84 DEPARTURE OF THE BRITISH FLEET. CHAP. discovered; and while General Putnam landed at Sewall's II. Point, and entered the town in one direction, a detachment 1776. of Ward's troops from Roxbury marched in, under Colonel Learned, and took possession from that quarter, to the inexpressible joy of the patriot inhabitants.1 The transports of the British, which, with the other vessels, consisted in all of one hundred and forty sail, were detained in the harbor and roads for several days; and during this period the troops burned the blockhouse and barracks on Castle Island, and blew up and demolished the fortifications. Their precise destination was not known; but, as it was conjectured by Washington that their next attempt would be against New York or some more southern colony, he was determined to be in readiness to meet them wherever they might land. For this purpose, as General Lee had some time 1 Boston Gazette for March 25, 1776; Nash's Journal; Heath's Memoirs, 43; Sparks's Washington, iii. 321; Reed's Reed, i. 176. "The hurry in which they have embarked," wrote Washington to Reed, "is inconceivable. They have not, from a rough estimate, left less than £30,000 worth of his majesty's property behind them, in provisions and stores, vessels, rugs, blankets, &c.; near thirty pieces of fine heavy cannon are left spiked, which we are now drilling, a mortar or two, the H. shells, &c., in abundance; all their artillery carts, powder wagons, &c., &c., which they have been twelve months about, are left, with such abuse as their hurry would permit them to bestow; whilst others, after a little cutting and hacking, were thrown into the harbor, and are now visiting every shore. In short, you can scarce form an idea of the matter. Valuable vessels are left, with only a mast or bowsprit cut down, some of them loaded; their works are all standing, upon examination of which, especially at Bunker's Hill, we find amazingly strong; 20,000 men could not have carried it against 1000, had that work been well defended. The town of Boston was almost impregnable, every avenue fortified." For a list of the stores left in Boston, see the Boston Gazette for April 15, 1776, Stedman's Am. War, i. 167, and Alman's Remembrancer, iii. 109. The British, it is said, mixed arsenic with the medicines left at the almshouse; and the fact was fully proved by an analysis conducted by Dr. Warren. Gazette for April 22, 1776. 2 Newell's Jour. in 4 M. H. Coll. i. 275; Nash's Journal; Almon's Remembrancer, iii. 105, 109; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 31; Heath's Mems. 43; Sparks's Washington, iii. 324, 327, 330; Reed's Reed, i. 177. "Tuesday, March 21," says Nash, "all the ships, except one that lay by the Castle, got under way, and went down to Nantasket Roads, and there came to an anchor; and our people went_and took possession of the Castle, where several cannon were left, and all except three were spiked up. Colonel Tupper, with a great number of men in whaleboats, has been down the channel two or three days, to watch the motion of the enemy." CONDITION OF THE TOWN. 85 II. before been ordered thither, the march of the continental CHAP army towards the south was hastened; and, before the month closed, several regiments were on their way to New York, 1776. while Washington himself remained for a season, to prevent the recapture of the town and to mature his plans.1 Thus were the British expelled from the soil of Massachusetts. The "refractory colony" remained unsubdued; and the zeal which had been displayed inspired throughout the country the liveliest hopes of ultimate success. The triumph of Washington was highly encouraging; and congratulatory addresses poured in upon him from the General Congress, the inhabitants of Boston, and the legislature of Massachusetts.2 The condition of the town exhibited a melancholy proof of the ravages of war. The small pox was raging. The streets were filled with filth. Many buildings were destroyed; churches were defaced; fruit and ornamental trees had been cut down and burned; and the wanton spirit of devastation had left its traces in every quarter.3 Happily, the recuperative energies of the people were such, that the check which had been put upon their temporal prosperity stimulated to renewed efforts to regain their former position; the deserted streets were once more filled; business was resumed; industry flowed in its accustomed channels; the waste places were built up; and the metropolis of the north began Nash's Journal; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 31; Heath's Memoirs, 44; Sparks's Washington, iii. 319, 330 333. 2 Almon's Remembrancer, iii. 111113; Gordon's Am. Rev. ii. 33; Sparks's Washington, iii. 335, 533; Niles's Principles and Acts of the Rev. 148-150; Bradford, ii. 97-101; Frothingham's Siege, 316 et seq. "To the wisdom, firmness, intrepidity, and military abilities of our amiable and beloved general, his excellency Geo. Washington, Esq.," says the Boston Gazette for March 25; "to the assiduity, skill, and bravery of the 3 Recollections of a Bostonian, in 86 CONDITION OF THE TOWN. CHAP. to resume its wonted aspect of activity and enterprise. This, II. it is true, was the work of time; nor was it easy, where 1776. oppression had so long ruled, to recover in an instant from the convulsive shock. But to the determined soul all obstacles yield, and discouragements are but stepping stones to higher achievements. CHAPTER III. INDEPENDENCE DECLARED. III. THE evacuation of Boston by the British troops transferred CHAP. the theatre of war from Massachusetts to New York; and thenceforth the revolution, no longer confined to the limits 1776. of a single colony, became a national affair. The thir teen united colonies had previously pledged themselves to sustain it as the cause of the country, under the conviction that it was a common cause. No longer, therefore, could tardiness be tolerated; and preparations for general hostilities were prosecuted with vigor. The question of independence, too, came up for discussion; and, as it admitted of little doubt that the intentions of Great Britain were to push matters to extremities, and as all hopes of reconciliation had been reluctantly abandoned, there remained but one course for the Americans to take-they must proceed immediately to declare their independence. "With respect to myself," wrote Washington to Reed, "I have never entertained an idea of an Feb. 10. accommodation since I heard of the measures which were adopted in consequence of the Bunker's Hill fight. The king's speech has confirmed the sentiments I entertained upon the news of that affair; and if every man was of my mind, the ministers of Great Britain should know in a few words upon what issue the cause should be put. I would not be deceived by artful declarations or specious pretences; nor would I be amused by unmeaning propositions; but in open, undisguised, and manly terms proclaim our wrongs, and our resolution to be redressed. I would tell them that we had borne much ; that we had long and ardently sought for reconciliation upon 88 STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING IN AMERICA. CHAP. honorable terms; that it had been denied us; that all our III. attempts after peace had proved abortive, and had been 1776. grossly misrepresented; that we had done every thing which could be expected from the best of subjects; that the spirit of freedom beats too high in us to submit to slavery; and that, if nothing else would satisfy a tyrant and his diabolical ministry, we were determined to shake off all connections with a state so unjust and unnatural. This I would tell them-not under cover, but in words as clear as the sun in its meridian brightness."1 The sentiments thus expressed were extensively current; and by many zealous patriots a declaration of independence was urgently counselled. "Permit me," wrote Greene, at the Jan. 4. opening of the new year," to recommend, from the sincerity of my heart, ready at all times to bleed in my country's cause, a declaration of independence, and call upon the world, and the great God who governs it, to witness the necessity, propriety, and rectitude thereof." 2 to Joseph Reed, "leave off debating, and boldly declare independence? That, and that only, will make us act with spirit and vigor. The bulk of the people will not be against it; but the few and timid always will." 3 General Charles Lee Feb. 28. also wrote to the same person, "Reconciliation and reunion with Great Britain is now as much of a chimera as incorporation with the people of Tibet."4 Reed himself likewise Mar. 3. wrote to Pettit, "I look upon separation from the mother "Shall we never," wrote Moylan 'Sparks's Washington, iii. 286; Reed's Reed, i. 158. Gordon, Am. Rev. ii. 13, represents Washington as holding different sentiments, and says he had "no wish that the Congress should declare the colonies independent." But this statement needs qualification, and should be understood of his views at an earlier date, when, it is admitted, he, like others, cherished the hope of reconciliation. But he had now abandoned that hope, and taken ground in favor of more defi nite action. Bissett, Hist. Eng. i. 2 Frothingham's Siege, 284. |