176. Dark Hour in the Revolution. With Washington's army in retreat, after repeated defeats, it was a dark hour for America, perhaps the darkest of the war. The defeated army was ragged, poorly armed, without pay or rations; many terms of enlistment were about to expire, and the number of troops was rapidly decreasing. The people were disheartened. British and Hessian soldiers were plundering Tories and patriots alike in New Jersey. Many were deserting the American cause and were ready to take advantage of Howe's offer of pardon and to seek British protection. Philadelphia was in a panic of fear, and Congress, committing absolute authority to Washington, abandoned that city and fled to Baltimore. It was during these dark days of retreat, defeat, and despair that Thomas Paine's first number of The Crisis appeared. Thomas the people in The Crisis. "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it Now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny is not easily conquered; yet the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. . . . .. Britain with an army to enforce her tyranny has declared that she has a right to enforce her will upon America, not only to Tax, but to Bind us in All Cases Whatsoever, and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth." In such stirring words Paine continued from time to time to arouse the people to fight on against the British. In the cause of American liberty Paine's powerful pen was as mighty as Washington's sword. 177. Washington revives America by the Victories of Trenton and Princeton. It was at this dark hour, too, that Washington's greatness appeared. He had not lost heart, and he determined upon a bold stroke. On Christmas night, 1776, while the Hessians stationed at Trenton were in a Christmas carousal, Washington crossed the Delaware, amid snow and ice, surprised the enemy, captured one thousand Hessians and one. thousand stands of arms, with the loss of only two officers and two privates. It was a great victory. Washington made a quick retreat before Cornwallis could come up, but he soon recrossed the river and won another complete victory over the British in the battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777). Cornwallis was completely outgeneraled, supposing that Washington was in his front until he heard the guns in his rear on the morning of the battle. 1777 178. Robert Morris raises Money for the Army. After the battle of Princeton Washington went into winter quarters at Morristown, and reënforcements came to his army. The country rejoiced over his victories, with renewed hope and courage for the conflict. In this period Robert Morris, "the financier of the Revolution," rendered great services to his country by raising money and by giving from his own fortune. By these means Washington's soldiers were clothed and fed. 179. Howe takes Philadelphia. Howe determined to capture Philadelphia. Leaving a garrison in New York, he put about eighteen thousand men on board his fleet and sailed, no one knew where. The Americans obstructed the Delaware River, and Howe, after delays and difficulties at sea, finally landed his troops at the head of Chesapeake Bay, at Elkton, August 25, 1777. Washington, who was waiting until he learned of Howe's landing place, marched to Wilmington, Delaware, to meet him. As Howe advanced, Washington fell back to Chadd's Ford, on Brandywine Creek, where a battle was fought September 11, 1777. The Americans were defeated, losing twelve hundred men, but Washington retired in good order to Philadelphia. He was not able to defend the city, and Brandywine Howe entered it in triumph. Washington, planning and German- a bold surprise, attacked the British again at Germantown (October 4, 1777), but fog and confusion among his men, which led one division to fire upon another, prevented Battles of town. his success. Washington now went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. 180. Burgoyne comes down from Canada. The capture of Philadelphia did not help the British much. Howe should have gone north, along the Hudson, to coöperate in Burgoyne's invasion. His failure to do so brought to the British one of the most decisive losses of the war. The British wished to gain control of the Hudson. Their plan now was for General Burgoyne to come down from Canada, while Howe was to meet him by going north from New York. Another expedition under St. Leger was to go by Lake Ontario to Oswego, take Fort Stanwix, and come down the Mohawk. Howe failed to do his part, either from lack of orders, or lack of sense, or both. When he withdrew the main body of his army in order to take Philadelphia, all the American forces in the north could go against Burgoyne. Schuyler Burgoyne started south in June. On July 5, 1777, Ticonderoga, with provisions, stores, and cannon, was taken without a blow in its defense, and John Adams said that some American commander would have to be shot before their forces would learn to defend a fortress. But the farther Burgoyne got into the enemy's country, the greater his difficulties became. Schuyler, the American commander, with hardly more than four thousand men, put all kinds of difficulties in his way, destroying bridges, felling trees, burning what could be used for supplies, and harassing his flanks. Burgoyne harasses could hardly make a mile a day. His provisions and delays gave out and he had to forage. He sent a detachment under Colonel Baum with eight hundred men to capture some military supplies at Bennington, Vermont. They were met (August 16) by Colonel John Stark and General Warner, with nine hundred American militiamen, and were cut to pieces, Baum losing almost his whole force. Meanwhile St. Leger's expedition coming from the west down the Mohawk failed to unite with Burgoyne. Fort Stanwix (or Fort Schuyler, near Rome, New York) held out against him. General Herki Burgoyne. mer attacked his forces in an attempt to relieve the fort, and a bloody hand-to-hand battle followed at Oriskany (August 6, 1777). Herkimer was killed, and the battle was not decisive, but when reënforcements under Arnold came to the Americans in the fort, St. Leger was driven back to Canada. General Schuyler, the American commander, who had done well, was replaced by General Horatio Gates, a man of no merit. Encouraged by Stark's victory and St. Leger's repulse, the American militia rallied to reënforce the army. They were stirred to energy also by their fear of Indian atrocities under incitement of the British, and their army was soon increased to thirteen thousand men. 181. Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, 1777. Burgoyne was now doomed. St. Leger was beaten; there was no hope from the South, where Washington was keeping Howe engaged all summer. Burgoyne's forces were being cut off from Canada, and his hope of retreat would soon be gone. Attempting to cut his way out and save his army, he attacked the American forces at Bemis Heights, but was held in check by the skill and valor of the troops under Arnold and Morgan. Burgoyne then retreated to Saratoga, where he was again defeated and then completely surrounded. Nothing remained for him but to lay down his arms and surrender his entire army of more than six thousand men. Saratoga This was the most important military event of the war. It was the turning point in the struggle. Its immediate was the de- result was the alliance between France and America, cisive battle bringing such aid in men and money as finally of the war. brought about American success. 182. The Assistance of the French was Important. It is not easy to see how America could have won her independence without French aid. In 1775 Congress had appointed a secret committee "to correspond with our friends abroad." In 1776 Silas Deane was sent to France to solicit aid. He was later joined by Doctor Franklin and Arthur Lee. It was Franklin's great influence and diplomacy and his wonderful popularity in Paris that brought about French good will. At first the French king would give no open aid to the Americans, but he secretly furnished supplies through Beaumarchais, who claimed to be a merchant selling arms to America on credit. The French wanted to make sure that the Americans would not be reconciled to Great Britain. France was pleased when independence was declared, but still she held off to see if America could make the Declaration good by military success. Burgoyne's surrender convinced the French, and in its tidings "they heard the knell of English dominion in America." France now came out openly on the American side. On February 6 and 7, 1778, France made two treaThe alliance ties with America. with France One was a treaty of made, 1778. commerce, which gave great commercial advantages to America; the other was a treaty of alliance, the first and only treaty of the kind our country has ever made. By this treaty France acknowledged the independence of America. The French king THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. Born in Auvergne, France, 1757; died at Paris, 1834. Became a major-general in the American army in 1777. Fought his first battle at Brandywine, and there was wounded in the leg. Spent his own money freely for clothing and equipping the soldiers under his command. After the Revolution he visited the country twice; in 1784, on Washington's invitation, and in 1824, when he laid the cornerstone of Bunker Hill Monument. knew that the treaty of alliance would lead to a war between France and Great Britain, but he promised to continue the war until American independence was secured. This he did, and the aid of France was most valuable. During 1777 Lafayette and other Frenchmen came to America to aid Washington; and Steuben, De Kalb, Pulaski, and other foreigners greatly aided the American cause. The French alliance led to other difficulties in Europe for |