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 29
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 29
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 29
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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
1 Annual Register, 1776.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
He fully expected an engagement, and was highly gratified with the temper and resolution of his army.
Meantime a fine detachment of four thousand chosen troops was under parade at Cambridge, near fort number two, ready to make an assault on the British lines in Boston. This detachment was arranged in two divisions, - one under Gen- eral Sullivan, and the other under General Greene, and the whole was commanded by General Putnam. On signals being given, they were to have embarked in the boats near the mouth of Charles River, and, under the cover of three floating batteries, to attack Boston. The first division was to land at the powder-house, and gain possession of Beacon Hill and Mount Horam; the second division was to land at Bar- ton's Point, or a little south of it, and, after securing that post, join the other division, force the gates and works at the neck, and let in the troops from Roxbury.
But the two armies, thus ready and anxious for a conflict that could not have failed to have been bloody and destruc- tive, were not yet permitted to meet. In the afternoon the wind blew furiously, and prevented the ships from reaching their destination ; and so great was the surf on the shore where the boats were to have landed, that they could not live in it. The attempt, therefore, became impracticable. The following day the wind was boisterous, and the rain was excessive. The attack was still further delayed, while the Americans continued to strengthen their works. General Howe, at length, was forced to abandon his plan, and the troops returned to Boston. Washington had made arrange- ments so satisfactory to himself, - so completely was every- thing working according to his wishes, - that he could not forbear lamenting his disappointment at not meeting the enemy.1
' Gordon (vol. II., p. 39) states, that, at the council of war called to fix upon the time for taking possession of Dorchester Heights, the Quarter- master-general, Colonel Mifflin, was summoned for the first time. He was in favor of the night of the 4th, as it would have a great effect, in case of a battle the next day, to remind the troops of the " massacre." General Gates thought it an improper time, and it was carried for that night by one majority.
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301
HOWE'S CRITICAL SITUATION.
General Howe's situation; on the 7th of March, was per- plexing and critical. The fleet was unable to ride in safety in the harbor. The army, exposed to the mercy of the Ameri- can batteries, not strong enough to force the lines, was humil- iated and discontented. The loyalists were expecting and claiming the protection that had been so often guaranteed to them. In addition, the belief was general that no despatches had been received from the government since October. "This," a British letter states, "could not fail of making everybody feel uneasy ; it looked as if we were left destitute, to get out of a bad scrape as we liked best." "The fleet and army complain of each other, and both of the people at home." To remain in Boston was to expose the troops to the greatest danger; to withdraw from Boston would occasion a severe loss of property. General Howe convened his officers in council, and made a speech so able as to carry conviction. It was determined, at whatever cost, to save the army; and on this eventful day of anxiety and alarm General Howe resolved to evacuate the town. The conclusion was a morti- fying one. He had, in letters to the ministry, scorned the idea that he was in danger from his antagonist, and wished the "rebels" would "attempt so rash a step" as to attack him ; the "rebels" had no sooner placed themselves in a posi- tion that was equivalent to an attack, than he felt obliged to quit, without an effort, the strong-holds that had so long shel- tered him. Nor was this all. He had given to the ministry strong reasons why the army should not move from Boston until reinforced : as he was sailing out of the harbor he received the reply of the ministry, who supposed him still at his post, approving of his resolution to remain, as an evacu- ation, under such circumstances, would be an unadvisable measure !
This resolution came unexpected to the Tories. "Not the
Notwithstanding the intense anxiety of this day, Rev. Peter Thatcher, of Malden, delivered at Watertown the customary oration in commemoration of the massacre, before a meeting of the citizens of Boston legally warned. It was received with universal approbation. A committee was appointed to thank the orator in the name of the town, and to request a copy for the press. Dr. Cooper made the prayer on this occasion.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
last trump," Washington wrote, "could have struck them with greater consternation." They were unprepared to see a power they regarded as invincible baffled by an army they affected to despise ; and rather than meet their offended coun- trymen, they preferred to brave the dangers of a tempestuous voyage, to endure the annoyance of insufficient accommoda- tion, and, with whatever property they might save, to follow" the fortunes of the disgraced army. "The people of the town," a letter states, "who were friends of the government, took care of nothing but their merchandise, and found means to employ the men belonging to the transports in embarking their goods; by which means several of the vessels were entirely filled with private property, instead of the king's stores." Thus, in the scramble and confusion, the public good shrunk into insignificance, compared with private inter- ests ; and hence it was that such large quantities of military stores were left behind. The British commander, however, immediately commenced preparations for departure. Ammu- nition, warlike magazines of all kinds, were put on board the ships ; heavy artillery were dismounted, spiked, or thrown into the sea; and some of the works were demolished. "The necessary care of the women, children, sick, and wounded," a letter states, "required every assistance that could be given. It was not like the breaking up of a camp, where every man knows his duty ; it was like departing your country, with your wives, your servants, your household furniture, and all your encumbrances. The officers, who felt the disgrace of a retreat, kept up appearances. The men, who thought they were changing for the better, strove to take advantage of the . present times, and were kept from plunder and drink with dif- ficulty." General Howe, in his official account to the Earl of Dartmouth, says : "A thousand difficulties arose on ac- count of the disproportion of transports for the conveyance of the troops, the well-affected inhabitants,1 their most valuable
1 Lord Dartmouth, as early as August 2, 1775, wrote to General Gage : " If we are driven to the difficulty of relinquishing Boston, care must be taken that the officers and friends of the government be not left exposed to the rage and insult of rebels, who set no bounds to their barbarity."
303
THE NEGOTIATION WITH HOWE.
property, and the quantity of military stores to be carried away."
The keenest anxiety was now felt for the fate of Boston. The idea of its destruction had been entertained, at various times, in both of the hostile camps. Heretofore the danger had been from without. Its friends, moved by the stern dic- tates of patriotism, had resolved to offer it, if necessary, as a sacrifice on the altar of American freedom. Now, however, the danger came from within. General Howe threatened to destroy it in case his army was assaulted. The admiral moved his ships in fearful array round the town; while the melancholy ruins of Charlestown made the inhabitants sensibly feel that the threat might not prove an idle one. They took measures to avert, if possible, so great a calamity. A delega- tion of influential citizens communicated with the British commander, through General Robertson. The following for- mal statement of the result of that conference, having no special address, but intended for General Washington, was sent by Messrs. Amory and Johonnot to the American lines by a flag of truce : -
Boston, 8th March, 1776.
As his excellency General Howe is determined to leave the town, with the troops under his command, a number of the respectable inhabitants, being very anxious for its preservation and safety, have applied to General Robertson for this pur- pose, who, at their request, has communicated the same to his excellency General Howe, who has assured him that he has no intention of destroying the town, unless the troops under his command are molested during their embarkation, or at their departure, by the armed force without; which declara- tion he gave General Robertson leave to communicate to the inhabitants. If such an opposition should take place, we have the greatest reason to expect the town will be exposed to entire destruction. Our fears are quieted with regard to General Howe's intentions. We beg we may have some assurance that so dreadful a calamity may not be brought on by any measures without. As a testimony of the truth of the above, we have signed our names to this paper, carried out by Messrs.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
Thomas and Jonathan Amory and Peter Johonnot, who have, at the earnest entreaties of the inhabitants, through the lieu- tenant-governor, solicited a flag of truce for this purpose.
JOHN SCOLLAY, TIMOTHY NEWELL, THOMAS MARSHALL, SAMUEL AUSTIN.
This paper was received at the lines at Roxbury by Colonel Learned, who carried it to head-quarters ; and in return, the next day, wrote to the messengers as follows : -
Roxbury, March 9, 1776.
Gentlemen, - Agreeably to a promise made to you at the lines yesterday, I waited upon his excellency General Wash- ington, and presented to him the paper handed to me by you, from the selectmen of Boston. The answer I received from him was to this effect : 'That, as it was an unauthenticated paper, without an address, and not obligatory upon General Howe, he would take no notice of it.' I am, with esteem and respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
EBENEZER LEARNED.
To Messrs. AMORY and JOHONNOT.1
This answer was, apparently, uncompromising. Neither party, however, desired a general action. Washington's object was to gain possession of the town, and it was in accordance with his principles and feelings to accomplish it, if possible, without bloodshed. Humanity and policy united to save it from the ravage and destruction that would inevitably accom- pany an assault. Howe's object was to save his army. He did not feel strong enough to meet his antagonists in the neighborhood of Boston. He could not act to advantage in this quarter. And it was his policy to avoid risk, and try his fortune, with all the force he could command, on a new field. Hence this informal negotiation, without placing either party under obligations, produced a tacit understanding between both parties that saved much bloodshed. General Howe left the town without doing material injury to it, and General
1 Sparks' Writings of Washington, vol. III., Appendix.
305
NOOK'S HILL.
Washington allowed the troops to embark without molesta- tion. The American army was held in readiness to make an assault at any moment, in case indications appeared that injury was intended to the town.
Washington, however, went on with his preparations. On the 9th he planted a battery at the north-east of Bird's Hill, near the water at Dorchester Neck, with the intention of annoying the British shipping. Nook's Hill, situated also in Dorchester, which was still nearer Boston, and which com- pletely commanded it, was especially dreaded by the Britishı commander. Its possession by the Americans would place him entirely at their mercy. At night a strong detachment was sent to plant a battery there, and act as circumstances might require. Some of the men imprudently kindled a fire behind the hill, which revealed their purpose to the British, who commenced a severe cannonade upon them. This proved another dreadful night to the terror-stricken people of Boston. During the whole of it there was a roar of cannon and mor- tars, - on the part of the Americans, from Cobble Hill, Lech- mere's Point, Cambridge, and Roxbury, - on the British side, from the lines on the Neck and the castle. More than eight hundred shot were fired during the night. Five Americans were killed, and the works at Nook's Hill were suspended.1
1 Mrs. Adams, in a letter commenced March 2, and closed Sunday even- ing, March 10, gives a vivid description of the cannonade during this period. The following are extracts from this letter : -
March 2.
I have been in a continual state of anxiety since you left me. It has been said " to-morrow," and " to-morrow," for this month, but when the dreadful to-morrow will be I know not. But hark ! The house this instant shakes with the roar of cannon. I have been to the door, and find it is a cannonade from our army. Orders, I find, are come, for all the remaining militia to repair to the lines Monday night, by twelve o'clock. No sleep for me to-night.
Sunday Evening, 3d March.
I went to bed after twelve, but got no rest ; the cannon continued firing, and my heart beat pace with them all night. We have had a pretty quiet day, but what to-morrow will bring forth, God only knows.
Monday Evening.
I have just returned from Penn's Hill, where I have been sitting to hear the amazing roar of cannon, and from whence I could see every shell which
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
This movement, however, hastened the preparations of Gen- eral Howe. He issued (10th) a printed proclamation, ordering the inhabitants to deliver all linen and woollen goods to Crean Brush. In concluding, this document stated that, " If, after this notice, any person secretes or keeps in his possession such articles, he will be treated as a favorer of the rebels." But a written commission given this day, under General Howe's signature, to this officer, went much further. It stated that there were in town large quantities of goods, which, "in the possession of the rebels, would enable them to carry on war;" and authorized him to " take possession of all such goods as answered this description," and put them on board the Minerva ship, and brigantine Elizabeth.1
was thrown. The sound, I think, is one of the grandest in nature, and is of the true species of the sublime. 'T is now an incessant roar ; but O, the fatal ideas which are connected with the sound ! How many of our dear countrymen must fall !
Tuesday Morning.
I went to bed about twelve, and rose again a little after one. I could no more sleep than if I had been in the engagement ; the rattling of the win- dows, the jar of the house, the continual roar of twenty-four-pounders, and the bursting of shells, give us such ideas, and realize a scene to us of which we could scarcely form any conception. *
* I hope to give you joy of Boston, even if it is in ruins, before I send this away.
Sunday Evening, March 10.
A most terrible and incessant cannonade from half-after eight till six this morning. I hear we lost four men killed, and some wounded, in attempting to take the hill nearest to the town, called Nook's Hill. We did some work, but the fire from the ships beat off our men, so that they did not secure it, but retired to the fort upon the other hill. - Mrs. Adams' Letters, pp. 68-71.
1 Most, if not all, the printed proclamations of Howe, during the siege, are among the rich collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. They were circulated in hand-bills. The following is copied from the orig- inal, with General Howe's autograph, in the office of the Secretary of State :
Sir, - I am informed there are large quantities of goods in the town of Boston, which, if in possession of the rebels, would enable them to carry on war. And whereas I have given notice to all loyal inhabitants to remove such goods from hence, and that all who do not remove them, or deliver them to your care, will be considered as abettors of rebels. You are hereby author- ized and required to take into your possession all such goods as answer this description, and to give certificates to the owners that you have received them for their use, and will deliver them to the owners' order, unavoidable accidents
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307
PLUNDERING IN BOSTON.
This day (10th) the horse transports were ordered to fall down to Castle William. A large body of the grenadiers and light-infantry, and the fifth and tenth regiments, were selected to cover the retreat by land, and the Chatham and Fowey ships, by water. Many cannon were spiked, many gun-car- riages were broken, and much ammunition was thrown over the wharves. The army was much embarrassed between the necessity of being continually on duty, and the immediate attention required to save property. Many of the officers had laid out money in furniture and conveniences to make their situation comfortable. No purchasers of these articles could now be found. The crisis left no choice of measures, and regrets were useless. The embarkation of stores and people went on. Some, ascertaining they could not carry their furni- ture with them, began to destroy it.
The day following (11th) was signalized by the operations of Crean Brush. He was a conceited New York Tory, as ignorant of the American character as he was insolent in the discharge of his official duties. At the head of parties of Tories, under cover of his commission, he broke open stores, stripped them of their goods, and carried them on board the ships. It is not strange that this authorized plunder was imi- tated by lawless bands of men from the fleet and the army. They broke open shops and dwelling-houses, "carrying destruction," says Gordon, "wherever they went ; what they could not carry away they destroyed." The next day (12th) the same scenes were renewed, though expressly forbidden in orders. Those found guilty of plundering, or in firing a house, were threatened with death.1
excepted. And you are to make inquiry if any such goods be secreted or left in stores ; and you are to seize all such, and put them on board the Minerva ship, or the brigantine Elizabeth. Given under my hand, at head- quarters, Boston, this tenth day of March, 1776.
W. HowE, Com. Chief. To CREAN BRUSH, Esquire.
1 The details of the last days of the British in Boston are given in British letters, and in Mss. in the State House. The brigantine Elizabeth was cap- tured, with Crean Brush on board, and among the Mss. are depositions respecting his conduct, his commission, lists of goods &c. Gordon writes, March 6th, from a journal kept in Boston, and gives many interesting facts. - History, vol. II., p. 42.
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THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
On the 14th the streets in different parts of the town were barricaded, and dispositions were made for a departure. Stores were plundered by sailors, acting under their officers, and under the pretext of orders from the admiral.1 On the 15th proclamation was made by the crier for the inhabitants to keep in their houses from eleven o'clock in the morning until night, to prevent them from annoying the troops during their embarkation. But an easterly breeze sprung up, and the army was ordered to its barracks. On the 16th the troops did much mischief by defacing furniture, damaging goods, and breaking open stores. They were only waiting a fair wind to go on board the ships.
During this exciting period the journals continued to chron- icle the success of the Americans on the sea. On the 6th it was announced that the Yankee Hero had sent into Newbury- port a fine brig of 200 tons burden ; and, on the 14th, that Captain Manly had sent into Portsmouth an armed ship of 240 tons, loaded with provisions for Boston; and had also sent into Cape Ann a ship of 300 tons, filled with stores for the army. A transport brig of fourteen guns, laden with naval stores and provisions, ran ashore at the back of the cape. The people boarded her, and unloaded her cargo. She had on board five barrels of powder, and five hundred pounds of specie.
In the mean time Washington, who liad but partial infor- mation of the proceedings in Boston, became more and more impatient to see the British evacuate it. He wrote to Con- gress on the 13th, that he "fully expected, before this, that the town would have been entirely evacuated." He felt that
' On this day General Howe issued the following order : -
March 14. - The commander-in-chief finding, notwithstanding former orders that have been given to forbid plundering, houses have been forced open and robbed, he is therefore under a necessity of declaring to the troops that the first soldier who is caught plundering will be hanged on the spot.
The commander-in-chief, having been informed that depredations have been committed in the town-house, offers the following rewards to any person or persons who shall convict any person or persons of cutting and defacing the king's and queen's picture, and destroying the records and other public papers, viz : For the king's picture £50, for the queen's picture £50, for other pictures, records, and public papers, £20.
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EVACUATION OF BOSTON. 309
Howe might be deceiving him, and that the arrival of addi- tional troops and vessels, hourly expected, might change the aspect of affairs. On this day a council of war was held at General Ward's quarters, in Roxbury, - Washington, Ward and Putnam, Thomas, Sullivan, Heath, Greene and Gates, were present. It was determined that if Boston were not evacuated the next day it would be advisable, " at all events," to fortify Nook's Hill the next night. It was also determined to detach the rifle battalion and five regiments the next day to New York. It was also concluded, that, should Boston be evacuated, it would be unnecessary to employ any part of the army for the defence of Massachusetts, as its militia were adequate for this work. Orders were immediately issued for the rifle battalion to be in readiness to march the next day by ten o'clock ; and for Stark's, Webb's, Patterson's, Greaton's, and Bond's regiments, to march on Friday. These regiments, however, did not march for New York until the 18th. The orders of the day threaten any who, on the retreat of the enemy, should be detected in pillaging in Boston, with the severest punishment. "The inhabitants of that distressed town," they say, "have already suffered too heavily from the iron hand of oppression. Their countrymen surely will not be base enough to add to their misfortunes."
On Saturday, March 16, Washington brought matters to a crisis. A strong detachment was sent to Nook's Hill to fortify it. The British discovered it, and cannonaded it during the night. The Americans did not return the fire, but maintained their ground. General Howe then resolved to evacuate the town without further delay. He commenced very early in the morning of Sunday, March 17th, the embarkation of his army. About nine o'clock the garrison left Bunker Hill, and a large number of boats, filled with troops and inhab- itants, put off from the wharves of Boston.1
1 A British officer writes as follows, of the embarkation: "Nantasket Road, March 17. - According to my promise, I proceed to give a brief account of our retreat, which was made this morning between the hours of two and eight. Our troops did not receive the smallest molestation, though the rebels were all night at work on the near hill which I mentioned to you in my last letter, and we kept a constant fire upon them from a battery of
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310
THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
When these movements were observed in the American camp, the troops stationed at Cambridge and Roxbury pa- raded. General Putnam, at the head of several regiments, embarked in boats in Charles River, and landed at Sewall's Point. Though a large body of the enemy was seen to leave Bunker Hill, yet the sentries appeared to be faithfully per- forming their duties. Two men, however, sent forward to reconnoitre, found that the fortress was left in charge of wooden sentinels, and immediately gave the joyous signal that it was evacuated. A detachment soon took possession of it. General Putnam ordered another detachment to march forward and take possession of Boston, while the remainder of the troops returned to Cambridge. Meantime, General Ward, with about five hundred troops from Roxbury, under the immediate command of Colonel Ebenezer Learned, who unbarred and opened the gates, entered Boston in that direc- tion, Ensign Richards bearing the standard. They picked their way through great numbers of crow's-feet, which had been scattered over the Neck by the enemy, to retard the advance of an attacking force. The command of the whole was assumed by General Putnam, who proceeded to occupy the important posts, and thereby become possessed, the New England Journal says, "in the name of the thirteen United Colonies of North America, of all the fortresses of that large and once flourishing metropolis, which the flower of the Brit- ish army, headed by an experienced general, and supported by a formidable fleet of men-of-war, had but an hour before evacuated in the most precipitous and cowardly manner."
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