USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts from 1764, to July 1775; when general Washington took command of the American Army. V. 1 > Part 29
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* When the Provincial Congress assembled, soon after this affair, a most faithful inquiry was made, and it was established by the testimony of more than thirty credible witnesses, that the firing was begun by the British.
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progress of the militia. These, however, advanced, with a design to pass the bridge ; and in this situa- tion were attacked by the British regulars. The provincial troops then fired, in their turn; and con- tinued the fire occasionally upon this advanced party, until the other British forces came to their support. Finding the militia to increase, the British officer . gave orders for his men to return. They were un- willing to acknowledge it a retreat; but had they not speedily retired, the militia from the neighbour- ing towns, who were collecting in large numbers, and were highly exasperated by these two separate at- tacks, would probably, have destroyed, or taken the whole battalion .* They were exceedingly annoyed on their way to the capital. The inhabitants ap- peared in arms, in great numbers, and hung upon their rear, with a destructive fire until they arrived at Lexington, where a large reinforcement had been sent from Boston to their relief, by governor GAGE. After some pause, which was necessary for those, who had been on duty from the hour of midnight, they returned to Charlestown heights, where they could safely repose, under the cover of their ships of war. The loss of the British in this expedition, in killed, wounded and missing, was little short of three
* The militia collected and marched even from Salem, the distance of nearly twenty-five miles from Lexington. Notice was received early in the forenoon, of the excursion of the British; and Col. Pickering immediately collected the greater portion of a regiment, and marched, with all possible expedition, through Lynn and Malden, to Medford, with the intention, if circumstances would justify it, to attack the Brit- ish troops on their return to Boston. It was late in the afternoon when the Salem militia arrived at Medford ; and they were in absolute need of immediate refreshment. While this was providing, by the patriotic inhabitants of that village, Col. Pickering and others were collecting information of the situation and force of the British. And when it was ascertained, that they had received a powerful reinforcement from Bos- ton, while it was not known, whether many of the militia from the interior were pursuing them, it was the opinion of the most intelligent citizens, that an attempt, by the Salem militia, to obstruct them in their march to the metropolis, would be desperate and useless. Col. Pick- ering did every thing, which an active and brave officer, who was at all averse from sacrificing his men, unnecessarily, ought to have done.
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hundred ; while those of the provincial militia, killed and wounded, were but eighty-five.
If any of the people in the province had, hitherto, entertained doubts of the hostile intentions of the British troops, or of the determination of ministers in England to pursue their arbitrary measures, even by destroying the lives of the American subjects, they could doubt no longer. All suspense was now removed, and all delusion vanished, on the subject. Dreadful proof was given of the obstinate purpose of the British government to reduce the people in the colonies to a condition of entire subjection to military power, unless they would consent to hold their pro- perty and liberty at the will of a most tyrannical administration. Constitutional principles, charter privileges, and natural, indefeasible rights, were wantonly violated or disregarded; and the doctrine was attempted to be established, that power gives legal authority to govern and control. The patriots of Massachusetts had long been aware of this claim of ministers ; and although they, occasionally, had hopes, that the government of Britain would never proceed to enforce the claim at the point of the bayonet and from the cannon's mouth, they were now convinced, that their most reluctant apprehen- sions were too well founded. They had long peti- tioned and remonstrated, but without effect. They had, indeed, been making some preparations for the appaling alternative. But the period had now arriv- ed when all their firmness and patience and efforts were to be put in requisition, for the mighty struggle which they had resolved to make, before they would surrender their civil and political rights. They did not shrink from the contest, unequal as it was : they did not hesitate or waver in the course which they were satisfied it was their duty to pursue.
CHAPTER XVI.
Provincial Congress meet, and adopt measures of defence-Renounce the authority of general Gage ; who declares the colony in a state of rebellion-Proposal to general Gage from Connecticut for negociation -Disapproved by Congress of Massachusetts-Militia assemble at Cambridge and Roxbury-Application to General Congress for advice and aid-Order through the province-Want of military arrangement -Ticonderoga taken-Clergy patriotic and influential-New Con- gress last of May-Number of Provincial troops-and officers-Com- mittee of Safety order possession to be taken of Bunker's hill-Battle at Charlestown, June 17th-General Washington takes command at Cambridge.
THE Provincial Congress was called together again on the 22d of April ;* when it was promptly ordered, that 13,000 men be raised and assembled, forthwith ; and that the other New England colonies be earnestly requested to furnish more, to be march- ed to Cambridge, for the defence of the country. They had no hope of safety, they said, "but in a large military force sufficient to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies," as they now for the first time denominated the British troops; "and they were determined to part with their liberties only at the price of their lives."
It was enjoined on the selectmen of the several towns to furnish arms to such of the militia as were destitute : and the Treasurer, who had been late- ly chosen by Congress, was authorised to borrow
* Mr. Hancock had gone to Philadelphia to attend the Continental Congress ; and Joseph Warren was chosen President.
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£100,000, for the use of the province. A vote was also passed, denouncing governor GAGE as an enemy to the province, and an instrument, in the hands of tyrannical rulers, to oppress and enslave the people : and it was declared, therefore, that the citizens were no longer under obligations of obedience to his com- mands. He, soon after, issued a proclamation, de- claring the province of Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion. He might have thought himself bound to make this declaration ; but it could not justify his conduct towards the citizens of Boston, whom he was obligated to treat with good faith, if not with cour- tesy. At the request of the inhabitants, he agreed that those who were desirous to leave the town, should be permitted, upon depositing their fire-arms in Faneuil Hall : but afterwards he refused permis- sion to them to depart, when they earnestly request- ed it. Congress remonstrated in vain against this breach of promise ; and the inhabitants of the metro- polis were confined among the soldiers, where their sufferings were extreme, and they were exposed to continual insults.
The first of May a Committee was sent from Con- necticut to wait on governor GAGE in Boston, and to propose a suspension of all hostile movements, in the hope and expectation that some arrangement might be soon made for negociations to settle the dispute between the colonies and Great Britain. This mea- sure gave great concern to the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts : for they feared the people would be thereby induced to relax in their exertions for self-defence ; and be deceived by the specious pro- mises of the Governor and his friends, to the great injury of the country. A letter was addressed to Connectieut, expressing the views and the fears of the Massachusetts Congress on the subject ; and de- claring their thorough conviction that nothing but resolute perseverance in defensive measures would avail, either for present security, or the permanent
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establishment of their rights. A Committee was also appointed to meet the gentlemen from Connecticut, on their leaving Boston, after their conference with governor GAGE. The same opinion was expressed to them, which had been given in the communication forwarded to the government of Connecticut : and, fortunately, no suspension or relaxation of exertions followed this pacific but mistaken proposal.
Within a few days after the affair at Lexington and Concord, a large military force was collected at Cambridge and other towns in the vicinity of the metropolis, prepared to oppose any further attempt of the British troops to make excursions into the country. The intelligence of that expedition spread, with great rapidity, through the province, and into the adjoining colonies : and the brave yeomanry promptly armed, as their means would permit, and hastened to the scene of danger, resolved to protect their country, or to perish in the enterprise. And in fourteen days, general GAGE and the British troops under his command in Boston, were surround- ed by an army of nearly twelve thousand men. They were not indeed all completely armed; and their military organization was quite imperfect. But there were among them active and intelligent men, who had seen some service in the campaign of 1756, and of several succeeding years; and who were ambitious to instruct the common soldiers in the mili- tary art. Some also early joined the Massachusetts militia from New Hampshire and Connecticut.
A statement was made by the Congress of Massa- chusetts to the Continental Congress, just convened at Philadelphia, of the attack made by the British troops at Concord and Lexington, and of the mea- sures adopted in Massachusetts; and an urgent re- quest was subjoined for assistance from all the other colonies. They apologized for having taken such efficient measures, without consulting the General Congress, from the peculiar exigency of the times,
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1 and the necessity of opposing a check to the depre- dations of the forces, under general GAGE in Boston, whose hostile intentions were abundantly manifest. The same opinion was expressed, which had been given when they applied to the adjoining colonies, that slavery and ruin inevitably awaited them, unless a competent military force was collected for the de- fence of the country. The Continental Congress approved of the spirited conduct of Massachusetts, and recommended to the other colonies to raise men to augment the army forming in the vicinity of Boston.
The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts also applied to the General Congress for advice, respect- ing the form of civil government proper to be estab- lished in their novel and peculiar situation .* They
" The address of the Congress of Massachusetts was as follows :- "That system of colonial policy, which in the most dutiful and loyal manner, has been remonstrated against, seems still, unless speedily and vigorously opposed by the collected wisdom and power of all America, to threaten ruin and destruction to this continent. For a long time, this province has, by a corrupt administration in Great Britain and here, been deprived of the exercise of those powers of government, without which a people cannot be either happy or secure. The whole conti- nent saw the blow pending, which if not warded off, must inevitably have subverted the freedom of each colony ; and roused by a dread of slavery, caused to be collected the wisdom of America in a Congress, composed of men, who must ever be revered as the faithful assertors of the essential rights of human nature. This province was then reduced to the greatest difficulties, being denied the exercise of civil government according to our charter and the fundamental principles of the English constitution ; and a formidable navy and army were stationed in our metropolis. The prospect of deciding the question between our mother country and us by the sword, gave us the greatest pain and anxiety : but we have made all the necessary preparation for our de- fence, that our confused state would admit : and as the question equally affects our sister colonies, we have declined assuming the reins of civil government without their advice and consent: and have hitherto pa- tiently borne the many difficulties and embarrassments necessarily re- sulting from a want thereof. We are now compelled to raise an army ; which, with the assistance of the other colonies, we hope, under the smiles of heaven, will be able to defend us and all America from the further butcheries and devastations of our implacable enemies. But as the sword should, in all free states, be subservient to the civil powers, and as it is the duty of the magistrate to support it for the defence of the people, we tremble at having an army, although consisting of our own countrymen, established here, without a civil power to provide for and control them."
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no longer acknowledged the authority of governor GAGE, or admitted the claim of the mandamus coun- sellors to the office, to which they had been appoint- ed contrary to the provisions of their charter: nor had the judges been allowed to hold the usual courts, as a majority of them were very obnoxious to the people, from their adherence to the ministerial party. And yet during this period of the suspension of judicial proceedings, and without any settled and legal authority in the province, very few disorders or acts of injustice were known. There seems to have been a general disposition to refrain from all disputes, as recommended by the county Conven- tions ; and the subjects of deep interest, which occu- pied the minds of the people, left but little leisure for the prosecution of merely selfish or individual concerns.
The Continental Congress, some time after,* ad- vised the people of Massachusetts to conform to their charter, as far as practicable : To elect Repre- sentatives, as it provided ; and that the Representa- tives elect a Council, agreeably to former usage, to exercise all due executive powers, the Governor's chair being considered to be vacated. This was agreeable to the views of the more intelligent and influential citizens of Massachusetts, and precepts were accordingly issued, by the Provincial Congress, for electing Representatives to meet on the first of July.
Meantime, large additions were made to the Bri- tish army in Boston, by the arrival of fresh troops from England, with several officers of high rank and character. The militia were also pouring into Cambridge and Roxbury, the towns in which the American forces were encamped, from various and distant parts of New-England. The Hon. ARTE- MAS WARD was appointed Commander in Chief of the
* Not, however, till four weeks after the first application, and not until a second urgent request was made to them.
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Massachusetts troops; and the Hon. JOHN THOMAS received a commission as Lieutenant General, and commanded the division stationed at Roxbury. There were also large numbers of militia from Connecticut and New Hampshire; among whom was the brave veteran, Col. ISRAEL PUTNAM, justly celebrated for his undaunted courage, and his ardent zeal in the cause of freedom ; and the intrepid STARK, who afterwards, by his bold and enterprising conduct, rendered most essential service to the country. But as yet there was no regular and proper organization of the American troops assembled at these places. This was still to be effected : And must have been a labor of no little difficulty. The militia from New Hampshire and Connecticut were not, in fact, un- der the control of the government or authority of Massachusetts. They were merely volunteer corps. And there was as little settled and certain subordi- nation in the military as in the civil department of the province. This state of things furnishes an apology for the want of more perfect order, and of a more regular and efficient support in the affair of the 17th of June ; which took place before there was a due organization of the American forces.
Had governor GAGE marched a? the British under his command into the country, immediately after the expedition to Concord, and before the Committee of Safety had time to collect the militia of the province, or reinforcements had arrived from the neighboring colonies, great destruction might have been made of the public stores and property. They would not, probably, however, have been able to penetrate very far into the interior. For the militia, who had been arming for several months, would have so annoyed them, as to oblige them to return, without effecting extensive or permanent evils. But the British Gen- eral chose not to risk any thing by such an ex- pedition : And he was daily expecting new recruits from England, to enable him to engage in offensive
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operations. He knew something, too, of the reso- lution and bravery of the Americans, and did not hold them in such low estimation as did some of his younger officers.
Early in the month of May, the fort of Ticon- deroga was surprised and taken by a party of volun- teers from Connecticut and Vermont, under Col. E. ALLEN ; and the cannon and other military stores were transported to Cambridge for the use of the American army. They were considered a great acquisition, as there was a deficiency of these neces- sary articles in the province; nor could they be procured, to any considerable amount, from the other colonies.
When the Clergy met in Convention the last of May, they made an offer of their services as chap- lains for the provincial army. The proposal was for several of them to attend in rotation for a short period. The offer was readily accepted by Congress; and the Clergy gave their attendance accordingly. Those of the Congregational order, especially, and they were a great majority in the province, very generally approved of the course pursued for the defence of civil liberty ; and generously exerted themselves in promoting the measures proposed by the patriotic statesmen, who then led in the councils of Massachusetts.
The Provincial Congress was dissolved on the 27th of May : But they had previously proposed to their constituents to choose other delegates to meet on the last Wednesday of the same month. For no advice had then been received from the General Congress respecting the form of civil government most proper to be established ; but it was communi- cated a few days after. This Congress consisted of two hundred and forty-five members, and the Hon. JOSEPH WARREN was chosen President. The Com- mittee of Safety, which had extensive executive powers, was composed of thirteen members: And
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in the absence of Mr. HANCOCK, who was then at Philadelphia, attending the Continental Congress, Mr. WARREN was also elected chairman of that Board. The great object of Congress and of this committee now was to organize the troops encamped at Cambridge and Roxbury, and to provide, as far as possible, for their efficient equipment. The Com- mittee of Supplies was enjoined to make enquiries, and procure all the fire arms and military stores which could be obtained. The regiments were filled up, and the proper officers of every grade were ap- pointed and commissioned. For there was now a strong expectation, that general GAGE would make a formidable attack upon the American troops, with a view to their dispersion; which would have a most disastrous effect, and perhaps prevent collecting another force for their defence and safety. Orders were given to the general officers and others, to make returns of the number and state of the pro- vincial army. And it appeared that there were twenty-two regiments complete, consisting of ten companies each, and containing sixty men ; and three regiments incomplete. * But all the privates were
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* The field officers in General Ward's regiment, were Jona. Ward, lieut. col. ; Edward Barnes and Timothy Bigelow, majors-In General Thomas' regiment, John Bailey, lieut. col. ; Thomas Mitchell and John Jacobs, majors-In Colonel Theo. Cotton's regiment, Ichabod Alden, lieut. col. ; Ebenezer Sprout, major-In Colonel Timothy Walker's regiment, Nathaniel Leonard, lieut. col .; Abiel Mitchell, major-In General Heath's regiment, John Greaton, lieut. col. ; J. Vose. and J. Loring, majors --- In Col. Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, Moses Parker, Jieut. col. ; John Brooks, major-In Col. W. Prescott's regiment, John Robinson, lieut. col. ; H. Wood, major-In Col. Thomas Gardiner's regiment, William Bond, lieut. col .; M. Jackson, major-In Col. John Mansfield's regiment, Israel Hutchinson, lieut. col .; Ezra Putnam, major-In Col. Joseph Read's regiment, Ebenezer Clap, lieut. col. ; Calvin Smith, major-In Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment, J. Whitney, lieut. col. ; Ephraim Sawyer, major-In Col. J. Frye's regiment, J. Brickett, lieut. col. ; Thomas Poor, major-In Col. Timothy Daniel- son's regiment, William Sheppard, lieut. col. ; D. Leonard, major-In Col. John Patterson's regiment, Seth Read, lieut. col .; J. Cady, major -In Col. Ebenezer Learned's regiment, Danforth Keyes, lieut. col. ; Jonathan Holman, major-In Col. John Fellows' regiment, N. Eager, lieut. col .; Benjamin Tupper, major-In Col. Ephraim Doolittle's regiment, B. Holden, lieut. col .; W. Moore, major-In Col. Jona.
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not properly equipped : And of military stores, of some descriptions, there was not a sufficiency to en- able the troops to maintain a very long contest. The most which could be reasonably expected, under such circumstances, was to defend the province, and to prevent the British troops from invading the in- land towns.
From the preparations making by the British, at this time, as well as from some intelligence received from Boston, it was believed that general GAGE in- tended to take possession of the heights of Charles- town and Dorchester, that he might have more extensive accommodations for his troops, and be the better enabled, at some favorable moment, to make an attack on the American lines. On the 15th of June, the Committee of Safety gave directions for the provincial troops to be in constant readiness for action ; and that notice be given also to the militia, to prepare for a sudden march to Cambridge, and to go armed to the places of public worship on the Sabbath. It was also proposed to take immediate possession of Bunker's hill in Charlestown, and of the heights on the eastern peninsula of Dorchester, opposite the south east part of Boston. It was, however, finally determined to order troops only to Bunker's hill ; and, if possible, to keep possession of it; while it was left to the council of war to adopt such measures, with respect to Dorchester neck, as they might judge best for the security of the country.
Brewer's regiment, W. Buckminster, lieut. col .; N. Cudworth, major- In Col. D. Brewer's regiment, R. Putnam, licut. col. ; N. Danielson, major-In Col. R. Woodbridge's regiment, A. Brown, lieut. col .; W. Stacy, major-In Col. John Glover's regiment, John Gerry, lieut. col. ; G. Johonot, major-In Col. Moses Little's regiment, Isaac Smith, lieut. col. ; J. Collins, major-In Col. John Nixon's regiment, Thomas Nixon, lieut. col. ; J. Buttrick, major-In Col. J. Scammon's regiment, J. Moulton, lieut. col .; D. Wood, major-In Col. S. Gerrish's regiment, Loammi Baldwin, lieut. col .; James Wesson, major-William Hen- shaw and Samuel Brewer acted as Adjutant Generals ; one at Cam- bridge, and one at Roxbury.
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Accordingly, in the evening of the 16th, a body of provincial troops, of about twelve hundred, pro- ceeded to the highlands of Charlestown ; and by the morning light had prepared a redoubt and a line of circumvallation on the eminence south of Bunker's hill, nearer to the shores of Charles river, and op- posite to Boston. They were, soon after this, dis- covered by the British ; and a ship of war, lying in the stream, opened a heavy fire upon them. They were also annoyed by the battery on Copp's hill, the northern eminence of Boston, possessed by the enemy ; and by the fire from a sloop of war, several tenders and a floating battery ; which soon came up on the south side of Charlestown neck, and played upon the American troops at the newly made re- doubt, and attempted also to prevent recruits passing on to the heights for the support of the detachments there, now much exhausted by many hours of inces- sant labour. By twelve of the clock the fire was general, and from various directions; and no rein- forcements had been received from the main body of troops at Cambridge.
At two o'clock, a large body of the British troops, estimated at nearly 3000, crossed Charles river, and landed at Morton's point, in a direction southeast of the redoubt recently thrown up by the pro- vincial militia. They were commanded by general HOWE. The provincials were under the command of colonel PRESCOTT. There were also now added to the American forces, notwithstanding the danger of passing the peninsula leading-to the heights, some militia from Connecticut and New Hampshire .* The former, who first arrived, took a stand on the eastern declivity of Breed's hill, where the redoubt was made; and prepared a feeble breastwork, by means of a common rail fence, and the newly mown grass. After a short pause, occasioned by their forming in
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