The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

324 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1779.
upon the successive operations of the campaign, and
the check it would give to the depredations of the
enemy," were, as he said, the motives which prompted
him to this undertaking. He reconnoitred the post
himself, and instructed Major Henry Lee, who was stationed near it with a party of cavalry, to gain all the
information in his power as to the condition of the
works and the strength of the garrison.
The enterprise was intrusted to General Wayne,
who commanded a body of light infantry in advance
of the main army, where he was placed to watch the
movements of the enemy, to prevent their landing, and
to attack separate parties whenever opportunities should
offer. Having procured all the requisite information,
and determined to make the assault, Washington communicated general instructions to Wayne in writing and
conversation, leaving the rest to the well-tried bravery
and skill of that gallant officer.
The night of the 15th July was fixed on for the
attack. After a march of fourteen miles during the
afternoon, the party arrived within a mile and a half of
the enemy at eight o'clock in the evening. The works
were then reconnoitred by the commander and the
principal officers, and at half past eleven the whole
moved forward in two columns to the assault. The van
of the right column consisted of one hundred and fifty
volunteers with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets,
preceded by twenty picked men to remove the abatis
and other obstructions. One hundred volunteers, preceded likewise by twenty men, composed the van of the
left. Positive orders were given not to fire, but to
rely wholly on the bayonet, which orders were faithfully
obeyed. A deep morass in front of the enemy's works,
and a double row of abatis, retarded their progress;
but these obstacles were soon overcome by the ardor of