ANALYSIS the greater part prisoners,-while that of the Americans was less than one hundred. 1. Effect of the battle of defence of ler. a. Aug. 3. 38. 'The battle of Bennington, so fortunate to the Bennington. Americans, caused a delay of the enemy at Fort Edward nearly a month; during which time news arrived of the 2. Siege and defeat of the expedition against Fort Schuyler.* *This Fort Schuy fortress, under the cominand of Colonel Gansevoort, being invested by the enemy, General Herkimer collected the militia in its vicinity, and marched to its relief; but falling b. Aug. 6. into an ambuscade he was defeated, and mortally wounded. At the same time, however, a successful sortie from the fort penetrated the camp of the besiegers, killed many, and carried off a large quantity of baggage. Soon after, on the news of the approach of Arnold to the relief of the fort, the savage allies of the British fled, and St. Leger was c. Aug. 22. forced to abandon the siege. 3. Next movement of Burgoyne 4. Positions of the ti00 armies. 39. About the middle of September Burgoyne crossed the Hudson with his whole army, and took a position on d. Sept. 13, 14. the heights and plains of Saratoga.† 'General Gates, who had recently been appointed to the command of the northern American army, had moved forward from the mouth of the Mohawk, and was then encamped near Stillwater. Burgoyne continued to advance, until, on the 18th, he 5 First battle had arrived within two miles of the American camp. Sept. 19. the 19th of September some skirmishing commenced be of Stillwater On tween scouting parties of the two armies, which soon 1777. brought on a general battle, that continued three hours without any intermission. Night put an end to the contest. The Americans withdrew to their camp, while the enemy passed the night under arms on the field of battle. Both parties claimed the victory, but the loss of the enemy was the greatest. 2. of Bur OL. 7. 40. 'Burgoyne now intrenched himself for the purpose 1. Situation of awaiting the expected co-operation of General Clinton, goyne's army from New York. His Canadian and Indian forces began to desert him, and, cut off in a great measure from the means of obtaining supplies of provisions, he was soon obliged to curtail his soldiers' rations. "On the 7th of October, an advance of the enemy towards the American the th left wing, again brought on a general battle, which was fought on nearly the same ground as the former, and with the most desperate bravery on both sides; but at length the British gave way, with the loss of some of their best officers, a considerable quantity of baggage, and more than four hundred men, while the loss of the Americans did not exceed eighty. 41. On the night after the battle the enemy fell back to a stronger position, and the Americans instantly occupied their abandoned camp. Soon after, Burgoyne retired to Saratoga, and endeavored to retreat to Fort Edward; but finding himself surrounded, his provisions reduced to a three days' supply, and despairing of relief from General Clinton, he was reduced to the humiliating necessity of proposing terms of capitulation; and, on the 17th of October, he surrendered his army prisoners of war. 42. The Americans thereby acquired a fine train of brass artillery, nearly five thousand muskets, and an immense quantity of other ordinary implements of war. The news of this brilliant victory caused the greatest exultation throughout the country, and doubts were no longer entertained of the final independence of the American colonies. 43. The army of Gates was immediately put in motion to stop the devastations of General Clinton, who had proceeded up the Hudson with a force of 3000 men, with the hope of making a diversion in favor of Burgoyne. Forts Clinton* and Montgomery, after a severe assault, fell into Fort Clinton was on the W. side of the Hudson River, at the northern extremity of Rockland County, and on the S. side of Peploaps Kill. On the north side of the same stream, in Orange County, was Fort Montgomery. (See Map.) October. a. Oct. 7,8. ments of the 3. Next move two armies. 4. Circum stances that Burgoyne to compelled surrender. b. Oct. 8, 9. Oct. 17. 5. Advanta ges and hap history. 6. The next object of Gen. Gates. ANALYSIS. his hands, and the village of Kingston was wantonly burned, but on hearing the news of Burgoyne's sur render, Clinton immediately withdrew to New York. At the same time, Ticonderoga and all the forts on the northern frontier were abandoned by the British, and occupied by the Americans. In the latter part of. October, 4000 of the victorious troops of the north proceeded to join the of the troops army of Washington; and we now return to the scene of the north of events in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Fort Mifflin was at the lower extremity of Mud Island, near the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, seven or eight miles below Philadelphia. It is still kept in repair, and is garrisoned by U. S. troops. (See Map, p. 248.) Fort Mercer, now in ruins, was a little above, at Red Bank, on the New Jersey side, and little more than a mile distant from Fort Mifflin. It was then, and is now, enshrouded by a gloomy pine forest. (See Map.) White Marsh is situated on Wissahickon Creek, eleven miles N.W. from Philadelphia. (See Map, p. 248.) Valley Forge is a deep and rugged hollow, on the S.W. side of the Schuylkill, twenty miles N.W. from Philadelphia. Upon the mountainous flanks of this valley, and upon a vast plain which overlooks it and the adjoining country, the army of Washington encampel. Through the valley flows Valley Creek. At its junction with the Schuylkill is now the small village of Valley Forge. (See Map, p. 872.) commissions; and murmurs arose in various quarters, not 1777. only in the army, but even among powerful and popular leaders in congress. 47. 'The brilliant victory at Saratoga was contrasted with the reverses of Washington in New York, New Jer. sey, and Pennsylvania; and a plot was originated for placing General Gates at the head of the armies. Washington, however, never relaxed his exertions in the cause of his country; and the originators of the plot at length received the merited indignation of the army and the people. 1 Design to supplant Gen. Wash ington of some bond of union among the states. of Dr. Franklin. 48. After the colonies had thrown off their allegiance 2 Necessity to the British crown, and had established separate governments in the states, there arose the farther necessity for some common bond of union, which would better enable them to act in concert, as one nation. In the sum- 3 Proposition mer of 1775, Benjamin Franklin had proposed to the American congress articles of confederation and union among the colonies; but the majority in congress not being then prepared for so decisive a step, the subject was for the time dropped, but was resumed again shortly before the declaration of independence, in the following year. Congress re specting a federation. a. 1776. 5 Ratifica articles of by the States. tion of the confederation 49. On the 11th of June, congress appointed a com- 4. Action of mittee to prepare a plan of confederation. A plan was reported by the committee in July following, and, after various changes, was finally adopted by congress on the 15th of November, 1777. Various causes, the principal of which was a difference of opinion with respect to the disposition of the vacant western lands, prevented the immediate ratification of these articles by all the states; but at length those states which claimed the western lands having ceded them to the Union, for the common benefit of the whole, the articles of confederation were ratified by Maryland, the last remaining state, on the first of March, 1781; at which time they became the constitution of the country. 50. The confederation, however, amounted to little more than a mere league of friendship between the states; for although it invested congress with many of the powers of sovereignty, it was defective as a permanent government, owing to the want of all means to enforce its decrees. 'While the states were bound together by a sense of common danger, the evils of the plan were little noticed; but after the close of the war they became so prominent as to make a revision of the system necessary. 6 Character of the confederation. 7. What led to the system. a revision of b. See p. 410. ANALYSIS. Subject of 1. Expecta tions of the istry, ani policy. CHAPTER V. EVENTS OF 1778. 1. 'PREVIOUS to the defeat of Burgoyne, the British British min ministry had looked forward, with confidence, to the vain opposi speedy termination of the war, by the conquest of the retion to their bellious colonies. The minority in parliament endeavored, in vain, to stay the course of violent measures, and the warlike policy of the ministers was sustained by powerful 2. Effect pro- majorities in both houses. But the unexpected news of surrender of the surrender of the entire northern British army, produced a great change in the aspect of affairs, and plunged the nation into a dejection as profound as their hopes had been sanguine, and the promises of ministers magnifi duced by the Burgoyne. 3. Conciliatory bills of a. Feb. cent. 2. 'Lord North, compelled by the force of public opinion, Lord North. now came forward with two conciliatory bills, by which England virtually conceded all that had been the cause of controversy between the two countries, and offered more than the colonies had asked or desired previous to the declaration of independence. These bills passed rapidly through parliament, and received the royal assent. b. March 11. 4. Proposals mude to con Gress, and the result. 3. Commissioners were then sent to America, with proposals for an amicable adjustment of differences; but these were promptly rejected by the congress, which refused to treat with Great Britain until she should either withdraw her fleets and armies, or, in positive and express 5. Unworthy terms, acknowledge the independence of the states. the commis of the commissioners then attempted to gain the same ends by private intrigue and bribery,-which coming to the knowledge of congress, that body declared it incompatible with their honor to hold any correspondence or intercourse with him. act of one of sioners. 6. Treaty One 4. Soon after the rejection of the British terms of acwith France. commodation, congress received the news of the acknowledgment of American independence by the court of France, and the conclusion of a treaty of alliance and commerce between the two countries. The treaty was signed igned, and the sixth of February, by Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, on the part of America, and was ratified by congress on the fourth of May following. Feb. 6. 7. By whom when rati. Red. 8. Stipulations of the treaty. 5. In the second part of the treaty it was stipulated, that should war occur between France and England, the two parties should assist each other with council and with arms, and that neither should conclude truce or peace |