PERPLEXING MOVEMENTS OF BRITISH; LEE'S INTRIGUE. remaining in this position for six days, Howe made a retrograde movement toward Amboy, which drew Washington down from the high ground as far as Quibbletown, whereupon Howe suddenly reversed and endeavored to cut him off from the hills; but Washington beat a hasty retreat to Middlebrook and thus again foiled the British commander. Howe thereupon crossed over to Staten Island and evacuated the Jerseys.* Again Washington was in a perplexed state of mind as to the meaning of the several movements of the British. It was well known that Burgoyne was advancing toward the South with a large force. In New York the British were making preparations for some expedition by sea, which might be for the purpose of attacking either Philadelphia or New England, in order to create a diversion in favor of Burgoyne.+ It might also be that these preparations were being made for the purpose of ascending the Hudson and placing the American army near Saratoga between two fires, and after its defeat, of joining Burgoyne and then pro * Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iv., pp. 60-64; Hildreth, vol. iii., pp. 190-191; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 298-301; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 11-13; F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 77-78; Brooks, Life of Knox, pp. 97-101; Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 227-228. See the various notes regarding this in Ford's ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. v., pp. 435–455; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 469474 (ed. 1788); Drake, Life of Knox, p. 44; Stedman, American War, vol. i., p. 238; Graham, Life of Morgan, p. 124. 53 ceeding in full force against Washington in New Jersey.* Thinking that this latter plan was the most likely, Washington was very slow in his movements, but in July, when the British fleet went to sea, he took the main body of his force across Jersey to the Delaware, so as to be prepared should the British make an attempt upon Philadelphia.† While awaiting definite news as to the designs of the British, Washington went to Philadelphia to confer with the members of Congress, and while there he met the Marquis de Lafayette for the first time.‡ This young French noble had been greatly aroused by the story of the gallant fight made by the Americans against British oppression, and though he had only recently been married, signified his desire to aid the Americans in their contest. The French minis 211. Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iv., p. Shortly before this time Charles Lee, then a prisoner in New York, began an intrigue with the Howes for the purpose of ingratiating himself and obtaining his liberty. He drew up a plan of operations (dated March 29, 1777) for a summer campaign against the American army and in every way endeavored to give the British generals such information as they could use to their profit. See Fiske, American Revolution, vol. i., pp. 299–308. Carrington (Battles of the Revolution, pp. 410– 411) gives extracts from Lee's letter to the Howes. See also George H. Moore, Treason of Charles Lee, New York Historical Society Collections, vol. iv. (1874); Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. i., p. 544, vol. ii., p. 75; Johnson, General Washington, pp. 148-149, and App. A., pp. 325-330. His full name was Marie Jean Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (often spelled La Fayette). 54 LAFAYETTE AND OTHER FOREIGN OFFICERS. try, however, fearing international complications if the expedition should leave the shores of France, absolutely forbade him to fit out a vessel for this purpose in France. But Lafayette was not to be turned from his purpose, and having secretly fitted out a vessel and persuaded a number of his friends to accompany him to America, he embarked, reaching the shores of America in safety, and subsequently presenting his credentials to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.* At this time, however, there were a large number of applications from foreign officers for employment in the American army, and as Congress could not give them the positions they desired without creating jealousy and dissatisfaction among the American officers, Lafayette in company with the others found it almost impossible to secure the coveted positions. The failure to receive high rank, however, did not discourage Lafayette, and he immediately offered his service as a volunteer without pay, whereupon his request for service was granted and he received the rank of major-general. † At this time he was not yet 20 years of age, but Lafayette's personality and the romantic manner in which he came to America immediately predisposed Washington in his favor, and the attachment which sprang up between the two continued throughout their lifetime. Washington requested Lafayette to consider headquarters as his home, a privilege of which Lafayette immediately availed himself.* At the same time there were a number of other foreign officers in America who had come to aid the patriotic cause, among them being Thaddeus Kosciusko, Casimir Pulaski, Johann De Kalb, Steuben.+ All rendered valuable services in the American cause. Meanwhile, Washington had been receiving all manner of contradictory reports as to the course taken by Howe's fleet, one report stating that he had returned to the Hudson, another stating that he was now entering the Delaware, while still another imparted the information that he had taken a southerly course toward Charleston. Finally, late in August, it was ascertained that the fleet had that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connections, he have the rank and commission of major-general in the army of the United States."-Journals of Congress, vol. iii., p. 303. See also Lafayette's letter of thanks to Hancock, in Tower, Marquis de La Fayette, vol. i., pp. 184-185. *Tower, Marquis de La Fayette, vol. i., pp. 214-215; Sparks' ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. v., p. 454; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iii., pp. 152-153. Whose full name was Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand, Baron von Steuben. HOWE BEGINS MARCH TOWARD PHILADELPHIA. entered the Chesapeake (Howe's officers having persuaded him not to disembark in the Delaware*) and that the troops were being landed at the head of the Elk River, from which point it was Howe's intention to make a direct descent upon Philadelphia. † The place of debarkation was but a few days' march from Philadelphia, and the country was fairly good for a rapid advance; there were no large rivers to cross, and no strong position which the opposing American army could take to dispute Howe's progress. Shortly after he had landed, Howe issued a proclamation promising to pardon and protect all those who would submit to British authority; but even those who were most disposed to heed this warning, as well as those who were lukewarm in their attachment to the American cause, preferred to await the outcome of the campaign before deciding to which cause they would ultimately adhere. Washington was too well versed in military strategy and science not to understand that much depended upon the manner in which this campaign was conducted. As his troops consisted chiefly of raw and undisciplined men, he realized that it would be. * Fortescue, The British Army, vol. iii., p. 212; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 363-365. On the maneuvres of the fleet, see Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 17-19. See also Trevelyan, American Revolution, vol. iv., pp. 213-214; Brooks, Life of Knox, p. 103; Lodge, George Washington, vol. i., pp. 189–191. Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iii., pp. 206 207. 55 better to avoid a general engagement * Ibid, p. 212. Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 367; Tower, Marquis de La Fayette, vol. i., pp. 222223; Sparks' ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. V., pp. 55-56. |