sincerely anxious that the demands of the Americans should be complied with, and even Lord North, the Prime Minister, who carried the measures in question through Parliament, was in his heart opposed to them, and only continued in office to uphold them at the express command of the king, who was obstinately determined upon whipping his American subjects into submission.

Few of the leaders of the Colonists now doubted that hostilities would soon begin, and with a view to prepare for the emergency, the Colonies began to take steps for raising and arming troops at a minute's warning. These preparations were especially vigorous in Massachusetts, and alarmed General Gage, who fortified Boston neck, and commenced to seize all the arms and munitions of war he could find in the province. The Colonial authorities of Massachusetts had established small stores of arms and ammunition at Worcester and Concord, and General Gage resolved to secure them. On the night of the 18th of April, 1775, he sent a large detachment of troops to destroy the stores at Concord. It was his design that the movement should be secret, but he was so closely watched by the patriots that the march of his troops was instantly discovered, and the alarm spread through the country by messengers. The people at once flew to arms, and when the troops reached Lexington, a village half way between Boston and Concord, on the morning of the 19th, Major Pitcairn, their commander, found his progress opposed by a considerable number of the country people. He ordered his men to fire upon them. The order was obeyed, and the citizens were driven off with a loss of eight killed and several wounded. The troops then proceeded to Concord, where they destroyed some stores, but upon reaching the north bridge over Concord River, they met with a determined resistance from the people, who had now assembled in considerable force, and were obliged to retreat to Boston. The Colonists followed them closely on their retreat, pouring in a galling fire from every convenient point. The total loss of the British on this occasion was 273 men killed and wounded.

This battle, if a battle it can be called, put an end to the long dispute between America and Great Britain, and inaugurated the Revolution. Previous to this, no one ever heard, as Jefferson remarks, "a whisper of a disposition to separate from Great Britain," but after the first surprise of the shock had worn off, the people of the Colonies commenced to take up arms for freedom. On the 22d of April, the authorities of Massachusetts ordered that a New England army of

RUINS OF TICONDEROGA.

30,000 men should be put in the field, and that Massachusetts should furnish 13,000 of these. Troops were raised with rapidity under this authority, and by the 1st of May, an army of 20,000 men was encamped before Boston.

In the other Colonies equally important measures were set on foot. The fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point were seized by volunteers from Connecticut and Vermont, led by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen. The cannon and stores taken with them were of incalculable service to the Americans, who were sadly in need of military supplies.

In Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia, the people took up arms as soon as the news from the North was received, and in North Carolina a convention was held at Charlotte, in Mecklenburg county, which body, in May, 1775, proclaimed the independence of the people of North Carolina, and prepared to resist the authority of Great Britain by force of arms.

On the 10th of May, 1775, the second Colonial Congress met at Philadelphia. It was composed of the most eminent men of the country, among whom were Washington, Franklin, Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Jay, George Clinton, Jefferson, and others. The proceedings of this body were eminently moderate. The first step taken was to elect John Hancock President of the Congress. A petition to the king was drawn up, and forwarded to him, denying any intention to separate from Great Britain, and asking only for redress of the wrongs of which the Colonies complained. A federal Union of the Colonies. was formed, and the Congress assumed and exercised the general government of the country. Measures were taken to establish an army, to procure military supplies, and to fit out a navy. A loan of $2,000,000 was authorized, and the faith of the "United Colonies" pledged for its payment. The troops before Boston were organized as a Continental army, and placed under the control of the Congress, and Washington was elected Commander-in-Chief. As soon as he received his commission, he set out for Boston, but did not arrive there until after the occurrence of the events now to be related.

Alarmed by the presence of the American forces before Boston, the British commander in that town formed the plan of seizing and fortifying Bunker Hill in Charlestown. His plan was betrayed to the Americans, who at once sent a force under Colonel William Prescott to fortify the hill. Prescott misunderstood his instructions, and proceeded to fortify Breed's Hill, which, though inferior in height to Bunker Hill, was nearer to Boston, and more perfectly commanded the harbor. He threw up a slight breastwork during the night of the 16th of June, which was discovered by the British on the morning of the 17th. A force of 3000 regulars was detailed to carry the hill, assisted by the fire of the royal ships in the harbor. The American force was scarcely more than half this number, and consisted of raw and undisciplined provincials. They repulsed two assaults, however, inflicting upon their enemies a loss of 1045 men killed and wounded; but were at length, after their ammunition had given out, driven from the hill. They retreated across Charlestown neck to Cambridge, which was held by the Continental army, having lost 449 men killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among the killed was General Joseph Warren, of Boston, one of the most valuable of the American leaders. This battle, though an actual defeat for the Americans, was regarded by them as a victory, inasmuch as it demonstrated their

ability to hold their ground against the regular troops of Great Britain, and inspired them with a confidence which attended them during the entire war.

Washington reached the army before Boston several days after the battle of Bunker Hill, and immediately took command. He was received with enthusiasm by the troops and people. He was accompanied by General Charles Lee, an officer who had seen service before. Congress had appointed a full complement of general officers for the army, all of whom were with their commands. The Major-Generals were: Charles Lee, of Virginia, Philip Schuyler, of New York, Artemas Ward, of Massachusetts, and Israel Putnam, of Connecticut. The Brigadiers were: Horatio Gates, Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathanael Greene. Of all these, Gates was the only man who possessed sufficient experience to be of much assistance to Washington in the task of perfecting the organization of the army, which was in reality little better than a mere rabble in discipline, clothing, and equipment. By extraordinary exertions, Washington and Gates at length succeeded in bringing the force to a tolerably effective condition. Boston was at once regularly besieged, and closely invested until March 17th, 1776, when, Washington having secured a position from which his cannon could render the city untenable, the British forces evacuated the place, and sailed for Halifax. They were accompanied by a large body of loyalists, who feared to remain in the town after its occupation by the Americans. Meanwhile, during the progress of the siege of Boston, other operations had been going on elsewhere. General Montgomery had been sent into Canada with a small, weak force, to conquer that province, which was believed to be disaffected towards England. His second in command was Benedict Arnold, who rendered brilliant service. during the campaign. The principal event of the invasion was a joint attack upon Quebec by Montgomery and Arnold, which was unsuccessful, and in which Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. The expedition accomplished nothing of importance, and was compelled to return to the Colonies, after suffering great losses and considerable hardships.

A British fleet attacked and burned Falmouth (now Portland, Maine) on the New England coast, and committed many outrages on the coast of Virginia. A powerful force, under Sir Peter Parker, attacked Fort Sullivan, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina,

and was repulsed with heavy loss. The Americans managed during the year to fit out several cruisers, which were fortunate enough to capture a number of prizes loaded with military stores for the British army, and which proved of infinite service to the Americans.

Indeed, these captures seemed providential, for often when the stock of arms and munitions was running low, a cruiser would make its way into port with a prize laden with the supplies most needed, which it had taken from the enemy.

Congress took measures for the active prosecution of the war. Supplies were drawn from the West Indies, and a regular system for that purpose inaugurated; powder mills and cannon founderies were provided for; thirteen frigates were ordered to be built (a few of which eventually got to sea); a committee of war, one of finance, and a secret committee, to which was entrusted the negotiations of the Colonies with the individuals and authorities of foreign States, were appointed; and an energetic, if defective, system of government for