SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN. 53 Q. What expedition was executed by Colonel Meigs, soon afterward? A. At the head of one hundred and seventy of the Connecticut militia, he crossed Long Island Sound to Sag Harbor, destroyed the stores and vessels of the enemy there, and returned, without loss, with ninety prisoners. Q. Where is Sag Harbor? Q. What officer was exchanged for General Lee? A. General Prescott, who had been taken by Colonel Barton, and forty militia, at Rhode Island. Q. Where was the main body of the British troops stationed at this time? A. In New York, and its vicinity; commanded by General Howe. Q. What was the object of General Howe? Q. Unwilling to cross the Delaware while Washington was in force behind him, what course did Howe take? A. He embarked at New York, with his army, sailed up the Chesapeake, and landed at the head of Elk river, where he commenced his march for Philadelphia. Q. Where did Washington make a stand to oppose him? A. At Chad's ford, on Brandywine creek, about nine miles from Wilmington. Q. Which party was victorious in the battle of Brandywine? A. The British. Q. When was this battle fought? A. On the 11th of September, 1777. Q. What two celebrated foreigners served under the American banners, in this battle? A. La Fayette, of France, and Pulaski, of Poland: the former of whom was wounded. Q. What misfortune befell Wayne? A. A few days after the battle of Brandywine, General 5* Wayne, with 1500 men, having been detached to annoy the rear of the enemy, was surprised at night, and three hundred Americans were cut off. Q. What was the consequence of these disasters? A. On the 26th of September, 1777. Q. Where did another battle soon after occur? A. At Germantown, near Philadelphia: on the 4th of October. Q. Which party was victorious? A. Both parties suffered considerable loss, but the British had the advantage. Q. What prevented the British shipping from ascending the Delaware? A. The Americans had a battery erected on Mud Island, called Fort Mifflin; and opposite, on the Jersey shore, on a height called Red Bank, a battery was also erected, called Fort Mercer. Q. Who made an attack upon Fort Mercer? A. Colonel Donop, at the head of 2000 Hessians; but he was repulsed with considerable loss. Q. Were the Americans finally compelled to leave Mud Island and Red Bank? A. They were: but not until the works upon the island were entirely beaten down, and every piece of cannon dismounted. Q. Who succeeded John Hancock as president of Congress? A. Mr. Laurens, of South Carolina. Q. Where did Washington make his winter quarters? A. At Valley Forge, about twenty miles north-west from Philadelphia. Q. What was the condition of the Americans at Valley Forge? A. They were in a very destitute condition; many SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN. 55 vere without shoes or stockings, tents or blankets; and had nothing to shelter them from the inclemency of the winter, but temporary huts. Q. During the proceedings in the Middle States, what large army was invading the country from the north? A. An army of over 7000 British and German troops, besides several thousand Canadians and Indians, commanded by General Burgoyne. Q. By what route did the invading army enter? A. By the way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson river, with the design of reaching Albany. Q. What American generals obstructed Burgoyne's course to Albany? A. Generals Arnold, Schuyler, and St. Clair. Q. What fort did Burgoyne reach in the latter part of July? A. Having driven St. Clair from Ticonderoga, after much delay, he reached Fort Edward, on the Hudson river. Q. While here, what expedition was undertaken? A. A detachment of 500 men was sent to seize the American stores collected at Bennington. Q. Where is Bennington? Which way from Albany? A. No: near Bennington, the detachment was met by a body of New Hampshire militia, and totally defeated. Q. Did a second engagement occur on the same day? A. Yes: a reinforcement, under Colonel Breymann, was defeated by a party of Green Mountain Boys. Q. Who commanded the Americans in the first engagement? A. General Stark. Q. Who commanded in the second engagement? Q. Who commanded the British? A. Colonel Baum, a German officer, commanded in the first engagement, and was killed. Q. When did these engagements occur? Q. To what place did Burgoyne retreat? Q. Where is Saratoga? Which way from Bennington? Q. Who succeeded Schuyler in the command of the northern army? A. General Gates. Q. Where was a severe, though indecisive, battle fought on the 19th of September? A. At Stillwater, on the west side of the Hudson, about twenty-two miles north of Albany. Q. Did another battle occur between the two armies? A. Yes: of the 7th of October was fought the battle of Saratoga, in which the Americans were victorious. Q. When did Burgoyne finally surrender to Gates? A. He surrendered at Saratoga, on the 17th of Oc tober, 1777. Q. What was the number of men that surrendered to Gates, at Saratoga? A. Five thousand seven hundred and ninety, together with their arms, ammunition; and artillery. Q. What became of the British on the Hudson, and those left at Ticonderoga, on hearing the fate of Burgoyne? A. Those on the Hudson, headed by Clinton, having captured forts Clinton and Montgomery, and burned Kingston, hearing the fate of Burgoyne, returned to New York: the others destroyed their cannon, abandoned Ticonderoga, and returned to Canada. Q. What did LaFayette often do for the American army? A. Often, when the American army was in want of provisions, blankets, and clothing, when there was not a single pair of shoes in that army, La Fayette, from his own purse. supplied those necessaries. CHAPTER XI. EVENTS OF 1778. Q. FOR what was the beginning of the year 1778 distinguished? A. The treaty of alliance between France and America, by which the Americans obtained a powerful ally. Q. Who were the American Commissioners, with whom this treaty was negotiated? A. Dr. Franklin, Silas Dean, and Arthur Lee. Q. What event conduced to this alliance with France? A. The surrender of the English army, under Burgoyne. Q. When the news of this treaty reached England, what was immediately done by the British government? A. Commissioners were immediately sent to America, authorized to proclaim a repeal of all offensive statutes, and treat with the constituted authorities of America. Q. How were these commissioners received by the congress of the United States? A. Their offers were at once rejected. Q. Did France endeavour, at once, to assist America? A. Yes: by sending a large fleet, the first object of which was to blockade the British squadron in the Dela ware. Q. What did the British deem it expedient to do? A. Apprehending the design of the French, their squadron sailed for New York, and their army evacuated Philadelphia, and retreated towards the same place. Q. When did they evacuate Philadelphia? Q. What is the meaning of evacuate? |