The first enterprise proposed to Congress by the commander-in-chief, was a decisive movement against the Indians, to punish the atrocities com mitted in the course of the preceding year upon the inhabitants of the west, and to prevent future incursions. The settlement of Wyoming in Penn sylvania, had been completely destroyed by a body of torics and savages commanded by Colonel John Butler and the celebrated Indian chief, Brandt: while in other parts of the frontier, the tomahawk and scalping knife had been employed with such fearful barbarity, as to render this expedition of primary importance. The experience of \Vashing ton had abundantly taught him that an Indian war should never be defensive, and that to obtain peace, the dangers of the conflict and the ravages of a hostile force must be carried into the heart of their own settlements. A plan for surprising the towns of the Onondagos was executed with equal ability and success by Colonel Van Schaick. At the same time a large body of troops prepared to march into the other territories of the Six-Nations. This expedition which was commanded by General Sul livan, proved completely successful, and a severe chastisement was inflicted on all the tribes com posing that great Indian confederacy.
At the opening of the campaign, the British force under Sir Henry Clinton, was between sixteen and F. eventecn thousand strong: opposed to them were about thirteen thousand Americans, cantoned on both sides of the North River, and of' course rc (limed to a defensive warfare. Troops of both na tions had been detached to the southern states, and General Gates covered New England with about three thousand men.
Towards the end of May 1779, Sir Henry Clin ton commenced active operations by a partially successful expedition up the Hudson. The great road offering, the easiest communication between the eastern and middle states, crosses that river at a place called King's Ferry, some miles below West Point. The ferry is commanded on the west by Stony Point, an elevated peninsula on which some works were begun: on the east it is exposed to a long flat neck of land called Verplank's Point, where a small fort had been erected, called Fort Fayette, garrisoned by a company under Captain Armstrong. The British army, commanded by Clinton in person, and convoyed by Sir George Collier, proceeded up the river, captured the po sition after some resistance, and completed the works at both forts; Stony Point in particular was placed in a strong state of defence. The main army was then withdrawn to Philipsburg without further effort: but there can be no doubt, from the disproportionate means employed, that much more had been contemplated by the British commander.
West Point had now become a most important post to the American cause, on account of its com mand of the navigation of the river: it was menaced by this armament and most probably owed its safety to the prompt operations of Washington, who had closely followed the enemy's movements, and so posted his army as to deter them from a further prosecution of the enterprise.
Clinton now resolved upon the invasion of Con necticut; the refugee Governor Tryon, with a strong corps of twenty six hundred men, was detached upon this service, which was conducted in a manner more resembling the maraud of banditti, than an operation of soldiers. Washington, on his part, approached King's Ferry, with an anxious resolu tion to recover the captured posts. When his plans were matured, the execution was entrusted to Anthony Wayne, who stormed Stony Point at night with fixed bayonets, and captured the whole British garrison without discharging a single mus ket. Fort Fayette was next attempted; but owing to those accidents which are inseparable in war from the best devised projects, the breach advanced slowly. Time was thus afforded to Sir Henry Clinton, who, abandoning his designs on Connecti cut, marched directly to the Highlands and relieved his garrison. As the occupation of Stony Point re quired fifteen hundred men, and the possession of Fort Fayette by the English rendered the post of little value, Washington abandoned his brilliant conquest. The two armies then cautiously observed each other; until at length, the British commander, wearied with inaction, retired to York Island, finding that he could neither attack the Americans with a chance of success, nor draw them from their positions into more rayonr able ground. ILe now occupied himself chiefly in strengthening his forti fications, in anticipation of the projected departure of large forces to the south.
The remainder of the summer of 1779 passed away in the northern states without further move ments. In Europe, after long diplomatic negotia tions and many fruitless attempts at mediation, the king of Spain declared his intention of taking part in the war against Great Britain. This event was of extreme importance, because an union of the French and Spanish fleets promised a maritime superiority in all parts of the ocean. At the proper season, the Americans formed their hutted camps in the various posts selected for winter The nor them division, commanded by General Heath, was so cantoned as to protect West Point and all the neighbouring country. The southern or main division lay in the vicinity of Morristown. The commander-in-chief was then obliged to resume his regular winter's employment of explaining to Congress the defects and insuffi ciencies of the existing military arrangements, and of earnestly pressing for the supplies of men and provisions that must be necessary to the early commencement of hostilities in the spring.