ay for
Halifax. His army felt its shame. "I do not know the thing so
desperate," wrote an officer, "I would not undertake, in order to change
our situation."[164] But in spite of the chagrin in the hearts of his
soldiers, and the despair in the breasts of the Tories, few of them ever
looked upon Boston again.

Before this time it had been ascertained that Boston was in no serious
danger from smallpox, and on the 20th the main body of the army marched
into Boston. It was an occasion of great happiness to the inhabitants,
and they "manifested a lively joy." Two days later the town was thrown
open to all comers, and once more, as before the Port Bill, entrance by
land or ferry was free.

The town was speedily examined in all particulars, and those who had
suffered by the siege were encouraged to bring in claims for damages. It
was found that, except for the absolute destruction of buildings for
fuel, the injury to houses was inconsiderable. Where the common soldiers
had lived, interiors were defaced; yet externally the houses of the town
looked much as they had before the siege. Where the officers had lived,
the dwellings had suffered little, and even the homes of the prominent
Whigs had not been injured. Abigail Adams wrote to her husband that
their house was "very dirty, but no other damage has been done to it."
She looked upon it as a new acquisition of property. Washington took
pains to write Hancock, who had been so ready to sacrifice his
belongings to the cause of the country, that his house, and even his
furniture and pictures, had received no damage worth mentioning.

To the immense satisfaction of all Whigs, many military stores were
found in the town. Most important were more than two hundred pieces of
ordnance, the larger part of which, though spiked, could soon be put
into serviceable condition. Balls and shells for the cannon and mortars
were found; provisions, horses and their provender, medicines in
quantity, and many other articles were discovered, amounting in value to
nearly forty thousand pounds. The booty of Brush of course swelled this
amount.

[Illustration: GOLD MEDAL COMMEMORATING WASHINGTON'S VICTORY]

The Whigs now might see their friends again, and for a short time
enjoyed military society of a new sort. John Andrews reports "nothing
but a continual round of company." "Last week," he recorded, "I had the
honor of General Washington with his lady, General Gates, Mr. Custos and
Lady, with aid