1776. the Cherokees. A war broke out between the Cherokee Indians and South Carolina. The states of North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia War with cooperated with their sister state against an enemy, dreaded in common by them all. Colonel Andrew Williamson, who commanded the South Carolina forces, carried an expedition into the Cherokee country, destroyed all their settlements eastward of the Apalachian mountains, and effectually brought the nation to submission. The reduction of the Cherokees was effected in three months; from 15 July to 11 October. A fort, named Fort Rutledge, was now erected at Seneca, and garrisoned by two independent companies. Entails abolished in Virginia. Entails were abolished in Virginia. By an act of the legislature, October 7, all estates tail previously created and then existing, were converted into estates in fee simple. The convention of Virginia, by an ordinance, declared the common law of England law of Eng- and general statutes in aid thereof, passed prior to the 4th year of Common land in force. Gen. Lee taken. Execution Hale. James I. in force, except so far as altered by the several ordinances, declarations, and resolutions of the general convention, unil the same should be changed by the legislature." On the 13th of December, general Lee was surprised and made a prisoner by a party of British light horse under colonel Harcourt, at Baskenridge in New Jersey. After the retreat from Long Island, captain Nathan Hale, of captain having passed in disguise to that island, examined every part of the British army, and obtained the best possible intelligence respecting its situation and intended operations, was apprehended in his attempt to return, and brought before Sir William Howe, who gave immediate order to the provost marshal to execute him the next morning. The order was executed with the severest rigour. The attendance of a clergyman was refused him, and a bible, though requested, was not procured. Letters, written to his mother and friends on the morning of his execution, were destroyed; the provost marshal assigning this extraordinary reason for that outrage, "that the rebels should not know they had a man in their army, who could die with so much firm ness. naked and famished, at Machias, whence they proceeded to different parts of New England. This account was given me by my late much respected friend and parishioner, Caleb Gannett, Esq. who resided several years in Nova Scotia. 1 Griffith, Law Register of U. States, iii. 327. "There is no proprietary land yet to be taken up or located; the title of Denny Fairfax, and of those who claim under him, to such of the lands in the Northern Neck, as were waste and unappropriated at the time of the death of lord Fairfax, being now extinguished, and those lands vested in the commonwealth." 2 Ibid. 367. 3 Captain Hale united in his character the soldier, the patriot, and the scholar. Generel Washington, after the retreat from Long Island, applied to colonel 1776. William Bollan, who had been agent for Massachusetts in Great Britain, died in England; John Thomas, a major general in the American army, died at Chamblee in Canada;2 Cadwal- Deaths. lader Colden died at the age of 88 years.3 Knowlton to adopt some method of gaining the necessary information respect- "With genius' living flame his bosom glow'd, To friends unchanging, and sincere to heaven." General authorities for this year: Washington's Letters; Gordon's Hist. of the U. States, ii. Lett. 1-6; Ramsay's Hist. Amer. Revolution, i. c. 9—12, and Revol. S. Carolina, i. c. 4, 5; Journals of Congress; Annual Register; Remembrancer; Stedman's Hist. Amer. War, i. c. 5-8; Marshall's Life of Washington, ii. c. 4-8; Adams's Hist. N. England, c. 27-29; American and British Chronicle; Warren's Hist. of Amer. Revolution; Pemberton's Historical Journal of the American War; and Moultrie's Memoirs of Amer. Revolution. 1 He was born in England, and in 1741 came to Boston with governor Shirley, whose daughter he afterward married. He was eminent as a lawyer, and was advocate general when he was chosen agent for the province, and sent to England to solicit a reimbursement of the charges in taking and securing Cape Breton. See 1745. In 1762 he was dismissed, and was succeeded in the agency by Mr. Mauduit. In 1775 he was active in promoting the interests and honour of the mother country by pressing, with all his influence, conciliatory measures. He published a number of political essays and tracts, among which are: The importance and advantages of Cape Breton truly stated, London, 1746; Coloniæ Anglicanæ illustrata, 4to. Lond. 1762; Ancient Right to the American Fishery examined and stated, 4to. Lond. 1764; The importance of the Colonies in North America, and the interest of Great Britain with regard to them considered, 1766; Freedom of Speech and Writing upon public affairs considered, 4to. Lond. 1770; Petitions to the king in council, and to the two houses of parliament, with illustrations intended to promote the harmony of Great Britain and her colonies, 1774. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc.iii. 301. Eliot and Allen, Biog. 2 General Thomas was born at Kingston in Massachusetts, and descended from one of the most ancient and respectable families in the county of Plymouth. He was distinguished by prudence and judgment, as well as resolution and intrepidity. In the war against the French and Indians he had acquired a high reputation. During the siege of Boston, and on the heights of Dorchester, he had recently been distinguished as an active, vigilant, and brave officer. In March he was promoted by congress to the rank of major general, and appointed to command the American forces in Canada. On his arrival there, the small pox breaking out among the troops, he took the infection, which proved fatal to him. "He was held in universal respect and confidence as a military character, and his death is deeply deplored throughout the army." Thacher's Military Journal, 55. Bradford, Mass. ii. 104. 3 He was born in Scotland in 1688. He was the son of a minister, and completed his studies at the University of Edinburgh in 1705. Having afterward applied himself to the study of medicine and mathematical science, he in 1708 came over to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the practice of physic. In 1718 he removed to New York, and soon after relinquishing his professional Gen. Wash post at Trenton. Jan. 2. 1777. GENERAL WASHINGTON, having secured the Hessian prisoners ington takes on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware, recrossed the river two days after the action, and took possession of Trenton. Generals Mifflin and Cadwallader, who lay at Bordentown and Crosswix with 3600 militia, were ordered to march up in the night of the 1st of January, to join the commander in chief, whose whole effective force, including this accession, did not exceed 5000 men. The detachments of the British army, which had been distributed over New Jersey, now assembled at Princeton, and were joined by the army from Brunswick under The British lord Cornwallis. From this position the enemy advanced toward advance in Trenton in great force, on the morning of the 2d of January; gainst him. and, after some slight skirmishing with troops, detached to harass and delay their march, the van of their army reached Trenton about four in the afternoon. On their approach, general Washington retired across the Assumpinck, a rivulet that runs through the town, and by some field pieces, posted on its opposite banks, compelled them, after attempting to cross in several places, to fall back out of the reach of his guns. The two armies, kindling their fires, retained their positions on opposite sides of the rivulet, and kept up a cannonade until night. force a The situation of the American general was at this moment extremely critical. Nothing but a stream, in many places fordable, separated his army from an enemy, in every respect its superior. If he remained in his present position, he was certain of being attacked the next morning, at the hazard of the entire destruction of his little army. If he should retreat over the Delaware, the ice in that river not being firm enough to admit a passage upon it, there was danger of great loss, perhaps of a total defeat; the Jerseys would be in full possession of the enemy; the public mind would be depressed; recruiting would be discouraged; and Philadelphia would be within the reach of Bold design general Howe. In this extremity, he boldly determined to abanof general don the Delaware, and by a circuitous march along the left flank of the enemy, fall into their rear at Princeton. As soon as it was dark, the baggage was silently removed to Burlington; and ton. practice, he became, in succession, surveyor-general of the province, master in chancery, member of the council, and lieutenant governor. In 1755 he retired with his family to Coldingham, his seat on the Hudson, where he devoted himself to botanical studies, and to a correspondence with learned men in Europe and America. His principal publications are, Plante Coldinghamenses, in the Acta Upsalensia; Principles of Action in Matter &c; and The History of the Five Indian Nations. Miller, ii. 366. Princeton. Gen. Mer cer killed. about one o'clock the army, leaving its fires lighted, and the 1777. centinels on the margin of the creek, decamped with perfect secrecy. Its movement was providentially favoured by the weather, which had previously been so warm and moist, that the ground was soft, and the roads were scarcely passable; but, the wind suddenly changing to the northwest, the ground was in a short time frozen as hard as a pavement. About sunrise, two Jan. 3. British regiments, that were on their march under lieutenant Battle near colonel Mawhood to join the rear of the British army at Maidenhead, fell in with the van of the Americans, conducted by general Mercer, and a very sharp action ensued. The advanced party of Americans, composed chiefly of militia, soon gave way, and the few regulars attached to them could not maintain their ground. General Mercer, while gallantly exerting himself to rally his broken troops, received a mortal wound. The British rushed forward with fixed bayonets, and drove back the Americans. General Washington, who followed close in the rear, now led on the main body of the army, and attacked the enemy with great spirit. While he exposed himself to their hottest fire, he was so well supported by the same troops which had aided him a few days before in the victory at Trenton, that the British were compelled to give way. The 17th regiment, which was in front, forced its way through a part of the American troops, and reached Maidenhead. The 55th regiment, which was in the rear, retreated by the way of Hillsborough to Brunswick. General Washington pressed forward to Princeton. A party of the British that had taken refuge in the college, after receiving a few discharges from the American field pieces, came out and surrenderered themselves prisoners of war; but the principal part of the regiment that was left there, saved itself by a precipitate retreat to Brunswick. In this action, upward of 100 of the enemy were killed on the spot, and nearly 300 were taken prisoners. The loss of the Americans in killed was somewhat less; but, beside general Mercer, colonels Haslet and Potter, two brave and excellent officers from Pennsylvania, captain Neal of the artillery, captain Fleming, and five other valuable officers, were among the slain.2 1 When lord Cornwallis quitted Princeton, lieutenant colonel Mawhood was left to defend it with the 17th, 40th, and 55th regiments; but orders had just been transmitted to him to march with the 17th and 55th regiments to Maidenhead, a village midway between Princeton and Trenton. These were the two regiments now on their march. 2 General Mercer was from Virginia. Though a Scotchman by birth, yet from principle and affection he had engaged to support the liberties of his adopted country. In the French war he had served with Washington, who greatly esteemed him. "In private life he was amiable, and his character as an officer stood high in public esteem." proceeds to 1777. Lord Cornwallis, discovering at day light that the American army had moved off, broke up his camp, and commenced a Cornwallis rapid march to Brunswick, and was close in the rear of the Brunswick; Americans before they left Princeton. General Washington retired with his army to Morristown. During these movements, ton retires many of the American soldiers were without shoes; and their to Morris- naked feet, in marching over the frozen ground, were so gashed, as to mark eash step with blood. There was scarcely a tent in the whole army. Washing. town. Waldeckers killed and taken. town retaken. The American militia very soon overran the Jerseys. Within four days after the action at Princeton, between 40 and 50 Waldeckers were killed, wounded, or taken, at Springfield (New Jersey) by an equal number of the Jersey militia under colonel Elizabeth- Spencer. General Maxwell surprised Elizabethtown, and took nearly 100 prisoners. General Dickenson with 400 Jersey militia, and 50 Pennsylvania riflemen, crossed Millstone river, near Somerset court house, on the 20th of January, and attacked a large foraging party of the British; nine of whom were taken. prisoners, and the rest dispersed. Forty waggons, and upward of 100 horses, with considerable booty, fell into the general's hands. About a month afterward, colonel Nelson of Brunswick, with a detachment of 150 militia men, surprised and took at Lawrence's Neck a major, and 59 privates of the refugees, who were in British pay. Foraging party dis persed. Refugees taken. Arms and arrive from The Americans had hitherto been very deficient in arms and ammunition ammunition; but in the spring of this year a vessel of 24 guns France. arrived from France at Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, with upward of 11,000 stand of arms, and 1000 barrels of powder; and about the same time 10,000 stand of arms arrived in another part of the United States. March 23. British de stroy the stores at Peek's Kill. April 26. They destroy the stores at Danbury. Before the royal army took the field for the ensuing campaign, two enterprises were undertaken for the destruction of American stores, deposited at Peek's Kill and Danbury. The first was conducted by colonel Bird, who landed with about 500 men at Peek's Kill, on the east side of Hudson's river, nearly 50 miles from New York; but on his approach, general M'Dougal, with the few Americans stationed there as a guard, fired the principal store houses, and retired. The loss of provisions, forage, and other valuable articles, was considerable. The second enterprise was conducted by major general Tryon, who with a detachment of 2000 men embarked at New York, and, passing through Long Island Sound, landed at Campo, between Fairfield and Norwalk; whence he advanced through the country, almost undisturbed, to Danbury. On his approach, colonel Huntington, who had occupied the town with 100 militia and continental troops, retired to a neighbouring height, where |