nent. The fword being once drawn, the Ame ricans feemed determined to throw away the scabbard. In a few days after the engagement at Lexington, the Provincial Congrefs of Maffachufetts refolved, that 30,000 men be forthwith raised, of which Generals Ward, Putnam Heath, and Thomas, were appointed to the command: and a great military force collecting in the vicinity of Boston formed the complete blockade of that important town.

On the 10th of May 1775, the General Congrefs, regardless of the circular letter of Lord Dartmouth, forbidding in the King's name the election of Delegates, met at Philadelphia; and among their first acts were, Refolutions for raifing a Continental Army, and establishing a Paper Currency; alfo a Declaration,. That, by the late violation of the Charter of Maffachusetts Bay, the compact between the Crown and that Colony was diffolved. The Colonies of New York and North Carolina now

* General Putnam, who had ferved with reputation under Lord Amherst at the head of the Connecticut troops during the laft war, had long fince retired to a remote farm, which he cultivated with his own hands: and when the intelligence of his appointment was notified to him, he was found, like another Cincinnatus, in a leathern frock and apron, occupied amongst his laborers in fencing in his land. Without a moment's hesitation he laid down his spade, and affumed the General's truncheonwithin eighteen hours repairing to the head-quarters at Lexington, which was little fhort of an hundred English miles diftant.

declared

declared their fixed refolution to unite with the other Provinces in every effort to retain their juft rights and liberties: The conciliatory propofition of Lord North being taken into consideration, it was unanimously rejected; and for this rejection the Congrefs affigned their reasons at large and in a very masterly manner. "If," fay they in their public declaration, " we accede to this propofal, we declare without refervation, we will purchase the favor of Parliament, not knowing at what price they will please to eftimate it. We think the attempt unneceffary to raise upon us by force or threats our proportional contributions for the common defence; when all know, and themselves acknowledge, we have fully contributed whenever called upon to do fo in the character of freemen. We are of opinion, it is not juft that the Colonies fhould be required to oblige themselves to other contributions, while Great Britain poffeffes a monopoly of their trade; this of itself lays them under heavy contributions: To demand therefore additional aids in the form of a tax, is to demand the double of their equal proportion: If we are to contribute equally with the other parts of the empire, let us equally with them enjoy free commerce with all the world."

At the latter end of May, the Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, arrived at Boston, with large reinforcements of troops; fo that the entire VOL. II.

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force

force ftationed in that place or its vicinity was now become very confiderable, not lefs than 10,000 men. A Proclamation was alfo iffued by General Gage, offering a pardon, in the King's name, to all who fhould forthwith lay down their arms; excepting only from the benefit of this amnefty, Samuel: Adams and John Hancock, who were deftined to / condign punishment. All thofe who did not aecept of the proffered mercy were declared rebels and traitors, and martial law eftablifhed till the Colony was reftored to the King's peace. No other notice was taken by the Congrefs, of this Proclamation, than to choose Mr. Hancock Prefident of that Affembly. At the fame time GEORGE WASHINGTON, Efq. was unanimously chofen General and Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. This gentleman had distinguished himself early in life by his gallant exertions in the late war, particularly on the memorable day of the defeat of General Braddock; when, at the head of the Provincial militia, he covered the retreat of the regular forces, and prevented the total ruin of the Royal army. Since the termination of the war, he had refided upon his eftate at Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potowmac, a beautiful and romantic fpot fituated in the interior parts of Virginia, folely occupied in the arts of agricultural improvement and cultivation. His character for understanding, probity,

and

and patriotifm, ftood in the highest degree of eftimation. His perfonal accomplishments correfponded with those of his mind; and his countenance and figure were fingularly noble and engaging. No choice ever met with more general and zealous approbation, nor ever reflected in the event more honor on the judgment and fagacity of those by whom it was made. The new General fignified his acceptance of this high and arduous appointment in a very handfome fpeech, in which he modeftly declared his incompetency to the command, which he ftyled "a field too boundlefs for his abilities, and far, very far beyond his experience but in obedience to the call of his country, he would, without hefitation, enter upon this momentous duty, and exert every power he poffeffed, in fupport of fo glorious a caufe; at the fame time informing the Affembly, that he would receive no pecuniary emoluments in compenfation of his fervices." Horatio Gates, Efq. was appointed by the Congress Adjutant-General; and Artemas Ward and Charles Lee, Efqrs. firft and fecond Major-Generals. The laft of thefe officers was a man of extraordinary and eccentric genius, who had ferved with great reputation in Portugal and elsewhere during the laft war. Paffionately attached to the principles of Democratic Liberty, rather from a proud difdain of fuperiority than from the pure and genuine ardor of benevolence,

on the profpect of a war with the Colonies, he had refigned his commiffion in the British army, and immediately offered his fervices to Congrefs, by whom they were gladly accepted; and on his military talents, fkill, and experience, they justly placed very great dependence.

The English Generals, weary of their confined fituation, and feeling no doubt the difgrace of being with fo great a force blockaded by an enemy they had affected to defpife, had formed a plan to poffefs themselves of the heights of Dorchefter, fouthward of the town: but on the morning of the 16th of June 1775, they were greatly furprifed at the appearance of a redoubt breast-work and entrenchment thrown up in the night on an eminence called Bunker's Hill, to the north of Boston, on a peninsula divided by a narrow channel from that on which the town of Bofton itself is fituated. A refolution was immediately taken to attack this poft, from which they were liable to be fo much annoyed; and a detachment of 3000 chosen troops was immediately ordered on the fervice, under the command of General Howe. The troops afcended the hill with great refolution, but with flow and deliberate ftep. The Americans, under the direction of the old veteran Putnam, referving themselves till the British forces were within ten or twelve rods, then poured in an unexpected and furious fire, which fuddenly arrested