Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1870-02-03

oorps OF lOyaiiats, and regiment of sb' -a-seI
Amounting to between fifteen and eighteen |
thousand men, with powerful trg Il artillery.
Where would the threatened b.. struck'-
Men paused In their labOrs TO :, wfe"s from
passing neighboT or travellerT.5he express
Tider was eagerly questioned as with hot haste
he rode, aud deigued no reply. Every breeze
waited its rumOr. Coming events cast theiF
shadows before, and they were dark aud Iorten-
tous. Tie boldest held their breath for time.
Washington moved south with his army, but
uncertain as to the design Of Howe, who might
purpose by foint, to draw him southwark, and
retraee bis course, to cooperate with blrSoyn'
Or renew the war in New EOgland, he halted at
CorrOaIa Ferry 10 aIues from Philadelphia
IN he 9l,t July Washington heard by ey-
nrass mat the British feet was within the Caps
Of Delaware, and moved with his army 10 Ger
EAAntown.
On the lst Of August, at the close Of an enter
Iainment in the city tavern, Philadelphia, ct
which Washington was a guest, thore was in
PRODUCED to him youth, Frenchman. twas
Gilbert Motiere La Fayette Having adopted
for his political creed the just principles for
which our fore-fs fathers we're contendng, and
sympathlzing with them in this contest, he Tad
left bis country, bis bride, and brilliant prospects
and in vessel bought and equipped by hifnself
had voysged to our country to serve Ia her ar
mics ss g volunteer. Congress, the day bEf0ie
tits introduction, had commissioned La Fey
etts Major 9Pnefalt There was no sepsrs;f
command to offer hi.n Wa.hingt0n, Thereon
Tav0raby impressed by his graceful IIagGeF'
aud modest bearing, invited him I" bo mem
Der OF bis military family. This day Is msmcts
Die for tie dawn OF friendship that betwe n
Washington aud La Fayette, as admirable as
any Of the frieniship9 historians have per
ps1uaIed OF poets sung
Too soon our forefatters were agsin disturb.
I'd by tbs fears, the doubts, alfd Teconciliai9as,
Ihs result Of their uncertainty as ~ Howes ces-
tinRtlcn, aggravated by a brief respite from
Ihem, for August LIST, Washington heard by
express, that he had called fTomtbe Bay OF Del
aware, standing 70 the EAST. BY appearing with
his heet at different points, did be aim Ut Turing
Washington to follow, and Leave the country o.
the Hudson open for the Junction Of Clinton and
HE troops at New York With BuEgoyn, or va;
his object Charleston, where was valuable de
~. Of stores and propis0nsP Washington
thought Charleston was not The point Of a'taci
Intended, tor 1t was NOT an object adequate, ans
6ss distant, winds were battling, his feet nigh
ba scattered BY atempest, and his army, II land
I'd there, jecimated by disease. On the 10th 6
August, this distressing uncertainty was terni
mated By intelligence that the British heet, 0
1873 sail, had entered Chesapeake Bay, and wer
sailing upward, tn that great estuary. PbilRdel
pihs beyond doubt, was to be assailed by III
British force, marched overland from the hea(
a this bay. Washington, when doubt thu
ceased, was as decisive in resolve and prompt I
execution, as he had been calm and self-possess
I'd when uncertainty prevailed. He immediate
" moved southward with his army, passin
through Philadelphia 10 oyerawe the dsatfecteC
too numerous there.
Howe, August 25tb, begun 10 land his tronl
atx miles from head Of Xix, aud 70 from PHIL
delphia, expecting to find friends In Cecil count
and the lower counties OF Delaware, where wei
many quRker-non, C0mbRtants aud tories
Washington apprizad Of Howe's landing Il
evening Of that day, after a brief pause at u
Brsndywine, to rest and refresh his trosps, mo
ID towards the enemy, the divisions q Ores
and Stevens in advance to secure a large quaint
" Of stores at Elk.
General Rodney, commanding the Delawa
militia, waS ordered to throw ont parties to ha
as the enemy.
The only eminences were Irn and Gray
Mills, the latter two miles from the British
The people were in great terror, and Howe,
proclamation, issued the 27th Of August, offe
ed safety 10 all who would remain at home, ar
pardon 70 oil who would suhmit-but the mi
tia had turned out with spirit, and the prOcl
nation had little II any effect.
The British army was formed In two column
Ono under Howe, at Elk, the other under Kn
phausen, at Cecil Court House.
Washington spent several days in reconcile
ing, He determined TO risk battle inthe oP
asld, for La could not suffer Philadelphia to
without bghtlIIs to save IL, Public tmpatieT
demanded battle, and ii Was expected IN
rope.
The enemy, September Sd, in eonsidera