were, with their arms by them. Washington determined not to bring on a general engagement. He thought it would be better to surprise the British at Princeton. So leaving his fires burning, he as quietly as possible moved his army in the night, and early next morning reached Prince

ton.

15. The surprise would have been complete, but a brigade of the enemy had just started to Trenton. An engagement ensued, in which the British were defeated; but the United States army sustained a heavy loss in the death of General Mercer, who was killed while rallying his men. The British loss was about four hundred killed, wounded, and prisoners; the United States, about one hundred. After these successes Washington continued sending out expeditions, until he recovered the greater part of New Jersey, only two posts, New Brunswick and Amboy, being at last held by the British.

16. Meantime Congress returned to Philadelphia, where they were employed in measures for supplying the army and for obtaining aid from foreign countries. As early as March, 1776, Mr. Silas Deane, of Connecticut, had been sent to France to solicit aid. He was afterwards joined by Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee. No open encouragement to the American cause was given at first, but help was secretly furnished. More than twenty thousand stand of arms and one thousand barrels of powder were sent to the United States in the course of the year 1777.

17. The nobility of France were, in general, opposed to the American cause, as they thought the people were rebels against their King. But there was one young Noble, the Marquis de La Fayette, who was filled with an ardent enthusiasm in favor of the cause of those struggling for the right of self-government on this continent. On hearing

15. What is said of the battle of Princeton? What general was killed? What

was the British loss? the American ?

16. How was Congress employed? What envoys were sent to France? 17. What is said of the nobility of France? What is said of La Fayette !

the Declaration of Independence read, he was completely convinced of the justice of their cause, and he determined to give them all the assistance in his power. In opposition to the wishes of his family, and without permission of the King of France, he came to this country. Immediately after his arrival, in July, 1777, he received the commission of Major-General in the army, which had been promised him by Mr. Deane. His acquaintance with Washington, which took place in a few days after his arrival, soon ripened into a warm and life-long friendship.

18. In March, General Howe sent a force up the Hudson to destroy the "rebel" stores at Peekskill. The garrison there, seeing the approach of the British, set fire to the stores and left the place. On the 25th of April several thousand of the enemy, under General Tryon, the last royal Governor of Connecticut, made a raid into that State. On the 26th they burned the town of Danbury, and all the supplies collected there. They committed many other atrocities. On their retreat they were assailed by the militia, who harassed them so sharply that they lost nearly three hundred men. The loss sustained by the militia was much less; but among the number was General Wooster, an old man, then in his seventieth year.

19. By way of retaliation, Colonel Meigs crossed over from Connecticut, and burnt twelve British vessels and a large quantity of supplies, near Sag Harbor, on Long Island. He took about ninety prisoners; lost none. About this time, also, July 10th, Major Barton, of Providence, achieved a very daring exploit. With about forty men, he captured the British General Prescott and carried him off a prisoner. Congress immediately gave him a sword and a colonel's

commission.

20. In July of this year, Congress adopted a flag, con

18. When did La Fayette arrive in the United States? What office was given him? What happened on the 25th and 26th of April in Connecticut?

19. What did Colonel Meigs do? What is said of Colonel Barton's exploit ? 20. Describe the flag adopted by Congress. What do the stars represent How did the stripes originate?

sisting of thirteen stripes, red and white alternately, with thirteen white stars on a blue ground; each star repre

senting a State. The stripes came from the six sections of the shield, which formed part of the original device. of a seal proposed for the United States. These six sections, or quarterings of the escutcheon, were insan tended to designate the six European countries from which the United States had been chiefly peopled, to wit, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, and Holland. In drawing these six sections on the shield-figure, seven spaces of the original color were, of course, left, which gave to the whole the appearance of thirteen bars, or stripes. The motto on the seal, finally adopted in 1782, was "E PLURIBUS UNUM"-that is, "one of many; 66 or one Federal Government by several Independent States."

FLAG AND SHIELD.

21. All this time the British were preparing to invade the United States from Canada. General Burgoyne, with ten thousand men, was approaching the upper part of the Hudson River. His object was to get in between Washington and New England. On the 21st of June he gave a great "war-feast" to the Indians. The chiefs promised to help him; and when they saw his fine, large army, they thought that he would be able to whip the rebels in a short time. He soon reached Ticonderoga with his army. St. Clair was there with about three thousand men. He thought at first that he could hold the place, but he soon found himself compelled to beat a hasty retreat.

22. The British pursued, defeated his rear-guard, took 21. What were the British preparing to do all this time? What was Bur goyne's object? What did the Indian chiefs think?

22. What proclamation did Burgoyne issue? How did General Schuler reply!

Skeenesborough, and destroyed the supplies there collected. General Burgoyne then issued a proclamation, promising pardon and protection to all who would return to their allegiance. General Schuyler immediately published a proclamation in answer, in which he made appear what kind of protection had been given to the people of New Jersey, and warned the people against listening to the promises of the enemy. After the loss of so many strong forts in the north, the country became very much alarmed and despondent; and, as is usual in such cases, Generals Schuyler and St. Clair were blamed without cause.

23. Other officers were ordered to the north to their assistance, Lincoln, Arnold, and Morgan. Burgoyne came on slowly. On the 30th of July he reached Fort Edward. The United States army fell back to Saratoga, Stillwater, and to the Mohawk River, near where it empties into the Hudson.

24. It was during the advance of Burgoyne, about this time, that the Indians murdered a young lady, whose fate has always been much pitied, and around which a sad and tender interest has always hung. The name of the young lady was Jane McCrea. She lived near Fort Edward with her brother. She had become acquainted with Lieutenant Jones, of the British army; had fallen in love with him, and was engaged to be married to him. Jane's brother was a Whig, and on the approach of the British army he left home and went to Albany.

25. The young lady, wishing to see her lover, remained with a friend and neighbor, Mrs. McNeil, who was a loyalist, and a near relative of the British General Frazer. All her friends thought that she would be entirely safe. On the 27th of July the house was surrounded by Indians, and Mrs. McNeil and Jane were both seized, but by different parties, and were carried off in different directions. The

23. What officers were sent north to the assistance of Schuyler and St. Clair! 24. What young lady was murdered about this time?

25. What is said of Jane McCrea?

house being near where some of the United States forces were camped, the alarm was given, and the Indians were pursued and fired upon; but the captives were not rescued. The Indians carried Mrs. McNeil to the British camp, but Miss McCrea was never again seen alive.

Mrs. McNeil recognized her scalp in the hands of some of the party who had seized her, and they were charged with her murder. But they declared that she had been killed by the soldiers, who pursued and fired upon them as they were carrying her off; and that they scalped her to obtain the bounty which the British were in the habit of paying. Lieutenant Jones, heart-broken at his loss, resigned his commission in the army. His resignation was not accepted, and he deserted. We are told that for more than fifty years he lived the life of a hermit, mourning with unavailing regret the cruel loss of his beloved Jane.

26. General Burgoyne, finding his army greatly in need of provisions, and it being a very difficult task to bring them from Ticonderoga, sent Colonel Baum, a German officer, from Fort Edward, with five hundred men, to seize some stores which had been collected by the patriots at Bennington. They were met and entirely defeated near Bennington, by Colonel Stark, in command of the Green Mountain Boys, as they were called; they were Vermont militia-men. Soon after this battle another party of the British arrived, and the militia, in turn, would very probably have been defeated, had not Colonel Warner fortunately come up with a regiment at this critical moment. The battle was renewed with great spirit, and the enemy was entirely defeated. The British loss in the two engagements was about seven hundred men, mostly prisoners; the United States loss not more than one hundred.

27. By the battle of Bennington, Burgoyne was delayed

26. What is said of Burgoyne's army at this time? Describe the battle of Bennington. Who commanded the Americans? What was the British loss? the American?

27. What was the effect of the battle of Bennington? What news was received from Fort Schuyler? of Herkimer's defeat, etc. ?