The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-08-12


He knew that its capture did not
end, but only deepened, the struggle.
Reinforcements would be poured out
OF England with the spring. and the
next point OF attack would unques-
tionably be New York, the key to the
Hudson
Here again was a city flanked about
handed by heights-the heights OF
Brooklyn. A garrison must be left In
Boston, and New York must be held
for the most part by a new levy, as
raw, as i'll organized and equipped, al
factious, as uncertain in capacity and
purpose. as that which had awaited
his discipline and guidance before
Boston.
An EverchsnsIns trmy.
It was an army always a-making
and to be made.
The sea was open, moreover. The
British could enter the great harbor
when they pleased.
The insurgents had no naval force
whatever with which to Withstand
them on the water There were
score of points to be defended which
we're yet without defence on the Ion
island where the town lay, aud roun'
about the spreading arms Of the SCI
that enclosed 1t; and there were b.
eighteen thousand militia-men mus
tered for the formidable task, In the
midst of an active loyalist popula-
ton.
The thing must be attempted. never
theless.
Vital to Hold the Hudson.
The command of the Hudson would
very likely turn out to be the corr
mand of the continent. and the strpg
gle was now to be to the death.
1t was too late to draw back.
The royal authority had. in fact
been everywhere openly thrown o..
even in the middle colonies. where al
legiance and opinion hung still at SO
doubtful a balance.
For Washington the whole situation
must have seemed to be summed IN
IN what had taken place in his own
colony at home.
Dunmore Raids and Destroys.
Dunmore, when be fled to the men
of-war in the bay. had called unon all
Who were loyal TO follow him, hcG
even offered freedom to all slav !,
ID servants who would enlist in the
force he should collect for the purpcs.
of reducing the colony to a proper
eense of its duty" Unable to do more
he had ravaged the coasts on eithe'
hand upon the bay, and hGd put men
ashore within the rivers to raid ard
burn, making Norfolk. with its loyat
list merchants, his headquarters anc
rendezvous.
Driven thence by the provincit,i
militia, he had u, lerly destroyed, ~
town by fire, and was now refuged
upon Gwynn's Island. striking VIII; 9
lie could, as be-, -, at the unrrotec'f d
hamlets and plantations that looked
everywi- IRE out upon the water
Virginia's only executive, tn sse nine
months and more, had been Nor ccm'
mittee of safety. of which Edmund
fen0letOn was PRESIDENT.
Carolina Declares Independence.
Washington had hardly begun his
work of organization ard defence al
Few York before North Carolina
april u, 1870 authorized her dele
gates in the congress at Philadelphia
to Join in a decla ration of indepenf
ence; and the next month (Aiay
the congress advised tho col0niss~r0
Sive over al show and pretence c.
waiting for or desiring peace or &C
comm cdation TO form complete arc
independent governments of their owD
and so put an end to the exercise o.
every kind of authority under the
crown"
The next step was a joint Declar4
ton of Independence. upon a molten
made in congress by Richard Henry
Lee, in eager obedience to the express
bidding of q convention met in III,
hall of the Burgesses at WILLIAMSBURG
20 frame a constitution for Virginia.
Many Still 'Unconvinced.
His motion was adopted by Ill
votes of every colony except New
York IL was bitter thing to many a
loyal man in the colonies to see such
things done. and peace rendered I'M
possible. Not even those who ccunted
themselves among the warmest friends
of the colonial cause were agreed that
II was wise thus to throw OF one gov.
eminent before another was put in IT,
place-while there was as yet no bet
ter guidance in that districted time
than might be had from a body OF
gentlemen in Philadelphia who pos
sessed no power but to advise.
Eut the radicals were In the sad
die.
Washington for No Compounds.
Washington himself came down from
New York to urge that the step BIZ
taken. He deemed such radicalisn
wise; for he wished to see compro'
mise abandoned. and all minds set as
sternly as his own In the resolve 10
| fight the fight out to the bitter end
81 have never entertained an idea 81
an accommodation" he said. since
| heard OF the measures which were
adopted in consequence OF the Bunk
er's Hill fight; and his wil> hardened
| IN the contest after the fashion that