The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-07-07
How Washington Got His Powder

The movement on Dorchester Heights,
executed on the night of March +. 1776,
recalls the story of how General Wash
ington obtained the powder used by his
troops during the latter days of the siege
which eliminated in the seizure of the
heights, and the evacuation, thirteen
days later, of Boston by the British army
under General Howe. Though virtually
forgotten in this country, the story is
still remembered by the inhabitants of
the little island of Bermuda With feelings
| akin to shame; for it involves an act of
| disloyalty to the British crown on the
cient of England's colonies
1t will be remembered that at the out
| break of the American revolution, only
small amount of ammunition could be
obtained in the provinces for the Cont
mental army. 1t was a serious business,
demanding extreme measures. and soon
after tie battle of Bunker Hill, when
| Washington took formal command of the
army at Cambridge. he notified the presi-
dent OF Congress that unless a supply
both large and seasonable" was forth
coming, his artillery would be of little
use. A few weeks later he wrote letter
to Governor Cooke, of Rhode Island, on
the subject, and in speaking of the vari-
Gus sources from which powder and lead
might be obtained, General Washington
said:
among others, have had one men
toned which has some weight with me,
as we'll as the general officers to whom |
have proposed it. A Mr.. Harris has late
! " come from Bermuda, where there is a
very considerable magazine of powder in
a remote part of the island and the in
habitants are we'll disposed, not only to
our cause in general, but 10 assist in this
enterprise in particular. We understand
! there are two vessels in your province,
commanded by men of known activity
and spirit, one of which it is proposed to
dispatch on this errand with such assist
ance as may be requisite. Harris is to 60
along as the conductor of the enterprise,
| that we may avail ourselves of his know
ledge of the island; but without COM
| mand.
81 am very sensible that at first view
the project may appear hazardous, and
its success must depend on the concur
renee of many circumstances; but we are
in situation which requires us to run
all risks. No danger is to be considered
when put in competition with the mag
nitudc of our cause, and the absolute ne
cessity we are under of increasing our
stock. Enterprises which appear chimeri-
cal often prove successful from that very
circumstance. Common sense and pru-
dence will suggest vigilance and care
where the danger is plain and obvious,
but where little danger is apprehended
the more the enemy will be unprepared
and consequently there is the fairest
prospect OF success"
The governor and Committee of Rhode
Island approved the plan, and Capt.
Abraham Whipple was chosen to carry it
out AT this period the people of the
American provinces were forbidden to
trade with the English colonies, and Ber-
muda, being entirely dependent on the
continent for its food supply, suffered in
venence. Before agreeing to engage in
the undertaking, Captain Whipple asked
General Washington to promise the Ber-
mudans that, in case they assisted in the
undertaking, he would recommend the
Continental Congress to permit the ex-
portation of provisions to them. The
commander-in-chi assented to this, and
in an address to the inhabitants of Ber-
muda, carried thither by Captain Whip
pie, he made strong plea for "the cause
ofvirtue and liberty which, he said, was
confined to no continent or climate"
Gas descendants of freemen, " he wrote,
land heirs with us of the same glorious
inheritance, we tlattcr ourselves that,
though divided by our situation, we are
firmly united in sentiment. The
wise Disposer of all events has hitherto
smiled upon our virtuous efforts. Those
mercenary troops, few of whom lately
boosted of subjugating this vast CONT
nent, have been checked in their earliest
ravages, and are now actually cncircled
within a small space; their arms dis
graced, and themselves suffering all the
calamities of siege. The virtue, spirit
and union of the provinces leave them
nothing to fear but the want of ammu.
milton. The application of our enemies
to foreign States, and their vigilance