and still greater the pride of her sovereignty. The colonies on the other hand, were destitute of all these advantages; they had no general government vested with powers to control the contending interests of thirteen distinct jurisdictions; the colonial governments were mostly dissolved: No skillful officers, no disciplined troops, no muskets proper for an army, no cannon nor ammunition, no camp equipage, no armed ships; nothing but consciousness of upright views, persuasion of the justice of their cause, dauntless courage, and confidence in the God of hosts, encour aged the Americans to hazard the unequal contest.

458. Measures of Parliament preparatory to hos tilities. In the winter and spring of 1775, the minis try headed by lord North, procured an act of parliament to prohibit the New England colonies from carrying on the fisheries, and from trading with the British possessions in Europe and the West Indies. These restraints were, by a subsequent bill, extended to the other colonies. These acts were accompanied with bills for an augmentation of the sea and land forces. The army in Boston was increased to ten thousand men, which number was deemed sufficient to reduce the rebellious colonies to submission. At the same time lord North introduced a motion for adopting what he called a conciliatory plan, but which in fact held out a lure to tempt the colonies to divide from each other, by exempting from parliamentary duties and taxation, such of them as would contribute to the common defense, by raising their proportion of money in their own way.

459. Colonial preparations for war. A British proclamation forbidding the exportation of arms and ammunition to the colonies, was no sooner received, than the most vigorous efforts were made in America to procure supplies. A high bounty on the materials and manufacture of powder, caused mills for making it to spring up in all parts of the country, as by enchantment. Ships and money were dispatched se

cretly to Europe to purchase and import arms and ammunition. In some places, the cannon belonging to the crown, were seized. The militia was put under discipline; associations and committees were every where formed to carry into effect the recommendations of congress; and in the popular enthusiasm, their resolves and advisory proposals had the effect of laws.

460. Attack on the militia at Lexington. An attempt of a party of British troops to take some cannon which were lodged at Salem, threatened to open the awful scene of hostilities, but the persuasion of a worthy clergyman induced the provincial troops to withdraw their opposition, at the drawbridge in the town; the British troops marched over, and not finding the cannon which had been previously removed, they marched back unmolested. But in April, a body of troops was ordered to march to Concord to destroy the military stores, which the Americans had collected at that place. The march, though in the night,

was discovered, and early in the morning of the 19th of the month, about seventy of the Lexington militia assembled on the green. Major Pitcairn, who commanded the British troops, rode up to the militia, and addressing them by the name of rebels, ordered them to disperse. Not being obeyed, he discharged his pistol, and ordered the troops to fire. Eight men were killed and some others wounded. Thus began the sanguinary contest which dismembered the British empire, and ended in the establishment of the independence of the colonies.

461. Return of the troops to Boston. Having dispersed the militia at Lexington, the British troops proceeded to Concord, destroyed some flour and other stores, and returned to Boston. But the exasperated patriots in the vicinity collected, and with such arms as they had, annoyed the troops on their march, by firing from behind fences and walls; and it is doubtful whether the detachment would not have been all killed or taken. had not a reenforcement arrived and joined that body at Lexington on its retreat. On the part of the Americans, fifty men were killed, and a number wounded. Of the British forces sixty five were killed, and one hundred and eighty six wounded.

462. Measures taken by the Colonies after the commencement of hostilities. The provincial congress of Massachusetts, which was in session, at the time of the affair at Lexington, published a manifesto, addressed to the people of Great Britain, exculpating the Americans, complaining of the ravages of the British troops, declaring their loyalty to the crown, but protesting that they would not submit to the tyranny of the ministry. They declared General Gage to be disqualified for governor of the province, and that he ought to be treated as an enemy. They also passed votes for supplying the army with pay and clothing. The general congress met in May 1775, and resolved to raise an army, and issue bills of credit to defray the expenses of the war. They now took the appel

lation of the UNITED COLONIES, and recommended a day of humiliation to implore the blessings of heaven on their sovereign, the king of Great Britain, and the interposition of divine aid to remove their grievances, and restore harmony between the parent state and the colonies, on constitutional terms.

463. Entrenchment on Breed's Hill. After the skirmish on the 19th of April, General Gage issued a proclamation declaring the Americans in rebellion, and denouncing against them the severest vengeance; offering however to pardon all who should return to their allegiance, except some of the principal fomenters of opposition; as if he expected the Americans would abandon their leaders to the gallows. In the mean time, a considerable army was collected in the towns near Boston, and it was determined to annoy, and if possible, dislodge the British forces in Boston. For this purpose, a detachment was ordered on the night of the 16th of June, 1775, to throw up abreast work on Bunker's hill, near Charlestown. By some mistake the troops entrenched on Breed's hill, nearer to Boston, and so silent and active were they, that by the return of light, they had nearly completed a strong redout, without being discovered by the enemy.

464. Battle on Breed's Hill. No sooner had the dawn of the morning enabled the enemy to discover the advance of the Americans, than a severe cannonade from the ships in the river, announced the determination of the British commander, to oppose the progress of the works. But this not interrupting the Americaus, a body of about three thousand men under General Howe, landed under protection of the shipping, and advanced to attack the works. The Americans permitted the enemy to approach within ten or twelve rods, and then discharged such a shower of musket shot as to throw the troops into disorder, and oblige them to fall back. Being rallied and advancing a second time, a second fire did such execution, as to compel the British troops to retreat. Ter

rible was the carnage, and so disheartened were the enemy, that the officers found it difficult to rally the troops. At length they were brought to charge the entrenchments with fixed bayonets, and the Americans, who had no bayonets, were forced to abandon the works.

465. Burning of Charlestown, and event of the action. When the British troops first landed, orders had been given to set fire to Charlestown, with a view to cover their approach; and almost the whole town, consisting of four hundred houses, was laid in ashes. This barbarous deed proved of no use to the enemy, but served to exasperate the Americans. After a heroic defense of the hill, the American troops destitute of bayonets and of ammunition, and overpow ered by numbers, retreated over Charlestown Neck, exposed to a raking fire from the Glasgow ship of war, and two floating batteries, from which however they suffered no great annoyance. Severe was the loss of British officers and soldiers in this action, amounting to more than a thousand men. The loss on the part of the Americans was less considerable; not amounting to a hundred killed, and three hundred wounded and missing. Among the killed however, was general Warren, a brave officer and firm patriot.

466. Surprise of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The importance of securing the passes into Canada, had occurred to some persons soon after the action at Lexington. To effect this, different parties of men were dispatched to gain possession of the principal forts on the lakes. So secret was the expedition under Col. Allen and Col. Arnold, that they surprised and took the commander of Ticonderoga in his bed. Col. Warner, with a company took Crown Point, and in these two forts, the Americans found cannon and military stores, which were greatly wanted. In the mean time, the British ministry employed means to enlist a body of Canadians into their service, and sent twenty thousand stands of arms, to Governor