The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
March 5, 1776
As the day breaks in Boston, British commanders are stunned to see what the Americans have pulled off in the dead of night; they have occupied Dorchester Heights without a sound nor a betrayal of their plan.
A stunned General William Howe exclaims, “My God, these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months.”
The British forces scramble to prepare the American position. But an act of nature, or perhaps God, thwarts any effort they can muster, when a sudden snowstorm whites out both their visibility, as well as any potential maneuvers.
In his book 1776, the historian David McCullough cited a letter that was attributed to an unnamed “officer of distinction at Boston,” whose account of that day appeared in an April edition of a London newspaper:
“This is, I believe, likely to prove as important a day to the British empire as any in our annals. We underwent last night a very severe cannonade, which damaged a number of houses, and killed some men. This morning at day break we discovered two redoubts on the hills of Dorchester Point, and two smaller works on their flanks. They were all raised during the night, with an expedition equal to that of the genie belonging to Aladdin’s wonderful lamp. From these hills they commanded the whole town, so that we must drive them from their post, or desert the place.”
ON THIS DAY: THOUSANDS OF PATRIOTS GO UNDETECTED TOWARD DORCHESTER HEIGHTS
It has long been suspected that “officer of distinction” was indeed Howe, who was thrown into “utmost consternation” at the discovery.
Admiral Molyneux Shuldham sent an urgent message to Howe from the harbor: not a ship in the harbor could remain unless the rebels were removed from their position.