retreat to their camp; but were intercepted by the latters who, having gained their rear, attacked them with his light infantry and dragoons. The Americans were driven back, until met by the Hessians; and were thus chased, alternately, by two parties. Some of the regiments, how. ever, found their way to the camp. The Americans, under lord Stirling, consisting of colonel Miles's two battalions, Atlee's, Smallwood's, and Hatch's regiments, who were opposed to general Grant, fought with great resolution, for about six hours. But, from their total want of cavalry, being ignorant of the movements made hy genera! Clinton, until some of his troops had traversed the whole extent of country in their rear, their retreat was intercepted. Seve ral, notwithstanding, broke through, and got into the woods, and a considerable number escaped to the lines. Many, however, were drowned, and others perished in the mud.

The king's troops displayed great valour throughout the whole day. The variety of ground occasioned a succession of small engagements, pursuits, and slaughters, which lasted many hours. British discipline, however, in every instance triumphed over the mere bravery of raw forces: who had never been in any action, and whose officers were unacquainted with the stratagems of war.

The loss of the enemy, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. or, as it is concisely termed by the French, the number placed hors de combat, was four hundred and fifty. That of

the Americanз was above a thousand. Amongst the pri soners taken of the latter, were two generals, Sullivan and Stirling, and eighty-two other officers, including every rank.

During the retreat, general Washington had brought over re-enforcements to the scene of action; and, after he had collected his principal force there, it was his wish and hope that sir William Howe would attempt to storm his works. But the remembrance of Breed's-hill, restrained the British general from an assault. On the contrary, he made demonstrations of a siege, and opened trenches within three hundred yards, to the left, at Putnam's redoubt. Though general Washington had wished for an immediate assault, yet, being certain that his works would be untenable wher the British batterics were fully opened, he called a council of war, to determine on the most proper measures. It being resolved, that the objects in view were in no degree proportioned to the dangers, to which, by a continuation on the island, they would be exposed, dispositions were made

for retreating. This commenced soon after it was darks from two points, the upper and lower ferries on East river. General M'Dougal regulated the embarkation at one; colonel Knox, at the other. Never was any movement more skilfully ordered, conducted with more consummate address, or more highly favoured by the aid of Providence. The field-artillery, tents, baggage, and about nine thousand men, were conveyed to New York, over a river upwards of a mile wide, in less than thirteen hours; and without the knowledge of the British, though not distant six hundred yards. The wind seemed, in one place, to change accord ing to their wants; and, in another, a fog veiled them from the hostile view. Half an hour after general Mifflin, with the rear guard, had left the lines, they were entered by the British.

Not rightly appreciating the spirit of the American leaders, which was not subdued, but made more resolute, by defeat, lord Howe considered the late reverse as favourable to promote submission; and, accordingly, sent general Sullivan, already mentioned amongst the prisoners, with a message to the congress. In a few days, Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge, were deputed to have an interview with the British general, on Staten Island. They were politely received; but there arose no approximation towards a peace. When concluding, lord Howe expressed to Dr. Franklin, with whom, a mutual friendship had for some time before existed, the extreme pain he would suffer, in being obliged to distress those that he so much regarded. "I feel thankful to your lordship," replied Franklin, "for your regard. The Americans will show their gratitude, by endeavouring to lessen the pain you may feel on their account, in exerting their utmost abilities to take good care of themselves.

It was happy for the cause of freedom, that a principle, yet higher than that which often animates the common soldier to maintain his post, actuated the superior officers entrusted with its defence. The army became universaliy dispirited. The militia ran off by companies, and the regulars were infected by the example. The situation of those generous leaders, who knew no fear. except in the prospective ruin of their country; who offered every thing, but honour, a sacrifice to avert its degradation; cannot be described. How must the heart of Washington have been wrung with anguish! To retreat, subjected him to animadversions, painful to bear, yet impolitic to refute. To stand

his ground, and thus hazard the fate of America, on one engagement, in which fortune might decide, was contrary to every rationa' plan of defending his extensive charge. A middle line, between abandoning and defending, was, therefore, for a while adopted. The public stores were removed to Dobbs's ferry, about twenty-six miles distant: twelve thousand men were ordered to the northern extremiy of New York island; four thousand five hundred remained to defend the city, and the rest were stationed within the intermediate space, to act as occasion might require.

The same short-sighted politicians who had before censured general Washington for his caution, in not storming the British lines at Boston, renewed the clamours against him for this system of evacuation and retreat. But the same wisdom which had then devised it as the best, now confirmed his resolution to maintain it. Supported by a consciousness of his own integrity, and by a full conviction that these measures were the most advantageous to his country, he again voluntarily subjected his fame to be overshadowed by a passing cloud.

General Howe pursued his object with unabating dili gence. Having prepared every thing for a descent on New York island, he landed his men near Turtle-bay. The Americans instantly fell back; and though some detach ments, under the command of colonel Knowleton of Con necticut and major Leitch of Virginia, the former of whom was killed and the latter wounded, had fairly beaten their immediate adversaries from the field, yet it became necessary to evacuate the city. On the 12th of October, it was entered by a brigade of the enemy. They had been only a few days in possession, when a dreadful fire broke out, which consumed a thousand houses. The Americans took a position on the north end of the island; but, soon after. wards, left three thousand men in Fort Washington, near Kingsbridge, and retired. The royal army followed, in two columns: and, after sustaining a considerable loss, by the fire of a party which general Lee had posted behind a wall, halted with the Brunx in front: upon which, the Americans assembled their main force at White Plains; where they formed intrenchments. A severe action took place, and several hundreds fell. The British were commanded by general Leslie; the Americans, by general M'Dougal.

Soon afterwards, general Washington changed his front; his left wing standing fast, whilst his right fell back to some contiguous hills. In this position, an admirable one for de

fence, he both desired and expected an attack; but general Howe having declined it, and drawn off his forces to Dobbs's ferry, the Americans retired to Northcastle.

Leaving seven thousand men under general Lee, Washington crossed Hudson River, into New Jersey, and took a position in the neighbourhood of Fort Lee. In the meantime, sir William Howe commenced the reduction of For Washington. On the 16th of November, the royal army attacked in four divisions: the first was led by general Kniphausen; the second, by general Matthews, supported by lord Cornwallis; the third was under the direction of colo nel Stirling; and the fourth, commanded by lord Percy. The garrison consisted of three thousand men, under colonel Magaw. Their outworks being carried, their defenders crowded into the fort, and the whole surrendered prisoners of war. The loss of the assailants was considerable. killed and wounded, from the fire of the garrison, and of Rawling's corps of riflemen stationed in a wood through which one of their divisions passed, were at least twelve hundred.

Their

Shortly afterwards, lord Cornwallis crossed over to the Jersey shore, and captured Fort Lee, with all its artillery and stores; the garrison having been saved by a previous evacuation. General Washington then retreated to Newark. But he saw no hopes of being able to remain even there. He feared that he would be compelled to retire still farther. "Should we retreat," said he, addressing colonel Reed, "to the back parts of Pennsylvania, will the inhabitants support us?" The colonel replied, that if the lower counties were subdued, and surrendered, the upper districts would do the same. "We must retire, then," rejoined Washington, "to Augusta county, in Virginia: numbers will be obliged to repair to us for safety, and if overpowered, we must cross the Alleghany mountains.”

But the general's situation became yet more distressing. The term for which his army had enlisted was on the point of expiring: the British commander offered pardon and reward to all who would, within sixty days, desert the colonial interest: and, when it was expected that he would withdraw to winter quarters, pursued the diminished army in its retreat. Lord Cornwallis, at the head of six thousand regulars, was so close behind general Washington, as he retired, during nineteen days, with about three thousand undisciplined troops, to Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, and the Pennsyl vania side of the Delaware, that the rear of the one army

pulling down bridges, was often within shot of the other's van, hastening to repair them.

Scarcely one of the people joined the retreating army, whilst numbers were daily flocking to the royal standard, to obtain forgiveness and protection. Not only the lower classes changed sides in this gloomy season of adversity, but some of the leading men in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, particularly Mr. Gallaway and Mr. Allen, two members of congress, adopted the same dastardly expedient, and declared themselves, at all times, averse to independence. Every thing seemed tending to colonial overthrow. General Lec one of the most distinguished continental officers, was tak en prisoner; a dispirited half-clad army was on the eve of being disbanded; the neighbourhood of Philadelphia be came the seat of warfare, and congress removed for safety to Baltimore.

In proportion as difficulties increased, that assembly redoubled their exertions. They addressed the states in animated language; recommended them to appoint a day of solemn fasting and humiliation, invested Washington with extraordinary powers, and endeavoured to obtain assistance from foreign nations.

These judicious measures in the cabinet were accompanied with proportionate vigour in the field. A bold enter. prise was formed by Washington, of re-crossing into Jersey, and attacking those parties of the enemy which were stationed at Burlington, Bordenton, and Trenton. In the evening of Christmas day, he made arrangements for passing the Delaware in three divisions; two under the respective orders of generals Cadwalader and Ewing, and one division to be directed by himself. But, owing to the quantity of broken ice, only the main body, commanded by Washington, succeeded in its purpose, at M'Konkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton; and the passage even of this was so retarded, that it was three o'clock in the morning before the artillery was landed. On arriving in Jersey, this party was arranged in two divisions; one commanded by general Sullivan, the other by general Greene, aided by Stirling, Mercer, and St. Clair; who were ordered to proceed to Tren ton by different roads, and charge the enemy before they had time to form At eight o'clock, they reached the advanced posts, within three minutes of each other. The outguards of the Hessian troops soon fell back, but kept up a retreating fire; their main body, after losing half their artilery, and finding themselves surrounded, laid down their