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-

-

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-

-

-

-

- Its

Effects of the declaration of independence, 31 The hope of the new

nation, 31 — Declaration of Maryland, 32 — Independence in Philadel-

phia, 32 In New Jersey, 32-Convention of New York, 33 - Con-

dition of the state, 33 - New York adopts independence, 34 - Indepen-

dence proclaimed to the army, 34 - Statue of the king thrown down in

New York, 35-Progress of the war in Virginia, 35 — Dunmore driven

from land, 35 — Flight of the Virginia refugees, 36 — Independence pro-

claimed in Virginia, 36 — In Rhode Island, 36 — In Massachusetts, 36

In South Carolina, 36- Independence the act of the people, 37

aspect on the nations of Europe, 37 Character of Lord Howe, 37—

His confidence of the restoration of peace, 38 - Lord Howe arrives at

Staten Island, 38 — His declaration, 38 - His attempts at intercourse

with Washington, 39- He meets with a rebuff, 39 His circular let-

ters, 39 His letters to individuals, 39 Reed on the overture, 40

Condition of America, 40 Greene despondent, 40 Decision of

Samuel Adams, 40 Of Robert Morris, 41 Of congress, 41 - Of

Washington, 41-Lord Howe to Franklin, 42 — Franklin's answer, 42

— Retaining a trade no ground for a war, 43 - Disappointment of Lord

Howe, 44.

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X CHAPTER II.

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CONFEDERATION; SIGNING THE DECLARATION. July

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1776.

An exchange of prisoners proposed by Washington, 45- Agreed to by
Howe, 46 Confederation, 46 Draught of Dickinson, 46- Dickinson's
despondency, 47- Confederation opposed by separatism, 47- The sev-

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eral states impatient of power, 47 - Effects of contests with the crown,

48 No central power of taxation, 48 The states jealous of the power

in a confederacy as in the crown, 49- Franklin's plan contrasted with

Dickinson's, 49- No executive, no judiciary, 50 South Carolina still

jealous, 50 Cavils of Edward Rutledge, 51 — Rule for the apportion-

ment of supplies, 51 — Chase moves to count only white inhabitants, 51

-Debate on the question, 52 — Chase's amendment rejected, 52 — The

vote geographical, 52 — Delaware insists on a vote for each colony, 53.

Opinions of Franklin, Witherspoon, John Adams, 53 Of Rush, Hop-

kins, 54 — Jefferson's compromise proposed by Sherman, 55 - The claim

of Virginia, 56- Why confederation was delayed, 56

of the subject, 57 The war and government, 57 - Connecticut sends

regiments of light-horse, 57 Their discharge, 58

the officers in the army, 58 Gates claims coördinate

ington, 58-Public spirit of Washington, 59-Signing the declaration,

59 - Independence the work of the people, 60.

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X CHAPTER III.

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Congress tired

Conflict amongst

power

with Wash-

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN EUROPE. July-October,

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The maritime powers dread England, 61 -

Arrival of Silas Deane, 62 - He confides in Edward Bancroft, 62 –

France opens its ports to American commerce, 63 - Interview of Deane

with Vergennes, 63 Two hundred field-pieces promised, 63 Beau-

marchais offers credit, 64 Treachery of Edward Bancroft, 64 The

king of France and his cabinet, 64 - Vergennes on England as the nat-

ural enemy of France, And of Spain, 65 — Danger from England to

France and Spain, 65 Advantages of a war with England, 66 -

tions between France and America, 67 Probable neutrality of other

European powers, 67-Position of the king of France, 68

a preference of peace, 68 Effect of this advice on Louis the Sixteenth,

Spain opposed to American independence, 71

Parties in England, 71

- The reflec-

- The government majority, 71

tive judgment of England, 72 — Power to tax the colonies given up, 72 –

Power of parliament over charters not abdicated, 73 United States not

to be conquered, 73 Advice of Tucker, 74 — Of Hume, 74

of Gibbon, 74 - Of Germain, 74- The English despise France as a

naval power, 74-Subserviency of an English politician, 75 Anxiety of

George the Third, 75

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CHAPTER IV.

BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. August, 1776.

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The city of New York to be defended, 76 — Opinion of Jay, 76

Outposts of New York, 77- Condition of the American army, 77

Opinion of John Adams, 77 Relations of congress to Gates and Wash-

ington, 78 Council of war inefficient, 79- Governor of Connecticut,

79 Rising of Connecticut, 80- Inhabitants of New York, 80 — Gen-

eral orders, 80-Fort Washington on the Hudson, 81 - Defences of New

York city, 81 The lines in Brooklyn, 82-Howe receives reënforce-

ments, 82-Lord Howe's proposal, 82-Illness of Greene, 83 - British

land on Long Island, 83 - Consternation in New York, 84 — Advance of

the British, 84 - American skirmishers, 84 Putnam on Long Island, 85

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— Number of the British on Long Island, 85 — The American force, 86

Their stations, 86 Plan of attack by Howe, 87 Putnam's orders,

88 Position of Stirling, 88- Putnam's incapacity, 89 - The British

squadron attempts to move, 89 The British gain the Jamaica pass, 90

— The battle of skirmishes, 90-The Hessians move up the ridge, 91

— Their success, 91 — Sullivan taken prisoner, 92-Lord Howe sends
aid, 92- Heroic conduct of Stirling and his party, 93 Stirling sur-

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renders, 94 Howe refuses to assault the lines, 94 - Loss of the British,

95 Loss of the Americans, 95 Causes of the result, 95 Character

30, 1776.

Condition of the American army, 97 - Its confidence in Washington,

98 His steady attention, 98-Number of his troops, 98 Their suf-

ferings, 98 Character of General Howe, 99 Delancey and Woodhull,
Approaches of the British army, 101-Necessity of a retreat,

101 - Measures for a retreat, 101- A council of war, 102 - Skilful

measures, 103

Blunder of Mifflin, 104 - Remedied by Washington, 104

-The sea-fog, 104 - The British enter the American works, 104

retreat successful, 105 - Erroneous account of the retreat, 105 - The

errors corrected, 106 The retreat Washington's own measure, 107.

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CHAPTER VI.

THE PROGRESS OF THE HOWES. August 30-

September 15, 1776.

Sullivan Lord Howe's volunteer go-between, 108 Conduct of General
Howe, 109 - Washington represents to congress the condition of his army,

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The city of New York must be abandoned, 110

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Sullivan's recep-

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-

Congress

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tion in congress, 110-He mistakes Lord Howe's offers, 111

wishes New York city defended, 111 The debate on Lord Howe's mes-

sage, 112 Resolve in answer to Lord Howe, 112 - Committee appointed

to meet Lord Howe, 112 - Difference of opinion between congress and

Washington on holding New York, 118 - His council side with congress,

113 Lee expected, 113 Washington adheres to his opinion that New

York must be evacuated, 114 - His plea to congress, 114 He explains

why New York city cannot be held, 115 Congress yields, 115 — Inter-

view between Lord Howe and the committee of congress, 116 - Lord Howe

disavows Sullivan, 117 Franklin's proposal, 117 - Report of the com-

mittee, 117 Opinion of the governor of Connecticut, 117 General

Howe prepares to land in New York, 118 - Washington fired upon, 118

Washington removes his stores and artillery, 119-Landing of the

British on New York island, 119 — Flight of the Americans, 119 — Wash-

ington's example of courage, 120- Escape of Putnam's division, 120

Patriotic conduct of Mary Lindley, 121 — Results of the day, 121

Washington's conduct on the day, 122- Character of Gordon as an his-

torian, 123 - Accounts of Ramsay, Heath, and Graydon, 124.

THE EMBARRASSMENTS OF AMERICA. September 15-30, 1776.

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Talbot and the fire-brig, 125- Skirmishes near Manhattanville, 126 -

Effect of the skirmish, 127 - Death of Knowlton and Leitch, 128

Strength of the American position, 128 - Declaration of the Howes as

commanders, 128 - Great fire in New York city, 129-Nathan Hale,

his death and character, 130-Death of Henly, 131 · Arrival of the

prisoners from Quebec, 131 Merits of Morgan, 131 - Confederation

delayed, 131 Plan of a treaty with France, 132 The fisheries, 132—

Commissioners to France, 133- Franklin and Deane, 133 - Jefferson

declines, 133 Arthur Lee appointed, 133 - The American navy, 134 —

American privateers, 134 - Army regulations adopted, 135 Condition

of the army, 135 - Measures of congress, 136 - Washington on the use of

militia, 187 - Need of a permanent army, 137 — His expostulations neg-

lected by congress, 138- Washington's trust in the people, 138.

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CHAPTER VIII.

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THE COURSE OF OPINION IN ENGLAND. September 28-November,

Spirit of England, 140 -

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1776.

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Germain compliments the Howes, 140

Fox supports the Americans, 141 - Rockingham party keeps aloof, 141 -

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-

-

-

-

The declaration of independence unites England, 141 Speech of Cav-

endish, 142 - Of Johnstone, 142 Of Wilkes, 142 - Of Lord North,

142 · Of Barre, 142 — Of Germain, 143 · Of Fox, 143 - Fox for in-

dependence, 144 Fox applauded by Gibbon and Burke, 144 Unsat-
isfactory letters from Howe, 144 - His exorbitant demands, 145 - Ger-
main shirks blame, 145 Proposal of Cavendish, 145 — Perplexity of
Lord North, 145 — Speech of Fox, 146 — Of Wedderburn, 146 - Se-
cession of Burke, 146 - Fox disapproves secession, 146 - Character of
Fox, 146 His licentiousness, 147 His love of poetry, 147 - His dis-
His manner, 148- Character of his speeches, 148

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like of science, 147

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-

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-

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- His skill in attack, 149

an historian, 149 — His want of fixed principles, 150.

- Fox not a great man, 149 - His failure as

CHAPTER IX.

THE BORDER WAR IN THE NORTH AND IN THE SOUTH. July –

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-

November, 1776.

-

-

Carleton blamed for keeping back the Indians, 151 Promises of Ham-

ilton, 151 Mercilessness of Germain, 152 Carleton's plan of cam-

paign, 152 Ship-building on Lake Champlain by the Americans, 152

British preparations for a fleet, 153- Arnold near Valcour island, 154

Blockaded by British ships, 154 Arnold's audacity, 154

his squadron, 155 He runs the blockade, 155 His pursuit, 156

Carleton's treatment of his prisoners, 156 Carleton lands at Crown

Point, 157 His tardiness, 157 — His retreat, 157 — Wayne at Ticon-

deroga, 157 Demands of Lee, 158 Lee proposes to attack East Flor-

ida, 158 His march, 158. He wastes his troops, 159- Goes to the

north, 159 Indian war in the mountains, 159 Fidelity of eastern

Tennessee, 160 - Cherokees move to war, 160 - Neutrality of the

Creeks, 161 The Cherokees receive checks, 161- I War on the borders

of South Carolina, 162 - Williamson leads a party against them, 162-

Successes east of the mountains, 162 - And on the Little Tennessee, 162

- Junction with Rutherford on the Hiwassee valley, 163 - Instructions

from Germain, 163- The Cherokees beg for mercy, 163 - The district

Washington, 164.

Washington on the heights of Harlem, 165 — His lines of defence, 16!
Mount Washington, 166 Country beyond Mount Washington, 166
Greene at Fort Lee, 167 Washington safe on this side of New York
island, 167 Establishment of new governments, 167 Lee expected,