"For as I have but one capital object in view, I could wish to make my conduct coincide with the wishes of mankind, as far as I can consistently; I mean, without departing from that great line of duty which, though hid under a cloud for some time, from a peculiarity of circumstances, may, nevertheless, bear a scrutiny." Thus he held fast to "the great line of duty," though bitterly tried the while by the news from Canada, where brilliant beginnings were coming to dismal endings, and cheered only by the arrival of his wife, who drove up one day in her coach and four, with the horses ridden by black postilions in scarlet and white liveries, much to the amazement, no doubt, of the sober-minded New England folk.
Light, however, finally began to break on the work about him.

Henry Knox, sent out for that purpose, returned safely with the guns captured at Ticonderoga, and thus heavy ordnance and gunpowder were obtained.

By the middle of February the harbor was frozen over, and Washington arranged to cross the ice and carry Boston by storm.
Again he was held back by his council, but this time he could not be stopped.

If he could not cross the ice he would go by land.

He had been slowly but surely advancing his works all winter, and now he determined on a decisive stroke.