encouraged the British, who now demanded the surrender of Charleston. Governor Rutledge and General Lincoln animated the people and soldiers to great exertions for the defense of the city, and the enemy retreated without attacking the place. Active operations in the south were suspended until the autumn of this year.

But in the north the ravages of war were carried on. Portsmouth and Norfolk, in Virginia, Norfolk, Fairfield, New Haven and other villages on Long Island Sound, were burned. The next important victory was the capture of Stony Point. The Americans entered the fort by means of the countersign, which they obtained from a negro who was in the habit of selling fruit in the garrison. After a short resistance, Colonel Johnson and his garrison surrendered prisoners of war. The following report was sent to the commander-in-chief:

"The fort and garrison, with Colonel Johnson, are ours; our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free."

The Americans were unable to retain Stony Point, as the British sent large reinforcements up the river. They, however, removed the cannon and military stores and destroyed the fort.

The Americans, aided by Count D'Estaing, attacked the city of Savannah, but they were unsuccessful, and the close of the year found Georgia still under a royal governor.

1780.

In May, of 1780, the city of Charleston passed into the hands of the British. After the surrender of General Lincoln, he was succeeded by General Gates, who advanced through the Carolinas and encountered the British at Camden, where a battle was fought and the Americans again defeated with great loss. The British, elated by their success, now pushed towards the north, hoping to drive the enemy from Carolina. They advanced as far as Charlotte, when, hearing that Major Ferguson had been killed, and his eleven hundred troops made prisoners, Cornwallis returned and took up his quarters at Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Although Charleston and Camden were in possession of the British, the Americans were cheered by the brilliant exploits of Marion, Sumpter and Lee. Marion so many times and in such rapid succession cut off detachments of Cornwallis' army, that Tarleton gave him the name of Swamp Fox.

Benedict Arnold was a bold soldier, but a bad and unprincipled man. He had married a tory lady, and lived in such an extravagant style as to awaken the suspicions of the Pennsylvania Legislature. A court-martial was appointed to try him. He was convicted of procuring public money by fraudulent means, and sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-inchief. This duty was performed by Washington with the utmost delicacy, but Arnold felt the disgrace, and, his bad passions being fully aroused, he agreed to place West Point in the hands of the British for fifty thousand dollars and a brigadier's commission in their army. Communications between the two armies were carried on through Adjutant General Major Andre. Andre was arrested and suffered death as a spy. Arnold escaped in safety to the British lines.

Another year now drew to a close, and England had expended vast treasures and much blood in endeavoring to subjugate the colonies, without success.

1781.

The first battle in the campaign of this year was fought at Cowpens. Victory was decided in favor of the Americans, and the British were obliged to retreat, leaving behind them three hundred killed or wounded, and over five hundred of their troops prisoners.

General Greene gave battle to the British on the 15th of March, at Guilford Court-house. After an engagement lasting two hours, the Americans were obliged to retreat, but the enemy had suffered too much to pursue them. Numerous encounters between the two armies took place during the summer. Greene was defeated at Camden, but other Generals had at the close of the season succeeded in driving the British into the south-east

corner of the state. In the battle of Eutaw springs in September, the Americans were victorious. The British now abandoned all their posts, and retreated to Charleston. The last battle of the Revolution occurred at Yorktown. The allied armies,French and American-after compelling the British to abandon their outworks, commenced a siege on the 28th of September. On the 9th of October they opened a heavy cannonade on the British works; red hot balls were hurled among the English shipping, causing several vessels to be burned. Cornwallis, perceiving that all would be lost unless he could escape, attempted to cross York river, but a sudden storm arose and dispersed the boats, and they were compelled to put back, and the project was abandoned. Hope now failed, and Cornwallis, on the 19th of October, surrendered the posts at Yorktown and Gloucester, and almost seven thousand soldiers and his shipping and seamen, to General Washington and De Grasse. The terms of surrender were the same as those the British had required of General Lincoln at Charleston.

Negotiations for peace were commenced in the spring of 1782. Before the close of the year the Southern cities were given up, but New York remained in the hands of the British until fall of the following year. The treaty of peace was signed September 3d, 1783, by commissioners who met at Paris. On the eighth anniversary of the first battle of the Revolution, a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed, and on the 3d of November following, the army was disbanded. During the Revolution many naval battles were also fought. The most important occurred off the coast of England in 1779. During the course of the war the Americans captured eight hundred and three vessels, with merchandise, amounting to about eleven millions of dollars.

The darkest period of American history succeeded the Revolution. A debt of forty millions of dollars had been contracted, and Congress had no means of paying it. The articles of confederation formed a sufficient constitution of government during the war, but were not adapted to the public wants of an independent sovereignty.

In May, of the year 1787, a convention assembled at the state house in Philadelphia. All the states were represented except Rhode Island. George Washington was chosen to preside, and, after long deliberation, the articles of confederation were cast aside, and the national constitution, under which we now live, was formed. After it had been signed by each member of the convention, it was submitted to Congress, September 28th, and that body sent copies of it to the several legislatures, that it might be approved of by the people of each individual state. Eleven of the states ratified it within a year, and it was adopted the 4th of March, 1789.

George Washington, by the unanimous voice of the people, became their first president, and John Adams was chosen vice president.

CHAPTER VII.

THE ADMINISTRATIONS.

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION-1789-1797.

On the 14th of April, Washington received an official announcement of his election as president of the United States, under the new constitution. The ceremony of inauguration took place at New York on the 13th of April. The oath of office was administered by Chancellor Livingston.

At this time the condition of the country was a very trying one. The Spanish authorities had prohibited the Americans from navigating the Mississippi; our ships in the Mediterranean sea were attacked by pirates of the Barbary states, and many an American citizen was condemned to slavery or an Algerine dungeon; and no treaty of commerce had been made with England, nor had they sent a minister to our country. And in addition to these, the French endeavored to solicit the Americans to aid them in their revolution.

Three executive departments were created. Mr. Jefferson was secretary of state; Mr. Hamilton of the treasury, and General Knox secretary of war. These officers comprised the president's cabinet. The first difficulty to be encountered was the payment of the public debt.

In 1791, on the recommendation of Hamilton, a United States bank and national mint was established at Philadelphia.

Vermont was claimed by New York and New Hampshire until 1791, when it became independent, and was admitted into the Union, the first addition to the thirteen original states.

Great opposition was made to the mode of raising money by taxation. In western Pennsylvania it met with so much resistance that Congress was obliged to send troops to put down the rebellion.