"
The term of all the volunteers in Washington's any expired by the
end of 1775, so that he had to create a new army during the siege
of Boston. He spoke scornfully of an enemy so little enterprising
as to remain supine during the process. But probably the British
were wise to avoid a venture inland and to remain in touch with
their fleet. Washington made them uneasy when he drove away the
cattle from the neighborhood. Soon beef was selling in Boston for
as much as eighteen pence a pound. Food might reach Boston in
ships but supplies even by sea were insecure, for the Americans
soon had privateers manned by seamen familiar with New England
waters and happy in expected gains from prize money. The British
were anxious about the elementary problem of food. They might
have made Washington more uncomfortable by forays and alarms.
Only reluctantly, however, did Howe, who took over the command on
October 10, 1775, admit to himself that this was a real war. He
still hoped for settlement without further bloodshed. Washington
was glad to learn that the British were laying in supplies of
coal for the winter. It meant that they intended to stay in
Boston, where, more than in any other place, he could make
trouble for them.
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