Chapter I: Preface

In writing this book I have endeavored to produce a brief and readable account of the Siege of Boston, and of the events which brought it about. These were, of course, parts of a larger history, the connection with which I have carefully indicated. My main endeavor, nevertheless, has been to treat my subject as a single organic series of events. To select the more interesting and significant masses of detail, and properly to coördinate them, has not been an easy task. The minor incidents were conditioned by the scale of the book; the result, I hope, is fluency and a more evident connection between the larger events.

So far as possible, I have relied upon contemporary statements. But no writer on the Siege can fail to acknowledge his deep obligations to the "History of the Siege" by Richard Frothingham. This acknowledgment I gladly make. Since 1849, however, the date of the publication of the book, there has come to light interesting new material which I have endeavored to incorporate here. The other authorities upon which I have chiefly depended will be found by referring to the footnotes.

ALLEN FRENCH.

CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, January, 1911.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. BEGINNINGS AND CONDITIONS 1

II. WRITS OF ASSISTANCE AND THE STAMP ACT 21

III. CHARLES TOWNSHEND, SAM ADAMS, AND THE MASSACRE 41

IV. THE TEA-PARTY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 71

V. THE OCCUPATION OF BOSTON 91

VI. THE POWDER ALARM AND THE WINTER OF 1774-1775 123

VII. MILITARY PREPARATIONS 161

VIII. THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL 187

IX. BOSTON BELEAGUERED 216

X. THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL 256

XI. WASHINGTON TAKES COMMAND 288

XII. EVENTS IN BOSTON FROM JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1775 331

XIII. WASHINGTON'S DIFFICULTIES 361

XIV. THE WINTER IN BOSTON 392

XV. THE EVACUATION 415

ILLUSTRATIONS

OLD STATE HOUSE _Frontispiece_

PAGE
THE HUTCHINSON HOUSE 35

FANEUIL HALL _facing_ 58

SAMUEL ADAMS _facing_ 69

THE INVESTMENT OF BOSTON _facing_ 127

REVERE'S PICTURE OF BOSTON IN 1768 175

THE OLD NORTH CHURCH _facing_ 181

THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON _facing_ 193

PLAN OF THE SIEGE 235

THE MINUTE MAN _facing_ 303

THE OLD NORTH BRIDGE _facing_ 303

WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS _facing_ 374

DORCHESTER TOWER 407

GOLD MEDAL COMMEMORATING WASHINGTON'S VICTORY 434

THE SIEGE OF BOSTON