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Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution

250 years ago today, Washington wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island, "I have the pleasure to inform you, that this morning the ministerial troops evacuated the town of Boston, without destroying it, and that we are now in full possession; upon which event, I beg leave to congratulate you, and I sincerely wish, if the ministry persevere in the same unconstitutional and despotic measures, which too long have marked their conduct, that our opposition and resistance, in every quarter, may be crowned with the success they have been here. Where their destination is, or what plans they have in view, is altogether unknown here. Most probably the next attempt will be against New York, or some more southern colony."
The winds turned in the right direction and the Royal Navy sailed away.
Thus ended the eleven-month siege of Boston and the war moved elsewhere,
 
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250 years ago today, Gen. John Sullivan wrote to John Adams describing the day the Brits left:
"We saw the ships under way about 8 in the morning and the River full of boats armed with soldiers. This gave an alarm and some suspected they were about to land at Dorchester, but having a full view of them with a glass from Plowed Hill, I found they were going on board the ships. I then took my horse,and rode down to Charlestown Neck, where I had a clear view of Bunker's Hill. I saw the sentrys standing as usual with their firelocks shouldered, but finding they never moved, I soon suspected what regiment they belonged to; and upon taking a clear view with my glass, found they were only effigies set there by the flying enemy. This convinced me that they were actually fled, for if they meant to decoy us, they would have taken away every appearance of man. By this time, I was joined by Col. Mifflin, who, with my Brigade Major agreed to go up, sending two persons round the works to examine whether there was any of them in the rear of the works, while we went up in the front. I at the same time sent for a strong party to follow us on to the hill to assist us in running away (if necessary). We found no person there and bravely took the fortress defended by lifeless sentries. I then brought on a party to secure what we had so bravely won, and went down to the other works where we found all abandoned, but the works not injured in any part. We hailed the ferry boat, which came over and informed us that they had abandoned the town. We then gave information to the general (Washington), who ordered me with the troops under my command to take possession of Charlestown, and General Putnam with 2000 men to take possession of the works in Boston ; and on Monday Morning his Excellency made his entry into Boston, and repaired to Mr. Hancock's house, where we found his furniture left without injury or diminution."

Not sure if Sullivan was being sarcastic with his comments about his own bravery or not, but either way, it is kind of endearing.
 
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Tidewater said:
250 years ago today, Gen. John Sullivan wrote to John Adams describing the day the Brits left:
"We saw the ships under way about 8 in the morning and the River full of boats armed with soldiers. This gave an alarm and some suspected they were about to land at Dorchester, but having a full view of them with a glass from Plowed Hill, I found they were going on board the ships. I then took my horse,and rode down to Charlestown Neck, where I had a clear view of Bunker's Hill. I saw the sentrys standing as usual with their firelocks shouldered, but finding they never moved, I soon suspected what regiment they belonged to; and upon taking a clear view with my glass, found they were only effigies set there by the flying enemy. This convinced me that they were actually fled, for if they meant to decoy us, they would have taken away every appearance of man. By this time, I was joined by Col. Mifflin, who, with my Brigade Major agreed to go up, sending two persons round the works to examine whether there was any of them in the rear of the works, while we went up in the front. I at the same time sent for a strong party to follow us on to the hill to assist us in running away (if necessary). We found no person there and bravely took the fortress defended by lifeless sentries. I then brought on a party to secure what we had so bravely won, and went down to the other works where we found all abandoned, but the works not injured in any part. We hailed the ferry boat, which came over and informed us that they had abandoned the town. We then gave information to the general (Washington), who ordered me with the troops under my command to take possession of Charlestown, and General Putnam with 2000 men to take possession of the works in Boston ; and on Monday Morning his Excellency made his entry into Boston, and repaired to Mr. Hancock's house, where we found his furniture left without injury or diminution."

Not sure if Sullivan was being sarcastic with his comments about his own bravery or not, but either way, it is kind of endearing.
Click to expand...
Almost certainly an attempt at humor...
 
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250 years ago today, Congress drafts and adopts instructions for their commissioners to the people of Canada.

GENTLEMEN, You are, with all convenient despatch, to repair to Canada, and make known to the people of that country, the wishes and intentions of the Congress with respect to them. Represent to them, that the arms of the United Colonies, having been carried into that province for the purpose of frustrating the designs of the British court against our common liberties, … we shall put it into the power of our Canadian brethren, to pursue such measures for securing their own freedom and happiness, as a generous love of liberty and sound policy shall dictate to them.
… in our judgment, their interests and ours are inseparably united; That it is impossible we can be reduced to a servile submission to Great Britain without their sharing our fate: And, on the other hand, if we shall obtain, … a full establishment of our rights, it depends wholly on their choice, whether they will participate with us in those blessings, or still remain subject to every act of tyranny, which British ministers shall please to exercise over them. … convince them of the impossibility of the war being concluded to the disadvantage of these colonies, if we wisely and vigorously co-operate with each other. … the people of Canada may set up such a form of government, as will be most likely, in their judgment, to produce their happiness: … assure them, that it is our earnest desire to adopt them into our union, as a sister colony, and to secure the same general system of mild and equal laws for them and for ourselves, with only such local differences as may be agreeable to each colony respectively. … stimulate them by motives of glory, as well as interest, to assume a part in a contest, by which they must be deeply affected; [Assure them that] … we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and may promise to the whole people, solemnly in our name, the free and undisturbed exercise of their religion; …Provided, however, that all other denominations of Christians be equally entitled to hold offices, and enjoy civil privileges, and the free exercise of their religion, and be totally exempt from the payment of any tythes or taxes for the support of any religion.
 
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250 years ago Friday, Joseph Hewes of North Carolina writes to NC Governor Johnston:
"The act of Parliament prohibiting all Trade & Commerce between Great Britain and the Colonies has been lately brought here by a Mr. Temple from London, it makes all American property found on the Sea liable to Seizure & confiscation andI fear it will make the Breach between the two Countries so wide as never more to be reconciled, we have beard much talk of Commissioners to be sent to treat with us, I do not expect any, the act of Parliament empowers the Navy to appoint Commissioners to receive submissions and grant pardons but no further. Doctor Franklin told me last evening he had a Letter from London dated the 25th December, no Commissioners were then appointed, parliament was prorogued to 25th of January, I see no prospect of a reconciliation, nothing is left now but to fight it out, and for this we are not well provided, having but little ammunition, no Arms no money, nor are we unanimous in our Councils, we do not treat each other with that decency and respect that was observed heretofore, Jealousies, ill natured observations and recriminations take place of reason and Argument, our Tempers are soured, some among us urge strongly for Independency and eternal separation, others wish to wait a little longer and to have (i.e. receive) the opinion of their Constituents on that subject, you must give us the sentiment of your province when your Convention meets. Several Merchants and others have petitioned the Congress for leave to fit out privatiers to Cruize against British Vessels, it was granted yesterday, the Restrictions are not yet completed or I would have sent you a copy of them." Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston, Philadelphia, 20 March, 1776.

The breach widens and reconciliation looks more difficult than ever.
 
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250 years ago today Congress adopted a resolution enabling privateers. The interesting bit of this piece of legislation is the preamble, explaining what they were fighting for:

Whereas the petitions of the United Colonies to the King, for the redress of great and manifest grievances, have not only been rejected, but treated with scorn and contempt, and the opposition to designs evidently formed to reduce them to a state of servile subjection, and their necessary defence against hostile forces actually employed to subdue them, declared rebellion; And whereas an unjust war hath been commenced against them, which the commanders of the British fleets and armies have prosecuted, and still continue to prosecute, with their utmost vigour, and in a cruel manner; wasting, spoiling, and destroying the country, burning houses and defenceless towns, and exposing the helpless inhabitants to every misery, from the inclemency of the winter; and not only urging savages to invade the country, but instigating negroes to murder their masters; And whereas the parliament of Great Britain hath lately passed an Act, affirming these colonies to be in open rebellion, forbidding all trade and commerce with the inhabitants thereof, until they shall accept pardons, and submit to despotic rule, declaring their property, wherever found upon the water, liable to seizure and confiscation; and enacting, … It being therefore necessary to provide for their defence and security, and justifiable to make reprisals upon their enemies, and otherwise to annoy them, according to the laws and usages of Nations, the Congress, trusting that such of their friends in Great Britain … as shall suffer by captures, will impute it to the authors of our common calamities, Do Declare and Resolve, as followeth, to wit:

Resolved, That the inhabitants of these colonies be permitted to fit out armed vessels to cruize on the enemies of these United Colonies.

Resolved, That all ships [etc.], belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great Britain, taken on the high seas, ,,, and being libelled and prosecuted in any court erected for the trial of maritime affairs, in any of these colonies, shall be deemed and adjudged to be lawful prize; and after deducting and paying the wages of the seamen and mariners on board of such captures, … shall be condemned to and for the use of the owner or owners, and the officers, marines, and mariners of such armed vessel, according to such rules and proportions as they shall agree on."


Interesting that the ship captor had to pay off the captured crew's pay before taking the profit.
 
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The British fleet had been hanging out in Nantasket Road since embarking, making Washington wonder what their next move would be. 250 years ago today, the British sailed away. Washington wrote John Hancock:

"I now beg leave to inform you, that I have just received intelligence that the whole of the ministerial fleet, besides three or four ships, got under way this evening in Nantasket Road, and were standing out for sea; in consequence of which, I shall detach a brigade of six regiments immediately for New York, under the command of Brigadier-General Sullivan (Brigadier-General Heath having gone with the first), which will be succeeded by another in a day or two; and, directly after, I shall forward the remainder of the army, except four or five regiments, which will be left for taking care of the barracks and public stores, and fortifying the town, and erecting such works for its defence as the honorable General Court may think necessary; and then follow myself." Washington to the President of Congress, 27 March, 1776.
 
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250 years ago, "Washington, and the other general officers and their suites," attend a rel;igious lecture in Boston on Isaiah 33:20.*
"After divine service was ended, his Excellency, attended and accompanied as before, returned to the Council Chamber, from whence they proceeded to the Bunch of Grapes tavern, where an elegant dinner was provided at the public expense; after which many proper and pertinent toasts were drank. Joy and gratitude sat in every countenance and smiled in every eye."


* "Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;
your eyes will see Jerusalem,
a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved;
its stakes will never be pulled up,
nor any of its ropes broken."
 
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250 years ago yesterday, Washington issues instruction to General Israel Putnam:

"As there are the best reasons to believe, that the enemy's fleet and army, which left Nantasket Road last Wednesday evening, are bound to New York, to endeavor to possess that important post, and, if possible, secure the communication by Hudson's River to Canada, it must be our care to prevent them from accomplishing their designs. [I have sent some of the Continental Army and will come with the rest soon] ... You will no doubt make the best despatch in getting to New York. Upon your arrival there, you will assume the command, and immediately proceed in continuing to execute the plan proposed by Major-General [Charles] Lee, for fortifying that city and securing the passes of the East and North Rivers. If, upon consultation with the brigadier-generals and engineers, any alteration in that plan is thought necessary, you are at liberty to make it; cautiously avoiding to break in too much upon his main design, unless where it may be apparently necessary so to do, and that by the general voice and opinion of the gentlemen above mentioned. ...
Devoutly praying, that the Power, which has hitherto sustained the American arms, may continue to bless them with His divine protection, I bid you farewell. Given at Head-Quarters, in Cambridge, this 29th day of March, 1776.
 
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250 years ago today, Hancock drafts and Congress approves a letter to thanks to zWashington (and the Continental Army):

PHILADELPHIA, April 2nd, 1776.

SIR,
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors.
The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to theField, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a peculiar Greatness of Mind induced you to decline any Compensation for serving them, except the Pleasure of promoting their Happiness, they may, without yourPermission, bestow upon you the largest Share of their Affections and Esteem.
Those Pages in the Annals of America, will record your Title to aconspicuous Place in the Temple of Fame, which shall inform Posterity, that under your Directions, an undisciplined Band of Husbandmen, in the Course of a few Months, became Soldiers; and that theDesolation meditated against the Country, by a brave Army of Veterans, commanded by the most experienced Generals, but employ'd by bad Men in the worst of Causes, was, by the Fortitude of yourTroops, and the Address of their officers, next to the kind Interposition of Providence, confined for near a Year, within such narrowLimits, as scarcely to admit more Room than was necessary for theEncampments and Fortifications, they lately abandoned.
Accept, therefore, Sir, the Thanks of the United Colonies, unanimously declared by their Delegates, to be due to you, and the braveOfficers and Troops under your Command; and be pleased to communicate to them, this distinguished Mark of the Approbation oftheir Country.
The Congress have ordered a Golden Medal, adapted to the Occasion, to be struck, and when finished, to be presented to you.
I have the Honour to be, with every Sentiment of Esteem, Sir,Your most obedient and very h[um]ble Ser[vant]
JOHN HANCOCK, President
 
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250 years ago yesterday, Washington wrote a long letter to Joseph Reed.

"No man does, no man can, wish the restoration of peace more fervently than I do, but I hope, whenever made, it will be upon such terms, as will reflect honor upon the councils and wisdom of America. With you, I think a change in the American representation necessary; frequent appeals to the people can be attended with no bad, but may have very salutary effects. My countrymen I know, from their form of government, and steady attachment heretofore to royalty, will come reluctantly into the idea of independence, but time and persecution bring many wonderful things to pass; and by private letters, which I have lately received from Virginia, I find Common Sense [by Thomas Paine] is working a powerful change there in the minds of many men."
 
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250 years ago today, the Continental Congress adopts Instructions for privateers.

Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes.
1. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain, on the high seas, or between high water and low water mark, except ships and vessels bringing persons who intend to settle and reside in the United Colonies; or bringing arms, ammunition, or war-like stores, to the said colonies, for the use of such inhabitants thereof as are friends to the American cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory information of the contents of the ladings, and destinations of the voyages.
2. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods, to any of the British armies or ships of war employed against these colonies.
3. You shall bring such ships and vessels, as you shall take, with their guns, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture, and ladings, to some convenient port or ports of the United Colonies, that proceedings may thereupon be had, in due form, before the courts, which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine causes civil and maritime. ...

The basic procedure was to capture a ship, take it to a friendly port, "condemn" it, and after a court had ruled, to sell the cargo and ship and the privateers would retain the profits. The division of the spoils between the captain, the crew and the ship owner would be in accordance with the contract between the captain and owner, and the arrangements under which the seamen enlisted.
 
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250 years ago today, Congress considers trade policy and resolves, once again, "That no slaves be imported into any of the thirteen United Colonies."
Contraband goods (which I suppose would include slaves imported contrary to these regulations) would be confiscated and disposed of as the colonial governments see fit. Violators personally would face criminal prosecution.
 
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250 years ago today, Washington writes to Commodore Esak Hopkins that three ships, HMS Asia, Phoenix, and Savage, which had been hovering about New York, were headed to Providence to blockade Hopkins' squadron of Continental ships.
Hopkins had just returned from a raid on the Bahamas, in which he had captured the governor and 39 cannons, an action for which Congress would censure Hopkins. Thus, military matters collide with political imperatives of getting other British colonies on the Americans' side.
Hampton Roads.jpg
1280px-Core_of_Hampton_Roads_by_Sentinel-2.jpg
Meanwhile, in Virginia 87 slaves escape down Willoughby Spit and to the Royal Navy ships in Hampton Roads, taking Governor Dunmore up on his offer of freedom to escape American slaves. The British are not antislavery per se (they did not ban slavery in their Caribbean possession for another 50 years), they are merely opposed to Americans having the use of slaves during the conflict.
 
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250 years ago today, Washington is trying to get the lay of the land and bracing the army for the expected British descent on New York. To John Hancock, he writes:
"I have not had time, since I came, to look fully about me; but find many works of defence begun.and some finished. The troops are much dispersed, some on Long Island, others on Staten Island, &c. I have ordered four battalions from hence to Canada, and am taking measures to have them forwarded to Albany by water, with all possible expedition. This will greatly expedite their arrival, and ease the men of much fatigue. I have written General Schuyler of their coming, that he may have necessary measures taken to hurry their march to General Thomas," commanding the colonial forces at Ticonderoga.

While trying to get New York City ready to defend, he also needs to send troops to reinforce the remnants of the colonial army that had invaded Canada, and has now retreated back to Fort Ticonderoga. Congress had ordered this back on March 25th.

To General Thomas, the colonial commander there, he writes, "I cannot but express my concern at the great deficiency of the regiments destined for Canada, but as I am sensible of the necessity of having a respectable body of troops in that country, I am now preparing to send you four of the strongest regiments in the service, and you may rely upon it, no time shall be lost in getting them forward as fast as possible. They will amount to about 2,000 rank and file, and will go to Albany by water."
 
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