CHAPTER

XII.

1780.

Gloomy state of affairs at the south.

General
Greene.

Congress adopt Washington's advice in

regard to the army.

While these operations were going on at the north, all the intelligence from the south gave evidence, that affairs in that quarter were assuming a gloomy aspect. The British forces, with Lord Cornwallis at their head, were overrunning the Carolinas; and preparations were making in New York to detach a squadron with troops to fall upon Virginia. The defeat of General Gates near Camden, in South Carolina, was a heavy blow upon the Americans, and left them in a state from which it was feared they would not soon recover. Congress requested General Washington to appoint an officer to succeed Gates in the command of the southern army. With his usual determination and judgment he selected General Greene, who repaired to the theatre of action, in which he was so eminently distinguished during the subsequent years of the war.

Gaining an increased confidence in the Commander-inchief, which a long experience of his wisdom and disinterestedness authorized, Congress at length adopted the important measures, in regard to the army, which he had earnestly and repeatedly advised and enforced. They decreed that all the troops, thenceforward to be raised, should be enlisted to serve during the war; and that all the officers, who continued in the service to the end of the war, should be entitled to half-pay for life. Washington ever believed, that, if this system had been pursued from the beginning, it would have shortened the war, or at least have caused a great diminution in the expense. Unfortunately the States did not comply with the former part of the requisition, but adhered to the old method of filling up their quotas with men raised for three

purpose of saving André; whereas Champe did not go into New York till eighteen days after André's execution. Lee's narrative was written many years after the events, and, from the confusion of dates into which he has fallen, it seems probable that his memory failed him, and that he ascribed the adventures of two individuals to Sergeant Champe. See Writings of Washington, Vol. VII. p. 548; and Life and Treason of Arnold, p. 267.

years and for shorter terms. The extreme difficulty of procuring recruits was the reason assigned for persevering in this practice.

Lafayette commanded six battalions of light infantry, stationed in advance of the main army. He projected a descent upon Staten Island, but was prevented from executing it by the want of boats. A plan was likewise formed for a general attack on the north part of New York Island. The enemy's posts were reconnoitred, extensive preparations were made, and a large foraging party was sent into Westchester County to mask the design, and draw the attention of the enemy that way. But the sudden appearance of several armed vessels in the river caused the enterprise to be deferred and finally abandoned. The foraging expedition, conducted by General Stark, was successful.

CHAPTER
XII.

1780.

Plan for atenemy.

tacking the

November.

into winter

The army went into winter quarters at the end of No- Army goes vember; the Pennsylvania line near Morristown, the New quarters. Jersey regiments at Pompton, and the eastern troops in the Highlands. The head-quarters of the Commander-inchief were at New Windsor. The French army remained at Newport, except the Duke de Lauzun's legion, which was cantoned at Lebanon in Connecticut.

CHAPTER

XIII.

1781.

Mutiny of the Pennsylvania troops.

January 1.

CHAPTER XIII.

Mutiny of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Troops. — Agency of Washington in procuring Supplies from France. Limited Powers of Congress. Operations of the Enemy in the Chesapeake. Detachment to

Virginia under Lafayette.
chambeau at Newport.
the American and French Commanders at Weathersfield. - Plan of
Operations. - A Combined Attack on New York proposed. - Junction
between the American and French Armies. - Intelligence from Count
de Grasse in the West Indies changes the Objects of the Campaign. -
Successful Operations of Lafayette against Cornwallis. The combined
Armies cross the Hudson and march to Virginia. - The Fleet of Count
de Grasse enters the Chesapeake. Siege of Yorktown. — Capitulation.
-The American Army returns to Hudson's River; the French remains
in Virginia.

General Washington visits Count de Ro-
Condition of the Army. Interview between

ces.

THE year 1781 opened with an event, which filled the country with alarm, and threatened dangerous consequenOn the 1st of January a mutiny broke out among the Pennsylvania troops, stationed near Morristown, and about thirteen hundred men paraded under arms, refused obedience to their officers, killed one captain, mortally wounded another, and committed various outrages. The mutineers marched in a body towards Princeton with six fieldpieces, avowing their intention to proceed to Philadelphia, and demand from Congress a redress of their grievances. They complained that their pay was in arrears, that they were obliged to receive it in a depreciated currency, that many of the soldiers were detained beyond the term of their enlistment, and that they had suffered every hardship for the want of money, provisions, and clothing. By the prudence and good management of General Wayne, who took care to supply them with provisions on their march, they were kept from plundering the inhabitants and other excesses. He sent the intelligence of the revolt by an express to General Washing