washington and his comrades in arms-第31章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Lurking in the background to haunt British thought was the growing American navy。 John Paul was a Scots sailor； who had been a slave trader and subsequently master of a West India merchantman； and on going to America had assumed the name of Jones。 He was a man of boundless ambition； vanity； and vigor； and when he commanded American privateers he became a terror to the maritime people from whom he sprang。 In the summer of 1779 when Jones； with a squadron of four ships； was haunting the British coasts； every harbor was nervous。 At Plymouth a boom blocked the entrance； but other places had not even this defense。 Sir Walter Scott has described how； on September 17； 1779； a squadron； under John Paul Jones； came within gunshot of Leith； the port of Edinburgh。 The whole surrounding country was alarmed； since for two days the squadron had been in sight beating up the Firth of Forth。 A sudden squall； which drove Jones back； probably saved Edinburgh from being plundered。 A few days later Jones was burning ships in the Humber and； on the 23d of September； he met off Flamborough Head and； after a desperate fight； captured two British armed ships： the Serapis； a 40…gun vessel newly commissioned； and the Countess of Scarborough； carrying 20 guns； both of which were convoying a fleet。 The fame of his exploit rang through Europe。 Jones was a regularly commissioned officer in the navy of the United States； but neutral powers； such as Holland； had not yet recognized the republic and to them there was no American navy。 The British regarded him as a traitor and pirate and might possibly have hanged him had he fallen into their hands。
Terrible days indeed were these for distracted England。 In India； France； baulked twenty years earlier； was working for her entire overthrow； and in North Africa； Spain was using the Moors to the same end。 As time passed the storm grew more violent。 Before the year 1780 ended Holland had joined England's enemies。 Moreover； the northern states of Europe； angry at British interference on the sea with their trade； and especially at her seizure of ships trying to enter blockaded ports； took strong measures。 On March 8； 1780； Russia issued a proclamation declaring that neutral ships must be allowed to come and go on the sea as they liked。 They might be searched by a nation at war for arms and ammunition but for nothing else。 It would moreover be illegal to declare a blockade of a port and punish neutrals for violating it； unless their ships were actually caught in an attempt to enter the port。 Denmark and Sweden joined Russia in what was known as the Armed Neutrality and promised that they would retaliate upon any nation which did not respect the conditions laid down。
In domestic affairs Great Britain was divided。 The Whigs and Tories were carrying on a warfare shameless beyond even the bitter partisan strife of later days。 In Parliament the Whigs cheered at military defeats which might serve to discredit the Tory Government。 The navy was torn by faction。 When； in 1778； the Whig Admiral Keppel fought an indecisive naval battle off Ushant and was afterwards accused by one of his officers； Sir Hugh Palliser； of not pressing the enemy hard enough； party passion was invoked。 The Whigs were for Keppel； the Tories for Palliser； and the London mob was Whig。 When Keppel was acquitted there were riotous demonstrations； the house of Palliser was wrecked； and he himself barely escaped with his life。 Whig naval officers declared that they had no chance of fair treatment at the hands of a Tory Admiralty； and Lord Howe； among others； now refused to serve。 For a time British supremacy on the sea disappeared and it was only regained in April； 1782； when the Tory Admiral Rodney won a great victory in the West Indies against the French。
A spirit of violence was abroad in England。 The disabilities of the Roman Catholics were a gross scandal。 They might not vote or hold public office。 Yet when； in 1780； Parliament passed a bill removing some of their burdens dreadful riots broke out in London。 A fanatic； Lord George Gordon； led a mob to Westminster and； as Dr。 Johnson expressed it； 〃insulted〃 both Houses of Parliament。 The cowed ministry did nothing to check the disturbance。 The mob burned Newgate jail； released the prisoners from this and other prisons； and made a deliberate attempt to destroy London by fire。 Order was restored under the personal direction of the King； who； with all his faults； was no coward。 At the same time the Irish Parliament； under Protestant lead； was making a Declaration of Independence which； in 1782； England was obliged to admit by formal act of Parliament。 For the time being； though the two monarchies had the same king； Ireland； in name at least； was free of England。
Washington's enemy thus had embarrassments enough。 Yet these very years； 1779 and 1780； were the years in which he came nearest to despair。 The strain of a great movement is not in the early days of enthusiasm； but in the slow years when idealism is tempered by the strife of opinion and self…interest which brings delay and disillusion。 As the war went on recruiting became steadily more difficult。 The alliance with France actually worked to discourage it since it was felt that the cause was safe in the hands of this powerful ally。 Whatever Great Britain's difficulties about finance they were light compared with Washington's。 In time the 〃continental dollar〃 was worth only two cents。 Yet soldiers long had to take this money at its face value for their pay； with the result that the pay for three months would scarcely buy a pair of boots。 There is little wonder that more than once Washington had to face formidable mutiny among his troops。 The only ones on whom he could rely were the regulars enlisted by Congress and carefully trained。 The worth of the militia； he said； 〃depends entirely on the prospects of the day； if favorable； they throng to you； if not； they will not move。〃 They played a chief part in the prosperous campaign of 1777； when Burgoyne was beaten。 In the next year； before Newport； they wholly failed General Sullivan and deserted shamelessly to their homes。
By 1779 the fighting had shifted to the South。 Washington personally remained in the North to guard the Hudson and to watch the British in New York。 He sent La Fayette to France in January； 1779； there to urge not merely naval but military aid on a great scale。 La Fayette came back after an absence of a little over a year and in the end France promised eight thousand men who should be under Washington's control as completely as if they were American soldiers。 The older nation accepted the principle that the officers in the younger nation which she was helping should rank in their grade before her own。 It was a magnanimity reciprocated nearly a century and a half later when a great American army in Europe was placed under the supreme command of a Marshal of France。
CHAPTER IX。 THE WAR IN THE SOUTH
After 1778 there was no more decisive fighting in the North。 The British plan was to hold New York and keep there a threatening force； but to make the South henceforth the central arena of the war。 Accordingly； in 1779； they evacuated Rhode Island and left the magnificent harbor of Newport to be the chief base for the French fleet and army in America。 They also drew in their posts on the Hudson and left Washington free to strengthen West Point and other defenses by which he was blocking the river。 Meanwhile they were striking staggering blows in the South。 On December 29； 1778； a British force landed two miles below Savannah； in Georgia； lying near the mouth of the important Savannah River； and by nightfall； after some sharp fighting； took the place with its stores and shipping。 Augusta； the capital of Georgia； lay about a hundred and twenty…five miles up the river。 By the end of February； 1779； the British not only held Augusta but had established so strong a line of posts in the interior that Georgia seemed to be entirely under their control。
Then followed a singular chain of events。 Ever since hostilities had begun； in 1775； the revolutionary party had been dominant in the South。 Yet now again in 1779 the British flag floated over the capital of Georgia。 Some rejoiced and
