From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 142
Twenty miles from Philadelphia he was met by a courier on horseback, bringing particulars of the battle of
Bunker Hill.
"How many Americans were engaged in it?" Washington inquired.
"About twelve hundred only."
"Who led them?"
"General Prescott."
"How many were killed?"
"About four hundred and fifty were killed and wounded. The British lost more than half of their men."
"What officers fell?"
"The brave General Warren was one."
"Did the men fight well?"
"Never braver men met a foe."
"Then the liberties of our country are safe," added Washington.
As grand a welcome as could possibly be given, without the burning of powder, was tendered by the
Provincial Assembly of New York and New Jersey. They could burn no powder because the Colony
possessed but four barrels, having forwarded a thousand barrels to Cambridge for the use of the army.
Washington left General Schuyler in command at New York and hastened forward to Cambridge, for at New
York he received a more detailed account of the battle of Bunker Hill. This information caused him to hasten
his journey; and he reached Watertown, where the Legislature was sitting, on the second day of July. That
body gave him an enthusiastic welcome, and presented a lengthy address to him, in which they spread out the
deplorable condition of the army, pledging their prompt aid in its organization and discipline.
On the third day of July he was escorted by an imposing cavalcade to Cambridge, four miles distant, to take
immediate command of the army. Notwithstanding the scarcity of powder, his arrival was announced by
salvos of artillery; and the sight of him, in his splendid bearing, drew from the admiring thousands the
heartiest cheers. The general of whom they had heard so much even more than met their expectations, and
their joy knew no bounds.
Washington wheeled his noble charger under the shadow of the "Great Elm," where he formally took
command of the Continental Army, thereby making the tree historic to this day. He was forty-three years of
age at that time.
Mrs. John Adams was in Cambridge when Washington arrived, and she wrote of him as follows:
"Dignity, ease, and complacency, the gentleman and the soldier look, agreeably blended in him. Modesty
marks every line and feature of his face. These lines of Dryden instantly occurred to me:
"'Mark his majestic fabric! He's a temple Sacred by birth, and built by hands divine; His soul's the deity that
lodges there, Nor is the pile unworthy of the God.'"