Geroge Washyington

8/16/2019 Geroge Washyington

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CHAPTER I

Of George Washington's birth, family, and education - Of his mission to the French commandant on the Ohi

in 1753 - His military oerations as an officer of !irginia, from 175" to 175#, and his subse$uent

emloyments to the commencement of the %merican &eolution(

The ancestors of George Washington were among the first settlers of the oldest British colony in America. Hwas the third in descent from John Washington an English gentleman who a!o"t the middle of the #$thcent"ry emigrated from the north of England and settled in Westmoreland co"nty %irginia. In the &lace whehe had fi'ed himself his great grandson the s"!(ect of the following history was !orn on the ))d of *e!r"ar

#$+). His immediate ancestor was A"g"stine Washington who died when his son George was only ten yearsold.

The ed"cation of the yo"ng or&han or co"rse de,ol,ed on his mother who added one to the many e'am&leof ,irt"o"s matrons who de,oting themsel,es to the care of their children ha,e trained them "& to !edisting"ished citi-ens. In one instance her fears com!ining with her affection &re,ented a meas"re which i &erse,ered in wo"ld ha,e gi,en a direction to the talents and ,iews of her son ,ery different form thatwhich laid the fo"ndation of his fame.

George Washington when only fifteen years old solicited and o!tained the &lace of a midshi&man in theBritish na,y !"t his ardent -eal to ser,e his co"ntry then at war with *rance and /&ain was on the

interference of his mother for the &resent s"s&ended and for e,er di,erted from the sea ser,ice. /he li,ed tosee him ac0"ire higher hono"rs than he e,er co"ld ha,e o!tained as a na,al officer nor did she de&art this litill he was ele,ated to the first offices !oth ci,il and military in the gift of his co"ntry. /he was ne,erthelesfrom the infl"ence of long esta!lished ha!its so far from !eing &artial to the American re,ol"tion that sheoften regretted the side her son had ta1en in the contro,ersy !etween her 1ing and her co"ntry.

In the minority of George Washington the means of ed"cation in America were scanty his was therefore ,erlittle e'tended !eyond what is common e'ce&t in mathematics. 2nowledge of this 1ind contri!"tes more &erha&s than any other to strengthen the mind. In his case it was do"!ly "sef"l for in the early &art of his lifit laid the fo"ndation of his fort"ne !y 0"alifying him for the office of a &ractical s"r,eyor at a time whengood land was of easy attainment and its intimate conne'ion with the military art ena!led him at a later

&eriod to ("dge more correctly of the &ro&er means of defending his co"ntry when he was called "&on to &reside o,er its armies.

3f the first nineteen years of George Washington4s life little is 1nown. His talents !eing more solid thanshowy were not s"fficiently de,elo&ed for &"!lic notice !y the com&arati,ely "nim&ortant e,ents of thatearly &eriod. His contem&oraries ha,e generally re&orted that in his yo"th he was gra,e silent andtho"ghtf"l diligent and methodical in !"siness dignified in his a&&earance and strictly hono"ra!le in all hisde&ortment !"t they ha,e not !een a!le to gratify the &"!lic c"riosity with any stri1ing anecdotes.


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His &atrimonial estate was small !"t that little was managed with &r"dence and increased !y ind"stry. In thegayest &eriod of his life he was a stranger to dissi&ation and riot. That he had esta!lished a solid re&"tatione,en in his (",enile years may !e fairly &res"med from the following circ"mstances. At the age of nineteen was a&&ointed one of the ad("tants general of %irginia with the ran1 of ma(or. When he was !arely twenty5one he was em&loyed !y the go,ernment of his nati,e colony in an enter&rise which re0"ired the &r"dence oage as well as the ,igo"r of yo"th.

The *rench as the first E"ro&ean disco,erers of the ri,er 6issisi&&i claimed all that immense region whose

waters r"n into that ri,er. In &"rs"ance of the claim in the year #$7+ they too1 &ossession of a tract ofco"ntry s"&&osed to !e within the chartered limits of %irginia and were &roceeding to erect a chain of &ostsfrom the la1es of Canada to the ri,er 3hio in s"!ser,iency to their grand scheme of connecting Canada with8o"isiana and limiting the English colonies to the east of the Alleghany mo"ntains.

6r. 9inwiddie then go,ernor of %irginia dis&atched Washington with a letter to the *rench commandant onthe 3hio remonstrating against the &rosec"tion of these designs as hostile to the rights of his Britannicma(esty. The yo"ng en,oy was also instr"cted to &enetrate the designs of the *rench to conciliate the affectiof the nati,e tri!es and to &roc"re "sef"l intelligence.

In the discharge of the tr"st he set o"t on the #7th of :o,em!er from Will4s Cree1 then an e'treme frontier

settlement and &"rs"ed his co"rse thro"gh a ,ast e'tent of "ne'&lored wilderness amidst rains and snows ano,er ri,ers of ,ery diffic"lt &assage and among tri!es of Indians se,eral of whom from &re,io"s attentionsof the *rench were hostile to the English. When his horses were incom&etent he &roceeded on foot with a gin his hand and a &ac1 on his !ac1.

He o!ser,ed e,erything with the eye of a soldier and &artic"larly designated the for1s of the 6onongahelaand Alleghany ri,er ;the s&ot where *ort 9"0"esne was afterwards !"ilt and where Pitts!"rgh now stands< an ad,antageo"s &osition for a fortress. Here he sec"red the affections of some neigh!o"ring Indians andengaged them to accom&any him. With them he ascended the Alleghany ri,er and *rench Cree1 to a fort onthe ri,er le Boe"f one of its western !ranches. He there fo"nd 6ons. 8e Garde"r de /t. Pierre thecommandant on the 3hio and deli,ered to him 9inwiddie4s letter and recei,ing his answer ret"rned with it

Williams!"rg on the $=th day after he had recei,ed his a&&ointment.

The &atience and firmness dis&layed on this occasion !y Washington ;added to his ("dicio"s treatment of theIndians< !oth merited and o!tained a large share of a&&la"se. A (o"rnal of the whole was &"!lished andins&ired the &"!lic with high ideas of the energies !oth of his !ody and mind.

The *rench were too intent on their fa,o"rite &ro(ect of e'tending their em&ire in America to !e di,erted froit !y the remonstrances of a colonial go,ernor. The answer !ro"ght !y Washington was s"ch as ind"ced theassem!ly of %irginia to raise a regiment of +>> men to defend their frontiers and maintain the right claimed !ehalf of Great5Britain o,er the dis&"ted territory. 3f this 6r. *ry was a&&ointed colonel and GeorgeWashington lie"tenant5colonel. The latter ad,anced with two com&anies of this regiment early in A&ril as fa

as the Great 6eadows where he was informed !y some friendly Indians that the *rench were erectingfortifications in the for1 !etween the Alleghany and 6onongahela ri,ers and also that a detachment was onits march from that &lace towards the Great 6eadows.

War had not !een yet formally declared !etween *rance and England !"t as neither was dis&osed to recedefrom their claims to the lands on the 3hio it was deemed ine,ita!le and on the &oint of commencing. /e,ercirc"mstances were s"&&osed to indicate an hostile intention on the &art of the ad,ancing *rench detachmentWashington "nder the g"idance of some friendly Indians in a dar1 rainy night s"r&rised their encam&mentand after firing once r"shed in and s"rro"nded them. The commanding officer 6r. J"mon,ille was 1illedone &erson esca&ed and all the rest immediately s"rrendered.


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/oon after this affair Col. *ry died and the command of the regiment de,ol,ed on Washington who s&eedilcollected the whole at the Great 6eadows. Two inde&endent com&anies of reg"lars one from :ew ?or1 andone from /o"th Carolina shortly after arri,ed at the same &lace. Col. Washington was now at the head ofnearly @>> men.

A stoc1ade afterwards called *ort :ecessity was erected at the Great 6eadows in which a small force wasleft and the main !ody ad,anced with a ,iew of dislodging the *rench from *ort 9"0"esne which they hadrecently erected at the confl"ence of the Alleghany and 6onongahela ri,ers. They had not &roceeded more

than thirteen miles when they were informed !y some friendly Indians that the *rench as n"mero"s as &igeons in the woods were ad,ancing in an hostile manner towards the English settlements and also that *o9"0"esne had !een recently and strongly reinforced.

In this critical sit"ation a co"ncil of war "nanimo"sly recommended a retreat to the Great 6eadows whichwas effected witho"t delay and e,ery e'ertion made to render *ort :ecessity tena!le. Before the wor1sintended for that &"r&ose were com&leted 6ons. de %illier with a considera!le force attac1ed the fort. Theassailants were co,ered !y trees and high grass. The Americans recei,ed them with great resol"tion andfo"ght some within the stoc1ade and others in the s"rro"nding ditch. Washington contin"ed the whole day othe o"tside of the fort and cond"cted the defense with the greatest coolness and intre&idity. The engagementlasted from ten in the morning till night when the *rench commander demanded a &arley and offered terms

ca&it"lation. His first and second &ro&osals were re(ected and Washington wo"ld acce&t of none short of thefollowing hono"ra!le ones which were m"t"ally agreed "&on in the co"rse of the night. The fort to !es"rrendered on condition that the garrison sho"ld march o"t with the hono"rs of war and !e &ermitted toretain their arms and !aggage and to march "nmolested into the inha!ited &arts of %irginia.

The legislat"re of %irginia im&ressed with a high sense of the !ra,ery and good cond"ct of their troo&stho"gh com&elled to s"rrender the fort ,oted their than1s to Col. Washington and the officers "nder hiscommand and they also ga,e three h"ndred &istoles to !e distri!"ted among the soldiers engaged in thisaction !"t made no arrangements for renewing offensi,e o&erations in the remainder of the year #$7@. Whenthe season for action was o,er the regiment was red"ced to inde&endent com&anies and Washington resignehis command.

The contro,ersy a!o"t the 3hio lands which !egan in %irginia was ta1en "& ,ery serio"sly !y Great5Britainand two British regiments were sent to America to s"&&ort the claims of his Britannic ma(esty. They arri,edearly in #$77 and were commanded !y Gen. Braddoc1. That officer !eing informed of the talents of GeorgeWashington in,ited him to ser,e the cam&aign as a ,ol"nteer aid de cam&. The in,itation was cheerf"llyacce&ted and Washington (oined Gen. Braddoc1 near Ale'andria and &roceeded with him to Will4s Cree1afterwards called *ort C"m!erland. Here the army was detained till the #)th of J"ne waiting for waggonshorses and &ro,isions.

Washington had early recommended the "se of &ac1 horses instead of waggons for con,eying the !aggage the army. The &ro&riety of this ad,ice soon !ecame a&&arent and a considera!le change was made in

conformity to it. The army had not ad,anced m"ch more than ten miles from *ort C"m!erland whenWashington was sei-ed with a ,iolent fe,er !"t ne,ertheless contin"ed with the army !eing con,eyed in aco,ered waggon after he had ref"sed to stay !ehind tho"gh so m"ch e'ha"sted as to !e "na!le to ride onhorse!ac1. He ad,ised the general to lea,e his hea,y artillery and !aggage !ehind and to ad,ance ra&idly to*ort 9"0"esne with a select !ody of troo&s a few necessary stores and some &ieces of light artillery.

Ho&es were ind"lged that !y this e'&editio"s mo,ement *ort 9"0"esne might !e reached in its &resent wea1state with a force s"fficient to red"ce it !efore e'&ected reinforcements sho"ld arri,e. General Braddoc1a&&ro,ed the scheme and s"!mitted it to the consideration of a co"ncil held at the 8ittle 6eadows whichrecommended that the commander in chief ad,ance as ra&idly as &ossi!le with #)>> select men and that Col9"n!ar sho"ld remain !ehind with the remainder of the troo&s and the hea,y !aggage. This ad,anced cor&s


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commenced its march only +> carriages !"t did not &roceed with the ra&idity that was e'&ected. Theyfre0"ently halted to le,el the road and to !"ild !ridges o,er inconsidera!le !roo1s. They cons"med fo"r dayin &assing o,er the first nineteen miles from the 8ittle 6eadows. At this &lace the &hysicians declared thatCol.Washington4s life wo"ld !e endangered !y ad,ancing with the army. He was therefore ordered !y Gen.Braddoc1 stay !ehind with a small g"ard till 9"n!ar sho"ld arri,e with the rear of the army. As soon as hisstrength wo"ld &ermit he (oined the ad,anced detachment and immediately entered on the d"ties his office.3n the ne't day J"ly th a dreadf"l scene too1 &lace. When Braddoc1 had crossed the 6onongahela and wonly a few miles from *ort 9"0"esne and was &ressing forward witho"t any a&&rehension danger he was

attac1ed in an o&en thic1 set with grass. An in,isi!le enemy consisting of *rench and Indians commenced ahea,y and well directed fire on his "nco,ered troo&s. The ,an fell !ac1 on the main !ody and the whole wasthrown into disorder. 6ar1smen le,elled their &ieces &artic"larly at officers and others on horse!ac1. In ashort time Washington was the only aid de cam& left ali,e and not wo"nded. 3n him therefore de,ol,ed thwhole d"ty of carrying o"t the general4s orders. He was of co"rse o!liged to !e constantly in motiontra,ersing the field of !attle on horse!ac1 in all directions. He had two horses shot "nder him and fo"r !"lle &assed thro"gh his coat !"t he esca&ed "nh"rt tho"gh e,ery other officer on horse!ac1 was either 1illed orwo"nded.

Pro,idence &reser,ed him for f"rther and greater ser,ices. Thro"gho"t the whole of the carnage and conf"sioof this fatal day Washington dis&layed the greatest coolness and the most &erfect self &ossession. Braddoc1

was "ndismayed amidst a shower of !"llets and !y his co"ntenance and e'am&le enco"raged his men tostand their gro"nd !"t ,alo"r was "seless and disci&line only offered s"rer mar1s to the destr"cti,e aim of"nseen mar1smen. nac0"ainted with the Indian mode of fighting Braddoc1 neither ad,anced "&on norretreated from the assailants !"t ,ery in("dicio"sly endea,ored to form his !ro1en troo&s on the gro"nd whethey were first attac1ed and where they were e'&osed "nco,ered to the incessant galling fire of a shelteredenemy.

He had !een ca"tioned of the danger to which he was e'&osed and was ad,ised to ad,ance the &ro,incials infront of his troo&s to sco"r the woods and detect am!"scades !"t he disregarded the sal"taryrecommendation. The action lasted near three ho"rs in the co"rse of which the general had three horses shot"nder him and finally recei,ed a wo"nd of which he died in a few days in the cam& of 9"n!ar to which he

had !een !ro"ght !y Col. Washington and others.

3n the fall of Braddoc1 his troo&s ga,e way in all directions and co"ld not !e rallied till they had crossed th6onongahela. The Indians all"red !y &l"nder did not &"rs"e with ,igo"r. The ,an0"ished reg"lars soon fel !ac1 to 9"n!ar4s cam& from which after destroying s"ch of their stores as co"ld !e s&ared they retired toPhiladel&hia.

The officers in the British regiments dis&layed the greatest !ra,ery. Their whole n"m!er was =7 and D@ ofthem were 1illed or wo"nded. The common soldiers were so disconcerted !y the "n"s"al mode of attac1 thathey soon !ro1e and co"ld not !e rallied. The three %irginia com&anies in the engagement !eha,ed ,erydifferently and fo"ght li1e men till there were scarcely +> men left ali,e in the whole. This re,erse of fort"n

rather added to than too1 from the re&"tation of Washington. His co"ntrymen e'tolled his cond"ct andgenerally said and !elie,ed that if he had !een commander the disasters of the day wo"ld ha,e !een a,oided

Intelligence of Braddoc14s defeat and that Col. 9"n!ar had withdrawn all the reg"lar forces from %irginiaarri,ed while the assem!ly of that colony was in session. Im&ressed with the necessity of &rotecting theire'&osed frontier settlements they determined to raised a regiment of si'teen com&anies. The command of thwas gi,en to Washington. /o great was the &"!lic confidence in the so"ndness of his ("dgment that he wasa"thori-ed to name the field officers. His commission also designated him as commander in chief of all theforces raised or to !e raised in %irginia.

In e'ec"tion of the d"ties of his new office Washington after gi,ing the necessary orders for the recr"iting


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ser,ice ,isited the frontiers. He fo"nd many &osts !"t few soldiers. 3f these the !est dis&osition was made.While on his way to Williams!"rg to arrange a &lan of o&erations with the lie"tenant5go,ernor he waso,erta1en !y an e'&ress !elow *rederic1s!"rg with information that the !ac1 settlements were !ro1en "& !y &arties of *rench and Indians who were m"rdering and ca&t"ring men women and children !"rning theirho"ses and destroying their cro&s and that the few troo&s stationed on the frontiers "na!le to &rotect theco"ntry had retreated to small stoc1ade forts.

Washington altered his co"rse from Williams!"rg to Winchester and endea,o"red to collect a force for the

defense of the co"ntry. B"t this was im&ossi!le. The in ha!itants instead of assem!ling in arms and facing thin,aders fled !efore them and e'tended the general &anic. While the attention of indi,id"als was engrossed !y their families and &ri,ate concerns the general safety was neglected. The alarm !ecame "ni,ersal and th"tmost conf"sion &re,ailed. Before any ade0"ate force was collected to re&el the assailants they had safelycrossed the Alleghany mo"ntains after ha,ing done an immensity of mischief.

Irr"&tions of this 1ind were re&eatedly made into the frontier settlements of %irginia in the years #$7D #$7$and #$7=. These generally consisted of a considera!le n"m!er of *rench and Indians who were detached fro*ort 9"0"esne. It was their "s"al &ractice on their a&&roaching the settlements to di,ide into small &artiesand a,oiding the forts to attac1 solitary families in the night as well as the day. The sa,ages acc"stomed toli,e in the woods fo"nd little diffic"lty in concealing themsel,es till their fatal !low was str"c1. /"ndry

"nim&ortant s1irmishes too1 &lace with ,ario"s res"lt !"t the n"m!er 1illed on !oth sides wasinconsidera!le when com&ared with the mischief done and the many who were &"t to death otherwise thanin !attle.

The in,aders co"ld seldom !e !ro"ght to a reg"lar engagement. Hono"ra!le war was not in theircontem&lation. Pl"nder de,astation and m"rder were their o!(ects The assem!lage of a res&ecta!le force too&&ose them was their signal for retreating. Irr"&tions of this 1ind were so fre0"ent for three years followingBraddoc14s defeat that in Pennsyl,ania the frontier settlers were dri,en !ac1 as far as Carlisle and in6aryland to *rederic1town and in %irginia to the Bl"e Ridge.

The distresses of the inha!itants e'ceeded all descri&tion. If they went into stoc1ade forts they s"ffered from

the want of &ro,isions 5 were often s"rro"nded and sometimes c"t off. By fleeing they a!andoned thecon,eniences of home and the means of s"&&ort. If they contin"ed on their farms they lay down e,ery nigh"nder a&&rehensions of !eing m"rdered !efore morning.

B"t this was not the worst. Ca&ti,ity and tort"re were fre0"ently their &ortion. To all these e,ils women age &ersons and children were e0"ally lia!le with men in arms for sa,ages ma1e no distinction. E'termination itheir o!(ect. To Washington the inha!itants loo1ed for that &rotection he had not the means of gi,ing. In aletter to the go,ernor he o!ser,ed the s"&&licating tears of the women and mo,ing &etitions of the menmelt me with s"ch deadly sorrow that I solemnly declare if I 1now my own mind I co"ld offer myself awilling sacrifice to the !"tchering enemy &ro,ided that wo"ld contri!"te to the &eo&le4s ease.

%irginia &resented a frontier of three h"ndred and si'ty miles e'&osed to these inc"rsions. Hard was the lot oWashington to whom was intr"sted the defense of these e'tensi,e settlements witho"t means ade0"ate to the &"r&ose. The regiment ,oted !y the assem!ly was ne,er filled. Its act"al n"m!er was oftener !elow thana!o,e $>> men. The militia afforded a ,ery fee!le aid on which little reliance co"ld !e &laced. They wereslow in collecting and when collected soon !egan to han1er after home and while in cam& co"ld not s"!mto that disci&line witho"t which an army is a mo!.

The militia laws were ,ery defecti,e. Cowardice in time of action and slee&ing while on d"ty tho"gh crimesof the most destr"cti,e nat"re were ,ery inade0"ately &"nished !y the ci,il code "nder which they too1 thefield. 9esertion and m"tiny for some considera!le time s"!(ected the offenders to nothing more than slight


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&enalties.

Washington was incessant in his re&resentations to the go,ernor and to the assem!ly that no reliance co"ld ! &laced on the militia "nder e'isting reg"lations and that the inconsidera!le n"m!er enlisted for reg"larser,ice together with the &lans &ro&osed for the sec"rity of the frontiers were altogether inade0"ate. He notonly &ointed o"t the defect of the systems which had !een ado&ted !"t s"!mitted to the consideration of thoin &ower s"ch meas"res as he tho"ght !est and &artic"larly recommended in case offensi,e o&erations wernot ado&ted that twenty5two forts e'tending in a line of three h"ndred and si'ty miles sho"ld !e immediate

erected and garrisoned !y two tho"sand men in constant &ay and ser,ice !"t on all occasions ga,e a decide &reference to the red"ction of *ort 9"0"esne as the only radical remedy for the e,ils to which the frontiersettlements were e'&osed.

Pro&ositions to this effect were made and "rged !y him in #$7D and #$7$ !oth to the go,ernment of %irginiaand the commanders in chief of the British forces in America !"t a short5sighted &olicy in the first and a &reference gi,en !y the last to a ,igoro"s &rosec"tion of the war in the northern colonies &re,ented theiracce&tance. To his ine'&ressi!le (oy the &ro(ect o!tained in the year #$7= the com&lete a&&ro!ation of Gen.*or!es who was charged with the defense of the middle and so"thern colonies. This !eing resol,ed "&on thmo,ements of the army were directed to that &oint. Part of the force destined for this e'&edition was atPhiladel&hia &art at Ray4s Town and &art dis&ersed on the frontiers of %irginia.

To !ring all together was a wor1 of time and diffic"lty. Washington "rged the necessity of an early cam&aign !"t s"ch delays too1 &lace that he did not recei,e orders to assem!le his regiment at Winchester till the )@thof 6ay nor to &roceed from thence to *ort C"m!erland till the )@th of J"ne nor to &roceed to Ray4s Towntill the )#st of /e&tem!er. The main !ody did not commence their march from Ray4s Town till the )d of3cto!er and it was as late as the )7th of :o,em!er when they reached *ort 9"0"esne. These delays weree'tremely mortifying to Washington and threatened to render the cam&aign a!orti,e. He "rged the necessityof e'&edition and most &ointedly remonstrated against one of the &rinci&al ca"ses of delay. This was aresol"tion ado&ted !y his s"&erio"rs for o&ening a new road for the army in &reference to that which wasgenerally 1nown !y the name of Gen. Braddoc14s. Being o,err"led he 0"ietly s"!mitted.

Instead of em!arrassing meas"res he tho"ght in("dicio"s the whole energies of himself and his regiment wee'erted to ma1e the most of those which his commanding officer &referred. The &rogress of the army was soslow that it did not reach 8oyal Hannah till the 7th of :o,em!er. Here it was determined in a co"ncil of warto !e "nad,isa!le to &roceed any f"rther that cam&aign. If this resol"tion had !een adhered to the onlyalternati,e wo"ld ha,e !een to winter an army of =>>> men in a cold inhos&ita!le wilderness remote from afriendly settlements or to tread !ac1 their ste&s and wait for a more fa,o"ra!le season. In either case theywo"ld ha,e s"ffered immensely. The &ro&riety of the remonstrances made !y Washington against the manydelays which had ta1en &lace now !ecame o!,io"sly stri1ing. The ho&es of restoring &eace to the frontiersettlements !y red"cing *ort 9"0"esne !egan to ,anish. B"t contrary to all h"man a&&earances s"ccess wasnow offered to their gras& at the ,ery moment they had gi,en "& e,ery ho&e of o!taining it.

/ome &risoners were ta1en who ga,e s"ch information of the state of the garrison as ind"ced a re,ersal of thlate determination and enco"raged the general to &roceed. Washington was in front s"&erintending theo&ening of the road for the accommodation of the troo&s. They ad,anced with slow and ca"tio"s ste&s "ntilthey reached *ort 9"0"esne. To their great s"r&rise they fo"nd the fort e,ac"ated and that the garrison hadretreated down the 3hio. The reasons for the a!andonment of so ad,antageo"s a &osition m"st !e loo1ed forelsewhere. The British had "rged the war with so m"ch ,igo"r and s"ccess against the *rench to the northwaof the 3hio that no reinforcements co"ld !e s&ared to *ort 9"0"esne. The British fleet had ca&t"red aconsidera!le &art of the reinforcements designed !y *rance for her colonies. The tide of fort"ne had !eg"n tot"rn against the *rench in fa,o"r of the English. These wea1ened the infl"ence of the former o,er the Indianand ca"sed them to withdraw from the s"&&ort of the garrison. nder different circ"mstances the s"ccess ofthe cam&aign wo"ld ha,e !een do"!tf"l &erha&s im&ractica!le. The !enefits which res"lted from the


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ac0"isition of *ort 9"0"esne &ro,ed the so"ndness of Washington4s ("dgment in so warmly "rging for threeyears an e'&edition for its red"ction. These were not confined to %irginia !"t e'tended to Pennsyl,ania and6aryland.

While the *rench were in &ossession of that &ost the Indians near the 3hio were entirely at their !ec1. Thiswas their &lace of rende-,o"s and from it they made fre0"ent and r"ino"s inc"rsions into these three colonieThey neither s&ared age nor se' !"t 1illed or ca&ti,ated indiscriminately all who came in their way. *ire andde,astation 5 the scal&ing 1nife and tomahaw1 mar1ed their ro"te. A com&lete re,ol"tion in the dis&osition o

the Indians res"lted from the e'&"lsion of the *rench.

Always &rone to ta1e &art with the strongest they deserted their ancient friends and &aid co"rt to those who !y recent con0"est were now in &ossession of the co"ntry. A treaty of &eace was soon after concl"ded with athe Indian tri!es !etween the la1es and the 3hio. *ort 9"0"esne henceforward ass"med the name of *ort Pitrecei,ed considera!le re&airs and was garrisoned !y )>> men from Washington4s regiment. It !ecame as"sef"l in f"t"re to the English settlements as it had !een in("rio"s while in the occ"&ation of the *rench.

The cam&aign of #$7= ended the military career of Col. Washington as a &ro,incial officer. The great o!(ecton which his heart was set the red"ction of *ort 9"0"esne !eing accom&lished he resigned his commission

9"ring the three &receding years in which he was charged with the defense of %irginia none of those greate,ents occ"rred which enli,en and adorn the &age of history yet the d"ties he &erformed were e'tremelyard"o"s. He esta!lished e'act disci&line in his regiment tho"gh "nacc"stomed to restraint and inf"sed intothem s"ch a s&irit as made them when in action fight li1e men and die li1e soldiers.

The diffic"lties of defending s"ch an e'tensi,e frontier with so inade0"ate a force wo"ld ha,e chagrinedalmost any other man into a resignation of the command !"t only e'cited in him greater im&ort"nity with thr"ling &owers for the correction of errors. The &lans he &ro&osed the systems he recommended forcond"cting the war dis&layed an "ncommon ,igo"r of mind. He retired from the army with the than1s of hisregiment and the esteem not only of his co"ntrymen !"t of the officers of the British army and what is &artic"larly remar1a!le with the "ndiminished confidence of the frontier settlers to whom he was "na!le to

e'tend that &rotection they e'&ected from his hands. They were thoro"ghly con,inced he had made the !est &ossi!le "se of his scanty means for the sec"rity of so e'tensi,e a frontier and to the weight of his ad,ice inrecommending and s&irited co5o&eration in e'ec"ting they ascri!ed a large &ro&ortion of the merit of the lats"ccessf"l e'&edition against *ort 9"0"esne an e,ent from which they &romised themsel,es an e'em&tionfrom the calamities "nder which they had long la!o"red. As a reward of his gallant and &atriotic ser,ices heshortly after o!tained the hand of 6rs. C"stis who to a fine &erson and large fort"ne added e,eryaccom&lishment which contri!"tes to the ha&&iness of married life. Col. Washington !y the death of his elde !rother 8awrence had a few years !efore ac0"ired an estate sit"ated on the Potowmac1 called 6o"nt %ernoin com&liment to admiral %ernon who a!o"t the year #$@# commanded the British fleet in an e'&editionagainst Carthagena in which e'&edition 6r. 8awrence Washington had !een engaged.

To this delightf"l s&ot the late commander of the %irginia forces released from the cares of a military life anin &ossession of e,ery thing that co"ld ma1e life agreea!le withdrew and ga,e himself "& to domestic &"rs"its. These were cond"cted with so m"ch ("dgment steadiness and ind"stry as greatly to enlarge andim&ro,e his estate. To them he e'cl"si,ely de,oted himself for fifteen years with the e'ce&tion of ser,ing inthe ho"se of !"rgesses of the colony of %irginia and as a ("dge of the co"rt of the co"nty in which he residedIn these stations he ac0"itted himself with re&"tation and ac0"ired no inconsidera!le 1nowledge in thescience of ci,il go,ernment.

9"ring this &eriod the clashing claims of Great5Britain and her colonies were fre0"ently !ro"ght !efore the%irginia legislat"re. In e,ery instance he too1 a decided &art in the o&&osition made to the &rinci&le of ta'ati


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claimed !y the &arent state.

Had Great5Britain !een wise the history of George Washington wo"ld ha,e ended here with the addition thahe died in the si'ty5eighth year of his age ha,ing s"stained thro"gh life the character of a good man ane'cellent farmer a wise mem!er of the legislat"re and an im&artial distri!"ter of ("stice among hisneigh!o"rs.

%ery different was his destiny. *rom !eing the commander of the forces of his nati,e colony %irginia he wa

ad,anced to the command of the armies of thirteen nited Colonies and s"ccessf"lly led them thro"gh are,ol"tionary war of eight years d"ration which iss"ed in their esta!lishment as thirteen nited /tates. Theorigin of these great e,ents m"st !e loo1ed for across the Atlantic.


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CHAPTER II

&etrosect of the origin of the %merican reolutionary )ar-- Of George Washington as member of*ongress, in 177" and 1775-- %s *ommander in *hief of the armies of the +nited *olonies in 1775 and

177, and his oerations near oston, in these years(

/oon after the &eace of Paris #$D+ a new system for go,erning the British colonies was ado&ted. 3nea!ridgment of their acc"stomed li!erties followed another in s"ch ra&id s"ccession that in the short s&aceof twel,e years they had nothing left they co"ld call their own. The British &arliament in which they were"nre&resented and o,er which they had no control not only claimed !"t e'ercised the &ower of ta'ingthem at &leas"re and of !inding them in all cases whatsoe,er.

Claims so re&"gnant to the s&irit of the British constit"tion and which made s"ch in,idio"s distinctions !etween the s"!(ects of the same 1ing residing on different sides of the Atlantic e'cited a serio"s alarmamong the colonists. 9etached as they were from each other !y local residence and "nconnected in theirse,eral legislat"res a sense of common danger &ointed o"t to them the wisdom and &ro&riety of forming anew re&resentati,e !ody com&osed of delegates from each colony to ta1e care of their common interests.

With ,ery little &re,io"s concert s"ch a !ody was formed and met in Philadel&hia in /e&tem!er #$$@and entered into the serio"s consideration of the grie,ances "nder which their constit"ents la!o"red. Tothis congress %irginia de&"ted se,en of her most res&ecta!le citi-ens Peyton Randol&h RichardHenry 8ee George Washington Patric1 Henry Richard Bland Ben(amin Harrison Edm"nd

Pendleton men who wo"ld ha,e done hono"r to any age or co"ntry. The same were a&&ointed in li1emanner to attend a second congress on the #>th of 6ay in the following year.

The historians of the American re,ol"tion will detail with &leas"re and &ride the &roceedings of thisill"strio"s assem!ly the firmness and &recision with which they stated their grie,ances and &etitionedtheir so,ereign to redress them the elo0"ence with which they addressed the &eo&le of Great5Britain theinha!itants of Canada and their own constit"ents the ("dicio"s meas"res they ado&ted for cementing"nion at home and &roc"ring friends a!road.

They will also inform the world of the "ns"ccessf"l termination of all &lans &ro&osed for &reser,ing the"nion of the em&ire and that Great5Britain &roceeding from one o&&ression to the another threw the

colonies o"t of her &rotection made war "&on them and carried it on with a ,iew to their s"!("gation. Allthese matters together with the commencement of hostilities at 8e'ington and the formation of anAmerican army !y the colony of 6assach"setts for defending themsel,es against a royal army in Bostonm"st !e here &assed o,er.

3"r !"siness is only with George Washington. The fame he had ac0"ired as commander of the %irginiaforces together with his well 1nown military talents &roc"red for him the disting"ishing a&&ellation ofthe /oldier of America. Those who !efore the commencement of hostilities loo1ed forward to war as the &ro!a!le conse0"ence of the dis&"tes !etween Great5Britain and her colonies antici&ated his a&&ointmentto the s"&reme command of the forces of his nati,e co"ntry.

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As long as he contin"ed a mem!er of Congress he was chairman of e,ery committee a&&ointed !y that !ody to ma1e arrangements for defence. These d"ties in the /enate were soon s"&erseded !y more acti,eem&loyment in the field.

As soon as the Congress of the nited Colonies had determined on ma1ing a common ca"se with6assach"setts against which a British army had commenced hostilities they a&&ointed !y an "nanimo"s,ote George Washington commander in chief of all the forces raised or to !e raised for the defence of the

colonies.

His election was accom&anied with no com&etition and followed !y no en,y. The same general im&"lseon the &"!lic mind which led the colonies to agree in many other &artic"lars &ointed to him as the most &ro&er &erson for &residing o,er the armies.

To the &resident of Congress anno"ncing this a&&ointment General Washington re&lied in the followingwords

6r. President

Tho"gh I am tr"ly sensi!le of the high hono"r done me in this a&&ointment yet I feel great distress froma conscio"sness that my a!ilities and military e'&erience may not !e e0"al to the e'tensi,e and im&ortanttr"st. Howe,er as the Congress desire it I will enter "&on the momento"s d"ty and e'ert e,ery &ower I &ossess in their ser,ice and for s"&&ort of the glorio"s ca"se. I !eg they will acce&t my most cordialthan1s for the disting"ished testimony of their a&&ro!ation.

B"t lest some "nl"c1y e,ent sho"ld ha&&en "nfa,ora!le to my re&"tation I !eg it may !e remem!ered !ye,ery gentleman in the room that I this day declare with the "tmost sincerity I do not thin1 myself e0"alto the command I am hono"red with.

As to &ay /ir I !eg lea,e to ass"re the Congress that as no &ec"niary consideration co"ld ha,e tem&ted

me to acce&t this ard"o"s em&loyment at the e'&ense of my domestic ease and ha&&iness I do not wish toma1e any &rofit from it. I will 1ee& an e'act acco"nt of my e'&enses those I do"!t not they willdischarge and that is all I desire.

A s&ecial commission was made o"t for him and at the same time an "nanimo"s resol"tion was ado&ted !y Congress that they wo"ld maintain and assist him and adhere to him with their li,es and fort"nes forthe maintenance and &reser,ation of American 8i!erty.

He immediately entered on the d"ties of his high station. After &assing a few days in :ew5?or1 andma1ing some arrangements with Gen. /ch"yler who commanded there he &roceeded to Cam!ridgewhich was the head50"arters of the American army. 3n his way thither he recei,ed from &ri,ate &ersons

and &"!lic !odies the most flattering attention and the strongest e'&ressions of determination to s"&&orthim.

He recei,ed an address from the Pro,incial Congress of :ew5?or1 in which after e'&ressing theira&&ro!ation of his ele,ation to command they say55 We ha,e the f"llest ass"rances that whene,er thisim&ortant contest shall !e decided !y that fondest wish of each American so"l an accommodation witho"r mother co"ntry yo" will cheerf"lly resign the im&ortant de&osit committed into yo"r hands and re5ass"me the character of o"r worthiest citi-en.

The General after declaring his gratit"de for the res&ect shown him added55 Be ass"red that e,erye'ertion of my worthy colleag"es and myself will !e e'tended to the re5esta!lishment of &eace and


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harmony !etween the mother co"ntry and these colonies. As to the fatal !"t necessary o&erations of warwhen we ass"med the soldier we did not lay aside the citi-en and we shall most sincerely re(oice with yo"in that ha&&y ho"r when the re5esta!lishment of American li!erty on the most firm and solid fo"ndationsshall ena!le "s to ret"rn to o"r &ri,ate stations in the !osom of a free &eacef"l and ha&&y co"ntry.

A committee from the 6assach"setts Congress recei,ed him at /&ringfield a!o"t one h"ndred miles fromBoston and cond"cted him to the army. He was soon after addressed !y the Congress of that colony in themost affectionate manner.

In his answer he said55 Gentlemen yo"r 1ind congrat"lations on my a&&ointment and arri,al demandmy warmest ac1nowledgments and will e,er !e retained in gratef"l remem!rance. In e'changing theen(oyments of domestic life for the d"ties of my &resent honora!le !"t ard"o"s station I only em"late the,irt"e and &"!lic s&irit of the whole &ro,ince of 6assach"setts which with a firmness and &atriotismwitho"t e'am&le has sacrificed all the comforts of social and &olitical life in s"&&ort of the rights ofman1ind and the welfare of o"r common co"ntry. 6y highest am!ition is to !e the ha&&y instr"ment of,indicating these rights and to see this de,oted &ro,ince again restored to &eace li!erty and safety.

When Gen. Washington arri,ed at Cam!ridge he was recei,ed with the (oyf"l acclamations of theAmerican army. At the head of his troo&s he &"!lished a declaration &re,io"sly drawn "& !y Congress inthe nat"re of a manifesto setting forth the reasons for ta1ing "& arms. In this after en"merating ,ario"s

grie,ances of the colonies and ,indicating them from a &remeditated design of esta!lishing inde&endentstates it was added55

In o"r own nati,e land in defence of the freedom which is o"r !irthright and which we e,er en(oyed tillthe late ,iolation of it for the &rotection of o"r &ro&erty ac0"ired solely !y the ind"stry of o"r forefathersand o"rsel,es against ,iolence act"ally offered we ha,e ta1en "& arms We shall lay them down whenhostilities shall cease on the &art of the aggressors and all danger of their !eing renewed shall !eremo,ed and not !efore.

When Gen. Washington (oined the American army he fo"nd the British entrenched on B"n1er4s Hillha,ing also three floating !atteries in 6ystic Ri,er and a twenty g"n shi& !elow the ferry !etween Boston

and Charlestown. They had also a !attery on Co&se4s Hill and were strongly fortified on the :ec1. TheAmericans were intrenched at Winter Hill Pros&ect Hill and Ro'!"ry comm"nicating with one another !y small &osts o,er a distance of ten miles nor co"ld they !e contracted witho"t e'&osing the co"ntry tothe inc"rsions of the enemy.

The army &"t "nder the command of Washington amo"nted to #@7>> men. /e,eral circ"mstancesconc"rred to render this force ,ery inade0"ate to acti,e o&erations. 6ilitary stores were deficient in cam&and the whole in the co"ntry was inconsidera!le. 3n the @th of A"g"st all the stoc1 of &owder in theAmerican cam& and in the &"!lic maga-ines of the fo"r :ew5England &ro,inces wo"ld ha,e made ,erylittle more than nine ro"nds a man. In this destit"te condition the army remained for a fortnight.

To the want of &owder was added a ,ery general want of !ayonets of clothes of wor1ing tools and a totalwant of engineers. nder all these em!arrassments the General o!ser,ed that he had the materials of agood army that the men were a!le5!odied acti,e -ealo"s in the ca"se and of "n0"estiona!le co"rage.

He immediately instit"ted s"ch arrangements as were calc"lated to increase their ca&acity for ser,ice. Thearmy was distri!"ted into !rigades and di,isions and on his recommendation general staff officers werea&&ointed. Economy "nion and system were introd"ced into e,ery de&artment.

As the troo&s came into ser,ice "nder the a"thority of distinct colonial go,ernments no "niformity e'istedamong the regiments. In 6assach"setts the men had chosen their officers and ;ran1 e'ce&ted< were inother res&ects fre0"ently their e0"als. To form one "niform mass of these discordant materials and to


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s"!(ect freemen animated with the s&irit of li!erty and collected for its defence to the control of militarydisci&line re0"ired &atience for!earance and a s&irit of accommodation.

This delicate and ard"o"s d"ty was "nderta1en !y Gen. Washington and discharged with great address.When he had made considera!le &rogress in disci&lining his army the term for which enlistments hadta1en &lace was on the &oint of e'&iring. The troo&s from Connectic"t and Rhode Island were onlyengaged to the first of 9ecem!er #$$7 and no &art of the army longer than to the first of Jan"ary #$$D.

The commander in chief made early and forci!le re&resentations to Congress on this s"!(ect and "rged

them to ado&t efficient meas"res for the formation of a new army. They de&"ted three of their mem!ers6r. 8ynch 9r. *ran1lin and 6r. Harrison to re&air to cam& and in con("nction with him and the chiefmagistrates of the :ew5England colonies to confer on the most effect"al mode of contin"ing s"&&ortingand reg"lating a continental army. By them it was resol,ed to list )+$)) men as far as &ractica!le fromthe troo&s !efore Boston to ser,e till the last day of 9ecem!er #$$D "nless sooner discharged !yCongress.

In the e'ec"tion of this resol,e Washington called "&on all officers and soldiers to ma1e their election forretiring or contin"ing. /e,eral of the inferior officers retired. 6any of the men wo"ld not contin"e on anyterms. /e,eral ref"sed "nless they were ind"lged with f"rlo"ghs. 3thers "nless they were allowed tochoose their officers. /o many im&ediments o!str"cted the recr"iting ser,ice that it re0"ired great address

to o!,iate them.

Washington made forci!le a&&eals in general orders to the &ride and &atriotism of !oth officers and men.He &romised e,ery ind"lgence com&ati!le with safety and e,ery comfort that the state of the co"ntrya"thori-ed. In general orders of the )>th of 3cto!er he o!ser,ed55

The times and the im&ortance of the great ca"se we are engaging in allow no room for hesitation anddelay. When life li!erty and &ro&erty are at sta1e when o"r co"ntry is in danger of !eing a melancholyscene of !loodshed and desolation when o"r towns are laid in ashes innocent women and children dri,enfrom their &eacef"l ha!itations e'&osed to the rigo"rs of an inclement season to de&end &erha&s on thehand of charity for s"&&ort when calamities li1e these are staring "s in the face and a !r"tal sa,age

enemy threatens "s and e,ery thing we hold dear with destr"ction from foreign troo&s it little !ecomes thecharacter of a soldier to shrin1 from danger and condition for new terms. It is the General4s intention toind"lge !oth officers and soldiers who com&ose the new army with f"rlo"ghs for a reasona!le time !"tthis m"st !e done in s"ch a manner as not to in("re the ser,ice or wea1en the army too m"ch at once.

In the instr"ctions gi,en to the recr"iting officers the General en(oined "&on them not to enlist any &erson s"s&ected of !eing "nfriendly to the li!erties of America or any a!andoned ,aga!ond to whom allca"ses and co"ntries are e0"al and ali1e indifferent.

Tho"gh great e'ertions had !een made to &roc"re recr"its yet the regiments were not filled. /e,eralca"ses o&erated in &rod"cing this disinclination to the ser,ice. The s"fferings of the army had !een great.

*"el was ,ery scarce. Clothes and e,en &ro,isions had not !een f"rnished them in s"fficient 0"antities.The small&o' deterred many from entering !"t the &rinci&al reason was a disli1e to a military life. 6"chalso of that enth"siasm which !ro"ght n"m!ers to the field on the commencement of hostilities hada!ated.

The army of #$$7 was wasting away !y the e'&iration of the terms of ser,ice and recr"its for the newentered slowly. The regiments which were entitled to their discharge on the #st of 9ecem!er were withgreat diffic"lty &ers"aded to stay ten days when reinforcements of militia were e'&ected to s"&&ly their &lace. *rom the eagerness of the old troo&s to go home and the slowness of the new to enter ser,ice itwas diffic"lt to 1ee& "& the !loc1ade.


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3n the last day of the year when the first were entirely dis!anded the last only amo"nted to D7> menand many of these were a!sent on f"rlo"gh. At this time the royal army in Boston was a!o"t =>>>. Toassist the recr"iting ser,ice the General recommended to Congress to try the effects of a !o"nty !"t thiswas not agreed to till late in Jan"ary #$$D. In that and the following month the army was considera!lyincreased.

The !loc1ade of Boston was all this time 1e&t "& and the enemy confined to the city !"t this was far shortof what the American &eo&le e'&ected. Common fame re&resented the troo&s "nder the command ofWashington to !e nearly tre!le the royal army. This am&le force was s"&&osed to !e f"rnished with e,ery

thing necessary for the most acti,e o&erations. Their real n"m!ers and deficient e0"i&ments were foro!,io"s reasons caref"lly concealed.

The ardo"r and im&atience of the &"!lic had long since co"nted on the e'&"lsion of the British fromBoston. Washington was e0"ally ardent !"t !etter informed and more &r"dent. He well 1new thead,antages that wo"ld res"lt to the ca"se in which he was engaged from some !rilliant stro1e nor was heinsensi!le to insin"ations !y some that he was de,oid of energy and !y others that he wished to &rolonghis own im&ortance !y contin"ing the war. He !ore these m"rm"rs with &atience !"t ne,ertheless had hiseyes directed to Boston and wished for an o&ening to commence offensi,e o&erations.

The &ro&riety of this meas"re was s"!mitted to the consideration of re&eated co"ncils of war who

"niformly declared against it. A ho&e was ne,ertheless ind"lged that ice in the co"rse of the winter wo"ld !e fa,o"ra!le to an assa"lt. That this o&&ort"nity might not !e lost meas"res were ado&ted for &roc"ringlarge reinforcements of militia to ser,e till the first of 6arch #$$D. *rom @ to 7>>> men were accordingly &roc"red.

Contrary to what is "s"al the waters a!o"t Boston contin"ed o&en till the middle of *e!r"ary. Co"ncils ofwar were hitherto nearly "nanimo"s against an assa"lt. General Washington was less o&&osed to it thansome others !"t the want of amm"nition for the artillery together with the great &ro!a!ility of fail"reind"ced him to decline the attem&t. In lie" of it he formed a !old resol"tion to ta1e a new &osition thatwo"ld either com&el the British General to come to an action or to e,ac"ate Boston.

The American army was now stronger than e,er. Recr"iting for the last two months had !een "n"s"allys"ccessf"l. The reg"lar army e'ceeded #@>>> men and the militia were a!o"t D>>>. Washington th"sreinforced determined to fortify the heights of 9orchester from which he co"ld annoy the shi&s in thehar!o"r and the army in the town.

To fa,o"r the e'ec"tion of this &lan the town and lines of the enemy were !om!arded on the )nd +rd and@th of 6arch. 3n the night of the @th Gen. Thomas with a considera!le detachment too1 &ossession ofthe heights of 9orchester. By great e'ertions this &arty in the co"rse of the night nearly co,eredthemsel,es from the shot of the enemy. The a&&earance of their wor1s ca"sed no little s"r&rise in theBritish cam&. These were e,ery ho"r ad,ancing so as to afford additional sec"rity to the Americans &osted !ehind them.

The Admiral informed Gen. Howe that if the Americans 1e&t &ossession of these heights he wo"ld not !ea!le to 1ee& one of the British shi&s in the har!o"r. The enemy were now !ro"ght to the alternati,e whichWashington wished for. They m"st either ris1 an action witho"t their lines or a!andon the &lace.

Gen. Howe &referred the former and ordered +>>> men on this ser,ice. These were em!ar1ed and felldown to the Castle with the intention of &roceeding "& the ri,er to the attac1 !"t were dis&ersed !y atremendo"s storm. Before they co"ld !e in readiness to &roceed the American wor1s were ad,anced tos"ch a state of sec"rity as to disco"rage any attem&t against them.

Washington e'&ecting an immediate assa"lt on the new raised wor1s at 9orchester and ("dging that the

!est troo&s of the enemy wo"ld !e ordered on that ser,ice had &re&ared to attac1 the town of Boston at


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the same time555 @>>> men were ready for em!ar1ation at the mo"th of Cam!ridge ri,er to &roceed on this !"siness as soon as it was 1nown that the British were gone o"t in force to their intended attac1.

It was now resol,ed !y the British to e,ac"ate Boston as soon as &ossi!le. In a few days after a flag cameo"t of Boston with a &a&er signed !y fo"r select men informing that they had a&&lied to Gen. Ro!ertsonwho on an a&&lication to Gen. Howe was a"thori-ed to ass"re them that he had no intention of !"rningthe town "nless the troo&s "nder his command were molested d"ring their em!ar1ation or at theirde&art"re !y the armed force witho"t.

When this &a&er was &resented to Gen. Washington he re&lied that as it was an "na"thenticated &a&erand witho"t an address and not o!ligatory on Gen. Howe he co"ld ta1e no notice of it !"t at the sametime intimated his good wishes for the sec"rity of the town.

Washington made arrangements for the sec"rity of his army !"t did not ad,ance his wor1s nor em!arrassthe British army in their &ro&osed e,ac"ation. He wished to sa,e Boston and to gain time for thefortification of :ew5?or1 to which &lace he s"&&osed the e,ac"ating army was destined.

nder this im&ression he detached a considera!le &art of his army to that &lace and with the remaindertoo1 &ossession of Boston as soon as the British troo&s had com&leted their em!ar1ation. 3n entering thetown Washington was recei,ed with mar1s of a&&ro!ation more flattering than the &om&s of a tri"m&h.

The inha!itants released from the se,erities of a garrison life and from the ,ario"s indignities to whichthey were s"!(ected hailed him as their deli,erer. Reci&rocal congrat"lations !etween those who had !eenconfined within the British lines and those who were e'cl"ded from entering them were e'changed withan ardo"r which cannot !e descri!ed.

Gen. Washington was hono"red !y Congress with a ,ote of than1s. They also ordered a medal to !estr"c1 with s"ita!le de,ices to &er&et"ate the remem!rance of the great e,ent.

The 6assach"setts Co"ncil and Ho"se of Re&resentati,es com&limented him in a (oint address in whichthey e'&ressed their good wishes in the following words55 6ay yo" still go on a&&ro,ed !y hea,en

re,ered !y all good men and dreaded !y those tyrants who claim their fellow men as their &ro&erty. Hisanswer was modest and &ro&er.


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CHAPTER III

Cam&aign of #$$D

Of the oerations of General Washington in .e)-/or0 and .e)-ersey( 2he battle on ong 4sland( 2he retrea from /or0 4sland and through ersey( 2he battles of 2renton and rinceton(

The e,ac"ation of Boston ,aried the scene !"t did not lessen the la!o"rs of Washington. Henceforward he ha m"ch more formida!le enemy to contend with. The royal army in Boston was on a small scale calc"lated

awe the inha!itants of 6assach"setts into o!edience !"t the cam&aign of #$$D was o&ened in :ew5?or1 wita force far e'ceeding any thing hitherto seen in America. Incl"ding the na,y and army it amo"nted to 77>>>men and was calc"lated on the idea of red"cing the whole nited Colonies.

The o&erations contem&lated co"ld !e !est carried on from the nearly central &ro,ince of :ew5?or1 and thearmy co"ld !e s"&&lied with &ro,isions from the ad(acent islands and easily defended !y the British na,y. *these reasons the e,ac"ation of Boston and the concentration of the royal forces at :ew5?or1 had !een forsome time resol,ed "&on in England.

The reasons that ind"ced the British to gain &ossession of :ew5?or1 weighed with Washington to &re,ent odelay it. He had therefore detached largely from his army !efore Boston and sent Gen. 8ee to ta1e the

command and after &ro,iding for the sec"rity of Boston &roceeded soon after the e,ac"ation thereof withthe main army to :ew5?or1 and made e,ery &re&aration in his &ower for its defence. Considera!le time wasallowed for this &"r&ose for Gen. Howe instead of &"shing directly for :ew5?or1 retired to Halifa' withthe forces withdrawn from Boston. He there waited for the &romised reinforcements from England !"tim&atient of delay sailed witho"t them for :ew5?or1 and too1 &ossession of /taten Island in the latter end oJ"ne.

He was soon followed !y his !rother Admiral Howe and their whole force was assem!led a!o"t the middle J"ly and in a&&arent readiness for o&ening the cam&aign. Before hostilities were commenced the BritishGeneral and Admiral in their 0"ality of ci,il commissioners for effecting a re5"nion !etween Great Britainand the Colonies made an attem&t at negotiation. To introd"ce this !"siness they sent a flag ashore with a

letter addressed to George Washington Es0. This he ref"sed to recei,e as not !eing addressed to him with thtitle d"e to his ran1 and at the same time wrote to Congress That he wo"ld not on any occasion sacrificeessentials to &"nctilio !"t in this instance deemed it a d"ty to his co"ntry to insist on that res&ect which inany other than a &"!lic ,iew he wo"ld willingly ha,e wa,ed.

/ome time after Ad("tant General Patterson was sent !y Gen. Howe with a letter addressed to GeorgeWashington Fc.Fc.Fc. 3n an inter,iew the Ad("tant General after e'&ressing his high esteem for the &ersoand character of the American General and declaring that it was not intended to derogate from the res&ect d"to his ran1 e'&ressed his ho&es that the et ceteras wo"ld remo,e the im&ediments to their corres&ondence.Gen. Washington re&lied That a letter directed to any &erson in a &"!lic character sho"ld ha,e somedescri&tion of it otherwise it wo"ld a&&ear a mere &ri,ate letter that it was tr"e the et ceteras im&lied e,ery


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thing !"t they also im&lied any thing and that he sho"ld therefore decline the recei,ing any letter directed tohim as a &ri,ate &erson when it related to his &ri,ate station.

A long conference ens"ed in which the Ad("tant General o!ser,ed that the Commissioners were armed witgreat &owers and wo"ld !e ,ery ha&&y in effecting an accommodation. He recei,ed for answer that fromwhat a&&eared their &owers were only to grant &ardons that they who had committed no fa"lt wanted no

&ardon.

3n the arri,al of Gen. Howe at /taten Island the American army did not e'ceed #>>>> men !"t !y s"ndryreinforcements !efore the end of A"g"st they amo"nted to )$>>>. 3f these a great &art were militia and onfo"rth of the whole was sic1. The diseases incident to new troo&s &re,ailed e'tensi,ely and were aggra,ated !y a great deficiency in tents. These troo&s were so ("dicio"sly distri!"ted on ?or1 Island 8ong IslandGo,ernor4s Island Pa"l"s Hoo1 and on the /o"nd towards :ew Rochelle East and West Chester that theenemy were ,ery ca"tio"s in determining when or where to commence offensi,e o&erations. E,ery &ro!a!le &oint of de!ar1ation was watched and g"arded with a force s"fficient to em!arrass tho"gh ,ery ins"fficient &re,ent a landing.

*rom the arri,al of the British army at /taten Island the Americans were in daily e'&ectation of !eingattac1ed. General Washington was therefore stren"o"s in &re&aring his troo&s for action. He tried e,erye'&edient to 1indle in their !reasts the lo,e of their co"ntry an high toned indignation against its in,aders. Ingeneral orders he addressed them as follows The time is now near at hand which m"st &ro!a!ly determinewhether Americans are to !e freemen or sla,es whether they are to ha,e any &ro&erty they can call their ownwhether their ho"ses and farms are to !e &illaged and destroyed and themsel,es consigned to a state ofwretchedness from which no h"man efforts will deli,er them. The fate of "n!orn millions will now de&end"nder God on the cond"ct and co"rage of this army. 3"r cr"el and "nrelenting enemy lea,es "s only thechoice of a !ra,e resistance or the most a!(ect s"!mission.

We ha,e therefore to resol,e to con0"er or to die. 3"r own o"r co"ntry4s honor calls "&on "s for a ,igoro"

and manly e'ertion and if we now shamef"l fail we shall !ecome infamo"s to the whole world. 8et "s thenrely on the goodness of o"r ca"se and the aid of the /"&reme Being in whose hands ,ictory is to animate aenco"rage "s to great and no!le actions. The eyes of all o"r co"ntrymen are now "&on "s and we shall ha,etheir !lessings and &raises if ha&&ily we are the instr"ments of sa,ing them from the tyranny mediated againthem. 8et "s therefore animate and enco"rage each other and show the whole world that a freeman contendifor li!erty on his own gro"nd is s"&erior to any sla,ish mercenary on earth.

When the whole reinforcements of the enemy had arri,ed Gen. Washington in e'&ectation of an immediateattac1 again addressed his army and called on them to remem!er that li!erty &ro&erty life and hono"r weall at sta1e that "&on their co"rage and cond"ct rested the ho&es of their !leeding and ins"lted co"ntry thattheir wi,es children and &arents e'&ected safety from them only and that they had e,ery reason to !elie,e

that Hea,en wo"ld crown with s"ccess so ("st a ca"se.

He f"rther added55 The enemy will endea,or to intimidate !y show and a&&earance !"t remem!er they ha, !een re&"lsed on ,ario"s occasions !y a few !ra,e Americans. Their ca"se is !ad55 their men are conscio"s oit and if o&&osed with firmness and coolness on their first onset with o"r ad,antage of wor1s and 1nowledgof the gro"nd the ,ictory is most ass"redly o"rs. E,ery good soldier will !e silent and attenti,e55 wait fororders55 and reser,e his fire "ntil he is s"re of doing e'ec"tion of this the officers are to !e &artic"larlycaref"l.

He then ga,e the most e'&licit orders that any soldier who sho"ld attem&t to conceal himself or retreatwitho"t orders sho"ld instantly !e shot down as an e'am&le of the &"nishment of cowardice and desired


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e,ery officer to !e &artic"larly attenti,e to the cond"ct of his men and re&ort those who sho"ld disting"ishthemsel,es !y !ra,e and no!le actions. These he solemnly &romised to notice and reward.

3n the ))d of A"g"st the greatest &art of the British troo&s landed on 8ong Island. Washington immediatelymade a farther effort to ro"se his troo&s to deeds of ,alo"r. The enemy said heha,e landed and the ho"r fast a&&roaching on which the hono"r and s"ccess of this army and the safety of o"r !leeding co"ntryde&ends. Remem!er officers and soldiers that yo" are freemen fighting for the !lessings of 8i!erty thatsla,ery will !e yo"r &ortion and that of yo"r &osterity if yo" do not ac0"it yo"rsel,es li1e men. Remem!er

how yo"r co"rage has !een des&ised and trad"ced !y yo"r cr"el in,aders tho"gh they ha,e fo"nd !y deare'&erience at Boston Charles5town and other &laces what a few !ra,e men contending in their own landand in the !est of ca"ses can do against hirelings and mercenaries. Be cool !"t determined. 9o not fire at adistance !"t wait for orders from yo"r officers.

He re&eated his in("nctions to shoot down any &erson who sho"ld mis!eha,e in action and his ho&e thatnone so infamo"s wo"ld !e fo"nd !"t that on the contrary each for himself resol,ing to con0"er or die andtr"sting to the smiles of hea,en on so ("st a ca"se wo"ld !eha,e with !ra,ery and resol"tion.

His ass"rance of rewards to those who sho"ld disting"ish themsel,es were re&eated and he declared hisconfidence that if the army wo"ld !"t em"late and imitate their !ra,e co"ntrymen in other &arts of America

they wo"ld !y a glorio"s ,ictory sa,e their co"ntry and ac0"ire to themsel,es immortal hono"r.

3n the 7th day after their landing the British attac1ed the Americans on 8ong Island commanded !y Gen./"lli,an. The ,ariety of gro"nd and the different &arties em&loyed in different &laces !oth in the attac1 anddefence occasioned a s"ccession of small engagements &"rs"its and sla"ghter which lasted for many ho"rs

The Americans were defeated in all directions. The circ"mstances which eminently contri!"ted to this werethe s"&erior disci&line of the assailants and the want of early intelligence of their mo,ements. There was notsingle cor&s of Ca,alry in the American army. The transmission of intelligence was of co"rse always slow aoften im&ractica!le. *rom the want of it some of their detachments while retreating !efore one &ortion of thenemy were ad,ancing towards another of whose mo,ements they were ignorant.

In the height of the engagement Washington &assed o,er to 8ong Island and with infinite regret saw thesla"ghter of his !est troo&s !"t had not the &ower to &re,ent it for had he drawn his whole force to theirs"&&ort he m"st ha,e ris1ed e,ery thing on a single engagement. He ado&ted the wiser &lan of e,ac"ating thisland with all the forces he co"ld !ring off. In s"&erintending this necessary !"t diffic"lt and dangero"smo,ement and the e,ents of the &receding day Washington was indefatiga!le. *or forty5eight ho"rs he ne,eclosed his eyes and was almost constantly on horse5!ac1. In less than thirteen ho"rs the field artillery tents !aggage and a!o"t >>> men were con,eyed from 8ong Island to the city of :ew5?or1 o,er East Ri,er anwitho"t the 1nowledge of the British tho"gh not D>> yards distant. The dar1ness of the night and a hea,y fogin the morning together with a fair wind after midnight fa,o"red this retreat. It was com&leted witho"tinterr"&tion some time after the dawning of the day.

The "ns"ccessf"l termination of the late action led to conse0"ences more serio"sly alarming to theAmericans than the loss of their men. Hitherto they had had s"ch confidence in themsel,es as engaged in thca"se of li!erty and their co"ntry that it o"tweighed all their a&&rehensions from the e'act disci&line of theBritish troo&s !"t now finding that many of them had !een encircled in ine'trica!le diffic"lties from thes"&erior military s1ill of their ad,ersaries they went to the o&&osite e'treme and !egan to thin1 !"t ,eryindifferently of themsel,es and their leaders when o&&osed to disci&lined troo&s. As often as they saw theenemy a&&roaching they s"s&ected a military mane",re from which they s"&&osed nothing co"ld sa,e them !"t immediate flight. A&&rehensions of this 1ind might nat"rally !e e'&ected from citi-en soldiers lately ta1from agric"lt"ral &"rs"its who e'&ected to lay aside the military character at the end of the c"rrent year.


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Washington trem!lingly ali,e to the state of his army wrote to Congress on the si'th day after the defeat on8ong Island as follows 3"r sit"ation is tr"ly distressing. The chec1 o"r detachment lately s"stained hasdis&irited too great a &ro&ortion of o"r troo&s and filled their minds with a&&rehension and des&air. Themilitia instead of calling forth their "tmost efforts to a !ra,e and manly o&&osition in order to re&air o"rlosses are dismayed intracta!le and im&atient to ret"rn. Great n"m!ers of them ha,e gone off in someinstances almost !y whole regiments in many !y half ones and !y com&anies at a time. The circ"mstance oitself inde&endent of others when fronted !y a well a&&ointed enemy s"&erior in n"m!er to o"r wholecollected force wo"ld !e s"fficiently disagreea!le !"t when it is added that their e'am&le has infected

another &art of the army that their want of disci&line and ref"sal of almost e,ery 1ind of restraint andgo,ernment ha,e rendered a li1e cond"ct !"t too common in the whole and ha,e &rod"ced an entiredisregard of that order and s"!ordination which is necessary for an army o"r condition is still more alarmingand with the dee&est concern I am o!liged to confess my want of confidence in the generality of the troo&s.

All these circ"mstances f"lly confirm the o&inion I e,er entertained and which I more than once in my lettetoo1 the li!erty of mentioning to Congress that no de&endence co"ld !e &"t in a militia or other troo&s thanthose enlisted and em!odied for a longer &eriod than o"r reg"lations ha,e hitherto &rescri!ed. I am f"llycon,inced that o"r li!erties m"st of necessity !e greatly ha-arded if not entirely lost if their defence !e left any !"t a &ermanent army.

:or wo"ld the e'&ense incident to the s"&&ort of s"ch a !ody of troo&s as wo"ld !e com&etent to e,erye'igency far e'ceed that which is inc"rred !y calling in daily s"cco"rs and new enlistments which wheneffected are not attended with any good conse0"ences. 6en who ha,e !een free and s"!(ect to no controlcannot !e red"ced to order in an instant and the &ri,ileges and e'em&tions they claim and will ha,einfl"ence the cond"ct of others in s"ch a manner that the aid deri,ed from them is nearly co"nter!alanced !ythe disorder irreg"larity and conf"sion they occasion.

In fo"rteen days after this serio"s remonstrance Congress resol,ed to raise == !attalions to ser,e d"ring thewar. nder these circ"mstances to wear away the cam&aign with as little loss as &ossi!le so as to gain time raise a &ermanent army against the ne't year was to the Americans an o!(ect of the greatest im&ortance.

Gen. Washington after m"ch deli!eration determined on a war of &osts. Recent e,ents confirmed him in the &olicy of defending his co"ntry !y retreating when he co"ld no longer stand his gro"nd witho"t ris1ing hisarmy. He well 1new that !y ado&ting it he wo"ld s"!(ect himself to the im&"tation of wanting energy anddecision !"t with him the lo,e of co"ntry was &aramo"nt to all other considerations.

In conformity to these &rinci&les the e,ac"ation of :ew5?or1 was a!o"t this time resol,ed "&on whensoe,eit co"ld no longer !e maintained witho"t ris1ing the army. Arrangements were accordingly made for atem&orary defence and an "ltimate retreat when necessity re0"ired. The British now in &ossession of 8ongIsland co"ld at &leas"re &ass o,er to ?or1 Island or the main. Washington was a&&rehensi,e that they wo"ldland a!o,e him c"t off his retreat and force him to a general action on ?or1 Island. He therefore mo,ed his &"!lic stores to 9o!!s4 ferry and stationed #)>>> men at the northern end of ?or1 Island. With the remainde

he 1e&t "& the sem!lance of defending :ew5?or1 tho"gh he had determined to a!andon it rather than ris1 harmy for its &reser,ation.

While Washington was ma1ing arrangements to sa,e his troo&s and stores !y e,ac"ating and retreating theBritish commander was &rosec"ting his fa,o"rite scheme of forcing the Americans to a general action or !rea1ing the comm"nication !etween their &osts. With this ,iew he landed a!o"t @>>> men at 2i&&4s Baythree miles a!o,e :ew5?or1 "nder co,er of fi,e men of war. Wor1s had !een thrown "& at this &lace whichwere ca&a!le of !eing defended for some time and troo&s were stationed in them for that &"r&ose !"t theyfled with &reci&itation witho"t waiting for the a&&roach of the enemy. Two !rigades were &"t in motion tos"&&ort them. Gen. Washington rode to the scene of action and to his great mortification met the whole &artyretreating. While he was e'erting himself to rally them on the a&&earance of a small cor&s of the enemy the


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again !ro1e and ran off in disorder.

/"ch dastardly cond"ct raised a tem&est in the "s"ally tran0"il mind of Gen. Washington. Ha,ing em!ar1ed the American ca"se from the &"rest &rinci&les he ,iewed with infinite concern this shamef"l !eha,io"r asthreatening r"in to his co"ntry. He recollected the many declarations of Congress of the army and of theinha!itants &referring li!erty to life and death to dishono"r and contrasted them with their &resent scandaloflight. His so"l was harrowed "& with a&&rehensions that his co"ntry wo"ld !e con0"ered her army disgraceand her li!erties destroyed. He antici&ated in imagination that the Americans wo"ld a&&ear to &osterity in th

light of high so"nding !oasters who !l"stered when danger was at a distance !"t shr"n1 at the shadow ofo&&osition.

E'tensi,e confiscations and n"mero"s attainders &resented themsel,es in f"ll ,iew to his agitated mind. Hesaw in imagination new formed states with the means of defence in their hands and the glorio"s &ros&ects oli!erty !efore them le,elled to the d"st and s"ch constit"tions im&osed on them as were li1ely to cr"sh the,igor of the h"man mind while the "ns"ccessf"l iss"e of the &resent str"ggle wo"ld for ages to come deter &osterity from the !old design of asserting their rights. Im&ressed with these ideas he ha-arded his &erson fosome for considera!le time in rear of his own men and in front of the enemy with his horse4s head towards tlatter as if in e'&ectation that !y an hono"ra!le death he might esca&e the infamy he dreaded from thedastardly cond"ct of troo&s on whom he co"ld &lace no de&endence. His aids and the confidential friends

aro"nd his &erson !y indirect ,iolence com&elled him to retire. In conse0"ences of their address andim&ort"nity a life was sa,ed for &"!lic ser,ice which otherwise from a sense of hono"r and a g"st of &assion seemed to !e de,oted to almost certain destr"ction.

The shamef"l e,ents of this day hastened the e,ac"ation of :ew5?or1. This was effected with ,ery little losof men !"t all the hea,y artillery and a large &ortion of the !aggage &ro,isions military stores and &artic"larly the tents were "na,oida!ly left !ehind. The loss of the last mentioned article was se,erely felt inthat season when cold weather was ra&idly a&&roaching.

The British ha,ing got &ossession of the city of :ew ?or1 ad,anced in front of it and stretched theirencam&ments across ?or1 Island while their shi&&ing defended their flan1s. Washington had made his

strongest &ost at 2ings!ridge as that &reser,ed his comm"nication with the co"ntry. In front of this and neato the British he had a strong detachment &osted in an entrenched cam&. This &osition of the two armies was &artic"larly agreea!le to him for he wished to acc"stom his raw troo&s to face their enemies ho&ing that !yfre0"ent s1irmishes they wo"ld grow so familiar with the dangers incident to war as to fear them less.

3&&ort"nities of ma1ing the e'&eriment soon occ"rred. 3n the day after the retreat from :ew5?or1 as1irmish too1 &lace !etween an ad,anced detachment of the British army and some American troo&scommanded !y Col. 2nowlton of Connectic"t and 6a(or 8eitch of %irginia. Both these officers fell !ra,efighting at the head of their troo&s. The Ca&tains with their men 1e&t the gro"nd and fairly !eat theirad,ersaries from the field. This was the first ad,antage the army "nder the command of Washington hadgained in the cam&aign. Its infl"ence on the army was great. To increase its effects the &arole the ne't day w

8eitch and the General ga,e &"!lic than1s to the troo&s engaged therein. He contrasted their cond"ct withthe late shamef"l flight of the troo&s from the wor1s on 2i&&4s Bay and o!ser,ed55 That the res"lt &ro,edwhat might !e done where officers and men e'erted themsel,es and again called on all so to act as not todisgrace the no!le ca"se in which they were engaged.

General Howe contin"ed to &rosec"te his scheme for c"tting off Washington4s comm"nication with the eastestates and enclosing him so as to com&el a general engagement. With this ,iew the royal army landed on*rog4s :ec1 in West5Chester co"nty and soon after ad,anced to :ew Rochelle and made s"ndry s"ccessi,emo,ements all calc"lated to effect this &"r&ose.

A few s1irmishes too1 &lace !"t a general action was caref"lly a,oided !y Washington e'ce&t in one case i


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which he had s"ch a manifest ad,antage from his &osition on hills near the White Plains that Gen. Howedeclined it. The &ro(ect of getting in the rear of the American army was in li1e manner fr"strated !y fre0"entand ("dicio"s changes of its &osition. Gen. Howe failing in his first design ado&ted a new &lan of o&erationsHis efforts were henceforward directed to an in,asion of :ew Jersey. Washington &enetrating his designscrossed the :orth Ri,er. He wrote to William 8i,ingston go,ernor of :ew Jersey "rging him to &"t themilitia of that /tate in the !est state of &re&aration to defend their co"ntry and also recommending the remo,of stoc1 and &ro,isions from the sea coast.

A!o"t this time *ort Washington was ta1en !y storm and the garrison consisting of more than )>>> menwith their commander Col. 6agaw s"rrendered &risoners of war. This was the only &ost held !y theAmericans on ?or1 Island and was e'ce&tion to the general &lan of e,ac"ating and retreating. Ho&es had !eind"lged that it might !e defended and in con("nction with *ort 8ee on the o&&osite Jersey shore made"sef"l in em!arrassing the &assage of British ,essels "& and down the :orth Ri,er. This &ost ha,ing fallenorders for the e,ac"ation of *ort 8ee were immediately gi,en B"t !efore the stores co"ld !e remo,ed 8ordCornwallis crossed the :orth Ri,er with D>>> men. Washington retreating !efore him too1 &ost along theHac1ensac1.

His sit"ation there was nearly similar to that which he had a!andoned for he was lia!le to !e enclosed !etween the Hac1ensac1 and the Pasaic ri,ers. He therefore on the a&&roach of the enemy &assed o,er to

:ewar1. He stood his gro"nd there for some days as if determined on resistance !"t !eing inca&a!le of anyeffect"al o&&osition retreated to Br"nswic1 on the day 8ord Cornwallis entered :ewar1.

At Br"nswic1 Washington 1e&t his troo&s in motion and e,en ad,anced a small detachment as if intending tengage the enemy. :or did he 0"it this &osition till their ad,anced g"ards were in sight. 8ord /tirling was lefat Princeton with #)>> men to watch the British and Washington &roceeded with the resid"e to Trenton.There he meant to ma1e a stand.

3rders were &re,io"sly gi,en to collect and g"ard all the !oats for $> miles on the 9elaware. The !aggage anstores were also &assed o,er. These !eing sec"red Washington detached #)>> men to Princeton to 1ee& "&the a&&earance of o&&osition and soon followed with a!o"t )>>> militia men who had recently (oined him.

Before he reached Princeton intelligence was recei,ed that 8ord Cornwallis strongly reinforced wasad,ancing from Br"nswic1 in different directions with the a&&arent design of getting in his rear. Animmediate retreat o,er the 9elaware !ecame necessary. This was effected on the =th of 9ecem!er.

Washington sec"red all his !oats on the Pennsyl,ania side !ro1e down the !ridges on roads leading to theo&&osite shores and &osted his troo&s at the different fording &laces. /o 1een was the &"rs"it that as the rearg"ard of the retreating army em!ar1ed the ,an of the enemy came in sight.

The British ha,ing dri,en the American army o"t of Jersey &osted themsel,es "& and down the 9elaware ansmall &arties &assed and re&assed from one to the other witho"t any interr"&tion. They made some attem&ts get !oats !"t failed. They also re&aired some of the !ridges that had !een recently destroyed and &"shed

forward a strong detachment to Bordenton. This was intended to increase their chances for crossing and toem!arrass Washington who co"ld not tell from which of their se,eral &ositions they wo"ld ma1e the attem&

Gen. P"tnam was in the meantime sent on to s"&erintend the erection of lines of defence from the /ch"yl1illto the 9elaware for the sec"rity of Philadel&hia. /mall redo"!ts were hastily thrown "& to g"ard the fording &laces and Germantown was fi'ed "&on as a &lace of rende-,o"s in case the British sho"ld cross and dri,ethe Americans from their e'tended encam&ments on the 9elaware.

This retreat thro"gh the Jerseys was attended with almost e,ery circ"mstance that co"ld occasionem!arrassment or de&ression. Washington was &ressed with diffic"lties on all sides. In casting his eyesaro"nd he co"ld not &romise himself ade0"ate s"&&ort from any 0"arter. His gloomy &ros&ects were not


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!rightened !y any e'&ectations on the f"lfillment of which he co"ld de&end. 9istr"sting !"t not des&airinghe as1ed Col. Reed55 /ho"ld we retreat to the !ac1 &arts of Pennsyl,ania will the Pennsyl,anians s"&&ort"s

The Colonel answered55 If the lower co"nties are s"!d"ed and gi,e "& the !ac1 co"nties will do the same.

Washington no!ly re&lied55 We m"st retire to A"g"sta co"nty in %irginia. :"m!ers will !e o!liged to re&aito "s for safety and we m"st try what we can do in carrying on a &redatory war and if o,er&owered we m"

cross the Alleghany mo"ntains.

Gen. Washington had no ca,alry !"t a small cor&s of !adly mo"nted Connectic"t militia and was almoste0"ally destit"te of artillery while cond"cting this retreat. It commenced in a few days after the red"ction of*ort Washington in which the flower of the American army were made &risoners of war. A great &art of theretreating troo&s consisted of those who had garrisoned *ort 8ee. These had !een com&elled to a!andon their &ost so s"ddenly that they left !ehind them their tents !lan1ets and coo1ing "tensils.

In this sit"ation they retreated !adly armed worse clad and in many instances !arefooted in the cold monthof :o,em!er and 9ecem!er thro"gh a des&onding co"ntry more dis&osed to see1 safety !y s"!mission thanresistance. nder all these disad,antages they &erformed a march of a!o"t ninety miles and had the address

to &rolong it to a s&ace of nineteen days that as m"ch time as &ossi!le might !e gained for e'&ectedreinforcements to arri,e. As they retreated thro"gh the co"ntry scarcely one of the inha!itants (oined themwhile n"m!ers daily floc1ed to the British army and too1 the !enefit of a royal &roclamation iss"ed at thiscritical time for &ardoning all who within si'ty days wo"ld ret"rn to the condition of British s"!(ects.

The small force which !egan this retreat was daily lessening !y the e'&iration of the term of ser,ice for whithey were engaged. This terminated in :o,em!er with many and in 9ecem!er with nearly two5thirds of theresid"e. :o &ers"asions were a,ailing to ind"ce their contin"ance. They a!andoned their General when thead,ancing enemy was nearly in sight. The Pennsyl,ania militia was engaged to the first day of Jan"ary !"tthey deserted in s"ch n"m!ers that it !ecame necessary to &lace g"ards at the ferries to sto& them.

Two regiments had !een ordered from Ticonderoga to (oin Gen. Washington !"t their term of ser,ice e'&ireon the first of 9ecem!er. They ref"sed to re5enlist and went off to a man. Gen. 8ee who commanded theeastern troo&s was re&eatedly ordered !y Washington to cross the :orth Ri,er and (oin the retreating army !"t these orders were not o!eyed. While at a distance !oth from his troo&s and the enemy he was s"r&assedand ta1en &risoner !y the British.

This !egat s"s&icions that. des&airing of the s"ccess of the Americans he had chosen to a!andon their ser,icTho"gh these a&&rehensions were witho"t fo"ndation they &rod"ced the same mischie,o"s effects on theminds of the &eo&le as if they were realities. A!o"t the same time Congress tho"ght it e'&edient to lea,ePhiladel&hia and retire to Baltimore.

nder all these trying circ"mstances Washington was "ndismayed. He did not des&air of the &"!lic safety.With "ncon0"era!le firmness and the most &erfect self5&ossession he was always the same and constantlyshowed himself to his army with a serene and "ndist"r!ed co"ntenance. :othing was omitted !y him thatco"ld em!arrass the enemy or animate his army or co"ntry. He forci!ly &ointed o"t to Congress the defecti,constit"tion of their army witho"t ca,alry witho"t artillery and engineers and enlarged "&on the im&olicy oshort enlistments and &lacing confidence in militia s"ddenly called o"t and fre0"ently changed. He "rgedthese matters with great warmth !"t to &re,ent offence added55 A character to lose55 an estate to forfeit55 thinestima!le !lessing of li!erty at sta1e55 and a life de,oted m"st !e my e'c"se.

He also hinted at the &ro&riety of enlarging his &owers so as to ena!le him to act in cases of "rgency witho"ta&&lication to Congress !"t a&ologi-ed for this li!erty !y declaring that he felt no l"st of &ower and wishe


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with the greatest fer,ency for an o&&ort"nity of t"rning the sword into a &lo"ghshare !"t added55 hisfeelings as an officer and a man had !een s"ch as to force him to say that no &erson e,er had a greater choicof diffic"lties to contend with than himself.

In this ,ery dangero"s crisis Washington made e,ery e'ertion to &roc"re reinforcements to s"&&ly the &lace those who were daily lea,ing him. He sent Generals 6ifflin and Armstrong to ro"se the citi-ens ofPennsyl,ania. Col. Reed was dis&atched to Go,ernor 8i,ingston to "rge on him the necessity of calling o"tthe Jersey militia. These e'ertions were in a great meas"re "na,ailing e'ce&t in and near the city of

Philadel&hia. *ifteen h"ndred of the citi-ens of that metro&olis associated together and marched to the aid ofWashington. Tho"gh most of these were acc"stomed to the ha!its of a city life they sle&t in tents !arns andsometimes in the o&en air d"ring the cold months of 9ecem!er and Jan"ary.

3n the ca&t"re of Gen. 8ee the command of his army de,ol,ed on Gen. /"lli,an who in o!edience to theorders formerly gi,en (oined Gen. Washington. A!o"t the same time an addition was made to his force !y tharri,al of a &art of the northern army. The Americans now amo"nted to a!o"t $>>> men tho"gh d"ring theretreat thro"gh the Jerseys they were seldom e0"al to half that n"m!er. The two armies were se&arated fromeach other !y the ri,er 9elaware. The British in the sec"rity of con0"est cantoned their troo&s in B"rlingtonBordenton Trenton and other towns of :ew5Jersey in daily e'&ectation of !eing ena!led to cross intoPennsyl,ania !y means of

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Geroge Washyington

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