men without guns, even muskets were eventually provided.
Moreover, cannon were now supplied him, through the exertions of Henry
Knox. Washington had detached him in November to go to Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, and provide means for bringing the captured cannon to camp.
The general had even hoped that more might be had from Quebec, but that
expectation was now gone. Knox, in the face of many difficulties,
fulfilled his mission. On December 17 he wrote from Lake George that he
had got the cannon as far as that point, and with forty-two "exceedingly
strong sleds" and eighty yoke of oxen expected to make the journey to
Springfield, whence fresh cattle would bring him to Cambridge. The
artillery, in this humble manner, at last arrived, howitzers, mortars,
and cannon, fifty-five pieces of iron or brass. With what had been
captured elsewhere the supply was ample, and the guns, after a delay at
Framingham, were mounted at the fortifications, or reserved for the
attempt to take Dorchester. Powder also had slowly come in faster than
it was used or could spoil, and Washington found himself almost ready to
act.

When at last he could draw a long breath, with the feeling that the
worst of the situation was over, he gave, in letters to Joseph Reed and
John Hancock, his opinion of his army as it then was, and of the means
to make it better. Placed behind any kind of shelter, his provincials
would give a good account of themselves. But they could not yet be
depended on to make an assault in the open field. For this they would
have to receive severer training, and in order to acquaint them with
their proper duties a longer term of service was necessary. Even now, at
the beginning of another year of service, the men had the officers too
much in their power, for indulgence was necessary in order to make them
enlist again. He was therefore firmly of the opinion that his present
army, and all new recruits, should be enlisted "for and during the war."
Thus Washington, looking beyond his still uncompleted task, like Lincoln
many years later, perceived the only means to final success.

But with the means which he had at hand he was now impatient to act. It
was almost March, and at any time Howe might receive the reinforcements
which would enable him to take the offensive. Washington prepared to
fortify Dorchester as soon as the state of the ground would permit of
digging, and in order to lessen the work he prepared fascines--which
were bund