The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-06-20

tatjon. gave him abundant time 70 40
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, &C
cordlngly 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 IL 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 fleet 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 manner abandoning
Burgoyne Is SO unaccountable," he
said, that | cannot help casting my
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 or Chesapeake. and put his army
ashore at Elkton for It's advance upon
Philadelphia.
Defeat, But Not Rout.
1t was then the 25th OF August.
Washington met him (September III
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
| ha aptared fGnntemher 17l
Burgoyne was by that time deer
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 mair
force encamped across the village
street of Germantown, and would have
overwhelmed II In the surprising on
set had not two of his own columns
gone astray in the fog. attacked each
other, and so lost the moments op
portunity.
But an Empty Success.
General Howe knew very soon how
barren success he had had The
end OF November came before he haC
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 ant
made an end of In the north; ant
Washington was still at hand as men
acing and dangerous as ever.
DR.. Franklin was told in Paris tina
General Howe had taken Philadelphia
philadelphia has taken Howe" h,
laughed.
Winters at Valley Forge.
Philadelphia kept Howe safel,
through the winter, and his officer
made themselves easy amidst roun,
OF gayeties In the complacent town
while Washington went to Vale,
Forge to face the hardships and tn,
intrigues of bitter season.
A deep decentralization fell that win
ter, like blight, upon all the busi
ness Of the struggling confederacy
The congress. in its exile at York. hat
lost its tone and it's command In at
fairs. II would have lost ii as com
pletely in Philadelphia, no doubt, 70
Il was no longer the body ii had been
Its best members we're withdraw
to serve their respective states in tn,
critical business. now everywhere Ii
hand. OF recognizing their govern
ment: and il itself was no government
at all. but simply committee of nd
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 transac
its business II suffered itself to fall
into the hands OF intriguers aud sec
tional politicians. It gave commits
: sions in the army not according I,
: merit, but upon plan carefully de
vised to advance no more officers from
one section than from another syei
men like John Adams approving.
Adams denounced claims of senior
lily and service as involving "one o
the most putrid corruptions Of abso
7 lutte monarchy" and suggested tina
the officers who did not relish tn,
idea of seeing the several states give,
/ "A share OF the general officers" pro
] pOrtioned to the number OF troops the,