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, smallpox continued to spread among the Continental Army, beginning to be taken seriously by those in command. Reports out of Boston show a startling reality, as refugees flee the city. Thousands are sick on both sides, just as Martha Washington arrives to winter with her husband. Colonel Henry Knox sent George Washington a list of artillery pieces in Ticonderoga that will soon be on the way to the outskirts of Boston.
On December 17, 1775, Knox writes to Washington from Fort George, New York. The colonel has made it down the long Lake George to the southern tip; using sleds! He says, “It is not easy to conceive the difficulties we have had in getting them over the lake owing to the advanced season of the year & contrary winds – three days ago it was very uncertain whether we could have gotten them over until next spring, but now please God they shall go.”
He details the use of 42 sleds, pulled by oxen, leading thousands of pounds of artillery across the frozen lake. Also mentioning the difficulties ahead, he finishes, “I hope in 16 or 17 days to be able to present to your excellency a Noble Train of Artillery,” the grandiose title being that often used even today to describe Knox’s journey. He signs off the letter, saying, “There are some timid & some malevolent spirits who make this matter much worse – from the different accounts which I have been able to collect I have very little doubt that General Montgomery has Quebec now in his possession.” Far from the truth.
At this time, around 1,200 Americans, led by Colonel Benedict Arnold and Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, are “dug in” outside Quebec City. Due to the frozen ground, they are not, however, able to dig trenches and to cover themselves or their artillery. They piled snow earthworks around themselves instead. The small size and insignificant number of cannons possessed by the Americans made a breach of the city’s walls practically impossible. On December 17, the British destroyed two American cannons from the city, leading to a pullback of forces. Times were dire, and time is of the essence. When the Saint Lawrence thawed, British reinforcements would arrive. Washington received no updates from the northern front at this time, as Arnold and Montgomery planned their next move.
Also on December 17, Washington receives reports from spy Captain Richard Dodge that British supplies in Boston are extremely low. He says, “Sir I am credibly informed that the soldiers have nothing but the 4 pounds of pork & bread delt out to them.” That’s 4 pounds of pork per week. Not great. The next day, to add to that, the Continental Navy Captain John Manley of the schooner Lee captured the British supply ship Betsey before it arrived in Boston.
On December 19, Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island wrote to Washington, expressing fear of the island’s capture. At the time, Rhode Island mainly referred to the island now called Aquidneck Island, with the colony’s main population center and capital being the trading hub of Newport. The city was the fifth most populous city in the 13 Colonies and the second most populous in New England after Boston. Cooke wrote from the much better defensible Providence, saying, “Should the force sailed from Boston be destined for Rhode Island I tremble for the Consequences, as the colony in its present exhausted state cannot without assistance defend the island.” Washington responded the next day, “I could not justify the sending of a regiment from these lines to you unless there was an apparent design of landing a body of ministerial troops on Rhode Island; at present, I do not think this is to be apprehended.” The general knows the state of the men in Boston and knows they will not be mounting an amphibious invasion from the city any time soon.
On December 22, John Hancock of the Continental Congress writes to Washington. The siege of Boston has now lasted over six months, beginning the same day as the Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19. That same day, Congress had passed a resolution giving Washington approval to assault the city. The resolution stated, “if General Washington and his council of war should be of opinion, that a successful attack may be made on the troops in Boston, he do it in any manner he may think expedient, notwithstanding the town and the property in it may thereby be destroyed.” Hancock adds to the general personally, “You will notice the last resolution relative to an attack upon Boston, this passed after a most serious debate in a committee of the whole house, and the execution referred to you, and may God crown your attempt with success, I most heartily wish it, though individually I may be the greatest sufferer.” He says that referring to the potential destruction of his property in the city.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop