Dorchester, fouthward of the town: but, on the morning of the 16th of June 1775, they were greatly furprised at the appearance of a redoubt, breaft-work and entrenchment thrown up in the night on an eminence called Bunker's Hill, to the north of Boston, on a peninsula divided by a narrow channel from that on which the town of Bofton itself is fituated. A refolution was immediately taken to attack this poft, from which they were liable to be so much annoyed; and a detachment of 3000 chofen troops was immediately ordered on the fervice, under the command of general Howe. The troops afcended the hill with great refolution, but with flow and deliberate ftep. The Americans, under the direction of the old veteran Putnam, referving themselves till the British forces were within ten or twelve rods, then poured in an unexpected and furious fire, which fuddenly arrefted their progrefs, and threw them into great diforder. Being rallied by the exertions of their officers, they again advanced, till a fecond discharge again threw them into a fimilar confufion. The generals Howe and Clinton, now placing themselves at the head of the troops, and for a time almost unfupported, led them on to a third attack; and the redoubt being now affailed on both fides, and enfiladed by the cannon from the fhips and batteries, the provincials were compelled to aban-don their works, retreating acrofs the ifthmus to Cambridge with confiderable lofs. But on the part of the Britifh, not less than 1100 were killed or wounded, and amongst them 89 officers, who were particularly aimed at by the American riflemen. This was one of the warmest and most bloody conflicts ever known for the time it lasted, and the number of men engaged: and it was remarked, that at the battle of Minden, where the British infantry fuftained the fire of the whole French army, the officers fuffered much less, and of privates the loss was scarcely greater. In the heat of the action, Charles-town, a fort of suburb to Boston, fituated on the oppofite peninsula,

and

and containing several hundred houses, was fet on fire by the British forces, and entirely confumed.

In the beginning of July, general Washington arrived at the head-quarters near Boston: he was received with all civic and military honors, and an address of congratulation was presented to him by the affembly of Maffachusetts; in return for which he declared, that his highest ambition was to be the happy inftrument of vindicating the common rights of America, and of reftoring that devoted province to peace, liberty, and fafety. The town of Boston, together with the post now occupied by the English at Bunker's Hill, continued to be closely invested; and though the American army was at this time extremely deficient in power, ammunition, and military stores of every kind, happily no attempt was made by the English generals to moleft them. The general congrefs had, in the beginning of June, come to an important refolution, that the colonies of America would not only continue to grant extraordinary aids in time of war, but also, if allowed a free commerce, pay into the finking fund fuch a fum annually for an hundred years, as fhould be more than fufficient in that time, if faithfully applied, to extinguish ALL the present debts of Britain. But the intelligence at this period arriving of the prohibitory and other MAD ACTS of the British parliament, it was not fuffered to be entered upon the minutes. Georgia having now acceded to the confederacy, which from this time affumed the appellation of the Thirteen United Colonies; they iffued, in July, a declaration, setting forth the causes and neceffity of their taking up arms. "WE are reduced," fay they, "to the alternative of unconditional fubmiffion or refiftance by force; the latter is our choice. We have counted the coft of this conteft, and find nothing fo dreadful as voluntary slavery. Honor, juftice, and humanity forbid us tamely to furrender that freedom which we received from our ancestors, and which our pofterity have a right to receive from us. cannot endure the infamy and guilt of refigning fucceeding

We

VOL. I.

Y.

generations

generations to that wretchednefs which inevitably awaits them, if we bafely entail hereditary bondage upon them.” This declaration was read at the head of every regiment, and received with great applause and acclamation. At the fame time, and as the laft effort for effecting an accommodation, the congrefs refolved upon a fecond petition to the KING, which, though lefs eloquent than the firft, was expressed in terms the most guarded, temperate, and respectful; and fo flattering were the hopes conceived of its happy effects by those who fighed for the return of peace, that it received, by a fort of general affent, the appellation of the "Olive Branch." This petition was tranfmitted to England through the highly refpectable medium of Mr. Penn, proprietary governor of the province of Pennfylvania, and a lineal defcendant of that famous and beneficent legislator, in whofe eftimation the fword and the fceptre were equally. fuperfluous, and in comparison with whom Solon and Lycurgus hide their diminished heads. "Attached," fay the petitioners," to your majesty's perfon, family, and government, with all the devotion that principle and affection can infpire; connected with Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite focieties; and deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them; we folemnly affure your majefty, that we not only moft ardently defire that the former harmony between her and these colonies may be restored, but that a concord may be established between them upon fo firm a bafis, as to perpetuate its bleffings, uninterrupted by any fu ture diffenfions, to fucceeding generations in both countries to tranfmit your majefty's name to posterity, adorned with that fignal and lafting glory that has attended the memory of thofe illuftrious perfonages whofe virtues and abilities have extricated states from dangerous convulfions, and, by fecuring happiness to others, have erected the moft noble and durable monuments to their own fame. We beg leave further to affure your majefty, that, notwithstanding the fufferings of your loyal colonifts during the courfe of the prefent, controverfy, our breafts retain too tender a regard for the kingdom

kingdom from which we derive our origin, to requeft such a reconciliation as might in any manner be inconfiftent with her dignity or her welfare; and, the apprehenfions that now oppress our hearts with unspeakable grief being removed, your majesty will find your faithful fubjects on this continent ready and willing at all times, as they have ever been, with their lives and fortunes to affert and maintain the rights and interests of your majefty and of our mother country. We therefore befeech your majefty, that your royal authority and influence may be graciously interpofed to procure us relief; with all humility fubmitting to your majefty, whether it may not be expedient that your majefty be pleased to DIRECT fome MODE by which the united applications of your faithful colonists to the throne may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation.” To this petition, which Mr. Penn delivered into the hands of the earl of Dartmouth on the ift of September, he was, after a fhort interval, informed that "NO ANSWER WOULD BE GIVEN !"

Sanguine hopes had been entertained by the English court, that the inhabitants of Canada might be induced to take an active part in this war against America: and twenty thousand ftand of arms were actually fent to Quebec, for the use of the Canadians. But a very general discontent pervaded the minds of the people on account of the late bill; and the militia of the province, on being applied to by the governor,. general Carleton, absolutely refused to pass the limits of itdeclaring, that this was a quarrel which did not concern them, and in which they were determined to take no part. The difpofitions of the Canadians being thus afcertained, a project was formed for the invasion of that province, which, as no danger was apprehended, was protected by a very inconfiderable force. General Montgomery, with an army not exceeding 3000 men, being appointed to conduct this expedition, immediately proceeded to St. John's, fituated on the banks of Lake Champlain, before which he encamped on the 17th of September 1775. After a very gallant defence,

Y 2

fence, that important fortrefs was furrendered on the 2d of November; Chamblée being alfo in the mean time captured by a separate detachment. General Montgomery now presfed on to Montreal, which being deemed incapable of refiftance, general Carleton quitted it with precipitation one day, and the American general entered it in triumph the next. Nearly at the time that these transactions took place, Ticonderoga and Crown Point were furprised by an irregular band, haftily collected, of Green-Mountain-men, and other inland fettlers, under the command of a bold partisan, styled by his followers colonel Allen: and on the other fide colonel Arnold, an officer of diftinguished courage and activity in the fervice of the congrefs, after fuffering incredible hardships in traverfing a rude and pathlefs wilderness during a march of thirty one days, afcending by the Kennebeck, and descending by the Chaundiere, at length reached Point Levi, on the fouthern bank of the St. Laurence, where he expected the arrival of Montgomery. General Carleton was now reduced to a very critical fituation. Immediately on the evacuation of Montreal, he was conveyed in a boat with muffled paddles down the river to Quebec-a precaution very necessary, as the Americans had by furprising exertions made themselves mafters of the navigation of St. LauThe governor now made every poffible preparation for a vigorous defence. On the 1st December, general Montgomery joined colonel Arnold before Quebec, the garrifon of which confifted, including provincials and marines, of about one thousand fix hundred men. Notwithstanding the extreme feverity of the feafon in this inclement climate, general Montgomery immediately began erecting his batteries, which, by a perfect novelty in military science, being com→ pofed of fnow and water, foon became folid ice. But finding his artillery make little impreffion, he determined on a general affault; this was attempted in two different quarters of the town, the feveral divifions being commanded by colonel Arnold and the general in perfon. In the first onfet general Montgomery, leading on his men with undaunted refolution,

rence.

was