New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-01
idea that there was no

army. Parliament had been amused VAIN iuui-
crous pictpres of American cowardice. lac
Ihlunder was repeated from mouth TO mouth anu
yeas still believed by British soldiers when they
rorcbad IN Concord. Not till their retreat from
that disastrous expedition, and their experience
Of Yankee resistance at Bunker Hi, were they
fullv convince. Of their error. Bat in fact, no
country ever possessed better materials for al
army than the thirteen Colonies. Their hardy
yeo1nen and robust mechanics were Injured to
effort and priyation. They were accustomed
from boyhood 10 the use Of the gun. They were
in the habit through hall their lives OF mading
! long Journeys On foot and on horseback at all
seasons and in all weathor. Hundreds Of them
had fought by the side Of English soldiers in the
old French war. Hundreds more had fought
the Indians alone On the frontier. The name OF
Washington had already reached the ear Of
royalty. Putnam was the hero Of many romantic
legends. Prescott had won high military
reputation. Gridley was famous asa skillful en-
gineor. Ward, and Stark, and Pomroy, were
recognized as able commanders. Many OF less
renown were heroes of their own village circles.
There was not well.fought field to which some
American could not point with pride. 1t was
from such materials that America was 70 form
her army.
The militia Of Massachusetts was organized in
the Autumn of IVA. FURNISHED those bands
of minute-men which at that critical period per-
formed such excellent service. The drill Of
these rustic soldiers almost reminds one of the
Homeric heroes who AFTER solemn banquet, and
sacrifice, and prayer, made an impetuous charge
on the enemy. Itwas social and religious ex-
ercise, followed almost always by sermon, and
sometimes By repast. The minister descended
from the pulpit to take his place at the head OF
MS company or even in the ranks.
! Immediately after the battle Of Lexington,
the army began TO gather. Every town and
village sent forth itsstrongest men who crowded
The roads TO Boston. The pillow was left in the
furrow, the plane on the work. bench. Father
AID son marched side By side; the preacher in
tie midst Of his flock. But this moment Of fiery
enthusiasm was not used TO gain q permanent
supply to the ranks Of tho army. Enlistments
were eagerly effected; me rolls were filed; bus
not for tho war. This error was Of perlicious
influence.
The question arose as 10 who should command
{ this motley amy. 1t had not yet been adopted
, by Congress. 1t had been summoned by the
authority Of Massachusetts; but it also CON.
S prised the Independent auxiliary forces Of New
4 Hampshire, of Connecticut, and Of Rhode Island.
Z As the necessity Of single head was felt, Gen.
elal Ward OF Massachusetts was accepted as
: commandar.;n-chief; but each colony continued
\ to provide for its own men. Something more
was wanting to infnse spirit Of unity into such
: elements. The only sufficient representative OF
a Union wac the Continental Congress. John
; Adams early made it point to induce Congress
r TO adopt the army in the name Of the United
= Colonies. The appointment Of q commander.
IS in-chief was the occasion OF much Jealousy
: Washingtons name was the first that occurred
|. to Northern and Southern men alike; for 10 one
= else had gained Continental reputation. But
{ some New England men preferred New Eng
land commander for New England army.
Some Southern men also were unwilling to sec
such prominence accorded to Washington.
Kew England, moreover, was divided against
herself General Ward had jealous advocates.
. John Hancock aspired 10 the situation. But at
last, Washington wa3 chosen against all oppos-
ton by q unanimous vote But the subordinate
posts were not filed without heart burnings
Ward, though fatterea by the first place on the
roll of Major-Gencrals, could not forget his aspi-
ratons TO the chief command. Hancock never
Iforgave John Adams for nippng in the bud his
dreams of military glory. Similar piques dis
played themselves as the work Of organization
went on. There were Disconnected colonies as
well as Disconnected generals; captains who
would have been colonies, and ieutensnts who
would have been captains. II was hard for a
Massachusetts, soldier to serve under an officer
! from Rhode Island; New Hampshire soldier
=, under an officer from Connecticut. Harder still,
at later day, when New-Yorkers and Pennsyl-
vanisns and the aristocratic Marylandcrs, with
/ their splendid uniforms and soldierly bearings,
found themselves amalgamated with the rough
homespun farmers Of New England.
"Washington's first call" says Mr.. Greene,
twas for the returns Of his army. They gave
him l6, 20 in all; fit for duty, 1913. Never
had their spirits been higher. Officers and men
seemed to catch new enthusiasm fsom his
f presence; for men know when they have man
at their head, ard no one doubted but what
there was man there now. Every day he was
among them On bis melted charger, his COM