The prospect of expelling the British from New York roused the northern states from that apathy into which they appeared to be sinking, and vigorous measures were taken to fill their regiments.  Yet those measures were not completely successful.  In the month of June, when the army took the field, and encamped at Peekskill, its effective numbers did not exceed five thousand men.

Such was the American force in the north, with which the campaign of 1781 was opened.  It fell so far short of that on which the calculations had been made at Weathersfield, as to excite serious doubts respecting the propriety of adhering to the plan there concerted, although some compensation was made for this deficiency on the part of the states by the arrival of a reinforcement of fifteen hundred men to the army of Rochambeau under convoy of a fifty gun frigate.

To supply even this army with provisions, required much greater exertions than had ever been made since the system of requisitions had been substituted for that of purchasing.  The hope of terminating the war produced these exertions.  The legislatures of the New England states took up the subject in earnest, and passed resolutions for raising the necessary supplies.  But until these resolutions could be executed, the embarrassments of the army continued; and, for some time after the troops had taken the field, there was reason to apprehend, either that the great objects of the campaign must be relinquished for want of provisions, or that coercive means must still be used.

New England not furnishing flour, this important article was to be drawn from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  The two first states were much exhausted; and the application to Pennsylvania did not promise to be very successful.  On this subject, therefore, serious fears existed.

These were removed, in a great degree, by the activity and exertions of an individual.

[Sidenote:  Superintendent of finances appointed.]

The management of the finances had been lately committed to Mr. Robert Morris, a delegate to congress from the state of Pennsylvania.  This gentleman united considerable political talents to a degree of mercantile enterprise, information, and credit, seldom equalled in any country.  He had accepted this arduous appointment on the condition of being allowed the year 1781 to make his arrangements; during which time, the department was to be conducted by those already employed, with the resources which government could command.  But the critical state of public affairs, and the pressing wants of the army, furnished irresistible motives for changing his original determination, and entering immediately on the duties of his office.  The occasion required that he should bring his private credit in aid of the public resources, and pledge himself personally and extensively, for articles of absolute necessity which could not be otherwise obtained.  Condemning the system of violence and of legal fraud,