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SECTION VII.

The same subject continued.

1. THE flame was now kindled in every breast; and associations were formed, and committees of correspondence were established, which produced a unity of thought and action throughout the colonies. General Gage, the British commander in chief, arrived in Boston, in 1774, with mor troops, with the avowed intention of dragooning the refrac tory Bostonians into compliance. A general sympathy was excited for the suffering inhabitants of Boston: addresses poured in from all quarters; Marblehead offered to the Bos ton merchants the use of their wharves, and Salem refused to adopt the trade, the offer of which had been proffered as a temptation to her cupidity.

2. Affairs rapidly approached a crisis. The preparations for offense and defense, induced General Gage to fortify Bos ton, and to seize on the powder lodged at the arsenal at Charlestown.

3. In September, deputies from most of the colonies met in congress, at Philadelphia. These delegates approved of the conduct of the people of Massachusetts; wrote a letter to General Gage; published a declaration of rights; formed an association not to import or use British goods; sent a peti tion to the king of Great Britain; an address to the inhabitants of that kingdom; another to the inhabitants of Canada; and another to the inhabitants of the colonies. In the beginning of the next year, (1775,) was passed the fishery bill, by which the northern colonies were forbidden to fish on the banks of Newfoundland for a certain time. This bore hard upon the commerce of these colonies, which was in a great measure supported by the fishery.

4. Soon after, another bill was passed, which restrained the trade of the middle and southern colonies to Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies, except under certain conditions. These repeated acts of oppression on the part of Great Britain, alienated the affections of America from her parent and sovereign, and produced a combined opposition to the whole system of taxation. Preparations began to be made to oppose by force the execution of these acts of parliament. The militia of the country were trained to the use of arms-great encouragement was given to the manufacture of gunpowder, and measures were taken to obtain all kinds of military stores.

5. In February, Colonel Leslie was sent with a detachment of troops from Boston, to take possession of some cannon at Salem. But the people had intelligence of the designtook up the drawbridge in that town, and prevented the troops from passing, until the cannon were secured; so that the ex pedition failed. In April, Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn were sent with a body of troops, to destroy the military store which had been collected at Concord, about twenty miles from Boston. At Lexington the militia were collected on a green, to oppose the incursion of the British forces. These were fired upon by the British troops, and eight men killed on the spot.

6. The militia were dispersed, and the troops proceeded to Concord, where they destroyed a few stores. But on their return they were incessantly harrassed by the Americans, who, inflamed with just resentment, fired upon them from houses and fences, and pursued them to Boston. Here was spilled the first blood in the war which severed America from the British empire. Lexington opened the first scene of the great drama, which, in its progress, exhibited the most illus trious characters and events, and closed with a revolution, equally glorious for the actors, and important in its consequences to the human race.

7. This battle roused all America. The militia collected from all quarters, and Boston was in a few days besieged by twenty thousand men. A stop was put to all intercourse between the town and country, and the inhabitants were reduced to great want of provisions. General Gage promised to let the people depart, if they would deliver up their arms. The people complied; but when the general had obtained their arms, he refused to let the people go.

8. In the mean time, a small number of men, under the command of Colonel Allen and Colonel Easton, without any public orders, surprised and took the British garrison at Tř conderoga without the loss of a man.

9. In June following, our troops attempted to fortify Bunker's Hill, which lies in Charlestown, and but a mile and a half from Boston. They had during the night thrown up a small breast work, which sheltered them from the fire of the British cannon. But the next morning, the British army was sent to drive them from the hill; and landing under cover of their cannon, they set fire to Charlestown, which was consumed, and marched to attack our troops in the entrenchments.

10. A severe engagement ensued, in which the British suffered a very great loss, both of officers and privates. They

were repulsed at first, and thrown into disorder; but they finally carried the fortification with the point of the bayonet. The Americans suffered a small loss compared with the British; but the death of the brave General Warren, who fell in the action, a martyr to the cause of his country, was severely felt and universally lamented.

11. About this time, the continental congress appointed George Washington, Esq. to the chief command of the continental army. This gentleman had been a distinguished and successful officer in the preceding war, and he seemed destined by Heaven to be the savior of his country. He ac cepted the appointment with a diffidence which was proof of his prudence and his greatness. He refused any pay for eight years laborious and arduous service; and by his matchless skill, fortitude, and perseverance, conducted America, through indescribable difficulties, to independence and peace. While true merit is esteemed, or virtue honored, mankind will never cease to revere the memory of this hero; and while gratitude remains in the human breast, the praises of WASHINGTON shall dwell on every American tongue.

12. General Washington, with other officers appointed by congress, arrived at Cambridge, and took command of the American army in July. From this time, the affairs of America began to assume the appearance of a regular and general opposition to the forces of Great Britain.

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13. In autumn, a body of troops, under the command of General Montgomery, besieged and took the garrison at St. John's, which commands the entrance into Canada. prisoners amounted to about seven hundred. General Montgomery pursued his success, and took Montreal, and designed to push his victories to Quebec. A body of troops, commanded by Arnold, was ordered to march to Canada by the river Kennebec, and through the wilderness. After suffering every hardship, and the most distressing hunger, they arrived in Canada, and were joined by General Montgomery before Quebec.

14. This city, which was commanded by governor Carle ton, was immediately besieged. But there being little hope of taking the town by a siege, it was determined to storm it. The attack was made on the last day of December, but proved unsuccessful, and fatal to the brave general, who with his aid was killed in attempting to scale the walls. Of the three divisions which attacked the town, one only entered, and that was compelled to surrender to superior force. After this defeat, Arnold who now commanded the troops, conti nued some months before Quebec, although his troops suffer

ed incredibly by cold and sickness. But the next spring the Americans were obliged to retreat from Canada.

15. About this time the large and flourishing town of Norfolk, in Virginia, was wantonly burnt by order of lord Dunmore, the royal governor. General Gage went to England in September, and was succeeded in command by general Howe. Falmouth, a considerable town in the province of Maine, in Massachusetts, shared the fate of Norfolk ; · being laid in ashes by order of the British admiral.

16. The British king entered into treaties with some of the German princes for about seventeen thousand men, who were to be sent to America the next year, to assist in subduing the colonies. The British Parliament also passed an act, forbidding all intercourse with America; and while they repealed the Boston port and fishery bills, they declared all American property on the high seas forfeited to the captors. 17. This act induced congress to change the mode of carrying on the war; and measures were taken to annoy the enemy in Boston. For this purpose, batteries were opened on several hills, from whence shot and bombs were thrown into the town. But the batteries which were opened on Dorchester point had the best effect, and soon obliged general Howe to abandon the town. In March, 1776, the British troops embarked for Halifax, and general Washington entered the town in triumph.

18. In the ensuing summer, a small squadron of ships, under the command of sir Peter Parker, and a body of troops under the generals Clinton and Cornwallis, attempted to take Charleston, the capital of South Carolina. The ships made a violent attack upon the fort on Sullivan's island, but were repulsed with great loss, and the expedition was abandoned.

QUESTIONS.

What took place at the Congress of 1774 held in Philadelphia?

Where, and under what circumstances, was spilt the first blood of the re tionary war?

What led to the burning of Charlestown!

Who headed an expedition into Canada?

With what success was it made?

By whom was Gen. Gage superseded 1

When did the British evacuate Boston ?

SECTION VIII.

The same subject continued.

1. In July, 1776, congress published their Declaration of Independence, which forever separated America from Great Britain. This great event took place two hundred and

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eighty-four years after the first discovery of America by Columbus-one hundred and seventy from the first effectual settlements in Virginia-and one hundred and fifty-six from the first settlement of Plymouth in Massachusetts, which were the earliest English settlements in America. Just after this declaration, General Howe, with a powerful force, arrived near New-York, and landed the troops upon Staten Island. General Washington was in New-York, with about thirteen thousand men, encamped either in the city, or in the neighboring fortifications.

2. The operations of the British began by the action on Long Island, in the month of August. The Americans were defeated, and general Sullivan and Lord Sterling, with a large body of men, were made prisoners. The night after the engagement, a retreat was ordered, and executed with such silence, that the Americans left the Island without alarming their enemies, and without loss. In September, the city of New-York was abandoned by the American army, and taken by the British.

3. In November, fort Washington, on York Island, was taken, and more than two thousand men made prisoners. Fort Lee, opposite to fort Washington, on the Jersey shore, was soon after taken, but the garrison escaped. About the same time, General Clinton was sent, with a body of troops, to take possession of Rhode Island, and succeeded. In addition to all these losses and defeats, the American army suffered by desertion, and more by sickness, which was epidemic, and very mortal.

4. The northern army, at Ticonderoga, was in a disagreea ble situation, particularly after the battle on Lake Champlain, in which the American force consisting of a few light vessels nder the command of Arnold and General Waterbury, was totally dispersed. But general Carleton, instead of pursu mg his victory, landed at Crown Point, reconnoitered our posts at Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, and returned to winter quarters in Canada.

5. At the close of this year, the American army was dwindled to a handful of men; and general Lee was taken prisoner in New-Jersey. Far from being discouraged at these losses, congress took measures to raise and establish an army. In this critical situation, General Washington sur prised and took a large body of Hessians, who were cantoned at Trenton; and soon after, another body of the British troops, at Princeton. The address in planning and executing these enterprises, reflected the highest honor on the commander. and the succes revised thesponding hopes of

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