and thinking himself to be mortally wounded wrote General WASHINGTON the following letter.

"I find myself just able to hold the pen during a few minutes, and take this opportunity to express my sincere grief for having done, written, or said, any thing disagrecable to your Excellency. My career will soon be over; therefore, justice and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments. You are, in my eyes, the great and good man. May you long enjoy the love, veneration, and esteem of these states, wl.ose liberties you have asserted by your virtues."

1778. The sufferings of the army during this winter for provision and clothing were extreme.-The departments of the Commissary General and Quarter Master General were not yet well arranged. The depreciation of the paper currency embarrassed all purchases, and this embarrassment was increased by the injudicious attempt to regulate by law the prices of articles of consumption and traffick. The enemy possessed a number of the trading towns of the United States, and the commerce of th others was interrupted by their ships of war. These causes combined, produced a famine in camp, and rendered a great part of the army incapable of service for the want of clothing. Although the Commander in Chief applied all the means in his power to remedy these evils, yet from them, he apprehended the dissolution of the army. In Decem. ber he issued a proclamation, calling upon all the farners within seventy miles of Head Quarters, to thresh out one half of their grain by the lot of February ; and the other half by the 1st of March, on penalty of hav ing it all seized as straw. Detachments were also sent out to collect all animals fit for slaughter, leaving only a competence for the use of the inhabitants. But notwithstanding all this vigilance and exertion, the supplies were inadequate. Early in February, the country in the neighbourhood of camp became exhaust. ed, and the Commissaries communicated to the Gene

ral, that it would be impossible for them to supply the army beyond the first of March. General WASHINGTON looked towards New-England as the only effectual source of necessary supplies. He accordingly addressed letters to the Executives of these states, painting in glowing colours, the condition of the army, and urging these constituted authorities, by every motive of patriotism and honour, to forward provisions to his camp. These applications were ultimately successful; but before relief in this way could be, afforded, the scarcity was so great, as to threaten the total destruc tion of the army. The soldiers were at times without meat, for two, three, and in one instance, for five days

The distress of the army for the want of clothing was almost as great as that for want of provisions. Of more than seventeen thousand men in camp, the effectives amounted to only five thousand and twelve. In February, three thousand nine hundred and eightynine were unfit for duty by nakedness. The insufficiency of the clothes of those, who were called effectives, exposed them to colds and other consequent indispositions, and the hospitals were filled with the sick.

General WASHINGTON happily possessed those commanding and conciliatory talents, which strongly attached the soldiery to his person, and by the influence of his character he stifled every appearance of mutiny. In general orders he soothed the minds of his troops, and in their imaginations lessened those evils, which in his addresses to Congress and to the State Governments, he was labouring to remove. Very few of the native Americans deserted from the army during this winter; but many of the foreigners left their standards, and some of them fled with their arms to the British camp.

Had Sir William Howe marched out of his winter quarters and assaulted the American camp, the want of provision and clothing would have compelled the

army, without serious contention, to disperse. But that cautious commander was restrained from the enterprise, from a regard to the health and safety of his own troops. Perhaps he did not fully know the condition of the American soldiery

While General WASHINGTON was actively employed in supplying his troops, his mind was deeply engaged on a plan to recruit the army for the approaching campaign.

From jealousy of a standing army, or in the prospect of redress of grievances by the British government, Congress depending on annual enlistments, and on the aid of the militia, had neglected to enlist men for the war, until the depreciation of the paper currency, the hardships and privations of the soldiers, and the high bounty paid for short periods of service, rendered the measure in practicable. General WASHINGTON importuned Cong ess. and the governments of the respective States, not to rely on foreign aid, but depending on the strength and resources of the country, to make the necessary exertions seasonably to meet the operations of the British General.

He gave an exact account to each State of its troops on the continental establishment, and urged them respectively to supply their deficiency.

The serious difficulties respecting the army induced Congress to depute a Committee of their own body to the camp, to consult with the General, and report to them such plans as the publick interest required. This committee repaired to Head Quarters in January. The General, having taken the advice of his officers, presented to them a memorial stating the difficulties that existed in the army, and pointing out the remedies. In these remedies was included that honourable provision for officers, which would make their commissions valuable, and secure the prompt execution of duty, through fear of censure, and from an apprehen sion of the loss of employment

The representations of General WASHINGTON pro duced, in a good degree, their effect. The division of power in the subordinate departments of the army which had destroyed all responsibility, and created endless confusion, was removed. General Green was appointed Quarter Master General, and Colonel Wadsworth Cominissary General. These officers had a controlling power over their deputies, and under their management these departments were greatly improved. The movements of the army were from this period made with facility, and the soldiers never after wards suffered privations like those of this winter.

The alliance of France with America, and the sub sequent co-operation of that power with the United States, rendered Philadelphia a dangerous post for the British. Before the campaign opened, Sir William

As

Howć resigned the command of the British MAY 20. army, and Sir Henry Clinton with his commission as Commander in Chief, received orders to evacuate that city. General WASHINGTON early penetrated this intention, and made his arrangements to meet it. He was uncertain whether the evacuation would be made by water, or whether Sir Henry would march his army through Jersey to New-York. circumstances strengthened the probability that the British commander would attempt a passage through New-Jersey, General WASHINGTON detached General Maxwell with the Jersey brigade over the Delaware to take post on Mount Holly, and with the assistance of the Jersey militia, to obstruct the progress of he enemy. He was directed to fell trees, to break up bridges, and to hang upon the flanks of the Britis army.

When it was fully ascertained that Sir JUNE 17. Henry Clinton was crossing the Delaware, General WASHINGTON required the opinion of his officers respecting measures proper to be pursued. General Lee, who, having been exchanged

had now joined the army, was decidedly against a general action, and he discountenanced even a partial attack, on the supposition that it would probably bring on a general engagement. In this opinion, the officers almost unanimously concurred. Of seventeen Generals, who composed the military Council, on this occa sion, General Wayne and General Cadwallader only were decidedly in favour of an engagement. General Green gave it as his opinion that the country should be defended, and that if this led to an engagement, he would not shun it.

Although many of their stores were taken down the river in the shipping, yet the British army was excumbered with an immense quantity of baggage; and their line of march extended twelve miles. The weather being intensely hot, their movements were very slow; in seven days, they marched only forty miles. On the 24th, General Clinton reached Allenton, and it was yet uncertain whether he would take the road to Amboy, or to Sandy Hook. General WASHINGTON therefore kept upon the High Lands of New-Jersey, above the enemy. In this situation, he had it in his power to fight or not, as circumstances should dictate. By the slow movement of the enemy, he was inclined to think that Sir Henry wished for an engagement Colonel Morgan, with his regiment consisting of six nundred men, was detached to gain the right flank of the enemy, and ordered to annoy him in every possible way. General Cadwallader, with Jackson's regiment, and a small corps of militia, was ordered to harass his rear.

The British army at this time was calculated at ten thousand men, and the American army consisted of between ten and eleven thousand. Although the late Council decided by a large majority against a general engagement, yet General WASHINGTON inclined to the casure He again summoned his officers, and took their opinion," whether it was adviseable to seek