Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/346

 WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON

to teach them how to organize and supply their armies. The expetlitiou against Canada was sent out and failed, and he continued the siege of Boston, being twice voted down by his officei"s when lie proposed a boat attack on the town. On March 4, under cover of a heavy bombardment to distract the enemy's attention, he marched a large body of troops to Dorchester Heights, aiiil Gen. Rufus Putnam began to throw up redoubts; and on March 17, 1776, the British evacuat« I Boston. Washington now proceeded throu.u'n Rhode Island and Connecticut, and on April 1; readied New York, where he built forts, drills I and recruited soldiers, and gave much attention to the Canada campaign. He went to Philadel- j>liia to visit congress, and on his return a con- spiracy, devised by Tryon, leader of the Tories, to assassinate the commander-in-cliief, was dis- covered; the mayor of the city, David Matthews, and other conspirators were thrown into prison, and the principal actor in the plot, Thomas Hick- ey,was hanged. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and on Juh' 12 Lord Howe arrived with more troops and endeavored to open correspondence with Washington, but Colonel Reed, in behalf of the general, refused to receive letters addressed to " Mr. Washington " and to " George Washington, Esq., etc., etc.," as a result of which Howe wrote to England that it would be well to give Mr. Washington his proper title. On August 23, the British began to land on Long Island, where Greene had drawn a strong line of redoubts behind Brooklyn, to de- fend the heights commanding New York. Greene's sudden illness caused confusion in the camps, and on August 26, the British with 9000 men, at- tacked the American left flank, killing and cap- turing about 2000 men out of a total of 5000. Washington, hemmed in at Brooklyn, determined on a retreat, obtained boats, and on the 29th, dur- ing the night, transported his entire army of CtOOO men across the river to Harlem. Tiie British fleet moved up the river and opened fire, and landed troops at Kip's Bay on Sept. 15, 1776, in- tending to surround the American army; routed the militia at that point, and it was only through the coolness and dispatch of Washington that the army was saved. He now retreated to White Plains, and on Sept. 28, 1776, was attacked by Lord Howe, who after a sliort action sent for reinforcements and waited two days, allowing Washington, in the meanwhile, to withdraw to a line of hills. Howe, seeing the folly of an attack, withdrew to Dobbs Ferry, and directed his at- tention to Forts I^ee and Wasliington, on the Hud- son. An attempt was made by General Greene to hold these forts, but Vxjth were lost, and 2600 men and all the munitions of war fell into the British hands. W^ashington now began his re-

treat through New Jersey, closely pursued by Lord Cornwallis, and reached Princeton, Dec. 2, 1776, witii 3000 men, all that remained of his army. Cornwallis, however, sure of success, neglected to make a forced march, and when his

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army reached the Delaware Washington had crossed, and all the boats were destroyed for .seventy miles up and down the stream. During the winter of 1776-77 the American army was in a precarious condition: Lee had been captured by the British; the Jersej^ militia refused to turn out; Philadelphia was threatened; Newport was captured; congress had fled from Philadelphia, and Washington was left unsupported with his 3000 ragged men, and the British close at his heels. In the middle of December, Howe, feel- ing satisfied that the American army would soon dissolve, withdrew to New York, and Washing- immediately took the offensive. On December 1 4, he crossed the Delaware, and marched nine miles to Trenton in a fierce storm of sleet, that spoiled their ammunition. In broad daylight he made a bayonet charge on the town, and captured 1000 Hessians under Colonel Rahl, after which he re- crossed the Delaware. Congress, now aroused, in- vested Washington with greater powers of com- mand, and Cornwallis, alarmed and dismayed, started from New York with 7000 troops, and pursued Washington to Princeton. When they reached the Assunpink river, Washington crossed first, and after a repulse on the bridge, Cornwallis waited till the next morning before attacking, but Washington, leaving his camp fires burning, retreated during the night, marcheil on Prince- ton, and defeated three regiments of the British stationed there, after which he withdrew to the higli lands to rest and recruit. Encouraged by the successes at Trenton and Princeton, the farmers of New Jersey rose and attacked the British in all directions, .shutting them up in the immediate vicinity of New York. Washington occupying a strong position at ^lorristown. and planning to hold the enemy in check and delay operations