Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/507

] rain, which rendered the retreat of the Americans a measure of absolute necessity. Their gun-locks not being well secured, their muskets soon became unfit for use. Their cartridge-boxes had been so inartificially constructed as not to protect their ammunition, and very many of the soldiers were without bayonets. The design of giving battle was reluctantly abandoned, and the retreat was continued all day and great part of the night, through a most distressing rain, and very deep roads. A few hours before day, the troops halted at the Yellow Springs, where the alarming fact was disclosed, that scarcely one musket in a regiment could be discharged, and scarcely one cartridge in a box was fit for war. The army retired to Warwick furnace, on the south branch of the French Creek, where a small supply of muskets and ammunition might be obtained, in time to dispute the passage of the Schuylkill.

General Wayne, with a detachment of fifteen hundred men, had taken post in the woods, on the left of the British army, with the intention of harassing it on its march. On the evening of the 20th of September, General Grey was dispatched to surprise him, and successfully executed the enterprise; killing or wounding, chiefly with the bayonet, about three hundred men, taking nearly one hundred prisoners, and making himself master of all their baggage. Grey had only one captain and three privates killed, and four wounded. Wayne having been censured for this result, demanded a court-martial: he was acquitted with honor.

Foreseeing the necessity of speedily abandoning Philadelphia, Congress removed the magazines and public stores but still continued to protract their sittings, and maintain their authority to the latest moment. So far from showing any decline of confidence in Washington, they invested him with still more ample authority than before. He was empowered to seize upon all provisions needful for the sustenance of his army, paying for them in the public certificates; and even to try by court-martial, and immediately execute, all persons giving any assistance to the British, or furnishing them with provisions, arms, or stores. A supply of blankets, shoes, and clothing, was also required from the citizens of Philadelphia, before that city passed into the enemy's hands. These stringent powers, often painful to insist upon, were considered to be of inevitable necessity in the face of an advancing British army, and with the knowledge of a numerous body of sympathizing tories or hesitating neutrals. Alexander Hamilton, who was now of the grade of lieutenant-colonel, was charged with this difficult and delicate matter; it is superfluous, perhaps, to say, that he executed his task with energy, judgment, and as great success as was possible under the circumstances.

On the evening of the 18th of September, Congress left Philadelphia for the second time, and proceeded first