CHAP. second week of April took his seat in congress, to XIX. complain in person and assert his right to be re 1777. placed. According to his stating, Ticonderoga had been put into a strong and nearly impregnable condition while he had the command in chief, with Gates as his junior; his measures for the supply and maintenance of the post were in full operation and left no doubt of its future safety, for which he was willing to take on himself the responsibility. His opponents were powerful; on the third of May he announced to Washington his intention "to resign his commission;" and Washington interposed no dissuasions. But, having Duane as a skilful manager, instead of a resignation, he apologized to congress for the words that had given offence; a committee which had at his request inquired into his use of the public money relieved him from injurious rumors; and on the report of the board of war, after a discussion protracted into the fourth day, an accidental majority assured him the undivided command of Albany, Ticonderoga, Fort Stanwix, and their dependencies. Schuyler accepted this command, with nothing before him but the certainty of ill success. Nearly half congress doubted his capacity, resisted his appointment, and desired his removal; he misjudged in supposing that his means for defending Ticonderoga were adequate; and he had to encounter the invincible and not wholly unreasonable aversion of the New England troops. England troops. Besides, Gates was sure to decline other employment and to renew his intrigues, in which he was quickened by his family. "As your son and heir," so wrote XIX. 1777. his only child, "I entreat you not to tarnish the CHAP. honor of your family." His uneasy, ambitious wife let her voice be heard: "If you give up one iota, and condescend to be adjutant-general, I may forgive it, but never will forget it." This long dispute aggravated the disorder in the northern department; but with unselfish and untiring zeal Washington strove to repair the errors and defects of congress. From the weakness of its powers it would justly escape reprehension, if its members had unanimously given him their support; but some of them indulged in open expressions of discontent. They refused to contemplate the difficulty with which he had kept "the life and soul of his army together," or to own that he had saved their cause, for it would have been an indirect censure on themselves for having rejected his solicitations for the formation of a permanent army at the time when such an army could have been raised. Assuming the style of conquerors, they did not and they would not perceive the true situation of affairs; they were vexed that the commander-in-chief insisted on bringing it to their attention; and as if Washington had not adventured miracles of daring, Samuel Adams and others were habitually impatient for more enterprise, that the enemy might be beaten in detail, before reënforcements should arrive. Thus they discoursed when no men had as yet joined him from the eastward, and there was great danger that Howe would open the campaign before the American army could be in any condition to oppose him. Washington bore their unjust 1 Robert Gates to his father, 6 June, 1777. MS. XIX. 1777. CHAP. reproaches with meekness and dignity, never for getting the obedience and respect that were due to congress as his civil superior and the representative of all the states. He valued not rumors above the public safety; this is the man who tired out evil tongues and evil fortune, and saved his country by boldness, constancy, and the gain of time. Desiring the good opinion of his kind as his sole reward, his cheerful fortitude never failed him; and he saw in his mind that posterity was his own. CHAPTER XX. THE BRITISH EVACUATE NEW JERSEY MARCH-JULY, 1777. XX. 1777. March Or his greatly superior force the Britisl. general CHAP made little use. Stores for the American army had been deposited at Peekskill, where, in the absence of Heath, Macdougall was in command of two hundred and fifty men. On the twenty-third of March the English landed in the bay with twice his number, compelling Macdougall to burn the magazine and draw back to the hills; but with Willett, whom he called from Fort Constitution, he repulsed an advanced party. The British, having completed the work of destruction and burnt the wharf, retired to their boats at evening, and under the light of the full moon sailed down the river. The result was of little importance; there was old wheat enough in the state of New York to supply the army for a year. While Howe was wasting the spring at New York, Cornwallis at Brunswick grew weary of in 1777. April 13. CHAP. activity, and came out in force early in the mornXX. ing of the thirteenth of April to surprise Lincoln, now a major-general, who, with five hundred men, occupied Boundbrook. Through the carelessness of the guard, he came very near effecting his design; Lincoln by a prompt retreat gained the hill in the rear of the town, but with the loss of two cannon, two lieutenants, and twenty men. After a stay of an hour and a half, the assailants returned to Brunswick, and Lincoln with a stronger party reoccupied his post. 23. 25. On the twenty-third of April a detached corps of eighteen hundred men, drafted from different regiments, and a small number of dragoons, sailed from New York, under convoy, to destroy the stores which the Americans had collected in Danbury, Connecticut, at a distance, as the roads then ran, of more than twenty miles from the sound. The leader of the expedition was Tryon, now a major-general of provincials; but Sir William Howe very prudently appointed General Agnew and Sir William Erskine to assist him. On Friday, the twenty-fifth, they landed at Compo, near Saugatuck river, and, marching seven miles that evening, they reached Danbury about three hours after noon on Saturday. They had excellent guides, and from the suddenness of the enterprise encountered little opposition on the way, or at Danbury, where the guard under Huntington was composed of but fifty continentals and a few militia. The English, under a heavy rain, destroyed the stores, among which the loss of nearly seventeen hundred tents was irreparable; and all night long they were busy in |