USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the commonwealth period. 1775-1820 v. III > Part 16
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1 Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 174.
2 Hamilton's Works, i. 65, 67. The fleet of D'Estaing consisted of the Languedoc, of 90 guns, which was the admiral's flag ship ; the Tonnant, the Cesar, the Zelé, the Hector, the Mar- seilles, the Protecteur, and the Guer- rier, of 74 guns each ; the Fantasque, the Provence, and the Vaillant, of 64 guns each; the Sagittaire, of 50 guns ; L'Engageante, of 36 guns ; the Champion, of 30 guns; L'Alcmene,
of 25 guns, and L'Aimable, of 26 guns. Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 146 ; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 160, 170-175. M. Gérard, who had been appointed minister plenipotentiary to the United States by the court of France, sailed in the Languedoc, in April, with the Count D'Estaing, and on the 6th of August was formally received by Congress. Diplomacy of the U. S. 47-50. 3 Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 148, 149.
152
DISASTER TO THE FRENCH FLEET.
CHAP. the action of the French fleet; but, just at this juncture, a IV. violent storm arose, which increased to a tempest, and which
Aug. 12 to 14.
1778. raged so fiercely, at sea and on land, that not only was the fleet shattered, but the army suffered severely, and a number of soldiers perished with the cold.1
By this disaster all hopes of foreign aid were reluctantly abandoned ; 2 and, though the besiegers pushed forward their Aug.29. works with vigor, towards the last of the month the British, who had recovered from their immediate panic, finding a large number of volunteers had left for Massachusetts, ventured to assault the American lines. But they were received with firmness ; and in the engagement, which lasted for several hours, many were killed or wounded on both sides. The Americans, however, retained their ground ; but as General Aug.30. Sullivan was apprised, on the next day, by a letter from Washington, that a reenforcement for the British was then on its way, it was unanimously agreed, in a council of war, to quit the island ; and the retreat was so skilfully conducted as to be attended with little loss.3 The failure of this expedition was exceedingly mortifying - the more so from the fact that it was the third unsuccessful attempt within eighteen months for the expulsion of the British from this part of New England.
Aug.22. The French fleet, before the withdrawal of the forces under Sullivan, had sailed for Boston, where they remained for sev-
1 Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. On the 18th of August, orders were passed by the Council for sending reenforce- ments to General Sullivan. Jour. H. of R. for 1778; Bliss's Rehoboth, 154.
2 After the storm had abated, the French fleet reappeared on the coast ; and Generals Greene and La Fayette went on board the Languedoc to con- sult with D'Estaing; but, though he was personally willing to aid in the attack, his captains and officers were
not, and the next day he sailed for Boston. Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. ; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 175- 18S.
3 Jour. H. of R. for Sept. 16, 1778; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 149; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 369-375 ; Heath's Mems. 188-195 ; Thacher's Jour. 114; Sparks's Cor- resp. of the Rev. ii. 188-194, 201- 205; Bradford, ii. 162-164; Peter- son's Rhode Island, 221-229.
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153
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LA FAYETTE VISITS BOSTON.
eral weeks to repair their vessels and replenish their provis- CHAP. ions. During this stay, La Fayette visited Boston, to confer IV. with the French admiral, and to prevail with him, if possible, 1778. to return to Newport, or, at least, to remain on the coast to cooperate with Washington. But he was unwilling to hearken to either proposition, and sailed for the West Indies. Pre- Nov. 3. vious to his departure, the British squadron appeared in the bay, within Cape Cod, and it was believed that a general engagement was meditated. To provide for this contingency, nine regiments of militia were ordered into Boston ; but, as Howe left the coast without venturing upon an attack, they were soon discharged.1
In the summer of this year, British commissioners arrived June 6. at New York, specially empowered by the English govern- ment, in accordance with Lord North's " conciliatory plan," to make propositions for a suspension of hostilities, with an ulti- mate view to reconciliation and peace.2 As the defeat of
1 Jour. H. of R. for Sept. 19, 21, 22, 1778; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 376, 377; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 151; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 196-201, 205, 213, 247; Bradford, ii. 186, 187. Before the departure of D'Estaing, or Oct. 28, 1778, an address was issued, in the name of the King of France, to "all the ancient French in North Ameri- ca." Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 406, 407.
and Oct. 8, 1778; Lett. to Lord Vis- count Howe, &c., Lond. 1779, 44-46 ; Heath's Mems. 195, 197 ; Franklin's Works, viii. 307 ; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. ; Staples's Annals of Provi- dence, 256. Pending the absence of Lord Howe, several vessels from New- port sailed up the river, and landcd a body of troops, under General Gray, at Bedford Village, in Dartmouth, who did much damage to the town by burning the vessels at the wharves and on the stocks, a large number of dwelling houses, and the public mag- azine. They then marched into the country some four or five miles, and, returning on the opposite side of the river, spreading devastation as they went, embarked before the inhabitants could collect to oppose them. From thence they proceeded to Martha's Vineyard, where they destroycd a few vessels, and made a requisition for firearms, money, cattle, and sheep; and of the latter they took off nearly 10,000. Jour. H. of R. for Sept. 26,
2 Lord Carlisle, Sir Henry Clinton, Governor Johnstone, and William Eden, Esq., were four of the commis- sioners, and Lord Howe and Sir Wil- liam were the other two. Commis- sioners to negotiate with the colonies were appointed by the English gov- ernment in the spring of 1776, and an interview was held with them, by the consent of Congress, but without arriving at a satisfactory result. Lett. to Lord Viscount Howe, &c., Lond. 1779, 4-10 ; Thacher's Jour. 51, 52, 57-59; J. Adams's Corresp. in Works, ix. 440-448 ; Sparks's Washington, iv. ; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii.
154
COMMISSIONERS SENT TO AMERICA FROM ENGLAND.
CHAP, Burgoyne had "awakened in England a desire for peace," 1 IV. and as it was believed that some of the Americans were 1778. wearied with the expense and trouble of the war, and would gladly return to their allegiance, if pardoned, these gentlemen were authorized, not only to address the General Congress, but to treat with individual states. But the deceitfulness of the measure was easily seen through ; and, as it was regarded in all quarters as an artful plan to strengthen the enemy, and detach the Americans from their connection with France, Feb. 6. which had been recently consummated,2 or, at least, to disturb the public councils by introducing elements of discord and Jun. 17. confusion, Congress unhesitatingly rejected these offers, and the people of the states applauded their firmness. None were disposed to relinquish the claim to independence which had been asserted, or to throw themselves upon the clemency of a king and his ministers, of whom pardon could be obtained only upon the terms of absolute submission.3
The commissioners, as may well be supposed, were chagrined at their failure, and could ill brook the treatment which their
136, note ; Obs. on the Am. Rev. 58 -62; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 91 et seq. Lord North's conciliatory bill was passed March 21, 1778.
1 Franklin's Works, viii. 239, 240; Obs. on the Am. Rev. 72-78; Day's Reflections on the Present State of England, 67; London Chronicle for Feb. 11, 1779 ; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 206.
On the 26th of September, 1776, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee were appointed by Congress as envoys to France ; and, on the 6th of February, 1778, the treaties of commerce and alliance were signed by them, on the part of America, and by M. Gérard, secretary of the king's council, on the part of France. The rejoicings in America, on the reception of these tidings, were great; and orders were issued to the army, May 5, to parade, with huzzas
for the King of France, for the friend- ly European powers, and for the American States. Thacher's Jour. 124, 125; Franklin's Works, viii. passim ; Sparks's Diplomatic Corresp. i. 355, 364 ; Lee's Arthur Lee, pas- sim ; Sparks's Washington, v. 325, note; Diplomacy of the U. S. 21, 28 -45; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 119, 149, 208, 209.
Trumbull MS. Letter Book B, 3 176, 177; Obs. on the Am. Rev. 62 et seq. ; Collection of Papers, pub. by Rivington at New York, in 1778; Sparks's Washington, v. 318, and note, 323, 401-403 ; Franklin's Works, viii. 237-248 ; Thacher's Jour. 133 et seq. ; Jour. Cont. Cong. iv. ; Day's Reflections, &c., 17; Sparks's Corresp. of the Rev. ii. 114, 141, 160, 195 ; Almon's Remembran- cer, vii. 8 et seq .; viii. 40-72; Lord Mahon's Hist. Eng. vi. 215 et seq.
155
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CONDUCT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
propositions had received. Hence, to cover their retreat, and CHAP. to put on it the best face, they issued a manifesto, couched in IV. plausible but severe terms, declaring that persistency in the 1778. rejection of their offers would be " considered as crimes of the Oct. 3. most aggravated kind," and giving the people forty days to return to their allegiance, or abide the consequences.1 The reply of Congress was firm and decisive; and, after briefly Oct. 30. reciting the causes which had led to the resistance of Amer- ica, and the cruelties which had been practised by the enemy at different times, they declared that, " since their incorrigible dispositions could not be touched by kindness or compassion, it became their duty by other means to vindicate the rights of humanity." If, therefore, it was added, “ our enemies presume to execute their threats, and persist in their present mode of barbarity, we do solemnly declare and proclaim that we will take such exemplary vengeance as shall deter others from a like conduct." And, appealing to God to witness the recti- tude of their intentions, they closed by saying, " As we are not moved by any light and hasty suggestions of anger or revenge, so, through every possible change of fortune, we shall adhere to this our determination." 2
The conduct of the ministry in sanctioning this commission was condemned in England, as well as in America ; and, when the subject was debated in Parliament, in the winter, the Mar- Dec. 4. quis of Rockingham, in the House of Lords, in speaking of the proclamation which the commissioners had issued, declared it to be " contrary to humanity, to Christianity, and to every
1 Collection of Papers pub. by Riv- ifesto, it was said, " England will now ington ; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 153; Obs. on the Am. Rev. 111-117.
2 Jour. Cont. Cong. for Oct. 13, 1778; Collection of Papers pub. by Rivington; Obs. on the Am. Rev. 118-120; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 154 ; Austin's Life of Ger- ry, i. 283-286. In reply to this man-
throw away the scabbard in earnest. She will resolve never to treat with this contemptible, this temporary thing, called a CONGRESS ; and she will con- vince the world that, though she may be slow to anger, perdition waits on him that dares insult her." Letter to the People of America, Lond. 1778.
156
THE MINISTRY CONDEMNED.
CHAP. idea of virtuous policy." The Bishop of Peterborough also IV. observed that he "saw, in the account of extraordinaries, 1778. charges were made for the tomahawk and scalping knife ; and that he supposed, from the terms of the proclamation, such expense would be continued." And Lord Camden, in still stronger terms, remarked that the proclamation " held forth a war of revenge such as Moloch in Pandemonium advised ; and that it would fix an inveterate hatred in the people of America against the very name of Englishmen, which would be left as a legacy, from son to son, to the latest posterity." In the House of Commons, the speeches were equally pointed ; and Burke exclaimed, " Against whom are these dreadful men- aces pronounced ? Not against the guilty ; but against those who, conscious of rectitude, have acted to the best of their ability in a good cause, and stood up to fight for freedom and their country." 1
Nov. 6. In the fall of this year, General Gates was appointed to supersede General Heath in the command of the forces sta- tioned in Massachusetts ; and, on his arrival, with his lady and suite, he was welcomed by the people with flattering marks of affection and esteem. Distinguished for his energy, his ability, and courage, his presence reanimated the zeal of the soldiery ; and, as there was reason to apprehend an attack from the enemy, he remained at Boston and Providence through 1779. April. the winter, and, on leaving, in the spring, publicly expressed his approval of the conduct of the citizens at large, and of the legislature, and particularly eulogized the battalion of state troops, formerly commanded by Colonel Crafts, but then under the charge of Lieutenant Colonel Revere.2
1 Parker's Gen. Advertiser for Dec. 12, 1778; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 336; Pemberton's Jour. in 1 M. H. Coll. ii. 156, 157; Bradford, ii. 169, 170.
2 Boston Gazette for Nov., 1778; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 397 ; Heath's
Mems. 197, 198; Bradford, ii. 170. A commendatory article on the con- duct of General Heath was also pub- lished in the journals of the day, and is copied in his memoirs.
157
OPENING OF THE NEW YEAR.
- It will be perceived that, up to this date, no serious engage- CHAP. ment had for some time occurred within the limits of Massa- IV. chusetts proper, and that the zeal of its citizens had been 1778. principally displayed in furnishing recruits to the army abroad, and in providing for the wants of the suffering at home. If the annals of this period, however, do not admit of a narrative glowing with the details of battle and siege, it must not be inferred that no active part was taken by this commonwealth in the series of movements which were reflecting such credit upon the American arms ; but, on the contrary, wherever a stand was successfully made against British aggression, and wherever valor was called for in the assault, there were found bodies of men sent out from Massachusetts, and none were more active and resolute than they. Yet it should ever be remembered that the independence of America was secured by the bravery of the thirteen United States, and that no one state can arrogate to itself the honor of sustaining single- handed and alone the burden of the war. It is a common inheritance that we have derived from our ancestors ; and as such we should transmit it as a legacy to our children.1
At the opening of the new year, the situation of affairs was discouraging and gloomy. The country was heavily burdened with debt; soldiers and their families were subjected to in- credible hardships and sufferings ; with the depreciation 2 in
1 The following table may be use- ful, for reference, to show the number of annual terms of service furnished to the continental ranks by each state during the war : -
New Hampshire, 12,497
Massachusetts,
67,907
Rhode Island, 5,908
Connecticut, . 31,939
New York, 17,781
New Jersey, 10,726
Pennsylvania, 25,678
Delaware,
2,386
Maryland,
13,912
Virginia, .
26,678
North Carolina, . 7,263
South Carolina, 6,417
Georgia, . 2,679
231,791
Hildreth's U. S. iii. 441. It will be seen, from this table, that Massachu- setts alone bore at least one fourth of the whole burden of the war; that the four New England States bore one half of the burden ; while Mary- land, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, together, bore but one fourth of that burden.
The continental bills were now
1779. Jan.
158
STATE OF AFFAIRS.
CHAP. the currency, the salaries of the clergy, which remained as IV. before the war, were reduced to a mere pittance, utterly inad- 1779. equate to their comfortable support, and their parishioners were unable, and in some cases unwilling, to afford them re- lief ; lukewarm patriots were murmuring and complaining ; symptoms of insubordination were manifested in various quar- ters ; and the utmost vigilance and prudence were required to steer the ship of state successfully through the breakers which threatened its destruction, and bring it in safety to the desired haven.1 We, who live in more prosperous times, and who are blessed with an abundance of temporal goods, - whose com- merce encircles the habitable globe, and whose appliances of industry and agricultural resources are infinitely superior to those which our fathers enjoyed, - can form but a faint idea of the difficulties and obstacles which were thrown in their way, and which awakened in the most resolute forebodings of evil which nothing but unconquerable energy could overcome. That they did succeed, in spite of these difficulties, in reconcil- ing jarring interests, and in infusing a hopeful spirit into the people, is sufficient to convince the most sceptical of their worth, and is an ample atonement for occasional faults, which the discerning might point out, and for which it is needless to offer an apology. The heroes of the revolution were resolute
so greatly depreciated, that they would not pass for more than one tenth or one twentieth of their nomi- nal value; and, as the state had prom- ised its soldiers a bona fide compen- sation, their families were provided for by the selectmen of the towns, and clothing was furnished the soldiers themselves.
1 To remedy the evils alluded to in the text, conventions were held at Concord in July and October, 1779, which were attended by deputies from more than three fourths of the towns, except Maine and the county of Berk- shire; prices were fixed for all the
products of the country; and meas- ures were taken to prevent the great- er depreciation of the public paper. A meeting was soon after held in Boston to adopt regulations in con- formity with these arrangements ; and in October a general convention was held at Hartford, to devise a general plan of checking the mischiefs of ex- tortion and speculation. Bradford, ii. 180, 181 ; Shattuck's Concord, 122, 123. On the condition of the cur- rency at this time, comp. Franklin's Works, viii. 328-330, and Felt on the Currency.
159
FINANCIAL EMBARRASSMENTS.
men ; and for all they accomplished they deserve to be remem- CHAP. bered with affectionate regard. IV.
The financial embarrassments of the country again demand- 1779. ed the attention of Congress ; and a call was made upon the Jan. several states to raise the sum of fifteen millions of dollars, to liquidate outstanding claims, and for the immediate expenses of the war.1 Of this sum, two millions of dollars were ap- portioned to Massachusetts ; and the amount was to be passed to the credit of the United States, to be accounted for at a future day, and was to be expended by the state for purposes of general concern and utility.2 . The usual provisions for home defence were likewise made by the legislature ; and, as a note had been received from General Gates requesting that Feb. 15. the militia should be called out to assist in fortifying the harbor, and to collect stores and provisions, a memorial was addressed to Congress upon the subject, desiring their advice, and soliciting aid from the continental army, if the enemy should invade the state.3 A resolve was likewise passed for April. men to be stationed in the towns on the sea coast liable to be approached by the enemy's ships, and at Falmouth, in Barnsta- ble county, which had suffered from their depredations. 4
1 Jour. Cont. Cong. for Jan. 1779; Bradford, ii. 172. At a later date, it was voted to raise 45 millions of dollars, to be paid in bills of a former emission ; and of this sum Massachu- setts was to pay 6 millions. Brad- ford, ii. 178.
2 Bradford, ii. 172. On the 27th of February, 1779, an engrossed bill was read and passed to be enacted, in the Massachusetts legislature, " for apportioning and assessing a tax of £1,014,422 7s. 8d. upon the several towns and other places in this state hereinafter named, for defraying the public charges ; and also for assessing a further tax of £12,383 16s. 9d. paid the members of the House of Repre- sentatives for their travel and attend- ance in the General Court for the year 1778." Jour. H. of R. for Feb. 27, 1779.
3 Jour. H. of R. for Feb. 15, 1779 ;
Bradford, ii. 175. The committee " to examine the present state of the fortifications in and about Boston, and the harbor thereof, and report what may be necessary further to be done in addition thereto, or in the re- pairs thereof," consisted, on the part of the House, of Colonel Coffin, Gen- eral Hancock, Colonel Dawes, and General Lovell. A note was also re- ceived from General Gates, Feb. 27, " representing the necessity of raising men to guard the stores at Spring- field," which was " read, and thereup- on ordered that Mr. Gorham bring in a resolve empowering the Council to make the necessary provision and or- der for raising a guard." Jour. H. of R. for Feb. 27, 1779.
4 Jour. H. of R. for Feb. 15, 1779. Comp. also ibid. for April 7 and 9, 1779, and Bradford, ii. 174.
160
EXPEDITION TO THE EASTWARD.
CHAP. IV
1779. Mar. 24 and Apr. 17.
June and July.
These, however, were but preliminary steps ; for reenforce ments were called for by General Washington, and, after some discussion, it was voted to raise two thousand men, if neces- sary, in addition to those already in the continental army and at Rhode Island, and those in Boston and the sea-coast towns. The distribution of these was as follows : fifteen hundred were enlisted for nine months during the summer, by an appeal to the towns and the offer of a bounty, to fill up the incom- plete regiments in the service; and the remaining five hun- dred were sent to Rhode Island.1 A regiment of light infantry was also raised for a year to serve in Massachusetts or either of the New England States ; and a large quantity of military stores was conveyed from Boston to Springfield, to be depos- ited in the arsenal recently established at that place.2
June.
The expedition to the eastward was the principal incident of the war this year, so far as Massachusetts was concerned. This expedition was planned with the knowledge of the Gen- eral Congress, and was designed for the expulsion of the British from the Penobscot, who had established themselves, under General M'Lean, at Castine, and erected a fort.3 The force of the enemy was known to be small, - not more than a thousand men, - and the prospect of a reenforcement was conceived to be hopeless. Hence the undertaking was popu- lar in Maine, and volunteers offered their services with alac- rity. Prominent merchants also favored the plan, and char-
1 Jour. H. of R. for April 7, dition, &c., for encouraging the fixing 9, 15, 21, 26, 27, 30, 1779; Brad- out armed vessels to defend the sea coast of America, and for erecting a court to try and condemn all vessels that shall be found infesting the same." ford, ii. 176. Eight hundred of the militia were also called out in June for six months, for the defence of Rhode Island, agreeably to an arrangement made some time before at Springfield. 2 Bradford, ii. 176. On the 16th of April, likewise, a bill was passed "for the increase and en- couragement of the marine of this state, and for raising the sum of £50,000 for that purpose;" and, on the 26th, an act was reported in "ad-
3 Two years later, or in 1781, the English government again projected operations on the sea coast of the New England provinces, and the set- tlement of the country about Penob- scot. Sparks's Washington, viii. 521.
M
161
EXPEDITION TO THE EASTWARD.
tered their vessels for the conveyance of the troops ; and fifteen CHAP. hundred men were ordered to be raised by the General Court, IV. in addition to the marines on board of the public vessels ; but 1779. only about nine hundred engaged, and of these some were pressed into the service.1 The fleet consisted, in all, of nine- teen armed vessels and twenty-four transports, carrying three hundred and forty-four guns, and was " as beautiful a flotilla as had ever appeared in the eastern waters."2 Its commander, Richard Saltonstall, of New Haven, Connecticut, was "a man of good capacity and of some naval experience, but of an ob- stinate disposition ; " and the commander of the land forces, Solomon Lovell, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, was " a man of courage and proper spirit, a true old Roman character, that would never flinch from danger," but unaccustomed to the charge of an expedition in actual service.3 Peleg Wadsworth, of Duxbury, also had charge of a portion of the troops, as adjutant general of the Massachusetts militia ; 4 and the super- intendence of the ordnance was intrusted to Lieutenant Colonel- Revere.5
The celerity with which this expedition was planned and July 20. set forth reflected much credit upon the parties concerned in it ; and in a very short time the armament made its appear- July 25. ance before the new fortress. Three days later, a landing was July 28. effected ; but the difficulties of the enterprise were more for- midable than had been anticipated. A steep precipice, two hundred feet high, was to be scaled, in the face of an enemy securely posted ; but the parties succeeded in gaining the heights, and the engagement commenced. The conflict was
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