USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 15
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' Force's Archives, 4th Series, Vol. i. p. 1045.
2 Sparks's Washington, Vol. iii p. 503.
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few months ago."1 General Gage was also aware that there was a growing dissatisfaction in the ministry with the course he was pursuing. His policy was deemed inefficient, and his inac- tivity was complained of .? He knew, moreover, that additional troops were to be sent to Boston, and that Generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne were to join, and probably in the end · supersede him. Such facts and considerations would naturally prompt him to action. He was probably further encouraged by certain demonstrations, in favor of the royal cause, made at Marshfield and several other places.
Knowing that some cannon and other military stores had been collected at Salem, he sent, on the 25th of February, a detach- ment of his troops to seize or destroy them. But the people, anticipating his design, raised the drawbridge leading to the part of the town where they were deposited, and so prevented their falling into his hands.3 Meditating the destruction of the military stores which the Committees of Safety and Supplies had been collecting at Worcester and Concord, General Gage sent officers in disguise to sketch the topography of the country, and ascer- tain the feelings and preparation of the people. Under date of February 22, Captain Brown of the Fifty-second Regiment and Ensign D'Bernicre of the Tenth, were directed to make this reconnoissance, with instructions not only to note the roads, dis- tances, heights, passes, rivers, and the like, but to " notice the situation of the towns and villages, their churches and church- yards, whether they are advantageous spots to take post in, and capable of being rendered defensible."4 These officers in dis- guise visited Worcester by way of Sudbury, Framingham and Marlborough, and subsequently, viz., on the 20th of March, visited Concord by way of Sudbury, and returned through Lex- ington ; and on their return, reported the result of their explora- tion to General Gage.5
In the meantime there were many indications that the British officers, stationed at Boston, were becoming weary of those "piping times of peace," and were desirous of bringing on a collision with the people. On the anniversary of the Boston
1 Archives, Vol. ii. p. 336. 2 Chatham's Speech in Parliament, Jan. 20, 1775.
3 Essex Gazette. 4 Archives, Vol. i. p. 1263. º D'Bernicre's Narrative.
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Massacre, Dr. Warren delivered the Oration at the Old South Church, and Samuel Adams presided. A large number of Brit- ish officers were present, and attempted to break up the meeting by cries of fire, hissing, and other disorderly conduct.1 On the 8th, Thomas Ditson, Jr., a eitizen of Billerica, being in Boston, was seized by a party of the king's troops, on the vain pretence of having urged one of their soldiers to desert ; and without any trial or examination, was taken to their guard-house, and kept a prisoner till the next day, when he was stripped, tarred and feathered, and placed upon a truck, and drawn through some of the principal streets, attended by forty or fifty soldiers of the Forty-seventh Regiment with arms and fixed bayonets, led on by Colonel Nesbit of that regiment, the music at the same time playing Yankee Doodle by way of derision.2 On the 16th of March, which was observed as a day of fasting and prayer in obedience to the recommendation of the Provincial Congress, several congregations in Boston were annoyed by a party of the Fourth Regiment. They pitched their tents near one of the churches, and during the service greatly disturbed the worship- pers, by their drums, fifes and other noises. Colonel Madison was present with them a part of the time. On the 17th, in the evening, Colonel Hancock's house, near the Common, was attacked by a party of British officers, who cut and hacked the fence in front of the house, and otherwise behaved very abusive- ly, breaking windows, and insulting almost every person they met. On the 18th, the guard at the Neck seized 13,425 mmusket cartridges with balls, and about three hundred pounds of musket balls, the property of private persons, which the General refused to give up to the owners. They also abused the teamster, prick- ing him with their bayonets, and assaulted the Providence stage, breaking the windows, and insulting the passengers. On the 19th, a party of officers and soldiers again insulted Colonel Han- cock, entering upon his premises, and refusing to retire, boasting that his house, stable, and other property would soon be theirs, when they should use it as they pleased.3 Though these aggres- sions were of a private character, and related to the rights of
1 Archives, Vol. ii. p. 120.
2 Ditson's Deposition, and Remonstrance of the Selectmen of Billerica.
3 Archives, Vol. ii. p. 211.
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individuals, they served to irritate the people, and showed at the same time a haughtiness on the part of the British officers, which would naturally lead to a collision with the inhabitants.
While General Gage was employed in making preparation for excursions into the country to destroy the military stores, which the provincials had collected together, the patriotic inhabitants were not inactive. The second Provincial Congress, which held its first session at Cambridge, had adjourned on the 16th of February, to meet at Concord on the 22d of March. On coming together at that time, and being fully impressed with the critical state of public affairs, they adopted the most efficient means in their power to meet the crisis, which they knew could not be far distant. They adopted a code of Rules and Articles for the regulation of the army of the Province, elected commit- tees from the several counties, to see that the recommendations of Congress were fully carried out, and renewed their recom- mendation for exercising and drilling the militia. Having re- ceived certain intelligence that large reinforcements were on their way to Boston, they sent delegates to New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island, to apprise them of the common danger, and if possible enlist them in the common cause. They assured their sister colonies, "that we are determined to take effectual measures for our security and defence by raising an army ; " and requested them " to cooperate with us by furnishing their respective quotas for the general defence." They also voted to raise six companies of artillery, to be organized, disci- plined, and be in "constant readiness to enter the service of the Colony," whenever it should become necessary. And as they appealed to Heaven for the justice of their cause, and trusted in the God of battles to carry them successfully through the con- test, which they feared was approaching, they appointed a day of fasting and prayer ; and on the 15th of April, adjourned to mect on the 10th of May, unless sooner called together on an emergency by a committee which they had designated for that purpose.1
In the meantime the Committees of Safety and of Supplies, which generally met together, were in session almost daily, using the most efficient means in their power to put the Province in a
1 Journals of the Provincial Congress.
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 159
proper state of defence. On the 14th of March, being in session at the house of Captain Stedman, in Cambridge, and anticipating some movement on the part of General Gage, they voted "That watches be kept constantly at places where the Provincial maga- zines are kept." They also requested the Committees of Charles- town, Cambridge, and Roxbury, " to procure at least two men for a watch every night, to be placed in each of these towns, and that the said members be in readiness to send couriers forward to the towns where the magazines are placed, when sallies are made from the army by night." Pursuant to this request, on the day following, the committees directed Colonel Barrett of Concord, " to engage a sufficient number of faithful men to guard the colony magazines in that town, and to keep a suitable number of teams in constant readiness by day and by night, on the shortest notice to remove the stores ; and also to provide couriers to alarm the neighboring towns, on receiving any information of any movement of the king's troops." The committees were in session at Concord on the 17th of April, and adjourned to meet at Menotomy, now Arlington, at Witherby's tavern the next day.1
Preparatory to any attempt to make a descent upon Wor- cester or Concord, for the purpose of destroying the military stores, General Gage sent out detachments of his troops into the neighboring towns, probably with the design of exercising his men, and of habituating the inhabitants to these excursions, so that no apprehension might be felt in case the troops should be seen leaving Boston. On the 30th of March, the first brigade under Lord Percy, marched out to Jamaica Plains, in Roxbury. They were narrowly watched by the people, who collected in large numbers ; but as they were without artillery or baggage, it was inferred that their excursion was but a short one; and as they did not interfere with the inhabitants, they were permitted to pass without molestation. They did, however, commit depre- dations upon private property by throwing down a considerable quantity of stone wall.2 Whether this was done as wanton mischief, or whether they thought that these walls would afford
1 Journal of the Committees of Safety and Supplies.
2 Archives, and Warren's Letter to Arthur Lee.
21
.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
a rampart for the militia in case they should attempt an expe- dition in that direction, it is impossible to say.
The day of debate had now passed, and the day of action, open, efficient action, had come. Active efforts were now making in all parts of the Province. Not only were the Com- mittees of Safety and of Supplies adopting efficient measures, but almost every town was resounding with "awful notes of preparation." The towns were furnishing arms and munitions of war to the utmost extent of their ability. The minute-men and the alarm-lists, as they were called, composed of the aged and of the young, were out almost daily for exercise and drill. A deep feeling pervaded the whole community. The people felt the awful responsibility which rested upon them. They knew that to resist the king's troops would be treason, which they might be called upon to expiate upon the gallows ; but to submit to the arbitrary and unjust requisitions of Great Britain, would be courting a chain, and entailing slavery upon themselves and their children. But fearful as was the crisis, they did not falter. The resolve had been taken with due consideration, and by it they were determined to stand. The weight of responsibility which rested upon them, only gave them firmness, and more strongly bound them to one another and to the common cause. The aged inspired the young, and the young animated the aged ; the wife urged the husband to the discharge of his duty, and the husband promised protection to the wife ; mothers gave up their sons, and sisters their brothers to the great cause of freedom. All classes seemed to vie with each other in their efforts for the common cause. The feeling which pervaded the community was one of the purest patriotism, sanctified and hallowed on the altar of religion. Their sense of justice and of right, their regard for the welfare of their children, their love for their country, and their devotion to their God, prompted them to action, and inspired them with confidence in their ultimate success.
No class in the community contributed more to produce this state of feeling, and to animate and sustain the people as the danger approached, than the pious and patriotic clergy of New England. Their appeals were ardent and touching. They recurred to the causes which had brought us to this country, and
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recounted the instances in which our fathers had been brought out of a wilderness of dangers, and through scenes of blood ; and pointed to that Canaan of rest which awaited us, if we would put our trust in the Lord, and rely upon his outstretched arm. They taught their people that the Gospel was a self-sacri- ficing system, that patriotism was a Christian duty, and that he who refused to suffer for his country in such a holy cause, was false to Him who died that we might live. And among those who animated and encouraged the people, and thus kindled the fires of patriotism upon the altars of religion, none was more active or successful than the distinguished and pious priest, who ministered to the people of Lexington. His intimacy with Adams and Hancock made him minutely acquainted with the affairs of the Colony, his clear and far-reaching perception enabled him to judge with great accuracy, and his noble and manly independence gave him a controlling influence over the minds of men. "Mr. Clarke was a man of high rank in his profession -a man of practical picty, a learned theologian, a person of general reading, a writer perspicuous, correct, and pointed, beyond the standard of the day, and a most intelligent, resolute and ardent champion of the popular cause. He was connected by marriage with the family of John Hancock. To this circumstance no doubt may properly be ascribed some portion of his interest in the political movements of the day ; while on the mind of Hancock an intimacy with Mr. Clarke was calculated to have a strong and salutary influence."1
Mr. Clarke took a broad and enlightened view of the duties and obligations of the citizen. With him patriotism was a virtue of religious growth. In his estimation, love to God involved a love of country, and devotion to religion implied devotion to the state. Describing the true patriot, he says, " Inspired with the principles of piety, governed by the laws of God, encouraged and supported with motives of religion, such men in the court or in the field, in peace and in war, in private and in public stations, look with a generous contempt, a sacred abhorrence upon every advantage they might make to themselves at the expense of their virtue. No self-interest, no venal motive can countervail with them the public good, the safety and happi-
1 Everett's Address at Lexington in 1835.
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HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
ness of society - of mankind. The frowns of the great, and the flatteries of the vulgar are equally despised ; the greatest trials are cheerfully endured, the most self-denying services are with pleasure engaged in, in the cause of God. In honor to God they wait upon the king, in devotion to him they serve their country, and for the glory of his name stand ready cheer- fully to submit to every hardship, firmly to face every danger, and for the support of his cause, and the defence of the liberties and lives of his people, freely to make their own a sacrifice, and shed their dearest blood."1
Such were the sentiments of Mr. Clarke, uttered seven years before hostilities commenced ; and they had become more deeply seated, and had taken a more active form as the crisis approached. Such sentiments and feelings had extended in a good degree throughout all the colonies, - though in Massachusetts they had well nigh ripened into action. The town of Lexington, as we have already seen, had from the first taken a deep and lively interest in the controversy between the parent country and the colonies, and had made every effort to prepare her sons for any emergency which might arise. In 1774, she had "voted to increase the town's stock of ammunition," "to encourage military discipline, and to put themselves in a posture of defence against their enemies ;" she had voted to supply the " training soldiers " with bayonets, and had distributed at the expense of the town, arms and ammunition to the "training band" and "alarm list " of her citizens. Such was the liberality of the town to her patriotic sons, who in the day of trial stood firmly by the cause of freedom, and nobly "showed that they were worth their- breeding."2
1 Artillery Election Sermon, 1768.
2 As a specimen of the spirit which prevailed at that day, we subjoin the following :
"At a meeting of the people of the Alarm List of the third Company in Danvers, held in said Danvers, the 6th of March, 1775, for the purpose of electing officers for said Alarm List Company, Rev. Benj. Balch, Chairman ; said people unanimously made choice of Dea. Edmund Putnam for Captain ; Rev. Benj. Balch for Lieutenant, and Mr. Tarrant Putnam for Ensign. The said gentlemen being present, declared their acceptance." -- American Archives, Vol. ii. p. 37.
This fact is well worthy of a town, which, though distant, nobly joined the affair of the 19th of April, 1775.
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BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
The second Provincial Congress, of which John Hancock was President, and Samuel Adams one of its most distinguished members, having closed its session at Concord on the 15th of April, these champions of freedom, instead of returning to Boston, had taken up their abode with Rev. Jonas Clarke at Lexington. This they were induced to do in consequence of the impression which had become quite prevalent, that General Gage had meditated their seizure. It was well known that Hutchin- son, the predecessor of General Gage, had used his influence to have Adams arrested and sent to England to be tried for treason ; and the subsequent course of Adams had been still more offen- sive to the royal Governor. General Gage had, by his proela- mation of November, 1774, pronounced the Provincial Congress over which Hancock had presided, "an unlawful assembly, tending utterly to subvert " government, and to lead directly " to sedition, treason, and rebellion," and had held up " the pains and penalties of the law," to prevent their reassembling, or their measures from being carried into effect. There was reason, therefore, to apprehend that these distinguished patriots, after attending another session of this unlawful assembly, and adopting measures still more odious to his Majesty's Government, would not be safe in Boston ; abounding as it did, at that time, with a large number of inveterate tories from all parts of the Province, who were constantly urging the Governor on to deeds of violence and desperation. This impression was strengthened by various other causes. Gordon, the historian, informs us, that an inter- eepted letter from Mr. Mauduit to Commissioner Hollowell, brought over by a vessel from England, which arrived here on the 2d of April, contained distinet intimations, that some of the leading patriots were to be seized and sent to England as traitors. A letter from London, under date of February 24th, 1775, contained this passage : " those Lords who advised the king to declare you rebels, and to apprehend Messrs. Hancock and Adams, have gone so far as to say, that Chatham shall fall a sacrifice to their designs."1 Another letter from London says, " Orders are certainly sent to seize particular persons."2 Another letter subsequently received, declares that " the administration on Friday received advices from General Gage to the 18th of
1 Archives, Vol. ii. p. 345. 2 Ibid, Vol. ii. p. 319.
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March, wherein he acknowledges the receipt of the king's orders to apprehend Messrs. Cushing, Adams, Hancock, &c., and send them over to England to be tried ; but the second orders which were to hang them in Boston, the General had not received." 1 General Gage, as we have already scen, in his letter to Dart- mouth, of the 18th of January, had suggested the propriety of seizing " the most obnoxious leaders," and offering pardon to all others ; and his Proclamation of the 12th of June, 1775, offering "his Majesty's most gracious pardon to all persons who shall forthwith lay down their arms, and return to the duties of peaccable subjects, excepting only from the benefits of such pardon, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign punishment ;" shows that such a mcasure was premeditated. Lord Dartmouth, in his letter to General Gage, under date of April 15th, expressly declares that the seizure of the most obnoxious leaders "is already provided for."2 These facts prove most conclusively, that one object of the stealthy movement of the British officers on the evening of the 18th of April, was to scize these illustrions patriots, that they might suffer the full penalty of treason. This fact was admitted at the time, and has since been acknowledged by foreign,3 as well as by American writers. 4
Everything indicated that the crisis was at hand, and a fearful once it was for Massachusetts. General Gage had received a small accession to his forces, which now amounted to about four
1 Archives, Vol. ii. p. 386. 2 Vol. ii. p. 336. 3 Botta, Murray, and others. 4 Shattuck, in his history of Concord, declares that one object of this expe- dition was "to apprehend Hancock, Adams, Barrett, and other distinguished patriots." -- p. 101. We have no disposition to detract from the merits of Colonel Barrett. He was undoubtedly a brave and efficient officer, and a true patriot ; but we are not aware that he stood so prominent as to be known across the Atlantic, and to be ranked with Adams and Hancock. After a pretty thorough examination of authorities, we have found nothing that could, even by implication, include him in the list of the proscribed patriots. He certainly was not exempted from pardon in Gage's proclamation.
The designs of the British, and the belief of the day, are clearly embodied in a tory ballad of that period - more remarkable for truth than for poetry, we imagine.
" As for their king, that John Hancock, And Adams, if they're taken, Their heads for signs shall hang up high, Upon the hill, ealled Beacon."
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thousand men, well armed and equipped, and, under the most perfeet discipline, could be brought into the field at any moment. Large reinforcements were on their way from Europe, and Boston was the place of their destination. On the side of the Province there was no organized army ; not a single company in the field to oppose the march of the king's troops. The whole Province was in a state of comparative disorder. General Gage, by dis- solving the Legislature, had left Massachusetts without any lawful government. The Provincial Congress, a body almost self-constituted, assumed to act as a sort of Legislature, and the Committees of Safety and of Supplies were exercising a kind of Executive power. And though these bodies, under all the eir- cumstances of the ease, acted with great wisdom and efficiency, so far as they were concerned, they had no power to enforce their measures, and no adequate means in their hands to procure the necessary troops or munitions of war. Though the Provin- cial Congress had, as early as October, 1774, recommended the purchase of arms and ammunition to the amount of £20,800, their Treasurer, on the 25th of April, 1775, reported that only about £5,000 had come into his hands.1 The poverty of the people and the dearth of military stores within the Province, are manifest from the journals of those bodies. Most of the arms in the hands of the people, were their old hunting guns, without bayonets ; and henee votes were passed by Congress earnestly recommending the purchase and manufacture of that essential appendage of the musket. The manufacture of salt- petre was also urged upon the people, that they might be able to supply the great demand for powder. The towns were carnestly called upon to furnish as far as possible, a certain quantity of bayonets, powder and " firelocks."
The records show the great difficulties under which the Com- mittee of Supplies labored. Many of their votes indicated the strait to which they were driven. 2 They were directed to
1 Journals of the Provincial Congress, and of the Committees of Safety and Supplies.
? " Voted unanimously by both Committees, that the Committee of Supplies do procure ten tons of brimstone, provided it can be had on this condition : that the Committee of Supplies agree to pay therefor, when the present owner shall have opportunity to sell the same, or that it shall be returned in six months, if not used ; and if used, it shall be paid for." -- Journal of the Com- mittee of Supplies and Safety. February 21, 1775.
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" endeavor to procure " such and such articles. The supply of military stores and of provisions, indicated their destitution both in the implements and the sinews of war. The Committee of Supplies were directed to "endeavor to procure " 200 spades, 150 iron shovels, 150 pickaxes, 1000 six-quart iron pots, 200 bill-hooks, 1000 wooden mess-bowls, 1 tenon-saw, 200 axes, 50 wheelbarrows, and a suitable supply of wooden spoons ; also 355 barrels of pork, 700 barrels of flour, 300 bushels of beans, and 20 tierces of rice. Limited as were these amounts, and active as were the endeavors of the Committee, these amounts could not be fully obtained. They also obtained as many field- pieces as they could, but so limited was the supply, that certain officers were directed, if possible, to borrow of those who pos- sessed them, that the men might be instructed in their use. With such comparative destitution, and with a population of only about three hundred thousand, without any organized gov- ernment, and almost without money or credit, Massachusetts dared with a small number of undisciplined and half-armed militia, to withstand the mighty energy of Great Britain, lately victorious on both continents over the most powerful nations of the earth. But great as was the disparity, the patriots stood firm. Animated by the justice of their cause, and sustained by a lively faith in an over-ruling Providence, they were determined to do their duty, and trust the issue to Him " who bringeth the princes to nothing, and taketh up the isles as a very little thing."
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