From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 154
"About ten days before any of the conspirators were taken up, a woman went to the general and desired a
private interview. He granted it to her, and she let him know that his life was in danger, and gave him such an
account of the conspiracy as gained his confidence. He opened the matter to a few friends on whom he could
depend. A strict watch was kept night and day, until a favorable opportunity occurred, when the general went
to bed as usual, arose about two o'clock, told his lady that he was going with some of the Provincial Congress
to order some Tories seized, desired she would make herself easy and go to sleep. He went off without any of
his aides-de-camp, except the captain of his life-guard; was joined by a number of chosen men, with lanterns
and proper instruments to break open houses; and before six o'clock next morning had forty men under guard
at the City Hall, among whom was the mayor of the city, several merchants, and five or six of his own
life-guard. Upon examination, one Forbes confessed that the plan was to assassinate the general and as many
of the superior officers as they could, and to blow up the magazine upon the appearance of the enemy's fleet,
and to go off in boats prepared for that purpose to join the enemy."
Thomas Hickey, one of Washington's own guard, was proved to be a leader in the plot, and he was sentenced
to be hung. The sentence was executed on the twenty-eighth day of June, in a field near Bowery Lane, in the
presence of twenty thousand people.
On the same day four of the enemy's warships dropped anchor in the bay. The next morning there were forty
ships, and they continued to arrive until one hundred and thirty vessels of war and transports could be
distinctly seen with a glass. The British troops were landed on Staten Island, where nearly all the people were
Tories, although they had professed to be patriots.
While these warlike preparations were going forward, the American Congress was discussing the most
important subject ever considered by a legislative body--that of American independence; and on the 4th of
July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
The discussion upon the adoption of this important document was conducted in secret session. The people
outside knew what was before the Assembly, and there was great excitement. For hours citizens gathered
about the State House, awaiting the decision with the utmost anxiety. A man was stationed in the steeple of
the building to ring the bell when the decisive vote was declared. The bell was imported from England
twenty-three years before, and bore this inscription:
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof."
When the bell pealed forth the glad news that the Declaration of Independence was adopted, the joy of the
people knew no bounds. The tidings spread from town to town, and awakened the most hearty response. On
the ninth day of July, Washington caused the Declaration to be read at the head of each regiment, and it
revived their drooping hopes more than the arrival of ten thousand recruits.
In their outburst of gladness, the soldiers indulged themselves in some excesses. There was a leaden statue of
George III, in the Bowling Green, which they tore from its pedestal, and cut up, to run into bullets.
Washington thought it was an unnecessary act of violence, denoting insubordination and recklessness, and he
rebuked the deed by an order, in which he said:
"The general hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian
soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country."
One day, before the engagement came on, General Putnam was crossing a field, which is now the "Park,"
when his attention was called to a company of artillery on drill. Observing the company for several minutes,
he remarked to the commander:
"A well-disciplined company!"