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Page 63
"And were not they eager to follow him against the British?" asked
Charley.
"Doubtless they would have gone whithersoever his sword pointed the
way," answered Grandfather; "and Washington was anxious to make a
decisive assault upon the enemy. But as the enterprise was very
hazardous, he called a council of all the generals in the army.
Accordingly, they came from their different posts, and were ushered into
the reception room. The commander-in-chief arose from our great chair to
greet them."
"What were their names?" asked Charley.
"There was General Artemas Ward," replied Grandfather, a "lawyer by
profession. He had commanded the troops before Washington's arrival.
Another was General Charles Lee, who had been a colonel in the English
army, and was thought to possess vast military science. He came to the
council, followed by two or three dogs, who were always at his heels.
There was General Putnam, too, who was known all over New England by the
name of Old Put."
"Was it he who killed the wolf?" inquired Charley.
"The same," said Grandfather; "and he had done good service in the Old
French War. His occupation was that of a farmer; but he left his plough
in the furrow, at the news of Lexington battle. Then there was General
Gates, who afterward gained great renown at Saratoga, and lost it again
at Camden. General Greene, of Rhode Island, was likewise at the council.
Washington soon discovered him to be one of the best officers in the
army."
When the Generals were all assembled, Washington consulted them about a
plan for storming the English batteries. But it was their unanimous
opinion that so perilous an enterprise ought not to be attempted. The
army, therefore, continued to besiege Boston, preventing the enemy from
obtaining supplies of provisions, but without taking any immediate
measures to get possession of the town. In this manner, the summer,
autumn, and winter passed away.
"Many a night, doubtless," said Grandfather, "after Washington had been
all day on horseback, galloping from one post of the army to another, he
used to sit in our great chair, wrapt in earnest thought. Had you seen
him, you might have supposed that his whole mind was fixed on the blue
china tiles, which adorned the old fashioned fire-place. But, in
reality, he was meditating how to capture the British army, or drive it
out of Boston. Once, when there was a hard frost, he formed a scheme to
cross the Charles River on the ice. But the other Generals could not be
persuaded that there was any prospect of success."
"What were the British doing, all this time?" inquired Charley.
"They lay idle in the town," replied Grandfather. "General Gage had been
recalled to England, and was succeeded by Sir William Howe. The British
army, and the inhabitants of Boston, were now in great distress. Being
shut up in the town so long, they had consumed almost all their
provisions, and burnt up all their fuel. The soldiers tore down the Old
North church, and used its rotten boards and timbers for fire-wood. To
heighten their distress, the small pox broke out. They probably lost far
more men by cold, hunger, and sickness, than had been slain at Lexington
and Bunker Hill."
"What a dismal time for the poor women and children!" exclaimed Clara.
"At length," continued Grandfather, "in March, 1776, General Washington,
who had now a good supply of powder, began a terrible cannonade and
bombardment from Dorchester heights. One of the cannon balls which he
fired into the town, struck the tower of the Brattle Street church,
where it may still be seen. Sir William Howe made preparations to cross
over in boats, and drive the Americans from their batteries, but was
prevented by a violent gale and storm. General Washington next erected a
battery on Nook's hill, so near the enemy, that it was impossible for
them to remain in Boston any longer."
"Hurra! Hurra!" cried Charley, clapping his hands triumphantly. "I wish
I had been there, to see how sheepish the Englishmen looked."
And, as Grandfather thought that Boston had never witnessed a more
interesting period than this, when the royal power was in its death
agony, he determined to take a peep into the town, and imagine the
feelings of those who were quitting it forever.
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