Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-04
rendered the most

kiusco and Pulaski-rendered the most
important services.
Efforts were made to induce the
British colonists of Canada and Nova
Scotia to unite in the struggle for in
dependence and an expedition was sent
against Montreal and Quebec led by
Generals Montgomery and Arnold. The
Canadians refused their aid. Mont
gomery was killed, Arnold wounded,
and the remains of the expedition re-
turned after terrible sufferings.
In 1777 after several severe actions
| in New Jersey-generally disastrous
to the Americans-the British took
possession of Philadelphia; and Wash
ington, with the remnants of his army,
went into winter quarters at Valley
Forge, where the men suffered from
cold, hunger and nakedness.
While Washington was contending
unsuceessfully against disciplined and
overwhelming forces in New Jersey
General Burgoyne was leading an
army of 1000 British and German
troops-with a large force of Cana
dians and Indians-from Canada into
northern New York to form a juno
tion with the British on the Hudson
and separate New England from the
rest of the confederacy. His march
was delayed by felled trees and de-
stroyed roads; his foraging expedi-
tions were defeated; and, after two
sharp actions at Saltwater and Sara
toga, with but three days rations left,
he was compelled to capitulate on Oc-
tober IT; and England, in the midst of
victories, heard with dismay of the
loss of an entire army. The Ameri-
cans gained 5000 muskets and large
train of artillery.
Feeling the need of more unity of
action articles of confederation pro-
posed by Franklin in 1775 were adopt
ed in 1777, which constituted a league
of friendship between the states, but
not government which had any pow
ers of coercion.
In 177S Lord Carlisle was sent to
America by the British government
with offers of conciliation; but it was
too late. France at the same time
recognized American independence and
sent large fleet and supplies of cloth
ing, arms and munitions of war to
their aid; and General Clinton, who
had superseded General Howe, finding
his supplies at Philadelphia threat
ened, retreated to New York, defeat
ing the Americans at Monmouth, n. j.
The repeated victories of the Brit
ish armies, the aid afforded by great
numbers of Americans who still ad
hered to the royal cause and furnished
during the war not less than 10000
troops, and the alliance of large tribes
of Indians who committed cruel raw
ages in the frontier settlements, did
little toward subjugating the country.
Portions of the seacoast of New Eng
land and Virginia were laid waste; but
the kings troops were worn out with
victories. Spain and then Holland
Joined in the war against England and
aided the Americans. John Paul Jones
with ships fitted out in French har-
bors, fought desperate battles under
the American flag off the English |
coast. But the king and parliament
were determined to maintain the honor !
of the crown and the integrity of the |
empire. In 1880 $4,000 seamen and
$4,000 additional troops were sent to
America, and strong effort was made
to subjugate the Carolinas, where the
war assumed bitter partisan charac-
ter and was conducted with spirit by
Sumpter, Marion and other southern
chieftains. Lord CORVALLIS with a
large army marched from Charleston
thru North Carolina pursuing and
sometimes defeating the American
general, Gates. Worn out with his |
success he arrived in Virginia where
he was confronted by the Marquis de
Lafayette. In the meantime Admiral
with powerful French fleet, and 5000 |
soldiers, the elite of the French army, |
under Count de Rochambeau, while |
Washington hurried from New York. |
CORVALLIS was obliged to fortify him
self in Yorktown, blockaded by the |
fleet of Count de Grasse, and besieged
by the allied army of Americans and
French, waited for Sir Henry Clinton
to send him relief from New York.
October 10, 1871, he was compelled to
surrender his army of 1000 men-an
event which produced such a change of
feeling in England as to cause the
of the ministry and the
dispatch of General Sir Guy Carleton
to New York with offers of terms of
peace. The preliminaries were signed
at Paris November 80, 1882, and on
September 3, 1888, England concluded
peace with France, Holland and Amer
lea. The independence of each of the
several states was acknowledged, with
a liberal settlement of territorial boun-
daries. In April, 1888, a cessation of
hostilities had been proclaimed and the
American army disbanded. New York,
which had been held by the British
thru the whole war, was evacuated
November 25; on December a General
Washington took leave of his com
panions in arms and on December % /