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��John Stark.
��snow-shoes, conveyances, and every- thing required for a winter campaign, when congress thought proper to abandon the design.
Early in 1778 he was ordered to assume the command of the Northern Department, at Albany, where he re- remained during the season.
In November he was ordered by Gen. Washington to proceed to the assistance of Gen. Gates in Rhode Island ; and joining Gates soon after, at Pi'ovidence, was stationed for the remainder of the season at East Greenwich. As winter advanced he returned to New Hampshire, by way of Boston, to urge the necessity for recruits and supplies.
In the spring of 1779 he joined the army at Providence, and was em- ployed all that season in watching the British army and preventing in- roads. About the 10th of Novem- ber the English sailed away from Newport, and Gen. Stark took pos- session of the towit the next morning, placing guards to preserve order.
At this time Gen. Washington or- dered Generals Gates and Stark, with the troops who had blockaded New- port, to join him in New Jersey ; and soon after sent Gen. Stark to New Hampshire to make requisitions for troops and supplies. He performed this service, and returned to the army at Morristown, in May, 1780, and took part in the battle of Springfield, in June following. Immediately af- ter this battle. Gen. Stark was sent to New England, with orders to col- lect a body of militia and volunteers, and conduct them to West Point. He arrived at that post with the troops, a short time before Arnold's deser- tion ; and, after delivering up the
��reenforcement, joined his division at Liberty Pole, New Jersey.
In September he was ordered to West Point, to relieve Gen. St. Clair, and the Pennsylvania line. While at West Point, he was called upon to participate in the trial of Major An- dr6, being one of the thirteen gener- als composing the military tribunal. About this time, Washington had formed the design of surprising Sta- ten Island ; and to mask his inten- tions, Gen. Stark was detached with 2500 troops, and trains of cavalry and artillery, and forage teams, to overrun the country north of New York, and, if possible, to draw out and engage the enemy. But the British were sus- picious of concealed designs, and suf- fered the detachment to pillage this tory country, as far down as Kings Bridge and Morrisauia, for several days, and then to retire unmolested. The Staten Island project was not car- ried out. The army soon after went into winter quarters at West Point, New Windsor, and Fishkill, and Gen. Stark, being severely ill, was sent home on furlough, with the standing order for men and supplies.
In the spring of 1781 he was or- dered once more to assume the com- mand of the Northern Department, with head-quarters at Saratoga. There was an extensive frontier to be watched, and the country was overrun by traitors and spies, some of whom he was obliged to hang. With only a few feeble detachments of militia from New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire under his command, the duties of the general were both onerous and unpleasant. After the surrender of Cornwallis, all appre- hensions of inroads from Canada hav-
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