CONTENTS

[CHAPTER I
THE BEGINNINGS]
PAGE
Relations between the American colonies and the British government in the first half of the eighteenth century[1]
The Lords of Trade [2]
The governors’ salaries [3]
Sir Robert Walpole [4]
Views of the Lords of Trade as to the need for a union of the colonies[5]
Weakness of the sentiment of union [6]
The Albany Congress [6]
Franklin’s plan for a federal union (1754) [7, 8]
Rejection of Franklin’s plan [9]
Shirley recommends a stamp act [10]
The writs of assistance [11]
The chief justice of New York [12]
Otis’s “Vindication” [13]
Expenses of the French War [14]
Grenville’s resolves [15]
Reply of the colonies [16]
Passage of the Stamp Act [17]
Patrick Henry and the Parsons’ Cause [18]
Resolutions of Virginia concerning the Stamp Act [19, 20]
The Stamp Act Congress [20-22]
Declaration of the Massachusetts assembly [22]
Resistance to the Stamp Act in Boston [23]
And in New York [24]
Debate in the House of Commons [25, 26]
Repeal of the Stamp Act [26, 27]
The Duke of Grafton’s ministry [28]
Charles Townshend and his revenue acts [29-31]
Attack upon the New York assembly [32]
Parliament did not properly represent the British people[32, 33]
Difficulty of the problem [34]
Representation of Americans in Parliament [35]
Mr. Gladstone and the Boers [36]
Death of Townshend [37]
His political legacy to George III. [37]
Character of George III. [38, 39]
English parties between 1760 and 1784 [40, 41]
George III. as a politician [42]
His chief reason for quarrelling with the Americans[42, 43]
[CHAPTER II
THE CRISIS]
Character of Lord North [44]
John Dickinson and the “Farmer’s Letters”[45]
The Massachusetts circular letter [46, 47]
Lord Hillsborough’s instructions to Bernard[48]
The “Illustrious Ninety-Two” [48]
Impressment of citizens [49]
Affair of the sloop Liberty [49-51]
Statute of Henry VIII. concerning “treason committed abroad”[52]
Samuel Adams makes up his mind (1768) [53-56]
Arrival of troops in Boston [56, 57]
Letters of “Vindex” [58]
Debate in Parliament [59, 60]
All the Townshend acts, except the one imposing a duty upon tea, to be repealed[61]
Recall of Governor Bernard [61]
Character of Thomas Hutchinson [62]
Resolutions of Virginia concerning the Townshend acts[63]
Conduct of the troops in Boston [64]
Assault on James Otis [64]
The “Boston Massacre” [65-68]
Some of its lessons [69-72]
Lord North becomes prime minister [72]
Action of the New York merchants [73]
Assemblies convened in strange places [74]
Taxes in Maryland [74]
The “Regulators” in North Carolina [74]
Affair of the schooner Gaspee [75, 76]
The salaries of the Massachusetts judges [76]
Jonathan Mayhew’s suggestion (1766) [77]
The committees of correspondence in Massachusetts[78]
Intercolonial committees of correspondence [79]
Revival of the question of taxation [80]
The king’s ingenious scheme for tricking the Americans into buying the East India Company’s tea[81]
How Boston became the battle-ground [82]
Advice solemnly sought and given by the Massachusetts towns[82-84]
Arrival of the tea; meeting at the Old South [84, 85]
The tea-ships placed under guard [85]
Rotch’s dilatory manœuvres [86]
Great town meeting at the Old South [87, 88]
The tea thrown into the harbour [88, 89]
Moral grandeur of the scene [90, 91]
How Parliament received the news [91-93]
The Boston Port Bill [93]
The Regulating Act [93-95]
Act relating to the shooting of citizens [96]
The quartering of troops in towns [96]
The Quebec Act [96]
General Gage sent to Boston [97, 98]
[CHAPTER III
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS]
Protest of the Whig Lords [99]
Belief that the Americans would not fight [100]
Belief that Massachusetts would not be supported by the other colonies[101]
News of the Port Bill [101, 102]
Samuel Adams at Salem [103, 104]
Massachusetts nullifies the Regulating Act [105]
John Hancock and Joseph Warren [106, 107]
The Suffolk County Resolves [108]
Provincial Congress in Massachusetts [109]
First meeting of the Continental Congress (September 5, 1774)[110, 111]
Debates in Parliament [112, 113]
William Howe appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in America[113]
Richard, Lord Howe, appointed admiral of the fleet[114]
Franklin returns to America [115]
State of feeling in the middle colonies [116]
Lord North’s mistaken hopes of securing New York[117]
Affairs in Massachusetts [101]
Dr. Warren’s oration at the Old South [119]
Attempt to corrupt Samuel Adams [120]
Orders to arrest Adams and Hancock [121]
Paul Revere’s ride [122, 123]
Pitcairn fires upon the yeomanry at Lexington [124, 125]
The troops repulsed at Concord; their dangerous situation[126, 127]
The retreating troops rescued by Lord Percy [128]
Retreat continued from Lexington to Charlestown [129]
Rising of the country; the British besieged in Boston[130]
Effects of the news in England and in America [130-133]
Mecklenburg County Resolves [133]
Legend of the Mecklenburg “Declaration of Independence”[133-135]
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen [135]
Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point [136-140]
Second meeting of the Continental Congress [141]
Appointment of George Washington to command the Continental army[142-144]
The siege of Boston [145]
Gage’s proclamation [145]
The Americans occupy Bunker’s and Breed’s hills[146]
Arrival of Putnam, Stark, and Warren [147]
Gage decides to try an assault [148, 149]
First assault repulsed [149]
Second assault repulsed [150]
Prescott’s powder gives out [150]
Third assault succeeds; the British take the hill[151]
British and American losses [151, 152]
Excessive slaughter; significance of the battle[153]
Its moral effects [154]
[CHAPTER IV
INDEPENDENCE]
Washington’s arrival in Cambridge [155]
Continental officers: Daniel Morgan [156]
Benedict Arnold, John Stark, John Sullivan [157]
Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox [158]
Israel Putnam [159]
Horatio Gates and Charles Lee [160]
Lee’s personal peculiarities [161, 162]
Dr. Benjamin Church [163]
Difficult work for Washington [164]
Absence of governmental organization [165]
New government of Massachusetts (July, 1775) [166]
Congress sends a last petition to the king [167]
The king issues a proclamation, and tries to hire troops from Russia[168-170]
Catherine refuses; the king hires German troops[170]
Indignation in Germany [171]
Burning of Falmouth (Portland) [171]
Effects of all this upon Congress [172, 173]
Montgomery’s invasion of Canada and capture of Montreal[174, 175]
Arnold’s march through the wilderness of Maine[176]
Assault upon Quebec (December 31, 1775) [177]
Total failure of the attempt upon Canada [178]
The siege of Boston [179]
Washington seizes Dorchester Heights (March 4, 1776)[180, 181]
The British troops evacuate Boston (March 17) [182, 183]
Movement toward independence; a provisional flag (January 1, 1776)[184]
Effect of the hiring of “myrmidons”[185]
Thomas Paine [185]
His pamphlet entitled “Common Sense”[186, 187]
Fulminations and counter-fulminations [188]
The Scots in North Carolina [188]
Sir Henry Clinton sails for the Carolinas [189]
The fight at Moore’s Creek; North Carolina declares for independence[189]
Action of South Carolina and Georgia [190]
Affairs in Virginia; Lord Dunmore’s proclamation[190]
Skirmish at the Great Bridge, and burning of Norfolk[191]
Virginia declares for independence [192]
Action of Rhode Island and Massachusetts [192]
Resolution adopted in Congress May 15 [193]
Instructions from the Boston town meeting [194]
Richard Henry Lee’s motion in Congress [194]
Debate on Lee’s [195, 196]
Action of the other colonies; Connecticut and New Hampshire[196]
New Jersey [197]
Pennsylvania and Delaware [197-199]
Maryland [199]
The situation in New York [200]
The Tryon plot [201]
Final debate on Lee’s motion [202]
Vote on Lee’s motion [203]
Form of the Declaration of Independence [204]
Thomas Jefferson [204, 205]
The declaration was a deliberate expression of the sober thought of the American people[206, 207]
[CHAPTER V
FIRST BLOW AT THE CENTRE]
Lord Cornwallis arrives upon the scene [208]
Battle of Fort Moultrie (June 28, 1776) [209-211]
British plan for conquering the valley of the Hudson, and cutting the United Colonies in twain[212]
Lord Howe’s futile attempt to negotiate with Washington unofficially[213, 214]
The military problem at New York[214-216]
Importance of Brooklyn Heights[217]
Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776)[218-220]
Howe prepares to besiege the Heights[220]
But Washington slips away with his army[221]
And robs the British of the most golden opportunity ever offered them[221-223]
The conference at Staten Island[223, 224]
General Howe takes the city of New York September 15[224]
But Mrs. Lindley Murray saves the garrison[225]
Attack upon Harlem Heights[225]
The new problem before Howe[225, 226]
He moves upon Throg’s Neck, but Washington changes base[227]
Baffled at White Plans, Howe tries a new plan[228]
Washington’s orders in view of the emergency[228]
Congress meddles with the situation and muddles it[229]
Howe takes Fort Washington by storm (November 16)[230]
Washington and Greene[231]
Outrageous conduct of Charles Lee[231, 232]
Greene barely escapes from Fort Lee (November 20)[233]
Lee intrigues against Washington[233, 234]
Washington retreats into Pennsylvania[234]
Reinforcements come from Schuyler[235]
Fortunately for the Americans, the British capture Charles Lee (December 13)[235-238]
The times that tried men’s souls[238, 239]
Washington prepares to strike back[239]
He crosses the Delaware, and pierces the British centre at Trenton (December 26)[240, 241]
Cornwallis comes up to retrieve the disaster[242]
And thinks he has run down the “old fox" at the Assunpink (January 2, 1777)[242]
But Washington prepares a checkmate[243]
And again severs the British line at Princeton (January 3)[244]
General retreat of the British upon New York[245]
The tables completely turned[246]
Washington’s superb generalship[247]
Effects in England[248]
And in France[249]
Franklin’s arrival in France[250]
Secret aid from France[251]
Lafayette goes to America[252]
Efforts toward remodelling the Continental army[252-255]
Services of Robert Morris[255]
Ill feeling between the states[256]
Extraordinary powers conferred upon Washington[257-258]
[CHAPTER VI
SECOND BLOW AT THE CENTRE]
Invasion of New York by Sir Guy Carleton[259]
Arnold’s preparations[260]
Battle of Valcour Island (October 11, 1776)[260-262]
Congress promotes five junior brigadiers over Arnold (February 19, 1777)[262]
Character of Philip Schuyler[263]
Horatio Gates[264]
Gates intrigues against Schuyler[265]
His unseemly behaviour before Congress[266]
Charges against Arnold[267, 268]
Arnold defeats Tryon at Ridgefield (April 27, 1777)[269]
Preparations for the summer campaign[269]
The military centre of the United States was the state of New York[270]
A second blow was to be struck at the centre; the plan of campaign[271]
The plan was unsound; it separated the British forces too widely, and gave the Americans the advantage of interior lines[272-274]
Germain’s fatal error; he overestimated the strength of the Tories[274]
Too many unknown quantities[275]
Danger from New England ignored[276]
Germain’s negligence; the dispatch that was never sent[277]
Burgoyne advances upon Ticonderoga[277, 278]
Phillips seizes Mount Defiance[279]
Evacuation of Ticonderoga[279]
Battle of Hubbardton (July 7)[280]
One swallow does not make a summer[280-282]
The king’s glee; wrath of John Adams[282]
Gates was chiefly to blame[282]
Burgoyne’s difficulties beginning[283]
Schuyler wisely evacuates Fort Edward[284]
Enemies gathering in Burgoyne’s rear[285]
Use of Indian auxiliaries[285]
Burgoyne’s address to the chiefs[286]
Burke ridicules the address[286]
The story of Jane McCrea[287, 288]
The Indians desert Burgoyne[289]
Importance of Bennington; Burgoyne sends a German force against it[290]
Stark prepares to receive the Germans[291]
Battle of Bennington (August 16); nearly the whole German army captured on the field[292, 293]
Effect of the news; Burgoyne’s enemies multiply[294]
Advance of St. Leger upon Fort Stanwix[295]
Herkimer marches against him; Herkimer’s plan[296]
Failure of the plan[297]
Thayendanegea prepares an ambuscade[298]
Battle of Oriskany (August 6)[298-300]
Colonel Willett’s sortie; first hoisting of the stars and stripes[300-301]
Death of Herkimer[301]
Arnold arrives at Schuyler’s camp[302]
And volunteers to retrieve Fort Stanwix[303]
Yan Yost Cuyler and his stratagem[304]
Flight of St. Leger (August 22)[305]
Burgoyne’s dangerous situation[306]
Schuyler superseded by Gates[306]
Position of the two armies (August 19-September 12)[307]
[CHAPTER VII
SARATOGA]
Why Sir William Howe went to Chesapeake Bay[308]
Charles Lee in captivity[308-310]
Treason of Charles Lee[311-314]
Folly of moving upon Philadelphia as the “rebel capital”[314, 315]
Effect of Lee’s advice[315]
Washington’s masterly campaign in New Jersey (June, 1777)[316, 317]
Uncertainty as to Howe’s next movements[317, 318]
Howe’s letter to Burgoyne[318]
Comments of Washington and Greene[319, 320]
Howe’s alleged reason trumped up and worthless[320]
Burgoyne’s fate was practically decided when Howe arrived at Elkton[321]
Washington’s reasons for offering battle[321]
He chooses a very strong position[322]
Battle of the Brandywine (September 11)[322-326]
Washington’s skill in detaining the enemy[326]
The British enter Philadelphia (September 26)[326]
Significance of Forts Mercer and Mifflin[327]
The situation at Germantown[327, 328]
Washington’s audacious plan[328]
Battle of Germantown (October 4)[329-332]
Howe captures Forts Mercer and Mifflin[333]
Burgoyne recognizes the fatal error of Germain[333]
Nevertheless he crosses the Hudson River[334]
First battle at Freeman’s Farm (September 19)[335]
Quarrel between Gates and Arnold[336-337]
Burgoyne’s supplies cut off[338]
Second battle at Freeman’s Farm (October 7); the British totally defeated by Arnold[338-340]
The British army is surrounded[341]
Sir Henry Clinton comes up the river, but it is too late[342]
The silver bullet[343]
Burgoyne surrenders (October 17)[343, 344]
Schuyler’s magnanimity[345]
Bad faith of Congress[346-349]
The behaviour of Congress was simply inexcusable[350]
What became of the captured army[350, 351]