CHAPTER LVIII.

General Howe takes the command at Boston.-Perilous condition of the American army.-Destruction of Falmouth.-Expedition to Savannah.-Success of the American cruisers.-Occupation of Dorchester heights.-The British evacuate Boston.-Defeat of Sir Peter Parker's squadron at Charleston.

GENERAL Gage returned to England, in October, 1775, and the command of the army at Boston fell to General Howe. This officer soon after issued a proclamation, by which those of the inhabitants who attempted to quit the town, without leave, were condemned to military execution. By another proclamation, such as obtained permission to leave the town, were, by severe penalties, excluded from carrying more than a small specified sum of money with them. He also required the forming of associations, by which the remaining inhabitants should offer their persons for the defence of the place. Such of them as he approved were to be armed, formed into companies, and instructed in military exercises; the remainder being obliged to pay their quotas in money towards the common defence.

The limited time for which the soldiers in the provincial army before Boston were enlisted, had nearly expired, and it was necessary that some measure should be taken for supplying their place. A committee of the general congress were sent to Boston to take the necessary measures, in conjunction with Washington, for keeping the army from disbanding. Of all the difficulties which the Americans encountered in their attempts towards establishing a military force, nothing was more important than the want of gunpowder; for though they used the utmost diligence in collecting nitre, and all the other materials for the manufacture, the results of their own industry and skill were small. They had not yet opened that commerce with foreign states, which subsequently procured them a supply of military stores. The scarcity of gunpowder was so great, that it was said the troops at Bunker's Hill had not a single charge left after that short engagement; and the deficiency in the army before Boston was at one time so great, that nothing but General Howe's ignorance of the circumstance could have saved the besiegers from being dispersed by a single attack. They left nothing undone to supply the defect, and among other temporary expedients, had contrived to purchase,

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without notice or suspicion, all the powder from the European settlements on the coast of Africa.

Meantime, plundering, threatening and hostilities were constantly carried on along the American coast. The town of Falmouth, in the District of Maine, was doomed to share in those calamities. Some disorder relative to the loading of a lumbership, caused the British admiral to issue an order for the destruction of the town. The officers who commanded the ships on that occasion, gave two hours' notice to the inhabitants, to provide for their safety, and this time was further enlarged till next morning, under the cover of a negotiation for delivering their artillery and small arms, as the price of saving the town. This, however, they refused to comply with, but they made use of the intermediate time in removing as many of their effects as they could, during the darkness of the night.

On the morning of the 18th of October, a cannonade was begun, and continued with little intermission through the day. About three thousand shot, besides bombs and carcases, were thrown into the town, and the sailors landed to complete the destruction, but were repulsed with the loss of a few men. The principal part of the town which lay next the water, consisting of about one hundred and thirty dwelling-houses, two hundred and seventy-eight stores and warehouses, a large new church, and a handsome court-house, with the public library, were reduced to ashes. The destruction of Falmouth provoked the Americans to the highest degree, and probably pushed on the congress of Massachusetts Bay to the daring measure of granting letters of marque and reprisal, and establishing courts of admiralty, for the trial and condemnation of British ships. In this law, they declared an intention of defending the coasts and navigation of America, extending the power of capture only to such ships as should be employed in bringing supplies to the armies employed against them. From this time, they did all that was in their power to seize such ships as brought supplies to the troops.

During the course of the summer, 1775, articles of confederation and perpetual union were entered into between the several colonies, which were already associated, with liberty of admission to those of Quebec, St. John's, Nova Scotia and the two Floridas and Bermudas. They contained rules of general government, in peace and war, both with respect to foreigners and each other. These articles were drawn up by the general congress, and by them transmitted to the different colonies, for the consideration of their respective assemblies. If the articles met their approbation, they were to empower their delegates to the ensuing congress

to ratify and confirm them; and from that time, the union which they established was to continue firm until, besides a redress of grievances, reparation was made for the losses sustained by Boston, for the burning of Charlestown, for the expenses of the war, and until the British were withdrawn from America.

When the autumn approached, and appearances of plenty gave the colonists ground to conjecture what might be spared out of the abundance of a plentiful harvest, it was resolved by the congress, that if the late restraining laws were not repealed within six months, from the 20th of July, 1775, their ports from that time should be open to every state in Europe, which would admit and protect their commerce, free of all duties, and for every kind of commodity excepting only teas, and the merchandise of Great Britain and her dependencies. And the more to encourage foreigners to engage in trade with them, they passed a resolution that they would, to the utmost of their power, maintain and support such freedom of commerce for two years after its commencement, notwithstanding any reconciliation with Great Britain, and as much longer as the present obnoxious laws should continue. They also immediately suspended the non-importation agreement in favor of all ships that should bring gunpowder, nitre, sulphur, good muskets fitted with bayonets, or brass field-pieces.

By the delays and misfortunes which the transports and victuallers from England experienced, the forces in Boston were reduced to great distress. What added to the afflictions which they already suffered, was the mortification of seeing several vessels, which were laden with the necessaries and comforts of life, captured by the provincials in the very entrance of the harbor, whilst the tide and wind disabled the ships of war from preventing it. The loss of most of the coal-ships was severely felt, as fuel could not be procured, and the climate rendered that article indispensable. The houses of Boston were pulled down for fuel. The inhabitants were in a most deplorable condition; detained against their will, or cut off from all intercourse with their friends, exposed to all the consequences of that contempt and aversion, with which a greater part of them were regarded by the soldiers, and at the same time in want of every necessary of life. The attempts made to procure provisions were not attended with great success. Some vessels were sent to Barbadoes, where, by the assistance of the governor, a very moderate quantity was obtained. A detachment of marines, with an armed ship and some transports, were sent to Savannah in Georgia, with a view, as the event showed, to carry off cargoes of rice and other provisions. The militia, however, took to their arms, and would

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not permit the British to land, nor the ships to hold any correspondence with the shore. In the course of the debate which arose upon this occasion, some officers belonging to the colony were seized and detained on board the ships; and their release being haughtily refused, and other provoking circumstances occurring on both sides, some batteries were speedily erected by the militia on the banks of the river, and an engagement with cannon and small arms took place. Some blood was spilt, and seven loaded vessels belonging to the colony, were burnt in the conflict.

Meantime, the besieging forces at Boston waited for the hard frosts of mid-winter, in expectation of attacking the town by crossing over upon the ice. But the uncommon mildness of the season disappointed these hopes, and they were forced to remain quiet through the winter. The arrival of a copy of the king's speech, with an account of the fate of the petition from the continental congress, still further excited the people. They burnt the king's speech publicly in the camp; and on this occasion they changed their colors from a plain red ground, which they had hitherto used, to a flag with thirteen stripes, as a symbol of the union and number of the colonies.

During this state of affairs, the American cruisers grew daily more numerous and successful against the transports and storeships. Among a multitude of other prizes, they had the good fortune to capture one which gave a new impulse to their military operations. This was an ordnance ship from Woolwich, which had separated from her convoy, and being herself of no force, she was taken without defence, by a small privateer, in Boston Bay. This vessel contained several pieces of fine brass cannon, a large quantity of sma arms and ammunition, and a mortar, with all manner of tools, utensils and machines necessary for camps and artillery, in the greatest abundance.

By this fortunate acquisition, the American troops became supplied with the very articles of which they had long stood in need. They delayed not a moment to avail themselves of the advantage. On the 2d of March, 1776, a battery was opened at Lechmere Point, directly opposite Boston, from which a heavy bombardment and cannonade were directed against the town with great effect. Many buildings were demolished and set on fire, and the troops and inhabitants were constantly employed in extinguishing the flames. The British commander began to feel alarmed for the safety of his army; but matters grew rapidly more threatening. Three days after, he saw, with inexpressible surprise, at the dawn of day, the ramparts of a new fortification which had arisen

during the night on the heights of Dorchester, commanding the town and harbor on the south. The morning mist having magnified these works to a gigantic size, added much to the consternation and amazement of the British officers, who, in their accounts of the siege, affirm that this apparition recalled to their minds those tales of magic and enchantment with which eastern romances are filled.

They were ready to imagine that they had got into Fairy-land, where spiritual agency is supposed to supply the place of bodily exertions. They could not help seeing that they were now dealing with a people that were in earnest, and who were not inferior to themselves in enterprise. Both the skill and industry of the colonists began now to be alarming to the British troops; they perceived that the men whom they had been taught to despise as cowards, were their equals if not their superiors, both in application and intrepidity. The situation of the king's troops was now very critical. Shot and shells were poured in upon them from the new works. Others were rapidly constructing on the neighboring hills, commanding the town and a considerable part of the harbor.

In these circumstances, no alternative remained but to abandon the town, or dislodge the enemy and destroy the new works. General Howe adopted the latter plan. Two thousand men were embarked in transports, and fell down the harbor to the castle, with a design to land on the beach opposite, and carry the works on Dorchester heights by storm. Every preparation was made by the Americans for the defence. Hogsheads filled with stones and chained together were planted on the brow of the hill, to be rolled down upon the ranks of the assailants. The British were aware of the desperate nature of their attempt. Murmurs of irresolution. were heard, and exclamations that it would be "another Bunker Hill affair." In this dispirited condition of the troops, a furious storm, which happened during the night, supplied the British commander with a plausible excuse for deferring the attack. A council of war was held, and resulted in a determination to retreat from Boston. A fortnight was passed in preparations for departure, till, on the 17th of March, 1776, the besieged were quickened in their movements by a new battery erected by the Americans on Nook's Hill, at the northern point of the peninsula of Dorchester. Delay was no longer safe. By ten in the forenoon of that day, all the king's troops, together with such of the inhabitants as were attached to the royal cause, were embarked and under sail. As the rear guard went on board the ships, Washington marched into the town, where he was received