CH. XIII.] BOSTON BESIEGED BY THE PEOPLE. fax in England, in regard to the deplorable commencement of hostilities at Lexington, "to reflect, that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast; and that the once happy and peaceful plains of America are to be either drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?" 1775. The Massachusetts Congress was in session at the time, and immediately took measures for sending depositions to England, to prove-as was no doubt the case that the British troops were the aggressors. They also, while professing undiminished loyalty to the king, "appealed to heaven for the justice of their cause, and determined to die or be free." The forts, magazines, and arsenals, were speedily seized upon by the people in all directions. Troops were raised, and a new issue of paper money made. Boston was soon besieged by a force of twenty thousand men, who formed a line of encampment from Roxbury to the River Mystic. Artemas Ward was appointed captain-general of the troops thus brought together from the neighboring colonies, who promptly determined to sustain Massachusetts in the impending conflict. Some bold spirits, perceiving clearly that war was at hand, had conceived a plan for capturing Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Ethan Allen* with his * A good story is told of the Vermont hero at a later date, when he was a prisoner on parole in New York. Rivington, the king's printer, had said some very severe and offensive things of the whigs, VOL. I.-47 353 Green Mountain Boys, less than three hundred in number, assembled at Castleton, May 2d, and were there joined by Benedict Arnold, who had also set out on the same errand. Arnold had a in his Gazette, and Allen had declared with an oath that "he would lick him the very first opportunity be had." We quote Rivington himself for the rest of the story. "I was sitting," says he," after a good dinner, alone, with my bottle of madeira before me, when I heard an unusual noise in the street, and a huzza from the boys. I was in the second story, tarnished regimentals, with a large cocked hat and and stepping to the window, saw a tall figure in an enormous long sword, followed by a crowd of told me it was Ethan Allen. I shut down my win- certain the hour of reckoning had come. There was no retreat. Mr. Staples, my clerk, came in paler than ever, and clasping his hands, said,‘Master, he is come!' 'I know it.' 'He entered the store and Yes, sir.' Is he at home?' 'I will go and see, sir,' asked, if James Rivington lived there.' I answered, I said. 'And now, master, what is to be done? There he is in the store, and the boys peeping at him from the bottle of madeira-possibly took a glass. 'Show the street.' I had made up my mind. I looked at him up,' said I;' and if such madeira cannot mollify him, he must be harder than adamant.' There was stairs, his long sword clanking at every step. In he stalked. 'Is your name James Rivington? It is, sir, and no man could be more happy than I am to a fearful moment of suspense. I heard him on the another word, my dear colonel, until you have taken see Colonel Ethan Allen.' 'Sir, I have come-Not a seat and a glass of old madeira.' 'But, sir, I don't think it proper-' 'Not another word, colonel. Taste this wine; I have had it in glass for ten years. Old wine, you know, unless it is originally sound, never improves by age.' He took the glass, swallowed the wine, smacked his lips, and shook his head approvingly. 'Sir, I come-' 'Not another word until you have taken another glass, and then, my dear colonel, we will talk of old affairs, and I have some droll events to detail.' In short, we finished two bottles of madeira, and parted as good friends as if we had never had cause to be otherwise."-De Puy's "Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Heroes of '76," p. 262. colonel's commission from Massachusetts, and claimed the command; but the Vermonters refused flatly, and he was forced to serve as volunteer or not at all. The party arrived at Shoreham, opposite Ticonderoga, on the night of the 9th of May. Never dreaming of such a thing as an attack, the vigilance of the garrison was quite relaxed. Having obtained a boy, named Nathan Beman, as a guide, Allen and Arnold crossed over during the night with only eighty-three of their men, the rest being unable to follow them for want of a supply of boats. Landed under the walls of the fort, they found their position extremely critical; the dawn was beginning to break, and unless they could succeed in instantly surprising the garrison, they ran themselves the most imminent risk of capture. Ethan Allen did not hesitate a moment, but, drawing up his men, briefly explained to them the position of affairs, and then, with Arnold by his side, hurried up immediately to the sally-port. The sentinel snapped his fusee at them, and rushing into the fort, the Americans followed close at his heels, and entering the open parade, awoke the sleeping garrison with three hearty cheers. The English soldiers started from their beds, and rushing below, were immediately taken prisoners. Meanwhile Allen, attended by his guide, hurried up to the chamber of the commandant, Captain Delaplace, who was in bed, and knocking at his door with the hilt of his huge sword, ordered him in a stentorian voice to make his instant appearance, or the entire garrison should immediately be put to death. The commandant appeared at his door, half dressed, "the frightened face of his pretty wife peering over his shoulder." Gazing in bewildered astonishment at Allen, he exclaimed, "By whose authority do you act?" "In the name of the Great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress !" replied Allen, with a flourish of his long sword, and, we are sorry to say, with an oath following it. There was no alternative and Delaplace surrendered. Two days afterwards, Crown Point was surprized and taken. More than two hundred pieces of artillery, and a large and valuable supply of powder, which was greatly needed, fell into the hands of the Americans. By these daring movements, the command of Lakes George and Champlain was won, and the great highway to Canada was thrown open. The Second Continental Congress assembled at Philadelphia on the 10th of May. Peyton Randolph was 1775. again chosen president and Charles Thomson secretary. Randolph being obliged to be absent in Virginia, Hancock was placed in the chair. The crisis had now been reached, and it was felt at once what an exceedingly difficult and responsible position Congress now occupied. At the meeting of the First Congress, war was apprehended; now it had commenced; and it must be pushed on with vigor. Then, as it usually happens in all new enterprises, minds were full of ardor, and tended, by a certain natural proclivity, towards the object; at present, though greatly inflamed by the same sentiments, it was to be feared they might cool, in consequence of those vicissitudes so common in Petaccording to act of Congress. 11856 by Martin & Johnson, in the eks office of the dist Cl of the southern dis! of Flew York CH. XIII.] THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 355 been given to its acts by public opinion. Discipline was to be enforced; money was to be raised; arms and military stores to be obtained; and due regard to be had to the securing help from abroad. The position and course of the Indian tribes were also to be carefully attended to; for it was greatly to be feared that the English could offer them inducements to join against the Americans far greater than any counter inducements which the colonists could name. popular movements, always more easy to excite than to maintain. A great number of loyalists, believing that things would not come to the last extremities, and that either the petitions sent to England would dispose the government to condescend to the desires of the Americans, or that, in time, the latter would become tranquil, had hitherto kept themselves quiet; but it was to be feared, that at present, seeing all hope of reconciliation vanished, and war, no longer probable, but already waged against that king towards whom they wished to remain faithful, they would break out, and join themselves to the royal forces, against the authors of the revolution. It was even to be doubted, whether many of the partisans of liberty, who had placed great hope in the petitions, would not falter at the prospect of impending losses and inevitable dangers. Every thing indicated that the contest would prove long and sanguinary. It was little to be expected, that a population, until then pacific, and engaged in the arts of agriculture, and of commerce, could all at once learn that of war, and devote themselves to it with constancy, and without reserve. It was much more natural to imagine, that, upon the abating of this first fervor, the softer image of their former life recurring to their minds, they would abandon their colors, and implore the clemency of the conqueror. It was, therefore, an enterprise of no little difficulty for Congress to form regulations and take measures, * See Curtis's "History of the Constitution," vol. capable of maintaining the zeal of the i., p. 30-41, where the position of the Second Conpeople, and to impart to its proceed-tinental Congress and the Formation and Charings the influence which at first had Anxious to preserve the appearance at least of conciliation, “An Humble and Dutiful Address" to the king was drawn up by Dickinson, and passed, though not without great opposition from the New England members. Addresses to the People of Great Britain, to the People of Ireland, and to the "Oppressed Inhabitants of Canada," were also prepared, and a day of fasting and prayer was appointed. "These papers," says Pitkin, "breathed the same ardent love of liberty, contained the same dignified sentiments, evinced the same determined purpose of soul, and the same consciousness of the justice of their cause, as those of the former session. Nor were they couched in language less bold and energetic, on the subject of their rights, or less affectionate towards those to whom they were addressed." From the necessity of the case, Congress proceeded to exercise the authority called for by the present emergency. acter of the Revolutionary Government are ably discussed. |