ufeful instruments in effecting its purposes. At the fame time, this addition of strength derived from and growing in the country, carried a very flattering appearance, and feemed to indicate refources for carrying on the war in the very scene of action. This was a deception which government continually indulged, and to which they have always been dupes. Thofe emigrants and tories, the greateft part of which had fled from diftant parts with their families and with what they could carry with them, were much in the fame fituation with the army; they had no refidence till the war was over, and could only for once recruit the troops. There were but few of them that were in poffeffion of property, and during the time of the war could be of no more fervice than common recruits; and provided the war fhould end fuccefsfully, could be of no more fervice than any others who fhould choose to fettle in the country. Even in thofe parts that were considered loyal, it was only the neceffity, and not principle, that drove them to the royal ftandard.

Governor Tryon was placed at the head of this new corps, who already in his civil capacity commanded the militia, and who had been at much pains, in establishing it for the fupport of the royal caufe.He now bore the rank of a major-general of the provincials. This junction of a few tory provincials with the royal army, was confidered at home as a wonderful acquifition. The friends of the ministry began to boaft that the Americans were all coming over to the King's forces, and that there were as many on the fide of government as there were on the fide of the congrefs. This foolish and indeed falfe gafconade ex

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pofed the friends of government very much; for it appeared exceedingly myftical that feeing there were fo many of the Americans on the fide of the royal cause, that there fhould be occafion every year for new recruits to the army, and new large fums of money for carrying on the war. Falfhood and inconfistency are infeparably connected.

General Howe having found by experience that the colonists were not to be so easily conquered as he imagined, formed a plan of destroying their stores and magazines in all thofe places where he could reach them by the aid and affistance of the shipping. He was informed that they gathered confiderable stores and magazines at a place called Peeks-Kill, which lies about 50 miles up the North River from NewYork, which ferved as a kind of port to CourtlandManor, by which it had received provifions, and difpenfed fupplies. The Americans during the winter had built and erected mills, as well as eftablished magazines, in a rough and mountanious tract called Courtland Manor. This was a grand repofitory, and a place of great fecurity; upon this they had be ftowed much pains and expence, and furnished it with immenfe stores and provifions of ali forts.

Sir William Howe was informed of thefe circumftances in general, and was convinced of the confequences which would enfue, provided thefe refources which the enemy had provided with fo much labour and industry were cut off. He knew that a general atempt upon Courtland-Manor would not only be dangerous on account of the strength of the county, but impracticable from the nature of the ground and must prove abortive; as the length, parade, and the manner of preparation, would afford the colonifts

time for preparation, and warn them of his defign fo that the force in that quarter would be gathered against him, and he would have to fight every inch of his way, under a moral certainty of lofs, without any profpect of fucceeding. And fuppofe he fhould even be able to defeat their troops, they would have time to carry away the magazines to another place.

Peek's-Kill was however within reach, and the Ge. neral determined to profit by that circumftance.-Colonel Bird, with 500 men, under the protection of a frigate of war, and other armed veffels, was fent up the North River for that purpose. They fet out upon this expedition upon the third of March, and reached the place before the alarm was given to the country. Upon their approach, the provincials either finding or imagining themselves unequal to the defence of the place, and being convinced that they had not time to remove any thing but themselves and their arms, fet fire to the barracks and principal store. houses, and then retreated to a strong pafs, about two miles distance, which commanded the entrance into the mountains, and covered a road which led to the mills and other ftores. The British troops found upon their landing that the provincials had left them little to do, and that they could not carry away what ftill remained for want of time, compleated the conflagration, and had the honour of burning thofe ftores which had efcaped the flames of the provincials. The troops re-embarked when the fervice was performed, and the armament, after deftroying feveral fmall craft laden with provifions, returned.

This fervice however was far from fulfilling the main defign of General Howe. Thofe magazines were not of fo much importance and magnitude as

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had been reprefented, and fomething was ftill to bet done to diftrefs the enemy, and to weaken their re fources. He had received intelligence that large quantities of ftores and provifions were depofited in' the town of Danbury, and other places in the borders of Connecticut, which lay contigious to Courtland maAn expedition was accordingly undertaken for the deftruction of thefe magazines, the charge of which was committed to Governor Tryon, who was affifted by General Agnew, and Sir William Erfkine. This expedition was faid to have been formed upon a plan of General Tryon, who had flattered himfelf with finding many provincials in that quarter to join him as foon as he fhould appear at the head of the King's troops. This new general found himfelf under a very grievous miftake. The detachment appointed to this fervice confifted of 2000 men, who having embarked under the convoy of a proper a proper naval armament, were landed in Norwalk in Connecticut, upon April 25th, about twenty miles to the fouthward of Danbury. As the country was no way prepared for fuch a vifit, having no apprehenfion of fuch a defign, the troops advanced without interruption, and arrived at Danbury the following day. They now perceived that the country was rifing, not to join General Tryon's standard as he imagined, but to intercept his retreat, and as no carriages could have been! procured, if it had been otherwise, to bring off the ftores and provifions, they immediately proceeded to the deftruction of the provifions and magazine. In the execution of this fervice the town was reduced to afhes. This has been a method of carrying on war in which our army has been exceedingly fuccefsfal; from whence it would appear that they confi-*

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dered the country as no longer belonging to the King but totally an enemy's country, which was to be wholly laid waste. Tryon and his detachment found this expedition attended with more difficulties than he forefaw or was aware of; he did not expect that in that colony, where he promised himself fo many friends, that he would meet with fuch refiftance as happened to him in his return. This detachment returned on the twenty-feventh by the way of Kingsfield, without any fear that they would meet with any violent affault from the people of Connecticut.

In the mean time the Generals Wooster, Arnold and Sullivan, having collected as many of the militia as they could upon fo fudden an emergency, marched with all expedition to cut off their retreat, or to interrupt their march till a larger body of forces could be collected. Woofter hung upon the rear of the detachment, whilft Arnold, by cròffing the country, gained their front in order to difpute their paffage through Kingsfield. Nor could the formidable appearance of the British forces, who had covering parties well furnished with field-pieces on their flanks and rear, nor the tumultuary manner in which a militia not very numerous were got together, prevent the Americans upon every advantageous ground from making bolds attempts to interrupt the progrefs of the King's army. In one of these fkir-, mishes General Woofter was mortally wounded. He was a brave and experienced officer, and had ferved, with reputation in the two former wars; when he was verging upon the feventieth year of his age, he fell nobly and bravely fupporting the liberties of his country, against a power which he confidered defpotical, and which wanted to enflave America. He di

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