This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in New England and the northern Thirteen Colonies. Last week, the Evacuation of Boston took place, with around 11,000 British and Loyalist forces departing Boston. The populous would eventually settle in Canada and England, with the army regrouping for a counterattack. The Continental Army would trickle into Boston, as the fear of smallpox forced General George Washington to slow down the occupation of the city.
On March 20, 1776, Continental forces have been slowly entering Boston for a about three days since the British departure on March 17. The city proves a smoldering wreck, though it lies not in ruin. In his letter to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, whom is currently in Philadelphia before returning to New York, Washington says of Boston, “The hurry in which they have embarked is inconceivable, they have not, from a rough estimate, left less than 30,000£s worth of his Majesty’s property behind them.” As men walk through the streets, they catalogue barricades and artillery pieces still standing. The general notes, “The Town of Boston was almost, impregnable every avenue fortified.”
At this point, the British are not totally gone yet though. He concludes his letter to Lee, saying, “I have already marched the riflemen men, and five Regiments for New York – I cannot spare more whilst the fleet hover in our harbor.” Many Royal Navy vessels linger in Boston Harbor, especially around Castle William on Castle Island. The British are taking stock of what they’ve left with, as well as general preparations for their voyage. Then, on March 20, an explosion shakes the city.
British engineers set fire to the fortress, detonating ordinances and destroying much of the structure. The structure had been the second fort on the island, the first being built in 1634 and destroyed by a fire in 1673. It was rebuilt around 1703 to be destroyed by its creators as to not fall into the hands of the Continental Army. The British were still not quite ready to depart, however.
Eventually, the Americans would build a new fort overlooking Boston Harbor after the Revolution. It would be christened Fort Independence In 1799 by a President John Adams.
On March 21, Washington issues a “Proclamation on the Occupation of Boston,” that informs citizens of what rule is to come to them, as well as instructing his soldiers that “All officers and soldiers are hereby ordered to live in the strictest peace and amity with the inhabitants.” He also highlights to soldiers that should conflict with the Bostonians arise, they must seek out the correct and legal action towards a solution, “and no other.” Finally, he instructs the four Boston Selectman that they are to “return to the Commander in Chief, the names of all or any person or persons they may suspect of being employed as spies upon the Continental Army, that they may be dealt with accordingly.”
On March 22, he writes to Samuel Adams, a Massachusetts Delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He asks on a proposal of his from a few months prior, about whether to open a road from the Connecticut River north to Montreal. This would allow for further campaigns north, brining information and supplies. Washington seems rather ambivalent and non-committal to the proposed project though, leaving it up to Congress, saying, “the only design of my giving you the trouble of this letter is just to recall the attention of Congress to the subject matter of it so far as to say yea, or nay.” Adams would not receive this letter and write back until May 15, where he agrees with its use, though there will be higher priorities by that point.
On March 23, Washington is openly concerned with a British landing or attempted attack on Boston, as their ships stay off the coast. He instructs Colonel Henry Knox and other officers to immediately begin the deconstruction of defenses blocking the Boston Neck and instead begin fortifying the coast. He also says Knox, “will immediately lay out a Battery upon Charles-Town point.” Washington may still be in Boston, though as he will be marching west soon, he received word from Brigadier General William Heath who departed towards New York a few days prior and has made it to Norwich, CT. He says, “the roads being extremely miry and in some places almost impassable greatly impedes the wagons which is an obstruction to the whole.”
On March 24 in his General Orders, Washington states, “The enemy still continuing in the harbor, without any apparent cause for it, after winds and weather have favored their sailing; leaves abundant reason to suspect, that they may have some design of aiming a blow at us before they depart.”
Though Washington did not yet know this, General Howe’s ship had departed a number of days prior. These straggling ships were in place to intercept and arriving British ships and inform them the city had fallen into enemy hands and to not dock in the harbor and instead, head north to Halifax. There would be no further British assault on the city.
By March 28, Washington himself had entered the city and taken personal stock of artillery and other supplies abandoned by the British, though much of it won’t be usable. He writes to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed in New York, saying, “General Howe has a grand maneuver in view – or – made an inglorious retreat. Yesterday evening the remains of the British Fleet left Nantucket Road & (except an armed vessel or two) hath left the coast quite clear of an enemy.” Washington himself will stay in Boston about a week longer, before heading west to join Reed.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop