238. France Acknowledges the Independence of the United States of America-Feb. 6: The French Alliance.-From the very beginning of the war the colonies had had the sympathy of the French, who were pleased to be afforded an opportunity to harass their old enemy, the English. But the French, while they had in secret greatly aided the American cause, could not be persuaded to acknowledge the independence of the colonies nor to aid them openly until it should become apparent to the French government that the colonies when thus supported by France could win in the struggle against the English. After the capture of Burgoyne's army the French king felt that the time had come to deal England a blow. He therefore, early in February, acknowledged the independence of the United States of America. In the treaty which followed between France and the young republic it was agreed that neither party should make peace with England without the consent of the other. The French government had already made a large loan to the colonies. It now increased this loan and promised a fleet and four thousand troops at once. The alliance not only increased the fighting strength of the army, but strengthened the financial credit of the United States, as well. The French alliance was largely due to the influence of Benjamin Franklin at the French court. Franklin was the great diplomat of the Revolution.

239. England Offers All but Independence.-England, still suffering from the humiliation caused by the Burgoyne surrender, sought to stay the alliance, but her efforts were in vain. She offered peace, everything but independence, if the colonies would but renounce the alliance; but neither Congress nor Washington would listen to England's appeal. 240. Clinton Evacuates Philadelphia: Battle of Monmouth -June 28.-As soon as Sir Henry Clinton, who had succeeded Howe, heard of the departure of the French fleet for America, he decided to abandon Philadelphia, lest New York should be captured by the combined armies. In the

latter part of June, 1778, he took up his march for New York through New Jersey. Washington was loth to allow Clinton to reach New York without striking his army a blow. He therefore set the American army in motion and, keeping abreast of the British on parallel roads, watched for an opportunity. It presented itself at Monmouth, where Clinton turned east, leaving the van of his army exposed. Washington detached six thousand men and sent them against this body. Unfortunately for the success of the venture, Washington put General Charles Lee in command. Lee had been exchanged in April, and was allowed to claim his old position. The attack was begun and was proceeding most favorably to the Americans when Lee ordered a retreat, and confusion soon reigned. But Washington, receiving word of the retreat, rode in hot haste to the field, and after reprimanding Lee severely, rallied the troops and saved the day. It was a drawn battle, the

Lee's dis

graceful conduct proved his undoing. He was court-martialed, suspended from the service for a year, and later dismissed from the army.

241. Wyoming Massacre-July 3.-Wyoming Valley was a fertile frontier valley in Pennsylvania which had been settled largely by people from Connecticut. Most of their fighting force had enlisted in the patriot cause, and when the Tory leader, Major Butler, and his Indians appeared in the

valley in July there were but a few boys and aged men to oppose him. The inhabitants had been warned of Butler's approach and a force of two hundred and thirty brave souls had finally gathered. The odds were too great and the settlers were soon overwhelmed. The scalps of all but three of the brave little band dangled from Indian girdles before the night closed on the horrible butchery. Cherry Valley, in New York, also suffered heavily at the hands of the Tories and Indians under the leadership of the noted Joseph Brant, chief of the Mohawk Indians.

The next year a force under General Sullivan completely routed the Indians, and the frontier was thus relieved for a time of a terrible scourge.

242. Sullivan and the French Fail at Newport.-The promised French force, consisting of a fleet with some four thousand soldiers, arrived early in the summer of 1778. The British had collected a considerable force at Newport. Accordingly, great preparations were made for a combined attack there. Sullivan was put in command of the land forces, and everything pointed to success. During the last days of July the French fleet, under Count d'Estaing, appeared and the attack was about to begin when operations were interrupted by the appearance of the English fleet under Admiral Howe. A halt was called and the French commander put to sea for the purpose of engaging the English fleet.

Just as the engagement was about to begin, a severe storm arose, partially wrecking both fleets The French fleet went to Boston for repairs and Howe returned to New York. It being harvest time, the militia refused to remain, and thus Sullivan found himself unable to push the siege.

243. Savannah Captured: Georgia Retaken by the British. -The last event of the year 1778 was the capture in December of Savannah by three thousand British under Sir Archibald Campbell. The city of Savannah and the whole province of Georgia thus fell into the hands of the British,

and the royal governor, who had been deposed by the colonists, was now reinstated.

EVENTS OF 1779

244. Paul Jones and the Navy.-During the Revolution the navy was a source of great strength to the American cause. Not, however, the navy as it is known to-day. The navy of the Revolution consisted of a few ships of as large dimensions as were built in those days, and a vast number of smaller craft owned by private individuals. It is estimated that seventy thousand Americans served on board ship during

SHIPS OF THE PERIOD

the Revolution, as against forty-seven thousand on land. In the first year of the war Congress began the construction of a navy, and thirteen frigates were built. Some of these greatly harassed the enemy for a while, but the strength and vigilance of the British navy

at last proved too great for them, so that by 1781 all these frigates had been captured or destroyed. The service of the smaller craft was felt in the privateering expeditions which were carried on with untiring zeal by the American sailors. -the commerce of England suffering the loss of millions by their activity.

The most noted of the regularly commissioned officers of the navy was Paul Jones. In September of 1779, he was put in command of a small fleet and soon fell in with a fleet of merchantmen under the protection of the Serapis and another vessel. With his own ship, the Bon Homme Richard, he engaged the Serapis. The sailing qualities of the Serapis being superior to the Richard, Jones closed with his antagonist and lashed the two vessels together. In the desperate hand-tohand fight which then ensued, nearly half the force engaged

was killed or wounded. Both ships were on fire and the Richard was sinking, when the British colors were struck. Both combatants exhibited the very sublimity of courage. It is said that Captain Pearson of the Serapis stood abso

lutely alone on the deck when the surrender was made, those of his crew left alive being too exhausted to stand.

245. Colonel Clark and His Work in the West.-Young men played an important part in the Revolution. At twenty-six George Rogers Clark did wonders in the west, and a service to his country, the results of which can hardly be estimated. After the French war, the old French line of military posts, extending from the Great Lakes to the lower Mississippi, had been