The Placer herald., 1872-05-18
Written for the HERALD
THE UNITED STATES.
CIVIL AND POIiTICAL REVIEW.
BY A. T. CHER.
CHAPTER vi.

The defeat OF the Americans on Long Is
land was followed by the loss Of important
forts and strongholds OH the Hudson River.
The battle at White Plains, which occurred
soon after, also proved disastrous to the Am
ericans, though the loss of men was about
the same on either side. Washington, ap-
pretending an attack on Philadelphia, moved
his forces, consisting Of about 5000 men,
across New Jersey and succeeded in landing
them safely on the Pennsylvania side, Jan.
9th, 1776. This was time.of great suffer
ing with the Americans. Their retreat from
New York to Pennsylvania words are made
qua,e to describe. When tell of their de-
pressed mental condition, brought on by sue
cessive defeats; of the extremes they were
driven to for want of sufficient food; of how
their extremties were bitten by the bleak
December frosts, for want of a proper amount
Of clothing; of how, for want of shoes, their
feet and ankles were torn and lacerated by
the sharp ice which paved their way, until
the enemy which pressed close upon their rear
was enabled to follow them by their bloody
tracks. But when all this is told, we still
have but faint idea OF the suffering these
patriotic souls had to endure.
No wonder their confidence declined no
wonder many abandoned the cause; no won
der mothers wept, wives lamented and sisters
cried in dtter anguish, when they felt their
sons, husbands and brothers were exposed to
the hardships of hunger, cold, pain and even
death, in cause which to them seemed hope
less Nor shall we wonder that the great
est General Of the age should decide upon
some daring exploit in order to restore the
confidence Of the people. The action decided
on, and which resulted so flvorably, is too
familiar to my readers to need relating here.
All who have read American History must
remember the eventful Christmas night of
1776. How, beneath dark and cloudy sky
and amid cakes of floating ice, Washington
and bis valiant little army crossed the Dele
ware, surprised the British forces, which
consisted of about l 800 Hessians, under
Rahl, at Trenton, and took l 900 prisoners
and successful act did much to restore the
confidence of the Americans, and Washing
toms army began rapidly to increase.
Meanwhile land and naval force, which
had been sent by the British against the
south, in attempting to take Char eston,
but had met with heavy loss and defeat, and
returned to New York without accomplish
ing anything. TO attempt complete
narrative of the Revolutionary war would be
mote than design; therefore will content
myself with naming the principal engage
ncnts, and the comparative loss of men on
either side The first action that took place
in the year 1777 was at Princeton, where,
by stratagem, Washington routed the British
under Mayhood, with the loss Of only 100
men, while the loss of the enemy amounted
to four times that number. At Bennington,
where General Stark encouraged his brave
"Green Mountain Boys" by crying out when
he beheld the red coats advancing, under
Brown, "Boys, we must beat to-day Or
Molly Stark is widow" the loss Of the
Americans amounted to 100; that of the
British to 600.
l might mention here that as Washington
moved southwark, previous to the battle of
Brandywine, be was joined by the Marquis
De Lafayette, gallant young French noble
man, who had left young wife and pleasant
home to come and help an oppressed people
in their struggle for freedom. In the battle
of Brandywine, where Howe commanded
the British, the Americans were defeated
with the loss of l 200 men; the loss of the
enemy was 500. At Saratoga Gates, who
commanded on the American side, lost
only $50 men, while Burgoyne, who COM
manded the British, lost in killed about 600
men, and surrended to the Americans about
1852 prisoners.
After this the most important battles Of
the war were Monmouth, Rhode Island
Brier Creek, Stony Point, Camden, Cow
pens, Guilford and Eutaw Springs. ln
these several named battles the Americans
lost, in killed, 2,58S men, and the British
in killed 1874. CORVALLIS, who had COM
manded the British forces in the south, and
who had, by the assistance Of the traitor
Arnold, succeeded in doing much damage
by laying waste many pleasant homes and
valuable plantations, was ordered by Gin
ton to hold himself in readiness to come at
short notice to his assistance, as lie, Clinton,
was led by the maneuverings of Washington
to think the latter contemplated an attack or
New York. Agreeable to these orders Corn
wallis chose Yorktown, a place near the
coast, as his headquarters, that he might be
ready to set sail at once if it should become
necessary. While Clinton was watching and
waiting for the appearance of Washington
before New York the latter was making
rapid marches toward the south, where, at-
ter forming q junction with the American
army of the south, and with the French fleet
under the Count De Grasse, he appeared
before Yorktown September 2Sth, 1881.
The seige was at once begun, and the Brit
ish, prevented by the French feet from es-
Gaping by water, and by Washington's army
FROM retreating by land, had no alternative
but to surrender. In hopes Of receiving as
sistauce the British commander held out
some three weeks; at last. feeling bis situa-
ton hopeless. be surrendered to lhs Ameri-