USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Massachusetts from July 1775, when general Washington took command of the American Army at Cambridge, to the year 1789, (inclusive) when federal government was established under the present constitution, Vol 2 > Part 2
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as the colonists were at first to meet the regular troops of Britain in the open field, he was re- markably fitted to direct their military move- ments ; to restrain the resolute, to inspirit the timid, and to create an army, adequate to the re- pulsion of British mercenaries, and to the estab- lishment of American freedom. His love of liber- ty was ardent and unextinguishable. In him, it was a most elevated and holy sentiment, unalloy- ed by selfishness or ambition. Had the British troops been too powerful for the American army ; had they taken possession of the Atlantic settle- ments and planted the standard of despotism on the cultivated lands of Anglo-Americans ; he had resolved to retire to the western mountains, with the chosen sons of liberty who should adhere to him; and there build up another empire of civil freedom.
Charles Lee, Esq. then recently appointed major general, by the Continental Congress, joined the army at Cambridge at this time. He had been several years in the English service, in which he acquired a high reputation for courage, and dis- played considerable military talents. But it was supposed he cherished some feelings of rivalship toward general Washington, and even aspired to the chief command of the American army. At a subsequent period, his conduct fully jutified this
jured. If Lord Chatham's son should be in Canada, and, by any means, fall into your power, you are enjoined to treat him with all possible deference and respect ; you cannot err in paying too much honour to the son of such an illustrious character, and so true a friend to America. Any other pri- soners who may fall into your hands, you will treat with as much humanity and kindness as may be consistent with your own safety and the public interest."'
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opinion. The citizens belonging to Massachusetts, who received commissions from the General Con- gress, at this time, were Artemas Ward, major general, Seth Pomeroy, John Thomas and William Heath, as brigadiers .*
The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts was in session, at this time, in Watertown, and on the arrival of general Washington at head-quarters in Cambridge, they appointed a committee to wait on him, with assurances of perfect respect and confidence, and of readiness to render him all the aid, which the resources of the province would admit. He had been instructed by the Continen- tal Congress to consult the civil authority of Mas- sachusetts ; and, in his military operations, to con- form, as far as possible, to its direction and advice. The most perfect harmony was maintained be- tween them, while the American army continued within the province.
He had been at Cambridge but a few days, be- fore he made a request for a reinforcement of the army of 3,000 men, to be raised immediately, with- in the province of Massachusetts, which already furnished about three fourths of the troops then collected. An order was promptly passed by the Provincial Congress for enlisting this number, and the several towns in Middlesex and the adjoining counties were required to raise their respective quotas, though, a few days after, a counter order was issued, at the suggestion of the commander in chief. The call was made when the move- ments of the British in Boston indicated an attack upon the American lines, and on finding that the
* Putnam of Connecticut and Schuyler of New York were appointed Major Generals in the continental army.
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troops at Cambridge and Roxbury were not só numerous as had been represented. Some re- cruits arrived from the southern colonies in the mean time, even as far as Virginia ;* and the fear of a sortie from the besieged in Boston subsiding, it was concluded to suspend the execution of the order, as to two thousand.
At the same time, a request was made by ge- neral Washington for gun-powder; an order was sent out, by the Provincial Congress, to all the towns within forty miles, to furnish a quantity from their regular stock, and a large amount was immediately collected.
Early in June, two large coasting vessels and a British tender went from Boston to Machias, a small settlement in the eastern part of Maine, to obtain lumber for the benefit of the enemy. The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts had forbid- den the people to supply the British with provi- sions or lumber of any kind. The citizens of Machias were therefore determined to defeat the plan which the owners of the vessels had in view. They took possession of one of the coasters, and secured her at the wharf. The commander of the tender, with the other in his custody, moved down to the mouth of the river, intending there to load with lumber and return to Boston. A number of the people embarked on board a small vessel and dropped down to the entrance of the harbour, to prevent the British in their enterprize. A skir- mish ensued. After a severe engagement of an hour, the tender was captured. The captain re-
* Eight companies of riflemen from Pennsylvania, Mary- land and Virginia, consisting of 100 each : and were only twenty days on their march.
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ceived a mortal wound, of which he died the next day, and two of his men were killed, and several severely wounded Six of the Americans also were wounded, and one was killed in this affray. Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, who commanded in the affair, conducted with great bravery.
In June, a committee* of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts had been sent to lake Cham- plain for the purpose of causing such of the can- non and military stores, just before taken in the forts at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, as was practicable, to be transported to Cambridge for the use of the army there, and for concerting suitable measures for further military operations in that quarter and in Canada. It was early perceived, that it would be highly important to take posses- sion of the fortresses on the lake, and thus pre- vent the British from penetrating into the western . parts of the colonies, and also to engage the feel- ings of the Canadians in support of civil liberty, for which the colonies were contending.
The patriots of Connecticut, New York, Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire were early sensible of the great advantages of securing the north- western passes from Canada to the frontier settle- ments. Soon after the affair at Lexington, when it was generally believed that the colonies must resort to force to maintain their rights, an expedi- tion was planned in Connecticutt to seize the Bri- tish forts on lake Champlain. A few resolute men immediately proceeded to the county of Berkshire in Massachusetts, where they were
* W. Spooner, J. Foster, and J. Sullivan.
1 Mr. Hancock and S. Adams, then on their way to Phila- delphia, were present at the consultation.
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joined by Colonel James Easton, Major Brown and others,* in the bold and arduous enterprize. On the New Hampshire Grants, so called, (now Vermont) the party was still further augmented by a number of men collected by Ethan Allen, Esq., and Colonel Seth Warner. Benedict Arnold of Rhode Island, who offered his services to the con- gress of Massachusetts for this purpose, was also dispatched, in the early part of May, to that quar- ter, to assist in the undertaking. He was au- thorised to enlist 200 men for the service ; but he proceeded without raising any, and arrived at the lake soon after the others had reached it, and was engaged with them in the capture of Ticon- deroga and Crown Point. Immediately after, he proceeded to St. John's, situated at the northern extremity of the lake, where he surprized and took the fortress occupied by the British.
Arnold was a brave and resolute officer, but of violent passions and unwilling to submit to the command of others. A dispute soon arose respect- ing the chief command of the troops in that quar- ter; Arnold assuming the right, while Easton and Allen were opposed to his pretensions. When the committee from the Congress of Massachusetts arrived, they gave an opinion unfavourable to the claims of Arnold, in consequence of which he re- signed his commission for that department. The committee continued at the lakes several weeks, for the purpose of organizing a military force suffi- cient to keep possession of the captured forts. They provided for the reinforcement of the Ame- rican troops by several companies from the county
* About 220 in the whole. Major Brown was a brave offi- cer, and of great service in this expedition.
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of Berkshire; and appointed agents to furnish them with necessary provisions, and such military stores as could be procured there. These troops were soon after augmented by a party from the pro- vince of New York, amounting to about three hundred.
Without this seasonable precaution, the British regular troops, assisted by the Canadians and In- dians, would have harassed the western settle- ments in the New England Colonies ; and so well secured themselves in the forts on lake Cham- plain, as to facilitate any future plan of a for- midable invasion from that quarter. This seems to have been foreseen by men of intelligence in Massachusetts, as well as in New York, Connecti- cut, and New Hampshire. Joseph Hawley, Esq. of Hampshire county was most decided and zeal- ous in favour of this expedition. He addressed a letter (June 4th,) to general Joseph Warren, then President of the Provincial Congress, and chair- man of the committee of safety, urging immediate attention to the subject, and stating the great im- portance of maintaining a military force on the lake for the security of the country. He was then an influential member of the Provincial Con- gress, but was with his family at Northampton. In his opinion, it was equally important to prevent the British from regaining the forts on the lake, as to check them in their attempts to penetrate the province on the sea board. This letter, it is believed, induced the Congress of Massachusetts to appoint a committee to proceed to the lake and to take measures for strengthening the force of the Colonies in that region. This committee ad- vised the Continental Congress of the great im-
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portance of holding the forts on the lake. It will also be seen, that, a few months after this period, Massachusetts raised a large number of men for the military service in Canada, although the capital of the Province was in possession of the British, and much more than half of the Ame- rican army at Cambridge was composed of her brave citizens.
The public documents of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, at this time, afford evi- dence, that a defensive war only was yet waged . against the British government; and that some hope was cherished of reconciliation on terms con- sistent with ancient charter rights and privileges. After referring to the arbitrary measures of the ministry towards the Colonies for ten years, the claims of Parliament to impose taxes on the people of America, who were not represented in that bo- dy, and the employment of military power to com- pel submission to oppressive and unconstitutional laws, they declared their resolution to stand in de- fence of their liberty, and to repel force by force. "Our fathers," they said, in an address to the people, " left their native land to seek, on these shores, a residence for civil and religious freedom ; at the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, and without the least charge to the parent state, by an unconquerable spirit and great enterprize, they effected settlements in the dis- tant, inhospitable wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike nations of barbarians. Societies, or governments were formed, vested with perfect legislatures, under charters from the crown." They then stated the various claims and statutes of Parliament, which militated with their
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charter rights, and were subversive of constitu- tional freedom, as subjects and citizens of the Bri- tish government ; the transporting and stationing of an army in the Colonies to enslave the people ; and the attacks already made by the military upon the innocent and defenceless inhabitants. “ We are thus reduced," they added, "to the alternative of choosing an unconditional submission to tyranni- cal ministers, or resistance by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the cost, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honour, justice and humanity forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us .- We however, assure our fellow subjects in every part of the Empire, that we mean not to dissolve that union which has so long subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to be restored. We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating from Great Britain and establishing independent States. We fight not for glory or conquest. In our native land, in defence of that freedom which is our birth right, and which we ever enjoyed until the late violations, for the protection of our property acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered us, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed ; and not before."
There were several members of the Continen- tal Congress, at this period, who were totally averse from the idea of Independence; believing that the Colonies were not equal to a successful
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resistance of the British government; and many were not even desirous of separation, if they could be restored to their former rights and authority.
The patriots of Massachusetts were not profes- sedly aiming at Independence ; nor was such their real ultimate object, at this period; and yet most of them were of opinion, thus early even, that a separation would be the result, as the Bri- tish ministry were resolved to compel submission to their arbitrary and oppressive measures. They perceived the alienation which would arise from the contest; and believing, that the parent go- vernment would not recede, they came to the con- clusion, that they must willingly submit to surren- der up their liberty, or prepare to take their stand as an independent nation. The conduct of the British administration justified such an opinion. It declared its determination to prosecute the war it had begun until the colonies should acknowledge the entire and absolute supremacy of the British Par- liament over them, though they had no voice in the laws they were required to obey. With a singu- lar unanimity Massachusetts resolved to draw upon its resources to the utmost, to annoy the British troops and to strengthen the American army, col- lected within its territory. For several months after the Continental army was formed, this Pro- vince bore the chief burden of the contest.
The General Congress met again this year in May ; the delegates. to which from Massachusetts, were John Hancock, Thomas Cushing, S. Adams, J. Adams and R. T. Paine ; the same persons who were appointed the year before, with the excep- tion of Mr. Hancock in the place of Mr. Bowdoin, who declined. Mr. Hancock was early chosen
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president of that body in the absence of Peyton Randolph of Virginia ; and on the death of Mr. Randolph, in October, he was again elected to that office, which he held as long as his health per- mitted.
Mr. Hancock was a man of great wealth, and possessed of showy and popular talents. On many occasions, he had given strong evidence of disin- terested patriotism ; and was aware of the desti- ny which awaited him, if the struggle should be unsuccessful. His conduct was so decided, and so obnoxious to the British ministry, that if the Co- lonists had been subdued, his opposition would have been followed by the forfeit of his life. Long be- fore the British troops began hostilities upon the people in Massachusetts, he had taken his stand on the side of liberty and his country. For seve- ral years, he had been chosen one of the repre- sentatives of the patriotic town of Boston; and more than once a counsellor, but received the ne- gative of the royal governor. When he pronoun- ced the oration, before the inhabitants of that de- voted place in 1774, on the anniversary of the massacre of March 1770, though the streets were full of British soldiers and some collected to hear the address, he denounced the conduct of the ad- ministration, in its various oppressive acts, and es- pecially in sending an armed force to be stationed in the capital, in time of peace, with a boldness and an eloquence, which excited the astonishment alike of his friends and foes. He was president of the first and second Provincial Congress of Mas- sachusetts, which set at Concord in October 1774, and at Cambridge in February 1775. He was also a member of the committee of safety for the
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Province, which, after October 1774 exercised the powers of the Supreme Executive. And he was one of the first board of the Executive Council, in July 1775. Mr. Hancock was successively elect- ed a delegate to the Continental Congress for Mas- sachusetts till the year 1779. He was constant- ly devoted to the public service ; and was ever ready to sacrifice property, as well as ease, to the good of the country. When the present constitu- tion and frame of civil government of Massachu- setts was adopted in 1780, he was chosen Gover- nor, by a great majority of votes ; and continued in the place, till his death in 1793, with the excep- tion of two years 1785 and '86, when Hon. James Bowdoin was elected.
Thomas Cushing had long and justly sustained the character of a patriot, and had filled important public offices to the satisfaction of the people. He was elected Speaker of the House of Assem- bly for about twelve years; and he had the entire confidence of the friends of liberty. He was also one of the delegates to the General Congress from Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775. In 1775, 1776 and 1777, he was placed in the Supreme Execu- tive Council; and in 1780 was chosen lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth.
In that band of firm and intelligent statesmen in Massachusetts, who so ably and resolutely opposed the plan of the parent government to infringe the liberties of the colonies, none was more uniform, and none more distinguished than Samuel Adams. James Otis was in the legislative assembly several years before him, and was more ardent and more eloquent ; but Mr. Adams was not inferior to him in decision or in devotion to the sacred cause of VOL. II. 5
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civil liberty. He received his education at the university in Cambridge : and afterwards became well acquainted with history and politics. And the spirit of eminent English patriots as well as of the founders of New England animated his whole public conduct. Deliberation and judgment were predominant traits in his character. He was never rash or precipitate ; but most decided and perse- vering. And he was always careful to appeal to the constitution of England either to justify the conduct of the colonies, or to show the injustice of the British ministry. He possessed the happy ta- lent of convincing the great body of the people, that the opposition was just and reasonable. He and Otis are believed to have been jointly concern- ed in preparing several publications, which have usually been attributed entirely to the latter. The British government marked him out with a few others,* for signal punishment. While a delegate to the Continental Congress, he was chosen a rep- resentative for Boston to the Massachusetts House of Assembly, July 1775; and in August following, was appointed secretary. At this time he was elect- ed into the executive council. For several years fol- lowing, he was chosen a delegate to the General Congress; and was there distinguished, among other eminent statesmen, for his industry, resolu- tion and firmness. Upon the adoption of the con- stitution of Massachusetts, Mr. Adams was elected president of the Senate; over which he presided for several years with much ability and dignity. He was four years lieutenant governor : and in 1794, was elected governor of the state; in which
* Hancock, Bowdoin, Quincy, T. Cushing, W. Cooper, and Rev. Drs. Cooper and Chauncey.
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office he remained, until admonished by old age and bodily infirmity to retire from the cares and duties of public life.
John Adams, one of the Massachusetts delegates to the General Congress, in 1774, 1775, 1776 and 1777, became distinguished, at an early age, for his ardent patriotism, and his decided opposition to the arbitrary policy of the British ministry. His public, political career was long and brilliant. No one of the colonies could ever justly boast a character more profound as a civilian, or more re- solute and zealous as a patriot. In 1770, he was returned a representative from Boston to the General Assembly, at a time when governor Hutchinson was claiming the exercise of arbitrary power, under the colour of prerogative. In the disputes between the Governor and the Assembly, Mr. Adams took an active part ; and some able re- plies of the House were attributed to his pen. The following year he was chosen to the Council Board, but received the Governor's negative. In the Gene- ral Congress, no member was more distinguished for legal talents and ardent patriotism. He was among the earliest advocates for Independence : and contributed by his ability and zeal as much as any other statesman in America, to vindicate that measure, and to raise the reputation of the country in foreign nations. He was appointed Envoy to France in 1778, and afterwards to Holland where he rendered essential service to his country, by shewing the resources and zeal of the United States, and procuring loans, so necessary at that period, to maintain the cause of liberty and the cre- dit of the American Congress afterwards. He was afterwards minister at Paris, and had great influence
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in forming the treaty of peace in 1783. He then received the appointment of Envoy extraordinary to the English court ; where he was distinguished as an able and faithful agent for the United States. In 1788, he returned to America, and was elected the first Vice President of the Union; and after- wards, on the retirement of Washington in 1797, he was chosen president. Decision and energy were his great characteristics. He was ardent and without disguise in his conduct, which sometimes subjected him to the charge of precipitancy; and his acquire- ments, as a statesman, were equalled by very few of his contemporaries.
Robert T. Paine held a high place in the public estimation, for intelligence, firmness and zeal. He took an early and active part in support of the rights of the colonies, when the claims of royal prerogative and of the supremacy of the British parliament were urged with great ability by Hut- chinson and others ; and the plan was laid to de- prive Americans of the privileges secured to them by their charter. As a lawyer, he was consider- ed among the most eminent in the province. On the failure of Mr. Sewall, the king's attorney, he conducted the prosecution on the part of govern- ment, in the memorable case of Captain Preston and his soldiers, for the massacre of several citi- zens of Boston, on the night of the fifth of March 1770. To this important duty, he was recom- mended by the selectmen and people of Boston. He was also chairman of the committee for the impeachment of Chief Justice, Oliver, by the House of Representatives in January 1773, on the charge of receiving his salary from England, con- trary to the charter and the invariable practice in
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the colony. He was an active member of the House of Representatives in June 1774, when a decided posture was assumed, in opposition to the arbitrary measures of the British ministry, and to the requisitions of governor Gage, who had, a short time before, succeeded Mr. Hutchinson, as chief magistrate of the province. While he was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Con- tinental Congress, which was four years, he was also a great part of that time a member of the House of Representatives, speaker, a member of the executive council, and attorney general .* He possessed great decision of character, and few men contributed more than he did, to the support of civil liberty in the country.
James Warren may justly be ranked among the leading patriots of Massachusetts. His early edu- cation was the best the country afforded. His talents were respectable ; his decision and zeal equal to those distinguished men already mention- ed. Soon after the death of major general Joseph Warren, he was chosen president of the Provin- cial Congress ; and, in July, when a General As- sembly was convened, he was elected speaker. In the year 1776, Mr. Warren was appointed a judge of the Superior Court, and in 1780, he was chosen lieutenant governor by the legislature, on the adoption of the constitution; but he declined both these offices.
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