Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-04
From the Richmond .Whiq.


ses, we turn to the great example of our anoes-
tors in struggle very sim lar to that In Whicn
we are engaged, in its origin as well as Its INCL
dents /
The War of the Revolution was one 10 whicn
the disparity of the contending powers was Tar
greater than at present. The British had every
advantage that numbers, experience Id warfare
and unlimited resources could give them. The
colonists were in awe of the superior skill and
force of theil enemies. They were almost Will
out artillery, their small arms were OF the most
Indifferent description, and insufficient ior their
troops. Their armies were badly clad and badly
provided with stores. They were enlisted for
very short TERMS and therefore badly disciplined
and drilled. The people Of every colony were
more or less divided in opinion as to the right
fulness of the contest, and some, as New 1ork'
furnished as many troops to side as the other.
| The course of tie contest was Sufficient to
have discouraged any but the most resolute ma
tn es. f
The British had taken months for the most
elaborate pi eparation to subdue the cGlonles.-
They were supreme by sea. Gen. washington
had concentrated his fore at New York. lie
had $4,000 men. The enemy had $4,000. He
undertook to defend Long Island, upon which
he erected defences and stationed troops. The
British landed troops, turned has left sar6, rout-
ed his army, and captured 1900 men. The re-
mainder -ere fortunate enough to escape to the
mainland
| \, nQr
Withdrawn from the city, but such was the ter
!. ror inspired by the superior military skill attrib
uted to the British, that the force stationed TO
the defence of water battery fled from th'
: bomba-dment of the enemy, and two brigade
3 sent to their aid, were so infected with panic
ing the enemy, and in spite of the remonstranee
of Gen. Washington and their own officers.
New York was then abandoned with the los
of all oar artillery, much Of ossr army stores
professions, tents, dc.
! The American army behaved better at Whit
Plains. But it was pursaed by other disasters
Fort Washington-rather against the advice Q
Gen. Washington-was defended The garrison
> made gallant defence, killing several hundre
f, Hessians; but tie British advanced in three col
umns, and drove the garrison within the fort
0 where it surrendered The British captured tso
thousand tive hundred men, a0ith military store'
and a strong position. This was considered th
greatest calamity of the war. Fort Lee fell mex
the troops were withdrawn, but all the ar
mament and supplies, including three hundre
TENS, fell into the hands of the enemy.
The effect OF these blows, falling with suc
o weight and rapidity, was intense. The historian
e says the troops Quilted the army "by regiments
i half regiments, and companies" General Wash
ngton crossed into the Jerseys, into which b
was followed by victorious enemy. He the'
d headed an army ofonly 5000 men, besides SON.
detachinents under Lee and others.
New Jersey yielded without resistance, and M
one who looked on the ragged" handful O
'.Americans," as they retreated before the supe.
g rior force of the disciplined and appointed arm,
which pursued them, could doubt that ''the con
It test approached its termination"
. 1t is unnecessary to follow the narrative of re
verses, which ought to be read by every one
and repubshed for the inspection of the people
" Washington, undisr aged, turned in his cele
40 brated night march across the Delaware, cap
70 tured 1000 men, with arms and stores, and re
turned in safety. But nothing else occurred fo
!, months to break the current of British successes
! Their army embarked in the next campaign, a
4 for weeks Washington was ignorant of their des
!. tination. To avoid the forts which he had erec
ted on the Delaware, they had asccnded th
~ ,e o 70 NJ rob ovo.land nnon philo dolnb;
. Washington, who mad again recruited his tenn
, porary army, resstet their advance at Brandy
> wine. Here, leavipg force to threaten tn
y fords in front, the enemy made detour an
then turned oar right flank. The Americans
after short lesistance, withdrew. Washingto
made vet another star to save Philadelphia
= but a violent rain so completely drenched hi
. men. that their sohole stock Of ammunition soa
4 rendered unfit for use, and tie army was com
pelled to fall back 1t is stated that at thi
time there were scarcely two guns of the sam
calibre in the army. One regiment reviewed
nir,ety muskets and seUea 6ayonets.
Our night attack on Germantown was fail
ure, and the enemy held Philadelphia withou
farther molestation Their next object was Il
open the Delaware. Washington wished t.
preserve his forts. We strengthened, and threw
men into them. The enemy were repulsed in
land attack on one of them. Then they brought
their ships to bear, and 'shezled" the forts unit
they were no longer tenabe, and were abandon
ed. Washington seemed mever afterwa'ds to
haze resisted the British on the ooater, or neal
the water-if we except the capture of Corn
wallis. The British were supreme on that ele-
ment. In his own words: "t0 protect the coast
from an enemy entirely IN possession Of the sea
is impractieable."
But Washington never disbanded his army,
ami his victories were chiefly in the interior
where the enemy was compelled to pursue him
on their theory of subjugation.
We look with apprehension upon the numer-
ous expeditions of our enemy. How was it with
the invasion of our ancestors A large Britisa
army held New York and the Jerseys. Another
lay unmolested at Philacelphia. An expedition,
under Burgoyne, came in from Canada. To the
CONSERVATION of all, Ticonderoga-reported i'm
pregnable-fell, its capture due Sn great part to
the shipping aohich accompanied Burgoyne. Our
stores and artillery fell into the hands of the en-
emy Another expedition advanced from the
Canadian border. It was composed of loyalst
~ III. W.