THE GREATNESS OF A MAN OF BUSINESS. 241 CHAPTER X. Robert Morris.-Revolt of the Pennsylvania line.-Cornwallis at the South. сн. х. 1. It is scarcely possible to conceive a situation P’T. IIL more trying than that of the American Congress. P'D. II. They were striving, not for conquest, but for existence; their powerful foe was in full strength, in the heart of their country; they had great military opera- Perplexitions to carry on, but were almost without an army, ties of and wholly without money, as their bills of credit had congress. seased to be of any value. 1780. tax to raise national 2. But instead of sinking in despair, they redoubled their exertions. They directed their agents abroad to They lay borrow, if possible, from France, Spain, and Holland. a direct They resorted to taxation, and they determined on introducing thorough reform, and strict economy. They money. accordingly appointed as treasurer, the excellent Ro- Morris bert Morris, of Philadelphia. By a national bank, to founds which he obtained the approbation of congresss, he the first contrived to draw out the funds of wealthy indivi- bank. duals; and by borrowing, in the name of the government from this bank, and pledging freely his private Franklin credit, he once more put the government in funds. Franklin had obtained from Louis XVI. a gift of six millions of livres; and his guarantee to the States General of Holland, which, on this security, lent to congress the sum of ten millions of livres. 3. Before these measures had imparted vigor to the fainting republic, an event occurred which threatened its subversion. The Pennsylvania line, amounting to near 1,500 men, were suffering the extremity of want. A violent tumult broke out on the night of the 1st of January. The soldiers declared that they would march, with arms in their hands, to the hall of congress, and demand justice. It was in vain that their CHAPTER X.-1. What difficulties had congress to encounter? -2. What course did they take? Whom did they make trea. surer? What measures did Morris adopt? What had Franklin obtained?-3. Give an account of the mutiny of Jan. 1781 ? obtains money from France and Holland. 1781. Jan. 1. Revolt of the Pa. line. 242 REVOLT QUELLED.THE COWPENS. P'T. III. officers attempted to appease them. Their most poP'D. II. pular leader, La Fayette, was constrained to quit the CH. I. camp. Gen. Wayne presented himself boldly among them, with a pistol in his hand, but they menaced his life, and pointed their bayonets, as if to execute their Jan. threats. 1781. course advised ington and by con A pacific 4. Sir Henry Clinton, informed of these affairs, sent three American loyalists, to make them the most by Wash tempting offers. The commissioners of congress offered them at the same time, the earliest possible payadopted ment of arrears, an immediate supply of necessary gress. clothing, and an oblivion of past conduct. The muClinton's tineers accepted these proposals; and congress, in due emissa- time, fulfilled the conditions. The Pennsylvanians hanged. then delivered up the emissaries of Clinton, who were immediately hanged. The troops of New Jersey next Jersey erected the standard of revolt. Washington marched revolt against them with so powerful a force, that he comand are pelled them to submit; and chastising their leaders ished. with severity, the army was no longer disturbed by sedition. ries New troops pun Greene separates southern 5. Gen. Greene separated the southern army, which consisted of 2,000 men, into two parts; and at the the head of one division he encamped at the confluence of Hicks' creek with the Pedee; while Col. Morgan, into two at the head of the other, moved by his direction into Jan. 17. the western part of the state. army divisions. Battle of the Cow Br. loss, 6. Cornwallis detached Tarleton, who finding Morpens. gan's division at a place called the Cowpens, attacked 800. with his usual impetuosity. After one of the severest Am. loss, and best fought engagements of the whole war, the 12 k., 60 wounded British were entirely defeated, with heavy loss. Morgan 7. Cornwallis pursued the victorious party. Each pursued army made exertions to reach the fords of the Calis. tawba, before the other. Morgan succeeded; having crossed the river two hours only, when the British by Corn 3. What was done to overawe and what to appease the mutineers?-4. What did Sir H. Clinton? How was the difficulty settled? What was done to Clinton's emissaries? What happened in regard to the troops of New Jersey?-5. How did Gen. Greene proceed in regard to the southern forces? 6. Relate the affair of the Cowpens, mentioning the loss? 7. Give an account of the race between the two armies? THE FAMOUS RACE. 243 appeared on the opposite bank. Night came on, a P'T. III. heavy rain fell, and Cornwallis was obliged to wait P'D. II. three days before the subsiding waters allowed him to ex. x. pass. Greene here joined Morgan, having left Gen 1781. Huger in command. Another race was begun, from Another the Catawba to the Yadkin. Again the British com- from the mander arrived just as the Americans had crossed, and to the again the waters rose, so that he could not immedi- Yadkin. ately follow them. race Catawba divisions 8. Gen. Greene marched to Guilford, where he was joined by the forces under Gen. Huger. Cornwallis Feb. 9. proceeded to the Dan; intending, by reaching these The two fords before the Americans, to prevent their commu- unite. nication with Virginia. In this, also, he was disappointed. Battle of Guilford Am. loss, 9. Greene's army had been augmented to 4,400. He now advanced upon his enemy, and took post at Guilford Court House, about eight miles from the British general. The armies met on the 15th of March. Mar. 15. The American regulars fought for an hour and a half, with great bravery, and in some instances forced the C. H. British to give way. They were, however, at length 1,300. compelled to retreat, but it was only step by step, and without breaking their ranks. Cornwallis, after a few days repose, marched towards Wilmington; and from thence into Virginia, to co-operate with Arnold, in subduing that state. Greene proceeded towards Camden in South Carolina. Br. loss, probably more. CHAPTER XI. Campaign of 1781.--Battle of Eutaw Springs.--Cornwallis taken. 1. LORD RAWDON, whom Cornwallis had left to command in Carolina, fixed his head-quarters at Cam 8. Where was General Greene joined by the forces under Huger? Give a further account of the movements of Cornwallis ?-9. Give an account of the battle of Guilford Court House. Where did Cornwallis then go? Where did Greene ? 244 P'D. II. Battle loss near NOBKIRK'S HILL.- -EUTAW SPRINGS. PT. III. den. Gen. Greene advanced to Hobkirk's Hill, within a mile of Camden, where he entrenched his army. CH.. Here the Americans carelessly suffered themselves to 1781. be surprized in the night by Lord Rawdon. By good ale of generalship, Greene came near defeating the British; kirk's H. but the advantage in the encounter, was at last with the enemy. Greene retired five miles, and encamped. 2. Rawdon however, found his army weakened, side. and the inhabitants, in every direction, rising against Rawdon him. On the 10th of May he evacuated Camden, and Canden. retreated towards Charleston. In two months, most May 10. of the upper forts of the British, were either abandoned or taken by the Americans. Marion, Sumpter, and Lee, took three of the forts, and 800 prisoners. ly 300 on each leaves Hostili 3. Lord Rawdon now established his camp at Orangeties sus burg. Greene pursued him; but finding his position pended. covered by the windings of the Edisto, he bent his march, on the 16th, to the heights which border the Santee. The season proved uncommonly hot and sickly, and the contending armies, by tacit consent Execu suspended their operations...A tragic scene occurred Col. about this time at Charleston, which greatly irritated Hayne. the Carolinians. Col. Isaac Hayne was executed, tion of Battle of without even the form of a trial, by order of Lord 4. Gen. Greene crossed the Congaree, and descended Sept. 8. along its right bank, intending to attack Col. Stuart, Eutaw who had succeeded Lord Rawdon in command. This Springs, officer fell back upon Eutaw Springs, and thither Gen. 1,000. Greene pursued him. The armies engaged on the Am. 600. 8th. The battle of Eutaw Springs, is memorable as Br. loss, being one of the most bloody, and valiantly contested CHAPTER XI.-1. How were the armies in South Carolina CORNWALLIS AT YORKTOWN. 245 gain the to Va. in their flight a house, and other sheltering objects, P'T. III. where they made a stand and rallied. Greene with- F'D. II. drew, bearing to his camp 500 prisoners. He with his CH. XI. officers received the thanks of Congress. The British 1781. no longer dared to keep the open country, but retired Am. re to Charleston. The whole of South Carolina and country. Georgia, except their capitals, was recovered. La Fay5. La Fayette, at the head of 1,200 light infantry, ette sent was now dispatched by Washington towards Virginia, while a French fleet from Rhode Island, was sent out to cut off the retreat of Arnold from the Chesapeake. But Clinton sent Admiral Arbuthnot, who fought the French off Cape Henry, and obliged them to return. English Clinton, sent Gen. Philips, with 2,000 men, to assist Arnold. La Fayette arrived in time to save Richmond; Manbut he witnessed from that place, the conflagration of chester Manchester, on the opposite bank of the James. Mar. 16. Naval battle. Fr. and fleets. burned. Corn wallis and 6. Cornwallis went to Petersburg, and was there met by Arnold. He then moved the whole army into the interior of Virginia, hoping to overrun and subjugate the state. He harassed the country by sending out his light troops, especially those under Tarleton. They Arnold on one occasion, came near taking prisoner Mr. Jefferson, then governor of the state. But he secreted himself, and escaped. unite. recalls Remands order. 7. Cornwallis was suddenly recalled to the sea- Sir H. coast, by an order from Sir Henry Clinton. Fearing Clinton that the Americans and French meditated an attack on CornNew York, he had directed Cornwallis to embark wallis. 3,000 of his troops for that city. He marched with his his army to Portsmouth, where he received counter orders. Clinton having had a reinforcement, he be- Aug. 23 lieved he could dispense with further aid; but he ordered Cornwallis to remain upon the coast. This general marched to Yorktown, which he proceeded to fortify. 8. Washington had learned that a French fleet with a large force under the Count de Grasse was to 4. What was now the condition of the British in South Carohina?-5.-6. What was done in and near Virginia? —7. Why was Cornwallis recalled to the sea-coast? Where did he fortify? 8. What fleet did Washington expect? Corn wallis enters York town. |