During the winter the Americans had been preparing for war, fabricating and repairing arms, drilling militia13, and calling on one another, by proclamations, to be ready. On the 26th of February, 1775, Gage sent a detachment to take possession of some brass14 cannon15 and field-pieces collected at Salem. A hundred and fifty regulars landed at Salem for this purpose, but, finding no cannon there, they proceeded to the adjoining town of Danvers. They were stopped at a bridge by a party of militia, under Colonel Pickering, who claimed the bridge as private property, and refused a passage. There was likely to be bloodshed on the bridge, but it was Sunday, and some ministers of Salem pleaded the sacredness of the day, and prevailed on Colonel Pickering to let the soldiers pass. They found nothing, and soon returned.
Again, on the night between the 18th and 19th of April, General Gage sent a detachment of about eight hundred grenadiers and light infantry16 to destroy a dep?t of stores and arms at Concord17. They were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, of the Marines. The alarm was given, fires were kindled18, bells rung, guns discharged, and the country was up. The British troops reached Lexington at five o'clock in the morning, and pushed on their light infantry to secure the bridges. They encountered a body of militia under cover of a gun near the road, whom they ordered to retire, and they withdrew in haste.
Here the Americans assert that when the minute-men did not retire on the first order, the English fired on them and killed eight of them. The English, on the other hand, declare that the Americans, in retiring, no sooner reached the shelter of a wall than they fired on the British; that the firing came also from some adjoining houses, and shot one man, and wounded Major Pitcairn's horse in two places; that then the English were ordered to fire, that they killed several, wounded others, and put the body, about a hundred in number, to flight. By this time the alarm had spread, the minute-men came running from all places, and as the English, having executed their commission, began to retire, the Americans shouted, "The lobsters19 run!" The minute-men now rushed over the bridge after them, and firing from behind trees and walls, killed a considerable number of them. The Americans—excellent shots with their rifles—could only be seen by the smoke of these rifles, and the English, tired with their long night march, instead of halting to hunt them out, kept on their way towards Lexington. The whole march was of this description: the English, unable to get a good shot at their enemies, the minute-men pressing on their rear, still sheltered by trees and walls. The result would have been more disastrous21 had not General Gage sent on to Lexington another detachment of foot and marines, consisting of about sixteen companies, under command of Lord Percy. In this first bloodshed between the colonists22 and the mother country, the British found they had lost sixty killed, forty-nine missing, and one hundred and thirty-six wounded.[218] The Americans admitted that they had a loss of sixty, of whom two-thirds were killed.
The news spread on every side; the retreat of the English from Concord, which always was intended, as soon as the object was accomplished23, was represented as an ignominious24 flight before the conquering Americans, and the effect was marvellous. Men flocked from all quarters. There were some twenty thousand men assembled round Boston, forming a line nearly twenty miles in extent, with their left leaning on the river Mystic, and their right on the town of Boston. Putnam and Ward20 became the souls of the American army. Gage, who was awaiting fresh reinforcements, lay quiet, contented25 to hold his post, when he might, according to military authorities, have attacked the American lines, at first loose, and without any proper order and consistency26, with great advantage. The inhabitants of Boston, not relishing27 the idea of a blockade, applied28 to Gage for permission to retire. He replied that they were at liberty to do so with their families and effects, on surrendering their arms. The Bostonians at once interpreted this to mean the whole of their merchandise, and Gage, in consequence, countermanded30 his permission.
On the 10th of May the second Congress met at Philadelphia. The delegates had everywhere been easily elected, and Franklin, having arrived on the 5th of May in Philadelphia, was in time to be added to the number already chosen there. The battle of Lexington had heated the blood of the delegates, and they assembled in no very pacific mood. They assumed the name of the Congress of the United Colonies, and rejected with contempt the poor conciliatory Bill of Lord North, as it had already been deservedly treated by the provincial31 Assemblies. They immediately issued a proclamation prohibiting the export of provisions to any British colony or fishery still continuing in obedience33 to Great Britain; or any supply to the British army in Massachusetts Bay, or the negotiation34 of any bill drawn35 by a British officer. Congress ordered the military force of the colonies to be placed on an efficient footing. They called into existence a body of men, besides the provincial militia, to be maintained by the United Colonies, and to be called continental36 troops, which distinction must be kept in mind during the whole war. They then made a most admirable choice of a commander-in-chief in the person of Colonel George Washington.
The spirits of the Americans had been raised by the success of attempts against the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on Lake Champlain. Early in the spring, some of the leading men of Connecticut, and chief amongst them Wooster and Silas Deane, projected this expedition, as securing the passes into Canada. The volunteers who offered for this enterprise were to march across the frontiers of New York, and come suddenly on these forts. The wretched condition of carelessness existing in these important outposts, notwithstanding the alarming state of the colonies, may be known by the result. Phelps, disguised as a countryman, entered the fort on pretence38 of seeking a barber; and, whilst roaming about in feigned39 search of him, noted40 well the ruinous condition of the fort, and the utter negligence41 of the guard. The next day, Ethan Allen went alone to the fortress42, ostensibly on a visit to his friend the commander, leaving his troops concealed44 in the wood. He represented that he wanted to conduct some goods across the lake, and borrowed twenty of his soldiers to help him. These men he made dead-drunk; and then, rushing suddenly to the fort, where there were only twenty-two soldiers more, he compelled them in their surprise to lay down their arms, set a guard over them, and entered his friend's bed-room and pronounced him a prisoner. He then advanced against the fort of Crown Point, where he found only a garrison45 of twelve men, and immediately afterwards secured Skenesborough, the fortified46 house of Major Skene, and took his son and his negroes.
When Washington arrived at Boston, on the 15th of June, he found the English army augmented47 to ten thousand by fresh forces, under Generals Burgoyne, William Howe, the brother of Lord Howe, and Henry Clinton. The American troops consisted of twenty thousand militia and volunteers, still in a most confused condition, extended over a line of twenty miles in length, that only required an attack of five thousand men, led by a general of courage and ability, to be thoroughly48 beaten. They were, moreover, greatly deficient49 in powder and other necessaries. But the English generals lay as if there were no urgent need of action. Had a sudden movement on the Neck been made from Boston, five hundred men could have broken and dispersed50 the Americans nearest to that position before the other ill-trained troops, some of them at great distances, could have come up; and they might have been easily defeated in detail by the simultaneous efforts of four spirited generals and ten thousand efficient soldiers. But lethargy seemed to have seized on Gage, and to have also infected his coadjutors.
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To the north of Boston peninsula, separated from it only by an arm of the sea, called the Charles River, about as broad as the Thames at London Bridge, stands Charlestown, built also on a peninsula, surrounded everywhere by navigable water, except a neck somewhat wider than Boston Neck. On the peninsula of Charlestown were two eminences52: the lower one, nearest to Boston, being called Breed's Hill, the higher and more remote, Bunker's Hill. These hills, which commanded Boston, would have immediately attracted the eye of any general of the least talent. But Gage had utterly53 neglected this most vital point; and, on awaking on the morning of the 17th of June, he suddenly saw the height of Breed's Hill covered with soldiers and military works, as by magic, and the Americans shouting and beginning to fire upon the town and shipping54 in the harbour.
The Americans had marched on the evening of the 16th with orders to make themselves masters of Bunker's Hill. By some mistake, they had planted themselves on Breed's Hill, and instantly began to throw up a formidable redoubt and entrenchments, and to place their guns in battery. Gage then ordered a detachment of troops, under the command of General Howe and Brigadier Pigott, to drive the Americans, at all costs, from that position. It was noon before Howe crossed the river and landed on the Charlestown peninsula; but then Howe perceived the strength of the Americans to be greater than had been supposed, and, halting, he sent for reinforcements. They advanced up the hill, formed in two lines, the right headed by General Howe, the left by Brigadier Pigott. The left was immediately severely57 galled58 by the riflemen posted in the houses and on the roofs of Charlestown, and Howe instantly halted and ordered the left wing to advance and set fire to the town. This was soon executed, and the wooden buildings of Charlestown were speedily in a blaze, and the whole place burnt to the ground. The Americans reserved their fire till the English were nearly at the entrenchments, when they opened with such a deadly discharge of cannon and musketry as astonished and perplexed60 the British. Most of the men and the staff standing37 around General Howe were killed, and he stood for a moment almost alone. Some of the newer troops never stopped till they reached the bottom of the hill. The officers, however, speedily rallied the broken lines, and led them a second time against the murderous batteries. A second time they gave way. But General Clinton, seeing the unequal strife61, without waiting for orders, and attended by a number of resolute62 officers, hastened across the water in boats, and, rallying the fugitives63, led them a third time up the hill. By this time the fire of the Americans began to slacken, for their powder was failing, and the English, wearied as they were, rushed up the hill, and carried the entrenchments at the point of the bayonet. Had Gage had a proper reserve ready to rush upon the flying rout64 on the Neck, few of them would have remained to join their fellows. The battle was called the Battle of Bunker's Hill, though really fought on the lower, or Breed's Hill.
Notwithstanding the real outbreak of the war, Congress yet professed65 to entertain hopes of ultimate reconciliation66. When the reinforcements had arrived from England, and it was supposed that part of them were destined67 for New York, it issued orders that, so long as the forces remained quiet in their barracks, they should not be molested68; but if they attempted to raise fortifications, or to cut off the town from the country, they should be stoutly70 opposed. When the news of the surprise of the forts on the Lake Champlain arrived, Congress endeavoured to excuse so direct a breach71 of the peace by feigning72 a belief in a design of an invasion of the colonies from Canada, of which there was notoriously no intention, and they gave orders that an exact inventory73 of the cannon and military stores there captured should be made, in order to their restoration, "when the former harmony between Great Britain and her colonies, so ardently74 wished for by the latter, should render it consistent with the overruling law of self-preservation." After the battle of Bunker's Hill, Congress still maintained this tone. On the 8th of July they signed a petition to the king, drawn up by John Dickinson, in the mildest terms, who, when to his own surprise the petition was adopted by the Congress, rose, and said that there was not a word in the whole petition that he did not approve of, except the word "Congress." This, however, was far from the feeling of many members; and Benjamin Harrison immediately rose and declared that there was but one word in the whole petition that he did approve of, and that was the word "Congress." The petition to the king expressed an earnest desire for a speedy and permanent reconciliation, declaring that, notwithstanding their sufferings, they retained in their hearts "too tender a regard for the kingdom from which they derived76 their origin to request such a reconciliation as might be inconsistent with her dignity or welfare." At the[220] same time, they resolved that this appeal, which they called "The Olive Branch," should, if unsuccessful, be their last. They could hardly have expected it to be successful.
When Washington arrived at the camp at Cambridge, instead of twenty thousand men, which he expected on his side, he found only sixteen thousand, and of these only fourteen thousand fit for duty. He describes them as "a mixed multitude of people under very little order or government." They had no uniforms; and Washington recommended Congress to send them out ten thousand hunting-shirts, as giving them something of a uniform appearance. There was not a single dollar in the military chest; the supply of provisions was extremely deficient and uncertain. There was a great want of engineering tools; and he soon discovered that the battle of Bunker's Hill, which, at a distance, was boasted of as a victory, had been a decided77 defeat. He immediately set about to reduce this discouraging chaos78 into new order. Assisted by General Lee, he commenced by having prayers read at the head of the respective regiments80 every morning. He broke up the freedom which confounded officers and men; he compelled subordination by the free use of the lash81, where commands would not serve. He kept them daily at active drill. He laboured incessantly82 to complete the lines, so that very soon it would be impossible for the enemy to get between the ranks. But the great and—if the English generals had been only properly awake—the fatal want was that of powder. Washington found that they had but nine rounds of powder to a musket59, and next to none for the artillery83. "The world," said Franklin, "wondered that we so seldom fired a cannon; why, we could not afford it!" And all this was disclosed to General Gage by a deserter, and he still lay in a profound slumber85! The Ministry86 at home, scarcely more awake to the real danger, were yet astonished at his lethargy; and they recalled him under the plea of consulting him on the affairs of the colony. He sailed from Boston in October, leaving the chief command to General Howe.
Meanwhile an expedition against Canada had been projected by Colonel Arnold and Ethan Allen at the taking of the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The recommendations of Allen were taken up, and on the 27th of June, although they had on the first of that month declared their determination not to invade or molest69 Canada, the Congress passed other resolutions, instructing Philip Schuyler, one of their newly-made generals, to proceed to Ticonderoga, and thence, if he saw it practicable, to go on and secure St. John's and Montreal, and adopt any other measures against Canada which might have a tendency to promote the security of the colonies. It was autumn, however, before the American force destined for this expedition, amounting to two thousand men, assembled on Lake Champlain; and Schuyler being taken ill, the command then devolved on General Montgomery. General Carleton, the Governor of Canada, to whom the Americans, when it suited their purpose, were always attributing designs of invasion of the colonies, had not, in fact, forces sufficient to defend himself properly.
General Montgomery reached the St. Lawrence, and detached six hundred men to invest Fort Chambly, situated87 on the river Sorel, about five miles above Fort St. John. The menaced condition of Quebec compelled General Carleton to abandon Montreal to its fate, and to hasten to the capital, and Montgomery immediately took possession of it. So far all succeeded with the American expedition. Carleton, to reach Quebec, had to pass through the American forces on the St. Lawrence. He went in disguise, and dropped down the river by night, with muffled88 oars89, threading the American craft on the river, and so reached Quebec alone, but in safety. Montgomery was determined90 to fall down the St. Lawrence too, to support Arnold; but his position was anything but enviable. He had been obliged to garrison Forts Chambly and St. John's, and he was now compelled to leave another garrison at Montreal. This done, he had only four hundred and fifty men left, and they were in the most discontented and insubordinate condition. As he proceeded, therefore, he found them fast melting away by desertion; and, had he not soon fallen in with Arnold and his band at Point aux Trembles, he would have found himself alone.
Arnold had meanwhile arranged everything with Washington, at Cambridge, for his expedition. He marched away from Cambridge with twelve hundred men, and on reaching the Kennebec River, one hundred and thirty miles north of Boston, embarked91 upon it, carrying with him one thousand pounds in money, and a whole cargo93 of manifestoes for distribution among the Canadians. Thence he had to traverse a terrible wilderness95 of woods, swamps, streams, and rugged96 heights, where the men had to carry their boats and provisions on their shoulders, and where, for two-and-thirty days, they saw no house, wigwam, or sign[221] of human life. So extreme were their distresses97, that for the last several days they had to live on their own dogs. It was the 3rd of November before they reached the first Canadian settlement on the river Chaudière, which flows into the St. Lawrence opposite to Quebec. They emerged on the river St. Lawrence, at Point Levi, immediately over against Quebec. Could Arnold have crossed immediately, such was the suddenness of the surprise, he probably would have taken the city. But a rough gale99 was blowing at the time, and for five days he was detained on the right bank of the river by that circumstance and the want of boats. Arnold, nevertheless, managed to cross the river in the night, about a mile and a half above the place where Wolfe had crossed. Finding the cliffs there too high to scale, he followed the shore down to Wolfe's Cove10, and ascended100 the heights just where Wolfe had done so. Like Wolfe, Arnold formed his band on the Heights of Abraham, and, trusting to the belief that the Canadians were in favour of the Americans, proposed to make a dash up to the gates of the city before day broke; but his followers102 protested against this design. When day dawned, Arnold saw so many men on the walls and batteries that he knew the assault was hopeless, and retired103 to Point aux Trembles, where he was joined by Montgomery, who took the chief command.
MONTGOMERY'S ASSAULT ON THE LOWER TOWN, QUEBEC. (See p. 222.)
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Arnold had not been able to bring any artillery with him; Montgomery had a little. They had about twelve hundred men altogether; and with this force they now marched upon Quebec. On the 20th of December they commenced firing on the town from a six-gun battery; but their cannon were too light to make much impression—they had no guns heavier than twelve-pounders, and these were soon dismounted by Colonel Maclean and his sailors. The Americans withdrew their guns to a safer distance; and their troops were desirous to abandon the enterprise as impracticable, but the commanders engaged them to continue by holding out a prospect104 of their plundering106 the lower town, where all the wealth lay. On the last day of the year, soon after four in the morning, the attack was commenced. Two divisions, under Majors Livingstone and Brown, were left to make feigned[222] attacks on the upper town, whilst the rest, in two lines, under Montgomery and Arnold, set out amid a blinding snow-storm to make two real attacks on the lower town. Montgomery, descending107 to the bed of the St. Lawrence, wound along the beach to Cape108 Diamond, where he was stopped by a blockhouse and picket109. Haying passed these, he again, at a place called Pot Ash, encountered a battery, which was soon abandoned. Montgomery then led his troops across huge piles of ice driven on shore; and no sooner had they surmounted110 these than they were received by a severe fire from a battery manned by sailors and Highlanders. Montgomery fell dead along with several other officers and many men; and the rest, seeing the fate of their commander, turned and fled back up the cliffs. Arnold, at the same time, was pushing his way through the suburbs of the lower town, followed by Captain Lamb with his artillerymen, and one field piece mounted on a sledge111. After these went Morgan with his riflemen; and as they advanced in the dark, and muffled in the falling snow, they came upon a two-gun battery. As Arnold was cheering on his men to attack this outpost, the bone of his leg was shattered by a musket-ball. He was carried from the field; but Morgan rushed on and made himself master of the battery and the guard. Just as day dawned, he found himself in front of a second battery, and, whilst attacking that, was assailed112 in the rear and compelled to surrender, with a loss of four hundred men, three hundred of whom were taken prisoners. Arnold retreated to a distance of three or four miles from Quebec, and covered his camp behind the Heights of Abraham with ramparts of frozen snow, and remained there for the winter, cutting off the supplies of the garrison, and doing his best to alienate113 the Canadians from the English.
The English Opposition114 now began to comment with great vigour115 on the conduct of affairs. The spirit of that body rose higher, as the imminence116 of war became greater. Charles James Fox made a motion for a committee to inquire into the causes of the inefficiency117 of his Majesty118's arms in North America, and of the defection of the people in the province of Quebec. He took a searching review of the whole proceedings since 1774, and contended that there was a great lack of ability and management somewhere, either in the Government which planned, or the generals who had to execute the Ministerial orders. His motion, however, was useless, for it was rejected by two hundred and forty to one hundred and four votes.
But on the 29th of February, 1776, the treaties lately entered into by the British Government with a number of German princes to furnish troops to fight in America, were laid on the table of the Commons; and intense indignation was raised against this most odious119 and impolitic measure. There had been negotiations120 with Russia for the purpose of procuring121 her savages122 to put down our kinsmen123 in America; but this barbarous attempt had failed. It was more successful with the petty princes of Germany. The Duke of Brunswick, the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, and other little despots, now greedily seized on the necessity of England, to drive the most extravagant124 terms with her. Under the name of levy-money, they were to receive seven pounds ten shillings for every man; and besides maintaining them, we were to pay to the Duke of Brunswick, who supplied four thousand and eighty-four men, a subsidy125 of fifteen thousand five hundred and nineteen pounds; the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who furnished twelve thousand men, did not get such good terms as Brunswick—he had ten thousand pounds; the hereditary126 Prince of Hesse received six thousand pounds a-year, for only six hundred and eighty-eight men. Besides this, the men were to begin to receive pay before they began to march. Brunswick was also to get double his sum, or thirty-one thousand and thirty-eight pounds a-year, for two years after they had ceased to serve; and the Landgrave of Hesse was to receive twelve months' notice of the discontinuance of the payment after his troops had returned to his dominions127. The payment for 1776 was to be four hundred and fifty thousand crowns, or nearly one hundred thousand pounds. The Prince of Waldeck soon after engaged to furnish six hundred and seventy men on equally good terms. Beyond all these conditions, England was bound to defend the dominions of those princes in the absence of their troops. The independent members of both Houses nobly discharged their duty in condemnation128 of this engagement of German mercenaries, but without effect, and the king prorogued129 Parliament, under the pleasing delusion130 that his foreign troops would soon bring his rebellious131 subjects to reason; and the Ministers apparently132 as firmly shared in this fallacious idea.
In America, during this time, various encounters had taken place between the English and American forces. Washington, in spite of the severity of the winter weather, was pressing the blockade of Boston. But the difficulties with[223] which he had to contend were so enormous, that, had General Howe had any real notion of them, as he ought to have had, he might have beaten off the American troops over and over again. His troops, it is true, only amounted to about seven thousand, and Washington's to about fifteen thousand; but besides the deficiency of powder in Washington's camp, the terms on which his troops served were such as kept him in constant uncertainty133. This was the condition of things when, early in March, Washington commenced acting134 on the offensive. He threw up entrenchments on Dorchester Heights, overlooking and commanding both Boston town and harbour. Taking advantage of a dark night, on the 4th of March he sent a strong detachment to the Heights, who, before mining, threw up a redoubt, which made it necessary for General Howe to dislodge them, or evacuate3 the place. It seems amazing, after the affair of Bunker's Hill, that Howe had not seen the necessity of occupying the post himself. He now, however, prepared to attack the redoubt, and the soldiers were eager for the enterprise. The vanguard fell down to Castle William, at which place the ascent135 was to be made; and on the morrow, the 5th of March, the anniversary of what was termed the Massacre136 of Boston, the fight was to take place. A violent storm, however, arose, rendering29 the crossing of the water impracticable. By the time that it ceased, the Americans had so strengthened their works, that it was deemed a useless waste of life to attempt to carry them. The only alternative was the evacuation of Boston. Howe had long been persuaded that it would be much better to make the British headquarters at New York, where there were few American troops, and where the king's friends were numerous; and this certainly was true, unless he had mustered137 resolution and sought to disperse51 his enemies when they were in a state of disorder138 and deficiency of ammunition139 that insured his certain success. As it was, he was now most ignominiously140 cooped up, and in hourly jeopardy141 of being shelled out of the place. He had obtained the permission of his Government for this movement, and he now set about it in earnest. When, however, he came to embark92, another example was given of that shameful142 neglect which pervaded143 the whole of the British civil department of the military service. When the transports were examined, they were found totally destitute144 of provisions and forage145. No direct compact was made between Howe and Washington regarding the evacuation; but an indirect communication and understanding on the subject was entered into—through the "select Men" of Boston—that no injury should be done to the town during it, provided the troops were unmolested in embarking146. Before departing, however, the English totally dismantled147 and partly demolished148 Castle William. On the 17th, the last of the British troops were on board; and that afternoon Boston was entered in triumph by General Putnam, at the head of the vanguard.
Howe, who, with seven thousand soldiers and more than one thousand sailors, did not feel himself safe at New York till the new reinforcements should arrive, sailed away to Halifax—a circumstance which gave the appearance of a retreat to his change of locality, and had thus a bad effect in more ways than one. Washington, who was informed of his final destination, immediately marched with the greater part of his army to New York, and thence went himself to Philadelphia to concert future measures with the Congress. This body, in commemoration of the surrender of Boston, ordered a medal to be struck in honour of it, and that it should bear the effigy149 of Washington, with the title of the Asserter of the Liberties of his Country. The medal was cast in France.
In Canada the management of the war was more successful. To maintain the war in that quarter, Congress had ordered nine regiments to be raised. One of these was to be raised in Canada itself, and for this purpose a commission was given to Moses Hazen, who had formerly150 been a captain of rangers151, under Wolfe. He was not, however, very successful. The Canadians were not to any extent disaffected152 to the British Government, and by no means well affected153 to the New Englanders, who were bitterly bigoted154 against Catholics, which the Canadians chiefly were. When Hazen and Arnold saw that the Canadians would neither enlist155 nor bring provisions to their camps, without cash payment, they commenced plundering for all that they wanted, and thus confirmed that people in their hatred156 of the Americans. They, moreover, insulted the Canadians by ridiculing157 their rites158 of worship.
Miserably159 as Arnold had passed the winter in his camp, as spring approached he again planted his batteries above Quebec, but produced so little effect that Carleton lay still in expectation of his reinforcements on the breaking up of the river. On the 1st of April General Wooster arrived, and took the command, much to the disgust of Arnold, who was sent to command a detachment at[224] Montreal. On the 1st of May, General Thomas, who was to be supreme160 in command, arrived, and found the forces amounting to about two thousand men. The river was now opening; and on the 6th of May three English ships had made their way up to Quebec, full of troops. Two companies of the 29th Regiment79 and one hundred marines were immediately landed amid the rejoicings of the inhabitants; and General Carleton gave instant orders to issue forth161 and attack the American lines. But General Thomas, conscious that, so far from being able to take Quebec, he should be himself taken, unless he decamped with all haste, was already on the move. General Carleton pursued him vigorously, and the retreat of the Americans became a regular rout. They threw themselves into boats at the Three Rivers, leaving behind them all their artillery and stores, as well as the sick, who were numerous, the smallpox162 having broken out amongst them. Thomas managed to reach Fort Chambly and St. John's on the Sorel; but there he died, having taken the smallpox.
Carleton being, by the beginning of June, reinforced by still more troops from England, determined to follow the Americans. They had reached the Three Rivers, about midway between Quebec and Montreal, and about thirty miles from the American headquarters on the Sorel, when General Sullivan, who had succeeded Thomas, sent two thousand men under General Thompson. They got across the river and hoped to surprise the English; but it was daylight before they drew near the Three Rivers. Landing with confusion, they sought a place where they could form and defend themselves; but they found themselves entangled163 in a labyrinth164 of streams and morasses165. Then they were attacked, front and rear, by Generals Fraser and Nesbit. In the suddenness of the surprise, no precaution had been taken to secure or destroy their boats; the remainder of the Americans, therefore, getting into them, pulled away and crossed. Sullivan, who had hastened to support them, now, accompanied by St. Clair, made the best of his way back to Fort Chambly. Carleton pursued, but coming to the Sorel, instead of sailing up it, by which he might have reached Chambly nearly a day earlier than Sullivan, with a strange neglect he continued lying at the mouth of the river for a couple of days. Had he not done this, Arnold would have been intercepted166 at Montreal, and Ticonderoga, now defenceless, would have fallen into his hands. By this false step much damage to the king's cause ensued. Carleton, however, determined to seek out Arnold himself, and sent on General Burgoyne in pursuit of Sullivan. Burgoyne made quick pursuit; but the Americans were too nimble for both himself and Carleton. Arnold hastily evacuated167 Montreal, and, crossing the river, joined Sullivan at St. John's, on the Sorel. There Sullivan proposed to make a stand, but his troops would not support him, for the whole army was in a state of insubordination. Burgoyne marched rapidly after them; but, on reaching the head of the Sorel, he found they had escaped him by embarking on the lake. Sullivan and Arnold had encamped on the Isle168 aux Noix, a swampy169 place, where their men perished, many of them, of fever, and Burgoyne was obliged to satisfy himself with the thought that they were driven out of Canada.
In the south, affairs had been as ill conducted by the English commanders as in the north they had been carried on well. Governor Martin had made an effort to recover North Carolina. He had collected a number of Highlanders, recently emigrated to America, and a number of back-woodsmen, called Regulators, and sent them, under the command of Colonels Macdonald and Macleod, to compel the inhabitants to submission170. They were to be supported by regular troops to be landed at Wilmington, and General Clinton was daily expected with the reinforcements from England. But Clinton did not appear, and the impatient Highlanders and Regulators, in marching from Cross Creek171 to Wilmington, were decoyed into a swamp, and there attacked and beaten. Macleod and most of the Highlanders were taken prisoners, and the Regulators, such as escaped, made again for the woods.
On the 3rd of May Lord Cornwallis arrived on the coast with a squadron of transports, convoyed by Sir Peter Parker, with several ships of war. General Clinton arrived soon after, and took the command of the troops; and, in concert with Parker, he determined to attack Charleston, the capital of South Carolina. On the 4th of June they appeared off Charleston, and landed on Long Island. They found the mouth of the harbour strongly defended by fortifications on Sullivan's Island, and by others on Hadrell's Point on its north. On the point lay encamped the American General Lee. Clinton threw up two batteries on Long Island to command those on Sullivan island, whilst Parker, from the ships, was to assist in covering the landing of the troops on that Island. Clinton was informed that he could easily cross from one island to the other by a ford84; and consequently, on the morning of the 28th of June,[225] Sir Peter Parker drew up his men-of-war—three vessels172 of fifty guns each, and six frigates173 of twenty-eight guns each, besides another of twenty-four guns and the Thunder bomb. But he had been deceived; what was called a ford, he found impassable. He was compelled to reimbark his troops, and meanwhile Parker's vessels, also unacquainted with their ground, ran upon a shoal, where one of them struck. In these unfortunate circumstances, the Americans, from the island and from Hadrell's Point, poured a tremendous fire into the ships, doing dreadful execution. Clinton sailed away, after this ignominious attempt to join General Howe, but some of the vessels were compelled to remain some time at Long Island to refit.
SIGNATURES TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
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But whilst these conflicts were taking place, the Revolution was marching on at full speed, and had reached its height—the Declaration of Independence. The Continental Congress, on the 15th of May, passed a resolution that it was necessary for such of the States as had not framed for themselves such constitutions as were required by the altered circumstances of the country, to forthwith frame such as should be conducive174 to their safety and welfare. This was published in all the newspapers, accompanied by a statement that, as the King of England, in concurrence175 with his Parliament, had excluded the people of those colonies from his protection, it became indispensable to abolish the constitution established by that power, and frame one for themselves. Here was a plain declaration; there was no longer any mistake.
There was no man in the colonies, nevertheless, who contributed so much to bring the open Declaration of Independence to a crisis as Thomas Paine, the celebrated176 author of "The Rights of Man" and of "The Age of Reason." Paine was originally a Quaker and staymaker at Thetford, in Norfolk. He renounced177 his Quakerism and his staymaking, became an exciseman, and then an usher179 in a school, reverting180 again to the gauging181 of ale firkins. In 1772 he wrote a pamphlet on the mischiefs182 arising from the inadequate183 payment of the excise178 officers, laying them open to bribes184, etc. This pamphlet having been sent to Franklin, induced him to recommend the poor author to emigrate to America. Paine adopted the advice, and settled at Philadelphia in 1774. He there devoted185 himself to political literature, wrote for the papers and journals, finally edited the Philadelphia Magazine, and, imbibing186 all the ardour of revolution, wrote, in January of the year 1776, a pamphlet called "Common Sense." This pamphlet was the spark that was needed to fire the train of independence. It at once seized on the imagination of the public, cast other writers into the shade, and flew, in thousands and tens of thousands of copies, throughout the colonies. It ridiculed187 the idea of a small island, three thousand miles off, ruling that immense continent, and threatening, by its insolent188 assumption, the expanding energies of three millions of men, more vigorous, virtuous189, and free, than those who sought to enslave them.
Amongst the provinces employing themselves to carry out the recommendation of the Congress, by framing new constitutions, that of New York was emboldened190 by the presence of Washington and his army to disregard the Royalists, and to frame a perfectly191 independent system. Gouverneur Morris took the lead in the ultra party, and declared that the time was now come for asserting entire independence. On the 27th of May a resolution to that effect was passed. The delegates of the Assembly were instructed to support these principles in Congress.
The Assembly of Virginia, meeting in convention at Williamsburg on the 6th of May, drew up a Declaration of Rights, a document which afterwards became the model for the celebrated "Rights of Man" with the French Revolutionists. In this Declaration it was asserted that the rights of the people cannot exist with hereditary monarchy192; and in the fourth article it was affirmed, that the idea of "a man being born a magistrate193, a legislator, or a judge, is unnatural194 and absurd." Accordingly, Richard Henry Lee, as one of their delegates, on the 7th of June, moved in General Congress, that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved195 from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; that measures should immediately be taken for procuring the assistance of foreign Powers, and a confederation be formed to bind196 the colonies more closely together."
This all-important question was adjourned197 to the next day, the 8th of June, when it was debated in a committee of the whole House. As the discussion, however, took place with closed doors, as all great debates of Congress did, to hide the real state of opinion, and to give to the ultimate decision an air of unanimity198, the reports of it are meagre and unsatisfactory. We know, however, that Lee, the original mover, was supported by his colleague Wythe, and most energetically by John Adams; that it was as vigorously opposed by John Dickinson and his colleagues, Wilson, of Pennsylvania, Robert Livingstone, of New York, and John Rutledge, of South Carolina. Moreover, a considerable number of members from different States opposed the motion, on the ground, not of its being improper199 in itself, but, as yet, premature200. Six colonies declared for it, including Virginia. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland were at present against it. New York, Delaware, and South Carolina, were not decided to move yet; and it was proposed to give them time to make up their minds. Dr. Zubly, of Georgia, protested against it, and quitted the Congress. To give time for greater unanimity, the subject was postponed201 till the 1st of July; but, meanwhile, a committee was appointed to draw up a Declaration of Independence. The members of this committee were only five, namely, Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia; John Adams, of Massachusetts; Roger Sherman, of Connecticut; Richard R. Livingstone, of New York; and Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JULY 4th, 1776.
From the Painting by J. Trumbull.
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On the 1st of July the report of the committee was read, together with the form of declaration as drawn up by Jefferson, but afterwards remodelled202 by Franklin and the committee. Nine states now voted for independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against it. Delaware and South Carolina requested an adjournment203 to the next day, in order to make up their minds, when they voted for it, a new delegate having arrived from Delaware with firmer instructions. New York held out against independence, General Howe having now arrived at Sandy Hook, and the Provincial Congress having retired from New York to White Plains. Jay and Gouverneur Morris, from that State, were, however, vehement204 for independence, asserting that the Congress of New York ought to be dissolved, and delegates sent up to a new and more popular Congress.
The revolutionary party in New York determined to carry them, and the revolutionary party in Pennsylvania the same, right or wrong. In Pennsylvania delegates insisted that those of their colleagues who were averse94 from the Declaration should absent themselves, and those favourable205 to it should attend and vote. From Delaware, one single delegate, C?sar Rodney, voted and decided the question in that province. The New York Assembly only nominally206 reconstructed its Provincial Congress. Instead of calling the electors together, as recommended by the report of the 28th of May, some of the freeholders and voters declared such of the old members as were willing to vote for the Declaration re-elected; and this irregular and clearly unconstitutional body attended and voted for the Declaration. Finally the moderate party, headed by John Dickinson, withdrew, and the Declaration was carried by one vote.
By these violent and arbitrary means was passed on the 4th July, 1776, the famous Declaration of Independence. The original motion for such a Declaration, on the 8th of June, had been supported by a bare majority of seven States to six; and now the whole thirteen States were said to have assented207, though it is perfectly well known that several signatures were not supplied till months afterwards by newly chosen delegates. The Declaration contained the following assertions of freedom:—1. That all men are born equally free, possessing certain natural rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive their posterity208; 2. That all power is vested in the people, from whom it is derived [but it was voted in Congress that the blacks made no part of the people]; 3. That they have an inalienable, indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish their form of government at pleasure; 4. That the idea of an hereditary first magistrate is unnatural and absurd.
The Americans did not make their Declaration of Independence till they had communicated with France. The British Government, as Lord North publicly declared in Parliament, had long heard of American emissaries at Paris seeking aid there. A secret committee, which had Thomas Paine for its secretary, was appointed to correspond with the friends of America in Great Britain, Ireland, and other parts of the world. Encouraged by the assurances of France, the secret committee was soon converted into a public one, and agents were sent off to almost every court of Europe to invite aid of one kind or another against the mother country, not omitting even Spain, Naples, Holland and Russia. Silas Deane was dispatched to Paris in March of this year, to announce the growing certainty of a total separation of the colonies from Great Britain, and to solicit209 the promised co-operation.
Lord Howe arrived from England, and cast anchor off Sandy Hook, a few hours after the Declaration of Independence had been read to the army by Washington. He had been expected by his brother, General Howe, who had arrived at the same point on the 29th of June, supposing he should find the admiral there. General Howe found Washington already in New York, and actively210 engaged in throwing up entrenchments, both there and on Long Island, to close the Hudson against the British fleet. Washington's headquarters were at New York; those of General Sullivan, at the western extremity211 of Long Island, opposite to New York; and Governor's Island, Paulus Hook, New Rochelle, and other points, were strongly defended to protect the rear of the city. At the time of Admiral Howe's arrival, the army of Washington did not amount to more than seventeen thousand men, of whom three[228] thousand were sick, and but about ten thousand men fit for duty. From his letters to Congress, it is clear that he entertained very little hope of maintaining his ground in case of attack, for the fresh forces brought by Howe from England, being joined by the shattered remains213 of Sir Peter Parker's squadron, amounted to twenty thousand men. A few days afterwards, however, he was joined by two regiments from Philadelphia, and by large bodies of New York and New England Militia, raising his army to twenty-seven thousand men, but of these a large number were sick. He now posted strong reinforcements in Brooklyn. On this General Howe quitted Sandy Hook, and advanced to Staten Island, where he could watch the operations of the enemy. The Americans abandoned Staten Island, on his approach, without firing a gun.
Things being in this position on the arrival of Admiral Lord Howe, he determined still, notwithstanding the Proclamation of Independence, to make every effort to procure214 a last chance of peace. He deeply regretted the delays which had attended his fleet, and lost no time in sending on shore an intimation that he brought conciliatory overtures. His first act was to dispatch a letter to Franklin, who, in England, had expressed so earnest a desire for accommodation of all differences, informing him of his commission to seek reconciliation, and of his powers for the purpose. But the Declaration being now made, Franklin had no longer a motive215 to conceal43 his real sentiments, and he replied in terms which greatly astonished Howe, filling his letters only with complaints of "atrocious injuries," and of what America had endured from "your proud and uninformed nation." Howe next turned to Washington, to whom he dispatched a flag of truce216, bearing a letter to the Commander-in-Chief. But as Washington could only be regarded as an insurgent217 leader, Lord Howe thought he could not officially recognise a title conferred only by the American Congress, and therefore did not address him as "General," but simply as "George Washington, Esquire." Washington refused to treat in any other character than that of Commander-in-Chief of the American forces. He instantly returned Howe's letter, and forwarded the other papers to Congress. One of these was a circular declaration to the late royal Governors, enclosing a copy of Lord Howe's commission, and stating that all who should submit would be pardoned; that any town or province which declared its adhesion to the Crown should at once be exempt218 from the provisions of all the late Acts of Parliament, especially as regarded their trade; and that, moreover, all such persons as were active in promoting the settlement of their districts should be duly rewarded. The moment Congress received this document they ordered it to be published in the newspapers, that "the people might see how the insidious219 Court of Great Britain had endeavoured to disarm220 and amuse them," and that "the few whom hopes of moderation and justice on the part of the British Government had still kept in suspense221, might now at length be convinced that the valour alone of their country is to save its liberties." Lord Howe, undeterred by this spirited proceeding6 of Congress, on the 20th of July sent the Adjutant-General once more to Washington, with another letter, still addressed to "George Washington, Esquire," but adding a number of etceteras. Washington was not to be caught by so shallow an artifice222. The proposed interview, like the last, therefore, came to nothing, except that Congress took advantage of these repeated efforts to insinuate223 that the British were afraid of fighting.
Lord Howe now prepared to attack New York, where Washington had about thirty thousand men. But the latter's troops were ill-equipped, and deficient in discipline. Washington expected that Howe would attack New York by the way of Long Island, and so he had posted nine thousand men at Brooklyn, nearly opposite to it, behind entrenchments thrown up by General Greene. Greene had been attacked by fever; and General Putnam, who had taken his post, was but indifferently acquainted with the position of the forces and the nature of the ground they would have to defend with a rabble224 of most insubordinate troops. In these circumstances General Howe, on the morning of the 22nd of August, threw over from Staten Island into Long Island four thousand men, under the command of General Clinton. They landed in Gravesend Bay, under cover of the artillery of three frigates and two bombs. The rest of the army followed with the artillery. Washington hastened over from New York to strengthen General Sullivan, who was in command on the island. He posted no less than fifteen thousand men along a peninsula at that end of the island facing New York.
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WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE. (See p. 235.)
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Two British columns advancing by night—one by the shore road and the other over the hills—managed to capture the patrols and approach the outposts of the Americans. Washington having been all day engaged in strengthening his lines, had returned to New York. Putnam was posted on the left; and General Stirling was posted on the right on the seashore, near the part called the Narrows. On the hills Sullivan occupied one of the passes towards the left. The column on the British right, consisting of Hessians, under General Von Heister, seized on the village of Flat Bush, nearly opposite to Sullivan. At the same time, Sir Henry Clinton and Sir William Erskine reconnoitred Sullivan's position and the rest of the line of hills, and sent word to General Howe that it would not be difficult to turn Sullivan's position where the hills were low, near the village of Bedford. Howe immediately ordered Lord Percy to support Clinton with his brigades, in the direction of Bedford, and General Grant to endeavour to turn the position of General Stirling, whilst the Hessians were ready to attack Sullivan in front. At a signal, Howe himself marched along with one of the divisions. In order to draw the enemy's attention from the movements of General Clinton, Grant made a direct attack upon Stirling's position, which brought to his aid a great part of Sullivan's forces, thus deserting their own ground. Grant maintained his attack till daylight, by which time Clinton had, by a slight skirmish, crossed the line on his side. The attention from his march was diverted by Von Heister attacking Putnam's position on the direct way to Brooklyn, and Lord Howe, from his ships, opening a cannonade on Governor's Island and Red Hook, in the rear of that town. About eight o'clock came a fire from Clinton's column, which had now forced its way into the rear of Putnam and between the Americans and Brooklyn. On this discovery they endeavoured to make a way to their lines before that town, but were driven back by Clinton only to find themselves assailed in the rear by Von Heister. Thus hemmed225 in, they fled in confusion. This action in their rear alarmed both Sullivan and Stirling, yet they maintained their ground against Grant till they learned the total rout of their comrades opposed to Clinton and Heister, when they laid down their arms and ran for it. Knowing the ground better than the British, many of them managed to escape to Brooklyn; but one thousand and ninety-seven prisoners were taken, and from one thousand two hundred to one thousand five hundred Americans were killed or wounded. The English lost only about four hundred killed and wounded.
Washington, who had witnessed the battle, saw, to his infinite mortification226, the British pursuing his flying troops almost up to their entrenchments. The ardour of the English soldiers was such that they would speedily have stormed and carried the lines, and not a man of the American army on Long Island would have escaped being taken or killed. But General Howe, with that marvellous stupidity which marked all our generals in this war, ordered them back, saying that the lines could be taken with less loss of life by regular approach. The next morning they began throwing up trenches227 near one of the American redoubts, from which to cannonade it; but Washington was much more aware of the untenable nature of his position than Howe, and, under favour of darkness, and of a thick fog in the morning, he had been for hours busily transporting his forces over the East River to New York. All that day, and in the night of the 29th, he continued, with all possible silence, conveying over his troops, artillery, and stores, expecting every moment that General Howe would burst through his lines at Brooklyn, and attack him in the rear, whilst Lord Howe, with his ships, would advance, and blow all his fragile transports into the water. Soon, however, Washington saw there was no maintaining his position there. He found the British fast enclosing him on all sides, too; and on the 12th of September he began to evacuate the place in such haste as to leave behind him a great quantity of his artillery and stores. The English landed on York Island without the loss of a man. Three thousand men had placed themselves ready to attack the British as they landed, and before they could form; but the sight of two companies of grenadiers, already in position, had such an effect on them, that they fled, leaving their blankets and jackets, which they had thrown off in certainty of beating the English.
Washington saw almost with despair the condition of the American army; any other man would have despaired of it altogether. He wrote to Congress that nothing could make soldiers trustworthy but longer terms of service; that, in fact, they ought to be engaged for the whole war, and subjected to a rigid228 and constant discipline. He complained that the soldiers were much bolder in plundering than fighting; and one of his officers observed that the Pennsylvanian and New England troops would as soon fight each other as the enemy. His Adjutant-General, Reed, declared that discipline was almost impossible amid such a levelling spirit as prevailed. These startling facts made Congress begin in earnest to look out for foreign aid. In the meantime, it voted that the army should be reorganised with eighty-eight[231] battalions229, to be enlisted230 as soon as possible, and to serve during the war; each State to furnish its respective quota231, and to name the officers as high as colonels. But Washington had soon to complain that they only voted, and did not carry the plan strenuously232 into action; that there was a mighty233 difference between voting battalions and raising men.
The condition of Washington was inconceivably depressing. The time for the serving of the greater part of the troops was fast expiring; and numbers of them, despite the circumstances of the country, went off. Whilst Washington was, therefore, exerting himself to prevail on them to continue, he was compelled to weaken his persuasions234 by enforcing the strictest restraint on both soldiers and officers, who would plunder105 the inhabitants around them on the plea that they were Tories. Sickness was in his camp; and his suffering men, for want of hospitals, were obliged to lie about in barns, stables, sheds, and even under the fences and bushes. He wrote again to Congress in a condition of despair. He called on them to place their army on a permanent footing; to give the officers such pay as should enable them to live as gentlemen, and not as mean plunderers. He recommended that not only a good bounty235 should be given to every non-commissioned officer and soldier, but also the reward of a hundred or a hundred and fifty acres of land, a suit of clothes, and a blanket. Though Congress was loth to comply with these terms, it soon found that it must do so, or soldiers would go over to the royal army.
Before Lord Howe advanced farther, he received a deputation from Congress. He had sent the captured American General, Sullivan, on his parole to Philadelphia to endeavour to induce Congress to come to terms, and save the further effusion of blood. He assured them that he was not at liberty to treat with them as a Congress, but he would willingly meet some of them as private gentlemen, having full powers, with his brother, General Howe, to settle the dispute between them and Great Britain, on advantageous236 terms; that, on finding them disposed to agree to honourable237 conditions, he would seek for the acknowledgment of their authority to treat with him, so as to make the compact valid238. The delegates appointed were sufficiently239 indicative of the little good that was to be hoped from the interview. They were Dr. Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. Franklin had returned a most insulting answer to a private letter sent to him by Lord Howe. It was in vain that Lord Howe assured the deputies that England was disposed to forget all, to pardon all, and to repeal240 all the obnoxious241 taxes, and that inexpressible calamities242 would be avoided by the Colonies simply returning to their allegiance. The deputies replied, that the only terms on which America could make peace was as independent states. This put the matter beyond accommodation.
On the 12th of October General Howe, who would have been better employed in driving the enemy before him than in waiting for his brother's useless negotiations, sent a considerable part of his forces, with flat-bottomed boats, through Hell Gate into the Sound, and landed them at Frog's Neck, about nine miles in the rear of Washington's position, thus cutting off all his supplies from the country. The ships ascended higher up the North River, cutting off the retreat into the Jerseys243. Had Howe, instead of landing at Frog's Neck, done so at Pell's Point, he would have rendered Washington's retreat nearly impossible. But this was neglected till the 18th of October, by which time Washington, finding that he was getting gradually hemmed in, and Lee, who had now joined him from Sullivan's Island and the Carolinas, insisting that nothing but instant retreat could save them, they therefore made a rapid retreat into the open country called the White Plains. They had much difficulty in carrying away their artillery; and the whole of it must have been taken, had Howe shown any ordinary activity. Between this date and the 21st there was considerable skirmishing, which compelled Washington to retire farther into the White Plains, and from thence towards the Delaware.
On the 18th of November Lord Cornwallis crossed the North River with six thousand men, and, landing on the Jersey side, began to attack Fort Lee, standing nearly opposite Fort Washington. The garrison fled, leaving behind all its tents standing, all its provisions and artillery. Washington was compelled by this to fall back from his position on the Croton, thence to Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, and finally to the Pennsylvanian side of the Delaware. Lord Cornwallis followed at his heels. Cornwallis penetrated244 to the remotest parts of east and west Jersey, and everywhere the inhabitants received him as a friend and deliverer. On the 24th of November Lord Cornwallis was approaching Brunswick, when he received orders to halt. By this means, Washington was allowed to escape across the Delaware. It was not till the evening of the 16th of December that Cornwallis received[232] orders to proceed, and, though he made all haste, he was too late. The rear of the American army quitted Princeton as the van of the English army entered it. Washington, in headlong haste, fled to Trenton, and began ferrying his troops over the Delaware. When Cornwallis reached Trenton, at nine o'clock the next morning, he beheld245 the last boats of Washington crossing the river. Once over the water, the remains of the American troops lost all appearance of an army. They were a mere246 dirty, worn-out, ragged247, and dispirited mob. Washington had taken the advantage of the halt of Cornwallis to collect all the boats from Delaware for the distance of seventy miles, so that the English could not cross after them. Cornwallis, being thus brought to a stand, put his army into winter quarters between the Delaware and the Hackensack.
Whilst Cornwallis was pursuing Washington through the Jerseys, Clinton swept Rhode Island of the American troops, and drove Commodore Hopkins with some ships up Providence248 River, where he remained. Rhode Island, however, required a strong body of English soldiers constantly to defend it. Meanwhile Sir Guy Carleton, having destroyed the American flotilla on Lake Champlain, was daily expected to march from Crown Point and invest Ticonderoga, which was only fifteen miles distant, and where Schuyler lay prepared to abandon it on the approach of the English. But Carleton, who had displayed so much activity and energy, now, like the rest of our generals, seemed at once to abandon them at the decisive point. He descended249 the Champlain to Isle-aux-Noix, put his forces into winter quarters there, and proceeded himself to Quebec, to prepare for the next campaign. Thus ended the campaign of 1776.
At the very time that Washington was flying before the British army, Congress, putting a firm face on the matter, went on legislating250 as boldly as ever. It established Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the several States. These Articles were a supplement to and extension of the Declaration of Independence, and were sixteen in number:—1st. That the thirteen States thus confederating should take the title of the United States. 2nd. That each and all were engaged in a reciprocal treaty of alliance and friendship for their common defence, and for their general advantage; obliging themselves to assist each other against all violence that might threaten all or any of them on account of religion, sovereignty, commerce, or under any other pretext251 whatever. 3rd. That each State reserved to itself alone the exclusive right of regulating its internal government. 4th. That no State in particular should either send or receive embassies, begin any negotiations, contract any engagements, form any alliances, or conclude any treaties with any king, prince, or power whatsoever252, without the consent of the United States assembled in Congress; that no person invested with any post in the United States should be allowed to accept any presents, emoluments253, office, or title, from any king, prince, or foreign Power; and that neither the General Congress, nor any State in particular, should ever confer any title of nobility. 5th. That none of the said States should have power to form alliances, or confederations, even amongst themselves, without the consent of the General Congress. 6th. That no State should lay on any imposts, or establish any duties, which might affect treaties to be hereafter concluded by Congress with foreign Powers. 7th. That no State in particular should keep up ships of war, or land troops beyond the amount regulated by Congress. 8th. That when any of the States raised troops for the common defence, the officers of the rank of colonel and under should be appointed by the legislature of the State, and the superior officers by Congress. 9th. That all the expenses of the war, etc., should be paid out of a common treasury254. Other clauses defined the functions and powers of Congress, and the 14th offered to Canada admission to all the privileges of the other States, should she desire it; but no other colony was to be admitted without the formal consent of nine of the States composing the union.
After thus settling the form and powers of the constitution, Congress voted eight million dollars to be raised as a loan, and ordered a fresh issue of paper money. But, above all, it laboured to acquire aid from abroad, without which it was clear they must yield to the superior military force of the mother country, and return to their obedience on humiliating terms. For this purpose, in addition to Silas Deane, who was already in Paris, Franklin and Arthur Lee were dispatched to that capital to obtain aid with all possible speed. These gentlemen set sail in the beginning of November, though in much apprehension255 of being intercepted by the British cruisers; but managed to reach Quibéron Bay in safety, and Paris before the end of the year. So successful was Franklin in Paris, that he obtained a gift of two millions of livres from the French king in aid of America, and the assurance that[233] this should be annually256 augmented, as her finances allowed. The only stipulation257 for the present was profound secrecy258. Franklin had also found the cause of America so popular, that many officers were anxious to engage in her service; and the enthusiastic young Marquis Lafayette, notwithstanding the ill news from the United States, engaged to embark his life and fortune with Washington and his compatriots.
AMERICAN BILL OF CREDIT (1775).
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In England Parliament met on the 31st of October, and Lord North now moved, in a Committee of Supply, for forty-five thousand seamen259 for the service of the following year; and in a warm debate, in which Mr. Luttrell made a severe charge of maladministration at the Admiralty, and of the most shameful corruptions260 and peculations in that department and in the Commissariat, he called for the production of the necessary papers to enable him to substantiate261 these charges.
Yet the whole demand for sailors was carried, and the demand of inquiry262 as absolutely rejected. Parliament went on and voted three million two hundred and five thousand five hundred and five pounds for the expenses of the navy; four thousand pounds for Greenwich Hospital; five hundred thousand pounds for the discharge of the debts of the navy. For the army, including some new contracts with the German princes for men to serve in America, three million pounds. What was still more disgraceful was that, amid all these charges on the public purse, the king came again with a fresh demand for six hundred thousand pounds for debts on the Civil List. It was pretended that extraordinary calls had been made on the royal purse by the suffering Royalists in America; but it was notorious that the Royal household continued in the same condition of reckless waste and extravagance as it was when the former half million was voted for the same purpose. Yet the Commons granted this sum; and, by way of preventing the king from falling into fresh difficulties, added one hundred thousand pounds a year to the Civil List. The matter, however, did not pass without a plain reminder263 to his Majesty. The rough-spoken Sir Fletcher Norton, the Speaker of the Commons, when presenting this Bill for the increase of the Civil List to the king, said:—"Sir,—In a time of public distress98, full of difficulty and danger, under burdens almost too heavy to be borne, your faithful Commons postponed all other business, and granted your Majesty not only a large present supply, but a very great additional revenue—great beyond example—great beyond your Majesty's highest wants!" Having passed these votes, Parliament was prorogued on the 13th of December till the 21st of the following January.
But whilst England had been thus preparing for the augmentation of the navy, America had been aiming a blow at the efficiency of that navy, which must for years, if successful, have prostrated264 our whole maritime265 forces, and exposed our shores to the easiest invasion. This intended blow was nothing less than the destruction of our great naval266 dockyards and arsenals267, and military storehouses, at Portsmouth and Plymouth. The chief agent in this infamous268 design, if the evidence of a miscreant269 can be believed, was Silas Deane. On the 7th of December the rope-house of the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth was found to be on fire. By active exertions271 it was got under, after it had destroyed that building, and was imagined to be an accident. But on the 15th of January, 1777, one of the officers of the dockyard found a machine and combustibles concealed in the hemp272 in the hemp-house of the same dockyard. Suspicion now fell on a moody273, silent artisan, who, on the day of the fire, had been looking about the dockyard, and who, by some chance, had got locked up in the rope-house the night before. His name was not known, but the[234] fact only that he was a painter, and had been called John the Painter. Government immediately offered a reward of fifty pounds for his apprehension; the same sum, with a strange simplicity274, being offered to him if he would surrender himself for examination. Nothing, however, could be learned of him in Portsmouth or the country round; but fresh fires were now breaking out at Plymouth Dockyard and on the quays275 of Bristol. At Plymouth the fire was instantly checked, and the perpetrator was nearly seized. At Bristol the fire was laid near a narrow, deep creek, crowded with shipping, which was nearly dry at low water, so that it was impossible to get the shipping out. Six or seven warehouses276 were destroyed, but the shipping escaped. In another house at Bristol combustibles were discovered, and the alarm became general that the American incendiaries, having failed to burn New York, were come to England to burn our dockyards and maritime houses. Fortunately, in the beginning of February, a man was apprehended277 for the perpetration of a burglary at Odiham, in Hampshire; and, by the activity of Sir John Fielding, the London magistrate, he was identified as John the Painter. When brought before Sir John and other magistrates278 in town, the man conducted himself with tact9 and address. Though closely examined and cross-questioned by some of the members of the Privy279 Council, by Lords of the Admiralty, and other officers of the board, he maintained the scrutiny280 without betraying any embarrassment281, or letting anything escape him that could in any degree incriminate him. A confession282 was, however, wormed out of him by another painter, named Baldwin. Silas Deane, John the Painter declared, according to Baldwin's evidence, had encouraged him to set fire to the dockyards of Plymouth and Portsmouth, Woolwich and Chatham, as the most effectual means of disabling Great Britain; that he gave him bills to the amount of three hundred pounds on a merchant in London, and promised to reward him according to the amount of service he should do to the American cause. Before his execution he freely admitted the truth of the charges against him. He confessed to having twice attempted to fire the dockyard at Plymouth, and to burning the warehouses at Bristol, having in vain endeavoured to deposit his combustibles on board the ships. He, moreover, stated that he had a recommendation from Silas Deane to Dr. Bancroft, in London, to whom he had declared that he would do all the harm he could to England; that the doctor did not approve of his conduct, but had, at his request, promised not to betray him.
On the 8th of May, 1777, Ministers moved for more money for the insatiable Landgrave of Hesse, whose troops were at this very time exhibiting the most scandalous state of defiance283 of discipline, of consequent inefficiency, and of plunder of the inhabitants of America. This grant, though violently opposed, was carried, but only by a majority of eight. All parties now began to denounce the shameless rapacity284 of these German princes. Nor did Chatham, ill as he was, allow the Session to pass without making one more energetic protest against the continuance of the war with America. On the 30th of May he moved an address to his Majesty for the immediate32 cessation of hostilities. Notwithstanding all that had been said on our successes over the Americans, Chatham contended as positively285 as ever that we could never conquer them. "You have," he said, "ransacked286 every corner of Lower Saxony, but forty thousand German boors287 never can conquer ten times the number of British freemen. You may ravage288, you cannot conquer—it is impossible—you cannot conquer America. You talk of your numerous funds to annihilate289 the Congress, and your powerful forces to disperse their army; I might as well talk of driving them before me with my crutch290! But what would you conquer? The map of America? I am ready to meet any general officer on the subject" (looking at Lord Amherst)—"What will you do out of the protection of your fleet? In the winter, if together, they are starved; and if dispersed, they are taken off in detail. I am experienced in spring hopes and vernal promises. I know what Ministers throw out; but at last will come your equinoctial disappointment. You have got nothing in America but stations. You have been three years teaching them the art of war. They are apt scholars; and I will venture to tell your lordships that the American gentry291 will make officers enough fit to command the troops of all the European Powers." Chatham's motion was rejected by ninety-nine votes against twenty-eight. Parliament was prorogued by the king on the 6th of June, in a speech in which he indulged the fallacious hope that the American insurrection would be terminated in the present campaign. But Chatham's prophecies were at the very time realising themselves. Had the Howes had the necessary qualities of commanders in such an important cause—had they pursued and dispersed[235] the American army, as they ought to have done on defeating it, and as they might readily have done; and had the British Government instantly, whilst in this favourable position, repealed292 all the obnoxious statutes293, they would have thrown Congress and Washington so completely into the wrong, that it would have been impossible for them to have made head again. But neither the Generals nor the Government of that day had the capacity for such strategic and statesmanlike policy. The Generals went comfortably into winter quarters, leaving the embers of war to rekindle294 and spread; and Government, deaf to the warnings of Chatham, still stolidly295 refused justice whilst rigorously enforcing their injustice296. And, indeed, when Chatham gave his last Cassandra-like remonstrance297, it was already too late. We had indeed taught the Americans the art of war. Washington was no longer contented to stand on the defensive298, happy if he could preserve his soldiers from running off without fighting at all. His circumstances were desperate, and the energy which springs from despair now urged him to measures of daring and wakefulness just as the English Generals, like northern bears, were entering on their winter's sleep. Benedict Arnold had paid him a visit in his wretched camp beyond the Delaware, and probably from their united counsels sprang a new style of movement, which confounded his unsuspecting enemies.
The army of Lord Cornwallis, which had so triumphantly299 pursued Washington through the Jerseys, supposing the Americans now put beyond all possibility of action, if not wholly dispersed, lay carelessly in their cantonments on the left bank of the Delaware. The two main outposts, Trenton and Bordentown, were entrusted301 to bodies of Hessians. At Trenton lay Colonel Rahl, and at Bordentown Count Donop. As the Christmas of 1776 was approaching, they had abandoned all discipline. The British officers, too, had mostly quitted their regiments, and had gone to enjoy the Christmas at New York, where General Howe was keeping up great hospitality, imagining the war to be fast drawing to a close. But if the English paid no attention to Washington, he was paying every attention to them. His plans arranged, he set out on the evening of Christmas day, 1776, and crossed the river at Mackonkey's Ferry, nine miles above Trenton, to attack that fort. The river was so encumbered302 with ice that he found it a most arduous303 undertaking304, but he accomplished it with the division immediately under his command—two thousand four hundred in number. He continued his march through the night on Trenton, and reached it at about eight o'clock in the morning. A trusted spy had informed him over night, that he had seen the soldiers, both British and Hessians, asleep, steeped in drink. When he arrived, the soldiers still lay sunk in their Christmas debauch305; and it was only by the first crash of the cannon that they were roused. When they ran to arms Washington had already invested the town. The brave Colonel Rahl, in his endeavour to form his drunken troops, and lead them on, was mortally wounded by an American rifle, almost at the first discharge. The light horse and a portion of the infantry, who fled on the first alarm, escaped to Bordentown. The main body attempted to retreat by the Princeton Road, but found it already occupied by Colonel Hand and his regiment of Pennsylvanian riflemen. Thus cut off, ignorant of the force opposed to them, and without enthusiasm for the cause, they threw down their arms and surrendered. About a thousand prisoners and six cannon were taken. The Americans had two killed, two frozen to death, and a few wounded. As soon as Washington had refreshed his men, he re-crossed the Delaware, carrying with him his prisoners, the stores he had taken, and the six field-pieces that he brought with him.
This spirited and brilliant action had a wonderful effect on the American mind. It revived the courage of the troops, which had sunk very low after so many defeats. It inspired them and the public at large with confidence in the talents and daring of their Commander-in-Chief, who was now eulogised as another Fabius. Such was the confidence inspired, even in himself, by this success, that, being immediately joined by three thousand six hundred Pennsylvanian militia, he determined to cross the Delaware, as it was now strongly frozen over. But General Grant had already joined General Leslie at Princeton, with a strong body of British and Hessian troops; and General Howe, on hearing of the fresh spirit of the American army, had detained Lord Cornwallis, who was about to leave for England. He hastened to Princeton, and took the command of the whole force, concentrating all the troops on the Delaware shore. On the 2nd of January, 1777, he marched from Princeton for Trenton, drove in the enemy's outposts, and reached Trenton by five o'clock the same afternoon. Washington retired as he approached. The British, on arriving at the fort and bridge of the Assumpinck, found both guarded by artillery, and Washington posted on[236] some high ground beyond. Cornwallis cannonaded the bridge and forts, and his fire was briskly returned. He then encamped for the night there, intending to force the creek the next morning; but Washington did not wait for him. With his raw militia only a few days in camp, he had no chance of resisting Cornwallis's army, and yet—a thaw306 having taken place—it was impossible to cross the Delaware. He called a council of war, and it was concluded that, from the great force of Cornwallis in front, the rear could not be very strong. It was therefore determined to make an attempt to gain the rear, beat up the enemy's quarters at Princeton, now, as they supposed, nearly deserted307, and, if they could succeed, fall on the British stores and baggage at New Brunswick. Their own baggage was, accordingly, sent quickly down the river to Burlington, the camp-fires were replenished308, and small parties being left to deceive the enemy by throwing up entrenchments, Washington, about midnight, silently decamped by a circuitous309 route towards Princeton. At dawn they encountered two out of three English regiments, which had been at Princeton, on the march. These were the 17th and 55th, hastening to join Cornwallis at Trenton. They imagined the Americans, owing to a thick fog, to be a body of Hessians; but, on discovering the mistake, a sharp fight took place, and for some time the two British regiments withstood Washington's whole force. Colonel Mawhood, the English commander, posted his force advantageously on a rising ground between the Americans and Princeton, sent back his baggage waggons310, and dispatched messengers to bring up the 40th regiment, still in Princeton, with all speed. The 40th not arriving, Washington managed to force his way between the two British regiments. The 17th continued its march for Trenton; the 55th fell back upon Princeton, where the 40th, which had defended itself in the college, after losing a considerable number of prisoners, joined the 55th, and retreated upon New Brunswick.
Washington found no rest at Princeton. Cornwallis no sooner heard the cannonading near Princeton than he immediately comprehended Washington's ruse311, and, alarmed for his magazines at New Brunswick, he hastened in that direction. Washington, aware of his approach, found it necessary to give up the attempt on New Brunswick. He therefore hastened across Millstone river, broke down the bridge behind him to stop pursuit, and posted himself on the high ground at Morristown, where there were very strong positions. Here he received additional troops, and entrenched312 himself. Cornwallis, not aware of the real weakness of Washington's army despite all its additions, again sat down quietly for the winter at New Brunswick. For six months the British army now lay still. Washington, however, lost no time in scouring313 all quarters of the Jerseys. He made himself master of the coast opposite Staten Island, and seized on Newark, Elizabeth Town, and Woodbridge. The inhabitants had been plundered314 by the Hessians and English, and now they were plundered again by their own countrymen for having received the English well. Washington exerted himself to suppress this rancorous conduct of the New England and Virginian troops, and issued a proclamation absolving315 the people of their oaths to the English, and promising316 them protection on their taking a new oath to Congress. The people of the Jerseys gladly accepted this offer.
Meanwhile, the American emissaries were both busy and successful at the Court of France. Though the Government still professed most amicable317 relations towards Great Britain, it winked318 at the constant sale of the prizes taken by American privateers, or those who passed for such, in their ports. The Government had, as we have seen, supplied the insurgents319 with money and arms. It was now arranged between Silas Deane and the French Minister, Vergennes, that the supplies of arms and ammunition should be sent by way of the West Indies, and that Congress should remit212 payment in tobacco and other produce. The French Government supplied the American agents with money for their purchases of arms and necessary articles for the troops, also to be repaid in tobacco. Two of the ships sent off with such supplies were captured by the British men-of-war; but a third, loaded with arms, arrived safely. To procure the money which they could not draw from Europe, Congress made fresh issues of paper money, though what was already out was fearfully depreciated321. They voted a loan also of five millions of dollars, at four per cent. interest. They authorised a lottery322 to raise a like sum, the prizes to be payable323 in loan-office certificates. These measures only precipitated324 the depreciation325 of the Government paper; people refused to take it; and Washington, to prevent the absolute starvation of the army, was endowed with the extraordinary power of compelling the acceptance of it, and of arresting and imprisoning326 all maligners of the credit of Congress. Congress went further, and passed a resolution that their bills ought to pass[237] current in all payments, trade, and dealings, and be deemed equal in value to the same sum in Spanish dollars; and that all persons refusing to take them should be considered enemies to the United States; and the local authorities were called upon to inflict327 forfeitures328 and other penalties on all such persons. Still further: the New York convention having laid before Congress their scheme for regulating the price of labour, produce, manufactured articles, and imported goods, it was adopted. But these arbitrary and unscientific measures the traders set at defiance, and the attempts to enforce them only aggravated329 the public distress. Loans came in slowly, the treasury ran low, the loan offices were overdrawn330, and the issue of bills of credit was reluctantly recommenced; ten additional millions were speedily authorised, and as the issue increased, the depreciation naturally kept pace with it. The Commissioners331 in France were instructed to borrow money there, but the instructions were more easily given than executed.
WASHINGTON AND HIS MEN AT VALLEY FORGE. (See p. 239.)
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Such were the difficulties under which Congress and Washington had been struggling through this winter to raise and keep together any considerable force; whilst General, now Sir William Howe, had been completely dozing332 at New York. The first movements of Howe were to execute several detached evolutions, and a vast quantity of stores were destroyed. As a retaliation333, the Americans sent Colonel Meigs over to Long Island, to a place called Sag12 Harbour, where the English had a great quantity of provision stores, which they learned were very remissly334 guarded. Meigs, who had been trained under Arnold, conducted the enterprise very adroitly335. He passed the Sound in whale-boats in the night, landed without much difficulty before the break of day, and began to fire the magazines. He met with a brave resistance from the crews of the merchants' vessels; but, having two hundred men, and there being no soldiers to oppose him, he destroyed twelve of the trading vessels, took ninety prisoners, and returned triumphantly without the loss of a single man. In the meantime, Washington had quitted his encampment at Morristown, and taken up a strong position at Middlebrook, about twelve miles from Princeton. On the 13th of June[238] Howe at last marched out of New Brunswick to attack him. On this, Washington called to his assistance a great part of the troops in the highlands, the whole force of the Jersey militia, whilst Arnold, who had the command at Philadelphia, was actively engaged with Mifflin in preparing defences for the Delaware. The object of Howe was to draw Washington from his entrenchments, certain that, on fair ground, it would require little exertion270 to totally dissipate his army; therefore, after marching up almost to the American lines, he commenced a retreat, evacuated even New Brunswick, and fell back to Amboy. Washington fell into the snare336; he sent a strong force in pursuit of Howe, who, keeping up the ruse, threw a bridge over the narrow strait which divides Staten Island from the mainland, and sent over part of his baggage and a number of troops. Satisfied then that Howe was bent337 on resuming his old quarters at New York, Washington quitted his camp, which had cost him so much labour to create, and descended with his main body to Quibbletown. On seeing this, Howe advanced again, and dispatched several bodies of soldiers by different routes, to get, if possible, between Washington and his old post on the hills, so as to bring him to an engagement on the plain. Washington instantly became aware of his design, and retreated with all speed. Lord Cornwallis, who led the British van, notwithstanding, managed to come up with him, and fell upon a division of three thousand strong, advantageously posted, and defended with cannon. Cornwallis's charge, however, threw him into confusion, the rout became general, and the British pursued them as far as Westfield, when, coming to a woody country, and the heat of the day being intense, they halted for the night. This halt was the salvation338 of Washington: it enabled him to regain339 his old fortified post in the hills, leaving behind him part of his cannon, and about two hundred men killed.
Instead of waiting to watch Washington, or leaving any force for that purpose, Howe now suddenly altered his plans, marched back in reality to Staten Island, and left the enemy in full command of the Jerseys. Embarking his army on the 5th of July, he left General Clinton at New York with seventeen battalions, a body of loyal American militia, and a regiment of light horse. He set sail on the 23rd of July, and stood out to sea. Washington, now supposing that he meant to make an attempt on Boston, moved slowly towards the Hudson; but he had soon information that caused him to retreat again towards the Delaware; and, news coming that Howe had been seen off Cape May, he advanced to Germantown. Instead of entering the Delaware, however, the British fleet was presently seen steering340 eastward341, and all calculations were baffled. Washington, now believing that he was intending to return to New York, proceeded to Philadelphia, and had an interview with Congress.
Howe's real intention had been to enter the Delaware, and proceed up it direct to Philadelphia; but, understanding that the Americans had placed enormous impediments in the river, he stood away for the mouth of the Elk342, in Chesapeake Bay. He was tediously detained by the contrary winds that always prevail on that course in that season, and it was the 28th of August before he entered the Elk, and reached the Elk head, where he landed his troops. On the 2nd of September (1777) he began his march for Philadelphia. He soon came upon a body of Washington's army at Iron Hill, which he charged and drove from the hill. On the 11th he came in sight of Washington's main army, strongly posted and fortified on the forks of the Brandywine river. Here Howe's dispositions343 were excellent. He sent forward, under General Knyphausen, the second division, which advanced to a ford called Chad's Ford, and drove a detachment of Americans across it. Howe then advanced, and, planting his cannon along the bank of the river, he engaged the Americans in a brisk cannonade across the stream. Meanwhile, Lord Cornwallis was silently marching in the rear of Howe's troops, round to another ford at the forks of the Brandywine, which he crossed, and took Washington's army in the rear. On firing his signal gun, the Americans were thrown into consternation344, and at the same moment Knyphausen dashed across Chad's Ford, and drove the surprised Americans from their batteries and entrenchments at the point of the bayonet. The batteries were instantly turned against them, and Cornwallis, who had been checked by a division under Sullivan, coming up, there was a general rout. The Americans fled in utter confusion, having lost three hundred killed, six hundred wounded, and four hundred taken prisoners. The English had one hundred killed and four hundred wounded.
But, scarcely had Howe posted himself at Wilmington, when Washington re-crossed the Schuylkill and marched on the British left, hoping to imitate the movement of Cornwallis at the Brandywine which had been so effectual. Howe, aware of the strategy, however, reversed[239] his front, and the Americans were taken by surprise. In this case, Howe himself ought to have fallen on the Americans, but a storm is said to have prevented it, and Washington immediately fell back to Warwick Furnace, on the south bank of French creek. From that point he dispatched General Wayne to cross a rough country and occupy a wood on the British left. Here, having fifteen hundred men himself, he was to form a junction with two thousand Maryland militia, and with this force harass345 the British rear. But information of this movement was given to Howe, who, on the 20th of September, sent Major-General Greig to expel Wayne from his concealment346. Greig gave orders that not a gun should be fired, but that the bayonet alone should be used, and then, stealing unperceived on Wayne, his men made a terrible rush with fixed347 bayonets, threw the whole body into consternation, and made a dreadful slaughter348. Three hundred Americans were killed and wounded, about a hundred were taken prisoners, and the rest fled, leaving their baggage behind them. The British only lost seven men.
Whilst Washington man?uvred to prevent Howe from crossing the Schuylkill above him, the English General crossed below on the 22nd of September, and thus placed himself between Philadelphia and the American army. It was now necessary for Washington to fight, or give up that city; but the condition of his troops, deficient in clothes and shoes, owing to the poverty of the commissariat department, with wretched arms, and fatigued349 by their recent exertions, forbade all hope of maintaining even the defensive. He therefore fell back, and Cornwallis, on the 27th, advancing from Germantown, entered Philadelphia amid the welcome of the loyal inhabitants. Cornwallis occupied the city with four regiments, but the body of the British army encamped at Germantown, ten miles distant. But, though the Americans had evacuated the city, they still held the command of the Delaware below it, and thus cut off the supplies of the British army by sea, and all communication between the army and the fleet, except by the circuitous course of Chester, liable to capture by the enemy.
Within a few days of taking Philadelphia, Lord Howe raised three batteries on the side of the river. On the 3rd of October Washington issued from his camp on the Schuylkill, about fourteen miles from Germantown, having heard that two British detachments had been withdrawn350 thence to attack the forts on the Delaware. He had been reinforced by militia from Maryland and New Jersey, and determined to surprise the British camp at Germantown. Two columns of Continental troops, led by Greene and Sullivan, were to gain the front of the British, and attack it; whilst two other columns of militia were to attack the rear. This force marched all night, and entered Germantown about sunrise, and all seemed likely to favour their enterprise. A fog prevented the discovery of their approach. But, at the first surprise, Colonel Musgrove threw himself into a storehouse, and kept up such a fire from the windows as checked the assault of the Americans, and gave time for the rest of the British force to get under arms. The village of Germantown consisted of one long street. Across this street the British army had encamped, and stoutly resisted the advance of the Americans. Musgrove was summoned to surrender; but he continued his fire from the house without taking any notice, and, before artillery could be brought up to batter56 the house, General Greig and Brigadier Agnew came up to his assistance. The Continental troops in front, led on by Washington himself, made a brisk attack, but were repulsed351 at all points, and were badly co-operated with by the militia in the rear. Washington was compelled to fall back to his camp at Skippack Creek, leaving behind him about eight hundred killed and wounded, and four hundred prisoners. So far, however, was Sir William Howe from availing himself of this opportunity to follow up the attack on Washington, and disperse his army, that he, as usual, thought only of getting into snug352 winter quarters.
Thus was another glorious chance for the utter dispersion of the American army thrown away by this most incompetent353 commander; and, as Washington saw that he had nothing to fear during the winter, except from the elements, he determined to encamp himself, so as to keep the British in constant anxiety about him. He selected a strong piece of ground at a place called Valley Forge, covered with wood. He set his soldiers to fell trees and make log-huts, the interstices of which they stopped with moss354, and daubed up with clay. As they had plenty of fuel, they could thus pass the winter in some degree of comfort. A great number of his men were on the verge320 of the expiration355 of their term, and were impatient to return home; but he persuaded many to remain, and he employed them in throwing up entrenchments on the right of his camp, which was open towards the plain. His left was defended by the Schuylkill, and his rear by a steep precipice[240] descending to the Valley Creek. He began two redoubts, but he soon saw that there was no fear of Howe moving so long as the winter lasted, and he left them unfinished. And thus the winter went over, Howe lying snugly356 at Philadelphia, enjoying his wine and his cards, and apparently forgetful that there was any such place as Valley Forge within five-and-twenty miles of him.
Whilst these movements had been progressing, very different ones had been in development in the north. The British Government, with the fatality357 which distinguished358 nearly all its counsels in this war, had thought proper to take the command of the army destined to operate by way of Canada on the northern colonies, from Sir Guy Carleton, and to confer it on General Burgoyne. The campaign had been planned—not by experienced military men on the spot, capable of estimating the difficulties of the enterprise, but in the Cabinet at home, directed by defective359 maps, and still more defective information.
This scheme was to take Ticonderoga, and then to advance upon Albany. Whilst the army was marching to this point, the fleet, carrying another strong force, was to ascend101 the Hudson, and there meet Burgoyne, by which means the British could then command the Hudson through its whole extent; and New England, the head of the rebellion, would be entirely360 cut off from the middle and southern countries. The plan was excellent in itself, but demanded for its successful accomplishment361 not only commanders familiar with the country, but the most ardent75 spirit in them, and the most careful co-operation.
Being conveyed to St. John's, Burgoyne there disembarked, and on the 16th of June he commenced his march for Crown Point, the shipping following him by the lake. On the 1st of July he appeared before Ticonderoga. The place required ten thousand troops effectually to defend it; but St. Clair who commanded them had only three thousand, very indifferently armed and equipped. St. Clair saw at once that he must retire, as the Americans had already done, at Crown Point; but he sought to do it unobserved. Accordingly, in the night of the 5th of July the flight took place; but St. Clair's orders were immediately disobeyed; the soldiers fired the house which had been occupied by General de Fermoy, and the British were at once apprised362 of the retreat. The sailors soon broke up the obstructions363 at the mouth of the river, and a fleet of gunboats was in instant pursuit. They overtook the Americans near the falls of Skenesborough, and quickly mastered the protecting galleys364, and destroyed the vessels. General Burgoyne followed with other gunboats containing troops, and at the same time dispatched Generals Fraser and Reisedel by land after St. Clair.
St. Clair had marched with such celerity that he reached, before the next night, Castleton, thirty miles from Ticonderoga. But the rear division under Colonel Warner halted at Hubberton, six miles short of Castleton. Early next morning, General Fraser found them on a hill. No sooner did they descry365 him, than one of the regiments turned and fled, leaving most of their officers to be taken prisoners. But the other two regiments, commanded by Warner and Francis, stood their ground stoutly. Fraser had with him only about eight hundred men, and the Americans were from one thousand two hundred to one thousand five hundred strong. But Fraser advanced up the hill and attacked them briskly. The Americans were protected by a sort of breastwork formed of logs and trees, and they gave Fraser a smart reception. But, calculating on the approach of Reisedel and the Germans, he fought on; and Reisedel soon after marching up with a full band of music, the Americans imagined that the whole body of the Germans was there, and fled on to Castleton as fast as they could.
General Schuyler was hastening to support Ticonderoga, when, on reaching Saratoga, he was met by the news of this succession of defeats. He had, when joined by St. Clair and Long, who had been left to defend St. John's in vain, about five thousand men, the whole now of the northern army; but many of these were militia hastily called together—many of them without arms—more, destitute of ammunition, and still more, of discipline. But Schuyler depended much more on the nature of the country which the British would have to traverse from this point than on his men. The whole region between Skenesborough and the Hudson was an almost unbroken wilderness. Wood Creek was navigable as far as Fort Anne; from Fort Anne to the Hudson, over an exceedingly rough country, covered with thick woods, and intersected by numerous streams and morasses, extended a single military road. Whilst Burgoyne halted a few days at Skenesborough to bring up the necessary supplies, Schuyler seized the opportunity to destroy the navigation of Wood Creek, by sinking impediments in its channel, and breaking up the bridges and causeways, of which there were fifty or more on the road from Fort Anne to Fort Edward. Had[241] Burgoyne been well informed, he would have fallen back on Ticonderoga, have embarked on Lake George, and proceeded to Fort George, whence there was a waggon-road to Fort Edward, the place he was aiming at. Instead of this, he determined on separating himself from his baggage and artillery, sending these, under General Philips, to Fort George, and proceeding with the main portion of the army across the rugged country that lay between himself and Fort Edward. On this route they had not only to contend with swamps swarming366 with mosquitoes, deep gullies, ravines, and rivulets367, but to make temporary bridges to supply the place of those destroyed by Schuyler, and remove the trees felled by him. The weather, to add to their stupendous labour, was intensely hot; yet, surmounting368 everything, on the 30th of July Burgoyne and his army hailed with enthusiasm the sight of the Hudson, which they had thus reached through a series of brilliant successes.
GEORGE WASHINGTON. (After the Portrait by Smart.)
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There only needed now one thing to render the expedition triumphant300, and place the Hudson from Albany to New York in the absolute power of the British army—that General Howe should have been prepared to keep the appointment[242] there with a proper fleet and armed force. But Howe was engaged in the campaign of Philadelphia, and seems to have been utterly incapable369 of conducting two such operations as watching Washington and supporting Burgoyne. As soon as Burgoyne discovered this fatal want of co-operation on the part of Howe, he ought to have retreated to the lakes, but he still determined to advance; and before doing so, he only awaited the coming up of the artillery and baggage under General Philips, and of Colonel St. Leger, who had been dispatched by the course of the Oswego, the Oneida Lake, and Wood Creek, and thence by the Mohawk river, which falls into the Hudson between Saratoga and Albany. St. Leger had two hundred regulars—Sir John Johnson's Royal Queen's and Canadian Rangers—with him, and a body of Indians under Brandt. St. Leger, on his way, had laid siege to Fort Schuyler, late Fort Stanwix, near the head of the Mohawk. General Herkimer raised the militia of Tryon county, and advanced to the relief of the place.
On hearing this, Burgoyne dispatched Colonel Baum with two pieces of artillery and eight hundred men—dismounted German dragoons and British marksmen. They were to surprise Bennington, a place about twenty miles to the east of the Hudson, where the Americans had collected their stores from New England, and, having secured these, to return and carry them to St. Leger. Baum, however, found himself surrounded by Generals Starke and Warner at St. Corick's Mill, on Walloon Creek, six miles from Bennington, before help came up. For two hours a fierce attack was kept up on Baum's entrenchments on all sides by the Americans with muskets370 and rifles. Baum made a most gallant371 defence, and three times drove them from some high ground which they occupied above his camp. At last he was picked off by a rifleman and fell mortally wounded. His German troops retreated into the woods, in the direction of Fort Edward, and were there met by Breyman, who was slowly advancing with reinforcements. He reorganised the fugitives, and commenced his retreat, hotly pursued by Starke and Warner; he made his way back to Burgoyne, but not until he had fired nearly his last cartridge372.
During this time St. Leger had been investing Fort Schuyler. The whole of his miscellaneous force did not exceed six hundred, exclusive of Indians; and on the 5th of August he learned that General Herkimer was advancing to the relief. He instantly dispatched Sir John Johnson with a party of regulars and a number of Indians to waylay373 him. Herkimer fell into the ambush374, and was himself mortally wounded. St. Leger, finding that his light artillery made no impression on the walls of Fort Schuyler, and hearing a false rumour375 that Burgoyne was defeated, raised the siege, leaving behind him his artillery, tents, and stores. His precipitation was occasioned by the more certain news of the approach of Arnold with ten pieces of artillery and two thousand men, who indeed, reached Fort Schuyler two days after his retreat.
Burgoyne was now in a condition which demanded all the talents of a great general. His forces were heavily reduced, those of the enemy much increased, and he was amongst bogs376 and wildernesses377, which Barrington and Barré had from the first declared would be fatal to any army. He had sent express after express to Howe to urge a movement in co-operation, but no news of it arrived, and every day he was becoming more and more cut off from advance or retreat. Whilst these circumstances were operating against him, Burgoyne collected his artillery and provisions for about a month, and, forming a bridge of boats, passed his army, on the 13th and 14th of September, over the Hudson, and encamped on the heights and plains of Saratoga. Just at this juncture378 Schuyler had been superseded379 by his successor Gates, yet he himself remained to give his assistance in the campaign. The day after Gates assumed the command, Morgan had marched in with his rifle corps380, five hundred strong, and Major Dearborn with two hundred and fifty other picked men. Arnold, too, had returned from pursuit of St. Leger, with two thousand men. The Americans numbered, with militia continually flocking in, nearly eight thousand, whilst Burgoyne's force did not exceed half that number. To approach the Americans it was necessary to cross the low ground, seamed with watercourses and rugged with scrub and stones, and to lay down bridges and causeways. This being completed, on the 19th the British army took position at Bemus's Heights in front of the American left. Gates, stimulated381 by the presence of Arnold, began the attack by sending out a detachment to turn Burgoyne's right flank, but they soon perceived the covering division of Fraser, and retreated. Gates then put Arnold at the head of a still stronger detachment to fall directly on Burgoyne's position, and a severe fight commenced about three o'clock in the afternoon, which lasted until sunset. Arnold made the most impetuous[243] assaults on the British line to break it, but everywhere in vain, although the whole weight of the attack fell on three or four of our regiments, the rest being posted on some hills, and the Germans on the left at a greater distance. Whenever they advanced into the open field, the fire of the American marksmen from their concealment drove them back in disorder; but whenever the Americans ventured out, the British rushed forward and committed havoc382 amongst them; so the contest continued till night. The British remained in the field and claimed the victory; but it was a victory severely won, and far from decisive. The losses on both sides had been from five hundred to six hundred killed and wounded.
The English lay all night on their arms, and, as day dawned, began to entrench55 their position. If ever a general needed to push on his advantage it was now. Every day was consuming Burgoyne's stores; every day was augmenting383 the forces of the enemy. The country was closed to Burgoyne; it was open with all its resources to the Americans. Yet he lay there, as if paralysed, from the 20th of September to the 7th of October. The reason of this fatal delay is said to have been that Burgoyne had received a letter from General Sir Henry Clinton at New York, informing him that he must expect no co-operation from General Howe, but that he himself would take the responsibility of making a diversion in his favour by attacking the Forts Montgomery and Clinton, on the lower part of the Hudson. Burgoyne, on receiving this intelligence, sent Clinton word that he would remain where he was till the 12th of October—a fatal resolve, as a calculation of his stores should have shown him, which the acts of the Americans were certain to render calamitous384. Elated at being able to stand their ground in some degree, this novel and almost sole success in the war had raised the spirits of the Colonials as by a miracle. They poured in on all sides, and Arnold, ever ready in resource, suggested to Gates an enterprise to be effected while Burgoyne was lying still and consuming his own victuals385.
This was to send a part of Lincoln's militia, under Colonel Brown, to endeavour to surprise Fort Ticonderoga, Mount Independence, and Fort George, to capture or destroy all the stores there, to hold them in strong force, and thus completely to cut off Burgoyne's retreat by the lakes to Canada. Brown, being joined by another body of militia under Colonel Johnson, invested Ticonderoga. Being repulsed there, he sailed through Lake George in the vessels he had taken; made a fresh attempt upon Diamond Island, and, being also repulsed there, he set fire to the captured vessels, and returned to the American camp in the rear of Burgoyne. Partial as his success had been, he had, however, opened the route, and whilst he and the rest of the militia were watching Burgoyne, other bodies of Americans were mustering386 in his track, and the retreat of Burgoyne became an impossibility. He could stay where he was no longer. His provisions were exhausted387; his horses were dying for lack of forage, and his situation was most deplorable.
In this situation the English General determined to attempt—what he should have attempted at first—to force the American lines. Accordingly, on the 7th of October, he drew out one thousand five hundred picked men, and formed them less than a mile from the American camp. No sooner were they descried388, than they were attacked furiously by Poor's New Hampshire brigade. The attack extended rapidly to the right, where Morgan and his rifle corps stole round through some woods, and opened fire on the flank of the column. Other troops rushed out of the American entrenchments, and endeavoured to force their way between the British and their camp; but Major Ackland and his riflemen withstood them bravely; yet Burgoyne and his one thousand five hundred men were forced to fall back, leaving their cannon behind them. Morgan and his riflemen were now arriving, under cover of the woods, near the flank of the right wing; and Fraser, perceiving them, advanced to dislodge them. In this he succeeded, but was picked off by the American marksmen, as usual safe behind their trees, and fell mortally wounded. Meanwhile Colonel Brooks389, at the head of Jackson's regiment of Massachusetts, was more successful. He turned the entrenchments of the German brigade, maintained his ground within the lines, and, to the wonderful relief of the Americans, seized the baggage of the Germans, and an ample supply of ammunition.
Retreat was now inevitable390, and Burgoyne determined to attempt to reach Fort George, at the southern end of Lake George. He had but three days' provisions left, and his force was now reduced to three thousand five hundred men, and these had to make their way through a wilderness swarming with active and elate enemies. Gates, aware of the movement which Burgoyne was intending to make, sent troops up the river to occupy the banks of the Hudson, and to guard all[244] passages of escape. The distance to Saratoga was only six miles, but the rain fell in torrents391, the roads were almost impassable, the bridges over the Fishkill were all broken down by the Americans. Burgoyne sent forward detachments of soldiers to repair the bridges and re-open the roads; but they found the woods swarming with riflemen, and that it was impossible to execute the task assigned them. On the 10th, when he arrived at the fords of the Fishkill, he found them obstructed392 by strong forces of Americans. He soon dispersed them with cannon, but they only retired to the Hudson, where still stronger bodies of troops were posted to oppose his crossing. He might, perhaps, have dispersed these too, but other bodies were seen already in line on the left bank, and to cross there appeared hopeless.
Driven to desperation, Burgoyne now contemplated393 crossing the river in the very face of the enemy, and fighting his way through, and for this purpose he sent a party up the river to reconnoitre a suitable spot. Once over, he had little doubt of making his way to Fort Edward, and thence to the Canadian lakes. At this moment Gates was informed that Burgoyne had effected his passage, and that he had left only the rear-guard in the camp. He was in full march upon the camp, in the belief that he could seize it with ease, and part of his forces had actually crossed the fords of Fishkill, near which Burgoyne was strongly posted, when a spy or a deserter informed him of his mistake. Had it not been for this circumstance he must have suffered a surprise and a certain defeat, and the fortunes of Burgoyne would probably have been different. He was now on the alert to receive the Americans, and when, to his mortification, he saw them at a signal again retreating, he poured a murderous fire into them, and pursued them in confusion across the creek. This was his last chance. No news reached him from Clinton; but he ascertained394 that the Americans had already, in strong force, blocked up his way to Fort Edward. This was decisive. On the 13th he called together a council of war, at which every captain was invited to attend, and the unanimous result of the deliberations was that they must capitulate. Accordingly, an officer was sent with a note to the American headquarters that evening, to propose an interview between General Burgoyne and General Gates. The American General agreed to the meeting at ten o'clock the next morning. There Burgoyne stated that he was aware of the superiority of Gates's numbers, and, to spare the useless effusion of blood, he proposed a cessation of arms, to give time for a treaty to that effect.
Gates replied that he was well aware that General Burgoyne's army was reduced to the last extremity; that it had lost the greater part of its men by repeated defeats, sickness, etc., together with their artillery, horses, and ammunition; that their retreat was cut off, and, therefore, he could listen to nothing but an absolute surrender. Burgoyne said he would never admit that his retreat was cut off whilst he had arms in his hands; and Gates, who knew that Clinton was on his march, and might soon alter the whole face of things, was only too anxious to have Burgoyne's army out of the way. After some preliminaries, therefore, to save appearances, on the 16th it was agreed that the British should march out of their camp with all the honours of war; should deposit their cannon on the banks of the Hudson, and there pile their arms at the command of their own officers; that the troops, of whatever nation they might be composed, should retire in all security and honour to Boston, where they should be provided with all necessary comforts until they embarked for England, under condition of not serving against the United States again during that war; that the Canadians should be allowed to return in all honour to their own country; and that in no case should officers be separated from their own men. These were not such terms as are usually granted to conquered armies; and the reason was, that Clinton was every day drawing nearer. Scarcely were these terms agreed on, when this fact became known to Burgoyne. For a moment he hesitated whether he should sign the contract; but, on consultation395 with his officers, he felt himself bound in honour to ratify396 it, and accordingly, the next morning, the 17th of October, the deed was signed, and the troops, marching out, grounded their arms.
Whilst Burgoyne had been looking in vain for aid from New York, Sir Henry Clinton, at length daring the responsibility of a necessary deed, had set out with three thousand men, in vessels of different kinds, up the Hudson. On the 6th of October—eleven days before Burgoyne signed the capitulation—Clinton set out. Leaving one thousand men at Verplank's Point, he crossed to the other bank with his remaining two thousand, and landed them at Stony397 Point, only twelve miles from Fort Montgomery. He advanced with one-half of his force to storm Fort Clinton, and dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell to attack Fort Montgomery. Both forts were to be[245] attacked, if possible, at the same instant, to prevent the one from aiding the other. The simultaneous assaults took place about sunset. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell was killed leading his column against Fort Montgomery, but his brave troops entered and drove the garrison of eight hundred men from the place. Clinton found the approach to the fort of his own name much more arduous. But on went our brave fellows till they reached the foot of the works, where, having no ladders, they hoisted398 one another on their shoulders to the embrasures, through which they pushed past the cannon, and drove the Americans from their guns, and across the rampart, at the points of their bayonets. It was dark by the time the forts were taken, but the Americans soon threw light enough on the scene by setting fire to several vessels which were moored399 close under the guns of the forts. Had the English been disposed to risk the attempt to save them, they were prevented by several strong booms and chains thrown across the river. These they afterwards broke through, and, on the 13th of October, at the very moment that Burgoyne was making his first overtures for surrender, the English troops under General Vaughan ascended, in small frigates, as far as Esopus Creek, only thirty miles overland to Saratoga. But Burgoyne having now surrendered, and Gates being at liberty to send down strong reinforcements to co-operate with Putnam, the English vessels and troops were recalled, and returned to New York. Such was the campaign of 1777; equally remarkable400 for the valour of the British troops, and for their misfortunes; for the imbecility of their Government, and the incapacity or rashness of their commanders.
点击收听单词发音
1 gage | |
n.标准尺寸,规格;量规,量表 [=gauge] | |
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2 junction | |
n.连接,接合;交叉点,接合处,枢纽站 | |
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3 evacuate | |
v.遣送;搬空;抽出;排泄;大(小)便 | |
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4 evacuates | |
撤离,疏散( evacuate的第三人称单数 ); 排空(胃肠),排泄(粪便); (从危险的地方)撤出,搬出,撤空 | |
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5 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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6 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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7 overtures | |
n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲 | |
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8 hostilities | |
n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
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9 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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10 cove | |
n.小海湾,小峡谷 | |
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11 jersey | |
n.运动衫 | |
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12 sag | |
v.下垂,下跌,消沉;n.下垂,下跌,凹陷,[航海]随风漂流 | |
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13 militia | |
n.民兵,民兵组织 | |
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14 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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15 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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16 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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17 concord | |
n.和谐;协调 | |
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18 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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19 lobsters | |
龙虾( lobster的名词复数 ); 龙虾肉 | |
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20 ward | |
n.守卫,监护,病房,行政区,由监护人或法院保护的人(尤指儿童);vt.守护,躲开 | |
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21 disastrous | |
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
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22 colonists | |
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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23 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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24 ignominious | |
adj.可鄙的,不光彩的,耻辱的 | |
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25 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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26 consistency | |
n.一贯性,前后一致,稳定性;(液体的)浓度 | |
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27 relishing | |
v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 );从…获得乐趣;渴望 | |
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28 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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29 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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30 countermanded | |
v.取消(命令),撤回( countermand的过去分词 ) | |
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31 provincial | |
adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 | |
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32 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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33 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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34 negotiation | |
n.谈判,协商 | |
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35 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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36 continental | |
adj.大陆的,大陆性的,欧洲大陆的 | |
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37 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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38 pretence | |
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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39 feigned | |
a.假装的,不真诚的 | |
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40 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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41 negligence | |
n.疏忽,玩忽,粗心大意 | |
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42 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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43 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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44 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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45 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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46 fortified | |
adj. 加强的 | |
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47 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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48 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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49 deficient | |
adj.不足的,不充份的,有缺陷的 | |
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50 dispersed | |
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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51 disperse | |
vi.使分散;使消失;vt.分散;驱散 | |
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52 eminences | |
卓越( eminence的名词复数 ); 著名; 高地; 山丘 | |
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53 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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54 shipping | |
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船) | |
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55 entrench | |
v.使根深蒂固;n.壕沟;防御设施 | |
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56 batter | |
v.接连重击;磨损;n.牛奶面糊;击球员 | |
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57 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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58 galled | |
v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 );擦伤;烦扰;侮辱 | |
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59 musket | |
n.滑膛枪 | |
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60 perplexed | |
adj.不知所措的 | |
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61 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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62 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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63 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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64 rout | |
n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮 | |
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65 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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66 reconciliation | |
n.和解,和谐,一致 | |
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67 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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68 molested | |
v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 );干扰;调戏;猥亵 | |
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69 molest | |
vt.骚扰,干扰,调戏 | |
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70 stoutly | |
adv.牢固地,粗壮的 | |
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71 breach | |
n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破 | |
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72 feigning | |
假装,伪装( feign的现在分词 ); 捏造(借口、理由等) | |
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73 inventory | |
n.详细目录,存货清单 | |
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74 ardently | |
adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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75 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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76 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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77 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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78 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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79 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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80 regiments | |
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物 | |
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81 lash | |
v.系牢;鞭打;猛烈抨击;n.鞭打;眼睫毛 | |
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82 incessantly | |
ad.不停地 | |
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83 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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84 Ford | |
n.浅滩,水浅可涉处;v.涉水,涉过 | |
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85 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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86 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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87 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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88 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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89 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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90 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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91 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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92 embark | |
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 | |
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93 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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94 averse | |
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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95 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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96 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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97 distresses | |
n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 );痛苦;贫困;危险 | |
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98 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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99 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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100 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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101 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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102 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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103 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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104 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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105 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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106 plundering | |
掠夺,抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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107 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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108 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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109 picket | |
n.纠察队;警戒哨;v.设置纠察线;布置警卫 | |
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110 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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111 sledge | |
n.雪橇,大锤;v.用雪橇搬运,坐雪橇往 | |
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112 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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113 alienate | |
vt.使疏远,离间;转让(财产等) | |
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114 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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115 vigour | |
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 | |
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116 imminence | |
n.急迫,危急 | |
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117 inefficiency | |
n.无效率,无能;无效率事例 | |
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118 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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119 odious | |
adj.可憎的,讨厌的 | |
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120 negotiations | |
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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121 procuring | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条 | |
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122 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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123 kinsmen | |
n.家属,亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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124 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
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125 subsidy | |
n.补助金,津贴 | |
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126 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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127 dominions | |
统治权( dominion的名词复数 ); 领土; 疆土; 版图 | |
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128 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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129 prorogued | |
v.使(议会)休会( prorogue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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130 delusion | |
n.谬见,欺骗,幻觉,迷惑 | |
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131 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
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132 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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133 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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134 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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135 ascent | |
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
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136 massacre | |
n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀 | |
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137 mustered | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的过去式和过去分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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138 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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139 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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140 ignominiously | |
adv.耻辱地,屈辱地,丢脸地 | |
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141 jeopardy | |
n.危险;危难 | |
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142 shameful | |
adj.可耻的,不道德的 | |
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143 pervaded | |
v.遍及,弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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144 destitute | |
adj.缺乏的;穷困的 | |
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145 forage | |
n.(牛马的)饲料,粮草;v.搜寻,翻寻 | |
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146 embarking | |
乘船( embark的现在分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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147 dismantled | |
拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 ); 拆卸; 废除; 取消 | |
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148 demolished | |
v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 );推翻;拆毁(尤指大建筑物);吃光 | |
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149 effigy | |
n.肖像 | |
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150 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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151 rangers | |
护林者( ranger的名词复数 ); 突击队员 | |
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152 disaffected | |
adj.(政治上)不满的,叛离的 | |
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153 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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154 bigoted | |
adj.固执己见的,心胸狭窄的 | |
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155 enlist | |
vt.谋取(支持等),赢得;征募;vi.入伍 | |
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156 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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157 ridiculing | |
v.嘲笑,嘲弄,奚落( ridicule的现在分词 ) | |
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158 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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159 miserably | |
adv.痛苦地;悲惨地;糟糕地;极度地 | |
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160 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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161 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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162 smallpox | |
n.天花 | |
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163 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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164 labyrinth | |
n.迷宫;难解的事物;迷路 | |
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165 morasses | |
n.缠作一团( morass的名词复数 );困境;沼泽;陷阱 | |
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166 intercepted | |
拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 ); 截住; 截击; 拦阻 | |
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167 evacuated | |
撤退者的 | |
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168 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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169 swampy | |
adj.沼泽的,湿地的 | |
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170 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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171 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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172 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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173 frigates | |
n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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174 conducive | |
adj.有益的,有助的 | |
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175 concurrence | |
n.同意;并发 | |
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176 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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177 renounced | |
v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 );宣布放弃;宣布与…决裂;宣布摒弃 | |
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178 excise | |
n.(国产)货物税;vt.切除,删去 | |
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179 usher | |
n.带位员,招待员;vt.引导,护送;vi.做招待,担任引座员 | |
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180 reverting | |
恢复( revert的现在分词 ); 重提; 回到…上; 归还 | |
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181 gauging | |
n.测量[试],测定,计量v.(用仪器)测量( gauge的现在分词 );估计;计量;划分 | |
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182 mischiefs | |
损害( mischief的名词复数 ); 危害; 胡闹; 调皮捣蛋的人 | |
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183 inadequate | |
adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
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184 bribes | |
n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 );向(某人)行贿,贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 );向(某人)行贿,贿赂 | |
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185 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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186 imbibing | |
v.吸收( imbibe的现在分词 );喝;吸取;吸气 | |
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187 ridiculed | |
v.嘲笑,嘲弄,奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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188 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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189 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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190 emboldened | |
v.鼓励,使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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191 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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192 monarchy | |
n.君主,最高统治者;君主政体,君主国 | |
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193 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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194 unnatural | |
adj.不自然的;反常的 | |
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195 absolved | |
宣告…无罪,赦免…的罪行,宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 ); 不受责难,免除责任 [义务] ,开脱(罪责) | |
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196 bind | |
vt.捆,包扎;装订;约束;使凝固;vi.变硬 | |
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197 adjourned | |
(使)休会, (使)休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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198 unanimity | |
n.全体一致,一致同意 | |
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199 improper | |
adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的 | |
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200 premature | |
adj.比预期时间早的;不成熟的,仓促的 | |
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201 postponed | |
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发) | |
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202 remodelled | |
v.改变…的结构[形状]( remodel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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203 adjournment | |
休会; 延期; 休会期; 休庭期 | |
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204 vehement | |
adj.感情强烈的;热烈的;(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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205 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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206 nominally | |
在名义上,表面地; 应名儿 | |
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207 assented | |
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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208 posterity | |
n.后裔,子孙,后代 | |
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209 solicit | |
vi.勾引;乞求;vt.请求,乞求;招揽(生意) | |
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210 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
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211 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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212 remit | |
v.汇款,汇寄;豁免(债务),免除(处罚等) | |
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213 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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214 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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215 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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216 truce | |
n.休战,(争执,烦恼等的)缓和;v.以停战结束 | |
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217 insurgent | |
adj.叛乱的,起事的;n.叛乱分子 | |
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218 exempt | |
adj.免除的;v.使免除;n.免税者,被免除义务者 | |
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219 insidious | |
adj.阴险的,隐匿的,暗中为害的,(疾病)不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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220 disarm | |
v.解除武装,回复平常的编制,缓和 | |
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221 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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222 artifice | |
n.妙计,高明的手段;狡诈,诡计 | |
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223 insinuate | |
vt.含沙射影地说,暗示 | |
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224 rabble | |
n.乌合之众,暴民;下等人 | |
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225 hemmed | |
缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 ); 包围 | |
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226 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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227 trenches | |
深沟,地沟( trench的名词复数 ); 战壕 | |
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228 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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229 battalions | |
n.(陆军的)一营(大约有一千兵士)( battalion的名词复数 );协同作战的部队;军队;(组织在一起工作的)队伍 | |
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230 enlisted | |
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
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231 quota | |
n.(生产、进出口等的)配额,(移民的)限额 | |
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232 strenuously | |
adv.奋发地,费力地 | |
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233 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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234 persuasions | |
n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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235 bounty | |
n.慷慨的赠予物,奖金;慷慨,大方;施与 | |
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236 advantageous | |
adj.有利的;有帮助的 | |
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237 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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238 valid | |
adj.有确实根据的;有效的;正当的,合法的 | |
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239 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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240 repeal | |
n.废止,撤消;v.废止,撤消 | |
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241 obnoxious | |
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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242 calamities | |
n.灾祸,灾难( calamity的名词复数 );不幸之事 | |
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243 jerseys | |
n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 ) | |
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244 penetrated | |
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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245 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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246 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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247 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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248 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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249 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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250 legislating | |
v.立法,制定法律( legislate的现在分词 ) | |
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251 pretext | |
n.借口,托词 | |
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252 whatsoever | |
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 | |
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253 emoluments | |
n.报酬,薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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254 treasury | |
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库 | |
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255 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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256 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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257 stipulation | |
n.契约,规定,条文;条款说明 | |
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258 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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259 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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260 corruptions | |
n.堕落( corruption的名词复数 );腐化;腐败;贿赂 | |
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261 substantiate | |
v.证实;证明...有根据 | |
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262 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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263 reminder | |
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示 | |
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264 prostrated | |
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 | |
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265 maritime | |
adj.海的,海事的,航海的,近海的,沿海的 | |
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266 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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267 arsenals | |
n.兵工厂,军火库( arsenal的名词复数 );任何事物的集成 | |
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268 infamous | |
adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的 | |
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269 miscreant | |
n.恶棍 | |
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270 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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271 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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272 hemp | |
n.大麻;纤维 | |
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273 moody | |
adj.心情不稳的,易怒的,喜怒无常的 | |
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274 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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275 quays | |
码头( quay的名词复数 ) | |
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276 warehouses | |
仓库,货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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277 apprehended | |
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 ); 理解 | |
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278 magistrates | |
地方法官,治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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279 privy | |
adj.私用的;隐密的 | |
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280 scrutiny | |
n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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281 embarrassment | |
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
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282 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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283 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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284 rapacity | |
n.贪婪,贪心,劫掠的欲望 | |
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285 positively | |
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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286 ransacked | |
v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 );抢劫,掠夺 | |
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287 boors | |
n.农民( boor的名词复数 );乡下佬;没礼貌的人;粗野的人 | |
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288 ravage | |
vt.使...荒废,破坏...;n.破坏,掠夺,荒废 | |
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289 annihilate | |
v.使无效;毁灭;取消 | |
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290 crutch | |
n.T字形拐杖;支持,依靠,精神支柱 | |
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291 gentry | |
n.绅士阶级,上层阶级 | |
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292 repealed | |
撤销,废除( repeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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293 statutes | |
成文法( statute的名词复数 ); 法令; 法规; 章程 | |
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294 rekindle | |
v.使再振作;再点火 | |
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295 stolidly | |
adv.迟钝地,神经麻木地 | |
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296 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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297 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
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298 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
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299 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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300 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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301 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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302 encumbered | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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303 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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304 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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305 debauch | |
v.使堕落,放纵 | |
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306 thaw | |
v.(使)融化,(使)变得友善;n.融化,缓和 | |
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307 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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308 replenished | |
补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 ); 重新装满 | |
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309 circuitous | |
adj.迂回的路的,迂曲的,绕行的 | |
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310 waggons | |
四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 ); 铁路货车; 小手推车 | |
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311 ruse | |
n.诡计,计策;诡计 | |
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312 entrenched | |
adj.确立的,不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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313 scouring | |
擦[洗]净,冲刷,洗涤 | |
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314 plundered | |
掠夺,抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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315 absolving | |
宣告…无罪,赦免…的罪行,宽恕…的罪行( absolve的现在分词 ); 不受责难,免除责任 [义务] ,开脱(罪责) | |
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316 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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317 amicable | |
adj.和平的,友好的;友善的 | |
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318 winked | |
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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319 insurgents | |
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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320 verge | |
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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321 depreciated | |
v.贬值,跌价,减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 );贬低,蔑视,轻视 | |
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322 lottery | |
n.抽彩;碰运气的事,难于算计的事 | |
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323 payable | |
adj.可付的,应付的,有利益的 | |
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324 precipitated | |
v.(突如其来地)使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 );促成;猛然摔下;使沉淀 | |
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325 depreciation | |
n.价值低落,贬值,蔑视,贬低 | |
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326 imprisoning | |
v.下狱,监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
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327 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
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328 forfeitures | |
n.(财产等的)没收,(权利、名誉等的)丧失( forfeiture的名词复数 ) | |
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329 aggravated | |
使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使更严重; 激怒; 使恼火 | |
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330 overdrawn | |
透支( overdraw的过去分词 ); (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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331 commissioners | |
n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 );长官;委员;政府部门的长官 | |
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332 dozing | |
v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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333 retaliation | |
n.报复,反击 | |
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334 remissly | |
adv.玩忽职守地;怠慢地,不小心地 | |
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335 adroitly | |
adv.熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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336 snare | |
n.陷阱,诱惑,圈套;(去除息肉或者肿瘤的)勒除器;响弦,小军鼓;vt.以陷阱捕获,诱惑 | |
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337 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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338 salvation | |
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
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339 regain | |
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
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340 steering | |
n.操舵装置 | |
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341 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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342 elk | |
n.麋鹿 | |
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343 dispositions | |
安排( disposition的名词复数 ); 倾向; (财产、金钱的)处置; 气质 | |
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344 consternation | |
n.大为吃惊,惊骇 | |
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345 harass | |
vt.使烦恼,折磨,骚扰 | |
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346 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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347 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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348 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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349 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
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350 withdrawn | |
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 | |
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351 repulsed | |
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝 | |
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352 snug | |
adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房 | |
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353 incompetent | |
adj.无能力的,不能胜任的 | |
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354 moss | |
n.苔,藓,地衣 | |
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355 expiration | |
n.终结,期满,呼气,呼出物 | |
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356 snugly | |
adv.紧贴地;贴身地;暖和舒适地;安适地 | |
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357 fatality | |
n.不幸,灾祸,天命 | |
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358 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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359 defective | |
adj.有毛病的,有问题的,有瑕疵的 | |
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360 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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361 accomplishment | |
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能 | |
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362 apprised | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 );评价 | |
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363 obstructions | |
n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 );阻碍物;阻碍;阻挠 | |
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364 galleys | |
n.平底大船,战舰( galley的名词复数 );(船上或航空器上的)厨房 | |
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365 descry | |
v.远远看到;发现;责备 | |
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366 swarming | |
密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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367 rivulets | |
n.小河,小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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368 surmounting | |
战胜( surmount的现在分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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369 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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370 muskets | |
n.火枪,(尤指)滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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371 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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372 cartridge | |
n.弹壳,弹药筒;(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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373 waylay | |
v.埋伏,伏击 | |
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374 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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375 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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376 bogs | |
n.沼泽,泥塘( bog的名词复数 );厕所v.(使)陷入泥沼, (使)陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 );妨碍,阻碍 | |
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377 wildernesses | |
荒野( wilderness的名词复数 ); 沙漠; (政治家)在野; 不再当政(或掌权) | |
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378 juncture | |
n.时刻,关键时刻,紧要关头 | |
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379 superseded | |
[医]被代替的,废弃的 | |
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380 corps | |
n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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381 stimulated | |
a.刺激的 | |
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382 havoc | |
n.大破坏,浩劫,大混乱,大杂乱 | |
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383 augmenting | |
使扩张 | |
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384 calamitous | |
adj.灾难的,悲惨的;多灾多难;惨重 | |
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385 victuals | |
n.食物;食品 | |
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386 mustering | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的现在分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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387 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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388 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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389 brooks | |
n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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390 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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391 torrents | |
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断 | |
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392 obstructed | |
阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 ); 堵塞; 阻碍; 阻止 | |
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393 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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394 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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395 consultation | |
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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396 ratify | |
v.批准,认可,追认 | |
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397 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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398 hoisted | |
把…吊起,升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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399 moored | |
adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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400 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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