War of the Revolution (Continued).

1. In the autumn of 1777 an event took place which spread great joy throughout America. This was the "Battle of Saratoga." Saratoga lies north of Albany, in the State of New York. A part of the American army was near this place. It was commanded by General Gates.

2. Towards this place a British army came from Canada. It was commanded by General Burgoyne. Here, in October, 1777, these two armies met. A

battle ensued. The Americans were victorious. The whole British army surrendered, and became prisoners. They amounted to five thousand and seven hundred men. This surrender took place on the seventeenth day of the month.

3. When the news of it reached Europe, the king of France decided to come out openly as the friend of America, acknowledge her independence, and help her to fight for it. From this time until the end of the war a great many brave French officers and soldiers came over to this country and fought under General Washington.

4. The next year, 1778, in June, was fought the Battle of Monmouth." Monmouth lies sixty-four miles from Philadelphia. It was a severe contest. The day was so hot that the tongues of the soldiers swelled out of their mouths. At the end of the battle the Americans remained masters of the field.

5. In the following year, 1779, a party of British, under General Tryon, came into Connecticut, and plundered New Haven, where Yale College is situated. They burned Fairfield and Norwalk, and some other places. Fairfield was burned just at evening. A thunder-storm came up at the same time, and added greatly to the horrors of the scene.

6. From his expedition to Connecticut, General Tryon was brought back by the news of the capture of Stony Point. This was a very famous exploit. It was planned by Washington and executed by General Wayne. Stony Point was a strong fort on the west bank of the Hudson. It was important because it commanded King's Ferry, and by this ferry the great road between New England and the Middle States crossed the Hudson. On three sides Stony Point was protected by the river, and on the fourth it could only be reached by a narrow causeway across a marsh.

7. On the evening of the fifteenth of July, General Wayne formed his army, about a mile and a half below the Point. All the dogs in the neighborhood had been killed to prevent their giving the alarm. The watchword had been obtained from a negro, who was in the habit of going into the fort to sell fruit, and, strangely enough, this night it was, "The fort's

our own.

8. Towards midnight, the troops were put in motion: the sentinels at the causeway hearing the watchword from the negro-guide, were seized and silenced before they could give the alarm. Then, in two separate columns, the Americans marched on to the

fort. After a short but brave resistance, Colonel Johnson, with his garrison, surrendered prisoners of Before daybreak, General Wayne had sent to the commander-in-chief the following report:

war.

"DEAR GENERAL:

"STONY POINT, 16th July, 1779.

The fort and garrison, with Colonel Johnson, are ours: our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free. Yours, most sincerely,

"ANTHONY WAYNE."

Questions.

1. What event spread great joy throughout America? Where is Saratoga? Who commanded this part of the American army?

2. From what place did the British come? Who commanded them? When did the two armies meet? What followed? Who were victorious? Who surrendered? How many surrendered? On what day did this take place?

3. What effect had the news upon the French king? Who came to this country after this event? What did they do for America?

4. In what year was the battle of Monmouth fought? What month? How far is Monmouth from Philadelphia? What is said of the day on which this battle was fought? Who gained the advantage?

5. When did a party of the British come into Connecticut? What city did they plunder? What town did they burn? At what time in the day was Fairfield burned? What circumstance added to the horrors of the scene?

6. What recalled General Tryon from Connecticut? Who planned this exploit? Who executed it? Where is Stony Point? Why was it an important fort? How was it protected?

7. When did General Wayne approach it? What precautions had he taken? How did the Americans possess themselves of the watchword? What was it that night?

8. At what hour did the troops advance? What did they do to the sentinels? How then did they proceed? What was the result? In what words did General Wayne report it to General Washington?

Stories.

1. Soon after the British had burned Norwalk, they marched to Horseneck. This place lies on Long Island Sound, about thirty miles from New York. General Putnam was stationed at Horseneck, with one hundred and fifty men and two cannon. The British amounted to fifteen hundred men.

2. General Putnam was a bold man. He placed his cannon on a hill, near the meeting-house, and as the British advanced the cannon were fired. At length, the enemy came so near that he told his men to escape into a swamp near by.

3. He himself was on horseback. It seemed impossible that he should escape. The hill was so steep that no horse could go down it, except in the direction in which the British. were approaching.

4. Putnam bethought himself. He had but a moment to think. He saw some stone steps. There were one hundred of them. The people had laid them in order to ascend the hill to the meeting-house.

5. It is life or death, thought Putnam, and down he rode. On came the British. They were sure of him. But when they arrived at the spot they saw Putnam galloping at a