The allied armies.

Deceptive letters.

March for Virginia.

Steuben. While lying at Williamsburg, he received [June 29] orders from General Clinton to take post near the sea, in order to reinforce the garrison at New York, if necessary, which was now menaced by the combined American and French armies. He crossed the James river [July 9] at Old Jamestown,' and proceeded by land to Portsmouth; but disliking that situation, he went to Yorktown, on the York river, and commenced fortifying that place [Aug.] and Gloucester Point, opposite.

18. While these movements were progressing at the South, the allied armies had met on the Hudson river [July 6], in Westchester county, for the purpose of attacking Sir Henry Clinton, in New York. The Americans were under the immediate command of Washington, and the French under the Count de Rochambeau.2 Count de Grasse was then in command of a French fleet in the West Indies, and Washington confidently expected his aid in the enterprise. But while preparing to strike the blow, Clinton was reinforced [Aug. 11] by nearly three thousand troops from Europe; and intelligence came from De Grasse that he could not give his co-operation. Thus foiled, Washington turned his thoughts to Virginia; and when, a few days afterward, he learned from De Barras,3 at Newport, that De Grasse was about to sail for the Chesapeake, he resolved to march southward.

COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU.

19. Washington wrote deceptive letters to General Greene in New Jersey, and sent them so as to be intercepted by Sir Henry Clinton. He thus blinded the British commander to his real intentions; and it was not until the allied armies had crossed the Hudson, passed through New Jersey, and were marching from the Delaware toward the head of Chesapeake Bay,* that Clinton was convinced that an attack upon the city of New York was not the object of Washington's movements. It was then too late for successful pursuit, and he endeavored to recall the Americans by sending Arnold to desolate the New England coast, Although there was a terrible massacre perpetrated by the marauders at Fort Griswold, [Sept. 6,

COUNT DE GRASSE.

1. Here he was attacked by Wayne, who, after striking the British a severe piow, hastily retreated, with but little loss, back to the main army, two miles distant.

2. Born at Vendome, in France, in 1725. He was a distinguished officer in the French army, and after his return from America, was made a field marshal by his king. He was pensioned by Bonaparte, and died in 1807.

3. The successor of Admiral de Ternay, in the command of the French fleet. Ternay died at Newport. 4. This is generally called, in the letters and histories of the time, "Head of Elk," the narrow, upper part of the Chesapeake being called Elk river. There stands the village of Elkton.

5. Arnold landed at the mouth of the Thames, and proceeded to attack Fort Trumbull, near New London. The garrison evacuated it, and the village was burned. Another division of the expedition went up on the

QUESTIONS.-18. What did the allied armies do? What did they attempt? Why was the scheme abandoned? 19. How did Washington mislead Clinton? What did the allied armies do? What did Clinton attempt? and how? What can you tell of Arnold's expedition to Connecticut? What naval battle occurred?

Naval battle.

Siege of Yorktown. 1781], anl New London, opposite, almost in sight of the traitor's birth-place,' was burned, it did not check the progress of Washington. Nor did reinforcements sent by water to aid Cornwallis, effect their object, for when Admiral Graves arrived off the Capes [Sept. 5], De Grasse was there to guard the entrance to the Chesapeake.' He went out to fight Graves, but after a partial action both withdrew, and the French anchored [Sept. 10] within the Capes.3

20. The allied armies, about twelve thousand strong, arrived before Yorktown on the 28th of September, 1781, and after compelling the British to abandon their outworks, commenced a regular siege. They opened a heavy cannonade upon the town and the British works on the evening of the 9th of October. They hurled red-hot balls among the English shipping in front of the town, and burned several vessels. Disasters were gathering a fearful web of difficulty around Cornwallis. Despairing of aid from Clinton, and perceiving his strong fortifications crumbling, one by one, under the terrible storm of iron from a hundred heavy cannons, he attempted to escape on the night of the 16th, by crossing to Gloucester, breaking through the French troops stationed there, and making forced marches toward New York.

When the van of his troops cmbarked, the waters of the York river were perfectly calm, although dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. Then a storm arose as sudden and as fearful as a summer tornado, dispersed the boats, compelled many to put back, and the attempt was abandoned. Hope now faded, and on the 19th, Cornwallis surrendered the posts at Yorktown and Gloucester, with almost seven thousand British soldiers, and his shipping and seamen, into the hands of Washington and De Grasse. Clinton appeared at the

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east side of the Thames, attacked Fort Griswold at Groton, and after Colonel Ledyard had surrendered it, he and almost every man in the fort were cruelly murdered, or badly wounded. There is a monument to their memory, at Groton.

1. At Norwich, at the head of the Thames, a few miles north of New London. See note 1, page 246. 2. Graves intended to intercept a French squadron which was on its way with heavy cannons and military stores for the armies at Yorktown. He was not aware that De Grasse had left the West Indies.

3. The place of anchorage was in Lynn Haven Bay. The hostile fleets were in sight of each other for five successive days, but neither party was anxions to renew the combat.

4. The whole of the American and French forces, employed in the siege, amounted to a little over sixteen thousand men. Of the Americans, about seven thousand were regular troops, and four thousand militia. The French troops numbered about five thousand, including those brought by De Grasse from the West Indies.

5. The British lost one hundred and fifty-six killed, three hundred and twenty-six wounded, and seventy missing. The combined armies lost, in killed and wounded, about three hundred. Among the spoils were

QUESTIONS.-20. What can you tell of the siege of Yorktown? What was the result?

Embarrassments of the government.

The Federal Constitution.

heavy debts, foreign and domestic,' and the Articles of Confederation2 gave Congress no power to discharge them, if it had possessed the ability. On its recommendation, however, the individual States attempted to raise their respective quotas, by direct taxation.3 But all were impoverished by the war, and it was found to be impossible to provide means even to meet the arrears of pay due to the soldiers of the Revolution. Each State had its local obligations to meet, and Congress could not coerce compliance with its recommendations.

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9. It was now perceived that, while the Articles of Confederation formed a sufficient constitution of government during the progress of war, they were not adapted to the public wants in the new condition of an independent sovereignty, in which the people found themselves. There appeared a necessity for a greater centralization of power, by which the States would not only be drawn into a closer union, but the General Government could act more efficiently for the public good. A better system of commercial regulations was demanded; and in September, 1786, delegates from six States convened at Annapolis, in Maryland, to consider the matter. This Convention suggested the propriety of holding another, for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation." For that labor, representatives from all the States but Rhode Island, met in the State House in Philadelphia," in May, 1787, and chose General Washington to preside. After long deliberation,' and a clear perception of the utter inutility of the existing organic laws, the Convention cast aside the Articles of Confederation, and formed an entirely new instrument-the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION under which we now live.

10. The Constitution was submitted to Congress [Sept. 28, 1787], and that

They found him at his plow. He immedietely complied, raised an army, subdued the enemy, and after bearing the almost imperial dignity for fourteen days, he resigned his office, and returned to his plow. How like Cincinnatus were Washington and his compatriots of the War for Independence.

1. According to an estimate made by the Register of the Treasury in 1790, the entire cost of the War for Independence, was at least one hundred and thirty millions of dollars, exclusive of vast sums lost by individuals and the several States. The Treasury payments amounted to almost ninety-three millions, chiefly in Continental bills. The foreign debt amounted to eight millions of dollars; and the domestic debt, due chiefly to the officers and soldiers of the Revolution, was more than thirty millions of dollars.

2. Note 3, page 212.

3. This effort produced great excitement in many of the States; and in Massachusetts, in 187, the people openly rebelled. The insurrection became so formidable, that an armed force of several thousand men was required to suppress it. The insurgents were led by Daniel Shay, and it is known in history as Shay's Rebellion.

4. In the Convention which framed the Federal Constitution, no subject created more earnest debate than a proposition for the General Government to assume the debts of the States contracted in providing means for carrying on the war. The debts of the several States were unequal. Those of Massachusetts and South Carolina, amounted to more than ten millions and a half of dollars, while the debts of all the other States did not extend, in the aggregate, to fifteen millions. This assumption was finally made, to the amount of $21,500,000. See verse 4, page 265. 5. Verse 2, page 211. 6. Page 202. 7. Such conflicting interests were represented in this Convention, that it was doubtful, for a long time, whether the members would come to any agreement: and some proposed a final adjournment. At this momentous crisis, Dr. Franklin arose, and said to the President: "How has it happened, sir, that while groping so long in the dark, divided in our opinions, and now ready to separate without accomplishing the great objects of our meeting, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room, for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered." After a few more remarks, he moved that "henceforth, prayers, imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business." The resolution was not adopted, as the convention, except three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary. Objections were also made, because there were no funds to defray the expenses of such clerical services.

QUESTIONS.-8. What was the general condition of the country? 9. What defects were seen in the form of Government of the United What instrument was formed?

What was done for the common good?
States? What was done to improve it?

Commencement of the new government.

Expiration of the old Congress. body sent copies of it to the several State Legislatures, in order that it might be considered in conventions of the people.' These were assembled, and the requisite number of States having ratified it," Congress fixed the time for choosing electors for President and Vice-President; the time for making choice of these officers, and the time and place when and where the government should commence operations under the new Constitution. On the 4th of March, 1789, the old Continental Congress expired, and the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION became the organic law of the new Republic. Thus was consummated the last act in the War for Independence.' Then the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Commenced their glorious career."

1. The new Constitution found many and able opponents. There was a reluctance on the part of the people of several States to resign any of their State sovereignty into the hands of a Federal or central power. There were long and violent debates in the State conventions; and the newspapers were filled with discussions. The Constitution found the most efficient support in a series of essays called The Federalist, written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay. They had a powerful effect upon the public mind, and accomplished much in bringing about a ratification of the Constitution by a majority of the States.

2. The conventions of the several States ratified the Constitution in the following order :-Delaware, Dec. 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1787; New Jersey, Dec. 18, 1787; Georgia, Jan. 2, 1788; Connecticut, Jan. 9, 1788 Massachusetts, Feb. 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 26, 1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, Nov. 21, 1789; Rhode Island, May 29, 1790.

3. The first electors were to be chosen the first Wednesday in January, 1789, and they were to meet and choose a President and Vice-President of the United States, on the first Wednesday in February. The new government went into operation on the first Wednesday in March, 1789, in the city of New York. The inauguration of the first President [verse 1, p. 263] did not take place until the 20th of April following.

4. During the first session of Congress under the Federal Constitution, sixteen amendments to that instrument were agreed to, ten of which were subsequently ratified by the States, and now form a part of the great compact.

5. For details of the history, biography, scenery, relics, and traditions of the War for Independence, see Lossing's Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution.

QUESTIONS.-10. What was done with the Federal Constitution? What important acts were done according to its provisions? What was the crowning act of the War for Independence?

1. WHEN the Constitution' had received the approval of the people and was made the supreme law of the Republic, all minds and hearts were turned toward Washington as

the best man to perform the responsible duties of chief magistrate of the nation. He was chosen [April 6, 1789] President of the United States by the unanimous vote of the electors, and John Adams was made Vice-President.

1. This instrument, in language and general arrangement, is the work of Gouverneur Morris, into whose hands the convention of 1787 placed the crude materials which had been adopted at various times during the session. Gouverneur Morris was born near New York, in 1752. He was a lawyer, and active in public life. In 1792 he was appointed minister to France, and after his return he was a legislator for many years.

He died in 1816.

2. These are men elected by the people in the various States, to meet and choose a President and VicePresident of the United States. Their number is equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the several States are entitled. So the people do not vote directly for the Chief Magistrate. Formerly, the man who received the highest number of votes was declared to be President, and he who re

QUESTIONS.-1. What was done when the Constitution was adopted? What can you tell of the first President, and his inauguration?