June 17, 1775.

eral, Warren, and about four hundred and fifty men had been killed, wounded, or captured. The British loss was more than twice as great. It was a bold movement of the Americans, and the colonial militia had stood the fire of the British regulars.

July 3, 1775.

When Washington heard

this, he was greatly encouraged. On the 3d day of July he took command of the American army, beneath an elm tree still standing by Cambridge Common. He found a crowd of brave, undisciplined' soldiers, ill provided 1 How undisciplined they were may be seen by an incident which a visitor to the camp reports. He overheard this dialogue between a captain and one of the privates under him:

"Bill," said the captain, "go and bring a pail of water for the men."

"I shan't," said Bill. "It's your turn now, captain; I got it last time." But Washington soon saw that there was stuff in the sturdy men. He wrote to Congress: "I have a sincere pleasure in observing that there are materials for

with arms, ammunition, and provisions. His first business was to organize them into an army, while he kept watch of the British in Boston.

The British army did not come out from the town; but some of the vessels which blockaded the harbor were sent down the coast and burned the town of Falmouth,

27. Movements in Other Directions. Meantime the Americans had not been idle elsewhere. Ethan Allen, at the head of a party of mountaineers, surprised the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga, and captured that fort as well as Crown Point. These were on the old route to Canada; and men who had fought in the French and Indian War were eager to get possession of that country.

Arnold's Route.

of Maine to the St. Lawrence. He followed the plan Wolfe

a good army, a great number of able-bodied men, active, zealous in the cause, and of unquestionable courage." Washington's account of the army as he found it at Cambridge is reprinted from his letters in Old South Leaflets, No. 47.

had adopted, and occupied the Plains of Abraham. Arnold reached Quebec just as Montgomery entered Montreal.

It was intended that the two armies should unite; but Arnold could not hold his position, and retreated to a less exposed place. After Montgomery arrived from Montreal, an attack was made upon Quebec; but it was disastrous. Montgomery was killed, the British army was reënforced, and the

Americans were obliged to abandon Canada.

28. England's Reply to America. If any still hoped that England would yield, they were convinced that the hope was vain when they heard how the address of Congress to the king had been received. The king returned no answer, but notified Parliament that the colonies were in a state of rebellion. He announced that he should at once increase his forces in America and crush the rebellion.

And yet the cause of the Americans was upheld by some of the greatest Englishmen of the day, who perceived clearly that the cause was one of free government, and that England was deeply concerned. Edmund Burke, one of the most farsighted statesmen of the time, spoke earnestly in Parliament against the policy the king was pursuing.' The Earl of Chatham, also, in the House of Lords, though failing in strength

1 See especially his great speech on Conciliation with the Colonies, delivered March 22, 1775.

of body was unceasing in his opposition to the repressive policy.1

29. A Union Flag and the Siege of Boston raised. On the first of January 1776, Washington caused a flag to be adopted by his army, with thirteen red and white stripes and the British union jack in the corner. Early in March, Washington was ready to drive the British out of Boston. He now had cannon, which had been dragged over the snow from Ticonderoga, and he proceeded to occupy Dorchester Heights, overlooking the harbor. General Howe, who had succeeded General Gage, saw that he must fight at a great disadvantage or abandon the town. He gathered his forces, took to the fleet, and sailed away. With him went those families which had remained loyal to the king. The siege of Boston was raised. There was now open war between the two countries; but after this Massachusetts scarcely knew the presence of soldiers. It became the policy of England to strike at the heart of the colonies."

1 Franklin wrote to a friend in England in October, 1775: "Britain, at the expense of three millions, has killed a hundred and fifty Yankees this campaign, which is £20,000 a head; and at Bunker Hill she gained a mile of ground, all of which she lost again by our taking post on Ploughed Hill. During the same time 60,000 children have been born in America." From these data he would have a friend calculate "the time and expense necessary to kill us all and conquer the whole of our territory.”

One of Cooper's novels, Lionel Lincoln, has to do with this period.

QUESTIONS.

The Stamp Act having been repealed, what action did Parliament take to raise revenue in America? What was its general attitude toward the colonies? Who controlled the action of Parliament ? What was the effect of sending regiments to Boston? Name the two Massachusetts men of prominence who played opposite parts at this time. What were committees of correspondence? Narrate the steps that led to the tax on tea. How was the act of Parliament received in America? What took place in Boston ? What punishment did government inflict on Boston for its action? What further policy did Parliament pursue in support of its authority? How did the people of Massachusetts meet the situation?

What gave rise to the first Continental Congress? Narrate the events which occurred at Lexington and Concord. Describe the incidents of the retreat of the British. What effect did the affair have on the country people? Where was the chief camp of the patriots formed? Repeat the lines on the Concord monument. What was going on at this time in Philadelphia? What was the effect upon Congress of the fighting in Massachusetts ? How did Washington come to be conspicuous in Congress? Narrate the events of the battle of Bunker Hill. When did Washington get news of the battle, and on what day did he take command of the army? How did the British forces further estrange the people? What forts did Ethan Allen and his men capture? Narrate the attempt of Montgomery and Arnold to capture Canada. What was England's reply to the address of Congress? What was the end of the siege of Boston?

SEARCH QUESTIONS.

How did the personal

What were the Mecklenburg resolutions? characteristics of George III. enter into the great question of governing America? Sam Adams is said to have originated the caucus; what was the origin of the word? State the plan of conciliation which Burke proposed. Was the British attack on Bunker Hill well planned from a military point of view? What is the story of the Boston boys having their coast spoiled by British soldiers? What were the non-importation agreements made by the colonists after the repeal of the Stamp Act?

SUGGESTIONS FOR LITERARY TREATMENT.

COMPOSITIONS:

An account of the meeting at the Old South, December 16, 1773.
A prose version of the warning of Lexington by Paul Revere.

Life in Boston during the siege.

Imaginary letter from a British soldier in the battle of Bunker Hill. Imaginary letter of a minute man in the battle of Bunker Hill.

An account of the retreat of the British from Concord to Charlestown. A sketch of the life of Israel Putnam.

DEBATES:

Resolved, That Parliament had the same right to control the colonies that the United States Congress has to govern the territories.

Resolved, That the tax of threepence per pound on tea should have been paid by the Americans,