Latest / Life and Times of Joseph Warren / Chapter 15 Part 2 - Sixty Days of Service - From the 19th of April to the 17th of June

Transcript

Chapter 15 Part 2 - Sixty Days of Service - From the 19th of April to the 17th of June · Life and Times of Joseph Warren

0:02
Chapter fifteen, Part two of Life and Times of Joseph Warne by Richard Frothingham.
0:08
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. On the seventeenth Warren drafted
0:14
a congratulatory letter in behalf of the Provincial Congress to the Connecticut Colony on the
0:19
capture of Taekwonderoga, which I copy from the original in his handwriting, Watertown,
0:26
May seventeenth, seventeen seventy five. Gentlemen, we have the happiness of
0:32
presenting our congratulations to you on the reduction of that important fortress, Taekwonderoga.
0:38
We applaud the conduct of both the officers and soldiers, and are of opinion
0:42
that the advantageous situation of that fortress makes it highly expedient that it should be
0:47
repaired and properly garrisoned. In the meantime, as we suppose that there is
0:53
no scruple for keeping all the cannon there, we should be extremely glad if
0:57
all the battering cannon, especially bred Us cannon, which can be spared from
1:02
that place or procured from Crown Point, which we hope is by this time
1:06
in the hands of our friends, may be forwarded this way with all possible
1:11
expedition, as we have here to contend with an army furnished with as fine
1:15
a train of artillery as ever was seen in America, and we are an
1:19
extreme want of a sufficient number of canon to fortify those important passes, without
1:25
which we can neither annoy General Gauge, if as it should become necessary,
1:29
nor defend ourselves against him. We therefore must most earnestly recommend this very important
1:36
matter to your immediate consideration. And we would suggest it as our opinion that
1:41
the appointing Colonel Arnold to take charge of them and bring them down in all
1:45
possible haste, may be a means of settling any dispute which may have arisen
1:49
between him and some other officers, which we are always desirous to avoid,
1:55
and more especially at a time when our common danger ought to unite us in
1:59
the strongest bonds of amity and affection we are gentlemen, etc. On the
2:06
eighteenth Warren was again chosen a member of the Committee of Safety, his name
2:10
standing next to Hancock's. He had this day an unusual duty put upon him,
2:16
occasioned by the arrest and detention by an armed party of Lady Franklin,
2:21
who had received a permit to go into Boston, as authorized by Congress,
2:25
and one of the party was called to account before this body on retiring.
2:30
It was resolved that the President should gently admonish him and assure him that the
2:36
Congress were determined to preserve their dignity and power over the military. When the
2:40
offender was called in and the President politely admonished him, on the nineteenth Congress
2:47
renewed the powers of the Committee of Safety in a series of resolves that would
2:52
occupy several of these pages, confirmed its acts thus far, and put the
2:58
substantial executive power upon the colony into their hands. It gave this body full
3:02
power to call out the militia to station the army, and directed the General
3:07
and other officers to render strict obedience to its orders. On the twentieth Warren,
3:13
in the morning was appointed by Congress the head of an important committee to
3:16
consider how the Massachusetts Army could be organized in the most ready and effectual manner.
3:23
And in the afternoon, as President, he delivered to General Ward his
3:27
commission as General and Commander in chief of the Massachusetts Forces. The oath was
3:31
administered to him by Honorable Samuel Dexter It is not mentioned that Warren made an
3:38
address on this occasion, but he was in the habit of doing it on
3:40
the delivery of military commissions, as I have already stated. In seventeen eighty
3:46
two, John Adams related this incident at a dinner party at the Hague.
3:51
He says, Doctor Warren made a harangue in the form of a charge in
3:55
the presence of the Assembly to every officer upon the delay livery of his commission,
4:00
and he never failed to make the officer, as well as all the
4:03
Assembly shudder. Upon these occasions, Count Sarsfield appeared struck and affected by this
4:10
anecdote. On the twenty first Sunday, the following is the whole of the
4:15
record of the doings of Congress, met at four o'clock PM and adjourned to
4:20
tomorrow morning. Eight o'clock. Warren communicated two halls paper the Essex Gazette the
4:29
following account of what occurred this day last Sabbath. About ten o'clock a m
4:34
an express arrived at General Thomas's quarters at Roxbury, informing him that four sloops,
4:41
two of them armed, were sailed from Boston to the south shore of
4:45
the Bay, and that a number of soldiers were landing at Weymouth. General
4:48
Thomas ordered three companies to march to the support of the inhabitants. When arrived,
4:55
they found the soldiers had not attempted to land at Weymouth, but had
4:58
landed on Grape Island, from whence they were carrying off hay on board the
5:02
sloops. The people of Weymouth assembled on a point of land next the Grape
5:06
Island. The distance from Weymouth's shore to the said island was too great for
5:12
small arms to do execution. Nevertheless, our people frequently fired. The fire
5:18
was returned from one of the vessels with swivel guns, but the shot passed
5:23
over our heads and did no mischief. Matters continued in this state for several
5:27
hours, the soldiers pulling the hay down to the water side, our people
5:31
firing at the vessel, and they now and then discharging swivel guns. The
5:36
tide had now come in and several lighters which were aground were got afloat,
5:42
upon which our people, who were ardent for battle, got on board,
5:46
hoisted sail, and bore directly down upon the nearest point of the island.
5:50
The soldiers and sailors immediately left the barn and made for their boats and to
5:55
put off from one end of the island, wilst our people landed on the
5:59
other. The sloops hoisted sail with all possible expedition, whilst our people set
6:03
fire to the barn and burnt seventy or eighty tons of hay, then fired
6:09
several tons which had been pulled down to the water side, and brought off
6:13
the cattle. As the vessels passed horse Neck, a sort of promontory which
6:17
extends from Germantown, they fired their swivels in small arms at our people,
6:23
pretty briskly, but without effect. Though one of the bullets from their small
6:27
arms, which passed over our people, struck against the stone with such force
6:31
as to take off a large part of the bullet. Whether any of the
6:34
enemy were wounded is uncertain, though it is reported three of them were.
6:39
It is thought they did not carry off more than one or two tons of
6:43
hay. There is an omission in this relation. Bancroft remarks that Warren,
6:47
ever bravest among the brave, ever present where there was danger, was in
6:51
this affair. On the twenty second, the Provincial Congress sent to Colonel Arnold
6:58
a letter on the capture of Tycho Conder Roga similar in sentiment to Warren's letter
7:02
written to Connecticut on the seventeenth, and enclosing a copy of it, saying
7:06
that as the expedition began in that colony, it ought to take the whole
7:11
matter under its care and direction until the advice of the Continental Congress could be
7:15
received. On the twenty third, the Committee on the Organization of the Army,
7:21
appointed on the twentieth, of which Warren was the chairman, reported,
7:26
through Joseph Hawley per order and among other recommendations, that a lieutenant general should
7:31
be appointed by the Congress before it should rise. On the twenty fourth,
7:36
the Provincial Congress issued an address to their friends and fellow countrymen, urging that
7:43
they should continue to furnish supplies to support the army, and ought to crown
7:46
all their exertions by subscribing to a loan of one hundred thousand lawful money.
7:54
On the twenty fifth, Warren had the pleasure of sending to the Committee of
7:57
Safety the following note, which I copied from the original in his handwriting Watertown,
8:03
May twenty fifth, seventeen seventy five, to the Honorable Committee of Safety,
8:09
gentlemen, upon my arrival here just this minute, I had the pleasure
8:13
of being informed at our worthy friend, Colonel Arnold, not having had the
8:18
sole honor of reducing Tykwonderoga and Crown Point, determined upon an expedition against Saint
8:24
John's, in which he happily succeeded. The letters were directed to the Committee
8:30
of Safety, but were supposed to be necessary to be laid before Congress.
8:35
I have not yet seen them, but you will have the particulars from the
8:37
bearer. I have also received a letter from the Congress of New Hampshire informing
8:43
me of a resolve to raise forthwith two thousand men and more if it should
8:48
be necessary. The troops, at least one company with a train of artillery
8:52
from Providence are in the upper end of Roxbury. To say the truth,
8:58
I find my health much more since the morning I am. Gentlemen, your
9:03
most obedient servant, J. Warren p s. You will be kind enough
9:07
to communicate the contents of this letter to the General's Room, as I love
9:11
to give pleasure to good men. On the twenty sixth Warren addressed the following
9:16
clear, well considered and statesmanlike letter to his friend Samuel Adams on the all
9:22
important question of a civil government and the control of the army. Joseph Warren
9:28
to Samuel Adams, Dear Sir, I see more and more the necessity of
9:33
establishing a civil government here, and such a government as shall be sufficient to
9:39
control the military forces, not only of this colony, but also such as
9:43
shall be sent to us from the other colonies. The continent must strengthen and
9:48
support with all its weight the civil authority here. Otherwise our soldiery will lose
9:54
the ideas of right and wrong, and will plunder instead of protecting the inhabitants.
10:00
This is but too evident already, and I assure you, internows,
10:05
that unless some authority sufficient to restrain the irregularities of this army is established,
10:11
we shall very soon find ourselves involved in greater difficulties than you can well imagine.
10:16
The least hint from the most unprincipled fellow, who has perhaps been reproved
10:22
for some criminal behavior, is quite sufficient to expose the fairest character to insult
10:26
and abuse among many. And it is with our countrymen, as with all
10:31
other men, when they are in arms, they think the military should be
10:35
uppermost I know very well that in the course of time people will see the
10:39
error of such proceedings, but I am not sure it will be before many
10:45
disagreeable consequences may take place. The evil may now be easily remedied. I
10:50
know the temper of our people. They are sensible, brave, and virtuous,
10:54
and I wish they might ever continue so mild and gentle regulationans will be
11:00
sufficient for them, but the penalties annexed to the breach of those rules should
11:05
be vigorously inflicted. I would have such a government as should give every man
11:11
the greatest liberty to do what he pleases, consistent with restraining him from doing
11:15
any injury to another, or such a government as would most contribute to the
11:20
good of the whole, with the least inconvenience to individuals. However, it
11:24
is difficult to frame a government di novo which will stand in need of no
11:30
amendment. Experience must point out defects, and if the people should not lose
11:35
their morals, it will be easy for them to correct the errors in the
11:39
first formation of government. If they should lose them, what was not good
11:43
at first will be soon insupportable. My great wish, therefore, is that
11:50
we may restrain everything which tends to weaken the principles of right and wrong,
11:54
more especially with regard to property. You may possibly think I am a little
12:00
angry with my countrymen, or have not so good an opinion of them as
12:03
I formerly had, But that is not the case. I love, I
12:07
admire them. The errors they have fallen into are natural and easily accounted for.
12:13
The sudden alarm brought them together animated with the noblest spirit. They left
12:18
their houses, their families, with nothing but the clothes on their backs,
12:22
without a day's provision, and many without a farthing in their pockets. Their
12:26
country was in danger. Their brethren were slaughtered. Their arms alone engrossed their
12:31
attention as they passed through the country. The inhabitants gladly opened their hospitable doors,
12:37
and all things were in common. The enemies of their country alone refused
12:43
to aid and comfort the hungry soldier. Prudence seemed to dictate that the force
12:46
made use of to obtain what ought voluntarily to have been given should be winked
12:52
at. And it is not easy for men, especially when interest and the
12:56
gratification of appetite are considered, to know how far they may continue to tread
13:01
in the path where there are no landmarks to direct them. I hope care
13:05
will be taken by the Continental Congress to apply an immediate remedy as the infection
13:11
is caught by every new corps that arrives. With regard to the skirmish which
13:16
happened at Grape Island, you will find a particular account thereof in Hall's paper,
13:20
which was given him by myself, who was in the action yesterday arrived
13:26
the three famous generals, how Burgoyne and Clinton, with twenty of the lighthorse,
13:31
two were lost on the voyage. Pray present my best respects to all
13:35
friends, particularly our colony members, and, without letting the matter be public,
13:41
take their opinions upon the former part of this letter. For the honor
13:46
of my country, I wish the disease may be cured before it is known
13:50
to exist. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant and sincere
13:54
friend, Joseph Warren, Mister Samuel Adams, Cambridge, May twenty sixth,
14:01
seventeen seventy five. On the twenty seventh, Warren, as the President of
14:07
Congress, sent to the Continental Congress a letter relative to the action of Massachusetts
14:11
in relation to the capture of Taekwonderoga, which contains more elaborately the views he
14:18
had expressed in his letters to mister McDougall of New York and to Connecticut.
14:22
We beg leave. This letter says on this occasion most solemnly to assure your
14:28
honors that nothing can be more abhorrent to the temper and spirit of this Congress
14:33
and the people of this colony than any attempt to usurp on the jurisdiction of
14:37
any of our sister colonies, which, upon the superficial consideration of this step,
14:43
there may seem to be some appearance of. But we assure ourselves that
14:48
such are the candor and generous sentiments of our brethren of the Colony of New
14:52
York, that they will readily overlook this mistake if it is one committed in
14:58
the haste of war. If any of these cannons should arrive within the limits
15:01
of this colony, we shall hold ourselves accountable for them to your honors or
15:07
any succeeding representatives of the continent. So careful were the patriots not to infringe
15:13
on the local jurisdiction of their brethren, and so true were they to the
15:16
Union On this day, Warren served under General Putnam in the spirited skirmish on
15:22
Naudles Island when the Provincials drove off the livestock. In the London Chronicle of
15:28
this date, appended to and addressed by the Provincial Congress to the inhabitants of
15:33
Great Britain, Warren's name occurs for the first time appended to an official document
15:39
printed in England. On the twenty eighth, Warren received a letter from J.
15:45
Henshaw, who was selected for a mission to Hartford and Crown Point,
15:48
asking for certain papers and a horse in sulky, which mister Gill promised to
15:52
supply. Henshaw asked Warren's direction in the matter. Many letters of this date
16:00
were addressed to Warren, which shows the detail that fell to his lot.
16:04
On the twenty ninth, Warren, as President, addressed a letter to the
16:08
New Hampshire Congress urging the importance of maintaining the forts of Tykwonderoga and Crown Point.
16:15
On this day, the Second Provincial Congress dissolved. On the thirtieth,
16:21
there was a meeting of the Committee of Safety, when directions were given to
16:25
carry to Cambridge the cannon and stores saved from a schooner that had been burned
16:29
in Chelsea. The thirty first was the day named in the colony Charter for
16:33
the annual election of Councilors and the third Provincial Congress, convened in the Meetinghouse
16:38
at Watertown. The first entry on its journal states that Honorable Joseph Warren Esquire
16:45
was unanimously chosen the president. The Committee of Safety met in this town,
16:51
and there was held here a convention of Congregational ministers. The president of Harvard
16:56
College, Reverend Samuel Langdon, d D. Preached the election sermon from the
17:03
text, and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy
17:07
counselors as at the beginning. Afterwards, thou shalt be called the city of
17:11
righteousness, the faithful city. The discourse began with the following words, shall
17:18
we rejoice, my fathers and brethren, or shall we weak together on the
17:22
return of this anniversary. In doctor Langdon's view, the controversy threatened a final
17:29
separation of the colonies from Great Britain. He announced the vital principle that every
17:34
nation, when able and agreed, has a right to set up over themselves
17:38
any form of government which to them might appear most conducive to their common welfare.
17:44
He uttered the following timely republican injunction. Let those who cry up the
17:48
divine right of kings consider that the only form of government which had a proper
17:53
claim to a divine establishment was so far from including the idea of a king
18:00
that it was a high crime in Israel to be in this respect like other
18:03
nations. And he regarded the general agreement through so many provinces of so large
18:10
a country in the adoption of one mode of self preservation of corresponding committees in
18:17
congresses, as caused by some supernatural influence on the minds of the main body
18:22
of the people, there has been a disposition to take a semitory view of
18:27
the conduct of the people, by giving undue importance to the instances of mob
18:33
action, and to overlook the remarkable adherents of social order that is seen through
18:37
ten years of exciting controversy. The words of doctor Langdon on this point are
18:44
valuable, he said. Universal tumults and all the irregularities and violence of Marvish
18:51
factions naturally arise when legal authority ceases. But how little of this has appeared
18:56
in the midst of the late obstructions of civil government, nothing more than what
19:02
has often happened in Great Britain and Ireland in the face of the civil powers
19:07
in all their strength, nothing more than what is frequently seen in the midst
19:11
of the perfect regulations of the great City of London, and he bore the
19:15
following testimony to the general obedience paid at that time to the local authorities and
19:22
the incoat nationality. The judgment and advice of the Continental Assembly of Delegates have
19:27
been as readily obeyed as if they were the authentic acts of a long established
19:32
parliament. And in every colony the votes of a Congress have had equal effect
19:37
with the laws of great and general courts. This fact is a part of
19:42
American history, a history not made by the view, but by the many,
19:48
a history which illustrates at every step the power of an enlightened public opinion.
19:55
On the first of June, the Provincial Congress ordered letters to be sent
19:59
to Colonel Arnold, to the Assembly of Connecticut and the Provincial Congress of New
20:03
Hampshire on the subject of retaining Tykwonderoga and Crown Point. On the second,
20:10
Congress was occupied with the details connected with the organization of the Army. Among
20:15
the papers addressed the Warren as President were memorials relative to the exposed portion of
20:21
the seaport towns, and a large committee was appointed to consider the subject of
20:26
their protection. On the third a committee, with Jerry as the chairman,
20:32
was appointed to hold a conference at Cambridge with the Committee of Safety on the
20:36
subject of reinforcing the army, and the general officers were invited to join it.
20:41
On the fourth Sunday there were three sessions of the Provincial Congress Elbridge.
20:48
Jerry addressed the letter on this day to the Massachusetts Delegates, in which he
20:52
strongly urged the necessity of a local government and of a regular general. In
20:59
relation to the letter, Jerry says, I should hardly rejoice to see this
21:03
way the beloved Colonel Washington, and do not doubt the New England Generals would
21:07
acquiesce in showing to our sister Colony Virginia the respect she has before experienced from
21:14
the continent, in making him Generalissimo. This is a matter in which doctor
21:18
Warren agrees with me, and we had intended to write you jointly on the
21:22
affair. Warren on this day, as chairman of the Committee of Safety united
21:29
with General Ward, General of the Massachusetts Forces, and Moses Gill, Chairman
21:33
of the Committee of Supplies, in a strong representation to the Continental Congress of
21:38
the Distresses of the Colony. In the assurance, they said that Congress,
21:44
as the wise guardians of the lives, liberties, and properties of the whole
21:48
of this extensive continent, would attend to the circumstances of all who, under
21:53
God looked up to them for protection and deliverance. On the fifth a committee
21:59
was appointed to examine certain mineral earth that had been submitted to Congress, and
22:03
in such inquiry to consult the Honorable Joseph Warren, Esquire and Professor Sewell.
22:11
On the sixth, Warren accompanied General Putnam to Charlestown in order to affect an
22:15
exchange of prisoners. Captain Chester and the Weathersfield Company formed the escort. Warren
22:22
and Putnam rode in a phaeton. Two of the prisoners, who were officers
22:26
were on horseback, a lieutenant was in a chase, and four wounded marines
22:32
were in two carts. Warren and Putnam met Major Moncrief and other British officers
22:37
at the house of Doctor Foster in Charlestown, where an entertainment was provided.
22:42
The affair was conducted with the utmost decency and good humour. On this day,
22:48
Warren was appointed on a committee to consider the expediency of authorizing armed vessels
22:52
to crews on the American coasts, protect its trade and annoy its enemies.
22:57
The members were enjoined to observe secrecy. On the seventh, the business transacted
23:03
by the Provincial Congress was uncommonly important. Elbridge Jerry, from a committee,
23:08
reported that it was unnecessary for the colony to augment its forces. A time
23:14
was assigned for the choice of two major generals. The President was directed to
23:18
admonish mister Edwards on account of his speech on the Committee of Safety. On
23:23
the eighth there was an important debate in the Provincial Congress on a report signed
23:29
by Jerry as chairman, to the effect that it was unnecessary to increase the
23:33
force raised for this and other American colonies, when the Committees of Safety and
23:37
Supplies and the several committees of the Congress were desired to be present. After
23:44
debating the subject in the morning and the afternoon in Committee of the Whole,
23:48
the report was accepted. On the ninth, the Provincial Congress adopted a stringent
23:55
order directing the Committee of Safety to certify the claims or pretension that any gentleman
24:00
might have to a commission in the service, with a view to reducing the
24:04
army to order. On the tenth the Committee of Safety presented an elaborate and
24:10
valuable report showing the confused state of the army from the date of the nineteenth
24:15
of April, in consequence of more enlisting orders having been delivered than were sufficient
24:21
to enlist the numbers of men required at that time. The Committee say,
24:26
but few men enlisted, and there was an apprehension that the province was in
24:30
the utmost danger from the want of men. Hutchinson predicted to Gibbon that unless
24:36
fanaticism got the better of self preservation, they the people must soon disperse,
24:41
as it was the season for sowing their Indian corn, the chief subsistence of
24:47
New England. This was the time when Warren did wonders in keeping the army
24:52
together. On the eleventh, the Provincial Congress authorized Joseph Hawley to sign an
24:57
address to the Continent Congress which strongly reiterated the necessity of a settled civil polity
25:04
or government, making reference to the former application of the sixteenth of May.
25:11
This address says, the pressing weight of our distresses has necessitated the sending of
25:15
a special post to obtain your immediate advice upon this subject, and we do
25:21
most earnestly entreat that you would, as soon as possible, dispatch the messenger
25:26
with such advice. This address repeats the considerations which Warren had urged in official
25:33
and private letters. On the twelfth there was a session of the Provincial Congress,
25:38
but the absorbing topic of the day was the celebrated proclamation of General Gage,
25:45
declaring the infatuated multitudes who were in arms and there were betters to be
25:49
rebels, and offering pardon to all, accepting Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
25:56
On the thirteenth there was a long session of Congress. Warren was appointed the
26:02
chairman of a committee to consider the subject matter of a late extraordinary proclamation of
26:07
General Gage, and this committee prepared a counter proclamation, which, though not
26:12
issued at the time, was printed subsequently in the journals of the Provincial Congress.
26:18
On the fourteenth, the Provincial Congress chose Warren by ballot a major general.
26:25
The records say a committee was directed to wait on the Honorable Joseph Warren
26:30
Esquire and inform him that this Congress had made choice of him for second Major
26:34
General of the Massachusetts Army, and desire his answer to this Congress of his
26:40
acceptance of this trust. It is stated that he was proposed as a physician
26:45
general, but preferring a more active and hazardous employment, he accepted a major
26:51
general's commission. On the fifteenth, the Committee of Safety recommended to the Council
26:56
of War that, as the pos session of Bunker Hill appeared to be of
27:00
importance to the safety of the colony, it be maintained by a sufficient force
27:06
being posted there, And as the situation of Dorchester Hill was unknown to the
27:11
Committee, it recommended to the Council of War to take such steps relative to
27:15
it, as to them should appear to be for the security of the colony.
27:21
It had been reported for several weeks that General Gage, when his reinforcements
27:26
arrived, designed to commence offensive operations, and it was expected in England that
27:32
his finally appointed army, commanded by generals of experience, would easily disperse the
27:37
provincials. So scanty was a supply of powder and of arms, and so
27:42
great the confusion of the army that there were apprehensions that General Gage might succeed,
27:48
at least so far as to capture Cambridge, and Congress took steps to
27:52
secure the records and stores. On the twelfth of May, this body was
27:56
formally advised that in order to render the country safe from all sallies of the
28:02
enemy in this quarter, it would be necessary to fortify Prospect Hill, the
28:07
first hill in Charlestown, now in Somerville, nearest to headquarters, Winter Hill,
28:12
which is nearest to the peninsula of Charlestown, and Bunker Hill, just
28:17
within the peninsula. It is said that Warren was not in favor of occupying,
28:22
so exposed the post as Bunker Hill, which would be in accordance with
28:26
his usual good judgment. The following incidents are related. On the evening after
28:32
the affair at Naudles Island, after General Putnam had warmly urged this measure,
28:37
but General Ward had enjoined caution, Warren remarked to Putnam, I admire your
28:41
spirit and respect General Ward's prudence. We shall need them both, and one
28:47
must temper the other. After the march of the army into Charlestown, Warren
28:52
and Warren against an occupancy of the heights of this town, said that as
28:56
they had no powder to spare, and no battery and cannon, it would
29:00
be idle to make approaches onto the town. One day, after conversing with
29:06
Putnam on this subject, Warren rose and walked two or three times across the
29:11
room, leaned a few minutes over the back of a chair in thoughtful attitude,
29:15
and said, almost thou persuadest me, General Putnam, But I must
29:19
still think the project a rash one. Nevertheless, if the project be adopted
29:25
and the strife becomes hard, you must not be surprised to find me near
29:29
you in the midst of it. There is nothing unreasonable in these relations so
29:33
far as they relate to Warren. In fact, they harmonized with much under
29:38
his own hand bearing on military operations. His letters show how earnest he was
29:45
to drive Gage out of Boston, but his pleading for power, artillery,
29:49
discipline, and adequate government shows a wise appreciation of the obstacles that were in
29:56
the path of success. The great object, however, was defense. The
30:00
commanders of the army received authentic intelligence that General Gage had fixed on the night
30:07
of the eighteenth of June on which to commence offensive operations, and hence the
30:11
action of the Committee of Safety. On this day, Warren, as President
30:17
of Congress, signed letters addressed to Connecticut, New Hampshire, and the Continental
30:22
Congress. An elaborate report showed the disorganized state of the army, the position
30:27
of the colonel's relative to commissions, and stated that the Massachusetts forces fell considerably
30:33
short of the thirteen thousand, six hundred men which had been ordered to be
30:37
enlisted. On the sixteenth, Warren presided at the session of the Provincial Congress
30:44
at Watertown. Several colonels and captains were sworn in and commissioned, and the
30:48
Committee on Gage's Proclamation, of which Warren was the chairman, reported a spirited
30:55
rejoinder. The Committee of Safety met at Cambridge, and the business on its
31:00
hands must have been uncommonly urgent. It was reported this day in the camp
31:04
that Warren was chosen a major general, and that Heath was not chosen to
31:10
any office, but it was supposed that no difficulty would arise from it.
31:15
The following note, which I copied from the original in his handwriting, superscribed
31:19
General Heath Camp at Roxbury, to be delivered immediately shows that Warren was in
31:25
Cambridge and on the most kindly relations with Heath. It is the last word
31:30
from Joseph Warren under his own hand, Cambridge, June sixteenth, My good
31:37
friend, everything is now going agreeable to our wishes. General Ward has recommended
31:42
to the Congress to take the we determined upon yesterday. Nothing is wanting but
31:48
for you to make a return of your regiment, which I wish may be
31:52
done without a moment's delay, as there is an absolute order of Congress that
31:56
the brigadiers shall be chosen out of the Colonel. I am your most obedient,
32:01
humble servant, Joseph Warren. In the evening he was applied to on
32:07
public business and promised that it should be attended to. About nine o'clock,
32:12
Colonel Prescott, at the head of a detach of about one thousand men,
32:15
marched from Cambridge to Charlestown, passed over Bunker Hill, which had been recommended
32:21
to be held, and threw up a redoubt on the heights near Boston,
32:24
which have since obtained the name of Breed's Hill. The Committee of Safety say
32:30
that this hill was chosen by mistake. It is stated that Warren passed the
32:35
night in the transaction of public business. End of Chapter fifteen, Part two,