any time attack one of the large commercial towns of Boston, Philadelphia, or Charleston.

Howe's real design was to get possession of Philadelphia, the seat of Congress, but he kept making movements to deceive Washington, and blind him to his intention. Washington came out of Morristown in May, strengthened his army in New York in order to protect the Hudson, and hovered about New Jersey trying to find out what Howe was going to do. All summer long the armies were like two cats, who were stealthily waiting to spring whenever one should find the other off his guard for a moment.

During the summer of 1777, Washington met for the first time a most important friend and ally to the American cause. This was the young Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman, who had so great love for liberty that the struggle of America to be free roused all his sympathy. He was a nobleman, young, wealthy, and just married to a beautiful girl of eighteen. He was himself little more than nineteen years old. When he met a group of Americans in France who were trying to interest Frenchmen in our country, he said, "I have always held the cause of America dear; now I go to serve it personally."

He left his estates, his country, and his wife, and taking with him a large sum of ready money, sailed for this country. When he arrived he gave freely for the clothing and equipments of the troops in South Carolina. He sent $12,000 to Washington to aid him in paying off his soldiers, and he wrote to Congress asking permission to fight in their armies, saying, "The moment I heard of America, I loved her. The moment I heard she was fighting for liberty, I burned with a desire to bleed for her."

This glorious young man, whose name is dear to America from that day, Washington met in Philadelphia at a dinner given him on the 3d of August.

In the same ship which brought Lafayette, many other noble foreigners came also. Among these were several Polish gentlemen, who had fought for liberty in their own unhappy country, and were the warm friends of America. One of them was the Count Pulaski, who entered the army at once as a volunteer. Baron de Kalb, a French officer of rank and great bravery, was among those who offered the service of his sword to Washington. The sympathy and advice of these brave soldiers must have greatly aided and encouraged our general.

As soon as it was seen that Howe was moving toward Philadelphia, Congress was urgent that Washington should make a gallant defense there. Washington was not yet quite ready to fight, but he could not withstand Congress, and when he saw the British forces approach, he brought his army to the bank of Brandywine Creek, and made a stand there.

On the 11th of September the two armies met at Brandywine, and here the American troops suffered one of the severest defeats in the war. They were driven back to take refuge in Philadelphia, and lost 1,400 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. General Lafayette was wounded in the leg, but not dangerously. He fought gallantly, receiving the thanks of Congress for his bravery. Count Pulaski shared with him the thanks of the country for his services on that field.

The British, elated with success at Brandywine Creek, marched on toward Philadelphia. Washington, rested and refreshed, and strengthened by troops sent from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, went out of the city prepared to meet the enemy again. It is said that our commander-in-chief was never so firmly resolved on victory as after the defeat at Brandywine. But a terrible rain-storm overtook his army, and before they could guard against it, their guns and powder were wet and almost ruined. Washington was forced to give up all show of battle. Howe pushed on rapidly. Congress gathered up its papers, and hurried away to Lancaster, to avoid being taken prisoners, just before a division of the conquering redcoats under Cornwallis, marched into Philadelphia, to the victorious music of their drums and fifes. On their way to the city they had met a small portion of Washington's forces, under General Wayne, and had killed three hundred of our men, almost without loss to themselves. The clouds hung very dark over our army at this time.

Part of Howe's army now were posted in Germantown, three miles from Philadelphia, and Washington was only eleven miles away. He marched upon Howe, hoping to surprise him and gain a victory there. Fortune seemed everywhere unfavorable. At first, indeed, the Americans were successful, but in the end, they were obliged to retreat, and the battle of Germantown was almost as fatal as that of Brandywine. This was early in the month of October, and nearly all that had been gained at Princeton and Trenton seemed lost to our arms by the successes of the British in Pennsylvania. The Americans held two forts on the Delaware River, Forts

Mifflin and Mercer, and they hoped by keeping these to cut General Howe off from any communication with the sea. Even here they were disappointed, for Howe, seeing the importance of the forts as clearly as Washington did, sent an overpowering force down and captured them both before the close of November. Howe now made himself comfortable for the winter in the pleasant mansions of Philadelphia, while Washington remained for a time at White Marsh.

While the armies lay in this position, Washington was once very near being surprised, and perhaps would have been totally destroyed, if he had not been warned and put on his guard by a woman who risked her life to save him. This woman was Lydia Darrah, of Philadelphia, a member of the Society of Quakers, many of whom, while holding war a sin, gave their prayers and all their influence to the cause of liberty. Lydia Darrah lived opposite the house where General Howe had his quarters, and one of his principal officers had rooms at her house. One evening this officer instructed her to send her family to bed early, see that there was a good fire and candles burning in his room, and be ready to admit General Howe, and let him out again secretly when he was ready to depart. Lydia obeyed all these directions. When night came she let General Howe in at her front door, locked it after him, and when he was safely in his officer's apartment, she took off her shoes, crept softly up-stairs, and listened at the keyhole. There she heard them plan to surprise Washington, and take him and his whole army. When she had heard enough, she went trembling to bed, and was apparently so sound asleep that the officer had to knock again and again, when he came to rouse her to let General Howe out of the house.

Next day good Mrs. Darrah got a pass from General Howe to go to mill and get some flour ground, outside the lines of the army in Philadelphia. Off she walked with a bag of wheat in her arms, to the outposts of the patriot army, twenty-five miles away. Meeting an officer there, she told her story, and begged the Americans to put Washington at once on his guard. When Howe's forces marched toward White Marsh, with the greatest secrecy, they found such excellent preparations to receive them, that they turned round and marched back again, without striking a blow.

The officer questioned Mrs. Darrah. Was any one in your house stirring the night General Howe was here?" "Not a soul," she answered. "Then the walls of this house must have heard our plans,” he said, "for some one reported them to the rebel Washing

ton.

When we got to White Marsh, he was all ready for us, and we all marched back like a parcel of fools."

It was now December, and the winter threatened to be severe. Washington's campaign of 1777 was ended. It had not been successful; and I very much fear the war would have ended in total ruin to our cause, if glorious news had not come from the north in the month of October previous. I must go back a little and tell you what had been happening elsewhere, while Washington was in the Jerseys and Pennsylvania.

CHAPTER XLIII.

BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN.

The Burning of Danbury. - General Burgoyne. - The Tory Brant. - Burgoyne takes Ticonderoga. - Defense of Fort Stanwix. - Brave General Herkimer. - Massacre of Jane McCrea. Murmurs against General Schuyler. The Relief of Fort Stanwix. - Stark's Speech at Bennington. - The Encampment on Bemis Heights. - Battle of Saratoga. -Surrender of Burgoyne.

WE have seen how unfortunate Washington's campaign has been during the year 1777. We will now leave him for a time, and look after the British operations elsewhere during this eventful year. Early in May, Tryon, the Tory governor of New York, was sent to Connecticut to capture some stores at Danbury. Tryon was hated by the Americans more than any of the New York leaders, because he was regarded as a renegade and an apostate. He was gallantly met by Colonel Benedict Arnold and a company of Connecticut militia, but he had already burned the stores at Danbury, and made a successful retreat to New York, doing all the mischief he could to the country through which he passed.

General Burgoyne.

In the North, on the Canada border, great events cast their shadows before. General John Burgoyne was sent from England early in May, with a picked army, great stores of ammunition, and the finest brass cannon yet sent over to subdue the rebels. He was a fat, pompous man, this General Burgoyne, who had written a comedy or two in his own country, and after he had reached America he amused himself by first writing a long proclamation to

the Americans, promising them what he would do if they would lay down their arms and surrender peaceably to the British, and threatening them with various terrible things, among the rest that he would let the Indians loose among them, if they refused to surrender. He signed his proclamation with ten or fifteen high sounding titles, and circulated it all over the country. This document made the Americans very indignant, especially the threat about the Indians, and the patriotic newspapers made fun of Burgoyne's composition, and said it was the best comedy he had yet written.

The plan of the northern campaign was the one most dear to the British commanders. It was to move down through New York from Canada, and take possession of the Hudson River to New York city, which was held by the British. In that way they would hold all the province of New York, cut New England off from the rest of the colonies, and crush her into subjection. They believed that in subduing New England, they should strike at the head and heart of rebellion and kill it altogether.

This was Burgoyne's plan, and he had made an arrangement with Sir Henry Clinton, who commanded the fleet at the mouth of the Hudson, to move up the river and meet him at Albany. Let us see how his plan succeeded.

The Americans at the North were commanded by General Philip Schuyler, a brave, high-spirited soldier, with the blood of the plucky Dutch settlers in his veins. He was a native of Albany, and thoroughly familiar with all that country. He was now stationed at Fort Edward, the head of boat navigation on the Hudson; and Ticonderoga and Crown Point, poorly garrisoned, were held by his troops.

Burgoyne divided his army into two parts. He commanded in person the first division, which was to keep on the river. The command of the other division he intrusted to General St. Leger, who was to go west, through the Mohawk Valley, and take the western forts in New York. St. Leger expected to be greatly aided by Sir John Johnson, a son of the famous Sir William Johnson, who had been so popular among the Indians in the French wars. The Johnson

Joseph Brant.

family still retained their Indian influence, and as they were vio