The Washington herald., 1913-02-07

A
CCOrgnsht. 1915, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l
NO. 20.
Matters had not stood still before Bos-
ton to await a commander sent by Con-
gress.
While Washington waited for his COM
mission and made ready for his journey
there had been fighting done which was
TO simplify his task.
Gen. William Howe had reached Bos-
ton with re-enforcements on the 25th Of
May, and quite 1000 troops held the
city, while a strong fleet of men-'O-war
lay watchfully in the harbor.
The British Hesitate.
There was no hurry. II seemed. about
attacking the 5000 raw provincials.
whose long lines were drawn loosely
about the town from Charlestown Neck
TO Jamaica Plain. But commanding hills
looked across the water on either hand
in Charlestown on the north and in Dor
chester on the southeast-and II would be
well, Howe saw, to secure them, lest
they should be occupied by the insur-
gents.
On the morning OF the I7th of June,
however while leisurely preparations
were a-making in Boston to occupy the
hills OF Charlestown, II was discovered
that the provIncials had been before
hand in the project. There they were
in the clear sun, working diligently at
redoubts OF their own upon the height.
At a Fearful Cost.
Three thousand men were put across
the water TO drive them of. Though
they mustered only LOO behind their un-
finished works. three several assaults
and the loss of l.OoO men was the cost
OF dislodging them.
They withheld their fire till the red
coats were within fifty-nay, thirty
yards of them, and then poured out n
deadly. blazing fire which no man could
face and live. They were ousted only
when they failed of powder and de-
SPARED OF re-enforcements.
Militia Proves Formidable.
Veteran officers who had led the as
sault declared the regulars of France
were not more formidable than these
militiamen. whom they had despised as
raw peasants.
There was no desire to buy another
American position at that price; and
Washington had time enough for the
complimentary receptions and addresses
and the elaborate parade OF escort and
review that delayed his journey to head
quartss.
He reached Cambridge on July 2. and
bore himself with SO Straightforward
and engaging a courtesy in taking COM
mand that the officers he superseded
could not but like him; jealousy was dis
armed.
Not Ideal Soldiers.
But he found neither the preparations
nor the spirit of the army to his liking
His soldierly sense of order was shocked
by the loose discipline, and his instinct
of command by the free and easy inso-
lence of that irregular levy; and his au-
thority grew stern as he labored to bring
the motley host to order and effective
organization.
THE people of this government have
obtained a character" his confidential
letters declared, which they by no
means deserved-their officers. generally
speaking. are the most Indifferent kind
of people 1 ever saw. 1 dare say the
men would fight very well Of properly
oficered), although they are an exceed
ingly dirty and nasty people.
II is among the most difficult tasks I
ever undertook in my life to induce these
people to believe that there is, or can
be. danger till the bayonet is pushed at
their breasts. Not that 1t proceeds from
any uncommon prowess, but rather from
an unaccountable kind Of stupidity In the
lower class Of these people. which, be-
lieve me. prevails but too generally
among the oficers Of the Massachusetts
part of the army. who are nearly Of the
same kidney with the privates.'
Improve on Acquaintance.
He had seen like decentralization and
slackness In the old days st Winches-
ter, on the wild frontier, but hs had
expected to find a better spirit and dis
cipline in the New England levies
His first disgust, however. soon wore
or He was not slow to see how slirewd
and sturdy thess .uncouth. jntraotabls