The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-25
A HUNDRED YEARSAGO,

! In May, l776, washington was sIili III
New York, and with all the discouraglng
features of the situation, there were rays
of hope from abroad. In this month
Louis the Sixteenth decided to advance
5000 900 to the Americans, and in few
weeks the King of Spain contributed
100000 more for the same purpose
These were the first installments of help
from abroad.
We'have already mentioned the plucky
patriotism of little Rhode lsland-the
| land of Roger Williams and Nathaniel
Greene. On the 4th of May, l776, the
Rhode Island General Assembly virtu-
ally declared the independence OF the
provinces, by passing an act discharging
the inhabitants from allegiance to the
King of Great Britain. In the Upper
House the vote was unanimous, and in
the Lower House, out of sixty members
only six voted against the act The del
egates of the colony were also authorized
to treat with any foreign Prince, King
dom or State for assistance to the cause
of the United Colonies. This was un-
doubtedly with the view Of promoting
the negotiations with France and Spain
to that end.
In May, 1776, the efforts of George the
Third to induce the Colonies, through
Commissioners, Lord and Admiral Howe
to submit, under certain conditions,
eliminated. On the very day that in
structions were sealed in London, Con-
gress wisely voted to raise SlO,OOO,OOO to
carry on the war, as the very best meth
cd of restoring realand permanentpeace.
In Nav, l777, on the 9th day, the Vir-
ginia House of Burgesses met at Will
iiamsburg, pursuant to adjournment
The delegates to this body from the coun-
ty of Buckingham received the following
instructions: "We instruct you to cause
a total and final separation from Great
Britain, to take place as soon as possible"
The county of Augusta declared that
the confederacy of the United Colonies
shoqld be made "most perfect indepen-
dent and lasting"
Finally, on May 18th, most important
and significant resolutions were reported
and universally agreed to, 1t was Off
cially and distinCtvely declared that
there "was no alternative left but IN alb,
ieCt submission or total separation"
and Virginia's delegates in Congress
were therefore instructed to propose to
that body to declare the United Colonies
Free and Independent States, absolved
from all allegiance or dependence upon
the crown or Parliament of Great Brit
aim"
The British flag, which, up to this time
had floated over the State House, was ia
ken down.
On May 9th declaration of rights,
draf ed by Mason, was presented by Cary
and finally adopted.
On May 1st Gen. Thomas of Massachu-
sets, who had been appointed to succeed
Gen. Wooster, now the "patron saint"
of Danbury, Connecticut, and then a
brave, good and modest man, who had
not sought to retain the command, and
had expressed desire to be relieved, ar
rived near Quebec, and found as the
remnants of the gallant Montgomery's
army, one thousand and nine hundred
men, of whom nine hundred were sick,
chiefly with small pOx. Of the one thou
sand left, the term Of enlistment of three
hundred had expired, and these were in
subordinate and wanted to 60 home.
Other troops had been ordered by Con-
gress from Washington's army, which
could not spare them and fresh recruits
had started from New England.
In these circumstances Gen. Thomas
was expected to take Quebec and Mon
treal, and conquer Canada. But on May
9Th the British at Quebec were reinforced
and made sally upon the Americans,
who retreated at Descambault, 4S miles
above.
On the Sth the British were again re-
inforced, and again on the 10th.
Arnold was in the vicinity Of Montreal
The British advanced on this point from
the west, force having come eastward
from Detroit and after one or two disas-
trous skirmishes, it became evident that
the entire force of Continental troops
must be withdrawn from Canada.