1774. course with Great Britain, so long as the grievances of the colonies were unredressed; voted an address te the king, and likewise one to the people of Great Britain, and another to the inhabitants of Canada.

Oct.

1. Their ef British gov

46. The proceedings of the congress called forth fect on the stronger measures, on the part of the British govern ernment? ment, for reducing the Americans to obedience.

done by Gen

Gen 2 What was eral Gage, who had recently been appointed governor eral Gage? of Massachusetts, caused Boston neck to be fortified, and, seizing the ammunition and military stores in the provincial arsenals at Cambridge and Charlestown, conveyed them to Boston.

Bept.

8. What was

assembly of

setts?

Oct.

66

47. On the other hand, the assembly of Massachu done by the setts having been dissolved by the governor, the members Massachu again met, and resolved themselves into a provincial congress. They appointed committees of "safety" and supplies;"-voted to equip twelve thousand men, and to enlist one-fourth of the militia as minute-men, who should be ready for action at a moment's warning. Similar preparations, but less in extent, were made colonies? in other colonies.

4. In other

said of

ure of deter

pression on

the part of

England?

1775. 48. As the last measures of determined oppression, Feb., March. a bill was passed for restraining the commerce of the the New England colonics; which was afterwards exfinal meas tended to embrace all the provinces, except New York mined op- and North Carolina. The inhabitants of Massachusetts were declared rebels; and several ships of the line, and ten thousand troops, were ordered to America, to aid in reducing the rebellious colonies to submission. 49. The Americans, on the other hand, having no longer any hope of reconciliation, and determined to the Amer resist oppression, anxiously waited for the fatal moment to arrive, when the signal of war should be given. Though few in numbers, and feeble in resources, whea compared with the power which sought to crush them, they were confident of the justice of their cause, and the rectitude of their purposes; and they resolved, if no other alternative were left them, to die freemer rather than live slaves.

$. Of the determined esistance

icans?

1. In the beginning of April, the royal troops in Boston numbered nearly 3000 men. 2 With so large a force at his disposal, General Gage indulged the hope, either of awing the provincials into submission, or of being able to quell any sudden outbreak of rebellion. Deeming it important to get possession of the stores and ammunition which the people had collected at various places, on the night of the 18th of April he secretly despatched a force of eight hundred men, to destroy the stores at Concord,* sixteen miles from Boston.

Of what does Chapter I. treat?

*Concord is in Middlesex county, sixteen miles N.W. from Boston. A marble monament, erected in 1836, marks the spot where the first of the enemy fell in the war of he revolution.

1775.

1. How did

of the expe

2. Notwithstanding the great precautions which had been taken to prevent the intelligence of this ex intelligence pedition from reaching the country, it became known. dition reach to some of the patriots in Boston, who despatched con fidential messengers along the supposed route; and early on the morning of the 19th, the firing of cannon, and the ringing of bells, gave the alarm that the roya! troops were in motion.

the country?

2. What

events oc curred at

3. At Lexington* a number of the militia had assembled, as early as two o'clock in the morning; but Lexingtor as the intelligence respecting the regulars was uncer tain, they were dismissed, with orders to appear again at beat of drum. At five o'clock, they collected a sec ond time, to the number of seventy, under command of Captain Parker. The British, under Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, soon made their appearance. The latter officer rode up to the militia, and called out, "Disperse, you rebels, throw down your arms and disperse;" but not being obeyed, he discharged his pistol, and ordered his soldiers to fire. Several of the militia

3. What at Concord?

account of

of the British.

were killed, and the rest dispersed.

4. The detachment then proceeded to Concord, and destroyed a part of the stores; but the militia of the country having begun to assemble in numbers, a skir mish ensued, and several were killed on both sides. 4. Give an The British then commenced a hasty retreat,—the the retreat Americans pursuing, and keeping up a continual fire upon them. Fortunately for the British, they were met at Lexington by a reenforcement of nine hundred men with two field-pieces, under Lord Percy. united forces then moved rapidly to Charlestown, and the following day, crossed over to Boston. Durine es were sus this expedition, the British lost, in killed, wounded and missing, about two hundred and eighty;—the pro vincials, about ninety.

6. What loss

tained?

8. What con

followed the

The

5. Intelligence of these events spread rapidly through sequences Massachusetts and the adjoining provinces. The but battle of tle of Lexington was the signal of war-the militia of the country hastily took up arms and repaired to the

Lexington?

* Lexington is ten miles N.W. from Boston, on the road to Concord. In 1799 a small monument, with an appropriate inscription, was erected four or five rods westward from the spot where the Americans were fired upon. (See Map, p. 74.)

scene of action; and, in a few days, a line of encamp- 1775. ment was formed from Roxbury to the river Mystic, and the British forces in Boston were environed by an army of 20,000 men. Ammunition, forts, and fortifications, were secured for the use of the provincials; and the most active measures were taken for the public defence.

6. A number of volunteers from Connecticut and Vermont, under Colonel Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, formed and executed the plan of seizing the important fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on the western shore of Lake Champlain, and commanding the entrance into Canada. The pass of Skeenesborough, now Whitehall,t was likewise secured; and by this fortunate expedition, more than one hundred pieces of cannon, and other munitions of war, fell into the hands of the provincials.

7. These events were soon followed by others of still greater importance, in the vicinity of Boston. The British troops had received reinforcements, under three distinguished generals,-Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne; which, with the garrison, formed a well-disciplined army, of from ten to twelve thousand men. General Gage, being now prepared to act with more decision and vigor, issued a proclamation, declaring those in arms rebels and traitors; and offering pardon to such as would return to their allegiance, and resume their peaceful occupations. From this indulgence, however, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two distinguished patriots, were excepted; as their crimes were deemed too flagitious to admit of pardon. 8. As the British were evidently prepared to penetrate into the country, the Americans first strengthened their intrenchments across Boston neck; but afterwards, learning that the views of the British had change 1, and were then directed towards the peninsula of Charlestown, they resolved to defeat this new project of the enemy. "Orders were therefore given

1. What is said of the edition land

Arnold?

May.

2. What events in Boston followed? a. May 25

3. What is said of Gen. tamation?

Liage's proc

4.

b. June 12

What hostile meas adopted by

ures were

the Americans?

5. What orders were givento Col.

Prescott?

* Mystic, or Medford River, flows into Boston Harbor, N.E. of Charlestown. (See Map, p. 74; and Map, p. 210.)

Whitehall is situated on both sides of Wood Creek, at its entrance into the southern extremity of Lake Champlain. Being at the head of navigation, on the lake, and on the line of communication between New York and Canada, t was an important post. (See Map, p. 181; and Note, p. 130.)

1775. to Colonel Prescott, on the evening of the 16th of June, to take a detachment of one thousand Ameri cans, and form an intrenchment on Bunker Hill;* a high eminence which commanded the neck of the peninsula of Charlestown.

him?

advance re

June 17.

3. What

1. What was 9. By some mistake, the detachment proceeded to done by Breed's Hill,† an eminence within cannon shot of Bos ton; and, by the dawn of day, had erected a square redoubt, capable of sheltering them from the fire of the 2. How was enemy. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of his daring the British, at beholding, on the following morning, garded? this daring advance of the Americans. As the eminence overlooked the city of Boston, it was immediately perceived that a powerful battery, planted there, would soon compel the British to evacuate the place. A heavy fire was therefore commenced on the Amerimeasures cans, from vessels in the harbor, and from a fortification on Copp's Hill, in Boston; but with little effect; and about noon, a force of three thousand regulars, commanded by General Howe, crossed over to Charlestown, in boats, with the design of storming the works. 10. Landing at Moreton's Point, on the extremity said of their of the peninsula, the English formed in two columns, against the and advanced slowly, allowing time for the artillery to works? produce its effect upon the works. 5In the mean time the surrounding heights, the spires of churches, and the roofs of houses in Boston, were covered with thousands of spectators, waiting, in dreadful anxiety, the

were taken by the British?

4. What is

advance

American

5. Of the

spectators of

this scene

*Bunker's Hill is in the northern part of the peninsula of Charlestown, and is 113 feet in height. 'See Map.)

† Breed's Hill, which is eightyseven feet high, commences near the southern extremity of Bunker's Hill, and extends towards the south and east. It is now usually called Bunker's Hill, and the nioniment on its summit, erected to commemorate the battle on the same spot, is called Bunker Hill Monument. This monument is built of Quincy granite, is thirty feet square at the base, and fifteen at the top; and rises to the height of 220 feet.

Moreton's Point is S.E. from Breed's Hill, at the eastern extremty of the peninsula. (See Map.)