dent desire that harmony and a good understanding between the fleet and the garrisons may be mutually cultivated. On this every thing depends; nothing but disappointment and disgrace can attend the want of it. The best designs and most important pursuits have been, and ever will be, defeated by foolish differences, when they exist between those engaged in them."

The effect of these injunctions was now brought to the test. On the day they were written, four battalions of Germans, amounting to about twelve hundred men,* commanded by Count Donop, landed on the east side of the Delaware, and moved on to Haddonfield. At three o'clock the next morning they advanced towards Red Bank, but, delayed by a necessary detour, they only arrived at noon within four miles of the fortification.

This fort was an intrenchment-the parapets of the retrenchments effectually fraised-in the centre of extensive unfinished earthen works.

The advance of the enemy was first descried on the edge of a wood to its north, nearly within cannon shot. Colonel Greene, too weak to hold the extensive outworks, retired his men within the inner intrenchment, and posted them for action. A summons to surrender was sent forward. The bearer was told the fort "would never be surrendered." Donop, who had come on, intending a deliberate attack, threw up a battery, and commenced a I risk cannonade.

A small party of Virginia troops, ordered in the emergency to reinforce Fort Mifflin, had preceded the Hessians, and reached Colonel Greene on its route. The commander, Colonel Simms, proffered his aid. At first it was accepted, but Greene, on reflection, declined diverting him from his destination. Simms, filing off through the postern

*Major Ward to Washington, Oct. 23, 1777.

He

gate of the fort, embarked in boats provided to convey him across the river.* Donop, discovering the embarkation, and not doubting that it was a part of the garrison abandoning the post, resolved on instant assault. rushed into the outworks, and finding them undefended, led his troops up to the abatis, shouting "Victoria,” and waving their hats. A deadly and continued discharge of guns and small arms met the assailants in front from the fort, and in flank from a part of another looped intrenchment. The soldiers reeled, and retreated under the close, unerring fire. Their officers rallying them, were seen falling, while attempting to cut a way through the abatis. Donop, especially distinguished by his military order, by his noble figure and bearing, was mortally wounded.

Another column attacked the southern part of the work, passed the abatis, traversed the fosse, and mounted the berm. A few got over the pickets, but the fire from within drove them back. The assailants retreated in confusion, the galleys pouring a fire upon their flank. They lost one-third of their number, of the garrison only eight were killed, seven and twenty wounded.

The plan being a simultaneous attack on both the opposite forts, the enemy's fleet had been signalled to advance. The Augusta, a sixty-four, the Roebuck, a fortyfour, the Merlin of eighteen guns, and a galley, came up through the lower chevaux de frisc, and were attacked by the American floating batteries and galleys. Seeing the repulse of Donop, the enemy's vessels, the next day, endeavored to fall down the river. The Augusta and Merlin grounded. An incessant fire was kept upon them, and they exploded, The firing now ceased on both sides, when the Roebuck dropped down, and passed the lower works.†

* Lee's Southern War, i. 33. Commodore Hazlewood's Report. Oct. 26.

Congress paid the honors due for this gallant defence to Greene, Smith and Hazlewood, voting to each the thanks of the American people, and an emblematic sword.

Sad hours had meanwhile passed on the eastern bank of the Delaware. Extricated from among the dead bodies of his soldiers, the youthful Donop was approached by Duplessis. Perceiving from his accent that he was a French officer, he exclaimed in that language, "I am content. I die in the hands of honor itself." Tenderly nursed by Duplessis, he died the third day. From his death bed, he wrote to Count St. Germain, commending this young officer to his kindness. As his last moment approached, contrasting his own fate with that of the gallant volunteer in a glorious cause, the expiring soldier said, with his latest breath, "It is finishing a noble career early, but I die the victim of my ambition and of the avarice. of my sovereign."*

* De Chatellux's Travels, 260-266.

CHAPTER XI.

THREE days after these brilliant affairs, authentic advices were received of the issue of the campaign at the north. Although Burgoyne reached Skenesborough on the ninth of July, such were the obstructions interposed by Schuyler and the difficulties of the route, that his progress was very slow. On both sides of his line of march large trees were felled into his path. The artillery mired at every step. So numerous were the creeks and marshes, forty bridges or causeways were constructed by him, one nearly two miles long, of logs. The scalping of a young female under circumstances of sad and peculiar interest had roused the whole country; vengeful wrath succeeding to affright.

Delayed in this wilderness by the unexpected impediments, and afflicted with the barbarity of his savage allies which he labored to prevent, Burgoyne did not encamp upon the Hudson, until after the lapse of sixteen days, a distance from Fort George of only eighteen miles. He was now buoyant with the hope that the prize was within his grasp. Yet the spirit of his enemy ought to have warned him of his dangers. On his way, a sally was made from Fort Anne. The Americans were driven back. They again formed and rushed on, their officers shouting to

them to advance, driving the British before them. These retreated to a hill, where the pursuit ceased for want of ammunition. Even the picket guard had not bullets for the night.

The scenes of distress among the poor inhabitants, flying from their farms and habitations, were most grievous; their immense crops of wheat and corn destroyed or abandoned, many of them, without means of subsistence.

On the approach of Burgoyne, Schuyler retired from Fort Edward to Saratoga, where he issued a proclamation invoking the people to repair to his standard, and threatening punishment as traitors to those joining the enemy. His total force was two thousand five hundred continentals, and two thousand militia. The British and German regulars advancing upon him, were about six thousand.

Hoping reinforcements, he intended taking advantage of some heights at Moses Creek, five miles below, there to have met his adversary. No reinforcements came up. "A great part of the militia was dismissed to reap their harvests, others deserted by companies." * Thus reduced, instead of strengthened, Schuyler retired to Stillwater, a few miles down the Hudson. Here at first he ordered Lincoln to join him. But learning the embarrassments of Burgoyne, and the feeble garrison at Ticonderoga, he directed him with the eastern militia to move to his rear, and cut off his supplies. Notwithstanding his own diminished strength, being informed of the advance of St. Leger, but not of his repulse, he ordered Arnold, as advised in the letter written by Hamilton, with three regiments of regulars to relieve Fort Schuyler. Thus weakened by these provident measures, with the approval of a council of war, he fell back to Van Schaick's Island, a very defensible position, at the confluence of the Hudson

*Corres. Revo'n., i. 515.