burned a dozen vessels, and brought off ninety prisoners, without having a single man either killed or wounded. 'Congress ordered an elegant sword to be presented to Colonel Meigs for his good conduct on this occasion.

Washington

said of the

enemy?

16 While these events were transpiring, Wash- 2. Where was ington remained in his camp at Morristown, gradually at this time; increasing in strength by the arrival of new recruits, and what is and waiting the development of the plans of the enemy; plans of the who seemed to be hesitating, whether to march upon Philadelphia, in accordance with the plan of the previous campaign, or to seize upon the passes of the Hudson, and thus co-operate directly with a large force under General Burgoyne, then assembling in Canada, with the design of invading the states from that quarter.

cautions

against

17. As a precaution against both of these move- 3. What pre ments, the northern forces having first been concen- were taken trated on the Hudson, and a large camp under General these plans Arnold having been formed on the western bank of the Delaware, so that the whole could be readily assembled at either point, in the latter part of May Washington broke up his winter quarters, and advanced to Middlebrook," —a strong position within ten miles of the British camp, and affording a better opportunity for watching the enemy and impeding his

movements.

18. General Howe soon after passed over from New York, which had been his head-quarters during the winter, and concentrated nearly his whole army at New Brunswick; but after having examined the strength of the posts which Washington occupied, he abandoned the design of assaulting him in his camp. He next, with the design of enticing Washington from his position, and bringing on a general engagement, advanced with nearly his whole body to Somerset Court House, with the apparent design of crossing the Delaware. Failing in his object, a few days afterwards he tried another feint, and made as rapid a re treat, first to Brunswick and afterwards to Amboy, and even sent over several detachments to Staten

b. See first

vious page.

Note on pre

1777. Island, as if with the final intention of abandoning New Jersey.

Washington

make?

2. In what

1. What ad- 19. Washington, in the hope of deriving some advances did vantage from the retreat, pushed forward strong detachments to harass the British rear, and likewise advanced his whole force to Quibbletown,* five or six miles from his strong camp at Middlebrook. 2General manner did Howe, taking advantage of the success of his mancuattempt to vre, suddenly recalled his troops on the night of the tage of these 25th, and, the next morning, advanced rapidly towards movements? the Americans; hoping to cut off their retreat and June 26. bring on a general action.

Gen. Howe

take advan

June 25.

escape the

danger?

4. How far

did the enemy succeed?

3. How did 20. Washington, however, had timely notice of Washington this movement, and discerning his danger, with the utmost celerity regained his camp at Middlebrook. The enemy only succeeded in engaging the brigade of Lord Stirling; which, after maintaining a severe action, retreated with little loss. Failing in this second attempt, the British again withdrew to Amboy and, on the 30th, passed finally over to Staten Island; leaving Washington in undisturbed possession of New Jersey.

5. What is said of their

retreat?

June 30.

6. Give an

the capture

Prescott.

army

21. A few days later, the American received account of the cheering intelligence of the capture of Major-genof General eral Prescott, the commander of the British troops on Rhode Island. Believing himself perfectly secure while surrounded by a numerous fleet, and at the head of a powerful army, he had taken convenient quarters at some distance from camp, and with few guards about his person. On the night of the 10th of July, Colonel Barton, with about forty militia, crossed over to the island in whale-boats, and having silently reached the lodgings of Prescott, seized him in bed, and conducted him safely through his own troops and fleet, back to the mainland. This exploit gave the Americans an officer of equal rank to exchange for General Lee.

July 10.

7. What movement

22. The British fleet, under the command of Adwas made by miral Howe, then lying at Sandy Hook, soon moved to Prince's Bay, and thence to the northern part of

the British fleet?

* Quibbletown, now callea New Market, is a small village five miles E. from Middle. brook. (See Map, p. 226.)

† Prince's Bay is on the S.E. coast of Staten Island.

the island. This movement, together with the cir- 1777. cumstance that Burgoyne, with a powerful army, had 1. What apalready taken Ticonderoga, at first induced Washing- peared to be ton to believe that the design of the British general of the Brit was to proceed up the Hudson, and unite with Burgoyne. Having taken about 18,000 of the army on 2. Whither board, and leaving a large force, under General Člin- did the fleet ton, for the defence of New York, the fleet at length sailed from Sandy Hook on the 23d of July, and being soor. after heard from, off the capes of Delaware, Wash- July 23. ington put his forces in motion towards Philadelphia. 23. The fleet having sailed up the Chesapeake, the troops landed near the head of Elk River, in Maryland, on the 25th of August, and immediately commenced their march towards the American army, which had already arrived and advanced beyond Wilmington. The superior force of the enemy soon. What did obliged Washington to withdraw across the Brandy- determine? wine, where he determined to make a stand for the defence of Philadelphia. On the morning of the 11th of September, the British force, in two columns, ad- 5. vanced against the American position. The Hessians under General Knyphausen proceeded against Chad's September? Ford, and commenced a spirited attack, designing to deceive the Americans with the belief that the whole British army was attempting the passage of the Brandywine at that point.

PLACES WEST OF
PHILADELPHIA.

24. Washington, deceived by false intelligence respecting the movements of the enemy, kept his force Brandy concentrated near the passage of Chad's Ford; while, in the mean time, the main body of the British army, led by Generals Posgrove Howe and Cornwallis, crossed the forks of Pickering Conistown the Brandywine above, and descended against

Elk River is formed by the unlon of two small creeks at Elkton, haif way between the Susquehanna and the Delaware, after which its course is S.W., thirteen miles, to the Chesapeake.

† Brandywine Creek rises in the northern part of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and flowing S.E., passes through the northern part of Delaware, uniting with Christiana Creek at Wilmington. (See Map; also Map, p. 121.)

Chad's Ford is a passage of the Brandywine, twenty-five miles S.W. from Philadelphia.

Valley Cr

West

Valley Forge

Paoli

Chest Goshen

Ches

ChadsForC.

Chester

1777. the American right, then commanded by General Sullivan; which, being attacked before it had properly formed, soon gave way. The day terminated in the success of all the leading plans of the enemy.

⚫. Sept. 12.

1. Of he the Amer

retreat of

icans, and

each side?

2. What is

25. 'During the night, the American army retreated to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia; having lost, during the action, in killed, wounded, and prisonthe losses on ers, more than a thousand men; while the British loss was not half that number. Count Pulaski, a brave said of Polander, who had joined the Americans, distinguished Lafayette himself in this action; as did also the Marquis Lafayette, who was wounded while endeavoring to rally the fugitives. Congress soon after promoted Count Pulaski to the rank of brigadier, with the command of the cavalry.

Pulaski and

3. What did Washington

and what

26. After a few days' rest, Washington resolved to next resolve, risk another general action, before yielding Philadel followed phia to the enemy. He therefore recrossed the Schuyl kill, and advanced against the British near Goshen;† b. Sept. 16. but soon after the advanced parties had met, a violent fall of rain compelled both armies to defer the engage4. What hap- ment. A few days after, General Wayne, who had been detached with 1500 men, with orders to conceal his movements and harass the rear of the enemy, was c. Sept. 20,21. himself surprised at night, near Paoli; and three hundred of his men were killed.

pened to General Wayne?

5. What were the next movements

armies?

27. On a movement of the British up the right bank of the Schuylkill, Washington, fearing for the the safety of his extensive magazines and military stores deposited at Reading, abandoned Philadelphia, and took post at Pottsgrove. Congress had previously Sept. 23. adjourned to Lancaster. On the 23d, the British army crossed the Schuylkill; and on the 26th entered Phil

Sept. 26.

* Chester, originally called Upland, is situated on the W. bank of Delaware River, fourteen miles S.W. from Philadelphia. (See Map, p. 237.)

† Goshen is about eighteen miles W. from Philadelphia, and a short distance E. from Westchester. (See Map. p. 237.)

Paoli is a sinall village nearly twenty miles N.W. from Philadelphia. Two miles S.W. from the village is the place where Gen. Wayne was defeated. A monument has been erocted on the spot. and the adjoining tield is appropriated to a military parade ground. (See Map, p. 237.)

Reading (red-ing) is a handsome city of Pennsylvania, on the left, or East bank of Schuylkill River, fifty-two miles N. W. of Philadelphia.

Pottsgrore is on the N. E. side of the Schuylkill, about thirty-five miles N. W from Philadelphia. (See Map, p. 237.)

adelphia without opposition. The main body of the 1777. army encamped at Germantown,* six miles distant.

28. Washington now passed down the Schuylkill 1. Give an to Skippackt Creek, and soon after, learning that the the battle of British force had been weakened by the withdrawal of several regiments for the reduction of some forts on the Delaware, he attacked the remainder at Germantown, on the 4th of October; but after a severe action, the Americans were repulsed, with the loss of about 1200 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners; while that of the enemy was only about half that number. Soon after this event, General Howe broke up his encampment at Germantown, and moved his whole force to Philadelphia.

29. No movement of importance was made by either army until the 22d of the month; previous to which time, important events had transpired in the north, resulting in the total defeat and capture of a powerful British army under General Burgoyne. A connected account of these transactions requires that we should now go back a few months in the order of time, to the beginning of the campaign in the north. 30. Early in the spring of 1777, General Burgoyne, 4. What is who had served under Governor Carleton in the pre- Burgoyne? vious campaign, arrived at Quebec; having received b. May the command of a powerful force, which was designed to invade the states by the way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson.

b

31. On the 16th of June, Burgoyne, at the head of his army, which consisted of more than seven thousand British and German troops, and several thousand Canadians and Indians, left St. John's for Crown Point, where he established magazines; and then proceeded to invest Ticonderoga. At the same time a detachment of about two thousand men, mostly Canadians and Indians, proceeded by the way of Oswego, against Fort Schuyler, on the Mohawk; hoping to make an

Germantown lies on a street three miles long, and is centrally distant six miles N W. troia Philadelphia. (See Map, p. 152)

t Skippack Creek is an eastern branch of Perkiomen Creek, which it enters about twenty-three miles N.W. from Philadelphia. Perkiomen Creek enters the Schuylkill from the N., about twenty-two miles from Philadelphia. (See Map, p. 237.)

The important fortress of Ticonderoga was situated at the mouth of the outlet of