Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/347

 WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON

until spring. He issued repeated calls for troops, and in order to keep up appearances continually harassed the enemy. In January, 1777, he issued a proclamation requiring those inhabitants who had subscribed to Howe's declaration to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, but his action, through necessaay for dividing the pa- triots from the Tories, was questioned in Congress, and he was accused of violating civil rights. The question of appointing foreigners to commissions in the patriot arm%' was condemned by Washing- as unfair to the native officers. In May he took up a strong position within ten miles of New Brunswick in order to watch Burgoyne's opera- tions, and on May 31 a fleet of one hundred ships left New York and Howe entered New Jersey, followed by Washington, who baffled the invasion at every point, obliging Howe to evacuate and withdraw to New York, from whence, on July 23, he set sail for Delaware, aiming an attack on Philadelphia. Washington gathered his forces and marched south, and on September 11 the British advanced to Chad's Ford, where Washing- ton's main army was posted, cut off his right wing, and caused him to beat a hasty retreat. This defeat caused the American troops to lose courage, and the army was held together with difficulty. Howe took possession of Philadelphia and encamped his main army at Germantown. On October 3, Wasliington with 8000 men, routed the enemy at Germantown, but reinforcements being delayed, a panic took place among the raw troops, and they fell back in the very moment of victory. In 1777 Burgoyne was sent to invade Canada by way of Lake Champlain, and Wash- ington concentrated his attention on Howe in Philadelphia to prevent a junction of the two British armies. The loss of Fort Ticonderoga was a severe blow, but he bent every nerve to arouse New England and get out her militia, and in consequence the New Englanders defeated one of Burgoyne's divisiors at Bennington, and the New Yorkers, another at Oriskany and Fort Schuyler; and outnumbered and beaten Bur- goyne surrendered at Saratoga. In the mean- time, Washington had repulsed the British at Fort Mercer, but a combined land and naval at- tack caused him to abandon control of the Del- aware, and long delayed reinforcements arriving from the north, he took a secure position at White Marsh, where he remained refusing Howe's oflfer of battle, awaiting an attack by the latter general, in spite of urging from the public and army to attack Philadelphia and repeat the vic- tory at Saratoga. But Washington liad no other army to fall back on, and if he had risked an at- tack without success, no American army would have remained. Consequently he worried Howe's flank; cooped him up in Philadelphia, and in the

words of Franklin, " Philadelpliia had taken Howe." About this time a plot was set on foot by the followers of General Gates for the over- throwal of Washington, and in consequence of the duplicity of Gates, Washington did resign from the secretaryship of the board of war, but in February' the cabal had fallen to pieces, and Gates was sent to his command in the north. During the winter of 1777 Washington withdi'ew his army to Valley Forge, within striking dis- tance of Philadelphia. The army was now in a destitute state, with literally no supplies, and was obliged to seize by force the articles of food and clothing necessary for existence. Mrs. Wash- ington was in camp with her husband. She had ridden behind liim on his bay charger from the deserted encampment at White Mai-sh to the new camp at Valley Forge. The dwelling of Isaac Potts the Quaker preacher furnished her shelter, but not shared by lier husband who lived with the officers and men under his command. Mrs. Washington gathered in her small rooms the wives of the other soldiers and their days were spent in providing clothing for the des- titute soldiers, and these she distributed to the most needy with her own hands. As the spring opened, congress began to realize the wis- dom of Washington's policy of organizing a per- manent Continental army, and under Baron Steuben a rigid discipline was introduced, and Greene was appointed quartermaster-general. On May 11, 1778, Sir Henry Clinton relieved Howe at Philadelphia, and with 10,000 men started on the march to New York. The American army now numbered 13,000 men at Valley Forge, and Wasliington broke camp and went in pursuit of Clinton. An attack was ordered on the British rear-guard by a large division under General Lee on May 27th, but owing to the latter general's hesitation, Clinton was enabled to mass his best troops under Cornwallis, and meet the American advance at Monmouth, and the American army, demoralized, retreated. Washington riding up at this juncture met Lee and the main body in full retreat, and after rebuking that general, ral- lied the broken troops and drove Cornwallis back. Clinton, however, got into New York during the night, having lost about 2000 men. On May 4, 1778, congress had ratified the treaty and alliance with France made by Fi'anklin, and on July 14, D'Estaing arrived with the French fleet. Wash- ington immediately communicated his plans to the allies, but D'Estaing too late to cut off Lord Howe at the Delaware, could not get his ships over the bar at New York, and when ready to unite with General Sullivan in driving the Britisli from Rhode Island, Lord Howe appeared with his squadron off the harbor. In endeavoring to give the enemy battle, both fleets were driven