USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 11
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SIEGE OF BOSTON.
their troops.' This measure indicates the confusion that existed, as to rank, among the officers of the different col- onies. In addition to this want of subordination, so vital to success in military operations, the army was inadequately supplied with bayonets, powder, horses, clothing, and tents or commodious barracks. No measure of bravery or of patriot- ism could make up, in a day of trial, for such deficiencies .?
But this ill-appointed army was not entirely unprepared for an encounter. Some of its officers, and not a few of the pri- vates, had served in the French wars, -an invaluable mili- tary school for the colonies; a martial spirit had been excited in the frequent trainings of the minute-men, while the habitual use of the fowling-piece made these raw militia superior to
1 Force's Archives, II., 1039. " On motion of the difficulties the army are and must be under, for want of a general and commander-in-chief of the whole body, raised by different colonies, &c., and a due subordination," &c. The news of the Bunker Hill battle arrived June 18, about 10 o'clock. - Ib.
2 It is stated in an inscription on the " Adams " cannon, one of the Ancient and Honorable artillery pieces, that " four cannon constituted the whole train of field artillery possessed by the British colonies of North America at the commencement of the war, on the 19th of April, 1775." - Tudor's Otis, p. 456. This is certainly doing injustice to the foresight of the patriots. They did not throw down the gauntlet to Great Britain so rashly as this. In the committee of safety, and in the newspapers, previous to April 19, there are frequent allusions to cannon of various calibre, -to two-pounders, to six- pounders, both iron and brass. Also to mortars. I have not met with a statement of the number on hand previous to the 19th of April. On the 18th of April, however, the committee order thirty-three rounds of round-shot and grape-shot, with powder, to be lodged " with each of the twelve field-pieces belonging to the province." There were then, certainly, twelve field-pieces, besides other cannon and mortars, in Massachusetts alone. On the 29th, a report states there were in Cambridge one six-pounder, six three-pounders ; and in Watertown, sixteen pieces of artillery.
In the Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. 1., p. 232, there is the following account of stores in Massachusetts, April 14, 1775 : - Fire-arms, 21,549 ; pounds of powder, 17,441 ; of ball, 22,191; flints, 144,699 ; bayonets, 10,108; pouches, 11,979. Shattuck's Concord, p. 97, contains extracts from a document found among Colonel Barrett's papers, which shows that no small progress had been made in collecting material for an army and its support, previous to the 19th of April. Among the items are 20,000 pounds of musket balls and cartridges, 15,000 canteens, 17,000 pounds salt fish, 35,000 pounds of rice, and large quantities of beef, pork, a great number of tents, working tools, &c.
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AMERICAN COLORS.
veteran troops in aiming the musket. They were superior to them, also, in character, being mostly substantial farmers and mechanics, who had left their homes and pursuits, not for want of employment or to make war a trade, but because they were animated by a fresh enthusiasm for liberty. The British general paid dearly for despising such preparation.
The army, also, reposed great confidence in its officers. If it be true that this, in some cases, was bestowed on men unworthy of it, still no occasion had arisen to prove it, and they were the free choice of the men. Many in high com- mand had been tried in important civil and military service, and had that influence over their fellow-men that ever accom- panies character. Ward had served under Abercrombie, was a true patriot, had many private virtues, and was prudent and highly esteemed; Thomas was an excellent officer, of a chiv- alrous spirit and noble heart, and was much beloved; Put- nam, widely known, not less for his intrepid valor than for his fearless and energetic patriotism, was frank and warm-hearted, and of great popularity ; Pomeroy behaved gallantly at Louis- burg, where Gridley also won laurels as an accomplislied engineer; Prescott, in the French war, had exhibited great bravery, and military skill of a high order ; and Stark, hardy, independent, brave, was another of these veterans. This list might easily be extended. Officers of such experience consti- tuted no mean element of efficiency.
The histories of this period do not describe the colors under which the troops of the several colonies took the field. Was there a common flag? If so, was it the old New England ensign ? As early as 1686 there are notices of such a flag. A representation of one in 1701 is simply an English ensign, with a quarter divided into four by a cross, and having in one of the corners the figure of a pine tree. This tree was a favor- ite emblem of Massachusetts. It appears, for instance, on its coin. It is more probable, however, that there was no com- mon flag thus early, but that the troops of each colony marched into the camp under their own local flag. Thus a letter, April 23, 1775, says of the Connecticut troops : "We fix on our standards and drums the colony arms, with the motto, ' qui transtulit sustinet' round it in letters of gold, which we
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104
SIEGE OF BOSTON.
construe thus : 'God, who transplanted us hither, will support Us.'"' 1
While this war was settling down over Massachusetts, and nothing but resistance was thought of by its patriots, hopes of peace and reconciliation still existed in other colonies. At this time an embassy and letter, sent by the Assembly of Con- necticut to General Gage, excited no small uneasiness, and drew forth some of the most remarkable documents of the time. The committee appointed to confer with the British general were Dr. Johnson and Colonel Wolcott. The object of this mission -to procure a suspension of hostilities-met with a decided rebuke from the Massachusetts patriots. After holding, on the 1st of May, a conference with the embassy, the committee of safety sent a strong letter to Governor Trum- bull, in which they frankly express their uneasiness at the proposed cessation of hostilities. This letter is dated Cam- bridge, May 2, 1775, and gives a striking picture of the firm- ness and designs of the patriots. "We fear," it says, "that our brethren in Connecticut are not even yet convinced of the cruel designs of administration against America, nor thor- oughly sensible of the miseries to which General Gage's army have reduced this wretched colony." After a description of the country, the letter goes on : " No business but that of war is either done or thought of in this colony. No agreement or compact with General Gage will in the least alleviate our distress, as no confidence can possibly be placed in any assur- ance he can give to a people he has deceived in the matter, taking possession of and fortifying the town of Boston, and whom he has suffered his army to attack in the most inhuman and treacherous manner. Our relief must now arise from driving General Gage, with his troops, out of the country, which, with the blessing of God, we are determined to accom- plish, or perish in the attempt; as we think an honorable death in the field, whilst fighting for the liberties of all America, far preferable to being butchered in our own houses, or to be reduced to an ignominious slavery. We must entreat that
1 In 1774 there are frequent notices of " union flags" in the newspapers, but I have not met with any description of the devices on them. Thus Liberty Tree had its flag, and there were flags flying from the tops of the liberty poles.
1
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICANS. 105
our sister colony, Connecticut, will afford, immediately, all possible aid, as at this time delay will be attended with all that fatal train of events which would follow from an abso- lute desertion of the cause of American liberty. Excuse our earnestness on this subject, as we know that upon the success of our present contest depend the lives and liberties of our country and succeeding generations." A letter of similar import was also sent by the Provincial Congress. Governor Trumbull, in patriotic replies to these letters, dispelled the fears that were entertained of Connecticut.
No important military operations, on either side, took place until the Bunker Hill battle. Both parties endeavored to secure the stock on the islands in the harbor. This occasioned several skirmishes, which afforded the uncommon spectacle of men and boats engaged in conflict on land and water. The Americans were generally successful. These skirmishes proved of essential service to them. They elated their spirits, accus- tomed them to face danger, and inspired them with confidence.1 They talked of attacking General Gage, and of burning his ships. "It is not expected," Dr. Warren writes, May 16, " he will sally out of Boston at present; and if he does, he will but
1 The songs of the day well exhibit the prevailing spirit. The following is copied from the New England Chronicle, May 18, 1775 :-
A SONG. To the tune of " The Echoing Horn."
HARK ! 'tis FREEDOM that calls, come, Patriots, awake ! To arms, my brave Boys, and away : 'Tis Honor, 'tis Virtue, 'tis Liberty calls, And upbraids the too tedious Delay. What Pleasure we find in pursuing our Foes, Thro' Blood and thro' Carnage we'll fly ; Then follow, we'll soon overtake them, Huzza ! The Tyrants are seized on, they die.
Triumphant returning, with Freedom secured, Like MEN, we'll be joyful and gay, - With our Wives and our Friends we will sport, love and drink, And lose the Fatigues of the Day. 'Tis Freedom alone gives a Relish to Mirth, But Oppression all Happiness sours ;
It will smooth Life's dull Passage, 'twill slope the Descent, And strew the Way over with Flowers.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
gratify thousands who impatiently wait to avenge the blood of their murdered countrymen." "Danger and war are become pleasing, and injured virtue is now aroused to avenge herself."
The Americans began in May to build fortifications. The directions in the orderly books are not sufficiently precise, however, to determine their locality. Thus, on the 3d of May, a party of two hundred privates and officers, under Colonel Doolittle, were ordered on fatigue; the directions for the work to be done were to be given by Mr. Chadwick, engineer. On the next day, a party of four hundred and fifty were ordered on similar duty, under Colonel Frye. Most prob- ably these works were at Cambridge. At this early period, no works were commenced either on Prospect Hill, or Winter Hill, though General Putnam was earnestly in favor of forti- fying the former.
A Continental Congress had been appointed to convene at Philadelphia on the 10th of May. On the 3d, the Provincial Congress addressed to this body a letter on the condition of the colony. It suggested that a powerful army, on the side of America, was the only measure left to stem the rapid pro- gress of a tyrannical ministry, and to put an immediate end to the ravages of the troops ; and expressed the greatest confi- dence in the wisdom and ability of the continent to support Massachusetts, so far as it should be necessary to support the common cause of the American colonies. On the 15th, the Provincial Congress sent an express- Dr. Church - with another letter, containing an application to tlie Continental Congress for advice in relation to the assumption of civil gov- ernment, and also suggesting to Congress the propriety of that body's taking the regulation and general direction of the army.
The passage into the country, through Roxbury, was inade- quately defended, and in the early part of this month was a matter of great anxiety. The committee of safety wrote to the government of Connecticut, May 4, that it was their earnest and pressing desire that it would send three or four thousand men of their establishment to Massachusetts immediately, to enable the committee "to secure a pass of the greatest importance" to the common interests, and of which the enemy
107
APPLICATION TO CONGRESS.
would certainly take possession as soon as their reinforce- ments arrived. "If they once gain possession," the commit- tee say, "it will cost us much blood and treasure to dislodge them; but it may now be secured by us, if we had a force sufficient, without any danger." A similar letter was sent to Rhode Island.1
On the 5th, the Provincial Congress resolved that General Gage, by recent proceedings, had "utterly disqualified him- self to serve this colony as a governor, and in every other capacity ; and that no obedience ought, in future, to be paid, by the several towns and districts in this colony, to his writs for calling an assembly, or to his proclamations, or any other of his acts or doings; but that, on the other hand, he ought to be considered and guarded against, as an unnatural and inveterate enemy to this country."
1
On the 9th of May, strong apprehensions were entertained of a sally from Boston. A council of war requested of the committee a force of two thousand men, to reinforce the troops at Roxbury. The committee ordered the officers of the ten nearest towns to muster immediately one half of the militia, and all the minute-men, and march forthwith to Roxbury. Messages from Boston stated that the British were certainly preparing for a capital stroke. At this time, General Thomas had but seven hundred men under his command. His post included a high hill visible from Boston. To deceive the British as to his force, "the general," says Gordon, "con- tinued marching his seven hundred men round and round the hill, and by this means multiplied their appearance to any who were reconnoitring them at Boston." The committee ordered on this day the colonels of the regiments to repair to Cambridge with the men they had enlisted.
On the 13th, in the afternoon, all the troops at Cambridge, except those on guard, marched, under General Putnam, into Charlestown. They were twenty-two hundred in number, and their line of march was made to extend a mile and a half.
1 A letter from Rhode Island, May 4, 1775, says : " We have various accounts from Boston, almost every hour ; but what is most to be depended on is, that the Mohawks are determined to stand by us. There are about thirty now at the camp."
1
10S
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
They went over Bunker Hill, and also over Breed's Hill, came out by Captain Henly's still-house, and passe into the main street by the fish-market, near the old ferry, where Charles River Bridge is. They then returned to Cambridge." It was done to inspire the army with confidence. Though they went within reach of the guns of the enemy, both from Boston and the shipping, no attempt was made to molest them.
On the 17th a party of Americans fired upon a barge near Wheeler's Point, and it was supposed killed two of the enemy. Expecting an attack, a detachment of four hundred, under Colonel Henshaw, Majors Bigelow and Baldwin, occu- pied Lechmere's Point. They formed in ambush in the wood near it, near the causeway. General Ward visited the meri about five o'clock, and reconnoitred the island. No skirmish, however, occurred .? The British, about this time, occasion- ally fired upon the Americans from the shipping.3
On the 21st, Sunday morning, two sloops and an armed schooner sailed from Boston to Grape Island, with a party of the troops, to take off a quantity of hay stored there. The troops landed on the island, and began to put the hay on board the sloops. The people of Weymouth and the neighborhood were alarmed by the ringing of bells and firing of guns; and General Thomas, on being informed of the landing, ordered three companies to assist them. The people assembled on the point of land next to the island, but the distance was too great for small arms to do execution. Their fire, however, was returned from the ships. After some hours, a flood tide ena- bled the people to float a lighter and a sloop, when a party went on board and landed on the island. The British then left, and the Americans set fire to about eighty tons of hay, burnt the barn, and brought off the cattle. Mrs. Adams, in writing of this affair to her husband, says: "You inquire of me who were at the engagement at Grape Island. I may say
" Baldwin's Diary. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid.
May the 17th there was a great fire in Boston, commencing at a barrack on Treat's Wharf, which burnt twenty-seven stores, one shop, and four sheds. General Gage had appointed new captains to the engine companies, and the engine men took offence at it. Hence, the engines were badly served.
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SKIRMISH AT CHELSEA.
with truth all of Weymouth, Braintree, Hingham, who were able to bear arms, and hundreds from other towns within twenty, thirty, and forty miles of Weymouth. Both your brothers were there ; your younger brother, with his company, who gained honor by their good order that day. He was one of the first to venture on board a schooner, to land upon the island."
The next skirmish was dwelt upon with great exultation throughout the colonies. The committee of safety had directed the live stock to be driven from the islands. On Saturday, May 27, a detachment was ordered to drive it from Hog and Noddle's Islands, lying near Chelsea, the passage to which, at low tide, was covered by about three feet of water. About eleven A. M. a party went from Chelsea to Hog Island, and thence to Noddle's Island, to drive off the stock. They were observed by the British, who, to prevent this, despatched a schooner, a sloop, and forty marines. The party, however, burnt a barn full of salt hay and an old farm-house, killed three cows and fifteen horses, and drove a few horses and cows to Hog Island. At this time they were fired on from the vessels, and by a large party of marines, who put off in boats from the men-of-war; and they retreated to a ditch, lay there in am- bush, until they obtained a chance to fire on the marines, when they killed two and wounded two. They then retreated to Hog Island, and were joined by the remainder of the detachment. The stock was first driven off, -between three and four hun- dred sheep and lambs, cows, horses, &c. A skirmish com- menced, which continued at intervals through the night, -the British firing froin the vessels, from the barges fixed with swiv- els, and from Noddle's Island. The Americans sent for a reinforcement. About three hundred men and two pieces of cannon arrived about nine o'clock. General Putnam now commanded the party, and Dr. Warren, to encourage the men, served as a volunteer. General Putnam hailed the schooner, offering the men good quarters if they would submit, who answered this summons with two cannon shot. This was immediately returned by the Americans, and a sharp fire on both sides continued until eleven o'clock, when the fire of the schooner ceased. The men had abandoned her, and towards
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
morning she got aground upon the ferry ways. A party con- sisting of Isaac Baldwin and twelve men, about day-break, after taking out her guns and sails, and other articles, burnt her, under a fire from the sloop. In the morning-Sunday - the firing on both sides was renewed, -by the British from Noddle's Island Hill, and the sloop. The sloop was so much disabled that she was obliged to be towed off by the boats. After a few shots had been exchanged between the party at Chelsea and the marines on Noddle's Island, the firing ceased. The Americans did not lose a man, and had only four wounded. The loss of the enemy was reported at twenty killed and fifty wounded. This was probably exaggerated. The Americans captured, besides clothes and money, twelve swivels, and four four-pound cannon. This affair was magnified into a battle, and the gallantry of the men engaged in it, and the bravery of General Putnam, elicited general praise. The news of it, arriving in Congress just as it -was choosing general officers, influenced the vote of Putnam for major-general, which was unanimous.1 -
On the 30th of May, a party of Americans went on to Nod- dle's Island again, burnt the mansion-house of Mr. Williams, and drove off the stock, consisting of between five and six hundred sheep and lambs, twenty head of cattle and horses. On the 31st, at night, a party under Colonel Robinson re- moved about five hundred sheep and thirty head of cattle from Pettick's Island. On the night of June 2, Major Greaton took from Deer Island about eight hundred sheep and lambs, and a number of cattle. He captured, also, a barge belonging to one of the men-of-war, with four or five prisoners.
In June, the Provincial Congress was occupied with long and earnest debates in relation to the expediency of fitting out armed vessels. It was evidently regarded as a daring act to defy the proud navy of England. Contests, however, had already occurred on the sea. On the 5th of May, Captain Linzee, of the Falcon, captured two provincial sloops at Bedford. He intended to send them to Martha's Vineyard, and freight sheep to Boston. But the Bedford people fitted
' Journals of the Day ; Baldwin's Diary ; Ms. Letters.
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ARMED VESSELS.
out two sloops, with thirty men, and re-took the captured vessels, with fifteen men on board. In the action three of the Falcon's crew were wounded, one of them mortally. Thir- teen prisoners were sent to Cambridge. On the 11th, an action occurred off Machias, where Jeremiah O'Brien cap- tured the Margaretta, after a severe combat. He brought his prisoners to Watertown. The plantation committee immedi- ately appointed O'Brien to command the Liberty, when he made other prizes.1 Admiral Graves had ordered the British cruisers to capture every provision vessel, and several had been seized. On the 7th of June the Provincial Congress first acted on the subject of a navy. It is curious to notice the caution with which it moved. It appointed a committee " to consider the expediency of establishing a number of small armed ves- sels, to cruise on our sea coasts, for the protection of our trade, and the annoyance of our enemies : and that the members be enjoined, by order of Congress, to observe secrecy in the mat- ter." On the Sth, this committee was ordered to sit forthwith. On the 10th, an addition was made to it. On the 11th, in a proposed address to the Continental Congress, it apprised that body of the proposition under discussion to fit out armed vessels. The committee reported on the 12th. On the 13th, the report was considered, and postponed till three o'clock, when the committees of safety and supplies were notį- fied. A very long debate on the report then took place, and the further consideration of it postponed until the following Friday. The battle of Bunker Hill prevented further pro- ceeding. Nothing beyond building a few boats appears to have been done until after this period, -among them, barges called "fire-boats." 2
On the 6th of June an exchange of prisoners took place. "Between twelve and one," the Essex Gazette says, "Dr.
1 Williamson's Maine, 1., 431. He writes the name of the British vessel, Margranetto. Cooper calls this action the Lexington of the seas.
2 On the 30th of April, the selectmen of Medford were directed by the committee of safety to take a party of men to Charlestown Neck, launch the " fire-boats" there, and carry them up Mystic River, or such other place as they might judge to be safe from the men-of-war's boats. This agrees with the British letter, on page 98.
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1
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
Warren and Brigadier-general Putnam, in a phaeton, together with Major Dunbar and Lieutenant Hamilton, of the 64th, on horseback; Lieut. Potter, of the marines, in a chaise ; John Hilton, of the 47th, Alexander Campbell, of the 4th, John Tyne, Samuel Marcy, Thomas Parry, and Thomas Sharp, of the marines, wounded men, in two carts, - the whole escorted by the Wethersfield company, under the command of Captain Chester, -entered the town of Charlestown, and marching slowly through it, halted at the ferry, when, upon a signal being given, Major Moncrief landed from the Lively, in order to receive the prisoners, and see his old friend, General Put- nam. Their meeting was truly cordial and affectionate. The wounded privates were soon sent on board the Lively; but Major Moncrief and the other officers returned with General Putnam and Dr. Warren to the house of Dr. Foster, where an entertainment was provided for them. About three o'clock, a signal was made by the Lively that they were ready to deliver up our prisoners ; upon which, General Putnam and Major Moncrief went to the ferry, where they received Messrs. John Peck, James Hews, James Brewer, and Daniel Preston, of Boston; Messrs. Samuel Frost and Seth Russell, of Cam- bridge;1 Mr. Joseph Bell, of Danvers; Mr. Elijah Seaver, of Roxbury, and Caesar Augustus, a negro servant of Mr. Tiles- ton, of Dorchester, who were conducted to the house of Cap- tain Foster, and there refreshed; after which, the general and major returned to their company, and spent an hour or two in a very agreeable manner. Between five and six o'clock. Major Moncrief, with the officers that had been delivered to him, were conducted to the ferry, where the Lively's barge received them; after which, General Putnam, with the pris- oners who had been delivered. to him, &c., returned to Cambridge, escorted in the same manner as before. The whole was conducted with the utmost decency and good humor; and the Wethersfield company did honor to them- selves, their officers, and their country. The regular officers expressed themselves as highly pleased; those who had been prisoners politely acknowledged the genteel, kind treatment
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