were about to begin an engagement, a storm arose by which the fleets were parted and greatly damaged. D'Estaing repaired to Boston, and Howe returned to New York.

9. Sullivan laid siege to Newport, but soon found it necessary to retreat. The British pursued, and a battle was fought in which the enemy was re-.

pulsed with a loss of two hundred and sixty men. On the following night, Sullivan succeeded in escaping from the island. General Clinton returned to New York.

10. The command of the British naval forces was now transferred to Admiral Byron. Early in October, a band of incendiaries, led by Colonel Ferguson, burned the American ships at Little Egg Harbor. In the preceding July, Major John Butler,

JOSEPH BRANDT.

in command of sixteen hundred loyalists, Canadians, and Indians, marched into the valley of Wyoming, Pennsylvania. The settlement was defenceless. On the approach of the tories and savages, a few militia, old men, and boys, rallied to protect their homes. A battle was fought, and the patriots were routed. The fugitives fled to a fort, which was crowded with women and children. Honorable terms were promised by Butler, and, the garrison capitulated. On the 5th of July, the gates were opened and the barbarians entered. Immediately they began to plunder and butcher. Nearly all the prisoners fell under the hatchet and the scalping-knife.

11. In November there was a similar massacre at Cherry Valley, New York. The invaders were led by Joseph Brandt, chief' of the Mohawks, and Walter Butler, a son of Major John But

ler. The people of Cherry Valley were driven from their homes; women and children were tomahawked and scalped; and forty prisoners dragged into captivity. To avenge these outrages, an expedition was sent against the savages on the Susquehanna ; and they in turn were made to feel the terrors of war. In the spring of 1778, Major Clarke marched against the Indians west of the Alleghanies. The expedition descended to the mouth of the Ohio; and, on the 4th of the following July, captured Kaskaskia. Other important posts were taken; and, on the 26th of February, 1779, Vincennes was forced to capitulate.

12. On the 3d of November, Count d'Estaing's fleet sailed for the West Indies. In December Admiral Byron left New York to try the fortunes of war on the ocean. Colonel Campbell, with two thousand men, was sent by General Clinton for the conquest of Georgia. On the 29th of December, the expedition reached Savannah. The place was defended by General Robert Howe with eight hundred men. A battle was fought, and the Americans were driven out of the city. The patriots crossed into South Carolina and found refuge at Charleston. Such was the only real conquest made by the British during the year 1778.

RECAPITULATION.

Silas Deane is sent to France.-The French favor the Americans.-Supplies are sent to the patriots.-Steuben arrives.-Lee and Franklin are appointed to negotiate a treaty.-Franklin's influence.-A treaty is concluded.-Sketch of Franklin.-Arrival of D'Estaing's fleet.-War threatened between France and England.-Efforts of Great Britain for peace.-The British fleet at Philadelphia. -The city evacuated.-Washington pursues.-The battle of Monmouth.—Lee disobeys orders.-Is court-martialed and dismissed.-British concentrate at New York. The city is threatened by D'Estaing.-He sails against Rhode Island.Sullivan coöperates against Newport.-Howe follows D'Estaing.-Both squadrons shattered by a storm.-The siege of Newport.-Abandonment of the enterprise.-Destruction of American shipping.-Byron succeeds Howe.- Marauding of the British.-The Wyoming massacre.-Ruin of Cherry Valley.-The expedition of Major Clarke.-The French and British fleets sail away.-A force is sent against Savannah.-Capture of the city.

CHAPTER XL.

MOVEMENTS OF '79.

THE HE winter of 1778-79 was passed by the American army at Middlebrook. There was much discouragement among the soldiers; for they were neither paid nor fed. But the influence of Washington prevented a mutiny. In February, Governor Tryon of New York marched with fifteen hundred regulars and tories to destroy the salt-works at Horse Neck, Connecticut. General Putnam rallied the militia and made a brave defence. The Americans were finally outflanked by the British and obliged to fly. It was here that General Putnam, when about to be overtaken, spurred his horse down a precipice and escaped.

2. In the latter part of May, Clinton sailed with an armament up the Hudson to Stony Point. The garrison, unable to resist, escaped from the fortifications. On the first of June, the British bombarded Verplanck's Point, on the other side of the river, and compelled a surrender. In July, Tryon, with twenty-six hundred Hessians and tories, captured New Haven. East Haven and Fairfield were given to the flames. At Norwalk, while the village was burning, Tryon on a neighboring hill, sat in a rocking-chair and laughed heartily at the scene.

3. On the 15th of July, General Wayne marched against Stony Point. In the evening, he halted near the fort and gave his orders. The British pickets were caught and gagged. Everything was done in silence. Muskets were unloaded and bayonets fixed; not a gun was to be fired. The assault was made a little after midnight. The patriots never wavered in the charge. The ramparts were scaled; and the British, finding themselves between two lines of bayonets, cried out for quarter. Sixty-three of the enemy fell; the remaining five hundred and forty-three were made

prisoners. Of the Americans only fifteen were killed and eightythree wounded. General Wayne secured the ordinance and stores, and then destroyed the fort.

4. Three days afterward, Major Lee captured the British garrison at Jersey city. On the 25th of the month, a fleet was sent against a British post at the mouth of the Penobscot. On the 13th of August, while the American ships were besieging the post, they were attacked and destroyed by a British squadron. In the summer of this year, four thousand six hundred men, led by Generals Sullivan and James Clinton, were sent against the Indians on the Susquehanna. At Elmira the savages and tories had fortified themselves; but on the 29th of August, they were forced from their stronghold and utterly routed. The country between the Susquehanna and the Genesee was wasted by the patriots. Forty Indian villages were destroyed.

5. On the 9th of January, 1779, Fort Sunbury, on St. Catherine's Sound, was captured by the British under General Prevost. This officer then assumed command of the British army in the South. A force of two thousand regulars and loyalists was despatched against Augusta. On the 29th of January, the British reached their destination, and Augusta was taken.

6. In the mean time, the tories, who were advancing to join the British at Augusta, were defeated by the patriots under Captain Anderson. On the 14th of February, they were again overtaken and routed by Colonel Pickens. Colonel Boyd, the tory leader, and seventy of his men were killed. Seventy-five others were captured, and five of the ringleaders hanged. The western half of Georgia was quickly recovered by the patriots.

7. General Ashe was sent with two thousand men to intercept the enemy. On the 25th of February, the Americans crossed the Savannah and pursued Campbell as far as Brier Creek. Here the patriots came to a halt; and General Prevost, marching from Savannah, surrounded Ashe's command. A battle was fought on the 3d of March; the Americans were totally routed and driven into the swamps. By this defeat Georgia was again prostrated, and a royal government was established over the State.

8. Within a month, General Lincoln was again in the field

with five thousand men.

He advanced up the left bank of the river in the direction of Augusta; but, at the same time, General Prevost crossed the Savannah and marched against Charleston. General Lincoln turned back to attack him, and the British made a hasty retreat. The Americans overtook the enemy at Stono Ferry, ten miles west of Charleston, but were repulsed with considerable loss. Prevost then fell back to Savannah. June until September, military operations were suspended.

From

9. Count d'Estaing now arrived with his fleet from the West Indies to coöperate with Lincoln in the reduction of Savannah. Prevost concentrated his forces for the defence of the city. On the 12th of September, the French, numbering six thousand, effected a landing, and advanced to the siege. Eleven days elapsed before General Lincoln arrived with his forces. On the 16th of the month, D'Estaing demanded a surrender; but Prevost answered with a message of defiance. The siege was pressed with vigor, and the city constantly bombarded. But the defences remained unshaken. At last D'Estaing notified Lincoln that the city must be stormed. It was determined to make the assault on the morning of the 9th of October.

10. Before sunrise the allies advanced against the redoubts of the British. The attack was made with great vehemence. At one time it seemed that the works would be carried. The flags of Carolina and France were planted on the parapet, but were soon hurled down. Sergeant Jasper, the hero of Fort Moultrie, was killed. The allied columns were driven back with fearful losses. Count Pulaski was struck with a grape-shot, and borne dying from the field. D'Estaing retired on board the fleet, and Lincoln retreated to Charleston.

11. On the 23d of September, Paul Jones, cruising off the coast of Scotland with a fleet of French and American vessels, fell in with a British squadron, and a bloody battle ensued. The Serapis, a British frigate of forty-four guns, engaged the Poor Richard within musket-shot. At last the vessels were lashed together, and the Serapis struck her colors. Jones transferred his men to the conquered ship, and the Poor Richard went down. Of the three hundred and seventy-five men on board the fleet of Jones, three hundred were either killed or wounded.