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G. Howe

1777. The General accordingly began his march to Philadelphia on the afternoon of the 8th, in full view of the enemy, without being purfued, or in returns to the fmalleft degree incommoded on his return. As Philadel- the feason was now too far advanced, to admit of phia. any other attention than what related to the accommodation of the army, a grand detachment was fent out to procure forage for the winter, which was fuccefsfully performed. In the mean time Washington removed his camp from White Marth to Valley Forge, upon the Schuylkill, about 15 or 16 miles from Philadelphia, in a very strong and confequently fecure pofition. Nothing could afford a ftronger proof, to whoever confiders the nature and difpofition of those people, of the unbounded in fluence on the minds both of his officers and men which that General poffeffed, than his being able not only to keep them together, but to fubmit to the incommodities and diftreffes incident to living in a hutted camp, during the fevere winter of that climate, and where all his fupplies of provifion and ftores must come from a great diftance, at much expence and no fmall hazard. It was alfo a proof with many others, of the general strong difpofition of America, to fuffer all things rather than fubmit to force.

Such was the iffue of the campaign upon the Delaware. A campaign which affords much room for the moft ferious reflection. The British arms were crowned with the moft brilliant fuccefs. Two very confiderable victories were obtained. In all leffer actions, bating the affair at Red-Bank, they were equally triumphant. Yet with all this tide of fuccefs, all the fruit derived from our victories at the clofe of the campaign, amounted to no more than fimply a good winter lodging for our army in the city of Philadelphia; whilt the troops poffeffed no more of the adjacent country than what they immediately commanded with their arms.

It was

ftill more difcouraging, that the enemy had given 1777. repeated proofs, that however he might engage them when he thought it to his advantage, it was impoffible for the royal army to bring him to action against his confent. This gave occafion to much uneafinefs in England; where the news of the first fucceffes had caufed the greateft exultation, which was now fucceeded with very gloomy reflections on the peculiar and fatal circumstances, which, from the nature of the country, and other co-operating caufes, had diftinguished this war, from all others in which we had ever been concerned; and in which victory and defeat were nearly productive of the fame confequences.

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1777.

CHAP. XV.

Canada. Conduct of the northern expedition committed to General Burgoyne. Preparation made by General Carleton. Line of conduct pursued by him upon the new arrangement. Different opinions upon the utility and propriety of employing the Savages. State of the force under the command of General Burgoyne. Canadians obliged to contribute largely to the fervice. Expedi tion under Colonel St. Leger. War feaft, and speech to the Indians at the river Bouquet. Manifefto. Royal army invest Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. Council of war beld, and the forts abandoned by the Americans. Boom and Bridge cut through. Purfuit by land and water. Americans fet fire to, and abandon their works. Rear of the Americans overtaken by General Frazer near Hubberton. Colonel Francis defeated and killed. General St. Clair, with the remains of the army take to the woods; and arrive at length at Fort Edward. Enemy bravely repulfed by Colonel Hill, and the 9th regiment, whe are obliged to engage under a vaft fuperiority of force. Americans fet fire to, and abandon Fort Anne. Extraordinary difficulties encountered by the royal army in the march to Fort Edward. American army retires to Saratoga.

WE

E now turn from exemplifying victory without equivalent advantage in one quarter, to behold the most mifchievous confequences of defeat in another. The war upon the fide of Canada and the lake, was committed to the charge of Lieutenant General Burgoyne; an officer whofe ability was unquestioned, and whofe fpirit of enterprize, and thirst for military glory, however rivalled, could not poffibly be exceeded.

This appointment, however palliated or juftified, by the propriety or fuppofed neceffity of the Governor's conftant refidence in his province, could not fail of being fenfibly felt, and could fcarcely be fuppofed not to give umbrage, to General Carleton, to whofe abilities, and refolution, this nation in general acknowledged, and the world attributed, the prefervation of Canada. It was faid, that his powers had been diminished in proportion to the greatnefs of his fervices. His military command

extend

extended before to every part of America, whither 1777. he might find it fitting to conduct the army under his direction. It was now fuddenly restrained to the narrow limits of his own province. He had, faid his friends, in the preceding campaign, not only driven the enemy out of Canada, but a great naval armament had been formed, the enemy's force on Lake Champlain deftroyed, and Crownpoint recovered, under his authority. The latenefs of the feafon only, prevented him from attacking Ticonderoga, and immediately profecuting the war to the Southward. He had, during the winter, exerted his ufual induftry, and applied his military fkill and judgment, in the forwarding of every preparation, which might conduce to the fuccefs of the defign in the enfuing campaign. At the opening of the communication with England, instead of the reinforcement which he had required and expected for the completion of his purpose, he received an arrangement totally new, which as it had been framed without any reference to his judgment, or attention to his approbation, left nothing to his discretion or opinion in the execution. Two expeditions were to be formed, in each of which, the number and nature of the troops to be employed, the particular fervice of each corps, with its fubdivifions and the smallest detachment to be made from it, had been minutely and precifely specified by the minifter. He was not even confulted as to the number and nature of the troops which were to remain in his hands for the defence or fecurity of Canada. In a word, the army which he had lately commanded was taken out of his, and placed in other hands, and officers who lately acted under his direction, were by a detraction from his authority, virtually placed in independent commands; for their inftructions to put themfelves under the orders of Sir William Howe, feemed little more than a mockery, as that General had informed Sir Guy Carleton, that the concerted operations of the campaign

1777. campaign on his fide, would lead him to fuch a dif tance, as to render any communication of that nature impracticable.

That the governor felt and understood his ar rangement and these appointments in the manner we have related from the complaints of his friends in England, feems evident from the immediate refignation of his government which then took place; but as the notification, the appointment of another, and the pallage of his fucceffor from Europe, were all works of time, he was ftill, however ungrateful the talk, obliged to continue in the exercife of his office, during a longer period than that of which we are treating.

Under these circumftances, and in this trying and difficult fituation, he endeavoured to fhew that refentment could not warp him from his duty, and he applied himself with the fame diligence and ener gy, to forward by every poffible neans, and to fupport in all its parts the expedition, as if the arrangement was entirely his own. This conduct, however praife-worthy, was not lefs neceffary, from the peculiar nature of the fervice which was to be performed; a fervice exceedingly complicated in the arrangement, uncommonly numerous in the parts; and many unufual in practice. It will not be difficult to conceive, how effectually negligence, diflike, obftinacy, or even a colourable and rational difference of opinion in fome difputable points, might fruftrate all the hopes rounded upon fuch a fyftem.

Nothing of this fort intervened, to damp the Spirit or to defeat the fuccefs of the expedition. The preparations were carried on with vigour,

We have before taken roten, that th minifters, and more particularly the noble lord at the head of

the

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