1779]

for whose contingent the recruit was enlisted. On March 29th, it fixed the Continental establishment at 88 battalions,1 102 recommending that Virginia and North Carolina raise as many battalions of regulars as possible for the defence of the Southern States, with the proviso that their term was to be limited to one year and that they were not to be forced to serve north of Virginia. On top of these concessions, it granted a bounty of $200 to these one-year troops. 103 The States promptly outbid Congress, New Jersey offering $250 to each recruit in addition to the $200, the clothing and land allowed by Congress, while Virginia 104 made the bounty $750, one suit a year and 100 acres of land, incidentally confiscating the bounty and clothing given by Congress. 105 These enormous bounties to new recruits produced such intense dissatisfaction among the soldiers who had already done considerable service that Washington's suggestion that they be given a gratuity of $100 106 was promptly complied with by a resolution of Congress.107

The continued depreciation of the Continental currency wrought increasing distress among the officers 108 and, as the half-pay for seven years to those who served until the end of the war 109 was manifestly insufficient, a recommendation was made to the States to grant half-pay for life to officers remaining in service until the conclusion of hostilities, as well as proper rewards to the soldiers.110 In other words, in order to have sufficient officers to command the troops, Congress found itself forced to advocate that they too be given a bounty in the shape of half-pay for life.111 The claim of the officers was ignored by the States,112 but in proportion as the bounties for the soldiers was augmented the character of the recruits obtained became increasingly inferior, until Washington declared in disgust that, in any operation against the enemy's force in New York and Rhode Island, "double the number is the least it could be undertaken with, and this would be far from giving a certainty of

success.

[1779

Abundant proof of the utter futility of the system in which Congress persisted is to be found, not only in his judgment, but in the number of troops under arms that year. They amounted to 26,790 Continentals and 17,485 militia, a total of 44,275,114 as against less than 35,000 British,115 and the results achieved were virtually nil. In the North, the Americans were restricted through weakness to a defence almost purely passive. New Haven and other towns in Connecticut were sacked by a force under General Tryon,116 but this loss was recouped by the storming of Stony Point by "Mad Anthony" Wayne ten days later,117 the seizure of valuable stores and the destruction of the fortifications erected there by the enemy, followed by the capture of Paulus Hook in August.118 In the South the fall of Savannah 119 was but the precursor of the complete evacuation of Georgia and the restoration of the Royal government.120 On March 3rd, General Ashe and his 1,500 North Carolina militia were soundly beaten at Briar Creek, and the next two months were confined to unimportant movements and skirmishes on the part of General Lincoln and the British commander, General Prevost. In May an expedition under General Matthews plundered the coast of Virginia, laid waste both Norfolk and Portsmouth, destroyed 100 vessels and returned within a month with abundant booty.121 Congress was apparently blind to the desolation entailed by a strong invasion of the Southern States, while Washington was powerless to furnish any assistance so long as Clinton continued to occupy New York. General Greene applied for command in the South, but, in spite of Washington's approval, Congress refused to grant it, and Lafayette, seeing no active service in prospect, returned to France.122

During the latter part of the summer a plan was formulated to re-take Savannah, and Comte d'Estaing, who had meanwhile captured New Grenada and fought a successful action with Admiral Byron, concurred in the scheme and on September 8th appeared off Savannah with a fleet of 33 ships

1779-1780]

and 6,000 troops. Eight days later the British garrison 123 was summoned "to surrender to the arms of the King of France" and the place was invested. D'Estaing, in trepidation over the approaching stormy season and the rumours of the coming of the British fleet, urged immediate action and on October 9th a vigorous assault was made, but Prevost had gained sufficient time to strengthen the defences 124 and the allied forces 125 suffered a costly repulse. The French Admiral sailed away, 126 and Lincoln was compelled to abandon the siege. Two months later Sir Henry Clinton retaliated by leaving a small garrison in New York and by sailing for Charleston with over 7,500 men.128 Washington, upon learning that Clinton was embarking a large force of troops and believing that their destination was either South Carolina or Georgia, promptly ordered the Virginia and North Carolina troops of the Continental Army to march south, while he went into winter quarters, for the main part in New Jersey, the headquarters being established at Morristown for the second time. 129

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1780

127

As in the previous years, 1780 witnessed a diminution in the number of enlistments 130 and the increase in the size of the bounties offered, New Jersey paying $1,000 in excess of the continental allowances. The depreciation in the currency 131 caused the utmost distress among the officers, 132 but Congress confined itself to reiterating 133 its previous resolution 134 that they be offered half-pay for life to remain in service until the close of the war. Notwithstanding an almost uninterrupted succession of defeats, and the urgent need for more and better troops, Congress resolved on a reduction of the army to take effect the first of January following. 135 This was quite in keeping with the unwise legislation which made no attempt to check the corruption among Government agents that had arisen as a result of increasing prices and commissions, 136 which legalized violence and ex