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 Le 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