The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-03-12
A PARALLEL.

of the disasters sustained by the American
arms, in the first revelation, and a parallel
between the position Of the colonies and that
of the Southern States, which cannot fail to
arrest attention and produce a salutary eff
feet, when croakers and towards are the
pictures of disnay and pickieg out their
hiding places: -
In. .lhe gloom which fallows aur recentre-
verses, we turn to the great example oi our
ancestors in struggle very similar to that
in which we are engaged, 40 lis origin as
well as its incidents. ~
The war of the Revolution was one in
which the disparity Of the contending powers
was far greater thsa at present The British
had every advantage that numbers, expert
ence in warfare. and Unlimited resources
could give them. The c0lonists were in awe
of the superior skill and force oi their ene-
mics. They were almost without artillery;
their small arms were Of the most different
description and insufficient for their troops.
Their armies were badly clad and badly pro-
,ided with stores. They were enlisted Tor
yery short terms. and therefore badly dis
cipiIned aad drilled. The people Of every
colony were more or less divided IN opinion
as 10 The rghllalness IT the contest, aud
some, as New York, furnished as many
/ troops to one side US the other.
i The course Of tile contest was susiclent-t0
have discouraged any bat the most resplute
natures. aa tus
The British had taken months for tie
most elaborate preparations to subdue the
,plonies, They were supreme by sea. Cen
eral Washington had, concentrated his forces
al New Ynrk. lie had 27,000 men. The
enemy had "a 900. He undertook to defend
Long Island, upon which he erected delen.
ces and stationed troops. The British land.
ed troops, turned bis left flank. routed his
army, and captured 1000 men. The re-
mainder were fortunate enough to escape to
the main land.
1 The American army was then 10 great
part wiihdrasn from the city, but such was
The terror inspired by the superior military
II kill attributed to The British, that the force
stationed for the defence of water battery
i iled from the bombardment Of the enemy, and
two brigades sent to their aid were SO IN.
fected With panic lhat they retreated with
out firing gun or seeing the enemy, and N
spite of the remonstranee Of General Wash
ington aud their own officers.
u New York was then abandoned with the
loss Of all our artillery, much Of our army
stores, provisions. tents, 81.
! The American army behaved better at
White Plains. But 1t was pursued by other
disasters. Fort Washington-rat against
the advice OF General Washing,on-was lie
tended. The garrison made gallant de.
fence, killing several hundred llessians; bu
the British advanced in three columns, and
drove the garrison within the fort, where il
surrendered. The British captured tive
thousand five hundred men, with military
stores. aud strong position. This wal
considered the greatest calamity OF the war
! Fort Lee fell next-thc troops we're with.
drawn, but all the armament and supplies
including three hundred tents, fell into th,
. hands 81 the enemy.
: The elect Of these blows, falling wit
such weight and rapidly, was intense. Th,
historian says lhe troaps quilted the arm,
by regiments, hall regiments and compa
/ nirs.n General Washington crossed into th'
Jerseys, into which he was fnlluwcd by l
,, victorious enemy. lie then headed an arm,
of only three thousand men, besides some de
tachmenls under Lee and oihers.
New Jersey yielded without resistance
and no one who looked on the - ragged
handful Of Americans" as they retreate'
before the superior force OF the disciplined
aud well appointed army which pursued them
j could doubt thai . the contest approached II
!. termination"
IL is unnecessary TO follow the narrative o
rsyerses. which ought TO be read by ever.
!. one. aud re.published for the inspection i
the people.
!, Washington. undismayed, turned in hi
celebrated night march across the Delaware
, captured 1000 men, with arms, aud stores
!. and returned in safety. But nothing els
occurred for months to break the current q
British successes. Their army embarked i
the next campaign, aud for weeks Washing
: ion was ignorant Of ihelr destination. /
avoid the forts which be had erected on th
Delaware, they had ascended the Chesapeak
= 10 march over land upon Philadelphia
I, Washington, Who had again recruited hi
Temporary army, resisted their advance