On the twenty-ninth of March both Houses of the Massachusetts Legislature made a joint address of congratulation to Washington, in which they said: "Go on; still go on, approved by heaven, revered by all good men and dreaded by tyrants. May future generations, in the peaceful enjoyment of that freedom which your sword shall have established, raise the most lasting monuments to the name of Washington."

The Continental Congress voted him thanks and a commemorative medal of gold, in reply to which he gave all the credit of the great triumph to his soldiers, saying: "They were, indeed, at first, a band of undisciplined husbandmen-but it is, under God, to their bravery and attention to duty, that I am indebted for that succcess which has procured me the only reward I wish to receive the affection and esteem of my countrymen."

NEW YORK IN DANGER.

Where had the frightened enemy gone? His multitude of ships, loaded with his army and all his munitions of war, had put out to sea. Where would they land? Washington feared that New York was his coveted prey, so the next day he started five regiments for the defense of that city, and sent letters and swift messengers to awaken Congress, the governor and the people to their danger.

The enemy landed on Staten Island, and soon crossed to Long Island. The severe battle of Long Island followed, which was disastrous to Washington's too-weak line of defense, and he had to fall back into the city, and finally to the higher ground in the rear of the city. The many water ways about the city gave the enemy opportunity to use his ships and their heavy armament against the colonial forces. Now began one of the severest campaigns of the revolution. Heavy reinforcements had come from England, with hired soldiers from the continent. A strong army had been sent up the St. Lawrence into Lake Champlain and Lake George, to cut its way down to Albany, and so down the Hudson to New York, and meet with the army in New York, which was expected to break through Washington's line and go up the Hudson, thus cutting turbulent New England

off from the rest of the colonies. In the meantime Philadelphia and Charleston were to be threatened and attacked, if possible, to keep the southern colonies busy in their own defense. So it was to be war all around.

Lord Howe, who now commanded the British armies in America, was a wary and strategic commander. He was full of feints. If he thought to break his way round the east side of New York, he would make a great demonstration into New Jersey, as though to force his way round west, to draw the American forces as far away from his intended course as possible. If he purposed to move by land, he would make a great parade of ships lading for a sea movement. The whole spring, summer and autumn were spent in attempts in different directions, skirmishes here and there, pushing for the Hudson at one time, up the sound for Newport at another, sending Cornwallis with a strong army late in the fall making toward Philadelphia. Washington, full of every care, pacifying his disaffected officers, struggling to retain his homesick soldiers in the field and to recruit his thinning ranks; instruct Congress in the facts and needs of the army, and inspire the disheartened colonies, had his wary and powerful enemy to watch and head off in every direction. By the first of December it became apparent that the main body of the British army under Loid Cornwallis were aiming at Philadelphia. The British were jubilant. Proclamation was made to the people of New Jersey to surrender and accept of pardon or meet the consequences of destructive war. Many surrendered; nearly all were dismayed.

Washington put himself and his small army in front of Cornwallis' jubilant legions and fought them, retreating himself the length of the state. He destroyed bridges, hedged up their way and hindered them in every way possible, all the time urging his commanders elsewhere to hurry to his help. He appealed to Congress, to Pennsylvania and New Jersey to rally now in this darkest hour of freedom's cause. His army was weakening every day by the expiration of the term of service. Some of his generals were churlish and fretful and did not try to get forward to his help. That December was a fearful month to the colonies,

"Poor Washington," as some spoke of him, was left largely to his own great wisdom, and courage. Mr. Bancroft says: "Hope and zeal illuminated his grief. His emotions come to us across the century like strains from that eternity which repairs all losses and rights all wrongs; in his untold sorrows his trust in Providence kept up in his heart an undersong of wonderful sweetness." Congress was alarmed and fled to Baltimore. Philadelphia was in a panic and deserted by great numbers. Distress was everywhere. The British, believed the colonies were just about conquered. Yet Washington was firm and was making plans for next year's campaign. As he approached the Delaware, he secured all the boats up and down the river for seventy miles, and prepared for resistance at all the crossings. Here he determined to make a stand. Militia were recruited. Help came from other sections of the American army. enemy had become confident and careless.

The

On the night of the twenty-fifth of December, 1776, Washington had arranged to recross the Delaware and attack the enemy at three points. The plan was to cross in three places, some miles apart, and make the attack in three places simultaneously. Washington led the left and uppermost division. The night was fearfully cold and stormy. The river was running with heavy ice-floes. The lower divisions of the army both failed to cross. Washington and his forces, after almost superhuman efforts, got across; marched down several miles to Trenton, attacked the British army a little after daylight, won a brilliant victory, and sent its scattered remains flying backward toward New York. Now the tide was turned. The best skill of the enemy was needed to save an utter defeat. He was punished in many a skirmish and soon learned that the colonies were not conquered. So inspiring was Washington's success at Trenton and in the movements following, that the colonies were soon making ready for another campaign.

Washington crossing the Delaware has gone into history, poetry and painting, as one of the master strokes of military courage and genius, by which the world's destinies were grandly affected. It is hoped that the readers of this too brief sketch

will read the grand and thrilling accounts given by Mr. Bancroft in his history of the United States, and Mr. Irving in his unequaled biography of Washington. Every American should be familiar with those stirring times that tried men's souls.

PHILADELPHIA CAPTURED.

The campaign of 1777 opened slowly. Burgoyne had received command of a large British army to open its way from Lake Champlain down to Albany, and so on down the Hudson to New York.

Lord Howe was in New York; with a part of his army in New Jersey, a part on Long Island, and a part at Newport. In the early summer he made some movements in New Jersey, but on the thirteenth of June left that state to return to it no more. In July, Lord Howe embarked his whole army on board his transports and put out to sea. Washington had no doubt he was aiming at Philadelphia. In August, the British fleet appeared in Chesapeake bay and landed with a view to a direct march to Philadelphia. Washington was soon before him to retard his progress as best he might. The battle of the Brandywine was soon fought; but it only checked the progress of the enemy. In September, the British army reached and entered Philadelphia; but Washington gained one of his purposes which was to hinder Howe from reaching Philadelphia in season to form a junction with Burgoyne from the north. He detained him thirty days in a march of fifty-four miles.

Burgoyne had an army of ten thousand troops, well equipped, to break his way from Lake Champlain through to Albany and down the Hudson. Washington had spared all the men he could to oppose Burgoyne. He had weakened his own army to make strong that of the north. Burgoyne's success would be a fire in the rear, which must not be allowed if it could be prevented.

This was one of Washington's most trying times. Several of his generals were complaining of him, and plotting either for independent commands or to supplant him. Some leading congressmen, and even John Adams, were severe on his excessive

prudence and disposition to avoid a general battle with Howe. Some of the earliest and noblest patriots, like John Dickinson, were disheartened. Some said, if we only had some strong mind to lead us we could drive the British from our shores.

Yet the people loved and confided in Washington; and congress always, in emergencies, gave him full power and asked him what the civil arm should do.

In a few days after Lord Howe entered Philadelphia, and the cause of the colonies seemed as dark as it did the year before when Washington was flying before Cornwallis in New Jersey. General Gates surrounded, fought and captured Burgoyne's army. It was one of the grandest victories of the Revolution, and taught England what the colonists would do with her armies when well back in the woods.

The winter of 1777 and 1778 Washington and his army spent at Valley Forge, watching Howe in Philadelphia and suffering untold hardships of cold, hunger, nakedness, sickness, short pay, neglect and exposure of every kind. Washington himself was fearfully harrassed by dissensions among his leading generals, intrigue, opposition and faction in and out of congress, which threatened more evil to the country than the British army. It was a terrible winter. But the effect of the capture of Burgoyne was doing much for the cause of the colonies in Europe. France acknowledged their independence, and formed a treaty of alliance with them. England sent commissioners to treat for peace with them, but they would not receive them till she would withdraw her armies or acknowledge their independence. Washington saw clearly the certain triumph of the American cause if only the people would hold out and Congress and the army officers would work in harmony. His great endeavor was to encourage the people, harmonize Congress and his officers, secure obedience to his orders and coöperation in his measures. Never was great wisdom more tried and a great heart more tortured. But slowly and surely he silenced his enemies in the camp and in Congress, kept the heart of the people warm toward himself and the cause, and won the admiration of the watching world.