estruction to their civil rights, and the evils of a civil war." In
consequence of this recommendation and its accompanying resolutions,
the Governor had dissolved the Assembly. The Legislature of
Massachusetts had likewise passed declaratory resolutions, expressive
of their sense of the state of public affairs and the designs of
Parliament; and which led [132] to their dissolution also. The
committee of correspondence at Boston, had framed and promulgated an
agreement, which induced Governor Gage, to issue a proclamation,
denouncing it as "an unlawful, hostile and traitorous combination,
contrary to the allegiance due to the King, destructive of the legal
authority of Parliament, and of the peace, good order, and safety of
the community;" and requiring of the magistrates, to apprehend and
bring to trial, all such as should be in any wise guilty of them. A
congress, composed of delegates from the different colonies, and
convened for the purpose "of uniting and guiding the councils, and
directing the efforts of North America," had opened its session on the
4th of September. In fine, the various elements of that tempest, which
soon after overspread the thirteen united colonies, had been already
developed, and were rapidly concentrating, before the orders for the
retreat of the Southern division of the army, were issued by Lord
Dunmore. How far these were dictated by a spirit of hostility to the
cause of the colonies, and of subservience to the interests of Great
Britain, in the approaching contest, may be inferred from his conduct
during the whole campaign; and the course pursued by him, on his
return to the seat of government. If indeed there existed (as has been
supposed,) between the Indians and the Governor from the time of his
arrival with the Northern Division of the army at Fort Pitt, a secret
and friendly understanding, looking to the almost certain result of
the commotions which were agitating America, then was the battle at
Point Pleasant, virtually the first in the series of those brilliant
achievements which burst the bonds of British tyranny; and the blood
of Virginia, there nobly shed, was the first blood spilled in the
sacred cause of American liberty.[22]

It has been already seen that Lord Dunmore failed to form a junction
with General Lewis, at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, agreeably to
the plan for the campaign, as concerted at Williamsburg by the
commanding officer of each division. No reason for cha