On the Forts around Boston. 347 
21. At Nook Hill, near South Boston bridge, may be 
seen the last breast-work which was thrown up by the for- 
ces of America, during this arduous contest. Its appear- 
ance on the morning of March 17, 1776, induced the de- 
parture of the British troops from Boston in a few hours, 
and thus placed the seal to the independence of the New- 
England States. But those who would wish to see this en- 
trenchment, must visit it soon. ‘The enemy have attacked 
it on three sides, and are proceeding by sap and by mine; 
part of the fosse is already destroyed, and the rampart nods 
to its fall. | 
If these fortresses should be regarded with indifference, 
let us consider that the seige of Boston was one of the 
most prominent features in the war of the Revolution. The 
forces of England were, in the commencement of the con- 
test, besieged, and the plans for the Independence of Amer- 
ica were matured under the shelter of these ramparts. 
In a military point of view it presents conspicuous fea- 
tures: an island, or rather a peninsula, besieged from the 
continent. Accomplished generals, and brave and discip- 
lined troops on one side, and undisciplined, but numerous 
forces on the other. At the same time, the army of Eng- 
land did all that men, in such a situation could attempt. If 
they had obtained possession of any part of the lines, by the 
sacrifice of an immense number of lives, still no advantage 
could have been gained by advancing into a country where 
every man was a foe, every stone wall arampart, and every 
hill a fortress. _Whenwe examine the extent of the lines, 
(more than twelve miles,) the numerous forts covering eve- 
ry hill, redoubts and batteries erected upon every rising 
ground, ramparts and entrenchments defending every val- 
ley, we are surprised at the immensity of the works con- 
structed, and the labour required to complete them. Noth- 
ing but the enthusiasm of liberty could have enabled the 
men of America to construct such works. In history they 
are equalled only by the lines and forts raised by Julius Cesar 
to surround the army of Pompey, of which the description 
in Lucan’s Pharsalia will justly apply to the lines before 
Boston : 
