Feb. 6—Letters of Marque and Reprisal granted by the English against American commerce. March 4—Congress returns to Philadelphia. ” 23—American stores destroyed at Peekskill, New York. April 26—Danbury, Connecticut, burned by the British. May 24—This outrage is retaliated by Colonel Meigs, of Connecticut, who lands on Long Island with 200 men, destroys twelve vessels, large quantities of provision and forage, takes ninety prisoners, and retreats without the loss of a man. May 27—Button Gwinnett, of Georgia, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is killed in a duel. June 22—Gen. Howe evacuates New Brunswick, New Jersey, and retires in order to draw Washington into a battle. Washington advances till he penetrates the design of the enemy, when he retreats to a strong position and foils the British. June 30—General Howe embarks 16,000 troops at Staten Island for Philadelphia. About this time the French Marquis De Lafayette, a youth of nineteen, arrived in America, with twelve other foreign officers, to aid the American cause. July 1—British Gen. Burgoyne appears before Fort Ticonderoga. ” 5—Americans evacuate Ticonderoga. ” 7—Americans retreating from Ticonderoga, are defeated at Hubbardton. ” 7—United States frigate Hancock captured by three English vessels. ” 29—Burgoyne’s army, constantly victorious, reaches the Hudson. Aug. 3—British Gen. St. Leger invests Fort Stanwix (Utica, New York). ” 6—American Gen. Herkimer defeated near Fort Stanwix. American loss 400. Gen. Herkimer killed. ” 16—Battle of Bennington, Vermont. A victory for the “Green Mountain Boys.” British lost 200 killed, 600 prisoners, 1,000 stand of arms, 1,000 swords, and four cannon. American loss fourteen killed and forty-two wounded. This turned the tide against Burgoyne. ” 22—Gen. Arnold raises the siege of Fort Stanwix. St. Leger loses his artillery, tents, and stores. ” 11—Washington’s army defeated by the British at the battle of the Brandywine, near Wilmington, Delaware. Washington retreats in good order. ” 18—Congress adjourns from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. ” 19—Battle of Stillwater between Gates, American, and Gen. Burgoyne. Burgoyne held the field, but lost 500 men; Gates 300. Sept. 16—Washington advances across the Schuylkill to attack the British, when a violent storm stops the conflict. The arms of the Americans are rendered unserviceable by the rain. ” 20—Gen. Wayne, surprised at Paoli, retreats with loss of 300 men. ” 26—The British enter Philadelphia. Oct. 4—Battle of Germantown. Washington, with an inferior army, is again defeated. British loss 600. American loss over 1,000.