The continental5 Congress, which was assembled at Philadelphia, was composed of delegates from all the colonies. They had now appointed George Washington, of Virginia, to be commander-in-chief of all the American armies. He was, at that time, a member of Congress, but immediately left Philadelphia, and began his journey to Massachusetts. On the 3d of July, 1775, he arrived at Cambridge, and took command of the troops which were besieging8 General Gage9.
"O, Grandfather," exclaimed Laurence, "it makes my heart throb10 to think what is coming now. We are to see General Washington himself."
The children crowded around Grandfather, and looked earnestly into his face. Even little Alice opened her sweet blue eyes, with her lips apart, and almost held her breath to listen; so instinctive11 is the reverence12 of childhood for the father of his country. Grandfather paused a moment; for he felt as if it might be irreverent to introduce the hallowed shade of Washington into a history, where an ancient elbow chair occupied the most prominent place. However, he determined13 to proceed with his narrative14, and speak of the hero when it was needful, but with an unambitious simplicity15.
So Grandfather told his auditors16, that, on General Washington's arrival at Cambridge, his first care was, to reconnoitre the British troops with his spy-glass, and to examine the condition of his own army. He found that the American troops amounted to about fourteen thousand men. They were extended all round the peninsula of Boston, a space of twelve miles, from the high grounds of Roxbury on the right, to Mystic river on the left. Some were living in tents of sail-cloth, some in shanties17, rudely constructed of boards, some in huts of stone or turf, with curious windows and doors of basket-work.
In order to be near the centre, and oversee18 the whole of this wide-stretched army, the commander-in-chief made his head-quarters at Cambridge, about half a mile from the colleges. A mansion-house, which perhaps had been the country-seat of some tory gentleman, was provided for his residence.
"When General Washington first entered this mansion," said Grandfather, "he was ushered19 up the stair-case, and shown into a handsome apartment. He sat down in a large chair, which was the most conspicuous20 object in the room. The noble figure of Washington would have done honor to a throne. As he sat there, with his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed21 sword, which was placed between his knees, his whole aspect well befitted the chosen man on whom his country leaned for the defence of her dearest rights. America seemed safe, under his protection. His face was grander than any sculptor22 had ever wrought23 in marble; none could behold24 him without awe25 and reverence. Never before had the lion's head, at the summit of the chair, looked down upon such a face and form as Washington's!"
"Why! Grandfather," cried Clara, clasping her hands in amazement26, "was it really so? Did General Washington sit in our great chair?"
"I knew how it would be," said Laurence; "I foresaw it, the moment Grandfather began to speak."
Grandfather smiled. But, turning from the personal and domestic life of the illustrious leader, he spoke27 of the methods which Washington adopted to win back the metropolis28 of New England from the British.
The army, when he took command of it, was without any discipline or order. The privates considered themselves as good as their officers, and seldom thought it necessary to obey their commands, unless they understood the why and wherefore. Moreover, they were enlisted29 for so short a period, that, as soon as they began to be respectable soldiers, it was time to discharge them. Then came new recruits, who had to be taught their duty, before they could be of any service. Such was the army, with which Washington had to contend against more than twenty veteran British regiments30.
Some of the men had no muskets31, and almost all were without bayonets. Heavy cannon32, for battering33 the British fortifications, were much wanted. There was but a small quantity of powder and ball, few tools to build entrenchments with, and a great deficiency of provisions and clothes for the soldiers. Yet, in spite of these perplexing difficulties, the eyes of the whole people were fixed34 on General Washington, expecting him to undertake some great enterprise against the hostile army.
The first thing that he found necessary, was to bring his own men into better order and discipline. It is wonderful how soon he transformed this rough mob of country people into the semblance35 of a regular army. One of Washington's most invaluable36 characteristics, was the faculty37 of bringing order out of confusion. All business, with which he had any concern, seemed to regulate itself, as if by magic. The influence of his mind was like light, gleaming through an unshaped world. It was this faculty, more than any other, that made him so fit to ride upon the storm of the Revolution, when every thing was unfixed, and drifting about in a troubled sea.
"Washington had not been long at the head of the army," proceeded Grandfather, "before his soldiers thought as highly of him, as if he had led them to a hundred victories. They knew that he was the very man whom the country needed, and the only one who could bring them safely through the great contest against the might of England. They put entire confidence in his courage, wisdom, and integrity."
"And were not they eager to follow him against the British?" asked Charley.
"Doubtless they would have gone whithersoever his sword pointed6 the way," answered Grandfather; "and Washington was anxious to make a decisive assault upon the enemy. But as the enterprise was very hazardous38, he called a council of all the generals in the army. Accordingly, they came from their different posts, and were ushered into the reception room. The commander-in-chief arose from our great chair to greet them."
"What were their names?" asked Charley.
"There was General Artemas Ward," replied Grandfather, a "lawyer by profession. He had commanded the troops before Washington's arrival. Another was General Charles Lee, who had been a colonel in the English army, and was thought to possess vast military science. He came to the council, followed by two or three dogs, who were always at his heels. There was General Putnam, too, who was known all over New England by the name of Old Put."
"Was it he who killed the wolf?" inquired Charley.
"The same," said Grandfather; "and he had done good service in the Old French War. His occupation was that of a farmer; but he left his plough in the furrow39, at the news of Lexington battle. Then there was General Gates, who afterward40 gained great renown41 at Saratoga, and lost it again at Camden. General Greene, of Rhode Island, was likewise at the council. Washington soon discovered him to be one of the best officers in the army."
When the Generals were all assembled, Washington consulted them about a plan for storming the English batteries. But it was their unanimous opinion that so perilous42 an enterprise ought not to be attempted. The army, therefore, continued to besiege43 Boston, preventing the enemy from obtaining supplies of provisions, but without taking any immediate7 measures to get possession of the town. In this manner, the summer, autumn, and winter passed away.
"Many a night, doubtless," said Grandfather, "after Washington had been all day on horseback, galloping44 from one post of the army to another, he used to sit in our great chair, wrapt in earnest thought. Had you seen him, you might have supposed that his whole mind was fixed on the blue china tiles, which adorned45 the old fashioned fire-place. But, in reality, he was meditating46 how to capture the British army, or drive it out of Boston. Once, when there was a hard frost, he formed a scheme to cross the Charles River on the ice. But the other Generals could not be persuaded that there was any prospect47 of success."
"What were the British doing, all this time?" inquired Charley.
"They lay idle in the town," replied Grandfather. "General Gage had been recalled to England, and was succeeded by Sir William Howe. The British army, and the inhabitants of Boston, were now in great distress48. Being shut up in the town so long, they had consumed almost all their provisions, and burnt up all their fuel. The soldiers tore down the Old North church, and used its rotten boards and timbers for fire-wood. To heighten their distress, the small pox broke out. They probably lost far more men by cold, hunger, and sickness, than had been slain49 at Lexington and Bunker Hill."
"At length," continued Grandfather, "in March, 1776, General Washington, who had now a good supply of powder, began a terrible cannonade and bombardment from Dorchester heights. One of the cannon balls which he fired into the town, struck the tower of the Brattle Street church, where it may still be seen. Sir William Howe made preparations to cross over in boats, and drive the Americans from their batteries, but was prevented by a violent gale51 and storm. General Washington next erected52 a battery on Nook's hill, so near the enemy, that it was impossible for them to remain in Boston any longer."
"Hurra! Hurra!" cried Charley, clapping his hands triumphantly53. "I wish I had been there, to see how sheepish the Englishmen looked."
And, as Grandfather thought that Boston had never witnessed a more interesting period than this, when the royal power was in its death agony, he determined to take a peep into the town, and imagine the feelings of those who were quitting it forever.
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1
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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17
shanties
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| n.简陋的小木屋( shanty的名词复数 )；铁皮棚屋；船工号子；船歌 | |
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oversee
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| vt.监督，管理 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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39
furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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43
besiege
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| vt.包围，围攻，拥在...周围 | |
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44
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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45
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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46
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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48
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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49
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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50
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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51
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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52
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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53
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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