CHAPTER V

FIRST BLOW AT THE CENTRE

Lord Cornwallis arrives upon the scene 208

Battle of Fort Moultrie (June 28, 1776) 209-211

British plan for conquering the valley of the Hudson, and cutting the United Colonies in twain 212

Lord Howe's futile attempt to negotiate with Washington unofficially 213, 214

The military problem at New York 214-216

Importance of Brooklyn Heights 217

Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776) 218-220

Howe prepares to besiege the Heights 220

But Washington slips away with his army 221

And robs the British of the most golden opportunity ever offered them 221-223

The conference at Staten Island 223, 224

General Howe takes the city of New York September 15 224

But Mrs. Lindley Murray saves the garrison 225

Attack upon Harlem Heights 225

The new problem before Howe 225, 226

He moves upon Throg's Neck, but Washington changes base 227

Baffled at White Plans, Howe tries a new plan 228

Washington's orders in view of the emergency 228

Congress meddles with the situation and muddles it 229

Howe takes Fort Washington by storm (November 16) 230

Washington and Greene 231

Outrageous conduct of Charles Lee 231, 232

Greene barely escapes from Fort Lee (November 20) 233

Lee intrigues against Washington 233, 234

Washington retreats into Pennsylvania 234

Reinforcements come from Schuyler 235

Fortunately for the Americans, the British capture Charles Lee (December 13) 235-238

The times that tried men's souls 238, 239

Washington prepares to strike back 239

He crosses the Delaware, and pierces the British centre at Trenton (December 26) 240, 241

Cornwallis comes up to retrieve the disaster 242 And thinks he has run down the "old fox" at the Assunpink (January 2, 1777) 242

But Washington prepares a checkmate 243

And again severs the British line at Princeton (January 3) 244

General retreat of the British upon New York 245

The tables completely turned 246

Washington's superb generalship 247

Effects in England 248

And in France 249

Franklin's arrival in France 250

Secret aid from France 251

Lafayette goes to America 252

Efforts toward remodelling the Continental army 252-255

Services of Robert Morris 255

Ill feeling between the states 256

Extraordinary powers conferred upon Washington 257-258