nam, with about nine thousand men, held a fort at Brooklyn and defences on a range of hills south of the city. The English advanced in three divisions. Two of these attacked the defences in front, while General Clinton, by a circuitous route, gained the rear. The patriots were fighting gallantly, when, to their dismay, they heard firing behind them. They attempted to escape, but it was too late. Out of five thousand men engaged, two thousand were lost.* (Map, p. 120.) Had Howe attacked the fort at Brooklyn immediately, the Americans would have been utterly destroyed. Fortunately he delayed for the fleet to arrive. For two days the patriots lay helpless, awaiting the assault. On the second night after the battle, there was a dense fog on the Brooklyn side, while in New York the weather was clear. At midnight the Americans moved silently down to the shore and crossed the river.t In the morning, when the sun scattered the fog, Howe was chagrined to find that his prey had escaped.

Washington's Retreat.-The British, crossing to New York, moved to attack Washington, who had taken post on

Those who were taken captive were confined in crowded prisons. Nothing could exceed the sufferings of these poor victims. Many died in the Sugar House, but by far the saddest scenes occurred on the prison ships. These were old hulks anchored in the waters around New York. The Jersey was especially noted for the cruelty of its officers. From these loathsome places of confinement almost eleven thousand bodies were carried out during the war and buried in the sand of the beach. In 1808 their remains were re-interred. They now rest in a vault on Hudson avenue, Brooklyn.

+ The Americans embarked at a place near the present Fulton Ferry. A woman sent her negro servant to the British to inform them of the movements of the Americans. He was captured by the Hessians, who were Germans from Hesse Cassel, hired to fight by the British government. These, not being able to understand a word of English, detained him until the morning. His message was then too late.

Washington desiring to gain some knowledge of Howe's movements, Captain Nathan Hale visited the camps on Long Island for this purpose. He passed the lines safely, but on his way back was recognized by a tory relative, who arrested him. He was taken to Howe's headquarters, tried, and executed as a spy. No clergyman was allowed to visit him. A Bible even was denied. His farewell letters to his mother and sister were destroyed. The brutality of his enemies did not, however, crush his noble spirit, for his last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country."

Harlem Heights. Finding the American position too strong, Howe moved up the Sound in order to gain the rear. Washington then withdrew to White Plains. Here Howe came up and defeated a part of his army. Washington then withdrew into a fortified camp at North Castle. Howe, not daring to attack him here, returned to New York and sent the Hessians to take Fort Washington, which they captured after a fierce resistance. The Americans now retreated into New Jersey, to prevent a march on Philadelphia. Thereupon Cornwallis, with six thousand men, hurried after Washington. For three weeks he pursued the flying Americans, now reduced to three thousand. Many had no shoes, and left their bloodstained foot-prints on the frozen ground. Oftentimes the van of the pursuing army was in sight of the American rearguard. At last Washington reached the Delaware, and the boats having all been secured, crossed into Pennsylvania.* Howe resolved to wait until the river should freeze over, and then capture Philadelphia. In the meantime he quartered his troops along the river in the neighboring villages.

Condition of the Country. It was a time of deep despondency. The patriot army was a mere handful of ragged, disheartened fugitives. Many people of wealth and influence went over to the enemy. New York and Newport-the second city in size in New England-were already in the hands of the British, and they were likely soon to seize Philadelphia.

Battle of Trenton.-Washington thought it time to strike a daring blow. On Christmas night, in a driving

* During this retreat Washington repeatedly sent orders to General Lee, who was then at North Castle, to join him. Lee hesitated, and at last moved very slowly. Five days after this, while quartered in a small tavern at Baskingridge, remote from his troops, he was taken prisoner by English cavalry. His capture was a great misfortune to the Americans, who considered him the best officer in the army. The British were greatly rejoiced, and declared they had taken the "American Palladium."

storm of sleet, amid drifting ice, that threatened every moment to crush the boats, he crossed the Delaware with twenty-four hundred picked men, fell upon the Hessians at

*

Trenton, in the midst of their festivities, captured one thousand prisoners, slew their leader,† and safely escaped back

* Hunt, a trader with friends and foes, a neutral, had invited Rall, the Hessian commander, to a Christmas supper. Card-playing and wine-drinking were kept up all night long. A messenger came in haste, at early dawn, with a note to the colonel. It was sent by a tory to give warning of the approach of the American forces. The negro servant refused admittance to the bearer. Knowing its importance, he bade the negro to take the note directly to the officer. The servant obeyed, but the colonel, excited by wine and the play, thrust it unopened into his pocket. Soon the roll of drums was heard, and before the pleasure-loving officer could reach his quarters the Americans were in pursuit of his fleeing soldiers.

+ Before leaving Trenton, Washington and Greene visited the dying Hessian. It had been a time of splendid triumph to the American commander, but as he stood by that bedside the soldier was lost in the Christian. The victorious general showed himself in that hour only a sympathizing friend.

to camp, with the loss of only four men-two killed and two frozen to death. (Map, p. 120.)

The effect of this brilliant feat was electrical. It kindled anew the fires of patriotism. Troops whose time of enlistment was expiring, agreed to remain. New recruits were received. Howe was alarmed, and ordered Cornwallis, who was just setting sail for England, to return and prepare for a winter's campaign.

1777.

Battle of Princeton (Jan. 3).-Washington soon crossed the Delaware again. and took post at Trenton. Just before sunset Cornwallis came up. His first onset being repulsed, he decided to wait till morning. Washington's situation was now most critical. Before him was a powerful army, and behind, a river full of ice. That night, leaving enemy, he swept by

*

his camp-fires burning to deceive the country roads around the British, fell upon the troops near Princeton, routed them, took three hundred prisoners, and by rapid marches reached Morristown Heights in safety. Cornwallis heard the firing and hurried to the rescue, but he was too late. The victory was gained, and the victors were beyond pursuit.

* Washington had forty cannon. At night-fall the ground was so soft that he could not move them; but, while the council was in session, the wind changed, and in two hours the roads were hard as pavement. Erskine urged Cornwallis to attack the Americans that night, but he said he could "catch the fox in the morning." On the morrow the fires were still burning, but the army was gone. None knew whither the patriots had fled. But at sunrise the sound of firing was heard in the direction of Princeton. The report of the cannon through the keen frosty air could be distinctly heard, but Cornwallis believed it to be distant thunder. Erskine however, exclaimed, "To arms, general! Washington has outgeneraled us. Let us fly to the rescue at Princeton !"

These exploits won for Washington universal praise,* and he was declared to be the saver of his country.

During the winter, by scouting parties, he managed to drive the British nearly out of New Jersey.

Battle of Brandywine (Sept. 11).-Howe manoeuvered for a time to force Washing

ton to a general fight, but the "American Fabius" was too wary. So Howe suddenly embarked eighteen thousand men on his brother's fleet, and set sail. Washington hurried south to meet him. The patriot army numbered only eleven thousand, but when Washington learned that the British had arrived in the Chesapeake, he resolved to hazard a battle for the defence of Philadelphia. The Americans accordingly took position at Chad's Ford, on the Brandywine. Here they were attacked in front while Cornwallis stole around in the rear, as Clinton did in the battle of Long Island. Sullivan, Sterling, La Fayette, Wayne,

*Frederick the Great of Prussia is said to have declared that the achievements of Washington and his little band, during the six weeks following Christmas, were the most brilliant recorded on the pages of military history.

+ La Fayette's full name was Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier Marquis de La Fayette. At a banquet in honor of the brother of the English king, he first heard the Declaration of Independence. He was won by its arguments, and from that time joined his hopes and sympathies to the American cause. Yet, how was he to aid it? The French nobility, though disliking England, did not endorse the action of her colonies. He was not yet twenty years of age, he had just married a woman whom he tenderly loved, his prospects at home for honor and happiness were bright; to join the patriot army would take him from his native land, his wife, and all his coveted ambitions, and would lead him into a struggle that seemed as hopeless as its cause was just. Yet his zeal for America overcame all this. Other difficulties now came up. His family objected; the British minister protested; the French king withheld his permission. Still undaunted, he purchased a vessel, fitted it out at his cwn expense, and, escaping the officers sent to detain him, crossed the ocean. Land