
Transcriber’s Note:
LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
CHAPTER I. WASHINGTON TAKES COMMAND OF THE ARMIES—SKETCH OF GENERAL LEE—CHARACTERS OF THE BRITISH COMMANDERS, HOWE, CLINTON, AND BURGOYNE—SURVEY OF THE CAMPS FROM PROSPECT HILL—THE CAMPS CONTRASTED—DESCRIPTION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY—RHODE ISLAND TROOPS—CHARACTER OF GENERAL GREENE—WASHINGTON REPRESENTS THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE ARMY—HIS APOLOGY FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS—GOVERNOR TRUMBULL—CRAGIE HOUSE, WASHINGTON’S HEAD-QUARTERS.
CHAPTER II. QUESTIONS OF MILITARY RANK—POPULARITY OF PUTNAM—ARRANGEMENTS AT HEAD-QUARTERS—COLONEL MIFFLIN AND JOHN TRUMBULL, AIDES-DE-CAMP—JOSEPH REED, WASHINGTON’S SECRETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL FRIEND—GATES AS ADJUTANT-GENERAL—HAZARDOUS SITUATION OF THE ARMY—STRENGTHENING OF THE DEFENCES—EFFICIENCY OF PUTNAM—RAPID CHANGES—NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORCES—RIGID DISCIPLINE—LEE AND HIS CANE—HIS IDEA AS TO STRONG BATTALIONS—ARRIVAL OF RIFLE COMPANIES—DANIEL MORGAN AND HIS SHARP SHOOTERS—WASHINGTON DECLINES TO DETACH TROOPS TO DISTANT POINTS FOR THEIR PROTECTION—HIS REASONS FOR SO DOING.
CHAPTER III. WASHINGTON’S OBJECT IN DISTRESSING BOSTON—SCARCITY AND SICKNESS IN THE TOWN—A STARTLING DISCOVERY—SCARCITY OF POWDER IN THE CAMP—ITS PERILOUS SITUATION—ECONOMY OF AMMUNITION—CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LEE AND BURGOYNE—CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND GAGE—THE DIGNITY OF THE PATRIOT ARMY ASSERTED.
CHAPTER IV. DANGERS IN THE INTERIOR—MACHINATIONS OF THE JOHNSON FAMILY—RIVALRY OF ETHAN ALLEN AND BENEDICT ARNOLD—GOVERNMENT PERPLEXITIES ABOUT THE TICONDEROGA CAPTURE—MEASURES TO SECURE THE PRIZE—ALLEN AND ARNOLD AMBITIOUS OF FURTHER LAURELS—PROJECTS FOR THE INVASION OF CANADA—ETHAN ALLEN AND SETH WARNER HONORED BY CONGRESS—ARNOLD DISPLACED BY A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY—HIS INDIGNATION—NEWS FROM CANADA—THE REVOLUTION TO BE EXTENDED INTO THAT PROVINCE—ENLISTMENT OF GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS—SCHUYLER AT TICONDEROGA—STATE OF AFFAIRS THERE—ELECTION FOR OFFICERS OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS—ETHAN ALLEN DISMOUNTED—JOINS THE ARMY AS A VOLUNTEER—PREPARATIONS FOR THE INVASION OF CANADA—GENERAL MONTGOMERY—INDIAN CHIEFS AT CAMBRIDGE—COUNCIL FIRE—PLAN FOR AN EXPEDITION AGAINST QUEBEC—DEPARTURE OF TROOPS FROM TICONDEROGA—ARRIVAL AT ISLE AUX NOIX.
CHAPTER V. A CHALLENGE DECLINED—A BLOW MEDITATED—A CAUTIOUS COUNCIL OF WAR—PREPARATION FOR THE QUEBEC EXPEDITION—BENEDICT ARNOLD THE LEADER—ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS—DEPARTURE—GENERAL SCHUYLER ON THE SOREL—RECONNOITRES ST. JOHNS—CAMP AT ISLE AUX NOIX—ILLNESS OF SCHUYLER—RETURNS TO TICONDEROGA—EXPEDITION OF MONTGOMERY AGAINST ST. JOHNS—LETTER OF ETHAN ALLEN—HIS DASH AGAINST MONTREAL—ITS CATASTROPHE—A HERO IN IRONS—CORRESPONDENCE OF WASHINGTON WITH SCHUYLER AND ARNOLD—HIS ANXIETY ABOUT THEM.
CHAPTER VI. BRITISH IN BOSTON SEND OUT CRUISERS—DEPREDATIONS OF CAPTAIN WALLACE ALONG THE COAST—TREASON IN THE CAMP—ARREST OF DR. CHURCH—HIS TRIAL AND FATE—CONFLAGRATION OF FALMOUTH—IRRITATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY—FITTING OUT OF VESSELS OF WAR—EMBARKATION OF GENERAL GAGE FOR ENGLAND—COMMITTEE FROM CONGRESS—CONFERENCES WITH WASHINGTON—RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS TO CARRY ON THE WAR—RETURN OF SECRETARY REED TO PHILADELPHIA.
CHAPTER VIII. AFFAIRS IN CANADA—CAPTURE OF FORT CHAMBLEE—SIEGE OF ST. JOHNS—MACLEAN AND HIS HIGHLANDERS—MONTGOMERY ON THE TREATMENT OF ETHAN ALLEN—REPULSE OF CARLETON—CAPITULATION OF THE GARRISON OF ST. JOHNS—GENEROUS CONDUCT OF MONTGOMERY—MACLEAN RE-EMBARKS FOR QUEBEC—WEARY STRUGGLE OF ARNOLD THROUGH THE WILDERNESS—DEFECTION OF COLONEL ENOS—ARNOLD IN THE VALLEY OF THE CHAUDIERE—HIS ARRIVAL OPPOSITE QUEBEC—SURRENDER OF MONTREAL—ESCAPE OF CARLETON—HOME SICKNESS OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS.
In this middle volume, Washington emerges from the tumult of taking command of a fledgling Continental Army stretched across cramped, disease‑ridden camps. The narrative follows his early strategic decisions, the harsh realities of supply shortages, and the uneasy alliances with figures such as General Lee, Putnam, and the newly appointed aides. Readers glimpse the tension between discipline and morale as the young nation grapples with British offensives, internal rivalries, and the daunting prospect of an invasion into Canada.
The book then turns to the risky Quebec expedition, detailing the bold yet precarious plans of leaders like Montgomery and Arnold, and the spirited involvement of the Green Mountain Boys. Through letters, councils of war, and vivid accounts of battlefield setbacks, we see Washington’s cautious pragmatism as he balances bold action with the welfare of his troops. The volume captures the gritty day‑to‑day challenges that shaped the revolutionary effort before the conflict’s later decisive turning points.
Language
en
Duration
~14 hours (814K characters)
Release date
2025-09-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1783–1859
Best known for "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," this early American writer helped turn local folklore into lasting classics. His mix of humor, atmosphere, and storytelling charm made him one of the first U.S. authors to win a wide international audience.
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