Attack on Charleston, p. 178-Defeat of the British, 179-Indian War,
180-Declaration of Independence, 182-Arrival of the British at New
York, 185-Defeat on Long Island, 187-Washington's Plan of Opera-
tions, 189-Battle of White Plains, 189-Retreat through the Jerseys,
190-Washington appointed with Dictatorial Powers, 191-Battle of Tren-
ton, 192-Battle of Princeton, 193-Washington re-conquers the Jerseys,
193.
The Confederation, p. 194-American Privateers, 195-La Fayette,
196-The Prison Ships, 196 -Capture of General Prescott, 198-Opera-
tions in New Jersey, 198-Battle of the Brandywine, 199- Battle of
Germantown, 200-Battle of Redbank, 201-Operations in the North,
202-Loss of Ticonderoga, 203-Advance of Burgoyne, 203–Battle of
Bennington, 204-Fort Schuyler invested, 205-Murder of Miss Macrea,
206-Burgoyne at Saratoga, 207-Battle of Stillwater, 208-Burgoyne's
Retreat, 208-Surrender of Burgoyne, 209-The Army at Valley Forge,
210.
War in the South, p. 227-Capitulation of Charleston, 228-Condition
of South Carolina, 229-Treachery of the British, 229-Gates's March
to the South, 230-Battle of Camden, 232-Proceedings of Cornwallis,
233-Battle of King's Mountain, 234-General Gates superseded, 235—
Discontents in the Army, 235-The Army relieved and reinforced, 236-
Arrival of the French Fleet, 237-Arnold's Treason, 238-Capture of André,
239-Mutiny in the American Camp, 240.
General Greene in the South, p. 242-Battle of Cowpens, 243-Mor-
gan's Retreat, 243-Greene's Retreat, 244-Battle of Guildford, 245—
Greene marches for South Carolina, 245-Siege of Ninety-Six, 246—
Battle of Eutaw Springs, 247-Affair of Colonel Hayne, 248-Cornwallis
in Virginia, 249-Arrival of the French Fleet, 250-Preparations for the
Siege of New York, 251-Washington marches South, 251-Capture of
Fort Griswold, 252-Siege of Yorktown, 253-Surrender of Cornwallis,
254-Its Effects, 255-Lord North resigns, 256-Treaty of Peace, 257-
Discontent of the Army, 258-New York evacuated, 259-Retirement of
Washington, 259-Character of the Revolutionary War, 260.
Washington receives notice of his election, p. 269-His Journey to
New York, 269-Proceedings of the first Congress, 272-Washington's
Tour through New England, 272-Debts of the States, 273-Indian
War, 275-Defeat of General St. Clair, 275-Washington re-elected Pre-
sident, 276-Citizen Genet, 277-Insurrection in Pennsylvania, 279—
Jay's Treaty, 279-Pacific Policy of Washington, 280-Proceedings of
the French Directory, 281-Washington's Retirement, 282-His Cha-
racter, 283.
Operations on the north-western frontier, p. 313-Siege of Fort Meigs,
314-Capture of York, 315-Attack on Sackett's Harbour, 316-Opera-
tions on the Niagara Frontier, 317-Expedition against Montreal, 318-
Battle of Chrystler's Fields, 318-British Ravages on the Sea-coast, 319
-Sacking of Hampton, 320-Affair of the Hornet and Peacock, 320-
Defence of Fort Sandusky, 322-Battle on Lake Erie, 323-Battle of the
Thames, 324-Creek War, 325.
Russian offer of Mediation, p. 326-Battle of Chippewa, 327-Siege of
Fort Erie, 328-New York invaded, 329-Battle on Lake Champlain,
329-Flight of General Prevost, 330-Arrival of the British in the Chesa-
peake, 331-Capture of Washington City, 332-Maryland invaded, 332—
Battle of Baltimore, 333-Connecticut and Maine invaded, 334-Hart-
ford Convention, 335-The British expelled from Florida, 336-Attack on
New Orleans, 338-Defeated, 339-Peace of Ghent, 340-United States
Bank chartered, 340.
SEVERAL of the European nations have laid claim to the discovery of America, prior to the expedition of Columbus. The Welsh historians affirm that Madoc, a prince of their country, embarked from his native land as early as 1170, and, sailing westward, discovered those regions to which the name of America was afterwards given. But this claim rests upon remote and unfounded traditions.
Similar pretensions are urged in favour of the Norwegians and Icelanders; but a careful examination of all the authorities on the subject, has led the more recent historians to the conclusion, that the discoveries of these nations extended no farther than Greenland; to the more southern portion of which territory they gave the name of Vinland.
To Christopher Columbus, therefore, belongs the glory of having made the first discovery of the western world. At a time when geographical science had long slept in Europe, when distant voyages were rare, and discoverers were few, timid, and ignorant, this extraordinary man formed the noble design of crossing the Atlantic ocean, in search of new regions. His opinion, that such an enterprise would be attended with success, was not unsupported by plausible facts and reasonings. Though, in the fifteenth century, the information of geographers was incorrect as well as scanty, certain observations had been recorded, which supported his
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