The Life of George Washington. In Words of One SyllablePollard, Josephine
History
The Life of George Washington. In Words of One Syllable
Pollard, Josephine
Presidents -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature; Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Juvenile literature
The out-look was bright. More troops had come to his aid, and he made
up his mind to place part of his force on Dor-ches-ter Heights, and,
if he could, draw out the foe to fight at that place. At a sign, the
troops on the Heights and at Nook's Hill were to fire at the same
time, and rake the town with balls and bomb-shells. At the same time
boats full of troops were to start from the mouth of Charles Riv-er,
and act in the rear of the red-coats. It was thought that these moves
on the part of our troops would bring on such a fight as they had had
on Breed's Hill.
On the night of March 4, our men made their way to the Heights, and
at dawn of the next day strong forts loomed up, and seemed as if they
must have been brought there at the touch of a wand.
Howe gazed on them and said, "The reb-els have done more work in one
night than my whole ar-my would have done in a month."
He must drive them from the Heights, or leave Bos-ton. While pride
urged him on, fear held him back, for he knew that his loss would be
great. But he must make a move of some sort, so he made up his mind to
send boats out that night with a force of troops in charge of Lord
Per-cy. But a storm came up from the east; the surf beat high on the
shore where the boats would have to land; and the scheme was put off
till the next day. But it stormed just as hard the next day; the rain
came down in sheets; and the boats staid where they were.
In the mean time our men kept at work on the hills on the north side
and south side, and when the storm ceased Gen-er-al Howe saw that the
forts were now so strong there would be no chance to take them.
Nor was it safe for him to stay in Bos-ton. Yet the Ad-mi-ral said
that if Howe's troops did not seize the Heights, the ships-of-war
should not stay near Bos-ton; so his lord-ship would have to leave
with what grace he could, much as it might wound his pride.
When the word went forth that the troops were to leave, strange sights
were seen in Bos-ton town and bay. For some days the red-coats went
this way and that in great haste. More than three-score-and-ten boats
were cast loose for sea, with at least 12,000 men on board of them.
While this stir took place not a shot was sent from the Heights, and
it was well that this was so, as the red-coats had laid plans to set
the town in a blaze if our troops fired one gun.
The red-coats left Bos-ton March 17, and our troops, in charge of "Old
Put"--as the brave Put-nam was called--marched in-to town in fine
style.
For some days the fleet lay off the coast of Rhode Isl-and, and it was
feared for a-while that they meant to strike a blow and win back what
they had lost. But no such thing took place, and ere long the fleet
sailed out of sight.
"Where they are bound," wrote Wash-ing-ton, "and where they next will
pitch their tents, I know not."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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