icings throughout the
country. The 6th of May was set apart for a military fete at the camp
at Valley Forge. The army was assembled in best array; there was
solemn thanksgiving by the chaplains at the head of each brigade;
after which a grand parade, a national discharge of thirteen guns, a
general _feu de joie_, and shouts of the whole army, "Long live the
King of France--Long live the friendly European Powers--Huzza for the
American States." A banquet succeeded, at which Washington dined in
public with all the officers of his army, attended by a band of music.

On the 8th, the council of war, ordered by Congress, was convened; at
which were present Major-generals Gates, Greene, Stirling, Mifflin,
Lafayette, De Kalb, Armstrong and Steuben, and Brigadier-generals Knox
and Duportail. After the state of the forces, British and American,
their number and distribution, had been laid before the council by the
commander-in-chief, and a full discussion had been held, it was
unanimously determined to remain on the defensive, and not attempt any
offensive operation until some opportunity should occur to strike a
successful blow.

The military career of Sir William Howe in the United States was now
drawing to a close. His conduct of the war had given much
dissatisfaction in England. His enemies observed that everything
gained by the troops was lost by the general; that he had suffered an
enemy with less than four thousand men to reconquer a province which
he had recently reduced, and lay a kind of siege to his army in their
winter quarters; and that he had brought a sad reverse upon the
British arms by failing to co-operate vigorously and efficiently with
Burgoyne. Sir William, on his part, had considered himself slighted by
the ministry; his suggestions, he said, were disregarded, and the
reinforcements withheld which he considered indispensable for the
successful conduct of the war. He had therefore tendered his
resignation, which had been promptly accepted, and Sir Henry Clinton
ordered to relieve him. Clinton arrived in Philadelphia on the 8th of
May, and took command of the army on the 11th.

Soon after he had taken the command, there were symptoms of an
intention to evacuate Philadelphia. Whither the enemy would thence
direct their course was a matter of mere conjecture. Lafayette was
therefore detached by Washington, with twenty-one hundred chosen men
and five pieces of cannon, to take a position nearer the city, where