The Ordway new era., 1913-09-12

what he would.
It was Sir Williams purpose to oc-
cupy the early summer. ere Burgoyne
should need him. In an attack on Phil
adelphia. On the 18th of June, ac-
cordingly, he threw force of eighteen
thousand men into New Jersey.
But Washington foiled him at each
attempt to advance by hanging always
upon his flank in such position that
he could neither be safely ignored nor
forced to fight: and the prudent Howe.
abandoning the march, withdrew once
more to New York.
British Come to Philadelphia.
But he did not abandon his project
against Philadelphia.
He deemed II the capital of the
insurgent confederacy, and wished to
discredit congress and-~win men Of
doubtful allegiance to his standard by
It's capture; and he reckoned upon
some advantage in drawing Washing
ton after him to the southwark, away
from Burgoyne's field OF operations
In the north. Though July had come,
therefore. and Burgoyne must need
him presently, he put his eighteen
thousand men aboard the feet and
, carried them by sea to the Chesa-
peake.'
Washington Puzzled.
Washington was sorely puzzled. He
had taken 1t for granted that Howe
would go north. and he had gone
south!
| .Howe's in a manner abandoning
Burgoyne Is SO unaccountable," he
/ cnIA haf hoI at
eyes continually behind me-" and he
followed very cautiously. ready upon
the moment to turn back. lest the
movement should prove feint.
But there was no mistake. Howe
entered the Delaware, and. being
frightened thence by reports OF OBJ
structions- In the river, went all the
long four hundred miles about the
capes of Chesapeake, and put his army
ashore at Elkton for its advance upon
Philadelphia.
Defeat, But Not Rout.
1t was then the 25th of August.
Washington met him (September ~
behind the fords of the Brandywine.
and, unable to check CORVALLIS on
his flank. was defeated.
But for him defeat was never rout:
his army was still intact and steady:
and he held his foe yet another fort
night on the road ere capital" could
be entered (September I'D.
Burgoyne was by that time deep
within the net spread for him at Sara
toga. On the morning of the 4th OF
October. in a thick mist. Washington
threw himself upon Howe's main
force encamped across the village
street of Germantown. and would have
overwhelmed it in the surprising on
set had not two of his own columns
gone astray in the fog. attacked each
other, and SO lost 0he moments op-
portunity.
But an Empty success.
General Howe knew very soon how
barren q success he had had. Tho
end of November came before he had
made himself master of the forts up
on the Delaware below the capital"
and removed the distractions from
the river to give access to his fleet;
the British power was broken and
made an end of in the north; and
Washington was still at hand a. mem
acing and dangerous as ever.
| &.
General Howe had taken Philadelphia.
philadelphia has taken Howe" he
laughed.
Winters at Valley Forge.
| Philadelphia kept Howe safely
through the winter. and his oficers
made themselves easy amidst round
of gayeties in the complacent town.
while Washington went to Valley
Forge to face the hardships and the
intrigues of bitter season.
A deep Generalization fell that win
ter. like a blight, upon all the busi-
ness Of the, struggling confederacy.
The congress, in its exile at York, had
lost its tone and its command in At
fairs. It would have lost 1t as COM
pletely in Philadelphia, no doubt. for
1t was no longer the body 1t had been.
Its best members were withdrawn
to serve their respective states In the
critical business, now everywhere In
hand. of reorganizing their govern
ment: and 1t itself was no government
at all. but simply committee Of adj
vice, which the states needed or ig-
nored as they pleased.
Congress Without Power.
Oftentimes but ten or twelve mem
bers could be got together to transact
its business. 1t suffered itself to fall
into the hands of intriguers and sec
tional politicians. 1t gave commits
sions in the army not according to
merit, but upon . plan carefully de-
vised to advance no more officers from
one section than from another-even
men like John Adams approving.
Adams denounced claims Of senior
ity and service as involving zone Of
the most putrid corruptions of abso-
lutte monarchy" and suggested that
the officers who did not relish the
idea of seeing the several states given