published, were received immediately from confidential friends of General Washington, or from gentlemen who in respectable official situations, were members of his family during his military command.

It has been the endeavour of the author to display the character of the man who is the subject of the work, ⚫ by exhibiting in a connected view his actions and his writings; and he lias, as far as possible, made this exhibition in the person of General Washington.

He has not conceived that he was writing for men of erudition, but for the unlettered portion of the community; and he has for their benefit more particularly studied simplicity of style. Should he be so happy as to obtain their approbation, he will receive an ample reward of his labour.

He entertains no expectation of acquiring literary fame by this publication, but he hopes to escape the dis grace of having written an useless book.

Worcester, Massachusetts,
October, 1807.

His Birth-Education-Appointed an Adjutant General of the

Militia-His Embassy to the Ohio-Commissioned as Lieu-

tenant Colonel of a regular Regiment-Surprises a Detach-

ment of French Troops-Capitulation of Fort Necessity-

He is appointed a Volunteer Aid-de-Camp to General Brad-

dock-His bravery in the action in which that General fell

-He is appointed the Colonel of a regiment, and Com-

mander in Chief of the Virginia troops-His efforts to de-

fend the Frontiers-His exertions in the expedition under

General Forbes to gain possession of Fort du Quesne-Re-

signs his commission

-

PAGE L

CHAPTER II.

Colonel Washington's Marriage-His management of the

Estate of Mount Vernon-Appointed a Judge of the County

Court, and a Member of the Virginia Legislature-Chosen

a Member of the First Congress-Appointed Commander

in Chief of the American Forces-Arrives at Camp-Ar-

ranges the Army-Deficiency of Arms and Ammunition-

Colonel Arnold detached to Quebec-Success of American

Cruisers-Evils of temporary Inlistments-An Attack on the

Enemy's Posts meditated-Possession taken of the Heights

of Dorchester-Boston evacuated

-

38

CHAPTER III.

General Washington marches the Army to New York-Forti-

fications of the City and River-Independence declared-

General Howe lands on Staten Island-Interview between

General Washington and Colonel Patterson-State of the

British and American Forces-Camp at Brooklyn-Battle

on Long Island-Retreat from it-The City and Island of

New York evacuated-Manœuvres at White Plains-Fort

Washington taken-General Howe invades New Jersey-

Depression of the Americans General Washington invested

with new Powers-Success at Trenton, and at Princeton-

New Jersey recovered

71

CHAPTER IV.

General Washington disposes his small Force for the Protec-

tion of New Jersey-Army inoculated-Abuse of Ameri-

can Prisoners-The Exchange of General Lee refused-

Stores at Peck's Kill and Danbury destroyed-American

Army takes Post at Middlebrook-Sir William Howe moves

towards the Delaware-Returns to Staten Island and em-

barks his Troops-He lands at the Head of Elk-General

Washington marches to meet him-Battle of Brandywine-

Effect of a Storm-British take Possession of Philadelphia-

Mud Island and Red Bank fortified-Obstructions in the

River-Attack on Mud Island-Count Donop defeated-

British surmount the Fortifications of the River-Plan to

attack Philadelphia-Sir William Howe reconnoitres the

American Camp at White Marsh-The Army hutted at

Valley Forge-The Privations of the Soldiers during the

Winter

-

137
CHAPTER. V.

Progress and issue of the Northern Campaign-Plan to dis-

place General Washington) - His Correspondence on the

Subject+Letter of General Gates + Remonstrance of the

Legislature of Pennsylvania against closing the Campaign-

Observations of the Commander in Chief upon it-Suffer-

ings of the army for the want of Provisions and Clothing-

Measures adopted by the Commander in Chief to obtain

Supplies-Methods taken to recruit the Army-Sir Henry

Clinton appointed Commander in Chief of the British Forces.

He evacuates Philadelphia, and marches through New Jersey

to New York-General Washington pursues him-Battle of

Monmouth-Thanks of Congress to the General and Army

-General Lee censured-He demands a Court Martial, and

is suspended from his command-French Fleet appears on

the American Coast-Expedition against Rhode Island-It

fails/Disaffection between the American and French Offi-

cers-Measures of the Commander in Chief to prevent the

ill consequences of it-Army goes into Winter Quarters in

the High Lands

169

CHAPTER VI.

(Plan formed by Congress and the French Minister for the in-

Country against the incursions of the British-Sir Henry

Clinton moves up the Hudson, takes possession of Stony

and Verplank Points, and fortifies them-Arrangements

made for assaulting these posts-General Wayne carries

Stony Point by storm-The attack upon Verplank fails-

Congress vote their thanks to General Washington and to

the brave Troops employed in this service-They vote Ge-

neral Wayne a medal-Evils of short Inlistments-Plan of

the General's to remedy them-The Army in two Divi-

sions erect huts for winter quarters, one near West Point,

and the other at Morristown in New Jersey-The troops

suffer through the scarcity of Provisions-Colonel Wads-

worth resigns his Office-Confusion in the Commissary's

department-The Commander in Chief is necessitated to

apportion supplies of Meat and Flour upon the Counties of

New Jersey-The winter excessively cold, and the waters

around New York frozen over; but the Commander in Chief

is too weak to avail himself of this opportunity to assail the

British Posts Expedition to Staten Island fails

207

CHAPTER VII.

Amount of Paper Emission-Congress destitute of Means to

support the War-Supplies apportioned upon the States-

Exertions of the Commander in Chief Mutiny in part of

the Army-The British make an excursion into New Jersey

-The American Troops bravely resist them-The Court of

France promises a Naval and Land Armament to act in

America - Preparation to co-operate with it-A French

Squadron arrives on the American Coast-Count Rocham-

beau lands at Newport with five thousand Men-The Ame-

rican and French Commanders meet at Hartford to settle

the Plan of the Campaign-The Second Division of the

French Troops-fails-General Arnold becomes a Traitor-

He corresponds with Major André-André comes on shore