to be on the verge of annihilation, and the whole world regarded American liberty as struggling in the last stage of its existence, he commenced and pursued an offensive warfare against a hitherto victorious army, strong in numbers and confident in its strength, and, within the brief space of three weeks, dislodged it from every post it had taken along the Delaware River, relieved Philadelphia from danger, and recovered almost the whole province of New Jersey. The glory of these achievements was rendered doubly conspicuous by their immediate effects. The despondency, which had weighed heavily upon the minds of the people, was dispelled as by a charm, the martial spirit was revived, and a new animation infused into the public counsels.

The classical and eloquent Italian historian of the war, Charles Botta, after describing these transactions, adds; "Achievements so astonishing gained for the American commander a very great reputation, and were regarded with wonder by all nations, as well as by the Americans. Every one applauded the prudence, the firmness, and the daring of General Washington. All declared him the saviour of his country; all proclaimed him equal to the most renowned commanders of antiquity, and especially distinguished him by the name of the AMERICAN FABIUS. His name was in the mouths of all men, and celebrated by the pens of the most eminent writers. The greatest personages in Europe bestowed upon him praise and congratulation. Thus the American General wanted neither a noble cause to defend, nor an opportunity for acquiring glory, nor the genius to avail himself of it, nor a whole generation of men competent and well disposed to render him homage."

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* Storia della Guerra dell' Independenza degli Stati Uniti d' America, Tom. II. Lib. 7.

CHAPTER X.

General Washington's Proclamation. His Preparations for the next Campaign. Exchange of Prisoners.- Condition of the American Prisoners in New York.- Military Operations in New Jersey. - The Army crosses the Delaware and encamps near Germantown. - Washington's first Interview with Lafayette. -Sir William Howe lands at the Head of Elk.- Battle of the Brandywine. - New Powers conferred on Washington by Congress.- Battle of Germantown. - Skirmishes at Whitemarsh. Sufferings of the Army.-Winter Encampment at Valley Forge.-Spurious Letters written and circulated in the Name of Washington. -Conway's Cabal. - Persons concerned in it. - Honorable and generous Conduct of Lafayette in Relation to this Affair.

HEAD-QUARTERS being at Morristown, the central or main division of the army was encamped for the winter near that place in huts temporarily constructed for the purpose. Cantonments were likewise established at various points from Princeton on the right, where General Putnam commanded, to the Highlands on the left, which post continued under the charge of General Heath. Skirmishes often happened between the American advanced troops and the enemy's foraging parties. For six months, however, no enterprise of magnitude was undertaken on either side.

Sir William Howe's proclamation, as we have seen, had produced considerable effect in the Jerseys. Not only the disaffected, but many well-disposed citizens, finding themselves in the power of the enemy, had sought protection for their families and their property by taking an oath of allegiance to the King. Their hopes had been fatally disappointed. With such license had the British and Hessian troops overrun the country, that they plundered, burnt, and destroyed whatever came in their way, and in some instances committed the greatest

outrages upon the inhabitants, without discriminating between friends and foes. In one respect this conduct was serviceable to the cause of the patriots. It roused the indignation of the people, and, goaded by the deep feeling of their wrongs, the militia flew to arms with an alacrity and determination not surpassed on any former occasion. A large number of substantial farmers, however, more pacific in their dispositions, who had taken advantage of the proclamation, professed scruples in regard to their oath. They looked upon their pledge as binding them at least to a passive neutrality.

To remove this difficulty, and draw a proper line of distinction between friends and enemies, General Washington issued a counter proclamation, commanding all persons, who had received protections from the British commissioners, to repair to head-quarters or to some general officer of the army, deliver up such protections, and take an oath of allegiance to the United States; "nevertheless granting full liberty to all such, as preferred the interests and protection of Great Britain to the freedom and happiness of their country, forthwith to withdraw themselves and their families within the enemy's lines." Thirty days were allowed for complying with this order, at the end of which period, those, who had neglected or refused to comply, were to be deemed as adherents to the King of Great Britain, and treated as enemies to the American States.

Strange as it may be thought, the publishing of this proclamation was considered an undue exercise of power. Even in Congress it was censured by some of the members. The legislature of New Jersey more than hinted, that it was an encroachment on their prerogatives. An oath of allegiance to the United States was said to be absurd before the confederation was formed, and the power of requiring such an oath was

claimed exclusively for each State. Hence the opposition arose, not from an impartial view of the abstract merits of the act, but from the jealousy of State sovereignty. Fully convinced, however, of the necessity, reasonableness, and equity of the measure, Washington adhered to it, and instructed his officers accordingly, willing, as in all other cases, to risk his own popularity in promoting the public interests.

His first care, after putting the troops in winterquarters, was drawn to the completion of the army for the next campaign; and he wrote circular letters to the governors of the middle and eastern States, urging them in the strongest terms to adopt prompt and effectual methods for raising recruits and filling up their regiments. His efficient strength through the winter was so small, that prudence required him to use the expedient, to which he was often driven, of magnifying his numbers to the public, lest the enemy, becoming acquainted with his weakness, should make a sudden and rapid movement upon him, and obtain an easy victory. This deception, so essential to his safety, operated unfavorably; since it gave the impression that his army was much larger than it really was, and diminished the efforts of the States to provide seasonable reinforcements. It was only in the midst of a campaign, when the enemy were in motion, that the people thought of danger; and then it was often too late to make proper exertions for increasing the army.

To stimulate the activity of the States, by forcible and reiterated representations to the governors and legislatures, by argument, persuasion, and appeals to every motive of pride, honor, and patriotism, was the task which he was obliged to repeat every winter; and this was a source of unceasing anxiety from the time the troops went into quarters, till they again took the field

to combat the enemy. Congress, embarrassed by the novelty of their duties and the indefinite nature of their powers, deliberated with caution, and were seldom ready to act in military affairs, till incited by the counsels or earnest entreaties of the Commander-in-chief. For several months he had urged upon them the necessity of a larger number of general officers in the army, and in February five additional major-generals and ten brigadiers were appointed.

On this subject he always spoke with delicacy in his letters, rarely expressing an opinion as to the qualifications of individuals, and avoiding equally the appearance of partiality and of a wish to interfere in any degree with the appointing power. Various considerations produced delays and sometimes contentions in Congress respecting military appointments. Local predilections interposed the chief obstacles. The claims of the respective States were to be regarded, according to which the general officers were to be taken from each in proportion to the number of troops it furnished. By this rule the best officers in the country could not be selected, if it happened that more than one or two resided in the same State. Moreover there were frequent disagreements among the delegates of a particular State, in regard to the comparative merits of the candidates of such State, especially when the pretensions of each were supported by the influence of friends or parties. This mode of appointing officers not only brought some into the service, who were incompetent to their high station, but created dissensions in the army about rank, and added to the many troubles that harassed the Commander-in-chief.

Soon after General Howe arrived at Staten Island from Halifax, a correspondence was opened between him and General Washington respecting the exchange