Part 6 (1/2)
By this point it was self-evident that Martha Washi+ngton would spend extended periods with her husband and ton could not advocate inoculation if his oife shrank from it After the liberation of Boston, Martha had refrained fro the city to celebrate with officers' wives who enjoyed iainst ston remembered how anxious she hen Jacky was inoculated in 1771; he doubted she would now e Nevertheless, when they reached Philadelphia, Martha conquered her fears and submitted to the procedure She came doith a fever and developed only a dozen pustules (none on her face), spending several weeks in quarantine On June 10 Jacky Custis, in Maryland with his wife, wrote an appreciative note to Washi+ngton about his mother's successful recovery He used the occasion to express gratitude for everything his legal guardian had done, thanking him for the ”parental care which on all occasions you have shown hty to deprive me at a very early period of life of oodness in sending uardian as you Sir Few have experienc[e]d such care and attention from real parents as I have done He best deserves the name of father who acts the part of one”46 It was an eloquent, well-deserved tribute for the often-thankless care that Washi+ngton had given to his stepson It was an eloquent, well-deserved tribute for the often-thankless care that Washi+ngton had given to his stepson
WITH MANY LOYALISTS scattered across the city, a e existed in New York than in Boston, where the patriots and British had been widely separated With thousands of troops cooped up in southern Manhattan in a tense atorous hunt was launched in early June for Tories who allegedly supplied British warshi+ps off Sandy Hook and spied on patriots On June 17 the New York Provincial Congress received a shocking report from a Loyalist naes While held at City Hall, Ketchuuard, Tho charges, as being in league with the British to sabotage the Continental Ar, the two men had contended that when British warshi+ps anchored in the harbor, Williaovernor, would distribute royal pardons to defectors Lynch and Hickey also referred darkly to ”riflemen on Staten Island” and ”Cape Cod men” ere supposed confederates in the plot
As the probe widened, investigators learned that a gunsned to pay off turncoats to the British side and that Forbes was being supplied with money by David Mathews, New York's ton moved swiftly and had Mathews arrested at one o'clock in the , Mathews admitted that Governor Tryon had ”put a bundle of paper money into his hands” and asked him to convey it to Forbes to purchase rifles and muskets Only after the war did Mathews add the sensational disclosure that ”he had foruard prisoners”47 Mathews named Thomas Hickey, a swarthy, brazen fellow, as a henchton believed that the conspiracy originated with Tryon, who had employed Mathews as his cat's-paw A dozen arrests occurred as ruh town that the commander in chief had refused to eat a plate of poisoned peas that had subsequently killed some chickens Mathews named Thomas Hickey, a swarthy, brazen fellow, as a henchton believed that the conspiracy originated with Tryon, who had employed Mathews as his cat's-paw A dozen arrests occurred as ruh town that the commander in chief had refused to eat a plate of poisoned peas that had subsequently killed some chickens
News of the plot unleashed a wave of fierce reprisals against New York Tories; some of them were tarred and feathered, and others were subjected to the torture of ”riding the rail” Once the angry atan, the plot took on more modest proportions The conspirators had planned to spike patriot guns when the British fleet arrived, in return for pardons and bonuses One witness testified that seven hundred patriots had promised to defect In his testiton: no fewer than eight uard foruilty of sedition andany chances, Washi+ngton deployed 140 uard him and other prisoners at City Hall
The entire conspiracy had the unintended effect of rallying support for Washi+ngton, whose life had been in jeopardy But he didn't want to exaggerate the plot, whichit to John Hancock, he said it had been concocted by the guilty parties ”for aiding the King's troops upon their arrival No regular plan seeested, but several persons have been enlisted and sworn to join them”48 He also believed that 200 to 250 Loyalist conspirators were hiding in the Long Island woods and swaht to intercept anyone trying to flee to British-controlled Staten Island He also believed that 200 to 250 Loyalist conspirators were hiding in the Long Island woods and swaht to intercept anyone trying to flee to British-controlled Staten Island
Mayor Mathews and several others were packed off to Connecticut to serve jail time-a lenient sentence for a treasonous plot-and either escaped or were let go without a trial Washi+ngton decided to ade to witness his hanging at eleven AM on June 28, 1776 The galloere erected in a field near the Bowery, and twenty thousand spectators-virtually the entire New York population-turned out to watch Hickey waived his right to a chaplain, calling the-eneral orders for the day, Washi+ngton drew a rather bizarre lesson fro to every soldier in the arraceful to the character of a soldier and pernicious to his country, whose pay he receives and bread he eats”50 The next sentence gave a strange twist to the whole affair ”And in order to avoid those crimes, the most certain method is to keep out of the temptation of the confession of this poor criminal, first led hinoe twist to the whole affair ”And in order to avoid those crimes, the most certain method is to keep out of the temptation of the confession of this poor criminal, first led hinominious death”51 This coda, with its sternly puritanical lesson, shows that Washi+ngton may have been more worried about health hazards posed by the Holy Ground than by treasonous plots This coda, with its sternly puritanical lesson, shows that Washi+ngton may have been more worried about health hazards posed by the Holy Ground than by treasonous plots
CHAPTER TWENTY
All London Afloat BY THE SUMMER OF 1776 the British were convinced that they would make quick work of the rebel forces and took coadocio-always a poor substitute for analysis-grew fashi+onable in official circles in London At the start of the year, Lord Rawdon assured the Earl of Huntingdon that ”we shall soon have done with these scoundrels, for one only dirties one's fingers by ine they can possibly last out beyond this can”1 Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, reacted contemptuously to the notion that the sheer number of colonists could overpower royal forces ”Suppose the colonies do abound in nify? They are raw, undisciplined, cowardly men” Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, reacted contemptuously to the notion that the sheer number of colonists could overpower royal forces ”Suppose the colonies do abound in nify? They are raw, undisciplined, cowardly e Germain, secretary for the American colonies, cherished the hope that all that was needed was a ”decisive blow” George Germain, secretary for the American colonies, cherished the hope that all that was needed was a ”decisive blow”3 What was required was a show of force so huge and terrifying that the deluded colonists would treht of the British Ee and terrifying that the deluded colonists would treht of the British Empire
While Great Britain did have a respectable army, it paled beside those of France, Austria, and Prussia It was the Royal Navy that was peerless in Europe, and New York Harbor was a big enough basin to absorb this giant fleet Awaiting these shi+ps, Washi+ngton had hiswith their arms and ”ready to turn out at a minute's notice”4 On June 29 patriotic sentries stationed on Staten Island signaled to Washi+ngton that forty British shi+ps, the first installment of the fleet, had been spotted off Sandy Hook and would soon glide h the Narrows The news touched off hysterical activity in Manhattan Writing in rapid, telegraphic style, Henry Knox infor, the troops repairing to their posts, and everything in the height of bustle” On June 29 patriotic sentries stationed on Staten Island signaled to Washi+ngton that forty British shi+ps, the first installment of the fleet, had been spotted off Sandy Hook and would soon glide h the Narrows The news touched off hysterical activity in Manhattan Writing in rapid, telegraphic style, Henry Knox infor, the troops repairing to their posts, and everything in the height of bustle”5 Washi+ngton had decided toto hold New York In fairness, it h priority to retaining the city A day earlier Washi+ngton had issued an urgent summons to Massachusetts and Connecticut to dispatch militia posthaste to the city, and he now accelerated preparations for an is everywhere Faced with incessant work, the tireless Washi+ngton noted that he was ”eain”6 Prompted by fear, a tre paths with an influx of militia ”On the one hand,” wrote the Reverend Ewald Shewkirk, ”everyone that could was packing up and getting away; and on the other hand country soldiers fro places came in from all sides” Prompted by fear, a tre paths with an influx of militia ”On the one hand,” wrote the Reverend Ewald Shewkirk, ”everyone that could was packing up and getting away; and on the other hand country soldiers fro the parlous state of things, Washi+ngton exiled Martha to the comparative safety of Philadelphia To make their separation tolerable, she asked Charles Willson Peale to execute a miniature watercolor of her husband clad in his blue unifors, Washi+ngton exiled Martha to the comparative safety of Philadelphia To make their separation tolerable, she asked Charles Willson Peale to execute a miniature watercolor of her husband clad in his blue uniforold epaulettes
Until reinforceton oefully shorthanded He had fewer than 9,000 men, with 2,000 too sick to enter combat Meanwhile, he steeled himself for the advent of 17,000 Gerantic expeditionary force-the largest of the eighteenth century-that ht total 30,000 soldiers When this first wave of shi+ps grew visible from Manhattan, an arht was impressive, almost dreamlike, to behold ”I could not believeat the panoply of British power ”Keeping e you of my surprise when, in about tenI declare that I thought all London was afloat”8 These were the same shi+ps that had evacuated Boston in March andsouth to New York Fortunately for Washi+ngton, this advance guard under Major General Williae, decided not to force the issue So Island, and newly arrived British soldiers camped on Staten Island, but no offensive actionhis tiland under the command of his brother Richard, Adeneral orders for July 2, Washi+ngton tried to rouse his untriedthethe runts, but as actors on the stage of history ”The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be free men or slavesThe fate of unborn eof this ar incident occurred when five British h the Narrows and see this threat, the Continental Army reacted with notable esprit de corps Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb wrote in his diary that ”never did I see men more cheerful They see an alar incident occurred when five British h the Narrows and see this threat, the Continental Army reacted with notable esprit de corps Colonel Samuel Blachley Webb wrote in his diary that ”never did I see men more cheerful They seem to wish the eneton was encouraged by this spirited response, telling Hancock that ”if the enemy reeable spirit and willingness for action seem to animatethe whole of our troops” Despite his uneasiness, Washi+ngton was encouraged by this spirited response, telling Hancock that ”if the enemy reeable spirit and willingness for action seem to animatethe whole of our troops”11 In the end the British shi+ps approached no closer, and Washi+ngton concluded that General Howe had deferred action until his brother's arrival Thus far Washi+ngton had coing in a single battle, but he kneould shortly experience his first decisive test In the end the British shi+ps approached no closer, and Washi+ngton concluded that General Howe had deferred action until his brother's arrival Thus far Washi+ngton had coing in a single battle, but he kneould shortly experience his first decisive test
AN UNWAVERING ADVOCATE of independence, Washi+ngton thought his compatriots would eventually come to share his belief ”My countryovernment and steady attachment heretofore to royalty, will come reluctantly into the idea of independency,” he wrote that spring ”But tis to pass”12 In May, to his delight, the Virginia Convention in Williahbor at Gunston Hall, George Mason, drew up an eloquent Declaration of Rights that featured the lines ”That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural rightsa which are the enjoy and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety” In May, to his delight, the Virginia Convention in Williahbor at Gunston Hall, George Mason, drew up an eloquent Declaration of Rights that featured the lines ”That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural rightsa which are the enjoy and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety”13 Thomas Jefferson would prune and shape these words to fainian, Richard Henry Lee, introduced a congressional resolution on June 7 declaring ”that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states” Thomas Jefferson would prune and shape these words to fainian, Richard Henry Lee, introduced a congressional resolution on June 7 declaring ”that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states”14 On July 2 Congress approved Lee's resolution, then spent the next two days haggling over the precise wording of the Declaration of Independence The final text was approved on July 4 Congress had two hundred broadsides printed up and disseress approved Lee's resolution, then spent the next two days haggling over the precise wording of the Declaration of Independence The final text was approved on July 4 Congress had two hundred broadsides printed up and dissehout the colonies
On July 6 Hancock sent Washi+ngton a copy and asked him to have it read aloud to his army The Declaration made the rebels' treason official and reoverne had handed down this grisly sentence to Irish revolutionaries: ”You are to be drawn on hurdles to the place of execution, where you are to be hanged by the neck, but not until you are dead, for while you are still living your bodies are to be taken down, your bowels torn out and burned before your faces, your heads then cut off, and your bodies divided each into four quarters ”15 The British proved ton knew that treason was a capital cri a vivid ht ”with halters about their necks” The British proved ton knew that treason was a capital cri a vivid ht ”with halters about their necks”16 In the event of defeat, Washi+ngton knew, he would be hanged as the chief culprit; he decided that he would ”neither ask for nor expect any favor froracious Majesty” In the event of defeat, Washi+ngton knew, he would be hanged as the chief culprit; he decided that he would ”neither ask for nor expect any favor froracious Majesty”17 He contrived a plan to flee, if necessary, to lands he owned in the Ohio Country, telling Burwell Bassett that ”in the worst event, they will serve for an asylum” He contrived a plan to flee, if necessary, to lands he owned in the Ohio Country, telling Burwell Bassett that ”in the worst event, they will serve for an asyluton held in his hands a broadside of the Declaration of Independence for the first tiather on the coeneral orders for July 9, he previewed its contents by noting that Congress had declared ”the United Colonies of North America” to be ”free and independent states”19 Lest this sound abstract, he underscored the practical significance for the average soldier, pointing out that each was ”now in the service of a state possessed of sufficient power to reward his hest honors of a free country” Lest this sound abstract, he underscored the practical significance for the average soldier, pointing out that each was ”now in the service of a state possessed of sufficient power to reward his hest honors of a free country”20 Aress could now coin s, Congress could now coin money and devise other lucrative incentives
The troops rejoiced upon hearing the docuade,” wrote Samuel Blachley Webb, ”and was received with three huzzas by the troops”21 Washi+ngton was gratified by the ”hearty assent” of his men and their ”warratified by the ”hearty assent” of his men and their ”warmest approbation” of independence22 News of the Declaration elicited snide rebukes frohlight ”the villainy and the madness of these deluded people” News of the Declaration elicited snide rebukes frohlight ”the villainy and theof the document led to such uproarious enthusiasm that soldiers sprinted down Broadway afterward and committed an act of vandalis Green, decapitating it, then parading the head around town to the lilting beat of fifes and drums The patriots ilded lead in the statue, which were ton was appalled by the disorder Ever the strict parent, he told his h spirits, their behavior had ”so much the appearance of riot and want of order in the ared that in future they should be left to the ”proper authority”24 His reproach ton wanted this revolution to be an orderly one, with due respect for property, and he refused to abide even the desecration of the king's statue He sounded rejuvenated by the Declaration, writing defiantly to Hancock on July 10 that should the British h hter before they can carry any part of our works” His reproach ton wanted this revolution to be an orderly one, with due respect for property, and he refused to abide even the desecration of the king's statue He sounded rejuvenated by the Declaration, writing defiantly to Hancock on July 10 that should the British h hter before they can carry any part of our works”25 Such bravado proved premature On the afternoon of July 12, propelled by a stiff breeze and a powerful tide, five British shi+ps-the forty-gun Phoenix Phoenix and the twenty-gun and the twenty-gun Rose, Rose, along with a schooner and two tenders-sailed toward the Battery In their first test, American defenses failed uns, and hundreds of gaping soldiers stood onshore transfixed by the eneatta It was an on for the still-amateurish Continental Army Six patriots were killed in an artillery company under Captain Alexander Hamilton when their cannon exploded, possibly frounners along with a schooner and two tenders-sailed toward the Battery In their first test, American defenses failed uns, and hundreds of gaping soldiers stood onshore transfixed by the eneatta It was an on for the still-amateurish Continental Army Six patriots were killed in an artillery company under Captain Alexander Hamilton when their cannon exploded, possibly frounners