The Life of George Washington

Chapter 2. "The Soldier of America"; Victory at Boston (September 1774 to April 1776)

GW_001-050.indd 22 5/2/12 7:33 AM CHAPTER 2 "The Soldier ofAmerica"; Victory at Boston (September 1774 to April 1776) Colonel Washington appointed commander-in-chiefoftheAmericanforces.- Arrives at Cambridge. - Strength and disposition ofthe army. - Deficiency in arms and ammunition .- Falmouth burnt.-Measures to form a continental army. -Difficulty ofreenlistingthe troops.- GeneralLeedetachedto New York.- Possession taken ofthe heights ofDorchester. -Boston evacuated.- Correspondence respectingprisoners. Sep. r774 CoLONEL WASHINGTON took a decided part against the claims of supremacy asserted by the British parliament; and was elected a member of the first congress. He was soon distinguished as the soldier ofAmerica, and placed on all those committees whose duty it was to make arrangements for r775 defence. When it became necessary to appoint a commander-in-chief, his military character, the solidity of his judgment, the steady firmness of his temper, the dignity of his person and deportment, the confidence inspired by his patriotism and industry, and the independence of his fortune, combined to designate him in the opinion ofall for that important station. Local jealousy was suppressed by the enthusiasm of the moment, and, on the 14th ofJune, 1775, he was unanimously chosen "general and commanderin -chief of the armies of the united colonies, and all the forces now raised or to be raised by them." On the succeeding day, when this appointment was communicated to him, he modestly expressed his high sense of the honor conferred upon him, and his firm determination to exert every power he possessed in the service of his country and of her "glorious cause." Declining all compensation for his services, he avowed an intention to keep an exact account of his expenses, which he should rely on Congress to discharge. He hastened to the American army, which was encamped around Bos22 GW_001-050.indd 23 5/2/12 7:33 AM ~ "The Soldier ofAmerica" *' ton, in which place the British troops commanded by General Gage were besieged. It consisted of fourteen thousand five hundred men, but several circumstances combined to render it less effective than its numbers would indicate. In the hope of avoiding open hostilities, the time for preparing to meet them had passed away unemployed, and this neglect could not be remedied . In the essential article of ammunition, it was discovered, soon after the arrival of the General in camp, that the magazines 1 would furnish only nine cartridges 2 for each man. Powder was to be obtained, not from officers under the control ofCongress, but from committees and other local powers, who had collected small parcels for local defence. Arms, too, were deficient in number, and inferior in quality. The troops were almost destitute of clothing, and without tents. A siege was to be carried on without engineers, and almost without intrenching tools. In addition to these defects, many were discontented with the general officers appointed by Congress: and the mode ofappointing regimental officers, in some ofthe colonies, where they were elected by the soldiers, was extremely unfavorable to discipline.3 Yet, under all these disadvantages, the General observed with pleasure, "the materials of a good army." There were "a great number of men, able-bodied, active, zealous in the cause, and of unquestionable courage." Possessed of these materials, he employed himself indefatigably in their organization. The commander-in-chieffelt the full importance ofdestroying the army in Boston, before it should be reinforced in the spring. The result of his assiduous inquiries into the situation of the enemy, seems to have been a strong inclination to the opinion that, to carry their works by storm, though hazardous, was not impracticable; but, a council of general officers being unanimous against making the attempt, it was abandoned. 1. Stores of arms and ammunition. 2 . A rube containing gunpowder for a musket or rifle; if "fixed" ammunition, the cartridge included both powder and bullec. 3· The general officers of the Continental or United Colonies' forces were appointed by the Continental Congress; they comprised field officers of high rank (general, lieutenant general , major general, brigadier general, colonel) and high-ranking officers assigned to the commander in chief in headquarters. Regimental officers were those in the distinct regimentsthose bodies of the army commanded by a colonel and lesser officers (lieutenant colonel, major, captain, first lieutenant, second lieutenant). Their appointments were made at the level of the states, in various modes. 23 GW_001-050.indd 24 5/2/12 7:33 AM ~ COMMANDER IN CHIEF...