Footnote 172: When Major Tupper destroyed the lighthouse on Nantasket point, he carried away all the furniture and the great lamp by which it was lighted.[(Back)]
Footnote 173: The creek referred to is Stony brook, northward from Roxbury fort.[(Back)]
Footnote 174: As early as July, 1775, Dr. Franklin had suggested the propriety of a political confederation of all the colonies, and the establishment of governmental relations with foreign powers, especially with France, which, it was well known, hated England. In November of that year, Benjamin Harrison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Johnson, John Dickenson, and John Jay, were appointed a committee to open and carry on correspondence with foreign governments; and in March following, Silas Deane was appointed a special agent of Congress to the court of France. Rumors of such intentions appear to have reached the army, according to our Journalist, as early as the 24th of October, 1775.[(Back)]
Footnote 175: A very natural consequence.[(Back)]
Footnote 176: During the whole of October, affairs were very quiet, and no skirmish of importance occurred. The "Essex Gazette" of the 19th said, "Scarcely a gun has been fired for a fortnight." On the 4th, a small fleet, under Captain Mowatt, sailed from Boston harbor, and destroyed Falmouth (now Portland), Maine. On the 15th, a committee from Congress arrived, to consult with Washington concerning the future, and a reorganization of the army.[(Back)]
Footnote 177: On this day there was quite a severe skirmish occurred at Lechmere's point, now Cambridgeport.[(Back)]
Footnote 178: That is, a written permission from his commanding officer, to leave for a specified time.[(Back)]
Footnote 179: At that time leather breeches were much in vogue, because they were durable. The more costly ones of buckskin were worn only by officers.[(Back)]
Footnote 180: Late in October a new organization of the army took place, and enlistments for a certain term were commenced. Hitherto there had been great confusion in the matter. The army had gathered around Boston from sudden impulse, and it was continually changing. The excitement which had brought them together had in a measure subsided, and enlistments went on slowly. After a month's exertions, only five thousand names were enrolled; and Washington, lamenting the dearth of public spirit, almost despaired. Alluding to the selfishness exhibited in camp, he says: "Such stock-jobbing and fertility in all low arts, to obtain advantages of one kind and another, I never saw before, and pray God I may never witness again."[(Back)]
Footnote 181: Generalissimo.[(Back)]