defeated army, preventing their reassembling, and capturing their stores and magazines, General Howe made no forward movement, but permitted the American General to recruit his army, and collect new stores at his leisure.

Intelligence being received, on the 20th of this month, that General Wayne, at the head of 1500 men, was concealed in the woods, with an intention of annoying the rear of the detached parties of the British, Major-General Charles Grey was detached with the 2d light infantry, and the 42d and 44th regiments, to surprise and cut off this corps. General Grey directed the men to make use of their bayonets only. The detachment marched with great secrecy and dispatch, and came on the enemy at midnight, when the picquets and out-guards were overpowered in an instant, without causing any alarm. The troops then rushed forward, and before the Americans had time to seize their arms, bayoneted more than 300, and took 100 prisoners; the rest owed their escape to the darkness of the night. The loss of the British, as might have been expected, in such a complete surprise, was trifling, being 1 officer, 1 serjeant, and 1 private killed, and a few wounded.

On the 25th, the army moved forward to German Town, and the following morning the grenadiers advanced to Philadelphia, of which they took peaceable possession, as the enemy had previously retired.

General Washington, having received considerable reinforcements, and wishing to show how little he had suffered, and how soon he had recovered from the effects of his defeat at Brandy Wine, determined on an enterprise equally bold in itself, and unexpected on the part of the British general. He marched from his ground, on the evening, with an intention of surprising and attacking the British at German Town, where he arrived about three in the following morning. The 40th, and a battalion of light infantry, flew to their arms, and, forming hastily, made a vigorous resistance. They were, however, forced to give way to the number of the enemy, and the vivacity of their attack, but

the judgment and foresight of Lieutenant-Colonel Musgrave saved the army from a surprise, which might have led to serious consequences. With six companies of the 40th, he threw himself into a large stone house, from which he annoyed the assailants with such effect as to arrest their farther progress, till Major-General Grey arrived with his brigade, and, supported by Brigadier-General Agnew, with the 4th brigade, forced the Americans to retreat. In this short, but brisk engagement, the loss on both sides was greater than in the action of Brandy Wine, and although the enemy were repulsed, the attack itself, and the manner in which it was conducted, proved how little they had been intimidated by their late defeat, and how much they had improved both in courage and discipline.

The Highlanders were not present in this action, having been sent on a detachment with the 10th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling, to drive the enemy from a post at Billingspoint. On the 8th of October, however, they returned to the 3d brigade under General Grey, and bore a part in all the future operations of the campaign. The most important of these was an attempt of Sir William Howe to bring General Washington to a general action at White Marsh, a strong position about fourteen miles from Philadelphia. Finding all his endeavours ineffectual, he returned to Philadelphia on the 8th, and ordered the army into winter quarters.

The winter passed without any remarkable occurrence, and, in the month of May 1778, Sir William Howe was recalled, and General Clinton appointed Commander-in-Chief.

• Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling, with the Queen's Rangers and 42d regiment, was ordered on a foraging party into the Jerseys. In an excursion through the woods, a Highland soldier came unexpectedly in sight of an American, when their pieces happened to be unloaded. Each flew behind a tree to cover himself while loading; but fearing that the first who ventured out of cover would be brought down by the other, both kept possession of their trees, till at last the Highlander, losing patience, pushed his bonnet beyond the tree on the point of his bayonet. The American shot his ball through its centre, when his opponent starting forward, made him surrender instantly.

The new commander opened the summer campaign with the evacuation of Philadelphia, crossed the Delaware, and reached Monmouth on the 28th of June. In the neighbourhood of this place the American general had posted his army in considerable force. The extreme heat of the weather and an immense convoy of provisions, retarded General Clinton's movements, and afforded a favourable opportunity to the Marquis de la Fayette, who was eager to distinguish himself in the cause of his new friends, and who, accordingly, being supported by General Lee, made several attacks on the rear of the British column.* These were uniformly repulsed, but, as they occasioned considerable delay, General Clinton resolved to attack the main body of the enemy, who were drawn up in line, behind Monmouth Court-house. The ground being favourable, the cavalry made several successful charges, when the Grenadiers and Guards advanced rapidly on the enemy's front line, which made a vigorous resistance, but was, at length, forced to give way. A reinforcement being ordered up in support of the Guards, they again advanced, and attacked the enemy in a second position which they had taken. This attack was also resisted for some time; but unable to maintain their ground, the enemy at length retreated, and again formed on a third position, but in such good order, and on ground so strong, that General Clinton did not think it advisable

• When the Grenadier Brigade lay on their arms, before the commencement of the action, the Marquis de la Fayette, accompanied by a number of officers, rode up, and halting at the distance of 300 yards, asked, “What troops are these," when Captain Graham, of the 42d, answered, "The British Grenadiers;" "Very well," said La Fayette, "be prepared and we will soon be up with you." Accordingly, in less than an hour, he made his attack with great briskness, but was driven back with such precipitation, that General Lee, with a strong body of men in support, could not save him, and both were compelled to retreat in great disorder. Lee was sharply questioned by General Washington, why he allowed himself to be beaten." Sir," answered Lee," "you know not the troops I opposed, they were the English Grenadiers." General Lee knew them well, having served many years as Lieutenant and Captain in the grenadiers of the 44th regiment. He was tried by a Court Martial for his conduct on this occasion, and suspended for six months from rank and pay.

to push the attack, and withdrew the troops who had suffered extremely from the heat of the weather, (numbers dropping down in the ranks, and expiring in a few minutes,) to the advantageous position whence the first attack had been made. Here they halted till ten in the evening, when they resumed their march, and passed over to Staten and Long Islands, and from thence to New York. The loss on this occasion, as well as on all others where the enemy were opposed on open ground, was moderate, being only 3 officers and 56 soldiers killed, and 16 officers, 7 serjeants, and 137 rank and file, wounded.

A short time after the army had reached New York, a new enemy appeared in a French fleet of twelve sail of the line, and six frigates, under the command of the Count D'Estaing. The fleet under Lord Howe, though inferior to that of the enemy, was nevertheless formidable, from the state of the crews and equipments, and the character of the officers. It consisted of six ships of the line, and four of fifty guns, with several frigates and smaller vessels. D'Estaing anchored off New York, with an apparent intention of entering the harbour and attacking the British admiral; but, after remaining eleven days at anchor, he proceeded to co-operate with the American general Sullivan, at the head of a force of 10,000 men, in an attack upon Rhode Island. On the 8th of August, D'Estaing's fleet anchored above the town of Newport, in Rhode Island, whither he was followed by Lord Howe. On the 11th, the French admiral put to sea, when Lord Howe offered him battle; but, after some days manœuvring, both fleets were dispersed by a heavy gale of wind.

The land forces were now left to themselves. General Pigot, who commanded in Rhode Island, was reinforced by General Prescot, with five battalions. Either from being disappointed in the expected co-operation of the French fleet, or from some other cause, the enemy deserted in such numbers, that General Sullivan found it necessary to make a precipitate retreat, which he effected with little loss, and, crossing to the main land at Holylands Ferry, avoided the

intended attack of Sir H. Clinton, who had arrived from New York with a body of troops for the relief of Rhode Island.

The next enterprise was under the direction of MajorGeneral Charles Grey, who embarked with the Grenadiers, the Light Infantry brigade, and the 42d regiment, for the purpose of proceeding to the Acushnet river, to attempt to destroy a great assemblage of privateers, which, with their prizes, lay at New Plymouth. This expedition was completely successful. The troops landed on the banks of the Acushnet on the 5th of September, and, by noon the following day, the whole were reimbarked, having destroyed seventy vessels, and all the stores, cargoes, wharfs, and buildings, along the whole extent of the river. After this exploit they returned to New York.

Another expedition of the same nature was soon afterwards undertaken against Egg Harbour, and some parts of the Jerseys, where a number of vessels and store houses were destroyed. In the mean time, the corps of cavalry known by the name of Lady Washington's dragoons, commanded by Colonel Bellairs, was surprised and nearly annihilated by the second light infantry, commanded by Major Ferguson. In this manner the war was carried on by petty expeditions, unpleasant and fatiguing in themselves, and productive of little honour or satisfaction either to the officer or soldier.

At that period the winter was more a season of rest than has been the case in the course of later campaigns. It was not till the 25th of February that Colonel Stirling, with the light infantry of the Guards, and the 42d regiment, was ordered to attack a post at Elizabeth Town, commanded by the American General Maxwell. The detachment met with no resistance, the enemy retreating as they approached. In April the Highland regiment was employed on an expedition to the Chesapeak, to destroy the stores and merchandise at Portsmouth in Virginia. On the 30th General Mathews, with the Guards, the 42d regiment, and a corps of Hessians, sailed under the convoy of Commodore Sir George Collier,