American Theatre from May 21, 1775, to September 2, 1775

Summary

Wishful thinking that differences between the Mother Country and her recalcitrant Colonies might find amicable settlement ended with the gunfire on the Lexington Common. While New Englanders were closing in upon Boston, ringing it with redoubts and fortified lines from the Mystic River to Dorchester, the second Continental Congress forgathered in Philadelphia, and resolved itself, day after day, into a committee of the whole "to take into consideration the state of America." That it was critical, every delegate from each of the twelve colonies represented fully realized.

Advice was received on the second day of the session (May 11, 1775) that the British Ministry had declared its intention to enforce obedience to each and every act of the Parliament, objectionable, coercive, restrictive as they were. The army in America was to be reinforced by at least three infantry regiments and some six hundred marines. More vessels of war had been ordered into commission to augment the squadron already based upon Boston. Some of the new troops were to be landed in New York, posing the urgent question; how should they be re­ceived? Within a week the Congress heard, in stunned surprise, that a handful of irregulars had taken the fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, with their numerous military stores.

By May 21 only a few of the problems had found partial solutions. New York should not oppose the troops as long as they proved peaceable, and did not attempt to erect fortifications. The cannon and all other military stores from Ticonderoga and Crown Point should be inventoried and removed to the south end of Lake George, where a strong defensive post should be established. The Continental Association's restrictions upon exportation should be expanded to embrace Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, the two Floridas, and that part of Georgia, which had not yet sent delegates to the Congress.

Meanwhile, the depositions and affidavits proving the British had fired first at Lexington had sped by express through the Colonies. Their contents spread dismay among the merchants, whose fondest hopes had been built upon reconcilia­tion and an abandonment of all restrictions on trade; and among the Tories, who, in many cases, had suffered from the severity of overzealous Committees of of Inspection and Correspondence. But they sparked renewed military ardor from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, in every cross-road, hamlet, town or city where the momentous tidings were proclaimed.

In Boston, the British still reeled from the disastrous retreat from Concord. All supplies, except by sea, had been cut off, and many inhabitants had pled for permission to remove themselves and their effects from the beleaguered town. General Gage, seeing fewer mouths to feed, had considered approval of their desires, if firearms would be delivered up. But a great clamor arose from those loyal to the Crown. Only the disaffected would leave, and then Boston would be set on fire by the Rebels.

Rumors were rife of attacks to be made upon the town, upon Castle William, upon the shipping, before reinforcements could arrive. Armed boats from the British squadron were patrolling the rivers and the harbor, day and night, and the troops literally slept on their arms as the May days passed along.


 

A Letter from Col. [Benedict] Arnold, dated Crown Point, 23 May, 1775, was laid before the Congress, informing that he had certain intelligence, that "on the 19th there were then 400 regulars at St. John's, making all possible preparations to cross the Lake, and expected to be joined by a number of Indians, with a design of retaking Crown-point and Ticonderoga," and earnestly calling for a... Continue Reading
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Before this Letter can reach you, you must, undoubtedly, have received an Account of the engagement in the Massachusetts Bay between the Ministerial Troops (for we do not, nor cannot yet prevail upon ourselves to call them the King's Troops) and the Provincials of that Government . . . General Gage acknowledges, that the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Smith was sent out to destroy private... Continue Reading
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I wrote you the 24th Inst by [Alexander] Kennedy  since then have not had the plesure of hearing from you. . Kennedey sailed the 25th and was at Annapolis 28th & I hope Ere this is Near the Capes. tho the winds has been light. . . . I know not any more I have to Say to you about the Schooner2 than I have allredy done. only that Unless Matters Gets worse than the[y] Appear yet that... Continue Reading
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Whereas it appears by Letters from the Committees of Correspondence in New York and Philadelphia, and by the Public Papers, that all Exportation to Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, or any part of the fishing Coasts or Islands, is suspended: Resolved, That the above Measure be recommended by the Committee to the Merchants and Inhabitants of this Town and County; and that from this Time no... Continue Reading
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  I desire You will please to acquaint the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I received their Lordships Order of the 31st. of January last, respecting the illicit Trade between the Dutch Settlements and His Majesty's Colonies in America, and likewise their Lordships other order on the same subject dated the 27th of February last; in consequence whereof, I have... Continue Reading
Date: 31 May 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Voted, That two companys, as soon as they can be properly mustered & Equipt be sent to guard the sea coast for the present. Whereas in the course of the present disputes, it may be necessary to Import on the Risque of the Colony a Quantity of Military Stores, Resolved, That the Commt of Supplies be and hereby are impowered & directed to import or cause to be Imported from any place... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  I wrote to You Yesterday by Mr Fraser who I sent round to Boston in the Spynx Sloop, all communication between the Ship and Town is still stop't  what measures they are pursuing in the Town I cannot inform You, the Guns which I spik'd up which I mentioned to You in my last, they have got up to Town before the Canceaux got off the Battery as Lt [Henry] Mowat informs me in his Letter they are... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
My last to you, was of the 6th Ultimo, since which I remain without any of your much esteem'd, tho' in hourly Expectation of hearing from you, that Capt [William] Willcomb is arriv'd, I am now sensible that your Markett, must be extream dull for his Cargoe, therefore hope you have stored it for a Price, & sold the Brig, but if this should meet the Brig at Philadelphia, & the Cargoe not... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
When our people were engaged in taking the stock, &c. from Noddle's and Hog-Islands, the king's troops made an attack upon them. On Hog Island, the combat began about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and continued almost incessantly till midnight. The attack was made with cannon, swivels, and small arms, from an armed schooner, sloop, and eight or ten barges, upon our people, who had small arms... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
We are informed, that in the [36-gun] Cerberus Frigate, Capt. Chads, who arrived at Boston last Thursday from England, came Passengers, Major-Generals [William] Howe, [Henry] Clinton, and [John] Burgoyne. The Town of Salem, and other Parts of the County of Essex, were alarmed last Tuesday Morning [May 30] by the Appearance, off Salem Harbour, of 2 or 3 armed Vessels, supposed to be on some... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee appointed to consider the Papers relating to Ticonderoga, &c., reported a Letter to Colonel Arnold; another to the Hon. William Williams, Esquire, Speaker of the Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut; and another to the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire; which were read and accepted, and are as follows, viz: Letter to Colonel Benedict Arnold Sir: The Congress have received... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Thursday 1 Remarks Boston Harbour Employd securing our stores. The Rebels set fire to our store houses on Noddles Island
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The General was now in expectation of the Nancy transport with Cloathing and Ordnance Stores, and, as she did not appear, various reports were spread of the Rebels intending to seize her: and the Senegal, Capt. [William] Dudingstone arriving from England, the Admiral immediately ordered her to Sea again to cruize from Cape Ann to Cape Cod for this transport. And the Cerberus went into Nantasket... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Cerberus this morning sailed down to Nantasket Road, to be in readiness to sail in a few days. Some of the idle Fools frequently fire small Arms at the Glasgow, and at our Camp; us they never reach, but they sometimes stick a Ball in the Ship, who never returns it tho' she has it in her power to drive 'em to the D---l.
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Memorial of John Sparding, living at Ticonderoga Landing, the north end of Lake George, June 1, 1775 Humbly sheweth: That your Memorialist has, for upwards of six years past, been at a great expence in providing boats and carriages for the ease and convenience of persons traveling this way with their baggage and effects, over the lake and carrying place, at an easy rate; likewise providing... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I returned here last evening from Crownpoint, which place I left on Monday last [May 29] . . . Col [Benedict] Arnold was very busy in fixing the Sloop [Enterprise] and Schooner [Liberty] in the best manner for guarding the Lake. He has mounted in the Sloop six six-pounders and fourteen swivels, and in the Schooner four four-pounders and eight swivels, and is fixing swivels in two Perriaugers. He... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
A draught of a letter to the sub-committee of the city and county of Albany, was read, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit: In Provincial Congress, at New York, June 1st, 1775. Gentlemen ー Agreeable to the minute of the Grand Congress, we (being unable as you know to garrison Ticonderoga, Crown Point, or Fort George,) made application to the eastern Colonies for their... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Packet arrived last Evening but too late to give me an Opportunity of forwarding your Letters sooner. It was my Intention to have sent the Kings Fisher to Boston with the Dispatches that have been brought by the Mail; but having (since I had the Honor of seeing you) received Information that some Vessels are on the Coast, laden with Arms and Ammunition; and as I have it not in my Power to... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The committee appointed to consider ways and means to supply these colonies with ammunition and military stores, brought in their report, which was read, and referred to the committee of the whole. Upon Motion, Resolved, That it be recommended to the Government of Connecticut, or the general of the forces of that colony, to appoint Commissaries to receive at Albany and forward the supplies of... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
With the beginning of 1775 war began in earnest, and first in the northern Colonies. Great Britain declared certain American ports closed. All the Colonies resented this. In many harbors no British ships were allowed to enter; in others they were permitted to come in and take a load of American products back to England, but were obliged to throw the cargoes from England overboard, and under no... Continue Reading
Date: 1 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1

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