Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/21

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CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
xiii
CHAPTER XIII.
1775.
THE LAST YEAR OF COLONIAL DEPENDENCE.
page
Spirit roused by the battle of Lexington 352
Troops raised—Boston besieged 353
Ethan Allen and Green Mountain Boys 353
Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken 354
Second Continental Congress—Difficulties, etc 354
Second Continental Congress—Difficulties, etc 355
Congress authorize $3,000,000 in paper money 356
Provincial Congress in New York 356
Appointment of a commander-in-chief 356
Washington unanimously chosen—His acceptance 357
Four major-generals and eight brigadier-generals 357
Arrival of reinforcements at Boston 358
Gage proposes active measures 358
Breed's Hill fortified by mistake 358
Battle of Bunker Hill—Royal troops routed 359
Battle of Bunker Hill—Royal troops routed 360
Battle of Bunker Hill—Royal troops routed 361
Washington finds the army sadly in want 361
Vigorous efforts to organize and discipline the army 362
Further issue of paper money by Congress 362
Efforts as respected the Indians 363
Colonel Guy Johnson's course 365
Georgia joins the other colonies 365
The Thirteen United Colonies 365
Washington's trials—Necessity of a regular army 365
Correspondence with General Gage 366
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence 369
Expedition into Canada—Montreal taken 370
Expedition into Canada—Montreal taken 371
Expedition into Canada—Montreal taken 372
Quebec assaulted—Montgomery killed 372
Quebec assaulted—Montgomery killed 373
Americans finally driven out of Canada 374
Washington confers with Congress as to the troops 375
Outrages by English vessels 377
Congress lay the foundation of the navy 378
Appendix to Chapter XIII.
I. A Declaration setting forth the causes and ne-
cessity of the colonies taking up arms 378
II Second Petition to the King 381

CHAPTER XIV.
1775-1776.
THE BIRTH-YEAR OF THE REPUBLIC.
Course of Parliament looked to -with anxiety 384
Debates in Parliament 385
Act prohibiting trade with colonies 385
The crisis at hand—Paine's "Common Sense" 386
The crisis at hand Paine's—"Common Sense" 387
Norfolk bombarded—Conolly's Indian scheme 389
State of feeling in New York 389
Press of Rivington's Gazette destroyed 389
Lee in command in New York 390
Tory influence predominant 390
Washington and the "round jackets and rifle shirts" 391
Singular aspect of affairs 392
The alternative, submission or independence 392
Washington before Boston 393
Scarcity of provisions in the city 393
Dorchester Heights occupied 394
Thanks of Congress to Washington 398
Putnam sent on to New York—Lee goes south 399
Washington meets Congress 399
Attempt to seize Washington's person 399
Proceedings with respect to colonial governments 400
Clinton's attack on Charleston 401
Sergeant Jasper's heroic conduct 402
Declaration of Independence necessary 402
Instructions to the delegates 403
Proceedings and debates in Congress 403
The Declaration of Independence 409
Importance of the ground then taken 409
The jubilee day 410
Moral force of our fathers' position 410
Appendix to Chapter XIV.
I. Draft of the Declaration of Independence and
the amendments made by Congress 410
II. Extract from John Quincy Adams's Fourth of
July Oration, 1831 416



BOOK THIRD.

FROM THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE TREATY OF PEACE.

CHAPTER I.
1775.
EVENTS OF THE WAR DURING 1776.
The Declaration of Independence read to the army 421
How received in New York 422
Course pursued by Congress 422
Necessity of some articles of confederation 423
Defence of New York to be provided for 423
Arrival of the British under the Howes 423
Proclamation of the English commissioners 423
Attempt at communication with Washington 424
American operations in Canada 425
Naval battle on Lake Champlain 426
Carleton's failure to advance southwardly 427
Jealousies and quarrels—Washington's rebuke 428
Howe's force—Exploits of Captain Talbot 429
Howe's force—Exploits of Captain Talbot 430
The battle of Long Island, disastrous 432
Retreat from Brooklyn—Encampment at Harlem 434
Washington's letter to Congress 434
Depression of the Americans 435
Hale's self-sacrificing expedition—Death as a spy 436
Howe's plan of operation 436
Conduct of the militia—Washington's danger 436
Conduct of the militia—Washington's danger 437
Retreat from New York—Narrow escape 437
Sickness in the camp, desertions, etc 438
Washington's letter to Congress 438
Army to be reorganized 438
Howe's change of plan—Washington's retreat 438
Battle of White Plains—Fort Washington lost 440
Battle of White Plains—Fort Washington lost 441
Retreat through the Jerseys begun 441