an shipping
in the upper part of the Delaware between Philadelphia and Trenton. This
may be considered the opening of the campaign, and the expedition was in
a great measure successful.

More than forty American vessels were burnt; a considerable quantity of
stores and provisions were destroyed; and some Americans were slain and
wounded in the vain endeavour to defend them. Washington now began to
act. On the 19th of May he detached Lafayette with nearly 3000 men to
take post at Barren Hill, about seven miles in advance of Valley Forge,
but on the opposite side of the Schuylkill. The object of this movement
appears to have been the restraining of the British excursions, but
the position was ill-chosen, as the communication between it and Valley
Forge was difficult, and easy to be interrupted by an active enemy.
Probably Washington calculated that General Howe would still continue
his inactivity, and especially as it was now known that the British
contemplated the abandonment of Philadelphia. But in this he was
mistaken. On the night of the 20th, General Grant was detached with
5000 men to surprise Lafayette in this position, and he reached a point
between his rear and Valley Forge without discovery. At the same time
another detachment, under General Grey, marched along the western bank
of the Schuylkill, and posted themselves at a ford about three miles
in front of Lafayette's right flank, while the rest of the British army
advanced to Chesnut-hill. His retreat was utterly cut off, except by the
way of Matson's-ford. As soon as Lafayette became aware of his danger he
saw this, and he instantly fled, pell-mell, with his detachment to this
ford, leaving on his way six field-pieces. There was a race between him
and Grey which should get first to Matson's Ford, but fear quickened
his steps and those of his followers, and Grey's men being fatigued with
their long night-march, the Frenchmen won the race, and the ford was
passed before Grey could reach it. General Grant also was slow in his
pursuit from behind, and Lafayette was even allowed time to send
back some of his men across the water to recover the artillery he
had abandoned. He escaped with the loss of about fifty men killed and
wounded, and a few more taken prisoners; but had this expedition, which
had been well conceived, been executed with greater rapidity, the career
of Lafayette would have terminated, and his followers must either have
been captured or slain. Was