with rapidity until he fell in with the detach- CHAP.VIII. ment which Clarke had posted for his reception. 1781. One fire was given with some effect; but on its being partially returned, the party which had formed the ambuscade broke, and fled in the utmost confusion.

Portsmouth.

Arnold proceeded slowly down the river, Returns to taking Smithfield and Mackay's mills in his way where some stores were destroyed; and on the 20th he reached Portsmouth, where he January. manifested an intention to establish a permanent post.

Finding himself unable to force this position, Steuben stationed his troops at the different commanding passes leading from it into the country, for the purpose of confining the enemy within the narrowest possible limits, and of giving every practicable protection to the inhabitants.

The loss of the British in this expedition was stated in the gazette of New York at seven killed, including one subaltern; and twentythree wounded, among whom was one captain. This small loss was almost entirely sustained in the ambuscade near Hood's.

In the north, the new year commenced with an alarming event, which, for a time, threatened the American cause with total ruin.

The accumulated sufferings and privations of the army have been repeatedly mentioned. They constitute a large and interesting portion

CHAP.VIII. of the history of that war which gave indepen1781. dence to the United States. It is impossible to appreciate the difficulties which were sur mounted, or the relative merits of those who effected the revolution, without bearing in mind the continued sacrifices made by that generous portion of the American people, who, animated by the purest principles of real patriotism, under circumstances the most discouraging, persevered, with arms in their hands, in maintaining the rights asserted by their country. To them the winter brought not much relaxation from toil, and none from suffering. The soldiers were perpetually on the point of starving, were often entirely without food, were exposed without proper clothing to the rigours of winter, and had now served almost twelve months without pay.

This situation was common to the whole army, whether in the northern or southern service; and had been of such long continuance, that scarcely the hope of a change could be indulged. It was not easy to persuade the military that their brethren in civil life were unable to make greater exertions in support of the war, or that its burdens ought not to be more equally borne. Of consequence, a considerable degree of discontent prevailed. This state of things produced unavoidably some relaxation of discipline; and the murmurs occasionally escaping the officers, sometimes

overheard by the soldiers, were not without CHAP.VIII. their influence.

In addition to the general causes of dissatisfaction, the Pennsylvania line, which had been stationed for the winter in the neighbourhood of Morristown, complained heavily of a grievance almost peculiar to itself.

When congress directed enlistments to be made for three years or during the war, the recruiting officers of Pennsylvania in some instances, instead of engaging their men definitively for one period or the other, engaged them generally for three years or the war. This ambiguity in the terms of enlistment produced its natural effect. The soldier claimed his discharge at the expiration of three years, and the officer insisted on retaining him in service during the war. The imposition which the soldier believed to be practised on him was the more reluctantly submitted to, as he constantly witnessed the immense bounties given to those who were not bound by a former enlistment.

1781.

in the

line.

The discontents which these various causes Mutiny had been long fomenting, broke out on the Pennsylvania night of the first of January, in an open and almost universal revolt of the line.

On a signal given, the great body of the non.commissioned officers and privates paraded under arms, avowing a determination to march to the seat of congress, and obtain redress of

VOL. IV.

CHAP.VIII. their complicated grievances, without which

1781. they would serve no longer.

were made to suppress the

Great exertions mutiny.

In the attempt, six or seven of the mutineers were wounded on the one side; and on the other, a captain Billing was killed, and several other officers were dangerously wounded. General Wayne endeavoured to use his authority, but soon found it of no avail. On cocking his pistol, and threatening some of the most turbulent, the bayonet was immediately presented to his bosom, and he perceived that strong measures would be only productive of his own destruction, and perhaps of the massacre of every officer in camp. A few regiments who did not at first join the mutineers, were paraded by their officers; but had they even been willing to proceed to extremities, they were not strong enough to restore order. Infected quickly with the general contagion, or intimidated by the threats of the mutineers, they soon joined their comrades; and the whole body consisting of about thirteen hundred men, with six field pieces, marched towards Princeton.

In the few explanations which could be made under the circumstances preceding their march, they gave explicit assurances of a determination not to join the enemy, but were not less explicit in declaring their resolution to be amused no longer, but to obtain for themselves complete justice

The next day, general Wayne, accompanied CHAP.VIII. by colonels Butler and Stewart, two officers 1781. possessing in a high degree the affections of the soldiers, followed them in the hope of bringing them back to their duty, or at least of dividing them. They were overtaken near Middlebrook, the place where they designed to encamp for the night, and were invited by a written message from general Wayne, to appoint one man from each regiment to state the grievances of which they complained.

In consequence of this invitation, a serjeant from each regiment met the officers at their quarters; and some verbal communications took place between them, from the complexion of which, sanguine hopes were entertained that the affair might be terminated without further hazard, or much injury to the service.

On the following day, the line of march was resumed, and the soldiers proceeded to Princeton. They had organized themselves by choosing officers, and had appointed a British deserter, now a sergeant major, named Williams, their commander in chief. The propositions of the general and field officers were reported to them, and a committee of serjeants, which was appointed to take them into consideration, stated formally in writing all their claims. These were

1st. A discharge for all those who had served three years under their original engagements,