DESECRATIONS-THE UNION FLAG. 349 XXIX. arrival of a long train of wagons laden with military stores. CHAP The brave Captain Manly had captured off Cape Ann a brigantine laden with guns, mortars, and working tools, 1775. designed for the British army. Among the cannon thus obtained was an immense mortar. This was deemed so great a prize, that in the joy of the moment, it was proposed to give it a name. "Old Putnam mounted it, dashed on it a bottle of rum, and gave it the name of Congress." The blockade of the British was so stringent, that they began to suffer seriously for fuel and fresh provisions: they could obtain none from the land side, while the coast was closely watched. Abundant supplies were sent from England, but these were often wrecked or captured. Some of the poorer houses were taken down to supply fuel, and many of the poorer people sent out of the town, in order to lessen the demand for provisions. To the grief of the patriot inhabitants, the Old South Church, that time-honored and sacred edifice, was converted into a riding-school for Burgoyne's light-horse, and the pastor's library used to kindle fires. In retaliation, the soldiers converted the Episcopal church at Cambridge into barracks, and melted the leaden pipes of the organ into bullets. The British officers beguiled their time by getting up balls and theatricals. Among the plays performed was one, written by General Burgoyne, caricaturing the American army and its officers. On the first of January the Union Flag was unfurled, 1776. for the first time, over the camp at Cambridge. It was emblematic of the state of the country. The English cross retained in one corner, intimated a still existing relation with the mother country, while the thirteen stripes of red and white that represented the thirteen colonies, now united for self-government and resistance to XXIX. CHAP oppression, were broadly significant of the New Republic that was to grow out of this union. 1776. The year opened drearily for the patriots. There were less than ten thousand men in the camp, among whom were many undisciplined recruits, and many without arms. The people were impatient,-why not capture or drive the enemy out of Boston? they asked on all sides. The situation of Washington was painful in the extreme he could not publish his reasons, lest the enemy should learn his weakness. Under these circumstances, he writes thus to a confidential friend: "We are now left with a good deal less than half-raised regiments, and about five thousand militia. If I shall be able to rise superior to these, and many other difficulties, which might be enumerated, I shall most religiously believe that the finger of Providence is in it, to blind the eyes of our enemies." About this time, ships commanded by Sir Henry Clinton left the harbor of Boston on a secret expedition. It was justly surmised that he was bound for New York. We turn once more to the state of affairs in that province. As has been said, much of the wealth and influence of New York was on the side of the Tories. Richmond and Queen's counties had refused to send delegates to the Provincial Congress. Governor Tryon, who had retired to a British man-of-war in the harbor, kept up a correspondence with the friends of the royal cause in the city. There was published the most influential Tory journal in the country, "Rivington's Gazette"-" a thorn in the side of the patriots." Many who were opposed to this journal were unwilling to adopt violent measures; the committee of safety refused to interfere with it. Colonel Isaac Sears, one of the boldest and most energetic of the New York Sons of Liberty, collected, in Connecticut, about a hundred horsemen, dashed into the city, broke the press and carried away the types to New Haven. GENERAL LEE IN NEW YORK. 351 XXIX. The possession of New York, as it was "the key to CHAP. the whole continent, a passage to Canada, to the great Lakes, and to all the Indian nations," was all-important 1776. to the patriots. It was determined to place troops there. Sears, seconded by the authority of Governor Trumbull, proceeded to form regiments in Connecticut. Washington ordered General Charles Lee to take command of these regiments, and proceed with them to New York, put that city in a state of defence, call in aid from New Jersey to disarm the Tories on Long Island and elsewhere-duties which Lee proceeded forthwith to perform. Governor Tryon threatened to bombard the city if he entered it with the Connecticut troops. The people were greatly alarmed. The Provincial Congress requested Lee not to advance for the present. He was determined to push on with a sufficient number of troops to secure the city, and threatened in his turn, "if they make a pretext of my presence to fire on the town, the first house set on flames by their guns shall be the funeral-pile of some of their best friends." He entered the city on Sunday, February fourth, Feb. and encamped on the spot where the City Hall now stands, then a suburb known as "The Fields." The threats and counter-threats had wrought up the feelings of the people to a state of intense excitement. During the day this was greatly increased; cannon were heard from the Narrows. Sir Henry Clinton was entering the harbor. Many of the inhabitants hastened from the city; on the afternoon of that Sabbath day, Kingsbridge was thronged with people and wagons, on their way to the country. But these fears were soon relieved. Clinton gave notice that he came merely to pay a visit to his "friend Tryon." He remained but a short time, then sailed away to North Carolina. His mysterious expedition and his "whimsical civility" to his "friend Tryon" gave rise to much speculation; though, as he had but few 4. XXIX. CHAP troops, his movements had, as yet, created but little alarm. Lee now proceeded to put the city in a state of defence. 1776. Jan. 20. Serious difficulties threatened the interior of the province. Guy Johnson had retired to Canada; Sir John Johnson had fortified his "Hall," and gathered about him his Highlanders and Mohawks. Schuyler proceeded to disarm and disband this dangerous company. Sir John gave his parole not to take up arms against America. A few months afterward he was suspected of breaking his word; to avoid arrest, he fled to Canada, where he received a colonel's commission, and organized the regi ments called the "Royal Greens," afterward so renowned for deeds of cruelty. During this winter, Governor Dunmore, of Virginia, who, like Tryon, had taken refuge in one of the king's June. ships, had been engaged in intrigues against the colonists. Dec. He sent a vessel to Boston with supplies, which, however, 1776. was captured. In a letter found on board, he had invited of the town. to his banner. Virginia raised new regiments to dislodge him, and oppose strong movements that were making in Jan., his favor. The second regiment, under Woodford, took possession of the narrow neck which connects Norfolk with the mainland, and compelled Dunmore to re-embark. Soon after he returned, bombarded the town, and landed a party who burned a portion of it to the ground. The patriots burned the remainder lest it should afford shelter to its enemies. Thus perished the principal shipping port of Virginia, her largest and richest town. TORIES DEFEATED-CHARLESTON THREATENED. 353 XXIX. The British were secretly planning an invasion of the CHAP. South. Governor Martin, of North Carolina, who, like many of the royal governors of that day, carried on opera- 1776. tions from on board a ship, was stirring up the Tories of that province, many of whom were Highlanders. He hoped to gather a land force to co-operate with Sir Peter Parker, who was on his way from Ireland with a fleet of ten ships, on board of which were seven regiments. The movements of Sir Henry Clinton could now be accounted for. He had left Boston to take command of the land forces in this intended invasion: he stopped to confer on the subject with Tryon, who had been governor of North Carolina. Martin had commissioned two prominent Scotchmen, McDonald and McLeod-both recent emigrants, and officers of the British army. General McDonald enlisted some fifteen hundred men, and marched for the coast, but the North Carolina patriots were on the alert. He was intercepted at Moore's Creek Bridge, sixteen miles from Feb. Wilmington. Colonel McLeod was killed; McDonald and eight hundred and fifty loyalists were taken prisoners. He and his officers were sent away to the north. This defeat, which at the first glance may appear of little consequence, was important in its bearing; it interfered for a time with the plans of Clinton and Martin. This delay was most valuable to the patriots; they had time to collect forces and mature plans for defence. General Lee was appointed by Congress to take command of the southern army and to watch Clinton, who was hovering on the coast in expectation of the British squadron. After long delays it arrived at the mouth of Cape Fear May River. Congress learned from intercepted letters that Charleston was to be attacked. There, at the first alarm, six thousand men, from Virginia and the Carolinas, had assembled. The indefatigable Lee reached the city just as Clinton appeared in the harbor. Had the enemy attacked that place at once, they might have taken it with |