USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston > Part 4
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11. After some time, the combatants were separated, and Mr Otis was led home, wounded and bleeding. He after- wards commenced an action at law, against Robinson, and the jury awarded him a verdict of £2000. This sum he generously returned, on receiving a suitable apology.
12. An event took place in February, 1770, which illus- trates the feelings of the time. The merchants of the town had agreed not to import British goods. Some, however, were so regardless of public opinion and interest, that they determined to pursue their trade as usual. They of course
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fell under the censure of their fellow citizens, and were ob- jects of contempt and hatred.
13. By the house of one of these men, a large wooden head had been fixed on a pole, ornamented with the carved faces of other importers. A despicable fellow, by the name of Richardson, tried to persuade some teamsters to run down this pole with their carts. They knew the meaning of the exhibition, however, and were wise enough to let it alone.
14. Richardson persisted in his folly, and at last excited the attention of a crowd of boys, who pelted him with stones and mud, till he was obliged to seek shelter in his own house. The little heroes had caught something of the angry spirit of their fathers, and were fond of taking liberties with the old fellows, who were too fond of their pence, to look after their rights. The shouts of the boys drew together quite a multitude. A quarrel ensued between the mob and Rich- ardson, which ended in his discharging a musket from his window, and another from his door.
15. By these random shots, a young man and a boy were severely wounded. On this the bells were all set to ringing, and a vast multitude was soon collected. Richardson, with a companion, was carried to Faneuil Hall, where he was examined and committed for trial. In the course of the evening the lad died, and three days afterwards his funeral was attended with great honors.
16. On his coffin were various Latin inscriptions, suitable to the feelings and character of the time. On the foot was
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a sentence which signified ' The snake lies hid in the grass ;' and on the head, 'Innocence nowhere safe.' The proces- sion was formed under Liberty Tree. It consisted of four or five hundred school-boys, walking two by two before the body ; about thirteen hundred citizens on foot, and thirty chaises and carriages.
17. This scene was very imposing, and was so arranged as to strike gloom into every heart. The papers of the fifth of March, which gave an account of the ceremony, also told of farther difficulties and quarrels between the soldiers and the people of the town. This day was to be marked by an event of more horror, than any which had yet befallen the inhabitants of Boston. The massacre, which then occurred, originated in a slight affray between three or four young men, and a soldier, who was stationed as sentinel, by a little alley which led to the barracks of the 14th regiment.
18. The main guard of the troops was stationed opposite the town-house ; and to this place they were all marched daily. A mob had been collected by the rencontre with the sentinel, and were ready for an attack even on the armed sol- diers. They shouted for the main guard, and soon found the way to the neighborhood of their station. One party found a single sentinel standing before the door of the cus- tom-house, which was in a building now occupied as a bank in State street.
19. It was a clear moon-light night, and there was some snow on the ground. As the mob approached, the sentinel
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retired to the door of the house, and knocked three or four times to apprise those within of the danger. Word was soon sent to the lieutenant of the main guard, of the expect- ed assault, and he dispatched a serjeant with six men, to the relief of the sentinel. Captain Preston immediately follow- ed them.
20. The party formed in a semi-circle about the steps of the custom house. Mr Knox, a bookseller, and afterwards a famous general of the revolution, went from the guard house with Preston, having his hand on his shoulder all the way down, and warning him of the consequences of firing upon the mob. By this time all the bells were ringing, and people collected from every quarter to ascertain what was going on. They pressed and crowded upon the soldiers, and some attacked them with pieces of snow and ice, and clubs, while from all sides were shouts of ' Fire, fire, if you dare.'
21. The soldiers at length commenced firing, and three of the citizens were killed on the spot. Two others were mor- tally wounded, and several were considerably injured. A cry was soon raised through the town of ' To arms, to arms, turn out with your guns,' and the drums were beating, and bells ringing, in all directions. The King's Council imme- diately assembled, and the people were assured that Captain Preston and his men should be delivered to the magistrates.
22. The funeral of the slain was attended with great cere- mony, and by an immense multitude ; the shops were closed,
Fifth of March.
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and all the bells were tolled in Boston, and the neighboring towns. The procession formed in King street, and march- ed through the town to the burial-ground, where the bodies were deposited in one grave.
23. In the course of a few days, all the troops were re- moved to the Castle. Captain Preston was tried and ac- quitted. The soldiers were soon after tried. They were defended by John Adams, and Josiah Quincy, Jr. Two were convicted of manslaughter, and the other six were ac- quitted. These acquittals were highly creditable to the citi- zens of the town. Even in the midst of a deep excitement and indignation, we see that they were governed only by the strictest sense of duty and justice.
CHAPTER XI.
Anecdote of the Boston boys and General Gage. Importa- tions of tea. Meeting of the inhabitants. Anecdote of the Tea Party. Closing of the port of Boston. Arrival of soldiers. Their depredations. Alarm. Provincial Con- gress.
1. IT was at some time during the stay of the British troops in Boston, that a circumstance occurred which displays the spirit of the Boston boys. In the winter time, the boys were in the habit of building hills of snow, and sliding from them to the pond on the Common. The English soldiers, in the love of mischief, found no objects too small for their malice, and destroyed all their works. They complained of this injury, and set about repairing it, but on their return from school, they found the snow-hills again demolished.
2. Several of them now waited on the British captain, and informed him of the misconduct of his soldiers. No regard was paid to their complaint, and it was at length
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resolved to call a meeting of the largest boys, and wait upon General Gage with a statement of their grievances. When the boys were conducted before the general, he asked, with some surprise, the occasion of their visit. 'We come, sir,' answered the leader, ' to ask for punishment on those who wrong us.'
3. ' Why, my little fellows,' replied the general, 'have your fathers been bringing you up rebels, and sent you here to talk rebellion ?' 'Nobody sent us, sir,' answered the first speaker, ' we have never abused or insulted your soldiers ; but they have spoiled our skating ground, and trodden down our snow-hills. We complained, and they only laughed at us. We told the captain, and he sent us away. Yesterday our works were again destroyed, and we can bear it no longer.'
4. General Gage looked at the boys in admiration, when turning to an officer by his side, he exclaimed, ' Good heav- ens ! the very children draw in a love of liberty with the air they breathe.' To the boys he added, 'you may go, my brave lads, and if any of my soldiers disturb you in future, they shall be severely punished.'
5. You remember that I told you in the last chapter, of a determination to abolish the use of tea. But there was still a good deal of this pleasant article consumed, and a fa- vorable license was granted to the English East India Com- pany, to export a large quantity of it to America. A num- ber of American merchants, at this time in London, were
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very eager to obtain the privilege of furnishing vessels to carry this obnoxious cargo. These facts became known in Boston early in the October of 1773, and meetings were im- mediately held in various parts of the town to prevent the landing of it.
, 6. When the tea arrived, the people resolved that it should be sent back immediately. About the middle of December, a large meeting was held at the Old South, at which at least two thousand men were present from the neighboring towns. At this meeting, Mr Rotch was ordered to get his tea ship ready for sea that day, and proceed directly to the governor and demand a pass to go by the Castle.
7. The governor at that time resided in Milton, at the dis- tance of seven or eight miles. Meanwhile the meeting ad- journed till three o'clock in the afternoon. Mr Rotch did not return till nearly six, and in the interval, Josiah Quin- cy Jr., addressed the assembly with much eloquence, on the importance of the present crisis. The answer of the gover- nor was, ' that for the honor of the laws, and from duty towards the king, he could not grant the permit until the vessel was regularly cleared.' .
8. A great commotion in the meeting followed this reply. Some one in the crowd exclaimed, ' Who knows how tea will mingle with salt water ?' There were about sixty per- sons present disguised in the manner of the Indians. One of their number at this moment raised the war-whoop, and the assembly immediately dispersed. Mr Samuel Adams cried
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out, that it was a trick of the enemy to disperse the meeting, and requested the people to keep their places. But the dis- guised Indians rushed to the wharf, and went on board the ships loaded with tea.
9. Here they set to work in earnest, with boldness and hearty good will, and in a little less than two hours, they had made tea of half the water in the dock. About two hundred and forty chests, with a hundred half chests, were staved and emptied over the sides of the vessels. The affair was conducted without disturbance, and no injury was done to any thing but the tea. You will find a picture of this, at the beginning of the book.
10. This affair took place almost under the guns of the Castle, and in the presence of several ships of war, at that time floating in the harbor. It is a little singular, that the British troops were not called in, to put a stop to it. The names of the men, who had the boldness and spirit to en- gage in this plan, have never all been made public. The last surviving member of the party recently died.
11. The news of this transaction was received in England with great indignation. A bill was passed in parliament, which enacted, that from and after the first of June, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping of goods, in the harbor of Boston, should be discontinued. This act occa- sioned great distress in the town. All business ceased. The poor were thrown out of employment, and the necessaries of life rose to a very high price. It would have been almost
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impossible for the very poor to have subsisted, if it had not been for the assistance and encouragement of the inhabit- ants of the neighboring towns.
12. During the summer of 1774, troops had been con- tinually arriving, and were employed in building fortifica- tions and barracks on the neck. The town's people would give them no aid in erecting these works, and laborers were hired from other places. Early in September two hun- dred of these soldiers sailed up the river Mystic, and stole from the powder-house on Quarry Hill, a large quantity of powder, which belonged to the province.
13. A number of the same party also went to Cambridge, and marched off with a couple of field-pieces. These out- rages raised a great alarm, and several thousand persons assembled in arms in Cambridge, and obliged all the indi- viduals, who were favorably disposed to the government, to forswear all offices under the new order of things.
14. General Gage was at this time governor, and had de- termined to assemble a General Court at Salem, on the fifth of October. The prevailing excitement alarmed him, and he deferred the meeting by proclamation. 'The representa- tives however appeared, assembled, and formed themselves into a provincial congress. This congress chose John Han- cock for chairman, and Benjamin Lincoln for clerk. They then adjourned, to meet at Concord, on the eleventh of the month.
15. This congress advised the people to supply them-
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selves with arms and ammunition. Governor Gage de- nounced the congress as an unlawful assembly, and one with whose recommendations it would be dangerous to com- ply. The same assembly, however, met again in December, and appointed a body which they termed a committee of safety. It was the duty of this committee to watch over the general interests of the State, to call together the militia when necessary, and to station them in such places as they should think proper.
16. In the neighborhood of Boston, the state of affairs was very serious. Every exertion was made to arm the peo- ple, and to provide them with such articles as they would need in war. In carrying these from the town to the country, the inhabitants were obliged to be very cunning and cautious, in order to deceive the guard on the neck. Cannon balls were concealed in loads of manure, powder and shot in the baskets of the marketmen, and in candle boxes.
17. Towards the close of 1774, there were eleven British regiments stationed in Boston. Five hundred soldiers pa- raded, and were on duty daily. The conduct of the troops was at first peaceable ; but in the course of the winter they were guilty of several acts of outrage and riot.
CHAPTER XII.
Col. Nesbit and the countryman. Battles of Lexington and Concord. Retreat of the regular troops. Blockade of Boston. Governor's proclamation. Battle of Bunker's Hill. Burning of Charlestown. Siege of Boston. Gen- eral Washington. Proclamation. Distress.
1. IN March 1775 the public feeling was much excited, by the disgraceful conduct of a British officer. The inhab- itants of the neighboring towns were suspected of pur- chasing guns of the soldiers. In order to inflict a striking punishment for this offence, an officer of some rank, by the name of Nesbit, ordered one of his men to offer a country- man an old rusty musket. A farmer from Billerica was tempted by this offer, and bought the gun for three dollars.
2. The poor fellow was immediately seized by Nesbit and confined all night, in the guard house. Early next morning, the soldiers stripped him entirely naked, covered him with tar and feathers, and carted him through the
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streets, to Liberty Tree, where they were obliged by the citizens to release him, and retreat to their barracks. The party was composed of about thirty grenadiers with fixed bayonets, twenty drums and fifes, headed by the valiant Nesbit with a drawn sword. A British uniform has seldom been so miserably disgraced, as it was on this occasion.
3. At nightfall, on the eighteenth of April, General Gage dispatched a body of eight or nine hundred soldiers, to de- stroy the military stores which had been collected at Con- cord, a town about eighteen miles from Boston. Having reached Lexington, six miles distant from Concord, they were met by a company of militia, who had hastily assem- bled from the different villages on the first alarm. It was about sunrise. The British advanced at quick march to within a few rods, when Major Pitcairn called out in a loud voice, ' disperse, you rebels, throw down your arms and dis- perse.'
4. Their number was too small to risk a battle. While they were dispersing, the British shouted, and by a discharge from their ranks, killed several of the party. They then renewed their march to Concord, where they destroyed a few articles of stores, and sixty barrels of flour. The militia men had now collected in considerable numbers. Being en- raged at the loss of their companious, they made a bold and furious attack on the enemy, and drove them back to Lex- ington. Hearing of the situation of his troops, General Gage sent a large reinforcement, with two field-pieces, to
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their assistance. The united forces amounted to about eighteen hundred men.
5. In their hurried retreat, the regular troops were pur- sued with the utmost activity. From the cover of trees, and stone walls, the undisciplined farmers were able to thin the ranks of the enemy, with great success. The situation of the king's forces, during the day, was extremely hazardous, and it is wonderful that so many of them escaped. Worn down with fatigue, and almost exhausted, they reached Charlestown, about seven in the evening, with the loss of two hundred and seventy-three men, killed, wounded and taken prisoners. The next day they entered Boston.
6. Hostilities had now commeneed. The strongest ex- citement prevailed throughout all New England. The coun- try militia assembled from every quarter in great numbers, and in the course of two days, Boston was in a complete state of blockade. Many of the inhabitants were in a very miserable situation. All intercourse between the town and country ceased. Liberty poles were erected in almost every village, and all who fell under suspicion were obliged to make a public recantation of their odious principles.
7. Towards the end of May, the British army was rein- forced by considerable numbers. About the middle of June, General Gage issued a proclamation, in which he declared the province of Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion, and offered pardon to all who would resort to his standard.
,
Passage to Charlestown.
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He was pleased to deny pardon, particularly, to John Han- cock and Samuel Adams.
8. The American commanders had obtained information, that the British intended to post themselves on Bunker's Hill. The position was a very important one, and it was deter- mined to defeat their design. Accordingly, on the sixteenth of June, a band of one thousand provincials, under the command of Colonel Prescott, was sent to take possession of the station. It was late in the evening, before they reached the heights, and full midnight before they com- menced to dig the entrenchments. They proceeded in their labors with order and the utmost silence, and it was the next morning before the British knew any thing of their opera- tions.
9. At day-break, the hasty works of the night were dis- covered, and a heavy cannonade was immediately com- menced, from the ships, the floating batteries, and all the fortifications which could be made of any service. Bombs and shot were incessantly pouring among the hardy provincials, who continued with unheeding perseverance to strengthen their breastworks. In the course of the forenoon they received an addition to their numbers, so that they now counted about fifteen hundred men.
10. At one o'clock, the royal forces were observed pass- ing over to Charlestown, in boats and barges. They con- sisted of about three thousand men, well provided with ar- They were formed in two lines, and advanced with
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great intrepidity to the attack. The Americans withheld their fire, till they were within eight or ten rods, or as Gen- eral Putnam said, ' till they saw the white of their enemies' eyes.' Their discharge of musketry was then general, and very fatal, till the regular troops were driven back in disor- der, even to their boats. With great difficulty, the officers succeeded in rallying them, and they again marched forward with valor, till a second deadly fire again put them to flight.
11. A third assault was more successful. The Americans had expended nearly all their ammunition, and could obtain no farther supply. After resisting, as bravely as they could, with stones, and the butts of their muskets, they retreated under a heavy fire. They were not very warmly pursued, and met with inconsiderable loss.
12. Among the killed was General Joseph Warren, one of the earliest, and most zealous patriots. Such were his valor and zeal, that he rushed into the very front of the field, encouraging the soldiers by his noble example. Near the close of the battle, he received a fatal shot, and instantly died. His loss was much lamented, and his memory is cov- ered with glory.
13. Just at the commencement of the battle, orders were given by the British general, to set fire to Charlestown. In a short time, this ancient town, consisting of about five hundred buildings, was wrapped in flames. It was almost entirely consumed, and a great amount of property, belong-
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ing to the distressed inhabitants of Boston, was also destroy- ed. The battle, and the conflagration presented a scene of the most intense interest, to many thousand spectators, who, from the surrounding heights, the houses, and steeples of the neighboring towns, were waiting the issue of the con- test.
14. The main body of the regular troops was immedi- ately stationed on the hill, which they had purchased so dearly. Another division of them was strongly fortified on Boston Neck. The provincials were encamped in various parts of Cambridge and Roxbury, extending over the space of twelve miles. Every pass to Boston was guarded with the utmost vigilance. No provisions of any kind were allow- ed to enter. Both the inhabitants and the soldiers were re- duced to great distress.
15. On the second of July, General Washington arrived at the seat of war, and took command of the provincial army. He fixed his head quarters at a house in Cambridge, not far from the colleges. The students had returned to their homes, and the college buildings were occupied by the soldiers. The army was daily increasing.
16. Early in October, General Gage sailed for England, and left the command of the regular troops with General Howe. A proclamation was issued, which threatened death to any one of the inhabitants, who should attempt to quit Boston without a license. It also declared, that if any were licensed to depart, and attempted to carry away more
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than five pounds in specie, they should forfeit the whole sum, and be punished by fine and imprisonment.
17. A number of vessels, bound to Boston, loaded with arms and provisions, were taken in the course of the au- tumn, by American privateers. These losses were very se- verely felt in the besieged town, and exposed the soldiers and inhabitants almost to a state of starvation. They were even reduced to feeding upon the flesh of their horses.
CHAPTER XIII.
Anecdotes of the siege. Bullets and Beetles. Scarcity of fuel. Outrages of the Soldiers. Attack on Charlestown. Amusing incident. Washington takes possession of Dor- chester Heights. Evacuation of Boston. Entry of the American army.
1. SOME amusing anecdotes are related of the siege. Once, two or three British officers were walking on Beacon Hill in the evening, and were suddenly very much alarmed, by a noise in the air, which they imagined to be the whiz- zing of bullets. They fled in great haste, and wrote fear- ful accounts to their friends in England, of being shot at with air-guns. The whizzing noise, which frightened these valiant officers, happened to be nothing more than the buzz of a beetle.
2. Towards winter, the want of fuel became very distres- sing. The Old North church, a very valuable building, was entirely demolished, and consumed by the soldiers, for fire-
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wood. More than a hundred wooden buildings on some of the wharves, were taken down, and used for the same pur- pose. One day the soldiers amused themselves with cutting down Liberty Tree, an occasion of great mirth and mer- riment.
3. The Old South church was used as a riding-school. The pulpit and pews were removed, and burned for fuel ; the floor was covered with earth, and Burgoyne's regiment of dragoons exercised there. The south door was closed, and a bar was fixed, over which the cavalry were taught to leap their horses at full speed. A beautiful pew, ornament- ed with carved work and silk furniture, was destroyed ; and part of it was used as a fence for a hog-sty.
4. On the ninth of February 1776, a detachment of about a hundred men left the American camp, and made an in- cursion into Charlestown. It was their purpose, to burn a number of the houses still standing, in order to deprive the enemy of their use. This object was effected. About ten houses were destroyed, and in less than two hours the de- tachment returned, bringing away a lot of muskets, and without the loss of a single man.
5. This affair is connected with a laughable incident, which happened at Boston. On the night of the attack, the British officers were amusing themselves with a farce, in ridicule of the Yankees. It was called the Blockade of Boston, and is said to have been written by General Bur- goyne. The figure intended to represent General Wash-
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