Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/139

 Early History of the Bermuda Islands.

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��late fellow subjects. Bermuda suffered great want in consequence, for at this period, instead of exporting provisions the island had become dependent on the continent for the means of subsist- ence. This, together with the fact that many of the people possessed near relatives engaged in the struggle with the crowTi, tended to destroy good feel- ings towards the British government. These circumstances must be consid- ered in order to judge fairly of the fol- lowing transaction, which has always been regarded to have cast a stain upon the patriotism and loyalty of the Bermudians.

At the outbreak of the American Rev- olution, t^vo battles were fought in the vicinity of Boston — Lexmgton and Bun- ker Hill, after which all intercourse with the surrounding country ceased, and Boston was reduced to a state of siege. Civil war commenced in all its horrors ; the sundering of social ties ; the burning of peaceful homes ; the butchery of kin- died and friends.

Washington was appointed by the Continental Congress, Commander-in- Chief of the American forces, and on July 3» i775> two weeks after the battle of Bunker Hill, he took formal com- mand of the army at Cambridge. In a letter to the President of Congress notifying him of his safe arrival there, he made the following statement. " Upon the article of ammunition, I must re- echo the former complaints on this sub- ject. We are so exceedingly destitute that our artillery will be of little use without a supply both large and seasonable. What we have must be reserved for the small arms, and that well managed with the utmost frugality." A few weeks later General Washington wrote the following letter on the same subject.*

♦Writings of George Washington, by J. Sparks, vol, nj. page 47-

��TO GOVERNOR COOKE, OF RHODE

ISL.\ND.

Camp at Cambridge, 4 August, 1775. Sir,

^(■ *■ * * * -i^ it

I am now, Sir, in strict confidence, to ac- quaint you, that our necessities in the articles of powder and lead are so great, as to require an immediate supply. I must earnestly entreat that you w ill fall upon some measure to forward every pound of each in your colony that caa possibly be spared. It is not within the pro- priety or safety cf such a correspondence to say what I might on this subject. It is sufficient that the case calls loudly for the most strenuous exertions of every friend of his country, and does not admit of the least delay. No quantity, however small, is beneath notice, and, should any arrive, I beg it may be forwarded as soon as possible.

But a supply of this kind is so precarious, not only from the danger of the enemy, but the opportunity of purchasing, that I have revolved in my mind every other possible chance, and listened to every proposition on the subject which could give the smallest hope. Among others I have had one mentioned which has some weight with me, as well as the other officers to whom I have proposed it. A Mr. Harris has lately come from Bermuda, where there is a very considerable magazine of powder in a remote part of the island ; and the inhabitants are well disposed, not only to our cause in gen- eral, but to assist in this enterprise in particular. We understand there are two armed vessels in your province, commanded by men of known activity and spirit; one of which, it is proposed to despatch on this errand w ith such assistance as may be requisite. Harris is to go along, as the conductor of the enterprise, that we may avail ourselves of his knowledge of the island; but without any command. I am very sensible, that at first view the project may appear hazard- ous; and its success must depend on the concur- rence of many circumstances; but we aie in a situation, which requires us to run all risks. No danger is to be considered, when put in competition with the magnitude of the cause, and the absolute necessity we are under of in- creasing our stock. Enterprises, which appear chimerical, often prove successful from that very circumstance. Common sense and pru- dence will suggest vigilance and care, where the danger is plain and obvious; but where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy

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