officer. He had taken post in a situation to guard a certain fording place at Croten river, and had practised the greatest vigilance in the night time, calling off his guards at sunrise, on the idea that the enemy would not presume to cross in the day time, but the enemy having learnt his mode of performing duty, effected their purpose by crossing the ford immediately after the guard had been withdrawn, and the surprize was so complete that no practicable defence could avail them. It will not be denied, that enemy may be justified in availing himself of every opportunity of gaining an advantage over his antagonist, or that in some instances, slaughter is unavoidable; but a wanton and unnecessary sacrifice of life is on all occasions to be deprecated as a disgraceful violation of the dictates of humanity.

General Washington has performed a journey to Connecticut, for the purpose of an interview with the Count de Rochambeau, chief commander of the French troops, now at Rhode Island. The object of this interview is supposed to be the concerting of a system of measures to be pursued by the allied army in the ensuing campaign.

Private intelligence from a confidential source we understand has been received at head quarters, that a plan has been concerted in New York, to send out four parties, one to assassinate or take General Washington, another Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, a third Governor Clinton, of the state of New York, and the object of the fourth is unknown; measures will undoubtedly be adopted to guard against and defeat this singular enterprize.

It has several times happened that an artful and enterprizing fellow, by the name of Moody, employed by the British in New York, has succeeded in taking our mail from the post rider on the road, though he has had some very remarkable escapes. After the interview of General Washington and Count Rochambeau, the British were particularly

desirous of obtaining intelligence relative to the result. Accordingly Moody was again despatched to effect the object. Being perfectly well acquainted with the roads and passes, he waylaid the mail for some days in the Jerseys, till at length it was his good fortune to possess himself of that very mail which contained General Washington's despatches to Congress, communicating the information which was the object of their desires. This valuable prize he had the address to bear off to New York in safety.

June 20th. It is directed in general orders, that the whole army at this place march and encamp at Peekskill, leaving the invalids and a small party, to garrison West Point. One of the three divisions of the army is to pass the Hudson each day, till all have crossed.

22d. Our division of the army crossed the Hudson at West Point landing yesterday, and reached Peekskill at night. We have left our cantonments in a woody mountain, affording a romantic and picturesque scenery of nature clothed in her wild and winter attire, having scarcely the appearance of vegetation. A splendid world is now open to our view, all nature is in animation-the fields and meadows display the beauties of spring, a pleasing variety of vegetables and flowers perfume the air, and the charming music of the feathered tribe delights our ears. But there is a contrast in music. What can compare with that martial band, the drum and fife, bugle horn and shrill trumpet, which set the war horse in motion, thrill through every fibre of the human frame, still the groans of the dying soldier, and stimulate the living to the noblest deeds of glory? The full roll of the drum, which salutes the Commander in Chief, the animating beat, which calls to arms for the battle, the reveille, which breaks our slumbers at dawn of day, with "come, strike your tents, and march away," and the evening tattoo, which commands to retirement and repose; these form incomparably

the most enchanting music that has ever vibrated on my ear.

23d.-The army is now concentrated to a point in this place, and encamped in two lines, and in the same regular order that the troops usually form in a line of battle, occupying a very large extent of ground and covering fields of corn, grain and meadows. Our brigade is stationed on the left of the second line. The campaign is now about to be opened, and we expect in a few days that the French army will form a junction with us to co-operate with our troops.

July 1st.-A division of our French allies are on their march from Rhode Island, to unite with us in the service of the campaign. Great preparations are continually making for some important operation, and it is in general conjectured that the object of the campaign is to besiege New York. We are ordered to have four days' provisions cooked, and to march at three o'clock in the morning, leaving all our baggage behind, except a single blanket to each man. It is remarkable that we have so much as four days' provisions on hand.

5th. The reveille beat at three o'clock on the 2d instant, when we marched and reached Tarrytown in the evening; the weather being extremely hot, the troops were much fatigued. Halted at Tarrytown about two hours, and then proceeded, marched all night, and at sunrise arrived within two miles of the enemy's works at King's bridge. Having halted about two hours, a firing of cannon and musketry was heard in front, and we were informed that a party of our troops had engaged the enemy, and we were ordered to advance rapidly to their assistance; but before we could reach the scene of action, the enemy had retired within their strong works. A detachment of continental troops, under command of Major General Lincoln, went down the North river in boats in the night, to attack the enemy by surprize, or to draw them out to a distance from

This select corps, consisting of the most active and soldierly young men and officers, is intended to march in advance of the main army, constantly prepared for active and hazardous service. Colonel Scammel was indulged the liberty of choosing his own officers, rejecting those whom he deemed unfit for his enterprizing purpose. According to regular detail it fell to the lot of Dr. C. to act as surgeon to this corps, but it was the doctor's misfortune to have one blink eye, and not being perfectly active, Colonel Scammel objected to him, and desired that he might be exchanged for one more competent to the duties of the service. In consequence of this, I received a billet from Dr. James Craig, chief physician and surgeon to the army, requesting me to repair to the detachment immediately, and take the place of Dr. C. Colonel Jackson, unwilling to have his regiment left destitute of a surgeon, strongly protested against it, but Colonel Scammel was strenuous, and finally prevailed, and I now enjoy the honor of officiating as surgeon to a fine corps of infantry, commanded by an officer of the first military reputation. Dr. Munson, of the Connecticut line, is my mate, and the medical duties of Colonel Jackson's regiment devolves on Dr. Francis Le Baron Goodwin, surgeon's mate, during my ab

sence.

19th. The British frigates, that passed up the North river a few days since, took the advantage of wind and tide to return to New York. A severe cannonade commenced from our battery at Dobb's ferry, where the river is about three miles wide, they were compelled literally to run the gantlet. They returned the fire as they passed, but without effect. On board the Savage, ship of war, a box of powder took fire, and such was their consternation, that twenty people jumped into the river, among whom was a prisoner on board, who informs us that he was the only man who got on shore, all the others being drowned. He reports also, that the Savage was several times hulled

by our shot, and was very near sinking. In the evening of the 21st, our army and the French were put in motion, marching with great rapidity through a thick unfrequented wood and swamps, and through fields of corn and wheat. Passing through a swamp in the night, our rear guard, with myself and Dr. Munson, lost sight of the main body of the army for more than an hour, and I got a severe fall from my horse. In the morning, we arrived near the enemy's post at Morrissania, but they had taken the alarm, and escaped to New York. Having continued there during the day, we retired in the evening about five or six miles, and lay on the hills near King's bridge, where we remained unmolested till the night of the 23d, when we returned to our encampment. While near the enemy's lines, the army was drawn up in a line of battle, and General Washington, General Rochambeau, and all the general officers and engineers, were employed in reconnoitering the different positions of the enemy's works in all directions. The position which we now occupy is the neutral ground between the lines, a beautiful fertile country, and the roads and commons as well as the enclosures are loaded with grass, while the deserted houses in ruins, and the prostrate fences, exhibit the melancholy devastation of war.

31st. Our detachment, under Colonel Scammel, marched last evening down to Phillips' house, near the enemy's works, on a foraging expedition. After our wagons were loaded, we retired into the woods and lay in ambush, with the hope that the enemy would give us an opportunity to engage them, but they did not make their appearance.

August 13th.-A most tremendous storm of rain came on last night, and continued almost incessantly; about two o'clock in the morning, a sudden gust rent our tents asunder and whirled them about our ears, leaving us destitute of shelter, and most thoroughly drenched.