BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION--WASHINGTON MADE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF
THE CONTINENTAL ARMY--BRITISH FORCED TO LEAVE BOSTON--1775-1776
[Illustration: A Ragged Continental]
At the second Continental Congress, held May 10, 1775, Washington was
made chairman of committees for getting ammunition, supplies and money
for the war. His military knowledge and experience enabled him to make
rules and regulations for an army, and he advised what forts should be
garrisoned. (Troops placed in a fort for defense.) It was necessary for
Congress to take care of the army of 16,000 patriots that had hastily
gathered in the neighborhood of Boston, and to appoint a
Commander-in-Chief of all the forces of the colonies. They had to decide
as to who in all the country, could best be trusted with this important
and responsible position. All eyes turned to Washington. When his name
was first mentioned for this place, he, with his usual modesty, slipped
out of the room. But he was chosen Commander-in-Chief by the unanimous
(all agreeing) vote of Congress. When told of his appointment, he
accepted, though he said he did not think he was "equal to the command
he was honored with." He refused to take any pay for his services,
saying that no money, nor anything else but duty and patriotism could
tempt him to leave his home. Having one of the loveliest homes in
America, he gave up his comfort and happiness and risked all he had for
his country. Congress also appointed four major-generals--one of them
the brave old Israel Putnam--and eight brigadier-generals.
There were many men in Congress at that time whose names Americans can
never forget. They did many wise things, but none was more fortunate
than this choice of a Commander-in-Chief for the Continental Army. One
of the members, John Adams, called him "the modest and virtuous, the
generous and brave George Washington."
Washington's early life and training fitted him in a wonderful way for
this great and difficult post. As a young surveyor, he had learned much
about the country and how to make his way through forests and mountains.
Later, as a commander, he had learned how to fight in the woods, and all
the secrets of frontier warfare. With Braddock, he had learned that
soldiers drilled on the parade grounds and battle-fields of Europe did
not know what to do when hemmed in by rocks and brush and savage
enemies in a new and uncleared country. He had also learned how to value
and how to handle the independent, though rough-looking, soldiers of the
backwoods. With all this knowledge and experience, with his clear mind
and high courage, Washington was the most dangerous foe the British
could have.
In June (1775), Washington, as Commander-in-Chief of the army, left
Philadelphia for Boston. There was no time to visit Mount Vernon. He
wrote to his wife, telling her to be brave and that he trusted God would
soon bring him safely home. General Philip Schuyler and General Charles
Lee and a light horse troop went with him. As they galloped along the
way, people came out of the farms and villages to see the great General.
Washington, now forty-three years old, was very splendid and dignified
in his bearing, yet always modest and quiet--a gentleman and a soldier.
About twenty miles from Philadelphia, they met a messenger from Boston
riding a fleet horse and bearing dispatches to Congress. They stopped
and heard from him the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which had just
been fought (June 17, 1775). The British had been victorious, but not
until more than half their number had been killed and the patriots had
fired their last round of ammunition. When Washington was told how
bravely the militia had stood their ground, he said, "The liberties of
the country are safe!" He was not troubled by the triumph of the
British, because he felt sure the Americans would win when properly
armed and drilled. This news made him more anxious to reach the scene
of action and he traveled on as fast as he could. He left General
Schuyler to command the patriot forces in New York.
[Illustration: The Charge at Bunker Hill]
On July second, he reached his headquarters in Cambridge, where he was
received with cheers and the thunder of cannon. The men had so little
powder that they could not give him a great salute, but they spared all
they could.
The next day, July 3, 1775, Washington took command of the Continental
Army under a large elm tree, which still stands on the Cambridge Common.
The patriot army was a rather discouraging sight. The 16,000 men had
been called together without any preparation. They were farmers,
fishermen and shop-keepers. They had very little discipline or order
and were in need of everything--arms, ammunition, food, clothing, tents,
shoes. As yet they were not one army, but a collection of separate
companies from the different New England colonies. Each had its own
regulations, its own officers and its own interests. There were jealousy
and often misunderstanding among them. After reviewing this army,
General Washington visited the American forts strung in an irregular
semi-circle around Boston, within which the British forces were
besieged.
He found the men camped in rough board shacks, or shelters made of turf
and brush, and dressed in the clothes they wore on their farms and in
the villages. Here and there was a tent. No wonder the British, in their
orderly tents and fine scarlet uniforms, thought they could soon scatter
this mixed crowd! There was but one exception. General Nathanael Greene,
of Rhode Island, had raised and drilled a body of men and brought them
to Boston under fine discipline, with good tents and clothing. His camp
showed what could be done. General Greene became one of Washington's
most faithful and lifelong friends, and was one of the greatest generals
of the Revolution.
In contrast with the undisciplined, ragged Continental troops were the
trained British soldiers, commanded by experienced generals. They were
well fortified in Boston and the harbor was defended by their warships.
They felt no fear of the irregular line of posts with which the
Americans thought to hem them in.
Washington at once began the task of organizing the army and teaching
and training the men. In this he showed skill beyond almost any other
man in history. He was beset with many difficulties, among them the
jealousy and discontent of some of the officers. There was one general,
however, who was always ready to serve in any place and put the cause
above himself. This was Israel Putnam, the brave man who was plowing in
his field when he heard of the Battle of Lexington. He left his plow in
the furrow, unhitched his horses and galloped sixty-eight miles that day
to Cambridge! He was nearly sixty years of age at the time. He was much
loved by the army for his bravery and generosity and all were glad when
"Old Put" was appointed Major-General.
Washington formed the army into six brigades of six regiments each. He
wrote to Congress to appoint at once officers to help him. He wanted an
adjutant-general to train and discipline the troops; a quartermaster to
arrange for all supplies, and an officer to look after enlistments. The
men had enlisted for only a short time and numbers returned home after
this term of enlistment expired; so it was hard to keep the army up to
fighting strength. The lack of powder was also a very serious matter and
Washington sent to the southern colonies, asking for what they had in
store.
He at once began to improve the defenses and strengthen the weak places.
Soon a strong line of fortifications surrounded the city. The strictest
discipline was required and Washington visited the forts every day. The
arrival of fourteen hundred riflemen from Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Maryland was a great help; among these were the stalwart sharp-shooters
under Colonel Daniel Morgan, whom Washington had known in the French
war. They were six feet tall and over, and dressed in hunting shirts and
wide-brimmed hats. They had marched six hundred miles in three weeks.
The winter passed in drilling the army and trying to get powder.
Washington was besieging Boston without any powder, though the British
little thought that was the reason he did not attack them! All he could
do was to cut them off from nearby supplies of food, but they sent out
warships with men who plundered the coasts of New England. The people
drove their cattle inland and fought the invaders boldly.
[Illustration: Mrs. Washington set out for Cambridge]
Knowing that he could not return home, General Washington sent for his
wife to come to Cambridge. Mrs. Washington set out on the long journey
in her carriage, drawn by four horses, and accompanied by her son and
his wife. (Her daughter had died in the meantime.) Colored servants in
scarlet and white liveries rode beside the carriage. Escorts of
horsemen brought them from city to city, until they arrived in camp,
just before Christmas. It had been more than half a year since the
General had seen his family and his work was made easier by having with
him those he loved. The Craigie house in Cambridge (later the home of
the poet Longfellow), was Washington's headquarters. Here Mrs.
Washington helped him entertain officers and members of Congress. The
General was so busy that he was often obliged to leave his guests at the
table, while his own meal remained unfinished.
The plundering attacks by the British upon the New England coast became
so violent that, without waiting for Congress to act, Washington had
several armed vessels fitted out. They were commanded by such brave sea
captains as John Manly and John Paul Jones and were ordered by the
General to defend the coast and capture British ships bringing supplies
from England.
As the weeks passed, it grew more difficult to keep up the numbers of
the army. The men grew tired of the long and uncomfortable encampment
without any fighting. Had there been any powder, their General would
gladly have given them fighting enough! All through the war, Washington
was troubled and handicapped by these short enlistments, as he had to be
constantly training new recruits.
In December, some Connecticut troops decided to go home without even
remaining for their full time. Some took their guns and ammunition. This
desertion was a bad thing for the discipline of the army, and sorely
distressed Washington. On their way home, these men were made to feel
what the people thought of their conduct, for no one would give them
food, and their friends would not receive them kindly when they arrived.
The day after they walked off, something happened that put new life into
the camp. A long train of wagons came lumbering and jolting into
Cambridge, with flags flying and an escort of soldiers and horsemen.
What was in the wagons?--Cannon! and thousands of guns and shot and
thirty-two tons of musket balls! Captain John Manly, of the ship
_Essex_, had captured a large British brigantine and taken her cargo of
munitions.
In spite of Washington's efforts to appeal to their patriotism, the
soldiers still wanted to go home. They were sick of the discomforts of
camp. By January (1776), only ten thousand men were left, and there was
danger of the poorly defended lines being taken. But for some reason,
the British made no attack. During this disheartening time, General
Greene was a great help, with his courage and patriotism and
cheerfulness.
In February, Colonel Henry Knox returned from the forts on Lake
Champlain with a long train of forty-two ox-sleds, carrying artillery
and ammunition. He had gone in midwinter after the supplies of cannon
and lead captured from the British the year before and had performed his
errand with daring and faithfulness. Then ten regiments of militia
arrived and at last, Washington and his generals thought they had men
and ammunition enough to attack the British.
General Putnam had fortified a hill north of the city of Boston. Troops
were sent, on the night of March 4, to fortify Dorchester Heights, to
the south from which Boston and the harbor could be swept by guns. That
the British might not hear the noise of the wagons and pickaxes, the
patriots bombarded the city all night. The ground was deeply frozen and
the work hard. But Washington was with the men, everywhere helping and
encouraging them.
When morning came, the British looked upon four forts raised as if by
the magic of an Aladdin's lamp! General Sir William Howe determined to
attack these new works. A storm of great fury arose and he waited. The
storm continued all night and all day. The patriots used this time to
strengthen their forts, and the British saw they could not hold the city
against them; so they prepared to leave, taking everything with them
that could be of use to the "rebels." They were allowed to embark upon
their ships without being fired on, to prevent their burning the city.
They sailed away to Halifax. After being besieged ten months, Boston
fell into Washington's hands without a battle! Washington was thanked by
Congress and given a gold medal in honor of the capture of Boston.