In his examination before a Committee of the House of Commons, on the sixth of May, 1779, the Earl of Cornwallis testified that " the knowledge of the country of America, for military purposes, was extremely "difficult to be obtained from the inhabitants ;*' that "the country, in " general, is so covered with wood and so favorable to ambuscades that, "certainly, it was very difficult to obtain a knowledge of it by recon- " noitering ; " and that he " never saw a stronger country or one better "calculated for the defensive." In another portion of his testimony, the Earl stated, " I can only Hay that it is a very strong country, very " rugged, very billy, and very woody ;" and that, although, "by no means "equally so," his former description was "applicable, in some degree, "to all." General Gray, befure the same Committee and on the same day, testified that "the inhabitantsofthe country, in general, were so very much " against us that they deserted the country wherever we came ; and "could get no intelligence that we could possibly depend on;" tha, "that part of America where I have been, is the strongest country I ever " was in It is every where hilly and covered with wood, intersected by " ravines, creeks, and marshy grounds ; and every quarter of a mile, is " a post fitted for ambuscades. Little or no knowledge could be obtaiDed " by reconnoitering; " and " America is, of all countries, the best calculated for the defensive: everyone hundred yards might be disputed, " at least that part of it that I have seen."