From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 149
whence I could see every shell that was thrown. The sound, I think, is one of the grandest in nature, and is of
the true species of the sublime. It is now an incessant roar.
"I went to bed about twelve, and rose again a little after one. I could no more sleep than if I had been in the
engagement; the rattling of the windows, the jar of the house, the continual roar of twenty-four pounders, and
the bursting of shells, give us such ideas, and realize a scene to us of which we could scarcely form any
conception. I hope to give you joy of Boston, even if it is in ruins, before I send this away."
What the British beheld on the morning of March 4, to their surprise and alarm, is best told in the words of
one of their officers.
"This morning at daybreak we discovered two redoubts on Dorchester Point, and two smaller ones on their
flanks. They were all raised during last night, with an expedition equal to that of 'the genii' belonging to
Alladin's wonderful lamp. From these hills they command the whole town, so that we must drive them from
their post or desert the place."
The British general, Howe, exclaimed:
"The rebels have done more work in one night than my whole army would have done in a month."
General Howe had superseded General Gage some time before this exploit.
Quickly as possible, General Howe began to bombard the new fortifications on Dorchester Heights. All
through the day he cannonaded the little American army, and, under the cover of the bombardment, prepared
to land twenty-five hundred picked men at night, and carry the Heights by storm. His guns did little damage,
however, through the day. Washington was present in person, encouraging the soldiers, and directing them in
strengthening the fortifications.
Under the darkness of night General Howe sent twenty-five hundred of his best soldiers, in transports, to
capture the "rebel works." But a furious northeast storm arose, and beat upon them with such violence that it
was impossible to land. They were compelled to postpone the attack until the next night. But the storm
continued, and even increased. The wind blew a gale and the rain descended in torrents all through the
following day and night, shutting up the enemy within their own quarters, and allowing the Americans time to
multiply their works and render them impregnable.
When the storm ceased, an English officer declared that the Americans were invincible in their strong
position. That General Howe was of the same opinion is evident from the fact that he decided to evacuate
Boston.
Had General Howe been able to land his troops on the first night, as he planned, there is little doubt that
Washington would have been driven from the Heights as the Americans were driven from Bunker Hill, so that
the intervention of the storm seemed peculiarly providential. When Washington issued his order, months
before, for the strict observance of the Sabbath and daily religious service by the army, General Lee, who was
a godless scoffer, remarked, derisively, "God is on the side of the heaviest battalions."
But in this case the storm favored the weakest battalions.
General Howe conferred with the authorities of Boston, and promised to evacuate the city without inflicting
harm upon it if the Americans would not attack him. Otherwise he would commit the city to the flames, and
leave under cover of the mighty conflagration. Washington wrote to him:
"If you will evacuate the city without plundering or doing any harm, I will not open fire upon you. But if you