Extenfive powers granted to Washington.-American oath of allegiance.-Washington's proclamation.-State of his army.Supplies from France.—Expeditions—to Peek's Kill-Danbury -and other places.-American expedition to Sagg's Harbour.Movement of Washington.-Of the British army.-Howe makes a feigned retreat.-Action near Quibble Town.-Howe evacuates the Ferfeys-Capture of general Prefcott.-The British army embarks for the Delaware-Lands at the head of Elk.Howe's proclamation.-Battle of Brandywine.-Surprise of general Wayne.-Capture of Philadelphia.-Strong defence of the Delaware.-Billingsport taken.-Action at German Town.Attack on Red Bank-Lofs of the Augufta and Merlin.—The enemy's forts at length taken.-Washington encamps at White Marfb.-Huts his army at Valley Forge. --Sir William Howe fixes in winter quarters.-Campaign of the northern army.— Obfervations on the employment of favages.-Burgoyne arrives at Crown Point.-War feast.-Speech and proclamation.-Crown Point and Ticonderoga taken.-Pursuit of the enemy. -Delays and difficulties of Burgoyne's army.-Proclamation by Burgoyne and Schuyler.-Siege of Stanwix-raised.-Expedition to Bennington.-Defeat of colonel Baum-and Breymann.-Gates commands the Americans.- Burgoyne advances to Saratoga. Battle of Stillwater.-The Americans destroy the transports.—Increafing difficulties of Burgoyne.-His lines attacked-he falls back to Saratoga-and furrenders by convention.-Proceedings of Sir Henry Clinton.-Takes forts Clinton and Montgomery.-The Americans burn their fleet.-Burning of Efopus.-Examination of fir Henry Clinton's conduct with respect to a co-operation with Burgoyne. A MONG all the difficulties encountered by general CHA P. him more than the reftricted state of his authority: XXXI. 1776. congrefs, XXXI. 1776. Extenfive powers granted to Wafhing ton. 20th Dec. CHA P. congrefs, vigilant and jealous, as well from the pecu liarities of their fituation, as from the habits of the members, were averfe to grant fuch powers, as would enable their general to act with promptitude, vigour, and effect. Toward the clofe of 1776, when the affairs of the states were verging to their most dangerous crifis, he urgently demanded authority to act without their immediate inftructions, as the only means of avoiding ruinous delays. In making this demand, he found it neceffary to conciliate esteem, and soften prejudice, by vindicating his own perfonal character, and explaining his conduct and views. "I can with truth declare," he obferved, "that I have no luft after power, but wifh, with as much fervency as any man upon this wide extended continent, for an opportunity of turning the fword into a plough-fhare. But my feelings, as an officer and a man, have been fuch as to force me to fay, that no perfon ever had a greater choice of difficulties to contend with than I have. It may be thought," he added, "that I go out of the line of my duty to advise thus freely: a character to lofe: an eftate to forfeit; the ineftimable bleffings of liberty at ftake; and a life devoted; must be my excufe "Congrefs, at length, when they had removed to Baltimore, invefted him with powers more ample than in his moft fanguine moments he had prefumed to with b 27th Dec. a As a Washington's Letters, vol. i. p. 349. 351. This refolve is in thefe words: "That general Washington fhall be, and he is hereby vefted with full, ample, and complete powers, to raife and collect together in the most speedy and effectual manner, from any or all of these united states, fixteen battalions of infantry, in addition to thofe already voted by congrefs; to appoint officers for the faid battalions of infantry; to raife, officer, and equip 3,000 light horfe, three regiments of artillery, and a corps of engineers, and to establish their pay; to apply to any of the ftates for fuch aid of the militia as he shall judge neceffary; to form fuch magazines of provifions, and in fuch places as he fhall think proper; to difplace and appoint all officers under the rank of brigadier-general; to fill up all vacancies in every other department in the American armies; to take, wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the ufe of the army, if the inhabitants will not fell it, allowing a reasonable price for the fame; to arreft and confine perfons who refufe to take the continental currency, or are otherwise difaffected to the American cauíe; and return to the states of which they are citizens, their names, and XXXI. 1777. He recom mends an legiance. 5th Feb. 1777. As foon as fuccefs gave to general Washington the CHA P. flightest hope of re-establishing the almoft ruined cause of independence, he remonftrated with congress on the inattention by which they had loft a confiderable cement to their own force, and afforded an oppor- oath of altunity of tendering the firft oath of allegiance on behalf of the king. Many confcientious people were lost to the intereft of congrefs, for want of this neceffary tie. They did not confider the affociation equally obligatory; but would have fubmitted to any penalty rather than take the oath of allegiance to the king, had they been previously bound in the fame manner to congrefs. He therefore strongly recommended that every state should establish some oath or affirmation of allegiance, to be tendered to all the inhabitants, and that those who refused it should be outlawed . IN conformity to these principles, he iffued a pro- His proclamation, commanding and requiring those who, in- clamation, timidated by threats, or deluded by promifes, had figned a declaration of fidelity, taken oaths of fealty, and engaged not to bear arms against the king, to deliver up their certificates at head quarters, or at the quarters of the nearest general, and take an oath of allegiance to the United States of America. Licence was, however, given to fuch as preferred the interest and protection of Great Britain, to withdraw with their families within the British lines. The effects of this proclamation were inftantaneous and extensive : the inhabitants of the Jerseys renounced the royal caufe; feveral in revenge, joined the American army, and the nature of their offences, together with the witneffes to prove them: that the foregoing powers be vetted in general Washington for and during the term of fix months from the date hereof, unless fooner determined by congrefs.' Washington's Letters, vol. ü. p. 25. An oath had already been prescribed, 21ft October 1776, for all perfons holding commiffions or offices under congrefs, by which they renounced allegiance to the king, and swore fealty to the United States. See Annual Register, 1777, P. 297. e lbid. VOL. II. EE while CHA P. while others rendered equal fervice, by supplying provifions and fuel, and conveying intelligence. XXXI. 1777. army. NOTWITHSTANDING all thefe advantages, the Ame State of his rican levies proceeded with difcouraging tardiness: but general Washington achieved as much as art and activity could effect, for the fecurity and accommodation of a fmall force. He did not defert his tried maxim, of preferring the fpade and pick-axe to military weapons; and, in the courfe of the winter, extended his pofition from Morristown to Woodbridge, diftant only three miles from the British quarters at Amboy, adding to the ftrength and comforts of his fituation by erecting forts, mills, and magazines, and haraffing and insulting the British, by fkirmishing with their out-pofts, and cutting off their fupplies; all which was effected by a feeble and fickly army, not exceeding four thousand. Corps of loyal provincials raised. THE negligence of fir William Howe, who, while he commanded fo fine and numerous a force, quietly submitted to these indignities, has subjected him to animadverfions and imputations which he vainly endeavoured to repel. But if his inaction was difgraceful, the period was not wholly unprofitable; as during that time Mr. Tryon, governor of New York, was affiduoufly and advantageoufly employed in raifing corps of loyal provincials, among whom he received the rank of major-general. These troops were not, it is true, experienced or well difciplined; but they were, even in these refpects, on a level with those raised for general Washington, and the levies had the additional effect of creating alarm, and obliging congrefs to have recourse to vigorous measures. The dread felt by that body, and the orders they iffued Washington's Letters, vol. ii. p. 31. dated 20th Feb. 1777. The knighthood of the Bath was conferred on this general the 13th of October 1776: two other ribbands of the fame order were meritoriously bestowed on general (fir Guy) Carleton, 6th July 1776, and general (fir Henry) Chnton, 20th April 1777. XXXI. 1777. respecting the royalists in Somerset, Worcester, Mary- CHA P. land, New England, and New York, form in fact, a fevere cenfure on the conduct of general Howe; for had he effected any capital ftroke, or even continually haraffed and alarmed the enemy by repeated affaults, while they were deficient in ammunition and recruits, the danger and inconvenience of the service would, in all probability, have prevented the acceffion of numbers, and caused a general defection of the American army; while the people in the provinces would have exerted themselves in giving preponderance to the British caufe, as the means of reftoring tranquillity, which they, above all things, defired. Early in the The Ame fpring, the hopes of the Americans were re-animated ricans fupby the receipt of more than twenty thoufand stand of arms from arms, and a thoufand barrels of gun-powder, from France. plied with France. of the Eng Kill. THE manor of Courland, the most mountainous 23d Mar. and inacceffible part of the tract occupied by general Expeditions Washington, was converted into a kind of citadel, lih. where large quantities of provifions, forage, and ftores were depofited; and about fifty miles from New York, To Peek's up the North river, Peek's Kill ferved as a port to Courland manor, by which ftores and provifions were received and conveyed to the army, or to the interior. A detachment of five hundred men, under colonel Bird, embarked in two transports at New York, to take poffeffion of this place. On their approach, the Americans, upward of feven hundred, retreated with precipitation, burning the barracks and ftorehouses. This lofs was incurred through a negligence of general Washington's injunction, not to accumulate ftores in pofitions near to, or eafily acceffible from, the water. Danbury. ANOTHER expedition from New York, confifting 25th Apr of two thousand men, under the command of general Tryon, affisted by general Agnew, and Sir William Erikine, was difpatched to feize or deftroy ftores col |