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there was room for suspicion that he aimed at New England. It was thought that the British were likely to pass up the Hudson to meet and join him, instead of making the long-threatened attack or Philadelphia.

3. All doubt was, however, dissipated by the arrival in the Chesapeake,* in the month of July, of the British fleet from New York, with sixteen thousand men, under General Howe. By the 3d of September they were rapidly approaching Philadelphia. Washington, who had kept his eye on all their movements, was on the road to meet them. The two armies met at a place called Chad's Ford, on the river Brandywine, about twenty-five miles south-west from Philadelphia.

4. Here, on the 11th of September, a severe battle took place,. which lasted nearly all day. The Americans were at length defeated with very great loss. They then made the best of their way to Chester, where they arrived that night, and the next day they proceeded to Philadelphia.

5. Among the wounded of the American army, were General Woodford and the Marquis de La Fay-ette'. The latter had only just arrived from France; his commission in the army was dated July 31st. He fought for the Americans, except when absent on their account in France, till the end of the war; and always without pay. The Count Pu-las'-ki, who had arrived with La Fayette, also fought for our country, for the first time, in this battle.

6. Washington was very much chagrined at this defeat. But neither the public mind nor Congress itself would have been satisfied, without at least an attempt to prevent the British from entering Philadelphia. Indeed, Congress advised him to hazard a second battle, and he was on the 16th of September, about to do so; but an unexpected shower wet the powder in the cartridge-boxes of the troops, and he was obliged to give it up.

2. What news was received of General Burgoyne? What was thought likely to be done by the British? 3. What general was at their head? Where did Washington meet him? 4. What was the result of the battle? 5. What officers were wounded? What of Marquis La Fayette? Count Pulaski? Kosciusko? 6. What greatly chagrined Washington? What of Congress?

*They went up the Chesapeake because they had heard that the Delaware was ob structed.

+ The cause of the Americans, struggling for their independence, brought to their aid a number of Europeans who sympathized with them, and generously exerted themselves in their behalf. Among these was La Fayette, whose name is almost as dear and as familiar to the Americans as that of Washington. Another was Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, who had distinguished himself in his own country, and became a brigadier-general in our army. He fought bravely in several engagements, and finally fell in an assault on Savannah, in 1779. There is a nonument erected to his memory in that place. Kosciusko, a Polish refugee, and one of the noblest characters in history, also came over to America. and did good service in our cause.

7. The British also gained some other advantages about this time; among which may be mentioned the surprise and defeat of General Wayne. He had been sent with fifteen hundred men to harass the British army, and cut off straggling parties. The enemy, having found out his position, came suddenly upon him, and killed and wounded about three hundred of his men.

8. It was at length concluded to quit the city and neighborhood of Philadelphia, and repair to a strong position on the Schuylkill, twenty miles northward. The British, on the 26th of September, entered Philadelphia, and posted the main body of their forces at Germantown, seven miles to the north.

CHAPTER CIV.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.—Capture of General Prescott, in Rhode Island.

1. AMONG the many daring exploits which took place during the war, one of the most remarkable was the capture of General Prescott. On the 10th of July, of this year, 1777, while the British, under this officer, had complete possession of the island of Rhode Island, and lay encamped on the western side of it, one Barton, a militia colonel, of Warwick, having learned, from a deserter, their exact position, planned and executed an attack upon them as singular as it was successful.

2. He first collected together his regiment, and then asked which of them would hazard their lives in an expedition he was about to undertake. Such, he said, as were willing, might signify it by stepping two paces forward. As he was known to be worthy of their confidence, every man of them stepped forward.

3. Having made a selection of forty of the boldest and stoutest of them, and procured five whale-boats, they started off at nine o'clock in the evening. He directed them to sit perfectly still, like statues, and merely attend to and obey his orders. His own boat went forward, and to distinguish it, had a long pole extended from the fore part, with a handkerchief tied to it.

4. As they rowed by Prudence Island, they heard the English

7. What of General Wayne? S. What was at length concluded upon by the Americans? Where did the British post themselves?

CHAP CIV.-1. Where were some British troops encamped in July, 1777? Colonel Barton undertake? 2. How did he select men for his enterprise? they proceed in their expedition? How was Barton's boat signalized?

What did

3. How did

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guard cry, "All's well." A noise was heard on the mainland, like the trampling of horses, but, as it was very dark, nothing could be seen, and not a whisper was uttered. At length they landed, and set off for General Prescott's lodgings, about a mile from the shore.

5. In going along, they were obliged to pass a house occupied by a company of cavalry. "Who comes there?" said the sentinel. They said nothing and moved on. "Who comes there ?" said the sentinel again. Friends," said Barton. Advance, friends, and give the countersign," said the sentinel. "We have none," said Barton; "but have you seen any deserters to-night?"

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6. In an instant, the sentinel found himself seized, his musket wrested from him, and himself pinioned. "Say not a single word," said Barton, 66 on penalty of instant death." Terribly frightened, and unable to make any resistance, he yielded to the command, and they took him along with them.

7. They soon reached a house, burst the door, and rushed in. A British soldier, in his shirt, ran to awake and rouse the cavalry; but the men would not believe a word he said, and only laughed at him. He confessed that the creature he had seen, who it happened was Colonel Barton, was dressed in white, which only increased the laugh, and so it ended.

8. "Is General Prescott here?” said Barton, in a resolute tone, to the master of the house. "No, sir," said the poor fellow, frightened almost to death. Having secured him as a prisoner, they proceeded to search, but could not find Prescott. At this instant, Barton, from the head of the stairs, called to his men to fire the house at the four corners, as he would have General Prescott, either dead or alive. 9. Firebrands were already in motion, when somebody in the next room asked, "What is the matter?" Barton burst open the door, and found an elderly gentleman sitting up in bed. "Are you General Prescott?" said he. "Yes, sir," was the reply. "You are my prisoner, then," said Barton, clapping him on the shoulder. He begged the favor of putting on his clothes, but they only wrapped a cloak about him, and a stout negro man carried him to the boats.

10. Major Barrington had leaped from the window while they were seizing General Prescott, but he too was taken and hurried away to the boats. They had scarcely rowed through the British fleet, when a discharge of cannon convinced them that they were discovered, and fifty boats were on the pursuit.

4. What did they hear among the British? 6. What did Barton do with the sentinel?

5. Describe the meeting with the sentinel. 7. What did the British soldier do? 8. What

means were taken to secure Prescott? 9. Describe the meeting between Barton and Prescott. 10. What other officer was taken?

Colonel Barton, with "You have made a

11. But the pursuers were a little too late. his prisoners, soon landed at Warwick Point. bold push, colonel," said General Prescott, as he stepped ashore. "Thank you,” said Barton, with a bow, we have done as well as we could."

CHAPTER CV.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Events in the North.-Approach of Burgoyne.-Murder of Miss McRea.-Attack upon Fort Schuyler.

1. THE movements of Bur-goyne' at the north have been alluded to. He had arrived at Quebec in May of this year, 1777, and while the British troops in the Middle States had been advancing to Philadelphia, he had begun his march by way of the river Sorel and Lakes Champlain and George, toward Albany, where he hoped to meet Colone St. Leger, who was to come from Lake Ontario, by way of the Mohawk.

2. General Burgoyne was an ambitious, enterprising, and able officer. Fifteen years before, he had been engaged in the wars of Great Britain with the Portuguese and Spaniards, and, during the siege of Boston, he had been for a short time employed there. He set out from Canada with more than seven thousand men, beside a considerable body of artillery, and a thousand Canadian volunteers.

3. On the 20th of June, he proceeded up Lake Champlain, and landed near Crown Point, where he met some Indians, to whom he made a war speech and gave the hand of friendship. Accompanied by a considerable body of the Indians, he advanced to Crown Point and soon afterward to Ticonderoga.

4. This place was defended by three thousand men, under General St. Clair. At a council of war it was concluded to leave the fort at once; but the British came up with the rear of their army, at Hubbardton, as they were leaving it, and a battle ensued, in which two hundred Americans were killed, six hundred wounded, and two hundred taken prisoners.

5. The invading army reached Fort Edward, on the Hudson, July

11. What did General Prescott say to Barton? His reply?

CHAP. CV.-1. What of General Burgoyne? 2. How had he formerly been engaged? 8. By whom was he joined at Crown Point? 4. How was Ticonderoga defended? What was the loss of the Americans in the engagement at Hubbardton?

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30, having destroyed much American property on the road. Here they made a halt, while the troops, especially the Indian allies, ravaged the country. It was at the time these soldiers were quartered here, that the famous murder of Miss McRea, a beautiful and accomplished American lady, took place.

6. She was to have been married soon, to a young Englishman, and he had sent two Indians, whom he considered trustworthy, to guide her across the woods to the place where he was stationed. On their way, the Indians fell into a quarrel which should have the offered reward for transporting her, when, to end the dispute, one of them killed her with his tomahawk.

7. General Schuyler, who had commanded Fort Edward previous to the arrival of Burgoyne, had with him a force of about four thousand four hundred men. On the approach of the enemy, he had annoyed them greatly by felling trees in the roads and destroying bridges; but finding them too strong for him, he had abandoned the fort, and retreated across the Hudson to Sar-a-to'-ga.

8. Colonel St. Leger, with an army of British regulars, New York tories and Indians, had by this time approached Fort Schuyler, at the head of the Mohawk River, where Rome now stands, and laid siege to it. A body of militia, on their way to act in its defence, was ambushed by the Indians, and four hundred of them killed, mortally wounded, or taken.

9. After much skirmishing, and some hotly-contested battles in the neighborhood of the fort, in which victory was alternately on the side of the British and the Americans, General Arnold, who had been sent to the relief of the fort, and who was not wanting in ingenuity, devised a stratagem for drawing off the Indians from St. Leger's army, which so weakened it that he was compelled to raise the siege.

CHAPTER CVI.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Progress of Burgoyne.-Battle of Bennington.-Battle of Stillwater.

1. WHILE Burgoyne, with his army, was at Fort Edward, he learned that the Americans had a considerable amount of military stores and

5. What of the invading army? Who was murdered while the British were at Fort Edward? 6. What was the cause of her murder? 7. Who had commanded Fort Edward? What did General Schuyler do on the approach of the enemy? 8. What of Colonel St Leger? 9. What was done by General Arnold?