LIFE

OF

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

BY

WASHINGTON IRVING.

VOL. II.

NEW YORK:

G. P. PUTNAM, 115 NASSAU STREET.

1860.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

DAVIS

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855.

BY G. P. PUTNAM & CO.,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

JOHN F. TROW, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, 377 & 379 Broadway,

Cor. White Street, New York.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II,

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Washington takes command of the Armies-Sketch of General Lee-Characters of the

British Commanders, Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne-Survey of the Camps from

Prospect Hill-The Camps contrasted-Description of the Revolutionary Army-

Rhode Island Troops-Character of General Greene-Washington represents the

Deficiencies of the Army-His Apology for the Massachusetts Troops-Governor

Trumbull-Cragie House, Washington's Head-Quarters.....................

CHAPTER II.

Questions of Military Rank-Popularity of Putnam-Arrangements at Head-Quarters

-Colonel Mifflin and John Trumbull, Aides-de Camp-Joseph Reed, Washington's

Secretary and confidential friend-Gates as Adjutant-General-Hazardous Situation

of the Army-Strengthening of the Defences-Efficiency of Putnam-Rapid Changes

-New Distribution of the Forces-Rigid Discipline-Lee and his cane-His Idea

as to Strong Battalions-Arrival of Rifle Companies-Daniel Morgan and his Sharp

Shooters-Washington declines to detach Troops to distant points for their Protec-

tion-His Reasons for so doing...

1

12

CHAPTER III.

Washington's Object in distressing Boston-Scarcity and Sickness in the Town-A

Startling Discovery-Scarcity of Powder in the Camp-Its Perilous Situation-

Economy of Ammunition-Correspondence between Lee and Burgoyne-Corres-

pondence between Washington and Gage-The Dignity of the Patriot Army

asserted........

CHAPTER IV.

Dangers in the Interior-Machinations of the Johnson Family-Rivalry of Ethan

Allen and Benedict Arnold-Government Perplexities about the Ticonderoga Cap-

ture-Measures to secure the Prize--Allen and Arnold ambitious of further Laurels

22

PAGE

-Projects for the Invasion of Canada-Ethan Allen and Seth Warner honored by

Congress-Arnold displaced by a Committee of Inquiry-His Indignation-News

from Canada-The Revolution to be extended into that Province-Enlistment of

Green Mountain Boys-Schuyler at Ticonderoga-State of Affairs there-Election

for Officers of the Green Mountain Boys-Ethan Allen dismounted-Joins the

Army as a Volunteer-Preparations for the Invasion of Canada-General Mont-

gomery-Indian Chiefs at Cambridge-Council Fire-Plan for an Expedition

against Quebec-Departure of Troops from Ticonderoga-Arrival at Isle aux Noix, 32

CHAPTER V.

A Challenge declined-A Blow meditated-A cautious Council of War-Preparations

for the Quebec Expedition-Benedict Arnold the Leader-Advice and Instructions

-Departure-General Schuyler on the Sorel-Reconnoitres St. Johns-Camp at

Isle aux Noix-Illness of Schuyler-Returns to Ticonderoga-Expedition of Mont-

gomery against St. Johns-Letter of Ethan Allen-His Dash against Montreal-Its

Catastrophe-A Hero in Irons-Correspondence of Washington with Schuyler and

Arnold-His Anxiety about them....

49

CHAPTER VI.

British in Boston send out Cruisers-Depredations of Captain Wallace along the Coast

-Treason in the Camp-Arrest of Dr. Church-His Trial and Fate-Conflagration

of Falmouth-Irritation throughout the Country-Fitting out of Vessels of War-

Embarkation of General Gage for England-Committee from Congress-Conferences

with Washington-Resolutions of Congress to carry on the War-Return of Secre-

tary Reed to Philadelphia.......

67

CHAPTER VII.

Measures of General Howe-Desecration of Churches-Three Proclamations-Seizure

of Tories-Want of Artillery-Henry Knox, the Artillerist-His Mission to Ticon-

deroga-Re-enlistment of Troops-Lack of Public Spirit-Comments of General

Greene......

77

CHAPTER VIII.

Affairs in Canada-Capture of Fort Chamblee-Siege of St. Johns-Maclean and his

Highlanders-Montgomery on the Treatment of Ethan Allen-Repulse of Carleton

-Capitulation of the Garrison of St. Johns-Generous Conduct of Montgomery—

Maclean re-embarks for Quebec-Weary Struggle of Arnold through the Wilderness

-Defection of Colonel Enos-Arnold in the Valley of the Chaudiere-His Arrival

opposite Quebec-Surrender of Montreal-Escape of Carleton-Home sickness of

the American Troops.......

88

Washington's anticipations of Success at Quebec-His Eulogium of Arnold-Schuyler

and Montgomery talk of resigning-Expostulations of Washington-Their Effect--

Schuyler's Conduct to a Captive Foe.......

PAGE

95

CHAPTER X

Difficulties in filling up the Army-The Connecticut Troops persist in going Home-

Their reception there-Timely Arrival of Spoils in the Camp-Putnam and the

Prize Mortar-A Maraud by Americans-Rebuked by Washington-Correspond-

ence of Washington with General Howe about the treatment of Ethan Allen-

Fraternal zeal of Levi Allen-Treatment of General Prescott-Preparations to Bom.

bard Boston-Battery at Lechmere's Point-Prayer of Putnam for Powder........ 200

CHAPTER XI.

Mount Vernon in Danger-Mrs. Washington invited to the Camp-Lund Washington,

the General's Agent-Terms on which he serves-Instructed to keep up the Hos-

pitality of the House-Journey of Mrs. Washington to Camp-Her Equipage and

Liveries-Arrival at Camp-Domestic Affairs at Head- Quarters-Gayeties in Camp

-A Brawl between Round-Jackets and Rifle-Shirts...

110

CHAPTER XII.

Affairs in Canada-Arnold at Point Levi-Quebec reinforced-Crossing of the St. Law-

rence-Landing in Wolfe's Cove-Arnold on the Heights of Abraham-Cautious

Counsel-Quebec aroused-The Invaders baffled-Withdraw to Point aux Trembles

-Booming of Cannon-Carleton at Quebec-Letter of Washington to Arnold..... 118

CHAPTER XIII.

Lord Dunmore-His Plans of harassing Virginia-Lee's Policy respecting Tory Gover-

nors and Placemen-Rhode Island harassed by Wallace and his Cruisers, and in-

fested by Tories-Lee sent to its Relief-His Vigorous Measures-The Army dis-

banding-Washington's Perplexities-Sympathy of General Greene-His Loyalty

in time of Trouble-The Crisis-Cheering News from Canada-Gloomy Opening of

the New Year-News from Colonel Knox....
124

CHAPTER XIV.

Military Preparations in Boston-A Secret Expedition-Its Object-Lee's Plan for the

Security of New York-Opinion of Adams on the Subject-Instructions to Lee-

Transactions of Lee in Connecticut-Lee's Policy in regard to the Tories-Uneasi-

ness in New York-Letter of the Committee of Safety to Lee-His Reply-His

Opinion of the People of Connecticut-Of the Hysterical Letter from the New York

Congress...

182