The ministry, had you failed,
would have shifted the whole blame upon you, charged you with having
acted without orders, and condemned at once both your plan and
execution.
To avoid the misfortunes, which might have involved you and your
money accounts in perplexity and suspicion, you prudently waited the
arrival of a plan of operations from England, which was that you
should proceed for Philadelphia by way of the Chesapeake, and that
Burgoyne, after reducing Ticonderoga, should take his route by Albany,
and, if necessary, join you.
The splendid laurels of the last campaign have flourished in the
north. In that quarter America has surprised the world, and laid the
foundation of this year's glory. The conquest of Ticonderoga, (if it
may be called a conquest) has, like all your other victories, led on
to ruin. Even the provisions taken in that fortress (which by
General Burgoyne's return was sufficient in bread and flour for nearly
5000 men for ten weeks, and in beef and pork for the same number of
men for one month) served only to hasten his overthrow, by enabling
him to proceed to Saratoga, the place of his destruction. A short
review of the operations of the last campaign will show the
condition of affairs on both sides.
You have taken Ticonderoga and marched into Philadelphia. These
are all the events which the year has produced on your part. A
trifling campaign indeed, compared with the expenses of England and
the conquest of the continent. On the other side, a considerable
part of your northern force has been routed by the New York militia
under General Herkemer.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106