1778] BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 257 CHAPTER XIV. CAMPAIGN OF 1778.-MONMOUTH.-NEWPORT.-SAVANNAH, -WYOMING. 358 ON the 24th of May, 1778, Gen. Howe, who had requested the home government to recall him, left Philadel phia, after a splendid tournament given by his officers in his honor. About a month afterwards, Sir Henry Clinton, on whom the chief command now devolved, evacuated the city with the whole British army. Washington followed the enemy across New Jersey. Contrary to the advice of some of his officers, he resolved on a general engagement; and, on the 28th of June, when the British were about leaving Monmouth [mon'-muth], they found the Americans drawn up for battle. The attack was conducted by Lee, who had been released by the British in exchange for Gen. Prescott. After a series of mistakes, Lee, without any ap parent reason, began to fall back. The retreat soon turned into a flight. The Americans were hurrying over a morass, sinking in the mire, and falling before their pursuers, when they were met by Washington at the head of the rear line. Angrily rebuking Lee, the American commander arrested the flight of his broken regiments, and led them back against the enemy. The British were stopped in their successful career. Lee fought throughout the rest of the action with desperate courage, and many deeds of valor were performed on both sides. The gallant conduct of Mary Pitcher, the wife of an American artillery-man, must not be forgotten. While bringing water to her husband from a spring, she saw him fall, and heard an order given for withdrawing his gun, as there was no one to manage it. The heroic woman immediately took her How did Howe's What was WashAmerican generals 858. In May, 1778, who assumed command of the British army? officers testify their respect? What was Clinton's first movement? ington's course? Where did an engagement take place? By what was the attack conducted? How had Lee obtained his freedom? Tell how Washington turned the fate of the battle. Tell the story of Molly Pitcher. Who remained husband's place, and discharged his duty in a way that elicit ed the warmest admiration. Washington afterwards appointed her a sergeant in the army, and she was well known by both French and Americans, who honored her with the appellation of "Captain Molly". After a severe contest, in which now one party and now the other had the advantage, the Americans remained masters of the field. They passed the night on it with the intention of renewing the battle in the morning, Washington resting among his men with no other bed than his cloak; but Clinton silently departed three hours before dawn. The total loss of the British was about 500, 59 of whom fell from the excessive heat; that of the Americans was 229. Clinton's army proceeded to Sandy Hook, and was thence conveyed by the fleet to New York. Washington crossed the Hudson, and fixed his quarters at White Plains. Offended by the rebuke he had received, Lee, the day after the battle, sent an insulting letter to Washington. The latter had him arrested for disobeying orders, and disgracefully retreating. A court-martial, of which Lord Stirling was president, found him guilty, and suspended him from his command for a year. His interest in the cause of liberty was thus abated, and he never rejoined the army. 359. In July [1778], a French fleet, conveying a strong land force, under Count D'Estaing [des-ta-ang'], arrived off the coast of Virginia. Measures were concerted for besieging the British at Newport, R. I., and D'Estaing entered the harbor early in August. Before operations had fairly commenced, Admiral Byron approached Newport with a British fleet. D'Estaing sailed forth to meet the enemy, but a terrific storm separated the combatants. Byron made for New York, and the French returned to Newport. Meanwhile Sullivan, who commanded on the part of the Ameri masters of the field? How did the Americans pass the night? How, Washington? How did Clinton avoid continuing the engagement? State the loss on each side. Where did Clinton go? Where did Washington fix his quarters? What is said of Lee's subsequent history? 859. What took place in July, 1778? What place was it decided to attack? Before operations commenced, what induced the French to leave the harbor? What separated the combatants? Where did the fleets go? Describo "the great کرنا 1778] DESCENT UPON WYOMING. 259 cans, had begun the siege. The tempest which had separ ated the fleets, swept the shore in all its fury. It is still remembered in Rhode Island as "the great storm". Tents were blown down, stores destroyed, and the works damaged. On the return of the French fleet, Sullivan recommenced operations; but his hopes were soon blasted by an announce. ment from D'Estaing that he was going to Boston to refit his vessels. The remonstrances of La Fayette and Greene were ineffectual; and Sullivan, thus deserted, was compelled to raise the siege. On the 29th of August, he repelled with intrepidity an attack of the British; but, finding himself in danger of being cut off, he effected a masterly retreat by night, without the knowledge of the enemy. The close of the eastern campaign thus left both parties in the same condition in which they were at its beginning. 360. The frontier of New York and Pennsylvania, since the dispersion of the Indians at Fort Schuyler, had been comparatively secure from their depredations; but in 1778, it was again ravaged. At the solicitation of British agents, a body of Iroquois joined a band of tories under Col. John Butler, and advanced towards Wy-o'-ming. This settlement lay in the beautiful valley of the Susquehannah. It contained a population of several thousand, but had contributed so largely to the patriot army that few able-bodied men were left for its defence. As the ruthless invaders approached, fearful accounts of their barbarity were received. The women and children flocked from the surrounding region to a fort near the present site of Wilkesbarre [wilks'-băr-re], and 300 men with a few boys, under Zebulon Butler (no relation of the British colonel's), advanced to meet the enemy. The Americans fought bravely, and even gained ground, till one of their officers, wishing to take a more favorable position in the rear, bade his men fall back". The order 66 Who remonstrated with D'Estaing, storm". How were Gen. Sullivan's hopes blasted? but in vain? What was Sullivan compelled to do? movements. What was the position of both parties at the close of the eastern campaign? 860. By whom was the frontier ravaged in the summer of 1778? Towards what settlement did they advance? Where was Wyoming situated? How had it been left defenceless? On the approach of the invaders, what did the inhabitants do? Who was misunderstood, and the unfortunate word "retreat” was passed along the lines. Panic seized the soldiers, and a general flight ensued. Many were shot and tomahawked as they ran; some threw themselves into the river; a few escaped to the fort, where the helpless women were screaming with terror. That night the Indians held possession of the battle-field, and tortured their prisoners with all the cruelties that savage cunning could invent. Captain Bidlack was thrown alive on burning-coals, and kept there with pitchforks till he expired. Six prisoners were ranged near a stone on the river bank, and held by savages, while Queen Esther, an old Seneca half-breed, walked round them in a circle, singing the death-song like an infuriated demon, and striking them with her club and hatchet till every man was killed. The stone is still called Queen Esther's rock. The next day the fort was invested. It was surrendered to the British leader on his promise to protect its defenceless occupants; but no sooner were the savages admitted than they glutted their thirst for blood by tomahawking and scalping all whom they met. The unfortunate people of Wyoming were compelled to flee from their once happy valley to distant and securer settlements. Few survived the horrors of the flight. Some escaped the Red Man's knife, only to find a slower death from exposure and fatigue. Others, dragging their weary limbs they knew not whither, lost their way on the mountains or hid in caverns till starvation ended their sufferings. Distracted mothers hurried their children through the wilderness, and, when their little ones fainted on the way and died, folded the lifeless bodies to their hearts, and bore them many a toilsome mile to save them from the hungry wolves. Lovely Wyoming was desolate. These frightful scenes were reënacted in November, in Cherry Valley, N. Y. Brant, a noted Mohawk, in conjunc advanced to meet the enemy? Give an account of the battle. How did the Indians spend the ensuing night? Give some instances of their barbarity. What was done the next day? On what promise, did the fort surrender? How was this promise kept? Give an account of the massacre of Wyoming and the flight of the inhabitants. Give au 1778] THE BRITISH CAPTURE SAVANNAH. 261 tion with a band of tories, suddenly fell upon the settlement, and killed or carried off most of its inhabitants. The country around was ravaged for miles, and the tories vied with their savage allies in cold-blooded ferocity towards their unfortu nate victims. 361. In November, 1778, Clinton determined to change the scene of his operations to the south, and dispatched 2,000 men under Lieutenant-colonel Campbell [cam'-el] and a fleet under Admiral Hyde Parker against Savannah. The city was held by Gen. Robert Howe, with 900 men, who, though ill prepared for battle, made a brave resistance. The appearance on their rear of a body of New York tories, guided by a negro, obliged them to retreat; and during this movement 100 men fell and 453 were taken. Admiral Parker crowded the latter, with others who refused to join the royal army, on board of prison-ships; many of them perished and became the food of crows and buzzards. The whole of Eastern Georgia was speedily subdued. 362. About the time of the massacre at Wyoming an expedition was undertaken against the western tribes by Gen. Clarke, of Virginia. Having seized Kaskaskia, he induced the Indians to take an oath of allegiance to Virginia, and the county of Illinois was organized as part of that state. The British governor of Detroit, hearing of this, invaded the country in December, 1778. Appearing before the American post at Vincennes, he demanded its surrender. Captain Helm, who commanded the station, holding a smoking match over his single cannon, demanded that the garrison should have the most favorable terms. The British commander assented, but was somewhat mortified to find, on entering the fort, that he had granted the honors of war to two men, who were its only occupants. In February, 1779, Gen. Clarke set out from Kaskaskia account of the massacre of Cherry Valley. 861. What expedition was sent out by Clinton in November, 1778? By whom was the city held? Give an account of the battle. How many men were lost on the retreat? How did Admiral Parker treat the prisoners? What part of Georgia was speedily subdued? 362. Give an account of Gen. Clarke's expedition. [See Map, p. 158.-Where is Kaskaskia? Where is Vincennes?] Give an account of the capture of Vincennes by the governor of Detroit. What was done by |