Page images
PDF
EPUB

another nature, might have been justly admitted, as a demonftration of true patriotifm. That prelate magnanimoufly appropriated to the use of the war, the whole of his vaft revenues during the time of its continuance. Thus wifely choofing a road to fame, in which he was fure of not being difturbed by rivals or competitors, and of not having his heels trod upon by imitators. The bounty and kindness, extended by the Bishop of Lugo, to the British prifoners in Spain (acknowledgments of which have been given in the public prints), deferves every degree of praife and gratitude. Although fome of their comman-. ders behaved otherwife, the Spanish nobility and merchants, in general, have fhewn very extraordinary marks of kindness, friendhip, and even affection, to those English gentlemen who have fallen in their way during the present war.

Among thofe remarkable circumftances which diftinguish the year 1780, the conduct of the Duke of Modena, in abolishing the inquifition in his dominions, fhould by no means be overlooked. It indeed affords a new inftance of the progrefs, which liberal ideas with refpect to toleration, are now making throughout Europe. A farther extenfion of the fame ideas, may be, hoped to reach to the civil and religious rights of mankind, as well as to a bare fufferance of their opinions. That prince, upon the death of the Grand Inquifitor at Reggio, immediately ordered that tribunal to be for ever abolished; its revenues to be applied to other, and more laudable purposes; and the prifons, and other buildings, which could preferve any memorial of its having ever exifted, to be entirely demolished.

CHA P. II.

Retrofpective view of affairs in America and the Weft Indies, in the year 1780. State of the hoftile armies on the fide of New York, previous to, and at the arrival of, Gen. Sir Henry Clinton from the reduction of Charles Town. Short campaign in the Jerfics. Connecticut farms. Springfield. Unexpected effect produced by the reduction of Charles Town, in renewing and exciting the Spirit of union and refiftance in America. Great hopes founded on the expected co-operation of a French fleet and army in the reduction of New York, and the final expulsion of the British forces from that continent. Marquis de la Fayette arrives from France. M. de Ternay, and the Count de Rochambeau, arrive with a French Squadron, and a body of land forces, and are put into poffeffion of the fortifications and harbour of Rhode-Inland. Admiral Arbuthnot blocks up the French fquadron. Difpofitions made by Sir Henry Clinton for attacking the French auxiliaries. Gen. Washington pafjes the North River, with a view of attempting New York. Expedition to Rhode Island laid okde. Great difficulties experienced by Don Bernard de Galvez, in his expedition to Weft Florida. Befieges and takes the fort at Mobille. Great land and naval force fent out from Spain, in order to join M. de Guichen

in the West Indies. Junction of the hoftile fleets, notwithstanding the efforts of Admiral Sir George Rodney, to intercept the Spanish Squadron and conToy. Sickness and mortality in the Spanish fleet and army, with fome other causes, preferte the British ifunds from the imminent danger to which they were apparently expofed by the great fuperiority of the enemy. These caufes operate fill farther in their confequences; which affect the whole face and nature of the war in the new world, and entirely frustrate the grand views formed by France and America, for the remainder of the campaign. Spanish fleet and army proceed to the Havannah; and M. de Guichen returns from St. Domingo, with a convoy, to Europe. Great preparations made by the Americans for effectually co-operating with the French forces on the arrival of M. de Guichen. Washington's army increafed, for that purpose, to 20,000 men. Invafion of Canada intended, and preparatory proclamations iffued by the Marquis de la Fayette. Caufes which prevented M. de Guichen from proceeding to North America. Sir George Rodney arrives, with a fquadron, at New York.

HE hoftile armies on the fide

TH

of New York were fo nearly poifed, both with refpect to offenfive force and defenfive ftrength, that their mutual fituation, and comparative circumftances, afforded no great opportunity of exertion or enterprize to Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, upon his return from the taking of Charles Town. The advantages, however, derived from the poffeffion, of the islands, their vicinity to the continent, the quick and filent movements of a great number of frigates, and other smaller armed veffels calculated for the purpose, and mafter of all the channels and intercourfes, as well as of the adjoining fea, together with the unexampled length of ill connected pofts which were to be guarded by the Americans, afforded, almoft, continual opportunities, of hafty defcent and fuccefsful furprize, by which much blood was fpilt, and mifchief done, without producing any effect, or at least any good one, with respect to the main objects, and great purposes of the war.

This kind of service, except where the object was more confiderable than ordinary, was left entirely to the Refugees; who having arms in their hands, nothing elfe to do, little other provifion, and being edged on by the moft implacable animofity against their countrymen, eagerly embraced every adventure, which afforded any hope of profit, or what was perhaps ftill fweeter, of revenge. They were now grown fo numerous, that they were strangely permitted to fet up a fort of a diftinct government in New York, under the conduct of a jurifdiction of their own creation, which they called, the Honourable Board of Affociated Loyalifts. This board, it is faid, was authorized from home; but this is hardly credible; and having a common stock, and their infant excurfions at fea having proved extremely fuccefsful, they became every day more numerous and powerful, and poffeffed fomething like a fleet, of small privateers and cruizers. Their enterprizes were bold, well conducted, and frequently fuccefsful;

in which their intimate knowledge of the adjoining coafts, creeks, and villages, afforded them great advantages But their want of any effectual dicipline or government, along with their peculiar, and frequently perfonal animofity, leading them to exceffes; whilft the fummary retribution on the other fide, falling into the hands of thofe, who were either fmarting under their own immediate loffes, or acting under the impulfe of grief and revenge, for the deftruction or flaughter of their friends and relations, and who were likewife actuated by no lefs ftrong political prejudices, than their adverfaries, the feelings of humanity were fufpended, and mercy at an end on both fides. Thus the adjoining coafts of the continent, and particularly the maritime, and nearer part of the Jerfies, became fcenes of waste and havock; and this predatory war tended neither to fubjugation or reconcilement.

A few days previous to the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, the Generals Knyphaufen, Robertfon, and Tyron, with a view of attacking fome of Washington's advanced pofts, paffed over by night, with five or fix thoufand men, from Staten Ifland, to Elizabeth June 6th. Town in New Jersey. On the following morn1780. ing, they advanced a few miles, to a fettlement called the Connecticut Farms, from its having been planted and fettled a few years ago, by fome inhabitants of that Province. In their march, they were boldly and continually fired at, wherever the ground, or cover of any kind admitted of their approach, by fcattering parties of the neighbouring militia. The

burning of that new and thriving fettlement (although it did not contain many houses), and of the prefbyterian church, together with the unfortunate death of the clergyman's wife, who fitting with her children and family, was thot dead, through the window, in one of her own rooms, afforded new ground of clamour to the Americans, and ferved not a little, to increafe that averfion to the British government and name, which had already taken too deep a root.

It was faid on our fide, and with fuperior probability, that this unfortunate lady was killed, without defign, by a random shot; but the contrary was ftrongly urged by the Americans. Her husband's being particularly obnoxious at New York, from the active part which he had taken, in the fupport of the American caufe, was brought as a corroborating circumitance; and a piteous letter written by himself, and publifhed, could leave no occafion for any farther teftimony, with thofe who were but too much difpofed to liften to evidence fo correfpondent to their own opinions. It is certain, that no degree of good government and difcipline in armies, can prevent the nature of particular individuals, from breaking forth into acts of enormity, when thofe opportunities offer, in which their crimes may efcape detection; efpecially under the ill habits acquired in the outrage and malice of a civil war.

From thence the army marched towards Springfield, being, as before, continually annoyed on their march by the militia; but now with greater effect, as they continually grew more numerous; they

found

found the American General, Maxwell, at the head of the Jerfey brigade, and reinforced by all the militia which in a few hours could be collected, well pofted at that place. Whether it proceeded from Maxwell's good countenance and pofition, or from whatever other cause, so it was, that the army halted; and continued on the fame ground until night, without advancing. The Americans, however, though inferior in ftrength, did not permit them by any means to hold their poft in quiet; and a very confiderable and continual firing, without coming at any time to close action, was kept up during the day. The report in the British line was, that they only waited for the coming up of the waggons and neceffaries which were in the rear.

Springfield, any more than for the fubfequent retreat. Undoubtedly, fo much refolution on the part of the Americans, was not expected; and it appears from fubfequent circumftances, that although no direct attack had been made, the afternoon of that day was bufy and warm. It was faid, that intelligence had been received, of Washington's having detached a brigade from Morris-town for the fupport of Maxwell; that the appearances at his head quarters indicated a determination of making that fupport effectual; that Maxwell had already been reinforced by fome neighbouring regiments; and that the country was every where in motion. The expedition itself had probably its origin from fome of thofe delufive reprefentations, which had fo often led to mifchievous or unreputable purfuits, concerning either the favourable difpofition of the country to the royal caufe, or the fuppofed weak and contemptible state of the American forces.

It was reported at New York, that the Heffian General Knyphaufen was ftrongly of opinion, and eagerly difpofed, to attack the poft at Springfield; but that he had been over-ruled by another commander; and this report received fo much credit, that it was made the foundation of fome ill

Whatever the caufe was, the defign of attacking Springfield was given up, and the army returned to Elizabeth Town in the night. They were purfued by the enemy, as foon as day rose, all the way to that place; and they were now grown fo eager and confident as boldly to attack the 22d regiment, which was posted at fome fmall diftance in the front of the line. That reigment being ordered to fall back on their ap proach, was purfued with great rapidity by the enemy, who confidered it as the rear-guard of a re-natured pafquinades upon the fubtiring army, whofe van, they fup- ject. However these things might pofed, was then pafling over to be, the Jersey militia and briStaten Island The reception they gade, with whatever other corps met, and the appearances they were concerned on the occafion, discovered, foon convinced them received public acknowledgments of their error, and they retired and high praife from Washington, with precipitation. for their behaviour in that day's fervice.

It is not ealy to account for the inaction in the firft inftance at

The arrival of Sir Henry Cliaton,

ton, which happened immediately after, made no change in the fituation of the royal forces, who ftill maintained their poft at Elizabeth Town. That commander, on the contrary, determined to improve on the original defign, and to afford them an opportunity of acting with effect. For this purpose, troops were embarked at New York, and fuch movements took place among the fhipping, and fuch preparations were made, as indicated an immediate expe→ dition up the North River, This produced the defired effect in alarming Washington; who being exceedingly apprehenfive for the fafety of Weft Point, and other ftrong holds in the Highlands, immediately marched with the greater part of his army, to fecure thofe, to him, invaluable pofts.

June 23d. This point being gained, the forces at Elizabeth Town again advanced on their former track towards Springfield. Whatever the original defign might have been, the general's views feemed now to have been extended, to the getting poffeffion, during the abfence of Washington with his main force, of the ftrong country of Moriffania, which had fo often afforded a fecure retreat, and an inexpugnable camp, to that commander. At any rate, if it was not found convenient to retain pofts at fuch a diftance, the deftruction of his ftores, magazines, and defences in the mountains, would have been no inconfiderable object.

On the part of the Americans, General Greene, with Stark's and the Jersey brigades, fupported by the neighbouring militia, were VOL. XXIV.

left to guard thofe difficult hills, and defiles, which conftitute the ftrength of the country. Springfield lay at their feet; and led directly to fome of the principal paifes. The royal troops advanced with rapidity to this place; where they found the bridge, which led to the village, occupied by a small party of about 170 men, under the conduct of a Col. Angel. That officer, turning all the advantages afforded by his fituation (which were many) to the best account, defended his poft with great gallantry. With that handful of men, he obstinately maintained the bridge, against a prodigious fuperiority of force, and the most spirited attacks, for a quarter of an hour. Finding himself at length overpowered, and no relief appearing, he ftill found means to carry off the remainder of his detachment, and even to fave the wounded; nearly one fourth of his whole number being by that time killed or difabled. The British troops suffered more in this trifling affair than could have been expected.

.

Greene lay, at that time, at Short Hills, about a mile above Springfield. But his troops were fo divided in guarding their refpective pofts, and the attack fo unexpected and sudden, that he could not make any detachment in time and fufficient for the fupport of Angel, without hazarding the fecurity of the much more important poft which he himfelf occupied. Whether it proceeded from indignation and refentment, at the refiftance and lofs which the troops unexpectedly met at the bridge, or from whatever other caufe it was, Spring[B]

field

:

« PreviousContinue »