USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts, for two hundred years: from the year 1620 to 1820 > Part 27
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* Rev. Dr. Barnard, of Salem, was acquainted with the British officer who commanded the party. He proceeded to the spot, and assured the officer that Col. Pickering and his men would never permit him to seize the stores.
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CHAPTER XVII.
Third Provincial Congress, March, 1775 - Its advice and orders - More British troops arrive - War or submission - British Patriots - Affair at Lexington and Concord - Meeting of Provincial Congress - More men raised - Governor Gage denounced as an enemy to the Province -- Militia collect at Cambridge and Roxbury, and from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island - Advice of General Congress desired, as to civil government - Measures of defence - Battle ' of Bunker Hill - Great slaughter - Death of General Warren - Cause of its Failure - General Washington appointed Commander-in-chief - Measures adopted to augment the Army.
THE provincial congress was again held the 22d of March at Concord. The affair at Salem, and the movements of Gen- eral Gage excited apprehensions of attacks on other places ; and a report was circulated that the British troops in Boston would be sent out to destroy the military stores which had been collected. It was an object with the congress to strengthen the committee of safety, and to prepare for self-defence, if the British should make such an attempt. The elite corps, or minute companies, were desired to improve themselves in military dis- cipline ; and several artillery companies were ordered to be raised. The people were urged to pay their taxes to the new treasurer, with all possible despatch; and loans were solicited for the use of the province. The counsellors who had been appointed by the British ministers, and who had accepted the trust, were declared to be enemies to the country .*
Early in the spring, an additional number of British troops arrived at Boston ; and an opinion prevailed, that the crisis was approaching, when the alternative must be base submission o1 war. With a very great majority of the people, there was no hesitation as to the choice. A few, indeed, who had long opposed the policy of the parent government, thought it would be most prudent still to petition and submit. But the love of
* Those who declined acting, by virtue of their appointment by the king, were Danforth, Powell, Watson, Russell, Lee, Royall, Hooper, Worthington, Paine, Williams, Vassall, Palmer, and Woodbridge.
Gen. J. Warren.
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liberty was so strong with the great body of the people, includ- ing a due proportion of the best educated and opulent, that they were resolved to oppose the measures of administration in England, at every hazard. They admitted that the prospect presented almost insuperable difficulties. But, probably, they looked to the support to be given by the whole country, as some cause for hope; and still cherished a belief, that the friends of constitutional freedom in England would have influ- ence to introduce more favorable counsels. The strong mea- sures then adopted by ministers were opposed by Lord Chat- ham, and others ; who expressly declared, " that they consid- ered the people of Massachusetts as standing in defence of constitutional rights, and the conduct of administration as unjust and tyrannical." They predicted forcible opposition, and even expressed a hope that success might attend the struggle of the colonies for political liberty. It was believed, that ministers hesitated; for a conciliatory plan was proposed, for the colonies to tax themselves, as had been made in 1765; but it was only a suggestion, and too indefinite to lead to any relaxation of measures of defence in America. It was afterwards disclosed to be only a pretence, for the purpose of preventing a union of the people in different parts of the country.
Before the provincial congress separated, which was on the 15th of April, it was agreed to raise troops immediately, for the defence of the province : for it was known that General Gage had received orders to put down all opposition; and all the civil power was concentrated in him, with an army for his support. The committee of safety was directed to appoint field officers for the regiments to be raised, and to make the greatest preparations for defence which the resources of the province would afford. Committees were also chosen to visit New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, to inform them of the measures adopted in Massachusetts, and to request their support and cooperation, as events might. require. This meeting took care also to provide for another assembly of dele- gates or representatives of the people, to be held on the last Wednesday of May, the usual time for the organization of the general court.
On the 18th of April, several British military officers from Boston were observed riding through Cambridge and on the road to Lexington ; and an apprehension arose that some hostile movement was at hand. The committee of safety gave orders for the removal of the stores from Concord. Dr. Warren, the chairman, who was most vigilant and enterprising, and who had directed a constant watch of the troops, received notice during
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the night of the 18th, that a detachment of the British forces in Boston, of 1000 men, were landing at Lechmere's Point, in Cambridge. He immediately despatched messengers to Lex- ington and Concord to give the people notice, that they would probably be attacked. Directions were given for the militia to protect such stores at Concord as had not been removed. No- tice was also sent to Mr. Adams and Mr. Hancock, who were then at the house of the clergyman, in Lexington, of the expected approach of the British troops. These two patriots were among the most active opponents of arbitrary power, and were particularly denounced, as deserving the vengeance of the British government. The detachment of British troops arrived at Lexington, near the church, soon after day-light. A com- pany of the militia was already collected there. The British commander rode up to them, and said, " Disperse! you damned rebels, disperse!" and immediately fired his pistol; and the soldiers who were in front fired also. The militia dispersed, but some of them fired on the British as they retired. In this attack, eight of the militia were killed and several wounded.
The British reported, that the militia first fired; but it was fully proved afterwards, that the British began the attack, and that the firing from the Americans was only from a few as they were retiring.
The British detachment proceeded to Concord, about five miles further, without meeting any opposition. Some of the militia had assembled at this place, under arms, on the intelli- gence that the British troops were advancing. These were not very numerous ; and they retired to a bridge, at the dis- tance of nearly two miles, where they made a stand; in the expectation, probably, that the British forces would not pursue them, or that others of the militia would come to their aid. A part of the British troops followed them to the bridge. The militia, who were on the farther side, were desirous of return- ing to the village, to protect the people and their property, as well as the public stores. To prevent this, the British re- moved a part of the bridge ; but the militia pressed forward, as if resolved to go to the village. The British troops then fired on them ; and the fire was returned by the Americans with spirit and effect. And the former were pursued near to the village, when the militia received a check from the united force of the whole detachment. The militia, however, poured in from the vicinity ; and the British commander gave orders to return to Boston. The militia hung upon their rear; and many of the regular troops were killed and wounded. At Lexington, they received a reinforcement from, General Gage,
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which rendered them so formidable that it was not prudent for the militia to make any systematic attack on them. Part of a regiment from Salem, under Colonel Pickering, reached Med- ford late in the afternoon, but not in season to give them any check. The loss of the British, on this occasion, killed, wounded, and missing, was nearly three hundred ; and upwards of eighty of the militia were killed or wounded.
The provincial congress assembled again, on the 22d of the month, and voted to raise thirteen thousand men, who were to repair to Cambridge and vicinity, without delay. They also again made application to the neighboring colonies, for them to proceed to the same place. They said, "they had no hope left but in a large military force, sufficient to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies;" as they now for the first time called the British; "and they were determined to part with their liberties, only at the price of their lives." They de- nounced Governor Gage, as an enemy to the province, and an agent of tyrannical rulers, to oppress and enslave the people. And he, in his turn, issued a proclamation, declaring Massa- chusetts to be in a state of rebellion. In some of his conduct, General Gage was not only severe, but unjust. He pro- mised to allow the citizens of Boston to leave the town, on condition of depositing their arms in a public place under his command; but when they gave up their arms, he utterly re- fused to let them go; as the hardened Pharaoh did the people of Israel.
Within ten days after the affair at Lexington and Concord, a large number of the militia collected in Cambridge and Rox- bury ; but many of them without suitable military equipments ; and their organization was quite imperfect. The alarm occa- sioned by the battle at Concord, was very great; but a reso- lution was manifested, to hasten to the place of danger, and, if possible, to prevent further aggressions. Some of the militia from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, arrived at an early day, accompanied by individuals who had been brave officers in the campaigns of 1756-'60 .*
A statement was made to the continental congress, then sitting in Philadelphia, of the affair at Concord and Lexington, and of the preparations made and making for defence. That august body approved of the conduct of Massachusetts, and recommended to all the other colonies to raise men and forward them to the neighborhood of Boston to act for the general welfare.
* The most distinguished were Col. Israel Putnam, of Connecticut, Col. John Stark, of New Hampshire, and Col. Greene, of Rhode Island.
31
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At this time, the congress of Massachusetts applied to the continental congress for advice, as to the form of government proper to be adopted, in their peculiar situation. They had declared against the authority of Governor Gage, and of the counsellors appointed by the king ; and though they had assumed the civil authority in the province, it was not pre- cisely in the way pointed out in their charter. There was no general court and no house of assembly, according to the direc- tions of that instrument. But they. had acted, for several months, as the representatives of the people, chosen according to ancient usage : and had appointed a committee of safety, who performed the appropriate duties of the executive depart- ment. They were sensible this was only a temporary form of government, for the immediate exigency of the occasion; but did not wish to establish a government, without consulting the other colonies. They had been compelled to raise troops ; yet, as the military, in all free states, should be subordinate to the civil power, they said they were concerned at having an army, even of their own citizens, without a civil power to pro- vide for and control it. Few disorders or inconveniences had happened, in this period; for the great object of self defence, and of the preservation of liberty against arbitrary power, pre- vented all private disputes among the people. As the general congress did not immediately reply, another application was made for advice ; which shewed the desire of Massachusetts, to have a fixed form of civil government, and to receive the approbation of the rest of America, in an affair of such vast importance. A few weeks after, the opinion of the general congress was received, " that it would be proper to.conform, as far as might be, to the provisions of their charter ;- to elect representatives, and these representatives to choose counsel- lors, who were to form an executive department, and exercise the powers before vested in the governor and council." This plan met the views of the people generally in Massachusetts, and undoubtedly was suggested by some of her eminent citi- zens, either in the general, or in the provincial congress.
The provincial congress continued in session till the 27th of May ; after a few days another assembled, which was before the opinion and advice of the general congress had been re- ceived. This continued together only a short time, and ordered, that representatives should be elected to meet in July, to proceed agreeably to the opinion given by the continental congress. While together, further measures were adopted, by the provincial congress, for organizing the militia, who had assembled at Cambridge and Roxbury, and to provide for their
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efficient equipment. There was an apprehension, that the British General would make an attack on the Americans, with all his forces ; and the provincial troops were generally deficient in arms and gunpowder. It was desired, if possible, to give the enemy a check, if they should leave Boston, and prevent their penetrating into the interior. By the last of May, there were twentytwo regiments in the vicinity of Boston, besides the troops from the adjoining provinces. Artemas Ward was ap- pointed commander-in-chief, and John Thomas second in com- mand ; the former was at Cambridge and the latter at Roxbury. The Connecticut men, under General Putnam, and those of New Hampshire, under Colonel Stark, were, in some measure, independent of the Massachusetts militia ; but there was a per- fectly good understanding between them. It was not till July, when the continental congress undertook to organize the army, and appointed George Washington commander-in-chief, that a complete organization and system was formed.
It was not to be supposed that General Gage would remain long inactive, when he had a large body of regular troops under luis command, and the Americans, though rather more numer- ous, were so poorly disciplined and equipped. A report was circulated, that he intended to take possession of the heights of Dorchester and of Charlestown, and to erect fortifications thereon; where his men would be better situated for making any future attacks. On the fifteenth of June, the committee of safety gave orders for the militia to be prepared to march at the shortest notice : and it was proposed to take possession of the hills in Dorchester and Charlestown, before the British General should order his troops there. After some consulta- tion, it was decided to fortify the heights of Charlestown only, at that time. A detachment, of about twelve hundred men, was ordered to that place, on the evening of the sixteenth, and at the day-light of the following morning, a redoubt was thrown up, on the eminence south of Bunker Hill, and much nearer the river, which separates Charlestown from Boston. At this time, they were discovered by the British in the capital ; and a ship of war lying in the river opened a heavy fire upon them. They were also fired upon from the fort on Copp's Hill, at the north part of Boston, and from several armed vessels, which had come up on the western side of Charlestown. By noon, they were exposed to a heavy fire from various directions. They were much fatigued by the labor of the night and morn- ing, in throwing up the redoubt and breastwork. No recruits had then arrived from the main army at Cambridge. A little after two o'clock, a large body of British troops passed over
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from Boston, estimated at nearly three thousand, and landed at a point south-east of the redoubt where the Americans were posted. At this time, some Connecticut troops, under General Putnam, arrived near the redoubt, and on the descent of the eastern side of the hill, while the British were forming. They threw up some new mown grass against the fence, and waited the approach of the enemy : and before the attack was made, some of the New Hampshire militia arrived, and were posted near to the Connecticut troops: for it was evident the British intended to attack the redoubt, where Colonel Prescott was posted with the Massachusetts troops, on the rear, rather than to march directly up in front. The number of Americans, at this time, in the fort, and by the fence, on the easterly side of the hill, were about two thousand, or two thousand two hun- dred. Colonel Prescott commanded at the fort ; but it ap- peared that General Putnam had the direction or inspection of the whole, as he rode from the fence to the fort and back, several times, and also as far as the neck, to hasten the recruits, which were ordered on at a late hour. That no earlier or greater reinforcements were sent on to Charlestown from Cam- bridge, was probably owing to an apprehension, that the Brit- ish would make an attack on the militia in that place, by cross- ing the bay, from the western part of Boston.
About three o'clock, the British troops marched up, as was expected, chiefly towards the Americans posted at the fence, on the eastern declivity of the hill, on which the redoubt had been thrown up; and began the fire, when at some distance. The militia had been ordered to reserve their fire till the enemy should approach very near: and when the word was given, they poured such an incessant fire on the British regu- lars, that great numbers fell, and the others soon retreated to the place where they landed. They were soon rallied again by their officers; and again were repulsed in a similar manner as before, and with great slaughter .* The British in Boston were spectators of the scene. And a reinforcement was sent over immediately. The Americans received but little addi- tional aid, which was obtained by General Putman, who rode over the neck, and sent on such of the militia as were near.
When the third attack was made by the British, they had more light artillery ; and the militia under Putnam and Pres- cott, had but one company, and that was not well prepared. The attack was now made more directly on the redoubt, but
* At this time the town of Charlestown was set on fire, which added to the horrors of the day.
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in two parts at the same time. The Americans had but little ammunition, which was soon expended, and very few of them had bayonets. They received the British bravely ; * but were soon ordered to retreat. Those in the redoubt retired first, and were in some measure covered by those at the fence, on the eastern side of the hill.
Dr. Joseph Warren, who was then president of the provincial congress, a few days before appointed a major-general, was slain, near the close of the action. He was not in command on that occasion, and was merely a volunteer. His ardent patriotism would not suffer him to remain at a distance from the scene of danger. He was urged not to go and expose himself unnecessarily ; he replied, "that he could not rest while others were fighting for the country, but he must take. a part with them."
General Warren had the confidence and affection of the people in a remarkable degree. He was possessed of ardent feelings and honorable principles ; and the spirit of patriotism was as pure as it was warm in his heart. He was in the prime of life, and of the best education the country could afford. The other men of distinction, who were killed or mortally wounded, were Colonel Thomas Gardner, Lieutenant Colonel Parker, and Majors Moore and McClary. The loss of life, on this memorable day, was very great. Of the Americans, about one hundred were killed, and nearly three hundred wounded or taken; of the latter between thirty and forty. The British had between fourteen and fifteen hundred,+ killed and wounded : a large proportion of which were killed, includ- ing upwards of eighty officers.}
This was a disastrous event to Massachusetts; but the peo- ple did not despond. And if there was some want of system and promptness on the occasion, those who had proposed taking possession of the place were not blamed. There was
* The British officers said, " the Americans fought like devils."
t One account gave eleven hundred wounded, and seven hundred and forty-five killed. The British only would know, and they were unwilling to confess the full extent of their loss.
# The numbers engaged, on each side, in this battle, have been variously given. Prescott went on with one thousand, or a little more : parts of three regiments, but not full ones. He was reinforced with a very few, till just before the battle began, when probably one thousand more arrived ; all making about two thousand, or two thousand two hundred. The British consisted of about three thousand, at first, and afterwards one thousand, or fifteen hundred were added. But some have estimated the whole at five thousand. This is probably too high. When they made the third and last attack they had not many more than at the first ; but in the two first repulses their loss was very great.
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evidently a want of plan in the enterprise ; but, perhaps, the unprepared condition of the country is a sufficient excuse for the imperfection of the arrangements. If the militia at the redoubt had been aided by one thousand more men from Cam- bridge, by noon, which might have been easily done, and more ammunition sent, the British would not have taken the fort. But there was little ammunition in the whole army then col- lected; and if there was just cause to fear an attack from the British, on the American main army, it might have been good policy not to weaken it, by sending a reinforcement to Charles- town. The British generals were convinced that the Ameri- cans would fight, as well as. argue, for their rights; and were thus deterred from making another attack for a long time, which gave opportunity to collect military stores, and teach the men the military discipline, necessary to fit them to oppose the regular troops of Britain with effect.
On the day of the battle in Charlestown, the provincial con- gress, then in session at Watertown, voted to procure provi- sions for the troops, who were then under enlistment for eight months, and to collect fire arms wherever to be found. And the committee of safety issued orders for all the militia within twenty miles to repair to Cambridge. The aid of the adjoin- ing colonies was again solicited, in furnishing more troops ; and . it was stated that there were ten thousand regular troops in Boston, under General Gage, and that more were daily ex- pected. Application was made to the continental congress, at Philadelphia, that they would appoint a general-in-chief, to command the whole American forces. The Massachusetts congress had made such a request soon after the affair at Lex- ington and Concord; and the general congress had already acted on the subject. On the fifteenth of June, it voted to appoint such an officer; and on the sixteenth, on motion of one of the delegates from Massachusetts, GEORGE WASHING- TON, then a member of that body, was unanimously elected. Four major generals were chosen, a few days after, one of whom was Artemas Ward, of Massachusetts ; and eight briga- dier generals, three of them from Massachusetts, John Thomas, William Heath, and Seth Pomery .*
* Dr. Benjamin Church, who had acted with the patriots, and was one of the representatives of Boston, was detected, about this time, in corres- ponding with the British officers. He was arrested and examined by a committee of the representatives. His conduct was considered very repre- hensible ; but he was only punished by being expelled from being a mem- ber of the house. He complained of his treatment; while others thought he merited a more severe punishment. His letters were in characters, but were decyphered by Rev. Dr. Samuel West, of Dartmouth.
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General Washington arrived at Cambridge on the second of July, and took command of the troops there assembled. The congress of Massachusetts sent a committe to meet him at the western bounds of the province; and when he reached Cam- bridge, made an address to him, declaring their entire confi- dence in his patriotism, his ability and wisdom, and their readi- ness to afford him all the aid in their power. In his reply, he spoke of their zeal, their sufferings and services, in the cause of the liberties of the country, and of his need of their support in the trying duties which he had undertaken. His reply was characteristic of the wisdom, intelligence, and modesty of one, who, through his whole life, and especially after this period, received the universal esteem, confidence, and admiration of the country .*
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