George Washington
9,000 British troops and Loyalists began a chaotic ten-day evacuation of Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
On March 17, 9,000 British troops and Loyalists began a chaotic ten-day evacuation of Boston aboard 120 ships. Soon after, Washington entered the city with 500 men, with explicit orders not to plunder the city. He ordered vaccinations against smallpox to great effect, as he did later in Morristown, New Jersey.