A however, he was so closely pressed that his situation became 18th. It is now ascertained that the British army and 20th. Ever since the defeat of our fleet we have been providentially favored with a strong southerly wind, which has prevented the enemy's advancing to attack our lines, and afforded us time to receive some reinforcements of militia, and to prepare for a more vigorous defence. It seems now to be the opinion of many of our most judicious officers, that had Sir Guy Carleton approached with his army, immediately after his victory on the lake, the struggle must have been most desperate, and the result precarious; but we now feel more confidence in our strength. Several letters, lately received from Canada, acknowledge that no man ever manoeuvred with more dexterity, fought with more bravery, or retreated with more firmness. than did General Arnold on the 11th and 12th instant. After making every effort to compensate, by the advantage of situation, for the inferiority of force, and seeing his own vessel, and the rest, torn to pieces by the superior weight of metal, and the execution of the enemy's howitzers, he set fire to his vessel and would not quit her till she was so completely in flames that it was impossible for the enemy to strike her colors on their arrival, and they were left flying among the flames to the last. This, says one of the letters, was supporting a point of honor in a manner almost romantic; yet so it was. November 1st.-The enemy remain at Crown Point, and evince no disposition to molest our garrison, having probably discovered that our means of defence are too formidable for them to encounter. General Gates has now ordered a detachment of troops to march towards Crown Point, to recon noitre their position, or to attack them. A report was soon returned that the whole fleet and army have abandoned Crown Point, and retired into Canada, where they will probably occupy their winter quarters in peace, and it is not probable that Sir Guy Carleton intends to invest our garrison at this advanced season, unless however, he should attempt it by marching his army over the ice, when the lake is frozen, which will probably be very practicable. 15th.-Ticonderoga is situated in about latitude forty-four degrees. I have no means in my possession of ascertaining the precise degree of cold; but we all agree that it is colder here than in Massachusetts at the same season. The earth has not yet been covered with snow, but the frost is so considerable that the water of the lake is congealed, and the earth is frozen. We are comfortably situated in our barracks; our provisions are now good, and having no enemy near enough to alarm or disturb us, we have nothing of im portance to engage our attention. Our troops are quite healthy, a few cases of rheumatism and pleurisy comprise our sick list, and it is seldom that any fatal cases occur. December 10th.-Intelligence has lately arrived at head quarters here, that a British fleet, and a detachment of five or six thousand of the royal army, have taken possession of Newport, in Rhode Island, without any opposition; many of the inhabitants being friendly to the royal cause, they were received as friends. By letters from officers, and by other information from our main army, we learn with sorrow, that our affairs in that quarter are in a most deplorable and almost desperate situation. Since the evacuation of New York, several battles and skirmishes have taken place be tween the two armies, with considerable loss on both sides; but his Excellency the Commander in Chief has constantly avoided a general action. About the last of October, a detachment of our army under Major General Lee, opposing a large force under the command of Generals Clinton and de Heister, engaged in warm skirmishes and conflicts at or near White Plains and the river Brunx. Considerable loss was sustained. That of the British, by their own accounts, is three hundred and fifty killed, four hundred and seventy wounded, two hundred taken prisoners. The loss of the continental troops in these several rencounters has not been correctly ascertained, as a large number of the militia retired from the field in disorder, and proper returns could not be obtained. A number of Hessians and Waldeckers have fallen into our hands. The German officers and soldiers, by a finesse of the British, to increase their ferocity, had been led to believe that Americans are savages and barbarians, and if taken, their men would have their bodies stuck full of pieces of dry wood, and in that manner burnt to death. But they were very agreeably disappointed, and much pleased, on meeting civil and kind treatment. On the 16th of Novem ber, the British made a bold and successful attack on Fort Washington, situated on York Island. The defence by Col. Magaw, our commander, was brave and honorable, and the assailants sustained a loss of twelve hundred killed and wounded; another account estimates their loss at nine hundred killed and fifteen hundred wounded. The American troops in the fort were a little more than two thousand, of which about four hundred were killed or wounded, and the remainder captured. General Washington was so situated that he could have a tolerable view of the attack, and when he saw his brave men bayonetted while begging for quarter, he wept and exclaimed bitterly against the barbarous deed Fort Lee, on the Jersey shore, was soon after evacuated by General Greene, and the troops saved from being captured, but with the loss of stores, tents, and baggage. Our main army, being now reduced to the lowest ebb, discouraged and dispirited, are retreating through the Jerseys, and the enemy in close pursuit. The continental army has even crossed the Delaware, and left the whole state of Jersey in the possession of the royal army. 20th.-Another disaster of much importance is the capture of Major General Lee; on the 13th instant, marching at the head of his division to join the main army, he very incautiously took up his lodgings at a house three or four miles from his troops. Information of this was, by some tories, communicated to Colonel Harcourt, of the British light horse, who resolved to attempt his capture. Accordingly, with a detachment of dragoons, he speedily surrounded the house, made General Lee his prisoner, and not permitting him time to take his cloak and hat, mounted him on a horse and in triumph conveyed him to New York. The loss of this favorite general officer, it is feared, will be attended with very serious consequences, as respects the American cause. He was from his youth an officer in the British service, where he sustained a reputation of the highest grade, as a brave and skilful warrior. Having adopted our country, and become a zealous advocate for its liberties, he had acquired the confidence and highest regard of the public, and was exalted to the rank of second in command in our army. Such is now the gloomy aspect of our affairs that the whole country has taken the alarm; strong apprehensions are entertained that the British will soon have it in their power to vanquish the whole of the remains of the continental army. The term of service of a considerable part of our troops has nearly expired, and new recruits do not arrive in sufficient numbers to supply their places. His Excellency General Washington is continually making every possible effort to produce a change of circumstances more auspicious to our country. The critical and distressing situation in which he is placed is sufficient to overwhelm the powers of any man of less wisdom and magnanimity than our commander in Chief. He has the confidence and the affection of the officers and soldiers of the whole army; and there is not perhaps another man to be found so well calculated to discharge the duties of his important and responsible station. It is generally agreed by our officers, that in his retreat through the Jerseys, and over the Delaware, under the most pressing difficulties, he displayed the talents and wisdom characteristic of a great military commander, possessing unfailing resources of mind. retreating through the Jerseys with an army not exceeding three thousand five hundred men, and deeming our cause as almost desperate, he said to Colonel Reed, passing While his hand over his throat, "my neck does not feel as though it was made for a halter; we must retire to Augusta county in Virginia, and if overpowered we must pass the Alleghany mountains." General Washington at this time was suffering the most agonizing distress for the fate of his army and his country.* The king's commissioners, flushed with the success of the royal army, have availed themselves of the occasion, and put forth another proclamation, granting pardons to all those who shall within sixty days subscribe a delaration to remain peaceable, not to take up arms, nor encourage others to act * against the king's authority, and at the same time, they charge and command all who are assembled in arms against his majesty to disband, and all under the names of General and Provincial Congress committees, &c. to desist from their treasonable practices, and relinquish their usurped power within sixty days from the date of this proclamation. e This production, couched in the haughty style of royal authority, demands submission of those who have long since been compelled to abjure all allegiance to the British crown. How far the people of this continent may be disposed to retrace their steps, to abandon the government of their choice, relinquish their independence and succumb to arbitrary power, is a point to be decided within sixty days. However apparently forlorn is our situation, we presume to hope that his majesty's commissioners will not realize their sanguine expectations, though British clemency on the one hand, and the gallows on the other, may be the alternative. The Congress resolved on the 12th instant, that it be recommended to all the United States as soon as possible to appoint a day of fasting and humiliation. This is according to the custom of our pious ancestors in times of imminent dangers and difficulties. Considering the rapid movements of the enemy, and knowing it to be their intention to possess themselves of the city of Philadelphia, the Congress have resolved to retire to Baltimore, in Maryland. They have also ordered, that handbills be circulated through the states, * It was about this time that the American army was extremely reduced and its efficient force was continually changing. The militia, despairing of our cause, returned home in great numbers, and those who had served out their time refused to re-enlist, although the enemy was rapidly advancing. But to the honor of the citizens of Philadelphia, fifteen hundred of their number associated together, and marched to the aid of Washington. "Though most of these were accustomed to the habits of a city life, they slept in tents, barns, and sometimes in the open air, during the cold months of December and January.' |