ence on a lasting foundation; it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the Divine goodness, and celebrating the important event which we owe to His benign interposition. The several brigades are to be assembled for this purpose at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, when their Chaplains will communicate the intelligence contained in the Postscript to the Pennsylvania Gazette of the second instant, and offer up a Thanksgiving, and deliver a discourse suitable to the occasion. At half past ten o'clock a cannon will be fired, which is to be a signal for the men to be under arms. The Brigade Inspectors will then inspect their dress and arms, form the battalions according to the instructions given them, and announce to the commanding officers of brigades that the battalions are formed. The Brigadiers and Commandants will then appoint the field officers to command the battalions; after which, each battalion will be ordered to load and ground their arms.-At half past eleven, another cannon will be fired as a signal for the march; on which the several brigades will begin their march by wheeling to the right by platoons, and proceed by the nearest way to the left of their ground, in the new position that will be pointed out by the Brigade Inspectors.-A third signal will be given, on which there will be a discharge of thirteen cannon; when the thirteenth has fired, a running fire of the infantry will begin on the right of Woodford's and continue throughout the whole front line; it will then be taken up on the left of the second line and continue to the right-on a signal given, the whole army will huzza-Long live the King of France! The artillery will then begin again, and fire thirteen rounds. This will be succeeded by a second general discharge of the musketry in a running fire-Huzza! long live the Friendly European Powers! Then the last discharge of thirteen pieces of artillery will be given, followed by a general running fire-Huzza for the American States! Agreeably to the above orders, His Excellency General Washington, his lady and suite, Lord Stirling, the Countess of Stirling, with other General officers and ladies, attended at nine o'clock at the Jersey brigade, when the Postscript mentioned above was read, and after a prayer a suitable discourse delivered to Lord Stirling's division by the Rev. Mr. Hunter. On the signal at half after eleven, the whole army repaired to their alarm posts; on which General Washington, accompanied by the general officers, reviewed the whole. army at their respective posts; and after the firing of the cannon and musketry, and the huzzas were given agreeably to the orders, the army returned to their respective brigade parades, and were dismissed. All the officers of the army then assembled, and partook of a collation provided by the General, at which several patriotic toasts were given, accompanied with three cheers. His Excellency took leave of the officers at five o'clock, on which there was universal huzzaing-Long live General Washington! and clapping of hands till the General rode some distance. The non-commissioned officers and privates followed the example of their officers as the General passed their brigades. Approbation indeed was conspicuous in every countenance, and universal joy reigned throughout the camp. My friend, Major Minnis, from Head Quarters at Valley Forge, has detailed to me the particular circumstances of the distress and privations, which our army suffered, while in winter quarters at that place, the last winter. In the month of December, the troops were employed in erecting log huts for winter quarters, when about one half of the men were destitute of small-clothes, shoes, and stockings; some thousands were without blankets, and were obliged to warm themselves over fires all night, after the fatigues of the day, instead of reposing in comfortable lodgings. At one time, nearly three thousand men were returned unfit for duty, from the want of clothing, and it was not uncommon to track the march of the men over ice and frozen ground, by the blood from their naked feet. Several times during the winter, they experienced little less than a famine in camp; and more than once our general officers were alarmed by the fear of a total dissolution of the army from the want of provisions. For two or three weeks in succession, the men were on half allowance, and for four or five days without bread, and again as many without beef or pork. It was with great difficulty that men enough could be found in a condition fit to discharge the military camp duties from day to day, and for this purpose those who were naked, borrowed from those who had clothes. It cannot be deemed strange, that sickness and mortality were the consequence of such privations, in the midst of an inclement season. Under these unexampled sufferings, the soldiers exercised a degree of patience and fortitude, which reflects on them the highest honor, and which ought ever to entitle them to the gratitude of their country. The army indeed was not without consolation, for his Excellency the Commander in Chief, whom every soldier venerates and loves, manifested a fatherly concern and fellow feeling for their sufferings, and made every exertion in his power to remedy the evil, and to administer the much desired relief. Being authorized by Congress, he reluctantly resorted to the unpopular expedient of taking provisions from the inhabitants by force, and thus procured a small supply for immediate necessity. This was the unhappy condition of that army, on whom General Washington had to rely for the defence of every thing held most dear by Americans, and this too, while situated within sixteen miles of a powerful adversary, with a greatly superior army of veterans, watching with a vigilant eye for an opportunity to effect its destruction. But a fact which excites the greatest indignation and astonishment, is, that at the critical period above mentioned, a party in Congress, in ́concert with General Conway, was endeavoring to remove General Washington from the supreme command. If the American army is to be annihilated, and the cause of our country sacrificed, to gratify individual ambition, then is there a faction ripe for the execution of the object. No man, perhaps, ever had a greater combination of vexatious evils, and uncontrollable obstacles to encounter, than this incomparable patriot and warrior; and no one surely ever possessed in a more eminent degree, the peculiar talents and qualities requisite for the discharge of the important. duties assigned him in his elevated station. He has acquired the full confidence of every faithful officer and soldier under his command, and his wisdom and judgment are considered adequate to the most trying exigences. He rises in the midst of distress, and gains strength by misfortunes. The Assembly of Pennsylvania, and a certain party in our Congress, *It was on this occasion that a foreign officer of distinction, said to a friend of mine, that he despaired of our Independence, for while walking with General Washington, along the soldiers' huts, he heard from many voices echoing through the open crevices between the logs," no pay, no clothes, no provisions, no rum,” and when a miserable being was seen flitting from one hut to another, his nakedness was only covered by a dirty blanket. It will be difficult to form a just conception of the emotions of grief and sorrow which must have harrowed up the soul of our illustrious patriot and philanthropist. In this darkening hour of adversity, any man who possesses less firmness than Washington, would despair of our Indepeudence. entertain an idea that the royal army was permitted to take possession of Philadelphia by the timidity, or by the excessive caution of our Commander in Chief. It is well known, that from necessity he has evinced himself more the disciple of Fabius Maximus than of Marcellus. He temporizes, and acts on the defensive, when a superior force, and the peculiar circumstances of his army compel him to adopt such conduct. But no one will deny that he has displayed the greatest courage in opposing danger, and the greatest pres ence of mind in retreating from it. He has perplexed the enemy by his judicious manoeuvres, and braved him frequently in his camp; and it is by his superior generalship, and the unfailing resources of his mind, that the enemy was not sooner in possession of Philadelphia, and that our feeble, half starved, naked army, has not been entirely destroyed. The candidates who have been named to supersede his Excellency in the supreme command, are Generals Lee, Mifflin, Gates, and Conway. Lee has many advocates in his favor. Mifflin has no claim, and it is believed no desire, to be elevated to this highly responsible station. The splendid achievement of General Gates at Saratoga is auspicious to his preferment, but even the officers and soldierswho served under him in the northern army, would not willingly yield their attachment to their beloved Washington, in whose wisdom and judgment they repose such unbounded confidence. It is most unfortunate that Congress appears to be split into factions at this eventful period, when the salvation of our country depends on the harmony and unanimity in our councils. A strong party exists in this body, who are exerting every nerve to effect their favorite scheme of elevating General Gates to the supreme command. This gentleman is made the object of their applause, and caresses, though he has been deficient in duty and respect in his offi cial station, in not communicating to the Commander in Chief the important intelligence of the capture of General Burgoyne and his army. General Conway, a French gentleman, has been appointed by Congress, Inspector General, with the rank of Major General, over a number of brigadiers of regular standing, and this, even when it was notori ous, that he was inimical to the Commander in Chief, and the author of letters in which his Excellency's character is basely aspersed and calumniated. These unhappy dissensions and jealousies, occasion the greatest solicitude in our army, and consequences of a fatal tendency are seriously apprehended. The brigadiers and a number of colonels have remonstrated in strong terms to Congress respecting the preferment of General Conway. The machinations of this insolent foreigner have at length recoiled on his own head. Having by his vile intrigue, and insufferable effrontery, rendered himself an object of disgust in his station, he has been induced to resign his commission, and has withdrawn himself from the army. On this serious occasion, the character of Washington was found unassailable, and it shines with redoubled lustre. His Excellency displays a noble magnanimity, in overlooking a want of confidence in his skill and judgment in his profession. Envy and malice are ever attendant on exalted station and superior merit. Albany, May 16th.-In various parts of this state, the inhabitants are constantly infested with a banditti of tories and other villains, following the practice of robbing and plundering, stealing horses and cattle, and often committing murder on those who oppose them; and even on innocent persons. A number of these vile wretches have been apprehended and condemned; two of them were executed yesterday. They had been convicted of robbing the house of Mr. Van Ness, whose son, being a captain in our militia, was taken by them and cruelly murdered. The criminals were conducted to the gallows by a guard of soldiers, and were attended by a prodigious number of spectators. They manifested, at the gallows, the most agonizing horrors. One of them held in his hand a bible till the halter deprived him of the power of holding it. Had this sacred volume been * General Conway, after his resignation, was challenged by General Cadwallader, for his conduct, and in the combat he received a wound which he supposed to be a mortal one, and conceiving death to be near at hand, he conducted honorably in addressing to General Washington, whom he had perfidiously slandered, the following letter of apology. "Philadelphia, February 23d, 1778. SIR-I find myself just able to hold my pen during a few minutes, and take this opportunity of expressing my sincere grief for having done, written, or said, any thing disagreeable to your Excellency. My career will soon be over, therefore justice and truth prompt me to declare my last sentiments. You are in my eyes the great and good man. May you long enjoy the love, esteem, and veneration of these states, whose liberties you have asserted by your virtues. I am, with the greatest respect, Your Excellency's Most obedient and humble servant. THS. CONWAY." Further particulars relative to this unpleasant business may be found in the characters of Lee, Gates, and Conway, in the Appendix. |