money nor funds, nor were their people accustomed to taxes equal to the exigences of war. The conteft having begun about taxation, to have raised money by taxes for carrying it on would have been impolitic. The temper of the times precluded the neceffity of attempting the dangerous expedient, for fuch was the enthusiasm of the day, that the CoJonifts gave up both their personal fervices and their property to thepublic, on the vague promises that they should at a future time be reimburfed. Without enquiring into the folidity of the funds, or the precife period of payment, the refources of the country were commanded on general affurances, that all expences of the war fhould ultimately be equalifed. The Parent State abounded with experienced ftatefmen and officers, but the dependent form of government exercifed in the Colonies, precluded their citizens from gaining that practical knowledge which is acquired from being at the head of public departments. There were very few in the Colonies who understood the bufinefs of providing for an army, and ftill fewer who had experience and knowledge to direct its operations. The difpofition of the finances of the country, and the most effectual mode of drawing forth its refources, were fubjects with which scarce any of the inhabitants were acquainted. Arms and ammunition were almoft wholly deficient; and though the country abounded with the materials of which they are manufactured, yet there was neither time nor artists enough to fupply an army with the means of defence. The country was destitute both of fortifications and engineers. Amidft fo many difcouragements there were fome flattering circumstances. The war could not be carried on by Great Britain, but to a great disadvantage, and at an immense expence. It was eafy for Minifters at St. James's to plan campaigns, but hard was the fate of the officer from whom the execution of them in the woods of America was expected. The country was fo extenfive, and abounded fo much with defiles, that by evacuating and retreating, the Americans, though they could not conquer, yet might fave themfelves from being conquered. The authors of the acts of parliament for reftraining the trade of the Colonies were moft excellent recruiting officers for the Congrefs. They impofed a neceffity on thoufands to become foldiers. All other bufinefs being fufpended, the whole refources of the country were applied in fupporting an army. Though the Colonifts were without difcipline, they poffeffed native valour. Though they had neither gold nor filver, they poffeffed a mine in the enthufiafm of their people. Paper for upwards of two years produced to them more folid advantages than Spain derived from her superabounding precious metals. Though they had no fhips to protect their

trade

.

trade or their towns, they had fimplicity enough to live without the former, and enthufiafm enough to rifque the latter, rather than fubmit to the power of Britain. They believed their caufe to be jut, and that Heaven approved their exertions in defence of their rights. Zeal originating from fuch motives fupplied the place of difcipline, and infpired a confidence and military ardour which overleaped all difficul

ties.

Refiftance being refolved upon by the Americans-the pulpit-the prefs--the bench, and the bar, feverally laboured to unite and encou rage them. The clergy of New England were a numerous, learned, and refpectable body, who had a great afcendancy over the minds of their hearers. They connected religion and patriotism, and in their fermons and prayers reprefented the caufe of America as the caufe of Heaven. The fynod of New York and Philadelphia alfo fent forth a paftoral letter,, which was publicly read in their churches. This earneftly recommended, fuch fentiments and conduct as were fuitable to their fituation. Writers and printers followed in the rear of the preachers, and next to them had the greatest hand in animating their countrymen. Gentlemen of the bench and of the bar denied the charge of rebellion, and juftified the refiftance of the Colonists.

A diftinction

founded on law between the king and his ministry was introduced: the former, it was contended, could do no wrong. The crime of treafon was charged on the latter, for ufing the royal name to varnish their own unconftitutional meafures. The phrafe of a minifterial war became common, and was used as a medium for reconciling resistance with allegiance.

Coeval with the refolutions for organizing an army, was one, appointing the 20th day of July, 1775, a day of public humiliation, fafting. and prayer to Almighty God, " to bless their rightful Sovereign King George, and to inspire him with wisdom to discern and pursue the true intereft of his fubjects; and that the British nation might be iufluenced to regard the things that belonged to her peace, before they were hid from her eyes-that the Colonies might be ever under the care and protection of a kind Providence, and be profpered in all their interests -that America might foon behold a gracious interpofition of Heaven for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of her invaded rights, and a reconciliation with the Parent State on terms conftitutional and honourable to both."-The forces which had been collected in Maffachufetts, were ftationed in convenient places for guarding the country from farther excurfions of the regulars from Bofton. Breastworks were also erected in different places for the fame purpose. While VOL. I. 32

both

both parties were attempting to carry off ftock from the feveral islands, with which the bay of Bofton is agreeably diverfified, fundry skirmishes took place. These were of real service to the Americans. They ha bituated them to danger, and perhaps much of the courage of old fol diers, is derived from an experimental conviction that the chance of efcaping unhurt from engagements, is mut greater than young recruits fuppofe.

About the latter end of May, a great part of the reinforcements or dered from Great Britain, arrived at Bofton. Three British ge nerals, Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, whose behaviour in the preced ing war had gained them great reputation, alfo arrived about the fame time, May 25. General Gage, thus reinforced, prepared for acting with more decifion; but before he proceeded to extremities, he con ceived it due to ancient forms to iffue a proclamation, holding forth to the inhabitants the alternative of peace or war. He therefore June 12, offered pardon, in the king's name, to all who fhould forthwith lay down their arms, and return to their refpective occupations and peaceable duties, excepting only from the benefit of that pardon "Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whofe offences were faid to be of too flagitiqus a nature, to admit of any other confideration than that of condign punishment.” He also proclaimed, that not only the perfons above named and excepted, but also all their adherents, affociates, and correfpondents, should be deemed guilty of treafon and rebellion, and treated accordingly. By this proclamation it was also declared, " that as the courts of judicature were shut, marshal law fhould take place, till a due course of justice should be re-established.” It was fuppofed that this proclamation was a prelude to hostilities, and preparations were accordingly made by the Americans. A confiderable height, known by the name of Bunker's-Hill, juft at the entrance of the peninfula of Charleftown, was fo fituated as to make the poffeffion of it a matter of great confequence to either of the contending parties. Orders were therefore, June 16, iffued by the provincial commanders, that a detachment of a thousand men should entrench upon this height. By fome miftake Breed's Hill, high and large like the other, but fituated near Boiton, was marked out for the entrenchments, instead of Bunker's Hill. The provincials proceeded to Breed's Hill, and worked with fo much diligence, that between midnight and the dawn of the morning, they had thrown up a fmall redoubt about eight rods fquare. They kept fuch a profound filence, that they were not heard by the British, on board their veffels, though very near. Thefe having derived their rft information of what was going on from the fight of the work near

1

completion,

completion, began an inceffant firing upon them. The provincials bore this with firmness, and though they were only young foldiers, conti nued to labour till they had thrown up a fmall breaft work, extending from the east fide of the breaftwork to the bottom of the hill. As this eminence overlooked Bofton, General. Gage thought it neceffary to drive the provincials from it. About noon, therefore, he detached. Major General Howe, and Brigadier General Pigot, with the flower of the army, confifting ef four battalions, ten companies of the grena diers, and ten of light infantry, with a proportion of field artillery, to effect this bufinefs. Thefe troops landed at Moreton's Point, and, June 17, formed after landing, but remained in that pofition till they were re inforced by a fecond detachment of light infantry and grenadier com panies, a battalion of land forces, and a battalion of marines, making in the whole near three thousand men. While the troops who firkt landed were waiting for this re-inforcement, the provincials, for their farther fecurity, pulled up fome adjoining poft and rail fences, and fet them down in two parallel lines at a fmall distance from each other, and filled the space between with hay, which having been lately mowed, remained on the adjacent ground.

4

The king's troops formed in two lines, and advanced flowly, to give their artillery time to demolish the American works. While the British were advancing to the attack, they received orders to burn Charlestown. This was not done, because they were fired upon from the houses in that town, but from the military policy of depriving enemies of a cover in their approaches, In a short time this ancient town, confisting of about five hundred buildings, chiefly of wood, was in one great blaze. The lofty fteeple of the meeting-houfe formed a pyramid of fire above the rest, and struck the astonished eyes of nu merous beholders with a magnificent but awful fpectacle. In Boston, the heights of every kind were covered with the citizens, and fuch of the king's troops as were not on duty. The hills around the adjacent country which afforded a safe and diftinct view, were occupied by the inhabitants of the country.

Thoufands, both within and without Boston, were anxious spectators of the bloody fcene. The honour of British troops beat high in, the breafts of many, while others, with a keener fenfibility, felt for the liberties of a great and growing country. The British moved on but flowly, which gave the provincials a better opportunity for taking aim, The latter, in general, reserved themselves till their adverfaries were within ten or twelve rods, but then began a furious discharge of fmall arms, The Atream of the American fire was fo inceffant, and did

3Q 2

fo great execution, that the king's troops retreated in diforder and precipitation. Their officers rallied them, and pufhed them forward with their fwords, but they returned to the attack with great reluctance, The Americans again refèrved their fire till their adverfaries were near, and then put them a fecond time to flight. General Howe and the officers redoubled their exertions, and were at laft fuccefsful, though the foldiers difcovered a great averfion to going on. By this time the powder of the Americans began fo far to fail, that they were not able to keep up the fame 'brifk fire as before. The British alfo brought fome cannon to bear, which raked the infide of the breastwork from end to end. The fire from the fhips, batteries, and field artillery was redoubled the foldiers in the rear were goaded on by their officers. The redoubt was attacked on three fides at once. Under thefe circumftances a retreat from it was ordered, but the provincials delayed, and made refiftance with their difcharged muskets as if they had been clubs, fo long that the king's troops, who eafily mounted the works, had half filled the redoubt before it was given up to them.

The engage.

The perfeve

While thefe operations were going on at the breaft-work and redoubt, the British light infantry were attempting to force the left point of the former, that they might take the American line in flank. Though they exhibited the most undaunted courage, they met with an oppofition which called for its greateft exertions. The provincials here, in like manner, referved their fire till their adverfaries were near, and then poured it upon the light infantry, with fuch an inceffant stream, and in fo true a direction, as mowed down their ranks. ment was kept up on both fides with great refolution. ring exertions of the King's troops could not compel the Americans to retreat, till they obferved that their main body had left the hill. This, when begun, expofed them to new danger, for it could not be effected but by marching over Charlestown Neck, every part of which was raked by the fhot of the Glafgow man of war, and of two floating batteries. The inceffant fire kept up acrofs this Neck prevented any confiderable re-inforcement from joining their countrymen who were engaged; but the few who fell on their retreat over the fame ground proved, that the apprehenfions of thofe provincial officers who declined paffing over to fuccour their companions, were without any folid foundation.

The number of Americans engaged amounted only to one thousand five hundred. It was apprehended that the conquerors would push the advantages they had gained, and march immediately tó American head quarters at Cambridge, but they advanced no farther than Bunker's