The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-06-06

to the southern coast, and Savannah
was taken December 20, 1873.
Only in the far west, at the depths
of the great wilderness beyond the
mountains, was anything done that
promised decisive advantage.
George Rogers Clark, that daring
Saxon frontiersman, who moved so
like king through the far forest,
swept the whole country Of the Illinois
free from British soldiers and British
authority that winter of 1879, annex
ing it to the states that meant to be
independent; and steady stream Of
immigration began to pour into the
opened country as if to prepare still
deeper task of conquest for the Brit
ish at far New York.
But few noted in the east what gal
liant men were doing in the valley of
the Mississippi
They saw only that the British,
foiled in New England and the middle
colonies, had changed their plans, and
were now minded to try what. could
be done in the south. There at last
their campaigns seemed about to yield
them something. Savannah taken,
they had little trouble in overrunning
Georgia, and every effort to dislodge
them failed; for Washington could
not withdraw his army from before
Clinton at New York.
Spain Joined France in offensive
alliance in April, 1878; in August a
combined French and Spanish fleet at
tempted an invasion of England; all
Europe seemed about to turn upon the
stout little kingdom in it's unanimous
fear and hatred Of her arrogant SUI
premacy upon the seas.
British a Common Target.
Everywhere there was war upon the
ocean highways-even America send
ing forth men Of desperate valor, like
John Paul Jones, to ravage and chal-
lenge Britain upon her very coast.
But England's spirit only rose with
the danger, and Washington waited all
the weary year through for his French
allies. In 1880 1t looked for little
as If the British were indeed turned
victors.
In the spring Clinton withdrew the
force that had held Newport to New
York, and, leaving General Knyphau-
sen there with a powerful force to
keep Washington and the city, carried
eight thousand men southwark to take
Charleston. There were forces al
ready in the south sufficient to swell
his army TO ten thousand ere he in
vested the fated town; and on the
twelfth of May (17S0) it fell into his
hands, with General Lincoln and three
thousand prisoners.
South Carolina Lost.
Washington had sent such succor as
he could, but the British force was
overwhelming, and South Carolina was
lost.
South Carolina teemed with loyal
lists. The whole country was swept
and harried by partisan bands. The
men who should have swelled General
Lincoln's force knew not when their
homes might be plundered and de-
stroyed, if they were to leave them.
The planters of the low country dared
not stir for fear of an insurrection of
their slaves.
In June Clinton could take half his
force back to New York, deeming the
work done.
Gates Put to Rout.
General Gates completed the disas-
trous record. On the thirteenth OF
June he was given chief command in
the south, and was told that the coun-
try expected another "Burgoynade."
His force was above three thousand.
and he struck his blow, as he should,
at Camden, where CORVALLIS had but
two thousand men, albeit trained and
veteran troops; but the end was total,
shameful rout august 16, 1850, and
the men knew at last the incapacity
of their "hero of Saratoga"
Congress In Helpless State.
Certainly things looked desperate
enough that dark year.
The congress was sinking into
more and more helpless ineficiency.
Definite articles Of confederation had
been submitted to the states nearly
three years ago November, IT'D, but
they had not been adopted yet, and
the states had almost ceased to heed
the acquisitions of the, congress at all.
Unable to tax, it paid its bills and the
wages Of its troops in paper, which so
rapidly fell in value that by the time
the hopeless year 1889 was out men
in the ranks found a months pay too
little with which to buy even a single
bushel of wheat.
Washington was obliged to levy sup
plies from the country round him TO
feed his army; and in spite of their
stanch loyalty to him, his men grew
mutinous, in sheer disgust with the.
weak and faithless government they
we're expected to serve. Wholesale
desertion began, as many as one hun
dred men a. month going over to thu