Σ

THE

HISTORY

OF THE

RISE, PROGRESS, AND ESTABLISHMENT

OF THE

INDEPENDENCE

OF THE

United States of America:

INCLUDING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE WAR,

AND OF THE

THIRTEEN COLONIES,

FROM THEIR ORIGIN TO THAT PERIOD.

BY WILLIAM GORDON, D. D.

Quid verum*** curo, et rogo et omnis in hoc sum
HORAT. I Ep. 1 Liba

THE THIRD AMERICAN EDITION.

VOL. III

NEW-YORK:

PRINTED FOR SAMUEL CAMPBELL, NO. 124, ΓΕΛNE-STREET,

BY JOHN WOODS

M.DCCC.I

Checked

May 1913

LERO

NEW YORK

T

OF THE SEVERAL LETTERS IN VOL. III.

LETTER I. P. 17-39.

HE expedition from Boston against the British post at Pe-
nobscot, p. 17. General Sullivan's expedition against the

Indians, p. 19. Indian and American expeditions against each

other, p. 22. The Spanish governor of Louisiana recognizes

American independency, and marches against the British settle-

ments on the Missisippi, p. 23. Congress conclude upon an ul-

timatum, and write to Dr. Franklin, p. 24. Mr. Gerard's pri-

vate audience of congress, p. 26. Congress choose Mr. Jay

for their minister at the court of Madrid, and Mr. John Adams

for their minister to negociate a treaty of peace and a treaty of

commerce with Great-Britain, p. 27.-they address a long letter

to their constituents on their finances, p. 28. Count d'Estaing

sails from the West-Indies for the American continent, p. 30.

-summons Savannah to surrender, p. 31. He and general

Lincoln are repulsed in an attack upon the town, p. 33. Con--

gress resolve to erect a monument to the memory of count Pu-

Taski, p. 35. The British evacuate Rhode-Island, p. 36. The

communications of the French minister to congress, p. 37.

LETTER II. P. 39-77.

Congress's answer to the communications of the minister of

France, p. 39. The second conference of the minister of

France, p. 41. The distress of Washington's army for want of

bread, p. 42. Sir H. Clinton's expedition to South-Carolina,

p. 44. The British open their batteries against Charleston, p.

47. Colonels Tarleton and Webster defeat the American horse,

p. 47-49. General Lincoln surrenders Charleston, p. 50.

Tarleton defeats col. Buford, p. 52. The distressed situation

of the American commander in chief, p. 54. An unusual dark-

ness in the New-England states, p. 56. A large body of the

royal troops cross from Staten-Island to Elizabeth-town, p. 58.

Mrs. Caldwell killed, ibid. The troops leave Elizabeth-town and

march to Springfield, p. 60-then stopped by general Greene,

ibid.-burn Springfield, and return to Staten-Island, ibid. The

efforts of the Philadelphia gentlemen and ladies to relieve Wash-

ington's army, p. 62. The preamble of the Pennsylvania act

against slavery, p. 63. A French fleet, with troops, arrive at New-

port, p. 64. The affairs of South-Carolina, p. 66.

Cornwallis left in command at Charleston, p. 68. Colonel

Sumpter being chosen by a party of South-Carolina exiles to

VOL. III.

a

Lord

lead

lead them, returns with them into the state, and takes the field,

against the victorious British, p. 70. Congress unanimously re

solve that general Gates should take the command of the south-

ern department, p. 72. He joins the troops, marches and en-

camps on the road to Camden, p. 73. Justice Pendleton's let-

ter to lord Cornwallis, ibid. Congress resolve on destroying all

the old paper emission, and on adopting a new emission, p. 74.

The Massachusetts convention agree upon a constitution for the

commonwealth. p. 76. Their general court incorporate a so-

ciety by the name of The American Academy of Arts and

Sciences, p. 76.

LETTER III. P. 78-96.

The affairs of Ireland, p. 78. Captain Fielding not being

allowed to examine the Dutch ships under the convoy of count

Byland, employs force, p. 79. The armed neutrality, p. 80.

Sir George Rodney engages and defeats the Spanish fleet under

Don Langara, p. 82. Don Galvez's expedition against Mobile,

p. 83. Sir George Rodney engages count de Guichen, p. 84.

County petitions for the redress of grievances, p. 86. The

house of commons vote in favor of redressing the same, p. 87.

All hopes of obtaining redress from that house are at an end,

p. 88. Lord George Gordon, the protestant association, and

the subsequent convulsions, ibid his lordship conducted to the

Tower, p. 92. An eventual treaty between the states of Hol-

land and the United States of America, signed by the direction

of Mr. Van Berckel, p. 94.

LETTER IV. P. 96-140.

The military operations in South-Carolina, p. 96. General

Gates takes the direct route to Camden, p. 98. joins the mili-

tia under general Caswell, ibid-conducts his army to Clermont,

p. 99-marches on toward Camden, p. 101-is unexpectedly

met by lord Cornwallis, at the head of the British troops, and

is defeated by him, ibid. Baron de Kalb mortally wounded,

p. 105. Tarleton defeats Sumpter, p. 108. The relics of the

American army retreat to Salisbury, ibid are ordered to Hills-

borough, p. 109. Cornwallis's orders relative to the treatment

of South-Carolina, ibid. A number of the citizens of Charles-

ton, prisoners under the capitulation, sent to St. Augustine,

p.110. General Marion's exertions against the British adhe-

rents, p. 112. The arrangement of the broken American

troops, p. 114. Major Ferguson ordered to manœuvre through

the northern parts of South-Carolina, and then to join lord

Cornwallis at Charlotte, p. 116-is pursued, defeated and slain,

P. 117.

*

p.117. His lordship's letter to general Smallwood, p. 120.

Gates's troops march to Salisbury, p. 121. Sumpter defeats

major Weyms-is afterward attacked by Tarleton, whom he al

so defeats, p. 122. Gates moves his head-quarters to Char-

lotte, and there surrenders the army into general Greene's hands,

p. 123. Lieutenant-colonel Washington takes the British post

at Clermont by stratagem, p. 124. The congress resolve re-

specting Gates, ibid. Acts of congress, p. 125. General

Washington's difficulties, p. 127-he meets count de Rocham-

beau and admiral Ternay, at Hartford, p. 128. The scheme

for delivering West-Point into the hands of Sir H. Clinton dis-

covered, ibid. Major Andre taken while on his way to New-

York, p. 130. Arnold, upon receiving information of it, has-

tens on board the Vulture, British sloop of war, p. 131. An-

dre adjudged to be considered as a spy, p. 132.-and dies as such,

universally esteemed and regretted, p. 133. Washington's

thoughts on the whole affair, p. 134. Sir H. Clinton sends troops

to Virginia, p. 135. A general exchange of prisoners settled

by the British and American generals Philips and Lincoln, ibid.

The resolve of congress relative to the three militia men who

took Andre, p. 136. Major Tallmage's expedition to Long-

Island, ibid. Congress determine on having a permanent army,

p. 137-take into serious consideration the absolute necessity of

a large and immediate foreign aid of money, ibid. The dona-

tions of the daughters of liberty in Philadelphia and the neigh-

borhood to the American soldiers, p. 138. The Massachusetts

begin their government agreeable to the new constitution, and

John Hancock, esq. is declared to have been elected governor,

wid. Admiral Ternay dies at Newport, p. 140.

LETTER. V. P. 140-149

The French and Spanish fleets in the West-Indies form a june..

tion, but effect no capital operation, p. 141. Their combined

fleets in Europe intercept the East and West-India convoy, p. 142.

Mr. Laurens is taken in his passage to Holland, p. 143. Sir Jo

seph Yorke, leaves the Hague, ibid. Hurricanes in the West

Indies, p. 144. The new parliament meets, p. 146. The kind-

ness of the Spaniards to the British prisoners, p. 149. The in-

quisition abolished in the duke of Modena's dominions, ibid.

LETTER VI. P. 150-189

The Pennsylvania line revolts, p. 150. Sir H. Clinton sends

agents to treat with them, two of whom are hanged, p. 151.

Part of the Jersey brigade revolts, p. 153. Lieut. col. John

Laurens chosen by congress special minister to the court of Ver-

sailles,