Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel Greene. Horatio Gates, at Washington's request, was added, as adjutant-general, with the rank of brigadier. Both Gates and Lee were foreign born, and Congress would not have appointed them to these high posts, had not Washington requested it. Unfortunately they were, both of them, sources of trouble and annoyance to the commander-in-chief at a later date.
Washington made all speed to enter upon his command. He left Philadelphia on the 21st of June, receiving everywhere on the road the most cordial expressions of regard and confidence;[1] heard in New York the news of the battle of Bunker's Hill; and, on the 2d of July, reached head-quarters at Cambridge. It is hardly needful to say, that the army received him with enthusiasm and hearty welcome.
Previous to this, at the latter end of May, General Gage had received large reinforcements, under Burgoyne, Clinton, and Howe. As the ships entered the harbor, says Mr. Irving, and the "rebel camp" was pointed out, ten thousand yeomanry beleaguering a town garrisoned by five thousand regulars, Burgoyne could not restrain a burst of surprise and scorn. "What I" cried he, " ten thousand peasants keep five thousand king's troops shut up! Well; let us get in, and we'll soon find elbow room." On the 12th of June, Gage proclaimed the province under martial law, offering pardon to all who would lay down their arms, excepting, however, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams, whose offences, it was said, were "too flagitious, not to meet with condign punishment." The Continental troops now numbered some sixteen thousand men, and it was thought high time for something more decisive to be done. Private information having been received, that Gage intended to assume the offensive, Colonel Prescott, in order more completely to cut off the communication with the country, was dispatched with about a thousand men. including a company of artillery and two field-pieces, to proceed at nightfall and take possession of Bunker's Hill, a bold eminence at the northern extremity of the peninsula of Charlestown. By some mistake, however, the party went past Bunker's Hill, and commenced operations on Breed's Hill, near the southern termination of the peninsula, and overlooking and commanding Boston. There, directed by the engineer, Colonel Gridley, and under cover of the darkness, they worked away, silently, but very vigorously; so that when morning dawned, they had thrown up a considerable redoubt on the crest of the hill, and were still actively employed in endeavoring to complete the remainder of the entrenchments.
- ↑ In New York, Mr. Livingston, as president of the New York Congress, delivered a congratulatory address to Washington. The latter part of it is worth quoting, because of its significant hint of the prevalent unwillingness to entrust extensive military powers to any man: "Confiding in you, sir, and in the worthy generals immediately under your command, w have the most flattering hopes of success in the glorious struggle for American liberty, and the fullest assurances, that whenever this important contest shall be decided, by that fondest wish of every American soul, an accommodation with our mother country, you will cheerfully resign the important deposit committed to your hands, and reassume the character of our worthiest citizen."
