He

The combined force of Schuyler and Gates CHAP. L amounted to between eight and nine thousand 1776. men. Care had been taken to lay in a sufficient stock of provisions, and to strengthen the works very considerably. Application was made to general Washington for directions for calling in a re-enforcement of militia. That officer had smarted so severely for depending on essential aid from this source, that his opinion was against calling them to the assistance October 22. of the garrison, unless it should be absolutely insufficient for the defence of the works. conceived that, if he was not misinformed respecting the strength of the northern army, it might certainly maintain Ticonderoga until the rigour of the season, and the freezing of the lake, should compel the enemy to retire into Canada for winter quarters. In the mean time, he recommended the securing all the cattle and horses in the country behind them, in order to deprive the British army, if it should slip by Ticonderoga, of the means of conveying their artillery, military stores, and baggage; or of subsisting themselves.

.

winter

These considerations seem to have weighed also with the English general. After recon- Retires into noitring the works, and observing the steady quarters in countenance of the garrison, he thought it too late in the season to derive any solid advantages from laying siege to it this campaign, and therefore re-embarked his army and returned

CHAP. I. to Canada, where he placed it in winter quar1776. ters as commodiously as the country would admit; making the isle Aux Noix his most advanced post.

It has been supposed that this retreat of general Carleton was an ill judged measure; and that Ticonderoga might have been taken without any considerable loss; in which case, the army might have wintered on the lake, and have commenced its operations early in the spring, from that point.

The probability of success in any attempt on Ticonderoga, very much depended on the conduct which might be observed by a considerable part of the garrison, composed of troops from Pennsylvania, and Jersey, whose terms of service expired in October. If their aid could have been depended on, the place could not have been taken without great loss. But this circumstance certainly rendered the situation of the army extremely critical.

It must be admitted too, that wintering on lake George, an army whose supplies were to be drawn from Canada, would have been attended with great difficulty, and that the attempt, at that late season, to penetrate the then dreary and inhospitable wilderness between that place and Albany, would have been extremely hazardous, if at all practicable.

This retreat however relieved very much the apprehensions of the Americans, and enabled

general Gates, at the instance of the commander CHAP. I. in chief, to march with a considerable detach- 1776. ment of the northern army, now just about to disband, to join him on the Delaware.

The great superiority of the British army under Howe in point of numbers, was such as to induce in its general the opinion that some impression might be made to the eastward, without endangering or impeding in any manner, the execution of his plans against New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Indeed, it might well be supposed, that by creating a diversion in that quarter, and alarming those states for their own safety, their attention would be particularly directed to the protection of themelves; and they might be deterred from affording to the grand army, that aid, which might be expected from their energy of character, and to which their zeal in the common cause would probably prompt them.

Accordingly, an expedition was planned against Rhode Island. The land forces, amounting to about three thousand men, were commanded by general sir Henry Clinton, and the fleet to be employed in this service, was intrusted to sir Peter Parker. They sailed from New York about the last of November, and without any material opposition, took possession of the island on which Newport, the capital of that state, stands, and gave, for a short time, a very serious alarm to the states

CHAP. I. of Massachussetts and Connecticut, who ap 1776. prehended an invasion of the neighbouring continent. This diversion produced, in a considerable degree, the effect which was, most probably, one of the motives for the expedition. On being pressed through the Jerseys, with an army daily diminishing in its numbers, general Washington had called on Massachussetts for a re-enforcement of militia, and six thousand men, under general Lincoln, had been ordered immediately to join him. Their march, as well as the march of the militia of Connecticut, was for a time suspended, for the purpose of watching the enemy in Rhode Island.

Independent of this temporary effect, the English derived permanent advantage, and the Americans sustained lasting inconvenience from the possession of this post by the former. The American ships of war and privateers had greatly annoyed the British commerce, and had rendered, by supplies thus obtained, most essential service to their country in the course of the war. The harbour of Newport, one of the most convenient in the United States, was, whilst in the possession of the Americans, well calculated to favour these expeditions, and, while in possession of the enemy, was as well calculated to restrain them. Its contiguity to the seacoast of Massachussetts, where the spirit of maritime adventure had been carried much higher than in any other part of the

United States, and from whence the commerce CHAP. J. of the enemy had sustained the greatest injury, gave it additional importance.

It was also matter of serious regret, that commodore Hopkins with a considerable part of his squadron, and a number of privateers, were found in Providence river, where they were closely blocked up.

During these military transactions, many events occurred, which, though of minor importance, were too interesting to remain altogether unnoticed.

1776.

The part which might be taken in the pre- Indian affairs sent contest by the numerous warlike tribes of savages, inhabiting that immense territory west of the settlements made by the Europeans, and extending from the northern boundary of Canada to the gulf of Mexico, was a matter of real interest to the belligerent powers, and early apprehensions were entertained that they would engage actively on the side of the British. Sir John Johnson possessed great influence over the Indians of the lakes, and he exercised that influence to arrange them in offensive war against America. This in no small degree embarrassed general Washington. To seize this gentleman, who was greatly beloved by the savages, would, it was feared, so irritate, as to precipitate them into immediate hostilities; while much was apprehended from his machinations, if left at liberty to prosecute