The Treason of Arnold.-While these events were taking place in the South, a startling occurrence had happened in the North, the most saddening event of the Revolution. Benedict Arnold, the trusted friend of Washington, one of the ablest of the American generals, and the true winner of the victories at Saratoga, had turned traitor. He had agreed to surrender West Point, of which he was in command, to the British.

Though brave and able as a general, he was weak morally. He believed that he had been ill-treated by Congress, and, marrying a Tory lady in 1778, his patriotism weakened. He grew so extravagant and behaved so badly that he was tried and sentenced to be reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. Washington did this gently, and at Arnold's request gave him the command of the fortress at · West Point, a post of great importance from its control of the Hudson.

The Capture of André.-Full of revengeful feelings, Ar

nold proposed to Clinton to surrender this post to the British. Major André was sent to confer with him. They had a secret meeting and arranged their plans, but André was obliged to return by land. On his way he was captured by three patriot scouts, who searched him and found in his boot papers that proved him

a spy.

Arnold's Reward.-Word reached Arnold of André's capture, and he fled in haste to a British vessel in the river. André was hanged as a spy, despite all Clinton's efforts to obtain his release. Arnold received a money reward for

his treason, was made a colonel in the British army, and helped to harry the land he had aided to defend. He won the contempt even of his new associates, and died twenty years after in shame and remorse.

Greene in Command in the South.-Meanwhile, the gloom of the Southern situation was beginning to lift. Gates had been removed from command, and replaced by General Nathaniel Greene,-next to Washington the ablest of the American generals. Under him were three excellent officers of Virginian birth,-Daniel Morgan, the famous riflemen leader; William Washington, a cousin of the commander-in-chief; and Henry Lee, known in the army as "LightHorse Harry,"-father of the famous General Lee of the Civil War. One thing was wanted, an army. This Greene was obliged to make. He succeeded. after earnest efforts, in gathering about two thousand men, who were half clothed and half supplied.

GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE.

The Battle at Cowpens.-The first conflict took place at Cowpens, South Carolina, where, on January 17, 1781, Morgan with nine hundred men met a superior force under Tarleton, which he nearly annihilated, with scarcely any loss on his own side.1

1 Tarleton made a narrow escape from capture at Cowpens, and was wounded by a blow from Colonel Washington's sword. Some time after he remarked in a company of South Carolina ladies, "I have been told that Colonel Washington is very illiterate, and can scarcely write his name." "At least," said one of the ladies, "he can make his mark." At another time he remarked that he would like to see Colonel Washington. "You might have had that pleasure," said the

Greene's Retreat.-Tarleton fled to Cornwallis, who hastily pursued, but failed to overtake Morgan, then rapidly retreating with his prisoners. Greene joined him and conducted a skilful retreat to the Dan River, which he reached and crossed in advance of the foe.1 Cornwallis now gave up the pursuit and retired, but soon found Greene on his track, harassing him at every step. He had skilfully drawn the foe far from his base of supplies, and succeeded in making his return very uncomfortable.2

Guilford Court-House.-At Guilford Court-House (now Greensborough, North Carolina) Greene felt strong enough to venture a battle (March 15). The militia fled, but the Continental regulars held their ground. In the end they were forced to retreat, but had handled the British so roughly that there was no disposition to pursue. It was a defeat that had all the effect of a victory. Cornwallis, his army badly cut up and in no condition for a further fight, was forced to retreat to Wilmington, North Carolina, which he reached in very bad plight.

same witty lady, “if you had looked behind you at the battle of the Cowpens."

1 Morgan crossed the Catawba just as Cornwallis appeared. That night it was swollen by rain, detaining the pursuers three days. Greene now joined him and they retreated to the Yadkin, which also became swollen after they crossed. Then a hot march took place, on parallel roads, for the fords of the Dan. Greene reached them first.

2 On one occasion, during Greene's campaign, he reached a tavern at Salisbury, North Carolina, after midnight, wet to the skin with the heavy rain. Steele, the landlord, asked him in surprise if he was alone. "Yes," he said, "tired, hungry, alone, and penniless." Mrs. Steele, who heard him, hastened to set before him a smoking hot meal. Then she drew two bags of silver from under her apron and held them out to her guest. "Take these," she said; "you need them and I can do without them."

Battle of Hobkirk's Hill.-After pursuing Cornwallis for some distance, Greene turned and made a long march of two hundred miles into South Carolina, encamping on Hobkirk's Hill, near Camden, where Lord Rawdon was in command. Here, in junction with Marion, Sumter, and Pickens, he was attacked by Rawdon on April 25 and defeated after a sharp struggle. It was another defeat, however, that had the effect of a victory, and Rawdon soon found it expedient to withdraw from Camden.

South Carolina Regained.-During the summer Greene took post after post, and on September 8 met the enemy at Eutaw Springs. Here again he was driven from his position, but during the night the British retreated, hurrying toward Charleston.' So active was Greene, and so efficient the aid of Marion, Sumter, Lee, and others, that by the close of the year the British were shut up in Charleston and Savannah, and the States of the South were recovered.

The Campaign in Virginia.-Meanwhile, Cornwallis had decided to march to Virginia, where active warfare was then in progress, reinforce himself with the troops there, and return to recover his lost ground. Arnold was in command there, treating his countrymen as though they were his bitterest foes. Lafayette had taken the field against him, but with a force too weak to hold him in check. Cornwallis now took chief command, destroyed all before him, and in

1 At this battle a soldier of Lee's legion, named Manning, while in pursuit of flying foes, found himself suddenly in the midst of the enemy with not an American near. Without hesitation he seized an officer by the collar, wrested from him his sword, and backed off, drawing him along as a shield. "I am Sir Henry Barry," cried the frightened officer, “deputy adjutant-general, captain in the Fifty-second regiment," etc. "That will do," said Manning; "you are just the man I was looking for."

the end, finding Lafayette reinforced, made his way to Yorktown, near the mouth of York River, in order that he might obtain aid by sea from New York. Here he threw up fortifications.

The French Fleet; Washington's March South.Hitherto the British had been safe at the sea-shore, being under protection of the fleet. The French fleet as yet had been of little service to the Americans. But at this juncture a large French fleet arrived from the West Indies, under Count 'de Grasse.

During the Southern campaign Washington had remained at his head-quarters near New York, diligently watching Clinton. Now a splendid opportunity offered itself to him. The French were ready to sail to the Chesapeake. Cornwallis might be caught in a trap. Making, therefore, some skilful movements, as if he proposed to attack New York, he suddenly broke camp and marched with all speed southward to the head of Chesapeake Bay, whence his army was transported by vessels to Yorktown.

The Siege of Yorktown.-This movement put Cornwallis in imminent peril. The French fleet closed the sea. A strong American and French army closed the land. Yorktown was completely surrounded. For a week the place was bombarded by the army and the fleet. At the

1 The winter of 1780-81 proved a severe one for Washington's troops at Morristown. They lacked pay and clothing, and on January 1 thirteen hundred of the Pennsylvania line broke into open revolt and marched for Philadelphia to demand justice from Congress. Wayne faced them with loaded pistols, but they put their bayonets to his breast, saying, "We love and respect you, but if you fire you are a dead man." A committee from Congress met them at Princeton, and, under promise of speedy payment, induced them to return. British agents met them also, seeking to bribe them to enter the royal service These they seized and handed over as spies.