tered resolution and sought to disperse his enemies when they were in a state of disorder and deficiency of ammunition that insured his certain success. As it was, he was now most ignominiously cooped up, and in hourly jeopardy of being shelled out of the place. He had obtained the permission of his government for this movement, and he now set about it in earnest. When, however, he came to embark, another example was given of that shameful neglect which pervaded the whole of the British civil department of the military service, at that day, and which has continued to our day. When the transports were examined, they were found totally destitute of provisions and forage. "Never," says one of the officers, "were troops in so disgraceful a condition, owing entirely to Great Britain being fast asleep!"
PLAN OF THE BLOCKADE OF BOSTON.
No direct compact was entered into betwixt Howe and Washington regarding the evacuation; but an indirect communication and understanding on the subject was entered into—through the "Select Men" of Boston—that no injury should be done to the town during it, provided the troops were unmolested in embarking. Before departing, however, the English totally dismantled and partly demolished Castle William. On the 17th, the last of the British troops were on board; and that afternoon Boston was entered in triumph by general Putnam, at the head of the vanguard. About two thousand of the royalist inhabitants fled with the English army. Many of these unfortunate people abandoned large properties and depended entirely on the rations allowed them from the army stores, rather than trust to the tender mercies of their countrymen. The departing fleet of one hundred and fifty sail lay for ten days in Nantasket Roads. Washington entered the town in triumph the day after the entry of Putnam, and was received with every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants, thus released from an irksome restraint, whilst the prominent republicans, who had fled into the country, now flocked in again, and took possession of their homes and employments. Washington did not feel secure till he saw the British fleet under sail, for he seems by his letters to have but little faith at this time in the men of Massachusetts. He wrote—"I am taking every precaution I can to guard against the evil; but we have a kind of people to deal with who will not fear danger till the bayonet is at their throats, and then they are susceptible enough of it."
Howe, who, with seven thousand soldiers and more than one thousand sailors, did not feel himself safe at New York till the new reinforcements should arrive, sailed away to Halifax—a circumstance which gave the appearance of a retreat to his change of location, and had thus a bad effect in more ways than one. Washington, who was informed of his final destination, immediately marched with the greater part of his army to New York, and thence went himself to Philadelphia to concert future measures with the congress. This body, in commemoration of the surrender of Boston, ordered a medal to be struck in honour of it, and that it should bear the effigy of Washington, with the title of the assertor of the liberties of his country. The medal was cast in France.
Whilst general Howe was making for Halifax, some of the reinforcements from England arrived at Boston. To add to the miserable series of blunders committed by the British generals there, Howe had left no cruisers in the bay to warn English vessels approaching that the town was now in American hands. The consequences were—as might have been expected—disastrous. Scarcely was Howe's fleet out of sight when several store ships sailed right into the harbour, and fell into the hands of Washington. One of
