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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^-■ * %• AN IMPARtIaL HIST O R Y O F T H E fFJR IN AMERICA, BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND ' HER COLONIES, FROM Ity Commencement to the end of the Year 1 779. Exhibiting a circumfttntial, conneaedi and complete Account 0/ thr real Causes, Rise» ?nd PaocaEBi of the War, interfperfed with Anecdotct vud Charaaeri of the different Commanders, and Accounts of fuch Perfonages in Congreft as have diftinguifhed themfclves during the Conteft. WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINIKC AColleaionof Interefting and Authentic pAPsas tending to elucidate the Hiftory. UlufiraUd ivith a Variety of leautifut Copper- Plates ^ repre- fentint real and animated Likenefej oftkofe celebrated Generals ivh have dijlinguijhed themfehes in the important Contejl. ■■^r LONDON: Printed for R. F A U L D E R, BooKSEttER, New-Dond-Strekt ; and T. MIL LI KEN, Bookseller, CARfciSLi. M,DCC,LXXX. * .a ) / r lot i5i f .* ',[ c. I • «.:0>^0>OxQ>^OxC><:-:OxC><0^<0xO PREFACE. IN the recording of events, where- in the paifions and prejudices of mankind, have been fo materially in- terelted, and where opinions have been fo various both in regard to the equity^ as well as the whole operative fyilem of the Ainerican war, the tafk of the hiftorian becomes peculiarly arduous and difficult ; people can fcarcely judge with temper of fuch an hiitory in a century after the events, nor will it be found poflible for to cfcape cenfure, either from the vio- lence of one party, or from the over- heated imagnacion of another; in this predicament if knowledge^ impart tlality, and a regard to truthy guide the hiftorian's pen, and that his fole objeft is to give a clear and diftindl narrative of facls , from the beft and moll authentic documents, without pretending dogmatically to decide, in a controverfy, upon which the great- eft mea of the age, have differed in t I ■m iv PREFACE. their fcntimcnts, his fubjed becomes highly interefting. It ig upon this principle that the prefent work lays claim to the pa- tronage of the public, wherem every event 18 faithfully recorded., the mo- tives and fecret fprings which led to this unhappy contcft, arc placed in the trueft and mod impartial light, the various forms and modes of local legiflation, peculiar to the different provinces, are clearly delineated, a diftinifl account of the colonization of America in general, wherein eveiy matter of importance that has happened fince its firft difco- yery, is. plainly pointed to the view % of the reader : in fliort, the Editor hopes he may fay, w»*^hout the im- putatioa of vanity, that this work will prove friendly to conflitutional Hberty, lead the mind to form jult notions of legiflation and govern- ment, and prove worthy of the ac- ceptance of the public. C O N CON TENTS PART I. Pa:. mAP. I. America firft diTcoverfd in 149a by Columbim. His prupufal rtjedttd by I'everal courts, but adopted by liabclla of Spain. DikovorsHiipaniula. Mexico conqucrni by Cortea. Brief account uf tliaf great emptrc. Peru reduced under the doorii- niop of Spaliv. Fxtent and bouiuJcrica tif America. General defcription thereof. AccoiMi^'yf iHe antj^nt Iiviiaiis. IHAP. II. A cuucifc view of Norlji Amciieaapd tljc Weft-In- dia iO^ndft fn>n» their Hrft difco^ei^, till the feeds i)f the prtfent contelL were fowji, iiotifyiujr tljc comir.trclal flitn^th and fltipping of each of the coloiiKS, n« iliey ftood in tlu- year 1 763. )HAP. ill. A ^"r^ narratijve oj; ,liie n eaurable cvcpts and re- volutions of the li Itifii Colonics in North Aucrica, from the daytuf (^ecn Elizabeth to the prefent tin\c, e:^i:n»erating their different charters and grants, and flawing when executed, to vrhom, and for what purpofc. PA R T II. :HAP. I. A View of the Qiitllion in difputo, rdat've to the ColonicB; with the origin of the p»»efciit, unhappy civil conteil. :PIAP. II. The Progrcf* of the Dilputc between Great Bri- tain and her Colonies continued, l.om ihi? Repeal of the Stamp AA in 1766, to the palTmg of the Bultou Port Bill 1774. IHAP. III. A fummary account of all the American a6\s, paifed in the Britiih parliament, from januaiy 13, 1774, to the 2 2d of June following. [CHAP. IV. View of affairs in the Colonies, in the year 1774 » I (liewinff the general etfcA and operation < f the late iiws, &c. [CAHP.A^. Refolutions of the General Congrefs, held at Phi- tleiphia, and opened on Monday the 5th of September, 1774. [CHAP VI. State of Affairs at the opening of the new parh'a- ment, with fomc account of the two Fiihery Bills paffcd in this feii'ion, C i AP. VII. State of affairs in America during the fitting of paiiiament.-»Continued from the breaking up of the general ft'ii^fsr, in Od. 26, 1774, to the re-arttmbbng of that body M*|.ip^.j775. ■ - •. '-:■- .V -. w ' ,* p. Vnr From the meeting of the General Congrefs at T'hibdrlphta, Mny to, 1775, (ptirfuantto adjournme»t> from V'dl. 26, 1774) to the bit ckade of BoUoii, in July following, by tlj;5 178 ^^: 202 22; a:.i ( !,i: ! * vi C O N T E N t *. * and South Carolinas, with the general occurrences of other Colo* nies in the year 1775. CHAP. XI. Affair* at Bufton continued to the total embarka- tio:i of General Howe's army from that garrifon to Halifax.-— From the blockade of Quebec by Arndd, to the entire reco- very of all Canada* particularizing the retaking of Montreal, Chamblie, St. John s, "jtc. — Continuation of affairs in Virginia, North and South Caiv'inas. — Seme account of Sir Peter Par- ker's fquadron, Lord Cornwallis and General Clinton s troopi, with their attack on Sullivan's Ifland. CHAP. Xn. The General Curgnfs throw cff their allenriance to Great Britain, and declare themfeUes nn Independent Power. Lord, and Gen. Howe appointed commiflionrrB for reftoring peace in the Colonies. Gen. Howe, with the army, land at Statca Ifland. Circular letter, fcnt by Lord Howe to the Continent, and publifhAl by the Congrefs. Letter to Gen. Walhington, refured. Conference between Adjutant Gen. Paterfon, and Gen. Wafhington. Plots at New York, and Albany. Army landed at Long Ifland. Americans defeated with great lofs. Retire filently from their camp, and quit the ifland. Gen. Sullivan fert upon parole with a meflage from Lord Howe to the Congrel •. Fruitlefs conference between his Lordfhip and a Committee of the Congrefs. Defcent on York Ifland ; City of New York taken ; fet on fire, and a ^rcat part burnt. Army pafs through the dangerous navigation called Hell Gate ; land at Frog's Neck ; (kirmifh at the White Plains. Forts Wafhington and Lee taken, and the whole of York Ifland reduced. Jerleys overrun. Rhode Ifland reduced. GHAP. XIII. Retrofpeftive view of American afiairs in the year 1776. Preparation in Canada for the armament on L.ike Champlain. State of the American force. Engagement near the ifle Valicour. Arnold retircB ; purfuit ; overtaken ; burns his veflcls. Crown point deftrnytd and abandoned. General Carleton lands there with the army. Motives for not attack- ing Ticonderoga. General Carleton returns with the army to Canada. Situation of affairs to the fouthward. General Lee taken. Pcrfcverance of the Congrefs. Meafures for renewing their armies. Lands allotted for lerving during the war. Money borrowed. Addref* to the people. Petitions from the inha- bitants of New-York, and from thefe of Queen's country in J>ong Ifland, to theCommifliontrs. Critical (late of Philadelphia. Congrefe retire to Baltimore. Di^ifions in Penfylvania. De- fcrtions. Surprize at Trenton. Lord Cornwallis returns to the Jerfeys. Prevented from attacking the enemy at Trenton by impediments of fituation. General Wafhington quits his /camp, and attacks Colonel Mawhood, near Princ?itown. Lord Cornwallis returns from the Delaware to Bmnfwick. Am€» licans over-run the Jerft vs. Britifti and Auxiliary forces keep puffeffion of Brunfwick and Amboj, d^-ring the ircmaindcr of »5^ atfi 322 the I CON T E N T S. W the winttr. Indian war. Article* of confederation anc* per* pctual union between the thirteen revolted colonies. 35^ CHAP. XIV. State of affair* at New-York previous to the opeuiug of the campaign. Loyal provincial* embodied, and placed under the command of Governor Tryon. Expedition to Peek * Kill. To Danbury. under General Tryon. Maga-* zine* dellroycd. General WoolUr killed. Vcffch and provi- fions dcllroyed at Sagg Harbour, by a detachment from Con- nc6ticut under Colonel Mcig*. Advantage* derived Ij General Wafhington, from the detention of the army at New- York through the want of tents. Different fcheraes fuMcfted for . conduding the operations of the campaign, all tending to one ohjea. General Sir William Howe takes the field j fails m his attempt to bring Wafhington to adion } retires to Amboy. Turns fuddcniy and advances upon the enemy. Skirmilhcs. Amei-icuns under Lord Stirling defeated. Wafliington rcRaiut • his llrong camp. Royal army paf* over tO Statcn Ifland. Alarm excited by the preparations for the grand expedition. General Prelcot carried off from Rhode Illand. Rate of in- terell upon the public loan, advanced by the congrefs. Monu- ■ ments decreed for the Generals Warren and Mercer. Fleet and aumy depart from Sandy Hook. Force embarked on the expe- dition. Congrefs and Wafhington alarmed by the lofs of Ticon-.. deroga. Fleet arrives at the River Elk, after a tedious voyaec,- and difficult paffage up Chefapeak liay. Army lands at Elk. Ferry. Declaration iffucd by the General. Wafhington rcturng., to the defence of Philadelphia Advances to Uie Brandywine, : and to Red-clay creek. Various movements on both fide*, Aaion at the Brandywine. General Knyphaufen makes an , attack at Chad's Ford. Lord Cornwallis marches round to the forks of the Brandy wfnc, where he paffes, in order to at- tack the enemy's right. Defeats General Sullivan. Purfuct his advantages until Hopped by night. General Knyphaufen paffes at Chad's Ford. Enemy every where defeated. Loft, on both fide.. RcHeclions on the aaion. Vidory not decifive. Foreign officers in the American fervice. Motions of the armies. Engagement prevented by a great fall of ram. Major-Gcncial Grey, fnrpiir.es and defeats a party of Ame- ricans under General Wayne Royal army paffes the bchuyl- kill, and advances to German-Town. Lord Cornvvallia takens p»>ffeffion of Philadelphia. Some of the principal mha- bltats fent prifoners to Virginia, upon the approach of the army. Attack on the new- batteries at Philadelphia. Delaware frigate taken. Works coullruded by the Americans to render the , Duffage of the Delaware iropraaic:vble. Succcfsful expedition to Billing'B Fort, and a paflage made through the lower bar- rier. Royal army furpri/.ed a>ul attacked by the Americans at German- Town. Americans repuUed with lofs and purfued, Briradier Goneral Agncw, and Colonel Bird killed. Ariny *- -Tcmoves to Philaildphia. Unf\icccfoful attack upon the cncmy^ * works via CONTENTS. worka on the Delaware. HcRiant rcp\ilfrd with grent lofi it litfvi lia.ik Colonel Dt.nop killed AiipulU man W w;ir and M'T'iii Hoop dw-ilroyed New mid rnVaeul tncafure!' tiken for farclaartfi: en.-tny • workt. Mud Kland and Red Bank, aban- <3 *a^d» and uken with their artillery and llorea Amcricank . bat-a ifkcir gnJIjea and othL-r {hip|>ing Paffage of the Delaware . opened lu P.illadclphla. Geicral Sir WilliHm H.»w«, tindinr «i: hit cffms to bring Walhington to a general at^li.m fruitlels] return! with the army to Philadelphia. Americans Hut their camp at Valley Forge for the winter ClI \P. XV. Cannli. C mduft of the northern ex|»editi'oi\ ommitted to General Bnr^oyne. Picpiration made by (wrncr.il Carlcton Li.ic of conduck purfued by him upon the mw nr- ran^emenl Ditferent opinions upon the utility and pr«»pri«ty of cmni »yi,>g the Savages. State of the force under the com maud t»f Oeneral ^lurgoynrr. Canadian* obli,'^i*d to contribute largely to the fervlcc. Expediti.ju under Colonel St. Leger. War f-a(l, .i id fpeech to the Indian* at the river Bouqjiet. Mraifcdo. R0/.4I army inveil I'iconderago and Mount Indc- pcndeuc. Council of war held, and the forts abandoned by the Americans. Doom and Uridge cit through. Purfuit by land and water. Americans; fi-t fire to, and abandon their works. Rear of the Americans overtaken by General I'Vazer ntar Hubbcrton Colonel Francis defeated and killed. Gen. St. CI «ir, with the remains of the army take to the woods ; and arrive at Icugih at Fort Edward. Enemy bravely repulfed by Cobncl Hill, and the gth regiment, who are obliged to engag<» Under a vad fupcriorhy of force. Americans fet fire to, and abandon Fort Anne. Extraordinajy difliculties encountered by tlie royal army in the march to Fort Edward. i\merican arm^' retires to J^ratoga. CH \ XVI. Gcncr.iT terror excited by the lofs of Ticonde- rogv and the expeitedprogrefsof the favages. New England govctrunents notwiihflanding Ihew no appearance of lubmillion. Ar.uld lent with a reinforcement to the northern army. Ill ,e(Fcds produced by th • cruelties of the Indians. DiJIieuities experienced by the royal army in tlic neitrhbourhood of For* Edward, a.id in the conveyance of proviiions and (lores from Lalvc G.'or^c M.;.vcmcat made down the North River, and abrid.re of rafta throvva over near Siratoga, in order to facili- tat-: tiie operations of Colonel St. Leger. Expedition to fur- prize the Maga/intTj at Beuaington, under the condud of Cuio lel Bauin Colonel Breyman ordered forward to fupport the expedition Baum defeated and taken prifoner ; Breyman alfo defeated. Ill confe-iuenccs. Fort Stanvvix obltinateJy defended agiinll Colonel St Leger. Getierai Harkimcr at- tempts to relieve ti»e fort with a body of militia, who are mott- ly cut to piece??. Cruelty and ill condud of the favagcs : j;ro;v (ullen and intractable ; oblige Colonel St. Lejrer to laiio ihs fiege Willi pr.edpitatiun and lofs. Villainy of tkcir bcha- 39i 4r- VI 043 C O N T K N T S. viour onthc retreat. Sirge raifed before the arrival of AriloM and hii dttachmcnt to the relief of the foit. (Icfieral Onie$ takes the command of the Amcrtcan artiiy. General l>urgoyne with tlic royal army pafs the Noith River at Saratoga, an4 jidiftncc to attack the enrn\y near Still Wafer. Difitrcnce of opinion upon that meafure, at wrH ah the motivea tvhieh led to its being adopted. Htvcrc and heavy afUon on tic nineteenth of September, lioth armies f.>rtify their can.ps. Unfufiunatr iirti')n on the fevt-nth of 0(^tobtr. Crmp ftormcd. Death of (iciieral Fiazer, Colonel Brcyman, and Sir |amc» Clarke. Diilrefled lituation of the nryal army. Mailerly ir.ovemeflt made, and an entire new pohtion taken in tho night. New engagement early fought, but vefiifed on the next day by the enemy. Retreat to Saratoga, IVevione dcTertion of the Indians and others. Ro)~.d army rechiced to thl' iitmoil llrcit';lit». Near- ly fiirroiiuvied on all fid' 8. Cut otf from all moans of fuhfiftcncc, afld poffibility of retreat. Councils of war. Convention con- cluded with General Gate*. 'I'erms of the convention. Slate of the army. .Succefsful expedition by Sir Henry Clinton and General Vaughan up the North R'nxr. Severn! forts taken; ' Kfopus and ether places deflroyed. Colonel CampheP with the Majors Still and (^rant, and Coriiit Graboudue, a I'oililU i»ol)leman, killed in this expedjiion. Sotnc obfcrvations on the campaign CHAP. XVU. State of ajffairs previous to the Meeting of Par- liament. Confeqncnces of the American War with refpciH to Commerce. Coiulud of France. Stability of Adininiftration equally fccured by good or bad fucccfs. Speech from the Throne. Motion for ccitain pnpcrs, after long debates rejcdted upon a divifion. Circumllancea attending the difclofurc of the unhap- py event at Saratoga. Lord Chatham's motion for the orders and inUri'd^ions to General Biirgoyne, after coi.fuleTaolc debatcF, rc- joclcd upon a divilion. Debates upon a fcoord motion bv the fame noble Lord, rehtivc to the employnieiit of the favagcs in the 'American War Motion rejected upon a diviHon. Sub- fcription for the American prifoiiern. State of pu])lic affairs. Scheme for raifing a body of troo]>s to fupply the lofs at Sara- toga. Mr Fox s motions in trie committee, relative to Uate of the forces in America from the commencement ot the war, and the lofles fuftaincd on that fervice, rejedUd, after much debate. Petition from the county of Norfolk. Lord North's concilia- toi7 propofitions. Two bills brought in thereon. Fffert of the Miniller's fpeech. Condn6\ of the minority with Jcfpcft to W\^ conciliatory fcheme. Mr. Fox Itatcs his infurroation of the con- cluflon of a treaty between France and the American deputies ; calls upon the Miniller R)r an explanation on that fubjcft. Pro- grefs of the bills. Motion by Mr. Grenvillc rejeAed. French l)cclaration Royal MtfFagc. Great debate,'; on the Addrefb. CIrcumllances relative to the arrival of General Uurgoyne. Mo- rion by Mr, Vyner rclatiirq to tlie Canada expedition. Amend- i] 462 n?n» .*•- X CONTENTS. mtnt iroved by Mr. Fox. Explanations of his fHii«»ion antl conduct by General Burgoyne. Debate. Mr Fox's amendment rejected on a divifion. Original motion fit alidc by the pie- ▼iouB queftion Speech frou the Throne. 500 CHAP. XVin State of the hollilearmitsin Piiiladt-lphia and iU neighbourhood during the vrintcr. Hard condition of tie breve army under the convention at Saratoga Sufjunlion of the treaty by the Congrei"i, until a ratilicntion is (ihtaiiHd from Great Britain. Predatory expeditions from Philadelphia and Rhode Ifland. Draught of the conciiiitory bills piit)!i!T.cii in i\merica, Effed produced by it on b«th lidcs Conduct and refolutions of the Congrefs. Simeon Diane arrives with the French treaties. Sir Henry Clinton arriwcs to lake the command of the army at Philadelphia, in the room of Gen a! Sir Wil- liam Howe, who returns to England. Arrival of the comniif. fionersfor reftoring peace, &c. Letter to the Conjrrefs Se- cretary to the cominiirioncrs refufed a pafTport. Anfwi-r returned by the Congrefs to the Commiffionors. Further j);utii:ularb re- lative to the propofed negociation. Evacuation of Pliiiadelphia. Difficulties encountered by the Rnti(h army in their march acrofs th;r Jerfics General Waflungton croll'es the Delaware. Battle near Monmouth Gen. Lee, tried by a cmnt martial, and fufpcnded. Britilh army pafs over to Sandy Hook Ifland, and are conveyed by the ftcet to New-York Toulon fquadron arrive on the c'oaft of America Appear before Sandy Hook, call anchor Alarm and preparations at Sandy Hook and New- York. Departur*; of the French fleet Arrival uf rein- forcements to Lord Howe. French fleet appears bef«)re Khode liland Defcnlive preparations by General Sir Robert Pigot. Livafion of that Ifland meditate i by the AmcricanH, to feeond the operations of the French Lord Howe fails to the relief of Rhode Ifland D'Eftaing quits the harbour and put^ to lea, to meet the Dritifli fquadron Fleets fepa.ated, at the point of engaging, by a \iolcnt llorm Oaptain Raynor, of the Ifia, b'-avely engages a French man of war of 74 guns D'Eilaing returns to Rhode Ifland, and proce<:d$ from thence to Bofton. Is purfucd by Lord Howe General Sullivan lands in Rhode Ifland. Tnvcils the Britifli poftf, American army greatly dif- conccrted by D'Ertaings departure Sullivan retreats, and at cngth totally (juits the Ifland. Lord Howe, finding D'Eilaing'a .quadvoR fo ftrongly fecured in Nanttiktt Road, as to render an attack imprailicablc, returns from BoRou 54* CHAP. XIX AdmirJ Byron arrives of Ik^ilon, is driven of the coaft by a violent -ftorm. The Somerfct and Cornwall, two of his I'quadron, driven on ftiorc and beat to pieces. Arrives at Rhode Ifland with the remainder of his fleet. D Ellaing, tak- ing the advantage of a wellerly wind, fails out of Bollon har- bour for t-hc Weft' Indies ; is difcried by Culloden one of By- ron't fleet, who takes one of his tranfports Commodore Ho- tkam, vii*U aiq^uadvou «f mcu of war, and ajiumbcroi tranf- p«rt5 C: CONTENTS. XI. ports, xvith 4000 land forces under the command of Gen Grant* (axU for the Weil- Indies. Arrive^, at Barbadoes, is joined by Admiral barrington. Proceeds to Sainte Lucie. D'Eftaing fiuUleiily appears befure that place, and lands 5000 forces, which are totally lepiilfed by the Britifli forces. Sails from St. Lucie* which furrendcrs to his Britannic Majcdy. CoK Campbell, ia conjunction with General Prevoft, reduces the province of Geor- gia talces Suvannah. General Lincoln defeated at Brier Creek. Prcdiitory expedition from New- York. General Prevoft ap-. i pears before Charles Towvi, ftimmons the garrifon to furrender. ! Retreats to Fort James. D'Eftaing appears of Savannah. Summons General Prevoft to furrender to the arms of the French King, which is refulcd ; ftorms the fort, but repulfed with great llaughter, and obli)i;ed t'> fail for Europe, &c. See* 584 APPENDIX. Debates on the pafllng ofthe Stamp-aA, March 10, 1765. Copies of Secretary Conway's letters to the American Governor* Ml". Pitt's (late Lord Chatham) celebrated fpcech on the repeal of the Stamp-a6l .— — — Artiles of confederation and perpetual union, entered into by the Dclc;p;atc» of the fevcral Colonies of New Hampftiirc, Mafla- cliul'ett 8, kc. &c. &c. STER 1. |r/? difcovered in 1492 by Columbus. His prcpofal \y feveral courts^ but adopted by Ifahella of Spain. Hifpaniola. Mey:ico conquered by Cortez. Brief that great empire. Peru reduced under the domi- ain. Extent and boundaries ofAnterica. General thereof. Account cftke antient Indians. IS vaft continent of America was entirely nknown to the European, and all other ations in the world, till the year 1492, i¥as difcovered by Christopher Colum- ative of Genoa. This man, having fome other obtained a more jull notion of the the earth than moll of his cotemporaries, a fcheme of failing to the Ealt Indies by his courfe Wcftward. The reafon he had ange a project was indeed the errors in the ich were made of thofe Eadern countries me ; for by them the Eaft Indies were placed far to thf* Eaflward, that it appeared to bus, the nn . ation mull go a great deal more half round the globe before they could come at art of them. In confequencc of this fuppofi- the thought was very rational, that it would B be 1492* Colum- bus, a na* tive of Genoat firft a- dopts the fcheme of direfling his courfe for the ' Eall-In- dies, weft- wardh*. r'-'T \50 ^ / "/ •"- ^vj ...3?-'- ^••-■•=*5:if.-f ^„„ ^'V- af ttie/ ^ r^"^-- '■ / A f s e nip o ti a 1 s ^S^^^ / ^^ C^ T\ I / 'A ^ ^/ ^^'^*»«^ •ij^ ^i!nhafHiLjhujuJ^yy~y Out/ Country of the P a n i s N / fio' ^V>^^%^^'"7'*' / # vi^^'^ limits of ViryiniaH^ewEngland^e achiny fr V |Sea toScaby the ChaL vs of Jamet l\ "- /[.J^innte^i Or o ^><*<^«'',~— N^i^j tf» fyO j'im-mautJ ^/'^tfiid^ IJtAn^f^ o vr ^a/^ >r^. ffa m i s AKE^ 9> C .-^v V I QtClair fT^jr^. V ?jp ~ r^.vl.^r* %7^jf ,/*:%*'/'-fc k440^SM^^ tiin>atti l-IfYo ^f^k ../'':;?>, v» ^1>M**! L MtH^ /^""VsT" ^%^ hfc' ie. " — •• -,... ^'^'"'MsSv^--:'iA M ""i*, y^^ »*• •»ii irf- ■" 'fe ''^,\'^''^*^'»"'«<-AYf r. "^'^^ Baviirntfii^eaeh \ J4^<^^^. -^ ^-^ / (sAm'''*^ — ^ ^ ' . BounviOa 'John ^"y '-' /Part s \ e^mr\ vti^ T r*^ »;«* **• ^Yy.-uv® ^ ..^.•--' 0^ ^^ cys jiiH u «^ mt- '"^1 ..tt '■*2 ^'. SI '^ 4 !S&^ »*« '!!&; t; '^'•-.- Cartfref ■W §.''' f# B.oP .adie Yamexes K^jR^y, ^^J>if^ M E X I C O. to A Dcmree 'JSfr I ^0^ 2yS : J4jr gtoaPcgre e. ^ piiiiniiniiiiiiijlilim»iip|— too *^. ^ mlLoupitude frmu London %3if FaUf c. # 2] A General History "- ' * be a much (hortcr, and Icfs dangerous voyage to fail Weftward, as they believed they would fall in with the Eallcrn parts of Afia before they had laird round half the circumference of the globe ; ai no part of the world can be diftant from another more than half this circumference, provided the (hortcft way to it is taken. But how Columbus, at that time, when it was reckoned a mortal herefy to fay that the earth was round, came to have no- ^ tions fo different from the common, and not only to imagine that the earth was fpherical, but that its circumference did not extend to a certain fpacc, we arc not certainly informed. Be this, however, as it will, Columbus was willing that his own coun- try Ih juld reap the benefits of his fupcrior knowledge i\i this refpc£k : and therefore he communicated his new fcheme to the court of Genoa, who rcie£led it as an abfurdity. He then applied fucceflivey to the courts of France, Britain, and Portugal j from all of which he met with a reception of the fame kind ; and had the mortification to find, that his own fupc- tiority of knowledge to the reft of mankind only ferved to make him their laughing ftock. At laft he applied to Spain, where, after eight years attend- ance, perhaps the curiofity natural to her kx, induced C^een Ifabella to raife money on her jewels, in or- der to defray tl^e cxpcncc of his expedition. Sets fan. In 1493, then Columbu« fet fail firom Spain, with and,find$ three Ihips, in fcarchof countries hitherto undifco- l*"^ 33 v^rcd, and which aUnoft every one believed to exift onW in imagination. His failors were with great difficulty kept in fubjedion ; but being kept in hopes of land, fometimcs by great Eights of birds, and at otlicrs, by obfervmg quantities of weeds floating in the fca, they were kept from breaking out into open mutirty, till the difcovcry of land, after a voyage of 33 days, put an end to their fears. In this voyage the variation of the compafs was firft difcovered, which occafioncd fuch an alarm among Columbus's failors, His I'chcmc is rcjeft- cd at fc- vcral Eu- ropean courts, but is ta- ken up by Ifabel- la of Spain. days af- ter his depar- ture. 'C3 OF America. failors, that they were whh difficulty prevented from tnrowin|[ him overboard. Columbus firft landed on one of the Bahama Tl.c ifi. iflands ; but findmg nothing there of conlequcncc, «•>"ri«. tues. Thefe irtands contained mines of gold • the Indians only knew where they were .'fc'd and aSTtr'^'^lf of the Spaniards, hirried'th«n aeainft tLt "f '^"''""S ^'o''^"" and cruelty againit thofe unhappy men, who, thev believed concealed from them part of their treaLc In a' few days they depopulated Hifpaniola, which con- amed three miUions ofmhabitants ; and Cuba that had about 600,000. Bartholome; de la Cafel, a 41 The em- pi re of Mexico fubducd by the Spaniards Ade. fcription of that empire. A GiiNERAt History w'ttnefs of thofc barbarous dcpopuiatioiis, fays, tliat the Spaniards went out with their dogii to hunt after men. The unhappy favages, almo(t naked and unarmed, were purfued like deer into the thickcll of tlie foreds, devoured by dogs, killed with gun. (hot, or furprizcd and burnt m their habitations. The Spaniards had hitherto only vifited the conti. ncnt : but conjcduiing that this part of the new world would aftbrd a Itill more valuable conqucU, Fernando Cortcz was difpatched from Cuba with 600 men, 18 horfes, and a fmall number of field pieces. Witli this inconfiderablc force, he propofcd ftnd actually did fubdue the moll powerful ftatc on the continent of America : this was the empire of Mexico i rich, powerful, and inhabited by millions I of Indians, pafiionatcly fond of war, and then headed by Montezuma, whofe fame in arms ftruck terror into the neighbouring nations, and extended | over one half the globe. This empire had fub- fided for ages ; its inhabitants were a poliihed and I intelligent people. They knew, like the Egyptians | of old, whofe wifdom is ftili admired in this particu- )ar, that the year coafifted nearly of 365 days.! Their fuperiority in military affairs was the objed of admiration and terror over all the continent ; and their government, founded on the fure bafis of la\vs combined with religion, feemed to bid defiance to I time itfelf. Mexico, the capital of the empire, fituated in the middle of a fpacious lake, was the| poblert monument of American induftry : it com- municated with the continent by immenfe caufewaysj which were carried through the lake. The cityl was admired for its buildings, all of Hone, its! fquares and market-places, the fhops which glitter edl with gold -and filver, and tlie fumptuous palaces m Montezuma, fome ereded on columns of jafper, andl containing whatever was moft rare, curious, or uf»;-| ful. Cortez, in his march, met with feeble oppofi- 1 jion from the nations along the cqaft of Mexico, '^ ■ who ^* ArU E R 1-C A. who were terrified at their appearance. Wherever the Spaniards marched, they Ipared no aire or (ex nothmg facred or profane. At laft, tJic inhabitants of llafca, aiKf fome other flatca on the coaiL de- fpairing of being able to oppoic them, entered into their ajhance. Cortca, thus re-inforccd, marched onward to Mexico : and in his progrefs difcovcred a volcano of fulphur and falt-petre, whence he could fupply himlelt with powder. Montezuma heard of his progrefs, without daring to oppofe it thouch he commanded 50 vaffals, of whom each could appear at the head of 100,000 combatants, armed with bows and arrows. By fending a rich prefent of gold which only whetted the Spanifli avarice, Montezuma haftened th«' valour, the SfLlk thundfr G^^: ^^f "^ were taken prifoners. TUkZ. ^ ^ *'°P~* when he la/ftretch:d ^l^J^R ^ of one of the receiver, of the Kil/lft^^.^^ chequer, «ho inflified the t^S^^tm Tf cover into what part of the lat/ (.1 ^ j u "" "** riches, raid to his high ^ieft Ini*** *?**" •*" fime punilhment, andteg'hiffuS t^ you take me to lie <« a bed If rS" TK. h^ Pf-eft remained filent, and died in an a/^ ^"^ dience to his fovereio^ c^ v **' °* <*«' cond emperor U^oK^Lt 2 ^ S^8 « &- queft of Mexico • wffh^l' ?*!' * '^f^'*^ «">- r\ ' -^"cxico, With which the C;aft:U« Tifr\ .h:?^si?'''^' •>''•--'' fci'^^f haSs^f empire of ftru, which eLnW^'",'«*°'* <^ ''^ ™™" degrees, and wasX n« w k'** '" '^»«^ '^' 3o ???«• rid, which defev^d r 5^ ««her co»,try in Ani- f''™'' Jnm TT.- """"ed th>- name of a civiUzrH lr;„„ '" "" Jom. This extenfive country mnr, ;„ - '."8- Spaniih Mexico itfelf, was rediS?^ »<»•« important than Ac »t.he expenc'e, of ti ee priv«l tlt^'^"''' '"^ of there were, Franci^rroHj^^ »»»« deques, a prieft and = ^ ?• -*'?»S'"o. imd 'me: The two fJZ.- ™" °^ eanfiderable for- ■"enoflowedacattn P^' """^"^^ f«»»n>3. nor write Thev ftL "^"°' ""''■ ""i*" «^ out difficulty XS,' '"'» /!»*». »nd with, conquer. fe^„, hi Z™' °^ *''" '^'7 ftouU of Cf tsf Some ac> count of that country. A General Historv OT caftfton^ drawn by flaves from the cdnquefcr! countries. Mango Capac, the founder of the Peruvian em- pire, having obferved that the people of Peru were naturally fupcrftitious, and had a particular vene- ration for the fun, pretended to be dcfcended from that' luminary, whofe worlhip he was fent to efta- blifli, and whofe authority he was entitled to bear. By this ftory, he eafily deceived a credulous people, and brought a large extent of territory under his jurifdiftion. A larger ftill he fubdued by his arms ; but both the force, and the deceit, he employed for the moft laudable purpofcs, and there was no part of America, where agriculture and the arts were fo affiduoufly cultivated, and where the people were of fo mild and ingenuous manners. A race of princes fucceeded Mango, diftinguilhed by the title of Yncas, and revered by the people as the defcendants of their great God the Sun. The twelfth of thefe was now on the throne, and named Atabalipa. His father Guaiana Capac, had con- quered the province of C^itOj which now make« al part of Spanifli Peru. To fecurc himfelf in die I poiTeflion, he had married the daughter of the natu* ral prince of that country, and of this marriage was I fprung Atabalipa. His elder brother, named Huef* car, of a different mother, had claimed the fuccef-i fion to the whole of his father's dominions, not excepting Quito, which devolved on the younger by a double connexion. A civil war had been kindled! on this account, which ended in favour of Ataba* !ipa, who detained Huefcar, as a prifoner, in the I tower of Cufco, the capital of the Peruvian empire. Atabalipa, inftead of oppofmg the Spaniards, fct ■himfelf to procure their favour. Pizarro, however, | whofe temper partook of the meannefs of his educa- tion, had no conception of dealing gently with thofel he called Barbarians. While he was engaged in I coil* The imi OF A ME R I c A. eortfercnce therefore with Atabalipa, his men b. they had been previpufly inftruded ?urioufly* at- chered 5000 of them, as they were preflinff forward without regard to their particular Wy to S the lacred perfon of their mnnar^K r • ^ ? actend peror himfelf, whom *« Tarried off to^^'* *^ ^™- before he began to treat of his ranfom On til ,occafion, the ancient ornaments am»(r«^ k, . ' iine of magnifi^nt kings, thrhVo^KLr : of the mod magnificent temples, were brouKht ont tn unmenfe quantity of his blloved ^Id tSeS'f on the prmcipc of avarice Wh^« *k • [^""aed before hapUd toTnT^rfer'l^'nrSt te»'''pLU"''er^td"to'°"'^ ^^P*^-- derable fcare"? tKl,^ arZ^ f' "f ~"fi- ror's ranfom. becaufc t haf Sfe'^ref' t^r* without delay. S exceedLV^l""" *"' ^^'^ '" but not capa^; tograti^tSv rt. TeS' Kidend?^^^^^^^^ r9 The immenfe ranfom was only a farther reafon for ^o] A General HISTORY' for detaining Ataballpa m confinement, ttiitil thev difcovered whether he had another treafurc to gr^ Ufy thcir avarice. But whether they believed he had no more to give, and were unwilling to employ tZ^'T' ? «c''*?^ * P'^"^^' from whom they expected no farther advantage, or that Pizarro had conceived an averfion ^ainl! the Peruvian emperor, It IS certain that by his command Atabaliprwa put to death Upon the death of the Ynca, the principal iiobihty fet up the full brother of Huefcar • raJs otthe Peruvians endeavoured to eftablifli them. t^r^^v^K'^^^'^'t^^'^^'^^^y- Thefcdiftrat tions, which m another empire would have been extremely hurtful, and even here at another time, j were at prcfcnt rather advantageous to the Peruvian llnL L'i^T^^r*** *^^ ^"^'"^^^^^ people to k nd rLf^ -^^'^ ''''^' preference of a %irit of any ^ kind raifed m a nation to total lethargy, that in the courfe of tbofe quarrel, among th.mfdves, the n habitants of Peru affumed fo'me courage againft caufe of all their calamities. The loffts which the ' Spaniards met with in thefe quarrels, though inconJ fideraWe m themfelves, were rendered dangerou J by leflcmng the opmion of their invincibility, which they were c^eftj to preferv^ among the inhabitants of the new world. This confideration engaged Fizarro to conclude a truce; and this interval he employed m laying the foundations of the famous city ot Lima, and in fettling the Spaniards in the country. But as foon as a favourable opportunity offered., he renewed the war againft the IndiansJ and after many difficulties, made himfelf mafter of SI,^'^MT*^ ""^ '^^ ^"'P^'^- ^Vhiie he waa engagcd^m thefe conquefts, new grams and fupplics arrived from Spam. Pizarro obtained 200 Sues ' along jhe fea-coaft, to the Southward of what had 1 *.~wwn »Ciore granted, and Aimagro 200 leagues tai the OP AMERICA. the Southward of Hzarro's ffovernm<-nf -n,-. j- ».r.on occafioned a warm If^Se beteen .hem' each reckoning Cufeo within his own dS B"»' the dexterity of Pizarrn Kr^»^u. i """^^"' J^ut nation, h/ pJZl^i^'^^' .ttl" "'^°""- o?^iWwr;:^|S-^^^^^ eer, of which he dfc ^ ^alffnl'S^ ''- ^orh^^ljl^-^eTtd'^j^^^^^ over mountains of ar^^menfehXl"' ^' ?="^'^'' covered with fnow. Hrr"duced hi ' ^""^ ^'"*y* confiderable part of Thl ^ounS ITILV"^ vians now made an pfFor, f„. "' • ,* *' P^™" in which, pfzarro bdn J t d^ rT^ "if '"■ "P"=^' removed at a great 'd7»nr.?K''' ^"'* ^'-"^g™ fuccefsful. Thf latte f So^Jeier'^ rr '" "'S" iiotceofthefie»,.nf r..r i. ' ""^ 'ooner got views of mJXa^'.V^'^' '^""qoiAi-'g all the grand oWea"nh"'' ^t '■"""^^' *° '"^^'"•e ' proachelwithim army C knew'"/ *''°k "'"^ =•?■ but the Peruvians Thf.5f "* "° °^^" ^"^"^7 and bloodrCggle\«Vtt"ther='!"'°"^f. l'™S n.ms of fortune^lere virion" and'Z "?"'' ""^ fierce on both fides, becauT'the fa e rft"""'"' , quifted was certain deafh TV J*"^ ^*"- I Almagro, who, in an advanced at fen '"'"J"' °^ the fecuritv nf a r;«oi . '^J"^^", ^ge, tell a viftun to ' he haTlZlarTd 'anH*^ V^ dfgers and triumphs ginning oFthe enl'.„ " "f !"''<""' fr°"> "-e be- conneled n.fr:P'i^_^'_''^''»<'>'=n intimately -^^"-=-«inThTsp:u^:.^STn5 learned. C" 12] A General History learned, from the pradicc of Chriftiahs, to butcher one another. That blinded nation, however, at length opened their eves, and took a very remark- able refolution. They faw the ferocity of the Eu- ropeans, their unextinguifhable rcfentment and ivarice, and they conjedured that thefe paflions ^.ci^K never permit their contefts to fubfidc. Let us retire, faid they, from among them, let us fly to our mountains ; they will fpeedily deftroy one ano- ther and then we may return in peac^ to our for- m( I "'lations. This refolution was inftantly put in y vticc; the Peruvians difpcrfed, and left the Spaniards in their capital. Had the force on each fide been exadly equal, this fmgular policy of the natives of Peru, might have been attended with fuc- cefs. But the victory of Pizarro put an end to Almagro's life, and the hopes of the Peruvians, who have never fmce ventured to make head againfi; the Spaniards. Pizarro, now fole maimer of the field, and of the richeil empire in the woVld, was ftill urged on by his ambition, to undertake new enterprises. The Southern countries of America, into which he had fome time before difpatched Almagro,. offered the richeft conqueft. Towards this quarter, the moun- tain of Potofi, compofed of entire filver, had been difcovered, the {hell of which only remains at pre- fent. He therefore followed the trad of Almagro into Chili, and reduced another part of that country, Orellana, one of his commanders, paffed the Andes, and failed down to the mouth of the river of Ama- zons : an immenfe navigation, which difcovered a rich and delightful country, but as it is mollly flat, , and therefore not abounding in minerals, the Spaniards then, and ever fingc, neglected it. The fuccefs of Columbus foon infpired the other European nations with a defire of making new dif- ,i:oyvnvo. AL.out the Uiiv^ of his tlilxd voyage, the Fortii- o" AMERICA. C'3 wh.ch now form the Bridlh Empire in America !««" and Amcncus Vefpufius, a merclLt of Cence' >"*,"•• iailed to tlie Southern continent ,„^ i, • ""*™«' "re led t* ofaddrefs, had the hono" TeivTnt ht"i" "^ ^'r this quarter of the globe. ^ ^ *"* "*"= '° b°'."ftf. the^^:r^oif:r«£"^^^^^^^ No«h,tothe 56 iegrceSouthladtude; ^d fc ^--J- its breadth is known, from the , t to th^ .T« 7 ™ ^ of Weft longitude, from London ftr^.^h^ ^'^ A«,„!c tween 8 and 9000 miies in length t,di„ if '"^ '^^- breadth3690. It has two SeTs »d aS'' ■ oceans. To the eaftward k htihe ^At,^ ^l^ divides it from Europe and Africa iL ti ' "* «"^ has the Pacific, or g?eat SouA- ea", b^Jhrch^if J.' feparated from Afia. Bv thefe fr-,. ;/ " "* direa commerce with Xo^ertw """n» ^vorld. It is compofS <^f tw™ ^^^^^^^^ *«= which is formed between L «hm,^"'*^'P^ Northern *nd Southern continents Ive''^1: '^' multitude ,^f iflands, many of them t ^'% them fertile, and denominated the Wef W °^ called theTllndier '^°'"'-«°P^. ^^ch arc '^ "1= world.- la South AmewaT^- "-T'™"* """ -Andes, or Cor- H] "A. General History Cordilleras, run from North to South along the coaft of the Pacific ocean. They exceed in length any chain of mountains in the other part of the globe j extending from the ifthmus of Darien, to the ftrcights of Magellan, they divide the whole South- cm parts of America, and run a length of 4300 miles. Their height is as remarkable as their length, for though in part within the torrid zone, they are conftantly covered with fnow. In North America, which is chiefly compofed of gentle afcenta or level plains, we know of no confiderable mountains, ex- cept thde towards the pole, and that long ridge which lies on the back of our fcttlements, feparating our colonies from Canada and l.ouifiana, which we call the Apalachian, or Alcgeney mountains; if that maybe confidered as a mountain, which upon one fide is extremely lofty, but upon the other is nearly on a level with the reft of the country. America is, without queftion, that part of the globe which is beft watered ; and that not only for the fup* port of life, and all the purpofcs of fertility, but for the convenience of trade, and the intercourfe of each part with the others. In North America, thofe vaft tra^s of country, fituated beyond the Apalachian mountains, at an immenfe and unknown diftance from the ocean, are watered by the inland feas, cal- led the Lakes of Canada, which not only communis cate with each other, but give rife to feveral great rivers, particularly theMiffifippi, running fromNorth to South till it falls into the gulph of Mexico, after a courfe, including its turnings, of 4500 miles, and receiving in its progrefs the vaft tribute of the II • linois, the Mifaures, Ohio, and other great rivers, fcarcely inferior to the Rhine, or the Danube ; and on the North, the river St L'aurencc, running a con. trary courfe from the Miffifippi, till it empties -itfelf into the ocean near Newfoundland, all of them be- ing almoft navigable to their heads, lay open the in- fuch '-»h*^A .. . ■ *>" A ME R ic A. war.. s\fqUnl" *V«owj;-- H^^^^^ others of great demh I,n™S 'I"PP''" ''^'■^ navigation. "^ ' '""S^' »"^ commodious . ^°"* America fupplies much the ,»„ i- ,1 nver, (excepting the Miffifip^) Tn the Tnr^K^ nver-otAmazones.andthrWi„ J r™ ^°^^^' *e River. The firft nT?n„ !^ p '''= '' "=f^' w Plate South-Sea, paS^ffromV/S^Er %■"•*"= the ocean beTween Brazil anH r ? ' ^!J.'' '^^^ '"'» ofmorethan 3000 mt ,TS' f " -<-& prodigious number of irreat ,1) • receives a The Rio de la Km J ,ir£^ V ? "^vigaMe rivers, •ry, and havfng t\' ^th ' ^',7 °^ '^ """- by an acceffion^of m»;;?t&ei 'rr^^ itfclf with foch vehemeScrinto fh^T • ^^^8<^ Which the O^^nStrmo-icS^S^'r'f |"fcr/ru^''S'"tl°'„^; --f^' »»^ ^"ce. The gold an^Sm of Z'" "",? '^g'*" Perfeflion: ■netals, thatr/atbSvl/ *'°'' ^'"^^'^ asd the gold and fiJv, f r-^"''' """^ common s . P«>portion to Ae hth . • 1"™*^ "ow bears littte [the WerTof Amfrfca."'' ^' "P"" '^"^ 1'=^°'^ WuSotf"^' E?'?'^' ™«M^. and other hy being St 1„o p 'P'°''f^''''^^^ whicb I'o >ow^ th:KlueTi^'°?^',.''T/°n«*«ed -very of America, w^ .er; forced' toT^^at*^' f^ travagant t'S iSi Ancient Indian!, their 4ref8 and behavi- our. A General History travagant rate from Afia, and Africa* through tlid hands of the Venetians and Genoefe, who then en* grofled the trade of the Eaftern World. Before we enter upon the hiftory of the Britifli fettkments in America, however, it will be proper to give fome account of the original inhabitants of thofe provinces which are now inhabited by our own countrymen ; as the cuftonis of thofe Indians arc fo very unlike thofe of any other nation, that an account of them cannot fail to be entertaining. The bodies of the Indians in general, where the rays of the fun are not too violent, are uncommonly ftraight and well proportioned. Their mufcles arc firm and ftrong ; their bodies and heads flattilh, which is theefteaof art; their features are regular, but their countenances fierce, their hair long, black, lank, and as ftrong as that of a horfe. The colour of their ikin isareddifh brown, admired among them, and heightened by the conftant ufe of bears fat and paint.' Their behaviour to thofe about them is regular, modeft, and refpeaful. Ignorant of the arts of amufement, of which that of faying trifles agreeably is one of the moft confiderable, they never fpeak but when they have fomething impor* tant to obferve ; and all their adions, words, and even looks, are attended with fome meaning. As they have no particular objed to attach them to one place rather than another, they fly wherever they ex- peO: to find the neceffaries of life in greateftabun* dance. Cities they have none. The difterentl tribes or nations are extremely fmall, when compared with civilized focieties, in which induftry, arts, agri* culture, and commerce, have united a vaft number of individuals, whom a complicated luxury renders ufeful to one another. Thefe fmall tribes live at an immenfe diftance ; they are feparated by a defert frontier, and hid in the bofom of impenetrable andl There , — „Ao iUUlUiL UUUilUiCIS iUiwilo. _i n. u ji-r^ f — *» AMERICA. C«7 Amii7a7evan^ w^ vm Im/''^''^- """."«" "^ ^7 °' over the whnit r>f .u ^ • '' variation j becaufe K"""" of f chie/an'd"? ^eMtTa'^^r^AH' ^'Tr mem inclines more to the one than Lft ^ f .. may be regarded a, mbnarchato a. a fci^"' of anftocracy. Among thofe tribes whiA ai^ll/J engaged in war, the p^wer of the chirf if „ ? »** predominant, becaufe the id.a of ha^i^^^^^^^ ■ leader, was the firft fm,,-^*. J^u- ^^'"6 a miiitanr 4e continual exigencit- of thl tJ"^"^'^' ""^ nance it. His nnw^r i,^ *^*^ • ^^'^'* ^o ^n- I *an co.;rcive -"^e fs ' ° "'^" "^^'P'^-afive ' than feared a rnaXH/h*' *''''''' "'''" prifons, no oiEcerof Tuftlr, a' "° Shards, no i«dged*vioIe„ce"I°d p^^llr^toT.^'^ k°^ '"" hV eiders, in the other formT?: *' *^'°"^- \my be coifideredls an a Sn ^"'"T'"™'' ^^^ power. In fome rX. " "'T'^X. have no more hereditary nSv^r''?'' *"= "^^ " ^nd of augmente'd by 7me ?f '"^"""'^ ^"S conftantly AiffourceoflweTisL^^r T'^''««''fc- B« U among .K:f^/„71-fi^f 'o be ve„ com-. Jtnes thertfore, aee ainr/ iT f 2 ?" i" "°'* ^un- kpea, i„flu:icr atd ai hortr'/""^ ""^''r^ hrfons b,finef, i^ condua3 tht^tmfft'r"*" Sfinef t'diSdi/rh*^ pu/ofe."^:.: K diftingu fted for tUr H "'' '^"^^ °*' '^^ "»■ h ^n opportuni,; of difp&"?h7*'^"'' " fcr orators e.preffth'emfS;ra%X^^^ (rat, bur oftf n -« ^"'','"''' geftures equally vio- L' T°™" "femely natural and i^nriZ" r '" "" """"^'^ i^ °ver, and they hai^S; ^ li.' , wejl i8] Their manner of mak- ing war. A General History- well provklcd In food, thev appoint a feaft «pon th(} occafion, of which ahnoft the wliole nation par- takes. The feaft is accompanied with a fong, in which the real, or fabulous exploits of their fore fathers are celebrated. They have dances too, though chiefly of the military kind, and their mufK and dancing accompanies every feaft. It often liappcns, that thofc different tribes or nations, fcattercd as they are at an immcnfe diftancc from one another, meet in their cxcurfions after prej. If there fubfifts no animofity between them, which feldom is the cafe, they behave in the moft friendly and courteous manner. But if they hap- pen to be in a ftatc of war, or if there has bcc» no I previous intercourfe between them, all who arc not friends, are decned enemies, and fight with the nioft favage fury. • ■ ' War, if we except hunting, is the only employ, ment of the men ; as to every other concern, and I even the little agriculture they enjoy, it is left to the women. Their moft common motive for enter- ing into, war, when it does not arifc firom an acci- dental rencounter, is either to revenge therafelvcs for the death of fonie loft friend, o- to acquire priJ loners, who may aflift them in ti at hunting, and whorn they adopt into their fociety. Thefe warjl 9XG cither undertaken by fome private adventuren, or at the inftance of the whole community. In the! latter cafe, all the young men, who are difpofedtol go out to battle, give a bit of wood tcr the chief, as a token of their defign to accompany him. The chief, who is to qondud them, falls feveral daysJ during which he converfes with no one, and is pari cularly careful to obferve his dreams, which arc! generally as favoura' '-. as he could defire. A val rie.ty of other iuperftitions and ceremonies are oM ferved. One of the moft hideous is fetting the warl ^^ttle oa tlie fire, as aa emblem that thev are ffoinel — - J -- - ■ fj ■■! 0U.1 ' '*»i' AMERICA. out to devour (heir enemiw, which amoneft fotne m»on. muft formerly hav^ bfcnthr cafe, finee t°,cy ttill contmMetoexprefs it in clear terms, and ufean emblem f.gnihcam of the ancient ufage. Then they d.f,«tch a porcelain, or large (hell ?o their "lie? rj:^rier°'"''''^^^«'"'^^^'"''«''cbCd Having finilhed all the ceremonies previous to the charcoal, mterm.xed with ftreaks of vermilhon which give them a moft horrid appearance Th™ they exchange their cloath, *ithTeir fViend. a^ Afpofe of all their finery to the women, who accom- faftirs ;°f f Sr ' "'"'"'" '^''-^^^ 7Zt Accuftomed to continual wanderinR in the noTdTft? •i^P'"^^''' *here an Europe^'^^ould |tance?hrLV°at"?fy:n^"^ "^^^ "'^^ *eir e;en,r;:^eTot[n!! SXith'^^^^^ aT^d"mL'5' ^'V".'' "'"'^f°''' ^cy take c re to I nm ?r M '"S "'' °*^ ""y thing by which they mieht ! r *!,i"^r °f '"f-^^y- Tiey light nl: fi™t' •— ^..auciTCSj 01- to prepare their viftuals; they Ive t"9 do] A General IIistory lycclofe to the ground all day, and travel pnly in the night; and marching along in fUes^Ut, that clofes the rear, diligently covers with leaves the tracks of his own feet, and alfo of thdrs whopre. ceded him. When they halt to refrcih themfelves, fcouts arc fent to reconnoitre the country, and beat tip every place where they fufped an enemy may lye concealed. In this manner they enter unawares the villagfes of their foes, and while the flower of the nation are engaged in hunting, maflacre all the children, women,. and helplefs old men, or make prifpners of as many as they can manage, or have itrength enough to be ufeful to their nation. But when the enemy is apprized of their defign, and coming on in arms againfl: them, they throw them* fclvcs flat on. the ground among the withered herbs and leaves, which their faces are painted to refem. ble. Then they allow.a part to pafs unmolcfted, when all at once, with a tremendous Ihout, rifmg tip from their ambulh, they pour a ftorm of mul- quct-buUcts on their foes. The party attacked re. turns the fame cry. Every one ihelters himfelif with I a tree, and returns the fire of the adverfe party, as I foon as they raife themfclves from the ground to I give a fecond fire. Thus does the battle continue I until one party is fo much weakened, as to be incaJ ' pable of further refiftance : But if the force on each I fide cpntinubs nearly equal, the fierce fpirits of the I favages, inflam^c| by the lofs of their friends, can I no Ipiiger bf reftraincd. They rulh upon one ano- 1 ther with clubs and hatchets in their hands, magni- 1 fying their own coijrage, ai!id infulting their enemies I with t|ic bittereft reproaches. They trample and I infult over the dead bodies, tearing tbe fcalp from I the head, wallowing in their blood Uke wild bcafts,! and fometimes devouring their flefh. The flame I ra^es on till it meets with no refift;ance, the oat lo motTCd"^ brothere or their hulhands. When they L » nved, the chief relates in a low voice toThe" Mm a circumftantial account of every nartirnU- -ff .?^ expedition The orator prodaLrrud thU ^' count to the people, and as he mention, "^'s of thofe who have fallen, the Ihrieks rf the wo^ are redoubled. The men too join 1^4^= cri^ according as each ,s moft coniefled with the dt' ceafed, by blood or ftiendlhip. The laft Lem„^ IS the proclamation of viaory*^^ each indiviSS forgets^ h,s private misfortunes, and join, ta Ar triumph of his nation , all tear^ are S ft!!' their eyes, and by an unaccountable fcJS ^^ pafe in a moment from the bittemefs of fo^w t^ an extravagance of joy. But the treMmenTrf the butionmadebythe elders, he is deli^red to fuppW -» ^ Tm vt.^ ftLcf'beit t*td The't ^'"''™^*- aTembled at the eJec^^lft' fo^tt:^^^ ^^ tolhfS \"V- "^eSi^; death f»n^ ^ ' "''"^J'= ''"y commence their aea^h fong. and prepare for the enfuin,r W „f "»«.)= witutiie ma. midiiunted courage.'^Thei; (m^nues, on th« other fide, are determined td p\it1e to the proof, by the mod refkied and exquUite tor. tures. lliev begtfi at the extremity of hij^ body/ and graduatiy approach the inore vital parts. Om pUicks out his nails by the roots, one by tme ; another takes a finger into his moath^ and tisars of the flcfli wth his teeth ; a third thruils the finger, mangled as it is, into the bowl of a pipe made red hot, which he fmokes like tobacco; then they pound his fingers and toes to pieces between two llones; they pull of the flefli from the iteedi, and cut circles about his jointc, and gaflies the flefliy parts of his limbs, which they fear immediately with red hot irons, cutting, burning, and pinching them alter- nately ; they pull of his flelh mangled and rokfted, bit bylifit, devouring it with greedinefs, sind fmcar- ing their feces with the blood in an ethufiafm of horror and fury. When they have thus torn oflF the flefli, they twift the bare nerves and tendons about an iron, tearing and fnapping them, whilft others are employed in pulling and extending the limh(S in every way that can increafe the torment. This con- tinues often five or fix hours, and fometimes fuch is the ftrcngth of the favages, days together. Then they frequently unbind him, to give a^breathing to their fury, to think what new torments they fliaU in* flia, and to rcfrefli the ftrength of the fuffcrer, whd wearied out with fuch a variety bfunheard*oftorv ments, often falls into fo profound a llcep, that they are obliged to apply the fire to awake him and re- new his fufFerings. He is again faftened to the ftakCj and again they renew their cruelty ; they flick him all over v/ith fmall matches of wood, that eafily I take fife, but burn flowly ; they continually run (harp reeds into ev*!ry part of his body j they drag out his teeth with pincers, and thruft out his eyes j and laftly, after having burned his fle(h from the bones with flow fires ; after having fo mangled the body that it is all but one wound i after haviner mutilated I his face in fuch a manner as to carry nothing hu« . • . mani «P iii M E R r^ A. . ««i in itf after firavii^ peeled thftifehi ^m his h^^ and poured a heap ef r^d hot €6ak' ^,0^^ ter, on the naked (kuIL thev onr^mnf; ^-^ V^ wrctcb|-*^ho, blind anS L*^ -f ^'^"."^'"^ *^ weary ;of cruelty, puts an end to hiriife^ ^, t >ng on without the leaft em6tW^SI«^ °°^ diferew matter tde^fdurk.'r'^/;!,'''^"' »- and them which ftall excc^H rt^ •! ^S?" """ mod horrid painsror hf !„ ^^5^-* '"*«'"?«* femneftand SLTv „Im„V^""''?*<*..>»i«» a groan, Bot a ZS »Ta '^""' ^m^rnofa *fcapel him J hf Sl<^, K° °"."*^''°''"*^*'*«'■ raid^of hirtormen^f h^ ' ""f ^""iy in thtr he inform SwS,; cruewH^'"''-'^/"'''''"'' their countrvmen^^i Ik ''« ''as'nffiaed upon vengcSKi'tar^Xt'jt^^^^^^^^ proache, ^xafpetate them toa wrfeaSr' '!: W. he continue, his infults ev™ om^^rJ! "^ of the art of tornv»m ;„^ • • *^ ignorance couL. ^ Zir.^,^;, T^^^ w«"»<^« have this oart nf --0- „. „va «« «^ n,^n . a„^ i^ ^ ^ rate for an Indian E^ jSjJ A General- liisTORY fodi^ to behave otherwifc, as it wouldbc for any European to foffer as an Indian* When wiy one pf the fociety dks, ht is Iitaient# cd by the whole ; and on this occafion a thoiriSind ceremonies are pradifed, denoting the mod lively forrow. Of thefe, the moft rcmarkablei as it dif^ covers both the height and continuance of their grief, is what they call the feaft of the deadj or the feaft of foiJs. The day of this ceremony is ap. pointed by public order, and nothing is omitted that it may be celebrated with the utmoft pomp and magnificence. The neighbouring tribes are invited to be prefent, and to join in the folemnity. At this time all thofe who have died fince the laftfolemn occafion, (which is renewed every ten years among fome tribes, and every eight among others) are taken out of thpr graves ; thofe who have been in- terred at the greateft diftance from the villages arc diligently fought for and brought to this great ren* dezvous of carcafles. .n+ <..(i ^j They bring their bo4ies into their cottages, where ikcj prepare a feaft in honour of the dead, during ^ich their great anions are celebrated, and all the tender intercourfes which took place between them and their friends are pioufly called to mind. The » ftrangers, who have come fometimes many hun* .dred miles to be prefent on the occafion, join in the tender condolence j and the women, by frightful Ihrieks, dcmonftrate that they are pierped with the fliarpeft forrow. Then tliey are carried from, the cabbins for the general reinterment. A great pit is dug in the ground, and thither, at a certain time, each perfon attended by his family and friends, marches in folemn filence, beari/ig the dead body of a fon, a father, or a brothei:« When they are iiU convened, the dead bodi'es, or the duft of thofe which were quite .corrupted, are depofited in the pit : then feeir grief bf caks out anew. Whatever they poiTcfs moll or A M E R I e A; joll valuable ii interred with the deaJ TJ,'-- Itangers are not wanting in, their renerofiti- ,n5 ».th thert for the pun»fc. Then all prefent^S ireiigiou^ care. The b,odies, rangta intjrder arr Areft to the bottom of X h° ■ "^;. ^^P*' ^"''™ '■^"ed his owners woVn^^H ^^ T '^r 7. and, at his return, ""<>'^^: XeTrii^^H^^^^^^^^ Vfe^tfedrohe^tai"?^^f «' r^"^" ■684, the chiff F.„.;!i: ...L^'^^"""- In the year !» fo« erefled for itr;^fo^;:''>' '"" '' '"''""'^' ""^ ^ The *8^ ^ A General History The French invaded our fettlements, and took Fort Rypcrt and Albany in July i^S6, though wc were then at peace with France. In King WiUiam's waf, anno 1693, the Englifh recovered their fcttk- meats ag^ilf. During the war in Queen Anne's reign, the French reduced all our fettlements e^^ccpt Albany, but were obliged to rellore them at the peace of Utrecht, anno 1713 ; and the company have re- mained in poflcffion of them everfmce; and by the treaty they were to reftore to Great Britain, the Bay and Streights of Hudfon, with all the lands, feas, fea-coafts, rivers, and places, fituated on the fame ^bay and ftreights, (which comprehend all New •Britain and Britifli Canada) and it was agreed, that commilfioners, on the part of Great Britain and France, fhould terminate,, within the foace of a year, the limits between the dominions of Great Britain and France on that fide, which limits the fubjeds of Great Britain and France were not to pafc over to I each other by fea or land. It is not with certainty known what EurOpeanil ^rft vifited the country of Canada, the difcovery be- ing claimed by both Spaniards and French. How-I ever, no permanent fettlement was made here till about the beginning of the 1 7th century ; whenl the French having built fome forts, and being fre-l quently fupplied ivith emigrants, they became able to fupport thcmfelves and extend their views. As\ their fettlements were the firft to the Northward ofl •what was then called New England, they graduallyl fpread themfelves round the bay of St Lawrence,! and along both fides of die river, ufurpcd the countryl tailed Nova Scotia, built a town, called Port Royal,! in the bay of Fundy, and from thence, about the year 1680, fupported the Indians of New England, in tlieir wars with the Englilh ; for which they \vere, in 1690, Gripped of their pofl'effions in the bay of Fundy by the people of New Eneland. under the! com- OF A-M i: R IrC A. command of Sir William Ph;««. ^u • during the wars of Kinir William T^Vu^*^'? Indians gained many XnZs ove^^^^^ havmg recovered Port Roval 3 .^Z .u ^^^^'^ Monacal, and fo"&'e fh 'SeS forS "'S Scotia, lebTy;^^^„t»do^«S;^^- town of Louifburg and thi ifland of Ga^Bretnn wh.ch gave them the command of "L'Lw St' Wnce^ and greatly difturbed tbXf^^l trade. This town was taken, in 1745. by theSJ England men. and reftored to tile ^fene^in .t^S'^ ywr, the Englifli army, under General Wolfe hav I mg beat the French under Montcalm, in the neth* I .'»'»'l"'°d of qudbec, where both graeraS rti" XCtf^. depdencies, feSt^J.^^- ™H,r ^ *'''?'y ""^ '7^3> was confirmed to them JKl-ri aS '"""'"^''^ thereby annihiraS I ^'^^ *^ *''°^^ P^"°^' we may rank the Eiwlifl. podeffions m North America, u/der the helSf of the foUowmg colonies, viz. Hudfon's Bay, Ubra- dor Newfoundland, Canada, Nova Scotia New ^._-_, v'«^*»v«i|j Avianaciiuucts iJay, Rhode- iifend, t>^ ,303 A Gbneral History ifland, Conncfticut, and Ncw-Hamplhire, originally one colony, and though now under fcparatc juril-. di^ions, are ft ill confidered as fuch ;) New- York, Ncw-Jcrfey, Pcnfylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North-Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ead and Weft Florida : To thcfc colonies may be added all thofe iflands, which goes under the general name of the Weft-Indies, viz. Jamaica, Anguilla, Berbuda, St Chriftopher's, Nevis, Antigua, Montferrat, Domi. nica, St Vincent, Barbadoes, Tobago, and Granada, and the Grenadines, or Grenadillos ; alfo the Ber- mudas, or Summer iflands ; the Bahama, or Lu. cayan iflands, in the Atlantic ocean. Of thefe, Domi- nica, St Vincent, Tobago, and Granada, were ceded by France to Great Britain, by the definitive treaty | •t 1763. The chief commodities exported from G. B. t% thofe colonies and Weit-Indian iflands, are wrought « iron, fteel, copper, pewter, lead, and brafs, cordage, hemp, fail-cloth, f hip-chandlery, painters colours, millinery, hofiery, haberdaihcry, gloves, hats, broad* cloths, fluffs, flannels, Colchefter oays, long ell filks, gold and filver lace, Manchefter goods, Britifh, loreign, and Irifli linens, earthen-wares, grind-ftones, Birmingham and Sheffield wares, toys, fadlery, ca- binet wares, feeds, cheefe, ftrong beer, fmoaking pipes, fnuffs, wines, fpirits, and drugs, Eaft-India goods, books, paper, leather, bcfides many other articles, according to the different wants and exigen- cies of the different colonies, impoflible to be enume- rated here. In return we receive tobacco, rice, flour, bifcuit, wheat, beans, peas, oats, Indian-corn, and other grain ; honey, apples, cyder, and onions j fait beef, pork, hams, bacon, venifon, tongues, figs, andi raifms, prodigious quantities of cod, mackarel, andj other fifli, and fifli-oil ; furs and Ikins of wild bealls fuch as bear, beaver, otter, furr, deer, and racoon, horfes, and live ftock ; timber planks, mafts, boards, builtl o*r A M E RICA. built for fale, flax ' flav rpi-/4 n«j * . po..a(h. bce,:wax^t.lW t' "^ ~«°" 5, "dig?, bars and in pigs : befid« mS?"^ k "' '"''"°" '" J«=cuK.r to fcimef td fo^of the J;r'"°**'« vinccs and iflcs. As t« *k r . > aiflfcrcnt pro. quired by«hrkXKu''';f "'^^ '«'"='<=- very improveable nafrlJ^ r' ""^ "*■ certainly of ih.J, in their'pr" f nelnTlt™ T rfS'"'"' As we propofe makin» ,L ''"'^«'"' "»«<:• n^cen tfe cdoniTslXs ."elS!::^. 'f f 'li-S »»• F" of this work it i. ,1' rl V'^ °* '•>= ^cond dent to ochTw a Vate of^lrf *.' Pf?' *■"«■ as it exifted when tK, ^-o- ^ *"^' "'^ An»erica, marking at th^^" tt.^'ff '™"' '^''^ '<»'' P'"" and fl.iw.ing of thTcS "^ .""""""»' ««"«"» Hudfon'sBay I Labrador, -^ American vef-C fels 120 ) iNcwfoundlandT I {3000 boats) \ jCanada iNova-Scotia iNcw-England [Rhode Ifland, Conncfticut, and New Hampfliire ^ew-York Penfyivania '^rginia and Maryland JorthCaroUna South Carolina Georgia Eaft Florida Fcft ditta 49*050 3«o 20,560 273,400^ 345,oo« 34 46 400 105,000 105,500 72 26,500 38,000 55a 395»ooo 370,500 3 ^ i2,opo 114,500 i 30 34 140 24 2 10 330 53 1 »ooo 526,000 390 6u,ooo 705,500 3.960 865,000 1,040,000 40& 18,000 68,35.0 ^68o. 365,000 ^^^^ds ^4? .,. 49»ooo 74,20® 24 .., 7,000 _J2o 9;>Qoo 63,00^ lit ^^7^ 28,910 3,736,900 3,924,606 •,1' ■y« ■ < f »« iiii I R E V O L U T I O N 8 AND MEMORABLE EVENTS. •^ ii' i vnni I.J I G H A P. m. ^pyurt narr»ihit (^ the memorahle events and revolutions of tin Britijh coiontes in North Americtti from the dkys of ^leert £iiz{iUth to the pt^font timet entwurating their different- char' iers and grants ^ and fheni^ng 'utbtn enetutpd» to iuhon», and for nuhat purpofc WHEN the Europeans firft vifited New- England, they found h inhabited by twenty different nations or tribes independent oF cacn ♦ other, and commanded by their r^lpcftiyc chiefs^ Of thefe nations, the moft powerful was the,Mafla» chulfets, fituttted on or near Bofton harbour.^— - The North-Eaft part of the continent of Ainerica was ^rft difcov';rcd by Sebaftian Cabot> a native of Brifloi In the year 1497, ^^ difcovered all the coaft, from Cape Florida, in 25 d^rccs of North | latitude, to 6y and an half IS' This company enters in- to an al- liance vnth fe- veral In- dian nations. 36] ^^ENERAL History from King James to fend colonies to North Virginia, now New-England, embarked 150 men on board a Ihip, which failed from Plymouth the 6th of Sep. tember 1620, and arrived at Cape-Cod in New. England on the 9th of November following, where they built a town, and called it by the name of New Plymouth ; and Mr. John Carver was eleded their governor. ' The Indians were, at this time, too much en- gaged in wars among themfelves, to give thefcl Grangers any difturbance ; and Maflaffoit, prince of the Maffachufet nation, learning from one Ouanto, an Indian who had been carried to England, what a powerful people the Englifh were, made governor Carver a vifit the following fpring, and entered into an alliance, offenfive and defenfive, with the Eng. lift, by whofe affiftance he hoped to make a con. queft of the Narraganfet nation, with which he was then at war. This prince alfo confented to acknovv. ledge the King of England his fovereign, and made a ccffion of part of his country to the new planters. Several other Sachems, or Princes, alfo followed the example of Maflaffoit, and defired the protedion of the Englifh againft their enemies, profefTmg them- felves fubjeas of l^ing James. ©iffe- Ships arriving every day almofl with planters and i rciiSC I*^,^^'^^^"s» t^e colony foon became well eflablifhed ; weakens ^^" differences arofe among the planters, upon ac- and di- ^^^^^ of religion. The dependants, who were the vides moft numerous, not allowing a toleration to any this cole other fed or perfuafion, feveral of the adventurers "y- removed to other parts of the country, and others returned home, whereby the colony was fo weak- cned, that, if the Indians-had not been engaged ina civil war, the Englifh would infallibly been driven' out of the country. -r.r, v.jv ««vo« iiiiic, aiionicr ici or adventurers, | anno 1 OP A ME RICA. r.. , anno 1 627. purchafcd a grant of the Plymouth com- Th. I pany, of all that part of New-Englana, wWch fc Sate between the nver Merimac and Cfcrles rivrrTaid ^« to ftrengthen their title to this country, prociied a ?'^^ "" grant of it from Kmg Charles, anno 162^^0 ""• nunatedMr. Craddock their firft governor. Another fet of adventurers planted New Hamn. Ihn-e, and others Providence and Rhode-MandTh^ laftbemg chiefly quakers, driven out crfMaffa chuffet colony by the Independents, -who had iX" perfecuted them, and aftually hanged fomeof thf I quakers lor not conforming to their feet Thus all the New-England provinces were planted and well-peopled within thefpace of twenty year^ reckomng from the arrivial of the firft colony « Ne»r P ymouth during which time they were Tery litde mtcrrupted by the Indians; but theSiS colony of Connedicut beginning to ereft forTiXs and attend their fettlements to tie weftwafd. ;hh' ed, apprehending they fliould in time be difpoffeffed of the.r country, and be enflaved-by thefe foiSgn„r L^^**^°l Metacoment therefore (to whom the & K IT "•' "="" °f Pl^i'ip) theLrfSaf fo. ,who firft entered into an alliance with theEMUft, nZi ""= ''"rS" ^''^ country was inrMe 3 "7. no longer afted as allies, but tyran! hmlfT ""T^P'^' =1"''^'="' i" " manner deXd livl/ I' T^"'?'> difpatched meflengers private- yihrough all the tribes of the Indians, inviting them t^A-F 'r; '" '''=''^"« of their countrKch n t'^' l"^ ^''^'''^"^ '" f^veral engagemms at tt; of .hW '' '^"g* Fcvailed.^ G^at I „ out ot their country, and inin^,1 ,u.v 1, f» Canada, who promifcd them aid a„i pTot'ea;:;;: Fcrce The In- dians are alarmed at the encroach- ments of their new al- lies. gS]] »fetNERAL History 'Fbrce noiv proving ineffedual, and looking upon thfeftiifelVes as a conquered people, the Indians en- tered into a confpiracy to maffacre all the Englifli. on the 22ti of March, 1622, about noon, when the EnglJfh were abroad at work on their plantations, , • without arms ; and they actually murdered 347 of the Engliih, moft of them being killed by their own "working tools : but an Indian, who had been well ufed by his matter, difclofmg the defign to him a little before this execiition, he gave notice to the reft of the planters, who flood upon their defence, and not only faved their own lives, but cut off great j numbers of the Indians. The planters, not long after, falling out among themfelves, the Indians took an advantage of their divifions, and made another attempt to recover their country, killing great numbers of the Englifh by furprifc. The Thefe misfortunes being afcribed to the mal. company adminiftration of the company, King Charles I. dif- ^^.^"P' folved them in the year i6«6, and reduced the nia clil- ,<< ■,*• • • 1 1 • • i> I folved. gpvernment or Virgmia unf . his own immediate' diredion, appointing the government and council himfclf, ordering all patents and proceffes to iffue in the king^s name, referving a quit-rent of two fhil- lings for every hundred acres of land. The planters, however, falling into f ilions and parties again, the Indians made a third effort to recover their loft !!• bertics, and cut off near 500 more of the Englilli; but they were at length rcpulfqd, and their king Gppaconcanough taken prifoner, and killed by a private foldier, very much againfl the will of Sir William Berkley, the then governor, who defigned to have brought him over into England, being aj man of extraordinary ftature, and uncommon parts. The ad Sir William afterwards made peace with the In^ gation, '^^^^'^j wiucii continued a coniiderabie time j but the] ^ ' civiil OF A M E R I c i. plantations to receive or eviv^r, *"' P™"*'™g the |£nglilhihips; which °veXh .^lh^~t .'^ '" gation in 5ie reien oKlf w, ok , *f *^ "^ "»»»■ Led Sir WillTam Be/klerS h^'''* "» ^^ "''^ I reftoration '^ '" *"' go^wnmew at the I irilrThrsXtdon' manufaauresof mk excellent governor -TuT?!?; A 7' ''^^"''^ » fciningtlfepIa„rr;fi'o"J^^r4tL'irrefh^^^ jto foreign countries nnH r "";"« ^'^f *f ^"cnandize • furnituri or (.^ ^rlt" „SZ t^1""§' Icreating a deal of difcontenf M, p ^^g'W, Iftaious gentlemen onkfh' ^ ^~n. » Popular Uaionf a„dSg°J or SfT °' ll"' ''"■- fcle into rebellion. denofeH ,hl ' '''^'^ *^ P'"- Wdhim to arto the EafternT"""^' f** '°'"- Chefepeak; and had „„, b Jore of the bay of ^e haLrokri;'^l"ti^Sso:; -^^^^^^ "•a; but, upon his death q- \;?y5^^Sn of Virgi. ^=^goverUL,tdXeoK't- 5^^ '" lirile^tlJtst^''-^^'-"'^ -''- [«awith Captain HudfoniS' ^ " """^'^ ^o"" '>'°* <»- P»tth called Nova Be&if '^^"'ve'-er, was by the com„a H. built W ,„„ ^ ''\ ^""'y <^'««<=d feme "-oy^' g<- h riversani fo/rdV;'"'"^ *^ ™°«''s of ''"■"««■ f-ed b^Cabot f r wtenrvU""/" ''"'- h^d by King Charles Ihf "^LM'?-..'!"''! J- f" ' '"''' "■'■'^'^ '°°^- Poffeffion"of it" fofthe d'Z' of ld9 403 A General History of York, to whom it had been granted by the king, his brother ; and therefore the country was called New York. The part poiTeifed by the Swedes was granted by the Duke of York to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret, whofe families being of the ifle of Jerfey ; they called it New Jerfey ; one having the Eaft part, and the other the Weft part. » Such of the Swedes and Dutch as chofe to ftay, and become fubjedts to England, and tenants to the pro. , prictors/ were permitted to enjoy the fruits of their labour ; and the Dutch who departed had the li- bert^r of retiring to Surinam, which country the Englifh had ceded to the Dutch by way of exchange. On the Duke of York's acceffion to the throne, New York fell to tjie crown, and became a royal govemJ ment. And hi 1702 the proprietors of the JerfeyJ furrendering the country to the queen, it became alfo a royal government. The duke of York afterwards parcelled out thcfc countries to under-proprietors, among whom WilJ liam Penn, fon of Sir William Penn, admi^ in the| Dutch wars, was one. * ' All the reft of the under-proprietors, l^me time after, furrendered their charters to the crownj whereby New York and the Jerfeys became royi governments ; biit Penn. retained that part of th< country which had been granted to him, and kins Charles II. made him another grant, in i68o, 0I the reft of that country, which now conftitutes th( reft of Pcnfylvania, in confideration of a debt du( to his father, the admiral, from the government Penn, the fon, afterwards united the countries h( poiTefled by both grants, into one, giving them thi name of Penfylvaniaj and began to plant them inthc year 1681. The Dutch and Swedifh inhabitant chufmg ftill to refide in this country, as they did i" New- York anc' f he Jerfeys, they and their defcei dams enjoy ti lame privileges as the rclt of hi Maryl Virginia citeemed year 163 •layNortli <:d,to the Baltimore heirs; wl honour oi eft daugh iord Bait iiard Calv gentlemen 200, who year 1633 mouth of ^ Indian to\v irefide in o pome prefe |o( the cou fffaole towi :ed by the king, ntry was called tic Swedes was rd Berkley and :8 being of the Jcrfey; one the Weft part. )fe to ftay, and mts to the pro. : fruits of their :ed had theli- h country the y of exchange, e throne, New| I royal govern, of the Jerfeyjl :cn, it bccamel :elled out thcfc tig whorri Wil. adniii^ in the] )rs, f^metime the crownj became royi at part of th< lim, and king t, in 1 680, o| conftitutes the^ of a debt dufl ; govcrnmcnd : countries M ving them m nttheminthj fli inhabitant! as they did i 1 their defcen he rdt of ii| OF AMERICA. Majefty'a fubjefts in thefc plantations do, and are now m a manner the fame people with the Endift I&ml' ''^"'^'^ and governed bythelrC Mr. Penn, however, notwithftandihg the irriints made him by the crown and the duke of York .11^ not efteem himfelf the real proprietor o tie bn^ granted him, until he hadgiven\he Indians valS confiderations (or what they efteemed fuc fo thei^ country: he therefore alTembled their Sach^^^^^^^^^^ Princes, and purchafed " countries of a vervTar-^^ extent of them, for a very moderate prfce, a^s tifv made fcarce any other ufc of their country t£ f r n ^^P^'d^i^^m for it in clotKoI^^ and menfils, to the entire fatisfaftion of th^na fvl ;whnibll retamed morclands than they could 00^^^ fibly ufe, being veryfow in number. ^ ^ ' Maryland was difcovered in the year ifi^<^ t Virginia was firft planted and fL^ r • ' ^^'^"^ efteemed apart of v'rdniC un^^rl^^ T"' 'T Miard Calvert Ffn ■ ^xAth r "" , "-i"' ^"^ fioii. Leo- Indian town of Y^m^cn if advancing ,o the Hde in one nart Tlh?: ^ -'""^ permitted to |«f the country, who l^fr thZ L °^^-^fr-' °'P''-"F<= |»« town . foon as^ih[, V^op'.; '^';::^,^X harveflj. C4T Grants made to L. Balti'- m ore, and fevcraJ Roman Catholics oflreland ■m 4-2I A GlNtRAL HistORY ;harvefl ; whereupon Mr. Ciivcrt gave the td^h thci name of St. Mary's: but what principally indued the Wcroaiiec to be fo exceedingly civil to the Englifli was his being at war with the Sudfiquiehannah Indians, and cxpedin'^ to be proteded by the Eng. lilh agaitift that potent enemy, who had Very hear driven him out of his country. Ami Aich Svas the I , good uriderftandihg between the Yoatiaco Indians and thiscol6ny, that, while the Engl ilh wetc phuitJ ing the country, the Indians hunted for then! In the woods, and br'ought them in great qliantitirs of venifon and tvild fowl ; and many Romzn Catholic families coming over from Engltmd to ivoid the ^ penal laws j tliis foon became a flourifhing colony, ■of which the Calverts remained goveirnors until the civil wars in England, when ithc family were deprived g of the government of this province, but recovered it.again on the rcfloration of King eharles H. And the Hon. Charles Calvert, fon of the Lord Balti- •more, remained governor. of that Colony near 20 years, who promoted thefplanting of tobacco hei'eJ till the colony became almoft as confideraHe for that branch of bufmefs as Virginia ; and the family ftill remain proprietors of this plantation^ being one of the moft cojifidcrable 'e'ftates enjoyed by any fub- jed of Great Britain abroad. Carolina. Carolina was the laft r jufttry m Ametica plantrf by the Eiighfii, after Sir Walter Raleigh's unfortii^ nate attempts to fix colonies inCioolma^ ihthfchr. ter end of the reign of (^cen Elizabeth. This! counf feems to have been entirely overiooked the r^'itbrationdf King Charles 11. The thernni-j niftry, being informed that Carolina would produce wine, oil, ^nd ftlk, &nd almoft every thing that Bri-[ tain wanted, procured a patent or grant ;fcom King Charles to themfeives, dated the t24th -of March 1663, ^f great part of this cdaft; the .grantees beingl ;edwara, Earl of Ciarendoh, Lord Chancellor;! *»»*»»><»*•«-- Loril OB AMERICA. Lord Graven, .John Lord Berkley, the Lord An- l^ny A^lev Cooper, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Colleton, and their heirs. Thpfc proprie* tors, houcvcr, did little tcvards planting it, until rf« yfar 1670, when LordAOiIey ftJuck out a whim- kal kmd of government for the colony, creating a Palatine or Sovereign, with a council to be a check upon him ; which involved them in perpetual quar- rck, and almo(l deftroyed the plantation as foon as .t was fettle^; to prevent which, they were at length Obliged to fell their (hares to the cfown ; and i? is now a royal government, only Earl Granville thought fit to retam his feventh fhare, which his family ftill remains m poflfeffion of. ^ r JS'hvr"v^' ^ u"^ frequently invaded and har- hft found ,t neceffary to extend their plantations ^nrJin ''^'•'"'* ^^^'^ *^^' ^'""'^'^ denominated Georgia, contiguous to the Carolinas ; and truftees hircre appointed to fortify that frontier aganft the mcurfions of the India/s, who accordin^gly buS thv rivers Savannah and Alatamaha, in order to Edelorh"'"". \""^ '^''^ ^«4Ts on hat Cde, for here on^ they were liable to be altack- \L^r V ''^; *^' Apalachian mountains cover I the two Carohnas from any invafion from the Wert. IriJf.; ^J^lethorpe commanded the firft embarka- ^r Iv rehnqu^^^^ their right to all the country SoJth of the nyer Savannah, the Northern limits of this STfK'^^'^T^' '-^"^ articlesof comme ce were fettled between the Englifli and Creeks. There wcrefome attempts made the laft war to add the Spaniili port of St. AugulHne to the province of t'corgia J and had not Gen. Oglethorpe been be- |tray<'ci, he had probably reduced that forfrefc • hi-- p U..j^ able to conl.de in his people, he found it p'^celury to retire Ironi thence j and the Spaniard's t4^ ■«E Ik 44] A General History rot tong after returned the vifit, and invaded Geor- gid, which was fo well defended by Mr. Oglethorpe, jiial the Spaniards wr re beaten off. The Spaniards poffcOed themfclvcs of Florida immediately after their conquefl of Mexico^ under v/hici\ name they comprehended all thofe countries vvliich lye North of the gulph of Mexico, of which ^'arolina and the rell of the Britifli plantations are part ; but, the Spaniards abandoning part oi tli^ country i^r richer fcttlements in Mexico and Peru, ^leEn;^!ii]:' piaiircd mofl of the Eaftcrn coaft, now flilcd Bricifli America, the Spaniards retaining only St. Auguftin, and two or three other fmall places Eaft of the river Miflifippi, and what lyes Weft of that river; and thus the country Tituated between ♦ il the Engli/h plantations on the Kafl, and the Spanilh territories in the Wefl, remained under the dcmi. nion of the Florida Indians, until the year 17 18, ^ when the French took pofleflion of the river Miififip. pi, and erefted fomc fofts, by virtue whereof they laid claim to the greatefl part of Florida, incroach- ing on the Spanilh territories pn the Wefl, and the £nglifh dominions on the Eaft. They did, indeed, pnce before ereft fome forts on the Spanilh fide of tlie river Miflifippi ; but the Spaniards demolilhed them, and drove the French out of the country ; jbut lince France and Spain have been fo cloiely united, the Spaniards feem to wink at their incroach- ments ; but the Englilh who have ever looked upon this country, as far Weft as the river Mifiifippi, to belong to the colonies of the Carolinas and Georgia, or at leaft to their Indian allies the Greeks or Chero- kccs, thought they had very good reafon to difpute this part of Florida with the French, thefe Indians have ceded to the Englilh all this country they do not chufe themfclvcs ; and it mufl be adimtttd that the natives only can give the Europeans a jult title to it. On this claim. Great Britain, in 17(^4, ctif- PUtcd her riHit with Frnnr<- iV^i.T. ,,.r,;^K ' — .-.»^ji I-rocccdcd the late French v, ar. H I THE S T O R Y Of th..O.,o,«.#,,p. .„d P,oa.„, of ,he ■c I V r 1 w A R r N AM E R I c A. Amencan empire, but feemed /n S'2 • °"' ^"^"^ (smufing Theory. '^ no more than an ^ SriT Bufe'l''™ t'l '" "'^ ^^"■'^ -"'"'"^V. Change Ld rifp„ , ■ ' "Sainft whom the public odium '» tli* kWe^' . ,t B-°;^% - T'"^' ^^''^ ^="1 long ■"'-''"y- Uantile Ideas „g "; ,^Hif t""'"''^'!- gmcrcial regulationf a,::; a d 'thl/.S; df "-^.^nty of the llle of Man was purch;fcdlV the ?rov.n. 4<$] 1764. Men of vrar 1U< tioned to prevent fmug- fling. The HISTORY of the QnAV- h crown, and armed vcflcls were ftationcd all around the coails of Britain ; io that no ihip could pais cither out from or into any port without a Itricl ex- amination. This policy, niorc detrimental ta trade than cmolumcntary to the revenue extended even to America and the Weft Indies, where it was produ^ive of the nioft p^rn^io^s cQnfequences. Alucrative trade had lon^bccn carried on between our iflands in the Weft Indies and the Spanifh main. In Older to cfijoy tlie advantages of this trade, wliich was entirely in favour of England, and which Spain had tiken every method to obftrud, the inhabitants of Jamaica and Barbadoes had often run the greatcft hazards ; and the EngU^i men of war in thofe lati- tudes had frequently proteded them from the Guarda Coftas, at the riiH of a national quarrel. But now thefe men of war, having received a general order to prevent fmugglmg of every kind, or in the mirnifterial phrafc, to *f crufti the monftcr," mqdc prize even of the Spanifh velfels, whjCQ they came within a certain latitude, with their gold, filver, cochineal, and other valuable commodities, which they meant to exchange for Britifli ;nanufa6tures ; and, as if the Guarda Coftas had no longer been fufHcient, a like feverity was ufed towards fuch £ngU(h fhips as attempted to vifit the Spaniih fettle* ments. The diftrefs occafioned by this abfurd re- gulation, fo contrary to the fpirit of Britiih policy, I was ibon felt over all our Weft India i^ands. A totsd ftagnatlon of trade was the confbquence, and gold and filver entirely 4ifappfiared<^. Nor did omf North American Colonies feel lefs fevercly the efFeflis of the fame regulation. They had eariy carried on a beneficial trade with the I Frenrh I 1 I I I 1 .1 I !■ II 1 1 , I . ^' 1 1 I 'I ' l nu u frmrrr-r * The precious metal* hav^ tver dace heep fcarce in our Weft India iflands ; fpr ?ilt|ioi>gh an ;^Sl w»9 puffed in 1 766, declaring Jamaica and Dominica free ports, tixe Spaniih traucj has never been fully recpvered. r# .Chap. I. Cim Wah ^* A M K R I C A. I'rdioh Hlamb in tfcc Weft Inrfif*. Tk;*i.^ u conveydl Wood for b«iW„l, ^T ^ J?""^ ^"^ '7«4. coriumed themiiS™,, and fmn they fen, tott !^ ther-coDtitry, m exchange for her V^ur-1«..?^" l.oil.,as contributing in too ertar»d7^^.t. > 5^. ~»'^«^"' "'"the general i«^ftK * ■ - , fatter wrtnU Z". *"»*"<=»* o the «clle^ The "<" "''»>' OTcr wonid admit of no refttaint onM a ♦™,v^of^"y«- wWi'thcy affirmednotonlT eflfcn^ hf SL i5^ «™« k*dr land,,, and the pmfeSu^f .^1^ rJ*"''' J bat itfo to enahjf.»u__ . F'"'P="ty or tneir wJrervv trade. ™ tire mother-couhtry. The miniAfr tt. b IwdifoBted maftv-i^ v.f V, • "^ccuary. 1 hey were K^r^^ ?'?^''^r^^'^^^"^^ their papuS j . --^^v in.u««;e ef vait internal refoar^es, a^i ■ needed \4^t] nemsroRYofthf G*IAP. I, ■ CHAP. ] KtiTX^Sj M Bntiih manufac tjures. J 754. needed Tonly perhaps an entire freedom of trade to be the greatcft people upon earth* They. were .ambitious of pofldling that freedom, and had al { ready formed the fcheme 6f t^cir enfranchifcTncnt. Their . condud was confiUent with their temper and ■ co^idition : they immediately came to a refolution t& I import no manufaftures from Great Britain,.except iuch as it was impoifible for them to do without. Refolu- This refolution has been reprefented, by certain j tion not politicians, as the moft moderate that could liave \ to import been adopted in fuch circumftances : and fo it ap- pears at firft view ; but on a more clofc cxamina- ■tion, it will be found to involve almoft every thing that the colonies have fmce claimed and the mother- 1 country denied. Tf they did not import their manu- faftures from Great Britain, they mull either them- felves fabricate them, or receive them from fo me other I European power : and in both thefe inftances, as we have already fcen,they were reftrained by ads of the Britifli legillature, whofe validity they had never called in queilion ; they therefore claimed indepen- dency. Whether the minifter p^^rceived this or not I may be queftioned ; but certain it is, that he per- ceived the inefficacy of his commercial regulations to | anfwer the purpofes of government. He did not, however, abandon his mercantile fyftem. An opcH trade was permitted between our American fettle- ments, and thofe of other nations ; but the moft ira- portant branches of it were loaded with fuch duties! as were thought equal to a prohibition. Thofe duties were ordered to be paid into the Britilh exchequer,! and in fpecie too, at the fame time that a bill wasl pafled for regulating the quantity of paper-monty| in the colonies. It is impoflible to exprefs the difcontent whichi thefe two ads produced, both in the colonies andl the mother-country. The miniftry were now, it| was faid, proceeding from violent ads of defpotifn tol MaBiHfo'" ^'' ^^*'"'f" ^«^-'" i"^« Great BriS;r p BJI for enco«r.g„,g the Wfcdc^liftcry in the A^ran :mp CifAf. I. Cirii War /„ A M** ft ^ C A and which they had now KamSl'^f "•""'• t«. mthemieljc. too grie^r^ be ^'7 ' vam was it ureed, that mn a-^m^* . " — ^^ cuhting p^ AaJ atndrcr,rb»CK-."" mctab, which always difamL* wW, * pr^eMm 'z^i -'. '^'« *^3"-"K't ™ r ife r cu^nW and that to track and uftMSftrv" inltcad of being hurt by Aich a tetulatioft ^„L' brprwuoted, and "die fpeculation^ Z^^JT^"'-'* projaa. «,ly difccmraged ; thatTe tax^ Sa"^ cdof were no greater than what foS S™" kuires, in order to give a preferencr^ ^^ *' '»oditi« of the Englilh wS In2 rfl" I k""' kEngUnrSy blMi^t'den'e"'" ^ money employed to mv Thlr,^ <■ '■ "■ °'^ h^^JrJ, t reeKinatiSSir;- Ithe mother-country. Tliey were filled ^if- 5- ' ^ kind bm *■ ■* S^^ , r.hei'if IS T O R' Y ^0/ the ^ .1764. kinds of manufadurcs \vithin ,themfelves, without! wnmv^ paying any regard to the Jaws of Great Britain in[ that reipe<£t. , To this fecond refolMtion, which foon became general, the colonill^ were partly incited by a vote of the Houfe of Commons, paiTed at the fame time .-with the ad impofmg tliofe duties which gave fo much offence; " that, towards further defraying ,thc neceffary _expences of proteding the colonics, It may be proper to charge certain ftamp-duties upon them." Nothing could be more impruden? than this vote ; which feems to have been dictated by the fame timid poUcy that, under the name of .lenity, has been fo difgraceful to the arme, and pre- judicial to the interefts of Great Britain, in the pre- fent difputc with her colonies. It was meant asal prelude to the famous Stamp* Act, and was car- ried witii little or no oppofition. Had the ad itfeitj been propofed at the fame time, it would have paffd with equal eafe, and ;he oppofition in the colonies j would, in all probability, have been very inconfi- derable. - ►* Stamp aft poft- poned, that the colonies might of- fer a com- penfaticn Ly aay oihtr tas. But that meafure was poflponed till next feffionl of parliament, in order that the colonies might havt time, as was pretended, " to offer a compenfationl for the revenue whicli a ftamp-duty might yield ;" and the miniller actually fliewed his willingncfsJ when the colony agents waitedfwpon him to offer their thanks for this mark of his confidera,tion, "to receive propofals for any other tax that miglu be equivalent in its produce to the one under contfeni- plation." There is reafon however to believe,! that the true purpofe of the vote was to gather m fenfe of the colonies with regard to an internal taxa-f tion : and that was as unfavourable as the boldel leader of fadion, either in England or America. could have wifhed it. Had the parliament firmly| .exerted their legiilative authority uver the colonie Ghap. 1 Civa War in ALIERICA'. m whifh Kad never ferioufly been called ie qudlion ,,6^ tace the revo!ut.on by giving to the purpofedbm ^ at once the force of a law, the , colonifts wouldpo have,tdt m >t8 aaualoperationthofe evUs ruSd by an en hufiaftic fancy, difcoioured by falfe report • nor would ambinou* men have had leifure to p o' pagate, by working on the fears and the difco° ?nu the people, thofc infeaious principles of nat'ural liber y and ong.nal equality, fo flattering to hum^ nature, but inconfiftent with all srovernmen»^H *l..chall popular leaders have tho^ugl tStev 1 1» employ t.ll they were invelled; lilfe WaSo? w,th the fupreme command, or like CronS' fpuijcl themfelvesfufficiently powerful to telS equals they were ilaves. . . '■-" ^ncir In confequence of thisprocraftination, and thofe Confe centious prmcples whiclf it allowed to fpring up%-"« o^ i,ecolon,(ls not only took the folcmn rffii™^' 1'°%'°"- already mentioned, to manufadure rV themlb t? ' JfS "'= mthout dagning to take ahy notice of the reS-e """"''"'*• laws already m torce, but fent over" petUion o bS IvtTdirea " '^' '°''' -''— on" 7f t ve- 1), and dueflly calhng m queftion the autliori'v anrJ ur,fd,a.on of the Britiih' parliament over J.em foots; and wh^hf b^ t^t'TftU'lt h the colonies was read, a warm ^debaSe7 * t *h,ch not only ti.e expediency of that or anv Ncrmternal tax was called in quellion bu- =Hn [ e n,ht of the Britift legiflature t'o ta" ™; cobnlt putliout their concurrence. . _, . i''tn"!^"f "«!!' ^'' *^" ^f«™-ards have P-calion to dKcufs, when it came formally befor,- la 'Tt n »] fj^^^-^H of the repeal of the- ftamp-,' ^- u Will thcrcigre be fufficicnt here to confider a^ qiiefttou' ^3 fhe >l I S t OKY ^^§ tHAi^, t )j?64* qtr^ftiwi Ifttitttately conncftcd with both, the aWliiy "^^^^ of t*tc djlonics to be^r im^'fial IkK-ts ; ftom 'rtffeich the tkpt^t^ntf o^ impofmg them, wii! in feme mea- iurc^appcar. Tf>c toinwon advatita^es which ex^ery empire 4«fivts fi*m the ptaviiwes fahjea to its do- wiiitibn, h w^s obfervecj tn the ^iei-td-s of ad-mimf- tration, con^s in the mifit?ifv force which they furtiifli for its defence, anf in the rcveime that tliey SeM for the ftipprort of its civil go^Pcrrrment. But eEftglifh colonics hzrc nerer yet eontributed any thing tt>\v^rds the defence of the mc^hcr-couatry, 0r td'V^ds the fupport of its civil government : &a. •the Contrary^ they themfelves have been hitherto j^efended zdmofft entirely at tlic cxpence of the pa- rent-flate. The expencc of their own civil govern- ljiei7t has always been very pioderate * : it has gene- tally been cd for main- taining a few of the moft ufefirl public works. Their ecclcfiaftica^ government is condiidted upon a phti eijuall-y frirgai: tithes are unknown among them; and their clergy, by no meaiis numerous, tre maintained xiither b;j moderate ftrpends, or by the voluntary contributions of the people. The moft important part of the cxpence of go^*crnment, that of protection, has conftantly indeed faHcn upon tiie me^heir-cpuntry : and if fte is to receive no compcnfatinn for paft favours, it is at leafi: but rea- fonabic, thaJt the cobnics fnoul^ hcncefcyrtli rriife iuch 3 Jproportion of revtnuc, as ^riil foriije futwe _''" ""^^^ "^e ^^j*^*"— """^T* " ' " 1 1. • ' ■ ■■■ II I I ■ II iluw*— I I i n I I I II 11 I I I n . I. !.■.■. . fc. . ... * The expence of the civil eCablifhment of Mafikchufets *ay, Ufoxe tb« x;ommenccm«wt c^ the prci*fent 4iiluKbances, ufed to be but abcHjt elffb^jen thoufat^d poyinia a year ; that of Ke;v Mairfpfhiri- and Rhode i^fland, fhree thoufand five huudfcd each ; that of Conncaicut foat tlwtjfatjd ; that of Nw York and .Pen%h««ia, iour thoaiiaad live hundred each j tiiat of ^ew J«ff*y, ORc tiiouXand two imndfed 5 that of Viminia and ^outli Carolina, eight thoufami each t^in a word, all the dif fcrent civil eftablifltmnns in North Arie^ica, did not then much ««ceed k«nty thoufaod ^ound ftcrling annuaUj-: CaAT.1. CmtWAK/B AMERICA. fg^ free taSf frOm m burdeft,, elpedaU^'*- «ei*<,te. 1764 "* ''' It r .'^l^^a "Either to th* ^hfe «„ p^ 42?£ rate, muft be mfinaety more able to bear rey^. taxes, than the inhabitant, of GreafBfitim, "he ^o»l be»eath thofe two grievous .>rf oppjtffive ^ w^ aafwered by Ae gemJemen in oppofitiort That, however appearances might be in Aeir ft! voHr^moft of the province, in North America ww exceHively poor; that they were upwatA^f W n..».o|,, ,« debt to the merchant, of Great MteiS who being creditors to fuch an amount, 7z^t reahty the proprietor, of a gre« part ni« t ^iff^ fi"^I,wh.ch occafionaHy camelkZ f^'J^ "^"^ *° ^"^' B«ain •• we rouM not draw fromthe*; what they had not ; we had already g^ all their fpece: they had neither gt>ld nor iilvS be pait "" 5"M ^ fllv^ t!^e. Z,HrS The fcarcity of gold andfilver money m America effraofThe'2'?'':^' ^"' ^^P'-^'' ' '' ""'^^ bihty of the people there to purchafe thofe metals In a coumrywhere the Wages of laboor are .^i I ;<'-iy higher, and the price of provifrons much uen inuco lowet * Theau^or has not canfintd h.mieJf merely to the arcru- TuZitT '" r^'- ^''"^^ ^^ Parliament : ife^ aifX Hdc"iln:?'r' '''''''. '^'* >'°^'^^««i writer OU loth Wts, as well as luck aaacruYpA tn KCv^r^ix- 54!1 . ' n^ms T OR r c/ the : Ghap. I 1764. lower tha^i^g^g|a^d, the greater part of tliepeo. /or then^XQ^a^do: vhcfcarcit)^ of thofc met Js S therefore k|he.<:ffca o^ choice, not of necerv It IS convemeiit for tlic Americans, who could d-* ways employ xvnh profit in the improvement of their lands a gi:e^cr flock than they can get, to fave as much ^ poflible.the cxj>eacc of fo coftfy an bftru! ment of cpmmercc as gold and filver, and rather to cmpoy that part of their fu r plus , produce which wou dj^e r^qu,fite for purchafmg thofe metaTs, n purchafmg the mftruments of trade, the mWials of xloathia^, Several articles of houfl^old furnkure ^nd the iron-work neceffary for building, and for extending th^r fetUements and plantatio^ j in pur ^hafiag not dead ftock, but adivc and produli ve • ■ ■ ■■■■ '■■ ■■ ■'■ iilft?'^^- ■ '^M it faits the conveniency of the plahtcrs to fave he^expence of , employing gold and fdvcr money ZJT ^Tl^^ t^'^nfadions, itaho fuits the con! lemencyof the colony governments to fuppiy them ^ tn?^/ Papcr-money ; a medium which, though attended with.fome very confiderable difadvantages, enablesthcm.to fave that expencc. The redun! t^'l ,f ^P^P<=F-«ioncy has a farther tendency to wlfer. .^^ P''^"''"' "^^^s, which arc never feen where they arc not necelTary : wherever a. cheaper mitrument of commerce can be found, in the colo- njes, they, ddappear. In thofc branches of bufi- ne s, however, which cannot be tranfaded without gold and uiyer money, it appears that the Americans can always fmd the necdfary quantity : and if they , f^quently do not find it, their failure is generally the drec% not :oi their neceffary povertyf but of heir bo d and projeding fpirit, of'thcir unnecelTary and extravagant paliion for entcrprize. It is- not becaufe they are poor, that their payments are flow irregular,, and. uncertuin .j b^t becaufe th^T are too eager to bcvome exccilively rich. 4HF' Tss' Chap. 1. Civil War /« 'A-M£?RIC A. ™ , wry eitawifhments, were to he rem-tt^A 4-^r^ Bmain in gold and fUver, the coS^ha^ fi!^* llock, for dead ftock. In tranfaQinB their domeftlr in tead 'era'' h™""' ^^ °"'Sed to f mp1^t™% their immoderate fpirit of enterori Jnf S;. • ' any part oi the American revenue in Bold aid filv^r- « might be remitted in bills drawn uncT^i! cepted^by particular merchit" T cr^nfet t of Amter. "" ' P? of A= feJuT^odu " win™ ,S7of r'ar ""'-•'."' i I ( the^Z^f^'^1' ^ '¥'' °' finite reafoBinKs o,. me cm tor impofinff a ftamo riiitir ™ .1,. "°"Ss> Stamp and intended !s a pilud:7a gS fn e™^Ta"' ""^ '*^* T„V ?„; ,,?°^'-'''"g,fo torm, received the royal meJancholv toofc'no(fr^?;ntt „* ' ^^ ^cepcft «) ^0^*^ Polteihojiot everyooimtcnance; . an4 ^te w J^ A nrfiHISTORY^^/^.- Chap, li 11764- ^i«l' that mdiaicholy was* ; in icmt pfaccg, fixbUmcd ^-^'^^ into&iry. iTlua was partkuh^ly rhc cafe atBn(ton in Newt£i^laod« were unfortunately the diiagrcc- aWc tidinga^rft arrived. The example of palUve- ncfs, iDT etenmoderatiot! ia one province, might have had fome cflfeft to induce the reft to fiibmit ; but neither BMkkration nor fubmiflkm were to be Cffipcaed ftow the wild fanatics o£ Maflachufets Bay. llicir dlffatiife^on difcovcred itffcif in a man- ner emiprdy fnited to their charaaer : in a minture of afl^Aed ibrtow and iniblent contempt of fovcreign aofchority. The Ihipa in the hafbonr hung out their c&lourtt hatf-maft high, in token of the dccpefl moumuigj the bells rang muffled j the a^ itfclf was pratedy with a death's head to k; in the place where it is ofuil to fix the king's aiims^ and cried publicly aliout the ilreets, by the name of the **Foij;.v of E»ciAND, and the Rtf in of America." £&T& focm followed, not only againft the expedien- cy; but tbe Equity of the tax, in fcvcral news-papers> owe of which wore, by way of head*picee, the fol- lowing fignilicant emblem, truly cxprcffive of the purpofir of the leading men in the colonics ; a foakc cut in pieces, with the initial letters of the names of the icVeral jwovinccs, from New Engbuid to South Carolina bidafivcly, affixed to each piece, and above them the words « JOIN or DIE 1"^ Nor was the diffatisfaaioft of the colonies^ to give it no worfe name, confined to thefe fymbolical and and likrafyjnfults on the authority of the mother^ coismry. The Stamp-Aa, printed in his inajefty's nas^de, no fooner reached America, than it was treat- ed by the populace with all that contempt and in- d^? don, which could be expreifed by order of the civil power againft a fcandalous libel. It was public- ly butmt in ftvcral places, along with the ef%ics ot thofe who Wefc fuppofed to have had any hjmd in promoting it. The maftersof fl>^ who htd ftamps 9ti teNttrdy w«r(S obliged, in order to hvc their vcffels * from Stamp aft burnt and treat- ed witik Ijreaf contempt by the co- lonics. Chap, f; Cjvil Wa» /» A M £ R I C A. from fire, and theirperfons from the gibbet, to fur- render their execrated caqfoe. into tfe lamd. of Ae enraged multitude, to be treated in the fom^ "Z! m.n.ou. manner mth the aftitfetf, unWafomeS of war happened to be at hand to proteft th?m Even then the danger wa» not over. Hiofe e«^^k ftamps, fared ft,ll worfe. Some of them w«e obu! ged, on pam of death, to take an oath, AaJ SieV wouldnever more be concerned in fuch e^Wment^ others for obftmate y perfifting as if o~.7. '^ j ' enflave theeoloniesI'^adthirhoSurfo't^: ground, and d,e.r moft valuable effeSs pirdc "d or deftroyed. Governors and chief lufiir/.. ™k Z I been named for thi, purpofe,w:lrS:i^°f^;^ citation or Wiedge, were treated in tbTfeme defence from fuch of KJilj £ J'^.^'JX proper to fubmit to the aft, were fnrr^^ *1 J^^ SatS: "'* '^'"^"'^ publicly committed ta pten-?:fa--j:j^4:| was to enforce the execution of the Stamn A^ m for that purpofe, as he was determined to oav S •■ i*^^ Provmcial affemblies not o^v de- Jmed giving the governors any advice concernk« Ae-r behaviour in this critical^mergeq«rbu""e! foL t^ n""^''? *= '^'^ "f *= executf^Vow^ as to prevent future commotions j to con^i.^ he rioters to any corporal puniAment', or to decr^ % comj>e„fi,oon to the injured parties, ^,t* rs7 1764- I« J The niSTORY c/t/je Chap. L 1764, aflcmblieg, encouraged by aflbciations of the free- ^-'•''^ holders, went yet farther : inflcad of barely con- nivmg at the tumultuous proceedings of the people, in aflerting their independency by ads of violence and injuilice, they proceeded to avow it themfclves m the molt exprefs terms j and confidering the great diverfity of governments, as well as of opi- ni'^ns both civil and religious, a wonderful har- mony appeared in the fentimcnts of the affemblies oi the fcvcral provinces. The mer- chants agree not to import anygoods from Great Britain after the 1 ft of Jan. 1766. The merchants of thofc colonies that ventured openly to oppofc the Stamp Aft, alfo entered inta the moll folemn engagements with each other, to order no more goods from Great Britain, let the con- iequences be what they would, nor even to difpofe of anyBritifh goods fent them bycommiflion, unlefs ihipped before the firft of January 1766. In the meantime they imported from Ireland, and no doubt trom foreign dates, fuch goods as they could not do without. Nor did they omit any means to free themfelves even from this dependence. A Society of Arts, Manufadures, and Commerce, on the plan of th^ London fociety, was inftituted at New York, and markers opened for the fake cf home-made goods. By thefe it foon appeared, that the manu- facturers whom the colonifts had, for fome time paft, been inviting from Europe, by tempting en- couragements, had not been idle j and that the ichemc of independency*, in what regards internal mduftry was far advanced, and mult foon have Ihewn itfelf, at leaft by a diminution in the demand tor our manufaftures, though no internal tax had been propofcd, and by. a contempt of our refti^ints on Though the author of this work has no doubt of the au* thenticity of Montcalm's Letters, in which the views of th« co- kwills towards independent fovereignty itfelf are fully efta* bhfhed, he has founded none of his rcafonings upon them, that he mzj not be faid to buiki upon a feUe, or evetv on % lufpi- ciot'S atttherity. ^ Chap. I. Civil War in AMERICA. [^ on their internal commerce. Linrns, woollens, tlic 176c coarlcr but molt ufcful kinds of iron-ware, malt ^^ fpirits, paper-hangings, and a variety of other arti- cles, were produced before the focicty with great approbation ; and when brought to market, they were bought up with equal grecdincfs, though much inferior to thole of the mother-country. A refolu- tion was at the fame time entered into by the northern colonies, to eat no lamb,- that their new \yoollcn manufaaures mi jht not fall fliort of mate- rials, by the dcdruaion of the young of their ilocks. In a word, a fpirit of induftry and fruira- lity univerfally took place of that of idlenefs and profufion. Kvcn the women, >yhofe weakncfs was molt to be feared, were forward in fetting an ex- ample to the men, by renouncing whatever Britain had formerly furnilhed them with, cither for ele- gance or convenicn.cy. Such was the oppofition made againfl the Stamp Att, and the fteps taken in confequence of it by the eight moft ancient Englifh colonies in North '^■ Anierica ; namely, New England, New York, New Jerfey, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia, and the ■ two Carolinas. The otiier colonies quietly Sub- mitted to the authority of the Britifh parhament, as did all the Weft India iflands, except thofc of St. Chriftopher and Nevis, where a riot enfued on the iirlt arrival of the ftamped paper. ^^ While thefe tranfaaions were going forward in Change tne colonies, a change had been mad^ in the Britilh of the miniftry. The Marquis of Rockingham was placed "^'""'M- at the head of the treafury, in the room of Mr. GrenviUe, who had found it necclTary to rcfign • and the Duke of Grafton and General Conway vvere appomted fecrctaries of ftate. The miniller was an advocate for the legiflative authority of Great Britain over her colonies, in all cafes whatfocvcr, Duthcdifapproved of the Stamp Aa^ though only ' perhaps /f /• IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I •50 '""^" ^ 14.0 lu Ma 2.5 2.2 1.8 1:25 III 1.4 IIIIII.6 ^ m ^? ^r m "'^'' Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ w ■<> 6^ .<^ '^ t^emSTOKYofth ^ Chap. I. 17^. perhaps be .aufc }t was the iikfurc of his prcdecef. ^"^"^''N^ for, and bccaufc he hoped to render himfclf popular by getting it repcded. It mnft be owned, lowevcr, that he atked with no lefs prudence than moderation with refpc^ to the proceedings in America. The firmnefe as wellaa temper, which appeared in his difpatchcs to the different governors, do him ho- nour ; though inclined to lenity, and even avcrfc from the meafure which had made rigour neccffary, he did not facrifice the dignity of the nation by irre- folution or weaknefs.. In confcqucnce of this mild conduct, ^ door was ftill left open for reconciliation, when the matter fhould come finally before the fu- preme leginature of the empire, as the colonifts were not urged to commit fuch a^s as could not be fergiven, ^!T7 '^** important crifis, for which all parties were '700, prepared, at length arrived. Debates' Never was any affeir debated in a Britifli parlia- pothc ment, in which the nation thought itfelf mort S lamp ^^^^^ interefted, or on which ■all Europe hung with ^^ P more impatient anxiety, than the right of taxing the ,, colonies, and the mcafures neceflary to be purfqed rektivc to their late proceedings. N»4mberlcfs I)amphlets were written on bpth fides of the quef- tion J and, in general, both parties were guilty of the fame fault, though in the moft oppofite extremes. The advocates for the colonies, as on every fucceed- mg occafion, carried the idea of liberty to the highcft pitch of enthufiafin *, while their antagonifts fecmcd ^nw^s^r^wpf* »■•■»•« * *t ■«■«.«. In general," fays Dr. Price, "to be/w is to be guided by one's own will j an4 to be guided by the will of another is the cbaraderiftic of /erviiudf. Hence he concludes, »• that no pne community can have any powqr over the proterty or /cygoingtoli,KinAiiirica. They ho^ proved a great deal tpo nmch. The former, by confideringthccoloniea rather as in^. pendent ftates,m afottofcqual aHiai^c with the motheri V> f» vern^d iy its otu» ttv/i, and therefore » in a a^j^^ra >. Such ..the f.blU«„ of Dr. Pdl^Z^VdSSlt^.? of all fubordiaatfofi amone mtn w eftateu WU^T! I V that every fe^ant. would ^Ilh to beT:Sker^%rie'ftt have no^controul upoa his adions. except ^it of the ««Lif trate, (for th,noply caa he Ipe faid to beg^^br^^^* vjth fuch unequal ppwm 4^ capacSies, thit. "r^'ba £S of nature,Jcme very early acq«l« an afcertde^ft ^^ oSie?»- thonty, aii4 fubmit to the controul of thde^STS ahl* L ytcW thjmprye4titeaiori from the foveSk ^JfmS ftate, thnit had no right of breaking free frfm thSC J^nty or empire Nor has a ftate i? fuch a condition any nght to reprefcnUtion, cvci though it-*opld!^ain in the fovere.gnorparent^a^: it is bound to fub^t kfclf to t £« Itmrf *^"i»y «^*h<^ ftate whofe laws it Us acknowledge^ pendency by the fword. 17615. 1 ii] rheJil&JOKY of the Chap. I. ^7^6. authority of Great Britain. On the other hand, ^>*<>^ the advocates for the fupremacy of the Icgiflaturc, :hj exagffef&tmg the power, opulence, and popula- -tion of the colonies, uiflicicntly. proved the neccffity of treating them with tcndemefs; for if fuch cal- culations were allpwed to be well founded, it muft be impoifible to retain the colonies bng in fub- jeftion by any other means. ^ *^-The rc^oinings wjthin doors were nearly of the fame complexion as thofe without. The fpccch >fro^ tj^e- tmone pointed out the American affaiirs to : parliament, as the principal obje^ of its deliberation: fthcraddicffcs wf both: houfcs ihewcd that they con- ;;fiderc4t'thte|n in the fame important light} and the ^pctitfiofls received from ithc jirincipaf trading and .mahufaduring towns in |he kingdom, complaihijig ,;'Qf the great decay of commerce, contributed ftiU f^^rth'er to roufeithe attention, and call forth the j^. acuities ;of^lh^:n\i^inbers, on this grand occafion. They c%fift^ 6^ : thpfc Who were r^ llblycfi li tupp^ as a : regular and ncccflary exertion of authority ; th'ofe -who coiltended for its repeal, as itiexpedient, among %h6m were the mii^iftry, biit whb iiififted that the [l[!^ll^Uifei>f ;0|csit Britain Ji^^ ah undoubted right tp tax' hicr colgpics ; an4 thofe> amortg whom were lord Camden and Mr. JPitt,, who abCblutdy denied the right of taxation, and who^ thdugh a fmaller ;body, ftot^d^ high % th6^cftccm ol the ptibKd In "ifhccourf^ of the debates, w^^ vfcit \6tig atrd xvarm 'beyond exampie, the fubjeft liatkf ally divided itfelf ^intotwd queftions, or objefts of inquiry, on the re- "t\ilt of which the whole de^nded J namely, « the riglit of taxation, and the expediency of the late tax." Tlie noblemen and gentlemen, who pppofcd the right of taxation, produced many learned arguments to|)rove, that taxation and rcprcfcntation arc fefepa- rablc, Chap. L Civil War in A M i: R I ip A. ititution, the fundamental maxim of which is thaf " no pan jbaU be uxcd but by himfclf X '^e^ fentapye ;" that the charters o/ the colonie,, (whkh are derived from prerogative, and are in &a ffi many grants from the crown) are not theTftlv tjght. the coknift, have to be\eprefa,,ed before they are taxed , that as Britift fubiea., A« t^ nn their rights and liberties from in hi^ o^in" from Magna Charta, the i^ne origin whence S flow to a^V Englishmen i that the%ha,te« K rTS 1 *^'^?''''' "«' to the prejudice of the ^™if^i *" ^t\*' ^''^ colonifts renounced^ conneflion vnh the parent ftate. they midu ba^ r^ f^^r-*'^; '""f^q-'wly earned alo^g with them aU the privileges of EngUftmrn : th« the, ivere^ not however, bound by tie peual lawof Uiis country, fromtbefeverityof which they had fled to Jat.onof.themo«her.country,theyarenomoredepel dentupon It m thegeneralfyllem^than theinhabitSte iTJ.'^,-- Pri»"P»l«i" in.««rope. during Ae feudal pphcy, were„on:^ ■*■«■*»*! Ar^jnems.of; nokf? weight were tmbloyed bv the advocate, fop the fupreiSic^ bf tli4,/gS 'It 1766.' m^ ffZif HIB T a R Y if fbe Chap. 1 Ti^' ft >»lu iiecdS&iry, thtSy obferred, to dear away from ^^^'^^ a qiiclKoH b^'cdHftittrtmnal Ittr* f«di as the prcfcnt, attflKi^ MkdI'dr «iR!iit^^ «lld learning d;%layed byJjK^irfhd vireHj aUo#fed to periih, or ftnig- gte into^ ' a^enccj as they 'were able^ being under* ftobd t^hi^¥to poKticM connexion with her j that thic bolbHi^s, olr jilAntertions of the Romans, efta- brrflied %l thd conquered provinces, though partly dia nii%'^n^{Bi^,had more refemW^ce tooursf j but, Kk* bWr*, ttioTigh they had thfc power of cnaft- hig law* for didr bwn government, werie at all times RAjfca? to? thjfc torfeaion, jurifdi^ion, an^ legillativd aiithdHty t«^*thc Another country ; that, on the other hand, ncltHi%^c6uld be tnore unlike our colonies j thafi j>^ihtipaKti(« in a feudal dependency. Or thofe ifiiyHad^^at^ poured firont'thc northern hiveoVfer the reft of Europe. The firft were not colonie^i riicrcfohi no arguments could be deduced ftom them relatHte td tfife ptefait queftion j the latter, a fet of plnndaeerS^ i^ounced all law«i all connexion with ot^ p^OtteflKbBil5h6hi their rdpcdive mother-countries , they chcffe li^adS^, and iharched out under their adtofhaAd;; to raivage the Rbihan ertpirc> and efta* l^ifh nt# ki%ddms on it« ruins ; whereis our co* ionifts, aatiafed by vei^ different ittbtives^ emigrated unto the fiuifiKon of the crown and parliament. Thefe rettfioohiote) on the otlrer fide> were cM«itted to avoid .— _J? ^^i the languor oif repetition^ f The Greek word apoikia figniHes a reparation of dwel- ling a departure from home, a going out of the houfe ; whcreaa the Latin wotd Colonial imports fim^ly a ptantationi the ori- ^ttid-ftime given to our colonies. , « Chap. I. Ci vit WA» ;, a M E R I C A. [tj gruuiiu, »na proceeded to obferve, that the Britifli w^ colome. _«rere gradually modelled into the? 'pS torn,, of government, refpeaively bfeh^^re grants, and ftatutes. but werrnever feDL?,]!"'' the mo.h.r« "gainft icnor junldittions may have rem^rC^ at *u" QPuW be more fatal tlthTlJc^JL ^f'^'"^ than fnr fh^ r.o^r. ^^ "ic peace oi the colonies. over hem I^H^T"'*",'"'"'"!""'* "» jurifdiaion will- f^,™' ?"V°l;^^e them entirely to their own fclwion of an''" "'^' *"^ *°"W be^m entire dT Mution of all government. ConfiderinR how the once therrft^l fu^"' *'"''' '^^ f^^'°"«. when once there ihould be no controul over them nn,- »«y fupenor tribunal to decide th.i.° mutXifir! ences; 66 'A iraa? H I S T O R Y of the . Chap. I. 1^66, cnccs ; and government being difiblvcd, nothing y^'~' rcmaint but that the fcvcral colonics muft cither ^v change thtir conftitution*, and take fomc new form, or fall, under fomc foreign power. It was further obfcrved, that the conftitutions of the colonies are various, having been produced, as all governments were originally, by accident and circumftanccs ; that the forms of government were adapted to the fize of the fcvcral colonics, and have been extended from time to time, as the num. ber of their inhabitants and their commercial con- neaions outgrew the flrft model ; that, in fomc colonies there was only at firft a governor affifted by a council of five or fix members j then more were added ; next courts of juftice were creded ; and afterwards, aflcmblics w«rc eftablifhed. Some things were doneby inftruftions from the fecrctarics of fkate ; others by the order of the king and coun- cil, and not a few by commiflion under the great feal. In confcquence of thefe fuccelfive eftabUaimcnts, and the dependence of the colony governments on the fuprcme legiflature at home, the lenity of each government in America has been very great to- wards the fubjca ; but if all thefe governments, which are now independent of each other, fliould alfo^ become independent of the mother-c(i*mtry, the inhabitants would foon find, to their fad cxperi- cnce, how little they were aware of tfec confe- quences : they would, in that event, feel the hand of power miich heavier upon them in their own governments, than they had yet felt, or even feared trom the parcnt*ftate. . . ; *" As the conftitutions of the fcvcral colonies arc fo yarioufiy conftru^ed as to preclude the hope of their ever being moulded into one uniform govern- nient, fo every thing proclaims the ncceffity of their lubmitting without refer ve to the jurifdiaion of the nicfilier-c»untry, or of being totally difmembercd from Chap. I.. Civil War iVi A M E R I C A. I'rom her. The provincial affcmblici cannot be fup. pofcd to be proper judges of what is necclTary for the defence and fupport of the whole empire. The care of that defence and fupport is not intruded to them : it is not their bufmefs, and they have no re- gular means of information concerning it. The affemblv of a province, like the vcftry of a parifh may judge very properly concerning the aflairs of Its own particular diftria, but can have no proper mcdns of judging concerning thofe of the whole political body: it cannot even judge properly con- ccf ning the proportion which its own province bears to the whole empire, or Concerning the relative de- gree of Its wealth and importance, compared with the other provinces j'becaufe thofe other provinces are not under the infpedion and fuperintendency of the aflembly of a particular province. What is ncccOary for the defence and fupport of the ^vhol- empire, and m what proportion each part ought to contribute, it was therefore affirmed, can be iudfred of only by- that affembly which infyeOs and fupcr- intends the affairs of the whole empire ,- that no one ever thought to the contrary, till the trumpet of (edition was lately blown ^ that afts of parliament have been made, not only without doubt of a lega- hty, but with univerfal applaufe, the great objeft of Jhich has been ultimately to confine the trade of the colonies, fo as to make it centre in the bofom of that countrjr whence they derive their origin ; that the Navigation Afts Ihut up .their commerce with toreign countries j that their ports have been made hibjeft to cuftoriis and regulations, whicJi circum- icribcd their commerce, and that reftriaions have oeen put, and duties impofed affefting the inmoft grts of their trade and induftry ; yet all thefe have Dccn lubmitted to peaceably, nor did uny oae ever oDjett till now, or even fnfinuate, that our colonics arc not to be taxed, regulated, and bound by the reiolutions of the ^ritilh parliament. *' . • For. [67 1766. m 68] .* The niar OKY o/t/}e . Chap.L Formerly indeed, as at prcfcnt, a few individual merchants were difplcafcd at rcltritt'ons which did not permit them to make the grcttcft advantage pofi fible of their commerce, in their own private and peculiar brandies. But though tHcfe merchants might tiiink themfelvcs injured, in having their pro- fits on certain articles circumfcribed, as being con- trary to the general natiund fydcm, as prejudicial to the lutcreft of the whole empire, yet in the iffue the colonics were benefited by fuch laws ; becaufe thefe reftridive laws, founded on the general ixjlicy not onlyofDrittin but of Euroj^c, with rcfpcd to trade and plantations, flung a great weight of naval ibrce into the bands of the |)arent ftatc, which was to protcdt the colonies, in themfelves unequal to their own defence, and enabled her to perform the office of a guardian with lionour and dignity, with equal advantage to herfclf and to ihem. In proportion as the mother-country advanced in fuperiority over the reft of the maritime powers of Europe, tlie co- lonies, who had contributed to it, became relatively and fubordinately great, according to the natural and juft relation >in wlJich they reciprocally (land, that of dependence on one fide and protcdion on the other. The diftinftion between internal and external taxes, it was urged, is alike falfe and frivolous. It IS granted, that reflriaions upon trade, and duties upon the ports are legal, at the fame time that the right of the parliament of Great Britain to lay inter- nal taxes upon the colonies is denied. What real difterence can there be in tliis diftinaion?— A tax |aid on the commodity of a country in any place, is like a pebble tailing into and making a circle in a lake, till one circle produces and gives motion to another, and the whole circumference is a<^itated IVom the centre ; for notluiig can be morc^'clcar, than that a tax of ten or twenty per cent, laid upon tobacco in the ports cf Virginia^ or even in thofcof Britain, Chap. I. Civlt WAkiVA^I^ERICA. r. r^*'t^<>(VnL^lrhlJV^yP°!; 'h/ inland J^ lions of whom f« hL- „ ' """'"fffeven mil- the p.rt of the colon^sHS^Ae riS,f^";' °" tion, thatmav be funKnin P V "8"* °f ':«»• non VefematbnfKX"! V°",!^ S'"""" "^ l.abitan';. of .he°"m<;U^t J,?'T'«'° ^ "^ parliament chofen for anv illvL? i \ ""=*P" of prefentsnot on » the rSif ™'" ^"^"Sh. re- of that particul/r nL^ f ""™" ""^ inhabitant. fents aU theTomZf. i ".B'T ?/ «'" = he reprc. liabitantsof allSl- the Bntift empire, the'^^in- "uty and ° ontoence^'nT'^. acquifitiori,; and is i„ interefts. A morf^^^". i*° "*" ™« °f their cver./inwhich th.rol"' !""' «P«fentation how- place • hut Jr. fk- • ^*^ "**Snt and may take reciprocaUonfimn^ ">other.<,duntry V natural and ledge the fupremaev nf >», i '^^i' """ acknow- butetowardX S«nf . '^' K^f '' ""' ^<"«"- cannot be conMerK ■"■'''''*''= ^"P''''^' th^y a%ieXtrppi:ir^"^"''p°« ♦«= -^^^^^^ . ^'"^" of the queftion relative tp ^fee conftitiA fuch u^. i r r..' c^ -^P?* ."' *« Sump A<1. The miniftrv •«• fatufied wuh hav Pg *fcermne!d Vnd fccuTer ur2 paper, die legiAatlve wthcirityof Gre«Sno'^ her colonic., feemed refolvid to Si3 k hJ reality i or at eaft they were detwrntaed idU^ Z ^^L A-^^ '"^"K «hem into fuch a meafur^ aj would deprive them of the confidence of Ae .nin,^?" T "-"8'^ ^y *= ''"« friend* cJ i«n„ L^K conilitution, that a conceffion of thi. nature, on the part of the fuptemc feKJIIature wWte A, ft^ Ti ""J'*' y °^ government. Mmuft for S K ^7 ""'»°^'?1'- The honouJand X%5k .'^"'"u'?.'!," '•'""K''* Mcientlypro- fcccS In ?,^^"^ feafoq,ngs were no Jore luccejslul. In yam was it advanced, that the oower Ji a1SSrZ'"r. -^ *= •noft «f«S'tial'b3rrf tiallvtef'^'^'- '•'*""<" '^eq-itaWy or impar- abHitfi, .' V ■T?'' '^ Pfoportiftn-.fo ,th«r'rtfpeaivc abilities : but if apart is fufferedto Htxi^ from a due 7^] 1766. ; . TAe Hil S 1 O R Y «7 the ^ Chap. I. a due fllare in thofc burdens, which the public cxi- ^encica require to be impofedmpon the whole, a part tiality fo dke&ly repugnant to the truft repofcd by the people in v-v^ry l^giflature, muil be abfolutely deftrufkivc of that confidence on ^vhich all govem- ment ought to be founded. The great- diflance of our colonies, it was an* fwered, and the difficulty of making ourfelves tho- roughly acquainted with the niinute circumflances of every colony, render us liable to greit miftakes, and confequently to the hjizard of great opprefiion, \yhenevcr we attempt to levy internal taxes in Aoic- rica ; that our true policy is to acquiefce ?n the glreat commercial advantages we derive from our colomes, rather than to attempt to raifc a revenue in them ; which by difabling the people to make returns to our merchants, will put them under the neceflity of fetting up manufaftures of their own. That, it was replied, they had already done: therefore, un- lefs we could engage them to fliare with us in the common burdens of the einpire, we would foon find, to our melancholy experience, that we had entailed upon ourfelves the wafteful cxpence of proteding them, without any adequate advantage 5 as our ex- clufive trade muft daily decreafe, in confequence of the new order of things that had taken place in North America. Ti'.efe arguments had no weight with the; miniftry. The repeal of the obnoxious Stamp AQl*, it was laid, * The obje£tioos againil the aft I'tfelf were few and incon- fiderable, (^ojfifting chiefly in the obilrufUon it might be fup- pofed to produce in bufinefs, and the occalions it would afford of oppreiliotu through the ignorance of the Americans of the numcrou3 cafes in which they were liable tp penalties. The firft of thefe objeftions is of fome force, but i« equally ftrong -o r ---J „• " — --7 — -• >..,...,.,,.„.,.,.„. ... ^ ,.,.. IS amply compenuitcd by that order which it introduces into the ChAP.I, CzviLVTAK iH AMmilCJu- ri. IK. TheStampAa was accordingly repealed to ^ the great joy of the mercantile and manSbrin- ^^ part of tWe^ngdom; and a bill of iSnte Pa^^^m favour of thofe who tad oppSK pimnic. J ""' *' •?''• •'»' *"»e other ,,68. letter was, to ihew ihTJ^' ■ P"^P°" °' ""' late aa of p„| amlf- TT'^'r ^"^'"'y "^ *= *e Ratification .r"'" ^""f '' ""^^ ='«"«ive to .h»SotrthlK%ood''"S™7\^' of an ocrafmis «f * P"""/- good. I'roud no doubt be read to fhe affem^''^ "'^?°^""°^ "^ed to a lener from ti,S"'^ShdSr ^c^ on°c'of T "^"' "pal fecretaries of^ ft,f„ • '• ™ '''^ P»"- ^nimadverf ons on 1 bor "tI'^ '"^ V"' m««.i • ,. . * '■"^^ Dody. The raorf* of th^: againfl: 78] The H IS T O R Y>/ the • Chai^. II. 1768. agamft the governor. The charges made in it muft Vm^vvj have been foundedy it was laid, on mifreprefcntations of fafts iiS his difpatches to the fccrctary* *'A com- ' mittee vas accordingly appointed to wait Qn him, ^ in order to defire a copy of Lord Shelbume's letter, ' a«wdl as of thofc whith he had written himfelf, Teladve to the ailcmbly, . and to which the charges In tiiat muft refer. Thefe copies being refofcd, the affembly wrote a letter to the kcretary of ttate, in which great pains were taken to vindicate their own conduct at the expence of the governor, and to afcribc to his mifircprcfentations the difadvantageous opinion entertained of them in the cabinet. They alfo wrote letters to the lords of the trcafury, and moft of the great officers of ftate ; in which, along with great profeffions of loyalty, they not only rc- raonftratcd ftrongly againft the operation of the late ad of parliament, but infinuated that the impofition of the port-duties was contrary to the conftitution, and totalh fubvcrfivc of their rights and liberties. Geeing no hope of beiftg able to molHfy the refrac- tory fpirit, fb predominant in the aflcmbly of his pro- vince, gove!*nor Bernard adjourned it. The fpeccfa which he delivered on the occailon contained many fevere ftridurcs on the conduft of the members, particularly in regard to Lord Shelburnc's letter \ and he complained greatly of fomc turbtilent an4 ambitious men, who under faUe pretences of pa- triotifm, had acquired too great in influence, as well in the aflcmbly as among the people— ^who fa- criftced the welfare of their country to the gratifi- cation of their lawlefe paffions, and to the fupport of an importance which could have no cxiftenee but in times of trouble and confufion. During thefe diftraftions in America, and in con- fcquence of them, anew office was created at homej a fccretary of ftate was appropriated to the depart- ment of the coloUcs only. Much was cxpedcd frdiu C79 CHAP. IL Civil Wah in AM E,R I C A. Wy M BoJlm. In thw IntiBr, hi« majeftv'j difaiJl bation of that meafure wa, expreffSd i/4eft^ cit terms : it was declared fhaf k- V j * ;^K" toed to .ii«ame th. min4. of the pc^kT^L^^ At the ijinw tin\e ^o^P I^^^ W^ nard was written, m whitih tK^VvI«!^*^: ^ r circ liljkr 1-#**M, « ■ B*' ^ exceptions to th^ S'. J tT^"^ the^fore made/in hhs 1?^ 7, '^^'^j *hat the new affemhlv tirA.jj «A^d'h.fl'* *^"^' ?"^' difapprohation %l ™n a«d h«fty « procctdinff. Never waa a. »«« *nrable opportwity aSordfd to »y bX rf^n >nd m order to mollify thTteniDer a^d^^JSL' «.mpl«„ce. it was addel. Thai. .,^,^1^1^ «e luildt reUance «n their a®^y«::^adeSti^ which So] ty6SJ r^^ HISTORY of tire Chap. II, which it is not impoiEble might be confideitd as a reproach) he had the better ground to hope^ that the attempts made by a delperate fadion to difturb the public ttanquilUty woidd be difcounteaanced, and the meafure recomnKtinded embraced, without any difficulty, • '-''■- ■ ■ -'» - — ■ ■ ' ■ ■ ■ irimi'^. . Thefe parts of the letter were laid, by the gcver- nor, before- the new aflembly, with a meiTage in which he earneftly requefted their obedience to the royal pleafure ; but obferved at the fame time, that in cafe of a oon^ary condud, he had received his majefty'fl iitftruaipns how to aft, and muft do his duty. This produced a mefTage, in return from the affembly, dcfiring a copy of theinftruftions tb which he alluded^ as^^ell as of fome letters and papers which he had laid before the council; A copy of the remainder of Lord HiHborough*s letter, in which the inftru£lioiis were contained, was accoindingly fent to the affettibly. By thefe the governor was direfted, in cafe of their -refufd to comply with his majeily's reafonable expedation,tadiirolve them im- mediately, and tmnfmit a copy of their proceedings on that occafion, to be laid before the parliament. rjk ii t^an^er having bocn given td^ the toyal requeft, aftier the affembly had been in poflcffion of all thefe papers for above a week, the governor fent a mef- fage to urge them to it. In anfwer, they applied for a recefs, that they might have an opportunity to confult their conftituents on the occasion. This being dented them, the queftion was put forrefcind- ing the rcfolution of the laft houfe ; and paflfed in thc^ negative, by a majority of feventy-five out of an hundired and nine members. A letter was next re- folj^ on to Lord Hilfborough, and an anfwer to thKneflfages- firom the governor. In both thefe pieces great pains are taken to juftify the conduct of thejaft affembly, ai^ well as of the prefcnt, and the # ^ fuch iirtiiples of hcccffity aif they c6uld not ' 'do Without untilthc late la\lrs mould be rtpealed/ "^ ' * Before the diffolution of the aflcmbly a grcqt tumult had happened at Bdftbii, ircdWfequ^ncc' of a fci^urc maeloadf waf ; Whence they re- m^ea i6<:mc Wmii, a fortificatidn, ks We iiavc al«»a«y h2ld»-.. .0. ... .^... .:..::: -' ^ ^ giflatUie. !•' ^ I (rHA».ffl;%.VilV5?»';fAMfiRItA. giflsiture. An extraordinary rcquifition wai alfo TAtdtimmt\y,thit the governor wouM« iffue an order* f6r the departure of hU Majefty's fljip, the RdWnify, out of the harbour.'! In a word, the tern- per arid condud of the people became every day more licemious, till it exceeded all the lines of duty and allegiance, even has traced on the extenfivc fcale of liberty. Not;,j8 the caufe of fuch licen- tioufncfb inexplicable. P>3 ' '*' .»! . .y Thar repubKcan fpirit, fo often mentioned, to whrch the colony of Maflachufcts Bay owed its fouridatiott, and thofe fanatical and levelling princi- plcS in which the greater part of the inhabitants had been nurftd, being now awakened by meafures which the body of the people regarded as totally fubver- five of their rights, and irritated by the arts of fac- tiousand defigningmen, who had much influence among thicm, they w*1 »ar HISTORY ^M« Ch^. „. Wie. came »o be mantioned, the laneuaire wu S.X, be» dXlt'h *!';='^P«'^°» '? «!>= k»g had not petition „' ,|v ,r^ by the fecretary ef ftate, contributed "• "« S M Wr8""S' ""= ^"'""'^ "-"ong the people ."c,U "■ t^ ^f" "^^■^"' "' ^°"''°"' ""der pretence that aeliver it, as he had been appointed by the aflemblv jvithout the cpnfent of the governor. The Tffi.! lution of the general alTembly increafed the difordw v.h.chwa8ft,ll farther heigbteLd by.he fe^Cf the* lioop, and acircumftance connefled with it : it waj tn'xi^r "' ""=. "'"=^^"'^'-» f- ^ Two re. While things were in this unhappy fitu^ttion, two gjment, regiments were ordered from Ireland to lupport the Ireland ,f \'^X » f'^ "^if'n^r"' P"^« ^^ ^^^^ Ameri- No account of a defcent or inroad, meditated bVthc • moft dangerous and cruel enemy, could excite a greater alarm, than this intelligence did at Bofton lZl\T'' " ^""f ^^^«e, and fimllar £ were taken m regard to it. On the firft rumour of lucha meafure, i meetmg of the inbl 'tntits was fummoned at Fanueil Kill, where they r\dt oi>-. of their late popular reprefentatives as m oi A committee was then appointed to waitonWeo- vernor, m order to know what grounds he had for certain intimations, which he had lately given. tha[ fome regiments of his Majefty's forces^ wer^ ex. ^^dcd m that town ; and at the fame time to pre- ^au . yMUoTf, defirjng that he would iffue precents to in fViA >ut in what icial aflcm. :uage was that hum- honoured Bf; had not mtributed ic people c petition cncc that iorifcd to aiTcmbly he diffo- difordcr,. Jrcofthc : : it wa& > for the on, two ►port the 1 feveral i Ameri- purpofe. d by the • excite a Bofton. ar ftcps nour of Ids was '■ 0/ * of 01. A the go- had for n, that re ex- to pre- receots m Cha*. n. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. rg j to convene a general affembly with the oreateft ,-,«/ fpeed. To both an immediate aJfwer was rcS v^ nor was the aniwcr delayed. The aZlr^^ ' ^^ pHed that hi. informatioi; concr„?inf n^ral of he troops was of a private nature, and thaT he could do nothing relative to the calling of an aflem Wy, until he received further inftruSions from M," M^cfty, under whofeconfideration the m^^^^^^^ ^ A committee which had been annninf.j . f.dcrol ieprefent ftate of the afelTof wX'hT ''•"- IwJh L?'i f 1^ ?' '"^'^'^ infrafiions of them '"•' which had lately been attempted. Thev mffiS « ''»*)• "• the fame t.me feveral hafty re&lution.7Klarlv '°'""°"'- m regard to the legalit/of raifing or^Se J ftandmgarmy among them withon? theii-Z /on! fcnt. The argument, againft fucha meafure th« which declares it contrary to law « vJ u '" ^m in the kingdom. in7mc°ofce, ^th' We consent of par/iament." This report, indX rrfo «ff^^!i-"^""T!. '"'' * g=n"»l refoluKlt ff 'w[? '^""''f'* °" adaufcrnthefameaftof &ng Wilham which recommends the fr' nuent holding of parliaments, in confequence of which a Convention was fummoned at B^ffcn. AgTeeable sl^Vlf '"'°" J"™" Otis. Thomas CuS Samuel Adwis, and John Hancock, the four mem' bers who had rcprefented the town „ the late affem Wy, were now appointed as a committee to aSfoHt' m he convention ; and the feleft-men were order ril.r^J° "" "'^ °"'" *°*"» inthc pTov nee purpole. But tlie moft extraordinary afl of fhil .town-meeting was a requifuion to thJinhaWtant^ ^:'^^ *-<= -« ? prevailing app^hS - .... ^„u, or many ot an approjchirig war with France, I 3^ mS'BpRY # m ' iich it was founded. In this time of gcticral firenzyi however j when- ninetyifix towns aj^ntcd coflimiflionets toattcndtheconvcntiort,the town of Hat^eld refufed to concur in the mcafurc j and* the fpiritied and judicious anfwtr which' the in-' habitants returned to the fclca-men-at Boftofly will be a lifting monument of the prudence and good* fenfe that influenced their ronduft. « We are not fenfible, f' obfervetheyj « that the ftatc of Ameri- ca^is fo akfming, or the ftatc of this provmce fo niiateriaUy different from \diatit was a fcw'mdntHs finccj a» to render the meafiire which youproj^ofe' either falutary or ncceflaty. The ad ot pifcrliamem, for r^fingi a revenue, fo much complained of, has been in being «nd carrying into execution for acon- fiderable tim© pafti and proper ftfeps have been taken by feveral governments o" this continent to obtain redrefg! of that' grievance. Humble petitions by th(?m ordered » to be pifefented to his Majcfly, we truft have ?'i?'sady,' or will foon reach the royal ear •— be gracioufljp received, and favourably aiSfwer^d ; and we apptehend^j that nothing that *can or will be done by your propofed convention, either can or wiUaid Ihe-pctition from the houfc of reprefenta- tives of this province. We further propofa to your confideration, whether the circular letter which gave fuch umbrage, containing thefe expitiflions, or others of the like import, that" the king and parlia- ment, hv tfu?. 1a<-A.r/>ir. regular trobM h^n?f,„, ' ^nP^^We oiimher of tmvn, partly ^ the caftl?^'Th» k^w^^^^ X*"^ loMbf and uncertainty. \,he(h^ L v wer?^'- °^ or not, or &r.what purLfe Ae kL w»^.r'''5"« «Bem_j '?>»h^tlwr ^.ryourdJli^nKf ^^9 ingenioufly, u y, JL' irlv^^ oPfcve they P«ethatiheil^tEt^^^^^ ftp- «eant finye^ we SS rS; fce^ fcenSrerfii.''' ?!^3:!!'»",J"^. "»*' heretofcre % -ay le lnt^^ tumults or infurrcqions of fome incqnfidcratc peo- ple, the King has been induced to think them a ncf ctflary checK upon you, we hope you will, by ^r loyalty and quiet behaviour, foon convince his llta. jetty and the world, they are no longer nQccffary for that purpofe, and that thereupon they will be withdrawn. Suffer us then to conclude, that, in our opinion, t^e meafurcs which the town of Bofton is purfuing, and propofmg to us and the people of this province to unite in, arc unconftitutional, illegal, and wholly unjuftifiable." That declaration had no effe£l: upon the Conven- tion, the firft proceeding of which was a meffage to the governor, difclaiming all pretences to any authoritative or eovernment ads; and declaring, that they were cnofcn by the feveral towns, and came freely and voluntarily, at the eameft defirc of the people, to confult and advife fuch meafurcs as might promote peace and good order, in the pre- fent alarming fituation. They next repeated their manifold grievances} complained that they were grofsly mifreprefented in Great Britain; and preffed the governor in the moft urgent terms to call a general affembly, as the only means to guard againft thofe alarmmg dangers that threatened the total deftrudion of the colony. The governor, on the other hand, admonifhed them, as a friend to the province, and a well wifher to the individuals of it, to break up their affembly inftantly, and feparate with- out doing any bufinefs. He was willing to believe, he faid that the gentlemen who iffued the fummons for this meeting, were not aware of the nature of the high offence they were committing ; and that thofe who had obeyed them, had not confidercd the penalties that would be incurred, if they continued longer to fit. « At prefent," added he, " igno- rance of the law may excufe what is paft= but aftep iarthcr will take away that pica. A meeting of the deputies [89 1768.* Oha». n« Civn War »» A M E R I C A. deputies of the towns, is an affembly of the renrrf™ tat.yes of the people to attintents aid PUt^fcTlSd caUmgit a Commits. eT &«w»/Mf noM^ Ae nature of the thmg." He concluded w th S nng That if they did not regard this XonWon he muftk as governor, affert aie preroraSrof X* 7*".'° %7<>f<= public manner? th^h^ iiAt aflure thenrfdves. fer he fppke from MruaTorX lung was determined to maintaia hisraTirefo^! S^t^a^r"'"'''^''*-^"'--'^^ ti^^^^:zr-^^^r^r::^^sc. whe,.inTh.co.- onlv an affemhlLl i • ™cctmg, as being vention .hem a, it would be admittt^g"*^; Tofe [S whichjas apffi^nTtfea^S^r'^ thu they affign the caufes of thdr meS* A^ "^J}f P^«f»<=" to any authority"^;hl^Jevef Tl P«-"f for the refStTrMaSy-s "^U felves Thlf fi, -iV™ *«y declare for them- yi IdeverJlffiK.^ T^ "* *t *^«"' anions. }itiu every polliblc affiitancc to the civil ma»;ftro*- or .he prefcrvalmn of peace and orde^ a^fc'- Pf°"«f riots and tumults. HavWaftir^S prepared a reprefentation of their coK^"* mitted to their agent in London, the Conv-nriT* i--iW«.C lip. . - - -S-SSM-JM *" N the 9^i Sept. 29. A fleet arrives from Halifax with t vo regiments offol- diers, &c. ri^ ,H I Si T O R Y of tke , q»AP. U. •J.. .* .The fame daYr that this irregular affembly was (JiiTolvecJ, and .wnat .perhaps was the caii(c of^ its moderation and ihort eontmuance, the fleet from H^lifi^ arrived in the harbour ; confiiftihg of feveral frigates and flooj>sof war, and a confidcraWc num- ber of tranfports, with two regiments of Toldiers, ana i party of artillery on board. Some difficulties at firftarofe about quartering thefe troops, the. coun- cil rcfufingf to admit them into the town, as tlje ba.rracks of Caftle William were fufficient to re- ceive them. That difficulty was howey.er got oVer, by accepting quarters that were only to be confider- ed as barracks ; on which footing, the council agreed to allow them barrack provifions. General Gage arrived at Bofton foon after, as did the two regiments from Ireland. A tolerable degree of harmony fubfifted for a time between the inbabi- tants and the troops ; apd an appearance of tran- quility was reftofed, by this fymptom of vigour in the Britifli governriient, . not only to the province of Maffachiifets Bay, but to all his majefty's do- mlpions in North America. of Change '^That tranquility, however, was«bf fliort dtotion. in the Meajiwhile feveral changes took place in the Britifh miiuitry. jnlriiftry, and various meafurcs were propdfed with refpefi to the colonies. Lord North was appointed chancellor of the Exchequer, in confequence of dlc'death of the Honourable Charles Townlhend ; dnd the Earl of Chatham, finding that the firfl Lord of the Treafury, though reputed his political piipih, was no longer willing to be implicitly guided by him, refignedliis place of lord keeper of the privy- 1 769. i^l. ITiefiarl of Shelburne alfo refigned his office of fecretary of ftate, and was fuccbeded by Lord Wey- ' trioutlr, from the northern department. Soon ^ter thefe, and other changes, the American affairs came formally befi>re the parliament ; ai^d as an at- tention to the fubje^t had been particularly recom- iiis^ued irom tue throne, it was conndered to be thepiincipal Dufinefs of the feffion. ^ tj Feb. 8. Both Houfes of Parlia - mcnt ad- drefs his Majcfty on the proceed- ings of the peo- ple «,fii^ Mafla- -■■ chufets » Bay. €hapJ#. O^^ WAr in AM £ r i<^ >^. houfes. fn thofc rcfohitiony, the life arfsof the Wft aeiijnhof the aiithonty of the fupre^c legiS^ TO make hws to bmd the cbfoiiies fh all cals what ^1, and dcro|^t6ry, to^the rights of the c^^^^^ tt^'^?-f^- The^ circular letSl wntten by the fame affembly, to thofe of the other proymces, reqmnngthemto join in petitions, and ^fJJS the late laws to be infringements of the rights bf the people in the colonics; 4er6alfo dedar^^ be proqecdmgs of a moft unwarrantable and dan: geroup hiiturc, calculated to inflame the minds of the mhabitants, and tending to create uridue^omb]- conltitutipn of Gr?at Britain. ^T . ; The town of Bofton was declared to have be6ii n a Si i; ' - J^^^ ^^^ "^^' and tumults of a dan: to be ia geroiis nature, durmg which the officers of the V^^ ^ ft^eof tpnue ha^'been obftru^ed by viblence in thb exe ^'''■' ^'^^' 2r t^^^^ ^^^ ^ iives enSanferS^ "^'^^• orlf— V*^' T^'^ °f the^province, nor the ordmary cM! magiftrates, had exerted their authori! y for the fupreffing of fuch tumults and riots; tS hufetfB.T'''^^^^^^^ °^^^^ province of Mafra! chulets Bay, and of the town of Bofton, the ore ^^n of the^ublic peace, and tl dll^'tS^: Aea^d ^^'^'T^' "^P/^^i^^ble, without thecmlmagiftrate, and the officers of his Maie^ ocSin^: ^'^f ^'^ declarations, refolutionS Proceedmgs m the town-meetings at Bofbn were iHcgal^and unconllitutional, anS calculated to et . . of V Xr"' "'''' '^'''''^^'^'' ; that the appointment org Lonventien, to confift of tlie de-iv^'' :i fr oni 9»3 fffi HIST OKY If $ie Chap.E 1 7^9* ^^ fisveral towns and dUlri^s in the province, and Vv^^ the<«)rntii^of aletter by the fclcd-men to each of the Aid towm and diftri^ for the elcOion of fuch deputies, were proceedings iiibverfivc of govern- ment, and evidently maniftfting a dcfign on the in- habitants of Boilon, to fet up a new and unconfti- tutiond authority independent of the crown. The clcftions hj the fcvcral towns and diftrifts of dc- puties to fit in the CJonvention, and its niccting, were alfo declared to be daring infiilts offered to his Majefty's authority, and audacious ufurpations of the powers of government. In the addreis, the greateft f3ti8fa£tion was ex' preiTed at the meafures which had been purfued to liipport the conHitutiou, and to induce in the colo- ny of Maflachufets Bay a due obedience to the au- thority of the mother-country. The moft inviola- ble refolution was declared, to concur eficaualhr in fuch further meafures as might be judged ncceffary to maintain the civil magiftrate in a proper execu- tion of the laws ; and it was siven as a matter of opinion. That nothing would to effectually prcfcrvc royal authority in that province, as brmging the au- thors of the late unhappy diforders to exemplary punifhment. In confcqucnce of this opinion, it was earnefty requefted, that Governor Bernard inight be djredcd to tranfinitthe fulleft informs- tion that could be procured of all trcafons, or mif- priiion of treafon committed within his govern- ment, fmcc the thirtieth of December 1^67, to- gether with the names of the perfons who were moft adive in perpetration of luch offences, that his majefty might iffue a commiilion for inquiring into, hearing, and determining upon the guilt of the offenders within this realm, purluant to the pro- vifions of a ftatute made in the 30th year of King Henry VUI. in cafe his majefty. upon Governor Bernard's report, fhould fee fufficient ground for Grot fatisfac- tion ex- preffed at the meafures taken to fupport the au- thority efG. B. •ter the coloniea. fuch a proceeding But But (hough thi, addtefi, and thcrrefeHitiow tMk „6o «aow|«medtt^we» carried thrcBgh botwSrfMrf vl^ ever oppofed with more firmnefi, and few debate* Tl« fides of tHc queftlon. The Rockimrfjta, and OmT "^ vmepartie,.fuppofea to he iiiewnS',"„ °J^ ?"?'=- to American aiK, united oothTS^n ^T^ '"«''•'"" ur«d. that admitting the vTpXT&J^j^ p: to have been an improper icafure,. a* m^^« '"-l- fcemod to orovcTet from the momin" of aTw '*"'•• ml the policy of the mother^unfry wm ScT t*°«l'Ae"^fr"' r ='Wdged?,ra; at^J flwt,.^ J ™5j "^ '""8" ftood on it. iBcieit • - foundation of wiTdom and praflicabUity : tha" it ^'r"°?"S' !»°<»«'*h Aofewhp had'^becnthe reprrfentthe people there, a. nearly in a HmJ ^f aeminiftrythe national caufe, aiidto petfuadeuf »tndSrd*y'''"'^*' Aggravated b^S^ S^ ™S ^/ ">?«>"»gem<:nt,^ai^ emliwened by W^i^,:;::^.- °'^'*T^ °^SOvernment) ^vJ iMwn tbeir nnpatience in the commiJBon of feveral rreplar and very indefenfible afe, that Aey^m to &0W of the authority of the i^otherS^ . aw it was indeed true, that popular preSa fo ThL^ r/lT"" r"*'= ™^ ercat allowances teraS ,Ti ;!! *T ^"" a.neceflity for cpun- lerattmg them, did it always w th the createft art clnS^Tti- *? S= '^"J-' °f our^American lormer trial, which had leaft experiment and .m porunce to plead , but what arg'^iZt" c^m Te' urged m favour of the prefent attempt, or what hope , entenained that it would meet Ah kfs on pofition f_A number of duties were laid on, wh?h derive their confcauenK.nnivfi.„„.i,".-°"'.*", ■ and the mifchicfs t^T ^^aYe"produv'cd7and an army of 17691 #'cttftdmiftoif(? officers, ftiU- more odious; was ^^^^^ foitHlo icb!l^«?«rem • that this^ odiottfnds diicflv sttiy other ptifpotc.*;. an« tnattnc imprtftfcace _. ...^ iwsafiirfe 'hl*^f*a» aobtfeer arm/ fcccfey tb en- feftc it. Bitft h^ cbiild it be esj|j>«^ed that ^ny 1 fuch meafttiiB .^uld be cxcfcuted witifiout force ?^ 'IHadhdt thole wlibivere thfe fratirers of the bill, or « Icaft Hnd«*r'Tirhbll* aiif^iccs thefe duties were laid oAi bcdn tSicih^lvcs the zealous fupportcris*^, at^the Ufejid of that opinion which totally denies the right ihfhc legJMurfeto tax AWica ^• Had ndt their names been hetd up in the colonies as objdfls of the WgheftHf^hcration, and their argtimclits made the foundatidri of whatever \i^^' there underftood to bd conftlfiitiohal in writing br ibeaking ?— What Wbndcr theny thatthe Amci^aris, with fuch ^rcat authorities to fujpport thtm in opinions fo flattering to their importance, ftioiiM fly,' iii tliat WatTHfh of paffion nattui^IIyinfpired by a difappbinted pHHe, into the greit^c^d extravagancies, bnja dire^ aniim-^ itisdiatc Violafiott of whit ttieywcrc'taught tb (^on?- fider as thclrihoft undoubted ?ind invaluable rights!: Can we be furprijfed, in a word,, that fuch unac--^ countable cbritr^diftions between language and cori-; du6^, fhoiild produce the unhappy confequences' which we ndw 6bcperience ? . / The That pari!' tef 'the addrefs which propofed ' the^ bringing bringing of delinquents from the province of Maf-' qucnts"" ^achufets Bay^ to be tried at atribunal in this king- from die ^^^^ for crimes fuppofcd to be committed there, province met with ftiH greater oppofition than the refolves,- ..f MalFa- and underwent manyfevere animadverfions. Such' ihufcts • to be • a pro- Fmiiand * '^''^ ^^^^ °^ Chatham, Lord Camden, and others of the: Z. n/i . ' P^'"ty» ^vho were equally aftive in procuring the repeal of the , tJPI led. atterwar 'yv •f^ >11C SigUL Ul V».%.UUUU j UUi- ^VUVi'. ds acqiilefced at leall ib the port duties » f ?9«/din« was 6id to bs direaiv contrarv .„ ^. J crimeis. by tfc laws of EnteX^^j^*:" ^-^ th? county in which he is fim2,?Jr?'*T "*^ '" that Ae ^oSe «SdhVeT''' '*!r"=''' '«'' Pfbi. genera! aaf»^rr!J:^-f've the witncflcs, maw affiO vLt! • '^^°*™"^y o^ E*-s-SI-?r? f sea fomfort. and counfS SlfrT,.' r' =°""'^^^n«. ^^ffl^iSat^-^^^.'-^'^P^ 'to thT^eS .h^ ^ ^^^''^ of -dminiftration, t, wcll-wiihers of An!^.^ expeaations of the fincere i"ftify ' ciatfrr'^rfu^t^^^^^^ -omus, it had operated in fich a "manrer on^helr licen- ^3 . n# Hf «>r OR Y p/ 16»^ '^i^^ if^ 1769. lteeiitte*ah«ft^ w foihAc ft^iw^feiiri^to *^vw foaic pofitiW'miA tjf.tWf dependence on the m<^htTKMl^ I fU^ itte mki fa mudi com: piamod of, were ^ due of the tcty rcafons noix^ objected to them, dit finallnefs of &ir' pSdiice cfcofcn M fiifiddBt to anfwer tKltpurpoft; they were *c letft opjpreffive thtt couW be &ought of and the ksdl gnevoua; they wcref ad internal taxcs^ and tficif whole produce %^ to be applied to ai« fupport of the ciyil eftabK Ament of the co- loBice J diat tfce rep^blican principles, and Hcen- tious . If. I Qhap. II. Civil War /» A M E R I C A. tST v«e eacouragemem to the breach of the other liad iv, doui^aa., ai though not now deemed downriiht rebelhon, would in other timet have beencoSs dered aod punifted „ fuch. by an exct^rf ^■ fupreme authority of the ftatef or a regular iuS! ment of law ; and which, however StteiS aS^I ^« *™' *"■ 8°»e">n>ent to iaierfcre^ p proceed any farther, could no longer be m^ "f •>? '"^ "»"« J that the exam^ fct brS^ people of Bofton, and the raih and datine mraW adopted by their affembly, of fendi^ffi ."' ter. to die other colonies; had alreiy pr^^ei a" g^teffea; and. ualeft fealbnably cLcked.^ hkely to have fet the whole confinent of Nor& Amenca m a flame , that fome Ihip. of war ^ ttoop, were accordingly fent to &fton, "h^ without bloodfhed, or coming to any vtole^ „ ^ty,^,hev had been able fo reftoJ^':;^'^ T^ ^\^V 5? that town, but to the whole p^ vmce of Maflachnfets Bay. ^ mI^*!^'!^" "Werved, that nothing but the moft ftmted and vigorous refolutionj, fnpported ^ ™"f °n of 'nc'^ures, equally fir^, aid Xo»L anty and Acir dependence upon the fupreme leei- 2^.T J ?"r*' 5""'' which prevaaed in BoSa W» fo fubverfive of all orderand civil govermnX dZ a' '"^ ^^ "^ *«' P">P<^ fi-'fiUtog their duty, during the continuance of ibc pief«St fc^ fflent, that It became abfolutely neceffa?rto re^ wh,d, the kmg u impowered to appoint a ^mmiffim ■1 England, for the trial here of Jny of toft^eS ftf 'l!!^" i- »y «»« of the Lid ,s:^ '"" «*-««*« was aaoptco, tijc moll fiagnikt m m^ HISTORY .of the «h)1|i^«|. 1769. ^&M oi trcafon and tcbcUkm might be committed «*?"v>^ in that tofwn and frovincc «rith impunityi as the dviltpo^eif there ws» neither aifpdfed, mw able to 4:«he ca^zanct of them j that the pecfima who •Wflr* fuilejr of thofe crimci, 'Und who had afrcady occafioned ib much trouble and confiiffon, were no ob^eaa of jcompaffion, therefore every objcaion which arttfc from any difiwrcoaWe clpcnmftances f*^«%ht attend this mode of bringing them to juftide fdU and the'Dukc of Grkfton his office of firft lord of the trt^afury. Varrous other pcrfons of eminence threw up their places j and thewliole adminiftration fcemcd falling to pieces, 'WWn^tfee promotion of one man gave it a f lability^ which it hud not known in the prefcnt reign, nor ocfhaps ^ any reign fince the days of Elizabeth. iord^Nonii was appointed firft commiifioncr of the r«afittity, ih the room of ^hc Duke of Grafton ; iVMe mcapadty as a mimfter was thought to be as evidait, a» his accomplifluneirits as a nobleman are uniVcT^lyrconfeffed. From Aat moment, a more -confifteiit;plan, in regard to America, was purfued, and /gteater order was introduced into every de- iJartnitnt of government. The new minifter im- ^ ^medKWuly moved for leave to bring in a bill to re- '^eul fo^udi of the late aa, impofing certaih port •nd carried the partial re- peal. It would perhaps have been more confiacnt, however, with the dignity as wclf as the wifdom of agreatminifter, to have relinquiflied the duty on tea along with the reft, as it was fcarctly fufficicnt to ^niwer the expcnce of collefting it, and to have relied upon forac future occafion for afferting the authority of the mothcr-cftuatry over her colonics in a mattet of more importance, fmce tiie right of tmtion was rendered indifputable by ? pofitiv© aft of the fupreme legiftature*. The ftatc of afi^rs in Atoerica was foon after brought formally under the confidcration of parlia- ment, in confequcncfe of an account which had been received of an alarming riot in Bofton between tnc foldicrsand the inhabitants f j and a mot'on ' was J,.!^*^".*"^"^"** have been urged againft continuing the „S "P°V"^ ''"5"? *^°"* «" otpcrience of its fatal confe- qucnces J hjit as thcfe couW not be forcfeen at this time, and r!^?J «[«", of a new meafure, adopted from too partial a regard to thc^interefts of the Eaft India company, the author ot this work has paid no attention to them. t Various accounts of this unhappy fray have been publift. «;o ' any part of the Brmfh empire, together with the ^ neccffity of empoying,them to fupport the law, where the people were in little lefs than a Hate of rebellion, were urged by adminiftration as unan- > fwcrable arguments of the propriety of eftablifhinff a military force m America. ^ The neccffity of fuch a force indeed became every day more evident. The difcontents and dif. orders occafioned by the port-duties, continued to accompany the remaining one upon tea, in a greater ox, Icfs degree, through all the old colonies on the r.f !rV ^ ^'"'' uH"' P^'^^^^^ ^h<= ^hole. Ji-ven thofe colonies which depended moft on the mother-country for the confumption of their pro- dudions, entered into fimilar alfociations with the others ; and nothing was to be heard but refolu- tions for the encouragement of their own manu- taetures, the confumption of home produds, the difcouragement of foreign articles, and the retrench- ment of all luperfluities. Still, however, thefe were only fymptoms of difcontent, which had little cffea on the trade between Great Britain and her colo- nies : for although that trade had fomewhat ftae- nated on the late non importation agreement, it re- vived again, and even flourifhed ; and thoudi the article of tea was, by the refolutions of feveral co- lonies ftnaiy prohibited, it continued to be Intro- duced both from England and other countries* and the. duties were paid, though with fome fmall appearance of exterior guard and caution. Bnt in the meantime, the governors of moft of the colo- nies, and the people, were in a continual ftate of warfare. Aflemblies were repeatedly called, and as fuddenly dilTolved j and while fitting, they were - - Vi'holly «,!, .1' " J ■■■*'" '"""" ""'" ""'^^ i^ounmes tvas the chief reafon 402] fAemSTORY vf the ckap. n. 1770. wholly employed in reiterating grievances and ^^^<^^ tfaming remonftrances. Bu^ng Thj g^^eft outrage, which was committed in Gafpec oi* ^"^1 ^M^U happened at Providence in fchooner ^"ode lila^d, where his Majefty's armed fchooner, June 10, the Gafpee,havingbeenftationedto prevent thefmug! 1772. glmg, for which that place was notorious, the vigU- ancc'of t^e officer, who commanded the veffel, fo enraged t^c people, that they boarded her at mid- night, to the number of two hundred armed men and after wounding him, and forcing him and his people to go on fhore, concluded this daring exploit by burning the fchooner. Though a reward of 500I. together with a pardon, if claimed by an accomplice, was offered by proclamation for the dif- covering and apprehending any of the perfons con- cerned m this atrocious ad, no cffeftual difcovery could be made. ^ Great heats at Bofton, occafion- td by the difcovery of certain letters. An odd incident happened, which ferved to re- Vive, with double force, all the ill temper and ani- mofitythat had long fubfifted between the cxecu- tive part of government and the people, in the pro- vmce of Maffachufct's Bay. This was the acciden- tal difcovery, and publication of a number of con- fidential letters, which had been written during the courfe of the unhappy difputes with the mother country, by the then governor and deputy-governor of that colony, to perfons in power and office in England. The letters contained a very unfavour- able reprefcntation of the ftate of affairs, the tem- per and difpofition of the people, and the views of their leaders, in that province ; and tended to fhew, not only the neceffity of the moll coercive mea- fures ; but that even a very confiderable change of the conftitution, and fyftem of government, was neceffary, to fecure the obedience of the colony. Thefe ckap. n. nces and niittcd in dcnce in fchooncr, thefmuff- the vigil- veffel, fo r at mid- icd men, I and his g exploit ward of d by an r the dif. pvernor Dffice in ifavour- hc tem- iews of o fhew, ^e mea- inge of Chai». n. Civil War /» A M E R I C A. Thefe letters indeed were in part confidential and private j but the people of the cobhy infilled, that they were evidently intended to irifl^ncc the con- du^t of government,, ihd mvtk therefore be Ihewn to luch perfons as had an intereft inpreferving their ^cans Which wcre^not known, fell into k hands ot the agent for the c6lony of Maffaehtifcts Bay, ■ who immediately tranfmitted them to the aflembly ot that province, tvhich was thai fitting at Bofton. - Ihe indignation and animofity which thefe letters excited on the one fide, and the confufion on the other, neither need nor admit of tlefcriptioh. rent W. ^r^'"^ T^f^ refdntion. in the hbufe of reprefentatives, the Ictterir were prefented to the ' council, unckr the ftriaefti^ fen atives, that the perfons, who were to Ihew them ihould not by any meaii^ fiiffer them, even for a aXSr "^"^"^'^^ »«^"^ediate handi This . ^d «n^n^^°''^"°.'''^'^^^^ bjtilt COUncilj ZZ Z^K ^V^^«'"«g to examine t^ betters tha^ " M ? til?,"^''^ ^''^"^' *her<^by to be enabled, cither to acfa^lcdge them if genuine, or to ^^ro^ate hrrSr^^*^"'' that bo,,^, lindenhe pretLce of 11^11%"' ''^^^^^ ^^ deliver the^' into his him tha^he if ^^"^ittee to open them before h^'inH- f T^^' ^'^""''"^ the hand writing, To otVe^^"/-!^^^ tofubmit, as well as to the mortification of acknowledging the fignature. tharrnlnf'^'^ll'T ""i ^^"^^ ^^^ "^t wanting in June .3. that colony. The houfe of alfembly paffed a 4ti- tion and rcmonftrance to his Majefty, iri which thev ?'''u°" «eing l!,etrayers of their trufts, and of the people the go- ^21::::!^}^^^^ and f4!-- .,„,o«, «ti.xtircu mem enemies to the colonv °"^^^'^"- and prayed for juftice againft thTm, and for tS ^r,!.;. fpecdy D05 104] 1772. 1773' Scheme for the exporta* tlon of tea by the Eaft In- dia com- pany to the CO'' lonies. The HISTORY of tlje Chap. If. fpecdy removal from their places. So wide was the difcoAtent, and fo weak the powers of government m that affcmbly, that thefe charges with many others, were carried through by a majority of Sato ijj. As wc have juft obfervfed, the article of tea to be continued notwithftanding the ftrong refolutions of the colonifts, to be ftill imported into America ; yet by the advantages which foreigners had in the fale of the low priced teas, as well as the general odium attending the Britiih teas, which, as bearing a par- hamentary duty, were confidered as inftruments of flavery, the Eaft India company was thought to fuf- fer much by the difpute with the colonies. Thus circumftanced, the minifter in the laft fcf. fion, as fome apparent confojation to that company for the ftrong meafurcs which were then purfucd againft it by government, brought in a bill, by which they were enabled to export their teas, duty free, to all places whatfoever. In confequence of this meafure,the company departed in fome degree from its eftabliflied mode, of difpofing of its teas by public falet to the merchants and dealers, and adopt- ed the new fyftem, of becoming its own exporter and fe^or. Several ihips were accordingly freight- cd with teas for the difterent colonies by the com- pany, where it alfo appointed ag^ damage, jt offenng any injury to the captains or crews, it was remarkable, that the govcrmnent, ThO civil power, garrifon of Fort William,, and armed TJ^°'' fea. Somc^fmaller quantities of tea, met afterwards with a fimilar fate, at Bofton, and a few other places ; but in general, the commiffioners for the fale (^ that commodity, having been obliged to re- Imquifli their employment, and no other perfons to thl 'S"'^^.'^^^<^\rgoes which were configncd to theni, the mafters of the tea veffels, from thefe circumftance«,as well as from a knowledge of dan- ger and the determined refolution of the people, readily comphed with the terms which were pre- fcribed, of returning dire^ly to England, without entangling themfclves by any entry at the cuftom- houfes. At New- York it was indeed landed under the cannon of a man of war. But the government there were obliged to confent to its being lockrd up from ufe. In South Carolina fome was thrown into the river as- at Bofton. Such was the- ilTue of this unfortunate fchemc. Some difpofition to thefe difturbances was known pretty early ; but as their utmoft extent was ftiU unknown, the meeting of parliament was deferred until after the holidays, the tranfadions of which with refpea to American affairs, will more properly come under the head of our third cha|)ter. Similar outragci in fome other places } moft o£ the tea fllips obliged to l-cturn home with their careoes, ancfthe entire fcheme rendered every where abortive. CHAP. Jan. 13. »774- Parlia- ment ■neetj. McfTage relative to th<» tranfac- tions in America. CHAP, in. Jixit fillnmig. J"*"-) >3. I774» K> lit zid if THEJpeech from the throne at the openW of ™» parliament, January nth itt^ ~!3 ed nothing very Sldng. ^Sf/'S^'/c^S'": wwlhtoSt'l^vi^K' ""-■»• Mar^l: on board th^fea ^Ht Botn S' ^7^"*'' houfe., m which they were informed, that ia c<^i ^elHrn' ^""a- ^^'^^k^ of the vicTnt ^" ^trageous proceedmgj at the town and port of !mm.j; ..Tr u' ^'i'' "P°" Srounds and pretences bought fit to lay the whole matter before parlia. II om tlie confignccs of the tea at B6fton, to one of totrt^/^ f^^'^^ '°^" ^^ B^^n> previous- to the landing of the tea, and narrative of the tranMions whfchfucceeded that event &c &c.i -Thcr iJfo contained details from the di^Lt governors of all tranfadions relative to the teas which took place in th^W ..f«« a::" _.^°. *^*^ ^^^^> As Chap. HL ^ in the Br$. fie 22j of >pcning of ■9 contain- common ac houfc, March 7^ ominitted ^cUigcncc to both iaconfe. :icd on in 3lcat and i port of smmerce )rctencc!j i» it was : parlia- number IS in the f letters inlander cirbour j > one of 1, with revious of the &c. — iffccent le teas, ments, >ped in h were Chap. HI. Qva War /« A M E R I C A. [, i , fot'h«V^mlTn*'"'P^r''*?'^ the whole continent, ,774. veiled irnll.T^r"'*''.' ^^'^^^n^^nt, and manner, pre! JJt Jfrrl^H • 'f """"^^ °'^ printed pieces, whether with^a comml^^^^ '^ 'I' P'P"^ "^» accompanied Zt rrh?.^? l"P°" '>^'"» *"^ particularly thofe Com. tne conduft of the governor was defcribcd and aiv ^^""°- &dlt'h^^'^*rJ "^^^^ prevailing faafon?epr^ h.hi??''"^'^^^'''"^"^ %^«- ItwasfaidSiat Left ^'" "T^ T^"'^ ^^'^^ prudence could Kft^L^"""^ policy iullify, for^hefecurityof caluS^'in fhi'^n' "nd?"b«cdly in lus power, by Condufi ?nTh^^h^,K„ ^"*"'.' °^ •*"= "»^' force whichwu «f 'be m the harbour, to have prevented the deftruaion S°'"«« of the tea ; but as the leading men in Bofton had 'l^^'"^- of the arihy and navy, and charged aU difturban- ces of every fort to their account, he with «^, ^t^' f^ «<">P" determined from Thte rang to dechne a meafure, which would have ban foimtatrngtothemind, of the people ; and miX cl^^" ^f'K*^' by »W, confideAce in"S condua, and truft repofed m the civil power he ftould have cahned thdrturbulencer^dprrfcrved me public tranquiaity. t ""jupracrvea we^fe;S"5»?ift"». the people of Bofton were tairly tried. Ihey were left to their own con- *'^'/?«' to the exercife of their judgment; r* fe t':rcf'"-^'''='°*"^^°--So" DowL «f '"*°"* ™ "'«*■'= and aU the &inter::i'«-r!'>'".«^" P^vmce, are 'ages. "~ "" ''' i"""'^"^ tne moit viQicnt out- It 1774. Keifona affigncd for I'ocr- fivc mea- fum. ti^l ni nisr OR fc/tfjf CnAv.m. It wai concluded upon tht whdc, tliat by an impar- tial review of the paocrs now before them, it would maniftftjjr appear, that nothing could be done either by ciril, mihtary, or navsri oflrcers, to cffcftuatc the re-cftablilhrnent of tranquility and order in that province, without additional parliamentary powem to give efficacy to their proceedings. That it was thercfpre incumbent on every mem- ber to weigh and conlidcr, with an attention fuit- able to the great importance of the fubjeft, the pur- port of the papers before them, and totally layW all prejudices afide, to form his opinion upon the meafurcs moft eligible to be purfued, for iupport- ing the fuprcme legiflativc authority, the dignity of parliament, and the great intcrcfts of the Britifh Empire. This is in fubftance what was urged by miniftry upon the fubje^ when they prcfcnted the papers. The fyklt now raifed againft the Americans be- canjc as high and as ftrong as could be dcfired, both withm and without the ho\xfe. In ^his temper a motion was made for an addrefs to the throne, " to return thanks for the mefTage, and' the graci- ous communication of the American papefs, with an affurancc that they would not fail to exert everv means in thctr power, of effeaually pvmriding for objeas fo important to the general welfef e, ^ main- taming the due execution of the laws, and fecuring . the juft dependence of the colonies upfiii the crowo and parliament of Great Britaki.*' By the voting this addrefs mlniftfy' gained a greater advantage than at firft appeared, for they found by the difpofition of the houfe which was ftrongly againft all retrofpea, that th. would con- fine thcmfclvcs to tfic mere mifbehaviour of the Americans. The violence of the Americans was public and unqucftioncd, and when the ennii.irv was An ad- dreft to the Throne. The Mf- niltCi-'s advan- tage in tbi's ad* irefi. con- Chap. lU. Civil Wa r /n A M E R I C A, Ti ,- confined to that ground, it would be erfy to carry ,,,. jny propofmon a^aind them. Jt wa, rf great co2^ d^ fcquence to the minifter, that no part whatfo^v"; of the weakneft and diforderly Cc of fo manj government., (hould be laid to the charge of tho"J " ".'/ j,J As the ftorm which was ffathcrintr aaam/l #1,-. n *•.• colonie. would probably be dlreae^fgafnataffa '^"d" chufet . Bay. Mr. BoUan. agent for t& coundl of '"'"'"'''• that provmce, thought U neceffary to prefent to the '"" "'* houfe. bjr way of precaution, a petition dVfi,hw *'"'• that he might be permitted to lay Lfore the Wfc the aa. r.^;a of Queen ElizabethLd her fSorJ^ dents, and Ae perpetual enjoyment of their liberl •V k\'"*= ^'^"""^W' he preiumed had never l«en. laid before the houfe, nor Aad the colonie" e"r had- an opportumty to afcertain and defend thefS, Ih 8 peutmn was received without difficulty and ordered to lie upon the table. '"""'''"Y, ana "Hie minifter, after having moved that fh* Vin»'. « ',. . Ws allnfarrta!. °.**^/'' ""ould be read, opened on of .he clmtJ • .fJr'"" °*^P««:=. order, juftice, and Bofto, commerce m Maffachufefs Bay, by proDofinJ^ ?»" »"'• hat the town of Bofton ihm.ld beoUeTt^' « trade'mnvK ^f? '° *?* S'^en in future, that, trade may belafely carried on, propeny proteft- .. ™' 'aws obeyed, and duties r-.%:,i.'£ ..S irv M/aa - "v .viwiiuanon.- it would be theTef^rf^ «►« P!' '° '?k5,''-ay fromBofton the privS^S^': C f./r" n.^*'='^-:^y thu Boit» might certaialv — •- .^ui UK ougat to luferrand hv A;, ,-r»' T Md by this refo- lution "43 -W. HISTORY,/,/,, c^AP.m. tm^ lutujn *ould fuffcr fcr left puniflimcnt than her ^•^^ delmquenciej fully juftified. For fte was n« '"'Oily precluded {i«i all fupply. Shewarbv.M. propofition only to be virtualfyUoved fevft «Ue» from the fea. The duration of her pS fte Oiould difcharge this juft debt to the E I r„» pny which had been coitrafttd by he, iwn V,"' knee, and given foil affurances o/ obSe i^ future to the laws of trade and revenue ; there WM Dort .nd r' *at power, would again open the port, and ejcercife that mercy which was aereeable o h., royal difoofltion ; whereupon leave w! gfv» B„ft„„ o brmg ma bill "fir the immediate rmovalffZ pon.bni, f"^' concerned in the cMiaUmd^thiculio J fZ 14. ,, Jf^ '°^y^ '« -^^'•^^ America, and to difcontmue the l^^pS^nddifcharging, lading and goods, wares, and merchandize at the /aid town If Bojion, or within the harbour thereof?* ^ At the firft introdudHon it was received with verv general applaufe. The equity of oblirin/a S quent town to make fati?faftion for ffiLrdc^s .police, was fo ftriking, that many things Vfch looked. The cry raifed againft the Americans partly the natural effea of thiir own aas^^^^^^ LrlttnT'f ^' of government, was io ftrong as • intheLn^^'''''c'"^^^ m the oppofition. Several of thofe who hai been rJLi^T-'^'Jr ^''^'^ °^ '^^ ^«^°^'« «^ow con- demned their behaviour ; and applauded the mea- fare, as not only juft, but lenient: ?'r, to ^dlea'^'tir^'f °^ '^? ^^"^ °PP°^^^^'°" ^^^^^^ fromBoI- ^^ <^oiJett itfelf, and to take a more aftive nart f.j^ " ----=' ^"" "6"^*^ "* "« councii Of Iviaiiachu- • .. • , fet's *5 Chap. III. Civil War in AM E R I C A. n fct's Bay, prcfcntcd a petition dcfiring tp be heard ,774. for the faid council, and in behalf of himfclf and vj^ other inhabitants m the town of Bofton. The houfe refufcd to receive the petition. It was faid, that the agent of the council was not agent for the cor- poration, and no agent could be received from a body corporate, except he were appointed by all the neceflary conftituent parts of that body. Be- fidc8, the council was fluauating, and the body by which he was appointed could not be then aaually exiftmg. This vote of rejedion was heavily cen- fured. The oppofition cried out at the inconfiftency of the houfe, who but a few days ago received a petition from this very man in this very charader • and now, only becauft they chufc to exert their • power m afts of injuftice and contradidUon, totally rcfufc to receive any thing from him, as not duly qualified. Were not the reafons equally ftronp againft receiving the firft as the fccond petition ? But what, they afferted, made this conduft the more unncceiTary and outrageous, was, that at that time the houfe of lords were aftually hearing Mr. iJolIan on his petition, as a perfon duly qualified, at their bar. Thus, faid they, this houfe il at once. in contradiftion to the other, and to itfclf. As to the reafons given againft his qualification, they are * equally applicable to all American agents ; none of whom are appointed as the miniftcr now requires they fliould be— and thus the houfe cuts off all com- mumcation between them and the colonies whom they are affefting by their afts. The bill paffed the houfe on the 25th of March, naffed and was carried up to the lords, where it was like- Mar. J c. . wife warmly debated, but as in the, commons, it paffed without a divifion. It received the myal aucm on the 31ft of March. ^ , i ne difpofition to carry things to extremities with America was become very general ; and as the April 15, A Bill for the better regulat- ing the govern- ment of MafTa- chufet's bay. .1 1^2 m HISTORY./,^, Chap. IU. ^^ tlj! 'Xi °f f 5/^"^?-^^ ^^s much condemned by :r^ the mmiftcnal -fide, and its authors greatly decried ' they rcpoled the higheft confidence in L i^^i oi meaiurcs of a contrary nature. The Bofton port bill formed only one part of the coercive plan propofed by the miniftry as the effec tual method of bringing her to obedience. 'Others or a deeper and more extenfive nature were behind and appeared in due time. Soon after a bill was brought m for 'Uhe better regulating government in the provmce of Mqfachufet's Bayr The pur- pofe of this bill was to alier the conilitution of that provmce as it flood upon the charter of Kin^ Wi ham ; to take the whole executive poxver out ot the hand^ of the democratic part, and to velt the nomination of counfellors, judges, and magiftrates of all kinds, mcludin^ SheriiFs, in the crown, an4 i^"""^ uf^'' '? '^^ ^^"g'^ governor, and all to be rcmovcablc at the pleafure of the crown. May .. • aI^I ^^il- ^f'^^^l ^ P^^^^igious majority, after a -J debate which laftcd with uncommon Ibirit for many hours. i' •- *ur The difpofition fo prevalent in both houfcs to ftrong meafures was highly favourable to the whole numftenal plan for reducing America to obedience. IJic good reception of the propofal for chansinr the charter government of Maflachufet's Bay, encou- raged them to propofe very foon after another bill, without which, it was faid, that the fcheme would be entirely dekaive. In the committee on Amc- ncan papers, it was ordered, that the chairman hould move for leave to bring in « a Bill for the impartial acinuni/iration of jufice in the cafes of perfcm queJHoned for any eels done by them in the execution oj the hnvs, orfr the fuppre/Tion of riots andjum^utsin the province of Maffchufeh Bay This MaflTa- chufet'8 Bay Bill. id Chap. HI. Civil War /« A M E R ! C A. f ..Pi^^*"j''"'*^*'*^^» that incafcanypcrfontt'in. i^^ d.acd m that province for murder/ o^rT,yX i% capital offence, and that it fhall appear to the irovw- nor, that the faa was committed m the excrcife or P;°f^ At ?-f iJ'n'^' *" fuppreffing tumults and riots! bfo'^ and that it ihall appear to the governor, diat a fS ' trial crnnot be had in the proWnce. he ihaU fr^J the perfon fo indided, &c.^o any other cobLy^'c^ to Great Bntam, to be tried. The char^'^ both fides to be borne out of the cuftomsf tS act to contmue for four years. nn*^! t^"'" °" '^^ ^j" '""' "^^" "^°«^ warm thao on the former, and the publications of the ti^ quote an old member who is rarely in oppofitio^ as havmg ended his fpeech with thdc remarkabS words : « I wi now take my 'eave of the whole plan,..you will commence your ruin from this dav, I am forry to fay, that not only the houfe has fallen W rr'' *"",' ' T ' P^^P^" ^PP^°^^ ^f ^^ ""ca! , . « But Tin' n°p ' ^r ^°'^ i° ^"y ^^> *^^ "^^^^ « Sf «-i?^ i/'""^ "^'^i P'°^^ ^^^ ^^»1 tendency of « thi^ Bill. If ever there was a nation run4icr headlong to its ruin, it is this." ""nmg The bill pafed the houfe on the fixth of May, and being carried up to the houfe of peers, occi! G^'^' ^ fioned warm debates upon the fame pri^iciples upoa '^• 4he ords of the mmority entered on this, asoa' the former bill, a very ftrong proteft. ITie feffion Avas drawing near to the ufual time of rccefs ; and the grcatefl number of the members, fa gued with a long attendance on the American bills, wer^ retired into the country. In this fitua- . tion a bdl which has engaged a great deal of the Q"«t)ec f^rr^nT'' 7^ ^^^"g^^ '"^^ t^ ^ houfe of lords : ^' , ' province of ^,ebcc in North America, The *ftr] ' WmSTORYoftbe Chap. ^ . . - , in. tain the hmitg of that province, which were cxtcnd- property ?? *« Dcyond v^hat had been fettled as fuch by the of this King I proclamation of 1763. To form a leeifla bill. tivc council for all the affairs of that province, ex-' ccpt taxation, which council fhould be appointed bv the crown, the office to be held during pleafurc- andhw Majcfty's Canadian Roman catholic fubicfts' were entitled to a place in it. To eftablifh the French laws, and a trial without jury, in civil cafes, and the Engliih laws, with a trial by jury, in cnmmal. To fecure to the Roman catholic clergy except the Regulars, the legal enjoyment of their' cftatcs, and of their tythes from all who are of their OTim religion. Thcfe were the chief objefta k X u ' ^"^ ^^^ ^''^ received in the cburfc of the debates^ (which were warm) many amendments, fo as to change it very greatly from the ftatc in which It came down from the Houfc of Lords • June 8th. but the ground-work remained the fame.— It paflcd without a divifion. The Tcflioh'had now ftretched far into the fum- ^ mer. The bufincfs of it had been of as much im- portance as that, pcrhflps, of any fcffion fince the c :. revolution. Great changes had been made in the ceconomy of feme of the colonies, which were thought foundations for changes of a like nature m others ; and the moll fanguine expeaations were entertained by the miniftry, that when parliament had fhewrt fo determined a refolution, and the ad- yocate? for the colonics had appeared fo very little able to protea them, the fubmiflion throughout America would be immediate ; and complete obedience and tranquillity would be fecured in future. The triumphs and mutual congratulations of all who fupported thcfe meafures within doors and without, _ji2d were unufually great. The fpeech from the throne at the end of the feffion exDrelfcd fimilar frntimi^nf c. His Majeity told the parliament. « That Chap. III. Civii. War /« A M E R I G A. riia " Th" he had obfcrved with the utmoft iatu. i,,^' faflion, the many eminent proof, they hadriv«^f i^ Ae.r zealou. and prudent attention to the*Sc rarliament. Then, after mentonini with an. That the bill which they had prepatid for X given his aifent, wa» founded on the cleai^ ^ ciples of juftice and humanity 'and ^d*^ to ' .kubted not, havethe beft effe'a; in'oSth^ WDjetts. That he had lone feen with concernT dangerous fpirit of refiilanfe to hiT «,^~Lt vinceofMaflachufett'sBay.. ItproceeJedanenrf, Irtl^ ""T'^y* "» ♦° render their imme^^ provinon as well for the fuppreffion of thi brtifo^t W,n„ff~1f ■"''''' " With recommendtae SSf P'o^'dings inthisfeffion of «1 CHAP. ^20 j • iieii ISTOKY o/tBe Chap. IV. General cffea of the late Iaw«. C H A?. IV. Vk^^ajfam in the Colonies^ in t^e year i^T^: Jfjmuini fte^ensral effeSl and operation of the late layts, t*fc. 1774. rTR HE penal laws, which we faw paflcd, iii the v^>^ J. M fcffion of the laft paTfiamcnt, relative to the colofty of Maffachufctt's i^iay, and which were intended to operate both as a chaftifcment for paft, and a preventative of future mifdemeanours in that province, were unfortunately produdive of efFcfts very different from thofe which the fanguine pro- moters df thofe bills had hoped, and which admini- ftratioft had held out to the nation. Other pur- pofcs were cxpeftcd from them befidcs punifhmcnt and prevention. It was cxpefted, that tne Autting up of the port of Bofton would have been naturally a gratification to the neighbouring towns, from the great benefits which would aecruc to them, by the iplitting and removing its commerce ; and that this would prove a fruitful fource of jialoufy and dif- uiiion within the province. It was alfo thought, that the particular punifhgient of that province would not onljr operate as an example of terror to the other colonics, but that from the felfiflinefs.and malignity incident to mankind, as well as from their common jealoufies, they would quietly refign it to its fate, and enjoy with pleafure any benefits they could derive from its misfortunes. Thus it was hoped, that befidcs their direft operation, thcfe bills would eventually prove a means of diffolving that band of union, which feemed of late too much to prevail amongft the colonies. The aa called the Military Bill, which accom- panied thefe laws, and which was formed to fup- port and encourage the foldiery in beating down all poflible refillance to the other aft, it was imagin- ed, would compieat the defign, and bring the colo- nies Chap. 1V» Civil W> r /« A M E R I C A. nies to a perfeft fubmifftort. In confidence of the perfcaion of this plan of terrors^ punifhmcnts and regulations j and of the lafgc force by fca and land (as It was then thbught) which was fent to ftrcngthen thc^hands^of government, adminiftration repofed in the moft perfedt Tecurity ^, and ended the fcffion in the molt triumphant manner, and with the mu- tual congratiiktions t>( all concerned in thofc ads, which we have defcribed in our 3d chapter. The event, in all thefe cafes, was however very Afferent. The neighbouring towns difdained every idea of profiting in any degree by the misfortunes of theij- friends m Bofton. The people of the pro- vince, mftead of being fhaken by the coercive means which wer« ufed for their fubjugation, joined the more firmly together to brave the ftorm ; and feeing- rtiat their ancient conftitution was deilroyed and that It was determined to deprive them of 'thofe rights, which they had ever been taught to revere as lacrcd, and to deem more valuable than life itfelf they determined at all events to preferve them, or to perifli in the common ruin. In the fame manner, the other colonies, inftead of abandoning, clunff the clofer to their devoted filter as the danger increafed : and their affeftion and fympathy feemed to rife in proportion to her misfortunes and fuiferings. In^a word, thefe bills, (as had been too truly fore- told by their oppofers.at home) infte'ad of anfwering: the purpofes for which they were intended, fpread a general alarm fr6m one end to the other of the continent, and became the cement of a ftria and clofe union between all the old colonies. They Xj-ri ^"^ ""'^'^^^^ '^^^ ^^^«^«' grants, and eifabhfhed ufages, were no longer a protedion or defence ; that all rights, immunities, and civil fc^ curities, muft vanifh at the breath of an aft of par- liament.^ They were all fenfible, that they had -en guiuy, in a greater or lefTer degree, of thofe [in 1774. R un- 122] The Hist ORY of the Chap. IV. 1774. unpardonable fins which had drawn down fire upon "^^^-^^"^ Bofton; they bchcvcd, that vengeance, tho' de- layed, was not remitted : and that all the mercy, the moft favoured or the Icaft xulpable could ex- pcft, was to be the laft that would be devoured. In the laft feflion, the minifter had announced in the Houfc of Commons, the appointment of General Gage to the government of the province of Mafla- chufet's Bay, and to the cominand in chief of the army in North America. As this gentleman had borne feveral commands with reputation in that part of the world j had lived many years there, and had fufficient opportunities of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the people, and was befidcs well ap- proved of by them, great hopes were formed of the happy cffefts which would have refulted from his adminiftration ; and it is little to be doubted, if his appointment had been at a happier time, and his government free from the neceflity of enforcing mcafures which were generally odious to the peo- pic, but thcfc expectations would have been an- , fwered. The jealoufy and ill blood between the governors and governed in the province of Maflachufet's Bay, ^^ which we in the preceding chapter have taken no- tice of, had ever fmce continued. The Houfe of Reprcfsntatives had prefented a petition and rcmon- Impcach- ftrance to the Governor, early in the fpring, for ment of the removal of Peter Oliver, Efq; Chief Juftice of Mr. Oh- the Superior Court of Judicature, from his office; this requeft not being complied vi^ith, they exhi- bited articles of impeachment againft him, of high crimes and mifdemeanors, in their own name and that of the province, which they carried up to the Council-board, and gave the governor notice to, attend as judge upon she trial. The charge againil ' the Chief JufUce was, the betraying of liis truft, nod of the cliartered rights of the "province, by ac- Chap. IV. Civil War /» AME RICA, [123 accepting a falary from the crown, in confidcration 1774. of his official fcrviccs, inftcad of the cuftomary ^^^r\J grant from the Houic of Rcprcfentativcs. The rcfo- lution for carrying up this impeachment was car- ried by a majority of 92 to 8 ; from whence fome judgment may be formed of the general temper of the province, and their unanimity, even in this ftrong and extraordinary meafure. tlie Governor refufed to receive the articles,' Affcmblj and' totally difclaimed all authority in himfclf and °^ ^^^*- the Council to ad as a judicatory, for the trial of B^^dT* any crimes or mifdemeanors whatever. The Houfe foi Jed.* ' of Reprefentatives, far from giving up the matter, only changed their mode of attack ; and the Gover-* nor finding that they would pcrfift in a profecution ' under fome form or other, and that every new attempt would only ferve to involve things in ft ill greater difficulty, or at leaft: to increafc the animofity, thought it neceifary, at the conclufion of the month of March, to diffolve the Aflembly. Such was the ftate of things in the province of Maffachufet's Bay, when Gen. Gage arrived in his government. The hopes that might have been formed upon a change of adminiftration, and the joy that generally attends the coming of a new Governor^ were, however, nipped in the bud, by the arrival juft before of a (hip from London, which brought a copy of the Bofton Port Bill ; and a Town Meeting was fitting to conlider of it, at the very time he arrived in die .harbour. As this fatal news was totally unexpefted, the confternation which it caufed among all orders of people was inexpreflible. The firft: meafure was the holding of the Town- Meeting we have mentioned, at which refolutions were pafled, and ordered to be immediately tranf- mined to the other colonies, inviting them to enter into an agreement to ftop all imports and exports to and from Grpnf-Rritnin nnH Iri=»lonH nnr\ e^xr/^w t-nrf ■ of May 13, .1774- General Gage ar-^ n»c8 at Boflon. Great confter- nation on receiving the Bof. ton port bill. J I M. JT.'l' 124] 7^. H I S T O R Y 0/ the Chat. IV. ■ P2^', °/ '^*^ y^^-^"^^«» until the aft was repealed as ^^--■^ the only means (they faid) that were kft for'thc ialvation of North America and her liberties. Thev befidcs expatiated on the impolicy, injuftice, inhu. manity, and cruelty of the aft, and appealed from It to God and the world. ,. f?^ .^^^. ?^^" ^^"™c, copies of the aft were mul- tipiied with mcrcdible expedition, and difpatched to every part of the continent with celerity. Thcfe had the cffea which the poets afcribe to the Furies* torch they fct the countries in a flame through .which they paired. At Bofton and New York the populace had copies of the bill printed upon mourn, ing paper with a black border, which they cried about the ftrccts under the title of a barbarous, cruel, bloody, and inhuman murder. In other - places, great bodies of the people were called tOK^ her by pubbc advertifcment, and the obnoxiolis law burned with great folemnity* .f I^k'^'"'^'*. u ''i'^^'T' ^ ^^"y furprifing mixture of fobriety with this fury; and a degree of mode- ration was blended with the cxcefs into which the people were hurried. This extraordinary combuftlon in the minds of all ranks of the people did not prevent the Cover. New Af. Bofton. The new AfTcmbly of the province met of ftmbly courfe a few days after, the Council, for the laft Softon T^^ ^^^"g ^h°!^" according to their charts. The and are ^ovcmor at their meeting laid nothing more before adjourn, them than the common bufmefs of the province • L ' '"" ^''l^r^ them notice of their removal to the town Icm. of Salem, on the firft of June, in purfuance of the late aft of parliament. The Affembly, to evade this meafure, were hurrying through the neceffary bufincfs of the fupplics with the greateft expedition, tiiat thev mmht- fh^n qr»;/M>,.« »k^^r-i .. r 1 time Chap. IV. Civil War i/i A M E R I C A. f raj time as they thought proper; but the Governor 1774: having obtauicd fame intelligence of their intention, ^^'^r^ adjourned them uncxpeacdly to the 7th of June, then to meet at Salcm. Previous to this adjourn- ruent, they had prcfented a petition to the Govcr- nor, for appointing a day of general prayer and fafting, which he did not think proper to comply with. In the mean time, Provincial or Town-meetings were held in every part of the continent ; in which, ^SV^"" tho' fome were much more temperat.e than others, tiw' they all concurred in cxpreiTmP the greateft difap- mcctingi. probation of the meafures which were purlued againft Bofton, an abhorrence of the new aft, and a condemnation of the principles- on which Jt was founded, with a refolution to oppofe its cffeds in every manner, and to fupport their diftreffed bre- thren, who were to be the immediate viftims. The Houfe of Burgefles, of the province of Vir- ginia, appointed the ift of June, the day en which the Bofton Port Bill took place, to be fet apart for Mmg, prayer, and humiliation, to implore the Diyme interpofition, to avert the heavy calamity which threatened! deftruftion to their civil rights, * with the evils of a civil war ; and to give one heart and one mind to the people, firmly to oppofe every injury to the American rights. This example was cither followed, or a fimilar refolution adopted, almoft every where, and the firft of June became a general day of prayer and humiliation throughout the continent. . This meafure, however, procured the immediate .„. ^, diflblution of the Aflembly of Virginia ; but before ^ v^ '^ their feparation, an affociation was entered into and nhdiioU liped by 89 of the members, in which they de- >«d. dared, that an attack made upon one colony, to compelfubmifrion to arbitrary taxes, was an attart wi ail BritUli America, and threatened ruin to the rights ^«q .i' Pf n 1ST Q % Y pf the Chaf. IV. ^lAr tight* of %% unlcfg the united wifdom of the whole Ss^y^ WMs^jplicd in prcv-ntidtj. they therefore recom. raende4 to the '"ommittee of conefponidcncc, t^ cpDWJ^iMiicatc with the fevei^l coramittfefcs of the other ^provinces, oh the expediency of appdmting 4eputxc8 from the dift>ralem, paffed a refoiution, in which diey de- tionsof dared tlie expediency of a general meeting of cOm- *^^*»o"^c mittccs from the fevcral colonics, and fpecified the f^'^'P'^' purpofes which : rendered fuch meeting neceffary. tivc**at By another they appointed five gentlemen, of thofe Salem, who had been mod remarkable in oppafition, as a committee to reprefcnt that province. And' by a third, they voted the fum of 500I. to the faid com- mittee^ to enable them to difcharge the important truft to which they were appointed, As neither this appointment, nor difpo&l of the public money, could be at all agreeable to the Go- verjjor, he accordingly refufed his concjurrence to the latter ; upon which the aflembly paffed a refo- lution, to recommend to the feveral towns anrf dif- trias within the province, to raife the faid cool, by •quitable proportions, according to the laft provin- • cia tax. A recomniendaUon, which, at prefent, had all the force of a law. The Affcmbly forefceing that their diffolution was at hand, were determined to give the people a pub- he tcltimony of their opinions, ann^ v-^w-/ addrcfs, was prcfented from thie merchants and free- ^ddrefs holders -of the town of $nlc-nx to, the QpYernor. from the We capnot forget, that this tqwo was now become, town bf the tCiTiporary capital of the province,, in t^ie place Salem, of :ppftonj and tha)t the General Afferably^ the Courts of Juftice, the Ciiftom-hbufc, and, fo far as it could b« <^nc by power, the trade of that were removed, thither ; fo that ij^dr were already in pof- feffion of a principal ihareof tKofc fpoils, which it was fuppofcd would have cife^ually influenced the ' V'ondud of that people, atid tKcr-eby have bred fuch incurable envy, jcabufy and f^nimof;ty, between the gainers and fufferers, that the refradory capital End- ing herfelf abandoned, and boing left ailoiie to ru- minate, upon her forlorn fituation, would foon be reclaimed, and brought to as full a fenfc Qf her duty, as of'her puniflim^nt. Whether this opinion was founded upon a tho- rough knowledge of human nature in general^ or took its riifc from particular inftances, which were extended in fpeculation to the whole, may perhaps, in a certain; degree, be determined from the followr ing genfirou? fentiments of the inhabitants of Sulem. They fay^ "' We are deeply afflided with a fenfe of our public calamities j but the miferies that arc now rapidly ha(ki)ing on our brethren in the capital of , the province, greatly excite our commiferation ; and we hope your Excellency will ufe your endea.- vour* fo prevent « furt;her accumulation of evils on that already forely dilirelTed people.'* — " By (hut- ting up the port of Bolton, fome imagine that the courfe of trade maybe turned hither, and to our benefit'; but nature, in the formation of our har- bour, forbid*! our becoming rivals in commerce with tliat convenient mart. And were it othcrwife, we muft be dead to every idea ol jullice, loft to nil feelings of humanity, could we indulge one tliought to # ! '3*3 nym ST a Rvif the '^ cf«kKiv ^ ^ ruin ot bur fuffering neighbours." "v •"'■'"<'. ''-P ^ - '^ Imces". W P^^-SMcral difapprovedV alt vio- enter KV,«n'- '^T' ""'™*' "^^t they did not enter heartdy into the new meafures. Tt' ferns alio probable, that he believed the friends of tSem of government now adopted, to be ftronger and more numerous than they really were. An exnerimem m-«in:- -,^R r of government attended a town- S;?] e^n^l rV ")'' ''"™P"'l to pafs refolution, tor the payment of the tea, and for diflblvinir the kh^ta :'f ■^"■•■•'^'f?"''--; but they found tim- le V-, loft ,„ „ prodigious majority ; and had no other refource, than the drawing up of a protcffi agamft the proceedings of that aflembly! . ^ ' 14 Chap. IV. Civil WAk in A M ER I C A. •In tlie nican time, roiigh-draughts erf the two renwining bills relative to the province of Mafe- chufctt's Bay, as well a» of, that for quartering the troops: mAmcnca, all of ^^jg^ ^^^^ in aritadon m England, at the tiioie that the Jaft flajS failed from thence, were, received, and immediately cireu- htcd througbout-thc continent. The knowledge ot thefe bills, filled up whatever was wanting be- fore, of violence and indignation in moft of the colonics. Even thofe who were moderate, or fccm- €d wavering, now became fanguine. The idea of Ihutting up the ports, became common language and to be confidercd as a matter of ne^effity No' thing waMo be heard of but meetings and rcfolu- jT^V ■ °^'''^* c°"^"butiort8 for the relief of their diftrcffcd brethren in Bofton, were every where recommended, and foon reduced into praaice Numbcrlefs letters were written from towns, difl trias, and provinces, to the people of Bofton, in which, bcfides, every expreffion of fympathy and tendcrncfs, they were highly flattered for their t,aft eondua, and ftrongly exhorted to a perfeverance m that virtue, which brought on their fufFerings. The people of America at thii time, with refpeft to political opinions, might in general be divided into two great claffes. Of thefe, one was for rufli- mg headlong into the grcatcft extremities ; they would put an immediate ftop |o trade, without %vaitmg till other meafures were tried, or receiving the general fenfc of the colonies upon a fubjeft of fuch alarming importance J and though they were eager for the holding of a congrefs, they would leave It nbthing to do, but to profeGute the vio- lences which they had begun. . The other, if left numerous, was not Icfs reipeaable, and though more moderate, were perhaps equally firm. Thefe were averfe to any violent iiieafurcs being adopted until th^'^Z'v 7/'-^^^-"^^-'^'V ^-ica; mcy wiihed fur. ther applications to he made to Great Britain ; and the DS3 m4* Geheral temper and dtf* pofition of the people through* out the contineiit -hb ht'.". •in ^. sgJ Jtr--) Solemn league and cove tUQt. ' m ffil&TOR Y of tfjsiO C6APi IV, riw^gtjifavdtocw Hicficorfiploincd of; with.' the rights wjiicfal tlgy^d aimcd, tb be rfeadyr ftatcd, andpco- pitolj |niArtitpA< This, thcy'faixi, coidd only- bo doBttn^aiuatty by a general : congrefa, asia aav •ttotiBiBilcrii might be liable tbrthe dhjc6^ilof feeing) ^Aijiihtt'a^kdF a few rocn^ or of aparticu, mi!b^cviiiccSj em^kdd int© this r^vlnl^guc with ?% grtat^eagier- nafe. itkems, h-Jweweri that ii«iila(r>iig»tonoiits bad be(iiii«mewa iwt© about ihcfemeafiHifi Jinrjcttii- ouifam ©f the continent, and \W!ChbUDawilpiBi^i- o\i» Simeon mihc^k 4thtr, anf^ tla(jfe^Bofton..-:.::u:rc^..: ,:.,:• . ;' ... j:,ii;ibi;i:f;H ; GcncraliGagcW^much alatmed^t4hi«;po9ppefl. ing; to which it«;i«Mie, as well as'iti'(tdi«iem;r, mightifoffibly contrlbua^ fe jiccotdiiiilyi^iWiS- :ed ailrong proclamation ^igaiiiftiti i»^«iSiohiit «(wis ftiledian unlaavfiil^Jhoftild, AJl;^f;ItvaPM«^ againil incurring the ipaiins and. cponcUtibiflifeoto luch aggravations and dangerous offences, and all magjiftrates ctegiedJt0 ipprchfenii' an^otbcit/e for , trwly.fuch-as (houldh^ve any .fhar^inithelpiibaihuiir/' Aibfcwblng, aiding, orab€Wt»^iihe-:^cgoii(»'Jv?r' any fimi4ar gaiaillt* -,"•• f .#■ 1774. Mcafurei relative to the boldinff •f. * general congrefi. ■ »*,■" • ^ Mcifitrw i*r«re ilow cvcty wjjcrc taken for the fiJv!J!?£*^ I «?"^** <^«>ngrciir4 and PhUaddphia, h^&coni^nctoffu frtiUition, a« %tcll L its fccUTrty.jm fixed upon as the place. aiidthf which, in general, bore fome pro- portion to the extent and importance of the prow vmcc; two being the leaft, and feven the greatefl number, that: Teprefentcd any cdbny. But what- ever the number of rcptefentatives were, each co- lony hadno more than ii fingle vote. Refolu- : At thefe county and provincial meetinffa, a fc5?nSf' '^^^t^'o^wfolutions were conftamly paOed, monir pkcci. opprcffive, unjuft, and unconftitutional in it& prin- ciples, and dangerous to the liberties of America, was always among the formoft. At Philadelphia, a petttion, figned by near 900 freeholder?, was pre- tented to Mr. Penn, the Governor, intreating him to call a genejal affemWy at foon as pof^bjc. This July 15. 'f ^!Jf" bemff rcfufed> the province proceeded to the clcftion of deputies, vrho foon after met at Phila- delphia. As the rcfolutioai paffed at this meetings carry more the murks of cool and temperate delibe- ration, as well as of ulMion to the mother coun- try, than thofe of many others, and are at the fame time equally firm in the determination of fupport- ing what thev thought their rights, we fliall be the more particular in our notice of them. They^fet out with the ftrongeft profeflions of duty and allegiance to the Sovereign, whirls rn.ilH be €hap. IV. Civil Wa* /« A M E It Id A. [137 be well dcvifcd ; and declare their Ahorrence of every idea, of an unconftitutiouatl independence on the parent ftatc j upon which account, they fay, that they view the late differences between Great Britain and the Colohifts, with the dccpcfc diftrcfs and anxiety of mind, as fniitlefs to her, grievous to them, and deftruftivc to the bcfl in- tcrcfts of both. They then, after expreffinp the moft atdent wifties for a reftor^n of the former harmony, declare that the colonifts ^re entitled to the fame rights and liberties within the colonfes, that the fubjefts born in England are within that realm. ^^ ?ts»h ^ TTicy reprobate,, in the ftrongeft terms, die late \h\h relative to the province of MaflTachufett's Bay, and declare, thaft they confidcr their brethren at Bofton, as fuffering in the common caufe of all the colonies. They alfo declare, tht abfolutc ncceffity of a Congress, to coniult tdgcthcr, and to form a general plan of cbnduft to be obferved by all the cbloni^s, for Ac purpofes of procuring relidT for their fiifFermg brethren, obtainhiff redrefs of their general grievances, preventing ftture diffenticns, firmly eftablifhing their rights, and the reftoration of harmony between Great Britain and her colonies npon a conflitutional foundation. They acknowledge, that a fufpeiifion of the com- merce of that large trading province wirfi Great Britain, would greatly diftrcfs multitudes of their mdoftrious inhabitants; but declare that they are ready td offer that facrifice, and a much greater, for the prefervation of their liberties; that, how- ever, in regard to the- people of Great Britain, as wen as of their own country, and in hopes that their juftremonftranccs might at length have effect. It was their eamefl dcfire, that the Congrcfs fhould firft try the gentle mode of ftating their grievance*, and makmg aiirm^nd /, tnc price of their merchandize beyond the ufual rates, on account of apy rcfolutions that mi^ht be taken with refpeft to importation ; and by a decla ration, that, that province would break off all dea!^ ing and commercial intercourfc whatfoever, with any to- ^ city o.t colony on the continent, or with any !na;vid;. is in them, who (hould rcfufe, decline or nrglea td adopt and carry into execution fuch general plan as Ihould be agreed upon in the Con- Aug. I ft. ^ At a meeting of Jdegates of the fevcral counties of Virginia at Williamfburgh, which lafted for fix uays, befides profelTiona of allegiance and loyaltv of regard and affedion for their fcllow-fubieas in Great Britam, equally ftrongly cxpreffed with thofe which we have mentioned, and feveral refolutions m common with the other colonies, they paffcd others which were peculiar, and confiderkg the Itatc and circumftanccs of that province, with its immediate dependence on the mother-couhtry for the difpofal of Its only ftaplc commodity, mufl be confidercd very deferving of attentioA, becaufc itrongly mdicatmg the true fpirit of that people. n.nfrr^ ^Y^' '!J7. '^^^^^^^ "°' '^ P^rchafe any , more flaves from Africa, the Weft-Indies, or any ^^vm'k^k^? I '^'^^ '^,"' '''^-importation agreement (which had been early entered into) fhould take t^'?Z^l ^'^ °f .*he following November - that If the American grievances were not redrefled afte ^.^^"^^^"^"^'775, they* would export, after that time, no tobacco, or any other good whatever, to Great-Britain ; and to render thU laft refolution the more effedual, they ftrondy re- commended the cultivation of fuch articles of hul- bandrv, mflead of tobacco, as may form a proper bans for manufaaures of all forts ; and particular, ly to improve the breed of their Iheep, to multiply the m. Chap. IV.^ Civil War iVi AMERICA. [139 them, and to kill as few of them as pofliblc. They alfo refolvcd to declare thofc enemies to their coun- try, who (hould break through the Non-importa- tion rcfolution. The people of of Maryland, the other great tobacco colony, were not behind hand with thofc of Virginia in thejr determinations ; and the twoCarolinas, whofe exiftencc feemcd to de- pend upon their exportation, were by no means among the leaft violent. Thus the Boflon Port-bill and its companions, had even exceeded the prognoftications of their mod violent opponents. They had railed a flame from one en to the other of the continent of America, and united all the old colonies in one common caufc, A fimilar language was every where held ; or if there was any difierence in the language, the meafures that were adopted were every where dircfted to the fame objeft. They all agreed in the main points, of holding a Congreft, of not fubmitting to the payment of any internal taxes, that were not, as ufual, impofcd by their own aflemblies, and of fufpcnding all commerce with the mother-country, untill the American grie- vances in general, and thofe of Maffachufett's Bay in particular, were fully rcdrcffed. The people, as is always the cafe, were, froril circumftances or temper, more or lefs violent in Qifferent places ; but the refolution as to the great objeft of debate, the point of taxation^ was every where the fame, and the moft moderate, even at New- York, feened determined to endure any evils, rather than fu nit to that. At Newport, in Rhode "'and, the-flame burned higher than in fome. other P'aces ; an inflammatory paper was there publilhed, with a motto in capitals,— JOIN or DIE;"— in this piece the ftatc of Boilon was reprefented as a '^egej and as a diretl: and hofHle invafion of all the '774. trie generals or dcfpotifm, (it fays) arc " now «774- tl. Tbi HISTORY ^/Af Cu^r, IV. now drawing the lines of cjrcumvalkuion around our bulwarks of liberty j and nothing but unity, ** rcfolution, and pcrfcvcraacc can favc ourftlvci " and our poftcrity from what is worfc than death, '♦ --Jlavtryr What rendered this ftate of affairs the more dan- gerous, was, that it did not arife from the difton- tcnt of a turbulent or oppreffcd nobility, where, by bringing^ over a few of tlie leaders, the reft mull follow of courfc, or pcrfill only to their ruin ; nor did it depend upon the rcfolution or pcrfcverancc of a body of merchants and dealers, where every man, habitually ftudiousof his immediate intereit, would tremble at the thought of thofe confequences, which might cflcntially atfcft it ; and where a few lucrative jobs or contracts, properly applied, would fplit them into numberlefs faftions ; on the con. * trary, in this inftance, the great force of the oppo. fition to government, confifted in- the land-holders throughout America. The Britifh lands, in that vaft continent, are generally portioned oyt in num- berlefs fraall' freeholds, and afford that mediocrity of condition to the poffeffors, which is fufficient to raife ftrong bodies and vigorous minds ; but fel- dom that fuperabundance, which proves fo fatal to both in old and refined countries. The American freeholders, at prefcnt, are nearly, in point'of con- dition, what the Englifh yeomen were of old, when they rendered us formidable to all Europe, and our name celebrated throughout the world. The for- mer, from* many obvious circumftances, are more cnthufiaftical lovers of liberty, than even our yeo- men were. Such a body was too numerous to be bribed, and too bold to be defpifed without great ganger. ^ In this untoward ftate of public affairs. General Gage had the confolation to deceive a congratula- tory addrefs from tbi? Juftices of the Peace of Ply- mouth . Chap. IV. Civil Wak in AM ERICA. [i^f moutb county, aHcinbled at their gfineral fdTioni, 1774. in which, befides the cuftomary compiimcnu, they yv^u cxprcOcd great concern at feeing that the inhabu . ,. tants of fome towns, influenced by ccrtam perfon«, from tht calling themfclves committees of corrcfpondcnce, jufticw and encouraged by fome, whofc bufmcfs it was, as ^^ P'y- prcachcrs of the Golpcl, to inculcate principles of '"°"*** loyalty, ^nd obedience to the laws, entering into *^°*'"*y' i| league, calculated to increafe the difplcafurc of the fovcreign, to exafperate the parent country, and to interrupt the harmony of fociety. A pro- tcft was alfo pafTcd by feveral gentlemen of the county of Worcefter, againft all riotous diforders, and feditious praftices. Thefe efforts had however no other cffctl:, than probably to lead the governor as well as adminiftration into an erroneous opinion, as to the ftrength and number of the friends of government in that province. Though liberal contributions were raifed in the diflercnt colonies for the relief of the fufferingin. habitants of Bofton ; yet it may be eafUy concei- ted, that in a town, containing above 2o,©oo in- habitants, who had alwayk fubhited by commerce, and the feveral trades and kinds of bufinefs fubfer- vient to it, and where the maintenance of number- kfs families depend merely upon locality, the cut- l^^K^ffthat grand fource of their employment and fubfiftence, muft, notwithftanding any temporary Tdm, occafion great and numerous diftreffes. Even the rich were not exempt from this general cala- mity, as a very great part of their property confided in tvharfs, ware-lioufes, (beds, and all thofe numer- ous ereftions, which are deitined to the purpofes of commerce in a great trading port, and were no Ibnger of any value. They, however, bore their misfortunes with a wonderful conftancy, and met with a general fvm- Pathv and tendfirnpfc xxrhi^-h «,«^i c j.t_. - ' s "■•»**»» Mi«vi* v-wMjiiiiicu uicir refot 142] T^t? H I S T O R Y of the Chap. IVj ^ inH • f K-'^°"-' Their ncigKbours, the merchants ^^ and inhabitants of the town and port of Marble- head, who were among thofe that were to profit the moft by their ruin, inftead of endeavouring to reao the fruits of their calamity, fent them a|eS ing to the ladmg and unladmg of their goods, and of tranfaamg all the bufinefs they fliould do at their port, without putting them to the fmallell expcnce - but they at the fame time exhorted them to perfel vere m that patience and refolution, which had ever been their charaaeriftic. Uneafi- ncfs ex- Soon after the General's arrival in his govern- the ani- "^^"^ °V ^'"^'"^^y' ^"^ ^^^e jannon, were land- val of the f.^ at 15olton, and encamped on the common, which troops. lies withm the Peninfula on which the town (lands, lliele troops were by degrees reinforced by the arrival of feveral regiments from Ireland, New- York, Halifax, and at length from Quebec. It may . be eafily conceived, that the arrivaPand ftation of thefe troops, was far from being agreeable to the inhabitants ; nor was the jealoufy in any degree icls, m the minds of their neighbours of the fur- rounding coun^ties. This difTatisfaaion was further mcrcafed by the placing of a guard at Bofton Neck : ( wuich is the- narrow illhmus that joins the Penin- iula to the continent), a meafure of which the frc- quent defertion of the foldiers was either the caufe/ or the pretext. In this ftate, a trifling circumftance gave the people of Bofton a full earneft of the fupport they might expea from the country in cafe of extremity and an opportunity of knowing .the general tcmpe • /a .P'^T^*'- , ^ report had beenfpread, perhap: mduftrioully, that a regiment ported at the Neck nad cut oft all communication with the country, i' order to ftarve the town into a compliance with any mea* Falfe alarm. Ghap. IV. Civil. War in A M E R I G A. [143 racafurcs that might be propofed to them. Upon 1774. this vague report, a large body of ^he inhabitants v>^ of the county of Worccfter immediately affembled, and difpatched two meffengers exprcfs to Bofton! to difcovcr the truth of the imelligcnGC. Thcfe envoys mformed the town, that if the report had been true, there were feveral thoufand arincd men ready to have marched to their affiftaiice; and told them further, that they were commiffioied to acquamt them, that even thouglithey mio-ht be dif- polcd to a furrender of their liberties, the people of the country would not think themfelyes at all- included m their aft. That by the late afts of the iintilh parliament, and the bills which were pending therein when the laft intelligence was received, ' their charter was utterly vacated; and that the compaa betxveen Great-Britain and the colony bein? ' thus diffolved, they were at full liberty to combine together m what manner and form they thought belt for mutual fecurity. , Not long after the governor iffued a proclama- Proda- tion for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and matlons tor the preventing and punifhing of vice, prophane- for tHe nds,. and nnmorality. This proclamation, which «''*^°"" was avowedly in imitation of that iffued by his Ma- T'T' jefty upon his acceffion, feems, like moll adfof allS! government about this time, to have been wrong tue, &c. plaeed, and Ul-timed. The people of that province had always been fcoffed at, and reproached by their enemies, as well as by thofe of loofer manners, for a pharifaical attention to outward forms, and to the appearances of religious piety and virtue. It is icarcely worth an obfervation, that neither procla- mations or laws can reach farther than external an- Pcarances. But in this proclamation " Hypocrify" being mferted among the immoralities, againit which he people were warned, it fecmed as if an aft of "ate were turned into a libel on the people j and this i ill « m Hoftilc appear ances. I 144] ^felSTORYe/7;&»f ^ Chap. IV. 1774^ this infulrmfpcrated greatly the rage of minds ^■'-^ already fufficiently difcontcntcd. ^Zm M.^l°"^ ^^^ *^^ "^^ ^'"^^s, which did ttot arrive lo« choV. ^*^! ^^f begiimjng of Auguft, Governor Gage re- en. S«^^y ^ "ft of 36 new counfellors, who in con- formity to the new regiriatrons of them, were ap- pointed by the crown, contrary to the method pre- fcribcd by the charter, of their being chofen by the reprefentatives iri each affcmbiy. Of thefe gentle- men, about 24 accepted tht office, which was a fiif- ficient number to carry on the bufinefs of govern- ment, until a frefli nomination fliould arrive for nJJing up the vacancies. ^ Matters were now, however, unfortunately tend- ing to that crifis, which was to put an end to all eftabHAed govcrnmem in the province. The peo- ple in the different cc unties :)ecame every day more outrageous, and every thing bore the femWance of reliltancc and war ; in Berkfhire and Worccfter counties in particular, nothing was was to be feen or heard of, but the purchafmg and providing of arms, the procuring of ammunition, the caftmg of balls, and all thofe other preparations, /; . which teftify the moft immediate danger, and de- ■ termincd refiftance. All thofe, who accepted of offices under the new laws, or prepared to aft in • • conformity with them, were every where declared to be enemies to their country, and threatened with all the confequences due to fuch a charafter. The people of Connedicut, looking upon the fate of their neigiibouring colony to be only a preiuae to their own, even exceeded them in violence. New The new juflges were rendered every where in- judges ^pabie of proceeding in theit office. Upor> open- incapable mg the courts, the gvcat and petty juries through- ^^"g- out the whole province, unanimoufly refufed to be fwor/i, or to a^ in any manner, under the w^sn iudp-es. Cms Ghap. iV. Civil War in A M JE k I C A. judges, and the new laws. The ading otherwife 1774. was demed fo heinous, that the clerks of the courts ^^ found It ncccfTary to acknowledge their contrition m the pubhc papers, for ilFuing the wjlrrants bv which the juries were fummoncd to attend, and not only to declare, that let the cdnfcbuences be what they may, they would not aft lb agaih • but that, they had not cOilfidcred what they Were do ing, and that if their Cduntrynien ihould forgive' them, they could never forgive theitiffelvcs for the fault they had committed; At Great Barrih-ton and fome other places, the people aiTemblSi in < numerous bodies, and filled the court-houfe and avenues in fuch a manner, that neither the judge={ nor their officers could obtain cntraHce j and upori the fherrifl's commanding them to make w^y for the court; fhey anfwered. that they knew no court, nor other dhiblifhmem, independent of the ancient hiws and ufages of their country, and to none other would they fubmit, or give wa^ upon any terms. The nfew counfellors were fliil more unfortutiate New than the judges. 1 heir houfes were iiirrounded by counfd- great bcdies of the people, who foon difcovered by '°" ""^" their countenance and temper, that they had no P'"'^^*^ other alternative than to fubmit to a rcnunciatibn of SX their offices or to lufier aii the fliry of an enraged ces populace. Moft of them fubmitted to the forlner condition ; fome had the fortune to be in Bofton, . • and thereby evaded the danger, while others, with great rifque, were purfued and hunted in their dcape thither, with threats of deltruction to their nouies and effates. ij The old conftitution being taken away by aa of parhamem, and the new one being rejeaed by the people, an end wa$ put to all forms of law and jro- vernment m the province of Maffachufett's Bay : and the people were reduced to that fiatc of anir- cn\, m which mankind are fuppof.^d to have exiflcd u - I 111 Fortifica- tion OIJ Bolton Neck. «46] •r>&.HISTOR,Y ,/,/,, Chap. IV. 1774- in the carlieft ages. Thc>^gree of order, however ^--^ which by the general concurrence of the peopt was preferved inthis ftate of anarchy, will for ^er ex ni^^ .if^r^"'^ ^^°^=»"ki^d, and continue Tul^a. *^^^^;?"geft proofs of the eiEcacy of lon^ eftabhihcd habits, and of a conflam fubmifliqn"o laws. Excepting the general oppofition to a aew government and the eicceflcs arifing from it, in the outrages offered to particular pcrfons Xvho were upon that account obnoxious to the people, no other very confiderable marks appeared of the cef. , fation of law or of government. In the mean time, General Gage thought it ne ceflary, for the fafetyof the troops, as lell as t J fecure the important poft and town of Bofton, to lortify the neck of land, which afforded t*e on y communrcation, except by water, between that town and the continent. This meafure, howeve neceffary, could not hut increafe the jealoufy, fu- %aon and ill blood, which were already fo preva- tent J but was foon fucceeded by another, that ftill excited a greater alarm. The feafon of the year was now arrived for the annual mufter of he militia : and the general, having probably fome fufpicion of their condua when affembled, or^as they ^end cd being urged thereunto by thofe fecret advifers Stfid tale-bearers, to whofe infidious arts, and falfe information, for a long time paft, as well as the pre- i^nt, the Americans attributed all their own cala- ProvinclTX' ^""f^^ Roubles that had arifen between zlnesrei- ammunition and Itores, which were lodo-ecf in the zed. provincial arfenal at Cambridge, and had them brought to Bofton. He alfo,\t tSie fame tim^ leized upon the powder which was lodged in the magazmes at Charles-Town, and fome ofher places, bemg partly private property, and partly provin- This f'47 1774. The peo- ple in a Chap. IV. Civil War wiAMERICA. This excited the moft violent and univcrfal fer- ment that had yet been known. The p«ople aflcm- bled to the amount of fevcral thoufands, and it was wi^ the greateft dimcuky, that fome of the more ipodcrate and leading gentlemen of the country violent were able to ncftrain them from marching diredly to ferment Bofton, there to demand a delivery of the powder and ftores, and in cafe of refufal to attack the troops. A falfe report having been intentionally fpread, about the fame time, and extended to Connefticut, in order, probably, to try the temper of that pro- vince, that the Ihips and troops had attacked the town of Bofton, and were then firing upon it, when the pretended bearers of the news had come away, fcveral thoufands of thofe people immediately aflembled in arms, and marched, with great expedi- tion, a confiderable diftance, to the relief, as they fuppofed, of their fuffering neighbours, before they were convinced cf the miftake. About this time, the governor's company of ca- dets, confifting wholly of gentlemen of Bofton, and of fuch, in general, as had always been well aLpcd:- cd to government, dift>anded themfelves and return- ed to the general the ftandard, with which, accord- ing to cuftonr-, he had prefented them upon his ar- rival. This flight to the governor, and apparent difrelilh to the new government, proceeded imme- diately from his having taken away Mr. Hancock's commiffion, wlio was the colonel of that corps. A Colonel Murray of the militia, having accepted a feat in the new council, 24 officers of his r -giment rcfigned their commiflions in one day ; fo general was the fpirit -wjhich was now gone forth. The late me^furf oi feizing the powder, as well ag the fortificat'or which were ereding on Boilon- neck, oceafioned the holding of an ailembly ot de- legates, from all the towns of the county of Suffolk, of which Bofton is the county town and capital. Company of cadett difband them- felves, & return the ftan- dard. 1774 Sundry soluti- ons palTr c« that theyZht to be rejeaed as the wicked attempts of an abandon cJad.niniftrat.on to eftabliih a defpotic Kovernmem rhey^engaged that the county LuldTupmrTand who Ihould fuller profecution for not afting'^unde xec'utn ' !;"'^°»""'"'?-"'.J'«'ges, or carryig i.t that thofe who had accepted feats at the council board, had violated the'^duty they owed to thl obftiit? T"^ """=. *^y *""''' be confidered a, obfbnate ^nd incorngible wemies to their coumry! They alfo pafled refolutions againft the fortifier t.cns at Bofton-neclc ; the {^.ebec bil ; for the fuf' P^fionof co.,,me,ce; fo^ihe encoura™t of ^ and manutaaures ; for the holding ofaTrovin minion to the meafures which fliould be recom " e'ded ^^if '•°'"t'"^' ^""S^^f^- They r Cnl a t of t '". "7;°P't«° perfect themfelves in the fl ouU nppe'ar' i^c^'^rt' ''"P"'"^' "''' *^ ■""■'■-> ^ -ippccir unae« arms once every week Th^t r.d^™;:s;f'''rf'^' ''''^''■^^^*' s-^--''t' or the vi -b- ™V'"/?''''="°"^ by. contending for the vu.la.cd .-..Thts of their country, were to hr b"S •'; '" "''" T" ""'1='^'''"^ =■ m'eafurelhol the ofi efs o?."^""™' •,'^'^' '«°"'n>end. that all tne ol„ceis of io tyrannical a government, Ihould be Chap, IV, I f HAP. IV. Ciij^il War /« A M E R I C A. . [149 be fcizcd, and kept in fafc cuftody, until the fo?- lyyA mer were rcftorcd to their friends and famiUes. wC Then followed a recommendation, which, in the prefent itate ot thmgs, amounted to a peremptory command, to the colleaors of the taxes, and aU other receivers and holders of the public money not to pay It as ufual to the treafurer ; but to de- tain It m tbeir hands, until the civil government of the province was placed on aconftitutional founda- tion ; or until It fhould be otherwifc 'ordered by the Provincial Congrcfs. They, however, declare, that notwithftanding the many infults and opprcffion. which they moft fenfibly feel and refent, they are 4ctcrmined to ad merely on the defenfive, fo W as fuch condua may be vindicated by reafon, and the principles of felf-prefervation. They conclude by exhorting the people to reftrain their refent- mcnts, to avoid all riots and diforderly proceedings, as being deftruaive of all good government ; ^d by a fteady, manly, uniform, and perfevering oppofi- fion, to convince their enemies, that in a conteft fo important, m a caufe fo folemn, tbeir conduajhould be fuch as to merit the approbation of the 'wife, and the admtration of the bravc and free, of every a^e, (ind of every country, > .^ . "^ ^ They then appointed a committee to wait upon Scot 'oth the governor with a remonftrance .gaii^ the forti- T Klfthef'T'N^ in whi,hthe^y declare, that ft";:::".- though the loyal people of that country think them- lelves opprefied by fome late ads of the Britiih parliament, and are refolved, by divine afViftance never to fubmit to them, they have no indin^ion to commence war with his Majefty^s troops. They impute the prefent extraordinary ferment in the minds of people, befides the new fortification, to the feizmg ot the powder, to the plantinpr of can- non on the Neck, and to the infuhs and abufe offer- cd to paffengers by the foidiers, in which, they fay, they Anfwer." »5oJ . T1&. H I S T O R Y ./ th, Chap. [^ V^ ♦hf V have been cncoura^d by fome of the officers ' "^^-^ an4 conclude, by declaring, that nothing lefs than a '^J^'^^^l'^^'foix^oi^ grievances, can pLcc the inhabftants of the county in that fitViation of peace and tranquihty. which every free fubjed ought to enjoy, fn this addrefs they totally difciaimed every wim and idea of independency, and attributed all the pr^ent troubles to mifinformation at home, and ^c fmiftcr dcfigns of particular perfons. To this addrefs General Gage anfwered, that he Jiad no intention to prevent the free egrefs and re- grels of any perfon to and from the tovj^n of Bofton • tfeat he would fuffer none under his command to in! Tw i?^ PJ^^*^",^'* property of any of hisMaiefly's fubjeas ; but that it was his duty to prefcrvc the Sl*7; if "^ ^\ P'r?^ ^"'P"^*' > ^"^ ***at no ufe would be made of the cannon, unlcfs their hoflile procccdmgs fliould render it neceffary. Before public affairs had arrived at their prcfent alarming ftate, the governor, by the advice of the new council, had iffued writs for the holding of a general aflcmbly, which was to meet in the Win- ning of Oftober ; but the events that afterwards took place, and the heat and violence which every where prevailed, together with the refignation of fo great a number of the ne%v mandamus coynfellors. as deprived the fmail remainder of all efficacy made him thmk it expedient to countermand the writs by a proclamation, and to defer the holding of the aflcmbly to a fitter feafon. The legality of this proclamation was called in qucftion, and the clcdions every where took place without regard to It. Ihe new members accordingly met at Salem, purfuant to the precepts ; but having waited a day, without the governor, or any fubftitute for him at- tending, to admmifter the oaths, and open the fef- fion they voted themfelves into a provincial Con. grels, to be jomed by fuch others as had been, or (hould Writs for holding a general aflcmbly counter- manded by pro- clama- tion. Oft. nth The re- prefcn- tatives meet notwith- ftandlng [J5» 1774. at Salem; vote them- fclvcs in- to a pro* vincial congrefs, and ad- journ to the town of Co«- cord. Chap. IV. Civa War /« A M E R I C A. Ihould be elcftcd for that purpofc ; after which Mr. Hancock, io obnoxious to the governor's par- ty, was chofcn chairman, and they adjourned to the town of Concord, about twenty miles from Bofton. Among their carlicft proceedings, they appoint- ed a committee to wait upon the governor with a remonftrance, in which they apologized for their prefent meeting, by reprefenting, that the diftreffcd iuid miferable ftate of the colony, had rendered it indif. penfably neceflary to colled the wifdom of the pro- vince by their delegates ia that Congrefs ; thereby to concert fome adequate remedy to prevent impend- ing ruin, to provide for the public fafety. They then exprefs the grievous apprehcnfions ot the pco- pie from the meaiurcs now purfuing. They aifert, that even the rigour of the Bofton port bill is ex- I'eeded, by the manner in which it was carried into execution. They complain of the late laws, caU cqlated not only to abridge the pcopfc of their Vights, but to licenfe murders j of the number of troops in the capital, which were daily inereafmg by new acceflions drawn from every part of the continent ;. together with the formidable and holHlc prepara- tions at Bofton-neck ; all tending to endanger the lives, liberties, and properties, not only of the peo- ple of Bofton, but of the province m general. They conclude by adjuring the general, as he regards bit. Majcfty's honour and intercft, the dignity and happi- nefs of the empire, and the peace and welfare of the province, to defift immediately from the con- ftruftion of the fortrefs at the entrance into Bofton, and to reftore that pafs to its natural ftate. _ The general was involved in fome difficulty ifl Gover- pvmg them an anfwer, as he could not acknow- nor's an- ledge the legality of their affembling. The nccef. **'«'•• hty of the times however prevailed He expreflcd great indignation that an idea fliould be formed, -hat the lives, liberties or property of any peopU:, except Remon- ftrance from the provinci- al con- grefsi i ^ ?^'?'i,'"'°*"^ '="'=™'i*' "^"W be in dancer froJ ^•'^ EngMi troops.— Britain, lie faid, could net„l» ,. ,. hour Ac black dcf.gnof wa«only'deft oyinH^^ • flavuig any people ; and notwithftandinR Si! J molt tvcnr necenary for their prcfervation, tliev had W J aT** "1? refentment which ^gS M- He reminded the Congrefi, that while they coZkb' of alterations mad. in their charter by afts oTpar - ^""? 1'"^^'= themfelves, by their prefent X" ■'■"^'vfolT'"?'^'^ charter/and ,fow ading ?„ daea violation of their own conftitution ; he there" *»" 7f f* «*.™ of the rocks they were upon and ^1 °R \''' "'?Sal and uncLlUtutS'pro^ ««dmgs. By this time Bofton was become the P^of refuge to all thofe friends of the „"v go ^WDment, who thought it neceffary to perfevere^in -.«=af»°*"g ">eir fentimems. The commiffioners of *•= ^"ft?™*. «i«h »1I their officers, had alfo Zueh ^^^^7'r"i''^*t~"^'"fi°"<>*'theprf^^^^^^^ - inDMh, to abandon their head-quarters at Salern ^ ■-Vit wH^r ""^ iPPf «"' °^ acuChoufcTo ftota air^^e"" ^ °^ parliament had profcribed wan an trade. Thus the new ads of parliament on one hand, and the refiftance of the people on Aeother, equaUy joined to annihilate Kpea" »a of government legiflation, judicial pS Jngs, and commercial regulations. Upon the approach of winter, the general had ordered temporary barracks to be ereled for the ^t^Ir^^^'"'^' ^" '"'^^ty' =""» partly to pre! vmt the diforders and mifchiefs, which, in the pre- fect ftate and temper of both, muft be 'the unk-o d- tt iXStf^rVlf " "='"8 quartered upon their h^;n„ ■f'^h ^"'"""^ *as the didike to kkkrnZ^ T^l^'"^ *^*'".'" ^"y "tanner, that the lelea-menand the committees obliged the work- men to quit their employment, tho^h the money for C'53 tk AP. IVi Civa W4kK »« 4 M ]^ R ( C A. for their khoair would tavc be«it paid by tlic cirowBu The general had as little ftjcccfe ia cndcaTouring to procure carpcnteri froai New-Yorfc, fo t^ijit it wa? With the greateft difficulty he could ffct thofit tem- porary lodgmieius c!rea»d ; and laaving cndktavourcd aJfo to procure fome winter covering tram the iattc* city, the aSet to piUrdiafc it Airaa prefentcd to every ttcrchaot there, who to a man rcfiifcd complying with aay part of the ordor, and muPBicd he aniwcri " That tl^ey never would fupply any article for th^ " benefit of rhcn who were fent as enemies to their ** country*^* « Amm 'Tfilf ; » Evc^y thing mow tendedf ^: incrcafe the mutual State of apprehenlbttj (Mm% tod ^liaofity betwftanding the cautions given, and dangers held out by the governor, not only continued their aflem- bly, but their refolutions having acquired, from the difpofition and promptitude of the people, all the 2L weight rurtier proceed- ings* of the pro* viucial coagrefs. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 laai2.8 12.5 f.«'li^ 1 1.8 I U 116 VI /. .^,. W VM Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^^o ^v^ ^0 1 4' ►^ ^°J.% %' /^ 1^4] ^ HIS t O R Y ./ ihe Ckap. IV; vm^ weight aiidcfficacy> of laws, they fcemed to have v-^^ foupdcd in ifca fomcthin^ like i new and inde pcnctent govcmmcm. Un&r the %lc of rccom mcndation and advice, they fettled thUuitia 5 a^d aims. -They appointed a day of public thankf^iv- ing, on which, among the other enumerated blcff. iligjj :a ijarticular^acknowliidgment was to be made to theiUmighty for [the union which fo rcmarkablr prevailed in all the cQlpnics. , , . ; ^ Thefc wid fimilar meafures, induced General Gage to iflue a proclamation, in which, tho» the dirca. terma^arc avoided, they arc.eharged with pro. ceedingi^ which arc geteally undcrftoDd as nearlv tantamQuiit to trcafoft and rebellion. The inhabi- tarns of^c^provincdvwerc accordingly, in the kWs S^K ^ *f "^ from complying, in any degree, with the requifition&,rre(;ommendations, dircalons or rcfolvcs of that unlaw&l affeiiibly. Nov. 10 Procla- mation. 'iTi; r?DOT?f;-; CHAP. Chap. V. \ Ci vii; Wahl i?ij A M E R I CJnA. [i ^5. CHAP. V. rt4^ RefolutioHs cf the General Congrefs, held at Piiladelphia, and] opened on Monday the $tb ef September, 1774. DURING thcfe tranfaftions in the province of^ Maflachufett's-pay, the twelve old colonies, Sept.5th. including thai whole extent of continent which ^^^vnj ftrctchca from Nova-Scotia to Georgia, had appomt- cd deputies to attend the Qencra^jCongrefs, whit8, ind Whith, they fay. khti iwt-*» *T?i. ^^ t^^ ^^ ^^*^ porterity i thkt thev are jM^to^tberfght^^Sli ' «^«a»l tliaSt Are power iJ^tdy aflumed by ptrli^ um^fHfeft; and ftat the fete afts rcfeeftintr the cap^al and provWcc of Miffitchufett Vfely. arl uii. fOpftittttJonali 6i)^irivc, i^nd c^Wigcfoti*. ' _^«Thc inftruaioh?, howeve^ of the fcvera! colonics * that ptirfued that modfe, diftcrcd cdhfiderably from ca^h other. In^ lome great viol^^ce appeared. Others were more rcafoiiaWp. fa fobic nothings w^^kcnofbut their pri-rcvanee^. Othfers pro, pofcd l^cwife termi? on their part Ip be offiired io Qreat^Britam. Suth as an obcditehce to all the trade laws paired, or to be paCe*, except Tuch as ' ^^.^iP^c^fie^i and the fettling an annual revenue pntHfe crown for public purpofes, and dtfpofablc ftLS'Ji^^'^f ''^- . ^^ ^^^"^ ^^^^^^^f ^^e in, ftfuafed, that m thefc and all other pbints, they ^la. X^'^'^y^^^^ majority c* the Con. greft. This hiajority ^ts to be ddtirittined by reck- oning the colonies, as having eich a Vote, Without regard to tlie nt^mbei- of deputfcs in^hkh it fhould lend, '^ , The debates tai^ proceedlne^s of the Con^refs were pandufted with the greft^ fecre^^n^ have ^y parts of them yet trahifii-^d, but thofe '^vhich they thought proper to fay before the pubKc. The CfitAKV. CMLVrXn t\ AMERICA. [157 Thr tiuttiher of ^legates am9unwd to 51, who '1774. r^^fehted tht feVefol EngKih colohics of Ndw* ^.»^v>^ HftrfipiMre^ IVIftififellufeit^t^Bay, HhodscIfHrndv flhd PiWdctifee PlWftatlons, Conncaicut, New-Yorib, Npol<»d, by the dele- giatcs of tht connty of Sufllblk; afrtd e^mdtly recom- irteiided a perfevcrance ir the fame firtn and tttn^ fiMt ^oridudl, according to thte deiemiiftations of tM ifkHihlfi Thfis was immediately publifhcd, ^iid tranrmittcd to that provii^ce, accompanied with ah uiiilhimou& refolbtiori, Tliat contributions from all the cokmirs for ftipplyini^X the neceffities, and alleviating the diftrfcffc^s of thelt brethren at Bofton, otight^tD be cojitinued ih llich njaniier, and fo long, as their occafions may require. By ihe ftibfeqiieiit refoltitiont of the Congrefs, they, not otrly formally approve cf the oppofition made by that pi^oVinicc to the late iXfts ; but further dctlare, that if it flwuld be attempted to be carried mto execution by force, all Americ* fhould f«pport It in thai oppofitibm— That if it be found abfolutely nectfTary to remove iht people of 3c*fton into the poUiitry, ail America Ihod^ cpijtribHite towards rccom- Sept. 17, Aa«of the Con- 'grcfj. Appro- bation of the con-* duftof the pro- vince of Mafia- cnufett'n Bay. Refolutt- bns paff- ed by the county of Suffolk. Relolu- tions. '58J mms T a R Y y the " chap. v. 1774 rcconycnfmg thfcm for the injunrthcy might thcrc- .f .^^^'^J?^^^®^^^.' 1? ^"^"^^ ^° * fufpcnfion of thtadmmiftrationof juftice, as it cannot be procur- ed in a legal manner under the rules of the charter imtil the effea of the application of the Congrefs for a repeal of thofe ads, by which thei? charter .rights ais infringed, is known — ^And that every perfon ; who fhall accept, or ad under, any commiffion br authority, derived from the late aft of parliament changing tht^ form of government, and violating the charter of that province, ought to be held in detcfta- tion, and confidered as the wicked tool of that def- potifm, which is preparing to dfjftroy thofe rights which God, Nature, andCompaft, hath given to* America. They befidcs recommended to 3ie peo- ple of Bdfton and MalTachufettVBay, ftill to con- dua thcmfelvcs peaceably towards the general, and the troops ftationed at Boftpn, fo far as it could pof. fibly confift with their prefent fafety : but that they fliould firmly pe^fevcre in the defeniive line of con- dua which they are now purfuing. The latter part ot this ihftruaion evidently alluded to and implied an approbation of the late refolutions of the county of Suffolk, relative to the militia, and to the arming of the people in general. The Congrefs conclude by a relolution, that the tranfporting, or attempting to tranfport any perfon beyond the fea, for the trial of offences committed in America, being againft law, will juftify, andought to meet with refiftance and reprifal. ' Letter to G. Gage; - Thefe refodutionfi being paffed, the Congrefs wrote a letter to General Gage, in which, after repeatmg the coaiplaints which had been before repeatedly made jhy the town of Bofton, and by the delcgajps of different counties in the province of Mallachufett's-^ay, they declare the determined refolution ot i^e colonies, to unite for the prefcr- vation of thejl common rights, in oppofition to the late V^VX> Chap. V.^ ^ivil War in A M E< R I C A. [ 1 59 late aas <^ parKamcnt, under the execution of 1774. whicHthe unhappy people of that protince j^re op- ^^-'^-^ preffed: that, ii> confcquencc of their fcntimcnts upon tlia$ fubjeft, the colonics had appointed them the gHardii|i8 of their righti and liberties, and that they felt the dccpeft concern, that, whilil they were purfuing;eviciy dutiful and peaceable mcaiure to procure a cordial and effedual reconciliation be- tween Great^Britainand the colonics, his fexccUency ihould proceed in a manner that bore fahoftilcan appiearance, and which even thofc opprcflive a£fcs did nbt warrant. They rcprefented thci tendency this condua muft havctor irritate and forci: a peo- ple, however well difpofed to peaceable . mcafures, into hcfftilitics, which might prevent the endeavours of ^hc Congrcfs to reftore a, good underftandlng with the. parent ftate, and involve thcmi in ^e hor- rors of a Civil ►War, :In..Drder to prevent thefc evils, and the people from being driven tbaftate of defperation, being, fully pcrCixaded of their pacific difpofition towards the king's troops, if they could beaffujrcdoftheirownfafety, they iilircated, that thc^gcnoliiari 'fubjcd qnly to the negative ©fthd^ fov^reign, Irt &ch a manner at had beta hereto. ferciifcjlaiM|j.accu%)med. -.. . -. u zi,^,mi v-a , ^of AM E R KJ A. [i6i and privileges, granted an4 wn^imcd to/thciftjjy 1774. royil charters, or fccurcd by their feverai codas of ^J^ provincial laws. That they have a right to aiTcmbiei a^piuowory prociamauons locto doing, arc iJle- g^al. That the keeping of a landing arn^y, in times of peace, in any colony^ without thp qonfejit of its legaflaturc, is contrjtty to law. 'iThf^t it is eiTcntial to the £nglifh comflitution,,tliat the conftl- tucnt branche^ofthe Icglflature fhould be inde- pendent of each other ; that therefore, the cxcf cifc of Icgiflativ.c power, by a coupcil appointed cluring * plcalure bythe crown, is unconftitutional, and deilruaivc to the freedom of American legifljation. They declared in behalf of themfelvcs and their conftituents, that they claimed, and infifted on the foregoing articles, as their indubitable rights and hbcrtics* which could not be legally taken £rom them, altered, or abridged, by any power wKa^eyer, withouttheir own confcnt, by. tJieir reprefentativ«s w their.feyeral provincial legiilaturcs. . They then coumemed ^he parts, or the w,hole, of eleven z^s of parharaent which had been pafled in the prcfent rcign, and \ylu?h they declared to be infringements andviojation&of the rights of thcieolonifts ^ and that the repeal of them was cflentially necelTary, I'n order to reftorc. harmony between Great-Britain and them. Among the ads of parliament thus reprobated, was the quebec bill, which had already been the caufe^offo much difcuffion at home, and which thcy^termed, « An ad for eflablilhing the Roman CatKolic religion in the promce of '* Quebec, Bbolifhing the equitable fyfGmbrlrn- glifti laws, and ercfting a tyrajnhy there :" to the great danger (as they alferted) from fo total a dtf- iirrularity of religion, law, and government, of ifec neighbouring Biitifli colonies, by the aiTiilancc of '^ ^ whofe m /^ftcr fpcdfying thdr rights, and cBithcratin/t fl^gric^cc., thcr declared, that irb bKtam re- drcfi of the htter, wUa. threatened dcftruaion to Ae Hvc8, hbcrty, and Foj^rtr of tTie pebplc of ^otth-Amencz, a ndn-imporiiMon, non^:onf^1np. tion, artd non exptirtation, agreement, Would prove * - . ^""^ ^P^^^' cffcfaual, and peaccaj>le mcaLe ; Affoc... ^cy accordfnglv entered into an afTbciation, by tion. which they bound thenrfclycii, and of courfc their conihtucnts, to the ftrift obfervancc of the follow. Article I. mg articlei—i. That after the firft of the fol. lowing December, they, would import no Britifh gopd^ or merchandize whatfoevcr, nor anvEaft Indij^ tea, froni any part of the world ; nor any of the pi-odufts of the Britifli Wcft-Intfia Mands ; nor wmcs from Madeira or the Weftera iflands j nor ** !S^ ["«^°;T~^- "^^^^ after thai day, they, would wholly difcontinue theflave trade, and nci- ther hire vcflcis, noir Tea commodities or'manufac. 3. J5"^« ? any concerned in that trade.— i. That from the prefent date, thev will ufc no tea on which i ^^%.^ \^^" ^^ ^^ be paid ; nor kfter the jfirff 6f March cnfuing, any Eaft-Iridia tea what- ever, nor any' Britifh goods, imported after the firft Of December, except fuch as come Under the rules and Arcaions which we fhallfeein the loth article. — 4' ,""^4' Bythh article, the non-exportation agree- :incnt ig fulbended to the loth of September, 177c; ;rfter which day, if the a^s of parliamem which they had before recited are not regaled, all cxpor- tationis to ceafe, except that of ric^e, to Europe. — 5- J-, — 5- The Britifl) merchants arc exhorted not to Ihip goods in violation of thisaflbciation, under penalty of never holding any cortimercial inter- courfc with thofe that ad otherwife 6. Owners 6. ot Ihips are warned to give fuch orders to their captains, as will effcftually prevent their receiving any »774. '7. 8. 10. Chap. V. Civil War i^^ the pcdpic froltleft.-— -Tire agcntu of rfic pcopfe difcountenanccd, and mftruaiorts given to pWmtt the payment of their falaries ; aflcniblics repeatedly and mimoufly diffolved ; eommcrcc burthracd with ufcleft and oppreffite reftriftioh j. -' i Thty then cnunict^ate the federal afls of t^rKa'.' mem paflcd in the prcfcnt reign for the pur^i? of raifing a revenue mtlw colorties, and of ^^dinir thp powers of admiralty and vice-admiralty conSS beyond their ancient limits ; whereby their propcrtr 18 takep from them without their confdrit, the trfcd byjury, m many civil cafes aboRfhed, enormott* forfeitures incurred for flight offences ; vexatioui informers are exempted from paying damagtjt, to which they are juftly hable, and ojjpreffivelccaritr They comnlain of the parliamentary vote for reviving the Aatute of the 35th Henry Vinth, a«d' extending Its influence to the colonifts ; and of the 5!"-m- ^' ''i\°^ ^'^ P^^^^'^^ Majqfty, whereby the inhabitants of the colonies may, in fundry cafeZ by that ftatute made capital, be deprived c/ a trial by their peers of the vjciniige. ITiey then recite ^e th,ee aas of the p,.cedL feffio/, rZwt^ flolton and the provmte of Maflachufctt's-Bay ; the t&„ '^' M^ ^i!"/^ ^°' P'^^^^^^ ^«^«"« for the trdops m North America. juj The petition repeatedly contains the ftronecft cxprefflons of lovalty, p/affeftionate attachS and duty to the feverci^n, of love and veneration for the parent ftate ; they attributed thefe thvir fcntiments to thejil^erties they inherited from their anceltors, and the conftitution under which thev >verc bred J while the neccflity which compelled wag ^ v>n* N , ^3 rh fi 1 8 TP R T tf t^ Chap, y, ^774f W the apfllpgy for ddivcrifg t]^j«n.p^Thcy at jtlic tion and tc^jng iroxn a fovfrci^n, iyiofc iiluftrioas ^#^7 ^^cd tlwir ^rapirc to fimilar principles, ' -M' ...'■, ■• • . ' . Tljcy declare^ <;^v^t frqi^ , !^b(q MJ- PWc: tlicb^ffprtsinthelaftwar,: their embark- ^^^ ingtomcctd/eafc and death in for^n and S. pitablc climates, to promote the fucccfs of our •^'i W:<^.r;?wn acJmo>vIc4gwcnts of ihcir zeal, and our even rcimburfing them large fums of f'^l ^**'*'^ w« 5°^«^^ they l^^ci advanced be. .jTPWl their proppptipn, and % bc:y;ond their abili- '■t jS^^^ to whatcaufes they arc to attribute the I JJMWffo. change of treatment, and thatfyilcm of .^vcrj^ wmch was prepared for them at the reftora- ,.t|o^ of peace;. they trace the hiftory of taxation gromtlwt time, and affert, that thpfe exadions. in- ttead of being applied to any ufcful purpofe, cither for tins country or that, have been lavifhly fquan- aercd upon court favourites and miniflerial depend- ZBU ; that they ever were, and ever (hall be ready to provide fpi: the neceffary fupport of their own gg. Ycmmcnt; and whenever the exigeHcies of the ftatc may require it, they fhall, as they have hereto- fore done, chearfuHy contribute their full proper- ^tion of men and money. ^ They then proceed to ftatc and examine the mea- furcs and the feveral afts of parliament, which they confidcr as hoftile to America, and fubverfive of their rights; or, in their words, the progreffion of the mimfterial plan for enflaving them.— They r«)rcfcnt the probable confequencas to this country of a pcrfcverance in that fcheme, even fupp6fing it attended with fuccefs; addition to the national debt; mcreafe of taxes; and a diminution of com- mcive, muft attend it in the progrefs ; and if we arc at length viaorious, in what condition fhall we then be ? What advantages, or what laurels fhall wc reap from fuch a conqueft ? They artfully endeavour to render theirs a caufe vOth countries, by ihewing that futh fuccefj fQTrtmr>f> Chap. V. Civil War in AMERICA. fuccefs would, in the event,- be as fatal to the liberties of England as to thofe of America. They accordingly put the queftion, May not a minifter with the fame armies that fubdued them cnflave us : If to this it be angered, that we will ccafe to pay thofe armies, they pretend to Ihew, that America, reduced to fuch a fituation, would s(ford abundant rcfources both of men and money for the purpofe *, nor fliould we have any reafon to expc£l, that after making flaves of them, they Ihould refufe to affift in reducing us to the fame abje£l ftate, — In a word, (they fay) " Take care that « you do not fall into the pit that is preparing for [i«9 US. After denying the feveral charges, of being fedi- tlous, impatient of government, and defirous of in- dependency, all ot which they aflert to be calum- nies J they, however, declare, that if we are deter- mined, that our piinifters fhall wantonly fport with the rights of mankind f^ if neither the voice of juftice, the. diftates of the law, the principles of the cohftitution, nor the fuggcftions of humanity, can reftrain our hands from the fhedding human blood in fuch an impious caufe, they muft tell us, — " That " they never will fubmit to be hewers of wood, or " drawers of water, for any mmiftry or nation in "the world." They afterwards make a propofal, which it were much to be wifhed had been more attended to, as it affords at leaft no unfavourable bafis for negocia- ^_^___^ Z tion * If there is any truth in thisj all their former reprefenta- tionsof the poverty of their conditiOD", mull have been egre* gioufly falfe. ., t It may not be improper here to remark, that the miniiUrt accufed by the Congrefe of fportinp with the rights of man* Kind, as we learn from their complaints, are not onlr the nre* J«nt miniUry under Lord North, buL thofe under the if on. George Grcnville, thofe under the Marquis of Rockingham, and thofe under the Duke of Grafton nnd the Earl of Chatham. 1774- 17°] ^^ H I S T O R Y of the Chap. V. 1774. •tlorL.««i»lace us,*' fay they, "in the fame fitua- "-^^ ^ ^<>V^atwcwcrcatthcclofeof thclaftwar,and « our former hai^mony will be rcftored.** ' Thc^r C6nclude this memorial, by eiprefHnff tlie deepcft regret for the refolution they were oblitrcd to enter into for the fufpenfion of commerce, Ss a meafure detrimental to numbers of their fellow fuWeds in Great-Britain and Ireland ; they account andapologizeforthiscondua,bytheover-rulinffprin. ciples of felf-prcfcrvation ; by the fupincnels and Miattention to our common intereft, which we had flicwn for federal years j and by the attempt of the mmiftry, to mfluence a fubmiffion to their meafures by deftroymg the trade of Bofton. « The like fate," theyXay, « may bej^ us all ; we will cndca- vour, therefore, to live without trade, and recur for fubfiftance to the fertility and boUntyof our native fwl, which will afibrd us all the ncceffaries, and fomc of the conveniences of life." They finaUy reft • ??'^i^?P^^ ^^ a relloration of that harmony, triendlhip, and fraternal affeaion, between all the mhabitants of his Majefty»s kingdoms and terri. tones, fo ardently wiflred for by every true Ameri- can, upon the magnanimity and juflice of the Bri- tilh nation, in furnifliing.a parliament of fuch wif- dom, independency, and public fpirit, as may fave the violated rights of the whole empire from the devices of wicked minifters and evil counfellors, whether m or out of office. Addrcfs ^ all the papers publifhed by the American con- to the in- grefs,^ their addrefs to the French inhabitants of habitant, Canada ,difcovers the moft able method of applica- Of uana- tjon to At temper and paffions of the parties, whom they endeavour to gain.— They ftate the right they had, upon their becoming Englifh fubjeas, to the meftim^ble benefits of the Englifh conftitution ; tiiat this rirrhf "was furt-Ti*... ^^^£. 1 v— ^1 1 proclamation in the year 1763, plighting the public faith ^1774. Chap. V. Civil War /» AM E R I C A. [171 faith for their full enjoyment of thofc advantages. They impute to fviccecding miritfters an audacious and cruel abufe of royal authority, in iirithhoiding from them the fruition of the irrevocable rights, to which they >vcre thus juftly entitled.— That as they have lived to fee the unexpefted time, when mini- ilers of this flagitious temper have dared to violate the mod facred compacts and obligations, and as the Canadians, educated under another form cf govern- ment, have artfully been kept from difcovermg the ui\fpcakable wprth of that, from which they are de- barred, the congrefs think it their duty, for weighty reafons, to explain to them fomc of its moft impor- tant branches.' They then quote paflages on government from the Marquis Beccari and their countryman Mon- tcfquicu *, the latter of whoni they artfully adopt as a judge, and an irrefragable authority upon this' 6c- cafion, and proceed ^o fpecify and explain, under feveral diftin^ heads, the principal rights to which the people are entitled by the Enclilh conuitution ; and thefe rights they tryly fay, defend the poor from the rich, the weak from the powerful, the induftri- ous from the rapacious, the peaceable froni the vio- lent, the tenants from the lords, and all from their fuperiors. They flatc, that without thefe rights, a people cannot be free and happy ; and that under their pro- tefting and encouraging influence, the Englifti colo- nies * The political liberty of the fubjeft, according to Mon- terquicu, 18 a tranquiility of mindtzn^vag from the opinion each perfonhasQf U^fafcty. In order to poffefs this liberty, he obfcrves, it is reguifite the government be fo conftituted, that no one man be afraid oi another; au^ his exemplication of thii idea, as well as the maxim, ;s ty'J tly borrowed from the Englilh conftitution ; but excellent at tbi Ewglifh couftitution j'a, 'xhf ""ri H/\::!\t \\'.it A-f/'j/.-r'?/ I'tkert^i cr that tTSHQuHHti ox mindj which arifea from an opinion of perfonal fafety, may cxift under another form of govcrnmeiit \ '70 5*. HISTORY. /M. Chap.'v ^^ creafcd. And, that thefe are the rights which \ profligate mmiftry are now ftriving by fore? of arms to rav.(h from themfelves ; and wWh th« wkktteU^^s."""'" "'■°'"'* never to rengnbul They again remind the Canadians that they are entitled to thtfe rights, and ought at this S to be m the perfeS exercife of them. They Th" liament m their place ? And from thence proceed to a fevere exammation of the Quebec aft ; lA which thev attempt to ftew, that it dfcs not afford Aem and has not left diem a civil right or fecurity of any luad ; as every thing it feems to grant, and even the laws theypofleffed before, are Uable to be altered and varied, and new laws or ordinances made, by a governor and council appointed by the crown and confequently, wholly dependent on, and re - Zrfl ''' "''= *■'" ,°( '"^'^" i" England ; fo that all the powers of legiflation, as well as that of grating and applying the pubUc fupplies, and dif. Sat S A.V"j "*'; ^'°^y' ^^'"S tfaus totally out of the hands and controul of the people, they aer tfte moll defpouc government in the univerfc. fc,^." P.'''*™'^'"? «o point out numberlefs de- formities in that Taw, and placing them in fuch tomankind,_aswellasWdeousto the Canadians, h^^I,-,T '• 'I*? '"'■"'* ^^^^^^° tlieir injuries ed hvT* "P™ *'"<=h, they faid, it had been iiund; comprehending the tendency of a law, which fo ma^eriallyeSeaed their dearerfinterefts, theTftouU , i" J'':!!l'!?-°^ f. '"■"'*«» .g'="it"de, take Jp arms, ....- ...wi iu= riQicuie and deteitation ot the'world, . by Chap. V. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. fi 73 by becoming willing tools in hU hands, to ailift in 1774. fubvcrting 'he rights and liberties of the other colo- V-roJ nics ; withe ut their being capable of feeipg, that the unavoidable confequcnces of fuch an attempt, if fucccfsful, would be the extinftion of all hopes to thcmfelves and their pofterity of being ever reftor- cd to freedom; " For idiotcy itfclf, (fay they) cannot believe, that, when their drugery is per- formed, they will treat you with lefs cruelty than they have us, who are of the fame blood with them- lelves." • . ITiey again apply to their paffions, and partiality for their countrymen, by calling up the venerable Montefquieu, and defiring them to apply thofe maxims, fandified by the authority of a name which all Europe reveres, to their own ftate ; they fup- pofe him alive, and confultcd by the Canadians as to the part they fhould aft in their prefent fituation. '^hey are told (after expatiating on the fubjed of ' Ireedom and flavery) that they are only a finall peo- ple, compared with their nurtierous and powerful neighbours, who with open arms invite them into a fellowfhip ; to fcize the opportunity in their favoyr, which is not the work of man, but prefentedfoy Providence itfelf ; that it does not admit of a quef- tion, whether it is more for their intereft and happi- nefs, to have all the reft of North America their unalterable friends, or their inveterate enemies ; that as nature had joined their countries, let them alfojoin their political intcrefts ; that they have been conquered into liberty, if they aft as they ought; but that their doing otherwife will be at- tended with irrerffediable evils*. -r; They . ^ . ^^t^'^ ^"ch an artful, and inflammatory aiMrefs, it is fur - pruing that the Congrefs fhould ever have the effrontery other to avow allegiance to Great Britain, or to difclaim their a»bmou8 purpofc of independency. Tliifi aiUirefs, esclufiye oi every other circwmilance, and of the proofs ariiinB from their fubfequent conduA, is of itfclf fi fficient to rut fuch a purpofe Pcyund a doubt. * v \ ^ '74] mniSTORY tftU Chap.V. 1 774. They endeavour to obviate the jcaloufics and v^-vN^ prejudices which might arife fr^ the diffcrci^cc of their religious principki, by iuftancing the cafe of the Swifs cantons, whofe union is compofcd of Calholic and Protcftant dates; who live in the atmoft concord and peace with each other, and have been thercbjr enabled to defeat ^H attempt againft their liberties. This inftance, though per.' haps the nioft appofite that could h*yc been brought for the purpofe, would not, however, have borne the teft of much examination. They declare, that they do not require them to cojumcnee afts of hoftility againft the government of their common ibvercignj that they only invite tlicm to confult their own glory and welfare, and not to fuffer themfelvcs to be ijavcigled or intimi- dated by infamous miniftejrs fo far, as to become the mftruments of their cruelty and dcfpQtifm. They conclude by informing them, that the congrefs had, with univerfal plcafure, and by a unanimous vote, refolvcd, that they Oiould conlider the viola- tion of their rights, by the ad for altering the go- vernment of that province, as a violation of their own ; and that they ihould be invited to accede to their confederation, which had no other objcfts than the perfed fecurity of the natural and civil rights of. all the conftitucnt members, according to their refpe^ive circumitanccs, and the prefervation of a happy and lailing connexion with Great-3ri- ta^i, on the falutary and conftitutional* principles before mentioned. Addrefs In the addrefs to the colonies they inform them, to the that as in duty and juftice bound, they have deli- coionies. berately, dilpaffionately, and impartially examined and conadered all the meafures that led to the pre- fent difturbances ; the exertions of both the legi- flative and executive powers of Great Britain, on ^Ha tf^n^ 1->»%*« J aiid the conduct ox the colonies oti tlip 6HAP. Vi Civil War in AMERICA. the other. That upon the whole, they find them- fclvcs reduced to the difagreeable alternative, of being filent and bctrayin^j the innocent, or of fpeak- ing out and ccnfuring thofe tlity wi/h to revere. In making their choice of thefc diftrciflng difScul- ties, they prefer the courfc dilated byhonefty, and a regard to the welfare of their country 4 After ftating and examining the fcveral laws that were paflcd, and the raeafurcs purfued with refpeft to America, from the year 1764, to the prcfent period, (1774), they enquire into the motives for the particular hoflillty carried on againft the town of Bofton, and province of 'Maflachufcit's Bay, though the behaviour of the people in other colo* nics, had been in equal oppofition to the power af- fumed by parliament, and yet no ftep wlwtever had been taken againft any of them by gdverntriwit. This they reprcfent as an artful fyftettiatic line of conduft, concealing among others the following dcfigns : ift, That it was expeftcd, that the pro- vince of Maflachufett's would be irritated into lome violent a€iion, that Slight difpleafe the reft of the continent, or that might induce the people of Eng- hiid to approve the meditated vengcaaoc of an imprudent and exafperated miniftry. If the uiiex- ainplcd pacific temper of the province ibould diCip- point that part of the plan, it was in that c^ hoped, that the other colonics would be fo far intimidated, as to defert their brethren, fuffering in a common caufe, and that thus difUnited, all might be eafily lubduedi After examining the Quebec acl, and pretending to affign the motives on which it was founded, they fay, that from this detail of fads, as well as from authentic intelligence, it is clear, beyond a doubt, that a refolution is formed, and now is carrying colonies, byfubjeaingthemtoadefpotic government. Ins 1774. They m 176] »774. !r»f HISTORY o/tbe Chap. V. They ribcn proceed to ftatc the importance of the tnift which was rcpofed in them, and the manner in which they have difchargcd it. Upon this occa- fion, they fay, that tho* the (late ot the colonics voiild certainly juftify other mcafurcs than thofc which they have advifed -, yet they have, for weighty Tcafons, given the preference to thofe which they have adopted. Thcfe reafons are, that it is con- fiftcnt with the charafter which the colonics have always fuftained, to perform, even in the mldft of the unnatural diftreffcs and imminent dangers that furround them, every aft of loyalty ; and therefore they were induced to offer once more to his Ma- jcfty the petitions of his faithful and oppreffed fub- jefis in America.— Then from a fenfe of their ten- der affc£Uon for the people of the kingdom from which they derive their original, they could not forbear to regulate their fteps by an expeftation of receiving full conviction that the colonifts arc equally dear to them. That they ardently wilh the fecial band between that body and the colonics may never be diffolved ; and that it cannot, until the mindsof the former fhall become indifputably hoftile, or their inattention (hall permit thofe who are thjus hoftile to perfift in profecuting, with the powers of the reahn, the dcftrudive meafures already ope- rating againft the colonifts; and, in either cafe, fhall reduce the latter to fuch a fituation, that they fhall he compelled to renounce every guard but that of felf-prcfervation — ^That, notwithftanding the, vehemence with which -affairs have been im- pelled, they have not yet reached that fatal point ; that they do not incline to accelerate their motion, already alarmingly rapid ; and they have chofen a method of oppofition that does not preclude a hearty reconciliation with their fellow citizens on the other fide dTBie^Atlantic. That, they deeply deplore the urgent necefiity that preffes them to an immediate interruption ot com- Shap. V; Civil War /» A M E R IC A. C»77 commerce, which may prov.r injurious to their fcl. 1774. low-fubjcfts in England ; but truft they will acquit ^^rr-j them of any unkind intentioni, by reflecting that thcyfubjeft thcmfelvcs to fimilar mconvcniencica;j that they arc driven by the hands of violence into unexperienced and unexpeded pihlic convulfions ; and that th«y are contending for freedom, fp often contended for by their anc^itors. They conclude by obfcrving, that the people of England will foon have an opportunity of declaring their fcntiments concerning their caule. <' That in " their piety, genero0ty, and good fenfe, they re- " pofe hi^h confidence ; and cannot, upon a re- « view otpaft events, be perfuadcd that t^ey, the " defenders of true religion, and the alTcrtors of " the rights of rtiankind, will take partagainft their " affedionate Proteflant brethren in the colonies, « in favour of their open and our own fecret enc- ** mies, whofe intrigues, fpr feveral years pail, have « been wholly exercifed in fapping the foundajtion *♦ of ;ill civil and reUg^QUS liberty. Thcfc pub^ic aft? being paffed, the , delegates put TheCon- aocnd to their feffion, on the 5 2d day Bom the f*^* opening of the copgrefs. Od ^'e"? Without examining the truth of their allegations, or pretending to form any opinion upon a fubje^ft, on which the firfl namei in this country |iave dif- fered fo widely, it mufV be acknowledged, that the petition and addrcffes from the congrefs have been ejcccuted with uncommon energy, addrcfs, and ability; and that confidcred abflraftedly, with re- fpcft to vigour of mind^ ftrength of fentimcnt, and the language, at Jeaft of patriotifm, they would not have difgraced any affembly that ever ^i^||^ A a CHAP. I7S] ^.HISTORY 5^ ,A, Chap. VI >774. State of affairs previous to the diflblu- tion of Parlia- ment. C H A P. VI. Stati of Afairs at the opining o/tht ntnx, parllamnt, 'with fu,^ afcomt of the fwo Fijhtry Bills faffed in thl, fijfi,^, ^ W^tli'nLjn*"-" t^ '^" magmtude were tranfaaing in America, an unexampled fupmcncft, with regard to public affairs, prcvai cd among the great body of the people. Iven 5c great commercial and manufafturing bodies, who muft be the fir.l to feel and the lafti lameml fimfter events m the colonics, and who arc gene- rally remarkable for a quick foref.ght and provident fagacitym whatever regards their intereft, fccmcd now to be funk in the fame careleffnefa and'nat- tcntion with the reft of the people. ulff ''''*^ caufcs concurred to produce this apparent and thofc fliort intcrmiflions, engaged the attention of parliament. Moft of the topics on the fubjeft H'cre exhauftcd, and tjbe vehement paffions which accompanied them had fubfided. The non-impor- tation agreement (by divifions within the coIoL, which, if not iaufed, were much forwarded by the f„°1'.'^^?tTt 'T'^ ^"^ ^*-'^^^^* °^^h<^ taxes laid m 1767) had broken up, before it had produced flattered theritfelves, that as things had appeared fo very frequently at the verge of \ ruptur^^ iZ anally arriving at it that now, as formrxiv. ^ .e means would be found for accommoda / ' il^ . ,f. ?.m*«nn7S'^ '^T"^^ conceived, that the Ameri- cam would thcmfelves grow tired. And as an opi. "^^^JE^"^c"^ated with fome induftry and fucccfs, tl^at ar^tenance of refolution, if perfevered in i >i :l.me i.mc, would certainly put an end to the uiuv it, which (it was faid) had been nourifhed ' wholly Chaf. VI. Civil War in A M E R I C A. |;i79 wholly by former concclTions, people were in gene- 1774. rai inclined to leave the trial ot the effecU of perfc- v-^v-^^ verance and refolution, to a minlAry wlio valued themfelves on thofe qualitiei. All thefe things had hitherto indifpofed the body of the nation from taking part in the fangutne manner they had hitherto done on other fubicdU, and formerly on this. From tbefc caufes, admmiftration being totally difengaged at home, was at full leifure to profecutc the mea- fures which it had defigned againft America, or to adop^ fuch nc'v ones, ai the oppoAtion there ren- dercu ntceifary towards carrying the new laws into executici^. liie times indeed were highly favour- i'le to any purpofe, which only required the con- currence of that parliament, and the acquicfcence of the people. Notwithftanding thefe favourable circumftances on the one fide, and that general indifference which prevailed on the other, it was not totally forgotten by either, that the time for a general election was. approaching, and that the parliament had but one leilion more to compleat its allotted term. ■ :- % On the meeting of this nrw parliament. Sir Flet- Nov. 30. cher Norton, was, without oppofition, appointed The aew Speaker. In the fpeech from the throne, the two Parlia- houfes wefe informed, that a moft daring fpirit of "»cnt tcfiftance and difobedience to the law Hill unhappily "*^*"* prevailed in the province of Maffachufctt's-Bay, Speech and had, in divers parts of it, broke forth in freih from the violences of a very criminal nature ; that thefe pro- tl»ronc. ceedings had been countenanced and encouraged in others of the colonies^ and unwarrantable attempts made to obftruft the commerce of this kingdom, by unlawful combinations ; that fuch meafures had been taken, and fuch orders given, as were^judged moft proper and efFcdual for carrying into execu- tion the laws which were paiTcd in the lafl feflion of the late parliament, for the protcftioB and fecurity »fic)] nfniSTORYifthe Chap. VI 477^ of comnKsrce, and for rcftoring and prcfervW ^f m' ?^f V"? ^°^ govcrhment^ m the provinc? of Maffacfeufctt*s.J8ay; that thfey might depend upon a firm and ftedftiil refolution to withLd cvfery attempt to weaken or impair the fuprcmc authority of this Icgiflaturc over aU the dominions ottae crown, the maintenance of which was con- lidercd as cflcntial ro the dignity, the fafcty, and vjifarcof the Britifli empire; his Majcfty beinff airurcd-.f receiving their affiftancc and ftipport whale ading upon thdfe principies. Addref.. . An addticfs, in the ufual form, having been moved for, an tmettdmcnt was cropofed, on chc fide of Am.nH ^J^}^^ " l^a* bis Majefty would be ,gracioufly Amend, pie^fed to communicate the whole intcHigcnoj he propofed. had received from America to the home, as well as the tetters, orders, aind inftryatons, upon that iHifiAc^," The proipafal for this amejsdment was 'produaive of fome conf;dcrable debate, as wflhs of a 4ivifion. The minority war btit 13 to 63 oa the divifion. it was rendered memorable by th: circumftance of ha\'ing produced a proteit, the firft we remember to have heard of upon an adtirefs, and that too very ftrong and pomted. , • The anfwer from the ^hone to this addrefs, be- fides the «fual thank&, contained an affurance of taking the nw)ft fpeedy and cffedual meafures, for enfarcing due obedience to the laws and authority of the fupremc legiHatsure ; together with a decla- ration, that whenever any of the colonies fiiGuJd make a proper and dutiful application, his Majefty would be ready to concur in affording them ev^ry juft and reafonabie indulgence; and concluded with an earielt wilh, that this dtfpofition might have an happy efea on their temper *nd condud. This anfwer wns .arrnmnoinJ^i^ mWh o »«:»/r<.-^^ tr. the Commons, in which they wtre informed, that as Debates. Proteft. fMAP. VI, Citit War in A M E JJ I C A. as it was determined, ia confluence of the ad- drcfs, to tjikc the m<>ft fpecdyand efFe^ftual mea- fures for fupporting'thc j«ft rights of the crown, ajd the two houfes of parliament, fome aii^^ weaknefs, becaufe it fuppofes, that whatever is taken from the colonies, is of courfe to be transferred to ourfclve^b , _i_ . The Fifhery-bill had fcarccly cleared the Houfe Mar. gth*. of Commons, when the minifter brought in another, . , " V ^^?^,^^ the trade and commerce of the colo- Fiftenr"" « mes of Ncw.Jerfey, Penfylvania, Maryland, Vir- bill. ^ ginja, and South Carolina, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the Britiih iflands in the Wefl-Indies, under cert^m qonditions and limitations." As measures of this nature were now familiar, he only thought it neccffary to obfervc, that as the fouthern provinces had acceded to the nonrimportation and non-ex- Frtat;on agreement, as well as the northern, it was conformable to reafqn and juftice that they Ihould c(iuallyfcel our rcfcntment, and experience the fame degree of puniOiment. The matter of this *;".'» bemg formerly dtfeuffed, the debate at the tlurd readmg was not long, nor the attendance con- fidcrable on the part of the minoiflty. The bill ^ , pafled without difficulty. Apr. 5th. During the paffing of thefe two additional Amcri- can biils, feveral conciliatory ones were offered by Lord Chatham, and other lords In the minority; alio petitions fi-om the city of London and feveral manutaauring towns in Grcat-Britain and Ireland. Some counter petitions were alfo received, callinff or an enforcement of the laws of Great-Britain as tnc only means of preferving a trade with the colo- nics, and affcrtmg that the trade hitherto had fuffer- cd nqnc, or an inconfiderable diminution by the conibmation of the Americans, Much ahercation arofeon the truth of fads alicdged on both fides, as well as on the manner of nbtai^fnn- th^ r,^«„*. . «id the quality of thofc who figned! " Th^ndnori! « 774- ty infiftbd, attd the mod irho figncd thcfe w^r >>«.->»l« wVi^-v nn\A aR implicit obedience to its determinations. As ex- Warlike prepara* tions. 1774. Chap. yi^. Civil Wa^ /^ AU |; R ^ C A. [187 expreflcs continually psi0'i:![t :'0 Difpute at a draw bridge. Oovembr Gage havmg received mtelligencc that fome brafs cannon were dcpofitcd in the town of Sajem, fent a detachment of troops under the com* mand of a field officer, on board a tranfport, in order to fcize upon and bring them to Bofton. The troops having landed at Marblehead, proceed- cd to Salem, where they were difappointcd as to finding the cannon j but having fome rcafon to ima- ginis they had been only removed that morning in confequence of their approach, it induced them to march further into the country in hopes of over- taking them. In this purfuit they arrived at a draw- bridge over a fmall river, where a number of the country people were affembled, and thofe on the oppofitc fide had taken up the bridge to prevent their paffage. The commanding officer ordered the bridge to be let down, which Sie people peremp- torily refufcd, faying, that it was a private road, and that he had no authority to demand a paffage that way. For to the laft moment the language of peace was prefcrved, and until the fword was decifively drawn, all rcfiftancewas carried on upon fome legal ground. Upon this refufal, the officer determined to make ufc of a boat, thereby to gain poffcffion of the bridge j but the country people perceiving his in- — ». Chap. Vn. Civil War /« A M E R 1 C A. [193 intention, fcvcral of them junipcd into the boat with axes, and cut holes thro' her bottom, which occafioncd fomc fcufflc between them and the fol- dicrs in and about the boat. Things were now tending to extremities, as the commander fecmed determined to force his paflage, and the others as rcfoh^ely bent to prevent it. In this fituation, a neighbouring clergyman, who had attended the whole tranfaaion, remonftrated with the lieutenant- colonel, upon the fatal confcquences which would inevitably attend his making ufe of force. And finding that the point of military honour, with re- fpca to making good his paflage, was the principal objea with that gentlemen, it being then too late m the evening to profecute his original defign, he prevailed upon the people to let down the bridge which the troops took poflcffion of; and the colo! ncl having puflied a detachment a little way into the country, in cxercifc of the right which he afl*um- cd, they immediately afttr returned, without mo- Icftation, on board the tranfport. Thus ended this firft expedition, without effcd, and happily without mifchicf. Enough appeared to (hew upon what a flcndcr thread the peace of the emoirc hung j and that the Icaft exertion of the military would cer- .tainly bring things to extremities. The people, fmcc the ads for cafting away their charter, and ^or proteaing the foldicryfrom any trial in the Fovmce, confidcred themfclves as put under mili- tary goTernmcnt. Every motion of that body be- came fufpefted, and was in their eye's an exertion of the molt odious and moft dreadful tyranny. This appearance of refiftance feems, on the other »dc, to have greatly irritated the military, for from tills time they appear to have lived upon worfe terras wth the inhabitants of Bofton than they had Mhcrto done ; fomc general and wanton infults, as wen as particular outraorps hnvmAr K#.«n ^^^^w.^^a «• mt the cnfis was now fait approaching, in C c which ^775' 194] The HISTORY of the Chap. VH. 1775. which all her Icffer evils and calamities were to be ^^^^^TKJ loft and forgotten in the contcitiplation of thpfc of a great and ferious nature. AflFair at The Provincials having coHe£ted a confidcrablc Lcxing- quantity of military flores at the town of Concord, Concofd ^^^^^ ^^ provincial congrefs was alfo held, Gen. Gage thought it expedient to detach the grenadiers and light infantry of the army, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Smith, and major Pitcairn of the marines, in order to deftroy them. It is faid and believed, that this expedition had another objed in view, which was to feize on the perfons of Mclfrs. Hancock and Adams, thofe great and obnoxious leaders of the faction which oppofed the new fyftem of government. The detachment, which wa? fup- Apr. 18. pofcd to confifl: of about 900 men, embarked at Bofton on the night preceding the 19th of April, iind having gone a littje way up Charles river, landed at a, place called Phipps's Farm, from whence they proceeded with great filcnce and cjcpedition towards Concord. Several officers on horfe back in the mean time fcoured the roads, and fecured fuch country people as they chanced to meet with at that early time. Notwithllanding thefc precau- tions, they difcovered, by the firing of guris and the ringing of bells, that the country was alarmed, and the people adually began to affemble in the neighbouring towns and villages before day-light. Upon their arrival at Lexington, about five in the morning, they found the company of militia, belonging to that town, aflembled on a green near the road ; upon which an officer in the van called out, Di/per/e, you rebels: throw down your arms, and d'tfpcrfe : the foldiers at the fame time running up with loud huzzas, fome fcattering fliots were firS fired, and immediately fucceeded by a general dif- . .- ttitiinji m,i-w xxii'.-'V and fcveral wounded. Thus Chap. VII. Civil V; ar /« 1 M E R I C A. [i 95 Thus was the firft blood dra^n in this unhappy 1775. civil Qontcft. Great pains were takea on each fide v^^^'v-/ to Ihew the other to have been the aggrcflbr upon this occafion. A matter of little confequence, in a political view, as 'hings were now too far advanced to leave room for a propable hope of any other than fuch a final iffue. It was fald in the Gazette, that the troops were firft fired upon from fome neighbouring houfes. There is fome objfcurity in this bufinefs, for it appears, from the general tenor of the evidence, as well as of fome of our own people tvhb were taken prifoners, as of a great number of the provincials^ all whofe depofitions were regularly taken and attefted by proper magiftratcs, that the firing both at Lexington and Concord was com- menced by the troops. Indeed it feems evident, that a fingle company of militia, ftanding, as it may be faid under the muzzles of our foldiers guns, would have been fufficient pledges to prevent any outrage from their friends and neighbours in the adjoining houfes* • After this execution, the detachment proceeded to Concord, the commanding officer having pre* vioufly difpatched fix companies of light infantry to pofiefs two bridges which lay at fome. diftance be- yond the town, probably with a view of preventing any of the /lores from being carried off uiat way ; or, if he had orders about the feizure of perfons, to prevent the efcapc of thofe whom it was his ob- jcft to fecure. A body of militia who occupied a hill in the way, retired at the approach of the troops, and pafled over one of thofe bridges, which was immediately after taken pofTeffion of by the light infantry. The main body having arrived at the town, proceeded to execute their commiflion, by render- ing three pieces of iron cannon unfcrviceable, de- ftroying fome guns and other carriages, and throwing fcvcral barrels of flour, gunpowder, and mufkct ball into the river. In the mean time, the militia which ' retired 196] neniSrORY tf the Chap. VIL 1775. retired from the hill, feeing feveral fires in the town ^-^"^^^ which they apprehended to be of houfes in flames returned towards the bridge which they had lately pafled, and which lay in their way thither. Upon this movement, the light infantry retired on the Concord fide of the river, and began to pull up the bridge ; but upon the near approach of the militia (who feemed iludioufly to have avi^ided all appear-' ance of beginning the attack, and hiade as if they only wanted to pafs as common travellers) the fol- diers immediately fired, and killed two men. The provincials returned the fire, and a Ikirmiih enfucd at the bridge, in which the former feem to have been under fome difad vantage,, and were forced to retreat, having feveral men killed and wounded, and a lieutenant and fome others taken. Province rife» in arms. About this time the country rofe upon them. The troops were attacked on all quarters ; Ikirmifh fuccceded upon fkirmilh ; and a continued, though fcattering and irregular fire, was fupported through the whole of a long and very hot day. In the march back of fix miles to Lexington, the troops were exceedingly annoyed, not only by the purfucrs, but by the fire from houfes, walls, and other coverts, all of which were filled or lined with armed men. L. Per cy's de It happened fortunately, that General Gage, api prehenfive of the danger of the fervice, had de- tacnmcnt Cached Lord Percy early in the morning with 16 companies of foot, a detachment of marines, and two pieces of cannon, to fupport Colonel Smith's detachment, and that they were arrived at Lexing=. ton, by the time the others had returned from Con- cord. This circumftance was the more fortunate, as it is reported the firft detachment had by that time expended all their ammunition ; but if that even had not been the cafe, it fcarcely feems pof- taken in the long fubfequent retreat of fifteen miles, • This C>97 Chap. VII. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. This powerful fupport, cfptfcially the cannon, 177?. afforded a brcathing-timc to the firft detachment at wC* Lexington, which they already much wanted. The field pieces obliged the provincials to keep their diftance. But as foon as the troop* rcfumed their march, the attacks, as the country people became •no/e numerous, grew in proportion more violent, and the danger was continually augmenting, until they arrived about fun-fet at Charlcftown ; from ' whence they paflcd over direftly to Bofton, under the proteaion (as the provincials fay) of the guns of the Somerfet man of war ; the troops beintTcn- tireiy fpent and worn down, by the exceffive fatigues they had undergone. They had marched that day near i^ miles. ' The lofs was not fo great on either fide, as the r ^r. „„ length irregularity, and variety of the engagement bol might fecm to indicate; which maybe attributed fide to the provmcials not being at firft powerful in num- ber, and^ to their being afterwards kept at fomc diftance by the field pieces. The king's troops, as may be expcaed, were the greater fufirers, having loft m killed^ wounded, and prifoners, 27^ men of which 65 were killed, 2 lieutenants, and above ' 20 private men taken prifoners, and Colonel Smith, with another lieutenant-colonel and feveral officers wounded. By the provincial accoums, which gives' the names and places of abode of thofe who fell on then; fide their lofs in killed and wounded Cin- duding thofe who fell by the firft fire in the mom- ^ mg at Lexington) amounted only to about fix-v ot which near two thirds were killed. ' ' By the nearcft calculation that can be made, here were from 1800 to 2000 of the beft troops in the fervice (being about half the force that was then ftationed at Bofton) emploved uDon thl« JZ^^ inc event fufficiemly fhcwed hoW iil-infn'rXJrCr: were ojent^fufficiently Ihcwed how ill-informed thoL averted at home, that a regi- part ment or two could force their way through any 1981 r/^ H I S T O R Y 0/ the Chap. VII. 1775. of the continent, and that the very fight of a grcna- ^•y^r^ dier*g cip, would be fufficient to put ah American army to flight. I Upon this occafion, each fide charged the other ■with the moft inhuman cruelties. Ciyil wars pro- duce many fuch charges ; but we have good rca- fon, and fome authority for believing, that thcfc accpunts, if at all true on either fide, were much exaggerated. On one fide, ' it is certain, that an officer slnd fome of the foldiers who were wounded and prifoncrs, gave public teftimonials of the hu- manity with which they were treated ; and that the provincial commanders fcnt an offer to General Gage, to admit his furgeons to come and drcfs the wounded. • ' Although on the other fide, the regulars were tharged with killing the old, the infirm, the un- armed, and the wounded, without mercy ; with burning fcvcral houfes, and plundering every thing that came in their way ; we have had too conllant and uniform an experience of the honour of our officers, and the humanity of our foldiers, not to confider this account as equally exaggerated. Bofton invefted by great This affair immediately called up the whole pro* vince in arms ; and though a fufficient number numbers ^^^"^^ fpeedily affembled effectually to inveft the o(t\ic king's troops in Bofton, it was with difficulty that militia. . the crowds who were haftily marching from diffe- rent parts, could be prevailed upon to return to their refpeftive homes. The body of militia which furrounded Bofton, amounted, as it was faid, to above 20,000 men, under the command of the Colonels Ward, Pribblc, Heath, Prefcot, and Tho- mas, who for the prefent afted as generals, and having fixed their head quarters at Cambridge, formed a line of encampment, the right wing of which extended from th^it town to Roxbury, and the left to Myftick, the dilhnce between the points being Chap. VII. Civil War in AMERICA. [199 |)eing about thirty miles. This line they ftrengthcn- 1 yy^, cd with artillery. They were fpccd4ly joined by Wx^ CoJonel Putnam, an old and brave provincial offi- cer, who had acquired experience and reputation in the two latt wars. He encamped widi a Urge detachment of Connefticut troops in fuch a pofition, as to be readily able t^ fupport thofc who were be>- forc the town. ' .rovin- In the mean time the provincial congrcfs, which Pr„,„.. was now removed to Watertown, drew up an ad- cial coa- drefs to tlic inhabitants .of payment. As the term for which they were ciiolenwas to expire on the 30th of May. they „-.._ „...,ry,y_ i„4 ^.j.^ ticwiijjii or a new congrcis, to meet on the 31ft of -that month at the fame place, aiid to be continued for fix months, and no longer. Maj, 5th Pay of the offi. cer$ and foldien fixed, &c. ^^^ H I S T O R y «/ the Chaf. VII. longer. They alfo pafled a rcfolution, that General Gage had, by the late tranfadions, and many other means, utterly difquaUHed himfelf from ferving that colony as a governor, or in any other capacity 'and that therefore no obedience was in future due to him ; but that on the contrary he ought to be conHdered and guardf i againft, as an unnatural and inveterate enemy to the country. The aflFair at Lexington i'thoiigh fome fuch event muft have been long £^ 1 and expeded) ex- cited the greateft indignai. :. in the other colonies, and they prepared for war with as much eagernefs and difpatch aa if an enemy had already appeared at each of their doors. The bravery ^ewn by the militia in this their firft cflay, and the fuppofed advantages they had obtained over the regulars, were matters of great exultation ; while thpfe who fell in the aftion* were regretted with the deepeft concern, and honoured, not only as patriots, but as martyrs, who had died bravely in the caufe of their country. The outrages and cruelties charged upon the king's forces, however unjuftly founded, pro- duced a great effcd, and incrcafed the public fever. In fomc places the magazines were feized, and in New-Jerfey the treafury ; a confiderabic fum of monqr in which was appropriated to the pay- ment of the troops they were raifing. At the fame time, without waiting for any concert or advice, a ftop was almoft every where put to the exportation of provifions ; and in fome places all exportation was ftopt, till the opinion of the general congrefs upon that fubjeft was known. Lord North's conciliatory plan, or the refolution founded upon it,was totally rejedted by the aflcmbiies of Pcnfyl- vania andNew Jerfey ; nor was it received anywhere. In the mean time, the governor and forces at Bofton, as well as the inhabitants, continued clofely blocked Chap. VIF. Civil War m A M E R I C A. [toi blocked up by land; and being fhut out from all 177c. fupphcs of frcfli provifiong and vegetables, which ^J^ the neighbouring counties could have afforded by ' fca, they began to experience thofe incoriveniencics which aftervirards amounted to real diftrcfs. As the inhabitants had now no other refourcc for their fubfiftancc than the king's ftorcs, the provincials were the more ftrift in preventing all fupplies, hop- ing that the want of provifions would lay the gover- nor under a neceffity of confenting to their departure from the town ; or at leaft that the women and children would be fuffered to depart, which was repeatedly applied for. It is probable that the governor confidercd the inhabitants as neccffary hoftages for the fecurity of the town, at leatt, if not of the troops. However it was, he at length en- n • tered into a capitulation with the inhabitants, by ?J!F'T which, upon condition of delivoring up their arms, with the tftey were to have free liberty to depart with all 'nhabi- thcir other cffeds. The inhabitants accordingly t^°^ °^ delivered up their arms ; but to their utter difmay ®*1^°? and aaonifliment, the governor refufed to fulfil the w to. conditions on his fide. This breach of faith, and the confcquences that attended it, were much com- plained of. Many, however, both then, and at ditterent times after, obtained permiflion to quit the 17a' I u' '}% '^^''^ °^*^g^^ *° *eave all their cffeas behind^; fo that thofe who had hitherto lived in caie and affluence, were at once reduced to the extremity of indigence* and mifery. The general congrefs ranked amongft their bittereft complaints the fufferings of the inhabitants in this refped. ihey fay, that paffports were granted or retained La ^"'^™*^^' that families were brokca and doLhT ':''T^'°''' ^'P^^^'"^ ' P^^t being com- pelled to quit the town, and part retained Lainft their will. This, by far the moft diflionourable to government, .we are obliged in fairnefs to ftate ann^I^l^i^.''' "'"'P'^JJ?''^^^ narrative,no other having appeared to contradid or qualify if. The poor anS bclplefs.wcreallfcntout. «^i/viHr«ia D d CHAP, «Ol] 7)^? HISTORY 6fthe Chap. VIII. May lo. Refolu- tions for raiiiijg an army, the eftablifh- mcnt of a paper currency and to prevent Brltifh fiHieriet from be- Wfup. plied With provi- fions. CHAP. VIIL From the meeting of the General Congrefs at Philadelphia^ Maf I0» 1775, [purfuant to adjournmentyfrom Oa, ^dy 1774) to the blockade of Bojion^ in July follonuingy ly the generals Wajhington and Lee \ luith a particular account of the alUon of Bunker' j'HilU THE Continental Congrefs having met at the time appointed at Philadelphia, foon adopted fuch mcafures as confirmed the people in their refo- lution and condu£b. Among their firft afts tvcre refolutibhs for the raifmg of an arnw, and the efta- blifhment of a large paper currency for its payment; the " United Colonies^* (by which appellation they refolved that they fliould be known and diilinguifh- ed for the future) being fccuritics for realizing the nominal value of this currency. They alfo ftriftly prohibited the fupplying of the Britifh fifherics with any kind of provifions j and to render this order the more effedkual, ftopt all exportation to thofe colonies, iflands, and places which dill retained their obedience. This meafure, which does not feem to have been cxpcded, or even apprehended at home, occafioned no fmall diftrcfs to the people at Newfoundland, and to all thofe employed in the fiftieries j infomuch that to prevent an abfolutc famine, feveral (liips were under a neccflity of re- turning light from that ftation, to carry out cargoes of provifions from Ireland. The city and province of New-York, notwith- ftanding their former moderation, feemed, upoi^ receiving an account of the late adtion, to receive alfo a plentiful portion of that fpirit which operated in the other colonies. A mod numerous afibcia- tion was accordingly formed, and a Provincial Con- grefs eleded. But as fomc regiments from Ireland were cxocctcd foeedilv to arrive there, and that capital, befides, lies open to the fea, its fituation became Cao^ ^775- Applica- tion from tlie peo- ple of N, York t6 the Gen. Congrefi. Chap. VIU. Civil War in A M E R I C A. became very critical.. Jn thcfe circumftanccs, a body ofConncftic't m^iivarrivcd in the neighbourhood of that city, avowedly for its protcaion, and pro- bably alfo to fupport the prcfent difpofition of the people. Their Itrength was not, however, iufficient to afford an effedual protcftion ; nor, if it had been greater, would it have availed againft an at- tack by fca. The city accordingly applied, through its delegates, to the. Continental Congrefs for in- ftruftions how to aft upon the arrival of the troops. The Congrefs advifed them for the prcfent, to aft defcnfively with refpeft to the troops, fo far as it could be done confiilemly with their own fecurity ; —to fuffcr them to occupy their barracks, fo long M they behaved peaceably and quietly ; but not to fuffer them to ered any fortification, or in any manner to cut off the communications between the city and country; and if they attempted hoftilities, that they (hould defend themfelves, and repel force by force. They alfo recommended to them, to provide for the worft tliat might happen, by fecuring places of retreat for the women and children ; by removing the arms and ammunition from the maga- zines ; and by keeping a fufficient number of men embodied for the protection of the inhabitants in general. — ^The departure of fo many helplefs obje£ls from the places of their habitation, was a very affect- ing fpeftacle. That once flourifhing commercial city was now become almoft a defart. It was by its own inhabitants devoted to the flames. It hap- pened, perhaps happily for New- York, that the troops being more wanted at Bofton, were not landed there. In the mean time, feveral private perfons belong- Crown- ingtothc back parts of Connecticut, Maffachufett*s, point and and New- York, undertook at their own rifque, and Ticonde- without any public command or participation, an ^^$^ ^"'*- cxpedition of the utmoft importance and which P" - * not only in its confequcnces moft materially affeCt .* cd 1775. ^ *^c injcrcft Mid ^owCiolgoYenixneBt in the ^-^^ colonics ; but had hm^^^jfim^ion to the eriti. cai nicety of a point, iiid the ^cifion to depend merely upon siccidcnt, whether we fhould have a finglc poflcffion left in Nonh-America. This was the furprize of Ticondcroga^ Crown Point, and other fortreflcs, fituated upoii dm great lakes, and commanding the paf0» between the Britifli colonies and Canada. It fettiMe ^r fome of t)iofe who were among the firft tiwtt forfi|«d (biideOgii^ and had fet out with the gKStisft prir acy in k$ j^ofttution, met by the way wkb OMlc»% who, widiouf any previous concert, were enbail^d in the filme projcftj fo cxtcnfive wat that fdkUt pf enteif rise wimth thefe anhappy comf fts called'intio aftion. ^Iltft adfen. turers, amounAlg in tbc i^hole to about 340 men» undo: the command <^ a Colonel Eafton, and r i" Coldnd Ethan Allen, i^lth great perfevfrancc and addrefji, fitt^ifcd the fmdl garrifom of TiccMub-t rogaandCf^nPoim. TTxcfc fortr^ffei were tabi, » without tbc Jofs of a man on either fide, they found in ^i forts a confidcrabte artilkftyi amoimtC^ iRg, as ^y laid, to above aoo pieces of canncmt' bcfides mm mortars, howits, and qui^ttiti^g of variow ft/ me American Congress. m Cha?. VIII. Civil War in AM ]K R I C A. £ riang's immc. to all thofc wlio'fliowld forthwith lay 1 7*^ Hiown tlieir armSi a?id return to their rclpeaivc v>^ :;<>ccup^ons and pciiccaWc duties, excepting only VtockM ^kom the benefit of the pardon, Samuel Adams n»t»on •lid J0HN Hanocock, whofe offences were faid y^^J^^- tttheof too .flagitjpus a nature to admit of any other Tp confideratiqn than tl|^ of condign punifhmcm. All "**■«*• Aofc who did not accejpt of the proffcr'd mercy, or who fljould protea, aflift, fupply, conceal, or corrcf- rnd with them, to be treated as rebels and traitors. ^ aUb declared, that as a ftop was put to the due »arfc of juftice, marihal law fliould take place till V^ laws were rcftorcd to their due efficacy. It is ' i^dlefe ^ obicrve, that this proclamation had as '# .|ttlc effett as any of thofe that preceded it. Mr. JIanpcock* was about that time chofcn prefident pf the Continental Goiigrefs. • * T^i? gentlemen waa bora in the proTince of Maffachufet's ^r w 5«jr, in North Amerl<:a, in which he enjoyed a very confiderable ^'■- "*"* ftrlutfe. From the firft difturbances in America, about the T 1 ?t^p.aft, he took a very aftivc part in the defence of, what he *^^"*««' gjcluded to be, the Rights and Liberties of his native country. Wfcen delegates were firll chofeo to meet In continental congreft, lie waselcaed one of the reprefentatives for his province f and ^ihe death of Peyton Randolph, efq; unanimoufly chcfen Rtfadent. His eloquence was manifefted by his very fpirited Watwo on the annlverfary of the maflacrc at Bofton ; and his ' jolnefsmuft be acknowledged, when it is known that moftof ge dutiful addreffes, and conciliatory propofals, originated ^ftwihis pen. He is at prefeiit in hjs 38th year, and was mar- m lalt Au umn, to one of thcmoft beautiful wid accompHflied Wi«8 in America, who brought him a very confiderable addi- tion to hia paternal fortune, yet he fcorned to He down in the lap w eafe, but refolded to devote all his abilities to the benc- M of that country, whofe united voice, from the I^owledge of 1»8 many virtues, called him to prefide over the free eleacd reprefentatives of the whole continent. , Mr. ADAMS, Is a gentlemen who has made a ««-eat figure Mr >n Amcnca, ana has talen fo aftive a part in all her difpules Adim.'. with the mother country, that he was jolted W:. Mr. ^W«.3 '' in being the only perfons refufed oardona on rcturn.'m* ♦« »U»;- auty to the British admInIftratIon;in the prodamation1uft.lfrued by General Gage. He is a man of fortutie, and a native of New .a # This proi^la^6n wm icRjiM(i upofi i» i^ii ftiil^^ MMnai^ tk) Umediaic ftQi<«if. Aficor^irW:^ that moment bolii fides held ttj^mfehes ihrtmS for it. The jx)ft of Chafleftewn had hkhfyto h^ ttcgleaed by^both the particis. The b^ti#«iiclaJi ttought It ncccffary for them, vhethcr they fhouia •dmfe to aa on the defcnfiVe or offenfivc^ They ie. cordfegly made the neceflary preparations^ and fcnt a body of men thither at night with thegrcatcft privacy, to throw up worles upon ButtkerVHilL sa fcigh ground tl^ lies jaft within the ifthmus, or Bcck of land that joins the peninfula to the cofttl. aent. This pemnfula is very fimilar to, that on which Bofton ftands, excepting that the ifthmus k confidetably wider, and that Bunker's Hill is tou ««ip»«»«»m» ?nai would not admit him to be M^J-\ mm fpeaator of the difpute* which arofe firft about the- I Stamp.aa, aod fipce on the Tea. He took every opportanitf " ' to jirarn hit countrymen of the dangers arifiog to their K^wtieij and howcv|f fome may think |he queftion problematical, yet ai he alwaya aaed frpni principle, if he is even miftal^en, he hat* juft daim to the title of an A&aeji man. Whfen it was thougfck neceflary to convene delegates, from the different provinces, he was fent to the Gen. Continental Congrefs, as one of the it- prefentatives for the province of Maflachufett's Bay. In whst light jie IS held by the Americans may be eafily gathered, from his being lately appointed to a poll equivalent to that of Se- cretaryof ftate. In (hort, he is an able nolJtidam and the attack on Canada by the Provincials was ia confequence of a plan laid down by him. \-nfo/'//if'\ / ■•^, ■ ^^^-' - --. ^^^^ w: ■.--^-- - .-. ".■ r -Ji^' IM ^^^^; W:^ esrf-^^^^^srfS S' =— =iYj-— Bfe — -.'".'.■f S' ^^.. -^--r=rr^ B5-:^-3;.:^r£:'v£JaJ ^^^^Ml|^^'.;j^%^v;^^^fl ^Kjifl rr.c^rrrrfue f CW&HE SSiy jytmTUAMERieA CrtAF* Vil» Civil War /;i A M E R I C A. [2o( led with (h[pi of war, they wcrt not heard durini? i77f, the night, and ufcd fuch incredible difpatch in the v.^^ execution, that they had a fmall but ftrong redoubt, confiderablc entrenchments, and a breaft-work, that was in fome parts cannon proof, far advanced towards completion by break of day. The fight of the works, was the firft notice that alarmed the June tj; Lively man of war early in the morning, and her guns called the town, camp, ani fleet to behold a fight, which feemed little Icfs than a prodigy. .^ A heavy and continued fire of cannon, howit. zers, and mortars, was from thence carried on upon the works, from tht fhips, floating batteries, and from the top of Cop's-Hill in Bofton. Such a great and inceflant roar of artillery, would have been a trial to the firmnefs of old foldiers, and tauft undoubtedly have greatly impeded the com- pletion of the works ; it is however faid, that they bore this fevere fire with wonderful firmnefs, and feemed to go on with their bufinefs as if no enemy had been near, nor danger in the fcrvicc. ^ About noon. General Gage caufcd a confiderablc Aaioi at body of troops to be embarked under the command Bunker'., of Major-General Howe, and Brigadier- Gcnenal ^ill. ' Pigot, to drive the Provincials from their works. This detachment confided of ten companies of grenadiers, as many of lig;ht infantry, and the 5th, 38th, 43d, and 52d battalions, with a proper artil- lery, who were landed and drawn up without oppo- fition, under the fire of the fliips of war. The two generals found the enemy fo numerous, and in fuch a pofture of defence, that they thought it nc- ceflary to fend back for a reinforcement before they commenced the attack; they were accordingly jomed by fome companies of light infantry and grenadiers, by the 47th regiment, andbythc firft battalion of marinpc om/^imt-Inn- ;« ♦!,-. .,X_l_ __ -_ . is^„ «.'.«---iiiJs.tiig isi ^ii\, wAiwic, US rc- £ C pre- t^ ^^10] The HISTORY of the Chap. VII. 1775- prcfcntcd by General Gage's letter, to fomcthinir ^;f^~' more than 2000 men. ^ The attack was begun by a mod fevere fire of cannon and howitzers, under which the troops ad vanced very flowly towards the enemy, and halted fevcral times, to afford an opportunity to the artil- lery to ruin the works, and to throw the provin- cials mto confufion. Whatever it proceeded from whether from the number, fituation, or countenance of the enemy, or from all together, the kind's forces fecm to have been unufually ftaggered in this attack. The provincials threw fome men into the houfes of Charleftown, which covered their right flank, by which means. General Pigot, who commanded our left wing, and to whofe aaiyity bravery, and firmnefs, n^uch of this day's fuccefs was owing, was at once engaged with the lines. and with thofe in the houfes. In this conflift, Charleftown, whether by carcaflcs thrown from the fhips, or by the troops, is uncertain, was unfortu- nately fet on fire in feveral places, and burnt to the ground. The provincials ftood this fcvcrc and con- tinual fire of fmall arms and artillery, with a refo- lution and perfeverance, which would not have done difcrcdit to old troops. They did not return a (hot, until the king's forces had approached ahnoft to the works, when a moit dreadful fire took pkce, by which a number of our braveft men and officers fell. Some gentlemen, who had fcrved in the moft diftmguiflied aftions of the laft war, declared, that for the time it lafted, it was the hotteft engagement they ever knew. It is then no wonder, if under fo heavy and dcftruaive a fire, our troops were thrown into fome diforder. It is faid, that General Howe, was for a few feconds left nearly alone ; and it is certa-n, that moft of the officers near his per- fon, were either killed or wounded. His coolnefs, firmnefs, and prefence of mind on this occafion can- -US. „^ ^^„ »*i«vit ai^^iauucu. ic luiiy aniwercu an the Chtrlcf. town burnt. niwercu an CrtAP. VHp. Civil War /» A M E R I C A. [an the ideas fa generally entertainc'd of the courage of 177 c his family. It is faid, that in this critical moment, v>^ General Clinton, who arrived from-Bofton during the engagement, by a happy manceuvrc, rallied the troops almoft inftantancoufly, and brought them agam to the charge. However that was, their ufual intrepidity now produced its ufual cff'eas: they attacked the works with fixed bayonets, and irre- fiftiblc fury, and forced them in every quarter.— Tliough manv of the provincials were deftitute of bayonets, and, as they affirm, their ammunition was expended, a number of them fought defperatelv within the works, and were not drove from them wthout difficulty. They at length retreated over Uiarlcitown neck, which was cnfiiadcd by the guns of the Glafgow man of war, and of two floating bat- tcrics. They fuffered but little lofs from this for- midable artillery, though the dread of it had pre- vented fomc regiments who were ordered to fupport them from fulfiling their duty. ^* pus ended the hot and bloody affair of Bunker's- icnicd * Z'Z^r^e^ ^' ^'^ "^^.^ "^^^ ^"^ °«^<^^" killed ^I'J T.Jr '^' in proportion to the number en- of the K', f J tS^'' ' V?y °^^" ^^'^o** ^hich we can recol- ^^°°P»- lett. The whole lofs in killed and wounded mounted to 1054, of whom .26 were kTd;of kuten2 "^T ^"^"^^^'^oncd officers, including a were f ' '""'?, ^^^^^^^^ ^'"W ^hofe who were more generally regretted upon this occafion, were LieutcnW-colonel Abercromby, and the hrt^nrl-^^'^^'^^"' '^' ^^^ ^^ '^^^^ died of frlTr^ ^•^''"'^*'"'^ ^^^^ thcaftion, had alfo tt enM'" Tf ^^^ diflinguifhed honour,!^ venttffl -^'T ^f ' '\' "^°^^ ^^"^^bly felt. The fri/"5?.^"^^y ^^.^^d the bravery of the kin.'s not fomc opportunity of fignalizing himfclf ; the 312] ThBlS TO KY 0/ the ' * Chap. VIIL 1775. generals and field oiHcers ufcd the moft cxtraor, *'^"^'^-' dinary exertions. All thcfe circumilanccs concur in Ihcwing the hard and dangerous fcrvice in which they were engaged. Thp battle of CJuebec, in the late war, with ail its glory, and the vaftnefs of the conl'equenccs of which it was productive, was not fo deftruftive to our officers, as this nffair of a rttrcnchment call up in a few hours. It was a mat- ter of grievous reflcd^ion, ; that thofe brave men, many of whom had nobly contributed their fharc, when engaged againft her natural enemies, to ex- tend the military glory of their country into every quarter of the globe, fhould now have futfered fo ♦ fevcrely, ia only a prelude %o this unhappy civil « The fate of Charleftown wa« alfo a matter of melancholy contemplation to the ferious ind unprc^ judiced of all parties. It was the firft fettlemcnt made in the colony, and was confidcred as the mother of Boilon, that town owing its birth and nurrure to emigrants from the former. Charleftown was large, handfome, and well built, boih in rc- fpcct to its public and private edifices ; it contained aDout 400 houfes, and had the greateft trade ol uny , pori in th(r province except Bolton. It is laid, that the two ports cleared out a thouland vellels annually for a ibrcign trade, exclufive of .an inhnite number of coafters, It is now buried in its ruins. Such is the termination of human labour, induftry, and wiidom ; and fuch are the fatal fruits of civij difl'entions. Killed & The king's troops took five pieces of cannon wounded out of fix, which the provincials brought into the peninfula ; and they left about about 30 wounded behind tljem. No other prifoner? wore taken. Their lofs, accordirjg to an account publifhed by the provincial congrefs, was comparatively fmall, amounting to about 450, killed, wounded, milUng, and of the provin- cials. :)hap. vm. oft cxtraoN ices concur cc in which bee, in the :ncf8 of the c, was not affair of a was a mat- )rave men, their fharc, ues, to cx- into every futfercd fo flippy civil matter of tnd unprci fettleiticnt red as the birth and harleftown )oih in re- contained ade oi my s laid, that Is annually te number . Such is jftry, and :s of civil Df cannon It into the wtjunded re taken, blifhed by ^ely finall, I, miiUng, and Ch w and the tbi^ the dur ci'j was gCB and littl. tlen ral 1 ofti tim< ting cian faaii cula vatc deer fgnu tena I aftic beat< ftron adva thcr their that 1 and 1 with! with for f table andf from vViiai Chap. VHI. Civil Wah i» A M E R I C A. f 213 and prifoncrs. On our fide they arc confident, that 1 775. thcflaughter ^vas much more confiderable j but of w^r**/ tbii wc Md no particulars, as the account faid, that the provincials buried a great number of their dead during the engagement. This is an extraordinary ci'-jumftancc. But the lofs they lamented moft, was that of Dr. Warren, who afting as a major- Dr.Wtr. general, commanded the party upon this occalion, rcnkilJcd, and was killed, fighting bravely at their head, in a little redoubt to the right of their lines. This gen* tlemcn, who was rendered confpicuous by his gene- ral merit, abilities, and eloquence, had been one of the delegates to the firft general, and was at this time prefidcnt of the provincial congrefs j but quit. ting the peaceable walk of his prolcllion as a phyfi. clan, and breaking through the endearing tics of family fatisfaftion, he Ihewed himfclf equally cal- culated for the -field, as for public bufincfs or pri» vatc ftudy, and flied his blood gallantly in, what he deemed, the fervice of his country. They loft fomc other officers of name, one of whom, a lieu- tenant-colonel, died of his wounds in the prifon at Bolton, Both fides claimed much honour from this aftion. The regulars, from having, it was faid, beaten three times their own number, out of a ftrongly fortified poft, and under various other dif- advantages. On the other fide, they reprefented the regulars as amounting to 3000 men, and rated their own number only at 1500; and pretended, that thisfmall body not only withltood their attack, and repeatedly repulfed them with great lofs, not- withftanding the powerful artillery they had brought with them, but that they had at the fame time, and for feveral hours before, fuftaiued a moft intole- rable fire, from the Ihips of war, floating batteiies, and fixed battery at Bofton, which prevented them from being able in any degree to finifh their works. vViiat their exact number was cannot be eafily know{| / it4] 7».HIST0RY./M, Chap. Vir m the Gazette account; nor fo fmall as in that given by the Americans. However, the prov"„ciaU ™L"nt "" Th' ^fT/ "^ "'^ '-« °f " engagement. They had Diewn a great de»rr^ «f a&vtv and (kill in ihe conftr«aion^of Aet K and of conftancy, in maintaining them under manv d-ladyantages. They faid, that tho' theyha^bft J Dl«e lift'' "^ ''""t" "" *' ^'^^^^ °^ *eVft com! plete viftory , as they entirely put a flop to the of- fenfive operations o/a large army fent\o fubdue hem ; and which they continued to blockade ?n U''"'°Z T!}- '^^"y ""^ ^^"'W'l. that thc^ tf^ch'h^/K "'"rashly refuted thofc afperfio which had been thrown upon them in Ensland, of a deftciency in fpirit and reiblution. ^ Bunker^s _ Hill-for- From this time, the troops kept poffeflion of the .ificdby penmfula, and fortified Bunker's-HiU ^d the en Lr ^'- 1^? ' "^^.V^" *= f"« '^ Bofton wa. n"ot di^idej into two diftma parts, and had two garrifons to maintam. In one fenfe, this was ufeful °o the h^TLf " '"'1''?'''* '^"'' l"^"'" ■' Aey having h, wh,VhT """"'' '°">»>»oded by the ftreightne^ fnn „f ?v, '' *^^ ^'**y' P""^^'" '•'"<= M that fei- haln.I^\^'*[' ''"' *'' ='dvaM='g<: was counter- ba^^anced by the great additional duty which they Snm""^ °^^'^f^ to perform. Their fituation wal InnTr i!"i .'•'^g^d-ng- They were furroundcd ttught to defpifc. They were cut off from frelh provifions, and all thofe refrefliments of which they food m the greateft need, and which the neighbour- ing eountnes afforded in the greateft plenty. Thus tfteir wants were continual and aggravating remem- ^T"'^ r°( *' ««Mftances of their fituation. nad and fait provifions, with confinement and the neat ol the climate, naturally filled the hnfnitaU. in" mc number of fick and wounded was now faid F to Provinoi'' als throw up works on Char- Icftown neck. Guard houfe burnt. Chap. VIII. Civil War ^/z A M E R I C A. [215 to ampunt to 1600. Under thcfe circumftances it 177 c. was rather wonderful that the number was not v.^^ greater. But few in comparifon died. The provincials, after the aoruvc. Confiderable paini were taken, by the to. ** ^ means 2j82 S^gJ S T OKY of ihe CiiAp. yiU, 1775' means of fcvcral agenu who had influence oii ,''f^ them, to engage thofc numerous tribes of IhaianJ that ftrctch ilong the bagks of the coloitifcs, to caufe a divcrfton, by attacHin^ thpm in thofc weak and tender parts. But neither prefcnts, nor pcrfuafions were capable of proUucing the dcfired'cffca. From whatever chance or fortune it preceded, thofe favagc ivarnors, who had at Other times been fo ready to take up the hatchet without' fupport or encourage- ment, now turned a deaf car to all propofals of that nature, and declared for a neutrality. Thcy'ufed much the fame reafons foi^ this conduft that the Canadians had done ; they did not underffand the " - f\ibjca; were very forry for the prefent unfortu- nate difputes ; but it was not fit nir betortiing for them, to take any part in quarreTs between Eng. lifhmen, for all of whom, on both fides of the wa- ter, they had the higheft affedion. This was an objca of two much importance, to be overlooked by the congrefs. They accordingly employed pro- per perfons to cultivate favourable difpofitions in the Indians ; and by degrees took fuch mcafurcs as obliged the agents for government to provide for their o\vn fafety. It is faid, that fome of the Ind' s made propofals to takfc up arms on their fidej but that they were only rcquefled to obfcrvc a ftria neutrality. July 6th, Dcclara- ti ).l of tilt" Gen. Congrefs i.i anlwer to the late procla- mation. General Gage's late proclamation incniafed the animofity, indiffnation, and rage, which were al- ready io generally prevalent, and brought out a Declaration from the general congrefs, which in the nature of thofe general appeals that are made to mankind, as well as to heaven, in a declaration of war, let forth the traufes and neccffity of their taking up arms. Among the long lift of thofe fup- po.ed caufes befidcs the late hottilmcs', they ftate' theendciivours ulcd to infligate the Canadians and liuiians to attack them, and fevcrely reproach Gen. Ga;lC, iou what thev call. ncrfiHr. rriiplrv_ -mA V - ' J ir .'7 ;■ 7 - breach * CtfAf . VIII. Civil War in A M I! Rl C A, ^rc?ch Qf feith, in breaking the conditions tehicA he iiad entered into with the inhabitants of Bofton ; they are npt lefs free in the cenfurc of the army, whom they charge with the burning of Charlcf- towQ) wantonly and unnece0arily. In dating their rcfourccs, they reckon lipon fo- ,Fei|;n aiHftahce as undoubtedly attainable, if necef- £iry. They, however, afterwards fay, that, left this Declaration fliould difquict the minds of their friends and fellow fubjcdts in any part of the em- pire, thev afliirc them, that they mean not tb diflblve tnat union which has fo long and happily fubfiftcd between them, and which they fmccrcly wlfli to fee i:eftorcd ; that neceflity has not yet dri- ven them to that defperate mcafurc, or induced thcro to excite any other nation to war againft them; they have not raifed armies with ambitious deligns of feperating from Great Britain, and cftablifhmg independent ftates ; they fi^ht not for glory or for conqueft.— — ^This declaration was read with great, fcrious, and even religious folemnity, to the diffe- rent bodies of the army who were encamped around Bofton, and was received by theiu with loud acclamations of approbation. This declaration was followed by an addrcfs to the inhabitants of Great Britain ; another to the people of Ireland ; and a petition to the King. All thefc writings were drawn up in a very maftcrly iilanner ; and arc, in refpcft to art, addrefs, and execution, equal to any public Declarations made by any poWers upon the greatefl occaficns. The Congrcfs had in their Declaration, without naming it, reprobated the principles of Lord North's conciliatory propoCtion, which they call an infidi- ous manoeuvre adopted by parliament, lliey how- ever, aft«rwards, took the refolution more formally into confideratien. It had been communicated to them .- f- C219 » Addrcfs to the in- habitants of G. B. — to the people of Ireland. Petition to the king. ^Jjl^fj^f-i lfHAf^,Vli. Georgia accedes to the general confede* racy. -" r^.T"^**^ Y* * *^**8 *"« argumentative flifcuflion they condemn it, as Vunrcifonablc iriij fAfiK that It ,s unrcafona1)le, bccaiifc, if fh^V declare they will acccd(r to Jt. tljey declare, without refer ^ration, that they wiIT jMrchafc the favoul' of mvl' "T^^V 2?^ fcnowing.at the fame time at what nrice they wiir dcafc ti? cftimatc their feVoUr ; that it i infidious, bccaufe individual colonics, having bid and bidden a,^in,t:iUliey find theavidfity of the* fclkr top great for all th^ir powers tb fatisfy' arc then tp return into oppofitioii, dividedfrom their ^^:%^T^'^?* ^^<*W ^^c ifninifter wiiP ISavc pre. vouffy 4etached by a grant of cafier ^crms, o/by an artful procraftma^pn of a clcfinitiv^^^nllen 1 hey conclude upon the whole, that tfic pfopofition J^ kuJ upto th? world, to deceive it into a he. **JV- ^ ^^^^« was npthmg in difptite but thi mode pf levym|r taxes ; and that parKament haying now been ip^gpodas to give up that, ihc c^oni^nuft be unrcafonable m t^c higMft degrecif thrV were not pc.:feaiy fatisficd, ^ ^ '^ ^^^ rrJ^^ ^''il^^y ""^ G^o'gii *at lengA joiiica ifi the ^cpe.»^ alliance A p^pvincial congrefs having aflcm^lcd ,n the beginpirig of the month pf July, Acylpecdily agreed to aH the ref^Iutioiis df tHe .wo Genci^l Congreflbs hi their Utmoft'^xlterit, and appointed five defcgates to attend tJie.^rcfcnt. As It were to make amends for, the delay, tlidy'at once entered into all the fpirit of the rcfpTu^ioiirformed by the other colonics, and adopted fimilar ; and declared, that though their province wa*, not in- eluded in any of the opprcfnve aas'layjf paffecj agamft America, they conHdered that rirrumfiancc as an imult rather than a favour, as hci% done only with s view to divide them from thdr Ameri- can bieUircD Thev alio adJrefiec .. .„ rl^inn nnH^r the ^ from thit 4 i'Afidious ; Ehcy declare thout refer, it^of plrlia. ^^hjtt price '.» thj^ it is Waving bic(, *ty of th^ ff iSfy; arc from their ^ have ms. pre. Of by v^6' anfwcr. prdpofitiop into a be. ithc niodc iavihg now 'oniesinuft were fried in ihe sfs having K.qf July, ifs of the xtcrit, and fcnt.' As i^y^toncc is 'formed liar ; and *v (lot in- ;:Iy pafled uihuancc ing.' done ir Ameri. ^n iin Act H the 'T^P m m ^;'^v^ ■ ,-'^ * jl^p^yiSf. Ciyu. War /« A^E^ICA. te ti^k of an humble addrj^d had already be^n yornj^wa$ npt 4tfficientlti |ij certain frc^ner» pf' colouring, ^hicK k«y^ l^tfc ^pcaran^c of novelty. From thii afte^bn t6& ^nfedcracy^ they hci^ccforward affumed thp appel- latipn of the THmriEN Unitbd Col^dMj^i. ^"In the mean time the General Con|T^;% iM- |Uapce with the vyifhc^ of th? people in general, and rii<; particular amplication of the New-England pro- vinces, appolhtvU Qeo. Wafliington, Eiq;* a gen- tleman fCaf W" 1? :■( ll^lfil^ family from which this grutleman k dielceiKlca, was linginUy ia Lancafhirti btit afterwards removed to the ckj of ftr^^Wywherc he wga bw»*. f»n fl^ 34:of Sept. 1727. Ii|g AOther was of the fame famil/with General Monk, who, for hit fertlcei « the Reftoration, waa created Duke of Albe- Ceneral ton ap- pointed comman* der in chief. Lfir itt* HirJ jjV •^T :r,' .Vlltir. Wafhington dafcoTtttdf Jin early ihcIifistW; to arm* and fffteivtcred as a privaise 19^9, ^ general. Wade '^jr«giment, ia ifeff*' '7^ • ^^*"S '^*^" "°t twenty-one, and foon after h«^ M&^t a cornet's CO mniiffion in the fame regiment, and ferred iiBJTtHiplSiptch reb^Ia.. ~He"contrpued in the lervice till the f, wh^ ' hp went' sh'road' «> improve himfdf in the mili- ,-^,9t6ti^'dn. '' ■■ ■ ■•"■''^,' . ■• ■ ' ■ I0 i,(is-u '; ■*^Wjen'th(^ French war b^bkr tut in America^ in the year 175-5', ,J|r. Wafhington went over to that country, where his courage S^,'njJ>t«ry abUitics being l^nown, he was raided to the rank of ijdrtn the jprovlrtdar forces, ^nd was atFdlrt Edwiird, under -fl -cortmabd^of Geft^i^I Webb, when Mrfbf; Montcalm adi mictd, to take Fort William Henry; on Lake George. "J^orWajhiiwtirtj having heard ofthe intended attack, aii4 ■■ apprdieninrc that lieutenant colonel Monro, who then P*'^i" ' "^ Fort William Henry, would pot be ftrong enougli tWt^fift the French, eagerly interceded with his General to be «rt With his forces to the aiEftance of Monro. But his ardour 3*^ft^.ined ; and the unfortunate commander forced to make [hnjiki. terms he could with the French general, who after- wards, nft violation of the treaty that had been made, permit- ted the Indian ftvageii to fail' ntaon them, and ftrin th>m rt«#i frcry thing of value. The Lid: v.t\ ^ ■¥' f- v^vN^ acc^irfia contidcrablc iniliury experience in th? i xoratiwad of different bodies of the provinciaJs dm^gihelaitwar, to be general and commander m chict of *n the Ameriean forces. Tkcy alfo an. pointed A rd Charles Lee, Philip Schu?. jcr, inr" ,. > 'am,Efqrs. to be major-generals- - ?nd Hoiatia Gates, Efq; Mjutant-gcncral. Of thefc genera} officers, Lee and Gates were Enelifh gentlemen, who had acquired honour in the laft war ; and who frort diff i'/» - ♦principle now joined the Americans. Wa.a and Putnam were of Maf fachufctt's-Bay, and Schuyler of New- York. The ^ Congrcfs alfo fixed and aifigiied the pay of both officers and foldiers ; the latter of whom were much better -provided for than thofe upon our cilablifh. ment. . , . . - July (5th. The Generals Waffiington and Lee arrived at HTaJhing- the camp before Bofton m the beginning of fulv TJ:LJ^'^'^^''' treated with the higKcft honou4 I Lee arrive at Bofton. Th€ Atn«Rcan« foon afterw»n|» raKed Major Wa(hi»gton to the command' of a re|;iiftent, in which rank he remained tili the peace, when he retired to the cnhivation and improvement of a veryconf.dcr»bleeftate JMS.^efled in the province of Virginia. .. > . , When the prefent troublei in Ailerica arofe on account ik Ihe famom Tea Aft, colonel Wafliingtan wa« one of the fore; moft in expreffinghiBtjietettanoninimpofinga tax on people who were not reprtfented ; and when a General Congrcfs wai thought neceffary to bc.convened* he was cUofcn one of the de- legate* for the province of Virginia, and in that capacity figned the affociation on Q€t. zpth, 17-4, and the other fubfequent pubhcationi of that body. The Continental Congrcfs appoint- ed General Wafliington to the fuprcme command ot their armies to which coramiflion was addreflcd, — " To our Moved brother, George Wafhington, E/q -, Captain General and Com- mander in chief of all the Forces of the United Colonies" The .Congref& annexed a very confiderabic falary to this important poft, which he nobly refufedto accept, declaring he would not tSKc wapies for iiis ierviccs in the Caufe of Jtreedom, but delired •nly a leimbttrfement of the neceffary expences. ^% Our. Vn^p Ci va War /;i A. M H g I C A. ej cry place through which ^hcy paffcd j were cfcorted by large detachments of Volunteer?, eom- pofcd of gentlemen, in the different brovincei* and received pub lit addreflci from the proVintral congrcflcs ot New- York and Maffachulctt's-Bay;' The military fpirit;#as now fo high and fo general ''" that war and its^prcpirations occupied ttie handt* and the miHd8 of all .orders of people throughout- the continent. Perfpng of fortune and famHy; whd^ were not appointed officers, entered chcarfully at private men, and fervcd with alacrity in the ranki,* Even many of the younger quakers forgbt their' paflivc principles of forbearance and non.refiftance and taking up an ., formed themfelves into com! panics at Philadelphia, artd applied with tht greatcft: labour and affiduity to acquire a proficiency in military exercifcs and difcipfinc. It was faid, (but no computation of that (ort can be afcertained) that no Icfs than 203,000 men were in arms and traininir throughout the continent. • Th« blockade of Bofton, was continued with little variety throughout the year, and during a confiderable part o? the enfuing. The troops, as well as the remaining inhabitants, fuffercd much from fevers, fluxes, and the fcurvy, xvhich were brought on through confinement, heat of weather, and badnefs of provifions.* ely° *"*'''"* ^^^^"^ diftrcfles, it is faid, that no lefsthan „ .. jooooxen X4oooof the largdt and fattell n^ecp. vvi h a vaft ^''''"^"" Sew al^"*^* ""'=, alfo bought up in incredible quan.i f«. ^«««"- ftronor h *'" "^"^ r.P '^"^ ;" ^"""S *^^'"- '^00 butts of 21'^:,^°^°/^'' ""'' ^^'^'^^'^ ^«« purchafed in the riJer. - d (hipped off for Button ; even the articles of fagguts wa th K are!^; I V"/^""' '."""""'' '" '^** ^'^'"^ ««'<=»". where tncy are detached from the general comprehenfion of oth4 F hons, near z.ool. And tho' there .'as but a fingle ^eti- mmof hght cavalry at liollon, the articles of hay, oats, and b«a3. amouatcd to aea;^ aa much. The anoienle Sge of ' lup- A4i 'ii^Udnr'^iii'^ cS:;.%: liWc 'i^PP'T'ng f^Jmi M,lucli a diAance, wn now for the firft time Whether H wii, that theCe onlcn wen not iffued in tImeL or that dclf 7^ Qocurred in the e»cc»|ion,' which couki neither have been forefeen or prevented, however it wai, the tranfpptti were H(ot readr to proceed on tWir voyage, until the year was fo faf advanced ai to rcwder it nearly impoffihie. By this means they i#cre detained upon our own coafts by contrary winds, or toft about by tenpelU, until the ffri^ter part of their live cariroei of hogi and (hecp, particularly the latter periled, fo thit the channel wa» every where ftrewed with the floating carcaiTcs of thefe animati, its they were driven about by the w^inds and tides. A great part of the vegetables, over fermented and perifted. Nor was the condition of the tranfporta nendcd when thev got clear of our own coafts. They were peculiarly unfortu- V nate as to winds and weather in the mid fcas, and as they ap- proached to the place of their deftination, the American pcrio- dical winds were fet in. which bkw in their teeth, and drove wen. of from the cualls. i. .. aj .. ..w. ■ii{' .it , ^ .), ■' /'.-•! hiU Uitii t'C'-if .iO, CHAP- CfHAP. VlH, I Chap. IX* • Ci\il War in A M E R I G A. [225 CHAP. IX. Mstive/ nvhich led to the invojion of Canada^ The taking pf fiveral Forts on the Lakes, by Montgomerj and Arnolds Jht city 0/ ^tebec bejiegedt . , '.:':> KS At ttic hopes of it reconciliation with the mo» theif country, upon the conditions claimed by the Americans, became more faint, fo they grew more daring in their defigns, and extended their views to the remote confequences, as well as to the immediate conduft of a war. The apparent tendency, and avowed dcfign of the Quebec aft, had early drawn their attention and awakened their apprehenfions, in relation to the dangers with which tky were threatened from that quarter. Thefe ^npprehcnfions produced the addrefs to the French inhabitants of Canada, of which we have formerly taken notice* The fucccfs which attended the expedition to Motives the Lakes, with the redudion of Ticonderoga winch and Crown-Point, in the beginning of this fummer !•" reduction of Ticonderoga , , . . 7 - beginning of this fummer, \^'^ *° ^^'^ by which, it might be faid, that the Gates of Ca- '7A^'"" nadawerc thrown open, rendered the affairs of di ' that country more immediately intereflin^r, and encouraged the Congrefs to a bold meafure, which they would not otherwife perhaps have ventured tjpon. This was no lefs than -the fending of a force . tor the invalion and redudion of that countr5\ ^ A meafure of fo extraordiimry a nature required the moft ierious confideration. The commencing an oiicnfive war with the Sovereign, was a new and perilous undertaking. It feerned totally to chance he nature of the ground on which thcv ftood in the prefent difpute. Oppofition to government had mtherto been condufted on the apparent dcfign and avowed principle Onlv. of funnnrtino- oT.rl A^f^^A ,ana- •"■"-iWiJVi- ing '^ JIJLh"''"'" /^^'? /"^ immunities of the people, vaded. Oppofition, or even rcfiftance, in fuch a caie, fuppofmg the prcmifes to be fairly ftatcd, h thought by many to be entirely confiftem widi the pnnciplcs of the Britifh conftitution ; and this opinion IS faid to have received the fandion of pre cedents of the firft authority. At any rate, the o implicitly to obey him, as well in that, as all other matters. He had befidcs, already engaged a confider- able number of the Canada and other Indians in his f(;rvice, and if his arms once became predominant, the defirc of fpoil and blood would bring them in crowds from the remoteft defarts to his afliftancc. Bcfides they were perfeflly acquainted with, and therefore had every thing to dread, from the zeal, the fpirit of cnterprize, and the military talents, of that able and refolute officer. In thcfe circumftances, confidering a war as not only inevitable, but as already begun, they deem- ed it inconfiftent with reafon and policy, to wait to be attacked bv a formidable force at their backs, in the very inftant that their utmoft exertions would be requifite, and probably infufficicnt, for the pro- tcftionof their capital cities and coafts, againft the rcfcntment ©f the mighty power whom they had fo grievoufly offended, and with whom they were en- tering into fo untried and arduous a conteft. They argued, that preventing the known hoftile intentions of an enemy, by forcSalling his defigns ere they could be carried into execution, was as much a mat- ter of felf-defence, and lefs cruel, than waiting to be attacked by him under every difadvantage, and when he had arrived at his utmofl force. There was no natural law, nor convention among man- kind, by which a perfon is bound to be a limplc and inadive Ipoker-on, while his enemy was loading a gun for his dcftrudlion ; was he to wait till the execution took place, for fear he fhould be deemed an aggreffor ! Queftions ia cafuiftry, however edi- fyin^ upon other occafions, have nothing to do in circumftances upon which the fate of nations de- pend. Were they only to feek a remedy, when the favages had penetrated into their country, and the Jury of the flames which confumed their fettlements. vf rnor ' were 228] n^niS TO R Y / tbe Chap. IX. 1775. were only retarded by the bipod of their women V^^''^ and infants, '* The Congrefs were all fenfible» that they had al ready gone fuch lengths as could only be juftificd by arms. — The fwbrd was already drawn, and the appeal made. It was too late to look back, and to waver would be certain deftruftion. If ^ certain degree of f^pcefs did not afford a fanftion to their rcflftance, and difpofe the court of Great Britain to an accommodation upon lenient terms, they would , not only loofe thofe immunities for which they at prefent contended, but all others would lie at the mercy of a jealous and irritated government. In fuch a flate, their moderation in the fmgle inftancc of Canada, they thought, would be a poor pica for eompailion or indulgence, The knowledge they had of the prefent (late of aflVirs, and the temper of the people in Canada, alfo contributed much to encourage them in this enterprize. They knew that the French inhabi- tants, excepting the nobleffe and clergy, were in general as much difcontented at the overthrow of the Englifli laws, and the introdudion of the pre- fent fyftcm of government, as even the Britifh fct- tlers. It feemcd therefore probable, that this dif- content, operating with the rooted averfion which they bore to their ancient proud and oppreflive tyrants, the nobleffe, or lords of the manors and the mortal dread which they entertained of being ^ again reduced to their former ftate of feudal and military yaffalage, wouM induce them to confider the Provincials rather as friends than invaders, and to embrace fo favourable an opportunity of obtain- • ing a Ihare in that freedom for which they were contending. Though they were perfectly uuac- quainted with the nature of the particular coiuro- vcrfy, and little interefted in it, it feemed to be for .i:r<;edoni, and American fpeedom, and the name cf ' ' . . ' " it Chap. IX. Civil War /» A MER 1 C A. [149 It was pleafing. It was in favour of colonics j and 1775. Canada was a colony, v^y^i The congrefs accordingly determined not to lofc the prefertt favourable opportunity, while the Bri- . tifh arms were weak and cooped up in Bofton, for attempting the reduftiort of that province. The Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, with two regi- ments of New-York militia,'* a body of New-Eng- land men, and feme others, amounting in the whole to near 3000 men, were appointed to this fervice. A number of batteaux, or fiat boats, were buiitat Ticonderoga or Grown Point, to convey the forces slong Lake'Cbamplain to the River Sorcl, which forms the entrance into Canada, and is compofed cf the furplus waters of the lakes, which it dif- charges into the river St. Lawrence, and would afford a happy communication between both, were it not for fomc rapids that obllruft the navigation. Not above half the forces were yet arrived, when Montgomery, who was at Crown-Point, received fome intelligence which rendered him apprehenfivc that a fchooner of confiderable force, with fome other armed veiTels, which lay at the Fort of St. John's, on the river Sorel, were preparing to enter the Lake, and thereby effeaualiy obdrua their paflkge. He thereupon, in the latter end of Augult, proceeded with fuch force as he had to the ille of Aux Noix, which lies irt the entrance of the river, and took neceflary meafures to guard agamft the paffage of thofe velfels into the Lake —Schuyler, who at that time commanded in chief, having alfo arrived from Albany, they publiflied a declaration to encourage the Canadians to join them, and with the lame hope or deiign, pufhed on to the Fort . of St. John, which lies only about a dsaen miles * from the ifland. The fire from the Fort, as well as Sept. (Jt the ftrong appearances of force and refiftanc^Mich taey obfervcd, occafiojied their landing Mp con- ««V*VittUtW Schuy- ler re- turns to Albany. IJO] ne If f 3 TOR T 9/ ihe Chap. IX. 1775. i^cr^bfc (fe(ta9,^85 in a qpumry coinpofcd of thick ^to^>^ woods, deep fwamp», and interfcaed with crecb and waters. In this fituation they were vigoroufly ^tta^k^d. by a confiderablc body of Indians, who 4ld ^% qeglea: the advantages which they derived - fron>, it ; aloftg w/ith which, finding that the Fort w^s weU garrifoncd and provided, they found it . nece(%ty tfe^ ne^ft day to return to their formsr ftatio;^ on the ifl^nd, and to defer their operations until the arrival of the artillery and reinforcements wh;c4 wci-e expe^ed. 3chuyl«r uppn this retreat returned to Albant, to conclude a treaty which he had for fome time been negociafcinff with the Indians in that quarter, *nd fo.uftdhiqifclf afterwards fo occupied by bufi- ncfe, or broken in upon by illnefs, that the whole weight and danger of the Canada war fell upon Mo^t^Qmery, a man moft eminently qualified forany military fcrvice. His firft meafihe was to detach thoie Indians who had joined General Carlcton from his fervi^c, and being ftrengthened by the arri. val of his rcinforGements and artillery, he prepared to layficge to the fort of St. John. This fort was garrifoacd by the greater part of t^e 7th and 2dth regimemf being nearly ^11 the regular troops then in Canada ; and was well provided with ftores, am- munkion, »«il ^utillery. The prc>viR?ial parties were fpread over the ad- jacent country, and were every where received with open arms by the Canadians, who befides joining them in confider^ble numbers, gave them every poHihle alTjftancf , whether in carrying on the fiegc, removing their artillery, or fupplying them with provifions and nece/Taries. In this ftate of things, the adventurer Ethan Alien, who without any com- Tniflion from the Congrefs, had a principal Ihafe in the original expedition tp the lakes, and the capturs of forts, and who fincc, nndcr the title of colonel, . fcems Ethan Allen ,4nd his party made prifoiiers. (?^3^ Cfi^. I*. Civil War fh AMI: RICA. feems rather to have aftcd as 'a pittizan, than a-s 177 c. obedient to tny regular command, thought to %. ^^/^v-i/ nalize, and raife himfclf into importance, bv fur- prifmif the town of Montreal. 'This rafh enter- prize he undertook at the head of a fmafi iparty of Englifh Provincial* and Canadians, without the knoivledge of the commander in chief, or the adift- ancc which he might have procured, from fomc of th* other detached parties. The event ^u fuitablc to the temerity of the undertaking. Being met at feme diftance from the town, by the militia, under the command of Enghfh officers, and fupportcd by thcfe^r regulars who wtirc in the place, he Was d'e- fcatcd and taken prifoncr, with near forty of his party, the reft who furvived efcaping in the Woods. Allen, with his fellow prifoners, Were by General Carleton's orders loaded with irdfts, and Tent in that condition on board a man of war to England from whence, however, they were in fomc time re! manded back to America. The progrcfs of Montgomery Was for fome time retarded, by want of ammunition ftlfficiem to carry- ing on a fiege ; which of all operations demands the greateft lupply of powder and ball. The Fort of St. John's, which commands thfc ctitrance in- to Canada, could not be reduced witliout a tolerable provifion of that kind. A fortunate everit difen- gaged him from this difficulty. A little Fort called Ummble lay deeper in the country, arid fecmcd Fort covered by St. John's. It was garrifoned by a fmall ^-^^^^^^ detachment of the 7th regiment, snd was in no '''^^"* very dcfenfible condition. To tliis he turned his firft thoughts, and by pulhing forward a party ioin- cd by fome Canadians, f^: :,(]\y made himfclf ii^ft.r ot that fort. Here be i^und confidcrable ftorro - but the article of gr^atdt confequence to him was tne gunpowder, which they were much diftreil^d wrj and oi which they took above 120 barrels. This Fort St.John't beliegcd. €arJe. ten's de- feat at Longueih 'f^ ^. ^-HISTORY ,/,^. CH.«.a Vll\ , * acquifition facilitated thcficcc of St t k . ' '^ which h.d languifhcd for ..nt ^iuttt^o^!"'^ nf M • ^«''^?" °^^*- J°^"'^' *^"^^r the command of Major Prcfton, amounted to between 6 and 700 reft Canadian volunteers. They endured the dif ficulties and hardfhipa of a very long fite auf mented by a fcarcity of provifions, vvfth ulabaS conftancy and refolution. In .the mean time, S Carlcton.was mdefatigable in his endeavo irs to rarfe a force fufficient for its relief. Attempts had been for feme time made by Colonel M'Lean for vrlf */^'''5^ regiment, under the title of Royal Highland Emigrants, to be conipofed of n;itives of that country who had lately arrived in America and who m confcquence of the troubles had no obtained fcttkmcnts. With thefe, and ibme Cana- ^H to the amount of a few hundred men, the Colonel was pofted near the jundion of the Sord with the river St. Lawrence. The General was at Montreal, i^Hjicrc, with the greateft difficulty, and by every poffible means he had got together near a ^oufand men, compofed principally of Canadians, wi h a few regulars, and fome Englifh officers and lithMT ^"!J ^^^ h^ -teLd a junaion r.K vV'/?"^^^'^" to have marched diieaiy to the relief of St. John's. But upon his attempt- ing to pafs over from the ifland of Montreal, he vvas encountered at Longueil by a party of the Provin- aals, who eafily repulfed the Canadians, and put a ^''^n/Jfr ^^""^^ '^^^^Sn- Another party had pufli- ca M Lean towards the mouth of the Sorci, where Mie Canadians having received advice of the Go- vernor s defeat, immediately abandoned him to a man, and he was obliged to make the bell of his way to q«ebcc, with the emigrants. In the mean time, Montgomery pufhed on the iicgc ot St. John's with great vigour, had advanced Bia eHAjp. IX, Oy;»^ Wa* 4ft AM E R4 C A. ^2^ J»8 works very near tHc bpsly pf *hc fort, an4 -was 177?. /WajP^g preparations for A general aiTauIt. Npr ^<^. w^ therp Iqis gl^cri^y in the djifcnce, t^ fpirit j^s vreli as the fire of tfijc gurifon being eqijaUy fijp- por;«c4 to the la/^. :I,n thi^ ftgtc of tilings, ^n ^g- count of , the fu'jcels at Longucil, accpnipa;aicd by the prifpi>cif8 wli^ were tak^n, arrived at ;thc camp, ^pon which Montgomery fent "a flag and a letter by ' pa,e of t^m to Major Prcfton, hoping that as j(ll fljea^s of jrcHef were noyf put off jay the Governor's . ^ defeat, he would, by a tinicly furrcndcr of the for;t, prevent th^t farther effuft^n of blood, which a frui,t- kk and obftiioatjc defence muft neccflarily occafipp. The Major ,ei;ideavo?ired to obtain fi few days time iin hope^ of being relieved j bpt this was re- fufed, on account of the latenefs and feverity of the feafon ; he alfo endeavoured, in fettling the terms pfcapitulajtion, to obtain liberty for .the garrifon to 4ep^rt fpr iCreat-Britain, which proved equally fruitjefs, and they were obliged, ^fter bemg allow- ed the honours of ;yar on account of their brave defence, ,tp lay down their arms, and furrcndcr themielves prifoners. They wcrp allowed their ?^"^' 3^* baggage and effeds, the o$cers to wear their st John's fwor4s, and their other arms to be preferved for taken, thera till the troubles vt^csre at an end, In all tran- laftions with our fpcces, Montgomery writ, fpoke, and behaved with t^^^t attention, regard^ and polite- nefs, to both private men and officers, which might be expected from a man of worth and honour, who found himfclf involved in an unhappy quarrel with hisiriends and countrymen. All the prifoners were fent up theXakcs by the way of Ticondcrago, to thofe interiqr parts of the colonies which were belt adapted to provide for their reception and fccurity. The Provincials found ?i confidevablc quantity pf artillery a^d uJfcful ftpres in the place H h Fppii ■ '■234] r^^ H I S T O R T £/^ the Ctiap. ix. Upon McLean's retreat to Quebec, the party who had reduced him to that ncceffity, immcdiatdv credcd batteries on a point of land at the iunaion of the Sorel with the river St. Lawrence, m order to prevent the cfcape down the latter of a number of armed veflels, which General Carleton had at Montreal ; they alfo conflrudcd armed Tafts and ftoatmg batr.-ries for the fame purpofe. Thefe mca- liires efieaually prevented the paiTage of General • Carleton's armament to Quebec, which were not only toiled in feveral attempts, but purfued, attack- cd, and driven from their anchors up the river by the Provincials ; fo that as General MontPomery approached Montreal immediately after the furrcn' dcr of St. John's, the Governor's fituation, whether in the town or aboard the vcffels, became equally critical. ^ ' £ ^ ' A\"^*' '^^^ ^°°" increafed by the arrival cf "• General Montgomery at Montreal, where a capitu- . Ulionvj^s propofed by the principal French and Enghfh inhabitants, including a kind of general tfeaty, which Montgomery refufed, as they were in no Ibte of defence to entitle them to a capitulation, and were unable to fulfil the conditions on their part. He, however, gavp them a written anfwer, m which he declared, That the Continental army havir.g a generous difdain of every aa of oppreflion and violence, and having come for the exprcls purpofe of giving liberty and fecurity, he, there- tor?, engngcd his honour to maintain, in the peace- ab. 1 poricliion of their property of every kind, the mdividunli and religious communities of the city of ^ Montreal. He engaj;ed for the maintenance of all the iphabitants in the free exercife of their religion j , hoped that the civil and religious rights of all the Canadians \yould be eltablifhed upon the moll per- mantnt footing by a Provincial Congrefs j promifed that courts of juftice ihould be fpecdily efiabliihid upon the molt liberal plan, coniX)rmable to the Pritiih Chap, IX. Civil . War in AM ERICA. [234 Britifli ConlUtution J and, in /general, complied 1775. with other articles, fo far as th«y were coniiftcnt, v-'vv and in hi§ power. This fecurity being given to tlic people, his troops took poiTcirion q? the town. Nothing could now afford the flightcfl: hope of the prcfejvation of any part of Canada but the latc^. ncfs of the feafon. Whether through inability for fo great an entcrprizc, or from di^erenc? of opi- nion, the in v^fion of that province was not under- taken until the feafon for military operations was nearly paflTed. To balance this, there remained but an handful of regular troops in Canada, and, the taking of General Carleton, which fcemed ' nearly certain, would have rendered its fate inevi- table. Fortune, however, determined otherwifc, and at the time that all hopes of the armed veifcis b«ing able to get down the river were given up, and that Montgomery was preparing batteaux wiih light artillery at Montreal to attack them on that fide, and force them down upon the batteries, means were fuccefsfully taken for conveying the Governor, in a dark night, in a boat with mufHed p * paddles, part the enemict guards and batteries, and r^t[reI*to he arrived fafely at C^ebec, which he found envi- Quebec* roned with danger from an unexpected quarter. As it was impradicable to fave the fhips. General Prefect was obliged to enter into a capitulation with the Provincials, by which the whole of the river naval force, confifting of eleven armed vefiels, was furrendered into their hands, the General him- Armed felf, with feveral other officers, fome gentlemen in Y^^^\ * the civil ckpartment, Canadian voluntters, and near "''"°°*'^ 120 Eeglilh foldiers, all of whom had taken refuge on board upon the approach of General Montgo- mery to Montreal, becoming prifoncrs of war. Whilft the Provincials were thus carrying on the Sep. 31ft, war in Upper Canada from the New- York fide, aad by the old bcatcu courfc of the Lakes, an ex- pedition. Col. Ar- nold's furprifing expedi- tion to Quebec, byland. t »s fmth, confidcrably dWlinguiihccf by iw novchv* Ipirit, ciiterprii?c, by the difficulties that opt,ofcd ^y th(i conftancy that fiiccceded in it» exception xjas undertaken dircd4y againft the lower pan "f the province and city of duebcc, from the New- England fidit, by i route vvliich had hitherto brcn untried, itid confiJcred as imprafticabFe. Tiiis cxpeduron was uridcitakcn by Colortel Arrbld who about the middle of September, at the hfaJ of tx^(i; regiments, confifting of about noo men, Marched ^6fli the camii nejtr Boftbn, fo Newbury' Port, at the mouth of th« riv«r ]Vferrimack, where veflels were m readinefs to cdnvet them bv fca to tht mouth of the river Keiinebcc,' in New-Hamp. imtc ; a voyage of about forty kagutfs. On the 22d 6f the toe month they ertibarkcd tfteir ftores a^d troops in ioo battcau^, at Gardi- ' r^"', °^ *^^ Kennebec, and proceeded with great difRcuhy up that river, having a rapid ftrcam, with a rocky bottom and fhores, continually inter, rupt-d^y falls and carrying places, x^ith numberfeft other impediments to eneounfcf. In this f.a%e the batteaux were frequently filled with Water, dr overfet ; in confeq^erice of which a part af their arms, ammunition, and provifions were fomctimes Git. At the numerous carrying places, feefrdes the abour of loading and reloading, they were' obliged to convey the boats on their Ihoulders. The efeat carrying place was ^bout twelve miles icrof^. That part of the detachment which was not empbyed in the bat^eaux, marched along the banks of the rivcf, and tht boats and men being diipofed in three cfivi- lions, each divifion encamped together every nmu . Nor was the march by land more eligible than the paf- fage by water. They had thick woods; deep fWanipF, ditiicult mountains, and precipices, alternately to en- counter, and were at times obliged to cut their tv-av f6r miles through the thickets. At the carrying places they were obI?g:ed td travcrfe tht fame ground feveral (^a^.EC^ CrviL War m AMtttlCA. fa^f kicT2A timfrs? hcaty loaded. 'FfoftD adl thdc im^ 1 775. pediments their promrefs wa» of toutle very flow^ v^^^^rx/ being' irt gerteral only From 4 or 5 top or 10 mile* a day. Tlie confi mt fatngue and labour caufcd ^ many to h\\ fick, which added t?o their difficulties, ' arid pfovifion^ gtcvt at length fo fcarce, that fome of tfic men Cat their dogs, and whawvci! clic of any kind that couB be convcrteA ^N ^S.^ «^ "d Sh'T ?;"''''* ^'°T '> ^^^^^^- Some marin'es '' which the Governor had fent for Bofton, were re- Thimnv^**?' ^"^ the danger of the navigation. ArnoM Tk-'^^ ftate of affairs at Quebec, when Nov gth ft tt ?n '' ^nl'^' '•^P^^'"^^ ^' Poii^ Levi oppo. A:Lf • «c ttie town. Ihe river was fortunately between ^PP^^^"" 'M''"lV^r bo^f«fccured, otherwife^^feems ^-'- highly probable that they would have becorne ,r^ ^^"'"^^• Kfe/"' jn the/rllfurprife and coT.^uflot: ii^n defed w;is mdced remedied in a few days by the C239 ?a4s>D '^* Hll^ TO R y (fthi ciNtA*> m. 117 S' the rfacrky^of the 6ai«diafw,'S>iid fijipplicdftj^m w^^ ^-'^'^ canoes, and they ccflfcsftcdihcir pa%ein a^arfc: Aight, notwidiftanding ihc vi^llanQc of tbcarmjB^ vdBek and AigaitBs of war in the civcn But % critical moment was iiow;paffed. The dilcont-enteil inhabitants, Ei^Ufti smd CanadijBw, jeiooii^rfjin. gcr prc^lcd, united for ihcir common dcfcnc?, Hicy became fcrioufly alarmed ibr the. inam^ property which Quebec contained. They ifirfjd to be, and ^ece, embodied and jacmed. The liiilpis iad landed, and were at the batteries toferve tijc guns, the defendants weie cnniide^afeiy Juperi^r in number to the affailantsyand iAafnoW-h^d no iiiitiilcry. In ihcfc cincumiiances, ids iinly feopc rasjft haye been the .defeftion of the inhabitants j -antj 4i%. foisted in that, nothing remained praQici^le kx ihim, but iotercqiisog thcirioad&y and cutting ^fftbc fupplics, .until the arrival of Montgomery. He accordniglj ;paradcd £or ibme days on :the hjSigl^s near the town, and fent two flags to fummoh the inhabitants J but they were fired at, andnoincf. fa^e admitted $ upon which, he at leng:^ drw m jofi his detachment into quarters "Mon. MontgQ. ^"^^^^ *"^ ^'^^ lorts, and fent detachments into diffc > inciy. fcnt parts of the province, to encourage the Cana- dians, as well as to forward fupplies of provifions and nceeflariea, pufhcd on with as many men a could be fparcd from thefe fervices, and fich artil- Jery as he couJd procure, to join Arnold. Their march was in wintor ; through bad roads, in a fevere climate ; beneath the fall of the firft fnows ^nd therefore made under great hard£bips ; which' however, they encountered with cqucd refolution ;' and arrived with mcredible expedition at Quebec/ Dec. 5th Upon their arrival before the town, Montgomery The city '^'''% * ^^"^^'°. *^e Governor, magnifying hi fommon. ^^vn flrength, ftatmg the weaknefs of the garnfon. m fhcwing the impoffibility of relief, and recommend^ mg an immediate furrender, to avoid the dreadful -> confequenccs which mud attend a ftorm, frritated, as he laid, his vidorious troops were, at the iniu- nous and cruel treatment which they had in various particulars received at his hands. Though the flag that conveyed this letter, as well as every other tvas hred at, and all communication abfolutely forbid- den by the Governor, Montgomery, found other means to convey a letter of the fame nature j but neither threats nor dangers could produce any cffea upon the inflexible firmnefs of the veteran Governor. It doc.T not appear that Montgomery's forces were very much luperior in number or quality, to tiiole, fuch as they were, who defended the town. His CflAF. IX. Civil VTaXw ItNl E RICA. His only profpcft of fucccfs feemcd therefore to be founded upon the impreflion which the parade of Ihs preparations, and the violence of his attacks might m^e ypon tlic motley garrifon, or if thofe failed, to weary them out by continual motions and falfe alarms. He accordingly commenced a bom- bardmtAt, with five fmall mortars, which continued > for fome days, and might have been fuppofed to Lave anfwcred the former of thofe intentions, by threwine the garrifon into diforder ; but the intre- pidity of the Governor, fcconded by the bravery, iodcfatigablejnduftry and perfeverance of the chief officers, as well as the adivity of the feamen and marines, prevented the cxpeded effed. -We muft do juftice alfo to the garrifon in general, who nobly followed the example, and fupported the bravery of their commanders, and endured the iucomnipdi- tics, wants and diftrelTes, incident to fo long^ fiege, joined to a mod grievoufly fevere and unremitted duty, with wonderful conftancy and refolution. In a few days Montgomery opened a fix-gun battery at about 700 yards diftance from the walls; ''"J^'sjpetal was too light to produce any confide- rable effea. In the mean time the fnow lay deep iipon the ground, and the feverity of the climate '^f^^^ch, that human nature feemcd incapable of mdiftanding its force in the field. The hardfliips and fatigues which the Provincial foldiers under- went, both from the feafon, and the fmallnefs of tlieir number, feemed incredible, and could only be endured from their enthuftaflic adherence to tbcir caufe, and through the affedion or efteem which they bore to their General. This conftancy muit however fail, if the evils were iucreafed, or too long continued. The time for which many of the foldiers had engaged was alfo expired, or ex- F'nng; and it could not be anfnered how foon «jey might infift^ upon returning home, nor whe- «icr Juch an event would not totally break up the little tny ^775' :ege. ^ ^44^ fhe H I S T O R T ./ the CrtAP. li. by sdc. 1775. Httld army. It is faid, that the New- York men ^^'''^ were too fenfibic of the climate, and did not Ihew the vigour or perfevcfartce of thofe h.-.rdy New. Fnglandcrs who had traverfcd the dclarts with Arnold. Attempt In theft circumftanctf^, Montgomery thought that Qi.d>ec *'""^^^^»"g decifivc mull immediately be done, or bf efcal. ^^^^^ ^^c benefit of his part fucceflcs would, in a -J" great degree, be loft to the caufc in which he was engaged, and his own renown, which now flionc in great luftre, br dimmed, if not obfcurcd. He knew the Americans would confidcr (^ebcc as taken from the inftant that they had heard of his arrival before it. That the higher their expeftations were raifed, the more grievous the difappointmcnt would be in cafe of t failure. Their confidence of fucccfs was founded upon the high opinion which they held of his courage and ability; to forfeit that opinion, was the worft of- all poffible confequenecs. Yet' to attempt the city by ftorm, with a garrifon equal in number to the afTailants, and the great natural ftrength of the upper town to encounter, which is one of thofe places that are ufually called impreg- nable, Teemed an effort truly defpcrate. But great minds are feldom good calculators of danger ; and if the glory in view be great, do not minutely at. tend to the difficulties which lie in their way to that objeft. indeed, the mod illuftrious military at. chievements, in all ages, have owed their fuccefs to a noble contempt of common forms, and common Calculations. Fortune, in contempt of the pride of man, ever was, and ever will be, the great arbiter in war. Upon the whole, Montgomery, depend- ing much upon fortune, and not a little upon the nature and difpofition of the garrifon, determined upon a dcfperate attempt to carry the place by efcalade. Whilff CHAP. IX. Civil War m A MERI C A. [3145 Whilft he was making the ncccflary prqwratiom 1 775. for this purpofc, it is faid the garrifon received in^cl- V-^^v^ ligcncc of it by fome dcfertcrs, and that he per- ceived, by their motions, that they were not only acquainted with the general dcfign, but with the particular mode of carrying it into execution, which Ihty were accordingly preparing with the utmoft vigour and order to oppofe. This untoward cirrum- ftancc, rendered a total change in htg original dif- pofitions ncccffary, and it is not impoffibic, that this difarrangemcnt had a confiderabic influence oa the fuccccding events. However that was, early in the morning, on the laft day of tke year 177/ and under the cover of a violent (how ftorm he' proceeded to this arduous attempt. He had'dif- pofcd of his little army in four divifions, of which Tiri-^'^r'^.r ^^^^/«a<^» againft the upper town, whilft himfclf and Arnold conduded two real againft oppofite parts of the lower. By this means the alarm was general in both towns, and might have difconcerted the moft experienced troops : from the fide of the river St. Lawrence, along the fortified front, and round to the Bafon, every part fcemed equally threatened, if not equally in danger. .^^^''^^''^y^'^ock, Montgomery, at the head of the New- York troops, advanced againft the lower town at Aunce de Mere, under Cape Diamond ; but trom fome difficulties, which intervened in his approach, the fignal for engaging had been given, ind the garrifon alarmed, before he could reach the place. He however preffcd on in a narrow j51e upon a fcanty path, with a precipice to the river on one fide, and an hanging rock over him ; fcized^ and paflcd the firft barrier, and accompanied by a tew of his braveft officers and men, marched boldly at the head of the dt tachment to attack the fecond. ihis barrier was much flron^cr than the firft. Se- veral cannon were there planted, loaded with ^rapc ' mu From tkcfc, as well as from a weli-dircacd and f '77S' »nJ fiipported f,re of mulquetry, an end was « ^-~ once put to the hope, of tili, emerprizing Xe and to the fortune of his party in Canada. The' General himfelf, with hi. Aid de Camp, fome other Montgo. o"'<:c". and raoft of tiiofe who were near his dt. mcry kiu Ion, fell upon ihe fpot.» _ The command devolved - upon rW^c7.r * '^''*'/'=" RICHARD MONTGOMERY. Efq, »ho was a gentlemen of excellent family of the North of Inland and brother to ///.xJ/.^/^,;;,<.r;, Efq; one of the preS knights of the fhire for the county of Donegal. Both thef. gentleman ferved their country, in the late war8, under Genera! Wolfe, with the greatcft military abi!itic» , and about the vea, l& 'j' P/^^f "^/""-^'^^^ of '^<^ two, threw up his commiffion ^. r , * *° ^f^ ^" opportunity of adjufting a certain affair of honor, wherein he thought himfelf flig&cd bv the preferring of a junior officer to a rank he (hould h?ve fuccceded JO. The confti! .rnts of the county of Donegal, in teftimony of •tUeir entire approbation of his martial conduft, gc»croufl» prefented hnn with his feat in parliament, for that county, at tlielatc general cleftion, free of all expence, where he hag now an opportunity of fliinina with ctjual luftrc in the cabinet that he formerly did in the field. * ■f ) The excellency of Rte^ard s qualifications and difpofition (who thus fell in the prime of life) had procured him an un- common fhare of private affection, as his abilities had of public elleeni ; and there was probably no man engaged on t'lc fame fide, and few on either, whofe lofs would have been fo much regretted both m England and America. He is tcprcfentcd as , a real and eager lover of Liberty ; and having married a Lady. and purdnled an ellate in New- York, was from thence induced to confider himfelf as an American. Thus, fay his friends, he was led by pwnciplc, to quit the fwcets of m eafy fortune, the enjoyment of a loved and philofophical rural life, with the highell domcftic felicity, to take an adivc fiiarc in all the mifc. ries and dangers of the prcfent troubles. He had undoubtedly conhderable, and probably great, military abilities ; and it re mams to be lamented, that a man who feemed fo well formed to fupport the interelU and glory of his country againft her natu- ral foes, fliould have periled in an unnatural and moft unhappy civil contcft. In America, he was revered as a martyr, to the caufe of human nature, and the liberties of mankind. What WIS more extraordinary, the mofl powerful fpeakcrs in the Bri- tub parliament difplayed their eloquence in praifing his virtue* and lamenting his fate. A great orator, and veteran fellow. foldier Chap. IX. Civil WaV fn A kt RICA. p^^ upon a Mr. Campbell, who immediately retired 177 c vitliout any further -effort. Whether he yidded wC3 too eafily to the i\rii imprcflion, as the Amcricang C.mp- alFerted, it is impolhble for thofc who arc not per- b»=" «:- fcdiy acquainted with all the particulars to deter- '^^■•*''* mine. In the mean time, Arnold, with a body of thofe troops who had originally f.gnalized thtmiclvcs by the memorable expedition under his command into Canada, fupported by fome New- York a.tiilcrv .^^"°^«* made their attempt on that part of the towi called ^^^K"^' t aSautauMatclot, and havfng penetrateTtliroligh ''' ''''' lofs aKnT ' '^^ '"'"'^ ''''^' ccnfiderable likeVi rht f ? * ^'"'P engagement. '1 hey had likcwife the fortune upon this occafion te be left ^itbout a commander ; for Arnold's leg being iha a u S '^Hi^ot'; "" r^^^"^^ carrifdpfffo the wo^^a. 2Tt AC P^jce was, however, well funplied by he goodnefs of the officers, and the fefJlution o^ the men ; who being ignorant of Montffomerv^, misfortune, were fo far from being difSiy hen- own, that they pufhed on with great Xoi7 and made themfelves mafters of another barrifr' ~ The garrifon now being recovered from their furprize, and their hands cfcared in aU other qtr^ ' • • ters, feat 'Jht m m:±- ""■;''"'? "f '""• "Mft <" tolled his virtues -whn^ K« ^^ j^ % . " "*^ mim/ter ex - apphoatiou had produced. '^'^"" "^'^akeo f. 1" ^T'^^ *° '^"' ''«*«'''»" foldier exbfred with h;.VC ^ ipett to h 8 private charaft,.r JZ '\ ? .. "'* '"<^» ^"d re- ti«n«. Br the ordersof r^P''?;^'^,""'^'"''" °»her confidcra- watinterred i«Q„ebec on th?,ft :f r r ^^^ ''"^°"' and ttc military l^,^:::r:eroab«^^ '776. with all ^k • '•'• TIP 't 1 775. tert, had time to mtmmotjim fittution of Arnold's V^"^*^^ dnrifion, and to perceive & opporttmity which was oflered'of cutting them off. Their fiiuition wai fiich, that in attempting a retreat, they muft pafs for a confidcrabk way within fifty yirdg of the walls, expofed to the whole fire of the garrifon. To render their fote inevitable, a confidcrablc de- tachment, with feverat Held pieces, iifucd through a gate which commanded that paflage, and attacked ^ them fiirioufly in the rear, whilft they were already fully occupied m every other part, by the troops which now poured upon them from all quarters. hithdie defperate circumfiances, without a pofli- bility of elcape, attacked on all fides, and under every diiadvantagc of ground as well as number, they obftinately defended themfclvcs for three hourt^ and at length furrendered prifoners of war. The prifoners were treated with the grcateft humaiiity by General Carleton ; a condud, which the habitual military fevcrity of his temper, render- ed the more honourable. It appears by comparing different circumfiances previous and fubfequent to this engagement, that the rebels, in killed, wound- ed, and prifoners, did not lofc fewer than half their number ; and a letter from Arnold, wrijttcn foon Iter, ftatcs their remaining force at only 700 men. Tiie Governor and ojfficcrs acquired great and defervcd honour by this defence, and the behaviour of the raw garrifon would have done credit to vete- rans. I^ afforded an inflance, how far the conduft and e^rample of a few brave and experienced officers might operate, in rendering the raweft and worft formed troops refpedlablc. Indeed, the emulation arifing behvecn the different orders of men which compofed the garrifon, probably converted an ap- parent wcakncfs into 4 real ftrcngth. - ^.(^ i Thc CMAf. IX. >f Arnold's ' which was uation wai ' mull pafs irdg of the c garrifon. icrabic dc' !d through id attacked ere already the troops I quarters. ut a poHi. and under IS number, for three 18 of war. I ic grcateft 1^, which :r, render- comparing fequent to d, wound- I half their ijttcn foon 700 men. great and behaviour lit to vete- c conduft ed officers and worft emulation len which :ed an ap- i t I I I The ' l?i omidedX^r J/-^-^^ at rite a tta* of QtieWc. # #- Cmt^AR in AMERICA. Chap*. IX. The befiegers imnfcll^ quitted their camp, i^nd retired about titfcc tmks from the city, where they ftrengthened their quarters in the beft manner they were able beiftg apprehenfive of apurfuitand attack hom the garrifon. . The latter, however, though now fuperior incumber, were ttnfit for a fer- vice ot thgt natare, an4lheir,.3i>jie Governor, with a degree ofmMo^ and ibbricly equal to hi/ intfe- pidit/ and ftrmnef8,.con3temcd:^imfelf with the un- cxpeded^advantage a-d Ibcuirity he had gained, T^ithout hazarding the fate of {he: province, and perhaps Qt, Arnerica, in any raft enterprize. The city WIS tim completely out of danger, and the great fuccourswhich were expelled, lould not fail ro relieve the th^le province, . . By the death of Montgomery, the command of the American army; devolved upon Arnold,* whofe Zl^T^''^-^''^^^^ unec^alt^ . S- • K T^^ ?' P^'^^^verance was, however, aibniflimg ,n their circumftances. They had loft bddes tueir General, (in whom it might be f^lid all their hopes and, confidence refided) the belt of he-r officers, and the braveft of their fellows, with apart of their fmall artillery. The hope of alfift. mi be' f ^^"S^"d -' b-ft> the arrival oi' fuccours dtn iiT ,^^.^^«^^^" known that the Cana- thk rH^f .'' ^''"^ naturally quick and fickle in bXn r °"> T'^ peculiarly diipoled to be h^fltrd by fucceis, fo that their afliftance now grew -^dy precanou. ^e i^verity of a Ca^^ ^mter, was alfo far beyond any thingthey were ac ^ "^ quainted iIm ll """="f *7 ^''^^ *o trouble the reader with any de- h To ^"^''''"^y dehneatcd in this wonderful expedition of n^'atnn'^ '^^ '1= J^^l^ ^""^ ^I^^ itfelf Tn 1 rfuC v.^cuing campai2-ns of thcli- n.^KwUi-. ._. ..ui - . " this hnvp A~ '•"'• "' " ^^— '•"Bp?--':i-»"-Jcs, wnere wc ice brnve A«„.„can, amm..ted wi^h the love of his country, bertiesi, alwav* IH9 ^775* Provin- cials re> tire from before the walls. and In fi I I ■ i^ %- in every perilous 9XUm^\. t«, hw u-ffuc. * ^ ft^oj "irl/ if f§ T d R Y £/• /;6tf^' * c^Af, rti 1775. qtiaintcd ^tH, arid thrilio# lay above four feet deep ^^^vN^ apon a level. In thefc tireomftanccs, it required fta fffiall (fiarfr df aftiyirf , as virell as addreis, td kt^ them ift any manrtcr together. Arnold, who had hilhertd dilplayed Uncommon talent^ ih his mai-eh into Canada, (#hich may be compared tp the grcateft things done in- tHat kind) difeovered oii this Occafioh the t^tnioft vigour of a determined itiindi and a genius fnll df rcfources. Defeated and wouiided as he 'jyas, h^ put his troojjs into fuch a I fituation as to keep thetft ftill formidable. He dif^ patched an expreft to Woofter, who was^ at Mon- treali to bring fuccOtirs, and tO affume the command ; but as this could nOt be done immediately, he bore up with the force he had againfl: the difficulties with which he was furrounded. From that time, the fiegc was for foinc months converted into a block- 4de, arid Arnold found means effedually to ob- ftru^ the ar^rival of any Applies of provifions or ^ neceffari^s in the to^n. . "% CUAP. CteAJ*. ^. CiyiL^^^R in AJW E R I C A. G HAP. I. c»» Tranfaaions in the provinces ^/Virginia, the North tfW South Cifoknaa, w/// /^^ ///wrr^/ oceurfetfcei cf otk'0r eihme*' in , /if/wr 1775. " ^' DURIN<; thefe proceedings in Canada, a W 1 77 c. cpurre <3f jca|o^fy,^^iftruit, fufpicion, and al- ^-^ tcrc^.^1, between the Qoverpor, and ti\e major gart of thej^pvcrncd, in tfte colo^of Virginia, v • • finab^t^;:iwmatcd in open hpftility, and a ruinous '*'"''• irteginal, ajid predatory war. Thefe unhappy cffeas arofe (as is too frequently the cafe) from a c^ufe apparently, unimportant ; but a§ the heat of tontrovetfy nouriflied the quarrel, fo mutual dif. truft and apprehenfion fupplied the place of an objca. . • , r -^ . , The people of that colony, as we have formerly ftewn ,h^d been at lead as forward as any pthcr, mallihe^ommon aas, of .ftndijig Delegates to the Oenergl Cangrefs, acceaing to its dccr>ees, under uhatcver form or title they iffued, and jn the inm. tutmg ot committees, and the entering into aObcia- tjpns, among themfelves. They were alfo amunff the freeflin expreffing their refolution, and the readidt m (hewing their determination, toiupport at all rifques and events, what they deemed, or termed, the rights pf America. But in other re- ipei^a, the grcateft order and quiet was preferved ' m that province ; and notwithitanding the uncali- nels exceed by the prorogation pr diffolution of tfteir ailemhhes, and tlte confequent ejcuiration ot their mihtia laws, (which, in a country where a great majority of the people are in a ftate " ot ilavery, was a circumftance of the moft alarm- ing nature, and which might have been attended aciu con/uquenccs) yet with thefe daint, the peopie iccmed to pny a more caufcs ijipf m 25*5 •' • % H is T DRY fl/ //j/ CttA^. I. more than 'con^mon "degree of attention and per- fonal regard to the Zarl of Dunmore, their Govcr- nori -^'.y-^^-s-, • Provin- cial con- grcis nuct. Mar. 6th Militia embodl- ed. Ap. 2oth powder temovtd from the cnaga- %\\vt at William- Confe- ,;2fiuence3 tnercof. In this (late of things, however, the want of a legal afiembly. Teemed to give fome fandion to ihe holamg of a convention, a Provincial Congrcfs was airt^mbled in the month of March, 1775, who im. mediately (under the c6ver of an oJd law of the vear I738» ^v•hichthey faid to be ftill effeaive) took inea fures for arraying the militia ; but to fupply in fomc degree thofe de&fts in that law, to remedy xvhich as jhey pretended, all fubfequent ones had been pailed, they recommended to each county to raife a volunteer company, for the better dclence and protcaioa of the country. This interference in the militia, probably alarmed the Governor, and fecnis to have been the caufe that rendered the public magazine belonging to the "^u- S^rl:.^^'' *^^P^*^' *^"y of Williamlburgh, an objea of his apprehenfion. However that was he foon afterwards employed the Captain of an armed ^flcl, which lay at a few miles diitance in James Kiver, with a detachment of marines, to convey the hiTihr'' ^^ "'^^'^' ^'''"' *^^ magazine on board Though this mcafurc was conduced with great privacy, it was by fome means difcovered the enisling morning, when the apparent lecrecy, and feeming myfterioufnefs, of the aft, increafed the conikr- nationand alarm. among the inhabitants, who im. mediately afleinbled with fuch arms as they had at hsnd, with an intention of demanding, or, perhaps, obtaming, rcftitution of the gun.powder. Ihc Mayor and corporation, however, prevented thtir proceeding to any extremities, whilft they prefented un addrefs to the Governor, flatin^ rhr fniurv. r.. ciauning the powder as a matter of°right, and^ihew: CrVii. War Vif»fE RICA. f^j % iflg the dangers to wlirch they were [fculbrly lla- blc from the infurrcaion of their flavcs ; a cala- mity, which had for Ibme time been particularly apprehended, and which the removal of their only mcansof defence, would at anytime have accelerated. His Lordfliip acknowledged, tfiat tlue gun-pow- 4er had been removed by his order ; faid, that as he had heard of an infurreaion in a neighbouring country, and did not think it fecurc in the mara- zinc, he had it conveyed to a place of perfedl ie. curity ; but gave his word, that whenever an occa. fion rendered it neceflary, it Ihould be immediately returned. He alfo faid, that it had been removed m the night to prevent giving alarm; exprefled great furprize at the people's alfembling in arms ; and obferved that he could not think it prudent to put powder mto their hands in fuch a fituatiwi. . Whatever fatisfaaion this anfwer might bavt afforded, to the magiftrates, they prevailed on the Fople to retire quietly to their houfes, without ani^ remarkable outrage, that we can learn, having been committed; indeed it appeared, from - depofitions afterwards taken by order of the affe;nbly,Vhat the officers of the men of war on that ftation, and parncularly the gentleman who might be fuppofed to have rendered himlelf obnoxious by removing he powder appeared publicly in the llreets during he time of the greatelt commotion, without their ecemngthefmalleftinfult. A report, being, how' ever, fpread m the evening, that detachments from ne men of war were upon their march to the city, all nf kF ^^''''u*^^^ ^'''^^'' ^^«^«' ^nd continued a 1 n.ght upon the watch, as if in expeaation of an ZntA^c ' "'^''- P^''°^^'' ^"d ^^^^^ '-in evi. T!^f'^'' toprotca the magazine from anv fur- 1775- aiiv^ mpts. The Affem- bly con- vened. H^e^.Whc* v§l^t:b«Q|[ QWbypr||?d,^it^er in the h^nds of.fricn4« ©r W1S19S, icpfp^^ ^ry .i^^ccjuMe tp the aJarm }Hfi).»P.iflO,j»n44i^})rfeancCj whicl^ this ipc?%-c cjc! cited. The quantity of powder removed amounted o.nlyftpr^ftecr> ti^lf^bju-r^ls, containing fifty pounds f^h, . praiMery. ordinary fprt, ^n^ the rcraainW ftocki^ h^hM ^nrthc m^ga^Iq?, to about fix of t|)c fafnc:Hi]a<|; ijeithcr dpcsit apj^ar that the num- ber .pf:fer;vic^^blc ,muftiets was fufficient to anlwcr ai>y fiikJHki p»rpofe, or.evep tp juftifyijipivchen- ficmf jinti .the caution of Gripping thde of their hp}^, ;Ofily ma»k^(i j^hc fufpiqipn frpm ^which it pro- ^e^M' A .^fjnfiderable quantity, of old arpis, jmd ?Qm9K)n :tf4djng g^ns, yverf npt ;med4l€d with. WppR tb?fV?hp|.e, this aft derivjed itP:piVy imppx- - ; Thc^Crd.wrw)r feems to-hj^vc:b>^cn ^xoccding!'^ «rr^ate4 »t,tbici)e|ia'viour of the people in, thcic qoin- motiip^, »ndvpQrhftpsrfi[ci)|e4jtpp highly, fprJuch ^n^B, iihcir ^flVmbling io arms, not pnly wrthoiu, toiWitli :^tfiyisc bcjen avpide.d. Among tMe^ a t-h^^t,Qf .f«^iQg;^jp nhc , royal lUnd^rd, of enfran- ehi^iog :the ncg!TK)cs, arming tl^cm ag^inft their Bf^^ftf r^^ RQjd xl^ftcpying the city, with other qxpref. fipnsipf a rfimtbir, nature aud tendency, not only Spread ia.genccal alarm thrcnughput the colpny, but W't^d a Jund of iabhorrence gf governiRCflt, and ap. incurable .fufpicion of its, defigns. In the mean itlme, feveral public mc^ings jwerc held in difceiit ;Cojuuties, in all of which, the roea- fure of fciicing and removing jhe powder, as well as the Governor*^ threats, were reprobated in the ^^rpsgelt terms. , Some of the gentlemen of Han- over, CkAV, Xi eftrii- WAR !«' A M K n C A. »vc(r, ahd oth^ of fhir nfeigfibdarfng cdlmtie'a, i,vertf not, however^ fatisficfd with fwripte ctcclaratbns. They affchifblcd in armtto a confrdefrabl^ number- uMtt the condud of a Mr. Heni^, vihd was dnd of the Provincial Ddcgates to the General Congrefs^ and marched towards Williamfburgh, with ah avow^ cd defign, not only to obtain rcftitution of the gun- powderi buk to take fuch effcraoal meafufcs for fecuring the public treafury, as fhould prevent iti experiencing a fimilar fate with the magazine. A ne^lation was, however, entered into with tha iftaglftratcs, when they had arrived within a few miles of the city, in which it wafe finally fettled, that the Receiver-Gencral of the cblony^s feciirity[ for paying the valiie of the gun.powder, fhouM b* accepted as a reftitution, and th^ upon the inha'- bitanfft engaging for the future, efleftoally tb ^uard •both the treafury and magazine, the infurirent* ftwild, return to their habitations. The alarm of this affar, induced LaSy Dunmorej wjth riie Governor's famUy to retire on board the Fowey man of war in James River, whilll his Lordi fliip, with the affiftancc of a detachment of marines converted his palace into a little garrtfbn, Fortified It in the feeft manner he was able^ and furrounded It with artillery. A proclamatroh irom the Oover^ nor and Council, in which Henry and his fdioWers were charged with rebellious pradices, in extorting the value of the powder from the Recdver-Gencral, *S- A ^ pf^fcnt commotions were attributed to dif-* *ruri" ^"*^^ P^'^P^^' *n^ » d.-fire of changir^g the e^abhflied f^^rm of governniciitj ftTved only to aftord more room for akcrcatior^i ikkJ to incrcalc the l^fl *?v ^^^^^'r^iif • Several comitf meetings were Md, Henry'i condua vindicated and^ applauded, and rcfolutidns paacd, that at the rifquc of every thmgdc^M-, he and his followers IhouJd b« indem- iiincaitom all iuftering, ids and injifrV, tipon that account. The change of difaficaioa was peremp. • tonly tm m Armed force headed by a Mr Henry. GoVer- nar'h ptocHi mation againll JHeDTjr. His con- tludl ap- proved of by the peopie. rife niSTOKY,/ the CftAP. X. torily dcnicS, and thofc of changing the form of government, and caufing the prclciii troubles, re tortcd. They infiftcd that they wanted noiin* but to prcfcrvc their ancient conltitution, and only oppofcd innovations, and that all the difturbancts Jprung from the Governor*^ lau: condd^t. ^ /* - Appear- ance of certain letters increafe the fer- ment. June ift. General Affem- bly con> vened by the Gov. and con- ciliatory, motion propofcd. As there arc times when all circumftances fecm to confpire, towards the nourilhment and increafe of political, as well as natural diforders, fo it ap. pearcd now in Virginia, every thing tending t^^'^^'y**^ fuch province or CO. lony and djfpofablc by parhament ; and ftall engage to make « Hrlr '-a ^°' '^\ ^^P-'"' °f '^' ^'"^ gove^rnSient. and the admimftration of; juftice in fuch province and .olony, it •' S proper. If fuch propofalfhould be approved of by h L Majeftv in parhament, and for fo' long as fuch provition fliall be made accordingly, to forbear, in refpeft of "fuch province " ttri '^^'l**"'^' *?' or affefliifcit, e«Cept only fuch du- •' eo ernJlln?*^^ «P«vas tlit appoint' M^ Se L^ ^-ST""*"'^ to cncjukre into th€ caX of /.in? JJ« ^*^« cJKlurbanccs, ^^d particularly to examine rifled. «c itwc oC the magazine, that ncccflary mca, mZ ""^^K '^T'^iW »^« .^« for its rcjlcniih Ih!.:j Though the magazmc was the property of the colonjr, it was in the cuftody of the GcIvcrno7 who appointed a keeper, fo that an application td tim ior admittanre wag neccifery. During an al. tercatjon whjch arofc upon this fubjeft, and before the order for admittance was obtained^ fomc peoolc Pf the ^ town and neighbourhood broke into the magazine, and carried off fome of the arms; fc- veral raembers of the Houfe of BurgeiTcs, however, uicd their perfonal intereft and apphcation in cct! ting as many of them as they could returned. It ap, peared by the report of the Committee, that thcv iound moft of the remainder of the powder buried in the magazines yard, where it had been depofited by the Governor's orders, and fuffered confidcrable damage from the rain ; the depriving the mulkcts ot their locks was alfo now difcovered, as well as the nakcdnefs and infufficicncy of the magazine in ■all refpcas. Among oth^r matters which fervcd to irritate the people, was the planting of fpring. guns in the magazine, (without giving any public notice of fuch a modeof-fecurity) and fome efFeft they had taken at the time of the late depredations. June 8th. Whilft the Governor's fpeech, with the propo. fitions which it recommended, were yet under IhLre T^ confidcration of the aiTembly, and before their retires on J?^^f ^^ was determined upon, his Lordfliip, with board a his lady and family, quitted the palace privately, andfuddcnly, at night, and retired onboard of the i^owey man of war, which then lay near York town, on the river of the fame name. He left a meflage tor the Houfe of BurgefTes, acquainting them, that he thought^ it prudent to retire to a place of fafety, ss axe was fully perfuadcd, that both liimfcif andhis ■ y ' • * - " • ■' ' family flu'p of war. Chap. X. Clvil War wi A M ERI C A. £2^9 family were in conilant danger of falling facrif cc8 to 1 775- the blind and unmcafurablc fury of the people ; that v-^^-^^ To far from intending to interrupt their fitting, he hoped they would fuccefsfuUy proceed m the great bufincfa before them j that he would render the communication between him and the Houfe as cafy and as fafe as poffible ; and that he fuppofed it would be more agree?ible to them to fend fome of their members to him as occafion fhould require, than to have the trouble of removing their whole body to a nfcarcr place. He affurcd them, that he fhould attend as ufual to the duties of his office, and of his good difpofition to reftorc that harmony which had been fo unhappily interrupted. .^,„ ' This meflage produced a joint addrefs from the Report Counpl and Houfe of Burgeffes j declaring their ^'^"^ the unbelief that any perfons in that province, would Co*"""'- mcditatc fo horrid and atrocious a crime as his Tn °^j Lordfhip apprehended ; lamenting that he had net '^"*1""'>'- acquainted them with the ground of his uneafmefs before he had adopted this meafure, as they would havcufed all poffible means to have removed every caufeof his difquietude ; they feared that this re- moval from the feat of government would be a means of increafin|g the uneafmefs which unhappily prevailed among "the people ; declared that they would chearfully concur in any meafure which he Uiou d propofc for the fecurity of himfelf and his tainily ; obferving how impraaicable it would be to carry on the bufmefs of the feffion with any de- pc of propriety and difpatch, whilft he was at Juch a diftance, and fo inconveniently fituated, Ihey concluded by intrea.ing his return, with his lady and family, to the palace, which would afford great public fattsfadion, and be the likelieft means ot quietmg the minds of the people. L ^^^„4PH"^<^^^returnedawrittenanfwer,in which w xo «c juuuica his^ apprchcnfions of danger, fro;n t^c" public a^o] ^77 S- Kefufal of the Gover- nor to go on fliorc to pafs tl)c bills. The HlBTOnt of the HhatX, public notoriety of the commotions among the peo- pie, as well as of the threats and menaces w th which thcjr were attended j bef.dcg complaints of the general conducit and diff» jtion of the Houfe of Burgelfes, he fpecified fcvcrai charj^es againll that body ; that they had countenanced the violent and diforderly proceedings of the people, particularly with refpcd to the magazine, which was forced and rifled in the prefcncc of fomc of the members ; that Inftead of the commitment of thofe perfons who had been guilty of fo daring and heinous an offence they only endeavoured to procure a reftitution of the arms. That the Houfe, or its Committer;, had ventured on a ftep fraught with the moil ala uimg confcqucnces, in appointing guards, without hisap-' probation or conferit^ under pretence" of protefting the magazine, fhcwed thereby a defign of ufurping the executive power, and of fubvertmg the confti, tutipn. ' He obferved, that no means rould be effedual for affording the fecurity which they propofe.d to concur in, but, by reinftating him in the full powers of his office, by opening the courts of juftice, and reftoring the energy of the laws ; by difarming all indepen- dent companies, or other bodies of men, raifed and aaing in defiance of legal authority ; by oblig- ing the immediate return of the King's arms and ftores ; and by what was not lefs cffential than any other matter, their own example, and their endea- vours to remove that genera' 'eliTion which kept the minds r.5 the people in n con) nual fe nvnt, and thereby to abolifh thr lie. and fpirit of I)erfecution, which now operated fo dangerouly againft all thofe, who from duty and affefiion to their King and country, oppofed the prefent mea- fures, and who from principle and conviftion differ- ed with tke multitude in political opinion. That thefc were the means to afford the fecurity requifue ... »,. i/dUxvo f a«u tiiiii, lur me aecompiunnienE Chap. X. Civil War iVi A MK R f C A. [261 of thofc ends, together with the great objca and 1775. uccclpiry bufmefs of the fellion, he ihould have no v.^-^^ objc«?tion to their adjourning to the town of York, where he would mclc delays Oirown mto their proceedings, and the cvafive anfwers to their fmcerc and decent ad' drcfl^s, gave tjien^ reaibn to fm that a dangerous attack was meditated againft the unhaj^y people of t^alr^olony, and it was therefore their opinion, that tbcy ihould prepare for the prcfervation of their property, and their ineftimabic rights and liberties. And theni, ftfdngly profefeg loyalty to the King, ' ' ^hlSn^""' "''^^'^' ""^""^^^^^^ .* I^"r' "?iW»Iy, was an end put, for the prefcnt, t0 the Englifh ^gdvcrAtneni; In the colony of Vird- ma. A convention of ddegates was foon appointed to fupply the place of the affembly, who having an uiihmrted confidence repofed in them by thp people, become accordingly p^^ffed pf an unlimited power iw aR^iJubhc afiairs. iPhcfe immediatcW took in hand the raifmg and embodyipg of an armed force, as well as the providing mearts for its fupport, and purlued every other meafure which could tend to place the colony m a ftrong ftatc of defence. Whilft f'^u^J^ir^ Pf ^""''^fi *^^^ ctangerous fteps, they pub- tcao^ Iha wifiafurcsthat led to the prefcat. unliappy ..... Ibite July i8th Conven- tion of delegates held, and means ufed to arm the province. Declara- tion to juftify thcfe pro- cccdingf. [afi; 177^. CTap; X: I C»AP»X. Civit War m AMEItlCA. ftaieof public aflfairt, fetfili|r forth Ac- ckilfc of their rtttting, and Ihewing tli^ lieceffity of immediate^ putting the country in a pofture of defence, for the pifdteaibtt df their livb, Abertics, and properties. They concluded as the aifeitibly had dbne^»\vith the ftwttgcft pfofeffion* of faith and loyalty, ind de- clared, that as, oii the one handi, thCy^crfi dete^- roiirtd at the« peril of the extrcmeft hazards, to ' maintain their juft- rights and privileges , fo on the otherj k was theit ii*ed and unalterable r&folutiori, W^fbattd fuch forces as 'W^ii raifcd for the defence of the colonyj wheiwver their dangers #erc removed and Amtei^ica! rcftor^d to its former ftate of tran- ^ility attd h^pinicfs. li^tH^/ ttiMrd Dunrndfe expitacd ihaf ahyex- Coercive tmordinaryadMntages might be derived from aii '"cafures inftinreaion'of the flftvas, brithathc fitta^ih^^thete 5'^*" =" m9> much greater number of peo^e in the coloi uTh "* ny, who were fatisfied With -the prefcntfyftem df g'o! g»Ve«imcnt, than really wks^ the caf«, (a nijftake, nor. aniaii unfortunate onfci which like ah fepiiierixical ""'fro'" thence enfued. a fc J' '"''^<=''°«. predatory war, mc^p^UoJ. ev rv'IronT'"' "" ''™^5'' ""? in whichr« Ic" h cnaledatthepriceorrifque of blood. lol^y. *« ftate of hoftility, he procured a few Dor^tZ?' """If to^urn aport-tow„,in an iml Eml rST' '*""' H»™Pton- It feems the in- eour, and thrown fuch other ohflarli-s in »!,„„,„ asrenucca the app.oach of the %s, and confi-' quently Chav.x I Chap.X Civil War /« AMERICA. he by degrees l»<^l8 of differ. h« conftanriy Jore but in a ogcthcr, was )n, and never The former ^y> for as the >fcon board cither ftarve, ■ginians pre. ere confined ich they bore '^9 prevented their nature ved hoflUity. :c4 and car- ■avi*« • i ' i In cotofeqticnce of this repulfe, a proclamation was Mucd by the Governor, dated on board the ihip William, off Norfolk, declaring, that as the civil law Tteas at prefenl infufficient to prevent and puniih treafon and traitors, martial law ihbuld take placBj and be executed throughout the colony : and requiring all perfons. capable of bearing arms to repair to his Majefty's ftandard, or to be confidcred as traitors. He alfo declared all indented fervants, ncgroesj or others, appertaining to rebels, who wtfre aWe and willing to bear arms, and who joined his Majefty*s forces, to be free. This mcafure of emancipating the negroes, ex- cited lefs furprize, and probably had leS efFeCk in exciting the defired infurredion, from its being fo long threatened and apprehended, than if it had been more immediate and unexpefted. It was, however, received with the greateft horror in all the colonies, and has been feverely condemnt^d clfewherc, as tending to loofen the bands of fociety, to dcftroy domeftic fecurity, and encourage the ^ft barbarous of mankind, to the commiflion of the moft horrible crimes, and the moil inhuman Cfuclties ; tiiat it was confounding the innocent with the guilty, and expoung thole who were the belt Nov. 7th. Procla. mat ion for mar- tial law, and the emanci- pation of the ne- groes. a^cQ ^ n me m S TORY tf m Cha,. X. 1775- iMft fiiend j to goYcmment, to the fame lofi nf - v-~ pcrty,dang,r, and deftruaion, wkhXmoftlr' njiUe tebeb. I, „as faid to'eftablift a plS," of amoft dmgerous nature in the new woridT, giv.no alegal fanftion to the arrayine ^d Ti*^ ««o? African negroes, to appear^'?! fJl^'^g'^Ji- white men. and to encounter them upon anS tootinjr^thefield, for however founded Sffi onswth refpea to colour mayappearrwhen fj" a™j.ed_by t^teft« of nature. r^afoS or'pWkfop^y- whde things conunue in their prefent /ate, S commerce, Ki^ury, and avarice., render i^^ prmcpal objeft in the political fyftemof evL f^-'°Pean power that poffeffes dominion in 3 "^^ *= Id" of a pre-eminence muft alwaT^ - chenfted and confidered as. a necelCl|i<^ Thismeafure ,.8 perhaps liable to be charTdd S anothe,.poluical fault, which ha. attendedKw other,:^hat have been Jately adopted withrrfpS Amenca, viz. that of violent irritation, withor^! fordmga»y adequate benefit. . , i^-f *°!^„i«: ' „3« ■P™«l»'»«ion. however, with Lord DUn- mbre s .prcfence, and the enpouragement of the fmall ma^me force he had with him "prodoclf™ the prefent, feme effeain thetown of Norfolk, Id wL r.??! TT"^' *''"' '"='"y °f *e people - were WBlUffeaed/ to governmfcnt. He was ac- «^Ht!?^■'™*^'""' '"°'"* ''""'^'^'J^ '»«'• of black, and whttei, ami many others, Who did not chufe to Ith S .*^1« P««' P""'='y injured the Congjrfs, wLil""*?'; '"'* *" conventions and committees ■ Ln^H X-r^V'^.'''''''*^''"'' Lord Dunmore BOW *oped, that the facility and good difpofition. which a, .^T Ki'"^**^'^' """'-l have been fo general, ^nH ,if ""^ ''!" '° "'""^ ^ wnfidCTable armed force; tn Li"' .1 P"''»P«' »''">out any foreign affiftahce; vince by the means of the other. . ' , ■" ■• . . . . This Chap. x. ■ c^ap. X. Civil War /» A M E R I C A. [271 This pleafmg hope was interrupted by inteHU 177?. gcnce, that a party of the rebels were marching v>K^ towards them with great expedition. To obftrud Aaion t^r dcfigas, and proteft the wcU-affcacd, he took ""r the poffcflionofapoftcalled the Great-Bridge, which ^"-.^f lay at fome miles diftance from Norfolk, and was a ^^'* p»(i of great confequcnce, betng the only way by wbijh Acy could approach to that town. Here he Gonftruaed a fojrt on the Norfolk fide of the bridge, which he furniihed well with artillery, and render! ed as defenfible as the time would admit. Not- witkftandmg the loyaUy of the people in this quar- tcr, which included two fmall counties, it does not appear that his force was at all confidcrable. cither as to the number or quality ; he had indeed 200 regulars, including the grenadiers of the 14th reffi- raent, and a body called the Norfolk volunteers ; the reft was a motley mixture of blacks and whites! wJf^f^^ ^nder the command of a Colonel Woodford, fortified themfelves alfo, within Icfs than canyon ihot of our people ; they had a narrow caufeway in. their front, which mud be paffed to come at their works, fo that both parties fee med pretty well fecured from furprize* ; ' • In this ftate they cominued quiet on both fides or fome days, until at length a defign was formed, iBr forpri^ing the enemy in their entrenchments! jhis was undertaken before daylight. Capt. For- nh!fl? . X^"^ ""^^^^ grenadiers, amounting to Dec. 9th. ca^L.°' ^'^^ '"r^- '^^^y ^"^'^^y paired the ^^trh u"'* ""^'^^^^ "P ^^ ^he entrenchments with fixed bayonets, and with a coolnefs and intrc- Pidity, which firft excited the aftpnifhment, and afterwards the praife of their enemies ; for they bre.fil!/';^^r-^P°^''? ""^"^ ^^ '^^ ^'^ i« front, but enfiladed by another part of the works. The li'l^ie!!^:^.^^^^^ ^en, fell; the -- ^.vx,«x.., „ iui ocncrs, were ta&cn, and ail the iur- vivors 370 The HISTORY of the Ghap. X. 1775- vivow of the grenadier company, whether nrifoMrs ^'-'^'^^ or not, were wounded. The fire of the artillery from the fbrt, enabled our people to retire without purfuit, as well as to carry off many of their dead and wounded. It will excite no great furprize, that the flavfs in this ' engagement, did more prejudice to our own people than to the enemy. It has been faid, that we were led into this unfortunate affair, through the dcfipn. cd falfc intelligence of a pretended dcferter, who was tutored for the purpofei : however that may be, it was grievous, that fuch uncommon bravery (hould be fquandcred to no purpofe. Capt. Fordycc was interred with every military honour by the viftors, who (hewed due rcfpeft to his former merit, as well as the gallantry which fignalized his laft mo- ments. The Englift prilbners were treated with great kindnefs j the Americans who had joined the liing's ftandard with equal rigour. In this engape- mem we are faid to have had 129 killed, 175 wounded, and 40 of our men made prifoncrs. Lord Dunmore with the remainder of his forces retired from the poft at the Great-Bridge the enfu- mg night, without any other lofs than a few pieces of cannon, and fome trifling ftores which they left behind j and as all hopes in this quarter were now at an end, he therefore thought it neccffary to abandon the town and neighbourhood of Norfolk, and retired again with his people on board the Jhips, which were confiderably increafed in num- ber, by thofe which he found in that port. Many of the well affeaed, or Tories, (which was the appclia- tion now given to them throughout America) thought it prudent, with their families, to feek the fame afylum, whether they alfo carried the moft portable and valuable of their effcds. Thus his Lordfhip formed a COnfldprahl?* flp^f with rr^Cn,^^ to «-^'- num. ber of veffels and tonnage, and thofe were alfo crouded His Lp. aeain re- tires on board. Chap. X. Civil WaW i/f A M E R 1 C A. [273 croudcd with people ; but the lliipg were without 177c force, and contained mouths without hands fit to <-^^ navigate then^. The rebels took pofftflion of Nor- folk, and the fleet moved to a greater diftance. During thefc tranlTaaiong, a fcheme had been in c . agitation, for raifmg a confidcrablc force at the back forlT of the colonics, particularly in Virginia and the fmg the Carolinas, where it was known there were many Indians well-affcfted to the King's government • it was ^"** ^**^^ hoped that fome of th-. Indian nations might be ^'"^""^ induced to become parties in this defign ; and that thus united, they not only would make fuch a diver, fion, as muft greatly alarm and diftrefs the rebels, butihat they might penetrate fo far towards the coafts, as to form a jundion with Lord Dunmorc. One Connolly, a native of Penfylvania, an adive cntcrpnzmg man, who feems to have been well calculated for fuch an undertaking, was the framer of this dd^^gn ; and his projcd being approved of by Lord Dunmore, he with great difficulty and danger carried on a negociation with the Ohio Indians, and his friends among the back fettlers upon the fubjca. This having fucceeded to his fatisfaaion, he returned to Lord Dunmore, xvho lent hitn with the neceffary credentials toBofton, wjiere he received a commlfTion from General Uge, to aa as colonel commandant, with affu- rances of fupport and affiftancc, at the time and in tne manner appointed. It was intended, that the garrifon which we had at Detroit, and fome other ot the remote back forts, with their artillery and ammunition, fhould be fubferviem to this defmn, ' and the adventurer expeded to draw fome aflifl! ance, at leaft, of volunteers and officers, from the ncarelt parts of Canada. He was to grant all com- melons to the officers, and to have the fupreme di. redion m everything of the new forces, and as -on as tiicy were m iufticient condition, he was to penetrate through Virginia in fuCh a manner, as to N n meet 1/75- meet Lord Dunmorc, at a giveA time in the month •^■-~ of April, in the vicinity of Alexandria, upon T river Fotowmac, who was to bring fuch a navil ^rcc, and other affittance, as was deemed ncccf. fery tor the purpofe. It was alfo a part, and not the leaft comprehenfive of this plan, to cut off the communication between the northern and fouthcrn colonies. vlT^ J^"^ ^^'' ''^^^^'^ ^^"^^""^ *o *ook well with our prinl., f,J^^"t"rcr ; but on his road through Maryland to and the ^"^ *^*^"c ^f aftion, and when he was fo far ad- fclieine vanccd that the worft fcemed nearly over, the vm. frullrat'd. lance, or fufpicious temper of one of the commit- tees, unfortunately fruftrated all his hopes. Dcinir taken up on fufpicion, wit|i two of 'Jiis affociates who travelled along with him, his papers betrayed every thing ; among thefe was the general fcheme ot the defign, a letter from Lord Dunmore to one of the Indian chiefs, with fuch other authentic vouch- crs, as left nothing to be doubted. The papers were publifhed by the Congrefs, and the under- takers fent to prifon. As it. does not appear that the loyalifts were very lenient to thofe who differed with them in political opinions, during (he Ihort time of their fuperiority in the country adjoining to Norfolk, fo now, upon the turn of affairs, the obtaining a plaufible fhewof jultice, under the colour of retaliation, afforded fuch a favourable opportunity for the pradice of fe- verity, and the gratification of private pique, and natural malignity, on the other fide, as is never known to be neglcfted by any party in fimilar cir- cumftances. For though many had taken fhelter on board the ftiips, a much greater number remain- cd 'behind, fome being willmg to hazard fome dan- ger, rather than abandon their property ; others hoping that their conduft, from its moderation, would bear pnnnTrv ? onA «-l-»*. n>^;^^:f,> i^^^,-^ ♦Vi/^lr ' V having Chap. X. Civil War in A M E R I C A. [275 having no profpcft of fubQftancc if they quitted 1775. home, and an cxpetlation that their obfcurity would v^v^ favc them from notice. To conclude, fuch charges of oppreffion, injufHce, and cruehy, were made on both iidcs, as are ufually done in fuch cafes. " In the mean time, the people in the fleet were L. Dun- diftrcffed for provifions and neceflarics of every more re- fort, and were cut off from every kind of fuccour *^"*^" ^"^ from the fhore. This occ^fioned conftant bicker- t.'Jj,*," ^^f ing between the armed fhips and boats, and the NoVfolk, forces that were ftationcd on the coaft, particularly at Norfolk. .At length; upon the arrival of the Liverpool rttm. of war from England, a flag was fcnt on fliorcj to put the quellion, whether they wouldfupply^is ^lajefty *8 lliips with provifions, which being angered in the negative, and the fliips in the harbour being continually annoyed by the fire of the rebels, fromi^that 'part of the town which lay next the water, it ^a«' determined to diflodge them by deftroying it. Previous notice being according^ h given to the inhabitants, that they might remove from the danger, the firfl: day of the new year was fignalized by the attack, when a violent cannonade, from the Liverpool frigate, two floops of war, and the Governor's armed fliip the Dunmore, fcconded by parties of the failors and marines, who landed and fet fire to the neareft houfes, foon produced the defired effea, and the whole town was reduced to aflies. It appears from a gazette publifhed in the Gover- nor's fhip, (who had removed the printing prefs and materials thither from Norfolk) that it was only intended to.deftroy that part of the town which was next the water ; but that the rebels compleated the deftruftion, by fetting fire to the back and re- mote ftreets, which, as the wind was in their favour, would have otherwin ' ^ - ^ t-"- \. IS. A., — J.1 — LIIC I", iUi • Ui ine flames. It is not, however, eafy to prefcribe limits 276] peHl^nfORXcf th^. Cha^. ^ 1775. limits to the progrcfs of a fire in fuch, or indeed in ^-'•^^ any circumftances. A few of t|iofe who landed as well as of t|ie rebels, ^pre killed and wounded. XT ^r S^ ^f ^^ ^^*^ "^^ ^^^^ un^rtttn^te town of Norfolk, the moft confidcrable for commerce in the colony, and fo growing and flonrifhing |)cforc thefe unhappy troubles, that in the fwo years from J 773 to 1775. the r§nts qf ^fap houfcs incrcafed from 8,QQQ to »o,QQ>5 pounds \ year. Ttc wEole lofs IS eftimatcd at aboye 309^009!. However mil t^c caufe, pr urgent the inccelfity, which induced this raeafure, it was wndoubtedty a grievous and odjous tafk \u a goyprnor, to |)c hirni^f a prmcip4 a^or, m burning and deilroyinjg the beft town iii his goyerpment. l^c rebpis, affer this |ranlaaibru to ci^t of every refowrpe from thp {1|(m, aiid pirtlv perhaps to punifli thp well-affeapd, burnt and de- ifroyedthe houies and plantations within reach of the water, and obliged the people to removp, witli their cattle, provifions, and portable effeias, farther into the country. ... • * ^ Nor was the fitua*tIon of other governors in Ame- rica, much more eligible than that of Lord Dun- more. In South-Carolina, tord William' Campbell, having, as they faid, entered into a negociation with the Indians, for coming in to the fupport of government in that province, and having aifo fuc^ ceeded m exciting a number of thofe back fct^lcrs, who we have heretofore fcen diitinguilhed ' in the Carohnas, under the title of Regulators, to cfpoufe the fame caufe, the difcoyery of thefe mealures, before they were fufficiently ripe for execution, occafioned fuch a ferment among the people, that he thought it necelfary to retire from Charles-Town on board a fliip of war in the river, from whence he returned no more to the feat of his government. In the mean time a Mr, Dravton^ wlm was iuds^e 6f the fuperior court, and one of the molt leading . men tions in S. Caro- lina CfiA?. X. Civi^ Iff A* i« A M ^ |L I C A. r^;7 PF^ JP .^^.c <^9!pny» marched lyith ;i Strong ^rmcd iMc.* mm^ bftwc^n him and' th,e leaijpw qJ th? ^ Hcgulatprs ; in wjiich t)i,e difference? fectwcw them ^CT^attributpd to mifinforniatio^, a niiluiderftuiS ing of each others views and defigns, aiid a tender- p?fs of pnfcicnqe pn Ithe fide of t^c Jbt^x, which prevented their fignmg the aflpciatipn, or purfuin^ any ineaUjres agamft goverpment j 'but as they now m^% ^P}^^^ by Fo«"4 or a^ to impede or con- trav^ne fifch prpcepdings as fhoi^id be adopted ani PWrM k ^ariouj mihtary ftores and implements, which had been buned m the palace garden' and yarrd ; th|s fcrved t .? fr'T^^r^''""^ ^^^^y "^^" corifidering it as if It had been a plot againft hlmfelf inparticular. ■ In other^refpeas, the province had followed the ftTff . ^ ^^^'' neighbours- in South-Carolina, by eftablilhinga council and committees of fafety, with other fubftitutes for a regular and permanent go- vernment. 1 hey alfo purfued the fame methods of providing fox defence, of raifing, arming and fup- portmg forces, and of training the mftitia, and Ihewed equal vigour and eagernefs in all their pro-' ceedings The Provincial Congrefs publifhed an addrefs to the inhabitants of the Britiih empire, of the fame nature with thofc we have formerly feen to the people of Great-Britain and Ireland, con- taining the fame profeffions of loyalty and affeaion, and declaring the fame earnefl defire of a recon- Jiation. General £279 ^77 S^ General Gage re- turns to England, — is fuc- ceeded in command by Gen. Howe. Chap. :2^. Cn il War in A^ E R | C A. c^S^l^^ ^^^l havingreturned in the beginning ofOaobcr, to England, the command in chief of the army at Boflon, dev6lved upon General Howe who foon after ifTued a proclamation, t>y which! fuch ct the mhabitants as attempted to quit the town without licence, were condemned to military exe- cution, rf deteaed and taken, and if they efcaped, to be proceeded agalnft as traitors, by the forfeiture of their efteas. By another, fuch as obtained per- raiffion to quit the town, were reftrained by fevere penalties, from carrying more than a fmall fpecificd fum of money with them. He alfo enjoined the figning and entering into an alTociation, by which the remaining inhabitants offered their perfons for the defence of the town, and fuch of them as he approved of, were to be armed, formed iato com- panies, and inftruacd in military exercifcs and difcipline, the remainder being obliged to pay their quotas m money, towards the common defence. As the limited term, for which the foldiers in the ' • array before Bofton had enlifled, was nearly ex- Contl ired^acommittee from the General Congrcfs, con- nentlV fiftmg of feveral of its moll refpeaable members, army be- were fent thither to take the neceffary meafures ^^'' ^of- n conjunaion with General Walhington, for keeo-f-aV"" mg it from dilbanding. This, hoS^eve'r, does not ttm ta to have been a work of any great difficuky ""' the whole army havmg re-enlifted for a year cer- tain to come. Of all the difficulties which the Americans met, in their attempts towards the efta. bhlhment of a military force, nothing ^affeaed ta fo grievoufly, or was found fo hard to be re- medied, as the want of gun-powder. For tho' they ufed the utmoll diligence in the colleaing and preparing of nitre, and in all the other parts of the inanufaaure ; the refource from their indul^ry muft able cffea diftant. Nor had they yet opened that , ..^» vxxttivu iiitu iiiuic mcaiures with loi eign r""ti.n*l 'i Kr^«>jnaM""^^** ^^^ troops at Bun- Kcr 8 Hrll, Rad not a fingle <;hargc kh at tlic enaof that Ihort engagement : and it is alfo faid, th^t the wcakncfs of the army before Boftoh Inthit refpea vas at one time fo great, thai nothing but ouJ «norancc of the circumftance, could have faved tncm from being diljierfed iand ruined. Tbev however, left nothing tindone to fupply tliis dcfeft! ?^S ?"*.^'^ many temporary^ expedients, had comri! yedtppurchafe, without notice or fufpidon, all the powder on the coaft of Afnca, and plundered the magazmc m the ifland of Bermuda^ of above loo barrels,^ which was carried off (as it was pretend- ed) without the knowledge of the inhabitants. oa. i8 In ^cjburib of the depredation, threat, and hof- Falmouth *jj%» yfoich continually occurred bn the fea coafts, cannon, the town of Falmouth, in the northern part of the* ^h' P'??'^^^ °^ Maflachufctt's Bay, was doomea to ex. Wti ^^''?' ^?'^ o^ t^of^ calamities, which we^c aftcmards difpenfcd in a greater degree to Norfolk !5>y»rg»wa, (already taHn notice of in the tranf- aSions of that colony). Some particular violence ^nulbchaviour, relative to the loading of a mali. Ito), drew the indignation of tlie Admiral upon this £!?5*^»i^'^^^<^fafioned an order for its deftrudion. The officer who commanded the fhips upon this oc- 5*59n»,,g*^^ two hours previous notice to tL in. habitants to provide for their fafety, and this time vas further enlarged till the next morning, under w':,/^^^^' of a ncgociation for delivering up their artillery and Xmall arms, at the price of favmg the town. This, however, they at length refufed to comply with; but had made ufe of the int^^ie- diate time in removing fo many of their effeas as they could procure carriages for, or as the darknefs and confufion of the night wouldadmit of. About Chap [curcil &m a tic fcarcityojf rpops at Bun- atthc cniiof iaia, that the ithatrefpea, ing but our i havefaved ►cd. They, lythisdcfeft, s, had contri- jdoij, all the lundered the )f above 100 was prctcnd- labltants. eat, and hof- e feacoafts, I part of the (omcQ to ex- which wete etoNortt n the tranf- alar violence gof amall« •al upon this deftriidion. pon this oc. :e to tlie in- Ld this time ling, under ng up their f favmg the refufed to he intv rie- ir effects as he darkncfs of. About •. i^ m Chap. X. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. tiBt About 9 o'clock in the morning, a cannonade 1775. was begun, and continued with little intermiffion v-^-i' through the day. Above 300 fhot, befides bombs and carcafles, were thrown into the town, and the failors landed to <;ompleat the deftrudion, but were repulfed .with the lofs of a few men. The principal part of the town, (which lay next the water) con- filling of about 134 dwelling houfes, 278 flore and ware houfes, with a large new church, a new handfome court-houfc, the- old town-houfe, with the public library, were reduced to afhes ; about 100 of the worft houfes, being favoured by the fituation and diftance, efcaped deftrudion, though not without damage. Though the fettlcments in this quarter were new, being moftly cftablifhed fmcc the laft war, this fmall town was amazingly thriv.- ing, being fituate on a fine harbour, and having a VC7 confidcrable trade, fo that it was computed to contain about 600 families, though little more than one-third of that number of dwelling houfes. The deftruaion which fell upon Falmouth, pro- bably accelerated in the Affcmbly of Maflachufett's Bay, the- daring mcafure (under pretence of pro- teamg their coafts) of paffing an ad, -for grant- w| letters of marque and reprifal, and the ejiablijh- ment of courts of admiralty, for the trial and con- dmnation of Britijhjhips. ^In this law they declared an intention, of only defepding the coafts and navi- gation of America, extending the power of capture only to fuch (hips as (hould be employed in bring, mg fupplies to the armies employed againft them. In the courfe of the fummer. Articles of Con- federation and Perpetual Union, between the fe- vcral colonies which were already affociated, with hberty of admiifion to thofe of Quebec, St. John's, Noya-Scotia, the two Floridas, and Bermudas, con- taming rules for their general government in peace anuwar, both with relped to foreigners and each O o other, Nov. 13, A Law made for granting letters of marque and rc- prifal. Article* f confe- deration propofcd by the Conti- nental Congreft. 2^2] The p I.S T O R Y / the Chap. Y Commer- cial refo- lution, fufpend- ing in certain cafes the prohibi- tion .with refpeft to exporta- tion and iraporta- tJon. ' 1775.. Other were drawn up by the General Confrrefs )fr^ and by them tranfmitted to the different coSes for the mfpeaion and confidcration of their refpcc Jve affembjies. As thefe Articies of Confederatbn ,&c, were the only ouf-lines by which the ^reneral movements and operatic ns of the-differem colonie m future t^cre regulated, and as they may ferve in a^reat meafure to fljew the general fenfe and fpirit of tliefcjimes, we have given them at large, xvith date this I. -n the Appei^dix. .. The people, however, were not yet fufEciemlv irritated nor their affedions and prejudices hi aently broken, to accede to a Confederacy, which though conditionally framed and worded, yet led to ■ a total feparation from the mother country. For tho* fhey took up arms and oppofed government, ftill, it was in general, under the hope of obtaining thereby Jr .^ g"lYances ; and that being the nearer and morfe agi:eeable objeft, they would not willingly ArLl?y ^"^ '^?§ ^""''^^'^ efpeciallyto one fo dreadful a? a total feparation. It required a lon;rer time m the contemplation of real or fuppofed in- juries, ajd m fpeculations upon future, together with frefh and conftant fources of irritation, to arrive at that habit of vexation and hatred, which was neceffary to break ties of fo long a Handing, and to familiarize fo new an idea. ^ A refolution was alfo paffed by the Congrefs at the appearance of autumn, that as America was UtScd with a moft plentiful harveft, and Ihould have a great fuperfluity to fpare for other nations, 10 it the late reftraining laws were not repealed, within fix months from the 20th of July, on which they commenced, the cuftom-houfes iliould be every where fliut up, and their ports from thenceforth be open to every ftate in Europe, (which would admit and protea their commerce) free of all duties, and iOi Chap. if. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. fi^^ for every kind of commodity, excepting, only, teas, and the' merchandize of Great-Britam, and her dependencies. And the more to encourage foreign- ers to engage in trade with them, they pafled a refolution, that th6y would, to the utmo|l of their power, maintain and fupport fuch freedom of com- merce for two years certain after. its commeticenient, notwithftahding any feconciliation with Great-Bri- tain, and as much loflger as the prefent obnoxious laws fholild continue. — :— They filfo, immediately, fufpended the mn-importaiion agreement, in favour of all (hips that fliould hiring gun-powder, nitre, ful- pher, good mulkets fitted with bayonets, or brafs field pieces, fuch fhips being to be loadJed in return with the value of their cargoes. At this fitting of the General Congrcfs, they iikewife fertt out a fecoiid petition to the King, which was delivered to Lord Dartmoyth, by Governor Penn, and to which his Lordihip faid, — " No anfwer would be given." As it may perhaps hereafter be a matter of doubt, when the war and its confequences are much better re- membered, than the circumftances that preceded, orthecaufes that led to it, whether it was poflible that fuch fentimehts could rieally prevail with either of the parties, . at the time fo unnatural, and fo un- happy a conteft took place between them ; and as the particular drift of this Petition, (diftinft from its great and general objeft of a refloration of har- mony and peace) will, we apprehend, be more fully underftood by their own fentiments and drefs of language, than any comment of ours thereon, we have therefore in the Appendix given it in full, in their own cloathing, with all the fignatures annexed thereto ; being perfuadcd, that whatever were the inward intentions of the parties, the language was conciliatory, and the requeft not immoderate. The Americans are faid to have laid great ftrefs upon the fucccfs of this final application to the Throne, (which they termed their Olive Branch) and are faid ^77 5- 9«4] f», HISTORY, /M, Chapx "-■"^ upon that Idea, until they heard the event. '^ Dw. «th. ToTi^rds the clofe of the vear thr r .„-. . r. Decl.™. grefe publifted a declaratfonb ^ntePtoT ^''"; .-;» procb^ation for fuppreffing rebetn"andtdS' a pro In this p,ece thejr combated and denied the S*' t'T:^ f forgetting their allegiance, of treafon, and re^d «nof,hj ],on, and took particular notice of thr H,l '■ Ttr^' -'^/"'•"criminate „ ^f' Xfc prohibiting under the fevereft penalties, the canv' ing on of any correfpondence from England S «?? P^*"' •" "=''="i°". or the aidingi abetS of fuch. But not content with criticallbfervaS they conclude with a declaration in the namerftk people of the United Colonies, That whatever ™ niftmentftal be inflifled upon any p^rfonJin fhJ power of their enemies, for favouring, aiSinl or retZfd tZf °f t™"'"" 'iber§, flioufd b "ij>" thofe in their power, who have favoured aided or abetted, or ftould favour, afd. or abet the fyflem of miniftcrial opprcffion. ' Different We (hall of ourfelves make no obfervations on ing^hi. „f,l^ fZr.K "'l'*'"^' <:an accounts for this yeaf) petition. TW ^ 1^°"^^^' °^ «■«= '^giflature thereon.- S'fn™r°^rT'' the plan ot- paciiying bycin- ^Z' ?h ^ e'amoured at .the anfwer^of Lord ronni;?- '«T"l'.' °* '"''ependence and foreign fi?l fn?r ' '°'" ''"V^"P'*°"' *ey faid, of fo duti- ful and decent an addrels, amounted to no lefs than hnnd ,"h?f?".°'^ •?7'''''8iance.-On the other hand the friends of the miniftry took it into a dif- ferent pomt of view. The petition, they allowed, admifir^f.^PP/'"!!'''- But did they formally admit the rights ot parliament ? Were they not ftill m Chap, x, I Chap. X. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. confidcrably xnt. 'Cncral Con- to the royal and fcdition, jdofAuguft. i the charges n, and rebel, e dangerous of a claufe, >i the carry- gland, with or abetting bfervations, name of the hatever pu- rfons in the aiding, or fliould be ^e degree, favoured, d, or abet, vatlons oft this chap, this year) hereon. — g by con- of Lord olonies to d foreign of fo duti- ) lefs than the other into a dif- allowed, formally f not ftill in tOs in arms ? and In that fituution could their finccrity 1775. b. relied on ? They faid, that they only wanted to ^^^^"^ gain time by a ncgociation, until they had forme4 their government, and cftabliihed their ftrength in fuch a manner, as would render all future efforts far their reduftion ineffedual. Wc had already gone far in the expences of a war; wc ihould not now flop Ihort ; but reap the benefits to government, which always arife from unfuccefsful rebellion. And befidcs thofe great objeds, of punifhing the obnox- ious, and providing for our friends, to revit, with- out leaving room for a future conteft, that uncon- ditional fubmiflion upon the Americans, which no treaty or negociation could ever obtain. While on the contrary, if amicable terms were how entered into, all our expence and preparatibn would be thrown away ; we mufl Ihrink from the propofals Vfc had made to foreign Princes for hirmg their troops, which would degrade us in their eyes, as our tamenefs inputting up with the infolence of our own people, would in thofe of all Europe ; and ' all the buftle we had made would pafs over, without having impreffed the colonies with a fenfe of our dignity, or with the terror of our power. Befides ' the nation was prepared by the language of war for the event, and it was not certain that vigorous mea- fures, if it fhould be found neceffary to refume them, would be fo well received as they were in the prefent temper of the nation, whofe favourable difpofition was to be carefully cultivated, and cm- ployed in the critical moment. '^j CHAP. ^ .^ n^msrOKYo/i^e Chap.XI. ^v\j CHAP. XI. '4/MJi't at Boflon continued to the total em$arkat!on of Geneml S':S^r'rt'^?"' ""'' ^''''f^' '" Halifax JFrmi 'Hodkde ^r^et>tc hy Jrmld, t^ the e^tfr^ recover yZ!u C^Mila^^fartknlarizwg the retaihg o/Afontrea/, ChaibU, ''2/f'*/,*^''^^'"'^^^^^^^^ in Virginia, North and p^uth Carolinas — Soine account of Sir Peter Parker" A'*'^fron, Lord Cornivallis and General Clinton's trc,J 'oiith Ihitf attack on Stdlivan's IJlattd. ^* 1776. January Diftreffes of the army at Bofton during the win- ter. HE delays and misfortunes which the tran- IX 4 u^?"^ -'^ viduallers from England and Ire- land liad experienced, reduced our forces at Bofton t fi^'i^H*. '^° ^^'^ ^'^'^^^ ^^8 added the iV^lS^§l°"r^ fecmg feverd veflels tvhich were WcrcTi* with the necelfiries arid comforts of life J^c'nin the Very cntrahce of the harbour ; whilft' 5?S?^^ .ji*:^"mftances of tide, wind, or fituation, Siv^' J' ^ "^^P^ °^ ^^^'' ^^°"^ preventing the mif. S?-/' C •f-^''^^ °^ "^^^^ ^^' the cbal (hips was par- ficuIarlyTert, as fuel could not be procured, and tficclunatc rendered that article indifpenfable. The wretclied inhalDitants were in a ftate ftill more de- ^tOrafeTc. l>ctained ag^inft their wi^l, cut olTfrom atl i^tjercourfe with their friends, expofed to all the confe(juences of that contempt and avetfion with which a great part of thfcrti were regarded by the ■.^^Ih an^ at the fame time in want of aimoft every' rrceeiTary of life'. Calamitous However as that fituation was, it fervid as a fort of refuge to thofe who were either zealous in favour of the King's government, or fo diflatisfied with the new ftate of things, that they could no longer live with comfort, fome of them hardly with fafety, in their own homes. _ It was even feared that the military ftores would fail, and fait provifipns at lalt grew fcarce. The troops -at Bunker's Hill underwent great hardftilps, the CrtAP. V' Civil War i« A M E R IC A. T^^^p Jjic driving fnows, and cxpofcd to the ^X^^^ i^tp.-, 1776, 'crably cutting wind§ of the climate in ths^t i^^a^iu yrV' which with the ftrift and conflant d^ty pq^afnw^ by the ftrength and vicinity of the enemy, ^^{is^n^d thatfcrvice exceedingly fevcrc both to thq priv;^e men and officers. Various attempts wer^ m^f^c, tn^ remedy or to leiTen fome of the wants whicj^ now prevailed in the army. That of firing, yvk\9^ v^^s the moil immediately and intolerably preUing, ^^s, in fome meafurc relieved by the deftruaion of Sollies!. •The attempts made to procure provifions \jfere not attended with any ereat fucccfs. Somo veifeU which were (ent to Barbadoes, obtained thrp^gh the affiftance of the Governor, and before tli^ ip^i^ter was fully known, a qua^tity fo moderate tha; it would not at other times have been taken morp notice of than any common occurrence in trade • but being now cut off from their ufual refources' and having as they faid, a famine flaring them in the face, with 80,000 Blacks, and 20,000 Whites to feed, and no fufficicnt flock in hand, nor any certain fupply in profped, the meafure was deemed fo dangerous, that it occafioned a dired addrefs from the alTembly to the king, including along with the detail of their own melancholy fituatioq.ltronp- complaints againft the condud of the Governpj-. A detachment of marines, with an armed Ihip and fome tranfports, were fent to Savannah in V'eorgia, with a view,, as it would feem by the event, of obtaining cargoes of rice and other pro- vihons, whether by force or otherwifc-. The mihtia, However, took to their arnw, and would not permit the marmes to land, nor the Clips to hold any cor- relpondence with the fhore. In the courfe of the debate which arofe upon this obcafion, fome officers belongmg to the Colony were fcized and detaijied on board the fhips, and their releafe being refufed ^'th a high handi and other circumftances Sf aff-ra. " vation Seven cargoes of provi- fions de- fignedly burnt by the pro- vincials in Geor- gia. *»«3 rA.HISTORY./M, CHAP.xr. 177^ vation occurring on both fides, feme batteries were ^^^'v^ fpccdily crcacd by the militia on the banks of the nvcr, and an engagement with cannon and fmall arms took place, m which Ibme blood was fpilt and . fcvcn loaded vcffels belonging to the Colony, which the commanders of the King^s armed veffcls, fcem mgly by collufion with the Captains or owners, had got poffcffion of, and whole cargoes would effedual jy have anfwered their purpolc, were dcfmncdlv burnt in the conflia. - ^ In this ftatc of things on our fide, the provincials betorc Bofton were well covered and fupplied in their hnes. They expeded with the moll carneft fohcitudc the fettmg in of the froft, which ufually takes .place there about Chriftmas, and generally covers the harbour, and all the adjoining rivers and . creeks, with a furface of folid ice. They founded great hopes upon this, as upon a moft powerful auxihary, by whofe aid they did not only extend their views to the recovery of the town, but to the Ic^zurc or dcflruaion of the fleet, as well as of the land forces. In thcfe they were difappointed. The winter was uncommonly mild, and the froft had none of the cflteas they expefted. The expedatiou, how- ever, probably influenced their operations, and occafioned their continuing more quiet than they otherwife would have done. The arrival of a copy ot the King's fpeech,* with an account of the fate • of King's fpeceh. In the fpeech from the throne, at the opening of parHa- ment, Oft. 26th, 1775, After accounting for this early meet- ing; by the fituation of America, heavy complaints were made of the mifreprefentations of the leaders of fedition in the colo- nies, who having firft infufed into the minds of the people, a fyltem of opinions repugnant to their true conftitutiofial lubor- dmation, had at length commenced hoftilities, and ufiirped the whole powers of govcrnmeut. His Maje^y then entered into the difference of the views of thofe leaders, and of thofe of the crown Chap. XK Civil War in AMERICA. [28^ of the petition from the Continental Congrefg, is 177^. laid to have excited the grcatcfl degree of rage ^><^ and indignation amon^ft them j as a proof of which Ffff^« of the former was publidy burnt in the camp i and ***! ^'"■** they arc faid upon this occafion to have changed f °'"1 their colours from a plain red g'-ound, which they ^*' ' had hitherto ufcd, to a flag with thirteen ftripes, as a fymbol of the number and union of the Co>- Ionics. crown and parliament, from whence the former derived their prefent advantages. The view of the latter wa« rather to uu- deceive, than punifti. „ Therefore only fmall forces were fent, and profioritioni of a conciliatory nature accompanied the meafurei taken to enforce authority. The former, whilft they endeavoured to delude with fpecious profeflions^ had in view nothing but the eftablifliing of an independent rmpire. That the confequences of the fucccfs of each plan were loo obvious. The fpirit of the Briti(h nation was too high, and its rcfourcea too numerous, to fufiFer her tamely to lofe what had been ac- quired with fo grtattoil, nurfed with great tendernefs, and pro- tefted at much expencc of blood and treafurc. That wifdom, Md in the end clemency, required a full exertion of thefe re- fources. That the navy had been tncreafed, alld the land forces greatly augmented. Foreign fuccours (though no twaty wai theajQoncluded) were held out. The difpofition of the Hanover troops in Mahon and Gibraltar was fpccified* In the end, an aflurant e of the royal mercy was given, asfoon M the deluded multitude fhould become fenfible of their error, and to prevent the inconvenlencles which might arife from the great diftance of their fituation, and to remove asfoon aspoffi- ble the calamities which they fuffer, authority would be given toMrtain perfons upon the fpot, to grant general or partSular pardons and injlemnities, in fuch manner, and to fuch perfons, « they (hould think fit, and to receive the fubmiflion of any provirtce of colony which (hould be difpofed to return to its allegiance. It was alfo obfervcd, that it might be proper to authorife f\ich commiffioners, to reftore any province or colony, returning to its alleRiance, to the free exercife of its trade and commerce, and to the fame prot«aion and fecurity as iT it had never revolted — At the conclufion they were informed, that from affurances received, as well as from the general ap- pearances of affairs in Europe, there was do apparent proba- Wity that the meafures which they might adopt, would be in- terrupted by difputes wxt^i any foreign power. Pp In r^f l?fl^^«^"^^ ^^^'^^ ^Wch had foiled frl^ alleviated ,h a^trcnifidcrablcdtg^ the diftreS theforbe^ at BbftoH; a«d thence of the condem- aatioa of prizes, and the recovery of prize-money. This bill, befides its primary objcft, repealed the Bofton port, with the fifliery, and Reftraining A6ls, their provifions in fome inftan- ces being deen^ed infufficicnt in the prefent ilate of warfare, and their operation in others, being liable to interfere with that of the intended law. It alfio enabled the crown to appoint com- mijEoners, who betides the power of fimply granting pardons to individuals, were authorized to enquire inte general and par- ticular grievances, and empowered to determine, whether any part, or the whole of a colony, were returned to that ftate of obedience, which might entitle them to be received within the king 8 peace and protedion, 'n which cafe, upon a declaration from the commiffioners, the reftriclions in the prefent bill were to ceafe in their favour. Treaties lately entered into between his Majefty, the Land- jr;--ve of Heffe-Caffel, the Duke of Brunfwick, and the here- diUry Prince of HefTe-Caflel, for the hiring of different bodies of their troops for the American fervice, amounting in the whole to about 17300 men. The conditions of thefe treaties wcft, That the troops were to enter into pay before they began to march ; that the levy-money was to be paid at the rate of near 7I. los. per man; that thofe princes were alfoto be fub- Mdizcd, and that a doable fubfidy is in one inftance to be con- tinued ior two years, and for one year in another, after the troops Prohibi- tory Bill. Foreign treaties. 2913 New batteries opened, mmsrORY of the Chap.Xi. thf n3^t of the 2d of Mvch, from whence a fcvere cannon^c wd bombardment was carried on atrainft Whilft the attention of the arm^ was occupied by the firmg of houfcs and other mifchiefs incident tl this new attack, they beheld with inexpreffible fup prize, on the morning of the 5th, fome confide rable works appear on the other fide of the town upon the heights of Dorchefter Point, which had been ereded in the preceding night, and from whence a 24 pound and a bomb battery, were foon attcr opened. Some of our officers have acknow- Icdged, Uut the expedition with which thefe works were thrown up, with their fudden and unexpeacd appearance, recalled to their minds thofe wonder^ iuMlorics of enchantment and invifible agencv, which arc fo frequent in the Eaftern Romances. The jroop« have returned to their refpcaivc countries; and that thejr (the Heffian troocs) fhould be under no cont«)d of ei £ King or parhament j for the expref. words of the treaty a * that//;.^ £^"j^'?«i« "nder the command of their general "towhom H,8 Moft Serene a>hnefs has entrufted the f-ame." r7~T-/"^^ <**^oat«8 on thefe arfaira were long and animated in bothhoufes, particularly with the Lords, xvhfre the Duke of Richmond moved for an addrefa, of a confiderable length, to ?ativ^?1^^* ? ''^"^' i^'H'' ^^^^-^ P-"*«i obfervattnsre' viewof A^' -"''"ff'- '''S'^ ^' '?''^ " ^""^•'^ comprehenfive viewof Amencan affairs m general, and demonftratively (hewed rrom various labonous and accurate calculations, that the ufeof 1 7,300 mercenaries for the prefent year, would not, taking ift all contingencies, coft the nation lefs than one million andean htL J"" "P?°f ' ^« maintained, not to be paralleled in the hiftory of mankind, for the fervice of an equal number of men therefore moved that his Majetty would be gracioufly pleafed ^InfrT^^i^'lV'^'W' ^'^«<^'«"'» fo' an immediate fuf. penfion of hoftiht.cs in America, in order to lay a foundation tor a happy and permanent recouciliation between the divided EXS K 11 *^' J™?^d ^'"Pi'-c, This motion was, however, rejected by the ufual majority, of about looto 32, including proxies, but wa« attended «iVh =„ ..-..f.j^i -_^*-/i ,-•— -v« tt^rmsof theaddrefs atla^ge;'" '^'^ ^ * .-.„»£ .h^ Chap. XL Ci vil Wa^ /« A M £ ft I C A. The fituation of the army was now vci^ criticd. The new works, along with thofe others which it was evident wouJd now be fpeedily conftruftcd on fon^e of the neighbouring hills, would command the town, a confiderablc part of the harbour, of the beach, from whence an embarkation in^ft take place in the event of a retreat, and rendered the communication between the troops in the workg at Bofton Neck, and the main body, difficult an4 ^ dangerous. In thefe circumftances no alternative remained, but to abandon the tpwn, or diflodgc the enemy and deftroY the new works. General Howe, with bis ufual fpirit and refolution, adopted the latter, and took the neceflary ireafures for the embarka- tionof that very evening of five regiments, with the light mfantry and grenadiers, upon a fervice, which the whole army muft of courfe been ulti- inatcly engaged in. This dcfign was fruftrated by the intervention of a dreadful ftorm at night, which rendered the embarkation impradicable, and there- by probably prevented the lofs of a great number tt brave men, if not of the whole arpiy. It is not, however, to be wondered at, that with ahigh fenfe of the Britifli military honour, as well as ot his own, t^ie General fhould hazard much, wthcr than fubmit to the indignity of abandoning «ic town. He commanded a force, which he knew m been confidered and reprefented here, as fuffi. cient to. look down all oppofition in America ; and wnich, m reality, with rcfpea to the number of rcri- ments, jf not of men, the excellency of the troops. and charaaer of the officers, and the powerful artil. '•y which they poflclTed, would have been deemed ^^ipettable m any country and dangerous by anw enemy. With fuch troops to give up that towi «incn had been the original caufe of the war; and we conftant objea of contention fmce its com- mencement. 1776. ?^3 i^1^¥^^P^Y.tf~tbe GfijAP. xr, 1,776, mnqpxj^i^^U to a raw apd dcfpifed militia, feemed \^^ cxgr^5YP of 5^1 other illcdrifc^uences, a'difgrace not to be >pri^. J5ut thcfc l)rf ve men had, by a variety ^!;^y^^^» ^ ^^^ perhaps it will bethought, through 9mm^ 9rrpr.,^l»4 njilcppdua! ip tl^e art-atiffement ofthc y^^; Ij^en reduc^^ *^ '^^ch circiimfiances, an4 W|[cd 'iiii iji' f|i ch a manner, thztt no means wci-cicftfdr aii exertiDiipf iheit force and courage, fliat were not fubjea to the greateft danger without Wording a prbfpea of fiiccefs. Fortun? prevented this periloqs trial in the firft ^ftancc. On ^Ije :aay tbat fucceedcd the tempeft, tjie dciign waj reaflUmed, but upon a nearer infpec- don it w^$ difcovercd, that a new work had been ^towk up, which was ftroiigerAaii iihy bf tbeformcr, and lihat the whole were now fo completely fortified, fliat all ho^p 0/ forcing them was at an end. It became clear alfo that Bofton was not a fitwation very happily chofen for the improvement of any advj^iita^e which might be obtained towards the reduftion'pf the Colonies. ^ 'Nbfliing now remained but to abandon the town, and to convey the troops, artillery, and ftores, ort board the ihips. Nor was this laft refort free from difficulty aiid danger. The enemy, however, con- tinued quiet in their works, an76. 6f the dcftination of the fleet, and apprclicnfive of ^-^^^ an attempt upon New- York, he detached fcveral regiments for the prbteaion of that city, on the very day upon which he took poflcflion of Bofton The royal army were not however at that time iii circumftances that admitted of their undertaking ^ny expedition. They did not exceed, it is faid nine thoufand healthy and effeaive men, and were in other refpeds by no means fufficiently provided. The eftates and effefts of thofe emigrants who had accompanied General Howe to Halifax, were ' ordered to be fold, and thi: produce applied to the public fcrviee. Some who ventured to flay behind though they knew themfelves to be obnoxious to the prefent government, were brought to trial as f "D"c enqmies, and betrayers of their country ; and the eftaties of fuch as were found guilty were con- fifcated m the fame manner. But nothing occupied fo miiclvat prefent the minds of the pdopte of Bofton, Or had To much attention paid to it by the province V^^l^^, as the putting of that town in fuch a Hate ot defence, as might prevent a rcpetitioh of thofe cviFs which it had llitely undergone. For this pur- pofe, the grcateft aili^ence Was ufed in fortifying ^ the town and harbour; fome foreign engineers were procured to fuperintend the works, and every uihabitant dedicated two days in the week to their conftfuaion. Great doubts may, however, be entertained, Dvhether Boftbn can be rendered fena- ble agaiilll an army, though thefc wcffks may pre- ;, ferve it from infult. S'cge of Wii'rihg^thefe tranfaaions at Bofton, the Blockade qnebcc of Quebec, was continued under great difficulties nued.' 7 ^rtibld. Reinforcements arrived flowly, and the Canadians, who are not by any means remark- able for conitancy, were diflieartened and wavering. It feems, as if the Congrcls was unequal in eonduft, ris wcii as *cfources, to the management of lo many ope- Chap. XL Civil War i »r A M E R I C A. f app operations at die fame tin>c. The fuccours that 1776 were feirt, fuffcrcd incrc4iblc hardihips in their v^^ march; which they endured with that fortitude which had hitherto diftinguiflied the Provioci^ls in » this war. On. the other hand. General Garietoij guarded, with his ufual vigilance againrt every cffprt of fraud, force, an4 furpri^c ; but as all fup- plics were cut off from the countr;y, the inhabitan?s and garrifon experienced many diltreffes. • Aj5 tljc feafon approached, in which fuppUes from Fruitlefs England were inevitable, the Americans grew more attempt. active in their operations. They again renewed *° ^«' t*>c the ficgc, and ereaed batteries, and made feveral f^^ °" attempts by fire (hips, and otherwife, to burn the vcflcls in the harbour. They failed in t^iefe at- tempts, though fome of them were very boldly con- duded ; and their troops were at one time drawn up, and fcaling ladders, with every other prepara- tion, in readmefs for ftorming the town, during the confufion which they expefted the fire would have produced. Thouch they had not all the fuc cds they wiihed, they however burnt a gr^at part of the fuburbs, and the remaining houfes being pulled down to prevent the fpreading of the confla- gration, aftbrded a moll feafonable relief of fuel to the town, which had for fome time been exceed- ingly diftrcfled through the want of that neceflary. During t^is ftate of things, a party of Canadians Mar. t which had been embodied by Mr. Beaujeu, with a defign of rafiing the fiege, were encountered on their march, and eafily difperfed by a detachment of the rebels. Thisfm^U fucqefs was not long fufficient tofup- port the fpirits of the Provincials. Having failed in all their attempts with Ihells, firefhips, and red hot i^alls, to caufe a conflagration in the city, their hope of taking it by ftorm ceafed, whilft that of fuccecd - H h a regular fiege was daily Icflcned j indeed their 300] Small pox break out in the provinci- al camp. neVLl S T O R Y of the CkAP. Xj. their artillery was fai' frbm being cqtial to any great* fcrvicc. Although confidcrablc rcinforcemcirs ar rived m the remote parts of the Province, the various impedbnents of bad roads, bad weather, and the want of neceffaries fuitablc to the fcrvice, prevented their being able td join them. In the ftate of de ftjondcncy confcquent of thefe circumftances, that fcourge and terror of the weftern Continent and of Its numerbus nations, the fmall pox broke out, and made its ufual cruel ravages amongfl them. Nor was the immediate eifea with refyt€t tq life or health the word confequence of the calamity ; for that difordcr being considered as the American plague, and regarded with all the horror incident to that name, the dread of infeftion broke in upon every other confidcration, and rendered it difficult If not impraaicable, to fuftain difcipline, or pre-* fervc order. v ^ v^ In this fituatlon, the Provincial accounts inform us,^ that thcv intended to raife the ficge before the arrival of the fuccours from England, and that General Woofter, who at that time held the com- mand, with fome other of the principal officers, had already gone to Montreal to mAe fome prenara. tions neceflary for the facilitating of that purpofe. it luch a defign was formed,.it was prevented from being carried fuccefsfully into execution, by the zeal ffTelfis ^"""^ ^^''^-'y °^ '^^ °ffi^^^^ ^"d crews of the Ifis man of ff^l T'. ^?^, ^^ ^^^ ^^'g^^^^ which were the war with ""j ^^^ »ad failed from England with fuccours, land and and Who With great labour, conduft, and refolution, marm. having forced their way through the ice, arrived at Quebec before the pafl'age was deemed praaicable. The unexpeded fight of the Ihips, threw the be Iiegers into the greatcft cpnfternation, which was not leflened by the immediate effeft, of their cut- ting off all communication between their forces on the different fides of the river. marine forces. C^AP. XI, I tSfAP. Xi. Civil WA^r' V J 1 iVI E R I C A. ff^'cw [to any great irccmcnts ar. e, the various icr, and the c, prevented ftatc of de. ftances, that inent and of 3kc out, and them. Nor ^ to life or ilamity; for e American r incident to )ke in upon i it difficult, ne, or pre- unts inform e before the !, and that d the com- )ffiqers, had ne prepara. lat purpofe. ented from by the zeal of the Ifis 1 were the 1 fuccours, refolution, arrived at arafticable. •ew thebe- which was ■ their cut- r forces on Provincit aU before Quebec; put to" flight. Genera! I General Carlcton, was too well vcrftd in military sffaifs to lofe any time in feizing the advantages which the prcfcnt fituation afforded. A fmall de- tachment of land forces which arrived in the (hips of war, together with their marines, being landed with the utmoft expedition, and joined to the garri- fon, the Governor imihediately marched out ?t their M«y fith. head to attack the rebel camp. There he founil every thing in the utmoft cohfufion ; they had not even covered thcmfelves with an entrenchment, and having already begun a retreat, upon the appear- iance of our troops, they fled on all fides, abandon- ing their artillery, !liilitary (lores, fcaling ladders, and other matters of incumbrance. The ilight was fo precipitate as fcarcely to admit of aihy execution ; nor were the King's forces in any condition for a purfuit, if prudence could even have juftified the meafure. Some of the fick became priioners. During this tranfaftion, our fmaller Ihips of war made their way up the river with fuch expedition and fuccefs, that they took feveral fmall veffels be- longing to the enemy, and retook the Gafpee floop of war, which they had feized in the beginning of the preceding winter. Thus was the mixed fiege and blockade of Quebec raifed, after a continuance of about five months. And thus was Canada prefcrved by a fortitude and conftancy, which muft ever be re^ membered with honour to the Governor and garri- •fon. From this time the Provincials and all their followers experienced a continual feries of loffes and misfortunes, in that province. A number of their fick and wounded lay fcattered about and hid in the neighbouring woods and villages, where they were in the greatelt danger of periSiing under the complicated preflure of want, fear, and difeafe. To prevent this melancholy confequence. General Carleton ona] wriveit V^^ Which truly hofoitable aft ajonl Cdifti„a LJ^'f; Towards the cn^ of May, fcvcral regiments frr« Srr?^ T^^'o^*'^. '^' Brunfwick troops, arried ^c e^iv<.ly,n Canada; fo that th. whlVS ^ ^wi fttl 'i • V^v «^?^?^ rendezvouz wa, at itivec Ktvers, which ics haJf wav hetw#.*.n n . bee and Mpmreal , and at the coielS" of about ninety miJes from each. iSs pla eT« name trom the vicinity of one of the branch« tLTT"' ^"if^^ '™'^" =*'"= difcharged tko^ tftree raquths, mto that great refervoir. '• The " ^ * Proclamathn by G. Qarleton for the relief of th^ r. -r J-l^i J f ^■^f ^ \ '!" '"'■'"■">«<'. that nunT of his Majettrt P rS'^'lf ^ f -^«,/«''g«nt learch tail ftrjlMcd rtt^reifw V? »"."<=<^^fl^'-y relief, and convev them them: all rcafonable expcnces which may be incuTcd in cam plying wah this ««ier & be repaid by tLVc^ei^^ ^^^^^^^^^ Piifo^ble 'wJ.t' h '*"^''°"^"'^' °^. P** °^^""» <^°"1<» deter fuch SSdfrJl- ^'^ '•ecemWthat affiftance which tiieir S affnnnT r-;^ [^qu're, I Wby mak^ known to them, '7 to return to their refpcaive proyfocw. X^ewis, in the city of Quebec, this roth day of May, 1776. GUY CARLETON. Proela- mation fir their relief. GitAf. XI. CivfL War in AMERICA. fjt. reter, where the St. Lawrence ipreadsito- a great extent,^ arrived at Nicolet, from w|iencc they fell -vwu uic nver Dy mgtit, and palled toithc mother fide, * with I 3043 ,h ^Wm H \ ST O^T.ofihe Chap. XL 177^ with an intcntion^of furprifing the forces under "^•^^ General Frazer, Three Rivers^is rather to be "on! fidcrcd as a long village, than a regwlar town: and the defign was, that it Ihould be attacked a little before break of day, and at the fame inftant, by a itrong detachment from each end, while two fmaller were drawn up in readinefs to cover or fupport them. If the fuccefs ihould have proved complete the defign was extended to the deftrudionof all thofe veflcls which lay near the (hore. ■ Zwf!n** J*"^ The concurrent cifcumftances neceffary to give effeft to this defign were too numerous, tp afford ^y Itrong confidence of fuccefs. It was one of thofe bold undertakings which might have been produaiveof great advantage; but which was of too perilous a nature for anything lefs than the moft defperate fituation of affairs to juftify. They . miffed their time by about an hour, which, though they paffed the armed fhips without obfervation, occafioned their being difcovered, and the alarm , given at their landing. They afterwards got into , bad grounds, and were involved into many other difficulties, which threw them into diforder and June 8th. confufion. In this ftate they found General Frazer's corps in preparation to receive them, having landed feveral light fix pounders, which were played upon them with great cffed. While they w^re thus en- gaged in front. Brigadier Nefbit, whofe tranfports lay higher up the river, landed his force-G full iii their way back. Nothing was left but a retreat, the accomplilh- ment of which was more, to be wifhed for than hoped. Nefbit's corps kept the river fide to pre- vent their efcapc to the boats, while Frazer's, in purfuit, galled .them feverely with their light artil- lery. Between both, they were driven fome miles ^ * s s x^ tj J a ucu "p iwaujp, whicii tney traveriea witn inconceivable toil, cxpofed to conftant danger, and # enduring .14 Chap. XL Civil War i« AMERICA, enduring every degree of. diftrefs. The Britifli troops at IcngUi grew tired of the purfuit, and the woods afforded them a wiihed-for ihelter. The firll jmd fecond in commandy with about aoo others were taken prifoners. It will be tafily conceived that our lofs was trifling. Thiswa^ the laft appearance of vigour fliewed by the Provincials in Canada. The whole army having joined at Three Rivers, puflied forwards by . land and water with CTCat expedition. When the fleet arrived at Sorel, tb^ found the enemy had abandoned that place fome hours before, difmantled the batteries which they had erefted to defend the entrance into that river, and had carried of thcit artillery and ftores. A ftrong .jlumn was here landed under the command of General BurgOync *!.ma'*?^^^ *° advance along the Sorel to St. John's wbilft the remainder of the fleet and army failed up the river to Longueil, the place of paTage from the illand of Montreal to La Prairie on the Continent. — ^Here they difcovered that the Provincials l»d abandoned the city and ifland of Montreal oh toe preceding evening, and that if the wind had ban favourable, they might haVc met at this place, nie army was immediately landed on the Continent, and marching by La Prairie, crofled the Peninfula tormcd by the St. Lawrence and the Sorel in order to join General Burgoyne at St John's, where they expefted a ftand, and a ftrong refiitance would haVc Dcenmadc. That General purfucd his march along the Sorel without intermiifion ; but with that caution neccf. lary ma country not wholly cleared of the enemy, and tvhere their Ia<}L and moil defpcrate cffbrts were to be expefted. He arrived at St. John's on St %/„% fhc evening of^the 18th, where he found the build- tt ' *ng8 m flames, and nearly every thing deftroyed that could not be cirricd ofl. The Provincials afted ^''""^/^ Montreal •# mj Ge^cral Sullivan, who commantfea m the retnikr All C.?. «^!^- to the war in U ?4,^o,the J)Mthwaj53. uiUU %h a niunter of vef- ^fJWW'^^y' t?Pf ^#^ %ifi to.'frstyerfe thatfake ,:i?Qrti for conveyairce arid'protcOiori. Affairs The neceffitv under which we have feen Govcf- nued. ,f^;. we woljc; fcrviqe:, nQx, ipdmn. }i^ atjiempts to ,rcdu(;e I^Hf pvince of Nprth ^arglm to obedience. rM^s 'Conpdcncc ,Qf;JiJ)Ccef8 wa§,.ihcreafe4, by the : -tewledge he^Rad'jthat * fquadroh 6f' men 0/ V^r i^S^gyen, regiments, p^en tlie cpiidua^of g'lr ^ *-«X ^^V^fe^?i¥'*4:fef¥#^^«i' were ^tg depart • -««''• from IreTaniTon an cxpcditionfe the fouthern Pro- ■* . , " ■ vinces ■ f!»/ CpAP. XI. Civil 3TaR in A ^ E ^ I C A. £507 vinccs in the beginning ot the year, and that North iffSf' Ga^oliiia'^s ffieiriSft iTiibf ^mdpaf objca: *'Htf vaA^ alfokncW thit G*hei^l Climon, irith aTiriaH detach- " •'^' tW, was'bii his%ky frbin Bofton td meet them it'Cape'Fear. ' '■' * '■' ■T^&vfi'jrn o> ,j ■ . ^ , ■ .-j pc conneftipn he had formed With a body of defta^te J3^6pl6, Tatdy c6Afidc¥iJd^ - „ m^i jgoyei^fefeii*; riot«» equally ^eittfea to riit Pr(mnckJ eftablMitnettt; i^hb Ve h&Vd fi-fcqiiently had ptcafibn td ikke? nbticc of iihttef thfc%dftU*Tof i?^««//i. /fln, as well as M^th the Highland cm%fant*,'ftidmed to infure the reduaion of the infurgents, even inde- paident of the ekpelac^ ibrlfe;'' That*coI<^y was ■deemed the weakefl: in America, cx<5^ GcoYgir; m the ti^p parties wd have iimjldohfcd werc^iin- rterods, a3rvd;'daHtig, ailidthtf'fdMer welt at thrs time, ^s Wen as the latter, zealoiiily ittached to thfe tbval 'aiife- "The HijMandei's Wfe^e '^onfidcred^ pufally warlike; arid ihe Regul'atbrs, fVom fituff- tion, hdbit^; and manner of livlh^,' to be much '^'^f V !^ai;dieV; and better markfmen than thofe whd had lifeeh bred: to other cborfes, and in more civilized parts df the country. "' ' f ■ ' ' ' • The Governor fent fevcral coramiflions to thcfc ,, ^ pple fpi^ the raifing and commahdirig of regr- ¥;P°"" T^''^ ^^^^ ^"°^^^^ td'a Mr.M4)onaia to Jltnif. aa as th^ii' general. He alfo fent them a procla- fion mahon, cbmtrtindihg all perfons on their allegiance, to repair to the 'i-oyal ftandard, which was creded by General M'Dbnald abbut the middle of Feb- ruary. • ''• '■'' ■• •■■•» -' - ■ ■-. ■. ., Upon the firft advice of their affembling at a Bri r.„ pUce called Crofs Creek, Brigadier General Moore Mo-or^"* mmediafely marched at the^head of the Provincial takes pof. regnnerit which he cbhimanded, witTi fuch militia ^fZ?! «l» nC could fudd'^nlw o^II^A ^^Jt r :k--? '- ^wkfi'h- Fcb,i5 Z^2 ne li 1 1 T Ont rftbe Chap. Xr m^ P?f^'^^?(a«]'nportant poft called Rockfifh- ^^^^^ Bridge, which, as he was much inferior in ftren«h, he itocdiately entrenched and rendered dcfcmibk^ He had not been many days in this pofition, where wae receiving and expeaing fuccours, when Gt. neral M'Ddnald approached at the head of his army, and fent a letter to Moore, ihdofmg the Go- pernor's proclamation, and recommending to him and his party to join the King's ilandard by a riven hour the next day, or that he muft be under the nc ccihty (tf CQnfidctkig them as enemies. As Moore knew that the Provincial forces were marching from all quarters, he protraaed the nc gociauon, in hopes that the Tory army, as thev caUcd It, might have been furrounded. In his final anfwcr he declared, that he and his officers confidercd themfelves as engaged in a caufe the'' moft glorious and honourable in the world, the de- fence of the liberties of mankind ; he remindccj the emigrants of the ungrateful return they made to the kind reception they met with in the Colony: '•nd the General, with lome of hi? fficers, of an oath they had taken a little before, ctnd upon which , they were permitted to come into the country, that thev only came to fee their friends and relations, without any concern whatever in public affairs. In return to the proclamation, he fent them theteft propofed by the Congrcfs, with a proffer, that if they fubfcnbcd it, and laid down their arms, they ihould be received as friends ; but if they rcfufed to comply, they muft expeft confequences firailar to thofe which they had held out to his people. In the mean time, M*Donald perceived the dan- ger he was in of bemg enclofed, and abruptly quit- ting his ground, endeavoured with confiderable dexterity, by forced marches, the unexpeacd pafling or rivers, and the ffreatf fl- r-lfr?*--- nf mf^-.n-mfnt^ to difenga^e himfelf.'' It fcems, the great and Imme- diate yS'yr^M Chap. XI. Civil War l/j^Mt KIC. diate objcft in view with this party, was to briiik Governor Mabrtin, with Lord William Campbell, and General CI:M9|ton, who had by this time joined them, into the interior country, w^ch they judged would be a niicans of uniting all the back fcttlcrs of ^, the fouthcrn Colonies in the royal caufe, of bring- ing forward the Indians, and of encouraging the well affcded to fhcw themfP?a (,t heir arm,, aiirff vifiMg* vBA yi ^b ^'^^^^ r,^^Ww their pow«rand prowcfs -r. ■■^-^. t ^'' ^ iM^ry itid R6ih ; but Wc I'^i^pointcd in ^776. ^c ppwdcr, wMch they mdft wstttcd, thrdtigh tfe <^v>C/ ^ pnr je nc' e *<)M»W all firot the coriimahfl Af ii '^elf^I' wtp.Kad juftgot the coriimana df ft vetol-at ^brth CaniHHa, •then hound from that port toLondoil. In 'thfs pallkge, ihih arofe fome altercation betwien the njafter and inaUJ, m conft- qupnce of a quondam miftrcft belonging to the'latter, who wfia thea aboard. About this tinn; the war with 3p^in raged with great vio- Jence, and nKn were greatly wahted for the navy ; the prefs- gangs, and .'flbopa upon the imprefa fervice fwannid every where,, and th? ufual proteaions were of no avail. Hig ^p- jtain, through piqup, took this Oppprtunity of pkrtitw WiUi him; for bjing ^boarded by a man of v^ar near the'Syaftdf Carolina, Hop|cin8i*ilh fomc of theioMmdh haHds were im- •prefltd, and k proved ufelefs to him to 'plead his pf bteaion as then chiqf male, hip captain telling the lieutenant, that he had .bep ii^ fuch a ^^on, but wa? then broke for mutiflous beha- viour, and therefore defired Hopkins to lie Tent atoarci'par. ticularly, pm$ a charge to the lieuttfnint to KiveVftiiW e>e over him, Se^bting, ' as he faid, of a dtfpWate difp&fitfdn, .. ^_'l^li8 % pf vfpx /hortly after joined, Ac|miral Vernon's fle<^, ■f^l",^??^ .^f P}>1 on .^oar^the Burford,'tlie*flag (hip. In t>i8 new ftatioh, lie endeavoured to ftHle Ms 'rt'feAlfteefttio hwlate captain, and to conform himfelf to his prefent birth ; , in wKcini0ucce<;dedTo"wcn, tliaf in a little lime, "he warob- fervediiot only to bf an experffain^n, ahd'aljle M^^ttb^.Mt of a quite contirafy difpbfition to' v^hat he fijtd fifeerfWp^d^jft. '^h. I f"!!f W«, <^p,t.; Edwai-d B^iV^er; andin ^the^ti^kr i^/t, ,haW«i^:^jp-ed''his)*ainiiiaii?*n^V ihe Trin'itf Hbfil, he-wt; ^T^^f^'f^ ae'Weizd floop, in'kldh HAtfdn he continued till ih«f peke. \ agau 3«»] tra# HISTORY of the. Chap. X(. m^. prudence of the Governor, who fcnt icobarr'd-nf ^d?d. They brought off the Governor, ^d f^ other pubhc officers, as prifoners ; and after taS fw^ prizes in their return, fell in at length S .tl»r Alafgow frigate of war, accompanied^ wi J a ^ iar, the latter of which they took, and the for :'.c. efcapcd with difficulty after a very fhamcT gagcment. \ ^^ theco«ft« of Vir. ginla Lord ^ Lord Dunmorc, with his fleet o? fugitives cnh ^}^ZL ^'"" '^ °" '' *"^ »" "^^ "^c»-« o^Virginia for' tt^ llrfr/r//'tr\"^^^'y placed";: put themlelves under his protedion, underwent great diftrcffcs. The heat of the weather, the bad- nefs of provifions, with the clofenefs and filth of the ?mall veflels, in which they were crouded, by dc grees produced that malignant and infeaious dif- if'S^f ^* . , ^^ ** ^"^'^^ ^y "^^^ name of the Jail or Peftilential Fever. This dreadful diforder made great havock among them, but particularly affcdcd thencijroes, moil of whom it fwcpt away. After • . • ' various ^ *gabpurfuinff the calls ofhonour, returned to the navy, and WM malter orfeveral ihip» till the peace of 1 763. It httd ^en regulated at that peice, that all combiffion and r^;^^'-**®*'*^, «^ ^*: «'"Pl?y«*l ^o' A? fpace of three yean m rotation. Mr. Hopkins waited with paUence ths firft three years, and came to London in 1776, expcding to be employed in his turn, but beiug difkppointed, and perceiving others of in- tenor abUxues preferred, Hopkins could not condiefcend to foli- cit, and returned to America, throwing up his half-pay, and rcfolvmg to attach himfelf to his native country for the reft of his days. . Wlien the American troubles made it neceffary for the Con- grels to form a Marine, Mr. Hopkins, from his experience, courage, and abilities, was thought a proper perfon to be at the head of it. He accepted the commiffion with chearfulnefs and how he has afted fince, maybe feen in the progrefs of this Chap. XL Civil War in AMERICA. C313 farious adventures, m which they were driven from 1 776 V^vV Jtr'd, place to place, and from ifland to ifland> by the Virginians, feverAl of the veffels were driven on ihorc .a a gale of wind, and the wretched fugitive* became captives to their own ^puntrymen. At length, every place bein^ fliut againft, and hoftile to the remamdcr, and neither water nor provifiona Fugitive, to be obtained^ even at the expcnce of blood, it was ^*%^' '^ found nccefiary, towards, the beginning of Auguft to burn the fmaller and lead valuable velTels, and to fend the remainder, amounting to between 4 . and 50 fail, with the exiles, to fcek ihcltcr and rctrcar ♦o Florida, Bermudas, and tlic Wcft-Indic., In thii manner ended the hopes entertained by the employment of the negroes to fupprefs the rebellion in the fouthern colonies. This meafure, rather invidious than powerful, tended infinitely to inflame the difcontents jn thofe colonies, without adding any thing to the ftrength of the royal arms. The unhappy creatures who engaged in it, are faid to havcpt riflicd almoft to a man. \ It had for fome time paft been the fortune of the fleets, tranfports and viduallers, which had been lent to America, to meet with fuch exceedingly bad leather on their paflage, fuch delays, and fo many untoward circumftances of different forts, as in a |reat degree fruftrated the end of their deftination. bir Peter Parker's fquadron, which failed from fortfraouth at the clofe of the year, from an uncx^ petted delay in Ireland, and bad weather afterwards, m not arrive at Cape Fear till the beginning of Miiy,^v .ere they were detained by various caufes nil the end of the month. There they found Ge- neral Clinton, who had lately been at New- York, and from thence proceeded to Virginia, where he nad feen Lord Dunmore, and finding. tiiat no fer- vice could be effeaed at cither place with his fmall wee, came thither to wait for them. Sit Peter Parker* s fqusidron with L. Corntual* lis and troops, arrive at CapeF^ar They meet O. Clintotu Sf The I 3U3 t^e Hist ORY 6f^;je Chap, ft th^ftkfbn (Bf flife ^af was mticli t»airtft th« opcrtitions of the troopt att this time in the fouthem tdobicj, thi ejcccffivfe heat having r**ndcrea them fteWy, evcft iit Capi Ftar, notwithftandin;? th(i plenty of refrefhmchts they procured, and the little [abotif dley had iipdh their hands. Somcthihe fei ^TVi'* "^^^ ^ *^"*^» '^"^ Charleftown, the ca| Lw 1?^ °^ ^outh CafoHna, wa. within the liW of 8?; ?^?r ?^^ v^' .?*JJ^ ^''"^ Comwallis's inftruftiohs. 1 hey had but litilfc kritjwicdge of General Howe's fituition ; the only information that General Oin^ tbn rcehvfed of his evacuating Bofton, being from ' J«c Ahientan newt-papcrs. And it happened un. luckily, that a veflcl, Which General Howe had dif. patched from Halifax with orders for their proceed^ ing to the northward, met with fuch delays in her paflagc, that (he did hot ;irrivc in Cape Fear tiH wtCr Aeit departure. The fleet anchored bi[ ChaHeftoWn Bar in tht beginning of June. Thtiy wcrt joined before they proceeded to aftion by the Experiment man of war • ^.«,.». ana the haval force then confifted of the Comiho. ioivnBar. ««>« Sir Pcter Piirker's ihip, the Briftol, of c o eunsi rti^ Eicperiment, of the fame force ; the Aaivc ^njy be face that place, uuzxcdiatcly fet n^t to focyrc Nev.'- York frow the attempt wfiicli ;t was Aippofc^ the fonwcr nr^M^d j^avc ipade upon that city. Ws^vim fMCfccdcd iin d^i^ dbjcd, Qco. qiptpu could npt but be (urprizcd at his jurrival in Virginia^ to fifl4 Uc in po^i^on, and ifn the f^njicftateof preparation; 10 which he had left him at Ncw-Torlt. Upon bi* (kparture foi Cape Fear, Lee again travcrfed the Cp^tineat with the utmpft expedition to fecurc North Carolina. And ^t length, uponthe further Mogrcfs of ;bc fif^fit and army to the fouthward, l^e ag^n proceeded with equ?d celerity to the de- fence of Ch^rlcftpwn. Tf The fir(l obje^ of our forces, ^ftcr pafling the ba^, was t;he attack of a fort which bfid been fatcly crefted, though not made altogether complete, upon the fouth-weft point of Sullivan's ifland. TOs (ort coimuau4e4 the paHage to Charleftown, which jayfarther weft, ^t about fix utiles diflancc j and notwithftanding the i^tenefs of its conftrudion, W^ with propriety ,conr»derq4 as the l^ey of that IwbQur. it is f^d to have been rtprefented to our . commanders as in even a. more imperfe^ ftate thw it was found in ; but if the delcription bad been othcrwifc, it is not prob^^bJe they would liave ex- peapd tb^t a raw militia could have been able, for iiH]r length of time, to have fupportcd the great weight of ^re irom our fhips, eveii excluding the I COH)peratiottof the land forces. The troops were landed pn Ung I0and, which Troeo. lifs nearer, to the eaftward of Sullivan's ; being land Tt jeparated o|ily-by.fon>e fhpals, and a creek called J-«ng- tjie teach, which arc deemed pafl^bleat loWwa- ^^^"^* ter, the foi-d beipg reprefented to our ofHcers as pnly eighteen inches m dcptji ifi that ftate. The t^roliQians hfid polled fome forces with a few pieces R- cpjnapj^ Tif^ tttCjiiprth-c^itcrii exticuuLy of Sul- j fv; livan' s :L'^<,V •jiq nemsroKYo/tst' chaj xi' 177^ l!m'» liland. at the diftaflce of neSr Wo mik.' frort th- fort, where they threw up works to p„ veht the parage of the royal army over the Breach Getaer^ Lee was eHcamped with a confiderable body of forces on the continent, af the back and to . the north-ward of the ifland, with which he held a tomffiumcation open by a bridge of boats, and could by that means, at any time, march the whole or any part of his force, to fupport that poft wW h was oi>pofed to our paflage from Long Ifland. Uc iff! A^ "''^'f *""•"'"« '"'"«'' "hire the troop, fuffered greatly from their expofure to the intS ■heat of the^fun. But the fleet and army were™, ly diftreffed through the badnefs of th'e water! that which IS found on the fea coafts of South Carolina beme every where brackift. Nor were they in a , mucfi better condition, with refptft either to the ciuantity or quaKty of provifions. "" """e ' _ Notwithftanding the difpatch which thefe inconve- car^tTe'^lf "'"'^"^' ^"'^•' •'^'"y^ °«"-^ ^ Se enl^f i^ ^^" into execution, that it was near 1st r'^n°°'^ P>='' afeafonwhichwas ap- fill I-*' 7;°"""'=^' with great affiduity ,0 the fe,S?H kT°^'''T*-°*^- ^^"y''''"6t'""g«'»E''> [he ThnnTT^""""^''^'' "^y '" »d l»"d. Jnl . ""„''^r ^°"'^' covered by the armed Ihip !.tr' I ''"■°*'"g ft'"* at the fort as the Beet advan- m,n, Ia"' ^''=''f" °'<:'o<^k. the Briftol, Experi- r,?rtftl T' ^"f Solebay, brought up dir'aiv agamft the fort apd began a moft furious and incef- font^annonade. The Sphynx, Afleon, and Syren, Zl Vu^ '° the wdtward, to take their ftation ^II 1 u '"'' °^ *•= "'^"d^ and Charieftown, part y thereby to enfilade the works of the fort flfSi'^l^'H"' '? "" """^e communication be- twecn the iflanci and the cominent, which would of » .ourle, ci4t off tfae retreat of the garrifon. as well | June 2 'i. Attack on Sul- livan's liland. as Chap. XI. I (Jhap. XL Civil War /» AMERICA. .fj#^ ^two miles )rks to pre- the Breach. :onfiderable back and to h he held a Ijoats, and the whole, poft which iand. The the troops the intenib were great, water, that :h Carolina c they in a her to the fe inconvc- ecurred in t was near upon Sul- h was ap. lity to the gat length and land, ncd Ihip, in the at- ;et advan- , Experi- 1 direftly md inccf. id Syren, 'ir flation rleftown, the fort, ation bc- would of , as well as as all fuccours from the latter ; and )>artljr -to pre- vent any attempts that might be made by iire-wipg orotherwife, to interrupt the grand atttack. tliis part of the diefign was rendered unfortunate' by the Unn^t unlkilftilnefs of the pilots who entangled the frigates in the Ihoak called the Middle Grotindsy #here they all ftuck faft j aftd thoiigh two of them- were in fome time wf th dslmage and difficulty got off, it was then too late,' attd they were beiides in ho condition, to execurte the Intended fervice. ITic Afteon could not, be got oiF, and was burnt by the officers and crew the next morning, to prevent her materials and (lores from becoming a p/ey to the enemy. >■.:. , H'l Whilft the continued thunder from the (blpi fcemed fufficient to fhake the fierccnefs of the braveft enemy, and daunt the courage of the moft veteran foldier, the return made by the fort, could not fail of calling for the refpedl:, as well as ef high^ ly incommoding the brave feamen of Britain. In the midft of that dreadful roar of artillery, they ftuck with the greatcft conftancy and firmnefs to their guns ; fired deliberately and flowly, and took a cool and effeftive aim. lie fhips fuffered ac- cordingly ; they were torn almoft to pieces, and the flaughter was dreadful. Never did Britifh valour fhine more confpicuous, and never did our marine, in ah engagement of the fame nature with any foreign enemy, experience fo rude an encoun- ter. The IJirings of the Briflol's cable being cut by the fhot, Ihc lay for fome time expofed in fuch a manner to the enemy's fire, as^ to be moll drcad- tujly raked, the brave Captain Morris,* after receiv- ing . , A^" having the two bones of hJs fort arm fliattered by J Cham {hot, and receiving a wound from a baH In his neck, je vv,8 taken into the eock-pit, where he readily fubmitted ;^ amputation, wliich was peffbrnted jdil above the elbow. — 'i"g tnc operation a red-hot ball went through the cockpit, which 1776. W' Hi» (^eyi. wmil his *rm bcijjg^ feufith flit 1.ff a«w4ft^DflM»^f<^f^ recovery. It is.fai4 thai d^ Othcr/i «» tl^»t df^k WW either killed or carried down to have their wounds dreiTed. lio^did cln torn Scot, of the E^Deriinem, mils his ihare of I' Manger or glory, w6o befide^ th. lofsTan ,rm ^Thf! ire froin the Briiiih ihips was not tiirow« <^ay ; thmiga it did ^ot produce all the effe^ Xh was lif^d and expe^ed. But the fortificatSns ^re much firnier than they had been thot^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^wLtr^'^fK^^ ^H-/« agreatdegr'eefrol fUe wa^f^t 0t our fhot. They were -compofed of palm-t^s and e^irth, and the merlons were of ^n Wrl^'!^"f- .The guns were atone time fo ^g fWd that It was thonglu the fort had been •awtOoncd. It fecms ^^traofdin^ry, that a detaqh- "- "^e»t IS ^'a^/Tk °^ij!%^"'-gt°"'« a^anta, and wounded the irr:.. Ajfrer the corifufiot, which this cin^umft^ncc occafioned r7. W T ^jr^^ ^"''ft^l 0« Ml^ carried on ifee quar- »*d*.kta,ti!^iu»con(,mwd5 wbi*;h N«« com»}ied wiU». , L^^'"'!? f 'k^?*^' for aconfid^rable tiri>c!fterTtill he was ^;^ n?'f K- ''^"rT ^'"^ apimmrtly nt hm4, ontof the r7?, f' f ^"^' '^.^" ^ *«y '^•••^*^'«"^ t° g'^« with refpea Chap. XI, ^d t9 quit ti^ cleared «^h9 ftoo4 is, whicl^ ed. The «■ carried ■ did Cap. ^re of the * an arm, ife was at t tibrpwn 1^ which ifications ght, and ree from . pofcd of re of an time fo lad been L detach' ment undcd the tccafioned ibe qyar- lied mti^, ill he was d follow- ne ry( the ;h refpett ener^ty iately on s vidow and h«r rr^ i« ~±:i^^Z~£-£~ H^^*sr,aao; ^".^^ -'m " Ifc. ^ _,,^J^,,S^, ^ w -:^— — ^^ ==— ^-fc -=, -t T^.. ,^ftifl>^-^%- ■:f.\^. iW enAP. Xt CivtL Wa* W% M 1 R It? A. ^ f 319 iieiit of the land forces w^e not in rendineft on 1776. boatd the tranfports or boats, to profit of fuch an v^^ ©ccaiion. But thefe are only a part of the circum- ftances relative to the eng^mcni: which have never " bccfi fufficiently cleared uj>. The praife beflowed upofl the garrifon for the coaltancy and bravery of their defence, by the American? in general, as veil as by General Lee, fliew that they neither aban- doned their guns, nor were changed ; however they might be, and undoubtedly were reinforced. It appears by thear accoyms, that the fdeiicc of the fort proceeded from the expeiiditure dF all their powder, and their wailing for a fapply from the Continent t which, probably, did not arrive the fooner, from the neceffity of its being conveyed thfou^h the iinc of fire from t^c men «# war. During this long, hot, and obftinate conllia, the Probable teamen looked firequei»ly and impatiently to the ca^fes eaftward, ftill expeding to fee the land^wccs ad- ^""''^^ vance from Long-Ifland, drive the rebels from their ^^ ^''" inti-enchment, and march up to fecoird t.>eir attack eL"gL upon the foj-t. In thefe hopes they were gricvoufly in this * aila}^mnted. Such various account have beer, »"ack. mm of the ca^fe of this inadion of the land forces,' ^at It IS difficult to form iny decided opinion upoxi ?L"^].f •. ^l^h^ Gazette, from whence a fati*- fad^y foltttion of all difficulties miglit be expefted, « ,fo totally defeftive and dliratisfacl:ary, that k teems to nave laid a foundation for every other error and Gontradidlion relative to this bi,iinefs. Fhat ' account fay^, that the King's forces were topped oy an impraaicable depth of water, whetc then expected to bjive paffed nearly drylhod. To km- pole that :h« «:> -nerals, and the officers under their Sl'S^/ -^"^ have been nineteen days.in that \»a^. ^J'-i, without ever examiniii«;, untii the very ^ f adjon, the nature of the only pa^e by ^h they could render fervice to their friend anfl - ----"=, i^iiui uiQ iJUf|Joic or tfaeir landing, and an* W' '«'.: 3«o3 Ji»*e HISTORY er/*^ Chap, XI ^ !^T *!l- •'"'*' ^^'7^'*' '^^y were cmbarktd ij ^^^ ite expedition, would item a great defcft in mi I tary prudence and circumfpedion. But there misht ifnn^r' 5?'^<>«cealing.atrue Hate of the affSr yntil that ftate appear, it would be uniuft to lay ^j imputation on the officers concerned in fo 2 A^A * ^TT J^^ °"^y '^^^^'^^l folution of the jatt, muft, for the prcfent, be drawn from rhe dif- . tercnt American, accounts ; from thefc it is to be f^Il^'^^' i^' P^^ ^^^^^ '^^ Provincials pof. fcffcd at the «id of Sullivan's Ifland, was in fo ftrL a ftatc of defence, the approaches on our fides io tiiiadvant jgcous, and Lee's force in fuch prcparatioR a^d capability of crufhing us in the conflid, that A^encral (Jmton would have run the moft maiiifeft ai^d inexcuiable rifque, of the ruin, if not total lofs of his forces, if he had ventured upon an attack. 1 o this may be added^ that it Was only upon a near approach, that our people acquired any certain knowledge of the force of the enemy. ^ The aaion continued, until the darknefs of the night compelled tliat ceffation, which the eagernefs w the affaiiants, worn down as they were with fa- tigue, and weakened with lofs, wasltill unwilling ^o . accept. Sir Peter Parker, after every cflbrt of which a brave man is capable, finding that all hope of fuc- eels was at an end, and the tide of ebb nearly Ipent, between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, withdrew his fliattercd veffels from the fcene of _ adion, after an engagement which had been fup- *- ported with uncommon: courage and vigour for above ten hours. The Briftol had iii, and the Experiment 79 men, killed and wounded ; and both Ihips had received fo much damage, that the Provin- cials conceived ilrong hopes, that they could never ; ^^ %f «^er the bar. The frigates, though not lefs ^tnulous m the performance of their duty, being , i^h pointed at than the great ihips, did not fufier a proportional lois. The bomb veifcls did not do UiA Chap. XI. Civil War i« A M E R I C A* Qai all the fcrvice upon this occafioix which was cxpcd- J776. l ed; whether it was from, overcharging in confe- ^J^ } quen.e of having originally taken too great a Uif- t^nce^ which.has been faid, or whether it proceeded fron fome fault in the conftrudion which fcems more probable ; however, it was, the beds of the mortars were in fome time fo loofcncd and fliattcrcd as to become utterly unferviccablc. ♦ Colonel Moultrie, who commanded in the fort received great and defervcd applaufc from his coun- trymen for the courage and condud by which he was fo much diftinguiihed in its defence. The gar- rifon alfo received a great Ihare of praife, and a fcrjeant was alfo diftinguifted by a prefent of a fword from the Prefident of the Colony, for a par* ticular aft of great bravery. - • ' I I _^ ♦ lucluding the loft that the Briftol and Experiment fuftaiq. ed, ai before, mentioned, there was in the whole of this unfuc- cefsful engagement, 175 killed, and near the fame comple- ment wounded, of as brave men as ever the Britifli navy pro- -\ Tt <2.4U.?. 332] 177^. May 15. Circular letter from the Congrefs for the eftabUfli- ment of new go- vern- ments in the colo- nies. ' nentsro^Y 0/ the ch ap. xir. / .... ^ c HA P. xii;: The Gtnerai Congrefs thro'Mi'off tkit^ allegiance to Great Bn- tarat tmd declare .thetnfehts an Independent Power. * Lordt and Gen, Hrm- appointed eommiffioners fir reBorm • Staten IJland. ptrc^lar letter, fent hy Lord Ho^e to the Continent, and publljhed hy the Congrefs. Letter to Qen. Wajhmgt^n, refufed. Conference bet-ween Adjutant Gm Ifaterfon, aud Gen, Wajhingtsn, Plots at New Tori, and Albany. Army landed at Long Ifland. Americans defeated ju/M^r.^//,^. ketire Jlet^tTy from their camp, and quit the tjland. Gen. Sullivan fent upon parole wjtth a mefTaac fhmLordHo^e to the Congrefs. Frnitlefs conference l>etic% ' i^ lini "^'^ " ^'*^»"^^'^ off/-' Congrefs. Befcent or. :.; Tork IJland I Cty of Nenu Tork taken; kt on fire, and a ■ ^f'"^ ff,r* ^^'"/' ^rmpafs thmngh thi dangerous tfavha- White Plains. Forts Wafhington and Lee taken, and the -whole of York Ifland reduced, Jerfeys overrun. Rhode IJland reduced, DURING the foregding tranfaaions, die Con- grefs took an opportunity of feeling the ge- J^^^YP"i(fof the people, and of preparing them tor the Declaration of Independency which was to follow by a kind of Circular Manifejio to the ieveral Colonies, ftating the caufes which rendered It, as theyfaid, neceffary, that all authority under the crown fhould be totally fupprelTed, and all the powers of government taken refpeaively into their own hands. In fupport of this pofition they inftan- ced the Prohibitory Aa, by which they were exclud- ed from the proteftion of the crown ; the rejedion of their petition for redrefs of grievances and re- conciliation j and the intended exertion of all the force of Great Britain, aided by foreign mercena- ries, for their deflruftion. They concluded with a recommendation to thefe Colonies ; whofe govern, ment was not already fufficient, to proceed to the eltabiilhment of fuch a form, as was neceffary to the prefervation of internal peace, and fuitcd to the ^f •*v "' i.K„.. XUl lU^ . r . _ . - uCICiiCC o their Chap. XH Civil War /« A M E R I C A. [323 II their lives, liberties, and properties, againft the hoC- i yy6, tile invafionj, and cruel depredations of their enc- ^^^>rsj inies. Penfylyania and Maryland were the only Colo- mesthat in that part oppofed the eftablifhment of a new government, and the declaration of Indepen^ dency. A majority in the aflembly of the former, though eager for redrefs of grievances, regarded with horror every idea of a total feparation from the parent ftate. But thpugh they knew that great numbers in the Province held fimilar fentimcnts, they were alfo fenfible, that the more violent formed a very numerous and powerful body j that they had already taken fire at their hefitation, and confidered them rather as fecret enemies, than luke-warm friends. Their fituation was befides difficult. If they broke the union of the Colonies, and thereby forfeited the affiftance and protedion of the others, they had no certainty of obtaining a redrefs of thofe grievances, nor the fecurity of thofe rights, for which they were as willing to contend in their own way as the moft violent j but were not yet willing to give up all hope, nor to break off all poffibility of accommodation. Thus critically circumftanced tJiey declared that the queftion oi Independence was a matter of too great importance for them to decide hnally upon, and that they would therefore refer it tb their conftituents together with the arguments which had been ufed on both fides of the queftion. It was manifeftly a ftep from which it would not be eafy to retreat. On one hand, the feparation from Great-Britam, even if it could be finally ac- comphlhed, muft be attended with many evident mconvcmcnces. The protection of the great pa- rent ftate, and the utility of the power of a com- m^ fovereign to balance fo many fcparate, and, poftbly difcordant commonwealth^, befides many political and many commercial advantages derived from 3U3 r/&. H I S T O R Y ./ the Ah^p. xn, JT^ from the old union, muft appear in a clear light L hand, It was faid, that their liberty was their firft good. Without which all the other advant:igc8 would be of no value. That if th,y were to fubmit to a great ftanding army, compdfed of foreigners as well as En|h(h, compofed in part even of tiir own llaves, and of favages, what terms were they to nope tor ? The moment their arms were laid down they muft be at the mercy of their enemy. For what end did they take up thefe arms ? If it was to fecurc their liberty, to lay them down without that ^cunty, vould be to own that their firft refiftance was caufelefs rebellion ; and the pardon offered was the only fatisfadion for the prefent, or fccurity tor the future, they were given to expeft. Did they refill power only to obtain a pardon ? Were they fo abfurd originally, or are they fo cowardly' . now ? If then their objed is refufed to all the en- treaties by Great-Britain ; if Ihe abandons them to plunderwuhoutrcdemption,excepton unconditional iubmiffion, how is the objeft of their refiftance to be obtained? By war only. But as long as they Si^rr W ^^tT^' °^ ^^^ ^r°^n of Great! Britain, fo long wil their councils and generals be deftitute of all civil and military authority. ITie • ^'m ^^^y ^^'^ry on muft of courfe be irregular, feeble, and without the fmalleft profpedtof fuccefs Orders will be given, which none will be obliged to obey ; and conrpiracies and mutinies will be formed, which none will have a juft power to pqnifh or re! prefs, Neither will any foreign power give them any fupport agaujft the hoftile combination of Great ;.n^T; f "^ 2-a"^^"^ ^'"'"^^'Sn powers as fhe has rolled to her amftance, fo long as they hold them- ntr /r^'/'i^^^?- y^^ ^««°^ break the con. neaion ([aid they), It is already broke and diffolved by 311 aft of parhament ; and thus abandoned, all iws human and divine, not only permit,, but de- ' mand Chap. Xir, | €map. XII. Civil War m A M E R I C A. [325 mand of us, to provide every internal and external, 1776. means for our own prcfervation, . v^vx^ :lear light to )n the other as their firft t^iges would iubmit to a reigncrs as f their own ere they to e laid down lemy. For If it was to nthout that I refiftance )n offered, or fecurity pea. Did n ? Were . ) cowardly* ill the en- ns them to ;onditional fiftance to g as 'they of Great- cncrals be ity. ITie irregular, •f fuccefs. )bliged to e formed, lift or re- ive them of Great fhe has >ld them- the con- diflblved incd, all but de- mand In thefe fentimcnts, by a reference to the people, the matter was brought to a fair trial of ftrength between the, two parties ; when it was carried by great majorities, that the Delegates Ihould agree to the determination of the Congrefs. This decifion, however occafioned much diffention in the Province, and founded a confiderable party in oppofition to the [ lent government. In Maryland, the delegates were inftruftcd by a ihajority of feven counties to four, to oppofc the queftion of Independency in the Congrcfs ; which they accordhigly did j and having given their votes, withdrew totally from that aflembly. But the hor- ror of being fecluded and abandoned, together with the reproaches of the others, and perhaps the dread of their refentment, foon gave a new turn to their conduft, if not the difpofition of that pr©- vince. The delegates were again inftruded to re- turn to the Congrefs, and to aft there, as they thought bed for the intereft of their country. This compleated the union of the colonics in that mea- fure. The fatal day at length arrived, which, (however jui^ .jk the final confcquences may be) mull be deeply re- * gretted by every true friend to the Britifli empire, I?eclara- whcn thirteen Englijh colonies in America^ declared 1'°? °* them/elves free and independekt/^/^-j ;• abjured ^^^l all allegiance to the Britifh crown, and renounced all politicXil connexion with this country. Such are the unhappy confcquences of civil contention. Such the cffefts that may proceed from too great a jealoufy of power on the one fide, or an ill-timed doubt of obedience on the other. There eo- Se« Appendix. ,."^.. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) i.O I.I 1.25 £ IS 112.0 im 1.4 V] >> /A Photographic Sciences Corporation s. V "^M^.f}^ army was withdrawn from ^ "«w» ne^ mif At by, the mieahs of the great North •"^f ^'u^^ ^e different channels betwecu the iflands ' ^^:^^^ .»^ain ^^^ with his flijp^ and tJetachments harrafs^and rum the adjoining, countries: at the ^mt? . time that the Provincials However powerful ^aukUoakc no attempt Qji the iikads, that w©«ld Chap. XII. propofed in >rcfent cam- cc, and the led the fub- iie Colonies lid was the itheru" colo- II have fuc- ic of them, nft the city 3tn wc have rft was yet I. On the not unjuft- le province hich being idcs to the :nts of cfur our, whilft When rc- r would be :ir hoftillty al iituation ges. The ility cither ^ew-York and from >r it might ifure^, So mander to lit i| when awn from rcat North the iflands tachpicnts sf at the powerful tiat- would not I^F # .» I •f Cn , J^r it' MX^CTtr JLj}^MZ2i^^ of die WJBjTTJ: C_. -And \Commaiiderm^ef ofih,e|Ueetin^N — >^ et^h:- — —■11-:^":= -- - ' "~" ~ ^'-V;i^:: ^ Chap. XII. Civil War m AME RICA. {jr^i^ not be attended with the greateft difadvantages, 1776.^ and liable to the mbft imminent danger. Another v^^vxi g'cat objeft in view from this fituation was, th^t if General Carleton could penetrate to Hudfon's or the great North r}ver, General Howe might thereby totally cut off all communication between the nor- thern and fouthcm provinces. To' crown thefe advantages, Long Mand which is very fertile in wheat and all other corn, and abounded with. herds % and flocks, was deemed almoft equal in itfelf to the # maintenance of an army. The inhahitanti were alfo fuppofed to be in general well affedted to the royal caufe. The attainment of thefe great objeas, and the conduct of the grand armament which was neceflary to the purpofe, were committed to Admiral Lord Howe, and his brother the General; men who flood high in the opinion and cdnfidence of the nation, as well from, their own merit ahd fcrvices, as from the military charafter arid bravery of the family. To this fervicc was allotted ■\ very powerful army, confiilmg bfcfidcs the* national forces, of about 13,000 Heflians and Waldeckers. The whole force, if the different parts of which it was compofed could have been united in the beginning of the cam- paign,, it was fuppofed, would have amounted to a^out 35,000 men. It will be eafily conceived by thofe acquainted with military aftairs, that all cal- culations of this nature, though founded upon the beft official information, will far exceed even at a much nearer diftance than America, the real effec- rive number th-it can- ever be brought to aaion. This force, when united, was, however, truly for- midable, and Juch as no part of the n6w world had ever feen before. Nor, was it, perhaps, ever ex- ceeded by any army in Europe of an equal number,- Whether confidered, with refpe^^ to the excellency or the tfbojis, the abundant provifion of all maimt^r 0^ military ftorcs-, and warlike materials, or the gcod- The for- ces under Lord and Geaeral Howe, with the nature of their s.. commif- iions for rcftorjng * peace in the colo- nies. '328] 73&. HISTORY. //>&. Chap. Xn ^ goodnefs and number of artillery of all forts with ^^^ which ,t was provided. It was befides fJZllt a very numerous fleet, particularly well adaoteH^^ Ae nature of the fervice. Bef Jes th^rS' powers the General and Admiral were ap3 the commiflioners.under the late Ad of Parlfamem for reftormg peace to the Colonics, and fo S mg^ pardon to luch as fliould defcrve the I';! uJ^%. ^**"*r'°", °^ ^^"^ ^''"'y *^ Halifax, and the long ftay of above two months, which it was obliged to make there, ftill waiting the arrival Tf fonie of the reinforcements from England to en be It to go upon fervicc, was neither plcafmff to the General nor comfortable to the men. The coun fti^nTvnf""''-?'''"^" '"^ afford them a fufficient" lupply of provifions or neceflaries ; nor was the fc jven capable of providing quarters on fliorc, for the private men, who were obliged to ZvT °\^T*», '^^ %« during the whole of their ftay. As the fummer advanced, the General grew impatient at ^he delay, and w^ probably further urged by the fcarcity of provifions.^ He ac- G. ^.a«r, cordingly, without waiting for his brother, or^ the with the «^pefted reinforcements, departed with Admiral W's fh" ? r* ''l'^ 'r^^'"' ^"^*^"^y' fromHalifax, H^^a^ mnnl '^'J °^i""'' ^"^ "^'" the end of the month, arrived at Sandy Hook, a point of land thatftands at the entrance into that confluence of founds, roads, creeks, and bays, which are formed by New-York, Staten, and Long Iflands, the con- tmcnt on either fide, with the North and Rare- ton rivers. I» joined by fix traaf- porta with troops. * - ■ On their paflage they were joined by fix tranf. ports with Highland troOps on board, who were feparated from feveral of their companions in the ^%*«^-.^t appeared, foon after, that fome of the imfiiog ftupt, with abput^ 450 foldiers, and feveral ©ffiecrs, Ckap. XII. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. f 329 officers, were taken by the American cruizers, 1776. The General found every approachable part of V^v>J the ifland of New- York ftrongly fortified, defended by a numerous artillery, 'and guarded by little left than an army. The extent ot Long Ifland did not admit of its being fo ftrongly fortified, or fo well guarded; it was, however in a powerful ftate of defence; had an encampment of confidcrabic force on the end of the ittand near New- York, and fcvcral works thrown up on the moft acccflible parts of the coafts as well as at the ftrongeft inter, nal paifes. Staten Ifland, being of lefs value and confequence, vas lefs attended to. The General landed without oppofition, to the great joy of thofe of the inhabi- tants who had fuffered for their loyalty ; and the troops being cantoned in the villages received plen- ty of thofe refrefliments which they fo much want- ed. He was met by Governor Tryon, with fcveral wdl alFcaed gentlemen who had taken refuge with him on board a (hip, at Sandy Hook, who gave him a full account of the ftate and difpofition of thcProvmce, as well as of the ftrength of the ene- my. He had the fatisfaftion of being joined by abo^it hxty pcrfons from New-Jcrfey, who came to take arms in the royal caufe, and about 200 of the mihtia of the ifland were embodied for the fame purpofe ; which afforded the pleafing profpeft, that when the army was in force to march into the country and proted the royalifts, fuch numbers would jom it, as would contribute not a little to bring the prefent troubles to a fpeedy conclufion, »■ Lord Howe arrived at Halifax, about a fortnight 14. after his brothers departure, from whence he pro- Ld I/oZe ceeded to Staten Ifland, where he arrived before the arrives at middle of July. His firft aa was to fend aftiore, ^"/{T-^. ^y a flag, ^ Circular Letter to the fevcral late Go- ^ tt, vcrnora July 34 They land at Staten Inland, and are joined there by fcveral loyaliil^ * i77<5. Circular letter, fent by lA, //onve to the Continent neniSTOKY 0/ the Chap. XII. vcmors of the Colonics,* acquainting them xvith his cml and mihtary powers, and Jefiring that they would pubiifh, as g(;nerally as polT.ble L tl c information of the people, a Declaration which a companied the letter. In this piece he informed ' -■ the * Genuine Corn/pondencebetwenLordnoyf^ and Dr. Franklin A8 the fubjea of the following authentic tetten, the time wl,«* they were wntten, and the rank and reputation of . writers, render them of much importance to the nub ll o7 orrradet"'' °' *'"^ ^""^ ""^^^'^^ '° ^^^ ««"% Eaglet June 2o^ 1776. « I cannot, my worthy friend, peitolt the letters and parcelg which I have fent you, in the ftate I redcived them, to be Ldcd Without adding a word upon the fubjeft of the injurious ext«.' imties m which our unhappy difputcs have engaged us. i-f" *^u" '^?^- \^^l\ *^* °**"''^ °^ °*y »"»^on '■'•om the official JUpatches which I have recommended to be forwarded bv the fame conveyance. Retaining all the earneftnefs I ever expreffcd. to fee our differences accommodated, I Ihall conceive, if I n,eet with the difpofuion in the colonics which I was once taught to 'f lu J ""«.*MK locate diiu union witn me colonies. liut It the deep-rooted prejudices of America, and the neceffity of preventing her trade from paffing into foreign channels, muit keep us ftiU a divided people, I fliaU, from every private, as well »8 public motive, moft heartily lament that it is not the moment wJierein thofe great objeds of my ambition are *^ for which men may juftly fpill and S"^ °'*' *^'* the true and fure means of ixtendfng commodities , and that the profits of no trade can ever be equal to the expence of compeUing it, and holding it by fleets and ^ armies. -HAP.XH. ■ Chap. XII. Civil War //i A ME RICA. Cl33 might have deviated from their jufl allegiance, and 1776. who were willing by a fpeedy return to their duty, v^^tn^ to reap the benefits erf the royal favour, and of de- claring any colony, province, county, town, port, dillrift, or place, to be at the peace of his Majefty ; in which cafe, the penal provifions of that law would ceafe in their favour. It alfo promifcd that a due confideration fhould be had to the fervices of all pcrfons who contributed to the rcftoration of the public tranquility. Thefe papers being immediately forwarded by Re.pub. General Walhington to the Congrcfs, were ^ lifted by fpccdily publiihed by them in all the news-papers, *l»c Con- with a preface or comment of their own, in the K*"^'* form of a Refolution ; that the publication was in order that the people of the united ftates might be informed of what nature are the commimoners, and what the terms, with the expedation of which the court of Great-Britain had endeavoured to amufc and difarm them ; and that the few who ftill rtmained fufpendcd by a hope founded either in the jufticc or moderation of that court, might now at length be convinced, that the valour alone of their country is to fave its liberties. At armies. I confider this war againtt us, therefore, at both unjuft «od umvife ; and I am perfuaded that cool and difpaffionatc poftcrity will condemn to infamy thofe who advifed it j and that «ven fuccefs will not fave from fome degree of difhonour thofe who have voluntarily engaged to condud it. "I know your great motive in coming hither, was the hope of being inllrumental in a reconciliation ; and believe, that tffhcn you find that to be impoffible, on any terma eivcn to pro- pofc, you will relinquifh fo odious a command, and return to a more honourable private ftation. " With the greateft and moft fincere refped, I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordlhip's moft obedient, humble ^'^^*' « , . B. FaAHKMH." Dir«aed To the Right Hon. Lord Vifcounl Howe. 3343 Letter to General tiftt rcfu- ftd. Confe- rence be- tween '^dj. Gen. Paterforti •nd Gen, Wtijhing' t9n. /ent a-lhore by Lord Howe, acc»n,p»„icaT fo of h.. officcB „.th a letter dirciUd to Geo '' .Wa(huigton,JEfqj which that General refufejjo'f ccive, m not being addreffed with the Utk-, a^3 Td' the for..,, due to tT.e rank which he held u. d« , " United States. The Congrcf, highly applauded tL d.gn.t7of this condua inVpubifc rero^SDaltd i-or thcpurpofc, by which they direftedtrtK ture that none of their commander, ftould receive' M'L".VT'^aK= from the enemy, hutfucha wuMhedireaed to them in the chirWen wLh theyrelpeaivelyfuftained. "wrs which New Y^f h f.''i"""f -G'-neral Paterfon wa, fent t. Ncw-York by General Howe, with a letter addreffed er^.Tt^'"*-";«'°"-^''^- ^'- ^'- That Gen S reee»^ed Utrnwuh great politen.fs, and the ufual cetrmony of bhmlfolding, in pafling through thi fortifications, was difpenlcd with in his favour! The Adjut;jnt regretted in the name of hi. principals, •the difficulties which had ariicn with refpea to ad! dreffing the etter , declaring their high efteem for liis pcrionand charaaer, and that tkeyditi notmean to derogate from the relpea due t,/ Chap. XIL Crvri. War in AMERICA. [335 fcrved that the commiflioncrs were armed with great 1776. powers ; that they would deiivc the grcatcft plea- ^^^<^ furc frr)m cfFctting an accommodation ; and that himkli' wUhcd to have that vilit confidcrcd as making the fir (I a«.ivancc towards that defirahlc ob« ! jcft } he received for anfwcr, among other things, that by what had appeared, their powers were only . to grant pardons ; that thofe who had committed no tault wanted no pardon ; and that they thcm- fclvcs were only defending what they deemed their indifputahle right. The Adjutant was received by General Wafhington in great military ftatc, and the utinoft politeneis was observed on both fides. Some fmall time previous to the arrival of the fleet and army, plots in favour of the royal caufe were difcovered in New- York and Albany, which were pradu£kive of much trouble. Some few exe- cutions took place, great numbers were confined, and many abandoning their houfes, under the ope- rations of their fears, were purfued as outlaws, and enemies to their country. The ellates of thofe unfortunate people, again/t whom there were proofs, were feized. In the mean time, new forms of governrnent, (under the ufual title of Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, &c.*) were eftablifhed in all the colonies, they deeming the former Articles inliifficient to co-operate with their new fyftem of Independence. Thefe Articles, as w^cll as the Declaration of Independence were pub- liflied in all the colonies, and every, where received and accompanied with the grcatelt public teftimo- niais of joy. This confidence and boldnefs in the midlt of fo untried and dangt.-ious a ftruggle, and at the eve of fo formidable an ijivafion, fhcwed either great prefumption, a knowkxlge of internal strength, or a certainty of foreign fupport at a period v^hich appeared alarming. Plots at Ne-wTork and Al' batv/. Congreft citablifh new forms of govern*'^- meat. The reader will fee tlrefc Articles inleited at large in the Appendix. m 33^1 1776. Additi- onal for- ces from Great Srijtain arrive at New- Yort. 'Tbe HISTORY of the ChAp. Xn. tr^!&^u^'''''^T ""^ ^^^^^"^' ^^^^ the Britiih troops^ whon. chcy were accohipanicd, failed di rcaiy from>:ngland to Halifax, as Lord HoVe had done, bcmg ftill ignorant of the General's de„ fry that place By this means the momh S vaf af New Tf'^^^jy ^^^^"^5^ ^^^or« their arri. vai at New-York, and it was of courfc.fome davs nlTl b/^fore any expedition of importance could be undertaken by the commiffioncrs. In the mean C^neral Clinton, with the fquadron and forces for fa^outh Carolma, as well as by fome redments from Florida and the Weft Indies. ^ "" one halt of the Heffiaiis, who though on their wav jvere not ipeedily expeded, an attempt upon IS Ifland was refolved upon, as being more pVaaicable and therefore better fitted for The firft^iSy than wrfhoilT>" «^"t5^P^;i^«ce, andasabounding with thofe fupphes which fo great a body of mca Aug. 22. The neceflary mcafures being taken by the fleet tZ .. o?f.*'''''T^ '^'' "^^^f "'' '^^ ^^"^y ''^' landed with. W ?"^°PP°S'^°VT ^'^^^^^ ^"'i Gravcfend, on the iffi S"^^'^^ft ,^"d Pf the ifiand, and not far from the Narrows where it approaches clofefl to Staten-Ifland. General Putnam was at that time with a ftronir ' f^wlr '!iT^ ^' Brookland or Brooklyn, at a tew miles diitance on the North coaft, where his works covered the breadth of a fmall Pcninfula, r^^A'^'^f ''S"'^ the Ealt River, which fepa- rated i»m from New-York on his left ; a marfh, 3^1 .k' '''r'^'^ ',^ ^'^^""'^ ^«^^> on His right with the bay and Governoi's Mand to his back, liie armif>c tv^a.-^ r^^ — i._j l ^ . ..r — :'-"-■ "-^^ i-^paiaicu uy a range ot iniis co- vered with wood, which interlcct the )untry call, he Britifli failed di- iowe had departure nonth of heir arri. ome days could be he mean ker and orces for nts from 1, 3t a ere his unfula, h fcpa- marfh, right J (>ack. iiis CO* f from caft, ^^/^/^m/ riTTWAM. ■^m ^^ * ♦ Chap caft, i of Gi thrpu^ comnK portan coaft V Flat Bi Thelfl bay, 01 nam ha to occi and if ikilful a paifed. Lord rcferve, finding plied wi When t under G fiuih; ] wing, V cipal arn Britifh f( ton. Ear to the ri Fiat Lan Every and adva Clinton, fifting of rcferve t ^vith four dark on i Land, an called the crbfTes tli turning tc Chap. XII. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. [337 caft, io weft, and are m that part called the Heights of Guana. The dired road to the enemy lav through a village, called Flat Buih, where the hills commenced, and near which was one of the moft im- portant paftes. As the army advanced, the north co^ was to the4eft, the fouth on the right, and Rat Bulh was nearly m the center between both The Ifland m that part is kept narrow by Jamaica bay, on the right, but foon widens. General Put nam had detached a confiderable part of his armv to occupy the woody hills, and poffefs the pafles • and if the commanders upon this fcrvice had been aJftd ""'^ ' ^ ^^ ''°"^'* "°^ ^^"^^ ^^^"^ ^^^'^y Lord Cornwallis pufhed on immediately, with the rcferve, and fome other troops, to Flat Bufh, where finding the enemy in pofTeffion of the pafs, he com- p led with his orders in making no attempt upon it \^cn the whole army was landed, the HeiTians* under General Heifter, compofed th^ center a S Bufli; Major General Grant commanded the left wmg, which extended to the coaft; and the prin- cipal army, containing much the greater part of the ^ritifli forces, under the command of General Clin- o\ • ^'^^y'/"^ ^ord Cornwallis, turned Ihort Fit Lnf ' '"^ ^PP'^^'^'^ the oppofite coaft at Every thing being prepared for forcing the hills, and advancing towards the enemies lines. Genera ainton at the head of the van of the a^my, "on- Mmg of the light infantry, grenadiers, ligh[ horfe referve under Lord Cormvallis, and other corns Land Li^ ^^^' t^ '^^"^'^' ^° "^«^e from Flat cS;^.L^!-:f;„^?!L^--^ 'JP- .^he road whicl^ turnrm.;"V";"f"''"*^''"^°'''^ to Jamaica, where turning to the left towards the formerofthefe places. 1776. Pofition of the Provin- cial and Britifh armies, ' previous to the at- tack OQ that Ifland. 1776. Aug. 27. Attack commen- ces. '^r The H I S T O R Y «/ the Chap. xil. hqy feizcd a pafs of the utmoll importance, which through fome unaccountable and fatal neglcft of the enemy's Gerterals, was left unguarded. The t main body under Lord Percy with ten field pieces, followed the van at a moderate diftance, and the way being thus happily open, the whole army paflcd the hills without noife or impediment, and defcend- ed by the town of Bedford into the level country which lay between them and Putnam's lines. The engagement was begun early in the morn- ing by the Heflians at Flat Bufli, and by General Grant on the coaft, and a warm cannonade, with a briik fire of fmall arms, was eagerly fupported on both fides for fome hours. In the mean time, the fhips made fcveral motions on the left, and attack-' ed a battery on Red Hook, not only to diftraft the right of the enemy, who were engaged with General « jGrant, but to call off their attention totally from ' the left ^n ' rear, where all their danger lay. Thofe who oppofed the HefTians in the left were the firft apprized of the march of the Britifh army, and of their owri danger. They accordingly retreated in large bodies, and in tolerable order, with their ar- tillery, in order to recover their camp, but foon found themfelves intercepted by the King's troops, who furioufly attacked, and drove them back into ^hc woods. There they again met the Heflians, and \yere alternately chafed and intercepted by the light infantry and dragoons. In thefe defperate circumftances, fome of the regiments, overpowered and outnumbered as they were, forced' their way to the lines, thro* all the difficulties and dangers that oppofed and furrounded them. Others, perhaps not lefs brave, periflied in the attempt. Some kept the \voods and efcaped ; others, lefs fortunate, were lofl under the fame protection. The nature of the country, and variety of the grourid, occafioncd a continuance and extention of Imall engagements, purluits, and flaughtersj which lafled for many hours. Never Ch+p. XII. Civil War in AMERICA. Never was any body of men more effeSualiy entrapped : the.r neht, which was engaged with General Grant on tlie coaft, were fo late'' in their knowledge of what was paffing, that they were intercepted, m their retreat by fome of the'sritilh ttoops, who, befides turning the hills on their left, had m that mormng traverfed the whole extent of country m the.r rear. Saeh of thefe as did not chufe to take to the woods, which were the ereater r^lf^ T^ "^H^ '° ''"■°^ themfelves into the marft at Gowan's Cove, which we have already taken notice o^ where many were drowned, and others perilhed more mifetably in the mud : a con- fiderable number, however, made their efcape this Zof tt "'/W '^y^"= thinned ineveiv part of the courfe by the fire of the purfuers. peir loft was reprefented as exceeding 3000 men, including about 1000. who were tafen pri- S ^r* r''°i' "=«'»'"' fro™ Marj^and,- confifting altogether of young men of the beft fa- nnhe in the country, was cut to pieces. Undoubt- eJy their lofs muft have been great, though they , do not acknowledge any fuch number in their ac^ ^T',f'J^^' '*"="'"'"'' '" "><= "nderneath retmn^- iranlmitted to government by General Howe. TOs affion however broke their fpirits exceed- Z'^k a'' ""' ?"''' '"^ =' number of their beft Md braveft men, but the furvivors loft that hope of fucceft and confidence in their own prowefs tetr/" ."?"'!''' '" ^'«"y- New foldlrsTi ; the fulnefs of fp.rits and pride of bodily ftrength. — ^..^ can * Return of Prifoners takenon Long.in?nd, 27th Aug. ,776 COMMISSIONED 0? ^ICERS ^ • — ' icniyjvania rine rpo-im^rif . - -^^^ ^j i C339 Ameri- cans de- feated with great flaughter. An ac- count of the killed and wouod'd, with the captures of bot|i armies.' n__ f> ^'"|g. vjcn. Lord Stirling, Brig. Gen. Udell, ^ mu/keteers, New Jerfey militia I I Four 340] r//tf H I S T O R Y of the Chap. XU. 1776. can fcarccly conceive any advantage over them, ^^r>r>^ which the old can derive from difciplinc and a know- ledge Broueht over Four Lieut. Coloneli. Penfilvania rifle regiment - m ilitia 1 7th Continental regiment Three Majors. Penfilvania Militia 1 7th Continental regiment a2d ditto. Eighteen Captains. Penfilvania id reg. ' muflceteers -militia 1 7th Continental reg. " Train of artillery Maryland Provincials Forty-three Lieutenants Provincial rifle reg. . Penfilvania mulketeers ———I— militia I 3 I I I I t 4 5 4 X 3 II 3 6 49 17th Continental reg. Delaware battalion ift Bat. New York Conti. nth Bat. Continental New Jerfey Militia ift Bat. Maryland indep. Long-Ifland militia Train of artillery Maryland Provincials Eleven Enfigni. Penfilvania muiketeers 17th Continental reg. Maryland Provincials STAFF. Adjutant 1 Surgeonc 3 Volunteert . 3 Privates 1006 1097 (Signed) JOS. LORING. 49 6 t 5 I I 2 2 I 4 5 2 Return of BRASS and IRON Ordnance^ taken inthls engagement, BRASS. I Five-and-half-inch howitzer . 4 Six-pounders I Three-pounder. IRON. 6 Thirty-two-poundera 1 Twenty-four-pounder 4 Eighteen -pounders 2 Twelve-pounders 2 Nine-pounders 8 Six>poundcr8 3 Three -pounders Total of Odnance 32 pieces. A quantity of (hot, flielU, am. munition, intrenching tools, fmall arms, anumher of long pikes, ammunition carts and many other articles notafer- tained. (Signed) W. HOWE. Return of the killed^ nootindedt «"^ ff"^"i of his Majejly's forces, KILLED. WOUNDED, Cap. Sir A. Murray, 1 7th reg. Lieut. Morgan, 17th reg. Lieut, Col. Grant, 40th Cap. NeMbn, 52d Cap. Logan, 2d reg. marines. Second Lieut., Lovell, roy art. . ,3 Serjeants 53 Rank and File ,. Capt. Grove, 23d ditto Lieut. Crammoiid, 42d ditto Lieut. Mair, 43d ditto Lieut, Weir, of ditto Cap. Brown, 44th ditto Cap. Kennedy of ditto. Lieut. Chap. XII. Civil War i/i A M E R I C A. [344 ledge of their bufmcft. And if they arc well com- 1776. mandcd, and ikilfuily led to afklon in this temper, v-^w; fo that their opponents are deprived of an oppor- tunity of turning thefe advantages to account, they will do wonderful execution: for not being yet capable of thoroughly comprehending danger, nor having known by experience the pain and vtxatioA of wounds, they are often more daring, adventurous, and violent than veterans. But if, as in the prcfent inftance, they find courage, and ftrcngth totally ufc- lefs ; that when they are making the greateft, and, as they, think, moft cffeaual efforts they find them all thrown away, and that they are furrounded, over- powered, and deflroyed, by means which they can- not underftand, they withdraw all due confidence from thofe things on which they had before placed too much, and afcribe an irrefiftible power to mili- tary ikill and difcipline, which they do not really poUefs. Thus they abandon their natural ftrcngth, 2iid it will be fome time before they have confidence enough in their new knowledge to call it effcftually into adion. Great errors feem to have been committed on the fide of the provincial commanders. They fay, that a body of not more than four or five thoufand men was lurround^d by the whole force of the Britiih army. They endeavour to palliate their mifcon* duft Lieut. Brown of ditto, Lieut, col. Monckton, 45th do Lieut. Powell, 49th ditto, Lieut. Addifon, 5 2d ditto. Lieut. Nugent, ill reg. mar. 11 Serjeants 3 Drummers 231 Raiik and File MISSING. Lt, Ragg, 3d reg. mar. prif. I Serjeant 29 Rank and File. Total loOiof Britiih troops 347 Heifian Troops. Major Paoli. Cap. 0* Reilly. Lieut. Donop. 23 Rank & file. 2 Rank and file', killed. Total lofsof Heffians, 28. (Signed) W. HOWfe: 34CSJ r«^ H I S T O R Y ./ the Chap. XII. 1776. dua m getting into that fituation by rcprcfeniina- "^^^ that ^thcy had no idea that more than about that number of Britifh troops were landed on theifland. It docs appear as if no more had landed in the firft embarkation, but cither from a change or conceal. mcnt of plan, very great bodies were afterwardj £mbarkcd and pafTcd. The provincials too, as ufu J f u 1?^" ^^ misfortunes, hinted treachery in foric ot thofc who were employed to difcover the motions ot their enemy, and to guard the paffes, by the occupymg of which they had been furroundcd. ■^Noihing could exceed the fpirit and alacrity Ihewn by all the different corps of which the Britifh >rmy was compofed in this aftion. The ardour of ^e foldiers was fo great, that it was with difHcuIty ^he Generals could call them off from attacking the enemy's lines, in theeagernefs of theh^purfuit after the fugitives. Nor is It improbable, in that temper, that they would have carried every thing before them. It may be fuppofed that the emulation be- . tween the foreign troops and the Britifh did not leflen tlie defire of being diftinguifhed on either fide m this their firft aaion. Too much praife cannot ^be given to the ability which planned this enter- prize, nor to the promptnefs and exaaitude with Which the feveral Generals carried their refpeaive parts of it into execution. - r- J^-^i^K^ ^^^ provincial commanders ; viz. Major . Gcrf. Sulhvan, with the Brigadiers General Lord Stirling* md Udell, and i o other field officers, were among .*n ♦!, rrv > u^"'^°^. ^^^ abovementioned Lord Stiriing is not n the hft cither of the EngUni, Scotch, or Irift peers, the fol- f».T^ ^i^^°"a"5 of Jjim may be acceptable to our readers. Hit lather, Mr Alexander, (for that Is his real name) went over to America irtany years ago* where he acquired a confiderablc eltate, and where the prefent Lord Stirling w«, it is believed, born. Upon the d^ath of Lord Stirlinff. a Scotch Peer, whofe nam^wa* Alexander, either the late oi^ the prefent Mr Alex- \ ' ■ -J. . . andcr Chap;^XIL Civil War i« AMER among the prifoncra; The lofs on the fide o?^e Britiih and Hcflians was very trifling, being under 580 in killed and wounded ; of which tlie latter did not compofe one fifth. ITie viaorious army encamped In the front of the enemy's works on that evening, and on the 28th, at night, broke ground m form at 600 yards diftance from a redoubt which covered the enemy's left. General Wafhington pafled over from New-York during the engagement, and is faid to have burft into a poignant exclamation of grief when he be- held the inextricable deftruaibn in which fome of his beft troops were involved. Nothing was now left, but to preferve the remainder of the army on Long-Ifland. He knew that the fuperior power of the royal artillery would foon filence their batteries, and that if their lines were forced, which, ih the' prefent deprcffion of fpirits, and comparative weak- nels m number as well as difcipline, there was little hope of preventing, they muft all be killed ot taken. If he attempted to ftrengthen them by reinforce, ments from New-York, he hazarded the lofs of that ifland, which was already menaced on every fide, and kept in continual alarm and apprehenfion by the' fleet. A danger not lefs than any other was Itill to be confidered ; the men of war only waited for a iairwmd to enter and take poiTcfiion of the'Eaft nvcr, whidi would have totally cut off all commu- mcation between the iflands. In this fituation, ho f Pf. Remained but in a retreat ; a matter of tio imail difficulty and danger, under the eye of fo ^ ' ' - . __^ vigilant ander, came over to England, and laid claJm to the title j when he caufe v,as tr.ed by the H^ufe of Lords, and the claim re- jetted 5 the L6rd« forbidding him to ufTumc the title on palu o be.«g Jed round. Wcttminitcr-Hall, labelled as an impoffr: bij_ever hnce,^ by the courtefy of his couutryme.,, he hi been .„,.^^,,^^ ^ i^^ ^^ ^^ L^^^g^j^jj^^ ,^,j^^ firlt Lord {^tK^un\^^ firft that Jettlcd It with Bntifli inhabitants ; and ^v^? n ercat cxnence >n fupporting them. He died in 1640. ^ ^ [343 ■* I :&i*j. Jktire « Jlently from their and quit the iflaiid. ■'4* Gen. Syl- livan feat upon pa- role with a mef- fage from 1>. Howe to the Coagrefi. jlgt an enemy, and with ib powerful wr army, fluflled with fucccfs, clofc to their works. Thii ar. du(mt tafk was, however, undertaken, and carried into execution with great ability by General Waft, mgton. In the night of the a^th, their troopt were withdrawn from the camp and their bagMK ftores, and Dart of their artillery, were convt^cd to the water flde, embarked, and paffcd over a Ion? ferry to New-York, with fuch wonderful filencc and order, that our arm)r did not perceive the leaft mo. tion, and wpre furprized in the morning at findinir the lines abandoned, and feeing the laft of the guard (or, as they fay, a party which had returned to car- ry off fome ftores that were left behind) in their boats, and out of danger. ITiofe who werc'beft acquainted with the difficulty, embarraffment, noife, and tumult, which attend even by day, and no enemy at hand, a movement of this nature with fevcral thoufand men, will be the firft to acknow- le^ge, that this retreat fhould hokt a high place among military trai>fa£lions* Soon after the retreat from Long-Ifland, General Sullivan was fcnt upon parole with a meifage from Lord Howe to the Congrcfs^ In this he ftatcd, that though he could not at prefent treat with that aflembly as fuch, vet he was very defirous of having a conference with fome of their members, whom he would confider for the prefent only as a private gentlemen, and would himfclf meet them at fuch place as they fhould appoint. He faid, that he had m conjunaion with the General, full power to com- promile the difpute between Great Britain and America, upon terms advantageous to both, the ob- taining of which had detained him near two months, and prevented his arrival before the Declarat'm if Independency took place. That he wlftcd a com- pad might be fettled at this timc> when no deci- five blow was ftruck, and neither party could fay tnf^V vaert* rr\mr\p\\t^iK *f\ An<-ow •»•» aU^ ^~>^^.M<>n. That -H^ xn. il wr army, This ar. und carried icral Waft. leir troopt onvcycd to >vcr a long filence and e lead mo- at finding F the guard led to car- i) in their wcrc'bcft lent, noife, ff and no iture with > acknow' ligh place jUi « I' I, General fage from be ftated, with that ofbaving :8, whom a private n at fuch at he had r to com- itain and t, the ob- > months, iratim of I a com- no deci- :ouId fay That ^'ffe=i S! i" M,;; ',|j.:sss ^i ^ "^ ^ ^ ' !"' ^ . • H s =» — .. _ ,. as : i: ^— J,,- — y =i==r.=pJi -^-^ a?*^ W ^Sfc ^=^B i— ..^ ' m «■ m • :3 ill i| : :s K ^^'•:l'jf7 ^C "^ i- '^: :, %^^- i*'- ./* •>» \, CriAfj^H. Civil Wa* /// A ME RICA. That if ^ €ongre6 wcfe difpofcd to treat, flUiny ^ings which they had not yet aikcd, might ind ought to He granted to thiim ; ana tiiiit it upon tlw • fonfercncc any probable ground of an accomnio- dation appeared, the authority ot Gongrefg muil be afterwards acknowledged, oi- the compad could n«t be complete. > The Congrefs returned for anfwer^ that btinc: }Ae reprcicn^.'tives oF the Free and Independent :fila '. of Auit-rica, they could not with propriety fbnd ar of their members to confer with him in '>ttr private characters ; but that ever dcfirous ©f -i/tabliihing peace on reafonablc terms, they Would -fend a conimlttec of their body to know whether he had any pywcr to treat with pcrfons authorifcd •fty Cortgrefs for that purpofe, in behalf of America, wid«^hat that authority was, and to hear fuch propofi- Il6ri8 as he (hould think fittomakcrerpeaingthefiimc. . Dr. Frariklift^ Mr. Adams, and Mr. Rutfedgc, f tteing appointed as a committee upon this occafion, •^ited accordingly upon Lord Howe in Statcn- IHattd. The committee fum up thi account of this ^hferente, which they laid bcfbrd the Congrds m Ac foUoWihg words : « Upon the wholt, it did flbt appear to your committee^ that his Lordihip's .'mmMwn contained any other authority o£ impor- ^mftt thatj what is contained in the Aft of pirlii- *itttt, vi^'. That of granting pardons, with fuch «x6eptkhS^ ai the Comtniffioners (hall think proper tu make, and of declaring America, or any part of ' It, to be in the King's peace upon fubmiffion. For, Ik&td tiie power of inquiring into the ftate of Ame- Hta, which his Lordfhip mentioned to us, and of tohferring and Gonfwlting with any person rfic Com- II miffioners might thihk proper, and reprefenting the i"efult of fuch converfatioiis to the itiiniftry, (who might after all, or might not, at their plcafure, * "^ y . ' make CJ45 1I76. Fruitlcfs confer- ence be- tween, his Lord- Hiip and a Commit- tee of the CoQgtcfs. i .4 f Un ^. the HIST OKt 0/ the Ckj^. XIL 1776. make any alterations in the former inftrudions to ^^^^yf^ Governofi, 'or propofc in Parliament any amend- incut of the z&s complainca of, we apprcncnd any cxpettation from the cffccl of fuch a power would have been too uncertain and precarious to be relied on hf America, had ihe ftill continued in her iiaie of dependence. In this manner the hopes of negociation by the eommilfioners ended. They endeavoured to make > amends for their failure in their civil capacity by the vigour of their military operations. The royal army being now divided from the ifland of New. York only by the Eaft river were impatient to pafs , that narrow boundary. They poflcd thcmfelvcs along the coaft wherever they could fee or front the enemy, and ercfted batteries to anfwer, if not to filence theirs. A fleet, confifting of confidcrably more than 300 fail, Including tranfports, cov«rcd the face of the waters, while the Ihips of war, hovering round the ifland,. threatened deftruaion to every part, and were Continually engaged with one or the other of the batteries by which It was furround. cd. The fmall iflands between the oppofite fliores were perpetual objefts of conteft, until, by dint of well ferved artillery, the p'd of the fliips and the intrepidity of the troops, they fccured thofe which we.e more neceflary for their future operations. Thus, an almoft conf tant cannonade was kept up for ^nany days, and the troops who had fo lately cfcap- ed from the moft imminent danger, had little time to quiet their apprehenfions. Dcfccnt Everything being at length prepared for a defcent, on York feveral mov-ments were made by the fiiips of war hlaud j„ ^jjg North River, in order to draw the attention of the cncniy to that fide of the ifland. Gtl^cr parts fecmcd equally threatened, and incrcafed the uncertainty of the real objedls of the attack. The fcizure of the iiland of Montrefor, near Hell-gate, and Chap. XII. Civa War i» A M E R I C A. [34* and crcfting a battery on it to filcncc one which 1776. the Provincials had at Horcn's Hook, fcemed to in- w>J dicate a defign of landing in that part which wat near the centre of New-Y ork Ifland. While the provincials were in this ftate of un- Sep. ijih certainty, the Hrft divifion of the army, under the City of command of General Clinton, with Earl Cornwallis, A>if • Major General Vaughan, Brigadier General Lcflie ^^"* and the Heffian Colonel Donop, embarked at the **^*"' head of Newtown bay, which runs pretty deep in- to Long-Ifland, and where they were out of all view of the enemy. Being covered by five fiiipg of war upon their entrance into the river, they proceeded to Kepp*8 Bay, about three miles North of New. York, where being lefs expeaed than in fomc other places, the preparations for defence was not fo great. The works, however, were not inconfider. able, nor deftitute of troops, but the fire from the fhips was fo inceirant, and fo well conduced, that they were foon abandoned, and the army landed without oppofition. ^ The enemy immediately abandoned the city of New- York, with their other pofts in that part of the ifland, and retired towards the north end, where their principal ftrength lay.— -They were obliged to leave the|r artillery, which was confiderable, and their military ilores, (of which except powder, there were plenty) behind. They fuftaincd Ibme lofs in flain, and a greater in prifoners, as well m the retreat, as in the fubfequent Ikirmiihes which took place during the day. The fore remembrance of their late lofs was ftrongly vilible in every part ot their conduft, and their own accounts acknow- ledged, that feveral of their regiments behaved ill* A brigade of the Britifli army having taken pof- feflion of Ncw-York, the relt encamped not far from 348] -re. HIS TORY.///., Chap. XI, • 776- from the centre of the ifland, with the rkht at Horen's Hook, on tht Eaft river, and the IdtVt th' North river near JBlooiningdale ; thus occuDvir,! the extent of the iila«d from" ihore to ihore, S ■ though about .6 miles in length, is not above o„c III breadsh. The enemy was very Itronc in Z nortf, ot Uie ifland, where they Jiad great wo b «eaed, .p«rt.c»larly at Kingftridge, l,;which tl d comnnmioatioii with the continent of Ncw-Yorlc was keptopen- where the works were fo confider fern ftate of force, they kerned to defy all attempts on either ll.eir nearell encampment was onX !l^ " u°'^«?f '*^'"' =" 'f"-' '''"""'^^ "t ''bout a mil and half M'Gowan's pais, and the ftrong grorn^ ca led Morris's heif^its, l,y between them a^nS W ]>ndge, and were dcleufible r^aintta very fupafor ior-ce. In this fmulion of both armies, frcqucw tonmlhes of courle. happened, and it wa found by degrees that their late apprehenfions begin to Jl Sep. 20, General Howe had not been many days in poffrf Ne„. ^'""."f New-York, when feme incendilries.'^lo Yorkret probably had ftayed behind and concealed thim o„ ..e, felves tor that purpofe, being determined, if poffib iiland. 'f^ey tben proceeded through Pel- tai s iMaiv^^r .to New Rochelle, .which lies on the coaft [349 Army paflea through the dan- gerous navigati*. on called Hell-gate, oa. i2tK Lands at Frop-'s Necl 35o] rhemSl^OKY ofihe Chap. Hi. 1776. coaft of the Sound, as that channel is called, which ^-^■^^^ feparates the continent from Long-Ifland. At thij place they were joined to a greater part of a reci- ment of light horfe from Ireland, one of the tranf ports having been taken in the paffage. They were alfo joined by a feqond divifion of Heffians under General Knyphaufen, with a regiment of Waldeck- crs, both of which had arrived at New York fince the departure of the army from thence. The firft objeft of this expedition was to cut off the communication between Waihington and the Eaftem Colonies ; and then, if this meafure did not brmg him to an engagement, to cnclofe him on aU fides m his faftneffes on the North end of York- Ifland. The King's troops were now mailers of the lower road to Connecticut and Bofton ; but to gain the upper it was neceffary to advance to the high grounds called the White Plains ; a rough, ftony, and mountainous trad ; which, however, is only part of the afceiit, to a country mil higher, rougher, and more difficult. Upon the departure of the army to the higher country, it was deemed nccef- fary to leave the fecond divifion of IJeffians, with the Waldeck regiment, at New Rochelle, as well to preferve the communications, as to fecure the fupplies and provifions and neceffaries that were to arrive at that port. Indeed the army was now fo powerful, that it was enabled to fupport every fervice. General Waftiington was not inattentive to the danger of his fituation. He faw, that if he conti- • nued where he was, he would at length be com- pcllcd to commit the whole fortune of the war, and the fafety of all the Colonics to the hazard of a gc- neral engagement ; a decifion, of which he had ever)' caufe to apprehend the event, and in which pollibility of retreat. His i:u A C ^1.. U^ . irmylikewife, which had been Cbap. Xn. Civil, War /« A M E R I C A. [35 , keen dilheattened by their late misfortunes, was ,776 then much reduced by ficknefe, which the feverity ^ i^m.,^^'' '1'''?;:^ '"'='«"»' infufficicnt • tt ?^' fl '^■"' i '^" »"'' °*er neceflaries, joined to a flovenlinefs generally prevalent in Ame' nca, had rendered general, and very fatal in his C2inp* A grand movement was accordingly made, by which the army was formed into a fine of (ml detached, and entrenched camps, which sccupfed ffio^'lr V ""'' V- "IS .§ ^ond from ValentiK m,i Pl^ ''°»"/'?g'''"3ge. on the right, to the ™^f.^r''i''°i*' upper road to Conneaieu"! on the left. la this pof.tion they faced the whole hne of march of the King's troops at a modera e d>ftance, the deep river Bmnx covering the r from! and the North river at fome diftance fn their rea vMIt the open ground to the laft afforded a fecurc paflkge for the.r ftores and baggage to the uroer ' fort^Walhington, the lines of Harlem*^ and Kingt i. ^eS^'"f''°" of the enemy, Gen.Howe thought The ™„ ^ f ^"^«'^ '"'h g'«« circumrpeaiSn. dofe, the encampments compaa, and well guarded "t^Sre&a" *l-'"^r''""-F^ --»»^' fn,mfrL?„*^ '• ^'"^''"'''O'reftrain the enemy from fendmg parties over the Brunx to impede thdr mZLf,^ T^" u '.'■' ■^''«= P'='i"='. the ene- my quitted their deuched camps alohe the Brunx «d joining their left, took a ftrong smund of^n' cmpment before the Britilh on the fbrmer Sep. 28. WemvinT^ ■« P'^P^'^^ fo' hanging the SW™ift «emy to aaion, ,he army marched early in the ?"!« irly White morn- piaia. ,1 77(J. mmM In two CoTuTiinV iKvi^tts' the White PlHirtj ^^""^^^-^ ^le left being tomnfaiid^d b^ Gefieral HeiUer! Befolre noon, all tht enemies advanced purtics beiir^ driven bick to their works hi the Liglit Infatitr? "aiid Heffian Chaffetirfe, the ariiiy FdMetl, uhh thft fight ttpoti tht i-oad from Marmordnifck, at about a miles's diftance from their center, and the left tb the Brunx, at about the fame diftance iirom the right flink of their intVenchmelits. ' * j^ body 0^ the enemy pofTeffcd aii advanl%6its ground, thdt was feiDkrated from the right Mk by the Brunx, and which alfo by M MtiM^i, Wvcrtd that cot-ps ih frotil from the left bt o^.hi-hi^. As this poft v^oiil'd Uxvt btfcn of great ibhSquehcc ifi sittacking that flank of the cnti-fcnidhmerits, Briga- dier Geiieral Leflie, with the fecorid brigade of M- tifh troops, the Hcfliaii grenadieVfe under Colonel i)onop, ihd a battalion of that corp^, were oi'dered to dl'flo;dge the enemy. Prevlbtis tb their attacl, Colpliel Ralle, who commanded it brigade of thfe Meffiaris on the bft, htd pdled thtf Srurik, M gained a poft, which enabled him to amio^ tlife enemies flank, while they were engaged with the othtr forces in the front. though th'e pstflagfe of thii fiV6'r was difficult, it was performed Ti^ith the grieateft fpitit, arid the sStH, ■StiA 3 5th regiments, beirig the firft that jjalTed, forrh- ed Whh iht greateft ftcadiriefs, under the enemies fire oil the oppofit^ fide ; thfe^ thai aTechded a ft^ep hill, in dcfiant. Xlt. tmiy Wah ift am Eft I C A. f^xinrd upon thfe hcighm within cannon fhot of the cqtrcnchmcnw, the aid brigade of Brttifh' formed to their rear, and tht tWo If cffian brigadb, on the left of the feeond. Tht ri^ht and ?6ir^ ^ h^ Sh^A ^Z.iT'^ ^T '^f^^^^^ »}>Prt which they had formed. In tM pofitlon th °f thefetroopsV thene- " cclfeg difpofitipns were made ii> the evCninir. for Jfacking i^e enemy early on the lafl of CXa^er •' butaiicrtrdnewct night and morning prevciitcd tlusdefigri from being carried into execution. ■ hi the mcaa time. General Wafhington had not the Icaft mtention of venturing an engagement! whrlft there was a poflibility of Its bein|aSt ^^rf^"^ ^"' *"^^"^^ fort viaory to him 1^.k"'" w?T?' ^^^"^ *^°"^^ '^^t i° the lead fea the public fafcty, would more effeftually train ' his men to fervlce, and inure them to danger, th,S general a^ion, which might in one day decide their own, and the fate of America. It muft be acknowledged, that in the courfe of this campaign! aad more particularly in this part of it, heffl^ performed the part of no mean commander. ^ TTie American accounts fay, that upoli our cover* 'ng four or five batteries with a powe*! ar^S raL'ii t«\"'rj «" «*«^«-r^, oogenic i wif ft tile Genc- ■^aV* knowledge ^hat by tUrnTng his camp, the. Bri- t353 1775. Zz tifh J, r^ fie n IS TO R y ,/ il^. : . <;u,^p. ^ :?'^ fe t"^- J^ »"t'fl> army, p^,th? next L ,^ookpoffeffion of their entrenchment; ^ ^ General Howe feeing that the enemy coMm rl.^^}^^^^ ^9 an engagement, and that, the nature of ll^^vfi^Wtry did not admit of their h«ing forced to (t, dc^ccmmed not to lofc time in a fruits purfuit .Mid to take this opportunity of driving them out ot u'*'i:^'P"S holds in York Ifland; an operation Which their army could not now poffiWy prevem. For this Durpofe, General Knyphaufen eroflcd the country from New Rochclle, and haviijg taken pof- S"*??\S '^^"^'^ ^"^S^ without oppoftuon, entered ^^WJI-' ^"^ took his (hitioa t9 the north of ;?" ^#.Won, to which the prgymci^ls had re- tired at hjs approach. -^ .n?!, ... ^^:^tengton lies to the^.^ of; NSwJflrlc Wand, not far from King's Bridge, near Jeffery's J-loQk, and almoft facing Fort Lee pn the Jer% fide, from winch it was fcparated by the North ^^^^r';,. f' *^ ^^^'^ though not contemptible, was not Sufficient to refift heavy artillery/; an,()t it was by riq means of a fufficient extent for any other piirpofc than the ftrengthening of jlhes. But the dK?" ^^^^ extremely flrong, ^nd the approaches ■ gene. rar-)fr,nu r»- a^iy having returned flowly by the North «^ait.r ?;v^^r encaniped on the heights of fqx^htim,. at a i-'ort m<>aerate diftance from Kiiig»s Bridge, with the Wafh. fiver on its right, and thq Brunx on the left. Every com- i6th CirAP.XI0 Ctyit WaIr /« A M E R^ C A. ^^^ mamdtt Colonel Magaw, refufmff a latmnt^rti tS liyS. lofrendcr, and declaring he wouW defend it to the v-^v^«^ hift extremity, a i^nerafaffault was determined urn „ oit, a9 ikving the time that would beJoft in regular "'* '^* ap|>roachc8. The garrifon confiftcd of near 3000^ men, and the ftrong groifnds round the Fort werd' covered with linej and works. Four attar ks were made at the fame time. Thefirft, on the North fide, was conduced by the General Knyphaufcbj afe "" the head of two columns of Heffians and Wal- deckers. The fecond on the Eaft, was led on by Brigadier General Mathew, at the head of the ift and' 3d battalions of light infantry, and twobatta- honsof guards, fupportcd by Lord Cornwallis with' thciftand 2d battalions of grenadiers, and the 33d regiment. Thcfe forces croffed the Eaft river lii fiat boats, as the provincial works there extended the breadth of the Ifland, redoubts and batteries were erefted on the oppofite ihore, as well to cover the landing of the troops, as to annoy thofc wwks ^hich were near the water. The third 'attack, mch was prmapally intended as a feint, to diftraar the enemy, was condudcd by Lt. Col. Sterling, with the 4id regiment, who paffed the Eaft river lower down', between the 2d and 4th attacks. The laft^ attack was made by Lord Percy with the corps wRich he commanded on the fouth of the Ifland. ^ the attacks .were fupported with a numerous, ' l^^erful, and well ferved artillery. ■ >'.--* ^TJeHeffians under General Knyphaufcn had a tmcfc wood to pafs, where the provincials were very advantageoufly ported, and a warm engagement wascontmued for a confiderablc time, in which the former were much expofed, and behaved with ^eat firmnefs and bravery. In the mean time the light mfantry landed, and were expofed both be- ore and after to a very briflc and continual fire from the brnvmnale u>Kn ttTAi-io *i-.^.^r..i _ i> , rcJeks and trees among which they were ppftcd. The $50 to* HISTORY •//^ CuAMa. • " "^^7 Ti^ *^ '^^"«** WiPWiteiin, when' t|,cy fgSn dif. S!Jl!t!5*'r "^"^^' '^H'"*^*^ ^*r ^<»'- ^h<^ landing pf tr^n^iaiona, Xord Pwcy having carrkdan advli^ worfe pn ^. fide, Col. Sterling wju ordered to^ ^W a jftndipg, and two battalions pf the ad bri. g»4^lo fappon him. This fcrvicc wa« effedcd by tjf ^Co^npl ^ith great bravery. He advanced hii »>qatf thfpugh a very heavy fire, which they bore J«^h the erwtcft firmneft and pcrfevemnee, «.d ; ^''f^^Jl' "^^y ^P » ft?vho led the .t % ''^^^ the Prpvmcials, a^i^r a coiifideraWc Q^poriMQ?). from th4t itrong poft, in his line, pulbed forward ^ their w^'ksi and lodged his coluiS pop aftf r joyied by the General with the left c(J G^r^fon .^t!J ^^^f ^«^'« the wood. thcgar*^^ifon(J! Lender [^^f. I^^^"f « ^^ ^^r. The lofs 0« either fidc priionera W W lo^any degree proportioned tp the warmth. •f war. mg^K and variety pf the acHon. The quantity of gun.pow4e- found in the^ort was Mtt.Sy inadeja^e to he pufpole of almoft the fhortcft defence. How i9 jm^ a body w^9 l^ft with fo poor a proyi^on, is t^iele traa&aicVM *s hitjic^io very imperfea . '^^PPi^ this. ^Hrqyiritiqn, a ftrpng body of forces Fort Lee ^naer tla. co^n,,„4.^f ^^^d CornwallU^^, p« taken and over thc Noitfe River in order to take Fort ice and leaving iutt. QmpXII. Civa WAf/b AMERICA. fj,, S ""Th^'u "'2' "°"'' '""•' ""J ''"T *mg .776. mater part of both the Jerfey, without oppofition, lie proyincial. ever, where flying before th2m ,- ani jllength extended fteir wi„te?caB,oDmeM.Ci ^n^I?" r'' *u "^ "*'»*'"«• »f they hadwly ;i«ghbourhQod, there feem. Uttle doubt, eonfider- mg Uie confterrauon and difiMj, whieh theam. ™W among the orovincial., that the/ iigbt eSly hw bwome maders of the city of JliiliielphS - but UK former, very prudently, eLrder^S^ ' OMtt, at removed them out of the way^ : *™ * DurtBg tbefe fiiccefles in the Terfevj Cmm^i OiMon, with two brigades of BrS?wd^ ?;»* HdSan traops, w«h a fquadron of ftip, of^„ .i« jw*|r the cam»«„d of Sir Peter Parker.'^re f« ■ te»ate an attempt Aipon Rhode Wand. In SL oiterprize they fucceeded beyond exDeftarinn -rili ,. St" ^^'»e,='''^"™"8 Continent. 1^ gron and troop* continued here during th« ^y ba4 fucceeded m every objea fmce their laid- SrJn „ 1 J*^,''' '•y^^n'^^y^ and by defertion, S en^lt /'f ""^""^ «g»«'™"«- They were wen ttl^ "''*I.? '"^ rearaiat.very Ul brtlokedi' w«n.|ote»g an abiince trom their Jamilks. At *.«p.r«,on of tlie ter>„. but few were^e;aU^: •>P«n to contmus iniervice. tvery thini feemcd' t»promife a decifive ev^n, in «.»->... " i. '"^l «««• --^ , fMbmiiEon^of fopc'"o^" Ac pri.SS|,. s hourly expedcd. ^ r colonics ■,* -Ah- dp in ■ CHAP. XIIL Retro/hemve vie^ of American apirs in thb 'yeatHm^. Pr,. lifl.. i" ^J"""*' ^' "^ ^rfi^^ent on Lake Chamttain. k^$0kf o/thfjlmerhmnfircf. Engmgtmmt nt*t.tht iJl^y^H. mjiif^y ,4t;mtd rttirts I purfuit 4 wgrtakeui burns his vtOiL ■ .Sf^r €'/''( '^^'"'■^'''''?^''*''"'*W. Qeneral CarlctonLis tbire^sih the artny. Motives fir nof attacking Ticonderojra. *f -niralCartH^nreturkfnMththearmytoCknadtt. Situation- vy afairt f the fiuthvoard. General Lee t^ien, Perjhe. ,f«nfierformancc, can never be too much ^ppl^ded; The tsfk^as indeed drdftoiis. A fleet of above thirty fighting veffcls, of different kahdsahd iizes, all ftirniftied with cannon, was to l*^ little tefs than created ; for though a few of the Ur^eft were rcconftruaions, the advantage derived ff^tti'thencfrdei^eBdi^d more %pon the ufe of mate- r^T§«,%M(?h the country diti hot afford, than upon Prcpara tion in Canada for the arma- ment on Lake phamp- lain. rfeT§<, " wM(?h the country did hot affor =nj ,iaTrri7jl cts^ iu inrnry or iUHcriTOg Oi ii iabbur. Wiicii to ftf AP. XUI. Ci VH, WaH ihr I AM* fttC A. ftjo tothi. i. a^Jed, the tranfpoainR over land, and ,1776. Wl St. Jolyi's. thirty )png boats,, a oiujiber of,flat boat, of confiderable burtKen, » gondola, weighS« joton..*.^ above 400 Mtoeh tl,e,,«hok prffcw- ?t .«>?-jf«'«y of Jabour anrf difficulty, wh^i famed Aiflicient to appal even flie fpiritof JB,i,Mh ^en. However it muft be allonid that the 1^ bm <<.d not foil folely on then.... The Se ' hid and hrmcrs of Canada were taken from their ploughs, anS compelled by power to bear a fliare in S»a;,u« " ''"^ ""''' '^"y' "" '•°"°« «• Uough the equipment wis' wmpieted in abo'iit ftree months, the _^,atMre of th?, ftrvice, as«eU«, H "gernef. of the commande« and army: r" jmred, rf at had bc?n poflible, a ftill g?eS d^: pph. «lhe winter wa» &ft approachinl two^n. M fea, tp be paired, ,he unlia^ ^«e of i^ ' fliemy on eac.h,to befubdued, and the ftron« p^ft^ o^o^n Point,;>nd Ticonderoga defended St 12 i5"'";i.4*""1'JS° ^ ^countered, fword & m, lo add to thefc , impediments, the commu^ Mor. bet,yeen the Lakes Champlain and G^l wh.ch, after being fuccefeful on the one. miX be equally wanted on the other. And if auVho^ d ffi* W' «'". ««nwmed a long and dangerous march ^ough, mtpcate, fprefts, extenf,ve moraflesrand M unclsafed co,iimry., ftiU i„ , ibtc of nature h- wf to r?''iy^^*. Albany! which ZX M 5?i^!^i:^f ^*^ Wl^cb were to be JoSS t^lpry: quired State of *he Bri- ti(h furce on Lake Champ- Iain. /jmi'A to Icffch w remove iMulti, m^ toa ¥«d or liikewarm rpieeuJation would hate aDD«iL iftmiNJrttbl^ irfli/L.*cs could be r^Sve^r^S ^r.J?? »c^ northern arittywoirid hold a principal ^«s m the honour of br%,^g the war to a fpc?^ <^ncl Jfton. It was cOnte^fvcd that they coulS IKJuf ^ftru^loh at m, iftto the heart cither ofT middfe or the northei^h co1oi>?m, each of which imild be expofedto Acm in its moft tendcTand dii^ifeckft parti Whilft the pofleffion of Hudfo^'s r,v.r#ouldeft^lMi and fecure thdr comS tion with General Howe, it would equally fever and difconnea the fouthern and northern provinces ^2? j^tf^^^'^^^ter to fihk unde/thc iohl ^«bt of both ari^lc^s, or to accept of fuch tLs .1 SL^''"^**.^****^ :^'^ *hc participation of tlift others. , Nor. coiild G^hei'ai Wa(hmeton at- t^t to how arty poft in Nc# Ybrk o^ thc^JerjcyiL . Jrtth foeh a fi^enonty of force ^ alrea^ opprdfed hint m front, and General Car IfetonV army at his ^^V ■ K* ^"^"^^^^^ ^f 'heir fellows dh'the m6 Of Nc^YoVk, incre^d the impatience, and excite4 rfv!.^I -^^ °^ lus amy, every ohe apprehending tfiat the war would be brought to an end, bcfoit he eould^ have ah opportunity of fharing iri the SiOitour of that happy event. J^hile all this ardour, and the moft unremitting mduib-y, It was not until the month Of Oftobcr, thft r l^^*', *." * <=<^^»t«>» to fcek the enemy oii i-ake Lhamplam. The force was very confidcrtble with rcfpcd to the place aniS fervice, extraordinary jJT u '® '^ **"^ ^*"*^ ^P«"t '" Jts formation, and fuch ag, a very few ages ago, would have been deemed formidable cvea upon the lluropcan fcas. Ihe ihy Jnfleicible, Which may be confidered as Admiral, had be^n re-conftra^ed »t^; Ifthn's. frnm whence flie IJuled in 28 days after laying her kccf, and Chap. XIII. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. £561 and mounted 18 twelve pounders. One fchooner 1776. mounted 14, and another 12, fix pounders. A flat v^^vO bottomed radeau carried fix 24, and fix 12 pound* crs, befides ho^y5tzers ; and a gondola, 7 nine pounders. Twenty fmallcr vefTels, under the de- nomination of gun-boats, carried brafs field pieces from 9 to 24 pounders, or were armed with howit- zers. Some long boats were furniihcd in the fame manner* About an equal number of large boats aded as tenders. Thofe we have taken notice of were all intended for, or appertaining to battle ; we omit the va(t number deitmcd for the tranfpor- tation of the army, with its Itores, artillery, baiicaec and provifions. /' b5 fee • The armament was conduced by Captain Prin- gle, and the fleet navigated by above 700 prime fea- men, of whom 200 were volunteers from the tranf- ports, who after having rivaled thofe belonging to thejhips of war in all the toil of preparation, now boldly and freely partook with them in the danger of the expedition. The guns were ferved by de- tachments of men and officers belonging to the corps of artillery. In a word, no equipment of the fort was ever better appointed, or more amply fur- niflied with every kind of provifion nece^ry for the intended fervice. / t"*^ « . J^%«»2^y's/o»'ce was in no degree equal, either ^h refpea to the goodnefs of the veifels, the num- ber of guns, /urnitu re of war, or weight of metal, benfible though they were, of the neceflity of pre- fermg the jioniinion of the Lakes, and aided in that defign by the original force in their hands, with a great advantage in point of time far its increafc, their intentions in that refpedt were tounteradted by many eflential, and fome irremediable deticiences. 1 nev Ava rH-/»rl «-:mK<>.. „_i:ii_..__ n • • •• . ... • " tne materials neceifary for fuch an equipment. Car- penters, and all others concerned in the bufmefs of ■A a a fliip- ■362^ The HISTORY Of the Chap. XIU. State of the Ame. rican force. ^ ^m^Z. were 'fully engaged at the fea ports in the '-^:^^ conltrudion and fitting out of privateers, whilft the the remotcnefs, and difficulty of communicaUon rendered the fupply of bulky materials extremelv tedious. When we confider the difficulties on their part, we think it not juft to deny the Americans the praife, of having combated, and in part overcome them, with an affiduity, perfeverance, and fcirit which did not in the leaft fall fhort of what had been employed againft them. For their fleet amounted to 15 velTels of different kinds, confifting of t^o fchooners, one Hoop, one cutter, three gallics, and eight gondolas. The principal fchooner mounted 1 2 fix and four pounders. They were commanded by Jieneaia: Arnold, who was now to fupport upon anew element, that renown which he had acquired on land m the Canada expedition. General Carleton was too full of zeal, and too anxious for the event, not to head the BritiOi arma- ment, and having proceeded up the Lake, difcoVcr- cd the enemy's fleet drawn up with great judgement, ' being very advantageoufly polled, and forming a itrong line, to defend the paffage between the ifland of Vahcour and the weftern main. Indeed they had at the beginning placed themfelves with fo much fltill behind the ifland, that an accident only difcovcred their pofition. The King's fquadron, without this feafonable difcovery, would have left them behind ; an event, which if it had happened, might have been attended with the moft ferious confequences. It is faid, that the unexpefted fight of a three mailed fliip of fuch force, upon the Lake, threw the enemy into the utmoft, and moft vifible conllernation. It does not feem^ however, prob- able, that a matter of fuch public notoriety in-Cana- da lliould have been/o long wit^-held from them. A warm aflion enfucd, and was vigouroufly fup* ported on I oth fides for fonfie hours } but the wind being Engage- ment near the ifle Vali- cour. 'hap. XIII. ports in the , whilftthc munication, i extremely tics on their acricans the t .overcome and ipirit, at had been t amounted ing of two gallies, and sr mounted ommanded pport upon id acquired oufly fup* the wind being Chap. XIIU Civil War /w A M E R I C A. [363 being unfavourable, fo that the fhip Inflexible, and 1776 fome other veflcls of force could not be worked up W>J to the enemy, the weight of the aftion fell upon the fchooncr Carleton and the gun-boats, which they fuftained with the greateft firmnefs, fuch extraor^ dinary efforts of refolution being difplayed both by men and officers, a^ merited and received the high- eft applaufe from their commanders. It is to be prcfumed, that when fo much praife was due and given to the condud and valour of a fupcrior force on our fide, the enemy muft not have aded their part amifs. The detachment belonging to the corps of ar* tiJIery, were highly diflinguifhed, and did moft eflenual fervice in the gun-boats. But the fame impediments flill continuing, which prevented their being feconded by the other vefTels, Captain Prin- gle, with the approbation of the General, thought It ncceffary for the prefent, to withdraw thofc that wer« engaged from the aftion. At the approach of night, he brought the whole fleet to anchor in a Jme, and as near as poflible to the enemy, in order to prevent their retreat. In this engagement the befl fchooner belonging to the enemy was burnt, and a gondola carrying three or four guns funk, from whence we may torm fome reafonable conjcdure of the execution done upon their other veflbls. Being now fully Arnol i fenfible of their inferiority, they took the opportu- retires , mty which the darkncfs of the night afforded, of purfuit ; endeavouring to efcape from their prefent imminent o^^^akeii danger, hoping to obtain flielter and protcdion at trown Point. Arnold concerted and executed this defignwith ability, and fortune Teemed at firll fo tavourable to his purpofe, that they were out of light by the next morning. The chace beinn- however, continued without intermifljon"" both"on tnat, and the fucceeding day, the wind, and other cir- I 1776. cirtfumftances peculiar to the navigatron of the Lake "-^^ which had been at firft in favour of the Americans* bceanie at length otherwifc, fa that they were overtaken and brought to adion a few leagues Ihort ot Crown Point, about noon on the 13th. A very warm engagement enfued, and continued about two hours, during which thofc veffels that were moft a-hcad, pufhed on with the utmoft fpced and paffing Crown Point, efcapcd to Ticonderoea • but two'gallies and five gondolas which remained with Arnold made a defperate refiftance. DurW this aaion, the Wafhington galley, with Water! burg, a Brigadier General, and the fccond in com. mand, on board, ftruck, and was taken. Arnold at length, finding it was impoffible to withftand the fupcriority of force, ikill, and weight of metal with which he was overborne, and finding himfelf but ill feconded by the Captains of fome of his veflels, determined that his people fliould not be- come prifoners, nor the veil'els a prey to the enemy. Burns his He executed this defign with equal refolution and vciieJs dexterity, and ran the Congrefs galley, in which himlelf was, with the five gondolas in fuch a man- ner, as to land his men fafely and blow up the vef- fels, m fpite of every effort that was ufed to prevent both. . '^ Lofs and defeat were fo far from producing their ufual eftecl with refped to Arnold, that his condud in this command raifed his charader ftill higher than It was before with his countrymen. They faid that he had not only afted the part of a brave foidier, but that he alfo amply filled that of an able na- val commander. That the moft experienced fea- men could not have found a greater variety of re- fources, by the dexterity of manoeuvre, evolu- tion, and the moft advantageous choice of fituation, to compenfate for the want of force, than he did ; that when his veflels were torn almoft to pieces, he re- treated r icing thefr lis condud igher than y faid that vc foidier, 1 able na- ;nced fea- ety of re- e, cvolu- fituation, : did ; that ss, he re- treateu Chap. XIII. Civa Wa|l /« A M E R I C A. [365 treated with the fame refolution that he fought, and 1776. by the happicft and moft critical judgement, 'pre- v.-^v^^ vented his people and them from falling into the hands of the enemy. But they chiefly glone4 in the dangerous attention he paid to a niqe point pf honour, in keeping his flag flying, and not quitting his galley till Ihe was in flames, leit the enemy ihould have boarded and (truck it. Crown Point a bandon- ed and deftroycd G. Carle- tton lands there with the army. r Thus was Lake Champlain recovered, and the enemy's force nearly defl;royed, a galley, and three fmall veflels being all that efcaped to Ticonderoga. The enemy, upon the rout of their fleet, having fet fire to the houfes, and deftroycd every thing which they could not carry oflf, at Crown Point, evacuated that place, and retired to their main body at Ticon- deroga. Gen. Carleton took poflTeflion of the ruins, where he was foon joined by the army. As he con- tinued there till towards the end of the month, and, befidcs feveral reconnoitring parties, puflied on at one time ftrong detacl^ments on both fides of the Lake, who approached within a fmall diftance of Ticonderoga, at the fame time that veflTels appeared within cannon fliot of the works, to examine the - nature of the channel, and found its depth, little doubt can be entertained that he had it in contem- plation to attempt that' place. The ftrength of the works, the difliculty of approach, the countenance of the enemy, and the ignorance of their number, with other cogent reafons, prevented this defign from taking place. It was evident that this port could not be forced Motives m Its prefent ftate, without a very confiderable lofs ^°'""''*^ of blood, whilft the benefit ariiing from fuccefs ?"^^^: would be comparatively nothing. The feafon was cof dero- now too far advanced to think of pafling Lake ga. George, and of expofiner the armv to the neriJs nf a winter campaign, in the inholpitable, andimpratli- cable wilds to the fouthward. As Ticonderoga could " '^F-'' M mi' 366], The VLISTORY of the Chap. Xin. 1776. could not be kept during the winter, the moft that \.j-^r>^ could be expe£tcd from fuccefs, would be the reduc- tion of works, more indebted to nature than art for their ftreiicth, and perhaps the taking of fome can- non ; whilit the former Would be tk ftored, and the latter replaced by the enemy, befor • the army could interrupt their proceedings in the enfuing fummcr. But if the defence Ihould be obftinate, although the army were in the end fuTefsful. ?> would probably thereby be fo much w d, that all profpeft of advantage in the future < paign would, in a great mcafure, be annihilated. The difficulty, perhaps impoffibility, of keeping open the communication G. Carle- '^^}^ Canada, and fubfifting the arn^y during the ton re- winter was obvious. General Carieton therefore *".™' , reimbarked the army without making any attempt, Trm ^^^ returning to Canada, cantoned them for the ^'^"y- winter in the beft manner the country afforded. Situation ^^M ^' ^^^* ^^ fliould now tum oUr attention to of affairs t^c important tranfadions in the South. We faw to the towards the conclufion of the laft campaign, that Lord Cornwallis had not only overrun the Jcrfeys, but that the Delaware was the only apparent ob- ftacle, which feemed capable of retarding the pro- grefs of his army, in the reduftion of Philadelphia and the adjoining provinces. The American army was indeed no more. It is faid that the greatell number which remained embodied did not exceed 2500 or 3000 men. This was all that remained of an army, which at the opening of the campaign amounted, as it is faid, to at leaft twenty-five thou- fand. There are fome who reprefent it as having been at that time much ftronger. The term of their engagement being expired, which, along with the obligation of duty, difcharged all apprehenfion of difgrace, there was no keeping together, at the heel of a, ruinous campaign, troops broken and dif- to a long abfence from their countries and families. Thofc fouth ward. Chap. XIIL Civil War in AMERICA. [367 Thofe fmall bodies, who from pcrfonal attachment, 1776. .^ local circumftances, or a fuperior pericvcrance and v-^vx-r ^ bravery, ftill continued with the Generals Wafliing- ton and Lee, were too inconfiderable in force, to I demand much attention on the one fide, ^r to in- fpire confidence on the other : whilft the fupport to be derived from new levies, not yet formed, was too remote and precarious, to afford much prefent confolation to the Americans. In this critical fituatior of their affairs, the capture uk"n.^" of Gen. Lee feemed to render them ftill more hope- iefs. That officer, at the head of all the men which he could colled or keep together, being on his march to join General Wafhington, who had affem- bled the Penfylvania militia to fecure the banks of the Delaware, was, from the diftance of the Britifli cantonments, betrayed into a fatal fecurity, by which, in croffmg the upper part of New Jerfey trom the North river, he fixed his quarters, and lay carelefsly guarded, at fome diftance from the main body. The operation of zeal, or defire of reward m an inhabitant, having communicated this ituation to Col. Harcourt, who commanded the light horfe, and had then made a deAiltory excur- aon at the head of a fmall detachment to obferve the motions of that body, he conduaed his mejlfures with fuch addrefs and aftivity, and they were fo well feconded by the boldnefs and rapidity of mo- "* tion which diftinguifh that corps, that the guard was evaded, the Gentries feized without noife, the quarters forced, and Lee carried off, though all that part of the country was in his favour, and that feve- ral guarded polls, and armed patroles, lay in the way. . The making of a fingle officer prifoner, in other circumltances would have been a matter of little moment ; but in the prefent ftate of the raw Ame- ft'ii ^"^^y,«»,^^"cr<; a general Uehciency of militarT ™ prevailed, and the inexperience of the officers wjis 368] "J^emsrORY 0/ the Chap. XIII. # 1776. was even a flrreatcr grievance than the lack of difci- ^*^ phnc m the foldicrs, the lofs of a commander, whofe ^irit of enterprize was direfted by great knowledge m his profcffion acquired by aftuUl fcrvice, was of the utmoft importance, and the more diftreffinp as there was little room to hope it could be foon fupplied. v The rejoicing in Great Britain on this occafion was equal at Icaft to the dejeftion of th« Americans. It was conjcftured, that feme perlonal animolitic8 between this General and feveral officers in the army, as well as perfons of power at court, contrj. buted not a little to the triumph and exultation of that time. The capture of Gen. Lee was alfo attended with a circumflance, tvhich has fmce bten produftivc of much inconvenience to both fides, and of much calamity to individuals. A cartel, or fomc- thmgof that natiire, had fomc time before been cftabhfhed for the exchange of prifoners between the Generals Howe and Wafhington, which had hitherto been carried into execution, fo far as time and other circumflances would admit. As Lee was particu- larly obnoxious to government, it was faid, and is fuppofed, that Gen. Howe was tied down by his # mftruaions from parting with him upon any terms, It the fortune of war fhould throw him into his power. Gen. Waftiington not having at this time any prifoner of equal rank with Lee, propofed to exchange fix field officers for him, the number being intended to balance that difparity ; or if this was not accepted, he required that he fhould be treated and confidered fuitably to his ftation, accord- mgtothe praaice eftablifhed among polifhed na- tions, and the precedent already fet by the Ameri- cans m regard to the Britifh officers m their hands, ' until an opportunity offered for a dired and equal exchange. , • To Chap. XIH. Civil War in AMERICA, [369 To thi8 it was anfwercd, that as Mr. Lcc was a i-^^i? dfferter from .is Majcfty's fcrvicc, he was not to J^ be confidcrcd as a prifoncr of war, that he did not at all come within the conditions of the cartel nor could he rf f vc anyof its benefits. This brought on a fruitlcfs difcufli«n, whether Gen. i.ee, who had rcfigned his^ half pay at the beginning of the troubles, could be confidered as a delertcr,Tor whe thcr he could with juftice be excluded from the cci ncraj. benefits of a cartel, in which no particular exception of perfons had been made ; the affirma- tive m both thefe pofitions being treated by Wafli ington with the utmoft indignation. In the mean time Lee was confined in the clofeft manner, being watched and guarded with all that ftnanefs and jealoufy, which a ftate criminal of the fidt magnitude could have experienced in the moft dangerous political conjundure. This conduft not only fufpended the operation of the cartel, but in- duced retaliation on the other fide, and Colonel* Campbell, who had hitherto enjoyed every degree of liberty confiftent with his condition, and had been treated with great humanity by the people of Mon was now thrown into a dungeon, and treat- ed with a rigour equal to the indulgence he had before experienced. Thofe officers who were pri- loncrs, m the fouthern colonies, though not treated mth equal ngour, were, however, abridged of n7fP.- ?i^*'*^'^5^V^"'* *^^P"^^^ °* °t*»er comforts and (atisfaftions, which had hitherto rendered their condition uncommonly eafy. It was at the fame time declared^ that their future treatmem Aould in every degree be regulated by that which Gen. Lee experienced, and that their perfons fhould be an'- werabie, m the utmoft extent, for^ any violence that was offered to him. This was not the only inftande in which th^ r««_ Perfeve, grcis manifeftcd a firm and undaunted re folution. Tc °^ SfoJ Thi H I ST O K-^ of the Chap. XIII. W6. In- the raidft of the dangers with which they were wv CBvuroncd, far from giving way to any thinjr liu unconditional fubmiflion, thcv made no overtures • towards any. kind of accommodation. On the other fide none were made to them. They pre- pared to renew the war, and to repair their (hattered iwces with all diligence. They were tiow convin- ced ot theinefficacy of temporary armies, enpaffcd only for a (hort time, and calculated merely to re pel a fudden invafion, when oppofedtothc con. itant war of a powerful enemy, and the inccffant ettorts of regular forces. It could never be hoped ^i x^^'^r^"''''; '^"^ changed every year, to make any' ettettual (land againll veteran troops, and their pre' If nt critical fituation afforded too alarming an cxpe- nence, of the fatal confequenccs which might at- tend that period of utter imbecUity, between the extinction of the old army, and the eflabliflimentof the new. To guard againft this evil in fliture, which couW not be remedied for the prcfent, they laued orders about the middle of September, for the levying of 88 battaliona, the foldiers being Dpund by the terms of cnlirtment to ferve durine the comijiuance of the war. Mcafurcs The aumbef of battalions which each -colony newing ^** ^^ *"*« Ordinance appointed to raife and fup. the army. P<^^> Way be confidered as a pretty exaft political icale of thcic comparative ftrength, framed by thofe who were interefted in its cotrednefs, and well ac quamted with their refpeaive cincumitances. Maf. fachuffctt's Bay and Virginia were dac hagheft on this Icale, being to furmlh 15 battalions each; Penfyl- vania came next, and was rated at t^hc ; North Carolina 9, Connediput and; Maryland 8 each; New York, and the Jcrfcys, the latter copfidercd as one government, were, in confequence of their prefcRt lituation, fet no higher than 4 battalions each. lae Chap. XIIL Cwil War iA AMERICA. [371 Ihc liberty of the Congrcfs in iu encourage, mcnt to the troop*, was prc^rtiened to the ncccf- fity ot fpccduy complcating the new army. Befides the bounty ot twenty dollars to each foldicr at the time of enliftmg, lands were to be allotted at the end of the war to the furvivors, and to the rcprcfcnta- tivcs of all who were flain in aaion, in different ftatcd proportions, from 500 acres, the allotment of a Colonel, to 150, which was that of an Enfign.; the private men, and non^ommiflioncd officers! were to have 100 acres each. As a bar to the thoughtleffneis and prodigality incident to foldiers, and to prevent the moft worthleis and undefervinc from obtaining for trifles, thofe rewards due to the brave for their blood and fcrvices, all thefe landa ivcre rendered unalienable during the war, nb aflignrnent or transfer being to be admitted at its conclufion. Jhe Congrefs had before, as an encouragement to their forces by fea and land, decreed that all offi. cers, foldiers, and feamen, who were or might be difabled m adion, fhould receive during life, one ttVl'^K l^^^^'^/y P^y to which they we/e c^ titled by their rank m the fervice, at the time of meeting with the misfortune. Notwithftanding ^efe encouragements, it feems, as if the conditioS fervmg durmg the indefinite term of the conti- !^^^ r r T"^^' "^^^ "°t generally agreeable, to a.people fo little accuilomed^o any Ld of fubor- mnation, ^or reftraint ; fo that in the month of No- vember, the Gon^refs found it necefTary to admit of years, the foldiers under this compact receiving the lame bouaty m money with the others, but beiiiir cut out from any allotment of lands. ^ the'^KuV"r^^^i^ encouragements by the Congrefs, the bufinefs of recruiting went on. however but -■«-'/ i prm itmuit not be imagined, that the ' ■ ■• ^ ' army 1776. LancU «]. lotted fur fencing titinng the war. 37*] ' neHlHTORY 0/ ihe Chap. XIH 17 J^ army aaually raifed, did at any time bear any pro! ^^'^^ portion in effeaive men to that wliich was voted. The holding out a promife of lands as an induce mcnt to fill up their armies, was probably intended to counteraa the effed of a fimilar mcafure which had fomc time before been adopted on the fide of the crown, large grants of vacant lands, to be diftri- bated at the clofc of the troubles having been pro. mifcd in its name to the Highland emigrants, and fome other new troops raifed in America, as a re- ward for their expcded zeal and loyalty in the re- duaion of the rebellious colonies. A meafure that tended more to increafe and excite the animofity of the people, than any other perhaps which could nave been propofed in the prcfcnt circumftanccs. For they univerfally confidercd the term vacant, as fignifymg/or/'f/W, which being an effea of the trca- Ion laws yet unknown in America, excited the great. cr horror ; the people being well aware from the experience of other countries, that if the fwcets of forfeiture were once tafled, it would be equally happy and uuufual, if any other limits than thofe which nature had affigned to their poffeflions, could reftrain its operation^. Wr3d u '^.^^ *"""^^ ''"PP"®^ '»»^«^ in different colonics «5y i^eir refpeaivc afl'emblies, being inlufficient to provide for the extraordinary expences of fo large an army, together with the other numerous contin- ^encies, infeparable from fuch a war, the Congrcfs found it neceiTary to negociate a loan to ani wer thcfe purpofes. They acco. dingly palfed a refolution to borrow five milions of dollars at the intered of four per cent, the faith of the united ftates being pledged to the lenders for the payment both of principal and mtereft. ■ '.■■■'/,,■ As the fituation of affairs ^ became extremely ciiti- • cal, and the prefcrvation of Piiiiadelnhia to ?.l! an. pearancc lO. Chap. Xlfl. Civii. War i/i A M E R I C A. (^373 pearancc hopelefs, at the time that Lord Cornwallis 1776 had overrun the Jcrfcys, and that the Britilh forces tArv; had taken pofleflion of the towns and ports on the Delaware, the Corjgrcfs publifhed an addrcfs to the «. people in general, but more particularly thofe of Penfylvania and the adjacent (fates. ITic general Addref objctls of this piece, were to awaken the attention ^'^ ***5 of the people, remove tlicir dcfpondency, renew ^°^^' theiriiopcs and fpirits, and confirm their attentions of fupporting tlie war, by (hewing that no other means were left for the prefcrvation of thofe rights and liberties for which they originally contended. ^ut it was particularly and immediately intended to forward the completion of the new army, and to call out the inhabitants of the neighbouring coun- tries, to the defence of Philadelphia. For thefe purpofes they enumerated the caufes of the troubles, the fuppofcd grievances they had endured, the late opprcHivc laws which had been paired againft them, dwelt much upon the contempt with which all their petitions and applications ior rcdrcfs had been treated ; and to (hew that no alter- native but war, or a tame rt-fignation of all that could be dear to mankind remained, they aflfertcd, that even the boaftcdCommiilioncrs for giving peace to America had not o(rcred, nor did yet offer, any terms but pardon on abfolute fubmiffion. From this detail and thefe premifes they deduced the neceflity of the aa of Independency, aflerting, that it would have been impoflible for them to have defei 3ed their rights againrt i'o powerful an aggrcf- for, ajded by large armies of foreign mercenaries, or to have obtained that afliftance from other (tates which was abfoluteiy necefiUry to their prefervation, whiltt they acknowledged the fovercigiuy, and con- tcfled themfclves the fubjefts of that power, againft whicli they had 'token up arms, and were engaged m fo cruel a war. ** ^ ^' ■■■■■■ They 1775. J fZv H iBXOKYnf the Grt ap. XIH. Tfecy boi^ftcd of the fuci;cfs that had in general attcaded their caufe and exertions, contending that the jwefcnt Itatc of wcakncfs and danger, did not proceed from any capital lofs, defeat, or from any deft^dof valour in their troops, but merely ffom the cj^piration of the term of thofe ihort enliftments which had in the beginning been adopted from an attention to the ^afe of the people. They affurcd tjicm, that foreign ftates hskd already rendered them' cflchtial fcrvices, and had given them the moR pofi. tive aflfurances of further aid. And they excited the indignation and animoJUy of the people, by ex- |>atiating upon the unrelcming, cruel, and inhuman ' manjicr, in which, they laid, the war was carried on, not only by the auxiliaries, but even by the Britilh forces themfelves. . Complaints of this kind held a diftinguifhed place in all the American publications of that time. Some of them indeed contained nothing elfe, but details oi rapes, rapine, cruelty and murder. Though thefe accouuts were undoubtedly highly exaggerated^ it is, hovyevcr, to be apprehended, that too much room was afforded for complaints of that nature. The odium began with the Jieffians, and has fmce ftuck clofely to them, though the Britilh troops were far from cfcaping a ihare of the imputation. The former, naturally tiercfc and cruel, ignorant of any rights but thofe of defpotifm, and of any man- ners, but thofe eftablilhed within the narrow pre- find of their own government, were incapable of forming any diftindion between ravaging and de- Uroying an enemy's country, where no prefcnt benefit was intended but plunder, nor any future advantage cxpeded but that of weakening the foe, and the reducing of a malcontent people (who though in a Hate pf rebeUion, were ftill to be re- claimed, not dellroyed) to a due fenfe of obedience y',^i 'It Chap. XIII, Civil War in AMERICA. [375 It has been faid, that in order to reconcile them 1776. to fo new and ftrangc an adventure, lome klea had Cn^ been held out to them in Germany, that they fliould obtaTn large portions of the lands which they were to conquer in America, and that this notion, how. ever ablurd, made them at firft confider the anticnt poflcflbrs as their natural encmie? j but that when they found their error, they confidered the move- able plunder of the country, not only as a matter of right, but an inadequate recompenfe for under- taking fuch a voyage, and engaging in fuch a Military rapine may be eafily accounted for with. out any recourfe to fuch a deception, ft had been obferved from the beginning, that the moft moria* antipathy fubfiilcd between the Americans and Heftans. The former, contending themfelves for Ifccdom, and filled with the higheft notions of the natural rights of mankind, regarded with equal con- tempt and abhorrence, a people whom they confj- (tercd as the moft fordid of all mercenary flaves, in *U8 rcfigning all their facuhies to the will of a pern, delpot, and becoming the ready inftrument« of A ?^u a^'^J^^T* ^^y reproached them with the Higheft poflible degree of moral turpitude, in^hufl engaging m a domeflic quarrel, in which they had neither mtereft nor concern, and quitting their homes in the old world to butcher a p-ople in the new, from whom they never had received the fmai-. lett injury; but who, on the contrary, had for a cen- tury paft afforded an hofpitable afylum to their har- raflM and oppreflc^ countrymen, who had flfed in . multitudes to cfcape from a tyranny, fimilar to thats iHider which they were now^aaing, and to enjoy^ he bleflings of a liberty moft generouily heM oi^ to tliem, of which thefe mercenaries would impi:^ ouiiy bereave the German as wpH op Fn„r,n, a.J- ricans. --.-"- ---6 -«= ^x««,- Suck 1 m ■ : iM . ■ fi i H 1 "5^ . ' 1776, r)&* H I S T O R Y ?/• tbe Oiap. XIII. ^ Such fcntiments, and fuch repro^^qhcs, did not rail to increafe their natural ferocity abd.rapaciouf- ncfs ; .and it is faid that they continued in a courfc of plunder, until they at length became To encum- bered and loaded with fpoil, and ib anxious ior its prefcryationj that it grew to be a great impediment to their militai-y operations. \ However difagreeabic this condud was, and con- tury to the nature o£ the Britifh commanders it was an evil not cafily to be remedied. They could not venture to hazard the fuccefs of the war, info diftant a fituation, and fuch precarious and critical circumftances, by quarrelling with auxiliaries, who . were nearly as numerous and powerful as their own ^rces. ^ Allowances were ncceffarily to be made for a difference -of manners, opinions, and even ideas of military rules and fcrvice. Without obcn- mg any general ground of diflike or quarrel, it re- quired all the conftancy, and all that admirable equanimity of temper which diftinguiih General Howe's charaftcr, to reftrain the operation of thofe piques, jealoafies, and animofitics, the effect of na- tional pride, emulation, and a difference of man- ners, which no wifdom could prevent from fpring. mg up in the two armies. ^ It was fcarcely pofliblc that the devaftation and diforders praaiftd by the Heffians, fliould not ope- rate in fome degree in their exaniple upon the Bri- tilh troops. It would have been difficult to have puniflicd enormities on the one fide, which were praaifcd without refcrve or apprchenfion on the other. Every fuccefsful deviation from order and difcipline in war, is certainly and f-»eedily followed by others ftill greater. No relaxation can take place m either without the moft ruinous confe- quenccs. The foldier, who at firft Hirinks at trifling cxreflps- will in f» i;f«.l/» 1.:^^ :c ^1 r. ...:^\ i. que/tion, proceed, without hcfitation, to the greateft enormities. from Chap. Xni. Civil War i« A M E R I C A. From h^ncc fprung the clamour raifcd in Amc- nca of me dcfolation which was fprcad through the Jcrfcys, and which by taking in friend* and mode- rate men, as well as enemies, did great injury to ^377 1775. mediate fuffercrs J the exaggerated details which were pubhfhed of thefe enormities, ferving to em- bitter the minds of men exceedingly through all the colonies. Thefe accounts being alfo tranSnitted to Europe, teemed in fome degree to affeft our national charaaer ; in France particularly, where the people in general, through the whole courfe of this con. tcR, have been ftrongly American, they were readi. ly received and willingly credited. Among other enormities which received the cenfure of our neigh- hours in that country, the deftruftion of the public library at Trenton, and of the college and library at Prmcctown, together with a celebrated orrery made by Rittenhoufe, faid to be the beft and fineft p the world, were brought as charges of a Gothic barbarity, which waged war even with literature and the fciences. In about a month after the taking of New-York, the inhabitants of that city and ifland, prefented a petition to Lord and General Howe, the commif- fioncrs for rcftoring peace to the colonies, figned by Daniel Horfemanden, Oliver de Lancy, and 046 others, declaring their allegiance, and their acknow- ^dgment of the Conjiitut tonal Supremacy of Great Bri- toinovcr the colonies ; and prayingthatin purfuancc of the former declarations iffued by the commiffion- jrs, that city and county might be reftored to his Majcfty 8 peace and protcaion. Petitions from the inhabit tants of New- York, &C. to the com- nuifionera , This petition to the commiflionpra wae 4Vl11/^«r«^ r-_*.-_i II ! ^.'^ J f*? '^^ ^"'"^ purpofc, from the freehold- ftatc of «rs and inhabitants of queen's county in Long-ifland. ^^''^^'^ Ccc * uP*»*^ It 5J«I ii'iiiSTdktofiie dWp.xhK #j:P?^. "gnts which they .expeSell in cbilfeqilence ^' f ? 9^,cTaTati6ri8, as well as of thfe lite faw Jfdr the app6mtmeht of CommilEoncrs. I Jd. critical fituation of Philadetbhia, 'iVhich A U% or two*s froft would tave taul 6)^eh to the Jntiffi, forces^ ob%cd the Cohgr^jrs, about tlipcldfe Pf J}5 y9^^> ^P *^°i?^y^^ ^'^^^'^ ^^ fafely by retiriiijg t^ p^Iltimore^ m Maryland. In tiiis Mte of exter- nail daiiger, the ditfentions which tprurig up amoiig thcmfelvcs were not lefs alarming to the AniericanS. . "V^c have formerly fhewn that the Declaration of ''JI%ti-4'v^y.W niet With a fti-orig o^pofiMn in ^WMPWi nolonly frbm thdfe wh<^ wfeVe called, ^<>^P%F^d as Tories, M friom m^n^,^hoiil all other ihatters had been arnoiig the ihoft forward in Sf^^^g ^^e claims of the cro^vft ahci parliament. i.The Carl^mg of the queftidh ty a great majofib|r i tnrpi»g?iovit the province, was far fro^l lefeiiing tKc bitteirhefs of thofe who oppbfed it^ ' amohgft \3iom ^^fe.^n^ft of the CJuakers, a gfeM' aid powerful body m that colony j fo that ilie difcofitent'ed in this bufniefs, forgetting in the pfeieWttlieir ancient ahi. •Nn^ofit^, with all its operating, caufes, coalefced ^^!| Afe.?or^^^^^ or Idyallfts, Nvhoin they hid formerly pcfjiccutcQ^, and cdnftdered as betrayers, and inve- ' rate (J^p. Xip. Ciy^L T V R iff ^ M p ^ I C A. [37^ terete cp^i^es pf their 00..,% ^^hus comppfiag all 1 776; In confequence of this diifention, and of the ill Divinons JfilPCjefs 9f the rebellious arms during the greater part '" Pc"- m 9m}f?^$ '"ch, eitfict in Pcnfyl^nia or & M<^78, fomie of whom had bj^cn meitvbet-s bf Cbn- lf#; f ^1 ^b^thcCbhimilfioriers at l^ew:York, io clpm tjie benefits of the gene;^! pardon which hda bqeft pfercd ; .expeaing as matters then ftoodl tb return fpeedUyhome in triumph, theife' were?, however, much lefs troublelBin): and dangerous t^ the ^merjcans^ tban thofe who tept tHeir 'gr'du^^ who were 16 numerous knd powerful, that Upon the approach of the Britifh forces to the Delaware, .they ¥^y^^ ^^ m^^ for fohifying the city Bf pJJila- iFjP^a fiog Wg cpned mto estecutron. thjs f^fFS**? f^H ?iar,ming movement in the feat of life M a%i, pbl^j^d Ge^eralWafiiingtoii ^eak ' ^ • Jie,wa^,t9 detacfi three regiments, under the^ni!. m^ ^rjiSrd.^^crling, Effectually to quell the 6p^ W"W9^es, except that bf fp^'ti'- 'WJr^i^fly? ^ ^^^^ feems tPhavcJbeen landpned: ^ not pf^aicabi^^ ' ^,1 not rigceflary ai Wtime." . ■ •• " ' ■ ■ •■ -^l^ r !< iT ^)^%c?^^'>^S)^^e»Pbe^ to put u,c unum W...4"?*arjr forces under cbycr. Thdy >ver*e acl ?^ H ^m fe^^ l'*^? great ea'ritpnments, foirmm^ f e^t^nfive cham from Brunfwick, Pn the Rarito? *? JR^ Delaware/ bccupyin^ not only the tbt^H^, -..- „,,„ -.iia„^-^ vviav;u canic wicnm a lioerai tie- (^ri^on of that line, but thofe alfo on 'dl^ of Surprize at Tren- toa. 39b] ^e HISTORY o/fb^ Chap. xm. 1776. of the Delaware for fcvcral miles, fo that the latter ^^vN^ corapofed a front at the end of the line, which look. edovcrtoPcnfylvania. Things were now. in fuch a fituation, that there fccmcd to be as little probability of interrupting the dcfigns, or endangering the fecurity on the one lide, as of renewing the fpirit, or retrieving the wcakncfs, on the other. Jn this ftate of affairs, a bold and fpirited cnterprize, which fliewcd more of bnlhancy than real cffcft in its firft appearance, be- came capable in its confequenccs of changing in a great meafure the worft fortune of the war. Such extraordinary effeas do fmajl events produce, in that laft and moft uncertain of human decifions. Colonel Rail a brave and experienced officer, was ftationed with a brigade of Hcffiaqs, confiding of three battalions, with a few Britifh light hbrfe, ani 50 chalfeurs, amounting in the whole to 14 or 1500 "}^J» at Trenton, upon the Delaware, being the higheft poft which the royal army occupied upon that river. Colonel Dohop, with another brigade, lay at Bordentown, a few-^iles lower down the river; and at Burlington ftill lower, and within twenty miles of Philadf Iphia a third body was poft. cd. The corps at Trenton, as well as the others, partly from the knowledge they had of the wcaknefs of the enemy, and partly from the contempt in which they ncld him, confidered themfelves in as perfed a ftate of fecurity, as if they had been upon garrilbn duty m their own country, in a time of the profoundcft peace. It is faid, and feems probable, vhat this iup- pofed fecurity, increafed that licence and laxity of cJilcipline, of which we have befoi^ taken notice, and produced an inattention to the poffibility of a furprize, which no fuccefs or fituation can ju% in the vicinity of an enemy, however weak or con- temDtih]«>. - Thcfo DiAP. Xin. Civil War i» A M E R I C A. f 381 Thefc circumftanccs, if they really cxiftcd, fccm 1776. not to have efcaped the vkiiancc of General Wafh- v-ro^ ington. But, exclufive of thcfc, he fully faw and comprehended the danger to which Philadelphia and tht whole province would be inevitably ex- jwfcd, as foon as the Delaware was thoroughly covered with ice, if the enemy, by retaining pof- fcffion of the oppofite ihorc, were at hand to profit of that circumftance, whilft he was utterly incapable of oppofmg them in the field. To ward off this danger, he with equal boldnefs and ability formed a defign to prevent the enemy, by beating up their quarters ; intending to remedy the deficiency of force by the manner of applying it; by bringing it nearly to a point; and by at- tacking unexpcftedly and feparately thofc hodms which he could not venture to encounter if unit^. If the dclign fucceeded only in part, it might, how- ever, induce thfe enemy to contrad their canton- ments, and to quit the vicinity of the river, when they found it was not a fufficient barrier to cover their quarters from infult and danger ; thus ob- taining that fecurity for Philadelphia, which, at prc- fcnt, was the principal objed of his attention. For this purpofe, General Wafhington took the neceffary meafures for affembling his forces (which confifted moftly of drafts from the militia of Penfyl- ' vaniaand Virginia) in three divifions, each of which was to arrive at its appointed ftation on the Dela- ware, as foon after dark, and with as little noife ^ poffibie^ on the night of Chriftmas-day. Two of thcfe divifions were under the command of the Generalsjrwing and Cadwallader, the firft of which was to pafs the river at Trenton Ferry, about a mile below the town, and the other ftill lower to- wards Bordentown. The principal body was corn- ffiaiiacd by Mr. Wafhington in pcrfon,' affifted by tac Generis Sullivan and Green, and confifted of aboui: ^ ail pS ''^"^^^ ^"^ * ^'^ "^ '° M Sbant 9,w m%s ab,o,ve TtWtaq: (.filp ffl' rhc nver was however, {6 in^u,nl?,?V?d wilf ice, that It was with great difficulty the b6ati could make iter WT Wrpugh, which ^yitji t(^e c^tfrcme ftveritv «;¥!?* Mcar tour o clQck l^^efprc it was comDicated ^yw-V M equally %yfa^,KofS|i 4p8 i^^r^^tb^o^vvni^toSfm-der M^^ ftort Wf S^^e^t ,^d ^r^yeu fi;pp' tl^^aSilf^r/; w$icl £9nftive ufc of bayonets ; which gave them a great fuperiorlty over the Ame- ricans, who were poorly fumifhed with this kind of . arms, and were by no means expert in the ufc of them. Lord Corn- waHis returns to the Jcrfcys. The alarm now fpread, induced the Britifh and auxiliary troops immediately to aflemble, and Gc neral Grant, with the forces at Brunfwick and that quarter, to advance fpeedily to Princctown ; whilft Lord Cornwallis, who had gone to New York in his way to England, found it neceffdry to delay his voyage, and return port to the defence of the Jcr- feys. They were not now without an enemy to encounter, for General Wafliington, encouraged by the reinforcements he had rectived, had again paifed the Delaware, and was with his whole force at Trenton. Jan. 2, Lord eornwallis marched immediately to attack 1777. the enemy, whom he found in a ftrong pofition, • formed at the back of Trenton Creek, being in pof- feffion of the bridge, and other paflages, which were well covered with artillery. After feverai ikirmiflies in the approach, a cannonade enfued on both fides, which continued until night. A brigade of the Britifh troops lay that night at Maidenhead, fix miles from Trenton, and another upo : its march from Brunfwick, confilting of the 17th, the 40th, and 55th regiments, under the command of Licute- nant Colonel Mawhood, were at Princetown, about ' the fame diftancc beyond Maidenhead. In Chap. XHI. Civil Wa«- /» A M E R I C A. In thit frtuatkui on both fide.. General WafliuiR. ton, who was far from intending to rilque a battle hiving taken the neceffary precaution of keepine up the fires, and every other appearance of ftifl occupying hi< camp, and leaving (mail parties to bo therounJs and guard the brfdge and the forli, withdrew the reft oi hi. forces in the dead of night «iJ with the moft profound Hlence. They marched with fuch expedition toward. Princetown. that though they took a large circuit by Allentown, my Preventing ^ uZTf f •'"'• '=*'"«d"-edit only as the at- tempt of iome flying party to interrupt hi. march jad having eafilydifperied thofe by whom ™w« firft attacked, pufted forward withW further Ip SJ^hSl'""- >' " " ""'= ''™^' !« »<" only found ,!■*? , '7A regiment which he led was attacked on all fide, by a fuperior force, but thit it wa, tlfo te''. *•".•* "« "''" fr"-" *<= «ft of the brkade i th^ »fr V 1' ^y .he continued diftant S|: coi'tatel.SyTrlv'l'r^^^^^^^ ^mortal honour. Afler a^iolent cS, 'aKe fne iL"''"?'* ?"['""' °^ ^°""ge and difcip! hue, they at length, by dint of bayonet, forced *? "7 "!""§'> "'e thickeft ranks of the enemy d ^^^''"^!t'^' ^''"^ '" M^-idenhead undiftuT fiMin • ^*'" jeg'-ncnt was little Icfs preffed. and ta.f.fl'7°'^'''f '" continue its march,' wi"h great rcfolution made rrnnrl ito r«»..»o^ „-.j _.! * •y mc way of Hillfborough to Brunfwick. The 40th regiT f3«7 General Wafli- ington quits hit camp,and attacks , Colonel Maw- hoody near Prince- town. 3^8] the ft IS T O R: Y e/- lie Chap. XHI. » 1777. regiment, which was ftill at Princctown when the ^y^^r^ aition began, fuffcrcd Icfs than the others, and re- tired by another road to the fame place. The ene- my acknowledged that nothing could exceed the gallant behaviour of the corps under Mawhood. Though the number killed, confidering the na- ture and warmth of the engagements, was not fo cbhfidcrablc as might have been expeded ; yet, upon _ the whole, the three regiments fiiflfered feverelyj their lofs in prifoners, amounting to about 200 • the killed and wounded were much fewer. The Americans had many more killed, among whom J were Ibitie brave officers, particularly General Mcr. ^cer belonging to Virginia, who was much cfteemed and lamented. It cannot efcapc the obfervation of any perfos who has attended to the circumftances of this war, that the number flain on the fide of the Americans, has in general greatly exceeded that in the royal army. Though every defeft in military (kill, cxpc- rience, judgment, conduct, and mechanical habit, ^%ill in feme degree account for this circumftancc, yet perhaps it may be more particularly attributed to the imperfetl: loading of their pieces in the hurry of aciion, than to any other caufe ; a deted, of all others, the mod fatal ; the moft difficult to be re- medied in a jK*w army ; and to which even veterans ffrc not fufficicntly attentive. To this may be alio iaddcd the various make of their fmall arms, which being prociirfd as chance or opportunity favoured them, from remote and different quarters, were ecjually different in fizc and bore, which rendered tlieir being fitted with ball upon any general fcale impracticable. This a£llve and unexpected movement, with its fi'^irified i t »T% rV10^irt^«-klly **^>^,a:iuu Cornwailis from the Delaware ; who was, not with- out 1^9 Ltnd Ccrnwai. lis returnt from the Delaware to BniDfo wick. €hap. Xin. Civil War i« A M E R I C A. out rcafori, alarmed fot the fafcty of the troops and ma^azircs at Brunfwick. The Amcricant ftill avoiding a general aaion, and fatisfied with their prcfcnt advantages, croflcd Aic Millftone river, with- out any further attempt. In a few days, however, they overrun Eaft Jcrfcy as well as the Weft, fpread- ing thcmfclves over the Rariton, even into Effex county, where, by feizing Newark, Elizabeth Town, and Woodbridgc, they became matters of the coaft oppofite toStaten Ifland. Their principal ports were taken and ftrengthened with fo much judgement, that it was not pradicable to diflodge them. The royal army retained only the two pofts M Brunfwick and Amboy, the one fituated a few miles up the Rariton, the other point of land at its mouth, and both holding an open cenimuL cation with New- York by fca. Thus by a few well concerted and fpirlted aSions, Ameri- was Philadelphia faved, Pcnfylvania freed from c*"* over danger, the Jerfcys nearly recovered, and a viaori- 7" **»« ous and far iuperior army reduced to ad upon the ''^^^*' defcnfive, and for feveral months reftrained within very narrow and inconvenient limits. Thefe adions, and the fudden recovery from the lowcft (late of weaknefs and diftrcfs, to become a formidable ene- S7^- ^^^ ^^^^' ^^^^^^ ^^^ charaaer of General Walhmgton, as a commander, very high both in Europe and America ; and with his preceding and fubfequent conduft, ferve all together to give a laadion to that appellation, which is now pretty generally applied to him, of the American Fabius. Nor was this change of affairs to be attributed to any error in the Britilh Generals, or fault in the troops which they commanded ; but depended en- tirely upon the happy application of a number of powerful and concurring circumf lances, which were ^at vzyond ihelr reach or controul. Though many •t thele were forefeen and pointed out hy thofe wh« ' from 1777. Briti'fli and Aux- iliary for- ces keep poffeifion of Brunf- vrick and Amboy, duringthc remainder ux inc winter. * 1^mn%0^YY the 1 Chap. XIIl froni the beginning, cither oppofcd in puWic, or regretted m pnvaCte, this vvar, and that others arc m Qbvious to crery body, k^inay. not, however, be amifc to fpecify fome of thSfe {^^ Mammtt^ty, no^cdmmitied fcyeral fmall ads of hoftility, which were «ft4wavds difwrned by dwir elders and chiefs. The Cre<^k mm, mimMm, te^gran ^ fourfiem war with aM thttr ufuad barbarity, utttil Aiding that tht ofcetid fuceourg did *ot mtrnt, they, with a fore*, figk tiiicaairaon mitoiig Indians, ftopped (fuddenly ftoft, and .rcp0nti*ig of what they had done, w«»e, fet the^rcfem ft«eof aifaks, eafdy excUfcd : and b€M^g rfr^rwards apptied to for aliiftanoe by tAit (.hcrokees, itetiipned fot iwrfwar, that they, the la^ ter, had filucked th^ tfeom out pf their foot, and #e«f^«lc*>!iilt«)kee|>it. ^ But !he €h«-^^> ^^hile the neighbouriniT ^^iis^i iaai^iis were iiicht and nallive Inf-aatMri 9i their calamit les. were iiieht Er palhvc Ipedators Nor im 1777. .3941 Oa.4. ' neHlSTORYof %e Chap. XIH. iNor was this Indian war more fortunate, with re- fpea to its cffea on the wcll-affcftcd on thofc quar- tcrs ; who arc not only faid, to a man, to have ex- prefled the. utmofl averfion to the authors, and ab- horrencd of the cruehy of that meafure, but that €o^nc of the chief lenders of the tones, avowed a recantation of their former principles, merely upon thai; account. . , ' ftllt was in the midft of the buftlc and danger of the war, and when the fcalc of fortune fecmedto hang heavily againft them, by the defeat on Lonp. Iflarid, and the reduaion of New-York, at a time when a great and invincible force by fea and land, carried difmay and conqueft wherever it dircfted its courfe, that alF the members of the Congrefs ventured to fign that remaritablc treaty of perpetual compat^t I and union between the thirteen revolted colonics, which lays down an invgjiable fyftem of rules or laws, for their government in all public cafes with rc(i)ea to each other in peace or war, and is alio extended to their commerce with foreign ftatec. This piece, which may be confideredas a jnoft dangerous fupplement to the Declaration of Independency, was publilhed under the title of Ar- ticles of Confederation and Perpetual Union be- tween; the thirteen fpecificd ftates, and has fmce re- ceivca, as the neceffary forms would permit, the fcparate ratifications of each colony. Such was in general the ftate of affairs in America at the clofc of the yfear 1776. IFor thefe Artkks at Urge, fa Appen4iic, GHAP, ^^M^U.- 0HAP. XIV. Civil Waji in AM E Ri C A. fj^ CHAP. XIV. ^77.7' State #/ ^airf at Ntnu- Tork previous to the opening of the cam- paign. Loyal provinciah embodied^ and placed under the command of Governor Tryon, Expedition to Peek's Kill. To Danburyt under General Tryon. Magazines deflroyed. General Woofer killed. Fepls and provlfions defrayed at SofgHarbourt by a detachment from Conneiiicut under Colonel Mtigs. ^vantages derived by General Wafljington^from the detention of the army at Neiv-Tork through the nuant of tents. Different fchemes fuggefedfor conducing the operations of the campaign^ all tending to one objea. General Sir William ffonua takes the feld ; fails in his attempt to bring Wafljington to §aion ; retires to Amboy. Turns fuddenly and advanced upon the enemy. Skirmifjes. Americans under Lord Sterling de- feated. Wafhington regains his ftrong camp. Royal army pafs over to Staten I/land. Alarm elicited by the preparations for the grand expedition. General Prefcot carried off from Rhode IJland. Rate of intereft upon the public loan^ advanced ij the Congrefs. Monuments decreed for the Generals Warren and Mercer. ' Fleet and army depart from Sandy Hook^ Force - embarked en the expedition. Congrefs and Wafoington alarmed by the loft of Ticonderoga. Fleet arrives at the River Elk^ after a tedious voyage, and dijficult paffage up Chefapeak Bay, Army lands at Elk Ferry. Declaration iffued by fhe General. Wafhington returns to the defence of Philadelphia. Advances tothe Brandyviine, and to Red- Clay Creek. Various movements mbotbftdes. Aaion at the Brandywine. General Knyphaufen makes an attack at Chad's Ford. Lord Corniuallis marches round to the forks of the Brandywinct nuhere he paffes, in order to attaek the enemy's right. Defeats General Sullivan. Pur- fues his advantages until ftopped by night. General Knyphaufen paffts at Chad's Ford. Enemy every ivhere defeated. Zofs tn both fides. Refleaions on the anion. Viflory not deciftve. Foreign officers in the American fervice. Motions of the Armies. Engagement prevented by a great fall of rain. Major-General ■ Grey, fur prizes and defeats a party of Aniericans under Gene- ral Wayne. Royal army paffes the Schuylkill, and advances to German-Tonun. Lord Corniuallis takes pojfefton of Philadel- phia. Some of the principal inhabitants fent prifoners to Vir- ginia, upon the approach of the army. Attack on the nenv bat- teries at Philadelphia. Delanvarefrigaie taken. Works con- Jiruaed by the Americans to render the paffage of the Delanuare mpraaicable. Siucefsful expedition to Billings Fort, and a r-j/^S'- ~'"if= i'"rsiigu inc lamier Darner. Koyai army jurpi ized and attacked by the Americans at German- foiun. Americans repulfed '\nith lofs and purfued. Brigadier General Agne^M, and Colonel IJTT- CcUjtet Bird kilUd. ^rmy removes to Philadelphia. Unf,^ *^^ ^A/ att.ek upon thtmn/s W. w/Ar ZJ.W.. j!^* Jan, feputfednvith great lofs atAedB,nk. ColonelDo^pS •^gujlaman 0/ nvar and Merlin Jhef deflrcyed. n£J„j 'P^^ndm Awrf, eH^nd^d^ and t^n ^Uh their i^ ^1 •> X^ ^ t' ^^'^""^ ^f^cr1ori(y we. tented, m a country 4m the different part, of Tryon. ^^\ cOrttJtient. This corps wa^ entirely Officered, either by thofe gcntfco n, who for their attach- ment to th« royal c^ui* hsd beea obliged to ahin- *)n th«»r refpe^ive provinces, or by thofc who lived uiiuer that protctlion in the New-York iflarids. 1 he new troops were placed for the temporary time ot their fervice, upon the fame footing as to pay, fttbliftcnce, and clothing, with the eftablithed na- tional bodies of the royal army, with the further aayantage to the private men and non=coinmifSond olficercs, that they were entitled to confide rableaC lotments Chap. XUI- Ova War /ii AMERICA. [397 kttmeiifs of vacant lands at the end of the trooblet. lyyy TOi mj^ttfc, bcfidcf its utility in point of ftrcn^th, w<^ the fccurity of this natural citadel, neither induftry was wanting, nor cxpence fpared, in abundantly pro- viding it with imracnfc fupplics of provifions, forage, and flores. : 13, A place, otherwifc of no import? ., citUed Peck's Kill, which lies about fifty milca up the North River from New- York, ferycd as a kind of port to Cburtland Manor, by which it both received provifions, and difpcnfed fupplies. Sir William Howe was well aware of thefe cir. cumflances in general, and was as well convinced of the decifive confequences which mull enfue from the cutting off thofc refourccs, which the enemy had with fuch infinite labour and expence accumu- lated for the fupport and profecution of the war. A general attempt upon Courtland Manor, would not only be dangerous, from the ftrength of the ^ country, and imprafticability of the ground ; but muft from its own nature be rendered abortive ; as the length, the parade, and the manner of the pre- paration, would afford the Americans time and warning to affemble their whole force in that quar- ter ; where, if we ftill perfifted in our defign, we muft fight under every poffible difad vantage, and a moral certainty of great lofs ; and if they did not chufe, even upon thelc terms, to hazard an engage- ment with us, they would have fufficient time to remove their magazines, before we could bring the point to any decifion. Expedi- tion to Peel's Kill. March 23d. Peek's Kill, was, howevei, within reach, and the General determined to profit of th?l circumftance. Colonel Bird, with a detachment of about 500 men, under the conduct of a frigate of war, and other armed veffels, was fent on board fome tranfports up the North River for that fervice. The enemy upon ♦■ r> *a »i. .*%1^^*/>r» n't ^u ■xiifi.-:\ja.\,ii \ji .n ^ !IIi ill iiimilv^iiL, ilXiUIi thiiikiiig themfelves, unequal ta the defence of the - place Crap. XIV. CrviL War in 4 M ERIC m* fl ^g^ pfarc, and being convinced, that there was no pol^ I777. fiblc time to remove any thing but their arras and v-ArO bodies, fet fare to the barracks, and principal ftore- houfcs and then retired to a ftrong pafs at about two miles diftance, wl^ch commanded the cntraocfc into the mountains, and covered a road which led to lorac oi the mills an4 other dcpofits. The Britifli troops upon their landing, perceiving that they could not hav- time or opportunity to bring off the provi- fions or other articles, completed the. conflagration. All the magazines were deftroyed. The troops re- embarked when the fcrvice was performed, and the armament after cftroying fcveral fmall craft laden With proviaons, returned. This fervice, however, was far from filling up the 4 S" t^%°.(,'^^ ^^"^'^^? defign. The magazines at ' Peek s Kill were not of the importance and macni. tude Which Jic had been led to expcd, and fomc- - thing, if poffible, muft ftiU be done, to weaken the enemy by cutting off their refources. He obtained ^ mteUigcncc, that the Americans had depofited lar^e quantitie^s of ftores and provifions in the town or village of Danbury, and other places in the borders ot Conneaicut, which lay contiguous! to Courtland f:^u'A a ^l^^^'^'^"" was accordingly Undertaken tor the deftruftion of thefe depofits, the charge of which, as an introduaion to his new military com- nwnd, was committed to Governor Tryon, who was allilted by thofe active and able officers. Brigadier C^eneral Agnew, and Sir William Erfl^ine. The expedition was fair' to be undertaken On a plan of - General 1 ryon x^ .0 had flattered himfelf witli find. April zr. ing a jundion of many provincials in that quarter as *. A loon as he fhould appear with the troops. .The detachment appointed to this fervice confift^ ^ ,. armament, w^e~.anded i^^'^o^^^S^^j!^ """""'^ cut. Mi?g«- ziiica 4k' ftroyed. fm the fon^wini^ %. tipy now perceived ttm the dountrf was rifittj^ to ina^ept their retutii, 9»A M no Cftn^iaget couJd be ffocurcd, if it had been otncrw>fe, to bring off tlH ftores and provifiom, they htimediately proceeded to the dcftriiaion «f the magazine. In die execution of tfiis promtit fcrvicc, «tfie town was imavoidably buiw. ^^ ' [ ^ , • ttc detachmeitt retitrned on the a 7th (by tk way ^ Ridgcfield. In the mean lime tiie Qenetak 1^^^^"^°^^ ^^ ^^*"» having hiOUiy arriv. ii ^m dlffcretit quartern, and coHeScd fiidhiili. tia «8 were witliin their nciicli, ei^^ouped if er^pypoffiWe meant to imermpt :>^iijwih, oml tipmm forc« could arrive to %nort ^dient witli ^ftjttlbfcdefign of c^Uliig off their reififci^ !%« wit of thdb oflicer* hHhf ^ipon the rear r^ ^^^^ -ffe- ■ W ' -&^r ^^^^^^1 'm^ ■ ■ • :3*!P'5HC^ ^Mi ♦ / •■%.: *,• The; when tl who hac than ar thrown his front troops, \ equal ir forced, a The adic iritrepidit few yardj gaged hi foldier d( with his I Genera renewed The cnem cannon, t\ this day's fcized and flanks and the order ( of ground tittle, the I ftips. It 1 exhaurted, been fuppli upon the formed up feemed mo tack than tl the Genera to charge ' executed wi totally brok thefliorc fc barked with Cu'ap. XIV. CiM -War. « A M ERIC A. The royal forces had only cot ouit of w~,ft when they found themfelves engai/^th^""' who had got poffeffion of KidgSlld, »d ^A W han an hour's advantage of time, hadTeidv town up fome fort of an entrenchment to "v«J h« front. The courage and difcipline of th °bS iroops, would have triumphed over an enemy more equal m force and condition. The villlJ,"^'! forced and the Americans drove bact on aK The aftion was (harp, and Arnold difplayed h s ufufi .ntrep.d.ty. H.s horfe having been'^fhofw hh a l"u- °LT *?"'"°" '»■*». he fuddenly difen gaged Welf and drawing out a piftol.Tt the" K£;o:^!"-~«"p---fi-h^ General Tryon lay that night at RidKefield a,,H renewed his march on the morning of the '^S^h The enemy having been reinforced with troops and cannon, the army was exceedingly harraffed durbe t.f^AT'\ ^'f'y advliLgeous poft ™f feed and difputed, whilft hoverinl parties on The anks and rear, continually endeavfu^ed To .Stturb tmfrHin f r'""^ " ength gained, in gooJ me, the Hill of Compo, within cannon (hot oTthe «Lfterakh„V •'"'"«• """ *"^ """"unit on ban r nnl- H ??^r " " ''^P°""='*' ""^ th^y had been fuppl.ed w,th fixty rounds a man at their outfe? Cd uno„T>f"r-,, ^^' '°'<=« immediately Wh ^ l^'' '"?'' S™""^' ^here the enemy temed more determmed and refolute in their at- ^gZ^^^ 'f ''r .'''*"'°- '" 'his frtu«ion, charge lithfh'^ k' "°°^' '° '"^'^''''' »"d erecS . Tk r I •"■ h^Vnets. This order was ' Sv h T f»<^h_™Pet«ority, that th...enemy was 'h 1 e trVfr:::? ""'1. """S P'^P"'" « bark J ™;.K . i reception, the troops were em- "amed without further moleftation. Fff T.,„ t4oi 4MaU 6'^ p ni niSTORY 0/ the Chap. XIV. Large quantities of com, flour, and fait provi- ilons, a great number of tents, with various military ftores and neceflaries, were dcftroyed in the couric of this expedition. The lofs of men on the royal fide, was, as ufual, much lefs confiderable than could have b«een expefted; the whole, in killed, wounded and mHfing, amounted to 172, of whom more than two thirds were wounded. The general lols under all thcfc heads on the American fide was more than double, and the number of the flain about four to one. On the Britifli fide no officer was killed. Or theirs, befides General Woofter, they lofl three colonels, and a Dr. Atwater, a gentleman < .f con- fideration in that country. The number of officers that happened to be in that country, and to affem- ble on the occafion, was out of all proportion to that of the private men ; whilft the raw and undifciplin- ed ftateof the militia, '.ogcthc with their weakncfs and point of number, obliged the former, as well as thofe volunteer gentlemen who joined them, to uncommon exertions, and to expofe themfelves in an ^extraordinary degree. Thefe circumftances may account for the number of men of rank, in their fervicc v.4.o fell on that fide. Upmi the whole, the effea of this expedition did not probably anftver the expedation upon which it was founded. The adual public ftorcs at Danbury and other places were for inferior to what they had been fuppofed or reprefented ; and though much mifchief was done, it may appear doubtful, whether the lofs fuftained on the one fide was equivalent to the rifque encountered on the other. Events, how- ever, are not to be confidered'as tefts of conduft, and it muft ever be one of the firft objeds with a great general, to render the force of the enemy in- efficacious by cutting off their refources. It was perhaps in return for this expedition that tlie Gonncclicut men not long after paid a vifit to T Chap. XIV. Civil War in AMERICA. f403 Long-Ifland. Having received inteJHgencc that 1777. Commiflarics had for fome time been employed on ^.^ the eaft end of Long-Ifland, in procuring We, gram, and other neceflaries for the Britiih forces and that thefe abides were depofited for embark^, tion at a httle port called Sagg Harbour ; the dif- tance of that place from Nev/ York, and the weak- nds ot the protedion, which confifted only of a companjrof foot and an armed fchooncr of twelve guns, ^afforded encouragement for a dcfign to fruf- trate th^lbheme of fupplying the wants of the army. The pvmcipal difficulty and danger lay in pairing and repaffing of the Sound, which was con- ' tinually travcrfed by the Britiili cruizers. .ttS!!^!f i^'fi''- an enterprizing olHcer, who had Veflels attended Arnold m the expedition to Quebec, and and pro- m been^taken prifoner in the attempt to ftorm that ^'^""^ city, conduced this enterprize. Having paffcd his ^fj""^'^ detachment m whale-boats through the Sound, and HaS landed on the north branch of the Illand, whereat IS interfered by a bay that runs in far from the Eaft end, itfeems by. the account, which is not in that part very clear, as if they had carried their boats over that arm of the land. They, however, em- barked agam on the bay, which he croffed with 1 70 men, and landed on the fourth branch of the ifland, - Jithm four miles of Sagg Harbour. They arrived at the place before day, and notwithflanding the re- tte 1^ TJ''^ ^"^^^^ '^' g^^^d ^"d ^'^^^ of the vefTels, and the vigorous efforts of the fchooner, Which kept up a continued fire of round and grape hot at ,50 yards diilance, they fully completed " which lay at the wharf, and entirely dcltroyed every hmgon tb^Oiore, They brought of with them €o.mL^! /"-Tf *' ^^^'i^ti»K of the officer x.ho commanded with Ip men, the commiflaric.and luoft Ot Mie atafters and crews of the fm.U veff.k which «^ey dellFoyed. A cireumftance which render. thic mmSrORY o/tbe Chap.XIV. I Chap. this expedition particularly curious, if a fact, ig aflertcd by the Americans. They fay, that 'the party returned to Guilford, in ^onneaicut, in 25 /hours from the time of their 4eparture, having during that fpace, not only effeaually completed the defign of their expedition, but having traverfed no lefs by land and by water, than 90 miles. A degree of expedition, which requires fome credulity to be admitted ; and from whence, if the faft is cftabliftied, it would appear that Meigg poffefTes no inconfiderable portion of that fpirit which operates in the Canada expedition. The feafon for aftion was now advanced ; but from fome improvidence or inattention unaccounted for, at home, the army was retrained from taking the field through the want of tents and field equi- page. Lord Cornwallis however made (hift with the old tents to encamp the forces at Brunfwick on the hills that commanded the Rariton, and along the communications upon that river to Amboy ; the example being followed at the latter place by Gene- ral Vaughan, •^^is delay was of the utmofl importance to the Americans. The winter campaign had been priii. cipally carried on by detachments of the militia, the greater part of whom returned home when the time of their fervice was expired. Others more generous, more patient of toil, or more fan* gume in the common caufe, outltaycd the allotted time, merely from a confideration of the weaknefs of the army, and the ruin which muft attend their departure before it was reinforced. In the mean time, the bufinefs of recruiting- under an engage- i mcnt of ferving during the war, or even for three I years, went on but fiowly. The term of fervice was contrary to the genius and habits of the people, | and the different j)rovinces found the greatelt diffir culty in railing any thing near the ftipulated pro- nnrtion I portion by the ( draught as the < ever, u] on the 1 the righ dangero ing reco refource apprcnti mitted, with a p As a fan in the J abounde mcftic cc fide-of C afforded any expe bable ; « prizes wl fides ren( renewed, tcftation had been In fuel] campaign ii-om the brought r feys. Th grew bo] future wii ulually ha wards the quitted hii Morris-Tf BruniwJri alopg Mid Chap. XIV. Civil War //2 A ME R I C A. as the dernier refort. Such an aft of force, how- ever, upon thofe who were contending for liberty on the moft enlarged plans, and who copfidered all the rights of freemen as facred, was irkfomc and dangerous. Every method was tried to avoid hav- ing recourfe to this difagreeabie reafure and filial refource. In fome of the colonies the enlifling of apprentices, and of Irifli indented fervanis was per- mitted, contrary to former refolutions and decrees, with a promife of indemnification to their mafters. As a farther check upon the increafe of the force m the Jerfeys, the New-England provinces which abounded with men, were taken up with their do- mcftic concerns. An invafion was expeded on the fide-of Canada ; Hudfon's-River and Rhode-lfland aftorded continual room for apprehenfion; nor did any expedition againft Bollon appear at all impro- bable ; efpecially as the great number of Britilh prizes which were brought into that port, had, be- fides rendering it an objed of the firil importance, renewed, and even increafed, if poffible, the dc tcltation and abhorrence with which that people oad been long regarded. In fuch circumftan'ces the advantages of an early xa campaign, and the benefit which the enemy derived tt^eTdc irom the delay, were obvious. The fine weather rived by brought reinforcements from all quarters to the j -r- G.Wafh- feys. Thofe who fhuddered at a winter's campaign '"^**"- grew bold m fummer; and the certainty of a tuturc winter, had no greater efieft than diftani evils ulually have. Upon ua.- Increafe of ftrength, to» wards the latter end or May, General WaiEington q^iitted his rormer poHtion in the neighbourhood of Morns- lown, and advancing within a few mUes of Upon ^:' Ki:: 4q6] ^emSTOKYo/the Chap. XlV. mT- Upon this finglc movement, hung a great part of . *^.nN^ t»e tutwre events of the war in the Terfeys. Waft mgton turned that advantageous fituation to every' account of which it was capable. His camp winOinJ along the courfe of the hills, was ftrongly en- drenched, forufied, and well covered with artillery • ;^or was It better fecured by its immediate natural or artificial defences, than by the difficulties of ap. proach which the ground in front threw into the way of an enemy. In this fituation he commanded a view oi the Britiih encampments on the hills oi lirunfwick,andofmuchof the intermediate coun- try towards that place and Amboy. Different The great objca of the campaign on the fide of «fe' u^'^'^t' /f ^' '° ^^^" ^^^"' t^^ Sir William refpcct. Howe ftould have penetrated thrpugh the Jerfcys campaign ^f ^"^ Delaware, driving Waihington before him, 10 as t<. clear thofe provinces entirely of the enemy at tiic fame time reducing the inhabitants to fo cttcdual a ftate of fubjedion, as to eftablilh a fafc and open communication between that city and the army. If in the profecution of this defign the enemy - hazjirded a battle, nothing was more wifhed. nor cot^ld any great doubt be entertained of fuccefs: or it they conftantly retired, which was more to be expected, the confcquences in regard to the general objects would be nearly the fame, and the army having by the reduaion of the Jerfeys, left every ' thmg iafe m its rear, and fecured the paflage of the peiavvare, v/ould of courfe become mailers of Phi- Ijulelpbia, which from its fituation was incapable ^ of any cficduaj defence, and could only be proteft^ e(;i by Waihington, at the certain cxpence and ha- zard of a battle. In tins manner feveral conceived and reafonedon the operations in Jerfey. Others were clearly of opiBion, that the bringing of Waflwngton to a deci- five action upon terms of ai^y tolerable equality mill Chap. XIV Civil War m A M E R I C A. [407 with regard to gi-ound, in fuch a country and 1777. againft his inclinations, Was a thing impraaical?le. editiou feemcd Jo.become the favourite obied of .the prefent year. the CttAP. XIV. Civil War in AMERICA. The tcnt« and field equipage, with^a body of Anfpach troops, and a number of Brififh and Ger- man recruits, having at length arrived at New-York bv the beginning of June, the General, Sir William Howe, paired oyer to the Jerfcys, and took the field about the middle of that month. The enemy were now in a ftrong ftatc of defence. Wafhington's array, befides the advantages it derived from the macceffible pofts which it occupied, was become more confidcrablc as to niimber and force. Several bodies of the New-England troops, under the Gene- rals Gates, Parfons, and Arnold, advanced to the borders of the North River, where they were ready to pafs oyer to the Jerfeys, whenever opportunity in. vtted their adion, or the neceffity of their friends demanded their afliftance. At the fame time, the Jerlcy militia affembled from every quarter with the greateil alacrity, fo that in every pofition it took, and motion it made, the army was watched and en- vironed by enemies. The General left nothing untried that could pro- Yoke Wafhington to an engagement, and no mca- furc uneffaycd that could induce him to quit his po- lition. He puflied on detachments; and made movements, as if he intended to pafs him, and ad- vjmce to the Delaware. This mancLuvre proving ineffeaual, he advanced in the front of his lines where he continued for four days, exploring the approaches to his camp, and accurately cxaminin;? the fituation of his poits, hoping' that fome wea£ or unguarded part might be found, upon which an attack could be ventured with a probability of fuc' eels, or that, m the nearnefs of the armies, chance, jnadvertence, impatience, or error, might occafioa' lome movement, or beproduaivc of feme circum- «ances, which would open the way to a general en- gagemem. AlLthefc hppes were fruitrated. Wafh- wgton knew the. full value of his fituation. As ho • flaa too much temper to be provoked or furprized. [409 1777.' gg mto 41 o3 rA^ H if T O R Y of the Chap. XIV. 1777- into z dcrcMion of his advantages, fo he had too much penetration to lofe them by circumvention or flcight. And he had too long profited of that rule of condudl from which he had not once hitherto deviated during the courfc of the troubles, of never committing the fortune of America to the hazard of a fmglc aftion, to depart from it upon this occa- fion, iR^cn it was not even demanded by any ur- gcntneceffity. Sir William Howe did not yet fecm to have aban- dpned his defign, of enticing Wafhington to quit his Mncffes. He fuddcnly ^retreated, and with fome apparent marks of precipitation, from his po- fition in the front of the enemy, and withdrawing his troops from Brunfwick, returned with the whole army towards Amboy. If the General's dcfign was what we have fuppofed, this movement pro- duced all the immediate eflfeft which he could have cxpeded. The army was eagerly purfued by fcve- ral large bodies of the American regular forces as well as of the Jerfey militia, under the command di the Generals Maxwcl, Lord Sterling and Con. wav ; the latttr of whom was a Colonel of the Irifli Brigade, and one of that numerous train of officers in the French fervice, who had taken an aaive part agamft Great Britain in this unhappy dvil war. Such trifling advantages as the beft regulated re- treat niuft afford to the purfucrs, and fome exceffes committed, perhaps with a view to the general de- fign, by the retiring foldiers, ferved to increafc the ardour, and inflame the paffions df the Americans. The meafures, which the General immediately adopted at Araboy complcated the delufion. The bridge which was mtcnded for the Delaware, was thrown over the channel which fcparatcs- the Con- tinent from Staten ifland. The heavy baggage, and all the incumbrances of the army, ^crc paffed over. Some toAP. XIV. Civil War in AMERICA. [41 1 Some of the troops foHowc^, and every thing was 1777. in immediate preparation for the paifagc of the reft ^J^ of the army. By thcfc judicious mcafures, if the immediate defign liiiled of cfTca, every thing Was forwarded as much as it could be for the intended embarkation ; a meafure of which the Americans had as yet no knowledge. Every thing concurred, along with the vanitv na- tural to mankind, in inducing the Americans to be- lieve, that the re cat was not only real, but that it proceeded from a knowledge of their fuperiority, l^^ //^f^d of their power: Even Widhington himfclf with ill his caution and penetration, was fo far impofed upon by the feint, that he quitted his fccure pods upon the Hills, and advanced to a place called quibble-town, to be the nearer at hand for the protedion or fupport of his advanced parties. The Britifh General loft no time in endeavouring Tumi to profit of thofe circumftances. He immediately fuddenly marched the army back by different routes, from ^^^ ad- Araboy. He had three objcds in view. To cut **""' oif feme of the principal advanced parties ; to ome "P°" ^^^ up with, and bring the enemy to an engagement in "^'"''' the neighbourhood of Quibble-town j or, if this dc- fjgn, through the celerity of the enemy, failed in the effea, it was intended that Lord Cornwallis, who, with his column, was to take a confiderable circuit to the right, fliould, by^turning the enemy's left, take poffeflion of fome paffes in the mountains, which, their fituation and command of ground, would have reduced them to a neceffity of abandon- ing that ftrong camp, which had hitherto afforded them fo advantageous a fecurity. Lord Cornwallis having difperfcd the fmaller ad- o. • S.^"^'' °1 the enemy, feU in at length with ^Z^ , A J . ^"^' who with about 3000 men, llrongly pelted in, a- wopdy country, and well covered by ar- tillerv l! Ak IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4 ^0 /. i/. i/.. 1.0 1.1 11.25 2.2 2.0 ■ 30 Wuu 1.4 111.6 7] 'n / Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 /j Ameri- cans un- der Lord Sterling defeated. 4i>0 rhe m S TO R Y of tU Chap. Xiv. tillery judicioufl, difpofcd, not only l^y fuU in his way, but Ih^eda determination to difputc his paf. fii^e with vigour and firmnefa. The ardour excited •upon this bccafron by an emulation between the Britifli and Heflian troops was cohfpicuous and ir. reiiftiblc. AH obftacles gave way to their impe tuofity in preffing forward, to try who fhould obtain the honour of firft coming to a clofe engagement with the enemy. The party of Americans firft at- tacked, unable to withftand the fhock, were foon routed on all fides, having fuftained, befidcs no in- confiderable lofs m men, that of three pieces of brafe ordnance, which were taken by the Britifh Guards, and the Heflian grenadiers. The purfult was continued as far as Weftfield, but the woods and the intenfc heat of the we?,ther, prevented its cflfed. Wafliing. }^ the meantime. General Washington foon per- ton re- ccived, and as fpeedily remedied his error, by with- gam. his drawing his army from the plains, and again re- camp? :*;°T'"^ ^'^ ^'"""^^ ^^"'P °" f^« hills. At tSe fame '^ ■ hme, penetrating into Lord Cornwallis's further dc- the pofleffion of which by the Britifli troops, would have expofed him to the neceflity of a critical change m pofition, which coUld not have been executed Without danger. Royal ar- ^Thus was this, apparently well concerted fcheme ^Ift «!j"«g»ngtlie enemy to an adion, oratleaftof Staten- '^^^^^Jrawmg them from their ftrong holds, rendered Xfland. r?Jf ^*7^» Py the cantion and prudencfe of General Wafhmgton. Sir William Howe was now convin. ced, that he was too firmly attached to his defcnfive plan of conduding the war, to be induced by any means, other than by fomc very clear and decided advantage, to hazard a general engagement. No- thing then remained to be done in the Jerfcys. To advance to the Dela ivare, through a country entirely **' * hoflile, m GilAP. XIH. Civil War iff A M E R I C A. r4i3. Alarm excited by the prepara- tions for the grand cxpedl- tioo. * hoftilc, and with fuch a forceJn bit rear, appeared to the British commanders' no better than madnefs. All delay was therefore not only fruitlefr, but a wafte of that thnc and feafon, which might be employed to great advantage elfewhere. The General accord- ingly returned with the army to Amboy, on the fceort^d day from its departure on the expedition, and paired it over on the next to Staten-Ifland, from whence the embarkation was intended to takcplacc. The preparatioftli for this grand expedition excited i general alarm throughout the Continent. Bofton, the North Rjver, the Delaware, Chdapeak Bay, 4nd even CharlcS-Town, were alternately held to be Its objefts. General Wafliington, in pqrfuance of thie mtcliigence which he continually received from New-York, and the other iilands, was con- ftantly difpatching cxpreffes to put thofe places upon thfcir guafd, againft which, from immediate infor- mation, he fuppofed for the time the ftorm to be Areaed. It was one of the manifcft advantages of prdtccding by fea, that it was impoifible for Waft- Wgton direaiy to know where the ftorm would fall. Hfrmuft therefore keep his pofition ; and the Kinff's Wntiy muft neceffarily make a confiderable proirrcfs •towards Its objea, before he could be in a condi- tion to refift them ; and fuch a progrefs would not leave him that choice of poftsj by which hitherto he had avoided a general aaion. .During the ccffation prpcured by preparation oh Cenemi t^Z^^'^""^ apnrehenfion on 'th^ other, a K •^rited adventure on the fide of Rhode Ifland, not carried W retahated the furprize of General Lee, but**^^"^""^' ^cmed taprocure an indemnification for his perfon. ?n''°t" Colonel Rirtonr a Provincial, with feveraTothe^ ^"*'^**- oncers and volunteers, paffed by night from Provi- nce to^Rhode ifland, and though they had a lonff palfage by water, they eluded the watchfulnefs of tfte Ihips of war and guard boats which furrounded the m4] f^ M l&T OR Y •/ fke Otap. Xiv. 1 777. tke i&Midy aB(i cbiKJdj^d thcii? cnteirprisBc with fueh ^^^^^'^>^ fikucff, bolcbicfe, and dc^Wrkv, ^I9« thev forptiaed Geii«Prcfi:olytub9 cdmmanded i» chii«f^ ial»« qiuar- tert^ aiidbrdught Him aiid his Aid-dft-Camp j through att thofa perik, iafe to the Continent. This little adycature produced much exultitioa on tl>e one fidis, and more regret than it fccmed t^ dcferve on Ae QiibEf, horn the influence which it miift ncccffit- lily have on die deftinacion of General Lee. k was however, particularly galling and grievous to Gene- ral FrcfiKjl, \rfi6 not long before had carried mat- ters tt) fujch a length, as to fet a price upoia Arnold and ^flfer aue-ward for taking hi»^ perfon, as if he Aad' been a common out-^law or robber ; an infult wtncb Ariwld imaicdiately r€*uraed, by fetting an m&tior pidxx. upon the Gencpat's: perlbn; RaWttf intereft npon the public loan Menu* merits de- creed for the Ge- nerals Warren and Mercer. SoBur time previous to thefc tranfeaions^ the Ccaagedk had found it neceiferjf 40- advance the rate of interefll upoh the large Ic^n which they propofed f bt ^ fervice and upon the credit of the uniied P50 commanded andf fell ini the engagcmiBnt at Buukrfr's Hill^ aiid another in Virginia^, ijuhoinour ef Brigadier General Mercer, who was flain in 'the adion near Princc- liawijj the reft>l6i!it«fr eonvie^iii|^ . iij^ a- vejcyr few i'wardki. the highcft eulogiumf o«k the oharaiSer aad metifcs of the (fccieafedi They lii^mUk deigrewl, Afcit the? eldcft ftin o£ the former 0i tMei gentlcmeiB, anckihe youngeft fon ,06 the latteiv ih«uW beedu- ,catied at die expertce ol the Unitsd States, As Aferaer badagoodl landed elkktei,- the propnctyef ad»p*ingr his youngeft hm as the childcithe public 16 (ilsrvious. .. . . m Chai*. XIV. Civil War /« AMERICA. [415 IfJotwidiftMidii^ the prepaisadonriiiatlMidiararfy bee« made for the embarkation, and Ihc affiibaitt afforded by the cncws of iiear 300 vcift^s, yet fiidi m «hc unavoidable delays incident to lUch qpcnu tions^liea at all extcnfive, that k\m not until the 33d of July thai the fleet and army were able to dc- p«ft from Sandy Hook, ki order more efleAualiy to perplex and deceive the enemy, the Gcnerai lor. dwed fomc t?ranfport6, wkh a fliip cut down la ad as a floating battery, wp the North River, a little before the embarkation was completed ; a fciitt which fuccecded fo far as to induce Wafliingtoa to detach a coafidcrable body^rf his army acrofe that river. ' 1777. fleet and Army de- part from Sandy Hook. Tte force that embarked upon i^e cx^itioa confifted of 36 Britifli and Meffian bafit^iW, in- cludinff the light mfantry and grenadiers, with a powerful artillery, a New- York corps called the ^een s Rangers, md a regiment of light hoiife. Sc^vemeen battalions, with a regiment^ light hoifc, aad the maamacr of the «cw Provincial corps! were lelt for Ae pfoteaion of New-York, mdS& a^jommg iflahds. Rhode ifland was occupied by leven battalions. So much was the adive force i the army ir^ftrained, by the pofl-cflioji, which it was, however, imWpcailably neceflary to hoU, of thcfe i»partant pofts. ku faid, that the General intended to have taken a i^reater force with him upon the Q^ion^ but that iipon the reprefentatioms lof J^aeraijCImtoH, who was to command in hisabi r J I ^*"^^'' ^^ ^^**^^^ ^^c '*flands wouidlac cabled, from *he ijxtenfivttiefs -6f jthcir coafts, and «»efFcat nuBib^ of foit^ that were neceflauily to ^ mamtamed, ^be acknowledgcd^hc force of tLfe afgaipcnts by 4«elafiding cfeveral regiments. ■ ' ■'■■ .' i ' - Whil|bothOeii. Washington and the Congrefs r*f ^"ffie«ntly e«g^d, hy their attention tothe wwcmentfl, an4 appr^enfion of the defigns of the powerful Force embarked on the ex- pedition. Congrefg & Wafh- iogton alarmed by the loft of Ticon- dcroga. 4iq ; ^ H 1ST O R Y ^ tkr Chaf;:xiv^ i77Tf powtrfiil fleet and ahny which was condti^d by ^^^'^ the brother Generals and Commiffioner*, the rapid pr^els of General Burgoyne on the fide of Sc Lakes, and the unaccountable eondud of their eommanders in abandoning Ticoiideroga, were €vente fo alarming and unexpeded, that they could not fail to perplex their counfcls, and cohfidcraWy to impede their defenfivc preparations in 4>ther parti The Congrefs behaved with firmnefs in ijhis cxij?cih cy. They immediately iffued orders for a recal to iwad quarters, and an enquiry into the condua of the general officers who had abandoned Ticondc- roga ; they direfted Waihington to appoint other commanders ; and they likewife direded hiin to fummon fuch numbers of the militia from the eaftern and central provinces for the northern fer- vice, as he ihould deem fufficient for rcftbmine the progrcfs of the enemy. . . The voyage was far from being fevourabic to the fleet and army, engaged on the exiJedition. It coft than a week to gain the Capes ofDelaware. The information which the commanders received there, of the meafures taken by the enemy for rendering the navigation of that river impradic^blg, afforded to little encouragement to the profecution of their defign by that way, that it was given up, and a paflage by Chcfapeak Bay, to that part irf Maryland, which lies to the Eaft of that vaft inlet, Mid not at a icry great diftance to the South-W«(t of PhUadel- fhia, was adopted in its place, as prclimting fewen obftades to their operations. The winds were fo* contrary in this part of the voyage, that the middle of Auguft was turned before thew entered Chela- peak Bay ; a circumftance highly inconvenient and. irkfome in that hot fcafon of the yeai;, with fo great a number of men anjl horfes, crowded and cooped up in the veffels ; but which mi^ have been attend- ed with the moft fatol confequenceg,vif the ftfrefight of the commanders had not guarded againft every ' event Cha*. XIV. Civa War /« AMERICA. [-4,7 event by the unbouftded provifion they had made ,>,■,■, or the voyage, as a failure in any one Lie e."ve„ ^ to of water, would have been probably ir^eme- th J^'thJ' fl ^l fortunately proved fair in the bay, fo Fleet ar- that the fleet gamed the mouth of the River EJk "ve, at near its extremity, in fafety, through a moftintri '^^ River catc and dangerous navigation for fuch a multitude ^^^• of veffels, m which the Admiral performed the dif ferent parts of a commander, inferior officer, and" plot, with his ufual ability and perfeverance. Hav 1.^ proceeded up the Elk as far as it was capable of admitting their paflage, the army was at length re- lievedfrom its long and tirefome confinement on board the tranfports, being landed without any op- pofition at Elk Ferry, in a decree of health and^con- dition which could fcarcely Lve been expeded on he 25th of Auguft Whilft one part of the army advanced to the head of Elk, the other continued a^ the landing place to proteft and forward their ar. tillery, ftorcs, and neceflary provifions, the General Slfhr"^"^ the troops to be much incumbered with baggage ; indeed the fcarcity of carriage ren- neceffarr ' ^'''' ^*^"'^S™^"^ ^^ the article of tents In the mean time. General Wafliineton. with tht^ w lu* X.t"Vv ^^*r' "'«' '""'-'• nrdefenci .It?^ Phjladelphm, and upon advice of the defcent at """''" Uk, advanced to. the Brandywine Creek, or River; ?' ■*'% which, croffing the country about half way to that n^f, K^r f ' "^'T"- '''''" forccVnclul! p™!""" S!ki t ''?°""*''*'*° 'S.OOO men, which was P obably about the number, making the neceffary a^^owance for polls and communicalions, that S royal arroy.could bring into adion. «e the mmds of the people in Penfylvania, the De- ^^^ laware 4**^ neUlS TO R Y ^/ thtT Ghap. XIV. I ^"^P" ^777. lawarc Counties and the adjacent parts of Maryland, ^^^^ and to prevent a total defcrtion and defolation of the Declara- Country in the front of the army, publifhed a decla- tion iffu- ration, in which he promifed, that the llrideft re- ed by the gularity, good order and difcipline, (hould be obfcr- Cxcncral. y^d by the army, and the mod pcrfcd fccurity and effedua! protedion afforded to all his Majefty's peaceable and well difpofed fubjcfts ; extending at the fame time this fecurity and protc£lion to fuch pcrfons, who not having been guilty of afluming legtflative or judicial authority, mieht othcrwifc have adcd illegally in fubordlnate ftations, upon the jrrovifo tif their immedia^r return to their habi- tations, and peaceable demeanor for the future. He alfo offered a free and general pardon to all offi- cers and foldiers in arms, who ihould furrcnder themfelvcs to the royal army. 1 ■ - ■ « - \ It was not till the 3d of September, that the ar- my was enabled to quit the head of Elk, and pur- fue its courfe towards Philadelphia. In the mean time the enemy had advanced from the Brandy wine, and taken poft on Red Qay Creek, from whence thcv polhed detachments forward, to occupy difficult ports in the woods, and to intemipt^ by continual Ikirmilhes, the tene of march. As the country was difficult, woody, and not well known, and that the genius of the enemy lay to profit of fuch circum- ftanccs, the General advanced flowly, and with exi tr^ordinary caution. He was from n^ceffity, as well as di^fition; fparing of his troops. Recruits were brought from a prodigious diftanccy and procured with diffictdty even at the fourcc.- Every man kill- nd,^^ wounded, or taken, was to him an irreparable lofs, and fo far as it went, an incurable weakening of the army, for the prefent year at Icaft." On the ~' other hand^ theencmy'wcre at home. Every-lofs they fiiffcred was not only immediately repaired, but the military ability of the furvivors was incrcafcd by every dcftruaion of thch- leBbw^r, This [419 pHAP. XIV. Civil War i« A M E R I C A. TIvs caution could not, however,, prevent fome 1777. Ikirmifhes, m which the royal forces were almoft ^-^^ always vidorious. It does not appear that the Americans made all the ufe that might be expefted of the advantage which the country afforded fer harrafTing and impeding the progrefs of the Britifli army. After feveral movements on both fides, the enemy retired beyond the Brandywinc, where they took poircffion of the heights, and covered the fords with an evident intention of difpuiliitr the paflacfc of that river. orb- In this lituation the Britifli army, at day break, Scnt ,. advanced in two columns towards the enemy the <-Z^ right, under the command of General Knyphaufen, < marched diredlyto Chad's Ford, which lay in thfc '^'^'""- ccntcr of the enemy's line, where they cxpcded, BrVndv^ and were prepared for the principal attack; their wincJn'd right and left covering other lefs prafticable fords *« ^^d and palTajcs for fome miles on either hand. A ^'"^^ heavy cannonade commenced on both fides about ^'^^^' ten o'clock, which was well fupported during the day, whilft the General, to amufc and deceive the enemy made repeated difpofitions for forcing the tord, the paiTage of the river feeming to be his im- mediate and determined objea. To impede or trultrate this defign, they had paffed feveral detach- ments to the other fide, who, after a courfe of (kir- miiftcs, lometimes advancing, and at othets obliged to retire, were at length finally, widi an eager p'^ur- luit driven over the river. Thus the noife and emb ance of a battle was held up, and the expcda- tionkept continually alive to the moft immediate and decifive confequences. Whilft the attention of the Americans was thus Various tuUy occupied in the neighbourhood of Chad's Ford move- and tbat they fuppofed the royal force was in their "^ -"*« «" Jront, l^ord Cornwallis, afthe head of the fecond r*?'^ column, took a long circuitous inarch to the left, ^ until Ics. 43o] ThemSTOKY 0/tbe Ghap. XIV. I Chap. 1 777. until he gained the Forks of the Brandywine, where ^•^^^^ the divifion of the river rendered it of courfc more pradlicablc. By this very judicious movement, his Lordfhip paflcd both branclics of the river at Trim- bles, and at Jeffery's Ford, without oppofition or difficulty, about two o'clock in the afternoon, and then turning Ihort down the river, took the road to Dil worth, in order to fall upon the enemy's right. "' • ^ General Wafliington having,howcver, reccivcdin. telligence of this movement about noon, endeavour- ed, as well as he could, to provide againft its efFcd, by detaching General Sullivan with all the force he could venture to withdraw from the main body, to bppofe Lord Cornwallis. Sullivan (hewed a con- fidcrable fhare of judgment and ability in the cxe. cution of this commiflion. He took a very ftrong pofition on the commanding grounds above Birm. ingham church, with his left extending towards the Brandywine, his artillery advantageoufly difpofed, and both flanks covered with very thick woods. Aaion at As this difpofition obliged Lord Cornwallis to the Bran, form a line of battle, it was about four o'clock be- ywine. i^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ began. Neither the good difpofition of the enemy, the advantages of fituation, nor a heavy and well fupported fire of fmall arms and ar- tillery, were at all fufficient to reftrain the im})c. tuofity of the Britiih and Heffian troops. The light ^ infantry, chafTeurs, grenadiers, and guards, rufhing on through all obftacles and dangers, drove the ene- ttiy> in fpite of all their efforts, though not without a fpirited oppofition, from their pods, and purfued them pellmcll into the woods on their rear. In the mean time, a part of the enemy's right, which had not been broken, took a fecond ftrong pofition in a wood on the fame fide, from whence, after feme confiderable refiftance, they were diflodged and pur- fued by detachments from the fecond line. Several [431 Chap. XIV. Civil War in AMERICA. Several bodies of the troops that were firft en. gaged, got fo deeply entangled in the woods through the eagcrncfsot purfuit, that they were not able to rcjom the army before night. In the mean time, as the main and colleftcd body contihued advan- cmg, they came upon a corps of the enemy which had not yet been engaged, and which had taken poflelhon of a flrong poft, to cover the retreat of the defeated wing of their army. A very warm engagement now enfucd, and this polt was ib vico- rouay defended, that it was fome time after dark before it could be forced. The darknefs, the un- certainty of the ground, of General Knyphaufen's fituation, together with the extreme fatigue which the troops had undergone, in a long march and fcvere aaion, which had fcarcely admitted of the fmalleft rcfpite during the whole courfe of the day, all concurred in preventing the army from purfuinjr its advantages any farther. ° General Knyphaufen, after fuccefsfully amufinrr the enemy all day with the apprchenfion of an at- tack which he did not intend, made his paflaire ffood in the evening, when he found that they were already deeply engaged on the fight. He carried the entrenchment, and took the battery and can- Jion, which defended and covered Chad's Ford. At this inftant, fome of the Britifh troops, who had been entangled in, and had penetrated throuirh the woods, threw the enemy into fuch a confufion, that an immediate retreat, or rather flight, took blacc m all parts. The latenefs and darknefs of the even- ing, prevented a purfuit here, as it had done on the right. Jac!^ ^'''''^ r'T ^?y^'Sht would have beenLofson undoubtedly produdive of a total and ruinous defeat both lidc. to the Americans. r .- /■ " -> ■ - .A General Knyp- haufen makes aR atuck at Chad's Ford. Lord Cornwal- h's attacks the ene> mjr's right. fB# HISTORY./,/,, Chap. XIV, A part of their troops, among whom were partil cularly numbered fome of the Virginia regiments and the whole corps of artillery, behaved exceeding well m fome of the adions of this day, exhibiting a degree of order, firrancfs, and rcfolutioii, and prc« Icrving fufch a countenance in extremely (harp Icr. vice, as would not have difcreditcd veterans. Some other bodies of their troops behaved very badly Their lofs was very confidcrable, which probably was the caufc that it wai not particularly fpecificd in thcjr own accounts. In the Gazette it was com- putcd, at about 300 killed, 600 wounded, and near 400 taken prifoncrs. They alfo loft ten fmall field pieces, and a howitzer, of which all, but one, were brafs. ^ J The lofs in the royal army was not in proportion, btmg foracthing under five hundred, 0/ which the flam did not amount to one fifth, llie officers fuf. * fered confidcrably, efpecially in wounded, though no one of higher rank than a captain was killed. Ihe enemy retreated firft to Cheftcr, and on tlie next day to Philadelphia. The vidorious army lav tliat night on the field of battle. ( , ■• • ' • '■ • Rcfleai- Wafliington, "0 far as we can judge at this dif. onson the tance, fecms to ave been more out-generalled in «a.on. this action, than sny other fmce the beginning of the war. This conclufion is not, however, to be confidcrcd as eftabliflied j as we are fcnliUe that it may be well queftioncd, from the premiTes even Y- before us. The defence of fuch a length of river, mterfcacd with fords, and fome at remote diftances, was undoubtedly impfaaicable. If it be alked then why the attempt was made, it may be anfwcrcd, thathis great objcd was to harrais, and to interrupt the progrefs of the royal army to Philadelphia, by every poflible means, which did not involve his own in the rifque of a general engagement} that ^ even a fuperior lofs of men, was not to be confi- dercd ions CHAr. XlV Civil War /» A M E R I C A. (-44, jtercd by him, to whom perhaps it was ncccffary to , 777 learn, even by a dangerous experiment, the improve- J^ mcnt and Ibte of his own troops. His choice of a port on the Brandy wine, in preference to thofc more dctcnfiblc that were nearer to Philadeinhia, has been ccnlured ; but how hr this choice was ahorcther m his power do^s not fully appear. And, however difficult he was in point of intelligence, with rcfpcft *?.,r**''? Comwalhs's movement, he fljewed eUt ibility m his endeavours to remedy that neffKircnce by the prompt and judicious meafures which he took to cover his right. Whatever the merits or demerits were on this fide of the queftion, it muft be acknowledged, that the movements or the royal anny were judicious and mafterly. ' The prefent unhapppy contcft was fo intereftinir .. to foreigners and rendered America fo confpicuous ^°I.'° mg fpirits, from different parts of Europe, either merely in fearch of glory and rank, or to acquire military experience and improvement. AmonJ the - numerous mftances of this nature which might be givcn^ a fbw arc neccflary, and will be fu4ient. The Marquis dc la Fayette, a young French noble- man, of the firft rank, and of large fortune, was (o carried away by this emhufiafm, as to purchafe and hreight a (hip with military ftores (in which he em- barked with fcveral of his friends) for the fervice ot the Americans ; he bore a command, and waa wounded m this aaion. The Baron St. Ovary. another French Volunteer, for whofe releafe the Longrcfs fhewed a particular attention, was foon attcr made a prifoner. De Coudry, a French Gene- ral, was about this time drowned in the Schuylkill, through his eagernefs to come in time into aftion. ^oche dcFermoy, was a member of the council of war, who had figned the refolution for abandoning liconderoga. Pulawlki, a noble Pole, commanded a detachment of American light-horfe in the adion ' of ~ ' 4243 nff-niSTORY of the Ghap. XIV, 1.777. o^ the tondyvvine. Count Graboulkie, anotlier ^^'^'^r^ Polilh nobleman, was about the fame time killed on the North River, exhibiting great intrepidity ort the Britifli fide, and beftowiug his laft breath in encomiums on the undaunted courage difplayed by the partners of his danger, and witneffcs of his fall. t It is to be obferved, that in the battle of the Brandy wine, the provincial forces were met in the field, and with no very great advantage of fitua- tion. A vidory was clearly obtained over them : but it was not of that final and decifive kind which the public had expetled as the certain confequence pf fuch a meeting. People rarely confider how much trivial and accidental circumftances render all things of this kind extremely uncertain, even with any fuperiority of troops, or goodnefs of generallhip. Motions of the armies. Notwithflanding the vidory of the king's troops, and the precipitate flight of the enemy, the royal army proceeded with caution and circumfpeftion ; and it did not feem unnecelfary 5 for the enemy did not feem diflieartened ; and Mr. Wafliington exerted himfclf with ability and diligence to repair his defeat. The army was polled in the neighbour- hood of Concord and Afhtown, whilft a detachment was fent to leize on Wilmington which was made a receptacle for the fick and wounded. Upon a movement towards Gofhen, the General received intelligence upon his march, that the enemy had quitted Philadelphia, and were advanced upon the Lancafter road, a few miles above that place. Upon this advice, he took fuch effeaual meafures for bringing them to an immediate engagement, th^t nothing but the event which followed could have fruftrated his defign. An exccflive f^Il of rain, which overtook both armies upon their march, and which continued without any iuLcrmiifioa for 24. hours, CrtAP. XIV. Civil War /« AMERICA. f4a| hours, rendered both parties equally and totally 1777, incapable of adion. - \J4^ Major* General Grey de- feats G. Wayae, Sep. 2C« In the conrfc of a number of movements on lK)th fides, which took place for fomc days after, and in which every meafure was ineffeaually ufed, to involve the enemy in fimilar circumftances to thofe which they had fo lately and with fueh bft efcapcd, intelligence having been received, that General Wayne, with 1500 men, was lymg in the woods upon fome fcheme of enterprizc, in the reaf| and at no great diftance from the left wing of the army, Major-Gcneral Grey was detached at night, with 2 regiments, and a body of light infantry, to furprize that corps. That General conduded the cntcrprize with equal ability and fuccefs; and, per- haps, in emulation of a remarkable aftion of the late war in Germany, took effeaual meafures that a fmgle (hot fliould not be fired in the courfe of the expedition, and that the execution (hould only be done by the point of the bayonet. In the profecu- tion of this defign, the enemy's out pofts and pic- kcts were complcatly furprized and forced without ^oile, about one in the morning, and the troops being guided by the light of their fires, rufhed in upon the encampment, where a fcvere and filent execution took place, about 300 being killed or wounded upon the fpot, and a number of prifoners taken ; the remainder elcaping by the darknefs of the night, and fome prudent difpofitions made by tac officer who commanded the Americans, with the lofs of the greater part of their baggage, arms, and ftores. The viaora, in this brifk aalon, loft only a captain of light infantry and three private men, with about the fame number wounded. /■ The General finding that the enemy could not by Royal any means be broufrKr .0 a/^w>n o«/i *u^^ *k^„ ...^-i .. evidently abandoning even the proteaion of the ^ancc to "pital, rather than hazard that final dccifion, made ^*^""*'' Hi' fuch ^ -J '■ay a«- .own. L. Corn- wallis takes pofTeflion of Phila- delphia. ^i* -WiO.vancats and took fuch ppfitaons as gave him length, to pais the army over that river withou o^p^fitipn. 'm^ htmg nothing now tp impede 9a0,M«:d,qpjnv^l|is, on the next morinn? tool! poip^n <^TOUde!phia. Thus was th?ridi aod ^mr^mm pf Phiia^clphia, the capital late of me nu^x^fijig colony, mi attended witljthe moft fmgMlar o/cumftanc^p, ,th>t hiilorycan give any P^mk of, and the feat of. that Gcncr?il CongrI pf dql^^^, y,ho difpcnfcd laws and gQvernmcnt ro the Continent Of North America, ref^ced^^! put pppofiflon, and confequen^ly without daraagp. LP-^^ ^'^^?ft*/^^. ^^* "^W fortunate: than had feCen exipca^d ; for it was eycn fpoken pf by them. felyes as a fettled .^nd fixed detfrminadpn, to de- ^roy the aty,^ whenever it was found that \t could , fecjiQ longer p:oteac4, r^Wther tjia^n fp% it to be- t^//f^ f axms, and the centre of operation to *he ^ntifh: fleets ^n,d armies. A nun^ber of the Some of Mu?J^crs, ^nd fome other of tl^e princioal inhabi. the pn„. J^Pi^ Welphia, to the a^^ S'Z^ S^'/?"" Wbe^n juftly con^der^d^s (Irongly . jittached tp thp royal ca^fe, a^ vyently inimici foners to ^Q the prefent Tuhng powers, had been taken into Virgxma cu|^o4y upqn the wm^diate danger of an invafiom ^rWe gentlemen pofitMy r^fufed to give any fe- curity 4n writing, or cvcn.verbal atteft^Tion, of at- tach^,nt, fubmiflion, or allegiance, to the 'prefent gpye np,ent or of not hpldmg a cor^efpondencc ^ ?^pfe whom they reprinted as ^eini^^s. They ^m T^ftjfed 50 confine themfelycs to their re- pedive. dw€lling:hpufes, aiidbpl^ly appealing to f^lT ^^^^^l^^^^nd fecurity to their perfons, ' ftrpngiy reproached ihofe, who under the pretence tf^uT'^ ^ V ^^T^^'S the liberties of the fub- ject, nad involved fh*» wK^U ^^^^: _. !_ • .1 and contention, a"^ ' ' the prin cipai in. habitants fent pri- whp thus, ^t the fame time. in the CilA#* XIV; Civii, Wajl in AMERICA. the moft arbitrary and tyranoifca! mttftifife!-,' d^iwd himof hisperfonal liberty, andof every fccurity.^!iicS he derived from the laws. They we're anfwered that the hews thcmfelves, and all other fcdfifldcJrafi^ns muft gave way to, the publicfefety, in cafes ofgre^k^ aim imminent danger; that there waff po new &^^ P^l^^iPjf natdfliip in the prdcht keafifrei' which* was juftificd by the pradice of airftatel ift fimaardr- comftances ; that in Englatid, in its higlicft ftatc of ^dom, and under its happieft governmdntfcy thfc' Habeas Corpus law was fufp o« regard to rank, qua%, or any Iccurity he might^propofe to give for his peaceable dcmeaiibr ;: bot that their fituation was much more favourablel to themfelves, if their incorrigible obftinacy, thdr dangerous defigns againft the ftate, and their mortal enmity to ^he government, had not precluded them' iromits benefit; they were not retained in prifoni^ merely upon fufpicion, however ftrong and well founded that was, and However juftifiable the mea. fure would be upon that ground only.; itwasim-' mediately m their power to return in the moit unre-^ itramed liberty to their habitations, onlybycom-i laying with that very moderate teft of their princi-' l^sand condua which was required, and ihewihir that obedience to governmcm, and good difpofition . to theltate, which every member of fociety owed to the community to which he belonged, as a return tor the protedion which he received. But that as thty denied all allegiance to the ftate, they of courfe di claimed its protcftion, and forfeited all the pri- vileges of citizen -Ihip ; whilft by refufmg every fe- curity for their peaceable demeanor, they could only be confidcrcd as its moft dangerous and determined enemies. As thefe gentlem.en were unconcjuergble - ^te rcfoltttion not to fubmit to the ^rnv^A) they were all fent off to StaurH m^ teft 1777. ?n, m Virg inia, as I77f. /*• Attack on the nexr bat- teries at Philadel. jphia. ^eMtS TORT ,/ ti, CkAr. XW. Z l^ "^^""'y' »P0» the aj^oach of the ro,- ■■■■'*■.■■■■-. ' ' " '*' ... ' , • jAf foon a» Lord Howe had received iwcHiirence '■ iOf the fticccfs^at the Brandy wine, and the dcto! lUined^progref^ of the army to Philadelphia X t0ok,thc moftfpeedyand efeaual meaiC f^ conduaing the fleet and tranfports round the Dela m^rt^ not only to be at hand to concur in the aaive' operations of the campaign, but to fupply the army vith thofe provifions, ftores, and neceflarics, which ^c knew, muft by that time have been indifpenlably Mary. The voyage was intricate, tedious, and f^-lT'' ??^°°'hing lefs than the fuperiorfkill and ai>iUty which^ was exerted, in the co^idud and management of fo great a number of fhips, could have prevented the lofs from being confidtrable As thepaflage to Philadelphia, wif yet i^ cable, the fleet drew up and anchored along the S^wX '"^ ' ^^''' ^'^"^ Reedy Ifl^d to %1« ^.i Philadelphia, their firft objea was the eredline of s batteries to command the river, as well to prevent the mtercourfe of the American veiiels between ^cir upper and lower polts, as to prote^ the city trom anymfuh by water. The neccflity of this njcalurc became obvious, almoft as foon as it was determmed upon. I'he very day after the arrival of the lorccs, the American frigate Delaware, of u guns, anchored within 500 yards of the unfinifhed Datteries, and being fcconded by another frigate^ with fome fmallcr velTds, they commenced, and Supported for fome hours, a very heavy cannonade, both upon the batteries and the town. They did not, however, dilpjay the judgement which their knowledge of the river might be luppofed to afford. Upon the lallmor nf th^ ^iA^ *u- Tvfi_ , ed li^^ffcaually that ihc could not be got gft, which being The paC. fage of the De- la ware rendered impradi. cable. CliAP. Xm. Civil War h A M E R I CA. [4^^ Jjchigfeon pcrcciyedby Ac grenadiers, theybraught 1777. their battalion field pieces to play upon her with ib v-ir6 true a diredion and excellent effea, that the Dela- n . wc being obliged to ftrikc her colours, \ww board- F^tTr ed and taken bjan officer ind detachmem of that uk« corps. Brigadier General Cleveland immediately profited of the effea of the battaUon gun$, by d^ ^^^S the whole fire of the batteries to the other ▼effels, which were compelled to retire, with the lofs of a fchooner which was driven alhore. The Americans had at vaft expence, and with wonderful labour and induftry, conftruaed great and numerous works, to render the palfaffcof the Delaware up to Philadelphia impraaicable. In the |)rofccution of this defign, they had ereacd work^ and batteries upon a flat, low, marfhy ifland, or ra- therabank of mud and fand, which had been ac- camulated jn the^Ddaware, near the junaion of AcSc^y kill, and which from its nature was cal- led Mud, but from thcfe defences FortJfland. On ^c oppofite Ihore of New-Jerfey, at a place called fted-Bank, they had alfo conftruaed a fort or re- doubt, well covered with heavy artillery. In the deep, navigable channel, between, or under the co- irerof thefc batteries, they had funkfeveral ranees pt trames or machines, to which, from a refemblartcc mthe conftruaion, they had given the appellation ot chcvauyde frize, being compofed of tranfverfe Dcams, firmly united, pointing in various dircaions, and^ ftrongly headed with iron. Thefe were of Uich^a weight and ftrength, and funk in fuch a depth ot water, as rendered them equally difficult to b^ weighed or cut. through, and deftraaive to any ihip which had the misfortune of ilriking ajrainft toem. No attempt for raifing them, . for opSninff ^c channe m any manner, could, however, be n»we, until the command of thp (\^r.rf^.xm I Cwat,. ml mp . Abwiit thUee miles lower down the river thpv V--^ hddju!^. ot!hcr ranges of thde michinor, and wc2 cdnftlu«in^ for therr proieaion fomr confidcrablr aJd^^Miifive wdrks, wWch, though not ytt finift- e«,» w^fe m fucih fofwardnefs as to be providedwiih artillw^^ and to command their objca, at a dacp OB thfc J^'rfey fidc called Billing^s Pbinl. Thefc wwks ifAd maphincs were further fupported by leymi* gallies mounting heavy cannon, together ^ with two. floating batteries, a number of armed veflcls and fmall craft of various kinds, and feme hrelhlps; in a word, the Delaware fecmed to teem ' v^th every dcfenfive preparationi which could render the hblbile operations and movements of a fleet in the' C6nfindd and uncertain navigation of a river extremely djwigcrous. ' -^ Upon the rdprefentation of Captain Hammond, of the Roebuck, who with fon^ other fliips of war Billin '8 ^'^ i^vedi in the Delaware before Lord Howe, Fort"^ ' th^'Gencral detached two regiments, confifting of thie€ battalions, under Colonel Stirling, to diflodre th6 enemy from Billingsfort.; The detachment hainngicrofled- the river from Chefter, where the ft»ps'%i8, performed the fervice efl^aUaily without lofs^oppofition. The enemy, without waiting to^ be ftfftftlked, as foon as they heard of their approach,) immediately fpiked their artillery, fet fire to the barmcks, and abandoned the place with^ the grcateft prcdjiStatibn. The detachment? waited to dellroy, or to render uiifcrviceabk, thofe parts of the works whlclv fronted the river. The fuccefs, with the fplriti and pcrfeverancc exhibited by the oflir. ac 49tb regiment, were warmly cnwccd . , with thre enttny's left} Ijut General Jrey,^«r ^"''^• fiNTcing^ their troopt In t^c vUlage. having pjflcd it, p"fed!" and bringing the left wing forward, ^h^ Lmedi gly r^ired .on alliides \he enemf Js p"irfueS " for feme mile*; but the country being woodf. ftr^g, and cncbfed, the purfuit was attended with f|little effca, that they carried their cannon clear ?Lk r ^^^-n^f'* arrived with a fquadron of light-horfe from Philadelphia, towards the clofe of Je engagement,, and joined in the purfuit r wlrfm three^ttahons of grenadiers from the fan^e pl^ who had run thcmfelves out of breath in the ardour of ^Aiccouring their fellows, were too late to come « for any ihare of the adion. «» ^omc r appears that the morning was exceedingly fogp, to which the Amcr cans (who had confide. mWc luGccls in the beginning of the action) attii^ hutc their not improving the advantages they at firtf to^c done. . For they were not only, as they aiT^rt, fhrough this circumftance, prevented from obferv! SJ K*!f'^-^'"*''°'* °^ '^^ ^"^"^y* by which the ^tcr had time to recover from the effeft of the' %ft impreflbn they Jiad made on them; but the liferent bodies of their bwh army were kept in JgnOFance of each others movements and fuccefe- and were confequently incapable of aCVmg in con? Z\u\ ''/''? ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^"^« o^' their parties, ]xl ^h^'^'^ °^^ ^^ M poured thei.!^fire1po? odj^other, under a bliijd miftake on both fides of Jcmg engaged with the enemy. Wafhington paid great compliments to the right wing for its eood behaviour, of which he had1)een a^itnefsMe ^f !i^?^^?^ ?^^ "^^ >\ ^-ft. cloubkil, by any opinion on Kkk The ■'^j^. 434] ne HISTORir rfthe CHAr. XJV. wC: ;„c?.^ *^^' "^J^^ 'oyal umiy in this aaion. includ- ^^-^ ing the woimded and % kw prifoncra, rather cxcced- Lofa oq ^d that at the Brandy wjne, the whole amottntin? to bothfidc. 135; M the proportion of the flain was ftill Im^lkr than in that engagement, and fcarccly ex- cccdcU 70. Inthi3 number were unhsmpily fomc wv 'brave and diftinguiflicd officers,; particularly Brin- djcr General A^new, and Lieutenant Colonel Bml. «i, number of officers wounded was confidcriWc Ilie Americans lofs was cftlmated in the Gazette ^^ between 2 and 300 (lain, 600 wounded, and above 400 prifoners. Among the flain was General iMafh, and fcvcral other officers of all ranks; ci ofhcers were tal^en prifoners. In this adion the Amcncans aacd upon the ofTenfivc ; and thoujrh fcpulfed with lofs, ftewed themfelvcs a formidable adverfary ; capable of charging with refolution. and rctreatmg with good order. The hope there- iore entertained from the effea: of any a^ion with them as dccifive, and liHely to put a fpeedy tcrmi- natioi^lp the war, was exceedingly abated. Army re- TO taking of Philadelphia was not attended with Philadd. * , T '^^^"^age^ expeaedfrom that conqueft. The phia. '^T ^'iJ'y Jiowcver ftraitencd, ftiU kept the field ; and until the Delaware could be cleared, it was obvious thgt the army could not fupport itfclf in ' ^^'^i^^'^ L "" ^^^ ^''^^'*^'"* Therefore, as the whole f^^c^ci^ the campaign depended upon that opera tion, about a fortnight after the battle, the King'i army removed froi^^jperman-Town to Philadelphia, asbemg a more convenient place for the reduaion Qi Mud, or Fort Ifland, end for co-operating with the naval force in opening the navigation of die river. The enemy had returned after the aaion of Oennan-Town, to their old Camp at Skippach Creek, where they {lill continued. ^^^["»"5s^ being concerted betM'cen the General ana Aciniirai for removing the obitructions of the river UlAf . XI?* Civil* WAt iVi A ME R f C A. [435 ciffi, the former grdercd battcrict to Jjc crcdcd on 1 777. tkf weftern fliorc, or Pcnlj hanU fide, in hopes' of wO f^!^ "*, d»fl«a^ of the officers and crew of the Augufta lav the fecoi\d Lieutenant, Chaptain^and gunner, with no inconliderable number of the common men, unhappily pcriihcd. W#w and cfFcAual meaioires takvQ. T-h ' jii ^r^fs of this cnterprize by no means danSimv he rcfolution !?y^ were not defcrvfible, tbcy fct fire to crcry thing that wjis capable of r'jcei^'irig.it, and abandoning tie placd in tfct night. , " " ' Tlie lois df the enemy in men was faid to be very coniiderablc ; that of the fleet, was more trifling than could have been fuppofcd. Their artillerv^ftd Ibme ftores were taken at Mud Ifland. In twp%y$ after. Lord Cornwallis paflcd over with a detach- ment from Chefter to Billing's Fort, wlicre he was joined by a body of forces jr*^ arrived frpm New York. They proceeded all together to Red Bai^, which the enemy abandoned at their approach, leaving their artillery with a confiderable quantity of cannon-ball and ftores behind them. The works were deJftoUilied. Amen- can* burn their veOels. The enemy's Ihipping having now loft all pro- tcftlon on their fide of the river, feveral of their gallies and other armed vclTels took the advantage of a favourable night, to pafs the batteries of Phi- ladclphia* and efcape to places of fecurity farther up. The difcovery of this tranfadion occafioned the fending an officer with a party of feamen to man the Delaware frigate lately taken, and lying at Phi- ladelphia, and tlie taking of f>i«iS at fedfeih irrivcd and encamped ^^ Jl - J— ^"^"^^» °" the weft (idc of Ltee .Chamjplaiti^ ind at no Very great diftance to the northward of Crown Point, Ccneral Burgoyic, there ma tbe, IndiUns in conffrefs, and iftcrwiiai, m comphance with the cuftottis of thofc people June at. ^vc thdn a war fcaft. The IJkjccIi whifch he macS ta the ravages upon this ocafioh has been puWIihcd. It war ilculated in thofe powerful ftraliii of el^ocii. tion . by which that gentleman is dillinguiihed, to i**i*^^ ™f ^r«^ur in t|(e coiiimon caUfe, and at the f^Ltimc to reprefs tlieir Wrbanty. For this pur- <£°"= i^ took pains in C3rplaih% to thcin the diftinc- Wf l>«wccn ,a war carried on Againft a comihoh ?SJS^' >?? ^*^»ch the whole cc^untry ar^d jicoblc wcrt hoftiW, and the prefent, tn Which good aiid faifhflil foWe£ks were largdy, and of ricceftty, Intcrmiked gfth rebels atid traitprs. Upon f bis prihclpie hcM down fcveral.injunaions fbr the gbvcrhnicnt of their cdndua, partic\i!arty, th4t they ffiautd oSly kill thofe T^"^^ mp^^ *® ^"^^ ^^ i :^ oW men, women, cHildrcn, and prifoners, ffioujd be held facrcd from the knife or Hatchet, eveh In the heat of aaual cpnmaj that they fhojild only fcalp thofe whom they had flain in/air bp^tlbn j but that *^??;^9,Pretfnce, fubtldty,or coloilr'of brcvari- ^V^^ . f^cr Ti^^^^^^ fc^lp.thc woiindfed^ or even ry'"^S » ml^ch Icfskill pril^ners In tH'at condition, by way pf evading the injunaion. Aiid they were promifcd a compcnfation for prifohcrs.'but informed Ji??'r^ ^y ftould be called to accoiitit for fcalps. .Ihefe endeavours did in fome ihcafure mitigate, btit were not of force wholly to reftraiti their fero- W:, of which fome unhappy inftanccs afterwards appeared. > The General Toon after difperfed a manifefto, lialculated to fpread terror among the contuniacioiis, and particularly to revive in their minds every latent ^j" ^-«.--_-«» wi ive,i iitiivcu mjUl KliOWiCugC OF illior- niatioq f HAp. ?iy. Civil Wa* in ^MZ^IC A. l^v f^Sl'S" °^ ^^ *^'^^^* operations of the ravages, whofe i ijf, OW°J" ^f*, accordingly niagnificc!, and thd^ ct- ^.^^ gcrncft to be let loofc to rtieir' prey, ddctibcd with wjcpmmon energy. The fb^dc bf that great power. ^i?h was now fpread by fca and land, to embrace dr to crufli every part of Anrcf lea, was difplayed in ^jfull, lofty, and exprcflive %uagc. ITie rebellion tftn Its cffctts, and the condua of the prefent go- ^ wrnors and governments, were charged with the ?!r^" colouring, and exhibited a moft hideous jjiaur^, of unparalleled injufticc, cruelty, perfecu- Jon a^d tyratlhy. Encouragement and fmploy. Alcnt were afTured tothofe, who with a difpofition and ability fuited to the purpofc, fliould aftually aflift in redeeming their country from flavery, and m the re-eftabli(hmcnt of legal government. Pro- tcaion andfecurity, clogged with conditions^ re- fcriacd by circumftancei, and nlther impcrfcaiy or i|icj^j>|icitv cxpreflcd, were held Out to the peaceable and mduftnous, who continued in their habitations. And all the calamities and outrages of war, arrayed m^thcir moft terrific forms, were denounced agamft tnofc who perfeycrcd in their hoftility. » T; • / „ ?^^/'^™y '^aj^ng made a fliort itay at Crown f pint, for- the eftablilhmeht of magazines, aniiof- pitar, and other neceffary ferviccs, proceeded, in concert with the naval armament, to invert Ticon- dcro|ra, which was the firft obiea of their dcftina- tion. Although the ralh and ill condufted attempt made upon that place in the year 1758, with the ' confequent repulfe and heavy lofs fuftained by the iJriUfh army, rendered it at that time ah objea of general attention, it may not at this diftance of time DC wholly unneceffary to take feme notice of its muation, as well as of its ftatc of defence. Ticonderoga lies on the weftern (hore, and only Account a tew mUcs to the northward from the commence- of Ticon- inent of that narrow in !<-«• K«t «^k;^K »t.^ — ._„ r. -. derova. , • '^^'j ^7 »T4i»v4i kMw Wilier ironi f*- Lake m-- 450 ne niST OKT 0/ the Chap. X¥^ 1777. Lake George is conveyed to Lake Champlain* ^•^^"^"^ Crown Point lies about a dozen miles farther north at the extremity of that inlet. The firft of thcfc places is fituated on an angle of land, which is fur- rounded on three fides by water, and that covered by rocks. A great part of the fourth fide was co. yered by a deep morafs, and where that fails, the bid French lines dill continued as a defence on the liorth-weft quarter. The Americans ftrengthencd ^hefe lines with additional works ana a block-houfe. They had other pofts with works and blockhoiifci, on the left, towards Lake George, To the right of the French lines they had alS two new block. houfcs with other works. On the eaftern ihore of the inlet, and oppofite to Ticonderoga, the Americans had taken ftill more pains in fortifying a high circular hill to which they gave the name of Mount Independence. On the fummit of this, which is Tableland, they had crcft. ed a liar fort, enclofing a large fquare of barracks, well fortified and fupplicd with artillery. The foot of the mountain, which on the weft fide projefted into the water, was ftrongly entrenched to its edge, and the entrenchment well Jincd with heavy artii- kry. A battery about half way up the mount, fuftained and covered thelc lower works. ^ The Americans, with tlicir ufual induftry, had joined thcfc two ports by a bridge of communicatioa thrown over the inlet. This was, like many other of their performances, a great and mod laborious work. The bridge was fupported on 22 funkcn piers of very large timber, placed at nearly equal diilances j the fpaces betw(*en thefe were filled with fep^rate floats, each about fifty feet long and twelve feet wide, ftrongly faltened together with chains and rivets, and as effettuaily attached to the funken pil- iSFo. xjii tne i^a&c i^nainplaiii fide of the bridge, it C«AP. XV. Civil War i» A M E R I C A. it was defended by aboom compofcd of very larffc pieces of timber, faftcned together by rivetted bolts and double chains, made of iron an ineh and haff fquarc. Thus not only a communication was main- tamed between thcfe two pofts, but all acccfs by water from the northern fide was totally cut oft. It is to be obferved, that as the inlet immediately jftcr pafling Ticondcroga, aflumes a new form, fiiddcaly widcmng to a cpnfiderable breadth, and becoming navigable to velTcls of burden, fo from thence it alfo holds the name of Champlain, al- thougj it is not properly a part of the lake. On the other hand, the fouthcrn gut from Lake George befides being narrow, is alfo rendered unnavigablc by Ihallows and falls ; but on its arrival at Ticon- lleroga, it is joined by a great body of water on the caftern fide, called, in this part. South River, but higher np towards its fource, before the junftion of the eldo- branch with the younger, which runs from South Bay, it is known under the appellation of Wood Creek. The confluence of thefe waters at Ticpnderoga, forms a fmall bay to the fouthward of the bridge of communication, and the point of .Iar4 formed by their junaion, is compofcd of a niountain called Sugar Hill. Notwithftanding tlie apparent ftren- th of Ticon- deroga from what we have hitherto iten, it is en- tirely overlooked, and its works effeaually com- manded by Sugar Hill. This circuml^ance occa- fioncd a coniultation among the Amercans as to the fortifying of that Mount ; but their works were already far too extenfive for their powers of defence, and would require ten or twelve thoufand men to be efteftually manned. It was likewife hoped, that the difficulty of accefs to the Sugar Mount, and the lavage inequality of its furface, would prevent the *ttciiiy iiom attempting to proht of its fituation. It C453 ' II ml 1»* fll S T Q R y 0/ ih !EJi|AP, 'XV. im- ^ W^)d be ^cctdingly, 4ifficvilt fxQVfi the ii^for- ^^01^ matioii bfforc us, to i^rm ^^y fiuthc^ic eftimatc "tor Ihf , umi^l)^!; ^f Anjcr jpajis that wprc m the ai^ual 4«f«iicffQf|;Jiii«fc two polls, ft iRpcarg by the com- mandcijf ia chief, Qepcral St. Clair's pxculpatary lettor t^ |h^ eoncrrcis, ^s ycU as by the r'cMutions of the council of war, which accompanies it, that his ^«l^ iprcc, includjhg 900 militia, who werp to %\iit him>wi f few days, was only al?out 3900 men ; Ih^t tfe^fc jv^rc ill equipped, ai^d wprfe armed ; par- tkijMy is the firticle of bayonets, an su-iji fo e|en- Ki^l ift the defence of lines, that they had Jiot one to ten ot ithcir nupber. This accoi^nt w^ouid fecm mt only l^t'^fadory but conclulive, if it iad not been iOQntrjadi^cd by p^hers. In a dct,^l of the traofi^iions . of the campaign, tranfmitted by Ae WiT Mc^ of Matrachufetts Bay to the Atnericai ;^C5p\Hi<» m I'r^ncc, and for th<; conveyance of which a li^ ^ip was fent put on purpofc, t^ey ftate St. (Clair's ibrce at near 5000 men yrell equipped and jarrocd.!i.;^.ip, however, to be obferved, that they ^alk:wrthgiieat bittcrac£j of that General'^ conduft, >ta he bftd 4pne in his firft letter to cpngriefs, with ircfpe^jippfi an unfortiinate officer, than dtftraft .ifom ibeapttblic opir^ipp of their own xpnduft and powevbytftttributing^cakuefs to their, councils, mmdS^Q^f^y

^. ^ery advahtaffeous poft of Mourn Hope, ^frlhfch bcfides commahding their Hri<:8 fft *great ??^i^"SCTO"s degree, tbta% cut off thc^ rficahcin With that lake. The fame fupftidW^ft an^ total%antof vigour ajipeaircd in every thing dttithcir fide, exceiit in the kecpirife lij^of an iilcft^id ro4^ ot cattttbh, whidi vm fo mtidh contetriiwd on thfe ether ^s nbt^d- be V^iice V^ttirhfcd. ,^*lM?^Jon in J^^ cA«i6n * its t«,rk., 2l^^^M^ and ^bitttWhiea. tms, ^^t bythfc 5th, tnatfcrs we^e fo :^ idv^ttc^d, • •^ «■* CftAP. XV. Cf vtL WAit ^AMERICA. Frazer, at the head of his brigade, confiftinfr of the hght troops, grenadiers, and Ibmc other corps. Major General Reidcie! was alfo ordered to join in Ae purfuit by land, with the greater part of the Bninfwick troops, either tb flipport the Brigadier drto aft feparately, as occafion might require, or circumftances dired. The enemy left a prodidous artillery behind them, which with thofc taken o^ dcftroyed in the armed veflcls at Skcneiborouph amounted to no lefs than 128 pieces, of all forts* ferviceablc and unlerviceable. They alio left fome mihtanr ftores of different forts, and no inconfidc rable Itock of provifions in the forts. General Burgoyne condufted the purfuit by water m perfon. That bridge and thofe works' which- the Americans had laboured hard for ten months to render impenetrable, were cut through in lefs time by the Britifh feamen and artificers ^han It would have coft them to have defcribed their ftrufture. In a word, they did their bufmefs with fuch fpeed and effeft, that not only the gun boats, but the Royal George and Inflexible frigates* had paired through the bridge by nine o'clock in the mornmg. Several regiments embarked on board the velfels, and the purXuit up the river was lupported with fuch vigour, that by three o'clock in the afternoon, the foremofl brigade of the gun- boats, was clofely engaged with the enemies galiies near Skencfborough Falls. In the mean time, three regiments which had been landed at South Bav afcended and paffed a mountain, with great expe- dition, m order to attack the enemy's works at the tails, and thereby cut off their retreat. But their nsedy flight prevented the execution of that defign. Upon the approach of the frigates, the galiies, which were ahready overborne by the gun-boats, bit all Jpint; two of them were accordingly taken. a^>d rmcc blown up. The rebels now "giving way to their defpair, fetiire to their works, iiockaded iorfs, ttiils, and batteaux, after which thej cicapcd as wt U ^777' N n n H neHl^TORYofthe Chap. XV/ 17^7. as they could up the Wood Creek. This ftrokc V-«vN^ feemcd to complete the ruin of their iU-fated aFr>v for the battcaux were deeply loaded, befides their bagcagc, with ammunition, (lores, ^nd provifiow: fo that they were now left naked in I'le wood« dcftitute of provifion, and without any c her means ot defence, than what they derived from the arms iQ their hands. ^Conftifion and difmay, y attended their mam body on the left. Tht .diers had loft all rcfpea for, and confidence in their commanders. It would be fruiUefs to cxpeft refolution, where no order nor command could be maintained. Brigadier Frazer continued and fupported the chace through the vehement heat of a burning day, with his ufual activity and vigour. ^laving rccciv- ed intelligence- that the enemy's rear were at no great diftance, and were commanded by Colonel irancis, one of their beft and braveft officers, his troops lay that night on their arms. He came up With the enemy, at five in the morning, whom he found ftrongly pofted, with gre^t advantage of ground, and a ftiU greater fupcriority in point of number. As be cxpeaed every moment to be joined^ by General K^idefel, and was apprebcnfive that the enemy might efcape if he delayed, he did not hcfitate to^begin the attack. The advantages which thcypoffeffcd in ground and number, and perhaps more than both, the goodnefs of their com- mander, induced them to make a better ftand than might have been cxpeded from their condition in other refpeds. As Frazcr's corps was not fupported near fo foon as had been expeaed, the engagement was long ; and though the light infantry and grenadiers gave levcral^ linking proofs of their fuperiority, afiairs vvcrc uiii uudccideG and critical.' The arrival ot the Germans was at length dc<;ifivc. The enemy Chap. XV, Civil War /« A M E R I C A. fled bn all fides, leaving their brave, commaiidcr, 1777! with many other officers, and above 200 private v-^^ men, dead on the field. About the fame number befides a Colonel, fevcn Captains, and ten Subal! terns, were taken prifoners. Above 600 were fup- pded to be wounded; many of whom perifted mifc- rably m the woods. The principal lofs on the fide of the royal army, was that of Major Grant, a brave officer, who was killed, St, Clair, with the van of the American army, was at this time at Caftletown, fu°"L A "*'^^'. ^''r^^' ""''' ^I^" *he account of this difafter, and of the more fatal ftroke at Skenef- borougb, and under the apprchenfion of bcine inter- cepted at Fort Anne, he ftruck on to the woods on his left, probably uncertain whether he fhould «rea his cottrle towards the New England pro- vinces and the upper part of the Conneaicut, or to rort Edward, ' ' ^During theje advantages on the left. Colonel Hill wa6 detached with thepth regiment fromSkenef- borough towards Fort Anne, in order to intercept the fugitives who fled along the Wood Creek, whilft another part of the army was employed in earryinff batteaux over the falls, in order to facilitate their movement to diilodge the enemy from that poft. In that^expedition, the Colonel was attacked by a body of the enemy, confifting as he conceived, of fix times the jumber of his detachment, who findinff 5U1 their eiforts in front totally ineffeftual to forcf the judicious pofition which he had taken, attempt- ed to furround th.^ regimem. This alarming at- tempt put ^ him, under a neceffity of changini his ground m the heat of adion, —Nothing lefs than the moft perfed difcipline fupported by the coolell intrepidity, could have enabled the regiment to execute fo critical a move- " -«-. xxi Hiv> irfcc or fne enemy, and in iiich circum- KaiiGcs. It was however performed with fuch ifeadmefs and efiea, that the enemy, after an attack of 40^ ^^neUlSTOKToffb, CHAP.XV. 1777- f three hours, were fo totally rcpulfed, and with ^uch bfs, that after fetting fire to Fort Anne, S fled with the mmoit precipitation towards Fort Edward, upon the Hudfon's river* The lofe of the royal army, in all this fcrvicc, ^nd m fo many different engagements, fome o which were warm, and feemed liiiblc to lofs, was very fmall. The whole in killed and wounded, not much exceeding two hundred men. Such was the rapid torrent of fuccefs, which fwept ^very thing away before the northern army in its Succefs a' ■ ^^ '' ""** *° ^"^ wondered at, if both officers of the f "'^ private men were highly dated with their for. northern r""J» ^»"^ deemed that and their prowefs to be •rmyyn. irrefinible ; if they regarded their enemy with the der Gen. greateft contempt, and confidered their own toils to goy^e. t "/^'^y ^^ \" ^"^' ^^^^"y to be already in their » > hands i and the reduaion of the northern provinces to be rather a matter of fome time, than an arduous talk full of difficulty and danger, ^ At I'OTie, the joy and exultation was extreme : not only at court, but with all thofe who hoped or wiihed the uivqualihtrcl iubjugatioii, arduncorditiml fubmiffion of the colonies. Ihe lois in reputation was greater to the Americans, and capable of more tatal confequences, than even that of ground, of pelts, of artillery, or of men. .AH the contemptuous and moil degrading charges which had been irtade by their enemies, of their wanting the refolution and abilities of men, even in the defence of vvhat- .cver was dear to them, were now repeated and be. lieved. Thole who /till regarded them as men, and who had not yet loft all affcdion to them as brethren; who allb retained hopes that a happy reconciliation upon conllitutional principles, with' out lacrificing the dignity or the jull authority of ^ gan to experience thofc difficulties, which incrcafed pj^^^,, as It farther advanced, until they at length became ties un-" infurmountable. From the 30th of July, to the der which 15th of Auguft, the army was continually employed, G- Ji"»- and every poffible meafurc ufcd, for the bringing S"y"",'» forward of batteaux, prgvifions and ammunition, b^J,,,' from Fort George to the firft navigable part of Hudfon*8 River, a diftance of about 1 8 miles. The toil was exceffive in this fcrvicc, and the cffed in no degree equivalent to the expencc of labour and time. The roads were in fome parts ftecp, and in others required great repairs. Of the horfcs which had been fupplied by contraft in Canada, through the various delays and accidents attending fo long and intricate a combination of paflage by land and carriage by water, not mprc than one third were yet arrived. The induftry of the General had been able to coUea no more than 50 teams of oxen, in all the country through which he had marched, or this m which he at prefent fojourned. Thcfe re- fources were totally inadequate to the purpofes of fupplymg the army with provifions for its current confumption, and to the cftablilhment at the fame time of fuch a magazine as would enable it to pro- lecute the further operations of the campaign. Ex- ceeding heavy rains added to all thefe difficulties ; and the impediments to the fervice vere io various and ftubborn, that after the utmoft exertions for nftcen fucceffive days, there was not above four ' Oays provifion in (lore, nor above ten batteaux in the Hudfon's River. / In thefe embarraffing and diftreffing circum- rtances, the General received intelligence, that Colonel St. Leger had arrived before, and was con- dudrng his operations a^ainft Fort Stanwix. He iniantiy and jufdy conceived, that a rapid move- ment forward at this critical junfture would be of the 468] TSe HISTORY of the Chap. XVT. 1777- the -utmoft importance. If the enemy proceeded ^^^'^'^ up the Mohawk, and that St. Legcr fuccccded, he would be liable to get between two fires ; or at any rate. General Burgoyne*s army would get between him and Albany, fo that he muft cither ftand an adion, or by paffing the Hudfon's river, endeavour to fecure a retreat higher up to the New-England provinces. If, on the other hand, he abandoned Fort r^anwix to its fate, and fell back to Albany, the Mohawk country would of courfe be entirely laid open, the junction with St. Leger eftablifheu; and the combined army at liberty and leifureto prcfcribe and chufe its future line of operation. The propriety of the movement was evident; but the difficulty lay, and great indeed it was, in finding means to carry the dcfign into execution. To maintain fuch a communication with Fort George during the whole time of fo extenfive a movement, as would afford a daily fupply of provifion to an army, whillt its didance was continually increafing, and its courfe liable to frequent variation, was ob- vioufly impraiPticable. The army was too weak to afford a chain of pofts for fuch an extent ; continual elcorts for every feparate fupply would be a lliil * greater drain ; and in either cafe, the enemy had a body of militia within a night's march, at White Creek, fufficient to break the line of communication. Some other fouroe of fupply was therefore to be fought, or the dcfign to be dropped, andtheprof- pedt of advantage which it prcfcnted totally rclia- quiflied. The enemy received large fupplies of live cattle from the New-England provinces, which paifing the upper part of the Connefticut river, took the route to Mancheiler, Arlington, and other parts of the New Hampfhlre grants, a tradt of land dif' puted between that province and New- York, until they were at length depofited at Bennington, from Y/hciice they were conveyed, as occafion required * to Vm<'VN^ Chap. XVI. Ci vii. War in AMERICA. r^fia t^'J't^uTl ^""'"^o" «»» between the .777. forks of theHoiick riyer, before their obuinine '^ tliat name, and without being touched by dSTr^ t. T ^^°■""'^«<> the eaftlardofHufc"' S^^tSlf'"'^- "'k'"'' ^° '"-^^P^ble from i5h»?"on of ;^^fh *^,f!i''?'."°*''«''«*<=P'efc«trouble, could have called it into notice. It was however « this tnne, befides being a ftore for cattle" a S for large quantities of corn and other n^c^S and what rendered it an objcft of particular ^S,! tion to the royal army, a large number of whed we^'Sf •."'^=\*"=y *='' '" particular^? ZXf 'f'** wP. *"*• ™^ place was guarded by a body of mAtia. which underwent fuch Sequ^t change, that^its number was neceflkrily uncotorn^ Tlie General faw that the poffeiTion of this deuofit would at once removeall the impediments tSZ ftramedtheoperationsof the army, and enablTwmT^ Foceed direaiy in the profecut'i'on of hU S He accordingly laid afcheme tofurprize the pS . and entrufted the execution of it to theGeW The force allotted to this fervice amounted to about 500 me.;, confifting of about 200 of Reidefrl-^ dJ-mounted German Drlgoons, Captab Ws raarkfmen the Canada volunteers, a party of pro nncials who were perfedly acquainted w°h aJ country, and about a hundred Indians! tre co^ earned w.th them two light pieces of artiller^. ^ hmi^"^ "^iir'yoppoiucto Saratoga, having at the fame time Licutenant-Coloncl Brcyman's con,"! con- * 47o] ne> HISTO R Y 0/ the Chap. XVI. 1777. confiding of the Brunlwick grenadiers, light infan- :;S^^^ try. and Chaffcurs, pofted a Batten Kill, in order if neccflary to fupport Bcaum. Thciattcr in his march fell in with a party of the icnemy who were efconingfome cattle and provifions, both of which he took with little difficulty andfcnt back to the camp. The fame fatal impediment which retarded all the operations of the army, viz. the want of horfes, and carriages, concurred witli the badnefs of the roads in rendering Beaum*8 ad- vance fo tedious, that the enemy were well informed of his defign, and had time to prepare for his re- ception. Upon his approach to the place, having received intelligence that the enemy were too ftrong to be attacked by his prefent force with any profpca of fuccefs, he took a tolerable good poll near Sant- coick Mills, on the nearer branch of what becomes afterwards the Hofick river, which is there called Walloon Creek, and ut about four miles diftance from Bennington ; difpatching at the fame time an cxprefs to ihe General with an account of his fitua- tion. % Colonel Btcyman was accordingly difpatchcd from Batten Kill to reinforce Beaum. That evil fortune now began to appear, which for fome time continued to fweep every thing before it. Breyman was fo overlayed by bad weather, fo funk and cm- barraffed in bad roads, and met with fuch delays from the weaknefs and tiring of horfes, and the difficulty of paffing the artillery carriages, through ft country fcarcely pradicable at any time, and now rendered much worfe by the continual rain, that he was from eight in the morning of the 15th of Aug. to four in the afternoon of the following day, not- withftanding every poffible exertion of men and officers, in getting forward about twenty-four miles. , A Gene- CliAl*. XVI. Civit War in A M E R I C A. [471 A General Starke, who commanded the militia at Bennmgton, determined not to wait for the junc- ^^^laJ^^ ^^** parties, advanced in the morning, whilft 3rcyman was yet ftruggling with the difficul- ties ofhis march, to attack Beaum in his poft, which he had entrenched, and rendered as dcfenfible as time and 5ts nature would permit. The loyal pro- vincials who were along with him, were fo eager in their hopes to find what they wifhed toihe real, that when the enemy were furrounding his poft on all fides, they for fome time perfuaded him, that they were bodies of armed friends who were coming to hw affiftance. The colonel foon difcovered their error, and made a brave defence. His fmall works being at length carried on every fide, and his two pieces of cannon taken, moft of the Indians, with fcveral of the Provincials, Canadians, and Britilh markfmen, efcaped in the woods. The German dragoons, ftiU kept together, and when their am- munition was expended, were bravely led by their Colonel to charge with their fwords. They were foon overwhelmed, and the furvivors, among whom was their wounded Colonel, were made prifoners. Breyman, who had the hard fortune not to receive the fmalleft information of this engagement, arrived near the fame ground about four in the afternoon where inftead of meeting his friends, he found his ^achment attacked on all fides by the enemy. Notwithftanding the fevere fatigue they had under- gone, his troops behaved with great vigour and refolution, and drove the Americans in the begin- ning from two or three different hills on which they had pofts. They were however at length over- powered, and their ammunition being unfortunately expended, although each foldier had brought out lorty rounds in his pouch, they were obliged with great reluaance to abandon the two pieces of artil- '""' '"'"^^ "" ' broueht with them, and to retreat in circumftance to which 1777* Aug. 16. Colonels Beaum and Brey- man de- feated. the beft manner they could 473] mmsroR y 0/ the chap. xvi 1777. which the latcncfs of t^, evening was very fa- ^"^'^'^^ vourable. = vmn .-. - t't]~ft 'ft The lofs of men fuftaincd by thefe two enMgc- mcnts could not be lefe than five of fix hundred of whom, however, the greater part were prifoncrs! But this was. not the only or the greateft lofs. The reputation and courage which it afforded to the militia, to find that they were able to defeat regular forces ; that neither Englifhmen noc Germans were invincible, nor invulnerable to their impreilion ; and the hope and confidence excited by the artillery! . and other trophies of viftory, were of^much greater confequcnce. This was the firft turn which fortune had taken in favour of the Americans in the northern war, fmce fome time before the death of Montgo- mery 5 misfortune had fucceeded misfortune, and defeat had trod upon the heels of defeat, fmce that period. This was the firll inftance in the prefent campaign, in which fhe feemed even wavering, much lefs that Ihe for a moment quitted the royal ftandard. The exultation was accordingly great on the one fide ; nor could the other avoid feeling fome damp . to that eagcrnefs of hope, and receiving fome check to that affured confidence of fucccfs, which an unmixed fcries of fortunate events muft naturally excite. St. Leger's attempt upon Fort Stanwix, (now named by the Americans Fort Schuyler) was foon after its commencement favoured by a fucccfs fo fignal, as would in other cafes, and a more fortu- nate feafon, have been decifive, as to the fate of a ftronger and more important fortrefs. General Harkimer, a leading man of that country, was marching at the head of eight or nine hundred of the Tryon county militia, with a convoy of provi* fions, to the relief of the fort. St. Leger, well aware of the danger of being attacked in his trenches, and of withltanding the whole weight of the gar- rifon CiiAP. XVI. Civil, V^Aii in A M K R I A. rifon in fome pardcularftand probably weak point at the fame initant, judiioufly detached Sir John Johnfon with fomc regulars, the whole or part of his own riegiment, and dicfavagcs, to lie in ambufh in the woods, and intercept t& enemy upon their march. It fliOtt^ feem by the condud of the militia and their leader, that they were not only totally ignorant of all military duties, but that they had even never heard by report of the nature of an Indian war, or of that peculiar fervic^ in the woods, to which from Its nature and filiation this coumry was at all times liable. Without examination of their ground, without a reconnoitring, or flanking party, they plunged blindly into the trap that was laid for their dBftrudion. Being thrown into a fudden and in- evitable diforder, by a near and heavy fire on al- HJoft all fides, it was completed by the Indians, who iaftontlypurfuing their fire, rufhed in upon their brqken ranks, and made a moft dreadful flaughter amongft them with their fpears and hatchets. Not- withftanding their want of condua, the militia ftewed no want of courage in their deplorable fitua- tion. In the midft of fuch extreme danger, and fo bloody an execution, rendered ftill more terrible by the horrid appearance and demeanor of the prin- cipal aftors, they rccollefted themfclves fo far as to recover an advantageous ground, which enabled them after to maintain a fort of running fight, by which about one third of their number was pre- ferved^ The lofs was fuppofed to be on their fide about 400 killed, and half that number prifoners. It was ' thought of the greater confequence, as almofl all thofewho were confidered as the principalleaders and inftigators of rebellion in that country were .. — -_.^, iiiv tii«tii^-ii uiiu c;LUiuuiuii were accordingly great, and all oppofition from the milit [473 ^777- PP la in 474] n^nisro r*% 1/ the gmap. xvr, 1777- »n that country, was fumidbi to be at an end. The '-^■»-' circumftance of old nei|liourhood and pcrfonal knowledge between many of the panics, in thepre- fcnt rage and animofity of faftion, could by no means be favourable to theextention of mercy even fuppofing that it might have been otherwife pradifcd with prudence and fafety, at a time when the power of the Indians was rather prevalent, and that their rage was implacable. For according to their computation and ideas ©f lofs,the favagcshad purchafed this viftory exceeding dearly, 33 of their number having been flain, and 29 wounded, amonir whom were fcveral of their principal leaders, and of their mod diftinguiihed and favourite warriors. The lofs accordingly rendered them fo difcontcntcd, mtraftablc and ferocious, that the fervjce was great- ly affeaed by their ill difpofition. The unhappy prifoners were however its firft objefts ; moft of whom they inhumanly butchered in cold blood. The New-Yorkers, rangers, and other troops, were not without lofs in this adiod. On the day, and probably during the time of this engagement, the garrifon, having received in- tclhgcncc of the approach of their friends, endea- voured to make a diverfion in their favour, by a vigorous and well conduded fally, under the direc- tion of Colonel Willet, their fecond in command. Willet conduded his bufmefs with ability and fpirit. He did confidcrable mifchief in the camp, brought off fome trophies, no inconfiderable fpoil, fome of which confifted in articles that were greatly wanted, a few prifoners, and returned with little or no lofs. He afterwards undertook, in company with another officer, a much more perilous expedition* They paffed by night through the befiegers works, and in contempt of the danger and cruelty of the favages, ' made their way for 50 miles through pathlefs woods and unexplored moraffes, in order to raife the coun- try ''' xvn I ^^.xvi. ovttM "AlCi/i AMERICA. [475 V-^VN-/ tnr, and t)ring relief tdift^rt. Such an aaion 1777. demands the praifc even W^^ an enemy. ' ' '^ ^Colonel St. Leger left no means untried to profit of his viaory byiintimidating the garrifon. He fehtVerbal and written meflages, dating their hope- Icfs fituation, fhe utter deftrudion of their friends the impoiTibility of their obtaining relief, as Gene! ralBurgoyne, after deftroying everything in his way, was now at Albany receiving the fubmiffion of all the adjoining countries, and by prodigioufly mag- rtifying his own force. He reprefented, that in this ilate of things, if, through an incorrigible obftinacy, they fhould continue a hopelefs and fruitlqfs defence, thcjf would according to the praftice of the moft civilized nations, be cut off from all conditions, and every hope of mercy. But he particulariy dwelt upon the pains he had taken in foftening the rage of the Indians for their late lofs, and obtaining from them fecurity, that in cafe of an immediate Uirrendcr of the Fort, every man of the garrifon Ihouldbe Ibared : whilil on the other hand they de- clared with the utmbft bitter execrations, that if they mrt With any further refiftance, they would not only maffacre the/gafrifon, but that every man, woman and child in the Mohawk country would necelTarily, and however againft his will, fall facri- fices to the fury of the favages. This point he faid he prefTed entirely on the fcore of humanity j he promifcd on his part, in cafe of an immediate fur- render, every attention which a humane and gene- rous enemy could give. ITie Governor, Colonel Ganfevort, behaved with great firmnefs. He replied, that he had been en- trufted v/ith the charge of that garrifon by the United States of America ; that he would defend the truft committed to his care at every hazard, thought himfelf accountable for, nor fhould he at all , concern 476] mtHlSTOl^'^tftke Chap, XVI. ^777' <:onccni hi^^jplf abpMt^y confcqucnccn ^hat at- tended the diicbaxgc orVIk duty. It waAijirewdiy remarked in the fort, that half the pains would not have been taken, to display the force immediatcly without, or the. fucccft ai a diftaiM^e, if 0cy bore any proportion at all to the magnitude iw whjch they were repQpfeated. Thp Britiih commander wi^s ^wch diil^ppointcd in the ftatc of the fort. It wa^ ftronger, in better condition, and much better defended than hcex- pedcd. After great Ij^bpiir in, his approaches, he found hi^ artillery deficient, being infufBcicnt in weight to make any confid^rabJc impr^flipp. The only remedy was to bjfipg his approaches, fo near that they muft t^kc cfc^, which he fet abput with the greatcft diligence. In the raeaq, time, the In- dians continued fuUcn rapjl iflityaa^blcv T:1]^^» late loffes might have been cured by certain advantages ; but ^he misfortune w?s, th^y had y?$ got iw> plunder, and their profpett of getting anyfeem^d togrow every day fainter. It is the peculis^r charaderiftic of that people, to c^^hibit ^Jf certain inftatices de- grees of courage and p^Tf^yeran^c which fh^rk reafon and credibility, aj^i to betray in others the greatcft if refolution and ti*Mii4ity ; with a total want of thatfconftancy which might enable them for any length of time to ftruggle with difficulty. ; , . Col. St. Whilft the comm^nde^ was carrying on bis ope- owfJcd ''*'^^"* ^^^^ ^^ "'"^^*^ induftry, the Indians re- torftreat ^civcd a flying report that Arnold was c&iiiingwith from Fort » thoufand men to relieve the fort. The command- Stanirix. cr endeavoured to hearten them, by promifmg to lead them himfelf, to bring all his beft. troops into adion, and by carrying their leaders out to mark a field of battle, and the flattery of confulting them upon the intended plan of operation. Whilil he was thus endeavouring to foothe their temper, and to revive taeir flagging f^jirits, other fcours arrived with Chap. XVI. Giva War i« A M E R I C A. with intelligence, proM^y contmed in part by Ihcmfclves, which ftr(Piaoubled, and afterwards tf ebled the number of the enemy, wi|h the com. fottable addition th:it Burgbyne's army was entirely cut to pieces* The Colonel returned to camp, and called a council of their chiefs, hoping that by the influence whi^h Sir John Johnfon, and the fuperin- tcndants Claua wid Butler had over them, they might ftill be induced to make a ftand. Ek was difappointed. A part of the Indians decamped vhM fh« council wa? fitting, and the remainder threatened peremptorily to. abandon jy>n if he did not immediately retrear. j. • ;, 1477' m?' . mv Th0 retreat was of courfe precipitate ; or it was rather, in plain terms, a flighty attended with dila- ''^"«- **• grecable cireumftances. The tents, with moft of n- -^ ^ye'iirh* ni line to fiipDort the fire ftill fell. The C483r Chap. Xyi. Civil War i» A M E R I C A. The right were ftill unengaged ; but, it was foon 1777. perceived that the enemy were marching a ftrong V-or>^ body round their flank, in order to cut off their retreat. To oppofe this bold and dangerous at- tempt, the light infantry, with a part of the 24th regiment, which were joined with them at that poft, were thrown into a fecond line, in order to cover the retreat of the troops into camp. Whilft this motion was yet in its procefs, the General enemy pufhed a ftcfh and ftrong reinforcement to ^"^^^er decide the aftion on the left, which being totally ^'"*^^ overpowered by fo great a fuperiority, was com- pelled by dint of force to give way ; upon which the light infantry and 24th regiment were obliged by a very quick movement, to endeavour to favc that wing from bemg totally ruined. It was in this movement that the brave Brigadier General Frazer was mortally wounded. An officer whofe lofs would have been feverely felt, and his place with difficulty fupplicd iii a corps of the moft accompliihed officers. The fituation of the detachment was now ex- ceedingly critical ; but the danger to which the lines were expofed was ftill more alarming and fc- rious. Phillips and Reidefel were ordered to cover the retreat, and thofe troops which were neareft, or moil difcngaged, returned as fill as they could for their defence. The troops in general retreated in good order, though very hard prcfled. They were obliged to abandon fix pieces of cannon ; the horfes not only being deftroycd, but moft of the brave artillery men, who had as ufual, under the. condua of Major Williams, difplayed the utmoft &ill and ability in" their profcffion, along with the moft undaunted refolution, being either killed or dangeroufly wounded. im Tk» - y purfued this fuccefs with great eager- Hefs. The troops had fcarce entered the camp, when 4«8] 1777. II Colonel Breytnan killed, and the royal ar- my de- feated. The HISTORY 0/ the Cjfiii JCVI. when the Americans ilormed it with iuu;d|ninoa iicrcenefs i rufhing to the lines through ;i fevcre lire of grape fhot and finall arms, with the utmoft fury. Arnold led on the attack with his ufual impe- tuofity, againft a part of the entrenchments into which the light infantry under Lord Balcarras, with a part of the line, had thrown themfelves by order. He there met with a brave and obllinate refiftance. The adion continued very warm for fome time each fide fceming to vie with the other in ardour . and perfevcrancc. In tKis critical moment of glory and danger, Arnold was grievoufly wounded, juft as he was forcing his way into, or had already en- tered the works. This could not fail to damp his party, who after long and repeated efforts were finally repulfcd. Affairs were not fo fortunate in another quarter. Colonel Breyman, who commanded the German refefve, being killed, the entrenchments defended by that corps were carried fword in hand, and they were totally routed with the lofs of their baggage, tents and artillery. This misfortune was not re- trieved, although orders for the recovery of the poft were difpatched by the General j and his relation feems to imply fome blame to thofe who failed in the execution. By this means the enemy gai^id a dangerous opening on our right and rear. The night only put an end to the engagement. It would feem that nothhig could now exceed the diftreiTes and calapiity ot the army. They bore it with that excellency of temper, and refolution, which are natural to, and were worthy of Britifh foldiers. It was evidently impoffible to continue in their prefent fituation, without fubmitting to a cer- tainty of deftrudion on the enfuing day. A total change of pofition was accordingly undertaken, and as it feems to have been conceived with great judg- ment, was carried into execution during the night with Chap. XVI. Civil War m A M E R I C A. with t d^rec of coolnefs, filencc, order and intre- pidity, which has fcldom been equalled, and will certainly be never exceeded. It was not the move- ment of a wing or a part, it was a general remove of the whole army, of the camp and artillery, from Its late ground, to the heights above the hofpital ; thus by an entire change of front, to reduce the enemy to the neceflity of forming an entire new dif- pofition. All this was accompliftied in the dark- ncfs, arid under the doubt and apprehenfion of fuch a night, fo fatally ufhered in, and accompanied . throughout with circumftances of fuch uncommon peril, as were fufficient to difturb the beft formed ramd, and to fhake the firmed refolution without lofs, and what was ftill more without diforder. Many brave men fell on this unfortunate day. The officers fuifered exceedingly. Several who had been grievoufly wounded in the late adion and who difdained an abfence from any danger m which their fellows were involved, were again wounded in this. Among thofe of greater note, or ' who were diftinguilhed by higher rank, who fell, . befides General Frazer, and Colonel Breyman, whom we have mentioned. Sir James Clarke, Aid deCampto General Burgoyne, was mortally wound- ed and taken prifoner. Major Williams of the ar- tillery, and Major Ackland of the grenadiers, were alio taken, the latter being wounded. Upon the whole, the lifts of killed and wounded, though avow- edly imperfea, and not including the Germans, were long and melancholy. On the next day, the army being fenfible that Oa 6. nothing lefs than a fuccefsful and decifive adion could extricate them from their prefcnt difficulties, continued without effea, during its courfe, to offer battle repeatedly in their new pofition to the enemy. -«ey were preparing with great coolnefs, the carry- ing ot mcafures into execution, which were lefs ' Rrr _ dan- C489 ^777- B«-;* 490] ./ Ti&f H 1 S t O R Y 0/ the Chap. XVI. ?777. dangerous, though not Icfs cffeaual, thah the at^ V/^'^w' tack of a brave and dcfperate eneniy, in ibrong and fortified ground, a continued fucccilionoffldrmiflics were, however, carried on, and thcfe did not pais "without lofs on bf'tl-* fides. '^x » In the r ./i r ., nc Britilh General difcovered, that the enemy had puftied a ftronk body forward to turn his-right, which if effected, lie would have been- completely enclofcd on every fide. Nothing was left to prevent this ft»tnl confcquence, but an ^ immediate retreat to Saratoga. I'hc army accord- ingly began to move at nine o'clock at night; and tho' the movement was within mulket (hot of the enemy, and the army encumbered in its retreat with all Its baggage, it was made without lofs. A heavy rain which fell that night, and continued the cnfuing day, though it impeded the progrefs of the army, and increafed the difficulties of the march, ferved at the fame time to retard, and in a great mcafure to prevent the purfuit of the enemy. In this unhappy neceffity, the hofpital with the fick and wounded, was of courfe, and muft have been ine- vitably abandoned. In this inftance, as well as in every other which occurred in the courfe of thefe tranfaftions. General Gates behaved with an atten- tion and humanity, to all thofe whom the fortune of war had thrown into his hands, which does honour to his charafter. On the fide of the Americans, the lofs in killed and wounded was great ; and is fuppofed exceeded that of the Britilh. They, however, loft no officer of note ; but the Generals Lincoln, and Arnold were both dangeroufly wounded. From the impediments in the marth which we have mentioned, the army did not crofs the fords of the Fifh^ Kill Creek, which lies a little to the north- ward of Saratoga, until the loth in the morning. They Chap. XVL Civil War iV A M E R I C A. f hey found a body of the efieiliy already arrived, and throwing up entrenchments on the heights be- fore thepi, who ret' red at their approach over a ford of thcHudfon's river, and there joined a greater force, which was (lationed to prevent the paiTage (^ the army. No hopes now remained but that of cffeft- ing a retreat, at Icall as far as fort George, on the way to Canada. For this purpofe a detachment of artificers under a ftrong efcort, was fent forward to repair the bridges, and open the road to Fort Ed- ward. But they were not long departed from the camp, when the fudden appearance of the enemy in great force, or Jie oppofite heights, with their apparent preparation to pais theFifh Kill and bmig on an immediate engagement, rendered it neceffary to recal the 47th regiment, and Frazer*8 marfcfmen, who with Mackay*s provincials compofed the efcort. The workmen had only commenced the repair of the firft bridge, when they were abandoned by their provincial guard, who ran away and left them to (hift for themklves, only upon a very flight attack of an inconfiderable part of the enemy. All the force of difcipline, and all the (lubbornefs de- rived from its moft confirmed habits were now ne- ceffary to fupport even the appearance of refolution. r49' ^777' The farther Ihore of the Hudfon's river, was now lined with detachments of the enemy, and the batteaux loaden with provifions and neceilaries, which had attendtTd the motions of the army up the river, fince its departure from the neighbour- hood of Still Wate' , were expofed, notwithftand- ing any proteftion hich could poffibly be afforded, to the continual fire and attacks of thefe detach- ments. Many boats were taken, fome retaken, and a number of men loft in the (kirmilhes, upon thefe occafions. At length it was found the provifions could only be preierved by landing and bringing % * t^" t, I ^t.S.'^- X-t£tSI r > accompliihed under a heavy fire with difficulty and lofs. In d 7^-f HjrSTORY.///.^ Chap. XVI. In thcfc deplorable circumdances councils of war were held, i:o confidcr of the polHbility of a further retreat. Ihe only mcafurc that carried even the appearance of pradicabiUty, hard, difficult, and dan- feroiM as it was, was hy a night march to gain Fort :dward, the troops carrying their provifions upon their backs. The impoflibility of repairing the roads and bridges, and of conveying in their prcfent fituation the artillery and carriages, were too evi- dent to admit of a queftion. It was propofcd to force the fords at or near Fort Edward. Whilft preparations were making for carryintr thi^orlorn and dcfperate refolve into execution, intelligence was received, that the enemy had al- • ready with great forefight, provided for every pof- fible meafure that could be adopted for an cfcapc, and that this final refort was accordingly cut off! Befides being ftrongly entrenched oppofite to the fords which it was intended to pafs, they had a camp in force, and provided with artillery, on the high and ftrong grounds, between Fort Edward and Fort George j whilft their party were every where fprcad ariong the oppofite Shore of the river, to watch 6r intercept the motions of the army, and on their own, the enemy's pofts were fo clofc, that they could fcarcely make the fmalleft movement without difcovery. Nothing could be more deplorably calamitous, than the ftate and fituation of the army. Worn down by a feries of hard toil, inceffant effort, and ftubborn aftion ; abandoned in their utmoft nccef- fity and diflrefs by the Indians ; weakened by the defertion, or difappointed and difcouraged by the timidity and inefficacy of the Canadians and Provin- cials ; and the regular troops reduced by repeated and heavy loffes, of many of their beft men and moft diftm^uifhed officers, to the number of only ao*^^ eucuivc fighting men, of whom not quite 3,000 Chas. XVI. Ci|il vS in A M eFi C A. 3,000 Wfftc Btiti^Ih tltefc'circumftanccg, and m this ftatc of wcakncfs, witliout a pofTibility of retreat, and their provifion juft cxhauftcd, they were invefted by an army of four times their own numbcr^whofc pofition extended three parts in four of a circle round them ; who rcfufcd to fight from a knowledge of their concBtion j and who from the nature of the ground could «ot be attacked in any part. ' -■' In this helplcfe conditioiL obliged to lie con- ftantly on their arms, whllfll continued cannonade pervaded all the camp, and even rifle and grape fliot fell m every part of the lines, the Britifh troodi re- tamed their cqnftancv, temper, and fortitude, in a wonderful and almoft unparalleled manner. As true courage fubmits with great difficulty to defpair, they ItiU flattered themfelves with the hopcof fuc cour from their friends on the New-YoVk fide, or, perhaps with not lefs fervent wiflies, of an attack from the enemy ; thereby to quit all fcores at once, and either to have an opportunity of dying gallant- ly, or extricating themfelves with honour. The enemy's force was continually increafsd by the pour- ing in of the militia from all parts, who were all eager to partake of the glory, the fpoil, or the plea- fare of beholding the. degradation of thofe whom they had fo long dreaded, and whom they unhappily confidered as their mpft implacable enemies. At length, no fuccour appearing, and no rational ground of hope of any kind remaining, an cxad account of the provifions was taken on the eveninir otthe^ 13th of Oaober, when it was found that the whole flock in hand, would aiFord no more than three days bare fubfiflence for the army. A council was immediately called ; and the General thinking It right and juft, in a matter fo momentous to in- dlVinnalc no »7«11 «» ^U U-i. . 1 ... . - -_ — ...J .,.- „.^„ g_^ ^^^^^ wuuic, lo oDiaifl a general opinion and fuffrage of the army, fo far as it could with f 'm 494^ the HI ST CRT ^the ChaK XVf| 177;^ ^wth proprfety be Copacd, im^itcd, bcfidcs the ^ Generals and field ofSccrs, all tfce Captains com. manding corps or divifions, to afllft at the council. The refult%a8, an unanimous determination io open a treaty and Inter into * convimtion with Creneral Gates. :f'. ■■■:'!■ 'v; Gates Ihewed no marlti! of arroganccinor betrayed any figns of being carried away by the prefent extra- ordinary torrent S fuccefs. The ternis wett mode- rate, cohfidferingthc Tiuned ftate and irretrievable circumftances orthe arffty ; and that it i!fc|s already in cfe6l at the enemy's mercy, being eqitaliy inca- pable ©f fubf^ng where it was, and of making its way to a better fituation. The principal difficulty related to a point of military honour, in which the Britifh Gencrsds and troops were periemptory, and Gates f^r from being rigid. vm pet. 17. Convem- tiotf of Th» principal articles of the convention, cxclu- five of thofe which rfelated to the provifion and accommodaition of the army, in its way to Bofton, and during its ftay at that place, were, that the army diould march out of the camp with all the honours of war, and its camp artillery, to a fixed place where they were to depofit their arms: To be al- lowed a free embarkation an G. G^tes •rmy wit ^^^j^^ j^ America, during the prefent war ; the army not to be feparatedj particularly the men from the officers ; roH-calling, and other duties of regularity to be admitted ; the officers to be admitted on parole, and to wear their fide arms ; all private property to be facred, and the public delivered upon honour j no baggage to be fearched or molcfted ; all peribns of whatfoever country, appertaining to, or ibllowing the camp, to be fally comprehended in the terms of capitulation ; and the Canadians to be returned to their own country, liable to its conditions. Gcnei lai -^V-..- ,. 10- (^^O^ GaKEHAX of the . i'-ai«jb. ♦ m ♦ CriAP. XVI. tivtt U§$ General Gates fulfilled rtll the conditions, fo far jf 77. as he wa«, or could be concerned in them, with the vjv'^-' utmoft punduaiity and hononit His humanity and ^ jjolitenefs, in every part of this bufinefs, have been much celebrated ; without a fingle detradion, fo far as we have heaid, from the mod favoiirable accounts that have been given of his conduft. This was the moft praife-worihy, as fome late, as well as former circumftance§, had highly enraged the American militia ; the army in its laft move- ment, whether from military neceffity, or the vexa- tion and ill-tcm|)er incident to their fituation, or the joint operation of both, having burnt and de- ftroycd many houfes, and fome of them buildings of great value. The extraordinary and fevere exe- cution which now took place upon the North River, would alfo have afforded too much colour for a different mode of conduft. It is even faid, and we do not find that it has been contradi^ed, that this General paid fo nice and delicate an attention to the Britifli military honour, and to the'charaaer and feelings of thofe brave troops, who now expe- rienced fo deplorable a reverfe of fortune, that he kept his army clofe within their lines, and did not fuffer an American foldier to be a witnc^fs to tlic degrading fpedacle of piling their arms. The Americans ftate the whole number who laid down their arms, including Canadians, Provincials, volunteers, regulars, and irregulars, of all forts, at ^^^2 men. In this number is undoubtedly in- cluded, though not fpecified, all the artificers, la- bourers, and followers of the camp. They alfo ftate" the number of fick and wounded left in the hofpi- tals at the retreat from the camp near SiHl Water, to 528 men, and the lofs befides in the army in K!lled, wounded, taken, or deferted, from the 6th jf July downwards, to 2,033 > the total amount to tnefe numbers being 9,213 men. By another ac- 1^ 496] The HIST afthe Chap. XVI. i77|. count, the number is carried to about ten thoufaad. ^^-^^ Tiiey alfo got a fine train of brafs artillery, amount- ing to 35 pieces of different forts and fizes. ^ During thcie unfortunate tranfaftions, Lieute- M nant General Sir Henry Clinton, conduced his ^ expedition up the North River with great fuccefs. ^ He had embarked about 3000 men for that fervice, ^ accompanied by a fuitable naval force, confifting of fhips of war, armed gallies, and fmaller veffels, ^ under the condud of Commodore Hotham. Their firfl objeft was the reduaion of the fort Montgo- mery and Clinton, which tho* of confiderable ftrength, being at that time in a very unguarded ftate, it was determined to attempt by a coup de , main. They were fituated on either fide of a creek, which defcended from the mountains to the North River, and their communications preferved by a bridge. Several neceffary motions being made to mafic the real defign, the troops were landed in two divifions, at fuch a difl:ance from their objea, as occafioned a confiderable and difficult march through the mountains ; which was however cal- culated and conduced with fuch precifion, that the two detachments arrived on the oppofite fides Oa. 6. of the creek, and began their feparate attack on thf forts, at nearly the fame time. The furprize and terror of the garrifons was increafed by the appear- ance of the fliips of war, and the arrival and near fire of the gallies, which approached fo clofe as to ftrike the walls with their oars. The affault on both fides of the creek was exceedingly vigorous, and the impetuofity of the troops fo great, that notwith- ftanding a very confiderable defence, both the forts were carried by ftorm. As the foldiers were much irritated, as well by the fatigue they had under- gone, and the oppofition thty met, as by the lofs of fome brave and favourite officer!, tbe flaughter of the cnu^y was ^wdMttMi, " » ^ « ' Upon Chap. iVJFv Civil Wa^ W AM-i^Kll^A. [^57^ Upon the lofs of tHi* (Wtv the rthtU kt fittr to two find n^\\r ftijjates, anintinued, for icveral days, iheir expurfion up t)ic. liiver, carrying terror and dcilrua^ion wherever they went. At 3i,e very time that Qeneral Burgoyne was tcceiving |he mod favourable conditions .for himfelf and ^ ruined army, the fine village , or town of fifopus, at no very great diftance, was reduced to aihes^arid not a houfe IcftUandin^. Thfi.cxt^aordinarydevaftation which attended every part of t:his expedition, of, the ne- ceiTity of which we ire ijp^ judges, was, produaivc of a pathetic but fcverc lettpr, from General Gates, ther, ia the height of viOory, to General Vaughan. -■'-/i .... ■ ' . . . .On theapprcacli of Gates, th« troqps and vcflels retired to New Turk, having difipantled the forts, .buch was the unfortunate iffuc of the northern campaign : The event of an expedition which was undertaken with the moft confident hopes, and for fome time purfued with very flattering appearapces. of fuctefs. It was fuppofed the principal means for the immediate redu£^ion of the. colonies ^ but it has onl^fcrved, in conjunftion with other operations, which in the firft in (lance have fucceeded better, to demonftrate the difficulties attending the fubju- gation of a numerous people at a great diftance, in an cxtenfive country marked with ftrong lines, and abounding in ftrong natural defences, if the refources of war are not exceedingly deficient, and that the fl^rit of th^ people is in any degree proportioned to their fitiiation. It may now, whatever it was in the beginning, be a matter of doubt, whether any fupe- riority ot power, of wealth, and of dildpline, will Ijc found to ovcr-ballancc fuch difficulties. • ^ -It CttAP. X Vi: Civil Var in A M E k tfe A, f 499 It would not be cafy at prqfcn^, as many things 1777. ncccffary to be known have not bfccn fully explain- *^/vn> cd, and impitope'.v a« the whole is flill a fubjea of public invelligatipn, to attempt forming any judg- ment uf^n the general pla^ or fyftem of this cam- paign. I'he gcncyai cbnduft of the war this year has already u^ddir^orie much cenfurc; and un- doubtedly, the fendjiig of the grand army at fuch a diftance to the fputhward, wjjililt , the inferior was left ftruggling with infurmountable difficulties in the north, when i^ ^ould fecm that their junction or eo-operation, would have rendered them greatly fupcrior to any force whifch could have been poffibly brought to pppofc their prpgrefs, feems, in this view of things, not to be eafily accountet^ for. It is, however, a fubje^, upon which no cOnelufive opmion caii yet be forraed.* ;?• Ai the misfortune of the I^orthern army under General Burgoyne, was the fubjed of a parliamentary enquiry in the fcflionof 1779, we have inferted in the Appendix the evi- (jence.at large of the principal officers under General Burgoyne, from their leaving Quebec to the convention at Saratoga. On this evidence the public can bell form an opinion to what caufes the unfortunate iffue of tUe Northern campaign may be attji- CHAP. L_. f ^c >] ^"^^'m* ^ureifyg^tr iitH/accifi, ^Speech from tbe ThrJc. Sot fir f^rtmn pa/If rf, ^fr h^g d^^Us rcjcde^ up,n a Z 1777. ^^'f 75f « wr. mk^ rcjcM upon 4 divym, ^ UfiZ ff^J^r ra^rig a U/ of troops to fupply d lofs Aa^ • %*. Mr. /VxV mm, 'htf^e coimtke^ relithe loL JUite t^tht firce, in America from thecomHencement efihe .y^uch debaU Petition fr,k th . c,uU rNoifolt td ^Vn'?.T^'^ryJ''P'f'''^^^^^^ rnhoVllsiroUghti, thereon MVtJ^' ''.fi'^^P'^""- Mr. Foijtates his iAnha. tjM of(hec^ntlufrn6fa''tteaty Mivcen Ft'ance and the Amc ' n^lrfitPi"' \^calh'upoh tScWhiJier for an explanation on l^tes on theAddrefs. ClircHmfiances reta^vht. the arrival »f General Buf^py^,. mmn %y Mr- Vyner, relative to th Canada expedittcn. Amendment moved by Mr. Fox. S.yfi/a^ nations of hts ftuation and conduil by General BurgL,. Debae. Mr. Fox's amendment reje^ed on a divifon. Qri- T-Trone '^'^ ''^''' ^^ ^^' ^'^"''"' ^'"'^'''"' ^P''^'^ h'^ ^'^ NO equal fpace of time for feveral years pa/t, aliorded fo little domcftic matter worthy of obfervation, as that part of the year 1777, which clapfed dunng the recefs of parliament. Neither the town nor the country prcfented any newobica of iiart|r fcontention. The American war, and many of its confeqwences, were now fcarcelv oh- ^ u of curiof.ty, much lefs of furprize ; and l^einLr in the habit of deriving no benefit from our coio. mes, and of confide^mg them only in a (late of en- mity and hoftility, it leemcd as if their tot:i' loii would ei-AP.XVH. Cm..WARA,AM«aiCA. r... would be no longer a matter ef much wondaror .,..' concern J but tHai rather on thremur»T dm ^^ duced no apparent change in the fa« if i.S '«>"" hf thi; tin*;"; "'»' r ^t^" -~«r^^^^ O^"' Ztbe«r^r:J^'^'?^^''' '""''arraffed, and loaded Ameri. wth extraordinary charges j although it wa. al «»"«•. ft&tt •" ^tA"'P"''' ^d1n7hert K a. the African branch, nearly annihilated • it «Wl^en the mercantile intereft of this counirv ,T, ■magnitude, before th*r me^capable p*, apparently affefti^^ genS ... from l-i^"^ ^'?!''^'''y '"'«''"' *" "« American war. frppi us pec^llaf nature, and the weatneli of th« ^Arl^^^T^ abearance. Fo? ^ 5' „Y ' "^''"' «t: 'Jl the trafick appertaining to' %M'^^fiWin<: a; H.;; war, as weU as [he c^r^r^ cial ■m 563] ' i^MSTORYYM^ CHAP.XVir. m- cjir^lations i^ftich arbfc t)^tl(inccd exception "^-^•^ dt'ctafldfn of the feveral teftraming ads of parl.T ment, afforded cmplpymcnt,iik6 i great and Ic^iti- mzttconmtrte, t6 an ihfinit plied ?hc o;~ "' Lffcattut ^"""'^^ 'T were '.ot of mu Wuf f. il«"«l^S' «''*^ ^ . lile condua of France ,iur;L"Xr'^f'. i5,evfry thing thurcZZI^ tt's whole year. Co«d.« nca, was fo (if„hViv . '^S"™'*' *;"s'and and Ame- .f Fmnc. •haUt fetmedttvrnol* ''1 ""'«'f «I<«'«fied. -h .. r^-nitJ^ • L I " ^ "^ ^oom for any douhf ri-v 8*^^ to ♦ tv -"sif £^if K'KS, v^hen fhe found hSlffi r? '^*'"*'" P^^^^s. , would IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) ^-^^^4^ ^ 1.0 I.I ^ 1^ 12.2 lit L25 i 1.4 1.6 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAiN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 > ^ . niiiiil^rirTi. ^mm^m^net mentis td^tfee ^ohdiifion, which >ii' Cunning- ham com- mitted to prifon at bunkirk fortaking the Eng- Ii(h pac- ket from Holland, hut foon after re- Icaled. Xord' ' Stonhefiit^ •btainsan order from the French court, that all Ameri- can pri- vateers with their prizes ihouldde- part that kingdom. ThtiaV ^'^n a^ bc^4 Artifeii<^ advcntittcr, one Cunningham, had taken and carried into litittkirk, with a privateer fitted out at that port, thcEnglilh pKjkk ft^m ttdJMrtid; sM fent the mka to the' Anleriu«iniittittiftfer8 at Parik itthtt* fccmcd riecef- fafy'iifiifdflw degfrt*^ «» diUfcil^ttiiteftatticc foflkgram a'V!kaatift»«f goodltieig*A«)U^hobd, as Weil as of tl|6i^Milik«g| tr^tie&^Wei^tfi^'thit twxj natibris, a«d cvmitl»i i(t i*abtf^ ty Wi^ appearaiWt^of fatisi fia»(bh.V(fll«}c»d*fea%ay bfAecirtu which atatndw^ilj. FdrfCuSiaiiifeteitit's im^jrifohWcttt Wii rcpfaftfttdl^to'the Atafci^eAii^ as prOfcttdih^mcrdT fiNI)l« fcWfeiiifoirmaKty in Ws coijitnifflbn, andirr^- gtilfWk^t#liisiprocccdiirtgaf^ Which had bi^u^thhA toi' i^'noBtf^hitf, thi v<;rjc of piracy, and wlifch Mitwrt4% gfeHAgitdljfe ': '..sai'^.yi il '.' ; il«Wiifftcd and deftfoyed ill cafe of animme- dim fuptyj^i asdthAt the capture of their^ feameii wdilld^¥e bcseiUmere rutnouj and irreparable, than tite tefe-etteii of the fhi^ knd targOcsj Lord Stor- monr olj^ined, in that critical fttuation, art order ffOmthje trtiiiiftfcrs, thftt'tfli the Am^Hcan brivateers, witk thei^ prices, fhouid itmttediately depart the hjngdom. Yet, fatislitdory as'this compliance, and cDnckifive as this order appeared, it was combated witk with fuel, in^nuitjr. and fuch qtppdientt pfaaifed l«, to defeat ■(« eBefts,, that it w«,aottomplie4 *"h ^ ^ k (ingle mftance throughout the kingdom. It, ho». ever anf^ered the pufpofe for *hiA it wis l^tenl ed, by.gaining time, and openjng a fubieft of trHi ' /hips wc«e fafe in theit refpeaive ports! * " . ItAvouia reein,,that Mohfr. ae SlrUtte, ths ftench Mmiftet of the marine, and great ad*<^a,e foHhS ' Amer,e»„ cAufe, Was detoiUited. thai w^Ue? ' charge6,o£ 4.pkily might be bfoUghtMaliSTi. ■ ' felt. For thw MiiHttef, upbii. fowe Tf^rtt Which tended to difcourage .the comUierCe, wX ihe W nam, -as if the court wojil^ not protee its flibiefla in.conveyinerte Droduflsof fhat %:„-.i«..:. i"3f*r? Prizes, to the £hgl.(h if tiketl, afured lhck7S2 chambew of Commerce U >. R«bll^ inftraS and m direa ionttayentbtt bf all our havSn Ws that the King wa. detefmin^d td S h° Wleft proteaion to their .jpmpveKe, wd wouW re! claim all fliips that wefe takett Und^ ||}ait,B^tel^. - r^pon thfe whok, Whaieveteviiioa "df iduplicitv imght have appeared In the langg,ge or profeffiou* of Fr«Ke ^ef cmm wa* Alqiivoci S tourfe of hu bunnefs. that the only mitKir of fur- the Mipo&d upon ahy peob e b» thi one dr tha, they could »i(take he/ def^„s ilt^'o^S: It in ttced required no great fagacity to 4iifcov«r. that (he ad n«»r,equi«dfothorou|ha rtlift for th^S of V^J';??u1 eommefce, that nothing Ids than the moftirfeflftibleneficffity, Could induce h«ir loforeeo Ae poffeffion^f ^h,t fte had obtained, l^dit Z a^'tll* *fa|cbft*flattered herfel/in future! »ut as yet Ihe waited the ev?nt of the American «mpaigft, and ,1k completion of her navlT^uTp" ^ ^ * mcnts. )uiy-4» 50^3 neHlSTOKY o/the ci^AP. XVII. l^>»r. mcnts, (which were carried on with the greateft ^"'^'^^ dilllgehce arid in the moft public manner at Breft ^"I'fP"^^^') before fhe rifqued any decifive ftcp. No change of any fort, whether by death, removal or jnternalarrangement, had taken place in admini- ftration during the recefs. Every day of the Ame- rican war rivetted the miniftcrs faftcr in their feats. Good and bad fuccefs produced the fame Sff^et in that refp^a. In, the former inftance, who could be deemed fo fitting to conclude the bufinefe, as thofe by whom it was framed, and fo far happily condudt- cd? In the other, who could be found hardy enough to Undertake the completion of a ruinous fyltem,, which, befides its failure already in the exc- cutlo^, w[\s orgiriaUy. arid in its nature, clogged with infinite difficulty and danger ? Thus fitiiated, and fuppprtcdby an uncontroulablc force ill parliament, it feemed that nothing cpuld difturb their repofe, until the prefentAriicrican fyftcm was in fome man- ner difpofcd of. « >, Nov. 20. The rpeech from the throne expreflcd great fatis- Speech faaibn in 'having recourfe to the wifdom and fup- from the P9«, of parliament in this conjundure, when the throne, continuance of the rebellion in America demanded their moft lerious attention. The powers with which parliament had entrufted the crown for the fuppreflion of the revolt,, were declared to have been faithfully exerted j and a juft confidence was cxprcfled, that the courage and coridud of the offi- cers, with the fpirit and intrepedity of tKe forces, would be attended with important fuccefs; but un- contingencies of the war, and the obftinacy m mu rebels might render expedient, his Majefty whs, for that purpofe, piirfuing the proper meafures for keep-^ ing the land forces complete to their prelcnt eilablifli- meutj andlf heihouldhaveoccalion toincreafethem, ■ ^ by (JjiA?. XVII. Civil W^r ,„ A JiJ J? R I C A. Q07 to o&'"^"'L"8??5'""«»." reliance was i;;;. " Althdugh repeated affurances were received of he pacific difpofition of the foreign powers! yel a! make TlT^t m "'^' """"S"' ^dvifeable to henArinfP^ equally determined not to dillurb the peace of Europe on the one hand, and to be a faithhil guardian of the honour of the crown ^n the ni^Kl/ ^ '"^'' ''^^ "mentioned, would una^ was made, that nothing could relieve theroval mmd from the concern ?hich it felt for the heavy charge they muft bring on the people, but a con^ Viftion of their being neceflary for the wd are and cITential interefts of thefe kingdoms. Iv ^rfuwlr''"r"''' '^"'' * '■=''°'«'°" «f fteadi. ly purluing the meafures in which thev were en- gaged for the re-eftablilhment of that conftitutiona fubordination which his Majefty was deter™ to mamtam through the feveral parts of his dS ' watchful for an opportunity of putting a flop to the effufion of the blood of his fukas ; a renewal 111°^^"' °^ -'^ ["™" ''"P- 'hat the deluded and unhappy multitude would rtturn to their alle! glance, upon a recollection of the bleffings of their mifcrie.!.°fT""-"'V='"^/ e°'"Parifon with the mileries of their prefent fituation ; and a declara- en"ce o hi» A ^•^t?""- "'-P'^'"^^' °"'- -"^^ol bv hfo M • if "'"f"" '°'""'''^' "O"'" ^^ confidered by his Majefty as ,1^ ,,„ happincfs of his life, and the grcatcft glory of hisreisn. The 508] JDJfclo- fure of the un-f happy fate of General Bur- goyac, 77^^ H I S T R Y / Mi? CriAP. XVI!, The Jwldrcflcs were fo exaftly in the prefen^ eftabliflicd ftyle and form, and in fuch pcrfea unifon with the fpecch, that any particular notice of them would be needlcfs. All the mei^fures whi<;U it held out, whether in ad or defign, were applauded ; \u pofitidns confirmed ; and an unlimited concurrence agreed. The minilters received their ufual portion ot praife in that fh^re afligned to the prudence an4 wifdom of our public counfels ; and the firmncfs, dignity, hum?uiity, and paternal tendernefs cxprclF- cd in the fpeech, were highly extolled. From this time to the recefs, and indeed durin* the greater pj^rt of the fcffion, enquiry into the condu^ of pnblic affairs, whether particular or general, became the great object of oppofition in bothHoufes. # On the difclofure of the melancholy cataftrophe of General Burgoyne*s expedition, and the unhappy fate of the brave but unfortunate northern army ^t Saratoga. A difclofure, which excited no lefs con- fternation, grief, and aflonifhment in both houfcs, than it did of difmay on the fide of the miniflers. The noble Lord at the head of the American depart- ment, being called upon by a jgentleman in oppo- fition for the purport of the diipatches which were received from Canada, was the unwilling rclater of that melancholy event, in the Houfe of Commons. This of courfe brought out, with frefh fervour, and additional afperity, all the cenfures and charges that ever hjid been, or that could be paflcd or made, whether relative to the principle or policy of the conteft, the conduft of the war, or the general in- capacity of the minifters. After condemning and reprobating the latter in terms of the utmoft feverity, the oppofition applied the nioft pathetic expreiTions which our language affords, to deplore the fate of the gallant General and his brave army, vho, they Chap. XVII. Cmh War in AMERICA. [5^ thejr faid, after furmounting tolk, danwrs, and difficulties, which fliould have crowned tfcm with jafting glory and honour, and fliewing thcmfclves fupcrior to every thing, excepting only the injufticc pfthe caufe in wh.ch tliev were engaged, and the inherent fatahty of tliat ill-ftarrcd cfireaioh under which they aacd, were fo over%vhelmed in the joint operation of thefc concurring caufcs, as not only to be plunged into irretrievable ruin, but alfo, what had never before happened to fuch men, nor could ever again be the reward of fuch aftions, they were finally funk into difgracc, » / »^ They condemned the whole plan and dcRm of the expedition in the moft unqualified terms. Said, "'^^?^Yf%»? ^^^'"'•^^ an inconfiftent, and an im- practicable fcheme, unworthy of a Britifti minifter, and which the Chief of a tribe of favages would ^ave been afliamed to acknowledge. They rc- inined the American minifter that they were not judging from events, but how often and carncftlv they had warned him of the fatal confequcnces of his favourite plan. When they had truly foretold the event, they were only laughed at, and told they were Ipeaking in prophecy ; was be yet iatisfied of the truth of their predictions ? Ignorance, they fald, had (lamped every Hep taken during the expedition ; but it was the imo- ranee of the Minifter, not of the General ; a minif- ter who would venture, fittmg in his clofet, to dirett, not only the general operations, but all the ' particular movements, of a war carried on in the interior defarts of America, and at a diftancc of three thouland miles. A junftion between Howe and Burgovne was the objed of this expedition; a me^fure which might be cffeftcd without difficulty by fea ?n lefs than a month; but the Minifter choofcs it ftiouIJ be performed by land, and what means does he ufe for the accomplifhmcnt of this purpofe? <^^^ J. U^'im» T P.R Y 0/ the Chap. XVIf. iW. |UrpQfc,l,.)J5rhy truly, faid they, as It waMcccflary ^^^ *J' mwn^iW tp meet, it might have been reafon. *5*y ^« now; and that if the laying downSpI^/a^^U honours could accpmplifh That wiflied?b> purDofe he would gladly refign them all. He rKThe had been dragged to his place againft hi" will K„! fcat however difagrieable it might te. whUft he hhl M. r ^u^ 1 ^^ concluded by obfervinff (the Houfe being then in a committed or fuZy\ ha whatever the r future detern«n.tion a' tSe or war might be, ,t xvas necefl'ary they fhould eranf the lupphe. which were now de4ndK!!if^ a cefla- im 5iO n# H I S T O U Y 0/ th Chap. tv\\, 1777. a cciiktion of armt fliould take place, the cxpcnceg ^-^^^^ mud ftUl continue, until the atmics were brought home ahd difcharged or reduced. The Amcricin Miniflcr declared, that he was ready to fubmit his condUd in planning the latfi expedition to the judgment of the Houfc. If it appeared itnpotent, weak, and ruinoUiJ, let the cenfure of the Houfc tall Upon him: He was f cady to abide it, as every Mirtiftci who had the tvelfare of his country at heart, (hould at ftii times, hefald, be ready to hJive his conduft fcrutinizcd byhis coiintry. But having alfo faid fomething, of i^^ing th^ the Houfc would not be over haity in condemnation, that they would lufperid their judgment on tht condudl both of the General and of the Minifter relative to this unhappy event j hoping, that the conduft of both would appear free from guilt; thefe cxprcffions, or fome others of the fime nature, being conridcred as tending to cri- minate, or infinuate blame on the General, were highly rtf^med on the other fide, and cohtributed not a littk to that fevcrity of cenfure which he ex' perlenccd on this day. During thefe tranfa£liohs in the houfe of Cow- irtohs, the, bufiiicfs in that of the Lords, abftrafteJ from the fupplics, was conduced upon the fams! Sound, and in general with the fame effeft. The ukc of Richmond had moVcd for an eftqtiiry Into the ftatc of the nation, on the fame day that Mr. Fox ^ad made his motion in the houfe of Com- mons. The enquiry was alfo fixed to the fairtf date in both ; and the fubfcquent motions for pa- pers and information made by his grace, corref- ponded with thofc in the other Houfe, and were agreed to in tk, fame manner. On the 5th of December, the Earl of Chathairt moved, that copies of orders and inftru£tions to General up.XVIt. I CHA...XVH. Civn.WAfc«, AMERICA r„, *= """""" ■ ?,•;"""' ^W^"-!! «'«ive to the northern expe- i»rV Larl nt oduced hij motion with . /peech of confi! . dcrablc cngth, in which he difleacrand repX ^ff jai<:veral par,, of that from the throne wiAou, „. Hour, of fcrve or ceremony , and taking a large fS«o ?ol b"/ publ c meafures. he feemerf to fummon afl X ^"^ powers of h« elo(,ueace,andaII hisnatural vehemence ^1"""™' to tlKdneeUenlurcof the minifters. andthe Sut' [»;!'"■ .rr ctlr^*", "''r" t^'"' ^°"''"«- A™°»« o- "-^"" ,,.h, ■' "''"i'l' ;■' "'" '°'"*» "le attributed the «P««- uuliappv chanjje which had taken place in our public "'"">"«"« affairs, he particularly reprobated; in termsT th^ 9'"""' Kreatell b ttcrneft, a court fyftcm, which he IWd "T tad been introduced and peffeverid i„ for the laft ^'"' fteen years, of lo„fe„i„g Ld breaking a?l connet on i dcftrovmg all taith and confidence ; and el unguilhmg all principle, in different orders of 'he communitv. A rew men, he faid, had got an afcent deiicy; by havwg the executive powers of the S fL "'»"""'''. "«T had been furnilhed w th the means of crcatmg divif.ons. and familiar, ^mg treachery. Thus were obfcure and unknown ncl"/ ZV°''^^^ unacquainted with pubrbul nets , pliable, not capable men : arid the drees or r»egudes of parties, brought into the Wghrtf and molt relpojifible ftations ; \»d by fuch len ^ as this once glonous empire reduced lo its prefem ftate of danger and difgrace. Then rifing in'^^o his uf^l , farce of expreffion : the fpirit of aelufion, he &W had gone forth-nie snifters had iinpofed ori the Wple— Parliament had been induced to fanftify Ae .mpofition.-r»lfe lights had been held out^ into the fupport of a moll deftruQive war under the mpreflion, that theland tax would have been dimin- Uied by the means of an American revenue. But We vifionary phantome, thus conjured up for the " " " bafeft 5 1 4] The HISTORY of thi Chap. XVII. J777,. • bafcll of all purpi^fcs, that of deception, wai now about to vanilh. The debate was long, animated, and well fupport. ed on both fides. Tne Miniftcrs, though plainly fomewhat dcprcflTcd, defended themfelvcs with refo- lution. They faid they knew nothing of the private influence that had beer talked of. That it was a topic taken up or laid xlown by men as it fuited their views. That they never haa impofed on the peo- ple or on parliament ; but communicated fuch infor- mation as was true, provided it was fafe. That they had never laid any thinc[ falfe before them ; but be the event what it would, they never would repent the vigorous Heps they had taken for affcrting the rights of parliament, and the dignity of their coun- try. The qucftion being at length put, the motion was rejected on a divifion by a majority of 40 to 19. I The noble Earl then immediately moved for an addrefs to lay before them copies of all the orders or treaties relative to the employment of the favages, jitliiig in conjunction with the Bt itifh troops againlt the inhabitants of the Britifli colonies in North America, with a copyof the inllrudlions given by General Burgoyne to Colonel St. Lcger. As no meafure had ever been marked with a greater feverity of language, or had excited ftronger appearances of difguft and horror, than that, to which the motion related, the Minillers were accord- ingly very tender upon the fubjcfl:, and could illdif- guifc the indignation and rcientment which they felt, at its being fo frequently and vexatioufly brought within obfervation. And as the noble framer of the prefent motion, had betn among the foremoft in his ccnfures on the fubjeft, and that the bitternefs of his late fpeech was not yet worn oif; the matter was taken up with great warmth. The fame argu- ments ufed to defend it in the Houfe of Commons were ts^s Chap. XVIL Civil War i« A M E R I C A. w crc relied upon in the Lords. Tlic Miniftry ftrong. 1 777 lyairertcd the jufliccand the propriety of the mcafurc, WsJ on principle and on example. As Lord Chatham Iiad allcrtcd tJiat when he was Minifter, he had al- ways (Jcclmed to make ufe of fo odious an inilru- mcnt m the laft war, though a foreign one, thw allcrtion was flatly contradidcd by the King's fcr, vants, who faid they were able to lay before the Houfc proofs from the records of office, of his hav- iiig given orders to treat with the favages for their aMance. Appeals were made to the noble Lord who then commanded in America, and had taken his mftruaions from Mr. Pitt, at that time Secretary of State, whether he had not fuch in his army, and whether he was not authorifed to ufe them; The Lords of the minority contended, that the cafe of a foreign war, where the aifcdionsof the people are ^ objed, made a difference ; and that the French had made ufe of the fame inftrument to a much greater degree, which might juftify retaliation. The debate was attended with an unufual degree of change, denial, perfonality, and acrimony j in which courfe of painful altercation, a noble Earl, who had lately poflcfled a principal government in America, both took, and endured no inconfiderable fhare. the motion was at length thrown out by the previous queftion, about it o'clock at night, the majority being nearly the fame as in the foregoing divifion. * Great complaints were about this "time circu- Great lated, that the American prifoners in this country J ^om- who amounted to feveral hundreds, were treated P'^'"*' ^^ with ;^ degree of rigpur which fell little fhorfc of ^ent'of ' cruelty. Thcfc rumours. extended even to Francej the Ame- andoccafioncd the American deputies in thatqoun- "can try, after an unfucccfsful attempt to eflablifh a cartel P"^o"erg. with the Britifh Minifter at Paris, to tranfmit a let- ter, couched in flrong terms of complaint, to the firlt Lord of the Treafury upon the fubjea. This letter cpntained a particular charge, wHich^^hough ^ we 51(5] •' ^ie Mt^dTiY V th ^ €hap. XVII. \*jli, we think not to be true in the manner flated, wc ^■^'^r^ i„c forry not to have feen pi'blicly refuted, viz. that a nuiAber of thife unhappy peder the menaces of an immediate and ignominious death. We have fomc reafon to fuppofe that this charge related more par- ticularly to lome of thofe prifoncrr, tvho had been taken in Canada, and who being partly terrified by threats, and partly unable o withftand the rniferies of their confinement, which ^^ere aggra- vated for the purpofe, entered as foldiers into our fcrvicc, merely as a means of facilitating their cfcapc. Several of thefe being taken in the aft of dcfertioh, and being liable to death by our military laip, which could afford no provifion for the force oi: terror under which they had 'afted, poflibly nifght have obtained their forfeit lives, on condi- tion ,pf their being fent to garrifoh fome of our fpfls on the coafl of Africa, or of their entering ^ fi^jriUc into the fervice of the Ead India company. ' As to the prlfoners who were kept in England, their penury anJ diftrefs was ijndov-itcdly great, ai;id was much increafed by the fiaiid and cruelty 6f tiiofc who were entrufted with the government arid fupply of their prifons. For thefe perlbns^ who indeed never Lad any orders for ill tn^atment of the priforiers, Or countenance in it, hiving how- feyer, riot been overlooked with the utmolt vigi- laripe, belides their peculiar prejudices and natural cruelty, Confidered their offices only as lucrative jobs, Afrhich were created merely for their emolu- ment. Whether there was not fomc exaggeration, as ufua^y there is, in thefe accounts, it is certain, that though the fubfilience allowed them by govern- ment, would indeed have been lufficient, if honeftly Edmlnifteredi to have fiiitained hiimar* nattirCi in refped to the mere article of fbod, yet the want of clothes, tft^. XVIk Civil War ./« A M E R F C A. fp^ clothes, firings and bedding, with aH the other var 1.^71 nous articles which cuftom or nature render coit- vJvv ducive to hcahh and comfort, became particuJarly infupportable in the extremity of die winter. In confequencc of complaints made by tlie Drifoaecs the inatter was very humanely taken up in the' Houfc of Peers by Lord Abingdon, who> moved for account relative to their treatment; and foon alter, a Kberai fubfcription was carried on in Lon- don and other parts u ith the enlarged fpirit which diltingudhcs this hation, and wich only a flight on- pofition ui the beginning, as being officiou% fup- pled a mealurc not plcafing to Miniftry. This iubfcription, co-operating with a ftriaer attention on the part of government, provided a fuiEcient remedy lor the cyii. ^ The lofe of the northern army with refpcd to »1I future ferwce in the American war, fecmcd a fatal check to that fa/ourite fyftem of conqueft and unconditional fubittifiion, which had been fo hmr and fo itedfaiWy pcrfevered in by the court. Nw were other matters relative to the war, much more taK)urabIe to the fcheme of coercion. The fuc- ceffes on the fide of Penfylvania, though many and confiderable, and what in other cafes would have been followed by more decifive effeds, by no mea»s anfwered the hopes that were formed on that cxpe- dition J nor did the prefent ftatc of affairs there, indicate any fuch future advantage, as might coun! tcrvail the lofs m the other. The refources in Ger- many were nearly exhauftcd. Men were not only procured with difficulty, but one of the great powers, aaually refufcd a paffage through a ikiriof his dommions, to a body of thofc which were already m the Britifh fervkc. Although this difficulty was evaded, at the expence of a long circuitous march, and much lofs of time ; it became however evi- Qjjj_j. cirucmitances, that the utmoft which could be expcftcd in future from that coun- 5i83 ' ' 5^^*H I S TORY of the > .Chap. XVII. 177:^. couittry, weitfd be to recruit the German forces ^^-^'^^^ already in America. , Uftatet* '''tlldfc difagrceablc circumftanccs with reffifea lo Amei^ica, the afpcd of aftairs was be- coming (jvery day mere louring and dangerous in Europe. Indeed the conduft of the Houfe of Bour- bort had becrt long fo unequivocal, that nothing Icfs than that fort^of blindnefs , in which the mind is too liable to be involved by the eagernefs of a* favou- rite purfuit, could have permitted the poflibility cvenof ii do\ibt,>as tj their prefcnt views, and ulti- mate defigns. Yet notwithftauding all thefe dif- ficulties, toffes, and dangers, the fyllem of conquell, or of compelling the Americans by force to a return of their duty, was fo ftrongly fupporied, and fo firmly adhered to, that it feems to have becnftill dctermined^in fpite of lofs and misfortune, to per- fcverc in it to the laft, and that even if it fhould b^: thought expedient to offer terms of peace, on :wbkh point there feemed to be fome difference among the Minifters, yet all agreed, that whatever terms might be held out with the one hand, fhould be enforced with the fword by the other. ' ^For ihc fupport of this determination, a mcafure w no fniali difficulty became, however, indifpenfa- bly neceffary. lliis^ was to clbMiih fuch a body of new troops at horiiej as- would not only fupply the place of Burgoyne's army, but alfo help to fill up the wide chafms, which death, wounds, fickncfs and defcrtion, had made in the remaining force in America, by fending oift full and, complete regi- merits, to replace thofe who had fuffered moft in the war. For theTending any more of the old bat- talions from England or Ireland, without the leaving of fome corps in their place, equal at leaft to them in point of number, was a mcafure which would have met with a violent oppofition in both king- doms. Nor can it poi|iblvbe fuppofcd that the Mi. » Chap. XVO. Civil War in A ME R I C A. [51^ Miniftm, however they found it neeclTary to cfif. m, guife or conceal thar fentimcnts, could be free from x^ apprehenfion that the time was approaching, when But akhough the RecclEty of raifing a conHdcr. abe body of new trobpg, was, on this ground of . pd.cv fufficiently evident, the means of atcomplif^ ng that purpofe were by no means fo obvious. The late misfortune, and the little apparent room for hope which now remained for bettering our condi- tion by force, afforded no encouragement for an an- phcation to parhamcm on the fubjea. It was evi- dent indeed thatthe Minifters, by the haftineft and length of the prorogation, and by fome feeling ex- prcffions which dropped from one of them, chofc at that time as little parliamentary converfation about America as poflible ; nor did they wift, to renew iu until they fliould be able to afford better profpeds of their ftrength and means of profecuting the war, than at that timf appeared. . ' In thcfe circumflanccs, It was thought fittinff to hazard an experiment on the zeal of thofc perfons and parties, vvho had all along Ibewn the grcatcft eagernefs m the profecution of the American war ; an experiment wJiich would afford them alfo an op! portunity of teltifying thdr attachment and loyahy the crown beyond the mtafure of parliamcntar J UippJy By this means it was hoped that fuch a body of troops m.ght be raifcd, without anv pre- vious application to parliament, j^nd with the flat- tenng appearance of faving cxpence in the iirft in- , Uance^to the public, as would anfwer the defircd ^ Thcfe expeaations were not altogether ill found- «. nm as tiic mcaiure carried' an unconftitu- appearance, and might be n>adc liable to the charge tional «IM&3 The ni ST our of the Chap. X VH. • WT* charge of interfering with the rights of parliament ; V-ir^ ,9iia of violating fame of thofc rcftriaions which it ihad been found nccel&ry to lay on the prerogative; cbcfides the motives juft now afligncd j fome confl! dcrable management was ncceflary as to the time and manner of making the experiment. For it it Jltdbccn.attcmpted during the aftual fitting of par- iliament, it would not only have thfc whole weight of oppofition to encounter whilft it was yet in ejn- *ryD, and whilft the uncertainty of fucccfs would *|»rfivent its being iupported with any fpirit ; but it ^ould not be forcfecn how far their example, and .«gumcnt8,might, in a matter of a new and doubtful 4ttture, have extended beyond their own pale. 'Upon thde accounts it was fuppofed, that the Mi- •ittftcr thought it prudent, not only to make the ex- iperiment during the recefs, but to render that long- -cr than ufual, in order to afford time for difcovcring ,its operations and cffcft before it underwent any rdifcuffion ; being well fatisfied, that when a bufi- nefe was once accompliflied, any objections that were then made to the propriety or prmciple of the mea- fure would be of little avail. a rcgi ment. The Some men of rank and influence, who had either ^Tm "^^^P^*^^ *^^ meafure from a conviaion of its ex- ^eftcT P^^^^^'^^.^^'^P^^P"*^*^' or who, upon advice, had and f ngagcd ill its fupport and furtherance, ufed means Liverpool'*** thofe places where their interell lay, both to found offer to ,thc difpofition of the people, and to give it that 41- "JjfJ^'ch.rcaion which was neceffary for the purpofc. The towns of Mancliefter and Liverpool, whether pf their own motion, or through application, were the Jeaders in this bufmefs, which they engaged in with the grcatefl fervour, and immediately fent an offer to court to raife each a regiment of a thoufand men. in other places, public meetings of towns, countries, and great corporate bodies, were encouraged, at which refolui ions- were propofed for the general levying of men for the fervicc. - the iHAP.Xm I G»4».XVH. Civil War /„ AMERICA [j, and which m argument was eafily advanced to '^J F9of that th^ir condua received [he full approba tion oC the people, and that the general fenfe of tfae nation went -vit), .them in their meafures Thu» thej were enabled to meet parhament with confi Je,ce ; ,nd, under fo efficacious a fupport as T public voice and approbation, to brave all enquires mto paft condua, a, well as into the prefentftate or condition ot the nation. f ramiateor Indeed tlie facility with which thefe enauiri« were agreed .o,in the hour of tribulation and AT may it is probable, was now fufficiently regretted rail' IT, «•!«''• ,"«" the fpirit whic'h Xs "^w fcA f .r °l *" ^'"I'^'n, would take away all ef ' fea of Uie advantage which they had fuffeLd thfe oppofition to obtain .over them. , . Notwlthttanding this fmooth ftate of affairs it hojne, the minilfers were farfrom be°ng « eafe Majorities and aas of parliament.' thoughLkffmk wonderful efficacy in their proper placi, w« e S Arr capable, of reclaiming our revolted coloX ^^f preventing the deligns of our foreign en^: able evidence, that adminiftration had for foZ «ftj\lmifter at Pans, not only of the negociatioL for a commercia'. treaty between that court and he S ,f^' '■' "•' ""'* conduaed with the inoft .Trofbmui fecrecy, and fraught with matter of the ".v.. uaiigcrous nature to this coui:iry. How this iMowledge IS to be reconcUed with the public mea . X X X public me} fures fit %. fht ft 18 TO R Y of the e^<^n given by the prefent adminiftration, to hx m the breails of the people of America and their ieaders, the moft rooted hatred and inveterate ran- coin;. Under fuch fmgular circumftances of difap. gointment and difgrace on one fide, and fuch pro- vocations on the other, he would appeal to the can- 4our of thofe whofe difpofitions might lead them "- -fj— "'* |-v«iv ^t vjvpcviuiu/n, wnetiicr there was the moll diUant pro|pca of anyfuccefs from a treaty. 5*4J ./ 5^M^Vo^¥W/ir' n crfftX^vif:' and finccreft ihtentious wouW he only ihterpfeted as lures to enfnare and betKJiy! ttiidl-r 'iiic'full w.ojija only , turnip Miniitprf wttn an ;apoi5gy W trjj'in^ 'the expcnm^nt qf ' one inore'J|a^^f Wa '^4«f- graccful campjii|;n ;, . ^ft^r wl li ch he '^oii I^ Icnf tire tq predia^ that all further attempts "^Ip^ib hopes to treat, with America would 6'(?* at *ii end, and that country irretrievably loft foij' ewer to. this. ITie Minifter refrained from' taking a^ny Wotlcc of the afperities that had dropped from this genUe- nian, and only gave a general anfwer to his opi- nions, along with thole which had been thrown out. by others, relative |o his propofed fcheme ol conci- liation. He faid, that as he never meant to nego- ci^ate away thp rights of this country, to procure himftlf any temporary convenience ; fo h6 ncvf r wifh.ed to enctoach'oii thole of America.'' His 6^^^^ private opinion never vari^^di'; but if his propofi^ion Ihould not meet with 'tlie approbation ^ of tliejnajo- rity in. that Houfe, or Jtliat it ihould ^ undergo !iny alteration, in either event he would gtadly ac^ufelce.' As to the particular fjiyourable dirpofition of Ame- rica towards individuais' or parties iiVthkt'o^ttie other Houfe, he faid, that" by every thing that had yqt appeared, all men and all parties fticnied e^'ual- ly obnoxious to them ; and whenever propofitions came to be made, he was inclined to believe, that the objcft of the colonies would not be by whonv they were made, but whether they were fucli as anfwcred their expedations. For his own part, he was ready and willing to refign the difagreeabJe talk to whoever was thought better quaiificd, and was Offik'xvil. ' Ctva War //> AJife RVca. ^rtomwted to accept of it. He wilhed at 6^: c«e(y for wcifijcat.on a, any one perfon in'eith^ ter 6f ho cotiitquence to him hj whom, or in wh« ' manner (t was accompUihcd. phWIth Amenca; In this piece, a comprehenfiVe andtheeflea of pub he meafurcs, botSathome and' abroad. Among others, the meafure of rajfine Z-f!^.^JU ''y fr':^ gifts and contributions /or til .ll'f, ^"* "°*vn, a purpofe for which, OS^- fay, thty *ere called upon tliemfelves, in a maS ran^ m his Majefty's fervice, receives the moft <•*;•• phcrf marks ot their difapprobation. cS.; Me fxt^hed 1;e might be Vith the eenfureTpS ^ mphed m this, petition upon puhlit cbnduS m^afures,, could find nothing in it to militate with! aLvII'' 'w"'*"'. *""?'=? *° » conciliatibn i»rth-' America. He introduced his conciliatory propo- Ftb „ toi^ with- a^Vecitalbflfe creed in all AmS w '' .^b^^been"h1'*"'' '"'•"^' '.''" P^"^' ''='■' « i" «"«" S-^ift.!4,-n g°''"""'S principle. That with -"tro. !m t? ^ !/'^*'' ^" '^""'^"^ had been uniform, -J"'^"'"' artd his meifiirescbrtfiftentj but that events had r"'"*' been in general exceedingly untoward. Thatr Im!- I.T/'"' ad a, known that liierican taxati^couM S^lh^- SS^'mt:;^ ?"■ ''f'i'"''*'^'"' revenue, that the're ff « «<> S* ,"??'' '^"f °f '="f« which could not at all be ^""'"^ L?„°A!^J!y!i!.^.: ='".'' "f *ofc that could, few :i.r'"ir"":=, "■:""» «>e charge. otcoUeaion. Thaf 41 though the Stamp Afl was the moll judici 6us that 5^ *A l^ ^ )t« T QRY of the C^AF. XYIL tb^^ CpuW be cljpfcn for that puipofc j yet, not- wul>(Uiu|ir>g thvWch that duty had b«ica%o>^riy e(Uq>a^ccl, he had i^ot believed its pro. dttcc, v^4 hvi^ tij^eji a very coa^idcrabjc objJL-a, ir!'.-. •ilK 0-rr: 71.- ; That he accoraingly, had never propofcd any ' 5f °i? ^^ i'^'^VJn^ians ; he found thpm already tax- ca when h^ unfprt innately came into adIniI)i(lr^tioh. Tha* 8|& h'R principle of policy was to have as li(tfc cUfcM^n on^cfi? A^hjeds as poiftble, ^ndto^aeV tUc »fiairs of 4^eri9i out of parliament ; fo. ap % ' had-nptJaid, l>^ cjid iiot think itadvifcablefor liimlo repeat tJic nea tax i aor (|idhe ioofequt for' any par- t^cularmc^pf pn£ai:cingit. _, V^ith refpfsa to the coercive j^fts, he faid they ^^W called forth by, and appealed i>C(Ccirai-y in, the «^^«»P^r of the time ; biu thad in the eyent they hp4.pwd^upcd eftcfts whichhe never intended, nor c.ou|d. of ^jnion few^^pm Great Bntain and hfr <;oh)^:is^ fi^t^ ,tliiU, by a variety of difcuflions ^pr^PQfi^iim jiwX A»(as or'ginaUy clear ^id fimple in itfelf, vfs^ ^wde ta, appear JQobfeuije, as to go dwnaed-t* 4jCQcric4;^ fathatthit? Congcefs conceived or tqok,.ftqcafiart, to r^efem it as a fchcn^e fipr faw-; ing 4rViijiQ^i&^, ^4 • intcqdiicing taxaUons a^png. t^fli jiVja ,Wor%f made than the iArmeri, ;and tHcy ac- cordingiyrejeaedit, . ' .„',i. \ ■ r--^ ■". ■ : , , , . |fei cw^plaioejiihat the events of war in.Anxerica had turned Qut ^pry differently fromhis ^xpc^apons, a^nd^ froijiii u^hat teihad a right to e^pf,§ ;. .and th?t tli€! great j^n4 "^elil appointed force feht ooit, and **Hply jfOA^de*! iff^pj ^ovcramgif^gagjro^uced a ""^ '^ ' ^ ■ very V%^4ifproporflnn'cd efeft hithtfta. thttt^tcwM it,B mis taiKufcof cfTeft m duir ralllttify fbtttV He -dW hot mean at that time to cotiAihnn, 6r evtn'W ti^l mto qucftion, the conduft of atiy'ctf our ctJttmtam!. ^^^8, but he had been difappohited. TTiat Sir Wi- n4tn ITpwe had hccn In the htt ii(khhs, ami in flit , whoFe courfc of the Caitipairti, tttit otih ki ihe |oodnefs of trodps, and m all ttrtiflntr df fuppJlcs. Out in point of nambers tbo, mach ftipcribt to t!rc Americah attttV Avhich oppofed hhn in tht HfM. J hat General Burgoyne, who was at length over- powered by nnmbers, had been in tmtnbere, titt the attair at Bennington, near twice as ftrong a« thfc JUmy under Gcnci-al Cates. Cottfidcrin* til thcfc things, thfc cvcftts had been vert totirt avy to hifrtjjt. peftation. But to thc!fe events, ^d t^dtto ibaftri. peftatiohs, he muft make his jilan conform. , As the ^undation of his cmmiol^^mtiicllk propofed the bringing in two bills uhdt^tthu MloW- nghead^ : « A bill for declanng the ihtthtions bf W;.^-?!i!' "^^''^ ^^^^"' conreniing the Jjefdlfe^ of fhe r.^ht of impofltt^Taxts 'withm 'Ws Majeity^s colonies, provinces, and planttitions iti IJorth America." And « A bill to eJTablc >his Ma- Jdty to abpomt commimoners, with f«iHcient powers Z '''u^^'..,?'*^"^'' ^"^ agree uponthe means of qniet- inj^ the dilorders now fubfiltingin ctftain of the colb- ftics, plantations, and provinces ttf ^Oilh America*** The noble Lord obferved, that it wa? intended to JPpomt five commiOioners, and to endow them with very extenlive powers. 1 hey ihoald be enabled to ^^at tvith the C^n^reli by name, a« if it wtre a it. gaibody, and fo far to give ii aiithemidty, astto Juppofe Its ads and conceflions binding on all Ame- ^Sl:.Jl^'^'^ any of the provindal aflem- ivAi'/r'i "5'^P^f^"t conititmbn, and witti any mdividuals m then- prefenc civii ua^uduc*H.r miii- tary 1778. tary commi^ds, with General Waftfngton^ aranf othc^ cipher*' tTiat they (hould have a jfJo^er to order a fufocnfion of arms. To fulpcnd the opcra- tloi^ of all laws. And to grant all forts of pardons, immunities, and rewards. That they (hould have a power of rcftoring all the colonics, or any of thciri, to the form of its ancient conftitutbn, as il ltoo ^vhofe expehce they had refufed to contribute. . He otferve3 it might be alke4,!if his'fentinjenjs jhad been always fuch with refpcci:*^to t^xaition and peace as he had how ftatcd thtjm'to be, why he iiad .not made this propofition at ah earjief period ? To this he anfwcred, his opinion Had ever been, that the moment of vidory was the proper feafoifii for •_ir„..:_^ r :_/¥■. iina-- Willi an eye lu fcveral leans now ,^Ar. XVII. Civir. War i/» A M E R I C A. fevcral rcfteaions which had oH late been thrown upon him by the tory party, and hoping perhaps to obviate iomc part ot tliat greater weight of cenfurc which he now apprehended from that quarter, he declared, that, for his part, he never had made a promilc which he did not perform, or receive any information which he did not communicate. The Miniftcr concluded a long, able, and elo. quent fpecch, which kept him full two hours up, by faying, that on the whole his conceifions were from realon and propriety, not from neceflity ; and that we were in a condition to carry on the war much longer. We might rail'c many more men, and had many more men ready to fend; the navy v-as never in greater ftrcngth, the revenue but little funk, and a few davs would fhew that he fhould raife the funds for the current year at a moderate rate. But he fubmittcd the whole, with regard to the propriety of his paft and prefent condud to the judgment of the Houfc. A ^ull melancholy iilcnce for fome time fuc« ceeded to this fpeech. It had been heard with pro- found attention, but without a fingle mark of ap« probation to any part, from any deicription of men, or any particular man in the Houfe. Aftonifti- ment, dejeaion, and fear, overclouded the whole aflcmbly. Although the Miniifer had declared, that the lentiments he expreffed that day, had been thofe which he always entertained; it is certain, that rew or none had underttood him in that man- ner ; and he had been reprefented to the nation at large, as the perfon in it the molt tenacious of thofe parliamentary rights which he now propofed to relign, and the moft remote from the fubmiflions which he now propofed to make. It was generally therefore concluded, that fomething more extraor- dinary and alarming had happened than yet appear- y y ed. Jiioj f>&ft H rs TO H Y/of iks Cka?. XVIfe 1)^78. cd, wiikb was of fotfce to produce fiieh an app^r^^; ^-^x-" change m meafures, priQcipks, iuid argimitjms* The bills underwent great alterations i» their pro. grefs botn throvgh the houfe and comnMtte^. Whe,, ther it proceeded from a change of opinion, or from whatever other caufe, the powers to be cnUuitcd with the commiflioners were much narrowed from what had b<;cn at ftrft Iidd out by the minifter. The oppofition comjilained that pailianient had diverted itl'dlf effcaually of thofc powers ; but inftead of their being commuaicated to thofe perfons who were to negociate a treaty at fia grcatadiilancCj where immediate concbfions might be abfdutcly necef- faryi a circumltance which alone afforded the often- fiblc motive for their being demanded on granted, they were referved at home in the bands of the mmiiicrs, to be hereafter detailed as they thought proper. This was eafdy accomplished by tlwineans of the crown lawyers, under the colour of making thofe powers agree with inftruaions, whoff nature and purpofe were totally unknow!i to all perfons ex- cepting thcmfclves and the miniftcrs. Some of the oppofition complained greatly of this condoa, which they faid was totally fubverfive of the ^eat princi^ pie of the bill, viz. That commiCioacrs upon the ,. fpotwouki he better able to determine what was iminediatciy fitting- to be done, than pariiamcut or any other body could, at tlic diftancc of three thoufand miles ; but the expunging from tfee bill of thoic discretionary powers which wereJntended for the commiffioncrs, rendered it, they faid, with re- fpe6\ to its avowed purpose, little more than a piece "I I*^® P^Pcr : fo that as it then ftood, its real ciFca could.be only to vefl in the minifters a fuf- pendmg power out of parliament, under the form and colour of inftru6tions vo coramiffioners, inllc^d ot the open and uiual mode of carryinjr it by bill through both houfes. The dancrer ef the nre-f- dcm, ia this view ©f th« buflnetf, and the compcr tencc f>3' es ica. ^AP. XVlf» Civil War in A M E R i C A. t%%S. «,fcd«mcyr or commcccc, entered bto between «^^V Iff ^;COittrt and.th© revolted coloniea in North ijf rlTie miniftcr iliceaiy moved the previous quef. 'tibn, giving as a reafon, that the expofure of the papers demanded^ would be a ^ofl unpjirdonabie and pernicious ad of treachery > to ithofcy who at the grcatefl rifquc, liad commuiiicaijcd fccret Intel, ligcncc to government. Mr. GrenViUe offered to prevent an effeft which he abhorred, by Jnfertini? the words " or extrafts," after, copies, in the m6. '^^on; but the mmiitcr infilled that no amendment • i^ii'., could be received after the previous qucftion bad be^n moved. This condu .The mmifter moved an addrefs to the Tlirone -n, w v^hrc^., befides echoing back and conSrSSn^;"- prmopal pofitions m tJie meflkge, declares theWh: ■>«"" f" ctt^mdignation and grcateft rtfentment at the un: '" "'^''"•'«' jBll and unprovoked pondua of France, which iii I." "" another prt, calls « that reftlefs and' d»g„;.^ *"""'• Jpintof ambuionand aggrandizement, which has fo often jnvaded the rights and threaten;d the lib=2 ues of Europe " It concludes with the ftroneeft affurancesof the mod zealous affiftance andTp! port; and a declaration of the firmeft confidence that, ,„ every demonftration of loyalty to his m!! jeth would vie With each otlier; and that no con- fiderations would divert or deter themfrom ftand' vtth a ileady perieverance, any extraordinary bu^ Uiens and expences, which (hould be found neeef-' of fc"'"'''"'^.'"^ '^='j'''y '° ^'"'•'<='«= *= honour riiitSoTfhSe'^i^X:^^^ ^£f^^'h^ i"sS":ft:° tt ^'^f «hotin?''r^?°'^P"«'"'"'^^^^^^^^ 'hofe coudua, from counfels expericn cc of the ,f tilt pttjricious ^c^8 of thcif pall iheaftircs-j^'hJs ■^ l^ffe caft . pJace no confidence ; in the prdcrtt 'nidTftcntoliis fituatipn of pfublij: affairs. Sir Georgfc ^onjje -^artiily fecondcd the air»cndmcnt, and was hfmfclf as vmtttiitf fupportcd. The principal gro;ind of ,atgumcnt wa*, thc^ folly' and danger of comtnit- tlftg me con^ti^ of ti>c moft arduous war, In which this coontry was ever involved, to diofe men, who ikd sdrckdy fhewn themfclvcs totaHy oneqaal to its govcrmnent in the moft profoond quiet and peace ; whofc pernici6us counfels and meafures had con- verted that Icaibn of happinefs and profpcrity into ail the hofrrors J^nd mifchiefs of a mofl uiinatural, ctMi and deftra^Hve civil war ; whofe ignorance and incapacity in the management of that war of ttibit own creation, joined to that incorrigible ob- ftlitacy, which, dkdaining all counfel, and rcjefting all waminrg, were at length the unhappy meaire, of for lever fevering the Britilh empire, and of fina^ly plunging this nation in all its pr cnt danger arid li anfijfr'Ctto tfils, theMinifter declared his fixed atlS UnalteraMe wfolution, that in the prefent fitua- fion df public affairs, he would keep his place at ail events. He faid, that the intereft of the empire, lib left dban his ^n pride and fenfe of honour, now rendered his continuance in office abfdutely ncccf- fary. tt ^ould be a difgrace, which he wa$ deter- mined not tb incut, to abandon the helm, while the fKip of ftate was toffed about in a ftorm, until he Bad brought her fafely into port. He could fee but little foundation for the prefent public alarm ; the fallof theilocks, he faid, was merely the efted of that fiiddert jjanic, which was the ufual conco- iriitant of a ^qgtnning of a war. The apparent backwardnefs to Ml the prefent Iqan, he, however^ attributed rattier to the greatnefs of the national debt, thaii to the mere approach of a war. Great Britain had ^l^-itp been fo pundual in the payment' of Olt^w. X V3I> Civit War ili^AM If t t^A i of the iijtereft ^e to Im: creditor th»f «- ^ mmr'^sm money for the ri^* 1 .**^ ^"^ m^* ■MBtof «w»r in ftZf JI^' ""* commence;,^ wd tl«t the public St be rendei'/'^i^'' *'r 0* the &bjei? of i„X. his J^S^ "SI^^T"^ «w to that eonftkutiona foSfllfi^f '^;li2^*; H«&/by d^wLTo^ Jf */ °'^' fide pf ft* ' toflow.of theS «rr' *« «J*=kne*die;- :«'*« Hoi, fo h^^^^fted The^T^ S'""'^'^ * ' mi It who woirfd not rZ?» i!- ^r ''*' "°' » ""« »il* of Ae ili; k h^\" cd^tJ'^' '"f ^*°"' *» q*Mly, «o one wo«irf ^77 ' '"'' "« =»"*' Ws, which Zv w?m rl"f '"^P-r <« » ad- «»uld find ia WfS,,'r "' *«= '""5' *»»!«? ^ dig/hy oHl" c"wn! °"' °^ ''" J-°Pfc. »d "nd the oririir,! =!§' r ™«^"diw«tt was rejeaed. «I'f<^*tca.l!:™™e u^"r^- ^™'" America, G..«. tocaufe a revival of fhf^' ,T''' ^' togahet, ?»?"= ■"gkt poffiblv krr^Z, V ^ 'nvffft.gaaon, nj coun- i778i ddia^iwiicc. He '«ris, In the firft Itiftftrt^i^V^efMca admiflion-^to the t^l pi^fenfc^ a^d fV«*fi thettce cxpcricnocd all ihofe marks of being in difgrace, -Mdi arc fo*wdl midefftood, «iid fo qttkWfper- <^dl^ by Ac reti^crs and foUowtfra bf courts;- ^-Trtdfer^hoTc circumftances of difgraee^d irttcf- cRaion, a court of enquiry was appointed 5 but the gcnerial officers reported, that, in his th*n fituation, as aprifoner on parcrfe tothc Cftngrcfs, un- der the convention — they couW not take crtgnizaticc of his conduA. This fpirited officer then demand- ed a court martial— which on the fame grounds was rcfufed. He then declared Mmfelf under a ncccffity of throwing himfclf upon parliament, for a public enquiry into his conduft. The bufmefs was not, however taken up, as he expected, by any fide of the Houfe at his firft appearance. Poffibly the latenefs of the feafon, and the fear of the deter- mination of a minifterial majority, might deter the oppofition from any fteps to that purpofe. Mr. Vyner, however, removed any difficulty that oc- curred on cither fide, by moving for a committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of the .ftate and condition of the army \vhich furreridered them- felves prifoncrs, on convention, at Saratoga, in America; and alfo by what means Lieutenant General Burgoync, who commanded that army, and was included in that convention, was releafed, and is now in England. The motion was feconded by Mr. Wilkes, and an amendment moved by Mr. Fox, for the infe^ tion of the following words, immediately after the word " confider" " of the tranfadions ot the northern army under Lieutenant General Bur^oyne, and" . The motion and amendment aftorded that opportunity to the General which he was feek- ; r-- ..f ^v^lominn- tli»* nafiiTP and ftatc ot his fituation, and the particular circumttanccs ot that lit* May 26. Chap. XVII. CiviL War /« A M B R I C A. [^37 ^'tTt^'Tu^' '''T"^ ''^ under which,, hcac! mB ' fenbcd Unifel^as moft injurioufly fuffcrin^r.- '^^^ C^ mem'"'f/l?i'"'"'"'''u *''" """'<^ ""'I "^e amend- «-"»' mem, as tending to that general enquiry into hit ^ ■- condua, which could alone vindicate his ch" after f"'". ZT\\ , n ^ •"* ?-^" ""^"' ^hich had been •■»" of uftd, as v'ell during his abfence, as fmce his arri "r. Vy. '? h '"JT bo*. He entered into a iulirficat "n "^'■/'^ of his condua with rerpea to the cruelt es charH "^ Y' forct tTV'i " ^'"'?''^''"" "^ '^^ S =:'a-„a Hrf.!rft :? >- V"^.™*""'" attributed to them. '""» Hemfifted that he had not exceeded his order? •"""' theHoufe had been defignedly milled to hi/ore ' Hjccm the former enquiry'upon this frbjea" d.a ■^"" Canada expedition, and leavhig tjiem in the ofinion that^ all its parts had been punLa Iv complied with; although the Minifter who Q It before them, knew the contrary to be the faft - aid that fome of its moft material clanfr! l! i kd"! "I"-, K^^ •""""'" ' "th pap s wh ct bad been laid before them, were in fome rernea?Ht fc.ent, and in others fuperfluous. Am^ fe laN er he particularly complained of the expofure of x nvate and confidential letter, which coSid anfwer no public purpofe, and at the fame time evidenUv ended to his perfon.l prejudice. And amont tbe :«rTnot' : 2"?°"'"^ f f""^' otliers'lhlcfi Cm h„ T P,''"*'<--a"ient, fome of which »ould have removed the ill impreffion and effefl caufed by that letter, and others w'ould have afffrf .^^^nnerefcc^ld^^-rr^-rK 2 Z Canada 538] Tbi HISTORY of the Chap. XVH. 1 778. Canada. Upon this part of the fubjcft he exclaim- ^•y^"^ cd with great energy, *' what officer will venture hereafter to give his opinion upon mcafurcs or men when called upon by a Minidcr, if his confidence, hig reafonings, and his preferences, arc to be thus invidioufly expofed, to create jcaloufies and dilfcr- ences among his fellow officers, and at Uii to put an impofition upon the world, and make him refpon- fible for the plan as well as the exeqution of a ha- zardous campaign." (fDft-?. After ftating and refuting a number of calum. nies, which, from intcreftcd or malevolent purpofes, had been induftrioufly propagated agaiaft him, he faid, that under fuv^h circumltances of the greateft injury to the reputation of one of their members, together ^n^'ith that of his charader l\aving already been brought into queftion before them, and his di- reft affertion, that the information which the Hpufe had then gone upon was incomplete aud fallacious, he knew not what defcription of men could juftly refufe, to him perfonally, a new and fu]l enquiry. He put it ftrongly to the feelings of his auditors, and to make it individually their own cafe, the fituation of an injured and perfccutcd man, debar- red, by an interdiftion from the poffibility of vin- dicating himfeU to his Sovereign, and put by, if not inevitably precluded from the judgment of a mili- tary tribunal, if thus, difgraced at court, and cut off from refource in the line of his profeffion, he ihould^alfo at laA, in his final appeal to the juili(;e and equity of his country, find himfelf difappointcd in the only poffiblc means of juftification that re- mained, by a refufal of a parliamentary invefti- gation of a meafure of ftate, with which the refti- tude or criminality of his conduft was infeparably blended. After applying this matter particularly and forcibly to his brother officers in parliament, as rage- Chaf. XVII. Civil WARfJIk M E R I C A. ragcmcnt and injury which the fcrvicc muft fuffcr under the eftabhihmcnt of fuch a precedent, and ZTof thl H 7"^^^''«'-"j Wlicd to different parts of the Houfe, he wound up the whole of that part of thelubjea,, by declariJ. that he waved an appeal to private fcntimcnts, and defircd the motion be confidercd as a call upon the public duty of thcHouic; and he required, and demanded, in his place as a reprcfemativc of the nation, a full and impartial enquiry into the caufes of the mifcariacc ot the northern expedition from Canada. TheAmcrican^Minifter declared his concern for the expofure of thepnvatc letter, which he attribut- ed tb accident, or official miftake. As to the Ge- neral 8 not having accefs to his Sovereign, he faid tliere were various precedents for the refufal, until his condua had undergone a military enquiry, which could not yet be done. And concluded that as military men^were the natural and proper judges of the (ubjea, ht could not fee the propriety of anv interference by parliament in the bufmcfs. The qdcftion being at length put on Mr. Fox's amendment, it was rejefted on a divifion, by a ma- jonty of 144 to gS' And, the main queftion, after lorac unufual warmth of altercation, was fct by at a late hottr by the previous queftion, which was car- ncd without a divifion. A few days after was brought to a conclufion, this long, tedious, and exceedingly laborious feffion of June 3d. nrhament. A felfion, in which a greater number of the moft mterefting and important public queftions were agitated, although not generally decided upon. ^ than any other, perhaps, within the fpacc of a cen- i tury paft. And which alfo afforded more frequent I room for cxpedation and hope to the people, with refpea to the condua of public affairs. fh:.n [ that w« remember. C539 unir CHAP. 540] The Hi S T'd R Y cf the> Oiap. Xvni. ill' 'tun \^i i V, AiJivii-Mil CHAP. XVm. Sfiiftt «f th« hoftiU arm ft in Philndel^hia and Us neighbourhioi i during the tuinter, Hard fondition 9f tkt brave anny under ■, §^M canuention of Sarat^^t^. ^uJjpeijfiQn of th Jreatji bj the ^con^rcfs^ until a ratification is chained front f he court tf Ureat- Britain. PreJkory espedftlbhs'fhm Philafffphlit and Rhode Ifland Draught of the ConcHifit^ry Bilts puhlijfytd in Ameriea. Effefi produced brit on b^tb Jidtt. Cpndufi^ and •) ; refolutions of the Cong re/}. Hi/neon D^n arrives •witl) th , ^^^JFrench treaties, iifr I](<;itry, Clinton ^arrjvcs t9 take the com- '^ maud nfthe army at PhiLsdiilpkia^' in ihe rooiUif (General Sir tt^lUitiui Ilovoe^ fiuho returns to Enyiand,^ Arrival of the Commiftonen for re/lor ing ps£cei Sfff. 'Let-ief to the Cmgrtfi. t^. Sidretarv to the Cominifjioners rffufedi.\ef,'p^ffpoj%- Atifvcr wMturned by the Congrefs to the CQmuii^i^nerj^,.J^t(,riher par- ticulars relative to the prop'fcd negociation. '"Evacuation of Philaddphia. Difficulties encountered hy' th'e Sriiifh' arniy in their rndrch acrofs the Jerftes, Gutter a{ Wafhington tropi the Delaivare. Battle near Monmouth., .! Gm. Lee, tried I) a court viartidy and fufpended. Britiflo army paft over /» Sandy Hook JjlanJ, and are conveyed by theff,et jto Neru/ Tori^, Toulon Jq uadron arrive en the coajt of America, Appear htfori Sandy Hook^ lohire they cafl anchtr. Alarm., and preparations at Sandy Hook a'nd Neiv Terk. Departure of the French feet. Arrival of reinforcements to Lord Howe, French fieet appear before Rlrn/e Ijland. ■ Defenfive prfparations by General .Sir Robert Pigot. Jnvajion of that tjland meditated hy the Americans, to fccond th operations of the' French. Lord ^ •■ Ho'we fails to the relief of Rhode If and. D'Efaing, quits t/}e harbour and putt to fea, to meet the Britif) fqtiadron. Fleets feftarated, at the point of engaging, by a violent farm. Capt, Ray nor in the I/is, bravely engages a French man ofiuarofi^ guns. D'Eftaing returns to Rliode If and, atj proceeds froin the ice tc Bofon. Is purfued by Lord Hoive. Gen. Sullivan lands in Rhode If and. Invefis the Britifh pofts. American army greatly difcencerted by D'E/iain^'i departure. Sulli- van retreat t, and at length totally quits the ijland. Lord , Honvi'y finding D Efaing's fquadron fo Jlrongly fecured in Nanta'let Road, as to render an attack intpra^licable, returns from Bo/ion.. .7-" », R.OM t'his war of words and opinions in the Jj Old world, we are led to a war of deeds and arms in tiie ijew. The one notwithftanding the I up- AP.Xvni. I cftA>.xvni. civil WaJI,, America. [54, fuppofcd fummary drcifivcncfs of its nature, bcinff 1778 httlc more contfuftvr than the other. The hoftile v-^ armies at Philadelphia and Valley Forge, paffed the •fcverity of the winter, within a few miles of each other, m great quret. The alTailants, however, contrary to the general courfc and circumftance of war, had the advantage of a capital city, and that a fine one, for their quarters; whilit the native army was under the neccflity of enduring all the ex- tremity of the feaihn, under a hutted camp in the - open field. Notwithftanding this great advantage mpomt of cafe and convenience, the lines and re- doubts with which it was found ncceifary to cover the city of Philadelphia, did not permit the Britifh or auxiliary forces to ruit in their military habits or to grow languid in the exerciCe of their military duties. Upon the whole, the army was well fuo- phcd and healthy. ^ In the mean time the gallant and unfortunate army,.that had been under a neceliity of fubmittincr to the terms of the convention at iJaratooa, met with great and unexpe<^ted delays and difficulties m relpedt to their return to Europe, and underwent many gnevous vexations, in that Itation which had bceri allotted for their reception in the neighbour- hood of Bofton. The former of thele, however' opened the great ground of grievance, as the fuc' ceeding could not otherwiie have been of any con- fiderablc duration. Notwitfbnding the enmity which unhappily prevails between the now disjoined parts of the Britifh nation, it aftbrds us no fatisfac- tion m treating this fubjeft, that truth and jufticc compel us, ftrongly to condemn the condua of the Congrefs ; who leem, upon this occahon, to hare departed widely from that lyftem of fairnefs, equity, and good faith, fo cflential to new States, and which iiad hitherto appeared, in a coiifidcrablc decree to have been the guide of their attion*. ' It 54«] 1778. 7;ttf H 1 8 T PR Y 9/ tht Chap. X VUf. It fecins to have been rather unlucky, at leaft in point of time, that a requifition for foinc deviation froin the terms of the convention, had been made by the Britiih commanders. This was for the cm- barkation of the convention troops, either at the Sound, near Ncw-York, or at Rhode Ifland, inftead of Bofton, which was the place appointed for their departure to Europe. And in confcquence of the expc^ation entertained, that this propofal would have been complied with, the tranfports for the conveyance of the troops were affcmblcd at Rhode Ifland. The Congrefs, however, not only refufed to. comply with the requifition, but made it a ground of a pretended fufpicion, that the meafurc was proppfcd, merely to afford an opportunity to the convention troops to join their fellows, with an intention then of making fome pretence for evading or breaking the terms of capitulation j and con.' tinuing to ad in America to the great detriment and danger of the common caufe. To fVrengthen this colour of fufpicion, they pretended, that the 26 tranfports which were provided at Rhode Ifland, were infufficicnt for the conveyance of above 5,600 men, in a winter voyage to Europe ; and, that in the prefent ftate of things, with refpeft to provi- fions, both in the Britim fleet and army, it was fcarcely poffible that they could have been vidualled for fo long a voyage, and fo great a number, in fo fliort a time. In the mean time great complaints having been Concrrefa "^^^*=» ^X ^^^ Britifh officers near Bofton, of the bicaksthe badnefs of the quarters with which they had been convene provided, and which they reprefented, as being tion of neither conformable to their expeftation, rank, or ^"'t^ga. t^ jIj^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ capitulation, the fenfc and con- ftrudion of fome ftrong expoftulation which was made by General Burgoyne, in a letter of com- plaint upon the fubjcct, was wreftcd by the Con. grcls to a direft declaratianj that the convention Chap. XVIII. Civa War f a M E R I C A. [543 had been broken on their part, by a violation of its , 778 r iTf^ ■^^'' they reprefcmed as a matter of V^ the inort ienous and alarming nature ; which indi- catc^ a full intention in the BritiOi General and army, to confider the convention at diflblved, by bi« fappofcd violation of it which was charged on their power j and a 'declaration of the fort now made, under the prcfcnt circumftancc of that army wotdd appear, they laid, no fmall public jultif.catio'^ pi their future condua, in ading as if they were m no degree bound, when at large, by a capitu- i&r " ? ^"^ ^'''""'^ '^^■''^^^'* ""**^' ,K,^?T? P*'"'' '•efolnt'ont which were paflid, a. t* he foldiers not having faithfully delivered up all their accoutre_ments, were of fo ihameful a nature ^ to be high y difgraceful ,„ the Congrefs -and «med ftrongly to indic«e. that they were ready to grafp at any pretence, however weak or futile. by which they could evade the term, of the coni S-'ifTu'Src fX'-^ "•= "'"^^ "f » "-« i„,™Z '" "^ n ""l' *•= ^™'="' "P'"""! the mtention, a5 well as the conftruflion of that paflage n h« letter, which went no farther than to a.^» founded complaint, and a demand of redreft our. fuant to the terms of the convention. It was to aJ httle purpofc that his officers, in order to ?emOve tlu new difficulty, refpeflively figned their parole «h.ch they had hitherto refufed doing, un,K« ' could obtain redrefs in the article of quarters anS !vt^^ 7'T^' f"I ''"^ g^^«'<'- 1'« General even offered ,0 pKrdge himfelf, that notwithftand mg the injurious fufpicion entertained of his own honour and that of his officers, they would fti 1 Z ::?..''L'!.V"i?rff '"l "Aing or'inilrument Ihat -a-., wv u,«ugui ncccuary, tor Itrengthcning, con. firming. 544] ' The HISTORY of the Chap. XVI]!. 1778. firming, ot renewing the validity of the con- ^■y^^""^ vcntion. But the Congrcfs were inexorable. It was eafily fcci^, that the nieafure which they had adopted was not io lightly taken as to be eafily given up ; and that explanations and fecurities could produce no cftcft on their determination. They had paffed a Jan. 8. rcfolution from which they never receded, that the cmbarkaiion of General Burgoyne and his army fhould be fufpended, until a diftind and explicit ratification of the convention at Saratoga (hould be properly notified by the court of Great Britain to Congrcfs. ^ Although the treaties between France and America were not at that time concluded, it , does not feem impoflible, that the councils of that court had fome confiderable operation upon the condud of the Congrefs in this extraordinary tranf- adion. Perhaps being fo clofely prefTed as they ■were, by a part only of the King's forces, then in adual poffefiion of the moft confiderable of their cities, for magnitude, wealth and commanding fitu- ation, they thought, that fufFerin^ thofe convention troops to be fent to Europe, from whence thev might be eafily replaced, would entirely turn againit them thefcale of war ; and therefore, they chofe to facrificc their reputation, by an ad never excufable, rather than their Being at this critical hour. Some fuccefsful predatory expeditions into the Jerfies, and on the Delaware, with the furprize of a party of the enemy (who fuffered no inconfider- able lofs in men) on the Penfylvania fide, by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Abercrombie, were the only mili- tary operations which diftinguifhed the remaining adminiftration of General Sir William Howe in the command of the army. The lofs of the Americans in thefe expeditions, and in fome others, which Vi/ttv uudcrtukcn from Rhode Ifiand towards the end of May, was exceedingly great, both with re- fpea GHAt/. XVUL Civil Wa tL in AM B R l^C A. [545 fl).ea t9..publjc and private property. Ships, bo^tSi 177S, houfcs, places of worfhip, flores of all forts, aj]4 of Jv>^ whatever Hature, whether public or private ; in a word^vcry^thing ufcfui to man that was liable to theattJon of fire, was in fome places coniumedby it. The officers^ however, attributed lome of the cnormitjcij, witli relpcd to the burning of private houtes, to the licence and rage of the Ibldiers, and declared them to be entirely contrary to their in- tentions and orders. ^ \ The Americans, «s ufual, made the fevereft Waft. charges of cruelty, many of which we hope to '"S^"" be iinfQunded, ag;iina the troops employed in F'^^"*-' thefe expeditions. Particularly tie denial of quar- ZlJs ' ter,' !and_^he ilaughtering men in cold blood, campaiga Iqvcrafaf whom* they iaid, neither had arms in their, ^apds, nor were in any miUtary capacity, i hey alfo, complained, (on the Rhode Ifland fide, Wheri?. the,.ch4|rges were ftrongcr made) as a lels cruel, though not more defenfible ad of in- juitic^jithe parrying off the peaceable inhabitants of thd country, and detaining them as prifoners of war, until they ihouldat fome time or other be exchang- ed, for an ecjual number of foldiers taken on their fide in arms. And although it was replied to this complaint^ that as by their laws, every inhabitant irom 16 to 6oi was liable to be called upon to take up arms and was therefore to be conlidered and treated at all times as a loldier, whether he was bund madual fervice or not, we can by no means thmk-the reafoning included in this aniwtrr latisfac- tory or condufive. Upon the v\hole, even if the ' treaty between France and America had not un- happily rendered all hope of luccels from the i re- tent concijiacory fyltcm hopelels, thcie preuauiiy- jrritatirg expeditions would have appeared pecu- liarly ill timed and unlucky. 1 hough Itrongly and sraruiiy iccomiuendcd by many hcie as the 'molt cttcanalmodepi war, uefcarceJy remembcr.an m- ' ' Aaaa * iiance 546] T/je HISTORY of the CrtAP. XVIII. 1778. ftance in ^vhich they have not been more mifchicv- ^-^^^^ ous than ufcful to the grand objeds, cither of re- ducing, or of reconciling the colonies. During thefe tranfadions, neither the Congrefs nor General VVafhington, omitted any means or preparation for a vigorous campaign ; whilft both, in their public ads, boldly held out to the people ; the hope of its being the laft, and of their driving the Britifh forces entirely out of America. The General, having now proved the fubmiflion and pa- tience of his army in their long winter encamp- ment, 11 ruck of all the fuperabundant baggage both of men and officers, to the clofcft line of neceiiity, and ventured upon every other reform, which could render them agile in fervicc, and efFeaive in aaion. He alfo tried the influence of his own name and charader, by a public letter to the farmer's of the Middle colonies to requeft their providing and fat- tening cattle for the fervice of the army in the cnfuing campain. The Congrefs, among their other attentions to the war, iffued a refolution, ilrongly urging the young gentlemen of the diffe- rent colonies to raiie a body of light cavalry, to ferve at their own expence, during the campaign ; offer- ing them fuch allurements and honorary diftindions in the fervice as were calculated to reconcile that Order of men, to the reftraints and duties of a mill- tary life, in the limple rank and character of private volunteers. A rough draught of the conciliatory bills, as they appeared on tiie firlt reading in the Houfe of Com- mons, was received at New-York by Governor Tryon, about the middle of April, who ufed all means to circulate them among the people at large of the revolted colonies. This un^xneded land, excited equal altonilhment and indignation in ■js.11iii.11 J ill Ji^ii^' our *P. XVIII. I Chap. XVIII. Civil War /'« A M E R I C A. ^^^^ 177S. Great attonifh- ment and in'.4i»'n3- tion e.<- prefTal by the army on the receipt of ths con- ciliatory bills our own army, who thought that nothing couKl ex cced the degradation which they feh in I'uch a con- ceflion. The nature and circuinllanccs of tiie war, and the long courfe of injuries and IplTes which had been offered and received, had by this time render- ed every individual a partizan in the conteft. They had been taught to think that nothing Ids than ah folute conqueft on their fide, or the mofl: uncondi- tiohal fubmiiiion on the other, could bring it to a conclufion. They blufhcd at the recplleaion, and thought their perfonal honour wounded in the re- cantation which was now to be m.ide, cf al! that high language and treatment which they had been accullomcd to hold or to offer to rebels. The dif- appointment was the greater, as thefe papers were the fubftitutc to a reinforcement of 20,000 men, which they had expected. If fuch were the feel- ings of the Britifh army, it may not be eafy to de- fcribe thofe of the numerous body of American re- fugees, whofe pafTions being irritated to the highed degree, thought they beheld all their public and private hopes, as well as the gratification of th; ir perfonal refentments, cut off at one blow. The bills were not, however, to produce the effed that was expeded or apprehended ; and, unhappily, an end was not yet to be put to the calamities of war. The mode of circulating thefe papers, was confi-TjicCon. dered, or reprefented, by the Americans, as angrefscon* infidious attempt to divide the people ; and the ^l^''"!i the Congrefs, to (hew their contempt of it, ordered them "!*"^^ "^ to be immedialely publilhed in their Gazettes. [^'"""I^"::^ General Walhington, in anfwer to Governor Trvon, ^ who had font him feveral copies of the draughts, with a requefl that they might be circulatd among the officers and men of his army, enclofed in his letter to him a Printed news-paper, in which they had been infertcd by the order of the Congreis ; ari-nmnnnit'H hv tlif nrint/».1 rr-f/iliit-I.-iri,^ ,-.f* «-K^» u , I.. 1 " T r' '•'• - ■t 'viliti-.-u,- 0[ tu.ii i7V>uy upon the fubject. And Governor Tunibull, upon a fjiuilar 548] The HISTORY of the Chap. XVni 1778. fimilar letter and application, obferved, that pro- ^■^''^''^^ pofitions of peace were ufually made from the fu- preme authority of one contending power to the fimilar anthority of the other ; and that the prefent, was the firft inftance within his recoUeftion, in which they had ever been addrefled to the people at large of the oppofite power as an overture of reconciliation. He proceeded with the following, words, " There was a day when even this ftep, from our then acknowledged parent ftate, might have been accepted with joy and gratitude ; but that day, fir, is pad irrevocably. The repeated reje<3:ion of our fmccre , and fufficicntly humble petitions ; the commencement of hoftilities ; the inhumanity which has marked the profecution of the war on your part in iis fcveral liages ; the in- folence which difplays itfelf on every petty advan- tage ; the cruelties which have been exercifed on thofe unhappy men, whom the fortune of war has thrown into your hands ; all thcfe arc infuperable bars to the very idea of concluding a peace with Great Britain, on any other conditions, than the moft abfolutc perfcd independence.'* He con- cluded his letter with the lollowing obfcrvation upon the reftoration of union by a lading and ho- nourable peace, which he declared to be the ar- dent wifli of every hcnefl; American, viz. " The Britifli nation may then, perhaps, find us as affec- tionate and valuable friends as we now are deter- mined and fatal enemies, and wi.l derive from that friendfnip more folid and real advantage than the . mod fanguinc can expe£l from conqued. April 22 The refult of the deliberatio^.s, and of fevcral refolutions upon the fubjeft by the Congrcfs, was a declaration, that any man, or body of men, who fhould prcfume to make any feparate or partial con- vention or agreement with Cominiffioners under Rr•^^'^1r« a^id treated as enemies to the United States. That the Chap. XVIII. Civil War ,« A M E R I C A r .he United State., could not with propriety hold .r,8^' any conference or treaty with anv 0.m^-^ P^^' on the part of Great B^it2, alfMhey S^uw" ^ a. a prehminary thereto, ei'ther withdrL S term. I^^k f:, °' f'-' '" P'"'"'^^ ""^ "Ps Stags' -"i: 7'^''^.'= 'he -ndependence of the faid states. Ai J, inaimuch as it appeared to be th^ defign of tlieu enemies, to lull them into a fat,1 f cunty the-y called upon the feyeral ftaWs 'o ufe the „,o(t m-cnuous exertions, to have their refpefthe quotas oi troops in the field as foon a« n!f™" Deane arriyed ex- m prrfs from Pans, atYorkTiwn wher^thlr-^'^* Sr^s had fat f.nce the lofs of PhiladeTphia, ^i, thl t""' fetal mdruments, which feemed to ftamo a fr^ °""' upon the feparation of America from EnXd He Sc had been conveyed from France in a Royal frigate '-Vbe- 28 guns, appointed for the puroofe anVm . <"•«» wu him, for ratification by t^'con/refe "opt' ^T' of the two treaties, of alliance and n?7„ ^ l"^ ■ J^'b^ja-y^ T' "' A"- "teVthe^tf ITothtr^mattenht ^tt4w ZT "' well as what related to the hi torvVth^ "^' •"' t'on, and of its coucluf.on! ^ ' °'Soaa. The joy and exultation of the Amerir-,,,^ his occaf.on, could only be rivaUed hv h " 'T?" demonltrations of them^ Thr, ''>' V^= F P"W.c "cly publilhed n r „.^' • ^'-oigi-efs immedi- ' K^o'imeu a Uazettc, which hf(irl»o - r S°* '^.^ general information thevt'!riL='i"J- . ^crt^r^^h^ibdr' own";' ''"'"■"•^ -tideTof ^hJ • ' " '"^"^ °*'» comments upon them, to the 55oi The HISTORY of the Ghap. IT///. 1778. the people; in which the extraordinaay equity,gene- ^^^'^'^^ rofity, and unparalleled honour, (as they defcribed it) of the French King, were extolled in the higheft degree. In this piece, they lipeined to count upon Spain as being alrcly a virtual party to the alliance, and to confider the naval Force of both nations as united in their cault. They aUb built much upon the friendfhip of other great powers, and boalted of the favourable difpofition of Europe in general to An i May ^ Sir Henry Clintoii and the commif- fioners arrive at PhiladcU phia About the fame time. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton arrived to rake the command of the army at Phila- delphia, in the room of Sir William Howe ; who returned to England, to the great regret of both officers and foldiery in general. In the beginning of June, the three Commiirioners from England, being the Earl of Carlifle, Mr. Eden, and Governor Johnftone, (with whom were joined in the com- miffion, the Commander in Chief, Sir Henry Clin- ton) arrived in the Delaware. The Commiffioners immed.ately difpatched a ^;"^ ^ letter, with the late afts of parliament, a copy of patche a their commiffion and other papers, to the Prelident lettcT, &c of the Congrefs ; but their Secretary, Dr. Fergulon, who was intended to convey the papers, and to ad as an agent for conducting the negociation upon the fpot with the Congrefs, being refufed a paiVport for that purpofe, they were obliged to forward them by coipimon means. The Commlfiioners propofed, even at this outfet, feveral conccflions and arrangements, which, at an earlier period, would have reftored peace and felicity to the whole empire. They offered to con- fent to an immediate ceiTation of hoftilities by fea and land.— To reftore a free intercourfe, and to ^^-.^.,.t.U^^r^mitv%ryyyUt»nf(it-e r»f nntiimli ^ntion throUtrn tKe ieveral parts of ^hc empire— To extend every freedom to con grefa Chap. XVIII. C.v.x. War ,« A M E R I C A. r.. freedom to trade thaf th^ ^«r rv« • both fide, could ^ejuire.' ttrllZr'"' -^ .'778- To cotur''l";i'' 7 °^ "'f P""^"'" affe,nb He '! 1 o concur in mea.rurcs calculated to dilcharrr,- »h, debts of America, and to raife the credit .nH^ of the paper circulation.../ro 'erpe ua e the "^ mon union, by a reciprocal deDutTtll^lf '•''""" or agents, froni the differem Se To 1' m'P"' the privilege of a fenf •,«.!•', °"''' ''^^<= of Great Brita n , or itLt fr '" t P?'""-'""^"' rnn. ^r. V, r ' *, ^^"' ^'^^in Britain in thaf refpeaively, i„ ord;;^o'te ? tl^^f^^ terefls of tho e by whom fh^^v «/ 4 . "" And, in ikon, to ^cSi t' Iw^r off ;7 fpedive legidaturts in each particular fbtetnf Jf' Its revenue, its civil and mi itarv Slifh- / ^ to exercilc a perfed fr«.dnm f f M°'*^'"ent, and 5rth^:^rirre-^£;;££^:s.; i:^dt"""^"^''>"— -^ofaX;;; , ablt deb^fes, ^L 'w^; ^erwed"' 7^ '°"''"- ^»"^f' from the nth to the„?h f T °" '';'*'=''™' ''''y^. "f""' vcftli^^nC I • , !7'n of June.inthc Concrefs ""^ '^»">- fufficicntly briel;^r t 'conSe^^Th"' "^^ fcn'ed to the Commiffioners. that h'e adslf fh'" Brmft parliament, the comn iffion frcn the r S !?"'.='",'' 'heir letter, fuppofed the oeon'^lf !?!?; ..»^. lo DC lubjects of the crown of" Gr^e^f R "'""■ -d were iounded „„ tl.c idea of defe^fd^lce! whicl; was oners The niSTORY of the Chap. X VIH. was totally inadmiflible. They informed them, that they were inclined to p^acc, notwithitanding the unjull claims from which the war originated, and the favage manner in which it had been con- duded. '1 hey would therefore be reauy to enter upon the confideration ol a treaty of peace and com- merce, not inconfiltent with treaties already lublilt- ing, when the King of Great Britain Ihould demon- ftratc a fmcerc difpofition for that purpole. But, the only folid proof of that dilpolition would be, an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of thofe ftatcsjorthe withdrawing of his iicets and armies. Such were the conditions, which an unhappy concurrence of events induced on the one fide, and which the operation of the fame caufes rendered inadmiffible onthe other. The Congrcfs, at the fame time, iffued an unanimous approbation of Gen. Walhington's conduct in refufmg a palfport to Dr. Fergufon. Although the Congrefs, as a body did not enter into any litigation with the Commilhoners upon the general li^bjed of their million, yet fome of their members, particularly Mr. Drayton, one of the delegates for South Carolina, and others, per- haps, not officially conneded with them, entered the lifts of controverfy in the public papers, with no fmall degree of acrimony. For, as the Com. miffioners feemed to carry along with them an idea, which at the time of their appointment, was endea- voured with great care to be eftablilhed in Eng- land, viz. " that the bulk of the Americans were well aftefted to the Britilh government, and that the greater part of the remainder were only held in a ftate of delufion by the Congrefs" they accord- ingly, upon this failure of ne ^ociation with that i._j„ j:-^a-/1 *k*.;,. future nivhli -.itlnni?. in the man- ner of appeals to the p:epi;,le at large j ieemmg, "^ • thereby, Chap.XVIII. Civil War ,„ AMERICA. r„, tZtX°r.:f"' T '■°T '^'S"'- '^' charge fo ,„8 repeatedly made on tl.e other fide, that their onlv 3SC cS:"; """" "'.V"fi''i°"» appearance of co7 oS* orT"'""f " f-=P''™"on aipongft the colonies, or the people to tumults aeainff their refpefliye governments. And, as thf Conwefl not only permitted, but affefted to forward ^'he pubhcation of all matters upon the fuWeTfo the r ,%• r ^''•"; '""'■""•='■' ""'i'^°°^ » obviate the eflea, »h.ch thole iflued by the CommifliowM might have upon the people at large. """."""» The ftrongeft argument which they held out upon this occafion to the people was, that they had already concluded a folemn treaty wi^h France 'on the footmg of, and for the dlablilhment of the°r independency. Ihat if they now treated with the Commiflioners upon the ground of dependence hey fliouldat once break Iheir faith with France forfeit their credit with all foreign nation be con fidered as a faithlefs and infamous peopk,' and for' evermore be cut pff from even the hope of foreit ' fuccour or refource. At the fame tim? they would be thrown totally on the mercy of thofe, who had S ?nf h' -"7 r'^''' "^ fraudr force' Vr.^u„ I '' I'l ■ """""^"> nor the Parliament of England, would be under a neceffity of ratifrinJ ny one condition which they agreed upon wkh be nnl , '^ "■"" f°'-,P^^''^"t Purpofes, it would be only to call a new parliament to undo the whole! Nothing they faid, could be trailed to an enemy ' »hom ,hey had already found fo faithlefs aXb obftmately perfevering in malice andcr,^^ Ity. The todu ent intention of the propoled negl iatiot! ™7/?. M^' '*'"°"S'y ^'''"<=^''. by the Commiin. ones holding out conditions which went far beyond Uicir avowed powers : hpma^ „-,m,„ ,... '. B b b h the 545] r/je n\ST DRY of the Chap. XVIIl. :778. the commifllon, nor by the afts of parliament ^-'"^'^^ which they prelented. Royal jf j^^y ftrong hope of fuccefs in the negociation cuTir^' ^'^^^^ remained, the evacuation of Philadelphia, and Philadcl- tlie confequent retreat of the army to the north- plua ward, juft at the arrival of the Commiffioners, would have cortipletcly fruftrated them. Commif- fioners accompanying a retreating army, which was in the ad of abandoning the principal advantage of two years war, could not promifc themfelves a great fuperi'^rity in any treaty ; and the more advantage- ous the oifers which they fhould make in fuch cir- cumftanccs,"^ the more their conceflions would be confidered as proofs of weaknefs, not of good will. This meafure was carried into execution on the i8th of June, and the whole Britilh army pafled the De- lavvare on the fame day, without interruption or danger, under the excellent dii'pofitions made by the Admiral, Lord Howe, for the purpofe. Wafh- dii paten- ts 11 force toobferve Sirlienry Clintons march tluough the Jcrfies. Waflnngton, having penetrated into the inten- tlon of abandoning Philadelphia, had already lent General Maxwell with his brigade to reinforce the Jerfty militia, in order to throw every pofTible ob- Ib udion in the way of the Britifh army, fo that by impeding their progrefs, he might himfelf be en- abled to bring up his force in fuch time, as to pro- fit of thofe opportunites, which, it was well to be fuppoled fo long a march through fo a dangerous a country would have afforded, of attacking them with great advantage. This detached corps and the militia, did not, however, eftedlany thing more of importance than the breaking down of the bridges; the great fuperiority of the Britifh force, having obliged them to abandon the ftrong pafs at Mount Kolly, without venturing an oppofition. The Brhiili army, notwithflandinsr, encountered much toil, diflicuky, and numberlei's impediments - ' , in Chap. XVIII. Civu. War in AMERICA. \^S5S in their march. They were encumbered with an 1778. enormous baggage, including provifions ; the num- ^^^v^ ber of loaded horfes and wheel carriages being ih great, as to cover an extent of twelve mUes, in the narrow line of march, which the nature of the country and roads afforded. This /IncumbrancjL- fo far at leaft as related to the provifion, procedcd however, from the forefight and wlfdom of the General, Sir Henry Clinton ; who being well aware that the hoflility of the country would cut off every fource of fubfillance from the troops, which was not within their own immediate comprehenfion, and being alfo uncertain as to the delays and obftruc- tions which might occur on his mirch, was too prudent to put the fnte of a whole army in any de- gree of, hazzard, for the trouble or difficulty that at- tended the conveyance of a certain and fufficient fupply. The heat of the weather, which was then cxceflive, with the clofenefs of the narrow roads through the woods, and the conftant labour of re- newing or repahing bridges, in a country every where interfeded with creeks and marfhy brooks, were, all together feverely felt by the army. From all thefe caufes its progrefs was exceeding- ly How ; and nothing Icfs than thcfe could have ac- counted, for its fpending fo many days in traverfmg Jo narrow a country. When the army had advan- ced to Allen*s-Town, it became a matter of con- fideration with the General, whether to keep the direftcourfe towards Staten Ifland, acrofs the Rari- ton, or whether, by taking his road to the right, and drawing towards the fea coaft, he fhould pufh on to Sandy-Hook. He knew that the Generals Wafh- ington and Lee, with the whole continental force on that fide, had already palfed the Delaware ; and he had heard, that General Gates with the no.thern army, was advancing to join them on the Rariton. The difficulty of pafling the Rariton, and the cir- iumrtances with which it might have been attended under 5562 The HISTORY of the ChaV. XVIfi 1778. under his incumbrances, in the fucc of an enemy, with other concurring caufes, determined him to the right hand-courfc, as much the more eligible. On the other hand. General WafhIn,T;ton, who had croflcd the Delaware Far above Philadelphia, at Coryel's Ferry, attributed, with his ufual forefight and caution, the flow movements of the Britilh army to a defign of decoying him into the low country, when, by a rapid movement on the right, they might gain poifeflion of the (Irong grounds above him, and fo enclofing his army to the river, force him to a general enga;iement under every dif- advantage. Under this pcrl'uafion, in which it is poflible his fagacity deceived him, as the peculiar circumftances of the Britifli army rendered it total- ly incapable of any fuch rapid movements as he ap. prehended, the flownefs on the one fide retarded the motions on the other. It is, however, likewife pro. bable, that Wafhington referved himfelf entire for the paflage of the Rariton ; which he concluded would have been their courfe, and which he knew would have afforded him great advantage in an at- tack. But when he difcovered that *' c Briti^ army had departed from its expedl^d line of di- yeftion, and was bending its way on the other fide towards the fea-coaft, he immediately changed his fyftcm, and fent fcveral detachments of chofcn troops, under the General conduft of the Marquis dc Fayette, to harrafs the army in its march, himfelf following, at a fuitablc diflance, with the whole force. As affairs grew more critical upon the near approach of the van of one army to the rear of the other. General Lee was difpatched with two bri. gades, to reinforce, and to take the command of the advanced corps ; which by Wafliington's account amounted then to about 5000 men, although from the : in an at- Chap. XVm. Civil War /» A M E R I C A. ^^$7 the fcvcral detach-nicnts which he fpccifics, it would 1778 feem to have been Wronger. wC Sir Henry Ch'nton, on the marih to a place called Kccl.olcl, judging from the number of the enemy's light troops which hovered on his rear, that their mam body was at no great diltance, judicioufly dc- termmcd to free rhat part of the army, from the - incumbrance and iuipcdiment of the baggage, which he accordingly placed under the conduct of Gen- ral Ivnyphaulcn, who led the firll column of the army. The otht r, which covered the line of march bemg now difengaged and free for adion, iormed a body of troops wliicli could not eafily be equalled, and was under the immediate command of the General. It was compoled of the 3d, 4th, and .5th bri;rac.es oi Bntifh, two battalions of Briti/h, and the Hcflian grenadiers, a battalion of light infantry, the guards, and the 1 6th regiment of light dragoons. On the morning after this arrangement. General t„„, ,0 Knyphaui'en, with the fir(t divifion and the carri- "^ ages, began at the break of day to move, direttin? their march toxvards Middletown, which lay ten or twelve miles on their way, in a high and ftronff country. The fecond divilion, under the Com! mander m Chief, continued for fome hours on their ground in the neighbourhood of Freehold, both to cover the line of march, and to afford time for ttic Cham of carriages to get clear on their way. Having begun to march about eight o'clock, fome parties of the enemy which appeared in the woods on their left flank, were engaged and difperfed by from the heights above Freehold, into a villev - about three m.ies in lengrh, and one in breadth, ' icvcral columns of the enemy appeared, likewife delcendmg into :he plain, who about ten nVU.L- «cgan to cannonade the rear. I'he General; at the fame #■' * rhe Hlfi yOKYofth^i Chap. XVIIl 1778. iaanc inftant received intelligence, that the enemy \y->r^ were difcovered marching in force on both his flanks. He was immediately ftruck, that an attack on the baggage was their principal (ibjed ; and as the carriages were then entangled in defiles which continued for ibme miles, it fccmed a matter of no -finall diiEculty to obviate the da^iger. In this critical fituation, the General, with great quickncfs and prefcnce of mind judged, that a vigo- rous attack, and fevere prefl'ure, upon that body ^ the enemy which harralfed his rear, would recall ' ^thc detachments on his flanks to its aflidance, and feemed to be the only probable means of laving the convoy. For although he had good informa- tion, that General Walhington was at hand with his whole army, which he heard was elHmated at 20,000 men ; yet, as he knew that his main body was feparated from that corps which attacked Lord Cornwallis, in the rear, by two confiderablc defiles, he was not apprehenfive that he could pafs a greater body of troops through them, during the execution of the meafure which he intended, than what the force along with him, was well able to oppofe ; whilft on the other hand, even with that divifion of the army, Wa(hington*s fituation would not be a little critical, if he fhould chance to come upon him, when he was llruggling in his pafTage through the defiles. Guarding, however, againft every pofTible refult of themeafure, and to be in preparation for the event of a general engagement, he recalled a brigade of the Britifh infantry, and the 17th regiment of light dragoons, from Knyphaufcn's divifion, and lett dircdiou for them to take a pofition which would effedually cover his right flank, being the fide on which he was moll jealous of the delign of the ene- had with their ufual fpirit attacked and routed the enemy's Chap. XVIII. Civil War /« A M E R I C A. l^e enemy's cavalry under the Marquis de Fayette, and 1 778 drove them back m c<5nfuf,on on their own infantry. ^JSZ Ihe General then made diipofition* to attack the enemy ,n the plam ; but before he could advance t ey fell unexpeftedly back,, and took aftrong po! fition on the heights above Monmouth Court-I^ufc. The heat of the weather was in that feafon al- . ways mtenfe ; but upon that particular day was fo excellive, as to be feldom equalled, even in the ful- try fummers of that continent j io that the troops were already greatly fatigued. The fituation of ~ the army, however, rendered the moft vigorous ex- emon neceilary. The Britifh grenadiersf with their eft to^ the village of Freehold, and the guards on «• „ their right, began the attack with fuch fpirit, that rr?"'^ ' preferved a better countenance ; and refifted a fierc(^ part of and eager attack with great obftinacy. They were W^'^" however, at length, completely routed : but in this '"^*^"'" exigency, with a very unufual degree of recollec- S he «on as well as refolution, took% third pofition cot' with fo much judgement, that their front was cover- P'^'^Jy ed by a mar% hollow, which (carcely admitted the ''^"*"* praaicability of an attack by that way. Sir Henry Clinton brought up part of the fecond nc, and made fome other diipofitions to attack die enemy in this noft, and the light infantry and Rangers, had already turned their left for that purpofe ; but the army in general was now fo over- powered by heat and fatigfie, that upon confidera- artiicr. He was alio by this tune confident, that the purpofe which had induced him to the attack ^as gained, in the prefervation of the convoy. A th n'r-Pf^^ '^'' '""'"^y^ ^° '^' °»'^^^ retreat of ^"C light infantry. renHrrpJ fnm^ ,.»,„ ^ ucccflary. Ihe army at length returned ,^o th« polition. *;» 560] A ^it^^ HISTORY o//A^ fiH4ff,.XVm 1778. ppfitipn, from whence UKy,h94.iiqj;^.jarij#j>,.tJi^ WXV enemy, after their quitting the pi' i 1. .a^,'o(i ji The General's opinion with refpc^ to the dcfign on the baggage, was julUficd in tUc event;, ^pii fkc propriety of his fubfcc^uent coi)dud in attack- uxg the enemy on that prmciple con|irmed. Twp brigades of the enemv's light troops had paffed the army, one on each flank, in that view, and had aftuajly made the attempt ; but by the gqod. dif- pofitions made by the commanders, the firmnefs of tjie 40th regiment, and tnc ready fer vice pf; tfe light Horfe, they were repulfed at the firil onfct, suid the engagement on the plain then conimtacing ,werc immediately recalled. 3ir Henry Clinton having now fully attained his objed, for the Generals Knyphauien and Grant, with the firftdivifion and baggage, were arrived at Nut Swamp, near Middletown, could have no ia- ducement for continuuig in his prcfent fituation. The troops had already gained fufficient honour, in forcing fucceffively, from two llrong pofitions, a corps of the enemy, which ' he, was informed, amounted to near 12,000 men; and the merrit of ' the fer\ice was much enhanced, by the unequalled ^circumftances of heat and fatigue under which it was performed. The enemy were much fviperior in force to the divifion immediately under his com- mand ; and if the equality had been even neaicr, it would ftill feeni imprudent to have hazarded an engagement, at fuch a dillance from the reft of his army, in a country, not only entirely hoftile, but which from its nature muft have been ruinous to ftrangers undc* any circumftances of defeat. And as the heat of the weather rendered marching by day intolerable, fo the moon-light added much tc the elegibility of the night for that purpofe. Upon lome or an 01 iticic iii,^wuwj.o, -nv tivrvi--- . — o repofed till ten o'clock, the army was again putm ■^ - ■ motion, CHAP. X Vin. Ci VH. Wa R i« A M E R I C A r^g j mouon, and they marched forward to join d.eir .778. Such was the datail of the aSion at Freehold or Monmouth as it is otherwife called, a. give^ on our lide. The lofs in flam was not confiderable m point of number, but rendered grievou by 'h^ 1 ' k'T.S?'""'' Monckton/ That Z ant officer, who had frequently encountered death in all .ts forms had the fortune of being more than once gri=v.oufly wounded, both in the laft war and the prefent ; and after the hair breadth efcape of a re! coyery, when left among the dead on the field, was only referved to be killed on this day, at theCd of the fccond battalion of grenadiers. This day and aftion were alfo rendered remarkable by the finpular circumftance. unparelieled in the hiftonr of the New World, of 59'ibldiers perilhing ! S out receiving a wound, merely through thi excct five heat and fatigue. Several of tie America^ The Americans claim great honour to that part ^Ll^''I'"'T 1!^''^ ^^^ "" opportunity of being engaged m this aftion. They likewife claim though * Jithout any apparent ground, the advantage as the aflair now ftands ; but pretend that they fhould have . gained a complete and decifive vidory, if it had not been for the mifconduft and difobedie^^ce of order of General Lee. That officer, had fometime be- ore, by an exchange, obtained a releafe from his ong confinement at New York ; and we have al- ZP A-^J^' ^as appointed to take the command of tl^fe^different bodies of troops, which had been its m^^^^^^^^ ' '^' ^"''^ "'"^y ' '"'^ '° ^"^P^^^ _It appears from General Wafhington's account «t the matter, that he being well informed, that if C c c c the Wafh- ington's acciunt of (he mouth 562] A JBk^ nisrro^r of the- Qnhv. xvji 1778. tfeeBritiih army once gained the high and ^ftrong ^y^^^ country near Middletown, no attempt could, after- wards be made upon them, with the fmalleftprofped of fuccefs, he accordingly determined to fall upon their tear immediately upon their departure from the (trong grounds in the neighbourhood of Free- b ittle of hold, on which they had encamped during the night Mon- of t;he 27th. He communicated this intention to General Lee^ with orders to- make his difpofitions for the attack, and to keep the troops lying upon their arms in conftant preperaiion f : which he alfo pradiied himfelf in the main body. hmu i^i^hmdl - Waihington having received aOi exprefs at five in the morning, that the Britiih army had begun their march, immediately dilpatched an order to. Lee to attack them ; acquainting him at the fame time, that he was marching diredly to his fupport, and that for the greater expedition he fliould caufe his men to difincumber themielves of that part of their baggage, which (it appears from hence) they carried upon their backs. To his great furprize and mortification, however, when he had marched above five miles, he met the whole advanced corps retreating, which they informed him was by Gene- ral Lec*s orders, without their making the fmalleft oppofition, excepting the fingle fire ox one detach- ment, to repulfe the Britifh light horfe. The General found the rear of the retreating corps hard preiTed'by the enemy ; but, by forming them anew, under the brave and fpirited exertions of their officers (as he fays) he foon checkfed the advance of the Britiih forces : and, having by this means gained time to plant fome batteries of can- non, and to bring up frelh forces, the engagement hung in an equal poi?;e. In this fituation (Be con- tinues) the enemy finding themfelves warmly op- Sank ; but were bravely repulfed and driveabad by ChA*. XA^I. Civil War in AM ERICA. a«/mn"!K''"'Pu"''' "^ '"'■""'T' A frfflilay attempt on the right was repelled by General Green ; who afterwards in conJu,.aion ivith Gene- «H 'i? ^:. ""i ^T^ P°""°"' ^"-^ kept up fb fevere and well direiSted a fire,' as compelled the Britifl, ftand had been made m the beginning of the aflion. J^^'}^\wT''°"', '° ''^'^^ "«='' flanks were fe- Z ^.>',"''*,«"'"J* a-"! moraffes, and their front «.ly affailable through a narrow defile, he notwkh .hem'LTlrP;:'""^ (•'^ %0 forattaclfng attord time for their famounting the impediments m t*e.r way. The main body, however, hy " night upon the,r arms on the place of aftion, as the Aey had been ordered to take, nndera full d«er. mmation of attackmg the Bririfh army when the day appeared ; but they retreated in fuch profound fflence m the n.ght, that the moft advanced poX and thofe very near them, knew nothing of thdr' ileparture until morning, uimg or tjie.r Kv!^*''^"^"'-'"^'''''^"''*«"""'''«'°fB"ti(hburied by the Americans, to be about four times ereat^r Jhan the lofs acknowledged by our G ^zett! r nd nTo/tr'"' """If ■■. '"" '*="^- "^ '""y^ they carried off their wounded, excepting four officers and about forty foldiers- He gives high and un! .fual praife, and exprefles himfelf under^he great" ft obl^ation to the zeal bravery, and conduft of hi, officers ; and fays, the behaviour of the trooos in general, after they had recovered from the Z?Le occafioned by the retreat of the advanced com' «s fuch as could not be furpaflbd. TlepX acknowledgements of the Congrcis, were verTtla wring to the army, but particulariv fo to thp fi^, -r^ana to his officers ; in which they aflcaed'to' C563 I7>8. »i>r,d«r this aaion as a battle, and the refult as a great ^^4^ ^^'IrhMt^^ORY of the ©^AkXVffl K7i^'; ^^cat aittd iinfortgint yiadry, obtained oyer the ' 'gr,and BritilH' af toy, under the immediate command • olr thtir Geilcral.'!!^'^• ^-^v>J' iii liu ni 'Mil. 'J '«i/ .uj i-'jija, ai_i, u, tliat the nature of the country rendered any further piirfuit of the Britifli army fruitltJfs, and all attempts to difturb their embarkation at Sandy Hook, equally impradicablc and dangerous. H^ accordingly de- tacncd only fome light troops to obfcrve and attend their motions, and drew off the main body of the ai:my to die borders of thcNxSrth River* The Americans loft fome officers of liame tn this a^ion ; particularly a Colonel Bonner of Penfylvania, and i major Dickenfoii of Virgina^ both' tbf whom were much regretted. ■"''•' •'■ '''''■'•' '■ ■' ' •**^ General ^* appears that General Wafliington ufed fome Lee put very harfli and fever e exprcfFions,' iii the face of the under an army, to General Lee, upon meeting him, on the arreft and retreat of his corps from the place of adtion ; a- triedbya niounting to a dircft charge of difobedience of M r?l o'^^^*'s» want of condud, or want of courage. This produced two paffionate letters from Lee, (who was likewife put uhder arreft) with an anfwcr from , Wafliington, all Written in the day or night of the adion. A court martial was inftandy demanded, and as inftantly ordered ; and fo readily carried into execution, as to be opened at Brunfwick on the 4th of July. The charges laid againft Lee were, firft, difobcdienec of orders, in not attackmg the enemy on the 28th of Juiie, agreeable to re- peated inftruftions. For nrifbehaviour before the ' enemy on the fame day, by making an uancceffary, diforderly, and 'fhameful retreat. And laftly, for difrefpeft to the Commander in Chiefs by the two letters we have mentioned. The refult of the Court, after a trial which lafted to the 1 2th of Auguft, charge. The finding him in part guilty of tlic fecond jCfiTAf . S V^HI. Civil, Wah;; m -#f^EfR I ^ A. fmo^^, «^ Pf ?t>i^ehAYiom: before $hc cpcmy, bj SOijking an ^pnpceiTary, and ^n fymc Uw W>jtanccs a diforderly retreat." They alfo iFo.Ufld 1^1^^ gyilty of dilrefped to the commander in chief j and fen- Kjne^d him, to.bc-4^fpended from ^ny co^omai^d in ^Ue arnvfi* p.f ^hp y^^ted Sta^e^, fpr the term of twelve rnqntha, ,it,is impoflibif for.us tp enter into the merits o^ tbi^ fcntence j ia lyhicb party ja^P-ht have had a gr^atjijiare, Wh,qn ^ Oifpute ha4 b?eii parried, tp Ip g^^at^^n. h^ighc,. between an pfficcr pn whom the 4jpericans repofed their chief cpnfe- qpence, audi o|ie,ft|i)or4inate and lefs popular, it is jnptdiiicult tp difVine. where the blame will be laid* -In the nieai>h4ine, the Br itifli arn?y arrived at the high lands of Navefink, in the neighbourhood of Sandy Hook, on the laft of June ; at which latter piace, the fleet, frpm the JPi^la ware, under Lord Jiowe, after being detained iij that river by calms had moil fortunately arrived, on the preceding day.' It had happened in the preceding winter, that the peninfula of Sandy Rpok, had been cut off from the continent, and converted to an abfolute iiland >y a violent breach of the fea ; a circumllance then pf Httle moment, but which might now have been attended with the moft l^tal coufequences. By the happy arrival of the fleet, at the inftant when its aililtance was fp critically neceffary, the ability pf the npble commander, and the extraordinary efforts pf the feameu, this impediment was fpeedily re- moved j a bridge ot boats being completed with fiich expedition, that the whole army was paffed over this new channel on the 5tli of July ; and were afterwards cpnveyed with eaic, to New York ; neiiher army or navy yet knowing the circura- ttances of danger and ruin in wJiich they had been fp nearly involved. \ " ' Britifli army arrives in thf neighs ^^ bour!iood of Sandr Hook ,-, — n^j 1 ttxicjwpuvcGu cuciiiy naa tk coail, of, North America, who v^as to give now arrived pn new, and kAo tsung arrives on the coaftof America r^^ «! 1 #b R Y 0/ the ' i>'^ CitAP. lavra atftd k ftr^hge turil to the circumftanccs of the war Orir' J^he fefcond day after the conveyance ' of the army from Sandy Hook, Lord How received in- tellig€ttte by hi? cruizers, that D'Eitaing's fleet had been feen on the coialt of Virgirtia, dti the very day that the army had paffed the bridge at Sandy Hook. If D'Eftaing had 'met tlictratifpbrts, either in the Delaware, or on the palTaj^c from thehcc, loaded and encumbered as they were, and conveyed only by two (hips of the line, with a nuniber of frigates, the confequence with refped to the fleet is obvious. But it may not fo immediately appear, that the fate of the army was fo intimately combined with that of the fleet, that the deftruaion of the one, would have been the inevitabfe Idfs of the other. For as thi; army could not tlien, by any poffiblc means, have |)rofecuted its way to New York, and would have been cnclofed on one fide by the Ame- rican army, and on the other by the French fleet, cut off from all fupply of provifion, and deftitute of every refource, a repetition of the Saratoga caftrophe, muft have been the certain confequence. 1 Although this fatal event was prevented by the bad weather, and unexpected impediments, which D'Eftaing met with on his voyage ; yet, if he had direaed his courfc diredly to New York, inllead of the Chefapeak or Delaware, things could fcarcely have been better ; as he could then have come upon the fleet and army, when they were entangled, cither with the laying or pafling of the bridge at Sandy Hook. -In ' either eircumftance deftruction would have been inevitable ; and would have been of' an amount and magnitude, with refped both to the marine and land fervicc, and the confequences hailgirtg upon it, which, perhaps, has not been equalled of late ages. But D*Eftaing*8 great objeft wis the furprife of the fleet in the Delaware, and tfee confequent cnclofure of the army at Philadel- Jihia J fortunately the winds and weather fruftratcd CBAvr. X Vm* Civil War /> A W E A I C 4. ^^i^ hjs-^cfign. Upon the whole, it my not ^e cafy to- 1^78-. pcmt out a more fignal or providefld^ta^i^^WqJti .•crs^ iTic danger, though leffencd, was'^'t,%'owcvcr?^I^'E^rT*^ immediately remoyt^d;, and ix ft ill, required the moft ^"'"S ^^^!^^^ f^ty^ Jomudc^X render *,MS"hc kindnefs of fortw?, .ffeaive. ofi the 4th day after lim tlie^ account was r^c^iye^ of his arrival on the coaft fl«=et at and the lubfequent advice of ,his having. anchored at S'"!^ the Delaware being alfo received, D^Eftainc ap- ^ pearded fuddenly, and rather unexpededly,. in fight of the Br,t.lh flpet at Sandy Hook. His force was great, and in gopd cpndition, confifting of twelve ftipsof, the hne, and three frigates of fuperior fize. Among the former, were feverai ihips of creat force and weight of metal ; one carrying 90, ano- ther 80, and fix carrying 74 guns each ; and the fquadron was faid to have no lefs than eleven thou- fand men on board. On the other fide, theBritifh fleet under Lord Howe, confifted of fix fixty-four gun flnps, three of fifty, and two of forty guns, . with fpme frigates and floops. Moft of the former, had been long on fervice, were accordingly in bad condition and were alfo wretchedly nanned. If any thing, however, could remedy fuch eifential dcr teds. It might have been hoped for, from the fupe. nor abditiea of their Commander, and the excel- lency of his Officers. They had, however, the advantage of belnff in poffeflion of that port or harbour which is formed by bandy Hook j the entrance of which is covered by u bar, ana from whence the inlet paffes to New- T\%a . expefted and avowed obieft of ;h.v'''K'^f' '°. ^°''^ ^^^^ P^^^g^' ^^d to attack the Lnghfh fquadron in the harbour. NotwitU- nanding the utmoft exertions of preparation made by Lord Howe, that the time could polfibly admit ; yet, rrom contrarv winrls. anH nth^^ .,., — :.i„ui_ incidents, the Ihips were not completely arrived itb their i^'i K^tlkili^ltOKYofihe CHAF.5mu I ClfA*r. 1 5^78. their rcfpcdiVie fituations of defence, ftor had thcit -'•vN*/ been time icr ehufe thbfe fituations with the judjr^ ment which was afterwards exercifed, when D'iiiltaing slppe^red without the Hook. Under thcfc eircum- ftances, which, with refped to the effcft, ntrght be confiderfed, in fome degree, as affording the advan- tages of a furprifc, if he had pufhcd on difcdly to pafs the bar and force the palfage, it would ieem, tlTat neither the advantage of fituation, nor atiy ctnincnce of ability or virtue on the other (ide, ^ could be capable of counterafting the vaft fuperiority of his force. The confliO: would have been un- doubtedly dreadful ; and perhaps, in that rclped^ might have exceeded any thing known in naval hiftory ; but the greate(t portion of human fpirit, riiuft require fome adequate degree of ftrcngth, to render its exertions effettive. A diverfity of opinion feems to prevail, on the prafticability of the great fhips of the French fleet faffing in force through the ftrait, and over the bar. Some are of opinion that it might have been at- tempted with pmdcnce. If fo, it may be confi- dered as an happinefs on all fides, that D'Eltaing was not poffefled of that fpirit of cnterprize which would have been equal to fo arduous an attempt ; that the terror of the Britifh flag was yet in no de- gree weakened ; and that the name of the noble Commander who oppofed him, added fome weight to that effed. D*Eflaing accordingly caft anchor on the Jerfey fide, about four miles without the Jiook, and in the vicinity of the fmall town of Shrewfbury. *^* The fpirit that was difplayed on this occafion, iiot only in the fleet ^nd army, but through every order and denomination of feamen, was never ex- ceeded, and will not often be equalled. A thou- fand volunteers were im mediately difpatched from the tranfpdrts to the fleet. The' remainder of the crews, crews,* kit 1 be! hi^if^ i tile met ketp b] watch o mates o: York^ f( nefs ; 2 commor putting 1 of the cr One m and galli thing kn (in whici firefliip, with dif( reward. 5 ' ■. d 4] It will iHne out the light rccovcrcc gerous n ftill greer tend wit! men of I was oblig public Ipi l^ayed u; charadcr is an hon« ever, be s noble Cor fajs great exertions. XheFrx %i we ha Cjf AiT. X vm. cnriL wjt^m America, pj^o creWsl^co^W notTcftram their indi^wtioR « bcinfe ^^g, kil^^l* .'"'^ ^"^^^^ ''^'' P«^»Wc means. feS ^ hiding in the boats or othcrwifc, to clcape on board the. men ot war ; To that the agents could fcarcdy ketpiby force a fttfficicm number of hands for th# watch of their refpeaivc Hiips. The it afters ^4 mtcsof the merchantmen and trad::?8 at New- york^ fohcuedcmpJoymcnt with the grcateftearneft. ncls ; and took their ftaiions at the guns with th«. qommon failors. Others hazarded every thine, bv putting to fcain light veffcls, to watch the motiona oj the enemy, and perform other ncceffary fcrviccs. Urje m particular, with a noble difinrercaedncli md gallantry, which may be compared with an*; thing known m hiftory, offered to convert his veiTcf (in which his whole hope and fortune lay) into, a hrcfliip to be conduaed by himfelf j awd fpurned with difdam every propofal of indemnification or reward. , . ..r|/.H=j ^ .^ ■ 'It will afford no furprife, that this fpirit fhould' tae out m the army with equal lufture ; and that tlie light infantry and grenadiers, who had fcarcelv recovered the fatigue of a moft toilfome and dan- gerous march, with many of the Officers wounds Itill green and fore, ftiould, notwithaanding, con- tend with fuch eagernefs, to fcrve on board the men of war as marines, that the point of honour was obiged to be decided by lots. In a word, the pubhc Ipirit, zeal, bravery, and magnanimity, dif- l^ayed upon this occafion, would have flamped a charader upon a nation that before had none ; and IS an honour even to this country. It mutt, how. ever, be acknowledged, that the popularity of the noble Commander and the confidence founded on m great quahtjcs, contributed not a little to thefe exertions. . ., , . , ., . - • ■ .■ ^. . ..- The French fleet rnnfJnii*.ri n* ^rs^U^^ :^ .u!.^2ii an w;*» hairo .^^„»: i _ » , . , '^Ta %iAve have" mentioned, and taking in*wat7r*SK D d d d pro. S7o] ^kfeyiirOKrofihe' e^Ai». XVIH; I teAK V^vx-/ 1778. provifions, for cleveh clays, h iHJiy be well fup» pofcil, that as D'KRaing did not profit of the firft opportunity that offered, that any attempt made by him, after the exertions on the other fide had taken their full effect, and the judicious defenfive difpofi. tions made by the Britilh Admiral were completed, ■would have been not only ineffedUal, bu-t proba- bly (notwithdanding the fuperiority of his force) ruinous. Neither the confidence arifing from D*]L(bing's hefitation, or from their own courage, was, howc\er, anv allay to the mixed paflions of grief and indignation which now agitated the Bri. tifh feamen. They endured the mortification, for the firft time, of feeing a Britifh f^eet blocked up and infulted in their own harbour, and the French flag flying triumphant without ; and this was ftill more deeply embittered and aggravated, by be. holding every day, velftls under Englifli colours (who had ftill been ignorant of thd lofs of their ufual protedioii), captured under their eyes by the enemy. They looked out every hour with the ut- moft arjxicty, and in the moft eager expedation, for t^e arrival of B ron's fquadron. / ' ^ * '4 ilLyj July 22. D'Eftaing's fleet at length appeared under way; D'Ef- and as the wind was favourable, and the fpring tafng tides at the higheft (the water rifing that afternoon fails from thirty feet on the bar) it was expefted that he in- ^^'^7 tended to carry his long delayed menace info exe- cution ; and that, that day would have afforded one of the hotteft and moft defperatc engagements that had ever been fought, during the long enmity and rival ftiip that had lubfifted between the two nations. Kvcry thing was at ftake on the Briti ill fide, if the naval force was deftroyed, (and nothing lefs than deftruflion or viftory could have ended the conflift) the vaft fleet of tranfports and vl£tuallers, with the army, muft have fallen along with it. l)*Eftaing, however, thought the attempt tOo dangerous ; and iUi^i thapi m fUt of "Noth roandcr could I iUnccs, he did. ; 3yron*s iftg the of Ame of its n U^ hftn have be prov.idec meeting being fej through fickly, d degrees oftbe.cc D^Eftain Renown Raifonat lif^x, An f(j[uadron Uppk. could fc2 of the ii nateiy ep gpod fori 5itior\th2 - This fa ted beer the, Ame aiidcapti] «n thcX for new c ©TAF . X VIITi Cxvh: War, in. A JM E R i C A. [57 , ihapinjj his courfc another way, was in a few hours 1778 futoi fight. .*//"• Nothing was cypr n^ore critical than this contf mandcr s flay at Sanay Hook ; and lew things couJd be nic^re fortunaiJ in the prefcnt circuin, iUnces, than hk departure at the cxad period that he did. For if the whole, or any part, of A Imiral ^yron s fleet had arrived during hU Hay, confhter- uijj the ruined fl^te in which it reached the coafts oi America, there goidJ fcarccly hdve been a hope, of its not falling, ahnolt, a dcfciicclefs prey into his hands, .That unfortunate fqaadron is laid to have been, in nxany^refpedls, bidly equipped and provided. In th}s Uate they had the fortune of jncctmg unufually b:id weather for the feafon ; and being feparated in different ftorms, and lingering through a tedious paffage, arrived, fc.utcr.fd, broken, fickly, difmafied, or.otherwife damaged, in various degrees of diflrefs, upon difL^rent and remote parts of the.coail. of America. Between the departure of pEilaing on the 22d, and the 30th of July, the Kenown of 50 guns, from the Weft Indies, the Kaifonable and Centurion of 64 and 50, from Hal- lifax, and the Cornwall, (one of Admiral Byron*s guadron). of 74 guns, all arrived fmgly at Sandy Uook. I Xh? JQy,arifing from this reinforcement, cpuld fcarcely be fuperior to that excited by afenfe of the imminent danger which they had fo fortu- nately efcaped. It fcemed no lefs an inftance of gpod fortune, that the Cornwall was in better con- ,dition than mofl of the other ihips of that fquadron. This failure pf the excellently laid fcheme, which W been concerted by the French miniftry with the, American deputies at Paris, for the furprizc and capture of the Britifh fleet and army, whether on the Delaware or its borders, neceliurily called m new c;oi^ncils and meaiures. Rhode ifiand was mi>l)jca now tod upon, as that which would admit 1778. iacbkm the xxtiiti^a^ opei^atioiv rof the new aflieft by V-'^'^^ land and feai This was the motive of D*Eft»mg'fl departure from Sandy Hook ; and for this purpofe, Oei^cral Sullivan aflcmbled a body of Troops in the neighbourhood of' Providence, for an invafion of the ifland, on its north end, from the continent ; whilft D*Eftaing was to enter the harbour of New- port, near its Ibiithern extremity, and after dedroy. ing the fhipping, by a powerful iflault on the works facing the fca, to place the Br itiih forces between "m . !-, ■ D»Ef. taing The French fleet either blocked up or entered the feveral inlets, between which Rhode Ifland, and arrives at jjg adjoining leffer iflands, arc cnclofed, and which Rhode r_^ •• ir-ii. Ifland. *°^"* * communication more or lefs navigable m the different branches, between the open fea and the back continent on the 29th of July, The main body call anchor without Brenton's Ledge, about five miles from Newport ; two of their line of battle Ihips ran up the Naraganfet paffage, and anchored off the north end of the ifland of Conanicut, where they were Ihut up for feveral days from rejoining the fleet by contrary winds ; while fome of their frigates, •entering the Secounet paffage, occafioned the blow- ing up the King Fiflier floop and, two armed gal- lies, which could not otherwifc avoid falling into the hands of the enemy. ,,,,,, ■.r rfrrJ/l! -n a '<'»■? Major General Sir Robert Pigot, who command- ed the Britifh forces, took every nieafure in the power of a brave and experienced officer, that could tend to a vigorous and mofl; obfl:inate de- fence. The troops, artillery, and cattle, were im- mediately conveyed from the ifland of Conanicut; the troops at the put pofts in Rhode Ifland, were in conftant readinefs at the firfl: fignal, to join the main body ; the works to the fea were ftrengthencd ing to the veffels that were deftroyed,- a^ well as thofe mVA^. .KVID. Civil, War < fir A, M EvR IC A. jf ^73 fhofrntbat could be fpared from athcw, were oalj^d #778 to their fatouritc occupation of fer vine the artil- v-nki kry. The cranfports (wMlch muft othcrwife ihavc talien into the enemie».hands) were funk in diflfcu rent^parts of thofe channels and paffagcs, whick might have afforded them an opportunity of attack- mg this works with; advantage. The royal frigates were removed a« far from danger as polfiblc ; but as their iofe or deitrudion. muft be inevitable in the profecution of the enemy's defign, they were dif- mantied of their artillery and ftores, and the necef- iary meafures taken for fecuring the latter part of . ' tnc4Bltcrnauve;; V ,^ , >; t]Kvt 'vn Two oppofite bays, in the inlets on the eaftem and ^weftern: fides of th iHand, cotnprefs it fo much, as to form a kind of Kthmus, ^r which the fomhern end, that fpreads into the ocean, is con- neded with, the main body. The town-of New. port lies jud within this peninfula, at the opening of the Ifthmus, on the weftern fide of the ifland and facmg^the lOand of Gonanicut ; the fpace be' tween both forming a bay, which includes^ or forms the harbour. The in^et to the harbour from thefea,^.eall^ the Middle Channel, is narrow, and encoied by Brenton^s Point, and the oppofitc point of gonanicut which form the fouthern extremities rl^^'^K f?^ ^^^^ «^ high grounds, which crolTes the Iithmus from channel to channel above Newp%\it tfoops.wsrs in excellent condttioia aua fpi^it';^aad the body of Teaiiisn both wnh, rci'pd^ to Idbour-' and i danger J. were jaofmail addition to 4h«ir>meailS»io£;rdlibnQC*-uifuwi;£,^ y.yi::>:.Mi,:i jrnot yi' nrlThe force dGftincdagainft them fey Jand, was not fo confiderablc ^s their iaformation had led them to apprehend. The bnfinelis on that fide feerais to have been comnitted moftly, it not en- tirdy, i to s the northern colonics, Who were thofe immediately concerned in die event. General SuU hvan, is however faid to have aflembled about 1 0,00a men; of whom, at Itall haif, were com- pofedof volunteers from New England and Con- nedicut. ; As the operations -of the French fleet, were regulated by thofe of the atmy on land, they continued inaftiv^, until Sullivan was in condition topafs over from the continent to the north end of the ifland. On the 8th of Augull, Ending that meafure in fbrwardnefs, and the wind being favour- able, they entered the harbour under an ealy fail, cannonading tlie batteries and town jw they paffeJ, and receiving their ifire, without, any material eifcct on either fide. They anchored above the town, between Groat liland and Conanicui, but nearer to the latter, on which both the French and Americans had parties for fome days palt. As foon as the determination of the enemy to enter the harbour became apparent, the command- ers found thcmfelves under the grievous iieceliity of burning the. Orpheus, Lark, . Juno, and Cerberuj frigates; as they were foon after of finking the Flora and Falcon. vfr As foon as Lord How received advice of thfe -danger of Rhode Ifland, he determined to attempt rf^v/Tvithlno" '\Mliir*K r*»fr»liiHr»n iinftrr fhff (lireQ^ioll •~-j g,j •^" •» - - - J — ^ — ^ of reafon and judgment, could undertake ior us :^V pre- A^-mn I <3kA^.xvni. (iiuricans Civil Wa& Hr^AM E R I C A. IsT'S pferyation. His fquadron, notwithitafidin* the 1^78. fete remforccment, was ftill, with relped to^ffcc^. vj^ tjve force and weight of metal, fo far inferior to the enemy, that to hazard an engagement, without feme collatcrel advantage to counteract fo great a faperionty, would fecm a degree of raflinefs incon- fift€nt With his charaaer. In point of number, he was indeed fupcrior to the French, his fquadron now confifhngof one 74, feven 64, and *five 50 glin ihips, befides feycral frigates ; but the great deficiency m other rcfpeds, appears from the bare recital ot the rates. Every thing in fuch a fituation ^ag, however, to be tried, and he was determined that nothmgfhould be left undone. The account indeed he received of the feparated ftate of the Irench fleet, fome of them involved in the chan nels, and the bulk lying without, aifordcd fome room for a hopethat he might bring on an engacrc- mcnt upon more equal terms than could have been- otherwile cxpedcd. ; , But^notwithftanding the utmoft poflible expedi- ^"S- 9- tion, he riiet with fuch unavoidable delays, that he Lord was not able to reach Rhode Ifland, until the day Howe alter the French fleet had entered that harbour.^ ^'•"^" ^^ hrom the fituation in which the enemy now lav; ?>t he was enabled to communicate direaiy with Gc neral Pigot ; the refult of which was, that under the prcient circumliances, the affording him any eflential relief was impradicablc. A fudden change of the wind to the north-eaft. afforded an equal change of cixcumftances, and on he following day, the French Admiral Itood out tofeawith the whole fleet, thofe in the Naraganfet laffage, at well as the port. Lord Howe, juftly deeming the weather gage too great an. advaitage meat •.i«cuiui uiaioDjccc witii all the ikiiUnd judg:- incidcm to an able and experienced fcaman. On 1^;- Ottthtf other hftrtd, D'Eftaing, ndwithftattdirig hif V"^^*^ fupttioiity^was a«-eagcrto pt'^fervethi^ advantage^ as his advcrfary to obtain it. This cotttell of i(%» manfhip prevented an engagement on that day; Aug. II. 5ji» jjjg ^jnd on the following ftill continuing ad- verfe tothe dcfign of the Britifh Admiral, he deter- nftned to make the beft of the prefent cireumftances, artd to engage the enemy j for^Aiing the line in fuch a manner as to be joined by three fire fliips, •whith were under the tow of as ittany frigates. A ftrong gale of v^ind, which afterwards iftcreafed to a violent tempeft, and continued for near 48 hotirs, riot only put by an engagement by feparat- ing the fleets, for the prefent, but fcattered them in- fuch a manner, and caufed fo much damage on both fides, us rendered an engagement for fomc time impradicable. Great damage done to the French fleet; by a violent ftonn. The French fuflfcrcd greatly in this tempeft, two of ther capital fhips being difmafted, and others much damaged. Some untoward fituations, and unufual circumftances, were produced by this conflidof the elements. T^ Languedoc of 90 guns, D'Eftaing's own Ihip, iiad loft all her mafts, and was met in that condition on the evening of the 1 3th, by the Renown of 50 guns, Capt. Daw- fon, who attacked her with fuch fury, as well as judgement and advantage, that ho doubt could have been entertained of the event, if the day light had continued. But the darknefs of the night, and freflinefs of the gale, whofe violence was not yet quite allayed, compelled Capt. Dawfon to ceafe from his attack, after he had poured fcveral broad- fides clofc into her, and had, bcfides other apparent damage fliot away her rudder. He, however, lay tcJ,^clofe as poflible, for the night, intending to reneW the attack in the morning, and confidcring her as little lefs than a certain prize. The appcar- «-i^^i= .-.^ C-^ V^jss-.-^^ irs^n r-.^ Ui X'iwii^ii !iiwIJL VI chafed at day light, and who were poflibly led that way Cri^p; XVllL Civil War in AjU E R WA. ^fy^^ way by the firing, put an end to Dawfon^ , hopci^ - 1 7.73. and relieved the French Adiiural from thir;v«yui^^^ urgent diftrels. 'w^.Twyi,; j>-^ Upon the feme evening, and about the fame'; , ^ S^r^H^K '^^f?,' >^^^f ^ <^^ 50 guns, C3ommo,^ dorcHotham. fcllmw.th the Tonnant, a Frcncl^ 8a gun flnp with only her main maft (landing^ The Commodore attacked her with the fame fpirit * and effea, with which Captain Dawfon had enga. , ged the Languedoc. The circumftances were like.;' W4fe fimilar m every rcfped. The night obliged . him to draw off, wuh the fame intention of renewW t the engagement, and under the fame certainty of fuccefsj whiift the appearance of a part of the , l-rench fleet mthc morning fruftrated both. The circumftances of advantage afforded by the tempeft, were not, however, entirely confined to one fide. Jt held out one on the other, which was produdiveof one of the moft gallant and brilliant naval actions, of this, or of any war. The Ifis of 50 guns, Capt. Raynor, was eagerly chaced and engaged by a French 74 gun flag-fhip, fuppofed to be the Zcle, though other occounts fay the Cefar. Ihe frenchman was much the better failer, and the circumftances of the (hips with refpeft to the t«npeft were the fame, they having both entirely efcaped the effeds of its fury. In this very unequal conte t m xyhich the greateft refolution and fkilL would feem incapable of fupplying the deficiency of brce on the one fide, a clofe and defperate engage- ment was maintained with the greateft obftinacy on both, for an hour and an half, and within piftol Ihot dOtance. At the end of that time, the Ifis had ob:] amed fb mainfeft a fiiperiority in the adion, iliaf the French ftiip was glad to put before the wind, and call in the aid of all her fails, to efcape from fo fleterminprl on A>n«>m«r T-t-^ tr 1 1 V «. ;. ;j^f Aug. 1 5; Gallant aAion between the Ifis of 50 guns, and a French 74guu flag (hip. U ill Ec e c •if^i ^ "vh U : ^'-JlSl', ^f^ '^"^^MiisroRY of th Ciik¥.xmn 1778, much in her man:s ahd riggihg as to bcl hicapablc v^N'^^ of . attempting a purluit. 'H'^ It is not eafy to determine whether to admitfc ,"',mQTei the gallantry exhibited in this fmgular adlori, . f' or the modcfty of thef brave commandet in his ac-'*^^^ count of it. This was indeed fo eitrcmc, that his Admiral was obliged in fome degree to fupply the defe£^, by acquainting the Admirality, that the ho- nour of the day was not mofe owing to the refolu- tion of the Captain, or the intrepidity of his offi- cers and crew, than to the profeflional {kill and abi- V lity of the former. The iofs of men was confider- able on the French fide, and M. de Bougainville, the celebrated and philofophic navigator, who was their commander, is faid t6 have loft an arm in the adtion. The Iofs in the Ifis was very moderate. The high honour which the young Duke of Aneaf- ter acquired as a volunteer in this adion, only ferves to embitter the \ok which his country has fmce fuf- tained, by the premature death of a nobleman, who fo early diftinguifhed' himfelf in her fervice, and from whoni Ihe had fo much toexped. Ld Howe returns to New York. Although the Britifli fquadron fuffered much lefs in the ftorm than the French, yet their damage was fo confiderable as unavoidably to coft fome time at Sandy Hook or New York, in proportion to their wants, whether only to refit, or to repair. The French fleet returned to Rhode ifland on the 20th, where they anchored without the harbour, and failed from thence on the 22d for Bofton, in orderto repair their fliattcred fliips. . Lord Howe having got his fhips in condition with an expedition that furprized every body, purfued them with the greateft eagernefs, hoping to overtake them by the way. In the mean time.. General Sullivan had landed on the north end of I ong Ifland, by the way of How- _ _ iands'Ferry, oa; > ae 9th of Auguit| being the day ■ "»i"ii-iy«» , that Cnm XVni. Civil War Jn A UEKICA. [57^ M%Mm-Aing went out pf the harbour to meet 1778 Lord Howe. The extreme batlncls of the weather Wv/ impeded for fome days tlve bringing forward' orhis p ftorcs aiul artllJery, and of courle retarded the pro- s ir grefs of h,. army. On the 17th, however/they landJon broke g^.iuid on lIoneyman'sHill, near the Britiih Lon^ wofks,. 4;icl..]^cgan to eondrua batteries, and to lA^nd form lia(..i,pf pi^prpach ; the Britifli forces being no'^ lefs. a.ad been led into an expedition, of prodigious expence, labour, trouble, and danger, under thc aflfurance, of the moft cffeftive co-operation of the French fleet. That, under this fandlion, they had committed their lives and liberties on the invafion of an ifland, where, without a naval protedion, they were likely to be enclofed like wild beafts in a toil ; and that in this fuuation, they were firft dc- tally tP.XVIH- I CMAt-.XVra. CmLWAjiwAMERtCA. im. ttlly 1 abandoned, at j the very time that they had m« brought the bufineft on dieir fide to thepokw.^ ^ Under thefe difcontents and apprchenfions, Sul." livan i^as defertcdby the New Kngtand.and Con- ncaicut voluntecps, who. compofed^lKc better half ot his army ; and by this means if iwc credit the American accounts j bis numbers were fo much re duced, as to bfc inferior, in. poitatof fopce to the garriton. In thefe ciroumftances, and under the immediate apjjrehcnfion of his retreat being out oft, Suliivam extricated hi mfelf with a degree of prudence and ability,, which would have done ho- nour to anoldcr General ; nor would the behaviour ot -his troops have difgiaecd more veteran foldicr«. Having begun to fend off his heavy artillerv and^''""^^ baggage on the 26th of Auguft, he retreated from ^,""T" ^^^"""V^r^l and though he was mod Vigo tuf^ rouOy purfucd, and repeatedly attacked in e.ery Ifland! garter wherever an openiag was made, by the Bntifli forces yet he took his meafur.s fo well, and had chofcn his polls fo judicioufly, that al- thougkmuch honour was claimed and deferved on both fides he gained the north end of the ifland without fuftaimng any confiderablc lofs. Beinj. there, from the nature of the ground, and the fitua- hon of his polts, m a ftate of fecurity, he paffed his army over by the way of Briftol and Holyland ernes, on the night of the 30th, without intcrup- ^on, to the continent. Nor was his good fortune inferior to his condud, as Sir Henry Clinton arrived jull after with luch a force from New York, as would have left no doubt of the fate of his forces. It they had ItiU continued on the ifland. M\2^ the fame day that Sullivan abandoned Rhode LdHowe "land, Lord Howe entered the bav of Bofl-nn enters the *fiercf,,to ills -great mortiti^atioa^ he found' that t^^ "^ D'Eilding o BoltoB 5^1 the 1k f ahr^ R Y »/• ifje XktAP. XVil 1778. D'Eftaing wa« arrivtcl before him. . This was hoHim ^^*<^ ever^. increal'cd, when upon & clofe infjpcdion he difcovered, that he was fo effectually covered iiL Nantaiket Road, by the batteries crtfl:ed, and the meafurcs of defence taken, by the Americans and T^eu^h, on. tiic. adjacent pointa and iflaaids, that an '<::tuck upon him:, with any profped of fucceisiWaQ utterly impraftkaWc. >. 4!u^kj| ot 'b>»»«. ' jThe moft remarkable tranfaftion during the re- mainder df the campaing was performed in Scptcoi-i bcr, ' ^( iiictj. v»3n. CTrey,at Bedford aoid Fair liavcni by deft/oying feveral valuable ilopes, with 70 (hips- and privateers, almofl ready for faJilaDg* The ba^ tery ©f oiaiiicn on Fair Haven fide, . confiding of eleven piecc3, were demoliihed by Captain Scott, _ commanding officer of the artillery, and the maga- zine blown up. > - Arrequifttion was made of the arms of tketttili* ■■■ tTfa,T^3oo oxen, aiid 1 0^000 fhdep, wihich was com- plied with.«**»The lofs of men i« .this expedition^ was iilconfiderable* - ■ -^ 1 i /* f f > | Vf < ^-^^ i > In Odtobery 8iw Henry Clinton had moved into Jcrfey, pairtlyto favour an ; expedition fent to Egg Harbour ; It was in feveral refpe I') CaKP. XVni. Civil. War M A M E R I C A. , ,, after rowing ten miles ia-.ided at four o'clock in the 1 7/(1 raominR, within » mile of the dtfil,. „h- k .^^ ;nfo f'''»'^'LLegio„, cantoned i'nL^edrf'^^ ferent houle. , they vftve almoll entircW DW to i™ei?r-„/^""°"? •*'"""' *"« »l-i«W„.K ~^d ■'r'",: "" V" "^"J"'""'- ''I"' "'"-y en- deavoured to harrafs our men in their retrrtt • but With fo mnch caution and modcC . tfdo .h.m httle mifchiel- Uttcm,, that PoUi, had g.ven orders, thatjio quarter ihouldbe g^ n w our troops. Ib this expedition ten vellls we 2 ills nl^f; h^**^'*'*" "'"^ '"'"''" «"' '^kin. ihis place having been a neft tor privateers rh* attacking of it waS of confiderable fervi.^'' a^S laved many of our trading fliips from being S.elv,. Jt°li^n^\^rt^ "'"^ Sreat honour to himfelf, LdHo,,, P^L tiJh £ '« his country, brought the cam- -bartl pjignwith hi! powerful advcrfary to a conclufion f" mS h K ''u •"" '""" Pfefervation as the fum- r,h t^a^ft"' '3:,^ '-«"-'' ^"d rapid fuc-ceflion « el .^ v P"""?'^ exertions; matterly manoeu. Id J^ ^'fe m^^ures, having firft conmerad-led', w aKS°"'f'' •"'" '° "y *'°' refuge to thofe him undrtTh , 'iv"" '° Protca, and infulted . d tTon ». ™ '^ Proteilion. Leaving him in a con- an, '^ r'"^' ^'".''' '""^"'^^ htm incapable of anyiur her fervice m thofe feas for the remainder of i) C H A P. • rheHl^tORY vf the Chap. XVH. CHAP. XIX. Admiral Byr^n arrhet of B ^fion, is driven of the eoajl hy g wl«ntJhrtN, 7h« Stnierfit and CornnvaW, tnuo of hij fyuad dkvHy driven onjlmrt and heat to pieces. Arrives at ^hodt Ifland nuith the remainder ofhisft«t» D'Ejlaingt taking the advantage of a ixjcfterly nvind, fails' out of Bojion harbour for ' the Wtft Indies ; is defcried by the Culloden one of Byron*s feett nvho takes one of his tranf}trts. Commodore Hotham^ with afquadron of men of vsar^ and a aumher of tranfportst nuith 4000 land forces under tie command of Gen. Grants fails for the IVcJi Indies. Arrives at Barhadoes, is Joined by Admiral Bar ring ton. Proceeds to Sainte Lucie. D'Eflaing fuddenly appears, before that place* and lands 5000 forces * 'which are totally repulfed by the Britifh forces. Sails fr$m St Lucie* 'which furrenders to his Britannic Majejiy Colonel Campbell* in conjuniiion nvith General Prevoft* reduces the province of Georgia* takes Savannah. General Lincoln de- feated at Brier Creek. Predatory expedition from Neiu Tork. General Prevojl appears before Charts Town* fum- mons the garrifon to furrender. Retreats to Fort Jamts. D'EJlaing appears off Savannah. Summons General Prevojl to furrender to the arms of the French King* •which 'was re- fufed; fiorms the fort* but repulfed 'with great Jlaughter* and obliged to fail for Europe* &c.^c, . , ,, THE fquadron under the command of Admiral Byron, which failed from Plymouth the be- ginning of June, in order to countcraft the defigns of D'Eftaing, had the fortune of meeting unufual bad weather for ilie feafon, and of being feparatcd in different ftorms, arrived fcattered broken, fickly, difmaftcd, or otherwife damaged, in various degrees of diftrefs, upon different and remote parts of the coafts of America. The Princefs Royal, the Admi- ral's Ihip, reached Hallifax, where he found the Culloden one of his fquadron. As foon as his two fhips were repaired in the bed manner circumltances would admit of, he failed from Hallifax with the Diamond frigate, Hope and Difpatch floops of war j being joined by his fcattered fhips, and four (hips ot the line lately under the command of Lord Howe, he remained oil Boilgn , and though the wmter was lac ilcst Q^ Cnlp. X Vlir. Civil War /// A M E R I C A. rWr was nowfetting in with its ufual inclcmcncv on ittV that ftormy and dangerous coaft, yet t^irbUc ^-t commander knowing what importance it was to ?he ftrvicc, that the motions of lb powerful an arma! men as the fleet under Count D'Eftaing TouTd be ' cJofely watched, refoived ro keep his ftatbn as 2^ to this, he was ftill the more induced, by ccrtam informations, that the French fleet were coLpSv refitted and ready for failing, accompaniedX t^^^ ral American (lorefhips on a fccrct expedition! ♦ Byron's fhips though the repairs they had re- ccived fince their arrival on the coaft of AmerLa were buHhght, and the crews much reducTS by he mceflant fatigues they had undergone, were yet n tolerable condition ; and their number bein^ Juperior to the French, there is little doubt but i? the enemy had come out of Bofton any time in Oclober, the Britilh flag would have trUm^hed! . ^ n^rra"^ ^^'S ^^'" P"^ ^° ^^^ ^oftile operations ^^"^'"'^ of D'Eflaing's fleet in this part of the world. But h^'"" k on the fecond of November^ the wind whth at Z tZl'' Icafon ufually blows from the North- Weft, fuddenlv f«-°"» fljifted to a violent and heavy gale from the Eaft! ^'^^ blowing direaiy on the coaft. Seamen alone can ^°'*°"' conceive the horror of fuch a fituation, and the dif. Jculty the beft Ihips and moll experienced failors have to efcape, when a ruthlefs tempeft added to the mountainous fwell of the vaft Atlantic, ur^es ' their dcftrudion : the Somerfet of 64 guns, fhe Cornwall ot 74, and Zebra floop, were fo entangled with the coalt, that they could not clear it and were in confequciice driven on fliore and beat to pieces^; great part of the crews periihcd, the remain. der got on land, where it is faid, they were treated ay the Araencans with humuiuty. q ^Theftorm continued v/ith unremitting fury all ^aciicstaay, but on the foilowing, which was the F i f i ^th /: 586]; 1778. Nov. 4. DEf- taing fails for the Weft lu^iei. ^ Commo- dore Hotham fail for the Weft ludies. x^,^/,^ HISTORY tf///^^ Chap. XVIH 4th the wind without abating much of its violence, after veering round the compafs fettled at the weft; of which cirrumftance the French Admiral availing himfclf, failed out of Bofton, and was defcricd on the 7th by the Calloden of 74 guns, one of Byron's fleet, ftceririg to the fouth-ealt ; but the wind wag ftill fo temptftuous that they pafled clofe by the Engiifh fhip without taking any notice of her j one of the American ftore Ihips however which lagged behind the fleet was fired upon by the Culloden, made a prize of and fent into New-York. • After which, this fliip of war for feveral days vainly at- tempted to regain the American coaft ; but the captain -finding the veflTel had fuffcred greatly in her rigging, and that her crew were fickly and difpi- rited ; called his oflicers to conful: with him, when it was unanimoufly refolved to bear away before the gale for Europe, which they did, and anchored the 13th of December in Mi Iford Haven, at which time there were two hundred of the crew fick in their hammocks, and the remainder in a condition little better, from the variety of hardfliips they had undergone. Admiral Byron with the refidue of his fleet got into Rhode Ifland. There is great reafon to believe that the Britifii miniflry had been early apprized of D'Eftaing's "urthcr plan of operations, and the defigns of the French againfl the Engiifli Weft-India Iflands ; for early in Odtobft-, and long before any difpatches from London, confequential to the taking of Domi- nica could have reached New York, Sir Henry Clinton, on whom the command devolved after the return of the Howe's to Europe, prepared up- wards of eighty tranfport-veflfels and furnifliing them with every neceffary accommodation, the 24th of the fame month, the 4th. 5th. 15th. 27th. 28th. 35th. 40th. 46th. 49th. 55th. regimejits and a corps of Heffians went on board them ; in four days alter they fell down to Sandy Hook, from whence tliey - failed C»A^* X Vm. C'lviL War /« A M E R I (S A. ['587 faHed for the Wcit-Indies the firlt of November, 1778 under the convoy of a fmall fquadron of men of ^y-^ %ar, com-manded by Commoaoie Hotham ; being juft three days before the departare of D'Eliuing from Bofton. This force was defjgned to ftrergthen the garrifons of the W eft -India iflands,. thefe important places having been fhamefully neg- iCClCQ# *; ' * ■■ ' ■ "' On the loth of December Commodore Hotham's fleet arrived at Barbadoes, where they were joined Commi-*, by a fmali fquadron, under the command of Admiral ^""""^ Barrington. At this illand they ftaid only two H^^'i days, and proceeded to execute one of the intents Bcrba- ot their expedition, which was, a defcent on the does, fail, illand of Sainte Lucie, where by favour of the ^"'' ^^ monfoon they arrived the day following and imme- ®"':'^ , diately landed the troops near the Carenaoe, while Takesaftcr the fleet came to anchor in the grand Cul de bac. repulfing General Grant who commanded the land forces, I^'Ef- made the beft dilpofitions, and having poireiTed him'^^^"S: feh of theCarenage, inverted the principal fort. While thefe opeiations were going forward, P'Eftaing with a corps of 5000 land forces on board failed from Martinique, at which place he had arrived from Bofton, on an expedition againft rhc Britiflj iflands of St. Vincents and Grenada, but he was fcarcely under way when pofitive intelligence was brought him that SrJnte Lucie was attacked. A place of fuch importance from jfs proximity to Martinique was not to be loft without making every attempt for its deliverance ; there was reafon to exped Byron would foon arrive in thefe feas ; a coup dc main was therefore a meafure of neceflity, which if it fucceeded muft inevitably be a decifivc ftroke againft the Englifli, as from the deltruaion ol their army and fleet at Sainte Lucie, all their VvTcft-India poflciTions if not taken by the French, ninft be reduced to fuch diftrefs that its efteas would W fdlt tor many years. D'Eltaing fuddenly ap- peared M\ A ^ M mo. R4X /e^ //&^ Chap. XVHr,' pcared off the crand Cul de Sac where the Britifh fleet lay. He did not find the Englilh unprepared, Barriijgton's fleet was difpofcd fo as to defend the' ehtrance of the harbour againfl: any number that might attack it, befide which, the General had bre'6led feveral batteries on fhore, Two attempts were made by the French to force into the harbour, "uut J^nglifh courage and condud prevailed; the French were beat o^ with great lofs : an attempt by land was all that now remained, but it. was not more fortunate. The army deftined for the conquefl of the Britifli iflands was landed, confiding of 5000 infantry and commanded by the Count D'Eltaing and the Marquis de Bouille ; they advanced rapidly towards the Englifli entrenthments, with all that confidence which fuperiority of number gives, being twice that of the Englilh, but they had not the \\y\\t holiday troops of a fouthern clime to deal with, it was an iron band of veterans, who inured to toil, joining their native courage to the harden- ing fervice of northern campaigns, were not to be fubdued. The French advanced to the trenches in two divifions, the right led by D Eftaing, and the left by Bouille, they advanced amidfl: their fire, but their fire was not returned untill they mounted the trenches, then, a difcharge from the firft line of 'he Englifh flopped them for a moment, and before they could recover they were charged by the Britifli bayonets ;, the ilaughter was dreadful, they fell upon their rear in confufion, the EngHfh march- ed out and attacked in turn ; and the vidlory was complete. The French Generals with the fhattered remains of their army with difuculty reached their fliipvs, which foon after failed off with them, and while they were yet in view the French governor defpairiug of any further fuccour, furrendercd the ifiand to his Britannic Majelly. The lofs on the ■ fide oi the Britifh was inconfidcrable, not exceeding two hundred killed and wounded, whereas that of iht: enemy exceeded one rhoufand. ?. xvur. I cha¥. xvin. cvii. war ,« a ik e r i * a f jg. under the command of UetrnttCdoLte "^ they failed from .heXnn the .,^^1 m"""^' ^"''■" ber, efcorted by a fquadron of his £eftv',^°'""f '^"• war, under the command of r! ^ P " i?'P* °^ .he whole fleet arrived off the fef Tk''"'^^'"' the .3d of December, twotrSpfex^epteV"^' pan o"f tt traC: ^roTe?:^:^"' t ^^^^'^ in the Savannah ;frwTtKn,h"',-"K^l"^''"^'l ^>ee, on the .;th^r.^'Vl,i'C°tet ' ^i^o^f t St^v'T ba;"th':T^ '^. '^'^ .he Provincial battalions two cor 'of 'iilr'f ^'■°'" .he one to be attached to Si^Tame, 1- ^."'^'p'V' company of the ytft HighlandrSe o^helV^^'f Camerons company of the fame JegLent ^ Having no intelligence thnt rn„u u j , upon, with refpea to^he mi karv f ''^/^P^^^d - .he diCpofitfons form^ "fo t7defence S^'r^'^' Baird's Highland company of It infon', •■'"""' »M boats, with Lieut. Clarfc of ?hl *^"'^' '" '''''' Patched in the nigh of he 1 Tl' """^ ^'i iiie inhabitants tl,?v mio-h, flnl ' t. "^^ ""^y "^ Wilmington Creek '^ T^l„'^ °" "'^ ''^"''s of .his me^,s, by"tm'tlTe° n.^'Zi™--", "y •■ '-■"■">■ liiv- iiivii; lausiac- torv 59€>] ^* I^ IS TORY of the Gha^. JCr//f 1778. tory intelligence concerning the fl-afe of matters at W'VW Savannah, and which fettled the Gommodore and the Commander of the land forces in the refolu- tion of landing the troops the next evening, at the plantation of one Gerrido, an important poll, twelve miles farther up the river than the light- houfe of Tybee, and two miles Ihort in a direct Hne from the town of Savannah, although the diftance wa« not lefs than three along the road. This poft was the fir ft pradicable landing place on the Savan- nah river, the whole country between it and Tyt)€c being a continued tra6t of deep marih, interfcded by the Creeks of St Auguftine and Tybee, of con- fiderable extent, and other cuts of water impaffabk for troops at any time of the tide. The Vigilant man of war, with the Comet galley, the Keppcl armed brig, and the Greenwich armed floop followed by the tranfports in three divifions, in the order eftablifhcd for a defcent, proceeded up the river with the tide at noon ; about four o'clock in the evening the Vigilant opened the reach to Gcrridoe's plantation, and was cannonaded by two rebel gallics, who recired before any of their bullets ■ had reached her ; a fingle Ihot from the Vigilant quickened their retreat. The tide and evening being too far fpent, and n)any of the tranfports having grounded at the diilance of five or fix miles below Gerridoe's plan, tation, the defcent was indifpenfably delayed till next morning. Tlie firft divifion of the troops, confifling of all the light infantry of the army, the New York volunteers, and lit battalion of the 7 ill, under the command of Lieut. Col. Maitland, were landed at break of day on the river-dam in front ot Gerridoe's plantation, from whence a narrow caufe- way, of 600 yards in length, with a ditch on each f.4c, led through a rice fwamp direftly for Gcni- CfMP.XVm. C.v.tW^R/„ AMERICA. r«r doe shoufe, which flood UDon a bluff «f r • heigh, above the ievel o^r^t^^Z^t '''%^^ firft Sed'f 1'^ ""''" ^^.P'- ^=""=™". having': Dotted jnA f„,l 1,5^°' 5° rebels were" repeat it : they dro^e the^'if^r„t T the" iooT ""* occafion, and five Highlanders wojfded 1 p.aS^nrrt;:^^,~-f ^erridoe^r Major General Robert HoLdrf ""''"* r'^'' mile eaft of the town ^f T' T" ".P *''°"' » -it ui me town oi Savannah, with feveral peces of cannon in their front. TheTft dWfion of troops, together with one company of the 2d th "w n °'\' ^'f' ""= '« batta'io*^, of Delancy's tl e Weilworth and part o, Wiffenb;ick's reSnt A company of the 2d battalion of the t i ft f„„- ■her w,t , the .It battalion of Delfncv''^ werM^ cord,ngly left to cover the landing pa«' Tnd the' ^J^h^; !pht infantry, throwing of their oacks ' New Ymi . ''''' iix-pounders followed the ^B^^'TT"'"' t"^ ^'^^ ^^^llv^onh battalion w iklaans, with two threc-pcanders, fuliow^H rh. 59«] fJ&^Hi3tORY of the :hap. XVff 1778. 71ft, part of Wiffenback's battalion of Hcfliansclofcd *^v>^ the rear. On the troops having entered the great road leading to the town of Savannah, the divifion of Wiffenback's regiment was ported qn the crofs roads to fecure the rear of the army \ a thick impc- netrable wooded fwamp covered the left of the Hn^ of march ; and the light infantry, with the flankers of each corps, effeftually fcourcd the cultivated plantations on the right. The troops reached the open country near TatnaPs plantation before three o'clock in the even- ing ; and halted in the great road about 200 paces ihort of the gate leading to Governor Wright's plantation, the light infantry excepted, who were ordered to form immediately upon our right of the road, along the rails leading to Governor Wright's plantation. The enemy were drawn up acrofs the road, at the diftance of 800 yards from this gate way ; one half, confifting of Thompfon's and Eugee's regi- ments of Carolina troops, were formed under Col. Eugee, wirh their left obliquely to the great road leading to Savannah, their right to a wooded fwamp, covered by the houfes of Tatnal's plantation, in which they had placed fome riflemen ; the other half of their regular troops, confifting of part of the 111, 2d, 3d, and 4th battalions of the Georgia brigade, was formed under Colonel Elbert, with their right to the road, and their left to the rice fwamps of Governors Wright's plantation, with the fort of Savannah Bluff" behind their right wing, in the ftile of fecond flank ; the town of Savannah, round which they had the remains of an old line of intienchments covered their rear. One piece oi cannon was planted on the right of their line, one upon the left, and two pieces occupied the traverfe, acrcfs the great road, in the center of their line. About 100 paces in front of this traverfe, at a critical Chap. XIX. Civil War /;* AMERICA acrois the road, and about loo yards in front of was burned down, to interrupt the paflaffe. and retard the progrefs of the Britilh forces. ' ritT^^'optof^'-'^^-''^'^-^^ ^Having accidentally fallen in with a negroe, wh» knew a private path through the woodfd fwamo ,T»«' r^'' ?«'''' *= •" battalbn of The 71ft was ordered to form on the right of the road ,W '"°''' "5 '" 'K'''" °f "■= light infantry, wWm ex end their front to that quarter, where a happy fall of ground favoured the concealment of fwl manoeuvre, and increafed the jealoufy of the enemv w.rt regard to their left, ^ir Jaiies &ird h"J direftion, to convey the light infantry, i„ this hoi- ZST^'^' *>""' '° "'^ ^^"' ""d penetrate Ae wooded fwamp upon our left, with a view to «t round by the new barradcs into the rear of aI enemy's nght^flank. The New York volunteer^ under Colonel TumbuU was ordered to il.pport Wm! ^During the courfe of this movement the artillery cealed from the enemy by a fwell of ground in front, which was meant to run them up for aaon._when the fignal was made to engage, and nZ T^'. ?%"v"'<^ ""^^ ''^" advamaVoufly toimed, or cannonade any body of troops in flank «h.ch they might detach into the wood^o retard the progrefs ot the light infantry, ■ ^ 8 S S ' The Zs 1779.. 594] r/je-n 1ST ORY of the Chap. XIX* 1779. The regiment of Willworth was formed upon v*/vN^ the left of the artillery, and the enemy continued to amufc thcmfelves with their cannon, without any return upon our part, till it was vifiblc that Sir James Baird and the light infantry had fairly got round upon their rear. On this occafion the line was commanded to move brifkly forward. The well-dire£ked Artillery of the line, the rapid advance of the 71ft regiment, and the forward coun- tenance of the Heffian regiment of Willworth, in- ftantly difpcrfcd the enemy. - " •' A body of militia of Georgia that pafled at the new barracks with fome pieces of cannon to cover the road from Great Ogecche, were at this jundure routed, with the lofs of their artillery, by the light infantry under Sir James Baird, when the fcattered troops of the Carolina and Georgia brigades run acrofs the plain in his front. This officer wit h his ufual gallantry, dafhed the light infantry on their flank, and terminated the fate of the day with bril- liant fuccefs. Thirty eight officers of different diftin£lions, and 515 non-commiffioned officers and privates, one ftahd of colours, 48 pieces of cannon, 23 mortars, 94 barrels of powder, the fort with all its ftorcs, and in (hort the capital of Georgia, the (hipping in the harbour, with a large quantity of provifions, fell into our poffeffion before it was dark, without any other lols on our fide than that of Capt. Peter ' Campbell, a gallant officer of Skinner's light infan- try, and two privates killed ; one ferjeant, and 9 ' privates, wounded : 83 of the enemy found dead on the common, and 1 1 wounded. By the accounts received from the prifoners, 30 loft their lives ia the fwamp, endeavouring to make their efcape. Major General Prevoft, who commanded the troops for the defence of the fort sit St. Auguftine in Ghap. XDC. Civil War w A M E H I C A. r rg. in Florida having colkacd all the force of every ,770 kind which could be poffibly fpared from the necei: ^ fary number for the defence of the fort and garri- fon, in purfuancc of Sir Henry Clinton's orders immediately marched to co-operate with the troops from the northward; but was greatly retarded having no conveyance for the artillery and ammu-' alfo obliged to take a lo«rg circuit to avoid the enemy s galhcs; however/ by the aOivity of Lieut. - Col Prevoft, who madp a forced march in the Town of night he furrounded th). town of Sunbury to pre! IZJy vent^thc enemy from cfcaping in cafe they deliened '^^^^' to abandon the fort; which he foon obliged to fur- render with the garnfon, making 2.2 prifoners in- eluding officers. On the fide of his Majdty»s troops only one man killed, and three wounded, notwith- ftanding they had two gallies and an armed veffel hring on our trenches for three days, befides 21 pieces of cannon mounted in the fort. After Icttlmg a garnfon in it, and ordering the neceffarv repairs General Prevoft proceeded to Savannah to Cam beU '^"'""'^^ ""^ '^^ ^'^y* ^^^^^X ""^er Col. ^As fooi^ as the proper arrangements could be made Lieut. CoL Campbel' was detached up the river with a feleft corps of about 800 regular troops, and fomc irregulars, to endeavour to penetrate to Augulta, and to open a communication with the • .ff A !f \^>»^^"*« °f the provinces. The Colonel ctteaed his march to Augufta with few obftruc- tions, and without any lofs. Lieut. Col. Prevoft, with a confiderable detach- mem, had been fent to fuftain, join, or otherwife co-operate with Colonel Campbell ; and had taken poft at Briar-Crcek to keep the enemy below in caccK, and to cover the advance when necelTary. But . 59<51 •1779- Rebel army de« feated at Brier Creek. ' 7^/'HlSTORY of the Chap. XIX ' Bui frbm the length and difficulty of the commu- nication it '^as judged proper for the whloc to fill bttek' to Hndfon^fl Perry, «4 miles above Savannah, which formed the upper extremity of our chain on the river. Intelligence being received that the rebels, in considerable force, had taken poll at Briat-Croek 13 miles above the upper poft at Hud- fon*8, and that Ihcy were bufy repairing a bridge, (>nrhich was deftroyid ty Colonel Campbell) for the purpofe of hampering tie troops in their quarters, artd for cutting oflF all con^munication with the upper country ; and perhaps viith a view of co-operation with their main body. It vas deemed ncteffary to dif- lodgc them, accO: dingly. Major MTherfon, with the I ft battalion of the 71ft regiment, a corps of light in- fantry commanded by Sir James Baird, and three companies of grenadiers of the Florida brigade, took a long circuit of 50 miles to crofs the creek above them, and endeavour to gain the rear; difpofitions were alfo made by the main army to favour the attempt, and to amufc and keep the Gen^. Lincoln in check ihould he make any attempt on Savannah. The plan was happily effected by the furprife of the rebels, who were totally defeated and difperfed, with the lefs of feven pieces of cannon, feveral ftand of colours almoft all their arms, all their ammuni- tion and baggage ; which were left to the viftorious troops. The fccond in command, Brigadier Gen. Elbert, one of their beft officers, feveral of lefs note, in the whole 27 officers, with near aoo men, were taken; about 150 were killed on the field of battle, adjoining woods, and fwamps ; but their chief lofs confifted in the number of officers and men drowned, in attempting to fave themfelves from the flaughtcr, by plunging into, a deep and rapid river. The lofs of the Royal army was only five privates killed, and one officer and ten privates wounded. The rebels, by the beft accounts, were above 2000 ; on cur fide three grenadier companies of the 60th rcgi* mcnt, Sir James Baird's light infantry, the 2d batta- lion militia ; corps ti Immc clamatic that as Icdged 1 overture he law* ,ear 177 may allc Abut i4< giance to gracious companie their pro from Can Several undertake who com naval forci off the Ca and Jamei from Porti forces, toj they fount ftbres, a n ftocks^, wh valuable ca to New Yc Sir Henr tance of tl tbe'moft.^ J^tweea- th River, dcte the enemy' lAP.XlX I commu- loe to fill lavannah, chain on that the 1 pod at \ at Hud- a bridge, I) for the quarters, the upper operation iry to dif- , with the flight in- md three ade, took ck above fpofitions vour the . Lincoln avannah. irprife of difperfed, eral (land ammuni- ridtorious iier Gen. lefs note, len, were of battle," chief lofs drowned, laughter, The lofs :s killed, :d. The ooo ; on oth rcgi- 2d batta- lion '779- Chap. XIX, Ci vil War /« a M E R I C A lion of thc7ift regiment, Capt. Taw's troop of Ihrht (feigoons, with about i c© provincial r^*^ ^ I militia; makin. in all'abC^fiJS* 'tSe corps that attacked. ™n^)olp^'* ^.^** or Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 .^^A-^^ 4> 1^ '4 1^] ' miH i^/r o KY of the ciup. xrx. .^779. ori.^tti]| Jfcure tht important pafs of King's Ferry 'A^ry^ The trpppg daftin^d fqr this fervicc was put under ibccoHimaiid of Major General Vaughan ; after their embarkation they "were joined by the corps from Virginia, which arrived juft in time to proceed up the North^lUver on the 30th of May. May 3 1 In the movning of the 31ft Major Gen. Vaughan landedw with (he grpfe of his command, on the eaft fide of the river, 8 miles below Verplanks, whilft the 17th, 63d, and 64th regimentsi with 100 yagers, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, pro- ceeded to within three miles of l^torty Point, where they landed under Lieut. Ck>l. johnfon. On the fhips coming in view the rebek evacuated their works, which wer^. in fome forwardqefs, and fct fire to a large block-houfe. As the troops appeared to take poflcffion they made fome ihow of refiftance, by drawing up on the hills, but did not wait a I conflid. - ' Sir George Collier favoured the expedition with the afliflance of the gallics and gun boats of the j fleet under his dircdion ; thefc exchanged fome Ihot with Fort La Fayette, a fmall but complete work on the eaft fi^e of the river, whilft the troops were poHefling themfelves of the heights of Stony Point wliich commanded it. The artillery was landed in the night under 'the | command of Major General Pattifon ; by his exer- tions and good arrangements, feconded by the I chearful labour of the troops, a battery of cannon and mortars were opened at five the next morning on the fummit of this difficult rock ; their effeft was foon perceived as well of that of the gallies. Gen. Vaughan, appearing at this time in the .ear of the fort, prevented the retreat which the enemy were] concerting. Under thefe cireumftances they furrcn- dcrcd the fort, on being promifed humane treat- ment. Hndfon's Riven :'**•*''>««>«»«?)' tSift«p'^^ foint ; the great* mrt o/1Sl' ^^ ^ tt^' py of the 7*gi^ent*' ^t- On his aSwiSy- ^^'t''°'*^<'fStoh* '»« the enemy abandoned'?, ^''k "^ ** '='«*^ "ifvmedr^u^ft^reroTdilra^e P'^'P'^^^-i' the «4 ^""Brnf^ti^i^^ Bl:^ 1779. dfc'MoiuittDmW'Cw^ Oot hlt]|ur abti t6 f^ Y0%ln^1^Hietd and Namalk,, to itfeiit t^i fire qlt tic rebdi from the Imufes ; :di'pvfc themiiifi bodjr^f tiieii^k froiira|flacfc <^1^4|^tfprt^^ Hei^, deftpojed t)te i^tf ansf itTa^zine, ftorei : IHi^iiliidi^reiitibaiked, diM Ylftaiikd withbut Ezp«V. tion up Penob- fcot River Geperal Sir Henry CKi^tim havinff, thought h neccffiuy for his Majdiy's fervice t^ ^blifh a pott on ^eriver Penobfcot, Cd. M'l,.^^ ahbut thelie- j g^ntng of Jiine^ arrived in tfa^t irfvar i^h adet^df nientof 4|o rank and filedf the,4^h re|^meht, ^ind 300 ot the 83d. On the arrival' the di&iilti^ I of deadbig the tt'ibbds, Umdh% provt&ons ^d ftoi^ andpladiigtiiem inf^^by, made tt th^ as^d of JqW before iSnc intended fort could ^ narked otAj On die dift of July the Oolo^t received advlee M a con^ikrat^ arinli^nent hayi^ fiikd from BdftoM ^Ibr ^ j^rj^fe of reducing t& |;ttrriibii, ttvd W tiie bafttbns o^ the intended fort were thei| untoudi- ied, and the remaining tvrb with the ctirtaihs weiel in nb partalboTC 4 dr 5 feet in hc%ht, and 13 "' tiiickimi the ditch in tnoft partf not above 3" tlu:t»ftin iiie liidi fbim of tb thne #dtiM adpnk of. His lipl|efty V Albany; Nbtth, a$d Nauttlus were in mt iiver, Gdnimandert of which j6^ed their efibrts for thd^ mutual Mety. t>ft the 35th the' enemy's 'fleet, tothe nufflbn^^l 37 Cul, appeared in fight, and at two in-thc «ft«r| noon their armed veieli began cannonading th( flups of war and a battery of four twelve poundcrf ■whici *!^^^mu^a^:!,t^'*f '^ «F» for Hiihn s» Sir Geo. Collier fails up the river Penob- fcot Dellroys all the rebel fleet. Sir Obbifk Gominr'lltfl ^»^^^ rip 4rt' U'^ei^eiit ^tfCltrfSlhe^Hi^fer^nittdififeAwdftie cVfcfr !i^ ftftiea tWniV'i 5»d^'«^ tofcmiiawk iimfc abttn* three miles ^a-liejfdn<^ «K^rirtlitfc&j wWkittC waitlttg to f^tti t^c fqaa[dion»r4wf»madc tbc fignal for battle, arid for a g^KcraK«hdocii> 'tiwiKi»g'ji fliips follovfred thcrti with all'ishd ^genieflbWhibhi* dedre 6f dcftri&y Ihg' their etnemteii cdliWr infplfe^ Two of iheenem/a flfcd!'(Vfit the Httn^r luitti^ fctitfe) itiade"^ ulifucceftliil attempt ito^^fe^fh^ thfe i^ft paflbgc-bf^^Lof^ lfl8«d; b^ feiliBg iathat^ the Hunter rah dhor^ with every foil ^^lrt«nif^ and tlife dcfelkfe Md heifclf in a finall inlet, wjierc flif dttchbrctf, both i^ndiftg to/ put oiit to fcanfofeoilj akitwas daffci Lieutettajnt MaclLcy, oFi|Jle»aab* aMe, bcihg fen«i aind j^o flaen; to bbard the* Hunteii they fncteeded vi^ithout lb% thoi^h many popfiug flibtr %er^ firfii8 probably grettei^ tlWrti Upon^j other occafion fmtc the-lyegiiinJAg l>f^«ht^a?* '" ^ t>a^„.y>im JiawV*^S»SL>°"^ 4". c.roi.„, iSSir to S?^S^ n«Ug«c. ;, f ,( oWige P"" 52"M ihci.aiwy^ . be , was induced to ^„l ^''"'" ftaM"**.' Ca»oliii»., . The ,^nr~ Ur I'r "'^P^'' Tom. RX a; S^ »'>5P':«Po'il they made of ^a r»»«*MJ,Wr,thew province i and the rcfufal of 1^*'' the dBsf ''^'#if^i9ir¥^/<»>^> «iH»»fr lft«*rdu»d,j t/bttfe tiri ^ItH tlSetft feh^fo6t. fcic#«ait*^««| MtlVfilitf; yi^ feo»!fiAttdcd'th gyc^ c^iititii^ of idiiMMiii^inil^tiyikliinii^flf weire hindi{<> iitiS^ttnnah^' ill Wlfillrfaiif%ttihi^4l^iMVil^r,^h^^^ mke fctttitR ' ' bilfifiijf^f ^c * ithcfo' Wfelt*«rcrc a^ (l^tfld^o^dlfii^iif^altMiesl'tod the JMeii4ii«8 incou poratcd with the 6oth rcjjiiiieM.' €tjf>ti Mciocriof*; principal engineer, was indefatigable night and day, rkift*^' iMi*r -w^k* '**Ad %attwi<»^ i^^ W»ng idvcry attttttknitb* Jiicircafe'th©idfifeiv6t 4>fj|hfttoW% vfhich aftbniflicd the cii*n>yv^ '^lio^ ^^^ iiimttoned theG«tier# to IWl»tidli»^ theitown m the>«i4BS;0f W» M^Chttftito Ml^v iD?Efttiltigf who fent the Ifairtmoitt, « » th«t Hfelnjc - tiitte ' vacqttaii|t¥ig 4ht ^mitwrntM, tihac bi» tioop* c^irld he maided' 3i«imlil^<^f'ri<)*^iteF)o^^? ^ Httimidatied with diia»Ia»g*iagc^ thtt^ gallant Oener4 fok'Gt«cnt from' Beaiifort/' 'which hai^ly aniv^d « ici^it'ftall momieiit) ttr8ft05 ftortfiider^t>&*itL^ A^ the expiration, of that toe the €oiifltjD?Eftaing hadiiii Brtal anfwefj thaftthcAroops Wcpe unaniniouily detenivned to defend »hfe towtt to the Vdllman. , . Jwe., Kw«s judged wMS^?«rs!t^ •#•*•' ***^ country I ««l feffk^ MMiMttf^ MA lib wi^r # M%^ of alNNit 5««iMtiittn,^ bdkkn^fiMM bundrwli of^cc liMka. MMl* tiulliiloe* MkMbaibMfd tai the Weft Iti^ei. The laA of tki BHilih feitei Wii only one CbpMliiiiAd 15' nitik 'Mdr JtoMUed, and » €ifCiiii, 3 ftthaAttent, tml 35 wcw^dad | that ^ theenemy «ttcc«dcd isoo killed ditf I wbittided, tiiiMg the kt- lerwelNsCkivnt DVftilii^li. itVoilutgiie, M^or *■" r- y Contain PA] GRI necef] THE the) , There are i earlier. Tl pllation tp < to prcfcnt ! addiHons on In 1764^ as much as p of the armec to America, take the ufu lations ; by lately, with ^iredled and meafure. T boufclaws, a in America < and difficult 1 A trade k Spanifli culoi ported by the with their ow gpld and filv cochineal, &c according to Great-Britain ftjps, under t traffic was fuc on betivee;' tl iflands, to the Tliefe mattery quantity of n, ^"•aWed to tal i^ented the Bri calls of the mo ■m " I II I 14. "' ' I y ■<— *^^ A P P E mD IX. Con^^n^ Colleaion oflntejemng «d authentic neceffary to elucidate the Hifto.^. ^°^'^^' . Th« ,„ Ln. wXrwho anSi .rri 'T*K''"8 "America, rarlitr. They ia^Z^^ »f P«fclhcr country. ^^ity of m.n^.aZot%"r^Ur^ ...cnfidera.ion of ,7e * of the m«lt r:.'". ta^adtlt l:ir"c„""^"' '?"'■? ^""'' ^ , urn rtuntQ to tneir consjiion circulation «f ca/h } 4 APPENDIX. itl •, : i- ■ ■ At the fame tirte (March 10, 1764) the Houfe of Commons refolved, that it was pix^er to charge certain ftamp duties in the colonies and plan- tations. • This refiJution was not this year followed by any bill, being only to be held but as an intent ioHi for next year. It was propofcd, and agreed to^ in a thin Houfe, and late at night, and juft at the rifing with- out any debate. The affemblies of Maffaqhufctt's-Bay ajjd New- York, were alarmed at thi^ refoliition. They came to fome refolutions upon it ; which, with a petition from each, to the Houfe of Commons, againft it, vrere tranfmit- ted to the Board of Trade in England. They were luid before the Privy Council on the nth of December, 1764. The Privy Council ad- vifed the King to lay thenr before Parliament. Tiiey were never laid before Parliament— they 'were fupprefTed. In the fpring of 1765, the American agents in London were informed b'; adminiftration. That if the colcftiies wnuld propofe any other mode of j raifing the fum intended to be raifcd by ftamp duties, their propofals would be accepted) and the i}:amp duty laid afide. The agents faid they were not authorized to give any anfwcr, but that they were ordered toop- pofe the bill wiien it fhould be brought into the Houfe, by petitions ykllowkdg™uT^.^bt1„*r^''^8''^'' wor j„4ic,. ^^, beingbrought t*o Jblr^f^I.tetrrC/''™^'"'"**"'""- '" «''"t« " "hrfliy, forthedef^, nf = „ T ? their conaant liul laboriom io- »k!ch na^ateTth^ 3f«/i"'^V°'''-'?"^°' l^"'»«''«fp&^ pr»de»« fori,id. w to e^lai. JSV "■« ™°"-« whh «kem ftill , b« • me. m general knowledtre anH ' Jf.P^^y ^^^t. Wowever fiiperiorto in thst qountrv. The «^t!L fk ^ . *?" been more converfant At the end of the feffion. the King faid to the Houfe nf r Ihave fecn, with the moil nerffA a«^, i *• t "** **^ Commonj, this feafon of tranq uiHtv in nromSi^^*? ^''"u"* ^* y^"* ^'^ ^°»pJoy«l mended to your aS[r f ^^^^^ Ihave reco„. 3»d.«tead the commerce, and K ^ wJ. o/ '"^ '™'' K'"'"' "°l''= °f America w tiieftamp .a, were of A'"c;rdrwtrdVt'^c:^ " .'i'' y^-A^'-^'T -«. « .•bedifta„ee refolutions : >r Wheivat tkt honourable ^oufe of Comtaons in En|^nd, have of 'late -drawn into queftion, how far the General AiTembly of this colony hath power to ena^ laws for laying taxes and impofing duties, payable by Uie p«<^l« of this, his Majefty's moft anti^nt colony ; for (etfcline and afcertaining the (amtto all future times, the Houfe of Burgeffes of this prefent General Affembly have come to the feveral following refolutions : Ref9hed<, That th* iirft adventurers and fettlers of this his Majefty's colony and dominion of Virginia, Hroujrht with them, and tmnfmitted to their jpiofterity^^and aU other his Majefty's fubje6i8 fince inhabiting in this his Majcfty^ c^ony, all the privileges and immunities that have at anytime been held, enjoyed, and pofl'cQed by the people of Great Britain. ■.■■*,<.■■ ■ ;/■■ >;s.. Refrlveiy That by the two royal (Charters granted by Kiog James the Firii^ the colonifts aforefaid are declared entitled to all privileges of faith> ful liege and natural bom fubje^s, to all intents and purpofes, as if they had been abiding andborn within the realm of ^ngland;> Refihed, That his Majefty^s liege people of this his moft ancient colo^ • ay, havee^oyied^l^ right of being thus governed by their own AiTec- bly, in the article* of taxes and internal police, and that the fame have never been forfeited, or any other way yielded up, but have been conftantly recogni2e4 by the King and people of Great Britain. Rcfoiwdy 1?herefore, that th^ General Aifiembly of this colony,-together with his Majefty or his fubftitnte, have, in their- reprefentative capacity, the only evciufive right ahd power to lay taxes and impofitioni upon the inhabitant^ of this colony; and that every attempt to inveft fiich a power in any perfon or pcrfons whatfoever, other than the General AlTem* bly afore£sid> is illegal, unconftitutionaj, and unjuft, and has a manifeft tendency to dejftroy Bntiih, as well as American freedom, ■ ' ' y. The fum expected to be r^tfedbythc ftamp fef .On the 9th of July 176^, the board of treafury (in London) entered upon their books the following minute: " That, in order to obviate the inconveniences of bringing into this kingdonithe money to be raifcd by the ftamp-duties, all the produce of the American duties, arifing or t« arife by virtue of any Britiflv d6t of parliament, fhould from time to time be paid to t'ae deputy pay-mafter in America, to d^ray the fubfiftcnce of the troops, and any military expcnces incurred in the colonies." t - /"J» i.:_- ..1 U* Lxxuu:. F'^1" I- j:r_:f- u: .:ft- X tx>' tiiisnxia nsiriiij2rjif-i=» Tlii Marquis of Rockingham was appointed firft lord of the treafury, anu otlicrs, his lordfliip's friends, fiici:eeck'd'to the vacant places, ^ ^ P E N D I X « k«g in council, " Th,t^J'r2lut»L^il^"«"^ vowal of the *S^ht oflhe^^L^^^^^ aWblutedifii! %pon her colon&s, and a C^atLl '*/^^ '^ *«K« «•»«• C9untry. appear to u. to recS ?„ im^^T^J*!? .^^-^^^^^'W of tlf whatever TftW meafurS^y^rKS: ™^ •«dftn*« attention, .3 couaeiJ. juage proper to be vTkln^k^"'^' ^"^ the idwce of *«», probation^fVfeTr^creSfnS^;^^^^^^ «>y*»d£?:: which thev natural^ t^iul to TXe ET? '**'^ ^»«' c«nfequencV. yt>urMajeily'.confImt^„*^Sen ^^^^^ ^^^^^t to your Majcftv's colpnyofTi^nirw™^:]: y^^rB^cfty V ferrant. « «xecution of the kw for !«««£- .l j ^ "^ concerned in enfoidne the jefty and hi. icrvaflt,arf fat rd^S^ff^r ^ your conduft. His Ma* Ue 4id not take th^Trr^k^^'^^^^^^^^ "^?J«»«"« Jou fent w.hMMsyeftyatall inclined tnT.S 5"^^* *"■ »"»*nt»on in you ; nor ^4 loyal colony of VirgTnia Mh^^^^^^^^^ ^'^ ^ -*-nt JJtions induce a perfuatlon. tC thl il^Llf^^^ «Prefe«- Wth to the violence of fomi- ^- a 1 ^^^^^^ refolutions owod their t^^aflembly, S 1^^^ % advanta^ of a ' to the world,, the feSuren^»;rtheS^^^^^ i' **^" "afonned opinion «ot, by the pre^pce oTX mt/a^^ «^^> wffl to change the opinion, or kff^ZV^f^A "^T ?°"**^"** be ptrfuadad off ec^lony of yir^inL; wSc hhriw"*'* '^^•^ **'^'y« «tertainS «f the crown. His ]4eft^.f^^v^ts ?J. 7^ «pcnenced the proteaion Pruaence, and on th7vSue anr^ 'f'^ ^ ^^ withentire wlianJe on rouJ ««rc, perfuade themfdles that 11 r^if 't ^^'o"/ ^ntrufted to IZ t"«Jy deliberate upon ?^fe ^^l" * fulUffembly fiall cahnly and m^ learned at, the d£ger«i^tSv and ItI"'" ^'^' """^ '^'^ »^«=">f-"« % might be produllive oHSto^L Zf '*^' o6nfequences which ^Wi are the equal obieas nf' Lm- T.'**' *'''""'*^ ""** *»'«^ colonies. •^hecoLiesupon^LS "'^^^^ * confidential «liance Upon thefe princinles Sir nl i ^* Npc^ reprefe^ntatirtot; wlTud^^^^^^ -"^ a . tjrneft hfg M,:-ii_ •- \ '"^ wue and fobcr part of *},» «„„_i_ r _ »'- '•vciy p^n ;| LlmiLw^?. ^'PPy i«fluV„ce of hi, flS7 ""* care vvhifh aJonc i APPENDIX. ftlone .CM cftaUiA the fafety and profperity of the cdonles tinA the aMtfaer country. .^.Aithert »no ifl^ciition in the crown tojtteiitpty nor in the King's fer-* ,««nta! to adnfie^ any incroachmentft on the real rights and liberties of any ■prt of hii H^efty's fubieft* ; fo neith-;r will ms Ma)efty Dfl(!aubtedly &bmk) or Ini Icwanti advife, under anycircumftances, that the refped which ia due to parliamentf andwhkh it ntceffary for the good of the whole Britifii einpire^hould anywhere be made a facrifice to local anddan- geroot prejudictea* Aa tbu tmfMrtailt matter 'isi however, ndw before hi» Majefty»8 privy council^ as well as the other cotifideratton of the dangerous riot and mu- tiaoos behaviour of the people on the frontiers, I iKall ndt pretend to give any advice or inftrudiont upon thefe fubjeftft ; aot dqpubtlng, but you will Ma have the fulleft ffOfn the wifdom of that board, in all thofe tbtngsy in which, by your laft i^cdtintsy tlMS raoft effential interefts of the colony arc fo deeply cniicemed« > You will therefore, in' the mean time, be very attentive, by every pru* dent meafare fn your power, at once to maintain the juft: rights of the Britlfh government, and to preferve the peace and tranc[uility of the pro" vinces committed to your care. Birt as thcfe appear to me mattets of government fit for his Majeily'« more immediate iiotice and information, I muft beg you wilt not fail to transit to me fuch occurrente», from time to time, on thefe heads, as you may deem of i.nportance in the light I mention. I am, Set* " ' Ht S. COMX^TAV. Mxtra3if aJeHefffromMr* Stiretary Ceftiuayi H Major Qeneral Gage. SIR, k rc:T, , ! ORaber t\, 1765. IT is widSFtW-gtcateft coacem, that bit Majefty learnt the difturbances which haveari£snin fome of the Nor^ American colonlea: thefe events will probably cre^tie application to you, in which thfc utmoft exertion of yowr prudcmK Ofay be necefiary ; fo as juftly to temp*e# your conduft be- tween Uiat caution and coolnefs, which the delicacy o£ ^h a fituation may demand on one hand, and the vigour necefifei^ to fupprefs outrage aad violence on th^ other. It is impomble at this diftancc, to affiit you by any particulair «^r pofitive inftruftion, bccaitfe you will find yourtdf necenarily obliged to take your refolution as particotar drcumftances and emergencies may require. It IS hoped, and expeAed, that this want of confidence in the jaAice and tenderncfs of the mother counts)', and this open rcfiftance to its authority, can only have found place among the lower and ntiore ignorant of the pco' pie. The better and wifer part of the colonies will knoW, that "t maytend to theeafe andcpnJfort, a. well a, thfweiS a« ht nelV" ' *"^°*'0"-t« can only have found place ^r^l^itltZ^ntZt! —' *"'^°/'*>^' people ; the better and more wil? oart of fh/J l • * '?."?'^"* °^ »^«= decency a„d.fubh.Iffion may prevS,^no^^ wSl khbw that «bta n grace and favour, whife the iitXr^ I n«^^^^^^ g^icvancesi but to nothing but feverity and chaftifer^n^^ tL?.? J-"" ''°'««can expeft WsMafefty's fervantl from a S of yo^r dutrtr"*V J^'^'J-^^^ ^ntry, will endeavour to e.clt. a^d^encrrage ^yoi wSl a H ^' ^^^^ colar manner, call upon them not to reriiiZth ?°" 7'"/"» »naparti- will, in the ftrongett colours, ^p^cZ to them tt''.'"Vf^P%'*'^ '' ^^^ that muft inevitably attend thffordl l^Vn^ • ^ ^'"^^"^ confequences theBritifl, parliament, a a the S if V'^'"^."!?^""^'^ *° ads of countries inJeparabLUiln/ror^ ^° «'-'» pefs depend, ^ou /ill do a ^ft ;:3;t:W^^^^^^^ ^"'^ ^^P" country ; but having taken 'every ften^S JL utmoJ 'f '° y°"** I ienlty can diaate, in comnaffion to S fJl a- °* P^'dewe and guided »eople,y;uwiinoro„"HV^^^^^^^^^^^ power /or repelling .11 .a, of outrajand Snr l^^t^^.^^"^?^ fxcition of. force, a^ the oce£„ Zt ' ^'%'^'"^l ^"^ ^"'^^ ^ ^''"^ ^ ■* «om. to A»P P E N D rX. comrtiajidcrs of hij M^jefty's land and naval forces in America :H)r how- ever unwilling his Ma^efty may cOnfent to the exertion of fuch powers ab may endanger the fafcty of a finffle fubje^, yet can he not peunit his own dignity, and the authority ofthe BritiOi legiifeturc, to be trampled on by forge and violence, and in avowed contempt of all order, duty and decorum,. , If the lutjjeft is aggrieved, he know* ia what manner legally and con- ftitutionally to apply for relief : but it is not fuitable, cither to the fafety or dignity of the Britifli empire, that any individuals, under the pre- tence of redrgffing grievances, fliould prefume to violate .the public peace. I am, &c. H. S. Conway. P. S. The floop which carries this will carry orders to L.ord Colvil, and to the Governor of Novii Scotia, to fend to your affiftance any force which may be thought neceffary from thence, and which that province can fupply. The King having, in his fpeech, recommended to the confidcratiori of parliament the affairs of America, a debate naturally followed on the addrefs. The neyv minifters fpoke, tenderly of the difturbances and confufiens in America. The late minifters (at this time in oppofition) were quite the revcrfe. Earl Nugent (then Mr. Nugent) infifted, « That the honour and dig- nity of the kingdom, obliged us to compel the'exccution ofthe ftamp- aft, except the right was acknowledged, and- the repeal folicited as a favour. He computed the expence of the troops now employed in Ame- rica for their defence, as he called it, to amount to nine-pence in the pound of our land tax; while the produce of the ftamp-a^ would not raife a fliilHng a head on the inhabitants of America » but that a pepper- corn, in acknowledgment ofthe right, was of more value, than millions without. He expatiated on the extreme ingratitude ofthe colonies ; and concluded, with charging the miniftry with encouraging petitions to parliament, and inUtr.dionsto members from trading and manufafturine towns, againft the aft. Mr. Pitt (now Lord Chatham) fpoke next. And he always begins his firft rlfing, his intro* town but to-day ; I wai| very low, and as every body was in agitation at diidion was not heard, 'till he faid, * I came to a ftranger to the tenor of his Majefty's fpeech, and the propofed addrefs, I *till 1 heard thena read in this houfe. Uncr.-inedted and unconfulted I ha cpmnvended the King's fpeech, approved of the addrefs in anfwer, as itl .decided nothing^ every gentleman being left at pcrfed liberty to take] /uch a part concerning America, as he might afterwards fee fit. One! word only he could not approve of, an ear/jf, is a word that does not be-j long to the notice the miniftry has given to parliament of the troubles inl America. In a matter of fuch importance, the communication ought ,to have been immediate j I fpeak not with refped to parties ; I ftand intUli place fiaglc aad uacooaefted. A« to tUe Ute mioiftry, (turnjlni ' himfel A P p I: N Dr I X. ^ ,j ere ruLg'atThfl!^??^^^^^^^^^^^ J?^^^ '>ft who™ I have in n.j any of them. Their charaAer. L f • *j r**" '"*^* * ^^"'^»o«^ ^7 men of fair chara^^r cn^Jgc'L"^. M^^^^^^^ i^ ''^7' «'*? **^*^^ have dene inc ihe honouf Vo ail "' „ "J^^^ \ ^f^'cc. Some of them^ jngage. Thefe will doTe Ihe jduTe^^l"^'"•^•^ j't" they^vould' but notwithftan,iing-I love 'o be expKcin "^"f^'^'? *^ *="«'''«'= * fidence ; pardon me aentl#.»,«, /u ^ • ^ ^^"""^^ 8'*« t'lcn my coxv., apIantof^/lTgrTwlKar^^^^ "^'"'^^^y) «>''''^'J^nce i» caufe.. methinL, I plainly diWrtS ♦ "'"' f «fon.ng from eiTcfts to ' There i« a claurin^the ad of Y^t r'"*'^*" °^ to fign hi» natne to the advfce whl 1* ?' ^•^°^ ''''^ '"^"^'ft*^' were obferved !— I have hid iLk g'ves his fovereign. WouJ<| it could have fubmitted to infltnc^' I'St't ^Tn'" "^""^ '^"^ ^ ^^- fcut I would not be refponlible for Ihl^ )T *'" ^,^^^""^d to ferVe ,1 it is indifferent to W '^ttL'^rafwV Jji;Vr„^°h^ '"^ fule or that fide the Tweed —T flu^r . '" ^^^ '^'■^*^'<-' «« th l' hefound.-Iti»myboaft thirJ ^""f^/^i* »"5"t wherever it was to and I found it i7the to^?aiL 7/ 1 ^'^ T'^/' '^:^-^-oM for it. drew it into your fe,^iLra.S!^^ "^^'i*- ^^^^'^'^ >' f'"^*'* and when left by^ jeX^ betml ;reT;:rht a^/ T ^ '"^"'^^^ and had gone mgh\o have ove^tu^-ned^S i^^^^^^^^^ Thefe men, in Ae laft war w^- k J * *" the war before the aft. ferved with fideHty. a Xv fouL °"?k ' *? "°"^^* "^ r^^^ ^^e : they >•« every part of S ;orfd^ SL ;l\t'"^-'"V°".^"^'-^^ ^- x'" them !~they are uniuft/^roundSf- "irt ? ""''°"^^ refleftions againil to ferve his Rfajeft?a a Stfl *"'"'* T""'"*'^- ^hen I ceafed which I was mfvedlbut r man of^'JE.r *^' '°""*'^ °^ ^^'^ "»»" ^y held principles incompa?U';rfr:Lom'^ wifdom, anj^ iabed. IflcouIdhavecn^urStohavet"; •'?-'^™'"*''» ^ ^^"^ ^'« ^» the agitation of my Sir tt eoZ'^'^''^'? ^ ^° S^^*^ cited fome^kind hand to W Ud 1%° ^"T"'! ^ ^^'"^^ bave*foli. my teftimony againft t It « IT a°\'''"^°''' '° h^?* »>«''nc fpeak with decen^cy of evii-y aft of 7' 1^ 'r *^' ^ P'^''^-' ^'""'^ gcnceof thehoufe^tf;e?ko?rt':!;h tL'"^™^^^ ^^^''"^"'- |t.on witrr:fp:4rAme'^^^^^ TL?" *°^-««^- ^heftateof thena. tote within the tem^r ^T • P^* .g^"*^^™*^" will come to this and the imppltof Thffub .a rSf "^a'^b'^^'I^ ^^^•"?^^"'^'' tance than ever enweed the LVill!^ r ,.- , ^J^*^ **^ g'"«ater impor. I vourWtr*.- ..,..«- *- t. _ 1 , - - o » *•• »*^a8 ine queltion- whf>t)if>r nr.^*. prcfcnfi leaving the juilfce, the equity, a A ^ f t ^ If r X. equify, tlie policy, the expediency of the aft, to another time. '^I will' only fpeak to one point, a point which fecmf not to have been genel-ally litidcr^ood — I mean t'd the rights Some geritiemen ^alluding to Mr. Nugent) fecin to havi confidered it -as i point of honour. If gentlemen conlider it in that li^lit, they leave all meafiires of right and wrong, to follow a ddufioh that ^^y kad to de(lru£tion. It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to lay a tax upon the colonies. At the fahie time, I aflert the aathority of this kingdom over the colonics, to he fovereign and fuprcme, in every clrcumlV^ncc of government and Icgifla- tion whatfocver. — They ai-c the fubjefts of this kingdom, equally entitled with yourfelvcs to all the natural rights of mankind and the peculiar privileges of EngH(hmen. Equallyi bound by its laws, and equally par- ticipating of the conftitutioh of this free country. The Americans are the fons, not the baftards, of England. Taxation is no part of the governing or legiflative jSqwer. — The taxes are a voluntary gift and grant ok the comArons alone. In legiflation ;he three eftatcs of the realm are alike concerned, but the concurrence of the peers ind the crown to a tax, is only neceflary to cldfe with the form of a law. The gift and grant is of the commons alone. In ancient days, the crown, the barons, and the clergy poiTeiFed the lands* In thofe days, the bafons and the dcTgy gave and granted to the crown. They gave and granted what vrat thi^tr own. At prefent, fince the difcovcry of America, and other circumft^nces permitting, the commons are become the proprietors of the land. The crolirn Has dtveftcd itfelf of its great eftateS. The church C^r^^d blefsit) ^asbut apittfancc. The jirbperty of the lords, compared vrith that of the comilAons, is as a drop of water in tht ocean : and this hbufe reprefents thofe cbmriionsi the proprietors of the landis ; and thofe pi-o^fjrletors virtually repi-efent tlie reft »f the inhabitants. When, there- fore, in this houfe we give and grant, Aye give and grant what is our owti. But in an Ariieificari tax, what do We do ? W^t your Majetty's coiti- monsdf Great- Britain, give and grant to your Majefty, what? Our own pr6][ierty ? — No. We give and grant to your Majefty, thri property of your Majefty's commons in America.-— It is an abfurdity in tefots.— — * Thediftinftion between legiflation and taxation is eflentiafly neceflary to liberty. The crowh^ the peers^ are equally legiflative powers with the comtnons. < If taxation be a part of fin^ple legiflatien^ the crown, the peers have rights in taxation as well as yourfelvcs : rights which they will claim, which tliey will exercife, whenever the principle can be fup- ported by power. * There is an idea in fome, that the colonies are virttially reprefented in this ht.ufe. I would fain know by whom an American is reprefented here ? Is he reprefented by any knight of the fhire, in any county in this kingdom? Would to God that refpeftable reprefentation was augmtnted to a greater number I Or will you tell him that he is reprefented by arty reprelentative of a borough— a borough which perhaps no man ever faw — This is what is called, the rotlen part of the eonftitution.— It cannot continue the century— If it does not drop, it miift be amputated.— The idea at a virtual re^refentation of America in this houfe- is the inoft contemptible idea that ever entered into tlie head oif a man— It docs not dcferve a ferious refntation. « The ^' P F i: N- D r X i«ght, of giving anj granting their o^n^ .p.: «heir conftitution.! flavcs if tifcy hfd not cnj3 t Z\1^^V^' ^^'^ ^^'^ ^'* «>•« the fi.picme governing aJleJL' ' ^T* ^'"'•' ^^^^ l»>n«doiri, g^ money out of their pockets SoJttT' ""/' *'*"* °^ "'''"P *h*'V Mr. Pitt had do„?fp"aSg ^ "nfidtmbk p,„f. ,„f„rf ,ft„ light honourable ecntleman r,£ • u- r .1 ^'''^ •*"" advanced bf th€ ''ad ';«n given j:l7onV to a^^^ ^"' ''^ "*"^ entirely conformable to tho^onhe f .Tt I ' ^'V^" f^"*'*™*^"*' w•".. jr;=««in, n€ion: they fent an v r..r.r^n.„V J ■'"'"'' **"" ^"^ bifhopric of The- U APPENDIX. the one in the reigii of Henry VUI. the other in that of Charlei II.' Mr. Grenville th(;« <|uottd the Jia», and dclirctl that they mi^ht l»< rcad| which being done, he faid i ♦ When I propofcd to tax America, I aikcd the houfe, if -any gentleman would ohjctt to the right j I repeatedly •Iked it, and no man would attempt to deny it. I'lotcdlion and obe- dience are reciprocal. Great- Uritain protects America; America ii bound to yirld obedience. U not, tell me where the Americans were «maucipated? When they want the protection of this kingdom, they arc •Iwaya very ready to aflc it. That protetlion ha« alwayu been affonlcd them in the moft full and ample manner. The nation ha« run itfclf into an iin- menfe debt to give them their protedion ; and now they arc called u^xiii to contribute a lit from themfelvea, they renoance your authority. mall (hare toward* the public expcnce, an expcncc anliiig , they renoontc your authority, infuK your officers, and break out, I might almoll fay, into open rebellion. The feditjous fplrit of the . colon ici owes its birth to the faftions in the huufe. Gentlemen arc cardcfa of the confcqucnce» of what they fay, provided it anlwcri the purpofea of oppol'ition. We were told we trod on tender ground ; wc were bid to expeft 'ifobcdiencc. What was this, but telling the Amc- ricaoa to (land out agaiull the law, to encourage their oblUnancy with the cxpedatioh of fupport from iience ? Let us only hold out a little, they would fty, our friends will foon be in power. Ungrateful people of America I Bounties have been extended to them. When I had the honour of ferv- ing the crown, while you yourfelvea were loaded with an enormous debt, you have given bounties on their lumber, on their iron, their hemp, and many other articles. You liave relaxed, in their favour, the aft of naviga- tion, that palladium of the Britifli commerce ; and yet I have Seen abulcd in all the public papers as an enemy to the trade of America. I have been particularly charged with giving orders and inftruAions to prevent the Spanilh trade, and thereby (lopping the channel, by which alone North- America ufcd to be fupplied with ca(h for remittances to this ODuntiy. I defy any man to produce any fuch orders or indrudions. I difcouragcd no trade but what was illicit, what was prohibited by ad of parliament. I delirc a Weft-India merchant, well known in the city (Mr. Long) a gentleman of character, may be examined. He will tell you, that I offered to do every thing in my power to advance the trade of America. I was above giving an anfwer to anonymous calumnies | but m this place, it becomes one to wipe off the afperfion.' Here Mr. Grenville ceafed. Several members got up tr V.'rV, bn* Mr. Pitt fceming to rife, the hoiiftf was fo clamorous for Mr. PH', M- Pitt^ that the fpeaker was obliged to call to order. After ( v. ,i\;«n>{ .. little quiet, he faid, * Mr. Pitt was up ;' who began with informing the houfe, * That he did not mean to have gone any further upon the fubjeft that day ; that he had only defigned to have thrown out a few hints, which, gentlemen who were fo confident of the right of this kitigdutn to fend toxtsi "'i America, might confider ; might, perhaps, reflcft, in a coole" ivonent, tl at the right was at leall equivocal. But (incethc gentlem 5, wu . f}K;ie lait, had not (lopped on that ground, but had gone ' ' into the' juftice, the equity, the policy, the expediency , as wtil as into the right, he would follow him through md coVnbat his arj'umonts on every point.* He into the vholc Mr. On/low ^now I ord n^n \ '" " committee' •Imoll in open reC;II,'„„ r • •"'' ^"«"ca ii oUiaul ■ A ■'P Kopleivitl.out theirconfL, f j' ,P"l"»"":"t» were aHamed '"JT '.""*• ', 'gl." example in Watf W^'i^^^'hlf ""''-•'H.m.^hih.TeVakt 'd,"e meet ..y^J.yVlVjr"''' "",7'"'''' ^« "d fc '' R >»daremitreprefente,l i-l*^," "f"'"" 't"' m of manv »1, ' "" *'"'^'> i .VMlf?!'!':" , "P'-f f"'^^- V:;'kl **l"?Jl- ■•' i" .heir „s i ftoct K»VJ "'"^ r ^"'^ influence over them " m;"—^^"""s with thofc'that I ui ^^"'£ V\ ijjiam, many 16 A P i» E N iD I X. .muTt^9i;9» fpme of great, othen of more mod«i:pit6 abilities, bavefakeii th| lead of government. '-'--■ - - . ..... r it down till he came to each of them. * None lought, or ev,er dreamed^ of robbing the colonies of .their^opjkitutlonal rights. That was referved to mark the aera of the late ad'wnirtrfttionr not that there were wanting fome, when I had the honour to fervehlsMajefty, to propofe tome to burn my fingers with an Amc- lican liamp-aia. With the enemy at their back, wth our bayonets at their /Jijeaftt, in the day of their dillrefs, perhaps the Americans would .have fuhmitteii to tie Impofition ; but it would have been taking an ^ungenerous, andunjuit advantage. The gentltman boafts of his bounties to Amerif^ ! ^re not thofe bounties intended finally for the benefit of th^s' klngcto^ ? If they are not, he h^s mifappHed the national treafures. I am no courtier of Alinerlca, I ftand up for this kingdom. I maintain, that the parliament has a right to bind, to reltrain America. Our legi- slative power over the colonies is, fovereigiii and fupreme. When it ceafes to be fovereign and fupreme, I would advife every gentlemen to fell his Jands, if he can, and embark for that country. When two .countries arc ^conneAed together, like England and her colonies, without being Incor- porated, the one mUft nece(Urilypovern ; the greatci* mull rule the Icfs; but fo rule it, as not to contradiA the fundamental principles that are common to both. * If^h'e gentleman does not ui?derftand the difference between internal and external taxes, I cannot help it; bat there is a plain dlftlnftlon be- tween taxes levied for the purpofcs of raifing a revenue, and duties im- ^pofed for the regulation of trade, for the accommodation of the fubjcft ; ^altho', in the confequences, forae revcaue might incidentally arife from • the latter. * The gentleman a(ks, when were the colonies emancipated ? But I defire to knqw,", when they were made f)aves ? But I dwell not upon ""words. When I had the honour of fervl -^ his Majefty, I availed myfelf ^ef the means of information, which I derived, from my office : I fpeak therefore fi\ m knowledge. My materials were good. I was at pains to collcA, to digeft, to confider them } and I will be bold to affirm, that the profits to Great Bilcain from the trade of the golonies, through all its branches, is two millions a year. This is the , fund that carried you triumphantly through the la ft war. The cftates that were rented at two tlioufand pounds a year, threclcore years ago, are at three thoufand pounds jit prefent. Thofe eftates fold then from fifteen to eighteen years pur- ' chafe ; the fame may be now fold for thirty. You owe this to America. This is the price that America pays you for her proteftipn. Andfliali a raiferable financier come with a boaft, that he can fetch a peppcr-^n ; into the Exchequer, to the \ok of millions to the nation ! I ,'^^Wg^ ! fay, how much higher thefe profits may be augmented. Omltti^nc immenfe increafe of people, by natural popuhuion, in the northern | colonies, and the migration from every part of Europe. I am con- vinced the whole commercial lyltem of America may be altered to aavan- tage. You have prohibited, wliere you ought to h"ve encouraged ; and! you have encouraged where you ought to hfive prohibited.. Injproperl ' o - o j-eftraintil A> P E x\ D I X. ,^ VeRraints have been Jaid on the c«ntm.nf • r r ' You have but twc nations to traSe Sh^in A- -'''""^ ^^ .Wa'-ds. twenty ! Let aft* of parliament .ri ? ^™"»'^a- Would you liad WletnotanEngliihSrbiola^^^^^^^^^ f T^^'^l '^'"-'"' or fur any foreign power M.!.h ° culiom-houfe officer for Spain, the .eneril goof oHhc whok " ^'■''"^' '"""'^ "^"^ »^« "^«^"J«§ ^oJ pubK^°;:W fniTc^^^^^^ ^^^^^ -freprerentedinthe fhelaftLr iw sabJeaT^rher""" '" ^/p'^'"'«» ^^^'-^ Maj=fty to violate the law of Va il ST^'? ^"c ^"-^'"^ ^^^'^'^^^'^ »"'* was induftrioufly circulated everniranS b £ If '^^ "'.^^-^ ^^"^« not propagate the abufe nHrn.-n-i "?"'* '^"'8- I' adminiftration did «ot ?ayat.advice''ltid gtTt" t^^^^^^ I -H fignedbymyfelf, in the pSfl^iVlf tt f;ow^ tjl '^',%^"''?^^ advice I did .lot pive tn *lh- ir- t /• f '"'^°*"* ^u* 1 will fay what of th. l,„s of nagol ' '''°« = ' '^'' •'"' "'>"f' '""> "> ""late any know not how it is but .l,™."^ "f parliament (o tax America. I of thi. modefty. If tZl, •, ^ Tel* l™";,™r''' «« «•"= better gin to abate of the reSa for ,hf "^ 'r^' '•""*';= '^'''' ™y ^■ fold me, that a great Son 'rfd . f f ^l"'?"."- ^^ B»oon tad time or another! uT^V^,t •, "^ f ''""8. "S"'""* « "»= •hfCennan war: m;Ge™tC/fr 'caUed U '^Er^/i^'^' l«kc a German war," I honoured rh^ «,« / •. j ^ ^^ ^^^ "°^ te w^ turned out of his poft °' "' "'^ ^^^ ^^^''^^ ^i^^" ft-gV^Amei" '"?,d^"''°"J doors of thepower and of the ' dledlith. In a 'id c^nCZl f ' 7t' '' \''^'^outty med- country can cruftiKwca to t ^"""Z^""*"* ^^e force of this troops^ Iknow^fSTf you^Xers'^ T^^^^^^ ?^""^ °^ y-'" , foot that has ferved in America ou^ of ™i • J "*"' ' company oi trtio^-tSiir?"^^^^^^^^ ■ ji«. i. a c,.-„^ '^^a--, ::r :«,.:;;- L;r L^aii • l.-kftate, and pull dot:ZLZlJtZ:''}t^?'\"''''^ P}>}"' "l I "MM peace iNot to (heath th^('^::::i'::^'::ykM>J^^hut ""-''°'"' ftl Hieath >t;-"h:t^7£:^^7Kri^ [C3 France tS APPENDIX. France difttirhs your fiihcriea in Newfoundland^ cmbHnaflcs four (lave trade to Afiicn, Rud with-huldi from your fuhjrds in Canada, their nropertjr ftipulated by trentyi while the ranfom forthcManilhis is denied Dy Spam, and its gallant conqueror baf*ly traduced into a mean plun- dcr«r, I gentleman (Sir W. Drajrer) whofe noble and generous Ipirit would do honour to the proudeft grandee of the country. ITie Ame- ricans have not in all things aftcd with prudence and temper. Thev have been wronged. They have been driven to madncfs by injufticc. Will you punifti them for the madnefs you have occafioned i Rather let prudence and temper <}ome firft from this fide. I wfl! undertake for America, that (he will follow the example. There are two lines in a ballad of Prior's, of a nan's behaviour to his wife, fo applicable to you and your colonies, that I cnnnot help repeating them : * Be to her faults a httle blind : * Be to her virtues very kind. * Upon the whole, I will beg leave to tell the houfe what is really my opinion. It is, that the ll;amp>aA be repealed abfolutely, totally, and immediately. That the reafon for the reneal be afiigned, becaufe it was founded oii an erroneous principle. At the fame time, let the fovevcign authority of this country over the colon'-rs, be alTert'jd in as ttroiig terms as can be devifed, and be made to extend to every point of Icgil- lation whatfoever. That we may bind their trade, confine their manii- fa6turcs and exercifc every power whatfoever, except that of taking their money out of their pockets withotit their confent !' This debate determined the repeal of the flamp-aft. At the fame time a bill was broiwht in, and pafTed, for fecuring the dependence of Ame- rica on Great Britaih, in which it was aflfertedj « That the Parliament of Great Britain, had a right to bind the Colonies in all cafes whatfo- ever. But notwithftanding the repeal of the ftamp-aft, which had no other cftft than di(rolving the non-importation agreements formerly entered into, vrith regard to all commodities imported from Britain, the flame was only fmothered for a little time, feemingly that it might break out with greater violence, which it did, pn the pa(Bng of an aft to allow the Ealt-lndia Company to export their teas to America duty free. Several Ihips freighted with it were fent to the American Colonies, which they confidered as a method of infenfibly fubjedting them to taxation, and from this time we may date the total ceflation of all kind of friendfhip betVtfcen Great Britain and her Colonies, as will appear by a perufal of the following Authentic Papers. jirtit-kf of Conf>ckrat'ion and perpetual Union y entered into by the De- legates of' the fiveral Colonics of New-Hamplhire, MalTachufett's, iS^c. iif..Jsfc. ^c.^iifc. efff. ^iff. tff. ^c. iffc in Gtmeral Congrefs, iKct at Philadelphia, May 2Cth, 1775. ARTICLE I. The name of the confederacy (hall henceforth be, The United Colonies of North America. . inc ur.icca coionics nereDy le^ttaily enter into a iirm league of frienddiip with each other, binding on themfielves and their polle- riiy, for their coamon dcfewjc agaiDik their enemies, for the fecuritv cf APPENDIX. »9 licV\tl'!?'-*'" *"*^, P^P'*^'"' ^He fafety of their pfrfons and fami'- n T i * *""'""' ■"'^ «*"•"' welfare, nt of ;J ***' "*''' /'°'°7 '*'■" *!J^y "** ••«*••" •• "»»«»» a« « may think tongreft, at fuch time and place as fhall be ag eed on in the nelt maTca"^^^""/'^^ Only M^here particular cVumftace^do n" make a deviation neceflary, it is underttood to be a rule that cS Ztt7 ^""^T^' •• J° ^ »»«'^ '« » ^'ff«'«"' colonyMdj' the whot ortnelv rr^r «**' "r"^ ^° ih perpetual rotatiJ.; , and thaTat PoWm^^^^^^^^ '^'^"«"'* ''''' *^^ P^'--^'---' ^«" ^« " »t Anna. terliJ^l!** *'** P"T ■"'^ ^^'^'y °^ ^'^^ ^^"gf*^'' ''^all extend to the de- Xnv rf?n''*t®fr"V'**''^r*''"« ''" difputes bctwJ^cn colony and mrVuV '^°"j'* «"^ .^"d the planting new colonies where pro- rSj . ' ^en^al welfare, of which particular affemblics cannot he competent, via. thofe that may relate to our general commerce or fomml'r*"'^';°;i'* eftabUfhLntof pofts, tge regnlaJro/ou XcTJT* '/^V^°"«'*^' «>«» alfo h^e the appointment of al ucST. r„ir? '"J''*"'^J appertaining to the gen?Sil confederacy lucn as general treafurer, fecretary, &c. &c. &c. c,/rred t! ^u^'' °^ ""*'' ,f ^ "" *^^*^" g'^^"^ «P"C" to be in. treaAfrv iK f °'"'"°" ^^•'^"'•e, (hall be defrayed oit of a common numbeTof I^ " u \' ^"^'P"*^'^ ^y *^^^ ^°l°"y' »" proportion Tits Llon^. P''°P°'^'"» a'-'^ to be laid and levied 'by the laws of each bvti^i. Ill* """>'?" «f delegates to be clefted, and fent to the Congref. of fifol n"^* fl»all be regulated from time to time, by the number cLr iP I'*'?T*^' fo as that one delegate be allowed for every aref? P^""* . ^^d the delegates are to bring with them to every Con- grefs an authenticated return of the number of polls in their refpeaive n)lon.es which is to betaken for the purpofe^s above m^nti3 rcturr,;^ T'/ "^"^'"g.°f the Congrefs, one half of the members n^r l' i'i'^"^''' °^ P'^*'"' ^^" ^^ "e«=eff««7 to make a quon.m : fner^'S-^ T/'''i''^.^'*"g''*=^'' "'^^ h^ve a vote in all cafes ; and IZttllJ^T /hall be allowed to appoint any other delegare Jrom the fame colony to be his proxy, who may vote for him. ^ of f^;- *-'^*=*=f' ^'« <^""ncil (hall be appointed by the Congrcfs out intmer" °' I'- ?"^.^^"? °^ '' P^'-^""«^ °f -h°"^ '■" the^firft ap- nZ III r 'J"-^' "^- ^«»'-' «»«" ^'«^ for one year, four for two years, ana miir for th,-ca „^^^ . -^.i ^i . r • . . one ?h 'h f K ^"'u "P ^?; ^PP«'"tments for three years, whereby who h'f *^«,,'"7b«'-« w'll be chofen annually; and each perfon wDo has ferved the fame term of three years as couDfellor, flmll have ajefpite so A P P EN D IX. a refpite of three years, before he can be ele£ted again* Tin's coim- cil, of whom two-thirdi {hall be^a quorum, in the recefsof the Con- grefa, m to execute what (hall have been enjoined thereby ; to manage tlie general continental bufmefs and interells, to receive applicationa from foreign countries, to prepare matters for the coufideratiou of the Congrefs, to fill up, fin tdufiore^ continental offices that fall vacant,, and to draw on the general treafurer for fuch tnoniea as may be ntxef- fary for general fervices, and appropriated by the Congrefs to fuch ferviccs. ^ X. No colony flialf engage in an ofFenfive war with. any nation of Iii«. dians, without the conlent of the Congrefs or great council above- mentioned, \vhf» are firft to confider the jullice and neceifity of fuch war. XI. A perpetual alliance, ofFenfive and defenfive, is to l>e entered into, ao foon as may be, with the Six Nations; their limits afccr- taincd, and to be fecurcd to them ; their lands not to be encroached on, nor any private or colony purchafe to be made of tliem hereafter to be held goodfl nor any contraA for lands to be made, but between the great council of the Indians at Onondega and the general Congrefs. The boundaries and lands of all the other Indians fiiall alfo be afcer- tained and fecurcd to them in the fame manner; and perfons appoint- ed to refide among them in proper diftric^s, who {hall take care to pre- vent injullicc in the trade with them ; and be enabled at our general expence, by occafional imall fnpplies, to relieve their perfonal wan , and diftreffeci ; and all purchafes from them {hall be by the Congt iS, for the general advantage and benefit of the united colonies. XII. As all new inititutions may have impcrfeiftions, which only time and experience can difcover, it is agreed that the Gerteral Con- vrefs, from time to time, {hall propofe fuch amendments of this con- Ititution as may be found neceflary, which being approved by a majo- rity of the colony alTcmblies, {hall be equally binding with the reft of the articles of this confederation. Xni. Any and every colony from Great-Britain upon the continent of North-America, not at prefent engaged in our aflbciation, may, upon application, and joining the faid affociation, be received into the confederation, viz. Q^iebec, St. Johij's, Nova-Scotia, Bermudas, and the Ea{l and Weft Iloridas, and ihall thereupon be entitled to all the advanta^en cf our union, mutual alfiftanee, and commerce. Thefe articles (hall be propofed to the fcveral provincial conventions or aflemblies, to be by them confidcred ; and, if approved, they arc advifed to empower their delegates to agree and ratify the fame in the enfuing Congrefs ; after v hith the union thereby eftab'lilhed is to continue firm, till the terms of reconciliation propofed in the petition of the lail Congrefs to the King are agreed to } till the aAs, fincc made, reftratning the Americm commerce and fifheries, are repealed; till reparation is made for the injury done to Bofion by flnitting up its port ; for burning Charles-Town, and for the experce of this un- juft war ; and till all the Britifh troops are withdrawn from America. On the arrival of thefe events, the colonics are to return to their for- mer connections and friendfhip with Great-Britain ; but on failure thereof, this confederation is to be perpetual. A P P E N D I X. THE follfmiing is a true copy ,)f the P'*}t!.^ r II r. ^ ' /« America; to his MaieZ Jhirhj /'''"'. *^' ^'""""^ Congrefs would be given. ^^"''* '"' ^'rdjhip faiJ, no anfwcr. Scpt.^, ,775. j^.^^,^j p^^^^ Caftle Kent, and ^ ' had ever known. Herfivals oEv L. thrth^'"''"''^'""'^ ^''« ^«^'J th.» happy conneaion being broken Jf dvi S?' 7"" "° Probability of ing Its future effefts, If Icif any w/r undiS^^ her receiving fo continual and fSLhJ. 'iJ^^"^^"^ '** V^^^^^^ ftrength, by^'checking the growth of ttfcL^^^ "''^'"^7 °^ ^"'th and were to be derived. ^ " '^ ietUcmctJM, from which they fhefe colonies, ntertain 5 pleaTnt an 1 T''.^ °^ ^"'^' B"*^'" «"<* ing an additional force anSeSonlm'"^^^ expeaation, of fee. t'ons of the union hitherto Txptfere7t'''^ ^ °P"- crown, and the removal of ancient and -r?t'" '"'^rS*^'"'^-* of the dillance. «»nuent and warlike enemies to a greater At the conclufion, therefore of f i,« 1 * advantageous that ev^r had "en carr edon b?R V^""^ «'°"°"^ ^"'^ colonies, having contributed to itr/ucccf, bl^ l'^ ''*"'^5'°"»- ^"^^^ m.ous exertions as frequently procured fh/^ ^? !l-t''^'l'^ ^"'^ ^''■ ;'on of your.Majefty, of the hrkTnf nnr/ ' t*'"^"'^'^^^ ^PP'""^^- hut that they (houli'be permitted ^htJ ^'r'?*^"'' ^°"b^^d "^t in the bleflings of peace and th/ 1 ^ '^^ "^*^^ ^'"P^'-e* to flftrc While thefeLent'and^onourab^^^^^^^ vidory a'nd conqueiU remained on record in the joSs" a "a X"*'"*' ^^n'^^''' '"^••''» the parliament, undefaced by [he v"l ?' °* '^'' ""^"'^ legiflature, any offence, they were aWmed bv = /^"/T* ^^ '''" the fufpieion of tions. adopted for the adSri^' '''i''^^''*.'^-^^^^^ ^'inds witifthe moft painlTfeat^^^^^^^^ '^'r '°^""'> '^'' «"^^^»»^'> fible altoniWhm.nf I^J: , '/' ^."^ jealoufiM ; and to their inrv^..f ["cceededby ■domelUrinrers"'in"tJ ?"• A ' ^°''''X" ^"^^^*^' l-Wy kind. ■ '*^"^''*' '" the.r judgement of a more dreadful Nor were their anxieties alleviated by any tendency in this fyftem to promote s« APPENDIX. promote the wclfire of the mother-country : for though its effcAi were more immediately felt by them, yet its influence appeared to be inju- rious to the commerce? and profpcrity of Great Britain. We (hall decline the ungrateful taflc of dcfcribing the irkfome variety of artifices praAibd by many of your Majelly's miniilcrs, thedelufive pretences, fruitlefs terrors, and unavailing fcvtritics, which have from - time to time been 'dealt out by them in their attempts to execute this impolitic plan, or of tracing through a fcrics of years paft the pro- rrefs of th« unhappy differences between Great Britain and thefe colo- fnigs, which have flowed from this fatal fource. Your Majetty's mini- ims perfevcring in their meafures, and proceeding to open hoftilities for enforcing them, have compelled us to arm in our own defence, and have j^aged us in a controveriy fo peculiarly abhorrent from the affcftions ffl^Qur ftill faithful colonills, that when we confider whom we mull op- pofc in this coutelt, and if if continues, what may be the confcquence ; our own particular miifortuncs are accounted by us only as parts of our diftrefs. . r • Knowing to what violent refentments, and incurable animofities civil difcords are apt to exafperate and inflame the contending parties, we think ourfclves required by indifpenfable obligations to Almighty God, to your Majelly, to our fellow fuhjedts, and ourfclves, immediate- ly to ufe all the means in our power, not incompatible with our fafety, for flopping the further effufion of blood, and for averting the impenil- jng calamities that threaten the Britifh empire. Thus called upon to addrefs your Majwily on affairs of fuch moment to America, and pro- bably to all your dominions, we are carnelUy defirous of performing this office with the utmoa deference to your Majefty ; and we therefore pra^ that your royal magnanimity and benevolence may make the moft favoutable conftruftions of our expreflions on fo uncommon an occa- fion. Could we reprefent, in their full force, the fentimcnts which agitate the minds of us, your dutiful fubjea?, we are perfuaddd your Majefty would afcribe any fceming deviation from reverence, in our language, and even in our condu«a, not to any rcprehenfible intention, but to the impoffibility of reconciling the ufual appearances of refped with a juft attention to our prefervation againll thofe artful and cruel enemies, who abufe your royal confidence and authority for the purpofe of effcAing our dfllriiiftion. Attachedtoyour Majefty'sperfon, family and government, with all the devotion that principle and affe6\io'n ean infpire, connefted with Great Britain by the ftron^eft ties that can unite focieties, and deplor- ing every event that tends m any degree to weaken them, we fj)lemnl)r ailure your Majefty that we not only moft arJently defive the former har- viony betivm: ker and thefecolonies maybe rettored, h\xX.\^t\.^ concord may he efiabliped between them upon fo firm a bafis as t(/ prepetuatc its blcffings uninten-uptcdby any future diffentions to fucceeding genera- tions in both countries : to tranfmit your Majefty's name to pottcnty, adorned with that lignal and lafting glory that has attended the mcinon- of thofe illiillrioiis perfonages, wiiofe virtues and abilities have extricated tlates fron; danc-eruus convulfions, and by fecuring happincfs to others, have APPENDIX ...e^&^of'^f-i:;:; Siris^- "-'■•<-•"•<•.»<';»« controverTy, our breafts mi?nT ♦' 4 ^ *^* ^°"'^«= of the prefent from wHicl; we deS^^ our ^^^^^^^ /^^ f- the k^tm tn.ghtmaMymannerbeincon£fw;^l,T5, ,^ ^conciliation, as related as wi are to her, ZTurTndtt'^^^^^^^^ ^^ f^ryef/arr. Thefc u» to fupport and advance ; andthe JIJA T""!^"^''""^^^^ •"'luce hearts, with unfpeakable .r cf b in !£ l^''''^^"' '^^' '"^"^ opprefs oSr your faithful fuijeas, on^thL coSn Sr'^:,'''?,';,'^^j^''^y -'" filLf ai they have ever been, with tS?v "s ^n^i^^^ '''^\' «* '«" ^'^^T -the ri,ht. and interefts <:^";^&'::^ f:::'^^:^!^ • tS "«^ '^ad^y^^^^^^ t ^^'^ -^^^ -^-'^^ -^ y affl.-aing fears anSjcalouficsorS«/k T^;":*^ "' ^ch'cf from our and to fettle peaci thr^gi ,±"^^^^^^^^ humility fubmStlnff to vou. mI^T^ ^, ^^ '^"'" '^''^'"•on* J with al «ay not be ^^xnedlc^ foSS^^^^ confideration. ihX ' t Majefty may L plca4d td^rl^ /^^ J f portant purpofes, that your tlona of your faitlkful co]Ztt^'/Zf ^? ^^''5 '*»'^ ""^'^^ «PpE moh councils may be 111.^^^^ n - k"'' ^^ r"rf"^«cr of th,;.Vcom. tlon ; and that in thJS.^me L«n ^^^"Ip'^^'^^"'^"' r^'^'icSS. further d.ftrudion of ThriillTnr '^L''" *.***^ ^^'^ P»-^<^«i'Tg the [uch ftatutes as mcn-eYmm^d S/ ^"J'?5^'' ^"^J^^"' and^thaj be repealed. For by fuTar3. ? ^"^ '^^5^°°'" M«Jefty's colonic, ft>m,*^for cDlleaing^he um-ted l«r?' '' J'^J^Majeft^'s lt(dmT,* oonvljced your M?|efty i" |d felf f^^ rtft'^ W^^> -^ a^ " Afpofittonof the colonffts toivafl heir tL ' '^^"Z^. P'"°^'''» °f thd that the wlflied-for onnortimJM, ij L^^^'^'S" and thepareht.fta> the fincerity of theK„So„^^tl^ '''^^^ *° *^^^' ^^ -'«c! 2 coming the moft faithKfc ^IdZV^'TJ- "^ d^otfon b.! That yowr Majefty mayeS; lonl L"^^.f'^^°"^*^ ^«^««'ft«. your defccndents may govern theft. dn!.f- ^'"^PfT'' ''^S^> ^''d that felves and happi„efs^foX^fS,?er, •"'' ''^'}^°^<^^^ to them- prayer. '^^^ ""^"^ ^"bj««s, is our fmcerc and fervent l|y..v..>., ^no.Cu/fing P^/^T^^r." ^Majfachtifett't f^'^^'"uel Adams. X^^^nti^t- n^s, S John Adnma iy. { Jfhn Adams. I Treat Paine. ( Eli'i ■ I Roger Sherman. OlIasDcane. Pen/j/hanta. CCscfar Rodney. - JTho. M'Keau. CGco. Read. 'JohnDlckenfon. B<:nia. FrankHn. George Rofs. { James WiJfon. j Charf-cs Wiifon, I Car. Humpljrey5. , l£dward Biddle. H Maryland* y$rginiA A P P E N B I X. m !afoiifM* (Mat. TilghmaQ. ^ho. Johnfon,/«. WilUam Pace. Samuel Chafe. Tb' mas Stone. rP, Henry, /«. R. HeniyLee. Edm. Fmdleton. Benj. Harrifon. ^Ttom. Jefferfon. IH. Middlctown. Tho. Lynch. Chopr. Gaefdcn. J. Rutledge £dw. Rutledge. Nfw Tork. ' jVlfw \Jerfey* N» Gareliiia* 'W. LIfIrigal «,»ired b, L Joint ams of G "atfifit^L andlSfcnrUrr/* tere7';?o£r;r"^te^^^ liamenf, that colotSils X;.-H -.t ? ^"" '''"''^'^ '" P"- Mb.knfportXXtTobTld!''"'"''"""* "'^■' "f'""" :.idSd?°&r:rr/Js «iJ caics whatever' Wh.f ;- ^^ j-r._j° "rY' '•' ""J" us^in ifnjlimite4 whatever. N^t » r^ 1° "'^r "' ^S'""^ f<> cnormou., fo N9t a fipgk man of vhgfc whg affumc it is cho LPl fea 26 A i p t N i I £ fen by us, or is fubjedl to our controul or influence ; but on tbe con trary, they are «U of them exempt from the operation of fuch laws i and an American revenue, if not diverted from the oitenfible pur- pofcs for/which it it raifed, would aftually lighten their own burdens, in proportion as they increafe ours. We law the mifery to which fuch deipotifm would reduce us. We for ten years inccflantly and inef- feAually befieged the throne as fupplicants ; we reafOned, we remon- ftratcd with parliament in the molt mild and decent language. But adminiftration, fenfible that we (hould regard thefe oppreffive meafurcs as freemen ough^ to do, fcnt over fleets and armies to enforce them. The indignation of the Americans was roufed, it is true ; but it was the indignation of a virtuohs, loyal, and affedionate people. A con- grefs of delegates from the united colonies was Aflembled at Philadel- phia, on the cth day of laft September. We rcfolved again to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the King, and aHb addreifcd our fellow fubjefts of Great- Britain. We have purfued every temperate, every refpeftful meafure ; we have even proceeded to break off" our commercial intercourfe with our fellow fubjcdsk as the laft peaceable admonition, that our attachment to no nation upon earth would fup- plant our attachment to liberty. This, we flatter ourfclves, was the ultimate flcp of the controverfy ; but fubfequent events have ftiewn how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies. Several threatening expreflions againft the colonies were inferted In his Majefty's fpeech. Our petition, though we were told it was a decent one, that his Majcfty had been pleafed to receive it ffracioufly, and to ptomife laying it before his parliament, was huddled into both houfcs amongft a bundle of American papers, and there neglefted. The Lords and Commons, in their addrefs, in the month of February, faid, • that a rebellion at that time aftually exifted within the province of Maflachufett's-Bay ; and that thofe concerned in it had been coun- tenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by his liSjefty's fubjefts in feveral of the other colonies; and therefore they befought his Majefty that he would take the moll effeftual meafures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of thefupreme leeiflaturc.' Soon after the commercial intercourfe of whole colonies, with foreign countries and with each other, was cut off by an a' """''''"S his Mlnilleri.l MaLs, by a pro JroffeftZfl^'T^ i'^'r '>' '''^ ^«y of June, after sJting^lL grofftft falflioodi and caluraiues againft the good people of thefe colo- to be rebels and traitors, to fuperfede the courfe of the common law htZn^v'^'T^''"'^^^^^^ '""''''^ and^r^^^f the aw martial. -_H,3 troops have butchered our countn^men ; have wan- fioire,^'"'l"^""":i '^'S=^- ccnfiderableni?mbe;;f Cirr" other places ; our (hips and vcfTcls are fei/ed 5 the necefTarv fupplics of fpre^ldeV^o-'^^Tr'' -^ »- - ---^'"g »- utmoll p'owcv o iprcaa deitiuclion and dcvaftatinn arovnd h'lr We have received certain imeIlip;ence,"*Jhat General Carleton, thr Governor of Canada, is inftigating the people of that province and th' Indiaa tr 98 APPENDIX. Indiini to fall upon us 1 and w« I- vc but too much reafon to appre- hend, that fchcmet have been formei to excite domeftic enemies againft us. In brief, a part of tbcfe colonies now feels, and all of thent are fare of feeling, as far as the. vengeance of adminiilratioii can infli^ them, the complicated calamities of Rre, fword, and famine. We •re reduced to the alternative of chufing an. unconditional fubmiflion to the tyranny of irritated minifters, or refiilance by force. The latter is our choice. We have counted the coR.of this conteft, and find nothincr fo dreadful as voluntary flavery. Honour, juftice, and humanity fi.,bid us tamely to furrender that freedom which we received from our gallant anceftors, and which our innocent pofterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of rcfigning fucceeding generations to that wretchedntfs which inevitably awaits tnem, if we bafclyintail hereditary bondage upon them. Our caufe is juil : Our union k perfedl : Our internal refources are preat, and, if neceflary, foreign aflillauce is undoubted!;^ attainable. We gratefully acknowledge, as fignal inftances of the divine favour towards us, that his Providence would not permit ua to be called into this fevere controverfy, until we were grown up to our prcfent ftrength, had been previoufly exercifed in warlike operations, and poflclfed of the means of defending ourfelvcs. With hearts fortified with thefe animating reflections, we moil folemnly before God and the world declare, that, exerting the utmoft energy of thofe powers which our beneficent Creator hath graciouHy bellowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemieii to afTume, wc will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabated firmnefa and perfeverance, employ for the prcfervation of our liberties, being with one mind refolvcd to die free- men rather than to live (laves. Left this declaration (hould difquiet the minds of our friends and fellow-fubjeCls in any part of the empire, we aflure them, that we mean not to diffolve that union which has fo iong and fo happily fub> fifted between us, and which we fincerely wi(h to fee rcftored. Ne- ceifity has not yet driven us into that dclperate meafure, or induced us to excite any other nation to war againil them. We have not raifed armies, with ambitious defigns of feparating froni Great-Britain, and cftabliOiing independent ftates. We fight not for glory, or for con- c|ueft. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable fpe^aclc of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation, or even fufpicion, of offence. They boaft of their privileges and ci'dllization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than fervitudc or death. In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birth- right, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it } for the proteftion ,of our property, acquired folcly by the honeft induilry of our forefathers, and ourfelves > aeainft violence aftually offered, wc have taken up arms. We fhall lay them down when hoftilities fhell ccafe on the part of the aggreffors, and all dangers of their being re- newed (hall he removed, and not before. With an humble coiihdcnce in the incrctcs of the fupreme and impar- tial judge and ruler of the univerfe, w€ moft devoutly implore his di- vine APPENDIX. gv vtne goodnefi to cqndua u. happilv throngh this ffrtat ^^«fl-A \- pofc our aaverrarictoreconcilfatio'n on «^al„.Kl. J^* u^^J' to rchevc the empire from the caU.nitiel Tf dvH wir ' "^ ^^''^^^ Philadtljthiat 7u/y 6. tjje 7 Sjl order of the Congref,:' \ JOHN HANDCOCK. /»r./y*»,. ^'/€/?. CHA.ti, THOMFiOH. ^^r/Z^ry. J»l7 4. 1776. '^**'^*''^^' '" '"""« Co.o.H. ,/„w,i •cord nriy all e»Dtrltn<-, l,«l,\. '°'^, ''«»• ""d tranfient caufn ; ,„§ Ihc forms to whic" ther^re a Jc^^l? "g"-; ">™fel.« by abolilhing •Icfipn to reduce them under affolote defUiL ij;. T?' T"' i» their duty, to throw offfuch ffover„3;J ' j ! "' V?'"' " thefe Stais, To orotT.!;, ,!? 1?!:!;^'".^?.°^''" f^^^^"**^ tyranny over He has refufed "his afTent'to l.wT.r '""S'" u *l V" ^ ^^n^id ^vorjd. for the public good. *^*= "'*'^ wholefome and neceffary 3® A P F E N D I X. He has^ forbidden hi& ^overnor& to pafs laws of immediate andpref- fing importance, unlefs fuipended in their operation till his aflfent ftiould' be obtained ; and, when fo fufpendcd, he has utterly negkaed to at- tend them. . He has refufed to pafs other laws for the accommodation of large diftrias of people, unlefs thofc ptpople would relinquifti the rights of rcprefcntation in the legiflature ; a right ineilimable to them, and for- midable tt) tyrants only. , r » He has called together legiflatlve bodies at places unutual, uncom- fortable, and diftant from the depofitory of their public records, for the • fole purpQfeof fatiguing them into compliance ^ith his meafures. He has diffolved Reprefcntativs Houfcs re^^caiedlyj for oppofing vith manly firmnefs, his invafions on the rights of the people. He has refufed, for a long time after fuck diffolution, to caufe other* to be erefted ; whereby the legiflatlve powevs, incapable of annihilation have returned to the people at large for their exerclfe ; the State re- maining in the mean time ex^fed to all the dangers of invafi«n from without, and convulfions within. ^ r »• /> o c He has endeavoured to prevent the population of theie States; tor that purpofe obllruaing the laws for naturalization of foreigners, re- fufing to pafs others to encourage their emigrations hi'.hcr, and raifing the conditions of new appropriations of lauda, r r- . • /r He has obAruaedthe adminiilration of jnfticcby reftifing hisallent tolawsforeftablilhing judiciary powers. He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure ot their offices, and the amount and paymer^t of their falaries. He has creaed a multitude cf new offices, and fent hither fwarms ot officers to harrafs our people, and eat out their fubfiftance. ^ ^ He ha.i kept amon^ us in times of Peace Handing armies, without theconfent of ourlegiflaturea. i- j r • Hfchas affeaed to render the miritai7 independent of, andlupenor to, the civil power. , , ^ . tj-a- e • „ He bas combined with others, to fubjea us to ajurifdiaion foreign toour conftitution, and unacknowledged b^our laws, giving his affent to their pretended aas of legiflation :— Fur quartermg large bodies ot armed troops among us :— For proteaing them, by.a mock trial, from puaiftimcnt for any murders which they fhould commit on the inhabitants of tlufc States.— For cutting o{F our trade with all parts of the world: —For impofinff taxeaupon us without our confent :— For depriving us, in many cafes, of the benefit of trial by jury :-For tranfporting us beyond fea-5 to be tried for pretended offences : -For aboldhing the frt^ fyftem of Kngliih laws In a neighbouring province, eilabhlhmg therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries fo as to render it at once an example and fit inttrument for introducing the fame abfolutc rule into thcfe colunicsV— Fur taking away our charters, abo- llfliinu our mod valuable hiws, . and altering fundamentally tlie forms ot our r-Qv^rn.r.f.nts :_For f-ifoenaiue our own legiflaturcs, and declaring themfelves Inveika with power to legiUate for us in all cafes wi.ai- foevtr. jjg APPENDIX. 3, .3' ^^' f^^'cated government here by dedarinjr U8 out of U',. teftion, and waging war with iis. , ^ "'" P"»* Hehasplunderedour feaa, 'ravaged our t?oa«9 W»» ^ . deftroyed the hves of our people ^ * ^ °"'' *°^'"' ^^^^ toc?4L::;l;i':;rk\:?taTh'l "^^'^^ f-ignme^enpHe., n^oft Urbarous ages, and totally unUif, the^^o't'cil^n^J^ l^a^fl^tc^'J^iXl!:!:::^ -Pf-- the high theWrlends and breC ^To fJSlnL^ fbTtldA^^^^^^ He has excited domcftic infurrcaions amongft m In/hl . <^d to bnng on the inhabitants of our frZicrlt ! meit 1°^^'^^^^^ vages, whofe known rule of warfare ll7n ZaI- "'^'^^''^ » ^"dian fa- «f all ages, fexee, and conditions ^"^^^^^^S^^ihcd d^Hrui^ioa by repeated injury. A PrL^ v L^f T' ^^^^ e^aa which^^aie ^^^.I^t^^ ^^^^^^^ conjureS^he. by thr^'ef o7 ^ut coUl'S^^'^t' 'dT^ ^^^'^7 ufurpations, which would inevitably iliteTm. ' to difavow tJiefe refpondeiKe. They too have WnV/rT """' "^^^ and cor- fan'guinity. We IZt flT.tS^^^^^^^^ nounces our feparation md hnU ^^^"'*''*=^ '" ^^^ neceffity which de- enemies in warf in peace frienSs "'. "' ^"'^ '^^ ''^^^ ^^ "^^n^-d, AVe, therefore, the Reprelentatives of the Ur^^^d q*,. r a . ca, in Genera Con^refs aiTemM^ri . v ^^['^"^ 'States of Amcn- of the world forthf re^u^fy' '^??''"^ ''^^^^ ^"F'^'"- JUDGE by the authority of thf^oodlnn^^^^ in the na.ne, and Iin» and declare tLtthefe!?;itol„^^^ TRKE AND IN-DEPENDENT STAtpc n l!. ' , ^ "§''^ ^'"g^t tO be allegiance to the Bn'ti^ Q^rn^d t "all ^I.-^'^'^^"'/^^^ tween them and the State of CrLtf I- • ^ l'**''*^ conneaions be- d'fTolved ; and that as f c li^h d .end"". S '"^ ^"^'^' '° ^^' totally to levy war, conclude peace l.tdl" '7 f 7 '^'^^ ^""P^^^'' to do all other ads and thlL^ • f :'" '*"*-'^^» ^^ft'^^hrh commerce, and do. And for he io o1^TJ3td T"^ -^X "^ rigi? the proteaion of Divfne Pro. • 1 ^'^'^'"''"t'O". with a lirm reliance oa ^^^^^^^o.r^^^ to each othe^^: Q .. -_. — ^.j .,„„ ^^.^ iicnciit J JOHN HANDCOCK, i ^//^. Charles T H o M p SON, Secretary, 3« APPENDIX. Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the Stdtet of Ncw-Hamplhire, Maffachurett's Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connedlicut» New-York, PcnfjrWania, the Counties of Newcaftle, Kent, and SufTex, on Delaware- River, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South-Carolina, Georgia* N. B. Thefc articles of Confederation, after having been long weigh- ed and- dlfcuffed, line byline, in the Congrcfs, were at length re- folved upon and figned by all the Delegates, the 4th of Odober, 1776, at Philadelphia, fuch as they .arc here fet forth ; and in con- fequence were immediately fcnt to the other States to be confirmed by them. ARTICLE I. The Thirteen States above mentioned, confederate themfelves under the title of The United States of America, II. They contraA, each in their own name, by the prefcnt confti- tution, a reciprocal treaty of alliance and fricndlhip for their common defence, for the maintenance of their liberties, and for their general and mutual advantage ; obliging themfelves to affift each other againft all violence that may thrtaten all, or any one of them, and to repel in <;ommoii all the attacks that may be levelled againft all or any one of them, on. account of religion, fovereignity, commerce, or under any otherpretext whatfoever^ , , , , , - . , r III. Each State refcrves to themfelves alone the exclufive nght of regulating their internal government, and of framing laws in all matters that arc not included in the articles of the prefcnt Confederation, and which cannot any way prejudice the fame. - -^ IV. No Sute in particular fliall either fend or receive embaffics, begin any negociations, contraa any engagements, form any alliances, conclude any treaties with any king, prince, or pow^r whatfoever with- out the confent of the United States, affembled in General Congrefs. No perfon, invefted with any poft whatever under the authority of the United States, or of stay of them, whether he has appointments belonging t!9iiis employment, or whether it be a commiffion purely con- fidential,^^ ft«l,Tl be allowed to accept any prefents, gratuities, cmolunients, nor any offices or titles of any kind whatever, from any kings, pnnces. or foreign powei-s. . And the General Afferably of the united States, nor any State in particular, (hall not confer any title of nobility. V. Two, nor feveral of the faid States, Ihall not have power t© form alliances or qonfederatione, nor conclude any private treaty among themfeWes, without the confent of the United States aflembled m General Congrefs, and without the aim and duration of that P"vatc convention be exaftly fpccified in the confent. „ , ..^ , . VI. No State fhall lay on^ any impofts, nor cllabliih any duties whatever, the effcd of whicb might alter dlreaiy, oc indiredtly, the daufes of the treaties to be concluded, hereafter by the Affembly ol " ' klntrs rjrlnce?^ or nnwer whatfoever. pt by any of the faid States, in particu- above the number judged neceP— ^^ .1 TT_;^-J C*_»..n ..^t^U tin^r «iC \J!--- There lar, any vcflcls or fhips th« r common E N D i. 3S A P P _ „ „ «ny of the fafd States, a^y troop above'^^h. ''^k '"J""" "^ P^«" by Affembly of the United StU sTol^rd tL"ftf " ^r^'"^^ ^^ 'he ceffary for the defence of that Statfe h.ft ? c "^ ^1^^^" °»' ^°«« nc- a well difciplined militia, Saently a' med 'r^ ^*"*' "«'way,keep -careful to procure, and keeTnZanTl/j'^^'PPu'^' ""^ «»«» b« -ine3, a fufficient number o7 field pie^^^^^^ *'^. ?«P"Micmaga. ^'^y °V-S"«»tion and impllTnt's of ;:f ''"''' "^'^ '^ P^P" ^''^Y number of white people ftall be dW^^^ '1 ^ '^^ numeration the maUbefenttothe^Almblylf'Thf u:^eT^^^^^ '^^^ — tion :the e^roVeSTtr^^^^^^^ belaid and levied i„ body, within the time fixL\y the aS'i"'* Tt^^^ '*" '^g'^^tivc ^ X. Each of the faid Statelflwll fl -^ l^ V^^ ^"'^^ States. ' fembly of the United Statef n Jl m- '° '^' ^'''^'°''' ^^^ ^be Af- ■''xr^i^^T''''^ ^^otSSeratir^-' '^^^^^ - S.f.h J:^-:^-^-:- ^ t^e .nrent of the United ' enemy, or f.om a certai^knowS of n r°l ^'^"^^ '"^^-fi^n of fome , dian nation to attack them and in^f-h I refoJution taken by fome In- is too urgent to allow te^\i^e o '^'^f'^^y' i" which the danger No particular State S ^ ve = """^"'^1^^^ ^ber States. of war! nor any letLs o "m^ l^^^rr'n " •*,? 7^^^' ^ <^^'»- "^'P^ war mad. by the Aflembly "f the United^st ' ^" ^^'' ' ^"^^^"*'^« ^*" they (hall be granted only againft the kt^^' ' '? '''" '" *^*' "^^ the fubjeAs of the kingdo^, or of the^ "^ "''^^ P^^^"-' ^--^g^'^'l have been fo declared i^uTC] Lt ^'''^7 l?^'"^^ .which wa?ihall the regulations made b^ the'mS ;t/Th;aitl'^'^ ^'j^^^' " Al. In order to wat.h ««,...♦», "^ * "-"f ^mteti titates. by the certain number of dde^atrr, 7 ^"'^//f '"'''tive body ol «.ral Affemblyof :f S.t^^" ^^f P^^^^^^lpb egiflative bodyof eacliSt CEJ ate, a n n 1 ^,"r"ia until the Gc- niall have ordered otherwifc ; and ^li ke APPENDIX. r firft Monday in November of each year, fliall be the aera fixed for their meeting. Each of the above mentioned States ftiall'prcf'. I've, the right and power to recall^ at any time whatever of the year, the»V delegates, or any one of them, and to fend others in the room of them fdf the' remain- der of theyekr ; J^nd e^jch of the faid States Ihall maintain tHefr dele- gates during the' time cf the General Affembly, and al£c> didring the time they (liall be members of the uiouncil of State, of which faiention fhall be made hereafter. , ' . XI it Each State fhall have a vote for the dccifidn of queftiotis in the General Aficmbly. XIV. The General Affembly of the United States, fhall alone and exclunvely have the right and pov^er to decide of peace md war, ex- cept in the cafe, mentioned in artide XI.-— to eflablifh rules forjudging in aj? cafes the legitimacy of the prizes taken byfea or land,, and to de- termine the manner in which the prizes taken by the fea orhnd forces, in tlie fervice of the United States, fhaH be divided or employed ;— to grant letters of inarque or reprifal in time of peace ; — to aj>point tri- bunals to take cognizance of piracies, and all other capital crimes committed oil the high feas ;— to eflablifh tribunals to receive appeals, and ju(^ge,finally in all cafes of prizes ; — to fend and receive ambafTa- dovs ; — 'to negociate and conclude treaties and alliances — to decide all dlfTerences actually fubfifling, and that may arife hereafter between two or fcveral of the aforementioned States, about limits, jurifdiftion, .or any other caufe whatfoever }-i~to coin money, and fix its value and flandnrdj— to fix tbe weights and mcafures througout the whole extent of the United States : — to regulate commerce, and treat of all affairs with the, Indians who are not members of any of the States j — to eflablifh and regulate the polls from one State to another, in the whole extent of the United States, and to receive on the letters and packets fent by poft, the neceffary tax to defray the ex- pence of that ellablifiiment; — to appoint the general officers of the land forces in the fervice of the United States ; to give commiffions t» the other officers of the faid troops, who fhall have been appointed by virtue of article VIII j — ^to appoint all officers of marine in the fervice of the United States,;— to frame all the ordinances neceffary for the government and difci^line of the faid land and fea forces ; and to direft their operations. • \ The General Affembly of the Urift^id States fhall be authorifed to appoint a Council of State aud fuclt comrtiitees an ' civil officers as they fhall judge neceftaryfbr guiding and difpatchi ig the general affairs, under thplr authqrity, whAfl they remain fitting j dnd^after their fcparntiort, under the authority bf the 'Council of Stiate.-i— They fhall chufe for prefident one of their members, and for fecrctavy the ^erfon whom they fhall ju(igc fit for that place ; and they may adjourn at What time In the year, and to what place of the United Stated they fhall think proper. — They fhall have the right and power to determine afnd lixthefum neceffary to be raifcd, and the difburfments neceffary to be made: to borrow money, and to create bills on the credit of the United States — to build and fit out fletts ;— to determine the tiimber j flf troops ta be raifed or kept in pay ;— and to require of each of the ■ ' . ,. afor I a" p p' E n'd IX. J«(n.mW„ «...! I.. ...■'■?""'" .'T— J h* remiTht.ons of the G I to the AlTeraHv (hall lV»T,;^"i''""'""'jT~"' "'^" requTfitions of the General e.chSttte/S.11 • '^l "'"' .'" "^""f'q"'"" the le<;il!at!v, body if eSne,? Zr '^' and tbefe oftcera ,nd foUJcrs, thus arrt.d and CJeS\£',,r;^'«"' '" %pi-c, andvvJty. the time fix.d bv the thecontrarir ;„,i •* "^"^^^V^'^ ^n=in tcir contingent, and fliou d un r- rairVd nrnv H.r "f "!•* '"' '''^^'' e.tm. >.d[.K,. v demanded fhall £r «1W P'°' *^^^ -^'t^ ^*=^^-8 armed .rd eq.mm.d n the fame man- ?d^ne4ou3 f° ttrV^ ^^'l"'^'^'"". ^-^ hav,b.en made, (hould deem indTnS ir \\ ll; 'r ^^l'-^^"^*^ «f that nnmher extraordinary, paflb^ i th fh'- 7f^'" ^"'■!1''^ "° more than what theythink com- SnfptfL In^ and the officers and fold iers fo raifed and aSiJ. ^ '"^ '^'' P'"" ""^ ^'*^'" ^^= *>"»^ li'^^^d by the General of ta'ro^r"''^ A^embly fhall never engage in any war, nor ^rant letlers iZLe ,•: 7 ^""^^«^'o"«'. "cept to make .ptac., nor coin money or regulate ,u value, or determine or fix the fums ne.cfTary to be railed; or thedu'buria.ents neceffary to be mad, for the defencelr adva.Uag'e ^ f the U.utcd States or of fome of them, n,„- create bi]l8, nor borrow ^Zrn 7f of the United States, nor dlipofe of'anyfun.s of .oranioL?. """!''" ^'^'''o^ps to be raifed for land or fea ferilce. *or appoint a commander or chief of the land or fea forces, but by the umted co„f,„j ^f ^f ^j^^ g^^.^^^^ ^^^ no c.ueftion on any poin rermfrS b'.'^'P' '^' ^.^J^^^J^ng from one d|iy to another, (halbbe de- termmed but by a ma|ority of the United States. No delegate (hall be chofen for more than three years out of fix. tK^'r^wV"^ -"^r^^' «»y -'P^ploymeht Avhatever in the extent of bv liimr 1? ^*^te«, and receiving, by virtue of that employment, either wL« 'l^' *^''°T^ *^' ^'"-^^ of anyothef forhim; anyfalaries, w^ges, ejmoluraFnts whatever, (hall be chofen a ddeeate. feffinn! '^^ Aflembly fivall publllh every monih a journal of their aH^^nc "*^^Pt^^I^M^aIl.relate to treaties, alliances, or mlKtury oper- Avilf ' ^u " '' .^?'^ ^PP'*' ^"v^'^^^^ t^^^ thefe matters n'* -M'ifil:M- The Moll Chrlftian Kine and thelTni't*.^ «?*,♦— ^* m . * . io nvif, New.Hampfhire, Maffach.fettSa^^ cut, New.Jerfey,|enfyIvania, B^^Z^Zyi^ZvA^^ Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia hJl^^l- \'^S'""' North- hr^t .he p.aoe'^„i.h France/^thlt; d^t hoVniti tl' 'bTL^" ''' her commerce and navigation in « i* "OKUities, or by hindennir Bntam, dur nc the continnanrp «f ^u r "*^*^" r ranee and Great iStates Jnd I^nl^He M^i;^:^^S\3S^S t^^ ;t a common caufe, and aid e^Mli^r mutual yStheirlSffl' he.r councils, and their forces, according to t'he ext^^^^^^ • tures, as becomes good and faithful allies! ^^'S^^^yof conjunc- % li. The effential ^nd dired end of the tjrefent def^nR^* ,ii- IH. The two coutn,ai„g parties ffiall each on its own part, and in t). 3* A P FEND IX. ^ht maaaer it iriay judge moflf proper, make nil the efforts in ijts powcc •gainil the common enemyf in order to attain the end propofed. . I¥. . l^he contra^ing parties agree» that in caie either of them ihoufd form a particluar cntcrprize in which the concurrence, pf the 9tber may be defired, the party whofe concurrence Is defired,i ihe fQlcpurpofie of deftroying them, without anl'wcriiig any fiid. The next evidence was Major-General Grey, who Icrupltd not to ^ive hi« opinioo as often as called tor ; and among other things lie laid, in order to ihew that the Comtnandc-r in Chief could not <«d^ance with that rapidity which mi|;ht have been expeded after vidorieE, that the country waa fofuU of wood$, convenient for {unbufcades, and atfurded {b many advantageous fituations for difputing tlie pafl'age of an ainsy that the Rebels might hav« difputcd every hundred yards of ground. Sir Andrew Hammond of the Navy, being next called by L«r«l Howe, who found hinifelf obliged to call upon tliia Officer, in order Jw Spofe his evidence to the ipiputatioa thrown out again ll Sir William owe by X.«•> The next evidence was Colonel Montrofcr, who afted as chief Engi- neer in America ; he, in anfwer to queftions propofed,' obferved, that the lines on Long Ifland were fo very ftrong, that, the morning they were evacuated, it was with great difficulty that he and a corporal s pay trole of fix mca could get into them to view them. They were find- A P: HiiL N D V X. 4, d^go«ci I fd were all the worJct he faw rai{«d .by tht Rubdi. but no* judicaufly executed. The woik* cuuld not be taken by aflault or ftprmT they called for regular approachei. It would be aforkwi hope tbcom- mit naked «w to llorm redoubts, without faftinei, fcalinff Itfider*. 6^ If they had attempted, and got poOeffion of the iheefn^djate ^rt ci on the flasks were hti were evacuated itt;the nighJ of the 2§tfa and he difcovwcd it at four o clock the next wotning, with the patrole already mentioned. He faw the rear embarking,* and fevtj bo^ (four or five) paffing over to York-illand, The bringing upfafdncT ladders. &c^ would have been the work of fonie hours ; and if they were i?u I ** "°* '*''"'' ^''*^ '*'^ ''''" couJii be taken by aflault. with, ou^thc hazarding a defeat, or at leall puri^haling a vidtory very dearlV and by a great luisof live»-~nor in anyihanner in his opinion/ btit H regular approaches. 1 i- "»«. wy Relative to Wa/hington '8 pofition, in the mountain above Quibble- ton, he d,d not think it advifable to force its oamp^ He thoujrht the ""t! ;?*^S" S^^^^y outweighed the probability of fuccefs. , The General could take no new pofition, to draw Wafhinetgn from hi. camp, without manifett haaard ; the ex{xi»fing pf Kew^Yorkl or of being cut off from his communications both with that citv-^md th* new-rtveh „ . , / ««a tnc xxT^v*' "It' ^"^^^^^^^ examined was Mr Mackeniie, Secretary to ' Sie William Howe, relative to certain letters he had received ; theon«.wa» trom t^n. Bungoyne to Sir Wflliam^ acqcaintiughifrEncellertcy of hia arrival before Ticonderago }. that he only waited for fome heavyHanil, Jery, -which was detained by contrary winds, and prevented vjeffela 4^ croUth* lakes to open batteries, againft that fortr«fs.; that aa foon a* lie fhould be matter of it, he would leave engineers, behind him, to But rtiB aa impregnable ftaite ^ that he had bcenjoincdby alarge Jod* of 11 «Vf"*^*''P*^***^'"''^*»'K^'^5 that hfi intended to advance with a« pojfible expedition to Albany; and that he was happy to inform his Excellency, that the eneniyi did not fcem to have the leaftfofpicioij ot any further objeft of his expedition than the redudion of '1 icon- derago....Thi8ktterarrived atNaw Yorkiheayth of July, 17771 and was anfwfcrednjy Sir William Howe tfee lame day, which was the lall but one before the army failed from NeW-York j the anfwer was, that he had heard of the furrendcr of Ticonderago 5 that he was goina^ the louthward upon an expedition, which he thought would be a diver- hoom favour of the northern army ; that if Wafliington (hould go to the north, and Gen. Bureoyne could keen him at ha^o«- a«rl,;i, k- 4?"ii.^'"'*°l^ "^^^^ "^ doubt but he fhould arrive tim'e enough to hem Walhington m : m the mean time he had givea inftruaionato Sir Henry L F 3 Clinton 4* A P F E N' 15 V X. Cfinton tAiftike ^rf dtverfion U his f»ower is favour <»fth;oJ.% . X^ • iisf-'i.'it''- { Tf ■I MI 1 11 h'<6TjJ;»|.34tl(|;i: •a!>i .iia u ,,^,„,, , .S'^n^trD lfia.)(T,iij /i' Svi4eHf0 '(»p4f>€ GandJd Sxpeditihiffi' ukcfur the ComfMiiJjff»(0»Mta\ ..;..,. . .' J , Burgoyne. • l^^fci lu. The evldenceon the part of Lord and Sir Will i«im Howe being clofed, Genera tfiurgoyne informed the Committee, that he had fuih- tltUUWUl yi) ii=nv ._ .1— , -ay ^.y'A^%<^A4^ ^ft «'Uu4- t*hiivt) f\P >liA «snmiii'\r •tT-C UVIVS-illt-V vs •"i- W hich (Teltvtred to the^ Canada expedition; he- then dcfued Sir Guy Carlefon might be called in. Generjil 0«ntfal A^. B F t N D IX, 43 al Bufgoyue afked him a great number of qatflioot. TkJ fpea »«.i^ adled under h.s command ? To wHch Sir Gi.v mjfid fp«.re of artSHery proper forthe eaped.tioirto force *i.W"oAZ.«^f and, he a«fwcr. proved the ptoprirty of C.en«rri BUittJa^f^r/J w.th him the t^ain that he did fttTm Ticoij«ieTa|ro. ?^ ? ^^^''^K I» reg»rd to General Burijoyndi ordert frort home, beitiff a/ltM if they vr.r,p,^^ptei.^ for hi* to fotxchia war to AwTSl^i^nJ he d.d not chufe to anfwer beinjr matter of opinion, '^ ^ ** ***""' 1 1»* tarl of BclL-arrn«, commandar of tht^ BntUh hffht-infiiatnr hA der the late BrJKadlcr Genei^al Frarer, waa calW^i.!, ^^ ""*"»Ttt4. Iht points that General Burgoyne, who opfened the' #.««:* .• w.flu.^toeftablin.byLordI',.lc«rri'«ev;den.eJ^^^^^^^ im aritty inore artillery than uas deemed neteffarv'bv hV, S.-ff ^ ^ that hi had uot croffed the Hudluh's rivVr conu^y to^l e onfntv. /?* Gcuera Officers ; that the rebel army uarb«veVnum3 7^^^^ ot a polIib;lity of retreating or advanciaw. ■ manow iTie arniv was perfectly latisned with their General a rnn^..A • aa.^ anci in every inlLnce. both beft>re and " r r thelal;^^^^^ Lord Belcan-as fatd, that when Col. Kingfton return^ Vonrcln r 1?' ., jv,th thi, pH^pofal.-that th. Br,ti(h troSp. fl^ol 1^ dTn tC^'^^^^^^^ m their trenches, anc' march out pnfoner. of tva.- a.^u t'ltirantia im^''' ''T'^' '-''' ''''^^"' '-yiTh^ v-^d no^";t\T^^^^^ fo dUhonourablc ,1 treaty ! that having afterwards r>twn^dfL^!!'i hat wprc figged, the Council of W.r hfd u„ani^ufl';'Stem! the treaty was figned, Gen. Burgoyne had commihiicated to the C^flt^ T o*^ r^'A^'ll *° ^°'"' ^"•^'t'^*'^ P'-op^f^d by*-Colonel Barre. the «oWe fa«d, that m every lltnutiOn of danger and diffict,ltvGenlILl R goyne pdfleflTed himfel/, and enjoyed thf conlTden^rthe^efSK ^^ foM^T °^ ^''""'IJ^' He had never heard rne'^fficer o1^' *on foldier complain of him for hi« return to Enj^land, but h^hrfdTrS Majelty of their conduA, and point out in the clofet the m*.n Tfc^i. though his return in perfonal difgrace. and withTut^theC Tiribu tion of perferment to the prindpaf officers, could be of no av!^^) tl ti.^ in their captivity, yet in fo^ar ns^he had, tLough the whole exiSilu u : iJrf^'^htSnd fmc«-*a pJeaAire! ^^ ''^"'^ ^^'' "^''"^^J"*'" ^'^h the The next witnefs examined ivas Captain '^onev Dennf^ ^Ai * * Poffibk, than the noble LorJ, adirg in .„,«., g,„„i] capac™y" 'and * fpoks M! •« ■% ♦ m iC CHfi ^f, ]6^|||^T;^«,.,,9|ip ifoul,q'n,cyer afterwards fee rauicd, but lay 1 tbei|t< JEtFf ^|^«, in a^qQftt{e4a"4 '^'i^'''^^^^ panner/ at the rear of t^e ^tiU)iqry« 7A Qmah^Q^ novel h&.» and reafons were drawn from fS^^i^^bj Qiof^a^ Burgpync Hi» evidence tended to fliew that iutter the battle of Htibberton it would have Ipeen imprudent to have lurgoyne tiad enaeavourea Dy every means, m niffjlc . retrain the enormities of the Indians } that he permitted themr becaufe they iofiiled^on it, to fcalp the dead, and o^ered them rewards for bring- ,ing in rebels itlitf j that whei^. the n^rder of lidifs M'Creagh had reached his ears, the General went to the .Indian camp, infi^d tli^t the Ci|lpnt ihould be delivered up, and declared that he (hould fufFer death. Lojrd Harrington confeffed, that he himfelf was one of thofc Bfitifh 0^cer§, who froni tjipr General's determined lanjgUa^e, were afraid he |i^u|14 put his th^eati.uito execution : which policy ai that tim(^,, he yr<)i44 have ^onde|Dne4 as dangerous, on account of the ravages they ^^ .commit on tljehr, rettjiru through Capada. His Lordihip proved, ^t wfken MoajT.. ^i, I^uc informed the.0eneral of t|ie difcontent that reigQip4^niong the Ivdiains atthereftir^iat juhiler which they were kept, tJ^A; ji^t^iii^-had (aid, that he had rather, lyfe every Indiai| lii hi« army th»Q CC^ppiye attheirreu9rn(iities^ that,nc^,pa Indians was ever fuf- lergd to go out wjthout having an officer at their head, who mould be refpdni^ble for their hchaviour. As, to the orders the General had re- ceived to force his way tq Albany, hU Lordihip declared it to have l>eei|the general opinion of the iarmy, expreffed in their converfations, th|it ,a paflage vras at; all events to be made to Albany. '. , "Jciii Lordihip (hewed likewile, as far as his opinion went, the pro- prletyof paffirig the fiudfon's river, and , of feveral*ir.ilitary manoeuvres jup^. which he was examined j upon the whoJ.e, his Lordfliips evidence !W,^t greatly to excdpate his Ger':ral. - . .jTbc Major of tiiie ;i4tfijwas next ■■ Xi jt.M^.M ' ■ -^ ■'^-^^'f^'V i .i 3. Among , ch General ^jng|othe cd, but lay the rear of Irawn from ;^ficer. ^;. o iliew that ent to have it prudence Oii^e ;. that ■yovkf, to |n, becaufe Bfor bring- ^reagh had ■^d th^l: the iffer death, iofe Britifli e afraid hd It tlm<^,. h^_ itagea they [»ip proved, antent that were kept, n hw army as ever fuf- > riiould be :ral had re- it to have xverfationsj :, the pro- manoeuvrea ps evidence im Captain