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feafon of the year. On the 16th of Auguft the whole fleet entered the Bay, and proceeded through a difficult and dangerous navigation to the mouth of the river Elk, in which progrefs the kill and activity of the Admiral appeared to great advantage. The whole army landed in fafety on the 25th. Washington, as foon as the deftination of the fleet was known (for the alarm had been spread from Boston even to South Carolina), paffed the Delaware with his army, confifting of 15,000 men, and marched to cover Phila delphia. The two armies approached each other at a small ftream called Brandywine-creek, which falls into the Delaware, about twenty miles below the city. After several movements on each fide, Sir William Howe, by a masterly display of generalfhip, found a favourable opportunity for attacking the American army*. The Heffians, who came first into action, behaved with fuch intrepidity as nothing could refift. The enemy every where broken and difmayed, fled. A few hours more day-light might have annihilated their army, but under cover of the night, affifted by a knowledge of the country, they retreated t. No time appears to have been loft in purfuing the fugitives, confiftent with the fafety of the troops, in a country rendered every where ftrong by nature, hilly, and covered with wood, interfected by ravines, creeks and marshy grounds, where little or no knowledge can be obtained by reconnoitering . Washington did every thing becoming a skilful commander * Sept 11, 1777.

+ Lord George Germaine stated to the Houfe of Commons, (Dec. z, 1777) General Howe's numbers in this action to be 13,000 rank and file; doing duty, and Washington's force to be 15,000, exclusive of militia. Officers of every denomination, are confidered as an addition of about ‹ ne fixth, to the numbers of rank and file.

Evidence of Major General Grey before the Houfe of Commons. The evidence of Lord Cornwallis went likewife to prove, that the General: loft no time after the action; but a petulant detractor has afferted the contrary.

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to impede the progrefs of the victors, but unable to protect the city, he abandoned it to its fate, and retreated ten miles. to the north of German town, whilft the combined army foon after encamped at that village. The Earl of Cornwallis took poffeffion of Philadelphia on the 26th of September.

In the mean time Lord Howe proceeded with the fleet round to the Delaware, but an unfortunate overfight had been committed in neglecting to take poffeffion of a station on the eastern fide of the river, called Red Bank, which the enemy afterwards fortified, and in an unsuccessful attempt to difpoffefs them, Colonel Donop, of the Heffians, and many brave men, loft their lives*. It was not until the 15th of November that the navigation of the river was opened as high as the city, by the reduction of Mud Island, and the removal of the chevaux-de-frize, in which service the Augufta, a fixty gun fhip, and a floop, went aground, and were deftroyed.

A few days after the arrival of the King's troops at Philadelphia, General Washington formed a defign of furprizing the army at Germantown, and early in the morning of the 4th of October, attacked the outpofts with great fury. The intrepid behaviour of Lieutenant Colonel Musgrave ftopped the advances of the affailants, and gave time for Major General Grey, who had been apprized of the attack by Sir William Howe, to march a body of troops to their relief, and the army being quickly affembled, the Americans were driven back with great flaughter.

The army was now plentifully fupplied with provifions from the adjacent country, the farmers preferring that October 22, 1777.

market

market to any other, because the only one where they could receive payment for their commodities in gold and filver. They had the farther advantage of providing themselves and families with a variety of neceffary articles, which could only be had in thofe places which were poffeffed by the British army and navy. It is fuppofed that Washington, through policy, connived at this kind of commerce, knowing that an influx of gold and filver was ftrengthening his country in a moft important point *.

The noble, populous, and wealthy city of Philadelphia, was now fubdued; but the rebel army remained unbroken. It was even augmented in numbers, improved in discipline, habituated to service, and though degraded by a defeat and a repulfe, yet fecure in the perfuafion that the nature of their country would ever protect them from a decifive overthrow. Such fucceffes on the part of Great Britain, could yield little rational hopes of final triumph in the war against America, even if conquefts fhould continue to spread in the like gradual manner as they had done during two campaigns. But fuch an expectancy, so short of the fanguine views entertained in England, was entirely vain. From whence I could the force be drawn, that fhould carry on an active war during the next campaign, fuppofing the northern army had accomplished its purpose, and penetrated to Albany? Had that event taken place, terror alone must have effected what force could not have done, and no indications were fhewn by the Colonifts, when their affairs wore the most difaftrous appearance, of a difpofition to yield unconditional fubmiffion to this empire, and how was fo extensive a country to be governed by the fword? Every conqueft weakened the operating force equally as a defeat; but fuch

Sir William Howe's narrative, page 43.

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a regular

a regular courfe of events was not deftined to take place, and it is now neceffary to speak of the expedition from Canada, and to follow the northern army in its progress.

Lieutenant General Burgoyne proceeded with his army, confifting of upwards of 7000 men, across Lake Champlain, and arrived before Ticonderoga on the 2d of July, 1777. General St. Clare, who commanded that fortress, abandoned it in the night of the 6th, before any attack could be made; for which conduct he was afterwards tried by a Court-martial, and found guilty of neglect of duty. A fmall part of the garrifon reached Fort Edward, fituated on Hudson's river, twenty-five miles from Lake George, where General Schuyler commanded, but the far greater number was either killed, made prisoners, or driven into the woods, where many perished.

The General fent immediate notice of this to Sir William Howe, who was waiting for advices from the northern army, before he would venture to fail towards the fouthward; but fo favourable an onfet feemed to promise a fuccessful progrefs to Albany, therefore leaving general inftructions with Sir Henry Clinton, to act offenfively, in cafe an opportunity fhould offer, confiftent with the security of New York, the Commander in Chief proceeded, as hast been already related.

In the mean time Burgoyne met with fuch unparalleled difficulties in advancing towards Fort Edward, that it was the end of July before he appeared there. The Americans immediately abandoned the place and retreated to Saratoga. The favages who accompanied the British army, were not to be withheld, by the influence and authority of the General,

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neral, from acts of cruelty towards the helpless and peaceable inhabitants of thefe fecluded diftricts. Thefe barbarities. were represented through the country in all their horrors, and moft probably with many exaggerations, which roused the people every where to ftand upon their defence *. The dread of the tomahawk and fcalping-knife infpired the moft timid with courage. Impelled by defpair, the Americans affembled in great numbers, whilft the combined army having croffed Hudfon's River, advanced towards the Plains of Saratoga. Although payment in money was offered for whatever provifions fhould be brought to the camp, yet no supply was obtained. Foraging parties were fent out, which were betrayed by pretended friends, furprized, killed or made prifoners.

Befides the army under General Burgoyne, a body of troops, confifting of near 700 men, with a party of Indians,

* General Burgoyne iffued a proclamation, inviting the inhabitants to return to their allegiance, and threatening them with the merciless ravages of the Indians, if they continued in rebellion. He afterwards declared in the House of Commons, that his defign herein was to excite obedience; first, by encouragement, and next by the threat, not the commiffion of feverity: to speak daggers but to use none. He inftanced two wounded provincial officers, who were brought off in the midst of fire, upon the backs of Indians, and a Captain and his whole detach- ̧ ́ ment, placed in ambuscade, were brought prifoners by Indians, without a man hurt, though they were placed for the special purpose of deftroying thofe Indians. The cafe of Mifs Macree excepted, which was accidental, hot premeditated cruelty; he faid, the ftories on which fuch charges were founded, were fabricated by committees, and propagated in newfpapers, for temporary purposes. The General ftipulated with the Indians, that they fhould receive compenfation for prifoners, and that not only fuch compenfation fhould be withheld, but a ftrict account demanded for fcalps. They were prohibited from scalping the wounded, or even the dying, and the perfons of aged men, women, children, and prifoners, were declared to be fäcred even in affaults.