El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-02-19

crate with Washington. Congress aban-
, doned Philadelphia and appointed Wash
fngtOn dictator. Lee was captured while
! sleeping far outside his lines, and these
| events raised Washington upon a pedes-
tai in the eyes of the soldiers and the
people. The military power of the Revo-
luton conferred in him. There soon fol-
lowed the brilliant stroke at Trenton
| and Princeton. In these affairs he took
the greatest chances, and both were
| nearly lost by the failures of his combi-
nations, the most delicate plans in war.
But Washington came out of them vic
torious by the display of the highest
courage. His tactics at Trenton and
Princeton, as we'll as at the BTandywine
and Germantown in the same field, are
open to criticism, but in each case the
situation called for action and Wash
ington was forced to risk much upon the
fidelity and ability of his generals. The
net result of the Trenton and Princeton
campaign was to free New Jersey of the
British, except the northeast corner,
and save Philadelphia for time.
Washington settled down for the win
ter at Morristown with only 1000 long
service troops, but when spring opened
in 1777 he had an army of 1000 under
able generals. The British divided the
attention of the revolutionists by NOV
ing on Philadelphia from the Chesa-
peake bay and from Canada down Lake
Champlain toward Albany. For defense
of the north Washington sent Daniel
Morgan and his Virginia rif1emen to
Albany and appealed to the New York
and New England patriots to arise and
meet the invader. With his own army
he kept Howe occupied around Phila-
delphia, although he lost the battle of
Brandywine and Germantown. After
the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga
he asked for the continental troops serv-
ing with the army there under Gates to
come to his aid in securing the forts on
the Delaware, and thus cut Howe off
from direct communications with the
sea. They were not sent, and the Della
ware line was lost. Washington went
into camp at Valley Forge. He had been
the victim of base conspiracy to un-
dermine his power, but kept up his own
spirit and that Of his men during that
trying time by looking for aid from
France. Lafayette had joined him at
Philadelphia, and during the winter the
treaty of alliance was signed. E,
Early In the spring General howe re-
signed the British command at Phila-
delphia, and his successor, Clinton, evac-
uated the city, taking the army to New
York. Seeing a chance to cripple the
British on the march, Washington plan
ned an attack at Monmouth and was
robbed of brilliant victory by the
treachery of Charles Lee, who had re-
turned from captivity to his command.
In that battle Washington displayed
again the qualities Of a fighting general
Like Napoleon, he dashed to the front 4
to cheer on and direct2his men. At tn.
same time he did not give way to battl,
frenzy, although he lost his temper owe
the contemplate conduct of Lee Lafa-
yette proved hero, boy that he was
While the alliance with France came
in good time to cheeg on the revolu-
tionists, it increased the difficulties of
the commander in chief. Without the
French navy there was little hope Of
but the French admirals had
their own views Of the plan of action.
the revolutionists expect
ed too much of the French, and another
task was laid upon Washington s shout
ders-tn keep his neople TO their work.