[Sidenote:  The British leave Philadelphia 1778.]

[Sidenote:  Battle of Monmouth, 1778.]

154.  Monmouth, 1778.—­The first result of the French alliance was the retreat of the British from Philadelphia to New York.  As Sir Henry Clinton, the new British commander, led his army across the Jerseys, Washington determined to strike it a blow.  This he did near Monmouth.  The attack was a failure, owing to the treason of General Charles Lee, who led the advance.  Washington reached the front only in time to prevent a dreadful disaster.  But he could not bring about victory, and Clinton seized the first moment to continue his march to New York.  There were other expeditions and battles in the North.  But none of these had any important effect on the outcome of the war.

[Illustration:  Clark’s Campaign 1777-1778]

[Sidenote:  Clark’s conquest of the Northwest, 1778-79. Hero Tales, 31-41.]

155.  Clark’s Western Campaign, 1778-79.—­The Virginians had long taken great interest in the western country.  Their hardy pioneers had crossed the mountains and begun the settlement of Kentucky.  The Virginians now determined to conquer the British posts in the country northwest of the Ohio.  The command was given to George Rogers Clark.  Gathering a strong band of hardy frontiersmen he set out on his dangerous expedition.  He seized the posts in Illinois, and Vincennes surrendered to him.  Then the British governor of the Northwest came from Detroit with a large force and recaptured Vincennes.  Clark set out from Illinois to surprise the British.  It was the middle of the winter.  In some places the snow lay deep on the ground.  Then came the early floods.  For days the Americans marched in water up to their waists.  At night they sought some little hill where they could sleep on dry ground.  Then on again through the flood.  They surprised the British garrison at Vincennes and forced it to surrender.  That was the end of the contest for the Northwest.

[Illustration:  WEST POINT IN 1790.]

[Sidenote:  Benedict Arnold.]

[Sidenote:  His treason, 1780 Higginson, 209-211; McMaster, 144]

156.  Arnold and Andre, 1780.—­Of all the leaders under Washington none was abler in battle than Benedict Arnold.  Unhappily he was always in trouble about money.  He was distrusted by Congress and was not promoted.  At Saratoga he quarrelled with Gates and was dismissed from his command.  Later he became military governor of Philadelphia and was censured by Washington for his doings there.  He then secured the command of West Point and offered to surrender the post to the British.  Major Andre, of Clinton’s staff, met Arnold to arrange the final details.  On his return journey to New York Andre was arrested and taken before Washington.  The American commander asked his generals if Andre was a spy.  They replied that Andre was a spy, and he was hanged.  Arnold escaped to New York and became a general in the British army.