XVIII. 1777. Addrefs of to the fove reign, after, in presenting the bill to the king for affent, CHA P. ufed the following words: " In a time, fire, of public diftrefs, full of difficulty and danger, their conftituents labouring under burdens almoft too heavy to be borne, your faithful commons, poftponing all other business, have not only granted to your majefty a large prefent fupply, but also a very great additional revenue, great beyond example, great beyond your majefty's highest expence; but all this, fire, they have done in the well-grounded confidence, that you will apply wifely what they have granted liberally." On their return to their own houfe, the commons voted unanimous thanks to the fpeaker. Some of the minifterial party, however, on re-confidering the fubject, were greatly difpleafed with what he had delivered, as it appeared to them to contain an infinuation not favourable to the character which they claimed of being economical stewards for the public. Mr. Rigby, a few days after, declared that the speaker had not expressed the fenfe of the commons: Mr. Fox immediately moved, that he had spoken the fenfe of the house. Lord North and the more moderate part of the minifterial adherents, though they wished the motion withdrawn, finding Mr. Fox would not comply, to avoid altercation voted in its favour; and on the 8th of June, parliament was prorogued. CHAP. 1777. CHAP. XIX. Occupations of Howe during winter-of Washington.-Plan of the campaign-its late commencement by general Howe -defultory operations in the Jerseys.- General Howe moves from winter-quarters—attempts by a fratagem to bring Washington to battle-failing in that expedient, eva, cuates the Jerfeys.-Expedition by fea to Philadelphia.Battle of Brandy-wine.—Major Fergusson essays a new species of rifle, invented by himself.—Capture of Philadelphia. -Battle of German-town.—American fortifications on the river.—Red Bank and Mud Island taken.—American fleet burnt.-Situation of the Americans at White Marsh and Valley Forge favourable to an attack.-General Howe's inaction—he retires early to winter-quarters.—Conduct of general and troops at Philadelphia.—Expedition of fir Henry Clinton up the North river.-Capture of Prescot in Rhode Iland-Northern army-Burgoyne takes the command.Carletonoffended with the appointment,refigns his employment. -Burgoyne purchafes the aid of Indian favages-number of his troops.-Expedition of colonel St. Leger.-The general's manifefto. Capture of Ticonderago and Fort Independence. Deftruction of American gallies.—The army reaches the Hudfon.-Cruelties of the Indians.-Defeat at Bennington-Siege of Standwix—raised.—Battle with general Gates at Stillwater.-Diftreffed fituation of the army-defertion of the Indians.-Burgoyne retreats.-Battle near Saratoga -reduced state of the army-troops furrounded-convention with the Americans at Saratoga. THE HE public attention was now turned to the campaign in America, and great expectations were formed that it would terminate in the complete reduction of the colonies. The general plan was nearly the fame as in the preceding year; that the Canadian XIX. Canadian army fhould co-operate with general CHA P. Howe, and thus the command of New York province divide the northern from the fouthern colonies. A body of provincial loyalists was formed under the direction of the commander in chief; they were allowed the fame pay as the regulars, and officered by gentlemen who had been obliged to leave their respective habitations for their attachment to the royal caufe. Inexperienced, and not inured to military discipline, they were not yet fit for active fervice, and were therefore so stationed as to allow the veterans to take the field. General Howe himself enjoyed every luxury at New York which he could have found in the metropolis of Britain his favourite occupation was gaming, a pastime in which many of his young officers became thoroughly initiated. There were routs, balls, and affemblies in great abundance; so that the head-quarters bore the appearance of a gay and voluptuous city in the time of peace, rather than a military station for watching and annoying the enemy in war *. enemy in war *. Such were the pursuits of the British commander from De 1777. Occupations of Howe during win ter. Washing ton: cember to June. While general Howe thus amused Conduct of himself and his troops with the diversions and pleasures of New York, Washington was very differently employed. The difficulties which, notwithstanding the forbearance of his antagonist, the American commander had to encounter, were extremely arduous. The provincial forces were hitherto but * Stedman's Hiftory of the American war, vol. i. p. 287. VOL. II. Ee a militia, С НА Р. XIX. 1777. he devifes theans for rendering the army efficient. a militia, both in their discipline and the tenure of their fervice: the late fuccefs at Trenton promoted the difpofition of the colonists to refift; but, on the other hand, the feverity of the season suspended their military ardour, infomuch that about the middle of February the colonial army did not exceed four thousand men *; and this fmall body of raw peafants was moreover fickly. Nevertheless for four months they occupied a position at Morristown, not fifty miles from the brave and numerous veterans of the royal army, where they not only experienced no annoyance from general Howe †, but haraffed and distressed the British posts and foraging detachments. Washington did not fail to profit by the ceffation of British effort. The boundless spirit of individual independence, which fo naturally followed the American claims and affertions, was adverse to the operation of authority, and especially to that prompt and implicit fubmiffion which is neceffary in military bodies. Washington faw that the powers which were allowed in the various gradations of command, were inadequate to their object: hitherto the commander in chief himself was obliged to act according to the specific inftructions of the congrefs. The general represented the difadvantages which accrued to the common cause from authority so fettered; and fuch was the influence of his known wifdom and patriotism, that he was vested with full and ample powers to collect an army of foot and horfe in * Washington's official Letters, vol. ii. p. 31. Ramfay, the American hiftorian, informs us, that his countrymen were astonished at the inaction of the British during fo critical a period, vol. ii. p. 2. addition XIX. 1577. Oath of alfidelity. legiance and addition to those which were already voted, to raise CHAP. artillery and engineers, and to establish their pay. Thus empowered to organize an army, the next care of Washington was to bind the troops to military fidelity as well as political allegiance. To the powerful motives of conceived patriotifm and freedom he added the cement of religion, and, with the approbation of congrefs, propofed an oath of adherence to the provincial caufe. Provifions fo wife produced the expected fuccefs; the colonists foon ceased to be an irregular militia, and became fkilful and disciplined foldiers. During the fame important interval, twenty thousand ftand of arms arrived from the continent of Europe, and before the expiration of the spring the hopes and fpirits of the Americans were revived and invigorated to meet the dangers of the approaching campaign. Such were the efforts of Washington during the momentous period which the British general paffed in pleasurable quarters. Summer being commenced, Howe proposed to begin the operations of the prefent campaign according to the fame mode in which he terminated the laft, and to send out detachments, while with the main army he continued in his prefent refidence. Up the Hudson river, about fifty miles from New York, on the western shore, is a place called Peek's Hill, which ferved as a port to Courtland Manor, and where ftores and provifions were received for the American army: to distress the enemy, general Howe thought it advisable to attempt the seizure of this port before the main army took the field. Accordingly he detached colonel Bird with five hundred men upon this fervice. On the approach of Ee 2 the Howe opens paign by de the cam tachments. |