them. They rioted upon the plunder of the country, and enjoyed in prospect the fruits of an assured and decisive victory.

Washington saw that this tide of ill fortune must be stemmed-must even be rolled back upon the enemy-or it would soon overwhelm his country. He resolved to hazard all that was left in one vigorous effort for victory. On the night of the 25th December, at the head of two thousand four hundred men, he crossed the Dela-ware at Trenton, surprised a body of Hessians stationed at that place, took nine hundred prisoners, and immediately recrossed, having lost but nine of his men.

This sudden and severe blow awakened the enemy to activity. Cornwallis, who had repaired to New York, intrusting to his inferior officers the task of finishing the war, returned with additional troops, to regain the ground that had been lost. He concentrated his forces at Princeton, and soon after, Washington having been joined by a body of Pennsylvania militia, and persuaded the New England to serve six weeks longer, again crossed the Delaware and took post at Trenton.

cans.

On the 2d of January, 1777, the greater part of the British army marched to attack the AmeriIn the evening, they encamped near Trenton, in full expectation of a battle and victory in the morning. Washington, sensible of the inferiority of his force; sensible too, that flight would be almost as fatal as a defeat, conceived another bold project, which he resolved instantly to exe

cute.

About midnight, having renewed his fires, he silently decamped, and gaining by a circuitous route the rear of the enemy, marched towards Princeton, where he presumed Cornwallis had left a part of his troops. At sunrise the van of the American forces met unexpectedly two British regiments. A sharp action ensued; the former gave way. At this crisis, when all was at stake, the commander-in-chief led the main body to the attack. The enemy were routed, and fled. Fortunately the heroic Washington, though exposed to both fires, and but a few yards distant from either party, escaped unhurt.

Instead of pursuing them, he pressed forward to Princeton, where one regiment yet remained. Part saved themselves by a precipitate flight; about three hundred were made prisoners. The British loss in killed was upwards of one hundred; the American was less, but in the number were the brave General Mercer, and several valuable officers. Among the wounded was Lieutenant James Monroe, afterwards raised to the highest office in the gift of his fellow citizens.

In consternation, the British army immediately evacuated Trenton, and retreated to New Brunswick. The inhabitants, resuming their courage, and giving full force to their rage, which fear had smothered, took revenge for the brutalities they had suffered. The enemy were driven from all their posts in New Jersey, except Amboy and Brunswick, and the American army obtained secure winter-quarters at Morristown.

The brilliant victories at Trenton and Prince

T

ton, raised from the lowest depression the spirits of the American people. They regarded Washington as the saviour of his country. He became the theme of eulogy throughout Europe. And having displayed as occasions demanded, the opposite qualities of caution and impetuosity, he received the honourable and appropriate appellation of the American Fabius.

CHAPTER XIX.

CAMPAIGN OF 1777.

THE firmness manifested by congress, when disaster and defeat had almost annihilated the American army, entitles the members to the gratitude and admiration of every friend of freedom. They exhibited no symptom of terror or dismay. They voted to raise an army to take the place of that which was to be disbanded at the end of the year; and made sensible by experience, that short enlistments had been the cause of most of the misfortunes of their country, they resolved that the new levies should be enlisted to serve three years, or during the war, at the option of the individual recruits. To defray expenses, they made large emissions of paper money. And to evince their firm determination to the world, they solemnly declared that they would listen to no terms of peace which required a relinquishment of

their independence, or which should deprive other nations of a free trade to their ports.

Relying on the inveterate enmity of France against Great Britain, they sent commissioners to that court, with instructions to solicit a loan of money, a supply of munitions of war, and an acknowledgment of the independence of the United States. These commissioners were Dr. Franklin, Silas Dean, and Arthur Lee. Franklin arrived at

Paris in December. The cause of which he was the advocate, and his own great fame as a philosopher, procured him a flattering reception from all ranks of people. America, her minister, her struggle against oppression, became the themes of popular discourse, and the government itself was rendered in secret propitious to her cause.

The ministry permitted arms, covertly taken from the public arsenals, to be conveyed to the United States. They connived at the sale, in their West India islands, and even in the ports of France, of the prizes taken by American privateers. The value of these prizes made in the year 1776, was computed at five millions of dollars, and far exceeded that of the captures made by the enemy.

So popular was the cause of the United States, and so exalted the character of their military leader, that many French officers sought an opportunity of engaging in their service. Among these the young Marquis de la Fayette was most conspicuous for his rank, and most distinguished for his ardour and enthusiasm. At an early period, he communicated to the American agents his wish to join the republican armies. At first, they

encouraged his zeal, but learning the disasters. which preceded the victory at Trenton, they, with honourable frankness, communicated the information to him, and added that they were so destitute of funds, that they could not even provide for his passage across the ocean.

"If your country," replied the gallant youth, "is indeed reduced to this extremity, it is at this moment that my departure to join her armies will render her the most essential service.". He immediately hired a vessel to convey him to America, where he arrived in the spring of 1777. He was received with cordial affection by the people, became the bosom friend of Washington, solicited permission to serve without pay; and was appointed major-general in the army.

In the last campaign, more prisoners had been taken by the British than by the Americans. They were detained at New York, and were confined in churches and prison ships, where they endured the extremity of wretchedness. They were exposed, without fire, and almost without clothes, to the inclemency of the severe winter; were often whole days without food, and when food was offered, it was but a miserable pittance, damaged and loathsome. Many died of hunger, and more of diseases, produced by their complicated sufferings.

Washington remonstrated with warmth, and threatened retaliation. After his victories in New Jersey, their treatment was less inhuman. An exchange was agreed upon, but many, when attempting to walk from their places of confine