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 23
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 23
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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
233
PLOUGHED HILL.
were about to sally out of Charlestown, when the camp was alarmed, and the men ordered to lay on their arms. On the 25th there was a smart firing at the relief of guard, and the British exercised their cavalry on Charlestown common.1
The next enterprise was an important one. In front of Winter Hill, and within point-blank shot of Bunker Hill, is Ploughed Hill, now Mount Benedict. Washington determined to take possession of it. For weeks it had been rumored that the British intended to come out of Boston, and storm the American intrenchments ; 2 and hence it was expected that taking possession of a post so exposed would bring on a gen- eral action. This inade this occasion one of uncommon inter-
! It was customary, for several years, to celebrate the anniversary of the 14th of August, 1765, the day of the first forcible resistance to the acts of the British Parliament, when the stamp office in Boston was demolished. The following account appeared in the newspapers : -
Cambridge, Aug. 11, 1775.
This day the field-offieers of the 6th brigade, under the command of Col. James Frye, met at the house of Jonathan Hastings, Esq., to celebrate the 14th of August, where the following toasts were drunk, viz : -
1. The Continental Congress. and opening, of the town of Boston.
2. Success to our undertaking.
3. The memorable 14th of August, 1765.
4. May American valor ever prove invincible to the attempts of ministerial tyranny to oppress them.
5. The twelve United States.
6. All our friends in Great Britain.
7. Liberty without licentiousness.
8. A speedy and happy eonclusion to the present unhappy disputes.
9. The 19th of April.
10. A speedy entrance, possession,
11. The president of the Continental Congress.
12. General Washington, and the other general officers of the American army.
13. A speedy export of all the ene- mies of America, without any drawback.
14. Immortal honor to that patriot and hero, Doctor Warren, and the brave American troops who fought the battle on the 17th of June, 1775.
2 Col. Jedediah Huntington, August 26, writes : " We have been told that our enemies have for some time past been boasting the 25th August, intending then to make a visit to us, and that General Gage has given Earl Percy the command of the lines on the Neek, who is to exhibit such proofs of his military abilities as will retrieve the honor. he lost at the Lexington affray ; but matters remain this morning in statu quo."
234
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
est in the camp. On the night of August 26 a fatigue party of a thousand, with a guard of twenty-four hundred, under General Sullivan, marched on to this hill, and worked so dili- gently, during the night, that in the morning the works were strong enough to form a good protection against the enemy's cannon. About nine o'clock, on the 27th, Sunday, the British began a heavy cannonade from Bunker Hill, and from one of the ships hauled into Mystic River, and from two floating bat- teries stationed in this river, which continued throughout the day. Adjutant Mumford, of Colonel Varnum's Rhode Island regiinent, and a soldier, had their heads shot off, and a rifle- man was mortally wounded. On account of the scarcity of powder in the camp, this cannonade was not returned. A nine- pounder, however, was planted on a point at the Ten Hills Farm to play against the two floating batteries, and so effect- ual was the shot that one of them was sunk and the other was silenced. At night the firing ceased. On Monday morn- ing the enemy, from Chelsea, were observed to be drawn up and in motion on Bunker Hill. The camp was alarmed ; five thousand troops were marched to Ploughed Hill and to the Charlestown road; and Washington expected, and even hoped, that at high water the British intended to attack him. Until three o'clock in the afternoon "the most awful silence was observed on both sides." The enemy declined the challenge. They continued for several days to bombard the works. On the 10th of September the firing had ceased.1
In the mean time, so successful a blockade had made an im- pression on the British commander, and was seriously felt by the troops and the people of Boston. General Gage, although he had received reinforcements since the battle of Bunker Hill, began to despair of reducing . Massachusetts to submission. He informed Lord Dartmouth (July 24) that the rebellion was general. "This province began it," he said, "I might say this town, for here the arch-rebels formed tlieir scheme long ago. This circumstance brought the troops first here, which is the most disadvantageous place for all operations." He
' Newspapers of 1775 ; Sparks' Washington ; General Sullivan's letter, in Force's Archives, 11., 1755 ; the date should be August 29, 1775, instead of July.
235
THE BRITISH ARMY.
suggested that the province of New York might be more easily reduced, and that the friends of government there might be able to raise forces to join the troops. His general orders of this period rather indicate apprehensions of an attack from the Americans than any idea of moving into the country. Thus an order of August 2S enjoined the utmost alertness from the troops, as well in the day as in the night; and it predicted, that in case "the rebels presumed to make an attack" they would meet with a fate similar to that of the 17th of June.
In the last week in July the number of inhabitants was stated at 6753; the number of troops, with their dependents, women and children, at 13,600. The town became sickly, both among the people and the troops, for neither had been accustomed to live on salt provision. "We are in the strang- est state in the world," a lady writes, August 10, " surrounded on all sides. The whole country is in arms, and intrenched. We are deprived of fresh provisions, subject to continual alarms and cannonadings, the provincials being very auda- cious, and advancing near to our lines, since the arrivals of Generals Washington and Lee to command them."
The troops had an abundance of salt provision, and of fish, but this exclusive diet rendered many unfit for service. The weather was extremely hot. They were encamped on the common, and in other places, without proper shade to screen them from the sun, or without sufficient straw to lie on in their tents. "It is not to be wondered," a letter, August 2, says, " that the fatigue of duty, bad accommodation, and the use of too much spirits," should produce fevers in the camp. " The soldiers cannot be kept from rum ; sixpence will buy a quart of West India rum, and fourpence is the price of a quart of this country rum." "Even the sick and wounded have often had nothing to eat but salt pork and fish." The sailors were better off. The ships had a wider range, and got sup- plies of fresh meat along the coasts. "Even in those that lie in Boston harbor," a letter states, " though the men have a great deal of fatiguing duty in boats, yet they are coolly and cleanly lodged on board ; the decks are shaded with awnings, the lower ports are open, the hammocks are up, and the ships
20*
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236
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
washed inside and out twice a day, and there is always a little air of wind on the water that is not upon the shore." The sailors were more accustomed to salt diet, and had be- sides a full supply of wine and spruce beer, and they enjoyed good health. General Gage made exertions to obtain supplies of fresh meat from the neighboring colonies ; and a fleet that returned from a plundering excursion 1 from the neighborhood of New London, and the capture of an American vessel with stores, gave him a temporary supply. "With these trophies of victory," - the Essex Gazette states, August 17, - "on their arrival in Boston, the bells, we hear, were set to music, to the no small joy and comfort of the poor, half-starved Tories."
The patriotic portion of the inhabitants were annoyed by the stringent regulations of martial law, and often insulted by the conduct of individual soldiers. Sometimes these insults were minutely related in the journals. The citizens2 were charged with taking plans of the works, with making signals from the church steeples, with holding correspondence with
I General Gage, Aug. 20, 1775, informed Lord Dartmouth of the arrival of this fleet, " with about 1800 sheep, and above 100 head of oxen, which will be some relief to the troops in general, and of great benefit to the hos- pitals." This letter was published, when there appeared in the London Chronicle the following impromptu, written on hearing that a detachment of regulars had returned safe to Boston with the sheep : -
- In days of yore the British troops Have taken warlike kings in battle ; But now, alas ! their valor droops, For Gage takes naught but - harmless cattle.
Britons, with grief, your bosoms strike ! Your faded laurels loudly weep ! Behold your heroes, Quixote-like, Driving a timid flock of - sheep.
? Prisoners, inhabitants of Boston, Sept. 2, 1775 : -
Master Lovell, imprisoned sixty-five days, charged with being a spy, and giving intelligence to the rebels.
Mr. Leach, sixty-five days, charged with being a spy, and suspected of taking plans.
Mr. Peter Edes, son of Mr. Benjamin Edes, printer, and Mr. William Starr, seventy-five days each, for having fire-arms concealed in their houses.
Mr. John Gill, printer, twenty-nine days, for printing treason, sedition, and rebellion. - Newspaper, 1775.
237
THE BOSTON PATRIOTS.
their friends. Dr. Eliot writes, "We are offenders for a word." Some were thrown into prison, - among others, Mas- ter Lovell and Mr. Edes. At the commencement of the siege passes to go out might be bought, and some paid as high as forty dollars for them, but they were generally refused. At length the scarcity of provisions made so many inhabitants a burden to General Gage, and he endeavored to make an arrangement for their removal from Boston. A notification 1 was posted up in town, requesting such as wished to go into the country to leave their names with James Urquhart, town major, and in two days upwards of two thousand applied. Many hesitated as to the course to take, being unwilling to leave their effects subject to the plunder of the soldiery, and as unwilling to remain and suffer the hazards of the siege. No plate of any kind was allowed to be carried away, nor more than five pounds in cash. But much silver found its way out, and many are the stories told as to the way the men concealed it among their goods, and the women quilted it in their garments. Some were refused permission to leave. Many who obtained it landed at Chelsea, and scattered through the country. There is much matter relating to the poor at this period. They were provided for by the Provin- cial Congress, and donations also continued to be made for their relief. Congress (July 5) authorized the town clerk to summon the citizens of Boston to meet at Concord, July 18, to choose representatives to the General Court. The patriots who continued in town were much annoyed. Among other vexations, they saw their celebrated liberty-tree cut down by the troops and the Tories. Armed with axes, the Essex Gazette (August 31) says, " they made a furious attack upon it. After a long spell of laughing and grinning, sweating, swearing, and foaming, with malice diabolical, they cut down a tree because it bore the name of liberty." A soldier was killed during the operation. Be it known, says the Gazette,
1 Notification. - All persons who are desirous of leaving the town of Bos- ton are hereby called upon to give in their names to the town major forth- with. By order of his excellency the general,
JAMES URQUHART, Town Major.
Boston, 24th July, 1775.
23S
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
"that the grand American tree of liberty, planted in the centre of the united colonies of North America, now flourishes with unrivalled, increasing beauty, and bids fair, in a short time, to afford under its wide-spreading branches a safe and happy retreat for all the sons of liberty, however numerous and dispersed." 1
The Tories were willing to put up with the inconveniences of the siege, in consideration of the boon of security. One writing to a friend (August 10) says: "Although we are deprived of the comforts and luxuries, and some of the con- veniences of life, yet, our being in a place of safety lessens the want of those conveniences; and I heartily wish you and your good family were as safe as we are here, out of the reach of the Tory hunters." This letter names "a Mr. Hitch- born, a young lawyer," taken prisoner, as on board of the Preston, and as standing fair "for the gallows." They felt confident that the rebellion would be put down. They had
1 A tract was printed in 1775, entitled, " Voyage to Boston." The trav- eller was supplied by " the native genius of North America " with a mantle which had the virtue of rendering the wearer invisible. After being in the midst of Gage's council of war, he visited the liberty-tree while the Tories were cutting it down, and describes the scene as follows : -
Now shined the gay-faced sun with morning light, All nature joyed exulting at the sight, When swift as wind, to vent their base-born rage, The Tory Williams and the Butcher Gage Rushed to the tree, a nameless number near,
Tories and negroes following in the rear-
Each, axe in hand, attacked the honored tree, Swearing eternal war with Liberty ;
Nor ceased their strokes, 'till each repeating wound
Tumbled its honors headlong to the ground ; But e'er it fell, not mindless of its wrong, Avenged, it took one destined head along. A Tory soldier on its topmost limb - The genius of the shade looked stern at him, And marked him out that same hour to dine Where unsnuffed lamps burn low at Pluto's shrine, Then tripped his feet from off their cautious stand ; Pale turned the wretch - he spread each helpless hand, But spread in vain - with headlong force he fell, Nor stopped descending 'till he stopped in hell.
239
BOSTON TORIES.
manifested their loyalty by volunteering to act as patrol, and now enrolled themselves into regiments.1 "We learn from Boston " - Col. Reed writes, Aug. 24-" that they have been employed in cutting off all the limbs of the trees in the town for fascines, - that the Tories and refugees are regimented, have a green uniform, and are called the king's volunteers." The Essex Gazette, the same day, says : "We are informed that the negroes in Boston were lately summoned to meet in
1 The following extracts from Draper's Gazette will give some idea of things in Boston : -
Sept. 21, 1775. - Last week the Rev. Doctor Morrison received a call to the elegant new church in Brattle-street, vacated by the flight of Dr. Cooper ; and on Sunday he delivered an excellent discourse to a genteel audience. His discourse tended to show the fatal consequences of sowing sedition and conspiracy among parishioners, which this pulpit has been most wickedly practising ever since the corner-stone was laid.
We are desired to acquaint the public that service will begin every Sunday at 11 o'clock, at Dr. Morrison's church, in Brattle-street.
Tuesday a Snow arrived from Cork, laden with claret, pork, and butter ; she brings advice of great armaments fitting out in England, which may be expected here iu the course of next month ; and that a certain popular magis- trate had been sent to the tower, from whence ('t is imagined) he will be drawn on a sledge to Tyburn, there to meet the reward due to treason and rebellion.
A brigade of Irish Roman Catholics is forming in Munster and Connaught, in order to be sent to Boston, to act against the rebels.
Col. Gorham, lately arrived from England, has almost completed his bat- talion here, which is called the Royal Fencible Americans.
Several other corps are actually raising in the northern provinces, with great success, and many deluded people have left the rebels to enter therein.
We hear a certain person of weight among the rebels hath offered to . return to his allegiance, on condition of being pardoned and provided for ; what encouragement he has received remains a secret.
Sept. 28, 1775. - Such is the abundance of fuel, and provision for man and beast, daily arriving here, that instead of being a starved, deserted town, Boston will be, this winter, the emporium of America for plenty and pleasure.
The Hivernal concert will be open on Thursday next, and the play-house (Faneuil Hall) will shew away with the tragedy of Zara on Tuesday, the 17th of October, and continue to perform on those days weekly.
Six hundred pounds sterling (donation money) are received from Canada, for the sick and wounded soldiers of his majesty's army.
The Cerberus man-of-war arrived on Tuesday.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
Faneuil Hall, for the purpose of choosing out of their body a certain number to be employed in cleaning the streets, - in which meeting Joshua Loring, Esq., presided as moderator. The well-known Cæsar Merriam opposed the measure, for which he was committed to prison, and confined until the streets are all cleaned." The journals contain a minute description of a street-fight that took place in August, between Commissioner Hallowell and Admiral Graves. In September the arrival of supplies of provisions made things look a little more cheerful in Boston. Madam Draper's Gazette predicted (Sept. 28) that Boston, instead of being a starved, deserted town, would be, this winter, the emporium of America for plenty and pleasure.
The treatment of the prisoners taken at Bunker Hill, and at other places, occasioned an interesting correspondence be- tween the commanding generals of the two armies. They were thrown into a common jail. No distinction was made between officers and soldiers; and though, in July, a message from them stated that they were treated kindly, yet it was reported in August that they were treated with severity. This called for action on the part of Washington. "The occa- sion," Sparks writes, "awakened recollections of more than common interest. Just twenty years had elapsed since he and Gage fought side by side on the bloody battle-field of the Monongahela. An intimacy then subsisted between them, which was cherished afterwards by a friendly correspondence. Far different was the relation in which they now stood to each other, at the head of contending armies : the one obey- ing the commands of his sovereign, the other upholding the cause of an oppressed people." Their letters were significant of the change. Washington's was severe in the mere relation of the facts already stated. In addition, he stated that some, languishing with wounds and sickness, had been amputated in the unworthy situation of a jail; and he informed Gage (August 11) that he should be obliged to resort to the neces- sity of retaliation. General Gage's reply (13th) was arrogant and insulting : " Britons, ever preeminent in mercy, have out- gone common examples, and overlooked the criminal in the captive. Upon these principles, your prisoners, whose lives,
241
AMERICAN PRISONERS.
by the laws of the land, are destined to the cord, have hith- erto been treated with care and kindness, and more comfort- ably lodged than the king's troops in the hospitals; indis- criminately, it is true, for I acknowledge no rank that is not derived from the king." He then stated, that he had intelli- gence that the Americans were guilty of inhumanity in the treatment of British prisoners. General Washington replied to this letter on the 20th, in which he denied the correctness of this intelligence, and read him a wholesome political lesson : " You affect, sir, to despise all rank not derived from the same source with your own. I cannot conceive one more honor- able than that which flows from the uncorrupted choice of a brave and free people, -the purest source and original foun- tain of all power. Far from making it a plea for cruelty, a mind of true magnanimity and enlarged ideas would compre- hend and respect it." On receiving Gage's first letter, Wash- ington resolved to treat the British prisoners the same way the Americans were treated, and ordered Colonel Reed, his secretary, to direct those at Watertown and Cape Ann to be confined in Northampton jail. Accordingly, Captain Knight and others were immediately sent to Northampton. Wash- ington, however, soon changed his mind with regard to their imprisonment, and the order was countermanded. The three letters on this subject were published together in October, by order of Congress.
The following notes passed between General Washington and Sir William Howe, this month : -
" Charlestown Camp, 22d August, 1775.
"SIR :- The men under your command having repeatedly fired upon the officers of his majesty's troops, before they were returned to the outworks of this camp from parleys that have been brought on by your desire, I am to request all fur- ther intercourse between the two camps may be at an end, your own letters excepted, which will be received, if you are pleased to send them by a drummer.
"I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
" W. HOWE.
" GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., Cambridge."
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
"To SIR WILLIAM HOWE.
" Camp at Cambridge, 23d August, 1775.
"SIR :- I flatter myself you have been misinformed as to the conduct of the men under my command, complained of in yours of yesterday. It is what I should highly disapprove and condemn.
" I have not the least objection to put a stop to the inter- course between the two camps, either totally or partially. It obtained through the pressing solicitations of persons cruelly separated from their friends and connections, and I under- stood was mutually convenient.
"I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
" GEORGE WASHINGTON."
The month of September passed without any important military enterprise about Boston, though some incident daily occurred that served to give life and animation to the camp. Skirmishes continued between the American riflemen and the British regulars; while, at intervals, shot and shells were dis- charged, both by day and night, from the lines of the enemy. The British paid special attention to the new works at Ploughed Hill. On the 2d two shells fell inside of them, but did no damage; on the 20th and 21st, after a furious cannon- ade of shot and shells at the works, and at a fatigue party near them, they killed an ox and wounded two men; on the 25th nine shells were discharged at them, without success. On the side of Roxbury, the month opened with a severe cannon- ade, which killed two and wounded several Americans. On the 2d the British threw up a slight work on Boston Neck, in advance of their lines, to cover their guard. This was fol- lowed, on the 6th, by a similar movement, without niolesta- tion, by the Americans, though within musket-shot of the enemy. This work was below the George tavern. On the 10th a strong work at Lamb's Dam was completed, and mounted with four eighteen-pounders. On the 23d the British discharged one hundred and eight cannon and mortars on the works at Roxbury, without doing any damage. On the 27th Major Tupper, with two hundred men, embarked in whale- boats at Dorchester, landed on Governor's Island, brought off
SPIRIT OF THE TIMES. 243
twelve head of cattle, two fine horses, burnt a pleasure-boat just ready to be launched, and returned without loss to the camp.1 It was on the 13th of this month that Washington detached Colonel Arnold, with one thousand men, to Quebec.
1 The following song shows the spirit of the times. It is taken from the New Hampshire Gazette of September 12, 1775 : -
LIBERTY TREE, -A NEW SONG. TUNE - The Gods of the Greeks.
In a chariot of light, from the regions of day, The Goddess of Liberty came ; Ten thousand celestials directed the way, And hither conducted the Dame. A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Where millions with millions agree, She brought in her hand, as a pledge of her love, And the plant she named LIBERTY TREE.
The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground, Like a native it flourished and bore : The fame of its fruit drew the nations around, To seek out this peaceable shore. Unmindful of names or distinctions they came, For freemen like brothers agree ; With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was LIBERTY TREE.
Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old, Their bread in contentment they ate ; Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold, The cares of the grand and the great. With timber and tar they Old England supplied, And supported her power on the sea ; Her battles they fought, without getting a groat, For the honor of LIBERTY TREE.
But hear, O ye swains, ('tis a tale most profane,) How all the tyrannical powers, King, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain, To cut down this guardian of ours : From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms ; Through the land let the sound of it flee, Let the far and the near - all unite with a cheer, In defence of our LIBERTY TREE. 21
244
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
The fitting out this memorable expedition occupied a large share of his time. The details of it, however, do not come within the limits of this work.
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