Amboy, closely followed and constantly harassed by the light divisions and skirmishers of the continental army. Sir William Howe made one last effort to reach the rear of his pursuers, and by cutting them off from the high grounds to compel a battle; but when this was again defeated by the prudence of Washington, he gave up all hope of victory, and passed over to Staten Island for the purpose of embarkation.

The American general had now completely achieved a great and wonderful triumph. With a force exhibiting rather the shadow than the reality of an army, opposed to an enemy superior in number, and still more in every thing that constitutes efficiency in war, he had nevertheless successfully protected the chief city of America, won battles, captured trophies, and finally expelled the British from their proud and important conquest of a whole state. Never in the history of warfare was a greater result obtained by means so inadequate; and of the success itself, never was more due to the talent, the energy and the wisdom of the commander-in-chief.

The plans of Howe now became matters of deep interest, and engrossed a great share of Washington's vigilance and anxiety. With the full comWith the full command of the ocean, and a powerful fleet, the British general possessed the means of landing his large army on any part of the long line of the American coast, and of attacking important positions while comparatively unprepared and defenceless. There were many points, any one of which was well worthy of the labour of a special expedition; but only two of these fixed Washington's attention, as likely to attract the immediate notice of his adversary. The mountainous passes commanding the navigation of the North river, had long been in the possession of the continentals, and were the sources of constant annoyance to the British communications. As General Burgoyne was known to have assembled a great force upon the lakes, for the purpose of descending upon the state of New York, it appeared probable that Sir William Howe would endeavour to effect a junction of the two armies, after forcing the American posts, and clearing the obstructions which they had so long presented. On the other hand, the capture of Philadelphia was an object of at least equal interest, and there were many circumstances connected with the British preparations, which seemed to announce something more considerable than a mere river voyage. A part of the continental army under General Sullivan was pushed forward to Pompton Plains, for the purpose of approaching the Highlands; but the main body was still so posted as to cover the strong camp at Middlebrook. In the letters of the American general to congress, he exhibited the dangers to which the city was exposed, and strongly recommended the strengthening of the fortifications on the Delaware, and the increasing of the obstructions that had been cast into the channel of the river.

The British army at length embarked, and as the winds bore them from the coast, the mind of the continental commander was relieved from the

burthen of at least one apprehension. The American forces were now moved towards the Delaware, with the exception of strong detachments of disciplined troops, which marched northward as reinforcements to the army under Gates. The character of Washington was too noble and elevated to feel any of the emotions of professional jealousy. He knew the immense public advantage that would be derived from the defeat of Burgoyne; and he saw with the practised eye of a soldier, that the movement of Sir William Howe, by opening all the communications, had exposed his colleague to a combined attack from the concentrated forces of the union. Pressing letters were written to the various governors of New England, explaining the crisis, and the importance of immediate exertions. The marches were hastened of all the officers and troops who could be spared upon the expedition; in short, every precaution was adopted which the most zealous foresight could suggest, for the advancement of its own personal and immediate glory.

Time, the great unraveller of all mysteries, at length fully developed the projects of the British commander. In the last days of July 1777, the fleet appeared off the capes of Delaware, but the difficulties of the river navigation induced Sir William Howe to alter a part of his plan, and to transport his army by the more circuitous route of the Chesapeake. Unfavourable winds further delayed the voyage until the 25th of August; on that day, eighteen thousand men, in the most perfect state of military preparation and efficiency, landed at the head of Elk river, for the purpose of terminating the war by a decisive blow against the chief city of the continental Congress.

Washington, on his part, had made all the arrangements suggested by experience and access ible to his limited means. The various divisions of the army were concentrated about Philadelphia, and marched to the Brandywine. General Smallwood was ordered to assemble the Maryland militia at the head of the bay, and to co-operate with the Delaware troops against the British rear; the hardy militia of Pennsylvania joined the main body in considerable force, but owing to the extreme deficiency of the commissariat, great numbers were left, from necessity, unprovided with arms. When the whole army was collected together, the effectives, including irregulars, were about eleven thousand men; and with this force Washington occupied a position behind the RedClay creek, on the main road between the city and Sir William Howe's centre of operations.

The main body of the British army, on arriving near the American camp, made demonstrations of an immediate intention to attack; but the wary general-in-chief was soon satisfied that this movement was a mere feint, intended to cover the real object of cutting off his communications with Philadelphia. He therefore crossed the Brandywine with all his forces, and took post at Chadd's Ford, on that stream, extending his line above and below, so as to cover other fords accessible to the enemy. He had now reached the ground upon which he was determined to risk that general battle so long

sought for by his adversary, and which was now required for the preservation of the city, by public opinion and the expressed wishes of Congress.

On the 10th of September, Sir William Howe collected his forces at Kennett's Square, about seven miles from his adversary, and with no obstacle between them except the little stream of the Brandywine. The next day, a strong column under General Knyphausen, advanced to Chadd's Ford, skirmished with the American parties, and assumed the appearance of a disposition to force the passage of the river. Intelligence was however sent to Washington, that a detachment of five thousand men, with a number of cannons, had moved up the country to cross at the forks of the Brandywine; and he therefore resolved to take advantage of the temporary separation, by an immediate attack upon the column in front. Before this plan was carried into effect, other reports rendered extremely doubt ful both the real nature of the British movement, and the number of troops engaged in it. With a foe so much his superior in force, a bold manœuvre, like the one contemplated, was not to be adventured on without the most positive information; for once fully exposed on the other side of the Brandywine, there would have been no retreat left for the Americans, nor any possibility of success. The first intelligence was at length confirmed; but Lord Cornwallis had already effected his passage at the forks, and after a circuitous march of seventeen miles, was advancing in force to the attack. Wayne's division remained at Chadd's Ford, opposed to Knyphausen; the three divisions of Sullivan, Sterling and Stephens marched up the river to check the British detachment, while Washington took post in the centre, about equidistant from the two wings.

The

About four o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Cornwallis encountered the American right; this division was defeated after a brisk engagement, but Washington checked the pursuit by a movement from the centre. Knyphausen now made a real attack for the purpose of gaining Chadd's Ford, upon which Wayne effected an orderly retreat, having learned the ill success of the first conflict. Thus terminated the battle of Brandywine. continental army arrived next day unmolested at Philadelphia, having lost three hundred killed, six hundred wounded (including General La Fayette) and between three and four hundred prisoners. The British loss was officially stated at one hundred killed and four hundred wounded. The immediate causes of the check sustained by the Americans on this occasion, are found in the inexperience of the troops engaged, and the great deficiency in their fire-arms, which were of unequal calibres, and therefore badly fitted by the cartridges; but in every event, the formidable superiority in numbers on the side of the British, could have left no hope of a positive victory. The results of the battle were treated by Congress and the army as far from decisive. The former passed vigorous resolutions, and evinced no intention of quitting their place of session. The latter recrossed the Schuylkill, after a short repose, and

The advanced parties of the two armies met on the 16th of September, in the neighbourhood of the Warren Tavern, about twenty-three miles from the city; upon which a sharp skirmish was carried on, until the combatants were separated by a heavy storm. The American troops were never exposed to greater peril than that to which they were brought on this occasion, by the power of the elements and their deficiency in the common tools of warfare. Their cartridge-boxes were so badly made as to afford no sufficient cover to the ammunition, and the gun-locks being ill secured, became wholly unfit for service. As no alternative was now left to soldiers unprovided with bayonets, Washington was compelled to order a retreat to the Yellow Springs, and to abandon reluctantly his plan of battle. A farther retreat to Warwick Furnace, on the south branch of French creek, was afterwards found necessary; for, by a general inspection of arms, the unfortunate truth was ascertained, that scarcely one musket in a whole regiment was capable of being discharged, and the cartridges were in a condition equally alarming. The British army halted during two days, in consequence of the extreme severity of the weather. was about this time that General Wayne, detached by Washington for the purpose of harassing the enemy's rear, was surprised by General Gray, and obliged to fall back with considerable loss. A court-martial, assembled at Wayne's request to inquire into the circumstances of his disaster, unanimously acquitted him of all blame, declaring "that he had done every thing to be expected from an active, brave and vigilant officer."

It

Sir William Howe advanced to the Schuylkill and fixed his camp in front of the Americans, extending from French Creek to the Fatland Ford. From this point he reconnoitred the strong position assumed by Washington, which deterred him from his original plan of attack, and changed his movement into a march upon Philadelphia. Popular clamour, which has so often conquered the better judgment of generals, now loudly required that a great battle should be fought for the defence of the American metropolis: the commander-inchief-with that generous intrepidity which formed one of his noblest characteristics-resolved to withstand the torrent by declining a conflict that could only terminate in the destruction of the cause of his country. Congress removed from the city and immediately re-assembled at Lancaster. On the twenty-sixth of September, Philadelphia fell into the hands of Sir William Howe: but the precautions of the American general saved the public property, by a timely removal of the military stores up the river Delaware.

The expected reinforcements of regulars and militia having generally reached the American camp, Washington with his army of eleven thousand men, gradually approached the city, for the double purpose of observing the enemy and selecting the proper moment for attack. He found a

strong body of the British forces encamped at Germantown, a village of a single street, beginning about five miles from Philadelphia, and extending along the road about two miles more. Lord Cornwallis occupied the city with another division, and a numerous detachment had marched to Chester, as an escort for a convoy of provisions. A fair opportunity for assailing the enemy in detail was thus offered to the enterprise of the American commander, and he was not slow in perceiving its advantages. He accordingly chose for his point of assault the advanced camp at Germantown, and made masterly arrangements for surrounding and destroying that exposed division of the enemy, before reinforcements could arrive from Philadelphia. Sullivan and Wayne were charged with the attack of the village in front, by the main street from the side of Chesnut hill. General Armstrong with the Pennsylvania militia was to move upon the rear, along the line of the Ridge-road, turning the enemy's left flank; the same movement was to be effected on their right by Generals Smallwood and Forman, down the Old York road. Another column under Greene and Stephens was to attack the right wing in the centre of the town, and the command of the reserve was entrusted to Lord Stirling.

Before sun-rise on the fourth of October, Sullivan and Wayne attacked and drove in the British out posts, and forced the light infantry and the fortieth regiment to give way with the loss of all their baggage. Their commanding officer, Colonel Musgrave, hotly pressed by the conquerors, threw himself with five companies into Chew's house, a large stone structure near the road, which enabled him to pour a destructive fire of musketry upon the advancing Americans, without the possibility of a dangerous return. Some resolute attempts to storm the building were repulsed with loss, and as field pieces could make no impression, a corps of observation was left behind, while the column marched on, divided into two bodies. The attack of the right wing by the four brigades under Greene and Stephens, completely broke the British advance of light infantry, and Greene pushing forward with half of the division, routed a part of the main body, entered Germantown, and made a number of prisoners. Woodford's brigade under Stephens, unfortunately allowed itself to be separated from the rest of the division, before Chew's house, and much time was wasted in a second in effectual cannonade from light field pieces upon that massive building. Still the British troops were retreating on every side: the prospect of success was extremely flattering, and with disciplined troops, capable of executing complicated movements with regularity and order, a decisive victory must have been the unquestionable result. Our narration has now to explain the causes which deranged the whole order of the enterprise, and rendered the first successes ultimately abortive.

It has already been stated that two of the American columns were respectively subdivided at Chew's house, in consequence of the unlooked for resistance of its British garrison. The troops

were further scattered in a pursuit conducted with unequal vigour, over a country full of hedges and inclosures. Washington, perceiving the increasing confusion, exerted himself strenuously to check the evil; but the darkness of the morning, which had been calculated on as an advantage, now prevented the rallying of the several divisions, and proved the most serious obstacle to success. The general could only obtain an imperfect view of the field of operations, and the parties which approached each other, were unable to distinguish their comrades from the enemy. The two advances upon the enemy's rear, by the right and left flanks, were made too late to be of any utility, and thus the weight of the American attack which depended wholly on concentration, was frittered away and lost.

The British army now recovered from its first surprise-rallied the fugitives—and prepared vigorously to assume the offensive. A fierce attack was made on Greene, who after a warm action, was compelled to retire from the town. Sullivan, hotly assailed by the brigades of Knyphausen, also retreated, and great disorder prevailed every where. Washington was now convinced of the absolute necessity of withdrawing his troops from the contest. The disputed town was therefore evacuated by the Americans and the army marched towards the Perkiomen, without loss or even pursuit from their exhausted opponents. On receiving a slight reinforcement, the continental forces again returned to the neighbourhood of the city and encamped at Skippack creek.

According to the official returns of the English general, his loss in the battle of Germantown scarcely exceeded five hundred men. On the side of the Americans, two hundred were killed, more than five hundred wounded, and four hundred made prisoners. Congress passed a resolution highly commending the plan of the battle, and thanking their commander and the army for their courage and conduct. Perhaps, without hyper-criticism, it may be observed as a fault, that the general design reposed too much reliance on the precision of troops, at best but imperfectly disciplined. Converging movements depend for success on the nicest execution of the plan by the several divisions, and are liable to all kinds of untoward disappointments, even when executed with the best instruments. It is for this reason that they seem to be at present rejected by the best authorities in military science, which give the preference to operations radiating from a fixed centre.

The main object of the American commander was now to compel the evacuation of Philadelphia, by cutting off the supplies of the British army. The fleet was effectually prevented from co-operation by the obstructions fixed in the channel of the Delaware, and by two small forts-one, called Fort Mifflin, on Mud island, near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill, and the other at Red Bank, on the opposite Jersey shore. Strong parties of militia scoured the whole country in the neighbourhood of the city, for the purpose of enforcing the resolution of Congress, which subjected

to martial law all persons supplying provisions to the enemy.

Sir William Howe soon felt the increasing difficulties of his situation, and began to prepare his plans for their forcible removal. Works were erected against fort Mifflin, which produced severe conflicts with Colonel Samuel Smith, who commanded the station. Lord Howe came up the river with his ships of war and transports, and anchored from Newcastle to Reedy Island; some frigates being detached in advance to remove the chevaux de frise that encumbered the channel. Considerable difficulties were encountered in effecting this object, so that the obstructions below Mud Island were not cleared until the middle of October, while those covered by the American guns were yet untouched. The capture of the forts was therefore the next object, and it was accordingly attempted by a combined attack on land

and water.

On the twenty-second of October 1777, Count Donop, a German officer, with twelve hundred men, assailed the works at Red Bank, which were defended with the usual vigour of American troopseven the freshest militia-when covered by a slight intrenchment. At the same time, five British vessels sailed up the river, and in concert with their land batteries, opened a heavy fire on Fort Mifflin. The Hessians fought with great gallantry, but were repulsed by Colonel Greene, with the loss of Count Donop and one third of their number. The cannonade from the shipping continued with out intermission until night interrupted the conflict and concealed from the Americans the dangerous situation of the line of battle ship Augusta and sloop of war Merlin, which had grounded within the range of the guns of the fort. The next morning the action re-commenced; but at length the British withdrew, after setting fire to the Merlin, and abandoning the Augusta, which shortly afterwards blew up.

Notwithstanding this brilliant success, the position of Fort Mifflin was extremely critical. It was known to be a rude fortification, strongly intrenched in front, but defended in the rear by only a ditch and palisade. Sir William Howe was, therefore, by no means discouraged by these disasters, from the prosecution of his purpose, which, as it involved the secure possession of Philadelphia, was too im portant to be abandoned except at the last extremity. He now proceeded with great circumspection, withdrawing all his outposts, uniting his whole force in the city, and prosecuting his measures so as to insure a slow but ultimate success. Matters were in this situation, when news came of the British disasters in the north, and of the sudden ter mination of the war in that quarter. The important change thus effected in the posture of American affairs, altered also the relations of the two armies. It was now of extreme consequence to Sir William Howe, to anticipate the arrival of the re-inforcements to his adversary, which might be expected from the victorious army of the North: while, on the other hand, it was the policy of Washington to preserve if possible, his present VOL. XVIII.-PART II.

strong-holds, and to avoid an action until joined by

the new troops.

On the tenth of November, the attack was renewed on Fort Mifflin, from a heavy battery on Province Island, within the distance of five hundred yards. The cannonade was continued almost incessantly for several days, and produced considerable impression. The American guns were nearly all dismounted, the block-houses and palisades beaten down, and the small garrison wearied out by the necessity for unremitting exertion. Washington sent relief to the officers of the fort; but his instructions were positive that the place should be maintained to the last extremity, and they were strictly and literally obeyed. The besiegers, finding that all their means would be required to attain success, called in the assistance of their fleet. It was ascertained that in consequence of the obstructions thrown into other parts of the river, the current had deepened the inner channel between Mud and Province Islands, so as to admit of safe navigation for vessels of considerable burthen. The frigate Vigilant and a sloop of war were brought up this channel and anchored within a hundred yards of the rear of the fort, from which position they were enabled to pour a destructive fire of cannon, musketry and grenades. It was now evident that the post was no longer tenable; and on the sixteenth, after some unsuccessful attempts to dislodge the vessels, the garrison was withdrawn under cover of the night, leaving Sir William Howe in possession of the whole line from the Schuylkill to the Delaware.

The next effort of the British general was directed against the post at Red Bank, called Fort Mercer. The arrival of a strong reinforcement from New York, enabled him to detach a sufficient force upon that enterprise, without any hazard to his own position from a coup-de-main. The fort was evacuated on the approach of Lord Cornwallis, whose strength was such as to render resistance hopeless. General Greene had been ordered by Washington to follow this movement, for the double purpose of assisting in the defence of fort Mercer, and of giving battle to the British commander at the first favourable opportunity; but as none such presented itself, this judicious officer came to no engagement, and returned with his forces to the commander-in-chief. The results of these operations fully secured Sir William Howe in his conquest of Philadelphia, and in the possession of an uninterrupted communication between his army and the fleet.

While these operations were fully employing the armies of Washington and Sir William Howe, events had transpired in the north of great and varied importance. After a series of battles and sieges, the plan which had been formed by the British to penetrate from Canada to the Hudson was completely frustrated; and General Burgoyne found himself obliged, at Saratoga, to surrender his whole army as prisoners of war to the American forces under General Gates. Sir Henry Clinton attempted a diversion on the Hudson for the purpose of extricating his colleague; but the movement was under

4 B

taken too late, and produced no result beyond the capture of several posts which guarded the passes and prevented the navigation of the river.

Public opinion, elated by the brilliant success of Gates, and rising into confidence with the apparent discouragement of the British ministry and nation, now loudly required that some effort should be made to surprise and storm the city. Invidious comparisons were openly drawn between the two commanders, by a strong party hostile to the general-in-chief. The triumph of the one and the comparative inactivity of the other, were traced to a difference in their respective characters and abilities. It was urged also that the rapid depreciation of paper money would extinguish the national resources, unless confidence were revived by the striking of a decisive blow. The greatness of Washington's mind and his peculiar fitness for the times in which he was placed, were again wonderfully exhibited. Had he possessed in his temperament, the least mixture of personal vanity or envy, or had the firm resolution of his mind been capable of impression from the force of public clamour or private importunity, the independence of his country would, in all human probability, have been arrested or annihilated at this crisis.

The two armies were about equal in point of numbers; but the British were strongly intrenched behind a line of redoubts, extending from the Delaware, which covered the right of their position, to the Schuylkill on the left, while their rear was protected by the junction of the rivers and the city of Philadelphia. A failure of the attack upon these intrenchments was fraught with consequences too dangerous to be hazarded, except in the last extremity: it was besides evident that Sir William Howe must either invite battle upon more equal terms, or confess timidity, in the face of the whole country. The diminished value of the continental paper was due to a bad system of finance, which had provided no adequate taxation to secure the immense emission, and was not to be remedied by the hazardous exposure of the main strength of the American cause. The prudent judgment of Washington prevailed over all personal considerations: he resisted the difficulties with which he was encompassed, and the award of history will shed an eternal lustre over his wisdom, while the clamours of the day have already sunk into obscurity.

The correctness of Washington's foresight was soon proved. On the fourth of December 1777, Sir William Howe marched from Philadelphia with fourteen thousand men, with the declared intention of giving battle to the Americans. His first encampment was upon Chesnut Hill; the Americans occupied another range of hills opposite, but converging to the north towards that possessed by the British. On the seventh, Howe changed his position by moving along the hills and approaching within a mile of Washington's left. During these operations, sharp skirmishes took place, in which the British loss was about one hundred men, and that of the continentals scarcely less, including Major Morris killed, and General

Irvine severely wounded; but the attention of all was fixed upon the expected general engagement, for which the commander-in-chief had made the most active preparations. On the eighth, instead of the anticipated attack, Sir William Howe suddenly broke up his camp, and fell back with great rapidity upon Philadelphia.

The great severity of the season now rendered it necessary that the army should be disposed in winter quarters. Accordingly, on the eleventh of December, the main body of the Americans commenced their march to Valley Forge, a good position about twenty-five miles from Philadelphia, on the western side of the Schuylkill, and equally distant from the Delaware above and below the city. Here, after a slight skirmish with a detachment under Lord Cornwallis, a permanent camp was formed of log huts, with the interstices closed with mortar. In order to prevent all intercourse between the British army and the country, General Smallwood with his division took post at Wilmington. General Armstrong and the Pennsylvania militia were stationed at Whitemarsh; Colonel Morgan was in the lines on the west side of the Schuylkill, and the whole country was scoured by troops of cavalry.

On the twenty-second of December, when Washington was about to advance his troops upon Derby, for the purpose of disturbing the British in the removal of forage, it was ascertained that the last rations in the commissary department had been distributed to the forces. The calamities frequently arising from like deficiencies, had been the repeated subject of strong representations to Congress; but the system adopted tended rather to increase than to alleviate the difficulties of the army. The commander-in-chief was empowered to seize all provisions within seventy miles of head quarters, giving in return a certificate to be redeemed by the United States. No funds were, however, provided to meet these demands, and as Sir William Howe paid liberally in gold and silver for all that was conveyed into the city, invidious comparisons were naturally drawn, which tended much to diminish the popularity of the American cause. Washington immediately exercised his authority so as to collect such supplies as were absolutely necessary; but his conduct was loudly complained of by the people for its rigour, and by Congress for its lenity. In reply to new orders from the board of war, directing an increase of severity, he observed that such coercive measures were only to be resorted to, when the alternative presented was the dissolution of the forces-that a present relief was thus provided at the certain expense of growing disaffection-and that the result would be ruinous, not only to the people, but to the army itself, in which a spirit of licentiousness and plunder must necessarily be generated.

During this winter, an organized conspiracy plainly exhibited itself against the general in chief; the parties to which were several military officers and members of Congress. The triumph of General Gates at Saratoga, was urged as an evidence of what might be expected from a change in the