CHAPTER XI.

Outrages of the Enemy in New Jersey-Effect on the People-Howe's Attempt to lead Washington to an Engagement-Capture of Prescott-Howe sails to the Chesapeake-Lands on Elk River-Washington hastens to defend PhiladelphiaArrival of Lafayette-Battle of Brandywine-Retreat of the Americans.

"Could I embody and unbosom now

That which is most within me,-could I wreak

My thoughts upon expression, and thus throw

Soul, heart, mind, passions, feelings, strong and weak,
All that I would have sought, and all I seek,

Bear, know, feel, and yet breathe—into one word,
And that one word were lightning, I would speak:

But as it is, I live and die unheard,

With a most voiceless thought, sheathing it as a sword.”

THE royal troops remaining in New Jersey during the winter of 1777, were emphatically confined to Brunswick and Amboy; for both places were in an actual state of siege. The Hessians, who were about as numerous as the British themselves in America, were objects of peculiar hatred, from the numerous and aggravated outrages they committed upon the inhabitants, whether royalists or patriots. No sooner did they venture from those villages to make their barbarous excursions, than they were harassed, not only by the soldiers of Washington, but frequent ambuscades were prepared for them by the enraged people, who would cut them off by surprise and exterminate them. It was on one of these Hessian heads we studied the anatomy of the skull.

The people of New Jersey, overawed by the success of the royal cause in the conquest of this province, had nearly all submitted to the enemy. But when the soldiers rewarded their loyalty by dishonouring wives in the presence of their husbands, daughters in the presence of their fathers, and sisters in the presence of their brothers, they flew to arms, with but one thought, and that was vengeance; and they would not have been men if they had not thus avenged their wrongs.

When the mild season returned, Howe at length began to manœuvre, but the direction he intended to give to his arms could not yet be ascertained. Whether he would penetrate through New Jersey and attempt to take possession of Philadelphia, or proceed up the Hudson to co-operate with the army of Canada, was involved in impenetrable mystery. Always ready, however, for every emergency, Washington took such a position as should enable him to oppose them with equal advantage, whether he moved towards Philadelphia or in the direction of Albany.

After many manœuvres, intended to deceive the Americans, on the night of the 14th of June, the whole British army, except 2000 who were left to protect Brunswick, was put in motion, in two columns, towards the Delaware. But Washington, instead of being decoyed from his formidable position to stake his country's prospects upon the hazard of a single battle, and thus gratify the desire, and perhaps insure the success of the enemy, resolved to remain within his entrenchments. To this conclusion our hero was led by the following reflections: Owing to their superiority of numbers the enemy are desirous of a general engagement, to destroy the American army. They are evidently attempting to draw me from my advantageous position by circumvention or sleight, which is shown by the fact, that Howe would not have the temerity of crossing the Delaware, where he would have to combat an army on the opposite side, under Arnold, and another still more formidable in his rear. If it had been the intention of the enemy to cross that river, they would have pushed on rapidly to its bank, instead of halting, as they have done, midway. They would have taken their bridge equipage, the baggage, and the batteaux with them, which we know they have left behind.

Now reader, if you love to revel in the luxury of thinking, see that calm, sagacious, and dignified countenance of Washington, gradually brightening into a smile of complacency as these thoughts are leading to a just and wise conclusion; disappointing the sanguine hopes of the British, and inspiring the republicans with additional confidence. Unless you make

such mental digressions, you lose all the poetry of history. Independent of the other considerations, the conclusion of Washington was in accordance with our XXVIIth maxim: "never to do what the enemy wishes you to do."

About this time an adventure took place which spread great joy and exultation among the Americans. General Prescott, who commanded the British troops in Rhode Island, was surprised and carried off by Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, to retaliate the capture of General Lee. The colonel, at the head of a party of forty militia, embarked in whale-boats, and carefully avoiding the vessels of the enemy, landed upon the western coast of Rhode Island, repaired to the lodgings of the general, and seized his sentinels. An aid-de-camp went up into the general's room, took him out of his bed, where he slept, and hurried him off, without giving him time to dress. Prescott had lately set a price on the head of General Arnold, who immediately resented the insult by offering an inferior price for the person of Prescott; plainly indicating that his head was worth more than the British general's whole body. Congress thanked Barton, and presented him with a sword.

After various other manoeuvrings, and unsuccessful attempts to destroy the American army by stratagem, the British, numbering 18,000 men, embarked at Sandy Hook on the 23d of July, in 260 vessels, sailed to Chesapeake Bay, up that bay, and landed not far from the head of Elk river, on the 25th of August. Howe's forces consisted of thirty-six Hessian and British battalions, including light infantry and grenadiers, with a powerful artillery, a corps called the Queen's Rangers, and a regiment of cavalry. Howe at one time intended to have gone up the Delaware, but receiving intelligence that the river was obstructed by the Americans, he proceeded against Philadelphia by the way of Chesapeake Bay, as already stated.

About this time the Marquis of Lafayette arrived in this country, and offered his services to Congress. We shall speak of him again at the end of this chapter.

As the British squadron had been seen on the 7th of August at the entrance of the Delaware, Washington, after a lapse

of time, not hearing of the enemy having entered Chesapeake Bay, began to suspect that Charleston, South Carolina, would be attacked. Knowing, however, that he could not reach that place in time to afford it any assistance, and that if there were any prospects of success, the attempt would be imprudent, from the uncertainty of the enemy's destination, he wisely concluded to maintain his position, which enabled him to defend Pennsylvania, if the terrible storm was to burst upon that part of the country.

Intelligence having at last been received of the appearance of the enemy in the Chesapeake, all the doubts and uncertainties of our commander were dissipated, and he hastened to meet the formidable foe, face to face. Orders were despatched to the officers of his detached corps, to meet him at Philadelphia, to proceed thence to the head of the Chesapeake. The militia of the neighbouring states were ordered to join the army, to defend the capital. To show the importance of this call, and at the same time to prove the truth of the assertion of Frederick the Great, that Washington was the greatest general of the age, we will give the following view of the relative strength of the foreign and American armies, from a history written by a tory, who, of course, would naturally abstain from representing their armies too large, and ours too small:

BRITISH AND AMERICAN FORCE IN 1776.

The American army having marched through Philadelphia for the double purpose of encouraging their friends and to overawe the tories, advanced to White Clay Creek, where it encamped. Leaving his riflemen to guard the camp, our chief commander proceeded with the main army behind Red Clay Creek, extending it up that creek from Newport, situ

ated near the Christiana River, below Wilmington, in the state of Delaware.

On the 28th of August the British army moved forward to a village at the head of Elk river, and fixing its head-quarters here, on the 3d of September a part of the army moved on to take post on Iron Hill. On the 8th of September the commander-in-chief was joined by Generals Grant and Knyphausen, who had been left upon the coast to cover the debarkation of the artillery and military stores; when the whole army moved forward in two columns towards Philadelphia. As the enemy approached, Washington saw that he was in danger of being out-flanked on his right, and retired with his troops behind Brandywine river or creek, which he knew the enemy had to cross to proceed to Philadelphia, and which, though everywhere fordable, he resolved to defend; knowing that nothing but a victory could save the capital.

With this conclusion and resolve, batteries were erected on the banks of the little river, and entrenchments thrown up at Chad's Ford, where it was supposed the enemy would most probably attempt a passage.

While the Americans were thus occupied at Chad's Ford, Howe, early on the morning of the 11th, proceeded to the execution of his plan, which was to attack that ford with his right column, commanded by General Knyphausen, while his left column, under Lord Cornwallis, made a circuit of several miles, and marched up to the forks of the Brandywine, which he crossed with a view to gain the rear of the Americans.

*

"But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more,
As if the clouds its echo would repeat;
And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before!"

"And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed,
The mustering squadron, and the clattering car,

Went pouring forward with impetuous speed,