was dissolved on the 1st of September by a sudden | North Carolina which showed that, in spite of and unexpected proclamation. Several of the most Cornwallis' victories, we were losing ground in popular members were thrown out of their seats; that quarter. This gave additional encourage and the elections went, upon the whole, much in ment to the opposition; and, on the 12th of June, favour of the court. One hundred and thirteen Fox moved that the house should resolve itself new men obtained seats. The new parliament as- into a committee, to consider of the American war sembled on the 31st of October. On the follow- and he gave notice that he intended to move in ing day the king delivered his speech, in which committee-"That his majesty's ministers ought he complained again of the unprovoked aggres-immediately to take every possible measure for sion of France and Spain, who were exerting all concluding peace with our American colonies." their power to support the rebellion of his colonies, The origin of the dispute, the whole history of to destroy the commerce and give a fatal blow to the war was gone over by the orators on both the power of Great Britain; but he added that sides, without much novelty of remark. One the bravery of his fleets and his armies had great object of the opposite parties was to throw enabled him to withstand their formidable at- blame upon each other; the oppositionists blame? tempts; and that he hoped the late successes in the ministerialists for having first provoked the Georgia and Carolina would have important con- war like tyrants, and for then having conducted sequences in bringing the war to a happy conclu- it like fools; the ministerialists blamed the op sion. The army and navy estimates were carried positionists for having encouraged the spirit of by triumphant majorities, which served to remind revolt in America and everywhere else, and for Lord North of the earlier years of his administra- having done their best, or their worst, to prevezt tion, and to efface the recollections of the narrow that strong national unanimity which would have divisions and occasional minorities of the latter given success to the war, or made the burden of part of the last parliament. On the 13th of Novem- it more endurable; and they did not forget their ber, upon the proposition being made that 91,000 old argument-that the quarrel with America men, including marines, should be the naval force had not been begun by themselves, but under the for the service of the ensuing year, Fox pledged administration of their opponents. At midnight himself to the house to move, after the Christmas the house divided, when Fox's motion was reholidays, for the dismissal of the Earl of Sand-jected by 172 against 99. wich, and afterwards to bring him to condign punishment. The debate was conducted in a fierce party spirit, il calculated to remove from the navy those dissensions which every one complained of, and which had recently frustrated the valour and skill of Rodney. The only immediate result was a resolution that a copy of the minutes of the trial and sentence of the court-martial held upon Palliser should be laid before the house. The opposition, though weakened A.D. 1781. in numbers, had lost little of its heat or eloquence. Fox and his friends still spoke of the invincibility of the Americans, and regarded our brilliant victories in the field with scornful incredulity. They raised a storm against the employment of the military for the suppression of the London riots; they blamed the government for declaring war against the Dutch; and they endeavoured to thwart Lord North in his financial arrangements, which were neither better nor worse than those which had been usually allowed. On the 30th of May, Colonel Hartley, who fancied that some kind of conciliation was still possible, moved for leave to bring in a bill vest-people, who kept up a warm fire from the houses, ing the crown with sufficient powers to treat, consult, and finally agree upon the means of restoring peace with the provinces of North America; but this motion, after a grand display by Fox and Burke, was rejected by 106 against 72. A few days afterwards intelligence had arrived from On the 18th of July the king prorogued parliament, thanking them for their long attendane, their loyalty, and good affection. As the pro |spect of brilliant successes had opened in India— as there was already a promise that the enterprise of the British would build up in the East a vaster empire than any we had ever possessed in the West-his majesty dwelt at some length upon the subject of Indian affairs, and warmly applauded measures adopted or in progress for checking abuses in those distant possessions, and for making our conquests equally advantageous to the natives and ourselves. At the beginning of the year, the French, under the Baron de Rullecourt, had made another attempt upon Jersey, and had captured by night its little capital, with the lieutenant-governor, Major Corbet, who too hastily signed a capitulotion of surrender for the whole island. Fort nately there were braver men than Corbet ir Jersey. Major Pierson, collecting all the force lcould, fell upon the invaders in the market-pis~ of St. Heliers, and, being assisted by the towns he killed a part of them and compelled the rest to surrender. But the gallant young Pierson was himself killed by almost the last shot that was fired by the French. The Baron de Rullecourt, at an earlier part of the action, received three or four wounds, and died almost immediately after the surrender. Nearly 800 French were either killed or taken. They had begun their expedition with nearly 2000; but their vessels had been scattered by a terrible storm, and a great many had been driven back to their own ports. warded the convoy with provisions, stores, &c., to Gibraltar, with some ships of the line and frigates to cover them, and remained with the rest of his fleet cruising between Cadiz Bay and the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar, watching Cordova and preventing the passage of any hostile ships. The 100 vessels, with the staff of life on board, were hailed with transports of joy by the half-famished British soldiers stationed on the rocky heights; and, as they became discernible to those below, a shout of joy and three good English cheers ran from battery to battery from the old Moorish castle and the Devil's Tongue battery to Europa Point. The brave fellows did not much fear the Spaniards, but they had a true English aversion to reduced rations and short commons. Darby's convoying captains presently scattered the swarm of Spanish gunboats that attempted to sink the transports, and the succours were landed with very little diffi In the meantime the besieged garrison of Gibraltar were again reduced to great straits by the persevering Spaniards; the supplies which Rodney had thrown in the year before were nearly exhausted, and the only hope of receiving succour was to get it direct from England. To this important service Admiral Darby was appointed. After escorting the East and West India trade to a certain latitude, Darby, about the middle of April, arrived off Cadiz, and, looking into the harbour, saw the grand Spanish fleet gathered there, and lying peaceably at anchor. Cordova, the Spanish admiral, had talked of meeting the English fleet at sea; but he now considered his force not sufficient to risk an engagement, and he determined to remain where he was. Darby for-culty. CHAPTER XIV.-CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.-A.D. 1781-1782. GEORGE III. Mutiny in Washington's army-The mutineers in a body quit the army-Congress obliged to recall them by treaty -General Arnold's successful expedition into Virginia-Attempts of the Americans to capture him-Events of the war in North Carolina-Major Craig's expedition to Wilmington-Arrival there of Lord Cornwallis-His march through North Carolina-Skirmishes-La Fayette defeated-The Count de Grasse arrives in the Chesapeake with reinforcements to the Americans-Washington concentrates his forces against YorktownArnold's expedition into Connecticut to retard his march-Washington advances and invests YorktownGallant defence of it by Lord Cornwallis-His unsuccessful attempt to withdraw-He is obliged to capitulate -British aid too late in arriving-Lord Rawdon's movements to protect Charleston-Further proceedings of the South Carolina campaign-Colonel Hayne hanged by the British at Charleston-Defeat of the Americans at Eutaw-Lord Rodney captures St. Eustatius-Attempt of the Spaniards to reduce Minorca-The French join them-Impudent attempt to bribe General Murray to surrender-His indignant reply - He holds out Fort St. Philip against the French and Spaniards-Proceedings of the combined French and Spanish fleets in the mouth of the Channel-Sir Hyde Parker's naval victory over the Dutch off the Dogger Bank— Joseph II. of Spain joins the armed neutrality-Speech from the throne recommending the continuation of war with America-Opposition to it in parliament-The opposition fails only by a small minority-Minorca reduced by the Duke of Crillon-Reverses, and growing desire of peace with America-Lord George Germaine raised to the peerage-Motion in parliament to discontinue the war with America-The vote to continue it carried by a majority of one-Further proceedings in the question-Resolution to make peace with America finally carried in the House of Commons-Altercation between Fox and Lord North-Resignation of the North administration-New administration with Lord Rockingham for its head-Distribution of placesPolitical jealousies of the parties-First satisfactory proceedings of the new administration-Motion of William Pitt for the abolition of rotten boroughs-It is set aside by a small majority-Burke's plan of economical reform recommended by the king to the attention of parliament-Mutilations inflicted upon the original plan— It is carried-The insolence of the Americans increased by the pacific overtures of Britain-Fox's disappointments in negotiating for peace-The Marquis of Rockingham dies, and is succeeded by Lord Shelburne--Consequent changes of office-Fox, Burke, and Townshend refuse to act with Shelburne-Complaints against large pensions-Lord Rodney sets out against the French fleet-His signal naval victory over the Count de Grasse. EYOND the Atlantic the earliest ashington's lines. cipline had been relaxed; the officers were almost as dissatisfied as the men, and all had been condemned to a near approach of starvation, notwithstanding the resolutions passed by congress. In an attempt to suppress this mutiny, Captain Billing was killed, and several other officers were wounded. General Wayne drew his pistol and retained the entire command until the board decided what men were entitled to their discharge. As this state of things alarmed and embarrassed the government, and tended to commit the character of the whole republican army, the board proceeded with the utmost haste to liberate all such as chose to swear that they had enlisted for only three years. Even before the rolls of enlistment could be brought to Trenton, nearly the whole of the artillery and of the first five regiments of infantry of this Pennsylvanian line were discharged upon their own oaths. When the enlistment rolls were produced it was found that far the greater part of these men had preferred perjury to future service, having been enlisted, not for three years, but absolutely for the whole war. There was, however, no remedy, no power of correction-the discharges given remained good, and the few men who were too scrupulous to forswear themselves, received furloughs for forty days. threatened some of the ringleaders; but, with a bayonet presented to his own breast, he was soon compelled to retire and leave his people to their own courses. With six field-pieces, and with most of the stores, the Pennsylvanian line, 1300 strong, marched away towards Princeton. On the 4th of January, Sir Henry Clinton, fully informed of all that was passing, sent from New York to Princeton three emissaries with very tempting offers to the revolted troops, and with the suggestion that they should immediately take up a position behind the South River, where he would soon cover them by detachments from the royal army in New York. But, whatever was the amount of their dissatisfaction with congress, the mutineers were not prepared to enter into any compact with the English general. They seemed, however, to have determined, with their usual national adroitness, to make something by Clinton's overtures: they seized his three emissaries and communicated their proposals to General Wayne, with assurances of their utter detestation of the idea of going over to the common enemy, the British; but at the same time they kept the emissaries in their own hands; they refused to cross the Delaware, or to march out of Princeton; they refused to permit any of their former officers to enter their camp; and they ordered La Fayette, General St. Clair, and Lieu tenant-colonel Laurens, who had presented them selves as mediators, to quit Princeton immediately. Affairs were in this state when a committee of congress, the governor of Pennsylvania, and a part of his council, arrived in the neighbourhood of Princeton, to negotiate with the revolters. If the army of the republic had been composed of materials like those which had been dreamed of at the first breaking out of the revolution, the proceeding might not have worn quite so humiliating a character; but these mutineers, who defied the powers of the government, and assumed to treat on a footing of equality, through their sergeant delegates, with the dele-stores, as well at Westham as at Richmond, were gates of the sovereign congress, were in fact nothing more than men raised by the usual processes of enlistment, bounty money, and conscription. A conference took place outside of Princeton between the sergeants and the committee. After due deliberation the mutineers agreed to march from Princeton to Trenton, with their sergeants for their officers and commanders. At Trenton they accepted the terms offered by congress, but not until the committee agreed that three commissioners, appointed by the soldiers, and chosen from the line, should constitute part of the board The surprise and capture of Arnold was d'authorized to settle their claims. And when this tempted in various and not very honourable bargain was concluded, but not before, the muti-ways by the republicans; but he was as cunting neers gave up Sir Henry Clinton's three emis- as the cunningest of them; and with 2000 met saries, who were all hanged as spies. The sergeants and a good position at Portsmouth, he feared In the meantime, the Americans had to sustain the war without the foreign money and additional assistance for which they were constantly impor tuning the French, the Dutch, and the Spaniaris On the 1st of January, when the Pennsylvanian line were beginning their revolt, General Arnold appeared in Hampton Road, on the Chesapeake, to carry devastation into Virginia. He had with him about 1200 men, partly Americans like himself, but who, unlike him, had always been steady to one side. With this small force Arnold proceeded up James River, and landed at Westover, only twenty-five miles from Richmond, the carital of Virginia. His expedition was attended with complete success and with scarcely any loss of men. Of 50,000 enrolled Virginia militia, only a few hundreds could ever be collected at one point to oppose him; and these men generally ran away so soon as Arnold appeared. Jeffersen, now governor of that state, fled from Richmond by night and with the greatest precipitation All the public buildings and all the tobacco burned, together with a great heap of Jefferson * papers. On the 20th of January, Arnold returned to Portsmouth, where he was joined w about 800 more men, and where it appeared that he intended to establish himself in order to com mand the navigation of the Chesapeake. If ab effectual blockade of the great rivers and outlets had been established, and if no troops had ben risked in the interior of the country, the Amer can confederacy might have been broken up,.! spite of French, Spaniards, and Dutch. no open force. The French Admiral de Ternay | general retired to the river Dan, intending to had been so long blockaded by the English in Rhode Island, that his death, which happened about this time, was attributed to grief and chagrin. He was succeeded by M. Destouches, who, availing himself of a recent tempest, which had scattered and somewhat damaged our blockading fleet, sent Commodore de Tilley to the Chesapeake, with a ship of the line and two frigates, to recover Portsmouth and capture Arnold, with the assistance of La Fayette, who was to descend the river and make an attack upon Portsmouth from the land side. The attempt proved a downright failure; but on his way back De Tilley met with an accidental success; for, near the Capes of Virginia his squadron fell in with and captured an English fifty-gun ship. The great scheme for capturing Arnold was not, however, abandoned. In the month of March the whole of the French fleet ventured to sea, in order to escort to the Chesapeake the greater part of Rochambeau's army. Admiral Arbuthnot soon followed them, and on the 16th of March he brought them to action off Cape Henry. After fighting for about an hour, the French ran to leeward. Next day Destouches called a council of war, wherein it was resolved neither to risk another action nor attempt ascending the Chesapeake, but to return instantly to Rhode Island. On the 26th of March, General Phillips arrived at Portsmouth, and took the command of the troops there, over Arnold. The defence of the interior of Virginia was now intrusted to La Fayette, who attempted to check the prevailing desertion by giving the republicans money which he raised on his own private bills, payable in France, among the patriotic merchants in Baltimore. In spite of the approach of La Fayette, Generals Phillips and Arnold made excursions up the river, and far into the country, destroying the ship-yards, arsenals, all public property, and all the tobacco at Williamsburg, Yorktown, Petersburg, Chesterfield Court-House, Osborne, Warwick, and Manchester. They then fell down the river to Hog Island, where they remained until Lord Cornwallis gave them notice that he was about marching into Virginia from the Carolinas and expected their co-operation. General Greene now commanded the troops of congress in North Carolina, having his headquarters at Charlotte-town. On the 17th of January, Tarleton was defeated in one of his rapid and daring expeditions, at a place called the Cow-pens. On the 1st of February, Lord Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River to attack Greene. The North Carolina militia was presently beaten and put to flight. Greene then retreated to the Yadkin, where his rear was almost sacrificed. From the Yadkin the American give up North Carolina, and to march into Virginia without risking a battle. Cornwallis proceeded to Hillsborough, then the capital of North Carolina. For a moment the whole of the provinces seemed at his feet; but Greene, who had been unexpectedly recruited on the Virginian frontier, soon returned, intending to keep the field, but to avoid a general engagement against an enemy "who had demonstrated his capacity for rapid movement and hardy enterprise.”1 Lieutenant-colonel Lee recrossed the Dan on the 21st of February, and Greene followed with the rest of his army the next day. Lee's first exploit was to surprise in a long hollow lane, and to butcher in cold blood, from 200 to 300 North Carolina royalists. Quitting Hillsborough, which was destitute of provisions, Lord Cornwallis crossed the river Haw, and encamped on Allamance Creek, in order to afford protection to the great body of American royalists who resided between the Haw and Deep rivers. Being strongly reinforced, Greene, on the 15th of March, ventured to give Cornwallis battle in the neighbourhood of Guildford Court-House. The Americans not only outnumbered the British by nearly two to one, but occupied an excellent position; and on account of these advantages, Greene was at one time apprehensive that Cornwallis would shun the offered encounter. But instead of waiting to be attacked, the British, numbering only 2400 bayonets, after a short cannonade, advanced in three columns with such spirit, that a great part of the first line of the Americans fled without waiting the charge, and left their choice position to the assailants. The Virginian militia, who composed the second line, made a more gallant resistance, and kept up a spirited fire until they were ordered to retreat; but this act of courage was partly owing to the precaution of their commander, General Stephens, who had posted forty riflemen at equal distances, twenty paces in rear of his brigade, with orders to shoot every one who attempted to run away. But the chief brunt of the battle was with the third American line, composed of the continental troops, who stubbornly maintained their ground for an hour and a half, until their resistance was found unavailing against British valour and discipline. Attacked in flank and rear, and all but enveloped, the American army retreated to Reedy Fork, and crossed the river about three miles from the scene of action, after having lost all their artillery and two ammunition-waggons, with a large amount of killed and wounded. This victory, however, was not obtained without considerable loss to the conquerors, whose killed and wounded amounted to 600 men, and among the latter, was the brave Marshall, Life of Washington THE BATTLE-GROUND OF GUILDFORD COURT HOUSE.-From a drawing on the spot by B. J. Lossing. But when the extent of his loss was fully ascertained, Cornwallis felt that he was not in a condition to follow up his victory; and, as he could obtain no provisions where he was, he was under the necessity of retreating to a quarter where supplies could be obtained. Before advancing into North Carolina, his lordship had detached from Charleston a small force under Major Craig, to take possession of Wilmington, a town at the mouth of Cape Fear River, about 100 miles below the settlement of Cross Creek, which lies upon a branch of the same river. Craig proceeded by sea, made himself master of Wilmington with very little fighting, and fortified that post as well as his limited means would permit; and he had extended his authority several miles up Cape Fear River, in the direction of Cross Creek, which had now become Lord Cornwallis' head-quarters. As there was a friendly settlement of Scottish Highlanders in that neighbourhood, and many other known royalists, as the situation was healthy and central, and as he hoped to establish his communications with Major Craig by means of the river, his lordship, who arrived at Cross Creek towards the end of March, resolved to remain there for some time to recover his sick and wounded. But he was disappointed in all his hopes as to the position of Cross Creek. Provisions and forage were scarce; the river, narrow and running between high banks, could not be converted into a means of communication with Craig at Wilmington, as nearly the whole population, on both sides, were inveterately hostile. Nothing therefore remained to be done but to march with the whole army to Wilmington, which was open to the sea, and could be supplied at all times by those who had the naval superiority. He arrived in the neighbourhood of Wilmington on the 7th of April. General Greene, who had been slowly moving in the rear of Cornwallis as far as Ramsey's Mills, two or three marches from Cross Creek, with an army as badly provided as the British, no sooner learned that Cornwallis had descended towards the sea-coast, than he resolved to carry the war into South Carolina, which, he calculated, would compel his lordship either to follow him, and thus evacuate all North Carolina, or to give up all his important posts in the upper parts of South Carolina. Cornwallis, aware of this movement, sent an express to Lord Rawdon, whom he had left in command in the upper parts of South Carolina, and who was occupying cantonments, with the town of Camden for his centre. But Greece reached Camden before this express, and Lord Rawdon was left to act entirely on his own judgment. By calling in his detachments, and by arming every man in the garrison, drummers, musicians and all, Rawdon mustered an effective force of about 900 men. Greene, although he had never been able to collect a fourth part of the militia that had fled from the battle at Guildford, had about 1500 regular troops, and some corps of new militia. He did not, however, venture either to storm Camden or even to invest it; but he took up a position on Hobkirk's Hill, about two miles from the British lines, and encamped there in the expectation of being joined by Lieutenant-colonel Lee and the independent 1 Marshall; Holmes; Gordon. |