sign of watching the motions of the British army. No sooner did he observe how sir Henry Clinton had strengthened these posts, than he entertained the design of surprising them. Having received notice, from a deserter, that there was a sandy beach on the south side of Stoney Point, running along the flank of the works, and only obstructed by a single abattis, which might afford an easy and safe approach to a body of troops; he formed the plan of attacking both posts at the same instant; the execution of which was intrusted to general Wayne and general Howe. The garrison at Stoney Point consisted of a regiment of foot, British and loyalists, commanded by lieutenant colonel Johnson. That in the opposite post, at Verplank's Neck, of nearly equal force, was under the command of lieutenant colonel Webster. All the Massachusetts light infantry marched from West Point under lieuten

July 15.

ant colonel Hull, in the morning of the 15th of July, and joined general Wayne, at Sandy Beach, 14 miles from Stoney Point. The roads were exceedingly bad and narrow, and the troops having to pass over high mountains, through difficult defiles and morasses, were obliged to move in single files the greatest part of the way. By eight in the evening, the van arrived within a mile and a half of the enemy, where the men, being formed in two columns, remained till general Wayne and several of the principal officers returned from reconnoitring the works. General Wayne issued the most positive orders to both columns, which they seem to have exactly obeyed, not to fire a single shot on any account, but to place their whole reliance on the bayonet. At half past eleven at night the whole moved forward to the attack. Two attacks were, therefore, made on the op. posite sides of the fortification, to which the soldiers marched with unloaded muskets and screwed bayonets, whilst a detachment in front amused the garrison with a feint. They found the approaches more difficult than, from their knowledge of the place, they had been led to expect the works being covered by a deep morass, which at this time was overpowered by the tide. But neither the deep morass, the formidable and double rows of abattis on the strong works in front and flank, could damp the ardor of the Americans, who, in the face of an incessant and tremendous fire of musketry, and cannon loaded with grape shot, forced their way through every obstacle, until the van of each column met in the centre of the works, and the garrison General were obliged to surrender at discretion. Wayne was wounded in the head by a musket ball as

he passed the last abattis, but was gallantly supported and helped through the works by his two brave aids, Fishbourn and Archer. The killed and wounded of the Americans amounted to 98. Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, who led the forlorn hope, escaped unhurt, although the first lost 17 men out of 20, and the last nearly as many. The killed of the garrison were 63, and the number of the prisoners 543. Two flags, two standards, 15 pieces of ordnance, and a considerable quantity of military stores, fell into the hands of the conquerors.

For this heroic action, congress gave thanks to Gen. Wayne, and passed resolutions honorable to the officers and men concerned in it. They ordered a gold medal, emblematical of the action, to be presented to the general, and silver ones to lieutenant colonel Fleury and major Stewart; the former having struck the standard with his own hand.

The attack upon Verplank, entrusted with General Howe, miscarried, through delay occasioned by high winds which prevented the transportation of the artillery. The enemy, likewise, broke down the bridges, and thereby cut off the communication by land.

The Americans evacuated Stoney Point, after having removed the cannon and stores, and demolished the works: and the third day after the capture, sir Henry Clinton regained possession of it, and left a strong garrison for its defence.

The success of the late enterprise emboldened the Americans to make a similar attempt on Paulus Hook, a fortified post on the Jersey side, opposite to New York; but, although the heroism of the enJuly 19. terprise and the spirit with which it was executed deserves applause, after having completely surprised the posts, the American commander, major Lee, finding it impossible to retain them, made an orderly retreat, with about 161 prisoners, among whom were seven officers.

Another expedition of greater importance was now projected on the part of the Americans. This was against a post on the river Penobscot, on the borders of Nova Scotia, of which the British had lately June 16. taken possession, and where they had begun to erect a fort which threatened to be a very great inconvenience to the colonists. A fleet of 18 armed vessels, besides transports, were fitted out, and put under the conduct of commodore Saltonstall. The land forces were commanded by general Lovel. The armament destined against it was so soon got in readiness, that colonel Macleane, the commanding officer at

July 28.

Penobscot, found himself obliged to drop the execution of part of his scheme; and instead of a regular fort, to content himself with putting the works already constructed in as good a posture of defence as possible. The Americans could not effect a landing without a great deal of difficulty, and bringing the guns of their largest vessels to bear upon the shore. As soon as this was done, however, they erected several batteries, and kept up a brisk fire for the space of a fortnight; after which they proposed to give a general assault: but before this could be effected, they perceived sir George Collier with a British fleet sailing up the river to attack them. On this they instantly embarked their artillery and military stores, sailing up the river as far as possible in order to avoid him. They were so closely pursued, however, that not a single vessels could escape; so that the whole fleet, consisting of 18 armed vessels and 24 transports, was destroyed; most of them indeed being blown up by themselves. The soldiers and sailors were obliged to wander through immense desarts, where they suffered much for want of provissions; and to add to calamities, a quarrel broke out between the soldiers and seamen concerning the cause of their disaster, which ended in a violent fray, wherein a great number where killed.

Aug. 3.

CHAP. XIII.,

The French and British fleets sail from America to the West Indies-D'Estaing appears before Savannah-Besieges it in conjunction with General Lincoln-The Allies are de feated, and retreat-Rhode Island evacuated-Remarkable enterprise of Colonel White-Spain declares in favor of America-Conquers part of Florida-The British take Fort Omoah, in which are immense spoils-D'Estaing returns to the West Indies without effecting any thing in America-The Randolph frigate blown up-The Alfred and Virginia frigates taken by the British-Major Talbot's gallant enterprise-Paul Jones, his exploits on the British coasts-Takes the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough and carries them into the Texel-The British House of Commons set on foot an inquiry into the conduct of Lord and General Howe-Result of the inquiry, particularly as to General Burgoyne-His Character cleared up -Extraordinary evidence given by General Robertson and Mr. Galloway, regarding the American War.

COUNT D'Estaing, as has been already observed, had put into Boston harbor to refit. Zealous in the cause of his master, he had published a proclamation to be dispersed through Canada, inviting the people to return to their original friendship with France, and declaring that all who renounced their allegiance to Great Britain, should certainly find a protector in the king of France. All his endeavors, however, proved insufficient to produce any revolution, or to even form a party of any consequence among the Canadians.

As soon as the French admiral had repaired and victualled his fleet, he took the opportunity, while that of

admiral Biron had been shattered by a storm, Nov. 3. of sailing to the West Indies. On the same day, commodore Hotham with five men of war, a bomb vessel and some frigates, set out from New York, to convoy a number of transports with general Grant and five thousand men to the same theatre of war. The British took St. Lucia, and count D'Estaing took St. Vincent and Grenada. Soon after Dec. 13. the reduction of the latter, the count retired to Cape Francois. During his operations there, the Americans having represented his conduct as totally unserviceable to them, he received

1779. July.

orders from Europe to assist the United States with all possible speed.

In compliance with these orders, he directed his course towards Georgia, with a design, in conjunction with general Lincoln, to recover that province out of the hands of the enemy, and to put it, as well as South Carolina, in such a posture of defence as would effec tually secure them from any future attack. This seemed to be no difficult matter, from the little force with which he knew he should be opposed; and the next object in contemplation was no less than the destruction of the British fleet and army at New York, and their total expulsion from the continent of America. Full of these hopes the French commander arrived off the coast of Georgia, with a fleet consisting Sept. 1. of twenty sail of the line, two of fifty guns and eleven frigates, and a large body of land forces on board. His arrival was so little expected, that several vessels, laden with provisions and military stores, fell into his hands. The Experiment, also, a vessel of fifty guns, commanded by sir James Wallace, and three frigates, were also taken. On the 9th the fleet anchored off Tybee, at the mouth of the river Savannah. On the continent the British troops were divided. Gen. Prevost, with an inconsiderable part, remained at Savannah; but the main force was under colonel Maitland at Port Royal. On the first appearance of the French fleet, an express was sent to colonel Maitland; but it was intercepted by the Americans; so that before he could set out to join the commander in chief, the Americans had secured most of the passes by land, whilst the French fleet effectually blocked up the passage by sea. On the 15th, the French, with count Polaski's light horse, appeared so near the British lines as to skirmish with the piquets; and as the force under general Prevost did not admit of his having any other object in view than the mere defence of the town, he contracted his posts within the cover of the artillery on the works.

D'Estaing sent a summons to Prevost, commanding him, in the name of his most Christian majesty, to yield to a force he was utterly incapable of resisting. Though general Prevost, with the officers about him, were determined, even with the small force they had, to defend the place to the last extremity, yet they thought it prudent to gain as much time as possible. By send ing different messages, therefore, he found means to protract the time considerably, and at last was allowed a truce of twenty-four hours for deliberation. During this interval colonel Maitland, taking advantage of creeks and inlets, and marching over land, arrived with the troops from Port Royal. Royal. VOL. II.