putation to the American arms, reconcile the public mind to the plan of the campaign, and restore to the Americans the convenient road across King's ferry. In pursuance of this intention, he reconnoitred the posts, and, as far as possible, gained information of the situation of the works, and of the strength of the garrisons. The result was a plan to carry the posts by storm. The assault upon Stony Point was committed to General Wayne, and that no alarm might be given, his force was to consist only of the light infantry of the army, which corps was already on the lines. The night of the 15th of July was assigned for the attack. The works were strong, and could be approached only by a narrow pas sage over a piece of marshy ground, and the garrison consisted of six hundred men. About midnight the troops moved up to the works through a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, and without the discharge of a single gun, carried them at the point of the bayonet. The Americans on this occasion displayed their usual humanity; they put not an individual to the sword after resistance ceased.

The loss of the Americans in the assault was inconsiderable, compared with the nature of the service. Their killed and wounded did not exceed one hundred men. General Wayne received a wound on the head, which, for a short time stunned him; but he insisted upon entering the fort, which by the support of his aids he accomplished. Sixty three of the garrison were killed and sixty eight wounded, and five hundred o o

and forty three made prisoners. Military stores to some amount were found in the fort.

General Howe was intrusted with the execution of the design against Verplank; but through a number of unfortunate incidents, to which military operations are always liable, it miscarried.

Stony Point alone did not give the Americans the use of King's ferry. Sir Henry Clinton immediately moved up the North river with a large force to recover the post, and General Washington, not thinking it expedient to take from his army the number of troops necessary to garrison it, destroyed the works and retired to the high lands. General Clinton erected the fort anew with superior fortifications, and placed a respectable garrison in it, under the command of a brigadier general.

Congress embraced this occasion, by an unanimous resolve, to thank Generel Washington for the wisdom, vigilance and magnanimity with which he conducted the military operations of the nation, and particularly for the enterprise upon Stony Point. They also unanimously voted their thanks to General Wayne for his brave and soldierlike attack, and presented him with a gold medal emblematical of the action; and they highly commended the coolness, discipline and persevering bravery of the officers and men in the spirited assault.

During this summer, Spain joined France in the war against England. General Washington expecting substantial aid from these powers, and unwilling to waste any part of his small force in partial actions, contented himself with the defence

of the country from the depredations of the enemy, that he might be in readiness with the greatest possible numbers, to co-operate with the allies of America in an attack upon the British posts. But the fond hope of effective aid from France proved delusive; and the expectation that the war would this season terminate, as a dream passed away.

Effectual measures were not yet adopted by Congress to establish a permanent army. The officers generally remained in service, but a great proportion of the privates were annually to be recruited. By the delays of the general and state governments, the recruits were never seasonably brought into the field. At different periods they joined the army; and frequently men totally unacquainted with every branch of military service, were introduced in the most critical part of an active campaign.

At the close of this year, General Washington, not discouraged by all his former unavailing endeavours, once more addressed Congress on this subject, which he deemed essential to the welfare of the union. In October he forwarded to that body a minute report of the state of the army, by which it appeared, that between that time and the last of June the next year, the time of service of one half the privates would expire.

With the report he submitted a plan, by which the recruits of all the states were to be raised and brought to head quarters by the middle of January of each year, that time might be given in

some measure to discipline them before the campaign opened.

"The plan I would propose," says the General in the address, "is that each state be informed by Congress annually of the real deficiency of its troops, and called upon to make it up, or such less specific number as Congress may think proper, by a draught. That the men draughted join the army by the first of January the succeeding year. That from the time the draughts join the army, the officers of the states from which they come, be authorised and directed to use their endeavours to inlist them for the war, under the bounties granted to the officers themselves and the recruits, by the act of the 23d of January last, viz. ten dollars to the officer for each recruit, and two hundred to the recruits themselves. That all state, county and town bounties to draughts, if practicable, be intirely abolished, on account of the uneasiness and disorders they create among the soldiery, the desertions they produce, and for other reasons which will readily occur. That on or before the first of October annually, an abstract or return similar to the present one be transmitted to Congress, to enable them to make their requisitions to each state with certainty and precision. This I would propose as a general plan, to be pursued; and I am persuaded that this or one nearly similar to it, will be found the best now in our power, as it will be attended with least expense to the public, will place the service on the footing of order and certainty, and will be the

only one that can advance the general interest to any great extent."

This judicious plan was never carried into effect, Congress did not make the requisition until February, and the states were not called upon to bring their recruits into the field before the first of April. Thirteen foreign states exercising their respective independent authorities to form a federal army, were always tardy in time and deficient in the number of men.

On the approach of the inclement season, the army again built themselves huts for winter quarters. Positions were chosen the most favourable for the defence of the American posts, and for covering the country. The army was formed into two divisions. One of these erected 'huts near West Point, and the other at Morristown in New Jersey. The head quarters of the Commander in Chief were with the last division.

Great distress was felt this winter on account of the deranged state of the American finances. General Green and Colonel Wadsworth, gentlemen in every respect qualified for the duties of their respective stations, were yet at the head of the quarter master and commissary departments; but the credit of the country was fallen, they had not the means to make prompt payment for articles of supply, and they found it impossible to lay up large magazines of provisions, and extremely difficult to obtain supplies to satisfy the temporary wants of the army.

The evil was increased by a new arrangement introduced by Congress into the commissary de