USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the commonwealth period. 1775-1820 v. III > Part 15
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1 Resolves of March 22, April 30, May 10, and June 4, 1777, in Jour. H. of R. for 1777 ; Boston Gazette for Jan. 6 and Feb. 24, 1777; Sparks's Washington, iv. 317, note ; Bliss's Rehoboth, 147; Bradford, ii. 129, 130. Washington disapproved of this act. Sparks's Washington, iv. 173.
2 Heath's Mems. 116, 117; Al- mon's Remembrancer, v. 70, 179; Sparks's Washington, iv. 279, 361. General Knox was in Boston in Feb- ruary . of this year, to expedite the raising of a battalion of artillery in Massachusetts. The four regiments named in the text were under the command of Generals Brewer, Fran- cis, Bradford, and Marshall. Brad- ford, ii. 130, note.
3 Boston Gazette for May 19, 1777; Austin's Life of Gerry, i. 257 ; J. Ad- ams's Corresp. in Works, ix. 464. In May, 1777, it was estimated that Mas- sachusetts had in its pay 12,000 men, besides militia and those engaged on the sea coast within its own jurisdic- tion. Bradford, ii. 138.
4 Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 253-255; Bradford, ii. 131. There were great complaints of the extortions of the sutlers during the previous campaign; and this was one reason why many soldiers were re- luctant to enlist. Letter of S. Phil- lips, Jun., to E. Gerry, Feb. 22, 1777, in Austin's Life of Gerry, i. 256 et seq.
142
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE.
CHAP. men of the towns were requested to assist in this work ; and, IV. as every seventh man was called for, the proportion of each 1777. town was definitely fixed, and a resolve was passed that the men should be raised. In some places, the citizens were draughted or taken by lot; and all such were obliged to join the army in person or furnish a substitute.1
The apprehension that the British fleet, which was stationed at Newport, and which was preparing to leave, was destined for Boston, awakened for a time serious alarm, and led to the June 3. passage of an order that the forts in the harbor should be repaired and manned; that a supply of provisions, intrench- ing tools, and military stores of every kind should be obtained, and lodged in magazines for the security of the state, and that the militia of the neighborhood should be " put upon the most respectable footing," and called for the defence of the town without delay ; but, as the enemy went to a different quarter, they were soon dismissed, though two regiments were retained, and several companies, in the service of the state, were sta- tioned in the seaboard towns during the year.2
The naval armament of Massachusetts, including several privateers, and the larger vessels commissioned by Congress, were still successful in their cruises on the coast and in the latitude of the West Indies ; and richly-laden ships, bound
1 Boston Gazette for June 30, 1777; Sparks's Washington, iv. 426, note ; Bradford, ii. 131, 135. The troops from Hampshire and Berkshire were ordered to march by the Council Feb- ruary 9; others, from Berkshire, at the request of General Gates, in April ; others, from Hampshire, by the Coun- cil, in May; and those for Ticondero- ga and Rhode Island, by the Council, April 12. In March, also, companies were ordered to be raised, and sta- tioned at Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Kittery, Newburyport, Gloucester, Sa- lem, Marblehead, Plymouth, and Dart- mouth, besides the companies already
raised and stationed at different places round the harbor of Boston, and the two continental regiments on the sta- tion.
2 Jour. H. of R. for 1777, p. 11; Letter of Gen. Heath, of June 14, 1777, in ibid. p. 26; Boston Gazette for May 19, 1777 ; Sparks's Wash- ington, iv. 395, note; v. 5, note ; Bradford, ii. 132, 133, 135, 136. The town garrison. was commanded by Major Andrew Symmes ; and Gener- al Heath took the place of General Ward as commander-in-chief - the latter having resigned his commis- sion, and been elected to the Council.
143
SUCCESSES OF THE NAVY.
from these islands to Europe, with others on their voyage CHAP. from Great Britain to New York to furnish the enemy with IV. stores and clothing, were captured by the Americans. By 1777. these successes, which were highly encouraging, the troops were supplied with necessary articles which could not have been otherwise easily obtained ; and a calculation was made, in England, that, from July, 1775, to January, 1777, the Amer- icans had captured English merchant ships to the value of a million and a half sterling, besides a number of transports and provision vessels destined for the British troops.1 Nor was it only from this quarter that supplies were received ; for, in consequence of the application of Franklin and Deane, who were at Paris, several ships arrived from France, laden with March and woollen and linen goods, and large quantities of hardware, April. firearms, and military stores. One of these, the Amphitrite, which touched at Portsmouth, had on board sixty-one hundred stands of arms ; and, as the troops from Massachusetts were on the eve of marching for Ticonderoga, the General Court ap- plied for these arms ; their request was granted, and the new recruits, many of whom had been delayed from the want of muskets, were speedily equipped and sent on their way.2
In the summer of this year, an expedition was projected for June. the defence and relief of the people of St. John and other places on the Bay of Fundy, who were friendly to the United
1 Stedman's Am. War, i. 259; Al- ii. 133, 134, 136. But 5000 stands mon's Remembrancer, iii. 343; iv. 312-318; v. 51, 108-110; Bradford, ii. 133. No towns, probably, did more than Salem and Beverly in fit- ting out vessels during the war; and it appears that, at a later date, from March 1 to November 1, 1781, there were fitted out from these ports at least 52 vessels, mounting 746 guns, and manned by 3940 seamen. Salem Gazette, passim; Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 376 ; Felt's Hist. Salem, ii. 267-278, where the partic- ulars are given
2 Heath's Mems. 117 ; Bradford,
were granted to Massachusetts ; the rest were otherwise disposed of. The troops for Ticonderoga were from Hampshire and Berkshire ; and 1500 of the militia of those counties were ordered out in April, and marched to New York. Before this date, the struggling states received much for- eign assistance, obtained both from individuals in France and from the French government ; and private merchants, in several of the sea- ports, sent secretly cargoes of mil- itary stores to this country. Diplo- macy of the U. S. 19.
144
PERILOUS POSITION OF AFFAIRS.
[CHAP. States, and called for assistance. This expedition was pro- IV. posed with the consent of the General Congress, but was 1777. performed by the people and government of Massachusetts, and a regiment was raised in Maine, with a sufficient naval force to aid in its operations ; but unexpected difficulties arose, and the expedition was abandoned in its original form, though a single company from Maine, without exciting alarm in the British at Halifax, proceeded, some months after, to the head of the Bay of Fundy, took a small fort, and brought off sev- eral families. The Indians in that quarter appeared to be friendly ; and some of them were taken into the pay of the state, and served with a battalion raised for the defence of the eastern frontiers.1
July 4.
The anniversary of the declaration of independence was celebrated in Boston with great parade. By order of the General Court, a sermon was delivered by Dr. Gordon, in the morning, before the representatives and councillors, and other public characters both civil and military ; a grand salute was fired on the occasion ; the militia were paraded ; a public din- ner was given ; fireworks were exhibited in the evening ; and other demonstrations of gratitude and joy signalized the fes- tivities, and attested the zeal and patriotism of the people.2
Yet the position of affairs was certainly perilous ; and the success of the British, under General Burgoyne, at the north- ward and in Canada, had been such as to inspire the liveliest alarm. Hence, as it was justly apprehended that, should they succeed in reaching Albany, and be joined by the forces sta- tioned at New York, the southern and northern states would be so separated that it would be easy to subdue them, no time was lost in laboring to prevent this catastrophe ; and it was immediately resolved to send additional troops to reënforce July 2. Gates. Already had the General Court ordered thither a
1 Jour. H. of R. for Aug. 8, 1777 ; Williamson's Maine, ii. 458; Brad- ford, ii. 138, 139.
2 Jour. II. of R. for 1777, 45, 51; Boston Gazette for July 7, 1777 ; Bradford, ii. 140.
145
CAPTURE OF BURGOYNE.
portion of the troops from Hampshire and Berkshire, with CHAP. others from Worcester, Middlesex, Suffolk, Essex, and York, . IV. after the abandonment of Ticonderoga ;1 and, relying upon 1777. " the public virtue, and the unbounded love of freedom and of their country with which the militia of the state had always been inspired," it was now ordered, at the solicitation of Wash- Aug. 8. ington, that the residue of the troops from the western coun- ties should follow, - with the exception of those from the south part of Worcester, -and one half of those from Mid- dlesex and Essex.2 In the absence of these forces, several companies of militia from Suffolk and Middlesex were called out to protect the capital, and to guard the military stores deposited there and at Cambridge and Watertown.3
This movement had the desired effect ; and, after Burgoyne - the " favorite of the court of London, formed by nature with an active, enterprising disposition, and animated by a most extravagant love of glory " 4 - had penetrated the coun- try so far that he could not retreat without disgrace, a detach- ment from his army of fifteen hundred men, under Colonel Baum, was encountered by the gallant Stark near Bennington, Aug.16. with a body of two thousand militia, and defeated ; 5 subse- quently a more general engagement took place near Saratoga, Sep. 19. in which the Americans were victorious ; a third encounter, a few weeks later, also resulted in favor of the Americans ; and, Oct. 7.
1 Jour. H. of R. for June 27, 1777; Holland's Western Mass. i .; Hamil- ton's Works, i. 31.
2 Jour. H. of R. for Aug. 6 and 8, 1777; Sparks's Washington, v. 18, 30; Heath's Mems. 123; Thacher's Jour. 83, 84; Bradford, ii. 141-143.
4 Abbé Robins, New Travels through America, 59.
5 Stark sent to Massachusetts, as a present, one brass drum, a firearm and bayonet, and a grenadier's cap and Hessian sword, as part of the tro- phies taken by him at Bennington ;
and these interesting relics may still be seen on the walls of the senate chamber, where they were placed by order of the General Court. Jour. H. of R. for Dec. 4, 1777. The whole army of Burgoyne is said to have con- sisted of 7173 regular troops, English 3 Sparks's Washington, iv. 500. and German, exclusive of a corps of artillery, and 700 ór 800 men under the orders of Colonel St. Leger. All his officers were men of approved merit; and he was provided with a considerable train of artillery, and ammunition of every sort. Robin's New Travels, 59. Abbé VOL. III. 10
146
SECRET EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND.
CHAP. twelve days later, the proud general, who had boasted of his IV. prowess, was compelled to surrender ; his troops were marched 1777. to the vicinity of Boston, and quartered in barracks on Win- Oct. 19. ter and Prospect Hills. This was "the turning point of the war of revolution in America ;" and the greater part of the American army, after the victory, was ordered from Saratoga to join General Washington, and went into winter quarters at Valley Forge.1
Sep. 17.
The secret expedition, planned by the legislature of Massa- chusetts before the capture of General Burgoyne, was de- signed for an attack upon the enemy at Newport, in the hope of forcing them to leave that place. To effect this purpose, three thousand men were raised, from the counties of Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable, and the southern parts of Suffolk, Middlesex, and Worcester ; and these, with the state regiment of artillery, under Colonel Crafts, and the militia of Massa- chusetts, under Major General Hancock, were placed under General Spencer, of Connecticut, and marched to Providence, and from thence to Tiverton, where the stone bridge now stands ; but the expedition was unsuccessful, though the officer
1 Jour. H. of R. for Dec. 12, 1777 ; Parl. Debates for 1779, 420 et seq. ; Boston Gazette for Aug. 25, Sept. 1 and 29, Oct. 6, 13, and 27, and Dec. 1, 1777; Burgoyne's Narr. in Lib. Mass. Hist. Soc. ; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 109, 116, 122- 124 ; Abbé Robin's New Travels, 59 -67; Stedman's Am. War, i. 332, 336, 344 et seq .; Historical Anec- dotes relative to the Am. War, Lond. 1779, 26 et seq. ; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 248-269 ; Almon's Remembrancer, v. 391 et seq. ; 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 25- 30; Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 94, 95 ; Heath's Mems. 125, 127, 129-135; Sparks's Wash- ington, v. 42, 104 ; Thacher's Jour. 91 et seq. ; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 169 et seq. Washington, Writ- ings, v. 146, contrasts the conduct of the middle and southern colonies, who
were reluctant even to raise men for their own protection, with the gallan- try of New York and the New Eng- land States, who poured their troops into the northern department until the surrender of Burgoyne. The pris- oners taken at Saratoga, known as the " convention prisoners," were held in duress until the spring of 1779 be- fore they were exchanged and per- mitted to return to England; and during this time frequent difficulties occurred with them, which called for the action of the General Court and the Continental Congress. Jour. H. of R. for 1778 and 1779; Jour. Cont. Cong. ; Heath's Mems. ; Sparks's Washington ; Marshall's Washington, &c. J. W. Thornton, Esq., has in his possession the original document signed by Burgoyne and his officers. -
147
EXPENSES OF THE WAR.
who conducted it "did his duty, and all that was in his CHAP. power." 1 IV.
The prosecution of the war on the part of the Americans 1777. had thus far been attended with enormous expense, so that the country was burdened with debt ; and, to provide for its payment, the General Congress recommended to the states to Oct. 3. raise by tax five millions of dollars, and apportioned to Mas- sachusetts eight hundred and twenty thousand dollars.2 To meet this demand, the General Court voted to raise seventy-five thousand pounds by loans, and two hundred and fifty-four thou- sand seven hundred and eighteen pounds by tax ; and, as Massa- chusetts had already advanced large sums to the United States, a committee was appointed for the adjustment of these claims.3 The enlistments for the army also required attention ; and, as the period for which the militia at Rhode Island and the companies on the sea coast had engaged was about to expire, it was ordered that two regiments should be raised for one
1 Jour. H. of R. for Sept. 13 and 17, and Nov. 26, 1777; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 126; Gor- don's Am. Rev. ii. 270, 271; Brad- ford, ii. 143; Peterson's R. Island, 219; Winsor's Duxbury, 137. A similar enterprise was projected in Feb. 1777; but, after considerable preparation, it was laid aside as im- practicable with the force then at command. Sparks's Washington, iv. 313, and note ; Bradford, ii. 137.
Jour. Cont. Cong. ii. 374; Jour. H. of R. for Jan. 28, 1778; Pember- ton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 127, 128; Stedman's Am. War, i. 228; Almon's Remembrancer, iv. 219; vi. 68 ; Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 114; Bradford, ii. 152. The assessments were apportioned as fol- lows : -
New Hampshire, . . $200,000 Massachusetts, 820,000 Rhode Island and Provi- 100,000 dence,
Connecticut,
600,000 New York, . 200,000
New Jersey, 270,000
Pennsylvania, . 620,000
Delaware, 60,000
Maryland, 520,000
Virginia, 800,000
North Carolina, 250,000
South Carolina, 500,000
Georgia,
60,000
5,000,000
3 Jour. H. of R. for Jan. 28, Feb. 19, and June 18, 1778; Bradford, ii. 124, 152. On the 22d of October, 1777, a bill was reported in the legis- lature of Massachusetts for assessing a tax of £305,642 14s. 3d. upon the several towns, &c., in the state, for defraying the public charge, and also for assessing a tax of £8883 7s. 6d., paid the representatives for their travel and attendance in the General Court in 1776. Jour. H. of R. for 1777, p. 117. On the 19th of June, 1778, a bill was also passed for raising £120,000 additional to the £254,718 formerly voted. Jour. H. of R. for June 19, 1778.
148
NEW QUOTAS CALLED FOR.
CHAP. year to serve in Rhode Island, or in any of the New England
IV. States ; and some of the militia were called for the defence of 1777. the sea coast.1
1778. Feb. 28.
This, however, was but one step taken, and for home de- fence. It was necessary to provide for the common defence. Accordingly, a committee of two was sent to confer with Washington relative to the expediency of raising more than the quota required of the state, and to consult as to the time for which the men should be engaged.2 The instructions of this committee were characteristic of Massachusetts ; and they were requested to assure his excellency that "this state, in testimony of their peculiar affection and respect for him, which he had so highly merited by his incessant and unwea- ried exertions in behalf of the country, as well as from what they owe to the common cause, will cheerfully cooperate with him as far as their ability will admit in endeavors to expel the enemy, and to free America from thraldom and slavery." 3 The Assembly, likewise, in further proof of their good will, voted to furnish gratis a full suit of clothes to every soldier from Massachusetts who joined the army ; and the field and other officers who had been some time in the service, and who May 1. engaged to continue, had an additional sum granted them - the former of one hundred and fifty dollars, and the latter of one hundred and twenty dollars.4 The delinquent towns were also urged to raise and equip the men required of them, and, in case of neglect, were heavily fined and subjected to
1 Jour. H. of R. for Nov. 26, 1777, time in Massachusetts of enlisting de- and ibid. p. 130; Bradford, ii. 152, 153. For a list of the muster mas- ters appointed in December, 1777, see Almon's Remembrancer, v. 41.
2 Hon. Daniel Hopkins, and Sam- uel Phillips, Jun., Esq., were the per- sons chosen. Jour. H. of R. for Feb. 28, 1778.
3 Jour. H. of R. for Jan. 7 and
serters from the army of Burgoyne, and employing them as substitutes to fill up the regiments of the state ; but. against this practice Washington ear- nestly protested, and his remonstrance had the desired effect. Sparks's Wash- ington, v. 287, 297; Jour. H. of R. for 1777, 1778.
4 Jour. H. of R. for May 1, 1778; Feb. 27, 1778; Bradford, ii. 153. It , Bradford, ii. 153. seems that a practice prevailed at this
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149
APPEALS TO THE PEOPLE.
prosecution. To fill up more speedily the sixteen regiments CHAP. of the state, two thousand men were further ordered to be IV. raised for eight or nine months, and apportioned upon the 1778. towns ; fifteen hundred additional troops were levied, agreea- bly to a vote of the General Congress - thirteen hundred for the northern frontier, and two hundred for Rhode Island ; and the board of war was required to furnish arms and other accoutrements necessary for their equipment.1
The appeals to the people, to arouse them to exertion, were spirited and ardent. " Act like yourselves," it was said. " Arouse at the call of Washington and of your country, and you will soon be crowned with glory, independence, and peace. Present ease and interest we must part with for a time ; and let us rejoice at the sacrifice." " What words can paint the solid joys, the delightful recollections, which will fill the patriotic mind hereafter ! He who wishes for perma- nent happiness, let him now put forth all his strength for the immediate salvation of his country, and he shall reap immortal pleasure and renown. It is good for us to anticipate the joy that will fill our minds when we shall receive the reward of our labors ; when we shall see our country flourish in peace ; when grateful millions shall hail us the protectors of our coun- try, and an approving conscience shall light up eternal sun- shine in our souls." 2
As a large British force remained at Newport through the spring and summer of 1778, and their fleet had the command of the waters in the neighborhood, the people of Massachu- setts, especially near Rhode Island, were kept in a state of
1 Jour. H. of R. for April 23 and June 9 and 16, 1778; Sparks's Wash- ington, v. 359, 375 ; Hamilton's Works, i. 37, 39, 43; Bradford, ii. 154. At a council of war held on the 8th of May it appears that the Amer- can force then amounted to but 15,000, besides horse and artillery. Of these, 11,800 were at Valley Forge,
1400 at Wilmington, and 1800 on the North River. Hence the necessity for recruiting the army, and the ur- gency with which Washington ap- pealed to Congress and to the states for supplies. Sparks's Washington, v. 340, note.
2 Boston Gazette for Jan. 6, 1778; Bradford, ii. 155.
150
EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND.
CHAP. continual alarm. Hence the duty which devolved upon tho IV. General Court was peculiarly burdensome ; for, as there were 1778. but few continental troops then on the station, they were obliged to keep the militia in service in great numbers for the whole of this, as for the preceding year. Yet little damage, compar- May 25. atively, was done by the enemy ; though, once, a body of six or seven hundred British and Hessians, under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, was sent up the river, and landed at War- ren, where they burned the meeting house and parsonage, and a number of vessels and private dwellings, insulted and abused the inhabitants, and plundered them of their clothing, bedding, May 31. and furniture. A few days later, also, a party of one hundred and fifty, under Major Ayres, landed at Tiverton, and burned an old mill and some other buildings ; but the militia collect- ed, and obliged them to retire.1
These incursions provoked resentment; and, later in the Aug. 7. season, the plan of expelling the enemy was revived. Gen- eral Sullivan, who had superseded General Spencer,2 was sta- tioned in Rhode Island, with a considerable body of conti- mental troops ; and, as a thousand of the militia of Massachu- setts were on service in that quarter, two thousand more were ordered out, and enthusiasm ran so high that volunteer com- panies from Boston, Salem, Beverly, Gloucester, Newburyport, and Portsmouth offered their services. The force thus gath- ered amounted, in all, to nine or ten thousand men,3 while the British, under Sir Robert Pigot, had but about sixty-five hun- dred, well fortified, at Newport.4 The Marquis de la Fayette, whose name is familiar to every reader, and Major General Greene, came from the American camp to serve as volunteers
1 Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 138; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 350, 351; Almon's Remembrancer, vi. 323, 324; Bradford, ii. 160; Pe- terson's Rhode Island, 220, 221. In Bristol, 22 houses were burned, among which was that of Governor Bradford.
2 Jour. Cont. Cong. Feb. 21, 1778 Sparks's Washington, v. 266.
3 Heath's Mems. 190, 191; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 178.
4 Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. i. 177.
,
151
EXPEDITION TO RHODE ISLAND.
in this expedition ; and a number of distinguished citizens CHAP. followed their example. Major General Hancock under- IV. took the command of one of the divisions; and, as the four 1778. New England States were well represented, and Colonel Craft's regiment of state artillery was in the service, with Glover's and Varnum's brigades from the continental army, the project seemed likely to be crowned with success, and not a doubt was entertained of its happy accomplishment.1
In addition to the American force, which was superior to the British, aid was likewise expected from another quarter. A powerful French fleet, under Count D'Estaing, had recently arrived on the coast, and was steering for Rhode Island ; and July 22. it was planned to make the attack in conjunction with the troops of which he had charge.2 For this purpose, on Sunday, Aug. 9. about eight thousand of the Americans landed on the island, and took possession of two of the enemy's forts, and the whole territory north of their lines, about two miles from Newport, without a gun fired on either side - the British retreating to their works nearer the town. The advance of the besieging army was composed of the light troops, independent compa- nies, and fifty men from each brigade, commanded by Colonel Livingston ; the right wing was under Major General Greene, and the left under the Marquis de la Fayette; General Han- cock commanded the second line ; and the reserve was under the charge of Colonel West.3 In this position they awaited
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