adapted from true stories from history and biography
by nathaniel hawthorne

"washington had not been long at the head of the army," proceeded grandfather, "before his soldiers thought as highly of him, as if he had led them to a hundred victories. they knew that he was the very man whom the country needed, and the only one who could bring them safely through the great contest against the might of england. they put entire confidence in his courage, wisdom, and integrity."
"and were not they eager to follow him against the british? " asked charley.
"doubtless they would have gone whithersoever his sword pointed the way,"answered grandfather; "and washington was anxious to make a decisive assault upon the enemy. but as the enterprise was very hazardous, he called a council of all the generals in the army. accordingly, they came from their different posts and were ushered into the reception room. the commander-in-chief arose from our great chair to greet them."
"when the generals were all assembled, washington consulted them about a plan for storming the english batteries1. but it was their unanimous opinion that so perilous an enterprise ought not to be attempted. the army, therefore, continued to besiege boston, preventing the enemy from obtaining supplies of provisions, but without taking any immediate measures to get possession of the town. in this manner, the summer, autumn, and winter passed away."
"many a night, doubtless," said grandfather, "after washington had been all day on horseback, he was meditating how to capture the british army, or drive it out of boston. once, when there was a hard frost, he formed a scheme to cross the charles river on the ice. but the other generals could not be persuaded that there was any prospect of success."
"what were the british doing, all this time? " inquired charley.
"they lay idle in the town," replied grandfather. "general gage had been recalled to england, and was succeeded by sir william howe. the british army, and the inhabitants of boston, were now in great distress. being shut up in the town so long, they had consumed almost all their provisions, and burnt up all their fuel. the soldiers tore down the old north church, and used its rotten boards and timbers for firewood. to heighten their distress, the small pox broke out. they probably lost far more men by cold, hunger, and sickness than had been slain at lexington and bunker hill.
"at length," continued grandfather, "in march, 1776, general washington, who had now a good supply of powder, began a terrible cannonade and bombardment from dorchester heights. one of the cannon balls which he fired into the town struck the tower of the brattle street church, where it may still be seen. sir william howe made preparations to cross over in boats, and drive the americans from their batteries, but was prevented by a violent gale and storm. general washington next erected a battery on nook's hill, so near the enemy that it was impossible for them to remain in boston any longer."
"hurrah! hurrah! " cried charley, clapping his hands triumphantly. "i wish i had been there, to see how sheepish the englishmen looked."
"alas! for the poor tories! " said grandfather. "until the very last morning after washington's troops had shown themselves on nook's hill, these unfortunate persons could not believe that the audacious rebels, as they called the americans, would ever prevail against king george's army. but, when they saw the british soldiers preparing to embark on board of the ships of war, then they knew that they had lost their country.

1 batteries-entrenched positions from which an army can hold ground and bombard an enemy
10
what immediately preceded the decision to not directly assault the british positions in boston?