having remained for some time at the bridge, returned without executing their orders.

ces.

The next attempt was attended with more serious consequen

General Gage having been informed that a large quantity of ammunition and military stores had been collected at Concord, about twenty miles from Boston, and where the provincial congress was sitting, sent a detachment, under the command of Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, to destroy the stores, and, as was reported, to seize Messrs. Hancock and Adams, the leading men of the congress. They set out before day-break, on the 19th of April, marching with the utmost silence, and securing every one they met on the road, that they might not be dis covered. But, notwithstanding all their care, the continual ringing of bells and firing of guns as they went along soon gave them notice that the country was alarmed. About five in the morning they had reached Lexington, fifteen miles from Boston, where the militia of the place were exercising. An officer called out to them to disperse; but some shots, it is said, being at that moment fired from a house in the neighbourhood, the military made a discharge, which killed and wounded several of the militia. The detachment then proceeded to Concord, where, having destroyed the stores, they were encountered by the Americans; and a scuffle ensued, in which several fell on both sides. The purpose of their expedition being thus accomplished, it was necessary for the king's troops to retreat, which they did through a continual fire kept upon them from Concord to Lexington, Here their ammunition was expended; and they would have been unavoidably cut off, had not a considerable reinforcement, commanded by Lord Percy, luckily met them. The Americans, however, continued their attack with great fury; and the British would still have been in the utmost danger, had it not been for two field-pieces which Lord Percy brought with him. By these the impetuosity of the Americans was checked, and the British made good their retreat to Boston, with the loss of 263 killed and wounded; that of the Americans was eightyeight,

By this engagement the spirits of the Americans were so raised, that they meditated nothing less than the total expulsion of the British troops from Boston, An army of 20,000 men was assembled, who formed a line of encampment from Roxbury to

Mystic, through a space of about thirty miles; and here they were soon after joined by a large body of Conecticut troops, under General Putnam, an old officer of great bravery and experience. By this formidable force was the town of Boston now kept blocked up. General Gage, however, had so strongly fortified it, that the enemy, powerful as they were, durst not make an attack; while, on the other hand, his force was by far too insignificant to meet such an enemy in the field. But, towards the end of May, a considerable reinforcement having arrived, with Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, he prepared to act with more decision; while the Americans, on their part, did every thing to oppose him.

On the 15th of June, two days previous to this memorable engagement, the congress had appointed George Washington, Esq., à gentleman of large fortune in Virginia, to the chief command of all the American forces. He had been a distinguished and successful officer in the British service; and at this period was serving in the independent companies of Virginia: and of which he had been chosen the commander. He was elected a member of the first congress that met at Philadelphia, in which body he was very soon distinguished as the soldier of America. He was placed on all those committees whose duty it was to make arrangements for defence; and when it became necessary to appoint a commander-in-chief, his military character, the solidity of his judgment, the steady firmness of his temper, the dignity of his person and deportment, the confidence inspired by his patriotism and integrity, and the independence of his circumstances, combined with that policy which actuated New England, and induced a wish to engage the southern colonies cordially in a war, to designate him in the opinion of all as the person to whom the destinies of his country should be confided.

He was unanimously chosen "General and Commander-inChief of the army of the United Colonies, and all the forces now raised or to be raised by them*."

Artemas Ward, of Massachussetts, who had commanded the troops before Boston; Colonel Lee, a British officer, who had distinguished himself in Portugal, but had resigned his commission in the service of the king; Philip Schuyler, of New York; and Israel Putnam of Connecticut, now also before Boston; were appointed to the rank of major-generals; and MrHoratio. Gates, who had held the rank of a major in the British service, was appointed adjutant-general.

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When, on the following day, the president communicated this appointment to him, he modestly answered, that though truly sensible of the high honor done him, yet he felt great distress, from a consciousness that his abilities and military experience might not be equal to the extensive and important trust. However, as the congress desired it, he would enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power he possessed in their service, and for support of the glorious cause. He begged them to accept his cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their approbation, and then added, "But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with."

He declined all compensation for his services, and avowed an intention to keep an exact account of his expences, which he should rely on congress to discharge.

A special commission was made out for him*, and a solemn

"The delegates of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachussett's Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl vania, the counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina;

To George Washington, Esq.,

"We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be General and Commander-in-Chief of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised, or to be raised by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their service, and join the said army for the defence of American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof, And you are hereby invested with full power and ́authority to act as you shall think for the good and welfare of the service.

"And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties.

“And we also enjoin and require you to be careful in executing the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly exercised and provided with all con

venient necessaries.

"And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war, (as herewith given you,) and punctually to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as you shall receive from this or a future congress of these United Colonies, or Committee of congress.

"This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future congress.