poorly fed, and were exposed in an open country, without instruments to intrench themselves, without tents to shelter them from the inclemency of the season, and in the midst of a population little zealous, or rather hostile to the republic. Added to this, numbers of the leading characters, both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, who had been friendly to the American cause, were changing sides, and making peace with the enemy. This example became pernicious, and the most prejudicial effects were to be apprehended from it. Every day ushered in some new calamity; the cause of America seemed hastening to irretrievable ruin. The most discreet no longer dissembled that the term of the war was at hand, and that the hour was come, in which the colonies were about to resume the yoke. But Washington, in the midst of so much adversity, did not despair of the public safety. His constancy was an object of admiration. Far from betraying any symptoms of hesitation or fear, he showed himself to his dejected soldiers with a serene countenance, and radiant, as it were, with a certain hope of a better future. Adverse fortune had not been able to vanquish, nay, not even to shake, his invincible spirit. Firmly resolved to pursue their object through every fortune, the congress manifested a similar constancy. It appeared as if the spirit of these great minds had increased with adversity.

49. Notwithstanding the general aspect of affairs, on the part of America, was thus forbidding, the continental congress, so far from betraying symptoms of despair, manifested more confidence than ever; and, as if success must eventually crown their enterprises, calmly occupied themselves in drawing up various Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the

states.

Such articles were obviously necessary, that the line of distinction between the powers of the respective states, and of congress, should be exactly defined. In this way, only, would collisions be avoided, and the peace and harmony of the Union be preserved.

Accordingly, such articles were now digested, and, at the sitting of congress, October 4th, 1776, were signed by all the members, and copies immediately sent to the respective assemblies of each state for approbation.

50. Fortunately, Washington, about this time, received reinforcements of militia and regular troops, which, together with his previous forces, gave him an

But this number

army of about 7000 effective men. being soon to be reduced by the retirement of a large body of militia, whose period of enlistment would close with the year, Washington formed the bold resolution of recrossing the Delaware, and of attacking the British at Trenton. This plan was carried into effect on the night of the 25th of December; and on the following day, Hessian prisoners to the amount of one thousand were taken by the Americans, with the loss of scarcely a man on their side. This was a brilliant achievement, and served to arouse the desponding hopes of America.

The American troops detached for this service arrived, in the dusk of the evening, at the bank of the river. The passage of the river by the troops and the artillery, it was expected, would be effected before midnight. But this was found to be impracticable. The cold was so intense, and the river so obstructed with floating ice, that the landing of the artillery was not accomplished until four in the morning. An immediate and precipitate march was made towards Trenton, with the hope of reaching it before day. But a thick fog setting in, and a mist, mingled with sleet, so retarded their march, that they did not reach Trenton until

eight o'clock; yet, at this late hour, the Hessians had no suspiçion of the approach of the enemy.

51. Justly elated with the success at Trenton, Washington soon after proceeded to Princeton, where, on the 1st of January, he attacked a party of British, of whom upwards of one hundred were killed, and the remainder, amounting to about three hundred, were made prisoners. The loss of the Americans was less than that of the British; but in that number were several valuable officers, and among them the brave General Mercer.

52. Soon after the above victories, Washington retired (January 6th, 1777) to winter quarters, at Morristown, where his army were nearly all inoculated with the small-pox, that disease having appeared among the troops, and rendering such a measure necessary. The disease proved mortal but in few instances; nor was there a day in which the soldiers could not, if called upon, have fought the enemy.

53. On the opening of the campaign of 1777, the army of Washington, although congress had offered to recruits bounties in land, and greater wages, amounted to little more than 7000 men. Towards the latter end of May, Washington quitted his winter encampment at Morristown, and, about the same time, the royal army moved from Brunswick, which they had occupied during the winter. Much shifting of the armies followed, but no definite plan of operation had apparently been settled by either.

Previous to this, however, General Howe sent a detachment of two thousand men, under command of Gen. Tryon, Gen. Agnew, and Sir William Erskine, to destroy some stores and provisions deposited at Danbury, in Connecticut. Meeting with no resistance, they reached Danbury on the 26th of April, and destroyed one thousand eight hundred barrels of beef and pork, and eight hundred of flour, two thousand bushels of grain, clothing for a regiment, one hundred hogsheads of rum, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety tents. Besides the destruction of these articles, the enemy wantonly burned eighteen houses with their furniture, murdered three unoffending inhabitants, and threw them into the flames.

Generals Sullivan, Wooster, and Arnold, happening to be in the neighborhood, hastily collected about six hundred militia, with whom they marched in pursuit, in a heavy rain, as far as Bethel, about two miles from Danbury. On the morning of the 27th of April, the troops were divided, Gen. Wooster, with about three hundred men, falling in the rear of the enemy, while Arnold took post in front, at Ridgefield.

Gen. Wooster proceeded to attack the enemy, in which engagement he was mortally wounded, and from which his troops were compelled to retire. At Ridgefield, Arnold warmly received the enemy on their retreat, and, although repulsed, returned to the attack the next day on their march to the Sound. Finding themselves continually annoyed by the resolute and courageous yeomanry of the country through which they passed, they hastened to embark on board their ships, in which they sailed for New York. Their killed, wounded and missing, amounted to about one hundred and seventy: the loss of the Americans was not admitted to exceed one hundred. Gen. Wooster, now in his seventieth year, lingered with his wounds until the 2d of May. Congress resolved that a monument should be erected to his memory. To Gen. Arnold they presented a horse, properly ca parisoned, as a reward for his gallantry on the occasion.

54. At length the British Gen. Howe, leaving New Jersey, embarked at Sandy Hook, with sixteen thousand men, and sailed for the Chesapeake. On the 14th of August, he landed his troops, at the head of Elk river, in Maryland.

It being now obvious that his design was the occupation of Philadelphia, Washington immediately put the American army in motion towards that place, to prevent, if possible, its falling into the hands of the enemy.

The two armies met at Brandywine, Delaware, on the 11th of September; and after an engagement, which continued nearly all day, the Americans were compelled to retire.

The loss of the Americans in this action was estimated at three hundred killed, and six hundred wounded. Between three and four hundred, principally the wounded, were made prisoners. The loss of the British was stated at less than one hundred killed, and four hundred wounded.

In this battle several foreign officers greatly distinguished themselves. Among these was the heroic Lafayette, who, unfortunately, while endeavoring to rally some fugitives, was wounded in the leg.

On the night following the battle, the Americans retired to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. Not considering the battle of Brandywine as decisive, congress, which was sitting in Philadelphia, recommended to the commander-in-chief to risk another engagement; preparations for which were accordingly made. Washington repassed the Schuylkill, and met the enemy at Goshen, Sept. 16th. But a violent shower of rain occurring, as the advanced guards began to skirmish, the powder in the cartridge-boxes of the Americans became wet, and the commander was compelled to withdraw his troops.

55. An easy access to Philadelphia being now presented to the enemy, on the 26th, Howe entered the place without molestation. The principal part of the British army was stationed at Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. Congress adjourned to Lancaster, and Washington encamped at eighteen miles' distance from Ger

mantown.

56. Immediately after the occupation of Philadelphia, the attention of Gen. Howe was drawn to the reduction of some forts on the Delaware, which rendered the navigation of that river unsafe to the British. Accordingly, a part of the royal army was detached for that purpose. Washington seized the opportunity to attack the remainder at Germantown.

This attack was made Oct. 4th; but after a severe action, the Americans were repulsed, with a loss of double that of the British. The loss of the Americans was two hundred killed, six hundred wounded, and four hundred prisoners; that of the British was about one hundred killed and five hundred wounded.

After this action, the British removed to Philadelphia, where they continued long inactive. Washington retreated to Skippack creek, eleven miles from Germantown, where he encamped.

Great was the chagrin of Washington, on account of the repulse at Germantown, which was much increased by the auspicious commencement of the battle, and the flattering prospect of a speedy and complete victory. The ultimate failure of the Americans was attributed to the inexperience of a part of the troops, and to embarrassments arising from a fog, which increased the darkness of the night. Congress, however, expressed