ington lost only four men-two being killed in the battle, and two frozen to death.

19. Retreat of Washington.-This bold and successful stroke went far to restore confidence; but Washington's whole army at this time scarcely exceeded five thousand men. With this meager force he was confronted at Trenton (Jan. 2, 1777) with a large body of troops under Cornwallis. Escape seemed impossible, for the river was filled with floating ice; and to risk a battle with a force so much superior, seemed full of peril. Knowing that a detachment of the British had been left at Princeton, he quickly broke up his camp during the night, leaving the fires burning, so as to deceive the enemy, and rapidly marched toward that place.

20. Battle of Princeton.-At sunrise (January 3d), the van of his forces met, near Princeton, a division of the British on their way to join Cornwallis. At first the American militia gave way; but Washington, coming up with a select. corps, turned the tide of battle, and routed the enemy. The British loss was severe; that of the Americans, though not so great, included one of their best officers, the brave General Mercer. After this victory, Washington successfully retreated to the heights of Morristown, where he took up his quarters for the rest of the winter.

21. Attack on Philadelphia.-In vain did Howe, on the opening of spring, strive to draw Washington into a general engagement. All his maneuvers were frustrated by the caution, skill, and watchful prudence of the American comand excited by wine, he thrust the missive into his pocket. The next notice he received was the roll of the drums and the firing of the muskets that told of the attack upon his camp. After the battle, he was carried to the house of a Quaker family to die. Washington and Greene stood by the deathbed of the soldier, uttering words of sympathy for his sad fate.

"His career as a general had been brief, but long enough to secure him a lasting renown. His name remains one of the consecrated names of the Revolution."-Irving's Life of Washington.

19. The condition of Washington? What stratagem did he adopt? 20. Account of the Battle of Princeton? Where is Princeton (Map, p. 120)? Its results? Wash ington's winter quarters? 21. Design of Howe? How prevented by Washington? What course was then taken by Howe? By Washington?

mander.* Unable, therefore, to reach Philadelphia by way of New Jersey, Howe withdrew his troops to Staten Island,

Elkton

S

Pottsgrove

White Marsh

Valley Forge

Paoli Germantown

Philadelphia

Chestero

MIFFLIN

CHAD'S

FORD

Wilmington

Newcastle

DEL
ELAWARE,

and embarking on board the fleet, sailed to the Chesapeake, and landed near the head of the Bay. Washington, discovering his plan, marched to the Brandywine, determined to make a stand for the defense of the city.

DELAWARE

NEW JERSEY

FORT MERCER

R. Red Bank

sion of Chad's Ford.

22. Battle of the Brandywine. Here, on the 11th of September, a battle was fought, the Americans holding posses

A part of the British, however, crossed the stream above, and while the Americans were attacked in front, marched round in the rear, as at the battle of Long Island. The patriots were routed, notwithstanding the efforts and valor of the officers, among whom were La Fayettet and Pulaski. The British soon after took Philadelphia, in spite of all the efforts of Washington to save it, but the troops were quartered chiefly at Germantown.

23. Battle of Germantown.-Washington, having learned that detachments had been withdrawn from the British

* On this account Washington was called the American Fabius, from the resemblance of his policy to that of the celebrated Roman general, who, contending with Hannibal, avoided engagements, and harassed him by continual delay.

Early in 1776, Congress sent Silas Deane to France, to solicit aid. He was afterward joined by Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee. While France could give no assistance openly to the Americans, without incurring the hostility of Great Britain, she secretly sent them supplies of money, arms, provisions, and clothing. The Marquis de La Fayette fitted out a vessel at his own expense, sailed to America, and joined the army, having been appointed by Congress a major-general. He arrived in 1777, and the battle of the Brandywine was the first engagement in which he took part. La Fayette was born in France in 1757, and died in 1834.

Count Pulaski was a distinguished Polish nobleman, who had previously joined the American army as a volunteer soldier in the cause of liberty.

22. Account of the battle of the Brandywine? Where was that battle fought (Map, p. 122)? Capture of Philadelphia? Where were the British troops quartered?

camp at Germantown in order to reduce the American forts which commanded the entrance to the Delaware, made an attack on the remaining forces, but was unsuccessful (Oct. 4). Forts Mifflin and Mercer, on the Delaware, soon after surrendered to the British, leaving the approaches to Philadelphia free to their fleet.

WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AT BRANDYWINE.

24. Condition of the Army at Valley Forge.-During the winter of 1777-8, Washington's troops were quartered in huts at Valley Forge. Here the patriot soldiers suffered.

23. Account of the battle of Germantown? Where is Germantown? Ans.-It is now a part of Philadelphia. What forts surrendered? How were those forts sitnated (Map, p. 122)?

greatly from the want of food, clothing, and shelter. Many were obliged to lie on the ground, or, being without blankets, to sit up all night at the fires. At one time more than a thousand soldiers had not a shoe to their feet; and their path could often be traced by the blood which their naked feet left in the snow.

25. Burgoyne's Invasion. Meanwhile, stirring events had occurred in the north. General Burgoyne, with an army of ten thousand British and German troops, Canadians, and Indians, had invaded New York by way of Lake Champlain.*

* A force was also sent under St. Leger to capture the forts on the Mohawk; and in an attempt to succor Colonel Gansevoort at Fort Schuyler, General Herkimer was slain. Arnold, with a small number of men, marched to the relief of the place, and accomplished the object by a stratagem. A half-witted boy, who had been taken prisoner, was instructed to go to the British commander, and give the alarm that the American army was near.

24. Condition of the American Army at Valley Forge? Where was Valley Forge (Map. p. 122)? 25. Invasion from Canada? What posts were captured? How were they situated (Map, p. 126)? How was Burgoyne's march delayed?

Crown Point and Ticonderoga were soon taken (July 5), and Burgoyne advanced to Fort Edward. But his march had been delayed, for General Schuyler, who had the command of the American forces, ordered the roads to be obstructed.*

26. Battle of Bennington.-When Burgoyne arrived at Fort Edward, he found himself in want of supplies. He therefore sent Colonel Baum (bowm) to seize the stores which the Americans had collected at Bennington. Baum was met

Rushing into the camp with his coat pierced by musket balls, he told the British that the Americans were coming. When asked how many they were, he pointed upward to the leaves of the trees. St. Leger was so much alarmed, that he hastily abandoned the siege, leaving his tents and artillery behind him.

* Many outrages were committed on this march by the Indians. The murder of Miss McCrea excited wide-spread abhorrence. This young lady had been captured by some Indians attached to Burgoyne's army, or had accepted the escort of the Indians; and while they were conducting her to his camp, she was killed, they asserted, by a shot intended for her captors; but her scalp was brought by the savages into Burgoyne's camp.

26. Account of the battle of Bennington? Where is Bennington (Map, p. 129)?