This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, the victor of the stalemate at Boston had been decided by the force of cannons. For nearly a week, artillery, brought by Colonel Henry Knox roughly 300 miles from Ticonderoga, rained down balls of cast iron on the city. The British, under lead of General William Howe, had announced their intention to leave on March 10, 1776. The four Boston Selectman trudged out to inform the Continental Army of this decision a few days later. The British continue to bunker down in the city, awaiting the stormy weather to turn in their favor.
March 14, 1776, was a busy one, with the Continental Army awaiting any move by the British or any confirmation they are in fact leaving. General George Washington writes to Major General Charles Lee in New York, informing Lee of the successes so far, “The enemy were thrown into the utmost consternation when they perceived the next morning what had been effected the preceding night and made preparations to dislodge us – but a very heavy storm of wind and rain frustrated their designs.” His main message for writing, however, is highlighted by him continuing, “It is most probably their destination is for New York.”
Though he has not yet said it, Washington is under stress as he feels must hasten the capture of Boston and immediately march west to defend New York City from counterattack. He concludes his message to Lee, “I am much pleased with your plans for the defense and security of New York,” and tells him of his continuing mission to recruit more troops and send them to the city. That same day, he writes to Major General William Alexander, known as “Lord Stirling” due to his prolonged claim to a Scottish title. He tells this Major General that he is sure General Howe is to depart eminently, but adds, “I am of the opinion that New York is their destination.” He warns that the British must not be allowed to capture New York, and refers to Boston, saying, “So long possession of the town of Boston, against and army superior in numbers, and animated with the noble spirit of liberty, I say you may judge by that, how much easier it is to keep an enemy from forming a lodgment in a place than it will be to dispossess them.” He signs off, finishing with, “the fate of America depends on you and the army under your command.”
Back to Boston, in his General Orders for the day, Washington warns that he has received word from his intelligence network that the British may be trying to get Smallpox to spread throughout the city, thus, to ravage the Continental Army after the city’s capture. He tells men and their officers to follow instructions to the letter, and demands “the strictest obedience” to avoid the pox’s spread.
On March 15, finally, the wind and weather are deemed favorable for departure. Boston’s four Selectman are summoned by General Howe. They are told the British are to embark today and will leave no man behind. He instructs the Selectman to ensure civilians remain inside during this time. If there is heavy resistance, either from without or within the city, Howe says his men will raze the city. Before the departure can be underway, however, the wild weather of late-winter swings again, again delaying the operation.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, confidant to Washington, writes to congratulate the general, while also poking for news. He says, “We shall be very anxious for further accounts as these have left you at a critical point of suspense when we are led to expect some very important change may soon happen.” These important changes were happening, though unfortunately for Reed in Philadelphia, he would still have a number of days to wait to get the news.
March 16 was a lousy day for both sides. Torrential rain battered the troops and turned roads into impassable mud heaps. Over one-hundred British ships rock back and forth in the harbor, not quite able to fulfill their goal.
That is until March 17. The British sought not to wait longer, as this day marked a week since Howe made the decision to leave Boston. Before the sun would even rise, at 4:00 am, the British began their evacuation, finally seeing a break in the constant storms. It took around five hours, and by 9:00 am, the British were out of the city.
Over 8,000 troops, 667 women, 553 children, around 1,100 loyalist Bostonians and Massachusetts refugees departed on between 120 and 170 Royal Navy ships. The total number being over 11,000 departing, making it roughly equivalent to over 2/3 the modern-day population of the Tri-Town leaving over such a short period of time. Records indicate the Royal Navy was comprised of around 250 ships at the start of the Revolution, making it likely that half the force was present in Boston Harbor for what would be known as “Evacuation Day.”
The siege had begun just following the Battles of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. It finally concluded roughly 333 days later. It would also be just over six years after the Boston Massacre, which occurred on March 5, 1770.
The Continental Army under Major General Artemis Ward were apprehensive in their entrance to the city. He initially led with troops already previously exposed to smallpox, though the rest of the band would enter the battered city in the following days.
Washington had been constantly thinking ahead, beyond Boston. On March 16, the day before the evacuation, he had written Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin to leave Massachusetts and “proceed immediately” to New York. He is already pivoting to the location of the next standoff. His General Orders for March 17 were simple and only one sentence: “The regiments under marching orders, to march tomorrow at sunrise.”
What of the 11,000 evacuees? The Redcoats themselves would regroup in Canada, namely Halifax. Of the loyalists, many would settle in London. Others made Canada their new home, where in New Brunswick, the large swell of loyalist settlers would lead to the unification of two neighboring cities, Parrtown and Carleton, into Saint John, NB.
The capture of Boston by the Americans and the evacuation of the British would mostly put an end to any large-scale conflict in New England. The southern shore would continue to be a target for naval skirmishes and raids. However, the British targets would mostly move to the south, except for the Battle of Rhode Island, which occurred in 1778. We’ll get there in a couple years…
So, as Washington marches west, Massachusetts captured and Crown driven out, let’s take a quick peak at what the other notable figures of the time are up to.
Benedict Arnold is still in the slowly-thawing north. He maintains a presence in the outskirts of Quebec City, though any siege or blockade of the city is virtually impossible. He is to be replaced in April and will subsequently fight in other battles in the border region as he makes his way south.
The Adams’s, both John and Samuel, are Massachusetts Delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Both men express their impatience and are at this time pushing for a formal declaration of independence by the colonies. Thomas Jefferson is a Delegate from Virginia and finds himself in the company of John Adams in their desire for independence. The two men would become close friends around this time.
Seventy-year-old Benjamin Franklin has served as the first Postmaster General. He is also a Pennsylvania Delegate to the congress. He also convenes with the pro-independence faction.
The smith Paul Revere has traveled back and forth from Philadelphia and Massachusetts and recently opened America’s second powder mill in Canton, MA, tackling the continuing lack of gunpowder. He would mark his return to Boston on March 21, a few days after the evacuation.
John Hancock maintains his presidency over the congress, having recently married Dorothy Quincy and having his first child. He has largely worked behind the scenes, securing funds, army volunteers, and other support for Washington’s army.
Looking a bit to the future, we have some popular figured not yet touched upon that will soon show themselves in the chronology. Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are both currently in New York City, with both men soon showing their importance as the battle comes to them.
An eighteen-year-old Marquis de La Fayette, or just Lafayette, is in Paris and has expressed his immense personal support for the American cause, all while the French monarch eyes involvement.
This weekly column will go on, though most Revolutionary War events will shift outside our home in New England proper. I, the author, will do my best to continue to scavenge the records and will relate back what I can find on the history of our home as I come across relevant information.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop