The book of the army: comprising a general military history of the United States, from the period of the revolution to the present time

Front matter

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Preface

The cordial reception, given to the " Book of THE Navy," has encouraged the author to offer the ** Book of the Army" to the notice of an indulgent public. The two volumes are intended to form a history of our national defence from the period of the declaration of independence to the present time. The plan of detaching this portion of the history of the country from its political and social annals and presenting it separately is believed to be attended with some peculiar advantages. By narrating the military operations of each period distinctly, it illustrates the importance of military organization for the preservation of national independence and the defence of the soil; by exhibiting the character and results of the several contests in which the country has been engaged, it shews the necessity of military discipline, as well as courage and patriotism, for the efficiency of armies ; by holding up to view the numerous examples, which occur, of individual ability and intrepidity, it tends to preserve the

Vlll PREFACE.

national spirit and to excite emulation among those upon whom the national defence will hereafter devolve ; by disclosing the disasters which have resulted, at various times from the want of a due estimate of the importance of military preparation for war in time of peace, it conveys an important lesson to all who are entrusted with the duties of legislation and the administration of national affairs.

Such advantages resulting from distinct military history will justify the author's design to all readers who pay attention to the practical utility of what they read; while those who read for entertainment will not fail to find their taste gratified in the varied and romantic fortunes which have attended our American military heroes and the vicissitudes of our patriot armies ; and the reflective reader will not fail to observe the signal instances of Divine favour and protection which have so often been extended to the defenders of our national liberty and independence.

The authorities from which the history is drawn are chiefly contemporary with the events narrated ; and often these accounts of battles are given in the words of eye witnesses, such accounts being preferred for their vividness and truth. By the help of Mr. Barley's designs of the great battles, and the masterly engraving of Lossing, Devereux and Illman, the volume goes forth embellished in a style

PREFICE.

IX which it is hoped will be deemed not unworthy of the subject. Its preparation has cost much time and expense from the anxiety of both author and publishers to render it worthy of the same distinguished favour, which has attended the publication of the "Book of the Navy," of which it is intended to be the sequel and companion.

THE

BOOK

OF

THE ARMY.

XI

CHAPTER I. Causes of the Revolution

URING the %\ais of France and Great Britain, the French, who had possession of the Canadas, formed close alliances with the Indians, over whom they had more influence than any other European nation.

With these savage auxiliaries, they were ever making predatory incursions into the English Colonies, carrying fire and sword wherever they went; burning the villages, massacring the inhabitants, and showing mercy to none. This imminent danger roused the colonists from inactivity, and called into action all their powers to ward it off. The assistance and co-operation of the parent country in this warfare, had the effect of drawing closer the ties of a common interest, and strengthening those relations which ought to subsist between a nation and her colonies ; and this good feeling continued to exist until the close of the Old French War, in 1763. It was during that contest, in asserting and maintaining the pretensions of the King of Great Britain against a foreign enemy, that our forefathers learnt the art of war, — that they disciplined and trained themselves for the part which they were to take in the great Revolutionary struggle. They little thought, when following the gallant Wolfe to the attack on Quebec, that in sixteen years from that time, some of them should be marching against the same place, and against the government which they were then aiding. But so it was.

With the cession of the Canadas to Great Britain, the people of the Colonies found themselves relieved from the fear of foreign invasion, and the spirit of political activity, which had always been kept in a state of restless commotion, was now directed to the adjustment of the relations which existed between them and the parent country. It was unhappily, or rather should we say happily, that the ministry determined on a course of policy, then new to the colonists, and which involved principles and pretensions which they, flushed with their triumphs over the French, could hardly be supposed to allow or submit to, without a struggle to maintain their rights. Hitherto, they had paid no taxes but such as were imposed by their own legislatures, and designed for the defences, improvements, and expenses of their own colonial establishments. Now, they were called upon, by the parliament of Great Britain, a body in which they had no representatives, and which, consequently, had no right to do so, to contribute, by taxes laid by them, to the support of the general government. Soon after the peace with France, the stamp act was passed. The effect of this on the colonists was instantaneous and terrific. Remonstrances and addresses were sent to the king and parliament from a congress of deputies from nine out of the thirteen colonies. This body also adopted several resolutions, in which they set forth that the inhabitants of the colonies were entitled to the same rights, privileges, and immunities, as the people of Great Britain ; that no taxes had been or could be imposed on them but by representatives chosen by themselves ; that trial by jury was the right of a British subject ; and that the stamp act, by imposing taxes, and extending the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty beyond their ancient limits, had a tendency to subvert the rights and liberties of the colonists. These resolutions of the deputies, with others passed by them at the same time, are moderate when compared with those of particular states. The people of New England questioned the right and authority of parliament to levy duties or taxes upon the colonies in any form or shape whatever, and maintained that the exercise of such an authority by Parliament was an infraction, not only of the privileges of the colonists as British subjects, but of their rights as men. In the mean time the spirit of tumult and insurrection was aroused in all the large cities. The people met and expressed their indignation by destroying the property of those who were appointed to distribute the stamped papers, and burning them in effigy. When the stamps arrived, in some places they were not allowed to be taken out of the ships ; in others, the bells were tolled, and the flags of the shipping were hoisted at half-mast.

In the following year, 1766, the stamp act was repealed ; but in 1767, Parliament passed an act, imposing duties on paper, glass, painters' colours, and teas imported into the colonies. Petitions, resolutions and remonstrances were again sent to the British ministry by the colonists ; and in 1768, the assembly of Massachusetts addressed a circular letter " to the representatives and burgesses of the people throughout the continent," calling on them to unite with the people of Massachusetts in suitable measures to obtain redress. This was approved by the other colonial assemblies, and

16 CAUSES OP" THE REVOLUTION.

many of them joined their petitions to those which had already been sent by the assembly. This act gave great offence to the British government, and on the refusal of Massachusetts to rescind the resolutions and votes by which the circular letter was agreed upon, and some resistance being made to the collection of the duties imposed by the new acts, an armed force was sent to Boston and quartered in the public buildings. The colonists, though disgusted and insulted, were not overawed by the presence of the military. They refused to provide them with barracks : and such was their antipathy to having soldiers quartered in their town, that they were continually quarrelling with them. On the 5th of March, 1770, while a company of the soldiers was under arms, the populace pressed upon them, insulted them by throwing missiles at them and daring them to fire. One of the soldiers received a blow from something that was thrown, and fired at the aggressor. This was followed by a discharge from some of the other soldiers, by which three of the mob w^ere killed and five dangerously wounded. The whole town was instantly in the greatest commotion, and thousands of the people assembled ; the drums beat to arms, and the rest of the troops were assembled. The people were quieted by the assurances of the governor that the troops would be removed. The next day they were marched to Castle William. One of the wounded men died, and the bodies of those who had been killed were carried in procession through the town attended by an immense concourse of people, and interred with military honors. The company of soldiers and their captain were brought to trial and two of them were found guilty of manslaughter. The others were acquitted.

On the 12th of April, 1770, all the duties, except that on tea were repealed. This was unsatisfactory to the colonists, as it still left the great principle of the right of taxation unsettled ; and they determined to oppose it. Meetings were held, at which it was resolved that they would abstain from the use of tea until the duty was taken off it. On the arrival of the tea-ships at the port of Charleston, the tea was taken out and stored in cellars, where il. was left to rot. The ships which came to Philadelphia and New York, were sent back, with their ladings, to England. The consignees of the Boston ships, refusing to send them back, a company of armed men, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded them, and breaking the boxes, emptied the tea into the dock. This again roused the indignation, and called forth the resentment of the English ministry ; and the Boston Port Bill was passed, by which the privilege of landing or discharging, lading or shipping goods, w^ares, and merchandise, was taken from the port of Boston, and every vessel was required to leave the harbour, unless laden with food or fuel. On receiving the news of the passage of this bill, the legislatures of the different colonies passed resolutions expressive of their sympathy with the suffering inhabitants of Boston ; and sent them letters and addresses, approving their conduct, and assuring them of their assistance if they should be driven to take up arms. Contributions were everywhere raised for the relief of those whose means of subsistence would be taken from them by the closing of their port, and the loss of their trade.

On the 5th of September. 1774, the first Continental Congress, consisting of delegates from eleven colonies, met at Philadelphia, and agreed upon a declaration of rights. A petition was sent to the king, and addresses voted to the people of the Canadas, to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and to the American people. After renewing the non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation agreement, and recommending that another congress be held at Philadelphia, on the 10th of May, 1775, unless the redress of their grievances should be previously obtained, they dissolved after a session of eight weeks. The colonists, now becoming daily more alarmed, began to take measures for their defence. They had already collected arms and ammunition in several places ; and the proclamation of the king, prohibiting the exportation of military stores from Great Britain, which reached America towards the close of the year, only hastened their operations ; and resolutions were C 2* passed in some of the colonies for obtaining arms and military stores, and raising and arming the inhabitants.

In the meantime, the king refused to hear the petition of the Continental Congress ; and bills were passed by Parliament for restraining further the trade of the colonies. In February, 1775, a provincial congress met in Massachusetts, and published a resolution, stating that the total destruction of the colony was to be apprehended, from the tenor of the news from England ; and that large reinforcements of troops were daily expected. They recommended the militia, and especially a select body of armed men, who held themselves in readiness to march at a minute's warning, and hence were called minute men, to use all diligence in perfecting themselves in military discipline. They also passed resolutions for collecting and storing fire arms, and provisions. These orders and resolutions were eagerly and strictly complied with.

Thus were matters rapidly drawing to a crisis. Eleven years only had passed since the Treaty of Paris, which terminated the seven years' war, and many of the officers who had distinguished themselves in that war, were now ready to assist their countrymen with their experience and their influence, in that which now seemed approaching with giant strides. No open acts of hostility, had, as yet taken place, but the time was fast approaching for the people of America to show to the inhabitants of Great Britain that they were no longer to be insulted, enslaved and trampled on — that they were ready to assert and maintain by the sword those rights which had been denied them when humbly petitioned for. The battles of Lexington and Bunker's Hill, a detailed account of which we will reserve for our next chapter, commenced that war which ended in the independence of our beloved country, and ensured to us the blessings of that liberty for which they fought and died.

CHAPTER II. Commencement of the Revolutionary War

T soon became evident that the time had at length arrived in which it was necessary for the Americans to oppose British oppression by force of arms. They had collected some military stores at Concord, which General Gage, the British Governor, determined to destroy. For this purpose a secret expedition was planned, to set out from Boston on the 19th of April ; but, by some means or other, the Americans had obtained information of the meditated attack, the Committee of Safety had taken measures to save the stores at that place, by removing them to different places, and the whole population of the towns through which the British troops were to pass, were alarmed and ready to oppose them as soon as they should make their appearance. At this time, the Americans had no

20 COMMENCEMENT O F T HE REVOLUTION.

regular commander, and consequenlly could not act in concert, but the opposition and spirit manifested by these detached companies of militia served to show the British government that every inch of ground would be disputed with obstinacy and determination.

The British Grenadiers and Light Infantry, to the number of about eight hundred, under Lieutenant Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn, left Boston on the evening of the 18th, and proceeded towards Concord. When they reached Lexington, they saw a company of about one hundred men assembled on the green near the church ; and Major Pitcairn riding up, called out " Disperse, ye rebels, throw down your arms and disperse." The British then advanced in quick march, and the Americans, seeing their numerical superiority, began to disperse, when the regulars huzzaed, a pistol or two was discharged by some of their officers ; then the report of four or five muskets, discharged by the soldiers, which was followed immediately by a general discharge, by which eight of the Americans were killed and seven wounded. The detachment then hastened on to Concord, where they destroyed a few military articles, and sixty barrels of flour.

The British were now, however, completely alarmed ; they saw the militia from the neifjhborins: towns advancing along; the roads ; they saw the heights around the town lined with women and children, who fled from the town at their approach, and whom they magnified, in their terror, into armed warriors. Parties were despatched to the different bridges to prevent the entrance of the Americans. One of these parties tore up the planks of Ihe South bridge ; the other attempted to destroy the North bridge ; but the militia, resolving to keep open the communication with the town, advanced in regular order, commanded for the time by Colonel Robinson and Major Buttrick. The Acton militia, led on by the gallant Davis, formed the van. As this little company approached, the British fired three alarm guns, but seeing that that had no effect on the advancing column, one of the soldiers discharged his musket at jNIajor Buttrick. The ball passed between his

BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 23

arm and his side, and slightly wounded a person behind him. This was the signal for a general discharge from the regulars, by which Captain Davis and others were killed. The Americans now returned the fire, and compelled the British to retreat towards the centre of the town, where they hastily reassembled their several detachments, and then commenced that celebrated retreat, in which they first felt the galling effects of fire-arms, in the hands of freemen whom they had insulted and endeavoured to enslave.

The whole country was by that time alarmed : the minutemen, volunteers, and militia, assembled from all quarters, and posted themselves among the trees, in houses, and behind walls, along the road through which the British troops were to pass, while the militia who had been engaged at the bridge, reinforced by others from the country, pressed upon their rear. Through this living wall of the yeomanry of the country, they commenced their retreat towards Boston ; and no retreat recorded in the annals of history, except, indeed, it be that of Napoleon from Russia in 1812, can for an instant be compared with that of the British troops from Concord. As soon as they began their march, an incessant, though irregular fire commenced, which was kept up during the whole of their march back to Lexington, " whither," says one of their own historians, " they were driven before the Americans like sheep."

While they were at Lexington in the morning, the dispositions of the Americans alarmed Lieutenant Colonel Smith so much that he sent to General Gage for a reinforcement. Lord Percy was immediately ordered out with about a thousand men and two field pieces. He took the road over the neck through Roxbury, his band during the march playing " Yankee Doodle," by way of showing their contempt for, and derision of the Yankees. They played a different tune on their return. This reinforcement joined the party under Colonel Smith at Lexington, just in time to save that devoted body from entire demolition.

Percy formed his detachment in the form of a square, in

24 BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.

the centre of which he enclosed Colonel Smith's party, who were " so much exhausted with fatigue" says the same British writer which we have before quoted, " that they were obliged to lie down for rest on the ground, their tongues hanging out of their mouths, like those of dogs after a chase." After resting in this manner for a few minutes, Lord Percy deemed it prudent to commence his march towards Boston. During the whole of that arduous march, the Americans kept up an incessant fire on the retreating column, from the walls, houses, and trees along the road, which it was useless for the British to return, as the Americans were concealed, and they could see no object at which to fire. Their great object was to reach Boston with as little loss as possible ; but, the fire of the Americans slacking a little at some parts of the road, they took the opportunity to set fire to a few houses, to plunder others, and to murder some persons found in their houses, though they were unarmed.

They arrived at Charlestown at sun-set, quite spent and worn down with fatigue. The British boats immediately conveyed the wounded to Boston, while the remainder of the troops at that place, crossed to Charlestown to defend their exhausted comrades during the night. The loss sustained during that day, by the British, was sixty-five men killed, one hundred and seventy-four wounded, and twenty-four made prisoners. That of the Americans was forty-nine killed, and thirty-nine wounded and missing.

This affair had the effect of placing the colonies at open variance with the mother country ; but, still they aimed not at independence, it was not until months of war showed them that they need expect no reconciliation with the mother country, that they grasped dit freedom, at independent liberty. On the 19th of April, 1775, they also experienced the efficiency with which they might act against the all-conquering regulars of I3ritain, and led them to trust in themselves, their knowledge of their weapons, and the fatal precision of their marksmen. They did not stop with compelling the regulars to seek the protection of Boston. An army sprung up almost

CAPTURE OF TICONDEROGA. 25

instantaneously, soldiers flocked towards that point from all the colonies, and before the close of the next day, the royal array was completely inclosed, and formally besieged in Boston.

The aflair at Lexington was the signal for the commencement of hostilities. The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts immediately passed resolutions for raising an army of thirty thousand men in New England. This force was soon added to the force blockading Boston, and General Gage, beginning to feel alarmed at the prospect before him, declared the colony of Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.

In the meantime, a small body of the militia of Connecticut, consisting principally of hardy mountaineers, known throughout the country by the name of the Green Mountain Boys, headed by Colonel Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold, proceeded against Ticonderoga, a fortress which in the event of a final struggle, would be of the greatestimportance to the Americans. Situated on a promontory, formed at the junction of the waters of Lake George and Lake Champlain,itwas the key of all communication between New York and Canada. With less than three hundred men they proceeded on their expedition, and on the night of the 9th of May, arrived on the shore of Lake Champlain, opposite Ticonderoga. Allen and Arnold crossed over with eighty-three men, and landed near the garrison. At first, the two colonels contended for the post of danger, but it was at length decided that they should enter the fort together ; they accordingly advanced abreast, and entered the fortress at the dawn of day. A sentinel snapped his piece at them and then retreated through the covered way to the parade, whither he was immediately followed by the Americans. When they reached the open space, used as a place for the parade of the troops, they drew up in the form of a hollow square, and awakened the garrison with three loud huzzas. Some slight skirmishing ensued. Allen proceeded to the quarters of De La Place, the commander of the fort, knocked loudly at the door of his room where he was D ' 3

2() CAPTURE OF TICONDEROGA.

lying asleep. Allen called on him instantly to appear, or his whole garrison would be sacrificed. The astonished captain came forth rubbing his eyes, and wondering what such an unexpected summons could mean, when he was ordered instantly to surrender the fort. Surprised at the demand, he asked, " By what authority" he presumed to call on him for such an act. " I demand it," replied Allen, in a loud voice, " in the name of the great Jehovah, and of the Continental Congress."

Captain De La Place, had, probably, never heard of the Continental Congress, and began to argue. But Allen lifted his sword above his head, and reiterated his demand. The summons was obeyed ; and the fort, with one hundred pieces of cannon, other valuable stores, and forty-eight prisoners, fell into the hands of the Americans. The boats which had conveyed the first party across the lake, had been sent back for the remainder of the men, but the business was done before they arrived.

Colonel Seth Warner was sent off with a party, to take possession of Crown point, which was garrisoned by a Serjeant and twelve men. Their mission was speedily effected. In order to preserve these conquests, it was necessary to obtain the command of the lake. This was effected by Arnold capturing a British sloop of war, lying off St. Johns, at the northern extremity of the lake.

Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton arrived at Boston with considerable reinforcements, about the latter part of May ; and General Gage, encouraged by the augmentation of his troops, issued a proclamation, offering pardon to all who would lay down their arms, except John Hancock and Samuel Adams ; and declaring martial law to be in force in Massachusetts. This proclamation only served to unite more closely those whom it was intended to intimidate.

The commanders of the New England army had, about the 14th of June, received advice that General Gage had issued orders for a party of the troops under his command to post themselves on Bunker's Hill, a promontory just at the entrance

BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL. 29

of the peninsula at Charlestown, which orders were soon to be executed ; upon which it was determined to send a party, who might erect some fortifications upon the said hill, and defeat the design of our enemies. Accordingly, on the IGth, orders were issued that a detachment of one thousand men should that evening march to Charlestown, and intrench upon that hill. Just before nine o'clock they left Cambridge, and proceeded to Breed's Hill, situated on the further part of the peninsula, next to Boston, (for by some mistake this hill was marked out for the intrenchraent instead of the other.) Many things being necessary to be done preparatory to the intrenchments being thrown up, which could not be done before, lest the enemy should discover and defeat the design, it was nearly twelve o'clock before the works were entered upon. They were then carried on with the utmost diligence and alacrity ; so that by the dawn of day they had thrown up a small redoubt about eight rods square. At this time a heavy fire began from the enemy's ships, a number of floating batteries, and from a fortification of the enemy upon Copp's Hill, in Boston, directly opposite our little redoubt. An incessant shower of shot and bombs was rained by these upon our works. The Americans continued to labour indefatigably till they had thrown up a small breast-work, extending from the east side of the redoubt to the bottom of the hill, but were prevented completing it by the intolerable fire of the enemy.

Between twelve and one o'clock a number of boats and barges, filled with the regular troops from Boston, were observed approaching towards Charlestown ; these troops landed at a place called Moreton's Point, situated a little to the eastward of our works. This brigade formed upon their landing, and stood thus formed till a second detachment arrived from Boston to join them ; having sent out large flank guards, they began a very slow march towards our lines. Our troops, within their intrenchments, impatiently awaited the attack of the enemy, and reserved their fire till they came within ten or twelve rods, and then began a furious discharge

3-* iiO BATTLE OF BUNKER'S II I L L.

of small arms. This fire arrested the enemy, which they for some time returned, without advancing a step, and then retreated in disorder and with great precipitation to the place of landing, and some of them sought refuge even within their boats. Here the officers were observed by the spectators on the opposite shore, to run down to them, using the most passionate gestures, and pushing the men forward with their swords. At length they were rallied, and marched up, with apparent reluctance, towards the intrenchments. At this instant, smoke and flames were seen to arise from the town of Charlestown, wdiich had been set on fire by the enemy, that the smoke might cover their attack upon our lines, and perhaps with a design to rout or destroy one or two of our regiments who had been posted in that town. If either of these was their design, they were disappointed ; for the wind shifting on a sudden, carried the smoke another way, and the regiments were already removed. The Americans again reserved their fire until the enemy came within five or six rods, and a second time put the regulars to flight, who ran in great confusion towards their boats. Similar and superior exertions were now necessarily made by the officers, which, notwithstanding the men discovered an almost insuperable reluctance to fighting in this cause, were again successful. They formed once more, and having brought some cannon to bear in such a manner as to rake the inside of the breastwork from one end of it to the other, our troops retreated within their little fort. The ministerial army now made a decisive effort. The fire from the ships and batteries, as well as from the cannon in the front of their army, was redoubled. The officers in the rear of the army were observed to goad fi)rward the men with renewed exertions, and they attacked the redoubt on three sides at once. The breast-work on the outside of the fort was abandoned ; our ammunition was expended, and but few of our troops had bayonets to affix to their muskets. Can it then be wondered that the word was given by the commander of the party to retreat ? but this he delayed till the redoubt was half filled with regulars, and our