The Sugar Act
The Stamp Act
The Formation of the Sons of Liberty
The Townshend Acts
Non-consumption and Non-importation
The Boston Massacre
The Formation of the Committees of Correspondence
The Boston Tea Party
The Coercive Acts
The First Continental Congress
Lexington and Concord
The Second Continental Congress
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Washington Takes Command of the Continental Army
Declarations of IndependenceBack to Washington Taking Command of the Continental Army
Letter from John Sullivan to John Adams, 15 March 1776
"Preparing for their Departure"
The work of men like Henry Knox and Jeduthan Baldwin looks like it is about to pay off. There is no easy way for the British Army to break through Washington's fortified lines, and after months of privations and shortages, Boston is no longer a comfortable place to sit. When the British wake up one morning to find a large number of Henry Knox's cannon pointed directly at them from Dorchester Heights, hasty action is required to salvage the situation.
The work of men like Henry Knox and Jeduthan Baldwin looks like it is about to pay off. There is no easy way for the British Army to break through Washington's fortified lines, and after months of privations and shortages, Boston is no longer a comfortable place to sit. When the British wake up one morning to find a large number of Henry Knox's cannon pointed directly at them from Dorchester Heights, hasty action is required to salvage the situation.
Questions to Consider
1. What appears to be the relationship between John Sullivan and John Adams? What was John Sullivan's role in the evacuation of Boston?
2. What tone does Sullivan take in telling about the British flight from Boston?
3. What details does he think it important to record?
Further Exploration
4. What appears to be his opinion of the Congress in the last paragraph? Have you seen this sentiment elsewhere? In which documents?
See1. What appears to be the relationship between John Sullivan and John Adams? What was John Sullivan's role in the evacuation of Boston?
2. What tone does Sullivan take in telling about the British flight from Boston?
3. What details does he think it important to record?
Further Exploration
4. What appears to be his opinion of the Congress in the last paragraph? Have you seen this sentiment elsewhere? In which documents?