Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub
[graphic]

MEMOIRS OF THE WAR

IN THE

SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

THE determination of the mind to relinquish the soft scenes of tranquil life for the rough adventures of war, is generally attended with the conviction that the act is laudable; and with a wish that its honorable exertions should be faithfully transmitted to posterity. These sentiments lead to the cultivation of virtue; and the effect of the one is magnified by the accomplishment of the other. In usefulness to society, the difference is inconsiderable between the conduct of him who performs great achievements, and of him who records them; for short must be the remembrance, circumscribed the influence of patriotic exertions and heroic exploits, unless the patient historian retrieve them from oblivion, and hold them up conspicuously to future ages. "Sæpè audivi, Q. Maximum, P. Scipionem, præterea civitatis nostræ præclaros viros, solitos ita dicere, cùm majorum imagines intuerentur, vehementissimè sibi animum ad virtutem accendi. Scilicet non ceram illam, neque figuram tantam vim in sese habere; sed memoriâ rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere, neque priùs sedari, quàm virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adæquaverit."*-Sall Bell. Jugur.

"Often have I heard, that Quintus Maximus, Publius Scipio, and other renowned men of our commonwealth, used to say, that whenever they beheld the images of their ancestors, they felt their minds vehemently excited to virtue. It could not be the wax or the marble that possessed this power; but the recollection of their great actions kindled a generous flame in their breasts, not to be quelled till they also by virtue had acquired equal fame and glory."

Regretting, as we all do, that not one of the chief actors in our camp or cabinet, and indeed very few of our fellow citizens, have attempted to unfold the rise, or to illustrate the progress and termination of our revolution, I have been led to this my undertaking with a hope of contributing, in some degree, to repair the effects of this much lamented indifference. With this view I am about to write memoirs of the Southern campaigns, being that part of the war with which I am best acquainted, and which in its progress and issue materially contributed to our final success, and to the enlargement of our military fame. Desirous of investing the reader with a full and clear understanding of the operations to be described, I shall commence these memoirs at the beginning of the third year of the war; for the principal events which occurred thereafter, laid the foundation of the change in the enemy's conduct, and turned the tide and fury of the conflict from the North to the South.

When I first engaged in this undertaking, many of my military comrades, capable and willing to contribute their aid to the fulfilment of my design, were living; whose minute knowledge of various scenes, all of which they saw, in some of which they led, would have rendered it peculiarly interesting and valuable. After postponing, as is common to man, what for various reasons ought not to have been delayed, I have experienced in my progress abundant cause for self-reproach; since in many instances I have been deprived of this important assistance, which no effort or application has been able fully to supply. Discouraged by this privation, I should, though reluctantly, have receded from my purpose, had not the injurious consequences of my dilatoriness been repaired in a measure by the animated and friendly exertions of the few survivors among my martial companions. To these individuals I owe a heavy debt of personal gratitude; and should the following sheets be deemed worthy of general approbation, to their ready and unwearied assistance, more than to the author's care and diligence, may be justly ascribed the pleasing result. I have, nevertheless, been compelled to abridge considerably my first design; not having been able to obtain the documents necessary to its full accomplishment.

It was my intention to present the public, not with a narrative of the Southern operations only, but with the life of Major-General Greene, our distinguished leader. The two subjects appeared to be closely connected; and the latter is strongly claimed by my intimate knowledge of the military plans and measures of that illustrious man, by the homage due to his superior virtue, and the grateful remem

brance, which I hold in common with all who served under him, of his benignity and justice.

Apprehending that longer delay might eventuate in leaving altogether unexecuted my design, I resolved for the present to confine myself to these memoirs, deferring to some future day, or to more adequate abilities, the completion of my original plan.

CHAPTER II.

The campaign of 1777 and forces employed.-Its termination by the surrender of Burgoyne. THE campaign projected by the British for seventy-seven, 1777. announced in its commencement a system portentous of much evil to the United States. It contemplated the annihilation of resistance in all the country between the lakes and Albany, undisturbed possession of the Hudson River (thus severing the Union), and the conquest of Pennsylvania, whose capital (Philadelphia) was the metropolis of the American States. This extensive plan of operations was supported by coextensive means.*

Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, a leader of renown, conducting the British army in the North, undertook his part with zeal and gallantry. Entering from Canada, he pressed forward with impetuosity. Ticonderoga, with its various dependencies, fell without a

*British force under

Sir William Howe,
August, 24,000
November, 26,900

December, 27,700

March,

June,

27,000 30,000

[blocks in formation]

8,000

Force under Sir William Howe when he landed at Elkton, horse, foot, and artillery, amounted in toto, to 18,000.

Force under General Washington at the battle of Brandywine, including militia, 15,000.

At which time the British force in Rhode Island and New York, under Sir Henry Clinton, was 12,000.

And the American force under General Putnam at West Point, &c., exclusive of militia, which he was authorized to call to him as he chose, from the States of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, 2,000.

Force under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, excluding Canadians and Indians, 7,000.

Force under Major-General Gates (Continentals), 9,000

66

66

66

66

(Militia),

4,129

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

blow; and the victorious army, pursuing its success with ardor gained repeated advantages over our broken and dispirited troops, commanded by Major-General St. Clair. This promising beginning did not long continue. Major-General Gates, bred to arms in the British school, and much respected by Congress, was appointed to the chief command in the Northern Department. His reputation produced confidence; our vanquished army was reanimated; the East poured forth her hardy sons; and chosen troops were detached by the commander-in-chief from the main body. Gates soon found himself at the head of a sufficient force to face his enemy, whose advance had been fortunately retarded by the usual incumbrances of European armies, increased by the uncommon difficulties which the face of the country presented, improved as they had been by the skill, diligence, and zeal of Major-General Schuyler, then commanding in that quarter. This delay reduced the provisions of the enemy; and the first attempt to replenish them terminated in the destruction of a considerable body of Germans, detached on that service, under Lieutenant-Colonel Baum.* Brigadier Starke, at the head of a force, mostly militia, attacked this corps on the heights of Walloomsack, and destroyed it: a dreadful blow to the assailing army, and the mirror of its future fate. Burgoyne, however, persuaded that victory alone could retrieve him, sought for battle with pertinacity and keenness. The American leader was not disinclined to the appeal, apprehending a serious movement * from New York to

*Brigadier-General Starke had fortunately reached Bennington with a body of militia from New Hampshire, where was established a depot of provisions for the use of the Northern army, at the time Lieutenant-Colonel Baum made his appearance with 500 Germans. Starke, uniting his militia to the remains (200) of a Continental regiment under Colonel Warner, judiciously decided to strike Baum before he could complete intrenchments, begun for the purpose of strengthening his position. The assault was immediate and vigorous; and the enemy was completely routed, most of the detachment being killed, wounded, and taken. Starke's conduct was not only justified by his success, but by the disclosure that a re-enforcement under Lieutenant-Colonel Brecknam was hastening to join Baum. The united force under Starke amounted to 2,000.

+ This important operation was conducted by Sir Henry Clinton, second in command of the British army. He left New York early in October at the head of 3,000 men; and by masterly manoeuvres entirely deceived General Putnam, the American commander. On the 6th he carried the Forts Clinton and Montgomery by storm, which produced the immediate evacuation of the Forts Independence and Constitution. Thus with an inferior force did the British general in a few days dispossess us of the Hudson River, believed to have been in a condition impregnable to any force then at the enemy's disposal. The military conduct of Sir Henry during this expedition, carried with it manifestations of genius far above the common order; but he stained his laurels, so gallantly won, by the cruel conflagration of the defenceless town of Esopus, then the depot of women and children.

« PředchozíPokračovat »