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1776]

ATTEMPT TO POISON WASHINGTON.

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peas prepared for his dinner. The plot was revealed to Washington through a young girl who had overheard it.

7. To discover the guilty party, Washington had a trusty soldier disguised as a servant, and sent him into the kitchen to watch the peas. He had not been there long, before he saw one of his comrades come anxiously to the door and look in. Presently he entered, and hesitating, as if horror-struck at the act, sprinkled a powder in the pot in which the peas were cooking. Washington was at once informed of this. At dinner, when he had seated himself among his officers, he asked them to wait for a moment, and ordered in his guard.

8. Fixing his eyes on the guilty man, he put a spoonful of peas on his plate, and asked him, "Shall I eat of these?' "I don't know," stammered the man, turning deadly pale. Washington took some on his knife, and again asked, "Shall I eat of these? The man could not say a word, but raised his hand as if to prevent it. A chicken was brought in, and fed with some of the peas; it died on the spot. This proved that they had been poisoned. The man was carried fainting from the room, and Washington was saved.

9. This same year, a British sloop-of-war put into the island called Martha's Vineyard. It was in want of a spar, and the only stick of timber there that would answer the purpose was a liberty-tree, erected by the patriots. This tree the captain said he must have; but three brave girls, not yet sixteen years old, said he should not have it. The night before it was to be cut down, they went in the dark, bored several holes in the tree, and filled them with gunpowder. Then, lighting a slow-match, they blew the tree to pieces. So his Majesty's sloop-of-war had to go without a spar.

plot was formed by the Tories? How did Washington hear of it ?-7. What measures were taken by Washington to discover the guilty party?-8. What passed at dinner?-9. Tell the story about the sloop of war that put into Martha's Vineyard.

LESSON XXXIV.

WASHINGTON'S RETREAT.-TRENTON.-PRINCETON.

1. We left Washington in New York. His army was discouraged by the defeat on Long Island. One fourth of the men were sick. He could not hope to repel the British, who were preparing to cross from Long Island and attack the city. The only course left him was to retreat, and accordingly he drew off his men to the north. The British immediately took possession of the city. They retained it till the end of the war. Howe, with most of his army, kept on in pursuit of Washington.

2. Washington hardly felt strong enough to risk a battle. He retreated as his enemy advanced, but so slowly that frequent skirmishes took place. At last a battle was fought at White Plains, without any decided advantage to either party. After this, Washington took his army across the Hudson River, to New Jersey, leaving nearly three thousand of his best men in Fort Washington. The British made a spirited attack on this post, and the garrison had to surrender. Washington is said to have wept, as from the other side of the river he saw his men falling beneath the British bayonets.

3. The loss of Fort Washington and its garrison was the heaviest blow the patriots had yet received. Lord Cornwallis [corn-wol-lis] immediately set out in pursuit of the American army, now much reduced in size. Sadly this little band retreated across New Jersey. Many of them, ragged and barefooted, left their blood-stained tracks on the frozen ground. The British pressed on hotly in pursuit. But Washington reached the Delaware River, secured all the boats for many miles, and went over into Pennsylvania with his suffering men.

1. What was the state of the American army in New York, after the battle of Long Island? What was Washington obliged to do? What then became of New York? What course did Howe pursue ?-2. Describe Washington's movements. Where did a battle take place? With what result? What did Washington then do? What took place at Fort Washington ?-3. What followed the fall of Fort Washington? Describe the retreat of the American army across New Jersey. How did Washington save his men? What did

1776]

BATTLE OF TRENTON.

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Unable to cross the Delaware, Cornwallis resolved to wait till it should be frozen over. Dividing his army, he stationed detachments at Trenton, Princeton, and other points.

4. Washington now saw he must do something to encourage his men. He resolved to cross the Delaware, and surprise a large body of Hessians stationed at Trenton. Christmas night was chosen for the attempt, as a time when they would likely be carousing, and off their guard. The night was dark and bitterly cold. The Delaware was full of ice. Part of the Americans, however, succeeded in getting across. They completely surprised the Hessians, who at once threw down their arms.

5. Washington durst not remain at Trenton, for he knew the British from the posts around would soon be upon him. So he immediately recrossed into Pennsylvania with his prisoners.

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Here you see him and his men toiling through the snow. In

Cornwallis do, on arriving at the Delaware?-4. What was the next movement of Washington? What time was chosen for the attempt, and why? Give an account of the surprise of the Hessians at Trenton.-5. What was done by Washington after the surprise at Trenton? How many men had he lost?

gaining this glorious victory, he lost only four men, two of whom were frozen to death. The British, who had thought the Revolution was almost at an end, now found they were mistaken.

6. A few days after this victory, Washington again crossed the Delaware to Trenton. Cornwallis, anxious for a battle, soon made his appearance. Night was near at hand, and, after some skirmishing, both parties rested on their arms. Washington felt he was no match for Cornwallis, and determined to disappoint him. Leaving his fires burning, and posting a sentinel here and there, to deceive the enemy, he noiselessly withdrew his men in the night, and marched to Princeton, to surprise the British stationed there. When Cornwallis woke the next morning, he could see no enemy. He had been outgeneralled.

7. Washington did not surprise the British at Princeton, for he met them already on the march to join Cornwallis. A battle ensued. At first the Americans, having no bayonets, gave way. But Washington placed himself before the advancing British, and his men rallied to support their beloved chief. The British were repulsed. Washington had gained another victory. He led his men, exhausted as they were by want of food and sleep, to Morristown, and there fixed his winter-quarters.

8. Washington's men suffered much at Morristown from cold and sickness, during the winter of 1777. The small-pox broke out among them, and many died. The people of the place were true patriots, and did all they could to relieve the suffering soldiers. They gave them the best they had, saying, "Nothing is too good for those who fight for our country." Washington sent out several expeditions in the course of the winter, and recovered nearly the whole of Jersey.

9. Cornwallis's army was much larger than Washington's. It was feared, if he knew this, he would fall upon Morristown.

6. A few days afterwards, what movement did Washington make? Who soon appeared, to give him battle? Tell how Washington disappointed Cornwallis. -7. What took place at Princeton? Where did Washington fix his winterquarters ?-8. From what did the Americans suffer at Morristown? How did the people of the place treat them? What did Washington accomplish during the winter?-9. Relate the stratagem by which Cornwallis was misled as to the strength of the Americans.

1777]

BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN.

105 So the Americans had recourse to a stratagem to deceive him. There was a man in the camp, whom they suspected of being a British spy. A false statement was made out of the men and ammunition at Morristown, representing the Americans as much better off than they really were. An officer, as if by chance, left the paper on a table by which the suspected spy was sitting, and went out for a few moments. On his return, both the paper and the spy were missing. They no doubt found their way to Cornwallis, and misled him as to the strength of the Americans.

LESSON XXXV.

BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN.

1. In 1777, another powerful British army took the field, under the command of General Burgoyne. Starting from Canada, Burgoyne invaded the state of New York. On the bank of Lake Champlain, he gave a great war-feast to a number of Indians, many of whom joined his army. Ticonderoga and Fort Edward were taken in succession. The Americans who had garrisoned these posts, fell back as Burgoyne advanced. To delay his march, bridges were broken down, and the roads obstructed.

2. The northern American army was commanded by General Schuyler [ski'-ler]. One night, when the general was preparing to retire to bed in his own house, a servant, passing into the room, caught a glimpse of a figure concealed behind the door. Pretending not to notice it, she managed to tell her master in an undertone what she had seen. An alarm was raised. The party fled, but was overtaken by the guard. It was an Indian, who had hidden himself behind the door to murder the general.

3. Before leaving Canada, Burgoyne had sent a large detachment to overrun the western part of New York. This force met

1. In 1777, who led another British army into the field? What state did Burgoyne invade? What did he do on the bank of Lake Champlain? What posts were taken? What did the Americans do as Burgoyne advanced?— 2. Who commanded the northern American army? Give an account of the attempt to murder General Schuyler.-3. What detachment had been sent out

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