Page images
PDF
EPUB

Toward the end of May Clinton had sailed up the Hudson with a detachment of troops. The Americans had not completed the works at Stony Point and withdrew before the British. Clinton made use

[graphic]

PUTNAM ESCAPES THE BRITISH.

of the position to bombard Verplanck's Point, across the river. Soon the British were ferried over the stream and forced the garrison of this post to surrender after a brave defense. Thus the low

er part of the river was held by the British, and the American communication between New England and the rest of the country was cut off below the Highlands of the Hudson.

The recapture of Stony Point by the Americans

was determined on, and to General Wayne was intrusted the enterprise. He was brilliantly successful. The fort was garrisoned by 600 men, was strongly fortified and protected also by the vessels of war in the river. Wayne advanced against the post with 1,200 men. The countersign was learned from a negro, and after dark on the night of July 15th a sentinel was seized and gagged. The Americans advanced in two columns with fixed bayonets. Close to the works they were discovered, but they pressed on regardless of the musket-balls and grape-shot that rained upon them, stormed the works, and shortly after midnight were masters of the situation. They had lost but fifteen killed and eighty-three wounded, while the British lost in killed and wounded sixtythree, and the rest, 543, were made prisoners. Wayne removed the stores and cannon and razed the works. Congress presented him with a gold medal for this exploit. Stony Point was soon reoccupied by the British but they did not long remain there.

A few days after the Stony Point episode, Major Henry Lee surprised the British garrison at Paulus Hook, now Jersey City, captured the post, and retired with 159 prisoners. But an expedition sent by Massachusetts against a British post on Penobscot Bay, where Castine is now situated, was not so successful. Nineteen armed vessels and twenty-four transports carried 1,000 men, who landed, only to find themselves too weak to assault the works. While they were waiting for re-enforcements a British fleet arrived, the American squadron was defeated, and the troops escaped through the woods. This was about

the middle of August.

During the summer General Sullivan was put in command of 4,000 or 5,000 men to attack the Indians in revenge for the Wyoming and Cherry valley masHe succeeded admirably in the enterprise.

sacres.

His forces and those led by General James Clinton and others ravaged the country of the savages between the Susquehanna and the Genesee. Their crops of maize and a score or more of their villages were destroyed, and the Senecas were taught a severe though necessary lesson.

In October Sir Henry Clinton withdrew from Newport at a rumor that a French fleet was approaching. He fled with such precipitancy that many guns and numerous stores were left behind.

The first important naval combat of the war occurred in this year. As early as 1775 Congress had commenced the establishment of a naval force. Fast privateers were sent out that within a few years had committed great depredations on British commerce. In the fall of 1779 Paul Jones was cruising off the coasts of England and Scotland with five French and American vessels. On September 23d, off Flamborough Head, he ran across a number of merchant vessels convoyed by two British men-of-war. One of these was the Serapis, of forty-four guns. Jones was in command of the Bon Homme Richard (named after the. "Poor Richard" of Franklin's almanac), which mounted but forty guns, many of them unserviceable. These two vessels engaged in a fierce duel, which commenced after sunset and lasted for two hours or more. For a while they fought at short range, and then the Richard closed with her antagonist. At close quarters the crews of both vessels fought with desperation, and there were times when both were ablaze. Finally the Serapis struck her colThe next day Jones had barely time to transfer his men to the captured vessel when the Richard sunk. The companion of the Serapis, the Countess of Scarborough, was captured by the French frigate, the Pallas, but the remaining vessels took little or no part in the action.

ors.

[ocr errors]

During this year the campaign in the south had been for the most part unfavorable to the cause of independence, but northern operations had been fa vored with greater success. Especially noteworthy was Wayne's capture of Stony Point. Paul Jones' victory on the ocean stirred the patriot hearts with pride. But Congress was in great financial distress, and the army necessarily suffered. Great Britain, on the other hand, was putting forth renewed efforts for the next year.

!

[blocks in formation]

The south is the theater of war-' -The siege of Charleston-Lincoln surrenders the city-Minor engagements-Tarleton's cruelty-Sumter, Marion, and Pickens-Hardships of the American army-Gates succeeds Lincoln-Is defeated at Sander's Creek-Greene given the command in the south-The British defeated at King's Mountain-Benedict Arnold-His treasonable negotiations with André-The latter is captured and executed-The profits of Arnold's treason-Financial condition of the colonies-Robert Morris-War between Holland and Great Britain.

The war was confined during this year almost entirely to the south, and was disastrous to the Americans. In the early part of February Admiral Arbuthnot appeared before Charleston with a British fleet which bore Sir Henry Clinton and 5,000 men from New York. Charleston was garrisoned by 1,400 men, under General Lincoln. The British landed and spent several weeks in slow advances toward the American works. On the 7th of April the small body of patriots. was increased by 700 Virginians, but the British fleet succeeded in passing Fort Moultrie and Lincoln was called on to surrender. At the entreaty of the inhabitants he declined to capitulate.

The siege was now begun in earnest. Lincoln, to keep open his communications toward the north, had sent General Huger with 300 men to raise the militia north of the Cooper River; but this force was surprised and dispersed by British cavalry under Tarleton, at Monk's Corner. And again the same British

« PreviousContinue »