over the

wallis. This army had spread waste and ruin
face of Virginia for 400 miles on the fea-coaft, and for
200 to the weftward. Their numbers enabled them to
go where they pleased; and their rage for plunder dif-
pofed them to take whatever they esteemed most valu-
able. The reduction of such an army occafioned trans-
ports of joy in the breaft of every American. But that
joy was increased and maintained, by the further confi-
deration of the influence it would have in procuring fuch
a peace as was defired. Two days after, the congress
iffued a proclamation for religiously obferving through
the United States, the 13th of December, as a day of
thanksgiving and prayer. On the 29th of October, they
refolved, that thanks fhould be prefented to gen. Wash-
ington, count de Rochambeau, count de Graffe, and
the officers of the different corps, and the men under
their command, for their fervices in the reduction of
lord Cornwallis. They also refolved to erect in York
Town a marble column, adorned with emblems of the
alliance between the United States and his most christian
majefty; and infcribed with a fuccinct narrative of the
furrender of the British army. Two ftands of colours
taken from the royal troops, under the capitulation, were
prefented to gen. Washington in the name of the United
States in congrefs affembled; and two pieces of field
ordnance fo taken, were by a refolve of congrefs, to be
presented by gen. Washington to count de Rochambeau,
with a fhort memorandum engraved thereon, "that
congrefs were induced to prefent them from confidera-
tions of the illuftrious part which he bore in effectuating
the furrender." It was further refolved to request the
chevalier de la Luzerne, to inform his moft chriftian

majesty,

17819

1781. majefty, that it was the wish of congrefs, that count de Graffe might be permitted to accept a teftimony of their approbation, fimilar to that which was to be presented to count de Rochambeau. Legislative bodies, executive councils, city corporations, and many private focieties, presented congratulatory addreffes to gen. Washington, accompanied with the warmest acknowledgments to count de Rochambeau, count de Graffe, and the other officers in the fervice of his moft chriftian majefty. Places of public worship refounded with grateful praises to the Lord of Hofts, the God of battles, before, at, and after the appointed day of thanksgiving. The fingularly interefting event of captivating a second royal army, produced fuch strong emotions in numbers, both of minifters and people, that they could not wait the arrival of the day.

The British projected an attack on the northern frontiers of New York ftate. Major Rofs advanced from the weftward as far as Johnftown, with a body of 600, regulars, rangers, and Indians. Col. Willet gaining intelligence of them, marched with between 4 and 500 levies and militia, and attacked them on the 25th of October. They were defeated and purfued into the wilderness. On the 28th the colonel furnished the choiceft of the troops with five days provifion, and 60 Oneida Indians were attached to them. The purfuit was recommenced; and by the 30th in the morning, the Americans fell in with the enemy; but when too fatigued to continue the chase, left it to the Oneida Indians, who at length got up with major Butler, juft as he and feveral of his men had forded a bad creek. The Oneidas fired, and with their rifles killed fome and wounded Butler.

Butler. They then croffed over to him. On his asking 1781.
quarter, they answered Cherry Valley quarter (alluding
to his having denied it there when asked, in Novem-
ber 1778) and dispatched him though the request was
renewed.

The following acts and concerns of congress deferve
to be noticed. On the 30th of October, they elected
major general Lincoln fecretary of war. The next Sun- Nov.
day they attended at the Roman catholic chapel with 4
the chevalier de la Luzerne, and many other gentlemen
of diftinction, and heard Monf. de Bandole, chaplain
to the French embaffy, deliver the following difcourfe
-"Gentlemen, a numerous people affémbled to ren-
der thanks to the Almighty for his mercies, is one of
the most affecting objects, and worthy the attention of
the Supreme Being. While camps refound with tri-
umphal actions, while nations rejoice in victory and
glory, the most honorable office a minifter of the altars
can fill, is to be the organ by which public gratitude iş
conveyed to the Omnipotent.-Thofe miracles which
he once wrought for his chofen people are renewed in
our favor; and it would be equally ungrateful and im-
pious not to acknowledge, that the event which lately
confounded our enemies and frustrated their designs, was
the wonderful work of that God who guards your liber-
ties. And who but He could fo combine the circum-
ftances which led to fuccefs? We have feen our ene-
mies push forward amid perils almost innumerable, amid
objects almost infurmountable, to the spot which was
defigned to witness their difgrace; yet they eagerly
fought it as their theatre of triumph!-Blind as they
were, they bore hunger, thirft and inclement fkies,

1781. poured out their blood in battle against brave republi

cans, and croffed immenfe regions to confine themfelves in another Jericho, whofe walls were fated to fall before another Joshua. It is He, whofe voice commands the winds, the feas and the seasons, who formed a junction on the fame day, in the fame hour, between a formidable fleet from the fouth, and an army rufhing from the north, like an impetuous torrent. Who but He, in whofe hands are the hearts of men, could infpire the allied troops with the friendships, the confidence, the tenderness of brothers? How is it that two nations once divided, jealous, inimical, and nurfed in reciprocal prejudices, are now become fo cordially united as to form but one? Worldlings would fay, it is the wifdom, the virtue, and moderation of their chiefs; it is a great national intereft which has performed this prodigy. They will fay, that to the skill of the generals, to the courage of the troops, to the activity of the whole army, we must attribute this fplendid fuccefs. Ah! they are ignorant, that the combining of fo many fortunate circumstances, is an emanation from the All-perfect Mind; that courage, that skill, that activity, bear the facred impreffion of Him who is divine.-For how many favors have we not to thank Him during the course of the present year? Your union, which was at first fupported by justice alone, has been confolidated by your courage, and the knot which ties you together is become indiffoluble, by the acceffion of all the states, and the unanimous voice of all the confederates. You prefent to the universe the noble fight of a fociety, which founded in equality and justice, fecure to the individuals who compofe it, the utmoft happiness which can be derived

from

from human inftitutions. This advantage, which fo 1781. many other nations have been unable to procure, even after ages of effort and mifery, is granted by Divine Providence to the United States; and his adorable decrees have marked the prefent moment for the completion of that memorable happy revolution, which has taken place in this extenfive continent. While your councils were thus acquiring new energy, rapid multiplied fucceffes have crowned your arms in the fouthern ftates.We have feen the unfortunate citizens of thefe ftates forced from their peaceful abodes;-after a long and cruel captivity, old men, women and children, thrown without mercy into a foreign country. Mafter of their lands and their flaves, amid his temporary affluence, a fuperb victor rejoiced in their diftreffes. But Philadelphia has witneffed their patience and fortitude; they have found here another home, and though driven from their native foil, they have bleffed God that he has delivered them from the prefence of their enemies, and conducted them to a country, where every just and feeling man has ftretched out the helping hand of benevolence. Heaven rewards their virtue. Three large ftates are at once wrefted from the foe. The rapacious foldier has been compelled to take refuge behind his ramparts, and oppreffion has vanifhed like thofe phantoms which are diffipated by the morning ray.-On this folemn occafion, we might renew our thanks to the God of battles, for the fuccefs he has granted to the arms of your allies and your friends, by land and by fea, through the other parts of the globe. But let us not recall thofe events which too clearly prove how much the hearts of our enemies have been obdurated. Let us proftrate ourselves

at