The reader will recollect the spirited enterprise by which General Prescott fell into the hands of a small party under Lieutenant Colonel Barton of the Rhode Island militia; and for which it was deemed a sufficient reward to present him a sword. This spirited officer, however, was not content to wear a sword, which he had not the liberty of using under the authority of Congress. He requested to be employed in their service; and on the 24th December, they resolved to promote him to the rank and pay of a Colonel in the service of the United States, and "that he be recommended to General Washington, to be employed in such services as he may deem most adapted to his genius." A few days previous to the first battle of Gates and Burgoyne, General Lincoln who had been placed by Washington in command of the eastern militia, planned an expedition against Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. Fearful if he attempted to convey information of his design to General Gates, that the enemy might become apprized of it, and thus frustrate his plans, he took upon himself the responsibility of undertaking it without the knowledge of General Gates, and was completely successful. On the 13th September he detached Colonels Brown and Johnson, at the head of 500 men each, the former to Lake George, and the latter to Mount Independence; and with a further view to distract the attention of the enemy, a like number of men under Colonel Woodbridge were sent to Skeensborough and the other posts in the neighbourhood in possession of the enemy. Colonel Brown executed his orders with such skill and dexterity, that he surprised all the enemy's outposts between Lakes George and Ticon deroga, and on the 18th gained possession of the French blockhouses on Mounts Hope and Defiance, and entered the works of Ticonderoga with but little loss. An armed sloop, several gunboats, 200 batteaux, and nearly 300 prisoners fell into his hands; besides which, 100 American prisoners, confined at Lake George, were released. The American standard also, which had been left at Ticonderoga, when that fortress was evacuated, was recovered. Colonels Brown and Johnson after retaining possession of the two forts for three or four days, abandoned them, and returned to their commander.The enemy immediately reentered them; but evacuated them a month afterwards, on the surrender of Burgoyne's army. - The mention of Ticonderoga will bring to the recollection of the reader, the circumstances attending its evacuation by Major General St. Clair, in the month of July. That unfortunate and aspersed officer, though soon after ordered to attend Congress to undergo an investigation of his conduct, was still held in a state of distressing suspense, as will appear by the following extract of his letter to General Gates of the 21st November. My affair is still in the same situation as when I last wrote you. I am firmly persuaded it is the intention of Congress, to avoid bringing it to a trial as long as possible, in hopes that the matter will die away of itself and be forgotten; that, however, is not my intention. I have been pretty constant in my applications for justice to myself, and to my country, and shall continue them until I prevail, or they throw off the mask." After some severe remarks upon the cabals that distracted the councils of the country, justified perhaps by his peculiar situation, he adds "This moment I have a letter from the President, covering the following very extraordinary resolve: Whereas the committee appointed to inquire into the causes of the loss of Ticonderoga and Fort Independence, have not yet been able to collect materials, and make their report, resolved, that Major General St. Clair be at liberty to attend to his private affairs, until he shall have notice to attend head quarters, in order to an inquiry into his conduct.'" This was indeed what General St. Clair indignantly denominated it, an extraordinary resolve, and sufficiently justified the following comments, with which he concluded his letter to General Gates. "Judge now, Sir, what I ought to think of them, for I made no such application as this would indicate; or whether the suspicion I threw out above is not but too well founded. If they had candour or common honesty, they would have owned, that after five months spent in searching for an accusation, they had been unable to find one-one at least which they dared to own; and instead of commanding me to retire from the army, which is the English of the resolve, with all the ignominy upon my head which they had unjustly endeavoured to fix there, could have acknowledged their errours, and done what was in their power to remove it; but many of them are incapable of a generous sentiment or action in private life; and a publick station, by making men more acquainted with the vices and frailties of others, confirms and increases their own. A trial however they shall give me; be the event what it will, they cannot rob me of that heartfelt satisfaction, which is the companion and reward of virtuous actions." On the last day of the year, Congress resolved to give to the officers and soldiers in the immediate army of the Commander in Chief, one month's extra pay, as a reward for the patience, fidelity and zeal, with which they had borne the dangers, fatigues and sufferings of their peculiar situation; and certainly no army ever suffered more, or were, under such circumstances, more faithful to their Commander in Chief. Thus closed the second year of our independence. We shall see in the next chapter some of the important consequences which flowed from the several campaigns of the two grand armies. CHAPTER VII. Events of 1778.-Proceedings of the British Parliament.-Lord North's second conciliatory scheme.-Duke of Richmond proposes to acknowledge the independence of America.-Last publick appearance of Lord Chatham-Disgrace of Burgoyne.Situation of the American army at Valley Forge-Commissa ry General appointed.-Baron Steuben appointed Inspector General.-Inactivity of Sir William Howe at PhiladelphiaConduct of Congress on receiving. Lord North's Bills.-Arrival of Mr. Simeon Deane with copies of the treaties with France.-Proceedings of Congress thereon-Sir Henry Clinton arrives, and supersedes Sir William Howe-Arrival of the Commissioners, Lord Carlisle, Mr. Eden and Mr. Johnston. Their unsuccessful negotiation and outrageous conduct.Sir Henry evacuates Philadelphia.-Is pursued by Washington-Battle in New Jersey-Arrest and trial of Lee-Congress return to Philadelphia.-Lieutenant Brown shot by a centinel at Cambridge-Arrival of Count D'Estaing with a French fleet.-Pursues Lord Howe to New-York, and blockades him there.-Sails to Rhode Island to assist in the expedition of General Sullivan.-British and French fleets prevented from engaging by a storm.-Retreat of General Sullivan.Count D'Estaing sails for Boston.-Mysterious affair of Captain Folger.-Mr. Deane.-Beaumarchais.-Loss of the Frigate Randolph.-Bloody massacre at Wyoming.-Colonel Clarke's expedition to the Mississippi. In order to show more fully the effects produced by the campaign of 1777, and particularly by the unexpected disasters of General Burgoyne on the banks of the Hudson, it will be necessary to attend to the proceedings of the British parliament, at their meeting, after a short recess, in January 1778. It will be seen that the unfortunate General Burgoyne, en his return to England, was refused the miserable |