1776.

munication with Long Island, where it was CHAP. IV. determined to form a strong fortified camp for three thousand men; and to make the defences of the highlands as respectable as possible, which were immediately to be garrisoned by a battalion of regular troops.

General Clinton arrived almost at the same instant with general Lee, but without any troops. He gave out that none were coming; that no hostilities were contemplated against New York, and that he was himself merely on a visit to his friend Tryon. "If it be really so," added general Lee, in his letter containing this communication, "it is the most whimsical piece of civility I ever heard of." General Clinton did not affect to conceal his objects, but declared that he was to proceed to North Carolina, where he expected the small force he should carry with him would be joined by five regiments from Europe."

The fortifications of New York were prosecuted with vigour, and captain Parker, finding his threats entirely disregarded, no longer uttered them, but avowed his wish to save a town which contained so many loyal inhabi

tants.

About the middle of February, the severe cold set in, and the ice became sufficiently firm to bear the troops. General Washington, was now disposed to execute the bold plan he had formed, of attacking the enemy in Boston.

CHAP. IV. Several considerations concurred in recom1776. mending this hazardous enterprise. There being no prospect of a sufficient supply of powder to force them out by regular approaches and bombardment; the very great importance attached to a destruction of the present army, before re-enforcements should arrive from Europe, an event not to be produced without the command of the waters, should the town be taken by regular approaches; the certainty that he must soon lose the present advantage afforded by the ice of moving on an extensive plain, and thereby approaching the town by a less dangerous direction; the confidence he felt in the courage of his troops; all disposed him to risk an immediate assault, although he had not ammunition to cover the advance of his army with artillery. A council of war, however, summoned on the occasion, was almost unanimous against the measure, and it was therefore abandoned, though with reluctance. The want of ammunition for their artillery was a principal inducement to this opinion. It is probable, the attempt might not have succeeded. It must certainly have been attended with considerable loss. The advice of the council, however, seems to have been adopted with regret. In communicating their opinion to congress, the general observed, "perhaps the irksomeness of my situation may have given different ideas to me, from those which

influence the gentlemen I consulted; and might CHAP. IV. have inclined me to put more to the hazard 1776. than was consistent with prudence. If it had this effect, I am not sensible of it, as I endeavoured to give the subject all the consideration, a matter of such importance required. True it is, and I cannot help acknowledging, that I have many disagreable sensations on account of my situation; for, to have the eyes of the whole continent fixed on me, with anxious expectation of hearing of some great event, and to be restrained in every military operation for want of the necessary means to carry it on, is not very pleasing; especially as the means used to conceal my weakness from the enemy, conceal it also from our friends and add to their wonder."..

Towards the latter end of February, there were various appearances among the British troops in Boston, indicating an intention to evacuate that place. . In the opinion that New York must be their object, general Washington pressed general Lee to hasten as much as possible the fortifications around that city, and his preparations to receive the enemy; but as these appearances might be entirely deceptive, and he had now received a small supply of powder, he determined to prosecute with vigour a plan he had formed, to force general Howe either to come to an action, or to abandon the town of Boston.

CHAP. IV.

Since the allowance of a bounty, recruiting

1776. had been rather more successful. The effective regular force engaged for the year, now amounted to something more than fourteen thousand men. In addition to these troops, the commander in chief called out about six thousand of the militia of Massachussetts, and thus reenforced, he determined to take possession of, and fortify the heights of Dorchester, from whence it would be in his power greatly to annoy the ships in the harbour, and the soldiers in the town. The taking this position he hoped, and was convinced, must bring on a general action, as the enemy must inevitably attempt to drive him from it; but if in this he should be mistaken, he resolved to make the fortifications of the heights of Dorchester only preparatory to his seizing and fortifying Nook's hill, and the points opposite the south end of Boston, which commanded entirely the harbour, a great part of the town, and the beach from which an embarkation must take place in the event of a retreat.

March.

To facilitate the execution of this plan, and in pursuance of the advice given in a council of war, a heavy bombardment and cannonade on the town and lines of the enemy, was commenced on the evening of the second of March, from the forts, which was repeated the two succeeding nights. On the night of the fourth, immediately after the firing had begun, a con

taken of the

heights of

siderable detachment of the Americans, under CHAP. IV. the command of general Thomas, crossing the 1776. neck from Roxbury, took possession of the Possession heights without opposition; and though the Dorchester. ground was so hard as to be almost impenetrable, in consequenee of which they were obliged to avail themselves of fascines and other materials carried to the place, yet, by very great activity and industry. through the night, the works were so far advanced by the morning, as in a great degree to cover them from the shot of the enemy. When day light disclosed their operations to the British, a considerable degree of embarrassment appeared, and an ineffectual fire was commenced on the party in possession of the heights, who opened in turn a battery on them, and continued with unremitting labour to strengthen their position.

It was now necessary to dislodge the Amer- March 5. icans from the heights, or to evacuate the town; and the British general as had been foreseen, determined to embrace the former part of the alternative. Lord Percy with part of five regiments, and the grenadiers, and light infantry, amounting to about three thousand men, was ordered on this service; and the next day, the troops were embarked and fell down to the castle, in order to proceed from thence up the river to the intended scene of action; but they were scattered by a furious storm which dis

abled them from prosecuting the enterprise at