men and officers in the attempt. General Clinton underestimates the bravery and determination of our people. The British command roughly 7,000 troops and we presently outnumber them two to one. General Gage might better serve his King by sailing out of Boston.
Some would argue that your militia didn’t exactly retreat from Bunker’s Hill, they fled for their lives.
The disaster at Bunker’s Hill was caused by a lack of leadership on the part of certain officers. The men who served under them broke rank because they were not commanded to stand and fight. Discipline was abandoned, but I would add there were many acts of courage on the field that day.
One of the complaints we hear from local citizens is that your militia fight more among themselves than they do the British.
Our officers have been informed we will not tolerate internal bickering or jealousies among themselves or the rank and file. We have all come to Cambridge for one purpose. We are here to wish General Gage and his army farewell and I have no doubt that if we act in unity, they will be persuaded to leave.
It’s been rumored that the militia retreated from Breed’s Hill because you are nearly out of gunpowder.
We have more than enough gunpowder. The defeat at Breed’s Hill was caused by logistic failure. Supplies were not sent up the lines in time.
What are your immediate objectives?
To prepare our army against attack.
Will you invade Boston?
We intend to fortify our positions, that’s all I care to comment on at this time.
Where do you think General Gage will go once you’ve persuaded him to leave Boston?
I would advise him to ship back to England.
It’s been rumored that he intends to capture New York City.
Then we will greet him there. Whoever controls the Hudson River and its tributaries has an advantage in supplying their armies. General Gage might very well move north into Canada and attempt to secure the Hudson from Lake Champlain.
What makes you think you can mold these men into a disciplined and unified army?
As I stated before, the men have proven they will rise to the occasion. They need officers capable of leading them. Congress is responsible for providing the officers and I have faith that Congress will be successful.
Some consider you a strict disciplinarian. Is that an accurate assessment?
I was trained in British military rules and codes of conduct written by officers who felt responsible for their men. The rules are based on saving lives and as long as I command, they will be enforced.
Congress provided you with regulations that appear more lenient than some of your rules. Won’t that be a problem?
Congress views the men who join militia as private citizens protecting their lives and property against a foreign enemy and they should be treated with deference. For instance, many are farmers and they must see to their planting and harvest. Their time and place of service should reflect those occasions. Congress also recognizes the absolute need for a standing army made up of men who enlist for the duration of the war. These are the soldiers who will make up the bulk of our army.
Many believe you have a critical shortage of qualified officers. Won’t your lack of experience make it nearly impossible to defeat the world’s best trained and most successful army?
It would be a mistake to consider us inexperienced. Many of our officers fought in the French and Indian wars. It would also be a mistake to underestimate our determination. Our country is being invaded. We have much to lose in this conflict, much more than our adversary.
Thank you, General Washington, for your time and your comments.
You’re most welcome.
REBELS INVADE CANADA!
Schuyler Commands Expedition
The Canadian peasants began to shew a disposition little to be expected from a conquered people ... The agents and friends of the (rebel) Congress had not been idle - by word and by writing they had poisoned their minds - they were brought to believe that the (British) Minister had laid down a plan to enslave them ... that they would be continually at war, far removed from their wives and families.
Excerpt from the Journal of
Thomas Ainslee
Schuyler
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: July 11, 1775. Rumors of a British attack on New York City and the sighting of British troops along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain prompted the rebel Congress in Philadelphia to initiate an armed expedition into the Canadian territories early this week.
One thousand Continental troops under the command of Major General Philip Schuyler will march from Cambridge to re-enforce the rebel held Fort Ticonderoga, located on Lake Champlain, approximately 200 miles northeast of Cambridge. The expedition is expected to continue north toward British occupied Montreal and Quebec.
Announcement of the expedition came on the heels of rebel intelligence reports suggesting that British Commander Gage is planning to re-enforce his garrisons at St. Johns and Quebec. General Gage has approximately 1,000 troops scattered throughout the territory under the command of Lt. General Sir Guy Carleton, British Governor of Canada.
Rebel leaders believe that control of the Hudson River from Lake Champlain is crucial to a successful New York campaign. The Hudson flows south from Lake Champlain to New York, and divides the northern colonies in two. It could serve as a vital supply line for an attacking army.
The majority of General Schuyler’s army is made up of militia from the New England colonies. The Provincial Congress of New York has yet to raise a regiment in their colony.
General Schuyler was ordered to, as much as possible, obtain approval of the colonists in Canada before he launches a major offensive. Though it is believed the Canadian settlers are sympathetic to their southern neighbors, Congress has concerns about adverse reaction to turning Canada into a battlefield in the event of an all out war.
Another concern for the rebels is the wording of several treaties the British have with the Iroquois Indian nation in Canada. If the treaties obligate these Native Americans into a war against Schuyler’s forces, local colonial support would seem imperative to his success.
CONGRESS CREATES WAR DEPARTMENT
