Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-24

A@eS is'ttuIe adopted some of the I'M
portant measures which Washington
had urged as necessary, almost from
tne very beginning of the strife Con-
Stess decreed that all troops, there
AFTER TO be raised, should be enlisted
10 serve during the war. and that all
me officers who should continue in
the service TO the end of the war,
should be entitled to half paw for life.
And at the close of the year, at the
urgent solicitations of Washington. the
congress determined TO seek for more
ald. IN men and money. in Europe.
ana appointed Lieutenant ColJael John
i.'iurenS, special minister To the French
court. TO apply for such aid.
1hese measures gave Washington
nuch nope. ana in Il letter to General
sullivan. then in Congress. en- the goth
OF November. he said. The determi-
s n"'ioh OF congress 10 raise an army
ior the war and the honorable es;ab-
.isninent on which the officers are plac-
ed VIII. ann persuaded be productive
OF much good. Had the first measure
oeen adopted four, or even three years
ago. have not the smales,, doub; in
my mind but we should AT this day
neen sitting under our own vines and
iS trees. in the fun enjoyment Of peace
ana independence: l have as little
ooGbt thot the value. which trust.oi,
GERS VIII now set upon their commits
sions. Will prove the surest basis of
that men who We're suffering everv
species of present distress. With the
prospect of inevitable ruin before him.
couid bear to have the cord Of discio-
i'ne strained 10 its proper tone: and
where that is not the case II is no
difficult matter to form an idea of the
want OF order, or to convince military
men of its consequent oVlls.''
But Washington, was again doomed
10 1iSappointment. The Congress had
no inherent power to enforce such en-
hsiments. The respective States
claimed the right to regulate this mat
ter, each for itself and they did not
comply with the rcquisition of Con-
gress. assigning as n reason 1.-THE ex-
IRENE difficulty of procuring rccruits at,
Under these embarrassing circun
Stances Washington was conra'leI tn
remain almost cIt'rc;Y inactive during
the remainder of the season, Only
one enterprise of mcomtrt was az
tempted. 1t was general attack upon
iort Washington aii CHER posts nj.
the north end ri York Island and the
lower portions OF Wostchcster courty.
which had been conceived hy I.afay.
ette That Jealous young officer. wi,c
WAS now in command OF few CORPS
OF infantry. party equipped at HIS
own expense was very FESTIVE, rs he
saw the campaign drawing 10 4 close
lngioriously. It WAS IrNious. Ia par
ticipate in some brili,Gnt action. some
thing that could be spoken OF with
advantage at the French Court. cor.
ne delicately limited to Washington.
complaints had peen made III France
OF the prevailing i"activ.ty in America.
II anything" he SAID. could ds2ije
the ministry to y.sId us The succor
demanded. II would be cur giving the
hation proof that we are ready
Washington gave the urgen, marquis
/ n
the regret that the circumstances of tho
Americans were misunderstood in t,u-
rope. and affirmed his belief. that in
ende;lNoiinS 10 recover their reputation
the Americans ought to take care not 10
| lnlurc 1t more by rashness Al tho
same time he gave HI; countenance Ia
the scheme. and ordered n general re-
conno!tcring OF the enemy's pos,s in the
| direction OF New York. without inform
| ing his officers of the ultimab, object
OF the movements BUT the sudden an
pearance of British armed vessels in the
hudson frustrated the design Of the
| Americans. and the scheme was, abnn
doned. General Stark. with n consid-
cradle force. had made quite an extern
slNe sweep over portion of Westchcs-
Ter. and Major Talmadge. with only
eighty men. had crossed from Connec-
| ticut to Long Island in while boats.
ana performed most gallant exploit.
He surprised Fort George at Coram.
captured the garrison Of fifty men, dis
mantled the fortress. fired the forage
and magazines and retired To Flirfcld
without losing a man. This part OF
the scheme was brilliantly performed.
and Congress highly culogized the ac-
tors in It,
1t was !ate in November. Cold wca-
Their commenced early. and Washington
proceeded 10 put his army in winter
quarters. The Pennsylvania line was
hutted near Morristown. and the New
Jersey lima around Pompton. The New
ork line was cautioned near Albany
to guard the state from threatened
Invasion froM Canada, and the New
England troops were placed in the
Hudson Highlands. The great body of
the French army remained at Newport
whFe the legion of the Duke de I!l,iZun
was cautioned at Lebanon. in Connec-
ticut.
Washington. who had been in New
Jersey, near the Hudson. since early In
October. established his Headquarters
Mt New Windsor on the Sth of Decem-
Ter.
The presence OF Greene al the head
of the Southern army inspired the Re
publioans there with great hopes. and
the wisdom. energy and skill which he
displayed at the very outset convinced
the soldiers AID the people that Corn
walls would find an opponent hard to
cope with. The Earl, confident of the
stability of his power In South Carolina
had already made efforts 10 Invade the
North State. Early in September he
had penetrated with his army as far