68 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



had neither medicines, suitable provisions, or 

 barracks ; sick, weak, and dejected, tliey were 

 scattered all around the city. In this state was 

 the American army when Thomas took the 

 command ; and on the first of May, there were 

 not nine hundred men fit for duty. 



Thomas however wished to put his army in 

 motion, and attempt something against the 

 enemy. The ice about the city was in a great 

 measure glare, and the river would now admit 

 of navigation » A party of the Americans went 

 below the city and fitted out a fireship : On 

 the third of May they took the advantage of the 

 flood, and at ten o'clock in the evening, sent her 

 up to set fire to the shipping in the harbour. 

 At the same time the army was drawn up, to 

 avail themselves of the confusion that was ex- 

 pected from the fire, and to assault the city if 

 circumstances should prove favourable. The 

 fireship coming from beioM^ did not at first give 

 any alarm, it was supposed to be for the relief 

 of the city. Being night, the ship arrived near 

 to the vessels in the harbour, before it was dis- 

 covered to be an enemy. The British then 

 commenced a very heavy fire from the city ; 

 the people on board the fire ship lighted the 

 train, her sails took fire and in a moment ^he 

 was in a blaze ; but the tide beginning to ebb, she 

 was carried dovv'u the river, and the men escaped 

 in their boats. Thomas nowperceivedthatnothing 

 cbuld be done to any eficct against the enemy, by 

 an -cwmy in the conditionto whichhiswasreduced, 

 and that their provision would last for no longer 

 a time than three •'Viys. The season was also ap- 

 proaching in v.hicii troops would not fail to arrive 



