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Marquis de La Fayette, and General Woodford. The first of these was a French nobleman, who, at the age of 19 years only, left France, and offered his services to congress, who gave him the rank of major-general in their army. Count Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, fought also with the Americans, in this battle.*

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68. Battle of Germantown, and the attack on Rel Bank.

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After General Howe had taken possession of Philadelphia, it became necessary for him to take the forts on the Delaware, in order to open a communication with the Atlantic. Accordingly, a part of the royal army were detached for that purpose. General Washington seized this opportunity to attack the remainder at Germantown. On the morning of the 4th of October, Washington attacked the enemy with such judgment and fury, that they gave way in every quarter. The tumult, disorder, and despair in the British army," says Washington, "were unparalleled." Lieutenant Col. Musgrave, in the retreat, in order to avoid the bayonets of his pursuers, threw himself, with six companies of the 40th regiment, into a stone house. The Americans, in full pursuit, attracted by this manœuvre, halted before the house and attempted to dislodge him. This circumstance appears to have led to an unfortunate issue of the action. Besides this, an uncommonly thick fog occasioned many mistakes in the American army; and after a severe action they were obliged to retreat, with the loss of about 1000 men in killed and wounded; among them was Gen. Nash, and his aid, Major Witherspoon. The British had 800 in killed and wounded, and among the former were Gen. Agnew and Col. Bird.

The detachment of the British army sent to attack the fort at Red Bank, on the Jersey shore, was commanded by Count Donop, a brave and high spirited German offi.

*Holmes' Annals.

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The fort was defended by about 400 men, under Col. Greene. Count Donop, with undaunted firmness, led on his men to an assault. After a few well directed fires, Greene and his men artfully retired from the outworks. The enemy now supposing the day their own, rushed forward in great numbers, along a large opening in the fort, and within twenty paces of a masked battery of eightee. pounders, loaded with grape shot and spike nails. Immediately the garrison opened a tremendous fire upon their assailants, which swept them down in great numbers. Count Donop was mortally wounded and taken prisoner. In this expedition the enemy are supposed to have lost about 400 men.

69. Murder of Miss McCrea.

Previous to the American revolution, there resided near fort Edward, an accomplished young man, named Jones, and a young lady by the name of McCrea, between whom a strong attachment subsisted. Upon the breaking out of war, Mr. Jones, who favoured the royalists, fled into Canada. Thence he accompanied the expedition of Burgoyne into the states. When the British army were within about three miles of fort Edward, Mr. Jones found means secretly to inform Miss McCrea of his approach; he entreated her not to leave the place, and informed her that as soon as the fort had surrendered, he would seek an asylum where they might peaceably consummate the nuptial ceremony. Confiding in her lover, Miss McCrea heroically refused to follow the fly ing villagers. The tears and entreaties of her parents and friends availed nothing. Mr. Jones, anxious to possess his intended bride, despatched a party of Indians to convey her to the British army, and offered to reward them for their service with a barrel of rum. The Indians brought a letter from her lover, and also his horse to convey Miss McCrea; she scrupled not to place herself under their protection, and accordingly set out for the

British camp. When about half way, a second party of Indians, hearing of the captivating offer made by Mr. Jones, determined to avail themselves of the reward. A bloody strife ensued, in which some Indians were killed, when the chief of the first party, to decide the contest, with his tomahawk knocked the lady from her horse, tore off her scalp, and bore it as a trophy to her anxious and expectant lover! This atrocious and cruel murder roused the American people, and produced one general burst of horror and indignation throughout the states, against the British and their savage allies, and probably hastened the downfall of Burgoyne.

70. Battle of Bennington and Capture of Burgoyne.

In the spring of 1777, it was determined in England that an invasion of the states should be attempted from the north, and a communication formed between Canada and the city of New York, and thus cut off the communication between the New England and more southern

states.

"The troops destined for this service were upwards of seven thousand; with a train of artillery, the finest and most efficiently supplied, that had ever been assigned to second the operations of an equal force. Arms and accoutrements were provided for the Canadians, and several nations of Indians induced to take up the hatchet under royal banners. The command was given to Gen. Burgoyne; an officer whose abilities were well known, and whose spirit of enterprise and thirst for military fame could not be excelled. The British had the exclusive navigation of Lake Champlain. Their marine force on that inland sea, with which, in the preceding campaign, they had destroyed the American flotilla, was not only entire, but unopposed.

"Having gained possession of Ticonderoga, as well us of the other defences which had served to prevent or to impede the advance of an enemy into the United

States on the side of Canada, and with a degree of alacrity and perseverance not to be excelled, reached fort Edward, on the Hudson, Burgoyne proceeded, in the beginning of August, to force his passage down towards Albany. In the mean time, every obstruction had been thrown in his way, by Schuyler, Arnold, St. Clair, and other vigilant commanders; who, at this period, owing to the evacuations of the northern forts, and the exertions of the leading patriots in New York and the contiguous provinces, had in that quarter an army of 13,000 men.

"In his advance to Albany, Burgoyne formed a plan to draw resources from the farms of Vermont. For this purpose, he detached 500 Hessians and 100 Indians, with two field-pieces, under the command of Col. Baum; a force deemed sufficient to seize a magazine of provisions, collected by the Americans at Bennington. But he proceeded with less caution than his perilous situation required. On the 16th of August, Col. Starke attacked him near that place, with about 800 New Hampshire militia, undisciplined, without bayonets, or a single piece of artillery; killed or captured the greater part of his detachment, and got possession of his cannon. This was a brilliant service. Another achievement, scarcely less conspicuous, immediately succeeded. Col. Breyman, who had been sent by Gen. Burgoyne to support that party, arrived on the same day, not, however, until the action was decided. Instead of meeting his friends, he found himself vigorously assailed. This attack was made by Col. Warner; who, with his continental regiment, had come up, also, to support his friends, and was well assisted by Starke's militia, which had just defeated the party of Col. Baum. Breyman's troops, though fatigued with the preceding march, behaved with great resolution; but were at length obliged to abandon their artillery, and retreat. In these two actions, the Americans took four brass field-pieces, four ammunition wa gons, and seven hundred prisoners.

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The overthrow of these detachments was the first, in a grand series of events, that finally involved in ruin the whole royal army. It deranged every plan for con

inuing, or even holding, the advantages previously ob tained; inspired the Americans with confidence, animated their exertions, and filled them with justly formed expectations of future victory.

"After the evacuation of Ticonderoga, the Americans had fallen back from one place to another, until they at last rested at Vanshaick's Island. Soon after this retreating system was adopted, congress removed their commanding officers, and placed Gen. Gates at the head of the northern army. His arrival on the 19th of August, gave fresh vigour to the inhabitants. Encouraged by a hope of capturing the whole British forces, a spirit of adventure burst forth from every quarter, and was carried into various directions. An enterprise was undertaken by Gen. Lincoln, to recover Ticonderoga and the other posts in the rear of the British army; and though the first object was not accomplished, yet with so much address did Col. Brown, who was despatched to the landing at Lake George, proceed, that, with five hundred men, he not only surprised all the out-posts between the landing at the north end of the lake and the body of that fortress, took Mount Defiance and Mount Hope, the old French lines, and a block-house, also two hundred batteaux, several gun-boats, besides two hundred and ninety prisoners, but at the same time released one hundred Americans.

"Burgoyne, after crossing the Hudson, advanced along its banks, and encamped about two miles from Gen. Gates, a short distance above Stillwater. The Americans thought no more of retreating; and on the 19th of September, engaged him with firmness and resolution. The conflict, though severe, was only partial for the first hour and a half; but after a short pause, it became general, and continued for three hours without intermission. A constant blaze of fire streamed forth, and both sides seemed determined on victory or death. The Americans and British were alternately driven by each other, until night ended the effusion of blood. The enemy lost five hundred men, including killed, wounded, and prisoners; the Americans, three hundred.

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