124 NATURAL AND GiVIL 



* pointed a brigadier general in the army of the 



* United States," And never were thanks more 

 deserved, or more wisely given to a military 

 officer. 



On W'hat small events does the popular hu- 

 mour and military success depend ? The cap- 

 ture of one thousand Germans by general Wash- 

 ington at Trenton, had served to wake up, and 

 ^ave the whole continent. The exploit of Stark 

 at Bennington, operated with the same kind of 

 influence, and produced a similar effect. This 

 victory was the first event that had proved en- 

 couraging to the Americans in the northern de' 

 partnient,sincethe death of general Montgomery, 

 Misfortune had succeeded misfortune, and de- 

 feajfe had followed defeat frorh that period till 

 how. The present instance was the first, in 

 which victor}^ had quitted the royal standard, or 

 seemed even to be wavering. She was now 

 found with the American arms, and the effect 

 seemed in fact to be greater than the cauoC. It 

 raised the spirit of the country to aa uncommon^ 

 degree of animation ; and by shewing the mili^ 

 tia what they could perform, rendered them 

 willing and desirous to turn out and try wiiat 

 fortunes would await their exertions. It had a< 

 still greater effect on the royai army. The 

 British generals were surprised to hear that an 

 e?iemy, whom they had contemplated with no 

 other feelings than those of contempt, should 

 all at once wake up, and discover, much of the 

 spirit of heroism. To advance upon the mouth 

 t)f cdnnon, to attack fortified lines, to carry 

 strong entrenchments, were exploits which they 

 supposed belonged exclusively to the armies 



