufficient force was left to defend the Hudson ; and so completely was Sir Henry Clinton deceived, that the allied forces had reached the Delaware before he became aware of their intention to move southward. The brave continentals traversed now, with BATTLE OF YORKTOWN. 241 far different feelings, the ground over which they had fled a few years before, ill-provision- ed, poorly clothed, and marking their footsteps with blood. There was before them the pros- pect of reducing a formidable army, with but little expense of blood and treasure, and thus revenging their own wrongs and redeeming their country. They had already eluded Sir Henry Clinton, and a few days would probably enable them to surround Cornwallis. They marched on with high hopes, cheering their way with songs, and before the end of September arrived at Williamsburg, in the immediate vicinity of the foe. Meantime, the French fleet, in pur- suance of the concerted plan, had reached the Chesapeake, while Cornwallis, too late aware of the net in which he was involved, had been assiduously occupied in fortifying his position. The town of York lies on the southern shore of the river of that name, at a spot where the banks are bold and high. On the opposite side, at the distance of a mile, is Gloucester Point, a strip of land projecting far into the stream. Both the town and point were occupied by Corn- wallis, the communication being preserved by his batteries ; while several men-of-war lay 21 242 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. under his guns, for the river was here deep enough for the largest ship of the line. By referring to the map a clear idea may be gained of the strength of Cornwallis's position. It will be seen that Yorktown is situated at the narrowest part of the peninsula, formed by the York and James rivers, where the distance across is but eight miles. By placing his troops, therefore, around the village, and draw- ing about them a range of outer redoubts and field works calculated to command this penin- sula, Cornwallis had established himself in a position almost impregnable ; while, by fortify- ing Gloucester Point and maintaining the com- munication between it and Yorktown, he opened a door for the reception of supplies and pro- vided a way of escape in the last emergency. Having formed a junction with La Fayette, the allied army, commanded by Washington in person, moved down from Williamsburg to Yorktown ; and on the 30th of September oc- cupied the outer lines of Cornwallis, which that general had abandoned without a struggle. Two thousand men were detailed to the Glou- cester side to blockade that post. The invest- ment was now complete. BATTLE OF YORKTOWX. 243 It was not, however, until the night of the 6th of October that the Americans broke ground, within six hundred yards of the enemy's lines, the intermediate time having been employed in bringing up the stores and heavy artillery. By daybreak the trenches were sufficiently ad- vanced to cover the men. In less than four days a sufficient number of batteries and re- doubts had been erected to silence the fire of the enemy. On the 10th, (the day on which the British withdre v their cannon from the em- brasures,) tht -ed-not balls of the allied bat- ♦eries set fire to an English frigate and three large transports lying in the harbour. Corn- wall^ now began to despond. No succour had arrived from New York, and the allies were pushing the siege with extraordinary vigour. On the night cf f he 11th the second parallel was opened within three hundred yards of the British lines. These new trenches were flanked by two redoubts in possession of the enemy, who, taking advantage of the circumstance, opened several new embrasures, and kept up an incessant and destructive fire. It became necessary to carry these batteries by storm ; and the fourteenth was fixed for the purpose. 244 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. one redoubt being assigned to the Americans and the other to the French. A noble emula- tion fired the soldiers of the respective nations as they advanced across the plain. La Fayette led the continentals : the Baron de Viominel commanded his countrymen. The redoubt en- trusted to the Americans was carried at the bayonet's point, the assailants rushing on with such impetuosity that the sappers had not time to remove the abattis and palisades. The French were equally courageous and success- ful, though, as their redoubt was defended by a larger force, the conquest was not so speedy, and their loss was greater. It was, at one time, currently believed that La Fayette, with the con- currence of Washington, had issued orders for every man to be put to the sword, in retalia- tion for the massacre at New London, a few weeks before ; but Colonel Hamilton, who took part in the assault and who had ample means of knowing the truth, has publicly denied the statement. The redoubts were the same night included in the second parallel, and their guns, the next day, made ready to be turned against the foe. Cornwallis was now reduced to extremities. BATTLE OF YOIIKTOWN. 245 His works were crumbling under the shot of the first parallel, and in another day the new trenches would open their fire at half the dis- tance. In this emergency he resolved on a sortie, hoping thus to retard the completion of the batteries in the second parallel. The en- terprise was, at first, successful, and the two batteries, which were now nearly completed, fell into the hands of the foe ; but the guards from the trenches immediately hastening to the assistance of their fellow soldiers, the enemy was dislodged and driven back into his works. The same day the second parallel opened several of its batteries. It was hoped that, by morning, every gun might be brought to bear. Having failed in his sortie, and knowing that his position was now untenable, the British ge- neral took the desperate resolution of crossing over to Gloucester Point in the night, and cut- ting his way through the blockading force there, then mounting his men on whatever horses he could seize, to make a rapid march northward and join Sir Henry Clinton. By this move- ment he would abandon his sick and baggage; but he would save himself the disgrace of a surrender. Boats were secretly procured, and 21 * 246 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. the first embarkation reached the point safely and unperceived; but, at this juncture, a violent storm arose, which drove the boats down the river. The tempest continued until daylight, when the enterprise was unavoidably given up, and the troops that had passed over re-crossed to the southern side. A capitulation was now the only resource. Accordingly, at ten the same forenoon, Corn- wall is beat a parley, and proposed a cessation of hostilities for one day, in order to agree on terms for the surrender of Yorktown and Glou- cester. Washington granted two hours for Cornwallis to prepare his proposals ; and, that no time might be lost, sent in his own. Tho answer of the British general rendering it pro- bable that but little difficulty would occur in adjusting the terms, Washington consented to the cessation of hostilities. On the 18th, tho commissioners from the two armies met ; but evening arrived before they could agree except on a rough draft of the terms of surrender. These, however, Washington caused to be copied, and sent them early next morning to Cornwallis, determined not to lose the slightest advantage by delay. lie further informed the BATTLE OF YORliTOWN. 247 British general lhat a definiiive answer was ex- pected by eleven o'clock ; and that, in case of a surrender, the garrison must march out by two in the afternoon. No resource being left, Cornwallis signed. It was a proud day for the war-worn troops of America, when the richly appointed soldiery of Britain marched out with dejected faces from their works, and in profound silence stacked their arms on the plain, in presence of the con- querors. But no unmanly exultation was seen among the allies. With decent pity they gazed on the spectacle, reserving their congratulations for their private quarters. But there, the re- joicings were loud and fervent, and the gay Frenchman from the Loire joined in triumphal songs with the hardy son of New England, or the more enthusiastic Virginian. By the capitulation more than seven thou- sand prisoners, exclusive of seamen, fell into the hands of the allies. Among the captives were two generals, and thirty-one field officers. The army, artillery, arms, military chest, and public stores were surrendered to Washington; while the ships and seamen were assigned to Count de Grasse, the French admiral. In ad- 248 STOUIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. dition to those made prisoners at the capitula- tion, the loss of the garrison, during the siege, was five hundred and fifty-two. The allied army lost about three hundred. The whole force, including the militia, under Washington's command, was sixteen thousand. The siege occupied eleven days to the opening of the Treaty, and thirteen fo the signing of the capitu- lation. There was a large body of Americans in Yorktown who had joined the British army, and Cornwallis endeavoured to provide for their safety in the capitulation. But as the subject belonged to the civil department, Washington rejected the article. The escape of these men was, however, humanely connived at ; for a sloop of war was allowed to proceed to New York with despatches unsearched, and in her they embarked. On the very day when the capitulation was signed at Yorktown, Sir Henry Clinton sailed from Sandy Hook with seven thousand men to relieve Cornwallis ; but on the 24th, when off the capes of Virginia, having received intelli- gence of the surrender, he altered his course for New York. BATTLE OF YORKTOVVN. 249 This brilliant result was achieved chiefly by the energy and wisdom of Washington. A delay of one week would have frustrated his plans, relieved Cornwall is, and protracted the war perhaps for years. Before the siege began, a circumstance oc- curred which came near destroying the success of the campaign. Immediately after the ar- rival of Washington at Williamsburg, the Count de Grasse, then lying in the Chesapeake, re- ceived intelligence that the British fleet, having been reinforced, was preparing to attack him ; and considering his position unfavourable for a naval combat, he determined to put to sea for the purpose of meeting the enemy, leaving only a few frigates to continue the blockade of York- town. This resolution alarmed the comman- der-in-chief; for, if the count should be blown off the coast, the enemy might attain a tem- porary superiority on those waters, and Corn- wallis be either succoured or removed. La Fay- ette was called in at this emergency, and by his representations, seconded by the earnest remonstrances of Washington, the design was abandoned. Too much credit cannot be given to De Grasse for thus sacrificing his personal 250 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. glory to the success of the expedition. La Fay- ette was the best advocate in this case, as he had himself, a few days before, resisted a simi- lar temptation to win renown ; for De Grasse, impatient of the delay of Washington, had urged his young countryman to storm the then unfinished works of Cornwallis, declaring that it was impossible for him longer to await the arrival of the commander-in-chief. But, with the true spirit of a patriot, La Fayette refused to sacrifice the lives of his soldiers, when the cap- ture of the enemy might be secured, without bloodshed, by the delay of a few days. The reduction of Yorktown filled the country with exultation. Addresses poured inonthecom- mander-in-chief from every quarter — from state governments, cities, corporations and learned bodies. Congress returned thanks to Wash- ington, to Rochambeau, and to De Grasse, as well as to the officers generally, and to the corps of artillery, especially to the engineers. They also ordered a monument to be erected on the scene of the surrender, commemorating the glorious event. Two stand of colours, of those yielded in the capitulation, were present- ed to Washington; two pieces of field ordnance BATTLE OF YORKTOWN. 251 to llochambeau, and the permission of his monarch was solicited to bestow a similar gift on De Grasse. The whole body went in solemn procession to church, in order to return thanks to Almighty God for the success of the allied arms ; and a proclamation was issued, enjoin- ing the observance of the 13th of December as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. The capture of Yorktown virtually terminat- ed the war. Two formidable armies had now been sacrificed in the vain attempt to subdue the colonies,, and public opinion in England began to assert the impracticability of conquer- ing America. A large party there had long maintained this ; and the continuance of the war was attributed to the obstinacy of the Bri- tish minister ; but the manuscript letters of Lord North show, as early as 1778, a wish to acknowledge the independence of the States ; and it is now established satisfactorily that nothing but the personal will of the sovereign protracted the conflict during the last three years. But after the fall of Cornwallis, there was no longer any hope of success. From every quarter of England came up the dying prophecy of the Earl of Chatham. The monarch 252 STORIES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. yielded to the storm ; and the United States were declared free and independent, by the same British parliament which had lately de- nounced them as revolted provinces. [Graham's Magazine. THE END. \ v Ja'33 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 782 204 7