USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts, for two hundred years: from the year 1620 to 1820 > Part 29
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an attitude different from that of rebels. On the fourth of July following, the continental congress, after most mature consideration, declared the American colonies to be Sovereign and Independent States, and asserted their right and title to all the attributes of such a station, among the nations of the earth. The intelligence was received in all parts of the country with great welcome and rejoicing; but in none more than in Massa- chusetts.
There were, in all the colonies, a greater or less number who disapproved of the opposition made to the parent govern- ment, and who, on this account, were obnoxious to the great body of the people. But there were different classes among them. Some were chiefly apprehensive of the consequences of opposition, and believed it would be impossible to succeed: others, who were mostly officers of the crown, were more bitter and virulent in censuring the friends of liberty. The latter joined the British in Boston, for safety, and went with them to Halifax. A part of these never returned, and were supported by the British government : others came back and threw them- selves on the mercy of the government. They were impri- soned for a few months; and it was long before the prejudices of the people against them were entirely eradicated.
Several months before the declaration of independence, the general court of Massachusetts voted, to alter the style of writs and other legal processes, substituting " the people and govern- ment of Massachusetts," for "George the third ;" and in dating public official papers, the particular year of the reign of the king, which had been in practice, was omitted. A law was made, for the training and discipline of the militia. They were liable to be called for, at any hour; and it was judged im- portant to have them instructed, in some measure, in the mili- tary art. The system of military discipline and exercise pre- pared by Colonel Pickering, in the fall of 1774, with some improvements, which he had made in it, was adopted for the guide of the militia, by authority of the general court.
After the British troops left Boston, the general court of Massachusetts was relieved, in some measure, of the great care and anxiety which had rested on it, to provide for the defence of the country. Yet the duties still to be performed were but a little less onerous than during the first year of the war. The enemy invaded New York, in June, with a large army front Halifax and England ; and a great force from Canada was also advancing on Lake Champlain. The fear of another attack on Boston was removed ; but great exertions were necessary to raise the proportion of men, required to act against the
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British in other parts of the country, and to pay the amount called for by congress, to support the continental army.
Soon after the British arrived at New York, General Wash- ington called on congress for more troops, and they recommend- ed to the several states to furnish them. The general court of Massachusetts voted to raise five thousand men, on this occa- sion, for the term of six months. The time was critical, and demanded extraordinary efforts. The British army at New York consisted of twenty thousand; and a large force was advancing from Canada, at the same time. In the preamble of the resolve for raising these men, it was said, "the unre- lenting spirit of the British ministry was pushing them on for the destruction of America and to enslave us forever ; but we trust, that a manly and brave resistance will defeat their wicked design : though the number of men called for is large, this is not to be regarded, when we consider the noble object we have in view. We trust our fellow-citizens will not confer with flesh and blood, but will readily and promptly fill up the regiments required, that we may be able to defeat the plans of our cruel oppressors." £50,000 were voted for bounties, and the ad- vance pay for one month. The general court also consented, that two of the regiments, left for the defence of Boston in the spring, should proceed to join the main army at New York, and ordered the militia to be in readiness to march for the protection of the metropolis, whenever it should be necessary. In addition to all these efforts, other regiments of militia were soon after ordered to New York, from Bristol and Plymouth counties ; and some from Berkshire and Hampshire counties, to reinforce the northern army.
In September, another call was made by General Washing- ton, for more of the militia; and the general court ordered every fifth man to march. The enemy soon after appeared off Rhode Island, and a part of the militia were ordered to pro- ceed for the defence of that place. General Lincoln was ap- pointed to command those destined for New York ; and march- ed, with a great number, as far as Fairfield, in Connecticut. But the British, at the time, discovered no design to penetrate into the country, and the men were discharged within three months, the term for which they were enlisted.
Nothing but a most devoted spirit of patriotism, and a strong love of liberty, could have prompted to such sacrifices and efforts. In other times, the expenses and exertions of the year 1776, alone, would have discouraged the inhabitants. The greater part of the whole male population was engaged in the public service, in the course of the year. It also required large
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numbers to attend the waggons of provisions and stores ; ship- carpenters were sent to the lake to build boats; and women and children were obliged to perform the ordinary labor of agriculture.
While the general court was so much occupied in providing for the military service, their attention was also required to the internal affairs of the state. The people were so pressed with public claims, that they were unable to meet private demands. Laws were made for their relief, by suspending legal processes for the collection of debts. The paper money depreciated ; and the soldiers and their families suffered much by it. A committee was appointed, to meet others from Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, to adopt measures for preventing the depreciation of the bills, and a spirit of monopoly and specula- tion which prevailed: the committees had two meetings, but it was found impossible to remedy the evil.
The efforts of General Washington, in the summer of 1776, to check the British at New York, were ineffectual. Their army numbered more than twenty thousand; and the Ameri- can regular troops were but little more than half that number, to which may be added the militia for short periods ; but whose term of enlistment often expired when they were most wanted. A large part of the American troops were then at the north, under Schuyler and Gates, to oppose the British from Canada. General Washington could only give the enemy some check in their movements, and make good a retreat, when they ap- proached with a formidable force. There were several engage- ments between large portions of the two armies, in the course of the season, on Long Island, at and near the city of New York, and in the country near the Hudson; in which many were killed on both sides. But the British generally succeeded in driving the Americans from the forts and positions they had taken ; and General Washington was obliged to retire through New Jersey, and cross the Delaware. There he formed the bold plan of recrossing the river, and making an attack on the enemy, who had pursued him to Trenton, though he had only about two thousand two hundred men. It was the last of De- cember, and the most of those then with him would soon finish their term of service. He recrossed the Delaware, near Tren- ton, with great difficulty,* as there was ice in the river; and sur- prised and captured a large body of the enemy. He pursued those who retired, to the vicinity of Princeton, and there gained a second victory. These daring attacks induced the British to
* Two detachments of the American troops were not able to pass over.
.
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go into winter quarters; revived the almost expiring hopes of the Americans ; and gave opportunity to fill up the enlistments for the future. Congress had, before this time, recommended to the states to raise seventy-five thousand men, for the term of three years, or during the war. And the portion for Mas- sachusetts was fifteen regiments, being more than a sixth part of the whole number required. The following year, two more regiments were added from Massachusetts, one of which was artillery. A bounty was also given, to induce men to enlist ; and in most cases clothing was furnished, and some pay ad- vanced by the state.
The British sent a fleet, with six thousand troops, to Rhode Island, who landed at Newport, in December; which gave great alarm to the people of that state and of Massachusetts. The militia were called out in great numbers, to check the enemy, on this occasion. The militia in Berkshire were ordered to be in readiness, to march whenever called for, to recruit the army near Lake Champlain ; and were furnished with arms at the expense of the state.
At the close of 1776, it was found that £150,000 had been expended by Massachusetts, to comply with recommendations of the continental congress, exclusive of various expenses for the defence of the state, and of the services of the militia at Rhode Island. On application to congress, for a reimburse- ment, £100,000 was received. General Washington bore testimony to the promptness of Massachusetts at this time, and . to the activity and bravery of the militia which were furnished. Early in 1777, two thousand of the militia of Massachusetts were sent on to join Washington in New Jersey. His army was still very small: for the enlistments of regular troops were not so readily made as had been expected. In all the states, the men engaged for three years, and during the war, with great reluctance. The general court of Massachusetts offered an additional bounty, to be paid by two instalments, and furnished a large number of blankets; so that the poor soldiers had not to pay for them with depreciated paper. Still it was a long time before the full number could be raised; nor was this effected till orders were issued for the several towns to raise their proportion by classes, and to engage them on such terms as they might be able. The regiments raised in Massachu- setts were marched chiefly to the north-west, to oppose the British in that quarter; and the others were ordered to the south, to join the main army under General Washington.
In the spring of 1777, General Ward resigned his command
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of the troops in and near Boston, and General Heath was ap- pointed in his place. A commission as major-general in the continental army was now given to Benjamin Lincoln, who had been a brigadier before. Colonel Henry Knox was ap- pointed brigadier general of artillery; and Glover, Patterson, Learned, and Nixon, brigadiers in the infantry. The public and private armed vessels captured several valuable ships, be- longing to the British. From the first of July, 1775, to the last of December, 1776, it was estimated that the cargoes thus taken, were worth one and a half million sterling.
There had been a great difficulty in providing fire-arms for the men raised in Massachusetts and the other parts of the country. A large quantity arrived in March, 1777, with other valuable articles, from France. And a supply was thus obtain- ed for the troops then preparing to join the American army .* The expenses and debts of the state were such, at this period, as to require another large emission of paper, and a tax of £100,000. The amount of bills was £125,000; but these depreciated as soon as issued, and the taxes were not easily collected. This was a time of very great distress and suffering. Every thing not absolutely necessary for the support of the people at home was furnished the army. Provisions from the western counties were sent on to the troops near Lake Cham- plain. For the population far from Albany was then very thin, and Vermont was just beginning to be settled. The inhabi- tants on the seaboard were unable to procure grain and flour from the south. Few had a competency ; none could boast of abundance.
In April, the militia were ordered out again in large numbers ; some to Providence and Rhode Island, and some to the army on the Hudson, above Albany. The enemy were very strong in that quarter. General Burgoyne had the command, and was threatening to push forward against the Americans. There was also a plan, this season, to drive the British from Rhode Island ; and Massachusetts furnished most of the men for the enterprise : and for the greater part of the summer and fall, the number of three thousand and twenty-five hundred were furnished, for a larger or shorter term. The enterprise did not succeed ; for the British fleet had command of the bays and waters in that vicinity.
In June, 1777, Massachusetts sent a regiment of men, and a
The commanders of the regiments belonging to Massachusetts, were Vose, Bayley, Greaton, Shepard, Putnam, Nixon, Francis, Brewer, Alden, M. Jackson, Wesson, Marshall, Bradford, Smith, Bigelow, H. Jackson, and Crane. And soon after, Brooks and Sproat.
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small naval force, for the relief of St. Johns, and other places on the Bay of Fundy, where the people were friendly to the American cause ; and who, on that account, were frequently harassed by the British from Halifax. Congress gave its consent to the expedition, but afforded no assistance. Unexpected difficulties occurred, which prevented the execution of the plan ; and the naval force of the British was too large to ensure success on the water, in that quarter.
CHAPTER XX.
A Constitution proposed and formed by General Court, but rejected by the majority of the citizens - Large body of the Militia called out - Northern Army - The British advance - Battle near Lake George and at Saratoga - British army captured, October, 1777 - Affairs at the south, and in the middle states - Battle of Brandywine and of Germantown - British take possession of Philadelphia, and the American army have quarters at Valley Forge, in vicinity - The men suffer much for want of elothes - Heavy assessments laid on the states by Congress - More men required - Loans - Appeals to the People - Confederation -- John Ad- anis Envoy to France and Holland - An able Negotiator - Delegates to Congress, and Judges of Superior Court, 1778.
AT the session of the general court, in June, 1777, it was proposed to prepare a civil constitution for the state, and a com- mittec of twelve was appointed to present a form at the next meeting. The subject had been suggested during the prece- ding winter ; and it had been recommended to the people, by the general court for 1776-7, to choose their representatives with a view to their forming such a constitution. Many of the towns were opposed to this mode of preparing a form of gov- ernment. It was contended, that it should be done by dele- gates chosen for that specific purpose, and not by the general court. The committee, however, reported a constitution in January, 1778; which was submitted to the people, and rejected by a great majority. It was prepared at short notice, and not sufficiently matured. The greatest objection to it was, that there was no bill of rights ; or that the natural and unalien- able rights of the people were not expressly reserved and secured. The executive power was not fully and exclusively given to the governor ; and yet he was to be president of the senate. But in many respects its outlines were similar to those of the form of government prepared and adopted in 1780 .*
The British army from Canada made advances on the Hud- son towards Albany, in August, and it was so formidable, that
* See Appendix.
34
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more of the militia were called for from Massachusetts and the adjoining states. A great number, also, at this time, were serving for the protection of Rhode Island. But the case was so urgent, that the general court ordered reinforcements from the militia in Berkshire and Hampshire; and a few weeks after from the counties of Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, and York. The feelings of the people fully responded to the address of their representatives, on this occasion ; who said, " We rely on that public virtue, and that unbounded love of freedom and of coun- try, with which the militia of Massachusetts have always been inspired." Large sums were appropriated for provisions for these troops and those previously in that quarter; and for making the roads passable through the western part of the state, and over the Green Mountains. Every seventh man in the militia was called out, at this time ; and what, with the continental regu- lar troops, and the militia at Rhode Island, and on duty at various places on the seacoasts, within the state, amounted to about every fifth able-bodied man ; making in the public service, for August, September, and October, not less than twenty thousand. The American troops near Lake Champlain, and on the Hud- son River, were commanded by General Gates; General Lin- coln, of Massachusetts, had been designated by Washington for the command ; but was not able to proceed when first selected. But he arrived in camp soon after the brilliant affair at Ben- nington, when the brave General Stark, with the militia of New Hampshire, surprised and captured the greater part of an advanced detachment of the British army. The British lost nearly one thousand men in this affair, in killed and taken; and the whole party under Stark scarcely amounted to that number. General Lincoln saw the exposed situation of the British army, as it had advanced south of Lake Champlain, at a distance from the fortified places, and he made a diversion in their rear, to cut off all communication with those forts ; when it became necessary for General Bourgoyne to press on, where he would be opposed by General Gates with a large force, or to return to the lake, when he would be between two assailing armies. General Lincoln left a considerable force in the fort at the south part of the lake, and joined the main army under General Gates, near Saratoga. A severe action took place be- tween the British and American forces, on the 19th of Septem- ber. Almost the whole of the British army and a great part of the Americans were engaged. The attack was begun by three British regiments on a detachment of the Americans, and about a mile in advance of their main body. The British were repulsed; but soon resumed the attack with additional num-
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bers. The Americans were also reinforced by another division ; and the whole of the enemy were soon engaged in the battle. The American army maintained its position. The British retired to the place whence they made the attack in the morn- ing, with the loss of about one thousand, in killed, wounded, and taken ; while those of the Americans did not exceed three hundred and twenty.
On the 7th of October, there was another general engage- ment between the British and Americans near Saratoga. The right wing of the British attempted to take post on the left of the American main army. Three regiments of the Ameri- cans advanced to oppose them, about the distance of a mile, when each party aimed for an eminence which intervened. The Americans were so fortunate as to gain possession of it. The British attacked them, with great force and spirit, but were repulsed, and pursued to their lines by the Americans ; who entered one of their entrenchments sword in hand. The Americans remained for the night near the British lines ; and General Bourgoyne retired to a distant position which was strongly fortified. On the 19th he surrendered to the Ameri- can army. He was disappointed of the relief or support he expected, and his troops were exhausted by fatigue and want of provisions. The plan of the British had been to push on to Albany, and to join a detachment from New York on the Hudson River below that place, and thus to cut off all communi- cation between the New England states, and those south of New York. The defeat of this plan, and the capture of a large army of the enemy, of eight thousand men, was matter of great rejoicing in America. When the British began the campaign they were said to be ten thousand. The Ameri- cans under General Gates amounted to twelve or thirteen thousand ; the greater part of which were from Massachusetts. General Lincoln was wounded, and taken off from active service for several months. Colonel John Brooks, of Massa- chusetts, was particularly distinguished in the engagements which preceded the surrender of the British army. Colonel Francis and Colburn of Massachusetts were killed in this campaign. General Stark, of New Hampshire, made a present of some of the military articles, taken by him from the British, to the general court of Massachusetts. A letter of thanks was written to him, and he was presented with a suit of clothes and a piece of linen ; which expressed their sense of his useful services, as well as a present of far greater value would have done, in more prosperous times.
While these important events were passing, at the north,
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General Washington was watching the main army of the enemy, near New York, and preparing to defend the country from their incursions. He could act judiciously, only on the defensive. The British were in possession of New York and a great part of New Jersey, with an army of veteran troops, more numerous than the American ; and their fleet gave them great advantages in all their operations on the seaboard. General Washington had not a force sufficient to justify an attack on the enemy. And one attempt, if unsuccessful, would probably have ruined the cause of America for ever. It was his policy, and the dictate of wisdom and patriotism, to move with caution, and to prepare himself to meet the British army with effect, when it could be done with hope of success, or when the defence of the country fully demanded it.
The last of August, the British commander sailed from New York and landed twenty-five thousand men in Maryland, at Elk River, and not far from the borders of the state of Delaware. Washington, who was in the vicinity of Philadel- phia, marched immediately to Wilmington, within a few miles of the enemy ; and the militia, in the lower parts of Penn- sylvania were called in to join him. The British approached within two miles of Wilmington, and then filed off for a fort on the heights of the Brandywine. General Washington perceived their design, and sent a detachment to take posses- sion before the enemy should reach it. This movement brought on a severe action, the following morning ; which continued with some short relaxations, through the day, and in which the greater portion of both armies were engaged. The British had the advantage in numbers ; but by the skilful arrangements of Washington, and the bravery of his officers, the Americans maintained their position, and retired at evening in good order without being pursued by the enemy. Nearly one thousand were killed and wounded in the American army ; the loss of the British was reported to be much greater. The Marquis Lafayette, who had joined the American army a short time before, and was a volunteer in the battle, was severely wounded. But he was soon after appointed a major general, though only twenty years of age. He had"then been in America only a few months. A second battle was fought on the 5th of October, at Germantown, near Philadel- phia, between the troops under General Washington and the British commanded by General Howe. The attack was made by the Americans, with effect ; but a thick fog came on, which disconcerted the plan previously formed by Washing- ton. The enemy could not be discerned; and different
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divisions of the Americans mistook each other for' British troops. A number of men were killed ; but neither army could claim a victory. A small portion only of the troops under General Washington at this time, were from Massachu- setts. The enemy took possession of Philadelphia for the winter ; and the quarters of the American army were fixed in the vicinity, at a place called Valley-Forge. The greater part of the troops who were at the capture of Bourgoyne joined the main army at that place in November, and re- mained there through the winter. Their sufferings were very great from want of suitable provisions and clothing, particularly the latter.
The general court was in session the greater part of the summer and fall of 1777; and after a short recess, met again the last of November to consult for the public defence and safety. Congress had voted to call on the states for $5,000,000 ; and the sum required of Massachusetts was up- wards of $800,000 ; a larger amount than of any other state. The assembly immediately proposed to raise a loan of $250,- 000, and voted a tax of $800,000 ; but paper was then the currency of the country, and its real value far below the nom- inal. At this session, agents were chosen to request congress to adjust the claims of the state, as it was believed its ex- penses had been much greater than its just proportion ; and this would lessen the amount necessary for Massachusetts to raise, at that time.
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