"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

"-SAM:" OR, THE HISTORY OF MYSTERY.
purchase lands in Virginia. For some unknown private
cause, he was bitterly hostile to the British ministry. Congress undertook to indemnify him for any pecuniary loss he
might sustain by entering into their service, and subsequently
advanced him $30,000 for that purpose. Before accepting
this American appointment, he resigned his British commission in a formal letter to the Secretary of War. A strenuous
opposition was made in Congress to the appointment of both
Lee and Gates. Washington urged it on account of their
military knowledge and experience, but they both occasioned
him afterward a great deal of trouble.
Pomeroy, Heath, and Thomas, of Massachusetts; Wooster
and Spencer, of Connecticut; and Greene, of Rho(le Island,
already holding colony commissions as general officers, were
commissioned as brigadiers. To these were added Sullivan,
a member of Congress from New Hampshire, and AIontgomery, of New York, a native of the north of Ireland.
Though bred a lawyer, and without military experience,
Sullivan soon proved himself an able officer. Montgomery
had served with credit in a subaltern rank at the siege of
Louisburg, and under Wolfe at Quebec. Within two or three
years past he had disposed of his commission, had married
into the Livingston family, and settled in New York, and,
along with Schuyler, had been recommended for military
rank by the New York Provincial Congress, of which he was
a member. The colonels and other inferior officers in the
camp before Boston were confirmed in their commands, and
presenltly received continental commissions. The selection
of general officers by Congress occasioned a good deal of
hoart-burning, particularly the Connecticut appointments.
Wooster and Spencer, who had led regiments in the last
French war, complained loudly at being superseded by Putnam, who had not risen in that service beyond the rank of a
lieutenant colonel. A representation on this subject was
made to Congress by the Connecticut officers and the Connecticut Assembly. Pomeroy, from some disgust, had already
retired, nor did he accept his continental commission.
Before these new arrangements were completed, an important battle had been already fought. Largely reinforced by
the arrival of additional troops, under Generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton, distinguished and accomplished officers,
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