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wallis. This army had fpread waste and ruin over the face of Virginia for 400 miles on the fea-coast, and for 200 to the weftward. Their numbers enabled them to go where they pleased; and their rage for plunder dif pofed them to take whatever they esteemed most valuable. The reduction of fuch an army occafioned tranfports of joy in the breast of every American. But that joy was increased and maintained, by the further confideration of the influence it would have in procuring fuch a peace as was defired. Two days after, the congress iffued a proclamation for religiously obferving through the United States, the 13th of December, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. On the 29th of October, they refolved, that thanks fhould be presented to gen. Wafhington, count de Rochambeau, count de Graffe, and the officers of the different corps, and the men under their command, for their fervices in the reduction of lord Cornwallis. They also refolved to erect in York Town a marble column, adorned with emblems of the alliance between the United States and his most christian majesty; and infcribed with a fuccinct narrative of the furrender of the British army. Two ftands of colours taken from the royal troops, under the capitulation, were prefented to gen. Washington in the name of the United States in congress affembled; and two pieces of field ordnance fo taken, were by a refolve of congrefs, to be. prefented by gen. Washington to count de Rochambeau, with a fhort memorandum engraved thereon, "that congrefs were induced to present them from confiderations of the illuftrious part which he bore in effectuating the furrender." It was further refolved to request the chevalier de la Luzerne, to inform his most christian

majesty,

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1781. majefty, that it was the wifh of congrefs, that count de Graffe might be permitted to accept a teftimony of their approbation, fimilar to that which was to be prefented to count de Rochambeau. Legislative bodies, executive councils, city corporations, and many private focieties, prefented congratulatory addreffes to gen. Wafhington, accompanied with the warmest acknowledgments to count de Rochambeau, count de Graffe, and the other officers in the fervice of his moft chriftian majefty. Places of public worship refounded with grateful praises to the Lord of Hofts, the God of battles, before, at, and after the appointed day of thanksgiving. The fingularly interefting event of captivating a fecond royal army, produced fuch strong emotions in numbers, both of minifters and people, that they could not wait the arrival of the day.

The British projected an attack on the northern frontiers of New York ftate. Major Rofs advanced from the weftward as far as Johnftown, with a body of 600, regulars, rangers, and Indians. Col. Willet gaining intelligence of them, marched with between 4 and 500 levies and militia, and attacked them on the 25th of October. They were defeated and pursued into the wilderness. On the 28th the colonel furnished the choiceft of the troops with five days provifion, and 60 Oneida Indians were attached to them. The purfuit was recommenced; and by the 30th in the morning, the Americans fell in with the enemy; but when too fatigued to continue the chafe, left it to the Oneida Indians, who at length got up with major Butler, just as he and feveral of his men had forded a bad creek. The Oneidas fired, and with their rifies killed fome and wounded

Butler.

Butler. They then croffed over to him. On his asking 1781. quarter, they answered Cherry Valley quarter (alluding to his having denied it there when asked, in November 1778) and dispatched him though the request was renewed.

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The following acts. and concerns of congrefs deferve to be noticed. On the 30th of October, they elected major general Lincoln fecretary of war. The next Sun- Nov. day they attended at the Roman catholic chapel with 4 the chevalier de la Luzerne, and many other gentlemen of diftinction, and heard Monf. de Bandole, chaplain to the French embaffy, deliver the following difcourfe -" Gentlemen, a numerous people affembled to render thanks to the Almighty for his mercies, is one of the most affecting objects, and worthy the attention of the Supreme Being. While camps refound with triumphal actions, while nations rejoice in victory and glory, the most honorable office a minifter of the altars can fill, is to be the organ by which public gratitude is conveyed to the Omnipotent.-Thofe miracles which he once wrought for his chofen people are renewed in our favor; and it would be equally ungrateful and impious not to acknowledge, that the event which lately confounded our enemies and fruftrated their defigns, was the wonderful work of that God who guards your liberties. And who but He could fo combine the circumftances which led to fuccefs? We have seen our enémies pufh forward amid perils almoft innumerable, amid objects almost infurmountable, to the fpot which was defigned to witnefs their difgrace; yet they eagerly fought it as their theatre of triumph!-Blind as they were, they bore hunger, thirft and inclement skies,

poured

1781. poured out their blood in battle against brave republi

cans, and crossed immenfe regions to confine themselves in another Jericho, whofe walls were fated to fall before another Joshua. It is He, whofe voice commands the winds, the feas and the seasons, who formed a junction on the fame day, in the fame hour, between a formidable fleet from the fouth, and an army rufhing from the north, like an impetuous torrent. Who but He, in

whose hands are the hearts of men, could infpire the allied troops with the friendships, the confidence, the tenderness of brothers? How is it that two nations once divided, jealous, inimical, and nursed in reciprocal prejudices, are now become fo cordially united as to form but one? Worldlings would fay, it is the wifdom, the virtue, and moderation of their chiefs; it is a great national intereft which has performed this prodigy. They will fay, that to the skill of the generals, to the courage of the troops, to the activity of the whole army, we must attribute this fplendid fuccefs. Ah! they are ignorant, that the combining of fo many fortunate circumstances, is an emanation from the All-perfect Mind; that courage, that fkill, that activity, bear the facred impreffion of Him who is divine.-For how many favors have we not to thank Him during the course of the prefent year? Your union, which was at first fupported by justice alone, has been confolidated by your courage, and the knot which ties you together is become indiffoluble, by the acceffion of all the states, and the unanimous voice of all the confederates. You present to the universe the noble fight of a fociety, which founded in equality and juftice, fecure to the individuals who compofe it, the utmost happiness which can be derived

from

from human inftitutions.

This advantage, which fo 1781. many other nations have been unable to procure, even after ages of effort and mifery, is granted by Divine Providence to the United States; and his adorable decrees have marked the prefent moment for the completion of that memorable happy revolution, which has taken place in this extenfive continent. While your councils were thus acquiring new energy, rapid multiplied fucceffes have crowned your arms in the southern states.We have seen the unfortunate citizens of these states forced from their peaceful abodes;-after a long and cruel captivity, old men, women and children, thrown. without mercy into a foreign country. Master of their lands and their flaves, amid his temporary affluence, a fuperb victor rejoiced in their diftreffes. But Philadel--·· phia has witneffed their patience and fortitude; they have found here another home, and though driven from their native foil, they have bleffed God that he has delivered them from the prefence of their enemies, and conducted them to a country, where every juft and feeling. man has stretched out the helping hand of benevolence. Heaven rewards their virtue. Three large ftates are at once wrested from the foe. The rapacious foldier has been compelled to take refuge behind his ramparts, and oppreffion has vanished like those phantoms which are diffipated by the morning ray.-On this folemn occafion, we might renew our thanks to the God of battles, for the fuccefs he has granted to the arms of your allies and your friends, by land and by sea, through the other parts of the globe. But let us not recall thofe events which too clearly prove how much the hearts of our enemies have been obdurated. Let us proftrate ourselves

at

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