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On the 27th of February, 1776, Congress formed what were called the middle and southern military departments; the former consisting of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland; and the latter of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. General Lee was directed, March 1, to take command of the southern department, and in compliance with that order left New York on the 7th. Lee did not rejoin the main army until October 14, when he took command of the right wing, having, by the resignation of General Ward, become senior majorgeneral.

1776.

MONDAY, JANUARY 1.

At Cambridge: Orderly Book.-"This day giving commencement to the new army, which in every point of view is entirely Continental, the General flatters himself that a laudable spirit of emulation will now take place, and pervade the whole of it."

The appointment of Washington as Commander-in-Chief of all the American forces, and the adoption by Congress of the army which had gathered before Boston, immediately after the battle of Concord and Lexington, gave that army more of a military status than it had possessed as commanded by provincial officers; yet the enlistments were short, and it soon became necessary, from that and other causes, to reorganize the whole body. The new army referred to in the order was enlisted for a year's service from January 1, 1776, under a plan agreed upon by Washington and a committee of Congress, and, while the army it replaced had to a certain extent possessed something of a national character, yet the new army may certainly be classed as the first Continental army, raised for the cause of independence. On this day, also, the Union flag, composed of thirteen alternate red and white stripes, with the British union (the combined crosses of St. George and St. Andrew) in the upper corner, was displayed for the first time.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4.

At Cambridge: "It is not in the pages of history, perhaps, to furnish a case like ours. To maintain a post within musket-shot of the enemy, for six months together, without [powder], and at the same time to disband one army, and recruit another, within that distance of twenty odd British regiments, is more, probably, than was ever attempted.”— Washington to the President of Congress.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14.

At Cambridge: "The reflection on my situation, and that of this army, produces many an uneasy hour when all around

me are wrapped in sleep. Few people know the predicament we are in, on a thousand accounts; fewer still will believe, if any disaster happens to these lines, from what cause it flows. I have often thought how much happier I should have been, if, instead of accepting the command under such circumstances, I had taken my musket on my shoulder and entered the ranks, or, if I could have justified the measure to posterity and my own conscience, had retired to the back country, and lived in a wigwam."- Washington to Joseph Reed.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16.

At Cambridge: A council of war, in which it was agreed that an attempt ought to be made to conquer the ministerial troops in Boston, but that the force was inadequate. The council, therefore, advised the Commander-in-Chief to request of the neighboring colonies thirteen regiments of militia, to serve till the first of April.

On the 18th, another council of war was held to consider the letters received the evening before from Canada, conveying intelligence of the death of General Montgomery and the disaster at Quebec. When the question was put, it was resolved to be inexpedient, in the present weakened state of the lines, to send a detachment from the main army to Canada; but the General was advised to request Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire to raise three regiments with all possible despatch for the Canada expedition, and that these regiments should be considered as part of the thirteen already required. John Adams as a member of the Continental Congress, and being then in Watertown, assisted at both of the above councils, by the special invitation of the Commander-in-Chief.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18.

At Cambridge "January 18th.-Col. Knox, of the artillery, came to camp. He brought from Ticonderoga a fine train of artillery, which had been taken from the British, both cannon and mortars, and which were ordered to be stopped at Framingham."-Heath's Memoirs.

Under instructions of 16th November, 1775, Henry Knox left Cambridge, to procure, as speedily as possible, from New York, Ticonderoga, Crown

Point, or St. Johns, all the cannon, mortars, shells, lead, and ammunition that could be obtained. He reached New York on the 25th, Albany on December 1, and Ticonderoga on the 5th. On the 9th he started homeward with his important charge, which consisted of fifty-five pieces of iron and brass ordnance, one barrel of flints, and twenty-three boxes (two thousand three hundred pounds) of lead. In alluding to the difficulties and dangers of this undertaking and its success, his biographer, Francis S. Drake, says: "This achievement stamped the character of Knox for boldness, enterprise, fertility of resource and genius, supplied the means for fortifying Dorchester Heights, and vindicated the judgment of Washington in selecting him for the important and responsible duties of the artillery and ordnance departments."

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24.

At Cambridge: "January 24.-Dined at C.[olonel] Mifflin's, at Cambridge, with G. Washington and Gates and their ladies, and half a dozen sachems and warriors of the French Caghnawaga tribe, with their wives and children. .. The General introduced me to them as one of the grand council fire at Philadelphia, upon which they made me many bows and a cordial reception."-Diary of John Adams. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31.

At Cambridge: "I hope my countrymen of Virginia will rise superior to any losses the whole navy of Great Britain can bring on them, and that the destruction of Norfolk, and the attempted devastation of other places, will have no other effect, than to unite the whole country in one indissoluble bond. A few more of such flaming arguments, as were exhibited at Falmouth and Norfolk, added to the sound doctrine and unanswerable reasoning contained in the pamphlet Common Sense,'* will not leave numbers at a loss to decide upon the propriety of a separation."- Washington to Joseph Reed.

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*The celebrated pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, and published at Philadelphia in the early part of January, 1776. This powerful production, advocating an absolute separation from the mother country, inspired the people with a desire for independence, and united them in its support, more than anything else.

Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, who, after his repulse by the militia at the Great Bridge, on Elizabeth River, December 9, 1775, had abandoned Norfolk, and taken refuge on the fleet, gave notice, December 31, that he should cannonade the town. The cannonade was opened at four o'clock the next morning, and marines and sailors were sent on shore to set fire to the city. The conflagration raged about fifty hours, during which the cannonade was kept up, and a greater portion of the most compact part of the town was laid in ashes.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9.

At Cambridge: "I have tried every method I could think of, to procure arms for the men. They really are not to be had in these governments, belonging to the public, and if some method is not fallen upon, in the southern governments, to supply us, we shall be in a distressed situation for want of them. There are near 2000 men now in camp without firelocks."- Washington to the President of Congress.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10.

At Cambridge: "We have had the most laborious piece of work at Lechmere's Point, on account of the frost, that ever you saw. We hope to get it finished on Sunday. It is within as commanding a distance of Boston as Dorchester Hill, though of a different part."- Washington to Joseph Reed.

The return of February 10th showed a force of 8797 men fit for duty, besides officers and 1405 men on command who might be ordered to join their respective regiments immediately. The militia from the New England governments, arrived or about to arrive in camp, would, if the regiments were complete, number 7280, officers included. The intelligence from Boston indicated an active force of only 5000.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16.

At Cambridge: A council of war, in which the Commander-in-Chief advanced what he deemed strong reasons for making an immediate assault on the town of Boston, by proceeding from Cambridge and Roxbury over the ice. This opinion was overruled by the council, on the grounds

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