"American Independence Achieved by a Lie."

It was gravely asserted some years since, from a New England pulpit, that American Independence was achieved by a lie. In the hot discussion that followed such an attempt to stigmatize our independence, the question resolved itself into one for the moralist to decide, as to how far it is right to deceive an enemy in time of war. That stratagem was used and succeeded, is certain, and the history of the world is full of such instances both in love and war. The facts upon which the charge was based are as follows: General Clinton, the Commander-in-chief of the British forces, was in New York with a portion of the British army, while Lord Cornwallis, with another portion, was in Virginia.

Washington (assisted by General Knox and Count Rochambeau) determined to attack Cornwallis. In order to prevent Clinton from sending assistance to that General in the South, it was publicly asserted that Clinton was to be attacked in New York. Letters to this effect were written to various American officers, some of which designedly fell into Clinton's hands. Ovens were built near New York to bake bread for the besieging force; other feints were also made. The stratagem succeeded; Clinton sent no assistance to Cornwallis, until it was too late, having retained his army for the defence of New York. The surrender of Cornwallis practically ended the Revolution, although the treaty of peace was not signed until nearly two years later, at Versailles, in France, November 3d, 1783.

According to some historians, Gen. Washington intended to attack Clinton when the orders were sent out, but afterward changed his tactics and advanced upon Cornwallis. It has been remarked as curious, or at least a little singular, that the first battle of the Revolution should have taken place in Massachusetts (at Lexington, April 19th, 1775), and the last in Virginia (at Yorktown, October 19th, 1781), the two States most distinguished for their opposition to the government of England. It is not possible to state with accuracy the cost of the revolutionary war, but it has been estimated at about one hundred and thirty-five millions of dollars, to America.

The cost to England has been estimated at nearly five hundred millions of dollars, besides the loss of her colonies and about fifty thousand soldiers.