into, and entitled to all the advantages of, this union; but no other colony shall be admitted into the same unless such admission be agreed to by nine States.

ART. 12. All bills of credit emitted, moneys borrowed, and debts contracted by or under the authority of Congress, before the assembling of the United States, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the United States, for payment and satisfaction whereof, the said United States and the public faith are solemnly pledged.

ART. 13. Every State shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress assembled on all questions which, by this confederation, are submitted to them. And the articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.

And whereas, It hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress to approve of and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual union: Know ye that we, the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained. And we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress assembled on all questions. which, by the said confederation, are submitted to them; and that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the States we respectively represent, and that the union shall be perpetual. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, the ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord 1778, and in the third year of the Independence of America.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FROM 1776 TO 1788.

July 4-The British troops had been driven from Boston about the middle of March. From that time to the last of June no British soldiers had a foothold anywhere in the thirteen colonies. England had been preparing, however. The aid of German troops had been secured, and an expedition made ready. It was a fortunate respite, after a great success, and finding the mother country inexorable in her determination, in which to carefully consider the situation. That consideration had produced that noble protest of freemen against tyranny The Declaration of Independence. It now remained to make it good by force of arms against a rich and powerful European empire, which was summoning its energies to the work of subjugation. On the 28th of June General Howe landed the late garrison of Boston, and other troops, on Staten Island.

July 12-Lord Howe arrived from England; Gen. Clinton returned from his repulse at Fort Moultrie, several Hessian regiments soon after arrived, and the British force amounted to 24,000; Gen. Carleton was near Lake Champlain with 13,000 men. The forces under Washington did not amount to half as many, but the British had a salutary respect for American prowess, and were laboring to win the American leaders back by promises of pardon.

Aug. 27—The battle of Long Island. The Americans, 9,000 strong, are attacked by the British, 15,000 strong. The Americans are worsted, but hold their intrenched camp. Washington silently and safely retreats during the night. The Americans lost 1,600 in killed,

wounded and prisoners. British killed and wounded, 400.

Sept. 1—General Howe sends General Sullivan (American, taken prisoner in the late battle), to Congress to discuss a compromise of the dispute between England and the Colonies. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge, are appointed to meet English commissioners. They meet on Staten Island, but can make no arrangements.

Sept. 15-British army takes possession of New York. General Washington's army being largely made up of militia, which come and go, he adopts "The Fabian Policy" of avoiding general engagements, keeping the enemy harrassed and in constant movement. This saved the American cause.

Sept. 26-Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee appointed commissioners to France.

Nov. 1-Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, chosen President of Congress.

Nov. 16-Fort Washington, at the north end of Manhattan Island, assaulted by the British, in force. The fort was taken with 2,000 prisoners. The British loss was 1,200 in killed and wounded.

Nov. 18-Americans evacuate Fort Lee, on the Hudson, above New York.

Nov. 28-Washington retreats across the Delaware into Pennsylvania.

Dec. 7-Gen. Lee disobeys the instructions of Washington and is taken prisoner by the British.

Dec. 8-A British naval force takes possession of Newport, Rhode Island.

Dec. 12-The British army being stationed along the Delaware, in New Jersey, Congress adjourns from Philadelphia to Baltimore.

Dec. 26-27-Washington suddenly crosses the Delaware and surprises Trenton. He captures 1,000 Hessians and

six cannon, with a loss of four killed.

In this year

about 350 British merchant vessels had been taken by Americans.

1777.

Jan. 2--Washington having re-occupied Trenton, Lord Cornwallis marches a strong force to attack him.

Jan. 3-The American army silently retreat in the night and capture Princeton, with 300 prisoners. British loss.

in killed and wounded, 100. American loss about the same. General Mercer killed.

Feb. 6-Letters of Marque and Reprisal granted by the English against American commerce.

March 4-Congress returns to Philadelphia.

23-American stores destroyed at Peekskill, New York. April 26-Danbury, Connecticut, burned by the British. May 24--This outrage is retaliated by Colonel Meigs, of Connecticut, who lands on Long Island with 200 men, destroys twelve vessels, large quantities of provision and forage, takes ninety prisoners, and retreats without the loss of a man.

May 27-Button Gwinnett, of Georgia, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is killed in a duel. June 22--Gen. Howe evacuates New Brunswick, New Jer

sey, and retires in order to draw Washington into a battle. Washington advances till he penetrates the design of the enemy, when he retreats to a strong position and foils the British.

June 30-General Howe embarks 16,000 troops at Staten Island for Philadelphia. About this time the French Marquis De Lafayette, a youth of nineteen, arrived

in America, with twelve other foreign officers, to aid the American cause.

July 1—British Gen. Burgoyne appears before Fort Ticonderoga.

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5--Americans evacuate Ticonderoga.

7 Americans retreating from Ticonderoga, are defeated at Hubbardton.

7 United States frigate Hancock captured by three English vessels.

"29 Burgoyne's army, constantly victorious, reaches the

Hudson.

Aug. 3—British Gen. St. Leger invests Fort Stanwix (Utica. New York).

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American Gen. Herkimer defeated near Fort Stanwix. American loss 400. Gen. Herkimer killed. "16 Battle of Bennington, Vermont. A victory for the "Green Mountain Boys." British lost 200 killed, 600 prisoners, 1,000 stand of arms, 1,000 swords, and four cannon. American loss fourteen killed and forty-two wounded. This turned the tide against Burgoyne.

"22 Gen. Arnold raises the siege of Fort Stanwix. St. Leger loses his artillery, tents, and stores.

"11 Washington's army defeated by the British at the battle of the Brandywine, near Wilmington, Delaware. Washington retreats in good order.

"18 Congress adjourns from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania

"19 Battle of Stillwater between Gates, American, and Gen. Burgoyne. Burgoyne held the field, but lost 500 men; Gates 300.

Sept. 16--Washington advances across the Schuylkill to attack the British, when a violent storm stops the conflict. The arms of the Americans are rendered unserviceable by the rain.