A

HISTORY

OF THE

RISE, PROGRESS, AND ESTABLISHMENT,

OF THE

INDEPENDENCE

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

INCLUDING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE WAR;

AND OF THE

THIRTEEN COLONIES,

FROM THEIR ORIGIN TO THAT PERIOD.

BY WILLIAM GORDON, D. D.

QUID VERUM *** WEDROO

****CUBA, 2- ROGO, ET OMNIS, IN HOC SUM.

IDRA

From tbo..

HORAT. 1 Ep. i Lib.

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR;

AND SOLD BY CHARLES DILLY, IN THE POULTRY; AND
JAMES BUCKLAND, IN PATER-NOSTER-ROW.

M DCC LXXXVIII

SYLVIA ANN HOWLAND

-FUND.

C

NEW BEDLORD LKEE LABNIC FIBKVKA

THE GENERAL CONTENTS OF THE SEVERAL LETTERS
IN VOL. IV.

LETTER I. P. 1-16.

T

HE French and Spanish fleets, in the West Indies, form a

junction; but effect no capital operation, p. 2.

Their

combined fleets in Europe intercept the East and West India

convoy, p. 3. Mr. Laurens is taken in his paffage to Holland,

p. 5. Sir Jofeph Yorke leaves the Hague, p. 6. Hurricanes

in the West Indies, p. 7. The new parliament meets, p. 10.

The kindness of the Spaniards to the British prifoners, p. 14.

The inquifition abolished in the duke of Modena's dominions,

P. 15.

LETTER II. P. 16-67.

The Pennfylvania line revolts, p. 16. Sir H. Clinton fends

agents to treat with them, two of whom are hanged, p. 20.

Part of the Jersey brigade revolts, p. 22. Lieut. colonel Jahn

Laurens chofen by congrefs fpecial minifter to the court of Ver-

failles, and general Washington's hints to him, p. 23—t

-the gene-

ral writes to Dr. Franklin, p. 25. The Virginia houfe of dele-

gates' refolve refpecting Gates, p. 26. The returns of Greene's

force in South Carolina, and his concluding on a partifan war,

p. 27-his letter to lord Cornwallis, p. 28-he divides his force,

p. 30. Lieut. colonel Tarleton is detached after general Mor-

gan, by whom he is defeated, p. 33. Lord Cornwallis purfues

Morgan, p. 37. General Greene arrives, and takes the com-

mand of Morgan's troops, p. 38. The Americans retreat, and

fafely cross the Dan into Virginia, though pursued by his lord-

ship with the utmost eagerness, p. 39. Greene recroffes the

Dan, P. 47.

General Pickens and lieut. colonel Lee cut in

pieces a large body of royalifts, p. 48. Cornwallis attempts to

furprise the American light infantry, p. 50. Greene determines

upon fighting his lordship, p. 53. His lordship attacks and

defeats him, p. 54. His lordihip retreats toward Cross Creek,

and Greene purfues him to Deep river, p. 57. General Arnold

fails for and lands in Virginia, p. 59. General Washington

lays a plan for catching him, p. 60. Sir H. Clinton fends gen.

Phillips, with more troops, to take the command in Virginia,

p. 62. Acts of congrefs, p. 63. Mr. Robert Morris chofen

financier, p. 64. The Maryland delegates empowered to fub-

fcribe the confederation, which is thereby completed, p. 65.

General Washington gives his decifive opinion upon the neceflity

of a timely and powerful aid from France, p. 67,

LETTER III. P. 67-80.

The attempt of the baron de Rullecourt on the Isle of Jersey

fruftrated by major Pierfon, p. 68. Lord George Gordon tried

and acquitted, p. 70. Gibraltar relieved by the British fleet

under admiral Darby, p. 71. The Spaniards commence a

heavy fire upon the fortrefs, which is returned, p. 73 Sir

George Rodney and general Vaughan take St. Euftatia, St. Mar-

tin, and Saba, p. 74. The property in Statia confifcated, and

many of the inhabitants reduced to penury and tranfported to

St. Kitt's, p. 76. Demarara and Jequibo furrender, p. 78.

P. 80-147.

LETTER IV.

General Greene leaves North Carolina and marches toward

Camden, p. 80-is defeated by lord Rawdon at Hobkirk's hil,

p. 83-his letter to Rawdon, p. 86-to governor Reed of Penn-

Jylvania, p. 87. Lord Rawdon evacuates Camden, p. 89. The

British pofts are taken by the Americans in quick fucceffion,

idem. Greene marches against the garrifon at Ninety Six, p. 92

is obliged to abandon the fiege, and is purfued by Rawdon,

p. 96. He purfues his lordship and offers him battle, idem.
Greene's letter concerning Gates, p. 98. The miferies attend-
ing the war in South Carolina, p. 99.
Extracts from letters of
lord George Germaine, p. 100. The affair of colonel Hayne,
who is executed by the joint order of lord Rawdon and colonel
Balfour, p. 102. The operations in Virginia under generals
Phillips and Arnold, p. 107. The marquis de la Fayette makes
a rapid march from Baltimore to Richmond, p. 109.
Lord

"Cornwallis joins the British in Virginia, p. 111-is difconcerted

in his attempts to crufh the marquis, p. 112. The marquis

joined by the Pennsylvania line under general Wayne, p. 115.

His lordfhip commences a retrograde movement, p. 116.

Wayne attacks his lordship, and extricates himself by means of

it, p. 117. General Washington's army in want of provision,

p. 119. Count de Barras arrives at Boston to take the com-

mand of the French squadron at Newport, p. 120. Washington

meets Rochambeau at Weathersfield, idem. Washington's letters

intercepted and conveyed to New York, p. 122. The French

troops join the Americans under Washington, p. 123. The

plan of operations changed, and the allied troops march for

Philadelphia, p. 126. The behaviour of the French troops

while at Newport, and on their march to join general Washing-

ton, p. 128. Don Galvez completes the conquest of West

Florida, p. 129. Sir Samuel Hood and count de Graffe engage,

p. 132. Tobago taken by the French, p. 133. A fubfcription

for a loan opened by congrefs for the fupport of the South Caro-

linians