advanced to the redoubt. This place was intended for a much larger garrison than was then in it. It had therefore become necessary to run a line through the middle and evacuate a part of it. That part was easily carried by the assailants, on which they indulged in loud huzzas for their supposed victory. The garrison kept up a severe, well-directed fire on them, by which they were compelled to retire. They suffered not only in the assault, but in the approach to, and retreat from the fort. Their whole loss in killed and wounded was about 400. Count Donop was mortally wounded and taken prisoner. Congress resolved to present Colonel Greene with a sword for his good conduct on this occasion. An attack, made about the same time on Fort Mifflin, by men-of-war and frigates, was not more successful than the assault on Red Bank. The Augusta of 64 guns, and the Merlin, two of the vessels which were engaged in it, got aground. The former was fired, and blew up. The latter was evacuated.

Though the first attempts of the British, for opening the navigation of the Delaware, were unsuccessful, they carried their point in another way that was unexpected. The chevaux-de-frise, having been sunk some considerable time, the current of the water was diverted by this great bulk into new channels. In consequence thereof, the passage between the islands and the Pennsylvania shore was so deepened as to admit vessels of considerable draught of water. Through this passage, the Vigilant, a large ship, cut down so as to draw but little water, mounted with 24 pounders, made her way to a position from which she might enfilade the

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works on Mud Island. This gave the British such an advantage, that the post was no longer tenable. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, who had with great gallantry defended the fort from the latter end of September, to the 11th of November, being wounded was removed to the main. Within five days after his removal, Major Thayer, who as a volunteer had nobly offered to take charge of this dangerous post, was obliged to evacuate it. This event did not take place till the works were entirely beat down, every piece of cannon dismounted, and one of the British ships so near, that she threw grenadoes into the fort, and killed the men uncovered on the platform. The troops, who had so bravely defended Fort Mifflin, made a safe retreat to Red Bank. Congress voted swords to be given to Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and Commodore Hazlewood, for their gallant defence of the Delaware.

Within three days after Mud Island was evacuated, the garrison was also withdrawn from Red Bank, on the approach of Lord Cornwallis, at the head of a large force prepared to assault it. Some of the American galleys and armed vessels escaped, by keeping close in with the Jersey shore, to places of security above Philadelphia: but 17 of them were abandoned by their crews, and fired. Thus the British gained a free communication between their army and shipping. This event was to them very desirable. They had been previously obliged to draw their provisions from Chester, a distance of fifteen miles, at some risk, and a certain great expense. The long-protracted defence of the Delaware deranged the plans of the British for the remainder of the campaign, and consequently saved the adjacent country.

In this month, (November,) Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, succeeded John Hancock as President of Congress; John Adams was sent to supersede Silas Deane, as commissioner at the court of France, and the Articles of Confederation were adopted by Congress, and sent to the several states for ratification. Nearly $34,000,000, in Continental bills, had been thus far issued. The depreciation was so rapid that it became evident Congress would have to look abroad for loans to defray the expenses of the war.

While the British were in possession of comfortable winter-quarters, they were much straitened for forage. Occasionally, strong parties. ventured out, but they were met by the light parties of the Americans, and compelled to skirmish constantly. Washington established his winter quarters at Valley Forge, about twenty miles from Philadelphia. His troops were destitute of even the necessaries of camp life. Many were barefooted, most, miserably clothed, and all, in a condition truly lamentable. Log huts were built in sufficient number to accommodate 11,000

men. Fourteen hundred men were stationed at Wilmington, and the principal part of the cavalry, under Pulaski, was sent to Trenton.

While Washington was exerting himself to the utmost to procure supplies for his army, and preserve it from disorganization, a conspiracy was formed to remove him from the chief command. The principal persons who engaged in it appear to have been generals Conway, Mifflin and Gates. A considerable party in Congress favored their plans, believing that Washington had displayed a lack of energy and general fitness for the chief command. But no sooner was the scheme known to the army and the people, than a general burst of indignation overwhelmed the conspirators, and told them how deeply rooted in the affections of the people Washington had become.

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1777, IN THE NORTHERN STATES.

T was the plan of the British govern

ment to separate the New England from the Middle States, by sending an army from Canada to get possession of the American posts on Lake Champlain and then co-operate with the royal forces stationed at New York. For this purpose, an army of 8000 British and German troops was collected in Canada, and the command given to General Burgoyne.

The northern army of the Americans. was in no condition to meet the formida

ble force preparing to invade them. At least 10,000 men were necessary for the defence of Ticonderoga alone; but St. Clair, who commanded at that post, had only 3000 very poorly equipped men, and the posts in the rear were correspondingly weak.

Burgoyne started on this expedition, attended by a large number of