Valley Forge was a dreary time, but the brave men who were enduring pain and want for the sake of liberty did not shrink from their hard duties, and few deserted. They were not idle during those gloomy days; they were being carefully drilled

BARON STEUBEN

by Baron Steuben, a Prussian officer, that they might be better able to meet the enemy when the spring campaigns should begin.

268. The Conway Cabal. About this time a plot was formed in Congress to take from Washington the command. of the army, on the ground that he had not been so successful in Pennsylvania as Gates had been in New York. This conspiracy was called the "Conway Cabal," from its leader, Thomas Conway.

Without attempting to bring reproach upon any who opposed him, Washington justified himself by plainly stating to Congress his reasons for all that had been done. take from him the love of his army or the

trust which the people reposed in him, and those who had tried to injure him soon regretted the step they had taken.

269. A Peace Commission. Great Britain had learned by this time that the colonies would never submit; and the loss of Burgoyne's army, together with the interference of France, induced Parliament to make offers of peace. In June, 1778, Lord Howe and Sir Henry Clinton,

June,

1778

Nothing could

GENERAL CLINTON

through Congress, offered America freedom from taxation, and the privilege of sending representatives to Parliament, if the people would again become obedient subjects of

the king. Congress refused to listen to any proposition from England until the armies and fleets were removed from America, and declared that nothing less than independence would satisfy the people.

270. Monmouth. The British government, being displeased with Howe's management, recalled him, and he returned to England before military movements were begun again; Sir Henry Clinton was appointed to succeed him. To prevent the French fleet then on its way to America from taking New

June 28, 1778

York, Clinton left Philadelphia and hastened through New Jersey. Washington marched from Valley Forge to pursue the British and, on June 28, overtook them at Monmouth. General Charles Lee had been exchanged for a British general captured by the Americans, and was in command of one of the divisions of the army. He treacherously retreated, instead of going forward in obedience to Washington's command, or the battle would undoubtedly have been a great victory. The day was saved by Washington, who rallied the troops and forced the advancing British

to retreat. At midnight Clinton, without stopping to bury his dead, marched his troops to Middletown. After a severe reproof from Washington, Lee was tried by a court-martial that is, a board of military officers and suspended from his command for a year. He afterwards wrote an insolent letter

to Congress and was dismissed from the army.

271. Wyoming and Cherry Valley Massacres. - Throughout this year and the next, Tories and Indians kept the western

1778-9

settlements in a state of

constant alarm. In July,

a party of them entered the beautiful valley of Wyoming, Penn

sylvania. They carried ruin and destruction everywhere, burning houses, and murdering the inhabitants. Some of the prisoners were cruelly tortured to death. In November, Cherry Valley, in New York, was ruined in the same way. The next summer General Sullivan was sent to put an end to these horrors. After much fighting, and after burning many of the Indian villages, he succeeded in subduing the Six Nations.

272. Close of the War in the North. After the battle of

17

Monmouth, Clinton's army reached Sandy Hook, and sailed for New York. Washington returned to Middlebrook, New Jersey, where he could watch the enemy. New York and Newport were the only places then held by the British in the North.

July, 1778

The French fleet, with four thousand troops, reached America in July. Washington thought it could render the best aid by attacking the British ships in the harbors of Rhode Island. He wished to drive them out and get possession of the military stores there. General Sullivan was sent by land to attack Newport; he expected to be assisted by the French fleet, but storms prevented its arrival. The French vessels, after repairs at Boston, returned to the West Indies, and the expedition against Newport failed.

CHAPTER VI

INVASION OF THE SOUTH-1779-80

273. British Plans.

England saw that little had been

gained by the war in the North; hence, at the close of 1778,

the South became the scene of battle. The plan was to begin with Georgia and conquer the colonies, one at a time. General Prevost (preh-vo') was to invade Georgia from Florida, and Clinton was to send a part of his army from New York, under Colonel Campbell, to attack Savannah. General Lincoln, of Massachusetts, was placed in command of the Americans

in the South.

GENERAL LINCOLN

274. Savannah. When the English fleet arrived, there was only a small body of American troops in Savannah, and the capital of Georgia fell into the hands of the British. Campbell offered protection to men

Dec. 29,

1778

1 Before these movements were begun, two bands of armed Tories entered Georgia from east Florida. One came in boats, and the other by land.

Jan., 1779

who would join the king's army. Many who refused were sent to prison ships, where they died of contagious diseases. 275. Conquest of Georgia. — In January, 1779, Prevost captured the fort at Sunbury, Georgia, and then went on to Savannah to take command of the British force there. He soon had possession of the greater part of the state, and established posts at Ebenezer and Augusta.1 The British had hoped to be joined by the Tories in the South and by that means greatly to increase their strength. Agents were accordingly sent throughout the country, and several hundred Tories were collected at Ninety-Six, a fort in the western part of South Carolina. They were men of the worst character, who went about plundering and robbing the people. This lawless force was ordered to march to Savannah, but in Wilkes County they were met by Colonel Pickens and Colonel Clarke with their militia, and were defeated and scattered. General Lincoln then sent General Ashe with a strong force to attack the enemy in Georgia. This party was surprised and routed by Prevost at Briar Creek, where they lost four fifths of their number. This defeat left all Georgia south The first reached Sunbury, near the coast, and demanded the surrender of the fort, which was refused. The others marched toward Savannah, and were met by General Scriven, who checked their advance by several engagements. This and the news that the other expedition had failed influenced them to return. They burned many houses, and destroyed quantities of rice and grain, besides taking with them everything of value they could carry.

1 Nancy Hart, who lived in Elbert County, Georgia, was a rough, ignorant woman, but she loved the cause of liberty, and did all she could to aid the men who were fighting for independence. Once a party of men from the British camp at Augusta turned into the road that led to her house. One of them shot a turkey in the yard and ordered her to make them a meal of it. Although unwilling to serve them, she concluded to begin the cooking. She sent her daughter Sukey, a girl of twelve, to the spring for a bucket of water. The spring was not far from the swamp where her father and others were concealed, and Sukey blew the conch shell that lay on a stump near by, to give them warning. When Nancy placed the smoking dinner on the table, the men stacked their guns and sat down to eat. While they were at dinner, Nancy managed to hand two of the guns, through a crack between the logs, to her husband. As she lifted the third they sprang up to stop her; but she threatened to kill the first man who moved toward her. One of them stepped forward; she fired, and he fell dead at her feet. Her husband and his companions seized the remaining four Tories and hanged them.