From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 145
"No more?" exclaimed Reed. "You surprise me!"
"You cannot be more surprised than I am. It is a fearful condition for this army to be in."
"How can it be so?" added Reed, still more surprised. "According to that, powder is scarcer than clothing."
"It is true, if my investigation does not mislead," responded Washington. "No army was ever in a condition so
deplorable; and I would not dare to let my soldiers know the actual state of things, lest they become
demoralized."
"Fortunate for us that so far they are in blissful ignorance of our condition," said Reed; "but this state of
affairs must not be suffered to continue."
"Certainly not; I shall take immediate measures to remedy the evil."
And he did. Agents were sent in different directions to procure ammunition. A vessel was sent to the
Bermudas for this purpose. Expeditions to capture British forts in this country and Canada were set on foot.
The manufacture of powder was recommended by Congress.
At that time, the transportation of supplies for an army was a slow and tedious work. There were no railroads,
and the facilities for transportation by horses and cattle were far inferior to those of the present day. For
example, a little later, Henry Knox, who was a thriving book-seller in Boston when the British took
possession of the city, and who fought bravely at Bunker Hill, was sent to Ticonderoga and Crown Point,
which the Americans had captured, to bring such artillery and ordnance stores as could be spared. He was
instructed, also, to proceed to St. John and Montreal, both of which had just been captured by American
expeditions under Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen, Generals Schuyler and Montgomery. It was in the depth
of winter when Knox returned with over fifty cannon, mortars, and howitzers, and a quantity of lead and
flints, loaded upon forty sleds, drawn by eighty yoke of cattle. Washington procured for Knox the commission
of colonel soon after he undertook the enterprise.
Washington's headquarters were established at the CRAGIE HOUSE, a spacious building, favorably situated
for the commander-in-chief. For many years it was owned by Professor Longfellow the poet, who died there
some years since.
Order, sobriety, and religion regulated his headquarters. Morning and evening prayers were scrupulously
maintained, and the whole appearance of the place indicated that the renowned occupant was a Christian.
Washington required the chaplains of all his regiments to conduct prayers morning and evening, and religious
services on the Sabbath. The officers were required to see that their men attended all these services, since they
were observed "for their good."
Early in the siege of Boston, when he felt that "if success ever crowns the American cause, it will be because
an All-wise Providence controls the affairs of men," Washington advised the appointment of a day of fasting
and prayer, to intercede for the blessing of God upon the little army at Cambridge. Congress appointed the
day, and the commander-in-chief required its observance throughout the army. Religious services were held,
all business suspended, and the day was made as quiet and religious as Sunday.
One of the earliest arrivals at the camp in Cambridge, after Washington took command, was from Virginia,
Pennsylvania, and Maryland, fourteen hundred sharp-shooters, as we should call them now. They were tall,
stalwart men, dressed in fringed hunting shirts and round caps. They were received in camp with the wildest
demonstrations of joy. A few weeks later a long, lumbering train of wagons, laden with military stores
captured on the sea, came into camp. Washington had been forced to send out cruisers, by the action of