From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 153<br />
It was finally determined <strong>to</strong> put General Putnam in command at New York, and he was hurried away, with all<br />
<strong>the</strong> troops in Bos<strong>to</strong>n but five regiments, and instructions <strong>to</strong> complete <strong>the</strong> fortifications commenced by General<br />
Lee. Two or three months before, in consequence of <strong>the</strong> appearance of a British fleet, under Clin<strong>to</strong>n, in <strong>the</strong><br />
harbor of New York, and <strong>the</strong> secret plottings of Governor Tryon and <strong>the</strong> Tories, Washing<strong>to</strong>n placed General<br />
Lee in command <strong>the</strong>re. Lee at once arrested leading Tories, and sent <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> prison, threatening all <strong>the</strong> rest, in<br />
his fiery way, with similar punishment if <strong>the</strong>y continued <strong>to</strong> aid <strong>the</strong> enemy. Governor Tryon fled <strong>to</strong> a British<br />
man-of-war in <strong>the</strong> harbor, accompanied by several of his political advisers, and from those new headquarters<br />
he continued secret intercourse with <strong>the</strong> Tories. New dangers soon arising far<strong>the</strong>r south, General Lee was<br />
transferred <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Military Department, with headquarters at Williamsburg.<br />
Such was <strong>the</strong> state of affairs in New York when General Putnam <strong>to</strong>ok command, with not more than eight<br />
thousand available troops in <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn and vicinity.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n ordered three thousand militia <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> his aid from Connecticut, and as soon as he could arrange<br />
affairs in Bos<strong>to</strong>n he himself hastened <strong>to</strong> New York with his body-guard, where he arrived on <strong>the</strong> thirteenth<br />
day of April.<br />
Before this time he had learned that General Howe proceeded <strong>to</strong> Halifax, <strong>to</strong> await large reinforcements from<br />
Great Britain; that his bro<strong>the</strong>r, Admiral Howe, with his naval fleet, would join him <strong>the</strong>re, and <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> great<br />
army would sail for New York.<br />
He did not know, however, at that time, what <strong>the</strong> British Government was doing "<strong>to</strong> crush <strong>the</strong> rebels in North<br />
America." He learned afterwards that <strong>the</strong> king, stung <strong>to</strong> madness by <strong>the</strong> failure of his army in Bos<strong>to</strong>n, resolved<br />
<strong>to</strong> avenge <strong>the</strong> defeat by a terrible blow upon New York. He hired seventeen thousand Hessians <strong>to</strong> join <strong>the</strong><br />
army, paying <strong>the</strong>m liberally for <strong>the</strong>ir services, and <strong>the</strong>se hirelings would swell <strong>the</strong> invading army <strong>to</strong> startling<br />
proportions.<br />
Notwithstanding <strong>the</strong> evacuation of Bos<strong>to</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> cause of <strong>the</strong> patriots never seemed more hopeless than it did<br />
when <strong>the</strong> British army, under <strong>the</strong> two Howes, appeared below New York.<br />
"Our army in Canada is beaten and shattered," Washing<strong>to</strong>n said, "and our cause is lost <strong>the</strong>re. Here it is<br />
difficult <strong>to</strong> tell friend from foe. It is claimed that half of <strong>the</strong> people in New York are Tories, and what<br />
communications <strong>the</strong>y may have with <strong>the</strong> British army, through Tryon, it is impossible <strong>to</strong> tell. We have not half<br />
<strong>the</strong> men absolutely required <strong>to</strong> hold this position, and what we have are poorly clad and equipped, and not half<br />
fed. Then we have reason <strong>to</strong> suspect that <strong>the</strong> enemy will come with greater inhumanity <strong>to</strong> man, and that fire<br />
and sword will do a more fearful work than ever. What some of <strong>the</strong> British officers are capable of doing in <strong>the</strong><br />
way of fiendish devastation was shown in Bos<strong>to</strong>n, when <strong>the</strong> burning of every <strong>to</strong>wn between that city and<br />
Halifax was ordered, and Portland was laid in ashes."<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n wrote <strong>to</strong> his bro<strong>the</strong>r:<br />
"We expect a bloody summer in New York and Canada; and I am sorry <strong>to</strong> say that we are not, ei<strong>the</strong>r in men or<br />
arms, prepared for it. However, it is <strong>to</strong> be hoped that, if our cause is just, as I most religiously believe, <strong>the</strong><br />
same Providence which has in many instances appeared for us will still go on <strong>to</strong> afford us its aid."<br />
Congress was in session at Philadelphia, and Washing<strong>to</strong>n went thi<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> confer with members concerning <strong>the</strong><br />
summer campaign, and <strong>to</strong> plead for aid. Through his influence, Congress added twenty-three thousand militia<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> army, including a flying camp of ten thousand.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> midst of <strong>the</strong>se troubles a conspiracy of startling magnitude was discovered. "A part of <strong>the</strong> plot being,"<br />
says Sparks, "<strong>to</strong> seize General Washing<strong>to</strong>n and carry him <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> enemy." Rev. John Marsh of We<strong>the</strong>rsfield,<br />
Conn., wrote and published <strong>the</strong> following account of <strong>the</strong> affair: