which had been the chief sufferers, and as the existing army was mostly raised there, it could not have been thought an extravagant assumption, had that colony aspired to the honor of furnishing a commander-in-chief. But, happily for America, the patriots of that day rose far above the sordid aims of selfishness and party rivalships. 7. While the discussions were going on in Congress respecting military preparations, Mr. John Adams, one of the delegates from Massachusetts, moved that the army, then besieging the British troops in Boston, should be adopted by Congress as a Continental army; and, in the course of his observations enforcing this motion, he said it was his intention to propose for the office of commander-in-chief a gentleman from Virginia, who was at that time a member of their own body. His remarks were so pointed, that all present perceived them to apply to Colonel Washington, who, upon hearing this reference to himself, retired from his seat and withdrew. 8. When the day for the appointment arrived, the nomination was made by Mr. Thomas Johnson, of Maryland. The choice was by ballot; and, on inspecting the votes, it was found that Colonel Washington was unanimously elected. As soon as the result was ascertained, the House adjourned. On the convening of Congress the next morning, the president communicated to him officially the notice of his appointment, and he rose in his place and signified his acceptance in a brief and appropriate reply. 9. After expressing his thanks for the signal honor done him by Congress, and his concern, " from the consciousness that his abilities and military experience might not be equal to the extensive and important trust," he added: "lest some unlucky event should happen, unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with." 10. Before the election it had been voted that five hundred dollars a month should be allowed for the pay and expenses of the general. On this point he said: "I beg leave to assure the Congress that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those, I doubt not, they will discharge; and that is all I desire." 11. In a letter to his wife on this occasion, his sentiments are uttered with the same frankness, the same self-distrust, and under circumstances which prove them to have flowed from his heart. "You may believe me," said he, "when I assure you in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity, and that I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home, than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years. 12. "But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it is designed to answer some good purpose. You might, and I suppose did, perceive, from the tenor of my letters, that I was apprehensive I could not avoid this appointment, as I did not pretend to intimate when I should return. That was the case. It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment, without exposing my character to such censures as would have reflected dishonor upon myself, and given pain to my friends. This, I am sure, could not and ought not to be pleasing to you, and must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely, therefore, confidently on that Providence which has hitherto preserved and been bountiful to me." 13. The appointment was made on the 15th of June. Four days afterward, he received his commission from the president of Congress, in which he was declared to be commander-inchief of all the forces then raised, or that should be raised, in the United Colonies, or that should voluntarily offer their service for the defense of American liberty. The members of Congress pledged themselves, by a unanimous resolve, to maintain, assist, and adhere to him, with their lives and fortunes, in the same cause. 14. Four major-generals and eight brigadiers were likewise appointed for the Continental army. To the former rank were chosen Artemus Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler (ski'ler), and Israel Putnam; to the latter, Seth Pomroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel Greene. To these was added Horatio Gates, as adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier:-Life of Washington. Battle of Bunker Hill.-As it was evident that the British meditated offensive operations, Colonel Prescott was sent, on the evening of the 16th of June, with a detachment of one thousand men, to fortify Bunker Hill; but, on attaining the heights, he concluded to fortify Breed's Hill instead, this being nearer to Boston. The British, on the following morning, discovering the redoubt, commenced a cannonade upon it; and, this failing, three thousand men, under General Howe, were sent to dislodge the patriots. Twice did the British approach within a few rods of the redoubt, but each time were repulsed with heavy loss. Clinton arriving, the third charge was more successful; since the Americans had exhausted their ammunition and were forced to retreat. The severest loss of the Americans was the brave and patriotic General Warren.* This determined, and for a time successful, resistance on the part of the American soldiers was so encouraging that it had all the effect of a triumph.† Warren's Address.-John Pierpont. STAND! the ground's your own, my braves! Will ye look for greener graves? Hope ye mercy still? What's the mercy despots feel? Hear it in that battle-peal! Read it on yon bristling steel! Ask it-ye who will. * Gen. Joseph Warren was born in Massachusetts in 1741; graduated at Harvard College, studied medicine, became a physician in Boston, and was one of the most earnest and eloquent leaders in resisting the unjust measures of the British Government. His loss was sincerely lamented by his countrymen. + Bunker Hill monument, an obelisk two hundred and twenty-one feet high, erected in commemora tion of the battle, now stands on the spot where the redoubt was built n Breed's Hill. Its corner-stone was laid by General Lafayette, on the 17th of June, 1825, the fiftieth anniversary of the battle. An immense concourse of persons was present on the occasion, ncluding nearly two hundred revolution. ary soldiers and forty surviving patriots of the battle, and President John Quincy Adams, with his cntire cabinet. Daniel Webster delivered the oration. Fear ye foes who kill for hire ? Who have done it!-From the vale Let their welcome be! In the God of battles trust! As where heaven its dews shall shed, And the rocks shall raise their head, In their ragged regimentals Yielding not, When the grenadiers were lunging, And like hail fell the plunging Cannon shot; When the files Of the Isles From the smoky night encampment bore the banner of the rampant Unicorn; And grummer, grummer, grummer, rolled the roll of the drummer Through the morn.-Mac Master. Conduct of Lord Dunmore.-Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia, took a decided course against the patriots; but, owing to the activity of Patrick Henry and others, he was compelled to make compensation for a quantity of powder which he had seized. Some months later, a force of Tories and negroes which he had collected attacked a body of Virginians near Norfolk; but the assailants were repulsed with great loss. In revenge, Dunmore, on the first day of the new year, reduced Norfolk to ashes. Invasion of Canada.-To prevent the use of Canada by the British as a place of rendezvous and supply, an invasion by two forces was determined upon. Accordingly, Gen. Schuyler,* commanding one, was sent by the way of Lake Champlain; while the other, under Gen. Arnold, took the route by the Kennebec River. Schuyler proceeded but a short distance when, sickness * Philip Schuyler was born at Albany, New York, in 1733. He was engaged in the French and Indian war, and accompanied Sir William Johnson in 1755. His death occurred at Albany, in 1804. compelling him to return, the next in command, Gen. Montgomery,* gained possession of Fort Chambly (sham'ble), St. John's, and Montreal, and then moved against Quebec. Arnold, having performed a tedious march through the wilderness, effected a junction of his force with that of Montgomery's, and, with the latter officer in the chief command, Quebec was besieged for three weeks. Finally, it was resolved to make an assault upon the city, notwithstanding the fearful strength of its fortifications. Montgomery's Attack on Quebec.-Parton. 1. THE attack, it was agreed at the council of war, should take place at night, and in a snow-storm. By the 20th of December the preparations were complete, and nightly the little army awaited the signal, and the sentinel watched the heavens for signs of the gathering storm. The weather was bitterly cold; the small-pox was making fearful ravages among the troops; there was no hope of an alleviation to their sufferings but in capturing the fortress-crowned heights above them. 2. The last night of the year 1775 had come; and a brilliant moon, when the patriot army retired to rest, was flooding with light the fields of snow, the ice-batteries, the town, and the lofty citadel. No one expected to be aroused that night by the familiar signal. But, at midnight, the heavens became suddenly overcast, and a northeasterly snow-storm, of unusual violence, came driving over the scene. The general was roused. At a glance he saw that the hour had come, and gave the order for the troops to get under arms. 3. Burr assisted in communicating the order to the divisions, and soon had his storming-party in readiness to move. By personal inspection, by the touch of his own hand, he assured himself that the men under his immediate direction were equipped as he had determined they should be on the decisive night. By two o'clock the men had been carefully inspected, and were ready to march to the points whence they were to assault the town. 4. About nine hundred men answered to their names that * Richard Montgomery was born in Ireland, in 1736. In 1775, he was a representative from New York in the Continental Congress. |