Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/178

158 whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts made by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in general congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

“The declaration was not only the announcement of the birth of a people,” says Bancroft, “but the establishment of a national government; a most imperfect one, it is true, but still a government, in conformity with the limited constituent powers which each colony had conferred upon its delegates in congress. The affairs of internal police and government were carefully retained by each separate state, which could, each for itself, enter upon the career of domestic reforms. But the states, which were henceforth independent of Britain, were not independent of one another; the United States of America assumed powers over war, peace, foreign alliances, and commerce.” Soon after the evacuation of Boston by the British, Washington had transferred his army to the city of New York. On June 29 a fleet from Halifax, bearing Gen. Howe and the late garrison of Boston, entered New York harbor, and on July 2 landed the forces on Staten Island. A few days later arrived Admiral Lord Howe, to whom, in conjunction with his brother Sir William, the king had intrusted the control of American affairs. The British government, unable to recruit the army to the desired number from its own people, who disapproved the war, had hired from German princes, and especially from Hesse-Cassel, large bodies of mercenaries; and with these and fresh troops brought from the south by Sir Henry Clinton, the force on Staten Island was augmented to 30,000 men. Washington's army was much less in numbers, and every way inferior in supplies and equipments. The campaign began on Long Island, where on Aug. 27 the Americans were defeated with heavy loss, and forced to abandon that island, and soon after the city of New York. Having fought another unsuccessful battle at White Plains (Oct. 28), Washington early in December was compelled to retreat beyond the Delaware at the head of but 3,000 men, poorly clad, half

starved, and destitute of blankets end tents. About the same time the British seized and held the island of Rhode Island, and at Baskingridge, N. J., captured Gen. Charles Lee. On the night of Dec. 25 Washington crossed the Delaware in open boats with 2,400 men, and falling upon the British forces at Trenton captured about 1,000 Hessians. A few days later (Jan. 3, 1777), he defeated the enemy again at Princeton, taking 230 prisoners. Soon after the army went into winter quarters at Morristown. When the campaign opened in the spring of 1777, Washington's force consisted of about 7,500 men. Gen. Howe, after vainly attempting to bring on a general engagement, withdrew his forces (June 30) from New Jersey to Staten Island, and afterward sailed with nearly 20,000 men for the Chesapeake, where he landed on Elk river and threatened Philadelphia. To defend the capital Washington was forced to give battle on the Brandy wine, Sept. 11, but was outnumbered and compelled to retreat with the loss of nearly 1,000 men. Lafayette, who had recently entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, and had been made a major general, was severely wounded on this occasion. On the 26th the British took possession of Philadelphia without opposition. On Oct. 4 Washington made an attack on the British at Germantown, seven miles from Philadelphia, but was repulsed with heavy loss; and soon afterward both armies went into winter quarters, the Americans at Valley Forge, on the Schuylkill, 20 m. from Philadelphia. The want of success in this region was more than counterbalanced by victories in the north. A British army, 7,500 strong, besides Indians, commanded by Gen. Burgoyne, advanced from Canada by Lake Champlain, and took Ticonderoga, Fort Independence, and Whitehall. Strong detachments, which were sent to Bennington, Vt., to destroy a collection of stores, were met there (Aug. 16) and defeated with the loss of about 200 killed and 600 prisoners by the Vermont and New Hampshire militia led by Gen. Stark. Burgoyne advanced to Stillwater on the Hudson, where he was encountered by Gen. Gates; and on Sept. 19 an indecisive engagement was fought at that place, in which the British lost more than 600 men. The American encampment had been strongly fortified by Kosciuszko. On Oct. 7 a second battle (commonly called the battle of Saratoga) was fought on nearly the same ground, in which the Americans had the advantage; and ten days later Burgoyne with his whole army capitulated at Saratoga. The consequences of this victory were of the highest importance at home and abroad. On Dec. 1 Baron Steuben, a German officer, arrived in the country, and during the winter joined Washington at Valley Forge. He was afterward appointed inspector general, and was of great service in introducing discipline into the army. From the beginning of the conflict the French