On the morning of the tenth, the fleet entered Elizabeth river, and the troops were landed about three miles below the fort, without opposition.  Foreseeing that the works would be attacked the next morning on the land side, the garrison evacuated the fort in the night, and took refuge in a deep and extensive swamp, called the Dismal, which could not be penetrated without difficulty, even by single persons.

The whole sea-board, on the south side of James’ river, being now in possession of General Matthews, he fixed his head quarters at Portsmouth, whence small parties were detached to Norfolk, Gosport, Kemps’ landing, and Suffolk, where military and naval stores to a great amount, and several vessels richly laden, fell into his hands.

This invasion was of short duration.  General Matthews, after destroying the magazines which had been collected in the small towns near the coast, and the vessels in the rivers, was ordered by Sir Henry Clinton to return to New York, where he arrived towards the last of May.

The Admiral and General were both so impressed with the importance of Portsmouth as a permanent station, that they united in representing to the Commander-in-chief the advantages to be derived from keeping possession of it.  But, in the opinion of Sir Henry Clinton, the army did not at that time admit of so many subdivisions; and, with a view to more interesting objects, Portsmouth was evacuated.

CHAPTER V.

Discontents in a part of the American army....  Letter from General Washington on the subject....  Colonel Van Schaick destroys an Indian settlement....  Expedition against the Indians meditated....  Fort Fayette surrendered to the British....  Invasion of Connecticut....  General Wayne storms Stony Point....  Expedition against Penobscot....  Powles Hook surprised by Major Lee....  Arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot....  Of the Count D’Estaing....  Siege of Savannah....  Unsuccessful attempt to storm that place....  Siege raised....  Victory of General Sullivan at Newtown....  Spain offers her mediation to the belligerents....  Declares war against England....  Letter from General Washington to congress respecting the annual formation of the army....  The army goes into winter quarters.

[Sidenote:  1779]

The barbarities committed by the Indians, in the course of the preceding year, on the inhabitants of the western frontiers, had added motives of mingled resentment and humanity to those of national interest, for employing a larger force in the protection of that part of the Union than had heretofore been devoted to it.

General Washington had always believed that it was impossible to defend the immense western frontier by any chain of posts which could be established; and that the country would be protected much more certainly by offensive than by defensive war.  His plan was to penetrate into the heart of the Indian settlements with a force competent to the destruction of their towns; and also to reduce the British post at Niagara, which gave its possessors an almost irresistible influence over the six nations.  This plan constituted one of the various subjects of conference with the committee of congress in Philadelphia, and received the entire approbation of that body.