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In February, 1778, France joined the United States, and by her fleet gave most active and important assistance. In this year the British captured Savannah, while at New York the opposing forces made no advances.

In 1779, marauding parties and foraging expeditions appear to have occupied the attention of the British military forces at New York. In May the Queen’s Rangers became the First American Regiment and removed to Staten Island. In October Simcoe was captured, but was exchanged in December.

In 1780 greater activity prevailed. Charleston, SC, was captured by the British, but in October they suffered a reverse at King’s Mountain, and in January, 1781, another defeat at Cowpens, in South Carolina. General Benedict Arnold had been charged with malfeasance and was on trial in December, 1779, and January, 1780. He was acquitted on the serious charges, and defended himself so successfully that he was appointed to the command at \Vest Point, a strategic point on the Hudson River. This trial convinced him that his countrymen did not appreciate his services, and that his brother officers were jealous of his success. In 1780 Arnold deserted from the American Army and joined the British forces. Major Andre, who was entrusted with the negotiations between the British and Arnold, was captured and executed as a spy by the Americans in October, 1780. At New York, the British were manoeuvring between Staten Island and Long Island.

In 1781, Cornwallis decided to move northward from Carolina, but met with continual resistance. The French fleet blockaded Chesapeake Bay in September, thus cutting off his supplies, and on October 19, 1781, he was forced to surrender at Yorktown. His army of 6,000 men and 1,500 seamen became prisoners of war. Clinton had sailed from New York with a force of 9,000 men to relieve Cornwallis, but he arrived too late. The British fleet attacked the French fleet, but the latter received reinforcements and the British retired to New York. There appeared to have been no co-ordination of effort in the British Armies during the Revolutionary War, due probably to the divergence of views that existed in England as to the righteousness of the American cause.

The surrender of Cornwallis virtually ended the war, although there remained a comparatively large British force at New York, and small garrisons at various points, including Savannah, Charleston, Fort Niagara, Fort Oswego and Fort Detroit. Savannah and Georgia were evacuated by the British in June. 1782, and North Carolina towards the close of the year.

In June, 1782, Sir Guy Carleton succeeded Sir Henry Clinton at New York. He was empowered to enter into negotiations with General \Vashington respecting terms of peace. Congress sent representatives to England and negotiations continued until November 30th, when terms were agreed to. The definitive treaty was not signed, however, until September 3rd, 1783.

New York was not evacuated by the British until November 25, 1783, and the western posts some years later.

The boundary line between Canada, or the Province of Quebec, on the north, and the United States to the south was set forth in the treaty, but at several points differences of interpretation led to disputes that were not settled for over half a century.