1778. army over, by the way of Bristol and Howland ferries, on the night of the 30th, to the continent. It was a remarkable escape. The delay of a single day would probably have been fatal to the Americans; for Sir Henry Clinton, who had been delayed by adverse winds, arrived with a re-enforcement of 4000 men the very next day, when a retreat, it is presumed, would have been impracticable.1

Sept. 5. Spoliations at Bedford.

28.

Col. Baylor's regi ment sur

prised.

Sir Henry Clinton returned toward New York, as far as New London, at which place he purposed to make a descent; but, finding the winds unfavourable to his entering the river on which the town stands, he proceeded to New York. The command of the troops on board the transports was left with major general Gray, who was directed to proceed to the eastward on an expedition, the object of which was to destroy the American privateers that resorted to Bedford and its vicinity. The British troops, to the amount of 4000, landed on the west side of Clark's Neck, and at Clark's Cove, on Saturday evening the 5th of September, and marched round to the head of Acchusnutt river, and down the east side, into Sconticutt Neck, where they encamped until Monday, when they re-embarked on board their shipping. On this march, they burned a number of houses, mills, and barns. The night after their embarkation, they attempted to land a large number of troops at Fair Haven, in order to burn that village; but when they were beginning to land, and had set fire to two or three stores, major Israel Fearing, who had the command of about 100 or 150 men, fired upon them, and they immediately retreated aboard their ships, taking their dead and wounded with them.2

Soon after the return of general Gray, the British army moved up on each side the North river, in great force. Lord Cornwallis, receiving intelligence that colonel Baylor with his regiment of American cavalry had crossed the Hackinsack on the 27th of September, and taken quarters at Taapan, formed a plan for cutting them off. A party, detached for this purpose under the

1 The troops on Rhode Island under the command of general Sullivan on the 4th of August were arranged as follows:

2 Account of Edward Pope, Esq. in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iv. 236, 237. Mr. Pope" was an eye witness to the scene," and is entitled to credence, although he differs essentially from the British and American historians; whose accounts of the spoliations at Bedford, Fair Haven, and Martha's Vineyard, must be received with great deduction.

command of general Gray, completely surprised that whole regiment, as they lay asleep. Rushing on them with their bayonets, they gave them no quarter; and of 104 privates, 67 were killed, wounded, and taken.

1778.

da into

During the summer of this year, two bodies of armed men, Incursions composed of regulars and refugees, made a rapid incursion into from FloriGeorgia from East Florida; one in boats through the inland Georgia. navigation, the other over land by the way of the river Alatamaha. The first party, having advanced to Sunbury, summoned the fort to surrender; but, on receiving from colonel M'Intosh the laconic answer, "Come and take it," they abandoned the enterprise, and returned. The other corps pursued their march toward Savannah; but were met by about 100 militia, with whom they had repeated skirmishes in their advance through the country. In one of these engagements, general Screven, who commanded the Americans, was wounded by a musket ball, and died soon after of his wounds.1 The invaders marched within three miles of Ogechee Ferry, where Mr. Savage with his own slaves had erected a breastwork to oppose them. Colonel Elbert, having taken post here with about 200 continentals, prepared to dispute their passage of the river. Disheartened by these obstacles, together with intelligence of the failure of the other party in the attempt on Sunbury, they also retreated. On their return, they November. burned the church, and almost every dwelling house, at Midway, Midway and all the rice and other grain within their reach; and carried off the negroes, horses, cattle, and plate, belonging to the planters. The Society of Midway was now entirely broken up, and dispersed; some fled into Chatham county, and some into South Carolina.2

burnt and

plundered.

These incursions were succeeded by an expedition of the Expedition Americans for the reduction of St. Augustine and the province Florida. against E. of East Florida. This enterprise was conducted by general Robert Howe with about 2000 men, a few hundred of whom were continental troops, and the remainder, militia of South Carolina and Georgia. He proceeded with but little opposition as far as St. Mary's river, where the British had erected a fort, which, in compliment to the governor of the province, was called Tonyn. On the approach of general Howe, they destroyed this fort; and, after some slight skirmishing, retreated toward St. Augustine; but a mortal sickness, which swept away nearly one fourth of the Americans, redered their retreat absolutely necessary.

1 General Screven was a very valuable officer, and estimable man; and his memory is still cherished at Midway, where he lived, and in the immediate defence of which settlement he fell.

1778.

New commissioners arrive;

not receiv ed by con

gress.

Letter to

the commis

sioners,

president of congress.

66

The earl of Carlisle, governor Johnstone, and William Eden, esquire, who had been appointed by the king his commissioners, with lord and general Howe in America, had arrived in June, and sent their powers and instructions to congress; but that body, by their president, had rejected any overture until the independence of America were first acknowledged. On the reception of these papers, with other papers from general Washington pertaining to the subject, congress referred them to a committee, which reported the draught of a letter to the three commissioners. This letter was signed by the President; and it illustrates the character of congress, and the history of this year. "I have received the letter from your excellencies the 9th instant, with the enclosures, and laid them before Congress. signed by Nothing but an earnest desire to spare the further effusion of human blood could have induced them to read a paper containing expressions so disrespectful to his Most Christian Majesty, the good and great Ally of these States, or to consider propositions so derogatory to the honour of an independent nation. The acts of the British parliament, the commission from your sovereign, and your letter, suppose the people of these States to be subjects of the crown of Great Britain, and are founded on the idea of dependence, which is utterly inadmissible. I am further directed to inform your excellencies, that Congress are inclined to peace, notwithstanding the unjust claims from which this war originated, and the savage manner in which it hath been conducted. They will therefore be ready to enter upon the consideration of a treaty of peace and commerce not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, when the king of Great Britain shall demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose. The only solid proof of this disposition will be an explicit acknowledgment of these States, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies."1

They

return to

England.

received as

On the 3d of October, the British commissioners published their final manifesto and proclamation to the Americans; and on the 10th, congress issued a cautionary declaration in answer to them. No overtures were made to the commissioners from any quarter. Unable to accomplish the object of their mission, they soon after embarked for England.

Aug. 6. The congress had returned to Philadelphia a few days after M. Gerard the British had evacuated that city. On the 6th of August, they received publicly, and with the customary ceremonies, M. Gerard, minister plenipotentiary of the king of France. The envoy, having delivered his letters of credence, signed by Louis XVI,

minister from

France.

Signed by

1 Journals of Congress, iv. 353. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. ii. 140. order of the unanimous voice of Congress, at York-town, June 17, 1778. HENRY LAURENS, President."

1778.

and addressed to "his very dear great friends and allies, the president and members of the General Congress of the United States of America," and made an appropriate speech; the president, Henry Laurens, answered it with ease and dignity. At this audience were present the authorities of Pennsylvania, many strangers of note, the officers of the army, and a great number of distinguished citizens. The delight which this day excited in the American republic was only surpassed by the hope which it Dr. Frankinspired. On the 14th of September, congress appointed Dr. lin appointBenjamin Franklin minister plenipotentiary of the United States ed minister

at the court of France.1

to France.

The year was drawing to a close, and no interesting expedition Project for had been undertaken. The conquest of the states had hitherto invading been attempted by proceeding from north to south; but that Georgia. order was from this time inverted. The commander in chief of the royal army judging it expedient to turn his arms more immediately against the southern states; a plan of cooperation was concerted with major general Prevost, who commanded in East Florida, for invading Georgia on the north and south at the same time. Lieutenant colonel Campbell, an officer of courage and ability, embarked on the 27th of November from New York for Savannah with about 2000 men, under the convoy of some ships of war, commanded by commodore Hyde Parker; and in about three weeks landed near the mouth of Savannah river. From the landing place a narrow causeway of 600 yards in length, with a ditch on each side, led through a swamp. At this causeway a small party was posted under captain Smith, to impede the passage of the British; but it was almost instantly dispersed. General Howe, the American officer to whom the defence of Georgia was committed, had taken his station on the main road, and posted his little army, consisting of about 600 continentals and a few hundred militia, between the landing place and the town of Savannah, with the river on his left, and a morass in front. While colonel Campbell was making arrangements to dislodge his adversaries, he received intelligence from a negro of a private path, on the right of the Americans, through which his troops might march unobserved; and Sir James Baird, with the light infantry, was directed to avail himself of this path, in order to turn their right wing, and attack their rear. As soon as it was judged that he had cleared his passage, the British, in front of the Americans, were directed to advance and engage. General

1 Botta, b. 10. Gordon, iii. 179. Eng. edit.

2 Sir Henry Clinton was now commander in chief of the royal army. Sir William Howe, who had the preceding autumn solicited a recall, resigned his army into the hands of general Clinton, who arrived at Philadelphia from New York on the 8th of May, to take the command.

Dec. 29.

Savannah

British.

1778. Howe, finding himself attacked both in front and rear, ordered an immediate retreat. The British pursued, and their victory was entire. Upward of 100 of the Americans were killed; and taken by the 38 officers, 415 privates, the town and fort of Savannah, 48 pieces of cannon, 23 mortars, the fort with its ammunition and stores, the shipping in the river, and a large quantity of provisions, were in a few hours in possession of the conquerors. The whole loss of the British, during the day, amounted to no more than 7 killed and 19 wounded. That part of the American army which escaped, retreated up the Savannah river to Zubly's Ferry, and crossed over into South Carolina.

Sunbury.

Vessels taken at Frederica.

Gen. Lee suspended.

Gen. Gates.

About the time of the embarkation of the British forces at New York, general Provost, agreeably to instructions, marched from East Florida with a body of royal troops into the southern parts of Georgia. After traversing, with difficulty and hardship, the intermediate desert, he was cheered and emboldened by intelligence of the arrival and success of colonel Campbell. The fort at Sunbury soon followed the example of the capital; and, after that fortress was secured, general Prevost marched to Savannah, and took the command of the combined forces from New York and St. Augustine.

Colonel Elbert, of Georgia, taking with him about 300 men from the troops under his command at Fort Howe, with a detachment of artillery, on board three gallies, embarked at Darien for Frederica, where he captured the British brigantine Hinchenbrook, the sloop Rebecca, and a prize brig.1

After the battle of Monmouth, general Lee was put under arrest, and tried by a court martial at Brunswick. Three charges were exhibited against him; the court found him guilty of each, and sentenced him to be suspended from any commission in the armies of the United States for 12 months.2

Major general Gates, appointed by congress to the chief command in the Eastern district in the room of major general Heath, took the command at Boston on the 7th of November.3 Massacre at A horrible massacre was committed at Wyoming, a flourishing Wyoming. settlement on the eastern branch of the Susquehannah, by colonel John Butler, a tory refugee, and Brandt, a half-blooded Indian, with 1600 tories, Indians, and half-blooded Englishmen. After

1 Moultrie, ii. 375. April 19.

2 Memoirs of general Lee. The charges were, " for disobedience of orders, in not attacking the enemy on the 28th of June, agreeable to repeated instructions; for misbehaviour before the enemy on the same day, by making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat; and for disrespect to the commander in chief, in two letters of 1 July and 28 June."

3 On this occasion, a tribute of respect was paid to general Heath, "as a citizen, a gentleman, and an officer," as due to him for "the delicacy, propriety, and dignity of his private and public conduct, through the whole of his command in this department."