treat with them through the closing columns of the enemy with the loss of only about sixty men. One of his Aids, all his papers, baggage, and three small pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of Cornwallis, who remained no longer in the place than was necessary to destroy the few articles of stores which had been deposited there for the use of the troops.

A few days after this affair, Sir William sent an expedition of two thousand men under the command of the late Governour, now Major General Tryon, General Agnew, and Sir William Erskine, for the purpose of destroying the stores and provisions deposited at Danbury. They reached it on the 26th of April, and met with no resistance, the small number of continentals posted there, having evacuated the place on their approach. The loss of stores to the Americans was very considerable---1800 barrels of pork and beef, and 800 of flour ; 2000 bushels of grain, clothing for a regiment, 100 hogsheads of rum, and 1790 tents. Besides the destruction of these articles, the enemy wantonly burned eighteen houses with their furniture, murdered three unoffending inhabitants, and threw their bodies into the flames! It is painful to record such wanton acts of savage barbarity, but they have occurred too often, and are too well attested to be passed over in silence.

Generals Sullivan, Wooster, and Arnold, happened to be in the neighbourhood through which the enemy marched to Danbury; and by great activity and exertions, they succeeded in collecting about six hundred militia, with which they marched in pursuit, in a heavy rain, as far as Bethel, a little village about two miles from Danbury, which they reached late at night. Here it was determined to wait for the return

of the enemy, and attack them on the march. On the morning of the 27th General Wooster detached four hundred under Arnold and Sullivan to watch the motions of the enemy, and remained himself with two hundred at Bethel, until nine o'clock, when hearing that they had moved off on the road to Norwalk, he set out in pursuit, came up with and engaged their rear, and succeeded in taking forty prisoners; but this gallant veteran, now in his seventieth year, after displaying a Quixotic bravery for more than an hour, received a mortal wound. General Arnold had in the mean time crossed the country, and by a forced march reached Ridgfield at 11 o'clock, through which the enemy were to pass. Here with his small party, which had been increased to five hundred by the junction of the neighbouring militia, he threw up a sort of barricado across the road and resolved to make a stand. His right flank was covered by a dwelling house and barn, and his left by a high ledge of rocks. The enemy, more than three times his number, advanced against him in two columns, with a view to outflank and surround him; a warm and brisk action ensued for about ten minutes, when the enemy succeeded in making a lodgment on the rock, and it became necessary for Arnold to retreat, which he effected with great bravery and skill, keeping up a scattering fire for the whole day. The royal Governour remained at Ridgfield all night, repeating as far as possible the scene of destruction transacted at Danbury. Four private houses were burned, and an unsucsessful attempt was made to destroy the church, for which last however, there was some apology, as it contained a quantity of provisions for publick use. The enemy continued their march early on the morn

ing of the 28th, towards Sagatuck river, which they forded, and pursuing the course of its banks, were closely followed by Arnold on the west side, with occasional and mutual cannonadings, until they reached Sagatuck bridge, where both parties being advantageously posted, an action commenced with the artillery which was kept up with great warmth for fifteen minutes, when the enemy thought proper to take up their march in rapid movement towards their shipping. Arnold pursued them to their boats, and being joined by Colonel Lamb with two hundred men, from New York (who however retreated on the first fire of the enemy, leaving the Colonel almost alone) galled their rear very severely. General Arnold displayed great skill and personal bravery through the whole of this affair. He had one horse killed under him, and another wounded. Congress voted him a horse fully caparisoned, and promoted him to the rank of Major General. Colonel Lamb was severely wounded in the back, while he was exerting himself to rally the cowardly militia who had fled in confusion upon the first appearance of danger. The loss to the enemy in this expedition was at least four hundred men, killed, wounded and taken; while that of the Americans was only about sixty killed and wounded. Their loss of stores and provisions, however, was considerable. General Wooster lingered with his wounds until the 2d of May. Thus ended the expedition under Governour Tryon, assisted by General Agnew and Sir William Erskine, with two thousand men! If it was not absolutely disgraceful, it at least added nothing to the glory of the British

name.

In the mean time General Washington remained without addition to his army, ignorant of Sir William Howe's intentions, and watching with anxious solicitude every indication of a movement. Corrupted as the people generally through the country were, and sunk in every species of disgraceful peculation and bribery as were the men of fortune and influence, it is inconceivable how Sir William could have remained in ignorance of the actual state of the American Commander in Chief. So late as the 21st of May, it appears that Washington's safety was still dependent on the chance of Sir William's obtaining correct intelligence. "Nothing" says he, in a letter of that date," but a good face and false appearances have enabled us hitherto to deceive the enemy respecting our strength." Towards the end of the month, however, he received a small reinforcement, and moved to Middlebrook, within a few miles of Brunswick, of which he took possession.

About this time an achievement of considerable brilliance was performed by Colonel Meigs of New Haven. He was detached by General Parsons with one hundred and seventy men, in thirteen whaleboats to Saggharbour for the purpose of destroying the stores of the royal army which had been there deposited. From Guilford, he crossed the Sound, and landing near Southhold, marched his men over land, carrying the boats with them, to the bay which separates the north and south branches of the island, and there reembarked. Having crossed this and arrived within four miles of the harbour, he ordered the boats to be secured in the woods, and leaving a proper guard with them, marched with about one hundred and twenty men to the scene of action, where

he arrived at two o'clock on the morning of the 24th. Such were the order and silence of his arrangement, that the first onset was a bayonet charge upon the guards; these soon gave the alarm, and a firing commenced upon the party from an armed schooner in the harbour, which was returned with such effect, that the vessel was soon fired, and the men to the number of sixty-four made prisoners. By this affair the enemy lost twelve brigs and sloops, a large quantity of forage, ten hogheads of rum, and a considerable amount of merchandize. Ninety prisoners were taken, and six of the enemy were killed, and by two o'clock of the same day the Colonel had returned with his party to Guilford.

At length, on the 13th of June, the movements of Sir William Howe indicated an attack. Passing rapidly from New York to Brunswick, he left the latter place at night with his troops and took the field. Washington had at first supposed his design to be to cross the Delaware; but the circumstance of his leaving at Brunswick not only all his heavy baggage, but the boats and bridges which had been built there as he supposed for the purpose of crossing the river, together with his halting so soon instead of making a rapid march, induced him to change his opinion. The subsequent sudden retreat of Sir William, baffled all Washington's conjectures as to his objects. It will be seen by the following extract from his letter of the 20th June, that, the Jersey militia showed something like spirit upon Sir William's taking the field, alarmed perhaps for their personal safety"The enemy decamped the night before last, and have returned to their former position. It appears to have been in consequence of a sudden resolution, as