Amidst the ravages and desolation of war, the con gress were not inattentive to the arts of peace. A committee of their number was instructed to examine the ground, as yet unoccupied, in the city of Philadel phia, and to choose a place for a building where the representatives of the American people might assemble in a manner suitable to their dignity. They determined to erect a statue in honour of their general, Montgo mery, who had fallen at Quebec ; and authorized Dr Franklin to agree with an artist of Paris for that pur pose; they established a court in which all appeals from the admiralty to the United States, relating to captures, might be heard ; they reformed the currency, and ar ranged their finances, so that the army might be regu la•ly supplied with pay and clothing, and furnished with every thing which the general might require. They celebrated the 4th of July, the anniversary of their in dependence, with great pomp ; and on the same day, the first degrees in the arts were conferred by the pro vost and masters belonging to the college at Philadel phia. On this occasion, the members of congress, the chevalier de la Luzerne, minister plenipotentiary from the French king to the United States, together with other persons of distinction, were present.
Not long after these transactions a second fleet arri ved at Rhode Island from France. This fleet, consisting of seven ships of the line, was under the orders of M. Ternay ; and had on board 6000 men, well appointed and disciplined, and led by Rochambeath an officer of great talents and experience. As the aid which the Americans had now received was both unexpected and considerable, tile joy which it occasioned was very great : the assembly at Rhode Island went in a body to the French general on his arrival ; and he, iu return, assured theta, that the troops which he com manded were only the first di\ ision of a larger force, which the king, his master, would send to their assist ance. No soon,. r was it communicated to the British that the provincials had been strengtheneu ny aid from Europe, than they formed a scheme in order 10 render it ineffectual. it was agreed by sir Harry Clinton and the English admiral to make an attack by sea and land on the French vessels and the allied troops at Rhode Island. But Washington, having received intelligence of the design, passed the North River with an army of 12,000 men, and, advancing by a rapid movement to Kingsbridge, threatened with a siege the town of New York, where Clinton commanded in person. This judi cious and timely movement produced the desired effect. The English general immediately altered his plan, and ordered his troops to disembark ; in consequence of which, the Americans likewise withdrew from Kings bridge, and returned, by slow marches, to their former station. They were soon after followed by general Knyphausen, who attempted to surprise and cut off their advanced posts ; in this, however, he was unsuc cessful, and having set fire to Springfield, and wasted the neighbouring country, he joined the main army at New York.
About this time, general Gates, who had already dis tinguished himself in the contest with Burgoyne, was appointed to the chief command of the provincial forces in South Carolina. Ile was opposed by the earl Corn
wallis, and colonel Tarleton, officers of high name and respectability ; whose services in the reduction of Charleston we have already mentioned. On the 16th of August, an action took place near Cambdeu, between the royal army and that of the Americans. Prior to this action, the situation of the king's troops was exceeding ly critical. The position at Cambden, though advan tageous in sonic respects, was not well chosen for sus taining an attack ; the force under Cornwallis did not exceed 2000 men, while that of the provincials was more than double that number ; the consequence of a defeat might be the loss of South Carolina, and the ef fect of a victory, the complete establishment of the royal authority in that extensive province. General Gates was advancing with rapidity ; and intelligence was received, that it was the design of that commander to attack the British lines.
In these circumstances, the skill and resolution of Cornwallis, and the decisive bravery of lord Rawdon, (now earl Moira,) not only saved the English from de feat, but enabled them to gain a signal victory over the provincial troops. On the evening of the 15th, the British general, having resolved not to wait for the approach of the Americans, led out his small, but de termined band, in order to attack them ; and nearly at the same moment, Gates advanced towards Cambden, with a similar intention. The two armies met in a nar row place, where the colonial troops could not avail themselves of their superior numbers ; the English per ( riving the advantage which the ground afforded them, began the assault, and in a short time the action became general and warm. The onset of the royalists, who ad vanced with their bayonets fixed, was irresistibly impe tuous ; the prop incial militia, lately raised, and strangers to regular service, first gave way ; and the continental battalions, influenced by their example, yielded on all sides, and fled it, the utmost disorder. Many of the co lonists fell in this engagement, and more in the pur suit ; 1000 meli were taken prisoners, and seven pieces of cannon, together with all the ammunition and stores of the provincial army, remained in the hands of the English. While the action was at the hottest, the baron de Kalb, a Prussian officer in the American service, distinguished himself by the heroic valour with which he fought ; he maintained his position against a furious assault of the enemy, and charged diem at the head of the battalion which he commanded; till, overpowered by the English horse, and wounded in eleven parts of his body, he gave his sword to a British officer who was neat him, and resigned himself a prisoner of war. From the royalists he received every attention which it was in their power to bestow ; but his wounds were mortal, and in a few' hours he expired. The last moments of this gallant soldier Nveri• spent in acknowledging the kindness of the English, and in declaring his unqualified approbation of the officers and men, who had fought uncler his orders, or fallen by his side. And the con gress afterwards ordered a monument to be erected to his memory, in testimony of their sense of his worth, and their gratitude for his services.