agons?--Cannon! and thousands of guns and shot and
thirty-two tons of musket balls! Captain John Manly, of the ship
_Essex_, had captured a large British brigantine and taken her cargo of
munitions.

In spite of Washington's efforts to appeal to their patriotism, the
soldiers still wanted to go home. They were sick of the discomforts of
camp. By January (1776), only ten thousand men were left, and there was
danger of the poorly defended lines being taken. But for some reason,
the British made no attack. During this disheartening time, General
Greene was a great help, with his courage and patriotism and
cheerfulness.

In February, Colonel Henry Knox returned from the forts on Lake
Champlain with a long train of forty-two ox-sleds, carrying artillery
and ammunition. He had gone in midwinter after the supplies of cannon
and lead captured from the British the year before and had performed his
errand with daring and faithfulness. Then ten regiments of militia
arrived and at last, Washington and his generals thought they had men
and ammunition enough to attack the British.

General Putnam had fortified a hill north of the city of Boston. Troops
were sent, on the night of March 4, to fortify Dorchester Heights, to
the south from which Boston and the harbor could be swept by guns. That
the British might not hear the noise of the wagons and pickaxes, the
patriots bombarded the city all night. The ground was deeply frozen and
the work hard. But Washington was with the men, everywhere helping and
encouraging them.

When morning came, the British looked upon four forts raised as if by
the magic of an Aladdin's lamp! General Sir William Howe determined to
attack these new works. A storm of great fury arose and he waited. The
storm continued all night and all day. The patriots used this time to
strengthen their forts, and the British saw they could not hold the city
against them; so they prepared to leave, taking everything with them
that could be of use to the "rebels." They were allowed to embark upon
their ships without being fired on, to prevent their burning the city.
They sailed away to Halifax. After being besieged ten months, Boston
fell into Washington's hands without a battle! Washington was thanked by
Congress and given a gold medal in honor of the capture of Boston.

CHAPTER IV

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SIGNED--BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND--BATTLE
OF WHITE PLAINS--WASHINGTON CROSSES THE DELAWARE AND SUR