and the two forts on the Hudson. Finally, under a positive order from Washington to join him immediately with all his troops, Lee set out leisurely with but half his force and was captured by the enemy when he had proceeded but a short distance. It is not known whether this was a part of a prearranged plan or not, but Lee's subsequent career seems to indicate that it was. He was taken as a prisoner to New York and while there held the confidence of General Howe, giving that general all the information he was possessed of concerning the American cause. Just before the evacuation of Philadelphia, of which we shall learn later, Lee was exchanged, and Washington, in ignorance of his true character, gave him his old command. Lee's action at the battle of Monmouth shortly after his exchange gives added color to the charge that his exchange was part of his plan to ruin the American cause if he could not rule it. Before the war closed he was cashiered from the army and passed the remainder of his days in obscurity and disgrace.

225. The Darkest Period of the War.-After the capture of Lee, Sullivan took command of his division. In the meantime Washington had retreated slowly toward the Delaware, being followed by a force double his number under the command of Lord Cornwallis, one of the fighting generals of the English army. The retreat was conducted with great skill, but so close were the two armies that bridges fired by the Americans would still be burning when the British arrived. With his usual forethought, Washington sent men ahead to collect all the boats on the Delaware river. With these boats he carried his army across the Delaware with such dispatch that when Cornwallis arrived the swollen Delaware lay between him and his prey. But as Washington lighted his fires on the opposite bank, it was in the midst of a gloom that would have crushed the spirit of an ordinary general. His little army had dwindled to less than three thousand men and many of these were not fit for duty. The patriot army was poorly fed and clothed because of the

mismanagement of the quartermaster's department. The army was unpaid because Congress had been unable, to provide a stable currency in the face of so many disasters. Only the indomitable will and superb courage of Washing

ton saved the cause from utter ruin.

226. Trenton-December 26, 1776: Princeton-Jan. 3, 1777. It was in the midst of this despondency and gloom that a revelation of Washington's genius caused a flood of light and ecstasy of joy to sweep over the country. Cornwallis had disposed his troops comfortably in the several small towns along the Delaware, across from Washington's position. Here the British rested in fancied security, waiting for the river to freeze over, when they expected to cross and crush the American army. At Trenton, across from the patriot camp, was a body of one thousand Hessians. Burlington, further down, sheltered another force. One of the American divisions was to attack this latter force. Another was to cross directly to Trenton, landing below the village, while Washington, with two thousand five hundred troops, was to cross nine miles above and march down the east side of the Delaware. Boats were gathered for the purpose, and on Christmas Day all was ready. Ice was running in heavy floes in the river and after several attempts, two of the divisions gave up the task of crossing the stream. Not so the dauntless commander. Receiving word as he was about to embark that the other divisions had returned, Washington seemed to take courage at their failure. Mid drifting snow and the ceaseless rush of ice, the boatmen worked manfully until Washington's entire division had reached the opposite bank. A swift march to Trenton, a sudden charge, the Hessian call to arms, the surrender— tell briefly the story of this brilliant exploit. Washington returned to camp with a thousand prisoners and with the loss of but four of his men.

Again crossing on the 29th of December, Washington occupied Trenton. Cornwallis soon confronted him there.

Washington's position was one of peril-a raging river was behind him, in front of him was a veteran army in the hands of a famous general. But Washington was equal to the occasion. Learning that Cornwallis had left part of his force at Princeton, he boldly lighted his campfires, and the two armies bivouacked for the night. Leaving a small force to keep up the fires, Washington marched silently around the British and in the morning fell with sudden fury on the detachment at Princeton, which he routed with great loss. Before Cornwallis could recover from his surprise, Washington withdrew into the hill country near Morristown, a strong position which guarded the Highlands on the Hudson and the roads to Philadelphia as well. Cornwallis recognized his danger at once and retreated in all haste to New Brunswick in order to preserve his communication with New York.

The effect of these brilliant achievements was to put new life into the languishing patriot cause. Washington was the hero of the hour. So great a military expert as Frederick the Great pronounced Washington's successes as among the most brilliant achievements of history. Supplies came in, the army was clothed and paid, and when the spring opened, hope had revived.

EVENTS OF 1777

227. Lafayette, Steuben, and other Foreign Patriots.-The Revolution had now passed the stage of a "mere rebellion by a band of insurgents," as it had been characterized at first in England and on the continent. The brilliant work of Washington as a general was attracting wide attention and many able officers came from Europe to America, either to witness the conduct of the war or to engage actively in the service of the colonies. Of the latter class were Lafayette, Steuben, De Kalb, Kosciuszko, and Count Pulaski.

The Marquis de Lafayette was a young French nobleman whose love of liberty made him a firm friend of the colonies at the very beginning of the revolutionary struggle. He pos

sessed a large fortune and gave liberally to the patriot cause. Finally, fitting out a ship with supplies for the American army, he himself came to the colonies to fight for American liberty. He was but nineteen years of age, but the conditions of his coming and his manly bearing convinced Washington that Lafayette could be intrusted with responsibility. The zeal with which he entered into the cause of the colonies led Congress to make him a major-general and give him a place in Washington's command, where he served with distinction throughout the remainder of the war.

Baron Steuben had seen service under the great Frederick. He joined the army during the terrible winter at Valley Forge and, by his vigorous methods and his talent as a drillmaster, put new life and strength into the patriot cause.

Baron De Kalb, a French officer who had come to America with Lafayette, entered the army and did valiant service, especially in the southern campaign, where in one of the engagements he was mortally wounded.

Kosciuszko was a young Polish officer who early joined the patriot cause. His principal service was rendered as an engineer, he having planned the fortifications at West Point.

Count Pulaski was another Polish officer who did valiant service at Brandywine and Charleston, receiving his death wound at the battle of Savannah.

228. British Plan of Attack-1777.-The British now resolved to possess the upper Hudson and Champlain regions and establish a line of communication from New York to Canada, thereby completely severing New England from the other colonies. A campaign of a threefold nature was therefore undertaken to carry out this plan. General Sir John Burgoyne was to lead an army from Canada by way of Lake Champlain; Major Barry St. Leger was to enter the Mohawk valley by way of Lake Ontario; and Howe was to move up the Hudson River. As soon as practicable, the three forces were to coöperate for the capture and overthrow of the American army of the north.

229. Burgoyne Starts.-Burgoyne's first great blunder was the enlistment of a horde of savages, who, as his army advanced, murdered friend and foe alike. Their atrocities drove the colonists to a frenzy and the whole countryside

rose against them and their English sponsors. This made it impossible for Burgoyne to secure supplies for his army as he advanced. He therefore had to keep up his line of communication from Canada, which greatly reduced his fighting force at the front. General Philip Schuyler commanded the patriot army in the Hudson valley. Not having sufficient force to meet the enemy in open battle, he adopted a policy that was ultimately successful. He slowly retreated before Burgoyne and when the portage between Lake George and the Hudson was reached, obstructed the roads by felling trees and burning bridges with such success that Burgoyne's army could advance but a mile a day. This gave time for Schuyler's army to recruit from the surrounding country.

Burgoyne learned

230. The Battle of Bennington-August 16.-Supplies for the invading army were becoming scarce. that at Bennington in the Green Mountain country, was a patriot storehouse, and he detached Colonel Baum with a thousand Hessian troops, with instructions to capture the