USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the commonwealth period. 1775-1820 v. III > Part 13
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1 Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 92 ; Al-
2 Ramsay's Am. Rev. i. 346. mon's Remembrancer, iii. 337.
121
PROPRIETY OF THIS STEP.
people consecrated the cause as the cause of God and of suf- CHAP fering humanity.1 III.
It will be readily conceived that no step hitherto taken was 1776. more cordially approved by the patriots of New England than this, which severed forever their connection with Great Britain. Not that even the most zealous deprecated, under all circumstances, the continuance of such connection ; but they had long been satisfied of the hopelessness of effecting a reconciliation upon terms which would be alike satisfactory and honorable. If concessions were to be made, it was well understood that they would be expected to come from this side of the water. The ministers of the king had too much pride to acknowledge their errors, nor did they seem even conscious that they had done any thing which called for such an acknowledgment. In their own estimation, they had sought only to uphold the dignity of the crown, and to restore to obedience refractory subjects. If, in some cases, they had advocated measures of unusual severity, they were made neces- sary, they thought, by the exigencies of the times; and the responsibility of their passage must rest with the "rebels." Knowing that such feelings prevailed, and conscious that their resistance was grounded upon principle, and fell legitimately within the limits of constitutional authority, the statesmen of New England, who were in the forefront of the battle, and who looked over the field with a view to remote consequences as well as to immediate results, were convinced that war alone could decide the controversy, and that, to concentrate the
1 Boston Gazette for July 22, 1776; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 256; Austin's Life of Gerry, i. 206; Brad- ford, ii. 116, 117. " The bells of the town were rung on the occasion, and undissembled festivity cheered and lightened every face." " We hear that, on Thursday last, every King's Arms in Boston, and every sign with any resemblance of it, whether Lion and Crown, Pestle and Mortar and
Crown, Heart and Crown, &c., to- gether with every sign that belonged to a tory, was taken down, and made a general conflagration of in King Street. The King's Arms, in this town, was, on Saturday last, also de- faced." For the observances at Worcester, see Mass. Spy for July 24, 1776, and Lincoln's Hist. Worcester, 115, 116.
122
PROPRIETY OF THIS STEP.
CHAP. action of all the colonies, they must be bound together by a III. common tie, to enlist the sympathies of the reluctant and luke- 1776. warm. This was effected by the Declaration of Independence ; and for the passage of this Declaration none labored more zealously than the delegates from Massachusetts. They knew it was not only for their own interest, but for the interest of the country, that the step should be taken ; and, when taken, they foresaw that strength would be added to the public coun- cils, that foreign alliances could be more easily contracted, and that the freedom of the nation would be more speedily secured. They did not adopt the maxim of ancient times of degeneracy, -
" Quærenda pecunia primum est, Virtus post nummos ;"
but, appropriating to themselves a nobler sentiment, were ready to say, -
" If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye, and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently ; For let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of honor more than I fear death." 1
1 Julius Cæsar, Act i. Sc. 2.
CHAPTER IV.
MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
To sketch in full the progress of the revolution is properly CHAP. the province of the national historian ; and though the field IV. is a tempting one, and might be profitably explored, it would 1776. be quite out of place for the local historian to aim to supply any existing deficiency by an amplitude of detail, which would be allowable in a general work, but which, in one of a more restricted character, would be regarded as superfluous. Noth- ing, therefore, will be attempted here more than a summary of events bearing directly upon the history of Massachusetts, and illustrating the part taken by the citizens of this state in achieving the independence of the country. Even within these bounds, enough may be said to show that, if the soil of Massachusetts was no longer trodden by a hireling soldiery, and the people were no longer subjected to the stern necessity of fighting immediately for their own families and the protec- tion of their own homes, they were by no means indifferent to the claims of others upon their services, whose peace was disturbed by a foreign foe ; nor were they unwilling to conse- crate their fortunes to liberty, and to seal their sincerity by their own blood.
Upon the evacuation of Boston, and the departure of Washington for New York, the command of the forces in Mas- sachusetts devolved upon General Ward, who was instructed to occupy and repair the forts already erected, and to strengthen his defences to prevent the recapture of the town. He was, also, in all his proceedings, to consult the civil authorities, and act under their advice for the protection of the terri-
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124
FORTIFICATIONS IN BOSTON HARBOR.
CHAP. tory.1 The General Assembly had previously requested that IV. six regiments might be left in his charge, as a portion of the 1776. British fleet remained in the lower harbor, and they feared an attack unless they could concentrate a formidable force ; but only three regiments could be spared, and it became necessary, shortly after, to raise three more, with six companies of artil- lery, at the expense of the state.2
In accordance with his instructions, General Ward pro- ceeded forthwith to fortify the harbor, and in a very short May 4. time was able to report that the "forts on Fort Hill, in Bos- ton, Charlestown Point, and Castle Point" were " almost completed, with a number of heavy cannon mounted in each." A work was also in good forwardness on Noddle's Island, now East Boston ;. a detachment of the army was at Castle Island, repairing the batteries which the British had breached, and a number of hulks were preparing to be sunk in the chan- nel.3 " I have employed the troops here," he wrote, "to the greatest advantage in my power ; have ordered all the men not on actual duty to turn out upon fatigue every day, not
1 Bradford, ii. 102. Comp. Frank- lin's Works, viii. 181.
2 Jour. H. of R. for 1776; Brad- ford, ii. 102. Two of these regiments were ordered to be raised in April, and the third in May. James War- ren, in a letter to E. Gerry, June 12, 1776, Austin's Life of Gerry, i. 182, says, " A regiment ordered more than two months ago to be raised, under Colonel Whitney, yet wants more than a hundred men. Another, under Marshall, and one to consist of seven companies of the train, under Crafts, make but slow progress. Marshall has not near half filled his regiment, though the enlisting orders were given out six weeks ago." See also Jour. H. of R. for May 31 and June 1 and 6, 1776. The same Journal, p. 19, speaks of four independent compa- nies, at Dorchester, Braintree, Wey- mouth, and Hingham.
3 In addition to these preparations, the General Court, in April, voted to erect a powder mill at Sutton; a bounty was offered for the manufac- ture of saltpetre; a committee was appointed to superintend the casting of cannon and the making of firearms ; beacons were erected in Boston, at Cape Ann, Marblehead, and on the Blue Hills, in Milton, to give an alarm, should a landing be attempt- ed; and two vessels were employed to keep watch in the bay, and give seasonable notice of the movements of the enemy. Jour. H. of R. for 1776; Bradford, ii. 106; Bliss's Re- hoboth, 147. The sinking of hulks in the harbor was suspended, June 1, by the General Court, on the memo- rial of a committee of the town of Boston. Jour. H. of R. for June 1, 1776.
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125
1
GENERAL LINCOLN ENTERS THE SERVICE.
allowing any superfluous cooks nor waiters ; and, upon receiv- CHAP. ing intelligence of the British fleet being on its passage this IV. way, I directed all the officers to turn out with their men upon 1776. the works ; which they cheerfully complied with, and are in- stantly upon fatigue with their men." 1
The regiments which had been ordered by the General Court were eventually organized, and stationed partly at the Castle, partly at Noddle's Island, and partly at Nantasket.2 General Benjamin Lincoln, a native of Hingham, and a de- scendant of the Lincolns of Norfolk, England, was the chair- man of the committee appointed to attend to this duty ; and the military skill which he displayed on the occasion, joined to his superior qualities as an officer and a gentleman, won for him the favorable notice of Washington, and led to his transfer, at a subsequent date, to a post of still greater re- 1777. sponsibility, in which he was distinguished by his prudence and courage, and the sterling traits of fidelity and integrity. Few officers, indeed, who served in the war, won for them- selves a prouder name, and few are remembered with warmer affection.3
1 Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 191, 192, 200. From the Boston Gazette for May 6, 1776, it appears that a number of persons in the me- tropolis voluntarily subscribed to assist in fortifying the harbor of Boston, un- der the direction of the committee of the General Court, and that gentle- men from the country also voluntari- ly labored on the work. A letter from the Continental Congress of May 16 also urged upon the General Court the necessity of reenforcing the troops in Boston, to prevent the town falling again into the hands of the ministerial army; and a report on the subject was made by the Council May 31. Jour. H. of R. for 1776, p. 9.
2 Bradford, ii. 108. In addition to the works in the harbor of Boston, the General Court likewise provided for fortifications at Salem, Marble- head, Cape Ann, Plymouth, and Fal-
mouth, on Casco Bay. Cannon and' military stores were also furnished, and men were stationed at these places for the greater part of the summer, to prevent a landing from the British ships which were hovering on the coast. Boston Gazette for April 29, 1776; Jour. H. of R. for June 3, 1776.
3
Jour. H. of R. for June 11, 1776 ;
Sparks's Washington, iv. 229, 240, 294; Mem. of Gen. Lincoln, in 2 M. H. Coll. iii. 233 et seq. ; N. A. Rev. for Nov. 1815; S. Lincoln's Hist. Hingham, 140-146. An excellent portrait of General Lincoln is pre- served at the rooms of the Massachu- setts Historical Society. He was ap- pointed secretary of war in 1782, and in 1788 was chosen lieutenant gov- ernor of Massachusetts. Jour. Cont. Cong. i. ; Sparks's Washington, viii. 225, &c .; Bradford, ii. 332.
126
NAVAL ARMAMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAP. IV. The naval armament of Massachusetts embraced no vessels which could aspire to be ranked as first-class frigates,1 nor had 1776. extensive arrangements been made by the General Congress to prosecute the war at sea.2 The craft in the commission of the state and of the continent, however, with the privateers fitted out from different ports, rendered efficient and valuable service, and were ever alert to capture a prize. The exploit of the Franklin was signally brilliant ; and her gallant com- mander, Captain Mugford, of Marblehead, deserves to be held in remembrance by his townsmen. His vessel was small, and his crew consisted of but twenty or twenty-one men; yet he resolutely encountered a large ship of three hundred tons, from Ireland, mounting six guns, and loaded with provisions and military stores, of the value of forty or fifty thousand May 17. pounds. The engagement took place at the entrance of Bos- ton harbor, in full view of the British ships in Nantasket
Roads ; and great was their chagrin when they beheld the vic- tor, with his prize in tow, steering for Boston through the northern passage. But his triumph was short ; for, two days May 19. after, as he fell down the harbor to put to sea on a cruise, his vessel unfortunately grounded in the Gut, near Point Shirley. The British were informed of his perilous situation ; and
1 Almon's Remembrancer, iii. 342, gives an account of the launching, June 10, at Newburyport, of the Han- cock, a "fine ship" of 24 guns, well built, of the best timber, under the direction of the Hon. Thomas Cush- ing; and of the launching, at Ports- mouth, two weeks earlier, of a frigate of 32 guns, built under the direction of John Langdon, Esq. See, also, with reference to these vessels, Trum- bull MS. Letter Book B, 82, Letter of Marine Committee, Oct. 25, 1776. For these, 64 cannon were to be pro- vided, 52 twelve pounders, and 12 four pounders. See also Jour. Cont. Cong. ii. 393, under date Oct. 16, 1776. The Jour. HI. of R. for 1776, p. 8, speaks of armed vessels building
at Swansey, and, p. 9, of vessels built by order of the General Court for guarding the sea coast and annoying the enemy by sea.
2 The American navy, in 1776, is said to have consisted of the Alfred, of 32 guns, the Columbus, of 24, the Portsmouth, of 20, the Defence, An- dre Doria, and Cabot, of 16 each, the Northampton, of 14, the Hornet, of 12, the Wasp, of 10, the Fly, of 6, and 13 galleys, of 1 and 2 guns each, built for river service only. To these were added, in 1777, 15 vessels of from 6 to 36 guns, 4 xebecs, of 10 guns each, 2 fireships, and 2 floating batteries. Letter to Lord Viscount Howe, &c., Lond., 1779, 17, 18.
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127
THE BRITISH FLEET EXPELLED.
twelve or thirteen boats, filled with men, were sent to attack CHAP. him. They drew near about midnight, but were ordered to IV. stand off, and, refusing to obey, were fired upon. Two boats 1776. were sunk, and the rest were dispersed - but not without the loss of the captain of the Franklin, who was run through with a lance while fighting at his post.1
The frequent alarms in May and June, and the fears enter- May tained of another visit from the British, gave much uneasiness June. and to the inhabitants of Massachusetts. Hence, early in the latter month, it was determined by the General Court to for- Jun. 11. tify Nantasket and several of the islands in the harbor, and to drive all the enemy's vessels, if possible, from the bay.2 Accordingly, by beat of drum, detachments from the colonial Jun. 13. regiments, commanded by Colonels Marshall and Whitney, and a " battalion of train," commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Crafts, were mustered, embarked in boats at Long Wharf, sent down the harbor, and posted at Pettick's Island and at Hull, where they were joined by some of the continental. troops and sea coast companies - making, in all, six hundred men at each place. A like number of the militia from the towns in the vicinity of Boston, with a detachment from the, train and some field pieces, likewise took post at Moon Island, Hough's Neck, and Point Alderton ; and a detachment from the continental army, under Colonel Whitcomb, with two eighteen pounders, one thirteen inch mortar, and the necessary
1 Boston Gazette for May 20, April 17, is incorrect, as is also the 1776; Almon's Remembrancer, iii. date in Rantoul's Oration at Lexing- ton, Ap. 19, 1850, which says " May 19, 1775." 137, 138, 234; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 204; Bradford, ii. 109, 110. Mugford was not commissioned 2 Jour. H. of R. for June 11, 1776. " I never shall be happy," wrote John Adams to Samuel Cooper, May 30, 1776, Corresp. in Works, ix. 381, " until every unfriendly flag is driven out of sight, and the Lighthouse Island, George's and Lovell's Islands, and the east end of Long Island, are secured." as captain of the Franklin, but as master; and, as the others had left the vessel, he took the command. He was accompanied on his last cruise by " Maj. Frazer's little armed schoon- er ;" but the crew on board this ves- sel cut their cable, on being apprised of the approach of the British, and escaped. The date in Bradford, viz.,
128
EXPLOITS OF THE PRIVATEERS.
CHAP. intrenching tools, were embarked for Long Island, to take IV. post there. These bodies, which were placed under Major
1776. Lincoln, were accompanied by Prussian engineers of consider- able skill ; and they labored with such diligence that, in a few Jun. 14. hours, defences were thrown up on Long Island and at Nan- tasket, and cannon were mounted, which began to play upon the British fleet, numbering eight ships, two "snows," two brigs, and one schooner. The enterprise was successful ; and the shattered fleet, finding it hazardous to remain, put to sea, after blowing up the lighthouse - leaving behind two or three vessels, which were captured by the Americans.1
Jun. 10 to 17.
The capture by privateers, from Marblehead and elsewhere, of four or five transport ships from England and Scotland, each having on board from eighty to one hundred Highland- ers, besides marines for the British fleet, was noticed in the journals of the day as another capital exploit- especially as one of the ships engaged the privateers for several hours before she surrendered, and lost seventeen men, besides a major in the British service.2
The General Court, which, under the provincial charter, had been accustomed to assemble on the last Wednesday in May, was this year organized at Watertown, at the usual May 29. time ; and the members of the Executive Council for the pre- vious year were reelected, with the exception of six, who declined to serve.3 The business which came before this body was of the utmost importance ; yet, as many of the members were novices in legislation and unskilled in political affairs,
1 Boston Gazette for June 17, 1776; Almon's Remembrancer, iii. 138, 201, 202, iv. 138; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 65 ; Thacher's Jour. 46; Bradford, ii. 110, 111.
2 Boston Gazette for June 10 and 17, 1776 ; Ward to Washington, June 20, 1776, in Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 226; Ahnon's Remembrancer, iii. 290, 291; Thacher's Jour. 46; Bradford ii. 111.
Jour. H. of R. for 1776; J. Ad- ams to S. Cooper, May 30, 1776, in Works, ix. 381; Bradford, ii. 107. The six who declined were James Otis, John Adams, Jedediah Foster, Charles Chauncy, Enoch Freeman, and Jo- seph Palmer; and the reason of their declining was principally the pressure of the duties connected with other posts which demanded their atten- tion.
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129
TARDINESS IN RAISING TROOPS.
their decisions were " afflictingly slow," while every thing CHAP. called for "ardor and despatch."1 The British had, indeed, IV. quitted Boston, and their ships were driven from the waters 1776. of the bay ; but, in the critical state of public affairs, neither the citizens nor the General Court could promise themselves intermission in arduous service. Not only was it necessary that provisions should be made for the security of their own borders, but for augmenting the forces of the national army.2 Personal interest prompted to alacrity in the first of these objects ; but the demands of Congress for recruits at New York and on Lake Champlain 3 were more slowly answered ; and Hawley despondingly wrote, "This colony, I imagine, will Jun. 21. raise the men required by Congress before snow flies, but in no season for the relief of either New York or Canada." 4
It should be observed, however, in explanation of this con- duct, that it was not from the want of a disposition to comply that such tardiness was manifested, but chiefly from the diffi- culty of effecting enlistments. The General Court voted Jun. 17 readily to raise five thousand men, for six months, to reën- and 20. force the continental army, and, in an admirable address to the people, urged upon them the importance of attending to this duty. " Although the numbers are large," say they, " yet
1 J. Hawley to Washington, June 21, 1776, in Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 230.
2 From a Letter of President Han- cock to the Assembly of Connecticut, May 16, 1776, in Trumbull MS. Let- ter Book B, 50, it appears that Con- gress had ordered two additional regi- ments to be raised in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut, and one in New Hampshire, for the service of the United Colonies. Comp. also Jour. Cont. Cong. ii. 165, 167, and Jour. Mass. H., of R. for May 31, 1776. The five Massachusetts regiments were ordered, May 31, to be recruited to their full complement.
3 The resolve of Congress was for employing 6000 militia to reënforce VOL. III. 9
the army in Canada; 13,800 at New York ; and 10,000 as a flying camp. Jour. Cont. Cong. ii. 187, 188; Jour. Mass. H. of R. for June 12, 1776.
4 J. Hawley to Washington, in Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 230. " It will be in vain," he also wrote to Gerry, July 17, 1776, in Austin's Life of Gerry, i. 208, “ to attempt to en- list New England people for a longer term than two years. No bounties will induce them to engage for a long- er time - I fear, for no longer time than one year." In this opinion, how- ever, as the event proved, he was mis- taken ; for thousands were enlisted, not for three years only, but during the war.
130
LOCAL JEALOUSIES.
CHAP. the exertions now called for are not to be regarded when IV. compared to the great and noble objects for which we are con- 1776. tending. This Court, therefore, have the fullest assurance that their brethren, on this occasion, will not confer with flesh and blood, but, being convinced of the necessity of the measure, will, without hesitation and with the utmost alacrity and de- spatch, fill up the numbers proportioned on the several towns ; in which case we shall have the highest prospect of defeating the bloody designs of our unjust and cruel adversaries." 1
In pursuance of this purpose, committees were appointed in every town to assist and encourage the enlistments ; a bounty, and a month's pay in advance, were offered as inducements to soldiers to enroll their names ; and the sum of fifty thousand pounds of the currency of the state was appropriated to defray the accruing expenses.2 Yet the work progressed slowly ; and it was difficult to persuade people of the expe- diency or policy of draining the state so largely of its in- habitants, especially as their services might be needed at home. But, besides this objection, there was another, which weighed more heavily with many. The local jealousies which prevailed in the colonies have been already alluded to ; and these jealousies, so far from disappearing with the transfer of the war to the south, seem rather to have been strength- ened, and to have burst forth with accumulated rancor and virulence. Hence, in alluding to this state of things, an offi- cer in the army wrote, " It has already risen to such a height, that the Pennsylvania and New England troops would as soon fight each other as the enemy. Officers of all ranks are indiscriminately treated in a most contemptible manner, and whole colonies traduced and vilified as cheats, knaves, cow-
1 Jour. H. of R. for June 17 and 20, 1776; Bradford, ii. 113, 114. These troops were apportioned as fol- lows : Suffolk county was to raise 448 men; Essex county, 457 ; Middlesex,
1070 ; Hampshire, 742; Plymouth, 380 ; Bristol, 362; York, 105; Worcester, 1102; Cumberland, 39; and Berkshire, 261.
2 Bradford, ii. 114.
131
LOCAL JEALOUSIES.
ards, poltroons, hypocrites, and every term of reproach, for CHAP. no other reason but because they are situated east of New IV. York. Every honor is paid to the merit of good men from 1776. the south ; the merit, if such be possible, from the north is not so readily acknowledged, but, if too apparent to be blasted with falsehood, is carefully buried in oblivion. The cowardice or misbehavior of the south is carefully covered over ; the least misconduct in the gentlemen of the north is published with large comments and aggravations." 1
It is possible that these statements may be somewhat exag- gerated, and that allowance should be made for personal resent- ment and partisan zeal. Yet the fact remains that jealousies existed, which soured the temper and affected the views of the residents of different sections of the country. Nor is it sur- prising, when the sensitiveness of the people and the peculiar- ities of their position are considered, that a weakness which has always, to a greater or less extent, marked the character and conduct of mankind, should have exhibited itself among the patriots of America ; and, while it is not asserted that either party was exclusively to blame for yielding to this weakness, and that self-vindication was perfectly proper, it is to be regret- ted that the New Englanders retorted upon their opponents such bitter reproaches. If their provocations were great, so should have been their forbearance; nor is it meanness of spirit which submits to indignities rather than resents them, when by a retaliatory course the evil is increased. Self-con- trol is the first lesson to be learned by those who are engaged in the struggle for freedom. But the passions of men are rarely restricted within rational bounds ; and instances innu- merable, from the history of all ages, prove that
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