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 6
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* Instructions from general Washington, to H. Knox, Esq. Nov. 16, 1775. HEAD QUARTERS, CAMBRIDGE.
" You are immediately to examine into the state of the ar- tillery of the army, and take an account of the cannon, mor- tars, shells, lead, and ammunition that are wanting. You will then proceed in the most expeditious manner to New- York; and there apply to the President of the Provincial Congress and learn of him, whether Colonel R. left any orders respecting these articles, and procure such of them as can possibly be had. If the President cannot provide imme- diately for sending them on here, you must put them in a pro- per channel to be transported with the greatest dispatch, be- fore you leave there. After you have procured as many of these necessaries as you can, you must go on to general Schuyler and get the remainder from Tyconderoga, Crown- point, St. Johns-and if it should be necessary, from Quebec, if in our hands. The want of them is so great, that no trouble or expense must be spared to obtain them I have written to general Schuyler ; and he will give every necessary assist- ance that they may be had and forwarded to this place with the utmost dispatch. I have given you a warrant upon the paymaster general for a thousand dollars, &c."
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Provincial Congress, then sitting at Watertown. Colonel Knox did not return with these heavy stores till the first of February, and it was a mat- ter of surprise that he should have accomplished his purpose, even so soon ; as the way, for a great distance, was new and extremely difficult for teams and sleds to pass. When, at Albany, on his route to the lake, he received a letter from the Conti- nental Congress, requesting him to examine the grounds near the Hudson, between those places, with a view to the erection of a line of forts, to prevent the access of the British at any future time.
The ordnance and military stores furnished for the American army by this arduous enterprize of colonel Knox, and by the capture of some British store ships by captain Manly, a short time before, encouraged general Washington in his long medi- tated plan of an attack upon the ministerial troops in Boston. He had been desirous of offensive ope- rations against the besieged army in that place for some months. He wished to drive them from the capital of Massachusetts, and hoped so to weaken them, if he could not succeed in the capture of the whole army, as to convince them of the desperate nature of the enterprize in which they were en- gaged, of subjugating the colonies ; and to prevent their falling upon any other part of America with a sufficient force to cause danger or alarm. But he had too much prudence to engage in an enter- prize, glorious as its issue promised to his ardent and patriotic mind to be, when there was so much hazard, which might be highly injurious to the country, and when the general opinion was against such an attempt .. Some, indeed, were of opinion,
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that he ought to have made an attack upon the British in Boston. And there was a time, when many members of the Continental Congress ex- pressed a hope that he would storm the town of Boston, where the English troops were quartered, at every hazard. Aware of these expectations, and sensible of his great responsibility, Washing- ton was resolved to make the attack; but the offi- cers of the army, to whom he submitted his plan, convened as a council of war, solemnly decided against the expediency of the measure. He too, it appears, had some doubts as to the prudence of the attempt. The most of the troops under his command, after December, were new recruits: in reality they were mere militia, and without proper discipline. And he was long destitute of the can- non necessary for such an attack, as well as of the article of powder, without which the infantry could not be expected to maintain the onset, except for a few hours. The hope of success must have been founded upon a calculation of miracles, or of utter weakness and despondence in the British. The regular troops in the American army were not so numerous as those of the British in Boston : and most of these, though forming part of the Con- tinental army, had engaged in the service within a very short period ; and the residue of his force were militia-men called out in the exigency, and not to be relied on for a formidable attack on regular and disciplined troops. But with all his prudence and caution, Washington sometimes thought it pro- per to yield to public expectation. And in this case, sensible of the general feeling through the continent, he was resolved to make an attack upon the strong hold of the enemy, if circumstances
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should favour such an enterprize. After the arri- val of Knox from lake Champlain, with the cannon and military stores, he became more fixed in this purpose. The militia were called in from the dis- tance of twelve miles, at his request, by an order of the legislature of Massachusetts, of the last of February ; although there was then nearly five thousand with the army at Cambridge and Rox- bury, besides a large portion of the continental troops then lately enlisted for the year. Fire arms and powder had also been collected by the Provincial Assembly, a short time before, for the American army, at the urgent call of the comman- der in chief.
The execution of the plan depended upon the severity of the weather, in the event of which the attack was to be made by the American troops passing over on the ice from Cambridge and Se- wall's point in Brooklyne, across Charles river and landing west of the Common. The cold was not sufficiently severe after the month of January, to make a safe way for the passage of the troops : and there was no other avenue to the capital, which was believed to be practicable. A small part of the British troops in Boston could have easily prevented the entrance of the Americans by the way of the peninsula through Roxbury. The plan was matured, had the season favoured its execution, for the Americans to make an attack upon Boston in two divisions under generals Sulli- van and Greene, the whole to be commanded by major general Putnamn. This intended expedition failing, it was determined to take possession of the highlands in the northeasterly part of Dorchester, opposite to the south side of Boston, and distant,
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in a direct course, not more than one mile. This was accordingly done, in the night of the fourth of March, being Monday ; after a heavy cannonade against Boston for three days, successively, proba- bly with the design to divert the attention of the enemy.
Major general Thomas had the command of the troops detached for this arduous service. They passed from the camp at Roxbury to the high- lands in Dorchester with great caution, under cover of the night ; and when the light of day exposed them to the view of the British in Boston, they had thrown up a sufficient breast work for protection and security in prosecuting the object of their en- terprize. The enemy were surprised at the spec- tacle : and there seems to have been some infatu- ation in their councils, that they had not previous- ly taken possession of such an important post. For general Bourgoyne and the British admiral had often observed, "that, if the rebels should possess them- selves of those heights, the British must leave the port and harbour of Boston."
Immediately after this event, the British general resolved to quit his situation in the metropolis of Massachusetts. He had been shut up within very narrow limits for about ten months. He had ac- quired no glory ; he had been kept in fear by the undisciplined troops of the colonies, which he and his colleagues had affected to despise ; and his men had suffered all the evils of a protracted siege. General Clinton left Boston some time before ; and proceeded to New York, where governor Tryon, an advocate for the British ministry, resided and retain- ed a degree of civil authority ; and thence he sailed to Carolina, where he hoped to be joined by those
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who were friendly to the cause of royalty. Bour- goyne returned to England in November preced- ing, to state the disasters of the ministerial army in Massachusetts, and to form the plan of attack in some other part of America.
The conduct of general Washington during his command near Boston, was fully approved by the Continental Congress, in a letter which was ad- dressed to him after the British evacuated that place, and by a resolution which they ordered to be published. They commended his caution and prudence, and his great attention to the organiza- tion of the army ; and expressed their entire satis- faction, that he had not hazarded the welfare of the country, by attacking a large and disciplined army, with a body of men, however brave, who had seen little military service, and were in a great measure destitute of arms and ammunition. There was a period, however, during the siege, after he was furnished with additional means which justi- fied an attack, and Washington was resolved to strike a blow on the enemy, powerful as they were, if circumstances had favoured the plan. While he meditated an attack, every facility was afforded him by the legislature of Massachusetts, which their resources would supply. They grant- ed him a loan of 50,000/., when he was without continental funds in his hands, to enable him to pay the troops, who would otherwise have left the service. They ordered large bodies of the mili- tia at three distinct periods between December 1775 and February 1776, to strengthen the Ame- rican army, before the new recruits were engaged for the ensuing campaign. For a part of the win- ter, a full moiety of the men in the continental
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army belonged to Massachusetts. The sea coasts in many places being exposed, the General Court raised several companies, also, for their protection. Marblehead was furnished with military stores, and with one hundred men, at the expense of the pro- vince. The people of that town had early thrown up batteries for their defence, as the harbour was accessible by the ships of the enemy; but their great losses and privations, occasioned by the war, left them without the ability to furnish and man their forts. In February the General Court order- ed that twenty field pieces be procured, and a large quantity of powder and fire arms should be pur- chased for the use of their troops, wherever they could be obtained. Some of these articles were procured soon after from Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The militia of the province were arranged anew by order of the general assembly at their winter session ; and Massachusetts proper parcelled into three divisions. John Hancock, James Warren* and Azer Orne were appointed major generals. Officers of brigade, and field officers also, were commissioned through the colony. A new emission of paper bills was ordered, to a large amount, to meet the expenses of the province, with a promise of being redeemed by the taxes for 1777, 1778 and 1779. Various sums were allowed and paid to persons who suffered losses at Lexington, Con- cord and Charlestown ; and grants were made to such as were wounded, as well as to the widows and children of those who were slain in the battles at those places. A proposition was made during
* General Warren declined,-B. Lincoln was appointed in his place.
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this session of the assembly for the payment of the representatives out of the public treasury of the province ; but it did not meet the support of the majority of the House. They considered it most proper, that each town should pay for the attendance of its deputies. It was also recom- mended to every town to choose a committee of correspondence, inspection and safety, distinct from the selectmen, for the purpose of attending exclu- sively to political concerns ; to consult for the wel- fare of the province, to watch the conduct of those who were disaffected to the cause of liber- ty ; and to be ready to act in concert, in great exi- A law
gencies, for the defence of the country. passed in February, not however without some discussion and alterations of the bill first report- ed, prohibiting the commencement of civil suits for the space of three months; and ordering the jus- tices of the county courts to continue actions of that kind, to a distant day. Laws of this nature are often indeed in prevention of justice ; but if ever they were proper, it was at the period, when the statute of Massachusetts was adopted in February 1776; for there had been no commercial enter- prise for a year ; the demands upon the people for public purposes had been most extraordinary, and many were entirely unable to meet the payment of their just debts.
Complaint was made to the General Court, about this time, that some of the inhabitants of Nantucket were in the practice of furnishing the enemy with provisions from that island. Most of the people undoubtedly were innocent of such criminal conduct; but some of them were proved to be guilty. They had abused the license given
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them to carry provisions from the main to that island for the necessary supply of its own popula- tion; and had furnished the British army in Bos- ton with many vessel loads. One Dr. G -- was confined at Cambridge, by order of the general assembly, for assisting the enemy in this manner. Their location was such, that it was proper for them to decline all directly hostile movements against the British; but those who aided the enemies of the country, from motives of gain, or from attachment to the ministerial cause, were justly deserving of censure and punishment.
It was at the same session of the legislative as- sembly of the province, that a law was made for confiscating the estates of those citizens who had put themselves under the protection of the minis- terial party, and whose conduct gave evidence of their hostility to measures adopted for the defence of American liberty. The law suffered some altera- tions at a subsequent period, but was continued substantially the same; and all who remained with the British army, or retired from America to England, forfeited their estates to the province.
After the unfortunate affair at Quebec, though the Americans remained in the country, they were not in a situation to act on the offensive against the British. And there was an apprehension, that the governor of Canada would avail of the occa- sion to collect a powerful force of Canadians and indians and make a descent upon the northern frontiers of New England. It was the opinion of general Washington, as well as of many intelligent public men in Massachusetts, that a reinforcement of the American troops in that department should immediately be made. It was therefore voted by VOL. II.
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the general assembly to raise a regiment for that specific purpose, from the counties of Hampshire and Berkshire for the term of one year. This was in addition to the men already enlisted for the continental army, in pursuance of resolves of Congress of November 1775. And the expense incurred by the colony in raising this regiment, was very great, on account of clothing and the means of conveyance at such a severe season of the year. Specie was borrowed by individuals for the purpose, as they were going into the province of Canada, where paper would not pass. Elisha Porter Esq .* was appointed to the command of this regiment : all possible dispatch was given to enlist and organize them ; and early in March they proceeded to join the American forces under general Arnold near Quebec. The Continental Congress acknowledged the zeal and promptness of Massachusetts, in furnishing these troops for such an important expedition.
The intelligence received from England at this time respecting the policy and purposes of admin- istration towards America, was not of a nature to justify any hope of reconciliation, but upon terms of submission, to which the patriots of Massachu- setts and of the other colonies could never accede. The king, in a speech from the throne to the two houses of Parliament, had declared " his subjects in America to be in a state of rebellion," and re- commended measures " to reduce them to uncon- ditional obedience." A large majority of the members approved of the recommendation of his
Alner Morgan, Esq. major of the regiment is now living. 1825.
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majesty. A respectable minority, indeed, protest- ed against the system adopted by ministers and sanctioned by the crown; and the people of Lon- don, Bristol and of some other places in England petitioned the king to recal his troops from Mas- sachusetts, and to consent to the claim of the colonists to their ancient charter rights and privi- leges. But it was evident, that administration would not restore America to the enjoyment of civil liberty formerly exercised, but would pursue the policy already begun of foreing the people in the colonies to abject submission. The king and his ministers supposed the Americans were resolv- ed on independence. And, although many truly patriotic statesmen were averse from such a mea- sure, in the hope that a reconciliation would be effected, yet more imbibed the opinion, that the arbitrary conduct of the parent state would oblige them to adopt it. An arduous struggle was there- fore to be expected; and all the resolution and effort of the country they perceived would be de- manded for the crisis. In no other colony, were there so many of the intelligent and influential citizens, as in Massachusetts, who were early and decided in favour of this important step.
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CHAPTER IV.
British troops leave Boston .. . Public Funeral of General Warren ... Washington's entrance into Boston ... Northern Expedition ... Death of General ·Thomas ... Independence proposed ... Troops raised for de- fence of the Province ... Captain Mugford ... British ships driven from Boston harbour ... Militia to reinforce regular army ... Spirit of Mas- sachusetts' Legislature ... Great efforts and sacrifices .. . Independence declared ... Proposition for new Constitution ... New levies of Militia .. Paper money depreciated.
IF the British had not previously determined to leave Boston, where they had suffered so much, and where they had little hope of success in their object of subduing the Americans, they were soon convinced of their critical situation, after the for- tifications were thrown up at Dorchester neck; and in a few days they accordingly prepared for em- barking on board their fleet. The British admiral gave it as his opinion to general Howe, that his ships could no longer remain in safety, in the upper part of the harbour; and that all vessels pass- ing to or from the town would be greatly exposed. Howe was not many days in coming to a resolution to convey his troops to some other part of Ame- rica : and he prevailed on the selectmen of Boston, who were in the town, to request general Wash- ington to suspend the cannonade, which had been kept up for several days, with an assurance that the British army was preparing for their depart- ure. A threat was more than intimated, also, that
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if the cannonade continued, acts of retaliation might be expected, by destroying the property of the in- habitants. But neither the request nor the threat was regarded; and the British general was con- vinced, that his safety depended on a speedy de- parture. He formed a plan, however, to dislodge the provincials from the heights of Dorchester, but was not successful in the attempt. A large body of British troops left Boston in boats, the day after the Americans began their fortifications, with the intention to land at the easterly point of Dor- chester and attack the works newly erected. But a heavy storm ensued and the plan was relinquish- ed. Such a project had been expected by Wash- ington; and he had made arrangements to invade Boston from Cambridge in the event. He had se- lected four thousand troops for the purpose, which were to land on the westerly side of the town, when a part of the British was engaged in the meditated assault upon Dorchester. His plan was so well matured, and promised so glorious an issue, that many regretted the storm which interrupted the British troops in their project of surprising the forts on Dorchester neck.
The day after the Americans took possession of the heights of Dorchester, and when an attack from the British was apprehended, general Wash- ington visited the fortifications, for the purpose of inspecting the works and giving directions in per- son. To inspire the troops, he observed to them, "that they should remember that it was the fifth of March."* The remark was quickly circulated
* The anniversary of the Boston massacre on the 5th of March, 1770, was observed this year at Watertown, by a
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through the whole detachment, who appeared eager for the expected encounter.
The American troops now at Cambridge and Roxbury, including five thousand militia, were es- timated at about fifteen thousand. The British were supposed to be less than ten thousand. On the 13th of March, it was perceived that active preparations were making by the ministerial troops for embarking on board their fleet in the harbour of Boston; and on Sunday, the 17th they left the town, to the great joy of the inhabitants of that place and of the whole province. The evening preceding, a party from Dorchester heights, had entrenched themselves on Nook-hill, an eminence still nearer to Boston; which probably hastened their departure. A detachment from the Ameri- can army, under major general Putnam, took pos- session of the metropolis the same day .*
The joy of the occasion, however, was mingled with much grief and regret, to witness such de- struction of buildings and property, in that former- ly flourishing capital. Some of the churches were essentially injured, having been used as stables for the British cavalry ; and many houses and stores
great number of the inhabitants of Boston and other patriotic citizens. The Rev. Peter Thacher delivered an oration on the occasion.
* When Boston was evacuated by the British, a large quan- tity of medicine was found in their hospital ; and on inspec- tion by Dr. John Warren, it appeared that arsenic was mixed with it. At the request of the General Court, he gave his af- fidavit to the fact. It excited great horror and indignation in those who believed it was intended to poison the sick among the Americans. Many however, were inclined to the more candid supposition, that the design was to injure the whole stock of medicine and render it unfit for use.
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were razed to the foundations, and the materials used for fuel : ornamental, and fruit trees were cut down for the same purpose. The streets were filled with dirt and filth, which had been accumu- lating for nine or ten months; and the small pox was raging in various parts of the town. This gloomy scene formed a most striking contrast to the appearance of the place twelve months be- fore .* The British embarked in such haste that
* Extract of a letter from a citizen of Boston, of March 23d, 1776, who left that town just before the siege, and re- turned a few days after the British troops left it.
" Yesterday I returned from my exile after an agreeable journey, and arrived in this once flourishing but now solitary town. Once more I tread the streets of Boston, and with a sad and pensive feeling, view the havoc of civil war. Were I to give you a particular detail of its situation last winter and its present state, it would exceed the limits of my time and pa- per. You will excuse me, therefore, if I only give you a hasty view of some occurrences which the little time I have been here has furnished.
'The face of the town is, indeed, very little altered ; ex- cepting that the shops are shut and many old wooden build- ings have been demolished. When we enter the houses there are seen the marks of violence and outrage-scarcely any that are not robbed and plundered by the merciless bandit. Nor have public buildings and houses devoted to the worship of God escaped the outrage. The old south meeting house pre- sents a melancholy spectacle. The pulpit and galleries were taken down ; the floor strewed with dirt and made the recep- table of beasts. The old north, that venerable edifice, fell a sacrifice to the importunity of the tories, and was appropriated to their use, though the officer who ordered it taken down, is said to have done it with reluctance. The steeple of the west meeting house is taken down and otherwise damaged.
After the tories had embarked, the soldiers and sailors vied with each other who should commit the greatest violence ; and I am told, whig and tory suffered indiscriminately .- The small arms belonging to the town, which had been delivered up, they have left behind, but they are entirely useless.
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they were obliged to leave behind them several large cannon ; but the most of these they render- ed unfit for immediate use. They also dismantled the fort at Castle island ; and it required much time and expense afterwards to put it in a state sufficient to afford protection to the town. The enemy's fleet only proceeded to the lower harbour of Boston, at this time : and a considerable part of it remained till the month of June. A number of their ships proceeded first to Halifax, and there taking some new recruits, sailed for New York, and landed at Staten island in June following.
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