CHAP.
XXXI.

The alarm spread; General Silliman, of the Con necticut militia, called out his men, and sent expresses in 1777. every direction. Arnold, who had been sent by Washington, some months before, to prepare defences at Providence, and obtain recruits, happened to be in New Haven when the express arrived with the intelligence of the inroad. He hastened with some volunteers to join Generals Wooster and Silliman, whose forces amounted to about six hundred militia; and the whole company moved after the marauders.

Tryon, who had marched all night, reached Danbury on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth. He commenced at once to destroy the magazines of stores. Although the inhabitants had abandoned their homes at his approach, he permitted his soldiers to burn almost every house in the village. By morning the work of destruction was complete. The militia were approaching, and the marauders were compelled to run the gauntlet to their ships, twenty miles distant.

The Americans were separated into two divisions, one under Wooster, the other under Arnold; while the former was to harass the enemy in the rear, the latter was to make a stand at a convenient point in advance and obstruct their progress.

The brave Wooster, though sixty-eight years of age, led forward his men with great spirit. When they, unused to war, faltered in the face of the enemy's musketry and artillery, he rode to the front and cheered them. "Come on, my boys," cried he, "never mind such random shots." At that moment a musket-ball pierced his side, and he fell from his horse mortally wounded. His soldiers now retreated in confusion.

Arnold had made a stand at Ridgefield, two miles beyond the spot where Wooster fell, and while the enemy was delayed by this skirmishing, he had thrown up a barricade or breastwork. He acted with his usual daring

DEATH OF GENERAL WOOSTER.

407

XXXI.

but, after a spirited resistance, his little force was over- CHAP. powered by numbers and driven back. As he was bringing off the rear-guard his horse was shot under him; 1777. before he could disengage himself from the struggling animal, a Tory rushed up with a fixed bayonet, and cried out, "You are my prisoner." "Not yet," replied Arnold, as he coolly levelled his pistol and shot him dead. He then escaped, rallied his men, and renewed the attack.

27.

The determined resistance of the militia retarded the British so much, that they were forced to encamp for the night. The next day they were greeted with the same April galling fire from behind trees, fences, and houses, which continued until they came within range of the guns of their ships. They speedily embarked, fain to escape the rifles of the exasperated yeomanry.

General Wooster was conveyed to Danbury, where he died surrounded by his family. His loss was greatly deplored by the patriots. A neat monument in the cemetery of that place now marks his grave.

When Congress learned of the gallant conduct of Arnold, they commissioned him a major-general, and presented him with a horse richly caparisoned. Yet even this tardy acknowledgment of his military merit was marred, the date of his commission still left him below his proper rank. He seemed to feel this second slight more keenly than the first.

The Americans resolved to retaliate in kind, and Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, of Connecticut, with one hundred and seventy men, passed over the Sound to the east end of Long Island. They carried their boats, during the night, fifteen miles across the neck, launched them May on the bay, passed over to Sag Harbor, and destroyed a great amount of provisions and forage, collected there for the British In addition, they burned twelve vessels,

24

XXXI.

CHAP. took ninety prisoners, and returned without losing a man, having passed over ninety miles in twenty-five hours.

1777.

Though strenuous efforts were made to obtain recruits, the smallness of the American army still continued; want of funds crippled every measure. At the instance of Washington, Congress declared that those redemptioners or indented servants who enlisted in the army should, by that act, become freemen; and bounties in land were offered the Hessians to induce them to desert.

Meanwhile General Schuyler labored with great zeal in the northern department. But his feelings were severely tried by the aspersions which his enemies cast upon his character, and conduct of affairs. In the autumn of 1776 he wrote: "I am so sincerely tired of abuse, that I will let my enemies arrive at the completion of their wishes as soon as I shall have been tried; and attempt to serve my injured country in some other way, where envy and detraction will have no temptation to follow me." But Congress would not accept his resignation. During the winter he made repeated appeals to the Commander-inchief for reinforcements and supplies, which, for want of means, could not be sent. There were but six or seven hundred men at Ticonderoga; Carleton, he thought, might cross Lake Champlain on the ice and attack them; if successful, he might follow out his original plan and push on to Albany. As the abuse of which Schuyler complained was continued, early in April he proceeded to Philadelphia, and demanded of Congress a committee to inquire into his conduct. Meantime General Gates had been ordered to take command at Ticonderoga.

Schuyler's patriotism was not an impulse, not a matter of mere words, nor did injustice rouse in his breast, as in that of Arnold, the dark spirit of revenge. However, the committee reported in his favor; and, with his character and conduct fully vindicated, he returned to the charge of the Northern Department. The ambitious Gates was

XXXI.

deeply chagrined and disappointed; he had flattered him- CHAP. self that Schuyler would never resume his command, and regarded himself as virtually his successor. Professing to 1777. be aggrieved, he hastened to Philadelphia to seek redress at the hands of Congress.

The want of a national flag was greatly felt, especially in the marine service. Congress adopted the "Union Flag," with its thirteen stripes, but displaced the Cross of St. George," and substituted for it thirteen stars; to which one star has since been added for each additional State.

June.

CHAP.

1777.

CHAPTER XXXII.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION-CONTINUED.

The Struggle excites an Interest in England and France.-Baron De Kalb.Privateers fitted out in France.-Negotiations for Munitions of War.Howe's Manoeuvres.-Burgoyne on his Way from Canada.-Ticonderoga Captured.-St. Clair's Retreat to Fort Edward.-Efforts to arrest the Progress of Burgoyne.-Capture of General Prescott.-The secret Expedition. The British Fleet puts to sea.-The American Army at Germantown.-La Fayette.-Pulaski and Kosciusko.-Aid sent to Schuyler. Howe lands at Elkton.-Battle of Brandywine.-Possession taken of Philadelphia.-Battle of Germantown.-Hessians repulsed at Fort Mercer.-Winter Quarters at Valley Forge.

THE unfortunate result of the battle of Long Island; the XXXII. loss of New York and Fort Washington; and the retreat across New Jersey, were all significant of the weakness of the patriot army. Intelligence of these disasters disheartened the friends of the cause in Europe. Edmund Burke, their firm friend, remarked that, although the Americans had accomplished wonders, yet the overpowering forces to be brought against them in the following campaign, must completely crush their hopes of Independence. Said he : "An army that is obliged, at all times, and in all situations, to decline an engagement, may delay their ruin, but can never defend their country."

The intelligent portion of the people of France were not indifferent spectators of this struggle; it was watched with intense interest by her merchants, her manufacturers.