The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that periodGordon, William
History
The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that period
Gordon, William
United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
The measures to be taken being settled, the
dispatches were got ready, and Capt. Sears set off with them, for
Connecticut. [Jan. 8.] Gov. Trumbull was much pleased, got the committee
of safety together, hastened the business, and col. Waterbury and col.
Ward’s regiments were raised and ready to march, by the time gen. Lee
got to Stamford, within fifty miles of New-York, and near upon two
hundred and fifty miles from Cambridge. Lee set off on the 11th; and
when at New-Haven, one hundred and sixty miles distant, wrote on the
16th to Washington. “I shall send immediately an express to congress
informing them of my situation and at the same time conjuring them not
to suffer the accursed provincial congress of New-York to defeat
measures so absolutely necessary to our salvation.” Many of the New-York
provincial congress (if not the majority) were adjudged real tories,
some so deemed might be only timed whigs. By the 22d. gen. Lee had
collected at Stamford 1200 Connecticut troops. The New-York committee of
safety were very averse to his marching them into the city, and wrote to
him upon the occasion. He answered with much prudence, judgment and
resolution; and sent to the continental congress for advice. They
directed him to repair to the city, and appoint three of their members
to meet him there, and advise with him on the measures proper to be
pursued. He was detained at Stamford with the gout. The members from
congress and col. Watery being at New-York, gen. Lee directed capt.
Sears to take Waterbury’s regiment, and march it immediately for the
city. At King’s-bridge he was met by a number of citizens, who intreated
him to halt, for that the enemy had declared that if any troops came in,
they would burn the city. Sears pleaded his orders, and marched on. When
nearer the city he was applied to afresh, and strongly urged to remain
at a distance from it; he observed, that neither the members of congress
nor col. Waterbury, had sent him any orders; he therefore continued his
march into the city. The citizens were in the utmost confusion,
expecting the enemy would execute their threats, but they refrained.
[Feb. 4.] Gen. Lee came on when able; and arrived at New-York in less
than two hours after gen. Clinton arrived at the Hook, in the Mercury,
together with a transport brig. Their arrival threw the city into such a
convulsion as it never knew before. Though it was the Sabbath the
inhabitants were engaged in moving away their effects the whole day, and
continued it all night. Gen. Clinton sailed from Boston on the 19th,
with a number of grenadiers and light infantry, as supposed for
Virginia. He touched at the Hook, probably to consult gov. Tryon, and
see whether any thing effectual could be done to strengthen the British
interest in New-York. After a short tarriance, he proceeded to the
southward. Gen. Lee, upon his arrival gave out, “If the men of war set
one house on fire in consequence of my coming, I will chain a hundred of
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