Ploughed Hill, Cobble Hill, and Lechmere's Point, were successively occupied and fortified.

His approaches were carried within half a mile of the works on Bunker's Hill; and his guns drove their floating batteries from their stations, and protected others constructed under his orders.
Hitherto, the object of the war had been a redress of grievances.

The language, that it was a war against a corrupt administration, had been carefully observed; and allegiance to the British crown was universally avowed.

The progress, however, of the public mind towards independence, though slow, was certain; and measures were necessarily taken, which apparently tended to that object.

Among these, was the act of establishing temporary governments in place of that revolutionary system which followed the suspension of the ancient institutions.
The first application on this subject was made by Massachusetts;[16] and her example was soon followed by other colonies.