BOOK FIFTH.

1775. BOSTON is situated near the middle of the province of Massachusetts, upon a tract of land, which, connecting with the continent by an extremely narrow tongue, called the neck, afterwards distends sufficiently to comprehend a city of very ample dimensions. The figure of this peninsula is irregular, and forms, alternately, bays and promontories. In one of these bays, facing towards the east, is found the port, which is admirably adapted to receive ships of any burthen, as well of war as of commerce. Towards the north, the land branches into two parts, resembling horns; one of which, pointing to the northeast, is called Hudson's Point; and the other, bearing to the northwest, Barton's Point. In front of these two points, another peninsula is perceived, which, from the name of a considerable town there situated, opposite Boston, is called Charlestown, and is joined to the main land by an exceedingly narrow neck, which also bears the name of Charlestown. An arm of the sea, about half a mile in breadth, enters between the points of Hudson, of Barton, and of Charlestown; and, then expanding, embraces all the western part of the peninsula of Boston. A number of streams empty themselves into this cove; the principal of which, are Muddy, Charles, and Mystic, or Medford, rivers. Not far from the isthmus of Boston, the continent stretches into the sea, and forms a long promontory, which extends, on the right, towards the east; from which results another peninsula, though joined to the main land by a much wider neck than either that of Boston or of Charlestown; these are known by the appellations of Dorchester Neck, and Point. The peninsulas of Charlestown, and of Dorchester, are so near to that of Boston, that batteries placed upon either can reach the city with their shot. This can be done with the greater facility, as in both there are many bills, or eminences, peculiarly favorable for the position of artillery. There is one, above the village of Charlestown, called Breed's Hill, which commands the city of Boston; and another, behind it, towards Charlestown Neck, and consequently further from Boston, which bears the name of Bunker's Hill. In like manner upon the peninsula of Dorchester are heights, which have the same name; and another, called Nook's Hill, which crowns the spur of land towards Boston. The inlet of the sea, through which the port is approached, is sprinkled with little islands; the most considerable of which are Noddle's, Thompson's, Governor's, Long Island, and Castle Island. West of Boston upon the river Charles, is situated the extensive village of Cambridge; and to the south, at the entrance of the Neck, that of Roxbury.

The American army had rested its left wing upon the river of Medford, and thus intercepted the communication of Charlestown Neck; the centre occupied Cambridge; and the right wing, posted at Roxbury, repressed the garrison on the part of the isthmus, which, being fortified, might have facilitated their sallies and excursions into the country.

In this situation, respectively, the two armies were found; but the number and quality of the combatants, their opinions, their military science, their arms, ammunition and provisions, created a great difference in their condition. The Americans were much superior in number; but this number was subject to continual variations; for that severe discipline, without which neither order nor stability can exist in armies, not being as yet introduced among them, the soldiers joined or quitted their colors, as best suited their inclinations; and fresh bands of volunteers were daily arriving, to take the place of those who had left the camp. They had every kind of food in great abundance, and especially vegetables, so necessary to the health of troops. But their arms were far from being sufficient. They had, in all, but sixteen field pieces, six of which, at the very utmost, were in a condition for service. Their brass pieces, which were few, were of the smallest caliber. They had, however, some heavy iron cannon, with three or four mortars and howitzers, and some scanty provision of balls and bombs. But of powder they were almost totally destitute; for, upon visiting the magazines, only eighty-two half barrels of it were found. A certain quantity, it is true, might have been procured in the neighboring provinces; but this feeble resource would soon be exhausted. Muskets were in abundance; but they were all of different caliber, each having brought his own. They were admirably skilled in the use of this weapon, and therefore well adapted for the service of light troops and skirmishing parties; but in regular battle, they would have made but an indifferent figure. They had no uniforms, and no magazines stocked with provisions; they lived, from day to day, without taking thought for the morrow; but, in these first moments, the zeal of the neighboring country people suffered them to want for nothing. They had no coined money, or very little; but they had bills of credit, which, at this epoch, were current at equal value with gold. The officers wanted due instruction, excepting those few who had served in the preceding wars. They were not even known by their soldiers; for, the organisation of the several corps not being yet completed, the changes in them were continual. Orders were ill executed; every one wished to command, and do according to his own fancy; few deigned to obey. Upon the whole, with the exception of some few regiments, which had been trained in certain provinces by experienced chiefs, the residue had more the appearance of a tumultuary assemblage, than of a regular army. But all these defects were compensated, by the deter

mined spirit of their minds; by the zeal of party; the profound persuasion, in all, of the justice of their cause; the exhortations of their chiefs, and of the ministers of religion, who neglected no means of daily exciting this people, already of themselves inclined to the enthusiasm of religious ideas, to signalise their firmness and valor in an enterprise pleasing in the sight of heaven and all the good of the human race.

With these feeble preparations, but with this extraordinary ardor, the Americans commenced a war, which every thing announced must prove long, arduous and sanguinary. It was, however, easy to foresee, that, whatever reverses they might have to encounter in the outset, an unshaken constancy must render them eventually triumphant; for, by preserving all their courage, and acquiring discipline and the science of war, their soldiers could not fail to become equal, in all respects, to any that could be opposed to them.

As to the British troops, they were abundantly provided with all things necessary to enter the field; their arsenals were glutted with artillery of various caliber, excellent muskets, powder, and arms of every denomination. Their soldiers were all perfectly exercised, accustomed to fatigues and dangers; they had long been taught the difficult art, so essential in war-to obey. Their minds were full of the recollection of the achievements, by which they had distinguished themselves at various times, in the service of their country, while combating against the most warlike nations of the world. A particular motive added still greatly to the martial resolution of this army -the reflection that they were to combat under the royal standard, which is usually a powerful incentive to military honor. The English, moreover, considered the enemies they were about to encounter, in the light of rebels; a name that inflamed them with an animosity more intense than simple courage. They panted to avenge themselves for the affront of Lexington; they could by no means admit that these Americans were able to resist them; they persisted in viewing them as cowards, who were indebted for their success at Lexington, exclusively to their numbers, and the advantage of ground. They were persuaded that, in the first serious action, in the first regular battle, the colonists would not dare to wait their approach. But, until the arrival of the reenforcements expected from England, prudence exacted a circumspect conduct towards the Americans, whose forces were more than threefold in number. Meanwhile, so strict was the siege, no provisions being permitted to enter the city from the neighboring towns, that fresh meat and all kinds of vegetables, began to become excessively scarce; and, although the sea was open to the English, and they had a great number of light vessels at their disposal, they could procure no supplies from the coasts of New England; the inhabitants having driven their cattle into the interior of the country. As to the other provinces, they could obtain

nothing from them by their consent; and they could not employ force, because they were not yet declared rebels. The scarcity became therefore extreme at Boston. The garrison, as well as the inhabitants, were reduced to salt provisions. The English, therefore, were impatient for the arrival of reenforcements from England, in order to make some vigorous effort to extricate themselves from this difficult situation.

The besieging army, aware that the inhabitants of Boston had no other resource but from the magazines of the king, exercised the greater vigilance to intercept all supplies from the adjacent country; hoping that the exhaustion of these stores would at length induce the governor to consent that the inhabitants, or at least the women and children, as superfluous mouths, might leave the city. This the provincials had several times requested, very earnestly; but the governor, notwithstanding the embarrassment he experienced in providing sustenance for the troops, appeared little disposed to listen to the proposition. He considered the inhabitants as so many hostages for the safety of the city and garrison; being apprehensive the Americans might attempt to carry the place by assault; of which, however, there was not the least danger, although they had purposely circulated such a rumor. Their generals were too considerate not to perceive how fatal an impression of discouragement must have been made on the public mind, by the miscarriage of so important a stroke, at the very commencement of the war; and the probabilities in favor of this assault were not great, as the fortifications of the Neck were extremely formidable; and, on the other hand, there could have been little hope of success, so long as the English had command of the sea, and the movements of a numerous fleet. But, finally, general Gage, urged by necessity, and wishing also to withdraw arms from the hands of the citizens, on whose account he was not without apprehensions, after a long conference with the council of the city, acceded to an arrangement, by which it was stipulated, that all citizens, on giving up their arms, and depositing them in Faneuil Hall, or some other public place, should be at liberty to retire wherever they might think proper, with all their effects; it was, however, understood, that their arms should, in due time, be restored them. It was also agreed, that thirty carts should be permitted to enter Boston, to take away the moveables of the emigrants; and that the admiralty should furnish the transports requisite for the same purpose. This compact was at first faithfully observed by the two parties; the inhabitants deposited their arms, and the general delivered them passports. But soon after, either unwilling to deprive himself entirely of hostages, or apprehensive, as it had been rumored, that the insurgents meditated the design of setting fire to the city, so soon as their partisans should have evacuated it, he pretended that individuals who had gone out to look after the affairs of persons attached to the royal