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140

APPOINTMENT OF WARD, LEE, ETC. [CHAP. II.

The appointment proved to be as fortunate as it was popular. Washington alone, of all Americans, distrusted his competency; for no one of them so well knew the difficulties he should encounter, and no one had formed for himself so high a standard of excellence. His mode of accepting the appointment has, perhaps, no parallel in military annals. He begged that his declaration, that day made with the utmost sincerity, might be remembered that he did not think himself equal to the command he was honored with. To this rare modesty he added the equally rare disinteredness of declaring his purpose to derive no profit from his office; but, from the liberal pay that Congress had assigned to the commanderin-chief, to receive only his actual expenses.

Two major-generals were also appointed. The first was Artemas Ward of Massachusetts; and Charles Lee, who had been a lieutenant-colonel in the British service, and who had a high reputation for military talents, was the second. Horatio Gates, also an Englishman, was made adjutant-general, Philip Schuyler of New York, and Israel Putnam of Connecticut were subsequently also appointed major-generals. To these were added eight brigadier-generals, and the requisite officers of the staff. Bills of credit were then issued for two millions of dollars.

After rules and regulations for the government of the army were adopted, a declaration, in the name of "the United Colonies of North America," set forth the causes of their taking up arms.

In this paper, which had been twice recommitted, it was urged, among other grounds of complaint, that the people of Boston had entered into a treaty with General Gage, by the terms of which they, on the delivery of their arms to their own magistrates, should be at liberty to depart with their effects; and that they had surren

1775.]

CAUSES OF TAKING UP ARMS.

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dered their arms accordingly; but that the General had, in open violation of the agreement, detained most of the inhabitants, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their effects behind. They declare that "their cause is just; their union is perfect; their resources are great; and that foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable; that the arms they have been compelled by their enemies to assume, they will, in defiance of every hazard, employ for the preservation of their liberties, being, with one mind, resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves. They at the same time disclaim all wish to separate from Great Britain.

The committee which wrote this address1 also prepared one to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Corporation of the City of London, expressing the thanks of Congress for the interest they had taken in the cause of the colonies.

Another petition was addressed to the king, in the same tone of humility as that of the last year, and which, on that account, was unacceptable to most of the members; but they consented to receive it, from the great respect felt for the many virtues and past services of Mr. Dickinson, its draftsman.

If the tone of these addresses to the British monarch may now seem incompatible with the self-respect of the American people, it must be recollected that the prestige of royalty was then in undiminished strength, and that it was, moreover, the object of Congress to make friends in England, from whose aid they counted largely.

In their second address to the people of Great Britain, after stating their recent causes of complaint, they deny

1

1 It was drawn by Mr. Dickinson of Pennsylvania, with the exception of one often quoted passage, which was drafted by Mr. Jefferson.

142

ARRIVAL OF HOWE, ETC., AT BOSTON. [CHAP. II.

that they have aimed at independence; and they declare that they are willing to submit to "all the acts of navigation and trade passed before the year 1763," trusting that such of them as have imposed unnecessary or grievous restrictions will, at some happier period, be repealed or altered. They consider the plan of conciliation offered by the minister, to afford them no security. The English people are again emphatically warned that their own safety depends on the maintenance of colonial rights.

During these deliberations at Philadelphia, the rupture was widening in Massachusetts. About the last of May Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton arrived at Boston with a large number of marines and soldiers, who were followed by several regiments, so as to make the whole British force in that town not less than ten thousand men. A fortnight after their arrival, General Gage issued a proclamation, by which a pardon was offered to all who would lay down their arms, and return to their occupations, except Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Those who did not accept the offer, their aiders and abettors, were declared to be rebels and traitors. Martial law was proclaimed at the same time.

These measures being regarded as indicative of immediate action, the provincials thought it expedient to take further precautions against the incursions of the British into the country. With this view they decided on fortifying the peninsula on which the town of Charlestown stands, opposite to Boston. They accordingly, on the night of the seventeenth of June, sent a detachment of men to erect works on Bunker's Hill, which lies north of Charlestown. They conducted their operations with such secrecy and despatch, that a strong redoubt with

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BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL.

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entrenchments was completed by daybreak.' As soon as these works were discovered by the British, they were concurrently attacked by the guns of the ships-of-war in the harbor, of floating batteries and of the works on Cop's Hill in Boston. The provincials, however, did not suffer themselves to be thus driven from their operations. It therefore became necessary to dislodge them; and this duty was assigned to Major-general Howe and Brigadier-general Pigot, with a body of troops which, being subsequently reinforced, amounted to three thousand men.

In the early part of the conflict, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Charlestown was set on fire by the assailants, under the pretext that the troops had been fired on from the houses; and the buildings being all of wood, the town was totally destroyed. The regulars then marched on the works, and, being allowed to approach very near unmolested, they received so destructive a fire as to be thrown into some disorder, and many of the officers were either killed or wounded. The regulars were rallied, but were again repulsed; and it was only by a third attack that the works were finally carried. The provincials retreated over the Charlestown neck to Cambridge.

In this action the British lost, in killed, wounded and missing, one thousand and fifty-four men, more than onethird the number engaged; and the Americans four hundred and fifty men.

1

Though the British were the victors in the contest, yet

1 It seems that the works were erected on Breed's Hill, a neighboring eminence, as a preferable position; but the variance, unimportant in itself, was unheeded at the time, and Bunker's Hill thus gave its name to the battle which ensued. The error has been sanctioned by general usage, and by the noble monument that has since been erected on the spot.

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DOCTOR WARREN.

[CHAP. II. the result had been so different from their former arrogant anticipations as to excite less exultation at their success than mortification that it had not been greater. On the part of the Americans, those who had previously doubted the ability of their inexperienced countrymen to cope with disciplined veterans, now had their doubts completely removed; so that the British victory at Bunker's Hill had the ordinary consequences of a defeat.

The British, now in possession of Bunker's Hill, strengthened its fortifications; but they were soon as closely invested in the Charlestown peninsula as in that of Boston.

Among the killed of the Americans was Dr. Joseph Warren, whose eminent talents, and devotion to the cause of his country, had induced him to assume the office of a soldier, and had procured for him the rank of General. He had the honor of being the first and only native officer of that rank who fell in battle during the Revolution. His fame has been ever fondly cherished by his countrymen as one of the first martyrs to American independence.

Let us now revert to the proceedings of Congress. That body would have been greatly wanting in prudence if it had been regardless of the Indians, who, as auxiliaries in war, would be valuable to either party, and whom, it was understood, the British ministers would spare no pains to induce to take up arms against the colonies. Accordingly the Six Nations were formally and earnestly addressed' on such topics as were likely to appeal to their interests, their sense of justice, or their sympathy; and commissioners were appointed to negotiate with other Indian nations.

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1 I. Journals of Congress, page 161.

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