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their duty, said Hawley, there is no fear of the soldiery. Towards the incompetent, who, in the suddenness of calling together so large a body of men, had crowded themselves upward with importunate selfishness, Washington resolved to show no lenity. By a prompt and frequent use of courts martial, he made many examples, and by lending no countenance to public abuses, and by insisting on the distinction between officers and soldiers, he soon introduced the aspect of discipline. Every day, Sundays not excepted, thousands were kept at work under strict government from four till eleven in the morning, strengthening the lines, and fortifying every point which could serve the enemy as a landing place. The strong and uniform will of Washington was steadily exerted, with a quiet, noiseless, and irresistible energy. There are many things amiss in this camp, said the chaplain Emerson; yet, upon the whole, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. God is in the midst of us. Meantime Lee had not been ma
though his treasons may as yet have been but caprices, implying momentary treachery rather than a well considered system. His secret was kept in America, but the statement found its way through the British ministry to Vergennes, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. who pronounced it an absurdity worthy only of contempt. All the while skirmishes continued. A party of Americans on the eighth of July drove in the British advance guard nearest Roxbury, and took several muskets. On the evening of the tenth, three hundred volunteers swept Long Island, in Boston harbor, of more than seventy sheep and fifteen head of cattle, and carried off sixteen prisoners. Two days later, just after the arrival of six crowded transports, Greaton, with one hundred and thirty six men, went again to the same island, and burnt the hay which was stacked there for the British cavalry. After a few days more, companies at Weymouth and Hingham reaped and brought off the ripe grain from Nantasket. On the fifteenth o
d burnt the hay which was stacked there for the British cavalry. After a few days more, companies at Weymouth and Hingham reaped and brought off the ripe grain from Nantasket. On the fifteenth of July, the army of Cambridge heard Langdon, the president of Harvard college, read the declaration by the continental congress for taking up arms, which they interpreted to mean that the Americans would never sheathe the sword till their grievances were redressed to their utmost wishes. On the eighteenth it was read on Prospect Hill amidst such shouts that the British on Bunker Hill put themselves in array for battle; but neither then, nor even after the arrival of their last transports, did they venture an attack or even a sally. I despair seeing a battle fought this time coming down, wrote Emerson to his wife at Concord. In conformity to the direction of the continental congress, the people of Massachusetts, holding town meetings according to their usage and their charter, chose a h
te Emerson to his wife at Concord. In conformity to the direction of the continental congress, the people of Massachusetts, holding town meetings according to their usage and their charter, chose a house of representatives. Boston took part Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. in the elections; for the wanderers from that town were considered as bearing with them its living spirit, and the exiles, many of whom had not seen each other since they left their homes, came together at Concord. On the nineteenth the provincial congress dissolved itself forever, and the new house of representatives began the restoration of government by electing James Warren, of Plymouth, as its speaker. The following night, Vose, a major in Heath's regiment, set fire to the lighthouse in Boston harbor, bringing off a field piece, a swivel, and the lamps. The boats of a British man of war, which lay within a mile, pursued the adventurous party; but they were in whaleboats and escaped by rowing. The continental
lved itself forever, and the new house of representatives began the restoration of government by electing James Warren, of Plymouth, as its speaker. The following night, Vose, a major in Heath's regiment, set fire to the lighthouse in Boston harbor, bringing off a field piece, a swivel, and the lamps. The boats of a British man of war, which lay within a mile, pursued the adventurous party; but they were in whaleboats and escaped by rowing. The continental fast was rigidly kept on the twentieth; the next day the Massachusetts government was permanently constituted. An annually elected legislature themselves elected an annual council of twenty eight, and that multitudinous body, which also had concurrent legislative power, assumed all executive authority. In a few weeks the old civil and military offices were abolished, and the seal of the commonwealth was changed into an Anglo-American, holding a drawn sword, with the motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quieter, With the s
contributions of Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. men; but none wished to share his confinement. He sent officers to New York to board emigrant ships from Scotland, in the hope to enlist a few Highlanders. Growing more and more uneasy, on the twenty fourth of July, he wrote home that Boston was the most disadvantageous place for all operations, and he wished himself safely at New York. To repair the Boston lighthouse carpenters were sent with a guard of thirty marines. On the evening of the thirtieth, Major Tupper attacked them with a party from Squantum and Dorchester, killed the lieutenant and one man, and captured all the rest of the party, fifty three in number. The Americans had but one man killed and two or three wounded. The next day in general orders, Washington praised their gallant and soldier like conduct. The country regarded with amazement what Jefferson called the adventurous genius and intrepidity of the New Englanders. For all this, Washington, who was annoyed by s
orders, Washington praised their gallant and soldier like conduct. The country regarded with amazement what Jefferson called the adventurous genius and intrepidity of the New Englanders. For all this, Washington, who was annoyed by shoals of selfish importuners, and had not yet become aware how bad men clamorously throng round the distributors of offices, misjudged the Massachusetts people; but the existence of the army was itself a miracle of their benevolence, and its sustenance during May, June, and July cannot be accounted for by ordinary rules. There was nothing regularly established, and yet many thousands of men were abundantly supplied. Touched by an all pervading influence, each householder esteemed himself a sort of commissary. There were no public magazines, no large dealers in provisions; but the wants of the army rung in the ears of the farmers, and from every cellar, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. and barn yard, and field throughout Worcester and Hampshire and even B
erve the enemy as a landing place. The strong and uniform will of Washington was steadily exerted, with a quiet, noiseless, and irresistible energy. There are many things amiss in this camp, said the chaplain Emerson; yet, upon the whole, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. God is in the midst of us. Meantime Lee had not been many days in the camp before the British generals in Boston, who knew him well, showed a disposition to tamper with him for their own purposes. From Philadelphia he had, in June, addressed to Burgoyne, his old comrade in Portugal, a public letter condemning American taxation by parliament, and tracing the malady of the state to the corrupt influence of the crown. In an able reply, Burgoyne insisted, for himself and for Howe, that their political principles were unchanged, and invited Lee to an interview within the British lines, for the purpose of inducing such explanations as might tend in their consequences to peace, for, said he, as if with the highest authority,
ent of his coming, the com- Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. mander in chief took the hearts of all about hemy. From Prospect Hill he Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. took a comprehensive view of Boston and Charlek and file. But these were Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. the choicest troops, thoroughly trained, and ps of the Stockbridge tribe. Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. They were armed with bows and arrows, as well ores of the army, Washington Chap XLII.} 1775. July. made allowances for a devoted province like Maerson; yet, upon the whole, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. God is in the midst of us. Meantime Lee hadntatives. Boston took part Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. in the elections; for the wanderers from that mpathy and contributions of Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. men; but none wished to share his confinement.lence, and its sustenance during May, June, and July cannot be accounted for by ordinary rules. Theers, and from every cellar, Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. and barn yard, and field throughout Worcester [2 more...]
Chapter 42: The army round Boston. July, 1775. on Monday, the third day of July, Washington rode Chap. XLII.} 1775. July. forth from his quarters at Cambridge, numerously attended, and, under an elm tree on the common, assumed command of the continental army. A favorable opinion had gone before him; but his presence was greater than his fame. Of his companions, Miffin, a brave and honest officer, though not of deep insight, charmed by his activity, spirit, and obliging behavior; the intelligence, culture, and manners of Reed engaged esteem; Lee personally excited disgust, but the general persuasion of his skill and experience in the art of war, and of his sincerity in professing a zealous attachment to the cause of mankind, won for him the confidence of Washington, and expressions of admiring gratitude from the congress in Massachusetts. Gates, who arrived within a week, gained friends by his affability, and his usefulness in a subordinate station. From the first m
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