USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 33
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Both parties were dissatisfied with so inactive a service. WASHINGTON 'had been some time contemplating an attack on Boston, as soon as he could be justified in attempting the execution of so bold a design. About the middle of February, 1776,t the severe cold setting in, and the ice becoming suf- ficiently firm to bear the troops, he was disposed to make the attempt ; but a council of war, summoned on the occasion, being almost unanimous against the measure, he reluctantly abandoned it.
' The effective regular force of the Americans now amount- ed to upwards of fourteen thousand men ; in addition to which the commander in chief called out about six thousand of the militia of Massachusetts. With these troops he determined to take possession of the heights of Dorchester, whence it would be in his power greatly to annoy the ships in the har- bour and the soldiers in the town. By taking this position,
* See an account of the Forts around Boston, in Silliman's Journal, viii. 338.
t Holmes' Annals.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
from which the enemy would inevitably attempt to drive him, he expected to bring on a general action, during which he intended to cross over from Cambridge side with four thou- sand chosen men, and attack the town of Boston. To con- ceal his design, and to divert the attention of the garrison, a heavy bombardment of the town and lines of the enemy was begun on the evening of the 2d of March, and repeated the two succeeding nights. On the night of the 4th, immediately after the firing began, a considerable detachment, under the command of Gen. Thomas, passing from Roxbury, took silent possession of Dorchester heights. The ground was almost impenetrably hard, but the night was mild, and.by labouring with great diligence, their works were so far advanced by morn- ing, as to cover them in a great measure from the shot of the enemy. When the British after day break discovered these works, which were magnified to the view by a hazy atmos- phere, nothing could exceed their astonishment. No alterna- tive now remained, but to abandon the town, or to dislodge the provincials. General Howe, with his usual spirit, chose the latter part of the alternative, and took measures for the embarkation on that very evening of five regiments with the light infantry and grenadiers, on the important but most haz- ardous service. The transports fell down in the evening to- wards the castle, with the troops, amounting to about two thousand men ; but a tremendous storm at night rendered the execution of the design absolutely impracticable. A council of war was called the next morning, and agreed to evacuate the town as soon as possible.
A fortnight elapsed before that measure was effected. Meanwhile the Ameri- cans strengthened and extended their works ; and on the morning of the seventeenth of March the British discovered a breast work, that had been thrown up in the night at Nook's Hill, on Dorchester peninsula, which perfectly commanded Boston Neck, and the south part of the town. Delay was no longer safe. By four in the morning, the king's troops, with those Americans, who were attached to the royal cause, be- gan to embark ; and before ten all of them were under sail. As the rear embarked, general Washington marched trium- phantly into Boston, where he was joyfully received, as a de- liverer.'*
* 'The British fleet, after a detention of nine days in Nantasket roads, set sail for Halifax. The number of the British, who evacuated Boston, exclusive of the staff, was 7575 ; and the addition of the marines and sailors is supposed to have rendered Howe 10,000 strong. They left their barracks standing, and a number of pieces of cannon spiked, 4 large iron sea mor- tars, and stores, to the value of 30,000l. They demolished the castle, and knocked off the trunnions of the cannon.'
A detachment of the fleet remained to execute the Port Bill, by blockading the harbour, until the 14th of June, when a strong force went down from Boston, and made so effectual
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER LIV.
" The laws, the rights, The generous plan of power delivered down From age to age, by your renown'd forefathers, So dearly bought, the price of so much blood."
THE inhabitants of Boston speedfly returned to their homes, and on the 29th of March they held a regular meeting for the choice of town officers, in the Old Brick church .* May meeting for the choice of representatives was held on the 23d of that month, and the following step was taken relative to a declaration of independence :
' The article in the warrant, viz :- To consider whether the town will, in conformity to a Resolve of the late Honourable House of Representatives for this Colony [on the 10th of May] advise their Representatives, " That if the Honourable Conti- nental Congress should, for the safety of the Colonies, de- clare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain they, the inhabitants, will solemnly engage with their lives and for- tunes, to support them in the measure," was read, and duly considered, and the question being accordingly put, passed in the affirmative unanimously.'
The instructions to the representatives expressed the same sentiments, and contained also many very judicious remarks concerning the establishment of a regular government for the people of Massachusetts. The declaration of Independence, bearing the signature of the proscribed HANCOCK, as President of the Congress that issued it, on the 4th of July, 1776, was made publick at Boston on the 18th with great parade and exultation.t
The subject of a state constitution was taken into consider- ation by the general court, without delay : but it was not till the year 1780 that our present form was adopted, after the rejection of a previous plan. Several meetings were held in
an attack upon them as to compel them to leave their station, and take the advantage of a westerly wind to sail for Halifax. Had the wind continued from the east, they must inev- itably have surrendered.
Several transports arrived at different dates some weeks after the evacuation of the town, not having received information of the fact, and were taken. The number of prisoners amounted to about 500.
* The people of Boston had assembled twice or three times at Watertown, for the trans- action of town affairs, during the siege. Thursday lecture had been continued by Dr. An- drew Eliot until about the 23d of Dec. and was renewed immediately after the evacuation of the town, on the 28th of March, when Washington attended.
+ Bradford, Ilist. of Mass. ii. 104, 116, 186, 320, 326.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Boston on the occasion, and the debates were very animated. The town finally agreed to the adoption of the constitution. recommending some amendments. A majority of the people accepting the plan as it stood, the 4th of Sept. was appointed for the election of the state officers. The votes for governour in Boston were 923, of which Hancock had 858, Bowdoin 64, S. Adams 1. The Gen. Court met on the 25th of October, when it was ascertained that Hancock was elected governour by a great majority. There was no choice of Lt. Gov. by the people; Mr. Bowdoin was chosen by the court, but de- clined ; so likewise did James Warren Esq. of Plymouth; Thomas Cushing Esq. of Boston accepted the office.
The joy, which the people of Boston could not suppress on this occasion, from ' having a Governour who proceeded out of the midst of us,' was signified to Gov. Hancock in an ad- dress from the selectmen, to which he returned an answer, concluding with the assurance that in whatever situation his country should please to place him, the metropolis of this commonwealth might ever depend upon his particular atten- tion to its interests.
From the time of the evacuation of the town and the rout of the British fleet from the lower harbour, Boston and its vi- cinity had ceased to be the seat of the war. The citizens however bore their full portion in its burdens, and took part in its fatigues and duties by sea and land, as well as in the councils of the Congress and embassies to foreign parts. They maintained throughout the contest that no terms should be made with Britain, unaccompanied with the unconditional acknowledgment of independence. They were not however desirous to prolong the warfare, and received as joyfully as any of their countrymen the intelligence of peace. The proclamation of Congress announcing this event, reached Boston by express, on the 23d of April, 1783, and ' the sheriff of the co. of Suffolk, Jos. Henderson Esq. announced the same from the balcony of the State-house, at one o'clock, be- fore which a large concourse of the most respectable inhab- itants of the town were assembled, who demonstrated by three loud huzzas their joy upon this occasion: after which 13 cannon from the fortresses at the castle, and the same number at Fort-hill were fired.'
The adoption of the Federal Constitution was an event of equal importance. The Massachusetts convention, which as- sembled on this subject, in January 1788, consisted of 360 members, of whom a great portion came with strong prejudi- ces against the constitution : but after a discussion of several weeks, when the question of acceptance was finally decided, there were found to be 187 for, and 168 against it, giving a
40
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
majority of 19. This decision was declared ' on the 6th of Feb. in a manner too impressive to be forgotten by any who were present.'* The citizens of Boston expressed great joy on the occasion, which was manifested by a numerous procession composed of all classes and trades, with their respective and appropriate badges. Many farmers and others attended from the country and joined the procession, with the plough and other implements of husbandry. They formed at Faneuil- hall, and thence proceeded to the houses of the gentlemen, who had represented the town in the convention, and saluted them with cheers and from the guns of a small ship, which made part of the procession. Afterwards, as many as could find seats partook of an entertainment at the hall ; but mul- titudes we are told went away empty.
The principal events of the revolutionary war and other important dates having been preserved in the inscriptions on the monument, which was erected on Beacon Hill, we insert the same here, with a drawing of the monument and of the beacon whose place it occupied. The beacon was blown down (Nov. 26, 1789) and the monument was commenced in the next year, but not finished till the spring of 1791. It was ' a plain column of the Dorick order, raised on its proper pe- destal, substantially built of brick and stone. It was encrust- ed with a white cement, and had a large eagle of wood, gilt, at the top, supporting the American arms. The height, in- cluding the eagle, was 60 feet ; the diameter of the column was 4 feet, the pedestal was 8 feet.' The beacon was about the same height.
INSCRIPTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE MONUMENT.
TO COMMEMORATE THAT TRAIN OF EVENTS WHICH LED TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND FINALLY SECURED LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE TO THE UNITED STATES, THIS COLUMN IS ERECTED BY THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBU- TION OF THE CITIZENS OF BOSTON,
MDCCXC.
ON THE WEST SIDE :
Stamp Act passed, 1765, repealed, 1766 .- Board of customs established, 1767 .- British troops fired on the inhabitants of Boston, March 5, 1770-Tea act passed, 1773 .- Tea destroyed in Boston, Decem. 16 .- Port of Boston shut and guarded, June 1, 1774 .- General Congress at Philadelphia, Sep. 4 .- Provincial Congress at Concord, Oct. 11 .- Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775 .- Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17 .- Washington took command of the army, July 2 .- Boston evacuated, March 17, 1776 .- Independance declared by Congress, July 4, 1776; Hancock President.
* The session of the convention on that day was held in the meeting house, in Long-lane, which afterwards received the name of Federal-Street, from this circumstance:
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
ON THE NORTH SIDE :
Capture of Hessians at Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776 .- Capture of Hessians at Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777 .- Capture of British army at Saratoga, Oct. 17 .- Alliance with Franse, Feb. 6, 1778 .- Confederation of the United States formed, July 9 .- Constitution of Massachu- setts formed, 1780; Bowdoin President of Convention .- Capture of British army at York, Oct. 19, 1781 .- Prelimenaries of Peace, Nov. 30, 1782 .- Definitive treaty of Peace, Sept. 10, 1783 .- Federal Constitution formed, Sept. 17, 1787, and ratified by the United States, 1787 to 1790 .- New Congress assembled at New- York, April 6, 1789 .- Washington inaugurated President, April 30 .- Publick debts funded, Aug. 4, 1790.
ON THE EAST SIDE :
AMERICANS
WHILE FROM THIS EMINENCE, SCENES OF LUXURIANT FERTILITY, OP FLOUR- ISHING COMMERCE, AND THE ABODES OF SOCIAL HAPPINESS MEET YOUR VIEW, FORGET NOT THOSE, WHO BY THEIR EXERTIONS HAVE SECURED TO YOU THESE BLESSINGS.
VIEW OF THE BEACON AND MONUMENT ON BEACON-HILL.A
* The stones bearing the inscriptions, (which we have copied literally) with the eagle which surmounted the column, may be seen in the new State House.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER LV.
Famed as the Appian way, The world's first bridge to day All nations shall convey From shore to shore .- Dawes.
HAVING thus noticed the principal publick events of general interest, we shall devote the remainder of our work to ac- counts of the various improvements, institutions, and under- takings, which have engaged the attention of the people of Boston, since the revolution.
The first great undertaking, (which at the time was consid- ered the greatest that had ever been projected in America,*) was the erection of ' a bridge over Charles river in the place where the ferry between Boston and Charlestown was kept.' The Act, which incorporated Messrs. John Hancock, Thomas Russell, Nath. Gorham, and Eben Parsons and others, who had subscribed to a fund for executing and completing this purpose, was passed March 9, 1785, and the bridge was so far completed that the last pier was ready to be put down on the 31st of May, 1786.
On the 17th of June, the bridge was opened for passengers. Preparations had been made for great festivity on the occa- sion. Salutes of 13 guns were fired at sunrise from Bunker and Copps' hills, and the bells of Christ church rang repeat- ed peals. This salute formed a contrast so striking, compar- ed with the hostile and bloody one of the same day, of the same month, and of the week, in '75, as to excite in every breast emotions of the happiest kind. At one, P. M. the pro- prietors ' assembled in the [Old] State-house, for the purpose of waiting on the different branches of the legislature over the bridge. The procession consisted of almost every respecta- ble character in publick and private life ; as they moved from
* In a pamphlet on 'the distressed state of Boston,' 1720, we find the following remark : 'if there was a bridge built over Charles River, if 50,000l. were expended to make it durable, and so a moderate toll laid on all carts, coaches, horses, &c. this would help us by employ- ing the poor, and the circulation of the bills would be of great service, and other things of this nature might be thought on.' On the town records, we find, April 27, 1720, 'Voted that it be given as an instruction to the representatives of this town, now chosen, to promote the building a bridge over Charles River, at the place where the ferry hath been usually kept, viz. between Mr. Gee's and Mr. Hudson's point, and at no other place.'
In 1726, Town Rec. p. 467, there is mention of a proposed bridge from Winnessimet ferry to Noddle's Island, by John Yeamans, Esq.
A Bou en del el Se
l'intered according to det of Congress by d. Bowen
P. 316
VIEW OF CHARLESTOWN FROM THE DOME OF THE STATE HOUSE. ..
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
State-street, a salute was fired from the Castle; and upon their arrival at the entrance of the bridge, the attendant com- panies of artillery and artificers, formed two lines on the right and left of the proprietors, and moved on to the centre of the bridge, when the President of the proprietary advanced alone, and gave orders to Mr. Cox, the master workman, to fix the draw for the passage of the company, which was im- mediately done. At this moment 13 cannon were fired from Copps' hill, and the procession passed forward, attended by the loudest shouts of acclamation, from a concourse of at least 20,000 spectators. As the company ascended Breed's hill, 13 cannon were discharged. The gentlemen took their seats at two tables of 320 feet, united at each end by a semi- circular one, which accommodated 800 persons, who spent the day in sober festivity, and separated at 6 o'clock.'
The following description of Charles-river bridge was pub- lished at the time, as taken from actual survey. 'The abut- ment at Charlestown, from the old landing, is 100 feet ; space to the first pier 16 feet ; 36 piers at equal distances to the draw 6224 feet ; width of the draw 30 feet ; 39 piers at equal distances from the draw 672 feet ; space to the abutment at Boston 164 feet ; abutment at Boston to the old landing 45} feet ; whole length1503 feet.
' The 75 piers total, upon which this elegant structure stands, are each composed of 7 sticks of oak timber, united by a cap piece, strong braces and girts, and afterwards driv- en into the bed of the river, and firmly secured by a single pile on each side, driven obliquely to a solid bottom. The piers are connected to each other by large string-pieces, which are covered with 4 inch plank. The Bridge is 42 feet in width, and on each side is accommodated with a pas- sage 6 feet wide, railed in for the safety of people on foot. The Bridge has a gradual rise from each end, so as to be two feet higher in the middle than at the extremities. Forty ele- gant lamps are erected at suitable distances, to illuminate it when necessary. There are four strong stone wharves con- nected with three piers each, sunk in various parts of the river.
' The floor of the Bridge at the highest tides, is 4 feet above the water, which generally rises about 12 or 14 feet. The distance where the longest pier is erected, from the floor of the Bridge to the bed of the river, is 462 feet.'
The cost of this bridge has been stated at £15,000, lawful, and the property was divided into 150 shares of £100 each. Rates of toll. to be double on Lord's days, were established, by the act of incorporation, which the proprietors were to en- joy for forty years, paying to the college at Cambridge an annuity of £200, in consideration of their loss of income from
0
-
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
the ferry. This period was extended to 70 years, and the double toll repealed, when the charter was granted for West Boston Bridge, at the expiration of which period the property reverts to the state.
There had been considerable effort to have the first bridge carried from West Boston to Cambridge, but the expediency of making the experiment across the narrower part of the river was so apparent, that the town of Boston had expressed an opinion almost unanimous (1$38 to 2) in favour of it.
West Boston Bridge is a conveyance from the late Pest- house point, at the west end of Cambridge-street, over Charles river, to the opposite shore in Cambridge. A number of gen- tlemen, (Francis Dana, Oliver Wendell, James Sullivan, Hen- ry Jackson, Mungo Mackay, Wm. Wetmore.) were incorpora- ted for the purpose of erecting this bridge, March 9th, 1792.
' The causeway to W. Boston bridge was begun July 15th, 1792, and suspended after the 26th of December, till the 20th of March 1793, when the work was resumed. The wood work of the bridge was begun the 8th of April, 1793, and the bridge and causeway opened for passengers the 23d of No- vember following, being seven months and an half from lay- ing the first pier. The sides of the causeway are stoned, capstand, and railed ; on each side of which is a canal about thirty feet wide.
' The bridge stands on 180 piers, is 3483 feet long.
Bridge over the gore, 14 do. 275 do.
Abutment Boston side, 87 1-2
Causeway, 3344
Distance from end of the causeway to Cambridge Meeting-house, 7810
Width of the bridge, 40
Railed on each side for foot passengers.
' To the proprietors a toll was granted for 70 years from the opening of the bridge,* which together with the causeway was estimated to have cost about £23.000, l. m. The prin- cipal undertaker for building the bridge, was Mr. Whiting.'
Those two bridges and the neck continued to be the only avenues to the town, landward, until the opening of South Boston Bridge. This grew out of the project for annexing Dorchester Neck (so called) to Boston, as a part of the same town. In the latter end of 1803, there were but ten families on that peninsula, which comprised an extent of 560 acres of land. These families united with several citizens of Boston in a petition to the town (Dec. 27) for the privilege of being
* This term has since been extended to 70 years from the opening of Craigie's bridge. West Boston to pay the College 200/. annually, and Craigie's to pay West Boston 100/. during their joint existence.
.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
annexed thereto, ' upon the single condition that the inhabi- tants [of B.] will procure a bridge to be erected between Bos- ton and Dorchester neck.' On the 31st of Jan. 1804, after several confused meetings on the subject, the town agreed to the proposition, on condition ' that the place from which and the terms on which the bridge should be built shall be left entirely to the Legislature.' Application was made to the General Court, and measures were in train for authorising a bridge from South-Street to the point. The inhabitants of the South-end of the town, having opposed this measure in vain thus far in its progress, formed a plan at this juncture, in which they proposed to erect a bridge where the present bridge stands, and, to obviate the objection that such a bridge would not lessen the distance from the point so much as the South-street bridge would, they offered to construct a commo- dious street, across the flats from Rainsford's lane to the head of the proposed bridge. They presented a petition to the Court to be incorporated for these purposes 'upon the pre- sumption that no liberty will be granted for the erection of any other bridge,' to the northward of their bridge, ' unless at some future period the increased settlement of this part of the country should be such, that the publick exigencies should require the same.' This plan and petition met with so fa- vourable a reception, that the Dorchester point proprietors were induced to make a compromise with the South-end peti- tioners, in which it was agreed, that the South-Street bridge should be abandoned, and that the South-end bridge should be transferred to the Dorchester company, and the proposed street be carried forward by the petitioners. A joint com- mittee made a report on the bases of this compromise, which was accepted in concurrence, Feb. 23d ; and on the 6th of March, bills were passed for the three objects, the annexation of Dorchester neck to Boston, the incorporation of the Pro- prietors of Boston South Bridge, and also of the Front-Street Corporation in the town of Boston.
Messrs. William Tudor, Gardiner Green, Jona. Mason, and Harrison Gray Otis, were the proprietors named in Boston South Bridge act .* Seventy years' improvement was allowed, from the date of the first opening of said bridge for passen- gers, which took place ' in the summer of 1805.' On the first of October, it was the scene of a military display and sham fight. This bridge is 1551 feet in length, and cost the pro- prietors about 56,000 dollars.
* The proprietors of Roxbury canal (incorporated Feb. 7, 1796) procured the insertion of a clause in the act, requiring the South Boston bridge proprietors to pay a certain sum to vessels passing above the draw.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Canal or Craigie's Bridge was opened on Commencement- day, August 30, 1809. It runs from Barton's pt. in Boston, to Lechmere's pt. in Cambridge. Its length is 2796 ft. ; its width, 40 ft. This bridge on the Cambridge side is united toCharles- town by Prison-point bridge, which is 1821 ft. long, and 35 ft. broad, having but one side railed for foot passengers.
All these bridges are well lighted by lamps when the even- ings are dark, and the lights, placed at regular distances, have a splendid and romantic appearance. The rates of toll are the same on Charlestown, Craigie's and W. Boston. Pas- sengers to and from Cambridge over Prison-point bridge are not subject to toll. Foot passengers are not taxed on South-Boston bridge, but the rates for vehicles, &c. are rather higher. The construction of all these bridges is said to be similar, excepting that Craigie's is covered with a layer of gravel, and some part of it has been recently Macadamized .*
The Western Avenue, or Mill Dam, erected by the Boston and Roxbury Mill Corporation, from Beacon-street in Boston to Sewall's point in Brookline, constitutes a sixth avenue into the city. The project for this great work was brought before the town in a petition from Isaac P. Davis and others, June 11, 1813, and the inhabitants having given their assent to its execution, on certain conditions, Messrs. I. P. Davis, Uriah Cotting, Wm. Brown, and their associates, were incorporated for the purpose, June 14, 1814. Very little was done towards the accomplishment of this object before January 1818, when Mr. Cotting issued an address to the publick, setting forth the advantages to be derived to Boston from the contemplated improvement. Subscription papers were not long after open- ed, and all the shares were immediately taken on one day, and the next day were on sale at an advanced price. The work was commenced under the eye of Mr. Cotting, but he did not live to witness its completion : his place was supplied by Col. Loammi Baldwin, and the road was opened for pas- sengers, July 2, 1821. There was a splendid ceremony on the occasion : a cavalcade of citizens, under the direction of Adj. Gen. Was. H. Sumner, at an carly hour entered the town over the dam, and were welcomed on this side by the inhabitants, who waited to receive them.
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