"General Washington put the match to the first gun, and a terrible discharge of cannon and mortars immediately followed."
"What part of the town can be most effectively cannonaded?" Washington inquired of Governor Nelson, who was present.
Pointing to a large, fine house on an eminence, the governor replied:
"That is probably the headquarters of the enemy; fire at that."
It was Governor Nelson's own residence.
Four days the cannonading continued with great effect. At the expiration of that time, Washington ordered the capture of two redoubts, lying between him and the British works. These redoubts were so near as to prove a great annoyance to the American troops. To the Americans was assigned the capture of one, and to the French the capture of the other. At the point of the bayonet these redoubts were taken; not a gun was fired. As soon as Lafayette held possession of the redoubt taken by the Americans, he despatched a message to Baron de Viomenil announcing the fact, and inquired where the baron was.
"Tell the marquis," answered the baron, "that I am not in mine, but I will be in five minutes;" and he was.
During the whole of the bombardment, Washington, as usual, was seen in the most exposed positions, cheering his men and directing the assault. One day, as he stood beside the grand battery with Knox and Lincoln, and shot and shell flew around him, one of his aides, anxious for his general's safety, remarked:
"That is a very exposed situation, general."