Thomas and Jonathan Amory and Peter Johonnot, who have, at the earnest entreaties of the inhabitants, through the lieutenant-governor, solicited a flag of truce for this purpose.

JOHN SCOLLAY,

TIMOTHY NEWELL,

THOMAS MARSHALL,
SAMUEL AUSTIN.

This paper was received at the lines at Roxbury by Colonel Learned, who carried it to head-quarters; and in return, the next day, wrote to the messengers as follows:

Roxbury, March 9, 1776.

Gentlemen,Agreeably to a promise made to you at the lines yesterday, I waited upon his excellency General Washington, and presented to him the paper handed to me by you, from the selectmen of Boston. The answer I received from him was to this effect: That, as it was an unauthenticated paper, without an address, and not obligatory upon General Howe, he would take no notice of it.' I am, with esteem and respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

To Messrs. AMORY and JoHONNOT.

EBENEZER LEARNED.

This answer was, apparently, uncompromising. Neither party, however, desired a general action. Washington's object was to gain possession of the town, and it was in accordance with his principles and feelings to accomplish it, if possible, without bloodshed. Humanity and policy united to save it from the ravage and destruction that would inevitably accompany an assault. Howe's object was to save his army. He did not feel strong enough to meet his antagonists in the neighborhood of Boston. He could not act to advantage in this quarter. And it was his policy to avoid risk, and try his fortune, with all the force he could command, on a new field. Hence this informal negotiation, without placing either party under obligations, produced a tacit understanding between both parties that saved much bloodshed. General Howe left the town without doing material injury to it, and General

'Sparks' Writings of Washington, vol. III., Appendix.

Washington allowed the troops to embark without molestation. The American army was held in readiness to make an assault at any moment, in case indications appeared that injury was intended to the town.

Washington, however, went on with his preparations. On the 9th he planted a battery at the north-east of Bird's Hill, near the water at Dorchester Neck, with the intention of annoying the British shipping. Nook's Hill, situated also in Dorchester, which was still nearer Boston, and which completely commanded it, was especially dreaded by the British commander. Its possession by the Americans would place him entirely at their mercy. At night a strong detachment was sent to plant a battery there, and act as circumstances might require. Some of the men imprudently kindled a fire behind the hill, which revealed their purpose to the British, who commenced a severe cannonade upon them. This proved another dreadful night to the terror-stricken people of Boston. During the whole of it there was a roar of cannon and mortars, on the part of the Americans, from Cobble Hill, Lechmere's Point, Cambridge, and Roxbury, -on the British side, from the lines on the Neck and the castle. More than eight hundred shot were fired during the night. were killed, and the works at Nook's Hill were suspended.'.

Five Americans

1 Mrs. Adams, in a letter commenced March 2, and closed Sunday evening, March 10, gives a vivid description of the cannonade during this period. The following are extracts from this letter:

March 2.

I have been in a continual state of anxiety since you left me. It has been said "to-morrow," and "to-morrow," for this month, but when the dreadful to-morrow will be I know not. But hark! The house this instant shakes with the roar of cannon. I have been to the door, and find it is a cannonade from our army. Orders, I find, are come, for all the remaining militia to repair to the lines Monday night, by twelve o'clock. No sleep for me to-night.

Sunday Evening, 3d March.

I went to bed after twelve, but got no rest; the cannon continued firing, and my heart beat pace with them all night. We have had a pretty quiet day, but what to-morrow will bring forth, God only knows.

Monday Evening.

1 have just returned from Penn's Hill, where I have been sitting to hear the amazing roar of cannon, and from whence I could see every shell which

This movement, nowever, hastened the preparations of General Howe. He issued (10th) a printed proclamation, ordering the inhabitants to deliver all linen and woollen goods to Crean Brush. In concluding, this document stated that, "If, after this notice, any person secretes or keeps in his possession such articles, he will be treated as a favorer of the rebels." written commission given this day, under General Howe's signature, to this officer, went much further. It stated that there were in town large quantities of goods, which, in the possession of the rebels, would enable them to carry on war;" and authorized him to "take possession of all such goods as answered this description," and put them on board the Minerva ship, and brigantine Elizabeth.'

was thrown. The sound, I think, is one of the grandest in nature, and is of the true species of the sublime. 'Tis now an incessant roar; but O, the fatal ideas which are connected with the sound! How many of our dear countrymen must fall!

Tuesday Morning.

I went to bed about twelve, and rose again a little after one. I could no more sleep than if I had been in the engagement; the rattling of the windows, the jar of the house, the continual roar of twenty-four-pounders, and the bursting of shells, give us such ideas, and realize a scene to us of which we could scarcely form any conception. I hope to give you joy of

Boston, even if it is in ruins, before I send this away.

Sunday Evening, March 10. A most terrible and incessant cannonade from half-after eight till six this morning. I hear we lost four men killed, and some wounded, in attempting to take the hill nearest to the town, called Nook's Hill. We did some work, but the fire from the ships beat off our men, so that they did not secure it, but retired to the fort upon the other hill. — Mrs. Adams' Letters, pp. 68—71.

'Most, if not all, the printed proclamations of Howe, during the siege, are among the rich collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. They were circulated in hand-bills. The following is copied from the original, with General Howe's autograph, in the office of the Secretary of State : Sir, -I am informed there are large quantities of goods in the town of Boston, which, if in possession of the rebels, would enable them to carry on war. And whereas I have given notice to all loyal inhabitants to remove such goods from hence, and that all who do not remove them, or deliver them to your care, will be considered as abettors of rebels. You are hereby authorized and required to take into your possession all such goods as answer this description, and to give certificates to the owners that you have received them for their use, and will deliver them to the owners' order, unavoidable accidents

PLUNDERING IN BOSTON.

307

This day (10th) the horse transports were ordered to fall down to Castle William. A large body of the grenadiers and light-infantry, and the fifth and tenth regiments, were selected to cover the retreat by land, and the Chatham and Fowey ships, by water. Many cannon were spiked, many gun-carriages were broken, and much ammunition was thrown over the wharves. The army was much embarrassed between the necessity of being continually on duty, and the immediate attention required to save property. Many of the officers had laid out money in furniture and conveniences to make their situation comfortable. No purchasers of these articles could now be found. The crisis left no choice of measures, and regrets were useless. The embarkation of stores and people went on. Some, ascertaining they could not carry their furniture with them, began to destroy it.

The day following (11th) was signalized by the operations of Crean Brush. He was a conceited New York Tory, as ignorant of the American character as he was insolent in the discharge of his official duties. At the head of parties of Tories, under cover of his commission, he broke open stores, stripped them of their goods, and carried them on board the ships. It is not strange that this authorized plunder was imitated by lawless bands of men from the fleet and the army. They broke open shops and dwelling-houses, "carrying destruction," says Gordon, "wherever they went; what they could not carry away they destroyed." The next day (12th) the same scenes were renewed, though expressly forbidden in orders. Those found guilty of plundering, or in firing a house, were threatened with death.'

excepted. And you are to make inquiry if any such goods be secreted or left in stores; and you are to seize all such, and put them on board the Minerva ship, or the brigantine Elizabeth. Given under my hand, at headquarters, Boston, this tenth day of March, 1776.

TO CREAN BRUSH, Esquire.

W. Howe, Com. Chief

The details of the last days of the British in Boston are given in British letters, and in Mss. in the State House. The brigantine Elizabeth was captured, with Crean Brush on board, and among the Mss. are depositions respecting his conduct, his commission, lists of goods &c. Gordon writes, March 6th, from a journal kept in Boston, and gives many interesting facts. History, vol. 11., p. 42.

On the 14th the streets in different parts of the town were barricaded, and dispositions were made for a departure. Stores were plundered by sailors, acting under their officers, and under the pretext of orders from the admiral.' On the 15th proclamation was made by the crier for the inhabitants to keep in their houses from eleven o'clock in the morning until night, to prevent them from annoying the troops during their embarkation. But an easterly breeze sprung up, and the army was ordered to its barracks. On the 16th the troops did much mischief by defacing furniture, damaging goods, and breaking open stores. They were only waiting a fair wind to go on board the ships.

During this exciting period the journals continued to chronicle the success of the Americans on the sea. On the 6th it was announced that the Yankee Hero had sent into Newburyport a fine brig of 200 tons burden; and, on the 14th, that Captain Manly had sent into Portsmouth an armed ship of 240 tons, loaded with provisions for Boston; and had also sent into Cape Ann a ship of 300 tons, filled with stores for the army. A transport brig of fourteen guns, laden with naval stores and provisions, ran ashore at the back of the cape. The people boarded her, and unloaded her cargo. She had on board five barrels of powder, and five hundred pounds of specie.

In the mean time Washington, who had but partial information of the proceedings in Boston, became more and more impatient to see the British evacuate it. He wrote to Congress on the 13th, that he "fully expected, before this, that the town would have been entirely evacuated." He felt that

On this day General Howe issued the following order:

March 14. The commander-in-chief finding, notwithstanding former orders that have been given to forbid plundering, houses have been forced open and robbed, he is therefore under a necessity of declaring to the troops that the first soldier who is caught plundering will be hanged on the spot.

The commander-in-chief, having been informed that depredations have been committed in the town-house, offers the following rewards to any person or persons who shall convict any person or persons of cutting and defacing the king's and queen's picture, and destroying the records and other public papers, viz: For the king's picture £50, for the queen's picture £50, for other pictures, records, and public papers, £20.