350 NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE INDIANS. [1775.

guage usually employed on such occasions, which was to be varied in points of minor importance to suit circumstances. The following extracts plainly show that the honest intention was to secure the neutrality of the Indians.

"This is a family quarrel between us and Old England. You Indians are not concerned in it. We do not wish you to take up the hatchet against the king's troops. We desire you to remain at home, and not join on either side, but keep the hatchet buried deep. In the name and behalf of all our beloved people, we ask you to love peace and maintain it, and to love and sympathize with us in our troubles."

It is so inhuman to induce Indians to attack defenceless people, and destroy peaceful and harmless families, that every American must feel gratified to read the following declaration, which was made in the British parliament by Mr. Burke, on the 6th of February, 1778. "No proof whatever," he said, "had been given of the Americans having attempt. ed offensive alliances with any one tribe of savages; whereas the imperfect papers now before that house demonstrated that the king's ministers had negotiated and obtained such alliances from one end of the Continent of America to the other; that the Americans had actually made a treaty on the footing of neutrality with the famous Five Nations, which the king's ministers had bribed them to violate, and to act offensively against the colonies; that no attempt had been made in a single instance to procure a neutrality; that if the fact had been that the Americans had actually employed those savages, yet the difference of employing them against

armed and trained soldiers, imbodied and encamped, and employing them against the unarmed and defenceless men, women, and children of a country, dispersed in their houses, was manifest, and left those who attempted so inhuman and unequal a retaliation without excuse.

It has always been unaccountable that the Brit. ish army made no attempt to raise the siege of Boston. They could hardly have been ignorant of the changeable state of the army and their want of powder. They, however, suffered them. selves to be shut in on the land side; and several times the Americans proposed a general attack. On the 5th of October Washington described the situation of the enemy as "in a manner surrounded by ships of war and floating batteries," so that it would be "impossible to break their lines without great slaughter on our side, or cowardice on theirs, so that we could do no more than keep them be. sieged, which they are, to all effects and purposes, as closely as any troops on earth can be, who have an opening to the sea." The advanced works were within musket-shot, and the British troops kept up a daily cannonade.

352

THE ARMY DISBANDING. [1775.

CHAPTER XLI. 1775-1776.

Discontent of the Militia at Boston.-Spirited Measures of Connecticut to furnish Re-enforcements.-Volunteers raised there for New-York.-Colonel Knowlton.-News of the Disasters in Canada.- Troops sent thither.- Preparations to evacuate Boston.-Washington occupies Lechmere's Point and Dorchester Heights.-The British retire in Haste.-The Americans enter and occupy Boston.-The Troops sent off to New-York in Detachments.-Military Arrangements.-Loyalists sent to Connecticut for Security.

As the time approached when the enlistments would expire, Congress appointed a committee to confer with committees of the New-England colonies on measures to be taken; and Connecticut appointed Messrs. Griswold and Wales to attend the important council. They proceeded to Cam. bridge, and the conference was opened on the 18th of October, the commander-in-chief being present. The proceedings of a council of war were laid before them, which were generally adopted; and it was agreed that the army ought not to be less than 20,372 men, or twenty-six regiments of eight companies, exclusive of riflemen and artillery; and that as many of the present troops as possible should be re-enlisted. It was thought that 20,000 might be raised in Massachusetts, 8000 in Connecticut, 3000 in New-Hampshire, and 1500 in Rhode Island. Other business having been done, the conference closed on the 22d.

The Connecticut troops at Boston did not in

cline to enlist again; and, as the term of service of most of them would expire from the 1st to the 10th of December, Washington learned with regret that they were resolved to return home at that time, especially as the enemy were receiving reenforcements, and he thought they designed an attack.

The officers had at first expressed a strong opinion that they would consent to remain until the 1st of January, when they might hope to be relieved by others but the men refused; and, by the 1st of December, many left the lines to return home, some before their term had expired, and taking their arms and ammunition with them. Colonel Trumbull was sent to recall them, and many returned. Washington wrote to Governor Trumbull, inquiring "whether an example should not be made of these men, who have basely deserted the cause of their country at this critical juncture." The governor replied, that "the late extraordinary and reprehensible conduct of some of the troops of this colony impresses me, and the minds of many of our people, with grief, surprise, and indignation." He added, "the pulse of a New-England man beats high for liberty; his engagement in the service he thinks purely voluntary; therefore, when his term of enlistment is out, he thinks himself not holden without farther engagement. This was the case in the last war." He stated, that he had determined to call the General Assembly together at New-Haven on the 14th, and requested Washington to suggest anything he might wish to have submitted to thern.

It appears, however, that all except 80 of the

354

MEASURES OF THE ASSEMBLY.

[1775.

Connecticut troops consented to remain until the 10th; and Washington called in 3000 men from Massachusetts and 2000 from New-Hampshire to take their places; but he had serious apprehen. sions that all the other troops would leave him at the expiration of their terms, as the enlistments went on very slowly. The Rev. Mr. Leonard, chaplain to the Connecticut troops, received high recommendation from the commander-in-chief, not only for his general conduct and the discharge of his duties, but for "a sensible and judicious discourse" at the time of difficulty. Governor Trumbull acquainted Washington that many of the inhabitants of his colony, on hearing of the conduct of the troops, had offered to march to the camp to supply their places. The General Assembly, about the close of the year, adopted a measure which showed their zeal, and afforded great satisfaction to the commander-in-chief. They passed an act for raising and equipping, by voluntary enlistment, one fourth part of the militia of the colony, and all the exempts who might be willing to act as minute men for the defence of any of the colo. nies. They also declared forfeit the estates of persons guilty of aiding or informing the enemy, or receiving British protections; and the former, also, liable to imprisonment for three years. Speaking or writing against the acts of Congress or the Assembly was made punishable by disarming, dis. qualification from holding any office, and even imprisonment. It was farther resolved to provide two vessels of 14 and 16 guns, a spy-schooner of 4, and four row-galleys; the soldiers of the last and the ensuing campaigns were released from the poll