Putnam XXXVI. sent to the northern army, and other detachments which CHAPTER Washington had himself been obliged to draw from the Highlands, had so weakened the regular garrison, that 1777. Washington became much alarmed for the safety of that important post. The remainder of the New York militia, not under arms in the northern department, had been called out by Governor Clinton to supply the place of the detached regulars; other militia had been sent from Connecticut; but, as no signs of immediate attack appeared, and as the harvest demanded their services at home, Putnam allowed most of them to return. Half the New York militia were ordered back again by Clinton; but, before they had mustered, the posts were lost. was at Peekskill with the main body of the garrison, which amounted in the whole to not more than two thousand men. While a party of the enemy amused him with the idea that Fort Independence was their object, a stronger party landed lower down, on the other side of the river, and, pushing inland through the defiles of the Highlands, approached Forts Clinton and Montgomery, of which the entire garrison did not exceed six hundred Before assistance could be sent by Putnam-indeed, before he knew of the attack-the forts, much too extensive to be defended by so small a force, were both taken. Governor Clinton, who commanded, his brother, Oct. 5. General James Clinton, and a part of the garrison, availing themselves of the knowledge of the ground, escaped across the river; but the Americans suffered a loss of two hundred and fifty in killed and prisoners. Fort Constitution was immediately evacuated by the few troops that held it; and two new Continental frigates, with some other vessels, were set on fire to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. Even Peekskill and Fort Independence were abandoned, the stores being conveyed to men. XXXVI. CHAPTER Fishkill, whither Putnam retired with his forces. The booms and chains were removed, so that ships could pass 1777. up; and a British detachment under Tryon burned ConCct. 6. tinental Village, a new settlement on the east side of the river, where many public stores were deposited. Informed of these movements, and very anxious to Oct. 16. have Burgoyne's army out of the way, Gates agreed that the British troops should march out of their camp with the honors of war, should lay down their arms, and be conducted to Boston, there to embark for England, under an engagement not to serve against the United States till exchanged. Having heard from a deserter of the advance of Clinton, Burgoyne hesitated to ratify the treaty; but, on consideration, and consultation with his officers, he did not choose to run the risk of breaking it. The prisoners included in this capitulation were five thousand six hundred and forty-two; the previous losses of the army amounted to near four thousand more. The arms, artillery, baggage, and camp equipage became the property of the captors. The German regiments contrived to save their colors by cutting them from the staves, rolling them up, and packing them away with Madame de Reidesel's baggage. As soon as the garrison of Ticonderoga heard of the surrender, they hastily destroyed what they could, and retired to Canada. Putnam no sooner heard of it than he sent pressing dispatches for assistance. The British had proceeded as high up as Esopus, which they burned about the very time that Burgoyne was capitulating. Putnam had been already joined by some three thousand militia, to which a large detachment from Gates's army was soon added. As it was now too late to succor Burgoyne, having dismantled the forts in the Highlands, the British returned to New York, carrying with them sixty XXXVI. seven pieces of heavy artillery, and a large quantity of CHAPTER provisions and ammunition. Before their departure, they burned every house within their reach-a piece of malice 1777. ascribed to Tryon and his Tories. The capture of a whole British army, lately the object of so much terror, produced, especially in New England, an exultation proportionate to the recent alarm. The military reputation of Gates, elevated to a very high pitch, rivaled even the fame of Washington, dimmed as it was by the loss of Philadelphia, which, meanwhile, had fallen into the enemy's hands. The youthful Wilkinson, who had acted during the campaign as deputy adjutant general of the American army, and whose "Memoirs" contain the best account of its movements, being sent to Congress with news of the surrender, was presently honored with a brevet commission as brigadier general; which, however, he speedily resigned, when he found a remonstrance against this irregular advancement sent to Congress by forty-seven colonels of the line. The investigation into Schuyler's conduct resulted, a year afterward, in his acquittal with the highest honor. He insisted, however, in resigning his commission, though strongly urged by Congress to retain it. But he did not relinquish the service of his country, in which he continued as active as ever, being presently chosen a member of Congress. CHAPTER CHAPTER XXXVII. LOSS OF PHILADELPHIA. WINTER QUARTERS AT VAL- PER MONEY. FINANCIAL EXPEDIENTS. CABAL AGAINST WE left Washington at Philadelphia, still uncertain XXXVII. as to the destination of Howe's fleet and army. The 1777. transports had been seen standing to the southward, and it began to be imagined that Charleston was their object. Authentic intelligence was at length received that Aug. 22. the British ships had entered the Chesapeake, which, indeed, had been Howe's intention from the beginning. The accounts he had received of the obstructions in the Delaware had induced him to select the head of Chesapeake Bay as the point whence Philadelphia might be easiest approached. He hoped, too, perhaps, to be aided by a Tory insurrection among the numerous disaffected in that region. Howe's appearance in the Chesapeake alarmed Virginia. The militia was called out, and Thomas Nelson, a wealthy planter, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was placed at their head. After considerable delays by contrary winds, Howe landed at the head of Elk, the northeasternmost branch Aug. 27. of Chesapeake Bay, whence he issued a declaration, offering pardon to those who had been active in the rebellion, if they would now submit, and security and protection to all who remained peaceably at home. A few days after, as soon as his stores and baggage XXXVII. could be landed, he commenced his march in two col- CHAPTER umns for Philadelphia, distant about sixty miles. Having given courage to the partisans of Congress, 1777. and inspired the disaffected with respect, by marching Sept. 3. his army through Philadelphia, Washington concentrated his forces at Wilmington, there to await the approach of the enemy, under circumstances, however, in several respects, much less favorable than those which enabled the northern army so successfully to repel the cotemporaneous advance of Burgoyne. Here was no rough, impracticable country to delay the enemy's march; nor any difficulty to be encountered by Howe in obtaining or transporting supplies. Here was no New England to pour in militia, and to surround the enemy with an overwhelming force. The same zeal was not felt in Pennsylvania; a large part of the Quakers, a wealthy and influential class, were disaffected, or, at best, neutral; while the German population cared little for the war, except how to escape its burdens. The Pennsylvania militia, as organized by a recent act of Assembly, counted thirty thousand men; but the largest number at any one time which the loudest calls could bring into the field did not exceed three thousand., These militia were commanded by Armstrong, who had resigned his Continental commission, but who now exerted himself for the defense of the state. Delaware, also, had many disaffected; but a corps of her militia took the field under Cæsar Rodney. The Jersey militia turned out under General Philemon Dickinson; but a part of them were soon recalled, and stationed at Elizabethtown and Amboy, in consequence of a movement by Sir Henry Clinton, who retorted the late attack on Staten Island by invading New Jersey with Sept. 12. two thousand troops, penetrating the country in various directions, and driving off the cattle. |