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subsequent occasion, when pleading in favor of a speedy declaration of American Independence."

From Hanna's Glory of Columbia. "On the 14th of June, 1775," Colonel George Washington "was unanimously chosen general, and commander-in-chief of the armies of the united colonies, and all the forces now raised, or to be raised by them."*

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The following account of the appointment of General Washington to the supreme command of the continental army, June 14th, 1775, has been placed in our hands by a gentleman in whose veracity we have full confidence. We cannot doubt the authenticity of the anecdotes he gives. This subject has of late years been brought before the public under various versions, and has in every shape attracted attention. The private journal is narrating a conversation with John Adams, senior, before that great and good man was called to his final rest. The relation

is more in detail than that which has hitherto been made public, but it substantially corroborates the former versions of the causes which led to the appointment of Washington. Lest we should in any way affect the anecdote, we give it in the words of the narrator.

The army was assembled at Cambridge, Mass., under Gen. Ward, and Congress was sitting at Philadelphia. Every day, new applications in behalf of the army arrived. The country was urgent that Congress should legalize the raising of the army; as they had, what must be considered, only a mob, a band of armed rebels.— The country was placed in circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger. The struggle had begun, and yet every thing was without order. The great trial now seemed to be in this question-Who shall be the commander-in-chief? It was exceedingly important, and was felt to be the hinge on which the contest might turn for or against us.

*See Marshall's life of Washington.

The Southern and Middle States, warm and rapid in their zeal for the most part, were jealous of New England, because they felt the real physical force was here; what then was to be done? All New England adored Gen. Ward: he had been in the French war, and went out laden with laurels. He was a scholar and a statesman. Every qualification seemed to cluster in him; and it was confidently believed that the army could not receive any appointment over him. What then was to be done? Difficulties thickened at every step. The struggle was to be long and bloody. Without union, all was lost. The country and the whole country must come in. One pulsation must beat through all hearts. The cause was one, and the army must be one. The members had talked, debated, considered and guessed, and yet the decisive step had not been taken. At length Mr. Adams came to his conclusion. The means of resolving it were somewhat singular, and nearly as follows: he was walking one morning before Congress hall, apparently in deep thought, when his cousin, Samuel Adams, came up to him and said—

"What is the topic with you this morning?"

"Oh the army," he replied. "I'm determined to go into the hall this morning, and enter on a full detail of the colonies, in order to show an absolute need of taking some decisive step. My whole aim will be to induce Congress to appoint a day for adopting the army as the legal army of these united colonies of North America and then to hint an election of a Commander-in-Chief.'

'Well,' said Samuel Adams, 'I like that, cousin John; but on whom have you fixed as that Commander?'

'I will tell you-George Washington, of Virginia, a member of this house.'

'O,' replied Samuel Adams quickly, 'that will never do, never.'

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It must do, it shall do,' said John, and for these reasons-the Southern and Middle States are about to enter heartily in the cause; and their arguments are potent! they say that New England holds the physical

power in their hands, and they fear the result. A New England army, a New England commander, New England perseverance all united, appal them. For this cause they hang back. Now the only course is to allay their fears, and give them nothing to complain of; and this can be done in no other way but by appointing a Southern chief over this force, and then all will rush to the standard. This policy will bind us in one mass, and that mass will be resistless."

At this, Samuel Adams seemed greatly moved. They talked over the preliminary circumstances, and John asked his cousin to second the motion. Mr. Adams went in, took the floor, and put forth all his strength, in the delineation he had prepared, all aiming at the adoption of the army. He was ready to own the army, appoint a commander, vote supplies, and proceed to business. After his speech had been finished, some doubted, some objected, and some feared. His warmth increased with the occasion, and to all these doubts and hesitations he replied

army

Gentlemen, if this Congress will not adopt this before ten moons have set, New England will adopt it, and she will undertake the struggle alone-yes, with a strong arm, and a clean conscience, she will front the foe single handed.'

This had the desired effect. They saw New England was neither playing, nor to be played with. They agreed to appoint a day. A day was fixed. It came. Mr. Adams went in, took the floor, argued the measure, and after some debate, it passed.

The next thing was to get a commander for his army, with supplies, &c. All looked to Mr. Adams on the occasion, and he was ready. He took the floor, and went into a minute delineation of the character of General Ward, bestowing on him the encomiums which then belonged to no one else. At the end of the eulogy he said, 'But this is not the man I have chosen.' He then went into the delineation of the character of a Commanderin-Chief, such as was required by the peculiar situation

of the Colonies at this juncture. And after he had presented the qualifications in his strongest language, and gave the reasons for the nomination he was about to make, he said

'Gentlemen, I know these qualifications are high, but we all know they are needful at this crisis in this chief. Does any one say they are not to be obtained in this country? In reply I have to say they are; reside in one of our own body, and he is the person whom I now nominate

GEORGE WASHINGTON, OF VIRGINIA.'

Washington, who sat on Mr. Adams' right hand, was looking him intently in the face, to watch the name he was about to announce, and not expecting it would be his, sprang from his seat the minute he heard it, and rushed into an adjoining room. Mr. Adams had asked his cousin Samuel to ask for an adjournment as soon as the nomination was made, in order to give the members time to deliberate, and the result is before the world..

I asked Mr. Adams, among other questions, the following:

'Did you ever doubt of the success of the conflict?? 'No, no,' said he, 'not for a moment. I expected to be hung and quartered, if I was caught; but no matter for that my country would be free; I knew George III. could not forge chains long enough and strong enough to reach round these United States."

"Our Eagle shall rise, 'mid the whirlwinds of war,
And dart through the dim cloud of battle; his eye
Shall spread his wide wings o'er the tempest afar,
O'er spirits of valor that conquer or die.

And ne'er shall the rage of the conflict be o'er,

And ne'er shall the warm blood of life cease to flow,
And still 'mid the smoke of the battle shall soar

Our Eagle-till scattered and fled be the foe.

When peace shall disarm war's dark brow of its frown,
And roses shall bloom on the soldier's rude grave,

Then honor shall weave of laurel a crown

That beauty shall bind on the brow of the brave."

"Washington being specially commissioned by Congress, a resolution was unanimously adopted in that body pledging itself to maintain and adhere to him, throughout in the new relation in which he then stood, relative to the forces then raised or that might afterwards be raised for the expulsion of the British from their soil, or necessary to maintain, preserve and perpetuate the liberties. of the "United Colonies." As a backing of this admirable pledge, they also pledged "their lives and their for

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Washington lost no time in making preparation for entering upon a discharge of the "arduous duties" of the weighty, and important trust conferred upon him by the continental Congress. He hastened to Cambridge, in Massachusetts, the then Head Quarters of the colonial

army.

The colonial troops, a thousand strong, were lead "on the evening of the 16th of June, to Breed's instead of Bunker's Hill. Colonels Stark and Preston, accompanied by Captain Knowlton were the conductors of this detachment-encouraged by the repeated presence and aid of that gallant old officer General Putnam, they succeeded in fortifying themselves behind entrenchments, which they threw up by the break of day. "A ship of war and seyeral floating batteries lying near" aided by a fortification, which had been erected on Copp's Hill at Boston-began to pour their fires upon them, which, instead of intimidating them or causing them to desist therefrom, only served to redouble their exertions. This, with the addition of 500 men as a reinforcement, gave to them quite a formidable appearance.

This bold and unprecedented step of the colonial troops, not only astonished and terrified their invaders, but encouraged them so much that Governor Gage, immediately set him about to devise means by which he could dislodge them from so strong a position.

Towards noon, the British commander detached a body of upwards of 3000 grenadiers and light infantry, under Generals Howe and Pigot which were immediately

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