” 17—The British Parliament having appointed three Commissioners, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Auckland, and Governor Johnstone, to treat for peace with the colonies, on the basis of granting everything they had asked, except independence, Congress replies, refusing all intercourse unless the independence of the States were first recognized, and the English army withdrawn. Two years before, this would have been eagerly accepted. England had lost, at the beginning of this year, twenty thousand men, and 550 vessels, taken by American cruisers, worth twelve million dollars, and had spent one hundred million dollars on military armaments in America. ” 18—The English, afraid of being blockaded in the Delaware river, by the French fleet, evacuate Philadelphia. Jun. 28—Battle of Morristown; Washington wins. The British retreat in the night. Lord Cornwallis commanded. July 4-5—“The massacre of Wyoming” by the Indians, under Tory influence. About 400 troops, and most of the inhabitants killed. Aug. 15—General Sullivan besieges the English in Newport. ” 28-29—Count d’Estaing, who was to have supported General Sullivan by a naval attack on Newport, Rhode Island, having suffered severe loss in an engagement with the English fleet, and withdrawn to Boston to refit, Sullivan retires, but is attacked by the British. He repulses them, and retreats from Rhode Island. Dec. 29—Savannah, Geo., taken by the British. 1779. The British direct their main efforts, this year, to the Southern States, and overrun Georgia and part of South Carolina. Mar. 3—American force under Ashe surprised by Brigadier-General Prevost; loss 1,600. May 2—Verplank’s Point, on the Hudson river, surrenders to British forces. ” 10—Norfolk and Portsmouth taken and partially burned by the British. Stony Point, on the Hudson, evacuated by the Americans and occupied by the British. ” 12—Prevost makes an attempt on Charleston, South Carolina, but fails. June 6—Patrick Henry, a distinguished patriot, died, aged 63. ” 20—Gen. Lincoln, American, attacks Prevost, at Stone River. He is repulsed, and Prevost retires to Georgia. July 4—Governor Tryon makes a descent, in Connecticut, destroys the shipping at New Haven, and burns Fairfield, Norwalk, and Greenwich. He is called off July 16—from this barbarous work by the alarm of Gen. Clinton at the attack of Gen. Wayne on Stony Point. It was a complete surprise. Sixty of the British were killed and 550 made prisoners. American loss, 100. ” 19—Major Lee (“Light Horse Harry”) captured the garrison at Paulus’ Hook (Jersey City). The British lost 30 killed, and 159 prisoners.