Chapter III

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Protest of the Whig Lords 99 Belief that the Americans would not fight 100 Belief that Massachusetts would not be supported by the other colonies 101 News of the Port Bill 101, 102 Samuel Adams at Salem 103, 104 Massachusetts nullifies the Regulating Act 105 John Hancock and Joseph Warren 106, 107 The Suffolk County Resolves 108 Provincial Congress in Massachusetts 109 First meeting of the Continental Congress (September 5, 1774) 110, 111 Debates in Parliament 112, 113 William Howe appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in America 113 Richard, Lord Howe, appointed admiral of the fleet 114 Franklin returns to America 115 State of feeling in the middle colonies 116 Lord North’s mistaken hopes of securing New York 117 Affairs in Massachusetts 101 Dr. Warren’s oration at the Old South 119 Attempt to corrupt Samuel Adams 120 Orders to arrest Adams and Hancock 121 Paul Revere’s ride 122, 123 Pitcairn fires upon the yeomanry at Lexington 124, 125 The troops repulsed at Concord; their dangerous situation 126, 127 The retreating troops rescued by Lord Percy 128 Retreat continued from Lexington to Charlestown 129 Rising of the country; the British besieged in Boston 130 Effects of the news in England and in America 130-133 Mecklenburg County Resolves 133 Legend of the Mecklenburg “Declaration of Independence” 133-135 Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen 135 Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point 136-140 Second meeting of the Continental Congress 141 Appointment of George Washington to command the Continental army 142-144 The siege of Boston 145 Gage’s proclamation 145 The Americans occupy Bunker’s and Breed’s hills 146 Arrival of Putnam, Stark, and Warren 147 Gage decides to try an assault 148, 149 First assault repulsed 149 Second assault repulsed 150 Prescott’s powder gives out 150 Third assault succeeds; the British take the hill 151 British and American losses 151, 152 Excessive slaughter; significance of the battle 153 Its moral effects 154