CHAP. traced to a secret order from American headLIV. quarters; but considering the recent decision of Congress, and the personal character of Washington, the suspicion, though certainly natural, was as certainly unfounded. 1776. The ill-conduct of the Americans, chiefly Connecticut men, on the 15th, was in some measure retrieved next day by another division, chiefly from Maryland and Virginia, which showed much gallantry in a little skirmish; and though the affair was slight, it gave more confidence to the remaining troops. Washington had now taken up his position on the heights of Haerlem, with lines across New York Island, which at that place is only a mile broad. Close in his rear was the fort to which his countrymen had given his name; on the opposite side of the North or Hudson River was Fort Lee; and further behind him his communication with the main-land of New York over a narrow strait was secured by some works at Kingsbridge. His position was in truth a strong one, but less tenable from the utter want of discipline among his troops. The difference of conduct in the field between the men of the South and the men of the North had given a fresh edge to the old provincial jealousies. An officer at that time present with their army declares that even the Pennsylvania and New England troops would as soon fight each other as the enemy.* See this extract as given in Gordon's Hist. Amer. Rev. vol. ii. p. 331. Still more poignant are the complaints of Wash- CHAP. ington on "the infamous practice of plundering. 66 For," he adds, "under the idea of Tory pro perty, or property that may fall into the hands "of the enemy, no man is secure in his effects "and scarcely in his person. In order to get at "them we have several instances of people being frightened out of their houses, under pretence "of those houses being ordered to be burnt, and this is done with a view of seizing the goods. Nay, in order that the villany may be more 66 effectually concealed, some houses have actually "been burnt to cover the theft. I have, with "some others, used my utmost endeavours to stop "this horrid practice; but under the present lust "after plunder and want of laws to punish offenders, I might almost as well attempt to "move Mount Atlas.' 66 The Adjutant-General, writing in equal confidence, is not less explicit. Where," says he, so thorough a levelling spirit predominates, "either no discipline can be established, or he "who attempts it must become odious and de"testable. It is impossible for any one to have "an idea of the complete equality which exists "between the officers and men who compose the "greater part of our troops. You may form some "notion of it when I tell you that yesterday morning a Captain of Horse, who attends the *To the President of Congress, Sept. 24. 1776. VOL. VI. N LIV. 1776. CHAP. "General, from Connecticut, was seen shaving LIV. "one of his men on the parade near the house!"* 1776. In this disorganised state of the soldiery it became a service of danger to aim at their correction or control. The same officer who beheld the shaving scene says in another letter that in the skirmish of the 16th, "the greatest escape I "had was from one of our own rascals who was "running away. Upon my driving him back, he "presented his piece and snapped it at me about 66 a rod distance. I seized a musket from another "soldier, and snapped at him. He has since been "tried, and is under sentence of death, but I "believe I must beg him off, as after I found I "could not get the gun off, I wounded him on "the head, and cut off his thumb with my hanger." + 66 This deplorable condition of the American troops was in great part owing to their system of short enlistments. During the last twelve months Washington had addressed to Congress the most urgent and most repeated representations against that system, but had found their theoretical jealousy of a standing army stronger than his warnings or their own experience. There was also, as a leading patriot complains, a disinclination in the gentlemen at Philadelphia to part with the smallest * J. Reed to Mrs. Reed, Oct. 11. 1776. † Life and Correspondence of Reed, vol. i. p. 238. LIV. 1776. particle of their power. * It was not till the loss CHAP. of New York was close impending that a better policy prevailed. Then, though not without strenuous opposition, it was resolved to form the army anew into eighty-eight battalions, to be enlisted as soon as possible, and to serve during the war. A certain number of battalions was assigned to each State as its quota; each State to appoint the officers as high as Colonels. To encourage enlistments a bounty of twenty dollars and one hundred acres of land was offered to each non-commissioned officer and soldier. But no sooner had these Resolves been passed than the Congress, by an error not uncommon in all popular assemblies, relaxed in their attention to the subject, as though a vote were sufficient for its own fulfilment. It became necessary for Washington to remind them gravely, that "there is a material difference between voting "battalions and raising men."+ Moreover the nomination of officers by the several States gave rise to another train of evils. A few weeks later Washington unbosoms himself as follows to his brother:-"All the year I have been pressing Congress to delay no time in engaging men 66 upon such terms as would insure success: telling "them that the longer it was delayed the more difficult it would prove. But the measure was *Letter of Benjamin Harrison to Washington, July 21. 1775, as printed in the American Archives. ↑ To the President of Congress, October 4. 1776. СНАР. 1776. not commenced till it was too late to be effected; "and then in such a manner as to bid adieu to every hope of getting an army from which any "services are to be expected; the different States, "without regard to the qualifications of an officer, quarrelling about the appointments, and nominating such as are not fit to be shoe-blacks, from "the local attachments of this or that Member of "the Assembly. I am wearied almost to death "with the retrograde motion of things."* 66 This unprosperous state of their affairs inclined the Congress more and more to the quest of foreign aid. With that view they resolved at this period to appoint three commissioners, or secret envoys, at the Court of France. Dr. Franklin, notwithstanding his great age, was unanimously chosen. When the choice was first announced to him, he answered modestly, "I am old, and good "for nothing; but, as the drapers say of their "fag-ends of cloth, you may have me for what 66 you please." Yet the appointment of any such mission at all was against his own judgment. Only a few months afterwards we find him write as follows: "I have never yet changed the opinion "I gave in Congress, that a virgin State should preserve the virgin character, and not go about "suitoring for alliances, but wait with decent dignity for the applications of others. I was overruled, perhaps for the best." While Franklin 66 66 * Writings, vol. iv. p. 184. † Works, vol. viii. p. 209. |