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to Kingsbridge, fifteen miles north of the city, about nine thousand of the troops followed, and the remainder soon afterward. The British took possession of New York September 15.

CHAPTER XCIX.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Battle of White Plains.—Retreat of Washington.

1. AFTER leaving three thousand troops to garrison Fort Lee, Washington had retreated from Kingsbridge, and entrenched himself at White Plains, twenty-seven miles from New York. The British, after gaining some advantages in a skirmish at Harlem Heights, near the city, slowly pursued the retreating army, and overtook them at their encampment at White Plains.

2. Here, October 28, a considerable action took place, and several hundreds fell on both sides. It would not be easy, however, to say which party was victorious. Washington did not leave his position, and the British did not immediately advance. Finding, however, that the enemy had received a reinforcement soon after the battle, Washington retreated five miles to North Castle.

3. Here he left seven thousand five hundred men under General Lee, and then crossed the Hudson with the rest of his troops, and stationed himself in the neighborhood of Fort Lee, on the New Jersey shore.

4. On the 15th of November, the British went against Fort Washington. A summons was sent to Colonel Magaw, the commander, to surrender, on pain of being put to the sword. As he refused to comply, an attack was made the next morning with such fury that when a second summons was sent, the colonel felt constrained to capitulate. All his men, amounting now to about two thousand six hundred, were made prisoners.

5. The British army sustained a heavy loss in the conflict-from eight hundred to one thousand men. But, being determined to follow up the victory, they soon proceeded, under Lord Corn-wal'-lis, to at

CHAP. XCIX.-1. Where did Washington encamp? What was done by the British? 2. What of the engagement at White Plains? To what place did Washington retreat? 8. Where did he then station himself? Describe the capture of Fort Washington by the British. 5. What was next done by the British? Who commanded Fort Lee?

* Fort Lee was situated on the west side of the Hudson, in the town of Hackensack, New Jersey, ten miles north of New York; Fort Washington was situated on Manhattan Island, on the east side of the Hudson, eleven miles from New York. These two works commanded the river

tack Fort Lee. This was commanded by General Greene. As the British forces were evidently too strong for him, he evacuated it before he lost the opportunity.

6. General Greene, whom we shall have frequent occasion to mention, was a humane man, as is evident from his unwillingness on this and other occasions to expose, to no good purpose, the lives of his men. He was the son of a Quaker preacher in Rhode Island, and manifested

6. What was the character of General Greene? His early history?

BATTLE AT TRENTON.

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an early fondness for learning, though he had but few opportunities for study.

7. He had first signalized himself in the battle of Lexington, before which he had been engaged either in studying or in school-teaching Law was the profession at which he aimed, and in which his natural inclination and great perseverance would have made him successful, had he not been called away in early life to share the fortunes of war. 8. The whole American army now retreated through New Jersey toward Philadelphia-the British eagerly following them. The pursuit was so close that the hindmost forces of the Americans were sometimes in sight of the bridges they had passed over and pulled down after them, when the British were building them up again.

9. This was a calamitous hour to the Americans. When the retreat commenced, the American forces scarcely exceeded four thousand; and when they crossed the Delaware, at Trenton, the number of effective men was reduced to three thousand. Even this force, poorly fed and sustained, was daily and hourly diminishing.

10. Washington, however, in the midst of all this discouragement, did not allow himself to be depressed. While all else wore the appearance of gloom-even the countenances of the soldiers-Washington was serene and cheerful. Trusting to the justice of the cause he had espoused, and to Heaven, he persevered, in the midst of difficulties which would at least have shaken the constancy of many who have deserved the name of very brave men.

11. On the very day of Washington's retreat over the Delaware, the 8th of December, the British forces took possession of Rhode Island, and blocked up a squadron of American vessels there, with a number of privateers at Providence. The island was held by the king's forces two or three years.

CHAPTER C.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Battle at Trenton.

1. PHILADELPHIA being now in imminent danger of becoming the seat of war, Congress, in December, 1776, adjourned to Baltimore; not, however, till they had drawn up and adopted certain articles of Con

7. Where did he first signalize himself? What was his intended profession? 8. What of the American army? Describe the pursuit of the British. 9. What was the situation ef the Americans? 10. How did Washington appear in these trying circumstances? 11 What did the British forces now do in Rhode Island?

CHAP. C.-1. What did Congress now do? What articles did they draw up?

federation, in spirit not unlike the Federal Constitution adopted many years afterward. These they sent to the respective assemblies of each state for approbation. They also gave nearly absolute power to General Washington to conduct the military affairs of the country.

2. After crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, Washington very fortunately received a reinforcement of about fifteen hundred men, beside a considerable body of militia; so that he had now with him an army of seven thousand. But, as the term of enlistment with a large proportion of his older troops would expire at the end of the year, Washington was anxious to effect something immediately.

3. The British army was yet at Trenton. Washington's plan was to recross the Delaware and attack them in their quarters. It was late in the season, being December 25; and, to use a well-known phrase, "" as cold as Christmas." Yet, neither Washington nor his troops were to be deterred by this.

4. At night, the army, in three divisions, attempted to cross the river in as many different places. It was not only cold, but dark and stormy. The river was crowded with broken ice, rushing together and sweeping down its rapid current. The division commanded by Washington in person was alone successful. This got safely over, and at eight in the morning they were before Trenton.

5. They first attacked a body of Hess'-ians, who, after a most determined resistance, at length surrendered. From nine hundred to one thousand of them were made prisoners, with some cannon. Five hundred cavalry alone made their escape. This brilliant achievement, at a moment of great despondency, roused the spirits of our army, and kindled anew the flagging hopes of the country.

6. As Washington did not think it prudent to hazard any thing more at present, he immediately returned to the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware with his prisoners. But having refreshed his troops and secured his prisoners, he crossed once more to Trenton, and took up his head-quarters there.

7. Their success at Trenton had infused new courage into the American troops, and Washington was determined to make the most of it. It was soon found that the British were concentrating their forces at Princeton and preparing for battle. On the 2d of January, 1777, they came on to Trenton. On their approach, Washington retired with his forces and posted himself on the opposite bank of a rivulet, from which he kept up a firing upon the enemy till night.

2. What reinforcement did Washington receive? What was he anxious to do? 8. What was Washington's plan? 4. Describe the passage of the Delaware. 5. What body was first attacked? What was the result of the attack? 6. What did Washington now do! 7 What was soon found? What took place January 2 1777? What did Washington do▾

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Events in Rhode Island.

1. ON the first of July, 1778, the very day on which the British troops, in their retreat from Philadelphia, reached New York, Count d'Estaing, with a French fleet of twelve ships of the line, six frigates, and four thousand men, arrived off the coast of the United States, in the hope of attacking the British fleet in the Delaware River or Chesapeake Bay.

2. But he was a little too late to engage them at the south, for they nad just sailed for New York. By the advice of Washington, d'Estaing proceeded to the north, to assist in a plan which had been formed for expelling the British from Rhode Island. He arrived, with his fleet, at Newport, July 25th.

3. In the mean time, the American army, to the number of ten

CHAP. CXIV.-1. What of Count d'Estaing? 2. Where did he sail, and for what purpose?