The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-20

Morgan and his Virginia rlffemen Il
Albany and appealed to the New Yorl
and New England patriots to arise ana
| meet the invader With his own army
he kept Howe occupied around Phiba'
dplphia. although he lost the battle OF
Brandywinc and Germantown. Aftel
the surrender of Burgoyne ut Saratoga
he asked for the continental troops serp-
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 UNI
dermine his power. but kept up his own
spirit and tina 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.
Early in the spring General Howe re-
signed the British command ut Phila.
d2lphia. 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 Nar9leOn. he dashed to the front
to cheer on and direct his men. At the
same time he did not give way 10 battle
frenzy. although he lost his temper over
acl contemplate conduct of Lee. Lafa-
yette proved a hero, boy that he was.
While the alliance with France came
i'm good time 10 cheer on the revolt
fionists. it increased the difficulties Of
the commander in chief. Without the
French navy there was little hope of
success. but the French admirals had
their own views of the plan of action.
Furthermore the revolutionists expect
cd too much of the French, and another
task was laid upon WashingtOn's should
ers--to keep his people to their work,
Besides planning campaigns he was
forced to do the work of Il national lead
cd. a leader bearing upon his sword the
late Of the country. The campaign I'M
dertaken by the French were failures,
and the British gained territory on the
coast Finally Washington asked La
fayette to go to France and secure Il
fleet and an army which should be un-
der his own direction. 1t arrived at
Newport in the summer of 1880, and
while Washington was There comforting
with the French leaders Arnold plotted
the base treason which was to give his
commander another cruel blow. lie
had trusted the brilliant soldier of Que
bee and Saratoga and given him that
opportunity to betray the citadel OF
the Hudson Valley.
But THE nerve of the warrior leader
was not to he shaken now that the hour
had come for a decisive blow. The
troops Of Rochambeau united with the
continental forces gave him for the
first time in the war an army. The fleet
also gave the needed sea power to attack
where the British were strongest, along
the coast The main British army was
in the south under CORVALLIS. Wash
ington sent Greene TO the South with
orders not TO fight for positions, but TO
draw CORVALLIS northward. Morgan
was also III the South with his Virgin
ians. But these brilliant soldiers, the
mountaineer and the blacksmith, had
been driven from the service by the in
gratitude of congress. but Washington's
appeal caused them to buckle on their
swords for the last cast. Lafayette was
sent to Virginia with an army, and after
many II useless chase Cornwallis retired
to the seaboard at Yorktown.
Washington left strong garrisons on
the Hudson, and with about 1000 sol
diers threatened to attack New YORK
He lowered within striking distance
gradually moving Southawrd, and reach
ing New Brunswick made n forced
march to the head Of the Chesapeake.
BY water the army was transported to
the York, and with the aid of the French
feet and the troops ON Shipboard the
allies laid siege to Yorktown. They out
numbered the British, and re-enforce-
ments for CORVALLIS were cut off by
the French ships. Yorktown fell, tri-
unlph of strategy. Washington struck
the enemy where he was weak with the
most men. hut it was only the most
sk.llful planning that he caught his en-
envy III position favorable for the blow.
The result showed Washington's gen
nus in holding ON to New Jersey and
while risking all to keep the enemy near
the seaboard preserving an open road be-
tween the Hudson and the South He
was always within reach of the Hudson
and of Maryland and Virginia His army
at it's best was never the equal of the
j British i'm numbers had they been
brought into action Often they had
10000 to 10000 in New York, while
Washington stood ward outside with
less than 5000.
To compare Washington with the
great generals Of m0derm times would
be unjust to him. He hadn't the army
for great BATTLES. He waged long and
tedious warfare for national existence.
and although rarely victorious he was
never driven to the wall. He was a pio-
necr soldier, leading motley and tempo
rary bands of pioneers against an old
and strong military power.