326 Boy Scouts signod at Paris, .France, September 3, x785, and November 55 of that yeax, known in history as "Evacuation Day," the British took their departure down the bay of New York
harbor and America was free.
Now do we find ourselves at the fireside of American pa~ triotism. Here is Washington. He is ? V'n?n?n, and the American people know him at this time as Colonel Washington. It is the x3th day of June, x775, and the second Continental Congress is in session at Philadelphia. John Adams of Massachusetts has the ttoor. He is to show hlm.?If at this time the master statesman. Justly has he been called the "Colossus of the Revolution." On his way to Independence Hall this morning he meets his cousin, Samuel Adams, and tells him what he is going to do. "We must," he says, "act on this matter at once. We must make Congress declare for or against something. I'll tell you what I am going to do. I am determined this very morning to make a direct motion that Congress shall adopt the army before Boston, and appoint the Virglni?n, Colonel Washington, commander of' it." Acl?m.? is now stating to the Congress the gravity of the situation; he points out the necessity of immediate action- the colonies must be united, the army must be brought together, disciplined, and trained for service, and, under Congress, a fitting commander appointed. "Such a gentleman," he said, "I have in mind. I mention no names, but every gentleman here knows him at once as a brave soldier and a man of affairs. He .is a gentleman from Virginia, one of this body, and well known to all of us. He is a gentleman of skill and excellent universal character and would command the approbation of all the colonies better than any other person in the Union." George Washington is in the hall. The eyes of all Congress have turned toward him. He is surprised, con- fu?d, and embarrassed, leaves his seat and hurries into Congress spent two days considering Adams's motion, for there were other men who h?d hoped for the appointment; but finally, on the ?$th of June, ?775, a ballot was taken, and Wa-?hington was unanimously elected commander~in-chief of the Continental Army. On July 5, x775, he took command of the army at Cam- bridge, Mass., and March ?7, x776, the British were expelled from Boston. ?d byGOO?[C
