Chapter 23

(THE YEAR 1775 AND BEGINNING OF 1776.)

AN EVENTFUL YEAR; PREPARATION IN ENGLAND TO REDUCE COLONISTS TO ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION; SELF-ASSERTED AUTHORITY OF PARLIAMENT. 459-478

Oppressive Acts of Parliament enumerated, with the measures of employing foreign soldiers, Indians, and slaves; and all with the express sanction of the King, and while Colonists professed loyalty, and asked for nothing but the redress of grievances and restoration of rights which they had heretofore enjoyed 459

The loyalty and effective services of the Colonists in the English and French war, and the experience and skill they thereby acquired in military affairs; their superiority as marksmen 460

They desire to provide for their own defence, and for the support of their own civil government, as aforetime, and as is done in the provinces of the Canadian Dominion, but this is opposed by the King and his ministers 460

General Gage (Governor of Massachusetts, and Commander-in-Chief of the British in America) commences the first attack upon the Colonists, by ordering soldiers at night to seize Colonial arms and ammunition; sends 800 soldiers to Concord for that purpose; driven back to Lexington with heavy loss; loss of the Colonists 460

The affair of Concord and Lexington followed by the Battle of Bunker's Hill; numbers engaged on both sides 460

In the Battle of Bunker's Hill, as well as the previous conflicts, the first shot was fired by the British soldiers upon the Colonists, who, by order and policy, acted strictly on the defensive 461

English account of the Battle of Bunker's Hill, by the royal historian, Dr. Andrews (in a note) 461

Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, about the same time, committed outrages upon the inhabitants of Virginia similar to those which General Gage committed upon the people of Massachusetts 462

Traditional and deep loyalty of the Virginians, and their aversion to revolution, but resolved to defend their rights 464

Lord Dunmore (by order of the Secretary of State) assembles the Burgesses of Virginia, to deliberate and decide upon Lord North's so-called "conciliatory proposition" to the Colonies; the proposition rejected; Mr. Jefferson's report upon, quoted; an admirable document, eulogized in the strongest terms by the Earl of Shelburne; how viewed by the French Foreign Minister, Vergennes (in a note) 464

Lord Dunmore issues a proclamation to free the slaves; on the night of the 20th of April sends a body of marines to seize and carry off a quantity of gunpowder, belonging to the Colony, stored in a magazine at Williamsburg; excitement of the inhabitants, and their demand for the restoration of the powder; Lord Dunmore threatens, but is at length compelled to return the value of the powder 465

Lord Dunmore's threat to free the slaves, and letter to the Secretary of State, as to how, with aid "of a small body of troops and arms," he could raise an ample force "among the Indians and negroes and other persons" 466

Horror and alarm in the South at Lord Dunmore's threat to free the slaves, and preparation for resistance (in a note) 466

Lord Dunmore (moved by his fears) leaves the Government House, and goes on board of a ship of war at Norfolk, almost twelve miles from Williamsburg, the seat of government 466

The House of Burgesses remonstrate with Lord Dumnore for leaving the seat of government; entreat him to return, and assure him and his family of perfect safety; but he refuses, seizes a private printing establishment and two printers, and issues proclamations and attempts to govern from a ship of war 467

Lord Dunmore commands the water by a small flotilla of war vessels, and frequently landed forces to seize arms, &c.; attempt to destroy the town of Hampton; is repelled by the inhabitants, and volunteer rifle companies come to their aid; the first battle in Virginia; its success with the Virginians 467

Account of this affair, and of Lord Dunmore's policy, by the _English Annual Register_ (in a note) 468

In consequence of Lord Dunmore's failure against the town of Hampton, he issues a proclamation from on board the war ship _William_, off Norfolk, declaring martial law throughout the Colony, "requiring all persons capable of bearing arms to repair to His Maiesty's standard, or be considered as _traitors_;" and declaring all indentured servants, negroes and others, appertaining to _rebels_, who were able and willing to bear arms, and who joined His Majesty's forces, to be free 468

Remarks of the _English Annual Register_ on this abominable proclamation. 469

Lord Dunmore's conduct unlawful, as well as unjust and inhuman 470

The men on Lord Dunmore's fleet distressed for want of provisions, which the inhabitants on land refused to supply: in consequence of which the town of Norfolk (the first commercial town in Virginia) is reduced to ashes 471

Account of this barbarous transaction by the _English Annual Register_ and Mr. Bancroft (in a note); remarks upon, by the English and American press; effect of its announcement upon the mind of Washington 472

The conduct and situation of the Governors of South and North Carolina similar to that of Lord Dunmore in Virginia (in a note) 472

The loyal Churchmen of Virginia, and the loyal Presbyterians of the two Carolinas, receive the same treatment from Dunmore, Campbell, and Martin, as the "republican" Congregationalists did from General Gage 473

Each of the three Southern Governors betook themselves to ships; all the Colonists treated with like severity 473

The King's speech at the meeting of Parliament, October 26th, 1775, and discussion upon it 474