LIFE

OF

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

CHAPTER I.

Arnold defeated on the lakes....General Carleton appears before Ticonderoga.... Retires into winter quarters in Canada....Indian affairs....Treatment of prisoners.... Maritime exertions of America....Paper money....General conduct towards the disaffected....Observations on militia and other defects in the structure of the American army.

ALTHOUGH the Americans had been driven 1776. out of Canada, and the hope of annexing that province to the union was abandoned for the present, the northern department was still of the utmost importance, and the transactions of that quarter were, in a high degree, interesting to the whole. The war had indeed changed its object, and its character. Instead of conquest, the views of the United States were now limited to the defence of their own territory; and so great was the force directed against them, as to render their ability to repel inva

CHAP. I. sion, extremely doubtful: But as the theatre 1776. of action approached nearer home, the scenes assumed a deeper interest. The possession of lakes Champlain and George by the enemy, which might lead to the acquisition of Albany, and all the upper parts of the Hudson, thereby opening a free communication between the northern British army, and that in New York, and enabling them to co-operate with each other, while it would in a great measure sever and disconnect the eastern from the middle, and southern states, was an event as much to be deprecated on the one side, as it was wished on the other. Its importance would be very much increased by the political temper which continued to be very prevalent in the state of New York. The royalists were still powerful in the middle and upper country, as well as on the seaboard; and required only the protection of a British army, to show themselves in great force.

Congress was well aware of the vast importance of securing this frontier, and made great exertions to effect it. But the same mistaken policy, which had so enfeebled the army in the middle department, had also shed its baneful influence on that of the north.

On opening the campaign of 1776, instead of re-enforcing, it was necessary to re-create the army; and we have already seen how much these raw troops were weakened by the enemy,

by the small-pox, and by other diseases. Under CHAP. I. the pressure of these calamities, it had been 1776. deemed necessary to strengthen them by such large draughts from the army designed to act under general Washington, as to compel him to rely so much upon militia, that he was exposed to the most serious hazards.

The command of this department had been intrusted to general Schuyler, a gentleman of considerable talents, who possessed great and deserved influence in the country. General Gates was named to the command of the army of Canada, and on his reaching Ticonderoga, he still claimed the command of the army, though it was no longer in Canada, and was in the department of general Schuyler, a senior officer, who had rendered very eminent services* in that station, and who, if placed under general Gates, must have felt it impossible to continue in the army. On the representation, however, of this circumstance to congress, it

*The duties of general Schuyler had been laborious, intricate, and complicated; and he had discharged them with fidelity and talents. On him, almost exclusively, had devolved the difficult task of conducting the affairs of America with the Six Nations: and, while employed in furnishing the army of Canada with provisions and ammunition, in forwarding the re-enforcements designed for its aid, and in preparing the means for retaining the command of the lakes; it was also necessary to bestow a considerable share of attention on the tories of that country, who were numerous, and much disposed to aid the enemy

CHAP. I. was declared not to be their intention to place 1776. Gates over Schuyler, and it was recommended

to those officers to endeavour to co-operate harmoniously. It was no small evidence of the zeal of the senior officer for the public service, that this was practicable.

With all the re-enforcements which had been. received, considerable fears were entertained of their ability to maintain their ground against the enemy. The British army commanded by general Carleton, in great force, and flushed with victory, was about Montreal and St. Johns. Fortunately, the command of the lakes was essential to their further progress, and they did not possess a single vessel on those waters.

It was deemed of too much importance to the success of the war that the army should penetrate to Albany by this route, and thereby open a free communication from thence through the lakes, with Canada; to relinquish the enterprise on account of obstacles not absolutely insurmountable. It was, therefore, determined to construct a fleet superior to that of the Americans, and to convey it in a condition for service into lake Champlain. This arduous work was immediately commenced.

General Schuyler on his part was not unemployed. He used all the means in his power, so to strengthen his little fleet, as to maintain a superiority over the enemy on the lakes. In this effort the commander in chief sensible of

the advantages to be derived from maintaining CHAP. I. a superiority in those waters, cordially co-ope- 1776. rated; and his letters manifest the most anxious solicitude on this interesting subject. But it was found impracticable to obtain, in sufficient quantities to equal the wishes of the general, either artillery, the necessary materials for ship building, or workmen to construct the vessels. The carpenters were generally employed in the seaport towns, and could not easily be prevailed on to transfer themselves to the lakes. The heavy materials for a fleet were obtained with difficulty, and sparingly; in addition to which they were to be transported, with immense labour and expense by land, a very great dis

tance.

In consequence of these embarrassments, the fleet equipped by the Americans amounted only to fifteen vessels, consisting of two schooners, one sloop, one cutter, three gallies, and eight gondolas. The largest schooner mounted only twelve guns carrying six and four pound balls.

It was deemed of much importance that this fleet should be commanded by a person of invincible resolution, and the commander in chief expressed a strong solicitude, that Arnold should be appointed to this dangerous service. That officer had acquired and deserved much reputation in the expedition against Quebec. Every thing which courage could perform was now again expected from him; nor were these expectations disappointed by the event.