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CHAP. V. been flattered, and suddenly to display in open 1777. view the mass of resistance which must yet be encountered. Previous to the reception of the intelligence communicating the unfavourable issue of the expedition, the employment of savages in the war was very severely animadverted upon. Parliament assembled on the 20th of November, and, as usual, addresses were proposed, in answer to the speech from the throne, entirely approving the conduct of the administration. In the house of lords, the earl of Chatham moved to amend the address, by introducing a clause recommending to his majesty, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the commencement of a treaty of conciliation "to to restore," he said, "peace and liberty to America, strength and happiness to England, security and permanent prosperity to both countries." In the course of the very animated observations made by this extraordinary man in support of his motion, he said," "but my lords, who is the man that, in addition to the disgraces and mischiefs of war, has dared to authorize and associate to our arms the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage? to call into civilized alliance the wild and inhuman inhabitants of the woods? to delegate to the merciless Indian the defence of disputed rights, and to wage the horrors of his barbarous war

"Belsham's Life of Chatham.

against our brethren? my lords, these enormi- CHAP. V. ties cry aloud for redress and punishment. 1777. Unless thoroughly done away it will be a stain on the national character. It is not the least of our national misfortunes that the strength and character of our army are thus impaired. Familiarized to the horrid scenes of savage cruelty, it can no longer boast of the noble and generous principles which dignify a soldier. No longer you sympathize with the dignity of the royal banner, nor feel the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war that makes ambition virtue. What makes ambition virtue? the sense of honour. But is this sense of honour consistent with the spirit of plunder, or the practice of murder? can it flow from mercenary motives, or can it prompt to cruel deeds?""*

The conduct of administration, however, received the full approbation of very large majorities but the triumph these victories in parliament afforded them was of short duration. The disastrous issue of the expedition, from the success of which the most sanguine expectations had been formed, was soon known, and the mortification it produced was extreme. reluctant confession of the calamity was made in parliament, and a desire to restore peace on any terms short of the dismemberment of the empire, found its way into the cabinet.

*See Note, No. IV. at the end of the volume.

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1777.

CHAPTER VI.

Red bank evacuated....General Howe marches out of Philadelphia....Skirmishes with the American army....Returns to the city....General Washington goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge....Defects in the commissary department....Distress of the American army at Valley Forge for provisions....Representations of general Washington to congress on this subject....The army subsisted in a great measure by impressments....Combination formed in congress against general Washington....General Gates supposed to be concerned in it.... Correspondence on this subject between the two generals....Distress of the American army for clothes.... General Washington's exertions to increase his force and to place it on a respectable footing before the ensuing campaign....Congress send a committee of their own body to the army....Attempt to surprise captain Lee's corps, and the gallant resistance made by him.... Congress determine upon a second expedition against Canada....Before its execution, it is abandoned.... General Conway resigns....Duel between him and general Cadwalader.

So soon as the battle of the 19th of September had been fought, and the superiority of Gates over the enemy ascertained, a superiority which it was not doubted would every day increase, general Washington supposed that Burgoyne would most probably return to Ticonderoga, and that the situation of the northern army would enable general Gates to spare him Morgan's rifle corps; a corps which the then moving situation of the enemy in Pennsylvania

would have rendered of peculiar importance to CHAP. VI. him. As this request was not in the peremp- 1777. tory style of an order, but a compliance with it, notwithstanding the hard pressure of superior numbers on the army opposed to sir William Howe, was submitted to the discretion of Gates; he chose to retain the regiment. "Since the action of the 19th ultimo," says his letter to the commander in chief, dated the fifth of October, "the enemy have kept the ground they occupied the morning of that day, and fortified their camp. The advanced sentries of my pickets are posted within shot, and opposite those of the enemy. Neither side has given ground an inch. In this situation your excellency would not wish me to part with the corps, the army of general Burgoyne is most afraid of." Two days afterwards was fought their last battle, in which this corps, as in that of the 19th, rendered conspicuous service.

On the first certain intelligence of the surrender of Burgoyne, colonel Hamilton was dispatched to lay before general Gates the critical situation of the army in Pennsylvania, and the very great importance of re-enforcing it as speedily as possible. His exertions were also relied upon to expedite to the utmost the march of the troops, and to remove every obstacle which might impede their progress. On reaching general Putnam, he found that a considerable part of the northern army had joined that

CHAP. VI officer, but that Gates had retained four bri1777. gades at Albany, which were to remain there until winter, when he contemplated an expedition against Ticonderoga and mount Independence, which had not then been evacuated.

Having made such arrangements with Putnam as he supposed would secure the immediate march of a large body of continental troops from that station, colonel Hamilton proceeded to Albany to remonstrate to general Gates, against retaining so large and valuable a portion of the army, at a time when so much danger threatened the very vitals of the country. He found Gates by no means disposed to part with his troops. That general could not believe it to be certain that a re-enforcement from New York was about to join sir William Howe, and insisted that, if the troops embarked at that place, instead of proceeding to the Delaware, should make a sudden movement up the Hudson, it would be completely in their power, should that post be left defenceless, to destroy the valuable arsenal at Albany, where the military stores captured with Burgoyne were chiefly deposited.

Having at length obtained orders to move two brigades, colonel Hamilton forbore to press him further for the present; but in a short time he renewed his application; and Gates very reluctantly ordered Glover's brigade, one of those he had proposed retaining, to proceed to the Delaware.

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