tered Camden the day previous, and an attack was meditated on general Gates, in his canp at Clermont. Both generals put their armies in motion early in the evening of the 15th, and their advance parties met in the woods about 2 o'clock in the morning of the 16th; a conflict ensued, the Americans gave way in some disorder, but they soon recovered, and a skirmishing continued through the night. When morning appeared, both generals made their dispositions to contest the field. An action commenced; the regular troops were firm, but the militia being overpowered by the British bayonets, gave way, and dispersed as they fled. The victory was complete, and the general and his regulars were abandoned to their fate. Several parties of militia, who were advancing to join the army, turned their arms against the fugitives, and thus completed the overthrow. The pursuit continued for more than twenty miles, and the road was strewed with the fragments of this routed army, together with the wounded, the dead and the dying. A party of horse, supported by 200 infantry, at the distance of more than eighty miles from the scene of action, upon the first intelligence, abandoned their ground, and sought safety by flight.

The brave baron De Kalb fell in this action, much and deservedly lamented. He was at the head of the Maryland troops, and second in command. Congress ordered that a monument should be raised to his memory, at Annapolis.

The advantages of this victory were not great. The losses and want of supplies in a sickly season, compelled Cornwallis to return to Camden.

General Greene now arrived, and succeeded general Gates in the command of the southern army.

of

The country still continued to suffer by the ravages Tarleton, who was detached at the head of his cavalry to dislodge general Morgan from his position at the Cow. pens.

He commenced his operations with his usual impetuosity; traversed the country for several days, laying waste every thing in his course, until he arrived at Morgan's position; and commenced an action with the same

wishes of the British government, for an accommodation with the United States.

Agreeable to his instructions, Sir Guy proposed a correspondence with Congress, and solicited of the commander in chief, a passport for his secretary. This was however refused, as the United States had stipulated not to negotiate without the consent of the French govern

ment.

As soon as information of the capture of Cornwallis was received at the French court, the government proposed to Congress the immediate appointment of commissioners to treat of peace. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, were accordingly chosen. These were met by Mr. Fitzherbert, and Mr. Oswald, at Paris, on the part of Great Britain. Provisional articles were signed on the 30th of November, 1782, and the definitive treaty was concluded in September following.

On the 18th of April, general Washington announced the cessation of hostilities between the two countries, in the following general orders.

"The Commander in Chief orders the cessation of hostilities, between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain, to be publicly proclaimed tomorrow at twelve o'clock, at the New Building; and the proclamation which will be communicated herewith, be read tomorrow evening, at the head of every regiment and corps of the army; after which, the chaplains, with the several brigades, will render thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies, particularly for his overruling the wrath of man to his own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease among the nations."

"The Commander in Chief, far from endeavouring to stifle the feeling of joy in his own bosom, offers his most cordial congratulations on the occasion, to all the officers of every denomination-to all the troops of the United States in general, and in particular to those gallant and persevering men who had resolved to defend the rights of their invaded country so long as the war should continue; for these are the men who ought to be considered as the pride and boast of the American army, and who,

crowned with well-earned laurels, may soon withdraw from the field of glory, to the more tranquil walks of civil life.

"While the general recollects the almost infinite variety of scenes through which we have passed with a mixture of pleasure, astonishment, and gratitude-while he contemplates the prospects before us with rapture,-he cannot help wishing that all the brave men, of whatever condition they may be, who have shared in the toils and dangers of effecting this glorious revolution, of rescuing millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the foundation of a great empire, might be impressed with a proper idea of the dignified part they have been called to act, under the smiles of Providence, on the stage of human affairs; for happy, thrice happy, shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabric of Freedom and Empire, on the broad basis of independency; who have assisted in protecting the right of human nature, and establishing an asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions.

"The glorious task for which we first flew to arms, being thus accomplished, the liberties of our country being fully acknowledged and firmly secured, by the smiles of Heaven on the purity of our cause, and the honest exertions of a feeble people, determined to be free, against a powerful nation disposed to oppress them; and the character of those who have persevered through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger, being im mortalized by the illustrious appellation of the Patriot Army,-nothing now remains but for the actors of this mighty scene to preserve a perfect, unvarying consisten cy of character through the very last act; to close the drama with applause; and to retire from the military theatre with the same approbation of angels and men, which have crowned all their former virtuous actions.

"For this purpose, no disorder or licentiousness must be tolerated; every considerate and well disposed soldier must remember it will be absolutely necessary to wait with patience, till peace shall be declared, or Con gress shall be enabled to take proper measures for the

security of the public stores, etc. So soon as these arrangements shall be made, the general is confident there will be no delay in discharging, with every mark of distinction and honour, all the men enlisted for the war, who will then have faithfully performed their engagements with the public. The general has already interested himself in their behalf; and he thinks he need not repeat the assurances of his disposition to be useful to them on the present, and every other proper occasion. In the mean time, he is determined that no military neglects or excesses shall go unpunished, while he retains the command of the army.

"The adjutant general will have such working parties detailed to assist in making the preparation for a general rejoicing as the chief engineer, with the army, shall call for; and the quarter-master-general will also furnish such materials as he may want. The quarter-master-general will, without delay, procure such a number of discharges to be printed as will be sufficient for all the men enlisted for the war; he will please to apply to head quarters for the form.

“An extra ration of liquor to be issued to every man tomorrow, to drink perpetual peace, independence and happiness to the United States of America."

It is not a little remarkable, that these general orders of the commander-in-chief were read to the army, just eight years from the battle of Lexington. The farewell orders of the general were issued to the army on the 2d of November, from which the following is a selection.

"A contemplation of the complete attainment, at a period earlier than could have been expected, of the object for which we contended, against so formidable a power, cannot but inspire us with astonishment and gratitude. The disadvantageous circumstances on our part, under which the war was undertaken, can never be forgotten. The signal interpositions of Providence, in our feeble condition, were such as could scarcely escape the attention of the most unobserving; while the unparaleled perseverance of the armies of the United States, through almost every possible suffering and discouragement, for the space of eight long years, was little short

crowned with well-earned laurels, may soon withdraw from the field of glory, to the more tranquil walks of civil life.

"While the general recollects the almost infinite variety of scenes through which we have passed with a mixture of pleasure, astonishment, and gratitude-while he contemplates the prospects before us with rapture,-he cannot help wishing that all the brave men, of whatever condition they may be, who have shared in the toils and dangers of effecting this glorious revolution, of rescuing millions from the hand of oppression, and of laying the foundation of a great empire, might be impressed with a proper idea of the dignified part they have been called to act, under the smiles of Providence, on the stage of human affairs; for happy, thrice happy, shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabric of Freedom and Empire, on the broad basis of independency; who have assisted in protecting the right of human nature, and establishing an asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions.

"The glorious task for which we first flew to arms, being thus accomplished, the liberties of our country being fully acknowledged and firmly secured, by the smiles of Heaven on the purity of our cause, and the honest exertions of a feeble people, determined to be free, against a powerful nation disposed to oppress them; and the character of those who have persevered through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger, being immortalized by the illustrious appellation of the Patriot Army,-nothing now remains but for the actors of this mighty scene to preserve a perfect, unvarying consisten cy of character through the very last act; to close the drama with applause; and to retire from the military theatre with the same approbation of angels and men, which have crowned all their former virtuous actions.

"For this purpose, no disorder or licentiousness must be tolerated; every considerate and well disposed soldier must remember it will be absolutely necessary to wait with patience, till peace shall be declared, or Congress shall be enabled to take proper measures for the