fupreme and unlimited command, which he exercised for the public safety. Congrefs alfo made great exertions to rouse the spirits of the people by a bold and energetic addrefs 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 feveral ftates to form conftitutions for their own government, which was accordingly done in this and the following year. They alfo fent agents to Europe to folicit the friendship and aid of foreign powers.

In

66. Opening of the Campaign of 1777. In March 1777, a detachment of British troops deftroyed the stores and forage belonging to the United States at Peekskill. April, general Tryon, with three thousand men, landed in Connecticut between Fairfield and Norwalk, advanced to Danbury, burnt the continental ftores, which were valuable and most of the town, and retreated to the fhipping. On their return, generals Woofter, Arnold and Silliman, with fuch of the militia as could be haftily collected, harraffed them and killed a confiderable number. The Americans loft a number of men, and that veteran and deferving officer, general Woofter. In May, Colonel Meigs, a brave and enterprizing officer, with 170 men, paffed over to Long Island, destroyed the shipping and ftores collected for the British at Sag-harbor, and took ninety prisoners, without the lofs of a man. In July, colonel Barton of Rhode-Ifland, with a few volunteers, croffed the Narraganfet at night, furprised and took prifoner General Prefcot.

67. Retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga. In June 1777, the British army, amounting to seven thousand men, befides Indians and Canadians, commanded by general Burgoyne, croffed the lake and laid fiege to Ticonderoga. In a fhort time, the enemy gained poffeffion of Sugar Hill, which commanded the American lines, and general St. Clair, with the advice of a council of war, ordered the posts to be abandoned. The retreat of the Americans was conducted under every poffible difad

vantage-part of their force embarked in 'battoes and landed at Skenesborough-a part marched by the way of Castletown; but they were obliged to leave their heavy cannon, and on their march, loft great part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was harraffed 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 refiftance with the lofs of a valuable officer, colonel Francis.

68. Battle at Bennington. The Americans had collected a quantity of ftores at Bennington; to destroy which as well as to animate the royalifts and intimidate the patriots, general Burgoyne detached colonel Baum, with five hundred men and one hundred Indians. Colonel Breyman was fent to reinforce him, but did not arrive in time. On the 16th of Auguft, general Stark, with about eight hundred brave militia men, attacked colonel Baum, in his entrenched camp about fix 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 feven hundred prisoners, and thefe fucceffes ferved to revive the fpirits of the people. This fuccess 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.

69. Defeat of General Burgoyne. General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces and ftores, croffed the Hudfon with a view to penetrate to Albany. But the American army being reinforced daily, held him in check 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 fuch bravery, that the enemy could boast of no advantage, and night put an end to the action. The lofs of the enemy was about five hundred. General Burgoyne was confined in a narrow pass-having the

D

Hudson on one fide and impassable woods on the othera 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 thoufand men oppofed him in front. On the 7th of October, the armies came to a fecond action, in which the British loft general Frazer, with a great number of officers and men, and were driven within their lines. On the part of the Americans the lofs was not great, but generals Lincoln and Arnold were wounded.

70. 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 Hudfon, to intercept the intercourse between the New England and fouthern ftates. While general Burgoyne was attempting to advance towards Albany, general Clinton with a force of three thousand men took poffeffion of fort Montgomery, after severe lofs. General Vaughan, with a body of troops, on board of armed ships failed up the Hudfon, as far as Livingston's manor, where he landed a party, burnt a large houfe belonging to one of the family; then fent a party to the oppofit fhore and laid in afhes the town of Kington. But general Burgoyne despairing of the junction between his army and the divifion from New-York, furrounded by a fuperior army, and unable to retreat, confented to capitulate, and on the 17th of October, furrendered to the American general. The detachment under general Vaughan returned to New-York and the plan of the British commanders was totally fruftrated.

71. Operations of the Main Armies. General Wafhington's force had been augmented, during the winter and fpring, fo as to render it difficult or impoffible for general Howe to purfue his plan of penetrating to Philadelphia. The British general therefore altered his plan, and embarking on board of his fhips, entered the Chefopeek, 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 refiftance, were obliged to yield to fuperior numbers and difciplin, with the lofs of

The British lofs was estima

about twelve hundred men. ted at about half that number. General Washington retreated and encamped about eighteen miles from Philadelphia; while general Howe took poffeffion of that city.

72. Battle at Germantown. After having taken poffeffion of Philadelphia it became neceffary for general Howe to take the forts in the Delaware, to open the communication with the Atlantic. The Americans had conftructed a fort on Mud Island, and a redout on the oppofit Jerfey fhore; and had obftructed the channel of the river. In attempting to take thefe forts, count Donop, and three or four hundred men were killed, but the forts were finally taken While this detachment was abfent, general Washington attacked the British army, and at firft obtained fuccefs. But a fog, in the morning occafioned many mistakes, and after a fevere battle, the Americans retreated, but without the lofs of their cannon. Their lofs was about one thousand in killed and wounded, among the flain was general Nah and his aid, major Witherspoon. The British loft upwards of five hundred men, with general Agnew and colonel Bird. After these operations, the armies went into winter quarters.-The Congrefs retired to Yorktown in Virginia..

73. Proceedings in the British Parliament. When the news of the lofs of general Burgoyne's army reached England, the miniftry began to fpeak of America with more moderation, while the oppofition party were violent in their cenfures of administration. The war had then. coft the nation about twenty thoufand men, and thirty millions of money. In this ftate 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 commiffioners, with full powers, to treat with the American congress, general Washington, or the affemblies of the colonies, refpecting an accommodation of differences. Thefe bills, after debate, were carried

and commiffioners appointed. One event which haftened these propofitions, was, the alliance between France and America, of which the ministry had obtained fome intelligence.

74. Treaties with France. In 1776, congrefs had fent Silas Dean an agent to France, to-folicit the friendship of that rival of Great-Britain, and to procure arms and mili, tary ftores. But the French court would give no open countenance to the agent, altho it was evident that they fecretly withed fuccefs to the Americans, because the dif memberment of the British empire, would greatly weaken a powerful rival. Mr. Deane, however, obtained fome ammunition, clothing, and a parcel of old muskets of little ufe. The French court would listen to no propofitions of alliance, until they had news of the furrender of Burgoyne. That event decided the negociation, and on the 6th of February 1778, a treaty of alliance and a treaty of amity and commerce were figned at Paris, by the French ministry, and the American commiffioners, doc tor Franklin, Mr. Dean, and Mr. Lee.

75. Tranfactions of the British commiffioners. The news of the alliance with France was received in America, with great joy. The profpect of a powerful ally infused new life into the Americans, and new vigor into their councils. In this ftate of the public mind, the British commiffioners arrived in June, with terms of reconcilia tion, 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, and short of an explicit acknowledgement of the independence of the United States, were rejected. Among other means of recalling the Americans back to a dependence on Great Britain, a large bribe was offered to an influential gentleman, but it was rejected with difdain. This negociation occafioned many publications of manifeftoes, and appeals to the people, but without any fenfible effect on the public mind.

76. March of the Enemy through New-Jersey. At the opening of the campaign in 1778, general Howe