they were watched by the American army and the active militia of New-Jersey. The troops in the American service however were few in number, not more than fifteen hundred, who kept in check, a formidable British army, during the winter. General Washington, whose powers had before been limited, was invested, in this critical juncture, with supreme and unlimited command, which he exercised for the public safety. Congress also made great exertions to rouse the spirits of the people by a bold and energetie address-and they adopted measures for raising an army for three years or during the war; offering large bounties and encouragements. They formed a confederation to be adopted by the states, as a bond of union, and recommended to the several states to form constitutions for their own government, which was accordingly done in this and the following year. They also sent agents to Europe to solicit the friendship and aid of foreign powers.

Of the Opening of the Campaign of 1777. In March 1777, a detachment of British troops destroyed the stores and forage belonging to the United States at Peekskill. In April, general Tryon, with three thousand men, landed in Connecticut between Fairfield and Norwalk, advanced to Danbury, burnt the continental stores, which were valuable, and most of the town, and retreated to the shipping. On their return, Generals Wooster, Arnold and Silliman, with such of the militia as could be hastily collected, harassed them and killed a considerable number. The Americans lost a number of men, and that veteran and deserving officer, general Wooster. In May, Colonel Meigs, a brave and enterprizing officer, with 170 men, passed over to Long Island, destroyed the shipping and stores collected for the British at Sag-Harbor, and took ninety prisoners, without the loss of a man. In July, colonel Barton of Rhode Island, with a few volunteers, crossed the Narraganset at night, surprised and took prisoner General

Prescot.

Of the Retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga. In June 1777, the British army, amounting to seven

thousand men, besides Indians and Canadians, commanded by general Burgoyne, crossed the lake and laid siege to Ticonderoga. In a short time the enemy gained possession of Sugar Hill, which commanded the American lines, and general St. Clair, with the advice of a council of war, ordered the posts to he abandoned. The retreat of the Americans was conducted under every possible disadvantage-part of their force embarked in hattoes and landed at Skenesborougha part marched by the way of Charlestown; but they were obliged to leave their heavy cannon, and on their march, lost great part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was harrassed by the British troops. An action took place between Colonel Warner, with a body of Americans, and general Frazer, in which the Americans were defeated, after a brave resistance, with the loss of a valuable officer, colonel Francis.

Of the Battle of Bennington. The Americans had collected a quantity of stores at Bennington; to destroy which as well as to animate the royalists and intimidate the patriots, general Burgoyne detached colonel Baum, with five hundred men and one hundred Indians. Colonel Breyman was sent to reinforce him, but did not arrive in time. On the 16th of August, general Stark, with about eight hundred brave militia men, attacked colonel Baum, in his entrenched camp about six miles from Bennington, and killed or took prisoners nearly the whole detachment. The next day colonel Breyman was attacked and defeated. In these actions the Americans took about seven hundred prisoners, and these successes served to revive the spirits of the people. This success however was in part counterbalanced by the advantages gained on the Mohawk by colonel St. Leger; but this officer, attacking fort Stanwix was repelled, and obliged to abandon the attempt.

Of the Defeat of General Burgoyne. General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces and stores, crossed the Hudson with a view to penetrate to Albany. But the American army being reinforced daily, held him VOL. II.

D

in cheek at Saratoga. General Gates now took the command, and was aided by the Generals Lincoln and Arnold. On the 19th of September, the Americans attacked the British army, and with such bravery, that the enemy could boast of no advantage, and night put an end to the action. The loss of the enemy was about five hundred. General Burgoyne was confined in a narrow pass-having the Hudson on one side and impassable woods on the other-a body of Americans was in his rear-his boats he had ordered to be burnt, and he could not retreat while an army of thirteen thousand men opposed him in front. On the 7th of October, the armies came to a second action, in which the British lost general Frazer, with a great number of officers and men, and were driven within their lines. On the part of the Americans the loss was not great, but generals Lincoln and Arnold were wounded.

Of the Surrender of the British Army. It was the plan of the British generals, to push a body of troops from New-York, to join general Burgoyne at Albany, and by establishing a line of British posts on the Hudson, to intersect the intercourse between the New-England and southeru states. While General Burgoyne was attempting to advance towards Albany, general Clinton with a force of three thousand men took possession of fort Montgomery, after severe loss. General Vaughan, with a body of troops, sailed up the Hudson, as far as Livingston's manor, where he landed a party, burnt a large house belonging to one of the fam ily; then sent a party to the opposite shore, and laid in ashes the town of Kingston. But general Burgoyne despairing of the junction between his army and the division from New-York, surrounded by a superior army, and unable to retreat, consented to capitulate, and on the 17th of October surrendered to the American general. The detachment under general Vaughan returned to New-York, and the plan of the British commanders was totally frustrated.

Of the Operations of the Main Armies. General Washington's force had been augmented, during the winter and spring, so as to render difficult or impos

sible for general Howe to pursue his plan of penetrating to Philadelphia. The British general therefore altered his plan, and embarked on board of his ships, entered the Chesapeake, and landed at the head of Elk. On the 11th of September, an action was fought at Brandywine Creek, in which the American forces, after a brave resistance, were obliged to yield to superior numbers and discipline, with the loss of about twelve hundred men. The British loss was estimated at about half that number. General Washington retreated and encamped about eighteen miles from Philadelphia; while general Howe took possession of that city.

Of the Battle at Germantown. After having taken possession of Philadelphia it became necessary for general Howe to take the forts in the Delaware, to open the communication with the Atlantic.

The Americans had constructed a fort on Mud Island, and a redoubt on the opposite Jersey shore; and had obstructed the channel of the river. In attempting to take these forts, count Donop, and three or four hundred men were killed, but the forts were finally taken. While this detachment was absent, general Washington attacked the British army, and at first obtained success. But a fog, in the morning, occasioned many mistakes, and after a severe battle, the Americans retreated, but without the loss of their cannan. loss was about one thousand in killed and wounded, among the slain was general Nash and his aid, major Witherspoon. The British lost upwards of five hundred men, with general Agnew and Colonel Bird. After these operations, the armies went into winter quarters. -The congress retired to Yorktown in "Virginia.

Their

Of the Proceedings in the British Parliament, When the news of the loss of general Burgoyne's army reached England, the ministry began to speak of America with more moderation, while the opposition party were violent in their censures of administration. The war had then cost the nation about twenty thousand men, and thirty millions of money. In this

state of affairs, the ministry had recourse to private subscriptions to raise additional troops. In February 1778, lord North laid before the house of commons two bills for conciliating the colonies, one to declare the intentions of parliament concerning the right of taxing the colonies, the other for enabling the king to appoint commissioners, with full powers, to treat with the American congress, general Washington, or the assemblies of the colonies, respecting an accommedation of differences. These bills, after debate, were carried, and commissioners appointed. One eveut which hastened these propositions, was the alliance between France and America, of which the ministry had obtained some intelligence.

of the Treaties with France. In 1776, congress had sent Silas Deane an agent to France, to solicit the friendship of that rival of Great-Britain, and to procure arms and military stores. But the French court would give no open countenance to the agent, although it was evident that they secretly wished success to the Americans, because the dismemberment of the British empire, would greatly weaken a powerful rival. Mr. Deane however, obtained some ammunition, clothing, and a parcel of old muskets of little use. The French court would listen to no propositions of alliance, until they had news of the surrender of Burgoyne. That event decided the negociation, and on the 6th of Febru ary 1778, a treaty of alliance and a treaty of amity and commerce were signed at Paris, by the French ministry, and the American commissioners, doctor Franklin, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Lee.

Of the Transactions of the British commissioners. The news of the alliance with France was received in America with great joy. The prospect of a powerful ally infused new life into the Americans, and new vigor into their councils. In this state of the public mind, the British commissioners arrived in June, with terms of reconciliation, which, a few years earlier, might have effected the object. But the congress had proceeded too far to recede, and all conditions of reconciliation, implying a subjection to the British crown,