After the Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775, British soldiers in Massachusetts Bay repeatedly clashed with Patriot militias. But following Gen. George Washington’s arrival in July to assume command of those forces, a stalemate settled over Boston and dragged on through the winter.
The British retained control of the city and strengthened their defenses with additional troops and heavy artillery. Washington initially planned to assault Boston and force the British out before his soldiers’ enlistments expired on Dec. 31. He was forced to abandon those plans, however, after discovering that his army faced a critical shortage of gunpowder and lacked artillery powerful enough to break the British position….