he result of an almost interminable guerilla
warfare; but with him the fight was definite, decisive, glorious,
and--for the infant republic--mercifully short.

[Illustration: THE OLD NORTH BRIDGE

(The Americans marched to the attack from the further side.)]

[Illustration: THE MINUTE MAN By Daniel C. French]

The army was now in the hands of a soldier, one who knew, if any man
did, what was needed to make the raw militiaman into a professional.
Washington fell at once to work. "There is great overturning in camp,"
wrote the Reverend William Emerson, he who had watched Concord Fight
from the window of his study. "New lords, new laws. The Generals
Washington and Lee are upon the lines every day. New orders from his
Excellency are read to the respective regiments every morning after
prayers. The strictest government is taking place, and great distinction
is made between officers and soldiers. Every one is made to know his
place and keep in it.... Thousands are at work every day from four till
eleven o'clock in the morning."[111]

This simple statement shows, in the wonder of the clergyman, not merely
how much was now being done, but how little had been done before. As on
the day of Bunker Hill, Ward had been a headquarters general, but
Washington was "upon the lines." Many times later we find him exposing
himself recklessly; now we see him constantly on active patrol of his
outposts, supervising the new fortifications or the carrying out of the
new regulations.

Apart from fortifying, which he drove early and late, his immediate
difficulties were with the army organization, and these difficulties
began immediately. He brought with him commissions for his
major-generals and brigadiers, and the commissions of the former he
bestowed at once. The fourth major-general was Putnam of Connecticut,
who had had as his colleague Joseph Spencer, of the same colony.
"General Spencer's disgust," wrote Washington on the 10th of July, "was
so great at General Putnam's promotion, that he left the army without
visiting me, or making known his intention in any respect."[112]

Upon this, Washington prudently withheld the other commissions, and
proceeded cautiously, with regard to jealousies among the officers. By
careful diplomacy he succeeded in retaining for the new establishment
the services of most of the colonial brigadiers, for Spencer returned,
and Thomas, who saw his juniors promoted over his head, agreed to take
rank beneath