em he was unable to express; he believed
that there was not on earth a more disorderly set. One crew deserted,
and its vessel was docked.

To be sure, there were moments of satisfaction in these dreary weeks of
trial. Certain of the rejected officers rose above their
disappointments. One of these was Colonel Whitcomb, who was not given a
regiment in the new establishment. At this his men became so
dissatisfied that they decided not to enlist at all. Colonel Whitcomb,
in order to persuade them to remain, announced his willingness to enlist
as a private. The situation was saved by Colonel Jonathan Brewer, who
offered his command to Colonel Whitcomb. Washington, in a general order,
thanked both of the officers. Brewer was made Barrack-Master, "until
something better worth his acceptance can be provided."[140]

Other relief was provided by captures of British vessels. Of great
importance to both armies was the capture of the _Nancy_, an ordnance
brig with a complete cargo of military supplies--saving only powder. So
valuable did Washington consider the capture that he at once sent four
companies to the spot where the stores were landed, impressed teams for
transportation, and called out the neighboring militia lest Howe should
make an effort to recover the royal property. The British were on their
part greatly disgusted at the loss of the brig, not merely as weakening
them, but also as strengthening the enemy. The chief prize on the ship
was a thirteen-inch brass mortar, which on its arrival in camp was
greeted with acclamation, and by means of a bottle of rum was solemnly
christened the Congress.

It was about this time that Washington had the satisfaction of being
joined by his wife. There had been a suggestion that her residence on
the Potomac was not safe, but even before the naval raids Washington
had begun to suggest her joining him. She arrived on the 11th of
December, and resided until the end of the siege with him at his
headquarters in the old house still standing on Brattle Street,
Cambridge. The house has had an interesting history, having been built
by the Tory Vassalls, occupied by the Marblehead regiment, by
Washington, by Dr. Andrew Craigie, surgeon at Bunker Hill, by Jared
Sparks, Edward Everett, Noah Webster, and by the poet Longfellow, whose
family still owns it. The quarters were for Washington central and
pleasant; they gave him his last taste of home life for years.

[Illustration: WASHINGTON'S HEA