The Battle of Lexington--The War of the Revolution Begun--Fort Ticonderoga Taken--Second Continental Congress--George Washington Appointed Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Bunker Hill--Last Appeal to King George--The King Hires Hessian Mercenaries--The Americans Invade Canada--General Montgomery Killed--General Howe Evacuates Boston--North Carolina Tories Routed at Moore's Creek Bridge--The Declaration of Independence--The British Move on New York--Battle at Brooklyn--Howe Occupies New York City--General Charles Lee Fails to Support Washington--Lee Captured--Washington's Victory at Trenton--The Marquis De Lafayette Arrives, 133 CHAPTER XVIII. Sir John Burgoyne's Campaign--His Bombastic Proclamation--The Tragic Story of Jane McCrea--Her Name a Rallying Cry--Washington Prevents Howe From Aiding Burgoyne--The Battle of Brandywine--Burgoyne Routed at Saratoga--He Surrenders, With All His Army--Articles of Confederation Submitted to the Several States--Effect of the Surrender of Burgoyne-- Franklin the Washington of Diplomacy--Attitude of France--France Concludes to Assist the United States--Treaties of Commerce and Alliance--King George Prepares for War with France--The Winter at Valley Forge--Conspiracy to Depose Washington Defeated--General Howe Superseded by Sir Henry Clinton--The Battle of Monmouth--General Charles Lee's Treachery--Awful Massacre of Settlers in the Wyoming Valley-- General Sullivan Defeats the Six Nations--Brilliant Campaign of George Rogers Clark--Failure of the Attempt to Drive the British from Rhode Island, 143 CHAPTER XIX. The British Move Upon the South--Spain Accedes to the Alliance Against England--Secret Convention Between France and Spain--Capture of Stony Point--John Paul Jones--The Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis--A Thrilling Naval Combat--Wretched Condition of American Finances-- Franklin's Heavy Burden--The Treason of Benedict Arnold--Capture of Andre--Escape of Arnold--Andre Executed as a Spy--Sir Henry Clinton Captures Charleston, General Lincoln and His Army--Lord Cornwallis Left in Command in the South--The British Defeat Gates Near Camden, South Carolina--General Nathanael Greene Conducts a Stubborn Campaign Against Cornwallis--The Latter Retreats Into Virginia--Siege of Yorktown--Cornwallis Surrenders--"Oh, God; it is All Over!" 155 FOURTH PERIOD. UNION. CHAPTER XX.