Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX. The British Army in Philadelphia. -- Features of the Occupation. -- Sir William Erskine.--Abercrombie. -- Simcoe. -- Lord Cathcart. -- Tarleton. -- Andre's Social Relations in the City. -- Verses composed by him. -- Amateur Theatricals. -- Misconduct of the Royal Arms. -- The Mischianza. -- Andre's Account of it. -- Howe removed from the Command. The year 1778 found the British at Philadelphia in snug quarters, unembarrassed by the cares of the field and, except for occasional detachments, free from other military duties than the necessary details of garrison life. The trifling affairs that occurred during the remainder of the season, served rather as a zest to the pleasures which engaged them, than as a serious occupation. Our army lay the while -- from the 19th December to the 18th June -- at Valley Forge, on the west side of the Schuylkill. The camp was placed on the rugged hill-side of a deep valley, through which flows a creek. On the east and south it was fortified with a ditch six feet wide and three feet deep, and a mound four feet high that might easily be overthrown (said Anbury, an English officer who visited the spot, ) by six-pounders. On the left was the Schuylkill, over which a bridge was built by the Americans to keep up their communications. On every arch was carved a general's name; that in the centre bore Washington's, and the date of its erection. The rear was protected by a precipice and thick woods. From December to May, continues our authority, Howe could have readily carried these lines; at any time m the spring he could have besieged them. The sufferings of the men were intolerable; they deserted by tens and by fifties; and they often appeared in Philadelphia almost naked, without shoes, a tattered..