UNITED STATES. 



135 



noon this army crossed the river in boats, and formed for the attack. The heights of Boston, 

 the house-tops and steeples were crowded witli gazing mukitudes awaiting witli breathless anxie- 

 ty the issue of the contest. Charlestown was now set on fire by the British, and its wide n)as3 

 of wooden houses were quickly wrapped in one great flame, while the British, in order of bat- 

 tle, niarched slowly up the height, supported by a heavy fire of their artillery. The Ameri- 

 cans awaited their approach, till within point blank shot, when they at once poured in upon 

 them so deadly a fire, that whole ranks were mowed down, the line of the British became dis- 

 ordered, and they retreated liastily to the shore. They rallied and returned to the charge, but 

 again a most furious and destructive fire forced them to i-etreat. Such was the carnage, that 

 nearly every oflicer around General Howe, the British commander, was killed, and the Gene- 

 ral was left almost alone on the side of the hill. At this critical conjuncture a reinforcement 

 arrived from Boston, and a third time the Briiish advanced to the attack, the soldiers being 

 driven to the charge at the sword's point, by their officers. The ammunition of the Ameri- 

 cans was now exhausted, yet they received the assailants with the butt-ends of their muskets ; 

 after a short conflict they retreated, and left the British in possession of the heights. More 

 than one-third of the British were either killed or wounded. 



This obstinate and bloody struggle was equivalent in its effects to a decisive victory in favor 

 of the Americans. The firmness and conduct which their raw levies had exhibited against 

 regular troops, gave them the highest confidence. No further attempt was made by the British 

 to penetrate into the country, and they remained as closely blockaded as before. All ho])e of 

 reconciliation was now cast aside. The Congress organized a body of forces for the defence 

 of the country, and placed Washington at the head. The new general pressed the siege of 

 Boston, and in the spring of 1776 drove the British from the place. 



On the 4tli of July, 1776, Congress declared the American States free and independent. 

 In the summer of the same year, the British, with a powerful army, attacked New York. 

 Washington attempted to defend it, but the disastrous battle of Long Island threw the c ty into 

 their power. He retreated into New Jersey, and the end of the year beheld him with a hand- 

 ful of half-clad, starving men, retreating before a victorious foe. The fate of the country 

 appeared to be decided, but the fortitude and enterprise of Washington turned the tide of war 

 against the enemy. The victories of Trenton and Princeton revived the drooping sdu'Us of 

 the Americans, gave them confidence in their leader, and brought an efficient army under his 

 banners. 



In 1777, Philadelphia fell into the hands of the British, and an army of 10,000 men under 

 General Burgoyne invaded the country from Canada. The march of this General was, at 

 first, highly successful ; all the strong posts on his route were captured, and a panic spread 

 through the country at his approach. But at Bennington the militia cut ofi" a detachment of 

 his army, and this victory inspirited the people ; bodies of militia gathered around him ; the 

 battle of Stillwater arrested his march ; his retreat was cut off; a fruitless attempt was made 

 by the British from New York to relieve him, and he surrendered his army to General Gates, 

 at Saratoga, October 17th, 1777. 



By the help of this important success, Franldin negociated a treaty of alliance with France, 

 in February, 1778. The British evacuated Philadelphia the same year. In 1779, the seat 

 of active war was transferred to the Southern States. The Carolinas fell into the hands of the 

 British, and various battles were fought with alternate success. In 1781, Lord Cornwallis 

 with an army of 10,000 men, after traversing Carolina and Virginia, took post at Yorktown, 

 on the Chesapeake, where he was besieged by the Americans and French under Washington, 

 and at length surrendered on the 10th of October, 1781. 



This event was decisive as to the fate of the war. The British government had now lost 

 all hopes of reducing the Americans to obedience, and in 1783, Great Britain by a treaty ac- 

 knowledged the independence of the States. 



After the restoration of peace, the States remained as they had been during the war, united 

 by a slight confederation, without any efficient general government. But this state of things 

 not being found conducive to the prosperity of the country at large, a new form of government 

 was resolved upon. A convention from the several States assembled, and after much delibera- 

 tion, formed the present constitution, which was established and went into operation in 1789. 

 Since this period the country has seen no change in its political institutions. New territories 

 have been acquired, wars and factions have disturbed our domestic tranquillity, but the union 

 of the States has, to the present moment, survived every struggle. 



