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 18, 1776
They are gone. All 11,000 of them. The British soldiers and fleet, along with the loyalists who had seized the city of Boston for just under a year, have all sailed away. Gen. George Washington has waited, planned and plotted for this day and yet he still cannot believe that it has happened.
Washington rides quietly into the city of Boston after yesterday’s British evacuation. All is quiet.
The town is not as ruined as he feared. However, it is scarred. Stores are still open, although wheat, beans, plants, hay, and horses are strewn everywhere.
Washington finds himself impressed by the strength of the fortifications. Later in the day, he will pen his observations to Col. Reed, describing the place as “amazingly strong … almost impregnable.”
He sends the note off the next morning:
George Washington to Lt. Col. Joseph Reed
To Lt. Col. Joseph Reed
Cambridge 19 March 1776.
My dear Sir,
We have, at length, got the Ministerial Troops in this Quarter on Ship board. Our possessing Dorchester Heights, as mentioned in my last, put them (after they had given over the design of attacking us) into a most violent hurry to Imbark, which was still further precipitated on Sunday Morning by our breaking Ground on Nukes hill (the point nearest the Town) the night before. The whole Fleet is now in Nantasket & Kings Roads waiting for, I know not what, unless to give us a parting blow; for which I shall endeavour to be prepared.
The hurry in which they have Imbark’d is inconceivable, they have not, from a rough estimate, left less than 30,000£s worth of his Majestys Property behind them, in Provision’s and Stores, Vessels, Rugs Blankets &ca—near 30 pieces of fine heavy Cannon are left (Spiked, which we are now drilling) a Mortar or two—Shott Shells &ca in abundance—All their Artillery Carts, Powder Waggens, &ca which they have been 12 Months about are left with such abuse as their hurry would permit them to bestow; whilst others, after a little cutting & hacking were thrown into the harbour & now visiting every shore—In short you can Scarce form an Idea of the matter. Valuable Vessels are left with only a Mast or Bowsprit cut down—some of them loaded1—their Works all standing—upon examination of which, especially that at Bunkers Hill, we find amazingly strong. 20,000 Men could not have carried it against one thousd had that work been well defended. The Town of Boston was almost impregnable every avenue fortified.
I have already Marchd the Riflemen men, and five Regiments for New York—I cannot spare more whilst the Fleet hover in our harbour—so soon as they are fairly gone, more will follow with all expedition, as I shall do myself, as I suppose New York to be the object in view. I write you in much haste & therefore can only add that I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt & Affecte Servt
Go: Washington
I impatiently wish to see you.
ON THIS DAY: 11,000 BRITISH TROOPS EVACUATE BOSTON AND WASHINGTON FEARS A RUSE
Nicholas Cooke, the governor of Rhode Island, is pensive. He has good reason to fear that the British fleet that abandoned Boston is now heading toward his colony. Cooke presses Washington to send troops his way to guard against the feared attack.
After evacuating Boston the day before, the British fleet commanded by Gen. William Howe sails instead to Halifax, Nova Scotia, hoping to use the harbor town as a staging ground to regroup and prepare for a campaign in New York City.