TH

CHAPTER XXV.

ARRIVAL OF ROCHAMBEAU-TREASON OF ARNOLD.

HE winter at Valley Forge has been described; that at Morristown, then, needs no description. There was the same want, nakedness, and death; the winter was the coldest ever known in New Jersey. So cold was it, that the remainder of the British fleet at New York was imprisoned by ice, and an army with heavy cannon might have marched across either river to attack the city. The pay of the American soldiers was greatly in arrear, in some cases the men having received no money for five months; when paid it was only in Continental scrip, which was so far depreciated, that three months pay of a soldier would not buy a bushel of wheat, and an officer did not receive as much, in purchasing power, as would a teamster, paid in English money. Provisions were so scanty that meat was often entirely lacking, and, when it came, some officers lived for weeks upon bread and cheese, that they might not lessen the rations of the private soldiers. In the midst of these embarrassments Congress reorganized the commissary department, upon such a basis as to leave it still less efficient, and, soon afterwards, the commissary general gave notice to the commander in chief, that he could no longer supply the army with meat, as he had no money, and his credit was exhausted. In this emergency Washington was again compelled to call upon each of the counties of the State to supply for the army a certain fixed quantity of provisions. If these were forthcoming by a given day, their value was to be appraised by a committee, consisting of two magistrates from the county interested, and the commissary-general, and warrants given for the payment of the same. If not so received, or furnished in sufficient quantities, then, it was announced, that enough to make up the proportion of each county would be impressed, and paid for according to value, estimated in the same manner. To the credit of New Jersey, which had been greatly impoverished by supporting the armies of king and colonies alike, it should be said that the requisitions of the general were

almost uniformly met, several counties exceeding the amount demanded. Forages were made by the British during the winter in various directions from New York, for their own condition was far from comfortable. The ice had cut off the means of supplying the army by water, and fuel was so difficult to be obtained, that old vessels and empty houses were destroyed for fire. The Americans could have captured the city, had their army been in a condition for service. As it was, Lord Stirling made a demonstration against twelve hundred British who were encamped upon Staten island, at the head of twice that number of men, but the enemy learned of his coming, and, retiring to their works, sent to New York for reinforcement, so that nothing was accomplished.

Spring, while it alleviated the sufferings of the army, did not remove the embarrassment of its commander, who, with but a handful of men under him, was compelled to provide for the protection of the North against Knyphausen; to consider the defence of the South, and, at the same time, to provide as best he might, against the ever present possibility of a rapid movement by water, and the formation of a junction of both hostile armies against whichever branch of his own might be weaker. In the face of all, there seemed little promise of success in recruiting; the depreciation of the currency stood as a bar in the way of every movement for the betterment of the condition of affairs. Recognizing the root of the trouble, Washington wrote the president of Congress : "It were devoutly to be wished that a plan could be devised by which everything relating to the army could be conducted on a general principle, under the direction of Congress. This alone can give harmony and consistency to our military establishment, and I am persuaded it will be infinitely conducive to public economy." This letter provoked a very warm debate, which reached a climax when it was proposed to appoint a committee of three persons who should visit the camp, and, in connection with the commander in chief, devise means for the improvement of the military system of the country. Of the reception given this proposal, Irving says: "It was objected that this would put too much power into a few hands, especially into those of the commander in chief; that his influence was already too great, that even his virtues afforded motives for alarm; that the enthusiasm of the army, joined to the kind of dictatorship already confided to him, put Congress and the United States at his mercy; that it was not expedient to expose a man of the highest virtue to such temptations." This jealousy of one man power was very characteristic of the day, and that the distrust extended even to Washington, shows how vigorous was American republicanism, even in its swaddling clothes. The committee was, however, appointed, and consisted of General Schuyler, John Mathews, and Nathaniel Peabody. As a result of the investigation, Congress pledged itself to make up to the soldiers the difference between the nominal and the actual value of their pay, and to consider

all payments theretofore made, as simply applying on the gross indebtedness to each. Thus, at last, there was a prospect for placing the army upon an efficient footing.

Early in May, Washington received a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette, announcing his arrival at Boston, and that he would at once push on to headquarters. The commander was greatly affected when he received this welcome announcement, and, upon the arrival of Lafayette, folded the young officer in his arms in the most affectionate manner,—an act of demonstrative affection quite foreign to his custom. The newcomer could not long remain with his older friend, for he was the bearer of important tidings-that a French fleet, under Chevalier de Ternay, was to put to sea early in April, bound for service in America, and convoying a fleet of transports bringing a land force, under the Count de Rochambeau. Having communicated this glad news, he at once hastened to Philadelphia, to report the same to Congress, while Washington turned his attention to preparing for co-operation with the allies against New York. At his suggestion, Lafayette had dispatched letters to Rochambeau and Ternay, apprising them of Washington's opinion, that a campaign against that point would be advisable, and requesting them to make with all speed for Sandy Hook. Washington had little fear that, with the slender garrison and small naval force at New York, he could have trouble in capturing that city, by the aid of the French. His principal anxiety arose from the inefficiency of his own army, and he turned all his energies to finding a remedy.

Washington's first knowledge of the surrender of Charleston, was conveyed on June 1st, by a hand-bill, circulated in New York, and, almost at the same time, he was informed that a fleet of about one hundred war vessels and transports had appeared at Sandy Hook. This latter he took to be a portion of the British force which had been employed in the South, and his fear for the safety of the Hudson was aroused. He soon learned, however, that the report regarding the flotilla was false; but, on the 6th of June, came news that the British were landing at Elizabethtown point, for an incursion into New Jersey. Knyphausen had, in fact, received exaggerated reports of the discontents of the American army, and deemed that a timely demonstration might draw largely from its ranks, and also lead to the re-establishment of British influence in the Jerseys. He had made a grand mistake in accepting these reports at their face value. No sooner was his intention manifest, than signal guns and fires gave warning, and, along every road, by twos and threes, hurried the hardy yeomanry of the colony, to the danger stations. At Connecticut Farms he met his first opposition. This amounted only to a momentary stand; the British, with artillery and reinforcements, soon broke the provincial line, and revenged its temerity by sacking and burning the village. During this barbarous retaliation, Mrs. Caldwell, wife of a fighting chaplain in the American army,

while sitting in a house, with her children beside her, was killed by two musket balls discharged through an open window. Yet this expedition had for one of its objects, the bringing of New Jersey colonists back to fealty to the crown! The death of Mrs. Caldwell drove many a doubtful yeoman to the rebel ranks, and the British paid for her life a hundred times over.

Springfield, on the road to Morristown, had been made the rallying-point of the American army. There was posted in advance, General Maxwell, with his brigade and the levies of the vicinity, while on the heights behind, was Washington, with the main body of the army. Knyphausen halted, reconnoitered, and very wisely turned about, and made the best of his way to Elizabethtown point, his place of debarkation. There he lingered, in indecision, sending a portion of his troops across the channel; then recalling them. On June 18th, Clinton, with a portion of his southern army, actually arrived at New York, and Washington, leaving behind Greene, and Henry Lee, with his light horse, began a weary march toward the Highlands. He had advanced but a short distance, when he received news that the enemy was again moving from Elizabethtown, whereupon he sent reinforcements to Greene, and, himself, fell back to a point where he might at once watch the Hudson, and be in a position to co-operate with the Jersey troops. Knyphausen, five thousand strong, with cavalry and artillery, moved forward, in two columns, one by each road leading from Elizabethtown to Springfield. Both roads were guarded by American advanced parties, while a bridge over the Rahway, a little west of the town, was held by Colonel Angel, with two hundred picked men and artillery. The remainder of the army was thrown upon high ground in the rear of the town. Lee was obliged to retire his advanced party from the Vauxhall road, after making a sharp defense; the British left was met, and held with great determination, by Colonel Dayton, while Angel at the bridge, opposed the vastly superior force of the enemy for more than an hour, and until above one-fourth of his men had been either killed or wounded. Greene finally withdrew to stronger ground, in the rear of Springfield, where the two roads approached each other more nearly, and permitted of his guarding both, without presenting so extended a front. Knyphausen saw that, should he gain Morristown, it would be after fighting every inch of the way, and at the cost of many men; hence, having sacked and burned Springfield, he retired, on the night of the 23d, to Elizabethtown, having lost many more men than had the Americans; having gained nothing but more bitter enmity for himself and his British employers. By 6 o'clock in the morning, his rear had reached Staten island, and the last British mission to New Jersey was at an end.

The evident design of Howe was to menace Washington in several directions, and the latter soon became convinced that the enemy would not immediately take any active steps against him. Hence, he so placed his force as