his troops in continual skirmishes; by whic served they recovered their spirits, and behave usual boldness.

As the situation of the two armies was now convenient to the British generals, it was resol such movements as might oblige general Wa relinquish his strong situation. A few days York was evacuated by the Americans, a c broke out, said to be occasioned by the licenti of some of its new masters, and had it not b active exertions of the sailors and soldiery town probably would have been consumed; th ing high, and the weather remarkably dry, ab sand houses were destroyed.

General Howe, having left lord Percy with force to garrison New York, embarked his a bottomed boats, by which they were convey the dangerous passage called Hell Gate, an Frog's Point, near the town of West Cheste the continent towards Connecticut. Here hav a supply of men and provisions, they mo twenty-first of October, to New Rochelle, situ Sound which separates Long Island from the c

After this, still receiving fresh reinforcer made such movements as threatened to distre vincials very much, by cutting off their con visions from Connecticut, and thus force ther gagement. This, general Washington determ events to avoid. He therefore extended his fo long line opposite to the way in which the enen keeping the Brunx, a river of considerable mas tween the two armies, with the North-River Here the provincials continued for some time with the royal army, until, at last, by some mar British general found means to attack them on eighth of October, 1776, advantageously, at a the White Plains, and drove them from son posts.

The success on this occasion was not so con the former; however it obliged the provincial their ground, and retreat farther up into t General Howe pursued them for some time:

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ling all his endeavours to bring on a general action, fruit5, he determined to give over the pursuit, and employ mself in reducing the forts which the provincials still remed in the neighbourhood of New York.

Fort Washington was the only post the Americans then eld on New York island, and was under the command of blonel Magaw. The royal army made four attacks upon . The first on the north side, was led on by general Anyphauzen: the second, on the east, by general Matthews, supported by lord Cornwallis: the third was under the direction of lieutenant-colonel Sterling: and the fourth by Jord Percy. The troops under Knyphauzen, when advancing to the fort, had to pass through a thick wood, which was occupied by Rawling's regiment of riflemen, and suffered very much from their well-directed fire. During this attack a body of British light infantry, advanced against a party of the Americans, who were annoying them from behind rocks and trees, and obliged them to disperse. Lord Percy carried an advance work on his side; and lieutenant colonel Sterling forced his way up a steep ascent, and took one hundred and seventy prisoners. Their outworks being carried, the Americans left their lines, and crowded into the fort. Colonel Rahl, who led the right > column of Knyphauzen's attack, pushed forwards, and lodged his column within an hundred yards of the fort, and was there soon joined by the left column. The garrison surrendered on terms of capitulation, by which the men were to be considered as prisoners of war, and the officers to keep their baggage and side arms. The numpber of prisoners amounted to two thousand seven hundred. The loss of the British was considerable.

erin Shortly after the surrender of fort Washington, fort me te Lee, situate on the opposite shore of the North River, was Babe evacuated by the Americans at the approach of lord onte Cornwallis; and at the expense of their artillery and it a plet stores.

Fort Lee being evacuated by the Americans, the Jerseys lay wholly open to the incursions of the British troops, comple and was so entirely taken possession of by the royal army, that their winter quarters extended from New Brunswick, to the river Delaware. Had any number of boats been at

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into their bands. All these had been care by the Americans. Instead of this enterpr Clinton undertook an expedition to Rhode I came master of it without losing a man. was attended with this further advantage, tl can fleet under commodore Hopkins was obl far up Providence river, that it was entirely same ill success attended the Americans After their expulsion from Canada, they ha Champlain, and taken up their quarters at as we have already mentioned. Here the some time in safety, as the British had no lake; and consequently general Burgoyne co them.

To remedy this deficiency, there was no but to construct vessels on the spot, or take t vessels already constructed, and drag them into the lake. This, however, was effected three months; and the British general, after and difficulty, saw himself in possession of a of vessels; by which means, he was enabled enemies, and invade them in his turn. The gone at this time, by the sea and land forces, have been prodigious; since there were c land, and dragged up the rapids of St. Lawre than thirty large long-boats, four hundred sides a vast number of flat-bottomed boats, a of thirty tons. The intent of the expedition, forward, before winter, to Albany, where the take up its winter quarters; and the next s junction with that under general Howe; wh doubted, that the united force and skill of t manders, would speedily put an end to the w

It was the beginning of October, before th could be undertaken; it was then allowed to b able to answer the purpose for which it was int

The fleet consisted of one large vessel of carrying 18 twelve pounders; two schooners, rying 14, the other 12 six pounders; a large radeau, with 6 twenty-four, and 6 twelve pour gondola with 8 nine pounders: besides these each a piece of brass ordnance, from nine, to twenty-four pounders, or howitzers. Several long-boats were fitted out in the same manner, and a vast number of boats and tenders of various sizes to be used as transports for the troops and baggage. It was manned by a number of select seamen; and the gun-boats were served by a detachment from the corps of artillery. The officers and soldiers appointed for this expedition, were also chosen out of the whole army.

The American force was too inconsiderable to withstand this formidable armament; general Arnold who commanded it, after engaging the British fleet for a whole day, took advantage of the darkness of the night to set sail without being perceived, and was next morning out of sight: but he was so quickly pursued by the British, that on the second day after, he was overtaken and forced to a second engagement. And notwithstanding his gallant behaviour, he ts was obliged to run his ships ashore, and set them on fire. NC. A few only escaped to lake George; and the garrison of a. Crown Point having destroyed or carried off every thing of value, retired to Ticonderoga.

Thither general Carleton intended to have pursued them; but the difficulties he had to encounter were so many, and Veld so great, that it was thought proper to march back into Canada, and desist from any further operations until the Alters next spring.

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la The American affairs now seemed every where going was to wreck; even those who had been most sanguine in her srur cause, began to despair. The time also for which the solingediers had enlisted, was now expired; and the bad success niit of the preceding campaign had been so very discouraging, le that no person was willing to engage himself during the continuance of a war, of which the event appeared so e en doubtful. General Washington had the mortifying evicoldence of the daily decrease of his army; so that from thirended by thousand, of which it consisted when general Howe landthreed on Staten Island, scarce a tenth part could be mustered, the General Lee had collected a body of troops to assist the commander in chief, but having imprudently taken up his ders; lodgings at a distance from the troops, information was

The loss of this general was much regretted, t especially as he was of superior quality to any pr possession of the colonists, and could not therefor changed. Six field officers were offered in excha him, and refused; and congress was highly irritat being reported that he was to be treated as a desert ing been a half-pay officer in the British service commencement of the war. They therefore issue clamation, threatening to retaliate on the prisoners possession, whatever punishment should be inflicte of these taken by the British; and especially th conduct should be regulated by their treatment of Lee.

Congress now proceeded with the utmost dilig recruit their army; and bound their soldiers to s the term of three years, or during the continuanc war. The army for the ensuing campaign, was to of eighty-eight battalions, of which each province contribute its quota; and twenty dollars were offe bounty to each soldier, besides an allotment of land end of the war. In this agreement it was stipulat each soldier should have one hundred acres, an ens hundred and fifty, a lieutenant two hundred, a capta hundred, a major four hundred, a lieutenant color hundred and fifty, and a colonel five hundred. Th only enlisted for three years were not entitled to an Those who were wounded in the service, both offi soldiers, were to enjoy half-pay during life. To m expense, congress borrowed five millions of dollar per cent. for which the United States was security.

At the same time a declaration was published ter animate the people to vigorous exertions, in which forth the necessity there was of taking proper met securing success. They endeavoured to palliate a as possible, the misfortunes which had already hap and represented the true cause of the present distre the short term of enlistment.

This declaration, and the imminent danger of F phia, rouzed the Americans to exert themselves to most, to obtain reinforcements for general Wash