to come until later.

Washington may have supervised the correspondence and influenced its
result. It affected him not at all, but in the midst of many such little
affairs he found opportunity for really aggressive work. Once he was
well fortified, the next step was to vex and disturb the enemy by
cutting off supplies by sea, and making the approach to Boston
difficult. For the latter purpose a detachment went boldly in broad
daylight and burned the lighthouse at the harbor's mouth. Since the
first attempt was not satisfactory, the same men went again, and
finished the job. Other little expeditions, carried on against either
the harbor islands or the shipping near the town, were successfully
undertaken. The men for such purposes were the fishermen of the
sea-coast towns, thrown out of work by the fisheries bill, and burning
with patriotic feeling.

Washington turned them to still better account in beginning a navy. To
be sure, the little fleet which presently was busily at work was at
first a spontaneous growth, for whenever a store-ship or king's sloop
ran aground or made land at the wrong harbor, dories and fishing-vessels
swarmed out to board it. Even before Washington's coming privateers were
acting for the country, but with no better standing than pirates, for
they sailed under no flag and bore neither commission nor letters of
marque. The provinces of Connecticut and Rhode Island legalized the
achievements of those who were busy in their waters, but for the
adventurous spirits who dared the men of war in Massachusetts Bay
nothing was done until Washington found the way. Since, even though the
need was imperative, he could not properly authorize the existence of a
navy, we find him, on the second of September, wording a commission in
the following manner: "You being appointed a captain in the army of the
United Colonies of North America, are hereby directed to take command of
a detachment of said army, and proceed on board the schooner _Hannah_,
at Beverly." And thus the American Navy began its existence. Its vessels
were few and small, being chiefly "converted" fishermen; its purpose was
to intercept stores and gain information; and it was especially
forbidden to engage with armed vessels, "though you may be equal in
strength, or may have some small advantage." Before the end of the siege
this little company of vessels was invaluable to Washington.

But in Washington's army lay his chief hopes--and also his chie