Washington, Knox, and the Guns That Drove the British From Boston

How Henry Knox’s ‘Noble Train of Artillery’ broke the siege of Boston in March 1776.

An ox team led by Colonel Henry Knox hauling cannon toward Boston as part of the “noble train of artillery," 1775. National Archives. Public Domain

In early March 1776, independence fever was spreading throughout the 13 colonies. In Boston, the British Army maintained its occupation, with the Royal Navy controlling the harbor, ensuring that Gen. William Howe’s forces remained supplied despite the ongoing siege.

For Gen. George Washington, whose patience with Britain had long since run out, the time had come to force them out of the city once and for all.