Map. ANALYSIS. ing from the river above to the morass in the centre, where they were met by the Americans, who extended to the a. See the river below." On the evening of the ninth of Octo1. The batter. ber, the batteries were opened against the town, at a disles opened, tance of 600 yards; and so heavy was the fire, that many what effect of the guns of the besieged were soon dismounted, and silenced, and the works in many places demolished. Shells and red hot balls reached the British ships in the 2. Advance harbor, several of which were burned. On the evening of the 11th the besiegers advanced to within three hundred yards of the British lines. made on the Oct. 14. 3 Events of progress of the 14th; and the siege. 4. Attempt of the British to retreat. 36. On the 14th, two redoubts, in advance and on the left of the besieged, were carried by assault; the one by an American, and the other by a French detachment. These were then included in the works of the besiegers. On the 16th, nearly a hundred pieces of heavy ordnance were brought to bear on the British works, and with such effect that the walls and fortifications were beaten down, and almost every gun dismounted. 37. 'No longer entertaining any hopes of effectual resistance, on the evening of the same day Cornwallis attempted to retreat by way of Gloucester Point; hoping to be able to break through a French detachment posted in the rear of that place, and, by rapid marches, to reach 5. Surrender New York in safety. "Frustrated in this attempt by a of Yorktown. violent storm, which dispersed his boats after one division had crossed the river, he was reduced to the necessity of a capitulation; and, on the 19th, the posts of Yorktown and Gloucester, containing more than seven thousand British soldiers, were surrendered to the army of Washington, and the shipping in the harbor to the fleet of De Grasse. Oct. 19. 6. Clinton's arrival. b. Oct. 24. 38. Five days after the fall of Yorktown, Sir Henry Clinton arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake, with an armament of 7000 men; but learning that Cornwallis 7. Disposition had already surrendered, he returned to New York. "The are victorious allies separated soon after the surrender. The e. Nov. 5. Count de Grasse sailed for the West Indies; Count made of the 8. Effect of this impor Rochambeau cantoned his army, during the winter, in Virginia; and the main body of the Americans returned to its former position on the Hudson, while a strong detachment under General St. Clair was despatched to the south, to reenforce the army of General Greene. 39. By the victory over Cornwallis, the whole country tant victory. was, in effect, recovered to the Union-the British power was reduced to merely defensive measures-and was confined, principally, to the cities of New York, Charleston, and Savannah. At the news of so important a victory, transports of exultation broke forth, and triumphal cele made by brations were held throughout the Union. 'Washington 1781. set apart a particular day for the performance of divine. Religious service in the army; recommending that "all the troops appointment should engage in it with serious deportment, and that sen- Washington. sibility of heart which the surprising and particular interposition of Providence in their favor claimed." done by con gress on this occasion. 40. Congress, on receiving the official intelligence, 2 What was went in procession to the principal church in Philadelphia, "To return thanks to Almighty God for the signal success of the American arms," and appointed the 13th of December as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. CHAPTER IX. CLOSE OF THE WAR, AND ADOPTION OF THE 1. 'WHEN intelligence of the defeat and capture of Cornwallis reached London, the king and ministry evinced a determination still to continue the war for the reduction of the "rebellious colonies;" but, fortunately, the war had become almost universally unpopular with the British nation. From the 12th of December to the 4th of March, repeated motions were made in the House of Commons for terminating the war; and on this latter day" the House resolved, that those who should advise the king to continue the war on the continent of North America, should be declared enemies of the sovereign and of the country. 2. 'On the 20th of March the administration of Lord North was terminated, and the advocates of peace imme- 5. diately came into power. Early in May, Sir Guy Carleton, who had been appointed to succeed Sir Henry Clinton in the command of all the British forces, arrived at New York, with instructions to promote the wishes of Great Britain for an accommodation with the United States. In accordance with these views, offensive war mostly ceased on the part of the British, and Washington made no attempts on the posts of the enemy. The year 1782, consequently, passed without furnishing any military operations of importance; although the hostile array of armies, and occasional skirmishes, still denoted the existence of a state of war. 3. On the 30th of November, 1782, preliminary articles of peace were signed at Paris, by Mr. Oswald, a commissioner on the part of Great Britain, and John Adams, Subject Chapter IX. tion of the 3. Determina king and ministry to continue the war. 4 Proceed House of Commons. 1782. a March 4. ings of the Articles and ed in this and "ing year. treaties sign in the folloro 1783. ANALYSIS. Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, on the part of the United States. Preliminary articles of peace between France and England were likewise signed on the 20th of January following; and on the 3d of September, of the same year, definitive treaties of peace were signed by the commissioners of England with those of the United States, France, Spain, and Holland. Jan. 20. Sept. 3. 1. Terms of the treaty be land and ine United States. 4. 'By the terms. of the treaty between England and the tween Eng United States, the independence of the latter was acknow. ledged in its fullest extent; ample boundaries were allow. ed them, extending north to the great lakes, and west to the Mississippi,-embracing a range of territory more extensive than the states, when colonies, had claimed ; and an unlimited right of fishing on the banks of Newfoundland was conceded. "The two Floridas, which had long been held by England, were restored to Spain. idas 2. The Flor a. Since 1763. April 19, 1783. 3. Remaining year 1783. 5. On the 19th of April, the eighth anniversary of the battle of Lexington, a cessation of hostilities was proevents of the claimed in the American army; and on the 3d of November, the army was disbanded by general orders of congress. Savannah was evacuated by the British troops in July, New York in November, and Charleston in the following month. 4. Dificulties attending the the army. 6. Notwithstanding all had looked forward with joyful disbanding of hope to the termination of the war, yet the disbanding of the American army had presented difficulties and dangers, which it required all the wisdom of congress and the commander-in-chief to overcome. Neither officers nor soldiers had, for a long time, received any pay for their services; and although, in 1780, congress had adopted a resolution promising half pay to the officers, on the conclusion of peace, yet the state of the finances now rendered the payment impossible. The disbanding of the army would, therefore, throw thousands out of the service, without compensation for the past, or substantial provision for the future. 5. Fears of an nsurrection. 6 Address circulated army. 7. 'In this situation of affairs, it was feared that an open insurrection would break out, and that the army would attempt to do itself the justice which the country was slow to grant. In the midst of the excitement, an through the anonymous address, since ascertained fo have been written by Major John Armstrong,-composed with great ingenuity, and recommending an appeal to the fears of b. March 11. congress, and the people, was circulated through the army; calling a meeting of the officers, for the purpose of arranging the proper measures for obtaining redress. Such was the state of feeling in the army, that a war be. tween the civil and the military powers appeared inevitable. effected by ton. done in a sub 8. The firmness and prudence of Washington, how- 1783. ever, succeeded in averting the danger. Strong in the 1. What was love and veneration of the people and the army, and pos- the influence sessing an almost unbounded influence over his officers, of Washing he succeeded in persuading the latter to disregard the anonymous call, and to frown upon all disorderly and illegal proceedings for obtaining redress. In a subse- 2 What was quent meeting, called by Washington himself, General sequent meetGates presiding, the officers unanimously declared, that ing called by "No circumstances of distress or danger should induce a conduct that might tend to sully the reputation and glory which they had acquired at the price of their blood, and eight years' faithful services," and that they still had "unshaken confidence in the justice of congress and their country." 3. Arrange ments made by congress. 9. 'Not long after, congress succeeded in making the proper arrangements for granting the officers, according to their request, five years' full pay, in place of half pay for life; and four months' full pay to the army, in part payment for past services. "Their work completed,their country independent,-the soldiers of the revolution their homes. returned peaceably to their homes; bearing with them the public thanks of congress in the name of their grateful country. 10. 'Washington, having taken leave of his officers and army, repaired to Annapolis, where congress was then in session; and there, on the 23d of December, before that august body of patriots and sages, and a large concourse of spectators,-in a simple and affectionate address, after commending the interests of his country to the protection of Heaven, he resigned his commission as commander-inchief of the American army. 4. Return of the soldiers to 5. CircumWashing stances of ton's resignation. ment to privale life. 11. After an eloquent and affecting reply by General 6. His retireMifflin, then president of the congress, Washington withdrew. He then retired to his residence at Mourt Vernon, exchanging the anxious labors of the car p, for the quiet industry of a farm, and bearing with him the enthusiastic love, esteem, and admiration of his country men. of the country 12. 'Independence and peace being now established, 7 Condition the public mind, relieved from the excitement incident to at this period. a state of war, was turned to examine the actual condition of the country. In addition to a foreign debt of eight millions of dollars, a domestic debt of more than thirty millions, due to American citizens, and, principally, to the officers and soldiers of the revolution, was strongly urged upon congress for payment. But by the articles The debt of confederation congress had not the power to discharge incurra the war. ANALYSIS debts incurred by the war; it could merely recommend to the individual states to raise money for that purpose. 1. The states called upon for funds 2. What pre vented their compliance. 13. 'The states were therefore called upon for funds to discharge, in the first place, the arrears of pay due to the soldiers of the revolution. The states listened to these calls with respect, but their situation was embarrassing; -each had its local debts to provide for, and its domestic government to support, the country had been drained of its wealth, and taxes could not be collected; and, besides, congress had no binding power to compel the states to 3. Insurrec obedience. Some of the states attempted, by heavy taxes upon the people, to support their credit, and satisfy their creditors. In Massachusetts, an insurrection was the consequence, and an armed force of several thousand men was necessary to suppress it." tion in Mas sachusetts. (Shay's Insurrection.) a. In 1787. 4. Necessity of a closer union of the states. 5. Convention at Philadel 14. 'With evils continually increasing, the necessity of a closer union of the states, and of an efficient general government, became more and more apparent. A convenat Annapolis. tion of commissioners from six states, held at Annapolis, in September, 1786, for the purpose of establishing a better system of commercial regulations, led to a proposition for 1787. revising the articles of confederation. Accordingly, a con6. Convention vention of delegates, from all the states, except Rhode Isphia in 1787. land, met at Philadelphia for this purpose in 1787. Finding the articles of confederation exceedingly defective as a form of government, the convention rejected their former purpose of revising them, and proceeded to the considera7. New terri- tion of a new constitution.-'In July of this year, a large ment formed. extent of territory north of the Ohio River was formed into a territorial government by the general congress, and called the Northwestern Territory. b. May. torial govern 8. The nero constitution, tion. e. Sept. 17. 15. After four months' deliberation a constitution was and its adop agreed on, which, after being presented to congress, was submitted to conventions of the people in the several states for the r ratification. Previous to, and during the year 1788. 1788, majorities of the people in eleven of the states adopte the constitution, although not without strong opposition; as many believed that the extensive powers, which the new government gave to the rulers, would be dangerous to the liberties of the people. 9. Party names. 16. The supporters of the constitution, who advocated a union of the several states under a strong government, were denominated Federalists, and their opposers anti-Federal10 Election of ists. Provision having been made for the election of of The new goo- ficers under the new government, George Washington was unanimously elected President of the United States for the term of four years, and John Adams Vice-presi. dent. officers under ernment. d. Votes counted April 6. |