326
��SERVICES OF GEN. SULLIVAN.
��for both had seen much service in the previous French and Indian wars. But an unfortunate quarrel had sprung: up between these officers, and consequently Congress refused to appoint either of them, and selected Sullivan for this im- portant office. He accepted, and was stationed on Winter Hill during the sub- sequent siege of Boston, having under his command the three New Hampshire regiments, commanded by Stark. Poor and Reed, also a regiment from Rhode Island, and for a portion of the time, the three Massachusetts regiments, com- manded by Colonel's Nixon, Mansfield and Doolittle. Gen. Sullivan, on assum- ing his command, supplanted Folsom, who had the temporary command of the New Hampshire forces, and held the commission of General of the militia un- der State authority. Folsom retired from active service, evidently dissatisfied. In March, 1776, Sullivan complained of Fol- som'sj treatment in a letter to Meshec Weare. In this letter, which may be found in Bouton's Historical Sketches, vol. 8, p. 118, is embraced the following hon- orable sentiment: " I wish we all could leave our private resentments in our clos- ets, when we are acting in our public ca- pacities, and consider only the means of promoting our country's good." On the other hand, we do not find that Stark took offence at being outranked by Sulli- van, but it appears that he gave Sullivan his uniform support at Winter Hill. Tren- ton, and at other times. Gen. Sullivan received a patriotic, letter from the Com- mittee of Safety of Hillsborough county, under the date of July 19, 1775, congrat- ulating ^him upon his appointment of Brigadier General. This committee was composed largely of the immediate friends and neighbors of Stark, and was signed by Matthew Patten of Bedford, as Chair- man of said Committee. Col. Stark re- signed his commission and retired from the army early in 1777, in consequence of being outranked by the appointment of Gen. Poor by Congress. The battle of Bennington settled this difficulty, and Stark returned to service with a higher rank and fresh laurels. In July, Sullivan was made Major General. The next active service of Gen, Sullivan
��was on Long Island. He participated in the battle of August, 1776. He had not the responsibility of the chief command. He fought bravely against a superior force, and he and Lord Stirling were both made prisoners. We do not learn of any charge of any kind resting against him, though it was an unfortunate battle to the American cause. He was exchang- ed soon afterwards for Gen. Prescott. Again, in December of the same year, we find him commanding a division of our army in the important engagements at Trenton and Princeton. In these en- gagements he was active and successful. Early in April, 1877, he was assigned to ihe command of the Northern Army, and for a short time rendered essential aid to Arnold in his retreat from Canada. In the campaign of 1776, after the evacua- tion of Boston by the British, and the death of Gen. Thomas, who had been as- signed to the command of the Northern Army, upon the special request of the authorities of New Hampshire and Mas- sachusetts, Gen. Sullivan for a short time was sent to the relief of this army. It was said that by his great exertions and judicious management the condition of the Northern army was much ameliorat- ed. On his retiring from that service, July 12, 1776, the field officers of that army, in a published address, rendered to him their grateful and sincere thanks. In June, 1777, we find the famous letter of Peter Livius, for many years a citizen of Portsmouth, and a member often of our State Council, who had turned Tory and fled to Canada, addressed to Sullivan and by threats and liberal promises urg- ing him to unite his fortunes to British interests. This letter is only important as showing the high estimate which was then placed by Livius, who was a man of discernment, upon the influence of Gen. Sullivan. Livius wrote, " You were the first man in active rebellion, and drew with you the Province you live in. A few months will probably decide the con- test. You must either fight or fly, and in either case , ruin seems inevitable." Then the inducements to treachery to the American cause are held out to Sullivan : "You embrace my offer, then I engage my word to you, you will receive pardon <
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