Über dieses Buch
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
FROM
THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONTINENT.
BY
GEORGE BANCROFT.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOL. V.
THOROUGHLY REVISED EDITION.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.
1879.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME V.
CHAPTER XLI.
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS IN MIDSUMMER, 1775. June 17-July, 1775.
Censure on Howe's Attack on Bunker Hill, p. 3-Sufferings of the British,
3- Great Loss of Officers, 3-Death of Abercrombie, 3- Election of American
Major Generals, 4- Artemas Ward, 4-Charles Lee, 4-Opinion of him in
England, 4— His Character, 4-His Demand of Indemnity, 5- New York
proposes Schuyler, 5-Montgomery's Opinion, 5-Schuyler's Character, 6
Choice of Israel Putnam, 6-His Previous Career, 6- His Character, 6
Horatio Gates Adjutant General, 6— His Rank, 6— His Character, 6 — Incom-
petency of the General Officers, 6-Thomas Jefferson enters Congress, 6-
Election of Brigadiers, 7-Seth Pomeroy chosen, 7- His Character, 7—He
declines, 7- Richard Montgomery chosen, 7- His Character, 7-Choice of
David Wooster, 7-Of William Heath, 7- Of Joseph Spencer, 7-Of John
Thomas, 7-Of John Sullivan, 7— Of Nathaniel Greene, 7- Washington's
Farewell to Congress, 7-His Departure from Philadelphia, 8- His Reception
at New York, 8-Reception of Governor Tryon, 8—Address of New York Con-
gress to Washington, 9— His Answer, 9-New York Plan of Accommodation, 9
-Congress expects but one Campaign, 10-Its Financial System, 10- Increase
of the Army, 10-Congress authorizes the Invasion of Canada, 10-Causes of
taking up Arms, 10-Measures advised by John Adams, 12-Franklin's Mes-
sage to Strahan, 12-Second Petition of Congress to the King, 12-Union
announced, 12-Congress addresses the People of Great Britain, 12-Address
to London, 13-Appointment of Richard Penn as Agent for Congress, 13-The
Alternative proposed, 13.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE ARMY ROUND BOSTON. July, 1775.
Washington, Mifflin, Reed, Lee, Gates, at Cambridge, p. 14- Popularity of
Washington, 14-Trumbull's Message, 14-State of the Army, 15 - Washing-
ton visits the American Posts, 15-Their Condition, 15- Sufferings of the
Inhabitants of Boston, 15-Number of the British Army, 15-The American
Lines, 16-Stockbridge Indians, 16-Number of the American Army, 17-
Their Appearance, 17 — The Camp, 17-Its Deficiencies, 17-Washington intro-
duces Reforms, 18-Lee tries to negotiate, 18-Burgoyne's Letter to Lee, 18—
Lee's Clandestine Letter to Burgoyne, 18- Various Skirmishes and Expeditions,
19-Declaration for taking up Arms read to the Colony, 19-Town-Meetings in
Massachusetts, 19— Election of House of Representatives, 19— Boston Town-
Meeting held at Concord, 19— Attack on Boston Light-house, 19-Organization
of Government in Massachusetts, 20-Alarm of General Gage, 20—He wishes
to transfer the Army to New York, 20-Skirmish at the Light-house, 20
Washington misjudges the New England People, 21-Their Benevolence and
Zeal, 21-Their Exertions, 21.
-
CHAPTER XLIII.
CONGRESS STILL HOPES TO AVERT WAR. July 19-August, 1775.
Inefficiency of the Continental Congress as an Executive Body, p. 22 - Wash-
ington's Reports, 22-His Wants, 22-Reports from Schuyler, 22— The Want
of Discipline, 22— Measures adopted by Congress, 23-Congress gives Authority
to employ Troops, 23 - And Recommendations to provide them, 23 — Franklin
proposes a Confederacy, 23 - Its Conditions, 23-Its Component Members, 24-
Its Perpetuity, 24-Two Great Principles of his Plan, 24- The Proposition
reserved, 24 — Georgia joins the Union, 24-Lord North's Proposal referred to a
Committee, 24-Jamaica remembered, 24- America and Ireland, 24- Ameri-
cans complain to the Irish of Howe, 25-British Attempts to gain the Aid of
the Savages, 25- Apathy of Congress, 25 - Indignation of John Adams, 25—
His Letters intercepted, 25-Jefferson's Paper in Reply to Lord North's Pro-
posal, 26-Reasons for rejecting his Proposal, 26- Proposal for a Truce, 26
-Post-Office established, 26-Congressional System of Finances, 26- How
it was proposed to redeem the Paper Money, 27-Contrast of the Finances
of Britain, 27 - Congress refuses to open the American Ports, 27-Congress
adjourns, 27.
CHAPTER XLIV.
AMERICA AWAITS THE KING'S DECISION. August-September, 1775.
Duties of Washington, p. 28- His Position, 28- His Want of Money, Powder,
Arms, 28-Divisions of the Army, 28-Washington's Measures to obtain a Little
Powder, 29-Spirit of the Country, 29-The Riflemen, 29 Character of Mor-
gan, 29-Zeal of his Company, 30 Cresap and his Company, 30- Pennsyl
vania Riflemen, 30-Alacrity of the New Recruits, 31-Influence of the Riflemen
on European Tactics, 31 - Linzee beaten off from Cape Ann, 32- Artifices of
Gage, 32-His Ill-treatment of American Prisoners, 32- Washington remon-
strates, 32-Foolish Insolence of Gage, 32-Washington and the People as
the Source of Power, 32-Retaliation threatened, 32-Stanhope breaks his
Parole, 33-State of the British Troops in Boston, 33-Timorousness of Gage,
33-Boston more closely invested, 33- Washington rejects the Plan of an
Expedition against Nova Scotia, 33 He directs an Invasion of Canada from
Ticonderoga, 34- And by Way of the Kennebec, 34-His Policy with regard to
Coast Defence, 34- His Difficulties and Wants, 35-His Fortitude, 35.