THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION

BY
JOHN FISKE

With Many Illustrations

TWO VOLUMES IN ONE

Published for
THE EDUCATIONAL PRESS
By
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
BOSTON

---

COPYRIGHT, 1891, BY JOHN FISKE
COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY ABBY M. FISKE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE
THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM

The Riverside Press
CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

TO
MRS. MARY HEMENWAY

IN RECOGNITION OF THE RARE FORESIGHT AND PUBLIC SPIRIT
WHICH SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION ONE OF THE NOBLEST
HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN AMERICA, AND MADE IT A
CENTRE FOR THE TEACHING OF AMERICAN
HISTORY AND THE PRINCIPLES OF
GOOD CITIZENSHIP

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK

---

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
THE BEGINNINGS   PAGE Relations between the American colonies and the British government in the first half of the eighteenth century 1 The Lords of Trade 2 The governors’ salaries 3 Sir Robert Walpole 4 Views of the Lords of Trade as to the need for a union of the colonies 5 Weakness of the sentiment of union 6 The Albany Congress 6 Franklin’s plan for a federal union (1754) 7, 8 Rejection of Franklin’s plan 9 Shirley recommends a stamp act 10 The writs of assistance 11 The chief justice of New York 12 Otis’s “Vindication” 13 Expenses of the French War 14 Grenville’s resolves 15 Reply of the colonies 16 Passage of the Stamp Act 17 Patrick Henry and the Parsons’ Cause 18 Resolutions of Virginia concerning the Stamp Act 19, 20 The Stamp Act Congress 20-22 Declaration of the Massachusetts assembly 22 Resistance to the Stamp Act in Boston 23 And in New York 24 Debate in the House of Commons 25, 26 Repeal of the Stamp Act 26, 27 The Duke of Grafton’s ministry

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">28 Charles Townshend and his revenue acts 29-31 Attack upon the New York assembly 32 Parliament did not properly represent the British people 32, 33 Difficulty of the problem 34 Representation of Americans in Parliament 35 Mr. Gladstone and the Boers 36 Death of Townshend 37 His political legacy to George III. 37 Character of George III. 38, 39 English parties between 1760 and 1784 40, 41 George III. as a politician 42 His chief reason for quarrelling with the Americans 42, 43 CHAPTER II
THE CRISIS Character of Lord North 44 John Dickinson and the “Farmer’s Letters” 45 The Massachusetts circular letter 46, 47 Lord Hillsborough’s instructions to Bernard 48 The “Illustrious Ninety-Two” 48 Impressment of citizens 49 Affair of the sloop Liberty 49-51 Statute of Henry VIII. concerning “treason committed abroad” 52 Samuel Adams makes up his mind (1768) 53-56 Arrival of troops in Boston 56, 57 Letters of “Vindex” 58 Debate in Parliament 59, 60 All the Townshend acts, except the one imposing a duty upon tea, to be repealed 61 Recall of Governor Bernard 61 Character of Thomas Hutchinson 62 Resolutions of Virginia concerning the Townshend acts 63 Conduct of the troops in Boston 64 Assault on James Otis 64 The “Boston Massacre” 65-68 Some of its lessons 69-72 Lord North becomes prime minister 72 Action of the New York merchants

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@41266@[email protected]#Page_73" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">73 Assemblies convened in strange places 74 Taxes in Maryland 74 The “Regulators” in North Carolina 74 Affair of the schooner Gaspee 75, 76 The salaries of the Massachusetts judges 76 Jonathan Mayhew’s suggestion (1766) 77 The committees of correspondence in Massachusetts 78 Intercolonial committees of correspondence 79 Revival of the question of taxation 80 The king’s ingenious scheme for tricking the Americans into buying the East India Company’s tea 81 How Boston became the battle-ground 82 Advice solemnly sought and given by the Massachusetts towns 82-84 Arrival of the tea; meeting at the Old South 84, 85 The tea-ships placed under guard 85 Rotch’s dilatory manœuvres 86 Great town meeting at the Old South 87, 88 The tea thrown into the harbour 88, 89 Moral grandeur of the scene 90, 91 How Parliament received the news 91-93 The Boston Port Bill 93 The Regulating Act 93-95 Act relating to the shooting of citizens 96 The quartering of troops in towns 96 The Quebec Act 96 General Gage sent to Boston 97, 98 CHAPTER III
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Protest of the Whig Lords 99 Belief that the Americans would not fight 100 Belief that Massachusetts would not be supported by the other colonies 101 News of the Port Bill 101, 102 Samuel Adams at Salem 103, 104 Massachusetts nullifies the Regulating Act 105 John Hancock and Joseph Warren 106, 107 The Suffolk County Resolves

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@41266@[email protected]#Page_108" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">108 Provincial Congress in Massachusetts 109 First meeting of the Continental Congress (September 5, 1774) 110, 111 Debates in Parliament 112, 113 William Howe appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in America 113 Richard, Lord Howe, appointed admiral of the fleet 114 Franklin returns to America 115 State of feeling in the middle colonies 116 Lord North’s mistaken hopes of securing New York 117 Affairs in Massachusetts 101 Dr. Warren’s oration at the Old South 119 Attempt to corrupt Samuel Adams 120 Orders to arrest Adams and Hancock 121 Paul Revere’s ride 122, 123 Pitcairn fires upon the yeomanry at Lexington 124, 125 The troops repulsed at Concord; their dangerous situation 126, 127 The retreating troops rescued by Lord Percy 128 Retreat continued from Lexington to Charlestown 129 Rising of the country; the British besieged in Boston 130 Effects of the news in England and in America 130-133 Mecklenburg County Resolves 133 Legend of the Mecklenburg “Declaration of Independence” 133-135 Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen 135 Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point 136-140 Second meeting of the Continental Congress 141 Appointment of George Washington to command the Continental army 142-144 The siege of Boston 145 Gage’s proclamation 145 The Americans occupy Bunker’s and Breed’s hills 146 Arrival of Putnam, Stark, and Warren 147 Gage decides to try an assault 148, 149 First assault repulsed 149 Second assault repulsed 150 Prescott’s powder gives out 150

Third assault succeeds; the British take the hill 151 British and American losses 151, 152 Excessive slaughter; significance of the battle 153 Its moral effects 154 CHAPTER IV
INDEPENDENCE Washington’s arrival in Cambridge 155 Continental officers: Daniel Morgan 156 Benedict Arnold, John Stark, John Sullivan 157 Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox 158 Israel Putnam 159 Horatio Gates and Charles Lee 160 Lee’s personal peculiarities 161, 162 Dr. Benjamin Church 163 Difficult work for Washington 164 Absence of governmental organization 165 New government of Massachusetts (July, 1775) 166 Congress sends a last petition to the king 167 The king issues a proclamation, and tries to hire troops from Russia 168-170 Catherine refuses; the king hires German troops 170 Indignation in Germany 171 Burning of Falmouth (Portland) 171 Effects of all this upon Congress 172, 173 Montgomery’s invasion of Canada and capture of Montreal 174, 175 Arnold’s march through the wilderness of Maine 176 Assault upon Quebec (December 31, 1775) 177 Total failure of the attempt upon Canada 178 The siege of Boston 179 Washington seizes Dorchester Heights (March 4, 1776) 180, 181 The British troops evacuate Boston (March 17) 182, 183 Movement toward independence; a provisional flag (January 1, 1776) 184 Effect of the hiring of “myrmidons” 185 Thomas Paine 185 His pamphlet entitled “Common Sense” 186, 187 Fulminations and counter-fulminations

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">188 The Scots in North Carolina 188 Sir Henry Clinton sails for the Carolinas 189 The fight at Moore’s Creek; North Carolina declares for independence 189 Action of South Carolina and Georgia 190 Affairs in Virginia; Lord Dunmore’s proclamation 190 Skirmish at the Great Bridge, and burning of Norfolk 191 Virginia declares for independence 192 Action of Rhode Island and Massachusetts 192 Resolution adopted in Congress May 15 193 Instructions from the Boston town meeting 194 Richard Henry Lee’s motion in Congress 194 Debate on Lee’s 195, 196 Action of the other colonies; Connecticut and New Hampshire 196 New Jersey 197 Pennsylvania and Delaware 197-199 Maryland 199 The situation in New York 200 The Tryon plot 201 Final debate on Lee’s motion 202 Vote on Lee’s motion 203 Form of the Declaration of Independence 204 Thomas Jefferson 204, 205 The declaration was a deliberate expression of the sober thought of the American people 206, 207 CHAPTER V
FIRST BLOW AT THE CENTRE Lord Cornwallis arrives upon the scene 208 Battle of Fort Moultrie (June 28, 1776) 209-211 British plan for conquering the valley of the Hudson, and cutting the United Colonies in twain 212 Lord Howe’s futile attempt to negotiate with Washington unofficially 213, 214 The military problem at New York 214-216 Importance of Brooklyn Heights 217 Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776) 218-220 Howe prepares to besiege the Heights 220 But Washington slips away with his army 221 And robs the British of the most golden opportunity ever offered them

pginternal" href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@41266@[email protected]#Page_221" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">221-223 The conference at Staten Island 223, 224 General Howe takes the city of New York September 15 224 But Mrs. Lindley Murray saves the garrison 225 Attack upon Harlem Heights 225 The new problem before Howe 225, 226 He moves upon Throg’s Neck, but Washington changes base 227 Baffled at White Plans, Howe tries a new plan 228 Washington’s orders in view of the emergency 228 Congress meddles with the situation and muddles it 229 Howe takes Fort Washington by storm (November 16) 230 Washington and Greene 231 Outrageous conduct of Charles Le 231, 232 Greene barely escapes from Fort Lee (November 20) 233 Lee intrigues against Washington 233, 234 Washington retreats into Pennsylvania 234 Reinforcements come from Schuyler 235 Fortunately for the Americans, the British capture Charles Lee (December 13) 235-238 The times that tried men’s souls 238, 239 Washington prepares to strike back 239 He crosses the Delaware, and pierces the British centre at Trenton (December 26) 240, 241 Cornwallis comes up to retrieve the disaster 242 And thinks he has run down the “old fox" at the Assunpink (January 2, 1777) 242 But Washington prepares a checkmate 243 And again severs the British line at Princeton (January 3) 244 General retreat of the British upon New York 245 The tables completely turned 246 Washington’s superb generalship 247 Effects in England 248 And in France 249 Franklin’s arrival in France 250 Secret aid from France 251 Lafayette goes to America 252 Efforts toward remodelling the Continental army

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">252-255 Services of Robert Morris 255 Ill feeling between the states 256 Extraordinary powers conferred upon Washington 257-258 CHAPTER VI
SECOND BLOW AT THE CENTRE Invasion of New York by Sir Guy Carleton 259 Arnold’s preparations 260 Battle of Valcour Island (October 11, 1776) 260-262 Congress promotes five junior brigadiers over Arnold (February 19, 1777) 262 Character of Philip Schuyler 263 Horatio Gates 264 Gates intrigues against Schuyler 265 His unseemly behaviour before Congress 266 Charges against Arnold 267, 268 Arnold defeats Tryon at Ridgefield (April 27, 1777) 269 Preparations for the summer campaign 269 The military centre of the United States was the state of New York 270 A second blow was to be struck at the centre; the plan of campaign 271 The plan was unsound; it separated the British forces too widely, and gave the Americans the advantage of interior lines 272-274 Germain’s fatal error; he overestimated the strength of the Tories 274 Too many unknown quantities 275 Danger from New England ignored 276 Germain’s negligence; the dispatch that was never sent 277 Burgoyne advances upon Ticonderoga 277, 278 Phillips seizes Mount Defiance 279 Evacuation of Ticonderoga 279 Battle of Hubbardton (July 7) 280 One swallow does not make a summer 280-282 The king’s glee; wrath of John Adams 282 Gates was chiefly to blame 282 Burgoyne’s difficulties beginning 283 Schuyler wisely evacuates Fort Edward 284 Enemies gathering in Burgoyne’s rear 285 Use of Indian auxiliaries 285 Burgoyne’s address to the

chiefs 286 Burke ridicules the address 286 The story of Jane McCrea 287, 288 The Indians desert Burgoyne 289 Importance of Bennington; Burgoyne sends a German force against it 290 Stark prepares to receive the Germans 291 Battle of Bennington (August 16); nearly the whole German army captured on the field 292, 293 Effect of the news; Burgoyne’s enemies multiply 294 Advance of St. Leger upon Fort Stanwix 295 Herkimer marches against him; Herkimer’s plan 296 Failure of the plan 297 Thayendanegea prepares an ambuscade 298 Battle of Oriskany (August 6) 298-300 Colonel Willett’s sortie; first hoisting of the stars and stripes 300-301 Death of Herkimer 301 Arnold arrives at Schuyler’s camp 302 And volunteers to retrieve Fort Stanwix 303 Yan Yost Cuyler and his stratagem 304 Flight of St. Leger (August 22) 305 Burgoyne’s dangerous situation 306 Schuyler superseded by Gates 306 Position of the two armies (August 19-September 12) 307 CHAPTER VII
SARATOGA Why Sir William Howe went to Chesapeake Bay 308 Charles Lee in captivity 308-310 Treason of Charles Lee 311-314 Folly of moving upon Philadelphia as the “rebel capital” 314, 315 Effect of Lee’s advice 315 Washington’s masterly campaign in New Jersey (June, 1777) 316, 317 Uncertainty as to Howe’s next movements 317, 318 Howe’s letter to Burgoyne 318 Comments of Washington and Greene 319, 320 Howe’s alleged reason trumped up and worthless 320 Burgoyne’s fate was practically decided when Howe arrived at Elkton

href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@41266@[email protected]#Page_321" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">321 Washington’s reasons for offering battle 321 He chooses a very strong position 322 Battle of the Brandywine (September 11) 322-326 Washington’s skill in detaining the enemy 326 The British enter Philadelphia (September 26) 326 Significance of Forts Mercer and Mifflin 327 The situation at Germantown 327, 328 Washington’s audacious plan 328 Battle of Germantown (October 4) 329-332 Howe captures Forts Mercer and Mifflin 333 Burgoyne recognizes the fatal error of Germain 333 Nevertheless he crosses the Hudson River 334 First battle at Freeman’s Farm (September 19) 335 Quarrel between Gates and Arnold 336-337 Burgoyne’s supplies cut off 338 Second battle at Freeman’s Farm (October 7); the British totally defeated by Arnold 338-340 The British army is surrounded 341 Sir Henry Clinton comes up the river, but it is too late 342 The silver bullet 343 Burgoyne surrenders (October 17) 343, 344 Schuyler’s magnanimity 345 Bad faith of Congress 346-349 The behaviour of Congress was simply inexcusable 350 What became of the captured army 350, 351

---