Washington’s Boston Miracle

One of the greatest military miracles in USA history happened in March 1776 atop Dorchester Heights above Boston. The British were hemmed in, but the Colonists had too little fire power to attack. Henry Knox, a man whose only knowledge about war was what he had read in books, devised a plan to bring cannons and ammo from Fort Ticonderoga to make the Heights impregnable.

The army built the fortifications in one night. General Howe awoke the next morning to a vast array of cannons pointed down at him. His weapons could not fire high enough to reach the fortification. Howe quickly had to hoist a flag of surrender. Washington had won a bloodless victory.

A remarkable deliverance had been wrought, and Washington knew where credit belonged. He referred to the whole incident as "this most remarkable interposition of Providence." He set aside March 7 as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer "to implore the Lord and giver of all victory."

Washington wrote the General Assembly of Massachusetts to tell them of the victory. He gave the credit to God and offered this prayer, "May that Being who is powerful to save, and in whose hands is the fate of nations, look down with an eye of tender pity and compassion upon the whole of the United Colonies."

In utter disgrace, General Howe and the British vacated Boston on March 17.. Washington had a pastor lead the soldiers in a service of thanksgiving.


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