The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-25
THE REVERSES OF THE REVOLT
TIONARY WAR.

struggle very similar to that in which are
engaged, IN its origin as well as its incidents t;a
The war OF the Revelation was one in which
the disparity of the contending powers was far
greater than at present. The British had every
advantage that numbers, experience in warfare
and unlimited resources could give them The
colenists were in awe of the superior skill aud
force of their enemies. They were almost without
artillery, their small arms were of the most In
different description, and insufficient for their
troops. Their armies were badly clad and badly
provided with stores. They enlisted for very
sholt terms, aud therefore badly disciplined and
drilled The people of every colony we're more
less divided in opinion as to the riehtfuncss of
the contest, and some, New York, furnished as
many troops to side as the ether sa.c
The course OF the contest was sufficient to have
discouraged any but the most resOlute natures
The British had taken months for the most
elaborate preparations to subdue the colonies
They were supreme by sea. Gen. Washington
had concentrated his forces at New ork - He
had n, 900 men, The enemy had "a ,000 He
undertook, to defend Long Island, upon which he
erected defences and stationed troops The
British landed troops, turned his left flank ro,t ed
his army, and captured 1000 men, The re-
mainder were fortunate enough to escape. Il
L he American army was then in great part
withdrawn from the city, but such was the terror
inspired by the superior military skill attributed
to the British, that the force stationed for the
defence of water battery fled from the lombard
ment of the enemy, and two brigades sent to
their aid were so infected with panie that they
retreated without firing gun seeing the enemy
and in spite of the "Reminiscences of Gen. Wash-
ington and their own officers t< rt
New York was then abandoned, with the loss OF
our artillery, much Of our army stores, provisions,
tents, &c. A.. = Sc etas,. .ss.s.~1 ~ j. Saws.
The American army behaved better at White
Plains But it was pursued by other disasters
Fort Washineton-rather against the advice Of
Gen, Washingto defended. The garrison
made a gallant defence, killing several hundred
HessiaEs; but the British advanced in three
columns and drove the garrison within the fort,
where it surrendered The British captured two
thousand five hundred men, with military stores
and strong position. This was considered the
greatest calamity OF the Fort Lee fell next
the troops withdrawn, but all the arma-
ment and supplies, including three hundred tents
fell into the hands of the enemy
The effect Of these blows, falling with such
weight and rapidity was intense The historian
says the troops quilted the army "by regiments,
half regiments, and companies" Gen. Washing
ton crossed into the Jerseys, into which he was
followed by victorious enemy. He then headed
an army of only three thousand men, besides some
detachments under Lee and Others.
New Jersey yielded without resistance, and no
one who looked on the ragged" handful of
Americans they retrcated before the superior
force of the disciplined and well appointed army
which pursued them, could doubt that * the con
test approached its termination"
1t is unnecessary to follow the narrative Of re- |
verses, which ought to be read by every one, and
published for the inspection of the people
Washington, undismayed, turned in his ceiebra-
ted night march across the Delaware, captured
;th 4cfn
safety. But nothing else occurred for months to
break the current of British successes Their
army embarked in the next campaign, and for
weeks Washington was ignorant of their destina- !
Con. 10 avoid the forts which he had erected on
the Delaware, they had ascended the Chesapeake |
to march overland upon Philadelphia. Washing |
ton, who had again recruited his temporary army |
resisted their advance at Brandywine. Leaving |
force to threaten the fords in front, the enemy |
made detour and turned our right flank. y
The Americans after short resistance withdrew. |
Washington made yet another stand to save Phila-
delphia; but violent ram so completely drenched
his men that their whole stock of ammunition was |
rendered unfit for use, and the army was COM |
PEELED to fall back 1t is stated hat at this time
here scarcely two guns of the same cabre |
in the army. One regiment reviewed ninety
muskets and seven bayonets --
Our night attack on Germantown failure, |
and the enemy ncid fnlfa0eiphla without IHrtDeT
Their object to open the Della
ware. Washington wished to 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 "shelled" the forts until they were no longer /!
tenable and were abandoned. Washington seem
ed never afterwards to have resisted the British
on the water-if we except thesurrender Of Corn
wallis. The British were SUPREME On that ele- !
ment In his own words: 10 protect the coast
from enemy entirely in possession of the sea is
g. 's- a@@H' '.e 3D.
But Washington never disbanded his army, and
his victories were chiefly in the interior, where
the enemy was compelled TO pursue him their
theory OF subjueatien. : ss@asageaa |
We look with apprehension upon the numerous
ex peditions of the enemy. lIow was it with the
invasion OF our ancestors. large British army
held New York and the Jerseys. Another lay
unmeiested ut Philadelphia. An expedition, nn-
der Burgoyne, came in from Canada. To the
of all, ,Ticonderoga-reported impreg
nable-feli, its capture due in great part to the
shipping which accompanied Burgoyne. Our /
and artillery fell into the hands of the enemy
Another expedition advanced from the Canadian /
border. 1t was composed of loyalist Canadians,
with large force of Indians Yet BuEgoyne was
captured with his army when be penetrated the
centre of New York, and the Indian expedition
came to naught- SECS az
We shall not at present take up the Southern
campaign, to show Virginia invaded, her capitol
occupied by the enemy. and Carolina and Georgia !