leave New York, and resume his command in the Jerseys.

On joining General Grant, Lord Cornwallis immediately marched against Trenton, where Washington was encamped at the head of about 5000 men. On his approach, Washington crossed a rivulet, named the Assumpinck, and took post on some high ground, with the rivulet in his front. On the advance of the British army, on the afternoon of the 2d of January, 1777, a smart cannonade ensued, and continued till night, Lord Cornwallis intending to renew the attack next morning; but, soon after midnight, General Washington silently decamped, leaving his fires burning, his sentinels advanced, and small parties to guard the fords of the rivulet, and, by a circuitous route through Allentown, proceeded towards Princeton.

About half way between Trenton and Princeton the Americans encountered three regiments, under Colonel Mawhood, who were advancing to join Cornwallis. A battle ensued, in which the British were worsted, and most of them compelled to retreat towards Brunswick. Washington pressed on towards Princeton, where one regiment had been left, and succeeded in taking 300 of them prisoners. The rest escaped by a precipitate flight. The British lost about 100 men in this affair; the Americans less. But they had to regret the loss of one of their

What was done by the British ?-Describe the movement of General Grant. Of Washington-What took place January 21, 1777 ?-On the night succeeding ?- On the way to Princeton ?--At Princeton ?

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bravest and most valuable officers, General Mercer. In this action James Monroe was wounded, who subsequently became president of the republic.

Washington was still pressed by Cornwallis with a vastly superior force. He retreated towards Morristown, and, on crossing Millstone river, broke down the bridge at Kingston, to impede the progress of the British; and there the pursuit ended.

Both armies were completely worn out, the one being as unable to pursue as the other was to retreat.

Wash

ington took a position at Morristown, and Lord Cornwallis reached Brunswick, where all was alarm and confusion, in consequence of the battle of Princeton, and the expected approach of the Americans.

At Morristown, Washington now fixed his head quarters. This place is situated among hills of difficult access, with a fine country on the rear, from which he could easily draw supplies; and he might retire across the Delaware, if necessary. Giving his troops little repose, he overran both East and West Jersey, and even made himself master of the coast opposite Staten Island. With a greatly inferior army, by judicious movements, he wrested from the British almost all their conquests in the Jerseys. Brunswick and Amboy were the only posts which remained in their hands, and even in these they were not a little harassed and straitened. The American detachments were in a state of unwearied activity, frequently surprising and cutting off the British advanced guards, keeping them in continual alarm and melting down their numbers by a desultory and indecisive warfare. It was by the operations of this campaign that Washington gained for himself among European tacticians the name of the American Fabius. By judiciously delaying the decisive action, he conquered a greatly su perior force of the enemy.

Thus terminated the campaign of 1776, not altogether unfavourably to the American interest.. The whole country south of the Jerseys was entirely freed from the British troops, Rhode Island, indeed, was wholly in their

What officer fell in this action ?-What distinguished officer was wounded?-Whither did Washington retreat?-What was the state of both armies?-Where did Washington fix his head quarters ?-What was his situation ?-What country did he overrun ?-What did he wrest from the British ?-What name did he gain by his operations in this campaign?-What was the state of affairs at the termination of the campaign of 1776?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

165

possession; and so was the city of New York; and while they kept their position in the latter place, they were so nearly in a state of siege that their situation was scarcely more comfortable than that of General Gage and his army had been in Boston during the preceding winter. Meantime the people throughout the colonies, who had watched, with breathless and terrible anticipation, the unfortunate retreat of Washington through the Jerseys and his late critical situation at Philadelphia, were now inspirited by the news of his brilliant successes at Tren ton and Princeton, and his subsequent expulsion of the enemy from all their important posts in the Jerseys.

WHILE General Washington was actively employed in the Jerseys in asserting the independence of America, congress could not afford him much assistance; but that body was not backward in promoting the same cause by its enactments and recommendations. Hitherto the colonies had been united by no bond but that of their common danger and common love of liberty. Congress resolved to render the terms of their union more definite, to ascertain the rights and duties of the several colonies, and their mutual obligations towards each other. A committee was appointed to sketch the principles of the union or confederation.

This committee presented a report in thirteen Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States, and proposed that, instead of calling themselves the UNITED COLONIES, they should assume the name of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; that each state should retain its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right which was not by the confederation expressly delegated to the United States in congress assembled, and that they shouid enter into a firm league for mutual defence. The articles also defined

What was the effect of Washington's success on the popular mind ?-What were the chief provisions of the old Articles of Confederation ?-What name was assumed to designate the American nation?

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AMERICAN PRIVATEERS.

the rights of the several states, and of their citizens; the powers of congress; and the mode of raising money from the respective states for the purposes of general government and defence.

These articles of confederation were adopted, after much discussion, and transmitted to the several state legis latures; and, meeting their approbation, were ratified by all the delegates on the 15th of November, 1777. They remained in force, as the constitution of the country, until the adoption of the Federal Constitution, in 1788.

The only provision which congress could at present make for the support of the army, was by the emission of bills of credit to pass at their nominal value in all payments and dealings throughout the states. This soon became depreciated, and the attempts to sustain it, by fixing the prices of commodities, were abortive, and introduced confusion and misery, involving many families in ruin. It was a serious but unavoidable hinderance to all their subsequent operations during the war.

In consequence of the hostilities with the colonies, the British West India Islands experienced a severe scarcity of provisions. When the fleet was about to return to England, an insurrection of the negroes of Jamaica was threatened. The military force of the island had been weakened by draughts to complete the army on the continent; and the ships of war were detained to assist in suppressing the disturbances of the negroes. By this delay the Americans gained time for equipping privateers, who succeeded in capturing many richly laden ships; and were permitted to sell their prizes in the ports of France, both in Europe and the West Indies.

The British cabinet remonstrated against this unfriendly conduct of France; but soon became satisfied that both France and Spain were in a state of active preparation for war. Parliament met on the 31st of October; and, notwithstanding attempts were made for adopting conciliatory measures, it was resolved to support the ministry in a vigorous prosecution of the war.

Congress was not less determined to maintain the independence of the United States at all hazards. Aware

When were these articles finally ratified?-How long did they remain in force? What is observed concerning the continental paper currency? -What had taken place in the West Indies?-How did the Americans take advantage of these events?-What was permitted by France? What is said of the British cabinet ?-Of France and Spain ?-Of the parliament ?-Of congress?