ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. II. PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON (TRUMBULL'S). . ... FRONTISPIECE. VIGNETTE TITLE. WASHINGTON AT THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON ... TO FACE PAGE 105 LER, MONTGOMERY, AND JAMES CLINTON..... PORTRAITS OF COUNT DE VERGENNES, LORD STIRLING, GENERAL CHARLES LEE, LORD HOWE, AND M. GERARD OLD STATEHOUSE, PHILADELPHIA (ERECTED IN 1785) MAP OF NEW-YORK ISLAND AND PART OF LONG ISLAND 135 209 262 299 354 374 388 PORTRAITS OF GENERALS WAYNE, REED, MIFFLIN, MUHLENBERG, AND ST. PORTRAITS OF STEUBEN, PULASKI, LAFAYETTE, KOSCIUSZKO, AND DE KALB.. 504 PORTRAITS OF GENERAL REIDESEL, MR. BRUDENELL, LADY ACKLAND, MAJOR 535 THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE...... 537 MAP OF THE COUNTRY WEST OF THE HUDSON'S OR NORTH RIVER. 543 609 PORTRAITS OF M'INTOSH, GENERAL LAMB, FRANCIS JOHN CHASTELLUX, GEN- 621 .... M. GERARD, THE FRENCH MINISTER, INTRODUCED TO THE CONTINENTAL CON- 636 PORTRAITS OF GENERAL SULLIVAN, COLONEL BARTON, GENERALS WOOSTER 639 PORTRAIT OF FRANKLIN, BY DUPLESSIS. 644 STORMING OF STONY POINT 659 PORTRAITS OF GENERALS MORGAN, MOULTRIE, GREENE, LINCOLN, AND ROB ERT HOWE ... 671 PORTRAITS OF MARION, PINCKNEY, WILLIAM WASHINGTON, SUMTER, AND PICKENS..... TO FACE PAGE 682 PORTRAITS OF MAJOR TALLMADGE, COLONEL BEVERLY ROBINSON, GENERAL ARNOLD, MAJOR ANDRÉ, AND JOHN PAULDING... VIEW FROM FORT PUTNAM CAPTURE OF ANDRÉ GENERAL MARION AND THE BRITISH OFFICER 687 689 . 691 703 * MAP OF VIRGINIA, THE CAROLINAS, AND GEORGIA. 711 PORTRAITS OF J. EAGER HOWARD, MORDECAI GIST, WILLIAM SMALLWOOD, OTHO .... 718 WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. THE UNION FLAG RAISED-GENERAL HOWE'S MISTAKE THE KING'S SPEECHITS HOSTILE TONE TOWARD THE AMERICANS-ITS EFFECT IN ENGLAND-DESIGNS OF THE MINISTRY-CABINET CHANGES-BARGAIN WITH GERMAN PRINCES FOR MERCENARY TROOPS-HOLLAND'S REBUKE-THE SCHEME DENOUNCED IN PARLIAMENT - -PROCEEDINGS OF THAT BODY-THE MINISTRY TRIUMPHANT—THE KING ASHAMED- CONTEMPT EXPRESSED BY FREDERICK THE GREAT-EFFECT OF THE KING'S SPEECH IN AMERICA -EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION-PAINE'S “COMMON SENSE"-ITS EFFECTS. THE first of January, 1776, the birthday of the new continental army, was marked by two important events, insignificant in themselves, but momentous as connecting links in the chain of current events. On that day Washington caused a union flag to be unfurled over the new army. It was composed of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, with the device of the British union (the combined crosses of St. George and St. Andrew) in the corner where the white stars on a blue field are placed in the flag of the United States. At that time, it must be remembered, the Americans had not only not declared themselves independent of Great Britain, but they still professed loyalty to the king. They continued to call the army in Boston "ministerial," not "royal," troops; and, with a few exceptions, no doubt the great mass of the American people, at that time, did cherish loyal sentiments toward their sovereign. They despised the weak and wicked ministry, and denounced them as enemies to the British constitution and the rights of man, at the same time they earnestly desired reconcilia tion with the parent government. A flag bearing the British and American symbols of union was, therefore, an appropriate and consistent ensign to be unfurled upon that special occasion.* The other event was the reception of copies of the king's speech, on the opening of Parliament, which were sent by General Howe to the headquarters of the American army-a speech, as Washington said in a letter to the president of Congress, "full of rancor and resentment," evincing his royal will to be, that rigorous meas ures should be pursued toward the "rebels," to deprive them of their "constitutional rights and liberties." The bearer of the speech remained awhile at Cambridge; and soon after he left, the union flag alluded to was raised upon Mount Pisgah, in full view of Boston, and thirteen heavy guns were fired, and as many cheers were given. These demonstrations were misinterpreted by Howe as indications that the "gracious speech" of his majesty had made a favorable impression upon Washington and his compatriots, and that they would soon submit and sue for pardon and peace. But the effect of that speech was quite the reverse. "Farcical enough," wrote Washington, "we gave great joy to them without knowing or intending it;" but instead of receiving the speech with favor or fear, it was burned in the midst of deep execrations, mingled with expressions of sorrow because of the delusion of the king. That speech was delivered from the throne at the opening of Parliament, which assembled much earlier than usual, on account, as the king frankly avowed, of the troubles in America. It was. convened on the twenty-sixth of October, while the city of London was in commotion on account of the arrest of Stephen Sayre, an eminent American banker (a friend of Franklin, and recently lordmayor), on a charge of high treason. Both houses were quite full. * What was the character and device of that “union flag?” has always been an open question. A drawing made in the summer of 1776, of the schooner Royal Savage, belonging to Arnold's fleet on Lake Champlain, found by the writer among the official papers of General Schuyler, settles the question. At the mast-head is a striped flag, with the British union in the corner. † On the twenty-third of October, only three days before the assembling of Parliament, two king's ' messengers, attended by constables, repaired to the house of Mr. Sayre, with an order from Lord Rochford for his arrest, and to search for, seize, and carry off his papers. When made acquainted“ with their crrand, he permitted them to examine his papers. They found nothing of consequence. He was taken to Lord Rochford's house, where a magistrate was in readiness, and there he was ÆT. 44.] THE KING'S SPEECH. 3 The speech was unusually long and forcible. The king evidently felt the thickening of dangers at home and in the colonies, and had been persuaded that vigorous, compulsory measures, rather than conciliatory ones, were necessary and proper. 7 "Those," said the king, "who have too long successfully labored to influence my people in America by gross misrepresentations, and to infuse into their minds a system of opinions repugnant to the true constitution of the colonies, and to their subordinate relation to Great Britain, now openly avow their revolt, hostility, and rebellion. They have raised troops, and are collecting a naval force; they have seized the public revenue, and assumed to themselves legislative, executive, and judicial powers, which they already exercise in the most arbitrary manner over the persons and property of their fellow-subjects; and, although many of these unhappy people may still retain their loyalty, and may be too wise not to see the fatal consequence of this usurpation, and may wish to resist it, yet the torrent of violence has been strong enough to compel their acquiescence, till a sufficient force shall appear to support them. They meant only to amuse, by vague expressions of attachment to the parent-state, and the strongest protestations of loyalty to me, whilst they were preparing for a general revolt." The king then declared his desire, and that of Parliament, "to reclaim rather than subdue" the colonists, and added-"The rebellious war now levied is becoming more general, and is manifestly carried on for the purpose of establishing an independent empire. I need not dwell upon the fatal effects of such a plan. The object is too important, the spirit of the British nation too high, the resources with which God hath blessed her too numerous, to give up so many colonies which she has planted with great industry, nursed with great ten accused of having said to Adjutant Richardson, of the king's life-guards (an American by birth), that he intended to seize his majesty on the following Thursday while on his way to open Parliament, to take possession of the Tower, and to overturn the government. Sayre treated the charge with contempt, but was sent to the Tower by order of Lord Rochford. He was liberated upon bail on the twenty-eighth. He was discharged, and immediately commenced a suit against Lord Rochford for faise imprisonment and illegal seizure of his papers. The trial took place in June following, and the jury, under instructions, made a special verdict in his favor of one thousand pounds damages, but with such conditions, that Mr. Sayre was not only deprived of the award, but was compelled to pay the heavy expenses of the suit. |