Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-31

the former yielded, and immense preparations
were set on foot In the meantime, Washing
ton watched with the deepest anxiety the op.
eratons of Lafayette and Greene in the South,
fondly hoping that their successes would draw
off large re-inforcements from the army in New
York, and thus materially weaken the garrison,
Robert Morris, who had been appointed super
intendant of finance, animated with the same
spirit of self-devotion as Washington, sent for
ward voluntarily two thousand barrels Of flour
to the army, which he had purchased on his
own credit, promising to follow il with n
large sum of money, 10 be raised in the same
way. ., .i... -
In the mean time orders had been issued 10
the different sections of the army, and they
closed rapidly 10 upon the Hudson, forming a
junction at Peekskill. Washington on the Cd
of July, left his tents standing and his baggage
behind, and rapidly descended the river, hoping
TO take the enemy's garrison by surprise at
Kingsbridge and posts in the vicinity by sur
prise. The night before, Lincoln, with strong
detachment, passed down the stream with muf-
fled oars, and landing mile below Yonkers',
pushed rapidly and silently over the hills in
the darkness, unobservcd by the British light
horse, and before daylight drew up near Kings
bridge. But the enemy's pickets, hearing the
tread Of the advancing columns, and beholdng
through the gloom the advance parties, open
ed a brisk FIRE. Washington, who had march
ed with the main army all night, was already
on the slope Of Valentines Hill, when the
sharp rattle of musketry was borne by on the
night air. The order to march was instantly
] Ifri,r nj
support of Lincoln. The enemy retired be-
hind their works, and DE Lancey, stationed on
Harlem river, also aroused by the firing, has,i-
ly retreated, before the Duke dc Lauzum,
approaching by way of Hartford could cut him
of. BafileG in this attempt, Washington with
drew, and on the lth Of July, pitched his camp
near Dobbs' Ferry. Two days after, the
heads Of the French columns appeared in
view, with drums beating, and colors flying, and
were received with enthusiasm by the whole
army.
Rochambeau had rapidly marched them from
Newport in four divisions, by way of Hartford,
one regiment, that of Saintonge, never hating
for single days rest the entire distance. -
As Washington's army lay in two lines, rest
ing on the Hudson, the French took position
on the left, extending in "A single line TO the
Bronx. As the national colors of the two ar
mics swayed away in the breeze, 10y and en-
ihnsiasm animated every heart, and glorious
issue to the summer campaign WIS confidently
expected.
But just in proportion as foreign aid was re-
ceived, the colonies especially those of New
England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New
j ls..1
in slowly. i'slisi i
The mission Of Lanrens had been partially
successful. France promised six millions Of
liyres, and the king had pledged himself TO
negotiate loan for the United States for ten
millions, so that at The close Of the year he
would have furnished in all twenty-five mil
lions. a.. al-
The two armies remained inactive in their
encampment for a fortnight, but Washington
kept in constant communication with the South
ern armies through chain Of expresses. On
the 18th, he, and three French generals, cross
ed the rive at Dobbs' Ferry, aud escorted by a
hundred and fifty men assembled the hills that
terminate the Palisades, and spent the entire
day in surveying through their glasses the por-
tion Of the enemy the northern part Of the
island. Three days after, with FIVE thousand
men, he advanced to reconnoitre the works at
Kingsbridge and cut of such of Delaney S
\ light troops as might be found without The lines
The next day the army displayed on the heights
opposite the enemy. The latter was wholly
unaware of their approach ill their sudden ap-
partition on the neishhering hills announced it..
! Washington and Roehambeau then took with
them the engineers and reconnoilred the enemy's
works. They afterwards went over 10 Throg s
Neck and measured the distance across to
Long Island. The enemy discovered the par
" and leyeled some cannon shot at them,
which, however, passed harmlessly by. Hav-
I ing finished the reconnaissance, the whole d.
vision retired, reaching the camp at midnight.
1t was impossible, Of course, while the
French fleet at Newport was blockaded 10 eff
feet any thing against New York. Washing
ton, therefore, awaited with the deepest ankle
4 ty the arrival Of Count de Grasse. lie dis
patched to General Forman, at Monmouth, a
letter to the Count, written in Rocirambeau S
cypher, with directions TO keep ceaseless watch
on the heights, and the moment the fleet
hove in sight to proceed on board and deliver
it. a. se-f
In the meantime affairs in the South were
assuming more favorable aspect. Greene had
handed Corvallis over to Lafayette, and this
gallant young commander, on the very day that
the French army, under Rochambeau, marched
with flying colors into the camp of Washing
ton at Dobbs' Ferry, fought the battle of Green
Spring, in which he and Wayne showed them
selves worthy of each other, and the trust COM
mited to them. The next night CORVALLIS,
reireating before she boy whom he coniemp-
tuousy declared could not ''eseepe'' him, pass
ed James river and afterwards proceeded to
Portsmouth. Here he received orders to take
position on the Chesapeake which could
serve as the basis Of future operations. Sc
leciing Yorktown as the most secure and ia
vorable, he moved his forces thther and be-
f gan to entrepch himself. BY the 22d of Aa-
gust his army was concentrated and well Sc
cured. Hfn
The constant success of his favorite and
friend, gratifed Washington exceedingly, who
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