WASHINGTON THE GENERAL
“I think the rain will soon stop—the sun seems to be breaking through.
While we wait for it to clear shall I read about the first battle of the
Revolution for the boys?” said Mrs. Parke.
“Now that you’ve got us as far as the Boston Tea Party, keep right on
and finish it up, even if the sun does shine,” remarked Jack.
“Don’t go through all those meetings and letters that everybody
exchanged with Washington, but skip over to the fight!” requested
George, curling up on the couch, ready and waiting to enjoy the war.
“Then I’ll read to you about Lexington and Concord,” replied Mrs. Parke,
turning the pages of the book till she found the one that recorded the
Revolution.
“‘Great Britain took arbitrary measures with the American colonists, and
when Boston stood upon the rights of an independent colony, she was
immediately punished by having the government removed to Salem, and the
harbor closed. There were other unfair measures made and acted upon, so
that finally the colonists decided to hold a general assembly at
Philadelphia, to consider ways and means of protecting themselves and
property.
“‘When the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, was issued,
the colonists were prepared for it, and hailed it as the first step in
their upward march. About the same time the Earl of Chatham did
everything in his power to make the English Parliament understand
certain things to which they stubbornly closed their eyes and minds; but
all intervention and measures for conciliation were of no avail.
“‘In this gathering storm no one felt the solemnity of the crisis more
than did George Washington. He had been a loyal subject of Great
Britain, but his sense of justice and right was too true to be blinded
by sentiment. Thus he came out firmly for his own country—America.
“‘In his many letters and messages sent to every influential personage
in England or the colonies, it will be seen that he moved heaven and
earth to obtain honorable rights to the colonists without resorting to
force. But the individuals holding the reins of government refused to
recognize or think of any other result from this outbreak than
suppression by might and power of the human will.
“‘Thus it came about that every separate colony in the country came
together and formed an unbreakable link of fellowship that would stand
against every force to dissolve or break it.
“‘Five of the most distinguished patriots from Massachusetts and
representatives from other colonies met in the month of September to
outline rules and acts. General Gage was sent to dissolve this assembly,
but the colonists kept the doors locked until the meeting was closed.
“‘General Gage had followed instructions and avoided any act which would
lead to hostilities between his men and the colonists, but feeling the
lack of provisions and other necessities, he sent out secret detachments
to capture what was needed; but the people resented these raids, and
offered every resistance to the pilferers.
“‘Having learned that a considerable magazine of stores had been formed
at Concord, the governor attempted to seize them. On the night of April
18, 1775, he sent 800 picked men under Smith, to secretly confiscate
these supplies.
“‘But in some way the colonists had been warned of the proposed raid,
and as the British troops marched along the road which they expected to
find almost deserted at that time of night, they were surprised to meet
horsemen, and men on foot, hurrying along also. As no one offered
opposition to the soldiers, they never dreamed of trouble.
“‘So arriving at Lexington about five o’clock, the troops were surprised
to find about a hundred militiamen drawn up on the green before the
meetinghouse.
“‘Major Pitcairn galloped up and ordered them to disperse, but they
refused, so he ordered his men to fire, discharging his own pistol as
the signal. Three or four men were killed and the others retreated
behind the church.
“‘After this skirmish, the opening tragedy of the war, the British
marched on to Concord where they soon took possession. Detached parties
were placed to guard various approaches to the town, while the main body
of soldiers proceeded to destroy the arms, ammunition and provisions
found in store.
“‘But a body of militiamen, having approached the bridge, which was
guarded by a detachment of soldiers, surrounded and fired upon them. A
general skirmish took place, and the British retreated with confusion to
their main body in the town.
“‘Smith ordered a retreat, but the militia, constantly increasing in
numbers, opened a galling fire upon the British, at the same time being
protected by houses, stone walls and trees.
“‘When the British arrived at Lexington, in an exhausted state, they
would have been totally destroyed had not Gage, apprehensive for the
expedition, sent out Lord Percy with sixteen companies on foot, a corps
of marines, and two pieces of artillery to support Smith.
“‘This aid checked the first pursuit of the provincials, but the latter
kept up an incessant fire upon the British as they marched on their way
to Boston.
“‘The news of this event excited every one in Massachusetts, and soon
the whole country was in warlike array. The first blood had been shed by
the British without provocation, and the proud army of England had been
met by provincial men and made to retreat.
“‘The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts was in session at the time of
this battle at Lexington, and it immediately passed a vote to raise
13,600 men. It also called upon the other colonies to increase the army
to 30,000; but this request was unnecessary, as the colonists crowded to
the standard raised in their defence—more than could be maintained.
“‘The fortifications of Boston were considered strong enough to resist
an attack, and the garrison of the British was increased by the 10,000
men who arrived about the same time as Lord North’s conciliatory
message.
“‘But the provincials formed a line of thirty miles in extent on the
peninsula where the city stood, thus cutting off all communication with
the country. Surrounding them was the ocean where the British vessels of
war rode at anchor to protect the troops and, if need be, to reduce the
town to ashes in an hour’s time.
“‘The British in the besieged city laughed at the foolish attempts to
bring them to submission, for had they not everything needed—war
munitions, food stores and everything required for use?
“‘On the other side there seemed to be nothing more than a tremendous
zeal and willingness to sacrifice all for principle. Untrained men in
the ranks, no arms, no resources for war, no ships or field-pieces—in
fact, nothing such as the British thought absolutely necessary to win in
a fray. Nothing but _Principle_!
“‘But the colonists realized what they were standing for, and every man
accepted the work for ultimate salvation from the yoke. Each stood in
his place obedient to his superior, and each chief confined his action
to his own sphere, while all felt the bond of brotherhood in the
furtherance of a grand plan for all.
“‘Meantime, while the British were penned up in Boston, Arnold and Allen
planned a brilliant scheme. With a small body of men they proceeded
against the forts of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, the key to Canada.
They completely surprised and captured these places without the loss of
a man, thus securing valuable and much-needed supplies of military
stores.
“‘Then Arnold was successful against a sloop of war lying at St. John’s,
and obtained the command of Lake Champlain. This vessel was the very
first one to belong to the American navy.
“‘In Virginia, much the same spirit animated the people. As soon as war
was apprehended, they solicited Washington to take command of their
troops, and he readily consented to this.
“‘The hasty step of Governor Dunmore, causing the powder to be secretly
removed from the magazine at Williamsburg to one of his majesty’s ships
in the river, caused the whole colony to fly to arms. They resolved to
march to the Governor and compel him to restore it.
“‘Dunmore hastily agreed to arrange the matter as requested, so the men
returned home, but all held themselves in readiness to march at any
future alarm.
“‘The Second Continental Congress, represented by twelve of the
colonies, met at Philadelphia on the 10th of May, 1775, and at this
convention Georgia sent delegates and was admitted as the thirteenth
member.
“‘The account of hostilities at Concord and Lexington, and the capture
of Crown Point and Ticonderoga was laid before the Congress. The
majority of members, seeing no other way to preserve liberty, urged the
necessity of defensive operations.
“‘John Hancock, from Massachusetts, was president of the Congress, and
the master stroke of the convention was the election of Washington as
commander-in-chief of the United States forces.
“‘The fires of rebellion were now burning steadily in every town and
hamlet where patriotic freemen collected, and the launching of the first
and greatest nation of Liberty on the earth was accomplished.
“‘June 18, 1775, Washington, now known as General Washington, wrote to
his wife to acquaint her with all that had taken place at the Congress.
He explained his duty in accepting the position of general of the
American army, and he also mentioned family and personal affairs which
needed advice.
“‘On the 26th of June, Washington proceeded from New York to Cambridge,
where he arrived on the 2nd of July. He was welcomed with joyful
acclamations by the men, who felt the greatest hope and success of their
mission safely placed with this general.
“‘Washington found the army stationed about Boston to consist of 16,000
men, deeply distressed for lack of war munitions, and many of them
insubordinate to officers through lack of military training. Thus it
behooved the general to remedy the latter trouble and seek a means of
providing for the former.
“‘Reinforcements from England had arrived for General Gage, and about
the time that the Continental army was told that the possession of
Bunker Hill, a commanding eminence on the north side of Charlestown
peninsula, and nearly opposite the British camp, was of great
importance, the British also realized that the colonists meant business.
“‘On the night of June 16th a detachment of a thousand men was ordered
to take possession of the hill, and throw up with the greatest
expedition, fortifications to defend the position; but by some mistake
the men took their station on Breed’s Hill, another eminence to the
right and nearer the enemy’s lines.
“‘So silently and rapidly did they work that at dawn the British were
alarmed to see a redoubt constructed on the brow of the hill, nearly
under the guns of their vessels.
“‘Orders were given to open fire from ships and batteries upon the men
and works, but this cannonading only served to stimulate the soldiers’
activities and zeal; nor did they cease work until a line of breastwork
was completed from the right of the redoubt to the bottom of the hill.
“‘General Gage, finding all efforts to dislodge the men from this
vantage point unavailing, ordered two squadrons under Howe and Pigot, to
drive out the Continentals. While the British forces landed and formed
on shore, the Americans continued work on the fortifications. The
British proceeded up the hill, while constant fire was poured in upon
the colonists and the newly-built works. Orders were given to burn
Charlestown lest the provincials find refuge there when they should be
driven from the hill-works. As the town was built of wood, it soon
blazed high and covered the surrounding land with its smoke and fire.
“‘The terrible spectacle was witnessed by unengaged soldiers, men at
camp, and the now homeless people of the burning town; but the attention
of all was soon engaged in watching the advance of the British army up
the slope to the place where the Americans calmly awaited the
disciplined men.
“‘Major Putnam charged his men to withhold fire until they could see
“the white of their assailants’ eyes,” and then fire low. So well was
this order obeyed that the first volley from the men in the redoubt was
so deadly that the advancing troops reeled, wavered and suddenly turned
to flee. But the courage of the officers rallied the men, and they again
charged up the hill to have the same unerring fire poured into their
midst. Then their lines broke and they fled precipitately.
“‘General Clinton, seeing this defeat from his camp, volunteered to lead
a fresh company to the aid of the retreating men. The third attack was
more cautious than the first two had been, and artillery had raked the
entire length of the breastworks before the troops reached it. Also, the
ammunition of the defenders was nearly exhausted, so that they had to
reserve their last fire until the enemy was right at the works.
“‘This fire was telling, but had not the same effect as at first, and
the redoubt was carried by storm, the Americans dealing death at every
step of retreat, and when the powder was gone they used the butt end of
their guns to such effect that the redoubt was filled with slain enemy.
“‘Although the victory was with the British, they were so dismayed at
the result of the battle that they offered no resistance to the retreat
of the Americans, and the latter soon joined their friends.
“‘The British hastily threw up defences on Bunker Hill, and the
Americans took a position directly opposite them on Prospect Hill, where
they built fortifications that nevermore were approached by the enemy.
“‘This battle was one of the most destructive and bloody recorded in the
wars of the Revolution.
“‘News of the fight at Bunker Hill reached Washington as he journeyed on
horseback to Cambridge to take command of the army. The slaughter of
nearly 1,500 men—450 Americans and 1,054 British was omen to the whole
world that the fight was on to a finish for Liberty and Democracy.
“‘When Washington reached Cambridge, Boston was already in a state of
siege, so that the new commander had his hands full. From his first
headquarters in the house of the president of Harvard College, he moved
them to Craigie House, later known as the Cambridge residence of
Longfellow.’”
“Oh, look! The sun’s out!” shouted George at this point.
“Sure enough! Come on and play! We can read history another rainy day,”
abetted Jack, jumping up from the rug.
“Mother, thank you for the story, but we’re off now for some fun,”
declared Martha, helping Anne to her feet.