This week in Revolutionary War History, let’s discuss what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, army composition was standardized with there being a little over 20,000 soldiers around Cambridge. Black men were officially barred from entry into the army, however. Thomas Gage departed Boston to head back to Britain, having been relieved of his position in charge of British troops in North America. He was replaced by William Howe. Finally, the Continental Navy was legally established, merging the navies and few ships of the states.
Winter still approached, and cooler temperatures slowly creep upon the men. In his General Orders for October 15, 1775, Washington instructs men stationed in the region “to parade tomorrow morning at sun-rise upon Cambridge Common, to cut Fire-wood for the army.” Firewood is being depleted, and it’s all-hands-on-deck to replenish supplies.
The next day, Washington writes to Captains of the newly created Continental Navy, Nicholson Broughton and John Selmen, both from Marblehead. He informs the Captains of British transports down the Saint Lawrence to Quebec, and gives instructions to sail north, saying, “two north country brigantines of no force sailed from England some time ago for Quebec laden with 6000 Stand of arms a large quantity of powder and other stores. You are hereby directed to make all possible dispatch for the River St Laurence and there to take such a station as will best enable you to intercept the above vessels. Once they acquire the weapons and powder, they were to deliver the materials to the ongoing campaign in Canada.
The men would soon depart and would partake in the Raid on Charlottetown in Nova Scotia the following weeks. Their schooners were named after founding fathers: the Hancock and the Franklin.
On October 17, Samuel Goodwin writes Washington from Maine, informing the general he has given Bennedict Arnold maps of lakes, rivers, and other geographical features pertinent on the march into Quebec. Goodwin operates a general store and inn in Pownalborough, now Desden, Maine.
Beginning on October 18, Washington meets with Governors and representatives of the Continental Congress to go over and draft plans for the winter and for Boston. Benjamin Franklin is also in attendance as a representative from Philadelphia. Congress seeks to act fast and make a decisive blow against Boston before winter sets in. At his Council of War meeting the same day, all of Washington’s generals, in some way, ward against an assault on the city. General Gates said it was “improper,” General Green said it was “not practical,” General Sullivan also said the timing was “improper,” General Heath agreed it was “impracticable,” General Puttnam “disapproved,’ and General Lee said it posed “too great a risk.” Washington did not write his own beliefs in the meeting’s minutes.
Also on October 18, the British under Lieutenant Henry Mowat raze the city of Falmouth in Maine, today Portland. The inhabitants of the town were given little notice as the area was stuck with incendiary rounds and bombards. The assault lasted for nearly nine hours, leaving 400 buildings destroyed and 1,000~ out of 2,500~ homeless. Reactions to this attack would spread through the colonies and Britain, tarnishing Mowat’s reputation.
Washington would write to the Falmouth Committee of Safety the next week, saying “The desolation, and misery, which ministerial vengeance had planned, and, in contempt of every principle of humanity, has been so lately brought on the Town of Falmouth, I know not, how sufficiently to detest.”
This Week In Revolutionary History…
By Sam Bishop