as, without it, lord Howe could not have ven- CHAP. IX. tured to molest the operations against Rhode 1778. Island. The storm which parted the fleets in the moment when an engagement was commencing, with the advantage of the wind and a great superiority of force on the side of the French, which dismasted and rendered unfit for immediate service the admiral's ship, and some others of their finest vessels, was another untoward occurrence, which as effectually defeated the enterprise against Rhode Island, and as effectually destroyed the brilliant prospects founded on that enterprise, as could have been done by a complete naval victory on the part of lord Howe. So much are the best laid plans, and the most important human transactions dependent on fortune, and the judicious use of occurrences, in themselves apparently indifferent. The marquis de La Fayette, ambitious of fame on another theatre, was now desirous of returning to France. He supposed it possible that war might break out on the continent of Europe, and he was desirous of tendering his services to his king, and to his own country.. General Washington, from motives of real friendship, and for political reasons also, was desirous of preserving his connexion with the army, and of strengthening his attachment to America. He therefore expressed to congress CHAP. IX. his wishes that Fayette, instead of resigning 1778. his commission, might have unlimited leave of absence, to return when it should be convenient to himself; and might carry with him every mark of the confidence of the government. To this policy, congress was well disposed, and to the leave of absence which had been required, they added the most flattering resolutions. The partiality of America for La Fayette was well placed. Never did a foreigner, whose primary attachments were to his own country, feel more anxious solicitude for the welfare of another, than was unceasingly manifested by this young nobleman for the United States. As there was very little prospect of an active winter campaign in the northern, or middle states; and the climate admitted of military operations during that season in a different part of the world; a detachment from the British army, consisting of five thousand men under major general Grant, sailed the same day that D'Estaing departed from Boston, convoyed by six ships of war commanded by commodore Hotham, destined also for the West India islands and towards the end of the same month, another embarkation took place for the southern parts of the continent. This second detachment was commanded by lieutenant colonel Campbell, who was escorted by commodore Hyde Parker, and was destined to act offensively against the southern states. : As there yet remained a force sufficient to CHAP. IX. secure New York, the American army retired 1778. into winter quarters. The main body was cantoned in Connecticut, on both sides the North December. river, about West Point, and at Middlebrook: while light troops were stationed nearer the lines, and the cavalry were drawn into the interior to recruit the horses for the next campaign. In this distribution, the protection of the country, the security of important posts, and a cheap and convenient supply of provisions, were as much as possible consulted. The great body of the army lay on the west of the Hudson, because the supplies of bread were to be drawn west of that river, while those of meat abounded most on the eastern side of it. The superior difficulty and expense attending the conveyance of flour, over the driving of live stock, rendered it advisable, with a view both to economy, and certainty of supply, to approach with the greatest numbers, that tract of country which could alone furnish the article most expensive in its transportation. The troops again wintered in huts; but they were now accustomed to this mode of passing that inclement season of the year. Though far from being well clothed, yet their condition in that respect was so much meliorated by supplies from France, that they disregarded the inconveniences they were under the necessity of encountering. CHAPTER X. Arrival of the British commissioners.... Terms of conciliation proposed....Answer of congress to these propositions....Attempts of mr. Johnson to bribe influential members of congress....Congress order the publication of the private letters from Johnson to the members of that body....Manifesto of the commissioners, and counter manifesto by congress....Arrival of Gerard, minister plenipotentiary from the king of France....His reception by congress....Hostilities of the Indians....Colonel John Butler, with a party of Indians, breaks into the Wyoming settlement....His treachery to colonel Zebulon Butler....Kingston besieged by the Indians; surrenders, and the garrison and inhabitants butchered.... Wilkesbarre also surrenders, and meets the same fate....Distresses of the settlers in Wyoming....Colonel Alden surprised, and with some of his party killed....Colonel Clarke surprises St. Vincents, and takes possession of it....Congress determine to attack Canada and the other British possessions in North America....General Washington urges reasons against the plan....Has a personal interview with a committee of congress, and induces that body to abandon the enterprise. 1778. ABOUT the time that commodore Parker sailed for the southern states, the commissioners appointed to give effect to the late conciliatory acts of parliament, which had been proposed by lord North, embarked for Europe. They had exerted unsuccessfully their utmost powers to effect the objects of their mission. The terms now offered were such as, at one time, America would most joyfully have ac cepted; but they required a union of the force CHAP. X. of the two nations under one common sovereign. 1778. These were terms to which America was no longer disposed, or even at liberty, to accede. All those affections which parts of the same empire should feel for each other had been eradicated by a distressing war; the great body of the nation was determined, at every sacrifice, to maintain its independence; and the treaty with France had pledged them, by every principle of honour and national faith, never to consent to a re-union with the British empire. The British commissioners arrived in Philadelphia, while that place was yet in possession of their army, and are understood to have brought positive and secret orders for its immediate evacuation.. the British sioners. The reception which had been already given Arrival of to the conciliatory bills, on which their mis- commission was founded;* a reception manifesting the fixed determination of congress, previous to any knowledge of the treaty with France, must have left them but little hope, that the propositions they brought with them, could be accepted. They were, however, especially governor Johnson, persons who had always openly condemned the violent measures of administration, and had wished a settlement of differences on the ground first taken by Ame *See Note, No. XI. at the end of the volume. |