| Show patriots S melted statue h of king george i while the liberty erty boys under the bold Patr patriot lot isnac asna sears were easing their feelings by hanging rivington and carrying carry ot hi to be made into bullets alfe continental si antal army was engaged in a struggle gle with the english army under howe for the possession of boston the broo troops Ps finally evacuated that cit city in march 1770 1776 and retired to halifax general washington Washing tou believing that now york would bethe next point a bof of attack by the enemy began to assemble the continental army there I 1 the case looked rather hopeless for the town was open to attack s by any POW er i 1 in posses possession of strong sea forces as england was but washington made such hasty fortification as was possible banarda Ba yarda mount bounded by the present grand centre broome and Mi elizabeth zabeth streets which comm commanded aided a view north as far as greenwich village Vp lage was fortified fortl forti fled as was oracles grades hook guards were stationed at rockaway to watch tor for the approach of enemy ships prepared for defense defens governors island had a garrison and three companies of expert bitle aden anen were stationed on staten island is 14 11 1 1 statue of cgeorge george II 11 which at the of the revolution stood on bowling B U g green new york to worry boats that might wish to land there frum from the ene rays ships other were stationed on the west end of long island within the present limits of Broo brooklyn lilyn from wall about to Go govanus A crude fort was built in the vic vicinity hilty of the present F ulton fulton ferry feiry in april washington himself arrived in new york to td take command of the last desperate preparations to meet the attack attach of tho the british troops by the end of that month there were about troops of the ohp american army enlisted from 0 all tho the colonies camped in and near ne Nc york Torb june saw many skirmishes between the tories in the city and the array army which it if the treib truth must be told wa s a rather undisciplined one ant and hard bard to control meanwhile the british held off the attack which all knew would come event eventually u al ly independence proclaimed on june jund 7 1770 richard henry lee of virginia offered his tam famous us resolution in the continental congress s which met at philadelphia to the effect that thess thes 3 united colonies arcand are and of right ought to be tree free and independent states A declaration of independence was m jefferson and formally adopted by on july 4 1770 news of this great deflit defiance nee to the tha king did not reach new york until nearly five days later so slowly did news trivel travel in those lays days of post riders eiten the w word ord reached new york all the troops within the alt city were i gathered on the commons ti the ie present hresc nt city hall park drawn tip op in a hollow squire square and stood at attention while general washington gion rode into the center of the square with his bis diaff and the declaration was mis read aloud the little open space had seen many a riot bany many an indignation meeting of the liberty coys many great gather loss ings rea even at that tant early day nearby the patriot aels gelsler had gone to hag ahti death for the cause of odthe the people but bat this was perhaps the most thrilling day la wall all its history material for fo r bullets leis though it was evening when the th ceremony cei emony on the commons took place the excited citizens and were not ready to go home and to bed A band rushed down nassau street to the city hall on wall street and tore down the picture of george III IH which graced the building then on they went to dowling bowling greens headed by isaac sears and tore down a leaden equestrian statue of the king which had been erected there fire or six years before with great zeal they chopped and hacked backed this statue to pieces nearly one hundred years later the saddle and the horses tall were foaud in wilton conn and are now ao wan in the possession pon session of the new tork historical society but it Is safe to say that most of the despised statue of the kin king was melted into bullets to shoot his bis soldiers for musket musket balls were made from tills metal P B cole story of new york fork in the new york world |
