USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 5
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All eyes then were fixed on Boston ; and until its evacu- ation, it continued to be regarded with warm sympathy, with intense interest, and at times with fearful apprehension. A hostile fleet surrounded it without, a formidable military were assembling within. Tents covered its fields, cannon were planted on its eminences, and troops daily paraded in its streets. Thus, in addition to the destruction of its trade, it wore the aspect, and became subject to the vexations, of a garrisoned place. It was cheerful only to the adherents of the British ministry, for it was the only spot in Massachusetts where the governor was in authority, and where the laws of Parliament were in force. Hence, those repaired to it for pro- tection who made themselves obnoxious to the people by their zeal in behalf of the government. Hence, General Gage, his crown-appointed councillors, and the official functionaries, were obliged to live in a town in which the dignity of his Britannic majesty required that not one of them should reside.1 Hence, the custom-house was obliged to be located in a port from which the British Parliament had proscribed all trade. Boston received from every quarter assurances of support. Salem spurned the idea of rising on the ruins of its neighbor ; Marblehead generously offered the inhabitants the use of its wharves ; the Provincial Congress and the Continental Con- gress recommended contributions for its relief; donations of money, clothing, and provisions, continued to pour into it; while visions of the better days in store for it cheered patriot hearts. "I view it," Mrs. Adams writes, "with much the same sensations that I should the body of a departed friend ; - as having only put off its present glory to rise finally to a more
1 See Dartmouth's letter to Gage, p. 5.
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BOSTON AND THE COUNTRY. 39
happy state." 1 Boston, on its part, did not falter in its course, nor did it relax its efforts. Its committees, in replies to let- ters that tendered aid and sympathy from abroad, sent out words full of reliance on the right, and of confidence in an ultimate triumph ; and its town-meetings continued their pat- riotic action. Boston (September 22, 1774) instructed its representatives to adhere to the old charter, - "to do nothing that could possibly be construed into an acknowledgement" of the regulating act; and if the legislature should be dis- solved, to join in a Provincial Congress, and act in such man- ner as "most likely to preserve the liberties of all America."2 It pursued steadily the course laid out for it,3 that of patient suffering. Hence it became so quiet, that the royal officers
1 Mrs. Adams dates this letter, Boston Garrison, 22d September, 1774. - Letters, p. 19. 2 Boston Records.
3 The patriots were occasionally cheered by a song. The following is copied from the Essex Gazette of October 25, 1774 .: -
LIBERTY SONG. Tune - Smile Britannia. I.
Iy.
Ye sons of freedom, smile !
Tho' troops upon our ground
America unites ;
Have strong entrenchments made,
And friends in Britain's isle
Tho' ships the town surround,
Will vindicate our rights ;
With all their guns displayed,
In spite of Ga-s hostile train,
"T will not the free-born spirit tame,
We will our liberties maintain.
Or force us to renounce our claim.
II.
Boston, be not dismayed,
V. Our Charter-Rights we claim,
Tho' tyrants now oppress ;
Granted in ancient times,
Tho' fleets and troops invade,
Since our Forefathers came
You soon will have redress :
First to these western climes :
The resolutions of the brave
Nor will their sons degenerate,
Will injured Massachusetts save.
They freedom love - oppression hate.
III.
The delegates have met ;
VI. If Ga-e should strike the blow,
For wisdom all renowned ;
We must for Freedom fight,
Freedom we may expect From politics profound.
Undaunted courage show,
While we defend our right ; .
In spite of the oppressive band,
Illustrious Congress, may each name Be crowned with immortal fame !
Maintain the freedom of the Land.
4
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40
COLONIAL POLITICS.
ascribed it to fear and to submission.' But the patriots saw in this calmness, this forbearance, this absence of tumult, a ltigh and necessary duty. It was such moderation and firm- ness that made the cause of Boston the cause of the other colonies. Its praise was in the midst of every village, and in the mouth of every patriot. "We think it happy for America," Charlestown, with prophetic accuracy, wrote to Boston, "that you are placed in the front rank of the conflict; and with gratitude acknowledge your vigilance, activity, and firmness in the common cause, which will be admired by gen- erations yet unborn." ?
The Boston patriots had warned their fellow-countrymen that the new acts could not fail to "bring on a most +import- ant and decisive trial."3 Though the day of this trial had come, though it had been resolved to resist at all hazards the execution of these acts, yet they were anxious to postpone, until it was absolutely necessary, a collision with the British troops, and had agreed upon a plan for this purpose.4 Before a contest took place, they hoped to receive the assurance that other colonies would make common cause with Massachusetts. In this hope they were not disappointed. Governor Gage was astonished to witness the spread of the union spirit, - that so many "should interest themselves so much in behalf of Mas- sachusetts." "I find," he writes September 20, 1774, "they have some warm friends in New York and Philadelphia," and "that the people of Charleston (S. C.) are as mad as they are here." Again, on the 25th, he writes : "This province is supported and abetted by others beyond the conception of most people, and foreseen by none. The disease was believed to have been confined to the town of Boston, from whence it might have been eradicated, no doubt, without a great deal of
1 An officer, November 3, 1774, says : The faction in Boston is now very low. Believe me, all ranks of people are heartily tired of disorder and con- fusion ; and as soon as the determination of Great Britain to despise their resolves and petitions is known, all will be very quiet.
2 Hist. Charlestown, 300. 3 See the remarkable letter of Boston, dated July 26, 1774, written when these acts were "every day expected."
+ Dr. Warren, August 27, 1774, writes : " As yet we have been preserved from action with the soldiery, and we shall endeavor to avoid it until we see that it is necessary, and a settled plan is fixed on for that purpose."
41
THE MILITIA ORGANIZED.
trouble, and it might have been the case some time ago; but now it is universal, - there is no knowing where to apply a remedy."
Governor Gage issued writs, dated September 1, convening the General Court at Salem on the 5th of October, but dis- solved it by a proclamation dated September 28, 1774. The members elected to it, pursuant to the course agreed upon resolved themselves into a Provincial Congress. This body, on the 26th of October, adopted a plan for organizing the militia, maintaining it, and calling it out when circumstances should render it necessary. It provided that one quarter of the number enrolled should be held in readiness to muster at the shortest notice, who were called by the popular name of minute-men. An executive authority - the Committee of Safety - was created, clothed with large discretionary pow- ers ; and another, called the Committee of Supplies. On the 27th Jedediah Preble, (who did not accept,) Artemas Ward, and Seth Pomeroy, were chosen general officers; and on the 2Sth, Henry Gardner was chosen treasurer of the colony, under the title of Receiver-General. Among the energetic acts of this memorable Congress, was one authorizing the col- lection of military stores. It dissolved December 10. The committee of safety, as early as November, authorized the purchase of materials for an army, and ordered them to be deposited at Concord and Worcester. These proceedings were denounced by General Gage, in a proclamation dated Novem- ber 10, as treasonable, and a compliance with them was for- bidden. In a short time the king's speech and the action of Parliament were received, which manifested a firm determin- ation to produce submission to the late acts, and to maintain "the supreme authority" of Great Britain over the colonies. General Gage regarded this intelligence as having "cast a damp upon the faction," and as having produced a happy effect upon the royalist cause. However, a second Provincial Congress (February 1 to 16, 1775) renewed the measure of its predecessor ; and gave definiteness to the duties of the committee of safety, by "empowering and directing" them (on the 9th of February) to assemble the militia whenever it was required to resist the execution of the two acts, for alter-
42
COLONIAL POLITICS.
ing the government and the administration of justice. At the same time it appointed two additional generals, John Thomas and William Heath, and made it the duty of the five general officers to take charge of the militia when called out by the committee of safety, and to "effectually oppose and resist such attempt or attempts as shall be made for carrying into execution by force " the two acts. In a spirited address, Con- gress appealed to the towns for support. It urged that, when invaded by oppression, resistance became "the Christian and social duty of each individual ;" and it enjoined the people never to yield, but, with a proper sense of dependence on God, defend those rights which Heaven gave them, and no one ought to take from them. 1
The conviction was fast becoming general that force only could decide the contest. Stimulated and sustained by such a public opinion, the committees of safety and supplies were diligent, through the gloomy months of winter, in collecting and storing at Concord and Worcester materials for the main- tenance of an army. The towns, which had done so fear- lessly and so thoroughly the necessary preparatory work of forming and concentrating political sentiment, came forward now to complete their patriotic action by voting money freely to arm, equip, and discipline " Alarm List Companies." Cit- izens of every calling appeared in their ranks. To be a pri- vate in them was proclaimed by the journals to be an honor ; to be chosen to office in them, to be a mark of the highest distinction. In Danvers the deacon of the parish was elected captain of the minute-men, and the minister his lieutenant. These minute-men were trained often - the towns paying the expense ; when the company, after its field 'exercises, would sometimes repair to the meeting-house to hear a patriotic ser- mon, or partake of an entertainment at the town-house, where zealous "Sons of Liberty" would exhort them to prepare to fight bravely for God and their country. Such was the dis-
1 Journals of the Provincial Congress. Of this Congress Joseph Warren wrote, November 21, 1774-" About two hundred and sixty members were present. You would have thought yourself in an assembly of Spartans, or ancient Romans, had you been a witness to the ardor which inspired those who spoke upon the important business they were transacting."
43
THE BRITISH ARMY.
cipline, - so free from a mercenary spirit - so full of inspiring influences, - of the early American soldiery. And thus an army, in fact, was in existence, ready, at a moment's call, for defensive purposes, to wheel its isolated platoons into solid phalanxes ; while it presented to an eneniy only the opportu- nity of an inglorious foray upon its stores.1
In the mean time troops continued to arrive in Boston. On the 17th of November the whole force consisted of eleven regiments, and the artillery. In December five hundred marines landed from the Asia. At this time nearly all the regiments which had been ordered from Quebec, New York, and the Jerseys, had arrived. Mechanics had been brought from abroad to build barracks for their accommodation during the winter, and they were all under cover. "Our army," a British officer writes, December 26, 1774, "is in high spirits ; and at present this town is pretty quiet. We get plenty of pro- visions, cheap and good in their kind; we only regret that necessity obliges us to enrich, by purchasing from a set of people we would wish to deprive of so great an advantage. Our parade is a very handsome one ; three hundred and seven- ty men mount daily, and more are expected soon; a field officer's guard of one hundred and fifty men, at the lines on the Neck. The army is brigaded. The first brigadier-gen- eral, Earl Percy ; major of brigade, Moncreiff; second brig- adier, Pigott ; major of brigade, Small; third brigade, Jones ;
1 Many paragraphs of similar character to the following appear in the journals :
On the 2d of this instant the minute-company of the town of Lunenburg, consisting of fifty-seven able-bodied men, appeared in arms on the parade, at 10 o'clock, A. M., and after going through the several military manœuvres, they marched to a public-house, where the officers had provided an elegant dinner for the company, a number of the respectable inhabitants of the town, and patriotic ministers of the towns adjacent. At two o'clock, P. M., they marched in military procession to the meeting-house, where the Rev. Mr. Adams delivered an excellent sermon, suitable to the occasion, from Psalm xxvii. 3. The whole business of the day was performed with decency, order, and to the satisfaction of a very large number of spectators. On the day following, the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town assembled in legal town-meeting, and voted £100, L. M., for the purpose of purchasing fire-arms with bayonets, and other implements of war, agreeable to the ad- vice of the late Provincial Congress. - Essex Gazette, January 17, 1775.
4*
44
COLONIAL POLITICS.
major of brigade, Hutchinson." Another officer, in a letter written a month previous, shows what the army thought of their antagonists. "As to what you hear of their taking arms to resist the force of England, it is mere bullying, and will go no further than words; whenever it comes to blows, he that can run the fastest will think himself best off: believe me, any two regiments here ought to be decimated if they did not beat, in the field, the whole force of the Massachusetts prov- ince ; for though they are numerous, they are but a mere mob, without order or discipline, and very awkward at handling their arms."
45
POLICY OF GENERAL GAGE.
CHAPTER II.
Firmness of the Patriots. Policy of General Gage. Movements of the British Troops. Expedition to Concord. Gathering of the Minute-men. Retreat of the British Troops.
THE Massachusetts patriots were never more determined to resist the new acts of Parliament, and were never more con- fident in their ability to maintain their ground, than on the commencement of the new year. The north and the south had counselled and acted together in the memorable First Continental Congress, and it had been demonstrated that one purpose animated the colonies. This Congress, also, had approved of the stand which Massachusetts had resolved to make against Great Britain. Still, up to this time, a vast majority of the patriots of the other colonies looked rather to non-importation and non-consumption, than to a resort to arms, as a means of obtaining redress. And the fear was enter- tained and expressed, that Massachusetts, smarting under accumulated wrong, might break the line of a prudent oppo- sition, and rashly plunge into civil war. Hence the leading patriots of this colony were so desirous, that when a collision did take place, the British troops should be clearly the aggres- sors. Besides, delay would enable them to increase their means to carry on so great a contest; while every new act of aggression, every attempt to compel submission, would tend to unite all in a common cause. By such a policy, they hoped, in the trial which they felt was coming, to secure the coopera- tion of the other colonies.
General Gage, for more than three months, put this policy to a severe test. He had tried every means "to spirit up every friend to the government," and yet his plans had been most adroitly thwarted, and he could see no other course to take but to disarm the colonists. This policy had been sug- gested by Lord Dartmouth,1 but General Gage frankly informed
1 Gage's letter, December 15, 1774. He writes, - " Your lordship's idea
1
46
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
the minister that it was not practicable without a resort to force, and without being master of the country. As early as November 2, 1774, Gage wrote that he was confident to begin with an army twenty thousand strong would, in the end, save Great Britain blood and treasure. 1 He had now - Jan- uary, 1775 -only a force of about thirty-five hundred. Yet, as the excitement of the preceding summer had passed away, he regarded the aspect of affairs as favorable for the work of disarming and of intimidating. Hence, on the 18th of Jan- uary, 1775, he wrote to Lord Dartmouth that it was the opinion of most people, " If a respectable force is seen in the field, the most obnoxious of the leaders seized, and a pardon proclaimed for all others, government will come off victorious, and with less opposition than was expected a few months ago."2 And this was the policy-to be followed by such momentous results - that General Gage now proceeded to carry out.
He felt a gleam of hope from an application he received, about this time, from Marshfield. General Timothy Ruggles, the great leader of the loyalists, proposed the formation of associations throughout the colony, with constitutions binding those who signed them to oppose, at the risk of life, the acts of all unconstitutional assemblies, such as committees and congresses. In January, a large number of the people of Marshfield signed one of these constitutions, and thus formed a " Loyal Association." It was reported that the patriots of Plymouth had determined to make them recant, and hence the associators applied to General Gage for protection. He was gratified with this request, and accordingly, January 23, 1775, he sent Captain Balfour, with about an hundred men and three hundred stand of arms, to Marshfield. The troops were joy- fully received by the loyalists, and were comfortably accom-
of disarming certain provinces would doubtless be consistent with prudence and safety, but it neither is or has been practicable without having recourse to force, and being master of the country."
' This phrase will not be found in the Parliamentary Register of 1775. It was copied by President Sparks, from the original. - Sparks' Washington, vol. III., p. 506.
2 Sparks' Washington, vol. III., p. 507.
47
LESLIE AT SALEM.
modated. They preserved exact discipline, found none to attack them, and did not molest the inhabitants. The Marsh- field associators, and their friends, made formal addresses of acknowledgment to General Gage and Admiral Graves, for the timely protection that had been granted, and received from both, in return, sufficiently gracious replies. General Gage was satisfied with the good effect of this movement, and hoped that similar applications would be made from other places. The patriot journals, with better judgment, regarded such expeditions as having a tendency to irritate and alarm the people.1 The detachment remained at Marshfield until the memorable nineteenth of April.
The next attempt of the troops was made at Salem, where a few brass cannon and gun-carriages were deposited. Colonel Leslie, with a detachment of the army, on Sunday, February
1 General Gage made this affair the subject of a letter to Lord Dartmouth, dated January 27, which was read in Parliament, March 8. He assured the ministry that he often had information from the country that the people of the towns were becoming more divided.
The following version of this affair, extracted from Rivington's New York Gazette of February 9, 1775, well shows the tone in which the Tories were accustomed to write of the patriots. It is in a letter from Marshfield. "Two hundred of the principal inhabitants of this loyal town, insulted and intimi- dated by the licentious spirit that unhappily has been prevalent amongst the lower ranks of people in the Mass. government, having applied to the gov- ernor for a detachment of his majesty's troops, to assist in preserving the peace, and to check the insupportable insolence of the disaffected and turbulent, were happily relieved by the appearance of Capt. Balfour's party, consisting of one hundred soldiers, who were joyfully received by the loyalists. Upon their arrival, the valor of the minute-men was called forth by Adam's crew ; they were accordingly mustered, and, to the unspeakable confusion of the enemies of our happy constitution, no more than twelve persons presented themselves to bear arms against the Lord's anointed. It was necessary that some apology should be made for the scanty appearance of their volunteers, and they colored it over with a declaration, that ' had the party sent to Marsh- field consisted of half a dozen battalions, it might have been worth their atten- tion to meet and engage them ; but a day would come, when the courage of their minute host would be able to clear the country of all their enemies, how- soever formidable in numbers.' The king's troops are very comfortably ac- commodated, and preserve the most exact discipline ; and now, every faithful subject to his king dare freely utter his thoughts, drink his tea, and kill his sheep, as profusely as he pleases."
9
48
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
26, 1775, was sent to seize them. He landed at Marblehead in the afternoon, while the people were at meeting. His object being suspected, intelligence was immediately sent to Salem. The warlike materials were on the north side of the North Bridge, which was built with a draw to let vessels pass, and which, before Colonel Leslie reached it, had been hoisted. He ordered it to be lowered; but the people refused, saying, "It is a private way, and you have no authority to demand a passage this way." Colonel Leslie then determined to pass the river in two large gondolas that lay near. But their owners jumped in and began to scuttle them. A few of the soldiers tried to prevent this ; a scuffle ensued, some were pricked with bayonets, and thus blood was shed. Things were proceeding to extremities, when the Rev. Mr. Barnard, a clergyman of Salem, interfered, and a compromise was effected. The people consented to lower the bridge, and Colonel Leslie pledged his honor not to march more than thirty rods beyond it. The troops, having done this, returned unmolested; but the alarm spread ; the minute-men began to assemble; and one company from Danvers arrived just as the British were leaving town. Thus the good sense of an intelligent British officer, and the influence of a few leading citizens, rather than the want of spirit in the people, prevented Salem from being the Lexing- ton of the Revolution; for had Colonel Leslie, instead of a treaty, decided to force his way over the bridge, a collision must have occurred. This circumstance, probably, occasioned the report in England, that in Salem "the Americans had hoisted their standard of Liberty." 1
1 Gentleman's Magazine, 1775. Essex Gazette. Trumbull, in M'Fingal, notices this expedition. After describing its arrival at Marblehead, he writes, -
" Through Salem straight, without delay, The bold battalion took its way ; Marched o'er a bridge, in open sight Of several Yankees armed for fight ; Then, without loss of time or men, Veered round for Boston back again, And found so well their projects thrive, That every soul got home alive."
49
INSULTS OF THE TROOPS.
The pacific policy of the patriots was further severely tried by the bearing of the British troops. Their conduct had been in general orderly,1 and no disposition had been manifested by
1 The anxiety of the leading patriots to keep Boston free from the mob spirit is seen in the private letters of this period. They endeavored to live as peaceable as possible with the troops. Still riots would occur. At a town-meeting, November 7, 1774, it was voted, as the governor had assured the town that he would do all in his power to secure peace and good order, that the town would exert its best endeavors to effect the saine purpose. The meeting voted to recommend to the selectmen to increase the watch to twelve men, to patrol the streets the whole night ; to recommend to the justices of the peace to exert their authority promptly for the observance of the laws, and to recommend masters of families to restrain their children and servants from going abroad after nine o'clock in the evening. Taverners and retailers were also enjoined to strictly conform to the laws of the province as to dis- orderly persons.
It was in accordance with this policy, probably, that so little is heard of the Boston military at this period. Mills and Hicks' Register of 1775 gives the names of the military corps of the town : 1. The Governor's Troop of Horse Guards, David Phipps captain, with the rank of colonel. 2. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, William Bell captain. 3. The Boston Regiment, John Erving colonel, John Leverett lieut .- colonel, Thomas Dawes major. 4. The Grenadier Company, Major Dawes captain, Joseph Pierce lieut., with the rank of captain, Henry Knox lieutenant. 5. The Train attached to the Boston Regiment, Adino Paddock captain. 6. The Train belonging to the Suffolk First Regiment, Lemuel Robinson captain. 7. The Train belonging to the Suffolk 2d Regiment, Francis Barker captain. 8. The Train belonging to the Suffolk 3d Regiment, Eliphalet Pond captain. At the South Battery was a company, Jeremiah Green captain. At the North Battery, another company, Nathaniel Barber captain.
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