a scene which was considered but the miniature of what 'the nation would exhibit, should Britain prevail. Husbands saw the fate of their wives, and parents of their daughters; and the nation became more seriously alarmed for their safety, and more immediately alive to the interest of the common cause. New-Jersey became active in the contest, and rose in arms to revenge the wrongs she had suffered from a brutal foe.

Lord Cornwallis having been surprised by Gen. Washington, and driven from Elizabethtown, took up his quarters at Amboy, where he was closely invested through the winter, and the Jersies were generally cleared.

* In June following, Gen. Howe took the field in person, with a view to revenge upon Gen. Washington the affair of Trenton. To effect this he attempted to embark his army, and by a sudden movement recalled his troops and commenced an attack upon a division of the American army, but was repulsed with loss, and compelled to retire, embark his army, and cross over to Staten Island, June 30, 1777.

Thus ended this expedition into New-Jersey; an expedition which had filled the country with alarm, and even despair; but which ultimately proved one of the great causes of saving the nation.

Pending these operations in New-Jersey, Sir William Howe detached Gov. Tryon, with the command of a major general of the Provincials, at the head of about 2000 men, to destroy the American stores at Danbury, (Conn.) Gen. Tryon, supported by Gen. Agnew, and Sir William Erskine embarked his troops at New-York; proceeded up the Sound, under a strong convoy; landed his troops at Fairfield, April 25th, and on the 26th marched to Danbury, distant 23 miles, where he burnt and destroyed 18 houses, 1800 barrels of beef and pork, 2000 bushels of wheat, &c. 700 barrels of flour, 1700 tents, together with VOL. III.

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articles of clothing for a régiment; also 100 hogsheads of rum, and 100 barrels of flour, on their return. When this hero had accomplished the object of the expedition, he took up his march for New-York, on the 27th ; but Generals Wooster and Arnold had collected a small force in the vicinity, and pressed upon their rear with incessant, skirmishing, which galled the enemy very severely until they reached Campo, where they embarked on board their shipping and returned to New-York, with the loss of about 400 men, killed, wounded, and taken.

The Americans lost about forty, killed and wounded; amongst the former was Doctor Atwater, and amongst the latter was Gen. Wooster, who died of his wounds on the 2d of May.

Congress did honor to his worth by causing a monument to be erected to his memory.

Congress also directed the quarter master general to present Gen. Arnold with a horse, as a mark of respect due to his distinguished services, as well as to replace the horse which was killed under him at the skirmish at Ridgefield.

To revenge this excursion upon the enemy, Colonel Meigs embarked a small body of troops at Guilford, May 23d, and crossed over the Sound to Egg Harbour, where he took and destroyed twelve brigs and sloops, 100 tons of pressed hay, oats, corn, &c. ten hogsheads of rum, and a great quantity of merchandize, &c. and returned without loosing one man, May 25th. Congress ordered an elegant sword to be presented to Colonel; Meigs, in honor of his services.

REMARKS.

When Congress were fully acquainted with the perilous situation of the American army, at the time they crossed the Delaware, they were roused to a true sense of the desperate situation of the nation, and when they witnessed

the wonderful change which was effected by the victory of Trenton, they became sensible, that under God, Washington must become the saviour of his country; to enable him to act more promptly, and more effectually, they passed a resolution empowering him-" to collect 16,000 infantry, three thousand horse, three regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers; appoint their officers, and establish their pay: to call from all the states such militia as shall become necessary, form such depots of magazines and stores, as he may think proper; to displace all officers under a brigadier, and fill all vacancies; to take whatever he may want for the public service, wherever he may be, paying reasonably therefor; and to confine all who shall refuse the currency; all for the term of six months." Thus in this expedition into New-Jersey, God turned the counsels of the enemy into foolishness, and out of weakness brought forth strength.*

Pending these operations, the British General Prescot, with a strong force took possession of Newport, (RhodeIsland,) December 25th, 1776, which will be noticed in its place.

Upon the fall of General Montgomery, General Thomas was sent on to take the command of the army before Quebec, who died with sickness shortly after, and was succeeded by General Sullivan, and the American army suffered every possible distress from the small-pox, and other diseases, until they were reduced to the pitiful number of 400 men, when they raised the siege, and retir

* On the 30th of December, Congress resolved that commissioners be forth with sent to the courts of Vienna, Spain, Russia, and the grand Duke of Tuscany, to invite their co-operation in the war, first by the recall of all the German mercenaries in the British service, and next by making a diversion upon the British dominions in Germany, and the West-Indies, or Canada and Novascotia, &c. On the 24th of March following, more than 20,000 stand of arms arrived in America from France, and woollens for clothing, &c. to supply the army.

ed hastily towards Montreal, to escape total destruction from the British, who were reinforced by the arrival of a fleet, and armament from England. General Carleton pursued, with about 800 men; but General Sullivan made good his retreat, with the loss of about 100 men, together with his whole camp, artillery, stores, &c. May, 1776.

Pending the operations of the siege of Quebec, Colonel Arnold had been appointed a Brigadier, and stationed at Montreal, where he effected an exchange of prisoners with a Captain Foster, who at the head of a detachment of the 8th British regiment, supported by Canadians, and Indians, had taken the American fort at the Cedars, about 40 miles above Montreal.

About the same time, the British army was again reinforced from England, and had become about 13,000 strong. With this force General Carleton, supported by Generals Burgoyne, Philips, and Reidesel, moved on in divisions in pursuit of General Sullivan, to support the advance guard under the command of General Frazer, who had taken post at Troies Rivieres.

General Sullivan detached General Thompson with about 1800 men, to surprise General Frazer in his camp, and thus cut off the advance guard of the British army; not knowing the arrival of the last reinforcements; but the attempt was discovered, and defeated, and the Americans were routed, and pursued, and fled with precipitation, leaving their general, &c. in the hands of the British. General Carleton pursued the Americans, with all his forces, to the River Sorel, and from thence to Lake Champlain, where they arrived under the most perilous circumstances, being hard pressed, and severly harassed by the advance guard of the British army, under General Burgoyne. Here General Sullivan was joined by General Arnold, who had abandoned Montreal, at the critical

moment, when the enemy were ready to cut off his retreat by their armed vessels. Generals Sullivan, and Arnold embarked their forces, with their cannon, and baggage, and retired to the Isle Aux-Noix, and from thence to Crown-Point, where they made a stand, June 15th, 1776.

On the 12th of July, General Sullivan retired from the command, and carried with him the affections, and gratitude of the army, and was succeeded by General Gates. The army was now diminished more than five thousand, exclusive of 300 sick, who were removed to Fort George. The distresses of this army, arising from the ravages of the small-pox, exceed all description.

General Gates ordered a body of militia to be assembled at Skeensborough; retired with his troops to Ticonderoga, and made all possible exertions to strengthen his fleet, to resist the enemy.-August.-Sir Guy Carleton exerted himself to prepare a fleet that should enable him to command the lake, and transport his army, that he might carry the war into the state of New-York, and co-operate with Gen. Howe at New-York, by the way of North River, and plant the British standard at Albany.

. In October Gen. Carleton had prepared his fleet, embarked his troops; proceeded up the lake, and discovered the American fleet near Valicour Island, when a severe action commenced, which was supported upon both sides with great bravery; both fleets distinguished themselves by their ardent zeal, and intrepid valour; but the Americans were overpowered, and dispersed, taken, or destroyed, and thus an opening was made for the enemy to approach Fort Ti, October 11.

General Gates strengthened his position at Ticonderoga, and his army had how become about 12,000 strong; but their supplies of provisions were short, and their flour entirely gone for several days. At this critical moment,