Much impatience was felt by the people to have the British fleet driven from the harbor. It consisted (June) of eight ships, two snows, two brigs, and one schooner. They had several hundred Highlanders on board. General Benjamin Lincoln planned an expedition to drive the fleet to sea. The Council of Massachusetts ordered him to carry it into execution, and authorized him (June 11) to call out the militia for this purpose. On the 13th the people of Boston were notified, by beat of drum, that an enterprise was to be undertaken against the British at Nantasket, and to build fortifications in the lower harbor. General Ward ordered a part of the continental troops to aid in this work. Detachments from Colonels Marshall's and Whitney's regiments, and a battalion of the train under Lieut.-colonel Crafts, embarked at Long Wharf, and sailed for Pettick's Island and Hull. Here they were joined by additional troops and companies from the sea-coast. About six hundred men were gathered at each place. About the same number of militia from the towns about the harbor, and a detachment of artillery, took post on Moon Island, at Hoff's Neck, and at Point Alderton. A detachment of the army, under Colonel Whitcomb, with two eighteen-pounders and a thirteen-inch mortar, took post at Long Island. The whole were under Colonel Whitcomb.' Owing to a calm, the troops did not gain their stations until the morning of the

1 General Ward's Letter, June 16, 1775; Gordon's History, II., p. 88; American Archives, vol. vI., p. 915; Life of General Lincoln.

In an account of this expedition a journal remarks: "It is worthy of special notice that the 14th of June, 1774, was the last day allowed for trading vessels to leave or enter the port of Boston, through the cruelty of a British act of Parliament; and that the 14th of June, 1776, through the blessing of God upon the operations of a much injured and oppressed people, was the last day allowed for British men-of-war or ministerial vessels to remain, or enter within the said port but as American prizes. Thus has Providence retaliated."

This work was done at a fortunate time. In three days two British transports, the George and the Annabella, were captured after a short and sharp action. Among the trophies were Colonel Archibald Campbell, and about three hundred Highlanders. Major Menzies, of this corps, was killed in the action, and was interred in Boston the next day, with military honors. Two other transports, with Highlanders on board, were captured about this time, -the Ann and the Lord Howe.

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14th. Shot were first discharged at the fleet from Long Island. Commodore Banks returned the fire with spirit until a shot pierced the upper works of his ship, when he made signals for the fleet to get under way, and after blowing up the light-house, went to sea. Thus was Boston harbor cleared

View of the lines on Boston Neck, from the Post near Brown's House.

CHAPTER XIII.

American Congratulations. British Comments. Condition of Boston. Conclusion.

THE intelligence of the evacuation of Boston occasioned great joy in the colonies. It was regarded as reflecting the highest honor on Washington and his army, and, indeed, as a glorious triumph. The result of this long siege was as encouraging to the friends of American liberty as it was disheartening to its enemies. Washington received congratulations from every quarter on his success.

The selectmen of Boston waited on the general, and presented to him the following address:

May it please your Excellency,

The selectmen of Boston, in behalf of themselves and fellow-citizens, with all grateful respect, congratulate your excellency on the success of your military operations, in the recovery of this town from an enemy, collected from the once respected Britons, who, in this instance, are characterized by malice and fraud, rapine and plunder, in every trace left behind them.

Happy are we that this acquisition has been made with so little effusion of human blood, which, next to the Divine favor, permit us to ascribe to your excellency's wisdom, evidenced in every part of the long besiegement.

If it be possible to enhance the noble feelings of that person, who, from the most affluent enjoyments, could throw himself into the hardships of a camp to save his country, uncertain of success, 't is then possible this victory will heighten your excellency's happiness, when you consider you have not only saved a large, elegant, and once populous city from total destruction, but relieved the few wretched inhabitants from all the horrors of a besieged town, from the insults and abuses of a disgraced and chagrined army, and restored many

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inhabitants to their quiet habitations, who had fled for safety to the bosom of their country.

May your excellency live to see the just rights of America settled on a firm basis, which felicity we sincerely wish you ; and, at a late period, may that felicity be changed into happiness eternal!

JOHN SCOLLAY,

To His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq.,

General of the United Forces in America.

General Washington made the following reply to this address:

To the Selectmen and Citizens of Boston,

Gentlemen, Your congratulations on the success of the American arms give me the greatest pleasure.

I most sincerely rejoice with you on being once more in possession of your former habitations; and, what greatly adds to my happiness, that this desirable event has been effected with so little effusion of human blood.

I am exceedingly obliged by the good opinion you are pleased to entertain of my conduct. Your virtuous efforts in the cause of freedom, and the unparalleled fortitude with which you have sustained the greatest of all human calamities, justly entitle you to the grateful remembrance of your American brethren; and I heartily pray that the hand of tyranny may never more disturb your repose, and that every blessing of a kind Providence may give happiness and prosperity to the town of Boston.

GEO. WASHINGTON.

On the 29th of March a joint committee from the Council and House of Representatives of Massachusetts waited upon Washington with a long and flattering testimonial. It alluded to the early resistance of this colony to the tyrannical policy, "impelled by self-preservation and the love of freedom;" to the satisfaction at the appointment of Washing

ton to be the commander-in-chief; to the wisdom and prudence and success of his measures; and it concluded as follows: "May you still go on, approved by Heaven, revered by all good men, and dreaded by those tyrants who claim their fellow-men as their property. May the United Colonies be defended from slavery by your victorious arms. May they still see their enemies flying before you; and (the deliverance of your country being effected) may you, in retirement, enjoy that peace and satisfaction of mind which always attend the good and great; and may future generations, in the peaceable enjoyment of that freedom the exercise of which your sword shall have established, raise the richest and most lasting monuments to the name of Washington." To this address the general returned a feeling reply. At this time the current was setting strong in favor of a declaration of independence, and hence the allusion with which this reply closes: "May this distressed colony and its capital, and every part of this wide extended continent, through His Divine favor, be restored to more than their former lustre and happy state, and have peace, liberty, and safety, secured upon a solid, permanent, and lasting foundation.”

Congress received the intelligence of the evacuation on the 25th of March, and immediately, on the motion of John Adams, passed a vote of thanks to Washington, and the officers and soldiers under his command, for their wise and spirited conduct, and ordered a gold medal to be struck and presented to the general. Also it raised a committee, consisting of John Adams, John Jay, and Stephen Hopkins, to prepare a letter of thanks. This letter was reported to Congress and adopted April 2.

Philadelphia, April 2, 1776.

Sir, - It gives me the most sensible pleasure to convey to you, by order of Congress, the only tribute which a free people will ever consent to pay, the tribute of thanks and gratitude to their friends and benefactors.

The disinterested and patriotic principles which led you to the field have also led you to glory; and it affords no little consolation to your countrymen to reflect, that, as a peculiar greatness of mind induced you to decline any compensation