ly at Rhode Island, and
they amounted to 6000 veteran troops. They were commanded by the Count
de Rochambeau, an experienced officer, who had fought in the battle of
Minden; but in order to obviate all quarrels about rank and precedence,
Washington received a commission from the French monarch, appointing
him lieutenant-general in the French armies, and investing him with
the chief command in America. No precaution, however, could prevent the
French and Americans from quarrelling with each other. The Americans
complained that the French had come too late in the season to do any
good, and the French complained, that on their arrival the American army
were not ready to co-operate. Washington suggested an immediate attack
upon New York; but this could not be attempted without a decided
superiority at sea, and before any thing could be done, the arrival of
Admiral Graves at Sanely Hook gave the superiority to the British. This
determined Sir Henry Clinton to act upon the offensive. The French fleet
which had brought the troops from France lay at Newport, and Sir Henry
proposed to Admiral Arbuthnot a plan for attacking this fleet, while the
troops proceeded up to the Sound to co-operate by land. Hoping to meet
the enemy at sea, Arbuthnot deferred his co-operation till the enemy
had strongly fortified their position, and then it was too late.
Clinton proceeded with 8000 men to Huntingdon Bay, on Long Island; but
Washington, having received reinforcements, crossed the North River, and
rapidly advancing towards Kingsbridge, put a stop to their enterprise.

TREASON OF ARNOLD, AND FATE OF MAJOR ANDRE.

It had been expected by the French and American commanders that they
would soon be joined by de Guichen, with a land-force and twenty ships
of the line from the West Indies. Had their expectations been realized,
it was resolved to attack New York in every direction, with irresistible
fury. About this time however, intelligence arrived of de Guichen's
departure for Europe, and of the consequent naval superiority of the
British. Thus frustrated in their designs, Washington and Rochambeau
held a meeting midway between their respective camps, to concert new
measures. While Washington was absent upon this service, General Arnold,
who commanded a considerable body of troops at West Point, on the New
River, and who had recently entered into a secret correspondence with
Sir Henry Clinton for delivering up that important post to the B