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Show were not more formidable than these militia men, whom they had despised as raw peasants. There was no desire to buy another j American position at that price; and Washington had time enough for the complimentary receptions and addresses ad-dresses and the elaborate parade of escort and review that delayed his journey to headquarters. He reached Cambridge on the 2d of July, and bore himself with so straightforward and engaging a courtesy cour-tesy in taking command that the officers offi-cers he superseded could not but like him: jealousy was disarmed. Nnt lrial Rnlrilers. VO Pthe story or the first vwsns3 ' VfoZ THE PRESIDENT " . J? me in the conduct of Washington," exclaimed John Adams; and it was wholesome for the whole country that such a man should be put at the head of affairs. Many ignoble things were being done In the name of liberty, and an ugly tyranny had been brought to every man's door "the tyranny ot his next-door neighbor." There were men by the score In the colonies who had no taste or sympathy sympa-thy for the rebellion they now saw afoot common men who knew little or nothing of the mother-country, as well as gentlemen of culture who loved her traditions and revered her crown; farmers and village lawyers, as well as merchants at the ports wh saw their living gone and ruin staring them in the face. Rule of the Majority. But the local committees and the "Sons of Liberty" everywhere saw to it that such men should know and dread and fearfully submit to the views of the majority. Government was suspended; there was nowhere so much as a justice of the peace acting under the authority of the crown. There might have been universal license li-cense had the rabble not seen their leaders so noble, so bent upon high and honorable purposes. It was an object-lesson in the character of the revolution to see Washington ride through the colonies to take charge of an insurgent army. And no man or woman, or child even, was likely to miss the, lesson. That noble figure drew all eyes to But he found neither the preparations prepar-ations nor the spirit of the army to his liking. His soldierly sens of order or-der was shocked by the lose discipline, discip-line, and his instinct of command by the free and easy Insolence of that Irregular Ir-regular levy; and his authority grew stern as he labored to bring the motley mot-ley host to order and effective organ! zatlon. "The people -of this government have obtained a character," his confidential confi-dential letters declared, "which they by no means deserved their officers, generally speaking, are the most indifferent in-different kind of people I ever saw. I dare say the men would fight very well f properly officered), although they are an exceedingly dirty and nasty people. ... It Is among the most difficult tasks I ever undertook In my life to induce these people to believe that there is, or can be, danger till th bayonet is pushed at their breasts. Not that it proceeds from any uncommon uncom-mon prowess, but rather from an unaccountable un-accountable kind of stupidity in the lower class of these people, which, believe be-lieve me, prevails but too generally among the officers of the Massachusetts Massachu-setts part of the army, who are nearly near-ly of the same kidney with the prt vates." Improve on Acquaintance. He had seen like demoralization and slackness in the old days at Winchester, Winches-ter, on the wild frontier, but he had expected to find a better spirit and discipline in the New England levies. His first disgust, however, soon wore off. He was not eIow to see how shrewd and sturdy these uncouth, Intractable In-tractable ploughboys aad farmers could prove themselves upon occasion. occa-sion. Material for a Good Army. "I have a sincere pleasure in observing," ob-serving," he wrote to congress, "that there are materials for a good army, a great number of able-bodied men, active, zealous in the cause, and of unquestionable courage." There was time enough and to Bpare in which to learn his army's quality. "Our lines of defence are now completed," com-pleted," he could tell Lund Washington Washing-ton on the 20th of August, "as near so at least as can be we now wish them to come out as soon as they please; but they discover no Inclination to quit their own works of defense; and as it is almost Impossible for us to get at them, we do nothing but watch each other's motions all day at the distance of about a mile." An Immense Correspondence. He could even turn away from military affairs to advise that "spinning "spin-ning should go forward with all possible pos-sible despatch" on the estate at home, and to say, "I much approve of youi sowing wheat in clean ground, ai though you should be late in doing it." , Once more he settled to the old familiar fa-miliar work, this time upon a great scale, oi carrying a difficult enterprise forward by correspondence. Letters to the Ctnitinental Congress at Phila-dephia, Phila-dephia, letters to the provincial congresses con-gresses of the New England colonies, letters to subordinate (sometimes In-sbordlnate) In-sbordlnate) officers at distant posts, letters to Intimate friends and influential in-fluential men everywhere, setting Installment 13 What he had proposed was done, and his very opponents served upon the committee charged with its accomplishment. accom-plishment. It was not going more than other colonies had done; it was only saying more; it was only dealing deal-ing more fearlessly and frankly with fortune. Even slow, conservative men like John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, shielded themselves behind cnlyan"if." "The first act of violence on the part of administration In America," they knew, "or the attempt to reinforce General Gage this winter or next year, will put the whole continent in arms, from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Regulars Meet the Mllltla. What they feared very speedily came to pass. 'Twas hardly four .weeks from the day Mr. Henry proclaimed a state of war in the convention at Richmond before the king's regulars were set upon at Lexington and Concord and driven back in rout to their quarters by the swarming militia men of Massachusetts. Mass-achusetts. On the 19th of April they had set out across a peaceful country to Beize the military stores placed at Concord. Before the day was out they had been fairly thrown back into Boston, close upon three hundred of their comrades com-rades gone to a last reckoning; and the next morning disclosed a rapidly growing provincial army drawn in threatened siege about them. Lord Dunmore Foiled. In the darkness of that very night (April 20), at the command ol Dun-more, Dun-more, a force of marines was landed land-ed from an armed sloop that lay in James river, in Virginia, to seize the gunpowder stored at Williamsburg. Williams-burg. The "irginians In their turn sprang to arms, and Dunmore was forced, ere he could rid himself of the business, busi-ness, to pay for the powder taken pay Captain Patrick Henry, at the head of a body of militia under arms. Ethan Allen Holds Two Forts. On the 10th of May the second Continental Con-tinental congress met at Philadelphia, with business to transact vastly different differ-ent from that to which the first "congress "con-gress of committees" had addressed itself it-self not protests and resolves, but quick and efficient action. The very day It met, a body of daring dar-ing provincials under Ethan Allen had walked into the open gates of Ticon-deroga Ticon-deroga and taken possession of the stout fortress "In the name ot the Great Jehovah and the Continental congress," and two days later a similar sim-ilar exploit secured Crown Point to the insurgents. The Country United. Active war had begun; an army was set down before Boston a rude army that had grown to be sixteen thousand strong within the first week of its rally; the country was united in a general gen-eral resistance, and looked to the congress con-gress to give it organization and guld- I ance. Colonel' Washington had come to the congress in his provincial uniform, and found himself a great deal sought after in its committees. Not only the drawing of state papers which would once more justify their cause and their resort to arms in the eyes of the word, but the actual mustering mus-tering and equipment of an army, quick fortification, the gathering of munitions and supplies, the raising of money and the organization of a commissariat, com-missariat, the restraint of the Indians In-dians upon the frontier, was the ' all eyes upon him; it was merely his instinctive expression of his own personal per-sonal feeling with regard to the crisis that had come. But it was in its way a fulfilment of prophecy. When the first Virginian convention chose delegates to attend the congress con-gress of 1774, "some of the tickets on the ballot assigned reasons for the choice expressed In them. Randolph should preside in congress; Lee and Henry should display the different kinds of eloquence for which they were renowned; Washington should command the army, if an army should be raised; Bland should open the treasures of ancient colonial learning; Harrison should utter plain truths; and Pendleton should be the penman for business." Self Poise of the Vlrglniam. No wonder the gentlemen from Virginia, Vir-ginia, coming with such confidence to the congress, made the instant Impression Im-pression they did for mastery and self-poise! "There are some fine fellows come from Virginia," Joseph Reed had reported, re-ported, "but they are very high. We understand they are the capital men of Sie colony." Washington alone awaited his cue. Now he was to get it, without expecting expect-ing it. A Struggling Army. The Irregular army swarming before be-fore Boston was without, standing or government. It had run hastily together to-gether out of four colonies; was subject sub-ject to no common authority; hardly know what allegiance It bore; might fall to pieces unless it were adequately adequate-ly commanded. The congress In Philadelphia was called upon to recognize and adopt It, give It leave and authority to act for all the colonies, give it a commander, and summon the whole country to recruit re-cruit It. A Leader Outside New England. There was an obvious political necessity ne-cessity that the thing should be done, and done promptly. Masaschusetts did not wish to sta'ad alone; New England Eng-land wanted the active assistance of the other colonies; something must be attempted to secure common action. The first thing to do was to choose an acceptable and efficient leader, and to choose him outside New England. To John Adams the choice seemed simple enough. There was no soldier in America, outside New England nor inside either to be compared, whether wheth-er in experience or distinction, with Washington, the gallant, straightforward, straightfor-ward, earnest Virginian he had learned learn-ed so to esteem and trust there in Philadelphia. John Adams Names Washington. He accordingly moved that congress "adopt the army at Cambridge," and declared that he had "but one gentleman gentle-man In mind" for its command "a gentleman from Virginia, who was among us," he said, "and very well known to all of us; a gentleman whose skill and experience as an officer, offi-cer, whose independent fortune, great talents, and excellent universal character, char-acter, would command the approbation approba-tion of all America, and unite the cordial cor-dial exertions of all the colonies better bet-ter than any other person in the union." Washington, taken unawares, rose and slipped In confusion from the room. Washington the Unanimous Choice. Some of his own friends doubted the expediency of putting a Virginian at the head of a New England army, but the more clear-sighted among the New Englanders did not, and the selection se-lection was made, after a litle hesitation, hesita-tion, unanimously. Washington accepted his commission commis-sion with that mixture of modesty and pride that made men love and honor him. "You may believe me, my dear Patsy," were his simple words to his wife, "when I assure you in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking seek-ing this appointment, I have used every ev-ery endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity. . . . But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking It is designed to answer some good purpose. pur-pose. ... It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment, without exposing my character to such censures as would have reflected dishonor upon myself and given pain to my friends." Washington Accepts With Modesty. He spoke in the same tone to the congress. "I beg it may be remembered," remem-bered," he 6aid, "by every gentleman in this room, that I this day declare with the utmost Bincerity I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with." His commission was signed on the 19th of June; on the 21st he was on the road to the north the road he had traveled twenty years ago to consult con-sult with Governor Shirley in Boston upon questions of rank, and to fall into Mary PhilipBe's snare by the way; the road he had ridden after the races, but three years ago, to put Jacky CustlB at college in New York. John Adams Delighted. "There Is something charming to forth the needs and situation of the army, advising measures of organization, organiza-tion, supply, and defense, pointing out means that might be used and mistakes mis-takes that must be avoided, commanding, command-ing, dissuading, guiding, forecasting, poured steadily forth from those busy headquarters, -where the comamnder-in-chief was always to be found, intent, in-tent, deeply employed, calmly imperative, impera-tive, never tiring, never hesitating, never storming, a leader and master of men and affairs. (TO BE CONTINUED.) it; that mein as if the man were a prince; that sincere and open countenance, counte-nance, which every man could see was lighted by a good conscience; that cordial ease In salute, as of a man who felt himself brother to his friends. Shows Himself to the People. There was something about Washington Wash-ington that quickened the pulses of a orowd at the same time that It awed them, that drew cheers which were a sort of voice of worship. Children Chil-dren desired sight of him, and men felt lifted after he had passed. It was good to have such a man ride all the open way from Philadelphia to Cambridge Cam-bridge in sight of the people to assume as-sume command of the people's army. It gave character to the thoughts of all who saw him. Matters had not stood still before Boston to await a commander sent by congress. While Washington waited for his commission and made ready for his journey there had been fighting done which was to simplify his task. General William Howe had reached Boston with reinforcements on the 25th of May, and quite ten thousand troops held the city, while a strong fleet of men-of-war lay watchfully in the harbor. The British Hesitate. There was no hurry, it seemed, about attacking the sixteen thousand raw provincials, whose long lines were drawn loosely about the town from Charlesto-wn Neck to Jamaica Plain. But commanding hills looked across the water on either hand in Charles-town Charles-town on the north and In Dorchester on the southeast and it would be well, Howe saw, to secure them, lest they should be occupied by the insurgents. insur-gents. On the morning of the 17th of June, however, while leisurely preparations were a-making in Boston to occupy the hills of CharleBtown, It was discovered dis-covered that the provincials had bfien, beforehand in the project. There they were in the clear sun, working diligently dili-gently at redoubts of their own upon the height. At a Fearful Cost. Three thousand men were put across the water to drive them off. Though they mustered only seventeen hundred behind their unfinished works, there were several assaults and the loss of a thousand men was the cost of dislodging them. They withheld their fire till the redcoats red-coats were within fifty nay, thirty yards of them, and then poured out a deadly, blazing fire which no man could face and live. They were ousted oust-ed only when they failed of powder and despaired of reinforcements. Veteran officers who had led the assault as-sault declared the regulars of France business in hand, and Washington's advice was invaluable when such matters mat-ters were afoot. Washington Prompt to Act. He showed no hesitation as to what should be done. His own mind had long ago been made up; and the sessions ofS.he congress con-gress were not endttd before Virginia was committed beyond all possibility of drawing back. The 1st of June saw her last house of burgesses convene; for by the 8th of the month Dunmore was a fugitive fugi-tive had 6een the anger of a Williamsburg Wil-liamsburg mob blaze hot against him, and had taken refuge in a man-of-war lying up the river. The province was ready for revolution, revolu-tion, and Washington was ready to go with, it. It meant more than Washington thought that he had come to Philadelphia Phila-delphia habited like a soldier. 1! had not been his purpose to draw |