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George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition., Chapter 30: (search)
empt; even though every thing conspired to make the American forces incapable of decisive action. There was no unity in the camp. At Roxbury, John Thomas had command, and received encomiums for the good order which prevailed in his division; but Ward, the general who was at Cambridge, had the virtues of a magistrate rather than of a soldier. He was old, unused to a separate military command, and so infirm, that he was not fit to appear on horseback; and he never could introduce exact discipli almost as soon as they came, for want of provisions or clothes, or because they had not waited to put their affairs in order. Of those who enlisted in the Massachusetts army, a very large number absented themselves on furlough. It was feared by Ward that it would be impossible for him to keep the army together; and that he should be left alone. As for artillery, it was found, on inquiry, that there were altogether no more than six three-pounders and one six-pounder in Cambridge, besides sixt
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition., Chapter 37: (search)
of the continental congress. We hope, wrote they, in a letter which was read to that body on the second of June, you will favor us with your most explicit advice respecting the taking up and exercising the powers of civil government, which we think absolutely necessary for the salvation of our country. The regulation of the army was a subject of equal necessity. Uncounted and ungoverned, it was already in danger of vanishing like dew, or being dissolved by discontents. The incompetency of Ward for his station was observed by Joseph Warren, now president of the congress, by James Warren of Plymouth, by Gerry and others; every hour made it more imperative, that he should Chap. Xxxvii} 1775. June. be superseded; and yet his private virtues and the fear of exciting dissensions in the province, required the measure to be introduced with delicacy and circumspection. The war was to become a continental war; the New England army a continental army; and that change in its relations offe
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition., Chapter 38: (search)
e province of Massachusetts had no executive head, and no unity even in the military department. Ward was enjoined to obey the decisions of the committee of safety, whose directions were intercepted the other colonies, the New Hampshire regiments only had as yet been placed under the command of Ward. The arrival of Greene quieted a rising spirit of discontent, which had threatened to break up t on horseback or on foot, working with his men or encouraging them. The age and infirmities of Ward combined to increase the caution which the state of the camp made imperative. He was unwilling tI.} 1775. June. fortified; and they recommended unanimously to establish a post on Bunker Hill. Ward, who was bound to comply with the instructions of his superiors, proceeded to execute the advice.arters but on foot. Having performed the long walk, he found the general anxious and perplexed. Ward saw very clearly the imprudence of risking a battle for which the army was totally unprepared. T
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition., Chapter 39: (search)
Chapter 39: Bunker Hill battle. June 17, 1775. Ward determined, if possible, to avoid a general Chap. Xxxix} 1775. June 17. action. Apprehending that, if reenforcements should leave his camp, the main attack of the British would be madough men, who were waiting impatiently to avenge the blood of their murdered countrymen. Owing to the want of activity in Ward, who did not leave his house during the whole day, all was confusion; but while the bells were ringing and the drums beatf the army. Not till the news reached Cambridge of this Chap. Xxxix} 1775. June 17. second landing at Charlestown, was Ward relieved from the apprehension, that the main body of the British would interpose themselves between Charlestown and Cambr and roused by the earnest and eloquent entreaties of Devens, of Charlestown, himself a member of the committee of safety, Ward consented to order reinforcements; among them his own regiment, but it was too late. The whole number of Americans on t
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition., Chapter 40: (search)
h uncommon zeal and enthusiasm. They intrench, and raise batteries; they have engineers. They have fortified all the heights and passes around this town; which it is not impossible for them to annoy. The conquest of this country is not easy; you have to cope with vast numbers. In all their wars against the French, they never showed so much conduct, attention, and perseverance, as they do now. I think it my duty to let your lordship know the true situation of affairs. On the other hand, Ward, in a general order, ex- Chap. XL.} 1775. June 17. pressed thanks to the officers and soldiers who behaved so gallantly at the late action in Charlestown; and in words which expressed the conviction of the American camp, he added, we shall finally come off victorious, and triumph over the enemies of freedom and America. Washington, as he heard the narrative of the events of the day, was confirmed in his habitual belief that the liberties of America would be preserved. Americans will fight,
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8, The American revolution. (search)
their memory. On the day of the battle, the continental congress elected its four major generals. Of these, the first, from deference to Massachusetts, was Artemas Ward. Notwithstanding his ill health, he answered: I always have been, and am still ready to devote my life in attempting to deliver my native country. The Amer major general of five years standing, he had waited upon congress with the thought of being chosen commander in chief. Before he would consent to take rank after Ward, whom he despised, he exacted a promise of indemnity on renouncing his half pay; and at the very moment of his accepting employment from a body, which was looking ty and zeal. Ever brooding over the risk he ran, he often regretted having hazarded his all in the American cause. Such was the man who, in the probable event of Ward's early resignation, was placed next in command to Washington. New York had been asked to propose the third major general; she had more than one citizen of supe
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8, Chapter 42: (search)
a strong work, planned by Knox and Waters, crowned the hill, and with the brokenness of the rocky ground, secured that pass. The main street was defended by a breastwork, in front of which sharpened and well-pointed trees, placed with the top towards Boston, prevented the approach of light horse. A breastwork also crossed the road to Dorchester. The men of Rhode Island were partly on Winter Hill, partly at Sewall's Farm, near the south bank of the Charles. The centre of the army was with Ward at Cambridge, its lines reaching from the colleges almost to the river. Putnam, with a division of four thousand men, composed of troops from Connecticut and eight Massachusetts regiments, lay intrenched on Prospect Hill, in a position which was thought to be impregnable. The New Hampshire forces were fortifying Winter Hill; assisted perhaps by a Rhode Island regiment, and certainly by Poor's Massachusetts regiment, which for want of tents had its quarters in Medford. The smaller posts and
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8, Chapter 44: (search)
unds. Congress had voted him five hundred thousand dollars, in its rapidly depreciating paper, but the persons who were to sign the bills were dilatory; and in a scene of confusion and discord, without money, without powder, without artillery, without proper arms, he was yet expected to organize victory and drive the British from Boston. By the fourth of August the army was already formed into three grand divisions, at Roxbury, Cambridge, and Winter Hill, under the respective command of Ward, Lee, and Putnam. Each division consisted of two brigades, each brigade of about six regiments; but Washington was still unable to return the fire of the enemy, or do more than exchange a few shot by scouting parties; for when, with considerable difficulty, he obtained an accurate return of the amount of powder on hand, he found much less than half a ton; not more than enough to furnish his men with nine rounds of cartridge. The extremity of danger could not be divulged, even while he was f
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8, Chapter 56: (search)
ness, consisted of but nine thousand six hundred and fifty men. On that day free negroes stood in the ranks by the side of white men. In the beginning of the war they had entered the provincial army: the first general order, which was issued by Ward, had required a return, among other things, of the complexion of the soldiers; and black men, like others, were retained in the service after the troops were adopted by the continent. We have seen Edward Rutledge defeated in Chap. LVI} 1776. Ja accommodation was delusive: the new year brought the king's speech to parliament in November, and Washington no longer held back his opinion that independence should be declared. Those around him shared his resolution; Greene wrote to his friend Ward, a delegate from Rhode Island to the general congress: The interests of mankind hang upon that body of which you are a member: you stand the representative not of America only, but of the friends of liberty and the supporters of the rights of huma
George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 8, Chapter 58: (search)
e provincial congress of New York, he forwarded no communication to the committee of safety of that colony, while he persuaded the governor and council of Connecticut not only to reassemble the regiment of Waterbury, but to call out another under Ward. Chap. LVIII.} 1776. Jan. In this manner Lee, who had never commanded so much as one regiment before he entered the American army, found himself in the separate command of two. Following his constant maxim, he usurped authority which he perfectld persons, and, if they refused it, to send them to Connecticut as irreclaimable enemies. To the rebuke of the New York convention, he answered: When the enemy is at our door, forms must be dispensed with; and on the eve of his departure, he gave Ward of Connecticut the sweeping order, to secure the whole body of professed tories on Long Island. The arbitrary orders were resented by all the New York delegates as a high encroachment upon the rights of the representatives of a free people, and w
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