tachment to destroy stores at New Bedford and what shipping they could find in the neighborhood, and then returned to New York.

In November d'Estaing sailed for the West Indies, and in the last month of the year Admiral Byron, who had succeeded Admiral Howe, left New York to carry on the warfare in the region of those islands. The war on land was now beginning to be waged in the south. On December 29th, 3,000 British troops, under Colonel Campbell, reached Savannah. General Robert Howe, who commanded the Americans, determined to risk a battle. His forces numbered hardly a third as many as the enemy, but he relied on his knowledge of the ground. He was defeated, however, and the British gained Savannah.

During this year there were various depredations committed by marauding expeditions. In July Major Butler raised a force of tories, Canadians, and Indians and entered the valley of Wyoming, in Pennsylvania, through which flows the Susquehanna. A few militia, with the aged and the young inhabitants of the valley, hardly more than 300 in number, opposed him, but were cut to pieces with the loss of 225 men. They fled, with the women and children, to a fort. Butler promised honorable terms for their surrender, and hopeless of a successful defense, the fugitives capitulated, and most of them escaped across the mountains. But the cruel Senecas scoured the neighborhood, burned their homes, and took many more scalps.

In October a party of British, led by Ferguson, burned the American shipping in Little Egg Harbor and ravaged the country inland. In November Cherry Valley, in western New York, was attacked by British, tories, and Indians, under Walter Butler, the son of the Butler who acquired such ill-fame in the Wyoming massacre, and Joseph Brant, chief of the

Mohawks. More than thirty of the inhabitants of the valley, mostly women and children, were murdered. The patriots took revenge for these atrocities by an expedition against the Indians on the upper part of the Susquehanna. In the early part of the year Major Clarke had been sent west of the Alleghanies, and he succeeded in capturing Kaskaskia from the British in July, and later on Vincennes also. The latter post was afterward retaken by the enemy, but in the next year again came into the possession of the Americans.

This year was marked chiefly by the alliance with France. American arms, also, had gained more success than the British in the battle of Monmouth, and the enemy had been forced to evacuate Philadelphia and retreat to New York, and thereafter Clinton could do little more than send out marauding expeditions. The year, in the main, was, favorable to the patriot cause. At its close the British were almost confined to New York, Newport, and Savannah.

The war in the south-Augusta captured by the British-Recaptured by the Americans-Lincoln succeeds Robert HoweAmericans defeated at Brier Creek-Charleston besiegedThe British raise the siege-Americans repulsed at Stono Ferry-D'Estaing and Lincoln besiege Savannah-Their failure-Operations in the north-Tryon's Connecticut expeditions-Putnam at Horse Neck-Clinton captures Stony and Verplanck's_points-Wayne recaptures the former-Paulus Hook and Penobscot Bay-Revenge for the Wyoming and Cherry valley massacres-Paul Jones-The Bon Homme Richard captures the Serapis.

The opening of 1779 saw the continuance of the war in the south, where the British were in the main successful. On January 9th General Prevost captured Sunbury, on St. Catherine's Sound, the only position occupied by the Americans south of Savannah. He then joined Campbell's forces and took command, sending that officer against Augusta. The city came into the possession of the British on January 29th, and Georgia was at their mercy.

But events were in progress which gave the city back to the Americans. The tories of Carolina who were marching to meet Campbell were twice defeated by the patriots. The second attack was made on them by Colonel Pickens and the Carolina militia, February 14th. The leader of the tories and forty of his men were killed, and a still larger number captured. Campbell was alarmed and retreated to Charleston, leaving Augusta and the western part of the state in the hands of the patriots,

General Lincoln had succeeded Robert Howe in command of the southern army. He sent a force of 1,500 men under Ashe to cut off the enemy. But at Brier Creek the Americans were surrounded by the British forces under Prevost, who had advanced from Savannah, and on March 3d were utterly routed. On ly 450 rejoined Lincoln at Perrysburg. The remainder were killed or captured, or returned home. Pre、 vost now proclaimed a British government in Georgia.

Within a short time, however, Lincoln raised several thousand men and marched up the Savannah River. Prevost crossed the stream and advanced to Charleston, of which, on May 12.h, he demanded the surrender. General Moultrie, in command of the city, was too brave to yield to this demand, and refused to capitulate. At this juncture Prevost learned that Lincoln was approaching, and he retired. Lincoln pursued and was repulsed at Stono Ferry. Prevost then withdrew to Savannah, first establishing a post at Beaufort. His campaign in South Carolina had been a grand plundering expedition.

During the hot weather Lincoln, who was left with but 800 men, remained at Sheldon. Active operations were not resumed till the fall, when d'Estaing arrived with his fleet, on which great hopes were placed. The intention was that d'Estaing should co-operate with Lincoln in attacking Savannah. On the 12th of September 6,000 of the French landed. Lincoln had not arrived, but d'Estaing demanded a surrender, which Prevost refused. When Lincoln finally brought the Americans to the spot, a vigorous siege was com menced. But the severe bombardment failed to injure the fortifications materially. D'Estaing was anxious to get away from the coast before the storms of the autumn should burst upon his fleet. A conference was held and it was decided to attempt an assault.

On the morning of the 9th of October the French

and Americans advanced, but the various divisions failed to co-operate with the necessary precision, and after a fierce attack on the works the allied forces were driven back. The British suffered little injury. The French lost about 600 men and the Americans 200. Sergeant Jasper, of Fort Moultrie memory, and the brave Pulaski were mortally wounded. D'Estaing himself was wounded twice, though not fatally. He gathered his men on the ships and sailed for France, while Lincoln withdrew to Charleston.

Meanwhile military operations had been carried on at the north, but on a small scale. The patriot army had spent the winter at Middlebrook, in New Jersey. When the season opened the forces were somewhat disorganized. Food and clothing were scarce and Congress had little money at its command to supply these or pay the men. But respect for Washington and the cause prevented mutiny. The commanderin-chief was forced to declare that the affairs of the country had never been "at as low an ebb as at the present."

Tryon, the old governor of New York, and a tory, led the first expedition of the year in this quarter, aiming at the destruction of the salt-works at Horse Neck, Connecticut. General Putnam gathered the Americans, but the patriots were forced to fly before the superior forces of the enemy. Putnam himself only escaped by spurring his horse down the zigzag path of a steep incline. Tryon accomplished his pu pose and retired to Kingsbridge. În July Tryon made another expedition, this time to New Haven, which he captured. The militia gathered and drove the British away before the town was set on fire, but East Haven, Fairfield, and Norwalk were pillaged and burned. Meanwhile a force sent from New York had ravaged Virginia and given Norfolk and Portsmouth to the flames.