with 170 men for the recapture of Vincennes. The rivers were high. The Wabash [waw'-bash] had overflowed the country so that Clarke and his men were obliged to wade for miles waist-deep in water. Nearly starving, they fortunately captured an Indian party from which they obtained a small supply of buffalo-meat. After great hardships, they reached Vincennes, and the British governor, who had gained the name of the "hair-buying general", from the number of scalps he had purchased, deemed it prudent to capitulate.

CHAPTER XV.

CAMPAIGN OF 1779.-MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.CAPTURE OF STONY POINT.—SULLIVAN'S INDIAN EXPEDITION. SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.-PAUL JONES.

363. Ar the commencement of the year 1779, the British army in the south consisted of 3,000 effective men, under the command of Gen. Pre-vost'. They were opposed by Lincoln, with a force smaller than the enemy's and far inferior to them in discipline and equipments. Prevost began the campaign by attempting the conquest of South Carolina. A body of regulars was sent to take possession of Port Royal Island, but was driven back by Gen. Moultrie. Soon after, a party of 700 tories on their march to the British army were defeated by Col. Pickens; and some of their leaders, who fell into the hands of the Americans, were tried and executed as traitors.

Encouraged by this success, Lincoln sent Gen. Ashe to take a favorable position at the confluence of Briar Creek and the Savannah. Shortly after his arrival, a party of British crossed the creek some miles above and surprised the

Gen. Clarke, in February, 1779? Describe the march to Vincennes. What was the result?

868. With how many men did the British general, Prevost, commence the southern campaign in 1779? With how many, the Americans? What was the first enterprise undertaken by Prevost? What was its success? What victory was achieved by Col Pickons? What was Lincoln's first movement? Give an account of Ashe's defost

1779]

PREVOST'S ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.

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American camp. Most of the militia threw down their arms and fled. Some escaped by swimming, but over 300 were killed and taken. The British commander now regarded Georgia as completely subdued, and filled the various state offices with partisans of the king. Gen. Lincoln was trying to recover the ground thus unfortunately lost, when a movement of the enemy towards Charleston obliged him to march hastily in that direction. Pulaski's "American legion", and Governor Rutledge with a strong body of militia threw themselves into the city, and held it till Lincoln's approach forced the besieging army to retire. The heat soon became so intense that both parties gave up active operations till October.

364. During Prevost's incursion, the whig families in the neighborhood of Charleston suffered much from the brutality and rapacity of his soldiers. Plantations were devastated. Money, jewels, and plate were carried off; slaves were stolen, to be sold in the West Indies; and what could not be taken away was destroyed. On St. John's Island, the family of a Mr. Gibbs were driven from their house. In the midst of rain and flying bullets, they made their way to some negrocabins, where it was discovered that a little boy had been forgotten. A girl of thirteen years offered to return for the child. Obtaining entrance with difficulty, she found the object of her search in the third story, bore him off through a shower of balls, and reached her friends uninjured. The boy thus saved was known in the war of 1812 as Gen. Fenwick,

Mrs. Wilkinson has left us an account of a visit made to her house on Young's Island, 30 miles from Charleston, by a band of the enemy. They plundered the estate, drove away the horses, tore the buckles worn by the ladies of the house from their shoes, and rudely plucked the rings from their fingers. Mrs. Wilkinson begged them to leave her a few indispensable articles of clothing, but received only curses in

What was now done by the British commander? Where was Lincoln next obliged to go? How was Charleston saved till his arrival? What prevented further operations? How did Prevost's men conduct themselves? What story is told of Mr. Gibbs' family? Who was the boy thus saved? What took place at Mrs. Wilkinson's? 365. Where did

reply. A soldier belonging to the marauding party was af terwards wounded and taken prisoner by some Americans. One of the ladies whom he had plundered, returning good for evil, hastily tore up her only remaining handkerchief to bind his bleeding arm.

365. The winter of 1778-79 was passed by the northern American army at Middlebrook, N. J. In preparing for the spring campaign, Washington found both the men and officers of the New Jersey brigade disposed to abandon the service in consequence of the backwardness of Congress in paying them and providing for their wants. Their beloved general could not blame them, for he had often expostulated with Congress on the subject; but his tender solicitations and warm appeals to their love of country induced them still to suffer in the holy cause.

366. To command the Hudson at the crossing called King's Ferry, about 40 miles from New York, Washington selected for fortification two elevated headlands on opposite sides of the river, known as Stony and Verplanck's Point. Before the defences were completed, Gen. Clinton moved up the river with a strong force. The troops at Stony Point retired at his approach, and the other garrison, unable to stand the heavy fire of the British from the opposite heights, surrendered [June 1, 1779] as prisoners of war. The fortifications were completed without delay,

and Col. Johnson was left in command STONY POINT AND VICINITY. of Stony Point, with a garrison of 600 men.

While these posts remained in the enemy's hands, Ameri

Washington pass the winter of 1778-79? What disposition was manifested by the New Jersey brigade? How were they induced to remain in the service? 366. How did Washington propose to command King's Ferry? [See Map.-What two forts on the Hudson north of Stony Point? What village south of Stony Point? What mountain southwest of West Point?] Who attacked the defences at Stony and Verplanck's Point? What was the result? Who was left in command of Stony Point? What enterprise

1779]

WAYNE SURPRISES STONY POINT.

265

can messengers had to take a circuit of many miles in bearing communications between the east and south; Washington, therefore, determined to recover them, and intrusted the difficult enterprise to Gen. Wayne. On the 15th of July, Wayne's detachment of light infantry mustered 14 miles below Stony Point. The day was spent in marching through narrow defiles and over ragged rocks. At eight in the evening, they halted about a mile from the fort. From this point they were guided by a negro named Pompey, who was in the habit of visiting the garrison after his day's work to sell them strawberries. Accompanied by one or two of Wayne's advanced guards, Pompey boldly approached the outposts, and gave the countersign, while his companions, watching their opportunity, seized and gagged the sentinels.

Thus the Americans reached the base of the bluff undiscovered. The fort, as they gazed up at it, seemed almost impregnable. It lay on a rocky height, accessible only by a steep and narrow path. At half past eleven Wayne's army commenced the ascent. They were not observed till within a few feet of the pickets. Here they received several shots, but pressed forward with the bayonet. The roll of the drum roused the sleeping garrison, and quick discharges of cannon and musketry met the advancing columns. Wayne was wounded, and bade his aids carry him forward that he might die at the head of his men. He soon found, however, that his injury was not mortal. His comrades pressed gallantly on, and the British were obliged to surrender. Their loss amounted to 63 killed and 543 made prisoners. Wayne had but 15 killed and 83 wounded. The next morning, the cannon were turned on the works at Verplanck's Point. But before any impression was made on them, Wayne, fearing an attack from New York, destroyed the fort and beat a retreat. Congress had a gold medal struck in honor of this brilliant achievement.

To whom did he intrust it? When and where did How did they succeed in passing the outposts? DeGive an account of the assault. What was the result? What was done the next morning? At length what did How did Congress commemorate this victory? 867.

was projected by Washington? Wayne's light infantry muster? scribe their ascent of the bluff. State the loss on each side. Wayne deem it prudent to do?

367. About this time, the merciless Tryon was sent to New Haven, with 2,500 men, to burn the shipping in that port. The militia rallied in its defence, but were driven back; and several vessels, together with large quantities of military and naval stores, were destroyed. Tryon then visited Fairfield, Norwalk, and Greenwich, all of which he reduced to ashes.

368. The massacres of Wyoming and Cherry Valley were still fresh in the memory of the Americans; and in August Gen. Sullivan was sent, with nearly 5,000 men, to punish the Iroquois by destroying their villages and devastating their country. On the Ti-o'-ga River he was met by the Indians in full force under Brant, and a band of tories headed by Sir John Johnson. They had thrown up works in European style, and bravely defended them till the Americans gained some high ground on their flank, when they gave way in confusion. Fleeing to swamps and forests, the Red Men left their pleasant villages and luxuriant corn-fields, from the Susquehannah to the Genesee, entirely at the mercy of the invaders. Fearful was the vengeance inflicted. Whole villages were given to the flames. At Wyoming, no mercy was shown but the hatchet; here, none but the firebrand. On the 14th of September Sullivan reached the metropolis of the Genesee valley; 128 buildings and 160,000 bushels of corn were there destroyed. The whole region was swept as by a tornado; and the terrible vengeance of "the Towndestroyer", as they called Washington, was never forgotten.

369. On the 1st of September, Count D'Estaing, who had gained some victories in the West Indies, appeared off Savannah with his fleet. The British under Prevost were still in possession of the city, and Gen. Lincoln hastened to cooperate with the French against them. Prevost was summoned to surrender by the French admiral, but was unwisely allowed a day for consideration. Employing this time in

Give an account of Tryon's expedition to Connecticut. 368. Who was sent to punish the depredations of the Iroquois? Give an account of the battle with Brant. What followed on the part of Sullivan? What place was reached by the Americans, September 14th? What were there committed to the flames? What name did the Indians give Washington? 869. On the 1st of September, who appeared off Savannah? By whom was the city still held? Who hastened to join in the attack? Give an account of the