XVI. 1775. wanting to set the whole continent in a flame. BOOK General Gage having intelligence of a considerable magazine deposited at the town of Concord, about twenty miles distant from Boston, where the provincial congress was also held, detached, on the night preceding the 19th of April, 800 grenadiers and light infantry, under the command of colonel Smith, who proceeded on their march with great silence: but by the firing of guns and ringing of bells they at length perceived themselves discovered; and on their arrival at Lexington, at five in the morning, they found the company of militia belonging to that place drawn up on the green; on which major Pitcairn, who led the advanced guard, cried out, "Disperse, rebels! throw down your arms, and disperse!" This not being immediately complied with, he ordered the soldiers to fire; eight or ten of the provincials were killed, and the rest speedily retreated. The king's troops immediately marched on to Concord, destroyed such stores as they found, and spiked three or four pieces of iron cannon. On their return, the passage of a bridge being disputed by a party of provincials, a skirmish ensued, in which several men were killed on both sides; and the whole country being by this time alarmed, rose on all quarters, pressing close upon their rear; and a scattering and irregular fire was also directed 1775. BOOK against them from behind trees, houses, and XVI. hedges, which supplied the place of lines and redoubts. It fortunately happened, that general Gage, apprehensive of the danger of the service, had early in the morning ordered lord Percy, with a second detachment, equal in number to the first, and two field-pieces, to march to Lexington, where they were joined in a short time by colonel Smith, who would otherwise have found great difficulty in forcing his way back to Boston, his ammunition being entirely expended. As soon as the troops resumed their march, they were again harassed and assailed in the same manner as before; and with great fatigue and great damage they at length arrived about sun-set at Charlestown, whence they crossed the harbor in boats to Boston, under the protection of the Somerset man of war. In the different actions of the day, the loss of the king's troops was estimated at near 300 men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while that of the provincials did not exceed 90. Such was the inauspicious commencement of this disastrous war, and so ill did facts correspond with the boastful language of those, who at the head of a few regiments had threatened to carry terror through the conti nent. The sword being once drawn, the Americans seemed determined to throw away the scabbard. In a few days after the engagement XVI. 1775. at Lexington, the provincial congress of Massa- BOOK chusetts resolved, that 30,000 men be forthwith raised, of which generals Ward, Putnam, Heath, and Thomas, were appointed to the command: and a great military force collecting in the vicinity of Boston, formed the complete blockade of that important town. General Putnam, who had served with reputation under lord Amherst at the head of the Connecticut troops during the last war, had long since retired to a remote farm, which he cultivated with his own hands; and when the intelligence of his appointment was notified to him, he was found, like another Cincinnatus, in a leathern frock and apron, occupied amongst his labourers in fencing in his land. Without a moment's hesitation he laid down his spade, and assumed the general's truncheon-within eighteen hours repairing to the head-quarters at Lexington, which was little short of an hundred English miles distant. On the 10th of May, 1775, the general congress, regardless of the circular letter of lord Dartmouth, forbidding in the king's name the election of delegates, met at Philadelphia; and among their first acts were, resolutions for raising a continental army, and establishing a paper currency; also a declaration, that, by the late violation of the charter of Massachusetts Bay, BOOK the compact between the crown and that colony XVI was dissolved. The colonies of New York and 1775. North Carolina now declared their fixed resolution to unite with the other provinces in every effort to retain their just rights and liberties. The conciliatory proposition of lord North being taken into consideration, it was unanimously rejected; and for this rejection the congress assigned their reasons at large and in a very masterly manner. "If," say they in their public declaration, "we accede to this proposal, we declare without reservation we will purchase the favor of parliament, not knowing at what price they will please to estimate it. We think the attempt unnecessary to raise upon us by force or threats our proportional contributions for the common defence; when all know, and themselves acknowledge, we have fully contributed whenever called upon to do so in the character of freemen. We are of opinion, it is not just that the colonies should be required to oblige themselves to other contributions, while Great Britain possesses a monopoly of their trade: this of itself lays them under heavy contributions. To demand therefore additional aids in the form of a tax, is to demand the double of their equal proportion. If we are to contribute equally with the other parts of the empire, let us equally with them enjoy free commerce with all the world." XVI. At the latter end of May, the generals Howe, BOOK Burgoyne, and Clinton, arrived at Boston, with large reinforcements of troops; so that the entire 1775. force stationed in that place or its vicinity was now become very considerable, not less than 10,000 men. A proclamation was also issued by general Gage, offering a pardon in the king's name to all who should forthwith lay down their arms; excepting only from the benefit of this amnesty Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were destined to condign punishment. All those who did not accept of the proffered mercy were declared rebels and traitors, and martial law established till the colony was restored to the king's peace. No other notice was taken by the congress of this proclamation, than to choose Mr. HANCOCK president of that assembly. At the same time GEORGE WASHINGTON, esq. was unanimously chosen general and commander in ehief of the continental army. This gentleman had distinguished himself early in life by his gallant exertions in the late war, particularly on the memorable day of the defeat of general Braddock; when, at the head of the provincial militia, he covered the retreat of the regular forces, and prevented the total ruin of the royal army. Since the termination of the war, he had resided upon his estate at Mount Vernon, on the banks of the Potowmac, a beautiful and romantic spot |