Chapter 1 of The Life of Washington, Volume 2 by John Marshall. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on the volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Life of Washington, Volume 2 by John Marshall. Chapter 1, Birth of Washington, His Mission to the French on the Ohio. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Regular Troops. Surprises Monsieur Jean-Mont. The capitulation of Fort Necessity is appointed a decamp to General Braddock. Defeat and death of that general is appointed to the command of a regiment. Extreme distress of the frontiers and exertions of Colonel Washington to augment the regular forces of the colony. Expedition against Fort Duquesne. Defeat of Major Grant. Fort Duquesne evacuated by the French and taken possession by the English resignation of Colonel Washington, his marriage. 1732, Birth of Mr. Washington. George Washington, the third son of Augustine Washington, was born on the 22nd of February 1732 near the banks of the Potomac in the county of Westmoreland in Virginia. His father first married Miss Butler, who died in 1728, leaving two sons, Lawrence and Augustine. In 1730, he married with Miss Mary Ball, by whom he had four sons, George, John, Samuel and Charles. And one daughter, Betty, who intermarried with Colonel Fielding Lewis of Fredericksburg. His great-grandfather John Washington, a gentleman of a respectable family, had emigrated from the north of England about the year 1637 and settled on the place where Mr. Washington was born. At the age of 10 years, he lost his father. Deprived of one parent, he became an object of more assiduous attention to the other, who continued to impress those principles of religion and virtue on his tender mind, which constituted the solid basis of a character that was maintained through all the trying vicissitudes of an eventful life. But his education was limited to those subjects in which alone the sons of gentlemen of moderate fortune were at that time generally instructed. It was confined to acquisitions strictly useful, not even extending to foreign languages. In 1743, his eldest brother intermarried with the daughter of the honorable George William Fairfax, then a member of the council, and this connection introduced Mr. Washington to Lord Fairfax, the proprietor of the northern mecca of Virginia, who offered him, when in his 18th year, an appointment as surveyor in the western part of that territory. His patrimonial estate being inconsiderable, this appointment was readily accepted. And in the performance of its duties, he acquired that information respecting vacant lands and formed those opinions concerning their future value, which afterwards contributed greatly to the increase of his private fortune. 1750, those powerful attractions which the profession of arms presents to young and ardent minds possessed their full influence over Mr. Washington, stimulated by the enthusiasm of military genius to take part in the war in which Great Britain was then engaged. He had pressed so earnestly to enter into the Navy that at the age of 15, a midshipman's warrant was obtained for him. The interference of a timid and affectionate mother deferred the commencement and changed the direction of his military career. Four years afterwards, at a time when the militia were to be trained for actual service, he was appointed one of the adjutants general of Virginia with the rank of major. The duties annexed to this office soon yielded to others of a more interesting character. France was beginning to develop the vast plan of connecting her extensive dominions in America by uniting Canada with Louisiana. The troops of that nation had taken possession of attractive country, claimed by Virginia, and had commenced a line of posts to be extended from the lakes to the Ohio. The attention of Mr. Dinwiddy, lieutenant governor of that province, was attracted to these supposed encroachments. And he deemed it his duty to demand in the name of the king his master that they should be suspended. 1753, this mission was toilsome and hazardous. The envoy would be under the necessity of passing through an extensive and almost unexplored wilderness intersected with rugged mountains and considerable rivers and inhabited by fierce savages who were either hostile to the English or a doubtful attachment. While the dangers and fatigues of this service deterred others from undertaking it, they seemed to have possessed attractions for Mr. Washington and he engaged in it with the likelihood. October 31, his mission to the French on the Ohio, on receiving his commission, he left Williamsburg and arrived on the 14th of November at Williams Creek, then the extreme frontier settlement of the English, where guides were engaged to conduct him over the Allegheny Mountains. After surmounting the impediments occasioned by the snow and high waters, he reached the mouth of Turtle Creek, where he was informed that the French general was dead and that the greater part of the army had retired into winter quarters. Pursuing his route, he examined the country through which he passed with a military eye and selected the confluence of the among Mangahila and Allegheny Rivers, the place where Fort Duquesne was afterwards erected by the French as an advantageous position which it would be advisable to seize and to fortify immediately. 1754, after employing a few days among the Indians in that neighborhood and procuring some of their chiefs to accompany him, whose fidelity he took the most judicious means to secure, he ascended the Allegheny River, passing one-fourth at the mouth of French Creek. He proceeded up the stream to a second where he was received by Monsieur Le Fardeur de Sampier, the commanding officer on the Ohio to whom he delivered the letter of Mr. Denwitte and from whom he received an answer with which he returned to Williamsburg, January 16th. The exertions made by Mr. Washington on this occasion, the perseverance with which he surmounted the difficulties of the journey and the judgment displayed in his conduct towards the Indians raised him in the public opinion as well as in that of the Lieutenant Governor. His journal drawn up for the inspection of Mr. Denwitte was published and impressed his countrymen with very favorable sentiments of his understanding and fortitude. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel of Regiment of Regular Troops, as the answer from the commandant of the French forces on the Ohio indicated no disposition to withdraw from that country. It was deemed necessary to make some preparations to maintain the right asserted over it by the British ground. And the Assembly of Virginia authorized the executive to raise a regiment for that purpose to consist of 300 men. The command of this regiment was given to Mr. Fry and Major Washington was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. Anxious to be engaged in active service, he obtained permission about the beginning of April to advance with two companies to the Great Meadows and the Allegheny Mountains. By this movement, he hoped to cover that frontier to make himself more perfectly acquainted with the country to gain some information respecting the situation and designs of the French and to preserve the friendship of the savages. Soon after his arrival at that place, he was visited by some friendly Indians who informed him that the French having dispersed the party of workmen employed by the Ohio Company to erect a fort on the southeast and branch of the Ohio were themselves engaged in completing a fortification at the confluence of the Allegheny and Manangahila River's detachment from which place was then on its march towards his camp. Open hostilities had not yet commenced, but the country was considered as invaded and several circumstances were related confirming the opinion that this party was approaching with hostile views. Among others, it had withdrawn itself some distance from the path and had encamped for the night in a bottom as if to ensure concealment, entertaining no doubt of the unfriendly designs with which these troops were advancing. Lieutenant Colonel Washington resolved to anticipate them. Surprises, Monsieur Jean-Mont Villier availing himself of the offer made by the Indians to serve him as guides, he proceeded through a dark and rainy night to the French encampment which he completely surrounded. At daybreak, his troops fired and rushed upon the party which immediately surrendered when men only escaped capture and Monsieur Jean-Mont Villier alone, the commanding officer was killed. While the regiment was on its march to join the detachment and advanced in front, the command devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Washington by the death of Colonel Frye. Soon after its arrival, it was reinforced by two independent companies of regulars. After erecting a small stockade at the Great Meadows, Colonel Washington commenced his march towards Fort Duquesne with the intention of dislodging the French from that place. He had proceeded about 13 miles when he was met by some friendly Indians who informed him that the French and their savage allies as numerous as the pigeons in the woods were advancing rapidly to meet him. Among those who brought this information was a trustee chief only two days from that fort on the Ohio who had observed the arrival of a considerable reinforcement at that place and had heard their intention of marching immediately to attack the English with a corps composed of 800 French and 400 Indians. This intelligence was corroborated by information previously received from deserters who had reported that a reinforcement was expected. The troops commanded by Colonel Washington were almost destitute of provisions and the ground he occupied was not adapted to military purposes. A road at some distance leading through other defiles in the mountains would enable the French to pass into his rear, intercept his supplies and starve him into a surrender or fight him with a superiority of three to one. June 23 in this hazardous situation, a council of war unanimously advised a retreat to the fort at the Great Meadows now termed fort necessity where the two roads united and where the face of the country was such as not to permit an enemy to pass unproceed. At that place it was intended to remain until reinforcements of men and supplies of provisions should arrive. July 2 capitulation of fort necessity in pursuance of this advice, Colonel Washington returned to fort necessity and began a ditch around the stockade before it was completed the French amounting to about 1500 men commanded by Monsieur de Villiers appeared before the fort. Third and immediately commenced a furious attack upon it. They were received with great intrepidity by the Americans who fought partly within the stockade and partly in the surrounding ditch which was nearly filled with mud and water. Colonel Washington continued the whole day on the outside of the fort encouraging the soldiers by his countenance and example. The assailants fought undercover of the trees and high grass with which the country abounds the engagement was continued with great resolution from 10 in the morning until dark when Monsieur de Villiers demanded a parlay and offered terms of capitulation. Fourth, the proposals first made were rejected but in the course of the night articles were signed by which the fort was surrendered on condition that its garrison should be allowed the honors of war should be permitted to retain their arms and baggage and be suffered to march without molestation into the inhabited parts of Virginia. The capitulation being in French a language not understood by any person in the garrison and being drawn up hastily in the night contains an expression which was inaccurately translated at the time and of which advantage has been since taken by the enemies of Mr. Washington to imply an admission on his part that Monsieur Jermain Villiers was assassinated. An account of the transaction was published by Monsieur de Villiers which drew from Colonel Washington a letter to a friend completely disproving the calamity though entirely discredited at the time it was revived at a subsequent period with circumstances well understood at the date of the transaction were supposed to be forgotten. The loss of the Americans in this affair is not ascertained from a return made on the 9th of July at Will's Creek it appears that the killed and wounded of that regiment amounted to 58 but the loss sustained by the two independent companies has not stated that of the assailants was supposed to be more considerable. Great credit was given to Colonel Washington by his countrymen for the courage displayed on this occasion. The legislature events dissatisfaction with the conduct of the whole party by passing a vote of thanks to him and the officers under his command and by giving 300 pistolies to be distributed among the soldiers engaged in the action. The regiment returned to Winchester to be recruited soon after which it was joined by a few companies from North Carolina and Maryland on the arrival of this reinforcement. The Lieutenant Governor with the advice of council regardless of the condition or number of the forces ordered them immediately to march over the Allegheny Mountains and to expel the French from Fort Duquesne or to build one in its vicinity. August, the little army in Virginia which was placed under the command of Colonel Innis from North Carolina did not as now reinforced exceed half the number of the enemy and was neither provided with the means of moving nor with supplies for a winter campaign with as little consideration directions had been given for the immediate completion of the regiment without furnishing a single shilling for the recruiting service. Although a long piece may account for many errors at the commencement of war some surprise will be felt that such ill-considered and ill-judged measures. September, Colonel Washington remonstrated strongly against these orders but prepared to execute them. The assembly however having risen without making any provision for the further prosecution of the war this wild expedition was laid aside and the Virginia regiment was reduced to independent companies. In the course of the winter orders were received for setting the rank of the officers of His Majesty's forces when serving with the provincials in North America. These orders directed that all officers commissioned by the King or by His General in North America should take rank of all officers commissioned by the governors of the respective provinces and fathered that the general and field officers of the provincial troops should have no rank when serving with the general and field officers commissioned by the crown. But that all captains and other inferior officers of the Royal troops should take rank over provincial officers of the same grade having senior commissions. Strong as was his attachment to a military life Colonel Washington possessed into eminent a degree the proud and punctilious feelings about soldiers to submit to a degradation so humiliating as was produced by his loss of rank. Professing his unabated inclination to continue in the service if permitted to do so without a sacrifice too great to be made he retired indignantly from the station assigned him and answered the various letters which he received pressing him still to hold his commission with assurances that he would serve with pleasure when he should be enabled to do so without dishonor. His eldest brother had lately died and left him a considerable estate on the Potomac. This gentleman had served in the expedition against Carthagena and in compliment to the admiral who commanded the fleet engaged in that enterprise had named his seat Mount Vernon to this delightful spot Colonel Washington withdrew resolving to devote his future attention to the applications of private life. This resolution was not long maintained. 1755 March General Braddock being informed of his merit his knowledge of the country which was to be the theater of action and his motives for retiring from the service gratified his desire to make one campaign under a person supposed to possess some knowledge of war by inviting him to enter his family as a volunteer aid to camp. His appointed aid to camp to General Braddock April having determined to accept this invitation he joined the Commander-in-Chief immediately after his departure from Alexandria and proceeded with him to Wheels Creek the army consisting of two European regiments and a few core of provincials was detained at that place until the 12th of June by the difficulty of procuring wagons horses and provisions. Colonel Washington impatient under these delays suggested the propriety of using pack horses instead of wagons for conveying the baggage. June the Commander-in-Chief although solicitous to hasten the expedition was so attached to the usages of regular war that this salutary advice was at first rejected but soon after the commencement of the March its propriety became too obvious to be longer neglected. 15 on the third day after the army had moved from its ground Colonel Washington was seized with a violent fever which disabled him from riding on horseback and was conveyed in a covered wagon. General Braddock who found the difficulties of the March greater than had been expected continuing to consult him privately he strenuously urged that officer to leave his heavy artillery and baggage with the rear division of the army and with the chosen body of troops and some pieces of light artillery to press forward with the utmost expedition to Fort Duquesne in support of this advice he stated that the French were then weak on the Ohio but hourly expected reinforcements during the excessive drought which prevailed at that time. These could not arrive because the river Leber on which their supplies must be brought to the Nongo did not then afford a sufficient quantity of water for the purpose of rapid movement therefore it might enable him to carry the fort before the arrival of the expected aid but if this measure should not be adopted such were the delays attendant on the March of the whole army that rain sufficient to raise the waters might reasonably be expected and the whole force of the French would probably be collected for their reception a circumstance which would render the success of the expedition doubtful. This advice recording well with the temper of the commander-in-chief it was determined in the council of war held at the little meadows that 1200 select men to be commanded by general Braddock in person should advance with the utmost expedition against Fort Duquesne Colonel Dunbar was to remain with the residue of the two regiments and all the heavy baggage June 19 although the select court commenced its mark with only 30 carriages including ammunition wagons the hopes which have been entertained of the celerity of its movements were not fulfilled. I found said Colonel Washington in a letter to his brother written during the March that instead of pushing on with vigor without regarding a little rough road they were halting to level every molehill and to erect bridges over every brook by these means they employed four days and reaching the great crossings of a hyagony only 19 miles from the little meadows. Colonel Washington was obliged to stop at that place the position having declared that his life would be endangered by continuing with the army he obeyed with reluctance the positive orders of the general to remain at this camp under the protection of a small guard until the arrival of Colonel Dunbar having first received a promise that means should be used to bring him up with the army before it reached Fort Duquesne July 8 the day before the action of the Mount Nangahila he rejoined the general in a covered wagon and the week entered on the duties of his station in a short time after the action it commenced Colonel Washington was the only aid remaining alive and unwounded the whole duty of carrying the orders of the commander-in-chief in an engagement with marksmen who selected officers and especially those on horseback for their objects devolved on him alone under these difficult circumstances he manifested that coolness that self-possession that fearlessness of danger whichever distinguished him and which are so necessary to the character of a consummate soldier two horses were killed under him and four balls passed through his coat but to the astonishment of all he escaped on hurt while every other officer in horseback was either killed or wounded I expected every moment says an eyewitness to see him fall his duty and situation exposed him to every danger nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have saved him from the fate of all around him defeat in death of that general August at length after an action in nearly three hours general Braddock under whom three horses have been killed received a mortal wound and his troops fled in great disorder every effort to rally them was ineffectual until they had crossed the Monongahela when being no longer pursued they were again formed the general was brought off in a small tumble by Colonel Washington Captain Stewart of the guards and his servant the defeated detachment retreated with the utmost precipitation to the rear division of the army soon after which Braddock expired in the first moments of alarm all the stores were destroyed except those necessary for immediate use and not long afterwards Colonel Dunbar marched the remaining European troops to Philadelphia in order to place them in what he termed winter quarters Colonel Washington was greatly disappointed and disgusted by the conduct of the regular troops in this action in his letter to Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie giving an account of it he said they were struck with such an inconceivable panic that nothing but confusion and disobedience of orders prevailed among them the officers in general behaved with incomparable bravery for which they greatly suffered there being upwards of 60 killed and wounded a large proportion out of what we had the Virginia companies behaved like men and died like soldiers for I believe out of three companies on the ground that day scarce 30 men were left alive Captain Peroni and all his officers down to a corporal were killed Captain Polson had also as hard a fate for only one of his escape in short dastardly behavior of the regular troops so-called exposed those who were inclined to do their duty to almost certain death and at length in spite of every effort to the contrary they broke and ran as sheep before hounds leaving the artillery ammunition provisions baggage and short everything a prey to the enemy and when we endeavored to rally them in hopes of regaining the ground and what we had left upon it it was with as little success as if we had attempted to have stopped the wild bears of the mountains or the rivulets with our feet for they would break by in spite of every effort to prevent it Wakefield the birthplace of George Washington this is from an etching made an idealization of the original house situated on the banks of the Potomac 38 miles from Fredericksburg in Westmoreland County Virginia where our first president was born February 22nd 1732 the original house which was built by Washington's father Augustine was destroyed by fire more than 150 years ago before the Declaration of Independence was signed August is appointed to the command of a regiment Colonel Washington had long been the favorite soldier of Virginia and his reputation grew with every occasion for exertion his conduct in this battle have been universally extolled in the common opinion of his countrymen was that had his advisement pursued the disaster have been avoided the assembly was in session when intelligence was received of this defeat and of the abandonment of the colony by Colonel Dunbar the legislature perceiving the necessity of levying troops for the defense of the province determined to raise a regiment to consist of 16 companies the command of which was offered to Colonel Washington who was also designated in his commission as the commander in chief of all the forces raised and to be raised in the colony of Virginia the uncommon privilege of naming his field officers was added to this honorable manifestation of the public confidence retaining still his prepossessions in favor of a military life he cheerfully embraced this opportunity of reentering the army after making the necessary arrangements for the recruiting service and visiting the posts on the frontiers which he placed in the best state of defense of which they were susceptible he set out for the seat of government where objects of the first importance required his attention were taken below Frederick's by and express carrying the intelligence that a large number of French and Indians divided into several parties had broken up the frontiers settlements were murdering and capturing men women and children burning the houses and destroying their crops the troops stationed among them for their protection were unequal to that duty and instead of being able to afford aid to the inhabitants were themselves locked up in their forts extreme distress of the frontiers and exertions of Colonel Washington to augment the regular forces of the colony Colonel Washington hastened back to Winchester where the utmost confusion and alarm prevailed his efforts to raise the militia were unavailing attentive only to individual security and regardless of the common danger they could not be drawn from their families instead of assembling in arms and obtaining safety by meeting their invaders the inhabitants fled into the lower country and increased the general terror in the state of things he endeavor to collect an arm the men who had abandoned their houses and to remove their wives and children to a distance from the scene of desolation and carnage pressing orders were at the same time dispatched to the newly appointed officers to afford their recruits and to the county lieutenants east of the Blue Ridge to hasten their militia to Winchester but before these orders could be executed the party which had done so much mischief and excited such alarm had recross the Allegheny mountains 1756 April early in the following spring the enemy made another eruption into the inhabited country and did great mischief the number of troops on the regular establishment was totally insufficient for the protection of the frontier and effective service from the militia was found to be unattainable the Indians who were divided into small parties concealed themselves with so much dexterity as seldom to be perceived until the blow was struck their murders were frequently committed in the very neighborhood of the forts and the detachments from the garrisons employed in scouring the country were generally eluded for attack to advantage and one of these skirmishes the Americans were routed and Captain Mercer was killed the people either abandoned the country or attempted to secure themselves in small stockade forts where they were in great distress for provisions arms and ammunition were often surrounded and sometimes cut off Colonel Washington was deeply affected by the state of things I see their situation said he in a letter to the lieutenant governor I know the danger and participate their sufferings without relief and uncertain promises in short I see inevitable destruction in so clear a light that unless vigorous measures are taken by the assembly and speedy assistance sent from below the poor inhabitants now in forts must unavoidably fall while the remainder are flying before the barbers flow in fine the melancholy situation of the people the little prospective assistance the gross and scandalous abuses cast upon the officers in general which is reflecting upon me in particular for suffering misconduct of such extraordinary kind and the distant prospect if any of gaining reputation in the service caused me to limit the hour that gave me a commission and would induce me at any other time than this of imminent danger to resign without one hesitating moment or command from which I never expect to reap either honor or benefit but on the contrary have almost an absolute certainty of incurring displeasure below while the murder of helpless families may be laid to my account here Colonel Washington had been prevented from taking post at Fort Cumberland by an unfortunate an extraordinary difficulty growing out of an obscurity in the royal orders respecting the relative rank of officers commissioned by the King and those commissioned by the Governor our captain Dagworthy who was at that place and of the former description insisted on taking the command although it had been committed to Lieutenant Colonel Stevens and on the same principle he contested the rank of Colonel Washington also this circumstance had retained that officer at Winchester where public stores to a considerable amount were deposited with only about 50 men to guard them in the deep distress of the moment a council of war was called to determine whether he should march this small body to some of the nearest forts and uniting with their petty garrisons risk in action or wait until the militia could be raised the council unanimously advised the continuance at Winchester Lord Fairfax who commanded the militia of that and the adjacent counties had ordered them to his assistance but they were slow in assembling the unremitting exertion of three days and the county of Frederick could produce only 20 men the incompetency of the military force to the defense of the country having become obvious the assembly determined to augment the regiment to 1500 men in a letter addressed to the house of Burgesses Colonel Washington urged the necessity of increasing it still farther to 2,000 men a less number than which could not possibly in his opinion be sufficient to cover the extensive frontier of Virginia should the defensive system be continued in support of this demand he stated in detail the forts which must be garrisoned and observed that with the exception of a few inhabitants in forts on the south branch of the Potomac the north mountain near Winchester become the frontier and that without effectual aid the inhabitants would even pass the Blue Ridge he farther observed that the woods seemed alive with ranch in Indians and again described so feedingly the situation of the inhabitants that the assembly requested the governor to order half the militia of the adjoining counties to their relief and the attorney general company of one hundred gentlemen who engaged to make the campaign as volunteers 10 well-trained woodsman or Indians would have rendered more service the distress of the country increased as had been foreseen Winchester became almost the only settlement west of the Blue Ridge on the northern frontier and fears were entertained that the enemy would soon pass even that barrier and ravaged the country below expressed after expressed percent to hasten the militia percent in vain at length about the last of April the French and their plundering prisoners and scalps returned before decaying some short time after the retreat the militia appeared this temporary increase of strength was employed in searching the country for small parties of Indians who lingered behind the main body and in making disposition to repel another invasion a fort was commenced at Winchester which in honor of the general who had been appointed to the command of the British troops in America was called Fort Loudon and the perpetual monstances of Colonel Washington at length affected some improvement in the laws for the government of the troops instead of adopting in the first instance that military code which experience had matured the assembly passed occasional acts to remedy particular evils as they occurred in consulments of which a state of insubordination was protracted and the difficulties of the commanding officer increased slight penalties were at first annexed to serious military offenses and when an act was obtained to punish mutiny and desertion with death such crimes as cowardice in action and sleeping on a post were pre-dermitted it was left impossible to hold the general court marshal without an order from the governor and the commanding officer was not at liberty to make those arrangements and other respects which his own observation suggested but shackled by the control of others who could neither judge so correctly nor be so well informed as himself these areas of government unused to war though continually remarked by the officer commanding the troops were slowly perceived by those in power and were never entirely corrected successive incursions continued to be made into the country by small predatory parties the French and Indians who kept up a perpetual alarm and murdered the defenceless were ever found in Pennsylvania the inhabitants were driven as far as Carlisle and in Maryland Fredericktown on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge became a frontier with the Virginia Regiment which did not yet amount to 1,000 men aided occasionally by militia Colonel Washington was to defend the frontier of near 400 miles an extent and to complete a chain of forts he repeatedly urged the necessity and propriety of abandoning Fort Cumberland which was too far in advance of the settlements and too far north to be useful while it required for its defense a larger portion of his force then could be spared with a proper regard to the safety of other and more advantageous positions the governor however thought the abandonment of it improper since it was a King's Fort and Lord Loudon on being consulted gave the same opinion among the subjects of extreme chagrin to the commander of the Virginia troops was the practice of desertion the prevalence of this crime was ascribed in a considerable degree to the old judge parsimony of the assembly the daily pay of a soldier was only eight pence out of which two pence were stopped for his close this pay was inferior to what was received in every other part of the continent and as ought to have been foreseen great discontents were excited by a distinction so invidious the remonstances of the commanding officer in some degree corrected dismissed it and a full suit of regimentals was allowed to each soldier without deducting its prize from his pay this campaign furnishes no event which can interest the reader yet the duties of the officer though minute were our due us and the sufferings of the people beyond measure afflicting it adds one to the many proofs which have been afforded of miseries to be expected by those who defer preparing the means of defense until the moment when they ought to be used and then rely almost entirely on a force neither adequate to the danger nor of equal continuance it is an interesting fact to those who know the present situation of Virginia that's so late as the year 1756 the Blue Ridge was the Northwestern Frontier and that she found immense difficulty in completing a single regiment to protect the inhabitants from the horrors of the scalping night and the still greater horrors of being led into captivity by savages who added tears to death by the manner of inflicting it as soon as the main body of the enemy had withdrawn from the settlements a tour was made by Colonel Washington to the Southwestern Frontier there as well as to the North continued incursions had been made and there to the principal defense of the country was entrusted to an ill-regulated consequences of this system are thus stated by him in a letter to the Lieutenant Governor the inhabitants are so sensible of their danger if left to the protection of these people that not a man will stay at his place this I have from their own mouths and the principal inhabitants of Augusta County the militia are under such bad order and discipline that they will come and go when and where they please without regarding time their offices or the safety of the inhabitants but consulting solely their own inclinations there should be according to your honors the militia of these parts on duty at a time instead of that scarce one 30th is out they are to be relieved every month and they are a great part of that time marching to and throw from their stations and they will not wait one day longer than a limited time whether it relieved or not however urgent the necessity for their continuance may be some instances of this and of gross misbehavior were then enumerated after which you press the necessity of increasing the number of regulars to 2000 men after returning from this tour to Winchester gave the lieutenant governor in curious detail a statement of the situation in which he found the country urging but urging a vain arguments which will always be suggested by experience against relying chiefly on militia for defense sensible of the impracticability of defending such an extensive frontier Colonel Washington continued to press the policy of enabling him to act on the offensive to people of Virginia he thought to be protected only by entering the country of the enemy giving him employment at home and removing the source of all their calamities by taking position before it became as defensive measures he observed in a letter to the lieutenant governor are evidently insufficient for the security and safety of the country I hope no arguments are necessary to evince the necessity of altering them to our vigorous offensive war in order to remove the cause but in the event that the assembly should still indulge their favorite scheme of protecting the inhabitants by forts along the frontiers he presented the plan which in its execution would require 2000 men these were to be distributed in 22 forts extending to the Potomac in a line of 360 miles in a letter written about the same time to the speaker of the assembly he said the certainty of event by an offensive scheme of action renders it beyond any doubt preferable to our defensive measures our scattered force so separated in the dispersed and weak parties avails little to stop the secret incursions of the savages we can only perhaps put them to flight or frighten them to some other part of the country which answers not the end proposed by their lands we should restrain them from coming abroad and leaving their families exposed we should then remove the principal cause and have stronger probability of success we should be free from the many alarms mischiefs and murders that now attend us we should in spirit the hearts of our few Indian friends in game more esteemed with them in short the Pennsylvania Maryland be induced to join us in an expedition of this nature and to petition His Excellency Lord Loudon for a small train of artillery with some engineers we should then be able in all human probability to subdue the terror of Fort Duquesne retrieve our character with the Indians and restore peace to our unhappy frontiers His total inability to act offensively or even to afford protection to the frontiers of Virginia was not the only distressing a vexatious circumstance to which he was exposed the lieutenant government whose commands he was subjected in every minute particular and who seems to have been unequal to the difficulties of his station frequently deranged his system by orders which could not be executed without considerable general Washington could not always restrain his chagrin on such occasions and on one of them observed in a letter to an intimate friend who possessed great influence in the country whence it arises or why I am truly ignorant but my strongest representations of matters relative to the peace of the frontiers are disregarded as idle and frivolous my proposition that measures as partial and selfish in all my sincerest endeavours for the service of my country perverted to the worst purposes my orders are dark doubtful and uncertain today to act and proceed at hazard accountable for the consequences and blame without the benefit of defense if you can think my situation capable of exciting the smallest degree of ending of affording the least satisfaction the truth is yet hit from you and you entertain notions very different from that reality of the case however I am determined to bear up under all these embarrassments sometime longer in the hope of better regulations under Lord Loudon to him I look for the future fate of Virginia not long after this letter was written Lord Loudon in whose person the officers of the governor and commander in chief were united arrived in Virginia a comprehensive statement of the situation of the colony in a military point of view and the of the regiment in particular was drawn up and submitted to him by Colonel Washington in this he enumerated the errors which had prevented the completion of his regiment showed the insufficiency of the militia for any military purpose and demonstrated the superiority of an offensive system over that which had been pursued 1757 this statement was probably presented in person who was permitted during the winter to visit Lord Loudon in Philadelphia where that nobleman met the governors of Pennsylvania Maryland and North Carolina and the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in order to consult with them on the measures to be taken in their respective provinces for the ensuing campaign he was however disappointed in his favorite hope of being able to act offensively against the French on the Ohio Lord Loudon had determined to direct all his efforts against Canada and to leave only 1200 men in the middle and southern colonies instead of receiving assistance Virginia was required to send 400 men to South Carolina not discouraged by these disappointments Colonel Washington continued indefatigable in his endeavors to impress on Mr. Dinwiddy and on the assembly the importance of reviving and properly modifying their military code which had now expired of making a more effective militia law and of increasing the number of regular troops may so far from succeeding on the last subject he had the modification to witness a measure which crushed his hopes of an adequate regular force being unable to complete the regiment by voluntary enlistment the assembly changed this organization and reduced to 10 companies each to consist of 100 men yet his anxious wishes to continue to be directed towards Fort Duquesne in a letter written about this time to Colonel Stanwicks who commanded in the middle colonies he said you will excuse me sir for saying that I think there never was and perhaps never again will be so favorable an opportunity as the present for reducing Fort Duquesne several prisoners have made their escape from the Ohio this spring and agree in their accounts that there are about 300 men left in the garrison and I do not conceive that the French are so strong in Canada as to reinforce this place and defend themselves at home this campaign surely then this is too precious an opportunity to be lost but Mr. Pitt did not yet direct the councils of Britain and a spirit of enterprise and heroism did not yet animate her generals the campaign to the north was in glorious and to the west nothing was even attempted which might relieve the middle colonies October 8 large bodies of of savages in the service of France once more spread the desolation of murder over the whole country west of the Blue Ridge the regular troops were inadequate to the protection of the inhabitants and the incompetency of the defensive system to their security became every day more apparent I exert every means said Colonel Washington in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Dinwitty to protect a much distressed country but it is a task to Arduous to think of defending a frontier of more than 350 miles extend as ours is with only 700 men is vain and idle especially the enemy than any other I am and for a long time I've been fully convinced that if we continue to pursue a defensive plan the country must be inevitably lost October 24 in another letter he said the raising a company of rangers or augmenting our strength in some other manner is so far necessary that without it the remaining inhabitants of this once fertile and populist valley will scarcely be detained at their dwellings until the spring and if there is no expedition to the Westwood then nor a force nor considerable than the genie can support posted on our frontiers if we still adhere for the next campaign to our destructive defensive schemes there will not I dare affirm be one so living on this side the blue ridge the ensuing autumn if we accept the troops in garrison and a few inhabitants of this town who may shelter themselves under the protection of this fort this I know to be the immovable determination of all the settlers of this country to the speaker of the assembly he gave the same opinion and added I do not know on whom these if the assembly are to give it to them it is time that measures were at least concerning and not when they ought to be going into execution as has always been the case if they are to seek it from the commander in chief it is that time their condition was made known to him for I cannot for bear repeating again that while we pursue defensive measures we pursue inevitable ruin August 27 it was impossible for colonel Washington zealous in the service of this country and ambitious of military fame to observe the heirs committed in the contact of the war without centering them the military affairs of the colony the Cherokee and Catawba Indians had hitherto remain faithful to the English and it was very desirable to engage the warriors of those tribes hardly in their service but so miserably was the intercourse with them conducted that though a considerable expense was incurred not much assistance was obtained and a great discuss was excited among them the freedom with which the commander in chief of the Virginia forces sent your public measures gave a fence to the lieutenant governor who considered these centers as manifesting a want of respect for himself sometimes he coarsely turned them in pertinent and at other times charged him with looseness in his information and in attention to his duty on one of these occasions Colonel Washington thus concluded a letter of detail nothing remarkable has happened and therefore I have nothing to add I must beg leave however before I conclude to observe in justification of my own conduct that it is with pleasure I receive reproof when reproof is due because no person can be ready to accuse me than I am to acknowledge an error when I have committed it to a more desire of atoning for a crime when I am sensible of being guilty of one but on the other hand it is with concern I remarked that my best endeavors lose their reward and that my conduct although I have uniformly studied to make it as unexceptionable as I could does not appear to you in a favorable point of light otherwise your honor would not have accused me of loose behavior and remissiveness of duty in matters where I think I have rather exceeded than fallen short of it this I think is evidently the case in speaking of Indian affairs at all after being instructed in very expressed terms not to have any concern with or management of Indian affairs this has induced me to forebear mentioning the Indians in my letters to you your honor of late and to leave the misunderstanding which you speak of between Mr. Aiken and then to be related by him not long after this he received a letter informing him of some course columning reflecting on his veracity and honor which have been reported to the lieutenant governor he enclosed copy of this letter to Mr. Dinwitie and thus addressed him I should take it infinitely kind if your honor would please to inform me whether a report of this nature was ever made to you and in that case who was the author of it it is evident from a variety of circumstances and especially from the change in your honor's conduct towards me that some person as well inclined to detract but better skilled in the art of detraction than the author of the above stupid scandal has made free with my character for I cannot suppose that malice so absurd so bare-faced so diametrically opposite to truth to common policy and in short to everything but brilliantly as the above is could impress you with so ill in the opinion of my honor and honesty it'd be possible that so and so for my belief is staggered not being conscious of having given the least cause to anyone much less to that gentleman to reflect so grossly I say it'd be possible that so and so could descend so low as to be the propagator of this story he must either be vastly ignorant of the state of affairs in this country at that time whereas he must suppose that the whole body of the inhabitants that combined with me in executing the deceitful fraud for why did they almost to a man forsake their dwellings in the greatest terror and confusion and while one half of them sought shelter and paltry forts of their own building the other should flee to the adjacent counties for refuge numbers of them even to Carolina from Wednesday have never returned these are facts well known but not better known than that these wretched people while they lay pent up in forts destitute of the common supports of life having in their precipitate flight forgotten or rather been unable to secure any kind of necessaries did dispatch messages of their own thinking I had not represented their miseries in the piteous manner they deserved with addresses to your honor and the assembly praying relief and did I ever send any alarming account without sending also the original papers for the copies which gave rise to it that I have foibles and perhaps many of them I shall not deny I should esteem myself as the world also would vain and empty were I to irrigate perfection knowledge and military matters is to be acquired only by practice and experience and if I have heard great allowance should be made for want to them unless my errors should appear to be real for and then I can see that would be more generous to charge me with my faults and to let me stand to fall according to evidence than to stigmatize me behind my back it is uncertain in what light my services may have appeared to your honor but this I know and it is the highest consolation I'm capable of feeding that no man that ever was employed in the public capacity has endeavored to discharge the trust as posed in him with greater honesty more zeal for the country's interest than I have done and if there is any person living who can save with justice that I've offered any intentional wrong to the public I will carefully submit to the most ignominious punishment that an injured people ought to inflict on the other hand it is hard to have my character arraigned and my actions condemned without a hearing I must therefore again beg in more plain and in very earnest terms to note if so and so has taken the liberty of representing my conduct to your honor with such unjuntamentally freedom as the letter implies your condescension inherent will be acknowledged as a singular favor in the letter some short time after this to the lieutenant governor he said I do not know that I ever gave your honor cause to suspect me of ingratitude a crime I detest and would most carefully avoid if an open disinterested behavior carries offense I may have offended for I have all along laid it down as a maxim to represent facts freely and impartially but not more so to others than to you sir if instances of my ungrateful behavior have been particularized I would have answered them that I've been long convinced that my actions in their motives have been maliciously aggravated a request that he might be permitted to come to Reimsburg for the settlement of some accounts which he was desirous of adjusting under the inspection of the lieutenant governor who proposed to leave the province in the following November was refused in abrupt and disobliging terms in answer to the letter containing the refusal Colonel Washington after stating the immovable disposition of the inhabitants to leave the country unless more sufficiently protected added to give a more succinct account of their affairs than I could in writing was the principal among many other reasons that induced me to ask leave to come down it was not to enjoy a party of pleasure that I asked leave of absence I have indulged with you those winter or summer Mr. Dennery soon afterwards took leave of Virginia and the government devolved and Mr. Blair the president of the council between him and the commander of the colonial troops the utmost cordiality existed General Forbes undertakes the expedition against Fort Duquesne after the close of this campaign Lord Loudon returned to England and General Abercrombie succeeded to the command of the army the department of the middle and southern provinces was committed to General Forbes who to the inexpressible gratification of Colonel Washington determined to undertake an expedition against Fort Duquesne 1758 he urged an early campaign but he urged it ineffectually and before the troops were assembled a large body of French and Indians broke into the country and renewed the horrors of the Tomahawk and Scalping Knight the county of Augusta was ravaged in about 60 persons were murdered the attempts made to intercept these savages were unsuccessful and they recross the Allegheny with their plunder prisoners and scalps May 24 at length orders were given to assemble the regiment of Winchester and being readiness to march in 15 days and receiving them Colonel Washington called in his recruiting parties but so inattentive had the government been to his representations the previous to marching his regiment he was under the necessity of repairing to Williamsburg personally to enforce his solicitations for arms ammunition money and clothing that these preparations for an expedition vitally interesting to Virginia should remain to be made after the season for action had commenced does not furnish stronger evidence of the difficulties encountered by the chief of the military department that has given by another circumstance of about the same date he was under the necessity of pointing out and urging the propriety of allowing to his regiment which had performed much severe service the same pay which had been granted to a second regiment voted the preceding session of assembly to serve for a single year among other troops had urged the impractic ability of detaining the Indians his fears were well founded before a junction of troops have been made these savages became impatient to return to their homes and finding that the expedition would yet be delayed a considerable time they left the army that promise us to rejoin it at the proper season June 24 in pursuance of the orders which had been received the Virginia troops moved in detachments from Winchester to Fort Cumberland where they assembled early in July after which they were employed in opening a road to raised town Colonel Bouquet was stationed as the English were continually harassed by small parties of French and Indians the general had contemplated advancing a strong detachment over the Allegheny Mountains for the purpose of giving them employment at home by the advice of Colonel Washington this plan was relinquished in support of his opinion he stated the probability that a large force was collected at Fort Duquesne and the impractic ability of moving a strong detachment without such quantity of provisions as would expose it to the danger of being discovered and cut to pieces he advised to harass them with small parties principally of Indians and this advice was pursued July Colonel Washington had expected that the army would march by Braddock's road but late in July he had the modification to receive a letter from Colonel Bouquet asking an interview with him in order to consult on opening a new road from raised town and requesting his opinion on that route I shall says he in answer to this letter most jeerfully work on any road pursue any route or enter upon any service that the general or yourself may think me usefully employed in or qualified for and shall never have a will of my own when a duty is required of me but since you desire me to speak my sentiments freely permit me to deserve that after having conversed with all the guides and having been informed by others acquaintance with the country I'm convinced that a road to be compared with general products on D that will be fit for transportation even by pack horses cannot be made I own I have no predilection for the route you have in contemplation for me a few days after writing this letter he had an interview with colonel bouquet whom he found decided in favor of opening the new road after their separation colonel Washington with his permission addressed to him a letter to be laid before general Forbes then in disposed at car along in which he stated his reasons against this measure he concluded his arguments against the new road arguments which appear to be unanswerable by declaring his fears that should the attempt be made they would be able to do nothing more than fortifies some post on the other side of the aller game and prepare for another campaign this he prayed heaven to avert he was equally opposed to a scheme which had been suggested of marching by the two different routes and recommended an order of March by products bird which would bring the whole army before for decaying in 34 days without supply of provisions for 86 days August two in a letter of the same date addressed to major Hulket aid of general Forbes colonel Washington thus expressed his foregoatings of the mischiefs to be apprehended from the adoption of the proposed route. I'm just returned from a conference held with Colonel bouquet I find him fixed. I think I may say an all truly fix to lead you a new way to the Ohio through a road every inch of which is to be cut at this advanced season when we have scarcely time left to tread the beaten track universally confessed to be the best passage through the mountains if Colonel bouquet succeeds in this point with the general all is lost all is lost indeed our enterprise is ruined and we should be stopped at the lower hill this winter but not together except of the kind which cover the mountains the southern Indians will turn against us and these colonies will be desolated by such an accession to the enemy strength these must be the consequences of a miscarriage and a miscarriage the almost necessary consequence of an attempt to mark the army by this route Colonel Washington's remonstances and arguments were unavailing and the new route was adopted is extreme chagrin at this measure and at the delays resulting from it was expressed in anxious letters to Virginia and to the speaker of the House of Burgesses September 2 in a letter to the speaker written while at Fort Cumberland he said we are still in camp here very sickly and dispirited at the prospect before us that appearance of glory which we once had in you that hope that laudable ambition of serving our country and meriting its applause are now no more all is dwindled into ease sloth and fatal inactivity in a word all is lost if the rays of men in power like certain rays of providence are not inscrutable but we who view the action of great men at a distance can only form conjectures agreebly to a limited perception and being ignorant of the comprehensive schemes which may be in contemplation might mistake egregiously in judging of things from appearances or by the lump yet every fool will have his notions will prattle and talk away and why not I? We seem then in my opinion to act under the guidance of an evil genius the conduct of our leaders if not actuated by superior orders is tempered with something I do not care to give a name to nothing now but a miracle can bring this campaign to a happy issue he then recapitulated the arguments he had urged against attempting a new road and added but I spoke unavailingly the road was immediately begun and since then from one to two thousand men have constantly wrought on it by the last accounts I've received they had cut it to the foot of the lower hill about 35 miles and I suppose by this time 1500 men have taken post about 10 miles further at a place called loyal Hannah where our next port is to be constructed we have certain intelligence that the French drink that for Duquesne did not exceed 800 men the 13 Ultimo including about 300 or 400 Indians see how our time has been disbanded behold how the golden opportunity is lost perhaps never to be regained how is it to be accounted for can General Forbes have orders for this impossible within our injured country passed by such abuses I hope not rather let a full representation of the matter go to his majesty let him know how gross to his glory and interests and the public money have been prostituted September 22 defeat of Major Grant Colonel Washington was soon afterwards ordered to raise down Major Grant had been previously detached from the advanced post at loyal Hannah with a select core of 800 men to recon order the country about Fort Duquesne in the night he reached a hill near the fort and sent forward a party for the purpose of discovery they burnt a log house and returned next morning Major Grant detached Major Lewis of Colonel Washington's regiment sent an engineer with a covering party within full view of the fort to take a plan of the works in the meantime he ordered the Reveley to be beaten in different places and actions soon commenced on which Major Lewis leaving Captain Bullitt with about 50 Virginians to guard the baggage advanced with the utmost celerity to support Major Grant the English were defeated with considerable loss and both Major Grant and Major Lewis were taken prisoners in this action of Virginians evidenced the spirit with which they had been trained out of 8 officers 5 were killed the 6th wounded and a 7th taken prisoner Captain Bullitt who defended the baggage with great resolution and contributed to save the remnant of the detachment was the only officer who escaped unhurt of 162 men 62 were killed on the spot and 2 wounded this conduct reflected high honor on the commanding officer of the regiment as well as on the troops and he received on the occasion the compliments of the general the total loss was 273 killed and 42 wounded October 8 it was at length determined that the main body of the army should move from raised town and the general called on the colonels of regiments to submit severally to his consideration of plan for his march that proposed by Colonel Washington has been preserved and appears to have been judiciously formed they reached the camp at Laurel Hanna through a road in describably back about the 5th of November where has had been predicted a council of war determined that it was unadvisable to proceed farther this campaign it would have been almost impossible to winter an army in that position they must have retreated from the cold in hospital wilderness into which they had penetrated or have suffered immensely perhaps a perished fortunately some prisoners were taken who informed them of the extreme distress of the fort deriving no support from Canada the garrison was weak in great want of provisions and had been deserted by the Indians these encouraging circumstances changed the resolution which have been taken and determined the general to prosecute the expedition Ford Duquesne evacuated by the French and taken in 1925 Colonel Washington was advanced in front and with immense labor opened away for the main body of the army the troops move forward with slow and painful steps until they reached for Duquesne of which they took peaceable possession the garrison having on that preceding night after evacuating and setting it on fire proceeded down the Ohio in boats to other causes then the figure of the officer who conducted this enterprise the capture of this important places to be ascribed the naval armaments of Britain have intercepted the reinforcements designed by France for her colonies and the pressure on candidate was such as to disable the governor of that province from detaching troops to Fort Duquesne without the eight of these causes the extraordinary and accountable delays of the campaign must have defeated its object the works were repaired and the new fort received the name of the great minister who with unparalleled vigor and talents then governed the nation after furnishing 200 men from his regiment as a gear and for a fort pit Colonel Washington March back to Winchester when see soon afterwards proceeded to Williamsburg to take into general assembly of which he had been elected a member by the county of Frederick while at Fort Cumberland association of Indian hostility being the consequence of exploring the French from the Ohio Virginia was relieved from the dangers with which she had been threatened and the object for which alone he had continued in the service after proceeding that he should not be placed on that permanent establishment was accomplished his health was much impaired and his domestic affairs required his attention resignation and marriage of Colonel Washington of private nature he determined to withdraw from a service which he might now quit without dishonor and about the close of the year resigned his commission as Colonel of the first Virginia regiment and commander in chief of all the troops raised in the colony the Washington family burial ground Wakefield Westmoreland County Virginia he arrest the mortal remains of George Washington's great friend father Colonel John Washington who came to Virginia in 1658 and was buried here in 1677 of his grandfather Lawrence 1697 of his grandmother Jane Butler in 1729 of his father Augustine Washington in 1743 and other members of the Washington family the officers whom he had commanded were greatly attached to him they manifested their esteem and their regret departing by a very affectionate address expressive of the high opinion they entertained both of his military and private character this opinion was not confined to the officers of his regiment it was common to Virginia and had been adopted by the British officers duties he performed they're not splendid were arduous and were executed with zeal and with judgment the exact discipline he established in his regiment when the temper of Virginia was extremely hostile the discipline does credit to his military character and the gallantry the troops displayed whenever called into action manifests the spirit infused into them by their commander the difficulties of his situation while unable to cover the frontier from the French and Indians who were spreading death and desolation every quartet were incalculably great and no better evidence of his exertions under these distressing circumstances can be given than the undiminished confidence still placed in him by those whom he was unable to protect the efforts to which he incessantly stimulated his country for the purpose of obtaining possession of the Ohio the system for the conduct of the war which he continually recommended the vigorous and active measures always urged upon those by whom he was commanded manifest an ardent and enterprising mind tempered by judgment and quickly improved by experience not long after his resignation he was married to Mrs. Curtis the young lady to whom he'd been for some time attached and who to a large fortunate and fine person added those amiable accomplishments which ensure domestic happiness and filled with silent but unceasing felicity the quiet scenes of private life End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of the Life of Washington Volume 2 by John Marshall this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 2 Colonel Washington appointed commander and chief of the American forces arrives at Cambridge strengthened disposition of the two armies deficiency of the Americans in arms and ammunition distress of the British from the want to fresh provisions Falmouth Burnt success of the American cruisers measures to form a continental army difficulty of re-enlisting the troops planned for attacking Boston General Lee detached to New York possession taken of the heights of Dorchester Boston evacuated correspondence respecting prisoners 1775 the attention of Colonel Washington for several years after his marriage was principally directed to the management of his estate he continued a most respectable member of the legislature of his country in which he took an early and a decided part against the claims of supremacy asserted by the British Parliament as hostilities approached he was chosen by the independent companies formed through the northern parts of Virginia to command them and was elected a member of the first congress which met at Philadelphia the illustrious patriots who composed it soon distinguished him as the soldier of America and placed him on all those committees whose duty it was to make arrangements for defense when it became necessary to appoint a commander in chief his military character the solidity of his judgment the steady firmness of his temper the dignity of his person and department the confidence inspired by his patriotism and integrity and the independence of his fortune combined to designate him in the opinion of all for that important station local jealousy was suppressed not only by the enthusiasm of the moment by that policy which induced the sagacious delegation from New England to prefer a commander in chief from the south Colonel Washington appointed commander in chief of the American forces on the 14th of June he was unanimously chosen general and commander in chief of the armies of the united colonies and all the forces now raised or to be raised by them June 15 on the succeeding day when the president communicated this appointment to him he expressed his high sense of the honor conferred upon him and his firm determination to exert every power he possessed in the service of his country and of her glorious cause at the same time he acknowledged the distress he felt from a consciousness at his abilities and military experience might not be equal to the extensive and important trust he declined all compensation for his services and devout an intention to keep an exact account of his expenses which he should rely on congress to discharge a special commission was directed and at resolution unanimously passed declaring that congress would maintain assist and adhere to him as the general and commander in chief of the forces raised or to be raised for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty with their lives and fortunes he prepared without delay to enter upon the arduous duties of his office and remaining only a few days in New York where several important arrangements were to be made proceeded to the headquarters of the American army arrives at Cambridge as all orders of men concurred in approving his appointment all concurred in expressing their satisfaction at that event and their determination to afford him entire support of my essential to the success of that arduous contest into which the United colonies had entered July three strength and disposition of the two armies the first moments after his arrival in camp were employed in reconordering the enemy and examining the strength and situation of the American troops the main body of the British army under the immediate command of general howl was entrenching itself strongly on Bunkers Hill three floating batteries lay in Mystic river near the camp and at 20 gun ship below the ferry between Boston and Charlestown a strong battery on the Boston side of the water on cops or copes Hill served to cover and strengthen the post on Division was deeply entrenched on Rocksbury neck the light horse and an inconsiderable body of infantry were stationed in Boston the American army lay on both sides of Charles River the right occupied the high grounds about Rocksbury whence it extended towards Dorchester and the left was covered by Mystic or Medford River a space of at least 12 miles these extensive lines could not be contracted without opening to the British general a communication with the country for the purpose of a more distinct arrangement the army was thrown into three grand divisions that part of it which lay about Rocksbury constituted the right wing and was commanded by Major General Ward the troops near Mystic or Medford River formed the left which was placed under Major General Lee the center including the reserve was under the immediate command of General Washington whose headquarters were at Cambridge the army consisted of 14,000 500 men but less effective than its numbers would indicate deficiency of the Americans in arms and ammunition so long had the hope of avoiding open hostilities been indulged that the time for making preparations to meet them had passed away unemployed and the neglect could not be remedied on General Washington's arrival and camp he had ordered a return of the ammunition to be made and the report stated 303 barrels of powder to be in store a few days after this return the alarming discovery was made that the actual quantity was not more than sufficient to furnish each man with nine cartridges this mistake had been produced by a misapprehension of the committee of supplies for the magazines were not yet in possession of military officers who instead of returning the existing quantity reported the whole which had been originally furnished by the province though the utmost exertions were made this critical state of things continued about a fortnight when a small supply of powder was received from Elizabeth town in New Jersey the utmost address was used to conceal from the enemy this alarming deficiency but when it is recollected in how many various directions into what various bodies application for assistance was unavoidably made it will appear scarcely possible that those efforts that concealment could have been completely successful it is more probable that the communications which must have been made to the British general were discredited and that he could not permitted himself to believe that an army without bayonettes would be hard enough to maintain the position occupied by the provincials if destitute of ammunition the troops were also in such need of tents as to be placed in barracks instead of being encamped in the open field and were almost destitute of clothing they had to been raised by the colonial governments each of which organized this quota on different principles from this cause resulted not only a want of uniformity but other defects which were much more important in Massachusetts the soldiers had chosen their platoon officers and generally lived with them as equals this on military practice was the certain index of that general in subordination which pervaded every department the difficulty of establishing principles of order and obedience always considerable among raw troops was increased by the short terms for which enlistments had been made the quotas of some of the colonies would be entitled to a discharge in November and none were engaged to continue in service longer than the last of December the early orders evidence a state of things was to be inferred from the circumstances under which the war have been commenced an additional inconvenience derived from this mixed agency of local governments with that of the union was thus stated by General Washington in a letter addressed to Congress I should be extremely deficient in gratitude as well as justice if I did not take the first opportunity to acknowledge the readiness and attention which the Congress and different committees have shown to make everything as convenient and agreeable as possible but there is a vital and inherent principle of delay incompatible with military service in transacting business through such various and different channels I esteem at my duty therefore to represent the inconvenience that must unavoidably ensue from a dependence on a number of persons for supplies and submit it to the consideration of Congress whether the public service will not be best promoted by appointing a commissary general for the purpose every military operation was also seriously deficiency of working tools to increase difficulties already so considerable the appointment of general officers made by Congress gave extensive dissatisfaction and determined several of those who thought themselves injured to retire from the service these disadvantages deducted essentially from the capacity of the American force but under them all the general observed with pleasure the materials for a good army these were a great number of men able-bodied active zealous in the cause and of unquestionable courage possessed of these materials he employed himself indefatigably in their organization the army was arranged into divisions and brigades and congress was urged to the appointment of a pay master quarter master general and such other general staff as are indispensable in the structure of a regular military establishment the two armies continued to work on their respective fortifications without seriously molesting each other slight skirmish as occasionally took place in which little execution was done and although the Americans made some advances no attempt was made to dislodge them September the commander-in-chief submitted with reluctance to the state of apparent inactivity he felt the importance of destroying the army in boston before it should be strengthened by reinforcements in the ensuing spring and with a view to this object frequently reconordered its situation and was assiduous in collecting every information respecting its strength the result of his observations and inquiries seems to have been a strong inclination to the opinion that to carry the works by storm though hazardous was not impracticable a council of general officers being unanimously of opinion that for the president at least the attempt ought not to be made it was laid aside distress of the British from the want to fresh provisions a rigorous blockade being maintained the British army began to suffer considerably for fresh meat and vegetables the small parties which sailed from boston in quest to these articles were frequently disappointed by the vigilance of a minute man but the continuance of active exertion which this service required on the part of the inhabitants of the sea coast soon became burdensome and the governors of the several colonies pressed for detachments from the main army although it was impossible to spare the troops required without hazarding the cause of the colony's great irritation was excited by the refusal to comply with these demands of particular protection they had linked became so important and the unavoidable refusal to comply with them was so ill-received that congress was induced to pass a resolution declaring that the army before boston was designed only to oppose the enemy at that place and ought not to be weakened by detachments for the security of other parts of the country at newport in roedalen the committee sought to secure the place by entering into a compromise the captain Wallace who commanded the ships of war on that station stipulating that he should be furnished with provisions on condition of his sparing the town and committing no depredations on the country this compromise contravened so essentially the general plan of distressing the british forces that general washington deemed it necessary to interpose and represent to the governor of that province the mischief to be apprehended from so dangerous a practice while the blockade of boston was thus perseveringly maintained other events of considerable importance took place elsewhere in july georgia joined her sister colonies and chose delegates after which the style of the 13 united colonies was assumed and by that title the english provinces confederated and in arms were thus forward designated september five after a recess of one month congress again assembled at philadelphia the state of the colonies and the letters of the commander in chief being immediately taken into consideration the scarcity of arms and ammunition engaged their most serious attention great exertions had been made by importation and by domestic manufacture to extricate the country from this perilous situation but the supplies were unequal to the necessities of the army and the danger resulting from the want of articles so vitally essential in war still continue to be great the importance of a maritime force to the military operations of a country possessing an immense extent of sea coast must always be sensibly felt and in an early stage of the contest of particular attention of the united colonies was directed more of an object by an event not very unusual in war but which at this time excited no ordinary degree of resentment orders had been issued to the commanders of the British ships of war to proceed as in the case of actual rebellion against those seaport towns which were accessible and in which any troops should be raised or military works directed October fall with burnt fall of flourishing village on the sea coast of Massachusetts having given some particular offense a small naval force commanded by Captain Mowat was under color of these orders detached for its destruction after making an ineffectual effort to induce the inhabitants to deliver up their arms and ammunition and for the principal citizens as hostages he commenced furious cannonade and bombardment by which the town was reduced to ashes an attempt was then made to penetrate into the country but the militia a minute men rather irritated than intimidated by this want the nation drove the party which had landed back to their ships this measure was lovely reprobated throughout America and contributed not a little to turn the attention of the United colonies to their Marine it was one immediate motive with the convention of Massachusetts for granting letters of mark and reprisal and was assigned by congress in addition to the capture of American merchantmen on the high seas as an inducement for fitting out some ships of war to man which they directed to battalions of Marines to be recruited success of the American cruisers though congress deferred granting general letters of reprisal they adopted a measure of equal efficacy but less hostile in appearance their ships of war were authorized to capture all vessels employed in giving assistance to the enemy the terms used in that resolution were such as comprehended every possible capture a few small cruisers had already been fitted out by the directions of general Washington and the coasts soon privateers of new england these naval exertions were attended with valuable consequences many captures were made and important supplies of ammunition were thus obtained although the british army had manifested no intention to evacuate boston fears were continually entertained for new york mr. tryon who was popular in that province had been lately recalled from north carolina and appointed its governor his utmost influence was employed and detaching that colony from the union and his exertions were seconded by the asian man of war whose guns commanded the town the consequence of these intrigues and of this terror was that even in the convention disaffection to the american cause began openly to show itself and a determination to join the king's standard is said to have been expressed with impunity these threatening appearances were rendered the more serious by some confidential communications from england stating the intention of administration to send a fleet into the hudson and to occupy both new york and albany under the alarm thus excited an effort was made in congress to obtain a resolution for seizing the governor he had however been artful enough to make impressions in his favor and he was depended by a part of the delegation from new york with so much earnestness that for a time the advocates of the proposition for a bore to press it afterwards when the increasing defection in that province induced congress to resume the subject the resolution was expressed in general terms and assumed the form of a recommendation to those who exercise the legislative and executive functions in the several provinces to arrest and secure every person in the respective colonies who's going at large might in their opinion endanger the safety of the colony or the liberties of america intelligence of this resolution is supposed to have been received by the governor who after some correspondence with the mayor of the city respecting his personal safety retired for security on board the Halifax packet and continued to carry on his intrigues with nearly as much advantage as well on shore but the subject which next to the supply of arms and ammunition most interested the american government was the re-enlistment of the army the historic washington helmet cambridge massachusetts under this tree as the granite tablet states washington first took command of the american army july 3rd 1775 this picture is from a photograph taken about the year 1900 in spite of the most determined efforts to preserve this historic relic the tree fell in November 1923 measures to form a continental army on the 29th of september at the earnest solicitation of general washington a committee had been appointed by congress with directions to repair to the camp at cambridge there to consult with the commander in chief and with the chief magistrates of new hampshire connecticut and roedown and the council of massachusetts on the most effectual method of continuing supporting and regulating a continental army on the return of this committee congress determined that the new army should consist of twenty thousand three hundred and seventy two men including officers to be raised as far as practicable from the troops already in service unfortunately in constituting this first military establishment of the union an essential era was committed the consequences of which ceased only with the war the soldiers instead of being engaged for an unlimited time were enlisted for the term of only one year if not sooner discharged by congress it is not easy to account entirely for this fatal error with their jealousy of a prominent army were probably intermingled hopes that the war would not be of long duration and fears that much difficulty would be encountered in prevailing on men to enter into engagements of unlimited extent perhaps the habits of the northern colonies where it had been usual to raise men for a single campaign may have contributed to this measure whatever may have been its motives its consequences were of the most serious nature and it brought the american cause more than once into real hazard other resolutions accompanied that for raising and establishing the new army which exhibit the perilous condition of the country and its want of those means which were indispensable to the support of the arduous conflict in which it was engaged one resolution ordered the detention at a valuation of the arms of those soldiers who should refuse to re-enlist although they were private property and but ill-adapted to military purposes another offer two dollars to every recruit who would supply himself with a blanket a third ordered the purchase of any clothes which could be procured without regard to color to be delivered to the soldiers after deducting the price from their pay and a fourth required the soldiers to furnish their own arms or to pay for the use of those which might be supplied by the government October 22 before the arrangements made by the committee were confirmed by congress general washington proceeded to take the preparatory steps for carrying them into execution it being understood that the engagements of the officers as well as of the soldiers would expire with the year the whole army was to be formed to new the officers therefore were required to signify and writing to their respective colonels their determination to leave or to continue in the service that it might be communicated to congress through the officer commanding brigades difficulty of re-enlisting the army the urgency of the case could not produce a compliance with these orders many just regarded them their remaining in the service repetitions of them became necessary and an unconditional declaration was required but that high spirit and enthusiastic order which have brought such numbers into the field after the battle of Lexington was already beginning to dissipate and that alacrity for the service which had been expected was not displayed the orders of the day contain the most animating exhortations to the army and the strongest appeals to its patriotism but there was an ominous hesitation informing new engagements November 12 at length with much labor the officers were arranged upon which recruiting orders were issued but the sufferings of the army for fuel clothes and even provisions have been great and to this cause may be attributed the tardiness with which the soldiers in camp enrolled themselves one officer from each company was employed to recruit in the country but their progress was not such as the crisis demanded and the army was dissolving by the expiration of the time for which it had been enlisted the impatience of the soldiers to revisit their friends overcame all their solicitude for maintaining the blockade of Boston and it was with great difficulty that those entitled to a discharge were detained in camp even for 10 days at the end of which time a body of militia was expected to supply their places this fact however did not convince the governments of the united colonies that it was possible to rely too much on individual patriotism and that the American cause if defended entirely by temporary armies must be often exposed to imminent hazard November 30 perceiving the difficulty of recruiting the army the general earnestly recommended to congress to try the effect of a bounty this proposition was not adopted until late in January and on the last day of December when all the old troops not engaged on the new establishment were disbanded only 9,650 men had been enlisted for the army of 1776 many of whom were unavoidably permitted to be absent on furlough their numbers however were considerably augmented during the winter and in the meantime the militia cheerfully complied with the requisitions made on them December notwithstanding these complicated difficulties and embarrassments the general viewed with deep mortification the semblance of inactivity to which is situation compelled him to submit in the commencement of the contest while the minds of many were undetermined it was of vast importance to secure the public confidence and it was necessary to pay some attention even to the public caprice the real difficulties under which he labored were not generally known his numbers were exaggerated in his means of carrying on offensive operations were magnified the expulsion of the British army from boston have been long since anticipated by many and those were not wanting who endeavored to spread discontent by insinuating that the commander in chief was desirous of prolonging the war in order to continue his own importance and to the consequences they might produce he could not be insensible but he was not in his power to silence such complaints by disclosing to the world his real situation his views still continue to be directed towards boston and congress having manifested a disposition favorable to an attack on that place the general officers have been again assembled and had again advised unanimously against the measure supposing that fears for the safety of the town might embarrass the proceedings of the army congress resolved that if general washington and his council of war should be of opinion that a successful attack might be made on the troops of boston he should make it in any manner he might think expedient notwithstanding the town and property in it might be thereby destroyed plans for attacking boston whilst waiting for a favorable opportunity to execute this bold plan the american general availed himself of the occasional aids received from the militia to make advances on the besieged and to seize positions favor ulterior operations plowed hill cobble hill and lech mirrors point were successively occupied and fortified his approaches were carried within half a mile of the works on bunkers hill and his guns drove their floating batteries from their stations and protected others constructed under his orders hitherto the object of the war had been a redress of grievances the language that it was a war against a corrupt administration had been carefully observed and allegiance about the progress however of the public mind towards independence though slow was certain and measures were necessarily taken which apparently tended to that object among these was the act of establishing temporary governments in place of that revolutionary system which followed the suspension of the ancient institutions the first application on this subject was made by massachusetts and her example was soon followed by other colonies these applications could not failed to draw forth the sentiments of members on the very interesting question of separation from the mother country they who wish to lead public opinion to independence were desirous of establishing a regular government in each province entirely competent to the administration of its affairs while they who were hostile to that event opposed every measure which might either incline the colonies towards it or strengthen the opinion in great prudent that it was the real object of all who had resisted the legislative supremacy of parliament a resolution was with difficulty obtained in the case of new hampshire which formed a precedent for others of the same nature recommending to their provincial convention to call a full and free representation of the people who should establish such form of government as would best promote the general happiness and most effectively secure peace and good order in the colony during the continuance of the present dispute with great Britain without this last clause which still maintain with the parent state the recommendation would not have been made about the same time Congress also resolve that it would be extremely dangerous to the liberties and welfare of America for any colonies separately to petition the King or either House of Parliament having taken into consideration a proclamation declaring certain persons in the colonies to have forgotten their allegiance and to be in a state of open rebellion and threatening with punishment those who should be found caring on correspondence with them Congress declared in the name of the people of these united colonies and by the authority according to the pure as maxims of representation derived from them that whatever punishment shall be inflicted upon any persons in the power of their enemies for favoring aiding or abetting the cause of American liberty shall be retaliated in the same kind and in the same degree upon those in their power who have favored aided or abetted or shall favor aid or abet the system of ministerial oppression the British Army the command of which on the recall of General Gage had devolved upon General House still remained inactive in Boston and was still closely blocked up on the land side the history of this winter campaign is a history of successive struggles on the part of the American general with the difficulties imposed by the want of arms ammunition and permanent troops on a person extremely solicitous by some grand and useful achievement to prove himself worthy of the high station to which the voice of his country had called him 1776 January considering the resolution relative to the attack on Boston as indicating the desire of Congress on that subject here sure the president then an attempt would be made to put it in execution the first moment he should perceive a probability of success if this should not occur as soon as might be expected or wished he prayed that his situation might be recollected and that Congress would do him the justice to believe that circumstances not inclination on his part occasioned the delay it is not so he in the pages of history to furnish a case like ours to maintain a post within musket shot of the enemy for six months together without ammunition and at the same time to disband one army and recruit another within that distance of 20 odd British regiments and more than probably ever was attempted but if we succeed as well in the latter as we have hitherto done in the former I shall think at the most fortunate event of my whole life in the month of January a council of war at which Mr. John Adams a member of Congress Mr. Warren president of the provincial Congress of Massachusetts resolved that a vigorous attempt ought to be made on the ministerial troops in Boston before they can be reinforced in the spring if the means can be provided and a favorable opportunity should offer it was farther advised that 13 regiments of militia should be asked for from Massachusetts and the neighboring colonies in order to put the army in a condition to make the attempt the militia to assemble on the first of February and to continue in service if necessary until the first of March the colonies readily comply with these requisitions but so Mount had the season hitherto been that the waters about Boston continued open Congress would discover in my last said the general on the 19th of January my motives for strengthening these lines with militia the weather as the weather turns out exceedingly mild and so much as to promise nothing favorable from ice and there is no appearance of powder I shall be able to attempt anything decisive time only can determine the best in Boston more than I do no person would be willing to go greater lengths than I shall to accomplish it if it shall be thought advisable but if we have no powder to bombard with nor ice to pass on we shall be in no better situation than we have been all the year we shall be in a worse and as their works are stronger generally detached to New York early in January the commander in chief received unquestionable intelligence that an armament was equipping in Boston to sale under expedition many considerations induced him to believe that New York was its destination he thought the possession of the Hudson of great importance to the British and that the numerous adherents to the royal cause in New York furnished an additional reason for transferring the seat of war to that colony whilst deliberating on this subject he received a letter from General Lee requesting to be detached to Connecticut for the purpose of assembling a body of volunteers who should march into New York and be employed both for the security of that place and the expulsion or suppression of a band of Tories collecting on Long Island though inclined to the adoption of this measure delicacy towards those who exercise the powers of civil government in the colony suspended his decision on it Mr. John Adams who possessed great and well merited influence was then at Watertown attending the provincial convention and with him the general held some communications respecting his powers that gentlemen being decidedly of opinion that they extended to the case General Lee was detached with instructions to raise a body of volunteers in Connecticut to reinforce the battalions of New Jersey and New York which replaced under his command his orders were to proceed to New York to examine the fortifications of the city and up the river to put them in the best possible state of defense to disarm all persons whose conduct rendered them justly suspected of designs unfriendly to the government especially those on Long Island and to collect the arms and ammunition in their possession for the use of the army no difficulty was found in raising the volunteers required from Connecticut the people of that province were zealous and enterprising and Governor Trumbull having sanctioned the measure troops were immediately in body and Lee commenced his march for New York at the head of 1200 men the inhabitants of that place were much alarmed at his approach Captain Parker of the Asia man of war had threatened that he would destroy the town in the event of its being entered by any considerable body of provincials and it was believed that these threats would be executed a committee of safety which had been appointed to exercise the powers of government during the recess of the provincial Congress addressed a letter to General Lee expressing astonishment at the report that he was about to enter the town without previously intimating his design and pressing him earnestly not to pass the confines of Connecticut until they could have further explanations with him holding in utter contempt the threats of Captain Parker Lee continued his march and in a letter to Congress represented in such strong terms the impolicy of leaving the military arrangements for New York under the control of the local government that Congress appointed three of their own body to consult with him and the council of safety respecting the defense of the place and instructed him to obey the directions of that committee Lee soon acquired that ascendancy which is the prerogative of a superior mind over those who were sent for his government and they directed him to execute whatever he suggested a plan recommended and preserving its connection with Long Island was adopted and prosecuted with vigor General Clinton arrived almost at the same instant with General Lee but without troops he said openly that none were coming that no hostilities were contemplated against New York and that he was himself merely on a visit to his friend trying it would be really so added General Lee in his letter containing this communication is the most whimsical piece of civility I ever heard of General Clinton did not affect to conceal that procedure North Carolina where he expected that five regiments from Europe would join the small force he should carry with him about the middle of February the cold was intense and the ice became sufficiently firm to bear the troops General Washington was now disposed to execute the bold plan he had formed of attacking General Howe in Boston but a council of war being almost unanimous against the measure he was abandoned the want of ammunition for the artillery was a principle inducement to this opinion the attempt probably and attended with insurable loss but the advice of the council seems to have been adopted with regret in communicating their opinion to congress the general observed perhaps the irksomeness of my situation may have given different ideas to me from those which influence the gentleman I consulted and might have inclined me to put more to the hazard than was consistent with prudence if it had this effect I'm not sensible of it as I endeavored to give the subject all the consideration a matter of such importance required true it is and I cannot help acknowledging many disagreeable sensations on account of my situation for to have the eyes of the whole continent fixed on me with anxious expectation of hearing some great event and to be restrained in every military operation for want of the necessary means to carry it on is not very pleasing especially as the means used to conceal my weakness from the enemy conceal it also from our friends and add to their wonder late in February various appearances among the British troops indicated an intention to evacuate Boston but as these appearances might be deceptive he had now received a small supply of powder general Washington determined to prosecute vigorously a plan he had formed to force general how either to come to an action or to abandon the town since the allowance of a bounty recruiting have been more successful and the regular force have been augmented to rather more than 14,000 men in addition to these troops the commander in chief are called to his aid about 6,000 of the militia of Massachusetts thus reinforced he determined to take possession of the heights of Dorchester and to fortify them as the possession of this post would enable him to annoy the ships in the harbor and the soldiers in the town he was persuaded that a general action would ensue but if this hope should be disappointed his purpose was to make the works on the heights of Dorchester only preparatory to seizing and fortifying Nooks Hill and the points opposite the south end of Boston which commanded the harbor a great part of the town and the beach from which an embarkation must take place in the event of a retreat march possession to facilitate the execution of this plan a heavy bombardment and candidate were commenced on the town and on the British lines which were repeated the two succeeding nights on the last of them immediately after the firing had begun a strong detachment under the command of general Thomas took possession of the heights without opposition such was their activity and industry through the night that although the ground was almost impenetrable the works were sufficiently advanced by the morning nearly to cover them when daylight disclose their operations to the British a considerable degree of embarrassment appeared and an ineffectual fire was commenced on the party in possession of the heights who in turn opened a battery on the besiege and continued with unremitting labor to strengthen their position March 5 it was necessary to dislodge the Americans from the heights or to evacuate the town and general how as had been foreseen determined to embrace the former part of the alternative 3000 shows them in to be commanded by Lord Percy were ordered on this service these troops were embarked and fell down to the castle in order to proceed up the river to the intended scene of action but were scattered by a furious storm which disabled them from immediately prosecuting the enterprise before they could again be in readiness for the attack the works were made so strong that the attempt to storm them was thought unadvisable and the evacuation of the town became inevitable in the expectation that the flower of the British troops would be employed against the heights of Dorchester general Washington had conserved a plan for availing himself of that occasion to attack Boston itself the storm which defeated the proposed attack on the heights defeated this enterprise also Boston evacuated March 17 the determination to evacuate Boston was soon communicated a paper signed by some of the selectman of the town and brought out with a flag stated the fact this paper was accompanied by a proposition said to be made on the part of general how but not signed by him relative to the security of the town and the peaceable embarkation of his army as these propositions were not addressed to the commander in chief and were not authenticated by the signature of general how nor about any act obligatory on him general Washington thought it improper directly to notice them and ordered the officer to whom they were delivered to return an answer stating the reasons why they were not treated with more attention the determination however to continue his advances and to secure Nooks Hill was changed and considerable detachments were moved towards New York before actual evacuation of Boston this event took place on the 17th of March and in a few days the whole fleet sailed out of Nan Taskett Road directing its course eastward the recovery of this important town gave great joy to the United colonies Congress passed the vote of thanks to the general and his army for their wise and spirited conduct in the siege and acquisition of Boston and directed a medal of gold to be struck in commemoration of the event as soon as the British fleet have put to see the American army proceeded by divisions very derived on the 14th of April during the siege of Boston an altercation concerning prisoners took place between the commanders of the respective armies which was viewed with great interest throughout America character of the war a war between a sovereign and those who profess to be as subjects led to a course of conduct on the part of the British general which the actual state of things did not justify General Gage as governor of Massachusetts had received all the irritations of which his mind was susceptible irritations had no inconsiderable influence over his conduct as commander in chief he regarded the Americans nearly as rebels and treated them as if that great national resistance they were making on principle was to be viewed as the act of a few daring and turbulent individuals rising against laws of unquestionable obligation who would soon be quelled and punished for their disobedience of legitimate authority in the spirit through some distinguished gentlemen of Boston and the American officers and soldiers who fell into his hands into the common jails of felons and treated them without respect to military rank or condition not as prisoners of war but as state criminals correspondence respecting prisoners general Washington remonstrated very seriously against this unjustifiable measure considering political opinion entirely out of the question and conceiving the obligations of humanity and the claims of rank to be universally binding except in the case of retaliation express the hope he had entertained that they would have induced on the part of the British general conformable to the rights they gave while he claimed the benefits of these rights he declared his determination to be regulated entirely in his conduct towards the prisoners who should fall into his hands by the treatment which those in the power of the British general should receive do this letter a haughty and intemperate answer was returned retorting the complaints concerning the treatment of prisoners and effecting to consider as an instance of clemency that the court was not applied to those whose imprisonment was complained of to this answer general and dignified reply which was he said to close their correspondence perhaps forever in which concluded was saying if your officers our prisoners receive from me a treatment different from what I wish to show them they and you will remember the occasion of it the result of this correspondence was communicated to the council of Massachusetts who were requested to order the British officers then on parole to be confined in close jail and the soldiers to be sent to such place of security as a general court should direct on the recall of general gauge the command devolved on general how whose conduct was less exceptional and this rigorous treatment of prisoners was relaxed not long after this correspondence with general gauge while Montgomery was employed in the siege of St. John's Colonel Ethan Allen was captured in a bold and rash attempt on Montreal under the pretext of his having acted without authority he was put in arms and sent to England as a trader while he was yet in Canada congress requested the commander in chief to inquire into the fact he addressed the letter Sir William Howe requiring explanations on it and assuring him that general Prescott who had been taken in Canada and was understood to have contributed to the severities inflicted on Colonel Allen should receive exactly the fate of that officer General Howe not holding any authority in Canada or not choosing to enter fully into this subject General Schuyler was directed to make particular inquiries into the conduct of Prescott and congress on being informed in efficacy of the application to General Howe ordered that officer into close to end of Chapter 2