CHAP. XVII. Evacuation of Boston.-British troops fail to Halifax-objects of campaign 1776, three: firft, recovery of Canada, and invafion of colonies by the lakes-fecondly, expedition to Carolina-thirdly, and chiefly, invasion of New York.-Quebec relieved, and Canada recovered.-British armament under fir Henry Clinton and fir Peter Parker, arrives too late in North Carolina-proceed to the fouth--fiege of Charlestown -raifed.- Internal proceedings of the colonies-declaration of independence. Objects and reafons of the New York expedition-British force arrives there-defcription of New York and its dependencies-pacificating overtures of the British commanders-rejected.-Battle of Long Island.-Americans defeated, but escape.-Capture of New York-town fet on fire by the Americans.-Battle of White PlainsAmericans defeated in one part, but the main body escapes. -Battle and capture of Fort Washington.—General Howe plans detached expeditions-invafion and reduction of RhodeIsland--rapid fucceffes of lord Cornwallis in the Ferfeysconfternation and flight of the Americans—expect general Howe at Philadelphia-lord Cornwallis ordered into winter-quarters—revival of American spirits from the ceffation of pursuit animated to most extraordinary exertions—their offenfive operations-furprise of the Heffians at Trenton, and its important effects.-Operations on the lakes-Crown Point taken, but evacuated.-General refult of the campaign. -Depredations of American privateers-encouraged by France and Spain. XVII. THE HE principal scene of action in which Britain CHAP. was now engaged, was the American colonies; thither, therefore, the hiftory muft call the attention of the reader. Boston, from the preceding of Boston. fummer, 1776. Evacuation XVII. 1776. CHAP. fummer, had continued in a state of blockade. Gage was returned home, and the command had devolved on general Howe. The British admiral having been displeased with the conduct of Falmouth, a fea port-town in the northern part of Maffachufets Bay, cannonaded and destroyed the place; and the provincials being informed of this proceeding, iffued out letters of marque and reprifal, declaring, however, it was their intention to confine their hoftilities to the capture of fhips which fhould carry ftores and provifions to the British army at Boston. Several veffels laden with neceffaries of life were taken at the very entrance of the harbour; the capture of the coal fhips was feverely felt, both from the coldnefs of the winter in that climate, and from that being a harder season than ufual. Many of the inhabitants, who were known abettors of the American caufe, were ftill retained as hostages, and all the loyalifts who could escape took refuge in Bofton; thence there was not only a want of fresh meat, but even of falt provifions. To fupply the deficiency of firing, they destroyed feveral houses, and used the materials; but still the scarcity increased. Aware of the difficulties, Wafhington profecuted the fiege with a double vigour, in order to take the place before the arrival of reinforcements from Britain. On the 2d of March, a battery was opened on the western fide of the town, whence it was dreadfully annoyed by a furious difcharge of cannon and bombs; and on the 5th, another acted on the eastern fhore. Nevertheless, the British troops acquitted themselves prifing fortitude, and during fourteen with fur days en dured dured this bombardment with undaunted courage. CHA P. XVII. 1776. trops fail f Halifax. The befieged had no alternative, but either to dif- the cam paign. The objects propofed by the British govern- Objects of ment in the prefent campaign were three-to relieve Quebec, recover Canada, and invade the colonies through the lakes-to make an impreffion on the fouthern provinces, and to undertake an expedition to New York. During these transactions at Bofton, colonel Arnold continued the blockade "This fpecies of preparation, (Mr. Stedman obferves,) will exemplify in a ftriking manner that fertility of expedients which strongly characterised the Americans during the war.” XVII. $776. CHAP. of Quebec, notwithstanding a very fevere season, and under great difficulties; reinforcements arrived very flowly from the congrefs, and the Canadians were disheartened and wavering; the fuccours, however, at laft came, and Quebec being cut off from fupplies by land, and the ice in the river not admitting affiftance from England, the townfmen and garrifon experienced many difficulties. But as the feafon advanced for the fafe navigation of the river, the Americans became more active, that they might anticipate the arrival of the troops from England: they renewed the fiege, and erected batteries to burn the fhipping. While the befieged were engaged in attending to thofe operations, Arnold attempted to ftorm the town in another quarter, and made his entrance into the fuburbs, but could not penetrate farther. Meanwhile, the fmall-pox, fo peftilential in that country where inoculation was not common, broke out in the Ame rican army, and frightened many of the foldiers to defert. Although it was now the beginning of May, and the river was far from being clear of ice, an English squadron made its way up to Quebec, and on finding fuccours arrived, the befiegers retired. On the 9th of May, Carleton proceeded in purfuit of Arnold, juft as they had begun the retreat. Seeing the troops, they left the artillery and military ftores to the British, and thus the fiege of Quebec was raised, after continuing about five months. Understanding that a number of fick and wounded provincials were scattered about the woods and villages, the governor iffued a proclamation, ordering the proper officers to find Quebec is relieved, and Canada recovered. out these miserable people, afford them relief and affiftance at the public expence, and affure them that, on their recovery, they should have the liberty to return to their respective provinces. In the end of May, several regiments arriving from Ireland and England, together with a regiment from general Howe, and the Brunfwic troops, which, when added to those who were before in the province, amounted to thirteen thoufand men, Carleton prepared for offenfive operations. The general rendezvous was at the three rivers, about half-way between Montreal and Quebec. A body of Americans having attacked the advanced divifion of the British troops, was repulfed with great lofs. General Burgoyne arrived with the reinforcements in Canada, and was fent in pursuit of the provincials. Confcious of their inability to maintain their conqueft, the provincials evacuated Montreal, Fort St. John, croffed Lake Champlain, and ftationed themfelves at Crown Point, whither the British commander did not follow them for the prefent. While the campaign opened thus aufpicioufly for Britain in the north, attempts were made to re-establish her authority in the fouth. The governors of the feveral colonies had reprefented, that in the middle and fouthern provinces there was a confiderable spirit of loyalty, but that the well-affected were afraid to discover their fentiments; and that if a powerful force were fent from the mother-country to co-operate with them, they would immediately attach themselves to her caufe. In confequence of this information, an army was prepared, under the command of fir Henry Clinton and fir Peter Parker, and ordered to fail to North Carolina, from CHA P. XVII. 1776. |