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ARNOLD ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

[CHAP. III. Arnold. The British, in the beginning of October, had a fleet consisting of one ship of eighteen twelve-pounders, one of fourteen and another of twelve six-pounders, twenty gun-boats carrying guns of from nine to twentyfour pounders or howitzers, besides some long boats and tenders.

On the fourth of Qctober there was an engagement between the two fleets, and the largest vessels of the enemy not being able to get into action, on account of the wind, Arnold was able to maintain the unequal fight, with the loss, however, of his best schooner and a gondola. In the night he made his escape, but the next day was overtaken, when the battle was renewed. The foremost of his little fleet reached Ticonderoga. One of his gondolas was captured, and finding escape impracticable, he ran his remaining vessels on shore and blew them up. By his conduct in this unequal combat, he greatly increased his reputation.

General Carleton having taken possession of Crown Point, which its garrison had previously evacuated, approached Ticonderoga; but as Gates and Schuyler had a force of between eight and nine thousand men, he made no assault on it, but went into winter quarters, to the great relief of the garrison.

Early in November of the preceding year Sir Henry Clinton had, with about three thousand men, sailed from New York for Newport, in Rhode Island, and took possession of the Island, after a slight resistance.

There was also reason to apprehend hostilities from the Indians, who had stipulated to observe neutrality. One of the subjects of complaint against those who conducted the war on the part of the British was the treatment of American prisoners, which, as well as their exchange, gave occasion to a correspondence of Wash

1777.]

PAPER-MONEY BEGINS TO DEPRECIATE.

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ington both with General Howe and his brother Lord Howe. Retaliation, which was the natural remedy in such cases, and was threatened by the Americans, was insufficient on the present occasion, as the prisoners in the possession of the British exceeded those held by the Americans by upwards of two thousand. After an exchange, then, a large number would remain; and it is beyond all doubt that they experienced unusual harshness of treatment, in consequence of which many contracted disease, and prematurely perished. The worst cases were those who were confined in prison-ships in New York harbor.

In the present year, 1777, the paper-money having been steadily increasing both by the issues of Congress and of the State governments, necessarily depreciated; and Congress becoming convinced of this unwelcome truth, endeavored to retard and mitigate the evil that they knew it was beyond their power entirely to prevent. On the fourteenth of January they passed resolutions that the continental money ought to be maintained at its nominal value; that those who should exchange their goods for more in bills than in specie should be deemed enemies to the liberties of the United States, and should forfeit the value so exchanged. The Legislatures of the various States were, moreover, recommended to enforce these penalties; to make the bills a legal tender; to provide for calling in and sinking their respective quotas of the emissions; and lastly, to raise by taxation such sums as they should think required in the present situation of the country. They also proposed to borrow two million of dollars at the loan office- the bills of credit issued by the States to be received by the Commissioners.

General Howe, taught caution by the successes of his adversary at Trenton and Princeton, decided on con

202

HOWE RETREATS TO STATEN ISLAND. [CHAP. III.

tracting the line of his cantonments; and he concentrated all his troops in New Brunswick on the Raritan, and in Amboy at its mouth. When he withdrew his troops from Elizabeth Town, the Americans, by an attack on their rear, captured a part of their baggage and made seventy prisoners. The entire residue of New Jersey was virtually now in the possession of the provincials.

In the spring of the year small expeditions were undertaken by both the belligerents before the campaign was regularly opened. In one against Peekskill, on the North river, by the British, and another against Danbury, in Connecticut, where stores were deposited, the towns were captured and the stores destroyed. In the skirmish at Danbury, the American General, Wooster, was killed. The militia, headed by Arnold, hung on their rear, and greatly annoyed them. The Americans, under Colonel Meigs, in whale-boats, soon afterwards attacked Sagg Harbor, on Long Island; burnt a dozen small vessels; and destroyed stores and provisions to a large amount. They are said to have made this expedition in twenty-five hours, traversing in that time ninety miles by land and water. They killed six of the enemy, and took ninety prisoners.

In May, General Washington broke up his camp at Morristown, and took a strong position near Brunswick at Middlebrook. Sir William Howe, who had been knighted for his success on Long Island, endeavored to draw him from that position; but without success: he then returned to Amboy, and threw a bridge across to Staten Island, when Washington, with a view of defending some weak stations on Howe's line of march, and of annoying him on his retreat, moved to Quibbletown, six or seven miles from Middlebrook, on which Howe, by a rapid movement, endeavored to cut off his enemy's

1777.] HOWE EMBARKS FOR THE CHESAPEAKE.

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retreat to Middlebrook; but Washington, anticipating Howe's purpose, promptly regained his position at Middlebrook. Sir William, finding that Washington was not to be drawn from his present position, returned to Amboy, and passed over his army to Staten Island with a view to its embarkation.

While General Washington was in a state of perplexity as to the purpose of Sir William Howe, whether he meant to ascend the Hudson and co-operate with Burgoyne, or go to the south, General Prescott, who commanded at Rhode Island, was captured by a party under circumstances very similar to those of Lee. This capture gave peculiar satisfaction, as it suggested the exchange for Lee, which subsequently took place.

Howe at length embarked with his army, and proceeding coastwise entered the capes of Virginia, ascended the Chesapeake, and landed at the head of Elk.

Washington confined his preparations for defence to Mud Island in the Delaware, nine miles below Philadelphia, and to Red Bank, in New Jersey, opposite the Island. A good deal of pains was taken by Howe, both by his movements and letters, to mislead Washington as to his real object; but they all failed of their purpose. While he still believed that Philadelphia was Howe's object, he did not neglect any precautions that would be required, if it had been the North River.

After Howe had embarked his troops, Sullivan attempted an expedition against the sixteen hundred men he had left on Staten Island; but by mismanagement in the execution, it signally failed. He lost more prisoners than he took.

At the same time Washington advanced to Brandywine, in Delaware. The different corps of regulars, together with the militia of Pennsylvania, Maryland and

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BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.

[CHAP. III: Delaware, were estimated by Howe at fifteen thousand men; but many of them were without arms, and some ill provided with clothing, so as greatly to reduce the effective force, which, militia included, did not exceed eleven thousand men.

The whole American army was posted behind Red Clay Creek, having its left on the Christiana, its right extending up the Creek to Hockesson township. Here Washington thought the fate of the campaign might probably be decided. But in the night, believing that the object of the enemy was to get in his rear, he crossed the Brandywine.

On the ninth of September the two armies were about seven miles apart, on opposite sides of the Brandywine, which being almost every where fordable, presented no obstacle to an engagement.

To prevent the enemy from getting possession of Philadelphia was deemed of sufficient importance to justify the hazard of a battle; and accordingly, when the British were on their march to Chadd's Ford, the Americans were prepared to oppose them. After manoeuvring on both sides, the action began at half-past four in the afternoon. But the American right soon began to give way, until the whole line was completely routed. Washington attempted to support the right wing, but was too late. Yet he was able to keep the victors in check, and to induce Howe to give over the pursuit. The whole American army retreated that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. The loss they sustained was about three hundred killed and six hundred wounded. Between three and four hundred, principally of the wounded, were made prisoners. Sir William, in his official account, stated his loss at less than one hundred killed and four hundred wounded.