CHAPTER XVII.

EVENTS OF 1777 AND 1778.

262. For the campaign of 1777' two great movements were planned by the British. Howe was to seize Philadelphia, while Burgoyne, descending from Canada, was to meet Clinton ascending from New York, and secure the whole line of Lake Champlain and the Hudson, thus cutting off New England from the other states.

263. Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.Washington, who had the care of the whole defense, detained Howe all summer in New Jersey, and prevented any march of British detachments to the north, while he sent Arnold, Lincoln, and Morgan with troops he could ill spare, to aid Schuyler in opposing Burgoyne. He was himself defeated at Brandywine;' Congress hastily removed to Lancaster, and Howe entered Philadelphia, September

A. D. 1777.

26. A bold attack, a few days later, upon the British at Germantown, raised the spirits of the Americans, though it did not regain the city.1

264. Battle of Bennington.-In the north Fort Ticon

deroga was surrendered to Burgoyne, with all its July, 1777.

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cannon and stores; Fort Edward was aban

doned, and it seemed as if the whole state of New York lay at the mercy of the invaders. The Mohawk Valley was ravaged by a force of Tories and Indians in English pay." The British, however, were scantily supplied with food. Learning that the Americans had stores at Bennington, Burgoyne sent Lieutenant-colonel Baum with a force to capture them. But General Stark, with his New Hampshire militia, and Colonel Warner, with his

Aug. 16, 1777.

"Green Mountain Boys," fought with such spirit that Baum and his entire command were either killed or captured.

265. First Battle of Saratoga.—At this point General Gates took command of the army in the north; the New England farmers, inspired with new hope by the victory at Bennington, flocked to his camp at Bemus's heights near Stillwater. Burgoyne came up and a battle was fought,' September 19, of which both sides claimed the victory. While the two armies lay facing each other for a fortnight, militia-bands hovered about the British, cutting off their supplies, now and then capturing a picket-guard, and in many ways embarrassing their position.

266. Surrender of Burgoyne.—A second battle,9 October 7, was more disastrous to the British, and hunger soon completed what the American arms had begun. On the 17th of October Burgoyne surrendered his whole army, numbering nearly 8,000 men, with all their cannon, muskets, and war material. The men were to have sailed from Boston for Europe; but, some delay occurring, they were cantoned among the fertile fields of Virginia. The Hessian General Riedesel distributed a thousand dollars' worth of seeds among his men, and pretty gardens soon surrounded their barracks. Some of them liked the country so well that they remained willingly after the war was over, and became citizens of the United States.

A. D. 1777.

267. Winter at Valley Forge.-After remaining in the field until shelter became necessary for the preservation of his army, Washington went into winter-quarters at Valley Forge, twenty miles from Philadelphia. Scantily supplied with food and clothing, and destitute of even straw to sleep upon, 2,000 men were soon disabled by illness. Secret emissaries from General Howe offered them good pay and every comfort if they would desert to the British, but though many of them had been born in Great Britain, scarcely a man accepted the bribe.

SUFFERINGS AT VALLEY FORGE.

153

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268. The winter at Valley Forge was the severest agony of the war. Washington had to contend not only with cold and starvation, but with envious plots 10 against himself, quarrels among his officers, and weary indifference in the people. While his poor men were starving, farmers sold all their produce to the British, or even burnt it to keep it from being taken by his commissaries. Even the clothing and shoes which belonged to the army, failed to reach it through the disgraceful negligence of the quartermaster-general. Washington was too great to notice injuries which only concerned himself, and some of his secret enemies afterwards bitterly regretted the plots they had made against him.

269. Baron Steuben. Meanwhile a most welcome volunteer presented himself at the camp. It was Baron Steuben," an officer of Frederic the Great," who came prepared to introduce the perfect drill of the Prussian army, and prepare the Americans for future successes.

270. The good effects of the victory at Saratoga were yet to be felt. From the beginning France had wished well to the Americans, partly through hatred of England, who had deprived her of so large a part of this continent (193),. and now that the tide seemed to have turned in their favor, she was ready to take their part. Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee 13 were sent as commissioners to Paris. The good sense, plain dress, and simple manners of the former struck the fancy of the queen and the court, while his wise and brilliant conversation won the admiration of wits and philosophers. He knew how to turn all his success to the account of his country, and already money, powder, and arms reached America from France. During the winter after the surrender of Burgoyne, the French government made a treaty of friendship with the United States of America, being the first to recognize that new nation among the powers of the world.

Feb. 6, 1778.

271. Great Change in England. -The same events

produced a great change in England. Burke, Fox, and many others in Parliament demanded that the Americans should be declared free at once. The king adjourned Parliament to prevent the spread of these sentiments, but sent commissioners to treat for peace, promising pardon for all offenses upon the return of the "colonies" to their allegiance. Congress resolved to hold no conference with the envoys unless the British fleets and armies should be withdrawn, or the independence of the United States distinctly acknowledged; and the war went on.

INDIAN MASSACRES.

155

272. Philadelphia Regained.-General Howe resigned. his command, and Clinton, who succeeded him, was ordered to quit Philadelphia and make his headquarters in New York. Washington pursued his retreating army, and, but for the failure of General Lee, might have won a great victory. As it was, he rallied Lee's flying brigades and gained the battle of Monmouth;" but the British escaped to New York, leaving several hundreds of dead or wounded on the field.

June, 1778.

273. Attack on Newport.-Great preparations were made for a combined attack of the French and American forces upon Newport, Rhode Island, which was in the possession of the British. Count D'Estaing arrived from France with a powerful fleet, and learning soon after that Admiral Howe was awaiting him on the open sea, he sailed out of Narragansett Bay for a fight. A terrible storm arose, however, and both fleets, shattered

Aug., 1778.

by the tempest, had to withdraw and put into port for repairs. The American forces, unsurported by the fleet, were now compelled to retire from the island, and during the retreat were attacked by the British. The latter, however, were repulsed, and the Americans withdrew in safety.

274. Massacre at Wyoming.-This summer was signalized by a terrible massacre of old men, women, and children in the valley of Wyoming, on the Susquehanna, by a combined force of British and Seneca Indians. All the strong men were absent in the army, while their wives tilled the fields. The forts in which they had found refuge on the enemy's approach, were taken and burnt. Three hundred old men and boys fought valiantly until they were surrounded and slain. The British leaders could not, if they would, restrain their savage allies; every dwelling was burnt, and the beautiful valley became a solitude.

275. Savages in New York.--The same dreadful scenes were repeated at Cherry Valley in New York, by