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Chapter 2: Son of Massachusetts, and a Father of America
Artemas Ward was a distinguished man, and it makes sense as to why he would be put to charge of the fledgling Continental Army. A Harvard graduate, Ward held several political offices before being enlisted into the French and Indian War, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel; it was this powerful combination of politician and well-seasoned military man that made him a notorious man within Massachusetts Bay.
During the 1760s, in light of increasing taxation on American goods, Ward was the second on the floor of the General Courts of the Massachusetts Bay to critique the oncoming wave of British taxation (the first to criticize these was James Otis); his regiment from the French and Indian War, the Third Regiment, approached him on the tides of revolution, having elected him to lead them. The Massachusetts Bay Committee of Safety, part of a system of safety committees who purposed themselves with forming anti-Royal shadow governments, titled Ward as the General and Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Bay Militia.
Following the Battle of Lexington and Concord, revolutionary forces began to siege the City of Boston. Ward, sick and bedridden, gave orders while in bed and out of it once his condition improved. As militias from New Hampshire and Connecticut joined the Massachusetts Militia, they all were under order from Ward. During the Siege of Boston, Ward did not work alone; by his side was General Prescott (who died in Bunker Hill, during the Siege), and General Putnam.
Ward and the so-called "Old Put" became fast friends and allies due to their cooperation in Boston. Though this seems odd, comparing their contrasting personalities - Ward with his stoic, stern and powerful voice and temperament, and Putnam with his loud, boisterous, and practically populist ways. Both would amass massive amounts of respect over the course of the Revolution - be it Ward for his personal sacrifice and dedication towards achieving an independent America, or for Old Put, known for commanding his armies from the front and taking damage with it.
The Continental Congresses were the political end of the Revolution. While the common man fought, the educated man plotted; while Bostonians forced a British evacuation, the Congress planned for Independence, and so on; even though the idea of a Continental Army was proposed in the First Congress, it was largely dismissed. Now, however, it was wartime, and it was certainly needed now. The major question that rang out was who would run this army, and eyes were drawn towards the clever, experienced Massachusettsian who was seen as a symbol of the revolutionary movement. To ensure the loyalty of the dissimilar Southern Colonies, Charles Lee was selected as the Second-in-Command of the Continental Army; throughout most of the Revolution, Lee would focus on the Southern Theater of the Revolution, while Ward focused on the Northern Theater. The two would overlap, but not too often. Putnam was also placed as a major player of the Continental Army - a Major General. The amount of major generals would increase over the course of the war, and came to include foreign individuals such as von Steuben and Lafayette.
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A/N: The War has now fully begun! I probably won't tackle too much of Ward's campaigns, but I will talk about a couple theaters which will be fundamentally different than real life.
Chapter 2:
Son of Massachusetts, and a Father of America
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"Universally esteemed, beloved by his Nation & by his Army; he was a true Patriot."
-John Adams, "In Memoriam: Artemas Ward"
Son of Massachusetts, and a Father of America
---
"Universally esteemed, beloved by his Nation & by his Army; he was a true Patriot."
-John Adams, "In Memoriam: Artemas Ward"
Artemas Ward was a distinguished man, and it makes sense as to why he would be put to charge of the fledgling Continental Army. A Harvard graduate, Ward held several political offices before being enlisted into the French and Indian War, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel; it was this powerful combination of politician and well-seasoned military man that made him a notorious man within Massachusetts Bay.
During the 1760s, in light of increasing taxation on American goods, Ward was the second on the floor of the General Courts of the Massachusetts Bay to critique the oncoming wave of British taxation (the first to criticize these was James Otis); his regiment from the French and Indian War, the Third Regiment, approached him on the tides of revolution, having elected him to lead them. The Massachusetts Bay Committee of Safety, part of a system of safety committees who purposed themselves with forming anti-Royal shadow governments, titled Ward as the General and Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Bay Militia.
Following the Battle of Lexington and Concord, revolutionary forces began to siege the City of Boston. Ward, sick and bedridden, gave orders while in bed and out of it once his condition improved. As militias from New Hampshire and Connecticut joined the Massachusetts Militia, they all were under order from Ward. During the Siege of Boston, Ward did not work alone; by his side was General Prescott (who died in Bunker Hill, during the Siege), and General Putnam.
Ward and the so-called "Old Put" became fast friends and allies due to their cooperation in Boston. Though this seems odd, comparing their contrasting personalities - Ward with his stoic, stern and powerful voice and temperament, and Putnam with his loud, boisterous, and practically populist ways. Both would amass massive amounts of respect over the course of the Revolution - be it Ward for his personal sacrifice and dedication towards achieving an independent America, or for Old Put, known for commanding his armies from the front and taking damage with it.
The Continental Congresses were the political end of the Revolution. While the common man fought, the educated man plotted; while Bostonians forced a British evacuation, the Congress planned for Independence, and so on; even though the idea of a Continental Army was proposed in the First Congress, it was largely dismissed. Now, however, it was wartime, and it was certainly needed now. The major question that rang out was who would run this army, and eyes were drawn towards the clever, experienced Massachusettsian who was seen as a symbol of the revolutionary movement. To ensure the loyalty of the dissimilar Southern Colonies, Charles Lee was selected as the Second-in-Command of the Continental Army; throughout most of the Revolution, Lee would focus on the Southern Theater of the Revolution, while Ward focused on the Northern Theater. The two would overlap, but not too often. Putnam was also placed as a major player of the Continental Army - a Major General. The amount of major generals would increase over the course of the war, and came to include foreign individuals such as von Steuben and Lafayette.
---
A/N: The War has now fully begun! I probably won't tackle too much of Ward's campaigns, but I will talk about a couple theaters which will be fundamentally different than real life.
- Oliveia
- Word Count: 590